That said, if you’re someone who believes in signs and looks for them in your daily life when navigating new opportunities and challenges, be sure to keep an eye out for the number 555 and all variations of it (including the solo angel number 5). You might see it on the clock, as part of a phone number that randomly pops up on your caller ID, or at the bottom of your HomeGoods receipt.

Whatever the case may be: Those three numbers could be a sign that your guardian angels are reaching out with a message. That’s the notion behind angel numbers—a phenomenon that has captivated TikTokers, garnering over 1.5 billion mentions of the phrase. Intrigued? Keep reading to learn what angel number 555 meaning could imply for your life.

What is the meaning of angel number 5?

Let’s take a beat before diving directly into the meaning of angel number 555. After all, the digit it’s comprised of plays a role, too.

“In numerology, the number five means change, liberation, and freedom from restrictions and chaos,” says numerologist, astrologist, and tarot reader Vannessa Williams, of Beyond Your Sun Sign. In that sense, the number five is all about leaning into new beginnings without fear of what could go wrong. Now, let’s chat angel number 555.

What is the meaning of angel number 555?

Like its single-digit sister, angel number 555 is all about ch-ch-ch-changes. “The angel number 555 [is telling you to] get ready for changes,” Williams says. “These changes will impact your duties and responsibilities.”

With this in mind, seeing angel number 555 could be a sign that a shift is on the horizon in your career or personal life and could incorporate everything from layoffs and promotions to breakups and new flames. That’s the thing about angel number 555: It’s not necessarily a sign that something is coming that you’ll be thrilled about; rather, it’s a reminder that a transition is en route and it acts as a reassurance that no matter what it is, you’ll survive it and discover something even better suited for you on the other side.

“These changes will feel chaotic but they are a necessary change for your highest good,” Williams assures us.

(Need a constant reminder that change is good? Consider adding the Child of Wild 555 Angel Energy Necklace ($68) to your accessories wardrobe.)

What to do if you see angel number 5 everywhere

“Buckle up!” Williams exclaims, encouraging us to prepare for change while actively leaning into it, as opposed to resisting it. While your initial reaction to the idea of change may be to cringe, if you see the number five frequently throughout your day, know that it’s a message from your guardian angels (or the universe) to embrace and make the most of it because it will all work out for the best.

“The number five is encouraging you to take a leap of faith,” says numerologist Joy Woodward, author of A Beginner’s Guide to Numerology. Only you can decide if you’re willing to trust the process and yourself to move forth with angel number 555 as your guide.

What is the significance of the date 5/5?

Just like on license plates, receipts, clocks, and GPS screens, repeating numbers in dates are something to be cognizant of. In the case of May 5 (5/5), Williams says it’s normal to feel an urge to start something new and fulfilling in your life.

“On 5/5, we will feel a collective inspiration to enact changes that lead to freedom,” she says. “These changes can be disguised as a magnified new beginning, but at the core, it is a liberation.”

Want proof that new beginnings manifest on 5/5? On 5/5/1921, Coco Chanel released Chanel No. 5, a fragrance that remains a classic over 100 years later.

Now the only question is, how will you move forward with the power of 555?

Encouragement to do things that truly replenish her physically, mentally, and emotionally will be the most welcome gift for any mom figure in your life. Ahead are 44 self-care Mother’s Day gift ideas to get you started.

The best self-care Mother’s Day gifts at a glance:

• Best spa gift: The Now Gift Card, starting at $50
• Best at-home massage gift: Nekteck Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager with Soothing Heat, $50
• Best postpartum gift: Bodily Care for Birth Box, $89
• Best skin-care gift: OSEA Anti-Aging Skincare Duo, $148
• Best haircare gift: GHD Duet Style 2-in-1 Hot Air Styler, $399
• Best luxury beauty gift: Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro, $455
• Best bath gift: Spa Prive Bath Pillow, $20
• Best gift for the home: Creekside Farms Seasonal Wreath Subscription, $328
• Best foodie gift: Brightland The Artist Capsule, $150
• Best beverage gift: Figlia Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo, $43
• Best clothing gift: Minnetonka Berkyn Booties, $50
• Best fitness gift: ClassPass Gift Card, choose your amount

Wellness gifts:

The Now Gift Card — $50.00

On top of getting Mom a gift card for a relaxing massage, this gesture should come with a ride to the nearest parlor to make sure she uses it. That won’t be an issue if you gift credit to The Now, which is a series of unfussy (but still luxe) massage boutiques that began in Los Angeles but have now spread across the country in over 130 locations.

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Slow North Neck Wrap — $54.00

You may think you’re hunched over your phone and laptop at all hours of the day—but add a child to the mix? Mom’s in a perpetual state of hunched-ness, so this neck wrap can be a literal warm welcome to ease her body. While she could technically throw some frozen peas at the problem, we love that these wraps are hand-made in Austin, Texas, and can be warmed up in the microwave for heat therapy (in around one minute!) or cooled in the freezer for cold therapy. The handles make it easy to apply anywhere she’s achy and the prints make the whole thing a bit more personal.

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The Fullest Warm Feelings Sachets — $46.00

If you can’t be there in person, these latte powders are essentially a big hug in a cup. The caffeine-free mix includes saffron, coconut water powder, cardamom, and tapioca; once warmed up, the whole thing smells so good you’ll be lucky if you can eek out a sachet for yourself when you come to visit.

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Hot Water Bottle Rubber with Soft Cover — $13.00

A classic form of body ache relief is a rubber hot water bottle, and if she already has one, spice up her routine with a new slipcover. This under-$15 gift looks way more expensive than it actually costs, and it has a large anti-leak stopper so she can rest dry and easy.

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Nekteck Shiatsu Neck and Back Massager with Soothing Heat — $50.00

While we’re all for personalization when it comes to Mother’s Day gifts, there’s nothing wrong with taking hints from the crowd for a guaranteed hit. This Nekteck massager is one of the top-selling wellness and relaxation products on Amazon, with over 36,000 five-star reviews. Customers applaud its ability to soothe herniated disc issues, provide relief from neck stiffness, and subsequently improve their range of motion.

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Intelligent Change Night Notes Journal — $20.00

Whether she’s going through postpartum changes, perimenopause, menopause, or just the general business of having a uterus, hormone-induced insomnia is real. This journal will help her clear her mind before sleep, whether she’s writing down tomorrow’s to-dos, penning brilliant midnight ideas, or recalling her dreams.

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Moon Juice Magnesi-Om — $42.00

Mom’s way of unwinding may be with her fingers wrapped around something warm and inviting, so throw Moon Juice’s Magnesi-Om into the mix to really get the relaxation going. The pink powder tastes as good as it looks (a subtle berry flavor) and can help with things like sluggishness, irritability, or general aches and pains.

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Bodily Care for Birth Box — $89.00

When putting together a registry or baby shower list, one of the most forgotten items is a little something for the soon-to-be mom. (And, yes, you can absolutely gift the pregnant woman in your life a Mother’s Day gift!) This box contains everything the new mom will need to take care of her body and ensure she doesn’t forget to take care of herself in the early postpartum weeks.

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Beauty gifts:

Chanel, Rouge Coco Ultra Hydrating Lipstick — $45.00

Full, creamy coverage that never leaves lips dry—there’s a reason why Chanel lipstick is so coveted (and iconic). Not to mention, the colors are classically vibrant (our favorite is the orange-red Coco) and long-lasting. Functionality aside, it’s always fun to receive a lil’ gift with those two iconic, intertwined Cs on the label. It’s not something Mom would likely buy herself, so treat her to something special (we promise she’ll love it endlessly).

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Paume Overnight Hydration Gloves — $14.00

Have her hands seen better days? These hydrating gloves from Paume are made of soft organic cotton and, when paired with a restorative balm, can work wonders for dry, cracked, and overworked hands overnight. Yes, really. Side effects include not being able to tap away at her phone before bed, which is plus in our book.

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Chillhouse The Chill Line Chill Tips — $16.00

If Mom laments not having enough time to get her nails done, give her some easy-to-use press-ons for a near-instant manicure. We like Chill Tips because they come in minimalist designs, are easy to use, and look just like a gel mani without the wait (or price tag).

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OSEA Miracle Moisture Trio — $64.00

A hallmark of aging skin is dryness, and if she’s been looking to get her glow back, stop her search with this simple duo from OSEA (a woman—and mom—owned beauty brand). It includes a serum that restores the skin’s moisture barrier and a rich cream that softens and smoothes out the skin. Each product smells like the dreamiest ocean breeze, with a hydrating wear that feels like silk.

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Wonder Valley Serum & Stone — $132.00

A first-thing self-care ritual can do wonders, and if she’s into skin care, she’ll love starting a Gua Sha practice. This set actually comes from a brand that specializes in oils, which is a natural segue into lymphatic drainage. The serum is a mix of botanical oils that creates a comfortable, hydrated surface; the stone of choice is Mookaite Jasper, which is said to have cleansing and balancing properties.

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Hatch Mama Must-Haves Kit — $128.00

Whether the expecting mom on your gift list is into beauty or doesn’t have any semblance of a routine, she’ll appreciate this pregnancy self-care gift set. It includes simple necessities that are safe for Mama and (soon to be earthside) Baby, like a nourishing belly oil, a cooling cream, and a protective lip and nipple balm that she can use now and later.

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GHD Duet Style 2-in-1 Hot Air Styler — $399.00

Meet the ultimate time-saver in hair styling; particularly if Mom has wavy or curly hair that she prefers to wear straight. With this Hot Air Styler, she won’t have to wait until her hair is dried to begin using—or worse, blow dry and then straighten. It’ll leave her with a bouncy blow-out style without the sputtering or frying that comes with flat ironing her hair before she ought to.

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Westman Atelier The Petal Edition Set — $134.00

Westman Atelier is a beauty line founded by legendary makeup artist Gucci Westman. The products work on everyone, but especially for those with more mature skin and less time to get ready. This set—inspired by Westman’s daughter, Petal—includes a multi-purpose blush stick, a luxurious lip balm, and a highlighter, all in rose-pink hues that’ll impart a bouncy, juicy-looking glow to Mom’s face.

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Kitsch Satin Pillowcase for Hair & Skin — $19.00

Keep the good hair day going and going with a satin pillowcase from Kitsch. Not only are these silk-soft places to rest her skin on, but they can help ward off hair breakage (especially if she does partake in frequent heat-styling).

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Summer Fridays The Vault — $375.00

The bag speaks for itself. Gift her the ultimate at-home self-care set with Summer Fridays’ “vault” of products. The set includes 11 best-selling products that’ll give love to Mom’s skin from head to toe. She’ll get full sizes of everything from Summer Fridays’ now-classic Jet Lag Mask to its new Lip Butter Balm.

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Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar — $195.00

If she tends to favor beauty tips from her favorite actresses, gift mom this celeb-loved Jillian Dempsey Gold Sculpting Bar. It’s a preferred face-contouring tool of Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Aniston, Alicia Keys, and even Dempsey’s husband (yep!) McDreamy (Patrick Demspey) himself.

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Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite Dpl FaceWare Pro — $455.00

LED light therapy has been proven to be beneficial to the skin in a number of ways: diminishing fine lines and wrinkles, warding off acne, and reducing inflammation, to name just a few. If you’ve got a big budget to bestow on Mom, this trusted mask from Dr. Dennis Gross is all but guaranteed to be put to use each day.

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Dedcool, Hand + Body Wash in "Milk" — $28.00

Upgrade her $5 body wash for something more luxurious—like with Dedcool’s Hand and Body Wash in the perfume brand’s best-selling scent, “Milk.” With notes of bergamot, amber, and musk, the best way we can describe the scent is “expensive,” but in a totally unpretentiously way. Gentle ingredients leave skin supple, smooth, and ultra clean.

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SK-II Facial Treatment Essence — $190.00

This celeb-beloved treatment essence is worth the hype. Formulated with the Japanese brand’s proprietary base ingredient, Pitera (a bio-ingredient that comes from yeast fermentation, designed to mimic your skin’s natural pH levels and has more than 50 nutrients like amino acids and minerals) works overtime to brighten dark spots, hydrate, and smooth out fine lines.

 

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Home gifts:

Creekside Farms Seasonal Wreath Subscription — $328.00

Flowers are great, but you know what’s even better? A subscription of wreaths that’ll welcome Mom and her guests with each season. This may be one of the most memorable gifts for any home enthusiast, but especially any mom figure who will think of you whenever she opens or closes her front door.

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Tekla Set of Three Striped Organic Cotton Towels — $155.00

There’s nothing quite like frayed towel edges finding their way around your toes to completely snap you out of a relaxing shower experience. These organic cotton towels are as soft as they are beautiful, and will instantly add some pizzazz to her bathroom decor.

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Cozy Earth Waffle Bath Robe — $170.00

Robes are a classic Mother’s Day gift for a reason. They’re as comfortable as a practical object can be— especially if you get one from the Oprah-loved brand, Cozy Earth. These waffle bath robes are made of viscose from bamboo which means they feel the opposite of dry and scratchy.

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Lollia Imagine Bubble Bath — $70.00

Another trademark Mother’s Day gift is bubbly, for the bath. This is a top-rated item at Anthropologie because the vessel for the bubble bath is a visual gift, whether she puts it to use or not.

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Spa Prive Bath Pillow — $20.00

If Mom is an avid bath-taker (good on her), then she’s probably been dreaming of a bath pillow to keep her comfortably propped up or languidly reposed during her favorite time of day.

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Edie Parker Egg Pipe — $60.00

This isn’t your mama’s pipe—figuratively speaking, of course. This Edie Parker egg pipe is at the intersection of decor and practicality for cannabis lovers and will help her take Mom’s Day to new heights.

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The Citizenry Stonewashed Linen Sheet Set — $289.00

Does Mom get night sweats? A set of linen sheets will help keep her cool—and look beautiful on her bed whether they’re done or undone. These sheets from The Citizenry are made in Portugal with a stone-washing method, which means they’re already broken in and primed for her most comfortable snoozes yet.

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Newton Baby Pregnancy Pillow — $80.00

If you think you’re the most supportive thing in her life, guess again. A pregnancy pillow is another need for soon-to-be moms, and this one provides crucial support for her back and belly as she gets bigger. Newton (which specializes in baby mattresses) created a breathable pillow with extra memory foam that can be used now for side sleeping, and later as a regular body pillow.

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Hatch Restore Sunrise Alarm Clock — $130.00

Yes, she may have given you a few rude awakenings when you were a moody teenager, but you can help Mom wake easily with the Hatch Restore (so much more than an) Alarm Clock. She can stream meditations, sound baths, and more on the clock, as well as adjust the lighting to transport her to faraway mountaintops and seasides.

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Fable The Speckled Vase — $70.00

No Mother’s Day would be complete without flowers, and since you’re going to buy her some (set your reminder now) add a beautiful vase that she can reuse for her own arrangements. We love this jumbo ceramic vessel from Fable that’s suitable for the biggest, most glorious bouquets her dining room table can handle.

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Diptyque Limited Edition Cherry Blossom Candle — $74.00

Mother’s Day always falls on the most springy of spring days, which makes us want to run out and buy the nearest bouquet. But what’s better than a bouquet (and longer-lasting)? A candle that smells like spring. And not just spring, but cherry blossoms. Diptyque’s newest scent is an ode to cherry blossom trees, and it’s a clean and floral scent she won’t be able to stop sniffing. And when she’s done, the empty glass makes for a gorgeous makeup brush holder she can keep forever.

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Coop, The Original Pillow — $60.00

The W+G editors have been sleeping on Coop pillows for months, and we’re not being hyperbolic when we say our sleep has improved tenfold. Made of memory foam (which you can customize) and microfiber, the Coop Original pillow is great for head and neck support without being stiff. The Lulltra cover is machine washable, and Mom can rest easy that it’s Greenguard Gold and CertiPur-US-certified.

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Food gifts:

Cometeer Coffee Gift Box — $79.00

The art of pour-over may have never been her thing, but if she appreciates a solid cup of coffee, Cometeer is all she needs. The company partners with reputable roasters from all over the globe to create highly potent (and delicious) frozen coffee drops that instantly melt in water, but can also be brewed as ice coffee if she wants.

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Uncommon Goods Heart-Shaped Tea Bags — $36.00

For some, self-care doesn’t happen unless there’s tea involved. These blends (five each of English Breakfast, Earl Grey, and White Berry) come in cute heart-shaped bags that are guaranteed to make her smile.

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Le Creuset Mini Cocotte With Heart Knob — $32.00

If she’s already a fan of Le Creuset, build out her collection (and keep the heart theme going) with a cute as heck cocotte for her best-ever casseroles.

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Brightland The Artist Capsule — $150.00

There’s a time for bargain olive oil and there’s a time for fancy olive oil, and the latter is the only appropriate situation for Mother’s Day. Brightland makes inventive blends that you can bet Mom will almost certainly dub “the good oil” and may be so precious about them that she won’t even withstand opening the bottles. That’s okay, they’ll sit pretty on her counter in the meantime.

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Caraway Nonstick Ceramic Cookware Set (12 Piece) — $395.00

Name a more frustrating cooking situation than non-stick pans that stick. It’s impossible! Self-care in the kitchen really does mean getting a set of pans that don’t require an arm workout après dinner and you’ll be hard-pressed to find any that are quite as beautiful and functional as the ones from Caraway.

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Figlia Non-Alcoholic Aperitivo — $43.00

Has Mom always been more of an aperitif kind of gal, or is she extending Dry January through the rest of the year? Introduce her to Figlia. The ruby red drink has notes of orange, ginger, clove, and chamomile, for a sip that’s as comforting as it is invigorating.

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Apparel gifts:

Lunya Off Duty Kit ​​ — $197.00

You know your mom better than anyone, so why not pick out her ultimate sleeping attire? With this customizable set from Lunya, you can choose the perfect long-sleeve and pant combination for Mom.

Sizes available: XS-XL (top and bottoms)
Colors: Brown, blue, black, grey, white
Material: Organic pima cotton

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The M Jewelers Double Pave Butterfly Necklace — $100.00

Was your childhood filled with mommy-and-me outfits? This double pave necklace will be a nice homage to simpler times. The piece features a small and large crystal butterfly on gold vermeil chains.

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Minnetonka Berkyn Booties — $25.00

Slippers are a foolproof gift on Mother’s Day, but if she needs a pair that provides a bit more coverage so she can wear them outside of the house, Minnetonka’s Brekyn shoes are the one. They’re so popular that they’re hard to find in-stock, but we get it. A boot that wears as comfortably as a sock, with a cute faux-shearling exterior? We’ll take a pair for ourselves.

Sizes available: Women’s 5 – 10
Colors: Pink, navy, and golden tan
Material: Polyester faux-shearling upper with a rubber sole

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Parks Project Night Flower Friends Crewneck — $59.00

Originally $82, now $60

Parks Project is like a gigantic love letter to the States’ national parks—find cozy hoodies, crew necks, tees, mugs, and candles designed in homage to the great natural beauties like Yosemite, Joshua Tree, Yellowstone, and more. Every purchase gives back to the National Parks, so if your mom is a big hiker and nature lover, she’ll love the cause. And she’ll also love how luxurious and soft this vintage-style crewneck will feel (the more you wash it, the softer it gets!).

