As tempting as it may be to say, "see you never, 2020," we're taking a moment to reflect on the year — and owning what we learned to do some *serious* manifesting ahead of 2021. One way to make it happen that's not actual witchcraft? Mindful journals that allow you to put thoughts and feelings to paper.
We asked R29 readers to share what their intentions were as we head into 2021 and then compiled the most popular responses into a neat guide of helpful planners. We're ringing in 2021 with a fresh perspective, renewed appreciation, and some dynamite goals and thought-starters that a journal can help capture and catapult into real life. (And trust us, you don't need to be a "planner person" to upgrade from a crowded Notes app on your phone to the IRL thing.)
Whether you want to neutralize negativity vis-Ã -vis a gratitude practice or want to boost that bank account with healthy money habits, we're kicking things off with a shortlist of healthy manifestations to get the party started. Ahead, find 22 journals that'll inspire you to live your best life.
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Self-care Mindful Journals
It's a term that you've probably heard more times last year than in your entire life thus far — "self-care." However as much as brands may tell you that self-care is as simple as applying skin care while clad in a fluffy robe, the truth is that self-care looks different for everyone. Tap into your own version of soul-nurturing "happy triggers" (as my therapist affectionately calls things like bike-riding and painting my nails, for me) with a mindful journal that allows you to begin or end any day on a high note.
Self-Care Master Plan
Free Period Press Self-Care Master Plan: A Guided Journal, $, available at Free Period Press
Self-Care: A Day and Night Reflection Journal
Insight Editions Self-Care: A Day and Night Reflection Journal, $, available at Urban Outfitters
Gratitude Journals
"I tend to be reactive in my journaling, usually when I'm in a place of frustration rather than gratitude," wrote one R29 reader. "[This year] has reminded me to take the time to write down the good things in my life, and hopefully have that positivity there when I need a reminder." Another bonus to a gratitude practice? "I'm also hoping it can bleed into other areas of my life to increase my overall nature to be more focused on the positive than the things that can or have gone wrong — 2020, am I right?!"
The Five-Minute Journal
Intelligent Change The Five-Minute Journal, $, available at Urban Outfitters
Gratitude: A Journal
Catherine Price Gratitude: A Journal, $, available at Amazon
Whether it's paying off student loans or saving up for a down payment, maybe you're manifesting your most financially fit year yet in 2021. If you tend to find yourself wondering how your paycheck got spent (...again), foster healthy money habits with the help of these budget planners and trackers.
GoGirl Budget Planner
GoGirl Budget Tracker - Monthly Financial Planner, $, available at Amazon
Printable Financial Journal
PrettyPinkPlanners Printable Financial Journal, Budget Planner, $, available at Etsy
Reading Logs
Calling all bookworms: If you spent 2020 devouring tomes like there was no tomorrow (which, at some low points, it may have seemed so), level up your reading habit by mindfully charting all your reads of the year in a journal that's basically your Goodreads account come to life via a book itself. (Bonus points if you enlist friends to join you during a reading challenge.)
ObviousState Kate Chopin Literary Notebook, $, available at Etsy
Minted Plaid Framed Notebook
Minted plaid framed notebook, $, available at Minted
Organizational Planners
After what feels like the most chaotic year to date, we're all likely ready to KonMari 2020's flaming dumpster fire from our lives. Manifest your most on-top-of-your-sh*t year with an organization journal to keep everything in one place.
Weekly Layout Stencil
FunForYourPlanner Weekly layout stencil for Bullet journal and planner, $, available at Etsy
Daily Planner
Bliss Collections Daily Planner with 50 Undated 8.5 x 11 Tear-Off Sheets, $, available at Amazon
Meal Prep Journals
If you relied on your Doordash account a little too much this year, manifest your inner Ina by chronicling your favorite recipes in a recipe or meal prep journal.
HammondinkPaper Meal Planner Notebook - Meal Prep - Arrows, $, available at Etsy
Social Planners
"I want to be more social and push myself out of my comfort zone," wrote in one R29 reader to our survey. With that in mind, make 2021 the year you dutifully pepper your social calendar with quarantine plans large and small; get coffee with your BFF, order in a sushi-and-sake pairing from your local spot to enjoy with friends via Zoom, or make a standing FaceTime date with your mom.
Papier Boho Rainbow 2021 Planner
Papier Boho Rainbow 2021 Planner, $, available at Papier
Best Year Yet Journal
Chronicle Books Best Year Yet Journal, $, available at Free People
Dream Journals
Track your way to making dreams into reality (and learn to interpret the other kind of dreams from your subconscious) with dream journals to tap into the inner workings of your brain.
