EDITOR’S NOTE
Happy Sunday. After yet another week of miserable heat, I truly believe a lifetime supply of Flintstones Push-Ups is the only thing that can fix me. But for now, I’ll do the other rational thing: scroll into oblivion. My best finds, so far:
If you, like me, can think of few things more painful than shopping for grown-up shorts, allow me to introduce you to the “Goldilocks of Jean Shorts.”
I regret to inform you that the season’s coolest hairstyle is the “Medusa Ponytail” (even if I had hair long enough to do this, it’d be a hard pass).
A disco ball-adjacent purse is apparently the summer accessory your wardrobe is missing (warning: the Limited Too flashbacks are…intense).
Has Taylor Swift been giving Travis Kelce vocal lessons? Based on his latest karaoke performance, the answer seems to be a resounding yes.
And, finally, I’m still having intrusive thoughts about this heels-on-boobs dress (“confusing” is putting it nicely).
— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC
👰♀️ Newlyweds are bringing the world’s most unexpected third wheel(s) on their honeymoons. No, not the dog.
🤔 This summer’s most-talked-about tank top looks like it came straight from Carrie Bradshaw’s closet (circa 2003). Please hold while we process.
💄 Nothing — and we can’t stress this enough — could have prepared us for the return of this lipstick shade.
👀 Add the “Gen Z tuck” to the list of things we didn’t know we were supposed to be doing.
✏️ You’ll never guess where some moms are homeschooling their kids. Hint: It involves castles and a lot of churros.
The only thing more inescapable than Labubus? Love Island. In recent weeks, the reality dating show has exploded into a full-blown cultural phenomenon — Super Bowl-level watch parties have taken over bars, mamacita memes have flooded feeds (even Justin Bieber couldn’t help himself), and Team Chelley vs. Team Huda has threatened to divide group chats indefinitely. After all, we’re talking about a series in which hot singles enter a Barbie Dreamhouse-like villa, then couple (and recouple) to win $100,000…and maybe a significant other. Add to that: bizarre make-out challenges, a collective love language of cooking breakfast (you won’t believe how many eggs they go through), a surprise visit by Megan Thee Stallion (obviously, a twerk-off was involved), exits that defied all logic (looking at you, Jeremiah and Hannah), and a deep bench of exceptional characters. Those include Pancake-Counting Queen Huda (she’s reached first-name-only status) and self-described “sensitive gangster” Amaya Papaya (we raise a glass of rosé to you — and your viral one-liners).
Of course, the season also hasn’t been without controversy — no surprise for a show with a long, highly problematic history. Last Sunday, it was announced midepisode that Cierra Ortega had exited the show “due to a personal situation” — an odd way of saying that old social media posts had resurfaced in which the now-25-year-old seemed to use an anti-Asian slur. The backlash from the Love Island-verse was swift, and days later, Ortega issued an apology, saying she “had no idea that the word held as much pain, as much harm, and came with the history that it did.” She added that she’s since educated herself and “anyone around me who was accidentally holding space for this slur.” (Yes, people had thoughts about “holding space,” too.) It’s worth noting that Ortega was the second contestant to depart from the villa this season for previously using racial slurs (Love Island crew, work on your vetting), while other contestants have faced extreme cyberbullying and producers have been accused of rigging the show. Sure, the season may officially end tonight — but something tells us the grip will be unrelenting.
Bennifer’s love story didn’t get a fairy-tale ending — and at this rate, neither will their $68 million love nest. After a year on the market — and a multimillion-dollar price cut — Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck have apparently pulled the listing for their Beverly Hills mansion (if you can even call it that). The obvious question: Is their former home cursed like their relationship? Or, is there simply no market for a 38,000-square-foot compound with 24 bathrooms and parking for 80 cars? Some of the other features include an “indoor sports complex” (read: not a gym), a 5,000-square-foot guest penthouse (whatever that means), and double gates, for “unrivaled” privacy and security. All of which JLo is hopefully enjoying as she reportedly waits for her new place to be renovated (relatable). The supposedly $18 million “downsized” pad clocks in at a modest 8,600 square feet (a recession indicator if we’ve ever seen one), but still has all the essentials: a wet bar, home theater, and, blessedly, a massage room. She’ll need one after this real-estate migraine.
