In short, unless you have a medical condition, the answer is yes.

I spent the entire elevator ride to Shafer Clinic in Manhattan considering chickening out of the Fraxel treatment that was waiting for me on the 33rd floor.

Though the do-it-all laser has long been regarded as the gold standard of skin care, it has a reputation for requiring some serious downtime, and I wasn’t sure I had the guts to go through with it. But with the benefits from a single treatment in the back of my brain—a reduction of fine lines, improved skin texture, sun damage repair, acne scar reduction, skin resurfacing, a boost in skin firmness, and the list goes on and on (and on)—I decided to see it through.

Although my initial apprehensions about the Fraxel treatment turned out to be largely unfounded, I did require a significant amount of downtime to see the glowy bounce that has long been oohed and ahhed about by those in the know. To ensure you reap all the benefits while avoiding any pitfalls, I’m sharing my comprehensive take on the procedure in this “first timers” guide.

Understanding the Fraxel Technology

“Fractionated lasers, [which are used for Fraxel treatments], work by directing microscopic laser columns at the skin, creating tiny injuries in certain parts of the skin barrier while leaving other zones of healthy surrounding tissue untouched,” says Dendy Engelman, MD, FACMS, FAAD, board-certified cosmetic dermatologist and Mohs surgeon. “These microscopic injuries trigger the skin’s natural reparative processes.” In turn, this leads to that long list of benefits.

Within this set of lasers, there are two main types: Ablative lasers, which vaporize the top layer of the skin, effectively treating more severe concerns—like deeper wrinkles and sagging—but require longer recovery; and non-ablative lasers, which focus on the underlying layers of the skin for milder concerns—like photo-aging, fine lines, and hyperpigmentation—with minimal downtime.

By contrast, non-fractionated lasers, like CO2 lasers, “act on every part of the target area,” says Dr. Engelman. This means that while you’ll likely see more robust results from these treatments, they can come with up to two weeks of downtime.

On the spectrum from “lunchtime lasers” like IPL (intense pulsed light treatments, which use a broad spectrum of light and are gentler) to the types of treatments that leave your skin crackling up like you’re tonight’s dinner, Fraxel serves as a nice in-between—a five-day downtime that will leave your skin looking fresh and new.

Wait, is there more than one Fraxel laser?

Yes. Now that you’re well acquainted with the types of technology behind these lasers (fractionated versus unfractionated; ablative versus non-ablative), we can go deeper. Fraxel is a brand name for a class of fractionated lasers; the same way Botox is a brand name of a neuromodulator that freezes your muscle. There are a bunch of different fractionated lasers, but the ones you want to become most familiar with are:

Fraxel Re:Pair

This laser is an ablative, CO2 laser, which means it will “vaporize” the top and deeper skin layers to stimulate your body’s wound-repair triggers. It results in prominent collagen creation for those with sagging and deeper wrinkles, but the downtime is no joke and can last up to two weeks. Also, because you’re wounding the top layer of skin, there’s a potential for hyperpigmentation, so you should make sure to speak with your dermatologist about the potential risks and benefits of opting for this treatment. It’s important to note that more intense lasers don’t often mean “better” results. You need to match what you’re looking for with what a laser does.

Fraxel: Dual

The latest Fraxel models—like the Fraxel Dual—are non-ablative and fractionated, and deliver heavyweight results without having to cancel weeks’ worth of social plans.  The Fraxel Dual uses two wavelengths—1,550 nanometers (nm) and 1,927 nm—which gives it the power to work on multiple skin layers.

“Harnessing the power of two different wavelengths allows Fraxel to target different layers of the skin barrier,” says Dr. Engelman. “The 1927 nm wavelength acts on the epidermis, or the outer layer of skin, while the 1550 nm wavelength acts on deeper layers of the dermis as well as the epidermis.”

Studies have shown that the 1927 nm wavelength is beneficial for removing hyperpigmentation, while the 1550 nm wavelength helps improve fine lines as well as scarring. In other words, as the name suggests, it’s “dual” acting in that it gives you both topical and collagen-boosting results.

Lumenis Resurfx

Outside of the Fraxel brand name, this laser operates at a 1565 nm wavelength, giving comparable results to Fraxel Re:Store, a non-ablative, single-wavelength laser. It only requires a single pass over the skin, and it has a cooling tip so that it feels more comfortable as you’re treating each area. It was the laser that I tried at Dr. Engelman’s office.

Nd: Yag

The Nd: Yag is a Q-switch laser—meaning it delivers high-intensity pulses for short amounts of time—that operates at a 1064 nm frequency. It’s a non-ablative, fractionated laser that’s able to be used on darker skin tones for a wide range of benefits, including skin rejuvenation, acne scarring, and more.

One note on how lasers work: they often use light to seek out melanin in the skin, and melanin-rich skin can absorb that heat, leading to potential scarring and hyperpigmentation. “As in nearly every industry, technological advancements have emerged in recent years to improve equipment and techniques, resulting in more efficient lasers,” says Dr. Engelman. “One great advancement is the Nd: YAG laser, which—unlike many lasers—can safely be used on deeper skin tones.”

What are the main benefits of Fraxel

1. Increased Collagen Production

You know the bouncy kind of skin that celebrities chalk up to “drinking a lot of water” or “getting a good night’s sleep”? Yeah, this is what they’re actually doing. “Collagen can be likened to skin’s ‘scaffolding,’ and gives skin a more youthful appearance,” says Dr. Engelman. “The regeneration of collagen post-Fraxel makes the skin appear firmer, plumper, and more youthful overall.”

2. Improved Cell Turnover

If your skin texture is looking a little meh, you might just need to speed up the turnover of some of your cells to get rid of the dead ones and show off the glorious, glowy ones sitting just beneath the surface. “The result is brighter, fresher skin and more even texture and tone,” says Dr. Engelman.

3. Reduction in Hyperpigmentation

“Deep laser penetration into the skin barrier is effective for breaking up scar tissue and allowing the skin to regenerate healthily, resulting in improved texture,” says Dr. Engelman. “Shallow penetration into the epidermis breaks up excess melanin and replaces dyspigmented areas with a more even skin tone.” This results in a more even-toned complexion that’s free of melasma or other hyperpigmented spots.

