What is deep sleep?

In order to understand deep sleep, you must first acknowledge the phases of the sleep cycle, as well as the stages of sleep. According to Sleepless in NOLA sleep consultant Nilong Vyas, MD, medical review expert at Sleep Foundation, the sleep cycle consists of two phases: REM (rapid eye movement) and NREM (non-rapid eye movement). “The NREM phase is further divided into three stages of sleep,” she explains. The three sleep stages are N1 (light sleep), N2 (medium sleep), and N3 (deep sleep). “The human body cycles through four to five stages of sleep every 90 minutes overnight,” Dr. Vyas says. “N1 is the lightest sleep, N2 is deeper and plays the most significant role in memory consolidation, and N3 is the deepest of the NREM phase.”

Why is deep sleep so important?

While every stage of sleep plays a role in overall health and wellness, deep sleep is the most important because it’s responsible for strengthening the immune system, repairing tissue, and releasing growth hormone. All in all, it’s when the body heals itself, Dr. Vyas says.

So perhaps you’ve been feeling under the weather and can’t seem to muster up any energy—deep sleep will help; maybe you had a super long day that started with a killer workout and felt absolutely wiped by the end of it—deep sleep will help; perhaps you’re navigating a breakup or other stressful life event—deep sleep will help.

But here’s the thing: It doesn’t only have an immediate impact on a person’s well-being—it’s cumulative, meaning that it can offer benefits that last a lifetime, or at the very least, extend your lifetime.

“During deep sleep, the brain’s ‘waste management system’ comes in and removes certain proteins that if not removed are thought to lead to Alzheimer’s and cognitive decline,” says sleep expert and clinical psychologist Michael Breus, PhD, aka The Sleep Doctor.

Which is better: REM or deep sleep?

While REM sleep is a different phase of the sleep cycle, it’s considered the fourth and final stage of it. Since rapid eye movement is tied to dreaming, many people mistakenly assume that it must be a very deep form of sleep in which the subconscious has the uninterrupted ability to soar. In reality, Dr. Vyas says that REM sleep is actually considered to be less restful.

That doesn’t mean that REM sleep isn’t important, though. “REM and deep sleep are completely different and both necessary for different reasons,” Dr. Breus says. “As an example, during REM sleep is when you move information from your short term memory to your long term memory, and when you process emotions; deep sleep is needed for more physical areas.” Though, it plays a role in long term memory, too.

How much deep sleep do you need each night?

TL;DR: It depends. How much sleep you need depends on your age, gender, medical condition, fitness level, and environment, Dr. Breus says. “As a general guideline, we recommend seven to nine hours of good quality sleep, but this can vary widely,” he adds. (Not sure where you stand? Check out our story on sleep calculators.)

If you’re over the age of 65, Abhinav Singh, MD, FAASM, medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center and a medical review expert at Sleep Foundation, says that seven to eight hours will typically suffice.

No matter your age, if we’re breaking it down by stage, Dr. Singh says that 20 to 25 percent of your total sleep should be deep sleep, while another 20 to 25 percent should be REM.

What happens if you don’t get enough deep sleep?

Considering the vital role it plays in our overall well-being, Dr. Breus reveals that not getting enough deep sleep is what’s officially considered sleep deprivation. “Sleep deprivation affects every organ system and every disease state—literally everything you do, you do better with a good night’s sleep,” he says.

More specifically, Dr. Breus points out that a lack of deep sleep can lend to a notable physical and cognitive decline, including slower reaction time, lower testosterone, memory issues, riskier decisions, trouble focusing, and more. And then there’s the emotional impact of sleep deprivation. When you don’t get enough of it, you’ll become more anxious and could experience deeper depression. Together, all of these side effects make one thing very clear: Deep sleep should be your priority—each and every night.

When does deep sleep take place?

While a full sleep cycle is roughly 90 minutes long and is comprised of all four sleep stages (N1, N2, deep sleep, and REM sleep), the amount of time you spend in each stage changes throughout the night. According to The Sleep Foundation, you typically get the most deep sleep during the first half of the night. Then, by the later sleep cycles, you spend less time in the N1, N2, and N3 stages, and more time in REM sleep.

What happens if you wake up during deep sleep?

Since the N3 stage is the deepest sleep stage, it makes sense that it’s the hardest to snap out of. According to Dr. Breus, the deep sleep stage is the hardest to awaken from. If someone does wake up during this stage, he says it’s not uncommon to feel especially groggy. “This experience is what’s known as sleep inertia,” he reveals on his website. He compares it to Isaac Newton’s Law of Inertia and points out that unless a pressing force is at play to entice someone to wake up, it’s totally normal to wish you were still asleep—or even fall back asleep in the process. This is a sign that you’re within a deep sleep stage and need it to feel rested.

If you continually wake up each morning wishing you could just sleep a little longer, however, it might be time to re-evaluate your sleep hygiene and routine, as certain habits can make falling and staying asleep much easier. For example, eating a snack comprised of foods that help sleep, taking OTC sleep aids (like the Olly Sleep Gummies, $13), wearing breathable cotton PJs (like the Printfresh Bagheera Sleep Shirt, $118), sleeping on soft, moisture-wicking sheets (like the Purple SoftStretch Sheet Set, $189), and waking up with a sunrise alarm clock (like the Hatch Restore 2, $200) can all make a big difference in the quality of your sleep.

If after adjusting your sleep routine you still find that falling and staying asleep is a challenge, or that you’re experiencing poor sleep quality overall, you may want to consult a doctor to discuss the possibility of prescription sleeping pills and best next steps overall.

Which is why I have half a dozen different loafers lining my closet (in rainbow, metallic, velvet—the list goes on). But see, that’s the thing: None of the loafers I own are neutral and easy to style with everything I own. Because of this, I was particularly jazzed when I caught wind of Birdies’ big news: The brand’s coveted leather loafer—The Starling—is back in stock in leather after being sold out for quite some time.

Birdies, The Starling Leather Flat — $150.00

Colors (in leather): 3

Sizes available: 5-12

Pros:

• Little to no break-in period
• Flexible leather
• Easy to walk long distances in

Cons:

• Need to order a half-size up
• Leather may wrinkle over time

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What we love about the Birdies Starling loafer

What makes the Birdies Starling ($150) such a swoon-worthy shoe? A few things, really. The style features a non-slip rubber outsole atop a modest 10-millimeter heel, the uppers are soft and flexible, and the footbed is nothing short of a dream. It’s the latter that’s especially noteworthy. After all, the key characteristic of all Birdies shoes is the 7-layer footbed that’s designed to make it feel like you’re walking in slippers, not going-out shoes.

Due to their thoughtful design, the Birdies Starling Flats have become a cult favorite among shoppers, to the point that the brand regularly releases new iterations of the shoe. The flats, which are available in women’s sizes 5 to 12, are sold in 21 seasonal colors, textiles, and prints, as well as six classic options. For many footwear brands, it’s the seasonal shades that sell out the fastest. But for Birdies, the classic leather silhouettes, which are sold in black, tan, and brown shades, earned such high praise, the brand has had trouble keeping them in stock.

Naturally, I snagged a pair as soon as I saw they were available once more (after thousands requested Birdies bring back the leather loafer). My thought? How stellar can a plain pair of leather flats really be? Sure, I adore my velvet Starling flats, but can leather really compete—especially in terms of comfort?

Why yes, yes it can. From the moment I slipped my feet into these surprisingly lightweight leather flats, I’ve been a fan. The material is so buttery-soft that it flexes and bends with my feet, so I’ve not encountered any blister-causing chafing (despite not wearing socks), which I find is often par for the course when wearing most leather shoes. Meanwhile, the footbeds are just as glorious in the leather version as the velvet versions, though, potentially even more breathable. In the velvet Starlings, the footbeds have a satin lining; in the leather version, it has a cork-like appearance but is really just dotted leather.

As much as I enjoy the Birdies Leather Starling flats, there are a couple of things you’ll want to keep in mind. For starters, the brand says that you should size down if you have narrow feet or are in between sizes. After years of wearing The Starling, I have found that going up a half size works better. Another thing? Since the leather uppers are so thin and flexible, I feel like they could develop wrinkles over time. TBD on how they wear in the long-term.

All in all, if you’re on the hunt for a pair of comfortable, flexible leather flats that you can run to work in just as easily as you could go on a miles-long walking tour of a new city, the Birdies Leather Starling is worth considering. But act fast! They won’t stay in stock long.

Though the term hints at a lack of depth, there’s no shortage of deep, lasting pleasure to be found with shallowing. And while the penetration technique implies something entering the vagina (if ever so slightly), that something could be anything you might otherwise use for sexual penetration—not just the tip of the penis of a sex partner, but also, a finger, tongue, or toy, says sex educator Cindy Luquin, MA, CSE, founder of sexual-health education platform Pleasure to People.

Because shallowing with a toy would require keeping the toy positioned just inside the vagina, that might be difficult with a typical wand—which is why Playboy Pleasure recently released a toy with a shorter tip designed to make shallowing while solo that much easier: the Ring My Bell vibrator ($80). Below, you’ll find expert intel on all things shallowing, plus advice for trying it out yourself, including my first-hand review of the Ring My Bell. (Spoiler alert: It rang all of mine.)

What, exactly, is shallowing when it comes to penetration?

“Shallowing is penetrative touch right at the entrance of the vagina,” says Luquin. “It’s not external, but it’s not going deep inside, either,” she clarifies.

The benefit of keeping penetration just inside the vagina has to do with the anatomy of the vaginal entrance—which allows for some out-of-this-world sensations.

“Shallowing is when you play with the nerve endings [at the vaginal entrance] to find the depth at which you most enjoy the penetration.” —Marla Renee Stewart, sexologist

“The entrance to the vagina is one of the most sensitive spots on the body,” says sexologist Marla Renee Stewart, sexpert for sexual-wellness brand and retailer Lovers. “Shallowing is when you play with those nerve endings [at the vaginal entrance] to find the depth at which you most enjoy the penetration,” she adds. “This can aid in helping you feel pleasure and get acclimated with your genitals.”

Who would benefit from the penetration technique of shallowing?

According to sexuality and relationship therapist Chanta Blue, LCSW, there are two major groups of people who might enjoy experimenting with shallowing: “vulva owners and those who enjoy pleasing [people who have] vulvas,” she says.

And, per Luquin, if you fall in the former group, you can seriously increase your pleasure by shallowing. “A 2021 study [with almost 3,000 participants] found that women who used shallowing during foreplay found deeper penetrative sex more stimulating and had 25-percent stronger orgasms,” Luquin says.

What to know about shallowing before trying it

“Folks should know that shallowing is staying pretty shallow in the vagina,” says Stewart, adding that you don’t want to go more than one inch inside the vagina to get the maximum return from this penetration technique.

When initially trying shallowing, Stewart says it’s important to give yourself the license to explore for as long as you might need or want. “I don’t recommend rushing while you are shallowing, as the technique [when done slowly] can be a great way to get more in touch with your nerve endings and how they pertain to your pleasure in your body,” she says.

Blue echoes that sentiment, noting that this is a great technique to build arousal. (Read: It’s not a quick hitter; it’s a slow burn.) “The anticipation that comes along with this method can increase excitement for both the vulva owner and the partner if used during partnered play,” says Blue. “It’s also great to use when deeper penetration isn’t pleasurable, comfortable, or possible.”

How to try shallowing, according to sexologists

As is the case with most sex acts and techniques—like, for instance, BDSM or anal fingering or temperature play—when it comes to starting a shallowing practice, it’s a good idea to move slowly, at least initially. After all, you can always do more, but you can’t take back what you’ve already done.

Another key tip: Make sure the vaginal area is wet enough (before you begin) to make shallowing pleasurable. “Whenever penetrating the genitals, it’s important to first ensure there is enough lubrication to reduce friction and avoid irritation,” says Blue. “Then, you can place the toy, finger, lips, penis tip, or tongue just at the opening of the vagina, taking care not to penetrate deeper into the canal.”

For the record, Stewart suggests a hands-on approach. “I would recommend starting off with some vulva and vaginal exploration with your hands,” she says. “Start in small circles with the pads of your fingers, and use those pads to explore the [entrance], experimenting with the angles, pressure, and depth of what you like.” Reserving all your stimulation to the entrance of the vagina can then build up arousal and pleasure over time.

My experience with the Playboy Pleasure Ring My Bell vibrator designed for shallowing

As a sensory person, I like things that look, sound, smell, taste, and feel nice. Ring My Bell is a lot of those things. From the packaging to the toy itself and its various pleasure settings, it checks a lot of my boxes. The medical-grade silicone is almost slippery (in a good way), and the toy has a built-in feature to focus on the clitoris. Let’s just say I really enjoyed that. Plus, at just four inches long and one inch wide, it makes a great travel buddy.

Playboy Pleasure Ring My Bell — $80.00

To date, I own and have tried more than 30 sex toys. This one, however, is the first one that was specifically designed with shallowing in mind. For me, Ring My Bell provides just the right amount of penetration.

Insertable length: 1 inch

Material: Body-safe silicone

Settings: 10 speeds and functions, 10 pulsing rhythms, two buttons

Power source: Rechargeable

Available colors: Black

Waterproof: Yes

Pros:

• Chic, iridescent packaging
• Ergonomic and stylish design
• Just the right amount of penetration

Cons:

• Magnetic charging can be tricky to keep connected
• Not compatible with oil-based lubes

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While I’ve enjoyed vibrators of all shapes, sizes, and power types, as a kid (lady???) born in the ‘90s, my power source of choice will always be a plug-in adapter; there’s just something reassuring about it. Ring My Bell, however, uses newer technology: a magnetic rechargeable USB.

Plenty of modern sex toys charge this way, but I often find it hard to balance the toy well enough to ensure a charge. However, the magnet on the Ring My Bell is pretty strong, so even that isn’t really an issue. Which is all to say, if you’re looking to deep-dive into shallowing, this is totally the toy for you.

A few months ago, Halsey shared their postpartum skincare regimen, and noted that after they learned “that breast milk is the best skincare ingredient ever because it’s so full of antioxidants and good fats and stuff that speed up the healing process,” they added a colostrum-infused serum from Biologique Recherche into their routine. From there, the TikToks commenced. Color us intrigued.

The benefits of breastmilk for skin

“Breastmilk has natural moisturizing properties that are thought to be beneficial for the skin,” says Dr. Marisa Garshick, MD, FAAD. “Some benefits relate to its moisturizing and antioxidant properties for the skin. Lauric acid, a key component of breast milk, is known for its antibacterial properties, and it also helps to soothe and calm the skin.”  She adds that the ingredient is particularly helpful for dry skin in need of moisture.

Anecdotally, we’ve heard stories of moms using breastmilk to calm their babies’ eczema and rashes. And while one of our editors has copped to using a homemade breastmilk soap to quell her dry skin (in her words, “It was kind of weird, but amazing!!!!”), know that commercial brands aren’t actually using the real deal in their products. Many do, however, use colostrum in their formulas, which is the earliest form of breast milk that starts to be produced in mammals (it’s worth noting that the stuff you’ll find in your serums comes from cows, not humans). And one new brand, called Milk Made Skin, takes things to the next level with its breastmilk-mimicking formulations.

Enter: Milk Made Skin

Milk Made Skin’s Milk Peptide Complex contains lactose (for light exfoliation), proteins, fatty acids, and vitamin B (for strengthening the skin barrier); vitamin A (for stimulating cell turnover); and vitamin C (for brightening)—all of which are nutrients found in human breast milk. It aims to nourish, protect, and encourage collagen and fibronectin (a glycoprotein that plays an important role in tissue repair) production for folks with dry and mature skin.

The brand launched with three key products: An exfoliating cleanser, a peptide-enriched moisturizer, and a brightening eye cream. The founder also gave the brand a philanthropic arc: A portion of each purchase goes towards the Fertility Dreams Foundation, which brings awareness and support to the IVF community.

What happened when I tried breastmilk-inspired skin care

I’m not above admitting that I was hesitant to give this brand a try, especially because I have somewhat reactive, acne-prone skin. But I ended up being pleasantly surprised by the way these products felt on my skin.

Milk Made Skin, Milk Drench Exfoliating Gel Cleanser — $20.00

This was my favorite product from Milk Made Skin. Physical exfoliants do give me pause (who among us hasn’t been emotionally—or literally—scarred by that apricot scrub?), but this one was noticeably more gentle than others I’ve tried.

The scrubby bamboo beads are ground so finely that I barely even noticed them. This cleanser also lathers well for that clean feeling, and is boosted by hydrating, calming ingredients like hyaluronic acid, rose water, and cucumber essence.

I’ve been a classic CeraVe cleanser gal for a decade, rarely straying from its steadfast, efficacious formula. Now I swap in Milk Drench once per week for an exfoliating reset, and my skin has never felt softer. It’s also worth mentioning that it doesn’t break me out. The only downsides are the small size (give me more!) and the fact that not all skin types react well to physical exfoliants.

Pros

• Bamboo beads are gentle on skin
• Rich lather

Cons

• Tube is only 1.7 ounces
• Physical exfoliants might not be good for sensitive skin types

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Milk Made Skin, Milk Drunk Peptide Rich Moisturizer — $89.00

Though I don’t have a dry, mature complexion, I do occasionally partake in late night shenanigans, which means that sometimes I wake up with dehydrated, puffy, and generally sad-looking skin. I’m disciplined enough to always do my skin-care routine before bed, no matter how late it is, and I tend to reach for intensely moisturizing products so I wake up looking more alive than I feel.

Milk Drunk has been my moisturizer of choice for those nights. It’s seriously rich, with a buttery, thick feel. I’m pleased by how quickly it sinks into my skin—especially when I’m extra dehydrated. The milk-mimicking peptide complex really shines in this moisturizer. After using this, I wake up with noticeably plump, hydrated skin. I don’t use it every day because its richness would likely cause breakouts for my skin type, but it’s certainly a product I’ll keep in my rotation.

