When it comes to holiday shopping, it’s easy to go big. Whether you’re browsing the latest gadgets, looking for a celebration-worthy whiskey, or searching for some well-made apparel, it can be tempting to think that bigger price tags correlate with better gifts. But that’s not necessarily the case, and this guide will help you uncover an important holiday shopping truth: There are lots of great men’s gifts under $50.
Whether you’re shopping for a friend or family member or just need to grab something for the annual office White Elephant gift exchange (do those still happen?), this guide will help you find something great. Bottom line: You don’t have to break the bank to show you care. Here, we’ve rounded up a bunch of small gifts, all under $50, for everyone you want to show a little love—or who may have slipped your mind—this holiday season.
Right now, you can save on the Apple Watch Series 7 and other cool tech as part of Target’s ongoing Black Friday sale. | Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge
Here, we’ve collected some of the best discounts you can find at Target, many of which will be available through the week of Thanksgiving and price-matched elsewhere. Target also intends to roll out new deals every Sunday so we’ll be updating this page on a weekly basis as new…
An Instagram outage that started Monday morning has been resolved, Instagram confirmed on its Twitter account. During the outage, Instagram locked users out and told many of them that “we suspended your account on October 31, 2022.” Reports of the issue seemed to have been concentrated among iPhone users, with some saying their app was recently crashing and unusable ahead of an update earlier this morning.
“We’ve resolved this bug now — it was causing people in different parts of the world to have issues accessing their accounts and caused a temporary change for some in number of followers,” Instagram wrote. “Sorry!” The platform first confirmed the issue on Twitter at 10:14AM ET but didn’t say things were resolved until many hours…
To keep the focus on what’s really important this Thanksgiving (pigging out on pecan pie, taking endless pictures of your baby niece, and staking out a prime TV-watching spot on the couch), we’ve got your wardrobe situation all planned out. Luckily, the ideas below can be created with a beautiful new faux-fur coat or your old winter trench. Whether your holiday is in a big city or a rural town, these Thanksgiving outfit ideas go over just as well as your mom’s infamous stuffing.
From several ways to style a cozy sweater to a plaid-skirt outfit designed for chic lounging, each look is sure to impress your relatives while still allowing room for an extra helping of turkey—we promise.
A simple black sweater is cozy, cute, and a total family favorite.
Wear your go-to cable-knit sweater with baggy trousers.
A chic slip skirt in any color is a Thanksgiving dinner must-have.
A suede jacket pairs well with everything—from a pleated skirt to black skinnies.
A fun feathered dress says you’re not afraid of standing out.
A plaid skirt is perhaps the most classic Thanksgiving-dinner essential ever.
Yep, the peasant-dress trend is still going strong.
Keep it simple (but cool) with light-wash denim.
We’re loving the sneaker look here.
We’re in love with this midi for fall.
Nothing says you’re fierce (and ready to feast) more than leopard-print pants.
Check a denim dress off your wish list ASAP.
The easiest Thanksgiving outfit in the world.
Make any outfit 10 times cooler with a big, bold headband.
This post was originally published and updated at a later date.
With so many skincare brands out there, it can be overwhelming to figure out what to put on your face, even for a seasoned beauty editor like me! But it is still one of my favorite categories, so I try to narrow it down by focusing on things that I gravitate toward, like ancestral ingredients and a meaningful ethos that centers nature and sustainability. This is why I was instantly drawn to DamDam, a Japanese skincare brand that launched at Sephora in 2021.
According to co-founders Giselle Go and Philippe Terrien, DamDam is made up of four pillars: simple beauty rituals, high-efficacy formulas, time-honored ingredients, and planet-friendly practices—all the things I look for in a beauty brand. One of these beauty rituals honors osoji, the traditional deep cleaning of a home that is done at the end of the year. “In Japan, the practice of cleansing is the foundation of everything,” explains Go and Terrien. When you apply it to your skincare routine using DamDam’s products, it’s through a double-cleanse regimen, followed by a detoxifying mask at least once a week. When it comes to formula, the brand uses ingredients that have been used in Japanese skincare and wellness rituals for centuries. “One of our hero ingredients is shiso, a Japanese mint historically used in kampo medicine. It is a plant rich in antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids,” says Go and Terrien. “Another hero ingredient we use is konnyaku, a Japanese tuber used in detoxification and cleansing since 710 AD.”
