POPSUGAR

In Defense of Back-to-School Shopping as an Adult - Here's What I'm Buying

Emily Zirimis — Fri, 18 Sep 2026 11:40:03 -0700

I distinctly remember the glossy Lisa Frank dolphin folder that I carried around for the duration of third grade. Despite the inevitable stressors throughout that school year (pop quizzes and unrequited crushes) the bright colors of my beloved dolphin folder always brought me joy. And so each year, when it was time to go school-supply shopping again, I kept that dolphin folder in mind, planning to find the next best thing that would bring me joy. One year it was a holographic notebook cover, another year it was a pen that had six interchangeable colors.

As an adult, I have missed the feeling of curating a year of new "school supplies," so in an attempt to recreate that feeling, I'm upping my planner game, as well as properly outfitting my home office. Ahead, you'll find some items that brought me joy, not unlike the joy that I had when I went back-to-school shopping many moons ago. Ultimately, you're never too old for a back-to-school shop.

Shop 9 Fall Fashion Trends Inspired By Fashion Week - Starting at $27

Avery Matera — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 14:00:03 -0700

While we just came off a New York Fashion Week that previewed the spring/summer 2027 season, we can't help but look back to the vibrance and energy that was showcased back in February. Strong fall 2026 trends emerged that represent a healthy mix of minimalism and maximalism, be it in silhouette, color, or detail.

From textured detailing to pops of cherry red, New York Fashion Week's fall 2026 shows were both a celebration of creativity and a return to classic elements of fall/winter dressing. It was the perfect balance of playful yet timeless design flourishes.

Though American designers went full force with oversize shapes, light-catching crystals, and more, it was all juxtaposed with more practical roots. Be it a skirt set from Coach in powerful color combinations, commanding hats from Advisry that serve as the ultimate cozy accessory, or lace-up dresses from Jane Wade that offer a true edgy sophistication, the balance was palpable.

And the trend everyone is still talking about signals a return to nostalgic fashion aesthetics: '90s grunge marked by lacy slip dresses and silver chain accessories.

Ahead, check out nine fall 2026 trends that we can't get enough of. And we've pulled together some of our favorite pieces of the moment so you can start shopping these looks now that they are finally in season.

40 Amazon Products Our Editors Swear By, From Face Masks to Coolers

Anvita Reddy — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 12:35:03 -0700

As shopping experts, Amazon is our go-to spot for trending products. Truth be told, we're never not browsing the site. The beauty lineup is hard to beat, featuring a tempting selection of luxury beauty products and skin-care tools. But the home goods section is equally enticing, thanks to all the aesthetically pleasing home decor and innovative kitchen gadgets. With so many products to choose from, it can be tough to find the hidden gems - the tried-and-true Amazon must haves worth adding to your cart. Luckily, we're here to make it easier.

To help you feel more confident in your purchases, we've carefully curated a list of our favorite Amazon must haves. Each one has a stamp of approval from one of our PS editors, including beauty and wellness products, fitness essentials, travel products, and more. Expect to find everything from the current lip balm our editors are loving to the collagen powder a former fitness editor swears by.

Keep reading to shop our Amazon favorites and recommendations ahead.

Amazon Must Haves, According to PS Editors

The undereye patches our editor uses every morning: Rabiota Hyaluronic Acid Eye Masks at $10
An editor-favorite frother with incomparable speed: Zulay Milk Frother at $14, originally $16
The buttery-soft leggings that also offer tummy control: Satina High Waisted Leggings With Pockets at $15, originally $16
Our editor's go-to workout tank for comfort and security: PS Shirred Criss Cross Longline Sports Bra Yoga Top at $15, originally $25
An editor secret for prolonging manis: Karlash Nail Repair Kit for Broken Cracked Split Nails at $16
One editor uses this for even-toned skin on her underarms and bikini line: AmLactin Daily Moisturizing Lotion at $16, originally $25
An editor-loved, K-beauty find to achieve glass skin: Cosrx Snail Mucin 96% Power Repairing Essence at $18, originally $25
The best-selling lip balm our editor says is worth the hype: Laniege Lip Glowy Balm at $19
The viral K-beauty mask that cures all our editor's "skin issues": Biodance Bio-Collagen Real Deep Mask at $19
An editor-loved bodysuit that works for day and night: Mangopop Sleeveless Bodysuit at $20
Our editor's trick for diminishing blemishes practically overnight: Hero Cosmetics Original Mighty Patch at $20
The comfy, durable slides our editor wears on repeat: FunkyMonkey Slides at $21
Our editor puts this collagen powder in her coffee every morning: Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides Powder at $22, originally $26
Over 2,000 5-star reviews on Amazon for a reason: Calvin Klein Modern Cotton Unlined Wireless Bralette at $22, originally $30
The viral sleeping mask that saved one editor's chapped lips: Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask at $22, originally $24
A game-changer for keeping one editor's kitchen drawer organized: Smartake 16-Piece Drawer Organizer at $23
One editor's hack for unwinding at night: Natural Vitality Calm Magnesium Citrate Supplement at $24, originally $43
Editor-favorite leggings with pockets and a high-waist: Colorfulkoala High Waisted Tummy Control Workout Leggings 7/8 Length at $25
A powerful, portable steamer that eliminates wrinkles every time: Hilife Steamer at $27, originally $29
Kept our editor's hair sleek and smooth in the rain: Color Wow Dream Coat Supernatural Spray at $30
Highly-recommended for acne-prone and sensitive skin: Bliss Block Star SPF 30 Invisible Daily Sunscreen at $32, originally $38
Healed the dry, flaky patches on one editor's fingers: Aveda Hand Relief Hand Cream at $32
Our editor grabs this oil to smooth and hydrate her hair: Olaplex No.7 Bonding Oil at $32
The TikTok-viral set that's somehow comfy and polished: Tanming 2-Piece Outfit at $42, originally $50
One editor saw a "remarkable" difference after just 4 treatments: Crest 3D Whitestrips at $46
Clearer skin after 2 weeks of editor testing: Sunday Riley Good Genes All-in-One Lactic Acid Exfoliating Face Treatment at $64, originally $85
A flattering, comfy dress that goes up to 5X: Amazon The Drop Kimi Ruffled-Shoulder Smocked Midi Dress at $70
Brightens up a large room without taking up too much space: Brightech Sky LED Floor Lamp at $75
The "adult baby blanket" worth the buzz: Barefoot Dreams CozyChic™ Rib Throw Blanket at $87, originally $165
Our editor's secret for home-cooked, restaurant-worthy meals: Cosori 9-in-1 Air Fryer at $120
A viral cleaner our editor uses for spills: Bissell Little Green Portable Carpet Cleaner at $130
The ice-cream maker taking over TikTok for good reason: Ninja Creami Ice Cream Maker at $207, originally $230
This air purifier cured one editor's perennially stuffy nose: Coway Mighty Air Purifier at $230
Turned one editor into a barista at home: Nespresso VertuoPlus Deluxe Coffee and Espresso Machine with Milk Frother at $249
The viral all-in-one hair tool our editor swears by: Shark HD430 FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System at $276, originally $349
Switches from active noise cancellation to ambient sound on its own: Sony WH-1000XM5 Wireless Noise Canceling Headphones at $298, originally $400
Our editor pick for reading without distraction: Kindle Scribe at $400
The 6-in-1 facial device that replaced one editor's skin-care tools: Therabody TheraFace Pro Set at $420
An ice-free portable cooler without the bulk or mess: ICECO GOPack12 12 Volt Refrigerator, 13 QT Portable Fridge Freezer at $450
A smart TV and art gallery in one device: Samsung 55-Inch Class QLED 4K The Frame TV at $898, originally $1,098

10 Transitional Style Finds I'm Using to Perfect My West Coast Look

Lena Felton — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 08:25:03 -0700

As the East Coast fully embraces PSL season, September is actually just the beginning of summer in San Francisco - it's when the fog finally burns off, the sun is strong, and temperatures reach into the 80s. I love this sense of changing seasons, when the air takes on a different quality and your changing environment ushers in the sense of possibility.

With summer slipping sweetly into warm September, I decided to upgrade some of my fashion and beauty arsenal. I'll hold onto warm-weather finds for as long as I possibly can for the next couple of months, but thankfully there are a lot of transitional pieces that I know will work well into fall and beyond. From a light jacket that can go with anything to the bag that I've been using nearly every day, these are the stalwarts in my closet right now.

To shop the picks that I'm wearing and using on repeat for the next few months, keep reading below.

Lena Felton's Shopping Must Haves

The balm that delivers perfectly glossy lips: Topicals Slick Salve Glossy Lip Balm at $16
The sunglasses that satisfy my Y2K obsession: Bru Eyewear Hudson Sunglasses at $150
A pair of culottes that are perfect for fall: Gap Mid Rise Belted Culotte Barrel Pants at $80
The under-eye concealer I keep swiping on: Kosas Revealer Extra Bright in Pink Peach at $32
The nylon bag I'm carrying everywhere: Baggu Nylon Bowler Bag at $54
The perfect coat for autumn: Free People We The Free Lemon Denim Jacket at $148
The unique necklace that's spicing up my outfits: Spicy Dan Bean Necklace at $195
Sandals that elevate any outfit: Alohas Nova Studs Black Leather Sandals at $225
An earring set that allows you to get creative: Jewels and Aces the One & Only Set in Silver at $221
The perfect jeans: Rails Getty Workwear Wide Leg in Onyx at $238

Ilona Maher’s Must Haves Include Dark Chocolate and $9 Sunscreen

Chandler Plante — Thu, 17 Sep 2026 06:00:03 -0700

Ilona Maher believes wellness should be simple. In a world that so often conflates health with thinness, the Olympic medalist and professional rugby player advocates for women of all sizes to prioritize their strength - both physical and mental. That means lifting heavy weights, challenging your body, and not being afraid to put in the hard work. But in Maher's case, it's also making history at the 2024 Olympics, lifting her own damn partner on "Dancing With the Stars," and gracing the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit runway with complete confidence.

In true Olympian fashion, Maher tells us about her approach to fitness while rowing 80-pound dumbbells. "You can do more than you think you can," she explains mid-workout. "You can lift more than you think you can. You're so much more capable than you realize." Online, Maher stands by this sentiment, resisting antiquated body standards and problematic messaging.

"I have cellulite everywhere," she says in a 2023 TikTok. "It is completely normal, completely natural, it does not take away from your athletic ability or how fast or how fit you are. It's just something that's part of your body." In the comments section, women thank her for sharing with one person writing, "The little girl in me thanks you for using your platform to share this."

As the newest professional athlete partner at Burn Boot Camp, Maher is working to help even more women build confidence, embrace their strength, and feel empowered through strength training. Ahead, Maher shares some of her personal wellness must haves for staying strong and performing at the top of her game. Unsurprisingly, her picks are as no-nonsense as it gets.

