With seasonal depression kicking in and holiday chaos just around the corner, we could all use some more calm in our lives. Enter our sense of smell, a powerful medium that has the ability to affect our mood with a single sniff. (And IDK about you, but I could use many stress-relieving sniffs right about now.) I’m going to start off by saying this—fragrance is subjective, and any fragrance that you personally like is going to be stress-relieving for you....

Reader question: Is The Ordinary worth the hype? And which ingredients should I be getting—there are so many! —Diana Verona At first glance, The Ordinary seems very, well, ordinary. The color palette is monochrome, there are no flashy marketing claims splashed across the bottles, and the packaging looks more like a scientist’s arsenal than something you’d find on a vanity. Oh, and here’s the kicker—nothing costs more than $30. So why is the brand generating so much buzz amongst TikTok-ers, beauty editors, and dermatologists alike?...

Whether you need to refresh your linens for the fall or simply want some bedding inspiration, you’re in luck. Right now, you can enjoy a bedding renewal for much less, but only for a limited time. Brooklinen is having a surprise sale through September 27 to help you get your bedrooms in the autumnal mood with the warm and neutral tones of its best-selling linen at 25 percent off—plus an extra 10 percent off its bundles....

But dry toast is an abomination, so you soldier on, cutting a thin pat and scraping it across bread you hope you won’t pulverize into crumbs or crack into a collapsed mess of uneven pools of butter and half-melted gobs of disappointment. …Which brings us to our titular question. Do you learn from this and vow never again!, and store butter on the counter? Is it even safe to store butter on the counter?...

But for all the good it does, retinol can irritate the skin. When using it for the first time, start with a low percentage and work your way up steadily. “Don’t stop immediately if a little sensitivity occurs, as it can take your skin cells a couple of weeks to adapt,” says Ewoma Ukeleghe , MD, a board-certified dermatologist in London. “If it’s extremely uncomfortable, use only once a week or switch to the lowest concentration you can find....

Due to the construction of memory foam, exposing it to the agitation of a washer and dryer will cause the foam to break apart. So yes, you can wash a memory foam pillow, but no, you cannot do so in the washing machine. However, a vacuum cleaner can be used to clean a memory foam pillow quickly and with ease. There are also methods for stain removal, as well as for deep cleaning, that are safe for memory foam pillows....

By the time Carla hosted the meal for the first time—a Friendsgiving-type gathering in Washington, D.C.—she had been through culinary school and worked in restaurants. She’d also traveled the world as a model and had recently started her first catering company. “I remember thinking, I have been French trained, so let me cook outside the traditions I grew up on,” she says. “You know what? It didn’t feel like Thanksgiving....

“Chipotles in adobo sauce, ripe avocados, and eggs” -Pati Jinich, chef, host of PBS’ La Frontera and Pati’s Mexican Table, and author of three cookbooks. Her latest is Treasures of the Mexican Table “In my kitchen you will always find auyama—a type of pumpkin that I like to use for soup—blue cheese for a creamy white pasta sauce, and coriander seeds for so many things. I just love the flavor....

Reader question: Help for dry winter scalp! Dandruff shampoos only make it worse. —@brandyo Here’s the problem: It sounds like you’re trying to treat a dry scalp with dandruff shampoo, which is a common mistake. People often use dry scalp and dandruff interchangeably because they have the same symptoms, however, they are two different conditions that have different treatment plans. To get to the root (ha) of the issue, it’s important to know the difference between dry scalp and dandruff—and how to identify the two so you can properly diagnose (and treat!...

Red Wallpapered Bathroom If you’re looking to start small, wallpaper in a small-scale pattern with a white background, like seen above, is a subtle choice. Red accents in an otherwise neutral bathroom feel pretty and glamorous. The red remains approachable, accented with marble countertops and silver accents. Add blue for a more nautical feel, or try pink if you want to skew feminine. Retro Red Eclectic Kitchen Decorating with red walls in this kitchen evokes a retro feel....

