Índex per December 2019 a Shape

A nutrient powerhouse As seaweed floats through the ocean, it absorbs the vitamins and minerals in the water. “As a result, seaweed becomes a dense concentration of those vitamins and minerals, as well as phytohormones and amino acids,” says Lydia Sarfati, the founder and CEO of seaweed-based skin-care brand Repêchage. All these attributes make it an incredibly promising and potent skin-care ingredient. It’s also worth noting that human plasma and seawater are chemically alike. “Because of this, seaweed has a great bioaffinity to the skin, perhaps greater than any other natural ingredient,” Sarfati says. A sea of skin benefits There are tens of thousands of seaweed varieties. Depending where they grow and what minerals are in the water, the extracts can be rich in everything from antioxidants like skin-brightening vitamin…

More than 60 percent of women say their skin is sensitive, but most of them don’t actually have chronic sensitive skin, says New York City dermatologist Michelle Henry, M.D. “Many women are experiencing what we call sensitized skin,” she says. “That’s when something in the environment changes the skin’s normal function. The results are a stinging sensation, burning, and physical markers like redness.” Here are the three most likely causes—and the path back to normal. YOU’VE OVERLOADED ON PRODUCTS Today’s potent, multistep skin-care regimens are the leading cause of sensitized skin. “Many of my patients come in with inflamed skin and then pull out their huge bag of skin-care products,” says dermatologist Dhaval Bhanusali, M.D. “They may have a complex routine with 10 to 15 steps that are based on…

Cardio is the ultimate mood booster, both for the instant workout high and your overall state of mind. Regarding the latter, it increases key proteins like BDNF (brain-derived neurotropic factor). “Low levels of BDNF predict risk of depression,” says Jennifer J. Heisz, Ph.D., a kinesiologist at McMaster University in On-tario, Canada. Both steady cardio and HIIT spark BDNF, but HIIT produces more. In time, that uptick means the creation of more brain cells in the hippocampus—a region you want to pump up. “The hippocampus is involved in shutting off the stress response, [cutting off] the levels of stress hormone cortisol throughout the body,” Heisz says. In a study at McMaster, six weeks of either steady cardio or HIIT protected former couch potatoes from depression. One caveat: Go steady if you’re…

Be Waterproof NEAL SCHULTZ, M.D. Dermatologist in New York City, creator of BeautyRx by Dr. Schultz skin care ELLEN MARMUR, M.D. Dermatologist, founder of Marmur Medical in New York City DAVID E. BANK, M.D. Director of the Center for Dermatology, Cosmetic and Laser Surgery in Mount Kisco, New York NUNZIO SAVIANO Hairstylist, product developer, and salon owner in New York City GITA BASS Celebrity makeup artist for Simple skin care MONA GOHARA, M.D. Dermatologist for Dove Beauty Bar & Body Wash skin care ELIZABETH K. HALE, M.D. Clinical associate professor of dermatology at NYU Langone Medical Center LORETTA CIRALDO, M.D. Dermatologist in Miami, creator of Dr. Loretta skin care JOELY KAUFMAN, M.D. Voluntary associate professor of dermatology at University of Miami Miller School of Medicine SARAH LUCERO Celebrity makeup…

A new crop of fragrances contains notes that could easily be in a drink you’d sip by the fire—cloves, pumpkin, chai, rum, ginger—“these scents are warming and enveloping,” says perfumer Marie Salamagne, whose Whispers in the Library fragrance is a blend of pepper and vanilla. Alongside rich spices are smoky notes “that create a sense of balance and calm,” says Francisco Costa, the founder of Costa Brazil and creator of the lightable resin shown here. The end result: harmonic aromas that make you feel content and toasty.…

Karolina Kurkova was only 15 when she figured out that the way she felt inside was reflected on her skin. As a successful supermodel, “I would travel for 16 hours and then be on a photo shoot for 16 hours, so I learned quickly that I needed to take care of myself to sustain that pace and my glow. I started getting acupuncture to balance my chi, working out, meditating, and thinking of food as fuel that helped me perform.” Today, at age 35, the mom of two has a thriving modeling career and wellness company, and she’s added a few components to her self-care regime. “I’ve found that when I connect to nature, others [family, friends, community], and myself, I feel and look my best,” Kurkova says. “So I…

Hormonal fluctuations that let certain neurons in our brains talk to one another more easily may contribute to the mood symptoms of PMS, according to a study in the journal Trends in Neuro-sciences. Better communication sounds like a good thing, but it leads to a heightened reaction to stress and negative emotions, the researchers say. Luckily, science has also discovered new ways to even out your hormone levels, which in turn calm your brain and mellow your mood. These are the four most effective. Go Alternative Acupuncture can ease the severity of PMS symptoms, a recent review in Cochrane Library shows. The therapy may reduce inflammation and increase the body’s production of its own painkillers, both of which can help ease premenstrual irritability and anxiety, says Mike Armour, Ph.D.,…