Trinity Tatum's Crop Top, Elle Fanning's Crystal Bag, and More Celeb Front-Row Looks

Jessica Andrews — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:35:03 -0700

Fashion Month always brings plenty of style inspo, with celebrities stepping out for parties and runway shows alike. Needless to say, everyone's showing up in their designer best, checking out the latest spring fashion trends on the runway while wearing the best fall fashion trends themselves. As Fashion Month progresses, keep scrolling to see all the well-dressed stars gracing the front row and shop our favorite look for yourself.

The exciting thing about celebrity appearances at Fashion Week is that famous showgoers tend to push the envelope sartorially, and celebrities did just that this season. "Love Island"'s Trinity Tatum hit the Tommy Hilfiger show in a crop top you'll want to add to your wardrobe ASAP. Elle Fanning styled the embellished Coach bag inspired by her, with an eye-catching leopard-print coat and red skirt. Simone Biles looked chic in a Simkhai minidress and knee-length boots while Becky G wowed in a Grace Ling cutout hooded gown that's perfect for date night.

Meanwhile, the street-style looks we saw were equally inspiring, including a return to maximalism with oversize bags, patchwork prints, sequin tops for day, and so much more.

Ahead, see the best-dressed celebrities at Fashion Month, and shop both Tatum and Fanning's looks straight from the runway.

The Psychology Behind Why We're Obsessed With "The Traitors"

Kelsey Garcia — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:25:00 -0700

It's rare to watch someone's heart shatter in real time, although reality television makes it less so. In fact, in the season one finale of "The Traitors," you can witness two hearts break as Cirie Fields reveals to fellow contestants Andie Vanacore and Quentin Jiles that she's been a traitor all along, and they've just lost the out on the $250,000 prize pot by failing to vote her out sooner. "I'm a faithful at heart, but I'm a traitor in this game," Fields says as disbelief falls over the faces of her duped competitors.

"The Traitors," which will premiere its "The Traitors: New Blood" spinoff season on Sept. 17, has been heralded as the best new competition show in the way of "Survivor" and "The Challenge." The Peacock original invites reality stars from various networks to a castle in the Scottish Highlands. Three traitors are anonymously picked and the rest of the group, called the faithfuls, must correctly identify and vote out the traitors to win. Oh, and Alan Cumming is the host.

The wacky experiment is working: in 2024, "The Traitors" became the most-watched unscripted series across all streaming platforms in the US, according to Nielsen via The Wrap. At the time, that was thanks in part to season two traitors Phaedra Parks and Parvati Shallow, who quickly became fan favorites, inspiring endless meme material on a weekly basis.

Subsequently, the show has picked up the Emmy for outstanding reality competition program in both 2024, 2025, and 2026. At those ceremonies, Cumming also took home the award for outstanding host for a reality or reality competition program. "That is so beautiful that a show about treachery and betrayal brings people together," Cumming said on stage at the 2026 Emmys.

But what does it mean when so many people are gleefully tuning in each week to see deception and double-crossing on full display? "The things that tend to naturally grab our attention are oftentimes the things that we're concerned about," says Christian L. Hart, PhD. "If you hear that someone has died, our first question is usually, how did they die? The things that we're worried about, like our own demise, we want to learn more about, so we can avoid those types of problems."

Experts Featured in This Article

Christian L. Hart, PhD, is a psychology professor at Texas Woman's University. He centers his research around lying and runs a Human Deception Laboratory.

Dr. Hart says the the fascination with "The Traitors" is similar to the popularity around entertainment about scams and true crime. "The more we can learn about it and observe it, the more confident we get that maybe we can avoid that happening to us," Dr. Hart says.

Whether that's actually effective, however, is another story. Dr. Hart is skeptical: "We learn about avoiding being duped typically through direct experience. Someone in a romantic relationship who gets burned by their partner will tend to be much more cautious moving forward. Those types of painful life experiences can really make us focus in on being more discerning about others." He adds, "I'm not too sure that watching TV shows offers that same level of training."

While viewers may not be able to retain much by watching "The Traitors," the actual participants of the show do a pretty good job at detecting deception. In the second season, all the traitors, including Parks and Shallow, were eventually banished from the castle, leaving faithfuls as the winners.

Dr. Hart thinks the faithfuls tend to take the right approach. "When you ask most people, how can you tell when someone is lying? They usually talk about behavioral cues. Like, they won't make eye contact, they look off to the left, or they stutter and stammer. None of those are very accurate predictors of when someone's lying," he says. "In the show, people rarely talked about those. What they did talk about were the things that are actually associated with lying, like people saying incongruent things."

Dr. Hart says "informational content" - meaning inconsistencies and evidence of a concocted story - is a better indicator. In his research, he has compared interrogation videos of people lying and people telling the truth and hasn't found consistent patterns, even in high-stakes scenarios. "People are pretty good at lying, and pretty good at masking their emotions," he says.

The premise of "The Traitors" is interesting because technically any competitor can be picked to be a traitor. The show uses that to its advantage, typically picking a combination of mischievous and mild-mannered contestants to form the triumvirate. As each season unfolds, it's fascinating to watch these traitors gradually embrace their roles and resort to lying.

This is pretty reflective of normal society, however. The average person tells a lie every few days, Dr. Hart says, and it's typically not for "malicious reasons," but instead to save face, avoid embarrassment, or protect one's privacy. "Most of the lies that people tell tend to be lies aimed at navigating social life," he adds. "Our culture is arranged in such a way that we find it very difficult to be honest all the time."

"Our culture is arranged in such a way that we find it very difficult to be honest all the time."

Though wildly entertaining, there may be an unexpected, adverse effect to watching the show. "In psychology, we talk about this cognitive bias called the availability heuristic. If a concept is more available in our mind, usually because we've seen it recently, it looms larger in our thoughts," he says. "Watching shows where you're seeing the worst sight of people probably has that same effect. We're just bombarded with these narratives of people being awful to each other and that's readily available in our mind when we think of people. And so probably it causes a little bit more paranoia or at least a more negative outlook on human nature."

On the other hand, there are of course viewers - likely a high percentage - who root for the traitors and revel when they make it another week undetected or lie to a friend's face swearing they are so not a traitor. Thankfully, there aren't many moral implications for viewers who find themselves in that camp.

Dr. Hart draws the comparison with cases throughout history where the outlaw becomes the hero. "There's a sense of people being able to outwit the powers that be that is kind of appealing to a lot of people, especially a lot of people who feel like they've been kind of held down in society. To see someone who's thumbing their nose at these same systems and institutions that they feel have been oppressing them is very satisfying in some ways," he says.

Then again, in this case, "Everybody is fully aware that this is just a game."

Kelsey Garcia (she/her) is the lifestyle director at PS, where she oversees coverage across Balance and Health & Fitness. Kelsey is passionate about travel, wellness trends, and evolving parenting styles. Before joining the PS team as an editorial assistant in 2015, she interned at Elle and Harper's Bazaar, among other publications.

The 12 Gap Staples on a Shopping Editor's Fall Wish List

Adelaide Giesey — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 14:15:03 -0700

While I love stocking up on statement pieces as much as the next girl, nothing is more important to me in my closet than my quality basics. Over the years, my Gap pieces have never gone out of style and consistently carry me season to season. Whether it's a cozy lounge set, an oversize tote bag, or a classic rollneck sweater, Gap has captured a timeless aesthetic that can help you build out a complete wardrobe. If you find yourself shopping for back-to-school pieces or wanting to mix it up with trendier silhouettes, the Gap and Gap Factory fall offerings should be your first stop. Ahead, find the 12 items I have on my shopping wish list, from an adorable teddy bag charm to a chic cropped cardigan.

Best Fall Wardrobe Staples From Gap

Add this cozy bear to your bag charm collection: Gap Factory Brannan Bear Keychain Charm at $8, originally $20
The perfect everyday tote: Gap Factory Slouchy Vegan-Suede Tote Bag at $20, originally $50
You can never have too many button-downs for fall: Gap Factory Oversized Shirt in Poplin at $36, originally $60
A very versatile layer: Gap Factory CashSoft Cropped Crewneck Cardigan at $42, originally $60
This season's go-to shoe: Gap Vegan Suede Ballet Flats at $47, originally $60
Cross denim off your back-to-school checklist: Gap Factory Curvy Mid Rise Wide-Leg Jeans at $48, originally $80
If you're searching for a new signature scent: Gap Heaven Eau de Parfum at $52
Your average jean jacket reimagined: Gap Factory Relaxed Cropped Denim Chore Jacket at $60, originally $100
The fancy version of track pants: Gap Satin Easy Wide-Leg Pants at $90
The classic sweater style: Gap 100% Cotton Oversized Rollneck Sweater at $100
A winter-approved asymmetrical skirt: Gap Plaid Maxi Handkerchief Skirt at $100
For a cozy western accent: Gap Cotton-Blend Fringe Shawl Cardigan at $168

The Viral Street-Style Trends Our Editors Wore to Fashion Week

Sarah Wasilak — Wed, 16 Sep 2026 09:05:03 -0700

Fashion Week introduces trends for the season to come, but it also keeps us firmly rooted in the current moment through street style. What people wear while skipping from one show to the next is often just as inspiring as anything you'll see walking down the runway - if not more so.

New York Fashion Week includes a packed schedule of in-person shows and events, running over the course of five days. It brings together style enthusiasts from across the world, all looking toward the coming season. This year, they stepped out in bold sartorial statements, from mixed prints to western belts and touches of fringe.

Other noteworthy street style trends included color pops from sweaters tied around the waist, sequins big and small, and dopamine dressing in the form of vibrant color pairings. On the footwear front, showgoers favored architectural heels and also took a tip from the runways by opting for comfortable walking shoes like your quintessential sneaker or thong sandal. Some of the top handbag brands spotted on style stars? Coach, Miu Miu, Chanel, Prada, Fendi, Gucci, Saint Laurent, Alaïa, and Louis Vuitton, just to name a few.

This season, Popsugar's editor-in-chief Kelsey Castañon, senior style director Jessica Andrews, and shopping director & social host Sarah Wasilak attended NYFW shows - with rides courtesy of Buick and Blacklane - sporting many shoppable new trends. Still, looks worn by past editors continue to remain relevant.

Keep reading for a full recap on what the shopping team wore to Fashion Week and refresh your wardrobe with their exact items. Plus, watch Wasilak's report on the current Fashion Week street style trends for "Good Day New York."

Street-Style Trends

NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Oversize Totes
NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Pop of Color
NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Sequins
NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Patchwork Prints
NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Architectural Shapes
NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Statement Skirts
NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Quirky Bags
NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Windbreaker Jackets
NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Jorts
NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Activewear
NYFW Spring 2027 Street-Style Trend: Bohemian Romance

Everything to Know About Amazon’s October 2026 Prime Big Deal Days

Haley Lyndes — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 13:38:03 -0700

Image Source: PS Photography / Marisa Petrarca and Shelcy Joseph If, like us, you can never resist a major discount, listen up: Amazon's October Prime Big Deal Days event kicks off on October 6, 2026, and it's shaping up to be one of the most epic shopping events of the year with 48 hours full of savings running through October 7. After the annual back-to-school push, we thought our wallets might finally get a break. But October Prime Big Deal Days are here to remind us that holiday shopping is right around the corner. Whether you are getting ready to host family or promised yourself last year that you'd cross off wish lists early, there is no better time to stock up (or splurge) on all the essentials while they're on serious sale.

