I skipped prom to race in a track meet during my junior year of high school. Yes, I chose to run around in circles over getting dressed up and spending time with my friends at the biggest social event of the year. My reason? I didn’t want to “deal with” my hair.

I was one of the few Black girls at my all-girls boarding school in semi-rural Connecticut. I grew up in Brooklyn, where Black hair salons are usually a stone’s throw away and the pressure of existing in a wealthy, white space was much less crushing. So for those four years away from home, I had to balance discovering my Blackness and doing my own hair for the first time, all while being relatively new to running.

I didn’t know how to use a good wide-toothed comb and seldom had easy access to no-lye relaxer. And I definitely did not have time for regular deep-conditioning treatments amidst classmates telling me my hair “felt like worms” (yes, I told them they couldn’t touch my hair; they did so anyway). Since then, I’ve found luck with a hair care brand called Aphogee to reduce damage from too-tight ponytails and general dryness.

I was also the only Black person on the girls’ cross country team and stuck out like a sore thumb among my white teammates; I won almost every race by a landslide. Most people don’t expect an American Black girl to be a cross country runner, and especially not finishing in first place for an elite school. People stared at me before and after each meet, which made me self-conscious and deeply uncomfortable. To say that I struggled to take care of my hair, particularly in this environment, would be a monumental understatement. All my success and accomplishments just made me feel smaller. I felt like I wasn’t supposed to like running, let alone be good at it.

My teammates were as accepting as most non-Black girls can be: kind, but unaware of their privilege. One girl asked me how my summer training went after she detailed running in Nantucket under the supervision of a personal coach. Another would let me borrow running clothes if I forgot to do laundry because she had such a surplus of Lululemon. It was very clear to me that the girls never understood how our school was built for students like them; Rockefeller and Bush family members were alumni. F. Scott Fitzgerald’s muse, who inspired Bocoran Slot Gacor Hari Ini Daisy Buchanan in The Great Gatsby, matriculated in 1914. And almost 100 years later I, a young Black girl, graduated from the very same school.

Black hair is as stigmatized by non-Black society as it is prized by those who wear it, and the fitness and wellness space is no exception. According to a study by Perception Institute, 1 in 3 Black women cite their hair as the reason they have avoided exercise in the past, compared to 1 in 10 white women. It comes as no surprise that the adult running community is overwhelmingly non-Black.

Dry shampoo and a Dyson Airwrap does not work for most Black folks after a 6-mile jog through the park. Even if those were viable solutions for post-run haircare, many Black runners cannot afford to spend time and money fixing styles that cost time and money in the first place. I’ve been to most boutique fitness studios at this point: SoulCycle, Rumble, SLT, Y7, you name it. And not once at any of these studios, including gyms like Equinox that have a wider variety of fitness options, have I seen products for Black hair in the locker room. I avoid using the shampoo at all these places, because their products leave my hair feeling brittle. Like my boarding school, these fitness options are not built for me either.

There was a period in my life when I was seeing a white therapist. I was 21, stressed about my first full-time fashion magazine job, and I’d started experiencing an increase in anxiety attacks. She wasn’t my first choice, not even my second, but almost all the Black female therapists I reached out to did not accept my insurance or any insurance. Still, I shared, I listened, and I learned during our few brief months together but I never felt that I could truly open up about my experiences as a young Black woman dealing with my Black family, Black friends, and the Black men I dated. When I did bring up race and its impact on my life, she never dismissed it, she actually acknowledged it. Yet, I wanted more than that. I wanted to know that she had already recognized and experienced these feelings too.

At the time, I thought formal therapy was the only solution that could support me in my time of need. My hesitancy to feel comfortable around my white therapist made the experience seem useless, so I just stopped going—something many Black women can relate to. 

“We don’t trust the healthcare system, for good reason,” says Jade Kearney Founder and CEO of She Matters, a digital health platform for Black moms. “It’s historically not served us well. Our bodies have been violated, our rights have been violated. So without trust, we’re not going to be honest about what we’re really experiencing or we’re just not going to go.” With only two percent of psychiatrists being Black and Black physicians only making up five percent of the medical field, there are large numbers of us who will not have access to Black healthcare professionals on our wellness journey.

