Happy July 4th weekend, friends—aside from the BBQs and beach days ahead, I have a little Extra Good news. Because I get so many bedding-related questions and the archives are typically locked to opt-ins only, I’m opening up a freebie for everyone who wants it. More on that below!
It’s a zillion degrees out there for most of us, so we’re going to start with cooling bedding you’ll feel a noticeable difference on (or under). And then I’m going to move on to other much-requested sleep products because the July 4 sales on all these items are significant and worth taking advantage of!
As I mentioned in the video, anything listed as polyester/microfiber is definitely not worth your time, will leave you hot and sweaty and is simply a marketing gimmick. Stay away. These items are GOOD:
Best cooling mattress: BK Bedding Aurora Luxe Mattress. Moderately priced, LOADS of cooling layers, free delivery/returns/sleep trial. Hybrid construction. More about this one in a short video here. Stays cool all night—GREAT if you’re fighting hormonal fluctuations and the HRT patch shortage is really messing with your sleep.
Best cotton/light wool blanket: Moon Australian Wool/Cotton Blanket. On sale under $85/free shipping. Most people don’t realize a thin layer of natural wool is one of the best temperature-regulating materials on the planet! It also resists bacteria and stink if you’re sweaty.
Best 100% cotton lightweight quilt: Brooklinen Wash Blanket. Currently marked down!
Best budget cotton-linen blend quilt: Walmart Cotton-Linen Quilt. One of the retailer’s best-kept secrets and looks/feels better than far more expensive brands. $70 for a queen size, lots of colors and 89% cotton with 11% linen. Good quality box stitching.
Tencel/silk combo blanket: Cuddle Dreams Blanket. Filled with natural silk, a temperature-regulating material that’s just as soft as it sounds, this one is a bit more expensive than the others, but worthwhile for a cool-to-the-touch Tencel cover and luxe fill. The cover is also machine washable/removeable. About $150 for a queen-size.
Best cooling pillow: BK Bedding Cooling Memory Foam. Currently on mega sale and worth WAY more than the $139-ish price tag (free shipping) if you compare it to other pillows on the market. Layers of cooling gel grids (rather than a flat design) wick heat away while sending back a cool-to-the-touch sensation. Choose your size and profile height.
Bonus ultra-affordable option: Amazon Cotton-Bamboo Muslin Blanket. Under $50 for most sizes and colors, 65% natural cotton and the rest is cooling bamboo. Bamboo isn’t my absolute fave because it’s heavily processed, but this one is a really good, budget-friendly option that feels cool and is easy to machine wash.
Best overall: Helix Premium Mattress Topper. It’s like the top slice of my personal fave mattress, the Helix Midnight Luxe, but at a very affordable price because it’s just the cooling and responsive foam portion (no encased coils, etc.). If you’re looking for an upgrade without investing in a whole new mattress, this is a great start.
Best down-alternative topper style: Waldorf Astoria Topper Dhoupe. Under $80/queen, less supportive than other options on the list but genuinely feels like a cloud. Designed to mimic the exact experience of sleeping on the WA beds (which have nearly identical toppers).
Best organic: Birch Plush Organic Mattress Topper. Organic cotton and organic latex (the good stuff, not synthetic!) make this a great option if you’ve been eyeing a Talalay latex bed but haven’t been ready to plunk down the cash. Feels like being hugged by the bed and is very supportive. Adds two inches to the bed so choose your sheets accordingly! Pricier than the others but worth it for the GreenGuard Gold certified, free shipping.
Best for back pain: Helix ErgoAlign Mattress Topper. If you saw my whole video on the best mattress for back pain in 2026 but weren’t quite ready to take the plunge on a whole new bed, this topper offers some of the best benefits with a lower commitment level (and you know I think the brand is excellent overall). Loaded with added pressure point support, lumbar support, clever straps that keep it in place and a cooling cover. Again, adds inches to the bed—plan your sheets wisely!
Best natural down/feather value: Pacific Coast Down 3-Chamber. Generally speaking, multiple chambers are necessary for a good-quality down pillow to prevent product shifting. This is the same pillow model most of the big luxury hotels are using (inside the US) and an overall excellent value if you like natural fill. Not cooling, but great for year-round use.
Best budget-friendly: Beckham Down Alternative. At about $30 each, these are an excellent value if you want a hypoallergenic pillow that’s easy to maintain and wash. Also nearly identical to the one Marriott uses in US hotel rooms.
Best Memory Foam: Bear Pillow. It’s definitely not the only memory foam pillow on the market, but there are SO many types of foam on the market and this one happens to be made of a higher quality latex than you’d typically find at most stores (or online). Also has added ventilation channels and a cooling cover.
