Latest news with #TheSelection
NBC News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Deal of the Day: This top-rated Lego set is half off right now — its lowest price ever
Lego sets are an NBC Select-reader favorite for a lot of reasons. They're incredibly giftable and they allow builders of all ages to exercise creativity in their free time. Fortunately, Lego just put its popular Creative Brick Box on sale for almost half off, which is its lowest price ever. The box has almost 500 building bricks and other pieces to build mini sets, cars, animals and other figurines. Lego's Classic Medium Creative Brick Box measures at around 14 x 7 inches, so it's around the size of a small storage box, with enough space to hold all of its 484 pieces. The set has both flat baseplates and cube-shaped interlocking pieces, small wheels for building trains and cars, pieces for making animals and more, all in 35 different colors. The back of the box also has a visual outline of everything in the box and photos to provide inspiration for creations, so it's easy to see everything at a bird's eye view. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a commerce editor at NBC Select, where I write about deals and sales on lifestyle items including Lego. I found this deal by scouring several retailers across the web.
NBC News
3 days ago
- Health
- NBC News
Oura Ring vs Apple Watch: I've tested both for months — here's what you should know
If you told me to pick my favorite wearable, I would have a hard time choosing between the Oura Ring and Apple Watch (and Garmin, to be fair). What's interesting is that the two wearables are wildly different from each other. The Apple Watch is a tiny computer on my wrist I can use instead of pulling my phone out of my pocket every two seconds. The Oura Ring is a stylish ring I forget about until I open the app and start diving into my health, sleep and fitness data. I've been wearing both for most of 2025 — here's what you need to know. Oura and Apple sell a few different wearables and I've tested all of them. The two that are most similar from the brands are the Oura Ring 4 ($349) and Apple Watch Series 10 ($399). They are the brand's latest wearables, and are priced similarly. That said, they are very different products with very different users in mind. But when people ask me what wearable or fitness tracker to buy, Apple Watch and Oura Ring are the two they mention first and most often. I've worn both at the same time for nearly all of 2025, comparing them to each other and other wearables I've tested throughout the year. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. My experience using the Oura Ring and Apple Watch The Oura Ring 4 and Apple Watch Series 10 are both excellent wearables. Both are comfortable, easy to use, and provide accurate and easy to understand information about your health, sleep and fitness activity. Below, I outline some key differences between each wearable. Design Oura Ring The latest Oura Ring 4 is the best looking and most comfortable Oura Ring yet. It is made of titanium, comes in six finishes and is available in sizes four to 15. While it is a bit big compared to a non-smart ring, I got used to wearing it on my ring finger after a few days. What helps is the long battery life: the Oura Ring 4 lasts up to eight days on a single charge, longer than most of its competitors. Unlike the Oura Ring Gen 3, which had three round sensor bumps on the inner side of the ring, the Oura Ring 4 is basically smooth all around, inside and out. This makes it much more comfortable than the previous version, and in-line with my experience wearing other smart rings like the Ultrahuman Ring Air and Samsung Galaxy Ring. Apple Watch The latest Apple Watch Series 10 is similarly the most comfortable Apple Watch I've worn, and I've tested a lot of them over the years. It's thinner and lighter than the Apple Watch Series 9, but has a bigger screen that reaches further into the edges of the case. The screen is also brighter and easier to see at off-angles, meaning I can check the time or a notification at a glance much easier than before. The Series 10 also charges faster — it can get up to 80% battery in 30 minutes of fast charging, up from 45 minutes on the Series 9. Battery life is still a bit lackluster though at up to 18 hours. I end up charging mine every night before bedtime to make sure it doesn't die overnight. My take: This is a toss up that largely comes down to personal preference. Aside from battery life, where the Oura Ring is a clear winner, the deciding factor is whether you find rings or watches more comfortable. Generally, I prefer watches over rings, and the Oura Ring is bulkier than the usual non-smart ring sizes I gravitate towards. But I know many folks can't stand the look and feel of the square, shiny Apple Watch, and you might be one of them. Day-to-day Oura Using the Oura Ring daily is a comfortable and largely passive experience. Most days, I forget that I am wearing it, which makes checking the Oura app feel fun instead of like a chore. It tracks most health and fitness basics for you — think