All The Lifestyle & Experience Picks R29 Editors Loved This Month
At least once a week — let’s face it, at least once every day — the writers and editors across Refinery29 discuss the latest and greatest products in our lives, from some cool new water bottle that’s been absolutely saving our lives to a state-of-the-art sleep product that’s changed our eight hours for the better. And gatekeeping isn’t in our vocabulary, so we’re here to share the wealth and highlight our favourite products, just for you, each month.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
Tanyel Mustafa, Senior Writer
Photo: Courtesy of Tanyel Mustafa.
I read this book in one sitting on a quiet Friday night, and it hit me like a suckerpunch to the gut. Suleyman details her experience of an ex-partner, and in the wake of his sudden ghosting in the cruellest of circumstances, she stumbles across all the other women he’d lied to, stolen from, and traumatised. She reflects on the chain of women that are connected by men like this. It got me thinking about a particularly bad ex, because when the fallout was fresh I’d wondered, Was it just me he treated this way? I hadn’t thought about him in years, but after reading this, suddenly I was hit with the realisation that there’s a chain I’m a part of, too. This book was healing, validating and confronting in a way I didn’t see coming. I hope the women in my chain are okay, because now I’m certain they’re out there.
Amazon The Chain by Chimene Suleyman, $, available at Amazon
New Balance’s 740 is designed to take you from 7.40 a.m. in the gym, throughout the workday, to then socialising at 7.40 p.m. —or, whatever your day looks like. I’m a pre-work gym girlie, and hate either carrying around my gross gym trainers in a bag all day, or committing to wearing them the full day ahead and having them ruin my outfit. I can confirm these trainers serve the purpose of being useful for all kinds of activities and are easy to style for work and socialising. They have a mesh top, making them ideal for sweat when training, but they’re sturdy enough to be comfortable walking around the city after. I’ve worn them to morning boxing or strength training, then done the mad dash to the office, then stayed out for dinner with friends. For full-on days, these have been a game changer.
New Balance 740 Shoes, $, available at New Balance
This has been the chicest addition to my living space in years. Firstly, it’s just the most gorgeous shade of deep vibrant red. I have it placed next to some artwork with red accents, and together they pop. The shape is stunning, and yet it doesn’t take up much space on my small and cluttered bedside table. It also runs without wiring (you just need to charge it up every once in a while), which is another win, as I have too many cables running off of that table as it is. And finally, the brightness is adjustable, so at night when I’m reading to help myself drift off, I can make it light enough to see the page clearly but not so bright I’m woken up again. Love love love.
Addison Ross Bobbin Wireless LED Lamp, $, available at Addison Ross
After lusting over the Unplugged website for months, dreaming of a weekend with no internet and secluded living, I finally got to go. I brought a friend along, and together we had the most relaxed weekend I’ve had all year. Unplugged is an experience in which you rent a cabin somewhere off grid for three nights, with locations across the UK and outside of Barcelona, Spain. You’re encouraged to put your phone in a lockbox for the duration, use maps to go on walks to local villages, and completely chill out.
I put my phone on flight mode once we arrived, kept it out of sight until the final day, and relished filling my time with long walks, pub visits, sitting by the log fire, reading, playing card games, and eating hearty food cooked on the small hob in the cabin. The result? I was falling asleep with ease and rising early, refreshed and ready for the day. I felt more peaceful, and I had so much fun. My friend and I ticked off the local village pubs, walked for hours, and settled in for a massive roast on the Sunday.
At night, I sat outside and looked up at the stars without all the light pollution I’m used to living in London. Then when it’s time to go into the cabin, the views from the bed are perfect. I saw pheasants and deer go by, and heard a woodpecker. It’s a small set up, but it’s all you need for a weekend offline, whether it’s solo or in company.
I highly recommend the experience. I loved it so much, and, one day, I would like to go back to try a different cabin location.
Unplugged getaways start from £420 for three nights. See here for details.
Susan Devaney, Life Director
Photo: Courtesy of Susan Devaney.
Maybe it’s because I’ve recently been binge-watching Yellowstone on Netflix, but I suddenly feel drawn to equestrian-inspired attire. (I’m scared of horses, so make it make sense!) Yet, I’ve been loving wearing my new Columbia horse-printed fleece. Whether at my desk when I’m WFH or out on a long walk at the weekend, it’s now my fav go-to piece. And since spring has finally sprung, I’ll be wearing it a lot more (sans a coat).
Columbia Women’s Helvetia II Cropped Sherpa Half Snap Printed F, $, available at Columbia
Years ago I made the wise call to switch out my cotton pillowcase for a silk one instead. I can confirm it was a worthy investment. Such a worthy investment in fact that I’ve recently upgraded my M&S silk pillowcase with this even silkier version from SLIP. For me, it makes my skin feel nice, it adds a luxurious touch to my bedtime routine, and I genuinely think I sleep better with it.
