Gift Guide: Get Well Soon
Some of our favorite products that promote wellness
For those in the middle of a dry January or anybody struggling with their two-week-old resolution to take better care of themselves, it can be hard to remain motivated. Like some of us at CH HQ, a reward or simply changing up your routine can help you stay on track. Of course, being healthy is mostly a no-brainer—eating fresh high-quality produce, drinking plenty of water, exercising and getting enough sleep are essential—but there is always more we can do. With that in mind, we have gathered some of our favorite products that will jazz up your wellness routine and maybe get you extra motivated—especially if you’re in the middle of a dreary winter.
Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Hydrating Cream
New from Aesop’s, Parsley Seed Anti-Oxidant Facial Hydrating Cream ($75) is super-lush and creamy on application, but sinks into your skin quickly leaving it feeling soft and nourished—not oily or sticky. Ultra-hydrating, this product’s main ingredient is aloe barbadensis leaf juice—unlike so many other moisturizers that are mostly made up of water. To be used after cleansing your face, this cream is perfect for anybody whose skin is suffering the winter blues and—like all Aesop products—smells divine.
Instant Matcha
Anyone who has made their own Matcha knows the ritual of its preparation is partially about ceremony, but largely about achieving the optimal consistency. Whisking the bright green powder into a bowl of water helps break up the clumps often found in even the highest grades of tea. One would never just mix it with a spoon as the result would be a gnarly mess, but Panatea’s Instant Matcha (available in a 10 single-serving packet canister for $20 or a 30-packet bag for $40) dissolves evenly with a mere turn of the spoon. Not only is it fast and easy, this matcha maintains all the delicious and healthy benefits of the tea.
Skintox Beauty Food
Rather than just slathering lotions and potions on your skin, it’s common knowledge that a healthy diet and lots of water can help with your complexion. Wellness on the inside oftentimes is coupled with an outer glow. Raw Complexions’ Skintox Beauty Food ($35) works that process with superfoods and Chinese herbs that help detoxify and cleanse the liver—the organ most often associated with common skin conditions like acne, rosacea, dehydration and inflammation. With bee pollen, pomegranate and more, this blend can be added to smoothies, juices or granola to boost your inner and outer health.
New Aging
Of course, wellness isn’t just physical. Matthias Hollwich, of the acclaimed architecture firm Hollwich Kushner (HWKN), has a few ideas for the betterment of society and its aging members. He proposes them in “New Aging,” ($10) a book built upon a foundation of insightful tips, supported by over a hundred illustrations from Bruce Mau Designs. The new aging concept is direct: incorporate rather than segregate. But it’s the sociological and spatial depths that Hollwich traverses that make this a guide worth looking at now—for all age groups. Released in 2016 to wide acclaim, it’s still on our bookshelf.
Mountain Ranch, CA: ACDC
Providing safe and enjoyable medicine while removing the stigma from marijuana use, Bloom Farms is yet another impressive company on the “cannabiz” landscape. Their Mountain Ranch ACDC ($40) is a sativa-dominant, high-CBD, single-origin strain with a THC:CBD ratio of 1:3 which means patients will gain a sense of calm and muscle relaxation, but with little of the traditional “high.” Find out where to buy it on their website.
Organic Coconut Flour
For those who are gluten-free or just looking for a healthier alternative to regular flour, this organic coconut flour ($4) is low-carb and fiber-rich. On top of that, it’s non-GMO, kosher and vegan (of course), and includes no added sugars or dyes. Great for all kinds of cooking (we suggest it for coating your fish and seafood) it has a lower glycemic index, so it converts into sugar in your blood more slowly.
Eye Cream
Dr Barbara Sturm’s eye cream ($140) contains an infusion of golden root and sugar beet, but it’s her medical understanding of cells and anti-aging that lead to components like active omega fatty acids. The cream delivers hydration while also offering a soothing effect and a reduction of puffiness. It also happens to be free from synthetic fragrances, parabens and mineral oils.
Icelandic Moonflower Aromatherapeutic Body Oil
With a high concentration of aromatherapy essential oils, Red Flower’s Icelandic Moonflower Aromatherapeutic Body Oil ($34) can be used in baths or applied during a massage. Within, moonflower oils meet sandalwood, clove bud, rose and more combine for a rich, nuanced fragrance. Made with certified organic ingredients, this bath oil steers clear of dyes, artificial preservatives, parabens and sulfates.
Fire Cider
Made in Massachusetts, Shire City Herbals’ Fire Cider ($22) has been tingling our tongues and throats whenever we feel under the weather for some time now. The apple cider vinegar-based recipe becomes palatable with a little local honey and organic oranges. The zing comes from lemons, onions, horseradish root, ginger root, habanero pepper, garlic and turmeric—certainly an extra kick for those who need it. Liquid torture for some; a miracle tonic for others, you can take it straight or add it to a hot toddy.
Plant Retinol Science Time Traveler Serum
With such a bold name, one immediately gets a sense of Plant Retinol Science Time Traveler Serum‘s ($90) goal: to provide anti-aging skincare by way of retinol. Otherwise known as Vitamin A, retinol has been clinically proven to encourage cell growth. With Intelligent Nutrients’ product, dark spots can diminish and wrinkles may soften. Not all the ingredients are easy to pronounce but 100% of them stem from natural sources. And with five essential oils at its core, there’s a refreshing natural silkiness.
Images courtesy of respective brands, hero image courtesy of Panatea
