I’m not trying to brag too much here, but I’m pretty certain that I have one of the coolest, most enviable jobs around. Reason being? I scour the internet for the best shopping deals and coolest trends every day, and get to test out so many amazing new clothing pieces, beauty products, and home goods. I’ve been a shopping writer and editor for a few years now, and have developed a knack for determining which products are worth every penny, and which ones are better left in the virtual cart. 

This month is all about stepping into the fall comfortably. Stores like Target are beginning to roll out their fall home lines and sites are seeing increased search interest in moisturizing and clarifying products (makes sense, given that temps are sadly going to plummet and the air is about to dry). Amazon’s Movers & Shakers page—a section that shows what items are rising in popularity—is filled to the brim with soothing lotions and oils. Google is being inundated with “fall fashion” inquiries and people on Pinterest are starting to search for pumpkin recipes and candles once more. 

My shopping carts fit the bill for these fall trends perfectly. I’m shopping for nourishing face masks, sleek platform loafers, and cozy throw blankets to start my cold weather months off the right way. Check out the eight essentials I’ll be buying this September below: 

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Target is a STYLECASTER sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Courtesy: Neutrogena.

Neutrogena Anti-Residue Clarifying Shampoo

I don’t know what it is about spending so much time indoors, but ever since the pandemic began, my scalp has been a mess. I’ve experienced more dandruff and dryness these past two years than I have collectively my entire life. My one saving grace? This simple clarifying shampoo. It removes icky product build-up from dry shampoos and conditioners without stripping my hair of its natural oils. For best results, I swap this product with my typical purple shampoo once or twice a week. 

Courtesy: Sam Edelman.

Sam Edelman Laurs Platform Loafer 

I’m of the belief that if you have a good pair of loafers, you can wear them across every season. I love the androgynous vibe of the shoes. They’re punk and sexy at the same time. Unfortunately, most quality pairs are a few hundred dollars. That’s why, when I found these Sam Edelman ones, I squealed out loud with glee. The Olivia Rodrigo-esque shoes platforms come in black, tan, or green and pair them with practically every dress or pair of pants you’ve got hanging in your closet. 

Courtesy: Target.

Cable Knit Chenille Throw Blanket

There is no problem that curling into a cozy throw blanket can’t solve. This is why at the beginning of every fall season, I gift myself a new one. I love the look of all things cable knit. The sophisticated design makes tops and accessories like this blanket, which is just $25, look so much more expensive than they are. 

Courtesy: Nest New York.

Nest Pumpkin Chai Candle

It’s time for society to pass the point of calling everything pumpkin scented or flavored basic. Let’s all just agree that pumpkin anything is delicious and should be celebrated, not mocked. This September, I’m going all in on candles. Nest’s Pumpkin Chai candle is everything I want to cover my space. The spice scent is decadent without being overwhelming. Plus, the candle itself is a warm orange. You can’t find a better fall candle than this. 

Courtesy: Mr. Coffee.

Mr. Coffee Mug Warmer

I’m fairly certain that this clever coffee invention was made for me. It ensures that slow sippers (moi) won’t ever have to deal with lukewarm drinks ever again. To use it, all you have to do is flip the switch on, and the base will warm your cup’s bottom and keep the liquids inside nice and hot. I’ll be keeping this accessory on my WFH desk at all times. 

Courtesy: Free People.

Free People Picnic Sweater Romper

This fall, I don’t want to wear anything that requires more than a little effort to put on. Jeans? Absolutely not. A button-up shirt? You’ve got to be kidding. Heels? Please, don’t make me laugh. But this sweater romper? Sign me tf up. It’s like wearing a stylish and socially acceptable set of onesie pajamas. I plan to keep it on at home during work and lounge time, then dress it up when I go out with tights and combat boots. It’s such a simple look, but those are the best ones to style again and again.  

Courtesy: PÜR.