The best part? Deals span over 35 major categories - fashion, beauty, home, fitness, and beyond - so virtually nothing is off limits. Below, we break down everything you need to know about October 2026 Prime Big Deal Days: the dates, the standout early deals, and how to make sure you're ready to shop.

What Is Prime Big Deal Days?

In short: October Prime Big Deal Days is one of Amazon's biggest sales. The flagship fall sale is widely considered to offer some of the best deals of the year. The global savings event takes place over a two-day period and encompasses some of Amazon's biggest deals of the season on a variety of bestselling products - like the editor-loved Beats Studio Pro Premium Wireless Headphones ($170, originally $350) and Shark FlexStyle Air Multi-Styler ($200, originally $314) to name a couple.

When Is October Prime Big Deal Days 2026?

Amazon's October Prime Big Deal Days 2026 is happening October 6 through October 7, with the event starting at 12:01 AM PT on October 6.

When Does Prime Big Deal Days End?

October Prime Big Deal Days officially ends on October 7 at 11:59 PM PT, which is 3:01 AM ET for people on the East Coast. But the deals aren't completely over at that time. Some markdowns continue hours or even days after the retail holiday passes, so be sure to check our list of deals to see which products you can still score at a deep discount.

How Much Is an Amazon Prime Membership?

With an Amazon Prime membership, members can get access to exclusive deals come October Prime Big Deal Days 2026, as well as perks like free shipping. As of right now, an Amazon Prime Membership ($15) is less than $20 per month, and the retailer also offers a seven day trial ($2) for new users. For full guidance, check out our story on how to sign up for Amazon Prime to get the best deals during this massive sale.

What Deals Can You Expect During October Prime Big Deal Days 2026?

Three times a day, Amazon will release "Today's Big Deals" themed drops featuring some of the hottest offers of Prime Big Deal Days, exclusively for Prime members. These limited-time steals include steep discounts on major brands like Shark and Princess Polly, and will launch at 12:00 AM, 8:00 AM, and 1:00 PM PT each day during the event. With new deals constantly popping up, it's worth checking in frequently to catch the best of what's being offered before it's gone.

Deals You Can Shop During October 2026 Prime Big Deal Days

We're seeing can't-miss markdowns on items that span a range of categories.

Shop our full list of Amazon Prime Big Deal Day deals here and some of our faves below.

PlusOne Bullet Vibrator ($13, originally $15)
Batiste Originally Dry Shampoo ($17, originally $30)
HiLife Portable Steamer ($25, originally $30)
Peace Out Acne Healing Dots ($26, originally $33)
Amazon Fire HD 10 Tablet ($77, originally $155)
Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner ($300, originally $413)

- Additional reporting by Kyley Warren, Balim Tezel, and Adelaide Giesey

Haley Lyndes is a former shopping writer and editor with more than seven years of experience in the publishing space. Specializing in home and lifestyle, she covered everything from furniture and mattresses to beauty products and fitness gear. Her writing has appeared in BuzzFeed, Travel + Leisure, and Real Simple.

Kyley Warren (she/her) is an award-winning writer and editor with more than four years of experience in the publishing space. She previously worked as an assistant editor on PS Shopping and is an expert on all things related to shopping and fashion. Before joining PS, Kyley worked with Entertainment Tonight as a style commerce writer, and her byline has appeared in publications globally.

Balim Tezel (she/her) is a PS contributor and the founder of Maison des Nus, a New York-based affordable luxury brand. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

Adelaide Giesey (she/her) is a shopping writer at Popsugar. With over seven years of industry experience, she is an expert in all things beauty and enjoys writing across fashion and lifestyle categories. Prior to PS, she helped shape the beauty verticals at Byrdie, Coveteur, and InStyle.

The GLP-1 Debate Hits Pro Sports

CeCe Olisa — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 12:30:03 -0700

On the surface, it's easy to make the hypothesis that a GLP-1 could potentially make someone better at their sport. If an athlete becomes lighter, can't they move around the court faster? Could changes in body composition improve agility or endurance? Could the drugs be seen as a competitive advantage? Well, it's a bit more nuanced than you think. As the ecosystem around these medications begins to change and pro athletes open up about using them, the world of sports has to figure out how to answer those questions.

The debate has already spilled into tennis culture. During the Cincinnati Open in August, a Ro banner depicting Serena Williams injecting a GLP-1 medication flew above the tournament grounds. The 23-time Grand Slam title holder has become a particularly potent symbol in this conversation, publicly disclosing her GLP-1 use in 2025 and has since returned to competitive tennis, prompting some online commenters to question the overlap among her body transformation, commercial partnership, and athletic comeback. But those questions are not evidence that the medication improved her performance, which is precisely the distinction the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and researchers are still trying to understand.

A newly published study surveyed sports physicians about their experiences with GLP-1 medications in competitive sports. Of the physicians who responded, 12 percent reported being aware of athletes who had used GLP-1 drugs without medical need, while 13 percent said athletes had approached them about using or prescribing the medications. Those numbers do not mean that 12 percent of athletes are using GLP-1s though. The study surveyed physicians, not athletes, and cannot establish the prevalence of GLP-1 use across professional sports. But it does suggest that sports-medicine professionals are already encountering the issue.

Daniel Read, PhD, a researcher at the University of Hertfordshire and an author of the study, says the interest physicians encountered appeared to have several motivations, including performance enhancement, body image, and legitimate medical need. So what's being done to monitor the usage and what type of advantages, if any, can GLP-1s offer in the world of sports?

How Are GLP-1s in Sports Currently Being Monitored?

Right now, semaglutide and tirzepatide are included in the World Anti-Doping Agency's 's Monitoring Program, which tracks substances that aren't prohibited, but that the agency wants to monitor for potential patterns of misuse. WADA spokesperson Andrew Maggio confirmed that athletes are tested for the medications as part of regular doping-control analysis so the agency can gather information about how prevalent their use is in sports.

"Since semaglutide and tirzepatide are not prohibited, if found in a sample, it is not reported as a positive test (adverse analytical finding), so there are no consequences for the athlete if found," Maggio says. "It is reported as part of the Monitoring Program." He added that data from the Monitoring Program are reviewed by WADA's List Expert Advisory Group "before any decision to include or not on the list of prohibited substances and methods is made."

Could a GLP-1 Actually Make Someone Better at Their Sport?

As pro athletes enter the GLP-1 conversation, questions about whether the drugs could function as "performance enhancers" are entering sports, too. But experts say the hypothesis is far more complicated than lighter equals faster. In tennis, for example, players need explosive movement to reach a drop shot, strength to generate power from the baseline, and enough endurance to repeat those movements over matches that can last for hours. Then, they need to recover and do it again. Weight loss alone doesn't guarantee any of those things.

"Weight loss and performance enhancement are not the same thing," says Alexandra Sowa, MD, an obesity medicine physician and author of "The Ozempic Revolution." According to Dr. Sowa: "Right now, we don't have clinical evidence showing that GLP-1 medications enhance elite athletic performance."

For an athlete who has obesity, Dr. Sowa says losing excess weight could improve mobility or metabolic health. But that is different from demonstrating that the medication itself enhances athletic performance. In fact, some of the same mechanisms that make GLP-1 medications effective could potentially create challenges for an elite athlete. "These medications suppress appetite, so if an athlete isn't intentional about fueling, it can become very easy to under-eat relative to an enormous training load," Dr. Sowa says. That could be particularly relevant in tennis.

"You can have an athlete competing for hours in extreme heat," Dr. Sowa says. "If the medication is suppressing appetite, they're not fueling enough, they're drinking less, or they're having nausea or GI symptoms, now you have to think about dehydration and inadequate energy availability on top of that." Her conclusion is simple: "A lower number on the scale does not automatically mean better performance."

On top of that, significant weight loss can include reductions in both fat mass and lean mass. That distinction could matter much more for an elite athlete than the number on the scale. "Whenever we lose a significant amount of weight, we lose some lean mass along with fat," Dr. Sowa says. For an athlete whose livelihood depends on strength and power, the more useful questions would be: What happened to body composition? Did the athlete maintain strength? Were they consuming enough protein and total calories? And how were they recovering? "Those are much more meaningful endpoints," Dr. Sowa says.

Ultimately, researchers don't yet have the athlete-specific evidence necessary to know how those competing effects ultimately translate to elite performance. "At present, there is no evidence from research with elite athletes comparable to the quality of athletes competing at an elite level to state whether weight loss medications provide any competitive advantage or disadvantage," Dr. Read tells Popsugar. There are plausible arguments in both directions.

So what evidence would be needed before researchers could credibly call these medications performance enhancing? Ideally, he says, that evidence would come from randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trials comparing athletes who use GLP-1 medications with those who don't, Dr. Read says. Even then, researchers would have to decide what "performance" means. In an endurance sport, for example, researchers might have an objective measurement like time, while in a sport with an aesthetic or judged component - or one where reduced mass may be advantageous - the effects could be more subjective.

But What If the Athlete Has Obesity?

This is where the GLP-1 debate becomes even more complicated. Athletes receive medical treatment all the time. They use corrective lenses, physical therapy, surgery, and prescription medications to treat conditions that could otherwise interfere with their ability to compete. So what happens when the condition being treated is obesity?

"One thing that gets lost in these conversations is that obesity is a chronic metabolic disease," Dr. Sowa says. "In someone who has obesity, we're not just using a medication to make them thinner. We're treating biological pathways that regulate hunger, satiety, food intake, and energy balance."

Being an elite athlete doesn't necessarily remove someone from that patient population. "Elite athletes can have excess body fat and metabolic dysfunction, too," Dr. Sowa says. If an athlete has a clinical indication for a GLP-1, being a professional athlete "doesn't somehow make that diagnosis less legitimate," she says. And that needs to be distinguished from an already-lean athlete taking the medication specifically to drive their weight or body fat lower.

"My biggest concern is that we don't conflate potential misuse with legitimate obesity treatment," Dr. Sowa says. "WADA monitoring semaglutide and tirzepatide is not the same as saying these medications are prohibited or that they've been proven to enhance performance." She sees investigating potential misuse as legitimate, particularly when medications are being used by already-lean athletes without a medical indication.

"But we should be able to have that conversation without implying that an athlete who is appropriately treating obesity is somehow cheating," Dr. Sowa says. "Those are two very different things." Where does treatment end and enhancement begin? That may ultimately become the larger question for professional sports. Correcting someone's vision can improve athletic performance. Treating asthma can allow an athlete to breathe normally. Rehabilitation after an injury can restore an athlete's ability to compete. In other words, medical treatment and improved performance aren't mutually exclusive.

