September 26, 2019 at 10:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rj-Uii3ZJD8] Welcome to ‘Dear Derm,’ our brand-new series in which dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD shares serious skin-care realness. In each episode, she’ll answer your most burning beauty questions and give you all the tools you need to take your glow game to the next level. There’s one skin-care ingredient out there (aside from SPF, that is), that’s recommended by dermatologists every single day of the week. Whether you’re 15 and dealing with acne and uneven texture or 50 and combatting wrinkles and dark spots, chances are that this skin savior can help. That’s exactly why board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, jokes that if her house were on fire, it’s the one thing she’d save (after her family, that is). The ingredient in question, of course, is retinol, a potent vitamin A derivative that’s basically like glass skin in a bottle. It can do a whole laundry list of different things for your complexion, including fighting acne, speeding up cell turnover, and stimulating collagen when used properly; however, when slathered on incorrectly, it can result in flakiness and skin irritation. So how do you find the sweet spot that makes retinol so good you’d save it from the burning embers? In the latest episode of Dear Derm, Dr. Gohara breaks down everything you need to know about skin care’s most significant—and admittedly most complex—ingredient. “If you asked 100 dermatologists the one thing that they all agreed on, besides sunscreen of course, is that everyone should be
Tag: Well+Good
We found a drugstore buy that’s the 3 most effective skin-care ingredients rolled into one serum
September 26, 2019 at 08:58PM by CWC At age 28, I finally have my “skin-care wardrobe” down pat. Sandwiched in between my cleanser and moisturizer is my trifecta of serums, each of which help to target a different issue: hyaluronic acid twice a day for hydration, vitamin C in the morning in for brightening dark spots, and retinol at night for texture issues. But with the launch of its new Bright Boost Illuminating Serum ($20), Neutrogena just introduced a product that can replace my usual three steps with a single application. The brand just rolled out its Bright Boost line, which was created by millennial women for millennial women (aka me, aged 28) to target their initial signs of aging—like dullness, dark spots, dryness, and texture issues. The star ingredient is a molecule called NeoGlucosamine, an amino sugar that serves as one of the building blocks in oh-so-hydrating hyaluronic acid. And man oh man, does this thing put in work. When used on its own, it does a lot of the same things that I rely on in my three-ingredient combo. It helps to boost cell turnover—aka retinol’s claim to fame—to 10 times faster than usual, according to Neutrogena; reduces the appearance of dark spots by disrupting the skin pigmentation process, which we usually turn to vitamin C to do; and hydrates and plumps skin, à la hyaluronic acid. While there are no studies comparing the relative effectiveness of NeoGlucosamine to its counterparts, it certainly does give them a run
This post-natal core workout is low-impact and super effective
September 26, 2019 at 07:18PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ov9UjTdq2WE] Your body changes in a lot of ways during and post-pregnancy, but one of the major changes happens to your abdominal for, you know, obvious reasons like it had to expand to accommodate a baby. Strengthening your core postpartum can help you avoid issues like leaky bladder and lower back pain. That said, it’s important to be gentle with your body. This workout from fitness trainer Rahel Ghebremichael is a low-impact way to build core strength. “Think about doing the work from the inside out,” says Ghebremichael. Meaning: really focus on doing the movements from your core, and don’t speed through the reps. “We’re gonna take it nice and slow, and focus on your form,” she says. “Really just focus on strengthening your core to use it as a unit. Especially after kids, it’s super super important that you just focus on getting your engagement together.” The series involves four movements, done for 12 reps, and repeated twice. Ghebremmichael says that they look deceptively easy—so really focus on moving slowly, engaging your core, and you’ll feel results. As with everything pregnancy-related, check out that you’re all clear to work out with your doctor before starting anything new. And then watch the Ghebremichael’s post-natal core workout above, and check out a breakdown of the movements below. Post-natal core workout 1. Heel slide: Lie down on your back and let your hands rest by your sides, keeping your shoulders away from your ears.