steps, walks, sleep, readiness and stress. But not everything works automatically. Oura doesn't always automatically detect and track lower intensity workouts such as strength training and yoga, in my experience. For cycling tracking, you need to be diligent and consistent about manually inputting each day of your cycle to get the most accurate information, says NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio, who has worn her Oura Ring 4 for over 5 months. Apple You can do as much or as little as you want with the Apple Watch. It can act almost like a smartphone — you can check all your notifications, send texts, use contactless payments, take calls, store your favorite podcasts and music, navigate with a maps app, the list goes on. You can also turn off all notifications and do none of the things I just listed and turn the Apple Watch into a more passive fitness tracker and digital wristwatch. It has such robust settings and options that it can really be whatever you want it to be, especially when you consider all the watch face and watch band options. My take: This one is all about taste. Do you want something you can wear and forget about? That's the Oura Ring. Do you want easy access to a ton of information, right on your wrist? That's the Apple Watch. Tracking and metrics Oura Ring The Oura Ring's greatest strength is its health and sleep tracking. It offers detailed and accurate graphs, charts and trends for tons of different metrics like sleep stages, bedtime and wake-up time, heart rate variability, respiratory rate and body temperature. All of these put together, combined with the Oura app's intuitive and friendly design, means I get a good understanding of my health at a glance and a deeper understanding of my trends if I feel like diving a little deeper. The Oura Ring has also accurately assessed when I am sick. I have been sick a few times so far this year, and each time the Oura app notifies me of health metrics being out of their typical range, and suggests entering rest mode. I appreciate this approach much more than some fitness trackers that focus exclusively on consistently hitting streaks and goals. Apple Watch The Apple Watch shows metrics across two apps: the Apple Health and Apple Fitness app. The health app shows similar stats to the Oura Ring, with a focus on health, fitness and sleep trends over time, while the Fitness app shows all your individual workouts. It can similarly predict or tell me when I am sick through the Vitals feature, and has largely caught my illnesses as they have happened. Fitness is where the Apple Watch has more to offer than the Oura Ring. The Apple Watch has built-in GPS, making it more accurate for outdoor exercises like running and cycling compared to the Oura Ring. With outdoor running in particular, the Apple Watch shows more detailed stats like average cadence, stride length and more. It also has the Training Load feature, which can help track your weekly and monthly fitness. My take: Another tossup. Both Oura Ring and Apple Watch do a great job tracking and showcasing health, sleep and exercise metrics. Oura is a little more accurate when it comes to sleep data and predicting when I am sick, but the Apple Watch is always a close second, in my experience. The Apple Watch is better for fitness, as it has built-in GPS, more detailed stats in certain workouts and a screen that can show you live stats as you exercise. Oura vs Apple Watch: The final verdict The Apple Watch Series 10 and Oura Ring 4 are arguably the best smartwatch and best smart ring you can buy. One isn't better than the other, but one might make more sense for you personally. The Apple Watch is a smartwatch. It's like having a tiny phone on your wrist. It's a wearable you check all the time: you check the time, incoming texts, the weather, your pace during a run, etc. The Oura Ring is a passive smart ring. You check the Oura app usually during downtime, when you aren't too busy. Unless you are manually starting and stopping a workout, it's meant to work in the background, and be available when you feel like checking in on your stats and trends. If you want a tiny phone on your wrist that can do a little bit of everything, you want a smartwatch, and the Apple Watch is one of the best. It's better than the Oura Ring for checking live exercise stats while running and biking. It's also a better value than the Oura Ring, as it does almost everything the Oura Ring does (and more) without a subscription fee If you want to track your health, fitness and sleep but don't want something on your wrist peppering you with information, you want a smart ring, and the Oura Ring is the best on the market right now. It's got much better battery life than the Apple Watch, and is a little more accurate for sleep and illness tracking, in my experience. Why trust NBC Select? I am a reporter at NBC Select who covers technology and fitness including recent stories on smartwatches, running shoes, workout earbuds and more. I've tested the Oura Ring Gen 3 and Oura Ring 4 for over a year, and have tested various Apple Watch models, including the latest Series 10, for years.
