All The Lifestyle, Wellbeing & Experience Picks R29 Loved In July
11 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 took this to a camping festival and was very impressed. It inflates and deflates super fast (great when you’re already drained after lugging your stuff and then pitching up a tent). It’s comfortable. It packs down to almost nothing. I’ll be taking this with me when I go camping again later this year abroad.
BIG AGNES Campmeister Deluxe Pillow, $, available at Big Agnes
I’ve been using this non-stop in recent weeks (quiet-ish, so as not to annoy the neighbours). It can go pretty loud when it’s at full capacity, but mid-way it comfortably fills a bedroom for background music while getting on with life admin. That’s the way I’ve been using it most, and giving my ears a much needed break from my headphones. This sturdy speaker is just the right weight and size too, to feel solid without being too heavy to move into different rooms. I know this is something I’m going to get use out of for years to come, from house parties to quiet days in. Not to mention, it looks so cool on my shelf.
Marshall Middleton II, $, available at Marshall
I used to enjoy taking pictures with a camera, but when I got an iPhone that changed. I couldn’t be bothered to carry the extra piece of tech, but with that I lost a hobby and an outlet for creativity that wasn’t judged through the lens of work or achievement. Since this camera came into my life, I’ve enjoyed taking photos again. Photos that aren’t *for* anything, they’re just for me. The camera is easy enough to use as a beginner, but it has lots of potential for people wanting to learn more about photography and improve their skill. I’m going abroad in a couple of months, and some room will definitely be made for this high-spec camera.
Nikon Z5II, $, available at Nikon
Susan Devaney, Life Director
Photo: Courtesy of Susan Devaney.
I do love trying new wines. So when a bottle of Las Fincas de José Pariente 2023 Rueda Verdejo landed on my desk I was obviously intrigued. I opened my bottle while having some homemade pizza and it went down a treat. It’s quite sweet and a little peachy which I think makes for a nice drink on a summer’s night.
Decantalo Las Fincas de José Pariente, $, available at Decantalo
Hailey Bieber knows what the girlies want, doesn’t she? I’ve lost count of the number of compliments — and questions! — I’ve received about my Rhode lip phone case. Now in a summery buttermilk shade (I opted for grey FYI), it’s a case that’s easy to hold, makes it easy to find your phone in your bag and so easy to find your lip balm. And right now, I’m all about making life a little easier.
Rhode Summer Lip Case, $, available at Rhode
I’m off to Canada this summer for a road trip. Think: national parks, long drives, swimming in lakes and sleeping in a cabin. I have my hiking boots and waterproof gear sorted, but for the days when I’m going on a forest walk or walking a city (hello Vancouver and Calgary) I wanted to make sure I had some comfy-yet-cool trainers. Enter: New Balance 1300JP. Released just once every five years, this style is classic and I’m a fan. First released in 1985, you can easily see why it’s still a sought after style today. I’ve already been wearing them around London and they’re very comfy indeed.
New Balance Made in USA 1300JP Shoes, $, available at New Balance
You know you’re in your 30s when a new hoover brings instant joy (who am I anymore?). The AirRAM 3 is pretty easy to assemble (top tip: make sure you properly click the battery into place or you’ll be left wondering why it’s not working!). It comes with a wee charging booth which I think is great (once it’s fully charged the lights stop flashing) and the suction is very good. Better yet, Gtech has launched a limited-edition pink AirRAM 3 in a bid to raise £100,000 for cancer charities. Profits from every one sold will go to Macmillan Cancer Support and Worcestershire Breast Unit Haven.
Gtech AirRAM 3, $, available at Gtech
Alicia Lansom, Culture Editor
Photo: Courtesy of Alicia Lansom.
I’m trying to get rid of harsh ingredients in the kitchen, which extends to my washing machine tablets (which have been known to give me rashes in the past). These sheets from dip are plant-based, meaning they are gentler on skin and better for the planet. Coming in flat soap sheets, the detergent pads are soft and malleable and are simply ripped in half for regular-sized loads and placed into the drum with your clothes. You can choose between a ‘fresh linen’ scent or like me, go for fragrance-free (you can also get matching fabric softener sheets). So far, I’ve had no eczema breakouts, no problems removing stains and I love not having to deal with exploded pods filled with potent sticky goo.
Dip Laundry Detergent Sheets, $, available at Dip
As someone with a history of nightmare periods, I‘m naturally sceptical of any new period care product that hits the market. But this heat pad has genuinely impressed me. Made by Australian brand Scarlet, the Rae heat pad heats up in a matter of seconds and delivers proper heat straight away with no wait time. It has three temperature settings, with the hottest being only recommended for 30 minutes at a time. The slim, curved design means you can simply place it between your clothes and your underwear (or buy their pocketed period pants). Charged with an iPhone charger and coming in a thin, discreet case, it is perfect for travelling or for when a hot water bottle is too much effort. Word to the wise, after initially charging up the device, the on button was very stiff, give it a hard push and you will eventually see a white light where you can then cycle through the three heat temperatures.
