Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2020 i Women's Health

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF @lizplosser If your friends, family, colleagues, and even strangers could choose only one word to describe you, what would it be? Better yet, what do you want it to be? Lately, I’ve been thinking about what that word is for Women’s Health. As this issue went to press, we were navigating the early dramatic days of the novel coronavirus health crisis. Although I can’t predict the future (I wish!), I can tell you that WH will cover the evolving situation using three guideposts: accuracy, calm, and compassion. We’re here for all of your health and self-care needs; this issue is proof. At WomensHealthMag.com and @womenshealthmag on IG, we’re sharing the breaking news and personal stories that matter most to you. We got you, and we got this. While it…

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF (WH’S SISTER MAG!) Follow the ups and downs on Insta @ayakanai. “Running with my husband makes everything more joyful.” “Runner’s high” is a real thing. I vividly remember the feeling—optimistic, ready to handle whatever comes my way—from training for the NYC Marathon in 2016. The race was an awesome experience, but I knew I was a “one and done” kind of marathoner. And when I became a busy mom a year later, running quickly took a back seat. I forgot the exhilaration of the wind on my face and the excitement of having completed a long run. As part of this wellness experiment, I’m picking it up again. But this time, I’m training with my husband, Todd. There’s just one issue: He runs much faster than I do. Still,…

ZA’ATAR The Middle Eastern blend typically combines oregano, thyme, sesame seeds, and salt, but some versions have sumac or marjoram while others include cumin or fennel. Expect a nutty or tangy taste. TRY IT Sprinkle onto grilled veggies like eggplant, cauliflower, zucchini, and squash. DUKKAH For a slight crunch and a healthy hit of heat, Egyptian dukkah—made with nuts, sesame seeds, coriander seeds, cumin, salt, and pepper—is the way to go. TRY IT Use it as a meat rub or as part of a breadcrumb mix for chicken and fish, or toss a pinch on your morning eggs. FURIKAKE Unsure what you’d get from a Japanese blend of dried fish, sesame seeds, chopped seaweed, salt, and sugar? You’re in for a salty, nutty taste that adds a punch to mild…

•• COCONUT OIL Best for natural-lube newbies, coco oil is cheap, accessible, and relatively safe for all skin types. Just don’t lube up when using latex condoms—oil can break them down! Grab a jar at the grocery store (its consistency depends on the temperature) or opt for something sex-specific, like Coconu, which comes in a squeeze bottle for less of a mess. $25, coconu.com •• GOOD CLEAN LOVE ALMOST NAKED Want more control over your glide? This water-based lube is 95 percent organic and boasts a thicker feel, courtesy of its seaweed-derived agar-agar—and it’s safe to use with all condoms. $7, target.com •• ÜBERLUBE Experts swear by this fragrance-free, silicone-based lube’s super-silky sensation. Its vitamin E–infused formula is gentle on skin, and it’s compatible with natural-rubber latex and polyisoprene condoms.…

BEST FOR: THE FREQUENT TRAVELER ZZ Plant This gal can go months without water and grows well in low to very bright indirect sunlight, so don’t freak about leaving it when you head out of town for your next conference. BEST FOR: THE CUBICLE DWELLER Peperomia Ginny Perfect for small spaces, it’s very efficient at absorbing air pollutants—handy when tight deadlines require deep-breathing exercises. Inhaaaale. Exhaaaaale. BEST FOR: THE MANAGER IN A CORNER OFFICE Miniature Boston Fern This tiny sunlight-loving fern will thrive on your window-facing desk. Just water it once or twice a week—whenever the soil feels dry. Sources: American Society for Horticultural Science (study); Sally Augustin, PhD, environmental and design psychologist; Joyce Mast, resident “Plant Mom” at Bloomscape, an online plant retailer; Donna Letier, cofounder of Gardenuity…

