September 04, 2019 at 04:30AM by CWC Grilled on skewers, whipped into an omelette, or acting as a vessel to stuff in even more veggies—is there any way you don’t love mushrooms? Newsflash: There’s about to be a new one, because they want in on your face. That’s right, the potential benefits of mushroom (and other forest-grown ingredients) are making their way into your skin care, and it couldn’t be happening at a better time. “Stressors from environmental pollution, digital pollution, and our fast-paced modern lifestyles [can] create barriers to the natural world and wreak havoc on our health and our skin,” says Natalie Pergar, lead skin care trainer at Eminence Organic Skin Care. So are Netflix and smog doing not so-great-things for your skin? Pergar thinks so—but says that exposing your skin to nature, like the Japanese practice of forest bathing, can help. “The Pure Forest Collection brings the restorative properties of the forest directly to the skin, allowing us to release the stress of urban living and reconnect with nature.” That’s why Pergar and the team at Eminence Organics took things back to basics with their latest collection. “The Pure Forest Collection [helps] bring the restorative properties of the forest directly to the skin, allowing us to release the stress of urban living and reconnect with nature,” she says. And the star ingredient? Mushrooms, of course—specifically supercharged reishi and snow mushrooms, both of which have been buzzed about for their potential radiance-boosting powers. Keep scrolling to learn more
Tag: Well+Good
This paint company has your wellness in mind—here’s why that’s important
September 04, 2019 at 03:01AM by CWC You’ve been doing everything you can to make sure your home is as free of toxins as possible, creating a plant-filled indoor jungle to help keep the air clean and making sure your water is always filtered. One thing you probably haven’t thought about, though, is the paint on the walls within your sanctuary. You may not realize it, but paint, cleaning items, and many other common items emit gases called volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can impact the air quality inside your home for years. That’s why Backdrop—quite possibly the most millennial paint company, ever—is bringing wellness to the forefront in the expansive world of home improvement in order to make sure adding a little personality to your home doesn’t come at a cost for your health. Backdrop currently offers 50 shades, all of which are low-VOC. A gallon of paint (packaged in a recyclable can) isn’t exactly cheap at $59, but the company is certified by Green Wise, which means the paint went through robust testing to ensure it limits VOCs as well as prohibits certain chemical compounds and heavy metals, including formaldehyde, phthalates, mercury, and methylene chloride. As an added bonus, all paints are also vegan and cruelty-free. View this post on Instagram @cocoandbreezy’s new backdrop 36 HOURS IN MARRAKESH @thelorca A post shared by BACKDROP (@backdrop) on Jun 14, 2019 at 12:02pm PDT //www.instagram.com/embed.js Before committing to a color, you can skip the messy paint samples and go for Backdrop’s
Ancient Greeks used personality types—and their model connects to MBTI, enneagram, and astrology
September 04, 2019 at 01:00AM by CWC Way back, before the cultural interest expanded for Myers-Briggs, enneagram, Helen Fisher’s romantic types, David Keirsey’s temperaments, and beyond, the ancient Greeks were already hypothesizing about personality types. Philosopher Hippocrates‘ temperament psychology posited that characteristics of personality are derived from different proportions of bodily fluids unique to each person: black bile, yellow bile, blood, and phlegm. Based on this measure, each person would fit into one of four temperaments. While the fluid concept didn’t hold up to scientific advances and discoveries, taking a closer look at temperament psychology and how its four types parallel in many ways to current standards of personality theory is eye-opening. Below, check out a description for each, how it connects to other personality indicators, and then learn how to discover your own. 1. Sanguine Sanguine personalities are bright, optimistic, cheerful, energetic, and spontaneous. They embody youth and are easily bored, preferring constant entertainment to sitting still. They prefer variety to stability, and often chase risk with a high tolerance for adventure. They tend to be very friendly and easy to be around, but they don’t always take things seriously. Fast facts about Sanguines: Element: Air Fluid: Blood Often embodying people who are: Myers-Briggs ESFPs; enneagram 7s 2. Phlegmatic Phlegmatic types are the likable peacemakers who are calm, cool, collected, and diplomatic above all else. They care a lot about others, but are also emotionally reserved and hide their feelings from those they care about. They are relaxed and
The 10 best healthy eats to buy at Trader Joe’s, according to a dietitian
September 04, 2019 at 12:00AM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1xXMWc_GKiI] Discover a registered dietitian’s affordable Trader Joe’s haul in this super fun video. Trader Joe’s is a goldmine for healthy food. Cauliflower pizza crust, sweet potato ribbons, white bean hummus…walking the aisles is like a scavenger hunt dreamed up by dietitians. There are so many great options, in fact, that even though TJ’s is known for affordable shopping, the total price of your bounty can add up. How in the world do you narrow it down? It’s a question we asked registered dietitian Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD in the latest episode of Well+Good’s YouTube series, You Versus Food. In the video—you can watch the whole thing above—she reveals her must-have picks. Her first favorite is the brand’s cult hit cauliflower gnocchi. “If you haven’t tried—or at least heard—of the latest TJ’s product making headlines around the world, then you’re possibly living under a rock,” she says. “It’s gnocchi made of heavenly puffs of cauliflower.” Alt-pasta that’s gluten-free, low-carb, *and* tastes good? Sold. You’ll also find frozen dark chocolate-covered bananas in Beckerman’s Trader Joe’s cart. “Frozen slices of cold bananas covered in dark chocolate? What more do you need?” she raves. “[There are] two major wins with this dessert: “One, because it’s frozen, you won’t be able to throw back that many without getting brain freeze. And two, you’ll be delivering the body with potassium and magnesium,” both nutrients that will help you wind down before bedtime. Her loot comes to a
WTF is trigger point therapy and how can it help your bod feel better?
