The Weird Thing That Makes Food Taste Better

Posted on July 10, 2013 by admin

Ever wonder why your morning coffee tastes best in your favorite mug? Or why pizza’s flavor changes when you eat it with a knife and fork instead of your hands? You’re not imagining things. The weight, color, size, and shape of your cutlery can influence the way your food tastes, according to a recent study.

Researchers at Oxford University conducted three experiments to find out how cutlery affects flavor. In two, participants sampled yogurt with spoons of varying sizes, weights, styles, and colors. In the third experiment, researchers tested to see whether eating cheese with a fork, knife, spoon, or toothpick would make a difference, taste-wise.

Even though each participant tried the same food repeatedly with different utensils, they said that the yogurt or cheese tasted different every time. When eaten with a lighter spoon, yogurt tasted denser and seemed more expensive, for example. Smaller spoons, meanwhile, tended to make the yogurt taste sweeter. And cheese was perceived as sharpest and saltiest when eaten off of a knife.

So, why does cutlery matter if the food stays the same? “We have expectations of what something will taste like before the food reaches our mouths,” says Harrar. “When cutlery is unexpected, we can’t use this automatic system.” So depending on the utensil, you’re more likely to pay attention to different aspects of the flavor or texture that might normally go unnoticed.

Pretty interesting stuff. Not that it’s any reason to go splurge on new cutlery, but it does help explain why you always reach for the same spoon over and over again.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The Surprising Thing That Makes You Eat More

Posted on July 5, 2013 by admin

Most restaurant portions are getting laughably huge, so it’s always exciting when multiple sizes are offered. But watch out: You may eat more than you want to just because of how your portion is labeled. When an order of food is called “regular,” people consume more calories than when the same portion is called “double-sized,” according to a new study from Cornell University’s Food and Brand Lab.

Researchers gave two groups of participants two different portion sizes of spaghetti: 1-cup and 2-cup servings. In one group, they labeled the sizes “half-size” (1 cup) and “regular” (2 cups), while the other group saw “regular” (1 cup) and “double-sized” (2 cups) labels. When participants thought they were eating a “double-sized” portion, they consumed an average of 140 fewer calories than the people who thought their 2-cup portion was the norm.

While it’s comforting to know that labels like “double” usually deter people from clearing their plates, the fact is that many restaurants’ “regular” sizes are actually pretty excessive. And if you assume that’s the norm, you may be taking in way more calories than you need. “Without some sort of cue about how big the portions you’re eating are, you just assume this is a normal size and you eat it,” says study coauthor David Just, PhD, associate professor at Cornell University. “And alternatively, if it’s labeled the mega-portion, you have some cue that you shouldn’t be eating all this.”

Unfortunately, not all restaurants list various sizes of the same item on a menu. So Just suggests thinking about portion control before the enormous plate of pasta hits the table. “You can request a half portion,” he says. “Often they don’t have it on the menu but are willing to do it if you ask.” And if they don’t offer that option, you can always ask them to put half of the entrée directly into a to-go box for you to take home. “The real trick is to have some forethought,” says Just. Because you know once that laptop-sized “personal” pizza is in front of you, you may not be able to resist eating the whole thing.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
Lose More Weight
The Low-Calorie Way to Satisfy Cravings
The Easy Way to Eat Less

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Get This: Online Video Dating Is Now a Thing

Posted on June 24, 2013 by admin

Check out the list of links that should be on your radar today:

A new dating app just launched—and it features video profiles! [Refinery29]

You have to watch this video of President Obama “singing” Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky.” [BuzzFeed]

The first ever on-bag contest from popchips starts today: It’s kind of like looking for one of the golden tickets from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, but the 25 winners get flown to L.A. to see Katy Perry in concert. [popchips blog]

Three-quarters of people in the U.S. are living paycheck-to-paycheck, according to a new survey. [CNN Money]

Recent Yellowstone visitors are not happy campers: There’s been a norovirus outbreak at the national park, as well as at Grand Teton. [UPI.com]