IF YOU HOLD A RECORD FOR TOSSING AND TURNING… Disguise Your To-Dos A chaotic room correlates with stress, which translates to low-quality shuteye. “Eliminate reminders of tasks,” says Devlin. So put away the laundry, move your lists out of sight, and just banish your phone already (ideally, far from your nightstand, and at the very least, with “do not disturb” activated). A basket like Branäs hides odds and ends when you have zero time for further organization—hey, we’ve all been there. $13, ikea.com IF YOU FEEL A TAD LOW… Recall the Good Times Personal touches make your room feel like it’s, well, your room. “The specific items will be different for everybody, but ultimately, you want to add pieces that remind you of things or people that make you feel…

BEST Lotion The fortifying amino acids in this tub truly smooth cellulite and fade stretch marks. In essence: totally worth the tag. BEST Self-Tanner Ditch the mitt and get a no streak finish with these biodegradable, glow–giving wipes. BEST Nail Polish Enjoy the same long-lasting pigment in this new vegan line, just without harmful ingredients (16 of them, to be exact). BEST Body Scrub Bamboo charcoal and volcanic rock (yes, it’s that powerful) exfoliate skin immeds, while AHAs and BHAs go deeper for steady, gradual improvement. BEST Deodorant It’s a cream deodorant dispensed through a tube. The simple swipe vanishes swiftly, no marks in sight. BEST Body Wash This vitamin C–infused, creamy cleanser feels like lotion and lathers like a dream, so you step out of the shower moisturized and…

Collagen is legit everywhere in your body. It’s the structural protein in skin, bones, tendons, and connective tissue necessary for all kinds of awesome things, including building healthy, happy skin. The bummer: It decreases as you get older, which causes skin to lose elasticity and contributes to wrinkles. Womp womp. But! You can take action and rev it up with these habits. YOUR MANTRA FOR HEALTHIER, HAPPIER SKIN SNACK Vitamin C helps your body create that amazing collagen, so make vitamin-rich eats your go-to. Our fave fresh C-packed picks: strawberries, cantaloupe, sweet potatoes, and bell peppers. SWEAT Consider this your motivation to get moving in fresh air: You can optimize your skin’s collagen building with a sweat sesh. Running, cycling, and even walking increase blood flow, which improves your overall…

DAY 1 1 unassisted pullup (UAP) attempt, filmed 3 x max passive hang 3 x 10 shrugs 3 x max flexed arm hang series DAY 2 3 x 30 seconds passive hang 3 x 10 shrugs 3 x max flexed arm hang series DAY 3 Rest day! DAY 4 UAP, filmed 3 x 30 seconds active hang 3 x 10 shrugs 3 x 5 eccentric pullups DAY 5 3 x 30 seconds active hang 3 x 30 seconds moving around bar 3 x 10 assisted pullups DAY 6 1 UAP 3 x 10 shrugs 3 x 30 seconds flexed arm hang series 3 x 30 seconds moving around bar DAY 7 Bust out as many full pullups as you can, either unassisted or with a resistance band. You’ve got this!…

I read. I listened. I know my body inside and out. So…why do I still feel so unprepared? That’s the question doula and new-parent educator Sheri Poe gets from, oh, pretty much every mom she works with post-pregnancy. Nope, it’s not just a You problem: “In the U.S., we’re extremely neglectful in addressing support during this vulnerable period,” says Poe, who trained as a birth doula but switched lanes to work as a postpartum provider after witnessing how critically families need support during those initial, surprise-filled weeks. Thankfully, organizations and experts are recognizing that women really need easier and earlier access to answers. In its most recent set of recommendations on optimizing postpartum care, the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists advises that women have contact with their obstetrician within…

So your go-to stylist hasn’t been certified through a cancer-detection program. No sweat. She can still help you keep your scalp healthy by watching for the melanoma ABCDEs (and you could use a refresher too, huh?). If you’ve got a spot with any of these characteristics, you’ll want to see a derm right away, because early detection is everything. ASYMMETRY The two halves of the mole don’t look the same. BORDER The area has jagged or uneven sides. COLOR The spot has multiple hues (tan, dark brown, or even purple or red). DIAMETER It’s larger than a pencil eraser (about ¼ inch across). EVOLVING The area has grown or changed color, or is crusty or bleeding.…

