Labor Day weekend always brings a great lineup of curated deals all across beauty, fashion, and home products. So you don’t have to dig for the best sales, I’ve rounded them up for you and will be adding more throughout the weekend!

BEAUTY + HAIR + BODY

Ulta Beauty Fall 21+ Days of Beauty: 50% off select beauty + hair products that change daily

Sephora: up to 50% off select beauty daily

T3 Micro: up to 70% off hair tools

Kosas: August 29th–September 7th, enjoy 25% off site wide

OSEA: receive a free gift with purchase 9/2 – 9/7 if you spend $125

FASHION + ACCESSORIES

Miranda Frye: 20% – 40% off the entire site until Sept 7

Banana Republic Factory: 50 – 70% off everything (+ Extra 20% Off Sale Styles + Take an Additional 10% Off w/ code BRAFF. Ends 9/7)

SPANX: deals on AirEssentials & shapewear – Up to 70% off

AYR: up to 60% off select styles, colors, and sizes from 9/2 – 9/5

Frame: The End of Season Sale is Here – Up to 70% off

Mango: 30% OFF EVERYTHING on orders from $230 + free shipping. Use code: MGN30. Valid from the 2nd to the 7th.

J.Crew Factory: 9/1-9/8: 50% off everything + Extra 50%-70% off clearance

Ring Concierge: 20% off until 9/10

Dick’s Sporting Goods: Save up to 50% on clothing and up to 30% on shoes

Madewell: Use code LONGWEEKEND to save up to 50% on sale styles.

HOME + LIFE

Corkcicle: 25% off site-wide

Leesa: 30% off through 9/15. Use code SMALLTHINGS75 for an ADDITIONAL $75 off!

Rifle Paper Co.: 9/2 – 9/8 – 20% off with code LABORDAY20

Lumineux: up to 36% off Teeth Whitening Strips

Whether replenishing your skincare, upgrading pieces in your wardrobe, or refreshing parts of your living space, hopefully this can help you make the most of your shopping this holiday weekend.

The post Look Out for These Labor Day Sales first appeared on The Small Things Blog.

New seasons bring new trends, and these are 3 that I am actually excited to wear!

Stripes, specifically dark-on-dark or something with blue/brown/both blue and brown. I love this relaxed tee from Madewell, and this is cool if you like a long-sleeve tee!

Slim footwear. Ballet flats are still very popular, as well as slim sneakers. I bought these from Quince over the summer, and they’re a really nice option for a simple sneaker. They run a touch small, so if you’re between sizes, go up a half size.

Straight leg jeans. I still love a barrel, don’t get me wrong, but I am not unhappy about seeing a turn back to a more classic denim shape for fall! If you like a relaxed fit, I highly recommend the Aritzia Iggy Lo-Rise Baggy–they’re some of my most worn jeans for the last year! If you prefer a higher rise, Target has a great high-rise denim in a medium wash for fall!

Personal style is easier when you’ve really honed in on what you love to wear and finding pieces you FEEL good in. I want to feel like myself when I wear my clothes, so knowing the difference between wearing clothes and accessories I love versus wearing things that feel like a costume is important.

There are a few trends that I just can’t really get behind, and that’s not to say I’ll never warm up to them, but for now they feel too far outside of my personal style. Loafers, trousers, scarves around waists and necks, and super distressed light denim are all things that are fine to wear for some, but I don’t feel like myself in any of those things.

My style, according to ChatGPT, is elevated and relaxed with a cool girl edge. I don’t always *feel* cool, but I do find inspiration from other women who I think dress very, very cool!

I shared a little bit more about how I honed in on my personal style in this blog post, if you’d like to read it.

The post 3 Trends I’m Actually Into This Fall first appeared on The Small Things Blog.

In the last year or so, I was really able to hone in on my personal style, and it has made shopping infinitely easier! I still feel like it is very much a work in progress, but generally I feel better in my outfits than I’ve felt in a long time.

The first thing I asked myself is, “What do I want people to notice?” Once I answered that question, it helped inform where I wanted to put emphasis and which parts of my outfit could sort of act as a “background” element.

Next, I started picking a color palette to stay within that I knew would be complementary to my skin tone and also allow me to mix and match items in my closet. Some people shop for outfits or sets, but I am not one of those people. I like to buy individual pieces to mix together.

Lastly, I made a mood board of outfits, clothes, and accessories that I loved and referenced it whenever I felt like shopping for something new. The feeling of confidence and ease in getting dressed became more important than the dopamine hit of buying something new in the moment.

Once I had those things nailed down, I uploaded the mood board to ChatGPT and asked it to define that style. I took those words and saved them in a little note on my phone.

Effortless French Americana is what AI called it, and listen – I don’t hate that! The style is relaxed but not sloppy; it has classic features but isn’t preppy, and there is a factor of restraint in the simplicity of each look. The highlights are jewelry, bags, and texture!

So now, with new trends popping up each season, I look at them through the filter of “will that fit easily into my effortless French Americana style?” And if I can’t see a way that it would work, I pass on it.

Fashion and personal style aren’t always black and white, and a lot of getting dressed for the day is based on feel and function. But knowing how I like to dress and choosing outfits I feel good in has simplified my morning routine in the best way possible.

If you’re trying to lock in your personal style, ask yourself these questions:

One. What do I want people to notice about my outfit?

Two. If I had to pick a celebrity or influencer to trade closets with, who would that be and why?

Three. What clothes or outfits feel like a costume? Any of the items that you name here should be donated.

Four. Are you in a temporary season of life? If the answer is yes, make sure your personal style decisions are held loosely and serve this particular season (example: postpartum) and return to this when you’re in a more permanent phase of life.

From there, browse Instagram and Pinterest and look for images that represent some of the answers you gave above. Pull them together on a single board and then upload it to ChatGPT and see how it defines it!

This is just a quick exercise to help identify what you care about when it comes to style, and also things that you don’t vibe with. Through all of this, remember that individual style is deeply personal, and while it does matter how you feel and how you present yourself to the world, also remember we’re just talking about clothes and accessories at the end of the day.

Although it’s a small thing, it has been a value add to my life to have figured out my personal style. I hope this helps you too.

The post How To Lock In on Your Personal Style first appeared on The Small Things Blog.

The Lake Placid water was kind to my hair. It styled easily, the frizz was almost nonexistent, and it felt clean and shiny even without any product added. Whether I was letting it air-dry or blowing it out and adding a few curls with a 1.75-inch barrel, my hair was soft and felt amazing.

There were a few products I used over and over again this summer that I’ll continue to use into the fall as well!

Kerastase Chronologiste Overnight Youth Serum – I applied this before I blew my hair dry, after it was dried, and sometimes at night before I went to bed. It’s a softening, restorative serum that has done wonders for my hair, especially on the ends. \My hair tends to be dry, and this serum restored softness, shine, and a supple feel, making my hair bouncier and looking healthier.

Crown Affair Leave-In Conditioner – (use my code Smallthings15 for 15% off). The Crown Affair brand is slowly growing in my collection because their products just straight up deliver. I love the leave-in treatment and use it both when air-drying my hair or blowing it dry. It’s lightweight, but my ends feel like they have a smoother finish when I use this!

Crown Affair Smoothing Air Dry Cream – (use my code Smallthings15 for 15% off). I loved this for when I air-dried my hair because it didn’t create too strong of a crunch; it simply added a little definition to my natural texture (which is a very soft/undone wave). It didn’t feel stiff or sticky; it was honestly the perfect cream to work into wet hair and allow the hair to just do its own thing.

Oribe Magnificent Volume Shampoo – I started using this a few months ago and knew it was going to go with me to Lake Placid for the summer. It’s a very clean-feeling, lightweight shampoo that leaves my hair feeling volumized and light but not overly dry. I haven’t tried the conditioner yet, but this shampoo is really nice.

Roz Milk Texture Defining Hair Mousse – this was what I used when I wanted to give my hair some gritty texture and support when I wore it air-dried. Sometimes my air-dried hair would be so silky and soft, it made it hard to get a flattering half-up or ponytail style to it. This mousse gave my hair the right amount of texture for support and definition!

I’ll be using these products through the fall, especially since I’m planning on keeping my hair long!

The post 5 Hair Products I Used All Summer (and won’t stop using this fall) first appeared on The Small Things Blog.

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I’m always on the lookout for lightweight jackets this time of year. They’re perfect for those mornings that start a little cool, or simply adding one more layer to finish an outfit without committing to a heavy coat.

I rounded up a mix of sporty windbreakers, utility jackets, bombers, and lightweight puffers in a range of price points. Whether you’re looking for something casual to throw on with jeans or a polished layer you’ll wear all season, there are so many great options right now!

The post Transitional Light Jackets first appeared on The Small Things Blog.

This little subtle peplum hem linen-blend top from Madewell is a dream for summertime. It goes perfectly with a pair of jeans and is also a really pretty top to pair with white bottoms, either a linen short or white denim!

