For those who've yet to partake in this monthly shopping event, the rules are simple: after anonymously tracking all of the juicy purchase data from top-performing stories (including big sale roundups, coverage of the newest product drops, and passionate first-person trend pieces), we filter the product results and distill it down to the highest-ranking bestsellers. The resulting list gives us a glimpse into the big and little buys that in one way or another shaped this end-of-summer month — whether it was a pair of near-viral status faux-leather leggings, a do-it-all piece of pink cookware that made its sold-out comeback, or a four-pack of $7 silicone face scrubbers that sensitive-skin-prone readers swear by.
Scroll on to ogle your fill of those aforementioned finds and more before diving nose-first into whatever fall 2020 is about to dump on us.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. The product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Athleta Breathable Face Masks
This four-pack of breathable masks earned its wildly top-carted August spot due to its soft fabric and smartly designed interchangeable elastic binding that can be positioned anywhere from the nape of the neck to the crown of the head or wrapped around a ponytail in order to prevent hair snags and alleviate pressure on the backs of your ears.
Athleta Made to Move Mask 3 Pack, $, available at Athleta
Uniqlo AIRism Face Mask
While we're on the topic of breathable face masks that readers went absolutely bananas over in August: fan-favorite basic's brand Uniqlo launched a new collection of non-medical face mask this month that climbed the top-of-cart ranks. The no-frills-style coverings are crafted out of the brand's beloved AIRism material that is technology-backed to boast lightweight, moisture-wicking, and highly breathable benefits.
This four-pack of silicone exfoliators that readers have been carting up on Amazon for $7 was first brought to light as a reader's hidden gem beauty buy that she swears by for using on her sensitive skin: "These scrubbers are so soft and simple but really effective in gently scrubbing my skin (I do it once before bed with water and my cream cleanser applied) and give me a noticeably clear and brighter complexion when I wake up in the morning. They also provide such a cute pop of color by my bathroom sink. And for $7 for a four-pack it totally beats spending too much money those pricier battery-powered Foreos — which, tbh, were too irritating for my skin anyway. I love that this one only provides the amount of pressure that you want to put on your skin with your own fingers."
This particular top-purchased pair of ever-popular (and perfect for fall) Grand Crosscourt sneaks boasts a 4.7 out of 5 stars and bursting raves reviews from "Love the color, comfort and classic style. Can be worn with dresses, skirt, pants, shorts, and leggings. So, pretty much anything." to "This shoe is very comfortable. The leather is soft and fits ‘like a glove’. It is also true to size. Love it!"
The kicker? It combines those perfect-hair essentials with Byredo's bestselling Mojave Ghost scent "reimagined" into a sensual-woodsy blend of sandalwood, magnolia, and cedar. Hello, fancy hair days.
Ouai OUAI x BYREDO Super Dry Shampoo Mojave Ghost, $, available at Sephora
Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF50+
Over at our UK HQ, beauty writer Jacqueline Kilkita uncovers the benefits of Glycerin in her post titled, The Underrated Ingredient That Makes Dull, Dry Skin Glow. She offers plenty of insight from skin expert and founder of sas Aesthetics, Dr. Saleki who suggested glycerin as a way to keep moisture under lock and especially great for oily-prone skin. Readers looking to give the plant-based ingredient a try mostly scooped up the affordable drugstore option of Cetaphil with SPF 50+.
Cetaphil Daily Facial Moisturizer with SPF 50+, $, available at Amazon
SPANX Faux-Leather Leggings
Readers were all about bike shorts for summer, now we're about to get absolutely swarmed with a fall full of faux-leather-legging-clad work-from-homers. This sleek pair from SPANX is a year-round bestseller, but we saw sales rise and rise this month as shoppers get ready to transition their seasonal wardrobe staples.
SPANX Faux Leather Leggings, $, available at SPANX
Stila Stay-All-Day Liquid Liner
Stila — one of our favorite beauty OGs that brings us all the way back to highschool — dropped a new collection of luminous makeup this month that put the brand back on readers' cart radars. This resulted in its iconic eye classic, the Stay-All-Day Liner (our very own Shopping Director's makeup MVP), shooting back up to bestselling August fame. Get ready to bring your best winged-tips game for fall.
It may not be the back-to-school season we're used to, but getting back into the work-study mindset is still a high priority for R29 readers — and demonstrated their dedication through carting up the newly released Layers style of Erin Condren's bestselling LifePlanner.