Anti-doping policy therefore has to wrestle with more than whether an intervention changes someone's physical capabilities. For Dr. Read, GLP-1s are bringing renewed attention to a tension that already exists in professional sports. "The line between enhancement and health has always been difficult to define," he says.

For now, WADA is continuing to gather information, rather than drawing a line. "The WADA Executive Committee has decided not to change the status of GLP-1 receptor agonists for the coming year, 2027," Maggio said. "As such, it will remain on the Monitoring Program." What remains unanswered is what that monitoring will ultimately show - and whether future evidence will change how anti-doping authorities view the medications. For now, perhaps the most important thing spectators can do is recognize the difference between a body changing and a rule being broken.

CeCe Olisa is a trailblazing voice in inclusive health and beauty, dedicated to inspiring women to embrace self-care with confidence. As a certified fitness instructor and founder of Cocoa by CeCe, she blends personal experience with expert insight to make health and beauty joyful, accessible, and empowering. Each week in her CeCe Olisa Newsletter, she shares unfiltered stories, tools, and resources to help women build confidence from the inside out. Through everything she creates, she's redefining beauty and fitness with self-love, self-care, and self-confidence at the center.

How to Become an Amazon Prime Member Before October’s Prime Big Deal Days

Anvita Reddy — Tue, 15 Sep 2026 11:20:02 -0700

Amazon is one of our go-to places to shop for practically anything and everything, so having a Prime membership is worth every penny. The mega-retailer has it all, whether it's the latest bestseller, a viral TikTok find, or reliable essentials we constantly reorder. Not a day goes by when we're not browsing for Amazon must haves. It has endless beauty and fashion picks, the coolest tech and kitchen gadgets, furniture, decor, organizers, and so much more. If you're interested in getting an Amazon Prime Membership ($15), we can walk you through the simple process of signing up and give you the rundown of all the benefits you can take advantage of - including Amazon's annual Prime Day running from October 6 through October 7, with tons of editor-favorite deals.

Amazon Prime Membership Plans

Amazon has a Prime plan for everyone. For most plans, you can experience the Prime membership benefits for free for the first 30 days. You can opt for Prime Monthly for $14.99/month, Prime Annual for $139/year, Prime Access for $6.99/month (for those on government assistance), or Prime for Young Adults (18-24 and college students) at 50 percent off after a six month trial ($7.49/mo or $69/yr), plus five percent cash back, special drops, and bonuses.

How to Sign Up For an Amazon Prime Membership

Go to the Amazon Prime website: www.amazon.com/amazonprime
Choose your plan and click the "Start Your Free Trial" button.
Create your new Amazon account by filling out your personal information, including your name, email address, and password.
Choose a payment method and enter your billing details.
Verify your email address by clicking on the link in the confirmation email.
Once you've confirmed your account, you can take advantage of the benefits.

If you're eligible for Prime Access, you can sign up via the Prime Access page. It will direct you to upload an image of your EBT card, Medicaid eligibility letter, or proof of participation in another government assistance program.

Amazon Prime Day Deals to Shop

With plenty of deals on bestselling products, the membership is worth it for Prime Day alone. Here are the best October Amazon Prime Day deals to shop during the sale, which runs October 6 through October 7.

PlusOne Bullet Vibrator ($13, originally $15)
Batiste Originally Dry Shampoo ($17, originally $30)
HiLife Portable Steamer ($25, originally $30)
Beats Studio Pro Premium Wireless Headphones ($170, originally $350)
Shark FlexStyle Air Multi-Styler ($200, originally $314)
Dyson V8 Cordless Vacuum Cleaner ($300, originally $413)

Benefits of an Amazon Prime Membership

With a Prime membership, you can get exclusive deals and free shipping on eligible items, including the option of same-day delivery in certain locations. You also have early access to markdowns so you can score deals before anyone else. Amazon Prime members can also reap the benefits of exclusive price cuts during the annual Prime Day sales event, where you can save big on plenty of purchases, from big-ticket items like TVs to everyday essentials like batteries. You can even shop for groceries via Amazon Fresh or Whole Foods, and save on prescriptions with Amazon Pharmacy.

Beyond the shopping benefits, you also have access to Amazon's Prime Video streaming platform, which has thousands of movies, TV shows, and original content from all over the world, as well as Prime Music, the platform's ad-free music streaming service. If you're a gamer, you can utilize Twitch Prime, a gaming loyalty program that offers free games, in-game content, and exclusive discounts. And if you're a bookworm, you'll have access to the Kindle Owners' Lending Library, which lets you peruse a wide selection of Kindle e-books and borrow one book per month for free. Plus, you can get free Grubhub+, which includes $0 delivery fees, lower service fees, and exclusive discounts on takeout.

Clearly, an Amazon Prime membership provides you with a ton of benefits and advantages, and Prime Day is one of many.

- Additional reporting by Adelaide Giesey

Anvita Reddy (she/her) is a former assistant editor for PS Shopping. She has a passion for products and reviews home gadgets, cookware, tech, and more. Having dealt with acne as a teenager and into adulthood, her expertise lies in beauty. At PS, she tested skin care, makeup, and hair care, plus countless other beauty products.

Balim Tezel (she/her) is a former shopping updates editor at PS and the founder of Maison des Nus, a New York-based affordable luxury brand. She graduated from Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism.

17 Hotels Doing Wellness Travel Right

Kelsey Garcia — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 14:35:00 -0700

In an age of hyperproductivity, extreme optimization, and multi-function everything, people are starting to vacation differently. Many travelers are moving past crammed itineraries and busy sightseeing, in favor of more intentional tourism. To create more restorative moments of rest and overall wellness, we've seen a rise in grief retreats, quiet quests, and even "calmcations".

Wellness tourism is booming, and it's not slowing down anytime soon, with the industry projected to grow from $1 trillion to $3.25 trillion between 2025 and 2034, per Fundamental Business Insights. The industry broadly refers to hotels and retreats with a wellness specialty, whether that means a workout program, a cutting-edge spa, a plant-based menu - or all of the above. But some properties are also carving out more specific niches with offerings like equine therapy, spiritual rituals, falconry, in-room infrared therapy, and a menu of biohacking therapies.

Henley Vazquez, the co-founder of modern travel agency Fora, says she tends to see an uptick in wellness travel bookings in January. She has a few theories as to why that might be: "One is that you come out of the holidays and you want a fresh start in the new year. Instead of just making a New Year's resolution, you're actually going and doing something about it," Vazquez says. But she also thinks there's a greater awareness around health and wellness following the COVID-19 lockdown, as many people turned to the great outdoors for relief. "For lack of anything else to do, [people] bought a pair of hiking boots and climbed a mountain and found out, 'Actually, this makes me feel really good,'" she says.

These days, there are options for every kind of traveler, making wellness travel more appealing and more accessible than ever before. But wellness has also become a baseline consideration for even the most traditional trips. Someone seeking out a summer beach vacation might also be asking themselves, "How do I come back as a better person?" Vazquez explains.

With so many wellness offerings to choose from, these are the tried-and-true properties Popsugar editors believe are doing wellness tourism right. From a luxury lifestyle hotel in Portugal, to a relaxing oceanfront property in Laguna Beach, we rounded up some of the standout stays for health, fitness, and overall wellness. Read on for our recs, but be warned: travel bookings may ensue.

Experts Featured in This Article

Henley Vazquez is the co-founder of Fora, an online travel agency and network of travel advisors.

This Affordable Hidden Gem Is My Go-To Hotel in New York

Lena Felton — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 10:05:00 -0700

Ten years ago, I spent a summer in New York City, living out my dream of working at a magazine. I was in college, and my best friend and I managed to find two month-long sublets in Williamsburg - which, at that time, was the coolest place we could imagine. There were dark, moody restaurants and rooftop bars and a newly opened Whole Foods. I took the J train every morning to work and felt like adulthood was really starting.

It was a wonderful summer, which is why I still have a soft spot in my heart for Williamsburg. A short train (or ferry) ride into Manhattan, the area still boasts very cool restaurants and bars, and it offers a slower pace that, in my 30s, feels much more suited to my lifestyle than Manhattan proper.

As a frequent traveler to New York from the West Coast, I used to try to maximize my work trips by staying in Midtown. But I found that these hotels are often crowded, expensive, and not very nice, given they're overrun with tourists. So I set out to find a hotel that felt impossible by New York standards: affordable, spacious, and well-located. And I'm excited to report that I've discovered a hidden gem: The Penny Hotel in Williamsburg.

Without further ado, here are all the reasons you should stay there on your next trip to the Big Apple.

About The Penny Hotel Williamsburg

Queen rooms come equipped with a queen-sized bed, a kitchenette with a microwave, mini fridge, and pour-over coffee setup, and a sizable bathroom.
The hotel also offers Queen Sleeper rooms, Supreme Queen rooms, and the Your Majesty suite.
When I stayed at The Penny in August, rates started at about $230 for a Queen room, but prices vary depending on demand.
ElNico, a rooftop bar and restaurant on the top floor, serves Mexican fare.
The hotel partners with local nonprofit LAND Gallery to feature artwork by New Yorkers with developmental disabilities across its rooms and common spaces.

What I Liked About The Penny Hotel

I was immediately taken by the property when I showed up at 6 a.m. after a redeye, bleary-eyed and probably smelly, and the front desk managed to get me into a room despite my showing up several hours before check-in.

But it wasn't just that: the entire property allowed me to actually exhale, even though NYC usually makes me feeling on edge. Its common areas (including a patio and a rooftop) are tastefully decorated with local art, and I was so surprised at the size and capabilities of my room when I opened its doors: it boasted a whole kitchenette, lots of space to spread out, and a colorful robe that I immediately changed into.

One of my gripes with staying in cramped Manhattan hotels is that there's virtually no room to hang out, whether that's getting some work done or chowing down on takeout. That's not the case at The Penny, where I cooked myself breakfast every morning, making delicious cups of coffee they provided with the room's high quality Fellow kettle and pour-over set-up. The entire room is outfitted with these delightful touches; there was also a colorful yoga mat and roller that allowed me to stay active throughout my stay there.

My younger self would absolutely approve of the location, which is just a two-block walk from the L train, which takes you directly downtown. I actually don't find that staying in Williamsburg makes travel any less convenient, even if most of my work events are in Manhattan. You are 15 minutes from the heart of the city, and yet you get all the benefits from being located a bit outside the fray. What's more, this hotel is significantly cheaper than its Manhattan counterparts; you pay "budget" prices for somewhere that feels far more elevated than your typical Manhattan hotel.

And it should be said that Williamsburg is worthy of a trip in and of itself - one of my favorite restaurants in all of NYC, Lilia, is right around the corner from The Penny. I also spent an entire afternoon working out of the restaurant's rooftop restaurant, elNico, enjoying the panoramic views of Brooklyn and Manhattan. I'll say that the entire building feels quiet and chill; the staff is friendly but not overly intrusive, making it feel like more like an apartment building than a stuffy hotel.

I've now been back to The Penny twice, and every time, I feel like I'm coming home. You'll never catch me squeezing into a Midtown hotel again.

