Lifestyle

All The Lifestyle, Wellbeing & Experience Picks R29 Loved In April

1 May 202511 Mins Read

At least once a week — let’s face it, at least once every day — the writers and editors across Refinery29 discuss the latest and greatest products in our lives, from some cool new water bottle that’s been absolutely saving our lives to a state-of-the-art sleep product that’s changed our eight hours for the better. And gatekeeping isn’t in our vocabulary, so we’re here to share the wealth and highlight our favourite products, just for you, each month.

All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.

Tanyel Mustafa, Senior Writer

Photo: Courtesy of Tanyel Mustafa.

I don’t think candles need only be limited to winter. I find a candle relaxing all year round, especially when they’re scented and freshen up my room. The difference though, as we move into summer, is that I like a candle that’s either floral, fruity or fresh. Something to match the sunshine.
Flaming Colossus is exactly that. It’s zesty and vibrant, as it should be, because it’s an ode to LA’s famous club of the same name. In fact, the whole brand is inspired by iconic dance floors. When I’m having my recovery days after festivals this summer, I’ll be resting with this burning beside me.

Discotheque Discotheque Flaming Colossus, $, available at Discotheque

I recently got to try The Origin Pool at Damu, the spa located in The Mandrake. Unusually, it’s designed for only one person at a time. It’s a room flooded with soothing sounds, lighting, with a salt water bath as the centrepiece. The salt content is so high that you completely float once submerged, there’s no need to even try to lift your body up.
You lie back in the pool and watch and listen as the lights and sounds around you shift and change. I’d had a stressful week, and although I’m rubbish at relaxing (it takes me a while to settle into activities like this), I noticed the overthinking in my brain melt away. By the end of the 45-minute soak, I’d nearly drifted off.

This experience felt unique. It was nice to try something in the name of wellness that felt different to a usual spa menu. After leaving the salt pool, I was given a delicious rose flavoured tea (other flavours were available) and the chance to decompress before using a private shower and changing area, filled with fancy soaps, shampoos, accessories and a Dyson hairdryer.

All in all, this is as luxurious as alone time gets.

Sessions cost £180 and can be booked here.

Liver health has been on the minds of a lot of young people lately. I decided to give mine a check, too, hoping for some reassurance.
I’m a moderate drinker, who can happily go days or weeks without a drink (I don’t need a glass with dinner), but will then enjoy nights out with booze featuring heavily. Living in Britain though, alcohol does seem to be the hinge that binds so many social events.

The scan measured my liver stiffness and fat level. The less fatty and less stiff it is, the better. My results were good, with both of my readings being on the low side. What was more interesting to me though, is how misunderstood liver health is. The clinician explained to me how much diet plays a huge role in how fatty your liver is. It isn’t just about alcohol.

And what’s also worth knowing, is how quickly the state of the liver can adapt with some positive changes. This year, I’ve reduced my intake of ultra-processed foods, so I wonder how much that will have impacted my reading. Regardless, it’s given me even more motivation to stay balanced and healthy where I can.

A FibroScan can be booked at The Liver Clinic for £249. The Love Your Liver roadshow runs events across the UK, where scans are free.

Susan Devaney, Life Director

Photo: Courtesy of Susan Devaney.

In the Refinery29 office, Damson Madder is a firm favourite. While I may kick about in the British label’s cropped jeans and comfy socks, I never thought I’d own a pair of DM leopard print oven gloves. And yet, here I am, a woman in her 30s just trying her best to find reasons to enjoy time in the kitchen. And do you know whose energy it’s giving me? The one and only Shania Twain. Enough said.
Damson Madder Leopard Oven Gloves, $, available at Damson Madder

Summer is on its way, right? With the changing of the seasons, comes a switch up to lighter, fresher spirits. Enter: Hepple Gin. From the sleek bottle design (made from locally sourced recycled materials) to the taste of Douglas Fir from the surrounding Northumberland woodland, sipping on this gin makes you feel like you’re on a wilderness stay in nature. What more could you possibly want?
Hepple Spirits Hepple Gin, $, available at Hepple Spirits

Let me repeat it once more for those at the back: Here I am, a woman in her 30s, just trying her best to find reasons to enjoy time in the kitchen. And it’s all about the small things, isn’t it? Just like my DM leopard print oven gloves I simply love my new citrus yellow Toast oil pourer. Handmade in Aubagne in France by artisans at Poterie Barbotine, it’s a well-made kitchen utensil that’ll stay with me for a long time.
Toast Poterie Barbotine Oil Pourer, $, available at Toast

There’s nothing nicer than taking a trip to a winery when the sun is out and it’s a Bank Holiday weekend in England. In April, I indulged in an overnight stay at the Flint Barns on the Rathfinny Wine Estate in Sussex.
Upon arriving, I went on their wine tour which was so insightful to see how it all comes together from behind the scenes. The guide was so knowledgeable about the impressive vast estate, wine production and well…grapes. If you fancy a night’s stay there, you’ll be treated to a three-course dinner (hello, rhubarb with custard and meringue — because dessert is always the best part). And, of course, bubbles! Rathfinny’s sparkling wine is simply a good summer sparkler. As for breakfast? French toast with bacon was definitely needed.

At time of writing, prices start from £282 for two.

Alicia Lansom, Associate Editor

Photo: Courtesy of Alicia Lansom.