Who Fraxel is right for

If you’re interested in laser resurfacing, you need to consider your lifestyle along with your individual skin concerns. “Like all lasers, Fraxel is not good for people who have an outdoor lifestyle where they cannot avoid sun exposure post-procedure,” says Loretta Ciraldo, MD, a dermatologist and founder of Dr. Loretta Skincare.

She adds that if you have a consultation for a laser, remember to ask a lot of questions of your specific provider for the best results. “Keep in mind that there are now many fractionated lasers and the settings may be adjusted to the person’s tone,” she says. “It is of the utmost importance that you ask many questions before you have laser treatment so you can make a very informed decision on if you should be lasered and which laser is best for your skin.”

Inquire about things like downtime, how many treatments you’ll need to achieve the results you’re after, and which laser will work best for your particular skin type, tone, and concerns.

What a Fraxel session is like

A Fraxel appointment always starts with pre-treatment numbing. The technician will apply a numbing gel all over your face (inevitably, I always get this in my mouth and feel like I’ve undergone dental work; don’t make my mistakes and lick your lips!), and after 30 minutes to an hour, you’re ready to go.

After the laser flicks on, you can definitely feel it working—it reminded me of a fairly aggressive rubber band snapping on my skin every time it pulsed. The laser head is about the size of a nickel, and so it takes repeated triggers to cover the entire area. I didn’t think I would need the cushion-y stress ball that the technician offered me to distract me from the discomfort, but after one-half of my face was treated, I changed my tune. Though there is some (manageable) pain involved, the tip of the laser has a cooling head that helps your skin from feeling too hot—you won’t get the same singed hair-and-skin smell you get with IPL and other types of lasers.

All in all, the procedure takes 20 minutes (on top of the 30 minutes to an hour of numbing) and is followed by 10-ish minutes of icing to reduce the swelling before you’re on your way.

What the recovery is like

Right after:

Days 1 and 2:

“Your skin will most likely feel and look swollen, red, and hot—similar to a sunburn,” says Dr. Engelman. “It’s crucial to stay hydrated and out of the sun, and to regularly apply a cold compress as this is when your skin is at its most fragile state.”

I was actually much more swollen than I’ve ever been with a sunburn, and would instead say that the first day I looked like any one of the Mrs. Doubtfire personas. My face was not my own, but I diligently slathered on the SkinCeuticals HydraBalm ($25) and took an antihistamine, which are regarded to help with swelling. 

A lot of people probably wouldn’t have left the house, but I threw caution to the wind and met a friend for coffee and picked up another friend’s marathon bib with her. I feel like we can start to normalize everyone not looking their best every second of every day, no?

Days 3 and 4

On about day three, right on the clock, the swelling started to subside. “This is when you can slowly start to integrate skin-care products recommended by your provider,” says Dr. Engelman. “Most of these products will focus on hydration, nourishment, and reparation.”

“Fraxel laser boosts collagen production in the skin while vitamin C is known for its role in collagen synthesis, so using it in conjunction may enhance the overall collagen-stimulating effects,” says Dr. Engelman. “Vitamin C is also an essential antioxidant that protects the ski

*Adds to cart.*

Everyone has their own timeline when it comes to healing from a breakup. Some may take several months (or longer) to commit to being alone and practicing self care, and others may feel ready to jump back into dating after a few days, depending on the nature of the relationship. Personally, nearly all my previous breakups took me years to move on from—especially in cases where the breakup wasn’t my idea, or no one did anything wrong. As I’d later learn, part of the reason I had so much difficulty letting go after a breakup was because of my anxious attachment style.

The concept of attachment styles, of which there are four (secure, anxious, avoidant, and disorganized), stems from attachment theory, which says that the relationship you had with your caregiver(s) as an infant and young child informs how you will connect with others in your adult life. Though it’s not a new concept, attachment theory is having a moment on TikTok (the hashtag #attachmentstyles has over 24 million views), as more people turn to the framework to better understand their love life and how they approach and act within relationships… and during breakups.

People with an anxious attachment style, in particular, experience frequent anxiety about potential abandonment, typically due to early childhood experiences with a caregiver who didn’t (or didn’t reliably) meet their emotional needs. As a result, they often seek reassurance from a partner that they still like them and want to be with them.

In grappling with my own attachment issues, I’ve found myself worrying about what my current or potential partners were doing when we were apart, questioning their feelings for me and whether they shared my vision for our future, and essentially waiting to see if they would leave me. It’s no wonder, then, that the eventual breakups sent me spiraling.

“A breakup activates our survival response and triggers our abandonment wound, which can make us feel like we won’t ‘survive’ the breakup.” —Tana Espino, LMFT, psychotherapist

“Attachment is about survival, it develops in infancy, and that gets triggered during breakups if we haven’t healed into a more securely attached system,” says psychotherapist and somatic coach Tana Espino, LMFT. “A breakup activates our survival response and triggers our abandonment wound, which can make us feel like we won’t ‘survive’ the breakup.”

Below, experts share why a breakup hits differently when you have an anxious attachment style and their best advice for making it through. No matter how difficult it may feel if you’re in the wake of your own breakup, it’s important to remember: You’re not alone, and there is hope.

How an anxious attachment style can affect your experience of a breakup

Breakups can be difficult for anyone, but “people with an anxious attachment style often experience breakups more intensely compared to those with other attachment styles,” says Amy Chan, author of Breakup Bootcamp and host of the Breakup Bootcamp podcast. After all, those who have an anxious attachment style have a predilection for feeling abandoned or neglected based on early childhood experiences—which can make breakups feel that much more destabilizing when they happen. And the tendency of anxiously attached people to connect their own sense of identity and self-worth with the validation of a partner can further worsen the experience of a breakup, says Chan.

That’s certainly been true for me. My sense of self-esteem absolutely plummeted when each of my past relationships ended because I had come to base my worth on how much my partner loved me. Whenever one of my partners decided to end things, I felt like I had lost everything—because I had made him my everything. As is typical for anxious attachment, I had let my other relationships with friends and family members fall the wayside and even sacrificed hobbies to focus solely on the relationship and the validation I gained from it, leaving me with seemingly nothing in its wake.