With this in mind, I decided to try out DamDam’s entire line to see if it was right for my over-40, acne-prone combination skin. Keep scrolling for my honest opinion.
This was one of my favorite products off the bat. It contains shiso, the Japanese mint, which gives it its “plumping power,” according to Go and Terrien. It also has phytic acid, which evens out skin tone. While I do prefer a gel moisturizer for my skin, I like something slightly thicker when the weather starts getting cooler, as I am getting a little more prone to dryness in my elder-millennial age. This is perfect consistency, as it’s not as thick as other rich creams. I can see this being a great transitional-weather moisturizer for me.
I’ll be honest. I’m not too big on oils in skincare. However, I do like using a cleansing oil as part of a double-cleanse routine, specifically on my eyes and lips because my lipstick and liquid eyeliner absolutely refuse to budge with a regular face wash. My usual go-to for removal is micellar water, but lately, even that hasn’t been cutting it. This cleansing oil is made from skin-firming rice-bran oil, and sunflower-seed oil, which is rich in vitamin E and linoleic acid. It sounds promising already, and the results were even better. It helped remove my eye makeup without stinging my eyes and erased my lipstick while moisturizing my lips.
After removing my makeup with the cleansing oil, I took Go’s advice and followed up with this purifying cleanser. Now, this is a cream cleanser, and like many of them, this one doesn’t lather up. So keep that in mind if you’re like me and prefer a nice, frothy cleanser. However, it’s not a dealbreaker, and the benefits of this cleanser outweighed my pickiness. It contains the aforementioned konnyaku, which gives it a grainy yet gentle exfoliating texture, as well as rice-derived AHA phytic acid. One thing I noticed was how soft and plump my skin felt after I used this cleanser, to the point where it felt like I already applied moisturizer! This must be due to the konnyaku, which has impressive water-retaining properties.
I’ve become a big essence fan and really appreciate this one because you can just spritz it on. (I love easy application.) Like the moisturizer and mask, it contains phytic acid to exfoliate and improve tone and the appearance of pores. It also has grapefruit-peel oil, which has antioxidants, and rose damascena, which helps with aging signs. I liked the scent of it and thought it felt great when applied to my skin post-mask.
Like I mentioned, oils are not really my thing. However, this one contains nutrient-rich jojoba oil and avocado oil, which is anti-inflammatory. it didn’t feel heavy on my skin and absorbed quickly. Plus, it smells amazing. But I probably wouldn’t use it alone just because I’m not a big oil gal! I ended up mixing a couple of drops with the Mochi Mochi Luminous Moisturizer and really liked it that way.
Because I’m over 40 and have combination skin that is prone to breakouts, I asked what DamDam product would specifically be beneficial for my skin. Go and Terrien suggest I use this mask once a week to deep clean and clear the pores. Because I’m experiencing some weird constant breakouts on my jawline, I’m trying to be more regular with a mud mask, so this one came at a good time. I like how it dries quickly, so I can leave it on for about five minutes instead of 20 like other ones. The only thing I wasn’t really into at first is that it contains coconut oil, which is something I don’t like to use on its own on my skin, but seems fine in a clay mask. I did love how my skin felt and looked after using it—really clean and bright. The next day, two of my most stubborn jaw zits were dried up and on their way out and off my face. Thank goddess. Overall, I enjoy DamDam’s line, but this product might be my favorite! I’m excited to see what else the brand comes out with in the future.
Shiseido’s Waso line is all about sustainability and uses upcycled water that’s left during apple juice production as well as upcycled rice husk, recycled plastic, and sugarcane-derived polyethylene in its packaging. Everything in this naturally sourced, ingredient-forward line is worth trying, especially this tinted moisturizer that’s great for oily and combination skin like mine.
Tatcha will forever be one of my favorite brands, as its Water Cream and Rice Polish are my go-tos for life. I was excited to learn that the brand recently launched bodycare, including this lotion. It has a Forest Awakening essential oil blend of hiba, cedar, and hinoki woods, which is meant to help increase well-being.
I know I keep talking about this legendary essence, but I can’t stop! It’s seriously improved my texture and tone over the past few months. The magic lies in Pitera, a fermented yeast extract that was found in sake and is rich in peptides, proteins, amino acids, and many other vitamins and minerals.
This classic exfoliator is something everyone should have in their bathroom cabinet. After cleansing and drying your face like normal, you apply a couple of pumps of this exfoliator, then massage it in until it turns a milky-white color. Your dead skin cells will be gently lifted away.