• Buttery moisturizer that melts right into the skin
• Peptides are excellent for all skin types

• Rich, thick formulation might be too heavy for oily skin and warmer climates

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Milk Made Skin, Milk Boost Brightening Eye Cream — $69.00

I recently started using eye creams, but have had real trouble finding one that doesn’t irritate the very sensitive skin around my eyes. Milk Boost is creamy and lightweight, and didn’t cause any burning, tearing up, or redness. I noticed a subtle brightening and depuffing effect (likely from the addition of caffeine in the formula), but I was most impressed by its ability to quickly hydrate my eye area and diminish the fine lines caused by dehydration. I did notice that the formula sat on top of my skin, rather than sinking in like the moisturizer, but it doesn’t pill underneath my concealer and foundation, which is a big plus.

• Smooths fine lines
• Doesn’t pill under makeup

• Feels like it sits on top of skin rather than soaking in

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“This time, my soul left me, and god himself said, ‘Child, it is not your time,'” writes a reviewer of her orgasm. “Mind you, I’m agnostic.”

Tracy's Dog, OG Clitoral Suction Vibrator — $50.00

Originally $60, now $50 

This “soul-snatching” toy is currently 17 percent off ahead of Amazon Prime Day.

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Another woman who claims to have died, been resurrected, and then died again was hit so hard by her orgasm she practically saw stars. “Trust me,” she writes. “Best believe you will never see me frown ever again. My life has completely changed. Have a blessed day.”

“It literally felt like a demon was coming out of me,” writes yet another satisfied owner of a Tracy’s Dog vibrator. “My orgasm was AT LEAST 30 seconds longer than usual and my skin is clear, my eyesight is cured and my anxiety has dissipated.” (The orgasm glow is real, by the way.)

So, it’s damn good is my read. Also, back it up—clitoral sucking vibrator?

Okay, I’m like, super vanilla when it comes to sex toys. I get a buzzy little bullet in an industry party gift bag every three years, and that’s, like, enough. So the bells and whistles on this hands-free vibe sound intense. Women across the board report that getting intimate with the toy can result in the elusive squirting orgasm, and even more of them say that that’s “NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE” (bolded, italicized, underlined twice).

And caution is definitely advised when you learn your way around the bend. Start slow or you it sounds like you’re in for some Exorcist-style levitation above your bed. Radical.

Intrigued and intimidated by all the raves, consider this another small win for Ladies Doing It For Themselves. As we fight the good fight for female pleasure, it’s important to share with passion, vigor, and 0 percent shame what can bring us closer to the little death. As far as I can tell, the Tracy’s Dog Vibrator slays. And in case you fear emptying your wallet, hearsay is it’s worthy of the price tag (although it it’s on sale now for 17 percent off.)

“It’s worth hundreds,” writes an infatuated reviewer. “Heck, it’s worth a second mortgage on my house. And for the love of banana pancakes, ladies heed the warnings of the brave pioneers who came before you… stretch like your life depends on it before embarking on this mission. Icy Hot and Motrin for those that don’t listen.”

If, for whatever reason, the OG soul-snatcher isn’t powerful enough for you, there’s also the Tracy’s Dog OG Pro 2 (originally $70, now $60) that’s 10 percent off ahead of Prime Day. The difference? There’s stronger suction and a remote control, so you can literally give your life over to the higher powers—whoever they may be. Godspeed.

Tracy's Dog, OG Pro 2 — $60.00

Originally $70, now $60 

Save 10 percent ahead of Prime Day.

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Glossier, Boy Brow — $18.00

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“The main thing with brow gels is getting a good brush and finding the right tone to match your hair color,” says Jimena Garcia, a brow artist who works in New York and Los Angeles. With these new Glossier shades, more people can find a match with ease. Grab the one that’s closest to your shade for a natural look, or go a shade deeper for some added drama.

The new Glossier Boy Brow shades launched on June 26, and shoppers are loving them. “After being sent the new shade dark brown as a gift, I’ve worn it every day since I received it, and every day I love it more,” writes one reviewer. “The shade brown was fine for me and I used it every day, but since using dark brown I realized how much I love a slightly darker brow. This shade is absolutely perfect for anyone with darker hair.”

Boy Brow was inspired by mustache pomade and has a creamy formula powered by beeswax and carnauba to provide a flexible, lightweight hold to define, thicken, and shape brows. It coats hairs without stiffening or flaking over time.

Plus, it contains conditioning ingredients like nourishing oleic acid, smoothing lecithin, and hydrating hyaluronic acid to keep your brows strong and healthy. According to Joshua Zeichner, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City, conditioning ingredients “soften and plump the hair shafts themselves.”

Because Boy Brow has such a small brush, you can really get in there and style your brows just the way you want. “Brushing them up makes them look thicker, and it automatically creates a wider brow,” says Garcia. “When you brush to the side, it’s beautiful.” For a more natural, subtle brow, you can brush up the beginning of the brow and then brush sideways for the rest.

With all of this news, you may be worrying about your own brain health, or that of your loved ones. After all, given over six million Americans have Alzheimer’s, it’s more common than any of us would like to imagine.

I mean, struggling to remember words and details can be scary. When is it normal for your age versus a sign of Alzheimer’s? Knowing where the line is between the two is tricky, and it’s a question no one wants to ask themselves.

Only an expert like a neurologist or geriatrician can make a diagnosis, but there are red flags that might signal that it’s time to book an appointment for some testing. To help you know what you’re working with, a neurologist shares how some early signs of the disease differ from the normal effects of aging.

1. Forgetting recently learned information

Forgetting about an appointment or what a person’s name is—and being able to recall it later—is a typical change you’ll see in older folks, according to Anjali N. Patel, DO, a memory and cognitive neurologist of the Atlantic Neuroscience Institute and Overlook Medical Center. An early sign of Alzheimer’s, on the other hand, is “forgetting recently learned information [or] repeating the same question,” she explains. In fact, according to the Alzheimer’s Association, that’s the most common sign in the early stages.

Dr. Patel gives an example. “If someone has a doctor’s appointment coming up, they may ask multiple times regarding the date and time of the appointment,” she says. “The person may repeat the question right away, after a few minutes, or the following day. This can vary.”

2. Feeling confused, suspicious, anxious/fearful, or depressed

Some emotional ups and downs are normal for all of us. Particularly once our days start to follow a predictable pattern, we “can become irritated when the routine is changed or disrupted,” Dr. Patel says. That’s typical with age (and is pretty understandable across the board!).

However, if you notice someone lose control over how they express their emotions, overreact, or have rapid mood changes due to not understanding a situation, it’s more likely an early sign of Alzheimer’s, she continues. One example of a confusing event is traveling to a new location, which can lead to intense reactions in an Alzheimer’s patient.

3. Consistently making poor judgments

Many of us have made mistakes here and there by falling for spam or struggling with a budget. But a red flag is if it’s consistent. Dr. Patel says, “Individuals might miss a payment once, make a mistake once in a while,” and that’s typical. It could signal Alzheimer’s, though, if “patients cannot manage a budget [or have] poor judgment, [such as] giving away personal information to strangers.”

4. Hiding items and/or accusing others of stealing items they can’t find

Being unable to find something—whether it’s the remote or a nice pair of earrings—can be stressful and confusing. Even the most organized people probably know the struggle. According to Dr. Patel, it’s a-okay if the person is able to retrace their steps to find the item.

But when “patients place objects in unusual places, cannot find the object again, and may accuse others of taking items,” she says, it’s possibly an early sign of Alzheimer’s. She explains how this happens, saying patients often lose or misplace items, assume someone must be taking their things, then hide those items in unexpected places for “safekeeping.”

5. Struggling to keep up in conversation

Having trouble thinking of the right word (and it eventually coming to mind) is a typical age-related change people may experience, Dr. Patel says. However, when patients have trouble following a conversation, consistently call things by the wrong name, or regularly lose their train of thought, you might be seeing early signs of Alzheimer’s.

6. Noticing a significantly decreased understanding of visual images

As we age, our vision may change due to cataracts. Buying a new pair of glasses can be a normal item on the to-do list. However, Alzheimer’s may be a concern if safety issues are popping up, like “having difficulty judging distance, leading to car accidents, [or] episodes of getting lost,” she says.

7. Losing track of time and events

If your loved one isn’t sure about the exact date or day of the week, there’s no need to be concerned, according to Dr. Patel. She warns more about patients “having difficulty understanding when events took place [and] losing track of the month/year/season” since that could be a potential sign of Alzheimer’s.

This could look several different ways. “They may forget recent events, such as visiting family or going on a trip,” she adds. “The person may recall events from the past in greater detail, and may believe those prior events took place more recently.”

What to do next

If you think you or a loved one might be exhibiting possible early signs of Alzheimer’s, book an appointment with a neurologist. They will be able to use imaging, cognitive or blood tests, and other neurological exams and assessments to figure out if that’s what’s going on.

And if it is, know that all hope is not lost. An Alzheimer’s medication was approved by the FDA in 2021, and prevention research is underway, from AI technology to a study about the benefits of folate to predictive blood tests. You aren’t alone in this.

Below, we’ll cover the basics of fortifying your gut while you’re on antibiotics. Plus: what you can do to promote gut restoration even further in the weeks and months thereafter.

How to protect your gut while you’re on antibiotics

Prioritize probiotics

Since antibiotics wipe out both good and bad gut bacteria, it’s common to experience digestive distress as you take them. “Studies show that taking a probiotic supplement can prevent upset stomach and diarrhea caused by antibiotic use,” says Bianca Tamburello, RDN, a dietitian on behalf of FRESH Communications. However, she and Greenfield both advise taking your antibiotic and probiotic at least a few hours apart so the latter has a better chance to survive.

Prioritizing foods with probiotics also get the green light. “While taking an antibiotic, eating probiotic-rich fermented foods like kraut, kimchi, and yogurt can help preserve gut health,” Tamburello says.

…And prebiotics

While you’re at it, Greenfield also suggests consuming prebiotics, which feed friendly bacteria. “If you take probiotics and prebiotics while you take antibiotics, you can prevent some of the damage being done by the antibiotic, which can help with gut recovery time,” Greenfield explains. Fortunately, there are plenty of healthy prebiotic foods to choose from—including but not limited to garlic, onions, and asparagus.

Be careful with high-fiber foods

It’s important to not only add things into your routine as you take antibiotics—but also consume a few others on moderation. For instance, while fiber is beneficial for your digestion and gut health at large, you’ll be better off saving fiber-rich foods for once you complete your Rx. “It’s recommended to avoid high-fiber foods while taking antibiotics because fiber may interfere with how quickly the antibiotic is absorbed,” Tamburello says. (This may be a bit confusing as many—though not all—fibrous foods are also prebiotic. Some high-fiber foods worth saving for your post-antibiotic regimen include beans and legumes.)

Make sure to chill out

Last but not least, lifestyle factors will also play a role in your recovery. “Decreasing stress and prioritizing rest while you are on antibiotics will help your gut be more resilient,” Greenfield adds.

Decreasing stress and prioritizing rest while you are on antibiotics will help your gut be more resilient,” Greenfield adds.

Tips to restore your gut after antibiotics

Once you finish your round of antibiotics, the standard tips and tricks for gut health apply. “After an antibiotic regimen is complete, eat foods high in probiotics, prebiotics, and fiber to restore the number and diversity of good gut bacteria and feed a healthy gut,” Tamburello says. “Probiotics increase the number of gut bacteria and promote gut balance,” while the last two “are especially beneficial when rebounding your gut health after a course of antibiotics.”

In fact, a 2019 study found that low-fiber diets exacerbated microbiota collapse and delayed recovery following antibiotic treatment, so be sure to rev up your fiber intake via veggies and pantry staples alike. “Most high-fiber foods have prebiotic benefits,” Tamburello reiterates, so they’ll typically offer two-for-one perks.

Further, Greenfield recommends eating a colorful diet rich in whole foods to promote the health of your microbiome. “Sunlight exposure helps balance circadian rhythm, which helps improve gut function,” she adds. “Since vitamin D can decrease gut permeability, adequate levels of vitamin D are important—ideally through sun exposure or supplementation.”

How long will it take to restore your gut after antibiotics?

Greenfield says that the answer to this question isn’t so simple to answer, as the research isn’t so clear-cut. Results will also vary based on which antibiotics you take, the specific bacteria strains measured, and similar considerations. That said, recent studies and reviews offer optimistic findings. Per a 2020 meta-analysis of 31 articles on gut microbiota and antibiotic use, “After cessation of treatment, gut bacteria recover, in most individuals, to their baseline state within a few weeks. Some studies suggested longer term effects from two to six months.”

“After cessation of treatment, gut bacteria recover, in most individuals, to their baseline state within a few weeks. Some studies suggested longer term effects from two to six months.”

In general, Greenfield says that the state of your gut and overall health before taking antibiotics will be highly influential in how quickly you’re able to restore your microbiome afterwards. “If you already had good gut diversity, the chances are the first round of antibiotics are not going to eradicate whole species of bacteria,” says Greenfield. “But if you already had weakened gut function, or have taken many rounds of antibiotics, the effects can be more damaging.”

Plus, additional factors that influence gut diversity—i.e., everything from your regular dietary and lifestyle habits, pre-existing conditions, medications, and stress levels—will inform your timeline for microbiome restoration.

To gain clarity and ensure that your gut health is trending in the right direction, Greenfield recommends getting a stool test done with a functional health expert. “I like to wait 14 days after taking antibiotics to test microbiome diversity. This gives us enough time to see what the bacteria look like after the antibiotic has been taken,” she says. From there, personalized protocols can lead the way and promote a greater abundance of the friendly bacteria your gut and greater health need to thrive.

So much of that is missing from adult working life. We get up, go to work, fit in some exercise, scrounge up dinner. But maybe, for that time we’re devoting to fitness, if we approach it like a form of adult summer camp, we can bring some of that exploration, socializing, and joy to our lives.

That was one of the guiding impulses behind the creation of Tampa and Los Angeles-based community fitness space CAMP, says CAMP co-founder and yoga teacher Jamie Lanza. She wanted to create a place where adults could connect with each other while exploring different forms of movement in an intentionally playful environment.

“My business partner and I both grew up in summer camps to varying degrees,” Lanza says. “It was like liberation. It was like freedom. It was like walking into a space where you’re like, I’m gonna be whatever I wanna be, and there’s all these activities for people like us who like to do all the things.”

“I’m gonna be whatever I wanna be, and there’s all these activities for people like us who like to do all the things.” CAMP co-founder Jamie Lanza

While the original location is in Tampa, Florida, I got to explore the newly expanded CAMP Los Angeles in Santa Monica. The space feels like more of a campus than a gym. There are five fitness studios that all face inward toward a large central courtyard and lounging space. Each studio serves a different modality, one each for yoga, a HIIT circuit, a cardio-strength stations class, sculpt, and Pilates.

“The campus itself is a big part of our ethos,” Lanza says. “There is this crossing paths and you’re getting to see a little bit of everything all the time and decide what else you want to be a part of in the campus space. A big part of it is we have outdoor lobbies, we have places to hang out and enjoy space together, rather than getting out as fast as possible.”

To make the space even more inviting, Lanza and team painted the buildings bright colors, with playful signage and paraphernalia like tire swings on the property. Driving down busy Lincoln Boulevard, CAMP stands out and definitely caught my eye and curiosity for months before I actually made it in.

Equally important to the environment is the variety. Getting to tap into what you’re feeling for the day and select what excites you—whether that’s a bootcamp or breath work—is all part of the summer camp spirit, says Lanza. A campus has allowed CAMP to bring the open-minded exploratory ethos of intuitive movement to the fitness studio. Incidentally, reigniting a sense of play and connecting with movement in the way you did when you were a child is one of the guiding ideas behind intuitive movement.

A community environment is what undergirds it all. CAMP hosts pop-up markets and food trucks in the courtyard, and classes encourage you to meet your fellow students, and include things like group sprints to build team spirit. It seems to be working—I ran into a friend who had only been going for about a month, and teachers and fellow students were greeting him right and left.

“There’s this feeling in LA that everybody kind of keeps to themselves or it’s a little bit cliquey or like you only speak when spoken to,” Lanza says. “Here we lean in, we lean in hard so that people feel like, come on, let’s go do this together. Let’s drop whatever title we walk in here with and let’s be human beings and get together like summer camp when we were kids.”

While not everyone has access to a studio like CAMP, reframing fitness as a way to physically go somewhere that’s inviting and fun, tap into how you want to move, explore your own interests, and make friends at the same time, might help bring a spark of joy to your routine. So try something new, reach out to a fellow camper, and consider pursuing a summer of movement like you did when you were a kid.

That said, if you’re looking to jazz up your frozen desserts with beaucoup flavor and even more je ne sais quoi factor this summer while exerting minimal effort, say bonjour to this simple, nutrient-stacked strawberry shaved ice recipe. This treat’s a smart way to sneak in an extra serving of fruits on a blisteringly hot summer day, plus it’s super refreshing and loaded with fresh fruit flavor.

Learn how to make strawberry shaved ice (or any form of fruit you fancy) ahead—all with four ingredients or less.

How to make a strawberry shaved ice recipe using two ingredients

Frankie Gaw, better known as @littlefatboyfrankie on social media, recently shared his simple four-ingredient strawberry shaved ice dessert on TikTok, and it’s safe to say it was an instant hit. Over the last several weeks, the video has amassed a whopping 4.5 million views, with over 400,000 likes. Do we smell the summer’s hottest viral recipe? Signs clearly point to yes.

