January 2025

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Fitness trackers and smartwatches want to live on your wrist 24/7. You’ll want them on during a workout, of course, and then for sleep tracking, and of course you wouldn’t want to miss out on the stress readings and data displays throughout the day. But after a while of wearing a tight silicone band every minute of the day, you may find your skin starts to get red or itchy. Here are some tips on how to reduce the chances of irritation, and what you can do if you already have a rash.

Wear your watch loosely when you’re not working out

Most makers of smartwatches and fitness trackers say that you should wear them loosely for daily wear. Fitbit, for example, writes that you should wear the band “loosely enough that it can move back and forth on your wrist” and instructs you to “Lower the band on your wrist and loosen it after exercise.”

This loose fit allows air to contact your skin as the watch moves around during the day. This way, no part of your skin gets moisture or sweat trapped against it.

Garmin and Apple (to name a few) all say basically the same thing. During exercise, you’ll want to wear the watch snugly, above your wrist bone (so it’s at least an inch or two away from your actual wrist joint). This lets you get a nice, snug contact between the heart rate sensor and your skin. But once the workout is over, loosen the watch back to a more comfortable position.

A good rule of thumb is that when you’re not working out, the watch should be able to move back and forth on your wrist. But during a workout, if you try to slide the watch, your skin should move with it.

Rinse the watch band daily

Irritation can happen when sweat, moisture, or other substances (like, say, soap) get trapped against your skin. An easy way to avoid this is to take the watch off and rinse it when you’re in the shower.

If not in the shower, then try to find some other time during the day—maybe while you’re washing your hands—to take the watch off and makes sure it’s clean. Check the care instructions that came with your device; you may be advised to not use soap.

Consider a different material for the band

Waterproof materials like silicone tend to be the worst culprits for irritation, probably because of the way they can trap sweat and moisture against the skin. If this is an ongoing issue for you, consider a fabric watch band that breathes a little better. For example, here’s a five-pack of elastic bands that fit the Fitbit Charge 6. Whatever your device, there are probably a ton of third-party bands out there in a variety of materials.

Folavii Five-Pack Elastic Bands for Fitbit Charge 6

$14.99
at Amazon

Folavii 5 Pack Stretchy Nylon Compatible with Fitbit Charge 6 Bands/Fitbit Charge 5 Bands for Women Men, Elastic Adjustable Straps Sport Replacement Wristbands for Fitbit Charge 5/6 Watch

$14.99
at Amazon

A pro tip, though: if you’re going to get a fabric band, get two. That way you can still wash them (or wear them in the shower or pool) and then swap for a dry one rather than wearing the soggy one for the rest of the day.

Give your skin a break if it’s already irritated

If you’ve already gotten a rash on your skin, the most important thing is to stop wearing the watch while you wait for it to heal. If you take a break from your watch at the first sign of irritation, it will probably clear up quickly.

The one time I had some redness and itching from a Garmin strap, I immediately washed the watch and then, once it was dry, put it back on my other wrist. Yes, it feels weird to have your watch on the “wrong” wrist, but you need to give your skin a chance to heal. It’s also OK to simply not wear the watch for a while.

Are you one of the many reconsidering their relationship with Meta’s Instagram? If you’re looking for another outlet to share your photos, Pixelfed, an open source photo-sharing alternative without ads or tracking, has officially launched mobile apps for Android and iPhone.

These apps, which allow you to upload photos and videos directly from your phone, arrive just a few days after Meta blocked users from sharing links to the service (prompting a few days of unprecidented levels of traffic in backlash).

Pixelfed, like Mastodon, is part of the Fediverse, meaning people on Mastodon can follow accounts on Pixelfed, and vice-versa. It also means that signing up can be a little confusing to Fediverse neophytes: When getting set up, you will need to choose a server in order to share photos and follow other users. The biggest server, pixelfed.social, is currently lagging due to a large influx of new users, so it’s worth considering the other options presented in the app itself (or browse this directory).

Remember when Instagram was fun?

Decentralization is interesting and laudable, sure, but the thing I like best about Pixelfed is that it feels like a return to Instagram’s glory days. As you might recall, Instagram used to be a photo sharing service. Yes, you technically can still share photos on Instagram, but it’s been a long time since that was the primary focus of the application. Your timeline, once filled with photos from people you follow, is these days dominated by ads and “recommended” videos from celebrities and strangers.

