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For virtually all of my teen years, I blasted my face with salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide — anything that claimed to target acne, I slathered with reckless abandon. It wasn't until my 20s that I finally put down the harsh products and picked up gentler ones that targeted breakouts without the slash-and-burn-farming approach — this is how I discovered niacinamide.

If you ask me, niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) is well-deserving of its hype, and it’s not unusual to see it laced into not only skincare products, by makeup primers, skin tints, and foundations nowadays. The ingredient is often name-checked by dermatologists for its multifaceted benefits: curbing excess oil, minimizing the appearance of large pores and fine lines, and soothing flare-ups due to inflammation or acne.

“Niacinamide works by modulating inflammation and supporting the skin barrier, which is especially important for acne-prone and reactive skin,” explains dermatologist Jenna Queller, MD. She adds, “It also helps regulate sebum production [natural oils produced by the skin], reduce the transfer of pigment within the skin, and improve skin elasticity, contributing to brighter, more even-toned skin over time.” In other words, it's an all-in-one skincare ingredient with near-universal appeal.

Ahead, I've rounded up some of my favorite products that include the star ingredient — from niacinamide cleansers to serums to moisturizers.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser

I've been using this stuff on repeat for a few reasons. For starters, the price is right, and for an acne cleanser, it's not over-stripping, thanks to CeraVe’s signature ceramide complex and hyaluronic acid. Plus, it works wonders to ward off new breakouts, thanks to antibacterial salicylic acid, which also exfoliates deeply but gently, preventing clogged pores, not to mention niacinamide to mop up oil and boost the skin barrier.

**CeraVe** Renewing SA Cleanser, $, available at Ulta Beauty

Naturium Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée 3%

If a hydrating essence and a gel cleanser had a baby, this would be it. You can apply it as the first step in a double cleanse to remove makeup, or on wet skin to whisk away dirt and oil, leaving behind a bright, balanced complexion. In addition to niacinamide, this formula contains sodium hyaluronate (a form of hyaluronic acid), plus sodium ascorbyl phosphate, a water-soluble, stable form of vitamin C.

**Naturium** Niacinamide Cleansing Gelée 3%, $, available at Soko Glam

Then I Met You The Giving Essence

Then I Met You (founded by Charlotte Cho, the brains behind K-beauty retailer Soko Glam) has been something of a best-kept secret — until now. This hydrating, brightening essence contains yeast-derived galactomyces ferment filtrate and saccharomyces ferment filtrate to reduce the appearance of large pores and curb sebum. (TL;DR fermented skin care ingredients tend to be more effective and are easily absorbed by the skin thanks to the molecules being much smaller.) Besides these smart ingredients, it contains a 5% concentration of niacinamide to brighten and soothe skin.

**Then I Met You** The Giving Essence, $, available at Soko Glam

Eadem Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum

Eadem’s Milk Marvel Serum is uniquely formulated by and for people with melanin-rich skin, meaning that it targets excess pigment without lightening or bleaching your overall skin tone. Niacinamide is a key ingredient in the formula, along with papaya and pineapple enzymes, to target concerns like dullness and hyperpigmentation at the source.

**Eadem** Milk Marvel Dark Spot Serum, $, available at Sephora

Eight Saints Original Cin Niacinamide Face Serum

Dr. Queller recommends this gentle yet effective formula for its pairing of niacinamide with hydrating ingredients like hyaluronic acid, zinc PCA, and aloe vera. "I love this for daily use on sensitive, acne-prone, or dull complexions,” she says. “Patients respond really well to it and appreciate how lightweight and non-irritating it feels on the skin.”

**Eight Saints** Original Cin Niacinamide Face Serum, $, available at Eight Saints

Glossier Super Pure

Glossier's fan-favorite clarifying serum contains a one-two punch of niacinamide and zinc to help keep pores clear while quenching skin with a burst of lightweight moisture.

**Glossier** Super Pure, $, available at Glossier

The Ordinary Niacinamide 10% & Zinc 1%

This $6 serum was the first niacinamide product I tried, and I've gone back to it time and time again. In addition to being buyer's remorse-free, the product is potent enough to actually stop acne in its tracks without irritating skin. (That said, if you’ve got sensitive skin, you may want to start with a lower-percentage formula, like the brand’s Niacinamide 5% Face and Body Emulsion.)

**The Ordinary** Niacinamide 10% + Zinc 1% Serum, $, available at Ulta Beauty

SkinCeuticals Metacell Renewal B3

On the pricier end of the spectrum, there's SkinCeuticals' derm-favorite niacinamide serum that also helps target early signs of photo-aging (aka, visible sun damage due to UV exposure) with line-smoothing ingredients like peptides (essentially building blocks for proteins that strengthen and plump skin) and moisturizing glycerin.

**SkinCeuticals** Metacell Renewal B3, $, available at DermStore

Paula's Choice 10% Niacinamide Booster

Get a brightening boost to any serum or moisturizer with this potent niacinamide serum.

**Paula's Choice** 10% Niacinamide Booster, $, available at Paula's Choice

The Inkey List Niacinamide Oil Control Serum

This affordable buy has earned the approval of Sephora's discerning beauty customers (specifically, 1.1k Loves — and counting), who sing its praises for minimizing enlarged pores, clearing active acne, and brightening overall skin tone and hyperpigmentation.

