Tips & Tricks to the Best You Ever
Tips & Tricks to the Best You Ever
Cure What Ails You
Ah, New Year's Day Hangovers. If you wake up functional yet fuzzy, steep a cup of licorice-root tea to settle your stomach. Can't lift your head or even think about prepping tea? Integrative doctor Frank Lipman suggests popping S-Acetyk Glutathione ($56/60 capsules; vitaminrite.com). "It's the most potent antioxidant we know of," he says.
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Get in the Zen Zone
Download these three transcendent apps to reach a higher plane-or at least climb closer toward one.
Moment: It tracks phone usage, sets parameters, and sends notificationsif you?re over your limit, thus encouraging you to live in the moment ($5; available on iTunes).
Balanced:The anti-to-do list, this app sets goals for finding time forthings you love?like a Scandal marathon or hitting the gym (Free; available on iTunes).
Headspace: For a crash course in mindfulness, start with the Take Ten program for mini sessions that guide you on how to be present for even the most mundane tasks (Free; available on iTunes).
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Redefine Diet
Say sayonara to juice cleanses and fasting. Dr. Lipman, authorof The New Health Rules ($14; amazon.com), breaks down his updated ideals:
Don?t fear fat: ?Coconut oil, avocados, and meat from grassfedanimals all contain healthy natural fats,? he says.
Eighty-six egg-white omelets: Yolks are also packed with satiating nutrients, meaning you?ll stay full longer.
Curb sugar cravings: ?Getting off sugar reduces your risk ofheart disease, cancer, and diabetes,? he says, adding that patientsshould take 1,000 milligrams of the amino acid glutamineevery three to four hours for two weeks to break the addiction.
Supercharge Your Meals
With breakfast try: Chlorella
This powder of microalgae has the highest concentration of chlorophyll, says Wolfe, and it?s high in protein. Add a tablespoon to your smoothie.
With lunch try: Broccoleaf
The leaves of the broccoli plant are packed with vitamin C and calcium and sturdy enough to replace your sandwich bread or burrito wraps.
With dinner try: Red palm oil
Sauté veggies or grill meat in this antioxidant-rich saturated fat.
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Deflate Dark Circles
If your undereye bags are bigger than a Birkin, meet Living Proof’s Neotensil ($500/7 weeks; livingproof.com).The invisible polymer mimics your skin’s elasticity to smooth and reshape thedelicate area under the eye. Within three hours after you glide on the two serums—a reshaping base and an activating layer—you’ll notice the effects, which lastfor 16 hours. As the product wears off, edges can show, so dermatologist Elizabeth Tanzi recommends removing it with warm water before bed.
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Work Out Like Kim Kardashian
Virtually, that is. With the Gunnar Challenge, an eight-week, $89 fitness program from celebrity trainer Gunnar Peterson, you’ll get exactly the same treatment he gives the Hollywood elite. “If you’ve fallen off over the holidays, it’s a great wayto stay accountable,” he says. Six days a week you’ll receive a 30-minutevideo workout—delivered to your in-box—that requires only the most basic gym equipment: a dumbbell and a jump rope.
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Exit the Sugar Train
Nutritionist J.J. Virgin, author of Sugar Impact Diet, says the average personeats a whopping 152 pounds a year of the sweet stuff, which is linked to diabetes,heart disease, and dementia. ?It?s like a drug that we crave,? she explains. ?Butthe less we eat, the less we want.? Control your intake with these healthier subs.
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De-Stessorize
If meditation seems daunting, the Muse wearable EEG monitor ($299; gaiam.com) may be the Zen master you need. The headband guides you through three-minute relaxation exercises, while tiny sensors measure brain activity, sending feedback to your tablet or smartphone.
Shop 10 stress-relieving beauty products here!
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Turbocharge Your Beauty Arsenal
Clarisonic? Check. PedEgg? Check. Here are five more gadgets that will rock your beauty routine in 2015.
FHI Heat Stylus: Instead of being sandwiched between scorching flatiron plates, hair moves through this five-setting heated brush ($140; fhiheat.com), which smooths and tames strands.