Despite some recent changes to give you back a little more control, Insta is also ruled by the algorithm, which means that when you post a photo, there’s less of a chance that your friends will actually see it. Because of this, the people you care about are probably posting fewer photos than they used to, which in turn frees up the algorithm to put more random videos in your timeline. It’s enough to make you wonder why anyone still uses the service—it’s certainly not for the reasons they signed up for it.

The Pixelfed mobile app, in contrast to Instagram’s current incarnation, is simple. You can scroll through the photos posted by people you’ve chosen to follow. You can see the most popular photos on your server, or the entire Fediverse. Or you can upload photos. These new applications technically aren’t the first Pixelfed apps—there were plenty of third party applications that could access it, and those still exist. But now there’s also an official app, and it works pretty well.

The simple user interface for uploading a photo, which you can take in the app or share from your phone's photo library.

Credit: Justin Pot

Another thing that’s missing from Pixelfed: ads and any kind of tracking. The developer team promises those “features” are never coming. In a Mastodon post, developer Daniel Supernault said “Pixelfed is a lot of things, but one thing it is not, is an opportunity for VC or others to ruin the vibe,” adding that he turned down VC funding and plans to never add ads. “Pixelfed is for the people, period.”

I’m not the kind of tech journalist who likes to make predictions about which applications will “win.” I will say, though, that the internet would be a better place if that mentality were more common.

The Mets have added another potential bullpen option, claiming right-handed reliever Austin Warren off waivers from the Giants.

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Welcome to “Cookbook of the Week.” This is a series where I highlight cookbooks that are unique, easy to use, or just special to me. While finding a particular recipe online serves a quick purpose, flipping through a truly excellent cookbook has a magic all its own.

It may be halfway through Dry January, but I think a mocktail book is still in order. Alongside the folks who desire a once-per-year cleanse are those that skip the booze year-round. In which case, this week’s cookbook, The Mocktail Club, is right on time.

Personally, I enjoy an adult beverage from time to time, but there are many social occasions where I find myself looking at the cocktail menu like it’s the last thing I want near me. But when the mocktail finally got a foothold in the industry and began to gain popularity, I gladly pulled up a stool.

A bit about the book

There’s always been a feeling, strong or lingering, that social drinking requires alcohol. While that’s fine if it fits your lifestyle, it can simultaneously exclude others if there are no other options. Enter: The mocktail. For those of you that might be unfamiliar, a mocktail (besides being a clever play on the word “cocktail”) is a non-alcoholic drink that combines two or more components.

The Mocktail Club comes to us from Derick Santiago, a certified mixologist who has poured his knowledge into non-alcoholic libations that are just as complex and delicious as the booze-infused. This petite hard cover was published in 2024, and has 75 non-alcoholic recipes in it, including alcohol-free spins on classics like the piña colada, or B&T (botanicals and tonic).

A great book for those who won’t settle for juice

The challenging thing about mocktails, especially in the early years, is that many of the smaller ingredients or components would include alcohol too—liqueurs, bitters, vermouth. Achieving the complexity of cocktails without these smaller additions led to one-dimensional drinks, or sometimes just fancy juices. In the past, being alcohol-free meant your options were rather limited, and not everyone wants six Diet Cokes or waters when they’re at their wife’s birthday party.

These days, the options have opened up. Now there are plenty of brands and businesses in the alcohol-free space, brewing up non-alcoholic tequilas, whiskeys, bitters, and more. The Mocktail Club uses the full range of what is available so now you don’t have to settle for soda or juice if you don’t want to. You can make beautiful, nuanced drinks that don’t feel like a replacement or a disguise; they are actually sophisticated drinks you want to enjoy.

This is a book for someone who wants to truly dive into the world of NA mocktails with gusto. It’s not for someone who wants to make an easy mocktail out of regular ol’ ingredients from the refrigerator. You’ll need supplies, non-alcoholic spirits, and to do a little pre-work with syrups and shrubs.

Credit: Allie Chanthorn Reinmann

The recipes you can expect

Part of the reason I chose to feature The Mocktail Club is because of how thorough the front matter is before the “real” recipes start. Santiago takes the time (but not too much space) to explain what a mocktail is, important terminology, how non-alcoholic versions of spirits are made, and what flavors they mimic.

Santiago gives you a full section of simple syrup recipes, shrub recipes, and accoutrements that add that “little something” to push the drink over the edge. You’ll learn different types of shaking methods, including one that can help you replace alcoholic bitters with a simple orange peel.

