One of my major frustrations with fitness bands has always been the way they look. Why is it so hard to make them look pretty enough to wear outside a workout? There’s no rule that they should be unattractive and clunky, right? Enter Fitbit’s answer to said problem: The Fitbit Luxe. It’s sleek and stylish while packing all the necessary features, proving that you don’t have to sacrifice style for substance.

The Luxe is not my first Fitbit having owned my now ancient Charge 2 then an Alta HR sequestered from my husband who wore it for a month then got tired of it because it didn’t go well with his suits. 

I wore both fitness bands with pride and as a way for me to send a message that I was now taking my health a little seriously. However, they often looked out of place with most of my outfits. Wearing them to events that had a bit of a more formal dress code always looked awkward. I even thought of wearing a classy watch on my left arm and the Fitbit on the right just to make it work at some point. However, even the smaller Alta HR made me look like I was coming straight from a run.

Form & substance

A common complaint about the Luxe is how small the screen is. Personally, I don’t see it as an issue. I enjoy the size which makes it inconspicuously stylish. Sure, it has a function for you to quickly take a peek at your texts, even read them in full. But who still sends novel-length texts these days? Mine’s usually from delivery services just telling me to pick up my orders. Though I won’t mind getting more notifications from other messaging apps that I have on my phone.

The size also makes it look like a truly elegant timepiece as soon as you slap on a metal strap. I originally wanted the lunar white and soft gold combination but ended up with the orchid (pink) and platinum stainless steel. At first, I was a bit wary of the pink, thinking it might look rather juvenile on me. But it worked out in the end. It’s a lovely shade that I don’t mind wearing with most of my activewear. 

I actually bought myself a gold milanese strap online, similar to the ones I used with my older Fitbit models. They’re pretty inexpensive and are available on sites like Amazon and Shopee. The silver hardware on my Luxe also gave me more freedom to mix my metals within my outfit, instead of getting tied down to a gold-on-gold combo. Fitbit also has their own gold, metal strap. You pay a little more for it but it can be a justifiable investment if it will make sure you don’t have to take off the Luxe whenever you need to dress a little more formally.

The Luxe tracks your workouts, your steps, and even your oxygen levels as you sleep. It even has multiple watch faces to match your outfits. My personal choice is the ‘Vogue’ which shows the time in pastel pink and green. Très chic.

Swimming

My favorite thing about the Luxe has to be the fact that it can now be used to track your swimming as well. It’s something both the older models I owned didn’t have. Sadly, the pandemic has rendered most pools closed, even in our building. I did get to dip my unit in water to check its water lock mode which stops the water from accidentally controlling your screen. It worked really well and my unit survived the quick dip.

We’ll let you know how it fares in the pool or the beach once the IATF relaxes its guidelines. So far, however, this wearable is looking pretty good on that front too.

Fitbit Premium

The Luxe also comes with six months of Fitbit Premium. The personalized subscription service on the Fitbit App opens up a whole new world for one’s fitness goals. It gives you advanced analytics on your sleep data, recipe inspirations, as well as video workouts.

As someone who has the Peloton app, I have to admit that it’s still my go-to for my home workouts, even on exercises that go beyond cycling. Though their guided programs that help you in your other goals like kicking your sugar habit, learning how to do a push-up, and even getting more sleep, are such great additions to your self-improvement plans.

Though I must admit that my favorite among the premium features is how it can give you a comprehensive wellness report upon request. The only requirement is that you have to be using your Luxe for about a month. The report shows you your average heart rate, average steps and sedentary moments, sleep, and menstrual cycles, as well as your heart rate zones.

Great battery life

The Luxe promises about 5 days of battery life but mine usually goes a little over than that. There are times when I go up to a week without charging and I’m someone who tries to workout every other day for about 30-45 minutes and I walk an average of six thousand steps. I know, I could use some more. I also wear the Fitbit to sleep as I enjoy seeing my sleep metrics. 

Speaking of sleep, its size really makes it easier to wear the Luxe to bed. From a more practical point of view, the Luxet doesn’t dig into the skin – it’s the most comfortable tracker I’ve ever worn. 

Is the Fitbit Luxe your GadgetMatch?

Personally, I think I’ve found the one when it comes to fitness trackers. Ever since I received the Luxe, the only times it left my wrist was for a charge. It does the job without being too invasive when it comes to my daily life – outfits included.

