New Year, Fresh Beginnings — Set Yourself Up For Success in 2023 With These Beauty & Lifestyle Finds (As Seen On CBS Austin)

Whether or not you believe in making New Year’s resolutions, chances are you at least regard a new calendar year as a fresh start, an opportunity to hit the “reset” button and start anew. So, in the interest of helping you kick off 2023 with enthusiasm, optimism, and confidence, I visited my friends at CBS Austin’s “We Are Austin” to chat about some helpful products, apps, and gadgets that will help you as you strive to achieve your beauty, fitness, health, and wellness goals.

Click here to watch the segment on CBSAustin.com and read on to learn about all the goodies seen on the show!

HEMPZ BEAUTY ACTIVES COLLECTION

It’s time to say goodbye to the days of spending exorbitant amounts of time layering serums and moisturizers on our faces while completely ignoring the skin below the neck. This year, many of us will be prioritizing bodycare just as much as we do skincare. And, lucky for us, Hempz just launched a new line of products to help address common problems and concerns. The new Hempz Beauty Actives Collection is comprised of four vegan and cruelty-free body moisturizers — each formulated with the brand’s marquee ingredient, 100% pure hemp seed oil, as well as a powerhouse ingredient like bakuchiol, ceramides, hyaluronic acid, or vitamin C that has historically been used exclusively in skincare formulations. By incorporating these active ingredients into its body moisturizers, Hempz is showing how bodycare is evolving and advancing with the times.

Each of the moisturizers in the Hempz Beauty Actives collection addresses a common issue. For instance, if you’re starting to see fine lines on your arms or legs, or you’re perhaps noticing some sagging in certain areas, you can reach for the Hempz Lavender & Chamomile Herbal Body Moisturizer With Bakuchiol. Featuring a relaxing scent derived from lavender and chamomile extracts, this moisturizer helps to minimize fine lines and give skin a more youthful appearance thanks to bakuchiol, a plant-based alternative to retinol that features the same collagen-stimulating powers but is considerable milder and gentler. Similarly, if your skin is looking dull and lifeless, you can reach for the Hempz Citrus Blossom Herbal Body Moisturizer with Brightening Vitamin C, which features orange peel, lemon peel, and goji berry extracts that are rich in vitamin C and help to brighten the skin and restore its youthful glow. For those who want long-lasting and lightweight hydration, there’s the Hempz Ocean Breeze Herbal Body Moisturizer with Hyaluronic Acid, which incorporates hyaluronic acid to instantly relieve dryness and keep skin hydrated and conditioned. And for those grappling with a compromised skin barrier (a common occurrence during winter), there’s the Hempz Cucumber & Aloe Herbal Body Moisturizer with Ceramides + B3.  This refreshing, skin-soothing moisturizer contains ceramides, the lipids that comprise 30 to 40% of skin’s outermost layer and act as the glue holding skin cells together and keeping the skin matrix healthy and strong. It also contains vitamin B3, which has remarkable antioxidant properties, combatting reactive oxygen species (ROS) that would otherwise disrupt the lipids and proteins that comprise the skin barrier.  This moisturizer, then, helps to restore, maintain and strengthen the skin’s moisture barrier, so it can remain healthy and smooth.

Each moisturizing has its own delightful scent and is available in both a full size bottle and in a 2.5 travel oz. bottle. Pick up your new favorite body moisturizer at Hempz.com, Ulta.com and Ulta stores.

THE HAIR LAB BY STRANDS

Everyone’s hair is different and unique, and yet most haircare brands offer one-size-fits-all formulations that, while well-intentioned, often wind up falling short of many consumers’ expectations. If your hair is curly but fine, and you also commonly dye your strands, what shampoo and conditioner do you purchase? Do you spring for products designed for textured hair and hope they don’t weigh down strands? Do you opt for color-neutralizing formulas to keep your dye job looking fresh? It gets quite confusing — not to mention expensive!

Well, this year we can leave the guesswork in the past and enjoy our healthiest hair yet with a little help from The Hair Lab by Strands, a customizable hair care brand that offers high quality, personalized hair care at affordable prices. All products in the line cost less than $9 and are available at Walmart.com and at 2500 Walmart stores.

To get started, you can visit The Hair Lab at your nearest Walmart store and use the handheld Strands Smart Scanner to analyze your unique hair biology, revealing everything from hair type to scalp oil levels, environmental effects on your strands, and more. Alternatively, you can visit TheHairLab.com and take the Strands Test online, answering a series of questions regarding your hair type and texture, as well as any regular heat styling regimens, straightening treatments, coloring routines, and so on. In just two minutes, you’ll receive custom product recommendations to help you create a haircare regimen that’s tailored to your individual needs.

