Everything to Know About Sephora’s New Clean Beauty Category

You’re about to see more green in Sephora’s aisles — and we’re not talking about a color story either. The beloved beauty retailer already stocks everything we need to look and feel amazing, including innovative skincare essentials, coif crisis cures, and trendy makeup, but now Sephora has created a new category to make it easier to find clean beauty buys without having to scan every label in the store.

The retailer partnered with 50 brands throughout the U.S. and Canada to curate over 2,000 clean products across categories that will feature a green Clean Beauty seal of approval. The green badges indicate that the product doesn’t contain potentially harmful ingredients like parabens, formaldehyde, mineral oils, phthalates, sulfates SLS and SLES, retinyl palmitate, oxybenzone, coal tar, hydroquinone, triclosan, and triclocarban, to name a few. Plus, they have less than one percent of synthetic fragrances.

Sephora recently discovered in its research that over 60 percent of shoppers read the products labels prior to purchasing, and 54 percent only stock natural or clean beauty items. With that customer feedback in mind, Sephora linked up with a slew of brands and industry experts to help define what clean beauty actually means as the nearly 20-year-old company looks toward the future.

“[Sephora is] continuing to demystify beauty choices for their clients, helping them find the right products for them, based on their lifestyle needs,” the press release announcing the new category states. “Many of their clients are looking to shop brands and products that are ‘free of’ and they are responding to help them do that, easily and conveniently at Sephora.”

What do you think of Sephora’s new category? Weigh in over @BritandCo.

(Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for Sephora )

One of the perks of being born in 1991 is getting to witness all of the gorgeous '90s makeup looks emerge and become popular again decades later. In my humblest opinion, some of them never went out of style because they're timeless and have a natural appeal that people keep gravitating towards. Don't believe me? Think about some of the makeup looks you've seen in Euphoria. They're so '90s-coded!

While it's hard to narrow down our favorites, but we think we've picked the best '90s makeup looks anyone can recreate for years to come. Here's what to try right now!

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

1. Sultry Makeup Look

If there's one thing Kaia Gerber's mom had on lock, it was the '90s sultry makeup look. Even today, Cindy Crawford continues to show why she was one of the OG '90s supermodels. You rarely saw her without intentionally tousled hair, a glossy and slightly metallic brown lip, and perfectly outlined eyes. Oh, and we can't forget her signature smile that she passed on to her amazing daughter!

Here's How To Get Cindy Crawford's Sultry Makeup Look

Sephora

Bobbi Brown Long-Wear Cream Eyeliner Stick

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

2. '90s Lip

If there's one thing fans could count on singer Brandy Norwood to do, it was sing and play a convincing coming-of-age teenager on Moesha. But, her style was just as noticeable because she always wore the cutest braids and stunning '90s lip combo that's still popular today. Try as I might, I've yet to part ways with this makeup look because it looks good on everyone.

You'll need a dark lip liner, a nude matte lipstick or gloss to complete this look!

Here's How To Get Brandy's Signature '90s Lip

Amazon

Mented Cosmetics No. 5 Brown Lip Liner

Amazon

e.l.f. Glow Reviver Lip Oil

A little clear gloss goes a long way! The goal is to create a light sheen instead of lips that look dripped in gloss!

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

3. Brown Lipstick

There's a ton of iconic '90s makeup looks, but it seems like brown lip liner and lipstick had the girls in a frenzy! They couldn't get enough of it then and we're crazy about it now. Jennifer Anniston, America's sweetheart, was known for wearing a simple look that included brown lipstick that complemented her undertones.

All brown lipsticks aren't created equal, so we're sharing a couple of our favorite options!

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

3. Cherry Red Lipstick

We can talk about red lipstick all day, especially if it has something to do with Winona Ryder's cherry red version! Ever popular today, it's a bold way to liven up your makeup if you plan to keep the rest of your face simple. Plus, you can wear it year-round if you want!

What we've learned is that blue-red lipsticks tend to be more universal, so we're sharing the ones we think will bring your own cherry red look to life.

Here's How To Get Winona Ryder's Cherry Red Lipstick

Ulta Beauty

Juvia's Place The Reds Cherry Velvety Matte Lipstick

Brenda Chase/Online USA, Inc.

