Celebrate National Women’s Health & Fitness Day With These Wellness-Centric Finds!

Today is National Women’s Health & Fitness Day, so I made sure to film a special segment for CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” that’s just brimming with products to help you lead a healthier and happier lifestyle.

Read on to learn more about the products seen on air!

TRAVISMATHEW WOMEN’S COLLECTION

While modern advances in technology have simplified many aspects of our day-to-day lives, they’ve also resulted in many of us living overly sedentary lifestyles. As we’ve become increasingly aware of the detrimental effects of prolonged bouts of physical inactivity (such as long hours sitting by a desk or plopped atop a couch watching TV), many of us have taken steps to incorporate more movement into our regular schedules. And that, of course, goes beyond 3o-to-60 minutes of exercise. We also want to add movement into our lives by making small  changes: whether that’s taking the stairs instead of the elevator, going on walks and hikes with our dogs, stretching or foam rolling after a long day at the office, or biking instead of driving to work. In order to add more physical activity into everyday life, it’s key to wear clothing that facilitates movement. But, of course, we don’t want to live in tight-fitting biker shorts, yoga pants, and graphic tank tops! We want our casual clothing to be comfortable and versatile but also chic and polished. Luckily, you’ll find all those attributes in the pieces that constitute the new TravisMathew Women’s collection, which is all about elevated styles with elevated comfort.

Founded in 2007, TravisMathew draws inspiration from Southern California’s surf, sand, and sun. Initially a men’s lifestyle brand, TravisMathew recently forayed into womenswear with an exquisite collection that marries fashion and comfort. Each garment in the Travis Mathew Women’s collection is created with the utmost attention to detail and designed for an intuitive fit and soft, lightweight feel. Inspired by real women, these pieces are designed to leave you looking and feeling effortlessly confident.

Within the collection, you’ll find standouts like the Majorca Sleeveless Polo ($79.95 at TravisMathew.com/women), featuring a sporty racerback and a stand-up self collar, as well as darting for a feminine fit; the Mendocino Half Zip Pullover ($119.95 at TravisMathew.com/women), an ultra-soft, plush fleece crafted from the brand’s aptly named Cloud fabric and featuring a modern boxy fit, ribbed cuffs and hem, and a half zipper along the front; and the Bondi Bliss Jogger ($89.95 at TravisMathew.com/women), an ankle-length, slim-fit jogger pant made with a high-stretch ,lightweight fabric.

You can shop the entire collection at the TravisMathew store at the Domain Northside here in Austin or visit TravisMathew.com/women

STRONG COFFEE COMPANY INSTANT LATTES

One of my favorite coffee mugs reads, “Coffee Now, Talk Later,” and it’s pretty much my early morning mantra. Until I’ve fueled up with a strong cup of coffee, I’m a barely functional human being (and, yes, also a bit of a grouch). But, while I’ve spent years relying on coffee to get me going in the mornings, I’ve never been fond of the crash that tends to occur mid-morning or early in the afternoon. If you’re a coffee drinker, you’ve likely experienced it yourself —that very pronounced decline in energy that leaves you yawning and struggling to keep your eyelids open, your body from slumping in your chair, and your mind focused on the task at hand. Beyond reaching for another coffee and risking experiencing the same energy boost-and-crash cycle, what can you do?

Well, to enjoy your morning cup o’ Joe without the jitters or that dreadful crash, check out Strong Coffee Company, which offers a superior coffee experience. Strong Coffee‘s Instant Lattes incorporate organic, non-GMO Mexican instant coffee as well as good-for you-ingredients like collagen and adaptogens. In fact, in each serving, you’ll find: 15 grams of grass-fed collagen to strengthen skin, hair and nails; 5 grams of coconut MCT oil powder to quickly heighten energy levels, boost athletic performance and endurance, and even speed up the metabolism; 150 mg of L-Theanine, an amino acid known to boost cognitive performance and which also acts as a nootropic, boosting seratonin levels and regulating dopamine levels so as to stave off any anxiety and stress, thereby making you feel energized and alert while staving off any anxiety and jitters; and adaptogens like Reishi mushrooms to alleviate stress, optimize the immune system, lessen fatigue and improve sleep quality.

Not only are Strong Coffee’s Instant Lattes designed to help you reach your optimal badassery levels,  but they’re lactose-free, gluten-free, keto-friendly and low in sugar. Also, they’re beyond convenient — you just add the pre-mixed powder to hot or color water, stir, and sip! There’s no brewing our blending necessary and no need to reach for multiple ingredients in your cupboard or pantry. Most importantly, they’re smooth, creamy, and delicious, while also being considerably healthier  than traditional lattes.

There are two Instant Latte options: Morning Fix, which has a vanilla flavor, and Daybeaker, which features cacao notes. You can pick between a large pouch containing 12 servings for $34.99 or a box containing 7 travel-friendly, individually-wrapped packets for $24.99.

And if you like your coffee black, you can also try the Strong Coffee Black Instant Coffee, a bold, medium roast instant Colombian coffee containing adaptogens like Reishi mushrooms and Ashwagandha.