**The Inkey List** Niacinamide Oil Control Serum, $, available at Sephora

Drunk Elephant B-Goldi Bright Drops with Niacinamide

It's a highlighter! It's a serum! It's...both? This Drunk Elephant potion combines the brightening benefits of niacinamide with the glassy sheen of your favorite dewy-skin-maker for a product I intend on using until the last drop.

**Drunk Elephant** B-Goldi Bright Drops with Niacinamide, $, available at Ulta Beauty

Skinfix Barrier+ Skin Barrier Niacinamide Restoring Gel Cream

Get some beauty sleep and nourish your skin barrier with this lightweight yet powerful moisturizer packed with niacinamide, zinc PCA, and peptides to get your healthiest complexion yet.

**Skinfix** Skin Barrier Restoring Gel Cream, $, available at Sephora

Farmacy 10% Niacinamide Night Mask

In addition to niacinamide, Farmacy's nighttime mask includes highly moisturizing panthenol and equally skin-quenching blueberry seed oil to help you wake up to radiant, glowing skin.

**Farmacy** 10% Niacinamide Night Mask, $, available at Sephora

Bubble Over Night Hydrating Sleep Mask

For a drugstore alternative, we recommend Bubble’s intensely hydrating overnight mask: It contains niacinamide, anti-inflammatory arnica, plus brightening mandelic and kojic acids so you can wake up to softer, brighter skin.

**Bubble** Over Night Hydrating Sleep Mask, $, available at Ulta Beauty

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I started wearing makeup at 13, but I can count on one hand the lipsticks I’ve used all the way to the last swipe. Over the years, very few have ever given me exactly what I want — and I don’t think I’m asking for much. I want my lipstick to feel moisturizing on my chronically dry lips, stay where I put it without ending up on my teeth, lend a soft, blurred, diffused effect, and not break the bank entirely. That’s exactly why I’ve fallen head over heels for Merit’s Signature Lip Blush.

What is Merit’s Signature Lip Blush and what are the benefits?

Signature Lip Blush is the latest addition to Merit’s growing lip lineup. You might know — and love — its Signature Lipstick, which occupies a cozy space between matte and glossy, giving lips a subtle satin-like glint. Or perhaps the Shade Slick lip oil is a staple in your handbag. Signature Lip Blush, however, dials the shine all the way back.

Merit describes Signature Lip Blush as a “sheer matte lightweight, buildable formula with a comfortable, balm-like feel”. To me, it’s a soft matte lipstick that’s not too dissimilar from a lip stain — packed with pigment — or a lip pencil, which you can diffuse with your fingers or a brush.

If you’re just as obsessed as I am with celebrity makeup artist Nina Park, specifically the way she makes her clients’ lips appear contoured, plump, and diffused, then I have a feeling you’re going to love this lipstick. On application, it’s sheer and light enough to blend outward, but unlike others with a similar texture, once it dries down a little, it clings to lips for a good four hours without disappearing into nothingness.

That’s all down to what Merit calls gel-wrapped pigments — essentially molecules of color encapsulated in a gel-like texture that makes swiping and blending easy. Speaking of color, there are eight shades in total, spanning Andie (a delicate petal pink) to Gamay (a deep red wine). Here, I’m wearing September, a muted terracotta, paired with Merit’s Signature Lip Liner in Mayfair, a peachy mauve. I will say the lipstick bullet appears a little darker than it does on the lips.

Merit Signature Lip Blush Lightweight Lip Blush, $28

What makes Merit’s Signature Lip Blush Special?

What sets Merit’s Signature Lip Blush apart from other soft matte lipsticks is how it feels on. Most matte products dry out my parched lips even further, settling into — and accentuating — lines and creases. This one feels so comforting, it’s like wearing a lip balm — all without any stickiness. You can thank sesame seed extract, nourishing olive oil, and plant-based waxes for that.

I judge makeup first and foremost on how it makes me feel, but when others notice, it’s affirming. Since giving Signature Lip Blush a trial run these past few weeks, I’ve had countless compliments on my lipstick, with beauty editor peers repeatedly asking what I’m wearing — we’re convinced it makes my lips appear bigger.

What to know about Merit’s Signature Lip Blush:

• Sheer, matte lipstick with a moisturizing balm-like feel.

• Available in eight shades from rose brown through to bordeaux.

• Lends a diffused, blurred finish to lips and stays put for hours.

How do you use Merit’s Signature Lip Blush?

Because Signature Lip Blush is so balm-like, I don’t have to be precise when I apply it. Usually, I line my lips and even use a lip brush before any lipstick, but with this, I can swipe it on haphazardly — without a mirror — and still end up with perfect, pillowy lips. Maybe that’s the blurred-lip trend talking, but the texture makes it so easy.

If you’re applying it a little more thoughtfully, it looks even better paired with a darker lip pencil and blurred ever so slightly over the lines, again lending that Nina Park effect. I love that the lipstick bullet boasts a squoval shape, which makes light work of tracing your lip line if you don’t have a lip pencil to hand.

Ultimately, this is the perfect lipstick for lipstick skeptics and obsessives alike — low-maintenance, wearable, and hard to mess up. I currently have three in my handbag.

Where can you get Merit’s Signature Lip Blush?

You can buy Merit’s Signature Lip Blush at Sephora.com or from Meritbeauty.com.

