Of all the skin-care products we use, sunscreen is the most powerful (and the most important!) — which is why it's perhaps the most scrutinized. To pass the basic buy test, it must be broad spectrum SPF 30 or higher and absorb without feeling greasy. But after that baseline, there are a lot of factors to consider. First, do you want a chemical or mineral sunscreen? Do you need it be water- or sweat-resistant? What about an oil-free sunscreen? Or one specifically tailored for sensitive or acne-prone skin? What about price range? Is a sunscreen on sale not as effective as its pricier counterparts? And those considerations are just the start! After all, sunscreen is one of the only shields we have against premature aging from sun damage and skin cancer, so we fully understand needing a thorough investigation before purchasing. But even the most discerning skin-care nerds need extra guidance at times. That's why we've reached out to some of the top dermatologists to find out which sunscreen formulas they're actually using on their own complexions every day.

Not to be outdone by US-style spelling bee extravaganzas, Paris's most famous street the Champs-Elysees was transformed into an open-air mass "dictation" spellathon Sunday, pitting thousands of...

In a number of scenes in 2001’s Bridget Jones’s Diary, our heroine – a thirtysomething singleton played by Renée Zellweger – squashes the skin of her lower torso into an array of Lycra shapewear, all in an attempt to make herself appear slimmer. When Hugh Grant’s Daniel Cleaver sets his eyes on her high-wasted, nude-coloured underpants in one memorable scene, Bridget blushes with embarrassment. “Well, hello mummy,” Daniel purrs. At the time of the film’s release, control shapewear – or tummy-tucking underwear designed to smooth its wearer – was marketed predominantly at people like Bridget, someone who was told by society she was “fat” or undesirable unless she had a flat stomach. Today, though, shapewear is branded differently, marketed to young women as a sexy, must-have fashion accessory. Shapewear products are not only promoted as stomach-smoothing fixes, but for anyone who wants a narrow waist or their figure to resemble a contoured, Kardashian-style hourglass. Skims, Kim Kardashian’s self-owned shapewear brand that she founded in 2019, sells viral sculpting bodysuits geared towards achieving this particular body shape. They start at £70. Since the launch of Skims, as with anything that a member of the Kardashian clan wears or makes, fast fashion knock-offs have swelled the market. Online retailer PrettyLittleThing, which has a murky track record of contributing to a harmful cycle of fast fashion, sells duplicates of the Skims viral bodysuit for around £20. They also sell waist trainers – a corset-style casing worn underneath clothes to aggressively teach your waist to be narrow – for just £12. “Doll cinch your waist in an instant with this waist trainer,” the item’s description reads. The product has boning to make it stiff and restrictive. Venture onto TikTok and you’ll find viral dresses with Spanx-style shapewear, designed to minimise the width of a person’s waist and accentuate their bottom, built into the clothing itself. While Skims is not solely responsible for this recent boom in shapewear, it has contributed to transforming how we view it – Bridget’s “granny pants” are now glamorous and aspirational. For the brand’s latest collection, for example, buzzy British singer-songwriters Raye and PinkPantheress were enlisted to promote it, along with viral Bronx rapper Ice Spice. The resulting campaign wouldn’t look out of place in the pages of Vogue. What this marketing tells us is that fashion isn’t just about the garments you wear, but the apparently malleable shape of the body on which they’re worn. Early shapewear emerged in the 16th century, not as a trend or body sculpting device, but for practical support. Karolina Laskowska, a lingerie designer and director of the underwear archive The Underpinnings Museum, tells me that the primary purpose of shapewear back then was to support the body much in the same way that a contemporary bra is made to support the breasts today. “A pair of stays [a corset style bodice] would have offered bust and back support for women who worked,” she explains. “These styles were more functional and supportive, rather than trend-driven.” The beginnings of the shapewear we see today were first seen in the Sixties, when the invention of Lycra, a synthetic-based elastic fibre, allowed for stretchier fabrics. What Laskowska dubs the grandparent of modern shapewear was the “Little X Girdle” by a British brand called Silhouette. “It was a turning point for a shift from traditional structured corsetry into elasticated shapewear,” she says. The item was a seamless, pull-on girdle – an elasticated corset extending from waist to thigh – and was eventually licenced to sell in over 32 countries as turnover increased exponentially. We then saw the evolution of more comfortable, everyday shapewear, like those made by Spanx, an American brand founded in 2000. They’re so uncomfortable, but they’re so afraid of what others will think about them due to their body size Victoria Kleinsman By contrast, modern shapewear is now geared towards sculpting the body to appear differently underneath clothes. And now, fast fashion is getting involved, too. But lingerie designers like Laskowska are increasingly worried about the consumer physically “hurting” themselves with badly made undergarments. “We’ve seen fast fashion adopt corsetry and shapewear trends but it’s not made to fit the human anatomy, since it’s made to be as cheap as possible,” she says. She adds that people could “injure” themselves with elasticated shapewear if they buy a size too small, meaning they could potentially restrict their blood’s circulation. Victoria Kleinsman, a self-esteem expert and body love coach, works with women between the ages of 13 to 60, and says that she’s seen how her younger clientele are feeling the pressure to wear shapewear in order to conform to the cult of thinness. Some clients have bought pantyhose with built-in cushioning to make the bottom look larger and perkier. Others will wear layers of shapewear to sculpt the body, particularly the waist and stomach, to look slimmer or flatter. To Kleinsman, wearing modern shapewear allows people to apply an “IRL [Instagram] filter” to their bodies. She speaks to women each day who are “crying” to her on Zoom calls because they’re worried about what their bodies look like. “It’s to the point when it’s boiling hot weather [but] they’re wearing spandex shapewear and tights, and they’re so uncomfortable, but they’re so afraid of what others will think about them due to their body size.” The expert fell into her line of work after she struggled with an eating disorder – she also wore a waist trainer when she was dealing with her own body image issues. “I would go to the gym wearing it because apparently you ‘sweat more’ and therefore lose ‘water fat’,” she says. “Which is b******! It’s physically painful to your physical body and even more painful to your emotional and mental well-being.” Kleinsman doesn’t think that this type of elasticated shapewear has anything to do with fashion and it should not be marketed as such. “It’s really dangerous,” she tells me. “Shapewear gives you a fake ‘confidence’ but then underneath it all when that comes off, then, who are you?” The popularity of Skims and their various knock-offs doesn’t seem likely to decline any time soon, but Kleinsman is hopeful that more women will soon have epiphanies about the shapewear revival. “Fatphobia and body image trauma is still the norm,” she sighs. “There has never been more [appropriate] a time for us to embrace our natural bodies.” Read More ‘The models are skinnier than ever’: Has London Fashion Week stopped caring about body diversity? Hostage to fashion: Margot Robbie’s Chanel problem speaks to a wider red carpet crisis Jeans shopping is still a total nightmare Kim Kardashian says Kris Jenner gets ‘sad’ thinking of how fame changed her family Kanye West and wife Bianca Censori cause confusion with Sunday Service outfits Chanel’s classic 1926 little black dress added to fashion exhibition in Scotland

