All The Lifestyle, Wellbeing & Experience Picks R29 Loved In September
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At least once a week — let’s face it, at least once every day — the writers and editors across Refinery29 discuss the latest and greatest products in our lives, from some cool new water bottle that’s been absolutely saving our lives to a state-of-the-art sleep product that’s changed our eight hours for the better. And gatekeeping isn’t in our vocabulary, so we’re here to share the wealth and highlight our favorite products, just for you, each month. All linked products are independently selected by our editors. If you purchase any of these products, we may earn a commission.
Susan Devaney, Lifestyle Director
Image Courtesy of Susan Devaney
In September, I had one mission in mind: to find a great vacation read. I was heading to Greece — for the first time! — and wanted to find a book so good I couldn’t put it down. Strangers: A Memoir of Marriage by Belle Burden fit the brief and more. It’s a memoir about how Burden found herself in the unexpected position of her husband of twenty-something years having an affair and then suddenly leaving the family. That’s all I’ll say, because no one likes spoilers, but it’s enough to know it’s a book worthy of its NYT best-seller status. Image Courtesy of Penguin Found on Oxford Street in London, Lush’s store is never quiet. Yet, much to my amazement, on the bottom level, you’ll find a serene, calm spa. Last month, I took myself there and tried one of many treatments on offer. Naturally, being Scottish, I opted for their Scotland-inspired massage: The Highlands. The hot stone massage lasts for around 60 minutes, but before it started, I was given a sort of tarot reading. I pulled The Eye card, which means it’s all new adventures or new beginnings for me! Throughout my treatment, I could hear the soothing sounds of Scottish Gaelic music and scents of home. Bliss! You can book the treatment here.Image Courtesy of LushTrying to find a backpack for work that’s also not so obviously a clunky backpack is no easy feat. I no longer commute to an office every day in London, but I do still need a sturdy bag for my laptop and everything else when I head into the city for meetings. I’ve found myself using my Troubadour Arc Tote backpack on multiple occasions for such meetings. It holds everything I need and more, and I can carry it as a tote or a backpack depending on my mood. It’s my new favorite go-to! Image Courtesy of Troubadour Every summer, like clockwork, my Instagram feed fills with people from everywhere, heading to Greece’s shores. Shorelines peppered with beautifully unique blue-and-white-painted houses, restaurants, and bars. I knew the summer of ‘26 I had to go see it for myself.
Upon touching down on the island of Santorini, I was met by a driver sent by the Sandblu resort. Is there anything nicer than the ease of someone waiting for you on the other side? No attempting to flag a taxi. No trying to work out a bus system in a new place. Waiting inside the car were eye masks, water and hand wipes for me — bliss!
Perched high up on the hillside, Sandblu can be found. Nestled into the landscape, it’s perfectly positioned to soak up the island’s infamous sunsets (oh boy, are they good!). If you fancy doing yoga while watching the sunrise, you can book into the resort’s many wellness and fitness classes (there’s even a gym!). But, if that’s not your idea of switching off from the noise, you can treat yourself to a well-deserved treatment at their Aurora spa. I opted for the ESPA Inner Calm Massage and felt a lot lighter after it.
If there’s one thing I think is worth your well-earned money while on vacation, it’s privacy. My room was not only private, but it was so peaceful. So peaceful and private, I felt a million miles away from London’s charming chaos. Inside, I slept on a super comfy bed, washed in a decadent bathroom and lounged by a pool of one’s own. Come nightfall, the lovely staff delivered a turndown service which even included leaving a little card with tomorrow’s weather (and some chocolates, too!).
Dining was an equally lavish affair. Breakfast was an optional extensive buffet — including champagne! — or you could order from the menu. It was the perfect way to start my day. After sunset, dinner was equally as delicious from their on-site restaurant. Should you wish, you can also head over to their Blu restaurant, which is definitely worth a visit. Not only are the sunsets magnificent from the restaurant, but the food is simply superb, too. And if you want to learn more about Greek wine as I did, you can join the resort’s wine tasting class. Located inside a cave, it’s every wine lover’s dream.
