Good Housekeeping May 2023

Give a simple rug some floral flair with a DIY “block print” design. Blogger Lauren Shaver of Bless’er House used a Cricut machine to create a pattern that she says “combines the softness of a floral print with the structure of a geometric design.” She applied the stencil to the polypropylene rug by outlining it with a washable marker, then filling in the shape with white acrylic paint. “It was fairly simple, cost $30 and took a couple of hours to create,” says Shaver.…

MAPLE-ROASTED COMPOTE Heat oven to 375°F. In 9- by 13-in. baking dish, toss 1 lb rhubarb (trimmed and cut into 1-in. pieces) with ⅓ cup pure maple syrup, 1 tsp pure vanilla extract, one 1-in. piece fresh ginger (sliced), 2 whole star anise and ¼ tsp kosher salt. Bake until rhubarb is tender, 30 to 35 min. Discard star anise and ginger; serve spooned onto yogurt, ice cream or your favorite cake. PICKLED DRESSING In large bowl, whisk together 3 Tbsp white wine vinegar and ½ Tbsp honey. Add 3 stalks rhubarb (trimmed and thinly sliced) and toss to coat. Let sit at least 10 min., up to 20 min., then whisk in 3 Tbsp olive oil, ½ tsp kosher salt and 2 tsp coarsely ground pepper. Serve tossed with…

Over the past three years, many of us have become experts at living outside. We’ve refinished our decks, tried out new grill accessories and added colorful cushions—all in service of embracing the serenity and measure of safety provided by nature. Even on freezing nights in the winters of 2021 and 2022, you could find my guests and me on my porch, snuggled under blankets, sipping mulled drinks around a firepit table. As the demand for backyard pools hit a fever pitch (we heard stories from across the country about how impossible it was to find a pool installer), we were hunkering down, turning our outdoor spaces into comfortable havens, playgrounds and vacation destinations. And while the past year has allowed us to heartily embrace a return to travel and entertainment…

From the beginning, Good Housekeeping covers featured illustrations depicting the styles and life of the times. In the late 1950s we started switching to photography, focusing on interesting people and colorful tableaux highlighting the seasons. After more than 60 years, we asked artist Camila Pinheiro to help us bring back the beauty of illustration with an outdoor scene for our May 2023 cover.…

FIRMING NIGHT CREAM Infused with fortifying ceramides and fatty acids, Algenist’s rich cream was a winner in the GH Beauty Lab’s night cream test for measurable skin tightening, tone evening and hydrating benefits. TESTER NOTE “My face was brighter and more volumized.” LAB RESULTS In calculations with the Cutometer device, which gauges laxity, it raised skin firmness by 33% in four weeks. It also increased hydration by 28% over six hours in readings with the Corneometer machine, which measures skin moisture levels. ALGENIST GENIUS SLEEPING COLLAGEN, $98, SEPHORA MULTI-BENEFIT DAY CREAM Get undetectable mineral sun protection, moisturization and anti-aging effects in one bottle with this Olay lotion, enhanced with antioxidant and skin-smoothing ingredients (niacinamide, vitamin E, peptides). LAB RESULTS A study found that the fragrance-free formula increased skin hydration for…

RETINOL CREAM SKINBETTER SCIENCE ALPHARET OVERNIGHT CREAM, $135, SKINBETTER.COM Proven anti-aging actives (retinoids, peptides) are blended with exfoliating acids in this powerful yet gentle night treatment. In Beauty Lab Visia imaging tests, it scored high for improving skin texture and tone and caused “no irritation,” a Lab pro noted. PLUMPING EYE CREAM BIOSSANCE SQUALANE + MARINE ALGAE EYE CREAM, $56, SEPHORA.COM Smooth on this cushiony cream with moisturizing plant-based squalane and firming peptides to fortify delicate eye-area skin. It came out on top in Lab evaluations for hydrating immediately. “My skin feels plumped after I apply it,” said Beauty Lab Reviews Analyst Chiara Butler. REPLENISHING SERUM DUO SHISEIDO BIO-PERFORMANCE SKIN FILLER SERUMS, $295, SHISEIDO.COM This innovative set includes a night serum that shrinks hydrating and smoothing hyaluronic acid molecules so…