NBC News
4 days ago
- Business
- NBC News
Amazon Prime Day 2025 starts July 8 and it's four days long — here's what to know
It's the moment Prime members have been waiting for: Amazon officially announced that it's hosting Prime Day 2025 from July 8 to 11. And for the first time ever, the exclusive sale is four days long — compared to previous years, you have double the amount of time to shop the best discounts of the summer, including those on tech, beauty, wellness, home and kitchen products. You won't want to miss this massive sale, especially if tariffs are currently impacting your budget. This is my sixth year covering Prime Day at NBC Select, so I'm well-versed in every aspect of the sale. I'll continue updating you as we learn more about what to expect — below is all the information we have so far. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. When is Prime Day 2025? Prime Day 2025 is happening from July 8 to 11. This is the first time ever that the sale is four days long compared to the typical 48 hours. Do you need to be a Prime member to shop on Prime Day? Yes, only Prime members get access to Prime Day deals. You can sign up for a Prime membership on Amazon's website or app. New members get a 30-day free trial — Amazon automatically charges you for your Prime membership once the free trial period ends. Can you shop early Prime Day deals? Yes, Prime members can shop early deals as the sale approaches. The best way to stay updated about early Prime Day deals is to download the Amazon app, which can notify you about sales in real-time. What are the best deals to shop on Prime Day? Products across all shopping categories are on sale during Prime Day, but shoppers won't know exactly what's available until the event starts. The best deals tend to be on Amazon-owned technology like Echo, Fire, Blink and Ring devices, small home and kitchen appliances, beauty products, apparel and back-to-school supplies. You'll also be able to take advantage of Amazon's Lightning Deals, flash sales that give shoppers a short window to purchase limited quantities of specific products. Looking at Prime Day bestsellers from previous years can give you a sense of what's traditionally discounted. I included examples of NBC Select readers' favorite deals from Prime Day 2024 below. What is Amazon Prime? Amazon Prime is the retailer's loyalty program. A standard membership costs $139 a year or $14.99 a month, and new members get a 30-day free trial. Amazon also offers two types of discounted accounts: Prime for Young Adults, which is $7.49 a month for those 18 to 24 years old, and Prime Access, which is $6.99 a month for those who qualify for certain government assistance programs. Benefits of a Prime membership include access to shop Prime Day deals and free, fast shipping, like free two-day, one-day and same-day delivery. Prime members also get a handful of streaming and entertainment perks, plus they can order groceries online through Whole Foods or Amazon Fresh and sign up for a free Grubhub+ membership. Is Prime Day twice a year? Since 2022, Amazon has hosted two Prime Day-level events each year: Amazon Prime Day in July and Prime Big Deal Days in October. So far, the retailer has only confirmed this summer's Prime Day. We likely won't find out if it's hosting Prime Big Deal Days until after July's event. What countries are participating in Prime Day? Over 20 countries are participating in Prime Day 2025, including Ireland for the first time. Prime members in the following countries will be able to shop: Australia, Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Egypt, France, Germany, India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Luxembourg, Mexico, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the United States and the United Kingdom. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a reporter at NBC Select who has covered Amazon since 2020. In addition to numerous sales stories, I wrote NBC Select's history of Amazon Prime Day and Prime membership guide, both of which I frequently update. For this article, I researched Prime Day 2025 and reviewed information from Amazon press releases.
