February 22, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC Ever feel like one area of your life is a little tougher to navigate than the rest? Maybe you’ve been dealing with challenging family dynamics since childhood, or perhaps financial troubles seem to follow you around wherever you go. Whatever it may be that’s puzzling you, there’s good news, astrologically speaking. That’s because cosmically, our biggest challenges are actually a gateway into our most profound healing. And one great way to gain insight into your struggle zones? Locate Chiron in your astrological chart. Often referred to as “the wounded healer,” Chiron is an asteroid that orbits our solar system somewhere between Uranus and Saturn. “It’s argued that Chiron may be what’s known as a dwarf planet, which is what Pluto is classified as now,” says astrologer and women’s empowerment coach Natalia Benson, author of new astrology-inspired memoir Mystical AF. “Its placement in your chart is where you can get to know and understand what your deeper wounds are, as well as the karmic, past-life energy you’re here to work through to grow and evolve.” “Chiron’s placement in your chart is where you can get to know and understand what your deeper wounds are, as well as the karmic, past-life energy you’re here to work through to grow and evolve.” —astrologer Natalia Benson Like any other planet in your natal chart—like the sun or the moon, for example—Chiron was located in a specific zodiac sign and astrological house at the moment you were born.
Tag: Well+Good
Skin patches do way more than just bust zits these days
February 22, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC First came the pimple patch. In the early days, these were made exclusively of hydrocolloid, a material that dates back to the 1970s and is celebrated for its ability to form an occlusive barrier over skin, while drawing pus and gunk from deep within pores. At its advent, it became a novel way to treat breakouts without having to slather on ointments and serums. Fast forward to years later, and now facial skin patches are a common way to help to deal with skin concerns aplenty, including dark spots, fine lines, and yes, pimples. On beauty shelves now, you can find patches that use microneedling technology to deliver active ingredients deeper into the skin, fight dark spots, give skin-smoothing benefits to other body parts, and even patches that proudly display the fact that you’ve got a pimple (rather than just blur it on the sly). New York-based board-certified dermatologist Marnie Nussbaum, MD, is a fan of patches because they’re “very user-friendly” and give your skin a targeted, pre-measured dose of an active ingredient right to the spot in question. Keep scrolling for the low-down on this new generation of skin patches that you can pop on for healthier, happier skin. Graphic: Well+Good Creative Microdart acne patches Microdart-style patches have teeny, tiny dissolvable “darts” that work like microneedling to deliver acne-fighting or dark spot-brightening active ingredients beneath the skin’s surface. Jennifer Chwalek, MD, a board-certified dermatologist with Union Square Laser Dermatology, says that some
Make these 2 recipes now for a week’s worth of anti-inflammatory, plant-based dinners
February 22, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QNBjXk0c65I] Want to get in on two meal worth of anti-inflammatory eats? Watch Chef Sam Kass do it in under 30 minutes. The act of coming home after work and making dinner can feel like exactly the meditative wind-down you need after a day of playing tag with your to-do list. Keyword: sometimes. On other nights, the mere thought of having to chop an onion may prompt a single teardrop to fall dramatically down one cheek. In that case, you’re going to want to have something—or two things!—prepped and ready to feed your delicate soul. On the most recent episode of Well+Good’s shiny-new video series, Cook With Us, chef Sam Kass whipped up a duo of anti-inflammatory dinner recipes that stay crisp in the fridge for seven days. (Even when the week feels like it’s been about seven years long.)”We’re all super busy and stressed out, so if you can create one foundational dish… then you can use it multiple ways.” Kass’s foundational recipe is a golden, turmeric-infused dressing that works on both a warm and cold salad. After whipping up a dressing featuring olive oil, turmeric, ginger, garlic, dijon mustard, and lemon juice, Chef Kass gets down to the greens. A simple mix of kale, pecans, red onion, and fresh mint, the cold salad is an absolute breeze to make and to eat. Meanwhile, the warmer options calls for a p-a-r-t-y of healthy roasted vegetables: broccoli, cauliflower, carrots, and Brussels sprouts topped off
