Beauty & Fitness

Cassidy stays fit with help from "Sworkit"
Last year, while I was in college, my friends and I searched for a workout that would get us sweating but also wouldn't get boring. We stumbled upon the fitness app "Sworkit" and found a workout that challenged us and had enough variety that it never felt monotonous.

I am trying to get in the best shape I can for my wedding next year, and "Sworkit" is still my go to workout. It is a free app that you can download right to your phone. You don't need any equipment either, and can set this app right up in your living room. For this recent graduate, a gym membership is a little pricey, so "Sworkit" is a perfect way to save some cash.

The app has workouts that focus on cardio, strength training and even has yoga and stretching tutorials. Only have 5 minutes? That's fine! You can pick the length of workout that works for you starting at 5 minutes all the way to a full hour.

There are options for all levels of fitness too, which was really good for me when I was getting started. The tutorials are clear and easy to follow and there are built in breaks so you can make sure to stay hydrated throughout.

Leslie says blondes have more fun
When I first started to go gray, I decided to try and embrace it. I kept my hair gray for a couple of years. After a while, I had to face it, I looked old. I didn't feel old, so I opted for a new look.

Now, I combat my gray by bleaching it out. I am a blonde and I love it. I am a loyal user of ion products from Sally Beauty Supply to keep my hair looking great. I also had some fun with color. I have had pink streaks, blue streaks, and even pink and blue all at once. Ion colors are great for that too.

All of that color can be damaging, so I use coconut oil to keep my hair looking healthy and feeling soft.

READ MORE: Want more beauty and fitness tips?

Does your husband have dry skin? Matt doesn't, thanks to Neutrogena
I don't use a lot of hygiene products besides shampoo and deodorant, but my wife started buying me Neutrogena oil-free, moisturizing lotion to put on my face after the shower. My skin tends to get really dry, and this lotion does the trick.

I use it every morning as part of my routine, and it makes my skin feel soft and smooth without making it feel oily.Neutrogena also makes a version with sun-screen, which I use if I plan to spend a lot of time outdoors.

Terrie buys lipstick when she feels down
Do you ever feel like you are out of sync with the world? I do at least once a month.

My solution is simple...buy a new lipstick! Sephora lets me 'try until I buy' so I am in seventh heaven.

If you visit any of the make-up counters with 'try-me' samples, you will recognize me right away. I am the one with 10 lipstick colors spread across my hand.

My absolute favorite is CoverGirl 365, Enchantress Blush. If you are into bright pinks, you will love this color. It goes on smoothly, stays on for quite a while and doesn't bleed. The best part is the price: Target has it for $5.99. And you can often find coupons for $4.00 off two lipsticks. How can you resist?

Urban Decay offers the wildest colors that stay true. I love their purples, and I am especially fond of their metallic brown called Conspiracy. Ulta and Sephora carry the brand at $17.00.

READ MORE: More me time...just for women!

Christy keeps her hair healthy with a homemade mask
My favorite way to make my hair look and feel great is with a homemade cool cucumber and lemon water detox. I will rinse my hair with this mixture every day for a week.

Once a week, I use a homemade mask for extra volume and shine. I start by blending an avocado and an egg in a blender until it forms a lump free paste. I apply this mask to wet hair while I am taking my morning shower. Make sure to rinse your hair thoroughly with cold water (hot water will cook the egg) getting all traces of the mask out. After I have rinsed my hair a few times, I shampoo my hair like I normally would.

A trick I use to keep my hair soft and split ends at bay, is to add just a drop of coconut oil to my ends before I blow dry my hair in the morning.

Brittany maintains a healthy mind and body through yoga
For two years now, yoga has been my go-to "Me Time" activity. In addition to improving my balance, posture and strength, yoga has helped me focus, relax and develop body awareness.

The best thing about yoga is that there's a style for every preference. If you want a relaxed, stress-relieving session, Hatha yoga is a great place to start. Wellness Springs in Highland Mills offers a great beginner's class, Gentle Yoga, on Tuesdays. Drop in for just $15.
Wellness-Springs.com

If you really want to sweat and push yourself physically and mentally, Bikram yoga (also known as Hot Yoga) is where it's at. My favorite local Hot Yoga spot is Alma Yoga in Newburgh. Drop in for a Sweat Your Soul class for $16. AlmaYogaNY.com

Yoga is absolutely amazing, but there is one nasty, germ-ridden detail that often gets overlooked- yoga mats. Think about it, once yoga class is over, what's the first thing you do? You roll up your mat, quickly attach your sling and walk our of class feeling lighter, happier and totally blissed out. Sounds amazing, sounds invigorating, sounds...germ infested!

When you roll up your mat after class, you're not just rolling up your mat. You're also rolling up all the germs and dirt from the floor beneath you. All those germs marinate and reproduce on your mat until it's unrolled and used during your next class. That means all those marinated germs are now being transferred to your body. Gross!

READ MORE: Yoga poses for new moms

The solution to keeping yoga mat germs at bay is simple- spray and wipe down both sides of your mat after each class. There are several yoga mat cleaning sprays out there on the market, but if you're anything like me, you're cheap and hate the idea of using harsh cleaning chemicals. Never fear though, you can still wipe out germs by making your own natural yoga mat spray with just 4 ingredients.

Combine 3 ounces of distilled water with 2 drops of Tea Tree essential oil, 1 drop of lavender essential oil  and 1 ounce of white vinegar. Pour into a 4 ounce spray bottle and shake before spraying your mat.