And speaking of wellness: The $4.2 trillion global industry that’s typically characterized by high-paid influencers, self-care retreats, juice bars, group hikes, and luxurious mental health centers has not always been something I felt comfortable with, either. In fact, it was something I referred to as “white people stuff”. If you Google “wellness influencers,” the dozens of photos that pop up are, truly, overwhelmingly white. White women doing yoga. White women smiling over green juice. White women posed serenely with plants. If you’re a white woman looking for advice about your hair, skin, mental health, lifestyle changes, or self-care, you have a seemingly endless stream of content at your fingertips.

It’s a different story for women of color. If you’re a young Black woman, there are far fewer opportunities to find the type of beautifully curated content on Instagram related to our hair type, skin type, or overall well-being. There are far fewer opportunities to feel seen in the wellness world. The wellness influencers that do cater to Black women have served as a source of refuge and learning for Black women like me, who seek out their knowledge in lieu of or sometimes in conjunction with working with their personal mental health professionals. 

Yet, despite their impact, the journey to finding these influencers isn’t as simple as a quick Google search. These influencers often don’t appear prominently on mainstream wellness platforms, don’t have multi-million dollar sponsorships, and are not given the same attention by the media. The lack of visual representation of Black women in wellness had previously discouraged me—and others—from fully exploring what it meant to be well and the various ways that it could be achieved.

“I was surrounded by all-white everything during my first several years of practicing yoga,” says Lauren Ash, the founder of Black Girl in Om. “I became a yoga instructor and started BGIO because I wanted Black women to know that yoga is for us, that wellness is our birthright, that self-care, self-love, and self-empowerment are things that we do.”

“I think a lot of times when black women go into spaces where they don’t see themselves, we don’t fully release, we don’t fully breathe,” says Deun Ivory, BGIO’s artistic director and founder of The Body a Home for Love, a community that uses wellness to empower black sexual-assault survivors. “In order to really practice mindfulness and be in a space where you can prioritize your healing and prioritize your self-care, it’s important that you feel seen; it’s important that you feel celebrated and heard. You can only do that with a woman who looks like you.”

Volt aims to overhaul boring gym routines with AI-driven workout plans that evolve week to week. One especially cool feature: the app’s structured workout plans designed for more than 40 different sports and activities—from cycling and half marathons to tennis, soccer, snowboarding, swimming, and more.

Available on iOS and Android; free with option for in-app purchases

32. Reflectly

Maybe the best workout apps don’t involve working out at all… Wellness is about taking care of your body—and your mind. Focus on the latter with this AI-driven journal app that uses positive psychology, mindfulness, and cognitive behavioral therapy to help you sort through negative emotions, understand how you’re feeling, and channel feel-good vibes (in the form of empathy, kindness, and gratitude) toward all areas of your life.

Available on iOS and Android; 7-day free trial; monthly membership starts at $3.99

33. FitBod Workout & Fitness Plans

By evaluating your past workouts, current strength-training abilities, and available gym equipment, FitBod develops a custom fitness plan that can help you work toward—and eventually crush—your goals. Strength-focused workouts come in a variety of formats—from general conditioning to bodybuilding, powerlifting, Olympic weightlifting, and more.

Available on iOS; free with option for in-app purchases

34. The Sculpt Society

Based on the popular boutique fitness class in NYC, this dance-based program includes options for pre-and post-natal bodies, long and short durations, different goals and different body parts. All designed by celebrity trainer Megan Roup, this is the workout for lengthening and strengthening.

Available on iOS and Android; free trial; in-app purchases start at $19.99

So you’re here to learn how to hide a cold sore. And just in time: You can usually sense a cold sore before you see it. Tingling, burning, or itching sensations precede the little buggers, which are actually small, painful blisters caused by the herpes simplex virus (HSV). Unlike other forms of HSV, cold sores cluster around the mouth, meaning their arrival could be obvious to anyone who sees you. Because of that, when you feel an outbreak coming on, you might be inclined to cancel your events for the next few days. We get it: It’s hard to feel cute when you’re anxious about your skin.