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Rejoice! As we enter Pisces season, we’re also getting closer to spring. From February 18th to March 20th, the sun will be splashing around in the enigmatic water sign of Pisces, heightening our intuition, and creativity. This year, Pisces season brings wisdom, reflection, and a lot of wildness in between. Things are going to get messy, so prepare for the drama-of-it-all. Before we get sea sick from the rapid changes, it’s important to learn how to flow with ease through the turbulent waters ahead. Luckily, the stars and planets will help us predict the journey.

In previous years, Saturn and Neptune have added restriction and paranoia to the mix when the sun was in Pisces. Now, Saturn and Neptune are in Aries, still stirring up problems, but not making us insecure and unsure about the road ahead. February 20th brings the conjunction of the two, urging us to pursue our dreams at any cost — even if it means hurting others in the process. We aren’t going to stand idly by and watch situations unfold; we’re going to take an active approach to drive change. We are more confident, aggressive, tenacious, and tougher than before.

For the first part of the solar return, there will be a stellium in mystical Pisces (the sun, Mercury, Venus, and Mars). We’ll be stubborn in our delusions, only accepting our reality as the correct one, which is problematic. As a result, arguments can ensue, especially if we do not back down. Finding the middle ground is useful; however, it’ll be difficult to understand others when we put our desires first and throw logic out the window. Taking a beat to center our energy requires patience and consideration — sentiments we may be lacking in the heat of the moment.

Mercury retrograde in Pisces begins on February 26th and lasts until March 20th, when the sun ingresses into Aries, and the spring equinox melts the ice away. The Mercurial moonwalk is going to raise our anxieties from the immense miscommunications and frenetic vibes. The universe wants us to go inwards, allowing us to focus on internal healing. Former partners will resurface, promising the world, when they have no intention of staying. Things are feeling intangible, and the wishy-washiness makes us lose our way. Choosing compassion connects us to people and gives us the strength to rise above the tides.

The total lunar eclipse in Virgo on March 3rd keeps our head above water by offering a chance to have a pragmatic approach to resolving matters. The blood moon is letting us see through the darkness, like a lighthouse illuminates the ocean, keeping us afloat. The caveat is that lunar eclipses are fast and furious, so the information being brought to our attention might shake us up, forcing us to make decisions. The retrograde pauses us from being direct or able to cut off the negativity, leaving us riddled with confusion, disillusionment, and frustration. I told you it was going to be chaotic!

Key Astrological Dates For Pisces Season:

February 18th: The sun enters Pisces, making us tender, imaginative, romantic, and sentimental. Our hearts and emotions guide the way forward.

February 20th: Saturn conjuncts Neptune in Aries, allowing this once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon to bring evolution and a metamorphosis on a global level. Outdated systems fall and new ones emerge.

February 26th: Mercury Retrograde in Pisces commences, bringing travel issues, missed texts or emails, and the revival of old foes or exes for another hurrah (if we let them).

March 2nd: Mars enters Pisces, pushing us to rebel and assert our views — although, we’ll have a few doubts about what we want to fight for or pursue.

March 3rd: The lunar eclipse in Virgo is a moment of clarity and truth. How we react and deal with the energy will augment and shift our lives.

March 6th: Venus enters Aries, motivating us to take the lead in relationships and to pursue our dreams.

March 10th: Jupiter in Cancer ends the retrograde cycle that began on November 11th, 2025. Abundance and luck are coming!

March 18th: The New Moon in Pisces is an opportunity to manifest our hopes and goals for the new season that comes two days later.

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Your February Horoscope Is Here

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Black hair has a way of carrying everything. Memory. Care. Pressure. Pride. Each ritual rooted in purpose. On this episode of Go Off, Sis, the conversation feels less like an interview and more like a collective exhale, as the hosts dig into the rituals, rules, and quiet truths that shape Black women’s hair journeys.

The episode is presented in partnership with Target and their Black History Month Collection, which highlights the power, purpose, and intention behind Black founders and the communities that inspire them. The connection is clear in this conversation, which highlights women whose careers are rooted in care, access, and showing up for Black communities in tangible ways.

Beauty founder Jesseca Dupart brings the perspective of someone who understands hair as both personal and collective. Her approach to building has always extended beyond products. It is about creating tools that help Black women feel confident, supported, and seen, especially in spaces where their needs have historically been overlooked. Her work and products show community impact matters just as much as innovation.

That sense of care and purpose becomes deeply tangible with celebrity hairstylist Lacy Redway, whose stories blur the line between ritual and profession. Growing up Jamaican, she remembers sitting between her sister’s legs every Sunday as her hair was washed, twisted, and prepped for the week. When the hosts chime in with memories of familiar wash-day routines, the moment feels instantly shared, grounding the conversation in experiences many Black women recognize.

As an adult working across red carpets, magazine covers, and film sets, Redway says that intimacy never disappears. “We’re not just doing hair. We’re creating safety,” she explains, describing the trust required when working with clients in industries where Black hair is still misunderstood or minimized. From editorial shoots to major premieres, she continues to push back against narrow ideas of what is considered professional or feminine, reminding us that textured hair does not need to be tamed to be worthy.

Throughout the episode, the conversation returns to a simple truth. Choice matters. Whether worn natural, braided, relaxed, covered, or completely undone, Black women deserve the freedom to decide how they show up without explanation. Learn more about Target’s Black History Month collection.

