"The conch has really taken off lately, but it's the anti-tragus that I've been doing a lot lately," says Ben Tauber, NYC's "It" piercer. If that sounds like gibberish to you, you're not alone. But for New York girls in the know, those are the two coolest piercings to get right now. And Tauber would know — he's the one giving them out all day long at one of Manhattan's coolest piercing studios.
The Ohio native works out of Maria Tash, the cool-kid piercing spot and jewelry boutique in the city. Like most piercers, Tauber's main goal is to create something unique and well-suited for each client, but trends still prevail. In New York, the anti-tragus is reigning supreme, followed closely by the conch, rook, and daith — and normally paired with lobe piercings to create odd numbers, which just feels right for Tauber.
When it comes to mixing metals, he loves all combinations except rose and yellow golds together — "it tends to look like you had two of the same rings, but something is a little bit wrong with one of them," he explains — and he prefers hoops over studs. Of course, at the end of the day, you should listen to yourself above anyone else. "Do what you want to do and what feels right for you," Tauber says. "More times than not, people who listen to their friends come back a week or two later to do what they originally wanted."
There's one rule he does enforce, however. "I try not to exceed four or five piercings at once," Tauber explains, "Any more and it gets tricky for the body to heal it, and I want stuff to look good and be there forever." When it comes to post-care, he recommends NeilMed's spray for keeping the piercing clean — and not much else. "The less you do, the better."
Prepped and ready to get your creative juices flowing? Tauber walks us through 14 of his coolest piercings combinations, ahead.
Anti-Tragus
Behold: The edgy, yet dainty, anti-tragus. Traditionally done on the high point of the top of the lobe, Tauber placed this one slightly to the left, just for fun. "It's just a little switch up on the ordinary," he says, "A little more special." He reports that it's since taken off — he does more slightly off-center anti-tragus piercings now than ones placed at the highest point.
The customer wanted to go big, but the beauty of this combo lies in the restraint. "She already had a helix [top ear piercing] and I felt that if we did a conch [inner ear] it would take away from her existing rook [antihelix] piercing she had done," he says, "And if we did anything on the outside, it would be too much, so we settled on doing that sweet little anti-tragus. It's something a little different, a little unique."
This is another example of an anti-tragus placed slightly more outward, plus two trending placement spots: the conch and the flat of the ear, or the "Tash rook," Tauber says. More on those ahead...
Conch
First, the conch, done here alone. "A conch piercing makes a statement, even if it's on its own," Tauber says, "You don't need other stuff to make it work."
Tash Rook
One of the most popular places to get pierced right now is floating in the middle of the cartilage. It's so new that "there's a lot of piercer discrepancy as to what that area is called," Tauber explains. "You can call it the flat of the ear, but here, we call it Tash rook." (A classic rook is slightly lower, on the inward ridge.)
The best part of the Tash rook? A single hole allows for a major statement or a subtle touch, depending on what jewelry you select. "This is one of our opal tree flower garlands," Tauber says, "It's one of my favorite pieces right now because it brings in different colors."
On the other side of the spectrum is the Tash rook adorned with a subtle star. "She was worried about being too flashy with her jewelry, so we settled on doing a more minimal piercing, but with fun placements," Tauber says. "We did the little hoop in her conch and then we did the little star up top to give that last little pop of something different. It's a flat piece so you don't really see it when she's looking straight on, but when she turns a little bit, it catches light."
Orbital
Another growing trend is the orbital. That is, two holes that hold the same hoop. (Not to be confused with the industrial, which is two holes that hold the same bar.)
"The popularity of orbitals come and go in waves," Tauber says, noting that it was a hit on a recent work trip to Hong Kong, and is having a major uptick in New York, too. "A lot of people have been converting their second and third holes into orbital holes, to use them in a way that's a little more unique. You can always just have a piercer slide a ring between the two holes to create that look."
Orbitals work on the cartilage, too. "We had done one of those cartilage piercings previously, and she had taken it out and wanted to do something a little bit different," Tauber says. "I was like, 'Alright, let's give you an orbital up there.' She didn't really understand, but she gave me a bit of free range, and I love the uniqueness of [it]."
Constellation
Running out of room is a common issue among clients. "This client liked a bigger effect, and he wanted to keep it going," Tauber says. When that happens, picking the right jewels is key, so not to look cluttered or chaotic. Tauber did this fourth piercing, opting for a piece that flows, not competes. "The circle copies the ring he wears up top, so it works really well," he says.
Constellations look just as cool with hoops as studs. "We did three hoops to build space between her second and top hole," Tauber says. "It has that feeling of minimalism, so it's not hitting too aggressive, even with all the piercings."
Daith
Here the daith, with a spiked hoop for maximum impact, balances her constellation piercings. "She had a lot going on, and I wanted to bring it around full circle," Tauber says.
Helix
"This is a take on the classic helix piercing," Tauber says. "People are always revisiting their piercings, so just doing a simple little one above it or below it creates something special."
Forward Helix
Similar to the classic helix, but on the front of the ear, think of this as the helix's subtle cousin. "It's easy to hide this one, depending on how your hair falls," Tauber points out. "You can actually choose when you want to show it off, and when you don't want to show it off, so it becomes more of a private piercing."
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Blame the fact that ponytails are trending or that scrunchies have made a full-blown comeback, but this sweaty season, we're trying to make the most of our updos. Braids? Yes, please. Half-ups? Cool for the summer. Topknots, baby bangs, ribbon headbands that would make Blair Waldorf proud? We're here for it all.
Which is why we're loving Hollywood's recent flock to a new minimalist, yet undeniably elegant hair trend: jewel-adorned hair accessories. Pearl-studded bobby pins and tiny crystals have been seen on everyone from up-and-coming starlets like Lily James, as well as red-carpet mainstays like Kate Mara and Yara Shahidi, who rocks them with her braids.
However ho-hum you're feeling with your go-to hairstyle, there's a jeweled hair piece to tastefully jazz it up — and all you have to do is put a pin on it. Click ahead for all our favorites.
For the Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again premiere, Lily James paired her princess-y white-and-blue strapless ball gown with an equally ethereal-meets-bohemian look. Hairstylist Ben Skervin worked the actress's long blonde hair into a loose, wavy half-up style, adorned with delicate pearl hairpins by Jennifer Behr.
This topknot, featuring a base studded with silver Kela hair accessories, would look killer with an equally-sparkly eye.
Photo: Via @maneaddicts.
If you don't want your tousled low-do to look sloppy, then try slipping on a piece like the Hardware Ponytail Piece from Jen Atkin's fourth Chloe + Isabel collection.
Photo: Via @jenatkinhair.
The most exciting aspect of this trend is that it works for all hair types. If you want to stick a few beauties from the Multi-Crystal Pin Set (these are from Atkin's new collection, too) in your 'fro, just make sure that your hair is moisturized to avoid snags.
While research from the last few decades shows college enrollment was much higher for children of higher-income families, as of 2016, lower-income children are enrolling at a higher rate than ever before. Cassandra Pernia is one such case, and she's made it her life's mission to always pay it forward. In partnership with SoFi, we're proud to bring you Cassandra's inspiring and triumphant story, as told to Melissa Kravitz.
I grew up in South Jersey in a suburban town called Washington Township, where I lived with my three siblings and my single mom. My mom was an undocumented immigrant who came here from the Philippines in 1981, when she was 19 years old. She came to visit family and ended up staying to take care of them. For over 30 years, her immigration status was a big family secret, but her green card finally went through last summer — after eight years of me petitioning — so I can finally talk about it.
My mom worked as a nurse and even ran a successful nurses agency. But after 9/11, identification laws got stricter, so she had to close her business. She did whatever she could to help support us — nannying or cleaning houses. Whatever business connection she could utilize in order to make money for us, she used.
We frequently moved into different homes and would often be separated between multiple homes of aunts and uncles across South Jersey. My family has always been really close and taken care of each other, but the politics of money still exist. And we were always the ones without it. As much as I was grateful to have a home and shelter to be in, at times I didn’t feel equal: I had to earn my keep and prove my worth to ensure I had somewhere to stay. I’d help cook and clean, stay up studying until 3 or 4 a.m., and then go to school the next morning. Through everything, I knew this much: Education was going to get us out of our situation.
Education was going to get us out of our situation.
Going to college was never a question in my mind. My mother sacrificed a lot to keep us in a district with good public education. Since we had no money, I worked hard through middle school and high school, getting good grades and taking honors and AP courses to help propel me to this goal. Nothing was going to stop me.
At one point when I was applying to schools, my great aunt sat me down and asked me why I was applying to colleges while I was poor. She equated money with opportunity and believed that since I was poor, college was an unrealistic goal. Sure, money creates feasibility, but I studied too damn hard to not go to college. That conversation put a fire in me to prove her wrong.
Being the first of my siblings to go through the financial-aid process was a journey. There was a lot to figure out. With my mother’s legal status, a big concern was having to include her information on the forms. Would she get in trouble because she was undocumented? Would they find and deport her? We were scared about submitting our information but knew that without financial aid, there wouldn't really be a chance for me to attend school. Luckily, my mother had a valid social security and had been filing taxes, so everything processed successfully and I was approved.
I applied to every school that I wanted to get into, looking at which scholarships and grants I could obtain, which would ultimately dictate where I would enroll. I ended up getting into a state school, which thankfully offered to cover tuition and room and board.
While the major costs were taken care of, I still needed to buy books and food. I was also leaving my younger siblings in different households and didn’t know the best way to help, financially and emotionally, if I wasn’t around. Despite those concerns, I took everything I owned out of my aunt’s house, moved into the dorms, and figured out how to live from my new home.
Illustrated by Paola Delucca.
I was lucky enough to get into a student leadership program that provided jobs for students and moved up fairly quickly. I started working at a café and got promoted to facilities manager, helping my family with the income I made from the on-campus program. Initially, I wanted to study business and planned to major in economics and finance, but I fell in love with women’s studies and the way the theory makes you consider a problem in different ways. I switched my double major to econ and women’s studies. After summers interning at Merrill Lynch and Goldman Sachs, I was hired at Goldman following graduation.
