Q by Equinox

Lime and Sun Don’t Mix

Beware the citrus juice. It may make for more than a mean cocktail this weekend.

Nothing says beach day like a cold beverage with a splash of lime — but, keep the tiny citrus fruit's juices off of your hands. The combination of skin, sun and lime can cause a painful reaction and red, blistering rash.

Shore Up Your Next Getaway

Beach Tomato's Tom Marchant shares which off-the-beaten-path beaches to jet to this summer.

Beach season is marked by freedom, simplicity and the kind of deep exhale that is only possible in the vicinity of sand and surf. And it is upon us. “There is something very primal and elemental about the beach," says Tom Marchant, co-founder of luxury beach travel site BeachTomato. "The end of our lands, the edges of oceans that lead to new places and new adventures. It makes people feel wistful, excited, relaxed and disconnected.”

The Malibu Body

Steal the beach-physique secret of the locals: Working out on the sand.

The allure of sea breezes and sunshine (with SPF) aside, taking your workout to the beach can confer some serious better-body payoffs. In fact, if the last thing you sculpted in the sand was castle-shaped, you’re missing out.

What We Read This Week

Water, only better, and the posture technique top executives are using to counteract all that sitting.

3 Swim-Faster Workouts

The secret to a faster first leg: Interval sessions.

Triathletes, take note: You don’t need Lochte-like lung capacity to feel stronger and faster in the water. Adding interval workouts to your regular pool regimen is the best way speed things up, according to Kai Karlstrom, a Tier 4 trainer in Chicago who is competing for Team USA at the Sprint Distance Triathlon World Championships in London this September. As opposed to slogging through steady-state laps, “interval training improves more facets of endurance performance than just long swimming does,” says Karlstrom.

Are You Oil Pulling Yet?

The ancient practice is making a comeback among the health-minded.

It doesn’t involve high-tech rigging or offshore drilling. It can help clear congestion, freshen breath, and boost immunity. What is it? Oil pulling, or kavala graha as it’s known in Ayurvedic textbooks, is a natural way to cleanse and detoxify your mouth—and it’s catching on. The practice, which originated in India thousands of years ago, involves taking a teaspoon of unrefined oil and gently swishing it in your mouth much like you would mouthwash (sans the gargling).

Q&A with Paul Wesley

The "Vampire Diaries" star on heli-snowboarding, Marlon Brando and meditation.

Paul Wesley looks pretty good for playing 165 years old. Mostly because in reality (and human years), the "Vampire Diaries" star, who plays Stefan Salvatore on the hit drama, is 30, fit and very health conscious. Before tomorrow night's season finale, we caught up with Wesley to find out how he plans to stay in top form for his next 200 or so years.

Breathe Easy on Your Next Trip

New research reveals that your hotel room may not be as smoke-free as you think.

Booking the ocean-view penthouse with oversized soaking tub may do wonders for the mind, but it's not a given that the same is true for the body. A new study found that in smoking hotels, even non-smoking rooms expose guests to tobacco pollution, also known as third-hand smoke. In fact, surface nicotine levels were more than twice as high as in hotels where smoking was completely banned. The authors also write: "Our findings demonstrate that some non-smoking guest rooms in smoking hotels are as polluted with [third hand smoke] as are some smoking rooms." Disturbed? Exercise your right to clean air with a stay at a smoke-free property. For a little travel inspiration, read:

Are Collard Greens the New Kale?

Major chefs are adding the greens to their menus. Here's why:

Kale has been the “it” green for the last few years, but now it has some competition. Collard greens, another leafy vegetable and a longtime Southern staple, are becoming a favorite among culinary all-stars. Hugh Acheson, owner of Five and Ten and The National in Georgia, declared collards “the new kale” during a guest-judging appearance on "Top Chef". And Michael Ferraro, executive chef at Delicatessen in New York City and a former competitor on "Iron Chef America", is also a fan. “Collard greens are a very classic comfort food ingredient, but they’re making a comeback in a big way with new, lighter preparations,” he says, “They’re not just for fried chicken anymore.”

Veganism's Surprising Skin Effects

The meat-and-dairy-free regimen may compromise your complexion.

It’s a Friday afternoon in New York City and slim, black-clad beauties are three-deep waiting for facials at Joanna Vargas Skincare. Some will need more work than others — but not for the reason you may think. Genetics and age aside, the condition of your skin often comes down to nutrition. “Being a vegan can be aging,” says Vargas. “I see 27-year-old vegans who don’t have good elasticity. There’s no snap-back to their skin tone because they’re not getting enough protein.”