Who Is The Penny Hotel Best For?

The Penny Hotel is perfect for any traveler to New York who appreciates efficiency, more space in their hotel rooms, and a very well-designed space. I've recommended it to all my friends who are looking for an affordable option in New York.

Rating

Lena Felton (she/her) is a senior director of special projects at PS, where she oversees sponsored packages, tentpole projects, and editorial partnerships. Previously, she was an editor at The Washington Post, where she led a team covering issues of gender and identity. She has been working in journalism since 2017, during which time her focus has been feature writing and editing and elevating historically underrepresented voices. Lena has worked for The Atlantic, InStyle, So It Goes, and more.

Behind the Effort to Get Formula Covered For Breast Cancer Survivors

Korin Miller — Fri, 11 Sep 2026 09:30:03 -0700

Johanna Tran was just 30 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She's since undergone chemotherapy, a double mastectomy, radiation, and a DIEP flap reconstruction, which rebuilt her breast using her own skin and fat. "I am unable to breastfeed because I had a double mastectomy," she tells Popsugar.

In 2012, breast pumps and related breastfeeding equipment became covered by health insurance as part of the Affordable Care Act. But while this coverage supports nursing moms, it leaves out women like Tran who can't breastfeed out of medical necessity, requiring them to take on the additional costs of formula or donor milk out of pocket.

"Women didn't choose this path," says Tran, a 38-year-old mother of two in Florida who was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer in 2019. "I'm sure all of the mothers who are unable to breastfeed would love the opportunity to do so, but the choice has been taken away from them. It's not fair that on top of that, you face the hardship of having to pay for formula."

Katie LaMar was also unable to nurse after experiencing gynecological cancer twice. She welcomed a son with the help of a gestational carrier, and said her inability to breastfeed him was "deeply painful" for her. "I cried while holding my son in the hospital bed, apologizing for what I could not give him," she says.

Lawmakers are trying to help families like these with The Constance C. McDaniel Medically Necessary Infant Formula and Donor Milk Act, aka Connie's Bill. But the journey is just getting started. Here's what you need to know about the bill, and why it can make such a difference for some families.

The Financial Burden of Formula Feeding Is Real For These Families

LaMar estimates that she typically spent between $200 and $400 a month on formula to feed her son. "For a family already facing the costs of cancer, that recurring expense was difficult to absorb," she says.

Tran says it would "mean so much" to her for formula to be covered. "Breast cancer takes so much away from you, including your ability to feed your children naturally. There is no other option but formula," she says. "It feels like a double slap in the face that after surviving cancer, defying the odds and birthing healthy children, cancer strikes another blow by preventing you from feeding them."

Having formula covered by health insurance would be a big help for survivors, Tran continues. "Breast pumps are covered but you need breasts to use them… . This would even the playing field," she says.

How Will Connie's Bill Make a Difference?

Connie's Bill was named after Constance C. McDaniel, an advocate and mother who died from breast cancer in 2025, aims to cover medically necessary infant formula and donor milk for parents who can't breastfeed due to medical conditions. The bipartisan bill was created in partnership with Bobbie for Change and nonprofit organization The Breasties and introduced in the House of Representatives in May 2026.

The bill is "designed to close a glaring policy gap in the Affordable Care Act," says Michele Lampach, Bobbie for Change Director of Impact and Policy. "While current federal law mandates that insurance cover breast pumps for new parents - a huge win for breastfeeding and pumping families - it leaves behind cancer previvors, survivors, and others who medically cannot breastfeed due to breast or gynecologic surgeries or other medical diagnoses," she says.

Connie's Bill establishes a three-year federal pilot program to cover infant formula and donor milk for parents who can't breastfeed. "It is a long-overdue step toward true feeding equity, that all families receive the equivalent federal support towards feeding their babies," Lampach says.

McDaniel, who inspired the bill, "was a fierce advocate on a mission to ensure no other family had to fight the system the way she did," Lampach says. The bill has since been championed by legislative leaders like Congresswoman Debbie Wasserman Schultz.

"Too often, diseases like cancer take the deeply personal decision to breastfeed away from moms," Schultz says. "It's more important than ever that parents who need these nutritious products for their newborns out of medical necessity can access them. As a cancer survivor myself, I feel a deep obligation to raise awareness and solve this longstanding problem."

What Options Do Parents Have Now?

The Breasties originally reached out to infant formula maker Bobbie about this issue five years ago, Lampach says. "No one in government or the healthcare industry had an answer - let alone a solution," she says. "So, rather than wait for the system to fix itself, we became partners and launched the Bobbie Breasties Program to act as a temporary bridge, providing a full year of free formula to hundreds of mothers navigating cancer diagnoses."

Tran is one of them. "It has made a tremendous difference in our lives," she says. To date, the Bobbie Breasties Program has supported 615 families. "This was never meant to be a permanent substitute for systemic support," Lampach says. "Along the way, we've been actively pushing to change the law."

Extending the Affordable Care Act to cover infant formula for survivors would be a game-changer, Tran says. "There is enough stress with having a newborn, navigating family transitions, and dealing with postpartum issues," she says. "Figuring out how to feed your newborn or pay for formula shouldn't be one of them."

Korin Miller is a writer specializing in general wellness, health, and lifestyle trends. Her work has appeared in Women's Health, Self, Health, Forbes, and more.

10 Extended Labor Day Sales Up to 50% Off, From Samsung to Therabody

Haley Lyndes — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 14:45:00 -0700

Coming off all the major Labor Day weekend deals, there are plenty of sales still going on this week that have officially entered can't-ignore territory. From fashion and beauty to home, the markdowns happening right now are genuinely worth a scroll (and maybe a cart refresh).

If you've been waiting for the right excuse to update your wardrobe, get ahead on back-to-school shopping, or finally click "checkout" on that splurge-worthy piece, consider this it. These extended Labor Day sales are delivering serious savings on everything from editor-loved staples and cozy layers to rugs and investment-worthy tech.

We combed through the noise to find the standout deals actually worth your time - the ones we'd personally shop before prices bounce back. These are the smartest buys to snag before the week wraps up.

The Best Weekly Sales:

Restock on a cheeky style: Hanky Panky 3-Pack Lace Boyshorts at $80, originally $102
Trendy silhouettes on sale: Next Nothing Ordinary Brown Premium Midi Smock Dress at $96, originally $170
Reminder to refresh your house linens: Brooklinen Super-Plush Bath Towel Bundle at $118, originally $238
Like sleeping on a cloud: The Company Store Company Essentials Down Alternative Comforter – Queen at $191, originally $239
For mixing fashion with tech: Meta Ray-Ban Skyler (Gen 1) at $224, originally $299
Don't miss out on designer deals: Coach Emmy Saddle Bag 23 Leather at $230, originally $395
To streamline your beauty devices: Therabody TheraFace Pro at $280, originally $420
Our editor's favorite cushiony-soft rug for less: Rugs USA Arrel Speckled Wool-Blend Rug at $349, originally $590
A smart TV and artwork in one: Samsung 65 Inch Class The Frame TV at $950, originally $1,800
For investing in a good night's sleep: Avocado Green Mattress with Pillow Top at $2,319, originally $2,899

Looking for even more sales? Subscribe to our newsletter for more shopping recommendations.

For Black Women, Saying Goodbye to Martha’s Vineyard Gets Harder Every Summer

Yasmine Jameelah — Wed, 09 Sep 2026 10:05:01 -0700

I've been going to Martha's Vineyard for almost a decade. My first introduction to the island was through my mother, who's been visiting for over 20 years. She started going in her 30s, when a woman from our church would host an annual girls' trip. Year after year, she returned on the ferry, building friendships, traditions, and memories in a place that offered something she didn't often find elsewhere: the freedom to simply exist, surrounded by other Black people doing the same.

Years later, when I was old enough to experience the Vineyard for myself, that same woman who had first welcomed my mother to the island welcomed me. In some ways, it felt like a coming of age, and specifically, a coming into womanhood. I was being welcomed into a tradition that existed long before me - one that had been passed from one generation of Black women to the next. From the time I arrived, I understood without a doubt why my mother kept returning. And now, every year, we return together as a family.

But our story isn't unique. For generations, Black families have returned to the Vineyard, and Black women in particular have found something there that can be difficult to find elsewhere: belonging and rest among people who look like us. But that sense of belonging didn't appear overnight.

Black people have been part of Martha's Vineyard's story for centuries. The earliest documented Black residents on the island included enslaved Africans in the 1700s, and records later show Black Islanders working in homes and throughout the island's maritime economy as sailors, cooks, sailmakers, fishermen and whalers. After slavery ended in Massachusetts in 1783, free Black people continued to build lives on the Vineyard, including through fishing and whaling, while some established roots and became property owners.

By the 19th century, the Vineyard had become a place where Black families and visitors traveled from across the country to vacation there. And as the island developed into a summer destination, Black residents and visitors continued creating intentional communities of their own, specifically in Oak Bluffs. At a time when segregation and discriminatory practices restricted where Black Americans could vacation, stay and purchase property, Oak Bluffs was a town where Black people could buy homes. And because Black travelers could not count on being welcomed at hotels and inns across Martha's Vineyard, Black homeowners and business owners created places for other Black visitors to stay.

That access to property did more than create a vacation destination. It allowed us to put down roots on this little island off the coast of New England. Black families bought homes, welcomed friends and relatives, and returned summer after summer, creating traditions that could be passed from one generation to the next. Over time, Oak Bluffs became the center of a thriving Black summer community, one that drew generations of Black families, as well as some of the most prominent Black artists, writers and leaders of their time, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Harry Belafonte and Maya Angelou, who once described the Vineyard as "a safe place where we can go as we are and not be questioned."

That tradition continues today. Barack and Michelle Obama have a home on the Vineyard where they spend every August, alongside a new generation of familiar faces like Gabrielle Union and Dwyane Wade, Spike Lee, Tina Knowles and Tracee Ellis Ross. In many ways, Martha's Vineyard became a third space in vacation from a place outside of home and work where generations of Black people could return, gather and simply be. And Oak Bluffs was at the center of it. The traditions, community, and emotions that have been fostered here over the years are what keep generations of Black families, and more specifically Black women, coming back.

"I came to Martha's Vineyard 38 years ago and got welcomed by the Polar Bear[s]," says Caroline Hunter. The 80- year-old tradition began at the Inkwell in 1946 when two Black sisters, known as the O'Brien sisters, purchased a cottage in the Campgrounds and moved it to the end of Circuit Avenue, where they operated it as a bed-and-breakfast. Nine Black guests who had come to the Vineyard for summer work began swimming together early in the morning, when their work schedules allowed. What started as a morning swim among a small group would grow into an eight-decade tradition of exercise and fellowship.

Today, from July 4 through Labor Day, the Polar Bears still meet at the Inkwell at 7:30 each morning for an hour in the water. "I got hooked, because I looked at these women, I was in my late 30s, and they were in their 60s, 70s and 80s," Hunter says. "The kind of quality of life, and an uprightness and an energy that, to me, was very exciting. So I was like, 'I've got to be with these old people, because they got something going on.' And as life changed and they got older, myself and another lady took it over."