Foreo Luna Mini: Made of bacteria-resistant silicone, thispulsating facial cleanser ($139; sephora.com) whisks away dirt and dead skin cells with sonic waves. You’ll save big on brush replacements.
Sephora Collection Sonic Airbrush Sponge:A disposable makeup sponge ($25; sephora.com) gently vibrates, blending liquid and cream foundations into your skin, sans caking.
Labnails by Lisa Jachno the Buffy 3-in-1 Electric Mani Pen: The stylus’s attachments work to smooth, shine, and buff away dried cuticle build-up ($40; qvc.com).
Gillette Venus Swirl: Just like Dyson changed vacuuming, Gillette is changing the way you shave: The FlexiBall rotating joint glides over hard-to-shave areas ($13; available for preorder at pgestore.com).
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Netflix Your Veggies
Good news for those who would rather sleep in on Saturday mornings than hit the farmers market: Farmbox Direct delivers organic local produce to major cities and their surrounding areas. Each week you’ll get an email announcingthe current harvest. Choose a mix of farm-fresh fruits and veggies and they’ll be boxed up and sent to your door in as little as two days (Boxes start at $37; farmboxdirect.com).
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Become a Sleep Specialist
Since you’re probably not equipped with Princess and the Pea powers, understandingyour shut-eye can be tricky. Enter the Beddit ($149; shop-us.beddit), a flatsensor that attaches to your mattress to monitor every move as you catch yourzzz’s. If you share a bed, place the sensor on the side you lie on. “Since the sensoris under your sheets, it doesn’t disturb you at all as opposed to many other wearabledevices that can actually interfere with your sleep,” says Dr. Michael Breus, apsychologist and sleep expert. In the morning the corresponding app will give you afull rundown of your night, along with suggestions on how to improve your sleep.
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Pedal While You Work
Whistling is so Seven Dwarfs. Riding the elliptical while youtake a conference call?now that?s more like it. The Cubii under-desk elliptical ($319, preorder at fitnesscubed.com) allows you to gently pedal all day long, and it syncs with fitness-monitoringdevices like the Fitbit. The pedals are angled so your knees won?t hit theunderside of your desk, and the low resistance makes for a nontedious workout that won?t distract you from filing that expense report.
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Rev Up Your Latte
It turns out those rich coffee drinks might not be asbad for you as you think-if they?re loaded with the right kind offats, says Dr. Lipman, who, along with stars like Shailene Woodley and JimmyFallon, starts the day with Bulletproof Coffee ($19/12 oz.; upgradedself.com), a blend of good old-fashionedgrounds, coconut oil, and grass-fed butter. The fats from the oil and buttercounteract coffee?s acidity, curb cravings, and fuel your brain for the day, he explains.
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Log in & Laser
The results from the first generation of at-homelasers were a little like the emperor?s new clothes?you saw themif you believed in them. ?Today?s versions penetratedeep below the skin?s surface to stimulate collagen production,?says Dr. Tanzi. The Iluminage Skin Smoothing Laser ($595; nordstrom.com) treats wrinkles around super sensitive areas, like the eyes. Bonus: The device transmits data to your online account, where you can track progress and upload pics.
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Exercise Harder, Faster, and Shorter
Hit a plateau? Swap out your usual cardio routine for high-intensity intervaltraining. Short, intense bursts torch more calories and condition theheart more effectively, says physician and FastExercise author MichaelMosley. Try these power moves:
Barry’s Bootcamp’s Combat Burpee:Throw four punches with your right hand, jump into plank position,do one push-up, then jump up. Repeat on the opposite side, alternating for one minute.
Physique 57’s Passe Push-Up:From the push-up position, pull in your left knee, drawing your lefttoes to your inner right thigh; bend your elbows and lift your knee out to the side. Repeat 10 times, then switch sides.
SoulCycle’s Soul15:Facing the back of a chair, lift one leg at a 90-degree angle parallel to the chair, repeating 20 times. Switch legs; repeat for a total of three sets.
Check out the hottest fitness sneakers here!