After a hip issue forced me to slow things down for a while, I’m finally starting to come back to life thanks to my magician-like osteopath. This means I can finally entertain the idea of becoming, you guessed it, a reformer Pilates girlie.
While I’m a bit intimidated by the influencer-filled videos showcasing perfect form and super fancy studios, I want to find an exercise class that helps me feel strong, so Pilates feels like a good place to start. The only thing is that the grippy socks you need to stick to the reformer machine are all so…boring? Thankfully, I have found these funky, floral-filled designs that promise to make the class a little less scary. Available in three eye-catching colourways, hopefully, they also have magic powers to help me avoid falling flat on my face.

Get A Grip Tangerine Dream, $, available at Get A Grip

A perfect bedside light feels like the key feature of a calming bedroom. The idea of turning on the ‘big light’ in a sleepy space makes me gag at the thought and thus, I have been on the lookout for the perfect ambience-inducing wall lights.
These nude coloured beauties from La Redoute are exactly the type of vibe I’ve been looking for. The 70s bubble style is so chic and the subtle colouring to the glass will go perfectly with my moody, ‘sulking room pink’ walls. Available in nude, red and orange, the hand-blown glass is mushroom-shaped, letting out just the right amount of light. Ideal for reading a good book before bed (or scrolling Pinterest), these lights are the perfect spherical statement.

La Redoute Interieurs Kinoko Tinted Glass Wall Light, $, available at La Redoute

I can’t stand the cold in winter and you guessed it, I can’t stand the heat in the summer either. I’ve had a small rickety old fan for the last few years, but when London decides to heat up, I’m always left sweating buckets and unable to sleep. Another dilemma I have every summer is severe hayfever, so the combination of being itchy and hot feels like a nightmare.
This is why I started looking for an air purifier and cooling fan in one. This model from Dyson promises to get rid of 99.95% of pollutants in your home, including dust and other allergens, which often get worse as the warmer weather arrives. But my major excitement is due to the sheer size of the thing. Forget a tiny desk fan, this bad boy packs serious power, and is essentially an air conditioning alternative. I love being hit with a waft of clean, cool air and I’ll be cherishing this baby all summer long.

Dyson Purifier Cool PC1, $, available at Dyson

Esther Newman, Affiliate Writer

Photo: Courtesy of Esther Newman.

I’ve always wanted to get into film photography but have just been daunted by all the gear, gadgets and gizmos out there, not to mention the cost of it all, and so have previously tended to stick with cheap disposable cameras — but of course this causes a huge amount of waste (of which no cool film “aesthetic” is worth).
Recently though, I discovered 35MM Co., who produce reasonably priced and easy to use reusable cameras designed with manual film advance and rewind functions, available in an array of fun colours. It’s the perfect entrance into film photography for a beginner like me, and I’ve loved playing and experimenting. Not to mention, printing off and storing my pictures in one of the brand’s beautiful, hard cover, fabric bound photo albums.

This summer will be my fourth Glastonbury and while I love camping at a festival (truly, it’s the most fun!), my back does not. So, this year, I decided to (finally) retire my sad, sagging inflatable mattress and invest in a camping cot. I’ve already tested this Helinox one out in my living room and it is so comfortable, I easily napped on it on a hungover Sunday afternoon. Plus, it’s light to carry (way lighter than lugging the blow-up mattress and hefty battery-powered pump), and I love that I can store luggage underneath it, freeing up all-important tent space.
Helinox Cot One Convertible, $, available at Helinox

Venus Wong, Senior Writer

Photo: Courtesy of Venus Wong.

Even with the temperatures getting warmer, I’m still committed to soaking my feet in a hot bath every other night using this dried herbal packet. Mugwort is a popular ingredient in Chinese medicine, most commonly used to treat fatigue and improve circulation. My grandmother, who lives in China, uses mugwort oil on her shoulders to relieve joint pain, and this Muihood product claims to help relieve muscle exhaustion and better regular period pain. While I can’t personally vouch for the pain relief properties of this specific mugwort bath soak, I can vouch for its ability to warm up the body. I find myself falling asleep faster (and struggle less with icy feet) on nights I’ve done this foot bath.
Muihood Mugwort Bath Soak, $, available at Muihood

I recently upgraded to a new iPhone, so this highly anticipated collab couldn’t have come at a better time. You’ve probably come across Takashi Murakami’s iconic smiling flower motif before, most likely from the re-issue of his insanely popular collaboration with Louis Vuitton that really defined Y2K fashion. In addition to the flowers, this collaboration with Casetify also incorporates Mr. DOB, a cute mouse avatar that’s a visual stand-in for the Japanese artist himself. Sadly, most of the collection has already sold out, but you can still get your hands on this adorable phone case, which can be customised with your initials.
Casetify Dob, And Then (Blue) Mirror Case, $, available at Casetify

Yes, I’m one of those people who can’t stop yapping about how great their air fryer is, but Cuisinart’s newest XXL Air Fryer genuinely has made such a huge difference to our meal prep process and I’ve genuinely enjoyed cooking a lot more as a result. This one comes with a spacious dual-drawer design that cook portions that can feed up to 12 people, and is a huge time saver since you can time two separate dishes to finish at the same time. There are six different cooking functions, including air frying, baking, and roasting. It’s also very easy to clean, as you can pop the drawers into the dish washer. I’ve been using it to make practically every meal, from egg and cheese toasties for breakfast to salmon teriyaki for dinner. I just wish I had invested in one sooner.
Cuisinart Cuisinart XXL10.4L Air Fryer, $, available at Cuisinart

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