Latest from Elle


Elle
8 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
The New Episode of 'The Summer I Turned Pretty' Reveals How Conrad Sees Belly
Spoilers below. Last week, The Summer I Turned Pretty teased Conrad's POV with a little voice over in which he asks, 'What have I done?' as he tells Belly he will be Jeremiah's co-best man at their wedding. Season 3, episode 5 brings us back to that moment in Conrad's head, showing viewers exactly how he sees Belly. In his eyes, she's bathed in idyllic light while Otis Redding's 'These Arms of Mine' plays soulfully in the background. Yes, Conrad is suffering in Belly's proximity. To avoid getting too close to her as they share the Cousins beach house, he's staying up on the roof and hammering away at loose shingles (while peeping on her by the pool). Conrad's attempts at home improvement and celibacy are interrupted when his dad, Adam, calls to discuss the wedding. Conrad plays defense, lying that he and Jere haven't discussed it. In more V.O., Conrad considers his dad issues. Adam was once someone he looked up to, but the way he treated Susannah (and cheated on her!) has made him a fallen hero. Conrad obviously doesn't want to be an Adam 2.0 and resolves to avoid Belly as much as possible before the wedding. In Boston, Taylor is picking up Jere for a trip to Cousins for 4th of July weekend, but he has to stay a bit later than expected to impress his dad. He teases her about Steven, who is heading to New York for the holiday. Jeremiah asks how Belly is doing from her best friend's perspective. Taylor tries to be diplomatic, but she clearly thinks Belly has a lot to handle. And then, Steven pops up—with seemingly the only female intern, Denise, who wisely keeps it moving. Taylor and Steven get left alone to chat awkwardly and she thanks him for help with her mom. He guesses accurately that she used her New York money to save Lucinda's salon. They bid adieu with flirty smiles as Taylor gets a call from her mother. Unfortunately, Lucinda was calling because the salon's inspection got moved up and now Taylor has to go help her and skip Cousins. Taylor calls Belly and promises to make the engagement party a blast. And Steven said he'd come, which is a big win for both girls. As Belly finds some Pop Tarts in the cupboard for breakfast, she and Conrad finally end up in the same room at the same time. More awkward conversation from former lovers ensues. Belly finally asks when Conrad is going back to California. He doesn't give a straight answer, but tells her to eat whatever he buys. What's his is hers. At the office, Jeremiah waits for his dad to leave so he can catch the train. Unable to stay out of mischief, Jere picks up on a vibe between Denise and Steven. But Steven is not noting their obvious chemistry because his mind is on someone else: Taylor. Adam pops in to ask the interns to look at the financials for a huge project and Jeremiah volunteers, delaying his return to Cousins. After several hours going over spreadsheets, Jeremiah admits to Adam that the numbers aren't adding up. In Cousins, Belly sets off to do wedding errands on her bike after Conrad refuses to give her a ride, trying to stick to his promise to avoid her. His V.O. considers how usual it is that when Belly has a problem, he rushes to fix it. He remembers a day from when they were kids when he lent her his bike so she could keep up with the boys. He decides to go after his childhood friend and try to help her after all. Belly visits a bakery and describes Jeremiah's dream wedding cake to the baker who says a dark chocolate mirror-glaze treat will come out to $750. Jeremiah isn't available to talk budget, so she downgrades their dream to cupcakes. Conrad finds Belly on the street laden with packages and picks her up. The atmosphere is tense as they discuss plans, leading to more childhood memories around Conrad's precious stamp collection. He admits he was a 'geek.' The joking weakens Conrad and he agrees to go with her to the flower shop, extending his time by her side. Having learned from her bakery experience, Belly tries to hide the fact that she needs flowers for a wedding, but Conrad blows her cover. It turns out there's a $5,000 minimum spend for weddings. Conrad suggests they use Susannah's hydrangeas instead, but Belly is still bummed. Conrad tries to cheer her up more as she samples cupcakes in the car, suggesting cake adjustments to bring down spending. Jeremiah calls to say that he won't be there until very late, which means he and Belly will miss a big sale on wedding decor at Michael's. Jere shows badly on the call, complaining about not getting the exact cake he wants, being a snob about cacao and coulis, and telling Belly he'll put it on a credit card. Then he hangs up. Once again, Conrad tries to support his brother and says he's sure it's 'killing Jere not to be here.' Belly gets emotional, saying she is stuck in Cousins making decisions about stuff she doesn't care about and can't afford. What matters to her is making a commitment in front of people they love, even though many of them won't be there (like their moms). Conrad caves again and takes her to Michael's. 