Erin Condren Layers LifePlanner™, $, available at Erin Condren
Levoit HEPA Filter Air Purifier
For the second month in a row, this particular air purifier took the top-spot amongst air filtering purchases (and trust there are a ton of them being purchased this summer). Perhaps it's the added UVC light, or the nearly 14,000 Amazon reviews, or maybe it's the sharp comparable pricing — this air purifier is 2020's version of a hotcake.
It's important to note: HEPA (aka "high-efficiency particulate air") filters are top-rated for their ability to trap around 99.97% of tiny particles in the air — and although handwashing, social distancing, and wearing protective face coverings are the best first lines of defense against the spread of COVID-19, adding a high-quality home filtration system into the mix can help when layered in with those precautions.
Levoit H13 True HEPA Filter Air Purifier, $, available at Amazon
Ugg Fluff Yea Slippers
In the center of the Venn Diagram covering our edit of cute fuzzy slides and the top-selling goods from the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale, lies Ugg's collection of Fluff slippers — the soft & cozy indoor shoe that promises to snuggle your feet. They are currently on sale at Zappos and Nordstrom.
When beauty editor Thatiana Diaz set out to try the buzziest mascaras of the year, she wasn't excepting to fall in love with the cheapest one in the lot. But sometimes, dear readers, Lady Fortuity is on our sides. This oil-free formula promises to give lashes volume without smudging or clumping — and deliver it did. "The best part," says Diaz, "is that it lives up to its promise of not smudging, yet doesn't require too much tugging when it comes to removal. This was the overall winner [of buzzy mascaras] that's earned a permanent place in my makeup stash."
Essence Bye Bye Panda Eyes! Mascara, $, available at Ulta
Etsy Satin Face Mask
Sure, breathable face masks are essential and all but we still stan a good fashion mask too — especially when the season's change and we're looking for new styles to don in the chillier weather. Enter, the hand-crafted in the U.K. satin face mask R29 readers have selected as a top-of-the-August-cart buy. After being featured as part of Pantone's biggest fall color trend, Almond Oil, we can already envision how dreamy it will look when paired with our chunky knits and faux-leather leggings.
Not to mention, it also totes some positive Etsy review buzz: "Excellent in every respect. They were more than happy to make me a larger mask, great about my questions, and dispatch was so fast I wondered how they had time to make the mask. The mask is by far the most comfortable one I have worn. The lining is very smooth and gentle so it doesn't abrade the nose. The fabric is thick, so it provides effective protection and also maintains its shape (which makes it easier to breathe--it doesn't collapse in on the mouth and nostrils). It's also very flattering. The skin tones don't interfere with clothing colors. When I need a new mask, I will be coming back!"
The 3-speed vibrator crafted from 100% platinum-grade and water-resistant silicone has been a consistent reader AND customer favorite, boasting a 5-out-of-5-star rating on the brand's site and extensive reviewer praise: "I have probably invested almost a thousand dollars in sex-related purchases, and I think this may be my favorite one. I have bought multiple $100-$200 devices, but they don't compare to this little guy. Other vibes have 10+ settings that I get lost wading through in the moment. Not this one. It's the perfect size and the perfect reach. It's super easy to clean. I'm buying a second one today to have on hand so I'm never without. I climax every time. Just buy it."
Le Creuset bi-yearly Big Factory Sale has come to end but some of the best selling goods are still on super sale over at Sur La Table. If you missed LC's Big Factory Sale or you're thinking about going back for that matching petite cocotte, you now know where to find the goods.
As we inch towards fall, readers carted up the lightweight piece as an ideal transitional buy to wear as is or layered up with tees, turtlenecks, and sweaters.
Lulus Picnic Perfect Black and White Gingham Tiered Babydoll Dress, $, available at Lulus
Foundstone Mila Task Chair
It's no shocker that a cute and top-rated desk chair has yet again made our monthly most wanted list. But, as we inch even closer towards that back-to-school finish line, many of the previously sold-out reader-favorite styles (like this here Mila Task Chair from Wayfair) have been fortuitously restocked — and, as a result, carted up like WFH-supportive hotcakes.
Over 1,000 reviewers stan this chair for everything for looking exactly as pictured (aka chic), being easy to assemble, and adding pizazz to home offices.
Foundstone Mila Task Chair, $, available at Wayfair
Fenty Beauty Remove-It-All-Cleanser
With 4.7 out of 5 stars and raving reviews like, "My skin feels absolutely amazing after using the cleanser!!! I've only been using this stuff for 3 days and my skin is so glowy and hydrated. I want to cry and praise RiRi for releasing such an amazing product.
The amount you get in a bottle is insane because you don't need to use much at all so it'll definitely last a while. Absolutely love this <3," it's no wonder that this previously sold-out cleanser from RiRi's new skincare line become a top-carted reader favorite once it got its highly anticipated August restock.