Bold. Vegetable forward. Exciting. This is what today’s stews look and taste like, thanks to creative combinations of spices, condiments, and sauces and lots of fresh ingredients. “As the diversity of our pantries keeps growing, Americans are tapping into a multitude of flavors for stews,” says John Becker, a coauthor, with Megan Scott, of the new edition of Joy of Cooking. The techniques for making the dish have also changed to incorporate a variety of textures, including crunch, and layers of different tastes for richness and complexity. Turn the page to learn all the secrets, plus get a recipe for our new favorite veggie stew. Build Bold Flavor LAY THE FOUNDATION Start your stew with a sofrito, a combination of aromatics (like onion and garlic) and vegetables (like carrots, peppers,…

“Champagne cocktails mixed with flavorful combinations of spirits and fruits modernize the tradition of bubbles for the holidays,” says Aneka Saxon, a bartender at Machine in Chicago, who created this delicious trio. “The champagne enhances the flavors of the other ingredients, plus the effervescent finish is so special.” Mix them up and serve, or present them as a fun DIY flight: Set out the fixings, and let guests make their own. Hibiscus Cocktail Pour 1 cup sugar into a bowl, and stir in ¼ cup dried hibiscus flowers. Cover, and let sit 12 to 24 hours. Add 1 cup boiling water, stirring until the sugar dissolves. Strain through a fine sieve, and chill. Pour ½ ounce chilled hibiscus syrup and 1 ounce chilled gin into a glass. Top with champagne…

“RACING IS MY OUTLET. IT’S NOT ABOUT COMPETING WITH OTHERS—I’M FINDING JOY.”—RHONDA VETERE, 48, GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT I do one big race a month. November was the New York City Marathon. I am finishing the year with an Ironman in Colombia and then heading to the Bahamas in January for a marathon. I travel a lot for work and plan around those trips. When I get home, the race medals go in my walk-in closet next to my shoes. On-the-fly workouts My training looks different depending on which country I’m in. But I always run without tech—you’re more in your body that way. Running her world These endurance events help build mental toughness and refuel my energy. As a chief technology officer, I’ve managed teams in up to 162 countries. The…

BOOT UP The plush nylon exterior of Michael Michael Kors Zadie Moon boots ($215, michaelkors.com) are waterproof and insulated, and the platform heels add a little edge and lift above the slush. But all they’ll say when they unwrap it is, “Hello, Gorgeous!” SHOP IT! Click here to shop these products. PAGE-TURNERS Coffee table books are perennially a nice touch, especially when they hit on a passion. Foodies will love The Whole Fish Cookbook ($28), gills and all. Travelers will escape into Assouline Destination books ($85 each), and Hollywood-philes will fall for The Autograph Book of L.A. ($45). Shop one or all at amazon.com/shop/shape. SIGNATURE SCENT For the free spirit in search of a mood-boosting fragrance, match a vial of EO Organic Jojoba Oil ($16, eoproducts.com) with her favorite EO…

The bigger the hair, the bigger the confidence, we say. Hairstylist Devin Rahal agrees: “Adding volume is like power posing—you’ll take up more space in a crowded party scene.” Here’s how to get bombshell body without the salon visit. CONDITION STRATEGICALLY “Using too much conditioner can weigh the hair down and make it feel greasy,” Rahal says. For fine to medium strands, start with a dime-size amount and apply only to your ends. For curly or textured hair, work roughly a quarter-size dollop of conditioner throughout strands before rinsing. BOOST ROOTS Volume begins at the follicle, says celebrity hairstylist Kristin Ess, the founder of the eponymous hair-product collection. Apply a root-lifting mousse close to the scalp on towel-dried hair. “The formula works its way to the ends as you…

EXPERTS ARE ON BOARD with the benefits of meditation. And now science has found that different types of the practice benefit the brain in different ways. One particular technique taps into the relaxation response, a deeply soothing state. In a study in Psychosomatic Medicine, researchers compared the brains of people doing relaxation response exercises with those doing mindfulness-based stress reduction (aka MBSR, the classic “follow your breath” meditation). They found that relaxation response exercises increased activity in brain regions linked to muscular control. They essentially train your muscles to relax on demand, a technique you can use to quickly calm yourself down. To harness the relaxation response, practice these strategies for 10 minutes once or twice a day. RELAX YOUR MUSCLES Get in a comfortable reclined position, and breathe…

We’re deep into cozy comfort-food season. And few things satisfy that craving like a juicy burger loaded with condiments. To make yours healthier, swap some of the meat for vegetables, says Robert McCormick, the brand chef for True Food Kitchen, a restaurant chain that serves food that not only tastes good but is good for you. “Vegetables bring delicious depth to a burger,” he says. Here’s how to grill the perfect version. COOK SMARTER The Cuisinart Chef’s Classic Enameled Cast Iron square grill pan ($40, amazon.com) retains heat and distributes it evenly for great grilling results. It’s dishwasher safe too. THE HALF-AND-HALF RECIPE Replace half the meat (or a quarter) in your burger with mushrooms. “They add a luxurious caramelized flavor,” McCormick says. Use different types, like cremini, oyster,…