The Daily Valet. - 2/16/22, Wednesday

✔️ On the Rise

February 16, 2022

Wednesday, February 16th Edition

Cory Ohlendorf, Editor in Chief of Valet.

A story below brings new meaning to “Hump Day”.

Cory Ohlendorf , Editor ⋯ @coryohlendorf

Today’s edition is presented by

Today’s Big Story

Acne Is on the Rise

It’s now a ‘disease of western civilization’ that affects more people than ever

It used to be something a few unlucky kids dealt with. But these days, 95% of American adolescents experience mild to moderate acne—and now the condition often persists well into middle age. The American Academy of Dermatology reports that the rates of acne in adults are increasing.

Though it may seem to be a superficial skin problem, acne is really a complex (and, at times, traumatizing) disorder that results from an interaction between various components of the skin and people’s hormones. Diet has long been blamed, and there is now growing evidence that modern diets may indeed influence the incidence and severity of acne.

Rates of acne are similar in many other Western nations, and the rest of the world is catching up quickly. According to a 2021 study, the global incidence of acne has risen by more than 50% in the last three decades.

One doctor told Elemental that air pollution, sun exposure (or lack thereof), and the overzealous use of antibiotics or antibacterial soaps—both of which can cause unhealthy shifts in the populations of microbes that live on our skin—are probably all part of the problem. “But I also think diet plays a big role,” he says. “Foods that are readily available in modern societies tend to be pro-inflammatory, and acne is a disease of inflammation.”

Couple that with the fact that we’re more hyper-aware of our appearance than ever, and you've got multiple generations not only grappling with bumps and breakouts but severe psychological scarring that can linger even after it clears.

Recently, researchers established that many high-glycemic foods—sweets, but also refined grains, processed meats, and other foods that increase blood sugar levels—can trigger acne breakouts and make them worse. All of these foods form the backbone of the much-maligned Western diet, which many experts now consider the blueprint for problematic health problems. Is it any wonder that it’s lead to troubled skin too?

↦ My Own Journey: I struggled with a sudden onset of serious adult acne and ended up taking a drastic route to clear it up for good.

What Work Looks Like Now

Companies revert to more normal operations as COVID wanes

For the first time in two years for many people, the American workplace is transforming into something that resembles pre-pandemic days.

Several large companies, from Walmart to Amazon, have announced that they are ending mask requirements for its vaccinated workers. Tech companies like Microsoft and Facebook that had allowed employees to work fully remote are now setting mandatory dates to return to the office after a series of fits and starts.

Of course, plenty of people aren't in a rush to return to the office (be it out of concern or merely convenience). Only 33% of the workforce returned in person during the first week of February in the 10 major cities monitored by Kastle Systems, which records building-access-card swipes.

That's not to say we're all just staying home. The return rate to movie theaters in the first week of February was 58% of what it was before the pandemic. Restaurants and air travel have both recovered to about 80%. But as the service industry removes their masks, will customers be just as eager to get out there? Time will tell.

↦ Dig Deeper: Curious about your current mask duties? This updated list offers every statewide order.

Partner

So many people struggle with anxiety and mental illness. But nature may already have an answer for us with plant based treatments.

The Downfall of Love in America

We’re at a 30-year low for sex

Is it too early to talk about sex? Have we shaken off the Valentine's Day hangover to talk about love? Bear with me, because these are some staggering statistics.

Twenty-six percent of Americans ages 18 and up didn't have sex once over the past 12 months, according to the 2021 General Social Survey. You might think this is just a pandemic effect, but it's part of a long-term trend. The two years with next-highest percentage of sexless adults were 2016 and 2018—the last two times the survey was conducted.

Some of this has to do with fewer people getting married along with an aging population—but that doesn't explain all of it. Among married couples under the age of 60, 26% had sex once a month or less in 2021. But in 1989, it was just 12%. (Of course, back in the '80s, they didn't have all these streaming services demanding our attention.)

