September 25, 2019 at 05:00PM by CWC I’ve got my own wellness game down, sure, but in tandem, we’ve collectively got to think more about what we’re doing for the planet’s wellness. In my world, that means that my beauty routine is getting more eco-friendly, I’m a metal straw convert, and my latest frontier in sustainability is all about zero waste toothpaste. If you haven’t heard of such a thing, listen up. Over one billion plastic tubes end up in U.S. landfills, which is pretty damn high. “Finding zero waste options for all of the products we use, including toothpaste, is important in order to help minimize the amount of waste we create, since this waste typically winds up in our oceans and landfills creating a negative effect on our environment,” says Eric Buss, founder and CEO of David’s Natural Toothpaste. So what is zero waste toothpaste, you may ask? It’s not literally zero packaging, but it reduces material use for your oral care essential as much as possible, and makes them more sustainable. “Zero waste toothpaste is about creating a toothpaste that minimizes the amount of waste being created, primarily through the packaging,” explains Buss. At David’s Natural Toothpaste, the brand uses a recyclable aluminum metal tube, since there is “no limit to the number of times that aluminum can be recycled, plus aluminum works extremely well to seal in the freshness of the toothpaste itself,” he says. The main negative thing about conventional toothpaste is that it’s a goopy
Tag: Well+Good
I found jeans so comfortable, you’ll swear you’re wearing leggings every time you put them on
September 25, 2019 at 04:30PM by CWC Everyone has their clothing weakness. For some, it’s bags, while others are more like Carrie Bradshaw and have a soft spot for shoes. My Achilles heel? Jeans. Ever since I was in high school, I’d spend my hard-earned Starbucks paycheck on a new pair of denim practically every month (just ask my mom). To this day, my jeans drawer is so stuffed I can barely shut it all the way, because my collection basically rivals the denim section of any department store. While I’ve tried cutting back, I absolutely could not resist getting my hands on the much-hyped jeans of the brand Good American. The brand launched with denim in 2016, and is the brainchild of Khloe Kardashian and Emma Grede, who both noticed a lack of size and body-inclusive jeans on the market that are actually made to fit women—of all shapes and sizes—well. So they created their own, which immediately made waves for nailing inclusivity, quality, and fit. So yeah, I’m pretty late to the game, but as a self-proclaimed jeans connoisseur, take it from me: They’re really that good. Photo: Good American When I slipped on my pair of Good American Good Legs jeans ($159), which are a high-rise skinny jean style, I could notice how comfortable they were right away—they slid on like a glove and didn’t require the shimmy-up-the-hips dance. The material is a perfect mix of true denim and stretch, so they hug to all of the curves in
In defense of cancel culture, complications and all
September 25, 2019 at 03:30PM by CWC Cancel culture—the phenomenon of deeming someone or something worthless, irrelevant, and over in response to transgressions big, small, ephemeral, and chronic—is our buzziest catchphrase as of late: There have been calls for canceling Saturday Night Live’s Shane Gillis, Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau, and comedian Dave Chappelle in the past month alone. President Trump told the U.N. General Assembly on September 24 that “a free people must never, ever be enlisted in the cause of silencing, canceling, or blacklisting their own neighbors.” (RIP, irony.) And on the Emmys red carpet, Sarah Silverman described cancel culture as “righteousness porn.” I get where she’s coming from, but I don’t think canceling is a bad thing. It’s also not a new thing, and before we were canceling people, we were canceling brands—at least my family was. One of my earliest memories involves me walking up to the guy restocking the vending machine at my dad’s tennis club and informing him that he shouldn’t be putting in Nestlé Crunch bars because babies in developing countries were dying and it was Nestlé’s fault. We were boycotting Nestlé to stop its aggressive marketing of formula to women in developing nations, which it eventually did (for a time). And so my parents stopped their boycott (for a time). Canceling and boycotting are related but not the same, I want to make clear. After Nestlé changed its tune, Crunch bars were back on the menu for us because the purpose of
The simplest cleanser at the drugstore is also the most effective, according to derms