NutriBullet’s first full-size blender has arrived—and it’s *so* much cheaper than a Vitamix
September 26, 2019 at 05:45PM by CWC Being a food writer—and, well, a food lover—I’ve tried out my fair share of blenders over the years. NutriBullet’s original single-serving personal blender was one of the first that made its way into my kitchen. Now I also own a Vitamix, but the NutriBullet is still my preferred blender to make everything from smoothies to pasta sauces because it gets the job done and cleans up fast. Now, there’s officially a full-size version on the market. But how does it stack up to its competition? NutriBullet’s newly-released NutriBullet Blender is pretty impressive—and not just because of the chic countertop-worthy design and $99 price tag. The full-size blender is 64 oz., letting you prepare much bigger batches than you could previously. And the 1200-watt motor blender (which is double the power of the Magic Bullet’s 600-watt motor) has multiple blending options: low, medium, and high speeds, a pulse function, and an extract button that’s specifically designed for blending smoothie ingredients, like ice, greens, and fruit. With one touch, it automatically blends everything up then shuts off once it’s done. The NutriBullet Blender Combo, which retails for $140 on Amazon. While smoothies are what the NutriBullet brand is best known for, this blender makes it easy to make multiple different types of food. Just like the Vitamix—which prices range from $350 to $720—it allows you to make creamy soups and sauces. It also has a vented lid cap that enables you to blend up hot
If passing the U.S. Army Fitness test feels out of reach, master this move first
September 26, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC The perfect push-up is like the holy grail of exercise moves. It works everything from your arms to your shoulders to your core (if you’re doing them right, that is), and just the thought of having to drop and give someone 10 (let alone enough to pass the U.S. Army Fitness Test) is enough to get even the fittest among us quaking. But building up to flawless form is no easy feat, which is why if you’re just starting to flex your push-up muscles, you may want to start at the wall. Think of wall push-ups as push-ups with training wheels—a way to get your body prepped and ready for the real thing. They’re performed perpendicular to the floor, with your hands against the wall, and give your body a chance to get used to the movement of a push-up without having to exert quite as much strength as the regular floor version would. “It allows individuals to introduce proper pushing-pressing mechanics without overloading the core, making it ideal for someone lacking sufficient core stability and proprioception, an awareness of how one’s body is moving through space,” says Marcel Dinkins, a Founding Coach at Rowgatta. The move is accessible to people at any fitness level, and just because they’re easier than the real thing, you’ll be happy to learn that they come with comparable benefits. Like regular push-ups, the move works your pectoral muscles, anterior shoulders, and triceps, but are easier because you’re
‘I’m a nutritionist, and here’s how I save money buying all the healthy food on Amazon’
September 26, 2019 at 04:01PM by CWC Getting Amazon Prime was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. Instead of hunting down hard-to-find products or carrying multiple bags of groceries home, I can get everything I need with nothing but a couple taps on my phone—and it’ll all be at my door in 48 hours or less. Well, not surprisingly, I’m not the only one who’s obsessed with the service—nutritionists are, too. You can essentially find anything you could ever want and need on Amazon. I recently snagged an organic sea kelp blend to season my pasta with—because, yes, that’s a thing. The only downside is because of how effortless it is, the service can quickly go from something that can save you time and money to something that eats up all your paychecks. Luckily, there are some simple ways to save big when stocking up on wholesome goodies. From knowing exactly what to buy online (and what to get at the grocery store) to the hacks that will keep your bank account happy, here’s how four nutritionists shop on Amazon. 4 nutritionists share their favorite Amazon hacks 1. Go for large quantity orders When you have foodie friends, you can turn Amazon into a quick-shipping Costco-like experience that allows you to get everything your heart desires. “I often go in with someone else for large quantity orders,” says Sonya Angelone, MS, RDN, spokesperson for the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Because when you buy in bulk, you’ll always
The good-for-your-face reason to buy compostable face wipes
