Eva Waite-Taylor

Charlotte Tilbury highlights a lightweight hydrating foundation stick as her top recommendation for mature skin, emphasizing its sheer buildable coverage, skin-strengthening ingredients and natural glow. The formula includes hyaluronic acid and nourishing oils to avoid settling into fine lines while boosting elasticity and firmness. The writer confirms the product’s long-lasting, comfortable performance and praises its subtle luminous finish. Tilbury also stresses the importance of skin preparation, recommending her magic cream and massage technique to achieve a smooth, radiant base.

A hands-on review of seven New Balance trainer styles finds the brand’s shoes consistently strong on comfort, style and versatility. The 1906R is praised for its lightweight cushioning and contemporary look; the Made in USA 993 for its retro design and all-day comfort; the 574 for affordability; the 550 for its adaptable basketball-inspired styling despite slight initial pinching; the 9060 for its futuristic silhouette; the 530 for comfort and suitability for wider feet, though it runs large; and the 860v2 for exceptional comfort and durability. The 9060 is recommended as a classic chunky dad shoe, while the 550 is favored for a sleeker profile.

Eva Waite-Taylor recommends 16 gifts for women across beauty, wellness, fashion, home, food, travel and entertainment, with prices ranging from $13 to $530. Her top pick is Hawkins New York’s striped bathrobe, while other highlighted options include Le Labo perfume, On Cloud 6 sneakers, a Hatch Restore 3 alarm clock, a Nebula portable projector and Sony WH-1000XM5 headphones. The selections are based on personal testing and consultations with other women, with price, longevity and wow factor used as the main criteria.

The guide recommends online jewellery shops across affordable, mid-range and designer price categories. It highlights brands such as Astrid & Miyu, Pandora, Missoma and Monica Vinader for accessible, quality or sustainable pieces, while identifying Cartier, Bulgari, Tiffany & Co. and Mappin & Webb as luxury and occasion-focused options. The selections cover everyday hoops and rings, personalised gifts, pearls, lab-grown diamonds, bridal jewellery and statement pieces, with emphasis on craftsmanship, ethical sourcing, recycled materials and durability.

The Independent presents 16 Christmas gift ideas for grandmothers, selected after consulting grandmothers and evaluating price, quality and appeal. Recommendations range from blankets, slippers and beauty products to cookbooks, plants, travel luggage, a portable radio and the Hotel Chocolat Velvetiser. The Tartan Blanket Co recycled wool blanket is named the best overall gift, while the Words With Wine subscription box is highlighted as a versatile choice for book lovers.

Victoria Beckham and Augustinus Bader’s $110 serum-like foundation drops are praised for blending seamlessly, reducing the appearance of pores and redness, and creating a lightweight, dewy second-skin finish. The formula remains comfortable and largely intact after 12 hours, while offering buildable coverage without looking cakey. The main drawback is the luxury price, though the reviewer recommends the product for those willing to pay for its makeup and skincare-focused formula.

A shopping guide recommends 35 gifts for women across jewellery, fashion, beauty, wellness, food, homeware, travel and entertainment, covering budgets from under £20 to £400. The writer's overall pick is Astrid & Miyu's rope chain bracelet, while other standout recommendations include The Vintage List champagne saucers, Crème London cookies, Chanel's compact, Polène's Nodde handbag, Le Labo's candle set and Lululemon Align leggings. Choices are based on price, quality, personal testing and gifting experience, with particular emphasis on practical, versatile and luxurious presents.

The Independent’s Eva Waite-Taylor reviews Bloomingdale’s 25-day beauty advent calendar, which contains 27 products, including eight described as full-size, with a stated value of $800. She praises its mix of luxury skincare, makeup, fragrances, and accessories, highlighting products from SK-II, Charlotte Tilbury, La Prairie, and The Laundress. Drawbacks include some very small samples and several products repeated from last year’s calendar. Despite the high full price, the review concludes that the 30% Black Friday discount makes the calendar a compelling way to sample luxury beauty products.

