Posts

When I originally started my coat search, I thought I wanted to purchase one by a different well-known brand. But my search did a hard pivot when I happened upon the REI Co-op Magma 850 Down Hoodie 2.0 that’s currently available in gray, teal, and red in sizes XS to 3X. Don’t let the name fool you; this is far more than a hoodie. Instead, it’s a packable jacket that folds down into its left pocket should you ever need to compactly store it while traveling....

It’s no secret that great mascaras have come and gone, but clean formulas have left a lot to be desired in the past, especially when it comes to pigment, length, volume, and being long-lasting. Finding a clean mascara that can hold its own against traditional formulas can seem nearly impossible. It’s no wonder the first-ever mascara from Tower 28 made waves (pun intended) after three years of research and 88 prototypes—it even racked up an 11,000-person waitlist....

You can always expect to find seasonally on-point basics as well as items you can wear throughout the year at Madewell. And we’ve found the brand tends to keep this in mind whenever it launches a sale. The current sale, which allows you to save 20 percent off of orders of $100 or more or 30 percent off of orders of $200 and up by using the code GOSPREE, includes everything from everyday T-shirts and jean shorts to dresses and shoes....

I’m one of those people who has a problem eating just one s’more. I mean are you really only supposed to eat just one? I personally like to eat a bunch. There’s a reason I’ve done things like a DIY s’mores bar and a s’mores charcuterie board at parties in the past. They both kind of encourage you to eat at least two s’mores and honestly as many as you want....

“Sleep is like a bank account, and it takes time to build up and time to deplete,” says Alex Dimitriu, MD, founder of Menlo Park Psychiatry & Sleep Medicine. “Chronic sleep deprivation builds up to moodiness, depression, irritability, more anxiety, less impulse control … and worse, memory.” Hearing that, it’s pretty clear sleep procrastination is a bad thing. So why do we keep doing it—and how can we stop? We talked to the experts to find out....

Spanx just dropped additions to its activewear line, and it features booty-lifting leggings, comfy yoga pants, tennis skorts (skirts with built-in shorts underneath), and lightweight jackets that are all perfect for fall. With brand new products and new colors to customer-loved favorites, these athleisure staples will take you everywhere from the yoga studio to the ball game, and the couch. If you’re going to buy one thing from this launch, it should be the Booty Boost Perfect Pocket Active Leggings....

Now fire up the grill because we’re about to perfect those burger grilling techniques. Tips to Make the Most Flavorful Hamburger Patties A delicious homemade burger on the grill starts with a great patty. Follow these tips for making the best patties: The Meat Mix: The best hamburger meat for grilling is 85% lean (15% fat) ground beef. This ratio is better than leaner beef mixes because most of the fat drips away during grilling but leaves moisture and flavor behind....

Eucalyptus sheets—you might also see the word lyocell or the trademark name Tencel—are created from the wood pulp (cellulose) of eucalyptus and other plants like bamboo that is transformed into fibers. Those fibers are then used to make soft, cool-to-the-touch sheets. “Whether it’s bamboo or eucalyptus [sheets], they’re considered cooling to the touch because they have a very high ability to wick moisture,” says Preeti Gopinath, director of the MFA textiles program and associate professor of textiles at Parsons School of Fashion....

“An over-the-toilet storage cabinet can prove to be a clutch factor in a space-challenged bathroom,” says Clara Jung, principal designer at San Francisco’s Banner Day Interiors. “It will unwittingly provide much-needed shelf space for an often unoccupied area of the room. It’s easily accessible for visiting guests without having to ask—or snoop—for supplies.” To determine the best over-the-toilet storage, we spent hours researching and considering factors like type, size, and capacity....

To find the best warm tights, we spent hours researching the options on the market, assessing them for material, thickness, and style. We also took factors such as size range and color options into account. For expert advice, we received tips from López on how to shop for, style, and properly care for tights. Our best overall pick is Commando’s Eclipse Opaque Matte Tights. They’re thick, stretchy, and cozy—and since they’re unlined, they’re easy to layer under all kinds of different clothing....