They’re not a total plan killer, though! For one, you’re not alone in this. According to Johns Hopkins, 50% to 80% of adults have oral herpes. So you don’t have to go into self-imposed isolation here. For many people, cold sores are just a fact of life. And if you are still unsure about your cold sores, you can cover them up. Obscuring them is just one more thing on your list of pre-event beauty prep.

But before we tell you how to cover up a cold sore, here’s what you need to know.

“Cold sores are also known as herpes labialis,” says Adebola Dele-Michael, M.D., FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist and founder of Radiant Skin Dermatology & Laser in New York City. “They’re caused by the herpes simplex virus and can be very contagious, especially during an outbreak.” 

Given that they’re so contagious, experts including the doctors at Mayo Clinic say you should avoid sharing lip balm, utensils, or anything else that comes into contact with your face. And yes, also kissing. Dr. Dele-Michael also advises using topical prescription medication at the first sign of an impending outbreak. Prescription medications will help relieve the symptoms and should be applied as soon as you feel burning or itching, if possible. “In some cases, one might even be prescribed a daily suppressive dose to prevent a cold sore outbreak altogether,” she adds.

There is an over-the-counter solution too. Docosanol, often sold as Abreva, is a cold sore cream you can apply and pick up right now at your local pharmacy.

Your first cold sore outbreak is likely to be your worst one, per Johns Hopkins, and you may never have another one after that, but prepare for pain, swelling, and redness around the area. Also know that you might get a fever or sore throat. The blisters will probably pop at some point, so you can expect a little oozing, then scabbing. All told, this could last about five to six days.

Whether you’re in the early stages or the oozing or scabbing portion of your journey will determine how to cover a cold sore with makeup.

How to hide a cold sore

Yes, you can use makeup to cover a cold sore, confirms Dr. Dele-Michael. Note, though, that before you cover the cluster of blisters (or, in later stages, the scabs), you’ll want to treat the area to the best of your ability, whether that means using a prescription topical cream or a cold, wet compress to decrease swelling.

After a year in quarantine, with many of our usual pastimes unavailable to us, daydreaming has become a welcome escape. But is daydreaming good for you?

We live in such a task-oriented society that the idea of just taking a break to let your mind think freely is often seen as lazy or unproductive. We can’t sit at the doctor’s office without scrolling through social media or go for a walk without listening to a podcast. But we’re actually daydreaming more often than we realize—almost 50% of our waking life, according to a 2010 study done by two Harvard researchers.

Turns out, there are a lot of benefits of daydreaming, according to mental health experts. We asked them to break it down.

What Is Daydreaming?

So what exactly is daydreaming? “Daydreams are fantasies or mental images about the future,” explains Gabriele Oettingen, Ph.D., a professor of psychology at New York University and author of Rethinking Positive Thinking: Inside the New Science of Motivation. Think about when your mind wandered off during your last Zoom meeting. Maybe you were thinking about what you were going to eat for lunch or you transported yourself back to a beach vacation.

“You can daydream about the past, about what’s happening in the present, but we often daydream about the future,” Oettingen explains. “They are free thought and images, unconstrained from our experience.”

Maladaptive daydreaming

Daydreaming can become an issue when you start to ruminate or worry over your thoughts, which can lead to anxiety and depression. “When you let your mind wander, it’s good to notice where it goes,” suggests Leslie Ellis, Ph.D., psychotherapist, teacher, and author of A Clinician’s Guide to Dream Therapy.

In severe cases, this can lead to maladaptive daydreaming, which is a psychiatric condition in which daydreams are so persistent that they distract you from your real life. If you’re spending hours living inside your mind, neglecting real-life relationships and responsibilities, it can be a sign to seek professional help. Same goes if you find yourself constantly worrying or your inner critic won’t stop attacking you with negative thoughts.

Benefits of daydreaming

Like all things, daydreaming is best done in moderation. And when that’s the case, it can have some powerful mental health benefits—so put down your phone and give daydreaming a try.

1. Daydreaming can improve your creativity

Ever notice some of your best ideas come to you when you’re not thinking about them? You’re in the shower, then suddenly you know exactly how to solve that pesky problem. “With daydreaming, our mind can make connections that are a little bit further out there,” Ellis explains. “We can put things together that we normally wouldn’t combine.”