If this were a movie, it would end right there — but reality didn’t. I was the first one in my family to graduate from college, and I wanted to find a way to support them and bring us together. I had landed a good job and was making a decent salary for a recent grad, but it was still tough to disperse that across a family of five (my mom and three siblings). On top of that, I had loans I had taken out while in college to help with various expenses that I needed to start paying back. I also took on the hefty process and legal fees for my mom’s green card (helping her become a legal citizen was one of my biggest goals upon graduating).
It was a struggle for a while, paying bills and loans while also supporting my family and living check to check. Something needed to change, so I began researching debt solutions. I came across SoFi about four years ago and made the decision to consolidate and refinance my student loans. They had offered me a low interest rate and quicker pathway to a debt-free life. After consolidating my loans into one, I was able to see an end goal: I'd be completely done paying them off by 2020.
My whole dream is being able to pay it forward. Beyond my immediate family, a big group of my friends are marginalized women, and we want to find ways to support each other in business ventures that we want to launch. We’ll do that through micro financing, which is essentially funding a project through a community, so everyone has a stake and wants it to succeed. When the first venture becomes profitable, we’ll then invest those funds into the next project. The first idea we have, which we’re still developing, is creating an event space and networking opportunities for queer women, because there’s not enough of that in New York City. We want to connect marginalized people who may not come from a background where you can just borrow money to start your own projects. We can all support each other in getting our ideas accomplished.
My whole dream is being able to pay it forward.
If I hadn’t gone to university, where I was surrounded by people from different backgrounds and spaces of the world, my mind wouldn’t have been opened to all the ways that you can do things and who you can do them with. My mom had everything against her — she was an undocumented single mom raising four kids with no support. My drive to always want to do something, no matter how impossible it seems, comes from her, and I thank her every day for always believing in me, pushing me to get an education, and encouraging my dreams.
In this current climate we're in, there are tons of people with similar obstacles in their way: first generation, low income, minority (and for me in particular, queer and a daughter of an undocumented parent). But the truth is, all of us will face obstacles, and we will always find a way through. For me, finishing my education was the first of many major milestones that have allowed me to move forward in my career and life. With each new step, there were countless times where it would have been easier to turn back around and give up, but having the belief that anything is possible if you think positively and work hard kept me going.
My personal journey has motivated me to pay it forward and find ways to help those who don't feel they have the “necessary upbringing,” network, money, or other advantages to achieve their goals. I want people to know that nothing should ever hold you back — not your status, background, lack of income, or fear of debt. If you follow your dream, you will achieve it.
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There's no denying that Britney Spears is a pop icon, whether you realized it early (say, in 1998 after her first single "...Baby One More Time") or closer to 2018, a full 20 years later. And like many celebs, she's an olfactory mastermind with a slew of scents under her belt... but her latest perfume release breaks the mold in a whole new way.
In 2004, the singer created her first fragrance, named Curious, a white floral scent still available today, and since then she's launched a total of 23 fragrances, more than Beyoncé, Taylor Swift, and Ariana Grande. That number went up to 24 today with the release of her latest, Prerogative, but this one is special.
Prerogative is a little different than the rest because it's formulated for everyone. That is, it's genderless, or unisex. Of course, for us, all perfume is unisex, whether it says so or not (wear what you want, people!) but we can't ignore that this is a smart move on her part towards a more inclusive world.
It's no coincidence that in April, Spears was given the Vanguard Award at the GLAAD Media Awards. When the news broke she'd be receiving the honor, Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, said Spears was "a force in the music world who has used her global platform to share messages of love and acceptance, something that the world needs today more than ever." Prerogative's message is one of solidarity, too. Spears told People that the name is all about empowerment, confidence, and embracing what we all deserve: freedom without judgement.
It's a bit ironic that the fragrance smells like a compilation of Spears' past scents, especially considering the fact that the perfume's name is after the Bobby Brown cover that led off Spear's Greatest Hits. It's spicy, velvety, and woody with notes of saffron, santal, and amberwood, while still smelling like a sexy Jolly Rancher. (So, it's Spears to its core.) The only thing that makes it even more on-brand for the pop star is that she released a campaign to go along with the launch, one she's been teasing on Twitter and Instagram all week.
While many fans are still begging for more music (same) on social media today, everyone else seems to have already sped off to Walmart to snag their own bottle, which comes in three sizes, plus a body mist. Now, excuse us while we go do the same.
Britney Spears Prerogative Eau de Parfum Spray 30 ml, $32, available at Walmart and at Kohl's in August.
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Just when we thought Kylie Jenner couldn’t get any more hype (because why would being on track to become the youngest self-made billionaire be the sole magnum opus?), her GQ cover, where she poses alongside Travis Scott, her partner (and the father of her daughter, Stormi), managed to do just that. Not only did their unexpectedly normal behavior throughout the interview manage to intrigue the masses, but the imagery gave us the slight inclination that we may have finally found an iconic celebrity couple to attach our hopes and dreams to. One look at the pair's GQ shoot and any fan of beloved '70s power couple Jane Birkin and Serge Gainsbourg will notice the striking similarity to some of their most famous editorials. Given that we're all still mourning the end of their 13-year rendezvous 50 years later, the immediate tweets comparing the two #iconic couples are resonating with us deeply.
kylie jenner and travis scott took inspiration from jane birkin serge gainsbourg <3 pic.twitter.com/2q7wvyJvVI
Really though, their stories aren't — dare we say — too different. Both Kylie Jenner and Jane Birkin were introduced to motherhood at a young age — Kylie at 20, Jane at 21. The famous females also experienced messy break-ups directly prior to meeting their celebrity counterparts, with Jenner ending her two-year-long relationship with rapper Tyga only a mere weeks before making things "Instagram official" with Travis Scott courtside during an NBA playoff game in April 2017. Meanwhile, Birkin had only been divorced from English composer John Barry for a couple of months before meeting Gainsbourg on the set of Slogan in 1968. Not to mention the fact that both couples didn't take long to start families of their own — even if unintentionally.
With numerous similarities between these decades-apart couples, it comes as no surprise that stylist Madeleine Weeks and GQ creative director Will Welch would make the connection. Sure, it's not the first comparison we'd make, but it's pretty difficult to deny the similarities in both their relationships and their influence. Plus, it's not all that unusual for a magazine to recreate old images with a present-day twist, especially when there are relevant connections between the subjects (which, again, we don't make the rules, but there are!). That, and who wouldn't want to mimic a scantily-clad Jane Birkin at least once or twice?
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Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Today: an assistant to a VP working at a think tank who makes $45,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on sushi.
Occupation: Assistant to VP Industry: Think Tank Age: 22 Location: Washington, D.C. Salary: $45,000 Paycheck Amount (Biweekly): $1,413.20
Monthly Expenses Rent: $946 for my bedroom, plus utilities. (I live with two roommates in a three-bedroom, two-bathroom apartment. We just renewed our lease, so my share of rent will go up about $40-50/month.) Student Loan Payment: $298.14 Health Insurance: $0 (I’m still covered under my parents' insurance. Thanks, Obama!) Dental Insurance: $4.68 Aaptiv: $9.99 (I'll likely switch to an annual subscription to save money, since I use it often!) Spotify: $9.99 Savings: ~$250 YNAB: $15 (I pay for an annual membership, but budget monthly so that the annual renewal isn't it a shock.) Amazon: $15 (Same as above.) Metro Pass: $99 (My work reimburses $65 at the end of each month.) 403(b): ~$75 (My company matches 6% of my salary each year.)
Day One
9 a.m. — Wake up time! I spend some time on my phone, catching up on social media and lounging, but my LSAT is next week, so I want to spend today studying. After a quick shower, it's time for breakfast! I fry eggs, toast Trader Joe's Tuscan Pane bread, and toss on some garlic salt. With a banana, it's a really filling breakfast. I put frozen ground beef in the fridge to defrost for lunch and dinner.
11:15 a.m. — I grab a venti chai from Starbucks using my reward. Then I head up to my building's lobby, which gets great light, and is usually quiet except for the dogs that walk past on their way out to the park. I spread out my books and get to work.
1 p.m. — I've done a good hour of studying and a good 30 minutes of goofing off and catching up with friends. Oops! I try to make this break a productive one and check my budgeting app, YNAB, to make sure all my upcoming bills are scheduled or paid in advance. I'm really trying to save up, since I have law school applications and some financial fogginess coming up next year. I'm paying off my student loans with my parents' help, so I don't want to ask them for anything once law school comes around. My mom texts me a "good luck studying" note, and I smile. I'm heading home this month for a shore/beach weekend with my family, and I'm very excited.
2:40 p.m. — My roommate joins me to study, since she's taking the LSAT, too! I need a quick break after all these practice sets though, so I head to our apartment, use the bathroom, and make a quick snack of toast, goat cheese, and an apple. Yum.
6 p.m. — Way too hungry, so I make a big batch of pasta! I toss together mushrooms, garlic, onions, ground beef from earlier, sauce, and spinach leaves I have in the fridge so that I can eat them before they get too wilted. I eat dinner while watching A Series of Unfortunate Events, which was my favorite book series growing up. My roommates are cleaning the kitchen while I eat, and it's kind of annoying me — I don't know what it is, but I'm annoyed by everything today! I'm also only on week one of my birth control pills, which might be part of why I'm sitting here stewing.
7:45 p.m. — I head to my room to finish cleaning out my closet. I still can't figure out what's going on in my head, so I text my all-knowing best friend, my mom. It's scary how mom powers work even hundreds of miles away. She helps me figure out why I'm stressed and reminds me to journal more often. We talk about the breakup I just went through a couple days ago and how disappointed I am, because I really liked him and saw so much potential in us. It turns into a fun talk about my sex life (like actually, fun!) and how she's proud of me for initiating conversations when I'm not enjoying sex. It's a really good talk, and I miss her a lot. Before I know it, an hour passes by.
10:30 p.m. — Done cleaning out my closet! I vacuum, iron, and then start winding down for the night. I do my usual night routine of micellar water, double cleansing, and brushing my teeth, but throw in a face mask too, since it's Sunday night. While my mask is on, I turn on my humidifier and add tea tree oil.
11:15 p.m. — Time to sleep! I have an early start tomorrow, so I pass out much earlier than usual.
