I’m a little embarrassed to admit this, but I’m easily influenced. It doesn’t take much for me to jump on the bandwagon of the latest TikTok-viral thing. This mentality has led to some great finds, like my new favorite walking shoes from Rothy’s and my favorite drugstore mascara, but it’s also led to some not-so-great purchases, like that viral thermal brush that ripped out my hair (IYKYK. But a recent TikTok-made-me-do-it buy—the Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper—ranks among my all-time favorites.

As someone who works out at least five times a week, I’ve never struggled to keep a fitness routine. What I do struggle with is getting in movement the rest of the day. Some days, especially when I work from home, I'm glued to my desk chair for a solid eight hours. These are the days when I’ll look at my Oura Ring stats, see I’ve only hit 5,000 steps or so, and feel guilty. We’ve all heard that sitting is a “silent killer,” and it’s true: Too much sedentary time increases the risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and death, per the American Heart Association. So when I saw the Sunny Mini Stepper blow up on my FYP, a lightbulb went off in my head.

The Sunny Health & Fitness Mini Stepper is essentially a miniature StairMaster: you push the pedals up and down to simulate the same motion as climbing steps. You can also use a dial to change the resistance. But at just 16-by-12 inches and weighing in at 15 pounds, it's much more compact than a StairMaster, making it as easy as can be to move and store. It comes with removable resistance bands so you can get your whole body involved, plus an LED screen that tracks your steps, calories burned, and time spent working out.

I’ve had this stepper in my fitness arsenal for six months now, and I use it all the time. If I’m tempted to mindlessly scroll through TikTok, I’ll hop on my stepper. Finishing an episode of a TV show or a chapter on my Kindle Paperwhite? You can bet I’ll be stepping away. On particularly early mornings when I’m up before the sun, I’ll use my stepper to warm up before my workout. I’ll even pull it out when I need a quick boost of energy during long days of work.

It doesn't get my heart pumping like a HIIT workout, but this stepper does make me break a sweat in as little as 10 minutes. It has the intensity of an uphill walk, but I can dial it up a notch (literally) when the mood strikes, or go nice and easy when I’m not in the mood for a sweaty workout. Sometimes, I won’t even bother with workout clothes and sneakers—I’ll just get to stepping in whatever it is I have on that day. The stepper’s accessibility is what makes this a real game-changer in my eyes: its compact size means I can keep it under my bed and easily pull it out whenever I feel like it. While I can’t always go on a walk because of the weather or time of day, I can always use my stepper.

The one drawback? It does require balance. The pedals are wide enough to be stable, but it takes time to learn how to push them and to get comfortable with the machine’s movements. By now, I've had plenty of practice and can now play on my Nintendo Switch while stepping without losing my balance—but if your balance isn’t great, take your time and work your way up to multitasking. At $60, it's a relatively affordable purchase, and a no-brainer way to meet your movement goals.

On Her Morning Routine

"When my phone alarm rings at 6 a.m. from my kitchen counter, I pad over from my bedroom to grab my phone and lie back in my warm bed to start my day with my morning visualization and breathwork ritual. Feeling cozy while envisioning my best self and taking energizing breaths is my first act of balancing mindset work with self-compassion. The audio wakes me up gently, stops me from hitting snooze, and reminds me to find joy in all the little moments throughout the day, rooting me in gratitude and good energy. As the meditations wrap up, I convince myself to get out of bed. I cue up my favorite yoga teacher's morning playlist and start my skincare ritual. I keep it simple with three intentional products: an ayurvedic vitamin C serum, an eye gel, and sunscreen. Padding over to the kitchen with a freshly glazed face, I take my vitamins, make breakfast, and drink my first cup of coffee. At this point, I can see the sun rising over the turquoise blues of the Pacific, and I bring my food and coffee over to my dining nook to journal. I'm deeply passionate about the mindfulness practices that bookend my day, helping me stay organized for all the ways I want to show up across my life." — Rikhi Roy, Digital Creator

On Her Bodycare Routine

"Having a midday workout and shower ritual is a great way to reenergize and focus. I use The Honey Pot Prebiotic Wipes to wipe my face right after the gym. I love the refreshing feeling of wiping away impurities with just a few gentle swipes across my face. The convenience of these wipes makes my post-workout refresh seamless no matter where I am. When I get home, I use the Grapefruit Ylang Ylang Hydrating Herbal-Infused Body Cleanser and Prebiotic Foaming Wash. The body cleanser smells so good and energizing, and it's pH-balanced. Your skin feels really soft and nourished post-shower. It helps me feel reenergized to continue showing up purposefully for the rest of my day. The Prebiotic Foaming Wash's lather is airy and indulgent. Beyond how wonderful it feels, I adore that this dermatologist- and gynecologist-approved formula is crafted with intentional, prebiotic-infused care for my body's needs. It's a daily reminder to nurture myself inside and out." — Roy