Crafted from nourishing vegan ingredients, the creamy 2-in-1 formula acts as a makeup remove and cleanser — so you can ditch the makeup wipes altogether.
Fenty Skin Total Cleans'r Remove-It-All Cleanser, $, available at Fenty Beauty
Nike Palazzo Sweatpants
Nike's iteration of what we're forecasting to be the hottest WFH trend this fall: chillazzo pants — aka a hybrid of the elegant wide-legged palazzo pant and the casual-comfy sweatpant. The popular athleisure brand's pair reached top-shopped heights thanks to its slashed-price inclusion in Nordstrom's soon to conclude Anniversary event.
Nike Sportswear Knit Palazzo Pants, $, available at Nordstrom
Brookside Gel Memory Foam Mattress Topper
It's been the summer of bedding, from cooling sheet sets to organic mattresses and now bestselling toppers. Readers made a more affordable investment in their sleep spaces this August by carting up Brookside's top-rated, under-$100 gel memory foam mattress topper.
With over 2,000 reviews and a 4.7-out-of-5-star rating, reviews rave from "I bought a firm bed that turned out to be WAY TOO firm. Felt like I might as well be sleeping on a concrete floor. After I put this on my mattress, it provided the perfect amount of softness and comfort. My bed is so comfortable now and I am so glad I ordered this instead of buying a whole new bed." to "I’m so happy I bought this! My mattress is getting old so I was hoping this would help. I no longer feel like the springs are trying to stab me! I’m also getting a much better night of sleep. Now I can delay getting a new mattress for a while."
Outfitted with a patent-pending PopLock, the beautifully designed noggin essential allows you to securely attach your helmet to your bike lock. Plus, in the event that your helmet is stolen or damaged, the brand will replace it free of charge.
Thousand Heritage Bike Helmet, $, available at Thousand
Olaplex Hair-Bonding Treatment
You may have just caught this unassuming haircare duo featured in this week's edition of the top-trending items across the internet — and now, it's made top-cart August fame.
After testing Olaplex's new hair-bonding duo IRL, an R29 writer verified its deep-repairing, strengthening, and protective benefits that then shot it up to a bestselling reader buy; "From No. 0 to No. 7, Olaplex products can be used on all hair types and textures. Hair that is significantly damaged will see more dramatic results with No. 0, but if your lengths just look a little dull or feel a bit dry, it's definitely worth a try. It really does work."
Olaplex No. 0 Intensive Bond Building Hair Treatment Kit, $, available at Sephora
Winston Porter Tyriq Ladder Desk
The hunt for small-space-friendly workspace solutions is neverending for Refinery29 readers. The continual top-carted favorite is an unencumbered leaning style that (if and when we return to the actual office) can double as a minimalist-chic bookcase and decor-bauble display.
(Plus, it'll cost you even less than its normal under-$100 price tag thanks to a current sale sticker.)
Adidas Stan Smith Low Top Sneaker, $, available at Nordstrom
Everlane The Smock Dress
The summer-at-home house-dress trend took on a new shape during the month of August: The Snack Dress. While our coverage of this smocked yet-still-free-flowing frock was really just a renaming of its better-known predecessor, The Nap Dress, it still caught cart fire as a reader-favorite buy — who, we're guessing, agree that is actually is the perfect all-purpose style for napping and, most importantly, snacking in.
Everlane The Smock Dress, $, available at Everlane
Vacuums, Vacuums, Vacuums
It's no Prime Day, but readers were (and still are) online-shopping their ways through Amazon's BIG Summer Event to satiate their deal-hunting appetites until the big sale holiday hits. While there were far too many fleeting daily deals to keep track, the overall top-bought August trend was markdowns vacuums — like this pricey but currently 29%-off iRobot Roomba that over 1,000 customers rely on. As one reviewer attested, "It cleans better than my regular Dyson, if for no other reason than it will spend more time cleaning than I will and it gets the hair that I & my Dyson miss."
Ahead, a collection of strategic planters to grow kits that are crafted to make sprouting everything from fresh basil to ripe strawberries inside your space possible. Whether you're a novice gardener with only an apartment windowsill or a blossoming tomato enthusiast with an actual backyard, these goods can help grow a little patch of green in whatever space you call home.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Indoor Basil Garden Kit
Best For: Countertop Gardens
Modern Sprout's aesthetically pleasing and refreshingly giftable kits are ideal for at-home gardeners working with no outdoor space on top of very limited indoor space — the compact systems come crafted with a countertop-friendly self-watering planter, organic non-GMO herb seeds (from basil to mint), plant food, carbon, wick, and growing medium that make sprouting for beginners uncomplicated (and chic).