PÜR 4-in-1 Sculpting Concealer 

There are very few people I trust with makeup advice. One of them is Rachel Nussbaum, InStyle’s beauty writer. She knows everything there is to know about the ingredients that comprise popular foundations, hairsprays, etc. Her vast knowledge comes with a lot of heartbreak. She often tells me (and her readers) of the harmful irritants that are too-often included in name brand products, so when there’s a brand she approves of, I take note. Rachel told me that Pur is on her list of A-Okay concealers, so I’m hopping on this 4-in-1 color corrector faster than a kid on a trampoline. It comes in 16 shades, costs under $25, and is free from the nastiness of phthalates, aluminum, and talc.

Courtesy: Summer Fridays.

Summer Fridays Jet Lag Mask

I’m a writer living in New York. Translation: I don’t have an income that gives me the means to spend hefty amounts of cash on skincare (nor do I want to). Spending close to $50 on a face mask would physically and emotionally pain me if I didn’t already know and love this one so much. I’ve been using Summer Fridays’ Jet Lag Mask for years. It saved my skin when I was on Accutane, and continues to be my secret to non-greasy hydration. I’d say I have to stock up on it about every five months, and this September is one of them. I’ll be using it to prevent cracked winter skin, and before date nights or brunches to give me a Hailey Bieber-esque glow.

Paige DeSorbo’s Monochrome Animal Print Top on Her Instastories

Summer House 2021 Instagram Fashion

NYFW is in full swing and we are loving all the lewks from everyone’s IGs because we fashion gurus didn’t get invited. Here we have Paige DeSorbo wearing a very chic monochrome animal print top perfectly paired with leather shorts and thigh highs (suuuper cute). She thankfully let us know who the outfit is by and where she got it. And we thankfully are making it one step easier by linking it below.

Sincerely Stylish,

Jess

Click Here to Shop Her Dundas Top

Click Here to Shop Her Dundas Leather Shorts

Photo + ID Credit: @paige_desorbo

Originally posted at: Paige DeSorbo’s Monochrome Animal Print Top

It’s no secret that dating can be really tough. While dating can be a fun, carefree experience for some, for others it can sometimes feel like a full-time job. If you’re starting to think of dating more as a job, then you might benefit from working with a dating coach. I often tell my clients that sharing the burden, halves it – and I act as your personal coach and cheerleader!

When you think of a dating coach, you may picture someone whispering in a client’s ear and telling them all the right lines to use to land the partner of their dreams, much like in the beloved movie Hitch.

But according to actual dating consultants, their work involves so much more than that. Unlike matchmakers and dating services, a dating consultant focuses on self-development and can help change your outlook and approach to relationships.

One of the most common pieces of dating advice you’ll hear is to ‘just be confident and you’ll have fun’. It’s hard to be confident, however, when dating is leaving you burnt out and disappointed. It’s even harder when you’re actively looking for a relationship. It’s hard to be objective about anything, let alone your own life.

A dating consultant is able to objectively get to know their clients, and use what they learn about them to strategize and effectively them on the dating scene. Below I outline 4 signs that you may need to begin working with a dating consultant.

You’re Ready to Settle Down, WITHOUT Settling for Less

Do old patterns keep cropping up? Are you sick of being in unsatisfying relationships?

An extremely important reason to begin working with a dating consultant is if you have begun to realize that you keep engaging in the same (unhelpful) relationship patterns repeatedly. Some of these patterns may be choosing the wrong partners, losing your voice, settling for less, or pushing people away.

Many times, people aren’t even aware of what they’re doing within their relationships because their patterns have become so ingrained.

If any of the above resonates, achieving different dating results might need a third party who can help you dig deeper to understand the subconscious thoughts, feelings and “old scripts” about relationships that might be getting in the way of your success.

Using a dating coach can help you to transform the way you conduct your relationships by learning to understand your typical patterns in relationships; how you communicate, set boundaries, manage insecurities, and how you show up for yourself.

