Erica Murphy

Some products show up everywhere — subway ads, Instagram, celeb endorsements. With this series, we’re testing such products to conclude one thing: Does it live up to the hype? The Billie Razor, a subscription-based razor specifically made for womankind. Billie’s whole spiel is about how men and women shave differently.Women shave “10x the area” that men shave and have to navigate around more curves and angles, they say. The Billie Razor is designed specifically for women, by women, and even feat…

There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder, “Do they really work?” In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.On Trial: Osprey Kresta 14 Ski BackpackTester: Erica Murphy, an experienced skier who’s trying out the pack-your-own-lunch ski dayI’ve always been the type of skier who enjoys a midmorning cup of hot chocolate at an on-mountain lodge, and I relish the idea of stopping for lunch to give my shins a…

Whether you’re a seasoned marathon runner or you’re getting ready to start training for your first 5K, you need a quality pair of running shorts to help you reach your goals. So what are the most important things for a woman to look for in a running short? You want something that has moisture-wicking properties to keep you cool, you want a material that doesn’t chafe or ride up — and, of course, you want something that’s overall comfortable and fits you well.All of the women’s running shorts on…

There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.On Trial: Pepper’s All You BraThe Tester: Erica Murphy, a woman whose bust errs on the small sideThe Brief: There are a lot of companies that make bras for women with big boobs, and we are totally here for them, but not as much attention is given to us small-breasted ladies. That is until Pepper ca…

Truth: We’d live in yoga pants if we could — and on the weekends we actually do. Over the years, we’ve worn our fair share of yoga pants. We’ve tested them out in yoga classes, worn them to hot yoga sessions, ran errands in them, and spent weeks of quarantine in the snug, stretchy pants. And what have we learned throughout it all? Not all yoga pants are created equal.A good pair can truly make or break your workout (and your #OOTD selfie), so we did not take the challenge of finding the best pai…

It’s no secret that we’re already big fans of by Humankind. The company has made it their mission to eliminate single-use plastics in the personal care product space, and today they’re adding floss to the lineup.On top of all the other problems COVID-19 is bringing to the world, we also feel like it’s causing us to use even more plastic. With so many people turning to take-out as the safest alternative to cooking at home, we’re throwing out even more plastic — food containers, silverware, bags,…

There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.On trial: ILIA Beauty, a clean beauty brand that combines skincare with makeupThe tester: Erica Murphy, a former makeup connoisseur who’s become lazy in this work-from-home worldThe Brief: I can probably count on one hand the number of times I’ve applied makeup for the workday during the pandemic.…

There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.On Trial: NordicTrack Commercial 2950 TreadmillTester: Erica Murphy, a runner who’s been desperate to get back into a gym for treadmill workoutsThe Brief: I’ve done every possible workout I can do in my tiny New York City apartment. I’ve done yoga, HIIT classes, pilates, Board30 workouts, boxing, r…

Some products show up everywhere — subway ads, Instagram, celeb endorsements. With this series, we’re testing such products to conclude one thing: Does it live up to the hype? Rothy’s shoes — cute, washable shoes for women made from recycled materials.Rothy’s launched in 2016 with The Flat and The Loafer, and just a little over 3 years later, the brand now has six different styles for women — ranging from flats to boots to sneakers — as well as two styles for kids. What’s helped the company gain…

There are a lot of cool things out there that make us wonder — do they really work? In our I Tried It series, we set out to use them in the real world and have determined that, in fact, they really do.The Product On TrialBy Humankind, specifically the deodorantThe TesterErica Murphy, a woman on the hunt for a natural deodorant that doesn’t harm the planetThe BriefWe all know that plastic is hurting the environment. I’ve always thought that I did a good job when it came to doing my part for the e…

Some products that we’ve tried have stood the test of time and remain our faves to this day. In our series 10/10 Would Recommend, we’re giving the final word on well-known products that we fully stand behind. The ProductThe Laura Davidson SOHO Chair, a sleek leather desk chair that won’t set you back $1,000.The StatsThe Price: $319.99Year it came out: 2017Reviewed by: Rated the “Best Padded” by health.com; recommended by The Strategist; rated the “Sleekest Swivel” by GQ. How Did I Find It?I wasn…

Best Obsessed is where our editors share what they’re obsessing over now. Shop our product picks you’ll wonder how you ever lived without!What We Tested This Week: Winc Wine Subscription ServiceWho This Is Perfect For: A wine lover who likes trying new varieties, but gets overwhelmed by the selection at a storeIt’s no secret that we live in a world where you can get virtually anything delivered to you (seriously, anything). Now, you can get your favorite goodies automatically delivered on a week…

Buying a gift takes special consideration. And we’ve all been on both sides of the exchange, whether it’s gone well or not so well. You know when the wrapping paper comes off whether a present is a winner. In our Gifted Approved series, we tell the stories of those winners, the best presents our editors have either given or received. We hope they provide a little inspiration and advice as you go about your holiday shopping and gift search.Jewelry is always a great gift idea. But, it’s even bett…

Buying a gift takes special consideration. And we’ve all been on both sides of the exchange, whether it’s gone well or not so well. You know when the wrapping paper comes off whether a present is a winner. In our Gifted Approved series, we tell the stories of those winners, the best presents our editors have either given or received. We hope they provide a little inspiration and advice as you go about your holiday shopping and gift search.Over the past few years, I’ve been focusing my gift-givi…