September 25, 2019 at 03:00PM by CWC From drugstore aisles to dermatologist’s offices, one cleanser has withstood the test of time: Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser ($6). The seemingly simple formulation has racked up 41 (count them: 41!) beauty awards industry-wide, countless name-checks from celebs, and more dermatologist recommendations than we’d care to count. But with only eight ingredients—a surprisingly minimal number—and zero “actives,” what’s behind the glowing reviews? Honestly, it’s smack dab on the label: The stuff is gentle. What we need from a cleanser isn’t to treat hyperpigmentation or target redness. We simply just to get skin clean enough so that the products that follow it can do their jobs properly, according to Tiffany J. Libby, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and assistant professor of dermatology at Brown University. After all, the formula gets moved around your complexion and then washed down the drain in a matter of seconds. That’s why Cetaphil’s formula is so simple. It contains a surfactant or cleansing agent, preservatives, and often times, a humectant or moisture-retaining agent, so that skin doesn’t get parched (and TBH, it doesn’t have much else for good reason). “At the end of the day, sometimes less is more,” says Matthew Meckfessel, who works on the research and development team at Galderma, the company behind Cetaphil. “You don’t necessarily need 8,000 ingredients to have a benefit. To have the bare minimum, in itself, is a benefit—especially for those patients who have sensitive skin.” As with all cleansers, the star of Cetaphil’s
The 6 golden rules of gut health doctors are begging you to follow
September 25, 2019 at 02:01PM by CWC Having a thriving microbiome is the cornerstone of living your healthiest life. A healthy gut ensures more energy, fights off germs flying around your office, and gets you your dream job. Okay, maybe not the last one, but considering that every doctor, dietitian, and kombucha-loving wellness influencer is constantly preaching about gut health, it’s clear that it’s wildly important. Everyone wants a healthy gut, but steps you can take to achieve it aren’t always clear. I asked four doctors who specialize in digestive health what gut health rules they wish everyone would follow. The golden rules of gut health 1. Don’t overeat According to integrative medicine doctor and gastroenterologist Marvin Singh, MD, one of the reason why so many Americans have digestive probs is because they simply overload their systems. “Don’t overeat and do leave time for the gut to rest,” he advises. It’s why he personally is a fan of intermittent fasting; it allows the body a chance to chill out so it isn’t constantly working to digest food. 2. Keep your diet clean Dr. Singh says toxins and additives are enemies of gut health; humans aren’t meant to be consuming these unnatural substances. “Stick to real, whole, clean, and organic foods he says. Jacob Skeans, MD, a gastroenterologist at Ohio State University’s Wexner Medical Center, agrees whole heartedly, advising everyone to eat less sugar. “A Western diet is high in sugar which negatively influences the gut microbiome,” he says. If you’re
The ultimate guide to every alt-meat burger on the market right now
September 25, 2019 at 01:05PM by CWC Whether you’ve scored an Impossible Burger from a Burger King drive-thru window or grilled a few Beyond Burgers at home, you’re probably figured out by now that meat-like, plant-based burgers are officially the buzziest new protein option. (Oh, and we totally called it, too.) This is one food trend that RDs are generally pretty into. “By reducing meat intake, not only do we have an opportunity to improve our health, but also make a positive contribution to efforts to reduce or slow climate change,” Nora Minno, RDN, a plant-based dietitian and certified personal trainer in New York City. The motivation for choosing plants over meat is three-fold: (1) reduced risk of certain conditions and diseases, like Type 2 diabetes and cancer, (2) animal welfare and (3) the environment. The alt-meat conversation has long been dominated by the Impossible Burger vs Beyond Burger debate, but now more companies are stepping into the fray with their own meat-like burger offerings. Morningstar Farms will launch an Impossible-esque “bleeding” burger in early 2020, and Trader Joe’s is reportedly launching its own plant-based patties this year. So many options, so little time. In order to help you navigate this increasingly crowded space, we talked to dietitians to help us break down the nutritional benefits of each plant-based burger currently on the market right now. 1. Best overall: Beyond Burger Known as the first plant-based burger to actually look and taste like beef, the Beyond Burger (made by Beyond
Here’s how to copy a celeb-loved $1,500 skin-care routine for less than $100
September 25, 2019 at 12:17AM by CWC If I had a nickel for every time I saw someone with really nice, dewy skin and later found out their beauty routine cost more than my rent, I’d have enough money to buy everyone in my office a very large oat milk latte. That’s precisely why at Well+Good, we are all about drugstore diamonds, the occasional product dupe, and anything and everything that saves money while still being effective. So when I learned that actress-slash-goddess Demi Moore keeps her skin lookin’ good for a mere $1,555, according to Page Six, I felt the need to put my foot down. Sure, it’s great if you can afford to stock your beauty cabinet with moisturizers that tout a $680 price tag, but you don’t necessarily have to. The skin-care world is thriving—products are formulated smartly and inexpensively these days, so you really don’t have to shell out your entire savings account on a face cream to get the job done. And so, with my scrutinizing beauty editor eye, I dissected the five-product fancy product regimen, only to realize that you can definitely get your own Charlie’s Angels glow without going broke. Allow me to break down how to copy her routine for a small fraction of the price ($90 to be exact). Photo: Credentials Soothing moisturizer: Credentials Hydrating System Herbal Nova Creme, $33 Moore’s preference for a soothing moisturizer using Biologique Recherche Creme Dermopurifiante ($195) is understandable—it’s a really good moisturizer for reactive, oily, acne-prone
