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Abel Miami Split Is the Fragrance I Didn’t Expect to Love. Plus 5 More New Launches.

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Abel Miami Split Is the Fragrance I Didn’t Expect to Love. Plus 5 More New Launches.

Last Updated on May 21, 2026 by omgbart

Last month is a blur. I spent nearly four weeks back in the US, returned to Madrid a week ago, and the city has gone full summer in my absence. I am still unpacking, literally and figuratively, and the product haul I brought back is stacked on every surface. The good news is that the launches cheering me up right now are genuinely impressive. My skin agrees.

Speaking of things I did not expect to love: let’s start with a fragrance.

Abel Miami Split fragrance bottle on white marble countertop

Abel Miami Split

Initially, Abel Miami Split gave me pause. Green banana. White oud. Labdanum. On paper, that reads as a dare. It took the publicist’s convincing DM to get the bottle on my desk, and I am so glad she prevailed. The opening is startling. The banana note is green, bright, almost tangible, the kind of fruit note that makes your mouth water. Within minutes the composition shifts entirely. The juicy top evaporates and what remains is smoky, earthy, faintly churchy. That drydown is where the labdanum and white oud take over and it is genuinely beautiful.

Abel and perfumer Isaac Sinclair spent three years on this one, and that time shows. The banana note is upcycled from the wastewater of banana processing in Ecuador, pithy and tart rather than artificially sweet. The white oud is sourced from Vietnam, lighter and more modern than the genre typically delivers. Longevity lands around six hours on skin, and the scent carries beautifully on fabric well beyond that.

$220 (50ml) at thedetoxmarket.com

Blue Lagoon Skincare cleansing balm open jar on white marble counter

Blue Lagoon BL+ Cleansing Balm

Blue Lagoon built its reputation on masks. The Silica Mud Mask is practically synonymous with the geothermal spa experience at this point. The new Cleansing Balm makes complete sense as the next step because great masking always starts with a proper cleanse. Consider this the opening act. The balm is unscented, off-white, dense but not waxy. It applies smoothly to dry skin, dissolves sunscreen, excess oil, and makeup within seconds, then emulsifies cleanly with water and rinses without leaving a film. The whole thing has a spa-in-a-jar quality that makes a daily cleanse feel like actual skin prep.

At the heart of the formula is the brand’s patented BL+ Complex, a combination of Blue Lagoon Microalgae and Silica. Both bioactives hold separate patents and have published clinical research behind their ability to stimulate collagen synthesis and strengthen the skin barrier. A phospholipid delivery system helps these actives penetrate deeper than you would expect from a cleanser you rinse off in sixty seconds. The rest of the formula is just as thoughtful. The oil base melts the balm on contact. Candelilla Wax, vegan and plant-derived, holds the texture together until water hits. Skin is left conditioned rather than stripped. For anyone already in the Blue Lagoon ecosystem, this is the obvious first step.

$80 (80ml) at us.skinscience.bluelagoon.com

Le Prunier bottle of Plum Spritz face mist on the counter

Le Prunier Plum Spritz Dual-Phase Barrier Mist

Le Prunier has expanded slowly and deliberately since the Plum Beauty Oil put the brand on the map, and every addition has stayed anchored to the family farm’s organic plum harvest. The Plum Spritz is the brand’s first mist and it does not disappoint. One thing worth flagging: this is a bi-phase formula that needs to be shaken before use. The bottle is solid black so you cannot see the two distinct layers and it is easy to forget. Make it a habit. The nozzle delivers one of the finest mists I have come across in this category. An ultra-fine dispersion that settles on skin without any droplet heaviness.

Performance-wise, the Spritz is a hydration tool first. Use it as your first liquid step after cleansing or reach for it as a midday refresher. Either way it imparts a soft, natural-looking glow on contact. The formula combines Le Prunier’s signature Plum Beauty Oil with upcycled Plum Beauty Juice for barrier support and visible redness reduction. A quadruple Hyaluronic Acid complex works across multiple molecular weights to deliver hydration at different skin depths. Natural Moisturizing Factors reinforce the barrier further. P.S. love the scent which unlike in the face oil, is marzipan with a slightly sharper angle.

