The Luxi Look | LA based fashion and lifestyle blog

By Amy Zhang April 19, 2020 in Beauty 3 Comments

What I Want From the Spring 2020 Sephora Sale

What I Want From the Sephora Sale 2020 | by The Luxi Look

It’s time for the Sephora Spring 2020 Sale Event, one of Sephora’s two major sales every year. During this time, everything on Sephora is on sale! Your discount depends on your status with Sephora (i.e. how much you spent with them last year) and if you’re a VIB Rouge Member, the highest tier, you get a major discount. Regardless of your status with Sephora, now is the time to stock up on all of your beauty essentials.

The discounts and sale dates are as follows: VIB Rouge Members get 20% off between 4/17 and 5/1. VIB members get 15% off between 4/21 and 4/29. Finally, Insider members get 10% off between 4/23-4/27 (anyone can be an Insider, you can sign up for an account and get the discount). All members use the code SPRINGSAVE to get their discounts – it’ll automatically apply based on your account.

Spring 2020 Sephora Sale

Since we’re all spending most of our time at home, now is the perfect time to stock up on your skincare essentials or try new products. I’ve included some of my favorite skincare and hair products that are currently on sale (many which rarely go on sale!), as some of my makeup essentials, and products I’ve been eyeing. What are you looking to buy during Sephora’s spring sale?

Skincare Picks

Drunk Elephant Skincare

Drunk Elephant is one of my favorite skincare brands, but unfortunately comes with a hefty price tag – especially if you’re looking to purchase multiple products at one. Sephora’s sales are one of the best times to purchase these products. I stand by the quality and efficacy of these products, talk about them all the time, and have seen a huge improvement in my skin when I use these regularly and together. Some of my favorite DE products include the Protini Moisturizer, C-Firma and TLC Framboos serums, and Babyfacial. If you aren’t sure to begin with Drunk Elephant, the Littles set is a great introduction to the line for under $100 – it’s also perfect for travel! Sephora’s generous return policy also ensures that if you don’t absolutely love the product, you can exchange it or get a refund.

Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen

This has been my go-to sunscreen for three years, I use it everyday on top of my moisturizer and before applying makeup. The matte finish acts a bit of a primer for foundation, and I haven’t had clogged pores or irritation from this sunscreen the way I’ve experienced from other sunscreens.

Supergoop Daily Moisturizer

This moisturizer has become a new favorite of mine, I love it for a daily moisturizer on days I know I will be outside. The built-in SPF eliminates the added step of applying sunscreen over moisturizer, but even without the SPF I would still consider this a very gentle moisturizer that I would keep in my rotation.

Peter Thomas Roth Eye Patches

Eye patches not only feel luxe (especially if you keep them in the fridge!), they also help instantly brighten your entire face. I don’t use these masks everyday, but will always take the time to apply them before skincare and makeup when I want to look my best. The eye patches hydrate the delicate skin underneath your eye and remove puffiness and bags. I’ve always wanted to try these as well – they’re a little extra, but worth the splurge.

Ole Henriksen Truth Serum

A reliable vitamin C serum at a price point that isn’t insanely offensive. This is the first vitamin C serum I ever tried, and it got me hooked on vitamin C and Ole Henriksen! If you’re looking for a mid-range vitamin C, I always recommend this one.

Kate Somerville Goat Milk Cleanser and Moisturizer

Super hydrating products from Kate Somerville. The Goat Milk Cleanser is so gentle and hydrating, I love this for dry and sensitive skin. The moisturizer is very lightweight and perfect for day time. These are two of my favorite products I discovered in the last year.

Fresh Rose Moisturizer

Super hydrating moisturizer for winter that I love. If you have sensitive skin, I highly recommend checking out Fresh products.

Biossance Squalane + Vitamin C Rose Oil

This oil gets a lot of love on social media! It’s pricey for a bottle but has so many good for your skin ingredients. I felt that this lived up to the hype, but I also really love face oils. If you only wanted to buy one face oil, this is a good one to try.

Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads

I love these peel pads so much, I could dedicate an entire post to them. They make your skin just glow and gives spa treatment like results (coming from a girl who loves a good facial) from the comfort of your home. I use once a week, but would use 2-3x a week before a big event.

