The whole hanging-out-exclusively-outdoors thing was no big deal during summer and fall, but now that we're heading into the colder winter months, we're slightly more hesitant to accept that park-hang invitation. With that (and approaching holiday gift swaps) in mind, consider getting your friends and loved ones the kind of winter gear that'll keep them warm in any outdoor situation — which, for us, all starts with the right footwear.
From a stylish pair of platform Chelsea boots she can slip on for outdoor dining at her favorite restaurant to the waterproof duck boots she can lace up for a weekend hiking trip upstate, we rounded up the best winter boots to gift your sister, friend, or even yourself this season. And the best part? They're all on sale at Nordstrom Rack right now, with prices up to 70% off. Scroll on to check out all the covetable styles — and don't forget to find out her shoe size, first.
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.
Dirty Laundry Montana Chelsea Lug Boot, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
JBU by Jambu Cleveland Waterproof Faux Shearling Lined Duck Boot, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
Frye Melissa Button Inside Zip Leather Boot, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
Sperry Saltwater Waterproof Duck Boot, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
Tommy Hilfiger Slushe Quilted Faux Fur Lined Rainboot, $, available at Norstrom Rack
Susina Hanna Hiker Bootie, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
Cole Haan Idina Stretch Leather Boot, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
Pajar Ceria Genuine Shearling Trimmed Waterproof Boot, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
Chooka Eastlake Chelsea Faux Fur Waterproof Boot, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
Koolaburra by Ugg Koola Mini II Faux Fur Lined Boot, $, available at Nordstrom Rack
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In true 2020 fashion, Halloween is looking a little different this year. But even if you're not sipping spiked cider as you watch trick-or-treaters go by or purchasing a way too expensive ticket for a way too crowded bar this October 31, there's still something to be said for dressing up anyway and making the most of it. If nothing else, it's the perfect excuse to try your hand at some all-out Halloween makeup ideas.
And after months of spending time indoors, it's no surprise that our biggest spooky-season inspiration is coming from all the films and TV shows we've been binging during quarantine. Ahead, check out how three influencers recreated iconic beauty looks of some of their favorite on-screen characters. From a rhinestone cat eye à la Maddie Perez in HBO Original's Euphoria to a frightening doll look inspired by HBO's Annabelle Comes Home, get your fix of Halloween beauty inspo ahead, and sign up for a free 7-day trial (restrictions apply) of HBO Max today.
TV Show:The Flintstones
Director Sofia Coppola has a way of capturing formative periods of time in her films: the suburban boredom of teenage years; the longing for purpose post-graduation; and, most recently, the tenuous relationship between a grown daughter and father, in her latest film, On the Rocks. Starring Rashida Jones and Bill Murray, the film centers on a young mother reconnecting with her aging, playboy father in order to tail her potentially unfaithful husband around New York City.
In the virtual roundtable, above, Coppola joins Jones and famed relationship therapist Esther Perel to discuss some of the universal themes in the film. They dive into everything from the secret to maintaining desire in a long-term marriage to the ways in which quarantine acts as a relationship accelerator. Tune in to the entire conversation and stream On the Rocks on Apple TV+ today.
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You know that endorphin-induced moment right after a yoga class, when you feel both calm and energized at the same time? Well, what if we told you there’s a way to bring that same euphoric sensation to your skin? Enter Artistry Studio Skin, a new line of innovative skin-care essentials exclusively from Amway powered by botanical ingredients that strike that perfect balance of soothing Zen and vibrant energy.
Each of the nine multi-functional products in the line combines a “Zen” ingredient with an “energy” ingredient, to grant skin-care beginners and gurus alike more healthy, radiant skin. Think: a foaming sheet mask that pairs relaxing lavender with carbonated bubbles, an exfoliating cleanser that couples soothing aloe vera with invigorating bamboo grains, or salicylic acid-infused acne dots that combine calming tea tree oil with purifying volcanic ash.