$48 (60ml) at leprunier.com where you save 15% with code BART15

Omorovicza Acid Milk bottle with cotton pad on white marble counter

Omorovicza Acid Milk

This one has been on my radar since it launched and it did not disappoint. Acid Milk is a milky leave-on liquid exfoliant, two to three times a week, nights only. The texture alone sets it apart. It has a viscous, elegant slip that feels hydrating on contact with zero tackiness. The brand suggests applying with a cotton pad, which works. I prefer to splash a small amount into my palms and press directly into cleansed skin. The texture handles both approaches equally well.

The formula is built around a four-acid blend of glycolic, lactic, salicylic, and azelaic acids, fused into a base of Hungarian thermal spring water via the brand’s patented Healing Concentrate delivery system. That combination drives actives deeper than a standard aqueous base would allow. Ceramide NP and Oat Kernel Oil reinforce the barrier while the acids work, and a marine diatom extract adds anti-inflammatory support to keep the process comfortable. The result is real exfoliation without next-morning tightness or redness. Follow with a nourishing moisturizer and ease in gradually, even if you are an experienced acid user.

$110 (100ml) at omorovicza.com, spacenk.com or dermstore.com (try my code OMGBART for an additional discount)

African Botanics Moisturizing Exosome Gel bottle with cap off

African Botanics Moisturizing Exosome Gel

The gel moisturizer category is crowded. This one has a point of view. The Moisturizing Exosome Gel sits in that useful middle ground between a serum and a moisturizer, the kind of formula that does not force you to choose. The gel texture feels substantial on application, takes a moment to absorb, and that is fine. Skin feels immediately plump and hydrated rather than coated. The herbal scent is noticeable but fades fast and never becomes a thing.

The star ingredient is Myrothamnus Flabellifolia, the Resurrection Plant, a rare African botanical that can survive near-complete dehydration and fully recover. In skincare that translates to serious moisture retention and barrier resilience. Lycium Barbarum stem cell exosomes, goji berry-derived nano-sized delivery packets that carry growth factors and regenerative signals into the skin, add a genuinely sophisticated layer to the formula. A three-ceramide complex, Polyglutamic Acid, Bulbinella Nutans, and Aloe Ferox round things out alongside Niacinamide and Vitamin C. Works AM, PM, or both.

$185 (50ml) at credobeauty.com

Ursa Major Sunny Start eye serum on white marble counter

Ursa Major Sunny Start Eye Serum

The skin immediately around the eyes has no pores. That single fact should inform every eye product decision you make, starting with how much product you actually apply. Half a pump addresses both eyes. Do not overload the area. Sunny Start gets this right from the ground up. It is a lightweight eye serum with one clear job: make the eye area look more alert and awake. The texture sits between a serum and a light lotion, has enough grip to stay where you place it, and feels barely there once absorbed. No flaking, no odd tightening, no residue.

Cedar peptides and sandalwood support firmness and a more lifted contour over time. Ash tree bark targets puffiness, particularly useful in the morning when fluid retention tends to show most. Vitamin C addresses radiance in the under-eye zone. Wild Gentian and cedar bark work on the appearance of dark circles with consistent use. Morning is the primary moment for this product, though AM and PM use is fine. Apply with whatever finger is comfortable. The ring finger convention has no meaningful impact on results. Follow with sunscreen during the day.

$52 (15ml) at ursamajorvt.com, beauty-heroes.com, credobeauty.com, thedetoxmarket.com

This post contains affiliate links. If you click through and make a purchase, I may earn a small commission—at no cost to you. It helps keep my mist habit funded and this blog running. Thank you for reading.

Urban Decay Is Bringing Back Gash, Its Most Requested Eyeshadow Shade

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Urban Decay Is Bringing Back Gash, Its Most Requested Eyeshadow Shade

Urban Decay has never been one to play it safe, and its latest launch proves the brand is still very much in touch with its rebel roots. As part of its grunge 2.0 makeup movement, the brand is bringing back one of its most requested shades ever: 24/7 Eyeshadow Mono in Gash ($23). Deep, moody and instantly recognizable to anyone who came up during the punk-goth makeup era, consider this your official initiation into one of beauty’s most legendary obsessions.

