The summer of 2020 is now well underway as we’re now into the month of August. While 2020 has already proven to be the most difficult year in recent memory, its difficulties have helped many realize the need to take care of themselves both for the short-term and the long-term. In turn, below are 20 recommendations for brands with new products which can help make you more happy, healthy and/or motivated.
Annie’s Way Pearl & Hyaluronic Brightening Sheet Mask
Within this great mask from Annie’s Way, Vitamin C, Pearl Extract, and Mulberry Extracts work together to hydrate and brighten skin. In turn, you are left with a radiant glow as this 100 percent silk sheet mask provides an easy fit on the face and even distribution of its sheet mask essence. Suggested retail price on this one is $24.00.
We everyday humans were not meant to sit all day. In fact, our bodies were designed to move, and chances are that your workspace, classroom and/or home environment do not let you do that. FluidStance to the rescue, as its purpose is to set the world in motion, starting with our category-creating decks.
This award-winning company makes balance boards like The Level, The Slope (a personal desktop whiteboard) and the Fillup (a personal water tower), aiming to create one’s ultimate work station. In turn, Fluidstance ought to help you to inject some health and wellness into your workspace.
Few forms of exercise are as undeniably theraputic and/or “full body” like swimming. Per its website, Le Club was born with the conviction that “perfect shorts can exist.” Alive with the spirit of Miami, its global swimwear line stitches together the tropical spirit of its hometown with innovation, craftsmanship, a sincere passion for exceptional quality, and an unquenchable zest for life.
I had the pleasure of trying out the family-owned brand’s Europa model. Expect a black and white print (with an orange stripe), elastic waist short with mesh lining, a back pocket and a 100 percent polyester feel. Comfortable, stylish and functional all at once.
Moto 360 smartwatches feature beautiful brushed stainless steel timepieces, as available in Steel Grey, Rose Gold and Phantom Black coloring. Its smartwatches feature a protective, scratch-resistant coating to ensure elegance and ruggedness, no matter the activity. Moto 360 watches also comes with one silicon strap and one leather strap to suit any occasion. Its stainless steel curved case — with a rotating crown and customizable action button — mimics the haptic experience of classic luxury timepieces, combining classic aesthetic with next-generation technology.
For those accustomed to smartwatches having short battery lives, Moto360’s smartwatch has a “Time Only Mode” which automatically activates and continues to show the time for up to an additional three days. In terms of functionality, with nearly 1,000 of the most popular apps available — including Uber, Spotify, and Lifesum — you can be sure Moto 360 will be the perfect companion for working out, jamming out, vegging out and everything else you can think of. Moto 360 is powered by Wear OS by Google, which means it’s compatible with both Android and iOS devices.
Designed by artists in San Diego, California, Cali Life Co.’s unique eyewear features Polarized UV400 lenses in every pair. Most are made with natural materials like bamboo, wood, annatto seed and acetate; that last material, acetate, is a biodegradable plant-based plastic. In addition to offering one-of-a-kind, handcrafted shades for men and women, Cali Life Co. also gives customers and businesses some unique perks from sunglass insurance to hosting corporate events. The shades of Cali Life Co. start at $30 per pair.
Tom Brady’s The TB12 Method: How To Do What You Love, Better & For Longer
Following 6 Super Bowl victories with the New England Patriots — 4 of which as MVP — Tom Brady is the quarterback of the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Brady has also won 3 league MVP awards, has been selected to 14 Pro Bowls, and was named one of the NFL’s 100 Greatest Players during the league’s 50th anniversary celebration in 2019.
TB12 is a health and wellness brand cofounded by Brady and Alex Guerrero. Related to that, Tom Brady’s #1 New York Times best seller The TB12 Method: How To Do What You Love, Better & For Longer is now available as a paperback. This title includes a fresh set of recipes and nutrition tips favored by Brady to support the TB12 diet. Some of Brady’s favorite new recipes and nutrition tips, as included in the book, are Fresh Cod with Salsa Verde, Caramelized Broccoli with Smoky Romesco Sauce and Roasted Wild Salmon and Spiced Cauliflower. Aside from the book and diet, the company boasts an apparel line, supplements, exercise equipment and other offerings.
Eczema Honey Nut-Free Skin-Soothing Cream
This skin-soothing cream can be applied on all skin types and anywhere on the skin. Once the cream melts into the skin, it creates a moisture barrier that guards and conditions your skin. Using a blend of natural ingredients like beeswax and pure honey for their moisturizing and hydrating properties, a blend of grapeseed oil and sunflower oil act as emollients and deliver additional antioxidants into the skin.
