February 16, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfK9aDhqU_8] Cooking on weeknights isn’t always convenient. After a long day at work, it’s not always easy (or fun) to have to rush home, quickly prep your ingredients, cook the meal, and actually enjoy it in a reasonable amount of time. The so-called “joy of cooking” feels a little far-fetched when there are just so. many. steps. You’re not the only one who falls into this trap—even professional chefs deal with this feeling. On the premiere episode of Well+Good’s new show, Cook With Us, celebrity chef Dale Talde revealed that after a long day of cooking at his restaurant Goosefeather at the Tarrytown House Estate, he relies on shortcuts like pre-cut vegetables, frozen vegetables, and other tricks to get delicious food on the table fast. “As much integrity as I have in my cooking at home, any minute you can save to get food on a plate to either you or your family, it’s like so valuable,” Talde says. His go-to hack that blew the mind of Cook With Us judge Jessie Van Amburg: raiding your favorite supermarket salad bar (oh hey, Whole Foods!) for pre-cut vegetables and other ready-to-go ingredients when time is of the essence. “It’s using really nice salad bars as your mise en place,” he says. “They did all the work for you.” For example, if you hate cutting onions, or don’t feel like buying a whole thing of bean sprouts? Hit up the salad bar and fill
Tag: Well+Good
I’m a Sephora beauty director, and I just can’t hide how great these 4 concealers are
February 16, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC In the best of skin times and the worst of skin times, I have always, always swiped on a concealer. The beauty product is one of those that stands the tests of acne, aging, sleepless nights, and every reality in between. And when I talked to Sephora beauty director Jeffrey English, I learned that he, too, has a long and loving partnership with the best concealers. “I’ve always had a really strong relationship to concealer because I feel like—as a male, when you start getting into grooming and you really look into makeup—I think concealer is one of the first products that you grab for because you know you really want quick results, fast,” he says. Over his years as a makeup artist, English has narrowed down the five concealers that never (never!) leave his makeup kit. Curious about what they are? Sephora beauty director Jeffrey English names the 4 best concealers at Sephora 1. NARS Radiant Creamy Concealer, $30 “I would be remiss not to talk about the Nars Radiant Creamy Concealer. I think that that is the tried-and-true. It’s a Sephora favorite, and it’s really been living and breathing at the Sephora beauty studio,” says English. The formula’s velvety texture makes it stand out among the rest, and once it’s on, it dosen’t budge. “I like this particular product because it’s great for self-setting, so you don’t have to put any powder on top of it to kind of keep it in
Derms explain what to look for in a shampoo for psoriasis
February 16, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC There’s nothing fun about having a flaky, itchy scalp. Some experience small flurries of flakes when their scalp is dry, while others have dandruff, which is caused by yeast on your scalp. There are varying severities of dandruff, but when your scalp is super red and scaly, it might be more than dandruff. Shani Francis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Illinois, says it could be psoriasis. Luckily, you can usually deal with it with a good shampoo for psoriasis. “When psoriasis is on the scalp it looks like, to a person that doesn’t know, really bad dandruff,” she says. “Most people that come into the dermatologist say, ‘I knew this wasn’t just dandruff.’” When you have psoriasis on other parts of your body, and then notice intense scalp flaking, you might immediately think that it’s your psoriasis. But, if you don’t have it anywhere else, it’s easy to assume you just have really bad dandruff, says Dr. Francis. What is scalp psoriasis, and how does it affect hair? Nicole Rogers, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, and hair transplant surgeon based in Louisiana, says that scalp psoriasis forms a dry, white, itchy layer of scale over parts, or all of, the scalp. “It results from a hyper proliferation of skin cells,” she says. “Usually I see it around the back of the scalp, behind the ears and below, but it can occur all over the scalp too.” Dr. Rogers adds that it has to
What being on the cusp of Aquarius and Pisces means for your personality