Erin Condren Vision Journal Notebook
Erin Condren Vision Journal Notebook, $, available at Erin Condren
The Dreaming I: An Interactive Dream Journal
Kezia Vida The Dreaming I: An Interactive Dream Journal, $, available at Amazon
Knock Knock Dream Journal
Knock Knock Knock Knock Dream Journal, $, available at Amazon
Papier Colourblock Notebook
Papier Colourblock Notebook, $, available at Papier
Fitness Journal
Virtual workouts skyrocketed in popularity this past year, and if you really want to take things up a notch, a dedicated fitness journal will help you hone any home practice as you keep building up your strength in a measured, slow-and-steady-wins-the-race way.
Love Sweat Fitness 2021 Planner
Love Sweat Fitness 2021 Planner | Weekly and Monthly Calendar, $, available at Amazon
Cossac Fitness Journal & Workout Planner
Cossac Fitness Journal & Workout Planner, $, available at Amazon
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A new beauty launch always comes with the requisite bells and whistles, but few skin-care brands generate the kind of Schmidt fromNew Girl excitement quite like a fresh Tatcha drop. Whether it was the award-winningmakeup primer heard ’round YouTube or their game-changing gel-cream, the Japanese-inspired brand always manages to knock it out of the park. And with its latest potion, I must admit: I’m smitten.
Enter, The Dewy Serum, which is in good (nay, great) company with its cream, night concentrate, sheet mask, and face mist extended family. Launching today, the milky, lightweight serum is a welcome addition to anyone who, like me, craves healthy, radiant skin, but also doesn’t want to look like a Krispy Kreme doughnut. Keep reading for my initial thoughts, results, and whether or not it’s worth the $88 price point.
First impressions…
I received an early lab sample of The Dewy Serum encased in a plain, tiny vial, and I was initially trepidatious to see that the serum was milky-white and lotion-y in appearance. My oily, acne-prone skin doesn’t fare well with thick products of any kind, especially when maskne is already an uninvited guest on my chin and jawline. However, the dry, brittle air outdoors (and in my drafty bedroom) has made my face feel like it’s evaporated, so I was down to try a product that claimed to hydrate and lock in moisture.
After dispensing two pumps, I was pleasantly surprised at the texture: Far lighter than I expected and void of any noticeable fragrance. I applied it after my toner and my skin drank it right up. Even after applying my moisturizer, my skin felt plump and juicy, not greasy. And much like another newly-dropped, glow-boosting serum, the result wasn’t a glassy-wet finish on skin: My complexion just looked healthy and fresh-faced, like I’d just emerged from a spa facial.
Since my skin tends to dry out a bit around mid-day, I decided to get a little ~wild~ and apply The Dewy Serum on top of my sunscreen as a hydrating boost. While this may not be the best way to make the most of the potent formula — enriched with plant-based hyaluronic acid and sugarcane-derived squalane — I have to admit that it got the job done far better than any face mist.
The Verdict…
At $88 for one ounce, it’s an expensive product. That said, if you’re serious about hydration (which if you made it this far into this review, you possibly are), I have to say: It’s a really nice serum, and if you have misbehaving skin like mine, you know the challenge of finding a product to quench dry skin without feeling heavy or causing breakouts.
I loved the way my skin looked short-term: hydrated, bouncy, soothed. Long-term, the serum claims to minimize fine lines and improve texture, elasticity, and brightness. After using it for a month, I do feel like my hyperpigmentation has faded ever so slightly — which, if this is just the beginning, does make me impressed at this jack-of-all-trades skin juice.
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There's nothing like the satisfaction of snagging a big-ticket item at a discount, but sales are also a great time to get a deal on the stuff you're already buying — and if there's one product that defines the spending habits of 2020, it's face masks.
It didn't quite happen overnight, but over a relatively short period of time, virtually everyone (not an exaggeration) was ordering reusable cloth face coverings en masse. Fashion brands eventually chimed in, manufacturing printed varieties to make the public health essential item as much of a personal style statement as possible. And in a 2020 turn of events, masks just might be the breakout item of Black Friday; brands from Madewell to Pact are including masks in their Cyber sale offerings, and with vaccine production still pending FDA approval, don't expect to stop wearing masks anytime soon. (Another tip: Include them as a thoughtful stocking stuffer for gifts you're sending to out-of-state friends and family.) Ahead, the best deals to shop now.
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.