Swiftwick’s Pursuit Ultralights Socks
The Pursuit Ultralight, launching on August 3rd, is constructed with the lightest weight, fine-gauge Merino Wool and provides maximum moisture and sweat management. The Pursuit Ultralight wicks moisture and dries quickly, so your feet stay dry and blister-free wherever your adventures take you. The thin, breathable design also features a reinforced heel and toe to maximize durability. It has all the benefits of merino wool but is extremely lightweight, ensuring a great fit in any performance shoe. The Pursuit Ultralight is ideal for running, hiking, cycling/MTB, golf or also makes a great everyday lifestyle sock.
Also available from Swiftwick are the Pursuit Hike sock, which is relaunching August 3rd with a refreshed design. The addition of Swiftwick’s signature Olefin fiber to the proven outdoor performance of Merino Wool makes it the driest hiking sock in its class. Lightweight Olefin wicks moisture and dries quickly, while the unique structure of Merino Wool absorbs moisture without feeling soggy or losing the ability to regulate temperature. Lightweight top with extra cushion underfoot for hiking shoes and boots. The 6-inch cuff crew sock is the perfect height to keep out trail debris. It is available in either Light or Medium cushion.
Shock Doctor’s Face Mask & Gaiters
Shock Doctor has released all-new Play Safe Face Masks and Gaiters, sport-specific face coverings that help protect athletes against airborne droplets while supporting elite performance. In turn, Shock Doctor continues its legacy of innovation in protection by taking an athlete-centric approach to designing Play Safe Face Masks and Gaiters. These products include unique features such as the patent-pending Quick-Flip, a multi-layer split design that ensures easy access to mouthguard and hydration without having to touch your face or remove your mask. To eliminate ear irritation and reduce pressure points during play, the Play Safe Face Mask includes dual head straps that wrap around the back of the head.
Additionally, the Face Mask and Gaiter are made of lightweight, moisture-wicking elastic material that ensures a secure fit while maintaining breathability during performance. The material is also machine washable, making both the Face Mask and Gaiter reusable unlike single-use disposable masks. The CDC recommends that people continue to wear face coverings in public settings even as athletes return to sporting activities. The Play Safe Face Masks and Gaiters will be available mid-August at Academy Sports + Outdoors, Scheels, Meijer, Dunham’s Sports, and Walmart stores, while the face coverings will also be available for online purchase through the aforementioned retailers, plus Amazon, Eastbay, and ShockDoctor.com.
Everyone should live with a little more green, as having some plants around the home has proven to provide a healthier setting. Bloomscape is here to help strengthen one’s relationship with plants as the company makes buying plants easy. It delivers healthy, ready-to-go plants to your door and setting you up with the tips and tricks you need to help your plants thrive.
I had the pleasure of trying out a Hedgehog Aloe from Bloomscape. This one is a very forgiving succulent, making quite an impression with its blue-green leaves, and will often produce unique spikes of coral-red flowers in the spring and late summer. As with most succulents, the Hedgehog Aloe needs very little water and will flourish in a bright, sunny spot in your home. During the summer, you can take this little gem outside where it will most likely reward you with colorful flowers. It can also be used to soothe burns and skin irritations just like a regular aloe plant.
Whatever activity you decide to participate in, you can gear up properly by using Body Glide’s Anti-Chafing Body Balm. Simply put, it effectively prevents chafing and blisters for a pain-free workout. Body Glide Anti-Chafing Body Balm protects skin from chafing by creating an invisible barrier on the skin. The balm does not leave any grease or mess and is completely stain-free, so you can work out in your favorite gym clothes without having to worry about leaving marks on clothes.
Centric Fitnesswear Sci-Tech Athletic Apparel & Stay Cool Water Bottle
While there are any number of activewear brands that excel in a given area — aesthetics, comfort, durability, adaptability and/or performance enhancement — one brand now available in the U.S. has managed to amass all of these benefits and more into its color-forward collection: Centric Fitness Apparel. It makes men’s and women’s apparel, bags and bottles.