NBC News
5 days ago
- Health
- NBC News
Are plastic cutting boards useful kitchen tools or a breeding ground for microplastics? Here's what to know
Everyone has one: a scratched, stained plastic cutting board that's been in your kitchen for years. Despite how many times you say to yourself, 'I should get a new one,' you never do — but now, it's officially time to buy a replacement. Research published in Environmental Science & Technology, a peer-reviewed scientific journal, found that plastic cutting boards release tiny pieces of plastic when you chop on them, which can end up in your food. Before you start panicking, keep reading — I talked to cooking experts and engineers about whether plastic cutting boards are safe to use, and the best alternatives to buy if you want to reduce your exposure to microplastics. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. Are plastic cutting boards safe to use? Long story short, yes, plastic cutting boards are generally safe to use, according to all the experts I spoke to. However, they can cause microplastics (particles that have a diameter between 1 and 5 mm.) to end up in your food. As a knife's blade scratches a plastic cutting board's surface, tiny pieces of plastic get released that stick to your ingredients — they're too small to see, so you may ingest them, says Dr. Manish Shetty, an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University. Particles that stick to the knife's blade or cutting board go down the drain when you clean them, so there's an environmental impact to consider, too. That said, how worried should you be? 'According to the study's estimation, people could be exposed to about 50 grams of microplastics per year through plastic cutting boards, which seems like a huge amount, but isn't compared to other sources of microplastics you're exposed to,' says Wei. 'The study also didn't find any toxicity effects, which is a good sign, and indicates that this is a safe process.' It's important to note, however, that the study's findings are limited — researchers conducted testing on mice and only tracked health effects for about three days after exposure. Plus, microplastics are difficult to quantify — if another team of researchers did the same study, their findings may vary, says Hoaran Wei, an assistant professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Additional research will allow scientists to make more definitive assessments, but this study is a good starting point. 'It makes us think a lot more about our sources of consumption,' says Shetty. 'When you talk about microplastics impacting the environment, it can feel like an arm's length away, if not more. But when you talk about human health, it feels a lot closer.' The overall takeaway? You're exposed to microplastics while using plastic cutting boards, but, as far as researchers can tell right now, not in an excessive amount that could pose health risks, says Wei. You can use a cutting board made from an alternative material if you want to cut down your microplastic exposure (I break down the best options below), but all materials have benefits and drawbacks you'll need to weigh. How I picked the best plastic cutting board alternatives While shopping for plastic cutting board alternatives, experts recommend thinking about the following factors, all of which I considered while curating my picks. Material: Instead of plastic, choose a cutting board made from wood, rubber, silicone or composite, all of which are food-safe and gentle on knives, experts say. Never use a glass, stone or stainless steel cutting board — these materials are very hard on knives and can damage their blades, says Tracy Zimmermann, an assistant professor of hospitality management who teaches culinary arts at the New York City College of Technology. Care: Rubber, silicone and composite cutting boards are easier to clean compared to wood options, says Zimmermann. They're dishwasher-safe and you can sanitize them with a chemical solution if needed. Wood has antibacterial properties that don't allow bacteria to grow and fester, but you can't put these types of cutting boards in the dishwasher or use chemical sanitizers on them. Instead, you hand-wash them with dish soap and water. Lifespan: Once there's deep scratches and nicks, lingering odors or permanent stains on the surface of a rubber, silicone or composite cutting board, you need to retire it. However, you can sand down the surface of wood cutting boards as they get scratched and nicked, so you don't have to replace them as often. To recommend the best plastic cutting board alternatives, I rounded up options that meet expert guidance. A few also come recommended by chefs or the NBC Select staff. I didn't include any rubber cutting boards below — they're a great alternative for plastic boards, but experts say they're most often used in professional kitchens, not at home. 'Wood is always a great choice due to its antimicrobial properties,' says Zimmermann. 