@littlefatboyfrankie Strawberry shaved ice All you need is frozen berries and a grater! #kitchenhacks #strawberry #desserts #fruit #fyp #foryou #letseat ♬ Sunshine – WIRA

Making strawberry shaved ice from scratch is all about technique. Namely, grating frozen fruit—in this case, strawberries—using a Microplane Classic Zester Grater (which retails on Amazon for just $15). In the video, Gaw carefully grates about a cup of frozen strawberries over a bowl until there’s a heaping mound of frozen fruit resembling a fluffy pile of freshly-fallen snow (or shaved ice). Heads up: Your fingers might be slightly cold from handling the fruit as you grate away, so we’d recommend using a food-safe glove if you have one. Better yet, grate the fruit using a food processor—just be gentle. Finally, to sweeten the frozen fruit up even further, Gaw drizzles a spoonful of condensed milk overtop. That’s it. What could be sweeter?

Well. If you want to really enjoy yourself, don’t skip the most important part of any good ice cream-style dessert: the toppings. In this case, Gaw adds crushed peanuts, a sprinkle of black sesame seeds, and a few mint leaves for garnish (optional, of course) before digging in. His genuine reaction of pure joy as he lets a sneaky expletive escape his mouth during his grand tasting reveal. Needless to say, you’ll want to try making this delicious dessert immediately after watching the video.

Other recipes for shaved ice that use frozen fruit

As the easy homemade dessert has exploded in popularity, folks have taken it upon themselves to tweak and personalize the original recipe as they see fit. In response to Gaw’s original video, recipe developer Carolina Gelen crafted a (non-alcoholic) piña colada version of the dessert. To make it, she starts by grating frozen pineapple spears into a glass. Then, she tops it with sweetened condensed coconut milk and toasted coconut flakes.

@carolinagelen ib @Frankie Gaw shaved pineapple ice with coconut #pinacolada #summer #dessert #shavedice ♬ Sunday – HNNY

The best part about this shaved ice dessert is that the options are truly endless. Don’t like pineapple? No problem. You can use just about any fruit of your choice that lends itself to being frozen and grated. Think: mango, peaches, cantaloupe, or even bananas—anything that’s large enough to grate on a Microplane. For bonus hydration points, use some of the most hydrating foods ideal for a hot summer day. (Did you know that watermelon is made up of 92 percent water and contains loads of vitamins C and A, as well as magnesium?)

Plus, have extra fruit left over from a party platter or some that will spoil in the next few days? Freeze it yourself. To do so, ensure that it’s been washed and thoroughly dried. Then, on a parchment-lined baking sheet, place the fruit evenly spread on one layer without touching each other. Then, plop it in the freezer. Once it’s fully frozen, feel free to transfer the frozen fruit to a freezer-safe container to save on room.

Discover an RD’s favorite hydrating foods for summertime:

These statements seemed to strike a nerve with many mental health professionals, myself included. Having just spent the past three years earning my master of social work (MSW) degree, I have a profound new understanding of just how much not only goes into diagnosing a client, but their individual treatment as well.

Over the past few years, young people in particular have been turning to social media, namely TikTok, to try to get a better grasp on their mental health. Gen Z-ers have become increasingly aware of the importance of mental health care and have made it a big part of our collective dialogue. Unfortunately, that has led to a lot of self-diagnosing and all-around misunderstandings of very complex issues and terms. (Heck, here at Well+Good we realized pretty quickly that the widespread use and misuse of the term “gaslighting” was going to be downright damaging.)

I don’t point this out to shame or belittle anyone who has turned to the internet to try to figure out their health issues. After all, who among us hasn’t turned to WebMD in a moment of crisis (ahem, the common cold) and incorrectly concluded that our symptoms were something far graver?

This is especially pertinent when you consider that, as of 2020, during the COVID-19 crisis, a reported 31.6 million individuals in the United States had no health insurance. Even for those who are covered, finding the ever-elusive plans that cover mental health services, let alone being able to get an appointment with a provider you want to see, is its own hurdle. In 2019, NPR reported that “an office visit with a therapist is five times as likely to be out-of-network, and thus more expensive, than a primary care appointment.” It’s extremely tempting to turn to a free app that’s easy to get lost in for hours. But using it as a tool for something that requires deeper insights is a slippery slope.

I recognize this issue not only as someone who works in the mental health field, but as a person with my own complex mental health history. Before I found the right therapist and right kind of therapy for me, I was absolutely guilty of not only self-diagnosing myself, but perhaps even more damagingly, other people.

In the wake of back-to-back unhealthy relationships, I was desperate to find closure and clarity. It wasn’t just that there was something inherently wrong or unlovable about myself, right? I read every book and blog there was and came to the conclusion, on my own, that I had dated sociopaths or narcissists or a combination of both. Giving them these titles not only made me feel better about my pain, but it took some of their power away. It was the first thing to give me some sense of relief.

It wasn’t until I found my amazing therapist (whom I’ve been working with for over five years now) and going through the rigors of grad school to become an MSW that I discovered I hadn’t been properly equipped to actually get to the root of my partners’ problems. The people that I dated had their own complex backgrounds and traumas and genetics and risks and environments, and while I knew about some of it, it was not my place to diagnose them or even myself. My own initial diagnoses might have given me a sense of relief, but having a clear insight was what actually brought me lasting peace in the end.

For instance, look at narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), which the DSM-5-TR defines as a “pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy.” Okay, so that certainly fits the bill for my exes. But for a person to be diagnosed with NPD, they have to fit five or more of the diagnostic criteria, which have their own set of culture-related diagnostic issues, sex-and-gender related diagnostic issues, as well as comorbidities, including depressive disorders and substance use disorders.

It can be easy to look at a person’s behavior and see the broad strokes as their defining characteristic, but any mental health professional can tell you it’s far more complex than that. Moreover, when you misdiagnose someone else or yourself, you’re making the healing process ultimately more difficult for yourself. For instance, it wasn’t until my therapist clarified for me that I was actually dealing with someone with borderline personality disorder (BPD) that I could better understand them and really start to understand the dynamic of our relationship. When dealing with a narcissist, you let them know what you need from them and let them make that decision, but with someone with BPD, it’s better to set clear boundaries.

When you misdiagnose someone else or yourself, you’re making the healing process ultimately more difficult for yourself.

The urge to self-diagnose was something I saw time and time again as I worked with individuals and families in recovery during my social work internships. I didn’t judge these clients when they were adamant that they behaved a certain way for a certain reason, or their loved one was estranged because they believed they had an undiagnosed disorder. In fact, I understood that instinct all too well. We want to have more control over situations and feelings and thoughts that feel thoroughly out of control. Putting a name to the pain you face can take away so much confusion.

However, until you get an accurate diagnosis from a mental health professional, you may just wind up lost on a misguided path. You can spend all your energy on TikTik “hacks” that don’t truly get at the root of whatever issue you’re actually struggling with.

While I think it’s great that the internet and social media can be a place to feel less alone and bring more awareness to mental health overall, it’s imperative that people get the proper care they not only need, but deserve. You can definitely get some great insights on social media to open your horizons about mental health, but it’s best to make a therapist your main resource on the subject at hand.

Trust me when I tell you, your pain is very real and there are so many amazing mental health experts out there who want to help get you on the right track towards diagnosis and treatment. They’re just not in between reels of Bill Hader dancing. 

Unfortunately, Burt’s Bees Lip Shimmer and I are taking a break because I’ve met someone else. Ever since I was introduced to Kjaer Weis’s lovely new Tinted Lip Balms ($35), which hit shelves last month, they haven’t left my side. These moisturizing lipstick-balm hybrids kiss me with the most gentle, most barely-there hint of color imaginable, all while nourishing and soothing my pout for hours on end. Talk about love at first swipe…

Kjaer Weis, Tinted Lip Balm - Iconic Edition — $35.00

Available in six shades, including clear. Refills sold separately for $17 each.

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I can’t say I’m surprised—Kjaer Weis products rarely disappoint. Founded by Danish makeup artist Kirsten Kjaer Weis, the luxury beauty brand uses only the best natural, organic ingredients in all of its formulations. Since launching in 2010, it’s been sustainability-focused, too, swapping out plastic waste for refillable, recyclable packaging across its entire product line. Needless to say, its skin care, makeup, and tools are all beloved by W+G editors, and, arguably more impressively, by A-listers; in a TikTok from last August, Kate Hudson revealed she swears by the brand’s cream blush and lip gloss to get her “hot girl summer” glow. Other stars, like Emma Watson, Ariel Winter, and Reese Witherspoon are big fans, too.

@thekatehudson I’m gonna do makeup #hotgirlsummer #cleanface #makeup ♬ original sound – Kate Hudson

While other Kjaer Weis products have wow’d me, it’s the Tinted Lip Balms that have really blown me away, (so much so that I broke things off with my once life partner of lip balms). For starters, they’re so soft and luscious on lips, thanks largely to the heavy load of organic emollients (Rose oil! Olive oil! Brazilian nut oil!) infused in every batch. There are 10 oils used in total plus an extra burst of hyaluronic acid and squalane—two derm-approved ingredients for hydration—in each stick that lock in moisture for all-day wear. And, yeah, we’ve all seen promises like “long-lasting hydration!” and “24-hour moisture!” slapped on packaging, but I promise, this isn’t a marketing ploy. Kjaer Weis Tinted Lip Balms really last all day, quenching lips for literally hours on end.

What really stole my heart, though, are the gorgeous colors the balms come in, each one sheer and subtle to give you that “your lips, but better” look. With the first swipe, they almost go on clear, the tint is that slight. But they’re really buildable—a few more swipes let’s you play around with the color as much or as little as you like. And they’re gorgeous. Currently, the Tinted Lip Balms come five shades (six if you include the colorless “Clear”): “Gracious,” a soft petal pink, “Romance,” a bright coral, “Lover’s Choice,” a deep, berry red, “Empower,” a bold hot pink, “KW Red,” a classic, looks-good-on-everyone red.

They’re also packaged in the most chic refillable silver tube that looks like something from Tiffany’s or Cartier. True to the brand’s sustainable mission, the lip balms are sold in Kjaer Weis’s signature Iconic Edition packaging, a shiny metal tube that doubles as a lifelong keepsake. If you already have the tube or have ran out of your favorite shade, you can simply buy refills ($17 each) that can be popped into the tube in seconds. It’s smart, sustainable, and looks totally sophisticated on your vanity or in your purse.

Burt’s Bees will always have a place in my heart, but for now, Kjaer Weis’s nourishing Tinted Lip Balms have a place on my lips. Scroll to shop all of the shades and good luck choosing which one will win your heart—they’re all that good.

"Gracious" — $17.00

Described as a “sheer flush of petal pink,” this soft, baby pink stick is the most minimalist of all the current shades. It’s pretty much a step above “Clear” on the tint factor, infused with just the slightest smudge of rose-y pink for a natural-looking pout.

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"Romance" — $17.00

This coral shade is one of my favorites, especially with summer in full swing. I like to think of it as “sunburn without the sunburn”—it’s got that crispy, orange-y red undertone that makes it look like I just stepped off the beach, even when I’ve been sitting at my computer all day.

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"Lover's Choice" — $17.00

“Lover’s Choice” has won my heart, too; I can’t get over how beautiful and effortless it looks when I have it on. The deep berry red is super customizable and can be amped up or down depending on your mood. If you’re feeling more subtle, I recommend sticking to one or two swipes. For more drama, add some more.

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"Empower" — $17.00

This Barbie pink is a fun one. At first glance, it looks like a hot pink lipstick you’d see in the Malibu Dreamhouse. But, just like the other balms, it goes on fairly clear, so you can find your perfect hue.

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"KW Red" — $17.00

For the traditionalist, there’s “KW Red”, the brand’s tried-and-true red that looks good on everyone. Blended with cool undertones, it looks good on every skin tone and can be dressed up or down depending on the occasion.

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Meet FitFlop iQushion Two Bar Buckle Slides—a near replica of the Birkenstock Arizona EVA slides. They have that same cushioned EVA material and a similar buckle strap style. But, after testing them out IRL, I think I actually love them more than my Birks—and podiatrists say that might be because of the brand’s discreet orthopedic features. 

FitFlop iQushion Two Bar Buckle Slides Review

FitFlop iQushion Two Bar Buckle Slides — $50.00

The FitFlop iQushion Two Bar Buckle Slides cost the same as the Arizona EVA slides, but offer more in the support and comfort department, making them my go-to summer sandal. These slide sandals are constructed from a lightweight EVA material that is waterproof and quick-drying, so you can wear them from brunch to the pool or while on a beach vacation. And, as I mentioned before, they have two adjustable foot straps that allow you to customize the fit so you don’t have to worry about them sliding off and, as a result, grip your feet in a way that causes foot pain over time. 

With the brand’s built-in iQushion technology, the sandals also have plenty of support, thanks to an ergonomically designed footbed with high rebound, air foam cushioning, and pressure-diffusing technology. I love them for their looks, too. The slides come in a variety of fun colors, including classic neutrals and neons (I have the pop pink!), and have a textured finish on the upper straps which add a nice, stylish touch. 

Available sizes: Women’s 5-11

Material: EVA

Colors: Dusky red, Tahiti blue, pop pink, Miami violet, electric yellow, neon orange, midnight navy, all black. 

 

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FitFlop is known for its collection of supportive shoes and sandals, which feature specific design details meant to elevate comfort and promote foot health. As far as the Buckle Slides are concerned, Dr. Elizabeth Daughtry, DPM, says they’re definitely a good option for those looking to rock a more supportive sandal this summer. “These slides offer more support and comfort for feet than the average slide style sandals as the two bar buckles are adjustable and the footbed appears to have impressive arch support for a slide,” she explains. Additionally, Dr. Daughtry notes that the brand’s iQushionTM midsole technology— which is super lightweight and provides discreet ergonomic shaping—is a “great combination of support and cushion.”

In addition to the footbed support, the adjustability of the straps makes a major difference. One of the biggest downsides of sandals is that many styles don’t offer an ankle strap, which can help keep the shoe secure on the soles and prevent any unnecessary gripping of the foot to keep them in place. While these slides don’t have an ankle strap, the adjustable buckle straps actually allow you to customize the fit, so that you don’t end up compensating for that lack of security. On top of that, the EVA material is lightweight, comfortable, and cushioned. Plus, it’s waterproof and quick-drying to keep bacteria at bay and further support healthy feet. 

“Dandruff is primarily caused by a yeast that proliferates on the skin, especially in oily areas. By proliferating, it creates a lot of inflammation on the scalp and it starts to scale as a result,” says explains Muneeb Shah, DO, a board-certified dermatologist in Mooresville, North Carolina. “And so what you experience with dandruff oftentimes is the flaking and scaling, but the primary problem is the yeast. Now in the winter, you tend to get a little bit more dry skin, and that can contribute to flaking. But in the summer, especially in humid environments, yeast can really proliferate.”

So if you’re dealing with flaking caused by this excess of yeast, applying the types of heavier moisturizing products you relied on all winter long to your scalp won’t help—it can actually make it worse, explains Rae Lynne Kilner, MD, a hair transplant surgeon in Beverly Hills, California.

“If the flakes are caused by an oily scalp and yeast or fungus are a factor, applying more occlusives or emollients is not the answer as it may exacerbate the condition,” says Dr. Kilner. “Additionally, some essential oils on the scalp can also cause a reaction or irritation.” (Dr. Shah adds that olive oil is a big no-no when dealing with dandruff, no matter the time of year, as it makes the yeast flourish.)

Instead, you should focus on fungus-fighting and exfoliating ingredients.

“Antifungal shampoos are going to be your best bet. There are a few active ingredients that address the yeast that may contribute to dandruff, including pyrithione zinc, selenium sulfide, and ketoconazole,” says Dr. Kilner. She adds that you can up the ante by using an exfoliating pre-shampoo serum.

8 products to manage summer dandruff

3 pre-shampoo serums for summer dandruff

Vegamour, Gro Scalp Detoxifying Serum — $42.00

Dr. Kilner loves this pre-shampoo serum that uses zinc PCA and willowherb extract to absorb excess oil, reduce irritation, and remove flakes. Plus, it has wild-harvested baobab and marula oils, both rich in omega 6 and 9 fatty acids, for antioxidant support and moisturization.

 

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The Inkey List, Salicylic Acid Exfoliating Scalp Treatment — $16.00

Dr. Kilner also recommends this lightweight pre-shampoo serum that’s made with exfoliating and oil-balancing salicylic acid, soothing Fluidipure 8G, and hydrating vitamin B5.

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Sunday Riley, Clean Rinse Clarifying Scalp Serum — $48.00

Three to 30 minutes before you shampoo, you can apply this buildup-busting serum that Dr. Kinler recommends. It’s infused with alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids to exfoliate the scalp’s surface and dissolve sebum buildup. Plus, it has rose clay, which gently removes impurities from the scalp.

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5 shampoos for summer dandruff

Nizerol, Anti-Dandruff Shampoo — $16.00

Gentle yet effective, this shampoo contains 1 percent ketoconazole, a dandruff-fighting ingredient that kills scalp fungus. It’s the first pick for both Dr. Shah and Dr. Kilner.

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Neutrogena, Scalp Therapy Anti-Dandruff Itchy Scalp Shampoo — $11.00

“Neutrogena has a whole new line of salicylic acid shampoos that just came out,” says Dr. Shah. This one blends 2.5 percent salicylic acid with cooling menthol to soothe irritation while removing excess oil and dead skin from the skin surface.

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Briogeo, Scalp Revival Charcoal Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo — $42.00

“If you find that your scalp is sensitive or easily irritated, consider switching to more gentle hair products,” says Dr. Kilner. She recommends this shampoo from Briogeo. It’s made with binchotan charcoal and plant-based exfoliators to remove oil and buildup while a blend of peppermint, spearmint, tea tree, and coconut oils soothe and refresh.

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Philip B, Anti-Flake Relief Shampoo Extra Strength — $55.00

This shampoo from Phip B is made “with a great blend of zinc, coal tar, aloe vera, tea tree oil, sage, and juniper,” says Dr. Kilner. This blend cleanses while soothing irritation and balancing oil production.