Daily Total: $0
Day Two
6:30 a.m. — Okay, time to get up. Vitamin time! I'm super stressed, so I make sure to take extra vitamin B and C. I get dressed and head to my building's gym for a quick workout.
7:35 a.m. — Finish my workout a little bit earlier than expected, so I have time to eat breakfast. I fry an egg, make toast, and cut up mangoes. Then I prepare my lunch for the day, hop in the shower, and get ready.
8:20 a.m. — Out the door! I can take my building's elevator straight down to the Metro, so it's a quick walk. My ride is covered by my monthly Metro pass, which I've already purchased for the month.
1:20 p.m. — Whoops, the morning flies by! We have an all-staff meeting and then I pick up a venti latte ($4.25, my usual from Starbucks on really busy days). For lunch, I have leftovers from last night, plus a banana, and go into one of our quiet rooms to study for the LSAT. $4.25
5:30 p.m. — And I'm out! I told myself I'd leave at 5:30 p.m. every day this week so I can study and get in some downtime. It's been a very busy but productive day, and I wonder if it's because I worked out this morning.
7 p.m. — Old Navy is having a sale, and I find that their petite sizes usually fit me very well, so I pick up a summer romper, a light jacket that I can wear to work, and two white tops! If they don't fit me well, I'll return them later. $84.78
7:40 p.m. — Roommate is home, and we catch up while heading over to Chick-fil-A for dinner! We get back just in time to watch The Bachelorette. We're not fans of this season, but that doesn't stop us from watching and dishing. $7.12
9:35 p.m. — The Bachelorette always takes too long, so I get up and listen from the kitchen as I prep lunch for tomorrow! I chop up mangoes as a snack, and check through the produce I bought to decide what to eat first. I also put frozen chicken in the fridge to defrost overnight so I can put it in marinade tomorrow morning.
10:50 p.m. — In bed and ready to knock out. Talking to a cute boy from Tinder, but I think I'll leave it to him to ask me out.
Daily Total: $96.15
Day Three
6:35 a.m. — Wooo, vitamin and workout time! I do a quick 10-minute HIIT run on the elliptical because I feel especially tight and need to focus more on stretching today.
7:30 a.m. — Breakfast is Greek yogurt, strawberries, honey, and chocolate almond granola — all Trader Joe's, unsurprisingly. I toss Soyaki sauce in with the defrosted chicken to marinate for dinner tonight and grab my lunch on my way out the door.
11 a.m. — This is the first time I've sat down all day! I snack on a muffin and drink coffee, all free from work.
12:45 p.m. — Lunchtime! I have more leftovers from Sunday, plus the mango. And the office has cookies, so I nab some. More studying.
4:30 p.m. — I eat a bite of another cookie. I've only had four sips of coffee today, which really surprises me, since I usually need more. I chalk it up to my early morning run and yoga. I also ask this Tinder boy out, because why wait if I know I'm interested??
5:30 p.m. — I feel so great and productive today! I knock out a to-do list and feel like my boss and I got a ton done on projects. She compliments me for taking the lead on finance-related problems we've been facing. Perfect time for my feel good playlist as I commute home.
6:45 p.m. — After an hour of chilling, I stir-fry the teriyaki chicken and add in some bok choy. Yum. I eat quickly and settle down to study more.
9:50 p.m. — I'm pretty mentally exhausted, so I head to my room to relax before bed but realize my laundry basket is overflowing — so I start a cycle that I can dump out when I wake up tomorrow morning.
10:15 p.m. — Time for a luxurious shower and mask! I also check my budgeting app and update it with expenses from the weekend. So far, so good.
Daily Total: $0
Day Four
6:25 a.m. — I beat my alarm! Time for a quick run and rooftop yoga, and lots of stretching. I'm feeling tight all over.
7:35 a.m. — Breakfast time: eggs and toast with garlic salt — the kind from Trader Joe's is killer. I also pack snacks and my lunch: the last of my leftover pasta, cheddar, an apple, salami, and more bread to toast.
8:25 a.m. — Off to work! The Metro is running on time today, thankfully.
9:45 a.m. — My boss let me know she'll be late, and a good third of our team is out sick today! It's gorgeous out so I take a walk with my best friend, who I recently hired to join our team. We grab iced mochas from my favorite coffee shop. $4.38
2:45 p.m. — So a guy I dated for a bit just applied for a job at my organization...and wrote in his application that one of my coworkers referred him. I go over to have a quick talk with my coworker, because the guy in question ghosted me and then resurfaced months later to ask me if I could help him get a job here. No way in hell.
3:20 p.m. — I stress-eat a cookie.
5:30 p.m. — My eyebrows look terrible and I need them threaded, STAT. The closest eyebrow place to me is super expensive, and the next closest is the cheapest, but worst quality. So I take a 20-minute walk to a quality one that also doesn't charge too much. $17
6:30 p.m. — My best friend lives nearby, so we catch up over dinner at McDonald's! She just started a new job, so we talk about that and just life in general. She makes fun of me for already having a date set just two weeks after my break up...oops. But she also tells me that that dude lost out because I'm more attractive than him. Yes, I am shallow, and yes, I thank her for that compliment. What else are friends for? $7.74
8:47 p.m. — Time flies by way too quickly, so I grab an Uber home! I'm exhausted. $4.12
9:15 p.m. — I have just enough time to get another load of laundry in, so I take out last night's and toss another in. I set it out to hang dry before I go to bed. I watch Sex and the City and promptly fall asleep at 11:30.
Daily Total: $33.24
Day Five
6:15 a.m. — Beat my alarm again! I don't think I can exert a lot of energy today, so I compromise and do yoga and stretching outside. My upper body is super tense, so I remind myself to get a massage this weekend.
7:20 a.m. — Breakfast of eggs and toast. Yum! And I get a notification that my order from Old Navy from earlier this week has shipped!
8:20 a.m. — My boss texts to let me know that she'll be out sick today, so today will be chill, which I'm happy about.
9:15 a.m. — Just remembered it's our intern's first day, so actually — not that chill of a day. But our internet is down, so I get to spend 45 minutes studying!
12:15 p.m. — Lunchtime! I grab lunch from a nearby Japanese place with coworkers. I get baked chilled salmon with brown rice, furikake, seaweed, pickled onions, and some sweet potatoes. I cover my friends' bills, and they Venmo me for their shares immediately. I love friends like that. $12.15
4:30 p.m. — I hit a wall and I'm nowhere close to productive, so I head home. I take a quick nap and then it's dinner time.
7 p.m. — I pull out my LSAT book and do more practice. It's hard — I'm not totally mentally there, and my score is atrocious.
9:15 p.m. — Time flies by super quickly when you're freaking out about your future! I text my best friend, who calms me down and provides updates on the Caps game. We could win the Stanley Cup tonight, but I'm not too big of a hockey fan, so my excitement over this is quite low.
11:30 p.m. — I fold up my clean laundry and watch more Sex and the City. I hate that I'm into this show, because I disagree with so much of it. I knock out shortly after. Oh, and the Capitals win!
Daily Total: $12.15
Day Six
6:35 a.m. — I'm a bit late to my alarm today, but remind myself that I need a cardio day…so up I get! I do a HIIT run on the elliptical and my heart is beating so fast that I lift a little bit while I'm at it too. I leave the gym feeling exhausted but accomplished.
7:20 a.m. — Roommate is in the bathroom, so I head to the living room with my laptop and catch up on bills. I set up auto pay on my credit card, and it pays my bill off entirely each month. This month, I paid $1,345. I also see that I was refunded returns I sent back two weeks ago from Old Navy and J Crew (+$164.57). I take the time to update my YNAB app with transactions, and then transfer funds over to my savings account with enough leftover for my automatic debit to student loan payments.
8:20 a.m. — I have just enough time to fry an egg for breakfast! I don't worry about lunch later today, since I have plans with a coworker.
8:40 a.m. — Head over to my new optometrist for my annual exam. It's a five-minute walk away, which is super convenient. I finish up an hour later with no change in my prescription, an $89 copay, and a quote for $140 for an annual supply of contacts. I pay the copay, but tell them I'll call back if I don't get a better price on contacts. They tell me that if I get my contacts through them, I'll receive a $50 rebate — so $179 in total for my annual exam and a supply of contacts. Not too bad, especially since it'll be covered by my FSA. I get the contacts. $179
9:45 a.m. — Finally get to work! I already know it'll be an insane day, so I pick up Starbucks before I get in, which I pay for using rewards on my app.
1 p.m. — Yep, confirmed to be a crazy day! My boss and the team have a trip to New York on Monday, which I won't be joining because of the LSAT. We're pulling together memos, briefings, travel, and all sorts of logistics documents. My coworker graciously pays for my lunch, as we took on a lot of her work this week while she was out sick. I get a mushroom melt.
4:15 p.m. — My boss brought in Krispy Kreme, and I saved my favorite kind of donut for my afternoon sugar rush. YUM!
5:45 p.m. — I'm heading out on a date with the guy I asked out earlier this week! I'm running late, but luckily, he is too. My work BFF laughs at me because she can tell I'm hiding that it's a date. I walk over, because it's nice out and I need air. I meet him at the bar, and he doesn't look like his photo. Hmm... He covers our drinks.
8 p.m. — I take him to my favorite bar in the city because fuck it, I want a good cocktail. He recently moved to the city and is impressed by my career. Then he starts complimenting me, and goes in for the kiss — but I don't do well with compliments or kissing in public, so I'm a little put off.
10 p.m. — Well, I'm not so put off anymore, because I take him to another bar, where I have a breakdown about the LSAT. Oops...I think I've decided that I just want to hook up with him, so I ask him to head back to my place. I know I shouldn't have had this much to drink before the LSAT next week, but I'm stressed and kind of just need to indulge in some physical stuff.
11:50 p.m. — In the Uber back to my place, he breaks to me that it's his birthday — um, what??? At this point I kind of just let it pass. I don't want to spend too much time thinking about that, and honestly, it's just a hook up.
Daily Total: $179
Day Seven
5:30 a.m. — Both of our internal clocks wake us up, and he heads home to pick up his car and then drive to another town an hour away. It's kind of a boring goodbye. I'm not sure that I want to see him again.