Processing such big feelings of loss or rupture can send the nervous system into overdrive, says Espino, leading someone with an anxious attachment style to react with a fight-or-flight response. “They may start to do whatever is in their power to maintain the connection,” says Espino, “even at the expense of their own needs and values.” This reaction can trigger some irrational and ill-advised decisions, like begging your partner to stay, changing things about your appearance to see if it’ll change their mind, or using physical intimacy as a last-ditch effort to maintain some form of connection with them.

How to heal from a breakup if you have an anxious attachment style

As the saying goes, time heals all wounds. If you struggle with anxious attachment, though, the process of healing from a breakup may take you more time and energy than it would for people who are securely attached, but it will be well worth it in the end. Use these tips to embark on that journey:

Distance yourself from the situation

As tempting as it may be, checking up on your ex’s Instagram or hanging around their favorite local coffee shop and hoping to “run into” them won’t do you any good. (Trust me, I’ve been there, and it never helps.) Rather than keeping yourself in close proximity to the person or situation that has caused you so much pain, Chan says that going no-contact is critical to the healing process.

“This step is crucial because continued interaction can reinforce the neural pathways associated with your ex, making it harder for your brain to adapt to the new reality of the breakup,” says Chan. “By cutting off contact, you enable the process of synaptic pruning, which is the brain’s way of eliminating unnecessary neural connections, facilitating healing, and moving on.”

Steer clear of overthinking

Ruminating on the breakup, why it happened, and what your ex is experiencing or thinking rarely helps. Instead, such overthinking can become a vicious cycle that prolongs your suffering and delays the healing process further, says Chan. “Mind-reading, catastrophizing, and making assumptions about how little they are feeling the impact of the breakup are all cognitive distortions which amplify stress and anxiety,” she explains. “Even if your ex had a secure or avoidant attachment style, chances are, they are processing the grief, too, in their unique way.”

Move your body

“Because a breakup activates our [nervous] system, we need to focus on getting back into a more regulated state and feeling more secure within,” says Espino. To do that, she suggests engaging in somatic work.

That can look like breathwork, meditation, yoga, or even dancing—any physical way you can start to reconnect with your body and ground yourself in self-love and compassion.

Not sure where to start? Try this yoga-for-heartbreak flow:

Seek support from your community

In my own past breakups, I’ve often come to realize just how much time and energy I had invested into my relationship with my former partner—often at the expense of my connections with my friends and family. Weeks or even months would go by where I ignored texts from my girlfriends asking to hang out or forgot to call my mom back, all because I was completely engrossed in the person I was dating. It wasn’t until after a breakup happened that I would realize how important it was to have people in my sphere beyond a partner.

When you’re dealing with anxious attachment during a breakup, leaning on your support system can help remind you that you’re not being abandoned or left alone, and that you are still loved and appreciated. Chan recommends reaching out to those in your life who won’t judge you and will hold space for you to express and process your feelings.

It’s also a good idea to share with them the ways in which you’d like to be supported. “Let them know that you would like a listener who offers empathy rather than advice,” suggests Chan. “Since not everyone knows how to support someone who’s grieving, it’s important to guide them on how best they can assist you.”

Shift your focus to something new

Choosing not to think about your ex or the breakup is often easier said than done, but it’s important to make sure that this former relationship doesn’t occupy all of your present mental and emotional space. (I can say with experience that listening to sad music and scrolling through old pictures of you and your ex won’t do you any favors.)

Instead of giving into self-punishment, engaging in new activities that will distract you from the breakup can help remind you that there are better things on the horizon. “Whether it’s learning a new skill, meeting new people, or traveling to new places, these experiences help your brain evolve and adapt, reducing the dominance of neural pathways linked to your ex,” says Chan. “This approach effectively reshapes your neural landscape, aiding in the recovery process.”

A few ideas? You can set up a standing movie night with your friends, meet up with your coworkers for happy hour, or try a new workout class in your area. Even starting a new ritual or routine, like taking long walks with your dog every morning or checking out a weekly farmer’s market, can help you build a new life and positive reality without your ex. “It’s okay to have healthy distractions while we are healing from a breakup, in order to bring ourselves more ease,” says Espino.

Here are my honest thoughts.

Whether you like exercising at home, at the gym, or on the go, one handy tool can help take your workout to the next level: workout sliders. Also referred to as exercise gliders, ab sliders, exercise disc sliders, or strength slides, these pieces of equipment are small, making them easy to take when you travel, and, the best part, they’re relatively affordable. If you’re curious about exercise sliders and want to try them, fitness experts say these are the best ones worth your dollars.

Read on for details, plus answers to all your pressing slider questions, including whether they are worth it and ways to incorporate them into your workouts.

7 best workout sliders, according to fitness pros

Your nervous system is primed to react in a big way, but that doesn’t mean you’re doomed.

Fun fact: The skin on your scalp ages faster than the skin anywhere else on your body—and the effects are written all over your strands. While multi-step skin-care routines prioritize longevity by smoothing, brightening, and tightening, such a focus hasn’t extended to the hair on our head. Come 2024, though, prepare to rethink your hair-care routine with longevity in mind, thanks to the help of a slew of new product launches that aim to keep hair as healthy as possible—for as long as possible. 

The last three years of hair innovations have focused on nourishing our scalps with skin-care-infused formulas and regrowing our strands in the wake of pandemic-induced hair loss. But all of these solutions target your current hair needs instead of looking to the future. That’s about to change. “We’ve seen a lot of women going through hair thinning, especially after COVID, and just accepting it because we’re all so programmed to think that having fine or brittle hair is just a part of aging,” says Sofia Baig, a hair-care expert and the lead trichologist for Monpure, a brand that launched in 2020 and focuses on scalp health. “There are so many treatments out there [to stave off the effects of visible skin aging], but what about hair care?” 