Self-awareness is key to changing anything and working closely with a dating consultant can empower you to make conscious and healthy changes to stop engaging in the old patterns that may have sabotaged your past relationships.

Online Dating Is Doing Your Head In

Online dating has now become the norm, with so many of us simply lacking the time to go out and meet people in person. Of course, there is also the convenience factor online dating brings, being able to screen prospective candidates from the comfort of your couch without having to get all dressed up would have once seemed like a dream for most.

Navigating online dating can be extremely draining and time-consuming, however. From creating the perfect profile, to scrolling endless hours only to swipe right a handful of times, not to mention agonizing over the right thing to say when you do find a match.

While your BFF or family members may know you well or even proclaim themselves the ‘King or Queen of Online Dating’, they may not be your best resource. A dating consultant can help you create an online profile that showcases your strengths in a way that reads well to the opposite sex in a way that they are likely to respond to.

Dating coaches can also help you identify potentially healthy partners, weeding out poor matches, and help you develop the right communication skills to be successful with online dating.

You Simply Don’t Have the Time

In this modern era of hustle culture, this is not a question to take lightly. There are two things to consider when answering this question. One is to literally ask yourself ‘how much actual time you have in your average day or week to put into dating’. Time is your most precious, and limited, resource.

When you don’t have a lot of spare time to spend on dating, it’s even more important that the time and energy you can devote to dating is focused, productive, and designed to get you the results you want. I find working with my single clients also alleviates ‘online dating burnout.’

The second thing to ask yourself is ‘how much time you have, or are willing to, to put into dating’. No matter how busy your life currently is (or not), depending on what stage of your life you are in, you may want to reduce the time you spend dating around in preference of finding and cultivating a meaningful relationship that has future potential.

If your focus is on finding the right person to create a life with, an expert dating consultant can help you cut through distractions, to stop chasing after the wrong things and people, and be strategic about how you go about connecting with people. Having this support and guidance can help you skip over months or years of more dead-end relationships, and into the arms of your true love.

You’re Prepared to Invest in Finding the Right Life Partner

The last thing to consider is how much you’re willing to put into finding the right person for you. While you may only want to learn how to refresh your strategy and gain some new tips, it may not be as simple as that.

Finding the right partner means being open to some soul-searching and self-exploration, and of course being open to making lasting change if needed. I also find it helpful to not be as stringent about your list of ‘must haves’. I had a lovely 63-year-old female client who was insisting on a full head of hair, and after coaxing on my part – she is happily dating bald Brian!

While all you may need is someone to review your online dating profile, or give you some communication and dating tips, no matter how a dating consultant is able to serve you, you need to know and commit ahead of time. Complete collaboration and following through are required on your part.

An effective dating coach will create strategies and suggestions that will challenge you and motivate you to try new things. Your commitment to yourself, and your willingness to do the work, is what will ultimately get you the results you want. And an open mindset will get you very far in the online dating world.

Those are generally my clients who meet someone they genuinely like and now I have over 60% of my clients dating someone exclusively that they met online – which makes me so happy!

Dating isn’t easy. But then again, the best things in life never are. If you found yourself nodding in agreement to any of the above signs, then it may be time for you to take the next step towards finding the right person to create a loving relationship with.

Have you been struggling with online dating? Have you noticed a pattern in your past relationships? Where have you looked for dating help? What is your online dating experience?

Sex is an important part in many women’s lives and plays a key role in every romantic relationship. While there’s a preconceived notion that our sex life disappears after a certain age, that doesn’t have to be the case. Our sex life just looks different as we age.

There are changes many women undergo as we get older that have an impact on how we respond to sexual activity, including loss of desire, pain with sex, sexual function, stamina, and hormone levels.

While these changes may make engaging in enjoyable sex more difficult, it’s important women understand the changes they’re going through and learn how to overcome any challenges to continue having a happy and healthy sex life. 

What Changes Affect Sexual Function?