8 a.m. — After I sleep a bit more, I debrief with my friend about everything that went down. We decide that I should give him another chance, maybe post-LSAT, but in all honesty, I kind of just want to get laid and I'm not really into the dating thing right now. This is also the first time in almost a year that I'm not dating someone, so it's a very needed break.
10 a.m. — I finally roll out of bed and decide to scrounge around for breakfast, and then make a note to treat myself to lunch or dinner. The pool in my building is open today and I still haven't gone since it's opened, so I change into a new bikini I got last month and eat apples, cheddar, goat cheese, and bread for breakfast.
12:45 p.m. — After spending a couple hours at the pool, I'm starting to get hungry. I was planning on grabbing sushi for dinner, but my favorite sushi place by my apartment closes at 4, so I decide to switch it up and grab sushi for lunch instead. The rolls are cheap by D.C. standards, so I grab a special roll and a salmon/avocado roll. $15.85
6:35 p.m. — I take a quick nap on the couch after my sushi. I feel guilty about not studying, but I'll catch up later tonight. I text my friends a bit and then microwave leftovers from earlier in the week.
8:35 p.m. — I've given up on studying, so I plop on the couch and plan for the week ahead and my post-LSAT life. I snack on dark chocolate-covered mangoes, which I bought in bulk from Costco. I forgot that I have a birthday party to go to tonight, but I'm so exhausted, that it's out of the question. I also text the dude from last night, asking him to come over…
9:45 p.m. — Whoops, he comes over to hang out! We end up not doing anything and just talk for a couple hours or so. He presumes that he's sleeping over, which I find a bit weird. I'm not sure, but I can tell that I'm not feeling it, so I make my feelings clear to him.
11:30 p.m. — He heads back home and I thankfully get my bed to myself for the night. I take some time to meditate and journal, since I feel antsy and I know this will help me chill out. I also make a plan for the last day before my LSAT — I know I'll feel nervous and will likely want to do some practice, so I make a note to allow myself an hour to do a couple practice sections, but nothing more!! Then I watch Parks and Rec, my favorite cheer up show.
Daily Total: $15.85
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1. Have you ever been in a job you couldn’t stand but couldn’t quit? Did you write an elaborate quitting fantasy in your mind to pass the time? Maybe you’d finally tell your boss your honest opinion. Perhaps, you daydreamed of finally calling out your co-worker who takes credit for your ideas. If this is you, we want to hear from you! Email us here to share your most elaborate quitting fantasy and how you actually quit.
2. If you decided a spur of the moment trip the court house was more your vibe than a traditional wedding, we want to hear your story. More specifically, how much did eloping cost you? We all know that today’s weddings can range from a sweet, backyard ceremony all the way to costing than a law degree. Tell us why you chose to elope for a chance to be featured on the site.
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If we could live in out of office beachwear all day everyday, we 100% would. Whimsical tiered midi dresses, linen palazzo pants that don't constrict your legs, clothing that's as easy and breezy as we wish our surrounding were. But while our 9-to-5 typically doesn't allow room for potentially see-through skirts and little white tops, our after hours definitely do.
That's kind of the allure of a good crochet dress. Once relegated to an era of bygone authentic hippies, crocheted clothing has transcended past the boho looks of the '90s and early '00s and D.I.Y. Etsy stores, and straight into designer collections. Paired over a slip in place of a bikini, this vacation staple can live right at home on a rooftop happy hour. Just be sure to steer clear of overly-done halter top maxi cuts or matching it with a wicker bag — we're trying to emulate our vacation looks, not replicate them.
To instantly transport yourself from cityscape to beachside cabana, shop the 16 crochet picks ahead.
There’s a lot of product out there, some would say too much. No doubt this has left you with an overwhelming set of questions about the latest must-haves. Luckily we’ve got answers. At Refinery29 we are here to help you navigate this epic world of stuff. All of our editorial market is independently selected and curated by the team. But if you buy something we link to on our site Refinery29 may earn commission.
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For some, a lipstick is just a lipstick. But for others, it's a source of strength, creativity, and expression. In our seriesPower Faces, we'll explore the relationship between strong women and the makeup they choose to wear — or not. Our latest subject,Leia Immanuel, is a high school freshman and Instagram influencer living in New York.
I got acne really early, when I was 10 or 11. None of my friends had breakouts yet, and I felt really weird about it, so my initial reaction was to cover it up with as much makeup as I could find. At first it was one pimple, then more and more started coming, and I'd end up caking my entire face in makeup, which didn't look good at all — but I thought it looked better.
Around a year ago, I just got tired of covering my acne. I didn’t want to put any more makeup on and I thought, This isn’t good for my skin anyway, it’s just making it worse. I felt like I was feeding into it, too, because I’d cover up my entire face with concealer, and I would get Instagram comments saying, "I wish I had perfect skin like you, I wish I was as perfect as you." And that made me feel bad about myself because I was like, That’s not true, I have really bad skin, I’m just covering it up.
Photographed by Lia Clay.
Baring It All One day I just posted my face with no makeup, and I was like, By the way, I have pretty bad skin, and I think that’s okay, and I think you should feel okay with that, too. I had no idea it would happen, but that totally blew up. I got so many comments and messages saying how that post had helped people. I’m not trying to say that I shouldn’t cure my acne because it looks pretty or something. I’m trying to say that, as a teen, it’s just a part of growing up, and it shouldn’t take over people’s lives or be at the forefront of what people judge them on.
The attitude toward acne is definitely getting better because of all the online forums that work toward accepting skin no matter what it looks like, and all the campaigns that I've been fortunate enough to participate in. There’s still some underlying work to do, but I really have noticed a change in how people behave because of what’s online. I don’t want to say that I started an acne-acceptance movement, but I do think I took part in making it bigger after my initial post.
I’ve definitely gotten comments saying like, Oh, ugly girls are trying to convince us otherwise, or calling me "tomato face" and things like that. Surprisingly, it doesn’t really bother me; it’s a skin condition, and if people are willing to judge you based off what you look like rather than who you are, it says more about them than it does about you. People make rude comments, but it doesn’t degrade me because it’s not the truth. It’s just their ignorant opinion, and I should pity them, not feel bad about myself.
Photographed by Lia Clay.
Show Who You Are I don’t cover up my acne anymore, unless I’m doing a really intense makeup look — then I’ll cover it up because I’m not trying to look like my natural self, I’m trying to look like something else. Makeup is such a useful tool for self-expression. You can let your face be the canvas and make yourself look like art. It's more of an art to me than something that’s a necessity.
Change is really important for me — not just internally, but externally, I’m always trying to find a new makeup look or a new hair color. It’s really fun for me to see all the different possibilities of who you can be physically. It helps you find out who you are, and what your identity really is. The way I see it, there’s no limit.
When I first started using Instagram, before I started with the acne thing, it was just something I’d do on the side — I'd post a photo hanging out with my friends or doing a new makeup look. After I saw the impact that people said I had on them, that’s when I realized I really have power. If you have the opportunity to have a platform and a community that you built, why not use it and show who you are?
Photographed by Lia Clay.
Instagram For Good My acne is getting a lot better, so it’s not like I can post every day about a new breakout or something. I definitely know that I’ve had an impact, and I’m never going to stop spreading what I have to say, even if I don’t have acne anymore. I have a lot of people that direct message me, and I try to answer as many as I can.
I’m just trying to find the balance between living my life and putting what I want out there. It’s really important for me not to get caught up in what I look like for one day or how many followers I have. I want to put out the most raw, unfiltered content so that I can be my truest self and help others.
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We're all for letting our hair hang loose, whether it's a sleek blowout,movie star waves, or big curls. But sometimes, a modern updo, bun, or pony is the best way to make a scene. If you need proof, look at any red carpet this year. Yara Shahidi, Meghan Markle, Tracee Ellis Ross and more are sweeping their hair back (either partially or all the way) so that the paps could really get a good look at their gorgeous gowns and accessories.
In turn, they gave us a fresh new take on the styles we know, love, and are possibly wearing at this very moment. There's no way that we're ever going to give up our favorite swinging, bouncy, or sleek styles... but it might be worth skipping to DIY the styles ahead — especially on rushed mornings. Just sayin'.
The Wavy Half-Up Kahh Spence gave Ella Mai some serious texture, complete with sleek edges and a wrapped ponytail to keep her hair off her face.
Photo: Via @kahhspence.
The Chainlink Braid "I did this braid using four different pieces of hair," Felicia Leatherwood captioned of Issa Rae's updo. "This has become my favorite type of braid to do."
Photo: Via @lovingyourhair.
The 70-Inch Stunner Granted, you don't have to go as long as J.Lo — but Chris Appleton says that the style is easy to do at any length. "It's all in the placement," he says. "It makes all the difference."
Photo: Via @chrisappleton1.
Victory Twists Don't be skeptical about a style like this (as seen on Zoe Kazan) lasting all night. Hairstylist Adir Abergel once suggested using bobby pins misted with hairspray to lock in the throwback style. "It mattifies them and keeps them in place," he says.
Photo: Taylor Hill/Getty Images.
The Cool Girl Mullet Susan Kelechi Watson, who's slowly but surely becoming our curl crush of this red carpet season, piled her hair in a half bun and let the rest of her straight ponytail hang down, giving us a refreshing texture two-for-one.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
The Fakeout If you've got a pixie (like Jaimie Alexander's) but don't want to wait for it to grow out, then grab your pins and holding gel and get to slicking. Insider tip: Creating defined parts and various amounts of volume helps fake an intricate updo.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage.
The Boss Bun Whoever said that this style was strictly for the office is sadly mistaken. Yara Shahidi pulled back her wondrous head of curls into this low key down-do, which allowed her dress and accessories to take center stage.
The Pineapple Not only is Ryen Michelle Bathe's high ponytail a way to display those danglers — she could also use it as an overnight protective style to preserve her curls for the next day. Smart woman.
Photo: David Crotty/Patrick McMullaN/Getty Images.
The Elegant Half-Up Leave it to Angelina Jolie to serve us with the most polished half-pony ever... served with a heaping dose of badass, thanks to those tats.
Photo: JEANBAPTISTE LACROIX/AFP/Getty Images.