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Birdies, The Starling — $130.00

Mom’s feet deserve the best—which is why we’ll always recommend a pair of Birdies, which feature seven-layer comfort (what the brand is known for) and a plush fit. They’re like slippers disguised as flats: Wear them to brunch, on errands, or around the house—they’re versatile like that (and come in tons of colors, patterns, and materials).

Sizes available: 5-12

Colors: 12+

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Fitness gifts:

Hilma Running Shoes — $159.00

It can be hard to give shoes you know she needs as a surprise, so why not collaborate? Take Mom through Hilma’s fit quiz and get her a pair of running shoes that you’ll both know she’ll love.

Sizes available: Up to 45 size variations
Colors: Green, grey, purple
Material: Sugarcane-based foam and breathable mesh upper

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Pointe Studio Reformer Loop Gift Box — $85.00

Pilates is a workout that people of all ages can participate in, including seniors, since it focuses on balance, strength, and flexibility. This gift box will help mom start or keep her practice going, with grippy socks, a non-slip inflatable ball, and a versatile resistance band that she can use on a mat or reformer.

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Alo Moves Membership — $120.00

Make her on-demand yoga dreams come true with an Alo Moves membership. There are all kinds of classes—from yoga to barre to HIIT workouts and even meditation—that are offered for beginners, intermediate, and advanced practitioners.

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ClassPass Gift Card — $50.00

We know it may seem easy to give a gift card, but this is one Mom is guaranteed to love. She’ll be able to hop around the city to her favorite workouts or try new classes without worrying about spending her credits—and everything is on her time since ClassPass gift cards never expire.

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Lululemon, The Everywhere Belt Bag — $38.00

For the Mom who wants a bag that’ll hold the essentials as she’s on her way to the gym or grocery store: Meet the Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag. It’s so good, it’s almost always sold out—so snag it while you can. (W+G editors can confirm, it really is worth the cash—it’ll hold all the essentials, plus it has the perfect amount of compartment to keep your stuff organized.)

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Who are orthopedic shoes good for?

Generally, Dr. Lobkova says orthopedic shoes are great for active people who spend a lot of time on their feet. Traditionally though, they were meant for people with pain and deformity in the feet, ankles, knees, or lower back. Elena Wellens, DPM, a podiatric surgeon at Rothman Orthopaedics, notes people with arthritis, plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and flat feet most commonly benefit from orthopedic shoes. That said, these functional or alignment issues aren’t always obvious, so Dr. Lobkova advises seeing a podiatrist for diagnostics and recommended footwear for your specific needs.

All that said, if the term “orthopedic shoes” conjures up images of shoes your grandma wears, there’s good news. You no longer have to choose between style or comfort. “As our understanding of foot biomechanics and its relationship with foot and ankle conditions (such as plantar fasciitis, tendonitis, and arthritis) has evolved, more shoe manufacturers are designing shoes with sound orthopedic components while incorporating style, as well,” Dr. Wellens says.

In other words, orthopedic shoes are cool and stylish now (and you’ll see what we mean as you keep scrolling!).

What to look for in the best orthopedic shoes for women

Comfort and a good fit

First and foremost, Dr. Lobkova says comfort is key, and the only way to truly know if an orthopedic shoe will work for you is by trying them on and briefly walking around in them. They shouldn’t feel too tight or too loose.

A firm heel counter

Also, note how your heel feels. The shoe’s heel counter (aka, the back part of the shoe) should be firm, Dr. Lobkova says, as that will stabilize the heel and help diminish pain and inflammation in the heel and arch of the foot.

Cushioned midsole with arch support

A thick, cushioned midsole is also a must. “The rigidity of the midsole of a shoe dictates the stability of the shoe,” Dr. Lobkova says. So a thick, cushy midsole will help prevent excessive impact on the foot. Also, ensure the insole provides arch support. Particularly, she recommends looking for a firm elevation in the arch with a deeper heel cup and cushioning in the heel and ball of the foot.

Round and deep toe box area

“Many foot deformities occur in the ball of the foot (i.e., bunion, hammertoes, neuromas, etc.), so this area is important not to squeeze or irritate for a prolonged period of time,” Dr. Lobkova says. So, an excellent orthopedic shoe for women will have a round toe box with some depth (i.e. avoid pointy-toed or narrow shoes).

Rubber outsole with stable grip

The shoe’s outsole also matters. Here’s why: “The rubber outsole dictates the traction in the shoe,” Dr. Lobkova says. “Look for a suitable outsole that provides a stable grip yet is not too bulky.”

So overall, podiatrists recommend avoiding shoes that are too flexible and narrow and don’t provide adequate shock absorption, stability, arch support, and cushioning. To help make your orthopedic shoe shopping experience easier, Dr. Lobkova and Dr. Wellens share their recommendations for the best orthopedic shoes for women below.

Best orthopedic walking shoes for women:

Hoka, Bondi 8 — $165.00

Available sizes: women’s 5-12, in half sizes and two widths

For walking and running, Dr. Wellens is a fan of the popular Hoka Bondi sneakers (Bondi 8 is the latest iteration) because they offer excellent stability, support, and shock absorption, which are things you want in a good orthopedic shoe.

These shoes have a seal of acceptance from the American Podiatric Medical Association, meaning podiatrists reviewed them to ensure they promote foot health. They also come in various fun color combinations, so you can’t go wrong with these cool and comfortable ortho shoes.

Read a full review of the Hoka Bondi 8 here.

Colors: 13

Pros: 

• Excellent cushioning and shock absorption
• Supportive
• Neutral stability
• Recycled, vegan materials

Cons:

• Expensive
• The rocker heel might be too much for some people

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Klaw, Klaw 528 — $148.00

Available sizes: women’s 6-11, in two widths

Dr. Lobkova gave the title of the “best orthopedic walking shoes for women” to these Klaw sneakers, dubbed design-forward walking sneakers. “All the aspects of an optimal walking biomechanical system were taken into account to create this sneaker, including an insole with a deep heel cup, medial and lateral arch support, plenty of cushioning in the lightweight midsole, and an optimal heel-to-toe drop of 7mm,” Dr. Lobkova says. Full disclosure: Dr. Lobkova contributed to the technical design for Klaw footwear.

Colors: 4

Pros: 

• Excellent cushioning
• Excellent arch support
• Grippy tread
• Forefoot rocker

Cons:

• Limited colors
• No half sizing available

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New Balance, 990 — $185.00

The model-approved New Balance 990 sneakers also tick all the boxes that Dr. Wellens looks for in orthopedic shoes for women. Stability? Check. Support? You bet. Shock absorption? Yup! These trendy shoes pair well with many outfits so that you can rock them for walking and style purposes. Win, win.

Read up on the best podiatrist-approved styles of New Balance shoes here.

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Asics, Gel Kayano 29 — $160.00

Available sizes: women’s 5-13, in half sizes

Dr. Wellens also enjoys the Asics Gel Kayano lineup of orthopedic walking and running shoes. They offer the support your feet need and come in various color combinations. The Gel Kayano 29 style, in particular, is designed for overpronators, aka folks whose foot rolls inward and arches flatten when walking.

Colors: 12+

Pros:

• Excellent arch support
• Neutral stability
• Great cushioning and shock absorption
• Ideal for running and walking

Cons:

• Only available in standard widths
• Designed for overpronators—those with high arches may have pain

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Most comfortable orthopedic shoes for women:

Sketchers GO Walk Massage FIt — $100.00

Available sizes: women’s 5-9, in half sizes

For comfortable orthopedic shoes for casual, everyday activities, Dr. Wellens says you can’t go wrong with a shoe from Sketchers’ Go Walk lineup, which includes everything from flip-flop sandals and slides to boots and sneakers. The Go Massage Fit is a great sneaker choice, since it features easy lace-up engineered mesh which makes putting on and taking off low-effort, a synthetic hotmelt upper, and a shock-absorbing cushioned midsole. Basically, it’s a bouncy, cushion-y shoe ideal for those who want to feel like they’re walking on clouds—even if they’re walking or standing all day long.

Colors: 2

Pros:

• Affordable
• Lightweight
• Cushioned
• Vegan

Cons: 

• Limited sizes
• Only available in standard width

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Kuru, Chicane Women’s Trail Hiking Shoe — $165.00

Available sizes: women’s 6-12, in half sizes and two widths

Although they’re designed for hiking, Dr. Wellens says these Kuru shoes offer comfort for everyday activities thanks to their ergonomic fit (think built-in arch support, rounded heel cups, and a curved insole). Bonus points: They’re available in medium and wide widths and six colorways.

Colors: 6

Pros: 

• Excellent arch support  
• Excellent tread
• Ergonomic fit
• Designed with pressure-distribution

 Cons: 

• Expensive
• Designed for hiking—might be too much for casual wear

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Best orthopedic shoes with arch support:

Birkenstock Bend Low Shoes — $150.00

Available sizes: women’s 5-5.5-12-12.5 in two widths

If you’re already a fan of the classic Birkenstock sandals, known for their cork footbed with arch support and a deep heel cup, Dr. Lobkova says you’ll be delighted to learn that the brand also has a sneakers version. If you’ve worn Birkenstock sandals, then you’re already familiar with how well the footbed provides a raised arch to support flat feet and fallen arches—the shoe has the same design and offers the same benefits. The upper is constructed from a soft suede leather, and the cork-latex footbed is entirely removable if you want.

Colors: 4

Pros:

• Moldable cork footbed (it’s removable, too)
• Built-in arch support
• Deep heel cups for stability
• Affordable

Cons:

• Cork might be uncomfortable to break in
• Low ankle support

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Dansko, Fawna — $140.00

Available sizes: women’s 4.5-5-12.5-13 in two widths

Another great podiatrist-recommended arch support orthopedic shoe option are these classic Mary Jane shoes by Dansko which feature a removable cushioned footbed with added arch support. The color options (black, chestnut, and navy) are limited, but they make up for it by offering regular and wide width sizes. Dansko is known for its high-quality footwear, and you can see it (and feel it) with its burnished leather uppers and supremely soft microfiber lining. It’s a great option for a more “dressy”-looking shoe without feeling like a heel or unsupportive flat.

Colors: 3

Pros: 

• Built-in arch support
• EVA midsole
• Durable outsole

Cons: 

• Expensive
• Limited sizes/colorways

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Best orthopedic comfortable shoes for work:

Aetrex, Frankie Boot — $170.00

Available sizes: women’s 5-5.5-10.5-11

What style of work shoe is best for you will, of course, depend on your line of work, but if you’re looking for something that you can dress up and down without looking too casual, these boots, recommended by Dr. Wellens, perfectly fit the bill. What makes them stand-out boots is their insole, which provides arch heel support, and overall stabilization—and it’s the reason why you can wear these hours on end with no pain. There’s also stretchy gore material on both sides, making the fit more comfortable while you wear them, and when you put them on or take them off. The upper material is genuine leather, and the outsole is a lightweight rubber and cork, so they don’t feel heavy. Plus, they featured a lug sole for traction (they’re not specifically non-slip, so just FYI). Another bonus? They’re weather-friendly (their construction is fully sealed, as to prevent water from seeping in), making them a great choice year-round.

Colors: 3

Pros: 

• Built-in arch support
• Durable outsole
• Stretchy and adjustable
• Weather-resistant

Cons:

• Expensive
• No zippers
• Only available in standard width
• Not non-slip

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Kuru, Quantum Sneakers — $160.00

Available sizes: women’s 5-12, in half sizes and two widths

Dr. Lobkova gives her podiatrist stamp of approval to these sneakers for a few reasons. They have a wide and deep toe box, giving your toes the extra wiggle room they need. The Kuru Quantum Sneakers are also supportive, she says, and have a great outsole that provides optimal traction, making them a great everyday work shoe. The shoes are available in eight colors, including jet black with aqua accents and violet with an orange pop.

Colors: 9

Pros: 

• Wide, deep toe-box
• Built-in support and stability
• Breathable

Cons: 

• Expensive

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Best orthopedic dress shoes:

Gabor, Wedge Boot — $219.00

Available sizes: women’s 6-11, in half sizes

For a night out or any occasion when you want to dress up a bit more while ensuring your feet are comfortable, Dr. Lobkova points to these wedge boots. Especially if you’re looking for some height, wedges are a better alternative to heels, since they give feet more support (and balance). These come in a black leather or suede version, featuring a thick sole for maximum comfort and support.

Colors: 2

Pros:

• Stylish
• Thick, durable outsole
• Wide, stable wedge heel

Cons: 

• Expensive
• Only available in standard width
• Might not be stable for those with weak ankles

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Geox, Walk Pleasure 85 Women — $180.00

Available sizes: women’s 5-10.5, in half sizes

Wedge boots still too casual? Really prefer heels? Try these classic high-heel pumps. Dr. Lobkova advises checking out the brand Geox, in general, for their nice selection of dress heels that feature a platform (aka cushioning) under the ball of the foot. The heel height is 3’5” which is just enough to give you height without going overboard. Featuring chic patent leather, a breathable outsole, a Zero-Shock system for generous cushioning, you’ll be able to walk in these all day long, no problem. Finally, a heel that can truly walk the walk.

Colors: 2

Pros: 

• Built-in cushioning
• Durable tread
• Wide heel

Cons: 

• Expensive
• Limited colors
• Only available in standard width

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Vionic, Adalena Heel — $140.00

Available sizes: 5-11, in half sizes

Vionic is another orthopedic dress shoe brand Dr. Wellens recommends checking out. In particular, consider these oh-so-stylish leather heels that come in cream, nude, black, and bright pink. Thanks to a sculpted heel shape that provides stability, they give you height (four inches!) without sacrificing comfort. If these dress shoes aren’t your style, she recommends browsing Vionic’s site, as the brand has many other comfortable and stylish options, such as the Josie and Ziva kitten heels.

Colors: 4

Pros:

• Stable heel
• Built-in cushioning
• Deep heel cup
• Affordable

Cons:

• Only available in standard width

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As it turns out, clay masks aren’t as simple as they seem. So Sasha Banner, a licensed esthetician at Heyday in New York City, is here to tell us how it’s done.

“Clay masks are useful because they are primarily used to pull oil and impurities out of the skin. Clay masks can also aid in firming and toning the skin,” says Banner. Overdo it, though, and your skin will be very unhappy. “Clay masks will typically have ingredients like bentonite and kaolin which are meant to absorb surface oils from the skin. You may notice your skin feels tight after leaving a clay mask on for too long. This is an indication that the mask is removing the necessary good oils from your skin.”

Any skin type can use a clay mask—but in order to ensure these formulas don’t leave your skin raw and angry, you want to be absolutely sure to find the right product (ideally, something that’s got hydrating and soothing ingredients) and follow a few basic—but very important—rules of engagement.

4 basic clay mask rules you should always follow

1. Get the right mask for your skin type

“Not all clay masks are created equally,” says Banner. “There is literally a clay mask out there for just about everyone. While in the grand scheme of things clay masks will detoxify and absorb excess oils, some can be hydrating, exfoliating, and anti-aging as well. It’s all in the ingredients, so pay attention to that.”

Immunocologie, Vital Clay Mask — $30.00

“My go-to clay mask would have to be Immunocologie Vital Clay Mask,” says Banner. “This mask is a life-saver when my skin is inflamed and congested as it contains salicylic acid. This ingredient is a triple threat in exfoliating, reducing inflammation, and helping fight future breakouts.”

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Yon-Ka Paris, Masque 105 — $54.00

This clarifying mask from Yon-Ka Paris was designed for dry skin and was made with three types of clay—montmorillonite, bentonite, and kaolin to purify and brighten. It also has lemon peel oil and savory extract to make the formula more tolerable for dry and sensitive skin.

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The Outset, Purifying Blue Clay Mask — $46.00

“The Outset’s Purifying Blue Clay Mask is a fantastic mask for someone looking to add hydration to their skin while simultaneously combating dehydration and breakouts,” says Banner. “With ingredients like niacinamide (vitamin B3) which brightens pigmentation and strengthens the skin barrier and Hyaluroset Complex a botanical alternative to hyaluronic acid that nourishes, plumps, and smooths skin, this clay mask is a powerhouse.”

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Ustawi, Red Clay Clarifying Mask — $37.00

This mask softens, smooths, and soothes your skin with two types of clay. Red clay is rich in copper, selenium, magnesium, zinc, and manganese to nourish the skin while white clay deeply detoxifies. It’s perfect for balancing and hydrating the most stressed and sensitive skin.

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Apto Skincare, Turmeric Mask with Azelaic Acid — $16.00

This maks combines anti-inflammatory turmeric with clarifying clay and brightening azaleic acid to encourage healthy, clear skin. I reach for it anytime my skin is feeling conested and angry.

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2. Avoid placing a clay mask on areas of the face that are visibly dry

“Clay masks can contain ingredients like salicylic acid, which is another oil-absorbing ingredient meant to exfoliate dead skin cells and fight breakouts,” says Banner. “Applying a clay mask to an area that’s already visibly dry can cause further dryness and deplete the skin of whatever moisture and oils it has.”

3. Never, EVER let a clay mask fully dry out

“More time doesn’t mean it’s working better,” says Banner. “An overabsorption of oils can cause your skin to go into ‘fight or flight’ mode and cause it to actually produce more oils and disrupt your skin’s pH, consequently doing the complete opposite of what you want your clay mask to do for you.”

Instead, read the directions for the mask you’re using and see how long you should leave it on. Most will recommend applying a thick, even layer and leaving it on between five and 15 minutes.

4. Always follow up a clay mask with moisturizing ingredients

“The name of the game here is balance,” says Banner. “Whatever you take out, you must put it back to create harmony in your skin’s biome. There is a common misconception that oily skin types should avoid oilsand hydration. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. Oily skin types should instead choose hydrating ingredients and oils that are most bioidentical to what our bodies naturally produce. Think more along the lines of glycerin, hyaluronic acid, jojoba, squalene, and rosehip oils. Avoiding ingredients like coconut and mineral oils as these can be very comedogenic (pore-clogging).” She suggests using the  Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil ($38) or Image Skincare’s Ageless Total Pure Hyaluronic-6 Filler ($80) to “create that balance and complete your skincare routine after a clay mask.”

Indie Lee Squalane Facial Oil — $38.00

This oil features squalane, an oil that closely mimics our natural sebum. It’s derived from olive oil and leaves your skin soft, nourished, and never greasy.

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Image Skincare, Ageless Total Pure Hyaluronic-6 Filler — $80.00

This concentrated topical contains six different forms of hyaluronic acid including one that is time-releassd and cross-linked to provide 50 timed the water-binding capacity of pure hyaluronic acid and five times more moisturization. Plus, it has higher free radical scavenging properties, which means it will help defend against visible signs of skin aging.

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The search results included lots of things that Bates didn’t need (like the side effects of the medication, which are listed on the package) and very little by way of information she did need: how people actually felt when taking it and whether those who’d experienced side effects from birth-control pills (like she had) had any issues with it. So, she instinctively turned to the women in her life, both in person and online, for help. The magnitude of the response awed her: People sprang into action, offering their firsthand experiences and advice in spades. These responses left Bates feeling far more comfortable buying and taking emergency contraception than when she was armed with just Google results.

Now, Bates is bottling the unique benefits of social crowdsourcing into the search engine she wishes she’d had then— powered by many, many more friends. Enter: Diem, the “social search engine” that draws on the collective knowledge of women and non-binary folks, as well as artificial intelligence (AI), to create a friendly, informative knowledge hub. Bates and Diem co-founder Divia Singh launched Diem in public beta in October 2021, and after refining through beta testing with thousands of users, they just launched the final product.