Nearly four decades later, Hunter she is helping carry that tradition forward as a Polar Bear leader. For her the tradition and the vineyard as a whole is rooted in wellness. "Lots of beautiful things happen when people do things collectively," she says "That's the true meaning of community and wellness. When people live on an island, they have a different sense of community, connectedness. As someone approaching my own 10th summer as a Polar Bear, I asked Hunter what women of my generation can do to preserve what women like her have built. Her answer was simple: take up the mantle.

She wants the next generation to understand that inheriting these spaces comes with a responsibility to show up, to care for one another, and, above all, to be responsible and kind.

Erin Goldson knows something about taking up that mantle. The founder and CEO of Vineyard Icon comes from a family whose relationship with Martha's Vineyard spans five generations. That history begins with her great-grandmother, Lucille Lipman, who emigrated from Kingston, Jamaica, to Boston at 13 and purchased a home on Tuckernuck Avenue in Oak Bluffs in 1946.

"What I love about her story is that she did not simply buy a house. She built a community around it," Goldson says. "She rented rooms, welcomed friends and visitors from places like Boston and New York, and introduced other families to the Vineyard who eventually became homeowners themselves."

Lipman became a founding member of The Cottagers, a nonprofit organization of Black women homeowners on Martha's Vineyard. And the intentional roots she planted have extended through five generations of Goldson's family. Her parents met on the Vineyard when her mother was 17 and later married there. Her sister was married there in their mother's wedding dress. Her grandmother, who lives on the island year-round, turns 100 this year and was one of the happiest attendees of Goldson's Vineyard Icon Awards this year.

"So when I say Martha's Vineyard is home, I really mean it," Goldson says. "It has held almost every chapter of our family's story." Goldson has never missed a summer on the Vineyard.

"I remember being in middle school and realizing that I almost lived two parallel lives," she says. "During the school year, I attended a predominantly white private school in Washington, DC. Then summer would come, we would pack our family car to the roof, and I would arrive on the Vineyard surrounded by Black excellence across generations."

At the time, she didn't yet have language for what made that experience so significant. "I just knew that I felt safe, known, and free," Goldson says. "I could ride my bike to the Inkwell, watch the Polar Bears in the morning, walk around town, work different summer jobs, and move from one friend's house to another." The freedom that Goldson describes on the Vineyard, still exists, as so much of what many people discuss about Martha's Vineyard is how safe they feel, and how their children are the freest they've ever been when on the island. "I felt independent, but I was never really alone," she says. "Friends, relatives, and neighbors were always nearby and looking out for me. There were people who had known me, my parents, or my grandparents for years."

But that freedom she feels here, she was taught by the many in her family, was a privilege that she shouldn't take for granted. "You do not simply inherit a place like this," Goldson says. "You have a responsibility to care for it, contribute to it, and leave something meaningful for the people coming behind you." Goldson says that responsibility was part of what led her to create Vineyard Icon, which celebrates people who have contributed to the island while giving back to the community through local organizations and scholarships.

"The celebration matters, but so does the responsibility that comes with it," she says. And when I asked Goldson whether describing Martha's Vineyard as a refuge for Black women matched her own experience, she didn't hesitate.

"Absolutely. To me a refuge is a place where you can put some of the weight of life down and return to yourself - a place where you can exhale," she says. "Black women spend so much of our lives navigating spaces where there is pressure to perform, achieve, explain ourselves, or represent something larger than ourselves. On the island you can see incredibly accomplished Black women riding bikes, sitting on the beach, walking down Circuit Avenue, having coffee with friends, or sitting on a porch doing absolutely nothing," Goldson says. "There is something about the Vineyard that makes you feel light and at ease."

And in her own family, Goldson can now watch the next generation of Black women rest, including her niece. "They may not yet understand the history, but they already understand that this is a place where they can exhale." For Goldson, that may be the simplest way to explain what Black women have found here for generations. "You can be extraordinary without having to prove your extraordinaryness," she says. "You can simply be."

Yasmine Jameelah is a seasoned wellness journalist, editor, and community builder, and the founder of Transparent Black Girl, a groundbreaking wellness platform that has reached over five million Black women worldwide. Her insightful work and leadership have been featured in The New York Times, Essence, Popsugar, Coveteur, and Oprah Daily.

The 10 Best Fall Picks From Anthropologie, From Suede Jackets to Knitted Ponchos

Adelaide Giesey — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 11:00:03 -0700

There are very few stores that can curate the latest in fashion, beauty, and home while still managing to have every category spark joy! But somehow, Anthropologie never fails to impress us. Whether you are looking to update your wardrobe or pour a little love into your interior design, there is quite literally something for everyone. By this time of year we have all started to officially lean into autumn, meaning darker color palettes, soft fabrics, and cold weather-approved designs. Anthropologie has presented its fall collection to capture this exact vibe through western silhouettes and prints, from a gorgeous brown suede jacket to a buttery-soft sweater dress. You'll also find small but impactful ways to transition your home decor, like adding a warm velvet throw pillow or tortoise glassware to your bar cart. Ahead, find the 10 best picks to shop at Anthropologie right now that make a subtle, yet seasonal statement.

The Best Fall Items at Anthropologie

Autumn-approved glassware: Anthropologie Gia Tortoise Goblet at $16
A subtle western accessory: Anthropologie Gia Tortoise Goblet at $78
For a soft home accent: Anthropologie Velvet Trova Pillow at $88
A classic fall pant: Maeve Colette Knit High-Rise Wide-Leg Full-Length Jeans at $90, originally $128
For a seasonal interior upgrade: Anthropologie Brooke Tufted Wool Striped Rug at $98
The poncho trend, cooler weather edition: By Anthropologie Knit Fringe Triangle Poncho at $118
The perfect mini leather bag: By Anthropologie Porter Leather Mini Bag at $128
Everyday slip-on shoes: Maeve Scrunch Loafers at $138
A chic cropped jacket: Anthropologie Siempre Faux-Suede Dolman Jacket at $158
The sweater dress reimagined: By Anthropologie Sleeveless Sweater Midi Dress at $278

Popsugar's Feel-Good Awards Submission Guidelines

Jessica Harrington — Tue, 08 Sep 2026 06:00:02 -0700

Here at Popsugar, our goal is to provide our audience with content, products, and experiences that help them live a more balanced and fulfilling life. We want to be the bright spot on the internet where you can come to feel good and get a little boost of dopamine, which is why we created the Feel-Good Awards.

Launched in 2025, the Feel-Good Awards are a celebration of the products that are genuinely lighting up our lives in the past year. It's our joyful, mood-boosting take on a hot list: one that's guided by emotional impact, not exclusivity. It highlights products across our five core categories - beauty, health, fitness, style, and home - that put some extra pep in our step when we needed it most.

We're no novices when it comes to awards - our Popsugar Beauty Awards have been running since 2019 - but recently we've expanded with new awards programs which we'll be rolling out throughout the year.

For the 2026 Feel-Good Awards, brands can submit products for consideration based on our guidelines below. The winning products will be selected by our staff of journalists and subject-matter experts, and announced in November.

Eager to learn more? Here's everything you need to know about submitting products for Popsugar's 2026 Feel-Good Awards.

How to Submit Products For Consideration

Brands can fill out an entry form to submit their products for consideration by the panel of judges (members of the PS team). Submissions for PS's 2026 Feel-Good Awards are open from Tuesday, Sept. 8, at 9 a.m. EST, until Tuesday, Sept. 22, at 5 p.m. EST. Both the payment and entry form must be submitted by the deadline; PS is not responsible for payments absent an accompanying entry.

Here are a few things to remember before entering a submission:

Please fill out one entry form per product. For multiple submissions, fill out one form per entry and submit a separate fee for each product.
There is no need to submit a form for multiple colorways of the same product.
We require an entry fee of $150 for each product submission, which can be paid via Stripe. You'll need to include your Stripe payment confirmation ID in the submission form. The fee is nonrefundable.
You can submit any new product that launched (or will launch) between January 1, 2026, and October 26, 2026. There are no exceptions.
Limited-edition products will not be considered.
Late submissions will not be accepted.

See here for the Popsugar Feel-Good Awards terms and conditions. Please note that this programming is separate from our biannual Popsugar Beauty Awards.

Next Steps: Samples and Testing

After we review all submissions, we will be in touch about samples for any products that our team is considering but has not previously had the chance to test.

We will not be able to test products that arrive after our sample deadline, so please be on time. From there, our editors will begin testing (and retesting) to find the very best. Only winning products will be notified at the time of publication.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When are the winners being announced?

A: Winners will be announced in November.

Q: Are the Feel-Good Awards separate from the Popsugar Beauty Awards?

A: Yes, the Feel-Good Awards are across all of our categories, while our biannual Beauty Awards program focuses on the best of the best in beauty. The awards programs run on separate timelines.

Q: What if the product is launching within the acceptable time frame, but no product link exists?

A: The product will need to have at least a preorder link by October 26.

Q: Are reformations accepted?

A: Products must be newly launched between January 1 and October 26, 2026. Reformations are OK as long as substantial changes were made to the product, but simply the "revitalization" or repositioning of a product is not eligible. If products are released with new features – e.g. home tech – they may be eligible.

Q: Are new shades of an existing beauty product eligible (e.g. eyeshadows, lipstick, etc.)?

A: Products must be newly launched between January 1 and October 26, 2026. New shades of existing products are not eligible.

Q: Are limited-edition products accepted?

A: No, limited-edition products are ineligible.

Q: Are the awards open to UK brands or just US?

A: The product/brand can be UK-based, but it must be widely available to shop in the US.

Q: Are in-office treatments accepted for submission?

A: No, the product must be available for purchase and use in-home.

Q: Are apps/digital products being considered?

A: Yes, category-dependent. Several of our categories have "tech" subcategories, which include apps and digital product submissions.

Q: Are edible/perishable foods eligible?

A: No, food products are not eligible.

Q: Are supplements eligible?

A: No, supplements are not eligible.

Q: Are men's and women's products (e.g. beauty products) both eligible?

A: Yes.

If you have any further questions, you can reach us at feelgoodawards@popsugar.com.

Solidcore Was Part of My Pre-Wedding Routine - Here's a Complete Beginner's Guide

Sarah Wasilak — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 10:35:03 -0700

There are countless reasons why you may want to work on building your strongest self. For me, that concept really became a priority once I was in my bridal era. I mean, who doesn't want to feel their best on their big day? That's why I leaned into the Solidcore hype to get myself ready for my wedding. The core motto "stronger for it" is exactly the kind of energy I needed to motivate myself to try something new. The fun blue-lit studio and thumping music was just a bonus.