Uniqlo
Dates: 11/27 — 11/29 Deal: Get a free 3-pack of AIRism Face Masks with any purchase of $150+
Update, November 12, 2020: As of Tuesday, November 10, the CDC updated its COVID-19-related health-and-safety guidelines to reflect that studies are now showing the use of non-medical face masks can protect the wearer in addition to those around them. According to studies, the CDC claims that “cloth mask materials can also reduce wearers’ exposure to infectious droplets through filtration, including filtration of fine droplets and particles less than 10 microns.” However, it’s important to remember that not all face masks are created equal and wearers should choose materials and styles that are most effective for filtration: “Multiple layers of cloth with higher thread counts have demonstrated superior performance compared to single layers of cloth with lower thread counts.”
This story was originally published on September 22, 2020
By now, you’ve hopefully incorporated face masks as a standard part of your everyday routine (if not, then allow me to kindly point you towards this two-minute Paul Rudd PSA). With new studies and at-times misleading CDC guidelines constantly hitting our news feeds, it can be tricky to keep up with the most reliable information on how best to stay safe and healthy. But if there’s one top constant we can keep in mind, it’s that not all face coverings are created equal — and we consulted a medical expert to breakdown the ABCs of what exactly constitutes an effective face mask for the COVID-19 era.
What makes a face mask more effective?
There are two primary factors to keep in mind when shopping: “One, the mask has to be fitted around the face, chin, and nose with minimal gaps,” Dr. Anthony Harris, MD, medical director and leader of the COVID-19 clinical response team at WorkCare tells Refinery29. “Second, it has to be multi-layered. It shouldn’t just be one single layer of cloth — unless that layer is dramatically thick, which is usually not the case.” A good rule of thumb: if you can see through the material when you stretch it out, it may not be your best pick. “If you get those two things, you’re going to be keeping a lot more people safe,” Harris adds. Below, we rank a selection of the most popular and, more importantly, effective face coverings out there (along with the ones to avoid).
What face masks are most effective?
Silk
The CDC further explains that certain materials, like polypropylene, “may enhance filtering effectiveness by generating triboelectric charge (a form of static electricity) that enhances capture of charged particles,” while face masks made of silk, “may help repel moist droplets and reduce fabric wetting and thus maintain breathability and comfort.”
N95/K95
Many months later, there’s still a shortage of N95 masks among essential healthcare workers. However, for non-medical purposes, the similarly designed (and widely available) KN95 masks are among the safest ones you can order. “Data has shown that they are very similar [to N95 masks] in terms of protection,” Harris says. Also, unlike bandanas and some cloth masks, N95s and KN95s are also highly effective in part because they are designed to have complete contact on the wearer’s face during wear. (More on this later.)
Cloth
As you probably know, having multiple layers is key to ensuring that droplets don’t get in (or out) of your mask. For that reason, multi-layer (at least three, according to experts), reusable cloth masks are good to keep in rotation. Ones to avoid? “Anything with a valve, which. allows open air to pass through without a barrier,” Harris advises.
However, in addition to layers, experts will also remind you that fit is everything. “Masks only work if they’re being worn properly and fitted properly,” Harris explains. A better fit ensures that you’ll not only be comfortable, but you won’t have any gaping issues, either. (Lastly, don’t forget to ensure that it’s covering your nose and mouth — it’s not a chin cover.)
Surgical
We generally try to shy away from single-use items that quickly fill up space in the trash can, but if standard surgical masks are all you have access to, rest assured they are highly effective in protecting yourself when you’re out and about. “The basic construct of a surgical mask is typically three layers,” Harris explains. “And the polypropylene middle layer is effective in minimizing droplet spread.” It goes without saying, but if you notice a hole or tear in the mask, discard it and wear a new one (but not before clipping the ear loops first!)
Bandana
“With bandanas, most people aren’t wearing it properly,” Harris says. However, because they are conventionally made of thicker fabric, they are better than going sans mask. “Don’t wear the bandana tied over the bridge of the nose, with the rest of it hanging loose,” Harris says. “Make sure your cloth face covering is fitted under the chin, as well as over the nose, so that you’re not leaving a significant void and gap and opportunity to spread droplets.” (Click here for a quick tutorial on how you can fold a bandana into a well-fitting face mask.)
What face masks should I avoid?
Neck Gaiters
They may have become hugely popular within the running community, but neck gaiters may actually be doing more harm than good, according to a recent study. “Neck gaiters have been shown to increase potentially the hazard and exposure because of the particle size that they produce,” Harris explains. “They can actually make the droplets smaller and can potentially aerosolize more readily.”
Clear Plastic Face Shields
Another one to pass on? Clear plastic face shields — unless doubled with a face mask. “Shields are not going to do anything for you in terms of decreasing significant droplets,” Harris says. “They’re only appropriate when used in conjunction with a face mask or face covering.”