'I'm so fucked,' Conrad thinks. Jeremiah, however, is doing well with his dad, who is impressed that he noted the issues with the new project. Adam says he's proud of how Jeremiah's been changing and says he supports the wedding, even offering to host it at the country club and pay for everything. Jeremiah seems to understand Belly wants to marry at Cousins, but he can't say no to his dad. On the drive to the craft store, Conrad asks Belly about how she's studying for the GRE and they chat about her interest in sports psychology. She talks about her knee injury that took her out of volleyball and how discussing it with a psychologist helped her recover. Conrad opens up and says he has been speaking with a therapist to help with his panic attacks. Belly is impressed that he's 'all grown up' and has figured out his life in California. He praises her, too, even her driving. Meanwhile, Steven has escaped work for the long weekend and runs into Denise on the train to New York. They bond over playing video games, including one of Steven's own design. They're also both going to the same gaming conference. Steven admits he wants to leave his internship after his brush with death, to do something more meaningful to him. Denise relates, saying she's worked so hard to get where she is and it's still not enough. These two have a lot in common, including a shared cab to the Javits Center. Will Steven finally get over Taylor through a train romance? At Michael's, Conrad thinks about how being in the craft aisle makes him feel like he's the one marrying Belly. He takes an unusual interest in fake flowers and convinces Belly to go look at fabric decorations, trying to keep things platonic. But Belly keeps looking gorgeous and pulling on his heartstrings. On the ride home, Conrad considers how hard it has been to stay strong in front of Belly his whole life, before suddenly admitting to her that he got fired the day of Steven's accident. 'You know nobody's perfect, right?' Belly asks him. 'Not even you.' Conrad says he does know that, but maybe he's just not cut out to be a doctor. Belly tells him to 'knuckle up and stop being such a little bitch.' She gives him a pep talk about how making mistakes is part of being alive and he doesn't have to be the hero all the time. He's right where he needs to be. Conrad promises to talk to his therapist about his hero complex. They discuss California and Belly says she's never been so far away from home, thinking of her Paris study abroad plans that she has canceled for Jere. The perfect summer day then ends at the farmer's stand, where they buy some fresh peaches. Conrad watches Belly sensually eat a peach. He wipes the peach juice off her chin with his shirt, which is not platonic behavior, and she quickly brings up Jere. Conrad promises himself he won't blow it as they arrive back at the house, thinking he should go to bed. But once again, he chooses to be close to Belly and cooks dinner. Grilled chicken and fries. Then the white wine comes out. Uh oh. Conrad goes on a wine day dream to four years ago, when he was staying at Belly's house when they were still together. Belly's mom, Laurel, had sent him to the guest room, of course, but she snuck in to cuddle with him. At the time, Susannah was getting sicker and their prom was ahead. Conrad couldn't talk to his girlfriend about how his mom's health was deteriorating. But he could make out with her. With thoughts of their love making on his mind, Conrad returns to the present in agony, wondering how things might have been different if they had stayed together all these years. Jeremiah arrives, disrupting the moment. He reveals the news that Adam is in for the wedding, to Belly's delight. Conrad has to leave the room as they get handsy with each other. As he says in his V.O., he'd 'rather have someone shoot me in the head with a nail gun repeatedly' then watch them be together. Jere and Belly watch the fireworks outside and Jeremiah explains Adam is paying for everything, too. Belly feels strange about that, saying she thought they were gonna do the wedding on their own. She gets more upset when she finds out it will be at the club and that Adam wants to invite business associates to fill the room. Jere guilts her into it by saying he was happy that it felt like his dad was 'trying' with him. Belly also thinks Susannah would have liked it. Plus, Adam's secretary Kayleigh will do the planning so she can focus on GREs and visit him more—away from Conrad. (Belly looks uncomfortable at the sound of Kayleigh's name—this is the woman Adam cheated on Susannah with.) She has also conceded to Jere's desire for a first dance song and they groove out together on the dock. Conrad watches them from his bedroom window, berating himself for messing up and luxuriating in a day alone with Belly. He then remembers a promise he made to his mom on her deathbed. In a flashback, Susannah talks to Conrad about how beautiful he is to her and how much she loves him. She also says she trusts him to take care of Jeremiah when she's gone and be a great big brother. Conrad promises to always look out for Jere, which he is now clearly interpreting as 'don't steal his bride.' It turns out Conrad left for California to keep his promise to his mother, holding Belly at a distance. He decides that no matter what could have happened between them, this is how it's meant to be: Conrad alone in his room, Jeremiah and Belly dancing under the fireworks.