CAN’T-BEAT CLASSIC Each bite will transport you back to child-hood. (Blend in ’nanas for a dose of nutrients!) Krusteaz Buttermilk Pancake Mix, $2.50, krusteaz.com WHOLE-GRAIN WINNER Full of whole wheat and oat flours, these great-for-you ’jacks still offer the decadence of a pillowy stack. Kodiak Cakes Power Cakes Flap-jack & Waffle Mix Buttermilk, $5.50, kodiakcakes.com PROTEIN PICK Amp up your a.m. with a pile of these whey-packed pancakes. Best part: no dense or chalky texture. Birch Benders Protein Pancake & Waffle Mix, $6, birchbenders.com GF GO-TO If gluten is on your sh*t list, stock up on this option, which is made with brown-rice flour. Namaste Foods Gluten-Free Waffle & Pancake Mix, $7, namastefoods.com SUGAR-FREE STAR Who needs the sweet stuff? Not this super-fluffy mix, that’s for sure. Maple Grove Farms…

Rider-Waite Tarot For beginners, this popular deck (pictured in story) is a great starting place. Again, you want to try to connect with the images on a deep level. usgamesinc.com Celestial Diary Jot down your feelings about each card in a dedicated notebook. You can also use your journal to record and reflect on any readings you do for others. peterpauper.com Seventy-Eight Degrees of Wisdom This book is considered the guide for modern tarot readers; the info focuses on the Rider-Waite deck. barnesandnoble.com…

It was pouring—dare I say, raining cats and dogs—the day my husband and I drove three hours to pick up our new Westie, Poppy, who we found on the American Kennel Club (AKC) registry. Poppy was the two-pound runt of the litter, and she shook and whimpered as her rural Pennsylvania home faded in the rearview mirror. I soothed her, curled up in my palms, as well as any new pet parent could. Four years on, our little lady still has us wrapped around her paw. I’m not alone. Millennials are the largest group of dog owners, and more likely than older generations to get a dog before having children. “A pet offers a sense of family and routine,” says Zazie Todd, PhD, author of Wag: The Science of Making…

DOGGY BAG For personalized, high-quality food that requires little to no effort, arrange delivery of freshly made chow packed with preservative-free veggies and meat even you’d eat. $2/day, thefarmersdog.com KING OF THE LIVING ROOM How do you expect Simba to stay sharp while you’re at work all day? This gadget mimics the movements of a real animal to keep her engaged between sunlit naps. (Is it a mouse? A squirrel? A clumsy bird? It’s your cat’s best guess.) $98, pdxpetdesign.com VIRTUAL FENCE An invisible fence without the labor-intensive setup. Just note your perimeter on the app via GPS, then use SpotOn to keep your pup in your yard or within a specified radius on your next hike or jog. $1,495, spotoncollar.com TREATS FOR ALL These dog cookies will remind you…

SEAWEED Feeding dairy cows a diet supplemented with as little as 1 percent seaweed could reduce their methane production up to 60 percent, found one University of California at Davis study. GUT MICROBES Scientists at UC Davis and in Denmark are experimenting with changing dairy cows’ diet to decrease farting (science!)—which could reduce the emissions by about 16 percent. ANIMAL CELLS Companies like Mosa Meat are developing cell-cultured meat. Muscle tissue (translation: burger meat) is grown in a lab with cells harvested from a living animal.…

The word sustainable doesn’t just mean better for the environment; it also includes social and economic pieces of the puzzle. Which means you’ve got a choice—and a chance to make a statement—every time you shop. Is organic your prime worry? Do you want to support farmers who are leaving their land better than they found it? Are you concerned with animal welfare? Is it important to you that farm workers are paid fairly? Luckily, there are a few labels that have solid guidelines behind them, so you can sync up with your top priority, says Sarah Krohl, global managing director of food safety product certification at NSF International. Find your match. BUYER BEWARE You’ll find plenty of appealing phrases on packaging—but some, er, a lot, don’t mean much, tbh. Three…

