Halle Berry takes her passion for women’s health and wellness to the subsequent level.

The star actress, producer and director has been refreshingly honest about her harrowing personal experience with severe perimenopause symptoms and her desire to break down the stigma and taboo surrounding the midlife experience for women. Now, she’s reshaping her wellness platform, ANSWERto give attention to making a community of support and resources, including products, for women going through “the transition” and people who want to be prepared for what lies ahead.

“I know it’s my responsibility to use my voice and my platform to talk about these issues,” Berry tells ESSENCE exclusively. “It’s important that I create a safe community space for women to share, learn, and empower themselves.”

“That, along with cutting-edge products for women, is exactly the kind of support I want,” she continues. “Products that are backed by science and created by experts—that’s what makes all the difference.”

Berry’s first foray into support products comes as a part of her platform’s recently announced partnership with Joy, a worldwide leader in intimate wellness. RESPIN and Joylux have entered right into a multi-faceted partnership to serve menopausal and perimenopausal/postmenopausal women affected by common intimate health issues. Their first collaboration comes via two revolutionary products – a brand new intimate gel and a special, award-winning edition of the vFit+ device.

“What excites me most is the opportunity to really change the conversation around menopause and midlife health. It’s been a topic that’s been overlooked for too long,” she says. “The opportunity to work with a company like Joylux to create products that really work and help women regain their confidence.”

RESPIN Partnership with Joylux was built organically because Berry turned to the brand at a time of need. Struck by vaginal dryness that resulted in painful intercourse as a side effect of perimenopause—initially misdiagnosed as herpes—the Oscar winner sought answers and shortly found solutions designed by Joylux obstetricians and gynecologists. Her experience was so positive that she decided to spend money on and ultimately partner with Joylux through its RESPIN platform to collaborate on products that enhance intimacy during this incredibly vital time in a lady’s life.

This LET’S SPIN intimate gel offers unparalleled hydration, comfort and pleasure. Packaged in an elegantly designed, recyclable glass bottle with a deep red, luxurious matte finish, the product looks more like an expensive face cream that belongs on the nightstand than the everyday gels that you simply often discreetly grab from the pharmacy and conceal in the medication cabinet.

RESPIN worked closely with Joylux Ob-Gyn Sarah de la Torre, MD, to develop and test the product for over a yr. Ultimately, they created a formula enriched with hyaluronic acid and aloe, pH-balanced for delicate skin, and formulated with pure ingredients freed from parabens, PEGs, and glycerin that Berry says “changed her life.” Although it was developed with the needs of ladies in various stages of menopause in mind, LET’S SPIN elevates intimacy for everyone, no matter age, gender, or stage of life.

“After years of dedication to creating products that improve women’s lives, it was so empowering to receive the call from Halle and RESPIN,” said Colette Courtion, founder and CEO of Joylux, in a press release. “Through Halle’s powerful voice, her advocacy, and the RESPIN platform, we are able to amplify our message and reach millions of women who want to improve their health and well-being. LET’S SPIN is a product for everyone.”

In addition to the gel, Berry also provided personal input that helped develop Intimate wellness device RESPIN x Joylux vFit+ Red Lighta special menopause kit with a chrome finish and a particular silver storage bag. Using advanced red light and thermal energy technology, the device allows users to promote hydration, improved sensations and higher pelvic floor health within the comfort of their very own home. Previously available only through doctors, this luxury home-use device provides noticeable improvements after just a number of weeks of standard use, boosting confidence and enhancing intimacy.

RESPIN X JOYLUX LET’S SPIN Intimate Gel ($45) and vFit+ Red Light Intimate Wellness Device ($495) will probably be available on September 24, 2024 at joylux.com and at more online retailers this fall, including RESPIN, Nordstrom, Bloomingdales, Ulta, Neiman Marcus, Goop, Amazon and choose physician practices. It may even be available globally in Canada and the UK through select partners.

Of course, the launch of this product is just the primary of many exciting developments for Berry and RESPIN. With the goal of empowering women to embrace this natural change and take away the shame associated with aging into femininity at the guts of her mission, the actress hopes that girls will probably be inspired by the everlasting beauty that comes with this stage of life.

“As the RESPIN community grows, I would like to connect with more women, help them feel more confident to talk about their experiences, and give them the tools they need to feel confident, healthy, and celebrated,” she says.

Climate change could seem insurmountable. But if you happen to take a closer have a look at its causes, you realize that history is stuffed with similar health and environmental threats that humanity has overcome.

The predominant explanation for climate change is carbon dioxide produced by burning fossil fuels – is just one other pollutant. And countries know how to reduce harmful pollutants. They did so with the pesticide DDT, lead paint, and power plant emissions that caused acid rain, amongst many others.