On Her Wellness Journey

"My wellness journey began during my aerospace engineering studies and deepened in graduate school. It started with a simple meditation practice that became a beloved morning and evening ritual. Over time, I layered on journaling, life coaching, and therapy to learn how to thrive in academically challenging environments. This allowed me to speak at places like Yale, MIT, and NASA on the power of introspection for meaningful self-expression. Sharing my story as a bubbly engineer who loves fashion magazines and technical research alike taught me that vulnerability is a strength for deeper connections. Embracing my full self with humility and authenticity is an act of resilience for living a purpose-driven life. Today, my holistic wellness practices empower me to show up wholeheartedly as a content creator, podcaster, and engineer. I value intentional movement, financial wellness, and thoughtful bodycare rituals by using better-for-you products." — Roy

On Her Work-Life Balance

"I start work at 8 a.m. Showing up authentically with warmth and bubbliness in my aerospace engineering job has created profound shifts in my sense of self. Working remotely in an area I'm deeply passionate about means I get to work in my coziest or most fashion-forward outfits depending on how I'm feeling that day. I typically wear athleisure in the morning, get my steps in on my under-the-desk treadmill, head to the gym midday, and then change into cozy, elevated basics to work from my standing desk. Doing purpose-driven work in a field where I am underrepresented comes with unique challenges, and building joyful routines keeps me encouraged, motivated to 'pass it forward,' and make the most of the opportunities paved by those who have gone before me. I hope to inspire others to unapologetically create fulfilling lifestyles that integrate passion and purpose without burnout. After finishing work for the day, it's all about intentional social recalibration. My evenings are for self-nurturing through passion projects, volunteering, or quality TV alongside a delicious, nourishing bowl, candles, and sparkling water in a wine glass. I end my evenings journaling about my wins, gratitudes, and tomorrow's aspirations." — Roy

On Her 2024 Wellness Goals

"This year, my aim is to cultivate deep self-belief in areas where I've previously doubted myself. The key is consistency in action. I've been diligently committed to morning and evening facial skincare routines and using The Honey Pot's bodycare line midday. These intentional self-care habits have had a beautiful ripple effect, encouraging consistent sleep, balanced nutrition, regular movement, and a disciplined content-creation schedule. It's particularly meaningful to incorporate The Honey Pot because the brand's founder echoes the importance of vulnerability, balance, and reclaiming wellness. The brand's plant-derived products elevate my daily routines, and it represents collective wellness as the largest Black-founded brand at Target." — Roy

Shop More Favorites From The Honey Pot

I expected some heavy panting, but I didn't expect to experience a major development in the bond I have with my co-workers. Because I had the Merrell hiking shoes on, I knew it was the right choice in my journey uphill. I was also lucky enough to be accompanied by my work BFF and the leader of our team, Caitie Schlisserman, with whom I have worked side by side since 2015. Unplugging from our laptops and Slack messages opened up time for us to connect and talk about our journey together, one that's deeply rooted in mutual respect for one another and filled with a myriad of inside jokes. (Caitie, if you're reading this, all I'm going to say is, "Wall Street.") We met in our mid-20s and over the last decade have supported each other in developing our careers, getting married, buying homes, and starting families—we have a lot to be proud of in our relationship.

During the hike, we were prompted to think of our origin stories—where we come from, our core values, etc.—but I wanted to focus on the origin of our friendship and how it's developed over time. As Caitie locked arms with me to help me climb the proverbial mountain, I decided to ask her a few questions.

Nayiri Mampourian: I want to hear your perspective on our origin story. What do you remember about the first day we met, and how do you think that impacts our friendship today?

Caitie Schlisserman: I remember you turned to me while driving and said, "Where have you been all my life?" after realizing how much we had in common. At that moment, I knew our friendship would go far beyond the office. We've not only progressed in our careers together but also grown up together and supported each other through some of the most important moments of our lives. It's sisterhood at its finest.

NM: What do you think is the number-one ingredient for success in your female friendships, and how has it impacted our relationship?

CS: Emotional transparency. I think it's so important in female friendships to speak openly about how we feel without judgment. Because we're so close, we can be brutally honest with each other without damaging our relationship. There have been times when I've called you out because I felt you were getting in your own way, and it was emotional and upsetting in the moment but in the end made our bond closer.