Modern Sprout Basil Indoor Garden Kit, $, available at Verishop
The Strawberries Forever Tree
Best For: Rooftop Gardens
Since strawberry plants do best in direct sunlight, this streamlined tree system is perfect for soil-less gardeners with rooftop access (or patios that receive prolonged sunlight throughout the day). The planter is crafted from UV-resistant polypropylene and provides five compartments that can hold up to two plants each with a sixth top compartment that can hold up to three, plus a built-in drainage system, and wall-mountable capabilities.
Hammacher Schlemmer The Strawberries Forever Tower, $, available at Hammacher Schlemmer
Self-Watering Windowsill Herb Garden
Best For: Windowsill Gardens
We're not talking about the lofty bay windows of your dreams; we're talking about the nearly-nonexistent ledges of your small-space realities. Growing an herb garden out of your own recycled bottles may be a no-frills affair, but it gets the compact-windowsill sprouting job done efficiently — each of Urban Leaf's U.S.-made kits comes packaged with biodegradable corn-starch inserts, enriched soil, germination domes, sticker labels, and three packets of seeds — meaning, you can enjoy your homegrown purple basil to Thai basil or dill like you're living a farm-fresh fairytale.
Urban Leaf Self-Watering Windowsill Herb Garden, $, available at The Grommet
The Instant 9 Plant Garden
Best For: Sun-less Gardens
Although on the pricier side, this impressive grow system is strategically engineered for indoor gardens with little to no access to natural light. The nine soil pods are supported by an integrated water reservoir system along with a built-in LED lamp that provides an automatic 16-hour cycle of light that fosters the growth of everything from herb seeds to lettuce.
Hammacher Schlemmer The Instant 9 Plant Garden, $, available at Hammacher Schlemmer
Balcony Rail Planter Box
Best For: Stoop Or Sidewalk Gardens
If all you've got is your front stoop (and some railing real estate) then let this strategically handmade planter be your garden savior. Each of these over-the-railing boxes is crafted from water and bug-resistant cedarwood in a design ideal for growing everything from edible plants to flowers and herbs.
FifteenDegree Angled Balcony Rail Planter Box - Dark Stain, $, available at Etsy
Raised Garden Grow Box
Best For: Deck Gardens
Amazon reviewers plug this self-watering gardening box as perfectly-sized for deck spaces and easy growing for plants with shallower roots (including everything from beans to tomatoes, peppers, and herbs).
Emsco Group Earth Brown Resin Raised Garden Bed Grow Box Kit, $, available at Amazon
Herb Garden In A Can
Best For: Fire-Escape Gardens
This trio of cans was made to serve as the compact and durable yet dutiful and resourceful herb-garden answer to your barren fire-escape real estate. The all-encompassing planters are filled with everything needed (from seeds to soil and instructions) to grow your own organic mint, basil, and cilantro over the course of a few summer months.
Back To The Roots Garden in a Can Herb Grow Kit, 3 Pack, $, available at World Market
Raised Bed Garden
Best For: Backyard Gardens
For those blessed with real backyards that are built for in-ground beds, get started on your garden journey with a raised wooden bed that's ideal for housing small plots of vegetables to herbs and even flowers (if that's your thing) in supportive open-space style. Crafted with sturdy steel corners for easy at-home assembly, this bed from a Black-owned and Brooklyn-based plant shop eliminates the need for tilling or soil amending. All you need to get started? Sun, soil mix, and some seeds.
Natty Garden Raised Bed Garden, $, available at Natty Garden
Organic Hanging Tomato Growing Kit
Best For: Cramped Patio Gardens
If you're dealing with limited outdoor space this hanging planter kit will help you achieve elevated garden heights. And, depending on the amount of sunlight that hits your spot, this system is built to house everything from cherry to Roma tomatoes, jalapeno peppers, and various herbs of your choosing. Each kit comes packaged with a reusable (and recyclable) eco-fabric growing bag, nylon hanging rope, coco-potting soil, a shovel, and packets of non-GMO seeds.
Touch of ECO Organic Hanging Roma Tomato Growing Kit, $, available at Wayfair
Crystal Clear Window Planter
Best For: Window Gardens
When you don't even have a sill for sprouting your garden on, this clever planter allows your greens to get vertical: it is crafted with adhesives that attach to non-porous surfaces (like window panes, tiles, and even mirrors) and is designed with drainage holes and a catch basin for watering that's suitable for both herbs and flowers.
