The last heatwave finally broke this weekend, and my bathroom shelf is still in full summer mode. Sunscreen everywhere, body oil next to the toothbrush, the sleep clock humming at 6 a.m. As summer winds down, I’ve been noticing what you all keep buying — and honestly, most of it earned a spot on my list.
So here it is: August’s wellness favorites from my readers, with my take on each one. No hype copy, no “liquid gold” nonsense. Just what it does, who it’s for, and whether I’d keep it on my own shelf.
Sleep & Recovery
Hatch Sleep Clock — $249.99 at Hatch
A wooden sunrise alarm that also tracks your sleep without you touching anything. It’s a splurge — the priciest item on this list — but if you’ve got the budget and a genuinely bad sleep routine, it’s the upgrade that does the most for your mornings.
Lemme Sleep Gummies — $30 at Lemme
The drugstore-price entry for the same problem. Bite-sized, no pills to chase down with water, and the kind of thing you can start tonight without thinking. If the $249.99 clock feels like a reach, start here.
Body Care
Osea Malibu Undaria Algae™ Body Oil — $84 at Osea Malibu
Seaweed-forward body oil for when summer dries you out faster than your routine can keep up. Two pumps, done. It’s a splurge, but it layers under moisturizer like a treatment, not just a shine.
Oak Essentials Dew Body Butter — $68 at Oak Essentials
The post-sun answer: a dense butter for after you’ve spent the day outdoors. I keep a jar by the shower and use it the second I’m dry. It’s the kind of product that earns a permanent shelf slot.
Salt & Stone Leather & Desert Grass Body Wash — $36 at Salt & Stone
A body wash that actually smells like something. It’s mid-range, it lathers properly, and it’s the kind of product that turns a two-minute shower into a small ritual. Worth it if your current bottle is boring.
Boll & Branch Turkish Ultra Plush Bath Towel — $79 at Boll & Branch
The spa-at-home move that doesn’t require a booking. It’s the towel you wrap around yourself after a shower and feel like you just left a hotel. One is enough to make the switch; the rest of your stack can wait.
Skin & Daily Essentials
True Botanicals Chebula Active Serum — $90 at True Botanicals
Chebula is an antioxidant fruit extract, and this serum is built around it. I use it at night, and after a few weeks the skin looks more even. It’s a splurge, but it’s the kind of active you can trust without reading a clinical trial first.
Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum — $58 at Crown Affair
A night serum that works while you sleep — no layering, no steps. I’ve used it through the hot weeks, and it’s the product that made me stop reaching for my old routine. It’s the one I’d recommend first if you only buy one thing from this list.
Ritual Women’s Multivitamin — $33 at Ritual
The daily on-the-daily pick. It’s a small pill, it’s transparent about its ingredients, and it’s the kind of supplement you actually take every day because it’s easy. If you don’t take a multivitamin, this is the one to start with.
Osea Malibu Marine Screen SPF 50 Mineral Sunscreen — $42 at Osea Malibu
Mineral sunscreen for when the sun is still burning in late August. It’s reef-conscious, it’s SPF 50, and it doesn’t leave the white cast that mineral formulas usually do. The one I reach for on the beach and the city both.
Hair & Oral Care
Olaplex º7 Shine Serum Oil Mist — $36 at Olaplex
The third-day-hair fix. A mist, not a heavy oil, so it doesn’t flatten your hair. I spray it on the ends before I go out, and it’s the difference between “I just woke up” and “I mean to look like this.” Mid-range, and it works.
SURI 2.0 Electric Toothbrush — $135 at SURI
An electric toothbrush that doesn’t look like a dentist’s office. It’s a splurge, but if your current brush is a $10 one you’ve been using for two years, the upgrade is real. The brush heads cost extra, which is the only caveat.
Daily Rituals & Comfort
Casa Zuma Daybreak Candle — $64 at Casa Zuma
The DIY Malibu mornings move. It’s a candle, but the scent is the point — it’s the smell of a morning you’re not in a rush for. I light it on the first day of every season, and it’s the one I always finish.
Casa Zuma Topanga Mug — $42 at Casa Zuma
A ritual in a cup. It’s a nice mug, the kind you actually want to hold. I use it every morning, and it’s the small thing that makes the routine feel intentional. Not a splurge, but it’s the kind of object you keep.
Rhoback Vista Active Dress — $118 at Rhoback
The long-walk uniform. A dress that moves with you, doesn’t need ironing, and looks like you put effort in without any. It’s a splurge, but it’s the one I’d buy for a weekend trip where I don’t want to think about clothes.
Negative Whipped Non-Wire Bra — $70 at Negative
For the days when a bra feels like a costume. It’s soft, it’s wire-free, and it’s the kind of thing you forget you’re wearing. Mid-range, and it’s the upgrade that makes the morning feel easier.
Ballerina Farms Peanut Butter Protein Powder — $69.99 at Ballerina Farms
Stack your snacks with this one. It’s a protein powder in a peanut butter flavor, which is the kind of thing that makes you actually use it instead of letting it sit in the cabinet. I mix it into smoothies, and it’s the one I don’t get tired of.
Veracity Metabolism Ignite — $75 at Veracity
The wellness routine MVP. It’s a supplement for the daily grind, and it’s the kind of product that’s easy to take. I’ve been using it for a few weeks, and it’s the one I’d keep on the shelf if I was building a routine from scratch.
The Edit
If you only buy one thing from this list, it’s the Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum ($58 at Crown Affair). It’s the product that does the most for the least effort — you apply it at night, you go to sleep, and your skin wakes up looking better. It’s the kind of thing that earns a permanent spot on the shelf, and it’s the one I’d recommend to anyone who’s thinking about upgrading their night routine.
Worth It or Skip It
Worth it: Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum, Osea Malibu Marine Screen SPF 50, Salt & Stone body wash, Ritual multivitamin, Olaplex º7 mist. These are the ones that earn their place and you’ll actually use them every day.
Skip it (for now): Hatch Sleep Clock if you’re not ready to spend $249.99 on sleep, SURI toothbrush if your current one still works, and the Veracity supplement if you’re not already taking a daily routine. They’re good, but they’re not the first thing I’d buy.
FAQ
Do I need to buy all of these?
No. This is a list, not a prescription. Pick the two or three that match what you actually need right now — a body care product if you’re sun-damaged, a sleep product if your nights are rough, a hair product if third-day hair is a problem. The rest can wait until next season.
Are these products available outside the US?
Most are available through their brand sites, which ship internationally. Osea Malibu, True Botanicals, and Ritual all have UK and EU shipping. Check the brand page before you order — prices may vary by region.
Which one should I start with if I only have budget for one?
The Ritual Women’s Multivitamin ($33) if you don’t already take one, or the Crown Affair Overnight Repair Serum ($58) if you want a skincare upgrade. Both are easy to start, both are things you’ll use daily, and neither is a splurge that makes you second-guess the purchase.
A note from the editor: I’ve been reading your emails and I can tell you’re all in the same boat — trying to keep the good stuff going as the season shifts. These are the products that made it through my own August, and they’re the ones I’d keep on the shelf when the cozier months arrive.
Less shelf, more glow.
— Amelie Rose