CARDIOLOGY Jennifer H. Mieres, MD Professor of cardiology, Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell; senior vice president, Center for Equity of Care, Northwell Health DERMATOLOGY Mona Gohara, MD Associate clinical professor, department of dermatology, Yale School of Medicine Ellen Marmur, MD Founder, Marmur Medical Joshua Zeichner, MD Director of cosmetic and clinical research in dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City FERTILITY Sheeva Talebian, MD Fertility specialist and reproductive endocrinologist, CCRM New York FITNESS Ben Bruno, CFSC Certified functional strength coach and private trainer Betina Gozo, CFSC Certified functional strength coach; NASM corrective exercise specialist; Nike master trainer; creator of Women’s Health Woman’s Guide to Strength Training Sohee Lee, MS, CSCS Evidence-based fitness coach and certified sports nutritionist; author of Eat. Lift. Thrive. Stacy T. Sims, PhD Exercise…

@KITHOOVER Trail Ahead This mama shares how she makes fit living feel natural. 1. Take On Tiny Squeezing in activity is easy in little spurts, like opting for stairs at work. Hoover climbs 28 flights a day just to make it to her morning segment (hardcore!). 2. Forgive, Forget, Sweat As a sports mom after hours, Hoover can’t hit the gym every day. Her goal for number of workouts each week: “Aim for five, settle for two,” she says. 3. Call In the Recruits Need more inspo? Bring the kiddos. Hoover still remembers her first family run, in 2011, when her crew, then 9, 8, and 4, surprised her on her route. “They just ran out in their regular shoes. We went around the block and they loved it. I…

The succulent’s got your back in an SPF fail, but the plant (yes, it’s a plant, not just a green gel) is *so* much more than a skin soother. You can now find it in shampoos, creams, soaps, juices, and supplements. The same healing properties that come in handy after a—oops!—way-too-long beach day could potentially strengthen your hair, gently cleanse your skin, boost your immune system, and fend off bacteria. Try using frozen AV juice instead of ice cubes in your next smoothie for extra health benefits and sunburn-free summer vibes, then suds up with Garnier Fructis Pure Clean Shampoo with Aloe Extract ($4.50, at drugstores). 97.5°F is the average body temperature, per a new Stanford University study—a degree lower than the magic 98.6 you look for when your body…

Ditto for beauty products! We should know, we’re the gurus. We’ve been testing, swatching, and sweating in 2,000-plus product submissions (all launched in the past year) in order to choose 50 winners—along with an additional 25 over at WomensHealthMag.com. From body care to hair care and everything in between, you’ll find a top pick for any and every need. We also highlight the benefits that matter most for your active, awesome life. Think: products that streamline your regimen, ones that last through any gym sesh, and those formulated with healthy ingredients. Let’s go! TIME SAVER SWEAT PROOF CLEAN BEST Shampoo & Conditioner Rose water is frequently used in skin care to leave skin baby-soft—turns out, it works miracles for hair too. Try this sulfate-free, creamy formula to turn parched strands into…

BEST Lipstick With 25 shades, including Confidence, Joy, and Wisdom (pictured), these hydrating lipsticks deliver more than just major color. They’re reminders to celebrate your best assets. BEST Mascara This mascara makes your lashes appear as if you just got extensions; it doesn’t flake or budge through the drippiest of workouts (looking at you, hot yoga). BEST Eyeshadow These creamy shadow sticks can be applied as liner (psst: there’s a sharpener on one end) or all across your lids. Just blend with your finger (or not) and you’re on your way. BEST Stick Foundation It doesn’t get more convenient, compact, or mess-free than the twist-up format of this foundation. Perk: Chamomile calms redness—a must if you’re hastily applying after a lunchtime run. (Hey, a girl can dream!) BEST Tinted Moisturizer…

We’ve got your guide to *finally* conquering one of the ultimate fitness feats. Discovering just how badass our bodies can be is a major hobby (okay, borderline obsession) of the editors at Women’s Health, some of whom have recently made it a personal goal to conquer perhaps the hardest fitness move of them all: pullups. (Have you peeped our editor-in-chief Liz Plosser’s journey on Instagram?) Of course, this upper-body exercise looks pretty cool on social media, but our team’s into it less for the likes and more for the gains. Playing to Your Strengths “There are so many benefits, not only physically, but mentally, which is why I am so passionate about them,” says Angela Gargano, a personal trainer who wants to start a pullup revolution. “It’s a functional movement…