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Head & Shoulders, Classic Clean 2-Pack — $21.00

‘Zinc pyrithione shampoos from Head & Shoulders can be really good,” says Dr. Shah. Zinc pyrithione has antifungal and antibacterial properties, protecting against dandruff, itchiness, and dryness. Plus, it’s gentle enough to use daily.

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Once you work some of these into your routine, give them a few weeks to see if they help. However, “if the OTC products you try are not working or you are not getting any relief with them, then you should see a specialist and consider prescription products,” says Dr. Kilner.

Indeed, according to therapists, processing a breakup can come with a whirlwind of emotions—and the road to healing is often a winding one. For instance, you might feel sad and then feel mad, and then come back to feeling sad, says therapist Melissa Divaris Thompson, LMFT: “Sometimes, there’s a mishmash of feelings all around.” Almost like the loss of a loved one, the loss of a relationship—and a person in your life—can trigger grief and all the complex emotions that come with it.

A breakup is a form of loss, and the emotional aftermath can chart a similar path as grief

It’s completely normal to feel a soup of emotions after a breakup. After all, breakups are emotionally complex territory because while they involve losing a partner, there’s also the knowledge that this person is still somewhere in the world living their life—just a life of which you’re no longer a part.

“Breakup grief [is a unique kind of grief] because you will love again, and you will be in a relationship again, so it’s not an ending that’s forever,” says trauma-informed therapist and grief counselor Gina Moffa, LCSW, author of the forthcoming book Moving On Doesn’t Mean Letting Go: A Modern Guide to Navigating Loss.

Figuring out how to leave a relationship in the past can also be particularly difficult when the person is still alive and well, and perhaps, you can’t help but wonder what could have been if things had unfolded differently. “People tend to go back and think about the good [parts of the relationship], and then analyze everything, even more so with relationship loss than with death,” says Moffa. That mindset makes it easier to blame yourself for the dissolution of a relationship, she adds. But even if you played a role (it certainly takes two to tango), adding blame into the picture can make it even tougher to manage the emotional stages of a breakup and the loss that the end of a relationship entails.

“People tend to go back and think about the good [parts of the relationship], and then analyze everything, even more so with relationship loss than with death.” —Gina Moffa, LCSW, grief counselor

Just as is true with any type of grief, there’s no set sequence or order of emotional phases you’re bound to experience after a breakup. As unique, layered, and nuanced as breakups can be, so goes healing and recovery.

Even so, there are some hallmark emotional stages of a breakup that you can expect to encounter, says Thompson, including sadness, resentment, and anger. And you could feel them all in the course of a day, or even an hour… or perhaps much, much longer; some days, you might be caught in a rumination spiral, and others might find you overcome with sadness. And maybe on other days, you could feel remarkably complacent and accepting of the relationship being over.

In any case, grieving is a process. And according to both Thompson and Moffa, fully feeling and embracing your emotions—and being patient and kind to yourself as you oscillate between them—is all part of it. “This cycle is what leads to more compassion, more self-love, and changes within us that allow us to progress to the point where we can search for love again,” says Moffa. The important thing to remember? You’re not on any specific timetable for getting to that point.

The 5 emotional stages of processing and healing from a breakup

1. Rumination

According to Moffa, ruminating after a breakup is typically about trying to make sense of what happened, and it consists of analyzing (and re-analyzing) the ups, downs, and in-betweens of your ex-partnership. “Before they do anything else, people tend to spend a lot of time going over all the details from start to finish,” says Moffa. One common reason why? To assess whether the breakup was “their fault or yours,” says Thompson, adding that the answer is almost always that each person played a part.

Aside from searching for someone to blame, you might find yourself thinking about all the good times you shared with your ex, which is what Moffa calls “positive recall.” While it’s helpful to recognize the upsides of the relationship, harping on these positive memories can also make you feel worse about the relationship ending. In that realm, you might also “ruminate about how you could get them back or make them feel bad about why they [broke up with you],” she says.

2. Resentment and anger

You may harbor resentment toward your former partner if you feel they wasted your time or that you wasted your efforts with this person, says Thompson. And depending on how and why the relationship ended—whether they wronged you or hurt you in any way—you may naturally feel some anger toward this person for their misgivings.

3. Sadness

At the heart of the grieving process is sadness, which can be for any number of different reasons: sadness that the person is no longer in your life, that the relationship didn’t work out as planned, that the life you envisioned with this person will not come to fruition. It’s also possible that you find yourself mourning the loss of future plans and companionship, and the fact that you’re single more than the actual departure of this specific person from your life, adds Thompson.

In any case, the sadness can also show up in plenty of different ways, says Moffa. You might find that you withdraw from activities or isolate from your friends to take some time to heal, or that you have issues sleeping. “Sometimes, our self-esteem also drops during this phase, and we question our worth, even if momentarily,” she adds.

4. Reflection

As you heal from the breakup, you might gain access to some introspection. “This is where people start to look at their choices and question their patterns,” says Moffa. Perhaps you might realize, with enough distance from the sadness and/or anger of the breakup, that you have a history of choosing partners who are emotionally unavailable, or you begin to reflect on the ways in which you tend to violate your own boundaries to accommodate significant others.

This phase represents a turning point in the journey to healing your heart and mind, says Moffa. Examining your own choices, she says, can ease you into the next step of recovery. “Whether that step is to get outside help or support, to commit to changing certain patterns, or even to go take classes in Krav Maga and get your fierceness back, that self-reflection cycle slides into the state of acceptance and growth,” she says. And some forward momentum typically follows.

5. Acceptance

Acceptance is a state of mind in which you’re “no longer resisting what’s happened,” says Moffa. This isn’t to say you will no longer feel pain, or sadness, or anger—you still might. It’s just that when you hit this emotional stage of a breakup, you’re ready to think about and actively pursue your life beyond the former relationship, says Thompson.

This will feel and look different for everyone; perhaps, you decide you’re ready to download a dating app, or you commit to staying single for a while and practicing self-love and self-compassion. There’s no one right way to embrace this phase, nor is there a timeline for arriving at it. The only requirement is that it opens a door to life beyond your ex.

You’re not alone. Reddit is full of posts where users are asking how to cope with their regret when they don’t exercise. One pre-COVID study even found that 78 percent of participants felt less accomplished when they missed a workout.

One source to blame is fitness culture. You’ve probably seen it: the pressure in magazines, advertisements, and other media to take “no days off” and “crush your workouts.”

But those messages largely benefit companies wanting to make money, not you or your health. Even some personal trainers aren’t fans of this kind of rhetoric.

“Our fitness culture puts an enormous (and unnecessary) emphasis on following a specific program or maintaining a ‘streak,’” says Rachel Trotta, a NASM-certified personal trainer. “This puts pressure on people to have a high level of workout adherence, which can trigger anxiety if you struggle with perfectionism.”

She adds that the anxiety—and even shame—that may result can lead us to procrastinate future workouts, too. Exercise can become a big “to-do” in our minds, and instead of just putting on our shoes and heading out for a walk, we wait until we feel up for a high intensity interval session, but that starts to feel harder and harder to do. It’s an awful cycle of guilt, then skipping another workout, then more guilt, and so on.

Does this sound a bit too relatable? Check out the following tips that can help you handle the discomfort and get your stride back.

1. Identify distortions in your thought patterns

Self-talk makes a significant impact on our thoughts, mood, and actions. Evan Lawrence, LMHC, a therapist with Choosing Therapy, explains that emotional distress comes in when we take a fact—such as “I didn’t go to the gym today”—and tell ourselves something about that fact, such as “I am not a responsible person.”

When you notice this pattern, he recommends reminding yourself of evidence that disputes the idea. “For example, if you realize you are telling yourself ‘I am not a responsible person,’ you can remind yourself of other times or aspects where you are/were responsible,” he suggests.

2. Remind yourself of how important rest is

Even though rest may not feel productive or “healthy,” it is. More than that, it’s necessary. “The truth is that it is easier to meet fitness goals when we allow our bodies to rest,” says Kerry Heath, LPC-S, NCC, a counselor with Choosing Therapy. She encourages listening to your body. “Working out when we need to honor our bodies through rest or recovery actually keeps us farther from our health goals.” In fact, rest and recovery can boost performance, repair muscles, reduce injury risk, and more.

Additionally, Heath encourages reminding yourself that a few workouts aren’t a “make or break” situation that affects your overall progress toward your long-term goals—and this truth goes for everyone. “Even professional athletes miss workouts due to travel, illness, or holidays,” she says. “It’s a matter of overall consistency versus perfection.”

Trotta points out that cardiovascular endurance only starts to drop after about a week of no training, and for strength training, that time frame is more like two to three weeks. “A day or two of rest has no effect—or could possibly have a positive impact—on your performance,” she says.

3. Remember the reasons behind your decision

Lawrence talks about making an active choice. In other words, “take time to think about your decision, then choose what to do based on the data available,” he explains.

For example, as non-diet, Health at Every Size-aligned, certified personal trainer Barb Puzanovova discussed in an article for Well+Good on “half-assed wellness,” it’s important to consider other factors from the day that affect how you feel and what you need. “If…you’re tired, kind of hungry, drank mostly coffee, and [are] super stressed, then it’s time to half-ass,” she says. “And if you’re somewhere in between—stressed but slept okay—then experiment with what’s planned and give yourself permission to back off [or] change the game plan.”

What does that look like in practice, though? For one, maybe reminding yourself after a sleepless night and busy day that your body needs rest most, and reading a book in bed. Or maybe after a stressful day, you’re more in the mood for a yoga class than weightlifting. Or maybe you want the energy boost of a bootcamp workout. Any of these options are totally valid!

The reasoning behind your choices is what you have to fall back on. “When you feel the cloud of guilt overhead you, remind yourself why you chose to do this today,” Lawrence says. “You can still remind yourself of the reasons you were debating, but I have found that it is a lot stronger when we make purposeful decisions that we can mentally support.”

4. Let yourself simply move on

One of Trotta’s big tips for clients is to avoid “making up” missed workouts. “The pile-up that ensues can be even more depressing than missing one or two workouts,” she says. “An incredibly important part of habit formation is enjoying exercise, and we tend not to enjoy things that we feel we’re failing at.” Instead, she encourages clients to “simply move on to the next one when the time is right.”

Along these lines, aiming for perfection actually isn’t helpful, according to Trotta. “Perfectionism procrastinates, waiting for the ideal time to ‘do it right,’” she says. “Sometimes, workouts are consistently skipped because they are too ambitious for your schedule, lifestyle, or energy.” Habits that are genuinely healthy are flexible, she says, promoting consistency over intensity.

TL;DR: Try to not feel bad about hitting the couch instead of the gym when that’s what you’re feeling. After all, exercise is just one of many ways we take care of our minds and bodies.

With summer just starting, we caught up with Roy Elam, chef of Donna Jean, a plant-based Italian restaurant in Los Angeles, who revealed some of the top summer food trends to look out for to make the most of the hottest (literally) season of the year. From his top ingredient picks to easy ways to reduce food waste this time of year, Elam didn’t gatekeep anything from us—and all of his tips were crafted with plant-based folks in mind. Now who’s ready for a poolside nosh?

4 plant-based summer food trends to keep an eye out for, according to a chef

1. Using tons of fresh, seasonal ingredients anywhere and everywhere

While some fads emerge rather unexpectedly (Dalgona coffee—never forget), it’s easy to predict that seasonal ingredients are usually at the top of every chef’s summer food trends each year. After all, they tend to live by the motto that fresh is best. “For me, it’s always about what’s coming into season,” Elam says. This means that you can expect to find quintessential summer staples on most menus, like cucumbers, tomatoes, eggplant, and corn, to name a few. On the sweeter fruit side of things, he notes that you should expect tons of stone fruits, like peaches, nectarines, pluots, plums, and apricots.

That said, what’s seasonal and “best” will vary depending on where you are. “Find what’s growing around you. For instance, in Illinois where I’m from, there are lots of corn and soybeans… But once, I found ghost peppers in a rural area of the state, and they were delicious. I would really encourage people to search out things that are growing around them first,” Elam says. To that end, Elam partners with local farms to ensure he’s always featuring the highest quality produce at Donna Jean.

TL; DR? Always make the most of the freshest produce nearest to you as your first line of defense.

2. Smoking vegetables

Light and refreshing foods tend to be the way to go come summertime. However, Elam notes that one summer food trend he says he can’t get enough this year of is adding nuanced flavors to simple ingredients by smoking them. “I’m currently working on making a smoked beet hummus for the summer menu that adds just enough extra umami flavor to the whole thing,” Elam says.

But like most things in life, less is more, especially when it comes to smoking delicate summer produce. “Vegetables don’t like heavy smoke. Instead of using something like Mesquite, we’ll use something like apple or cherrywood,” he says. As such, Elam’s testing smoking beets using applewood, then mixing them with traditional hummus ingredients that yield a stunning Barbie-pink side dish. (You gotta see it for yourself!)

The good news is that home cooks don’t need any fancy-schmancy equipment to smoke fresh produce at home. To smoke foods, Elam uses a method called “hot smoking,” which involves cooking the food slowly to ensure the smoke flavor is infused into the food. Although you can technically do this inside your kitchen, Elam urges against it. Instead, he encourages folks to take advantage of the summertime weather and head outdoors. “We have a huge hood that’s pulling all of the smoke in the kitchen from our stovetop smoker, but I wouldn’t recommend doing it at home like this,” he says.

Instead, when at his house, he uses a propane burner setup outside and a few heat-safe pans. “I soak the wood chips for an hour, drain them, and put them in the bottom of a hotel pan. Then, I put a perforated hotel pan on top of that and a lid over it. Since the wood chips are kind of wet still, this will smoke and steam foods at the same time,” Elam says.

Then, the important thing is not over-smoking the food, which he says will make it bitter and inedible. “You just want it to be kissed with smoke nicely,” Elam says. For beets, an hour is more than enough.

3. Simplifying side dishes

In most cases, seasonal produce is already exploding with loads of delicious flavors (not to mention nutrients) on its own. As such, Elam urges folks to simply enhance the subtle flavors of the produce with delicate ingredients. For example, he pairs cucumbers with a light and refreshing marinade made of olive oil, salt, and lemon juice. Or, he’ll quickly roast eggplant in a pizza oven and pair it with a bomba calabrese sauce (a spicy hot pepper spread) for an explosion of flavor.

4. Using as much of every summertime ingredient as possible to reduce waste

For Elam, reducing food waste is also a huge priority at his vegan, plant-based restaurant. For instance, the chef has been working on a green onion project starring the stems, which he’s using to make green onion kimchi. Another experiment he’s testing out is drying onions and turning them into homemade onion powder (genius!).

Finally, if you find yourself at the end of the season or with too much produce that’s on the brink of going bad, Elam recommends fermenting or pickling them to preserve and prolong their shelf life.

Can’t wait to try? Learn how to make beet hummus ASAP:

Because of the needles involved in the treatment, it can take several weeks for any post-procedure pain and redness to fully heal—and that’s with each of the recommended three-to-six sessions. Though traditional microneedling doesn’t come with quite the same type of week-long downtime that other aesthetic procedures do (you’ve ever watched your skin shed off for nine days after a chemical peel, you know what I’m talking about), isn’t exactly a “lunchtime treatment.”

For many—myself included—multiple days of discomfort is understandably a turnoff. Which is why I was so excited to learn about “liquid microneedling,” a needle-free alternative to the treatment that delivers comparable results both at home and in the derm’s office without any recovery time.

What is liquid microneedling?

Instead of using needles to puncture the top layer of skin, liquid microneedling relies on a formula that contains crystal needles derived from freshwater-grown sponges to create micro-punctures in the skin. Your body interprets these punctures as wounds in need of healing, and boosts its natural production of collagen and fibroblasts accordingly”.

“Liquid microneedling creates channels in the skin that allow ingredients to more deeply penetrate, helping to rejuvenate the skin’s appearance,” says Crystal Koro, a celebrity esthetician in Los Angeles who’s among a small handful of providers that offer liquid microneedling in the United States. “It renews the skin’s appearance, reduces the appearance of wrinkles and texture, and delivers glowing skin.”

She recommends the treatment to many different skin types, but notes that it’s particularly helpful for those looking to minimize the appearance of fine lines, improve skin texture, and minimize pores. And the best part? “With liquid microneedling, there is no numbing or blood, and minimal pain and downtime,” she says.

Needless to say, I was sold.

What happened when I tried liquid microneedling

I managed to score a liquid microneedling appointment with Koro while she was in New York, and was thrilled to experience it firsthand.

When the big day arrived, Koro started off by deeply cleansing my skin, then she delicately applied the CELLSTORY Liquid Microneedling Ampoule ($425). Each ampoule contains 50,000 of the aforementioned microcrystals within its formula, which dive deep into the skin upon application to work their magic.

Unlike traditional microneedling, which is known to be uncomfortable, liquid microneedling came with little more than a slight tingling sensation. As Koro applied more of the cream to my skin, the tingling turned into a sort of surface-level prick, almost as if there were a million tiny fingernails softly scratching my face. While it was certainly an odd and unfamiliar feeling, wasn’tn’t painful—at times, it even felt kind of good.

The results of my liquid microneedling treatment

Following my treatment, Koro warned that I might experience some redness or dryness throughout the rest of the day, but gave me the go-ahead to resume my normal activities (including wearing makeup). She sent me on my way with treatment’s at-home counterpart, the Beyond Miracles Gold Collagen Luxury Set ($350). She instructed me to wait a week or two before using the system, which contains 10,000 of the same sponge-derived microneedles in each ampoule, once a week to enhance and maintain my results. And after hearing from Sara Olivova, the brand’s CEO, I was eager to try the”.

“I started using these products a few years ago when I learned about them in Prague,” she says of the Beyond Miracles product. “Using a combination of the in-office and at-home products my skin really cleared up—my pore size has decreased, the congestion I had been dealing with cleared up completely, and my skin just shines with a healthy glow.”