All Strong Coffee products are available at Whole Foods and Central Market, as well as StrongCoffeeCompany.com.

And good news, my deal-loving friends: if you visit StrongCoffeeCompany.com, you can get 20% off your first order  by entering the code AUSTIN at checkoutS!

FITAID ENERGY

Sometimes, when it comes to reaching our fitness goals, we focus way too heavily on training and ignore the importance of recovery. But to truly reap the benefits of any exercise program, we need to prioritize both training and recovery — and the latter includes everything from regular rest days to post-exercise recovery methods that include nutritional methodology (like eating a protein-packed snack or meal to help aid in muscle repair and growth, as well hydrating and replenishing lost electrolytes with a sports drink) as well as strategies such as stretching, icing, and cold water immersion. As a highly active person who regularly engages in high intensity interval training (think burpees, bear crawls, hurdle hops, tuck jumps, etc), running, and weight lifting, I use multiple tools to help maximize my athletic recovery. The simplest (and tastiest!) involves reaching for my go-to sports recovery drink: FITAID.

Available in flavors like Citrus Medley and Strawberry Lemonade (my favorite), FITAID is the #1 Sports Recovery Beverage in the world. And it’s easy to see why: not only is it packed with electrolytes, but it also: contains broken chain amino acids or BCAAs, which stimulate muscle protein synthesis; glucosamine, an amino sugar found in  cartilage that, when used as a supplement, can help alleviate joint pain and stiffness; turmeric, a natural anti-inflammatory that can reduce soreness; Omega 3s, which contain anti-inflammatories that help to reduce muscle soreness; and vitamins B, C, D3 and E.

Recently, the brand introduced a new drink that’s sure to be just as much of a hit: FITAID ENERGY.

What makes FITAID Energy unique? Well, it’s both a sports recovery drink and an energy drink in one delicious beverage. FITAID ENERGY takes the original FITAID blend and adds 200 mg of clean caffeine from green tea. In other words, with FITAID Energy, you get all the recovery benefits from the original FITAID along with that energy boost you need after a grueling sweat session.

Why do you need caffeine post-exercise? Well,  a study by the American Physiological Society found that, within 4 hours after exercise, muscle glycogen increased by 66% among those who ingested a carbohydrate drink containing caffeine as opposed to those who ingested carbohydrate-only drinks. Moreover, if you have a long day ahead of you post-workout or you have multiple athletic events in one day, that energy boost will get you fired up and ready to conquer everything ahead!

FITAID Energy contains only natural flavors and sweeteners like stevia, monk fruit, and organics blue agave. It contains no sucralose, aspartame, or taurine, plus it’s gluten-free, vegan, non-GMO, and sodium-free. Plus there are only 15 calories per can and 3 grams of sugar in each can.

FITAID ENERGY is available in 4 great flavors: Mango Sorbet, Peach Mandarin, Blackberry Pineapple and Raspberry Hibiscus. You can find FITAID at H-E-B, Whole Foods Market, Sprouts, Randalls, and on Amazon.

VITAVATE

Tired of swallowing a fistful of capsules in order to get the necessary vitamins and minerals your body needs? Well, here’s a great solution! VITAVATE is a new female-founded, Black-owned, premium dietary supplement brand designed to support your wellness needs while on the move. Their powdered supplements come in travel-friendly packets so you can just pour the contents into your glass or bottle of water and enjoy a tasty and refreshing beverage with wellness benefits.

There are 3 hydrating formulas available — each with specific health benefits. There’s the strawberry-flavored VITAVATE ENERGY, which contains fiber, magnesium, choline, green tea, and ginseng extract to elevate and sustain energy levels; the lemon-flavored VITAVATE HEART, which contains vitamins B6 and E, as well as fiber and selenium to promote heart health;  and the orange-favored VITAVATE FOCUS, which features vitamins A, B6 and E, along with fiber and choline to increase overall cognitive function and enhance mental clarity. Whether you’re feeling sluggish and need a quick pick-me-up or you’re dealing with brain fog and want to crystallize your thoughts, there’s a VITAVATE supplement to suit your specific needs;

VITAVATE supplements are gluten-free, sugar-free and vegan. Each packet contains 15 individually wrapped pouches and retails for $36.88 on Amazon and Vitavate.com

BIOSIL

Taking care of your skin is not simply a matter of vanity! The skin is the body’s largest organ, so why shouldn’t we be concerned with it being in good health much as we would with our lungs, heart, or liver? Skincare, then, truly is a form of health care.

When it comes to skin health, maintaining optimal collagen levels is an important.  After all, collagen is the most abundant protein in the body, and it acts as the skin’s primary support structure, giving it strength and elasticity. Collagen fibers create a complex matrix matrix that gives skin its bouncy and plump appearance — in fact, it accounts 75% of your skin. Collagen also helps to fortify hair and nails and to promote joint health.