A Shade With a Story

Urban Decay first introduced the deep, moody red hue in 1996 as a lipstick and nail polish before expanding it into an eyeshadow in 1997. But it didn’t stop there. Over the years, Gash grew into an entire universe of products—liquid eyeliner, hair pomade, mascara and lip liner all got the treatment—and that’s when the cult following truly took hold.

The celebrity stamp of approval came fast. My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way famously wore Gash around his eyes throughout the early 2000s, making it the de facto uniform of an entire punk-goth generation. Gwen Stefani was a fan, too, though she gravitated toward the lipstick. When icons across two very different aesthetics are both reaching for the same shade, you know it’s something special.

Why Now?

We had to ask Fernando Febres, head of U.S. marketing at Urban Decay, what finally made it the right moment to bring Gash back. “Urban Decay is continuing its anti-bland movement and reclaiming our brand heritage and DNA,” he tells us. “Gash was an integral part of that, and it has been the most-requested product to bring back based on what we see across our social media. We really do pay attention.”

The cultural timing wasn’t lost on the brand either. “Seeing the rise of ’90s and 2000s grunge over the last year, and the soft-goth trend focused on eye makeup, we had to raise our most famous ‘red from the dead,’” Febres says.

The Formula, Upgraded

For the purists wondering whether the new Urban Decay Gash eyeshadow lives up to the original: it does, and then some. Febres confirms that the formula has been updated to reflect the brand’s advancements over the years. It’s now fully vegan, delivers stronger, longer-lasting color payoff and applies more smoothly than ever before.

The result is a supercharged pigment with a pearl finish and warm orange undertones, wrapped in a buttery texture that blends seamlessly and wears for up to 12 hours without fading. Wear it wet, diffused, at full pigment, blurred, graphic or classic—Gash was made to be played with.

The Return of a Legend

A new generation gets to claim it now. With soft-goth eye makeup dominating feeds and ’90s grunge beauty fully back in the cultural conversation, Gash isn’t just a nostalgia play; it’s a statement. Urban Decay’s anti-bland DNA is very much alive, and this limited-edition return is proof the brand knows exactly who it is and who its people are.

But because nothing this legendary lasts forever, Gash is back for a limited time and in limited quantities. Urban Decay 24/7 Eyeshadow Mono in Gash ($23) is available exclusively at Ulta.com and UrbanDecay.com starting Friday, May 29.

Reel Review Shorts: Croda Beauty Active Launches Matrixyl® Neolide™ at in-cosmetics Global 2026

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Reel Review Shorts: Croda Beauty Active Launches Matrixyl® Neolide™ at in-cosmetics Global 2026

Featuring: Hishda Mohamed, Senior Marketing Lead, Croda Beauty Active

Summary

Hishda Mohamed discusses Croda Beauty Active’s launch of Matrixyl® Neolide™ at in-cosmetics Global 2026. The encapsulated peptide technology is designed to support smarter peptide release, enhanced bioavailability and growing consumer demand for longevity-focused skin care.

Introducing Matrixyl® Neolide™

At this year’s in-cosmetics Global, Croda Beauty Active is showcasing Matrixyl® Neolide™an encapsulated peptide innovation based on the original Matrixyl® — the iconic collagen peptide first brought to the beauty industry 25 years ago.

The technology uses a solid lipid particle with a peptide at its core, allowing for smarter release into the skin and improved bioavailability.

Pull quote: “This allows a smarter peptide release into the skin, enhancing bioavailability.”

Responding to Longevity and Efficacy Demands

Mohamed says the launch is especially relevant now because it addresses two major industry priorities: longevity and efficacy.

For Croda Beauty Active, the aim is to make peptide technology more accessible and relevant to consumers globally.

What Customers Are Asking For

At the show, Mohamed says customers are increasingly interested in how they can support longevity claims while also delivering greater performance and more reliable technology.

This reflects a wider shift in skin care, where brands are looking for ingredients that can combine scientific credibility with visible, consumer-relevant results.