Listen to the full Go Off, Sis episode to hear Lacy Redway and Jesseca Dupart in conversation with Senior Content Director of Entertainment at Refinery29/Unbothered, Kathleen Newman-Bremang, Brand Partnerships Lead at Unbothered, Sandy Pierre, Social Strategist at Unbothered, and Jessika Hardy, about Black hair rituals, creative freedom, and why safety and joy should always be part of the beauty experience.

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The great North American total eclipse. This is the moment when the sun’s corona is visible at 100% totality. This is a hand blended high dynamic range image from six different images with the craters on the moon visible.

Eclipse season is here! The onset of the annual solar and total lunar eclipse is bringing a fateful chance for us to transform. We are shifting our ideas and purpose to find our place in the world. Eclipses help to show us what we need to augment to live a fulfilling existence, and these are no different. The caveat is that we are expected to move forward gracefully, which is hard for anyone, especially since the energy packs a powerful punch that shakes things up unpredictably. Comprehending that some people’s situations and experiences must be shelved or that they must begin a new phase is easier said than done. Compassion for ourselves and others can help us. The only way out is through! See you on the other side!

The Annular Solar Eclipse In Aquarius

Take note: February 17th is set to be a momentous day. According to lunar astrology, not only does it usher in the Year of the Fire Horse, but the solar eclipse in Aquarius also occurs at 7:01 a.m. EST. This is the first eclipse that falls on the Aquarius and Leo lunar axis, which makes its formal move into these signs on July 26th. The eclipse activates the coming North Node of Destiny in Aquarius, urging us to usher in a new mindset, and for us all to work cohesively to make global advances. We are a powerful force of nature when we come together.

A “ring of fire” annual solar eclipse is a rare lunar phenomenon that is the result of the moon moving between the sun and earth, while being far from the earth, making the moon look smaller than the sun. The result of the eclipse leaves a fiery look to the circular edges of the moon (in this particular case, the moon will appear that way for two minutes and 20 seconds at the peak of the eclipse). The eclipse is primarily visible from Antarctica. Other regions, such as South America, South Africa, and the Indian Ocean, will have partial views.

The solar eclipse in Aquarius aspects a sensitive point of the sign, known as an anesthetic degree (the 29th degree). The urgency to grow and evolve is immediate. It is giving us a chance to embrace our unique sentiments and let them be known. The collective is changing, and we are evolving our minds with it. Because the planet Uranus, which is in Taurus, is active in the eclipse, it’s fair to say that this is the time of revolution. We are going to stand up for what we believe in and won’t back down. The results may be unpredictable at the moment, but the battle is worth fighting for.

The Total Lunar Eclipse In Virgo

On March 3rd at 6:38 a.m. EST, the total lunar eclipse in Virgo intensifies the sky, giving stargazers and astrology lovers an amazing sight to see and capture. The lunar eclipse is a time of release, since it connects to the South Node of Destiny in Virgo (on the current Pisces and Virgo lunar axis). We are departing from old views and emotions, making space for us to explore different philosophies. This is a moment of transcendence and reflection, so take a look back at what recently happened that is sparking a reaction that pushes us to run away from it.

During a total lunar eclipse, the moon appears to take on a reddish hue as it passes over the earth’s shadow. Known as the “Blood Moon,” total lunar eclipses are a moment of illumination and revelation. The lunar eclipse will be visible in the Western Americas, Australia, East Asia, and the Pacific Ocean, lasting around 59 minutes at its totality.

The lunar eclipse in Virgo receives a gentle push from Jupiter retrograde in Cancer, making a difference. Jupiter is known to be the planet of luck, but it can also expand matters that are in a delicate position in either good or bad ways. Problems can become bigger; however, Jupiter always ensures that the results are fortunate. The sting may feel intense at the moment, especially since Mercury retrograde in Pisces is causing ambiguity and confusion. Looking back on the eclipse, we’ll realize that letting go of the past was necessary. The moon in Virgo is a creature of comfort, which is why relinquishing control and healing will be challenging. In the end, it’ll be worth the sacrifice and ride.

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Your February Horoscope Is Here

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There’s a lot to talk about when it comes to Wuthering Heights. I’m sure we’ll be dissecting and debating it for weeks. From the whitewashing controversy to the toxic love to the daring costumes, the discourse is going to be discoursing. This film, like most everything Emerald Fennell touches, is going to be divisive. And I think that’s part of its charm and its weakness. As The Ringer put it, Wuthering Heights may be “the hate-watch event of the year.” Except, I didn’t hate it.

I may be one of the few people that don’t think this Heathcliff should have been anything but the white fantasy Fennell envisioned (let her make the revitionist movie she wants; we should be championing artists of color to create their wildest desires onscreen and pushing Hollywood execs to greenlight them instead), and this may be strange to admit, considering the movie is based on one of the most toxic relationships in literature, but as soon as Cathy and Heathcliff grew into Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi, and they gave us some of the most blistering and intoxicating chemistry I’ve seen onscreen in awhile, I started to enjoy myself. I couldn’t look away.

Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights is a gothic, depressing tragedy of love, lust, loss, and self destruction and yet, it’s also kind of fun (until it’s not, no spoilers). Aside from the absurdity and campiness of the costumes, one of the things I enjoyed most was how unhinged, horny, and mean Cathy could be. And how weird and complicated Alison Oliver’s Isabella Linton was. As Robbie put it, Cathy is “such a bitch.” You can say a lot about Fennell, but she can write female rage (see: Promising Young Woman) and here, she sets her sights on female desire.

Late last month, the day after I’d seen Wuthering Heights for the first time, I talked to Robbie and Oliver at the film’s fantastical press junket (it was held at The Doheny Estate at the Greystone Mansion and Gardens and there were Wuthering Heights-themed installations throughout the historic grounds) about their characters’ surprisingly refreshinging agency, that much-discussed Robbie-Elordi chemistry, and which costumes shocked them the most.

Both of these characters are messy. They’re destructive. They’re unapologetic. They put female desire first, which I think is going to piss some people off, but I loved that about them. It would be easy to say that their entire identities are wrapped up in romantic obsession. But talk about how important it was to show that female desire, that all consuming desire, and the choices that these women make for themselves?

Margot Robbie: Do you know what felt radical? We have a scene — Alison and I — on the swing in the garden, and it’s a scene essentially, where we’re just fight over Heathcliff, and it felt so radical to do a scene like that. The ironic thing is that we’ve fought so hard to not have to do that in movies anymore, but now it’s been so long since — I don’t know if I’ve done a scene like this since I was on the soap opera I was on back in Australia when I was a teenager. It felt so radical to just be two women fighting over a man. It was crazy. “You have him. He’s so handsome. Who you talking about? You could never take him!” It was weirdly exciting to do.

It felt so radical to just be two women fighting over a man… It was weirdly exciting to do.
margot robbie on cathy and isabella

Alison Oliver: Yeah, it was strange. All of these characters do have — I feel like Emerald really gave them agency in their own ways as well, which within the sort of confines or the period, you do feel like they have agency in some sense. And I think that was important to show.

Absolutely. They have depth and agency.

MR: Yeah, they all make the choices. And then everything you see in the movie happens because of the choices they make. Whereas usually, even now, when we’re not doing scenes fighting about men, most of the time, you’re usually playing a character that something happens to, and then you watch a movie about the effects of that thing happening to that female character.

AO: They are the decider.

MR: For both of our characters, I feel like we make a choice, we do a thing, and it’s not the right thing in most instances, and then we have to deal with the consequences.

OK, Margot, this does not work unless you and Jacob have the most insane chemistry we’ve ever seen on screen. And you did. I’m always fighting to bring back chemistry, and you guys did it.

MR: Yes! Chemistry and charisma are two things that I’m like, why can’t we have that? That’s what I want in the movies. Charismatic characters or I want insane chemistry,

Was there a moment where you and Jacob were like, Oh, we got it?

MR: There were a couple of moments. Even on day one. [We shot] the first scene in the movie where Cathy flings open the bed hangings, and [Heathcliff is] lying in bed. And then we ended up cutting this bit but I walked up over him, and then crouch down and got like this close to his face and told him to, “get up, we’ve got neighbors,” or whatever it was. And we cut that bit because the proximity is something we wanted to save. But, I mean, that was day one, and even then, everyone was kind of like, “Whoa.” And we were like, “Okay, I think this movie’s gonna work.” Also just because she’s throwing something at him, and he’s throwing it back, and he’s like, “What?” There was already an intensity between them that I think we could build on from that point.

Alison, what was it like watching Margot and Jacob build that chemistry?

AO: Incredible. I kept feeling like I was watching, like an old Hollywood film, like watching Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift. It really was so incredible to see the two of them just inhabit those characters. It was really special.

We have to talk about the costumes. There were so many moments in my theater that the whole audience gasped at certain costumes. Were there any moments for both of you that you saw a costume you put on and it shocked you?

AO: We had so many costume changes. Every time, in me and Margot’s rooms — we were next to each other and they put us both in our rooms — it would probably take like, half an hour to get into the outfit, and then we’d both come out of the room at the same time and do a reveal. I never felt like more of a girl in my life. I’d come out and be like, Ah!! [mimics screaming]!!

MR: You couldn’t control that reaction if you wanted to. And I didn’t want to, but I couldn’t even if I had wanted to. It was so fun.

AO: [to Margot] Did you have a favorite?

MR: I think my favorite was on the swing. That costume during the swing scene [was my favorite]. It’s got this black velvet bodice, and this like and this like neck thing, and then this bit’s showing, but then it’s like, got this chainwork in pink rose. We replicated these old couple of paintings of women in that outfit. One woman wore it, got painted in it, and then someone else was like, Well, I want that. And then did it as well. I think there’s three different decades apart where they’ve done this. I was like, wow, that lady was the original Kardashian. Like, did she wear something and everyone was like, “I want to wear what she wore!”

I kept feeling like I was watching, like an old Hollywood film, like watching Elizabeth Taylor and Montgomery Clift.
alison oliver on margot robbie and jacob elordi

AO: There’s this shot where Margot is on the swing, and then I think Isabella says something, and [Cathy] twists around. And every time [she] did that, I literally was like, “that’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen.” And I would break character and be like [gasps].

I remember that scene. It’s also a bitchy moment.

MR: She’s such a bitch, and then swings back around [laughs].

This interview was edited and condensed for clarity.

Wuthering Heights is in theaters now.

