Good for You Awards 2025: Meet the Experts

For our second-ever Good for You Awards, our team of Skimm Shopping editors and writers populated our list of contenders with a combination of the products we’ve already used and trusted for years, and products that were new to us to test over course of three-plus months. We tapped the wider team from Skimm HQ to recommend and test products, too. But to tell you about the products that are truly worth your dollars, we knew we had to bring in the big guns, too.

To that end, we recruited a panel of experts in each category to vet our chosen products. They took note of the products they personally back, high-performing products, and any products that they don’t trust — and those products were thrown out of the running. Here are the experts who cosigned the products.

Miriam Fried

Miriam Fried is the founder and head trainer at MF Strong, an NYC-based personal training brand operating out of locations in Brooklyn and Manhattan, as well as offering remote online training to clients across the globe. She holds a BFA from NYU, is a certified personal trainer through the American Council on Exercise, a Pre/Postnatal Exercise Specialist, and a Certified Functional Strength Coach (CFSC). With 10+ years in the industry, she has been a featured trainer in numerous publications, including The New York Times, CNN, and Elle, as well as named one of Byrdie’s top online trainers two years in a row. 

Instagram: @miriamfried

Carolyn Rubenstein, PhD

Carolyn Rubenstein, PhD is a licensed psychologist based in Florida, where she runs her private practice. She focuses on treating anxiety, burnout, and self-sabotaging behaviors, including perfectionism. Dr. Carolyn is the author of the Beyond Burnout Workbook, the inaugural release in a series of clinically-supported tools aimed at burnout recovery. She regularly shares practical tips on how to navigate the complexities of being perfectly human on her Instagram.

Instagram: @carolynrubensteinphd

May Zhu, RD

May Zhu is the Chicago-based Registered Dietitian Nutritionist behind Nutrition Happens, where she helps busy women discover a healthier relationship with food by teaching sustainable eating habits for life. She holds a Bachelor's of Science in Human Nutrition and Dietetics from Clemson University and a Master's of Business Administration from Dominican University. 

Instagram: @nutritionhappens

Melissa Portan, LMSW, M.Ed

Melissa Portan LMSW, M.Ed is a licensed sexologist at SYNC Psychological Services PLLC based in New York City. Her clinical specialties include issues with relationships, intimacy, sex, neurodivergence, and spirituality. She is also a writer who enjoys exploring sex, emotions, spirituality, and the self through fiction and poetry. Her more academic writing focuses on sacred sex, spirituality, relationships, and mental health. Overall, Melissa’s work is geared towards the integral healing of the self to allow for genuine, pleasurable, and fulfilling connections.

Instagram: @syncpsych

Rebeca Teplitz, DO, FAAD

Rebeca Teplitz, DO, FAAD is a board-certified dermatologist specializing in medical, surgical, and cosmetic dermatology. She graduated magna cum laude from the George Washington University with a degree in cognitive neuroscience and a minor in business administration. She earned her medical degree from the New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine. She went on to complete her internship in Family Medicine and her Dermatology Residency at St. John's Episcopal Hospital, where she excelled as Chief Resident. Dedicated to continuous learning and advancement in dermatology, Dr. Teplitz regularly contributes to research and has authored numerous articles in peer-reviewed journals. She serves on the editorial board for SKIN The Journal of Cutaneous Medicine and is an active member of the American Academy of Dermatology. Dr. Teplitz also dedicates time to educating the next generation of dermatologists as a Clinical Instructor at NYU.

Instagram: @drteplitz

Natalie Dresher

Natalie Dresher is a New York City-based makeup artist specializing in celebrity and bridal makeup. With over a decade of experience, she has built an impressive portfolio working with high-profile clients, including Novak Djokovic, Remi Bader, and Campbell Puckett, among many others. Natalie’s passion for makeup and art began at a young age and has since evolved into a thriving career. Originally a self-taught artist, she is deeply committed to ongoing education, regularly enrolling in advanced courses led by global industry leaders and staying up to date through her own research and exploration. Her work is frequently featured in leading publications, whether she’s being sought after for her expert opinion or her signature looks are being showcased in editorial spreads. Known for her attention to detail, creative vision, and ability to enhance her clients’ beauty, Natalie works with clients daily, offering a tailored, professional experience to each person who sits in her chair.

Instagram: @nataliedresher

Alisha Simpson-Watt, LCSW, BCBA, LBA

Alisha Simpson-Watt, LCSW, BCBA, LBA, is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW) and Board-Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA). Alisha is the Executive Clinical Director and Founder of Collaborative ABA Services, LLC, an award-winning accredited behavioral health practice that specializes in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) Therapy. Alisha has extensive experience working with children and families impacted by various developmental and behavioral disorders across home, school, and community settings. Alisha specializes in Applied Behavior Analysis and Autism Spectrum Disorder. Her credentials include Certification and Licensure as a Board-Certified Behavior Analyst, Licensed Clinical Social Worker, Certified School Social Worker, and School Intermediate Administrator certification. 

Alisha has been recognized for her accomplishments and leadership within the industry, including but not limited to Winner of the 2023 Connecticut Woman-Owned Small Business of the Year Award by the Small Business Administration and 2024 Most Inspiring Business Woman in CXO Outlook Magazine. Alisha has appeared on or has been quoted in many major publications, like Today’s Parent, HuffPost, Self, Fortune, Good Housekeeping, US News and World Report, Autism Parenting Magazine, The Company of Dads Podcast, and more.

Instagram: @collaborativeabaservices

Jamie Rosmarin Samet

Jamie Rosmarin Samet is a New York City- and Miami-based professional home organizer and stylist and founder of Curated Homes, By Jamie. A lifelong organizing enthusiast, she turned her passion into a business during the pandemic after realizing she found more joy in reorganizing her home than her corporate job. Now, she helps clients create beautiful, functional spaces through organizing, home edits, and thoughtful styling — all tailored to their unique lives.

Instagram: @curatedhomesbyjamie

Mitzi Upton

Mitzi Upton is an interior designer with over 35 years of experience and founder of Upton Designs. Her career has focused on residential design but occasionally she branches out into commercial projects. Her passion is guiding her clients to create a space that truly makes them happy by incorporating things they deeply love. She loves to pair vintage with new as well as traditional with contemporary to make a space feel well-curated and interesting.