Both women advised me to be patient, and explained that wouldn’t see the full effects of these treatments for at least a few weeks. Nonetheless, when I returned home from my in-office liquid microneedling and looked in the mirror, I could already see a difference. Hiding behind a little redness, my skin was noticeably plumper, as though I had just spent an hour in a steam room drawing in hydration, my pores already looked tighter, and my skin was truly glowing.

In the weeks that followed, I used the at-home ampoules once a week, and each time, it seemed to deliver that same glowing, smooth, and soft skin. Now, roughly five weeks after my in-office liquid microneedling with Koro, I’ve reduced my at-home treatments to once every two weeks since the results from my first few weekly applications were lasting longer and longer. I’m thrilled not only with how great the liquid microneedling has made my skin look but also with how much it’s improved the way my skin functions.

My complexion is, without a doubt, absorbing the (many) products I use on it much more quickly and efficiently, and as a result it’s felt more hydrated and clear. Plus, I haven’t experienced any major breakouts. And it all came with no pain, no downtime, and no need for several sessions.

While there are many types of antioxidants, which Mary Purdy, MS, RD, nutrition and sustainability advisor at Big Bold Health, calls a family of protective plant chemicals, an important group to know is carotenoids.

The Linus Pauling Institute at Oregon State University describes carotenoids as a group of more than 750 naturally occurring pigments (in red, yellow, and orange) that can be synthesized by plants and algae. Fruits and vegetables contribute the most carotenoids to human diets and one of the key players in offering us some serious antioxidant power.

Health benefits of zeaxanthin

Purdy says that one of the most important things to know about zeaxanthin is that, like other members of the carotenoid family, it gets converted to vitamin A in our bodies. While we often associate vitamin A with eye health—Purdy says research shows that carotenoids’ antioxidant properties can protect against visual fatigue, macular degeneration, and cataracts—it serves many other important purposes throughout the body. “Vitamin A is also essential for supporting immunity and preserving the integrity of our gut lining,” she says.

Research shows that carotenoids can help our bodies fight infections, in addition to improving gene regulation and angiogenesis—a process that helps us best deliver oxygen and nutrients to various tissues to promote healing and prevent illnesses of all kinds. A comprehensive review of research conducted in 2021 found that zeaxanthin also appears to help protect against neurological disorders due to its ability to fight off inflammation and oxidative stress, which can play a role in protecting against all sorts of other inflammatory conditions, from allergies to chronic health issues. More specifically, zeaxanthin has been found to protect against different types of cancer and osteoporosis, as well as other bone-related issues to keep us healthy and strong for years to come.

More specifically, zeaxanthin has been found to protect against different types of cancer and osteoporosis, as well as other bone-related issues to keep us healthy and strong for years to come.

Best food sources of zeaxanthin

All these impressive health benefits likely have you wondering what the best sources of the antioxidant zeaxanthin are. According to Purdy, zeaxanthin is found in several types of vegetables such as orange and red peppers, yellow corn, cooked scallions, and can also be found in certain fruits like mangos. Additionally, you can find it in eggs and algae like the ever-popular spirulina and chlorella.

Zeaxanthin is found in several types of vegetables such as orange and red peppers, yellow corn, cooked scallions, and can also be found in certain fruits like mangos. Additionally, you can find zeaxanthin in eggs and algae.

“Using chemicals to grow food may reduce carotenoid content, so purchasing ‘Certified Organic’ can be a good bet,” says Purdy.

While Purdy hasn’t seen an exact recommendation for zeaxanthin consumption as an isolated compound, she notes that most research related to the nutrient indicates that the highest benefits are found when it is consumed alongside other carotenoids, micronutrients, protein, and healthy fats. Purdy highlights that dietary fats are especially important for proper zeaxanthin absorption, as it a diverse diet filled with fiber, omega-3 fats, and other delicious foods that help support a healthy gut—which will help your body absorb the nutrient.

Purdy highlights that dietary fats are especially important for proper zeaxanthin absorption, as it a diverse diet filled with fiber, omega-3 fats, and other delicious foods that help support a healthy gut—which will help your body absorb the nutrient.

Interestingly, Purdy explains that the absorption of carotenoids can be impacted by temperature—both positively and negatively. She says that high-temperature processing methods could decrease zeaxanthin concentration in raw foods but could improve its bioavailability in others, so it’s a safe bet to stick with moderately heated food sources.

Some simple ways to up your zeaxanthin intake is by starting your morning with scrambled eggs cooked low and slow to perfection—bonus points if you also serve it with some sauteed peppers cooked in olive oil for a healthy fat pairing. You could also get double the antioxidant power by whipping up a batch of mango-corn salsa with avocado for a tasty and nutritious appetizer. You can always add a serving of chlorella or spirulina to your morning smoothie to give it a vibrant color and help you feel more vibrant, too.

If so, you’re not alone. I have washed my face with raw garlic, applied vinegar to pimples, and rubbed cherries on my skin—all of which only resulted in severe irritation. A few months ago, an onion juice hair mask and a homemade shampoo irritated my scalp so badly that clumps of hair fell out and my entire scalp burned for days. Luckily, after a visit to a dermatologist, I was able to address the underlying issue. My main takeaway? Natural, at-home remedies are not always better.

DIY to go viral

The number of DIY skin-care recipes on the internet is overwhelming. With hacks that include everything from cucumbers for puffy eyes to period blood for better skin, it can be challenging to decide what could be helpful and what could be harmful.

It’s important to remember that most people giving skin-care advice on the internet are, well, not qualified to be giving skin-care advice. “There is a lot of misinformation on the internet,” says Geeta Yadav, MD, a board-certified dermatologist and the founder of FACET Dermatology in Toronto. “Plenty of people have their hearts in the right place, but many will do whatever it takes to go viral.” If a skin-care trend you see on TikTok, YouTube, or someone’s personal blog seems outrageous, it probably is. Let’s dive into a few of these issues.

Are preservatives really harmful?

A lot of people turn to DIY solutions out of a fear of harmful ingredients in skin-care products. While it’s definitely a good idea to research the products you’re using, some ingredients that are widely considered harmful simply have a bad reputation.

Take preservatives, for example. “Preservatives are not inherently harmful,” says Dr. Yadav. “Most preservatives that people shun are shown to be safe in the levels used in beauty products; there are also plenty of safe preservatives that are used in beauty products, such as propylene glycol and sodium benzoate.”

In fact, preservatives are necessary to make sure that beauty products remain safe to use over time. According to Dr. Yadav, not using preservatives is more dangerous: “Preservatives are used to prevent the proliferation of bacteria in beauty formulas, which are perfect breeding grounds for microbes, especially liquid formulas,” she says.

“It’s really important that we push people away from the idea of preservative-free,” Nneka Leiba, deputy director of research for the Environmental Working Group (EWG), previously told Well+Good. “What we really want to see is innovation and testing to find newer preservatives that are safer.”

DIY recipes usually don’t include preservatives, which means that your product—whether it be a homemade shampoo, aloe vera juice you have squeezed yourself, or a facemask you’re storing in your fridge—can quickly expire and become prone to causing irritation.

Natural ingredients are powerful too

Due to this widespread fear of what people often refer to as “harsh chemicals” in lab-produced products, many will turn to natural ingredients, thinking they are safe alternatives.

But just because an ingredient is “natural” does not mean it can’t be potent. “People think that ‘natural’ is better, but I always remind them that things like cyanide and arsenic are natural, too,” says Dr. Yadav.  DIY skin-care recipes often include ingredients that are highly acidic, such as lemon juice, vinegar, and garlic, to be applied topically to the skin. Some recent trends include lemon juice to brighten armpits and coffee grounds to fight signs of aging.

Acidic ingredients can cause severe irritation. “Especially in high quantities for extended periods of time or on sensitive skin,” Dr. Yadav says, noting that acidic ingredients can lead to chemical burns. Instead of dabbling with potentially harmful natural ingredients, it may be better to choose products that have been formulated and tested in a lab.

Every remedy has its caveats

The style and tone of internet DIY trends are often along the lines of, “Here is this amazing remedy that will cure your ailment 100% in no time at all and with minimal effort.” But the reality is that skin and hair care needs are complex, highly individualized, and depend on many different factors.

As an added complexity, every skin and hair care remedy, whether natural or lab-produced, has caveats. Dr. Yadav says that mayonnaise and coconut oil can be great conditioning treatments for hair and that castor oil can promote hair growth. “But if you are prone to dandruff or seborrheic dermatitis,” she warns, “oils can make it worse.” Not every remedy will work for everyone, in the same way that not every shampoo is right for everyone.

Can DIY be done safely?

Despite the dangers of DIY, it can be done more safely. It’s important to avoid applying anything highly acidic directly to your skin. Dr. Yadav says that cucumbers, steeped and wrung-out tea bags, and ice cubes can be used to soothe irritated skin. Some DIY recipes are totally harmless, especially when they contain gentle ingredients and are not stored.

The most important principle when considering new skin and hair care practices is to know yourself and your own needs. If you’re having any skin-related issues, it’s best to consult a dermatologist before diving into natural remedies. While DIY is not inherently dangerous, there are many benefits to choosing products that have been created and tested in labs by experts.

In general, it’s wise stay away from internet-trending concoctions. Figuring out what is best for your skin and hair can be a long process, but taking the time to learn about your body’s needs and research the best methods and ingredients for you will be worth the effort.

As a reminder, dermatologists recommend wearing sunscreen each and every day of the year, regardless of cloud cover or temperature, to best protect skin and prevent sun damage. What’s more, as a blanket rule, they suggest using sunscreens with SPF 30 or higher and applying at least two fingers worth to your face (and a shot glass worth all over your body) for optimal protection.

But the question is: What sunscreen should you use if you have reactive skin? And while on the topic, are those with sensitive complexions the only ones susceptible to an allergic reaction to sunscreen? To answer these questions and more, we chatted with three board-certified dermatologists about everything there is to know about sunscreen rashes and how to avoid them. Keep reading to learn more.

What causes a sunscreen rash?

Sunscreen rashes are a form of contact allergy. According to NYC board-certified dermatologist Hadley King, MD-FAAD, two things can cause sunscreen-related breakouts: occlusion of the pores by comedogenic materials or a sensitivity reaction to chemical UV-blocking ingredients. “And keep in mind that breakouts can come from any of the ingredients in the product, not only from the active sunscreen ingredients,” she says. “Breakouts can commonly be caused by other emollients, fragrances, preservatives, or other ingredients.” Because of this, she says that the best way to avoid developing a breakout or rash from sunscreen is to look for formulas labeled as non-comedogenic. Generally speaking, she says that zinc oxide and titanium dioxide (both of which are mineral sunscreens) are both non-comedogenic.

The trouble with sunscreen rashes is that they don’t always present immediately, which can make it difficult to identify the true complexion culprit. “It’s a delayed skin reaction that typically develops 12 to 72 hours after exposure,” King says.

On this episode of The Well+Good Podcast, Adeline Kikam, DO, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist based in Texas, gets real about the gaps in diverse skin care, SPF education, and why wearing sunscreen on *all* skin tones is so important.

What does a sunscreen rash look like?

Sunscreen rashes can take on a couple of forms. On one hand, they can appear as tiny white pustule breakouts as a result of pore-clogging ingredients in the SPF; on the other, they can look like traditional inflamed rashes. (FYI: If you develop full-on sun blisters, the sun itself is more likely to be the cause than your SPF.)

“Most of the time [true sunscreen rashes] will appear as a pink to red rash composed of small bumps coalescing into larger bumps,” says Schweiger Dermatology Group board-certified dermatologist Nava Greenfield, MD.

Most importantly, sunscreen rashes will only appear when sunscreen was actually applied. So if you only applied SPF on your body but your face is breaking out, the sunscreen isn’t to blame.

“As with most types of contact dermatitis, an allergy from sunscreen should have a sharp line of demarcation,” says board-certified dermatologist Dustin Portela, DO, FAAD. “This means it is often very clear where you applied it and where you missed applying it by the abrupt geographic pattern of the rash.”

What should you do if you get a rash from sunscreen?

If you determine that the breakout or rash you’re experiencing is from the sunscreen you used, stop using it immediately.

Before tossing the rash-causing formula, though, Portela suggests scouring the label. “It is important to check the label and determine what kind of sunscreen you are using,” he says. “Although sunscreens are safe, there are a small percentage of people who may have an allergic reaction to some of the ingredients.”

In general, he says that chemical sunscreens tend to be more triggering than physical ones. “The active ingredients in a chemical sunscreen are often things like octinoxate, homosalate, octocrylene, oxybenzone, and avobenzone,” he says. “If you are using a chemical sunscreen and develop a rash, I recommend switching to a physical sunscreen with active ingredients like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide.” These physical (and reef-friendly!) ingredients tend to be gentler, which is why they’re often found in baby sunscreens.

While sunscreen rashes are most often linked to the UV-protecting ingredients, King says that an adverse reaction to SPF can also occur if the product is expired. “If the sunscreen has expired or the ingredients have been exposed to direct sunlight and high temperatures, then the heat and sun can break down the chemicals and render them ineffective and potentially irritating to the skin,” she says. That’s why most sunscreen bottles and tubes explicitly say to keep them out of direct sunlight and stored in a cool, dry place.

How long does it take for a sunscreen rash to go away?

Sunscreen rashes can disappear within days to a couple of weeks. To offer your inflamed skin some relief in the interim, King says to wash your face and/or body and follow up with an emollient to help support the skin barrier. If your skin is particularly itchy, she says to reach for OTC hydrocortisone. (While you may feel inclined to try Benadryl to alleviate your symptoms, Portela says it won’t do much to address the underlying cause of the rash, though it could make falling asleep with an itchy skin concern a bit easier.)

If after two weeks you’re still experiencing redness and/or itchiness in areas where you had applied sunscreen, consult your doctor for best next steps.

How to avoid developing a rash from sunscreen

If you have particularly reactive skin, you may want to skip out on one category of SPF overall. As we mentioned above, chemical sunscreens tend to be more triggering than physical UV blockers. Here’s why: “Chemical sunscreen ingredients are absorbed into the skin while mineral physical blockers sit on top of the skin,” King says. “I think this is one reason the chemical ingredients are more likely to cause reactions.”

Of the various chemical sunscreen ingredients on the market, King says that oxybenzone is one of the most problematic. “It has been linked to irritation, sensitization, and allergies,” she reveals. (This is why many chemical sunscreens, like the Shiseido Clear Sunscreen Stick SPF 50+ ($30), specifically market themselves as “oxybenzone-free.”)

Specific chemical ingredients aside, Greenfield says that chemical SPF ingredients in general are typically paired with more preservatives to make the overall formula more stable. The downside is that these preservatives can cause adverse skin reactions, which can show up in the form of a rash from sunscreen.

Because of this, you may want to only opt for mineral sunscreens. However, according to Portela, that’s really not necessary—unless you can unequivocally determine that the chemical ingredients are the issue. It’s very possible that your skin simply doesn’t jive with the other ingredients in the overall formula. As such, your best bet is to look for top-rated SPFs and to always perform a swatch test on a small area of skin before applying the product to your face or all over your body.

The good news is that there are so many dermatologist-approved sunscreen formulas to choose from for face and body. You’ll even find SPF in makeup and skin-care products.

It’s estimated that nearly 30 to 70 million Americans have sleep disorders, and 1 in 3 adults (about 84 million people) do not regularly get the recommended amount of uninterrupted sleep. If this stat applies to your sleep habits, hopefully you’ll find this information (ahem) comforting: You’re not the only one that struggles with getting restful sleep frequently.

That said, after incorporating this relaxation-promoting beverage into my nighttime routine, I definitely noticed improvements in the quality of my sleep. More ahead on how I integrate this soothing drink into my wind-down routine—plus, sleep experts share why it might be worthwhile sipping from a nutrition science perspective.

Recess Mood Sampler Pack — $30.00

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What makes Recess’ Mood drink ideal for promoting relaxation?

To unpack the buzz around Recess, I caught up with Cassandra Gates, Recess’ director of product marketing and holistic nutrition consultant. What’s in the drink, you ask? “Recess Mood is a sparkling water with magnesium and adaptogens to help you unwind. Each serving contains 53 milligrams of magnesium from Recess’ proprietary magnesium blend, which includes magnesium L-threonate, magnesium ascorbate, and active vitamin B6, as well as ginseng, L-theanine, and lemon balm,” Gates says.

Of course, many of us are well aware of the bountiful benefits of magnesium. “Magnesium is really the star of the show in this formula, as nearly half of all Americans aren’t getting enough of this crucial mineral in their diets. Recess specifically designed Mood’s functional blend around a type of magnesium known as magnesium L-threonate,” Gates says. This type of magnesium, she says, had been linked to brain benefits.

“Magnesium L-threonate is a newer form of magnesium that has high bioavailability and has the ability to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and may therefore have potential effects on the brain,” says Abhinav Singh, MD, FAASM, a sleep expert, medical reviewer at SleepFoundation.org, and medical director of the Indiana Sleep Center. Although the connection between sleep, mood, and cognition is still being explored—especially regarding this ingredient—the preliminary data is promising. “Other forms of magnesium don’t have nearly as much ability to reach the brain and exert their effects on other parts of the body,” Dr. Singh says.

What’s more, this beverage is also made with L-theanine, an amino acid found in beverages like green tea that’s been shown to help reduce anxiety and boost mood. Hence why Michael Breus, PhD, leading sleep specialist and clinical psychologist known as the ‘Sleep Doctor’ says that green tea is the number one drink to sip during the day for a better night’s rest. “This is because of a compound in green tea called L-theanine, which helps your brain relax by reducing stress-related hormones and neuron excitement,” Dr. Breus tells us. And to round out the trifecta of sleep-boosting ingredients, this beverage also contains lemon balm, a happiness-boosting herb linked to better sleep.

