Best of August: Most Read, Best Sellers + More

The month of August is coming to a clothes close. And while our best seller roundup is usually an exclusive to our email list and Instagram audience, I figured it was time to share these gems with all!  Lucky for us, our fave Reality TV stars and the Blondetourage are ahead of the game, and a lot of the items are perfect for fall. So whether you’re looking for your new beauty faves or the perfect faux leather dress, prepare to be inspired to shop our most liked, shopped and read below!

The Realest Housewife,

Big Blonde Hair

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Shop Best Sellers

1 Naomie Olindo’s Sunglasses   2 Bethenny Frankel’s LED Therapy Mask  3 Sutton Stracke’s Red Coated Pants

 4 Style Stealer: MacDuggal Metallic Cocktail Dress   5 Sutton Stracke’s Gold Compact  6 Sutton Stracke’s Robe

7 Kristin Cavallari’s Black Leather Midi Dress  8 Dolores Catania’s Cutout Maxi Dress 

9 Kristin Cavallari and Dorit Kemsley’s Lipstick (best-selling shade : Spanish Pink) 

10 Crystal Kung Minkoff’s Geometric Confessional Top

Photo Credits: @CrystalKungMinkoff @KristinCavallari @DoritKemsley @DoloresCatania

@Bethenny @SuttonStracke

Catch Up on Them Here:

1 Naomie Olindo’s Black Square Sunglasses  2  Lisa Rinna’s Hair Removal Device  

3 Kyle Richard’s Blue and Orange Plaid Coat

4 Madison LeCroy’s Turquoise Cutout Dress  5 Kyle Richards’ Black Embellished Veuve Bottle                           

6 Lisa Rinna’s Orange Sequin Dress 7 Kristin Cavallari’s Orange Cutout Mini Dress 

8 Garcelle Beauvais’ Patchwork Sequin Dress 9 Sutton Stracke’s Blue Cat Sweater               

 10 Fall Foundation, New Celeb Beauty Spottings + More From Nordstrom

Photo Credits: Bravo TV @KristinCavallari @Garcelle

Instagram: Most Liked

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Originally posted at: Best of August: Most Read, Best Sellers + More

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Serena Williams stepped out on the court Monday night quite literally sparking in her final U.S. Open appearance. Her Nike dress was encrusted with diamonds so it would only make sense her hair would be sparkling, too, right? And it was. Her hairstylist, Nikki Nelms, put actual Swarovski crystals in Williams’ hair and the result was breathtaking.

Williams’ 4-year-old daughter, Olympia, wore a matching outfit to cheer her mom on from the stands. Her tiny Nike dress matched her mom’s “embellished bodice and tutu skirt inspired by the night sky above center court in Flushing, NY,” per Williams on Instagram. In a press release and on social media, Nike announced: “Serena worked with our design team on a final tournament look that would keep her feeling comfortable and confident. Her custom NikeCourt Flare 2s are just as brilliant as her. With diamond-encrusted swooshes and @serenawilliamsjewelry deubrés on the laces that read ‘mama’ and ‘queen.’”

Source: Instagram

The ‘fits are not the only ways mom and daughter matched. Although Williams wore crystals in her full hair for this match, she often wears her hair in braids. In 1999,  Williams won her first US Open wearing braids with white beads. Is it a coincidence that’s exactly how Olympia was wearing her hair in the stands? We doubt it. What a sweet tribute to her mom, who just happens to be one of the greatest athletes ever.

Jean Catuffe/Getty Images.

Williams didn’t just look great — she played great, too. According to CNN (listen, we’re not sports people over here), Williams opened singles play with a 6-3, 6-3 victory over Danka Kovinić in the first round of the US Open. On Wednesday, she’ll open doubles play with her sister Venus, as well as face Anett Kontaveit of Estonia in the singles round of 64, for their first career meeting. We’re not 100 percent sure what any of that means but we’ll absolutely be watching Williams make history.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Have you ever fallen in love with a beauty product but found it’s only available as part of a larger set or during certain times of year? That’s what happened when Mikayla Nogueira because obsessed with Briogeo’s Vegan Apple Honey Deep Conditioning Hair Mask for Dry + Damaged Hair. She’s not the only one. Fans love the cute teddy bear-shaped packaging and ultra-hydrating formula. But you weren’t able to shop it on its own — until now.

Well, there’s good news and bad news. The good news is it’s available to shop today. The bad news? Once it’s gone, it’s gone forever. The brand says it’s releasing this mask one last time. “My absolute favorite hair mask is back and I could not be more excited!” Nogueira said in a statement. “I’m literally obsessed with this Briogeo Apple Honey Deep Conditioning Hair Mask. When I found out that they were releasing it for the last time ever, I had to get this adorable honey bear to my fans. It makes my hair feel super soft, super shiny and extremely healthy. I can’t wait for everyone to try this Briogeo hair mask!”

