 | Merry July, to One and All Though we're a solid five months away from the holiday season, "Christmas in July" is upon us, which means it's time to shop. For years, July has brought huge savings events, like Prime Day (the 11th and 12th this year) and the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale (running the week of the 17th, and even earlier if you’re a cardmember). Following the lead of Amazon and Nordstrom, thousands of other retailers now slash prices in July as well. And we're here for it. My job as editorial commerce director involves sleuthing for deals on the daily, and I’ve been preparing for July’s epic sales for months now. It’s one of the best times of the year to snag deals on coveted appliances (like this already-on-sale Ninja air fryer or this Vitamix blender), back-to-school gear, and rarely discounted skin-care and clothing-brands. With this in mind, you might consider buying holiday gifts now or investing in big-ticket goods that are suddenly in your budget (like maybe that Le Creuset Dutch oven that’s already 15 percent off). But with so many sales, how can you make sure you're getting the best deals? If you want to shop Prime Day like a shopping expert (or a commerce editor), we’ve got your back with our all-things Prime Day “primer”—which includes early deals, too. While we’re still hard at work curating the best Nordstrom Anniversary and non-Prime Day deals and have to keep our lips sealed on what the specific discounts look like, I feel like you can keep a secret: The sales already look good. Like, really, really good. Want to keep up with every single editor-loved sale we’re spotting during the summer savings season? Bookmark our sales homepage and sign up for our special Prime Day newsletter, which goes out next week and features the best wellness deals on the internet. Happy shopping!  | Gina Vaynshteyn
Editorial Commerce Director | |
Have you heard 👂 With Well+Good’s inaugural SPF Awards, we’re laying it on thick with sun care this summer. And with so many winning protective products to apply, there’s really no excuse for skipping the crucial skin-care step. But, how do you pick the best option for you? Well, any dermatologist will tell you that the “best” sunscreen is the one you’ll wear every day. Listen to this episode of The Well+Good Podcast to learn more and find out specific product recommendations. Listen Now |
star student: retrograde Much like retro style or seeing something in retrospect, a retrograde planet has to do with going back in time. During a planet's retrograde, Earth is spinning past it at a faster clip than the planet itself is moving, which makes the retrograde planet appear to be spiraling backward. Energetically, retrogrades ask us to slow down and consider our own recent past—to rewind, retrace, reimagine, or reconsider things that we’ve done or that have happened previously. As for what those things may be? It depends on the planet that’s retrograding—and the realms of life over which it rules—as well as the zodiac sign in which it’s retrograde (which determines the vibe of the transit). Crucially, retrograde cycles don't necessarily signal bad news. They're often an opportunity to take a beat, look to the past, and use your older, wiser understanding of recent events (after all, hindsight’s 20/20) to troubleshoot problems and plot a more aligned path to head down post-retrograde. |
one quick stretch This simple move can help improve your posture and reduce that gnarly tension in your neck and shoulders—and you don't even have to get out of your chair to do it. Here's what to do: - Sit up straight in your seat with your feet flat on the floor.
- Squeeze your shoulder blades together, imagining you are holding a pencil between them.
- Hold the squeeze for five seconds before releasing.
- Repeat for 10 to 15 repetitions.
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gut check Start your morning with a calming regimen Many of us jump out of bed with a go-go-go routine—it can be unavoidable. But frantically rushing out the door in the morning means starting your day on a less-than-relaxing note, which gut-health experts say can have a similarly stressful impact on your gut microbiome. “The gut and the brain are connected through hundreds of millions of nerves, known as the enteric nervous system. This often means that what’s going on in our brain can influence what’s going on in our gut and vice versa,” says Megan Rossi, PhD, RD, founder of The Gut Health Doctor. Rather than kicking off your morning in a rush or with stimulating activities, Dr. Rossi suggests replacing it with an activity that will prioritize the gut-brain axis. Think: journaling, meditating, or even taking a few deep breaths before climbing out of bed. |
cosmic health 🎉🗓⛱🗒 Mars leaves Leo for Virgo on July 10, helping us realize our ambitions and focus on details. Mercury moves from Cancer into Leo on July 11, amplifying the energetic fun factor you may be feeling in your life. Combine this with the fact that Venus is in her retrograde shadow, and it’s clear that the week ahead brings poignant pivots, redirecting our understanding of our purpose and passion. With the moon waning this week, we enter a period of release; review your plans for the rest of the year and adjust.
After all, summer is a time of recalibration: We assess what we genuinely want, and we eliminate the erroneous commitments that don’t fit our goals and values. How can you be in better sync with nature’s pace? Don’t hold yourself accountable to goals that no longer matter and instead let your evolving sense of self lead you forward. Venus goes retrograde from July 23 to September 3, and her retrograde cycle realigns values. Use this week to reflect, and prepare consciously. And like the moon and sun shedding their light, let go of the old and hold space for what’s emerging.—Jennifer Racioppi, astrologer |
ICYMI Now that summer is in full swing, read up on how to stay safe, healthy, and happy in the sunshine. - If you're wondering whether you trust that old bottle of SPF 30 you unearthed from underneath the seat of your car, here’s a guide to how long sunscreen lasts.
- Prepping for a pool day? Get smooth legs on a whole new level with these weighted razors.
- Nothing tastes better on a summer morning than a refreshing smoothie. Find out here whether it can really stand in for a whole meal.
- Finding a way to move your body in the sunshine or in the AC may have even more mood benefits than you think, thanks to a substance produced by your muscles called hope molecules.
- It's hot outside, but is your bedroom life missing some, ahem, heat? Here are tips for how to spice up your relationship.
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