Hilary Swank is fighting for change.

JUNE 23, 2026

INSIDE: Prime Day Beauty, Hot Fitness, and Transparency.

TODAY I WILL:

Let myself be a beginner at something.

Today, we’re regrettably informing the group chat that mosquitoes are integral to the environment.

• So, your relationship can make you ill.

• Resilient women have these habits.

• Paying tribute to a music industry great.

• Turns out we do need mosquitoes.

• A match made in… newsletters?

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Amazon Prime Day has officially entered its beauty era. While the sale is packed with deals on everything from vacuums to air fryers, some of the best discounts are hiding in the skincare, haircare, and makeup aisles. Whether you're restocking products you already love or finally trying that viral item sitting in your cart, now is a good time to save a little money on the beauty routine you're already doing.

Skin Saviors: Your nightly wind-down just got an upgrade. The Peter Thomas Roth Firmx Collagen Face and Eye Patches are nearly half off at $39 (down from $76), and the Medicube Zero Pore Toner Pads dropped to $19. If you want one splurge that's worth it, Charlotte Tilbury Magic Cream has fans calling it a face-lift in a jar at $69. Dermatologists also rate the Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair retinol moisturizer for beginners, and it's down to $25.

Hair Goals: Bouncy blowout season is officially open. The OGX Extra-Penetrating Hair Oil, which is just $8, and the cult-favorite Mielle Rosemary Mint Scalp Oil are down to $9 for stronger, longer strands. Want to skip a wash? The K18 AirWash dry shampoo is lowkey a game changer. And keep an eye on the Dyson Supersonic dryer at $399 in case it dips lower this week.

Makeup Musts: This is where the steals get unreal. The L'Oréal True Match Lumi Glotion that celebs love is $14, and the Maybelline Lash Sensational Sky High mascara that shoppers swear never clumps is $11. For your pout, grab the Charlotte Tilbury Lip Cheat liner or the viral Sacheu peel-off lip stain at $14.

Hygiene Heroes: The not-so-glam basics are quietly some of the best buys. The Lumineux Teeth Whitening Strips are enamel-safe with zero zing, marked down to $70, and they're a writer favorite for erasing coffee stains. Restock your shower with the Gillette Venus Sensitive Disposable Razors at $10.98 (down from $13.49), then lock in the Native Deodorant for 72 hours of aluminum-free odor control at $9.79.

Carrying Forward 

If your TikTok feed has suddenly become a parade of women strolling around with weighted backpacks, you're not imagining it. The fitness trend, rucking, is quickly becoming one of the most approachable ways to build strength, endurance, and resilience without setting foot in a gym.

For the uninitiated, rucking is basically walking with weight on your back. The concept originated in military conditioning, where soldiers complete long marches carrying loaded packs. But today’s version is far more accessible. We turned to Emily McCarthy, founder of GORUCK and former CIA operative, to get the inside scoop. 

“Many people see it as a simple, low-barrier workout,” explained Emily. “You walk as you normally would, but add weight to increase the challenge and the strength and cardio benefits.”

And that's exactly why it's striking a chord right now. At a time when many women are moving away from all-or-nothing fitness routines, rucking offers something refreshingly simple. 

“Women are looking for fitness that fits into real life, not something that requires hours in the gym or a complicated routine,” said Emily. “Rucking is simple, effective and empowering because it builds strength while doing something most of us already do: walk.”

Unlike traditional strength training, which can feel intimidating for beginners, rucking has an unusually low barrier to entry. There's no learning curve, expensive membership, or elaborate equipment list.

“Rucking meets people where they are,” said Emily. “You don't need to be an athlete to get started—you simply add a little weight to a walk and progress at your own pace. It's low impact, scalable, and accessible to almost anyone, regardless of fitness level.”

The benefits extend far beyond a higher step count. Because you're carrying additional weight, your body recruits more muscles throughout the workout, particularly through the core, back, and posterior chain. Emily noted that rucking consistently can also improve posture, bone density, cardiovascular fitness, and overall functional strength—all while being gentler on the joints than many high-impact workouts.

“When fitness feels simple and achievable, people are much more likely to stick with it long term,” McCarthy says.

Want to Try It? Emily’s advice for beginners is straightforward:

• Grab a sturdy backpack.