4. Doll Eye Makeup

We have nothing but the utmost respect for Pamela Anderson's decision to go makeup-free after decades of wearing it. Still, we'll always cherish the way her '90s makeup looks rivaled Barbie's. You'd always see Pamela wearing gorgeous eyeshadow that made you want to play in different palettes until you found the perfect combo to match whatever she wore on her eyes.

In honor of her doll eye makeup, here's a few makeup palettes that are guaranteed to give you a range of shades to choose from!

Vinnie Zuffante/Getty Images

5. Sparkly Highlighter

Last but not least, we have to pay homage to the way Halle Berry looked like a perfect sparkly gem in the '90s. Her pixie haircut seemed to accentuate her cheekbones that had the perfect amount of glitter highlighter on it and we're obsessed with going back to the days where makeup literally glowed.

To achieve a similar look, you're going to need the highlighters we've chosen for you!

How To Get Halle Berry's Sparkly Highlighter Look

Fenty Beauty

Fenty Beauty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter (Girl Next Door/Chic Phreak)

Tell us which of these '90s makeup looks you plan to recreate this fall, and shop our Amazon Storefront for more of our beauty favorites!

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

This edible crescent-roll cornucopia is our way of making a normal cheese boardmore festive — and definitely more fun — during the holiday season. Our go-to this time of year is a massive cheese plate that can stand alone and be the main attraction, or the starter for a larger meal. Press on for the surprisingly easy steps to braid a breaded cornucopia.

Chris Andre

Materials + Tools:

  • 1 roll of tin foil
  • 2 packages of crescent rolls
  • 1 egg (for egg wash before cornucopia goes into the oven), optional

Chris Andre

Instructions:

Start by sculpting tin foil into the shape of a cornucopia (it looks like a cone with an upturned tail). Pro tip: Lightly pack tin foil so it's easier to remove later from your baked cornucopia. Crescent rolls should be buttery enough that this shouldn't be difficult.

Chris Andre

Your tin foil mold should look a little something like this.

Chris Andre

Pop open the crescent rolls and cut the triangles into strips. Pinch together the ends of strips to make strips longer.

Chris Andre

Braid crescent roll strips. You can make these as fancy as you want. Not a braiding pro? Skip this step and leave those strips alone.

Chris Andre

Wrap tin foil cornucopia with braids/strips. Make sure you cover all the tin foil. Leave a little wiggle room at the opening of the cornucopia, so that when you’re done baking you can pull some of that tin foil out.

Chris Andre

Use any extra dough to cover the bottom of your cornucopia. Pinch the sides and anchor those braids/strips in.

Chris Andre

Brush on egg wash before placing your cornucopia in the oven. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 20 minutes. Take out of oven and cover spots of cornucopia that are already golden brown with extra tin foil. Bake for another 20 minutes at 250 degrees Fahrenheit.

Chris Andre

Let it cool down until it’s easy to handle. Remove tin foil.

Chris Andre

Place cornucopia in corner of your cheese plate. Arrange cheese on your serving tray.

Chris Andre

Add crackers — we like to have two or three options.

Chris Andre

Don’t forget to fill up your cornucopia. It's called "the horn of plenty" for a reason. Fill with fresh fruit like grapes, apples, and pears.

Chris Andre

Add nuts like walnuts and pistachios to fill in any empty spaces. Garnish with fresh herbs like rosemary and sage to finish it off.

Chris Andre

Voilà! Invite over your friends, open a bottle of wine, and dig in!

Chris Andre

A cornucopia cheese board will become your new favorite holiday tradition.

Show us your crescent-roll cornucopias on Instagram and check out our baking classes (and our Easy Thanksgiving Desserts piece) for more holiday food inspo!

DIY Production and Styling: Paris Fried

Paris Fried: Paris loves any excuse to celebrate and throw a themed party. She loves experimenting in the kitchen and has a terrible sweet tooth. When she's not crafting in her studio, she's at the farmers' market buying seasonal produce or at her favorite local theater watching double features.

This post has been updated.