MyKirei makes great (and fun!) hand soaps, but don’t sleep on its body wash. This one is made with rice water and yuzu extract, both of which will plump and nourish the skin while cleansing it of the day’s impurities. It’s a must-have for your shower routine.
With a formula made up of coconut amino acids and fermented rice extract, this gentle foaming cleanser removes dirt and makeup while keeping skin hydrated and soft.
The long-standing J-beauty brand is famous for its cleansing oils, but this is its most popular one. It’s made with eight botanical oils that cleanse the skin while leaving it feeling smooth, moisturized, and glowy.
If you’re a fan of micellar water, try using this popular makeup remover from Koh Gen Do. It’s made with hot-spring water that’s chock-full of minerals and essential herbs that nourish and protect the skin while cleansing.
Oil-cleanser lovers must have this best-selling product from DHC in their stash. It removes all makeup, no matter how budge-proof it is in a pinch while also protecting the skin from pollution through its antioxidant ingredients.
You might not want straight-up tree trunks for legs, but if you’re craving more solid muscle mass—especially in the notoriously tough-to-build calves—you need targeted calf exercises, aside from just hammering your lower body in colossal leg-day workouts.
Calves can be especially challenging. We’ve heard plenty of lifters complain that they just don’t have the right genetics to build big calf muscles. But these stubborn muscles can grow, if you approach your workouts the right way.
First, some anatomy: The calf is made up of two main muscles. The gastrocnemius is a lower leg muscle that sits just under the skin, and it makes up the bulk of the calf. Then there’s the soleus, a wide, flat muscle that starts below your knee and runs down your lower leg, connecting to the Achilles tendon above the heel. These muscles connect the knee and ankle joint to help with knee flexion and extension so you can walk, run, and jump.
Here, we’ve compiled some of the greatest muscle-building calf exercises (think single-leg calf raise) you can do to add some definition to your legs. Try these on for size during your next leg day workout; just be sure to move methodically with proper range of motion to really stimulate the muscles. Also consider working in some explosive cardio like sprinting and jump rope to help develop stronger, more muscular calves. They’ll create micro-tears in the muscle fiber that’ll cause the body to send blood and nutrients to the cells in need, growing your calves bigger and stronger.
As the new Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR rolled into my driveway in Toronto, it was love at first sight. From the sturdy definition of its more-dressed-than-naked frame to the hand-stitched black leather seat and wasp tail, the Speed Triple 1200 RR is flat-out chic—a couture machine engineered with the power and tech to back it up its aggressive appearance. I eagerly suited up and tossed a leg over the bike to experience the performance firsthand.
Downtown Toronto traffic comes with a multitude of challenges. The area has a seemingly unplanned grid of one- and two-way streets, and it’s shared by a network of streetcars and bicycle lanes and criss-crossed with pedestrian crossings. But despite the chaos, navigating these buzzing urban thoroughfares on the nimble and sporty Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR was painless. At rider’s command, the bike offered instant and sustained power to zip around obstacles. And with Triumph’s Quickshifter, I maneuvered through traffic at variable speeds with ease.
A uniquely-shaped cockpit fairing gives Speed Triple 1200 RR a chic and aggressive street look.Renata Kaveh
An Apex Predator
When it comes to power and performance, Triumph delivers the goods with this bike. The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR is powered by a liquid-cooled, 12-valve, DOHC, 1160cc, inline three-cylinder motor that generates a responsive 177 horsepower and 92 lb-ft of torque. The motor has a low-inertia design that’s quite unlike its competitors: Whereas a bit of jolting is typical, the Speed Triple 1200 RR offers a smooth ride via its six-speed transmission and electronic throttle.
Those enhancements combine with the stainless steel three-into-one header system, underslung primary silencer, and a side-mounted secondary silencer to create the bike’s throaty-but-smooth sonic signature. It was a perfect soundtrack for my ride through Toronto’s concrete jungle.
The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR’s chassis consists of an aluminum twin-spar frame, a bolt-on subframe, and single-sided swingarm. It’s equipped with an Öhlins 43mm adjustable USD fork up front and a monoshock in the rear; both use the Öhlins S-EC 2.0 OBTi electronic compression and rebound damping system.
That high-tech suspension excelled in areas like Queen Street West, where potholes reign. Twin Brembo disc brakes up front and a single disc in the back provided ample stopping power. Better yet, the adjustable front braking system allows riders to tweak the feel of the lever to their preferences.
