Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2014 i Women's Health

Enhance skin’s barrier with moisturizers that contain a waterattracting humectant (like glycerin), an occlusive (like shea butter) to lock it in, and a soothing agent (such as green tea). Don’t skip night cream—skin loses hydration while you snooze. Also be sure to apply face and body lotions within minutes of showering, as hot water can deplete skin of its natural lipids. Avoid skin strippers. That means no soap (instead, try Neal’s Yard NYR Organic Rose Facial Wash, $23, nyrorganic.com) or shaving foam (go for a cream like Kiss My Face 4-in-1 Shave, $8, kissmyface.com).…

“The days of the basic ponytail are over,” says Ted Gibson, Ashley’s hairstylist and owner of the Ted Gibson Salons in New York City and Fort Lauderdale, Florida. These three styles are both pretty and practical (i.e., they keep your hair out of your face). • TOP KNOT: Toss your head over and gather all of your hair at the top of your crown. Twist hair in one direction so it coils onto itself. In a star-shaped pattern, insert five large U-shaped hairpins into the bun until they are no longer visible. “This will keep your bun nice and secure,” says hairstylist Nathaniel Hawkins. • TWISTED PONY: Create a side part and twist the hair along that side’s hairline until your reach your ear. Pull the twisted section together with the rest of your…

A little prep can help you stay safe and awake during longer drives. First up: Plan your trip around your body clock. People are generally perkiest two hours after waking, usually between 9 and 11 a.m. A second alertness peak arrives a few hours before bed, usually from around 7 to 9 p.m. (Avoid driving between 2 and 4 p.m., when energy naturally dips.) Map out drive times accordingly, then consider these night-before and morning-of tactics. P.M. BED DOWN EARLY Between seven and nine hours of shut-eye is a must the night before a road trip, says Michael Thorpy, M.D. STICK TO SMALL SIPS Too much booze before bed can mess with your sleep and leave you drained come morning. Stick to one drink the night before you depart. WATCH…

pol.y.cys.tic o.va.ry syn.drome The world’s most widespread reproductive disorder is also the most common cause of female infertility. Polycystic ovary syndrome, or PCOS, is likely caused by high levels of “male” hormones that can lead to cysts, missed periods, or skipped ovulation. Type 2 diabetes and obesity skyrocket your risk. endo.metri.osis Killer period cramps are the hallmark of this fertility-hindering condition that hits some 176 million women worldwide. It happens when the uterine lining sheds up instead of out, glomming on to the ovaries, GI tract, even lungs. Surgical treatments can be highly successful. sex.u.ally trans.mitt.ed in.fect.ions Just 7 percent of you knew that nearly every sexually active woman will get the human papillomavirus (HPV) in her lifetime. Yup, 20 million new STI’s of all kinds are diagnosed each year.…

1 PJ’s Your jimjams signal your brain that it’s Netflix—not work—time. A recent study found that wearing clothing that you link with certain qualities can boost performance, so put on whatever says “pulled together and proficient” to you— whether it’s a blazer or even just a bra. 2 Chores Erin Rooney Doland, editor-in-chief of Unclutterer.com, creates a schedule delineating work hours and home hours. “It’s incredibly tempting to do a load of laundry when you should be ontask,” she says. “But reminding yourself that you’ve set aside time later in the day to do it takes off the pressure.” 3 Your Work Area For some people, setting up shop in front of a window is energizing and inspirational. For others, it’s distracting. (What is that squirrel doing?) Be honest about how productive you…

•The second your brain senses some potential action, your blood vessels expand and direct extra flow south. The increased circulation spurs vaginal secretions—natural lube made up of proteins and amino acids—and a plumping of the vulva. Thousands of nerve endings in the vagina’s most sensitive areas light up. •Tissues in your clitoris swell and stiffen. Yes, we’re talking mini hard-on. If you’re, like, totally turned on, your clit can triple in size. (It takes a while post-nooky for it to shrink back down, though; during this interim, it can be difficult for some women to urinate.) •Your cervix softens and, if it or a major surrounding nerve is stroked by a penis or toy during sex, it may light up the same pleasure areas in your brain that are activated…