Every month, I collect a few things I can’t stop thinking about – the products I keep reaching for, the books that make me cancel plans, the podcast episodes that feel like personal conversations, and the little objects that elevate my small kitchen life. Consider this my monthly love letter to beautiful, useful things – and a nudge to romanticize the ordinary. From the best sunscreen to an unexpected summer read, these are my June favorites.
June Favorites: The Products, Books, and Podcasts I’m Loving Right Now
Beauty Favorites
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50 Face Sunscreen
I may be emotionally reckless, but my skin barrier is safe. This French pharmacy gem is light, non-greasy, and the only reason I still look dewy by noon.
It’s been my number one SPF for years and it deserves all the hype and accolades. And it deserves to be the star of your 2025 summer skincare routine, too.
Embryolisse Lait-Crème Concentré
I can’t pronounce it, but I trust it with my face, neck, and emotional wellbeing. It’s hydrating without being heavy, smells like clean laundry in Provence, and makes my skin feel like I just came back from a spa where someone massaged my face with clouds.
I use it under makeup, on my neck, on dry elbows, on my emotional wounds. It’s creamy, dreamy, and impossibly chic for something that costs less than an artisanal fruit-shaped candle.
Lifestyle Picks
They’re a little oversized, a little dramatic, and I feel like an off-duty Hollywood actress every time I wear them. Isn’t that the point?
Oval Scalloped Serving Platters
If you’re in your hosting era and in search of hostess essentials ideas, you’ve just found your next (very small, very worthy) investment!
There’s something about a scalloped edge that makes me feel like I’ve got my life together – even if the only thing on the platter is a bunch of fresh radishes and a vaguely artistic mini tower of whipped butter. These are elegant without being fussy, neutral for every season, and frankly, they just make me feel like someone who hosts with reckless confidence.
I found mine the way all great love stories begin: completely by accident. They make even supermarket cheese look like a tablescape.
If you’re looking for fun hosting ideas, see my girls night in party guide here!
What I’m Reading
If you’re looking for summer cookbook recommendations, I got you! Turkuaz Kitchen is a cookbook that feels like a love letter to warm spices, olive oil cakes, and feeding people generously.
There’s a little bit of everything: traditional and modern, sweet and savory, from Wonton wrappers to apple pie. I’ve dog-eared almost every page, and I’m now convinced that no dinner party is complete without a little yogurt sauce and a few pomegranate seeds. If Ottolenghi and Nancy Meyers collaborated on a mezze spread, it would live here. Required reading for romantics, food lovers, and anyone who thinks dinner should feel like a small act of devotion.
Careless People: A Cautionary Tale of Power, Greed, and Lost Idealism
Here’s what to read this month: the tell-all memoir Mark Zuckerberg tried so hard to ban, of course!
I devoured this book like it was my last meal. I tore through it like a croissant on a bad day – flaky, buttery, and emotionally unwell. Like a good croissant, it contains many layers: a heroine who has survived multiple shark attacks (literal and figurative), a world where morality is just a vague concept and little startup companies grow to become a threat to democracy and peace. The tales at times get so absurd, you have to check once again if you’re reading a magical realism novel. But it’s all real. Your faith in humanity is lost. You make a new batch of croissants (it’s your coping mechanism).
What I’m Listening
Because sometimes you need someone to academically unpack Lorelai’s trauma.
This podcast is like eavesdropping on your smartest friends (who understand and appreciate nuance! What a concept) as they spiral (lovingly) about Gilmore Girls. Every episode is part cultural critique, part nostalgic rewatch, part “Why do half of these characters annoy me and why do I keep watching?” (I love them, that’s why) therapy session. The hosts are whip-smart, pop-culture fluent, and unafraid to call out the chaos – but they do it with the affection of someone who’s rewatched A Year in the Life even though it hurt them. It’s perfect for folding laundry, walking to the bakery, or making your third cup of coffee of the day.
Got a favorite you can’t shut up about this month? Leave a comment below! I’m always taking recommendations (and enabling others).
And if you want more favorite things, dinner party ideas, and chaotic kitchen inspiration, subscribe to my newsletter!
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