September 03, 2019 at 11:33PM by CWC Even if you haven’t heard of “trigger points,” you probably still know what they is. Basically a fancy way of saying a muscle knot or kink, trigger point therapy refers to easing pain in an area on your body where you’re dealing with muscle spasms. Fortunately, there’s a simple way to alleviate that discomfort. Before you learn how to treat your trigger points, it’s important to know why they come about in the first place. And there’s one prime cause: repetitive activity. For adults who aren’t playing sports after school on a regular basis anymore, that mostly means being hunched over your laptop nearly every day, which causes your muscles to tense up. That’s where trigger point therapy comes in, which can safely get rid of those distracting aches and pains. Common trigger points are found in the neck and lower back. They feel like a small nodule that’s sensitive when you apply even gentle pressure. “There are many different techniques for trigger point therapy, including rubbing, massaging, and pressing, which help alleviate the symptoms,” says Roy Nissim, DC, a chiropractor at Active Therapy Center in Santa Monica, California. “Receiving trigger point therapy can help by alleviating pain, tension, and stress. This is because the tissue is able to glide more efficiently, and more blood flow is distributed to that tissue. The therapy can make you feel mentally and physically recharged.” While trigger point therapy sounds incredible, there’s one thing you should know
Photographic memory isn’t real—but these 6 tips for remembering things better are
September 03, 2019 at 11:01PM by CWC My nose scrunched as I took a quiz to determine if I have a photographic memory. The test presents a series of images for 7 seconds and asks you to recall to recall specific details, like “How many lemon slices are in the picture.” I performed at a D+ level with 66 percent accurate recall—and half of that is by virtue of good guessing. I’m not alone, though. A survey earlier this summer showed that of 2,000 participants who took U.K.-based Lenstore’s quiz only 1.2 percent got all 10 questions correct. Perhaps that’s because photographic memory is believed to be… not a thing. It’s true. According to experts, the closest thing to photographic memory is eidetic imagery, a supposed ability to “see” an image in one’s mind with vivid detail after viewing it once, but that’s terribly uncommon. So how do you take clearer mental snapshots? Carla Marie Manly, PhD, clinical psychologist and author of Aging Joyfully, shares how to focus with a few tips. 1. Avoid multitasking. That sounds Herculean to be honest because, I know, I know, living in a burnout-based culture means endless demands. How else are you going to get things done unless you tackle your schedule with octopus arms? As you’d imagine, though, doing 40 things at once will slice your focus. If you’re on a Duolingo kick or something, carve out some time to sit and actually learn some damn Italian versus studying while working out or
Pycnogenol is the collagen-stimulating ingredient to add to your skin-care routine pronto
September 03, 2019 at 11:00PM by CWC Were there an Atlas Obscura for skin-care ingredients, rest assured that you’d find an entry for pycnogenol. Because while retinol, vitamin C, and hyaluronic acid might get most of the buzz, the collagen-stimulating ingredient offers up the road less traveled (so to speak) when it comes to skin care. And it could pay off big time to add it to your routine because it’s got a lot of clout for plumping, hydrating, and protecting your complexion. Pycnogenol is a research-backed ingredient that’s a potent antioxidant, so it helps to fend off free radicals, and it’s also been shown to restore elasticity within the complexion. According to Rachel Nazarian, MD, a New York City-based dermatologist, it’s derived from a maritime pine bark and can be applied topically or taken as a supplement to absorb its good-for-skin benefits. “It’s been studied for several years to determine its effects on skin and aging,” she says. “Many studies have supported its use as a supplement taken orally that enhances the skin’s ability to produce more hyaluronic acid to maintain hydration and water in the skin.” Similarly, the ingredient has been found to help with collagen production in the skin, which keeps your complexion looking plump and youthful. “I call it one of my desert island supplements because of its multitude of health benefits,” says Fred Pescatore, MD. “When pycnogenol’s applied topically, it works at the cellular level to selectively bind to collagen and elastin. Its natural anti-inflammatory
Solidcore is doing for the megaformer what Orangtheory did for HIIT—taking it everywhere
