JS Editors’ Favorite Things: Jackie Homan, Editorial Assistant

Put simply, Susan Alexandra’s bags put a smile on my face—and they seem to have the same effect on all of her cult following. From the cheerful colors and patterns to the handcrafted, beaded construction, I love everything about these kooky-but-cool designs.

I recently put Kai’s diffuser in my bedroom, and the floral gardenia scent instantly sweetened up the space. While it’s powerful enough to fragrance a whole home, I keep just a couple reeds in at a time so that it doesn’t overwhelm the small area.

Love Wellness makes a whole line of incredible supplements and personal care products for women. My fave at the moment? Good to Glow, which contains vitamins C and E, collagen, and ashwagandha to ensure smooth and healthy skin.

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Richer Poorer just got a major upgrade. The California basics brand improved its existing tees with a softer, higher-quality fabric and introduced several new silhouettes and fits. I pair the new sleeveless Muscle Tee with my favorite slouchy boyfriend jeans for a casual look.

I’ve been on a bit of a CBD kick lately—there are so many supposed benefits to it, from anxiety relief to soothed skin. Sagely Naturals CBD Tranquility Capsules are my choice when I’m on-the-go, thanks to their easy-to-take capsule form and array of supporting ingredients. I also recommend Onyx & Rose CBD Oil, which I take sublingually (the peppermint flavor adds a nice touch); LEEF Organics CBD Soap (I’ll admit, mostly because it looks stylish in the bathroom, and the plantable packaging grows organic tomatoes); and Lord Jones CBD Body Lotion (I prefer the fragrance-free option). And for those who want the calm feeling without CBD, try the Calm adaptogen tonic from Elements.

RELATED: The JS Guide to CBD, the Biggest Wellness Trend of 2019

When I was in Italy last summer, I discovered Uashmama in a little boutique. I’ve had practically the whole store on my wishlist ever since—including these placemats, a backpack, a wine bag and cooler, and a fold-over tray, to name a few top picks. The Tuscany-born brand uses a unique paper material that looks and feels like leather, but withstands daily use and washing and is sustainable for the environment.

The chunky dad sneaker trend is still going strong, and I’m fully embracing it with this pair from Ash. Its mixed-media construction includes a partially-transparent upper, allowing my coolest socks to show through. The look is definitely bold, so when I want a more streamlined look, I opt for my Veja sneaks instead.

RELATED: 18 White Sneakers That Go with *Everything*

While this collection of feminism-focused essays by Rebecca Solnit has been out for a few years now, I just finished reading it and can’t recommend it enough. Tackling everything from “mansplaining” to violence against women, Solnit’s writing is packed with research, statistics, and thought-provoking analysis.

Hate being caught wearing the same thing as someone else? Of a Kind prevents that with its collection of limited-edition jewelry, clothing, home goods, and more. Each item description tells how many of its kind are being produced, and there’s often a very small supply. (There are only 30 available of these glass hoop earrings, so grab them while you can.)

As someone who has worn contact lenses since age twelve, I never thought they’d be something I’d be excited about—they’ve always just been a part of a boring annual eye doctor routine. That is, until Waldo came along. The direct-to-consumer brand simplifies the process by delivering contacts when you need them, right to your door. Plus, they’re more affordable without the traditional distributor mark-up. (And on a much more superficial note, the branding is so cute—check out their Instagram!)

I love online shopping, but I know how harmful fast fashion can be to the environment. Enter: ThredUp. The secondhand site offers hundreds of brands and styles, adding over 15,000 new arrivals each day. With majorly marked-down prices, it’s also not too bad on my wallet. My pro tip: before browsing, I peruse luxury consignment store The RealReal for vintage inspiration—I may not be able to drop hundreds on their styles yet, but it’s not too hard to find similar (albeit less name-brand) versions on ThredUp.

RELATED: 15 Sustainable Clothing Brands You Need to Know Now

It looks intense at first glance, but Amika’s three-barrel waver is shockingly simple once you get the hang of it—it clamps down on hair, so you don’t have to wrap strands around it. While the crimped look can skew ‘80s if done the wrong way, keeping the tool away from the part and holding it at an angle works wonders. I like to use it before bed at night for perfectly tousled next-day beach waves.

Colorful, shimmery eyeshadow is having a moment. (Understatement of the beauty season?) My current palette of choice is the Revolution Pro Earth and Stone Colour Focus—the shades are so pigmented and way shinier than they seem online. For quirkier looks, I’m also obsessed with this Tokyo-inspired Nomad Cosmetics palette—the sparkly green is incredible. And to really top it all off, Smith & Cult’s Glitter Shot can’t be missed.

I recently packed for a two-week trip that featured two different climates all in this Peak Design Travel Backpack, and I can’t stop bragging about it. If you want to feel as accomplished as I did, here’s the secret: the brand’s compression packing cubes and wash pouch fit in the pack perfectly, while maximizing every inch of space and making the most of every feature. And speaking of features—you really have to watch the brand’s 20-minute setup video to understand how much thought and detail has gone into the design of this bag.

RELATED: The 10 Best Carryall and Weekender Bags for Travel

After bingeing and falling in love with the Netflix show of the same name, I’m finally picking up a copy of Samin Nosrat’s Salt, Fat, Acid, Heat cookbook. My roommates and I take turns cooking family-style dinners for each other, so hopefully I can show off some yummy new dishes.

Matcha lattes are made easy with Jade Leaf Matcha’s new infusion packets. I whisk the Protect blend in with hot almond milk for a warm, caffeinated drink with flavors (and health benefits) of turmeric and ginger. 

My must-have sweater this season? The cardigan. I love how this one from Everlane has an oversized fit and cropped length.

While putting in hours of clean skincare research for this story, I tried more than a few products out myself. Herbivore’s Bakuchiol Smoothing Serum became one of my favorites. It’s a plant-based alternative to retinol that works just as well in smoothing fine lines and evening skin texture.