Slip White Queen Zippered Pillow Case, $, available at Slip
There are some weekends that happen in your life that will stay with you forever. One weekend in March, I left the busyness of London by train and ventured to The Boathouse in Devon (upon arriving and leaving the kind host picked me up). Looking like something set in a storybook or straight out of Wind In The Willows, the little cabin overlooking the water was as charming as I’d hoped.
Inside, it had a woodburning fire and cosiness in abundance. I had had grand plans of walking to the nearest lighthouse and hopping on the bus to see the coastal town of Salcombe, but instead I stayed in my little haven for three days. I had morning coffee on the deck and I took the private stairs down to the water to sit in the sunshine. I lit the outdoor fire pit, drank red wine under the stars and felt pure happiness.
At time of booking, a stay at The Boathouse is £225 per night via Canopy & Stars.
Alicia Lansom, Associate Editor
Photo: Courtesy of Alicia Lansom.
As someone dealing with health issues and therefore (sadly) on a low sugar diet, I miss sweets every damn day. Dark chocolate is my only saving grace, but sometimes you don’t want a plain, bitter piece of choccy: enter Hu Kitchen. These dark chocolate bars are organic, have no gluten or artificial sweeteners and spice themselves up with lovely things like cashew butter or hazelnut. For those who want the creaminess of milk choc, all the nut butter offerings are great, but for those who want a Toffee Crisp alternative, try the crispy quinoa and almond butter.
Hu Kitchen Dark Chocolate Ultimate Variety Pack, $, available at Hu Kitchen
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, my housemates have a habit of ruining cookware with metal utensils. It turns out though, that the new Our Place Titanium Mini Perfect Pot Pro is actually metal utensil friendly? While we often pay lots of attention to the quality of our frying pans, our pots deserve some love and attention too. The new titanium range has the first-ever non-toxic nonstick technology made without PFAS (aka forever chemicals) and unlike the standard Our Place ceramic pots, this one is dishwasher safe. As someone who spends half their life boiling pasta, rice, soups, I’m truly excited to finally have a pot that can take on some serious usage.
Our Place Titanium Mini Perfect Pot Pro, $, available at Our Place
While alternative treatments have never normally been my thing, over the last year I’ve truly been willing to give just about anything a go to connect to my body and to attempt to soothe my nervous system. This is why when I was invited to experience a two-hour cacao ceremony, I knew I had to give it a try. Located in a Georgian mansion in Somerset, Homewood is a luxurious countryside escape and spa just outside of Bath.
Launched this month, their latest treatment is taking things in a more holistic direction, guided by holistic therapist and reiki practitioner Marta Pereira. While most know cacao as an ingredient in modern chocolate, the plant has historically been used for spiritual and ceremonial purposes known for boosting blood flow and promoting feelings of calm. The treatment aims to harness the power of the cacao plant for these mood boosting qualities, incorporating meditative and massage elements along the way.
The session begins with drinking a warm cup of high grade cacao (I got mine sweetened with honey) as Marta teaches you about how many communities believe the plant to be sacred and traditionally use it for its medicinal properties. Afterwards, you are invited to do a guided meditation to connect with an intention, following visualisations before a sage burning. From there, it’s time to enjoy some lymphatic drainage dry brushing, a cleansing black tea body scrub and a hot cacao flower candle massage to flood and nourish the skin with oils. After reaching major levels of relaxation, you’re then invited to pick a card from an affirmation deck to connect back with your intention, before completing some reflective journaling tasks to round out the experience.
For those with an open mind, the treatment is a beautiful way to slow down and tap into the mind body connection in a different way. Just make sure you aren’t planning to operate any heavy machinery afterwards (I was asleep on the train in no time).
Cacao Ceremony Treatment costs £205 and can be booked here.
Kelly Washington, Senior Social Editor
Photo: Courtesy of Kelly Washington.
I love reading about politics, but political books often make me quite depressed. They’re essential reading and I find it super interesting, but rarely are they as easy to read, and as hilariously funny as Jess Phillips’ recent one. Phillips tackles why and where politics lost its integrity, debunks the myths that Downing Street and the media tell us, and paves the way for a better future. Super easy to read, and as the blurb reads: “This book will make you angry, cheer you up, and give you hope.”
Waterstones Let’s Be Honest by Jess Phillips, $, available at Waterstones
Kristine Romano, Associate Editor, Photo & Design
Photo: Courtesy of Kristine Romano.
