A year ago, like many people, I pushed my high-rise jeans and non-stretch twill trousers to the back of my closet, swearing off “hard pants” for the foreseeable future. But as I took stock of my hodge-podge collection of college sweatpants and threadbare henleys (you know, the ones reserved for walking the dog and walking the dog only), it became clear that I needed a loungewear overhaul. These grease-stained sweatshirts were definitely not work-Zoom appropriate.
Faster than you can say “targeted Instagram ads,” I found myself on the Lunya website. Put plainly, Lunya makes seriously chic pajamas. On the brand’s website, founder and CEO Ashley Merrill (who is also the chairperson of Outdoor Voices’s board of directors) says that she was inspired to create her line of luxe, sustainable comfies after catching sight of her reflection while dressed in a “very oversized, very sad outfit” of her husband’s t-shirt and boxers. Don’t get me wrong—sometimes that threadbare tee is exactly what you want to be wearing. But, other times you have a video call with your boss.
In a sea of (washable) silk sets and breathable base layers, the Cozy Cotton Silk Waffle Henley immediately beckoned to me. The oversized fit looked perfect for snuggling up with a book and a blanket on a Saturday morning, but the collar and buttons made it easy to imagine French-tucking it into a pair of jeans for a more polished look. At $218, though, I didn’t immediately click add to cart.
1. Switch out your heavier creams for lighter lotions
CeraVe Moisturizing Lotion — $14.00
After months of hydrating your extra-dry skin with heavy, occlusive moisturizers, consider swapping them out for lighter formulations when the weather starts to turn. “In the spring and summer months, your skin will make more oil from the heat, and you can’t add more product on top of that,” says Joyce Davis, MD, a board-certified dermatologist in New York City. “If you have being using something thicker like a cream or an oil, you may want to change to a lighter lotion.” As far as ingredients go, you’ll want to look for something that will act as a humectant and draw water into your skin (without making it overly greasy), like petrolatum, hyaluronic acid, or lactic acid.
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With any item over $100, I give myself a mandatory waiting period before purchasing. If I’m still day-dreaming about the item in a week, I go ahead and grab my credit card. Sure enough, a week after spotting this waffle henley, visions of cozy cotton silk still danced in my head. I was ready to buy. Except—gasp—it was completely sold out. I might have silently cried while adding my email to the box that said “notify me when this product is back in stock.”
Reader, it would be months before the item was back in stock. But once it was, I bought the dang thing faster than I’ve every bought anything in my life. And I’m in love.
The fit: I wear a medium in most tops, so I ordered a medium here. The fit is decidedly oversized, which is what I was looking for. If you want something a little more fitted, you might want to consider sizing down.
The fabric: Lunya describes the garment’s fabric—its “cozy cotton silk”—by saying, “soft and breathable cotton is blended with a touch of luxurious and thermo-regulating silk for pieces that have zero-itch factor.” I literally couldn’t put it better myself.
The care: I have now machine-washed the sweater in cold water and laid it to dry on top of a drying rack a handful of times. It maintained its size, shape, and feel. Lunya recommends washing inside out and storing folded rather than hung in your closet in order to prevent stretching.
The henley is back in stock once again, but it looks like colors are already going fast. Don’t make my mistake.
If she does sell out, I now have my sights set on the new Reversible Pullover made from the same fabric. Its deep-V neckline, which can be worn in the front or back, gives me serious off-duty ballerina vibes. Which, if you ask me, are the best vibes. (And the matching bike shorts are now in my mandatory waiting period.)
2. Opt for an oil-reducing cleanser
Biossance Squalane + Elderberry Jelly Cleanser — $28.00
Since your skin tends to get oilier as humidity levels rise, your usual hydrating cleanser may not be able to do the job of keeping your complexion totally clear. “Consider a foaming cleanser or one that contains hydroxy acids to cleanse during warmer months,” says Joshua Zeichner, a board-certified dermatologist based in NYC, noting that these are better for cutting through dirt and oil than their creamy counterparts.
There’s a common misconception that foamy and gel-based cleansers are reserved for people with super oily skin, but that’s not necessarily the case. If you’re looking to go this route but are worried about drying out your skin, look for something sulfate-free that uses ingredients like sarcosinate, betaines, and amino-derived surfactants to get its lather (the one above is a great pick). And if you want to use a hydroxy acid, you should be fine with whatever formulation you choose, since it only stays on your skin for a few seconds before you wash it away.
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