Speed Triple 1200 RR comes with a multitude of carbon fiber elements and top-tier ride-control electronics engineered for both road and track.Renata Kaveh
Genuine Sports Ergonomics and Handling
Rider ergonomics are no afterthought with the Speed Triple 1200 RR. I measure six feet tall and weigh 205 pounds, and I was pleasantly comfortable on the bike. It offers a more relaxed riding posture that creates a painless rider triangle ratio; it’s ideal for the streets and roads I’m after. When paused at stoplights or threading through stop-and-go traffic, heat radiation off the motor was nearly non-existent.
But when you want to get more aggressive, the bike is happy to accommodate you thanks to the clip-on handlebars and well-measured footpeg distance. My body wasn’t complaining after a day of dynamic riding.
The Speed Triple 1200 RR comes with high-performance Pirelli Diablo Supercorsa SP V3 tires; combined with a lightweight cast aluminum chassis and an optimized center of gravity, it achieves a new benchmark in Speed Triple precision handling and agility. While I didn’t have the opportunity to test the bike on a track, grip and cornering traction around the city and on the highway were laudable.
After getting my fill of the downtown matrix, I merged onto the Don Valley Parkway, Toronto’s municipal expressway, and rode along Lake Ontario’s freshwater shoreline. The Speed Triple 1200 RR was dynamic and sprightly—and stupid fast. On one traffic-free stretch of highway, I may or may not have realized the bike’s top speed of 165 mph.
At high speeds on straightaways, and with my weight pushed behind the fairing, the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR ate up miles with impressive steadiness. That said, the front fairing screen creates a very tiny protected area. This is where my size is probably a disadvantage—I nearly had to pin my chin to the fuel tank to keep from getting buffeted by the wind.
The Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RR applies modern design and engineering to the British café racer archetype.Renata Kaveh
Designed for Less Effort, More Fun
Performance-enhancing technologies are a prerequisite for such a powerful beast, and the Speed Triple 1200 RR provides the perfect showcase for rider-aid tech. The Optimized Cornering ABS and Cornering Traction Control are state of the art, and they function across all riding conditions. In addition, Front Wheel Lift Management operates via the traction control to help maintain front wheel contact with the earth. These systems have become more intuitive thanks to input from the Inertial Measurement Unit, which provides critical data when the bike is leaning through a corner.
A five-inch color TFT display handles all instrumentation and ride electronics. The Speed Triple 1200 RR’s five Riding Modes are included with three pre-programmed for Road, Sport, and Rain. A fourth mode is rider programmable, and the fifth is exclusively for riding on a track.
Amid all the gadgetry, some of the simplest concepts, like neutral position and standing balance, shouldn’t be taken for granted. I’ve found myself fighting with some motorcycles over these simple tasks, but the Speed Triple 1200 RR presented no issues. While no featherweight, the bike is light enough—with a full tank (3.4 U.S. gallons), the Speed Triple 1200 RR weighs in at 438 pounds and can deliver 37.3 mpg.
The bike offers pure elegance, performance, and attitude.Renata Kaveh
The Perfect Equation
The competition to create the perfect motorcycle is fierce. Designers, engineers, and mechanics all work in alignment to push forward the boundaries of motorcycle dynamics and presentation. If there’s a secret algorithm for the perfect ratio of beauty, sophistication, attitude, and performance, Triumph has uncovered it with the Speed Triple 1200 RR.
After my ride, I have to give kudos to Triumph for creating one of the most aesthetically beautiful production motorcycles to debut in the last decade. Set amidst many production bikes in its price range, the Speed Triple 1200 RR truly stands in a class of its own.
Want to get a really special bike? Consider a limited-edition Speed Triple 1200 RR. To commemorate 60 years of James Bond and the partnership between two iconic British brands (Triumph and 007), Triumph is releasing a limited run of 60 motorcycles, dubbed the Speed Triple 1200 RR Bond Edition. The bike comes in a custom color scheme of Granite and Storm Grey with carbon fiber and hand-painted gold accents. Each motorcycle is individually numbered and includes a hand-signed (by Triumph’s CEO Nick Bloor) certificate of authenticity. Prices start at $24,995.
Ever wonder what keeps Stephen King up at night, or which movie scenes make Jordon Peele jump? Come with us into the crypt (aka the Fresh Air archives) — if you dare!
(Image credit: Bryan R. Smith/AFP via Getty Images)