What’s more, to celebrate the launch of the new line, Artistry Studio is bringing together a mix of industry experts and influencers for a two-day virtual event on September 25 and 26. The Zen + Energy Virtual Retreat will feature lifestyle-focused virtual sessions and tutorials to help skin-care lovers feel re-centered, re-focused, and more connected. Sign up here to join the celebration and enter for a chance to win a complimentary Artistry Studio Skin mailer.
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What’s the point of using hot tools when the only person who will see the finished result is your roommate? All that damage and for what? Still, there’s something to be said about having your hair done (as opposed to throwing it up in a messy pony) — it makes you feel put-together, accomplished, normal. So, to create those full, voluminous styles without turning on the curling iron, we tapped R29 video editor Christianne Gormley to share her personal tutorial.
Using key products she picked up at the CVS Epic Beauty Event, like SheaMoisture’s leave-in detangler and Conair’s flexible rollers, watch how Christianne turns her pin-straight hair into soft, bouncy curls overnight.
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Usually, our back-to-school shopping list consists of statement dresses for that first-day 'fit, cute-but-functional flats for zipping around campus, and book bags big enough to actually fit our laptops. But now, with hundreds of colleges opting for online classes and students suddenly Working From Couch, comfort is king and cozy, everyday loungewear is our new M.O. — especially bathrobes.
There's the simple cotton robe you can totally get away with wearing to your 8 a.m. Zoom seminar. There's the plush, pillow-soft option with Kindle-sized pockets for storing all your flashcards. And then there's the long, silky slip-on for the moment you change out of your daytime PJs into your nighttime PJs, of course.
Whatever type of bathrobe you're looking to wrap yourself up in this semester, we've rounded up 13 of the best options out there to help you lounge like you mean it. Shop our favorites, ahead.
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.
Be honest: When was the last time you took a good, hard look at your skin-care routine and considered how well it's actually working for you? Our skin concerns change as we age, so the products you've been using on autopilot for the past few years, or even months, might not be serving your skin concerns of today — and it's probably time for an update.
Take a minute to reevaluate what it really is you want to address with your skin-care routine: Dullness? Clogged pores? Dark circles? Dryness? Then, let us help with the rest.
In partnership with Sephora, we put together a skin-concern cheat sheet that breaks down exactly what types of products and ingredients you should look out for to help address eight of the most common skin-care concerns for any age. From a salicylic-acid-spiked spot treatment to help target the occasional breakout to a gentle yet effective retinol that'll soften the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, find your best skin-care solve, ahead.
Your skin concern: Breakouts
Age: Teens+
What to look for: A salicylic-acid-spiked spot treatment that will target congested pores and help fight against acne-causing bacteria — without affecting the rest of your skin. This powerful duo from Peace Out Skincare includes protective blemish stickers to help keep acne at bay (and prevent you from picking), along with tiny microneedling patches to help lighten the appearance of dark spots for a more even skin tone.
Peace Out Acne Healing Dots + Dark Spot Dots Duo, $, available at SephoraYour skin concern: Clogged pores
Age: Teens+
What to look for: A lightweight clarifying serum that will help decongest clogged pores. This non-greasy option from Sephora Collection features salicylic acid to reduce the look of blemishes and hyaluronic acid to provide a boost of moisture in the process. What's more, it is part of the "Clean" category at Sephora (which means it's formulated without ingredients like parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and more) and comes in eco-minded packaging.
Sephora Collection Clarifying Serum, $, available at SephoraYour skin concern: Dullness
Age: 20s+
What to look for: An exfoliant that features an effective mix of acids to promote cellular turnover for glowier skin. Try these daily two-step peel pads from Dr. Dennis Gross: The "Step 1" pads are pre-soaked with AHAs and BHAs to gently exfoliate while the "Step 2" pads are fueled with powerful ingredients like retinol to neutralize the acids, smooth skin, and promote a plump, glowy complexion.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta® Extra Strength Daily Peel, $, available at SephoraYour skin concern: Dark circles
Age: 20s+
What to look for: An eye serum packed with pure vitamin C to visibly brighten dark circles and help soften the look of fine lines. This serum from Kiehl's, which visibly brightens blue and brown dark circles, also features peptides and hyaluronic acid to help smooth, hydrate, and reinforce this extra-sensitive area.