A study by UC Santa Barbara asked a control group let their minds wander while trying to solve a creative task. The result? They performed 41% better than the group that didn’t have the break. So if you’ve been trying to work on a problem in a very focused way, it might be time to let your mind drift.

2. Daydreaming can help you manage anxiety

One way anxiety can be thought of is “mind-wandering gone awry.” In a 2016 study from the University of British Columbia, researchers found that allowing your mind to wander away from perceived stress (a.k.a. negative thoughts), you can actually reduce your anxiety. Think of it like a mediation: Instead of pushing the feeling away, recognize it, accept it, and let the thoughts flow through you.

3. Daydreaming can strengthen your relationships

“When we imagine something richly with clear images and even if we can involve other senses, our brain doesn’t distinguish that from reality,” Ellis says. “If we imagine a really heartfelt connection with somebody, to a large part it feels like we did have one.”

Movita Vitamins, a popular multivitamin company, has everything from prenatal vitamins to a beauty bottle, which was designed to support healthy hair, skin, and nails.

Ethel’s Club is a social club and wellness space started by founder Naj Austin. It was specifically designed with people of color in mind to “create a place to spend time together and build community” through daily classes and (now digital) events.

HunnyBunny’s pure and natural products are made with natural ingredients found in kitchens. The Washington, D.C.–based brand offers self-care products from soap to deodorant, including scents such as tea tree and orange and lavender and lime.

Harriet’s Apothecary is a company with the mission to create an “intergenerational, healing village led by the brilliance and wisdom of Black cis women, queer and trans healers, artists, health professionals, magicians, activists, and ancestors.” Past initiatives included sessions centered around healing and even a swag swap.

This Black-owned online company includes bundles of coffee, tea, headbands, masks, and more (also made by other Black-owned businesses). Cofounded by Danielle Deavens and Doug Spencer, the company includes candid reviews and genuine product descriptions for transparency. 

Ruby Love (formerly known as PantyProp) is an apparel company founded by Crystal Etienne in 2015. The line includes leakproof, intuitive underwear and swimwear which prevents leaking and period stains.

This cold-pressed skin-care line features handcrafted vegan products fit to up your self-care game. Think lavender Shea Butter Body Cream and Body & Nipple Cream, all made with natural herbs and essential oils.

Kisha Forde is a freelance writer from Brooklyn specializing in everything from culture and lifestyle to all things wellness.

We are so in love with Hilary Duff’s positive, unfiltered, honest approach to pregnancy and motherhood. The Younger star, who shares son Luca with her ex, Mike Comrie, and daughter Banks with husband Matthew Koma, is currently expecting her third child. And though by baby number three she’s definitely a prenatal veteran, every pregnancy is different, and this one includes a not-so-fun surprise: lightning crotch.

Duff revealed on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, currently guest-hosted by Brooke Baldwin, that while this has been the “best” pregnancy of the three, she’s also dealt with brief but intense bursts of pain right where the kid comes out. “I texted my midwife the other day and I was like, ‘What’s up with the stabbing pains in my vagina? I’m not feeling this,'” said Duff. “It feels awful, like you’re being struck by lightning. And she just wrote back and she was like, ‘Oh, lightning crotch,’ like it was no big thing. And I was like, ‘This is quite traumatic.’”

“It’ll just strike and all of a sudden you’re, like, doubled over and then it’s gone,” she continued. Duff explained that as the body gets ready for labor, the baby drops lower, “so you can actually breathe…fill your lungs up with air, which I haven’t been able to do in months, but you get stabbing pains in your vagina.”

Hilary Duff isn’t alone. “Lightning crotch” is a pretty common third trimester issue, which is unfortunate for sufferers but comforting overall. Moms-to-be, it’s not just you! According to What to Expect, there is no clinical term for these painful pelvic symptoms, but thankfully, they are not a sign of any illness or distress. To relieve the pain, try wearing a support garment or finding a comfortable position. And if the “lightning strike” lasts longer than a few seconds, or is accompanied by another symptom, check in with your doctor.

Whether you are tired of ruining your bedding, are dealing with unpredictable spotting, or just want added protection, the best period underwear could be the solution you’re looking for. With a range of absorbent underwear on the market, there’s a number of factors to consider before choosing the right style for you, from the heaviness of your flow to your plans for the day (or night). 