The goal of Solidcore is to help you reach muscle failure via small, controlled movements and repetitive muscle contractions, so your body will likely feel shaky during and after the workout. Don't worry - that's the point. "The purpose of the class is to target your slow-twitch muscle fibers, breaking them down so they build back stronger over a couple of days," Triana Brown, Solidcore's senior director of product strategy, tells Popsugar. Brown used Solidcore to create her own six-week wedding prep routine. "Let's be honest: wedding prep comes with a lot of emotions, and exercise became my anchor. When I was getting ready for my wedding, I wasn't chasing a number on the scale or some unrealistic ideal. I just wanted to feel powerful, grounded, and at home in my body," she says.

Starting as a Solidcore newbie, there was a lot I wanted to get familiar with before my first class. As a new client, you can take advantage of one of two offers: Unlimited classes for two weeks at $119 or a 4-Class Pack at $77. At the 110+ locations across the US, you can sign up for Foundation50 and Starter50 sessions, which allow for breaks between circuits and involve more in-depth demonstrations by your coach. If you're a beginner, I highly recommend attending as many of these as possible; you'll still get in a very good workout as you warm up to the Solidcore-style workout.

Ahead, find answers to frequently-asked questions (according to Brown), about everything from what to wear to when you can expect to see results.

Solidcore Basics 101

Everything you should wear or bring to a Solidcore class.
How fast can you expect to see results?
The reformer breakdown
Different types of Solidcore classes
Is Solidcore a good workout?
Class format explained

Expert Featured in This Article

Triana Brown is a women's fitness specialist with an NASM certification. She is the senior director of product strategy at Solidcore.

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The 10 Best Pieces to Shop From Madewell's Labor Day Sale

Adelaide Giesey — Fri, 04 Sep 2026 06:00:03 -0700

If you're looking for clothing basics that look effortless but elevated, chances are you're already familiar with Madewell. The brand is loved for putting a spin on classic silhouettes and using high-quality fabrics to create pieces that instantly become wardrobe staples. Luckily, just as it becomes time to refresh our closets for fall, we can capitalize on end-of-summer sales to snag new must-have pieces. Now through September 8, you can get 25 percent off select fall styles and an additional 30 percent off all sale items using code LONGWEEKEND at Madewell. To help make your shopping experience seamless, we found the 10 best Madewell deals with the discounts already reflected in their prices. Ahead, find everything you'll need to make the transition to fall, from edgy flats to wide-leg jeans.

Our Favorite Madewell Sale Picks

The elevated everyday T-shirt: Madewell The '90s V-Neck Baby Tee at $34, originally $45
A lightweight button-down: Madewell The Signature Y-Neck Shirt at $74, originally $98
A green flowy trouser: Madewell The Everyday Trouser in Poplin at $74, originally $98
The ultimate fall jacket: Madewell Field Jacket in Washed Poplin at $80, originally $148
To upgrade your favorite flats: Madewell The Remy Mary Jane Flat $104, originally $138
An unexpected twist on a classic blazer: Madewell The Nolita Cutaway Blazer at $105, originally $228
For a quintessential fall denim haul: Madewell The Perfect Vintage Wide-Leg Jean at $111, originally $148
The bag that fits everything: Madewell The Signature Woven Tote at $129, originally $198
Because who doesn't love white after Labor Day: Madewell x Benjamin Talley Smith The Coolidge Low-Rise Wide-Leg Jean at $147, originally $285
For a soft suede finish: Madewell The Aleks Lug Loafer at $149, originally $198

26 New Beauty Products Our Editors Are Loving This September

Jessica Harrington — Thu, 03 Sep 2026 08:55:03 -0700

It's hard to believe that summer is winding down and September has begun. The last few months have been filled with record-high temperatures and lots of adventures in the sun, but now, it's time to get excited about fall. We're ready for cozy sweaters, pumpkin-spice flavors, candles, and our personal favorite, new beauty launches.

Judging by the new makeup, hair, and, body, skin-care products hitting store shelves, September is already looking bright. Though the time will be here soon to trade in our lightweight formulas for something heavier, right now is all about transitional beauty products that make the switch from hot temps to cooler days easier. From candles that will help you embrace the fact that fall is right around the corner to warm, floral perfumes and face moisturizers that keep dry skin at bay even after long days at the beach, there are a variety of new beauty products for September to explore.

Ahead, our editors made fall shopping a little easier for you by sharing their favorite new beauty launches of the month, and we promise - they're good. Keep scrolling to see what made the cut, and get ready to click that "add to cart" button 26 times.

How I Reset My Nervous System on a Solo Trip in Los Cabos

Emily Zirimis — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 15:45:02 -0700

Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

It dawned on me that I hadn't taken a deep breath in a while. I exhaled, lowered my shoulders to ease the tightness, and gazed out at the open ocean ahead of me, all while submerged in my private plunge pool at
Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve – a beachfront resort located in San José del Cabo, Mexico.

Frankly speaking, the moment felt like a simulation, as I had never experienced something so simple, yet luxurious before. It was only after I returned from this trip that I realized how much my nervous system had needed a reset.

As I boarded my flight to Mexico last month, nervous with anticipation about my first solo international trip, I tried to remind myself just how incredible this stay would be. Sure enough, once the brilliant blue Sea of Cortez many miles down below me started to come into view through the airplane window, I immediately felt at ease as we touched down in the desert oasis.

The Los Cabos Tourism Board hosted me on this trip to Los Cabos, in which an intimate group stayed at two different properties, tried out a variety of food experiences and enjoyed several wellness-focused activities. This trip was my very first time visiting this region of Mexico, so I went into the stay with no expectations, and left feeling inspired, renewed, and well-rested.

About Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

The property has 87 guestrooms, 27 suites, one villa, and exclusive residences.
Standard category rooms have partial or full ocean views of the resort, as well as private plunge pools.
The Sensei spa offers a large hydrotherapy pool, wellness consultations, spa treatments, and group classes.
The property also has six culinary venues that celebrate both local and global flavors, including Humo, El Barrio, Equis, Candil Agave Bar, the intimate Sótano cellar, and the casual cafe, Azul.

What I Liked About Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve

Upon arrival at Zadún Los Cabos, I was greeted by the property staff at the resort entrance with an assembly line of welcome drinks, gifts, and a complimentary welcome mezcal margarita. I was soon whisked away via a golf cart driven by Miguel, my personal attendant, or "tosaoni," a word derived from the indigenous Nahuatl language that translates to "dream watcher."

Property Views

Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

Miguel talked through the amenities as we zipped along the winding pathways of the property, transporting me to a true state of zen. After a tour of the room, which includes breathtaking ocean views, a dreamy outdoor shower, and a personal plunge pool, I couldn't throw a bathing suit on fast enough as the feel-like temperature outside climbed to a steamy 105 degrees Fahrenheit.

Private Plunge Pool

Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

This was my first time experiencing a private plunge pool right outside my hotel room, and let me tell you, my hotel expectations are now incredibly high! It was quite magical to take a dip at my leisure: in the morning after (literally) rolling right out of bed, midday when the sun was at its highest (and hottest) point, and to close out the evening after still buzzing from dinner and drinks. The evening may have been my favorite time to take a plunge, as the sound of ocean waves breaking onto the beach in the distance lulled me into a meditative state before bed.

Sensei Spa and Lunch at Equis

Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

Our itinerary at Zadún Los Cabos included an array of activities meant to focus on wellness including a sound journey, a hydrotherapy session and a daily warm up at Sensei, the incredibly tranquil spa at Zadún.

There were also multiple on-property meal experiences including breakfast at El Barrio, a stunning dinner at Humo, a cinematic dinner under the stars at El Mirador, and an informative lunch at Equis, during which we ate and spoke with executive chef Victor Garrido, who was responsible for curating the meal, overseeing the sourcing of ingredients, and working alongside the incredibly seasoned and dedicated team that showed nothing but care and hospitality toward us for the entirety of our stay. My lunch highlights were the fried tuna and tacos al pastor.

Dinner at Humo

Zadún Los Cabos, a Ritz-Carlton Reserve. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

One of my favorite culinary experiences was at Humo, an on-property contemporary grill where the "elemental flavors of fire, sea, and soil come together to celebrate the essence of Baja." The moody interior combined with the smell of the local mesquite wood burning in the open kitchen made for a memorable evening and meal presentation, all thanks to Karla Najera, the restaurant's chef de partie.

Menu highlights included charred local watermelon with cashew cream, pickled seaweed salad, ancho chili oil, yuca charcoals (i.e. fried yuca, squid ink, salsa brava, and leek ash), and the A-maiz-ing Cocktail, which consisted of a corn-based Oaxaca spirit and passion fruit, making for a tropical twist on a traditional piña colada.

As the sun rose on our last day at Zadún, I was sad to be checking out, but also excited at what still lay ahead of us, as our trip was only halfway through. Before arriving at our final destination, we made a pitstop at The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt, a luxury boutique hotel nestled along the shores of Cabo San Lucas that features stunning views of El Arco, a famous rock formation, and a saltwater pool carved into the rocks adjacent to the property.

About The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt

The property has 159 guestrooms, all with terraces featuring ocean or garden views.
The hotel is located on Playa Monumentos, a "surf paradise" with views of El Arco.
There is one outdoor infinity pool and one outdoor saltwater pool as well as a full service spa, salon, and fitness center.
Dining venues include Sunken Bar, The Rooftop, Point Break, The Ledge, Beach, and Manta.

What I Liked About The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt

A Property Tour and Brunch at The Ledge

The Cape, A Thompson Hotel, by Hyatt. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

It was here where I first spotted the aforementioned iconic Los Cabos arch accompanied by an expansive view of turquoise ocean swells and brazen surfers catching the next best wave. This property offered us brunch at The Ledge where I ordered a Café D'Orange (iced espresso chocolate, orange and oat milk) and The Cape Toast (roasted banana, caramelized almonds, vanilla whipped cream, mint, piloncillo glaze, and raspberry atop french toast) - both of which were memorable enough for me to attempt recreating them at home just to reminisce.

About Montage Los Cabos

The property has 122 guestrooms, including suites and casas steps from Santa Maria Bay, as well as 52 resort-style Montage Residences.
There is on-property access to the finest snorkeling and swimming beach in the region.
Spa Montage is 40,000 sq ft. and features a fitness center, pool, and movement studio.
Dining venues include: Mezcal, Marea, Talay, and Paletas.

Our last and final stop of the trip was Montage Los Cabos, a 39-acre resort located on the Santa Maria Bay waterfront, with various offerings including snorkeling and scuba experiences on-property, several restaurants, four pools, and Spa Montage. We were again greeted with an assembly line of welcomes and smiles upon arrival at check-in. My room boasted another incredible view of the ocean, as well as another (dreamy!) outdoor shower.

What I Liked About Montage Los Cabos

Ocean Views and Turn-Down Treats

Montage Los Cabos. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

We were very well taken care of at Montage and quite literally felt full throughout most of our time at the property with the many culinary delights and experiences they had to offer us, including lunch at Marea, an agave experience and dinner that followed at Mezcal, not to mention a sweet treat (abuelita's hot chocolate!) and a gift left in our room during turn-down service each evening.