Key Takeaways for Brands

  • Peptides remain central to longevity-focused skin care innovation.
  • Encapsulation technologies are helping improve ingredient delivery.
  • Bioavailability is becoming a key performance marker for active ingredients.
  • Brands are seeking reliable technologies that support both efficacy and consumer trust.

Movies about magazines like Devil Wears Prada need to better explore the power of privilege and class in journalism

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Movies about magazines like Devil Wears Prada need to better explore the power of privilege and class in journalism

“She said to me ‘I can’t afford it anymore. I can’t afford to be this person anymore’… I was so shocked when she said it… She said the quiet part, out loud.” She describes wanting to “shed a light” on this truth and stigma that exists for those working in magazine journalism. Not to create a moral of the story or anything that explicit, but more to voice the nuances of different social classes and how they impact someone’s survival in an industry full of financial and cultural expectations.

Another journalist shining a spotlight on the crucial relationship between social class and the wider arts industry is Jessica Phillips. Recently she launched Instagram page @theproletariart which interrogates the crucial relationship between social class and a career in the arts. “Magazine journalism is as elitist as banking or law, and is as competitive to break into,” she tells Glamour. “The difference? When you ‘make it, it’ it doesn’t come with the same pay packet or job security.”

Growing up in an ex-coal mining town in Wales, Jessica broke into journalism the same way that I did – through unpaid internships. Now even less of these opportunities exist than when we started out a decade or so ago, meaning that working class creatives are having to fight even harder to make their voices heard in a middle-class magazine industry. “I’ve worked at magazines where editors have asked a room full of staff one by one which private school they went to,” Jessica tells me. “There’s an air of Bullington Club behaviour in magazine journalism. 11 years into my career, I still feel like I’m on the outside.”

She started Proleteriart to “shed light on the elitism in the creative sector. It shouldn’t be one subsection of society who get to have their stories told or who get to tell the stories of others.” Stories like Jessica’s and mine are two of many. Earlier this year, writer Kate Pasola published a book of essays from 33 working class writers in Bread Alone: What happens when we run out of working class writers? Research presented in the book confirms an uncomfortable truth: 80% of journalists come from upper-class backgrounds; 78% of working-class writers say their background has hindered their careers.

So yes, a job in magazines and the creative world is, indeed, a job that a million girls would kill for. Even 20 years on. But we must acknowledge – and do something about – this second fact: it takes a certain status, access and support to even get in line for the kill.

Zara Larsson Says We’re Wearing Super Y2K French Manicures This Summer—See the Photos

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Zara Larsson Says We’re Wearing Super Y2K French Manicures This Summer—See the Photos

Welcome to summer 2026… or is it actually summer 1999? If you’re looking to musician Zara Larsson and her nails for answers, it’s definitely the latter. Apparently we’re not done embracing all things Y2K in our beauty aesthetics; if Larsson’s square-tipped French manicure is any indication, we’re just getting started!

The “Midnight Sun” singer took the stage for the Radio 1’s Big Weekend concert in England in her now go-to manicure: a classic French mani with major Y2K vibes. Her nails were long and filed into a squared-off shape with a thick white tip and milky pink base, just like the French manicure you probably got for prom back in the day. Instead of a straight-across or rounded white tip, Larsson opted for a subtle “V” shape.

The French manicure is a bonafide forever kinda classic. It’s never going away, and why should it? It always looks great, and legions of celebs are faithful fans of the salon style, including Larsson, Ariana Grande, and Demi Lovato. As Allure previously reported, the French was “invented” back in 1975 for Hollywood movies and became popular in the ‘80s and ’90s, though it did briefly dip in popularity in the nail art-heavy 2010s. “When I was a kid, I spent every waking minute trying to figure out how to do a French manicure,” manicurist Miss Pop told Allure. “I’ve spent so much of my career reimagining it—it’s hard not to. It’s the most natural shape you can possibly do.” Plus, it’s endlessly customizable: play with color, add texture, decorate the tip with rhinestones, get creative! Or, in Larsson’s case, celebrate the classic French in all its old-school goodness.

