National Geographic | Our product picks of the week

National Geographic

MAKE THIS THE SUMMER OF SELF

There isn't a whole lot in this world that we can control, but one thing all of us can and should do is take care of ourselves. This summer, explore all of the science-backed ways you can take care of both your mind and body—and take a look below at some of the products our writers and editors have recommended to help you along the way.

By clicking on the featured links, visitors will leave NationalGeographic.com and be directed to third-party e-commerce sites that operate under different terms and privacy policies. As a participant in multiple affiliate marketing programs, National Geographic will earn a commission for certain purchases. See full disclaimer below.*

FOR ACHES AND PAINS

After a long day, a good foot massager to provide some rolling, kneading, vibration, and heat is the ultimate luxury. Just make sure to consult your doctor first, especially if you have preexisting conditions.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Cloud Massage Shiatsu Foot Massager with Heat

Compression, rolling, vibration, heat, and swaying—this massager has it all. You can play around with multiple levels of intensity and heat—and it can get intense—or you can use the remote with its preset programs. It’s also adjustable, allowing you to reposition it to massage your ankles and calves.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

FIT KING Leg Air Massager

We love that these air compression boots are foldable and can easily be tucked away in a closet or under your bed. They target your entire lower leg with strategically placed airbags and chambers along your toes, soles, heels, ankles, and calves, and you can choose from two massage modes and three levels of intensity for a customized experience.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Theraflow Foot Massager for Plantar Fasciitis Relief

Sometimes, a little manual massage is all you need. This wooden foot roller—which is much more affordable than the electric options—has four rows of acupressure nubs to help knead away tension and improve circulation. There's even a fifth row of raised reflexology ridges to target plantar fasciitis pain.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

TheraGun Mini Handheld Electric Massage Gun

TheraGun has several pricier, more elaborate options—like this TheraGun Pro Deep Tissue Massage Gun—but its mini massager packs a lot of power in a tiny package. It’s compact and light, with three attachments, and there’s also an app with a step-by-step guide showing routines for warming up and workout recovery, and to help with conditions like sciatica.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

ProsourceFit Acupressure Mat and Pillow Set

Want to try something new to reduce your stress? The makers of this mat say it helps relieve pain and muscle tension after laying on the mat for 10 to 30 minutes. It comes in two sizes: large and extra large. The large mat has 8,910 acupressure points, and the extra large mat has 11,178 acupressure points. The pillow comes standard with 1,782 acupressure points.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

COMFIER Shiatsu Neck Back Massager with Heat

This chair pad is on our holiday wish list. It targets your neck, shoulders, back, and thighs, providing rolling, kneading, compression, vibration, and heat at multiple intensity settings. And did we mention that its rollers can slide along your entire back or be set to target specific areas? It’s also offered with several different bundles that include hand and calf massagers.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

FOR YOUR SKIN

LED light therapy and ice facials are both super trendy right now, promising everything from anti-aging benefits to wound-healing capabilities—but do they actually work? The short answer is yes, with some caveats that you can read all about here and here.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Dr. Dennis Gross DRx SpectraLite FaceWare Pro

Our health team writes that blue light therapy has been shown to help treat acne and reduce inflammation, while red and near-infrared light can stimulate collagen production and reduce wrinkles and brown spots. This popular face mask was actually designed by a dermatologist, and includes a combination of both red and blue light.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Wand

For a much more affordable option, this rechargeable wand provides red light therapy and, with its rotating head, can be used to target specific areas like your neck or forehead. Reviewers say its simple design is lightweight and easy to adjust to reach areas like smile lines.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

ESARORA Ice Roller for Face & Eye

People who swear by ice facials say they reduce wrinkles, fine lines, and under-eye swelling. We asked the experts, who said that ice therapy may actually help reduce pain and swelling, and even brighten up your skin—but they caution that you should not place ice directly on your skin. Enter an ice roller like this one, which reviewers say reduces puffiness and provides pain relief from heat exposure and skin conditions like rosacea.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

TDHDIKE Silicone Body Scrubber Loofah

Traditional loofah sponges can become filled with bacteria—E. coli and staph, for a start—which get into all of those little nooks and crannies. We love this silicone alternative, which doesn’t absorb water and dries quickly. It has one soft bristled side for bathing and exfoliation, and nubs on the other side that you can use for a nice scalp massage. Bonus: Reviewers say it holds on to soap well, and they find themselves using less of it.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Korean Exfoliating Mitt