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Smelling good is often deemed to be the achievement of the century — whether it's our bodies, our clothes, or in this case, our homes. Most likely because it's quite the arduous task. You want to strike that delicate balance where the scent intrigues but doesn't overwhelm visitors. Snif co-founder Bryan Edward recommends first finding a signature scent. "Filling your space with a scent you love brings a new dimension of personalization to your space," he tells Refinery29. He also mentions that "high-quality oils, wicks made from 100% cotton, and vegetable/soy wax blends all play a part in creating a superior throw for a candle."

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1. Boden Knit Spot Slipper Boden has come up with some fabulous slipper designs this season and these polka-dot ones are bound to make you smile, even on the greyest of mornings. The faux-fur lining will keep you cosy and the knitted outer is available in different colours. £29 www.boden.co.uk 2. Jack Wolfskin Cloud Ten These are as durable as they are warm, which makes them great for people who are always on the go, even inside. Made primarily from wool felt, the footbed is made from a robust microfibre material and they are available in the suitably manly colours of dark steel or black. £30 www.jack-wolfskin.co.uk 3. M&S Cable Knit Pom-Pom Slippers Now that the mornings are getting colder, girls will love popping these comfy, festive-coloured slippers on when they get out of bed. With a side pom-pom and bow feature, there’s also some fake-fur detail on these slippers. From £10 www.marksandspencer.com 4. UGG Ascot These simple-yet-stylish slippers are the epitome of laid-back luxury. Made from full-grain leather, with a sheepskin lining, they are also light. Available in black or brown, your feet won’t thank you for ever having to take them off. £100 www.uggaustralia.co.uk 5. White Stuff Woof Woof Mule No need to suffer the cold with these comfy mules, complete with a tartan sausage motif and soft faux-fur linings. Light, snugly and rustic, just looking at them will make you want to slip into your PJs and dressing gown and relax. £19.95 www.whitestuff.com 6. Fat Face Logan Check Duvet True to their name, these really do feel like you’re back under the duvet. With a suede outsole and textile upper, they will even keep your ankles warm and if there’s too much colour going on for you, simply opt for the grey-and-white ones instead. £25 www.fatface.com 7. Mothercare Gruffalo Slippers He has terrible tusks and terrible claws... Kids will love acting out their favourite Julia Donaldson tale with these fantastic slippers that will keep little feet warm as toast. Buy them soon and you can take advantage of Mothercare’s special offer on multiple buys. £10 www.mothercare.com 8. The White Company Inuit Slippers It’s hard to find slippers as snug as these. With a shaggy new lining, which also features on the seams, these slipper-boots can be worn full length to keep ankles and calves as warm, or you can roll them down to reveal the faux fur. They’re machine washable, too. £38 www.thewhitecompany.com 9. Just Sheepskin Kensington Knit Just Sheepskin slippers are among the comfiest on the market. These ones, which are available in four different colours, have a slip-resistant sole and as the brand name suggests, it’s made using 100 per cent sheepskin. The only downside is that they combine two sizes into one. £50 www.justsheepskin.com 10. Cormia Men’s Travel Slippers Produced from 100 per cent leather, these slippers have become something of a footwear sensation. Not only are they designed to completely mould to your foot shape and walking style, but they can be folded neatly and compactly into your bag for when you travel. £45 www.thepyjamastore.com

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