Kiehl's Powerful-Strength Dark Circle Reducing Vitamin C Eye Serum, $, available at SephoraYour skin concern: Fine lines
Age: 30s+
What to look for: Retinol, retinol, retinol. The storied skin-firming ingredient is known for visibly improving uneven tone and texture, restoring bounce and resilience, and softening the appearance of fine lines by promoting skin cell turnover. Try using this cream from Drunk Elephant — which features 1% clean, vegan retinol and superfood-rich ingredients — once or twice a week (to start) for smoother, more supple skin.
Drunk Elephant A-Passioni™ Retinol Cream, $, available at SephoraYour skin concern: Dark spots
Age: 40s+
What to look for: A daily-use product that features brightening ingredients to address dark spots, visibly even tone, and give skin that lit-from-within glow. This oil-free gel moisturizer from Caudalie features a trio of superstars: viniferine to brighten dark spots, niacinamide to even complexion, and natural pearlizers to add a subtle glow.
Caudalie Vinoperfect Brightening Moisturizer with Niacinamide, $, available at SephoraYour skin concern: Dryness
Age: 50s+
What to look for: A hyaluronic-acid-powered moisturizer, like this lightweight, super-hydrating gel-cream from Fresh. Time-release hydro-patches deliver up to 24 hours' worth of hydration, so this restorative cream made with soothing rose water keeps working long after you've slathered it on. The angelica leaf extract helps retain moisture, too.
Fresh Jumbo Rose & Hyaluronic Acid Deep Hydration Moisturizer, $, available at SephoraYour skin concern: Loss of elasticity
Age: 50s+
What to look for: A potent treatment with a high concentration of collagen to help restore suppleness and bounce back to the skin. This serum from Algenist utilizes active vegan collagen to plump and condition skin, along with hydrating alguronic acid (naturally and sustainably sourced from algae) to minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Algenist GENIUS Liquid Collagen, $, available at Sephora
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For some, a lipstick is just a lipstick. But for others, it’s a source of strength, creativity, and expression. In our series Power Faces, we’ll explore the relationship between strong women and the makeup they choose to wear — or not. Our latest subject, in partnership with Target Beauty, is Enam Asiama, a 25-year-old model and plus-size advocate born in Ghana currently living in London. This story was told to Jennifer Mulrow and edited for length and clarity.
My first point of contact in terms of beauty was my mother. She was hyper-femme, and everything had to be very classy with bold prints and full makeup. I grew up watching her get ready for special occasions — mainly church. Church, especially in Africa, is such a massive culture in and of itself. I would sit and watch her doll up, and I would be mesmerized, so eager to help her pick new eyeshadow colors to try.
I took on my mother’s love for beauty, even working as a makeup artist during my gap year. It’s a lot of hard work, and when you always want something right, it can drive you crazy sometimes. I don’t think I was ready for that. But that’s how I got into the modeling industry. A lot of photographers on set would say, “Oh, I’d love to shoot you. You look amazing.” I have quite a bold personality, too, which helped.
FORGING IDENTITY
I was born and partly raised in Ghana, until I was 9 years old and we moved to Birmingham, England. I grew up in a Christian household, so a lot of the things that I saw in terms of beauty were about modesty and elegance. The culture in Ghana is that women have to look and act like women, and men have to act and be like men. I feel like that transcends globally.
The beauty standards in Ghana have changed a lot. It was one of the first places in Africa to ban bleaching when, at the time, it was such a prevalent part of Ghanaian and African culture. The lighter your skin was, the “better looking” you were. People treated you differently because of your proximity to whiteness, meaning you came off as more classy, rich, educated, well put together. That’s the culture I was raised in.
My baseline for measuring my beauty came from words that were used to describe me as a child: “fatty bombom,” “obolobo,” and so on. I had fairer skin and was physically much taller and bigger than my peers, which I was teased for at times. My parents always taught my siblings and me to focus on our education as a means of rising above, as their parents taught them.
