How to Have a Better Run, a High-Desert Getaway, and Backyard Living: What goop Staffers Are Talking about This
Month
In partnership with our friends at Red Clay Hot Sauce
At goop, we’re always looking for perfect gifts to buy, great places to eat, and under-the-radar brands to shop. So
when it comes to what’s new or the cool and obscure, we often turn to our coworkers for their advice and brilliant
recommendations. Each month, we share the fifteen best things the goop team is currently obsessing over, including
the books we’re reading, the films we’re watching, and the voices we’re listening to.
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1
HOT HOT HEAT
“With all of this time at home, I’ve been cooking a lot more. I am typically condiment-averse,
but I am obsessed with South Carolina’s Red Clay Hot Sauce (and the Hot Honey). As a native Charlestonian, I
try to support local businesses as much as possible, and this brand is one of my favorites. Red Clay is a
staple in my pantry; I put it on and in everything (kale, tater tots, and cocktails to name a few) to spice
things up. Pro tip: Swap the vodka for bourbon in your next Bloody Mary (to make it a Bloody Marianne) and add
a shake or two of Red Clay Hot Sauce—you won’t be disappointed.” —Molly Kalinsky, senior
manager, brand partnerships and marketing
RED CLAY HOT SAUCE,
from $9 (take 25 percent off with code GOOP25)
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2
RUN WITH IT
“Until recently, I tucked running into the same category as the ProLon cleanse, contributing to
my 401(k), and going to the dentist—a wholesome, mildly torturous activity worth enduring for its positive
results. But this year, with group cardio options like boxing and dance off the table, I pledged to become the
kind of passionate runner who jogs when it’s cold out and uses the term ‘runner’s high.’ The journey got off
to a shaky start, motivation-wise. Playlists and nice weather helped, but the game changer was when a friend
introduced me to Offfield. It’s a nonpsychoactive blend of the cannabinoids CBD and CBG—plus
L-theanine, vitamin B12, magnesium, and zinc—that you mix with water and drink before you head out to break a
sweat. For me, Offfield keeps my mind off my calves and in the moment. It’s helped me build mental endurance
and break the excited-miserable-defeated cycle that used to haunt my routine and keep running from becoming a
true habit. And with the increased relaxation (dare I say enjoyment?), the elusive runner’s high is that much
easier to achieve.” —Sarah Carr, associate editor
ENHANCED HYDRATION,
Offfield, $45 for a pack of twelve
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3
FIBER OPTICS
“I’m always wary of greenwashing when it comes to sustainability, especially with fashion.
Because there are no regulations in the industry, anyone can make a claim to be helping the planet with zero
accountability. That’s why I’m taking the New Standard Institute Master Class with Maxine Bédat. It’s a forty-five-minute class plus a
fifteen-minute Q&A detailing all the major points of impact your cute new dress went through, from fibers to
textiles to garment and, ultimately, disposal. The class is for citizens, brands of any size, businesses,
media: anyone who wants cold, hard data on how to make choices that will truly move the needle on transforming
the fashion industry into an environmental powerhouse.” —Andrea Arria-Devoe, contributing editor
NEW STANDARD INSTITUTE: MASTER CLASS, free
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4
FUTURE CONSCIOUSNESS
“Your toothbrush, those disposable razor heads, and all the cleaning solution spray bottles
accumulating under your kitchen sink…it’s truly wild to think about how much plastic we use on the regular and
then, of course, all the packaging involved with our food. Alexis Ren and Vanessa Black over at Future
Prosperity—a team of badass women making conscious consumption cool—are looking to change that. I’m obsessed
with their kits of low-waste essentials, which are packed with reusable everyday kitchen or bath products that
are as pretty as they are planet-friendly. And they offer up game-changing tips for keeping your old waste out
of landfills whenever you do decide to ditch the plastic for good.” —Alyssa Nelsen Geiger, senior creative copywriter
BATHROOM AND KITCHEN KITS,
Future Prosperity, $99
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5
DESERT DIGS
“Last month my girlfriend and I had a serious case of cabin fever and desperately needed to get
out of town. Luckily, earlier this year, Johanna Peet, the founder of the skin-care line Peet Rivko, tipped me off to
Cuyama Buckhorn, a renovated inn and restaurant in Santa Barbara County. We packed up the dog and headed north
and enjoyed a wonderful little getaway in what’s called the Hidden Valley of Enchantment. The trip checked all
the boxes: reasonable driving distance from LA, scenic landscape, and delicious socially distanced meals
delivered to our room.” —Ivy Benavente, senior buyer, beauty and wellness
CUYAMA BUCKHORN,
rooms from $199 a night
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6
VINO’S CIRCLE
“Just about anyone—whether you’re a full-on wine nerd or a dedicated bon vivant, or you’re
looking for a gift—will appreciate this monthly wine box program from one of Brooklyn’s coolest, most
respected wine shops. Leon & Son focuses on certified-organic and biodynamic vineyards, under-the-radar
discoveries, and above all, delicious wine. It offers delivery in Brooklyn and other parts of New York for the
entire shop, but the nationally delivered monthly box is incredible. Each month, you get three handpicked
bottles of wine and a cheat sheet with all the details—type of grapes, tasting notes, suggested meal pairings,
similar wines—that make tastings (and remembering your favorites!) foolproof. Plus, you get a cute wine tote.