February 15, 2020 at 08:00PM by CWC Each month with On the Cusp, we point our astrological magnifying glass on all the people born between two zodiac signs. Because when your birthday falls at either the tail end or the very beginning of your sun sign’s season, your personality may be influenced by your cosmic neighbor. Stefanie Iris Weiss Stefanie Iris Weiss, astrologer and co-author of Surviving Saturn’s Return: Overcoming the Most Tumultuous Time of Your Life, is here to illuminate us about what being born on the Aquarius Pisces cusp beans for a person’s psyche. Below, Weiss (who is available for 2020 readings), explains what happens when free-minded, genius-leaning Aquarius signs (January 20 to February 18) mix traits with mix traits with the psychic empath Pisces (February 19 to March 20). This month, our focus is on those born on the Aquarius Pisces Cusp. With an ethereal presence that feels otherworldly, those who teeter on the edge of Aquarius and Pisces—born a few days before the end of Aquarius season or a few days into Pisces season—are some of the most uniquely creative and intuitive people around. “You’re miles ahead of everyone else because all Aquarians are geniuses. But with a touch of the Pisces energy that struggles with boundaries, you drift off on tangents.” —astrologer Stefanie Iris Weiss “You’re miles ahead of everyone else, figuring out some kind of cosmic equation, because all Aquarians are geniuses,” says Weiss. “But with a touch of the Pisces energy that struggles with boundaries, you
10 delicious, plant-based Mexican recipes that go way beyond rice and beans
February 15, 2020 at 06:00PM by CWC Here in the States, beef, chicken, pork, and cheese are often staples of Mexican foods eaten at home and at restaurants. Think: tacos al pastor, chicken tinga, carnitas…yum. However, none of those foods really work anymore for people trying to shift to a more plant-based diet. But the truth is, traditional Mexican food is inherently plant-based, which makes the cuisine particularly suited for vegetarian and vegan eaters. Corn, avocado, tomatoes, beans, and rice are all core ingredients in most Mexican dishes. Besides being nutrient-rich, these ingredients are also sustainable and inexpensive, a triple win. All of this is to say: cooking up plant-based, Mexican food is easier than you think. Plus, depending on your interpretation of a plant-based diet (from eating a little meat and cheese to eating no animal products at all), there are tons of tasty dishes that will fit the bill. However, it can be hard to reimagine your favorite Mexican dishes sans meat without just defaulting to another meal of rice and beans. To give you some cooking inspiration, check out these 10 delicious vegetarian Mexican recipes. Whether you’re craving tacos, quesadillas, enchiladas, or another classic dish, you’re sure to find your new favorite go-to recipe here. Keep reading for some tasty vegetarian Mexican recipes to try at home: Photo: Minimalist Baker 1. Quinoa taco meat While there are some great alt-meat products out there, you can also make your own beef substitute at home using quinoa. As when making
Flip your crunches upside down to work your core in an entirely new way
February 15, 2020 at 05:00PM by CWC If you’ve spent most of your adult life lamenting that high school math would never have any real life applications (see you literally never, calculus), we’ve finally found a place to put all that info you learned about angles in geometry to good use: Your core routine. By tweaking the angles of your body when you’re doing crunches and sit-ups, you’re able to totally change the muscles that the moves are working. Case in point: Extending your ab workout beyond the usual 180 degrees has some major body benefits. Regular crunches—aka the kind you do with your back and feet on the floor—work your rectus abdominis (your “six-pack muscle”), internal and external obliques, hip flexors, and quadriceps. But when you take away the back support—by positioning yourself on a raised surface or platform, for instance—and allow your upper body to get below your lower body, you’re able to get even deeper into the muscles in your core. (If you’re a real pro you can quite literally go upside down, by using a boxing bag or some such to get into position.) “When you perform a crunch from an over-extended position you may be able to tap into your innermost abdominal muscles,” says Obé Fitness trainer Tiffani Robbins. “Additionally, you will be turning on the muscles in your lower back, which are an important component of your core and are often a more difficult group of muscles to work correctly.” Since you’re starting with your back
This is exactly happens when you wash your hair too often
February 15, 2020 at 04:00PM by CWC There are those who can’t let a day go by without washing their hair, and those who get by with only washing once a week… or longer. If you’re one of those daily washers, you probably already know it’s not the best move for your hair. But what exactly happens when you scrub your hair every day? According to Kristina Tabb, celebrity hair expert and co-owner of Tabb & Sparks Salon in Santa Monica, washing your hair day after day might seem like it’s helping, but it’s not. “Simply put, overwashing can result in extra oil in your hair. When you train your hair to be washed every day, your oil glands adjust to producing more oil to compensate for the loss of oils that the shampoo is stripping. Even if you’re more oily, you’re also drying out the hair strand,” she says. “The goal is to train your oil glands to not over-produce oil, and staying consistent with your shampoo regimen is the only way to do that.” According to Tabb, the goal is washing your hair every three to four days. “That might sound unachievable or crazy, but it’s important to go through a period of retraining your hair and oil production for overall hair and scalp health. It will be worth it,” she says. But if you’re not ready to give up your once-a-day hair washing schedule yet, there are some things you can do to help prevent damage to