How Diem blends AI with community-generated content to offer accurate, applicable info

Designed for women-identifying and non-binary folks in their mid-twenties to early thirties, Diem aims to take all the knowledge, wisdom, and relatable humor that lives in so many individual group chats, organize it in one easily searchable spot, and supercharge that database with AI. The goal is to return simple answers to questions folks pose.

Think of Diem like a mix of Quora, Reddit, and ChatGPT: Users can ask their questions to the community and answer others’ questions, and they’re encouraged to interact to make answers as detailed, funny, personal, and insightful as possible

Think of Diem like a mix of Quora, Reddit, and ChatGPT: Users can ask their questions to the community and answer others’ questions, and they’re encouraged to interact to make answers as detailed, funny, personal, and insightful as possible. At the same time, the AI component collects data from those interactions among Diem users, as well as the broader internet, and uses it all to spin out comprehensive, yet super-relevant answers to questions.

For example, let’s say you want to know about how much it costs to freeze your eggs. You’d type that question into Diem, and the AI component would utilize its broader internet database and Diem user-contributed content to generate both a one-sentence answer and a longer one. And you’d receive both, alongside all the community-generated posts on the topic, in case you were interested in scrolling through them.

In this way, Diem combines the ease of AI with the personalization of knowledge from actual women and non-binary folks—the very kind of anecdotal information and life experiences and gossip often deprioritized by search engines due to bias (more on that below). It’s the combination, Bates says, that makes the information on Diem both useful and directly applicable to people from these communities. “The way we’ve always thought about building is, ‘How can we create a space where you could search for the collective insights of your communities?’” she says. “If you can build collectively with your community, it shapes the voice, data, and experience, and it ends up feeling different.”

The issue of gender bias on search engines and AI platforms

Because gender bias is prevalent in society as a whole, it also exists within internet search-engine algorithms, and fuels the gender information gap. It’s the same gap that Bates confronted when trying to find applicable, relatable information on the morning-after pill in 2018.

As evidence, consider the results of a 2022 study, for which researchers looked to determine whether Google Images searches in countries with higher gender-inequality scores (assessed with the Global Gender Gap Index) would also demonstrate a gender bias. To do so, they conducted a search for the word “person” in the local language of 37 countries in their first study and 52 countries in their second. In all cases, the Google search results in countries with greater levels of societal gender inequality also revealed greater gender disparity (meaning that a higher percentage of the first 100 image results showed a man versus a woman).

New AI bots have also been found to perpetuate gender bias. For example, Bloomberg reported that a computational scientist got ChatGPT to spit out code that said only Asian or white men would make good scientists; the company’s CEO responded to the scientist on Twitter, encouraging users to “thumbs down” such answers in order to help the program learn not to propagate bias.

When I asked ChatGPT a similar question, it said it’s not appropriate to use someone’s gender or race to determine whether they’d excel in a profession. But while it seems like the AI is currently learning to be less biased, it’s still relying on objective, compassionate users to train it to be that way. (Whereas Diem’s AI is largely trained on information created by and for women and non-binary people, and thus isn’t subject to the same issue of anti-women bias from the jump.)

“AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on, and because all humans have bias and prejudice, when their data is used, that bias and prejudice becomes a part of the AI.” —Nina Vasan, MD, psychiatrist

These findings illustrate how the biases we maintain as people naturally transfer to the products we create and the datasets to which we contribute. “AI is only as good as the data it’s trained on, and because all humans have bias and prejudice, when their data is used, that bias and prejudice becomes a part of the AI,” says psychiatrist Nina Vasan, MD, chief medical officer of digital therapy platform Real and founder and executive director of Brainstorm: The Stanford Lab for Mental Health Innovation.

How Diem aims to become a fun, informative search engine specifically for women and non-binary people

Given Diem’s intended user demographic, Bates says she thinks of the information shared on the platform and generated by the chatbot as answers to the questions people have when they’re in the “friend stage” of their lives; people absorb lots of information from friends when they’re in their mid-twenties and early thirties, she says. The idea with Diem is that you’re gaining perspectives from a variety of people of your age and gender identity with whom you may not have otherwise interacted, and that collective understanding benefits everyone on the platform.

Because Diem’s AI is fed with information directly from people of this demographic, it’s a representative platform by design. As of now, thousands of women and non-binary people have asked questions and shared answers on Diem about topics relevant to them, especially in the categories of personal health, money, and relationships—which is where Diem’s AI is best trained.

While it’s still learning, it pulls from a broader proprietary dataset (similar to the one that powers ChatGPT) to find information about questions that people in the community haven’t yet discussed. A point of differentiation, though, is that it still spins out a “summarized Diem-y answer” for these questions, says Bates, using actual Diem convos to inform the answer’s style and tone.

However, because Diem is still an AI relying on both user-generated content and that broader dataset, it is certainly not immune to the problems faced by other search engines and AI chatbots, including false, misleading, and, yes, even biased content. In turn, there’s a button within the app and on the desktop version to report abuse, and the platform has published a set of community guidelines—which promote things like “kindness and curiosity” and “empathetic engagement”—to ensure its users’ safety and the quality of the information.

Diem launches during a time when government officials in both the United States and European Union are exploring ways to regulate AI, largely because of the above concerns. In the U.S. specifically, President Joe Biden’s office released a draft of an AI Bill of Rights in October, a bipartisan group of U.S. senators led by Senator Chuck Schumer is working on legislation to establish guardrails around the industry, and four government agencies released a joint statement last month outlining the powers they hold to regulate the industry more robustly, particularly against discrimination resulting from bias.

But Bates isn’t deterred by entering this landscape. She predicts that there will be an “interesting shift in the future of the internet,” where people will seek out information that caters specifically to where they are in their lives. Rather than asking Google for dating advice, for instance, she hopes you’ll soon go to a platform like Diem, which will give you answers derived from people with a similar lived experience to your own.

“Right now, we exist in monopolies, and that impacts how we use the internet and what we expect of platforms,” says Bates. After all, those monopolies often reflect bias in favor of men. “I think the future of the internet is going to offer more niche experiences,” she says. And who’s to say a niche is necessarily small? As Bates points out, women-identifying folks make up a near equal share of the people on the planet. And now, there’s a giant group chat waiting for their input.

There was a time when my criteria for choosing a product was nothing more than price and good reviews. But now, I’m much more discerning about looking for options with anti-aging ingredients and other actives that are beneficial to my mature skin. And a few years ago, when the FDA called into question the efficacy and safety of certain SPF ingredients, I decided to ditch my usual chemical sunscreens for mineral ones, just in case.

Unlike chemical formulas, which absorb into the skin, mineral formulas use ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide that sit on the skin and physically block out UV rays. Traditionally, this has meant that they come along with that dreaded, chalky white cast, but in recent years, an increasing number of tinted options have come along to leave any concerns about looking like Casper the Friendly Ghost squarely in the past.

After testing dozens of options on my 50+ complexion, I narrowed it down to five best-of-the-best mineral sunscreens for mature skin. One thing to keep in mind: Like all sunscreens, these products need to be reapplied every two hours—but since they’re portable and easily fit in a bag, that shouldn’t be a problem. And if you find one you love, there’s no reason not to wear it year-round, because experts agree we need to protect our skin from the sun 365 days a year.

Best tinted mineral sunscreen for mature skin

PÜR, 4-in-1 Tinted Moisturizer SPF 20

With this product, you get a lot of bang for your buck—it’s a moisturizer, primer, and foundation, plus offers SPF 20 protection. The formula is infused with skin-beneficial ingredients like hydrating sodium hyaluronate, chamomile to soothe and calm skin, and aloe vera, shea butter, and vitamin E for a dewy finish. I love this product because it has a tint that leans toward fuller coverage. Unlike most tinted sunscreens, it comes in a variety of shades and makes my skin glow. One caveat: the SPF 20 is less than the SPF 30 derms recommend, so you may want to add a layer of sheer sunscreen underneath if you’re going to be outside or near any sun-drenched windows.

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Dr Loretta, Universal Glow Daily Defense Mineral Sunscreen Fluid SPF 40 — $50.00

Created by dermatologist Dr. Loretta Ciraldo, this mineral sunscreen comes in a universally blendable shade and is full of anti-aging ingredients. A few worth noting? Lipochroman, an antioxidant that protects against free radical damage and improves the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots; and Indian ginseng, which nourishes, smooths, and hydrates the skin while providing protection against HEV blue light and environmental aggressors. The zinc oxide formula has a creamy texture, gives just a hint of color, and feels amazingly hydrating. And the added defense against pollutants and indoor light from screens and devices is definitely a bonus.

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Bliss, Block Star Invisible Daily Sunscreen with SPF 30 — $25.00

With one bottle sold every 90 seconds, Bliss Block Star has gained legions of fans and gone seriously viral on TikTok. Don’t let the word “invisible” fool you— the product has a sheer universal tint designed to blur pores and uneven skin tone. A combo of zinc oxide and titanium dioxide provides sun protection, while rose canina fruit oil helps to control excess oil—a major perk in the heat. It goes on smoothly and does a great job of covering any discolorations or slight breakouts on my skin.

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TIZO, AM Replenish Lightly Tinted Moisturizing Mineral Sunscreen — $48.00

This SPF 40 formula with zinc oxide for sun protection also has ingredients to moisturize and repair existing sun damage. There are ceramides to help restore the skin’s natural lipid layer, and antioxidant vitamins C and E to protect against free radical damage. The product has a buttery texture and gives a natural-looking matte (as opposed to dewy) finish, making it a good option for those with oily skin.

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Skinceuticals, Physical Fusion UV Defense SPF 50 — $42.00

This nearly-weightless formula uses translucent color spheres to boost radiance and promote an even finish on the skin. The product has both zinc oxide and titanium dioxide for sun protection, along with artemia salina, a plankton extract known to increase skin’s resistance to UV- and heat-induced stress. It’s also suitable for all skin types including sensitive skin. Because it’s a fluid formula, the product is very sheer and lightweight, making it a good option if you’ll be exercising or swimming.

All of that changed, though, when Olaplex came around. The brand, which launched in 2014, is known for its revolutionary reparative formulas that can restore the health of even the most damaged strands. “It was remarkable,” says Frank. “Suddenly my hair felt stronger… It felt like my virgin hair. It felt healthy so immediately, I started incorporating it into everything.”

After seeing the results that Olaplex could deliver, she joined the team as lead stylist and educator. In the latest episode of Well+Good’s Routine Rundown, she’s giving us a first-hand look at the game-changing science behind the brand and then some.

Listen to the full episode here: 

To understand what makes Olaplex Olaplex, it’s first important to understand the science behind how it works. When an external factor damages your hair, it causes a chemical reaction that breaks up the disulfide bonds that make up the structure of your hair and “eats up” all of the proteins that keep your strands healthy. “Damage doesn’t just happen from getting your hair colored or lightened,” says Frank, explaining that cumulative damage can also come from hot tools (yes, even the most hair-friendly blow dryer) and the environment.

“And you would think that the simple solution is to go ahead and fix this by putting some protein in the hair, but the truth is, it’s a chain reaction—you need to take care of the source of the problem, which is the broken disulfide bonds. The rest of it you can take care of after.”

This, she says, is where Olaplex comes in. “When you’re using Olaplex regularly… you’re mitigating that damage so that the reaction never happens, and you don’t have something eating away at your hair—you’re basically making your hair strong,” says Frank. “This is the first thing you do to make sure you’re [supporting] the structure, so then you can do all of the other things you need to do to make sure you have healthy, strong, beautiful hair.” In other words: It’s not a Band-Aid solution that will cover up damage so your hair looks healthy—it’s actually doing the work to fix it.

Because damage can come from so many different factors, Frank feels strongly that everyone could benefit from having Olaplex in their routines. “It’s this unique, patented chemistry… and I think that every single person should have this as a tool in their arsenal, because this happens to everybody,” she says.

Shop the products that she uses to keep her own platinum hair healthy below, then check out our full conversation (which spans from the link between hair and identity to the skinification of hair care) on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Olaplex, No. 3 Hair Repair Perfector—$30-$60

“Olaplex No. 3 should be in every single person’s arsenal, period,” says Frank of the brand’s original formula. Though Olaplex’s reparative tech is present in all of its products, this pre-shampoo treatment packs the biggest punch. Frank recommends adding it to your routine once or twice a week, which is exactly what she does herself.

“I’ll do this 10-15 minutes before I take a shower. Dampen my hair real fast, put in the number 3 and make sure it hits every strand, leave it in for 10 minutes and then shampoo and condition,” she says. You can leave it on for longer, but just make sure it doesn’t dry completely (otherwise, you’ll be left with crunch and grease) and always wash it out thoroughly.

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Olaplex, No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment — $30.00

“If you have seriously damaged hair, I definitely recommend also adding in the number zero, which kind of boosts the efficacy of [the reparative technology],” says Frank. Use it as a primer before applying Olaplex No. 3 to intensify its benefits.

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Olaplex, Daily Cleanse and Condition Duo — $30.00

“I’m a big fan of our shampoo and conditioner, which, like all of our products have the patented ingredient our chemists made,” say Frank. “They’re phenomenol, especially for people who do a lot of things that can drain out the moisture in their hair, like flat ironing or lightening their strands.”

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Olaplex No. 8 Bond Intense Moisture Hair Mask — $30.00

“What’s phenomenol about this is that it is so lightweight, and it absorbs into your hair… you’re getting it all into your hair, and your hair needs that,” says Frank, noting that a little bit of product goes a long way. “It says [to leave it on for] 10 minutes, which is optimal, but I’ll admit I might wash my hair when I first get into the shower, then put that on and do everything else, and I rinse it out after whatever amount of time that takes and get great results.”

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Olaplex, No. 6 Bond Smoother Reparative Styling Creme — $30.00

“We all have that skin-care product that’s the first thing we put on… that is this product. You put this on wet hair as the first product, no other product before, and you need so little—one pump should take care of your whole head,” says Frank. “It’s a serum, so of course it has our active ingredient, but it also has these antioxidants that are basically going to protect your hair from free radicals as well as help to get them out so that you won’t have continuing damage—it’s protecting your hair for up to 48 hours.”

But protection isn’t the only thing this formula offers. “It has this memory, so when you’re blowdrying your hair with it you’re creating a base hairstyle that’s going to last you for days,” says Frank. “If you have curly hair, it makes the curls more manageable and more forming, and it’s anti-tangle… and anti-static.”

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Olaplex, No. 9 Bond Protector Nourishing Hair Serum — $30.00

Before any sort of heat styling, Frank will also layer on Olaplex No. 9 for extra protection (Olaplex No. 7 Bonding Hair Oil is also a great option for those with coarser, drier textures). It’s got a triple-action formula to strengthen, protect, and smooth. It does this with the help of Olaplex’s bond-building tech, plus red algae extract with bonds to hair to defend against damage from hot tools, pollutants, and UVA and UVB rays.

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Olaplex, No.4P Blonde Enhancer Toning Purple Shampoo — $30.00

“Toners in blonde hair will oxidize over time, so really my hair has more of a yellowish undertone at this point even though I tend to be on the cool side,” says Frank. “So I do use Olaplex No. 4, which is our purple, blonde-enhancing shampoo. And that really does help give me the longevity of [my color] and doesn’t make me look like I have brassy hair.”

Because purple sits opposite of yellow on the color wheel, it will help neutralize any brassiness in your hair, which is why stylists recommend purple shampoo to keep blonde highlights looking fresh. Though there are many great purple products on the market, this one comes with Olaplex’s bond-building tech, which means it will keep your hair healthy and looking great.

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Olaplex, No. 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo — $30.00

“On the day of my [color] appointment, I have to clarify my hair, so I’m definitely going to be using the Olaplex 4C Bond Maintenance Clarifying Shampoo because I don’t want anything to interfere with the [professional] product working the way it should.,” says Frank. “I’d recommend that to anyone getting any sort of color service, any bleaching, et cetera, because your hair sucks up everything. So you want to get all of that out so that the products [your stylist] is using on you are working in the most efficient way and the color they choose is working the way it should.”

 

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Self-described “soft girls who hike” Emily Thornton and Lucy Hird are two UK-based women chronicling their journeys exploring the nature of Great Britain on their TikTok account with the philosophy that “hiking doesn’t have to be hard.”

The idea of “softness” has taken over TikTok as an aesthetic and POV. It’s about leaning into what feels good, taking time for yourself, and nourishing your body and soul. Thornton and Hird apply the soft idea to hiking, reframing the activity from a type of hyper-athletic, achievement-oriented activity, to one that’s accessible to someone with the motivation “simply to enjoy ourselves,” and so coining the term “soft hiking.”

“Soft hiking is about the pure joy of spending time in nature and moving your body,” the soft girls who hike say in an explainer video. “It’s important to take breaks, eat, and actually take in your surroundings. Make some time to go off trail and be present in the moment. There’s no need to rush.”

The soft hike is akin to the hot girl walk and the exploding popularity of walking in general as a form of movement that’s not about burning a certain amount of calories or achieving any particular aesthetic goals.

“I think it’s extraordinary,” says walking expert Joyce Shulman, the co-founder and CEO of the app 99 Walks and author of Walk Your Way to Better, 99 Walks that Will Change Your Life. “What happened during the pandemic and post-pandemic is that people are really recognizing what I call the transformative power of an intentional walking practice.”

Shulman says soft hiking has all the benefits, and then some, of that intentional walking practice. Frankly, there are too many benefits of walking to list, but some highlights include promoting longevity, bone strength, cardiovascular and brain health, boosting creativity, and alleviating symptoms of depression. Walking promotes “feel good” hormones like serotonin, while lowering cortisol.

“A lot of the mental and emotional benefits, I believe, come from when we step away from our computers, our phones, our obligations, and give ourselves the opportunity to really clear our minds,” Shulman says.

Which is exactly what soft hiking does. It’s not about pushing yourself or achieving something. Maybe you’re even somewhere without cellphone service. The purpose is to appreciate your surroundings and move your body.

You can do that anywhere, whether it’s a mountain range or your own neighborhood. But being in nature has the scientifically-proven benefits of reducing stress. Soft hiking is also a form of taking “awe walks,” which have been shown to boost happiness and feelings of wellbeing.

“In order to experience an awe walk, you have to be willing to slow down enough to take it all in,” Shulman says. Taking your time just happens to be one of the tenets of soft hiking.

It might not appeal to everyone at first, especially when hiking has a rap as something difficult that’s only accessible to the hyper-fit people who can scale mountains, or privileged groups with more ready access to nature and hiking equipment. But soft hiking expands the idea of who a hiker is, so that more people can experience the activity.

“I’ve always thought that if you see yourself as a hiker, as someone who hikes, it just kind of opens up all of these opportunities to take your walk off road,” Shulman says. “Once you embrace that identity, think about all the places you can go.”

“This [bacterial growth] can happen when storage containers have hard-to-get-to spots, such as crevices in lids and narrow lips around the edges of containers,” says Reeder. Harder-to-reach crevices and corners may be harder to clean, leaving those areas vulnerable for bacteria to proliferate. Additionally, the material of the food storage containers can predispose not-so-good microorganisms to lurk.