When shopping for something so personal, testimonials from happy customers can offer added trust in the product’s efficacy, so we did a deep dive to find out which period underwear is worth writing home about. These are the period panties women are logging on to sing the praises of—the undies that changed their lives for the better, from comfy, size-inclusive briefs to barely there thongs. 

Before you shop for the best period underwear, there are some things you should know about wearing them. Read up on the information to know now, from an ob-gyn and period underwear manufacturers, ahead.

How period underwear works

In essence, period undies work the same way as regular underwear does—but with the added absorption setting them apart. Expertly designed menstrual underwear shouldn’t feel different to the touch or on the body, but they should include an added layer of fabric that can either work in lieu of a pad or tampon or provide extra protection to avoid leakage. 

“Just like each woman, period underwear types are unique and serve different purposes,” says ob-gyn and pH-D Feminine Health adviser Ruth Arumala, D.O. “Some create an extra barrier of protection from leakage; others take the place of other feminine hygiene products.” Different brands use various patented technology to ensure optimal absorption, and every company in this roundup is backed by real women who swear by the products.

How to use period underwear 

First step: Put them on. Second step: Breathe easy and forget about ’em. But in all seriousness, the most important factor of period underwear is convenience, and how you choose to use them will depend on your personal needs and preferences. While some women seek added protection to avoid disaster stains during busy days when their menstrual flow is extra heavy, others are looking for worry-free REM cycles and workouts, and period undies can help provide peace of mind (even if you choose to wear a tampon with them).

How to wash period underwear

The first thing to do once you take off your period underwear (never wear them for more than 24 hours) is run them under cold water until the water runs clear. Once most of the blood is removed from the gusset, you can throw them in with a regular load of laundry on a delicate, cold-wash cycle (be sure not to use hot water to avoid setting any remaining blood into the underwear). You can also put them in a delicates bag to keep them extra safe in the washer. Due to the high-tech nature of the fabric, you’ll want to hang-dry rather than tumble. Once the underwear is nice and dry, fold them up and bring them out on your next moon cycle.

Can period underwear replace pads?

Every body and flow is different, but the short answer is yes, period underwear can replace pads. Because of technology used to develop fabric that can hold multiple tampons’ worth of blood, it’s generally not recommended to wear pads with your absorbent undies. Experts at Modibodi, Thinx, and Knix agree you can nix pads altogether. Arumala cosigned this point, explaining it’s more common to pair period panties with tampons or menstrual cups. “Most period-panty users either wear them solo or use tampons or cups,” she says. “It is rare to use pads or panty liners with period panties.” 

Benefits of using period underwear 

From keeping your clothes clean to going easier on the environment and saving money, there’s a wide array of benefits to using period underwear. Knix founder Joanna Griffiths dished on a few key benefits: She says period panties “take away the worry of not knowing exactly when you might get your period throughout the day and remove the need to carry panty liners, pads, and tampons”; “positively impact our environment”; and “revolutionize menstruation worldwide, especially for those who may not have access to, or cannot afford, expensive disposable products.” Arumala adds that they’re useful for “preventing vulvar and/or vaginal irritation, as well as when culture or religion reasons preclude use of internal products.”

Where to buy period underwear

Now that we’ve covered the most common questions surrounding period underwear, it’s time to shop! Ahead, the 16 best period panties online reviewers can’t imagine their life without—and that’s on period.

It took me years to become a morning person. I read a book called “The 5 AM Club” and it just seems so overwhelming, so I took it 15 minutes at a time. I started waking up at 7:30 a.m., and gradually shaved off 15 minutes each week to let my body adjust. Having that time is key to my morning routine, which is very precious to me. Your boss doesn’t send you an email at 5:00 a.m., unless, of course, I’m your boss.

On finding a creative outlet

I always told myself I’d reach a personal level of success when I could have flowers in my apartment every week—not because a boy sent them, just because. I’ve been taking flower arranging classes online, which created this newfound flower practice, which I’ve really committed myself to. I choose the arrangements throughout the week and do different designs. I have different arrangements in different rooms, even my bathroom. So that’s been a new creative outlet to play with and have fun. 