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Have a Fully Stocked Stash
If you’re digging nubs of lipstick from the tube because you can’t be bothered tomake a Sephora run, download the beauty-tracking app Stash Beauty (free;available on iTunes). Scan the bar codes of your products and track how often youuse them, then the app’s replenishment algorithm calculates when you’re low. It addsthem to your virtual cart, waits for your approval, and ships refills to your doorstep.
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Treat the Untreatables
Dimpled thighs and bulging veins aren’t for life, thanks to two innovative new procedures offered at your doctor’s office.
Body FX Cellulite-Melter
The Treatment: A combo of radiofrequencyenergy and vacuum suction reduces cellulite, tightens skin, and shrinksfat deposits.
The Commitment: Four to six sessions.
The Cost: Around $200 per session.
The Fine Print: It’s most effective for womenwithin 10 pounds of their healthy weight.
Varinthena Varicose Vein Foam
The Treatment: A shaving-cream-like foam is injected into veins, painlessly redirecting pooled blood from faulty vessels to functional ones.
The Commitment: Two sessions may be needed for optimal results.
The Cost: Varies based on insurance coverage.
The Fine Print: You’ll have to wear a compressionstocking for a week after the injection.
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Simplify Your Styling
These no-brainer tools make sexy strands a cinch.
Bombshell curls: Never risk a burn again with Conair's clip-free siliconerollers ($60; target.com). Open up the roller, place it midshaft, and wind hair upward to the root. Close the roller, and once it has cooled, you?ve got bouncy waves.
Beachy Waves: Blow-drying, then curling hair? Instead, add waves as youdry by parting damp strands in four sections and slipping each into the ForStyler ($40; forstyler.com),a clear tube that snaps onto your dryer. It?ll twist your locks into perfectlyimperfect spirals.
Shop even more must-have hair tools in our gallery!
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Feed Your Feelings
Just not with a bottomless bowl of Bolognese. “Brain-fueling supplementscan alleviate common mood disorders,” says psychologist Julia Ross, author of The Mood Cure. Here’s her stash:
Tryptophan and 5-HTP for depression: “This combo converts intomood-lifting serotonin,” Dr. Ross says. Take one of each when you’re in a slump.
GABA for anxiety: Think of this as nature’s Xanax. In lozenge form, it canward off sweaty palms and a racing heart.
DLPA for emotional eating: “Taking this between meals will satisfy your pleasure-providing neurotransmitters better than mac and cheese,” says Dr. Ross.
All available at vitaminshoppe.com.
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Whiten Whip Fast
Photoshop can’t compete with results this quick: IntelliWhite’s Cool Blue Pro at-home device ($170; hsn.com) uses an LED to whiten teeth up to five shades in just 25 minutes. “Zinc oxide paste heightens the effect of the LED, which mimics in-office treatments,” says cosmetic dentist Marc Lowenberg. “The system won’t dry out enamel, which can cause sensitivity.”
Click through our gallery for more ways to a whiter smile!
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Calibrate Your Glow
Faux tans aren’t one-size-fits-all, and that’s why St. Tropez’sExpress Bronze self-tanner ($44; sephora.com) is so darn appealing. Want a subtle look? Shower one hour after applying. Going for “I vacationed in Tulum”? Wait three full hours before taking a rinse. But don’t hold off longer, and do skip soap. “The mousse needs only water to stop developing,” says skin-finishing expert Sophie Evans.
Click through our gallery to get self-tanning tips for every skintone!
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Save Time at the Salon
We pay for a dimensional do in dollars and in time spent in foils. With Wella’s Color.id (wella.com for salons), pigment stays in place so your technician can apply multiple hues at once. “Not waiting for a single process to set before highlighting will have you done in half the time,” says colorist Jennifer J. Wells.
Check out the prettiest hair colors for winter in our gallery!
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Slash Your Salon Bill
Fill out a questionnaire about your hair type and color andsend photos to a consultant at madison-reed.com; a custom color kit is then mixed and sent your way for only $30. The corresponding voice-activated app?so no touching your phone with gooey hands?guides you through each step of the DIY process with clear and helpful directives. Your colorist may miss you, but your bank account will thank you.