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Aside from a production like the Met Gala, or the elaborate glam common for an award show like the Oscars, it seems like celebrities are taking it easier and easier when it comes to beauty this summer. Jhené Aiko, Zendaya, and Rihanna are among the stars who are so chill, they even do their own makeup and hair touchups for events and shows. With these lax vibes, it's only right that Hollywood's flocking to an equally-chill hairstyle: the jumbo braid.
Sure, this new style du jour looks fancy, but in reality, it only takes a few packs of hair, elastics, gel, and possibly an extra set of hands to stunt at any length. Even better? Most of the styles require minimal heat on your natural hair, which sacrifices the health of your hair and your time, too. Scroll on to see the look in action.
Vernon François created this massive, knotted rainbow braid for Amandla Stenberg at the BET Awards.
Photo: Earl Gibson III/Getty Images..
Luke Cage 's Simone Missick snatched her hair back to show off that out-of-this-world highlight.
Photo: Steve Granitz/WireImage..
For a smooth base like Susan Kelechi Watson's, gel your hair down and tie a scarf tightly around your hairline. Once that's secure, blowdry the perimeter until it's set.
Photo: Roy Rochlin/Getty Images..
Storm Reid 's braid featured a single twist at the base, decorated with hair cuffs.
Photo: Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic..
Essence Atkins assembled her box braids into a jumbo, three-strand plait.
Photo: Tiffany Rose/Getty Images..
Jennifer Lopez's braid, done by Chris Appleton, hung down at 70 inches. Yes, you read that right — that's 5'10"!
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You always want what you can’t have — especially when it comes to beauty products. That’s why we’re getting the inside scoop from your favorite retailers on what’s selling out right now, how to sign up for waitlists, and where to go to find the next best thing. Because if everyone’s buying it, you know it has to be good.
The idea of putting acids on your face sounds inherently dangerous — like, who in their right mind would do that? Well, a lot of people, particularly those who want to revive dull, tired skin. Certain acids, when used correctly, do exactly that, and they're not half as scary as the word itself. In fact, they're quite popular, thanks to their instant results in ridding clogged pores and yielding smoother, brighter skin.
Our proof? Peach & Lily's new Super Reboot Resurfacing Mask sold out in minutes upon its initial launch this week. We should've guessed that the star product from the beloved K-beauty authority's official — and first-ever! — skin-care collection would sell out: It's a soothing, lightweight jelly mask that resurfaces skin in just one use and looks pretty while it does the job, which has all the makings of an instant bestseller from the get-go.
But don't worry if you weren't able to snag the mask the first time around: There are plenty of alternatives that will help to hold you over until the new must-have is restocked. Our favorites, ahead.
"Reboot" is right: This retexturizing mask uses a blend of 10% AHA, 0.5% BHA, and blue agave to promote quicker cell turnover, leaving pores are unclogged and your face smoother than Sade's first album since 2010 is bound to sound. (Okay, maybe not that smooth.) Hyaluronic acid, centella asiatica ("cica " for short), chamomile, and aloe work to simultaneously smooth and hydrate skin — all reasons you'll want to get on the waitlist now.
With the highest AHA concentration on the market (25%!), this stuff is an editor-approved favorite — and for good reason. It buffs away bumps and rough patches of skin with ease, but without irritation. How? Since the brand eliminates most common skin irritators (including alcohol and fragrance) and maintains an ideal pH balance, you can rinse this stuff off and reveal brand-new skin without the fear of looking like Samantha Jones after an ill-researched facial.
What about hyperpigmentation or acne scars? Acids work for that, too — especially when combined with vitamin C. This formula is particularly gentle (a huge win for sensitive skin) because of its juicy blend of fruit acids, which refine skin without irritating it in the process. Bonus: This mask does double duty with a physical exfoliant made of crushed citrus fruits inside. Your glow awaits.
When we think of simple products that create big results, we immediately think of this. The most similar product to the Peach & Lily mask on the market, this alternative is your next-best option to finding a jelly mask that's lightweight but shockingly effective. In true Herbivore form, the formula pulls most of its natural acids from fruit enzymes, like papaya and pineapple. It also just looks really cool on, so Insta Story away.
Stubborn, congested skin doesn't stand a chance against this creamy mask, which is packed with Japanese beautyberry (a superfruit rich in antioxidants), two types of vitamin C, and AHAs from seven fruits.
This trendy watermelon masksold out when it first launched, too. And to no surprise, the anti-inflammatory, exfoliating ingredients are exactly why it's so damn popular (and that delicious pink color doesn't hurt, either). The best part? You can sleep in it without destroying your pillowcase. Lazy has never looked so good.
Ladies, your dream line-up of plus friendly swimwear has been brought to life. Bruna Malucelli and Katie Sturino have teamed up to create a pastel- and rainbow-hued collection of swimsuits in sizes 10-26 (L-XL). A long time coming, plus-size women are finally getting a dedicated swim collection that's as good as its size availability.
Brazilian label Bruna Malucelli has been hustling when it comes to size diversity. The swim line, which is widely known for its inclusive sizing and use of a wide array of models, produces some of the cutest designs out there (pom-poms anyone?). This time around, Malucelli's tapped into the creative energy of Katie Sturino, the popular plus-size fashion and lifestyle blogger behind The 12ish Style, who's also made an empire around her dog-mom status to Muppet, Pants, Cheese, and the late, world-famous Toast (R.I.P.). Together, they've come up with an exclusive 9-piece swimwear collection that's trendy without sacrificing fit. Of the partnership, Malucelli gushes, "I love the message [Katie] is sending to her followers — to feel confident and powerful, to show that you can wear basically anything no matter what size you are."
Sturino, who has been vocal as a Refinery29 contributor in the past, has made her woes of shopping as a plus-size woman well known. But for swimwear, she explains that the hardest part about finding a good bathing suit is, well, finding a good bathing suit. She tells R29: "Plus swimwear typically looks like it is made for a plus body, or like it is trying to hide something. I just want a suit that a non-plus size friend would want to buy too, not something I had to buy because nothing else was available." Malucelli adds her input about the lack of options available for curvy women. "We still have too few options in the swimwear market and when we do, they usually look like they're made for plus-size women," she says. "I don't believe women with curves want that, they want to have what other girls are wearing and they want many more options. Not something that screams plus-size only."
When it came to designing the collection, Sturino's primary mission was simple: "Coverage in the tops. I wanted to make sure that my girls would fit into the suits, rather than being at risk of popping out or have unintentional underboob. I also wanted to make sure the suits felt fun and celebratory rather than overly sexy or super covered up," she says. Clearly, this isn't Sturino's first rodeo when it comes to design; she debuted a plus-size capsule collection with Eloquii just last fall.
While Marucelli manages her own e-commerce site, the capsule collection will be exclusive to CoEdition, a recently launched fashion retail site dedicated to women sizes 10 and up. Part of its mission when it opened in March was to become a home for exclusive collaborations, and it's exciting to see them already delivering. Brooke Cundiff, one of CoEdition's co-founders, comments on its premiere collaboration: "CoEdition is a powerful platform to create change in the retail space, to serve a woman who has been ignored by traditional retailers. So, when we thought of our first collaboration, we naturally thought of Bruna and Katie. Katie is a great advocate for body positivity, size inclusivity, and great personal style. Our values align perfectly with Katie’s and we are thrilled to work with Bruna. Her Brazilian flair is perfect for CoEdition, and she has created unique and flattering designs that women will love." Marucelli adds: "I hope this collaboration can reach as many women as possible so they can see — and also ask — that many brands can include a bigger range of sizes for their lines."
Shop the full collection, which debuts on CoEdition today, ahead.
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Sinking your teeth into the tart, juicy flesh of a lemon might make your eyes tear. Applying its acidic pulp directly to your skin might destroy your moisture barrier. Squirting orange in your eye while cutting up slices might sting like hell. Squeezing a lime in the sunshine might land you with phytophotodermatitis, which is almost worth it for a fresh margarita not from concentrate. But the downsides end there: Citrus fruits taste good, smell good, and are good for you.
Key lime, Persian lime, lemon, mandarin orange, bitter orange, sweet orange, pomelo, tangerine; you name it, it's delicious, and has well-documented nutritional benefits, too. But a good citrus fragrance isn't easy to find. Capturing the bright, sunshine-y, happy-making essence of the real thing is a challenge that often results in something that smells more like Lysol than fresh-squeezed lemonade. But these few standouts really do citrus justice in evoking the real deal, not some bogus version of it that mostly just smells like someone cleaned the floors.
Fresh, effervescent, with a slight bite toward the end — the sensorial equivalent of chugging an ice-cold can of La Croix a little too fast. But the initial bitterness of the orange blossom quickly settles into something bright, warm, and earthy that sticks close to the skin and lingers, like squandering an entire summer day peeling and eating tart bigarades in the shade, fingers sticky and mind elsewhere.
This is a citrus with sex appeal, that spends its Saturday nights in the hot, dank basement of a swingers' club, a mouth-watering lemon laced with pepper, patchouli, and sandalwood that lingers in your clothes, your hair, your...
Citric zest gets softened by the addition of sweet, luminous honeysuckle to create a fragrance that smells like the sun, if it turned out that the sun had just been a big juicy pomelo in the sky all along.
A single whiff of this breezy, citrus-grove-on-the-Amalfi-Coast scent and you'll find yourself transported straight to Italy, even if you've never been to Italy. It's that evocative, all sparkling bergamot and blackcurrant before the heady, complex, slightly salty musk of the sun-bleached terra cotta by the beachfront rolls in like a wave. All that's missing is some limoncello.
The "recipe" for this fragrance is a lot like a boozy punch you'll see listed on a seasonal cocktail menu: concocted with seemingly incompatible ingredients, but you'll order it anyway because fuck it, it's summer, and then you're like, fuck, this is actually delicious, even though it's made with off-brand orange liqueur and white wine and mezcal and Peychaud's. In this case, it's pineapple and mandarin on first spritz, followed by lavender, amber, vanilla, and patchouli — and, like a very strong mixed drink, it'll go straight to your head.
The heat is on with this intoxicating scent, which starts as a gust of fresh, pulpy clementine and evolves into a deliciously smoky vetiver-and-sandalwood smolder, like sitting at a bonfire just over the border in Mexicali with a blood-orange margarita in one hand and a hand-rolled (tobacco) cigarette in the other.