The bad news? By age 21, our collagen levels start to rapidly decline (at a rate of about 1% per year) so that, as the years go on, continued collagen loss can eventually lead to fine lines and wrinkles, dryness and sagging.  In order to keep skin healthy and supple as we age, then, we need to promote collagen synthesis and protect any existing collagen.

Enter BioSil. Biosil is the only clinically proven supplement that generates and protects your own collagen, while also kickstarting elastin and keratin production. This dietary supplement is backed by over 25 years of science and $20 million in research. Biosil is not a collagen supplement (unlike all the ingestible collagen capsules, gummies, coffee creamers, powders, etc) but, rather, it’s a collagen generator. In other words, it’s designed to activate collagen-generating enzymes within your body — all while protecting existing collagen from degradation. Biosil is primarily powered by a ch-OSA complex, which is comprised of two components: orthosilicic acid (OSA), the biologically active form of silicon, and choline (ch), an essential nutrient that neutralizes collagen-destroying homocysteine and helps regulate cortisol. When combined, these two ingredients form a powerful complex, stabilzing each other for optimal absorption into collagen-producing cells.

BioSil is vegan-friendly and backed by science, with numerous clinical studies showing its effectiveness. Results witnessed include a reduction in wrinkle depth, improved tensile elasticity in hair, measurably thicker strands, and diminished joint stiffness.

You can find BioSil at Whole Foods Market, Sprouts and The Vitamin Shoppe. You can also visit Biosil.beauty for more info and to find a retailer near you.

SUGARED + BRONZED SUNLESS TANNING PRODUCTS 

You may love keeping it real but, when it comes to tanning, a faux glow is the only way to go. Nowadays, we’re all aware of the dangers of UV exposure, which can result in everything from premature aging to skin cancer, so the mere idea of laying out on the beach without SPF protection or hitting up a tanning bed should make us all shudder. The fact is the only healthy way to achieve a bronzed glow is through a sunless tan.

And thankfully, beauty innovators have developed truly fantastic services and products to help you achieve a faux glow that’s amazingly believable — that means no streaks, no patchiness, and no orange tint.

One of the companies at the forefront of revolutionizing the art of faux tanning is Sugared + Bronzed. At every Sugared + Bronzed salon, clients can book an airbrush tan that will result in a natural-looking, just-came-from-the-tropics glow. Or, they can remove unwanted hair from the bikini line, under arms, chin, upper lip, and legs by booking a sugaring service. An ancient form of hair removal that dates back to ancient Egypt, sugaring involves removing hair by using a paste that incorporates  simple and gentle ingredients like sugar, lemon, and water, resulting in smooth and hair-free skin — all without the pain and irritation associated with waxing. By offering both sugaring and bronzing services, then, Sugared + Bronzed makes sure its clientele leaves with both smooth and glowing skin.

Founded in 2010 in Santa Monica, California, Sugared + Bronzed is now the nation’s largest sugarless hair removal and sunless tanning destination, with locations throughout California, New York, Pennsylvania, and Texas. In fact, Sugared + Bronzed recently opened up a location here in Austin at 237 W 2nd Street so, if you have a wedding or formal event coming up, you can book an appointment by visiting SugaredandBronzed.com

And, if you want to get glowing without leaving home, you can buy some of Sugared + Bronzed’s amazing sunless tanning products — all created using the brand’s FlexExpress formula, which is fast-acting, long-lasting, and offers rinse-or-wear flexibility. The Sunless Tanning Mist ($39 at SugaredandBronzed.com) is ideal for a quick face spray, infusing some life and energy into tired-looking skin. The Sunless Tanning Lotion ($26 at SugaredandBronzed.com), meanwhile, incorporates moisturizing and softening ingredients like argan, macadamia, coconut, avocado and jojoba oils so as to offer both a hydration boost and a glow-up. You can use the lotion to gradually build your self-tan or to extend the longevity of a spray tan. Lastly, for a long-lasting and seamless glow, try the Sunless Tanning Mousse ($39 at SugaredandBronzed.com), a lightweight foam packed with nourishing ingredients like vitamin E and argan oil.

Visit SugaredandBronzed.com to pick these up or book a salon service!

SUMMER’S EVE SPA COLLECTION

Practicing self-care is a crucial part of any wellness routine — and it can be as simple as enjoying a spa-like experience from the comfort of home. The new Summer’s Eve Spa Luxurious Wash and Spa Intimate Skin Serum are designed to offer easy pampering during and post shower, helping you feel refreshed and relaxed.

To cleanse and hydrate your intimate area while in the shower, reach for the Spa Luxurious Wash, which features a calming chamomile fragrance and a luxurious creamy formula.

Once you’ve emerged from your shower or after grooming the vaginal area, you can comfortably hydrate, smooth and soften the delicate skin in your intimate area with the Spa Intimate Skin Serum. Infused with vitamin E, aloe, and coconut oil, the lightweight serum is quickly absorbed and gentle enough for daily use.

Both Summer’s Eve Spa products are gynecologist tested and balanced to a woman’s pH. Each retails for under $10 at Target and Target.com