I've struggled with flat, lifeless hair my entire life. It gets greasy super easily (especially since I play with it so often. Oops!), and even on the days I spend an hour curling it, any ounce of humidity or rain sends it back to its natural, stick-straight state. But when I brought this up to the Brit + Co team while describing my dream short hairstyle, they showed me the one product I'd never tried before: texturizing spray! Since adding this hack to my routine, my hair has completely changed — and my confidence has skyrocketed. Here are some common FAQ's about texturizing sprays, and the best texture sprays to try the next time your thin hair needs some extra oomph!

What does a texturizing spray do?

Elina Sazonova/Pexels

A texture spray offers texture, hold, and volume to flat or thin hair. We'd recommend saving it as the last step in your hair routine (after you've dried it or applied heat). Just hold it about a foot away from your hair and spray it directly into your strands! You can apply it normally, or flip your head upside down for even more volume, and I like to run my fingers through my hair afterwards.

What is the difference between texture spray and hairspray?

neomi drewel/Pexels

Hairspray has always been used to hold hairstyles (and flyaways) in place for a perfect, shiny finished look. Texture spray is a little more flexible and gritty. And sometimes you strike gold by finding a texturizing hair spray!

Is texturizing spray the same as volumizing spray?

Luis Quintero/Pexels

Yes, volumizing spray and texturizing spray can be used interchangeably.

Kristin Ess Hair Dry Finish Working Texture Spray

Amazon

This texturizing spray has totally transformed my hair. I just add a little bit to the middle and ends of my hair in the morning, run my fingers through it, and I'm good to go! It gives my hair shape and hold it's literally never had before.

Kenra Platinum Dry Texture Spray 6

Amazon

This texturizing spray both gives your hair volume and soaks up oil and impurities. The best part is that it's lightweight so your hair will feel as well as look effortless.

amika Rising Star Volumizing Finishing Spray

Sephora

Not only is this bottle super cute, but this hair product features a clean ingredient list AND is cruelty free. And not only does it offer volume, but it protects your hair from heat too!

SGX NYC The Do-It-All 3-in-1 Dry Texture Spray

Target

Whether you use it in the morning or in between work and happy hour, this spray will refresh your hair no matter what time it is! The citrus, fruit, and warm woods fragrance makes us smile almost as much as the fact SGX never tests on animals.

Not Your Mother's Beach Babe Sea Salt Spray

Amazon

Any beach kid will tell you the best your hair will ever look is right after you come out of the ocean. Recreate some of that magic (and make summer last all year long!) with this sea salt texturizing spray. This trio is on sale for $16!

Drybar Triple Sec 3-in-1 Texturizing Spray

Sephora

Get your own at-home blowout when you use Drybar's texturizing finishing spray on your 'do. It's sulfate-free and works on every single hair type.

VERB Volume Dry Texture Spray

Target

You don't have to worry about dry or crunchy hair with this texturizing spray, thanks to its nourishing pro-vitamin b5 and aloe vera.

CHI Infra Texture Dual Hair Spray

Amazon

If you want a two-in-one hair product, opt for a texture hairspray. This pick promises to give your hair beautiful shine and movement without any of the build up or flakiness you might find with other products. Yes, please!

Bumble and bumble Thickening Dryspun Volume Texturizing Spray

Sephora

This spray is great for thin hair AND thinning hair. Its 4-star rating caught my eye (especially since it has almost 2 thousand reviews) as well as the fact it'll instantly give your hair 40 percent more volume!

Living Proof Full Dry Volume Texture Spray

Target

One of the frustrating parts of having straight, thin hair is how easily clips, ponytail holders, and ribbons slide out. But with a nice dose of texture spray, that problem goes away!

ColorWow Texturizing Spray

Amazon

Not only does this product provide your hair with sexy texture, but it also doesn't cloud your hair color, meaning your style can be as vibrant as it deserves!

Tag us with your favorite texturizing sprays on Instagram and check out 5 Ways To Reverse And Prevent Hair Thinning, According To Experts.

Brit + Co may at times use affiliate links to promote products sold by others, but always offers genuine editorial recommendations.