As an adult, I’ve had time to form my own understanding of beauty while curing some of the damage. I am a Black, African-British, fat, queer, and femme individual. I happen to fall under labels that are deemed undesirable and unworthy of any real protection. I am humbled and saddened by the limited amount of representation for people that look like me, but I believe that representation can start with me.
COME AS YOU ARE
I eventually moved to London for university and decided to stay because I felt I could express myself better here. Being in England is a massive contrast from being in Ghana, in terms of the things I saw and the type of people I was around. In London, I’m always seeking areas that are full of life and different cultures and diversity.
A lot of who I am has been influenced by the drag queer scene. When I first moved to London, the people I was hanging around were taking over queer nightlife. The way that you dress for a night out, you have to come through with a look. Think: multi-colored eyeshadow to match your colored eye contacts; glossy vibrant lids to accompany sticky, bold lips; over-arched brows drawn to nearly touch your baby hairs. There wasn’t any pressure to look or act a certain way, though — you just come as you are. I noticed that a lot of people wore bold makeup, had big hair, or had a specific personality that was quirky and weird. I finally felt like I fit in.
I’ve taken on my mom’s attitude of being hyper-femme, but hanging around the people I do now, who don’t play into gender norms, has shown me that it’s good to tap into my masc side, as well. To me, that means putting less pressure on myself to look a certain way and being more dominant in what I want from myself and what I want for those around me — to be performative about strength.
With makeup, I tap into my hyper-femme side by creating colorful brows, overdrawn lips, smoldering smoky eyes, or graphic shapes. I even like to use flowers or draw hearts or stars with shimmery shadows to be the center of attention not just on arrival. Tapping into my masc side, I try to keep it basic: light concealer instead of foundation, tinted lip balms and natural-looking blusher, simple mascara with no lashes. I still keep my lips overdrawn but in a classic, brown shade with no gloss. I feel that my hyper-femme side will always play into my more masc-appearing self, for balance.
GODDESS ENERGY
I feel like everybody needs to fall into activism at least once in their life. So much of what I know about society is don’t do this and don’t do that. Don’t wear this and don’t look that way. I’m a stubborn person, so I’ve channeled all my stubborn energy into taking over the world by showing who I am, showing my character, and telling people it’s okay to focus on positivity and being a light and a voice in someone’s life.
If you’re a good person and you have great intentions for others — and for yourself, first and foremost — it will show through as this goddess energy. That is such a massive, driving force in who I am and what my platform represents. That is what beauty is all about.
Being around a lot of creatives, I’ve heard so many stories of those around me striving to make the media more inclusive of Black people, something that’s been missing for the longest time. I think that if I bring that energy, especially as a plus-size Black person, I can be part of the fight for inclusivity for every type of person out there. I will forever promote the agenda that Black is beautiful and fat folks are worthy of visibility and love.
TRANSFORMATIVE TECHNIQUE
I feel the most like myself in theatrical and editorial makeup that involves lines, colors, textures, and shapes — anything with unplanned, 3D, or freehand designs. I believe makeup is art, and when I put on makeup to go out, it’s like working on a piece of art. I love having color choices, like with this retro ’80s colorblocked eyeshadow. It takes pops of greens and pinks to a whole new level.
When I’m on set, the makeup brings this energy, a driving force. I feel visible and I feel seen. All of my intersects — being Black, queer, femme, fat — all of these different minority groups come together and create this one bubble of strength. It’s like I’m seen now, and I’m heard.
I feel the most confident in Hollywood-glam makeup: golden bronze eyes, black-winged liner, and a dark red or burgundy lip — like the daring, dark-brown lip look from today, which complements my equally brown skin. My makeup has to be all-around diva. I want your soul to be snatched. I want people to sense that their souls are about to get snatched before I walk out the door. And when I walk past, I want the, “Oh my god, who is she?” And I’m like, ENAM!
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