To understand the importance of hair wellness in the context of longevity, it’s key to first understand what happens to the hair as we age and why. “The scalp ages more quickly than the skin on your body, because we’re applying products and using heat and chemicals on the hair,” says Baig. She says other factors, including genetics, diet, exercise, and other lifestyle habits—essentially anything connected to causing inflammation—can also impact how your hair ages. Additionally, research has shown that oxidative stress—which happens as a result of free radical damage from things like pollution, sun exposure, and hard water and keeps your cells from functioning properly—can significantly speed up the hair aging process by compromising your hair strands before they even break the surface of your scalp. 

All of these factors translate into tangible changes to your hair. “As we age, our hair follicles go through a process called miniaturization, in which their size decreases over time,” says Baig. “And when that happens, your hair’s not as dense, you’re losing hair as you go…and hair can become dry, brittle, and prone to breakage.” And there’s also graying due to pigment loss. None of these outcomes are bad, wrong, or problematic in any way—but for folks who want to stave off or minimize these changes, a new class of options are welcome. 

“I believe consumers these days are more interested in what is happening [to their hair] and how they fix it. Rather than just looking for something to cover up an imperfection, they want a solution,” says Debby Vellozzi, head of product development at hair- and scalp-care brand Virtue Labs. The brand’s products use a patented protein, Alpha Keratin 60ku, which repairs hair damage from chronological aging, environmental factors, heat styling, and chemical processing. Its newest launch, a gray-friendly ColorKick Mask that hit the market earlier this year, provides hydration and shine to keep aging hair from looking dry and dull.   

Vellozzi says the trend she’s been seeing in preventative skin care over the last few years (hello, SPF and antioxidants) has begun to make its way into the hair-care arena. Many “people start using skin treatments at the first sign of wrinkles,” says Vellozzi, pointing to these visible changes as signposts for skin aging. By comparison, the first signs of hair aging may be dryness, frizzing, or thinning. “If we start using products that can actually make a difference in our hair and scalp health, we maintain the beauty of our hair longer,” she adds.

A big ethos of the preventative hair-care movement is going skin (well, scalp) deep. Hairstylists often “recommend treatments that last four to six weeks or products that last until you wash the hair again, says Jay Small, co-founder of Arey, one of the brands leading the charge in hair longevity. “But for us [at Arey], it was about looking below the surface of the scalp and figuring out what the hair follicle needed to grow a softer hair strand, or have more color, or be thicker and fuller.” 

This line of thinking led to the brand’s first-of-its-kind “Not Today, Grey” supplement in 2020, which contains targeted vitamins, nutrients, and antioxidants to help maintain pigment in the strands. T

Slide into your best shape!

In 2024, the crisp and uplifting aroma of walking into a luxury hotel won’t just be reserved for vacation, nor will the peaceful scent of a spa be reserved for a self-care special occasion. That’s because the home fragrance market is entering its quiet luxury era. While it’s not a new concept to use scented home products like dish soaps, candles, diffusers, laundry detergents, and the like, the offerings are certainly evolving and growing more pervasive in terms of transportive, mood-boosting, and personalization capabilities. And the overall category is rising fast: A November 2023 Market Report predicts the global home fragrance market to reach $19.4 billion by 2030, rising at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 8.6 percent starting this year.

According to Pamela Dalton, PhD, MPH, experimental psychologist and scent researcher, one reason for the growing interest in elevating one’s home fragrance is the increased time at home many spent during the pandemic. “People were interested in bringing scents into their homes, and changing them on a fairly regular basis,” says Dr. Dalton, who has spent her career studying the relationship between smell and cognitive and emotional processes. 

Fragrance brand DedCool, which launched in 2016 and previously specialized solely in personal scent, expanded into the home fragrance market in the spring of 2023, launching a collection of laundry detergents, dryer sheets, linen sprays, and candles with sophisticated fragrance notes and ingredients (think clementine and amber rather than your standard “fresh linen”). DedCool founder Carina Chaz says the new home product line now makes up roughly 30 to 40 percent of the company’s revenue, thanks in part to the brand’s successful collaboration this year with hair-care brand Ouai on scented dryer sheets and laundry detergent. Chaz says the company has enjoyed a 136 percent total revenue increase since the beginning of 2023, and in 2024, anticipates a year-over-year revenue growth rate of more than 250 percent. 

“The home fragrance category has definitely been booming for the past few years,” says Greta Pagel, fragrance director of Illume, a home and personal fragrance brand owned by Regent Holdings Company that’s been around since the early 2000s, and Good Chemistry, a more affordable sister brand that launched in 2018 as a Target exclusive. Pagel says that Illume experienced a 45 percent sales growth year over year, following its June 2022 collection expansion into refillable, focus-boosting candles and diffusers. She adds that Good Chemistry’s customer retention has grown alongside its expansion into Walmart, Whole Foods, and H.E.B., in addition to Target; the returning customer rate is up nearly 30 percent from 2022. 

Pagel attributes the growth of both Illume and Good Chemistry to a consumer interest in cultivating a peaceful, relaxing, and pleasant environment through scent that’s distinct from outside environments, like the office. This isn’t just wishful thinking: Dr. Dalton says our olfactory systems (aka our nose) and brains are closely linked, and research shows that certain smells can affect people’s mood to make them calmer, or more energized. 

As such, fragrance businesses have doubled down on creating mood-enhancing scents specifically crafted to evoke certain emotions. In August 2023, Febreze unveiled its new Mood Collection of AIR Mists after its consumer research found buyers were specifically seeking scent as a means to boost their mood. Aromatherapy company Aura Cacia launched its Air Care Blends line of essential oils, rooms sprays, and toilet sprays this year due in part to consumer research that demonstrated more customers wanted to address their mental well-being and indoor air quality through home fragrance products. Laura Kuykendall, senior vice president of marketing, says the collection will be available in more retailers come spring of 2024.