I took a stretching class from a former professional gymnast—this is what I learned
February 15, 2020 at 02:00PM by CWC In the fitness recovery world, there are plenty of studios you can hit up to have someone professionally stretch your muscles out (think Stretch*d in New York City or StretchLab in Los Angeles). Also on the rise? Stretching classes that give you group instruction for stretching your body from head to toe. When I walk into an SM Stretching class at Energi in NYC, I expect to spend the full hour on a mat folding my body into various restorative positions, like I’m used to doing in yoga. Instead, I’m immediately moving between jumping jacks, squats, crunches, and other moves—all accentuated with a resistance band—to get my blood pumping. “We start with a 15-minute workout before stretching so that you get your muscles warm,” says founder Samira Mustafaeva. “Otherwise you can hurt yourself.” She’s right: Stretching cold muscles is not the right move, y’all. Once I’m nice and warm, it’s time to get loose. Mustafaeva takes the class through pretty classic stretches—think frog pose, straight-leg hamstring stretch, and half-splits—some of which you do with a partner or with her assistance (she pushed me almost into a full split). But what’s very, very different about this stretching class and the stretching I do on my own time is the length that we hold the poses. “Each stretch is held for one minute at least, but a lot are held for two or three minutes,” says Mustafaeva, noting that this length of time allows your body to
How natural caffeine compares to synthetic caffeine, according to health experts
February 15, 2020 at 12:00PM by CWC Almost everyone is familiar with the effects of caffeine from coffee, tea, and chocolate. While these natural caffeine sources are super well-known, synthetic caffeine, made from chemicals and added to some “energy-boosting” drinks, isn’t talked about as much. Curious about the difference? “Synthetic caffeine is produced from urea and chloroacetic acid while natural caffeine is extracted from plant products,” says Gabrielle McGrath, RD, the the in-house dietitian for Lexi’s Clean Living. Urea is a compound made of carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen and is considered non-toxic by the Food and Drug Administration. However, if you’re vegan, it’s important to know that urea is typically sourced from animals. While the sourcing is different, nutrition expert Katie Boyd, MS, says at a chemical level, synthetic caffeine and natural caffeine are almost identical. Since they’re so similar at a structural level, you may be wondering why brands would even use synthetic caffeine in the first place. The major reason according to McGrath is that it’s cheaper. She adds that the most common places you’ll find synthetic caffeine are in sodas and energy drinks, and while synthetic caffeine itself may not be toxic, it’s often used alongside sugars and additives that are directly linked to poor health. Now the big question: Can your body tell the difference between the two? Both Boyd and McGrath say there’s one major difference in how the body responds: Synthetic caffeine is absorbed in the body quicker and can have more powerful effects.
Amazon reviewers and Redditors love this $9 face mask, but derms have another opinion
February 15, 2020 at 03:00AM by CWC The Internet loves a good masking moment, and no mask has achieved cult-fave status quite like Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay ($9). The mix-it-yourself solution is lauded for its ability to unclog pores, and the before-and-after photos Redditors have shared of it clearing away their acne are truly unbelievable. But according to board-certified dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, you might want to think twice before slathering it all over your face—particularly during dry skin season. “I think it can be great for someone who has oily skin, but this time of year you really don’t want to overdo it because of the winter air,” she says. “It’s bad for dry skin.” Clay works by drawing out toxins and clearing and tightening pores, which can be a little too intense for skin that’s dry to begin with. Even if you are oily-complected, Dr. Gohara still says you should use the mask sparingly, especially if you’ve already got a lot of other drying ingredients, like exfoliating acids and retinol, in your routine. While clearing away excess oil with these things is usually a good thing, if you clear away too much of it your skin will start to dry out. Then, your body will start overproducing sebum to make up for the discrepancy, and you’ll wind up with skin that feels dry, oily, and just plain uncomfortable all at the same time. Because of this, Dr. Gohara recommends using the mask once a month at most.