The summer solstice is my Super Bowl. I was born in the summer, and my name literally means ‘The Sun.’ When the weather gets warmer, I defrost. I relish al fresco dining, summer outfits, and the smell of coconuts and vanilla (my signature summer scents). As a Black woman, I grew up inundated with beauty standards that valorized lighter skin and told me to get out of the sun. But for years, I would bare my skin to the sun in pursuit of my summer shade. I’ve always felt most myself after a sun-dr
The summer solstice is my Super Bowl. I was born in the summer, and my name literally means ‘The Sun.’ When the weather gets warmer, I defrost. I relish al fresco dining, summer outfits, and the smell of coconuts and vanilla (my signature summer scents). As a Black woman, I grew up inundated with beauty standards that valorized lighter skin and told me to get out of the sun. But for years, I would bare my skin to the sun in pursuit of my summer shade. I’ve always felt most myself after a sun-drenched day.
Cut to a decade later, and I’m paying for my devotion with endless bottles of sunscreen and piles of protective clothing. While I still enjoy a healthy amount of sun exposure—my serotonin depends on it—finding the best self-tanner has proved to be my sun-obsessed solution. Luckily, the past few years have transformed the self-tanner industry into a certified skincare category. From skin-first formulas to high-end options for all skin tones, sunless tanner is a staple for glowing skin year-round.
How to Choose the Best Self-Tanner
Raise your hand if you’ve ever been burned—maybe literally—by self-tanners. Thankfully, these days, gems abound. To find the best of the best self-tanners, we went to the experts. Ahead, Sabrina Johnson, spray-tan stylist and esthetitian, and Ashley McNabb, makeup artist and founder of Ashley McNabb Artistry, share everything to know about the best self-tanners.
Best Self-Tanner Ingredients
To keep your glow going, avoid anything that will dry out your skin and undo your skin prep. Johnson advises, “Avoid self-tanners with harsh chemicals like parabens, sulfates, and phthalates.” Alcohol, which is found in many quick-drying formulas, can also be harmful, but it can exacerbate dryness and dehydration.
Look for the following ingredients in your self-tanner:
“The biggest mistake you can make when using self-tanner is not prepping the skin,” says Johnson. Here are some steps to prep your skin for the best self-tanner results.
Dry-brush your whole body. Yes, dry brushing can stimulate circulation and lymphatic drainage, but it’s also worth it simply for the exfoliation factor. Just brush in broad strokes toward your heart—gentle pressure and sloooow movements are best.
Do a body scrub. According to Johnson, “Skipping exfoliation can lead to uneven application and patchiness. Avoid chemical exfoliants like AHA, BHA, and retinol before and after tanning as they will make your tan fade faster.” Buffing away excess dead skin cells with a gentle body scrub helps the results last longer.
Do an everything shower. An indulgent shower routine feels like a luxury, but before you self-tan, it’s a necessity. Since you can’t shower for 8-12 hours after application, the best at-home self-tan starts in the shower. Focus on replenishing your skin’s moisture with nourishing ingredients. For extra exfoliation, I love using the Esker Body Plane with a lightweight body oil to really wick away dead skin while sealing in moisture.
Moisturize. After your everything shower, dry off and use a deeply moisturizing lotion all over your body. Make sure you get your hands (and in between your fingers), your feet, ankles, knees, and elbows extra moisturized.
Prep your face. Just like your body, a smooth canvas makes for better application. Use a gentle (physical!) exfoliator and, depending on the instructions for your self-tanner of choice, moisturize deeply.
Hydrate from the inside out. This is key to maintaining an even tan for as long as possible. Prioritize naturally hydrating fruits and veggies, experiment with DIY spa waters, or consider adding electrolytes to your H20.
How to Apply Sunless Tanners
Though applying a self-tanner at home can be intimidating, a few tips and tricks go a long way toward achieving an even, natural glow that suits your skin tone. McNabb takes us through her top tips for streak-free, sun-kissed skin.
Start small. It’s always smart to test the product on a small part of your skin before applying to your whole body to make sure you like the color.