NM: What's your favorite memory of us?

CS: Man, there are so many. But two weeks after you had Sophie, you came to meet me for lunch, and I was so impressed that you were brave enough to venture out on your own with a newborn. I remember thinking how much I wanted to be like you when I had kids of my own.

NM: How did this hike make you feel about taking time to connect with everyone?

CS: I know how important connection is, and nothing compares to connecting with people while being outside. It's refreshing and uplifting, and it's such a nice way to start the day.

As women, we're expected to wear many, many hats, but arguably, the most important one is the role we play with our best friends and the co-workers we create magic with. We have to support each other to continue this unstoppable sorority we're creating for generations after us. And for the record, I believe Caitie and I were put in each other's lives for a reason bigger than the two of us. When I asked her where she'd been all my life, I meant it.

Shop Our Shoes

Alfieri sat down with our editor-in-chief at Power Play 2024 to chat about The Honey Pot and the role that ambition plays in customer experience and product development. The company just launched an herbal-infused, hydrating body cleanser (it's currently in my cart), which is a huge win in a highly saturated market. "We're taking those core tenets from feminine care and understanding what matters for our consumers, such as better-for-you ingredients and a brand that is connected to them and launching into this category," she says. What Alfieri referred to as "an itty-bitty brand four years ago" has catapulted into a must-have brand that you can't ignore in the bodycare aisle. There's something really special about finding brands that are committed to creating wellness-first products and educating people about how to better care for themselves. I perused The Honey Pot site and managed to get distracted by the cute branding and funny wordplay, but I also found 15 products that I think will be game changers for you below.

Daily-Use Products

Sexual Wellness Products

Menstrual Products

Co-founders Alex Taylor and Victoria Thain Gioia found themselves asking similar questions during and after their pregnancies. Startled by the lack of research and regulation in the prenatal vitamin industry and its one-size-fits-all approach to women's prenatal nutrition, they teamed up to create their own supplement company, Perelel, to address the industry's many disparities.

Today, Perelel offers supplements and vitamin routines for women in many different stages of life, but it's not stopping there. The company has pledged $10 million to women's healthcare research to help close the research gap and provide more access to essential reproductive care.

I had no idea how critical this situation was until I heard Taylor and Gioia discussing it during their panel at Power Play in Los Angeles earlier this week. The statistics are, frankly, shocking.

"Women have been omitted from clinical trials from the late 1970s until the late '90s, and even as recently as a study in 2009. Women are still severely underrepresented in medical studies," Taylor said during the panel. "Most of what we know is based on trials done on white men."

Make it make sense—because it sure doesn't to me.

When Marie Claire editor-in-chief Nikki Ogunnaike asked the two women why they decided to take on this ambitious challenge, their answer was clear: "Women make up half the population, but we give birth to 100% of the future."

Women's healthcare is vital, and creating a product that meets a woman at every stage in her life is an obvious step in tackling the gender research gap if you ask me. But Perelel's commitment extends beyond supplements. The company has committed a portion of its pledge to the Magee-Women's Research Institute to further advance reproductive research, and it's partnered with the Good+Foundation to donate over $2.5 million worth of vitamins to women in underresourced communities.

I'm a mother to a daughter, the daughter of a woman who struggled through menopause, and a friend of so many incredible women who have dealt with fertility issues. I care deeply about the issues Gioia and Taylor discussed during their inspiring panel, but the research gap is something we all should strive to close. As the founders of Perelel said, "We give birth to 100% of the future."

ALO

Bandier

Beyond Yoga

Sweaty Betty

FP Movement

Vuori

Shop My Favorite Sneakers

It’s vital to remember that mental healthcare is healthcare, and there’s no shame in asking for help when you need it, whether that means talking to a loved one or seeking therapy. Being vulnerable can be extremely difficult, and the process of finding a therapist can often make it more difficult. But there are organizations out there working to make mental healthcare more accessible, most notably BetterHelp. With 32,000 licensed therapists, the health app has facilitated over 350 million therapy sessions and connected over four million people with therapists—all while creating an environment where people feel comfortable to speak freely about their mental health. 

If the thought of seeking therapy is scary and overwhelming to you, you aren’t alone—one in four Americans has reported symptoms of anxiety or depression. Luckily, BetterHelp’s top priority is to connect you with a therapist who will support your specific concerns, taking the burden of finding the right therapist off of your plate.  Right now, BetterHelp is offering Marie Claire readers 25% off their first month (up to $70 in savings). The process is super simple: Fill out a brief questionnaire in order to get matched with a licensed therapist in as little as 48 hours. The app is designed to work around your schedule, with a personalization portal that helps you schedule weekly live sessions with your therapist and log your progress. 