I’m pretty picky when it comes to towels — both in material and in terms of colour and pattern, but these ones from TBCo were an immediate winner. Made from 100% natural 580 GSM cotton, these hand towels are luxuriously soft and absorbent, and continue to hold up beautifully wash after wash. I also love the pop of colour they add to my bathroom! The blue and burgundy stripes are just perfect with the pink and burgundy checkerboard edge. Now if only they had a matching bath mat…
If you’re looking for versatility, comfort, and a better night’s sleep, this 3-in-1 Hybrid Duvet from Simba is well worth the investment. The duvet features two layers: a light 3.5 Tog Summer duvet and a thicker 7 Tog Spring/Autumn duvet. When snapped together, they create a luxurious 10.5 Tog Winter duvet which has a nice weight to it.
When we first swapped out our old duvet for this one, we had the layers snapped together and it honestly felt like I was slipping into a luxury hotel bed! We’ve since switched to just the 7 Tog layer as we ease into spring, and it’s just as comfy and cosy as ever.
It’s suddenly 2008 again and I’m 13 years old, braiding my hair into a side plait and desperately trying to whistle — aka, it’s time for a new Hunger Games book to take over my entire personality again. In all seriousness though, this may just be my favourite book out of the series. No spoilers but it has all the best of the OG trilogy: all the action, all the emotion, so many characters that steal your heart instantly… Not to mention the lore! Suzanne Collins is dropping names like no one’s business. One major tip: Make sure you have plenty of tissues at hand, I’ve never, never cried so much reading a book.
Amazon Sunrise on the Reaping by Suzanne Collins, $, available at Amazon
This is Lush’s dreamiest scent — an intoxicating mix of lavender and tonka, which is also the same as my favourite sleep spray. It also lingers long after the candle has been put out, meaning my room now smells like a dreamy flower garden.
Lush Twilight Four Wick Candle, $, available at Lush
I love vintage things and knick-knacks — I’m all for trinkets galore! What this means though is that all my jewellery has been strewn across my room in various boxes, tins, cases… Each very pretty, but not very practical; especially when you’re running late, trying to remember which box holds that one specific ring. And so, in an effort to be more grown up and organised, I’ve finally settled on one big jewellery box to hold all my treasures in one place. I love that this Wolf design has a glass front so I can quickly see all my pieces, but keeps them clean and dust-free in soft, velvet-like suede, and that it includes lots of different-shaped storage compartments.
Wolf Sophia Jewelry Box with Window, $, available at Wolf
Jessica Aureli, US Money Diaries Editor
Photo: Courtesy of Jessica Aureli.
I love that I have such a broad and varied range of screens available to peruse in my daily life. Actually, this is a lie, I hate it, so I’m making an effort to do more tactile, three-dimensional activities as a way to feel a bit less chronically online. An indoor equivalent of touching grass, as the internet would say. Crafting is perfect for this — especially in the case of Craft Club’s moss coaster, because it actually DOES kind of look like grass. I’m a novice with stuff like this, and was a bit intimidated at first, but the video instructions make it so easy, plus the kit includes everything you need, including pom-pom scissors (I know, I didn’t know they were a thing either), small latch-hook, and weaving needle. The icing on the cake is that Craft Club is an independent, female-founded business, which is exactly the kind of brand I like to support in these tricky times.
Craft Club Green Oasis Moss Coaster Kit, $, available at Craft Club
I am going to do a 26-mile hike for charity in June — I know, I’m insufferable, but it’s literally the only way into the paragraph. Anyway, because I’m doing a 26-mile hike for charity in June, I’m officially in training mode, and to stay on the straight and narrow, I’m avoiding alcohol. But a gal can’t live on blood orange Vimto alone, so recently, in moments that require a bit of fanciness, I’ve been drinking Botivo’s herbally, citrussy non-alcoholic aperitif. It’s hand blended using orange zest, rosemary, thyme and organic wild flower honey, and it takes over a year to make, which I’m not sure is the case for the Vimto. I’ve enjoyed it best using SUPER fizzy soda water, lots of ice, and a wedge of orange (blood orange, ofc).
Pophams Botivo, Non-Alcoholic Aperitif, $, available at Pophams
In an effort to be less of a sonic hermit, I am weaning myself off my noise-cancelling Bose headphones (I know, so dramatic). When I’m out and about, fine: London is loud, and they’re necessary. But when I’m at home doing chores and listening to music or podcasts — god forbid I’m left alone with my own thoughts — it feels like overkill. Nothing’s Ear (open) headphones have been a gamechanger for me. They have just the right amount of transparency, I love that I can adjust the sound with the app (it’s also great for managing dual connections, which can sometimes be a headache with bluetooth, plus there’s a ‘Find my earbuds’ feature), and the over-ear design and general lightweight finish are beyond reproach — to quote Sexy Flanders, it feels like I’m wearing nothing at all.