Home cleaning product brand Safely, co-founded by Kris Jenner and Green Seal-certified for meeting high environmental, health, and performance standards, has played with the relationship between emotion and smell since its founding in 2021. Its three hallmark scents, released in 2022—Calm, Rise, Bright—aim to evoke positive moods from the person using the brand’s dish liquids, laundry detergents, and disinfectants. (The Calm scent, for example, uses lavender; Bright uses energizing citrus notes.) Safely president Jelina Saliu says the brand’s intention is to make cleaning more of a joyous act of self care through scent. For example, “with our detergent, we developed it so that the scents stick. We were able to build this formula to last the washing, rinsing, and drying cycle, so that when you finally wear your clothes, all you’re smelling is that yummy-smelling detergent, says Saliu. The brand continues grew at triple-digit rates this year, thanks largely to its laundry product.

Mental well-being through fragrance will be a theme in forthcoming product launches, too. According to Carol Han Pyle, founder of the sustainable candle company Nette, several of the brand’s soon-to-be-announced 2024 launches “will be scientifically backed to have an effect on human emotion, like boosting feelings of joy or confidence or relaxation.” Similarly, Pura, a fragrance brand originally founded in 2014 that sells a wall plug-in diffuser you can control with your smartphone, says it plans to release a new wellness-focused scent line that’s specifically formulated to elevate the user’s mood. “We’re making fragrances that scientifically improve your well-being and your mental health, so we’re really excited for that launch soon,” teases Pura’s personal relations and brand manager Gabby Wahlin. 

Scent and sound can transport you to a different world, and apart from self care, escapism through scent continues to be a common thread among home fragrance brands. “You know, a fragrance is a pretty simple way to make you feel like you’re in a different environment. It’s a pretty cheap way to take a vacation,” says Dr. Dalton.

Move mindfully.

A decade ago, there was a treatment called Profhilo that women in certain circles of New York City’s upper crust were clamoring about. Not yet available in the United States, they’d board private jets and set off to Paris to see the doctor who many speculated to be Kate Middleton’s dermatologist.

A week or so after getting Profhilo, they’d emerge from Chanel-ed cocoons with bouncy, juicy skin that looked so gleamy that people would speculate how they’d achieved it. The answer? Around 30 or so injections to each side of the face, distributing an injectable moisturizer comprised of hyaluronic acid. And now, a new rendition of this treatment called Skinvive has arrived stateside for those of us without trans-continental dermatologists.

When neuromodulators, like Botox, and injectable fillers like Juvederm and Restylane, first arrived on the market, people were skeptical and judgemental about the need to put a needle in your skin for a desired effect. Research indicates that adoption of both Botox and filler is becoming more widespread, with one McKinsey report noting that “social stigmas around injectables may be receding and even that inaction may be regarded as self-neglect.”

Suffice it to say, we are long past the needle-weary days, and many of the best things you can do for your skin occur in the dermatologist’s office, including this new-to-market moisturizer.

What is Skinvive?

Skinvive is a microdroplet hyaluronic acid injectable that’s put into the skin with a needle. “Unlike other injectable hyaluronic acids on the market that provide volume and change the contour of the face, Skinvive is meant to work as an injectable skin hydrator without adding volume, targeting skin quality, improving texture, hydration, and general skin radiance,” says Carmen Castilla, MD, M.D, a board-certified dermatologist at New York Dermatology Group and clinical instructor at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Hyaluronic acid is a known humectant that holds 1,000 times its weight in water, making it a great contributor to skin hydration. According to Dr. Castilla, the major store of hyaluronic acid is in the dermal layer. We’re all born with naturally occurring hyaluronic acid in our skin; however, as we age, our skin’s stores of it deplete.

This leaves skin looking like it has less volume than usual, and it can also make it appear duller. Injectors fix the first issue with fillers that restore plumpness to our complexions, and they fix the latter with Skinvive, “which replenishes depleted hyaluronic acid stores leading to an increased ability to retain water and ultimately improving skin quality,” says Dr. Castilla.

This would either be a good option for someone who is looking to improve the early signs of skin aging and skin quality but not someone looking to target volume loss, or it should be used in conjunction with another product to help restore volume to the skin’s areas.

Typically, a single Skinvive treatment lasts six months, with the body metabolizing the product over time, according to Mona Gohara, MD, a board-certified New Haven-based dermatologist. Importantly, this is a mega-leap from what Profhilo offered with month-long results that kept those private jets plenty busy.

What does a Skinvive treatment feel like?

I found myself again sitting in NYC dermatologist Dendy Engelman MD’s chair at the Fifth Avenue Shaffer Clinic (my Paris). Dr. Engelman, who had recently seen me for my initial into Fraxel, numbed my cheeks and told me to wait for about 30 minutes. While some doctors forgo this step, you’re getting poked many times over, and it’s nice to be able to soften the jab.

After I was numbed, Dr. Engelman came back into the office and prepped the product. I looked to the side, and she pricked me with the needle roughly thirty times on each cheek. The injections wouldn’t have been any big deal—they largely felt like a Botox injection—except that there were so many more of them than I’m used to.

Even still, from the time the first prick happened to the last measured around ten or 15 minutes. As with filler, the results were close to immediate (though, importantly, the brand says that results truly develop over the course of a couple of weeks). I saw an improvement in the texture of my skin, and as the days went by it helped to take down some of the rosacea that I have in my cheeks.

What else to know about Skinvive

Right now, the only on-label use (a term that means it’s been approved by the Food and Drug Administration, the entity that regulates cosmetic procedures) is for the cheeks. However, Dr. Castilla surmises that it’s likely to be used off-label (or in ways that the FDA hasn’t approved) for places like the decolletage and the backs of the hands.

Importantly, Skinvive doesn’t necessarily take the place of your moisturizers or serums, but rather works with them. “It has been shown to increase aquaporins in the skin, which are channels in the cell membrane that control the flow of water into and out of the cells,” says Dr. Castilla. “Increasing aquaporins in the cell membrane can allow for water to diffuse into the cells more readily, which can help with hydration.”

In tandem with Skinvive, Dr. Castilla also encourages using sunscreen and products that amp up your own stores of collagen and elastin. For those looking for treatments to pair with Skinvive, she says to look to resurfacing lasers that boost collagen and elastin and improve skin quality, along with chemical peels or mico-needling to improve the overall skin texture.

It’s a grooming godsend.