On the power of body care

I’ve been really focusing on skin care from the neck-down. I’ve always spent a lot of time on my face, but lately, I’ve been really into the décolletage during the Zoom era. It’s always nice to talk to my mom about skin care, because she’ll tell me what she wishes she’d done more of, or what she’s really glad she stuck with. My mom has amazing soft skin, and we were talking about the idea of moisturizing that upper area, moisturizing your arms. As a curvy girl, I’ve been really passionate about moisturizing the areas of my body that are sort of my “trouble” spots. I have a love-hate relationship with my arms, my inner thighs, my tummy—so I’ve been moisturizing them like crazy with raw cocoa butter, and my skin on my body has been on another level of softness.

What’s the best book you’ve read lately?

“Akata Warrior” by Nnedi Okorafor. It’s about this Nigerian girl who discovers she has superpowers. Her and her friends have this secret avengers life. I like that there are Black American characters and Nigerian characters. My dad was born in Nigeria and my mom’s Black American. I’m like, “One of my cousins talks like that, and the other one talks like that,” so I kind of embody the book. And I always return to Proberbs 18:16 as an affirmation: “Your gifts will make room for you.”

Jasmine Marie, founder of Black Girls Breathing

How are you, really?

My perspective on life in quarantine is unique. Beyond the isolation and collective grief everyone’s experienced, I am also a practitioner who’s made space for thousands in a month’s time. From corporate sessions to Black Girls Breathing, I’ve been up close and personal while witnessing and guiding others through this time. I’ve felt the heaviness of the grief and trauma experienced in the Black community in my breathing sessions and my inbox. It’s not just a statistic for us. They’re real-life stories and community members who’ve been impacted by losing loved ones, jobs, and hope. I’ve also experienced loss from Covid, compacting grief from loss in the past year—all while being the CEO of a rapidly growing startup. It’s been a lot. Everyone is going through so much. But as someone constantly sought after for guidance on how to get through, I’ve asked myself many times, “But what about me?”

What are simple joys you turn to during sad or stressful times?

To be honest, I’m rediscovering all of these. A lot of the ways I found joy (taking a walk in the park, picking up my favorite meal, anything that helped me decompress outside of my home) in hindsight depended on me feeling safe. I’m currently navigating what safety feels and looks like to me after surviving an attempted carjacking a few weeks ago. It happened while I was out shopping for candles (another favorite thing I do to shift my mood). So right now, I’m figuring that out. In the meantime, I’m finding mood boosts in Curb Your Enthusiasm and hot coffee in my favorite new mugs I got from West Elm, plus the Honey Vanilla Oat Latte from my local cafe, The Daily Dose. My go-to mantra is, “You’re doing your best, babe.” And any time I find the space to skip outside, I do it. Skipping is an instant joy booster.

Danielle Coke, designer, illustrator, and social media strategist

How are you, really?

I’m doing better, that’s for sure. Incorporating rhythms of rest in my daily routine has definitely helped me fight burnout and spend more time taking care of myself and my wellbeing!

On getting artsy with your hands

One simple joy has been finding more ways to use my hands to create. As a digital artist, it can be hard to dedicate time for physically making art, so I’m always so excited when I can set aside moments for painting, scrapbooking, putting puzzles together, or even building things.

On reading as self care

One of the biggest self-care rituals would probably be reading more regularly. I always told myself that I’d read more if I had more time, and I’ve found that reading books about inspiration or self-improvement help me to process mental challenges so much easier. I’m going to also get into reading fiction for fun. I’m currently reading “The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry” by John Mark Comer and it is completely redefining what rest means to me and how to stay mentally/emotionally healthy in a chaotic world. It’s one of my faves!

What about skin care?

I started seeing an esthetician for the first time late last year, and starting an actual skin care routine has been so incredible for me. I’ve been using practically the entire Cosmedix line and I can already feel a huge difference in my skin. It also adds a sense of comfort and normalcy to have a regular routine to wind down with at the end of the day.

What are simple joys you turn to during sad or stressful times?