The recipes are organized by the primary non-alcoholic spirit in the recipe, chapters like Gin-inspired Mocktails or Rum-inspired Mocktails, lead the way. Aperitifs and completely Spirit-free Mocktails close out the book.

Each recipe has a headnote that briefly explains the flavor profile of the drink and how the ingredients work together. Most of the measurements are for single servings, or occasionally two, so I can see batching these drinks for a party might be cumbersome with the math. But not impossible.

The drink I made this week

I made the General Giuseppe mocktail this week. I’ve been musing about a trip to Italy for next year and this bright orange drink seemed to match my mood. At first, I was irritated because I wanted to already have all the components it needed, but I did not. Then I realized that a good mocktail is going to require a little work on my part. The mocktail ingredients have to be different from what I have because my home bar is an alcohol zone.

Luckily, finding a “non-alcoholic Italian red aperitif” is not as hard as I thought. You can buy a pack online (this stuff is actually pretty tasty on its own), or check out any Italian specialty stores you have in the area. You might be surprised that some Italian restaurants will sell these items too. I bought my bottle from an Italian sandwich shop in my neighborhood. The same goes for non-alcoholic or zero-proof orange bitters. Check out stores that sell mixers, bougie liquor stores, or buy them online.

The drink was only three ingredients, and easy to prepare; a dry shake before adding ice. The delicious, brightly hued beverage that I poured into my rock glass surpassed expectations. I was worried it would be too sweet, maybe too juicy, or just boring, but it was nothing like that. The sweetness of the orange juice was met head-on with the bitter aperitif. While the light addition of orange bitters added an aromatic depth to make it taste “cocktail-y.”

What’s more, I didn’t have to pour it out for once. Whenever I make alcoholic cocktails for work, it’s usually 11 a.m., and that is not for me.

How to buy it

The Mocktail Club is available online, naturally, and in real life at a number of Barnes & Noble bookstores. Remember, you can support your local brick and mortar bookstores by asking them to order it to their location if they don’t have it in stock. While I did not try batching any mocktails from the book, I think I will for the next get-together I attend. If you do it before I do, let me know how it goes, and enjoy your Dry Whichever-month.

The Mocktail Club: Classic Recipes (and New Favorites) Without the Booze

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Last year, I was searching high and low for a good present to get my mom, who loves gadgets but for whom I have already purchased every Alexa-enabled device, plus a whole slew of Apple products. I dug my own grave by maxing her out on electronics and doodads and was left with few gift options—that is, until I noticed a product advertised as a mug warmer.

I initially thought she could plug it into one of her many smart outlets and command her army of Amazon Echos to keep her drinks warm, so I bought it immediately. That was not, however, how she ended up using it—what sits atop this drink warmer is a candle. She found the smartest way to make her home smell amazing, then passed the knowledge on to me. Now, I’m passing it on to you because this is a great hack.

Candle warming is a super efficient way to make your entire home smell fantastic. My mom lives in a four-level house and says that when she sets a candle on her mug warmer, the smell permeates at least two levels away from wherever the device is. Simply lighting a candle doesn’t yield the same result.

Unlike traditionally lighting a candle, the warmer causes the wax to melt from the bottom up. It does take a while for the smell to hit, but once it does, the scent is unstoppable. For a smaller candle, around 14 ounces, the process takes about an hour and the smell grows in intensity the whole time.

You can get designated candle warmers for about $30, but the smaller heaters designed for mugs can be as low as $9.99. The ones designed to heat candles, specifically, usually work by heating from the top down and are generally available in more decorative designs. I prefer the mug warmer primarily because it’s cheaper, but also because it’s more useful overall, even if it isn’t as pretty on the shelf. First, as the candle heats from the bottom, the smell builds in intensity. If you want a less intense scent, you can stop the warmer, which gives you a little more control and customizability. Second, the candle warmers that heat from the top are designed specifically to do that, which is awesome, but you can’t benefit from the dual-purpose glory the mug warmer offers. Remember, it’s a mug warmer, so you can use it as one whenever you want. The fancier, more expensive, top-down warmers don’t do much for your coffee, but the mug warmer can be used for its original purpose with ease. To me, it just makes more sense to get the cheaper device that does more around the house.

The one I’ve purchased for my mom and myself is no longer available on Amazon, but it was similar to this:

Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer

What to keep in mind when heating candles on a mug warmer

First of all, the surface here is pretty small, so you’re not going to be doing this with big, three-wick candles. That would take too long, anyway.