Dr. Jart Ceramidin Cream

This Korean cream is magical. Ceramides help plump up your skin (aka fights wrinkles and signs of aging) so if you’re looking to give your skin a boost, look for products with Ceramidin.

Dr. Jart Sheet Masks

Some of my favorite masks that aren’t out of this world expensive. I look at Korean women and see how flawless their skin is – and then promptly load up on sheet masks (some women use a sheet mask a day!).

Hair Savers

+ Virtue Shampoo & Conditioner

A new line recommended to me by my stylist that I’m obsessed with. It’s more expensive than drugstore shampoo and conditioner, but still more affordable than my beloved Oribe (which also is sadly not available on Sephora, and rarely goes on sale).

+ Olaplex

A must if you color your hair! I use this hair mask 2x a week and it keeps my hair from looking and feeling like a broom.

+ Drunk Elephant Wild Marula Tangle Spray

One of my favorite products from Drunk Elephant’s new hair and body line. If you have dry or colored hair, a hair oil goes a long way in keeping your ends moisturized and healthy.

+ dpHUE Gloss

To tide us all over while we wait for hair salons to re-open! Sadly this is currently sold out, so I’m keeping my fingers crossed they restock this product. I’m super hesitant to color my own hair, but a gloss is subtle and will wash out on its own, unlike dye.

+ IGK Dry Shampoo

This dry shampoo smells SO good and tides me over in between hair washes.

Makeup Faves

Armani Foundation

My holy grail foundation but it’s SO expensive. I always try to squeeze the last drops out of my current bottle while I wait for the next Sephora sale. It comes in so many shades and makes your skin look FLAWLESS. Worth every penny.

NARS Tinted Moisturizer

Something lighter for daytime, I personally find this tinted moisturizer to be slightly more medium coverage but like how it gives your skin a natural glow. The formula also has SPF, which is always a bonus.

Beautyblender

I’ve been applying my makeup with a Beautyblender for years, it’s the perfect tool if you’re not the best at doing your own makeup.

Becca Highlighter

Becca products are all about helping you achieve the perfect glow, which is why it’s my go-to brand for all things highlighting and illuminating. There are so many different highlighters in the line, but you really can’t go wrong with anything Becca.

NARS Satin Lipstick Pencil

These super easy to apply lip pencils are my go-to, I keep one in every bag! If you prefer lip color that’s a little more hydrating and glossy, these are amazing. The matte pencils come in more shades (that are gorgeous!), but they are definitely a lot more drying.

Benefit Brow Pencil

I go through multiple of these pencils every year. Benefit’s brow collection has products and shades for everyone, to help you achieve your perfect brow.

Laura Mercier Concealer

I really love the consistency and coverage of this concealer, it also comes in so many shades so it’s very easy to match to your skin tone. I use this every day – even on days when I’m hardly wearing any makeup.

Charlotte Tilbury Pillowtalk

A lip shade that looks good on literally everyone!

NARS Bronzer

My favorite bronzer for years, I love everything about NARS bronzers and blushes, from the packaging to the formula and pigmentation. Unfortunately, the price goes up every few years, so now I really try to make sure it’s on sale before purchasing!

Marc Jacobs Eyeliner

The gel formula is easy to apply but also very blendable, depending on what look you like to achieve with eyeliner.

Benefit Mascara

For years I was devoted to They’re Real, but lately (when I don’t have eyelash extensions!) I’ve been using Roller Lash.

Faux Tan Products

There are so many at-home tanning products out there, luckily most of my favorites are on Sephora! I rotate between the 3 below for the most part.

Tan Luxe

I love the face drops and the body drops, they’re so easy to use – all you have to do is mix them in with whatever moisturizer you’re using, and voila! Instant tan. These drops are basically fool-proof, and easy to travel with so you can always reapply when you’re on the go.

St. Tropez Mousse

This tried and true product is a cult favorite for a reason! I’ve always loved the bronze you get from St. Tropez products, the color is never orange and also super easy to apply – very minimal streaks, and I’m no pro.