The aftermath of #MeToo movement has meant we're finally seeing our representatives take the issue of sexual harassment at the workplace seriously. In that spirit, a group of lawmakers will be introducing a new bipartisan, bicameral legislation on Wednesday afternoon.
Rep. Lois Frankel, one of the co-sponsors, told Refinery29 in a statement that the EMPOWER Act's purpose is to address the lack of accountability and transparency that often permeate sexual harassment cases. She said: "The Me Too movement has exposed the pervasive issue of sexual harassment that cuts across all industries depriving workers of dignified work environments and the ability to support their families."
She added: "By lifting the veil of secrecy and increasing transparency and accountability, the EMPOWER Act will create more respectful and equitable workplaces."
The EMPOWER Act — an acronym for the "Ending the Monopoly of Power Over Workplace Harassment through Education and Reporting Act" — is also co-sponsored by Reps. Ted Poe, Jerry Nadler, Barbara Comstock, and Lisa Blunt Rochester in the House and Sens. Kamala Harris and Lisa Murkowski in the upper chamber.
The legislation focuses on five major areas: banning companies from having non-disparagement and non-disclosure agreements in their contracts, requiring public companies to disclose all their settlements in the annual filings to the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), creating a a confidential tip-line to supplement the current complaint system at the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), revising the tax code so taxpayer money is not used to fund harassment settlements and survivors aren't penalized, and mandating companies have sexual harassment prevention training programs in place.
At least 21 advocacy organizations have thrown their support behind the bill, including the National Domestic Workers Alliance, Human Rights Campaign, Alianza Nacional de Campesinas, NAACP, and the National Women’s Law Center.
While it's important that lawmakers are trying to change the system for all Americans, it's also true that it's been difficult to deal for them with the issue of sexual harassment in their own house. A legislation to reform the archaic way in which Congress handles sexual harassment cases passed the House with bipartisan support in February. The Senate passed its own modified version in May, but since then there's been no progress in coming up with a final bill.
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McQueen, in theaters July 20, is a fashion film that succeeds where so many others have failed. Fashion features have a tendency to get starry-eyed, hustling to secure glamorous 'talking heads' interviews with celebrities who wore the designer’s clothes, top photographers who shot them, and influential editors who featured their work — but who didn’t necessarily know the person very well. Co-directed by relatively lesser-known directors Ian Bonhôte (known for music videos and fashion ads) and Peter Ettedgui (who had previously worked on films about George Best and Jean Vigo), the masterstroke of McQueen is the narrow focus on McQueen’s family — his mother, sister, and nephew — and the small group of people he worked closely with to create the 'Alexander McQueen' of fashion legend.
Photo courtesy of Ann Ray.
McQueen’s catwalk shows were some of the most spectacular in the history of fashion — from the Pepper’s Ghost technique used to project a floating Kate Moss at the Widows of Culloden show, to Shalom Harlow in a white couture gown being sprayed live by robot arms usually used for painting cars (which you can see in the exclusive clip below). But to focus solely on the veneer of fashion fantasy and its proximity to celebrity would have done a disservice to the designer's extraordinary life. In avoiding those clichés, the directors have built an incredibly moving portrait of Lee Alexander McQueen, the working class kid born in Lewisham, England, who went on to become one of the greatest fashion designers of all time.
The most astonishing parts of the film are not footage from the shows — though they are truly incredible — but the piecing together of Lee’s unlikely journey to the top. "I wasn't very good at school. I was always drawing clothes," he says in one recording. But despite the boundaries of class, Lee saw a route to make his dreams come true and worked doggedly to pursue it. He trained as a tailor’s apprentice, working on Savile Row in London, then at a theater costumier — all before flying to Italy (without a contact) to find a job in an atelier there, which he did, working as an assistant to Romeo Gigli. When he returned to the UK, he was accepted into the storied MA Fashion course at Central Saint Martins. Lacking any financial aid, his aunt helped to pay the fees. As a voice in the trailer says: "No one discovered Alexander McQueen. Alexander McQueen discovered himself."
McQueen (2018)
What this film captures is the dichotomous story of a man who was also a myth. The story of a creative genius, able to absorb the strangeness of nature (and the beauty and perversity of human nature), to create spectacular, otherworldly, and sometimes miraculous works of fashion-art. But it is also the story of a depressed, lonely drug addict; a man damaged by childhood experiences with his sister’s abusive husband, deeply wounded by the suicide of his estranged mentor Isabella Blow, and finally crushed by the death of his mother Joyce. McQueen hanged himself in his wardrobe, alone at home on the eve of her funeral. The sadness of the film, of Lee’s death, can take your breath away.
Photo courtesy of Ann Ray.
Much has been said about the stresses of the fashion industry and this film speaks to it in-depth. The endless seasons, with more being added all the time — pre-collections, resort/cruise, and diffusion lines. The huge pressure heaped on designers taking the reins at Paris’ historic fashion houses and the need to be immediately successful. (If you watched Raf Simons break down in tears of stress ahead of his debut show for Dior in the 2014 film Dior & I, then you’ve seen, and perhaps felt, that pressure.) Recruited to lead Givenchy in 1997, McQueen is barely mentioned in the history of the house, except to note that he insulted the founder upon joining, and described his own first couture collection as "crap."
In McQueen, rowdy camcorder footage of Lee arriving at the Givenchy offices in Paris, crammed in a car with his optimistic team, gives way to anecdotes about how he cut ties with those friends, isolating himself. It is a pattern that has become familiar. As Suzy Menkes wrote after John Galliano’s (rightfully condemned) anti-semitic rant in 2011: "There is pathos in the vision of one of the world’s most famous — and best paid — designers alone, clutching a glass in a bar."
Today, fashion is again an industry in mourning. Kate Spade, the designer credited for creating It bags in the '90s, was found dead last month. On hearing the news that Spade had hanged herself, her friend Kelly Cutrone, a well-known publicist, told The Daily Beast: "The industry is endemic with suicide, bankruptcy, depression, and addiction. A lot of people in the fashion industry are having a hard time. The real issue is why are so many creatives alone. It's super sad."
While it would be too simplistic to say that fashion is responsible for the deaths of designers with severe mental health problems and addiction issues, perhaps come July 20 — with the release of McQueen — we should all take pause. As the late, great punk provocateur Judy Blame wrote in 2015: "It seems the most radical thing you can do today is care for yourself and other people."
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Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Today: a library branch manager who makes $48,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on cava.
Occupation: Branch Manager Industry: Libraries Age: 32 Location: West Virginia Salary: $48,000 Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,443
Monthly Expenses Rent: $550 rent plus a $25 monthly pet fee for a one-bedroom, one-bathroom apartment that I live in with my boyfriend, S. Student Loan Payment: $137 (I'm doing PSLF and am on an income-based payment plan.) Health Insurance: $43.20 Retirement: $240 Utilities: ~$167 Internet: $86.55 (includes Netflix for a year) Car Payment: $208 (I pay more than the minimum and hope to get my car paid off this year.) Car Insurance: $61.12 Phone Service & Lease: $107 Credit Card: $100-200 (This depends on how much I have left at the end of the month. I'm trying to pay down a balance and always make more than the minimum payment.) Gym: $94.96 ($35.96 for membership, $59 for group training) Hulu/Spotify: $9.99 (I just started the combined deal, which will go up to $12.99 after three months.)
Day One
7 a.m. — I snuggle my dog for a few minutes and then roll out of bed. After I let the mutt out, I shower, put on some make up, and get dressed. Then I wolf down a hard-boiled egg, fill up my travel mug with coffee, take the dog out one more time, check to make sure she has food and water, and rush out the door.
8:55 a.m. — Arrive at work. Walk into my office to see that my employees and advisory board have put together a care package for me. I almost cry because it's just so sweet. Today is my last day on the job before my surgery; I'll be out for at least four weeks for recovery.
9 a.m. — Today is our big summer reading kick-off, so the children's staff and I are scrambling to get everything set up. Originally, we were going to have all the stations outside, but it looks like it's going to rain. We decide to move everything inside except for the squirt gun painting (way too messy for indoors).
11 a.m. — I required all staff to work today to ensure that we have enough people to cover our two circulation desks and the kick-off. As a thank you, I get pizza for everyone. I place the order now and will pick it up and pay on my lunch break.
11:30 a.m. — The kick-off is underway, but the mobile gaming truck that we booked hasn't arrived yet. I call the main library to speak with our teen services librarian, who was in charge of scheduling the truck for all our locations. Turns out there was miscommunication about the start time, and the truck should arrive by noon. Luckily, we have the indoor activities and squirt gun painting to keep people occupied during the wait. No one raises a fuss — our community is pretty chill.
11:45 a.m. — The gaming truck arrives! While the guy is setting up, I talk to a couple teens about anime and manga. One of them wants us to start an anime club. There used to be an anime club at our library, but it was aimed at older teens and adults. It kind of petered out before I started, and the person who ran it isn't exactly teen-friendly, but I think that our teen assistant could help make it a better program. I'll revisit this idea when I return from medical leave.
12:30 p.m. — Lunch break! I run over to pick up the pizzas ($31) and the employee gives me an additional neighborhood discount, since the library is right across the street. I carefully carry the pizzas over to the library and bring them to the staff lounge. I chow down on a slice with pepperoni and banana peppers, alert the staff that pizza has arrived, and then go back to my squirt gun painting post. $31
1:30 p.m. — The staff and I start put away all the kick-off supplies. The second floor closes at 1:45 p.m. and we have trouble getting everyone to leave, but I see it as sign that they've truly enjoyed themselves.
2 p.m. — THE LIBRARY IS CLOSED! All of the full-time staff are still on the schedule until 5. I help the children's staff with shelving and then go downstairs to my office. It's nice to get stuff done when there aren't patrons around. I clean up weeding reports and send them to one of my employees to work on while I'm out. Then I spend the rest of the afternoon tying up loose ends and straightening up my desk.