Anthropologie Urbz Crystal Clear Window Planter, $, available at Anthropologie
Community Garden Resources
Best For: Local Garden Support
Explore your local resources for programs that bring communities together through the sustainable teaching and practices of farming and gardening in urban areas — whether you want to make a donation in support of their cause or learn more about how to get involved in upcoming events, check out a few Black-owned initiatives below.
Puzzles are not a new concept. The boxes filled with cardboard or wood cutouts that, when pieced together properly, form a picture have been around since the mid-1700s — and are often tied to the likes of children, retired dads, and my 85-year-old grandmother. But now, nearly 300 years later in the unusual spring of 2020, puzzles have suddenly become a hot and trendy commodity.
Our already limited apartment surfaces are covered in them, our social media feeds flooded with chaotic pictures of them, our pets are chewing on "lost" pieces of them, our thoughts are consumed with them: but damn it, we must puzzle. To satisfy this strong urge to solve, we hunted down the best sites for delivering our next challenge in a box directly to our doorsteps — ASAP.
Whether a burgeoning puzzle enthusiast in search of an attainable 100-piecer or a president of the WFH puzzle club who's onto the next 1,000+ scene, the options ahead will keep your wandering mind sharp, your idle fingers busy, and your Instagram story on-trend during these socially remote days.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Zazzle
Among such scenes titled "Taco Cats Space" to "Galaxy Cat Universe" and beyond, Zazzle pretty much sells material from your most fantastical puzzle-obsessed dreams. But, if you're more into the classics, it's got a breadth of Seurat to Vincent van Gogh-style options too.
Zazzle Taco Cats Space Jigsaw Puzzle, $, available at Zazzle
Jiggy
If there was ever a compelling case to be made for Instagramming your quarantine puzzle, this covetable brand is making it. Although quite a few of the most popular styles, designed by cool-girl female artists, are currently on a waitlist, there is still a handful you can get your paws on now — to either display as a decor piece inside their smooth glass canister, or to fawn out across an open surface inside your space as a chaotic-chic scene. Each kit also comes packaged with puzzle glue, so you can immortalize your master solving skills with a framable art piece.
Per usual, Etsy is our go-to for customizable anything — puzzles now included. Get ready to complete your most intimate challenge yet, with personalized puzzle scenes of everything from your wedding photos to your baby's face and even your doggo (who will probably munch on it anyway).
ISeeMeBooksUS Custom Puzzle for Adults 500 Piece | Boredom Buster | Pet Portrait | PZF100, $, available at Etsy
Uncommon Goods
This site full of uncommon goods, as you may have already guessed, offers uncommon puzzles! Some of our favorite subject matter includes (but is not limited to) a wide range of female-empowerment, climate-action, ombre wooden styles, and this here NYT number.
Uncommon Goods New York Times Custom Front Page Puzzle, $, available at Uncommon Goods
Bed Bath & Beyond
If you've ever wondered what the Beyond part of Bed Bath entails, it's puzzles. The home essentials retailer offering quite the smorgasbord of boxed classics, from Norman Rockwell's "The Saturday Evening Roast" to DC Comics' "Batman Collage" and...beyond.
The MET Store Dehn: Spring in Central Park Puzzle, $, available at The Met Store
Urban Outfitters
While the current selection is limited, it's highly curated and super cool — for the trendy puzzlers out there. We're talking everything from your Areaware pizza puzzles to your Golden Girls 1000-piecers.
Areaware Little Puzzle Thing, Pizza Slice, $, available at Urban Outfitters
Amazon
What can we say, other than the Zon offers any and every type of puzzle you could ever fathom of endeavoring to solve — from puzzle play mats (yes, really) to 3-D puzzles (whoa, trippy), floor puzzles (tablespace not necessary), and classic 1000-piecers (let your imagination run wild).
Nervous System Natural Puzzle, $, available at The Grommet
ban.do
Another finite but fancy collection: scratch your itch to solve with ban.do's slim but stylish selection of Dusen Dusen to still-life cereal print puzzles by Areaware.
Areaware Pattern Puzzle - Arc, $, available at ban.do
Walmart
Walmart conveniently offers all you puzzle-heads out there a plethora of GOT to Harry Potter fanfare material that's also conveniently eligible for free 2-day delivery, direct to your doorstep.
Wrebbit Puzzles Game of Thrones - The Red Keep 3D Puzzle: 845 Pcs, $, available at Walmart
Target
The red bullseye retailer's puzzle selection is straightforward, strong, and mostly Disney-themed — good for those looking to pick up everything from kid-friendly under-50-piece boxes to the more experienced 100+-piecers.