The Fitbit Luxe retails for PhP 8,490 while the gorjana-designed Special Edition will cost PhP 12,990.

Living a sustainable lifestyle is something we’re trying to achieve. As much as possible, we make conscious decisions to go green and reduce our carbon footprint in our purchases and lifestyle.

We already started with practicing sustainable fashion. And we hope to practice sustainability when it comes to our beauty products, too.

If you’re still on the fence about making a switch to a sustainable lifestyle, let these Filipinas share with you a tip on how you can do it.

The power of small yet consistent changes

 

 

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“Look for changes you can make that are easy and convenient for you. If you can easily swap out an unsustainable product for a sustainable one, take that win! Making changes easy for yourself and your lifestyle ensure a greater chance of long-term success,” says actress and vlogger Coraleen Waddell.

Find and help advocacies that promote sustainability

 

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A post shared by Patch Magtanong 🇵🇭 (@patchmag)

“Be vocal, influence your peers, and take action,” says Patch Magtanong, lawyer, beauty queen, and fashion model who was crowned Binibining Pilipinas — International 2019.

Always remember the three R’s

 

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“Avoid waste by recycling, and consider throwing something out an absolute last resort. Almost everything can be repurposed or recycled,” says singer-songwriter Leila Alcasid.

Be conscious of your decisions

 

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A post shared by Janina Manipol 🎞 (@janinamanipol)

“Change personal behavior on what you eat, what you purchase, and how you conserve energy and water,” says Janina Manipol.

Choose a product that’s kind to your skin and the planet

Above all, taking care of yourself shouldn’t affect the planet — directly and indirectly. Recently, Nivea is making the jump on sustainable skincare, bringing the WonderBAR to address different skin concerns. Also, it’s good for the planet, thanks to its natural origin, vegan formula, and plastic-free and fully recyclable packaging.

Currently, the Nivea WonderBAR comes in four variants:

• Anti-Pimple Scrub for effectively treating pimples.
• Hydrating for those who have dry skin.
• Radiance for those who want to have radiant and glowing skin.
• Blackhead-Clearing Scrub with activated charcoal for those who want clearer, smoother skin.

NIVEA WonderBAR is available in select Watson’s stores nationwide and online, as well as in Lazada and Shopee.

Having a modern lifestyle doesn’t stop at buying the latest gadgets and having the newest technology. Oftentimes, it’s dressing your devices with stylish accessories.

Lifestyle brand Native Union echoes design solutions apt for a Modern Working Lifestyle. Taking into consideration the user experience, the brand sets out to launch a whole new set of accessories that will enhance your everyday lives.

Snap 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger – USD 80 / PhP 4,370

Lose the cables and make charging easy and organized. With a simple snap, your iPhone and AirPods can charge wirelessly without worry. The accessory is compatible with MagSafe and Qi, and it sports a premium metal base to keep your devices in place. More importantly, it has a minimalist design to complement your neat workplace.

Watch Puck – USD 50 / PhP 2,730

Charge your Apple Watch wherever you go. The Watch Puck is a pocket-friendly charging puck using Type-C so you can fill the juice on your Apple Watch even if you plug it in your MacBook, iPad, power banks, or any wall chargers.

Curve AirTag Loop – USD 10 / PhP 550

Dress your AirTag on a stylish, durable, and flexible silicone to protect them from scratches. It uses a loop-and-lock design for easy attachment and detachment. And it’s available in four colors: black, navy, peach, and sage.

Curve Apple Watch Strap – USD 40 / PhP 2,190

Comfort is key when it comes to smartwatches. Native Union has a versatile and comfortable strap made in smooth, grooved silicone. It has minimalist details and comes with an inner ridge to minimize friction on your skin. It comes in two colors: Black and Sage.

Sling Tech Pouch

Coming soon is a pouch designed for those who live an active life and are always on the go. The Sling Tech Pouch is a solution that comes with a zippered main compartment for smartphones. And another zippered side pocket where you can safely store your cards, cash, keys, and tiny essentials.

It’s designed like an adjustable crossbody sling adorned with metal details and uses a durable, water-resistant tarpaulin as its main material. It’ll come in two colors: Slate or Sand.

Visit Native Union’s website for more information.