Best cooling: Brooklyn Bedding Cooling Memory Foam Pillow. We covered this one at the top of the newsletter <3
Best adjustable: Helix ComfortAdjust Pillow: Choose your height and choose your fill for a customizable sleep setup that suits your head and neck perfectly. Excellent quality memory foam that contours perfectly to your head and spine. Cooling cover so every side is the cold side.
Birch Organic Cotton Sheets. It’s hard to find 100% organic cotton sets under $200, but here we are. Soft feel, easy to maintain and very breathable.
CDD Egyptian Cotton Sheets ($76/queen with free shipping). Extra long staple cotton, lots of colors available. Budget price for nice quality that’s designed to last for years.
Brooklinen Crisp Percale ($127 bundles/free shipping). Currently on sale, loads of colors and prints and 100% cotton percale-weave fibers. Great airflow, crisp feel and easy to maintain. If you don’t want the percale feel, the slightly thicker sateen has a place in my heart and is also on sale.
Quince Linen ($144 bundles/free shipping): 100% European flax linen, soft-washed texture, loads of colors and prints and a very close approach to Cultiver that’s twice the price. And linen is downright delightful in summer heat.
CoolShift Sheets ($137/free shipping): 100% Tencel-derived (a fabric made of plant pulp that has cooling properties and a silky texture). If you’re already considering a Helix mattress or topper, adding these into the mix is easy-peasy and they rival some of the much more expensive Tencel options on the market (ahem, Shmottery Schmarn and Schmest Shmelm).
Not mine, just made me smile <3
Here’s how you’re going to get super cheap tretinoin (click here) and then watch this explainer video.
Newsletter #45 dove deep into vintage high-end jewelry sources & vintage designer bags. I’m here to remind you of this Tiffany EP 18k Gold Open Heart Necklace at 2005 prices $715 (free shipping) and this hardly-worn Louis Vuitton Reverie bag for $550/free shipping (OMG it’s so pretty!). And this Chanel Biarritz Tote for $1220/free shipping (if you saw my older videos, you know vintage Chanel is better quality than the current stuff). Reminder that only one of each piece exists, so if you like something, get it.
This Lands End Supima cotton towel bundle was my favorite overall value from newsletter #42 and is currently on sale under $85. Features 650 GSM, several pieces per set, loads of color options and excellent customer service/returns. And you can monogram!
If you’re new here and missed my Aritzia/Old Navy and The Row/Eileen Fisher/Jenni Kayne/Quince pipeline content from a couple weeks ago, let me just put you on the tell you about the Reformation connection as well! Last week’s Doen dhupes newsletter is also a good resource.
Rankings of the best mattresses by type, price point, etc. from newsletter #48. Please don’t buy junky foam or overpriced innersprings!
I keep newsletters open and free for the first month they’re published, but after about 4.5 weeks, they end up in the paid-access-only archives (this prevents bots and copycats from stealing my work, which, yes—has become a bit of an issue… bleh).
But because I talk about bedding so much (and what’s actually worth spending on), the people at The Mattress Shop partnered with me to give everyone a free month of paid newsletter access. That means you can use it to go back in the archives/deep dive, or just enjoy what’s to come.
If you’re already a paid member, I’ll extend a free month to you comped as well—watch your account for that to hit later today!
It would mean the world to me if you hit the “restack” button, though <3
I made a mistake last week and didn’t link the underwear I spoke about correctly. If you saw this video on what the rich girls in NY are wearing on their tushies (and other parts), this is the correct link to the underwear. It’s also on sale rn!
Reminder: Bring ANY old bathing suit (men’s, women’s, kids, etc. of ANY BRAND) into J. Crew stores for $5 store credits. You can use those credits towards almost anything (shorts, tops, other swimsuits…whatever). See this for a refresher.
Last week’s paid-access-only included the beginning of this story. It’s wild, so buckle up.
As requested, three-week face update.
SPANX has made such a major design comeback and I never expected to love the brand the way I do rn. There’s also a secret sale section with an extra 30% off sale styles rn (just this weekend). The denim midi dress I LOVE and wear on repeat is currently in that bunch! (Here’s a video of me wearing it if you want an idea of size/fit/how it sits on the body)
I’ll turn these into videos this week with even more details, but I know everyone got excited about the money-savers (and semi-secrets) at J.Crew, Madewell, etc. So let’s give you some more!
Patagonia: Also offers a great trade-in program. Trade in old Patagonia gear (even stuff you thrifted!) for store credits ranging anywhere from $5 to about $50. Also offers free repairs, so you can score a cute Patagonia jacket on eBay super cheap because it has a broken zipper and then bring it into the store. They’ll fix it for you! They won’t fix fabric tears though, so please read the list of what they’re willing to cover.
Coach: All Coach leather items are eligible for free cleaning and polishing in store. It doesn’t matter if you purchased the item 10 years ago or got it as a hand-me-down from Grandma. You don’t need a receipt. Just bring it in (and yes, it must be authentic). Works on bags, belts, jackets, wallets, etc.
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