Gretchen’s Wellness Picks: 16 Buys I’m Loving for Summer

If you’re looking to reduce stress and anxiety, or just get a better night’s sleep, consider giving meditation a try. With the Headspace app all you need is 10 minutes a day—the completely free Basics Course guides you through the fundamental techniques of mindfulness.

I’ve learned from experience that you won’t get very far in your meditation practice if you’re not comfortable, so it’s important to find what seating and position works for you. A friend recently introduced me to these meditation cushions and I’m hooked. The Zafu pillow positions your spine naturally and relieves strain on your back for unmatched comfort.

We all know probiotics are vital for a healthy gut, but there is also a unique microbiome on our skin that benefits from good bacteria. This spray from Mother Dirt restores a “peacekeeping” bacteria that once naturally existed on our skin but has been cleaned away by our modern, over-hygienic lifestyles. The product is clinically researched to restore balance to skin, delivering results like improved skin clarity and smoothness.

Dry brushing has been practiced by many cultures for hundreds of years as an effective way to care for our body’s largest organ: our skin. The process is exactly what it sounds like—brushing the skin (always towards the heart) with a dry hard-bristled brush, usually before showering. It may sound uncomfortable, but I promise that over time your body adjusts and you will actually look forward to the ritual. For such a simple practice the benefits are incredible, including increased circulation, improved metabolism, lymphatic support, exfoliation, clearer pores, reduced cellulite, and a natural energy boost.

This one’s a splurge, but if you’re in the market for a serious air purifier, Molekule is top of the line. Developed by a professor to help reduce his son’s allergy-related asthma attacks, Molekule is the only filtering system that actually removes indoor air pollutants and destroys them. And if you’re an allergy sufferer with a discerning eye, not to worry—the design is clean and sleek enough to fit in seamlessly with your home décor.

I love the Berkey system for filtering drinking water, but I recently went a step further and installed a filter on my shower, too—and I will never go back. In addition to sparing your skin and hair from undesirable chemicals in the water supply (things like chlorine and prescription drugs), there are also aesthetic reasons to use a shower filter. Since installing this one, my skin has become more hydrated and I’ve had fewer breakouts, but the most noticeable change was to my hair. It’s smoother, softer, and has more volume than I’ve ever been able to achieve from any product.

I am so impressed by this natural shampoo and conditioner from Living Libations. It smells amazing and leaves my hair clean, hydrated, soft, and full of volume every time. It’s a bit of a splurge, but it’s worth it to know that the ingredients are not only safe but actually nourishing for your hair and scalp. I credit this shampoo and conditioner, combined with my aforementioned shower filter, for all my good hair days.

Thanks to their natural, organic, and biodynamic ingredients, Eminence Organics’ products are worshipped by beauty gurus everywhere, including some of our favorite jetsetting celebrities. Their cinnamon lip plumper is one of the best I’ve come across. It makes lips visibly fuller and brings out their natural color, without any harmful ingredients.

I love the sun, but I know all too well the repercussions of overdoing it. This product is great for when I’m limiting my sun exposure but still want that sun-kissed glow. The creamy texture is ideal for my dryer skin, and the shimmer is perfectly subtle. I like to layer a few different shades at a time to highlight my cheekbones, then swipe a bit of the champagne shade on the inner corners of the eyes and cupid’s bow.

If you’ve already made the switch to nontoxic skincare and makeup, you may want to look at your nail care next—many people don’t realize there are potentially harmful ingredients in most nail polishes. For a cleaner version, try this polish line from jewelry designer J.Hannah. The formulas are all “seven-free” (free of seven of the most notorious chemicals) and come in beautiful shades inspired by artists' palettes and natural elements.

Known as the “ultimate skin food,” Sun Potion’s tocos powder is a fat-soluble relative of Vitamin E. Mixed into your morning coffee or smoothie, the superfood adds a slight creamy texture and vanilla flavor. Reviewers praise tocos for its hydrating and clearing effect on skin, and studies have flagged it as a powerful antioxidant, fertility aid, and dementia-prevention supplement.

On a recent trip to Japan, I visited the most charming tea shop—and ended up bringing home several bags of green tea. Realizing I didn’t have a way to brew said tea led me to purchase this simple glass teapot from Hiware, and it has since gotten a lot of use. The health benefits of tea are not breaking news, but it’s such a simple addition that it’s often overlooked. A quick Google search can lead you to the right tea to help with almost any ailment, or if you really want to get in touch with your bohemian side you can even make your own with common flowers such as lavender, violet, hibiscus, rose, or mint.

Ready for the next superfood to obsess over? Enter teff. This ancient whole-grain has been a staple in the Ethiopian diet for thousands of years. If you’ve ever eaten Ethiopian cuisine, you’ve most likely experienced it as a traditional flatbread, injera. The gluten-free, highly nutritious grain can be used alone or in combination with other grains and vegetables to make bread, veggie burgers, pancakes, stews, or even desserts.

It’s no secret that moving your body is an important aspect of mental, emotional, and physical wellness. When I’m not feeling particularly motivated, a cute new workout outfit always helps me get a little more excited about exercise. I love Outdoor Voices for its high-quality leggings and tops that are super comfy but also compressive in all the right places. You can’t go wrong with a mix-and-match Tech Kit in one of the classic colors.

Whether you’re a yoga pro or just need a comfortable surface for stretching or meditation, Manduka’s Prolite Yoga Mat is one of the best I’ve tried. It’s lightweight, features high-density cushioning for joint support, and it’s not slippery like some mats. It’s also made from high-quality, sustainable materials, so this mat will last you for years to come.

It seems like some kind of witchcraft the way this water bottle can keep your coffee hot on a winter hike, or your water ice cold on the hottest summer bike ride. Personally, I use it for keeping an entire bottle of wine chilled during an afternoon at the beach, because really, isn’t wellness all about balance?