If you like to go hard-core on your exfoliating, try these washcloths that you wear like mittens. You will rub off dead skin you probably didn’t even know you had, according to one reviewer. But while there is truly nothing like the feel of freshly scrubbed skin, these cloths take some getting used to—so if you’re a first-timer, be gentle. At $8.99 for a six-pack, though, it’s not a huge investment to try them out.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Amopé Pedi Perfect Electric Callus Remover Foot File

Speaking of exfoliation, summertime means sandals (or going barefoot, if that's what you're into). With 17,000 five-star reviews (“a pumice stone on steroids”), this battery-operated callus remover and foot file has a spinning roller head and safety stop designed to keep you from getting too carried away.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Baby Foot Original Exfoliation Foot Peel

This foot peel has about 50,000 reviews on Amazon—with nearly 34,000 five-star ratings. Simply slip on the booties, leave them on for an hour, wash, and wait for the skin—layers and layers of it, apparently—to peel off. One caution: Looking at the before, during, and after photos from satisfied reviewers might require a strong stomach.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

FOR YOUR SLEEP

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY OURA

It's hard to pamper yourself if you're not getting enough sleep. Worn on your finger like a traditional ring, this sleep tracker can help get you on track, gathering data like quantity and quality of sleep, plus blood oxygen rate, heart rate variability, and body temperature. The Oura also combines health data into three daily “scores,” which makes it easy to compare your sleep quality from day to day.

BUY NOW AT OURA

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

Manta Sleep Mask

We’ve recommended this adjustable sleep mask more than once for lots of reasons: Its modular covers and deep cups provide gentle, pressure-free coverage over your eyes. Its premium materials like soft, breathable cotton contribute to its luxurious feel. And most importantly, its snug fit prevents even a little light from entering the sides of the mask—a must if you actually want to get some shut-eye.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

FOR YOUR COMFORT

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY AMAZON

PrettyGarden Women's Tie-Dye 2-Piece Tracksuit

Nothing says self-care like great loungewear. This bestselling wrinkle-resistant set has a crew neckline and relaxed fit with dropped shoulders for a cool look that's not too slouchy. The bottoms have a drawstring to allow you to adjust the fit, as well as wide legs with elastic hemlines to ensure maximum comfort whether you're sitting, walking, or running. And yes, there are pockets.

BUY NOW AT AMAZON

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY UNBOUND MERINO

Unbound Merino Men's Travel Pants + T‑Shirt Bundle

Everyone needs a good T-shirt and a pair of well-tailored pants. Both of these are made from wool, a naturally wrinkle-free fabric. In addition to being hypoallergenic, the sustainable material is also known for its breathability, and to clean it you can just throw it in the washing machine. You can choose between two neckline styles for the T-shirt—crew or V-neck, and two inseam lengths for the pants.

BUY NOW AT UNBOUND MERINO

READ MORE ON SELF-CARE

PHOTOGRAPH BY ZACHARY KRAHMER, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

9 simple ways to boost your mental health

SCIENCE-BACKED TIPS

PHOTOGRAPH BY MATTHIEU PALEY, NAT GEO IMAGE COLLECTION

Why being in love is so important for your health

THE SCIENCE OF LOVE

ILLUSTRATION BY DAVID PLUNKERT-COMMISSIONED BY GRAPHICS DEPARTMENT

Here are the 6 indicators of good health

HOW DO YOU THINK YOU STACK UP?

PHOTOGRAPH BY FASCINADORA / SHUTTERSTOCK

Which foods can help you fight off everyday stress?

THE RIGHT MIX OF NUTRIENTS

How to clean a washing machine, step by step

Tired of cleaning the litter box? Get your cat a self-cleaning one

Don't leave for the beach without these essentials

The best mosquito repellents, from sprays to lotions

Smelly shoes? Here’s how to fix the problem—and save your shoes

*Although we are sharing our personal opinions of these experiences or products with you, National Geographic is not endorsing these experiences or products on behalf of anyone. It has not performed product safety testing on any of these products, did not manufacture them, and is not selling, or distributing them and is not making any representations about the safety or caliber of these products or experiences for individual consumers. Prices and availability are subject to change from the date of publication.

Clicking on the Facebook, Instagram, and National Geographic Channel links will take you away from our National Geographic Partners site where different terms of use and privacy policy apply.

This email was sent to: [email protected]. Please do not reply to this email as this address is not monitored.

This email contains an advertisement from:
National Geographic | 1145 17th Street, N.W. | Washington, D.C. 20036

Stop all types of future commercial email from National Geographic regarding its products, services, or experiences.

Manage all email preferences with the Walt Disney Family of Companies.

© 2024 National Geographic Partners, LLC, All rights reserved.