Megan Roup's Must Haves: From Pregnancy-Safe Retinol to Dance-Cardio-Approved Sneakers

You've seen the hype around Dyson's hair dryer. Now, meet the Dyson Airstrait Straightener ($500). "It's expensive, but it's pretty freaking amazing," Roup says. It dries and straightens wet hair simultaneously, which makes your hair routine faster than ever. But if you're having flashbacks to the '90s wet-to-straight tools that burnt strands to a crisp, don't worry. Instead of using heat and tension like traditional straighteners, this new tool uses heat and airflow to create a super sleek look, without hot plates that singe your hair.

"It can take your hair from soaking wet out of the shower to looking like you've just had it professionally blow-dried or used a hot straightener — but without [as much] heat," Roup says. "And for me, my hair's really thin and I feel like the more heat I put on it, the worse it gets and the more damaged it gets. I'm at a stage of my life where I want to invest in products that aren't going to kill my hair. So I was really excited to use it and really impressed with how fast it actually worked." And when you're a mom of a kid under 2, every second you can get back is welcome. "If I can just wash my hair, it's a win," she says.

Pro Tip: You can lock the two arms of the Airstrait together, and then it functions like a regular blow dryer, whether you just want to blow dry without straightening or add volume to your roots.

Roup has been using the Seed DS-01 Daily Synbiotic ($50) for nearly four years. It's a combination pre- and probiotic, which means it contains both good gut bacteria strains as well as the food they need to thrive.

"What I love about Seed is they're so like scientific and very transparent about what they're putting into their product," Roup says. Seed contains 24 clinically and scientifically studied probiotic strains and a prebiotic created from Indian pomegranate.

"Gut health to me is so important because it's so connected to your overall health. It's your second brain," she says.

Pro Tip: The exact best time to take a probiotic is debated among experts. However, some research shows that taking a probiotic 30 minutes before or when starting a meal — and particularly one that includes fats — increases absorption.

Heads up: You can't keep using your beloved retinol product while pregnant or nursing. Roup has switched to Kora Organics Plant Stem Cell Retinol Alternative Serum ($75) during her second pregnancy, and she's loving it. "I feel like it's just as effective as the retinol I was using for a little bit right before I got pregnant," she says. "It's just so nice to know that I can be using it on my skin and get the same results."

Pro Tip: Retinol, the purest form of vitamin A, is touted for its ability to speed up cell turnover in your skin, which is great for fading scars and dark spots, clear up acne, and smooth out fine lines with continued use. Bakuchiol, the hero ingredient in this Kora serum, is a botanical but works similarly to retinol while being safe for pregnancy as well as gentler on the skin.

If you've ever hit up a dance cardio class like Roup's and experienced foot cramps or aching shins, your shoes may be to blame. She loves the New Balance Fresh Foam X 1080v12 ($160) for any type of workout, including her own method.

"I love those sneakers. I feel like I can like do any modality in them. I can do dance cardio, I can do sculpt, and I think they're like fashion-forward enough to where I can wear them out, which I really appreciate," she says. "They last a long time, too. I've been using them for over a year."

Pro Tip: "If anyone tells me that they're like experiencing shin splints or shin pain, the first question I ask is: How old are your sneakers? What sneakers are you wearing?" Roup says. "And are you stretching your calves before and after class? The sneaker is so important if you're doing any type of high-impact class."

"It's not fun getting dressed pregnant," Roup says. This Spacedye Keep Your Cool Maternity Slim Racerback Tank ($67) is her current savior in an athleisure climate where everything's cropped. "I've worn [the brand] before I was pregnant and now I also love that they have a really beautiful maternity line," she says. Roup says this tank is one of her favorite maternity workout clothes because it's not bulky, has a flattering fit, and because the "fabric is just so soft."

Pro Tip: If you're working out while pregnant and want some extra support for your belly, you can try a belly band, which wraps around your stomach and offers slight compression. (Think of it like a sports bra, but for your growing belly.) Here's a review of a pregnancy support band one editor tried and loved.