Calling all potato heads! By now, you’ve likely tried more than your fair share of nourishing potato recipes and landed on your go-to favorites (hi, melting potatoes). In light of potatoes being one of the most versatile and nutritious ingredients to 4ever know and love, we’re here to shake up—and colorize—your side of fries with a new delicious recipe starring purple potatoes.

On the latest episode of Well+Good’s #WorkFromHomeLunch series, Brooklyn-based chef and media personality Elena Besser shows how to make a protein-packed, one-pot purple potatoes recipe (plus a creamy tahini sauce to drizzle on top) that’s sure to blow your spuds, err, socks off.

 

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The health benefits of purple potatoes abound

While picking a preferred spud may feel like choosing a favorite child (read: impossible), it’s dissimilar in that you really can’t go wrong no matter which you choose. Today, we’re shining a light on purple potatoes, which have uniquely high antioxidant levels to help keep inflammation at bay.

According to Blue Zones founder and longevity expert Dan Buettner, purple potatoes are one of the top ingredients he recommends for boosting longevity, highlighting his research sourced from healthy aging hotspot Okinawa, Japan, where purple potatoes are a staple food in many local diets.

It’s no secret that purple potatoes pack a lot of nutrition in one small serving. Buettner tells Well+Good that purple sweet potatoes are rich in complex carbohydrates, which tend to supersede simple carbohydrates in terms of several nutrition markers, such as gut-healthy fiber content. Additionally, they contain plant-based protein, and and array of important vitamins and minerals—especially vitamin C, potassium, and other key electrolytes. But the real standout is purple potatoes’ high antioxidant levels. “Purple potatoes contain three times more antioxidants [anthocyanins] than blueberries and they have three times more vitamin C than regular sweet potatoes,” Buettner says. Most importantly, they’re delicious: Think creamy, nutty-earthy-slightly-sweet perfection.

“Purple potatoes contain three times more antioxidants [anthocyanins] than blueberries and they have three times more vitamin C than regular sweet potatoes.”
—Dan Buettner, Blue Zones founder

Tahini, the other star ingredient in this recipe, also needs a well-deserved shoutout for flavor and health perks. Topline facts: Sesame seeds (the base ingredient in tahini) are packed with hearty-healthy oils that have been linked to lower risk of heart disease. They also contain key antioxidants and micronutrients (like vitamin E and zinc) that help reduce inflammation, too.

Best part of this purple potato recipe: It requires minimal hands-on time to make. The longest part will be bringing a pot of hot water to a boil. From there, you’ll simply cook your delicious purple potatoes to fork-tender perfection, while simultaneously making perfectly jammy hard-boiled eggs (in the same pot!). Finally, to bring it all together, you’ll layer your high-protein potato and eggs with some quick-pickled onions, leafy herbs, and a sweet and tangy tahini sauce. Ding-ding.

Purple potatoes recipe with creamy tahini sauce

Yields 2-3 servings

Ingredients 

1 to 1 1/2-pound bag, creamer potatoes (preferably purple)
3 large eggs
1 small red onion, halved, peeled, and thinly sliced
1 Tsp maple syrup, divided
1/2 cup vinegar (white, apple cider, red wine, white wine, etc.)
1 clove garlic, peeled and grated
Juice and zest of 1 lemon
1 cup parsley, leaves and tender stems
Extra-virgin olive oil
3/4 cups tahini
Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1. Add the purple potatoes to a pot. Fill it with cold water and add a quarter cup of kosher salt. Bring it to a boil. Then, reduce to a simmer, and cook until the potatoes are tender when pierced with a knife, about 15 to 20 minutes.
2. Lower the eggs into the simmering water and cook for seven minutes, transfer to an ice bath to stop the cooking process, peel, and set them aside. When the potatoes are cooked, drain, and set them aside.
3. Meanwhile, prepare the quick-pickled onions. In a mason jar combine vinegar, two teaspoons kosher salt, a half a teaspoon maple syrup and one cup warm water. Seal and shake to combine. Add onions, seal, and shake to combine again. Set it aside.
4. In a food processor or blender combine garlic, the juice and zest of one lemon, parsley, a half a cup of cold water, one tablespoon of olive oil, one half teaspoon of maple syrup, and one half teaspoon kosher salt. Blend it until smooth. Then, add in the tahini and blend again. Adjust the seasoning to taste.
5. Toss potatoes in a bowl with olive oil and season with flaky salt.
6. To plate, spread the tahini sauce on the bottom of a plate, top it with potatoes, and halved soft-boiled eggs, top it with pickled onions, drizzle with olive oil and top it with flaky salt, and freshly ground black pepper. Enjoy!

“Purple potatoes contain three times more antioxidants than blueberries.”

In many ways, there’s never been a better time to buy a sex toy. Advances in tech, plus a huge cultural shift on the stigma front, means that there are all kinds of innovative companies making game-changing pleasure products. Vibrators, suction toys, dildos, harnesses, and more… there’s something for almost any kind of experience. However, there’s one key demographic that’s been left out of the sex toy boom, and that’s people with disabilities.

Depending on one’s accessibility needs, finding the correct sex toy amid a sea of options can be confusing, overwhelming, and hard. Not only do you have to factor in what you’re hoping to get out of a sex toy (like clitoral stimulation, or penetration), you also have to decipher which toys are optimized for your particular disability. For example, someone with a visual impairment may struggle with devices that rely on intricate details and small buttons, whereas someone with a limited range of motion, like arthritis, may need a hands-free option or something with a more ergonomic design. Meanwhile, those with communication disabilities may have a hard time conveying their needs or adjusting the overall settings.

Unlike other items you purchase at a store, you can’t really try sex toys on and return them if the shoe doesn’t fit. So it’s essential to go into the experience of purchasing a sex toy with a bit of research. For people with disabilities, finding a toy that works with your body rather than against it is crucial in fulfilling satisfaction. Some sex toys may lack flexibility or be too physically demanding for folks who have limited mobility or who have trouble gripping objects or holding heavy ones for too long. People with cognitive disabilities, for example, may benefit from toys with simplified controls and automatic vibrations, as opposed to toys with more complex interfaces.

