All these incessant questions and fears were things that I created, and they came alive at night. As time went on, I started having anxiety about my anxiety—a vicious cycle that took a serious toll. When I look back at that time, I can see how much I was resisting trust by not allowing myself to let go and simply be in the flow of my process and my life....
But in the last year, it’s also become the unlikely home to another beauty consumer and brand: The kind that cross-references the Environmental Working Group’s website on a regular basis and whose routine defaults to less is more. Sephora, in what seemed nearly unthinkable only a few years prior, became a clean beauty hub—if not the go-to clean retailer for many. But by the time they launched their clean section last year—which included a verified stamp of approval, designated section on the website, and an official list of nasties—things had changed....
There’s the popular “triangle trick,” where you’d draw on an inverted triangle to brighten up the face; the classic dotting technique, where you’d pepper a string of spots from the inner corners outward. Or you might just sweep the doe-foot directly on those dark circles and call it a day. Simple, low-maintenance, and foolproof—right? Even if eye bags aren’t your main offense (say, discoloration is more your gripe), using two tubes of concealer can also help you brighten up the area without looking flat....
When working with patients in my practice and online community, I hear a lot of similar comments. In particular: As a board-certified gynecologist, I am uniquely qualified to understand the private suffering that women experience with weight gain and body shame. But even more important, I used to be fat. So I applied my medical knowledge to my own body to free myself of weight gain. And now I want to share my knowledge with you....
While caffeine itself isn’t going to negatively impact your skin (big relief), certain additional ingredients can. Here are five quick and easy tips to make your morning beverage beneficial for your skin so you can supercharge your daily ritual: The goal here is to limit the side effects of consuming too much caffeine2, which include inadequate hydration and trouble falling asleep (just to name a couple)—both of which can influence your skin....
The good news is that you don’t have to resort to a crash diet or hours upon hours of exercise to get back on track. Your body is resilient and knows how to heal itself. Here are a few gentle ways you can help it along the way. Try sipping on warm green tea before and after meals to keep your metabolism and digestive fire strong. Fennel tea is a great choice as well, as it relieves digestive problems such as indigestion, bloating, flatulence, constipation, intestinal gas, heartburn, and even irritable bowels....
Cacao butter, or cocoa butter, is still somewhat of a secret in the wellness world, despite boasting a number of healthy properties that can rival the more well-known cacao powder. One tablespoon of cacao butter has 27.1 mg of phytosterols1, a compound that’s been found in studies to help lower bad cholesterol levels. It’s also been found to be anti-inflammatory in a number of studies. Cacao butter can also work well in savory dishes—it goes particularly well with basil, peppercorns, green peas, roasted cauliflower, and flaky fish dishes....
The gradual and natural decline of the body’s collagen supply contributes to what we consider signs of aging: fine lines, sagging, sallowness, loss of volume, and more.* It’s no wonder that people are constantly looking for ways to “restore” their natural levels. Here, we look into why collagen declines and the most effective (and natural) ways to support your own levels of this protein in the skin.* Collagen is found in many areas of the body: skin, bone, cartilage, and muscle, with the purpose of helping tissues be simultaneously more firm, elastic, and withstand stretching....
“But nobody has to see the nude for the picture taking to have benefit,” says Megan Ixim, branding expert, fat activist, and the founder and performer behind That Fat Babe. “Taking a photo can be a powerful way to celebrate your body, fight against body dysmorphia, and cultivate self-love.” You also need to worry about security and privacy, according to Javay Frye-Nekrasova, M.Ed., a sex educator with sex toy retailer Lovehoney....
Diffusers are one of those hair tools that you either know and love or you’re totally clueless about what it is or how to use it. Let’s put an end to the guessing game and answer the question at hand: How do you use a diffuser? With the help of two celebrity hairstylists, we’re answering all your diffuser questions once and for all. But before we dive into the step-by-step, here are a few important notes....
Long story short: Oral care isn’t something to play around with. When it comes to teeth whitening, the same is true. We asked dentists to give us the 101 on teeth whitening to help you navigate this buzzy topic without damaging your teeth. Here’s what to do and what not to do, straight from experts. “Coffee, tea, red wine, sodas, and tobacco use are the most common culprits for yellowing teeth,” dentist and founder of Walden Dental David Frank, DMD, tells mbg....
I’d previously covered Keen in our roundup of the best online psychics, where I was impressed by the brand’s thorough vetting process for mediums and the sheer amount of positive reviews from users. I know there are a lot of misconceptions about psychics, so I was interested to see how my experience would stack up. Here are my honest thoughts on Keen after spending a $100 credit on the site....
If you only have time for one pose, make it this one: legs up the wall, also known as viparita karani. This asana is considered a restorative, gentle inversion, and while it’s usually practiced at the end of a yoga class, it can be helpful on its own to relax the body. Stay in this pose for anywhere from five to 20 minutes, allowing your breath to return to normal for the last few minutes....
“It contains the most lithium of any other mineral on Earth,” Askinosie tells mbg, adding that lepidolite’s chemical composition makes it a prized mineral in metaphysical circles. The stone is best known for being a calming crystal, and Askinosie notes it’s primarily found in Australia, Brazil, Canada, the Czech Republic, Russia, Sweden, and the United States. “Then you can choose to go, ‘OK, I’m not going to stay in this spiral....
This lesser-known acid buffs your skin smooth without ravaging your complexion raw—below, derms explain everything you need to know. Some AHAs can be more intense than others—glycolic acid, for example, has the smallest molecular weight of the bunch, which means it can penetrate the skin’s outer layer quite easily. Mandelic acid, on the other hand, is larger in molecular size (even larger than lactic acid!), which may make it more tolerable for easily irritated skin types....
If you’ve been feeling stressed and inexplicably worn down lately, you may be mentally exhausted. Simply put, the brain isn’t meant to fire on all cylinders and handle extreme mental stimulation constantly without meaningful rest in between. Assar says to look out for some of these signals: Psychologist Carolyn Rubenstein, Ph.D., and Assar share some signs to look out for: If you’re mentally exhausted, you may begin to feel: Other behavioral signs include: There are many potential chronic causes of mental exhaustion but it includes pandemic anxiety, relentless work obligations, little to no work-life balance, financial worries, domestic responsibilities, dissatisfaction with one or several areas of your life, and major life events....
So when I began seeing more and more mushroom coffee products emerging, I was certainly intrigued—after all, plenty of nutritionists and functional medicine doctors recommend taking adaptogenic mushrooms for their scope of potential benefits. To get a better sense of this mushroom moment, I chatted with experts and gave these products a try for myself. More recently, according to information from Four Sigmatic, mushrooms were used as a coffee substitute in Finland (where their founders are from), during World War II when coffee beans weren’t available....
Quality running shoes, for example, are a nonnegotiable factor in any kind of long-term running goal. Research1 has shown that the construction of a running shoe is directly connected to performance and injury. The stiffness of a shoe will influence performance while thicker and softer midsoles will reduce the shock of impact (and for this, your knees will thank you). Beyond our shoes, choosing the right apparel also has a role to play....