As I came to discover on my travels in other parts of Greece, people are very friendly everywhere you go, especially at Sandblu. You can book a stay at SandBlu here. Image Courtesy of Sandblu
Raquel Reichard, Somos Director
Image Courtesy of Raquel Reichard
My time at RGNY Winery in Riverhead, New York, on Long Island’s North Fork, was honestly one of my top three highlights of the year. It was my first time visiting a vineyard, and I went to celebrate my friend’s bachelorette party with a group of my closest girls. Together, we toured the sprawling 205-acre estate, about 88 acres of which are planted with vines. The property is absolutely gorgeous, with seemingly endless rows of grapevines, lush greenery, open skies, and the most beautifully designed, Mexican-inspired spaces. The Latina-owned vineyard, led by the Mexican Rivero González family, grows a broad range of grapes, including whites and rosés like Sauvignon Blanc, Riesling, Chardonnay, Viognier, Semillon, and White Merlot; reds like Cabernet Franc, Pinot Noir, Malbec, Merlot, and Cabernet Sauvignon; and even sparkling wines. Our first host, Glen, the director of operations, showed us around the property, feeding us fresh grapes, apples, and pears straight from the vineyard’s grounds while sharing the history of the estate and the Rivero González family. The family purchased the property in 2018, after already making wine in Parras, Coahuila, Mexico, one of the oldest wine-growing regions in the Americas. After our tour, we headed to the beautiful tasting room where our next host, Allison, led us through our wine-tasting experience and, my personal favorite, the opportunity to create our own blend. Not to brag, but my red blend was such a hit that a couple of the girls abandoned their own concoctions and decided to recreate mine when it was time to bottle it up. What also sets RGNY apart from other vineyards in Long Island’s wine country is how much the experience reflects the family’s Mexican culture and heritage. The vineyard hosts experiences like Brunch à la Mexicana, which pairs wine with Mexican classics like chilaquiles, enchiladas verdes, and tamales. While we arrived later in the day, we still had plenty of time to sip, blend, laugh, snap photos, and sing along to live music while enjoying tacos, including a vegan option for me, chips and salsa, and, of course, churros. All and all, the experience was better than any of us even imagined it’d be (and we had high expectations). RGNY Winery, starting at $60. You can book it here. Image Courtesy of RGNY WineryLike many millennial women, my girlfriends and I grew up watching — or, more accurately, sneaking episodes of — Sex and the City at the lowest volume possible in our bedrooms late at night so our parents wouldn’t hear us. As adults, we’re not only able to watch the HBO series whenever, wherever, and at whatever volume we want, but we can live like Carrie, Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda, too.
Recently, during a trip to New York, I did just that with my girlfriends on the Sex and the City Hotspots Tour with On Location Tours, a company that offers guided tours of iconic film and TV locations throughout the city. Hosted by actor Hannah Snow, who’s hilarious and full of insider SATC tidbits, the three-hour journey took us through more than 40 real-life locations that helped set the stage for the iconic series and movies.