Isle of Paradise

If you like tanning drops, another great option to mix with your moisturizer. The tanning water is a pretty innovative product – you spray it all over your body for an instant tan – and achieves similar results.

What I Want To Buy

Overose Candle

You can never have too many candles! I’ve been eyeing this particular one for a while and got really excited when I saw Sephora carrying them. Yes, it’s bougie, but lighting candles has been a small treat during quarantine that has really brightened my mood. It also helps set the scene when I’m transitioning out of “work mode” at the end of the day.

Urban Decay Makeup Setting Spray

I have so many friends who rave about this setting spray. I actually never saw the need to use one, until I used it on my bachelorette party and my makeup literally didn’t budge all day or night.

Olehenriksen Banana Bright Vitamin C Serum

A new vitamin C serum from Ole Henriksen I’m dying to try. The “Truth Serum” was the very first vitamin C serum I ever tried and I was immediately hooked.

NuFACE Facial Toning Device

I’ve read about NuFACE devices a lot, and haven’t been able to bite the bullet and buy one for myself yet. I LOVE a good microcurrent facial, so I’m really curious to see if you could achieve similar results yourself from home.

Dyson Hair Dryer

If you’ve had your eye on this hairdryer, the Sephora sale is the best time to purchase it. I hardly ever blow dry my hair, so I’ve had a hard time justifying a $400 hairdryer. Everyone who has it RAVES about it, so maybe I’ll eventually get it.

dpHUE Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

Trying to keep my hair in the best possible condition until I can seek help from the professionals again. This rinse comes recommended a lot, and since I don’t wash my hair every day I’ve been looking for a clarifying product to keep my hair fresh.

Sheet Masks

Again, you can never have too many sheet masks!

By Amy Zhang April 10, 2020 in Lifestyle 3 Comments

Quarantine Life: What I’ve Been Doing at Home

It’s been a month since we started staying home (the city of LA issued a shelter in place order March 17th but we began limiting our exposure out of the house the week before) and we’re slowly but surely settling into a new routine and what’s become our new normal. I really try to avoid saying I’m bored because I’m truly not! I miss seeing my friends and being able to leave the house. But I’m trying to make the most of and be grateful for what I have. It’s definitely a weird time, and speaking with friends and family I know we’re all struggling in our own ways to adapt.

Some days I feel super productive and motivated. Other days I can’t muster up the energy to do much at all. I think that’s normal and okay – and I’ve been more okay than ever with doing nothing, which is really hard for me! I do still work for my full-time job remotely, so that keeps me busy most of the day. And I feel like the days go by quickly, despite being home all day. So I wanted to share what I’ve been doing outside of work that has kept me busy. (I don’t like puzzles, so I haven’t attempted one!)

What I’ve been doing at home:

+ Sleeping

Over the last year, I was getting 6 hours of sleep every night on average. Now that I don’t have an hour-long commute (that’s one way!), I’ve really made a point to prioritize sleep. I told myself I didn’t need that much sleep and I was totally fine getting by with less than what’s considered ideal. But guess what? My body naturally needs about 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. I find that my energy levels and skin are so much better when I’m well-rested. And I feel so much more clear-headed and positive.

+ Cooking and baking

We’re all home chefs now! One thing I look forward to in the upcoming months is more dinner parties. I love going to new restaurants, but I truthfully foresee many more intimate dinner parties hosted in the comforts of our own homes in the future. I don’t remember the last time I cooked every single one of my meals at home (we haven’t ordered takeout this entire time!). My Kitchenaid is also finally getting put to use as I try to bake something new every week.

+ Writing

I’m making a concerted effort to blog and journal more. This is the first time in a couple of years I’ve really dedicated time to writing and it’s honestly incredibly therapeutic and calming. An added bonus is my renewed love for blogging!

+ Reading

I feel like I finally have time to dig into my never-ending list of books to read. I love to escape for an hour or so with a good book. It’s also a great way to end the day and usually helps me sleep better at night. Since we’ve been home I’ve read Know My Name, The Ride of a Lifetime, Normal People, We Came Here to Forget, Dear Girls (by Ali Wong), and Wild Game. Who wants to start a virtual book club?

+ Yoga

Nothing makes me feel more at peace than practicing yoga. I didn’t realize how much I missed practicing yoga regularly until I signed up for Alo Moves. I try to wind down with a yin class at the end of the day. But I love their longer vinyasa classes as well! I’ve honestly been blown away by the quality of the classes on the platform and would wholeheartedly recommend the free 14-day trial to anyone.

+ Working Out

I wrote a post about how to stay fit at home and have made trying new online workout classes into a bit of a hobby. There are so many classes I want to try, so this has definitely kept me busy (and is hopefully offsetting all of the wine we’ve been consuming). I’ll be sure to share updates as I go.

+ Facetime & Zoom Dates

I’ve connected more with out of state friends and family in the past month than I had previously over several years. Laughter is what gets me through every day, and it’s been refreshing to find these moments of joy with loved ones, albeit virtually. This is a great time to reconnect with friends and let people know that you care. I try to check in with my friends every week, so we can support each other and be there to listen through the ups and downs we’re experiencing at the moment.

+ Self Care

Working from home has meant no excuses for neglecting my skincare. My skin is definitely seeing the benefits of not wearing makeup, having a consistent routine, regular masks, and increased water intake.

I know this time is weird and tough in so many ways, the future is so uncertain and no one knows when we’ll be able to resume our “normal” lives again (or if that’s even possible!), but I try to stay positive and remind myself that the only thing we can control right now is our actions. And that it’s okay to not be okay. I allow myself to feel sad, but I try to have more days where I do feel okay. I feel grateful for having a home that allows me to practice social distancing, having all of the supplies I need, and having my fiancé and dog to keep me company.

How have you been spending your time at home?

By Amy Zhang April 8, 2020 in Lifestyle 2 Comments

What I Can’t Live Without – Best 8 Healthy Lifestyle Products

What I Can't Live Without - Best Healthy Lifestyle Products | by The Luxi Look

Lately, I haven’t been as motivated to live the healthiest lifestyle. Not to say that I’ve done to a complete 180, but being at home all of the time has made it difficult to stay super disciplined. I miss my normal workouts, and have been cooking and baking more than ever. Now this isn’t to say I’m having a terrible time – I’m actually really enjoying this time at home and being more flexible about my workout regimen and what I eat. I have a series of healthy essentials that I really love to keep me going when I’ve been a little looser with my diet/exercise. Read below for some of my favorite healthy lifestyle products, and why I love them so much!

The Best 8 Healthy Lifestyle Products

+ Vitamin C

Immune system boosting foods and supplements are on everyone’s mind right now! My favorite is Lypo-Spheric vitamin C. (I also love gummy vitamins and will take them any chance I get, but these packets absorb better and are more effective). Once I got used to taking a shot of orange goo, it became my go-to vitamin C supplement. The product is gluten, sugar, and dairy-free (for those of you with these requirements) and the packets are so convenient, especially when traveling. I don’t take them all the time, but I do notice that when I take one or two of these a day when I start feeling under the weather, I usually feel better the next day. I really swear by taking vitamin c consistently during cold/flu season!

Be careful not to overdo it as your body can only absorb so much vitamin C at once. These packets are expensive, about $1 each when you buy them in bulk. If you’re looking to spend less, Emergen-C or Nuun will work as well (they just have added sugar).

+ Apple Watch

I never thought I could love a fitness tracker so much, but I wear my Apple watch almost every day. I love tracking my workouts over time and having a log of all of my activity. And I feel like having a fitness tracker (that doubles as a watch and shows my phone notifications) motivates me to be more active. It’s not the most affordable tracker on the market, but I’ve had cheaper versions and stopped wearing them after a month or two.

+ Air Fryer

Your oven on steroids. Make fool-proof meals in 15 minutes or less. We use our air fryer almost every day. It’s probably our most used kitchen appliance – I would choose an air fryer over an Instant Pot any day. My favorite thing to cook in the air fryer is salmon, but you can whip up any protein or vegetables quickly. Our air fryer also has instant buttons so you don’t even have to calculate how long to cook most foods. I’m not the greatest cook and have very little patience in the kitchen, so this was definitely money well spent! Knowing that I can whip something up quickly in the air fryer has stopped me from ordering takeout or delivery more times than I can count.

+ Vitamix

If you can invest in a Vitamix, it’s absolutely worth it. We make smoothies, soups, nut butters, and sauces in ours every week. The power of a Vitamix is really unparalleled, it has so much power and you will honestly never have chunks of kale in your smoothie (or anything else you blend) ever again! It does take up a lot of counter space, so keep this in mind if you’re considering upgrading yours. I swear making smoothies has never been easy.

+ Natural Deodorant

Finding a good natural deodorant is hard! I love this one and the new Drunk Elephant version. I aim to be active every day if possible. So it was very important to find natural deodorants that actually worked (I’ve tried a ton of them).

+ Sneakers

I love these sneakers, they go with everything and are so comfortable for any kind of cross-training (I don’t run in these!). I’m definitely motivated by cute workout gear, so these are essentials for me.

+ Reusable Water Bottle

A cute reusable water bottle is good for the environment and encourages you to drink more water. This one from ban.do is so cute, I drink a LOT of water so I bought this one (for less than $20!!) recently after seeing it on Instagram so much, and it doesn’t disappoint! I try to drink at least 1 of these a day, my water consumption has completely changed thanks to the reminders on the bottle.

+ Resistance Bands

You can do SO much with resistance bands, plus they are super easy to travel with. You can work out anywhere, anytime with them. At-home fitness equipment can add up quickly, so if there’s only one thing you buy, I would recommend resistance bands. You can do a ton of great ab and lower body workouts with these.

+ Essential Leggings

A good pair of black leggings is absolutely a healthy lifestyle essential! The right pair will always make you feel confident when working out. I have so many pairs of black leggings in my closet, some of my favorites are from Michi, All Access, and Alo. Let’s face it, we all have those days when the right (high) waistband make all the difference in the world.

What would you consider to be your healthy lifestyle essentials?

By Amy Zhang April 6, 2020 in Beauty, Lifestyle 1 Comment

Keeping Up With Beauty During Coronavirus

Happy Monday, friends! How is everyone doing today? Are we hanging in there? It’s been over three weeks at home and it’s been an experience, to say the least. I don’t remember the last time I spent this much time at home or with my fiancé, but we’re making the most of it! Some days are easier than others, and it sounds like most of you are in the same boat. I’m happy we are finally moving beyond the constant need to be “productive” and are settling into a state of being ok with just being ok (if that makes any sense). There are things I miss from before, and things I do not.

It’s been fun to have a laugh with my girlfriends over our beauty routines and how the first place we want to go when this is all over is the nail salon. Jokes aside, I’ve come to realize that what I perceived as a somewhat low maintenance routine was actually more high maintenance than I thought. If you’re going through a similar situation, read on for the best ways to maintain your beauty routine at home.

Keeping Up With Beauty During Coronavirus

+ Hair

First things first, hair. If you recently got a haircut and don’t have colored hair, you’re in luck. For the rest of us, we have to make do with what we have. If it’s been a while since your last haircut, I (and your stylist, most likely) would personally advise against giving yourself a haircut. If you have professional colored hair, resist the urge to use box dye during this time. Seriously, it’s just not worth it! It will take more effort than it’s worth to fix. The best tip I’ve gotten, from my colorist and friend, Ashleigh, is to use a light gloss to tone down brass and keep your color going until your next trip to the salon. If you aren’t sure which to get, ask your stylist for recommendations!

If you’re starting to see split ends and go crazy, use a hair mask 1x a week and other smoothing products (I love this hair oil and this styling cream) to maintain your cut in the meantime. Also, avoid over-styling your hair with hot tools at the moment (embrace your natural hair and give it some much needed R&R if possible).

+ Lashes

If you don’t have lash extensions, you can skip this section. Earlier this year, I hopped back on the lash extension train and am now in the process of growing them out (it’s much better to get them professionally removed, but that isn’t an option at this time). If you’re in a similar position, I wrote an entire post on what to do after you get your lash extensions removed a while back. My biggest tips – resist the urge to pick them off yourself and use a lash serum in the meantime.

+ Nails

I miss my manicures deeply. I’m also inept at doing my own nails. If you’re looking to do your nails at home, it might make sense to invest in an at-home manicure kit. At-home gel kits exist as well if you’re feeling extra ambitious. I’ve loaded up on nourishing cuticle oil to get me through this time and will attempt to learn how to paint my own nails. I also started taking biotin to strengthen my nails.

Note that if you have powder or gel nails, you will need acetone to remove the nail polish – this is very drying on your nails and cuticles, so be sure to follow up with lots of hand cream after!

+ Skin

Now is the best time to take care of your skin. You’re most likely wearing little to no makeup and have more time than ever to focus on skincare. If people are buying anything right now, it’s skincare (skincare was up 99% in March!). I’ve been loading up on masks and linked my favorites below – personally, I am enjoying my mini at-home “spa sessions” going through my skincare routine properly as opposed to rushing through or skipping steps. Right now I am loving everything from Drunk Elephant and Joanna Vargas Skincare.

By Amy Zhang March 31, 2020 in Fitness, Lifestyle 4 Comments

How to Stay Fit at Home

As an avid boutique fitness enthusiast, my fitness routine has been thrown in complete disarray now that my options are limited to inside the home. I miss the community and accountability I get from taking classes. I have found it more difficult than I anticipated to stay motivated on my own. Working out is the one activity keeping me sane at the moment. So I knew right away I had to find a new routine and stick to it. I’ve been making a point to move my body in some way every single day. It’s the least I can do for my mental and physical health. So I set out to test and try as many different streaming services and home workouts as I could physically handle.

As devastating as this time is for the fitness and wellness industry, the community has really stepped up in terms of supporting each other and giving back to their customers. There are truthfully more workouts (free and paid) than any one person can do. It’s really just a matter of finding the classes and routines that you enjoy the most. I’ve included all of the different workouts I’ve tried in the running list below, along with my honest review of each of them.

How to Stay Fit at Home

Streaming Workouts

+ Alo Moves

After taking some time off from my yoga practice, I have a newfound love and appreciation for yoga, thanks to Alo Moves. The entire experience is seamless, from the user interface to the variety of classes and the quality of instructors. The on-demand streaming platform features truly phenomenal instructors leading high-quality yoga, fitness (strength, HIIT, pilates, barre, etc.), mindfulness, and skills classes, so there’s something for everyone. The site allows you to filter classes by length, level of difficulty, and intensity. So you’ll always be able to find something to fit your mood. Looking for a quick morning flow and guided breathwork to ease you into the day? A sculpting vinyasa flow designed to build heat and allow you to break a sweat? Or challenging inversion and flexibility workshops?

Alo Moves has them all, and more.

Alo Moves has the best collection at-home yoga and meditation classes I’ve come across. The classes are as close to an in-studio practice as you can get and I may not go back to a yoga studio after this. I love that I need minimal equipment to practice from home – a mat is all you need, although other props (yoga blocks, a strap, blankets) may be beneficial towards your practice.

I’ve been trying to take 20-30 minute classes every morning with an emphasis on stretching and mobility. It’s a great compliment to running and strength training. I’m focused on improving my flexibility over the next few months. And I love that practicing yoga is back in my daily routine. I’m also excited about jumping back into a more invigorating yoga practice. So I’ve bookmarked a series of more energizing vinyasa flows as well. I’ve even started to identify which of the instructors are my favorite, and have over 50 classes saved under “My Practice” to keep me busy during this time at home.

I would recommend this app to anyone, regardless of their yoga experience. The 14-day free trial is absolutely worth checking out, after that the classes are $20/month or $199 for the year. This is definitely a subscription I will keep after my free trial, as the price for a year’s worth of classes is the equivalent of a 10 class package at a yoga studio and the quality is just as good (if not better). It’s also great if for traveling, as you can easily squeeze in a short workout in your hotel room.

+ The Sculpt Society

Dance cardio and sculpting classes led by Megan Roup, a former professional dancer and fitness instructor. Megan has amazing energy and actually does the entire routine with you, which is so motivating! Initially, I was skeptical about the workout and signed up for the free trial to see what all the fuss was about.

