Happy weekend! Goodbye January (and, btw, here’s the scientific reason it’s the month that just won’t quit), and hello February. Welcome to The Skinny, which will take you three minutes to breeze through (or less). And for anyone new here: this is a free newsletter, full of snackable lifestyle news, designed to entertain and save you time—everyone’s most valuable resource.

What we’re covering:

• Forget the “girl with the dragon tattoo”; celebrating the Lunar New Year and Nicole’s snake 

• Because the best things in life are free: plan your next hike by lacing up for our latest giveaway—Salomon shoes from REI

• Protein: beyond the hype (and…more cottage cheese!)

• Why you have dry skin in winter, and how to prevent it 

• Plus: Jolt cola returns, the latest F&B collabs (coffee! cars! tequila!) and what happens when teens ditch their cell phones

💡Did you know: all The Skinny editions are online and searchable—so you can easily find topics/links/recipes/items to shop that we have written about in the past. Bookmark this link for easy reference.

🔗If someone already in the know sent this, you can subscribe here.

Protein’s popularity surge

And how did the world’s blandest protein become the sexiest?

The Skinny: Protein is having its moment in the refrigerator spotlight. From shakes to bars and seemingly everything in between, it's the star of diets promoting muscle gain and weight loss. But how much is too much, and do you really need “more”? While this could be the subject of a longform feature, we’re here to summarize with key consideration points. 

Before jumping on the protein train, first assess how much you’re already getting in your diet vs. what is recommended (and you can find a calculator, here). From what we can tell so far, most research points to Americans (with the exception of older adults) already consuming more than enough protein. 

However, while you may be eating “enough” protein, it’s worth looking at your protein sources and which are the most beneficial. In this “plate debate” article, the Cleveland Clinic outlines and explains the best, and not-so-great protein options. However, even without reading, common sense dictates that: obviously, a salmon filet, nut, egg or chicken breast is going to be healthier than a processed “bar” or powdered shake.  

Net-net: most of what we read emphasizes the importance of protein and its benefits for your mind and body (Nicole appreciated one article noting that “protos,” a Greek word, means “first/primary/most important.”)  But unless you’re a bodybuilder, we’re calling buyer beware of packaged foods with bold “MORE PROTEIN” claims. As a writer from The Independent points out: Weetabix is “already doing God’s work” as a packaged food, so why the need to infuse it with protein?

Finally, many nutrition experts emphasized that protein really shouldn’t be today’s health & nutrition MVP; that title should belong to fiber (more on this later). That said, here’s one to consider for the Super Bowl: air fried canned artichokes, which have 8-9 grams of fiber and look crazy easy to make.

Because no protein item (in The Skinny) would be complete without a perspective on cottage cheese, we leave you with the story of its turnaround and the most “boring food in the world” has now become one of the sexiest and most enjoyable.

Giveaway: Salomon shoes from REI

Because the best hikes start with the right shoes 

The Skinny: ICYMI, subscriber Julie H. was the lucky winner of the Ooni pizza oven, and this week we are giving away a pair of Salomon shoes (that cost $175 or less) from REI. It’s easy to enter—simply use your referral link below (or this one) and send to a couple people who would love The Skinny. Then respond to this email with the word “DONE.” We’ll reply with a confirmation and will unveil the winner by the end of February. 

To inspire you to lace up…a list of bucket list hikes here in the good ol’ U.S.A.

Fresh faced

Do you really need ‘winter skin care’?

The Skinny: Crusty, flaky, patchy, scaly, itchy, pasty: meet the seven dwarves of dead-of-winter skin (and of course, Doc to the rescue). Do any of these lovely adjectives describe how your skin feels right now, in the dead of winter?  

🚨 Skin Patrol is here, starting with understanding why winter skin is so dry, from Columbia University. TL:DR crib notes start with the obvious: skin becomes dry when it is not sufficiently moisturized. Getting more technical, the stratum corneum (skin’s outermost layer) is a barrier that retains water. In winter, cold weather and low humidity indoors and out depletes the skin of its natural oils, so water escapes out of this barrier, and skin becomes dehydrated. We also learned that dry skin is more susceptible to skin infections (according to the article, it’s more difficult for a dry barrier to protect you from the outside environment).  

Pretty simple, so what is to be done? Aside from drinking lots of water and limiting hot showers, here are The Skinny holy grails to keep that barrier barrier-ing*. 

• Dr Hauschka Rose Cream: founded by a German chemist and with a commitment to natural, biodynamic and holistic healing, this cream is designed to help your skin’s barrier fortify and renew itself (Jill has been using it since 1998, and slathers it on before skiing).  