At Marie Claire, we believe that taking care of your mental health is the key to living a happy and healthy life, and a conversation with the right person is the best place to start. 

I have a deep-rooted hatred for working out—always have. I strongly dislike getting ready for a workout (it’s a whole production), I actively despise sweating (RIP blowout), and quite frankly, I feel just fine, albeit in need of a shower, after the fact. It’s always been a chore that I would gladly neglect for weeks or even months at a time. Sure, I went through a SoulCycle phase in college, and I credit Melissa Wood Health exclusively for my sanity during the height of the pandemic. But overall I’ve never really been a fitness devotee or stuck to any form of a regimen. I maintain a healthy diet and walk everywhere, but getting my heart rate up has quite frankly just happened when it's happened. Am I proud of that? Absolutely not, but I’m writing this under the premise that honesty is the best policy—so don’t judge.  

But we’re here because my outlook on working out changed. The question you’re asking: How? Why? Allow me to take you back in time. January 2023 to be exact. All of my friends decided to get on the New Year’s resolution bandwagon and hand over $89 a month for ClassPass, a platform that partners with workout classes and studios to offer subscribers a discounted monthly membership in their area. 

Personally, I thought they were going through a ~phase~ and I was willing to die on the hill that paying to exercise was, excuse my language, a load of crap. YouTube has videos! MWH is $10 a month! Go for a run! Still, their ~phase~ persisted. They went to classes together and discussed ad nauseam how they planned to allocate their 43 monthly credits. (The primary subscription offers 43 credits per month, with most of the coveted classes between seven to 14 credits.)

Eventually, I caved. Chalk it up to jealousy or the momentary dedication to get toned for summer, but I signed myself up for ClassPass. I could be cheesy and say that I never looked back. But in reality? I eased into it—one class a weekend. I went to BK Pilates with my friends on a random Saturday afternoon. I begged my ClassPass friends to accompany me to a Taylor Swift Reputation X Lover SoulCycle ride (Eras Tour, here I come). I  somehow even let my old college roommate swindle me into doing a dance cardio class. For the record: I have negative rhythm and/or coordination. I reached a point where doing a class was more of a social interaction than an actual workout. 

As time went on, I found myself scrolling through the depths of the ClassPass app—exploring niche offerings. To my surprise, I was able to book massages (shout out Body Roll Studio), could get a manicure at Glosslab (just four credits, you guys!), or even book a personal training session. The opportunities? Endless. I slowly but surely got more daring with my selections. A solo Sunday evening acupuncture became my weekly reset ritual. I went rogue and signed myself up for whole body cryotherapy, aka standing in a freezing cold chamber. I embraced the credit allotment game.

I also decided to sign up for a boxing-meets-self-defense class. I took karate for years when I was younger (green belt at your service), and have always regretted giving it up. My flying front kick is by no means what it used to be, but something about exercising that skill, that once upon a time I loved so much, allowed a flip to switch in my head. I realized that these classes, treatments, whatever they may be, were actually just time set aside for me, myself, and I. They weren’t related to work, weren't social obligations I secretly dreaded, and, perhaps most notably, they doubled as a nice 45-minute slot of phone-free time. 

It was at this point that I started viewing my subscription differently. Putting time on my calendar for a class is now my top priority for the week—I schedule my life around it. It doesn't matter if I’m breaking a sweat or laying down like a bum during a massage, ClassPass has become my built-in excuse to just take a beat and a breather from everyday life. It’s become my back-to-center, pressure-free, me time. I’ve circled back on old hobbies, seen my friends more on weekdays than I ever thought possible, and, from a more literal perspective, am stronger than I’ve been in a long time. I'm able to approach my other responsibilities with a clearer head and am more thoughtful in how I spend my time. But most importantly, I no longer look at working out as a chore. I’ve actually come to cherish the time I dedicate to exercise—even if it messes with my hair washing schedule. 

Call me a cliché, but every year, come January, I get reignited to work on my health. Sure, maybe I fall into the wellness-kick marketing trap that every retailer puts out in the new year, but nonetheless, I always take the time to consider my goals for the year and what it would take to achieve them.

It was during this period of reflection that I realized something wasn’t clicking with what I was doing health-wise. So I got sucked into an internet rabbit hole, researching all the latest health supplements, gadgets, and programs, before I eventually discovered the Oura Ring. But before I get into my review of the small, but mighty health tracker, let me take you through exactly what led to my discovery. 