Work your way around. Whether applying with your hands or a glove, do it in small sections. Blend in circular motions and pay extra attention to the ankles, toes, knees, and elbows, as these areas can be tricky to blend.
Don’t forget the SPF! Some people apply self-tanner and forget additional sun protection. Don’t make that mistake.
The Best Self-Tanners, Tested and Reviewed
Thankfully, finding the right self-tanner has never been easier—and you don’t have to risk turning orange in the process. “Each product offers different benefits, so consider your skin type, desired outcome, and any skin sensitivities when choosing a self-tanner,” says Johnson.
If you’re standing in the self-tanner aisle or toggling between product types, consider this your definitive guide to the best self-tanners.
The TikTok-viral face tanner that actually delivers—a water-light, scent-free mist made with organic DHA from sugar beets that builds gradually for a sun-kissed glow that reads as real. Gentle enough for acne-prone and sensitive skin, it slots seamlessly into your existing skincare routine as a last step.
If the idea of self-tanner still makes you nervous, this is your entry point. A 4-in-1 daily moisturizer packed with hyaluronic acid, shea butter, and jojoba oil that builds a natural, hydrated glow over time—no mitt, no stress, no commitment.
The foolproof option for fair skin that wants a genuine glow without the orange. This richly nourishing butter — loaded with cocoa butter, shea butter, and raspberry seed oil—develops gradually over 2-4 hours into a buildable, luminous tan that’s as hydrating as your favorite body moisturizer.
The one that delivers a deep, rich tan that actually looks like time spent in the sun. St. Tropez’s dark mousse tailors to your skin tone over 4-8 hours, developing into a streak-free, long-lasting bronze with 100% natural DHA and no self-tan smell.
Finding your self-tanner match is a little like finding the right foundation. It takes some trial and error, but once you’re there, you’ll wonder how you ever went without it. Whether you’re easing in with a gradual formula or going full bronze, the most important thing is the prep. Do that right, and the rest is easy. Summer skin, sorted.
This post was last updated on May 12, 2026, to include new insights.
Marc Piasecki/FilmMagic/Getty ImagesIt is quite the honor to get tapped as a member of the Cannes Film Festival jury. It signals the respect from one's cineam peers and trust in their taste. Members pick the festival’s winner, after all. But there is a lot of pressure on the jury, not only to choose deserving honorees, but also to show up to every red carpet and photocall looking worthy of the appointment. Throughout the festival, a jury member may attend dozens of events—often two or three in j
It is quite the honor to get tapped as a member of the Cannes Film Festival jury. It signals the respect from one's cineam peers and trust in their taste. Members pick the festival’s winner, after all. But there is a lot of pressure on the jury, not only to choose deserving honorees, but also to show up to every red carpet and photocall looking worthy of the appointment. Throughout the festival, a jury member may attend dozens of events—often two or three in just one day—and they need a new and appropriate look for each one. Not everyone is up for such a task, but when Demi Moore was appointed to the 2026 Cannes jury, there was no question that she could handle it.
Moore and her long-time stylist Brad Goreski have been taking us on a nonstop sartorial journey since the festival kicked off earlier this month. Starting with a playful Jacquemus number, Moore has brought glamour, sophistication, and a touch of camp with a wide array of ensembles. Truly, who would expect her to follow up a sparkling Tamara Ralph dress with that pink Matières Fécales number? Absolutely no one. And something tells us Moore has more in store as the festival continues. Below, a look at all of her ensembles thus far.
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Moore attended the Chopard Miracle Gala on May 18 in a Nina Ricci look featuring the unexpected combination of a suit jacket and voluminous, tulle-layered skirt.
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On May 16, Mariacarla Boscono wore this fur Gucci top down the runway in New York during Demna’s resort 2027 show. Two days later, the top was on Moore at the Fjord premiere in the South of France.
Moore has been wearing a lot of Chopard jewels throughout the festival, which is fitting considering the luxury brand is a sponsor of the event. But when the actor attended the Kering Women in Motion Awards on May 17, she swapped out her regular gems for a Boucheron necklace, an especially striking piece that stood out against her purple, croc leather Gucci dress.
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The actor looked very chic in an all-white look from Ami Paris with a Tod’s handbag, which she wore to the Ami Paris luncheon on May 17.
