The menstrual cycle also affects our sensitivity to the insulin hormone and, in turn, our insulin resistance. In the beginning half of the cycle, we are more sensitive to the effects of insulin and therefore able to take up glucose into the cells more effectively. This means that in the follicular phase, before ovulation, women are better able to efficiently metabolize carbohydrates for energy. One reason for this is that estrogen increases insulin sensitivity....

When working with patients in my practice and online community, I hear a lot of similar comments. In particular: As a board-certified gynecologist, I am uniquely qualified to understand the private suffering that women experience with weight gain and body shame. But even more important, I used to be fat. So I applied my medical knowledge to my own body to free myself of weight gain. And now I want to share my knowledge with you....

In short: There’s a lot to tackle here. So your first step is to identify what might be causing your skin tone concerns and treat that underlying cause (we explain several treatments below). The good news is that many of these help tend to a variety of issues; simply find a remedy (or remedies) that work for your needs. Chemical exfoliation usually involves two of the major kinds of acids, alpha and beta hydroxy acids....

Lipstick shopping sounds like a walk in the park until you realize that navigating the vast world of a million different shades of pinks, peaches, berries, reds, wines, and browns isn’t easy—like at all. But just remember, makeup should be fun! When you overthink the shades and second-guess all your choices, all of a sudden it becomes belabored. Life can be stressful enough, let’s not add “lipstick undertones” to the list of things that may give you pause....

The journey back to who you are will take time and effort. Once you’ve taken the time to get over your breakup, you’re ready to work on your next steps of personal growth. Here are six tips for finding yourself again and how to raise your self-esteem: If the picture you have of yourself in your mind stems from angry comments, hurtful words, and painful descriptions of your behavior, recognize that this is simply not accurate....

If you’ve tried to make amends with your hair over the years with little to no success, don’t worry. We’ve tapped experts to give you the breakdown on how exactly to care for heat-damaged hair and to answer the ultimate question: Can it be fixed after all? Let’s get into it. These products are generally claiming that the look of damaged hair can be improved, which is true. Further, using nourishing ingredients can help to strengthen the hair fiber and prevent future damage....

Dark circles and puffiness can often be caused by lifestyle habits such as lack of sleep or poor diet. They can also be handled pretty easily thanks to makeup and even a shock of ice. So what can you do? Well, we outlined your options. “Some families have under-eye fat pads that stick out from an early age,” board-certified dermatologist at Skintap Morgana Colombo, M.D., explains. Arash Akhavan, M.D., owner of Dermatology and Laser Group in NYC, adds that aging typically compounds the issue....