'It also has a better feel and is easier on knife blades compared to plastic.' However, these types of cutting boards require some upkeep — you need to oil or condition them periodically to make sure they stay in good shape. Additionally, wood cutting boards absorb moisture, so they're not great for cutting ingredients like raw meat and fish, says Alycia Johnson, vice president of merchandising at Sur La Table. (Ed's note: The inclusion of products sold by Sur La Table in this article was made independently of Johnson.) When she's cooking at home, Zimmermann says her first choice for a cutting board is this one from Boos, which is double-sided and comes in various shapes, styles and sizes. 'They're the gold standard for wood, and very thick and sturdy,' she says. 'I don't mind taking time to care for it because it's a superior product.' NBC Select updates editor Mili Godio also swears by her Boos board. 'I got it around 6 years ago as a gift for my husband who loves to cook, and I firmly believe it'll last me 60 more years,' she says. 'The quality is unmatched; despite using it to cut hundreds of vegetables and other foods, it still looks incredibly sturdy and durable. Yes, there are knife marks here and there, but overall, it looks great compared to others I've tried.' The brand recommends oiling its cutting board at least once a month and conditioning it for additional protection — you can buy a care set separately. 'Composite wood fiber cutting boards are quite popular right now because they're so durable and good on your knives,' says Johnson. 'They're also really easy to clean since you can throw them in the dishwasher.' Zimmermann specifically recommends Epicurean's composite cutting board, which I also own. 'I've had it for quite a while and it cuts well, is lightweight and more eco-friendly than plastic,' says Zimmermann. The non-porous boards have a smooth feel and are double-sided, plus there's a hole to hang them from. They're heat-resistant up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit, so they double as a trivet, and come in four sizes. Similar to wood, silicone has some give, making it easy on knife blades, and similar to plastic, it's dishwasher-safe and inexpensive, says Zimmermann. However, silicone isn't the sturdiest material, so when you pick the board up, it tends to bend. That might be appealing to you — you can fold silicone cutting boards horizontally or vertically to create a funnel of sorts, making it convenient to dump food into pans or scraps into the trash. This set comes with three thick silicone cutting boards in small, medium and large sizes. The boards are stain- and stick-resistant, according to the brand, and double-sided: the top has a smooth surface with juice grooves, while the bottom is textured to help it grip to your countertop. Each board also has a hole to hang it from. They're heat-resistant up to 482 degrees Fahrenheit, so they double as trivets. I own numerous cutting boards, but this is by far the one I use most in my small kitchen. It's the ideal size for my limited countertop space, and it's quite durable — I've sliced fruits, vegetables, cheese and breads on it almost daily for over a year, and it's still in great condition. The cutting board is finished with food-safe mineral oil and wax, and it has a small indent in one corner to collect juices or put a small bowl of dip or sauce if you're serving on it. You can buy Caraway's small cutting board individually or purchase it as part of the brand's three-piece set, which also comes with a storage organizer. Caraway recommends occasionally applying mineral oil to extend the board's lifespan. NBC Select editor Lindsay Schneider uses Our Place's board (which the brand sent her as a courtesy sample) to prep and serve foods. 'As a cutting board, it's fantastic because it's really sturdy and heavy, and it has a little trench on the side so liquids don't spill over,' she says. 'I use it as a display board, too. In my small apartment, things have to work double duty, so if I have people over, I use this to put cheese and other snacks on.' The brand recommends occasionally treating the board with food-grade mineral oil to prevent cracking and enhance the surface's patina over time. Schneider was a fan of Material Kitchen's reBoard for years, but ultimately stopped using it since it's made with plastic. You can now buy a similar plastic-free cutting board from the brand — the new MK Free Board is made from plant-based materials. Its surface is non-pornous and it has a juice groove around its perimeter. There's also a hole in one corner to hang the board from. Best hybrid Steelport's cutting board is one of the more luxe looking options on the market as far as I'm concerned. Plus, it has internal steel beams to prevent it from warping, according to the brand. Each of the board's sides is made from a different material: one side is wood and the other is composite, giving you the benefits of both. The composite