5 p.m. — Leave work and stop by Kroger. The parking lot is insane due to a carnival that's going on, so I opt to leave and go to a different one near my apartment. Crowded grocery stores make me twitchy. I pick up a bottle of cava, frozen waffle fries, and a pint of Graeter's ice cream (SO GOOD). $19.17
5:30 p.m. — Get home and hop in the shower. I'm sweaty from being outside half the day. I make a quick dinner of waffle fries and kale dino bites for me and my boyfriend, S. We catch up on RuPaul's Drag Race and play with our sweet pup until bedtime. We turn in around 9:30 because we are old at heart.
Daily Total: $50.17
Day Two
6:30 a.m. — The mutt refuses to ever let us sleep in. Waking up to sweet puppy kisses isn't too bad, though. S. hops out of bed to let him out and get coffee started.
9 a.m. — It's my last true day of freedom before the surgery process begins and I have a list of things I want to do. First up — a hike with the dog! We get ready and make our way to a nearby trail. It's a little muddy, and the mutt almost yanks me over a couple of times, but she has a blast.
10:30 a.m. — We're back at the house and getting ready for #2 on my list — Indian food! I take a nice long shower and dress extra cute because I feel like it.
12 p.m. — Arrive at my favorite Indian place just in time for the buffet to start. I gorge on all the foods! My favorite today is the fish pakora, which I could eat my weight in. Once we're uncomfortably full, S. settles the check and we head to the next destination.
1:30 p.m. — I want to stop at our local independent bookstore for coffee and to peruse the used books, but parking is a nightmare so we decide to skip it. A couple of my colleagues are selling their wares at a festival, so we make our way there instead. It starts to pour as soon as we get out of the car, but luckily, I have my trusty cat umbrella! We find their booth and chat for a while. Their stuff is super cute and I end up buying a piece from each of them ($14). We run into my yoga instructor, who gives me a big hug and wishes me well with the surgery. $14
1:30 p.m. — Target run! I miraculously pass the Starbucks without getting a beverage. I need a few items to make my post-op time easier. I grab Gas-X, stool softener, and pads. I also get another bottle of cava ($28.60). I take a look around for comfy PJs, but decide the ones I have at home will be sufficient. $28.60
3:30 p.m. — We're home. The mutt immediately pummels us with snugs and kisses. How am I going to keep this cutie off my incisions?! We putz around for a while and watch Report of The Week. Still full from the Indian feast, so I sip on cava and enjoy snacks instead of dinner.
9 p.m. — This grandma is going to bed.
Daily Total: $42.60
Day Three
7 a.m. — Fur baby demands that we get up, and she's the boss. I roll out of bed and laze around a bit before getting ready. Have coffee and a hard-boiled egg.
10:30 a.m. — Off to my gyno's office for my first pre-op appointment. Upon arrival, I get signed in and pay them the estimated cost of my surgery after insurance ($215.60) and an extra $25 for my FMLA paperwork. I'm internally cheesed off that they charge for paperwork, but I can't take leave without it. $240.60
11:30 a.m. — Finally in a patient room! My blood pressure is high, and the nurse asks if I'm nervous. (Uh, yeah!) I sign off on some paperwork, and the doctor explains how the surgery's going to go down tomorrow and addresses all my concerns.
12 p.m. — Onto my next pre-op appointment! This one is at the hospital where the surgery will be done. I have to throw down another $100 towards the surgery costs. I get blood work and the nurse gives me special soap to use before the surgery. She also informs me that I'll have to do a urine test in the morning. Ugh! I'm so pee shy! She recommends that I hold my bladder in the morning until I get to the hospital to ensure I can go. $100
1 p.m. — S. and I grab ramen for lunch, and he covers the bill. My mom and aunt are at my apartment doing a deep clean because I won't be able to do housework for a few weeks, and S. isn't the best housekeeper. We text back and forth about dinner, and I decide to make spinach flatbreads. Mom requests Brillo pads and Magic Erasers for some reason, so S. and I stop at the grocery store to pick up ingredients for the flatbreads, ginger ale, toilet paper, and the requested cleaning supplies ($29.77). Both of us are shocked by what a Brillo pad actually looks like, which probably says a lot about our cleaning skills. $29.77
2:30 p.m. — Back at my apartment, my mom and aunt are in full maternal mode. They've scrubbed every inch of my place and started laundry. We relax and catch up on the porch for a bit. I don't get to see them very often because they live a few hours away, so I'm really happy that they're here.
4:30 p.m. — Get dinner started. My aunt brought an ungodly amount of food with her, so we add some stuff to the flatbreads: spinach, broccoli, mozzarella, parm, red onion, and shrimp. Plus I add olives and peppers to mine. We also have spaghetti squash on the side. We watch Chopped and I wrestle with the pup.
8:30 p.m. — I shower with my special soap and get ready for bed. The pup decides to sleep in the living room with her grandma — what a traitor.
Daily Total: $370.37
Day Four
4:30 a.m. — Up before the asscrack of dawn because I have to be at the hospital by 5:45 a.m. I take another shower with my special soap and get dressed in some comfy clothes: loose drawstring shorts, my favorite bralette, a tank that says “DOG MOM,” a super-long cardigan, alien socks, and slip-on sneakers. Everyone else drinks coffee, but I'm not allowed to have food or beverages. It feels weird to be awake at this hour without coffee.
5:45 a.m. — Get checked in and head up to the waiting room. My mom makes some comment about how sexy my legs are, to which I respond: “Mom! Gross!” The lady across from us laughs.
6:30 a.m. — Why did I have to be here so early?! I still haven't been called, and I've been holding my pee all morning so I can take this urine test. I ask the lady at the window if I can go to the bathroom and she gives me a urine cup and tells me where to leave it. Sweet release!
6:50 a.m. — A nurse finally calls me back, and we all cheer. The other people in the waiting room look very confused. The nurse takes me to a pre-op room and she leaves me to get changed into a very stylish hospital gown. Once I'm dressed, she hooks me up to an IV and gives me a plethora of drugs. I notice that they didn't give me the nausea patch that my doctor said he ordered. She checks and confirms that she missed it. I'm glad I noticed, because the last time I had anesthesia, it was a total pukefest.
7:30 a.m. — They let my family and S. come back for a few minutes before they wheel me off to surgery. My mom and aunt start singing and I tell the nurse they can take me now. A medical student and resident who will be observing my surgery stop by and introduce themselves.
7:45 a.m. — It's time! I get wheeled off to anesthesia and the staff shows my squad to my room so they can wait there. The nurse in anesthesia is really passive aggressive to the rest of the staff, but nice to me, so whatever. My doctor comes over to check on me and explain what I need to do after the surgery to go home today. I get wheeled into the surgery room, which looks scary AF, but the drugs kick in and I pass out as soon as they get me on the table.
11:30 a.m. — I wake up in recovery. My doctor stops by and tells me that the surgery went really well. The fibroid was larger than they thought, but there was very little endometrial tissue, which is a relief. He says some other stuff, but I'm pretty groggy and don't fully comprehend. He leaves and the nurse keeps reminding me to take deep breaths — apparently my breathing gets shallow when I nod off. She thinks I have sleep apnea. Great...
12 p.m. — They move me to my room and I'm feeling much more alert. My mom tells me that the doctor said I would be able to drive in about five days, as long as I'm not taking my pain meds. My nurse comes in and orders me some lunch. When it arrives, I take a bite and immediately feel nauseous. She gives me some Zofran, which works wonders.
1:30 p.m. — Mom and aunt decide to go get my prescriptions filled and make sure my apartment is ready for my return. I give mom my credit card for the prescriptions ($6.91). After they leave, I get all of my lunch down and now I have to pee. The nurse's aids get me untethered from everything, and also give me a pad and some weird hospital underwear. I walk to and from the bathroom on my own. I also take my pain medication. $6.91
3 p.m. — S. and I watch some cult show on A&E. My nurse checks in and says she will contact the resident to see if I can be discharged. I've completed all the requirements: eat, walk, pee. My mom and aunt arrive just in time for the resident to approve my discharge. My nurse goes over what I need to do during recovery and gives me some paperwork that lays it all out.
3:30 p.m. — Arrive at my apartment and successfully get inside without the pup jumping on me. I sit on the couch while everyone else flurries around me making sure I have everything I need. Mom and aunt decide to go home tonight since I'm doing so well. They leave a bunch of food for us. They also picked me up a new heating pad while they were out earlier. Bless them.
4 p.m. — I move to my bed and the mutt lies next to me while I read Invisible Darkness by Steven Williams. It's about Paul Bernardo and Karla Holmolka. They are truly vile.
7 p.m. — S. makes us dinner: tuna cakes, rice, and broccoli. I eat as much as I can and then take my medicine. We watch some TV before I fall asleep.
Daily Total: $6.91
Day Five
6:30 a.m. — Why am I awake? I hear S. rustling about in the living room. He comes in to check on me before heading to the gym. Of course, the dog wants to go out as soon as he's gone. Foolishly, I hobble out to the yard with her. At least we have a fence, so I'm not struggling with her on a leash. Once we're back inside, I stuff a couple crackers in my face so I can take my pain meds and lay back down.
8:30 a.m. — S. returns from the gym with groceries, including more ginger ale. He makes me a delicious breakfast of avocado toast with an omelette. I put on an A&E show about Casey Anthony and he hangs out in bed with me for a while.
12:30 p.m. — Time for lunch! On the menu: chicken soup with a side of pain meds. After eating, I finish my book. The mutt looks adorable cuddling by my side.
2:30 p.m. — I venture out to the yard with S. and the mutt. We do a few laps of walking. I clutch a pillow to my abdomen the entire time because I feel like my insides could spill out at any moment. The walking exhausts me, so I take a nap.
6 p.m. — S. brings me dinner. Per my request, we're having baked potatoes and chicken. We watch a few episodes of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.
7:30 p.m. — Snack on some Goldfish crackers and take my pain meds. Honestly, the pain hasn't been much worse than most of my periods. But my vagina feels like it has been brutalized from the cut they made. I hunker down with my heating pad and fall asleep to some 30 Rock reruns.
Daily Total: $0
Day Six
7 a.m. — S. smooches me on the head and leaves for the gym. The mutt tries to trick me into taking her out while he's gone, but I don't fall for it this time.
8:30 a.m. — S. is home and makes me French toast! He's the best. We eat and I take my pain meds and decide to shower. My body is a horror film! I send a friend a pic of my belly button and she says it looks haunted.