Going the extra mile is generally a good thing—unless, of course, you’re talking about taxing your body more than you have to. But that’s exactly what female runners did when they altered (read: shortened) their strides to keep their boobs from bouncing while on the treadmill, found research at the University of Portsmouth in the U.K. (Compromising efficiency for comfort, essentially.) File that under “things most men never have to think about.” The results inspired Brooks Sports to partner with the Portsmouth experts and spend more than two years developing a sports bra to fix the unfortunate problem. The end product? Drumroll, please… Brooks’s new Dare Run collection, which comes in six different styles, including the zip-front (left), a total godsend for easy on-off wear. (Who else loathes a sweat-drenched…

Pull up a spa menu online and there’s a solid chance you’ll see a lymphatic drainage massage on there claiming to help flush toxins, amp up immunity, and nix water weight and bloat. All the cool kids are doing it: Hailey Biebs and Selena Gomez were spotted getting the treatment, and Meghan Markle once raved about a lymphatic facial. Heck, Chrissy Teigen rocked a lymphatic massage jacket recently. Why the obsession? Let’s start with a bio lesson (it’s a quickie, promise). The lymphatic network—a network of vessels and organs—lies under your skin. It’s a crucial part of the immune system and works kind of like a garbage disposal, removing bacteria and waste (totally not gross!). The thinking is that if you’re puffy, sick, achy, exhausted—you get the gist—unclogging the pipes…

Loaded with extra-good fats and tons of fiber (!), this superfruit is a bona fide MVP. And you can take the crowd fave from basic to b-a-n-a-n-a-s. First, ace your foundation (read: make the creamiest, dreamiest dip). Then punch up that bowl with killer mix-ins. Classic Guacamole ACTIVE: 10 MIN TOTAL: 10 MIN MAKES: ABOUT 2 CUPS ½ small white onion, finely chopped½ cup fresh cilantro, chopped1 small jalapeño, choppedKosher salt and pepper2 large avocados2 Tbsp fresh lime juice In a bowl, combine onion, cilantro, jalapeño, and ½ tsp each salt and pepper. Using the back of a fork, lightly smash vegetables. Add avocado and lime juice and mash to combine.…

Citrus Chicken With Asparagus and Peas TOTAL: 20 MIN SERVES: 4 2 navel oranges2 Tbsp extra-virgin olive oil4 5-oz boneless, skinless chicken breastsKosher salt and pepper2 cloves garlic, thinly sliced½ cup low-sodium chicken broth or water1 lb asparagus, cut into 2-inch pieces½ cup peas (fresh or frozen)1 Tbsp fresh lemon juice2 Tbsp chopped fresh dill 1. Juice 1 orange (about ¼ cup juice). Cut peel and white pith from remaining orange, then thinly slice into rounds. 2. Heat oil in a large skillet on medium-high. Season chicken with ¼ tsp each salt and pepper and cook until golden brown on one side, 4 minutes. Turn chicken, reduce heat to medium, add garlic and cook, stirring garlic, 1 minute. 3. Add orange juice and cook 1 minute, then add broth and bring to…

RUNNING BUD If you wanna go the extra mile, Labs, golden retrievers, border collies, and Australian shepherds have the stamina to keep up. Prepare for long walks—as in, an hour-plus a day. SAVASANA SIDEKICK Cavalier King Charles spaniels, basset hounds, bull-dogs, Italian greyhounds, and pugs don’t require a lot of cardio to stay happy and healthy—but they’re always down to hang by your side. QUIET COMPANION Bichons frises, Boston terriers, bulldogs, and greyhounds are super polite and content to just chill. Your next-door neighbors will thank you for making this choice.…