Kate Middleton wore a light-brown yak-wool cardigan by With Nothing Underneath during a visit to Mallon Farm in Northern Ireland with Prince William. The £185 cardigan is presented as a versatile autumn and winter piece, alongside cheaper alternatives from Marks & Spencer (£36) and Pull&Bear (£30).

Eva Waite-Taylor reviews Premier Inn’s viral luxury pillows after testing them over multiple nights. The soft version is described as comfortable, supportive and good value, with breathable hollowfibre filling and washable quilted protectors. Although the pillows lack the premium feel of high-end down alternatives, the review concludes that they offer an effective, affordable way to recreate a hotel-style sleep experience at home.

Amazon Prime Day in the U.S. is described as a four-day event running from July 8 through July 11, with deals ending that night. The sale is primarily available to Prime members, who pay $14.99 monthly or $139 annually, although eligible customers can use a 30-day free trial and people aged 18 to 22 may qualify for a six-month trial and discounted membership. Featured discounts span technology, appliances, beauty products and gaming, including reduced prices on Apple AirPods Pro 2, Dyson devices, Samsung products, Sony headphones, Ninja appliances and other consumer goods. Popular big-ticket items may sell out before the sale concludes.

Kate Middleton wore Carousel Jewels’ Stella drop earrings during a private visit to the V&A East Storehouse, pairing the gold-plated, lapis and moonstone design with a navy Alexander McQueen trouser suit. The £130 earrings had previously sold out after she wore them in 2022 and are now available for preorder, with delivery expected in five weeks.

Labubus, the rabbit-eared collectible dolls created by Hong Kong illustrator Kasing Lung and produced by Pop Mart, have become a major fashion and toy-collecting trend. Their blind-box format and celebrity appeal have driven demand, causing products to sell out quickly and resale prices to range from about $350 to more than $1,000. US buyers can monitor Pop Mart’s online and in-store drops, Pop Now, local stores and its Amazon storefront, while remaining alert to counterfeit “Lafufu” dolls.

The Dyson Supersonic Nural hair dryer is discounted from $499.99 to $399.99 at Amazon, Sephora, Ulta, and Best Buy during Memorial Day sales. The article highlights its automatic airflow and temperature adjustments, fast drying, lightweight design, and features intended to protect the scalp and reduce heat damage. Product testers reported strong results on both afro-textured and straight hair, while the deal is described as rare and likely temporary.

Charlotte Tilbury is offering 20% off all products through May 26 with the code “MAGICMAY” and no minimum spend. Recommended deals include the Airbrush Flawless Filter setting spray, Hollywood Flawless Filter, Beautiful Foundation, skincare discovery set, bronzer, Calm Bliss fragrance and Magic Water Cream, with the writer highlighting their performance, longevity and value at the discounted prices.

The Independent’s Eva Waite-Taylor tested the handmade, pocket-sprung Hypnos Pillow Top Elite super-king mattress for two months. She found it exceptionally comfortable, supportive, effective at reducing motion transfer and sufficiently temperature-regulating, with high-quality natural materials and detailed construction. The main drawback is its luxury price, around £2,000 for a double, but the review concludes that it delivers hotel-quality sleep and is worth considering for shoppers willing to splurge.

The Independent’s beauty testers reviewed ghd’s chronos max, a wide-plate hair straightener designed especially for thick, curly or wavy hair. Elena Chabo and Eva Waite-Taylor found it substantially reduced styling time, with Chabo achieving straight hair in two to three passes and Waite-Taylor cutting her usual routine from about 30 minutes to 15. Both praised its fast heating, smooth and glossy results, close access to the roots, minimal need for touch-ups and lasting finish. The straightener uses motion-responsive technology to maintain a 185C temperature and includes a 10-minute inactivity sleep mode. Its main drawback is the lack of adjustable heat settings, making it less suitable for fine or heat-sensitive hair. Overall, the testers rated it highly and considered it a leading option for achieving straight hair, while remaining sceptical of claims that it causes zero heat damage.