I’d like to think that on paper, I’m a pretty healthy girl. I work out every morning to get my day started, I drink lots of water, and I try to get away from my desk every once in a while. Plus, I eat most meals at home and tend to get in at least 8,000 steps a day. But even with these habits, I still wasn’t feeling healthy. Some days, I felt ready to take on the day during the morning hours, but was dozing off at my desk by 3 p.m. Other days, I felt so sore and groggy that just getting out of bed was a struggle. All in all, I knew something was keeping me from feeling like my best self. Maybe I wasn’t getting enough sleep, or maybe I wasn’t letting my body recover from the gym. Whatever the case, I was on a mission to find out. 

After doing some digging, I came across a ring seen on the likes of Kim Kardashian, Jennifer Aniston, and Gwyneth Paltrow that wasn’t just any ol' piece of jewelry—it was actually a fitness tracker called the Oura Ring, which prides itself on its accuracy. Built with tiny sensors and accompanied by an app, this ring measures different health metrics, from resting heart rate to body temperature and more, to provide you with a set of three daily scores: sleep, activity, and readiness. Over time, the ring starts to learn your body and its patterns and provides actionable advice on how to improve your health. I thought that this little gadget might finally reveal the missing link to reaching my goals, so I had to test it out for myself. 

Well, after a little over a month of wearing the ring day in and day out, I can definitely say I’ve learned a lot about my body. 

Let me first go into the ring’s sleep function: I thought I was OK in the sleep department. I average just under seven hours of shut-eye a night, which, compared to some of my friends, is fantastic. However, according to the Oura Ring, I wasn’t getting enough sleep to recover from my workouts. It then set a bedtime frame for my optimal amount of sleep, taking into consideration my average wake-up time. Lo and behold, on days when I'm able to fall asleep during Oura's suggested time frame, I wake up feeling like a million bucks and stay alert throughout the day. No joke. 

Another aspect of the Oura Ring that's changed my lifestyle is the gadget's readiness score. Every day you wear your ring, it provides you with a score, scaling from one to 100, that reveals how “ready” you are to take on the day, based on the activity and sleep you logged the day before. I ignored this score one fateful day, and, let me tell you, I’ll never do it again. I'd woken up feeling a bit tired, but thought, nothing out of the ordinary—then saw that I had a readiness score in the forties. Did I let that deter me from my morning workout? Of course not! Flash forward an hour later, and I found myself struggling to finish my workout because my body felt so achy and congested. As it turns out, I'd spent the previous night tossing and turning in bed. My body had come down with a cold, but I hadn't realized it yet. I was amazed that this ring knew me better than I knew myself, and now I check my readiness score each day as though it were the morning news.

The third aspect of the Oura Ring that stands out is its activity meter. While I find it has the tendency to over-inflate the number of steps I take, I love Oura’s activity notifications. I’ve heard that sitting still is the new smoking, and working a desk job for eight hours a day means that I’m doing a lot of it. Oura reminds me to move when I’ve been sitting for an especially long time, and these little nudges always manage to get me out of my chair. 

Plus, the Oura Ring provides so much more than just those three features. The ring also unlocks access to an in-app library of guided meditations for sleep and relaxation, plus tons of guides on various health topics, all of which make for quick, interesting reads. And for a monthly subscription of $5.99, you can access even more content, including in-depth features like sleep charts and period prediction. Given that $5.99 is the price of most people’s coffee order, I'd say it's pretty worthwhile.

As far as fitness trackers go, the ring is also a huge winner in terms of style. I’m not a big ring girl, but I do wear my grandmother’s gold wedding rings every day, and I’m pleasantly surprised by how well the Gold Horizon style fits in. Worn on my index finger, it looks like a statement piece, and is so much more chic than those bulky fitness trackers that instantly kill outfits.

Of course, the Oura Ring is by no means the end-all-be-all to solving your health woes. But it does make you more conscious of your body’s natural patterns. After some wear, you’ll learn when to go to bed, when to take it easy, and when to get up and move—all of which help you feel your best. I myself have learned all of these things from the Oura ring, and while I don’t feel 100 percent every single day, I definitely feel like it more often than I used to. Nowadays, you can catch me checking the Oura app every morning to see how ready I am for the day. Plus, you'll always be able to spot me by the smooth gold ring on my finger. 

Right now at Lululemon, you can get up to 60 percent off old favorites, new must-haves, cool color-blocked pieces, and celebrity favorites (ever wanted to match with Olivia Wilde or Chrissy Teigen?). Race you to the treadmill.

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