In each case, growing public outcry eventually led to policy changes, despite industry resistance. Under pressure from laws and regulations, industry ramped up production of safer alternatives.

I’m earth and environmental scientistand my latest book “Reclaiming our planet,” explores the teachings of history in overcoming seemingly insurmountable threats. Here are some examples:

DDT ban despite industry opposition

DDT was the primary truly effective pesticide and considered miraculous. Killing mosquitoes and lice, eliminated malaria and other diseases in lots of countries, and in agriculture it saved tons of crops.

After World War II, DDT was utilized in farms, buildings and gardens throughout the United States. However, it also had its drawbacks. accumulated in mother’s milk to levels that would deliver a toxic dose to infants. Women were It was discouraged breastfed their children within the Sixties due to the risks.

In addition, DDT bioaccumulated within the food chain to toxic levels in peak species reminiscent of raptors. This weakened eggshells to the purpose that brood moms crushed their eggs. White-tailed eagles were reduced to 417 breeding pairs throughout North America by 1967 and were placed on the endangered species list.

Biologist Rachel Carson documented the damage DDT caused to her body 1962 book “Silent Spring”“and thus launched the general public environmental movement. Despite disinformation campaigns and attacks from the chemical industry, enormous social pressure on politicians led to congressional hearings, state and federal restrictions and finally the USA ban on the overall use of DDT in 1972.

White-tailed Eagles recovered up to 320,000 within the United States by 2017, in regards to the same because the population before European settlement. The chemical industry, faced with the ban on DDT, quickly developed much safer pesticides.

Gathering evidence on the risks of lead

Application of lead increased dramatically within the twentieth centuryespecially in paints, plumbing and gasoline. It was so common that nearly everyone was exposed to metal that, according to research, could also be harmful the kid’s kidneys, liver, cardiovascular system and brain development.

Clair “Pat” Patterson, a geochemist on the California Institute of Technology, has shown that Americans were continually exposed to lead at near toxic levels. Human skeletons from the Sixties were found to have up to 1200 times lead of ancient skeletons. Today health standards say that it is no protected level of lead within the blood.

Despite threats each personal and skilled, and an industry disinformation campaign, Patterson and his supporters evidence has been collected from years warn the general public and ultimately pressure politicians to ban the usage of lead in lots of applications, including petrol AND residential paints.

After the regulations were introduced, the industry accelerated production of substitutesAs a result, the extent of lead within the blood of kids reduced by 97% over the following few a long time. Although lead exposure is now less common, some persons are still exposed to dangerous levels present in homes, pipes and soil, often in low-income neighborhoods.

Stopping Acid Rain: An International Concern

Acid rain is primarily brought on by the discharge of sulfur dioxide into the air in the course of the burning of coal, high-sulfur oil, and the smelting and refining of metals. interacts with rain or fogThe acid rain that falls can destroy forests, kill lake ecosystems, dissolve monuments and corrode infrastructure.

The damage brought on by acid rain in Europe and North America within the twentieth century showed the world that air pollution, which is not limited to national borders, can grow to be a world crisis requiring international solutions.

The problem of acid rain began greater than a hundred years ago, but sulfur dioxide levels grew rapidly after World War IIIn 1952, a thermal inversion occurred in London, which resulted within the concentration of sulfur dioxide and other air pollutants being so high that killed 1000’s of individualsAs damage to forests and lakes worsened across Europe, countries signed international agreements In the Eighties, actions were taken to reduce sulfur dioxide emissions.

In the US, emissions from Midwestern power plants killed fish and trees within the pristine Adirondacks. The destruction, health problems and quite a few disasters outraged public opinion, to which politicians responded.

Sulfur dioxide listed as certainly one of six criteria for air pollution in groundbreaking study U.S. Clean Air Act of 1970which required the federal government to set limits on its release. Power plants scrubbers installed to capture pollution and over the following 40 years, the concentration of sulfur dioxide within the U.S. reduced by about 95%.

Parallels with climate change

There are many similarities between these examples and climate change today.

Mountains scientific evidence show how carbon dioxide emissions are created by burning fossil fuels in vehicles, factories and power plants They are warming the planetThe fossil fuel industry has begun to exploit its political power AND disinformation campaigns a long time ago to block regulations the aim of which was to decelerate climate change.

People all around the world are struggling with increasing heat and weather disasters brought on by global warming. calling for motion to stop climate change and spend money on cleaner energy.

First Earth Dayin 1970, it attracted 20 million people. Recent years have seen a change in attitudes towards climate change and attracted hundreds of thousands people all around the world.

The challenge was to get politicians to act, but that is is slowly changing in lots of countries.