It’s something I look forward to every month—a feeling we all could use a little more of right now.” —Brianna
Peters, assistant beauty editor
Photo courtesy of Jonathan Hokklo
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7
HAIRCUT HOUSECALLS
“Sitting in a salon right now might not sound like the safest, but neither does cutting your own
hair. But after seven months, dealing with my scraggly ends felt pretty essential. So when I found out
LA-based hairstylist Garrett Markenson was taking his show on the road, I immediately booked a house call.
(goop carries his clean hair-care line, Reverie, in the shop, and I swear by his leave-in conditioning milk
for giving my fine, curly hair the best air-dried texture ever.) Before the appointment, we chatted direction;
I sent through a few inspiration pics, as well as what my hair currently looked like. On my patio, we
both wore masks, while he sterilized his tools in a portable UVC LED box and I propped up a small mirror. He
convinced me to go a bit shorter, and not only will this buy me a few more miles before my next trim but the
shape looks and feels fresher than ever. (He knows his way with curly hair.) While getting a haircut in your
front yard is admittedly weird, sitting and talking with someone while they trim your hair—and ultimately hack
away some dead weight—is still one of the most feel-good experiences, and I hadn’t felt it in way too long.”
—Simone Kitchens, senior features editor
Reverie Milk Anti-Frizz Leave-In Conditioner,
goop, $42
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8
FOR THE FEMINISTS
“This hysterically funny and beautiful little coffee-table book would make a great gift for
someone who likes Internet memes, history, or art. Men to Avoid in Art and Life uses works of classic
art—from Rembrandt to Vermeer—to illustrate classic and all-too-relatable examples of mansplaining and
patronizing.” —Gerda Endemann, senior director, science and research
MEN TO AVOID IN ART AND LIFE BY NICOLE TERSIGNI,
Bookshop, $14
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9
SOUL SUPPORT
“Deganit Nuur, a spiritual teacher and my mom’s favorite person, has introduced me to some of
the most generous and gifted healers I’ve met during my time at goop. This summer, she connected me with her
friend Jo-Ná Williams,
who is the brilliant and intuitive woman behind Eros Soul. Williams creates custom candles and bath mixtures using herbs and flowers,
all picked by her. She sends them with personalized rituals for you to follow, depending on what kind of
clarity, energy, or emotional support you’re looking for—which she helps you determine during a phone
consultation. My reading with Williams was accurate and resonant: It felt as if she were reading my mind or
maybe pulling from somewhere deeper. She also said my feet looked purple, and they did while we were on the
phone—my feet run cold. But what I’m still thinking about are the things she said that I haven’t made sense
of yet, like how she sees the word ‘gems’ in the future of my career. That feels like a prophecy. Working
with
Williams has kicked me into journaling and, you know, dealing with my emotions, which I’m normally reluctant
to do. But it feels like a relief.” —Kiki Koroshetz, wellness director
JO-NÁ WILLIAMS SPIRITUAL CONSULTATION,
$225;
CANDLES AND BATHS,
Eros Soul, from $40
Photo courtesy of Lee Laa Ray
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10
GO OUTDOORS
“My husband and I spent a year searching for
nice-looking outdoor furniture. Yes, we are
abnormal, but take a home-décor lover on a budget (me) and a perfectionist (him), and there we were, resigned
to think that no such thing exists. Then I met Neighbor. Neighbor’s outdoor lounge chairs and sofas are
modular and made in sustainable teak, with cushions that are covered in a fadeproof fabric. They arrive in
flat boxes and are shockingly easy to assemble (I did it by myself in less than an hour). Neighbor looks and
feels good—like an extension of our home and our personalities. And best of all, it’s our dog Stella’s
favorite spot in the backyard, and if it’s her favorite, it’s our favorite, too.” —Diana Ryu, chief of staff
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11