Briogeo.

Nogueira’s love for this hair mask is totally authentic. She told us last year how she went out and bought the mask when she was struggling with hotel water whole traveling. Now, she’s freaking out that her face is on the bottle! For this final launch, she’s partnering with the brand and her image will be across Sephora stores.

So, why is this cute mask so special? It contains some seriously conditioning and nourishing ingredients. There’s vegan apple honey complex to combat dryness, rosehip oil to help control frizz and algae extract to nourish and strengthen strands and scalp.

Source: Instagram

Since this is the final drop of the Vegan Apple Honey Deep Conditioning Hair Mask, we expect it to sell out quickly. Head over to Sephora to grab yours and softer hair is in your future.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

Believe it or not, there’s no better place to discover your next skincare hero than on Amazon. The retailer carries a surplus of under-the-radar formulas that have the ability to transform your skin concerns without breaking the bank. Whether your regimen is in need of a hydrating face oil, a brightening eye cream or a wrinkle-correcting cream, you’re bound to find just what you need—and often on sale. Take the Kleem Organics Advanced Corrective Moisturizer; the top-seller is down to $27 right now ahead of Labor Day weekend.

The fast-acting cream has over 9,000 five-star ratings from Amazon shoppers for many reasons, one of which is how quickly it shows signs of improvement on aging skin. “‘I’m 66 [years old] and, though I’ve always looked younger than my years, my skin is lately belying that history,” wrote one fan. “I was expecting to wait three weeks before seeing any improvements, but I saw an improvement in texture overnight and I’m only using the cream, not the serum.”

Courtesy of Amazon

Its firming and lifting properties are credited to a handful of elasticity-boosting ingredients: retinol, hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Altogether they stimulate collagen production on sagging, aging skin, and smooth over the appearance of deepening wrinkles. That’s not all—additional vitamins and antioxidants reduce the look of dullness, age spots, uneven skin tone and bumpy texture, leaving the complexion soft and glowing with every application, sans a sticky or greasy residue. 

Another compared its results to that of a miracle: “I now feel confident enough to go out in public without foundation. It has totally changed my skin, getting rid of the dark circles under my eyes and evening out the overall tone of my face. I’ve already noticed a change in the elasticity of my face and it visibly looks tighter, especially the little lines around my eyes,” they commented.

Even more have noticed additional benefits, such as faded acne scars, less dark circles around their eyes, and minimzed sun damage. One person even claimed they could ‘feel their skin tightening’ after every application.

“I’m 53 [years old] and have significant wrinkles and sun damage from baking in the sun in my teens and 20s,” shared another. “I started using the Kleem moisturizer together with the Kleem Vitamin C serum and Kleem eye cream and can’t believe my eyes two weeks later. My wrinkles literally look like their fading and my skin looks so much more even toned and healthy. I’m seriously blown away at how well this brand is working for me.

Don’t miss your chance to get the best-selling retinol cream while it’s on sale. While you’re at it, scoop up the brand’s additional hero products, including the above mentioned vitamin C serum and firming eye cream, both of which are down to $17 each.

My husband passed away three years ago and learning to live alone at 74, for the first time in my life, was a daunting task. Besides dealing with the deafening silence and loneliness, my biggest fears were getting sick or losing my mobility. How would I cope? Who would take care of me?

I tried my best to push those thoughts away. I was active, ate well and did my yoga every day. Why was I worried? I thought back to the many challenges I’d faced in my life and reassured myself that I had the courage to take on anything that came my way. Heck, I’d come through the pandemic and that was a master class in living alone.

Then a few months ago, I tore the meniscus in my right knee and couldn’t walk. Suddenly I was facing my worst nightmare. My doctor told me all I needed was ice and patience to heal, and that was that. I was just an old lady with a sore knee, and he sent me on my way.

Reality Sets In

A friend took me home, and there I sat in a rented wheelchair, unable to take care of myself. I was frightened and began experiencing crippling panic attacks that left me confused, shaking and breathless. I considered myself a strong woman, so what was happening to me?

My family could only do so much; they all had busy lives. I couldn’t even shower alone and was too embarrassed to let them help me with that. Terrified of feeling so vulnerable, I reluctantly realized I needed help. The personal support offered free through our health care system in Canada wasn’t enough. I had to hire private home care.

I contacted the company I’d used occasionally for my husband, and they responded quickly. For several weeks, I had a revolving door of wonderful caregivers who were helpful in my daily routines.

