Skimm Well

When Even Self-Care Needs Support

Lately, all it takes is a single scroll on your feed to create a pit in your stomach that no amount of gua sha can fix. This isn’t just “take a bath” stress. How are you supposed to feel OK when the world very much does not?

We’ve been in a prolonged stress cycle for years. Covid-19, global turmoil, and the always-on tech demands of everyday life have kept people on edge. And some mental health experts believe we’re still processing collective trauma postpandemic. Add a steady stream of distressing global news, and you’ve got what many describe as a type of low-grade anxiety.

This is where the gear shifts from self-care to self-preservation. If the goal is to feel even 5% more grounded, start here:

Drink water. Even mild dehydration could dramatically raise cortisol levels and make anxiety feel louder.
Spiral the right way. Research shows structured worry may actually be constructive. Start with these two techniques.
Watch something a little creepy. There’s science behind “jittery cinema” and why your brain likes it. (Yes, Tom Felton being creepy counts.)
Get real with your kids. If you feel it, chances are they do too. Here, experts share eight tips for how to talk with them about global conflicts — we can all benefit from number seven.

— Anna “Hydrating My Way Toward Regulation” Davies, writer

What's Making the Rounds

That glass of water on your nightstand becomes a bacteria breeding ground after how many hours?

Your phone could be damaging your skin… even if you don’t hold it up to your ear.

The whole “cut sweets, kill sugar cravings” thing? New research says not so fast.

Castle Connolly just named its new class of “Exceptional Women in Medicine.” Consider this your referral list.

Here’s a science-backed reason to finally let go of that grudge. Block and be free.

This “micro-dreaming” technique can help you fall asleep faster. Anxious overthinkers, this one’s for you.

Cliff Notes

If you’ve seen headlines about a looming “Title X funding cliff,” chances are they’ve focused on one thing: birth control access.

That’s not wrong. But it’s also not the full story.

Title X is one of the country’s main safety nets for basic sexual and preventive health care for people who are uninsured or underinsured — tens of millions of Americans. STI testing and treatment, HIV screenings, cancer screenings, maternal health services, and, yes, birth control all fall under its umbrella. These funds cannot cover abortion, but they do support care people rely on before, during, and after pregnancy.

How we got here. The federal government missed its usual timeline to release grant applications, then dropped them with a one-week turnaround, leaving hundreds of non-profit clinics and local health departments scrambling. If applications aren’t processed in time, money may not go out by April 1. Even a short gap could mean clinics cutting hours, staff, or services. And for many patients, there’s no backup plan.

Why this is bad timing for birth control. Hormonal contraceptives get the most attention, and for good reason. But birth control has many uses beyond pregnancy prevention, particularly during perimenopause. If funding stalls, that access could shrink for people without insurance or with limited local options — at a time when its safety and use are being publicly questioned.

At last week’s inaugural Health and Human Services Women’s Health Summit, skepticism around the “overprescription” of birth control dominated the conversation, including from surgeon general nominee Casey Means, MD, who echoed concerns circulating online. Major medical organizations, however, continue to support birth control as safe and widely used. The mixed messaging adds another layer to an already confusing situation.

Take a bird’s-eye view. When talk about Title X stops at birth control, however, it misses the bigger picture — that in the coming weeks it may be harder for tens of millions of people to get routine preventive and sexual health care.

For Your Sanity:

Check your access. If you rely on low-cost clinics for STI testing, cancer screenings, or prescriptions, look into what’s available in your area now to get ahead of availability changes.
Have a BC backup plan. If you use birth control (for any reason), consider checking refill timelines or asking about longer prescriptions if access becomes less predictable.
Support local clinics. Many Title X providers accept donations and rely on them to bridge funding gaps when federal dollars stall.

Are we overdoing skincare?

Featured Expert

Sara Perkins, MD

A board-certified dermatologist in Yale Medicine's Department of Dermatology in New Haven, CT, and a Castle Connolly Top Doctor.

“In many cases — yes. We’re in an era of 10-step routines driven more by marketing than medicine. From my perspective, the essentials are surprisingly simple: daily broad-spectrum sunscreen and a nighttime retinoid. Those two alone have decades of evidence behind them.

Antioxidants like vitamin C can help — if they’re well-formulated — and chemical exfoliants can be useful, but overuse can damage the skin barrier. A gentle cleanser and moisturizer round out the routine.

Trendy ingredients like peptides and exosomes are intriguing, but the science is still evolving. I regularly see irritation, breakouts, and pigmentation from doing too much. Healthy skin doesn’t require a complex or costly routine — just consistent, evidence-based basics.”

PS: Start your vitamin C research here with this list of the best serums for bright, glowy skin.

No One Wants This Comeback Tour

With a record number of people expected to fly in March and April, the CDC has raised the alert level for polio in multiple regions, including parts of Europe and the UK, just in time for peak spring break travel.

Right now, it’s tracking polio in 30-plus countries through wastewater surveillance and clinical case reporting. Add declining global vaccination rates, and public health officials are paying closer attention — not because of widespread outbreaks, but to prevent the virus from spreading across borders as travel ramps up.

This doesn’t mean you have to cancel plans. Most adults in the US were vaccinated as children, which provides strong protection against severe illness. Global guidance from the WHO focuses on staying up to date on routine vaccines. Heading to one of these countries? The CDC says you may benefit from a one-time adult booster. If you’re unsure of your vaccine status, a quick check-in with your doctor can help clarify.

Should you wash new clothes before you wear them?

Always

Only if they touch, ahem, sensitive areas

Only if they’re bought in-store

Only if you feel like it

Shake Up Your Lunch Routine

We’re getting so many Costco chicken hacks on our feed. The concept: Shred an entire rotisserie Costco chicken, mix with rice, veggies, and dressing, and you’ve got a bowl for a week of meals.

Try this classic how-to, then build from there. Add coleslaw mix for additional crunch, and get creative with DIY-ing your dressing.

Just one thing: Heat and plastics don’t mix. Consider combining in a non-plastic bowl, then portioning it out from there.

Chew On This

To us, gummy vitamins are equal parts little treat and a pat on the back. And, while nutritionists agree the best vitamins and minerals come off your plate, they also know that sometimes, you need a little extra support. Here, their favorite options:

SmartyPants

SmartyPants Prenatal Plus Multi & Omegas is the best prenatal gummy vitamin.

MaryRuth's

MaryRuth’s K2 + D3 Calcium Gummies are the best vitamin D gummy vitamins.

OLLY

OLLY Goodbye Stress is the best stress-relieving gummy vitamin.

Lemme

Lemme Sleep “Sleep Tight” Gummies are the best gummy vitamins for sleep.

Here’s the full list of the best gummy vitamins, according to experts.

Today's Recs For a Life Well-Lived

This derm-approved spray can be used on your face and body, and it'll help minimize redness, irritation, and breakouts.

A drugstore shampoo known to minimize shedding and dandruff.

We're pretty sure our editor just found a dupe for Lululemon's ABC pants. Run, don't walk.

Worried about microplastics? We're buying this grippy cutting board that's safe to use.

Psst…love our recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram for more products, gifts, and services that are actually worth the hype (and the price tag).

Your bedroom has a secret bacteria breeding ground