• Dermologica Super Rich Repair: for dry, dehydrated or aging skin. Jill’s also been using this and loves it. For sensitive skin, try Dermologica’s new Stabilzing Repair Cream, which is “barrier-repairing,” but also strengthens and soothes. 

• Aesop Primrose Facial Hydrating Cream: One of Nicole’s Christmas presents, which is a treat for the senses thanks to a soothing delivery, dreamy/herbaceous aroma with rosemary and sage, and a dewy finish. The before/after is night and day – glowing! 

Honorable mentions*:  

• For the body: EvolveTogether Body cream in cardamom wood or rose mandarin 

• On-the-go spritz: Caudalie Grape Water Moisturizing Face Mist: cult-fave delivering an instantly hydrating, wake-me-up for your face)

• For the bros: We know one of these GQ editors and trust this roundup of the best for every skin type, but Bath & Body Works’ Ocean Daily Face Lotion (at $14) is also getting rave reviews from our F&F 

• Sensitive skin: Tatcha Indigo Calming Face Cream 

• Green beauty: Tata harper Water Lock Moisutrizer  

• Lip balm: Dr Rogers lip bal or La Roche Posay 

• For winter hands: Jane Iredale HandDrink hand creme 

• The OG: Clinique Lab Series Creme Moisurizer 

Hot skin topic: this tweet caught our eye a couple months ago, especially with Jill currently residing in Telluride and Nicole an alum of CU-Boulder. He posits: Colorado…where totally healthy people look like they are 20 years older than they actually are.This opens up a can of worms and while you should never make a blanket statement, we have admittedly thought about/wondered the same. While this tweet’s comment section offers plausible reasons such as elevation, sun, penchant for outdoor activities, dry air, “buffalo meat” (lol), and weed, Jill also notes that a lot of Colorado women take impeccable care of their skin but will not use botox. Thoughts? We’d love you to weigh in!

Hisss….

Celebrating the Year of the Snake

The Skinny: Because Nicole was inked on Colfax Avenue with a cobra tattoo, during her freshman year at Boulder, it goes without saying that…thissss is her year. Sinister beauty aside, snakes are one of nature’s most complex and divisive creatures, filled with often contradictory symbolism: life/fertility and death, transformation and renewal, sensuality and evil. We can’t dream of being knowledgeable enough to truly weigh in on what The Year of the Snake will bring, but fortunately this People story features an expert, who breaks down all you need to know about the year of the Wood Snake (with yin wood) for each sign. Overall, this looks to be a creative, idea-inspired year full of surprises and rapid change. 

Shed your old beauty or fashion habits: style-wise, snakes—with their striking, geometric patterns that change with movement or mood, and symbolism as a creative life force—are unsurprisingly an inspiration for designers (such as...this limited edition Year of the Wood Snake Arc’teryx  jacket). This is the year for renewal and reinvention, so do it mysteriously and creatively like only a snake can…whether with nail art like these python French tips and serpent nail tattoos or, if you’re going highbrow, here’s a stunning selection of items from luxury houses who went serpentine. 

And, something to perhaps slink into your shopping cart: this Rebecca Minkhoff Year of the Snake Heart Clutch, or Snake Ring Shoulder Bag. 

Last licks

This week’s newsfeed

• What happened when four teens traded their smartphone for flip phones?

• Jolt Cola, with its in-your-face original claims of “all the sugar, twice the caffeine” is triple (or, possibly quadrupling) down with a relaunch claiming “more than twice the caffeine.”

• Following up on our Canadian “party ski gondola,” we present a new concept in the making: a party submarine, where you can host a private rave underwater.

• Today’s collab alerts: 

  • Lavazza x Lamborghini, a winning formula for its Italian heritage synergies (as shown in its ”intense” promo video). But, sfortunato, it’s only available in espresso so unless you have a machine at home or have a friend who does, no dice. 

  • Popeyes x Don Julio: Hey kids! If you’re 21 and older (I know, but really) and Super Bowl bound, you can taste test the new “Championship Lineup” from Popeye’s and Don Julio. With adjectives like “barrel-cured,” “crunchy” and “sweet and buttery” tossed around with abandon, how can you not wanna get your hands on the the Concha Chicken Sandwich (marinated in reposado, fried in buttermilk breading, topped with lime slaw, spicy spread and pickle…then nested in a Mexican sweet bread roll…a concha).

*If you purchase something linked in The Skinny, we may get an affiliate commission—but at no additional cost to you.