Scarlet Scarlet Period rae Heat Pad, $, available at Scarlet
I’ve had a cheap supermarket blender for the longest time and in a frustrating moment trying to make pesto that wouldn’t even spin around, I decided I needed something with more firepower. After reading many Reddit threads about the best blenders in the game, one seemed to come out on top: the Nutribullet Ultra. First off, it looks very sleek and space age sat on the counter and the illuminated interface makes it feel luxe. Now, for the actual blending quality, the blades have been upgraded to titanium to shave down blending time, while the 1200-Watt motor is the quietest the company has made yet. While it for sure works best with more liquidy things like smoothies (it whipped up my frozen blueberries in no time at all), it also cut through almonds with no problems when I made a batch of sundried tomato pesto. Delicioso.
Nutribullet Nutribullet Ultra, $, available at NutriBullet
I avoided the cult of air fryers for so long, but with my oven on the blink, it was finally time to see what all the fuss was about. I wanted a glass air fryer to avoid PFAS and this compact option from Ninja came up time and time again in my research. Coming with two glass cooking containers (for large or small portions), the pod has four functions: Air Fry, Roast, Keep Warm and Recrisp. Each container comes with a fry rack, which means you can double-stack certain foods on top of each other or use the whole space to cook bigger things. As someone who freaks out cooking chicken, it feels so nice to be able to pop it straight in and forget about it, alongside carbs and veggies that I can layer and roast all at the same time. While I’m still yet to figure out the perfect amount of oil (I did have an incident with some particularly crispy aubergine), this has certainly cut down my kitchen time and encouraged me to start cooking different meals. Plus, the glass containers double as serving dishes and even come with clip-on lids to use as Tupperware to take straight to work.
Ninja CRISPi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer, $, available at Ninja
Venus Wong, Senior Writer
Photo: Courtesy of Venus Wong.
I didn’t get the hype around Stanley Cups, but can honestly vouch for the vast improvement in my H2O consumption ever once I started keeping this water bottle around the office. I like the functionality of its design (you can pop the lid open with just one hand) and it’s extremely sturdy and leakproof. The interiors are insulated and can keep beverages cold for up to 24 hours. It’s a godsend during this heatwave, since I can keep count of how much water I’ve been drinking by how many refills I’ve had.
Owala FreeSip Water Bottle, $, available at Free People
I can’t imagine this to be a necessary purchase for 80% of the population, but if like me, you care about taking higher-quality selfies with your smartphone and you often travel alone, this will be a godsend. This little monitor sticks to the back of your phone case (if it’s Magsafe-enabled) and mirrors your rear camera view, therefore enabling you to take selfies that are clearer and more high-definition compared to the front-facing camera, and you can monitor the outcome in real time. I make travel and cooking TikToks for fun, and being able to see what I’m capturing in real time and helped speed things up tremendously (and made me less self conscious).
Amazon SYNCO XView M4 Selfie Monitor Screen, $, available at Amazon
I’ve been looking to replace my worn out headphones with something that has better noise cancellation and robust battery life, and my search has led me to this smart-looking pair. Even though it’s designed for gaming — it comes with more than 100 presets for the PlayStation 5 — it does a remarkable job while connected to my mobile phone and laptop, too. It delivers high-quality, 360° spatial audio, meaning that you’re truly locked in your own little bubble when you pop these on. Bonus points goes to the water and dust-resistant casing. No wonder my partner keeps trying to steal these from my desk when he plays FIFA.
Steel Series Arctis GameBuds for PlayStation, $, available at Steel Series
Kelly Washington, Senior Social Editor
Photo: Courtesy of Kelly Washington.
New Balance’s performance accessories are made for running and fitness, but there really is nothing that tests your endurance quite like Glastonbury. I swapped my usual bulging, back-breaking bum bag for the mini stretch belt and the bigger New Balance performance accessories belt in black, to Worthy Farm. Compact, lightweight and durable, they carried me through five days of walking, dancing, camping and everything in between. Pretty sure I slept in the mini one twice. 10/10.
New Balance Performance Stretch Belt, $, available at New Balance
When I first received an email from KatKin, a cat food subscription service, I was skeptical. Their pitch: the ingredient supply chain in cat food is stale, and wet and dry cat foods use extreme processing methods and high heat for cooking, at temperatures known to produce carcinogens, which results in significant losses of vitamins and nutrients. Katkin provides fresh meat, free from grains, fillers and preservatives. So I thought, free cat food, whatever, I’ll give it a go. I didn’t expect to see a difference in my cat in only three days(!). Her coat seemed instantly glossier, her eyes brighter, and she immediately was much more spritely, loving and energetic. While an improved mood, more energy and glossier coats are supposed to come within months, I was certain I’d noticed a subtle difference immediately. A month later, she just keeps getting better, so you have a customer in me for life, KatKin.
KatKin KatKin Fresh Cat Food, $, available at KatKin
Raquel Reichard, Somos Deputy Editor
Photo: Courtesy of Raquel Reichard.
Whether I’m lounging at home, out for a nature walk, or visiting friends, you’ll see me with a bottle of water. And, more recently, the folks in my life have been catching me with my LARQ Bottle Swig Top. I have the limited 34 oz lavender drop, and I love it. It’s cute, easy to hold, comfy to sip from, and keeps me hydrated wherever I’m at.
LARQ Bottle Swig Top, $, available at LARQ
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