Lunch at Marea

Montage Los Cabos. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

As mentioned, the first meal at Montage Los Cabos was lunch at Marea, which offers Mediterranean-inspired dishes led by chef de cuisine Eric Arellano. The food, albeit delicious and fresh, wasn't the only thing that transported me to the Mediterranean as I stared out at the views. My favorite dishes were the Angus Iowa hanger steak and ceviche puttanesca, which included local kampachi, castelvetrano olives, sun–dried tomatoes, and calabrian chili.

Pool Cabana and Spa Day

Montage Los Cabos. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

A pool day (at one of the property's four pools) on our last full day was the perfect way to wind down and reflect back on our time in Los Cabos. I ordered a Cabo Sunset (passion fruit-coconut sorbet, lime sorbet, fresh pineapple and vanilla bean whipped cream) from the pool cabana menu before heading off to Spa Montage for an hour-long massage, which left me feeling light on my feet and without a care in the world, even if for just a moment.

Our evening concluded with an agave experience, followed by dinner at Mezcal, all led by executive chef Xavier Salomon, head sommelier Fabián Martínez, and chef de cuisine Alejandro Euroza. During the agave experience, I discovered that I actually prefer the taste of raicilla (vs. mezcal) on the tequila spectrum, which left me wanting to try out more raicilla-forward cocktails once back home, even as a historically self-proclaimed fan of mezcal.

Dinner Off-Property

Cocina de Autor. PS Photography / Emily Zirimis

Our second to last dinner took us off property to Cocina de Autor, a Michelin-starred restaurant located at Grand Velas, featuring a sensorial dining experience of fine gastronomy led by two-Michelin-Star head chef Sidney Schutte.

The theme of the meal was "memories," wherein the chef based each dish off a specific memory he had experienced throughout his life. As the swirl of dry ice billowed off The Big Apple (matcha latte, green apple, kaffir lime, coconut, and amaranth) and the crispy crunch of the red snapper katsuobushi (hoja santa, grapefruit, avocado, dashi) lingered on my taste buds, I tried to take in this moment as much as I could, appreciating how nice it was to not have anywhere to be other than right where I was, with who I was with.

Final Thoughts

I left Los Cabos feeling full (literally) and restored - creatively, mentally, physically, my camera roll looking like a sea of bright blue and beige. But the complete effect of the trip didn't fully hit me until I returned home, and I realized just how good I actually felt. Well-rested, my skin glowing, my shoulders not feeling as tight. I thought back to how I felt before I had gone on the trip – tense, exhausted, foggy.

While it's not everyday that someone gets to have an experience as luxurious as this one, I tried to take away the aspects that left me feeling more relaxed that I could recreate on my own: slow mornings, swimming, eating wholesomely, being present. As a meme that I saw recently said, "Maybe all we really need is just a fresh tomato and a morning swim." (In this case, fresh avocado.)

Emily Zirimis is the associate creative director at Popsugar. Before joining the PS team, she worked as Creative Design Director at Teen Vogue for nearly six years. She holds a BFA in Communications Design with a minor in Art History from Pratt Institute and has been working in the digital media space since 2014.

How to Dress for Harry Styles’s “Together, Together” Disco-Inspired Tour

Haley Lyndes — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:48:02 -0700

Harry Styles is back, and yes, he looks as effortlessly good as ever. After a four-year hiatus, we finally got a musical update on what he's been up to (besides, you know, running marathons). His latest album, "Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally," dives into his growth over the years, self-acceptance, and surviving life in the relentless spotlight. "Aperture," his first single, is basically a warm hug about community, while "American Girls" is a bittersweet bop that's upbeat enough to make you dance, but also a little heart‑tugging, as Styles ponders love, family, and watching his friends grow up without him.

Musically, the album screams disco - but in a good way - while sprinkling in electronica and dreamy atmospheric pop, like being gently catapulted through time. It's not nonstop party, but fans still can't help but want to dance in their living rooms like no one's watching. Just like his historic "Love On Tour," this album has inspired yet another series of concerts full of epic music, community, and yes . . . killer style. The "Together, Together" tour kicked off in May and Harry has officially started his 30-night residency at Madison Square Garden. Even if you aren't in New York, the energy is palpable.

Wondering what to wear? Let us help you channel your inner disco.

The Best Harry Styles Concert Outfits

Casual disco tee: Etsy Kiss All the Time. Disco, Occasionally T-Shirt at $40
Sheer layering tank: Skims Sheer Rib Tank at $44
Lightweight windbreaker: Agora Vantage Windbreaker at $50
Leopard sequin shorts: Superdown Mael Sequin Short at $58
Sequin halter crop top: Edikted Ellorie Sequin Open Back Halter Top at $64
Satin wide-leg pants: Topshop Satin Tie Waist Wide Leg Pants at $68, originally $75
Tinted aviator sunglasses: Yes Glasses Aviator Tinted Sunglasses at $69, originally $78
Statement bralette: Tropic of C The C Bralette at $100
Classic sneakers: Adidas Samba OG Shoes at $110
Washed barrel trousers: Free People Spotlight Washed Barrel Chino Trousers at $128
Patchwork shoulder bag: Coachtopia Alter/Ego Small Slouchy Shoulder Bag at $195

What a Rucking Retreat Taught Me About Doing Hard Things

Chandler Plante — Wed, 02 Sep 2026 11:00:02 -0700

"Never in my LIFE would I imagine you'd do something like that," my brother texts in our family group chat. He's responding to a video of me climbing a 70-foot strangler fig tree . . . then jumping from the very top. My harness quickly catches me as I swing through the canopy of leaves, flipping upside down to see Costa Rica's Matapalo from an entirely new perspective. In the video, I'm laughing with my arms spread wide and upper body dangling towards the ground like a human bat. Any fear I initially felt while clambering up the tree's giant, gnarled trunk has dissipated, and for a few rare moments, I am completely free.

A week prior, I wouldn't have imagined myself doing this either. But with GoRuck's annual Ruck & Flow Retreat, that's kind of the point. GoRuck is all about pushing your limits, going the distance, and taking a leap of faith (sometimes literally) in pursuit of your highest self. The women-only itinerary includes strength training on the beach, a five-mile jungle ruck (weighted walk) deep in the Osa Peninsula, and a nine-mile trek across Corcovado National Park. Challenge accepted.

As a stroke survivor whose illness culminated in the loss of her right eye, I have complicated feelings on what constitutes a "challenge." Some days, I think brushing my teeth would qualify. I once dragged a chair into my bathroom because standing upright for two minutes felt like too big an ask. Rebuilding my strength after the umpteenth flare up is another challenge that never really gets easier, and not only for physical reasons. The line between a challenge and a breaking point is a delicate tightrope, and I do my best to walk it with grace. But after embarking on this rucking excursion myself, I learned a lot more than I bargained for. Here's how it went, including some of my biggest wins, struggles, and overall takeaways.

My Rucking Experience

15 minutes into my first-ever ruck, I fall to the back of the pack, watching people pass me as I catch my breath on our 4.75-mile venture through the Costa Rican rainforest. "Most people don't have such broken bodies," I remind myself, sweating under the weight of my 12-pound rucksack. I feel quietly envious of this as I search for a reliable foothold among the fallen leaves. What would it be like to pursue your highest potential without the fear of sending yourself into a flare? To ruck onward without worrying the physical stress may trigger an avalanche of pain and inflammation later on?

I consider quitting several times before eventually reaching the summit. Accomplishment sinks in faster than the muscle soreness, and staring out on the vibrant tropic landscape, I see why people sometimes refer to rucking as "type-two fun." Painful in the moment, but happy to look back on, even minutes later. This may also explain why rucking has become one of this year's hottest fitness trends (although the impressive physical benefits could also have something to do with it).

Enjoying an endorphin-induced high, I follow fitness expert Jen Widerström back down the steep trail, trying hard not to lose myself in her six-pack. Despite my best efforts, I'm still one of the last to complete the ruck in its entirety. As I approach the finish line, I see that 20-something GoRuck participants are already anticipating me, assembling a bridge with their hands and hollering at me to run through. "This is so embarrassing," I whisper to the tour guide tasked with making sure none of us swallow a poison dart frog (or some such). But ducking under the hands of my fellow ruckers feels sweeter than I expected. Putting my ego aside, this celebratory moment becomes the highlight of my day.

The next morning, the group is promised a leisurely hike to the strangler fig tree . . . which, of course, means we're on our hands and knees, scrambling up a waterfall. In the moment, I remember grappling up a ledge and cussing out the powers that be. But looking back, I can only really recall the happy moments: pausing to sip directly from a natural spring; laughing with my new Ruck & Flow besties; and hearing our tour guide describe Costa Rica as his personal paradise. What kind of rucking sorcery is this?

Scaling and leaping from a massive tree isn't exactly low stakes (especially with a small audience watching down below). With my heart pounding, I debate whether I should even try. But, making a conscious effort to approach fear with levity, I shrug off any self-doubt and decide to take the plunge. Who cares if I fail? At least I'll have some fun on the way up.

Later, our Ruck & Flow group discusses how it felt to push ourselves in this way, deciding where to place our feet, which branches to grab, and when to jump off. "Keep doing things scared," one woman says at dinner. "Because one day you're 40, and it gets so much harder."

My Rucking Takeaways

As I stood in the jungle, swatting at beads of sweat like mosquitoes and swearing I'd never ruck another day in my life, my fellow Ruck & Flow participants demonstrated a completely different mindset. Whereas I found myself wallowing in a certain amount of disappointment every time I didn't exceed my own expectations, challenges merely seemed to re-invigorate them. A tough ruck just made them want to try again, get stronger, and prepare better for next time.

Being that this is only GoRuck's second Ruck & Flow retreat, I asked co-founder Emily McCarthy whether this group felt like a total switch up from last year. She surprised me by shaking her head no. Ruck & Flow attracts a certain kind of person, she explained. It's often women looking for something different. Women striving for their best - whatever that may look like to them. "It's about moving at your own pace, rather than finishing someone else's race," McCarthy said.

"It's about moving at your own pace, rather than finishing someone else's race."

After spending so much time in the rainforest with them, I agree that GoRuck attracts exceptional women. Not just in terms of physical prowess, but in spirit, grit, and resilience. Elite coaches and professional athletes, yes, but also healthcare workers seeking adventure; a woman who didn't get to properly celebrate her 50th birthday as the milestone it is; a former free solo climber still trying new things.

I entered the retreat feeling like a bit of an outsider among bonafide rucking superheroes. But I've come to view myself as a pretty exceptional woman too. I'm proud of finding joy (and a little silliness) in the face of fear. I'm proud of knowing my body well enough to assert its boundaries. And more than anything, I'm proud to have done things I never would've imagined - all at my own pace.

Chandler Plante (she/her) is a staff writer and PS Fit Producer. She has over six years of industry experience, previously working as an editorial assistant for People magazine, a social media manager for Millie magazine, and a contributor for Bustle Digital Group. She has a degree in magazine journalism from Syracuse University and is based in Los Angeles.