September 26, 2019 at 03:01PM by CWC It’s becoming more and more clear how important it is to live sustainably, and that means taking time to replace single-use items with eco-friendly options. While rethinking the amount of plastic you bring home is a great place to start, another easy thing you can do to make a difference? Give your face wipes an upgrade. Not just for the planet, but also for your skin. Simple recently released a new version of its beloved cleansing wipes—ones that are completely compostable. Because you can compost them, they’re not adding to the millions of tons of garbage going into landfills every year, but you’re still getting the same quality and effectiveness. They’re just as thick, soft, and stretchy—only this time, they’re made from natural fibers. Particularly wood pulp. Rubbing wood pulp around on your face might sound a little scary at first, but hear me out. Because the wipes are made from the natural fiber, they use more of “the juice”—which, in theory, distributes more hydrating, skin-loving ingredients to your face, keeping your skin silky-smooth and moisturized. Aside from the potential skin benefits, wood pulp is also super renewable and sustainable, and the wipes can biodegrade in just 42 days. Pretty wild. So sure, it’s always cool to do the planet good. But when you reap some extra benefits for your efforts in the process, even better. To give your life even more of a planet-friendly overhaul, shop these sustainable clothing brands and check
True or false: Milk is completely okay to drink on the keto diet
September 26, 2019 at 02:00PM by CWC With eating plans that have a lot of rules—keto, we’re looking at you—come a lot of questions. One top one for beginners: Is milk keto? Because honestly, not everyone can get on board with the whole “butter coffee” thing. Let’s back up for a sec. On the high-fat, very low-carb plan, most people stick to getting 70 to 80 percent of their calories from fat and just 20 to 30 grams of net carbs per day, although those numbers can be a bit variable depending on the person and what version of keto they’re on. (Ketotarian, for example, is a bit more generous with the carb count.) Counting “net carbs” versus total carbs gives you more leeway with said carbs. You get this figure by taking total carbs and subtracting from it fiber grams and sugar alcohols. Got all that? Great. Now let’s talk to an expert to see if you can be all “Got Milk?” on the ketogenic diet. Can I have cow’s milk on keto? I hate to break it to you, but dairy milk is not going to be keto-compliant, says Amy Kubal, RDN, a registered dietitian in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. It’s natural to think it might be, especially if you go for the full-fat stuff. However, milk contains lactose, a milk sugar, which contains…carbohydrates. It also has no fiber to offset the carbs. So, you’re looking at 12 grams of net carbs per cup for whole milk. Even
How this hip-hop influencer went from burnout to bliss
September 26, 2019 at 01:30PM by CWC After years of dues-paying in her career, Devi Brown reached milestone after milestone, eventually becoming an well-known radio personality—and yet, she felt like something was missing. As she went deeper into her own spiritual and wellness journey, she became inspired to share her findings through Karma Bliss, which offers inspiration, guidance, and resources for the modern seeker. Here, as part of our Wellness in Color series, she shares her story with W+G Council member Latham Thomas . Latham Thomas: Devi, tell me a little about your journey. What is the story behind Karma Bliss? Devi Brown: I worked in radio and TV for 13 years, mostly in the hip-hop format. I was interviewing every rapper that ever rapped, which was fun and exciting, but the biggest thing that attracted me to radio was the connection that you have with people. It felt sacred and intimate. What drew me to that world was a desire to help people tell their stories, and having that ability to connect on a deeper level with people that you don’t know. My career was great, but then I started feeling like, Well, what else is there? I started thinking about how society defines success—getting the promotion, the car, the house, the family, the retirement package. With this idea of always hustling, you’re being measured by your productivity, and I bought into that. I started to completely drain myself and feel deeply unfulfilled. So I started to go inward
Get yourself a vial of what one aromatherapy exec calls the ‘duct tape of essential oils’
September 26, 2019 at 01:00PM by CWC When you’re looking for a little bit of self-soothing, it’s makes sense to turn to your toolbox of essential oils. But…which one is best? Do you use lavender oil for a sense of calm? Do you try on a citrus scent to perk you out of a bad mood? Will rolling on some grapefruit with a carrier oil bounce you into your day with an extra dose of energy? Well, yes, all around. So many essential oils offer worthy benefits that choosing just one to rely on for some restorative healing is no small task. But an aromatherapy exec might just have the answer to your essential-oil woes. She says peppermint essential oil benefits are numerous, and when blended with two other high-performing oils, it’s a gold-standard product for holistic healing. “I like to call Peppermint Halo the duct tape of essential oils because it supports pretty much everything,” says Kiara LeBlanc, chief innovation and brand officer at Saje Natural Wellness. “Originally formulated for headaches, it does so much more than that: It gives major love to tight shoulders, pulled muscles, hangovers, low energy—I could go on. It’s not just versatile, but convenient and quick to work.” Peppermint Halo is a blend, meaning it contains several essential oils. While the star of the vial is its eponymous peppermint—and peppermint essential oil benefits do abound—other worthy additions are mixed in, adding up to that duct-tape versatility status: rosemary and lavender. All three of these