My guitar’s been collecting dust since 2014. There was a time when the black electric-acoustic Fender was my best friend: I bought it at 16 and wrote songs to help me process the pains of adolescence. I loved getting lost in lyrics and strumming away the outside world until I emerged with my feelings neatly packaged in a catchy tune. Music was a major part of my life: I wrote musicals. I took voice lessons. I penned a song a week. Then…I stopped. I’m too busy, I thought, as adult responsibilities piled up. I couldn’t justify spending time on anything that wasn’t “productive.” If it didn’t contribute to my career as a journalist, what was the point? I’m not alone. Workweek hours are at an all-time high: The average increased…

Sometimes (okay, a lot of times) just showing up for a workout or putting one foot in front of the other feels like a victory. But if your fitness ambitions are bigger than just getting an endorphin boost, remember these three words: Effort changes everything. Ultimately, “intensity is what drives transformation,” says Matt Harber, director of Ball State’s Clinical Exercise Physiology Laboratory. “In order to change, you have to move the body outside of its comfort zone.” And you can’t get complacent. To continue to see gains, you need to keep pushing the envelope—whether you’re a newbie or an OG exerciser. That could mean upping your workout minutes, sure, but in a world where jam-packed schedules make carving out additional time about as likely as finding a forgotten $20 in…

LEAN IN TO A HOBBY “When we lived in L.A. before moving to Texas, I was the person waking up at five in the morning to be at the flower market. I love doing arrangements for the house or for friends. It’s relaxing.” LEVEL-SET YOUR RELATIONSHIP “Matthew and I have been together for 15 years. You need to have your priorities sorted out; that’s big. Figure out what’s important to you and what’s important to your partner.” 3 The number of national brands Camila helped launch. In addition to Women of Today, she is co-owner of the kid-food company Yummy Spoonfuls and previously ran a handbag company called Muxo with her mom, Fatima. Inhale, Exhale “I do breath work pretty much every day. It keeps me calm, but it also…

“I’m not a big ice cream person—I know, I know—but My/Mo Mochi is my new favorite dessert. Chewy, creamy, bite-size perfection.” $6.39 for 6, target.com@JAZZEGOMEZ Jasmine, Editorial Assistant “Managing my to-do list is so fancy with these refillable fountain pens. I’m getting things done with flair—and less waste.”$34.50 for 2, pilotpen.com @LRRAMAC Laura, Deputy Managing Editor “@ashleysayque crushes it in the gym, and she’s also refreshingly honest about the work it takes to get there. Her fitness journey is my motivation!”@ALUCCI Amanda, Audience Engagement Manager “Boxing classes can be intimidating, but the atmosphere at @doyourumble makes everyone feel like a champ. Watch out for my uppercut!”@ITS.ALEXISJ Alexis, Assistant Editor “The Who? Weekly podcast promises you’ll learn ‘everything you need to know about the celebrities you don’t.’ The abs workout I get…

GUT-HEALTH GOLD One cup of soybeans provides eight grams of dietary fiber—more than a third of the daily rec!—which, icymi, is a solid way to feed your gut bacteria. HIGH-QUAL PROTEIN Soy has all nine of the amino acids needed for muscle growth, making it one of the few vegan complete proteins. A HAPPY HEART Research shows soy can lower your “bad” cholesterol (LDL), the kind linked to heart disease—possibly because of all that fibery goodness. Source: Megan Rossi, PhD, RD, author of Eat Yourself Healthy: An Easy-to-Digest Guide to Health and Happiness From the Inside Out…

1. Think 60-60. Crank up the sound to only 60 percent of the maximum volume and take a 15-minute break every 60 minutes. 2. Score the right gear. Over-the-ear headphones are better than buds, which deliver a more intense sound. 3. Have a heart. Your ears are last in line to receive nutrient-rich blood, so anything that promotes blood flow—oh hi, cardio—can help. Is there anything exercise can’t do?…