KNIT PICK
“Self-taught designer Katie Roach launched her business back in 2019 (remember 2019?), but it’s
2020 that helped it thrive. That’s because her business is deliciously soft, supremely comfortable, pristinely
(and ethically and sustainably) made matching sets. Not sweatsuits, mind you, but GOTS-certified cotton knit
bottoms and tops that are easy like pajamas and chic like your tailored best. And that’s all wonderful, but my
favorite thing about Sister Katie is that like me, she is eternally Team Ben. As in Felicity and Ben. As in
her Felicity Henley and Ben biker shorts—a wearable love note to the most important
romance of my late teens.” —Kate Wolfson, VP of content
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12
ANIMAL HOUSE
“Just look at these mountain goats basking in the sun! A gift in itself. And it’s just one image from
a gorgeous
gallery put together by photographer Ami Vitale, who brought together more than seventy of the world’s
top fine-art and nature photographers for a print sale to support both wildlife and the communities protecting
wildlife. (One hundred percent of the net proceeds will go to Conservation International.) There’s a photo for everyone on
your list: Rajan the elephant, swimming. The majesty of P-22 (true Angelenos know). And this shot, which seemed to have an immediate effect on my blood pressure.” —Jessie
Geoffray, senior editor
PRINTS FOR NATURE SALE,
Prints for Nature, from $250
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13
CRYSTAL CLEAR
“A great morning to me is one that starts off slowly. I make drip coffee, walk my dog, and read a
little. After that, I turn to my Before Noon toolbox to set my intentions for the day. The beautifully curated
box comes with a smudge stick, a crystal of your choosing, a workbook, and a vitruvi essential oil. I chose
the focus box (there are also ones for grounding and love) because I’ve been feeling distracted, unmotivated,
and stuck lately. The workbook guides you through healing exercises, like how to celebrate challenges,
cultivate gratitude, and untangle your emotions. It’s a moment of calm and clarity that I have to
myself before I begin the day.” —Samantha Saiyavongsa, associate editor
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14
STAYING INN THIS SEASON
“My dream holiday—any holiday—is everybody (family, friends, any or all) gets a room at the same
small country hotel where everyone has a little time and space to themselves and no one has to make any meals
at all. I would choose the Shandaken Inn in the Catskills in Upstate New York. It’s cozy and holiday-feeling
without tipping into cutesiness or invasive bed-and-breakfast-y-ness, and it has delicious food, a brilliant
socially distanced dining situation, comfy rooms, an orchard with an apple-stealing bear, and a rushing river just
outside. (The latter is also a reason to book a summer trip up there—it’s right next to one of the greatest
swimming holes of all time.) In the winter, it’s a skiing, snowshoeing, sitting-by-the-crackling-fire
paradise; in all other seasons, there’s incredible hiking just off-site, with a convivial pool, a tennis
court, and all manner of yoga classes out on the gigantic, tree-fringed lawn.” —Jean Godfrey-June, executive
beauty director
SHANDAKEN INN,
rooms from $165 a night
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15
ON REPEAT
“The Resistance Revival Chorus is a group of more than seventy female and nonbinary singers
founded after the 2017 Women’s March. While they perform live together, they also advocate for many issues—from reproductive rights to climate change to opposing the Muslim ban—and they have stood with the LGBTQIA+
and Black communities. They just put out their debut album, and holy moly is it joyful, uplifting, and
inspiring. The songs are about social justice and activism, and while the first track, ‘Say Her Name,’ is
heart-shattering, the message is powerful: Music is necessary, it’s a form of protest, and it can help pull us
through dark times and heal us, too.”
—Amanda Chung, junior creative copywriter
“THIS JOY” BY THE RESISTANCE REVIVAL CHORUS,
available on Spotify
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