Getty Images

Of course, we can’t talk about Larsson without mentioning the other signature element of her glam: her bright, Lisa Frank-esque eye makeup! She teamed up once more with makeup artist Sophia Sinot, who applied a bright turquoise shade to Larsson’s inner corners, blending it out into a true party girl pink and covering the entire lid with rhinestones. We’ve been saying it’s time for a “fun” makeup revival—including body glitter tattoos, like the ones Larsson recently wore, and frosted eyes and lips—so why not go time traveling this summer?

What Smoking Really Does to Your Skin, According to a Dermatologist

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What Smoking Really Does to Your Skin, According to a Dermatologist

You might think of smoking as a lung issue, but your skin tells the story, too. Dallas dermatologist Elizabeth Houshmand, MD sees the effects in her practice regularly—and she says the damage starts earlier than most people expect.

“I’m hearing more about nicotine use, especially vaping, nicotine pouches and social or intermittent smoking,” she says. While traditional cigarette use has declined over the decades, Dr. Houshmand notes that newer forms of nicotine delivery are keeping exposure rates high. “From a dermatology perspective, I ask about all nicotine and smoke exposure—cigarettes, vaping, hookah and secondhand smoke—because the skin is very sensitive to oxidative stress and vascular changes.”

Ahead, Dr. Houshmand explains the skin changes she notices first, how nicotine and smoke accelerate visible aging and why quitting can still make a meaningful difference.

The First Skin Changes Dermatologists Notice in Smokers

When Dr. Houshmand sees a long-term smoker, she says there’s one telltale sign she spots immediately. “I often notice a duller, more sallow complexion and a loss of healthy glow. Long-term smokers may have skin that looks less vibrant because smoking reduces microcirculation, meaning less oxygen and fewer nutrients are reaching the skin.” Over time, she adds, “I also notice more fine lines, deeper wrinkles, uneven tone, crepey texture and slower healing. The changes are often most visible around the mouth, eyes and cheeks.”

Where Smoking Ranks Among Skin-Aging Factors

Sun exposure remains the top external driver of premature aging, but Dr. Houshmand puts smoking right behind it. “Diet, sleep, alcohol, stress and pollution all matter, but smoking is uniquely damaging because it combines oxidative stress, inflammation, collagen breakdown, impaired blood flow and delayed wound healing. In other words, it affects the skin from multiple angles at once.”

How Smoking Damages Skin Cells and Collagen

The science behind smoking-related skin damage is striking. “Smoking damages the skin in several ways,” she explains. “It increases free radicals, which create oxidative stress and injure skin cells. It also interferes with collagen and elastin, the proteins that keep skin firm, smooth and resilient.” She adds that smoking can impair collagen production and increase matrix metalloproteinases, enzymes that actively break down the skin’s support structure.

Blood flow is another major concern. “Nicotine and other smoke-related chemicals constrict blood vessels, reducing blood flow to the skin. That means less oxygen, fewer nutrients and slower repair, which can translate into dullness, poor wound healing, more fragile skin and accelerated wrinkles.”

Smoking Can Affect Skin at a Young Age

One of the most sobering points Dr. Houshmand makes is how early—and how quickly—the damage begins. “Even in younger patients, smoking can make the skin look dehydrated, dull, uneven or inflamed.” While deeper wrinkles and laxity develop over the years, she says the process starts much sooner than most realize. “Young smokers may not have severe wrinkles yet, but their skin quality can look less healthy compared with non-smokers of the same age.”

What About Secondhand Smoke?

Yesbeing around smoke—not just inhaling it directly—carries real risks, too. “Secondhand smoke still exposes the skin and body to oxidative chemicals and inflammatory particles,” Dr. Houshmand explains. “It can contribute to irritation, oxidative stress and impaired skin barrier function.” While direct smoking causes the most concentrated damage, she advises patients to avoid both whenever possible.

What Is Smoker’s Face?

Dermatologists have a term for the pattern of aging they see in long-term smokers, and Dr. Houshmand describes it simply. The hallmarks, she says, include a gray, yellow or sallow tone; dullness and loss of radiance; fine lines around the lips; more pronounced crow’s feet; crepey texture; hollowing or loss of facial fullness and deeper wrinkles around the mouth and cheeks. “It is not just about lines, it is the overall change in skin quality, color, texture and resilience.”