To help you find the best quality linen sheets, especially since most bedding companies only offer refunds or exchanges on unused sheets, we spent three months measuring, washing, drying, and sleeping on linen sheets from 30 different brands — including Brooklinen, Saatva, Parachute, and Magic Linen — to find the best ones. Based on our testing, the sheets from The Citizenry came out on top, thanks to their incredible softness....

“Just as dinner parties have moved from formal and fancy to more relaxed and uninhibited, so have trends in dinnerware,” says Forrest. “We’re seeing a growing trend towards more patterned and maximalist styles, which signifies a move toward more freedom over our own dinner tables, and more freedom to entertain however we’d like.” That said, Forrest mentions that fine china is just as popular now as it has always been—but the patterns have gotten more colorful and fun....

To find the best fall candles, we spent hours researching what to look for in wicks, wax, and burn time. We also spoke to two candle experts—Dara Weiss, CEO and co-founder of L’or de Seraphine, and Eduardo Valadez, U.S. director of marketing for Diptyque—for tips on how to pick a fall-appropriate scent. “When choosing a scent, just go with [what] you like,” says Weiss. “Notes of vanilla, amber, cedar, patchouli, and frankincense are great to make your space cozy!...

To find the best shoe storage solutions, we researched hundreds of options, considering factors like size, shoe capacity, type, and style. We also spoke to two professional organizers—Holly Blakey, professional organizer at Breathing Room, and Joanna Wirick, life and home professional organizer at Joanna Organize—for advice on how to organize your shoes and choose the best storage solution for your space. “Look for a system that maximizes the space, but doesn’t take up space,” Blakey says....

While custom-built pergolas allow you to design a personalized look, they can cost thousands of dollars and require getting on a contractor’s schedule. DIY pergola kits are an attractive, affordable solution you can have delivered to your home and build on your own time in a day or a weekend, depending on your DIY experience and the pergola’s size and design. Sara Bendrick, a licensed landscape contractor in San Diego and TV host on the DIY Network and HGTV, loves how a pergola brings a wow factor to an outdoor living area....

If you’re participating in a white elephant exchange this year, finding the perfect quirky gift can be a challenge. Instead of buying an item that gets re-gifted or left behind at the end of the night, we’ve created a list of items your friends and family will actually want to take home. Our list of the best white elephant gifts under $35 features a handful of cute home decor items, board games, budget-friendly kitchen tools, and more....

“A good-quality aluminum pan will be extremely durable, conduct heat evenly, and won’t warp or bend like flimsier pans made with lower-gauge aluminum or cheaper materials,” says Elisa Lyew, owner and chef at Elisa’s Love Bites. “Look for sheets labeled as ‘one-piece construction,’ which will give you better durability and withstand regular wear and tear.” To find the best baking sheets, we asked 10 testers to put a variety of baking sheets to the test in their home kitchens....

To find the best cooling weighted blankets, we tested 35 options in our Lab while considering factors such as quality, comfort, warmth, ease of cleaning, durability, and value. We also spoke to Peter Polos, MD, sleep medicine specialist and sleep expert for Sleep Number, for tips on how to choose a cooling weighted blanket. “Temperature plays an important role in our ability to fall and stay asleep, so when our bodies are too warm (either because of the room temperature or our bedding), it can disrupt our sleep stages,” says Dr....

Editor-Loved Finds An easy way to practice sustainable shopping—no matter the brand or retailer—is simply to buy less by investing in pieces that will hold up over time, and that’s exactly what the designers intended for the clothing and home assortment. Seemingly small details, like the bedding’s thread count and material choice, ensure they last and get softer over time. And there are no trendy items featured. These basics and classic styles all come in timeless colors, ensuring they’re stylish now and for years to come....

SHAVING The Mistake: Dry Shaving We’ve all been there: Those times in the shower when you quickly run a razor over a few stray hairs on your legs or under your arms, sans shaving cream. But spending those few extra seconds lathering up is essential for preventing irritation and razor burns, says Deanne Robinson, MD, a dermatologist based in Westport, Conn. Taking a razor blade to “dry” skin (yes, even if it’s wet, it’s still considered “dry” shaving) is a recipe for excessive friction, the culprit behind unsightly redness and bumps....