I Spent Half of My Life Hating My Curls, but Learning To Love Them Has Shaped My Identity

Our editors independently select these products. You would think that looking like him would be a point of pride for me, but it wasnt. I couldnt get it wet. I couldnt get it sweaty. I couldnt put my hair up during the day or sleep on it too hard. So I made myself smaller and straighter. … Then, I went to college, and two things happened. Then, Sophomore year, I discovered I was gay....

April 30, 2025 · 1 min · 125 words · Jonathan Hopkins

I Started Breathing Correctly While Lifting Weights, and It Changed My Workouts in 3 Major Ways

Recently, for instance, I wrote a story aboutthe best way to breathe while lifting weights. So I decided to try what he recommendedand noticed three pretty major impacts on my workouts right away. I could do more reps I started my breath-focused workout withcrunches on an incline bench. These are something Ive done before and also do at home. Typically I have kind of a hard time with them, especially on the incline....

April 30, 2025 · 1 min · 191 words · Franklin Fisher

I Started Doing 5 Minutes of Yoga Before Bed Every Night, and Now I Fall Asleep in a Third of the Time It Used To Take

What are the purported benefits of yoga for sleep? Thats likely because it canease stressandcalm your nervous system. It can also just make us feel better physically,allowing our bodies to relaxenough to nod off. The addition of deep breathing only helps to maximize all these relaxing benefits. To verify Id actually stick with this plan, I knew Id have to keep any yoga routine quick. The best yoga for getting sleep is obviously something restorative....

April 30, 2025 · 2 min · 247 words · Tyler Williams

I Started Taking Walks With My Husband Every Evening, and It’s Allowed Us To Connect in Surprising Ways

(Hey, there were few thrills in those times.) We took in our town with a kind of stillness and observation that we just werent able to pre-pandemic. (Yes, dogs are 100 percent family.) Those days were even sweeter because it was a true decompression time post-commute. Often, this time allowed us to check in with each other in a more measured way. I can honestly say, we still do everything in our power to stay committed to this time....

April 30, 2025 · 1 min · 130 words · Lauren Taylor

I Stopped Drinking for Just 2 Weeks, and It Made a *Major* Difference in My Skin

When I started law school, my relationship with alcohol changed. Social drinking, networking over shared glasses of merlot, and drinking while traveling became the norm. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resortwith my husband, I decided it was the perfect time for an alcohol-free reset. Dehydrated skin has less elasticity and looks flaky, dull, and irritated. Alcohol also causes disrupted sleep leading to hormone fluctuations that can trigger breakouts and damage collagen in the skin....

April 30, 2025 · 1 min · 151 words · Donna Mitchell

I Stopped Saying Ableist Words Like ‘Crazy’—Here’s What I Discovered

Your Low-Stress Guide to Leveling-Up Your Bedtime Routine Are You Burnt Out or Depressed? My bipolar II causes frequent, extreme mood fluctuations, and C-PTSD can leave me feeling empty and worthless. Why is it so ingrained in society to otherize people with disabilities? Ableist language isnt seen as tabooits used all the time, but its origins and impact are bleak. For instance, the word hysteria comes from the Greek word for the uterus,hystera....

April 30, 2025 · 1 min · 183 words · Rhonda Olson

I Study Neuropsychology and Here’s My Best Advice for Reframing Overwhelming Thoughts

A nueropsychologist explains cognitive distortion, exaggerated or irrational thoughts that can negatively distort how we perceive reality. Your Low-Stress Guide to Leveling-Up Your Bedtime Routine Are You Burnt Out or Depressed? But good news: Theres a neuropsychological hack to help calm some overwhelming feelings. They play a significant role in perpetuating our psychopathological stateslike depression or anxiety. These maladaptive thought patterns are usually automatic and can be difficult to identify if we arent aware of them....

April 30, 2025 · 2 min · 261 words · Ronnie Terrell

I Swapped $460 Worth of Luxury Skin-Care for a $94 Drugstore Routine, and I’ll Never, Ever Go Back

Dont get me wrong! But thats not all I was using. The adaptogenic moisturizer Id tested and grown fond of was $75. Weeks into my experiment, Im wondering how I ever did it differently. I spent hours in theCVSandTargetaisles, poring over bottles and salves. Ultimately, I knew I wanted a great cleanser, makeup remover, and intense moisture. … Heres what made the cut. This Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask is a two-in-one....

April 30, 2025 · 1 min · 151 words · Mr. Joshua Smith

I Swapped My $380 Crème de La Mer for This $20 (on Sale!) Drugstore Moisturizer, and My Skin Can’t Tell the Difference

RIP my bank account. More popular opinion: there are alternatives. And Im open to them! She didnt have to twist my arm… IloveAvene. Alongside my La Mer moisturizer, Avene comprisesmy very favorite, desert island skin-care products. As an objective third partyand a derm who specializes in contact dermatitisDr. … Goldenberg is partial to the Avene formulation. All of these are known allergensthey are part of the fragrance family. Just because they are naturally derived from plants does not automatically mean they are good for our skin....

April 30, 2025 · 1 min · 160 words · Antonio Williams

I Swapped My Entire Anti-Aging Routine for This $79 Strivectin Set, and I Don’t Think I’ll Ever Go Back

The star ingredient in the set is vitamin C, which is known for its discoloration-fighting abilities. The serum pairs the powerhouse ingredient with retinol, which kicks its skin-tone evening prowess up a notch. My skin leans dry, so I layer it under an eye cream at night. The face serum is also lightweight, and the smell reminds me of Vitamin C chewables! However, I was happy it was not overly perfumed and, best of all, not sticky....

April 30, 2025 · 1 min · 199 words · Diane Wolf

I Swapped My Nightly Beverage for a Cup of Hibiscus Tea To See if It Helped Me Sleep, and I’ve Never Felt More Refreshed

Want To Transform Your Outdoor Space into a Calming, Boho-Chic Escape (Um, Yes)? If aboozy nightcapis involved, I usually feel restless and irritable the next day. (Think: Chamomile tea, tart cherry juice, water, and green tea.) For starters, hibiscus has a bevy of health benefits that support several bodily functions. Studies also show that drinking hibiscus tea can help potentiallylower blood pressure. Unlike true teas that naturally contain caffeine, herbal teaslike hibiscusare caffeine-free....

April 30, 2025 · 1 min · 210 words · Jordan Livingston

I Swapped My Normal Coffee With This New Instant Half-Caff, and Felt Jitter-Free Energy All Morning

Want To Transform Your Outdoor Space into a Calming, Boho-Chic Escape (Um, Yes)? *Cue the dreadedcoffee-induced jitters. Inside Four Sigmatic Focus Organic Coffee youll find much more than just high-quality coffee. Four Sigmatic coffee is also gluten-free, dairy-free, has no added sugar, and is USDA Certified Organic. How much caffeine does this half-caff coffee product contain? Four Sigmatics coffee, on the other hand, has 65 milligrams of caffeine. … For starters, I love how fuss-free this product is....

April 30, 2025 · 1 min · 142 words · James Carlson

I Swapped My Pre-Workout Shakes for Beet Juice, and Here’s How It Affected My Training

Want To Transform Your Outdoor Space into a Calming, Boho-Chic Escape (Um, Yes)? There was alsoa study published in Januaryclaiming that consuming beetroot juice significantly increased muscle force while exercising. Intrigued, I decided to put the beet juice theory to the test for a couple of weeks. Its also important to note that in all the studies that have been published, women are vastly underrepresented. Still, Lund doesnt see any harm in trying it....

April 30, 2025 · 2 min · 216 words · Stephanie Nunez