The Good News: Quitting Helps

If there’s a silver lining, it’s that the skin can begin to recover after nicotine and smoke exposure stops. “Quitting smoking is one of the best things someone can do for their skin and overall health,” Dr. Houshmand says. “Some improvements can happen relatively quickly: circulation improves, inflammation decreases and the skin may start to look brighter and healthier over weeks to months.”

Deeper damage takes longer to address. “Collagen remodeling takes longer. Over several months to a year, patients may notice improved tone, better healing and less dullness. However, deeper etched wrinkles, significant elastin damage and long-standing volume loss may not fully reverse on their own.”

Still, Dr. Houshmand is clear that it’s never too late to quit. “Quitting stops ongoing injury. The skin becomes much more responsive to good skin care, sun protection, procedures and collagen-stimulating treatments. It is never too late for the skin to improve, but the earlier you stop, the more you preserve—and your dermatologist can certainly help with biostimulators, chemical peels and a customized skin-care program.”

Dior Backstage Makeup – New Shade Extensions

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Dior Backstage Makeup – New Shade Extensions

Dior added new shades in their Backstage Makeup Lineup and I think every single color is a 10. There are four new coordinating colors in the Addict Lip Glow Butter ($42), Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick ($44) and Backstage Rosy Glow Blush ($42). New shades available now at Dior.com and Sephora.

There is also a new Backstage Glassy Glow Stick ($44) which I passed on for now – but if you’ve tried it let me know your thoughts!

There are four new shades in each formula:

  • 106 Pomelo is a light soft peachy pink
  • 107 Dragonfruit is a light mauve pink lilac
  • 108 Guava is a hot bright warm pink
  • 109 Goji is a berry with brown tones

Addict Lip Glow Butter

Dior Goji

The Addict Lip Glow Butters are beautiful in the new shades. I still stand by my original review that the formula, pigment and color with this gloss is outstanding, but I do wish they would give us more product for the price.

Out of all four shades I like Guava the best. The lighter ones are really sheer on me and I find the need to constantly remind readers or new followers that I have naturally darker pigmented lip tone so a lot of sheer or lighter tones look drastically different on me.

Dior Addict Lip Glow Butters - new shades Pomelo, Dragonfruit, Guava, Goji

Dior Addict Lip Glow Butters - new shades Pomelo, Dragonfruit, Guava, Goji

Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick

The Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Sticks are ultra bold and bright with a swatch straight out of the tube but if you’ve played with this formula before, you know that it sheers to a softer finish once you blend it. These are balmy and glowy with very little dry down. They remain dewy looking but out of all the dewy cream blushes, this one is my favorite.

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick swatches

I usually set with a powder blush on top to make it last longer. I also find that the cream blush sticks help bring out the pigment in some powders. So many of you asked for swatch comparisons, so here they are in the stick formula.

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick swatches

Backstage Rosy Glow Blush (Powder)

I prefer the Backstage Rosy Glow Blush formula over the Blush Stick for lasting power. The colors are buildable so you can have a softer cheek look or more pigmented finish if you layer. The Powder vs Stick colors are close but they’re not quite identical mainly because of the color payoff but also the undertones are just the slightest bit different.

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Powder swatches

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Powder swatches

I really love every single color in the powder. I love that they have the tiniest bit of shimmer which gives it a pretty glow.

Four coordinated looks below with the matching lip and cheek. Also have a look with the powder vs the stick on the cheeks.

Pomelo

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Powder Pomelo
_________

Dragonfruit

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Powder Dragonfruit
_________

Guava

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Powder Guava
_________

Goji

Dior Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Powder Goji
_________

Dior Backstage Makeup – New Shade Extensions

Bottom line LOVE. New shades available now at Dior.com and Sephora.

19 Of The Best Wedding Guest Shoes That Aren’t Just Heels

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19 Of The Best Wedding Guest Shoes That Aren’t Just Heels

Who doesn’t love an excuse to get dressed up, putting on a summer wedding guest dress and finding the perfect pair of wedding guest shoes? Thing is, finding them isn’t always the easiest.