On the apparel end, Centric’s revolutionary, performance-enhancing, psychology-driven activewear line is redefining wearable technology. The company’s various proprietary fabric technologies include an interesting offering in the form SilkTek. This revolutionary fabric treatment that contains silk element to increase softness, this super-lightweight performance fabric is also perfectly suited for any type of training or daily wear. It also boasts four-way stretch as well as quick-dry sweat wicking and anti-odor technologies.
The company’s leading-edge workout wear for women and men uniquely combines this and other fabric technology with intentional engineering and the psychology of color to maximize design, functionality and athletic performance. The line employs color science to enhance the wearer’s performance levels, as every color and shade is thoughtfully selected based on psychological research. The company utilizes principles of “enclothed cognition” in its designs, which is based on the systematic influence clothes have on the wearer’s psychological processes—that the clothing we wear affects our psychological states, as well as our performance levels.
Whether you are at the office or at the gym, the brand’s Centric Stay Cool Bottle will keep you hydrated all day long. With a double-wall design, you won’t have to worry about lukewarm water. The Centric Stay Cool Bottle keeps liquids cold for up to 24 hours and warm for up to 12 hours. It is powder-coated and dishwasher-safe to handle everything you and your busy life throw at it.
Established in 2012, Cleer Audio — a 3 Times CES Innovation Award Honoree — offers award-winning high-performance headphones and smart speakers unbound by the shackles of conventional thinking, that allows users to discover freedom through unparalleled audio. Per its website, Cleer believes in elevating and transforming every experience through sound, creating with intention, anticipating the consumer’s needs before they are even recognized. Cleer is devoted to pioneering breakthrough, award-winning audio technologies with uncompromising performance.
Its Ally earbuds are perfect for working out without worrying about losing an earbud. Featuring an ultra long battery life, water and sweat-resistant buds and high-sensitivity neodymium drivers for dynamic listening. Great wireless headphones that I have loved using for long walks and mobile-based Zoom calls. Available on Amazon just like the brand’s Flow headphones, Enduro 100 headphones and Stage bluetooth speaker.
As stated on the Dash website: “happiness is homemade.” Simply put, Dash aims to make products that make it easier for you to prepare and eat real food at home so that you can feel your best. Whether in the store, in your kitchen or online, Dash gives you the tools and the support to make delicious healthy meals.
Air fryers, juicers, ice cream makers, rice cookers, mixers, waffle makers, toasters, blenders and cookbooks alike, Dash makes appliances for just about every food or drink that you have at home. The next time I had to purchase a wedding, housewarming or engagement gift, the Dash website is where I am going to be heading. Beyond that, the Dash website includes a free, kid-friendly e-book full of air fryer recipes.
A new “one stop shop” for all things allergy treatment and care, Cleared is taking a stand by not only helping treat symptoms but also the problem itself. Cleared believes that it is its duty to do anything and everything they can to improve air quality on a corporate level. Per the Cleared website, the company believes that the environment’s health is our health. Thus, by going the extra mile to promote sustainable products and practices that are friendly to the earth, air, and ultimately our bodies has led them to become a proud member of 1% For The Planet.
In an industry that continues to push plastics and their waste into our lives, Cleared stands committed to lowering its carbon footprint with creative alternatives. It uses environmentally-friendly materials like glass and paper for its products’ packaging while keeping its products’ costs low. Among its great offerings are Immunity Lozenges (suggested retail price of $12.99) and Immunity Shots (suggested retail price of $34.99).
Healthy Crunch’s Bars, Chips & Jams
Founded by registered dietician and trained chef Julie Bednarksi, Healthy Crunch is on a mission to innovate everyday foods making them better-for-you while still being super tasty. Healthy Crunch believes that eating whole, real foods makes you feel good inside and out. The company features a wide variety of products and flavors including: coconut chips, kale chips, granola bars, seed butters, trail mix, instant lattes and chia jams.
Its Instant Lattes — reportedly the only dairy-free instant latte option in the market — is a plant-based dairy alternative to a traditional latte, offering 50 percent less sugar but doesn’t compromise on flavor. Varieties include Pumpkin Maple, Golden Turmeric, Matcha and Chocolate. SRP of $12.99 per 4.9 oz. canister.
Its Seed Butters — believed to be the first to market, keto-certified, allergen-friendly spread — contain MCT Oil and have 50 percent less sugar than other spreads. These allergen-friendly butters are produced in a dedicated peanut-free facility and come in the Salted Caramel, Chocolate Banana, Super Seed (Chia + Flax Seed), Chocolate and Crunchy Seed flavors.