Proof that seeing a therapist is #WorthIt: New research shows that teens who survived an earthquake and received professional help after the disaster displayed fewer symptoms of PTSD and depression a whopping 25 years later as adults compared with those who did not receive treatment. Therapy helps you identify and address mental health issues, giving you the tools to manage your trauma for the rest of your life, says Armen Goenjian, MD, author of the study. If $$$ is holding you back (one-on-ones are known to hit the three-figure mark), check out the Open Path Psychotherapy Collective (openpathcollective.org) for a super-reduced rate ($30 in some cases) for those without insurance. Otherwise, consider it an investment; the returns are major.…

Ashley Merrill may have founded the comfy-cool sleepwear company Lunya, but that hardly means she lounges in her PJs all day. Instead, her early morning hours are all about efficiency… and the right pump-up playlist. ACCEPT YOUR CALL TIME “I wake up at 4:30 a.m. without an alarm. I used to fight it, but then I realized everybody has different circadian rhythms. It’s great now that I’m a mom because my kids are up early.” ATTACK THE INBOX “The first thing I do is email—from bed, in the dark. I’m in meetings all day and don’t get to reply while I’m at work. I focus better in the morning.” CORRAL THE KIDDOS “At 7 a.m., my kids, Vesper, 5, and Linken, 6, wake up. I dress and feed them and prepare their lunches.…

BEST Eye Cream Whipped and buttery eye cream coats your sensitive undereye area with silk protein to blur the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. Yes, please! BEST Light Moisturizer Now you can hydrate without a heavy coating, all due to mineral electrolytes and olive-derived fatty acids. BEST Acne Treatment A triple-acid attack (lactic, succinic, and salicylic) nixes bacteria while citrulline and tea tree oil reduce redness. Zit, begone! BEST Sunscreen We tested this universal tinted mineral block on a huge range of skin tones; it disappeared on all. Sorta like…magic? BEST Exfoliator These compostable pads house everything you need for a clear face: Lemon-peel oil and extract help kill bacteria and tone skin; glycolic acid exfoliates and clears clogged pores; and manuka honey calms inflammation. A true team effort!…

I’ve been dealing with acne ever since puberty. I have it under control now, but the scars and pigmentation still linger. Recently, dermatologist Morgan Rabach, MD, offered me a solution: microneedling, or, as she explains, “a controlled injury to the skin that stimulates collagen production.” ICYMI, collagen is what keeps your skin plump and scars less visible. It starts to deplete by around 1 percent yearly after you turn 20. The “injuries” are created using an in-office tool called a dermapen—like a stamp of needles (12, to be exact) that penetrate 2.5 millimeters into your skin. THE PROCESS I made an appointment with Dr. Rabach at her practice, LM Medical NYC, where a microneedling treatment costs $650. First, Dr. Rabach’s assistant removed my makeup with an alcohol swab to make…

Passive Hang Grip bar with arms straight and palms facing forward, hands just outside shoulders, body fully relaxed. Hang as long as possible (i.e., your max)—ideally, at least 30 seconds. Active Hang From a passive hang, engage lats and shoulders to draw tops of arms slightly down and away from ears, keeping arms straight and shoulder blades wide. Hold at least 30 seconds. Shoulder Shrug From a passive hang, engage lats to roll shoulder blades back and down, raising body toward bar. (It’s a small movement!) Return to start and repeat. Keep body straight while elevating/lowering. Flexed Arm Hang Series From a passive hang, lift body a quarter of the way up to bar and hold for 30 seconds. On second attempt, go halfway up. The third time, try to…

WHY WE LOVE IT Nothing inspires heart-eyes emojis for us more than a move that gets our hard-to-target lower abs to wake up and say hello! But the real kicker is adding a leg lift to totally burn out those butt muscles. Sounds peachy, right? The shoulder and core strength required to hold yourself up makes this one helluva head-to-toe workout that also doubles as a dynamic warm-up. “Doing this move before a heavy lift or tough run will ensure your body is engaged and your muscles are fired up,” says trainer Melody Davi. That extra activation translates to better form and faster gains. Add it to your regular routine and we guarantee that you—and your bum—will thank us. HOW TO DO IT 1 Start on all fours with toes…