Although there isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution or a quick fix (or even a beverage) for achieving a good night’s rest, I’ve found establishing a nighttime routine makes all of the difference. And after much trial and error, I can confidently say I’ve established a three-step sleep routine that works wonders for me. And—as you may have guessed—it starts with a can of fruity and slightly fizzy Recess’ Raspberry Lemon Mood drink.

Why is establishing a solid sleep routine so important?

According to Angela Holliday-Bell, MD, a board-certified physician, certified clinical sleep specialist, and sleep coach, it’s no coincidence that my three-step routine has helped me unlock better sleep. “Establishing a consistent bedtime routine is important for a number of reasons. For starters, it gives your brain the time it needs to unwind from the day and prepare itself for sleep. This includes relaxing activities can help settle the mind and body into states that are more conducive to sleep,” Dr. Holliday-Bell says.

Additionally, she notes that the consistency of the routine allows the brain to connect the steps of the routine to sleep, making sleep a more efficient process. “As soon as you start your routine, your brain recognizes that it must be time for sleep and starts to send your sleepy cues at that time,” Dr. Holliday-Bell says. Lastly, a good sleep routine helps set you up for success the following day, too. “Engaging in a consistent, soothing bedtime routine has actually been shown in research to be protective against stress experienced during the day that might otherwise affect your sleep at night,” she says.

“Engaging in a consistent, soothing bedtime routine has actually been shown in research to be protective against stress experienced during the day that might otherwise affect your sleep at night.”

My easy 3-step sleep routine

First things first, I stop checking social media and power down my electronic devices—except for my Kindle for a light read if I’m in the mood. Then I crack open a can of Recess’ Mood drink (raspberry lemon is my fave) about an hour and a half before bedtime. (I try to time my beverage-sipping routine early enough so that I’m able to empty out my bladder before I hit the hay.) If I’m already feeling pretty tired, I’ll only drink half of a can and stash the remainder in the fridge for the next day—and usually, that’s more than enough for me. However, when I’m feeling extra on edge before bed, a whole can do the trick.

Within just 15 minutes of consuming this drink, I start to feel a wave of calmness gradually rushing over my body, as though every tense muscle in my body begins to let loose without the need for any conscious effort to physically relax (like in a body scan meditation). It feels like floating on a cloud or drifting into a dream.

The third and final step of my nighttime routine is turning on the calming “Tranquil Ocean” soundscape and the sunset light feature on my Hatch Restore 2 on an hour timer as I get ready for bed. This is by far one of my favorite parts of my nighttime routine—it makes me feel like I’m on a tropical getaway watching the sun melt into the horizon as waves crash onto the shore. What’s more, Dr. Holliday-Bell notes that the sunset light feature help decrease light exposure during your routine, helping to stimulate natural melatonin release—an essential component of restful sleep.

TL;DR? When I follow my routine and kick back with a Recess, I’m out like a light (pun intended) within 30 minutes of hitting the hay. Can you name something more blissful?

Bedtime stretches for the ultimate relaxation:

“Honey is the oldest skin-care ingredient and has been used extensively for both medical and skin-care purposes,” says Neil Sadick, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City.

3 benefits of honey for lips

1. It’s moisturizing

“Honey is a natural emollient and humectant,” says Jana Blankenship, herbalist and author of Wild Beauty ($16). This means that it moisturizes your pout in two different ways, explains Tiffany Libby, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in Rhode Island. “Humectants help hydrate and draw moisture into the skin,” says Dr. Libby. “Emollients are moisturizers that add oil to the skin to help soften, smooth, and repair the skin barrier. Any product that does this is considered an emollient, so some humectants and occlusives are also emollients.”

2. It’s soothing

Honey has antibacterial properties, anti-inflammatory properties, and it nurtures the skin, says Dr. Sadick. This makes it great for healing and soothing chapped lips. 

3. It’s full of antioxidants

Honey is full of antioxidants and “antioxidants are often considered the fountain of youth by skin-care professionals and experts,” says Victoria Lewis, medical esthetician in New York City. “They protect, prevent, and limit free radical damage, and some assist with hydration and inflammation. Not only will your skin be better looking, but it will also be healthier in general.”

Condition, smooth, and nourish your lips with one of the six honey lip balms, glosses, and oils below.

6 honey lip balms, glosses, and oils to try

Gisou, Lip Oil Golden Shimmer Glow — $32.00

Give your lips a stunning glow with this new shimmer-infused lip oil from Gisou. It’s made with honey and hyaluronic acid to intensely hydrate and condition lips. The pearlescent shimmer is super fine so your lips will reflect light and glow without over-the-top sparkle. It’s in a gorgeous golden shade that adds a bit of warmth to your pout.

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Burt's Bees, Lip Gloss — $7.00

Burt’s Bees, aka the honey-infused skin-care OGs, have the perfect lip gloss if you’re looking for something with color. The formula blends honey with moisturizing apricot wax and softening sunflower seed oil to nourish your lips. It’s available in six pretty shades ranging from pinks, nudes, reds, and plums.

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I'm From, Honey Lip Balm — $20.00

Made with honey harvested from Mount Jiri, Korea, this balm protects lips from external irritation while deeply hydrating and nourishing. It has a non-greasy, non-sticky finish and can also be used as an overnight lip mask, a dry-elbow salve, or a cuticle softener.

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Nuxe, Rêve de Miel — $21.00

Made with lavender honey from Provence, France, this clear lip oil drenches your pout in moisture while leaving behind a subtle, not-sticky shine. The honey in this formula is enhanced with organic camelina oil, which is rich in nourishing omegas 3 and 6.

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Farmacy, Honey Butter Beeswax Lip Balm — $12.00

In this formula, Farmacy’s proprietary honey blend soothes lips while moisturizing and providing antioxidant protection. Plus, beeswax conditions lips and seals in moisture while cupuaçu and cocoa butters provide long-lasting hydration.

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Eczema Honey, Nourishing Lip Balm — $7.00

This nourishing lip balm locks in moisture and keeps them soft whether your experiencing typical dryness or in the midst of an eczema flare.  It’s made with organic honey, beeswax, mango butter, and colloidal oatmeal
to soothe dry and cracked lips.

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In her latest cookbook, Japan: The Vegetarian Cookbook (a follow-up to her global bestseller, Japan: The Cookbook), which debuted in April 2023, Hachisu showcases over 250 Japanese vegetarian dishes, highlighting the flavors of the nation through a plant-forward lens. We recently caught up with Hachisu, who delved into some of the benefits of integrating more plants into our diet and what she’s learned about the Blue Zone, Okinawa, home to some of the longest-living people in the world.

Japan: The Vegetarian Cookbook — $50.00

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Why lifestyle and cuisine are closely intertwined when it comes to longevity

According to Hachisu, Okinawa has been famously associated with the “Blue Zones,” aka five regions where folks live some of the healthiest lifestyles (and well into their 100s). This has drawn a lot of attention to the island for obvious reasons. And people all around the world are looking to replicate the practices of these communities. “There has been quite a lot of focus from the West on the Okinawan diet,” Hachisu says.

Although a healthy diet can be critical to well-being, Hachisu notes it isn’t the only factor likely leading the Okinawan longevity charge. Rather, it’s an amalgamation of several factors: lifestyle, geography, and access to certain foods. “The Western version of the Okinawan diet seems more focused on weight loss or incorporating components of the diet in order to promote good health and extend life span in their home countries,” shes says. “But Okinawans’ impressive longevity cannot be attributed solely to a specific diet. Historically, Okinawans existed in communities attuned to nature, in proximity to the sea, and isolated from the Japanese mainland,” she says. This has led Hachisu to take note of the close relationship between nature, food, and their nourishing benefits when combined.

What do Okinawans eat for longevity?

Being geographically isolated from the mainland has led Okinawans to rely primarily on the foods readily available in their region. “The traditional Okinawan diet consisted of plant-based ingredients such as soybeans and vegetables that are rich in antioxidant nutrients and dietary fiber—both of which are effective against diseases and infections, thus promoting increased lifespan,” Hachisu says.

What’s more, she says they also historically ate lots of carbs and low amounts of protein. “Overall, the diet in Okinawa was high in carbohydrates—mainly through sweet potatoes and other fibrous tubers, rather than grains such as rice—low in protein—little dairy, but a small amount of pork for enriching the island’s signature underpinning flavoring stock—and very low in fat,” Hachisu says.

But over the years, this has changed due to advancements in transportation. “Today, due to urbanization and influences from the American armed forces presence as well as imported foods from the mainland of Japan, the Okinawan diet has shifted significantly,” she says. “Carbohydrate consumption has dipped more than 25 percent, while protein and fat intake has increased about 10 percent each.”

Still, plants are integral to the Okinawan diet and overall Japanese cuisine, as reflected in Hachisu’s new book. “Green leafy vegetables and orange- and yellow-colored vegetables remain important elements in the daily foods of Okinawa. Also, foraged mountain herbs and plants such as mugwort continue to be valued and incorporated into the dishes—especially in the spring when they appear around the streams and in the fields,” she says. “Konbu and soy-based foods such as tofu and miso have also sustained a main place in the modern Okinawan diet.”

So what does this all mean for people living outside of Okinawa who want to absorb some of the traditional Okinawan lifestyle and diet into their own lives? Hachisu breaks it down into five main pillars:

• exercise in a natural environment
• spend time outside in fresh air
• eat less meat, fat, dairy, and rice
• eat sweet potatoes, carrots, daikon, bitter melon, cabbage, okra, kabocha, konbu, and soy-based foods such as tofu and miso
• eat mindfully until you are only 80 percent full

3 recipes featuring Okinawan-style ingredients

As a glimpse into her new book, Hachisu shared three recipes featuring Okinawan-style ingredients and their benefits.

Lemon-simmered sweet potato recipe

This recipe is the ideal way to enjoy cold sweet potatoes. Okinawa is one of Japan’s most important islands for artisanal sugar production, so the Okinawan diet eschews processed sugars. But here, the light lemony syrup is only slightly sweetened with organic sugar, and the dried gardenia fruit contributes color and healthy properties. Sweet potatoes have a lot of dietary fiber. When eaten in a cooled state, they have a component called resistant starch that is said to have additional benefits of aiding intestinal regulation and controlling sudden rises in blood sugar levels.

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients
2 small sweet potatoes (5¼ oz/150 g each)
4 Tbsp freshly squeezed lemon juice
2 Tbsp organic granulated sugar
1 dried gardenia fruit pod (kuchinashi), optional

1. Scrub the sweet potatoes, do not peel, and slice into rounds ½ inch (1 cm) thick. Place in a medium saucepan, add the lemon juice, sugar, and 1 ⅔ cups (13½ fl oz/ 400 ml) water. Break open the kuchinashi (if using) and drop in as well. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat and cook until the flesh can be easily pierced with a bamboo skewer, 12–15 minutes. Remove the kuchinashi and let the sweet potatoes cool to room temperature in the cooking liquid. Refrigerate for two hours to chill.
2. Serve as a sweetly tart side dish or small bite.

Root vegetable peel fritters

These fritters are a genius way to use those healthy root vegetable peels that were in direct contact with the mineral-filled earth where the root vegetables grew. Here the hard-to-find udo can be substituted with celery or omitted in favor of more sweet potato and carrot. The Okinawan diet does include fried foods, in moderation, as a way to introduce an element of richness to a meal, and these root vegetable peel fritters are perfectly aligned with that spirit.

Yields 4 servings

Ingredients
4 inches (10 cm) medium burdock (1 ¾ oz/50 g), scrubbed
2 handfuls non-juicy root vegetable peels (carrot, udo, sweet potato), removed with a vegetable peeler
5 Tbsp unbleached udon flour or pastry flour
2 Tbsp shiratamako
Neutral oil, such as canola (rapeseed), peanut, or safflower, for deep-frying
4 small wedges green yuzu or lemon, for serving
¼ Tsp flaky sea salt, for serving

1. In a small bowl, whisk the udon flour and shiratamako together and sprinkle over the vegetables. Toss to distribute with a pair of cooking chopsticks. Sprinkle in a scant ½ cup (3½ fl oz/100 ml) cold water and toss gently to wet the flour.
2. In a large high-sided sauté pan, heat 1¼ inches (3 cm) oil over medium heat until 340°F (170°C). To check the oil temperature, sprinkle a few pinches of the flour mixture into the oil; they should sink to the bottom of the pan, then immediately float back to the surface, and there will be a few bubbles.
3. With a round serving spoon, scoop out 4 heaping spoonfuls of the ingredients and add them to the oil one at a time, slipping them into the oil at the edge of the pan. Fry for one minute, flip, then one more minute, before flipping and cooking until crispy and golden on both sides, 1½ minutes longer. Drain briefly on a rack set over a pan to catch the drips.
4. Arrange the kakiage on saucers lined with a folded piece of tempura blotting paper. Serve hot with a yuzu or lemon wedge and a small mound of salt.

Sweet potato rice recipe

This recipe clearly contains rice, but it’s easy to adjust it to increase the sweet potato to rice ratio by doubling or tripling the amount of sweet potato called for in the original recipe. Doing so will increase the volume of the dish and thus increase the number of people it serves.

Yields 4 servings 

Ingredients
1 ⅔ cups (5¼ oz/150 g) cubed (½-inch/1 cm) unpeeled sweet potato
2 ¼ cups (540 ml/1 lb/450 g) Japanese short-grain rice
½ teaspoon flaky sea salt
1 tablespoon black sesame seeds

1. Wash, drain, and soak the rice according to the directions for Japanese rice. Stir in the rinsed sweet potato cubes and salt. Cook and rest according to the directions for Japanese rice. After resting, fold in the black sesame seeds, by sprinkling in evenly as you cut the rice with a rice paddle.
2. Serve mounded in small bowls to accompany a couple vegetable side dishes.

Recipes courtesy of Japan: The Vegetarian Cookbook.

What is the afternoon slump, and how does it affect you?

The afternoon slump refers to that period in the afternoon when you feel especially tired, typically after lunch. Thank your circadian rhythm, the 24-hour internal clock that lets the body know when it should be awake and asleep. Each person’s is unique, and it’s influenced by different factors that can contribute to how awake and alert you are throughout the day, such as your habits.

“In that 24-hour cycle, there is a known slight dip in the level of alertness in the mid-afternoon, commonly known as the mid-afternoon or post-prandial slump,” sleep specialist Angela Holliday-Bell, MD previously told Well+Good. “Alertness subsequently increases and then dips more significantly as the late evening comes around.” You may feel it especially acutely after lunch, especially if you eat a carb-heavy meal and/or are an early morning riser, according to research.

While everyone’s antidote for the afternoon slump will likely be different, there are certain activities that are supportive of kickstarting your energy, such as exercise or a targeted nap. But your zodiac sign, aka your sun sign, can shine some light on the best way for you to beat the afternoon slump because it takes into account the particular mannerisms, habits, and traits you possess. When you’re looking for ideas to beat the afternoon slump, why not turn to the cosmos for inspiration?

How your zodiac sign affects your work and rest needs

According to Alexandria Lettman, astrologer and founder of spiritual-wellness platform Jupiter Jewel, the sun sign gives particularly helpful insights into how you work and rest because it represents your “conscious self and your identity, and how you approach and engage with life,” she says.

Because your sun sign colors your personality, the characteristics associated with your sign impact your habits and tendencies, for example how you tackle productivity and rest. “Using your sun sign, you can see what you need when your energy is lacking and what influences your energy to lack,” Lettman says.

“Using your sun sign, you can see what you need when your energy is lacking and what influences your energy to lack.”—astrologer Alexandria Lettman

Each zodiac sign is imbued with certain traits as a result of the various components that contribute to what they’re like, such as the modality and element of each. For example, Capricorn’s status as a cardinal sign means it kicks off its season and has major self-starting energy, plus its earth sign association means it’s grounded and unwavering—these characteristics feed Capricorn’s reputation as an ambitious, hard-working sign that can sometimes struggle to let loose. Its ruling planet, Saturn, is associated with tenacity, productivity, and ambition, which makes sense when you consider the overall traits associated with Capricorn.

Read on for star-sanctioned insights from Lettman and astrologer Celeste Brooks about the best way for each zodiac sign to keep their energy levels up post-lunch.

The best way for each zodiac sign to beat the afternoon slump

Aries

Aries, your cardinal fire sign energy means you burn brightly and intensely all day long, so Brooks suggests moving your body with a quick and fun workout to get the wheels turning again if you feel a dip. “Moving fire is a great way to reignite that spark,” she says. Try a quick midday workout that’ll get your blood pumping and heart racing. Your ruling planet Mars, which is associated with action and drive, would approve.

Taurus

Taurus, you’re an earth sign known for your steadfastness and your ability to plow ahead and work steadily. However, that same element and your ruling planet Venus, which is associated with beauty and pleasure, means you’re deeply in touch with all of your senses. Let yourself experience all the sights, smells, and sensations beyond your door by taking yourself on a walk, suggests Lettman. The benefits of walking are numerous, so it’s an activity that’ll help best the midday slump and then some. “You’re very diligent and hardworking, but you work quite slowly, so a change of scenery will really boost your energy,” says Lettman.

Gemini

Gemini, being an air sign and having communication-focused Mercury as your planetary ruler means you “spend a lot of time in your head,” says Brooks. You’re deeply curious, but this can sometimes dip into overthinking, so plan to calm your mind with a midday mindfulness moment. “Take a break and do something to get out of your head and into your body, like a five minute meditation or breathwork exercise,” she says. Try a micro-meditation for a quick burst of calm and to re-center.

Cancer

Cancer, you’re a deeply emotional water sign (the moon is your ruling planet, after all) who loves to care for everyone before yourself. Eating in the afternoon is a good way to power through the midday slump. Make sure you’re accounted for and nourished by treating yourself with a little self-care in the form of a your favorite treat, suggests Lettman. If you’re away from home during the day, make time to pick up something nice from your go-to spot. If you spend your afternoons at home, consider whipping up a batch of beautiful ube brownies or protein cookie dough to satisfy a sweet tooth. If salty is more your style, top tortilla chips with easy air fryer salsa or make a two-ingredient yogurt bread.