“People don’t think about accessibility the right way. It’s not about one thing being accessible. For example, what’s accessible for someone who uses a wheelchair may be different than someone who has PTSD.” —Grayson Schultz, founder, Chronic Sex

But pleasure—and the items that can enhance it—shouldn’t be (and isn’t!) off-limits to people with disabilities. Keep reading for a guide on how to find the perfect sex toy for people with disabilities, and a sampling of some of the best expert-approved options on the market.

How can the use of sex toys improve the sex lives of people with disabilities?

Depending on one’s disability, adding sex toys to the mix can make sex more pleasurable and overall a lot easier. Whether someone has a neurological or mobility disability, sex toys can fill a gap that pleasure without toys can’t fill. Toys often offer an enhanced level of stimulation (particularly through vibration or suction) that can be difficult to achieve on one’s own, providing people with autonomy over their bodies to experience satisfaction in ways that may be challenging without them.

Accessibility, however, is not a one-size-fits-all situation. As mentioned earlier, the perfect toy for you or your partner’s needs is contingent on what accessibility means to your body. Grayson Schultz, accessibility-focused sex educator and founder of Chronic Sex, shares, “Often, people don’t think about accessibility the right way. It’s not about one thing being accessible. For example, what’s accessible for someone who uses a wheelchair may be different than someone who has PTSD, another person who doesn’t have grip strength, and still someone else who is blind.”

In other words, accessibility comes in all shapes and sizes. Just because one sex toy is labeled accessible on the box does not mean it will be inclusive to everyone’s needs. People in a wheelchair are more likely to need toys that can be mounted or have flexibility options that maneuver easily; those with PTSD can opt for more gentle vibrations and adjustable settings for a potentially less triggering, gentler experience; likewise, individuals without grip strength may need a hands-free or app-controlled device.

“Sometimes, the accessibility needs anyone has can even cause an accessibility issue for someone else,” adds Schultz. “For example, if someone is blind, maybe having a toy with bumps on the control buttons will make it more accessible. But those bumps might set off a flare-up if you have certain chronic pain conditions. So, there’s no one-way accessibility that exists or appears. It’s all about meeting someone where they’re at and making life as accessible as possible,” he says.

Even vibrators, a staple in the sex-toy industry, isn’t a one-size-fits-all option for folks with disabilities. “Some disabilities might mean a person doesn’t feel sensation as intensely as another. In their case, a sex toy with a bigger vibration might help them access sex more easily. For another person with sensory processing disorder, any vibration could mean that toy is unusable,” Schultz shares. (They might get overwhelmed by the sensation or changing patterns.)

What to look for in a sex toy that meets your needs

To figure out exactly what you’re looking for when it comes to your needs, Carol Queen, Ph.D., an in-house sexologist at Good Vibes, says, “The best way to work through finding what you need is thinking about what kind of sexual experiences you’d like to explore that a toy might facilitate. Different toys do different things, so thinking about what you want to experience and what you want assistance with can help,” Dr. Queen says.

Once you’ve narrowed down the type of experience you want (and what kind of toy is likely to facilitate it), it’s critical to check that the materials and ingredients used are non-toxic and non-porous. “The non-porous issue is incredibly important if you’re going to be using any toy internally or in a way that it will come into contact with bodily fluid or lube,” says Schultz, since you risk introducing bacteria. (The gold standard: silicone, which Schultz says is non-porous and easy to clean.) Avoid gel or jelly toys which can cause burns and harbor bacteria, he adds.

These materials rules can apply to everyone of all abilities, but paying attention to the ingredients list is especially important for people with multiple chemical sensitivities or reduced immune systems. A brand can label itself as “natural” without providing any backup. Pay attention to these claims and always ask an employee at a shop (or a brand’s FAQ or customer service pages online) to confirm when avoiding certain ingredients.

Next, look into the toy’s controls, read the reviews, and analyze all the features. How tired and weary a toy makes you is something highly important to consider. Sex toys can easily cause fatigue from both the strength and motion of the device. Consider the weight of the object, how easily it can be turned off, and if it will allow you to take breaks as needed to lessen exhaustion.

Dr. Carol says that companies like Good Vibes and Babeland list strength ratings for vibes, which benefit those who need a stronger or milder toy because of sensory issues.

We can’t forget the huge role lube plays with sex toys, especially for folks with disabilities who need to be mindful of certain ingredients. “Lube can be a great addition to any sexual experience; however, users should make sure the lube they are choosing is compatible with the device materials,” says Megwyn White, certified sexologist and director of education at Satisfyer. “If using a silicone-based lube, make sure to stay away from silicone devices; however, water-based lube is compatible with any device material.” If applicable to one’s disability, make sure to opt for hypoallergenic options to prevent reactions and ensure the product can easily be cleaned up. And consider the packaging of the lube. Dispensers or easy-to-squeeze bottles are likely a better choice for someone who struggles with fine motor skills.

All our sources recommend making sure your toys have at least a year-long warranty so you can get the most out of your money should there be any issues. If you have the ability to shop in person, ensure there are no chemical smells on the materials, and the vibration and controls are up to your standards. Going to an education-based sex store to ask questions about what you’re looking for and work with the staff is a great way to ensure that you’re going to get a toy that works well for your interests and needs. If going in person is inaccessible, working with a disability-focused sex educator (like Schultz) virtually will work just as well.

All three of our sources shared the below resources and sex stores that cater to people with disabilities. If you’re not located by the suggested stores, you can virtually contact the educators who work there to discuss your exact needs.

Disability-friendly sex education stores:

• Come As You Are in Toronto
• Smitten Kitten in Minneapolis
• Cute Little Fuckers: A queer-owned, trans-owned, disabled-owned company whose mission is to make authentic sexual expression as inclusive and accessible as possible.
• Satisfyer offers a wide variety of sexual wellness devices that can satisfy the needs of all users, regardless of abilities, all at an accessible price point.
• Dallas Novelty has a list of accessible toys that exist and may be helpful or fun for you.

Sex education materials for people with disabilities: 

• The Ultimate Guide to Sex & Disability, written by Cory Silverberg and his colleague Miriam Kaufman. Although it was written 20 years ago, it’s very relevant and quite comprehensive.
• A Quick and Easy Guide to Sex & Disability by A. Andrews.