“Plastic is a porous material, meaning that it actually has super tiny holes in it, which allow particles to pass through and be absorbed,” Reeder adds. These small, narrow places can make it difficult to clean, cooking up the perfect environment for bacteria to grow. Since glass is nonporous, bacteria will have a harder time sticking around.

We tapped an RD for their input and what to look for in a bacteria-resistant food storage container. Here are six containers that prevent bacteria from playing Dance Dance Revolution with your food.

Bayco, Glass Food Storage Containers (24 Pieces) — $38.00

Snacks, soups, fruit, or larger meals—these Bayco Glass Food Storage Containers hold it all. This 24-piece set comes with four rectangular containers, four square containers, and four round containers of varying sizes, all of which are easy to clean thanks to the glass material. “I like that the seals in the lids come out, so you can easily clean what would be a tricky place to get otherwise,” says Reeder.

Material: glass

Safe with: dishwasher, oven, microwave, freezer

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Pyrex, Glass Food Storage (6 Pieces) — $18.00

This six-piece glass food storage set will give you piece of mind during a busy week. Reeder recommends these containers because the lids don’t have any tiny or small areas that are difficult to clean, so you don’t have to worry about bacteria playing hide-and-seek whenever you’re hitting the sink. Featuring a two-cup, four-cup, and seven-cup containers, the set is ideal for meal prepping or stowing away leftovers so all of your yummy bites don’t go to waste.

Material: glass

Safe with: dishwasher, microwave, freezer

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Caraway, Glass Food Storage Set (14 Pieces) — $245.00

Take meal prep to the next level with Caraway’s Glass Food Storage Set. Not only do these containers store and keep food fresh, they’re extremely easy to clean. Coated with ceramic, these containers will ensure that food slides right off. Included are one large container, two medium containers, two small containers, straps, and dash inserts, so you’ll have enough containers to meal prep or store leftovers. It also helps that the containers are free of BPA and PFAS, and they have a bento-like style (cool kid lunch, incoming).

Material: glass

Safe with: dishwasher, oven, microwave, freezer (lids and inserts are not microwave safe, according to the brand)

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Pyrex, Rectangular Storage Containers (8 Pieces) — $35.00

It’s no secret that Pyrex makes some of the most durable, easy-to-clean containers, and this set is no exception to those standards. Made of nonporous glass, these rectangular storage containers aren’t going to stow away bacteria, and the lids are extremely easy to clean. We love that this set of four doesn’t absorb any odors (leftover pasta stains, no more). What’s more, this set is dishwasher-, preheated oven-, microwave, and fridge-safe.

Material: glass

Safe with: dishwasher, preheated oven, microwave, freezer, fridge

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Pyrex, Ribbed Bowl Set (8 Pieces) — $36.00

For larger meals or leftovers from a party, Pyrex’s Ribbed Bowl set sure comes in handy. Made of nonporous glass, these containers won’t absorb odors or trap bacteria. What also makes them great for storing leftovers are the easy-to-scrub lids. They don’t trap pesky microorganism, so you don’t have to worry about bacteria partying with your food. Best of all, all of the containers are oven-, microwave-, and top rack-dishwasher safe.

Material: glass

Safe with: dishwasher (top rack only), oven, microwave

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DuraHome, Food Storage Containers (44 Pieces) — $23.00

If you’re not ready to commit to glass containers (which can be pricey), Reeder recommends this 44-piece set. “They are plastic; however, I love that they’re dishwasher safe and overall relatively easy to clean,” says Reeder. What’s inside? You’ll get 16 sets of eight-ounce containers, 16 sets of 16-ounce containers, 12 sets of 32-ounce containers, and lids that are interchangeable, so you can pack up soups, salads, condiments, fruit, snacks, meals, and more. This is especially great if you need plastic containers (or something more affordable) to give guests leftovers and not worry about getting them back.

Material: plastic

Safe with: microwave, freezer, dishwasher

 

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What does it mean when you’re losing teeth in a dream? According to dream analyst Lauri Loewenberg, author of Dream on It: Unlock Your Dreams, Change Your Life, because of the location of one’s pearly whites inside the mouth, the main theme of teeth-related dreams tends to be rooted in communication: “Any dream that focuses on the mouth area—the lips, teeth, tongue, or throat—will usually be about the way you’re talking to yourself or the way you’ve been communicating lately in real life,” she says.

How to figure out what a dream about teeth falling out means for you

If experiencing a dream where your teeth are falling out makes you honestly wish you just didn’t have dreams, or freaks you out to the point where your sleeping heart rate soars, know that it’s important to consider the context of any dream before taking a deep dive into its potential significance.

According to astrologer and dream interpreter Stephanie Gailing, author of The Complete Book of Dreams, two people could have the same dream and experience different responses within the dream or afterward—which would affect its potential meaning. “You might have been laughing, and I might have been in horror,” she says.

Tuning into additional context in a dream about teeth falling out can help you better understand its meaning for you (even if you can’t necessarily control your behavior in the dream, as in lucid dreaming). For example, are you pulling your teeth right out in the dream, or are you making a beeline to the closest subconscious dentist? The former might reflect a sense of agency or action (or loss thereof), and the latter, a feeling of fear or a concern about your looks.

“Dreams are pretty much our built-in GPS, guiding us and navigating us through life.” —Lauri Loewenberg, dream analyst

To fully interpret any dream, Loewenberg says you should also be attuned to how you feel about the dream once you wake up. “Dreams are pretty much our built-in GPS, guiding us and navigating us through life,” she says. “They are messages from you, to you, about you—in order to improve you.”

With that in mind, keep reading for three possible meanings of a dream where your teeth are falling out and four common types of dreams where this happens.

3 possible meanings of a dream where your teeth are falling out

1. Rebirth and transformation

When kids lose a tooth, they’re making room for another, hopefully stronger, tooth to grow. Having a dream where your teeth are falling out, then, might signal that you’re releasing the old to welcome the new, says Gailing.

2. Loss of control

Teeth are an essential part of the body for such fundamental human behaviors as chewing, eating, and speaking. Without them, you lose autonomy over all of the above. That’s why Gailing says that having a dream where your teeth fall out might indicate that you feel like you’re losing a grip in your waking life.

3. Concern about public image

“Imagine a dream where you’re about to go on a date or do a job interview, and your teeth are falling out,” says Gailing. Here, it’s likely that you’re concerned about how your date or interviewer will see you if you have missing teeth. “Maybe that’s also indicating that you are concerned about how you’re portraying yourself or your looks [in your waking life],” she says.

It’s also possible that teeth falling out in a dream could reflect you having said something without thinking first, adds Loewenberg, which could also signal that you’re worried about how you’re being perceived by others.

4 common versions of the teeth falling out dream

1. You want to take back something you said

Wishing you hadn’t said something in real life might take the dream form of you trying to jam your falling teeth back into your mouth.

“A common thought pattern is, ‘Oh, my God—I’m going to look like hell without my teeth,’ which is connected to the waking-life concern of how you may look now that you’ve said something [unideal],” says Loewenberg. Even if you’re not exactly concerned about how you’ll look physically, you may have concerns about how others will perceive you.

2. You’re gossiping

If a lot of your teeth are falling out, and in that dream, you get the sense that this shouldn’t be happening, that might mean that you talk about others more than you know you should. In this case, says Loewenberg, your subconscious is “reprimanding you” and asking why you let certain information out of your mouth. It’s likely that the more teeth that are falling out, the more you’ve said that you should’ve kept to yourself, she adds.

3. You want to “fix” a situation

If your teeth falling out in a dream prompts thoughts about how you can fix your smile, you might be looking to repair a situation or relationship in your daily life. “If you’re thinking, ‘How am I going to get my teeth fixed?,’ that could be connected to a real-life concern about how you’ll double-back on a mistake or remedy a problem,” says Loewenberg.

4. You struggle to keep your thoughts to yourself

In this dream, your teeth are loose, and you’re trying all you can to hold them in place. They haven’t exactly fallen out yet, but they’re dangerously close to doing so.

If your dream thought process is along the lines of, Maybe if I press my tongue against my teeth hard enough, they’ll stay in place, the dream might indicate that you can resolve an issue in your waking life if you “keep your mouth shut long enough,” says Loewenberg.

Since your teeth are still in your mouth in this case, the dream might also mean that there’s something on your mind that you really want to say but haven’t yet or that you know you shouldn’t say, or that you’re trying to figure out the best way to say something, adds Loewenberg.

Frequently asked questions about dreams where your teeth are falling out

What do teeth symbolize in dreams?

Teeth don’t hold one specific meaning, so their presence in a dream can have many interpretations. Because they’re the first step in digestion and help us break food into manageable bites, they can symbolize the ability to have agency or discernment, or the capacity for transformation, says Gailing.

Separately, she adds that teeth can also symbolize how someone wants to appear to others, and that they’re associated with the stages of life and aging.

What does it mean to dream about your front tooth chipping?

The front teeth often symbolize your ability to be forthright about something, says Loewenberg, so a chipped front tooth in a dream could mean that there’s something on your mind that you need to express, but that you’re holding back because you’re afraid of the consequences of doing so.

A dream that includes a front tooth chipping could also mean that “perhaps you did speak up about [something controversial] and now have a concern about how you’ll appear to others,” says Loewenberg. “Or, you may feel like you didn’t make your point strongly enough because a chipped tooth is also a weakened tooth.”

Is it good luck to dream about your teeth falling out?

According to Gailing, dreaming about your teeth falling out isn’t likely an indicator of luck. It may mean that you’re doubting your ability to manage your life or that circumstances are changing beyond your ability to manage them. Change can certainly signal growth and a more positive outcome down the line, but in the mean time, teeth falling out in a dream is more likely to symbolize a loss of control than it is luck.

“Every single second of a match, your core strength comes into play,” says former WWE Diva Erika Hammond, now a celebrity trainer and founder of Equinox’s Knockout workout. “There isn’t a millisecond it isn’t!”

As a reminder, your core is more than your abs. Your core is really your whole “trunk.” So yes, your abdominal muscles, but also your back muscles and tiny stabilizer muscles surrounding your spine. Your glutes and pelvic floor muscles also come into play, since they are what keeps your core stable and aligned.

“Your core muscles play a vital role in stabilizing, moving, and protecting you in your everyday life,” Hammond says. “So a strong core is imperative for overall health and fitness.”

It’s also crucial in wrestling and other combat sports for allowing you to land a blow and take a hit.

“In wrestling you need to have a strong core to brace against resistance,” Hammond says. “Being able to effectively brace your core at different positions and speed during a match is imperative to help prevent injury.”

Hammond recalls how much core strength came into play when she had to “take a bump,” which is when wrestlers land on their back on the mat. Contrary to popular belief, those mats actually aren’t soft; they’re mostly metal and wood with just an inch of foam padding.

“It definitely hurts,” Hammond says. “So taking a bump [and] landing properly definitely needs to have the core engaged to safely brace the landing.”

Today, Hammond teaches shadowboxing in a new Equinox series called Knockout. The principles of core strength and stability she learned as a WWE Diva carry over into her own shadowboxing and in her teaching in building power and endurance.

“In combat sports so much of your power and endurance is derived from your upper and lower body but your core is what connects all of those movements,” Hammond says. “Shadowboxing is truly a full-body workout. Nearly every muscle group in your body is ‘connected’ to each move you make so during Knockout you are constantly engaging your core.”

So how did Hammond build the WWE diva’s core necessary to “take a bump” as a wrestler and land a punch or kick as a shadowboxing instructor? One way is by doing strength training exercises that mimic the moves she’s doing on the mat or in the ring. For example, doing a row at chest height with hand weights or cables works your back muscles similarly to a punch, so it strengthens your core in a way that’s organic to the movement.

Hammond’s favorite core-strengthening move is the extend sit-up twist. “This is a full-core movement, which works your upper and lower ab muscles in the initial extension and the sit-up then fires up your obliques during the twist,” Hammond says. “This strengthens rotational core movement and improves your ability to generate power from the core—much of which mimics your movements in boxing.”

Here’s how to train your core like a WWE Diva in the extend sit-up twist

1. Start on your back with your arms and legs fully extended.
2. Simultaneously tuck your knees into your chest as you lift your upper back off the floor to a boat hold position.
3. Rotate your torso to the left and right, then slowly lower back down to the floor while keeping your abs engaged and shoulders curled off the floor.

Other than popping a decongestant, how can you break up that mucus to breathe more easily? One option is to make like a Taylor Swift lyric and “breathe in, breathe through, breathe deep, breathe out.” (Sorry, had to.) Yes, according to a respiratory therapist, the power of breathwork can help ease congestion the same way it does for so many other things.

Why use breathing treatments for allergies

How exactly does the process go? First, an allergen—such as pollen, dust, or pet dander—gets into your system. “When an individual with allergies encounters these allergens, their body produces a reaction, including inflammation and mucus production, which can lead to respiratory symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and difficulty breathing,” explains Mandy De Vries, RRT, respiratory therapist and director of education at the American Association for Respiratory Care.

Certain breathing practices can address the problem in a variety of ways, according to De Vries. This includes reducing your body’s stress response, improving lung function, decreasing inflammation, clearing mucus from airways, lessening the likelihood of allergic reactions, and reducing anxiety.

Three breathwork techniques to try

De Vries lays out the most effective breathing skills for congestion (that will probably feel like a lifesaver amidst all this pollen, amirite?):

Diaphragmatic breathing

Helping you breathe deeply and fully, and also promoting relaxation, De Vries says, this option involves the diaphragm, a large muscle at the bottom of your lungs.

1. Sit or lie down with your back straight, shoulders relaxed, and feet flat on the floor.
2. Place one hand on your chest and the other below your ribcage.
3. Take a slow, deep breath, inhaling for three to five seconds. As you inhale, feel your hand rise on your belly as it expands.
4. Hold your breath for a moment, then slowly exhale through your mouth for three to five seconds, noticing your belly deflating.
5. Repeat these steps a few times, envisioning stress leaving your body as you do so.

Other tips De Vries notes:

• If you get distracted, gently bring your mind back to your breath.
• Practicing this a few minutes each day is best, gradually increasing the duration as you feel more comfortable.
• Don’t get discouraged if you struggle with this technique at first—it takes time and practice for us all.

Pursed lip breathing

This technique is another great choice when you can’t breathe well. “Pursed lip breathing can help to slow down your breathing rate, improve airway pressure, and promote relaxation, which may help to alleviate congestion and reduce the feeling of breathlessness associated with nasal congestion,” De Vries says.

1. Sit comfortably, relaxing your shoulders and neck.
2. Inhale slowly and deeply through your nose for two to four seconds.
3. Pucker your lips slightly, like you’re going to whistle or blow out a candle. Making a “whoosh” sound, exhale slowly and gently through pursed lips for four to eight seconds.

Repeat these steps for a few minutes, ensuring your breaths are slow, controlled, and relaxed.

The 4-7-8 breathing technique

Feeling anxious? This type of breathwork may be the one for you. “Also known as the ‘relaxing breath,’ [this] is a simple and effective breathing technique that can help to reduce stress and promote relaxation,” De Vries says.

1. Sit comfortably, relaxing your neck and shoulders.
2. Place the tip of your tongue on the ridge of tissue behind your upper front teeth, keeping it there for the duration of this exercise.
3. Close your mouth and inhale quietly through your nose for four seconds.
4. Hold your breath for seven seconds.
5. Exhale slowly and completely for eight seconds.
6. Repeat for four breaths.

Other notes she mentions:

• The 4-7-8 ratio keeps your breathing slow, controlled, and relaxed.
• This technique may also take some practice, especially with the timing. That’s okay!

When breathwork doesn’t cut it

While these practices can help reduce symptoms and improve your overall respiratory health, know that more serious care may be needed. “Individuals with severe allergies should still seek medical treatment and work with their healthcare provider to manage their symptoms,” De Vries says.

“It’s important to support and read books written by AAPI authors because it amplifies their voices and experiences, which may be different from ones we have been taught in school or exposed to in the media,” says Magdalene Lim, a bookseller at Yu and Me Books. The bookstore, which opened in December of 2021 and became New York’s first Asian-American, woman-owned bookstore, became a space to share immigrant stories while bringing visibility to AAPI authors. By reading books by AAPI authors, “it also helps to challenge the dominant narratives that have been perpetuated in literature and media for so long.”

From memoirs that explore themes of family, love, and community to thrilling fiction, these impassioned books help us learn and connect with each other. Without further ado, go check out these stand-out reads.

"Who Is Wellness For" by Fariha Róisín — $19.00

What it’s about:

In Who Is Wellness For (published in 2022) Fariha Róisín investigates the commodification and appropriation of wellness, while examining her own journey. Part-memoir, Róisín also details her journey of gender dysmorphia, fatphobia, and chronic illness. Who Is Wellness For confronts the imbalances in health, healing, and provides a path forward that is inclusive for all.

Who is Fariha Róisín?

Based in Ontario, Canada, Fariha Róisín is a Muslim queer Bangladeshi artist. Her work expands across disciplines, from writing to poetry, and her work catalyzes conversations about wellness, queer identity, and contemporary Islam.

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"Beautiful Country" by Qian Julie Wang — $13.00

What it’s about:

A New York Times bestseller, Beautiful Country (published in 2021) portrays a vivid account of Qian Julie Wang’s experience living in America as an undocumented child, helping her family navigate through the health-care system, and coming of age in one of the richest countries in the world while living in poverty. It’s a story about resilience, hardship, and the immigrant experience.

Who is Qian Julie Wang?

Beyond being a New York Times bestselling author, Qian Julie Wang is a civil rights litigator and managing partner at Gottlieb & Wang, LLP. Her writing and litigation work centers around advocating for historically excluded communities.

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"All My Rage" by Sabaa Tahir — $10.00

What it’s about:

In this novel (published in 2022), Sabaa Tahir writes a profound and emotionally moving story about three main characters: Misbah, Salahudin, and Noor. Misbah is an immigrant struggling to run her motel business; Salahudin is Misbah’s son and is trying to fit in during his last year of high school; Noor, Salahudin’s best friend, wants to desperately go to college to leave her small town. Their stories are beautifully woven together to tell a story about truth, forgiveness, and love in the Pakistani community.

Who is Sabaa Tahir? 

Sabaa Tahir is a Pakistani American author and novelist based in San Francisco. She’s best known for her New York Times bestselling book An Ember in the Ashes. In 2022, she won the National Book Award for All of My Rage.

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"Crying in H Mart" by Michelle Zauner — $25.00

What it’s about:

Crying in H Mart (published in 2021) is a tear-jerking memoir about musician Michelle Zauner’s journey with grief, food, and love. After losing her mother to cancer, Zauner reckons with her Korean identity, upbringing in Eugene, Oregon, and finds a way to reclaim her identity through memories of her mom, cooking, and heaping plates of food.

Who is Michelle Zauner? 

Beyond her beautiful and vulnerable writing, Michelle Zauner hits her notes as the lead vocalist of the alternative pop band Japanese Breakfast. Identifying as a Korean American, Zauner was raised in Eugene, Oregon where she grew her love for all things music. The musician ballooned to fame after her 2016 hit album “Psychopomp.”

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"The Making of Asian America" by Erika Lee — $15.00

What it’s about:

A historical account of the past 50 years, The Making of Asian America (published in 2016) shows how generations of Asian immigrants and American-born descendants have shaped the history of the nation, from community activism to the struggle of overcoming racism. This book brings the histories of Asian people in the United States to the forefront.