side has a groove around its perimeter to catch juices, and the board's angled sides make it easy to grab, flip and move as needed. NBC Select reporter Harry Rabinowitz uses Steelport's board to cook for his family (the brand sent him a courtesy sample). He appreciates that it's heavy enough to stay in place on his countertop while chopping, but lightweight enough to easily move around the kitchen and lift onto high shelves . Frequently asked questions When should you replace a cutting board? Pay attention to the condition of your cutting board's surface — it tells you exactly when you need to replace it, says Patrick Guzzle, the vice president of food science for the National Restaurant Association, the organization that writes and publishes ServSafe products. 'Regardless of the material, if you've been using a cutting board for a while and it's starting to get nicks and cuts in it, consider replacing it,' he says. 'Those nicks and cuts are a good opportunity for bacteria to get in there and grow, which causes some cross-contamination concerns, especially since you can't clean and sanitize the cutting board the way you should.' You should also replace your cutting board if it develops an odor you can't get rid of, or has stains you can't remove. Should you use multiple cutting boards while cooking? Keeping multiple cutting boards in your kitchen is ideal, says Johnson. Doing so allows you to designate a board per each task, like one for chopping fruits and vegetables, and another for slicing raw meat and fish. If you only have one cutting board, it's important to clean it between cutting different types of ingredients, and pay attention to the order you prepare foods in. 'If you're making vegetables and meat, for example, I recommend cutting all the vegetables first and then focusing on the meats,' says Guzzle. 'Meat can present a higher bacterial risk when it comes to cutting boards, so you want to take care of that last.' Where do microplastics come from? 'Any time we use plastics, there's a potential for microplastics,' says Shetty. They're released by products we use every day, like plastic cutting boards and containers, cling wrap and detergent pods, as well as other sources. Wastewater treatment plants, for example, transports microplastic particles to freshwater supplies and sea water bodies, says Wei. Some microplastics also come from stormwater runoff. 'When it rains, for example, plastic particles on the road from tire particles will be washed into natural water bodies,' he says. Microplastics are made in water bodies, too. 'We have a lot of floating plastic garbage in the sea and freshwater, and they can degrade, breaking apart into tiny little particles,' says Wei. Why are microplastics dangerous? Microplastics only accumulate — they never disappear, says Wei. 'They can last for hundreds of years in the environment, break down, become carbon dioxide and be released back into the atmosphere, which is a very slow process, making microplastics persistent contaminants,' he says. The concentration of microplastics in the environment is constantly increasing, so people are being exposed to them more and more. And recently, studies are showing that there's microplastics present in the human body, which is likely because the particles are in our food and drinking water, says Wei. Scientists and doctors are currently researching the toxicity of microplastics on the human body, especially how it impacts reproductivity, inflammatory response, liver health and kidney health. Meet our experts At NBC Select, we work with experts who have specialized knowledge and authority based on relevant training and/or experience. We also take steps to ensure that all expert advice and recommendations are made independently and with no undisclosed financial conflicts of interest. Dr. Manish Shetty is an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Texas A&M University. Hoaran Wei is an assistant professor in the department of civil and environmental engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Tracy Zimmermann is an assistant professor of hospitality management who teaches culinary arts at the New York City College of Technology. Alycia Johnson is the vice president of merchandising at Sur La Table. (Ed's note: The inclusion of products sold by Sur La Table in this article was made independently of Johnson.) Patrick Guzzle is the vice president of food science for the National Restaurant Association, the organization that writes and publishes ServSafe products. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a reporter at NBC Select who has written about kitchen products for five years, including meal prep containers, cookware sets, dinnerware sets, Dutch ovens and air fryers. To write this article, I spoke to five experts about plastic cutting board alternatives and microplastics. Using their guidance, I rounded up the best plastic cutting board alternatives, including expert and NBC Select staff picks.