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Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights opens with a scene I hated so much, I almost walked out of the theater. Don’t worry, it goes up from there! The scene in question is a hanging. Two feet dangle from a guillotine as an onlooker jokes about the lifeless body’s final unconscious act: a hard on. It’s mentioned later that the perpetrator was a rapist. So the glee in which the spectators (including Catherine “Cathy” Earnshaw) gawk at his erect penis while he is strangled to death is justified. I understand the point — that the story about to unfold is equal parts morbid, horny, irreverent, and uncomfortable — but it just felt like a cheap ploy for shock and awe. The good news is that the rest of the film deals with these conflicting emotions more effectively. And Catherine’s (played in her early years by Charlotte Mellington) curiosity for sex and macabre runs throughout the story, creating a fascinating duality of romance and toxicity, the things Emily Brontë’s Wuthering Heights are known for. But this opening scene is very different from the book’s, and it was just one reason (of many) why I’m glad the Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s adaptation of Wuthering Heights is white.

Depending on who you ask, Brontë’s Heathcliff is supposed to be Black or Brown, since he’s described in the novel as a “dark-skinned gypsy in aspect” and a “dirty, ragged, black-haired child.” Another description: “as dark almost as if it came from the devil.” In a piece for Vulture called Is Heathcliff White?, Jasmine Vojdani writes that, “The idea that Heathcliff might be of African descent first entered academic discussion in the 1950s and gained momentum as postcolonial studies became more popular in the ’80s and ’90s. Scholars have argued that the proximity of Liverpool — one of the biggest slave ports at the time in which Wuthering Heights is set — to the Brontës’ home in Haworth cannot be overlooked.” Vojdani interviews scholars and tries to get to the bottom of this mystery surrounding one of literature’s most famous leading men. One scholar says, “He is both based on the boy of an Indian ruler who’d been orphaned because of the East India Company battles. But he’s also based on an Ashanti warrior’s son.” Another: “The feeling that he should be of African heritage, I think that is interference coming in from [Brontë] sister’s book. Because we do know that in Jane Eyre, Bertha Rochester is born in Jamaica.” Ultimately, Vojdani decides, “By Victorian standards, he’s definitely not white — and likely by ours as well. Is Heathcliff Black? Maybe! It is both historically and textually viable, but he isn’t necessarily Black.”

We can debate Brontë’s intentions for decades (and clearly, scholars have), but what’s true in this adaptation is that a white Australian man (Jacob Elordi) and a white British boy (Owen Cooper) play Heathcliff. After watching the film, honestly, it’s for the best. I am not encouraging whitewashing, which let’s be clear is exactly what this adaptation and many before it have done, but aside from what implications could be drawn from a movie starring a Black man opening with a lynching, I just don’t think this love story is one I would want to see, or engage in the discourse, if it was a man of color seducing and obsessing over a white woman in this way.

When they are grownups, Heathcliff and Cathy (Margot Robbie) have a tumultuous and toxic relationship. Heathcliff is surly, cruel, and vindictive. He emotionally terrorizes Isabella Linton (Alison Oliver) because he can’t have Cathy. So much so that at a certain point, Isabella crawls on the floor like a dog as he holds onto her collar and makes her bark. While Isabella seems to enjoy this roleplay, it’s uncomfortable to watch. It would take skill, care and precision to pull off this kind of sexual deviance and kink between a consenting couple, let alone between one with a problematic age gap, and power imbalance. I like how female desire is depicted through Isabella, but throw race into the mix and to be frank, I just don’t think Fennell has the range.

Based on what scholars have deduced and what Brontë wrote, Heathcliff was probably Brown, which is interesting considering Fennell cast Pakistani-British actor Shazad Latif as Edgar Linton, Cathy’s husband, who was definitely white in the books. His race is not mentioned in the movie. And neither is Hong Chau’s Nelly (played in youth by Vy Nguyen), Cathy’s live-in maid and best friend, also a white character who is now reimagined as Asian. There’s a brief mention of Nelly’s race, when Cathy’s father says something that implies she should be grateful he took her in. Otherwise, the way race would factor into their volatile friendship is never explored. In another writer-director’s hands, this story would be rife for mining the racial and class tensions of the era. Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for showing flawed characters of color in toxic relationships. They don’t have to be perfect representations of their race. But, again, I don’t think Fennell has any intention, or the competency, to tackle all of that in her work.

You realize early on what Fennell is doing. And that this Wuthering Heights is not a straightforward adaptation; it’s her own personal fantasy. She said as much on the red carpet for the LA premiere: “Everyone who loves this book has such a personal connection to it, and so you can only kind of ever make the movie that you sort of imagined yourself when you read it.” In Fennell’s fantasy, Heathcliff couldn’t possibly be anything but a tall, white man that looks like Elordi. Heathcliff is an object of desire and Fennell’s desires cannot extend beyond her worldview, and clearly, that world is very white. Which is fine, actually. She gets to make the movie she wants to. And I’d rather not watch a story told by a rich, white woman about the twisted proclivities of a Black or Brown man. I wouldn’t want to see it, and I wasn’t holding my breath waiting for it.

I would rather spend my time championing original work from Black and Brown filmmakers and storytellers than wish for a non-white Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights. I think that’s a waste of time.