Who is Erika Lee?

Lee is an award-winning historian and author, and serves as the director of Immigration History Research Center at the University of Minnesota. When she’s not teaching, she testifying before Congress about anti-Asian discrimination and violence.

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"Arsenic and Adobo" by Mia P. Manansala — $16.00

What it’s about:

In the middle of a horrible breakup, Lila Macapagal moves back home to save her auntie’s failing restaurant. But when a nasty food critic, who happens to be Lila’s ex-boyfriend, drops dead after a confrontation with Lila, Lila’s life is quickly thrown for a swerve. Left with no choice, Lila has to investigate the death on her own. Mia P. Manansala marries a story of humor, mystery, and thrills onto the chopping block of this novel (published in 2021).

Who is Mia P. Manansala? 

Hailing from the 312, aka Chicago, Manansala is a writer and book coach who turned her love for baking into words. Her work encompasses themes of Filipino identity, pop culture, and queerness. Outside writing, Manansala is a pet mom to two doggies: Gumiho and Max Power.

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"Have You Eaten Yet?" by Cheuk Kwan — $24.00

What it’s about:

For decades, Chinese restaurants across the globe have been the epicenter of community, immigration, and of course, delicious food. In Cheuk Kwan’s book (published in January, 2023), he brings the personal stories of chefs, entrepreneurs, and dreamers across the globe to life in this travelogue. Kwan reminds us that behind every meal, there’s always a backstory.

Who is Cheuk Kwan? 

Born and raised in Hong Kong, Cheuk Kwan now resides in Toronto and serves as the co-founder of The Asianadian, a magazine dedicated to advancing the understanding of art, politics, and culture of the Asian Canadian community. When he’s not publishing content, he’s sharing his love for travel and Chinese culture through cinema.

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"Stay True" by Hua Hsu — $24.00

What it’s about:

If you’re looking for a gripping memoir to read, Stay True (published in 2022) is a story about friendship, grief, and the search of self and solace through art. When Ken, who befriends Hsu, is tragically killed in a carjacking, Hsu tries to make sense of his life and embraces his search for meaning and belonging.

Who is Hua Hsu? 

Based in the Big Apple, Hsu is a writer and professor of English at Bard College. His investigative work explores topics of immigrant culture in the United States as well as perceptions of diversity and multiculturalism. He’s also a staff writer at The New Yorker, where he’s served as a contributor since 2014.

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"I Want To Die but I Want to Eat Tteokbokki" by Baek Sehee — $22.00

What it’s about:

Using reflective micro-essays, Baek Sehee shares her intimate conversations with her psychiatrist in this part memoir, part self-help book (published in 2022). She unveils her behaviors and thoughts that kept her in a viscous cycle of harmful behaviors. For anyone who has felt alone or struggled with hopelessness, this is a book you’ll want to keep on your bookshelf to come back to over and over.

Who is Baek Sehee? 

Sehee is a South Korean creative writer. After being diagnosed with dysthymia, which is persistent mild depression, Sehee began working on essays inspired by her therapy sessions. When she’s not writing, she loves to munch on tteokbokki, aka spicy rice cakes (yum).

 

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"Halo Halo" by Justine Ramos — $14.00

What it’s about:

Halo Halo (published in 2021) by Justine Ramos is a poetic bite of history, identity, revolution, and food. Through slam style poetry, readers get a glimpse into Ramos’ navigation of her Philipinx identity and experience with immigration, juggling cultural identities, and holding onto her native tongue. Above the poetry, there’s an underlying message that revolution and growth are possible.

Who is Justine Ramos? 

A first-generation Philipinx immigrant, Ramos is a poet, mentor, and award winner of LA’s Youth Poet Laureate Program. After finishing up her degree in English and global health from UCLA, she received her doctoral degree in occupational therapy at Tufts University. Her work explores the intersection of creativity and rehabilitative medicine.

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"Rise" by Jeff Yang, Phil Yu, and Philip Wang — $27.00

What it’s about:

In this step-by-step book (published in 2022), Yang, Yu, and Wang chronicle how we arrived at today’s cultural representation of Asian Americans. Through interactive infographics, Rise uncovers historic Asian American landmarks, offers graphic essays from AAPI artists, and celebrates Asian American cultural icons. It’s a bustling celebration of and love letter to the AAPI community.

About the authors: 

Jeff Yang is the founder of A Magazine and a contributing writer for CNN, Quartz, and Slate. He was the former Asian Pop columnist at the San Francisco Chronicle.

Phil Yu is a Los Angeles-based founder and editor of an Asian American news and culture blog titled Angry Asian Man. His writing appears in The Washington Post, The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, NPR, and more.

Co-founder of Wong Fu Productions, Phillip Wang channels his creative work through short films, music videos, and other content. He currently resides in Los Angeles.

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"Yolk" by Mary HK Choi — $12.00

What it’s about:

This novel follows the tale of June and Jayne, two sisters who grew apart but were brought back together under less-than-ideal circumstances. When June is diagnosed with cancer, the two sisters must confront their differences. In Yolk (published in 2022), Choi explores themes of family, sisterhood, and the challenges of growing up.

Who is Mary H.K. Choi? 

Choi is a New York Times bestselling author of three books: Emergency Contact, Permanent Record, and Yolk. Her work has appeared in The Atlantic, The New York Times, and GQ. Beyond the pen and paper, she is a podcaster for Hey, Cool Life! and Hey, Cool Job! She currently lives in Brooklyn, New York.

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Founded by Alicia Keys and developed in partnership with Renée Snyder, MD, a board-certified dermatologist, the products in the line are intentionally referred to as “offerings” to encourage combining skincare routines with self-care practices. Each is printed with a different affirmation, like “I let go of what doesn’t serve me,” “I cherish all that I am,” and “I love myself as I am.” By repeating these self-affirming mantras as I indulge in each product, this weekly self-care ritual of mine not only leaves me emerging with softer and more supple skin but also feeling more calm and ready about taking on the week ahead.

Keys Soulcare, Energizing Dry Body Brush — $22.00

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My at-home spa experience begins by physically exfoliating my skin with the Energizing Dry Body Brush ($22) while standing in the tub. Though there isn’t much research and data to support dry brushing yet, the practice is hypothesized to provide a host of benefits to the skin, from boosting circulation and lymphatic drainage to improving the appearance of cellulite, says Sara Perkins, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and advisor for Hims & Hers.

Made with firm, vegan bristles that gently massage, I start sloughing off dead skin with the brush, starting at my ankles and moving up through each area of my body. In circular motions, I apply pressure that’s just firm enough to exfoliate, but not so firm that it’s abrasive. “It’s very important to avoid brushing too hard or scrubbing. This can cause microtrauma, itching or inflammation of the skin, which can actually result in skin thickening, eczema or even pigmentation,” says Dr. Perkins. Once I got the pressure and rhythm down, the repetitive motions of dry brushing became a relaxing part of the routine.

Keys Soulcare, Renewing Body + Hand Wash With Manuka Honey — $26.00

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To gently cleanse the skin and rinse off all the dead skin cells, I reach for the creamy Renewing Body + Hand Wash With Manuka Honey ($26), which gives a light and foamy lather. This gel cleanser is formulated with shea butter, cocoa butter, and manuka honey, which cleanses my skin while providing moisture to it.

“Manuka honey is best known, and studied, for its anti-bacterial and wound healing properties. It helps draw water into the skin, making it an effective moisturizer, and it also possesses anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties,” explains Dr. Perkins. I especially like to reach for this body wash when colder weather leaves my skin feeling drier. Plus, its subtle notes of sage and oat milk provide a light and soothing scent that isn’t overpowering, making it suitable for all skin types.

Keys Soulcare, Mind-Clearing Body Polish With Glycolic and Lactic Acids — $25.00

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When my skin is looking extra dull, I follow the body wash with the Mind-Clearing Body Polish With Glycolic and Lactic Acids ($25) to revive it. “Alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs), like glycolic acid and lactic acid, can smoothen and brighten the skin, improving texture and appearance,” says Dr. Perkins, noting chemical exfoliation is especially helpful for those with keratosis pilaris. AHAs can also help reduce hyperpigmentation and signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. In this body polish, the fine granules of bamboo charcoal also work to physically exfoliate the skin while the sunflower seed and coconut oils replenish moisture and soothe the skin. On wet skin, I apply a generous amount of polish to my body, then slowly rub in circular motions, focusing on rough spots like elbows, knees, and the bottom of my feet to smooth and soften them.

Keys Soulcare, Rich Nourishing Body Cream With Shea Butter — $36.00

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Though I rinse off at this point, my shower ritual doesn’t just end in the shower. Patting down with a towel and leaving my skin damp, I moisturize my body with the Rich Nourishing Body Cream with Shea Butter ($36), a velvety and luxurious blend of shea and cocoa butter that calms and soothes. “Shea butter is an excellent emollient containing several vitamins and fatty acids which can help support a healthy skin barrier. It can help to soften and plump the skin,” says Dr. Perkins. Thick without feeling heavy, the formula also combines rose of Jericho, ceramides and oats, all of which are ultra-moisturizing ingredients.

Intentionally indulging in a more time-intensive shower ritual each week gives me the opportunity to reconnect with myself. And as its name suggests, these offerings from Keys Soulcare have also encouraged me to nourish my mind and soul in addition to pampering my body.

The trick is to not let your own fear hold you back from leaning into what could be the next best experience of your life. If you need a little help, look to the universe. If you keep your eyes open and maintain a sense of childlike wonder, intrigue, and endless possibility, you might find messages that others may simply brush off as coincidences. That’s the beauty of angel numbers—they’re designed to guide you.

So, if you’re on the precipice of a life-altering decision, take a look around. If the number 5 constantly pops into view, you’ll know what to do. Keep reading to learn why.

What is the meaning of angel number 5?

Logistically, the number 5 is the median number; it’s halfway between 1 and 10. When rounding, if a number is below 5, it’s rounded down; if it’s above, it’s rounded up. In that sense, the number 5 is the milestone numeral that creates the shift from the low numbers to those higher up.

When it comes to the meaning of angel number 5, numerologist Joy Woodward, author of A Beginner’s Guide to Numerology, says that change, transition, and progressive thinking are at the forefront. The number 5 is also a sign of freedom, versatility, promotion, and being resourceful and adaptable, she says.

In short, astrologist, designer, and writer Jacquelyn Tierney says that the number 5 offers liberation—it’s a sign to free yourself into your deepest desires, without regard for limiting beliefs surrounding your wants and needs.

“The number five is a symbol for the energetic vibration of change, transformation, shift, shake-ups, desire, travel, expansion, imagination, options and opportunity, strength, curiosity, sexuality, adventure, healing, release, risk, and remodel,” she lists.

The significance of angel number 5

With so many possibilities under the umbrella of angel number 5, Tierney admits that the vibration of the number can feel both invigorating and chaotic. But that’s what cements the significance of angel number. It’s a sign to embrace every aspect of change—the good, the bad, the ugly—with the assurance that the universe has your back and will guide you through it.

What to do if you see angel number 5

If the number 5 keeps popping up in your life, Tierney says to take it as a sign from your angels that it’s time to expand your life.

“The vibration of five moves much quicker than the slow and steady four that came before it,” Tierney says. “It is now time to break out of your shell and learn about what freedom feels, looks, and tastes like to/for YOU—new opportunities and changes are coming; be open to the unexpected gifts and blessings.”

Dates with angel number 5

While the number 5 has its own significance that’s then amplified in the meaning of angel number 5, it’s important to remember that technically, angel numbers are repeating numbers (ie: 555), and dates with repeating numbers are said to be the most spiritually significant.

That said, you can still harness the energy of the number 5 when it pops up on your calendar. Just keep in mind the meaning of angel number 5 and lean into whatever changes arise. Remember: The universe will guide you if you let it.

1. Failure to follow the law or social norms
2. Repeated lying or deceitfulness
3. Impulsivity
4. Aggression and irritability
5. Disregard for their own safety or that of others
6. Consistently irresponsible
7. Lack of remorse for hurting or mistreating others.

However, that doesn’t mean that the other 24 fish-holding, selfie-taking cuties who cross your screen are all paragons of empathy and respect. Some of these folks may not have antisocial personality disorder, but still display sociopathic tendencies. After all, “an individual must meet three or more of the [above] criteria for antisocial personality disorder in order to receive a diagnosis,” explains psychotherapist Courtney Glashow, LCSW, founder of Anchor Therapy LLC. Thus, it’s possible for someone to consistently have a few sociopathic traits without having the diagnosable condition. Someone with sociopathic tendencies might, for instance, lack empathy for others, but still be a law-abiding, job-holding individual, she says.

Dating folks who have any number of these traits can be quite painful. And healing from the wounds they leave in their wake requires self-compassion, as well as a sound support system. Ahead, learn more about why dating someone with sociopathic tendencies can be so disorienting, and how to recover from dating a sociopath (or someone with those traits) after calling it quits.

Why dating someone with sociopathic tendencies can be disorienting

Experts say it is common for people with sociopathic tendencies to use a number of manipulation tactics to wrap people—particularly lovers and romantic partners—around their fingers.

In the beginning, sociopaths and people with those traits commonly use mirroring (mimicking or matching someone else’s verbal cues and body language) or love bombing (employing over-the-top affection, flattery, gifts, and attention) to make you feel instantly connected to them, says Naiylah Warren, LMFT, therapist and clinical content manager at Real. “In romantic connections, it can be hard to distinguish between performative intimacy—such as the intimacy created by those who love bomb or mirror—and genuine intimacy,” she says. As a result, these tactics are unfortunately effective at making someone feel like they’ve met their soul mate.

“It is common for people with sociopathic tendencies to gaslight that the issue is made up in your head, or that your emotions are not grounded in reality.” —Courtney Glashow, LCSW

Later on in the relationship, someone with sociopathic tendencies might gaslight you when conflict arises. “It is common for these people to gaslight that the issue is made up in your head, or that your emotions are not grounded in reality,” says Glashow. The intent of a person with sociopathic tendencies here, she says, isn’t to resolve whatever conflict has arisen or to soothe your emotions, but rather to control their partner. As you might guess, “over time, these tactics make you doubt your own feelings, instincts, and ultimately your view of reality,” Warren says.

Signs it’s time to reconsider the relationship

A relationship with someone with sociopathic tendencies is likely not a healthy one, according to Glashow. Healthy relationships, she says, are marked by mutual empathy, respect, and open communication. These are things that many people with sociopathic tendencies are not able to provide.

As a result, “these relationships often end up feeling one-sided, and result in the person without these tendencies being manipulated,” she says. In extreme situations, the person with sociopathic tendencies may abuse their partner. “If you are dating someone with these tendencies, it is very likely that you experienced emotional abuse at some point in that relationship,” adds Glashow.

As much as you may love this individual, you probably need to leave this relationship, she says, adding that in order for this person to change their sociopathic ways, they would need to get professional help to gain some empathy.

“There is no right or wrong way to get out of a relationship with someone with sociopathic tendencies,” says Glashow. But, she suggests consulting a licensed mental-health therapist who can help you come up with a break-up plan based on your current financial and housing situation, as well as the particularities of your partner. Likely, your plan will involve going no-contact, a whole lot of self care, learning how to trust again, and leaning on your support system. (More on these things below).

How to recover from dating someone with sociopathic tendencies

Yes, dating someone with sociopathic tendencies can be incredibly disorienting. But trust, you won’t feel disconnected from reality forever. These strategies can help.

1. Seek therapy if you’re able

If you’ve been in a relationship with someone who has exhibited sociopathic tendencies and haven’t already reached out to a mental health provider, consider doing so ASAP, suggests Glashow. You’d ideally find a provider who specializes in relationships, trauma, grief, and domestic violence, says Glashow.

“The right provider will be able to validate your experience, teach you how to cope with the psychological impact of the relationship, and help you rebuild both trust in others as well as trust in yourself,” Warren says.

This provider will, for example, remind you (as often as you need to be reminded) that it is not your fault that you fell for that person’s shenanigans. Nor is it any family members’ or friends’ fault that they didn’t see this coming. After all, people with sociopathic tendencies are savants of manipulation.

2. Lean on your support system

Being romantically and/or sexually entangled with someone with sociopathic tendencies can make you feel like you’re living on another planet. Warren says talking to and leaning on the people in your life who don’t have these tendencies can help bring you back to reality. These are the people who have repeatedly proven to be steady, compassionate fixtures, she says.

In addition to helping you learn how to trust again, “your support system [helps] you rebuild the parts of your life that might have been affected by this relationship,” she says. For instance, if you were living with this individual, healing from the relationship will require a relocation. Your support system will be able to put you up for a few days, weeks, or months—or simply help you haul boxes of stuff from your old place to a new one.

3. Connect with others who have been in the same boat

Sadly, you are not the first person who has experienced hurt at the hands of someone with sociopathic tendencies. After having your entire reality called into question, Glashow says finding others through social media who have experienced what you have can be both stabilizing and soothing to have it reiterated that you’re not the only person who has ever gone through this devastation.

It can also re-instill hope, she says. “Likely, you will find someone was able to get out of this type of relationship and grow into an even better person after getting out of the relationship.”

4. Educate yourself

“Reading about a topic can always be helpful,” says Glashow. And that stands when the topic is sociopathic tendencies and antisocial personality disorder.

Educating yourself about sociopathic tendencies and antisocial personality disorder, “can validate what you are going through,” she says. “It can help you understand that they need professional help, it’s not your fault, and it also not on you to change them.”

This article is a great place to start! Other popular books on the topic include: The Sociopath Next Door by Martha Stout, Confessions of A Sociopath by M.E Thomas, and The Sociopath at The Breakfast Table by Dr. Jane McGregor.

“Hair nutrients like iron, biotin, vitamin D, vitamin B12, and selenium, are mainly sourced from meat thus it will be prudent to consider hair nutrients from plant sources when you don’t eat meat,” says Dr. Cho. This might mean your hair doesn’t grow as fast as it used to, and can also lead to thinning and excessive shedding.

If you don’t eat meat, Dr. Cho says that “supplementing more nuts, seeds, beans, and lentils is helpful to incorporate important hair nutrients into your diet.” The idea that vegetarians and vegans can’t meet their daily nutrient needs (especially for protein) is a common, yet harmful misconception in our society. It’s perfectly possible to get what you need but does require a bit more research and legwork on the back end.

If you want a bit of help on the hair health end, Dr. Cho recommends leaning on supplements. A great option is the new Nutrafol Women’s Vegan ($79), which was made with vegan-friendly ingredients and also has additional nutrients to support those who don’t eat meat.

Nutrafol Women's Vegan — $79.00

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“Nutrafol didn’t just remove non-vegan ingredients, but rather leveraged the latest studies and scientific advancements to identify scientifically backed nutrient-rich extracts to naturally optimize the body to support its own collagen production and balance the underlying root causes of hair thinning for plant-based diets,” says Briana Diorio, PhD, director of education at Nutrafol. “We removed the marine collagen and keratin and swapped them for Moldavian dragonhead, a botanical shown to naturally support the body in its own collagen production, and pea sprouts, an ingredient clinically shown to improve hair growth.”

Plus, the brand optimized the formula for absorption.