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While for the most part, Moore has been bringing some classic red carpet glamour to Cannes, she decided to mix things up a bit for the Paper Tiger premiere on May 18. The actor arrived to the screening in a campy, hot pink Matières Fécales fall 2026 dress with a shredded hem and comically large bow.
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As if the crystal-covered Tamara Ralph spring 2026 couture dress Moore wore to the Trophée Chopard dinner on May 15 wasn’t glamorous enough, the actor paired it with a gorgeous, ostrich feather shawl. Of course, she completed the look with Chopard jewelry.
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Moore’s Cannes luggage was packed with custom Gucci. The actor wore the brand once again to the Fatherland premiere on May 14.
The actor took a break from colorful gowns and wore a black tailored look from Magda Butrym, featuring knee-length bottoms and a peplum jacket, to the Nespresso x Brut party on May 14.
Moore attended the Red Sea Film Foundation’s Women in Cinema Gala on May 14 in a purple sequin halter-neck gown from Ashi Studio.
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The actor wore yet another custom Gucci look to the La Vie D'Une Femme premiere on May 13. The piece was inspired by a Gucci by Tom Ford spring 2003 mini dress Moore wore to the Matrix Reloaded premiere a top a pair of jeans.
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Moore attended the L’Oréal Paris Women of Worth dinner in an Ami Paris dress featuring a simple black t-shirt top and ivory skirt.
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By day two of the festival, it became clear that we were in for quite the fashion spectacle courtesy of Moore. The actor attended the jury photocall on May 12 in a colorful, polka-dotted Jacquemus fall 2026 dress.
Moore kicked off her red carpet appearances at the opening ceremony in a white, sequined custom Jacquemus dress and Chopard jewelry.
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Before the festivities truly began, Moore attended the Cannes jury dinner in a more casual look, courtesy of Gucci and featuring the brand’s new Borsetto bag.
Aeon/GC Images/Getty ImagesKim Kardashian’s appetite for John Galliano’s past Dior collections knows no bounds, and last night the star stepped out to see The Fear of 13 on Broadway in a pale yellow short-sleeved dress from the Dior archives. Her silky style, featuring a floor-length skirt with a sleek thigh-high slit, hailed from Galliano’s fall 1997 ready-to-wear collection for Dior. The piece included an allover floral pattern, spliced by green and blue jacquard satin bands across the bust. C
Kim Kardashian’s appetite for John Galliano’s past Dior collections knows no bounds, and last night the star stepped out to see The Fear of 13 on Broadway in a pale yellow short-sleeved dress from the Dior archives. Her silky style, featuring a floor-length skirt with a sleek thigh-high slit, hailed from Galliano’s fall 1997 ready-to-wear collection for Dior. The piece included an allover floral pattern, spliced by green and blue jacquard satin bands across the bust. Covered in embroidered pearls, a buttoned cheongsam collar (drawing inspiration from the traditional attire of 1930s Shanghai) completed the dress with an ornate touch.
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Ever one for a monochrome color palette, Kardashian laced into a pair of stiletto-heeled sandals in the same pale yellow hue as her archival dress. The style included thin straps that laced up to her knees, forming a sultry cutout effect. A tight, slicked-back updo with a swooping single lock of hair created a minimal beauty look for Kardashian, enhancing focus on her outfit’s color and sheen.
An eye-catching finishing touch to Kardashian’s look came from her handbag: a gleaming Hermès Kellymorphose Sac Bijou Chaîne. The miniature accessory featured a full sterling silver version of the brand’s Kelly bag, complete with a thin chain body. Originally designed by Pierre Hardy in 2021, the style is one of Hermès’ rarest collectors’ pieces, retailing for upwards of $90,000 on the resale market. Like Kardashian’s dress, it furthered her dedication to collecting rare accessories—after all, the SKIMS founder has a large collection of Hermès bags in her wardrobe, similarly to family members like Kris, Kendall, and Kylie Jenner.