Its Granola Bars are allergen-friendly, peanut-free, gluten-free, vegan, Non-GMO Project Verified. They are low in sugar, with only 2 grams of sugar per bar, while high in fiber with 1 Billion Active Probiotics per bar.
Kitchen Crafted – Love My Chair Tea Spice
Speaking of lattes, Chai tea spice has been a beloved Indian tradition for centuries. the Love My Chai BLND is made from natural spices including cinnamon, cardamom, cloves, ginger, and sugar. You can also add this family recipe on top of ice cream for an extra boost of flavor without the guilt. Kitchen Crafted creates a new category of Non-GMO, gluten-free, kosher-certified, globally-inspired flavors powered by its 8 signature herbs and spices. Its website also features great non-drink, non-dessert recipes.
Psycho Bunny‘s Watchman Beanie
Once upon a time in New York City, two gentlemen named Robert sat down for what would be an interesting conversation. Bonded by a shared passion they conjured an idea: to build a bold new menswear brand, which over time would become so much more. With risk and reward woven from the very first stitch, they set forth to create a brand that combined tradition with edge, and so began an epic adventure they are still living today.
Psycho Bunny is the by-product of the Roberts’ idea, a maker of clothing essentials for men and related accessories. While we are in the midst of summer heat as this article goes live, it is never a wrong time to have a warm winter hat on-hand for the coldest of days or evenings. The Psycho Bunny Watchman Beanie makes for an ideal finishing touch to your ensemble for modern style with cool vibes. The low-crown beanie is crafted from a soft, warm wool rib knit with a tipped trim at logo flag at the fold-over cuff.
On the grilling end, MEATER is currently the world’s only wireless and “smart” meat thermometer. App-controlled and Bluetooth-enabled, MEATER aims to take the guesswork out of meat preparation. The device eads the meat’s temperature and ambient temperature at once, and offers alerts, estimated cooking times and warnings. MEATER is ideal for beginner cooks and multi-taskers alike. It has 2 sensors and will walk you through every step of the cooking process to guarantee perfect and consistent results. Conveniently available via Amazon.
Washington State-based Tavour is a company that tries thousands of beers from small craft breweries, ultimately bringing you the gems you can’t get at the store. In turn, Tavour works directly with hundreds of independent breweries to curate craft beer gift boxes with one-of-a-kind selections. In turn with selections as diverse as the Vanilla Ice Cream Stout from Wild Leap Brew Co. in Georgia and the Juicy IPA from WeldWerks Brewing in Colorado, a Tavour purchase is ideal for any sort of gift-giving opportunity you may come across.
Excellent beer offerings aside, Tavour is onboard with the on-going “Black is Beautiful” beer-related campaign, which brings awareness to more individuals and helps to bridge the gap. Started by Marcus Bakerville, the head brewer and founder of Weathered Souls Brewery, this partnership includes more than 500 breweries from around the country; to join this partnership these breweries have decided to donate 100 percent of the beer’s proceeds to local foundations to support the black community and commit to the long-term work of equality.
For the past few months, I have been working from home, and in general spending most of my time at home. But home-based existence or not, I have never been a morning person. In turn, I need that immediate boost, which a cup of caffeinated coffee will offer. Prior to June 2020, I had a traditional coffeemaker that I was happy with. The night before I’d fill the water tank to the top — always requiring a Brita refill — add the coffee, clean various parts, and set the timer. Around 10 minutes of work each day, and it doesn’t even guarantee that 2 people get all of their coffee meets met.
Nowadays, I am a loyalist to Clio Coffee. Clio is essentially a one-stop coffee solution. The company has both the space-efficient machine it sells and the coffee capsules that go into the machine. After you done initial cleaning of the machine — a simple process that only takes a few minutes after getting it out of the box — it is ready to use. No software to install. When you are ready to enjoy some Clio Coffee, you simply insert a capsule, have a little water poured in the back, put your coffee mug down, and press one button; the machine has separate buttons for “E” (espresso), “C” (coffee) and “T” (tea). The drink comes out hot, but not too hot, and ready to drink in less than a minute. Each capsule makes a 10 oz. cup of coffee, or double espresso for iced coffee, or iced latte. No pouring apparatus to clean, just need to empty the internal container with the empty capsules every now and then.
All 5 of Clio’s blends are hand-roasted in Northern Italy, and for the coffee-loving environmentalists out there, the capsules themselves are 100 percent recyclable.
