My Wellness Essentials

I'm the first to admit that I'm not putting forth the best version of myself 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. That said, I've seen the incredible benefits that prioritizing my mental and physical wellbeing can have on my overall health, and at the very least, I'm striving for a more balanced lifestyle daily. Whether it’s skincare, fitness, or just keeping my mind in check, I have a list of wellness essentials that help make it all a little easier.

Skincare & Beauty Must-Haves

Omnilux Red Light Mask

Red light therapy has so many proven benefits, but I was on the fence about trying out an at-home red light mask because it's heavily trending right now. I've been using my Omnilux Red Light Mask for a little over 6 weeks now — 10 minutes a day, about 5x a week — and I see subtle yet substantial differences in my skin. Overall, I have less redness and my sun spots are less pronounced. I was blessed with clear skin (thanks mom) so I can't speak to changes in the clarity of my skin but I'm definitely happy with the investment and have loved adding this to my nightly routine.

I follow red light therapy with Rhode Glazing Milk (use this AM + PM and love) and Colleen Rothschild Extreme Recovery Cream (must-have for PM repair, code DG20 works).

Gua Sha

The Gua Sha has so many benefits including lifting and smoothing of the skin, jaw tension relief, a brighter complexion, cell renewal, improved blood circulation and lymphatic drainage. I always use with a facial oil (I love this one — code DG20 / here's a cheaper alternative).

Dry Brush

I've been dry brushing on and off for years and think it's such a great tool to have in your arsenal. The thought of adding any extra time to your routine is annoying, but this takes 1-2 minutes. I'm so fascinated by the lymphatic system and all for anything to keep it moving and promote lymphatic drainage. Dry brushing is also great for reducing cellulite and overall circulation.

Fitness & Movement Essentials

Weighted Vest

Adding resistance to my incline walks with a weighted vest makes everything feel more effective. The added weight challenges the muscles and has the added benefit of strength training while I'm getting in my cardio. I try to walk at least 1 mile daily with my 12 lb. weighted vest.

Bala Bangles

Bala Bangles are my go-to for adding a little extra challenge to my pilates workouts. You can wear them on your wrists or ankles and they're also great to wear for walks or getting things done around the house — you don't anticipate the burn but they really do make a difference! These are a great identical alternative for half the price.

Polar Ignite 2 Fitness Watch

I really dislike the square face of the Apple watch, so I turned to Polar as a similar alternative. Joe and I are huge fans and wear ours 24/7 to track steps, activity, fitness, sleep and more. Here's a really in-depth review.

AirPods Max Headphones

There's something about a huge pair of noise cancelling headphones during a workout or a walk that just motivates me to work harder. I prefer my Airpods Pro for daily use like listening to an audiobook or taking a call, but Airpods Max are the go-to for anything fitness.

Sweet Sweat Band

I really hate the term 'waist trimmer' and I wouldn't consider this product that, although that's what its name implies. What I love about the Sweet Sweat band is that it promotes an increase in heat and sweat when used during exercise so I really feel like I'm sweating it out during a workout. I also prefer any kind of compression because it helps me remember to focus on my core, so this one's a win-win for me. I don't use the Sweet Sweat gel — it weirds me out and the band itself does a great job on its own.

Fit with CoCo App

Fit with CoCo was created by Courtney Fisher who is a strength & pilates coach and I could not love her workouts more. I'm someone who likes something to follow versus just going into a workout with a set of my own, and her program is the first in a while that I can honestly say I love (and truly who loves working out — never me). There's so much to choose from, workouts are quick and effective (30-45 minutes) and split between strength and pilates, which for my body, I've found is such an effective balance. There's also a full nutrition guide which is a huge added bonus — I don't personally follow but use some of the recipes for ideas/inspo.

Mindfulness & Recovery Tools

Blue Light Blocking Glasses

Like most of us, I spend a ton of time in front of a screen and blue light blocking glasses help reduce my eye strain and make winding down before bed so much easier.

Echo Dot for Nighttime Sleep Sounds

Joe and I are fairly light sleepers and can’t sleep without some kind of background noise. 'Alexa, goodnight' is our cue every night to turn on rain sounds and I think it really helps contribute to a better night's sleep.

Headspace App

Day-to-day sometimes can feel so fast-paced and before I know it, my brain is wired and spinning. I love using Headspace for a quick 10-min mindfulness, or for a nighttime meditation. If you have trouble falling asleep at night, I also love the Sleepcasts which help my mind just disconnect from the constant to-do list rattling around my brain.

Daily Wellness Essentials

Stanley 40 oz. Tumbler

Honestly, it doesn't have to be a Stanley, any 40 oz. tumbler will do. But I do love my Stanley for keeping me on top of my daily water intake.

Habit Tracker

Simply put habit tracking keeps me motivated. Whether it’s workouts, reading, or drinking enough water, checking things off just feels satisfying. If you're into pen and paper, I love this one, but recently I've found it easier to have it on my phone. This is the app I use.

Tongue Scraper

I introduced tongue scraping into my routine a few years ago and will never drop this from my routine. There are so many benefits, but the biggest for me is the removal of all the bacteria that grows in your mouth overnight (because your body produces less saliva when you sleep). As a rule of thumb I tongue scrape first thing before eating or drinking, because otherwise I'd just be washing all of that bacteria down — gross.

Incorporating these wellness essentials into my daily routine has made such a difference in how I feel. Whether it’s skincare, fitness, mindfulness, or just drinking enough water, having the right tools makes everything easier