Dance cardio is not my favorite, so I usually skip those sections at the beginning and only take the sculpting portions or classes. As someone who is used to lifting weights and taking more intense HIIT classes, I found myself pleasantly surprised by the sculpt classes. The Sculpt Society burns in a different way – Megan’s goal is to lengthen and tone, and she applies her experience as a professional dancer to her workout. My favorite sections are the mat exercises that focus on your glutes (with ankle weights!).

You don’t need any equipment to do the workout.

But if you plan on committing longer term, it’s worth investing in a few pieces of equipment to take your workout up a notch. I would definitely recommend ankle weights and sliders for an extra burn, as well as light hand weights (2 or 3 pounds, canned food will also work if you can’t find weights as they are sold out almost everywhere at the moment).

If you enjoy dance cardio (think 305 Fitness or Body By Simone) and are looking for a toning workout, I would absolutely suggest trying out their free 14-day trial to get a feel for the classes before you commit to a paid subscription ($19.99 per month or $119.99 for a year). If you prefer more intense workouts, The Sculpt Society might not be for you. As far as at-home workouts go, The Sculpt Society is a fun, moderate-intensity class. I’m still on the fence about keeping my membership, as the monthly price is the same as other platforms and the collection of workouts is a bit limited. I’m hoping she continues to add more workouts on her app.

+ Tracy Anderson Online

I tried this and found that it was not for me – but I have friends who love it! Similar to the other streaming programs, TA Online offers a free 14-day trial. As far as the workout goes, it is very similar to The Sculpt Society, but I think a bit harder. TA Online uploads one workout a week and provides a recommended schedule to follow. However, I found the movements throughout to be much more complicated and difficult to follow, and there’s zero instruction or voiceover the entire time. The format was hard to watch and get into, so I gave up on this after a few tries.

+ P.volve

After hearing good things about P.volve from some close friends, I bit the bullet and purchased this set of equipment (the “P Ball” is a proprietary ball that is important for a lot of the workouts, and I can use the hand and ankle weights for other workouts). Once I receive the equipment and test the workout, I’ll share my review after the 14-day free trial!

Live Instructor & Studio Workouts

A lot of studios and individual instructors are offering free live workouts (sometimes daily!). Be sure to check your local studio’s social media accounts and website to see if they are offering any at-home workouts. Many studios are offering free workouts through Instagram Live, and their instructors will often post free workouts on Instagram and YouTube.

Some studios are also offering virtual classes at home -these are typically done over a video conference and cost between $6-$15 per class. My trainer, Jenn is offering Zoom workouts a few times a week for $7 and I highly recommend these!

My two favorite LA-based pilates studios, Natural Pilates and The Studio MDR are offering streaming pilates classes for $15 each.

Equipment for At-Home Workouts

Most workouts can be done with little to minimal equipment, but since it appears home workouts are the only option for the foreseeable future, I do recommend purchasing some equipment so you can get the most of your workouts. You can definitely get creative as well – think using canned food or a wine bottle instead of dumbells, or a towel instead of gliders. Based on the workouts I’ve tried, I would recommend the following equipment or finding a substitute for them. Once you have these, you’ll be able to follow a lot of at-home workout programs.

+ Yoga Mat

+ Resistance Bands

How You Can Continue to Support the Fitness Industry

The entire fitness and wellness industry is currently struggling as a result of closures – while some studios offer paid classes that are taken online via streaming, many are

+ Buy a gift card

If it’s within your means to do so, a gift card goes a long way. A lot of local businesses could use additional cashflow – many of them are just trying to cover their existing bills and pay their staff if they can. Even if you can’t pay for future services in advance, you can still support a studio or instructor you love in other ways.

+ Take paid streaming classes

Some of the free workouts are great, but I find myself personally more motivated when I am held accountable. Taking a class, even if virtually, provides a sense of community and accountability.

+ Ask individual instructors/trainers if they offer virtual sessions

If you can afford a private or semi-private session, many trainers are offering at-home workouts via video conference.

+ Share your favorite workouts

As I mentioned before, there are so many options for at-home workouts now, it can seem overwhelming to most. I spent the last few weeks trying a ton of different programs and IG workouts before landing on a routine. If you find something you love, share it with your friends or on your social media.

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