The best kind of joy doesn’t sway with our circumstances. It helps us stay grounded and is a safe place to retreat to when life gets hard. No matter how small, discover rhythms of rest and regular moments of joy each day! My favorite quote is from “Our Deepest Fear” by Marianne Williamson, and I’ve been clinging to the last two lines in particular: “And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated by our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” I aim to be my truest self at all times, and I hope that it can be a source of inspiration for others!

Christina Caradona, blogger and content creator

How are you, really?

I feel very free! Zero constraints with more room to grow and truly be myself. It’s been a journey to get here (a serious journey), but this feeling is something I’d like to hold onto forever. One day I would like to look back at this time in my life and smile.

What are simple joys you turn to during sad or stressful times?

Music! Music makes me so happy; it shapes my day. Also, it’s crazy what a good conversation with a friend can do to get you back on track to feeling like your best self.

On listening to your body

I listen to my body and napping when I want to nap, and try not to push myself so hard. I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep the napping around too long, but I will absolutely keep listening to my body. If I’m hungry, I will eat. No more punishing myself. I’m much happier this way. Lately, I’ve been making veggie stock; it’s my Sunday ritual. I find it so soothing. It’s also super easy to make and a great way to be more sustainable. Little things like this make me a happier person.

On affirmations and making the day count

I tell myself “I love you, you’re so smart, fun, and worthy” every day in the mirror. Mainly because I’m constantly talking to myself and also because it makes me feel good. I think just taking time to take care of yourself is a great way to get on that path to self joy. Whatever is not giving you joy get rid of it. This goes for friends, too. If they aren’t pushing you to be the best version of yourself then they’re not for you. When you wake up, it’s just you and the world. Every single day is literally a brand new day so make the day count.

Gym equipment can be notoriously bulky, so if you’re short on space and still want to get a sweaty session on the books, think small—like the best resistance bands. These tiny but mighty additions require minimal storage and can fire up your go-to bodyweight routine in mere minutes. Another amazing thing about these stretchy tubes and loops is that unlike kettlebells or dumbbells, resistance bands can be used on-the-go, making them great for outdoor workouts. And because they’re typically sold as sets with various levels of resistance, you can transition from chill-and-easy mode to leg-quivering with a simple band switch up. 

There are many types of resistance bands to choose from, some better suited for the area of the body you want to focus on. We talked to the pros to find out more about how these versatile tools work—and what to look out for when buying some of your own. 

What are resistance bands used for?  

“Resistance bands have so much versatility,” Utah Lee, Nike Master Trainer, tells Glamour. “I love training and teaching with resistance bands: I use them for building strength, stability, mobility training, even for cardio drills—bring on the creativity!” Lee says. You can use resistance bands in any workout—from HIIT to pilates to yoga—to fire up muscle groups faster and more deeply. Think of doing lunges with bands as opposed to without: With the added resistance, your muscles have to work much harder to stabilize, meaning each move you make is far more efficient. 

Resistance bands can also be used for injury prevention and rehabilitation, and Lee says “physical therapists often use them with patients to regain strength and mobility.” For example, if you have a knee or ankle injury, you could use a lightweight band without loops to train your joints in a controlled, low-impact way. 

What levels of resistance are there, and what should beginners look out for? 

“Resistance bands have different resistance levels, which you can often tell by the color, width, and thickness of the band,” Lee says. These levels are typically measured in pounds of resistance that go from extra-light to extra-heavy. Bands that are sold as sets—like the colorful minis or thick booty bands—tend to come in packs of three or five, and in ombre or rainbow shades to mark the degree of resistance. Sometimes brands even write the words “heavy” or “light” on the band so you don’t get mixed up. 

If you’re new to resistance training, Natalie Holloway and Max Kislevitz, co-founders of Bala, recommend starting with the lighter bands until you feel comfortable moving up. 

What are the benefits of using resistance bands? 

So many. But these days, it’s their size and versatility. With so many of us sweating it out in our homes, driveways, or the nearest park, resistance bands are small, stackable, and portable while still being effective and thoroughly challenging. You can work your entire body—arms, chest, shoulders, legs, and glutes—with a single band. And because you can build resistance over time, they truly do complement all fitness levels. Now that you know a little bit more about these small workout wonders, check out and shop 15 of the best resistance bands below.