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Facetime Your Doc
Prep for unexpected ailments by signing up for Doctor on Demand ( doctorondemand.com). Input your symptoms and for a flat fee of $40, you’ll be connected with a board-certified physician in your state for a video exam. Docs can even prescribe meds for common afflictions and treat behavioral-health issues.
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Give Yourself a 60-Second Facial
Some women enjoy having their face prodded for 90 minutes. Others, um, don’t. The second camp should consider Ren’s Flash Rinse 1 Minute Facial ($48; sephora.com). The high concentration of vitamin C sloughs away dulling dead skin cells, while boswellic acid fights signs of aging. “I call it nature’s Botox because it softens wrinkles,” explains Dr. Tanzi.
Click here for 10 miracle masks that will completely change your skin!
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Zap Acne, Grown-Up Style
Time to retire your gunky tube of zit cream. Here’s how adults get ’er done.
Cleanse with plasma: Water can strip your skin of the natural oils it needs,so try Perricone MD's Blue Plasma Cleanser ($39; perriconemd.com) to lift away dirt, sans H20.
Fight with light: With an extra-wide surface area, Pulsaderm's blue-light device ($189; pulsaderm.com) lets you cover your whole face quickly, calming pimples and preventing new ones from forming. Use for three minutes twice a week.
Treat while you sleep: Wexler Dermatology's overnight lotion ($65; at Wexler Dermatology, 212-684-2626) is gentle enough for sensitive skin but has a high concentration of salicylic acid, which treats existing breakouts.
Click here for more ways to treat acne!
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Don't Get Mad, Get Even
If broken capillaries, sun spots, or dark freckles are taking upprime real estate on your face, talk to your dermatologist about in-office Lumecca light treatment ($300?$500 per session). It works in two to three visits (most others require at least six). ?Specifically targeting pigmentations gets a better result faster,? says Dr. Tanzi.
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Brush It Off
There are lots of places your regular toothbrush doesn’t reach (just ask your floss). The Emmi-dent System ($189; emmi-dent.com) uses a sonic-wave brush and nano-bubbletoothpaste to drive teensy droplets between teeth and below gums, destroying plaque and tartar without harsh brushing. There’s no friction, so your gumscan’t get inflamed, says cosmetic dentist Laura Ruof: “Plus, itpassed my chia-seed test. It blasted those tiny, hard-to-removeparticles from between my teeth more effectively than a standard brush.”
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Get a Passport to Fitness
If you’ve been running the same tired route (or cyclingthrough the same spin class) for as long as you can remember, you may bebored—and so are your muscles. For $99, join Class-Pass, which gives you onemonth of unlimited access to thousands of workouts in cities like Boston, Chicago, Los Angeles, New York, and Washington, D.C ($99/month; classpass.com.
Click for 10 must-try fitness trends!
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Optimize Your H20 Intake
The old eight-glasses-per-day rule could use an update. According to nutrition expert Tina Ruggiero, your body weight really determines how much to gulp down daily. “Take your weight and multiply it by .67,” she says. “The result is thenumber of fluid ounces you need.” Don’t forget to add 12 fluid ounces for every half hour of exercise.
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Smooth Away Stubble
Traditional at-home hair-removal systems—which work by picking up the color discrepancy between your skin and your hair—have never been totally safe (or effective) for women with dark skin. But finally there’s a solution: Me Smooth ($395; ulta.com), the first device that’s FDA-cleared for all skin types. The best part? The treatment, which uses a combo of IPL and radio frequency, is practically painless.
Click here for more of our favorite at-home hair removal products!
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Transform Any Polish Into Gel
Call it a mani miracle: Ciate’s Geltox topcoat ($99; sephora.com) turns any regular lacquer into a gel finish with a swipe and a 60-second LED cure. “Let polish dry for 30 minutesbefore applying the Geltox,” advises manicurist Dawn Sterling. “Remove polish with an acetone soak.”
InStyle.com's assistant editor tried out the kit and reported back on the results. Click to find out what she thought!