Warren Street Hotel is presented as a colourful, characterful and welcoming base in Tribeca, close to restaurants, SoHo, the Financial District and Brooklyn Bridge. The review praises its playful interiors, curated artwork, comfortable rooms, attractive bathrooms, lively restaurant and drawing room, generous breakfast and attentive staff. Minor drawbacks include slow breakfast service, rooftop views of surrounding buildings and the absence of an on-site gym, though guests can access a nearby private club. The hotel is recommended for special occasions rather than visitors seeking to stay amid the city’s busiest areas.

Dig Club delivers professionally designed, ready-to-plant flower beds tailored to a garden’s size, light conditions and other requirements. The reviewer found the plants healthy, the colour-coded plans easy to follow and the planting process achievable in about 10 minutes. Themes include Mediterranean, cottage, jungle, Nordic, classic and adventure designs. Plants cost around £15 each, with free delivery on orders over £100, and the reviewer reports that the beds continued to flourish a year later.

El Fuerte is a stylish beachfront hotel in Marbella, combining the remains of a 16th-century fortress with modern Mediterranean design and easy access to the Old Town. Its calm atmosphere, attractive rooms, multiple pools, sea-view gym, spa and accessibility features make it particularly suitable for couples seeking rest and relaxation rather than Marbella's party scene. Dining is generally excellent, especially Paco Pérez's rooftop restaurant and the beachside paella venue Soleo, although restaurant service can be slow and allergen information is limited. The hotel also welcomes small dogs and families, though it lacks family rooms.

The Independent’s gift guide recommends a broad selection of presents for dads, covering grooming, clothing, fitness, food and drink, technology, homeware, travel and practical accessories. Products were assessed by the IndyBest team and fathers or dad figures for price, quality, usefulness and appeal. Top recommendations include Creed’s Silver Mountain Water shower gel, Uniqlo cashmere, Jo Malone fragrance, Ooni pizza ovens, SunGod sunglasses and a pasta maker, with options also available for non-drinkers, athletes, coffee lovers, commuters, home cooks and DIY enthusiasts.

Hands-on testing finds that Collection’s Gorgeous Glow Filter Finish delivers an almost identical glowy, skin-blurring effect to Charlotte Tilbury’s Hollywood Flawless Filter at a fraction of the price. Charlotte Tilbury offers 12 shades and lasts all day, while Collection has only four shades and maintains its glow for around six hours. Despite those limitations, Collection is judged an impressive budget-friendly alternative, whereas Charlotte Tilbury remains the stronger overall product and may justify its higher price for frequent users.

The Independent tests eight fake-tan mitts and applicators for evenness, comfort, thickness, washability and performance on difficult areas. Tanologist’s face-and-body mitt duo is selected as the best overall for delivering a streak-free finish at good value, while St. Moriz is recommended as the budget option. Other picks include Isle of Paradise for skincare benefits, Sienna X for softness, Bondi Sands as the best brush and rounded mitt, Coco & Eve for back application, and Bare by Vogue Williams for its thick, velvety design. Expert Jules von Hep recommends applying two coats to the body, one to the face, and using leftover product on the hands and feet to avoid uneven lines.

Nova Maldives is a newly renovated, 76-villa resort on a small island in South Ari Atoll, reachable by an expensive and weather-dependent seaplane from Malé. The review highlights its quiet, intimate atmosphere, house reef with sharks and manta rays, attractive water villas, overwater spa, yoga, watersports and generally excellent service. Its restaurants and bars are well regarded, particularly the teppanyaki venue and grill house. The resort is best suited to couples seeking relaxation rather than families or guests wanting extensive activities; drawbacks include limited children’s facilities, occasional transfer delays, bar music audible from some villas and the island’s small size.

