Table of contents for December 2020 in Shape

A FLICKER WORTH A THOUSAND WORDS Each scent of Jo Malone’s Townhouse Collection of candles ($125 each, jomalone.com) brings to mind nostalgic moments of days at home—from cozying up on a rainy Sunday afternoon to enjoying a winter evening by the fire. Dreamy. SHOP IT! Click here to shop products on these pages. A FLING WITH NATURE Pick any of the Petit Gardens made of succulents and cacti from Lula’s Garden ($27 to $125, lulasgarden.com), and you’ll hit the mark for aspiring plant parents and green thumbs alike. The bright minis arrive in their own planter. GIVE THEM THEIR GREENS David’s Tea new 24 Days of Matcha advent calendar ($55, davidstea.com) is a world of green tea delights, both inventive blends—yuzu, pumpkin pie—and matcha-infused chocolates and treats, like matcha alligator…

Uneven pigmentation, sun damage, a rough and bumpy complexion, unwanted hair—these are universal issues we seek the help of dermatologists for. But getting successful fixes hasn’t always been available to many skin colors: Older lasers and peels posed a strong risk of discoloration or scarring on shades darker than “medium.” Essentially, anyone with brown or black skin hoping to even out their tone or texture or smooth their body was simply out of luck. Thankfully, those days are behind us, but only recently. With an eye toward inclusivity, professional equipment and formulas have been modernized. “An improved device works with any skin tone, and the right doctor can customize a treatment to deliver real, lasting benefits,” says dermatologist Mona Gohara, M.D., a Shape Brain Trust member. The key words, however,…

IF YOU NEED CONFIRMATION that you got this, you can find it with @msjeanettejenkins on Instagram. The celebrity trainer behind the handle is a master of motivation, and she knows what makes a workout greater than its moving parts. “I get feedback from my followers and clients about how empowered they feel when they do kickboxing moves,” says Jeanette Jenkins, who created this sumo squat-to-side kick so you can hit that high note too. “Plus, any movements using your legs are really getting your blood flowing.” Starting in a wide stance, toes turned out slightly, you’ll sink into the sumo squat and then come up fluidly into a side kick. “Move with complete control rather than speed,” she says. “The more control you have, the more muscles you’re going to…

Fiber can reduce your risk of heart disease and several types of cancer and help you live longer, science shows. It also feeds your beneficial gut bacteria, which aids in preventing harmful inflammation in your body that can lead to disease, says Joanne Slavin, Ph.D., R.D.N., a professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Minnesota. “And fiber helps support your immune system.” But here’s the thing: You have to consistently get enough of it in your diet to reap the healthy results. Most of us take in about 15 grams of fiber a day, but we should be getting 28 grams, Slavin says: “We need to double our amount.” Here are some fresh ways to up your intake: USE NUTS AND SEEDS Sprinkle them over soups, roasted…

Build Your Bowl Soup is a customizable way of delivering a multitude of flavors at once, says Dan Kluger, the award-winning chef and owner of Loring Place in New York and the author of the new book Chasing Flavor: Techniques and Recipes to Cook Fearlessly. “You can add more ingredients and toppings to make it a full meal, while a light, bright soup is a great appetizer,” he says. “Soup is endlessly adaptable.” Follow his tips for hitting all the right notes. CREATE PEAKS AND VALLEYS That’s what Kluger calls the different flavors and textures he layers into his soups. “I try to incorporate as many as I can,” he says. To do that, start with aromatics like onions and garlic, and “cook them low and slow to develop as…

“I like having a vision for goals I want to achieve, even things I can’t articulate yet.” if this were one of those 20-things-you-don’t-know lists about Olivia Culpo, we might try these for starters: Growing up in Rhode Island, she spent most of her summers at band camp (yes, band camp—and she’s got mad skills on the cello to prove it); she got certified in Transcendental Meditation at age 18 (more on that later); and she worked through the early days of the pandemic to launch her face mask line out of the New York home of a seamstress when factories everywhere ground to a halt. “I felt helpless, which is why I started More Than a Mask,” Olivia says of her fashion-forward charity collection, which benefits Feeding America.…

BE WATERPROOF NEAL SCHULTZ, M.D. Dermatologist DENDY E. ENGELMAN, M.D. Dermatologist MONA GOHARA, M.D. Dermatologist ELIZABETH K. HALE, M.D. Dermatologist MICHELLE HENRY, M.D. Dermatologist MELISSA KANCHANAPOOMI LEVIN, M.D. Dermatologist ELLEN MARMUR, M.D. Dermatologist RON ROBINSON Cosmetic chemist GITA BASS Makeup artist PORSCHE COOPER Makeup artist NUNZIO SAVIANO Hairstylist BE STRONG + WELL JEN WIDERSTROM Consulting Shape fitness director, trainer, life coach ADAM ROSANTE Strength and nutrition coach NICOLE KEITH, PH.D. President of the American College of Sports Medicine CEDRIC X. BRYANT, PH.D. President of the American Council on Exercise JORDAN METZL, M.D. Sports medicine physician MICHELE OLSON, PH.D. Clinical professor of sport science SHAUN T Celebrity trainer ALEX SILVER-FAGAN Nike Master Trainer HARLEY PASTERNAK Celebrity trainer JAY WRIGHT Trainer, studio owner CARRIE PAGLIANO Clinical specialist in orthopedics CHRISTINE CARTER,…