“Absorption can be complex sometimes. Factors such as microbiome imbalances, damage to the gut lining, food allergies, anti-nutrients [Editors note: These are ingredients that decrease nutrient absorption], and low stomach acid can all impact overall digestion and nutrient absorption,” says Dr. Diorio. “Nutrafol Hair Growth Nutraceuticals use standardized ingredients, which consistently contain the same phyto-actives in every serving, as well as ingredients that have enhanced bioavailability, such as our liposomal vitamin C and methyl B12, that are more easily recognized and used by the body.”

While Dr. Cho can’t speak to the efficacy of this specific supplement, she does note that supplements can be a really reliable way of filling dietary nutrient gaps. “Taking hair nutrients through supplements will serve you more reliable, consistent, more bio-available, absorbable forms of hair nutrients than eating them through food as much of nutrients can be lost in the process of handling, cooking, and storing the food,” says Dr. Cho.

Indeed, it’s not just in your imagination that the Brussels sprouts you ate in your adolescence were, uh, potent, to say the least. In fact, although you may have been attributing it to your mother’s mediocre cooking skills or your maturing palate that has developed with age (hello, newfound love for black olives), it’s likely not the case at all. Rather, innovations in science can be thanked for the more palatable Brussels sprouts we know and love today. Ahead, we delve into the real reason why Brussels sprouts taste so much better than they did when we were kids and a few of our favorite ways to eat the nutritious and delicious veggie.

Why do Brussels sprouts taste so much better than when we were kids?

In a recent TikTok video by @rantsandrocks, they delve into the one main reason why Brussels sprouts taste so much better now than they did when we were kids. These days, roasted Brussels sprouts are on the menu of many fancy restaurants and are a staple ingredient in many of our meal prep routines. But looking back a few short decades ago, eating this green felt like an absolute chore.

@rantsandrocks #stitch with @radicchiosalad_ #foodtok #brusselssprouts #science #geneticmodification #gmo #learnontiktok ♬ Luxury fashion (no vocals) – TimTaj

That said, the creator behind Rants and Rocks says it’s not a figment of your imagination: It’s real science. In the video, they explain that in the 1990s, a Dutch scientist named Hans Van Doorn identified the chemicals that make Brussels sprouts bitter: sinigrin and progoitrin. After discovering this, the scientist worked to identify Brussels sprouts seeds and varieties with lower levels of these bitter chemicals. Then, Van Doorn bred out as much of the…ick factor…as possible (by using these less-bitter Brussels sprout seeds) and crossbred them with higher-producing varieties. The result? More Brussels sprouts that were less bitter. Genius.

In the 1990s, a Dutch scientist named Hans Van Doorn identified the chemicals that make Brussels sprouts bitter: sinigrin and progoitrin. After discovering this, the scientist worked to identify Brussels sprouts seeds and varieties with lower levels of these bitter chemicals.

Rants and Rocks goes on to point out that by the 2010s, the once nearly impossible-to-eat bitter sprouts were no longer to be found, otherwise known as an effective use of genetically modified organisms (GMOs). “Genetic modification isn’t a dirty word; it’s how we make tasty vegetables today,” Rants and Rocks says in the video before signing off.

Of course, like most things in life, there are two sides to every story, and GMOs are certainly one of them. While folks can ultimately argue both ways, scientists have not yet shown that GMO foods are harmful to health, but research is ongoing.

3 easy Brussels sprouts to make them taste even better

1. Dijon-Braised Brussels Sprouts

Now that we’ve established that we are no longer forced to eat this green veggie—and now, we kind of love and eat ‘em willingly—this dijon-braised Brussels sprouts recipe is simple but, more importantly, downright delicious. The key? A bright and zesty five-ingredient vinaigrette made with Dijon mustard and apple cider vinegar. Best of all, all you have to do is toss the sprouts in the simple dressing (that you can whip together in a mason jar) and then let the oven do the rest of the work. One hour later, you’ll have perfectly roasted Brussels sprouts that are chewy on the inside, crispy on the outside, and entirely delicious throughout.

Get the recipe: Dijon-Braised Brussels Sprouts

2. Sesame Peanut Brussels Sprouts

What’s sweet, savory, and one of the best ways to eat Brussels sprouts? This sesame peanut Brussels sprouts recipe by The Kitchen Prep Blog. The easy recipe features a mix of ingredients like garlic, peanut butter, tamari, and honey, which are essentially an explosion of umami on your palate. The perfectly-balanced seasoning adds rich complexity to the veggie and makes eating more greens an effortless (and enjoyable) task.

Get the recipe: 5 Flavorful Brussels Sprouts Recipes

3. Fall Brussels Sprouts Slaw

Tired of eating roasted Brussels sprouts all the time and want to spruce things up? This Fall-inspired Brussels sprouts slaw recipe is the perfect option. (And, yes, it’s great no matter the time of year.) The trick to making this slaw as zero effort as possible is to use a food processor to pulse the veggie until it’s chopped into small, bite-sized pieces. Then, it’s made even more flavorful with toppings like toasted pumpkin seeds, almonds, grapes, and apples. Lastly, a tasty honey, olive oil, and cinnamon dressing helps to seal the deal on enjoying Brussels sprouts from here on out.

Get the recipe: Fall Brussels Sprouts Slaw

An RD shares a guide to eating to help reduce inflammation:

Spring weather is chaotic, but dressing to keep up with its random ups-and-downs? That’s even more chaotic. And yet, the one piece of clothing that’s held steadfast through April’s highest highs and lowest lows is my Free Fly Apparel Elevate Hoodie (originally $88, now $70), which is so consistently comfortable, I wear it once a week, if not more.

Free Fly Apparel, Women's Elevate Hoodie — $88.00

Available in XS-XXL in three colors.

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Free Fly’s whole schtick is making quick-drying, sun-protective clothing that doesn’t feel or look like sun-protective clothing. If you’ve ever seen a men’s fishing shirt, you know what I’m talking about; UPF clothing (which is the textile industry’s version of sunscreen) has traditionally been unflattering and uncomfortable, made from thicker fabrics in fugly colors like beige, grey, and more beige.

Not Free Fly. For one, the brand uses bamboo to make most of its pieces, which is softer and more sustainable than other fabrics. Bamboo is also cool-to-the-touch and naturally breathable, perfect for staying cool on hot, summery days without ever weighing you down. And it’s quick-drying, so if you do break a sweat or get rained on, it dries in a flash.

Free Fly’s pieces are also incredibly lightweight, which is key reason why I love my Elevate Hoodie so much. Back during that heat wave we had a few weeks ago, I could throw this puppy on over a sports bra and call it a day. Now that it’s back to cold, I’ll do the same thing and throw a flannel over top, or add a base layer underneath. Either way, it’s a versatile weight that keeps up with a very versatile season.

I also appreciate that it’s sun-protective, a quality that never goes out of style. I’m an avid fisherman (fisherwoman?) who spends most of her off-time out on the water in the sun, and the details are a game-changer. You don’t need to be an angler to appreciate these touches, though—anyone who spends time outside or enjoys the water can reap the benefits of the Elevate Hoodie. For example, the crossover hood allows for full sun coverage at the neck, as do the thumbholes and top-of-hand construction that keeps the sleeves down and over the knuckles, out of the sun’s rays. Additionally, the material is crafted with a sustainable odor-control technology, so you can wear it for days on end without having to wash it, and it won’t get stinky.

I could go on and on, but I think it’s clear—I love Free Fly apparel and I love this hoodie. I think you will, too. But if you want to explore other styles, there’s plenty to go around. Scroll to shop more spring transitional staples to keep up with the season’s wild temps.

Bamboo Fleece Lounge Pant — $88.00

Available sizes: XS-XL

Fun fact: These are actually my go-to travel pants, thanks to their supreme softness and barely noticeable elastic waistband that makes hours spent curled up in the car or airplane seat actually bearable. Like everything else Free Fly, they’re made of viscose from bamboo, which makes them breathable and never too stuffy, perfect for life on-the-go or lounging on the couch.

Colors: 3

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Bamboo Current Tank — $44.00

Available sizes: XS-XL

If you’d rather show off your shoulders this summer, do it in this featherlight tank top. Its slightly cropped silhouette is perfect for wearing with jeans, shorts, skirts, the aforementioned travel pants—you name it. And the parts that are covered at protected thanks to the fabrics UPF 50+ that’s like sunscreen in clothing form.

Colors: 3

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Men's Bamboo Shade Long Sleeve — $64.00

Available sizes: S-3XL

Even though Mother’s Day is around the corner, Father’s Day will be here before you know it. For dads, grandparents, uncles, boyfriends, and whomever else might appreciate a breezy long sleeve, there’s this lightweight top. It’s stretchy and versatile, perfect for wearing as-is when temps are soaring, or layering underneath flannels and sweatshirts on cool evenings. Also available in women’s styles.

Colors: 11

 

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Cloudshield Rain Jacket — $248.00

Available sizes: XS-XL

If there’s another spring transitional piece worth adding to your wardrobe, it’s a lightweight rain jacket, like the Cloudshield Rain Jacket. Obviously, it’s waterproof and features fully taped seams to keep rain where it belongs: outside of your clothes. But it’s also lightweight and packable, perfect for adding layers underneath or throwing in your pack when it gets too hot. Also available in men’s styles. 

Colors: 3

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Bamboo Heritage Midi Dress — $88.00

Available sizes: XS-XL

One-and-done dress weather is around the corner, and for the days when it’s just too hot to even think about wearing an outfit, there’s this midi dress. The fabric is ultra-breezy on its own, only it’s cut in a relaxed silhouette that brings the material slightly away from the body for maximum cooling, plus has slits on the sides to allow for even more airflow. Yes, please.

Colors: 4

 

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Men's Lined Breeze Short 7" — $78.00

Available sizes: S-3XL

Speaking of breezy, the Breeze Shorts are as comfortable as they sound. The shell is a polyester/spandex blend that’s a bit more durable, while a bamboo boxer liner keeps things comfortable. The polyester/spandex blend also makes them quick-drying, perfect for days near the pool or at the beach. They come in a rainbow of colors, though, so good luck buying just one pair.

Colors: 13

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Pull-On Breeze Skirt — $68.00

Available sizes: XS-XL

Similarly, there’s a whole collection of Women’s Breeze styles that feature the same, durable poly/spandex blend in the most summery cuts. Enter, this skirt, which you’ll want to wear everywhere. It features a pull-on elastic band for easy dressing, plus two bamboo-lined pockets on the side and a stash pocket hidden in the right pocket for keeping valuables safe and secure. Throw it on over a bathing suit at the beach and call it a day.

Colors: 4

 

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Men's Bamboo Lightweight Hoodie — $68.00

Available sizes: S-3XL

While the Elevate hoodie is just a smidge more durable for outdoor adventures, the original Lightweight Hoodie is ideal for hanging out and keeping the sun off your skin in comfort. It’s buttery, cool-to-the-touch, and feels like nothing’s there, so even if the sun’s beating down on you, you won’t overheat or get stuffy. If you do sweat, it’s quick drying, so you won’t be stuck in a soggy mess. Also available in women’s styles. 

Colors: 18

 

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Now, there’s a new data source in town that taps into just that: Whoop has announced the launch of a feature called “Strength Trainer” that actually measures the effort your lifting sessions demand on your musculoskeletal system (muscles, joints, and bones). This is different from other fitness trackers, which focus on measuring the cardiovascular system and translating that energy output into calorie burn.

Annual Whoop Membership — $239.00

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Now, using the accelerometer and gyroscope in the Whoop device, and training the Whoop strength trainer algorithm on what those measurements indicate about the “muscular load” of a workout, Whoop says it can now quantify a fuller picture of the impact that lifting weights has on your whole body. It takes your musculoskeletal work, as well as your cardiovascular work, into account while calculating your “strain score,” which is how much work your body has undergone, in addition to how many calories it’s burned.

Think back: Have you ever felt totally gassed after a lifting session, but your tracker is saying you only burned something like 75 calories? Now you have some data to back up what your body is telling you.

“Until now, the wearables industry hasn’t been able to quantify muscular load effectively,” Will Ahmed, WHOOP founder and CEO, tells Well+Good. “A lot of wearables capture cardiovascular load with varying degrees of accuracy. This means that they can understand the impact of running, cycling, and other aerobic activities on the body. But this measurement discounts the impact of weightlifting and strength training.”

Other fitness trackers, like the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, allow you to track different lifting exercises, like bench presses or weighted squats, but it all still ladders up to caloric output. Tonal also measures the exercises you do, and in a “Muscle Readiness” view, actually gives you a picture of how fatigued each muscle group is based on your workouts (green muscles signify fresh muscles, tan are in recovery, and red zones are fatigued). You can use that data to guide your workout selections, but there’s no score, per se, or ability to track fatigue over time.

Whoop is known as the most data-driven fitness tracker, and is often a preferred tracker for athletes. So it makes sense that they’re expanding the definition of what tracking our fitness actually means beyond a cardio-driven view to a fuller picture that does not necessarily have to do with steps or weight loss. And trainers are enthusiastic about the possibilities.

“I definitely think it’s super useful,”says Kevin Mejia, CPT, a founding trainer of DOGPOUND. “Being able to see how muscular load affects stress levels and post-training effects can determine workouts and recovery. It can help maybe avoid injury, overuse, or overworking muscles. It’s super fascinating what technology can bring to improve training!”

You can score markdowns on a bunch of timeless styles, from high-waisted, dad denim (now $46) to high-rise satin shorts (psst…they’re $23 off). Notoriously expensive, linen is also discounted during the sale. Our eyes are keenly set on the Premium Linen Tailored Short (now $52). They’re constructed out of 100 percent linen, so you can welcome warmer days without the sweaty buns.

Don’t skip on these discounts, though. The sale ends May 8, and styles and sizes are quickly flying off the shelves. Grab your favorite pair(s) of shorts during Abercrombie and Fitch’s Sale, plus your sun hat, and bottle of sunscreen. Now, who’s ready for days of sunshine? Not seeing anything you like? Shop the whole A&F sale here.

Curve Love High Rise Dad Short — $46.00

Originally $70, now $46

These high-waist denim “Dad” shorts make us want to un-ironically wear sandals with socks, and walk around telling people “it builds character!” and “don’t touch the thermostat!” while being fashionable as hell while doing so. The ’80s and ’90s are back, so you’ll definitely want a pair of these vintage-style shorts for the season. They feature a curve fit for folks with a little more hip and has a cotton and elastane composition that makes them so darn comfy to wear. We love that the pair is available in 11 shades and fabrics, from light denim to black pleather, so the outfit opportunities are endless.

Sizes available: 23-37

Shades: 11

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Premium Linen Tailored Short — $52.00

Originally $80, now $52

Lightweight linen is a must-have fabric for summer, and these tailored shorts will make sweltering hot days a lot more doable. Since they’re high-waisted, the shorts pair really nicely with crop tops or tanks, and the generous pockets function like a purse, storing all of your things: phone, keys, and more. Linen can be expensive, but you can score this pair for 35 percent off.

Sizes available: 25-33

Colors: 11

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Curve Love High Rise '90s Cutoff Short — $39.00

Originally $60, now $39

These cutoff shorts offer the style of the high-rise jean without the extra layers, transporting you back to your childhood. Offering a roomier fit and a raw-cut hem, these shorts are extremely stylish and comfy to wear. Pair ’em with a bodysuit, tee, or cropped top to finish off your fit.

Sizes available: 23-37

Shades: 3

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High Rise Premium Crepe Tailored Short — $46.00

Originally $70, now $46

Tailored pants are back in such a big way this year, whether or not you work in an office. Throw on a blazer and heels, and you’ve got a business-y Shiv Roy ensemble in minutes, but pair them with your favorite sneaks and a tank and voila—you’re serving a casual brunch look. Made of a polyester and elastane composition, these shorts offer a tiny bit of stretch (but expect a more structured fit). They’re nice and breezy for warmer weather, which is why we’re adding them to cart.

Sizes available: XXS-XL

Colors: black

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High Rise Satin Short — $42.00

Originally $65, now $42

These shorts are simply giving summer vacation in Italy (we can already feel the chilled glass of Aperol Spritz in our palm). Shorts aren’t always stiff and rigid, and these silky ones are a prime example. Constructed out of a mixture of viscose, polyester, and elastane, these satin shorts are extremely soft to the touch and have a buttery smooth feel, rendering them ultra comfy to wear. Lightweight and air-y, this pair is perfect for summer outings, be it picnics, brunch, and outdoor walks.

Sizes available: XXS-XL

Colors: 2

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Ultra High Rise Tailored Short — $65.00

Originally $65, now $42

Channel your inner Laura Dern in Jurassic Park with these high-rise safari-esque shorts. Another tailored option, these crisp shorts make you look all put together. However, don’t let the structured and pleated look fool you—these high-waisted shorts are soft as pajama pants. Additionally, they have two side pockets and belted loops, so you can add a belt if you want to. Whether you work from home or are heading out with friends, these tailored shorts are what you’ll want in your closet.

Sizes available: XXS-XL

Colors: 2

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High Rise 4-Inch Mom Short — $39.00

Originally $60, now $39

We told ya. This sale is ripe with denim shorts, and we’ve got our eyes set on these mommy shorts. Featuring a high-rise fit, these denim cut-offs look great with cropped shirts, tanks, and blouses. Thanks to the distressed look and denim fading, you can now count yourself as fashionista material.

Sizes available: 23-37

Shades: 2

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This week’s episode of The Well+Good Podcast delves into how competitive athletes can create a balanced life off the court or field, with stress relief being a big piece of that. Host Taylor Camille speaks with Nina Westbrook, LMFT, a former Division I college basketball player turned therapist and founder of digital wellness platform Bene by Nina, and sports psychologist Angela Charlton, PhD, who have recently partnered on a workshop designed to teach athletes how to boost their mental fitness.

Listen to the full podcast episode here:

“Typically, in competitive sports, the focus is the physical output—what we’re achieving physically, whether we’re winning games, whether we’re injured,” says Westbrook. “But what it really takes is a balance between the psychological and the emotional, the social wellness and the physical wellness. You have to be physically healthy to be able to compete, but in order to compete at a high level constantly and continuously, you also have to be mentally strong and mentally fit.”

That reality applies to any high achievers who may find themselves defending against a high-stress environment. And just like athletes, anyone who is looking to perform at their peak level will benefit from equipping themselves with stress-management tools—and practicing using them—before they wind up facing off with stress. “It’s important to have practical tools to be able to balance [everything on your plate] so that when you face those tremendous times of stress or those stressful transitions, you know how to handle them,” says Dr. Charlton.

Below, find Westbrook and Dr. Charlton’s top tips for how to manage high stress like a star athlete, even if you don’t have an athletic bone in your body.

How to manage high stress like an elite athlete, according to an athlete-turned-therapist and sports psychologist

1. Bolster your social ties, and build a life you love outside of work

Strong relationships, like those with friends and family, are essential to both mental and physical wellbeing and can lend support when it comes to handling stress. As a former college athlete herself, Westbrook emphasizes that people who hold a high-stress position or one that’s deeply wrapped up with their identity, need to enrich their lives outside of their jobs. That means maintaining friendships and relationships with family members, and doing things outside of your work that you bring you joy (yes, even if your work itself is joy-sparking). After all, your job isn’t the entirety of who you are.