Leo

Leo, with the sun as your ruler and your status as a fire sign, it’s no wonder you like to be in the spotlight. When you feel your energy lag at midday, Brooks recommends calling a friend for a pep talk. Building and maintaining social bonds and friendships is important for overall health and wellness, and quality conversations with friends are part of this. Share your wins and frustrations from the day. “You have this desire to be admired and validated, so check in with someone who’s going to appreciate you and all you’ve done,” says Brooks.

Virgo

Virgo, you’re known to be extremely meticulous and organized and have a keen eye for details. Thank your earth element, which is responsible for your attentiveness, and your planetary ruler Mercury imbues you with your super star-level ability to plan. Mess and disorganization stress you out and you relish bringing order to chaos, so both Lettman and Brooks recommend you beat the afternoon slump with a small tidying or organizing project.

“You’ll get overwhelmed if it gets to the afternoon and your desk is a mess or dishes are piled up in the sink,” says Lettman. “Tidying up and cleaning your space will make sure there are no distractions that cause you stress.” Pick one task that will save you from a headache later on, like organizing your kitchen or tackling household chores, and make a project of it.

Libra

Libra, having Venus as your ruling planet makes you especially well-suited to socializing. You typically gain energy from your interactions with others, but you have a tough time taking a stand for fear of causing conflict or disappointment. For this reason, Lettman recommends you beat the afternoon slump by taking some time to be alone with your thoughts and journaling. “As a creative and intellectual air sign, journaling could be a valuable tool to break up their day and help them explore their thoughts and feelings,” she says.

Scorpio

Scorpio, having outer Pluto, the planet of transformations, sex, and death, plus your emotional water sign energy means you’re singularly devoted to those you love—once you open up. You bring this intensity to your work and your playtime, so Lettman recommends you find time for a restorative nap to recharge from the afternoon slump. “You’re naturally ambitious, passionate, and energized at work so you should take a nap to restore your energy,” she says. Make your space dark and cool, and set a timer for 30 minutes to allow yourself some time to nod off and catch some zzzs.

Sagittarius

You’re the zodiac’s adventurer, Sagittarius, and your outgoing and spontaneous fire element energy lends itself to your pursuit of experiences—it doesn’t hurt that Jupiter, the planet of luck and abundance, is your planetary ruler. You get bored when you don’t have activities or some fascinating excursion in the works, so Lettman recommends you beat the afternoon slump by making plans for when you’re off the clock—whether that’s tonight, or in the future for a vacation. “If you’ve got somewhere you’re going at the end of the day or after work, it’ll keep you motivated and inspired to work toward something,” she says. Book a dinner or happy hour reservation, round up some friends to see a movie, or even take time to ideate an itinerary for some R&R.

Capricorn

Capricorn, it’s no secret you work really hard—that’s the combination of your go-getter cardinal modality, determined earth element, and ruling planet Saturn at play. To give yourself a lift to deal with the afternoon slump, both Lettman and Brooks advise you find a way to check out and unwind. “You need to switch off your mind and distract yourself from fixating on your responsibilities,” says Lettman. Make time to do something totally unrelated to productivity that’s just pure fun, for example listening to your favorite song or harnessing the physical and mental benefits of dancing it out.

Aquarius

As an intellectually driven air sign ruled by Uranus, the planet of innovation, Aquarius, you care a lot about others and the world around you. Beat the afternoon slump by carving out time to read about something new and interesting to you, says Brooks. You’re fascinated by innovation and what’s good for the collective, so pick up a book, magazine, or newspaper and see what’s happening in the world. “Take a break to investigate something you’re interested in,” she says.

Pisces

Pisces, you get your dreaminess and creativity from your ruling planet Neptune, which has to do with illusions and dreams, and your emotional depths from being a water sign. Beat the afternoon slump and nourish your mind and heart by indulging in your creative pursuit of choice, suggests Brooks. “You’re a dreamer, so if you’re being so focused at work you really need to bring some creative energy to the midday, like a little drawing or doodling,” she says. Carve out time to do whatever creative activity nourishes you, whether it’s writing, crochet, painting, using a drawing journal—pick whichever activity gets those creative juices flowing.

Experts say there is evidence that regularly taking certain herbal extracts that fall under the adaptogen umbrella can reduce stress over time. However, the likelihood that picking up an adaptogenic soda or tea will immediately induce a sense of calm, as so much of the marketing of these beverages imply, is slim to none.

The appeal of these promises is totally understandable. Something to relax you that won’t get you drunk or high? A dream! But fast-acting, short-term change is simply not how these herbs work.

That doesn’t mean adaptogens can’t add value to your life. You just have to be discerning about the products you go for, and somewhat disciplined about regularly taking them, in order to potentially see a meaningful effect.

What are adaptogens?

Adaptogens are a class of herbs that affect your response to stress. They’re grouped together by what they do, rather than what they are.

“There are probably hundreds upon hundreds [of adaptogens], they just haven’t been studied or identified yet,” Joseph Mather, MD, a physician and functional medicine practitioner, says. “They’re generally a class of herbal medications that have stress-balancing effects.”

Some well known adaptogens are ashwagandha, rhodiola, reishi mushrooms, ginseng, cordyceps, and others. They have roots in Ayurvedic and Chinese medicine. You can see a comprehensive list compiled by the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs’ Whole Health Library here.

What do adaptogens do?

Experts say adaptogens bring balance to a person’s stress response. For example, if a person is highly anxious, they might respond more strongly to stressors. So adaptogens purportedly can make their stress responses more measured.

“We use cortisol as the main marker for stress hormones, [and] if the main stress hormone is too low, the herbal medicine can bring it up,” Dr. Mather says. “And if it’s too high, it can bring it down.”

Judith Pentz, MD, an associate professor in the department of psychiatry at the University of New Mexico, who practices integrative and holistic psychiatry, explains that these herbs act upon the the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis (HPA axis), affecting the amount of cortisol we secrete, and subsequently, other factors like blood pressure.

“It helps to stabilize the HPA axis and reset the system so that the body can manage the stress according to its need,” Dr. Pentz says.

How do adaptogens work?

Unlike pharmaceuticals that have a very targeted mechanism, Dr. Mather says that herbs work on a systemic level, with multiple active ingredients affecting our bodies as a whole. This is why adaptogens can also act upon the immune system—a system which incidentally has a symbiotic relationship with stress.

Additionally, different herbal extracts may have different active ingredients causing these effects. However, some researchers posit that molecules called glycosides, which can impact heart rate, may come into play.

That said, taking an adaptogenic herb once probably won’t do anything. To work, you have to take a consistent amount of a high enough dose at regular intervals, consistently over time.

“Any of these herbs can be beneficial, but there’s a dose dependence in connection with it,” Dr. Pentz says. “Many of these actually need to be taken daily for the benefit to be noticed over time.”

What is the scientific evidence that adaptogens can reduce stress?

While varieties of adaptogens abound, when it comes to actual evidence for the efficacy of adaptogens, not all adaptogens are created equal. That’s partially because the class of herbs is so broad that they’re difficult to study as a whole.

“These are whole herbs we’re talking about,” Dr. Pentz says. “They have many, many ways that they interface with the body and the brain. And each one is very specific as to what they do. So it’s really hard to create a global perspective, because each one has its strengths.”

When assessing whether to recommend an adaptogen to patients, Dr. Mather looks for “randomized, placebo-controlled trials and better yet, you want to be using adaptogens that have a meta-analysis where they grouped many randomized, placebo-controlled trials.” (He also looks to make sure they were not funded by supplement makers.)

Dr. Mather is confident in the efficacy of ashwagandha in particular. He says two gold-standard meta-analyses—one from 2022, and the other from 2014—demonstrate that taking ashwagandha changes biomarkers related to stress (including cortisol levels) and inflammation, and has an impact on several different methods of measuring mood, and mental health over time.

“When clinicians are looking to give herbal medications to patients, we really want to see that there is really robust evidence showing that it helps, and that’s what we have for ashwagandha,” Dr. Mather says. “We know it works.”

Rhodiola is another fairly well-studied herb, says Dr. Pentz.

“There is still a need for larger clinical studies, but [rhodiola] has been shown to be safe and effective to treat mild to moderate depression,” Dr. Pentz says. “It also was shown to have a slightly faster onset than pharmaceutical [medicine].”

What to look for in an adaptogen

If you want to get any sort of benefit from an adaptogenic beverage or supplement other than tasting good or making you feel good about yourself, there are a few things to keep in mind.

Select the right adaptogen for your needs, and take enough of it

The dosage should be significant—which probably isn’t actually the case in most adaptogenic beverages.

“One needs to be careful about using herbs, but the dose that’s probably present in these drinks is at a non-risk level,” Dr. Pentz says. “For an impact to happen you need a minimum amount of milligrams for the benefit to be seen. And for the beverage to be labeled ‘non-medical,’ they have to be careful with how much they put in there.”

When determining the right dosage—as well as the right adaptogen or adaptogen blend—you’ll probably want to work with a medical professional to assess, as you go along, whether the herbs are having any effect.

“Each of these really needs to be offered to the person according to their age and health and wellbeing as opposed to a panacea for everybody,” Dr. Pentz says.

There’s no one ideal adaptogen dose for all people. However, studies of rhodiola and adaptogens have administered doses between 150 and 350 milligrams, one or two times a day.

Buy from reputable sources

For supplements, you’ll want to make sure a third party body has validated that what the product says is in the supplement is actually in there. Since the supplement industry lacks oversight, labels aren’t always reliable. But if you want something to work for you, make sure, ya know, you’re actually taking the herb you think you’re taking.

Be wary of adaptogenic beverage marketing claims (or implications)

Avoid products that imply fast-acting results, because this is a fundamentally misleading claim.

“Herbs really work more in terms of the long run as opposed to short term,” Dr. Pentz says. “It’s a total body response for herbs, and it takes a while because it actually helps to create adjustments in the nervous system, in the hormonal system, for the overall benefit to manifest. So it’s working at a molecular level to instill change in the human body and brain, and that takes time.”

“Herbs really work more in terms of the long run as opposed to short term.” —Judith Pentz, MD

So no, sipping on a drink with adaptogens won’t cause you to feel less stressed in the moment.

Know it’s a tool, not a fix

Finally, know that adaptogens are just one way to address your mental health, and that addressing underlying stressors in your life is important to do in addition to finding a way to modulate your response to stress with adapatogens.

“It’s a tool, not the solution to the problem,” Dr. Mather says. “It’s really important to use tools like adaptogens or antidepressants or therapy to feel better, so that you can then do the work.”

Until I used the Knesko Nanogold Repair Collagen Lip Mask ($19). I had heard of the buzzy Knesko face masks, beloved by seemingly every celebrity under the sun (Kim Kardashian, Chrissy Teigen, Jessica Alba–just to rattle off a few), but I never actually tried them. But then I had what was one of the best facials of my life at the Serrano Spa at the Yaamava’ Resort. My facialist totally transformed my skin from dull and dry to bright and revived. I asked her what products she recommended for me, and she said the Knesko face masks. I bought a few Knesko face and lip masks for a rainy day (super smart on my part!).

Knesko, Nanogold Repair Collagen Lip Mask — $19.00

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Because fast forward to a few weeks ago during which my lips were experiencing a dry spell, the masks really came in handy. I think it had to do with the air quality in Los Angeles, but all I know is that every single balm, scrub or mask I used not only didn’t work–but was making it worse (the formulas just irritated the skin more, leaving my lips even more wizened). Then I remembered the Knesko masks in my bathroom drawer.

I put the lip mask on, left it on for about 30 minutes and then massaged the excess serum into my lips. Immediately they felt soothed, but I was blown away when I woke up the next morning and they were essentially repaired. I’ve rarely seen results that quickly from any type of mask, ever.

What my lips looked like after:

Now, let’s talk price. A single lip mask is $19, which isn’t exactly cheap. But I will say, a $19 mask that actually works is so much less expensive than a $8 one that doesn’t do anything. So I reached out to my facialist, Amanda Labrecque, the lead esthetician at the Serrano Spa to explain what specifically about the Knesko Nano Gold face masks sets them apart from others.

“Ingredients always come first for me,” explains Labrecque. “I love the high concentration of hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and Vitamin E in the Nano Gold mask. But what really sets it apart is the mask itself. They’re made from biodegradable hydrogel (like those jelly masks you see on TikTok/IG), they hold 10 times more ingredients than your standard sheet mask, and react with your body temperature for maximum absorption.” So it’s really the high quality material of the physical mask that allows the high-end ingredients to maximize their effectiveness.

After the huge success with the lip mask, I tried out the Nanogold Repair Collagen Face Mask ($47), which works very similarly to the lip mask—but it’s pricier of course because it’s a full-face mask versus a smaller lip mask. I loved it because it comes in two parts—top and bottom—so you can easily mold it to your face for maximum coverage.

How long does sunscreen last, you might ask? The answer depends on the intent of your question. After all, sunscreen has an expiration date but it also has a set protection period, which is why dermatologists are so adamant about telling their patients—and anyone else who will listen—the importance of SPF reapplication.

All this to say, if you’ve been religiously applying sunscreen but still experience the tingling, tightness, and redness of over-exposure to harmful UV rays, it’s high time you learn the reality of some of your most burning questions surrounding SPF. How long does sunscreen last once applied? How long is sunscreen good for? And can you use expired sunscreen? Uncover the answers to all these questions and more, below.

How long does sunscreen last on skin?

The longevity of your SPF will depend on the specific product you’re using. That said, according to the American Academy of Dermatology (AAD), you should reapply sunscreen every two hours while spending time in direct sunlight for optimal protection. And that goes for all SPF levels, too. While experts at the AAD (and dermatologists in general) recommend using SPF 30 or higher for solid sun protection, whether you use SPF 30, SPF 15, or SPF 50, reapplying is key to keeping your skin safe. That’s because sun exposure breaks down the ingredients in the formula, so once it hits that two-hour mark, it won’t continue delivering optimal protection.

Even though the UV protection of sunscreen only lasts for a few hours on the surface of the skin, the product itself sinks into pores and can irritate your complexion if left on overnight. So if you’ve been pondering whether or not it’s okay to sleep with sunscreen on, do yourself a favor and treat it like makeup—wash it off already!

Does sunscreen expire?

Like all skin-care products, sunscreen does have an expiration date. According to board-certified dermatologist Christina Lee Chung, MD, FAAD, at Schweiger Dermatology Group in Philadelphia, PA, sunscreen typically goes bad in three years.

“So if you purchase a sunscreen and notice there isn’t an expiration date, the best practice is to mark the date of purchase [or when you first peel the seal off] and toss it before you reach the three-year mark—which hopefully you don’t reach before using it all,” she says.

If you’re someone who likes to stretch the rules a bit and use products beyond their marked expiration dates, Chung suggests always keeping the rule of three in mind. “If you purchase a sunscreen and the expiration date is at the two-year mark, chances are you’re good for another year after that,” she says.

Which sunscreens break down the fastest?

While sunscreens have a general lifespan of three years, they break down differently based on the formula. “Chemical sunscreens disintegrate faster due to their relatively unstable active ingredients, such as octinoxate and avobenzone,” says board-certified dermatologist Michelle Henry, MD, FAAD.

Research also shows that oxybenzone (another popular chemical sunscreen ingredient) oxidizes particularly quickly, rendering it less effective over time. So, not only is it incredibly important to reapply every two hours like clockwork, it’s also important to not accidentally leave in your car on a hot summer day, Chung says, as heat and sun exposure will degrade its ingredients.

Physical sunscreens (aka ocean-friendly sunscreens), like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, on the other hand, don’t break down. “Rather the formulation that stabilizes the product and allows it to disperse evenly degrades which indirectly affects their sun protective properties,” Dr. Chung says.

Can sunscreen go bad before the expiration date?

It’s possible for sunscreen to lose its effectiveness before the expiration date. Like food and other sensitive skin-care products, sunscreen fares best “when stored properly—in cool, room-temperature environments, away from heat exposure,” Dr. Henry says.

Can you use expired sunscreen?

Can you? Yes. Should you? It’s not advisable. “There comes a time when the product changes and, if used, may have unintended negative effects,” Dr. Chung says. There are a few reasons for this. For starters, expired ingredients can trigger allergic and irritant reactions. This can show up in the form of general inflammation, rashes, or full-blown breakouts from the degraded ingredients, Dr. Henry says.

Another reason you could have an adverse reaction to expired sunscreen? It could have mold, which means your face would be covered in bacteria if you were to apply it. “Sunscreens contain preservatives to keep them sterile,” Dr. Chung says. “These preservatives will diminish over time, increasing the risk of bacterial overgrowth, which can lead to acne breakouts if applied to the skin.”

When sunscreen goes bad, the ingredients aren’t the only things affected—the very texture and consistency of the product can be, too. According to Chung, mineral sunscreens, in particular, get grittier with age. Because of this, they can be more difficult to apply, which can result in uneven coverage. “And no one wants to come back from having fun in the sun looking like a Jackson Pollock painting,” she says.

The biggest risk of all, though, is that once expired, your sunscreen may lose its very purpose. “The challenge with expired sunscreen, while it likely still retains some measure of sun protective capability, no one can know how much,” Dr. Chung says. “So you could get a good hour or two of protection or you could be applying a product with a SPF equivalent of plain moisturizer—zero. And without a general sense, the risk of excess sun exposure increases significantly.”

How to tell if sunscreen has expired

Not sure if your SPF is expired? A good way to tell is by examining its color, texture, and scent. “Expired sunscreens can become grainy or clumpy in texture and display a distinct change in smell or scent if contaminated with bacteria,” Henry says.

