What if you had $1,000 to spend on your health?
Well now, you do!
Welcome to Wellness Diaries. In this series, we send readers $1,000 to splurge on any product, service, or experience—as long as it’s something that can enhance health. Any leftover cash is donated to a charity of the diarist’s choice.
This time, we’ve got Birchbox cofounder Mollie Chen. She spent her $1,000 on gut health-boosting bars, Lululemon leggings, and a case of Sanzo sparkling water.
In the spirit of spreading influence and wellness, we’re opening up Wellness Diaries to all Nessie Readers. Click here to enter for a chance to win $1,000 to spend on health and wellness.
Meet Mollie
As a Birchbox cofounder, she spent six years building up its brand and customer experience. Since then she’s worked with founders on brand positioning and overall strategy—and most recently joined Acora, a small impact strategy firm, to focus on mission-driven leaders and organizations. She lives in Brooklyn with her husband and two kiddos and (in her own words) spends “way too much time thinking about food.”
Mollie Chen’s Diary
$159.99 On Sneakers
On Cloud X 3 Shift (White | Heron)
“After spending most of the last three years working out at home, I recently joined MTHD by Oscar, an incredible gym near me in Brooklyn. It’s life-changing to be back in a group setting and pushes me to work harder. It also makes me want to level up my workout gear! I am excited to try these On sneakers after seeing them on all the fit and stylish people I know.”
$38 Outdoor Voices Tank
Outdoor Voices Everyday Boyfriend Tank (Heather Gray)
“I’m just shy of 5’3” and many workout tops are too long on me. This cropped one is just the right length and I like that it’s loose without being schlumpy.”
$128 Lululemon Leggings
lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Tight 25″ (True Navy)
“I’ve tried a lot of legging brands over the years and Lululemon consistently fits the best (as in minimal hiking up, pulling down during class). My sister Annie (who has run seven marathons and counting!) swears by this style.”
$55 Facials & $88 Facial Peel System
Glowbar Membership & iS Clinical Active Peel System (Available at Glowbar)
“I have a membership to Glowbar, a facial studio started by a former Birchbox colleague. The treatments are only 30 minutes but super effective; I always walk in feeling raggedy and leave fresh and bright. I also find great products there. On my last visit, I asked the esthetician for something to keep my skin ‘not tired’ and she recommended the iS Clinical Active Peel System. It’s meant to gently resurface and hydrate skin, which is exactly what I need in between visits.”
$45 Body Serum & $75 Body Balm
Oui the People‘s Cheat Sheet Resurfacing Body Serum & All in All Melting Body Balm
“Despite how much moisturizer I apply, my skin always gets dry and scaly during the winter. I have heard amazing things about this brand and love its commitment to inclusivity and positivity. I also am on board with any products that work overnight (like the body serum) and improve skin over time (the balm).”
$29.99 Fiber Supplement
“I’ve always had what my sister calls a ‘lazy colon’ so I’m very committed to my daily magnesium and psyllium husk. I’ve been so impressed with Love Wellness (I am a scout for Cleo Capital and invested in them a couple years ago) and feel like this latest product speaks directly to me. More sparkle, please.”
$129 Fiber Bars
Supergut’s The Gut Balancing Fiber Bar (Variety Pack—36 Bars)
“I’m such a fan of this Black-owned brand, which makes nutrition bars that improve gut health and give you a sweet fix without a crash. They have impressive clinical studies and the bars are legitimately tasty (my favorite is chocolate peanut butter).”
$60 Substack Newsletter Subscription
The Isolation Journals with Suleika Jaouad
“During the pandemic, I started writing nightly gratitudes which helped me with anxiety and spinning feelings. I’ve tried to continue the habit and recently signed up for “The Art of Journaling,” Suleika Jaouad’s 30-day challenge. Jaouad is the author of Between Two Kingdoms, a stunning memoir about her experience with illness and recovery, and shows how journaling can be a powerful tool.”
$34.99 Sparkling Water
“For nights when I don’t want to drink, I love having a fun beverage in the fridge. Sanzo has delicious, Asian-inspired flavors like Calamansi (my favorite) and Lychee. It reminds me of the Hawaiian Sun I had on trips to Honolulu to visit my grandparents, only without the sugar crash.”
$44 Whole Food Nutrition Bites
Rootless’s The Daily Bites (Toasted Hazelnut)
“I’m an advisor to Rootless, which makes daily nutrition bites that have the exact right amount of seaweed to get optimal benefits. As I’ve learned over the years, seaweed is incredibly nutrient dense (i.e. a little goes a long way) and has a huge number of benefits—from gut and heart health to proper thyroid function. The bites blend sustainable seaweed with dates and almonds for something that tastes like an energy bite. My daughter Lilly loves the Orange Pistachio, while my husband and I are into the Toasted Hazelnut.”
$119 Foldable Bike Helmet
“Now that it’s warmer, I love CitiBiking to work. This super lightweight, foldable helmet fits easily in a tote or backpack and I love the sunny yellow color. I also like that it was founded by two longtime NYC cyclists who wanted something that works for their own bike commutes.”
Total Spend: $995.97
Total Points: 4,575
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¹ See our Rewards Program Terms. Rewards terms and partners are subject to change.
² The Ness Card is issued by The Bank of Missouri, pursuant to a license from Mastercard, and serviced by Ness Well Financial, LLC.