Elle
8 hours ago
- Lifestyle
- Elle
The Woman Behind Hollywood Elite's Glowing Skin Shares Her Daily Routine
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. If anyone knows skin care like the back of their hand, it's Joanna Czech. With nearly 40 years of experience in the beauty industry, the master esthetician has built an illustrious following—think A-listers like Jennifer Aniston, Kim Kardashian, and Hailey Bieber—thanks to her cutting-edge facial treatments and holistic approach to achieving a healthy, radiant complexion. In addition to launching her eponymous skin care line in 2021, Czech has opened spas in New York, Dallas, and L.A., and collaborated with several luxury brands over the years, such as Chanel, Biologique Recherche, and, most recently, Swiss Perfection. I caught up with Czech to uncover her top summer skin care hacks—including her daily routine, after-sun solutions, and travel essentials for maintaining a balanced glow. Below, she shares with us her expert tips and favorite products, including, naturally, a few from her own collection. Consider some mild exfoliation before and after your morning rinse. Start with dry brushing, then follow with a scrub in the shower to help minimize sensitivity. My favorite is from Reflekt—it's technically an exfoliating face wash, but since it's not very abrasive, I also like to use it on my body when I've gotten a little too much sun. It comes in a substantial tube, and the formula softly melts when mixed with water. You can use it on your complexion up to twice a week—it's that gentle. While nighttime is for treating the skin, daytime is typically about protection. Apply sunscreen 15 to 30 minutes before sun exposure to allow your skin's enzymes to become non-reactive to UVA and UVB rays. I personally prefer mild chemical sunscreens over mineral alternatives, which can leave behind a white cast. (My all-time favorite is Chuda's SPF 30.) And, of course, prep your skin with a pH-controlling toner and a day cream or essence if you prefer something lighter. Don't forget your neck, hands, and ears. These areas have a reduced lipidic layer and are more reactive—especially with sun exposure. The upper chest and tip of the forehead are also often overlooked, so make sure to apply sunscreen there as well. No matter what level of SPF you use, hyperpigmentation will still resurface—often deeper and more patchy—if you're prone to it and are spending a lot of time outdoors. I recommend my own cream, which contains a tetrapeptide defense complex to help protect the skin from heat-induced hyperpigmentation. You'll want to start with something that really breaks through all the SPF we're wearing this time of year. I love Swiss Perfection's Cleansing Oil, followed by their Purifying Gel to remove residue and refresh. It helps clear pores without leaving skin feeling tight or uncomfortable. Plus, it smells like a sexy Swiss man—though the scent doesn't linger once applied. Next, you'll want to balance your skin's pH to a level between 5.5 and 5.9. No product will work properly if your lipidic layer is disrupted, which often leads to transepidermal water loss and inflammation. My two favorite products for restoring pH are my toner and Swiss Perfection's Balancing Water, both of which have a pH of 5.5. You can also use either throughout the day to soothe and rehydrate the skin. We're often scared of vitamin A in the summer because of stronger forms like tretinoin and retinol, but using retinyl during this time can actually strengthen your skin. I love Environ's line from Cape Town, South Africa. (Cape Town is the closest city to the equator and gets some of the strongest sunlight in the world, so I really trust the brand's products.) They offer five different levels, depending on your skin's tolerance. Retinyl converts on the skin to retinal and then to retinoic acid, which speeds up cell turnover. Whatever retinoic acid isn't used converts back into retinyl. That reserve stays in the skin and creates the equivalent of SPF 20. In my opinion, you can—and should—use retinyl day or night, in any season, to help keep skin looking youthful. We typically lose about 20 to 30 percent of our skin's hydration while we sleep, so I recommend finishing with a rich cream to lock in moisture. For the body, after your nighttime shower—because don't bring the streets to the sheets—I love Biologique's MSRH cream and the Cream Extraordinary by MBR. I also love using Environ's Derma-Lac Lotion followed by its Vitamin A, C, E Body Oil Forte to gently exfoliate and nourish. If you're going in the water, bring face wipes to remove chlorine and salt. Mine contain rosemary extract, which can help drain fluid from the tissue if you get sunburned, and they come in packs of 10 so they never dry out. (Pro tip: Keep them in the fridge the night before to maximize the de-puffing benefits.) Next, I like to spritz on balancing water and reapply moisturizer and sunscreen every two hours. I also advise using cooling sheet masks, like Bioeffect's Hydrogel Masks, or my own soothing serum after sun exposure. It features vaso-constrictive pepper berry extract to help reduce swelling, alongside calming, nourishing allantoin. Herbitual's Atopic Skin Defense Cream—designed for eczema by Chinese doctor Pete White—is also great for soothing sunburns and even mosquito bites. For travel, make sure you have your face wipes and balancing toner, plus a vitamin C serum to protect against pollution and a rich cream to seal it all in. (I personally suggest my own Vitamin C+ Serum, which is a super antioxidant, and Swiss Perfection's Vitamin Cream.) If you have to head to an important meeting right after you land, prep with vitamin C and a thin layer of cream—they work beautifully as makeup primer. When I was creating my line, we studied how much moisture skin loses in-flight. That's why I always recommend products—like my soothing serum—that use acetylated hyaluronic acid, which penetrates deeply and helps maintain optimal hydration. Nobody should skip their regular treatments, but it's best to avoid dramatic or aggressive ones in the summer, since we tend to spend more time outdoors. I know people often book them because kids are out of school, but healing in high temperatures isn't ideal—your body's using energy to cool down, which slows recovery. And don't get me started on trends. No matter the season, less is more. If your routine exceeds five steps, chances are the rest aren't working—you're layering too much. If you want variety because your skin is dehydrated or hyper-pigmented, alternate your serums—but don't pack everything on at once. This interview has been edited and condensed for length and clarity.

Elle
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Katie Holmes' Favorite Label Quietly Marked Down Its Best Summer Picks
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. It's officially August, the Monday of summer, but if you're fighting the Fall Scaries at the moment, here's the good news: We still have over a month of warm weather to look forward to, and Madewell is making sure you're well-dressed for the occasion. Now is the perfect time to find everything from shirt dresses to Mary Jane flats on discount, whether you get the chance to wear your new picks this month or throughout the rest of the year. And at Madewell, we're seeing options from classic white tees to trending summer styles on sale for up to 76 percent off. With celebrity fans like Katie Holmes and Meghan Markle, Madewell's clearance section is currently stocked with everything from striped shirtdresses to chic brown suede bags. We also found a couple of bestsellers hiding in the sale section—like crafty raffia flats and dreamy white skirts. These current deals are not part of an official sale, so there's no telling how long they'll be available before eagle-eyed shoppers take note and sell out our favorite styles. Whether you want to get in on the boot-friendly skinny jeans trend ahead of fall or you need a new blouse for work, play, or evening festivities, take advantage of Madewell's last summer deals before autumn arrives. And while you're at it, you might as well book a last-minute trip to show off all of your new pieces before summer officially ends.