Another way to determine if your SPF has lost its luster? Consider the state of your skin after you use it. “With expired sunscreens, our skin becomes instantly vulnerable to UV ray damage,” Henry says. “With reduced SPF efficacy, we can experience sudden sunburn from the lack of essential UV ray protection.”

The takeaway

To avoid any unnecessary skin irritation, Henry says that it’s best to keep tabs on your sunscreen’s expiration date and to toss even your most beloved SPF if that date arrives.

If the idea of throwing out your favorite sunscreen is cringe-worthy, may we introduce you to the AAD’s recommended sunscreen dosage guideline? For optimal UV protection, dermatologists suggest using an ounce (aka a shot glass’s worth) of sunscreen to adequately cover bare skin from head to toe (more specifically, derms recommend two finger-lengths worth of SPF for your face). If done daily (or even just during summer), you should easily hit empty before the three year-mark is up.

If you do have to toss your SPF, though, don’t take that as a sign that it’s a wasteful investment. Instead, treat yourself to a formula you’ll be happy to apply again and again. For me, nothing compares to the Tatcha Silken Pore Perfecting Sunscreen ($70)—it goes on so smoothly, never irritates my sensitive skin, and wears well under makeup. For my body, I keep my beach/lake/pool bag (I’m no gatekeeper! The A New Day Seasonal Tote Bag, $30, is my current obsession, so much so that I bought it in two colors.) stocked with Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50 with Sunflower Extract ($34), PLAY Antioxidant Body Mist SPF 50 with Vitamin C ($21), and Unseen Sunscreen Body SPF 40 ($42)—which is one of Well + Good’s top-rated sunscreens—are my current go-tos.

While money has helped realign these incentives in the U.S.—intended parents can legally pay donors for their frozen eggs—cash compensation for DNA that could spawn a new human is an ethically questionable practice (hence its illegality in much of Europe). The financial incentive could exploit lower-income folks in difficult situations by convincing them to do something they’re otherwise not comfortable with; and variations in pricing for eggs from different donors implies that some eggs (and by proxy, some people) are more valuable than others.

And yet, it feels unrealistic and unfair to expect young people to go through a time-intensive, sometimes painful medical process and share their eggs out of sheer generosity, even if would-be parents covered their costs of doing so. But what if they could hold onto a few frozen ones themselves, free of charge, as a perk of donating the rest?

That’s the premise behind egg sharing, a hybrid model of egg freezing and egg donation that lies at the heart of new fertility platform Cofertility. Users who join Cofertility’s “Split” program can freeze their eggs and store them for free for up to 10 years, so long as they donate half to intended parents with whom they’re matched (who front the bill for all medical expenses associated with freezing plus the storage).

This kind of arrangement has gained traction in the United Kingdom, where it’s the legal alternative to buying eggs, but has, until now, only cropped up in a few fertility clinics stateside, including CNY Fertility, Oma Fertility, and Freeze and Share. Cofertility—which launched in October 2022 and officially began conducting egg sharing earlier this year—coordinates matches and facilitates the logistics with clinics nationwide.

How the Cofertility Split program solves for pain points in egg freezing and egg donation

By creating an incentive structure where saving some of your eggs for yourself is the “return” for donating eggs, Cofertility’s Split program aims to lower the financial burden of egg freezing and eliminate some of the ethical murkiness of cash-compensated egg donation. Together—as the “co” in the name implies—these changes may help more people have more autonomy over their reproductive choices, regardless of certain financial or biological realities.

On the egg freezing side, “we know that the younger you are when you do it, the more likely you are to be successful down the line,” says reproductive endocrinologist Meera Shah, MD, a Cofertility medical advisor. Yet young people are the least likely to be able to afford it, says Cofertility co-founder and CEO Lauren Makler. After all, it costs, on average, $11,000 for one egg freezing cycle, $5,000 for the medication involved, and $500 per year for storage, according to FertilityIQ. Can’t front those costs? You’d typically need to speed up your pregnancy timeline or wait until you could afford to freeze eggs, when it may be less effective.

With Cofertility’s Split program, “you can preserve your fertility now, for free, while also pursuing other goals, whether you have massive career ambitions, or maybe you want to have three kids but you’re not going to start until you’re in your mid-thirties,” says Makler.

It’s important to note, however, that egg freezing is not an insurance policy nor a guarantee of future fertility. Not everyone is considered a candidate for freezing, either (more on that below). The retrieval itself can also cause unpleasant side effects like bloating and cramping. And though it’s becoming increasingly common—the number of people who froze their eggs jumped by 31 percent from 2020 to 2021—there’s still not enough data to determine the potential risk for long-term complications from the egg retrieval process (which involves stimulating the ovaries with hormones to produce many mature eggs at once).

Additionally, it’s possible that some young people may not see the benefit of going through with it—that is, self-administering hormone shots, attending several doctor’s appointments, and doing the retrieval procedure—even for free, particularly when they have plenty of fertile years ahead of them to conceive naturally.

But for people who plan to wait until later in life to have kids or who have reason to suspect fertility issues down the line, the opportunity to freeze now at no cost (to them) may feel entirely worth it. That was the case for Cofertility member Sara A., who’s 26 and planning to delay pregnancy, and whose mom experienced early menopause at 42. “It provides some comfort and mental space knowing that my young, hopefully healthy eggs are safely stored for later,” she says.

“So much of [cash-compensated egg donation] is rooted in someone selling their eggs for a particular price versus doing something nice for someone else.” —Lauren Makler, co-founder and CEO, Cofertility

That motivation also helps broaden the pool of potential egg donors for Cofertility’s intended parents, as it could appeal to those who might’ve felt skeeved out by the typical cash incentive—much like Makler once was herself. She initially looked into getting eggs from a donor after learning that she had a rare abdominal disease at age 28 that could affect her fertility. “I couldn’t believe how icky and transactional and outdated it all felt,” she says. “So much of it is rooted in someone selling their eggs for a particular price versus doing something nice for someone else.”

To her point, egg-donation advertisements have traditionally touted high-value paychecks and all-expenses-paid vacations as the perks of donating. Rarely do these advertisements reference the medical process of egg retrieval itself or the significant commitment of sharing your DNA with strangers. Not only do these kinds of misleading ads pose the ethical problem of potentially persuading those who aren’t comfortable with donating to do so for the money, but also, according to Makler, they may even dissuade those who might otherwise be keen to donate from doing so.

“One of the biggest problems in egg donation is a major lack of diversity among donors,” says Makler, which disadvantages plenty of intended parents by limiting the options they have to build their family. “We believe that’s because payment can be off-putting for a lot of women, making them feel like they’re selling their eggs,” she says, rather than getting compensated for their time and effort. There’s a fear that they’ll be judged by loved ones, she adds, who might wrongly assume that they’re exchanging a part of their body for money, presumably out of greed or financial desperation.

Reinforcing that narrative is the fact that traditional egg donation places a monetary premium on eggs from certain kinds of donors. Typically, that’s been people of a specific heritage or education level (e.g., “smart Asian women“), or even with particular talents or high SAT scores, adds Makler. “The fact that one woman could essentially cost more—rather, her eggs could cost more—feels super unethical,” she says.

In erasing cash compensation from the equation and providing the same benefit to all donors, the Cofertility model avoids commodifying the eggs of donors and gives intended parents the comfort of knowing that the eggs they’re receiving are from someone who genuinely would’ve wanted to freeze their eggs for themselves (and who isn’t just agreeing for the money).

Admittedly, the chance to freeze your own eggs at no cost can also reflect a major economic savings—and it’s possible that some donors may still be persuaded to donate for that reason. After all, there’s no incentive structure that doesn’t place some value on the eggs donated. But still, the setup of the Cofertility Split program ostensibly precludes any decision based solely on the monetary upside, says co-founder Halle Tecco, with its purposefully thorough process for onboarding, screening, and connecting donors with the intended parents they stand to help.

Cracking the medical and ethical logistics of egg sharing

Though people often address egg freezing rather flippantly (“Just freeze your eggs!”) and ads for egg donation would have you think it’s quick and easy, both processes involve a substantial investment of time and energy and carry significant future implications. Particularly with egg donation and sharing, you’re giving your genetic material to a stranger, which can have a life-altering impact on you, them, and (naturally) the potential future child. In order to ensure an ethical result, the process for egg sharing with Cofertility Split involves a good deal of screening.

As a baseline, only uterus-having folks who meet all the recommendations from the American Society of Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) for egg donation will qualify for Split to both ensure the safety of all people involved (including a potential future child) and help avoid the scenario where someone freezes their eggs with the intention of donating half of them and only winds up with, say, one or two eggs getting successfully retrieved.

For the sake of the former, every Split member has to complete a medical history and genetic screening to show that they have no markers of hereditary disease (which could make their way to a child) and have a psychological evaluation to demonstrate that they fully understand the gravity of the decision they’re making, says Tecco.

And in terms of the latter, hopeful Split members need to be under 34 years old and undergo a test for anti-müllerian hormone, (AMH), “which helps us understand a person’s egg supply or ovarian reserve, and whether they’re likely to get enough eggs that they can split and have a meaningful outcome,” says Dr. Shah. While you can’t guarantee good egg yield (even a healthy, young person might have low-quality eggs or not respond well to hormones), she adds, “I think we’ll find that the vast majority of women have outcomes that correlate well with what we’ve predicted.” Those who don’t qualify can still participate in Cofertility’s “Keep” program and freeze eggs just for themselves—but they’ll have to pay for it in this case (though the company has partnerships with clinics and storage facilities to lessen that price).

“So many intended parents today are really focused on finding a connection with a donor rather than just buying eggs.” —Makler

When a person does qualify and is accepted onto the platform for Cofertility Split, they’ll fill out a profile with all sorts of intel about who they are, what they do and like, and their personality—purposefully detailed to humanize the process of matching. This way, intended parents can “see more than a potential donor’s physical attributes,” says Makler. “They can learn about their values and their motivations and what their ambitions may be, and whether they’re an introvert, an extrovert, or an ambivert, and so on,” she adds. “It’s about getting to the core of who these women are because so many intended parents today are really focused on finding a connection with a donor rather than just buying eggs.”

Naturally, some intended parents might care less about personality and be more interested in connecting with a donor who looks like them, comes from their same ethnic or religious background, or has particular physical traits—which is why Cofertility Split members also share these details in their profiles.

The idea behind the platform’s universal exchange is to generate a highly diverse group of donors in order to serve the interests of as many different intended parents as possible. “Choosing a donor is a deeply personal decision,” says Makler, who says she’s seen the full gamut, from folks eager to choose someone based on the way they write their profile answers or because they share the same favorite movie to those who make a decision based on an uncanny physical similarity. “By the time you’re even coming to that decision, you’ve often been through so much—whether it’s multiple rounds of failed IVF or pregnancy losses or illness,” says Makler, “so we really try to hold space for whatever feels right.”

That experience is mirrored on the donor side, too, as any donor selected by intended parents will get information about that family and can choose whether to opt into the match. “That double opt-in is pretty unique,” says Tecco, “and gives the donor the chance to consider, ‘Who is this family that I’m going to donate to, and could I envision sharing my DNA with them?’”

This matching process opens the door for some version of a relationship between donor and intended parents (and perhaps, eventually, between donor and donor-conceived child), which is quite a departure from the norm. Traditional cash-compensated egg donations function more like a one-and-done transaction, with the egg donor typically remaining anonymous—which recent research suggests isn’t in the best interest of the donor-conceived child (and eventual adult).

“A lot of donor-conceived people may have questions when they grow up about where they came from, or their medical history, or their biological relatives.” —Halle Tecco, co-founder, Cofertility

“What we’ve learned is that a lot of donor-conceived people may have questions when they grow up about where they came from, or their medical history, or their biological relatives,” says Tecco. Knowing the nature of their conception before those questions arise is a good thing. “That doesn’t necessarily mean that all donor-conceived people will want to have a relationship with their donor, but it means having access to that information can feel a lot less troubling or traumatic down the line,” says Tecco.

For that reason, Cofertility encourages donors and intended parents to have a disclosed relationship (aka non-anonymous), and can even set up a virtual meeting for matches to get face time before deciding whether to formally pair. “I’m grateful that I moved forward with a direct connection [with my donor],” says Lisa F., 44, a cancer survivor who began her search for an egg donor after multiple unsuccessful rounds of IVF. “A total stranger just felt familiar to me, and our connection was magical.”

Sara was a bit more apprehensive going into her own match meeting with the intended parents to which she’ll be donating, but “the more I thought about adding a layer of transparency to the process and for the potential future kid, the more I liked the idea,” she says.

Certainly, not every donor or intended parent will want to meet either the family to which their eggs will go or the person supplying them, respectively—and that’s okay. The goal is just that all parties involved can have a say in the relationship or lack thereof, says Tecco. “When we set out to build this, we really just wanted to honor the donors, the parents, and ultimately, the children that we’re helping bring into this world.”

Jawad comes from a Lebanese household where cooking everything from scratch was the norm. As such, she picked up a knack for making delicious meals while watching her mom make meal after delicious meal early in life. Since then, Jawad has developed and shared thousands of recipes with the world, many of which highlight her culture’s roots. We had the chance to catch up with Jawad, who delved into one food near and dear to her: Lebanese pita bread. Ahead we delve into the significance of this food, how she likes to consume it daily, and an easy recipe so you can make it too.

How Jawad’s background has influenced her cooking

Jawad grew up in a small, rural town in Africa until she was about 11 years old. During those years, she didn’t have much access to dining options outside the home (there were about two or three restaurants at most, she recalls, and just one grocery store in the area she lived). This meant that her family relied on making fresh, home-cooked meals daily. But when a civil war broke out in her then hometown, Jawad and her family migrated to the U.S., where their cooking routine changed drastically.

Once in their new home, Jawad and her mom found easier access to ingredients for cooking a wider array of foods without compromising flavor or nutritional value. “We discovered shortcuts of ways to still deliver that home-cooked quality type of meals, but in just a more convenient way,” Jawad says. “My mom didn’t have to make her own tomato paste from scratch anymore—we could finally buy it instead. While watching my mom do this, I started to become really inspired by how amazing the food still looked and tasted and felt in my body, but with just these conveniences.”

Since then, Jawad has focused her recipe development on home-cooked meals that make you feel “so good” (it’s so true) while incorporating the flavors she loves most, many of which are tied to her Lebanese heritage and her mother’s cooking.

Pita bread’s prominence in Lebanese cuisine

One integral part of many meals in Jawad’s household is Lebanese pita bread. “There are a lot of cultures that have an iconic bread that they’re known for,” Jawad says. And according to her, it’s hands down pita bread for Lebanese folks. “It’s not like a burger bun where people mostly eat it for like lunch and dinner. I feel like pita bread is something that glues all the meals together,” she adds.

Jawad notes that pita bread is especially integral in Lebanese-style breakfasts. “For breakfast, we tend to have more savory meals. For example, we don’t do pancakes and waffles. We’ll usually eat a savory breakfast that includes beans, eggs, cheese, vegetables, and of course, pita bread,” Jawad says.

But this isn’t the only way she enjoys pita. As she mentioned earlier, it makes for the perfect midday snack served with olive oil and za’atar or a lunch sandwich packed with fresh produce like mint, tomatoes, and cucumbers. “It just feels like meals are incomplete without it,” Jawad says.

According to Jawad, Lebanese pita bread is thinner and wider (about 10-inch circumference) than similar versions from other nations and can be consumed hot, cold, or at room temperature. The only issue? Making it at home is really difficult without the proper equipment. As such, Jawad has found ways to adapt her recipe so she can enjoy a similar style of pita bread at home. The good news for us? Jawad doesn’t gatekeep anything. Ahead, we have her favorite pita bread recipe that calls for only five pantry-staple ingredients and results in a pillowy-soft bread that’s perfect for any time of the day.

But before we jump right into the recipe, here are a few pro tips directly from the source for preparing pita bread from scratch. When baking the bread, ensure the oven temperature is extremely hot—like, as hot as it can go. This will help the dough puff up as it cooks and create that iconic pocket-like structure. Make too much dough? No need to worry. Jawad says you can freeze the dough balls or the pita bread once it’s cooked off—either way works well. Lastly, she recommends pairing the pita bread with two of her all-time favorite dip recipes: Labneh and authentic Lebanese-style hummus. The perfect snack doesn’t exis—. 

Lebanese pita bread recipe

Yields 12 servings

Ingredients
1 1/4 cup warm water
2 Tsp granulated sugar
2 1/4 Tsp instant dry yeast (1 packet)
3 cups all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
1 Tbsp olive oil
1 Tsp salt

1. In a large bowl or stand mixer fitted with a hook attachment, dissolve sugar in warm water. Sprinkle in yeast and let stand until mixture is foamy, about 5 minutes.

2. Add 1 cup flour, olive oil, and salt and stir with a wooden spoon. Slowly add the remaining flour until a shaggy dough is formed. Knead for 10 minutes in the stand mixer until the dough comes together and is smooth.

3. Cover the dough with a moist kitchen towel. Allow dough to rise in a warm, dark place until the dough has doubled in size, about 1 hour.

4. Punch the dough down and separate dough into 12 round pieces by pinching off some of the dough. Use your hands to tuck the sides and roll them into an even ball, covering the pieces with a moist kitchen towel as you work. Allow to rest for 10 minutes.

5. Use a rolling pin to roll out the dough as evenly as possible. This is important to ensure that the pita puffs up. Transfer the rolled-out pita onto small squares of parchment paper floured lightly.

6. Preheat oven to 550°F (or to the highest temperature it will go) with the baking sheet inside the oven. While the oven is heating, allow the pita rounds to rest for about 30 minutes.

7. Flip the rolled-out pita onto the heated baking sheet. Bake on the bottom rack of your oven until lightly golden brown and puffed, about 3-5 minutes. Wrap them in a clean kitchen towel as soon as they come out of the oven.

Pita bread? Check. Beet hummus to dip it into? Check: