Ocean Blue Magazine – Page 7

Top Luxurious & Eco-Friendly Beauty Brands

Luxurious & Low Waste Sustainable Beauty Picks

“Keep young and beautiful.
It’s your duty to be beautiful.
Keep young and beautiful.
If you want to be loved.”

~ Annie Lennox

We’ve come to depend on our “bag of tricks,” an astonishingly vast collection of powders and paints all packaged in little plastic cases, in our efforts to maintain and enhance our outer beauty. Often all these products arrive from the store in a plastic sachet, inside a cardboard box, covered by yet another layer of shrink-wrap or cellophane.

Photo Courtesy by fashion-history.lovetoknow.com

Even the most ardent recyclers admit that most of this packaging ends up in landfills when we’ve used our favorite products right down to the last glittery drop. If only there were a way to cut down on the vast volumes of waste! A handful of cosmetic companies have tackled the problem by “going naked” and reducing the amount of packaging surrounding their beauty care products to just about zero. It’s not a new idea: Lush Handmade Cosmetics developed their shampoo bars back in the ’80s and have consistently sold a large percentage of their products without any packaging. Their range of foundations, concealers, and lipsticks is life-changing in their pared-down presentations.

But what if you still want a pretty little something to toss into your handbag? The ultimate solution should decrease the amount of disposable packaging required while still providing the convenience of a compact cosmetic product. Kjaer Weiss are pioneers among a growing list of companies experimenting with refillable make-up products. Their elegant silver metal cases are designed to last a lifetime. Simply remove the empty make-up cartridge and replace with a minimally-packaged (and significantly cheaper) refill.

Alima Pure is introducing refillable compacts, with magnetic color pans that can easily be replaced with refills. MAC, Nars, and Surrat are among other well-known cosmetics brands offering refills for their compacts. On the higher end, look out for refillable foundation compacts by Clarins and YSL.

In the skincare sector, Olay has become the first worldwide brand to test refillable packaging. As of October 2019, each jar of Regenerist Whip moisturizer will sell with a recyclable refill pod to place inside the container. They’re also ditching the traditional outer cellophane wrapping, and have switched to recycled paper instead of cardboard packaging.

Along with the rest of us, fashionistas and Instagram Influencers are becoming more demanding in our quest for an eco-friendly, low waste lifestyle. The result – more of our favorite brands are changing their packaging design to include recycled materials and re-usable containers. There’s a steady return to glamorous and stylish refillable metal or glass cases (favored in the 1940s) alongside a new wave of fast-growing and biodegradable plant-based materials such as bamboo.

The Hottest Colors for Summer

The Hottest Colors for Summer 2019

The 2019 Spring/Summer Designer Collections showcased ahead of the season promised a wardrobe of easy-to-wear neutral shades. It’s interesting to see how this has carried through as summer arrives. Living Coral – the color of the year for 2019 – has featured strongly through spring and will remain a favorite through summer. It’s status as a “neutral” is based on the fact that it goes well with so many other colors while being able to stand alone in dramatic single-shade ensembles.

Rihanna’s collaboration with LVMH in new luxury fashion house Fenty has undoubtedly embraced the neutral trends. The brand debuted recently in Paris with a line-up of blazers, wide-leg trousers, and structured pieces all in lightly baked hues, soft whites and black denim.

Mention neutrals and everyone’s first thought is beige. Beigey shades range from oatmeal to cream, biscuit and tan and work well on their own or layered with just about anything. A safe choice for suiting and outerwear, beiges will stick around and support your wardrobe for decades. But there’s more … think sage green – a softer, more earthy tone that brings a woodland vibe to the party; or limoncello – more flexible to wear than lemon or butter yellow.

Classic white makes a noteworthy appearance this season. From snowy bright to gently kissed with colour, white makes everything look stylish and polished. Pair it with soft pastels for a beachy feel or contrast with stronger neutrals such as black, charcoal and midnight blue in the boardroom.

Mid shades – think cornflower blue – or more intense shades such as magenta, princess blue, and turmeric will take you from afternoon to evening by merely adding a little shine at the wrists and hairline.

Still on trend, seek out some dainty florals and ditzy patterns in bold colors. Don’t be afraid of going head-to-toe, but if you want to keep it more conservative, just pick out an accent color and add some mono-color layers. Leopard print never seems to be out of fashion, which is probably just as well – we all need to connect with our inner feline, and real furs are officially off the table now.

Finish off your summer wardrobe with a handful of barely-there strappy sandals in sandy neutrals, chic black, or matte gold. Your pedicurist will be your best friend this season!

Stay up-to-date on all the trending news with Ocean Blue World!

Safe, Clean, Recreational Water for All

The beautiful Baja Peninsula is not only home to many prospering communities but also a flourishing marine life. These thriving communities have been successful due to the essential efforts done by many local organizations to protect and conserve the biodiversity of Baja.

The ten Baja Waterkeepers are part of those groups doing the amazing work to ensure the right to safe and clean water in the beautiful communities of Baja that we call home. The Baja Waterkeepers Fund at the International Community Foundation (ICF) supports the regional collaborative of these ten Waterkeepers fighting for clean water and healthy communities.

Collectively the Baja Waterkeepers are conducting monthly monitoring programs on over 75 coastal sites for bacteria and pollutants that pose public health risks. The results are published immediately on Swim Guide – an app that provides real-time water quality information on the beaches you are visiting. The Waterkeepers are ensuring you stay informed that your favorites beaches are safe for swimming for your family and friends.

Additionally, the Waterkeepers are building resilience in their communities by leading environmental education workshops, beach cleanups, youth leadership programs, conducing illegal fishing surveillance and leading efforts to restore and protect watershed ecosystems. Their work is countless and extremely vital for our thriving Baja communities.

Most recently, their work was effective in collaborating with their local partners in passing the single-use plastic ban in Baja California Sur. Now, they are diligently working to implement this ban by educating their community (businesses, hotels, schools, restaurants, etc.) to focus on changing their plastic use and moving towards a more environmentally conscious choice.

Strengthening their work helps shape future environmental policy and behavior in this incredibly biologically diverse region. You can be a part of the solution when you donate to the Baja Waterkeepers Fund.

For more information on the Baja Waterkeepers, contact Angelica Leyva, [email protected]

Weddings by Design

What do Lady Gaga, George Clooney, Mindy Weiss, and Colin Cowie all have in common? They’re among the many VIPs who have had the chance to work with the multi-talented Los Cabos Wedding & Event Planner, Arianna Ocampo.

Not many people have the experience, patience, and discretion required to handle VIP weddings and events, especially in a resort destination where venue staffing can change frequently. With nearly six hundred events under her belt in thirteen years, this gal has earned her chops as a “planificadora extraordinaria,” or extraordinary planner!

Recently, Arianna joined the powerhouse wedding planning, design, and decor company, Del Cabo Weddings. “Few event and wedding planning companies have the capabilities of Del Cabo. With multiple warehouses brimming with the largest Baja decor selection south of San Diego, Del Cabo is truly the one-stop shop for all of Los Cabos,” says Arianna.

“I thrive leading a powerful team and love to have in-house resources that include professional planners, designers, tech staff, architects, landscapers, and carpenters,” she admits. Arianna especially appreciates the “wedding perfect” capabilities of Del Cabo’s custom fabricators who can build bespoke, custom designed and built furniture, soft goods such as curtains, pillows, linens, or even customize existing decor to client specs.

The team of wedding planners at Del Cabo Weddings are also professionally trained in all wedding disciplines including Jewish, Roman Catholic, Green, Same-Sex, or that of any region or religion in all of South Asia. Arianna will tell you Del Cabo wedding planners are not simply order-takers – they commit to understanding and focusing on the individual requirements and wishes of each couple.

Says Arianna, “Del Cabo is also such an integral part of the Los Cabos vendor community that every wedding or event they do is seamless. If any problem arises, it can be easily solved with their knowledge of and relationship with every property and venue in all of Los Cabos.”

One of her favorite Del Cabo weddings was that of Influencer Lauryn Evarts, creator of the wildly popular blog “The Skinny Confidential.” Lauryn had specific and slightly out of the ordinary design and decor ideas, explains Arianna. No other wedding design, planning, and decor company could have come close to not only pulling this wedding off but taking it to a whole different level the way Del Cabo did. Imagine the contrast of bubble gum pink against Goth black, and on a beach. Lauryn, her husband Michael and even their guests are still talking about the stunning, dramatic style and vibe that was achieved.

Arianna also appreciates the fact that people are the heartbeat of Del Cabo. She loves that they are a vital part of the Community, and are the largest sponsor of local charitable, sports and arts events in the region.

She loves that Del Cabo clients are always surprised at the extraordinary caring and versatility of the team. “What I can tell you is this – our highly skilled, custom wedding planning team all possess one overriding, critical skill. They all understand and translate each couples’ vision, no matter how unusual, into a magical and perfect reality.” That’s what wedding design is all about…

Contact the wedding planning experts at Del Cabo Weddings to plan your dream destination wedding today!

Celebrate the World’s Most Famous Cocktail on National Martini Day

Celebrating National Martini Day With the Bartender’s Special

Gin with a splash of Vermouth. Stirred to chill. Simple really. Oh, if only! It seems everyone has a take on the world’s most famous cocktail. Straight up or on the rocks, crystal clear or a little dirty, extra dry with barely a breath of Vermouth … If you ask for a vodka martini, shaken not stirred, you may even be mistaken for a spy. Martinis have been considered a classy mix for sundowners or even a business lunch since their invention way back in the mid-1800s.

To celebrate #NationalMartiniDay on June 19th, we’d recommend a Reverse Martini or Bartender’s Special. This variation features more Vermouth with your Gin or vodka, resulting in a lower ABV cocktail. So yes – you can indulge in a few more rounds than usual without losing your dignity on the dance floor. And remember to leave your barman a generous tip.

With the revival of gin in all its artisanally-crafted fruity and herb-infused essences, no two martinis need ever be alike. Whether your Vermouth of choice is a dry, French-style or a sweet Italian, do ask your bartender how long it has been open. It needs to be as fresh as possible, especially for a Reverse Martini where it will play a more significant role in the flavor profile.

One of the most well-known cocktails and enjoyed all over the world, Martinis have a vague history. There are various backstories, but no-one is really sure how or where the celebrated mix began. The traditional recipe has taken on some interesting twists (beyond a rogue-ish twist of lemon) including bitters, maraschino, and citrus liqueurs. Martini snobs may shake their heads – but not their martinis of course – in despair. In this age of relaxed rules and emphasis on individuality, we think its perfectly acceptable to mix it your way.

Classic Shaken Dry Vodka Martini with Olives

If you’re mixing martinis for yourself and a few close friends, this recipe by Michael Lee at San Francisco’s Starlight Room is a great inspiration to get you started:

55 ml Dolin Blanc Vermouth de Chambéry
30 ml Spirit Works vodka
1 bar spoon Luxardo maraschino liqueur

Add all the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice, and stir until well-chilled. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass, and garnish with a speared brandied cherry.

8 Gorgeous Landscapes to Inspire Your Next Photography Trip

Incredible Landscapes for Amazing Nature Photography

It’s time to grab your camera and head off to an exotic location! The North America Nature Photography Association (NANPA) started Nature Photography Day to encourage nature photography and use images to advance the cause of conservation. Submit your favorite photo to the Nature Photography Day Photo Contest to celebrate 14 Years of Nature Discovery.

To get you started, we’ve found some totally amazing landscapes to explore. It won’t take long to fill your memory cards with stunningly memorable images.

Scottish Highlands, Scotland

Ancient earth forms and fascinating history make this magnificent landscape all the more alluring. It is at once rugged and beautiful, mysterious and welcoming. And of course, there’s whisky to keep you warm while you hike the cliffs and valleys in search of photo opportunities.

Great Barrier Reef and Whitehaven Beach: Australia

The reef is under severe threat, and what better way to draw attention to it than through photography … With over 2000km of the Reef to explore, you can still find colourful fish and coral in spite of two severe coral bleaching events. Join a professional diving or snorkelling excursion to help you make the most of your visit and avoid causing unintended damage. Afterwards, catch your breath at Whitehaven Beach.

Skellig Michael: Ireland

You don’t need to be Luke Skywalker to appreciate this UNESCO World Heritage Site’s forbidding cliffs and breathtaking views. May the Force be with you as you climb the 618 stone steps to the ancient monastery hidden within the towering rocky heights.

Kirkjufell: Iceland

Game of Thrones fans will instantly recognize this steep peak surrounded by ancient glaciers. Kirkjufell’s unmistakable cone, formed by layers of sedimentary rock, is best viewed from the encircling walking path or black stone beach below. Don’t go without a guide.

Cenotes, Mexico

Like a journey to the center of the earth, a visit to this vast subterranean world of seemingly infinite sinkholes, caverns and karst tunnels is an otherworldly experience. Just south of Cancun, the Yucatan Peninsula was once an underwater reef before the ocean receded, leaving sea creatures fossilized in the rocky walls.

Arashiyama Bamboo Grove, Japan

The ghostly sounds of rustling leaves and creaking wood are an integral element of Japan’s mysterious bamboo forest. If you’re quick with your camera, you may catch a glimpse of the wood spirits flitting between the sky-reaching green stalks.

Avenue of the Baobabs, Madagascar

Separated from the eastern coastline of Africa by many miles of ocean, Madagascar is a land of surreal lifeforms. The ancient baobab trees – reaching 30 meters or more towards the sky – have dominated the landscape for centuries with their strange upside-down appearance.

Sossusvlei Red Dunes, Namibia

There’s something so amazing about a desert – even in the driest dunes, life persists. Animals, reptiles and insects of all kinds have adapted to the harsh landscapes and unforgiving climate. Among the shifting red dunes in one of the world’s oldest deserts, search for the prints and tracks of elusive creatures to capture on film. It’s worth the journey.

Celebrating World Environment Day

We’re all environmentalists now. No more plastic straws or single-use water bottles. Less meat, more veg. Reduce, re-use, recycle. And everyone has a compost heap or at least a bokashi bucket. It’s highly fashionable to be seen out on a bike. We’ve ditched our fuel-guzzling SUVs for a hybrid or fully electric vehicle. And yet, it still doesn’t seem enough.

Rivers are choked with waste, beaches covered in discarded plastic, our land and ocean environments are dying at an alarming rate. Statistically, nine out of ten people breathe polluted air every day. Seven million people die annually from air-pollution-related causes, including lung cancer, asthma, stroke, heart disease, and dementia. According to the 2018 World Air Quality Report, cities most affected by poor air quality are Delhi, Dhaka, Kabul, Manama and Ulaanbaatar. It’s easy to blame governments, industries, transport and agriculture for their wastefulness and inaction, but ultimately they supply to our demand. Real change comes when humans work together and find new ways to live harmoniously with our earth.

Since 1974, World Environment Day has served as the United Nation’s focal event for boosting awareness and action for the safeguarding of our natural environment. The host nation for World Environment Day 2019 is China. The theme, quite appropriately, is Air Pollution. From now through to #WorldEnvironmentDay on June 5, the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) is encouraging everyone to join the Mask Challenge. Apart from wearing a mask to demonstrate our desire for clean air, we can all commit to reducing air pollution by making small but significant changes to our lifestyle.

Join your fave celebs and make use of public transport when possible, reduce your meat and dairy consumption, switch to energy saving systems at home and in the office. Challenge your friends to take action too by posting your masked-selfie with #WorldEnvironmentDay and #BeatAirPollution in your posts. Don’t forget to tag @UNEnvironment.

On the 5^th of June, post another photo or video showing the world how you have kept your promise to protect our beautiful earth. Tag @OceanBlueMagazine on @Facebook, YouTube and Insta, or OceanBlueMag on Twitter so we can cheer you on.

Wellness Travel Offers Truly Transformational Trips

If you return from your travels feeling like you really need another holiday … you’re probably doing it wrong! While some aspects of a journey can be a little daunting, the overall encounter has health and wellness benefits that can improve your life long after you get home. Whether you’re travelling for business for leisure, look out for wellness-enhancing activities with long-term effects to ensure you make the most of your experience. In essence – prioritize your physical, mental, and spiritual well-being through travel.

Navigating your way around an unfamiliar destination can get your blood pumping, but this is “good stress” that ultimately makes you feel better. A healthy appetite and falling asleep easier are just two signs that your body and brain are relaxing and feeling better. Your overall mood will improve, and you’ll feel less anxious once you’ve successfully explored your new environment. Based on a True Story operates out of London and creates personal adventures involving epic narratives. Multiple sets, actors and locations are involved in making you the hero of your own story.

Because new experiences increase cognitive flexibility, travel really will make you a better person. As you meet new people and adapt to your surroundings, you’ll also find your creativity, empathy and emotional stability growing too.

Visiting different environments and dealing with small amounts of locally endemic bacteria can strengthen your immune system. Don’t be afraid to drink the same water that the locals do, and eat at well-frequented public food vendors.

Make an effort to take part in immersive or physical activities whenever possible. A hike doesn’t have to mean rocky mountain pathways – you can easily attain your daily step-count goal wandering around city streets or even exploring a shopping mall – especially if you pick up a few souvenirs along the way. With Black Tomato’s Get Lost program you will be dropped off in the middle of nowhere for a survivor-style trip that requires months of advance preparation.

Research shows that all the benefits of travel – reduced stress, higher fitness levels, enhanced brain health – all contribute to a longer life expectancy. And that means more opportunities to travel, so it’s a self-fulfilling chain reaction that will keep you feeling young.

Wellness travel is the fastest growing segment of tourism, with exclusive destinations seeing the most significant growth. High-end hotels and luxury travel brands are beginning to infuse well-being into every aspect of their offerings, from healthier local food options to high-tech rooms with air purifiers and dawn simulators. The ultimate indulgence goes hand in hand with the transformational value of a travel experience, which ultimately leads to contentment and self-realization. The further you travel from home, the more noticeable the benefits: it might be mostly in your head, but the effects are indeed genuine.

One way to make sure your travels are genuinely beneficial for you is to visit a place specifically for its health benefits. Soaking in the mineral-rich waters of a natural hot spring can relieve pain and improve your skin. Spas and yoga retreats in secluded, unspoiled locations are their own reward. Interacting with nature in the ocean or bushveld will awaken all your senses. Visit the turtle-watching reserve in the Tobago Cays for an exceptionally calming experience as you swim with the turtles.

Grab your passport, call your favorite travel agent, and take yourself on a revitalizing journey to wellness. Go now!

Understanding and Combatting Cancer in Baja California Sur

Understanding and Combatting Cancer in BCS

By: International Community Foundation (ICF)

What causes cancer? How do we improve our chances of catching it early and treating it successfully? These are questions that every country is trying to answer. Especially in Mexico where malignant tumors are the third leading cause of death, resulting over 84,000 deaths in 2017.

The International Community Foundation (ICF) has been working to improve cancer treatment in Baja California Sur (BCS) for nearly a decade. In 2007, ICF invited representatives from the St. Jude International Outreach Program to explore the development and implementation of a much-needed Pediatric Oncology ward at the public hospital in La Paz. Since that initial visit, a partnership was formed with St. Jude, Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego, UCSD, and several local organizations, and ICF has granted approximately $200,000 to support staff training and needed resources to provide the highest quality of care and services for these young patients and their families.

In recent years, local partner organizations in BCS have shared their alarm over official statistics and anecdotal evidence of extremely high cancer rates in the state. But as they dug deeper, they realized what was missing – data.