New research reveals that third-hand smoke can damage your DNA. [Huffington Post]

Apparently Cap’n Crunch (as in, the guy on the cereal box) only wears a naval commander’s uniform, not a captain’s…so the U.S. Navy has come out and announced that there is, in fact, no record of a Cap’n Crunch. Thanks for clearing that up, guys. [Newser]

A red panda went missing from the National Zoo in Washington, D.C., yesterday evening. How does that happen?! Luckily, the animal has since been found and returned. [National Geographic]

The geeky stereotype associated with working in computer science is keeping more women from pursuing jobs in the field, finds a new study. [UPI.com]

photo: Digital Vision/Thinkstock

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When Confidence Can Be a Bad Thing

Posted on June 20, 2013 by admin

It’s been drummed into you practically from the time you were in diapers: Be confident! The thing is, there’s a difference between confidence and overconfidence—and the latter can seriously backfire. For example, people often think they’re better at estimating than they really are—and the more overconfident the person, the less likely they are to adjust their estimations based on expert feedback, according to a new study.

For the study, researchers had 184 college students estimate the local high temperature on 24 random dates in the past. Each time they guessed within a certain range of the correct answer, their name was entered in a lottery to win a gift card. After completing the test, one-third of participants received accurate feedback about how well their answers matched up, one-third were told they performed worse than they actually did, and a third didn’t get any critique. The students then guessed the temps on a number of additional days. Those who didn’t receive feedback made the fewest adjustments, followed by those given accurate feedback. Given the fact that participants had minimal knowledge of the temperature on these days, this suggests they were overconfident. Only the people who were told their errors were off by 2.5 times as much as they actually were—the least confident people—actually modified their estimates an appropriate amount, say researchers.

“Overconfidence is robust,” says study author Albert Mannes, PhD, of The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. “Previous research has found that nearly 80 percent of people believe they’re above average drivers. Overprecision—excessive certainty of one’s own knowledge—is also common. Exploring that effect was the motivation of our study.”

All right, but what’s so bad about overconfidence anyway? After all, isn’t thinking excessively highly of your abilities how people like Kim Kardashian and Mark Zuckerberg accomplished so much? “Overconfidence frequently leads people to cut things too close, which means you might arrive late, miss your plane, or bounce a check,” says Mannes. If you estimate it’ll take 15 minutes to get downtown and you don’t account for the possibility of hitting traffic or having trouble finding parking, you’ll be late for dinner—and could piss off your date. It can land you in a more serious mess, too. “For example, people might underestimate their chance of getting an STD,” says Mannes. “Telling yourself that you don’t engage in risky behavior often enough for it to be a danger can cause you to make an unwise decision.” Luckily, there are ways to circumvent this mental bias:

Ask for feedback
Mannes’ research proved how helpful critiques from others are to assessing where you actually stand. If you want a more accurate read of your job performance, make an appointment with your boss to go over a project and find out what worked, what didn’t, and how you can improve. Want to know what kind of impression you really make on guys? Ask a close friend to tell you honestly how you come across, or try online dating—the comments you receive can clue you into what men respond to and the kinds of men you’re attracting.

Give yourself extra time to complete big projects
“People tend to be overconfident about difficult tasks,” says Mannes, “whereas they predict that easy things will take longer to complete than they actually do.” When faced with a major undertaking, like a multi-step work assignment or planning your wedding, allow yourself extra leeway to get it all done.

Keep your optimism in check
Ironically, the less you understand about a certain situation, the likelier you are to be overconfident. “People forget to account for the margin of error between what they do and don’t know,” says Mannes. “Just like a political poll estimating the chances of a candidate winning includes a margin of error of a couple degrees, we should also consider the possibility of being wrong—but most people don’t.” To correct for that, he suggests brainstorming all the ways that you’re in the dark.

For instance, when applying for a job, many people focus on their positive qualities and overestimate their chances of getting hired. It makes sense because you’re clueless about the other candidates. They could have impressive degrees and experience, but since you don’t know anything about them, you instead zero in on what you are familiar with: namely, your awesomeness. A boost of confidence can definitely give you an edge during an interview, but it’s also smart to keep your expectations realistic so you won’t be too bummed if things don’t turn out how you’d hoped. After meeting with the hiring manager, spend a few minutes coming up with reasons why you might not get the gig to help balance out your assumptions.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The Surprising Thing That Makes You a Better Driver

Posted on June 18, 2013 by admin

You know that talking on a Bluetooth headset, texting, and touching up your mascara mid-commute are all off-limits, but there is one thing you don’t have to fret about doing behind the wheel: cranking up the radio. Listening to music while driving doesn’t pose a dangerous distraction, according to a new study. On the contrary, participants in the study often drove even better and focused more intently on the road when the radio was playing in the background.

Researchers from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands actually suspected that listening to the radio would make driving more hazardous, so they tested the effects of music on experienced drivers by conducting two studies: The first placed fifteen participants into driving simulators while they watched a video of someone else driving and listened to the radio (but didn’t actually “drive” themselves). At the end of a 40-minute session, researchers asked participants to recall what they had heard on the radio. They found that, overall, participants remembered little of what they’d heard, indicating that they focused much more on the road than they did on the music and often tuned it out.

The second study tested the same people while they actually drove in the simulators. Participants got to choose the type of music they listened to and drove through both low- and high-risk traffic situations. As a control, researchers also had these participants drive through the exact same traffic simulations without background music.

By comparing the drivers’ ability to focus on the road in both situations, researchers found that participants who listened to music while driving in high-risk situations effectively tuned it out to focus more carefully on driving safely. And interestingly, participants who listened to music while driving in low-risk situations actually focused even more intently on the road and drove better than they did when they didn’t have the radio on.

Study author Linda Steg, PhD, professor of environmental psychology at the University of Groningen, says that because low-complexity driving situations—think long, winding roads—can be very boring, music helps improve your performance by sharpening your focus and keeping you alert.

So should you be blasting Beyoncé every time you turn on your engine? While researchers found nothing to suggest that high-tempo music would cause problems, cranking up the volume might not be the smartest strategy in stressful driving situations, says Steg.

“People almost automatically turn it off when the situation becomes too complex,” she says, based on anecdotal observations. Participants in the study didn’t have this option, but they were able to mentally block out the music anyway.

Not all noise is created equal, though. Steg cautions against listening to talk radio while driving—and of course “listening” to a cell phone call isn’t the same as listening to music. Since these require more attention than music does, you’re less likely to devote your full attention to the road—and more likely to get into an accident. Ditto changing the station or CD while on the move.

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The Random Thing That Boosts Your Happiness

Posted on April 19, 2013 by admin

Need a happiness boost? Get out of town! No, seriously. The further you are from home, the happier your tweets tend to be, according to a new study from the University of Vermont.

Researchers analyzed 37 million geolocated tweets from 180,000 people in the United States during 2011 (meaning the tweets included GPS information). From those tweets, they were able to determine where each user spent most of their time and how far they typically traveled throughout the year. Researchers noticed that people used fewer negative words (like “hate,” “can’t’,” “damn,” and “never”) and more positive words (like “new,” “great,” “beach,” and “restaurant”) the farther they were from home. Pretty awesome, right?

Sure, the occasional vacay can boost your mood and give you more exciting things to tweet about, but frequent flyers saw an even bigger benefit: People who cast a wider travel net tended to be happier tweeters overall when compared to those who generally stayed in their bubble, says lead study author Christopher Danforth, PhD, associate professor in the department of mathematics and statistics at the University of Vermont.

So why does packing up and leaving give you such a happiness rush? “When we get out of the monotony, our mood changes,” says Elizabeth Lombardo, PhD, author of A Happy You. “We see things in a different way, we appreciate [things] more. It provides us with a different perspective.” Not to mention that travel usually frees you from at least a few responsibilities. Whether it’s zoning out from work while on vacation or forgetting about household duties while at a work conference, you’re able to hone in on certain things rather than constantly multitasking, says Lombardo.

Luckily, you don’t need to be a jetsetter to reap the benefits. Just try these simple tweaks to change your scenery and amp up your happiness—no airline tickets required:

Get outside
It’s no island getaway, but even a walk around the block can get you in the vacation state of mind. “The research overwhelmingly shows that when we’re outside, we’re happier,” says Lombardo. Add to that the stress-busting and confidence-boosting benefits that come with it. Plus, you move more when you’re on vacation, so adding more activity to your day can help you achieve the similar zen you get from hiking around a resort, says Lombardo.

Ditch your usual hangout
It’s no coincidence that people tended to tweet the words restaurant, café, lunch, and dinner when they were farther from home. When you travel, you’re constantly hitting up new and exciting spots, so try the same technique in your city, says Lombardo. Even if it ends up only being so-so, heading somewhere new breaks up your routine and can help you avoid falling into a stay-at-home rut.

Do something spontaneous
Remember that time you took salsa lessons in Mexico or went horseback riding on the beach? We’re willing to bet you can do those same kinds of things in your own town. Sign up for something you would never normally do at home, says Lombardo. The thrill of trying something new will give you the same rush you get on vacation.

Plan your next getaway
Even if you can’t take a day off until 2014, it’s still a good idea to start thinking about your next trip. “Studies have found that just planning a vacation increases our happiness,” says Lombardo. Start a Pinterest board of “Vacation Wish Lists” and take a 10-minute break once a week to browse through resorts. Not only will you be happier, but you’ll be super prepared when the time comes to actually book a trip.

Do some redecorating
When a vacation just isn’t in the cards, change the scenery on your desk instead. Print out pictures from your last trip, or get some inexpensive prints of spots you’d love to visit. Then, post them around your office or set them as the background on your computer. “Research shows that just looking at a picture of nature can make us happier,” says Lombardo. Remembering a fond vacation also has a similar effect, she says.

Get social—even when you’re local
If you weren’t too surprised by this study, it’s probably because you’re guilty of the same Twitter behavior. After all, who doesn’t love to humblebrag when you’re sipping a pina colada on the beach and complain when you’re stuck in traffic on the way to work? But tweaking your Twitter habits can have an awesome effect on your mood. “You don’t have to be away from home to start tweeting about cool things going on in your life,” says Lombardo. “Start taking pictures not just when you’re at the beach, but when you’re walking down the street. Challenge yourself to Instagram more when you’re home”—rather than just when you’re on vacation. Chances are you’ll see a boost in your mood and your follower

photo: Polka Dot/Thinkstock

More from Women’s Health:
How to Be Happy
The Happiness Diet
Be Happy

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Get This: Stress Can Be a GOOD Thing

Posted on April 18, 2013 by admin

Check out the list of links that should be on your radar today:

Some stress may be beneficial for your brain, according to a new study. Another bonus: It can help you become better at public speaking. [Forbes]

Twitter Music launched today. [Newser]

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is speaking up about her hypothyroid condition, a result of her battle with thyroid cancer. Learn how to detect (and prevent) the disease. [Huffington Post]

Want to file a complaint about a sketchy abortion provider? You’ll have to go through a lot of red tape first. [The Atlantic]

You probably only wear 20 percent of the clothes in your closet. What a waste! [The Cut]

Doctors order fewer tests when they know exactly how much you’ll have to pay for them. Because that’s definitely how it’s supposed to work. [NY Daily News]

Gwyneth Paltrow is the most hated celebrity? Sorry, Star, there’s no way. [Huffington Post]

Fast & Furious now has a clothing line with GUESS. Don’t everybody rush to buy it all at once. [Vulture]

When hospitals make surgical errors, you end up having to stay for longer—which results in more money for them, according to a new study. Well that’s messed up. [NY Times]

photo: iStockphoto/Thinkstock

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The Random Thing That’s Stressing You Out

Posted on March 19, 2013 by admin

It’s not just you—listening to someone chat away on the phone is a pet peeve for pretty much everyone. People who overheard a one-sided cell phone conversation reported being more distracted and irritated than those who overheard a two-person conversation, according to a new study published in the journal PLOS One. And good luck tuning it out—you’re also more likely to remember parts of a distracting cell phone conversation than you are to remember an actual nearby discussion.

To mimic real-world situations, researchers told participants they were completing a study on anagrams and reading comprehension. While they were working on the anagrams, a nearby participant (who was actually a fellow researcher) either talked on his or her cell phone or chatted with a third participant. After the study was finished, the participants filled out a questionnaire about the situation. They also completed a memory task about what they had overheard. The people who heard the one-sided conversation reported the experience as being more distracting and irritating. Plus, they actually scored twice as high on the memory task as the participants who overheard a full discussion—even though many said that they were actively trying to tune it out.

“The brain wants to understand patterns,” says lead study author Veronica Galván, PhD, assistant professor at the University of San Diego. “Having no context for that speech is what seems to be so attention-grabbing.” Essentially, hearing only half of a conversation makes you more likely to perk up and listen because you automatically try to figure out what the convo is about—even if you’d prefer not to hear it at all.

It’s tempting to confiscate someone’s phone the next time they’re yapping loudly right next to you, but there are other strategies that won’t cause a scene. Here, a few ways to deal with the rudeness:

Try to relocate
It can be brutal to give up a prime coffee shop seat just because the person next to you won’t shut up, but it might be your best option. “If you can move away, it’s going to be easier than trying to police someone else’s behavior,” says Anna Post, co-author of Emily Post’s Etiquette, 18th Edition. “Especially if this is a stranger, because you really don’t know who you might get.” Try to read the situation: If there’s no way this person is quieting down—let alone getting off the phone—you might want to pack it up and move.

Make eye contact
Sure, some people truly don’t care if you hear them having a full-blown fight on their cell. But others may just get caught up in their conversation and forget where they are for a moment. When you’re stuck next to someone like this and they seem a little oblivious, try to catch their eye. This spark of awareness may be all they need to remember that they’re not in soundproof bubble, says Post.

Pop in your ear buds
If escaping the noise isn’t an option and the eye contact trick doesn’t work, grab your headphones. Not only will listening to Adele chill you out, but it’s easier to tune out your own music than it is to ignore a one-sided conversation (since your mind won’t be working overtime to fill in the blanks). Or, if your headphones help muffle the noise, you could wear them and not play any music at all.

Call for backup
If you’re in a public place—like a restaurant or nail salon—and stuck sitting next to a loud cell phone talker, you may be able to ask management to step in. Just discreetly excuse yourself to find the manager and see if they can either ask the person to quiet down or move you away from the noise, says Post.

Speak up—but be careful how you do it
Whether you’re brave or you’ve just run out of other options, sometimes you really want to say something to the offender. In this case, always keep it short, simple, and neutral. “Don’t start commenting on how rude it is—that’s implied because you’re speaking up,” says Post. But on the other hand, you don’t want to go overly sweet, which can come off as disingenuous. Simply smile and get straight to the point by saying, “Hi, would you mind lowering your voice a little? Thanks.”
But here’s the clincher: Make sure your “thanks” is undeniably neutral and not loaded with condescension and cattiness. “I can’t stress enough how many people do well until the thanks,” says Post. “They blow it because they say thanks with that snide, snarky, superior tone and it just destroys any progress you made prior to it.” Her advice: Be bland and unmemorable—but direct.

photo: iStockPhoto/Thinkstock

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When the Silent Treatment Is a GOOD Thing

Posted on March 5, 2013 by admin

The next time you have a run-in with a d-bag, don’t automatically go on the defensive. Sure, it’s crazy annoying–there you are, innocently going about your day, when some idiot makes a bonehead comment (“Put on a few pounds?”) or does something obnoxious (textaholic-ing during brunch). Your first impulse may be to react, or lash back. But as it turns out, surprising new research suggests the silent treatment could keep the jerks from ruining your day.

In a study of 120 college students, participants were put in a room with either a nice guy (relaxed, friendly, egalitarian) or a jerk (rude, impatient, bigoted). Half the students were instructed to engage in cordial conversation with him, while the other half were told to ignore him. Afterwards, participants completed a task requiring careful thought and attention. Turns out, the students who had a discussion with the d-bag scored significantly worse than those who froze him out. “Trying to politely engage with someone aversive makes people feel depleted, and as a result they won’t perform as well,” says study coauthor Kristin Sommer, Ph.D., associate professor at Baruch College. “If you force yourself to behave in a way that goes against your instincts—like being nice to a jerk—it takes a toll on your resources.”

Of course, you can’t always just ignore all the jerks in your life. So we ran a bunch of annoying situations by Rick Brinkman, Ph.D., speaker, coauthor of Dealing With People You Can’t Stand: How to Bring Out the Best in People at Their Worst, and founder of RickBrinkman.com, and asked him when to snub the snot, and when to suck it up and deal with them.

The situation: A woman cuts you in line at Starbucks
Ignore Her. Getting bent out of shape just so you can sip your latte a few minutes faster will probably only worsen your mood. Again, remind yourself that she might be legitimately running late or stressed out and not thinking straight. Still all steamed up? “Try to project how you’ll feel an hour from now,” Brinkman suggests. “Will you regret not standing up to her?” If so, go ahead and call her out on it.

The situation: Your boyfriend leaves his dirty clothes strewn over the floor for the hundredth time
Deal With Him. If it was a one-time infraction, overlooking his carelessness would be your best bet. But since it’s a regular issue, bring it up or it’ll only aggravate you further. “Approach him with a playful, teasing attitude,” Brinkman says. “That keeps him from getting defensive yet still sends a message.” When there’s the slightest improvement on his end, praise him to reinforce it. (It takes a few weeks to establish a new habit though, so be patient.)

The situation: Someone keeps texting in the middle of Side Effects
Deal With Her. Messing with your viewing pleasure of Channing Tatum’s eight-pack? Not cool. If the person is sitting right in front of you, Brinkman suggests quietly saying, “I know that text is important, but the light is distracting.” If they’re a few rows ahead of you, alert a theater employee.

The situation: While you’re walking down the street, a dude hollers, “Hey baby, lookin’ good!”
Ignore Him. Responding will likely egg him on, unfortunately. And while street heckling is annoying and sometimes even a little frightening, trying to figure out how to respond is a waste of your mental energy. Instead, keep your chin up and keep on walking. And, if you can, try to see the bright side of his oafish behavior: Apparently, you’re rocking it today!

The situation: Your slacker coworker asks you to help him finish his quarterly report
Deal With Him. Since you see him almost every day, freezing him out will make things awkward, which sucks for both of you. So how to handle the situation without getting screwed? First, giving him the benefit of the doubt can diminish your annoyance, according to Brinkman. It’s possible he’s not a lazy bastard but is actually overwhelmed by something else (a health problem, a breakup), or is trying his best, and just isn’t as efficient as you. Next, establish a boundary in a polite way. Tell him, “I’d love to help you,” pause for a moment to let that sink in, and continue, “But I also have a huge project due.” Then give him some guidance, like pointing out that if he can’t complete the full report today, he should turn in a bulleted list of highlights so your boss won’t freak. “This approach empowers him and makes you feel good about yourself—your body releases endorphins when you help someone,” Brinkman says.

The situation: A close friend shows up an hour late to your birthday dinner
Deal With Her. Assuming she has a lame excuse (it’s not like her cat died or something), address the issue to prevent resentment from building up. “Decide that you’ll discuss it with her in the next few days,” Brinkman says. “Having that settled in your mind will help you let go in the moment so you can enjoy the party.” When you do talk to her, start by telling her that you care about your friendship and don’t want anything to come between you. Framing the discussion in a positive way will leave a better taste in your mouth and hers.

The situation: During holiday dinner, Uncle Marvin says, “You look really tired.”
Depends. If it’s possible to tune him out and head to the buffet, do so. But if you’re in a situation that requires a reply, Brinkman recommends a brief, sarcastic retort. Try, “Thank you for caring about my health and well-being,” or in a kidding tone, “I sure look better than you!” It lets him know he was out of line without being confrontational or engaging in further conversation. Whatever you do, don’t affirm his comment by saying, “Yeah, I guess I need more sleep.” “Agreeing with the criticism will make you feel worse,” Brinkman maintains.

photo: Khakimullin Aleksandr/Shutterstock

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The Dumbest Thing You Can Do For Beauty

Posted on October 9, 2012 by admin

We’ve known for years that the use of tanning beds is correlated with double, or even triple, the risk of melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. As if that wasn’t bad enough, new research shows that the wake-n-bake boxes are even worse than we thought.

A review examining 12 studies of nearly 81,000 people, published in the journal BMJ, reveals that there’s also a strong correlation between indoor tanning and a greater risk of developing two other common types of cancer: squamous cell and basal cell cancers. And for those who used tanning beds before age 25, the risk of developing one of those two types of cancers was even higher. (And that’s not the only cost of tanning without sunscreen.)

But say you’ve already logged time in a tanning bed. What now? “There aren’t many ways to reverse the damage, but you can change your behavior,” says says Kavita Mariwalla, M.D., director of skin cancer surgery at Continuum Cancer Center of New York. Stop going to tanning beds, for instance. Immediately.

Other ways to protect yourself: apply sunscreen daily, and reapply every two to three hours; visit a dermatologist for a full body skin check annually; and perform a self-check monthly. Look for unrelenting dry skin that feels gritty like sandpaper, pimples or sores that won’t go away, and check any moles using your ABCDEs: Asymmetry, an irregular Border, variance in Color, a Diameter larger than a pencil’s eraser, and Elevation. Notice any of these signs, any changes at all, bleeding, or itching, and you should see a doctor ASAP, Mariwalla says.

The good news is that basal cell and squamous cell cancers have high survival rates if found and treated early, according to the American Cancer Society. Also reassuring: there are ways to get the golden goddess glow without courting cancer (or death). The key, of course, is sunless tanner.

That said, few fast fixes come without a catch, sunless tanner included. Recent research suggests that the chemicals in some self-tanners might be questionable. But the potential risks associated with sunless tanner are nothing compared to the cancer box, and they’re unlikely to cause any real trouble if you use the lotions in moderation. “If you exfoliate well and apply self tanner, you shouldn’t have to reapply more than once every two weeks, and that should be safe,” says Mariwalla.

In the meantime, rest assured that these options, including those hand-picked by Women’s Health associate beauty editor Jill Percia, will, at least, keep you safe from the harmful UV rays, indoors and out.

PERCIA’S PICKS

Winning wipes:

Somerville 360° Tanning Towlettes, $ 48 for 8 at KateSomerville.com

Makeup mist

Sally Hansen Airbrush Legs, $ 10.23 at Drugstore.com

MARIWALLA’S FAVORITES

A light-weight mousse:

St. Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse, $ 40 at StTropezTan.com

A lotion with protective power, too:

L’Oreal Sublime Bronze Self-Tanning Lotion SPF15, $ 9.49 at LOrealParisUsa.com

PERENNIAL WOMEN’S HEALTH BEAUTY AWARD WINNER:

Clarins Self Tanning Gel, $ 34 at ClarinsUSA.com

photo: Stockbyte/Stockbyte/Thinkstock

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Tag Archives: Thing

The Weird Thing That Makes Food Taste Better

The Surprising Thing That Makes You Eat More

Get This: Online Video Dating Is Now a Thing

When Confidence Can Be a Bad Thing

The Surprising Thing That Makes You a Better Driver

The Random Thing That Boosts Your Happiness

Get This: Stress Can Be a GOOD Thing

The Random Thing That’s Stressing You Out

When the Silent Treatment Is a GOOD Thing

The Dumbest Thing You Can Do For Beauty