NBC News
13-06-2025
- Entertainment
- NBC News
Talking Shop with prima ballerina Tiler Peck
Talking Shop is our series where we talk to interesting people about their most interesting buys. As a dancer for over 30 years, Tiler Peck has figured out a hack or two that make her professional life easier: For example, she's become an expert at sewing her pointe shoes with dental floss. By now, she also firmly knows what products actually make her look and feel performance-ready, as well as ones that are helpful for recovery. Below, I talked to Peck, a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet and author of the forthcoming book, ' XO Ballerina Big Sis ', about her go-to hairspray, moisturizer, protein bars and more. Want more from NBC Select? Sign up for our newsletter, The Selection, and shop smarter. 'This serum feels like an overnight lift, and it's like a recovery for my face,' says Peck, who wears layers of makeup for performances. 'I've been using it for about four months, and I go to bed with it on, wake up and my skin just has this glow.' The serum comes in a dropper bottle and is made with ingredients like peptides, hyaluronic acid and antioxidants that hydrate, firm and plump skin, according to the brand. 'I've been lucky with not so much acne, but my skin is very sensitive, so I need to use products that are hypoallergenic,' says Peck. 'This face wash has been the most gentle on my skin, which can get pretty dry because of my stage makeup and how much I'm taking it on and off. Using this cleanser is the best way to keep my skin at its calmest.' The gel cleanser foams as you lather, and it's made with hydrating hyaluronic acid, ceramides to protect the skin barrier and calming niacinamide, according to the brand. 'First of all, I love the way this lotion smells — it's like there's perfume in it,' says Peck. 'But more importantly, my skin just soaks it up because it's so moisturizing, and I always put it on under makeup. It's really good for sensitive skin.' The moisturizer has a velvety feel and can make wrinkles look smoother, pores look smaller and skin look glowy, according to the brand. As its name implies, this lip tint really is 'super stay,' according to Peck. 'That's the aspect I love most about it. When I'm picking lipstick for a performance, I go for color first. But if it's a long ballet, like 'Swan Lake' where you're on stage for a long time and don't get to come off to fix your makeup, you need something you can count on.' It has a blurred, matte look, doesn't transfer during wear (making it ideal for costume changes, says Peck) and lasts for up to 12 hours, according to the brand. 'This has always been the trusty hairspray that gets me through my shows,' says Peck. 'I know I can count on it and that it will hold, so it's one less thing for me to worry about during a performance.' The hairspray also protects against frizz and humidity, according to the brand. 'I've never found a foundation that I like as much as this one,' says Peck, who wears the linen shade. 'It doesn't look like you're wearing anything, but it completely covers you. It doesn't have a matte feel, so you still have a little shine and glow. It's just enough to give you confidence to feel like your skin is completely even.' Peck wears this foundation in her day-to-day life, not on stage or in rehearsals. 'I typically don't wear makeup when we're rehearsing since we're sweating, and I feel like it's the one time to give myself a little break since our stage makeup is so intense,' she says. 'This foundation is what I wear whenever I'm doing something that's not on stage.' 'RxBars and Oikos Greek yogurt are my go-to snacks for getting protein in between rehearsals. I know that they'll sustain me, and I have them once a day,' says Peck, whose ballet rehearsals are often about six hours long, plus classes beforehand. 'RxBars don't have any additives, so they're just made with good ingredients, and the peanut butter flavor is my favorite.' Peck often goes from ballet classes to rehearsals to performances, and at the end of a long day, she craves a sweet treat. 'This licorice is very dangerous,' says Peck. 'Every night I tell my fiance, 'I think I need to get the licorice,' even when I say I'm not going to.' She stumbled upon it at the grocery store and added it to her cart on a whim, even though she's not typically a licorice person. 'I don't know what it is about this one, but it's very good,' says Peck. Why trust NBC Select? I'm a reporter at NBC Select who writes our Talking Shop series, interviewing people like Dorinda Medley, Jing Gao and Sara and Erin Foster. To write this piece, I interviewed Tiler Peck, a principal dancer at the New York City Ballet and author, about her favorite products to use on and off stage.