The best sex toys for people with disabilities

Pleasure should be accessible for everyone.

With the temperatures dropping and the sun setting earlier comes the urge to be as cozy as possible at any given moment.

For me, loungewear is a year-round essential, but especially in the winter when I sit in my chilly Boston apartment typing away. My barometer for buying clothes has turned into “will this make me feel like I’m wrapped in a blanket?” and if it doesn’t, it’s not worth purchasing, IMO.

I’m always on the hunt for cute, Zoom-appropriate sets that will keep me warm during my least favorite season, so I was thrilled when I stumbled upon the Nike Phoenix Fleece collection—specifically the over-oversized crewneck sweatshirt and high-waisted wide-leg sweatpants combo, which checked every box on my list.

First and foremost, this fleece sweatsuit set is *so* snuggly—even after you wash it (just make sure to follow the wash instructions). When I tell you I would legitimately wear it for a week straight if I could, I’m not lying. It’s that cozy.

It also nails that perfectly oversized look (aka my favorite type of fit) where it’s fashionably baggy without crossing the line of looking like an Adam Sandler outfit. I’m 5’4″ and got the standard length, which were a teensy bit too long so next time I might opt for the short length—and there will be a next time, because I officially want them in every color.

It’s become my favorite outfit to wear while I work from home because the sweatshirt looks nice enough to be worn during my Zoom meetings (hey, this *is* a wellness company) and it keeps me comfortable while I write. On the other hand, it also leaves me feeling put together enough to wear it out and about, and I’ve donned it everywhere from dinner with friends to walks around the neighborhood with my dog.

Plus, I love how I can wear it as a set or separates, making it extremely versatile. I’ve worn the sweatshirt with a collared shirt underneath and black jeans for more of a classy look, while I’ve paired the sweatpants with a crop top for that tiny-shirt-big-pants combo that’s on trend right now.

This fleece sweatsuit also does some good for the environment, because it’s made with Nike’s recycled polyester, which is made from plastic bottles that are cleaned, shredded into flakes, converted into pellets, and then spun into a high-quality yarn—diverting an average of one billion plastic bottles annually from landfills and waterways. This recycled polyester also lowers carbon emissions by up to 30 percent, as compared to regular polyester, so you can feel good about your purchase.

Overall, I cannot recommend this sweatsuit enough if you’re looking for some cozy clothes to get you through the winter. Like I said, I love it so much that I’ve already ordered it in another color, which is basically the highest form of praise clothing can get from me.

Four tips from an eating disorder therapist.

Low lighting, candles, and large brass gongs might come to mind when you think about doing yoga for stress relief. But you actually don’t need anything fancy to tap into the calming benefits of yoga. Mostly, you’ll just want to focus on your movement and on your breath.

“Yoga is a wonderful physical workout using your bodyweight to train, […] but as we have seen, it’s also a mental workout,” Heather Peterson, chief yoga officer at CorePower Yoga, previously told Well+Good about the mental health benefits of yoga. “This multifaceted approach to health is what makes yoga an incredible physical-mental practice.”

And amid the busy holiday season, workouts that appeal to our mental health are great pracitices. This December, Well+Good’s Trainer of the Month Club video series aims to promote mental well-being. First up is a 20-minute yoga flow meant to induce calm and help you connect with your body..

Why yoga can help reduce stress

As with a moving meditation practice, having something physical, like a yoga flow, to occupy your thoughts can help you be in the present moment—which means keeping rumination or other stressful mental distractions at bay. This tenet of meditation is helpful for stress relief because it prevents you from considering the past or worrying about the future.

Connecting that movement to breath can also help you double down on using yoga for stress relief; studies have demonstrated that controlled breathing can help with stress.

Since yoga focuses on movement and breath, which have mental health benefits on their own, it’s no surprise that a consistent practice can benefit your mind in powerful ways. In fact, a 2019 meta-analysis of studies found that it takes just eight weeks of yoga to relieve stress. “We found that those who had done yoga for eight weeks had an attenuated cortisol response to stress that was associated with better performance on tests of decision-making, task-switching and attention,” Neha Gothe, PhD, who led the research with Wayne State University, previously told Well+Good. (Coristol, the stress hormone, can wreak havoc on everything from your immunity to your digestion to your fertility.)

“What neurologists and physicians are finding out is that our body and mind are not as separate as was thought,” Peterson says. “Addressing your mental health practices in conjunction with your physical health practices is the way to raise your baseline of well-being.”

How to do yoga for stress relief

Excuse the less-than-zen language, but having the one-two punch of movement and breath can help you tap into the benefits of yoga. Laying on the floor in a savasana for 20 minutes doing deep breathing might seem helpful, but it could also lead your mind to wander or ruminate if you don’t already have a meditation practice. Conversely, moving from chaturanga to warrior three to boat pose might challenge you physically, but if you’re moving with the aim of impressing others or ticking off some achievement, you might not find the practice to be particularly calming.

Breathing can help bring it all together. Paris Alexandra, the co-founder of the Brooklyn Wellness Club, demonstrates how during a stress-reducing yoga flow (video below!). When you are focusing on your breath and “honoring where you are on your next inhale,” as Alexandra puts it, you can make each movement about connecting your body and your state of mind. Breath can help bring a rhythm to your flow, give you something to focus on, and help you make sure you’re tuned in to the needs of your body.

Establishing that rhythm from the get-go is paramount in Alexandra’s flow, which she co-leads with yoga teacher Alicia Ferguson. But this 20-minute yoga for stress relief practice is not all about breathing and gentle stretching, either. Meaning: Get ready to sweat. You’ll begin by establishing that connection to breath in a series of tabletop exercises, like cat cow. Next, you’ll move into more challenging standing series, including a warrior two sun salutation, a transition featuring chair poses and planks, and a lunge series. Remember to keep breathing through it all!

Next, you’ll make your way down to the mat for core work with some side planks and leg lifts with twists, rounding out the practice with stretches and a savasana.

Ready to let the good vibes flow? Pair your inhales and exhales with your yoga moves and to check in with the level of stretch and challenge you want throughout.