September 03, 2019 at 08:49PM by CWC “Never give up.” Those three words are painted on the floor at Solidcore, a megaformer studio in Chelsea in New York City, and some other 20 cities nationwide. To be honest, this mantra is the only thing keeping me from collapsing out of what feels like my 900th plank of the day. As I use my core muscles move the carriage in and out as slowly as possible, I can’t help but grunt out loud Serena Williams-style at the level of exertion and the fact that every single part of my body is shaking like a jello mold. There is so much sweat dripping off of my face that the concrete around that “Never Give Up” sign looks like a Jackson Pollock painting. It is absolute hell, but I feel strong. Though it took me until this summer to discover Solidcore, the brand has actually been around since 2013. It first launched in Washington DC (where it quickly became one of Michelle Obama‘s favorite workouts), and has since expanded to more than 50 studios in 21 cities. The brand is on the verge of a massive expansion with plans to open at least 20 more studios before the end of the year and hopes to hit their 100th location some time in 2020. If this is the first you’re hearing of Solidcore, it certainly won’t be the last: They’re primed to become the Orangetheory of megaformer classes, if you will. ad_intervals[‘418709_div-gpt-ad-9261280-3’] = setInterval(function ()
Why some experts don’t recommend intermittent fasting if you’re trying to get pregnant
September 03, 2019 at 08:37PM by CWC Forget about simply cutting processed foods or carbs from your diet: Celebs like Hugh Jackman and Kourtney Kardashian reportedly aren’t eating much—if at all—some days. Known as intermittent fasting (IF), the goal of the buzzy eating plan is to speed up metabolism, encourage healthy weight management, and improve overall health by following certain time-specific restrictions on eating. But if the idea of severely cutting calories or skipping meals on some days sounds iffy to you, there’s good reason to be hesitant—especially if you’re a woman. In theory, periods of fasting allow your body to churn through the sugar in your blood, lowering your insulin levels so you eventually use stored fat as energy. Some research suggests that IF might improve blood sugar, pressure, and cholesterol levels, promote healthy weight management, and reduce Type 2 diabetes risk—although most studies so far are in animals. ad_intervals[‘420126_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘420126_div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7435403-3’);}); } }, 100); The calculations on IF benefits, however, may change for women. “In my patients, I’ve seen a lot of females who can’t go above 18 hours of fasting, while the guys can do three-day water fasts,” says Ruvini Wijetilaka, MD, a board-certified internal medicine physician at Parsley Health in New York City. “I’m not saying all fasting is bad. But severe caloric restriction in IF is not beneficial fertility-wise.” As it’s presented in high school health class, pregnancy seems pretty straightforward: egg plus sperm equals baby. But conception
The absolute best days to empty your wallet during Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty sale
September 03, 2019 at 07:34PM by CWC Sure, there are the twelve days of Christmas and the 31 Nights of Halloween on TV—but the most exciting several-days-long-fest is Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty sale. The beauty megastore has slashed hot-ticket skin-care and makeup products to fifty percent off, and every day there are new sales to feast on. As you’d guess, the Ulta sale is literally 21 days of add-to-cart fun (we’re already on day three). And alongside the perk of scoring beauty products at a way lower price than usual is the fact that Ulta’s also dropping new product launches throughout the event and offering mixing and matching options. The actual rundown is as follows: There are 50 percent off deals on select products every single day (it differs by the day), buy two, get one free minis with skin care, makeup, and hair care products, and a weekly beauty deal where you’re able to get the lowest prices on the Ulta Beauty Collection. My beauty-dedicated self is quite honestly overwhelmed. So since the 21-day sale extravaganza is so major and jam-packed with goodies, I’ve parsed through the whole selection to share my absolute favorite steals for you to take advantage of as you shop. Ready to get adding to cart? Keep scrolling for the 10 best buys at Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty sale. ad_intervals[‘420156_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’] = setInterval(function () { if (ads_ready) { clearTimeout(ad_intervals[‘420156_div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’]); googletag.cmd.push(function(){googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-7520022-3’);}); } }, 100); Photo: Flesh 9/3: Flesh Touch Flesh Highlighting Balm, $9 I’m a huge