2. Make time (even if it’s just a few minutes) for mindfulness

No matter what your day looks like, it’s key to fit stress-busting mindfulness practices into it. Yoga is Westbrook’s mindfulness activity of choice because of how it combines breathwork, mindful meditation, and movement. Dr. Charlton recommends diagphragmatic breathing, which can have a physically de-stressing effect—research has shown it can lower cortisol levels—and grounding techniques to really orient yourself to the present.

All of these practices can be effective for stress management and relief even in short bursts. If you really feel strapped for time, though, consider working mindfulness into your shower, says Dr. Charlton, “and just really utilize all their senses.”  To do this, simply turn your focus toward the sounds, smells, sights, and textures you’re experiencing in the shower; this has a way of distracting your mind from the other stressful thoughts that might occupy it.

Another tip for people low on time and high on stress? Try simply turning the lights off for 10 minutes and focusing on being present where you are to ground yourself, says Dr. Charlton.

3. Redirect stressful thought patterns

Thoughts can feed and exacerbate stress, particularly when they distort your perception of reality into something much more negative or upsetting than it really is. These kinds of thoughts are called cognitive distortions and include things like, “If I make a mistake, I will lose my worth and value,” and “I must get everything on my list done to be or feel accomplished.”

To avoid these negative spirals, it’s important to first recognize that “the way you think about something is going to significantly impact how you behave,” says Dr. Charlton. Being aware of this reality could help you identify when you’re stuck in a stress-inducing thought pattern.

If you do catch yourself thinking in negative circles, pause to examine the factual information of the situation, and assess whether your thoughts are truly rooted in those facts. Dr. Charlton gives the example of passing by a friend at a shopping mall who doesn’t say “hi” to you, and then resorting to thinking that they are mad at you or don’t like you—both of which are conclusions that could cause stress. By instead thinking through the facts of the situation, you’d also realize that it’s possible this friend never actually saw you. This realization can help reframe the interaction from something upsetting to something much more benign.

For more tips from Westbrook and Dr. Charlton on how to get ahead of and manage stress in high-stress environments, listen to the full podcast episode here.

Éminence Organic Skin Care Superfood Booster-Powder — $60.00

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The Éminence Organic Skin Care Superfood Booster-Powder ($60) gets its power from Kakadu plum, a fruit native to Australia that has 55 times the amount of vitamin C found in oranges and five times more antioxidants than blueberries. “Kakadu plum combats acne, reverses hyperpigmentation caused by UV rays, and increases the skin’s hydration,” says Tiffany Torrence, an esthetician in New Jersey. Plus, it helps to firm and tighten skin, thanks to vitamin C’s important role in collagen production.

But, the formula goes beyond just Kakdu Plum—the Éminence Superfood Booster-Powder also contains coix seed, a botanical source of niacinamide that soothes skin, brightens and evens the complexion, and regulates oil production. It also has spirulina, a blue-green algae that’s high in vitamin K to strengthen skin. Finally, it’s got sweet potato, which is packed with beta-carotene and antioxidants to rejuvenate skin while reducing visible signs of premature aging.

And because it’s all in a powder, the formula is super stable, meaning you’ll be getting a fresh dose every time instead of having a pre-mixed formula that will inevitably degrade over time.

Putting the Éminence Superfood Booster-Powder into action

Using the Éminence Superfood Booster-Powder is simple as long as you do one very important thing—DON’T lose the little scoop it comes with. It is very small and allows you to scoop just the right amount of powder so that it mixes well into your moisture.

Start by grabbing your favorite simple, cream-based moisturizer (the powder doesn’t blend well with other types, like gel). Opt for one that doesn’t have any active ingredients like retinoids, vitamin C, or alpha- or beta-hydroxy acids so you don’t create the skin-care equivalent of a nuclear bomb in terms of irritation. Add enough face cream to cover your face and neck to the palm of your hand, then add a single scoop of powder—”A level scoop, not a heaping scoop,” explains Brian Goodwin, medical esthetician and lead educator at Éminence. Rub your hands together, and in seconds you’ll have a new-and-improved face cream. Slather it on and let your skin enjoy all the benefits.

Using this powder lets me play cosmetic chemist in a measured and safe way. I love how easily it mixes into creamy formulas and allows me to create a super potent blend at home. As long as I don’t overdo it on the powder, it melts into my moisturizer perfectly without feeling grainy or dry. Once I have it on my face I know I’m giving my complexion a major boost while protecting it from environmental stressors that can lead to hyperpigmentation—my main skin-care nemesis. If you also love to play and want to give your routine a boost, get the Éminence Superfood Booster-Powder into your medicine cabinet ASAP.

Soulful eyes, germy mouth

According to the American Kennel Club, a dog’s mouth contains around 600 types of bacteria, which is similar to what people have. There’s some species overlap there, but dogs also carry unique germs that humans aren’t equipped to fight off. Some of these microbes are zoonotic, meaning they can jump between species, and cause infections.

There’s also evidence based on a 2022 genetic study, published in Antibiotics, that canine saliva has plentiful numbers of bacteria containing transferable antimicrobial resistance genes. These dangerous genes may promote antibiotic resistance in humans, which you definitely don’t want.

Bacteria from dogs have a very low chance of penetrating intact skin, but they can get into your system through broken skin and mucus membranes like your eyes, nose, and mouth.

“All animals and people have bacteria, yeast, and viruses (called the oral microbiome) living in their mouths,” says Heather Berst, VMD, a veterinarian at Zoetis. “Many of these organisms are beneficial, but a few can be harmful if transmitted to people from dogs. The ones to be most concerned about are Clostridium, E. coli, salmonella, and campylobacter.”

Dogs can also have intestinal parasites like heartworm that they spread by licking, although Dr. Berst says parasites are more likely to spread through dog poop than by oral transmission.

And what about when Fido, you know, eats that poop? This icky habit is referred to as coprophagia, but whatever you call it, it’s gross, especially if your dog wants to lick your face afterward. “The fact that dogs eat poop is a concern for many people, but this doesn’t necessarily pose a significant risk to humans,” says family medicine physician Laura Purdy, MD, MBA. “While eating poop can introduce harmful bacteria into a dog’s mouth, the risk of transmission to humans from a dog’s lick is still relatively low.”

How worried should you be about a dog licking your face?

Your sweet doggy doesn’t know their mouth is a germ cesspool. They only know they love you and want to show it. The risks of transmission from licking your face are relatively small, but not non-existent, So, what’s a dog owner to do?

Dr. Berst isn’t only a veterinarian, she’s also a dog mom to Dottie, a highly affectionate rescue Chinese crested dog. “Every time I come home, Dottie gets super excited and crazily licks my face while wagging her tail—and I let her. That being said, I think you need to talk to your physician and your veterinarian if your dog licks your face regularly, as there can be some risks,” she says.

Dr. Berst and Dr. Purdy both feel that the most critical things to consider are the dog’s health status, and the person’s overall health. People with compromised immune systems should avoid having their dog lick them on the face. Elderly individuals and children should also show added caution.

How to protect yourself from dog germs

To start with, regular veterinary care for your pet is a must. This should include preventatives, like vaccines, that decrease the chance of transmitting zoonotic diseases to you and your family. “Make sure your pet is tested for parasites (worms) and is on a parasite preventative,” Dr. Berst says. “They should also be vaccinated for diseases such as rabies, and have their teeth cleaned regularly.”

Your dog’s diet also matters. Raw diets have become popular, but many veterinarians, including Dr. Berst, discourage their use. “Raw food diets increase the risk of transmitting food-borne illnesses. If I was around a dog and the owner fed the dog raw food, I would be cautious about that dog licking my face,” Dr. Berst says.

Also be wary around strays, who may eat moldy or rotted food off the street. Those that aren’t vaccinated or cared for may be more likely to carry disease. If you see a stray, contact a dog rescue organization that can get it the care it needs, and a forever home. In the meantime, stay clear of doggy kisses from dogs you aren’t familiar with.

Even if your dog gets optimum care, it’s a good idea to stop them from licking areas of open skin, like cuts and scrapes. “Even a healthy dog’s mouth may contain Pasteurella, a bacterium which can cause skin infections,” says Dr. Purdy. She also warns against Capnocytophaga canimorsus, a rare bacteria that can cause severe illness in people with weakened immune systems.

If your dog licks an open wound or bites you (it happens), contact your healthcare provider right away. Signs of infection like redness, swelling, or pus-like discharge require medical attention asap.

How to safely get love from your dog (and how to give it, too)

The symbiosis between humans and animals is clear. You probably need your dog’s unconditional love as much as they need yours. If you and your dog are both healthy, there’s no real need to forgo at least some of those loving, slobbery kisses.

If, however, you wish to be cautious or have cause for concern, Dr. Berst recommends training your dog to sit when you arrive home and wait for a treat or high-five, instead of a kiss. Cuddle sessions and petting are another powerful way to deepen your bond without the risk of swapping germs.

Before you consider skipping SPF—or your outdoor workout—know this: There are a few dermatologist-recommended hacks you can try to keep your sunblock away from your eyes.

But why in 2023 do we even still have to deal with this sunscreen-in-eyes situation? “Generally, sunscreens in the U.S. have been formulated for a certain feel and finish on the skin,” says Teo Soleymani, MD, a dermatologist at UCLA Health. “Over the past 20 to 30 years, the cosmetics industry has been big on finding products that are stackable with makeup and other products, or things that feel weightless or invisible on your skin.”

There’s also been a premium on sunscreens that are non-comedogenic, i.e. that won’t clog your pores, he says.

There’s a downside to all of this, Soleymani says: It tends to make sunscreens thin and water-soluble—meaning, they’re more likely to run when you sweat or get wet. “Whenever we look to make products that won’t clog your pores and will be weightless, it limits the ability to create a product that’s not easily rinsed off,” Soleymani says. “But what’s your body’s best rinse? Sweat that comes out of your pores.”

That brings us to what, exactly, you can do to keep your sunscreen in place and out of your eyes. Soleymani has a few suggestions.

Use a sport sunscreen

The name isn’t just for show—these sunscreens are actually formulated differently than others, Soleymani says. “It’s the same concept as waterproof mascara,” he says. “It’s formulated in a way that adheres to your skin a little better and is a little less hydrophilic—water loving—so it won’t slough off with your sweat.”

Supergoop Play Everyday Lotion SPF 50 with Sunflower Extract — $34.00

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Reconsider chemical sunscreens

As a whole, chemical sunscreens, such as those with ingredients like avobenzone, “tend to be less effective at being water resistant than mineral-based sunscreens,” Soleymani says. If you typically sweat a lot during workouts, it’s best to avoid using these on your face.

Reach for mineral sunscreens

Mineral sunscreens are typically thicker than their chemical counterparts, but that’s a good thing when you’re trying to prevent them from sweating off. “They don’t run. Mineral-based sunscreens tend to stick a lot better because of the zinc and titanium used,” Soleymani says. “The only annoying part of them is that they stay on your skin for a long time.” (His pro tip for removal: Try makeup remover wipes to get the sunscreen off at the end of the day or when you’re washing up after your workout.)

Everyday Humans Rose From Above Mineral Sunscreen Base SPF 35 — $25.00

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Consider UV shield glasses

In case you’re not familiar with them, UV shield glasses block UV rays and tend to cover a larger area of your face than your standard sunglasses. If you pair them with a hat, you could potentially shield the upper half of your face from the sun without needing to use much sunscreen in that area. “A lot of baseball or tennis players wear them,” Soleymani says. “That can provide a good amount of UV protection without necessarily needing to cake on a layer of sunscreen.”

Alo Yoga Stunner Sunglasses — $105.00

Originally $150, on sale for $105

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Look into zinc oxide sunscreen

Zinc oxide sunscreen is what lifeguards used to smear on their noses and under their eyes in the ‘80s and ‘90s to offer strong sun protection. “That was really effective and would not run with water or sweat,” Soleymani says. “The only thing people didn’t like was that it was very noticeable.” Fortunately, zinc oxide sunscreen has progressed since then, and some companies now offer products that go on clear. Soleymani says it’s worth at least considering using this around your eyes to both protect your skin and create a barrier.

CeraVe Hydrating Sunscreen Face Lotion SPF 50 — $16.00

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Overall, Soleymani recommends just being “practical” when you’re working out in the sun. “Be sensible,” he says. “If you’re going to be out for more than 20 minutes at a time during high UV index times—10 a.m. to 2 p.m.—wear sunscreen. And, if you’ll be out for more than an hour, reapply.”

However, you’ve likely also heard chatter over the years about artificial sweeteners maybe not being the most ideal choice for your gut and overall long-term health. So if it’s diet soda or nothing when it comes to your mealtime drink of choice, this begs the question: Is drinking diet soda with a meal better or worse than simply drinking nothing? Let’s find out.

Health implications that have been linked to diet soda consumption

This question really boils down to two curiosities: the health impacts of diet soda and the importance of hydration—and which is more important. Let’s start with what impact diet soda has on our health.

So much research has been conducted around diet soda and its health implications, from nearly every angle you can imagine. Here are some of the biggest takeaways:

Stroke and heart disease

Diet soda can impact heart health. An article published in Stoke examined data from the Women’s Health Initiative and found that drinking two or more artificially-sweetened beverages (ASBs), including diet soda, per day was associated with increased risk for stroke, heart disease, and all-cause mortality. Another review echoed these findings, with ASBs being linked with overall increased cardiovascular disease risk. Diet soda has also been linked to increased risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome.

Brain health

Emerging research is also finding links between brain health and diet soda. The most common artificial sweetener found in diet soda is aspartame, made primarily of amino acids aspartic acid and phenylalanine. Aspartame intake can lead to increased levels of these amino acids in the brain and according to a review in Nutritional Neuroscience, these specific building blocks of protein can inhibit the formation and release of neurotransmitters including dopamine, serotonin, and norepinephrine in the brain. These neurotransmitters regulate neurophysiological activity. Aspartame may also elevate cortisol (a stress hormone) levels in our brain as well as create free radicals. All of this translates to diet sodas containing aspartame having the potential to impact our brain health. Another review found aspartame-containing foods, like diet soda, to be correlated to migraines as well.

Bone health

When it comes to diet colas in particular, bone health can also be a concern. One study found that the phosphoric acid combined with the caffeine found in colas, including diet varieties, was associated with lower bone mineral density. These findings were only tied to colas, not other carbonated soft drinks, as they are the only sodas containing phosphoric acid, generally. While another found that soda consumption of all kinds was associated with increased risk for hip fracture in postmenopausal women, a tell-tale sign of low bone density.

Dental health

Our teeth are also not safe from the effects of diet soda, due to its acidic nature. One research group found both regular and diet soda to be associated with negative impacts on tooth enamel, while another linked them to actual tooth erosion.

Still, correlation ≠ causation

TL; DR? A significant body of research has been done on the implications of diet soda, and it’s clear that there aren’t many mentions of health perks. However, it’s important to keep in mind that more research (on artificial sweetener in particular) is needed, and that many of these studies suggest correlation rather than causation. Finally, know that the American Cancer Society and supporting studies have deemed aspartame not to be linked with cancer, and that aspartame and foods containing the sugar substitute have been deemed safe by both the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and World Health Organization (WHO).

Importance of hydration

Speaking of health perks. While that information about diet soda’s health impacts may be deterring, what about hydration? Isn’t hydration important enough to prioritize drinking diet soda at a meal over nothing?

Hydration is indeed important for nearly every aspect of human life, especially given that our bodies are made up of mostly water. Staying well-hydrated helps to maintain optimal organ function, especially within our kidneys and brains. It also helps our bodies digest food easily, helps keeps our immune system and energy levels intact, and boosts skin health.

Diet soda provides some water, but it also often contains caffeine, which can have a diuretic effect, though minor. This means that it actually causes the body to release water through urine, having the potential to possibly dehydrate us slightly. The water from diet soda will still provide more hydration than its caffeine content will dehydrate, but this dynamic is something to keep in mind.

This means that [diet soda] actually causes the body to release water through urine, having the potential to possibly dehydrate us slightly. The water from diet soda will still provide more hydration than its caffeine content will dehydrate, but this dynamic is something to keep in mind.

You might have also heard some so-called health buffs recommend actually not drinking fluids with meals as they could interfere with saliva, digestive enzyme, or stomach acid production, while speeding digestion—all of which could result in undesirable symptoms like gas, bloating, diarrhea, or even constipation. However, there’s no scientific evidence to back these claims. Rather, drinking at meals can actually aid in digestion and help food move through the digestive tract more smoothly. This lends to less bloating, gas, and constipation. Drinking with meals can also help you feel more satisfied after eating.

So, is diet soda bad for you?

So, what’s the bottom line? With the evidence available, ideally we’d steer clear of diet sodas due to their health implications. However, overall hydration and drinking at meals is super important. The easy medium here is to find healthy alternatives.

If the soda flavor is what you’re after, there are so many healthier alternatives out there, including Poppi, Olipop, and even Rowdy Mermaid is coming out with a line of Good Mood Sodas. While these options have a small amount of added sugar, none containing more than 5 grams, which is significantly less than that of the regular stuff. They’ll all still deliver on the caffeine, flavor, and even offer additional health benefits through the inclusion of fiber and prebiotics.

Otherwise, flavored waters, seltzers, tea, coffee (bonus point for decaf!), and fresh, no sugar added juices are also great alternatives. While some of these will provide caffeine, there will be no added sugar anywhere in sight and all will offer the hydration we’re looking for.

And while it might be time to choose a diet soda alternative due to its concerning potential health impacts, there are so many other options that will deliver hydration, caffeine, and downright deliciousness.

With this in mind, Sara San Angelo, a professional house cleaner with over 20 years of experience and owner of the blog Confessions of a Cleaning Lady, and Melissa Maker, a cleaning expert behind the blog Clean My Space, share eight of the dirtiest spaces in your home and how to clean them.

The 8 dirtiest spaces in your home, according to cleaning professionals

1. Faucet heads

You need to give your kitchen and bathroom faucets the same level of attention you would a shower head. All faucets are susceptible to hard water deposits, mineral buildup, and mold. “People don’t think to clean their faucet heads because they don’t see these places, but they can get very dirty and moldy,” says San Angelo. “This is a very important place to clean—you do everything from wash dishes to brush your teeth with the water coming out of that.”

How to clean faucet heads

Fill a plastic bag with equal parts distilled white vinegar and water. Submerge the faucet head with the solution and use rubber bands to secure the bag to the fixture. Let it soak in place for up to 30 minutes. After removing the plastic bag from the faucet head, remove loose debris with a cleaning solution like the Clorox Disinfecting All-Purpose Cleaner ($4) and a small scrub brush or soft-bristle toothbrush.

2. Dishwasher filter

You’d think that your dishwasher would clean itself, but a dirty dishwasher filter can prevent it from doing its job well. “If you notice your dishes aren’t coming out clean, it’s a good indicator that you need to clean your filter,” Maker says. She notes that older models don’t typically have these, but in newer models, it’s a mesh container located in the bottom of your dishwasher. To see if you have one and how to remove it, it’s best to check the manufacturer’s instructions for your model.

How to clean a dishwasher filter

Remove the dishwasher filter before cleaning it. “Typically, you unscrew the filter, pull it out, and soak it in the sink with hot soapy water. You can use a cleaning toothbrush to scrub the mesh, and then just put it back,” Maker says. “You’ll notice your dishwasher runs so much better. You won’t get that grittiness on your glasses and things stuck to your plates.”