I was tempted by the brown gingham pattern, but I really am glad I landed on the vanilla color. It feels like an easy-to-wear “yellow” that leans more cream!

The post A Summery Vanilla Top first appeared on The Small Things Blog.

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These are just some of my go-to hair and makeup products I use all the time in my everyday routine. And a lot of them also happen to come in travel sizes, which makes packing super easy when I’m on the go!

For makeup, these are the easy, no-fuss products I reach for constantly: lightweight base, cream blush, simple eye products, and mascaras that I know will always work. They’re the kind of things I don’t have to think about, which is exactly what I want, whether I’m at home or traveling.

And for hair, these are tried-and-true favorites I use regularly, especially for frizz, humidity, and just making my hair feel a little more polished without a lot of effort. When a mini version is available, I love being able to grab it for trips!

The post Travel-Sized Hair + Makeup Favorites first appeared on The Small Things Blog.

Amazon Prime Day hair deals from some fantastic brands

Prime Day is the best time to stock up on hair care must-haves, and this year, it did not disappoint! The sales on some of my top brands are deeply discounted. I’ve relied on these products for years, and Prime Day is a great time to refresh your routine while saving big.

My All-Time Hair Product and Tool Picks

Living Proof Dry Shampoo, Perfect Hair Day Advanced Clean

Pureology Smooth Gloss Treatment Mask

Shark FlexStyle Hair Styling System

Shark SpeedStyle Pro Flex

L’Oreal Paris Elvive Hyaluron Plump Shampoo and Conditioner Set

L’Oreal Paris Sulfate Free Bond Repair+ Shampoo and Conditioner Set

L’Oreal Paris Elvive Glycolic + Gloss High Shine Leave-In Hair Serum

L’Oreal Paris 21-in-1 Leave-In Conditioner Spray

Pureology Hydrate Shampoo

Pureology Hydrate Conditioner

Pureology Color Fanatic Multi-Tasking Leave-In Spray

Pureology Strength Cure Dream Healer Hair Serum

BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Spring Curling Iron

amika Perk Up Talc-free Dry Shampoo

amika Soulfood Nourishing Mask

amika Frizz-Me-Not Hydrating Anti-Frizz Treatment

amika The Shield Anti-humidity Spray

Kenra Design Spray 9 | Light Hold Hairspray

SexyHair Big Creme 2 Powder Play

ghd Original Styler – 1” Flat Iron

VERB Volume Dry Texture Spray

T3 AireLuxe Professional Ionic Hair Dryer and Brush Set

Bumble and bumble. Spray de Mode Flexible Hold Hair Spray

Drybar High Tops Self-Grip Rollers

Drybar Liquid Glass High-Gloss Smoothing Blowout Cream

Alterna Caviar Anti-Aging Multiplying Volume Styling Mist

Virtue Restorative Hair Mask Treatment

Virtue Recovery Damage Reverse Hair Serum

Kenra Anti-Humidity Spray 5

Malibu C Blondes Wellness Remedy

Olaplex N°.7 Bonding Oil

Drybar Hot Toddy Heat Protection Spray

Bumble and bumble. Surf Sea Salt Spray

K18 HeatBounce Conditioning Heat Protectant Spray

OUAI Wave Spray

The post Amazon Prime Day: The Best Hair Deals first appeared on The Small Things Blog.

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I rounded up a mix of beach and pool totes at a variety of price points, from classic canvas carryalls to woven straw and crochet styles that feel perfectly suited for summer. Whether you’re packing for a beach day, afternoons at the pool, or a weekend getaway, these bags offer plenty of room.

The workhorse of my summer is the Lands’ End XL Zip Top Tote with the long handles. I use it for the pool, beach, going to the river…honestly, even just times I wanted to throw a change of clothes and some snacks inside of it for the kids!

If you need something practical, look for zip-top options like the Lululemon Daily Multi-Pocket Tote or waterproof styles from SpaceMuse and Simple Modern that can handle wet swimsuits and sandy towels. For a more elevated look, the woven seagrass, crochet, and linen totes bring plenty of texture while still offering room for sunscreen, snacks, and all the extras that seem to come along on every summer outing!

The post Beach + Pool Totes first appeared on The Small Things Blog.

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No one could make an argument that I like a HUGE variety in my sunglasses, okay? But you know what–I like what I like, and these are a handful of some of my very favorite sunglasses!

From Amazon gems to some higher price point finds, hopefully, this curation gives you some inspiration for casual, sophisticated, and easy sunglasses to wear all year round!

The post Sunglasses for Summer first appeared on The Small Things Blog.