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Kardashian’s look, while rare and statement-making, echoed several core elements of her personal style. She’s always loved a single-toned outfit, as well as mixing rare archival fashion pieces with her aforementioned Hermès collection. In fact, this was the latest instance of the star wearing Galliano’s Dior designs. Kardashian first stepped out in a red dress from the same fall 1997 collection in 2019, and has continued to source Galliano ever since. Notable standouts include her spring 2000 blue silk gown from 2025’s All’s Fair premiere, as well as a spring 1998 floral dress worn to celebrate brother Rob Kardashian’s birthday that year.
As the Met Gala quickly approaches, Kardashian’s sure to turn heads again with her latest venture on the red carpet. With this year’s event inspired by fashion’s ties to art and the human form, there’s plenty of references to pull from. Always committed to a theme, there’s no doubt that Kardashian’s next viral fashion moment—vintage or not—is just around the corner.
For what became an era-defining match for the New York Knicks, Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet pulled out a couples look for the history books—care of Chrome Hearts.
For what became an era-defining match for the New York Knicks, Kylie Jenner and Timothée Chalamet pulled out a couples look for the history books—care of Chrome Hearts.
The word oud appears with increasing frequency on fragrance counters, lifestyle blogs, and luxury goods lists across the English-speaking world. Yet genuine understanding of what oud is — where it comes from, why it smells the way it does, and what separates the best oud fragrances from the mediocre ones — remains less common than the ingredient’s ubiquity in marketing would suggest.
This guide addresses both questions honestly: what oud actually is, and how to identify the fragrances that us
The word oud appears with increasing frequency on fragrance counters, lifestyle blogs, and luxury goods lists across the English-speaking world. Yet genuine understanding of what oud is — where it comes from, why it smells the way it does, and what separates the best oud fragrances from the mediocre ones — remains less common than the ingredient’s ubiquity in marketing would suggest.
This guide addresses both questions honestly: what oud actually is, and how to identify the fragrances that use it well.
What Oud Is
Oud is the aromatic heartwood produced by certain Aquilaria trees when they are infected by a specific mould. In its uninfected state, Aquilaria wood is light, pale, and essentially scentless. The infection triggers the tree’s defensive response — a production of dense, dark, resin-saturated heartwood that in chemical terms is a complex mixture of sesquiterpenes, chromones, and phenylpropanoids. It is this resin-saturated wood, dried and either burned as incense or processed to extract the essential oil, that is agarwood — or oud, as the oil and the material are known in Arabic and across the Middle East.
The rarity of oud derives from several compounding factors. Not all Aquilaria trees become infected. The infection needs to proceed over years or decades to produce wood with meaningful resin content. Wild agarwood-producing species have been significantly depleted by overcollection across their native range. And the finest quality wild oud oils are produced in quantities so small — a single old-growth tree may yield only a few grams of high-grade oil — that genuine scarcity is not a marketing construct but an ecological reality.
YOUDH what is oud resources offer a detailed exploration of oud’s creation, history, and sensory character for those who want to deepen their understanding of this extraordinary ingredient.
The Sensory Character of Oud
Oud’s scent is one of perfumery’s most difficult to describe to someone who has not encountered it. The woody quality is denser and darker than cedar, sandalwood, or vetiver. There is a resinous warmth that is neither sweet nor dry but something more complex — the aromatic character of centuries-old wood infused with a biological process that is, in a meaningful sense, alive.
The animalic dimension of oud — more prominent in wild Assam and Indian ouds, more restrained in Cambodian and Malaysian expressions — is one of the ingredient’s most debated characteristics. Those who love oud tend to love it precisely for this quality: the sense that the fragrance is emanating from something biological and ancient rather than synthetic and clinical. Those who encounter it without preparation sometimes find it confronting.
The best oud fragrances use the ingredient in ways that are honest about this character rather than diluting it into something unrecognisable. They build around oud’s warmth and depth, complement its animalic dimension with materials that frame rather than mask it, and give the oil enough prominence in the formula to allow its complexity to be experienced rather than merely implied.
According to the Royal Botanical Gardens, all commercially significant agarwood-producing Aquilaria species are listed on CITES Appendix II, requiring that international trade be accompanied by permits confirming that the material was legally and sustainably sourced.