I’m not trying to be condescending, I just genuinely didn’t expect a nuanced rumination on class, race, desire, and abuse from this movie. I watched the trailers, heard Robbie and Fennell talk about the movie, and I’ve seen Fennell’s previous films (which I didn’t hate!). I knew what they were trying to do with Wuthering Heights. It’s the spiritual equivalent to the genre of toxic white mess that unfolds in TV hits like Succession and The White Lotus. It’s a continuation of the recent trend of modern, magically race-bent, colorblind retellings of beloved literary works, like Netflix’s Bridgerton and Persuasion, and Apple TV’s The Buccaneers. It was never going to be that deep. But all art is political, so yes, while white filmmakers should know better and do better, I would rather spend my time championing original work from Black and Brown filmmakers and storytellers than wish for a non-white Heathcliff in Emerald Fennell’s Wuthering Heights. I think that’s a waste of time. There is inevitably going to be an onslaught of thinkpieces and TikTok rants dedicated to chastising this casting. Sure, let’s call out whitewashing, but instead of expending all our energy on begging for scraps from white Hollywood, let’s support our own.

I’d rather focus on making sure The Gilded Age gets 17 seasons (its co-showrunner is Sonja Warfield, a Black woman) and the upcoming adaptation of The Davenports (also brought to you by Warfield), gets all the hype it deserves than try to make this Wuthering Heights into something it was never going to be. I’d rather watch Amma Asante’s Belle again and support whatever work she’s got in the pipeline. I’d rather uplift Alyssa Cole, Adrianna Herrera, Vanessa Riley, and the countless other Black and Brown woman historical romance writers than force Fennell to change her warped fantastical version of Heathcliff and Cathy’s ill-fated love story into anything other than what it is.

So let’s get into what is onscreen and whether that is worth your time. This may surprise you, but I actually think it is. When I settled into Fennell’s Wuthering Heights world, and got over the unnecessary shock tactic of that opening scene, I started to enjoy myself. I was entertained. Elordi and Robbie (who the internet also swore was miscast because of her age) are electric together. I think their chemistry makes the whole thing worth it.

In the story that Fennell is telling, their chemistry is the one thing that needs to work, and it does. I believe that these two people would tear the world — and themselves — apart to be together. I also believe that they want to tear each other’s clothes off. They are so down bad for each other, inanimate objects that are slightly sexual set them ablaze. Chemistry often feels like a lost art and it was refreshing to see good, old-fashioned, horny-ass onscreen attraction. And for the first time, I understood the global thirst for Jacob Elordi. While Robbie’s Cathy is spunky, stubborn, and independent, Elordi’s Heathcliff is brooding, desperate, and clingy. He’s a real yearner and this may mean that I need some serious therapy, but I was into it.

A friend of mine went to an early screening of the movie as well and his review was simply, “gowns, beautiful gowns” and he’s not wrong, but I think it’s more than that. The costumes are absurd, but in this cinematic world, that’s a compliment! This movie thrives in absurdity and extravagance. There were moments when Robbie as Cathy walked into the frame and I had an audible reaction to her costume. Sure, at times, that took me out of the story, but if they were going to gasp-inducing costume design moments, they succeeded. Visually, Wuthering Heights is stunning. It nails the gloomy, overcast foreboding rolling hills that the source material describes while also injecting shots of color, humor, and exuberance into the film’s aesthetic. In spite of the depressing subject matter, this Wuthering Heights is more camp than melancholy.

The film will probably never beat the style over substance accusations, understandably, but for me, the performances are the best part. Chau is perfectly exasperated and defiant. Latif is doting and oblivious yet likeable. Oliver is intoxicating and exhilarating to watch. And Elordi and Robbie lean so hard into the “smooth-brained sensuality” of Fennell’s adaptation that it’s not hard to believe they were obsessed with each other on set.

The audiences who show up to the theater on Valentine’s Day hoping for a feel-good romance may leave a bit traumatized (just like I was when I first read Wuthering Heights in high school), but they’ll also buy into the splendor and pageantry of this movie. And they’ll understand why Elordi and Robbie are two of the most in-demand talents of their generation. I do wish that a Black-led, Black-directed film — or one made by and for people of color — was getting the same over-the-top treatment, star-making potential, and budget, but until we start yelling more about why we aren’t seeing those stories greenlit, funded, and released, we’ll be stuck in our own fantasy. Fennell’s warped, whimsical, white-as-hell fever dream may be a compelling watch, but it’s her imagination come to life. I want to imagine a world in which the weird whims of Black and Brown filmmakers are able to be awakened too.

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Shopping for Valentine’s Day gifts for men can be a difficult task. You wanna spend your good dollars on things your dude will actually love rather than mindlessly wrapping up a corny, heart-shaped throwaway. Often that means seeking out items that are part splurge and part personal come Valentine’s Day.

Admittedly, we aren’t experts in “man things” by any means. But when it comes to sourcing highly sought-after products, we have a thing or two to recommend for every budget. If you’re looking to flex your gift-giving skills for your beau — be it your boyfriend, husband, or (ahem) friend with benefits — come February 14, you’ve come to the right place. Ahead, peruse our selection of non-cheesy Valentine’s Day gifts for him that aim straight for the heart.

Oura Ring 4

The Oura Ring 4 is perfect for the guy who is into tracking his wellness but also info fashion. It’s sleek, stylish, and practical.