3. Door and window frames

There are some spaces in a home that people don’t often think (or want) to clean because they are so hard to reach, but dust and dirt will accumulate anywhere it can land. “Any horizontal space in your home will collect dust,” says San Angelo. “This goes for tops of doors and window frames.” While the idea of cleaning door and window frames can seem like an added chore, it can be done quickly and efficiently with one or a couple of cleaning products.

How to clean door and window frames

Simply, go over door and window frames with a dry microfiber cloth or a duster to remove debris. If your door and window frames are out of reach, consider using a duster with an extendable pole. One option that San Angelo recommends is the Swiffer Heavy Duty Extender Handle Starter Kit ($19), which extends up to three feet and comes with 12 dusters.

4. Exterior windows, screens, and interior window sills

Maker says that cleaning your exterior windows not only gets rid of visible smudges and dirt, but it can make a marked difference in your home. “The other day I went around the house and I did all my exterior windows … We have a beautiful backyard, but it can be really hard to enjoy if the windows are dirty,” she says. “Once I cleaned them, it just made all the difference—the inside of the house sparkled.” While this cleaning task is more involved, it’s well worth the time and extra effort.

How to clean exterior windows, screens, and interior window sills

Maker says you’ll need a double-sided window squeegee and an extension pole, like these: Ettore Complete Window Washer ($12) and Ettore 16 ft. Reach Extension Pole ($28). Fill a bucket with warm water, a tablespoon of dish soap, and a cup of white vinegar. Dip the spongy side in the bucket, wash the window, and then flip the window washer to squeegee off the water. “Each window takes about 30 seconds,” she says, adding that the extension pole allows you to tackle second-story windows without needing a ladder.

Next, you can pop your window screens out and scrub them in the bathtub with dish soap and an Iron Handle Scrub Brush ($7). “Screens catch things like dirt, dead bugs, little pieces of plants—they can just get really dirty over time.” You can do the same with screen doors by scrubbing with the iron handle brush dipped in warm soapy water, and removing the soap and debris with a wet Microfiber Cleaning Cloth ($15).

You’ll also want to show your window sills some love. “When your windows are open and closed, and open and closed, dirt blows in and it lands on the sill,” she says. Start by loosening up any dirt with a cleaning toothbrush, vacuum the sill using a brush attachment, and wipe it down with a damp cloth. Maker cleans her exterior windows and screens once or twice a year, and cleans her sills whenever they’re visibly dirty.

5. Lightbulbs

When was the last time you’ve cleaned a lightbulb? (My answer would be “never.”) You may want to make it part of your cleaning routine—they are prime dust magnets. “You don’t normally see your lightbulbs, but along with light fixtures, they can get very dusty,” says San Angelo. She adds that a dusty, grimy bulb can significantly lessen the amount of light it casts. So, before you even think about changing a lightbulb, you may want to try cleaning it first.

How to clean lightbulbs

Turn off the lightbulb and allow it to cool before cleaning. Dust the lightbulb using a duster, but if the dust is stuck on (“It happens sometimes in kitchens where there is a lot of grease accumulation,” says San Angelo”), remove it from the socket of the fixture and carefully wipe the bulb down with a damp rag. Dry the lightbulb before putting it back into the socket.

6. Behind your TV

When it comes time to clean your TV, the first thing you probably think to tackle is the TV screen, which is prone to unsightly smudges and dust. The same goes for behind the TV, though, and “just because you don’t see it doesn’t mean dust won’t accumulate on it,” says San Angelo. It probably doesn’t get much exposure to the elements, but it’s still important to keep it clean. When dust accumulates in the vents, nooks, and crannies in the rear, it can keep a TV from performing at its prime.

How to clean behind your TV

Turn off your TV and make sure it’s completely cooled down before you start cleaning. Using a dry microfiber cloth or a duster, gently wipe down the back of your TV, paying special attention to the vents and any tight corners and other hard-to-reach places. Perform this task weekly or every other week to ensure that it stays dust free.

7. Shoe closets and doormats

Maker says your doormats and shoe closets trap tons of dirt and debris that you track into the house on your shoes. “You can bring allergens in, you can bring in dirt, just unwanted stuff comes in,” she says. A 2008 study from the University of Arizona, funded by The Rockport Shoe Company, found that the average shoe sole is covered with 421,000 bacteria and that 90 percent of the time, bacteria transfers directly to clean tile floors—an excellent reason to clean your doormats and shoe closets more often.

How to clean shoe closets and doormats

“I don’t always vacuum every room every time I vacuum, but I always vacuum those mats. Because keeping those clean keeps the rest of my house much cleaner,” Maker says. The floor of a shoe closet can also get really gritty with dirt and debris, Maker says. While they don’t have to be cleaned as frequently, you’ll want to aim to vacuum it three to four times a year.

8. The floor around the toilet

You know the importance of cleaning your toilet, but what may be unbeknownst to some is that the job extends to the surrounding area. One spot that is easy to miss? The space around the toilet. “This spot is sometimes out of sight but can collect lots of grime,” says San Angelo. While you’re at it, you may also want to clean behind the toilet, which is among the dirtiest places in the bathroom. “It can just be a place where germs and dirt can be harbored,” Branch Basics co-founder Marilee Nelson previously told Well+Good.

How to clean the floor around the toilet

Using either cleaning wipes or a combination of cleaning solution and a rag or a power towel, wipe down the toilet base where it meets the floor. You may want to clean the floor around the toilet, which may also be dirty. Don’t forget to read the instructions on the cleanser label to find out how long it should stay on a surface to effectively kill germs and for proper usage.

You may have heard about polyglutamic acid being the buzzy hydrating skin-care ingredient of the moment. It’s a more effective hydrator than hyaluronic acid, and its ability to renew skin to a soft, nearly-poreless texture is nothing short of amazing. It’s the one ingredient that I’ve noticed has not only changed how my skin looks but has changed how it feels too.  I’ve been a dedicated fan of the FaceGym Hydrobound Daily Serum ($68) but ever since writing about it (see, here) it’s struggled to keep in stock. So, I tried a new one to see how it compared to the serum that seemed irreplaceable. Not to spoil the fun, but I think I’ve found its rival. Plus – It’s $20 cheaper and in stock. For now, at least.

Enter the TULA Skincare 24-7 Ultra Hydration Triple-Hydra Complex Day & Night Serum ($48). It uses three types of hyaluronic acid in addition to polyglutamic acid. While it feels light on the skin (perfect for spring and summer!), it packs a punch when it comes to hydration. To top it off, it also has encapsulated squalane, collagen, and peptides that release once you apply for that plump, healthy skin look and feel.

TULA Skincare 24-7 Ultra Hydration Triple-Hydra Complex Day & Night Serum — $48.00

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My skin isn’t able to hide much—which means that when I’m dehydrated, my complexion shows it wholeheartedly. It gets dull, dry, and sometimes red, and tiny fine lines come out to play. Especially my one true wrinkle in between my eyebrows that I treat with Botox every three months.

When I started on the Tula serum, I immediately noticed changes in my skin. It felt perpetually hydrated, and didn’t look at all tight or distressed. Even at the end of the day, it still looked like I had just done my routine; plump and dewy. I’d been using it day and night, and when my calendar reminded me it was time to schedule some baby Botox and a chemical peel, I completely ignored it—my skin looked so fresh, I didn’t need the treatment.  My fine lines, and especially that pesky wrinkle, hadn’t shown since I started using the serum, and everything seemed softened on its own.

I always say it’s hard to play favorites, particularly when you’re a beauty editor who’s responsible for testing product after product. Of course, I keep a core routine, but it isn’t easy for a product to wiggle its way in there for the long haul. However, the TULA Skincare 24-7 Ultra Hydration Triple-Hydra Complex Day & Night Serum has secured a permanent spot and I already have a backup sitting in my cart online. Polyglutamic acid isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, and it has proved to be my new injectable alternative.

Dan Buettner, an author and researcher who studies the world’s longevity hotspots (aka Blue Zones, which include Ikaria, Greece; Loma Linda, California; Sardinia, Italy; Okinawa, Japan; and Nicoya, Costa Rica), recently posted a list of said drinks to his Instagram, and it’s surprisingly attractive. Sure, you won’t find soda (or even prebiotic soda) on it, but what you will find are some damn tasty beverages: coffee; green tea; black tea; water; and (wait for it!) wine.

“This is what people in Blue Zones, who statistically live the longest lives without chronic disease, drink,” Buettner explains. “So it’s a correlation. I can’t draw a causal relationship but I can tell you that in these Blue Zones, this is what people drink and they drink it on a daily basis for decades or even a century.” Separate scientific research backs up the longevity-enhancing benefits of these beverages, too. Keep reading to find out why you are (as old as) what you drink.

Top 5 beverages for longevity, according to Blue Zones founder Dan Buettner

1. Green tea

In the Blue Zone of Okinawa, Buettner says that people will fill up a 20-ounce jar of tea leaves and sip on it all day long, and he provides two separate reasons for why this may help them reach centenarian status at higher rates than the general population.

“First of all, caffeine has come out as a net positive, and it’s associated with lower rates of of Diabetes and Parkinson’s, lower rates of heart disease, and sharper focus,” he says. Just don’t drink it in the afternoon (especially if you’re sensitive to caffeine) or it’ll interfere with your sleep, he cautions.

The other reason green tea makes for a compelling longevity beverage is that it’s packed with antioxidants, says Buettner. And registered dietitian Neva Cochran, RD agrees. She explains that green tea is high in a type of antioxidant known as flavanols, which have been linked to a reduction in bad cholesterol. And studies have shown a link between green tea consumption and better cardiovascular health overall.

Green tea is also rich in a type of antioxidant known as catechins, which protect the body from free radicals. These, along with green tea’s caffeine content and the amino acid l-theanine, which is also found in green tea, help to protect the brain. A review of 21 different studies found compelling evidence linking green tea consumption with better attention and memory. That aforementioned l-theanine could also be responsible for links between green tea consumption and improved mood.

If you’re not yet convinced to pick up a green tea habit, know that it’s also been linked to significantly lowered fasting blood sugar levels, which means it could be protective against the development of type 2 diabetes. Green tea is also surprisingly great for your bones. “Tea polyphenols enhance bone formation and inhibit bone breakdown resulting in greater bone strength,” says Cochran.

This multitasking health beverage is even potentially protective against certain types of cancer—green tea’s EGCGs (a type of beneficial catechin) have been shown to inhibit tumor growth. Oh, and finally, green tea is good for the gut. Research suggests that it’s a prebiotic, which means it induces the growth of good microorganisms in the belly and reduces the growth of not-so-good microorganisms in the belly.

BLK & BOLD, Matcha Green Tea Powder — $18.00

This matcha green tea powder from BLK & BOLD checks all the health-boosting boxes and tastes great when served hot or cold. “Matcha is chock-full of catechins—aka ECGC—which contain anti-inflammatory and cancer-fighting compounds,” Tracy Lockwood Beckerman, RD, previously told Well+Good. “These helpful antioxidants go after inflammation in the body and work to repair and heal the damage.”

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2. Black Tea

Black tea carries many of the same benefits as green tea. It, too, contains caffeine, antioxidant polyphenols, L-theanine, and flavanols. As a result, it’s likewise protective against the development of several chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, cancer, stroke, and cardiovascular disease. And it’s actually even better for the gut/digestion than green tea.

BLK & BOLD, Peach Loose Leaf Black Tea — $12.00

BLK & BOLD’s black tea is bursting with peach flavor and antioxidants, which is one more reason why it is so good for cognitive function and longevity.

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3. Coffee (black)

Coffee similarly contains caffeine and is chock-full of beneficial antioxidants. In fact, says Buettner, it’s the primary source of antioxidants in the American diet, though he admits that is mostly due to the prevalence of coffee more than anything else.

Coffee is also rich in essential nutrients, including vitamin B5 (for making red blood cells), manganese (for bone development and metabolism), potassium (for lower blood pressure), magnesium (for energy production and sleep), and niacin, which helps convert vitamins into useable energy.

Overall, its consumption is linked to improved risk for type 2 diabetes, depression, neurodegenerative diseases, cancer, and liver disease. Buettner further notes that in the Blue Zone of Ikaria, they grind their coffee really fine and then boil it, like Turkish coffee, and he says there’s another type of antioxidant released by this process.

“So there may be an added benefit to drinking the coffee like that,” he says. Buettner adds that coffee is the wake up beverage of choice in the Blue Zone of Sardinia, but in Costa Rica, people tend to drink greater quantities of weaker coffee all day. “It’s consumed almost like any other beverage and not so much like a pick-me-up,” he says.

BLK & BOLD, Rise & GRND Medium Roast Blend Coffee, 2-Pack — $26.00

This 100 percent fair trade coffee is blended perfectly—think nutty toffee notes plus a little bit of lemon flavor. The beans are washed and come whole so you know you’re getting the freshest flavor possible.

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4. Water

It should go without saying that water is good for you. Obviously, the body requires it and can only survive without it for about three days. But it’s also incredibly healthful when compared to most beverages found on store shelves these days in that it doesn’t contain sugar, chemicals, or additives.

In all Blue Zones, says Buettner, people drink water with their meals. “It’s not a big gallon of milk like we used to have when we were kids or some power drink or kombucha or any of these concoctions that are relentlessly marketed,” he says. Buettner theorizes that the water in Blue Zones may be more healthful than the water in other places, too. “If you ask a centenarian what explains the longevity of the area, they’ll say good food, clean air, and fresh water,” he says. “And it may indeed be that the water in the Blue Zones is cleaner.” (Having access to clean water is, of course, a serious wellness issue in many parts of the world.)

In the Nicoya Peninsula or Costa Rica, Buettner explains that the water that bubbles out of the Earth is also very high in calcium and magnesium. “When you have high levels of calcium and sunshine, those two conspire to make your bones stronger so people have fewer fractures and fewer fatal falls,” he explains. “And magnesium is good for heart function. So that may contribute some small part to longevity in Nicoya.” This theory makes sense if you consider the proven health benefits of drinking bottled mineral water.

5. Red wine

You might be surprised to find this one on the list, and Buettner readily admits that there’s controversy around positioning alcohol as beneficial to health in any way.

“I’m well aware of the recent studies around alcohol showing that it increases the chance of breast cancer in women, or that it can cause falls, car crashes, and other fatal events,” he says. “But I can tell you that in all five Blue Zones, they drink a little bit every day and it adds to their quality of life,” he says. “If you drink a little bit of red wine with a plant-based meal, it will about quadruple the flavonoid or antioxidant absorption and lower cortisol levels at the end of the day.”

He further notes that there are actually studies linking it to a lower risk of mortality. “People who drink a little bit, up to two drinks a day, actually have a lower chance of dying than people who don’t drink at all,” says Buettner. This is likely due to the high antioxidant content of wine, which has been shown to be protective against cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and even some forms of cancer.

And Buettner notes that you can’t underestimate the bonding effects of moderate alcohol consumption. As a recent deep-dive in The Atlantic pointed out, alcohol’s ability to enable community may well be one of the reasons the human species hasn’t evolved away from it despite some of its detrimental effects (e.g. the hangover and long-term health issues it’s correlated with).

Since strong social ties are one of the cornerstones of longevity, it makes sense than anything that enables them may help people live longer. Still, this comes with a lot of caveats, as Buettner notes. Moderation is key—we should drink no more than one drink per day—and some studies have shown there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.

So, the wine argument remains extremely nuanced and up for debate; however Buettner maintains that the Blue Zones offer a compelling argument for imbibing in moderation. “These people who are living the longest of anybody on Earth are enjoying a little bit of their favorite beverage alcoholic beverage every day,” he says.

Sella & Mosca Cannonau di Sardegna Riserva DOC — $18.00

“Sardinians are famous for their daily consumption of the robust, regional red wine called Cannonau,” says Buettner. If you’re on the hunt for the red wine of choice for those in the Blue Zones, this is it. Cannonau di Sardegna, the local name for grenache, has two to three times the amount of flavonoids (a type of antioxidant) as compared to other red wines.

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That said, there are a few perks to making your own delicious little energy-giving snacks at home. For starters, you’ll save more than a few extra bucks every week—especially if you can easily scarf two daily, like moi—and you can tailor the ingredients and their proportions to your heart’s content. Because we could all use a few more toasted almonds in our midday nosh, amirite?

To that end, we’ve found the perfect three-ingredient, 15-minute, vegan-friendly RXBAR #duuupe that’s delicious, nutritious, and won’t burn a hole in your pocket. (…And you could quite easily toss these together during your next commercial break.) How to make them, ahead.

Why you should be making this budget-friendly recipe for energy bars on the reg

While easy to make, these no-bake blueberry almond energy bars from Dana, the recipe developer and writer behind Killing Thyme, are anything but basic. They’re made with three simple ingredients: roasted almonds, dried blueberries, and pitted dried dates. And although that might not sound like much, the combination of these three ingredients, in particular, is explosive—especially when it comes to their nutritional value.

Almonds are filled with fiber and plant-based protein

For starters, almonds are a go-to snack for nutrition experts because they’re loaded with fiber (more than peanuts and cashews combined, in fact). Additionally, they’re a good source of plant-based protein: One cup of almonds has over 30 grams of protein. Eating them regularly has been associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease and stabilized blood sugar levels. Other research also confirms that almonds can quickly help you recover from workouts by reducing inflammation and soreness.

Blueberries are anti-inflammatory af

Blueberries are home to a goldmine of antioxidants. “Colorful berries like blueberries contain helpful plant compounds called anthocyanins, which have anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects that support brain health and improve memory and concentration,” registered dietitian Sarah Maver, MPH, RD, previously shared with Well+Good. They have about three grams of gut-friendly fiber per one-quarter cup serving, too.

Dates are a potassium powerhouse

Onto the third and final ingredient: Dates. Like the dried blueberries, dates help give these tasty bars delicious sweetness free of any refined sugars. Plus, did you know that you can get nearly twice as much potassium from the same serving size of Medjool dates as you can from bananas? And to complete the trifecta, there’s fiber in this ingredient, too. Meaning every single ingredient in these bars will help keep you regular. Who isn’t in?

3-ingredient blueberry almond energy bars recipe

Yields 12 servings

Ingredients
1 cup roasted almonds
1 cup dried blueberries
1 cup pitted dried dates

1. Preheat oven to 375° F. Meanwhile, spread the almonds on a baking sheet and bake them until slightly toasted and aromatic—about 10 minutes—ensuring you don’t overcook them.

2. Remove almonds from the oven and allow them to cool. Once cooled, put them into a food processor or high-powered blender along with the dried blueberries and the dates.

3. Pulse the mixture to break everything apart. Blend for about 15 to 20 seconds, and if using a high-powered blender, use the tamper to press down on the ingredients. Pulse, blend, and keep this going until the mixture sticks together and forms a ball.

4. Empty the mixture onto wax paper or parchment. With your hands, press the mixture down and form roughly an eight-by-eight-inch square. Next, wrap or secure the mixture with the wax or parchment paper and place it in the fridge for about an hour.

5. Finally, remove it from the fridge and cut it into 12 smaller squares. Then, place them in a container, and refrigerate for up to three weeks.

An RD shares the best store-bought protein bars: