And we’ve only just begun to uncover the complexity of the skin microbiome. Think about how little we know about space in relation to the vastness of the universe—that’s basically our understanding of the galaxy of organisms that live on the skin. “We need to grow a sense of wonder and humility about what we’ve discovered. We have emerged and evolved within this fully microbial world that was once fully invisible to us,” says biotech and microbiome expert and researcher Larry Weiss, M....

These days, you can find oregano essential oil in softgel capsules and tinctures. Since it has a pungent flavor, I usually recommend that people take it in capsule form as a supplement so it’s more palatable. Plus, this way it’s easier to monitor dosing. If you’re taking it in liquid form, you can either put a few drops of the oil on the tongue to unlock its disease-fighting properties or use it topically with a carrier oil like coconut, jojoba, or almond oil to help soothe skin and prevent adult acne....

Oxytocin is released after an array of bonding activities, from after sex to when mothers breastfeed their babies1. Oxytocin definitely earns its reputation as a “love” hormone across the board, but there’s so much more to it than just cuddles and love. Here’s everything you need to know about the very important, multifaceted hormone. Oxytocin also plays an important role when it comes to the memory of faces, or social recognition....

Looking for a youthful glow? Let’s dive into how ceramides can help and the science behind adding phytoceramides to your beauty and supplement routine.* If you think of the skin barrier as “bricks and mortar,” ceramides are part of the mortar holding it all together—50%, in fact2. They play a huge role in keeping your skin moisturized, glowing, and youthful.* That is, of course, until they don’t. If you want to get to the root of wrinkles and dry skin, look to the loss of ceramides....

But why are plant-based foods so powerful? Why do I repeat over and over to my heart patients to get seven to 10 servings a day of brightly colored fruits and vegetables? For example, just this week the news channels reported a story that blueberries improve both blood pressure and the healthy flexibility of arteries, making them act younger. Time to pay attention for a one-minute food chemistry lesson. Polyphenols are a group of plant-based chemicals that have at least one phenol group (don’t ask me why we don’t call some monophenols — I don’t know)....

“Sometimes people who are wonderful partners for you (share your values, histories, interests, etc.) are also folx who are not going in the same direction in life,” therapist Dennis Nguyen, LCSW, (no relation to the author, by the way!) explains to mbg. For example, one or both people may be going through something challenging, experiencing a significant life transition, or simply aren’t currently interested in a relationship. Since you aren’t able to see the relationship through, a “right person, wrong time” situation may leave you with a fear that you’re somehow missing out on this mythical soulmate connection—and make it easy to project fantasies onto them....

There are several types of silicones, and each with a different profile and characteristics. “Silicones have many names, but a good rule of thumb is to look for something ending in -cone on your product’s ingredient list. Most silicones (but not all) end in -cone,” says Ron McLaughlin, vice president of research and development at Living Proof, a clean-leaning hair care brand that helped pioneer and usher in the wave of silicone-free products....