Because of ageism, it’s assumed that when people hit a certain age, they stop having sex. However, this is far from the truth considering 65% of seniors between the ages of 65 and 80 report still being interested in sex or are sexually active. Sex does not have an age limit, but it’s important for women to be aware of the changes that typically occur to our bodies that can impact our sex lives. 

Many physical changes first appear when women begin going through menopause and estrogen levels begin to decrease, creating vaginal dryness, lack of energy and changes in mood, all of which influences desire and sex drive. Anorgasmia, or difficulty reaching an orgasm after stimulation, can also be something women experience during menopause. 

Additional changes women should look out for include:

• Hypoactive sexual desire disorder – this presents as a loss of desire or decreased sexual libido (the most common sexual dysfunction among women).
• Pain with sex – caused by genital changes due to menopause or not enough lubrication. 
• Genitourinary syndrome of menopause – caused by a loss of hormones, specifically estrogen. 

Various medical conditions including arthritis, dementia, high blood pressure, chronic stress, diabetes, anxiety, or depression can also impact an individual’s sex life as they age. The medications prescribed for these conditions can further impact libido, so it’s important to talk to your medical provider if you believe this is the case.

Issues That Can Arise If Sexually Active

There are some issues women over 60 should look out for if sexually active. If you’re experiencing less intense orgasms or general arousal issues, you may want to get your heart checked out. These are two tell-tale signs of cardiovascular disease, which often develops 7 to 10 years later in women than in men and is still a major cause of death in women over the age of 65 years.

Another health concern to be mindful of is sexually transmitted infections. While pregnancy isn’t a factor anymore once a woman reaches menopause or opts to receive a hysterectomy or tubal ligation, women may no longer feel the pressure to use a condom.

However, just because you can’t get pregnant, doesn’t mean you can stop practicing safe sex. Statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that the number of cases of gonorrhea rose 164% among Americans aged 55 and older between 2014 and 2018, while cases of syphilis rose 120% in this population, and chlamydia rose 86%.

Getting tested when engaging in intercourse with new or multiple partners is highly recommended to provide peace of mind for yourself and your sexual partners.

Maintaining a Healthy Sex Life

While vaginal dryness and pain during sex can deter women from engaging in sex, there are a range of treatment options to alleviate discomfort and make sex enjoyable again. There are vaginal estrogen suppositories such as Dehydroepiandrosterone, which are effective in treating vulva and vaginal dryness.

Women can also use hyaluronic acid suppositories that serve as a lubricant to retain moisture and prevent dryness. Another option is local hormone therapy, which often consists of a vaginal cream or suppository. This treatment is optimal in getting vaginal tissue replenished to build up the lining of the vagina and help create lubrication and is a much safer option than hormone replacement therapy.

Low libido can be caused by life changes including menopause and illness, on top of psychological causes such as mental health issues, stress, and poor body image. However, there are ways women can overcome these obstacles and increase their sex drive.

Women are encouraged to talk to a sex therapist or counselor who is well-versed on sexual issues and can provide education on sexual response techniques. A sex therapist can also provide reading materials or couples exercise recommendations that can help increase feelings of sexual desire.

For those that are on antidepressants, switching to bupropion (Wellbutrin SR, Wellbutrin XL) usually improves sex drive and can be prescribed for women with sexual interest/arousal disorder. Engaging in exercise, openly communicating with your partner, and reducing your intake of alcohol and drugs, can all enhance your sex drive and improve your overall health. 

Additional ways to manage a healthy sex life throughout your life center around your needs and relationship with your partner, including:

• Be open to changing your definition of sex
• Have open communication with your partner
• Try sex therapy 
• Consult with your doctor

Intimacy is an important part of any romantic partnership through all stages of life. Although the physical changes our bodies undergo as we get older force us to enjoy sex differently, women are still able to maintain a healthy and enjoyable sex life by paying attention to their bodies and making adjustments that can improve sexual function and desire.

How has your sex life changed since menopause? Which issue has been the most persistent? What has your doctor recommended? Does it work? Please share with the community!