There are 3 base shampoos specific to scalp type (the Moisturizing Shampoo For Dry Scalp, Revitalizing Shampoo for Balanced Scalp, and Clarifying Shampoo for Oil-Prone scalp) as well as 3 base conditioners tailored to hair texture (the Lightweight Conditioner for Fine Hair,Well-Balanced Conditioner For Medium Hair, and Deep Conditioner For Coarse Hair). In addition, there are 10 custom doses designed to address the full spectrum of hair needs — among them the Rebuild Boost Dose Set, which contains hydrolyzed vegetable protein to help repair and strengthen damaged strands; the Curl Define Dose Set, which contains chia and flax seed extracts to help give curls more definition and make them more manageable; the Anti-Frizz Dose Set, formulated with rice protein to protect hair from humid climates and fend off frizz; and the Anti-Brass Dose Set, featuring purple rice to eliminate brassiness in silver and blonde strands.

Now, here’s where it gets fun! After taking your strands test, you’ll receive your suggested shampoo and conditioner as well as the best doses for your individual hair needs. You then get to play Bill Nye at home and add the doses to your shampoo and conditioner, mixing them together to create a custom haircare regimen. In my case, The Hair Lab suggested I use the Moisturizing Shampoo and Well-Balanced Conditioner and enhance those with the Heat Defense Dose Set, Color Protection Dose Set, and Moisture Boost Dose Set. And so I poured on vial of each of those doses into my shampoo and one vial of the doses into my conditioner. The results have been spectacular!

To get started with your own tailor-made haircare regimen, visit TheHairLab.com.

KORI KRILL OIL OMEGA-3 SUPPLEMENTS

Your health should always be your number one priority this year and every year. Eating a balanced diet, fitting in some physical activity into your daily regimen, sleeping the recommended amount, and practicing self-care are all crucial to staying healthy. And, of course, supplements are a great way to fill in some of those nutrient gaps we may have in our diets. One important category of nutrients that may be missing from your diet? Omega-3 fatty acids, which support proper functioning of the brain, heart, eyes, skin, joints, and immune system. Foods like salmon, mackerel, chia seeds and flax seeds are great sources of Omega-3s, but many of us don’t eat these foods routinely enough to truly maintain the optimal levels of these essential fatty acids — which is why, of course, fish oil supplements have become so popular.

And yet, there’s a better alternative to fish oil supplements — krill oil supplements! Krill is a small oceanic crustacean (similar to a shrimp) that are rich in DHA and EPA, two types of Omega-3 fatty acids. Now, some studies indicate that the Omega3s found in fish oil are primarily stored as triglycerides whereas, in krill oil, they’re bound in phospholipids; some research indicates that phospholipids are more easily absorbed by the body, which hence makes krill oil supplements a more effective source of Omega 3s. In addition, krill oil contains the antioxidant astaxanthin and the nutrient choline, providing added health benefits. And, unlike fish oil supplements, krill oil supplements don’t leave a fishy aftertaste behind!

To buy the most high-quality krill supplements, look to Kori Krill Oil, the only vertically integrated krill oil brand. Kori Krill Oil prides itself on advanced sustainable harvesting practices that protect the marine ecosystem while also delivering a top-quality product.In fact, the brand received a stewardship certification from Friends of the Sea confirming that no endangered species are caught during its operations and that no adverse environmental impact is posed by its practices.

You can enjoy Kori Krill Oil’s multi-benefit supplements in a traditional softgel capsule or, if you’ve got enough pills to swallow and don’t want to add one more to your routine, check out the new  Kori Pure Antarctic Krill Oil Gummies. 

The Kori Pure Antarctic Krill Oil softgels are available in a 30-count bottle of 1200 mg capsules ,a 60-count bottle of 600 mg capsules, or a 90-count bottle of 400 mg capsules. Each retails for $19.99 on KoriKrillOil.com and Amazon.

The gummies, meanwhile, retail for $16.99 on the aforementioned retailers.

ELECTROLIT PREMIUM HYDRATION BEVERAGE

Whether you’re training for a half marathon, starting a new gym membership, or looking to set a new PR on those deadlifts and power cleans, make sure to rehydrate after every intense sweat session. To do so with ease, stock up on Electrolit, a scientifically formulated, premium hydration beverage that features the perfect combination of electrolytes and ions to replenish the body after physical activity.

Each bottle of Electrolit contains: sodium, which helps attract water to keep you hydrated longer, magnesium to prevent muscle cramping and promote athletic recovery; calcium to help control muscle contractions and keep bones strong; and potassium to aid in energy metabolism and improve endurance. Moreover, Electrolit contains 6 ions that facilitate electrolyte absorption and glucose, a natural source of energy that effectively speeds up the rehydration process.

Electrolit is a great alternative to traditional sports and energy drinks since it helps you stay hydrated and energized without relying on potentially addictive stimulants like caffeine or fructose. Moreover, it works wonders when recovering from illness, prolonged heat exposure, or when nursing a hangover.

Available at 7-11 stores, Electrolit comes in 13 delicious flavors including Fruit Punch, Grape, Lemon-Lime, and Strawberry Kiwi.

