Welcome to Refinery29 Loves, the monthly news bulletin where you’ll find our editor-approved lineup of the best to shop and see in fashion and beauty right now.
Whether you’re looking to elevate your wardrobe with a new pair of statement shoes or finally commit to a five-step skincare routine, there’s always something to muse over when it comes to potential purchases.
In the age of the internet, keeping track of the never-ending flurry of fashion collections, makeup launches and retail drops can feel like a full-time job. Thankfully, at Refinery29, keeping tabs on the best of what the beauty and fashion world has to offer is exactly what we’re paid to do, which is why we’ve collated together an easy-to-read guide of the most exciting news happening right now.
From The Ordinary‘s latest skincare hero to Converse’s new celebrity collab, there’s plenty getting us excited on the fashion and beauty front this month. To discover all the best drops, collabs and collections heading your way this August, click through the slideshow ahead.
All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
New Balance 204L
It’s no exaggeration to say that the New Balance x Miu Miu 530 SL broke the internet. Every fashion girl wanted the soft, brown suede sneakers with mismatched laces, but the price tag meant that many went without. Thankfully, New Balance has a new sister style that ticks all the same boxes — a slim silhouette, mushroom colorway and sleek suede upper. Plus, with an off-white colorway coming August 13, this retro-inspired running shoe has “It” sneaker written all over it.
Shop at New Balance on August 13
New Balance 204L, $, available at New Balance
Merit Great Skin Double Cleanse
Merit’s Great Skin Instant Glow Serum has been a permanent staple on many R29 editors’ shelves this summer, so we were excited to learn that the beauty brand is expanding its skincare collection with the launch of a new bi-phase cleanser. Dubbed Double Cleanse, the formula’s oil- and water-based layers combine to melt away sunscreen, makeup and daily buildup while the plant-derived humectants hydrate the skin, leaving it soft and refreshed. Designed to feel like a foaming face wash, the cleanser also offers gentle exfoliation thanks to polyhydroxy acids, all while keeping the skin barrier protected.
Levi’s 501 Curve
If you’ve ever put on a pair of Levi’s 501s and felt like they didn’t quite work for you, let us introduce you to the 501 Curve. The new silhouette offers a fresh take on the original famed denim, designed to reduce gapping at the waist without compromising the famed straight-leg style. Promising a sculpted fit with more room in the back and thigh, and a contoured hip-to-waist ratio, this new fit means more people can enjoy the classic 501 design.
Levi’s 501 Curve Jeans, $, available at Levi’s
Louis Vuitton Debuts The Express Bag
Love Louis Vuitton’s Keepall duffle bag but wish it were more practical for everyday wear? Meet the Express: the luxury house’s latest handbag, inspired by the iconic travel style but reimagined for daily use. Crafted from soft, malleable leather, it features a spacious lined interior, double-zip closure, gold-tone padlock, and removable, adjustable monogrammed canvas straps. Best of all, it comes in three sizes and multiple colors — from classic hazelnut to a two-tone ivory and blue — and can be worn four ways: in hand, in the crook of the elbow, over the shoulder, or asa crossbody.
Shop now at Louis Vuitton
Louis Vuitton Express PM, $, available at Louis Vuitton
The Ordinary Sulfur 10% Powder-To-Cream Concentrate
The Ordinary is known for its innovative skincare solutions. This month, the brand is taking on pimple patches with a powder-to-cream blemish concentrate. Designed to reduce angry breakouts, the 10% sulfur formula aims to reduce redness and banish excess oil, promising visible results in just one hour. Packaged as a bottled powder that turns to a cream when applied with your finger, the lightweight product disappears on the skin, making it ideal for spots that pop up overnight.
Converse x Charli XCX
It’s eternal Brat summer, which means Charli XCX’s work is never done. She is bringing her intentionally unpolished style to the classic Chuck Taylor All Star, offering fans a range of design choices to choose from, including distressed details, lyric-inspired prints and Brat-branded heel charms, all available in Brown Rice, Winter Sky and Bridal Rose colorways.
Dr. Dennis Gross Skincare Alpha Beta pH Balance Replenishing Cream
Hot weather, air conditioning and sweaty commutes cause summer skin to demand some TLC. The new cooling, cushion-gel cream from Dr. Dennis Gross promises 24-hour hydration for parched skin — without the shine. Packed with an ultra-hydrating electrolyte complex, the cream adapts to the skin, helping to reduce redness, smooth texture and restore balance. Out of all the nourishing ingredients, the standouts include phytic acid (to reduce the appearance of large pores), linoleic acid (to soothe inflamed skin) and phospholipids, which keep the skin barrier hydrated.
Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta pH Balance Replenishing Cream, $, available at Dr. Dennis Gross
Dior Forever Blush Soft Filter
If taking a powder blush on your travels is too high stakes due to suitcase handling, consider the new Dior Blush Soft Filter instead. It’s a whipped cream formula that turns to powder once applied to the cheeks. Available in 11 matte colors, the buildable coverage is easily applied with the doe foot applicator and can be blended just as seamlessly. Our favorite is the terracotta brown for a “just got back from vacation” glow or the bright coral shade for a fresh and natural flush.
Dior Forever Blush Soft Filter, $, available at Dior
Burt’s Bees Launches Boosted Body Collection
The idea of merging facial skincare with bodycare has taken off over the last couple of years, and now Burt’s Bees wants to take the concept to new heights. The iconic brand has recently launched the Boosted Body collection and it’s made up of three skin-barrier-boosting and ultra-hydrating products, all loaded with a clinically supported complex of ceramides, peptides and niacinamide. Choose from a lightweight, fast-absorbing body lotion, which softens and smooths skin with niacinamide; a cream-to-oil body melt, which leaves a silky finish to seal in moisture with strengthening peptides; or a rich whipped butter, which blends all three of the potent ingredients to transform dehydrated skin. Top it off with a juicy scent combining guava, melon, and grapefruit, and you’ve got a trio of bodycare products you’ll be reaching for through to the end of summer and beyond.
Shop now at Walmart
Burt’s Bees Boosted Body Lotion, $, available at Walmart
Aligne Autumn Collection
We are still very much in the height of summer, but is it bad to say we are already thinking about knit season? Aligne is getting us excited for cosier weather thanks to its new autumn collection, complete with chocolate and cobalt rugby sweaters, chartreuse silk slips and navy zip-up cardigans with bright scalloped detailing. After browsing this collection, saying goodbye to summer might not be so painful after all.
Burberry Goddess Parfum
Looking for a new scent for late summer? Burberry is expanding its Goddess offering with a new fragrance in its signature gilded bottle — this time with even more intensity. With top notes of tart raspberry and comforting lavender, heart notes of moreish vanilla and base notes of suede leather, this is a delicious aroma made for those who want to be noticed.
EMBARGO August 13. Shop at Boots from August 13
Maeve Launch
(US ONLY)Anthropologie is known for selling tons of great lines, but Maeve quickly garnered fans thanks to its loose shirt dresses, wide-leg trousers and high-rise denim. Now, the Anthropologie label is branching out, launching standalone stores based on its “maximal joy” approach to fashion. The stores will have everything from the best-selling Colette cropped pants (available in 219 colors and prints) to cinched-waist trench coats and tailored shorts, with pieces available in standard, petite, tall, and plus-size.
EMBARGO AUGUST 4
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