COVID-19 has been declared a global pandemic. Go to the CDC website for the latest information on symptoms, prevention, and other resources.
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If quarantine has taught me anything (aside from questioning how I ever survived touching a subway pole whilst smashed between bodies in a crowded train car), it’s that the little things can make a big difference. And for me, rediscovering a love for nice bath and body products has been a pivotal aspect of my self-care routine.
Glossier shook things up in a major way three years ago, when it unveiled body care with Body Hero, a two-piece collection of an oil-infused body cleanser and lotion. Today, they’re expanding with two additions that have earned a permanent place in my shower: Exfoliating Bar and Dry-Touch Oil Mist.
First impressions…
I’ll start with the exfoliating bar, which looks like an average chunk of pink soap (stamped with the Glossier logo, obviously), but actually contains finely milled grains of biodegradable bamboo powder suspended in a base of glycerin and sunflower seed oil. As someone with KP, I’ve tried everything from Amazon’s viral Korean exfoliating washcloths to glycolic acid toners to help smooth and brighten the skin on my upper arms. I have to say, I was instantly impressed with Glossier’s body-scrub-in-a-bar formulation; it’s less wasteful in packaging and less messy than scooping a dollop of product from a tub (that can sometime mildew in the shower), but delivers virtually the same result: Freshly buffed skin that feels touchably less bumpy — and the hydrating ingredients in the bar had a soothing effect that didn’t result in my arms and legs looking like they’ve been scrubbed raw.
Next, there’s the oil mist that you can spritz directly onto your skin. I adore body oils because they feel oh-so-luxurious, and also kind of makes me feel like I’m Queen Nefertiti anointing herself on the banks of the River Nile. (Are they a little extra? Yes.) The mist delivery system makes for a targeted, drip-free application, and absorbs faster than you would expect. Also, I should mention that every Body Hero product (including the newbies) is scented with a neroli-orange blossom blend; if that doesn’t sound like your jam, then you might want to keep it moving. Another bonus: It also made my tattoos look refreshed and more vivid.
Final thoughts…
I know, I know: Scrubs of any kind can be rather polarizing in the beauty community, and so while I’m generally a fan of ones for the bod, I will say this: Be gentle and move in slow, circular motions. Body scrubs only work as often as you use them, and having the convenience (and fun factor) of a bar has already made it more of a habit for me. The bar is generously sized, but a steal at $14 — I will be repurchasing, but something tells me I won’t need to for quite some time.
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After what’s seemed like a long and fruitless (aka Prime Day-less) summer, the return of Amazon’s biggest annual event has finally been announced. Last year, July 14 and 15 marked the two hottest days for online shopping of the season — and although we’ve gotten a taste of such infamous savings with June’s The Big Style Sale, August’s Big Summer Sale Events, and now September’s Big Fall Sale, we’ve been holding out for Prime Day 2020 to satiate our deal-hunting appetites. According to Amazon, hot off the virtual presses this morning, Prime Day is still *on* and is coming our way in just a few week’s time. Below, we’re dishing out the details on everything we know so far about this year’s big-kahuna blowout; including when it’s set to go down, how to shop it, and what goods will be marked down — plus a few deals that you can score currently score in the meantime.
When is Prime Day this year?
Just this morning, Amazon announced that Prime Day will be taking place on October 13 and 14.
What’s going to be on sale?
According to Amazon’s Prime Day press release, members can expect to see major markdowns on the following: “holiday must-haves across toys, electronics, fashion, beauty, kitchen, home, Amazon Devices, and everything else you need and love” along with “more than one million deals globally from top brands including Panasonic, Keurig, Under Armour, Coleman, Simple Joys by Carter’s, adidas, Lacoste, Marvel, and many more.” On top of its legendary annual deals, Amazon also announced that this year’s PD will further its support of small businesses by investing an additional $100 million in promotional programs — and, starting today through October 12, will also offer a $10 Prime Day credit for members who spend $10 on select items sold by small businesses featured in Amazon’s storefront.
How can I shop Prime Day deals?
Similarly to past years, you won’t be able to escape Prime Day messaging on Amazon.com — with deals being splashed on the homepage, banners, and on the Daily Deals hub, formerly known as the Goldbox, home of the famed Lightning Deals.
Are any Prime Day deals available now?
Starting today, Amazon will gradually roll out early Prime Day deals on a wide range of its in-house brands and devices — and, currently, members can score two Echo Dot devices for $39.98 and its Fire TV Recast for $129.99.
Be sure to watch this space as we update you with the latest and greatest on Amazon’s most anticipated sale of the year. And, in the meantime, scope out Amazon’s deal page along with a few of our picks of the current need-to-cart items featured below.
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