SPARKEL BEVERAGE SYSTEM

Your journey to making healthier choices in 2023 can start with simple adjustments like drinking more water, scaling back on the sugar, or banishing soda from your home once and for all. To make this goal all the more attainable, check out the Sparkel beverage system. With Sparkel, you can carbonate any liquid — be it water, juice, tea, wine, or liquor — and whip up a tasty fizzy beverage. If you can’t imagine giving up flavored beverages but you really want to cut down on the sugar, Sparkel will help you create tasty beverages that are healthy but also tasty and exciting. In fact, when you visit Sparkel.com, you’ll find mouthwatering recipes like a Sparkling Cran-Raspberry Hibiscus Tea, a Watermelon Basil Agua Fresca, a Grapefruit Ginger Sparkling Green Tea, and a Coconut Mango Refresher. Plus, there are 5 carbonation levels to choose from so you can customize the amount of bubbles for each recipe.

Not only will you be able to sip on healthier-for-you sparkling drinks, but Sparkel will help you do so in the most eco-friendly way possible. And that’s because, unlike other sparkling drink makers, Sparkel doesn’t use a CO2 tank — instead, it relies on a special carbonator that combines sodium bicarbonate and citric acid to create quality bubbles — so it’s more planet-friendly than its peers.

The Sparkel beverage system retails for $129 on Sparkel.com and Amazon, and it includes the machine, 1 reusable bottle and 30 carbonators. It’s available in black, white, grey, seafoam and periwinkle blue.

THERMOMIX TM6

Anyone who has attempted to eat clean and healthy when juggling a busy schedule can be quite the challenge. First, there’s the issue of lunch when working in an office. If you decide to buy your lunch, the options are often either fast food meals (nothing healthy there!) or high-end restaurants that involve significant wait times (about the entirety of your lunch break just to be seated) and a hefty bill (as in, ‘That salmon salad was how much?!’). And then, of course, there’s preparing dinner, which can often feel beyond overwhelming after a long day of work and of shuttling the kids to and from school and sports practices. Oftentimes, we’re tempted to either prepare the simplest meal we can conjure up or just call it a day and order takeout. So how can one prioritize nutrition and establish healthy eating habits? Well, home-cooked meals are key, but so is making the cooking experience as seamless, convenient, and intuitive as possible.

And that’s why the Thermomix TM6 will prove to be a game-changer for you. This digitally powered countertop appliance can perform up to 24 different functions and techniques. With the touch of a button, you can chop, steam, sautée, whisk, knead, emulsify, caramelize, blend, and more.  You no longer have to pull out your cutting board and painstakingly chop onions and carrots. You don’t have to hover over your pan to make sure you sautée your chicken perfectly. The Thermomix TM6 handles all of that for you!

Moreover, the TM6 will even help you get inspired to create new and exciting dishes that are way out of your wheelhouse thanks to the integration of Cookidoo, Thermomix’s robust platform of over 80,000 guided recipes. Once you’ve set up your Cookidoo account and enabled your TM6, the app will appear on your appliance’s screen. You’ll be able to browse through different recipes and select any that strike your fancy. You’ll then be able to follow the steps on screen — once you gather the required ingredients, the TM6 will help you weight them and will guide you through each subsequent step in the prep and cooking process, automatically adjusting the temperature, cook time, and speed for each step.

And that’s not all! The Tm6 features a unique vertical design that allows you to cook multiple dishes at once, so you can save time and effort!

With the Thermomix TM6, you’ll be able to cook more often, be more mindful of the ingredients that go into every dish, and even streamline your meal prep process to avoid eating out when at the office.

To learn more, visit Thermomix.com and schedule a 1-on-1 virtual or in-person cooking experience with an Austin consultant.

The Thermomix TM6 is $1,499 on Thermomix.com. And this month, with your purchase, you’ll get $124 in free gifts (including an extra serving bowl duo) as part of their Fresh Start Bundle.

KIDLY APP

You want your kids to have an amazing year too, right? Well, start by teaching them the joys of learning — and more specifically, the wonders of reading, the worlds that books so magically unlock.  To help instill a love of reading in your children, download Kidly, a new-generation reading platform offering a vast assortment of fun and educational illustrated stories for kids. Carefully curated and reviewed by psychologists, all Kidly stories contain themes that support your child’s physical, cognitive, emotional and social development. Titles include themes such as self-worth, mindfulness, art, science, gender equality, environmental awareness, animal rights, and more. In fact, Kidly was awarded a Pedagogical Quality Certificate from Education Alliance Finland because of the app’s efficiency in promoting learning. University researchers in Finland, the world leader in education, developed the EAF evaluation to discern the learning impact of a product’s pedagogical approach and effectiveness.

The easy-to-use app guides you around a curated library, where you’ll find everything from soothing bedtime stories to meditation stories and choice stories where kids decide how the narrative unfolds. There’s also a read-aloud option, which is available in multiple languages, so kids can listen and follow along, which is particularly helpful for kids who are still learning how to read and need to see the words and sound them out.

The app also makes reading extra fun for kids by awarding them motivation badges and creating a reward-based experience that encourage them to continue reading.

Moreover, parents can have access to their kids’ reading lists and receive weekly reading and developmental reports, so they’ll always feel secure that their kids’ safety is being prioritized and they can remain informed about their progress.

Download the Kidly app for free on the App Store or Google Play Store today!