There were plenty of highlights, but my favorites included sitting on Carrie’s famous brownstone stoop for a photo; having my first-ever (I know!) Cosmopolitan at Onieal’s, which you might remember as Aidan and Steve’s Scout bar; and crashing Carrie and Big’s rehearsal dinner at the swanky restaurant Buddakan. And, honestly, just getting loads of SATC tea from Hannah and laughing with my girlfriends during the bus rides to each location was a highlight in itself — fitting, given the premise of the show. On Location Tours’ SATC Tour, priced at $83. You can book it here. Credit: On Location Tours InstagramAs autumn nears, the scent in my home gets a bit warmer and sweeter. Right now, I’m enjoying Baobab Collection’s Halona Yellow World scented candle, a woody fragrance with notes of nutmeg, chestnut, and cedar that makes my home feel like a cozy cabin in the woods. Even better, the Belgian luxury home décor and fragrance brand supports the Green Heart Foundation, which has led to the planting of more than 76,000 baobab trees in the Ivory Coast since 2023. Baobab Baobab’s Halona Yellow World Scented Candle, $, available at Baobab CollectionImage Courtesy of Baobab Collection
Lisa Dionisio, Newsletter Director
Image Courtesy of Lisa Dionisio
PlannerTok is all over my feeds. If you know about Hobonichi planners, then you’re just in time for the Japanese brand’s new releases for 2027. The brand has a cult following for their different A5, A6, and vertical book formats, as well as cover designs and illustrated collaborations. I’ve been using a “Weeks” planner this past year and love it’s simple, clean weekly vertical format. I ordered another planner for 2027 already, and for me, this yellow color was so joyful. Plus, this “mega” version means there’s extra blank pages for journaling, list-making, or whatever else you need to jot down for the year ahead. Hobonichi obonichi Weeks 2027 Planner, $, available at AmazonImage Courtesy of AmazonSweater weather is here and I’ve started to unearth my wool cardigans and pullovers from last winter. I noticed some of them have been pilling after so much use. I tried using lint rollers and a sweater comb to remove, but I finally decided to grab this cheap fabric shaver from Amazon. Pills and fuzz begone! This fabric shaver is rechargeable, easy to use, and pretty perfect for under $10. Plus, it’s so satisfying to make all my knits look and feel like new with a quick pass. POPCHOSE POPCHOSE Fabric Shaver,, $, available at AmazonImage Courtesy of Amazon
Karina Hoshikawa, Senior Writer
Image Courtesy of Karina Hoshikawa
Bath & Body Works has an absolute chokehold on cozy scents, and I found a favorite in Football Season, one of the brand’s seasonal fall scent. Like the first brisk day of fall, it smells clean, crisp, yet undeniably cozy. I especially love it as a three-wick candle (a B&BW classic), but I also own it as a room spray for when I want to get an instant boost of fresh scent in any space. With its notes of herbaceous eucalyptus and sage, mixed with comforting cedarwood, I have to admit: Bath & Body Works has knocked it out of the park with this one. (Am I mixing up my sports metaphors here? Yes – but the point is, it’s just a really good candle.) Bath & Body Works Bath & Body Works Candle, $, available at Bath & Body WorksImage Courtesy of Bath & Body WorksI adopted a kitten four months ago, and ever since, have been learning a lot about cat parenthood. I’m not sure if this is the case for all sweet kitties, but my Lucy loves nothing more than making a mess of her litter box I’m barely exaggerating when I say that she’s having a dance party in there, because several times a day, I catch her flinging that stuff around like it’s grains of rice at a wedding. Do I love her all the same? Yes, absolutely. But I’d be lying if I said she is making me wish I bought stock in vacuum cleaners, the rate I’m using them. Enter: This humble yet game-changing litter mat, which traps (and conceals) stray bits of litter so they don’t end up all over your floors. It’s made of a durable (yet soft on kitty paws) plastic mesh material and has a non-slip grip on the underside that allows it to stay in place. It’s also super easy to clean: Excess litter can be easily vacuumed or carefully shaken out of mat into a trash can, and for a deep clean use mild soap and water, and let it air dry. Gorilla Gorilla Grip Cat Litter Mat, $, available at AmazonImage Courtesy of AmazonI recently upgraded my years-old Beats headphones to the 2nd generation Bose QuietComfort headphones, and I’ve not looked back since. Now keep in mind, I’m just a girl who loves music, not an audiophile, so when it comes down to it, I just want headphones that brings my playlists to life and block out the world when I need them to. These Bose QuietComforts do exactly that. The noise cancellation is excellent for everything from drowning out airplane chatter to creating a little personal bubble while working, and the sound is rich and immersive without requiring me to know anything about fine-tuning audio setting. The new-and-improved headband is also comfortable enough to wear for hours without making my ears feel numb, which, frankly, is non-negotiable for an investment pair of headphones. Bose Bose QuietComfort Headphones, $, available at BoseImage Courtesy of Bose
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