Dry, damaged hair is no match for this $7 dry conditioner mist
February 22, 2020 at 03:00AM by CWC Saying it’s the season for dry and damaged hair is an understatement. Not only do hair dye and heat styling cause moisture to leach out of hair, but during wintertime, even on days when you don’t wash you hair, thanks to zero percent humidity and harsh winds, strands can still feel crispy. The best way to refresh things between washes? Pantene Mist Behaving Dry Conditioner Mist ($7). If you haven’t used a dry conditioner yet, these work similarly to dry shampoo, but instead of drying out your hair (to get rid of oils on your scalp), these spritzes add moisture back to the bottoms of strands. And the good news is that these work for all hair types, from the finest, straightest textures all the way to the curliest ones. The hydration comes from the product’s cocktail of omega-9 fatty acids, aloe, jojoba oil, and panthenol (a humectant that helps to smooth over your cuticle). The end result really does feel like you’ve just shampooed and conditioned your hair. Plus, it works to detangle and tame flyaways, as well as smooth static that tends to come this time of year. Photo: Pantene During a visit to Procter & Gamble headquarters this week, I visited the Pantene hair innovation research lab to see how hair-care products are formulated and tested before they’re sent to the shelves. In the mock hair salon, I played with the brand’s new line of waterless products that
Don’t get distracted by sweat—here’s how to tell if your workout is working
February 22, 2020 at 02:00AM by CWC Have you ever done a workout that doesn’t feel particularly difficult but for some reason you can’t stop sweating? Or, on the reverse, your muscles feel sore AF, but you haven’t sweat a single drop? It’s not always so cut and dry and it can honestly be pretty confusing. So much so that we’ve started to ask ourselves: Does sweat equal a good workout or nah? To find out, we reached out to fitness pioneer and creator of the Tracy Anderson Method Tracy Anderson for the low-down on why perspiration isn’t always the best indicator of how well you did in a workout and what to pay attention to instead. “You can sweat sitting at the beach,” she says in a pretty matter-of-fact way that cuts through all the noise. She’s right: Science shows that, when it comes to exercise, sweat is our body’s cooling mechanism, and the liquid that leaves our pores helps to prevent us from cooking from within. What’s more: Studies have even found that fit people tend to sweat more than those who aren’t, indicating that sweat doesn’t really play a role in helping you to understand how grueling a workout was. “The sad truth is that you can feel like you are getting a good workout when you aren’t for all kinds of reasons.” Along with sweating, think: getting out of breath, feeling tired, experiencing a ‘burn’ from a certain stretch, the list goes on. Truth be told,
Is it ever actually worth it to wake up before the sun?
February 22, 2020 at 01:00AM by CWC Mark Wahlberg wakes up at 2:30 a.m. I repeat: Mark Wahlberg wakes up at 2:30 a.m. Wakes up. At 2:30 in the morning. On purpose. We like to break society into two different groups: morning people and night owls. But Marky Mark shows us that things are a bit more nuanced. I think that the fact I enjoy being up at 7 a.m. makes me a morning person, but people who willingly get up when it’s still dark? That’s a whole other beast. But is it better to wake up early? In the premiere of Zoë Tries It All, Well+Good beauty and fitness editor Zoë Weiner tries three different morning routines in order to find an answer to the question. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dIrRsGzTU9w] Zoë tries things she’s never tried before, like making a smoothie, taking cold showers, and making time morning meditation (pro tip: get out of bed to meditate or you will just fall back to sleep). She also tries morning yoga, which, according to director of education for YogaSix Kelly Clifton Turner, actually helps you sleep better. “Once you make your morning yoga flow a habit, your body will get used to waking up at that specific time,” she says. “And this will help to regulate your circadian sleep cycles, which we often throw out of whack by varying when we go to sleep and wake up.” It’s safe to say that none of these tasks are necessary to start your day.