Second of all, once you do this to a candle, you won’t be able to burn that one again. Once the whole thing liquifies, the wick can start, as my mom puts it, “floating around in there.” When it hardens again after you turn the warmer off, there’s no guarantee the wick will be sticking out and available for lighting in the future. Granted, once you try this fire-free option and see how much more intense the scent is, you may not want to bother lighting a candle again anyway. The best candle I’ve found for this is from Bath & Body Works and I assume the powerful smell comes from the brand’s tendency to put essential oils in its product. The exterior doesn’t get sweaty, the labels don’t peel off, and there are really no safety issues or other problems beside the fact that you’ll probably lose access to your wick. (I should note, however, that you shouldn’t try to move the candle until after the wax has cooled and re-solidified. The glass will be warm to the touch and moving it too soon means risking spilling hot wax all over the place, which is not ideal.)

I love this method because it is safer than traditional candle burning. I am a huge fan of candles and scents overall, but I don’t really enjoy having open flames out and about in my home, so this takes away some anxiety while providing better service. Plugging the warmer into a smart outlet also means I can check an app to be sure it’s not still on, even when I’m out, which is not possible with an open-flame candle.

My mom has requested, however, that I let you know that safety features can also be a slight negative if you don’t prepare correctly: “One thing to remember when choosing a candle is that these mug warmers are meant to go off when you lift a coffee mug off of them, so you need to make sure that the candle has a good flat base and some weight to it to keep the warmer on,” says she, the expert.

Finally, the wax doesn’t really disappear the way it does with a normal candle. Rather, it loses potency. You can aim to heat yours 15 to 20 times, then, if it’s losing scent power, consider swapping it out for a new one.

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The Apple Watch Series 9 may have been overtaken by the Apple Watch Series 10 last year, but it’s still a great product that anyone shopping for a smart watch should keep in mind. Right now, the Series 9 is on sale for its lowest price ever, according to price tracking tools, making it especially worthy of a second look. You can get the 45mm GPS sport loop Series 9 for $279 (originally $329).

Apple Watch Series 9 (GPS) 45mm

Phone OS Compatibility: iOS, Watch OS: watchOS, Processor: Apple S9

Like most tech products, the Apple Watch comes in a basic model (the SE), a mid-tier model (like the Series 9 or 10), and a high-end version (the Ultra 2). But the Series 9 offers arguably the best bang for your buck, with many premium features and a price that’s closer to the SE than the Series 10 or Ultra 2.

The Series 9 is has fewer features for outdoor enthusiasts than the Ultra 2, but if you want to save yourself a few hundred dollars and don’t need a brighter screen or a more rugged design, the Series 9 is a great choice. PCMag gave the Series 9 an “outstanding” review for its powerful processor, the in-demand double-tap gesture for hands-free operation, access to Siri, and its bright display.

The GPS version only allows you to access your phone if you’re connected to the same wifi network or are close enough for a Bluetooth connection. In other words, you won’t be able to go on a run without your iPhone and expect to play music on your AirPods or take calls unless you want to get a used GPS + Cellular version for $263.09.

The aluminum case is cheaper than the stainless steel model, and the 45mm screen is for those who prefer a bigger screen compared to the 41mm one.

LeBron admits that the NFL owns Christmas now despite the NBA’s traditional holiday presence.

Here’s How to Prevent Your Watch Band From Irritating Your Skin

Wear your watch loosely when you’re not working out

Rinse the watch band daily

Consider a different material for the band

Give your skin a break if it’s already irritated

BeiGene Stock Meets 80-Plus RS Rating Benchmark

This Photo-Sharing App Feels Like a Return to Instagram’s Glory Days

Remember when Instagram was fun?

Mets claim reliever Austin Warren off waivers from Giants

‘The Mocktail Club’ Recipe Book Can Take Dry January to the Next Level

A bit about the book

A great book for those who won’t settle for juice

The recipes you can expect

The drink I made this week

How to buy it

Why I Use Mug Warmers With All My Candles

What to keep in mind when heating candles on a mug warmer

The Apple Watch Series 9 Just Hit Its Lowest Price Ever

Drones Uncovered a 3,000-Year-Old Hidden Mega-Fortress in the Mountains

Sen. Adam Schiff asks Bondi if she will investigate Jack Smith or Liz Cheney

LeBron James tells Travis and Jason Kelce the NFL ‘kicked our a**’ on Christmas with Chiefs game, Beyoncé halftime show