Elle
9 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
Brittany Snow's Rumored Boyfriend, Hunter Moreno, Shows Her Support After 'The Hunting Wives' Release
Every item on this page was chosen by an ELLE editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. THE RUNDOWN In October 2024, The Hunting Wives actress Brittany Snow was seen with a mystery man in New York City in photos shared by the Daily Mail. He was identified as cinematographer Hunter Moreno, and the pair looked very cozy, sharing a kiss while walking Snow's dog. The actress was wearing a Yankees cap, long black coat, and wide-legged pants for the outing with a pair of sunglasses. Moreno was in a baseball cap, jeans, and a big white hoodie. A year earlier, Snow divorced ex-husband Tyler Stanaland, known for his role on Selling The OC, a spin-off of the popular Netflix reality show, Selling Sunset. The former couple announced their split in September 2022 in a joint statement on Instagram that is now deleted, saying, 'This decision was made with love and mutual respect for one another. We have realized we need to take some time and make sure we are each living our most fulfilling and authentic lives. We started this journey as best friends and our relationship will continue to be a priority not only for us but for our dog Charlie.' Fans were intrigued by her new flame and wanted to know more about Moreno after they were spotted together. Here's what there is to know about Moreno and his relationship with Snow so far. Moreno is a creative director, cinematographer, and photographer who has worked with celebrities like Selena Gomez, Cara Delevingne, Reneé Rapp, Machine Gun Kelly, Miley Cyrus, and brands like Vogue, Inkd Magazine, and Madewell. He started his career in Los Angeles, filming YouTube videos for growing influencers. He seems to have been working on directing more music videos in 2024, and was just nominated for a directing award at the People's Choice Country Awards. He also briefly dated Tana Mongeau in 2017, and they remain good friends, according to Perez Hilton. Moreno is the co-founder and creative director of Make Sure Your Friends Are OK, or MSYFAO. The organization sells merchandise and then donates a portion of the profits to mental health charities. In an episode of Recovering From Reality with Alexis Haines, he says he was inspired by his own struggles with mental health issues. Mental health is an important issue to Snow as well, who co-wrote a book titled September Letters about issues around mental well-being, partnering with the Mental Health Coalition. In January, Snow tagged Moreno in a series of photos taken of her for a Netflix press event, crediting him for photographing her. She wrote, 'I was asked to hang out a little bit with my friends at @nightagentnetflix. I got to be an agent and run around the streets of Bangkok. Weirdly, I did not wear this dress. 🤍* press for season 2 *' As of July 2025, the two still follow each other on Instagram, and Moreno has liked almost all her recent Instagrams. She also regularly likes his posts. No, as of August 2025, neither Moreno nor Snow has addressed speculation about their relationship.


Elle
10 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Elle
The Wait for 'Wednesday' Season 2, Part 2 Isn't as Long as You Think It Is
Spoilers below. When the credits roll at the end of Wednesday season 2, episode 4, the fate of Jenna Ortega's titular heroine is unclear. After coming face-to-face with Tyler Galpin (Hunter Doohan) in Hyde form in Willow Hill Hospital, the pigtailed icon gets thrown out the window and police cars swarm the scene. There's still a lot more to explore in this chapter of Wednesday Addams's story, from her terrifying vision about Enid to her fraught relationship with her mom. Oh yeah, and isn't there still a zombie on the loose? Here's what to know about the rest of Wednesday's second season. The second half of the season—four more episodes—premieres on Wednesday, September 3. Like most Netflix titles, they will begin streaming at 3 A.M. ET. Only four more weeks of woe before the show returns. We'll likely see many of the part 1 stars, along with a few additions. Lady Gaga is expected to arrive in part 2 in a yet-undisclosed role, and so is Mansfield Park star Frances O'Connor. Otherwise, we'll probably see more of Ortega, Steve Buscemi (Barry Dort), Catherine Zeta-Jones (Morticia Addams), Emma Myers (Enid), Joy Sunday (Bianca), Luis Guzmán (Gomez Addams), Hunter Doohan (Tyler), Billie Piper (Capri), Isaac Ordonez (Pugsley Addams), Victor Dorobantu (Thing), Georgie Farmer (Ajax), Moosa Mostafa (Eugene Ottinger), Evie Templeton (Agnes Demille), Owen Painter (Slurp), Noah Taylor (Bruno), and Luyanda Unati Lewis-Nyawo (Sheriff Santiago). Additional guest stars include Joanna Lumley (Grandmama), Thandiwe Newton (Dr. Fairburn), Haley Joel Osment (Kansas City Scalper), Heather Matarazzo (Judi), Joonas Suotamo, Fred Armisen (Uncle Fester), and Christopher Lloyd (Professor Orloff). Plus—surprise!—Christina Ricci has returned as Marilyn Thornhill. Season 2, part 1, episode 4 saw her in a violent confrontation with Tyler, but we still don't know for sure if she's dead. We'll have to wait and see if she comes back (again) for season 2, part 2.