This is the *only* way you should ever eat your potatoes
February 21, 2020 at 11:00PM by CWC Made popular by Trader Joe’s, “everything bagel” seasoning isn’t going anywhere anytime soon. You can sprinkle the mouth-watering blend of poppy seeds, toasted sesame seeds, dried garlic, dried onion, and salt on… everything. It’s great on waffles, salads, avocado toasts, salmon—you name it. And now that I’ve seen the magic that is everything bagel fries, I vow to never eat my potatoes any other way. Rachel Mansfield, a food blogger and author of the cookbook Just the Good Stuff, recently shared the genius idea on Instagram, sparking a wave of heart-eyed commentary from her followers. After using the seasoning for everything else in her life, she realized you can add a dash to your fries, too—and let’s just say she was not disappointed with the result. “Everything bagel french fries. It seems so basic and simple, yet it took me years to finally combine these two flavors together. The fries get extra crispy baked in the oven, and sprinkling it with the Everything But The Bagel seasoning from Trader Joe’s adds the best flavor bomb to your plate,” she tells me. Aside from eating these bagel-y fries straight-up (she says even cold and dipped in Ranch dressing is a win!), she also switches things up by turning them into something that’s a little more fitting for breakfast. “I love adding some fried eggs on top for a little eggs and hash brown action,” she says. However you choose to eat these potatoes, one thing’s
This 81-year-old great grandmother is a cycling world-record holder—here’s how she does it
February 21, 2020 at 10:22PM by CWC At a time when most people begin to slow down their daily routine, Patricia Baker sped up her career as a professional indoor cyclist at age 67. Now 81 years old, she’s won 25 national championships and one world championship. A retired pharmacist, Baker says being active was never a choice—it was a lifestyle, one she credits for her enduring health. “When you’ve been a pharmacist for over 50 years, you see a lot of stuff,” says Baker, a resident of Laguna Hills, California. “Throughout my whole life, I’ve believed drugs are something that a lot of people want to use because they’re not willing to make lifestyle changes.” Baker’s cycling takes place in a velodrome, a steeply banked 250-meter indoor track. From the inner ring of the track to the outer ring there is a 42-degree slope. If her speed falls below 16.5 mph, she’ll literally fall off the track. Her track bike has no brakes and she changes gears by bringing your bike back to the infield to adjust the chain. “I got my first adult bicycle and fell in love with it right then and there.” Baker is able to perform at this level because she’s practiced healthy habits all her life. She grew up climbing trees and riding horses along the Gulf Coast of Florida. She loves to eat fruits and vegetables (fresh guava is her favorite). She played tennis in college, but admits she wasn’t very good. Her
4 stretches that will give your skin an instant glow-up for $0
February 21, 2020 at 10:04PM by CWC The “yoga glow” has always seemed like one of those wellness-world scams, like six pack abs or 10,000 steps. The idea of being able to improve your skin as an accidental side-effect of your flow may sound too good to be true. But according to the pros, it actually does check out, and to some extent, you really *can* stretch your way to happier and healthier skin. “Stretching delivers extra blood flow to skin,” says Alain Saint-Dic, head of training and development at Stretch Relief. In the short term, that extra blood rush can give your face a nice, instant flush. With that same blood flow, you also add nutrients and hydration to help cleanse and strengthen skin, while also minimizing signs of aging. Over time, Saint-Dic says the stress-relieving effects of stretching regularly can also offer some more long-term benefits for skin. How? We know that the stress hormone, cortisol, is closely linked to skin health. When cortisol spikes, it can lead to acne. So it makes sense, then, that doing an activity to help balance stress levels—aka stretching—can benefit your skin. “Increased stress levels have a negative impact on overall skin health, so stretches that target high stress areas in the body—such as the neck, shoulders, and lower back—will have a positive effect on skin health,” explains Saint-Dic. But before you go tossing your serums in the trash, it’s worth noting that while these practices can help improve skin health, they’re not
The ‘plank body scan’ will make sure you engage every muscle in your body
February 21, 2020 at 08:55PM by CWC Planking seems easy enough. The exercise requires little more than holding yourself in a stationary position. Pretty cool. But don’t let the inspiring woman who held one for more than four hours straight fool you; they’re not as easy as they look. And if even one tiny part of your form isn’t correct, it throws the whole thing off. There are a lot of common mistakes people make when planking. According to trainer Meg Takacs, some people strain their neck, some push their hips up way too high, and some keep their feet too close together. It happens—especially when you muscles are already tired from the rest of your workout. The good news is instead of wondering whether you’re doing a plank the correct way or not, Takacs has a seven-step checklist you can run down to ensure you get the most out of the move every time. It will only take a handful of times doing this easy-to-follow body scan for you to have it memorized. And after you do learn how to do a plank like a pro, all I’ve gotta say is any record-holders better watch out. [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u6ZelKyUM6g] How to do a plank in 7 easy steps Stack your hands under your shoulders. Keep your neck in line with the rest of your spine. Keep your hips a little bit higher than you feel like you should. Push your belly button up toward your spine. Keep your feet shoulder-width