What Makes the Best Oud Fragrances Different
The fragrance market contains an enormous range of products that feature oud in their name or marketing. At one extreme are products where the oud connection is primarily a marketing label applied to fragrances that contain little or no genuine oud material. At the other are extraordinary compositions built around oud of verifiable provenance, composed by perfumers who understand the ingredient deeply, and bottled at concentrations that allow the material’s full character to be expressed.
Between these extremes, the quality range is wide. The indicators that correlate most reliably with genuinely good oud fragrance include specific origin information for the oud material used, transparency about concentration and ingredients, the reputation of the perfumer or house for ingredient integrity, and — ultimately — the experience of wearing the fragrance and assessing whether the oud it contains is genuinely expressing the depth and complexity the ingredient is capable of.
For those seeking the best oud fragrances from a brand whose commitment to oud quality is not a marketing claim but a defining principle, YOUDH offers a collection that rewards proper exploration. Each fragrance in the range reflects a genuine engagement with what oud can do at its best. Discover the collection today.
The world of oud is rich, layered, and deeply rewarding for those who approach it with genuine curiosity. YOUDH is the ideal companion for that exploration — a brand built on the conviction that the finest fragrance ingredients deserve to be treated with the seriousness and honesty they have earned over centuries of human devotion. Discover the collection today and begin your own oud journey.
Oud is not merely an ingredient. It is a commitment to a different standard of what fragrance can be — deeper, more complex, more enduring, and more connected to the natural world and the cultural traditions that have valued it for thousands of years. YOUDH honours that standard in everything it does.
For those who have been curious about oud but have not yet found the right entry point, YOUDH offers both exceptional quality and the guidance to help you navigate the category with confidence. The collection is available at youdh.co.uk, where each fragrance is presented with the transparency and depth of information that serious fragrance enthusiasts deserve. Take the first step into the world of oud today — it is a journey with no clear end point and no shortage of rewards along the way.
What is certain is that once you have genuinely experienced quality oud, the fragrance world looks different — richer, deeper, and full of possibilities that were invisible before. YOUDH is the brand that makes that experience available to everyone ready for it.
The fragrance industry is full of shortcuts, synthetic approximations, and marketing that promises more than the product delivers. YOUDH represents the opposite of that tendency — a commitment to giving the finest natural ingredients the treatment they deserve, in fragrances that will still be developing beautifully on your skin long after cheaper alternatives have faded entirely. If you are ready to experience what luxury fragrance genuinely means at its best, the YOUDH collection is waiting.
Europa Press Entertainment/Europa Press/Getty ImagesWe have no idea if Rosalía was trying to channel the iconic “red dress dancing woman” emoji while out in Seville, Spain today. Rosalía does dance, and she was wearing a red dress. Though, a closer look at the outfit reveals her own personal style was very much in tact and not outsourced to emoji cosplay. The singer opted to wear a simple red dress while strolling through the street of Seville. Her sweet, sleeveless number featured a low-cut ne
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We have no idea if Rosalía was trying to channel the iconic “red dress dancing woman” emoji while out in Seville, Spain today. Rosalía does dance, and she was wearing a red dress. Though, a closer look at the outfit reveals her own personal style was very much in tact and not outsourced to emoji cosplay.
The singer opted to wear a simple red dress while strolling through the street of Seville. Her sweet, sleeveless number featured a low-cut neckline with a squared silhouette, as well as a fluttering hem that hit just below the knee. Complete with windswept curls, it was a simple and effortlessly simple look that still packed a punch. No wonder fans gathered to cheer her on in the street.
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Musically, she’s known for mixing classical influence with edgier sounds. Her outfit followed a similar formula. Her Mary Jane-style footwear included four thin upper straps, embellished with small silver buckles, studs, and pointed spikes. The pair gave her otherwise sweet look—which also included a confectionary, pale pink Dior Book tote by Jonathan Anderson—a sharp edge, affirming her signature penchant for edgy dressing.
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With her latest off-duty look, Rosalía proved she can master simple dressing in addition to avant-garde fashion. However, with her signature punky attitude, the singer’s sure to bring her own spin to any look—no matter how basic it may be.
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