Crusty and gross. That’s how Aly Longendyke describes the itchy patch of skin she discovered above her left ear in late 2013. Twenty-five years old at the time, the Minneapolis native had long dealt with a dry scalp (thank you, Mid-western winters!), so she figured dandruff shampoo would do the trick. Except the spot didn’t go away, and it even bled a little. “But I wasn’t really fazed by it,” Longendyke, now 31, recalls. “I assumed it would clear up.” When she got her hair cut in January 2014, her hairdresser, Molly Louismet, noticed the silver-dollar-size lesion right away. “I asked, ‘Did you hurt yourself?’” says Louismet. Her client explained that the mark appeared out of nowhere, had been there for a few weeks, and wasn’t healing. The last set…

Pickled Onion Guac Thinly slice 1 small RED ONION and toss with 2 Tbsp RED WINE VINEGAR and a pinch each SALT and PEPPER. Let sit, tossing a few times, at least 10 minutes. Spoon over guac. Sesame Soy Make basic guac, subbing in 4 SCALLIONS (chopped) for the onion. Add 2 tsp LOW-SODIUM SOY SAUCE and 1 tsp SESAME OIL, and top with 1 tsp BLACK SESAME SEEDS. Pineapple & Black Bean Fold ½ cup fresh chopped PINEAPPLE and ½ cup BLACK BEANS (rinsed) into basic guac. Charred Chiles Grill 1 POBLANO and the JALAPEÑO on medium-high, turning occasionally until charred, before chopping and folding into basic guac. Pepita Crunch Fold 3 Tbsp ROASTED PEPITAS and ¼ cup BANANA PEPPERS (finely chopped), along with ½ tsp GROUND CUMIN, into…

Last fall, I quit a media job in New York. I’d been at it for years and was deeply burned out. So when I was offered a position that would allow me to travel, I gave notice—then proceeded to have sporadic panic attacks for two weeks. Did I ruin my career? I worried. Panic is familiar to me. I see a therapist for my anxiety, and I do the research-backed remedies: yoga, running, you name it. But in the throes of on-edge feels, sometimes the only thing that helps me exists outside the realm of reason: tarot cards. My therapist thinks this is hilarious. “You write about health and science. Why tarot?” she asks. My explanation: During my two weeks of terror, I couldn’t bring myself to run and could…

I made the doctor’s appointment simply to convince everyone I was fine. For the first half of 2012, my mom had been on my case about my decreasing weight and bizarre eating habits. She even brought up words no one else dared mention: anorexia relapse. I laughed in her face. How could that be the case, I countered, when my weight was completely normal? I knew all about my past eating disorder (ED); I dealt with it during my late teens and 20s. But I had gained weight over the years due to normal life stuff—natural aging, medication—and my ED behaviors had subsided for chunks of time. So even though I had returned to some of the unhealthy food obsessions, like undereating and overexercising, that plagued my earlier years, I…

START ONLINE Kick-start your search at akc.org, petfinder.com, and theshelterpetproject.org. These sites can help you find adoptable pets in your area and then connect with them IRL. You can usually read about their personalities and back-grounds—kinda like a dating profile, but cuter. And as with dating, that meet-up is super important! SAVE A LIFE Six and a half million dogs and cats enter shelters nationwide each year, per the ASPCA. The pros: Pets can usually be taken home right away, and new rescues come in frequently, says Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the United States. Adopting can save you money too. The fees often cover spaying/neutering, vaccines, and a microchip. The con: “Rescues can be a lot of work if they’ve endured trauma,” says Burch.…

Real talk: Why is everyone so obsessed with cows eating grass anyway (aside from taste)? Well, when animals graze on grass as they’re supposed to, it encourages plants to send out deeper roots, which boosts soil fertility, says Jeff Moyer, chief executive officer at Rodale Institute. When soil is healthy, it draws down excess carbon from the atmosphere and puts it back into the soil (known as carbon sequestering). This helps mitigate current emissions and boosts the land’s ability to hold water, which prevents erosion. In fact, researchers speculate that strategic grazing—in addition to other methods like regenerative cropping—may impact emissions even more than just reducing the number of livestock. How’s that for a dinner convo starter the next time someone orders a grass-fed rib eye?…