Just having someone there helped to calm my panic attacks. They provided good conversation and pleasant company when I needed it. I am truly grateful to these human beings who care for others as a profession. It is a calling to be admired.

Eventually, as I began to heal, moving from a wheelchair to a walker to a cane, my anxiety subsided, and I ended my need for support. I learned a lot through the process and was shocked at the pile of bills I’d accumulated. Since I’d only ever used the one home care company, I decided to do some research in the event I ever needed to do this again. It was an eye-opening exercise.

All At-Home Care Is Not Created Equal

I found that each company had their own policies, pricing and procedures, and these differed widely. It literally pays to know this before hiring a home care service to help ensure that it best fits your needs and your budget. There is more to know than just the basic information like:

• How do they do background checks?
• Are caregivers bonded/insured?
• How long have they been in business?

6 Questions That Could Save You Money

#1: What Are the Hourly Fees, and Do They Have Discounts for 24-Hour Care?

The hourly rates can range significantly from company to company. Confirm the level of expertise you are getting to ensure your needs will be met. Some companies offer a discounted rate if you need to hire round the clock care.

#2: Is There a Minimum Number of Hours/Days per Week You Need to Book?

Some require as little as one or two hours at a time with no minimum days per week, while others make the client book as many as 20 hours per week. This can have a significant impact on costs incurred for hours that are not necessarily needed.

#3: What Are the Policies for Cancellations and Changes to the Schedule?

This can also vary anywhere from a few hours to several days. The company I used needed a full week! It can be difficult to predict how the patient will be that far in advance. Getting locked into a schedule can be a costly mistake.

#4: Does the Company Offer Live-In Home Care?

If 24-hour care is necessary, it might be less expensive to look into companies that offer a live-in home care service. Not all do. That means clients are charged a lesser rate to have someone to live with the patient. The rates are cheaper because the caregivers are living in your home, eating your food and using your utilities etc.

#5: Are Caregivers Allowed to Take Clients in Their Cars for Appointments?

While most companies cover their caregivers with the required insurance to take patients to appointments, some do not. That means clients incur the added expense of hiring taxis, UBER etc., to get out for a drive or go to appointments. Those that do offer this service add mileage to the client’s bill.

#6: Do They Take Credit Cards for Payment and If So, Do They Charge a Fee?

Most will take payments by cheque or Interact bank transfer. But in the case of a larger bill, Interact can have confusing limits, which complicates things. Paying by credit card is the easiest method. Some companies charge clients a processing fee, which can add significantly to the balance.

Ask for What You Need

All trained caregivers know how to make tea and toast. But in my case, some of the younger, newly trained support workers had no idea how to manage basic things like meal prep without my supervision.

One young lady didn’t know how to use a dishwasher – she’d never used one. Another put food in freezer bags without taking the air out – my freezer was filled with little bags that looked like balloons. They were all lovely and doing their best, but I was paying for help, not to sit on my walker and give lessons in Kitchen Management 101.

I found it was best to ask the company for older, more experienced personnel during the day, while the younger ones could cover shifts in the evening and overnight. That worked out well.

Hiring private at-home care is a costly endeavour. It pays to know the right questions to ask when choosing the company. I wish I’d known all of this before I made my call to the only company I knew. I could have saved thousands of dollars in unnecessary fees.

Taking Charge of the Healing Process

My recovery has been bumpy, because of compounding health issues, like my lupus condition. But I’m getting there and for that I’m grateful.Our traditional medical systems are often overloaded and can only do so much. It’s more important than ever to advocate for ourselves or for loved ones who cannot do so.

Sometimes a holistic approach to healing both mind and body can be most beneficial. It certainly was with me. There are many forms of alternate therapies that can help us to heal from the inside out, and have a profound effect on our overall wellness. Some insurance companies cover the cost of these treatments, so it’s best to check it out.

I’m thankful for the support I received from the more non-traditional therapies I used over the past few months – like homeopathy, osteopathy, acupuncture and clinical hypnosis. All of these practitioners were instrumental in helping me manage my chronic pain and emotional distress.

One size does not fit all when it comes to our health. When one thing doesn’t work, we owe it to ourselves to find something that does.

Final Word

Living alone and temporarily losing my mobility and independence was traumatic. At 77 years old, I may not ever physically recover fully to the way I was before this happened to me. My body seems slower to heal with each passing year.

Coming to terms with my new reality is a daily challenge, as it is with so many seniors. I don’t have to like it, but I accept where I am, and I’m grateful for everything life has given me. This is just another opportunity to summon my inner warrior and be the best I can be, one day at a time.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

Have you had to deal with loss of independence? What was the cause? How did you deal with it? Did you hire a care professional? What tips can you share when choosing a care provider?