Alright, hear me out—I know it’s only September and technically still summer, but you should order your December beauty advent calendars now. If you wait until November, your faves might be sold out and that’s not the way you want to start the holiday season.

The secret about beauty advent calendars is that they’re great deals. Whether want to try your go-to skincare brand’s entire product line or do a mix-and-match of famously good beauty products, you can get 12 or 24 items for a fraction of the full retail price. Plus, they’re fun. If you have a collector’s mindset or get a burst of serotonin whenever you unbox one item, you should definitely add an advent calendar to your cart. It’s basically 24 days of presents to yourself (or the loved one you gift it to).

We founded up the 10 best beauty advent calendars that are either available right at this very moment or can be preordered. And because we love finding amazing deals, we found a few advent calendars that you will literally save hundreds of dollars on—we’re not kidding. Scroll down to find out which ones we’re talking about. We also found some budget-friendly advent calendars that are under $20, which are perfect early holiday gifts.

The advent calendars below encompass the wide range of beauty products out there, from nail polish to skincare. No matter what you’re into, you can get a set that’ll fuel your obsession. And you’ll want to keep an eye on this list—we’ll be updating it periodically leading up to peak advent calendar szn.

Our mission at STYLECASTER is to bring style to the people, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. QVC is a STYLECASTER sponsor, however, all products in this article were independently selected by our editors. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.

Courtesy of bareMinerals.

bareMinerals

If you live for clean beauty, this advent calendar is a must-have. Inside, you’ll find everything from gel cleansers to liquid lipsticks, so you’ll have both your skincare and makeup stash refreshed for the new year.

Courtesy of LookFantastic.

LOOKFANTASTIC

This advent calendar is available only available for preorder, but you shouldn’t wait until October 1 to order, because it will definitely sell out. Boasting $500 worth of beauty products this cal includes heavy-hitters like NARS, Kate Somerville and Shiseido, it’s the gift that keeps on giving (until Christmas).

Courtesy of NYX.

NYX

NYX has gathered up its most popular products for this star-studded advent calendar. We don’t even know what’s in this advent calendar, but NYX has teased that it will feature full-sizes…

Courtesy of SpaLife.

SpaLife

For this stressful season, add a little self-care and joy to your life with 12 days of surprise bath bombs. Each bath bomb is a different color and a unique scent.

Buy: SpaLife Fizzle All The Way Bath Bomb Advent Calendar $14.99

Courtesy of Ciaté London.

Ciaté London

You don’t only need to celebrate the holiday season with skincare and makeup advent calendars. This nail polish calendar includes 22 mini polishes, one full-size, a primer and a keepsake illustration. It’s a perfect gift for the person who always has their nails done.

Courtesy of Elemis.

Elemis

Skincare lovers rejoice—and add this advent calendar to your cart right now. It’s valued at $562 and is going for $250. It includes everything from a cleansing balm to an enzyme peel, so your skin can look holiday party-ready.

Courtesy of QVC Beauty.

TILI

If you want a variety of different brands and products in your advent cal, this is a great pick. You can add Sunday Riley, Peter Thomas Roth, Elemis and other luxury beauty brands to your daily routine.

Courtesy of ChapStick.

ChapStick

Alright, this isn’t quite an advent calendar, but if you use self-control, you can pull one ChapStick out of this pouch every day for 10 days straight. Enjoy holiday-icious flavors like Candy Cane and Holiday Cocoa.

Buy: ChapStick Holiday Storybook Holiday Flavored Lip Balm Gift Set $11.70

Courtesy of BeautyPro.

BeautyPro

This 12 Days of Christmask Advent Calendar includes SO many sheet masks for your face, eyes, hands and feet. You’ll be able to get some TLC before those holiday parties.

Courtesy of Rituals.

Rituals

Take the holiday season one day at a time with this 24-day calendar. It boasts shower products, a scrub glove and a number of mini candles. This is the perfect gift for the person who has a hard time relaxing in November and December.