Oblu Select Sangeli is a relaxed all-inclusive resort in the northern Maldives, reached by a 50-minute speedboat transfer from the international airport. The resort offers family-friendly and adults-only areas, attractive beach and overwater villas, complimentary snorkelling equipment, non-motorised water sports, excursions and a spa treatment for qualifying stays. Staff, scenery, snorkelling and à la carte dining are particular strengths, while the floating breakfast is considered overpriced and the honeymoon suites dated and gaudy. The resort is best suited to couples and families seeking a tranquil luxury escape rather than nightlife.

A Bristol restaurant guide reviews 14 independent and neighbourhood venues, highlighting BANK's fire-cooked sharing plates, Magari's affordable homemade pasta, Bravas's Spanish tapas, The Coconut Tree's Sri Lankan dishes, and Wilson's sustainable farm-to-table tasting menu. The selections range from casual, budget-friendly restaurants to elegant destination dining, with local sourcing, welcoming atmospheres and distinctive cooking styles recurring as key strengths. Poco is praised for its inventive low-waste food but is noted as due to close after 13 years.

Oblu Xperience Ailafushi is presented as an affordable, lively all-inclusive Maldives resort just 15 minutes by speedboat from Malé, making it particularly suitable for families and groups. Highlights include friendly service, colorful modern design, spacious water villas, an underwater restaurant, a well-equipped spa and gym, and numerous activities. Drawbacks include distant views of Malé, the absence of a house reef, limited freshly cooked food and variety in the main buffet, additional charges for some experiences, and a party atmosphere that may not suit travelers seeking complete peace and quiet.

Kandima is a large, colourful Maldives resort in Dhaalu Atoll aimed primarily at families, groups and couples seeking a lively atmosphere rather than a secluded honeymoon retreat. Its strengths include lush surroundings, private-feeling accommodation, an excellent breakfast, three highly regarded à la carte restaurants, two pools, a large kids club and a wide range of land and water activities. Drawbacks include limited house-reef marine life, extra charges for some drinks and snacks, costly bike hire, poor lighting after dark and restaurants that book up quickly. The resort is best suited to families and visitors who enjoy an active, buzzy beach holiday.

A hands-on review of eight love seats assesses comfort, construction, dimensions, fabrics, assembly, delivery and price. The Made To Last Knapwell is selected as the best overall option for its craftsmanship, feather-filled back cushion and durable, stylish design, while the Dusk Hampshire is recommended as the best affordable choice. Other standouts include Rose & Grey’s deeply comfortable Penny, Loaf’s highly slouchy Smooch, Swyft’s stain-resistant but firmer model, Snug’s easy-to-assemble Big Chill, Arlo & Jacob’s traditional Cartwright and Cozmo’s replaceable-cover bouclé seat.

The Independent reviews 16 bikini sets for 2023, assessing fit, support, comfort, fabric quality, sizing, durability and appearance when wet. Asos’s crinkle bikini is selected as the best overall option for its affordability and proven durability, while Nénés Paris and Adora Swim receive praise as higher-end choices. The guide also highlights options for different preferences and body types, including high-waisted, triangle, bandeau, floral, padded and small-bust styles. Expert Georgiana Huddart recommends prioritising comfort over trends, with crop or bralette shapes and thick straps for larger busts and classic square-neck styles for smaller busts. Sustainable options from Nénés Paris, Everlane and Away That Day are noted, alongside drawbacks such as limited support, restrictive sizing, high prices and specialised care requirements.

The piece recommends using TikTok to reduce the cost of renovating fixer-upper homes through DIY tutorials, upcycling and household-efficiency tips. Creator Kate of @Our_Bears_Home demonstrates how to make a bouclé headboard and transform IKEA furniture, while James of @Jamesproperty_ shares advice on tiling, buying a first home and installing a free water-saving box. The author says the headboard project saved more than £300 and highlights potential reductions in water and energy bills from the box’s shower regulator, cistern bag, leak detector and shower timer.