TEA-SMOKED SPICED CIDER Lapsang souchong, a black tea that is dried over smoked pine needles, evokes a fall campfire. Add 2 cups cider; 2 whole cloves; 1-inch piece ginger, peeled and roughly chopped; and 1 cinnamon stick to a small pot, and heat on high until the cider begins to boil. Reduce heat to a simmer; cover, and let the spices infuse the cider for 14 minutes. Remove the cover, and raise the heat to high. Once the cider reaches a boil again, stir in 4½ teaspoons loose Lapsang souchong black tea, turn off the heat, cover, and let the mixture steep for 5 minutes. Pour the cider through a sieve to strain. Pour into 2 mugs, and garnish with a slice of fresh ginger or a cinnamon stick. Optional:…

Our Furry Families We love our pets at Shape. So much so that this fall we added a new column called Pet Life, where we explore the natural bonds between animals and humans and how those connections boost our health and emotional well-being. Research shows that our animals help ease stress, bring out our silly sides, and provide comfort when we need it. Since I’ve been working from home, my two tabby cats, Angus and Malcolm (brothers, age 10), have followed me from room to room, depending on where I was camped out that day. And while I didn’t think it was possible, spending so much time with them during the pandemic has strengthened our bond even more. (In fact, I worry that they’ll miss me once I’m back in…

GIVE YOURSELF A TINY TRIM Your hair is longer and possibly more damaged than you’re used to—all the brushing, heat styling, and at-home dye jobs can take their toll. “Cutting off dry split ends will bring life back to your strands,” says hairstylist Nunzio Saviano, a Shape Brain Trust member and the owner of Nunzio Saviano Salon in New York. It doesn’t have to be as dramatic as those DIY quarantine cuts gone wrong. In fact, it shouldn’t be. We’re talking about a quarter of an inch to an inch off the ends. “The key is to use proper, professional haircutting scissors,” Saviano says. “These are extra sharp and will give you the most precise cut.” Try Equinox International Professional Razor Edge Series Barber Hair Cutting Scissors ($25, amazon.com). Trim…

Whether you’re out running or in doing reps, it’s shifting your outlook. “A single bout of exercise can elicit mood improvement,” says physiologist Michele Olson, Ph.D., a Shape Brain Trust member, noting that 20 minutes of cardio or HIIT equally bumps up feelings of well-being. In the bigger picture: A 1995 study in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology found that highly active people were more optimistic than those who do little to no activity, and they felt much more positive about their physical abilities. It may not be a cause and effect, but there is a significant association, Olson says. Better your odds for being an optimist when you turn the page. GET A DAILY DOSE OF H2OPTIMISM An easy way to buoy your mindset is to keep…

When I think about my happiest, most authentic self, it’s always centered on food with my family,” says Hawa Hassan, the founder of Basbaas Sauce, a line of Somali condiments, and the author of the new cookbook In Bibi’s Kitchen: The Recipes and Stories of Grandmothers From the Eight African Countries That Touch the Indian Ocean. At age 7, Hassan was separated from her family during the civil war in Somalia. She ended up in the U.S., but then didn’t see her family for 15 years. “When we were reunited, it was as if we had never been apart—we jumped right back into cooking,” she says. “The kitchen centers us. It is where we argue and where we make up. It is our meeting ground.” In 2015, Hassan started her…

ADD HEAT TO SWEET “Pairing chiles with honey calms the fire,” Bengtsson says. “I love to char chiles over a flame or on the grill, then peel and remove seeds, chop, and add to honey. Mix it with oil and vinegar, and drizzle over a salad of bitter greens—or anything, really—for a unique flavor twist.” GLOSS YOUR VEGGIES This recipe turns veggies into rich, intensely flavored treats. Roast carrots (or any vegetable) in a pan with 1 or 2 tablespoons butter. Halfway through cooking, add a splash of water and a drizzle of honey. “Let the liquid cook off. What’s left is a beautiful glaze,” Bengtsson says. GO WITH THE COMB “Honeycomb is mild and adds an unusual texture that enhances savory foods,” Bengtsson says. “I like to break…

Sweet Potatoes With Chile Oil, Tahini & Fennel-Herb Salad START TO FINISH: 1 HOUR 10 MINUTES SERVES: 4 4 medium sweet potatoes (2½ pounds), skin scrubbed and dried2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus more for drizzlingKosher salt¼ cup neutral oil, such as grapeseed1 tablespoon ground Szechuan peppercorns1 cinnamon stick1 star anise1 tablespoon red pepper flakes3 tablespoons tahini1 tablespoon plus 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice½ small head fennel, cored and very thinly sliced¼ cup thinly sliced red onion¼ cup torn fresh basil, mint, or dill1 teaspoon toasted sesame seeds 1 Preheat oven to 425°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with parchment. Prick sweet potatoes with a fork, and toss on the baking sheet with 1 tablespoon olive oil. Roast until tender, about 45 minutes (turning halfway through). 2 Remove sweet potatoes…

When I swam competitively at the University of Georgia, I was pushing off the wall with Olympic gold medalists to my left and right. Now triathlons fill my craving to compete. They’ve given me new goals. Getting my feet wet again I spent the year after I retired from swimming—thanks to a torn rotator cuff—running and Spinning. Then I signed up to do a half-Ironman with my mom, a lifelong triathlete. It was on her bucket list, and I wanted to go big from the start. Just keep swimming I always prioritize devoting time to my workouts, even though I’m studying for my biostatistics Ph.D. That means I wake up at 4:30 or 5 every morning and go to bed at 9:30 p.m. to make sure I’m getting enough sleep.…