When the founder of Outdoor Afro, a nonprofit that facilitates outdoor experiences for Black Americans, started considering the role that her company could play in the historic moment, she had a revelation of sorts: “I realized we were standing on the shoulders of the Black tradition and [thought of] the lyrics of the song about laying our burdens down by the riverside,” Mapp says on a call with mbg. “That’s the moment I really understood that my work was about healing....

I was raised by a stylish diva mom of the Mad Men era. Twice divorced, she was slightly embittered but unequivocal when she told me flatly, “Sex is the one thing a man can give you that will make you happy.” This is what informed how I educated my daughter about sex, although my tutelage was far from embittered—because sex, love, and relationships have always been a highly satisfying part of my life....

Lingam is the Sanskrit word for penis and loosely translates to “wand of light.” In tantra philosophy, we approach the lingam from a place of the utmost love and respect, the same way we approach the yoni, or vagina. (The yoni massage might be considered the equivalent of the lingam massage, just performed on people with vaginas.) When you bring your partner pleasure through their “wand of light,” you are filled with that same energy or light in a conscious exchange of energy in giving and receiving pleasure....

While there’s no magic number for how much sleep we all need, the American Academy of Sleep Medicine recommends that adults get at least seven hours of shut-eye every day. The quality of your sleep is essential too, and you’ll want to spend around 20% of your snooze in deep REM sleep, where most dreams occur, memories are consolidated, and the brain recharges. It sounds doable enough, but busy schedules, stressful routines, and other facets of modern life mean that about one-third of Americans aren’t getting enough sleep1 on a consistent basis, and 70 million Americans2 suffer from sleep issues, according to the CDC....

No matter the type of acne you’re dealing with (inflammatory pustules, blackheads, under-the-skin mounds), there’s a mask waiting for you to slather on. Find our best pimple-fighting picks below. Pro: Visibly brightens and smooths in just five minutes. Con: Might be too potent for those with sensitive skin. Pro: Super hydrating for those with dry and acne-prone skin. Con: Not the best option for super oily skin. Watermelon Glow Hyaluronic Clay Pore-Tight Facial Mask, Glow Recipe ($40); Sephora....

According to naturopathic physician and registered dietitian Jaime Schehr, N.D., R.D., “Dietary proteins are made up of amino acids, which are largely responsible for both muscle building and muscle repair,” making it especially important to eat after exercising. While the actual definition of “high protein” can differ based on labeling, Cording says, “In general, for something to be high protein, a serving needs to provide at least 20% of the recommended daily intake for protein....

All in all it’s no wonder mascaras are such a coveted beauty item for many. And for those on the market for their newest addition, we rounded up and tested the best clean mascaras available right now. What mbg’s beauty director says: This is one of my personal favorite mascaras—so much so that I once wrote a whole story about how fantastic it is: “This natural mascara holds up, take my word for it—a word from someone who has tested mascaras (clean, natural, and decidedly not) for years and could clock samples up into the hundreds....