• Add 10–20 pounds.

• Go for a 1–2 mile walk once or twice this week.

• Aim for a steady pace of about 15–20 minutes per mile.

• Gradually increase distance or weight over time, keeping increases to roughly 10% or less per week.

You may know Hilary Swank as the two-time Academy Award-winning actress behind iconic roles in Million Dollar Baby and Freedom Writers—or, if you're anything like us, from one of our all-time favorites, P.S. I Love You. But beyond the screen, Hilary has spent years using her platform to champion causes she believes in.

Whether advocating for animal rescue, LGBTQ+ rights, healthcare equality, or maternal and child health, she's long understood that meaningful change starts with speaking up.

Today, that advocacy is focused on a cause close to home. As a mother of twins and Chief Innovation Officer at HealthyBaby, Hilary has become a leading voice in the push for greater transparency in products designed for babies and parents. After supporting California's successful SB 646, which requires testing and disclosure of heavy metals in prenatal vitamins, she's now lobbying for AB 1901, a bill that would require diaper manufacturers to disclose intentionally added ingredients on packaging and online.

We sat down with her to discuss what she's learned through her advocacy work and why transparency matters.

How did having twins shift your perspective on the products you bring into your home?

Becoming a mom to twins changed everything for me. Suddenly, every product that touched their skin, went into their bodies, or lived in our home felt worthy of a closer look. The more I researched, the more I realized how much the products babies encounter every day can impact their long-term health. Parents place a lot of trust in brands that are often not fully transparent about ingredients or as diligent as they should be about safety and testing. 

Was there a specific moment that made you realize ingredient transparency in baby products was an issue that deserved more attention?

During my pregnancy, I did what many parents do: I started researching everything. Like most people, I assumed that if a product was being marketed to parents and babies, the ingredients would be easy to find, understand, and that they would be healthy. That’s the only way to make an informed decision, right? But I kept running into gaps, and it blew my mind.

I went on a mission to find the safest products for my twins. That’s how I discovered HealthyBaby and its founder, Shazi Visram, who has a proven track record of bringing higher safety and transparency standards to babycare. 

What have you learned about the policymaking process through your work on SB 646 and now AB 1901?

I've learned that meaningful change requires persistence and collaboration. Change happens when parents, scientists, advocates, policymakers, and businesses come together around a common goal. Through my work with HealthyBaby and the Environmental Working Group, I've seen firsthand how powerful that kind of collaboration can be. Together, we've advocated for heavy metal testing and disclosure in prenatal vitamins and greater ingredient transparency in diapers. HealthyBaby has been doing both of these things for years. When legislation passes, it requires all the other brands to catch up and meet that higher standard. It’s a win for families.

What would you say to anyone who feels overwhelmed trying to make informed choices in a marketplace with so many claims and labels?

I completely understand that feeling. My advice is to focus on progress, not perfection. Ask questions, look for brands that are willing to be open about what's in their products and how they're made, and remember that every informed choice matters. Parents shouldn't have to become experts; they just deserve access to information they can trust.

What misconceptions do you think people have about the regulation of products in the U.S.?

I think many people assume that if a product’s on a store shelf, information about its ingredients and materials must be readily available. However, regulations can vary significantly across categories. Disclosure requirements don't always keep pace with what parents and consumers expect or deserve. 

Advocacy work can be time-consuming and emotionally demanding. What keeps you motivated when change can sometimes feel slow?

I think about my twins and all the parents out there who want clear information so they can make the best decisions for the people they love. Once you learn that there are gaps in transparency around products used by babies and children, it's hard to ignore. You can't unlearn it. Working with advocates, scientists, and companies like HealthyBaby has shown me that progress is possible. Change doesn't happen overnight, but every step forward can make a real difference for future generations.

What's a small change parents can make today to feel more informed and empowered?

Start by asking one more question than you did yesterday. Whether it's reading a label more closely, looking for ingredient disclosures, or reaching out to a company directly, curiosity is powerful. Parents shouldn't have to be experts in everything, but all of us deserve access to the information that helps us make informed decisions and feel confident in the choices we make for our families.

EYEING: These everyday jeans, these heeled jelly sandals, and this crossbody bag.