And it's not just about sex. Some 62% of American adults lived with a partner or were married, according to a 2021 Pew Research Center study—well below the 71% of couples who lived together in 1990. Interestingly, the drop has nothing to do with rising educational levels among women who don't need the financial support of a man. According to CNN, higher educated people and higher wage earners are the most likely to live with a partner or be married.

↦ On the Bright Side: The result of millennials being more careful with marriage is a divorce rate that dropped every year since 2010.

TV Projectors Without Sacrifice

Bigger, clearer pictures and big, bold sound

Recently, during an episode of the CE Pro Podcast, a panel of noted industry experts praised ultra-short-throw projectors as finally being viable solutions for serious movie buffs.

Unlike the projectors of just a few years ago, you can use them on a TV stand just like you would a regular television set up. The “short throw” design means a projector needs just 8 to 9 inches distance from your wall to create an image 100-inches in size.

And even though these projectors are getting clearer and brighter, they've never been known for their audio prowess. LG is hoping to change all that with a new CineBeam 4K laser projector that aims to deliver sound as big as its enormous picture. According to Robb Report, it can even be paired with additional Bluetooth speakers to create a surround sound experience in your home.

But if you want to get the most out of your 4K projector and replace your living room television—a plain white wall just isn't going to cut it. Experts agree that you'll want a specialty projector screen which provides an “ambient light rejecting surface.”

↦ Budget Option: ViewSonic offers a well-reviewed model that isn't quite as slick, but also rings in at about a quarter of the cost.

In Other News

↦ If You’re Finding This Stage of the Pandemic Especially Confusing, You’re Not Alone

↦ Scientists Have Possibly Cured HIV in a Woman for the First Time

↦ This Startup Is Trying to Make Juicy Steaks Out of Thin Air

Other Things We’re Talking About Today

Sony’s LinkBuds

A Wordle scandal

Eileen Gu

Partner

The Psychedelic Future Is Calling

Introducing: the golden age of psychedelics

You've no doubt heard about the rise of psychedelic drugs already. After all, Quartz says we're entering a second psychedelic golden age in the U.S. and Europe, after a decades-long dark age. Why? Because interest is surging, and a major paradigm shift is underway. Plant-based treatments are offering hope and getting people talking.

Nearly a billion people worldwide struggle with mental illness. Of these, more than 284 million suffer from some form of anxiety. Some people don't want to rely on traditional pharmaceuticals. They're expensive and have a myriad of side effects. Which is why more natural, plant-based options are so appealing.

And when there's this big of a shift in any market, there's potential to capitalize on the course change. That's why savvy investors see such potential in this estimated $35 billion industry. Ei.Ventures' flagship product, Psilly, is a whole-plant and fungi botanical formulation, currently in the pre-clinical phase. It's made from psilocybin, the active compound in what the hippies called magic mushrooms. And the natural properties have the potential to help millions of people who struggle with mental illness, from anxiety and depression, to PTSD or alcohol and nicotine addiction.

As the first psychedelic medicine company in the world to qualify for a Reg A+ Tier 2 offering from the SEC, Ei.Ventures is now merging with Mycotopia to form a new company that will complete pre-clinical and phase 1 trials in order to launch therapeutic Psilly into states where psilocybin is legal. And now you can invest early to get on board with both the movement and the growth potential. But you'll want to move fast—the funding round ends on March 22. Imagine getting in on the ground floor of medical marijuana before it hits the mainstream? That's what this feels like.

↦ Invest Now: In Ei.Ventures and their plant-based treatment for mental illness.

Must-HaveKnits

J.Crew Cotton Diagonal Jacquard Full-Zip Sweater sale

This vintage-inspired sweater ($225 / $112.99 w/code WARMUP) doubles as a jacket whenever there's a mild chill. The jacquard knit stands out from the crowd and you'll be surprised at how versatile an off-white sweater really is.

↦ Want more? 4 must-have knits on sale now