Last month I told you that I’m a part of the FloraCraft® #MakeItFunCrafts team for the next few months. Last month I made a simple spring cake centerpiece from foam wreaths and this month I’m so excited to share my new favorite party decoration made with 1 1/2 inch FloraCraft® Make It: Fun® Foam Balls. These foam ball garlands are the perfect way to add a pop of color to your party backdrop, to the front of a table, or even just for a little added decoration right on the table....

Sounds like a dream, right? After a month of use, I can confirm the promise of Drunk Elephant’s A-Gloei Retinol Oil is very real. Gradually increasing my use of the oil from once weekly to twice weekly, I’ve not yet experienced any irritation or redness. In fact, my skin is looking significantly clearer, and it feels softer to the touch. To buy: $72; sephora.com. If you’re wondering why skincare enthusiasts are willing to risk potential retinol side effects, it comes down to its proven benefits....

Today, as part of the Black Friday and Cyber Monday sales weekend, hundreds of retailers have prices slashed across thousands of categories. While we use the sale opportunity to stock up on gifts for friends, relatives, and loved ones, the immense savings also yield the perfect opportunity to upgrade certain functional items, like the air purifier that might positively impact our well-being, without causing undue stress to our bank accounts....

INDUSTRY PROS: Margaret Dasso, a co-owner of The Clean Sweep Housekeeping Agency; Laura Dellutri, the author of Speed Cleaning 101; Charles Gerba, ph.D., a professor of microbiology at the University of Arizona, in Tucson; and Cheryl Sousan, the founder of the lifestyle blog TidyMom.net. Less of that: Scouring away the smell of last week’s forgotten fluke. A strong refrigerator odor is not only gross but can also be aggressive, seeping into the flavor of milk, eggs, and butter....

But first, a lesson in cranberry appreciation… Cranberry harvest in North America begins in late September or early October, and lasts through early November, with the fresh-berry season lasting through January. Of course, frozen cranberries, Craisins, cranberry juice, and the ubiquitous canned versions are available year-round. Need more reasons to love cranberry sauce? Health-wise, there are plenty. Cranberries are a nutritional powerhouse rich in antioxidants, polyphenols, prebiotic fibers, vitamins, and minerals....

Two of my favorite fall flavors are pumpkin and maple and this delicious pumpkin dessert combines both of those. It’s not quite as easy as this pumpkin crunch cake, but it’s even more delicious! And it’s almost as easy – just one more step! The recipe includes an amazing pumpkin filling with a little maple flavor plus an oat crumble topping on the top and bottom of the filling. Pumpkin sandwiched between buttery, crumbly, goodness sounds like a pretty amazing fall dessert to me....

Investing in energy-efficient home upgrades can be pricey (my husband and I just spent $25,000 on new windows and a new deck), but it can save in the long run by cutting down on your utility bills and ultimately making it easier to sell your home in the future. If like me, you are a new-ish homeowner (or a current homebuyer), you may be wondering what eco-friendly upgrades are worth the price tag and which ones won’t do much....

The shapewear brand sent me a pair to test out a few years ago, and it’s remained my favorite underwear for all sorts of activities, especially running, sleeping, and traveling—three things that demand the highest quality of undergarments. If I could have a drawer full of these thongs on constant rotation, I would. Their $20 price tag is the main reason I buy them in moderation. To buy: $20; spanx....

Finding your ideal hair removal method for different kinds of unwanted hair is usually a trial and error process, but here are some of the typical upsides and downsides to shaving, waxing, laser removal, and depilatory cream—plus other random tips and facts to know before you try. Shaving Best for: Your legs and underarms. Keeps you hairless for: Usually one or two days, depending on how fast your hair grows....

I am a huge fan of Disney. I’ve had either a Disney World or a Disneyland annual pass (or both) for the past few years even though we don’t actually live anywhere near either because we love it so much. It sounds so cliche to say but being in a Disney theme park is really my happy place. A place I’m missing so much right now. With Disney World and Disneyland finally open again, I thought it might be helpful to put together the ultimate Disney packing list – for today....