Lead image via Cora Pursley/Dupe

Though Black Friday is traditionally the official start of the holiday shopping season, we argue that it’s been kicking since mid-October. We know, we know: it still feels extremely early to start thinking about the holidays, but they’ll be here before you know it! Plus, many brands and retailers are already promoting their holiday goodies with plenty of sales and discounts available right now.

If you’re ready to embark on your holiday shopping journey, but still need answers to questions like ‘when’s the best time to shop?’ and ‘where should I shop for gifts?’ and even ‘how the heck do I save money this season?’, you’ve come to the right place. Consider this your go-to guide for holiday shopping in 2024.

Scroll on for our best guidance on navigating this busy time of year and finding the best gifts possible!

When's the best time to do holiday shopping?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best time to do holiday shopping really all depends on your personal shopping goals. Do you want to get a jump on items you know will sell out soon? Do you want to save the most money possible? Do you want to focus on handmade, personalized gifts? These factors will undoubtedly influence your holiday shopping schedule.

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Shopping early can be advantageous for all of the aforementioned goals. A lot of retailers start promoting their holiday products early on, giving you ample time to snatch up that limited-time lip kit or fancy water bottle you’ve been eyeing way before the holidays.

Plus, some of the best deals for holiday shopping happen ahead of Black Friday and Cyber Monday – in 2023, Experian observed a surge in early spending in October, thanks to early discounts, a trend likely to continue in 2024.

Finally, shopping early can be especially helpful if your plan is to focus on handmade or personalized gifts, giving the artisan you buy from (or yourself, if you’re DIY-ing your gifts) plenty of time to craft the item with love and care.

Gallup reported in 2023 that one in four shoppers start shopping as early as September, a trend likely to continue in 2024 – so you might already be embarking on your shopping spree!

Mikhail Nilov / PEXELS

If right now is just still too darn early for you to start holiday shopping, Black Friday and Cyber Monday are some of the best times to shop since so many retailers offer their largest discounts of the entire year. Plus, the late November-early December timeline can feel a bit more appropriate for the gifting season opposed to late October-early November, when everyone’s still recovering from Halloween.

The only thing to consider during this time is the shipping timelines for the items you purchase – but most retailers will typically advise their specific shipping schedules, so you don’t risk your goodies arriving late.

Where should I shop for gifts?

Ron Lach / PEXELS

You have three main options when it comes to where to shop for holiday gifts: online, in-store, and via our amazing gift guides. Of course, each method has its advantages and disadvantages.

Shopping in-store offers a tangible experience: the opportunity to hold specific items in your hands and gauge exactly what they’ll be like when you give them as a gift. The pitfall with shopping in-person is that it typically requires a commute and journeys through potentially very busy malls and shopping strips, which can add to the already-stressful holiday experience.

In-store shopping can be more physically exhausting, but it’s all about preference! Sometimes strolling through the stores that get all dolled up for Christmas is the best part of the season.

Andrea Piacquadio / PEXELS

Per Google, 65% of those planning to shop for the holidays say they will shop online more. Shopping for gifts online can be super helpful since you can centralize your findings in your browser’s bookmark tab or via virtual cart(s). Plus, shopping online can pose more opportunities for saving some money: lots of retailers typically offer discount codes for online users, especially if you sign up for their digital marketing channels (like email and text) and make a purchase.

Shopping online isn’t just shopping, either. The internet can be a stellar research tool to help you vet whether certain products are worth it, where they can be bought, and when they’ll be available. In fact, Google reported that more than half of U.S. holiday shoppers who went into a store last year say they looked up product reviews online and/or located an item in-store by checking it online.

Kaboompics / PEXELS

Last but not least, scrolling gift guides has to be our favorite place to shop for gifts – and not just because we write and publish them.

At their very core, gift guides help streamline the holiday shopping process, alleviating the stress that bubbles up when you’re wondering what the heck to shop for in the first place. Our gift guides are backed by real people, real experiences, and real opinions from our editorial team. We only promote products that we really love and believe in, oftentimes ones we’ve tested and reviewed ourselves.

We have gift guides for just about everyone on your list, with more on the way! Check ‘em out:

What are the best kinds of gifts to give?