After a few years of research and planning, ICF and local partners, including La Paz-based organization Center for Renewable Energy and Environmental Quality (CERCA) and fellow-funder Los Cabos Children’s Foundation, launched a population-based cancer registry, in order to collect demographic, diagnostic, and treatment information.

On January 14, 2019, the BCS Cancer Registry, A.C., now an official Mexican nonprofit organization, signed a collaborative agreement with the state’s Secretary of Health, beginning a formal relationship to ensure consistent access to medical records and the ability to inform public health activities and policy.

With high quality data on the size and nature of the cancer problem in the state, medical officials and policymakers can take needed actions to improve early detection and treatment, increase prevention efforts, and study possible causes of cancer in the region.

ICF is proud of its role as financial supporter, technical advisor, and thought partner for this important new effort and we look forward to learning more about how to combat cancer in Baja California Sur. To learn more or to support this work directly, contact Alana Ortez, Senior Health Program Officer: [email protected].

Under is Europe’s First Underwater Restaurant

If you’ve been eagerly awaiting the opening of Under in Lindesnes, Norway, you will need to endure for a little longer. Bookings are open until October, but you’ll be on a waiting list. Even considering its remote location on this storm-battered southernmost point of the Norwegian coastline, Europe’s first underwater restaurant is ultimately worth a visit. Under is the culmination of a dream by owners and brothers, Stig and Gaute Ubostad. Designed and created by Norwegian architectural firm Snøhetta, this distinctive project is more than just a restaurant. Envisaged as integration of gastronomy, architecture and marine research, the 34-metre partially-submerged concrete structure emerges from the icy fjord like a giant’s periscope discarded carelessly at the water’s edge. In time the exterior will blend more seamlessly with its surroundings as limpets and kelp begin to grow on its surface, forming an artificial reef.

Under’s location up close with nature makes it unique in many ways, standing apart from the usual underwater restaurants in warm tropical aquariums. Weather conditions around Lindesnes are known to be intense, shifting from calm to storm and back again without warning. This immense shell with its half meter-thick concrete walls is built to withstand nature’s most extreme forces. Once inside, visitors feel safely enveloped by the warm ambience featuring oak panelling, textiles, handcrafted fixtures and artwork by local collaborators.

The focal point of Under’s dining space is a vast panoramic acrylic window, bringing guests eye to eye with life on the seabed. The underwater vista of swaying kelp forests is surprisingly serene considering the wild crashing waves just five metres above at the surface.

Michelin starred chef Nicolai Ellitsgaard has drawn together a world-class team to present his 18-course tasting menu, inspired by Under’s unique setting. Each item on the Immersion menu is a work of art crafted with locally foraged ingredients such as wild mushrooms and luscious berries paired with seafood sustainably harvested from Lindesnes’s rich biodiversity. Chef Ellitsgaard’s culinary compositions will vary with the seasons, allowing him to experiment with many varieties of fish, shells, and other beach-grown ingredients such as sea arrow grass, sea rocket and salty sea kale.

Continuing the trend of open kitchens, guests dining at Under are invited to watch as each course is precisely assembled. Beverage pairings – both alcoholic and juice-based – can be ordered to complement the wild, naked flavours carefully selected to take diners beyond their gastronomic comfort zones.

VOCE, A New Voice of Art and Food In Milan

VOCE is Milan’s New Voice of Italian Culture

Piazza Della Scala has a New Voice. Vòce (‘Voice’ in Italian) is a unique venue in which food, culture and art are interwoven to celebrate Italian history.

Art and food are considered Italy’s most treasured assets, and the team at Voce aim to showcase both of these with their seasonal menus designed to complement the varying exhibitions at the gallery. Expect traditional Italian dishes with unconventional touches, produced using fresh, raw ingredients from the region. The wine list features new Italian wineries as well as internationally recognized producers of excellent local wines, each vintage carefully selected to harmonise with the food and art on display.

Voce’s current exhibition-linked menu is dedicated to the “The Italian Nineteenth Century” featuring Lombard paintings and the City of Milan. The set menu includes a Sicilian Tomato soup, Saffron Risotto, a herb-encrusted chicken breast, and Limoncello babà.

To truly appreciate the fusion of food art and culture at Voce Aimo e Nadia, Milan’s favourite new eatery, take a step back in time and consider its origins. Aimo and Nadia have been well-known names in Milanese cuisine for over half a century. Their heirs have carried the flame of their vision at the original Il Luogo and now at Voce, presenting culturally influenced food amid a setting of art and architecture.

Sharing space with the historic Gallerie d’Italia complex, Voce forms a trinity of functional settings: the café for breakfast, aperitivo and light lunches; the vintage-styled bookshop; and the upscale restaurant with its kitchen-viewing window. Granite pillars re-discovered during the recent renovation contrast with dark woodwork, wrought iron windows and gleaming marble flooring to create a space which architect Michele De Lucchi describes as the “perfect blend between a Viennese café and a French bistro.” An interesting setting for Italian culture, no doubt.

The Gallerie d’Italia exhibition space and its collection of artworks, spanning the Renaissance to the 19th century, are owned by Intesa Sanpaolo bank, which formerly occupied the restaurant area. In their quest to form the perfect collaboration of art, culture and cuisine they have partnered with Stefania Moroni – daughter of Aimo and Nadia – and executive chefs Fabio Pisani and Alessandro Negrini at Voce, bringing together a mutual history and reputation for excellence.

Accessible either through the museum or from Piazza Della Scala, the Café, Bookshop and Restaurant are open daily from mid-morning till around 7:30pm, remaining open until 10:30pm on Thursday evenings.

Luxe Activewear Brands from Barre to Brunch

Go From Barre to Brunch with these Luxe Activewear Styles

Most people would say that the whole point of working out is to make sure you look good. But getting there involves hours of hard work, lots of perspiration and often a rather unglamorous outfit that creeps up in the wrong places.

Choosing the right workout gear is a very personal decision. Comfort is essential, of course, but there’s more to it than that. Your outfit should offer support in all the right places, allow your body to move freely, and be tough enough to maintain its form through months of frequent training sessions. There has been so much advancement in fabric recently. Most top brands have moisture-wicking technology to draw dampness away from your skin, keeping you cool and dry no matter how hard you train.

California based Superfit Hero believes that fitness is for every body, no matter what shape you’re currently in. Athletes (from size XS to 5XL) have tested and approved their ethically made range, making Superfit Hero the most inclusive premium activewear brand available. Yoga Pants with pockets (yes please!) and a new relaxed-fit Flow Tank Top are game changers.

Natural fibres such as cotton, merino, and bamboo are always popular but are making way for something new and more sustainable: synthetic fabrics. Now you can take your passion for fitness, coffee and sustainability to the next level with OORR’s high-performance range. Made from recycled plastic bottles and used coffee grounds, this super cool gear is fast drying, with permanent odour control. OORR (Out Of the Rat Race) launched their range of gym and cycling gear on Kickstarter just two years ago and now ship worldwide from Australia. As a bonus, a portion of their profits goes to support Velokhaya, a sporting organization assisting children in South Africa.

Another brand focussing on sustainable and eco-friendly fashion is prAna. With activewear styles designed to keep up with your on-the-go lifestyle, their cute yoga tops and pants are good looking enough to wear anytime. Throw on a jacket, and you could go from the office to gym to drinks with just a change of shoes.

For a broader range of fun, unique activewear head over to Lululemon. Bestsellers include tank tops, crop tops, tees, shorts, joggers and anything else you need to work out in style. Their now-famous Naked Sensation yoga pants lay flat against your skin for a distraction-free fit… if the feeling of being naked at the gym doesn’t distract you, that is!

Bonus – check out this wearable tech:

Nadi X smart yoga pants from Wearable X have sensors that provide haptic feedback to help you perfect your posture. Nadi X uses Bluetooth Low Energy to connect to your smartphone. The integrated app lets you choose between various workouts and includes audio guidance to make sure you’re making all the right moves.