Not only do you have to make sure the shoe’s colour enhances your outfit for the big day, but also that they’ll be the right heel height and, most importantly, comfy for you to make your way from the ceremony to the dance floor without fear of blisters. Feet-friendly pairs can be tricky to find, but I’m here to tell you that the best guest shoes needn’t be heels.

SKIP TO:

That’s right, I’m fully on board with wearing flat sandals or flat shoes in general to a wedding. It’s better than kicking off a pair of stiletto heels and running around bare foot by the end the night, to then be scrambling around trying to find them before your taxi arrives. Comfort is key – whether you’re a guest, bride, mother of the bride or bridesmaid, no one wants to be thinking about their feet hurting. But of course a kitten heel, block heel or platform heel (I’m loving Y2K wedge thong styles at the moment) can also be just as easy to wear – if you find the right pair, which is where I come in.

A good set of wedding guest shoes will bring just as much grandeur to your ensemble as the frock itself and, if you buy wisely, they’ll become an accessory that’ll last you a lifetime. Because no one should be buying footwear to wear once, it’s all about choosing the styles you’ll be styling after the big day, too. So, which pairs are actually wedding-appropriate?

What shoes are wedding appropriate?

The rule is, there are no rules. Long gone are the days where you ‘must’ wear this and you ‘can’t’ wear that to a wedding. With that being said, though, you do have to consider a few factors that may help you choose your wedding guest outfit. For example, if it’s a beach wedding, consider wedges or flat sandals to avoid sinking into the sand, but if it’s more of a black tie affair then you’ll be wanting something more dressy – think a pointed toe pump, a heeled sandal or slip on mules (you have to see the Mango polka dot pair).

Shop the post: Spring sweater edit

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Shop the post: Spring sweater edit

21 Best Swimwear Brands to Shop in 2026, Per Editors

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21 Best Swimwear Brands to Shop in 2026, Per Editors

It’s the swimwear brand you’ll have been familiar with since your childhood swimming lessons – and it’s just as reliable and high-performing now as it was back then. It was founded in 1928 in Australia, when the founder presented the world’s first non-wool suit. Today, its range features activewear swimwear that works hard and looks good, in a range of colours, cuts and patterns to suit you. Oh, and more Olympic Gold Medals have been won in Speedo than any other brand – so if it’s good enough for top athletes…

Speedo Women’s Essential Endurance+ Medalist One Piece Swimsuit

Speedo Women’s Flex Band Swimsuit with Integrated Swim Bra

How I tested the best swimwear brands

Taking things like sustainability, fit, cost and style into consideration, I have compiled a list of what I believe to be the best swimwear brands for 2026. They’re the labels myself or another member of the Glamour team shop at the most (you’ll see ‘editor approved’ next to the ones we really love), with some silhouettes being ones that we’ve actually bought and worn over a period of time too.

luca wetherby-matthews/@lucawetherbym

I got everyone to test them in and out of water – from chlorine pools to fresh water lakes as well as salt water – wash them, and sunbathe in them. Every brand in this list is one that past the test, and although you won’t see them modelled on our bodies, you will see videos and photos of our most favourited designs. Read more about how we test here.

Why you can trust me

It goes without saying that I’m just one woman (I’m just a girl!) and while I’ve absolutely tested most of these swimwear brands, I can’t pass fair judgement on all of them. That’s why I roped in my coworkers, because as a team of 20+, we all have varying tastes and requirements. What one of us absolutely loves, the other might hate – and honestly is of the upmost importance.

That’s why you’ll find a broad range of labels; from on-trend swimwear brands to practical ones and everything in between. It’s important that women have strong foundations in their wardrobes, and swimwear is arguably just as fundamental as lingerie. If you’re uncomfortable in your cozzies, chances are it’ll ruin your vacay mood – if you’re anything like us that is. The swimwear brands we’ve recommended above are all ones we love and rate, because we don’t gatekeep here; every body deserves to look and feel good with size-inclusive/comfortable/flattering styles.

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