This last-you-forever ACV shampoo-condition is Amazon’s best-selling beauty product of the week
September 25, 2019 at 12:01AM by CWC Apple cider vinegar might not taste good (like, at all), but it sure is great for your hair. Because of how acidic it is, washing with it can help bring life back to damaged strands, make it super-shiny, and keep your color looking top-notch. It’s also great for your scalp, balancing the pH and clearing any buildup. Yep, basically it’s the beauty BFF you didn’t know you needed… and everyone’s starting to jump on the bandwagon. The best-selling beauty product on Amazon this week is none other than the WOW Apple Cider Vinegar Shampoo and Conditioner Set ($30). The base of virgin coconut oil and avocado oil help nourish and rejuvenate your hair. The star ingredient is what removes all the build-up left on your scalp, resulting in healthier hair and a healthier scalp, and a boost in growth because of that. With more than 7,000 reviews (and a 4.1 of 5 star rating), it’s safe to say people are happy with the results. Since you only need to use this set a couple times a week, the bottles should last for months, saving you money in the long run. Plus, unlike using something you put together at home, you can reap the benefits of ACV without having to smell like it 24/7. I don’t know about you, but I’ve already hit that “add to cart” button. Think it might be time to change shampoos? Here are three signs you should go for
The 4-step guide to building a high-protein salad that keeps you full until dinner
September 24, 2019 at 11:01PM by CWC Salads are the quintessential healthy lunch, but let’s be real, they aren’t always satisfying. You may start your day with the best intentions, having a healthy smoothie or protein bar for breakfast and your meal-prepped greens for lunch, only to find yourself digging around your snack drawer an hour later. Sound familiar? But make yourself a high-protein salad and you’ll be satisfied until dinner. According to F-Factor founder and fiber queen Tanya Zuckerbrot, the reason why some people don’t find salads filling is because they’re missing two key ingredients: lean protein and non-starchy veggies. Yes, fiber-rich greens are important, but without the protein, it just isn’t going to be all that satiating. To drive this point home, she posted a four-step salad building guide to Instagram. View this post on Instagram A post shared by F-Factor by Tanya Zuckerbrot (@f_factor) on Sep 24, 2019 at 6:15am PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Besides lean protein, which includes grilled chicken, turkey, tuna, and tofu, Zuckerbrot emphasizes the importance of including some non-starchy veggies like cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, mushrooms, or beets, too. Zuckerbrot says this is a crucial step as it’s a low-calorie way to add more fiber, which will keep you feeling full longer. Even a high-protein salad can taste pretty bland without a yummy dressing to top it off, but creamy dressings are also often a hidden source of sugars and other additives. This brings us to Zuckerbrot’s fourth salad-building rule: capping your dressing at
How to figure out if you should buy or rent your home, according to a financial expert
September 24, 2019 at 09:38PM by CWC We’ve all heard the same old story about how millennials will *never* own homes due to oat milk lattes and avocado toast stealing all their savings. But if you feel you’re on solid financial ground, the real question that continues to pop up for women everywhere—or at least at our recent Wellness Collective event in San Francisco—is how do you even know when you’re ready to buy, or should stick to renting? “If you’re just crushing it financially, don’t wait on your life to buy a house,” recommends Natalie Schnuck, managing director at First Republic Bank. Translation: Don’t wait on a relationship or a new career if you feel secure in your financial situation and you’re ready for that step—just go for it. And if you are ready to take the leap and claim some bricks, Schnuck suggests doing the research. Figure out your price range, the distance from your work, and the schools that are in the area if you plan on adding (or currently have) tiny members in your family. As for the financial part of the home-owning equation, you’ll need 25 percent of your home’s value ready for a down payment, according to Schnuck. To the rest of you who aren’t ready to buy a home, guess what? You’re not doing anything wrong. “Rent gives you flexibility—it’s okay to rent,” Schnuck says. “You’re not throwing money away, you’re saving stress and saving money.” You can have your apartment and your