Horizon Forbidden West has a map of approximately five miles, making it slightly larger than the map in Horizon Zero Dawn but considerably smaller than Skyrim’s roughly 15-mile map. The game’s world is divided into four areas based on real locations, from Yosemite Valley to the San Francisco Bay Area, with additional regions revealed as players progress. Guerrilla Games focused on increasing environmental density and adding content, while Tallnecks can be climbed to scan and uncover nearby points of interest.

Hands-on testing finds that both the Shark style iQ and Dyson Supersonic deliver fast, glossy, less-frizzy blow-dries. Shark’s advantages include automatic adjustment of heat and airflow according to the attachment, a lower price, and strong performance with straight and curly hair. Dyson is lighter, quieter, slightly faster, produces a smoother finish, and includes more attachments plus a storage case. Despite Shark’s strong performance, the review recommends the Dyson Supersonic for its greater versatility and better overall styling results.

A wedding shopping guide recommends 11 face masks for brides, grooms, wedding guests, bridesmaids and groomsmen as UK ceremonies resumed during the easing of COVID-19 restrictions. The selections range from luxury silk and embellished bridal designs to sustainable organic-cotton and affordable multipack options, with advice on comfort, breathability, colour coordination, reusability and fit. Amaia is noted for donating 30 percent of proceeds to NHS Charities Together.

Loop is presented as a promising UK online shopping service that delivers food, drinks and household essentials in reusable packaging, with customers paying refundable deposits and returning containers for professional cleaning and reuse. Tesco’s partnership offers more than 160 products from 35 brands, while DPD handles delivery and collection and Ecolab manages sanitation. The article also highlights support from WWF, Diageo’s planned paper whisky bottle and Waitrose’s limited refill pilot, but emphasizes the continuing scale of supermarket packaging waste and the need for a broader reuse-and-refill culture.

Coronavirus precautions led cafés including GAIL's Bakery, Starbucks, Costa, Pret A Manger and Caffè Nero to stop accepting customers' reusable cups, while reusable shopping bags were also discouraged and New York State delayed its plastic bag ban. The shift made single-use products appear more hygienic and disrupted the author's efforts to avoid plastic, despite earlier corporate progress such as McDonald's adoption of paper straws. The author worries that the pandemic could stall the plastic-free movement but hopes to resume reducing single-use plastic when normal life returns.

Coronavirus panic-buying has made it difficult to maintain a plastic-free shopping routine. Supermarket shelves and delivery slots are being depleted by stockpiling, leaving shoppers dependent on packaged and tinned foods. The shortage also highlights how people without money for takeaways or access to emergency ready meals face greater difficulties during quarantine.

A first-person account examines the gap between the idealized, Instagram-friendly image of zero-waste living and its practical difficulties. After attempting to eliminate single-use plastic, the writer struggles with unreliable milk deliveries, expensive storage solutions, packed lunches and social pressure to avoid plastic. The piece acknowledges the environmental value of reducing plastic while arguing that influencers often omit the inconvenience, cost and failure involved in making the lifestyle work.

The writer describes personal efforts to reduce single-use plastic, including using refill shops, a plastic-free toilet paper subscription, milk delivery, shampoo bars and reusable containers. Readers are encouraged to make manageable changes such as avoiding takeaway cups, loose produce, plastic bags, plastic-containing tea bags and plastic-wrapped food, rather than attempting an unsustainable pursuit of perfection.

The writer commits to avoiding single-use plastics throughout 2020 and plans to document affordable, practical changes rather than adopting an expensive or highly time-consuming zero-waste lifestyle. The pledge is motivated by concerns about ocean plastic pollution and the ubiquity of plastic in everyday products, while initiatives such as Plastic Free July are presented as evidence that reducing consumption can become a broader lifestyle change.