Kaboompics / PEXELS

The best kinds of gifts to give are thoughtful gifts that consider the giftee’s interests, wants, and needs. These gifts can be sentimental, practical, or both simultaneously. What matters most in a gift is that it’ll be meaningful to them past just the holiday season, whether it’s helping them get through daily tasks, reminding them of a memorable trip or event, or giving them small doses of joy.

“Shoppers are increasingly looking for personalized and unique gifts that reflect the recipient's personality and interests,” says Mia Anderson, Owner of ChicSew. “With the rise of online shopping, many consumers are opting for curated gift boxes or experiences that add a special touch.”

Cottonbro Studio / PEXELS

Gift boxes, personalized items, books of interest, self-care goodies, and even gift cards can all be thoughtful gifts depending on the recipient. If you have no clue what your giftee is into, it’s not a bad idea to ask them what they want the most!

“My idea of a great gift is something that is in tandem with the recipient's interest and offers something new to the person, be it learning a new skill, enjoying a calming activity, or simply spending quality time with the family,” says Alfred Christ, Sales Manager & Marketer at Robotime. “This season, we encourage shoppers to shift their focus on quality and the memories their gifts will create and not just merely material aspects.”

When is Black Friday?

Sora Shimazaki / PEXELS

Black Friday is always the Friday after Thanksgiving. This year, Black Friday lands on November 29.

When is Cyber Monday?

Kindel Media / PEXELS

Cyber Monday is typcally the Monday after Thanksgiving. This year, Cyber Monday will land on December 2. Oftentimes, retailers and brands extend their online offers through the week (coined Cyber Week) after the event. Salesforce reported that 67% of shoppers in 2024 plan on shopping during Cyber Week!

Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up-to-date on our best 2024 gift guides, shopping advice, and all things holiday!

The holidays at Starbucks are creeping up on us, people! Peppermint Mocha season will return on November 7. If you’re a die-hard Starbucks fan, you know Red Cup Day is a whole holiday in itself – the frenzy for a free reusable cup is truly no joke. There’s even an entire website dedicated to counting down the madness! Even though there’s no official word on when Red Cup Day 2024 will be, there are several clues that cue us into the annual event. Scroll on for details!

What is Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day is Starbucks’ highly-awaited annual event that marks the start of holiday beverage season at the coffee chain. For one day only (and while supplies last), customers who order any of Starbucks’ holiday drinks will receive a reusable red cup that features a bespoke design for the respective year.

Starbucks

Here’s a list of all the drinks rumored to be available on the Starbucks holiday menu starting November 7:

  • Peppermint Mocha
  • Peppermint White Chocolate Mocha
  • Caramel Brûlée Latte
  • Sugar Cookie Almondmilk Latte
  • Chestnut Praline Latte
  • Salted Pecan Crunch Cold Brew
  • Iced Gingerbread Oatmilk Chai

What do the red cups look like for 2024?

Starbucks

Starbucks hasn’t officially announced when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, let alone what the famed red cups will look like this go-around. The one obvious point is that the cups will be red! They’ll also likely feature some festive motifs that echo the holiday season. Last year’s red cups boasted playful white and green stars and ornament-like shapes.

Why should I participate in Red Cup Day?

Starbucks

Red Cup Day = freebies, which can feel really rewarding if you’re really into receiving free goodies. Plus, it’s just a fun way to lean into the holiday spirit. The red reusable cup keeps giving beyond Red Cup Day, though! Every time you use the reusable cup for future Starbucks orders, you get a 10-cent discount as well as 25 bonus stars toward your Starbucks Rewards account to save up for more discounts on drinks, food, and merchandise.

When is Starbucks' Red Cup Day 2024?

Starbucks

Again, Starbucks hasn’t alerted us on when Red Cup Day will be for 2024, but based on previous Red Cup Days, we can infer it’ll land on the third Thursday of November. In 2022, Red Cup Day happened on November 17, and for 2023, it was November 16. The third Thursday of November in 2024 hits on November 21, so mark your calendars, everyone!

Additionally, check back here for official info as Red Cup Day approaches.

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This post has been updated.