As one of the World’s Most Famous Actresses, Jennifer Aniston is no stranger to the dating rumor mill (never forget that Barack Obama one). And while we’re not in the business of stoking tabloid flames, we do feel compelled to acknowledge the highly speculative, not-at-all-confirmed chatter that she may be getting cozy with “a hot hypnotist” — which feels both wildly random and somehow the most Hollywood thing ever. According to “Page Six,” the two were spotted eating in Big Sur, CA, last month, followed by a trip to Mallorca to celebrate Celebrities-on-Yachts season (sorry, the Fourth of July) with Jason Bateman and his wife. So, who is this enlightened mystery man, you ask? Jim Curtis — a coach, author, and “wellness pioneer” (sure) with a deeply ’90s haircut. Naturally, he’s chock-full of self-help book recs, believes in repeating these affirmations six times a day (something his maybe-girlfriend cosigned), and has a rescue dog (let’s be real, that’s probably what sealed the deal with Clyde and Lord Chesterfield’s mom). Jim, if you can get Jen to forget 2023’s Murder Mystery 2, you have our blessing.
If you still quote Girls like it’s scripture, good news: Lena Dunham — Patron Saint of Messy Millennials — is back with a new Netflix rom-com series. With a few scenes loosely based on Dunham’s real life, Too Much follows Jessica (played by TikTok star turned Hacks scene-stealer Megan Stalter), a Brooklyn workaholic, who, fresh off a brutal breakup, flees to London to live out her Bridget Jones fantasies. There, she meets Felix (Will Sharpe of White Lotus fame), a brooding indie musician and walking red flag. Needless to say, sparks fly — and things get very messy, very fast. The 10-episode show (produced by Dunham, her husband, and some of the Love Actually team) delivers her signature razor-sharp lines, a stacked cast (including Naomi Watts, Emily Ratajkowski, and Andrew Rannells), and plenty of British accents. It’s chaotic, it’s horny, it’s classic Dunham.
Bioré UV Aqua Rich Watery Essence High Protection SPF 50+
Caroline, Senior Commerce Editor, here. I know our team has regaled you with tales of the best sunscreens time and time again, but if there’s one SPF product that has continued to elude me, it’s a nonsticky body sunscreen I actually enjoy applying. For many years, I’ve heard the lore of this cult-favorite Japanese sunscreen, but the body version — which comes in a big, pump-top bottle — is tough to track down in the US. So when I stumbled upon the face version at my local Asian beauty store, I thought I’d give it a try. Friends, this stuff is unlike anything I’ve ever used (not hyperbole). True to its name, it has a watery, cooling texture that doesn’t require an arm workout to blend in. Plus, it doesn’t pill. Something tells me a trip to Japan for the body version could be in my future...
Trending products and brands our shopping team has been loving recently.
A delivery app that skips the fees and scores you special offers? Yes, please. Plus, you can share your membership with a loved one — same perks, zero extra cost. Win-win.*
Dearest gentle reader, it is with great privilege that this author informs you that the Ruggable x Bridgerton collection is on sale for 25% off today. Cheers.
Found: a face sunscreen that won't make you break out. This derm-recommended SPF also has a sheer, blendable tint that looks great on its own, or as a primer for your foundation.
PS: Want more product recs? Follow @skimmshopping on Instagram.
Unleash your competitive side with today’s games and puzzles. Choose from an anagram word search, digital jigsaw puzzle, or crossword (with a twist). Better yet: Try them all.
Live Smarter
Sign up for the Daily Skimm email newsletter. Delivered to your inbox every morning and prepares you for your day in minutes.