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Bevel Pro + Pro T-Blade

If you love a clean look on your guy then you want to gift him a Bevel Pro, Pro T-Blade. This is for the guy that cuts his own hair and love a new set of grooming tools

Shop Bevel Pro + Pro T-Blade at Bevel

AeroGarden Sprout, $69.95 $59.95

If your dude is a cook in the kitchen, he can now be a gardener there, too. This indoor garden will let him grow not only herbs but also greens, cherry tomatoes, flowers — whatever fits, really — five times faster than in soil. And what will he do with all that fresh produce? Cook you dinner year-round.

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Theragun Mini, $199 $169

Gym boyfriends (or just tired ones) will quickly become addicted to this mini massager that soothes sore muscles, relieves tensions and knots, and speeds up recovery time after workouts. And the best part? You can borrow it.

Shop Theragun

Uncommon Goods Travel Packable Hoodie, $110

Where is a hoodie when he needs one? Right in this portable pouch, that’s where. This easily rolled-up one is made from from recycled coffee grounds and plastic bottles, and it’s water-repellent, odor-resistant, and naturally moisture-wicking, which is a plus — nay, necessity — when he never takes it out of his bag.

Shop Uncommon Goods

Lelo Hugo Prostrate Massager, $189 $141.75

Sex toys may be the one time women come first. (Sorry.) But the sex tech bros over at Lelo — maker of the “clitorally mindblowing” Sona 2 Cruise, among other prized vibrators — want the guys to feel both seen and…never mind. That’s why they created the powerful, remote-controlled Hugo, a prostrate massager that’s as good for partnered sex as it is for solo play. And it’s 25% off during the Lelo Valentine’s Day sale.

Shop Lelo

Material The 8″ Knife, $80

Whether his chopping skills belong on The Bear or resemble an actual bear’s, any man who cooks could probably use a nice, new knife. And this 8-inch blade from Material is as nice as they get at this price point. It’s cut from three layers of stainless Japanese steel that’s corrosion-resistant, which means it’s not only sharp but also low maintenance.

Shop Material

Adidas Gazelle, $100

These iconic suede kicks have experienced a real resurgence in the past few years. (It’s also the official concert shoe of Harry Styles.) If your guy doesn’t have a pair of his own Gazelles yet, perhaps V-Day offers a perfect opportunity to right that wrong.

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Barbour Wax Leather Tarras, $200

For a guy that goes into the office just about every day of the week, this stylish waxed canvas and leather briefcase will surely soften the blow of his daily commute.

Shop Barbour at End

Merrell Men’s Hydro Runner, $80

If your guy is an urban adventurer, these slip-on Hydro Runners are sleek, comfy, and ideal for airing out damp feet. It’s sure to become his go-to shoe for any excursion.

Shop Merrell

Uniqlo Round Mini Shoulder Bag, $19.90

At $20, this crescent-shaped bag is far more stylish than a fanny pack and surprisingly packs a whole lot in. It also comes in nine pleasing colors to satisfy whatever your S.O.’s palette may be.

Shop Uniqlo

PlantedCulture407 Matte Black Mini Basketball Planter, $60

Gift him a planter that exudes personality. Bonus points if you can present this basketball vessel with a leafy plant already in it!

Shop PlantedCulture407 at Etsy

Campers Wabi Grey Slippers for Men, $110 $99

If you have never stuck your foot inside a Camper shoe, you know how comfy they are. He’ll want to wear these cozy slippers all around the house — and probably outside it. Now, that’s exactly the kind of gift you’d want to give (and receive).

Shop Camper

Burrows & Hare Wool Knitted Tie, $148

If your S.O. doesn’t already have a skinny knit tie, V-Day is a great occasion for a put-together but casual accessory.

Shop Burrows & Hare at Wolf & Badger

Everlane The ReNew Transit Catch-All Case, $35

This super affordable Dopp kit is a must for your frequent traveler — it’s made of 100% recycled polyester with a water-resistant finish.

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Dagashido Assorted Japanese Junk Food Snack Pack, $20.95

Because chocolate is overrated.

Shop Dagashi at Amazon

Bose SoundLink Micro Bluetooth Speaker, $119

Mini speaker, big sound. This high-tech gadget is engineered to keep up with all of his tunes, workout playlists, podcasts, and more.

Shop Bose

BlendJet 2 Portable Blender, $99.95 $49.95

Got a smoothie king in your life? If so, he’ll definitely make good use of this easy-to-clean single-serving blender.

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Parmed Leather Gloves, $120 $70

Upgrade his regular knit gloves for a pair that’s made of high-quality leather.

Shop Parmed at Ted Baker

Hydro Flask 64 oz. Wide-Mouth Vacuum Bottle With Flex Cap, $64.95 $38.83+

Love is helping your guy stay hydrated with the help of a trendy, oversized aluminum water bottle that’s beloved by TikTok-ing teens.

Shop Hydro Flask

Le Labo Santal 33 Body Lotion, $79

Because you’re the one who’s inhaling his pheromones most of the time, gift him with a luxury scent that will also make you swoon.

Shop Le Labo at Nordstrom

L.L.Bean Boat and Tote, $29.95+

Chances are, your guy has a stash of totes that are dirty, tattered, and threadbare. Luckily, L.L.Bean’s iconic canvas boat totes are sturdy and made to last.

Shop L.L.Bean