The United States has begun investing in scaling up several tools to mitigate climate changeincluding electric vehicles, wind turbines and solar panels. Federal and state policies reminiscent of requirements for renewable energy production and reducing greenhouse gas emissions are also key to pushing industries to switch to less harmful alternatives.

Climate change is a global problem that may require worldwide motion. International agreements are also helping more countries take steps forward. One change that countries have been discussing for years could help bolster those efforts: ending billions of dollars in taxpayer-funded fossil fuel subsidies and allocating these funds to healthier solutions could help decelerate climate change.

One thing about me, I do not book a visit unless I do know the food goes to be amazingly delicious. So after I heard that Windstar Cruises was the official cruise line of the James Beard Foundation, a culinary arts organization that awards a few of the world’s most coveted food and beverage honors, I said,

My best friend and I had been talking about going to Greece for years and decided now can be the proper time. That was the start of our eight-day culinary journey through the Greek Islands.

We stopped at popular tourist spots like Mykonos (where I took a cooking class) and Santorini (where we participated in a gaggle wine tour), in addition to a couple of lesser-known spots like Patmos and Kusadasi, Turkey.) While Windstar has cruised all over the world, including Latin America and the Caribbean, a girls’ food tour to Greece seemed like something out of a movie show.

The star of the show is the food

As I discussed, this can be a cruise for the traveling foodie. There are several dining options on board, including Verdana (great for breakfast and lunch), Candles (nightly al fresco dining under the celebrities), Amphora (my favorite), and more. The menus at Amphora and Verdana change each day, and each feature many dishes from James Beard Award-winning chefs within the United States and its territories, resembling the U.S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico.

My favorites were the lobster bisque, chef Amy Brandwein’s grilled branzino with basil and tomato caponata, the Grand Marnier hot soufflé, and the red berry trifle with champagne chantilly. Oh my God. If you are planning on counting calories, just stay home.

Room service also allows you to order from the Amphora menu, so technically you possibly can order room service on a ship. My friend and I did this last night so we could eat and watch the sunset from the back of the ship.

And while the food on board was incredible, there was one major culinary highlight that happened off the ship. Our entire ship had a personal dinner in Ephesus in the traditional amphitheater dating back to biblical times. It all took place under an excellent moon with an expert orchestra, making it the proper setting for our two cruise mates to get engaged (congrats to Kristen and Randy)!

They stay ready so that you haven’t got to prepare

The on-site organization of the crew was excellent with intensely personalized service. Joanna was our destination manager who shared detailed summaries of every location through engaging and fun presentations prior to our arrival. She easily and quickly navigated us through the high traffic areas (i.e., all of the clients who wanted to visit Oia and participate in Santorini tours only waited about 20 minutes on the port thanks to Joanna’s planning. We connected with other travelers from different cruises who told us that they had been in line at the identical port for over two hours!)

Like many cruise lines, Windstar has shuttle boats that run from the ship to shore, but additionally they have a personal lounge area with water and snacks where you possibly can calm down whilst you wait in your transfer. I even have to take my metaphorical hat off to the front desk team. Running into unexpected issues can take the wind out of a vacation, and I had a couple of unexpected mishaps on board. However, the front desk team was so gentle with me while quickly correcting any mistakes that occurred in reference to my cruise experience. As an added bonus, you possibly can benefit from the total laundry and dry cleansing service on board, so that you haven’t got to go home and wash all of your clothes instantly.

Important details about this cruise line

Although the ship I used to be on (WindStar) was not wheelchair friendly (plenty of stairs, steps to and from the toilet within the cabin, and no cabins on the principal level), their collection of ships do have wheelchair accessible options. If you’re traveling with someone with mobility issues, search for destinations which have Star Plus Class Ships (Star Breeze, Star Pride and Star Legend) which have fully accessible cabins. If you or someone you’re traveling with has a disability, food allergy or every other experience that would make traveling a stressful experience, try their accessibility page and phone their team with any questions.

It’s also essential to know that while we made some great travel friends and shared some great moments with a couple of other cruisers, Windstar cruises can have a more conservative clientele. However, the road is working to create a more inclusive space where travelers from all walks of life feel at home, and while there’s room for growth, progress is visible. Also, when you can book with a travel agent, I highly recommend it. They are working to make the booking process easier for travelers without an agent, but for a smoother trip, use a travel agent.

Windstar cruises are generally intimate, as our ship had about 150 passengers, lots of whom got here in pairs or groups, so when you can get two or more people together, it’s an important trip. Unlike other big-name cruises, this isn’t a celebration cruise. Instead, it’s a luxury experience, complete with caviar, white tablecloths, and candlelight dinners at sunset over the Mediterranean. If you’re a foodie and this appears like your dream escape at sea, book yourself an adventure. And be certain to include an open mind — and an empty stomach.