1:30 p.m. — More soup, more meds. I field texts from friends. The doctor gave us pics of the fibroid and my insides, so I send my friends pics of the fibroid and tell them I'm going to hang them up on my fridge like a sonogram.
4:30 p.m. — S. and I try to watch The Staircase, but we fall asleep. When we wake up, he makes dinner: baked potatoes, per my request. I start a new book while he cooks — Hell's Princess by Harold Schechter. I attended his session about Belle Gunness at CrimeCon last year, so I'm really excited to read this one. I've been a fan of his since high school, and totally geeked out during his meet and greet.
9 p.m. — Have a snack and take some pain meds. Also take some Gas-X and stool softener. The post-op gas pain and constipation are killer.
Daily Total: $0
Day Seven
8:30 a.m. — Snoozed through S.'s gym time and wake up to find him playing video games in the living room. He makes us some more French toast and we listen to an episode of Comedy Bang Bang.
10:30 a.m. — Realize that I haven't taken my pain medicine. I stupidly think I'll be okay taking it without food, since I ate recently. But within a few minutes, a wave of nausea overtakes me. I retreat to my bedroom and lay completely still in the dark while listening to the podcast The Baby-Sitter's Club Club.
2:30 p.m. — Nausea is finally gone, so S. and I have a late lunch. Soup for me, leftovers for him. We talk about the job applications he's filled out. He recently finished grad school and is in the process of moving back in with me after a couple years of hiatus on our relationship. I'm glad we're together again, and that he's here to help me through this; but health issues, work concerns, and adapting back to cohabitation have me on edge. He is equally stressed, because he's currently unemployed and moving to a new area. We are both trying to be gentle and understanding with each other, so we're talking through issues much better than we have in the past.
6 p.m. — S. makes mashed potatoes for dinner because I'm craving them plus chicken and broccoli to ensure I'm getting healing nutrients. After eating, I decide to order some dresses from Amazon. My post-op swelly belly isn't going to be ready for Pixie pants when I finally return to work. I apply a $50 gift card and am left with a $16.97 balance. $16.97
7:30 p.m. — I have a snack, take my pain meds, and read until I get sleepy.
Daily Total: $16.97
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Somehow, even when we don't go in looking for anything in particular, five minutes into a Target run results in a red basket filled to the brim with a haphazard assortment of stuff, including a package of scrunchies we really don't need and three bottles of $5 rosé that we definitely do. But in the ranking of "worth-it" Target items, we've never regretted a skin-care purchase — especially when you consider how many quality brands are now sold at the retailer.
To make navigating the aisles a little easier, we compiled a complete summer skin-care guide, sourced entirely from Target. Whether you need some sunscreen and makeup wipes before a weekend away, or a serum that will give you better skin by August, you'll find it ahead.
Every beach bag needs a solid lip balm, and these pack powerful sun protection with a fruity cocktail taste.
Whamisa's chai tea-infused eye cream sinks into the skin, leaving your under-eye area velvety soft and bright, even the morning after a thirsty Thursday.
Whamisa By Glow Recipe, $25.99, available at Target
This matte, SPF 60 sunscreen has a near-perfect rating on Target's website, and we know why: The lightweight fluid protects skin without ever feeling greasy or making us break out.
If your normally oily skin goes haywire in July and August, you might think it's best to skip moisturizer. Instead, use this ultra, ultra lightweight option from CeraVe, which keeps acne-prone, combination, and oily complexions in check.
If your skin type is normal to dry and you want to get a glow without caking on highlighter, this $11 priming moisturizer will give you a plump, dewy complexion — zero shimmer powder required.
Need a day serum, but don't want to shell out $50 for one of the best-sellers at Sephora? This fancy-looking bottle contains a basic, fragrance-free hyaluronic acid serum that works to hydrate and plump all skin types.
When you've accidentally spent too much time in the sun, make sure you have a gentle, hydrating cleanser that won't irritate your already pissed-off skin.
Perfect for the last-minute summer traveler, these makeup wipes are basically like packing your micellar water and cotton pads, but better because you're not lugging around your micellar water and cotton pads.
After a long day at the beach, even with ample sun protection, your body still might need some TLC. This new after-sun spray from Pacifica is just the thing, delivering cooling aloe in an easy-to-use mist.
It's a common misconception in beauty that oil and grease are one and the same. But the same way you'll hear people with acne-prone skin speak of finding surprise salvation after they hesitantly add jojoba oil to their routine, those with fine strands and grease-prone roots can make nice with hair oil, too.
As with most things in life, it's all just a matter of finding the right one. Whether your hair is coarse, thin, long, short, virgin, or bleached to oblivion — the key to keeping the frizz out and the grease levels down in the humid, sweaty summer months is to rake a lightweight oil through your ends.
We've rounded up your foolproof list of summer-approved hair oils, ahead. And you can grab the best-sellers from Sephora or Walgreens — for grease-free Duchess of Cambridge-level shine on a beer budget... or a craft beer budget, if you're feeling fancy.
There is a lot of product out there — some would say too much. 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, but if you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
Fine hair types will love Playa's polishing oil because it's super lightweight, perfect for controlling frizz without weighing hair down. It's clean (no parabens or sulfates) and is infused with notes of black coconut, orange blossom, and fresh sandalwood for Malibu Beach-y vibes — quite possibly the perfect summer smell.
If you're in the market for a multitasker, this pink-tinged, rose-scented oil works double duty to smooth down flyaways and make skin glow — two major benefits for one spot on your shelf.
Coarse hair textures need oil to stay soft and hydrated; a little bit of this one will help banish itch and keep your scalp moisturized. Because we all know healthy hair starts with a healthy scalp.
It's hard out there for those of us with colored hair that tends to be dry at the ends and oilier at the roots. That's why this protective spray-on oil will come in handy: Not only does it smell like sipping a piña colada, but it's infused with protective ylang-ylang wax to shield delicate strands from sand, sun, and chlorine while boosting softness and shine.
This elixir will give even the dullest, driest hair a glossy shine that holds up in humidity. Add a few drops to damp strands before heat styling and you'll be left looking like you stepped out of a shampoo commercial, even if you're trapped in a subway car with no A/C.
This shine serum was designed specifically with natural hair in mind. "It has a beautiful blend of six natural oils, which encourage hair to grow strong," says brand founder Vernon François. "The feel is velvety smooth, never greasy, so it may be used over the entire head of hair for a sleek and tidy finish."
Another excellent pick for natural textures, this oil-to-cream formulation is packed with olive oil, which defines the natural shape of your curls while also infusing them with a hit of hydration. Apply on damp hair, comb through, and either let your hair dry naturally or use a low-heat setting on your dryer (a diffuser works well, too).
Organic Root Stimulator, $6.29, available at Sally Beauty
This formula lives up to its name: Smooth two pumps into your hair and you'll find that the oil disappears instantly — like an apparition — and zaps frizzies without weighing your hair down or leaving it feeling greasy.
The drugstore's got some pull in the hair-oil game. Dove's concoction brings together red algae, coconut oil, and sweet almond oil to smooth out damage, prevent split ends, and add some bouncy shine to your ends.
Have you watched Ariana Grande's newest music video for her song "God Is A Woman?" If not, here's a brief summary of what you'll see when you press play: vulvas, vulvas, udders, meerkats, more vulvas. Needless to say, by the time it's over, you get the message: God is a woooooman. But out of all the yonic imagery, the most compelling scene in the video is of the 25-year-old floating (dancing? posing?) in a bath of purple water, seeping out in shades of lilac, indigo, and plum paint, conveniently resembling — you guessed it! — a vulva.
Get it? She (woman) is the center of all creation, which — quick sex ed lesson — begins inside the vagina. Genius, right? What's even more genius is that a ton of fans — those responsible for the nearly 30 million views on YouTube in the past five days — have decided that the instantly-iconic purple vulva bath moment deserves something more. Something... a little more practical for at-home use.
On July 13, a fan tweeted at Lush Cosmetics, "Make a bath bomb that looks like this [and] call it god is a woman so I can bathe feeling like a goddess." Grande saw the tweet and replied, begging, "I'll do anything." Straight away, Lush responded to confirm that the idea was off to the lab. Five days later, and two official "GIAW" bath bomb prototypes exist — and they're utterly dreamy, though decidedly less reminiscent of genitalia.
According to Lush product developer Jack Constantine, the first version of the bath bomb wasn't exactly right; by the look of his Instagram Stories, after it burst in water, it looked too frothy and gray, and less than appetizing. Round two brings more purple, a hint of silver, and tons of glitter — almost identical to the video once dispersed in water.
No word yet on when the finalized product will hit shelves, what it'll smell like, or how often Pete Davidson will bathe in it (probably every day), so here we'll be, waiting patiently. Until then, can someone please start a petition for Harry Styles to get his own bath bomb — because we all know he deserves it at this point.
Photo Via Jack Constantine.Photo Via Jack Constantine.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Overall, my style tends to be pretty frilly — ruffles, sheer fabrics, long skirts, bows, and florals are all mainstays in my wardrobe. But as I'm getting older, I'm realizing: Why should we commit to just one aesthetic? Just because I love a good midi dress or puffy-sleeved top doesn't mean I can't also dabble in, say, normcore — even if that means wearing clothing that's more "masculine" than what I usually go for. So, in an effort to expand my look, I'm giving that whole dad-on-vacation look a try.
It just so happens that the best place to get these staples is straight from the men's section (yes, it's that easy). While some womenswear labels have reworked pieces like the chunky sandal, the fanny pack, and the graphic tee, attempting to make these ironically-trendy pieces actually trendy, if you want the best version of the items ahead (and that cool, oversized fit), we suggest going straight to the source.
Since it's 2018 and all clothing should be fair game regardless of whether it's designated as 'men's' or 'women's,' here are 10 pieces I'm borrowing from the boys — just because I can.
The Long-Sleeved Skater Tee With bike shorts or denim cut-offs, this will become a vital part of your weekend uniform.
Crew Socks Sometimes you just need a good, thick sock for your Nikes or Vans slip-ons (or, if you're really feeling the aesthetic, with a pair of pool slides).
Swim Trunks Sheer muumuus are cool and all, but I would much rather throw on some striped trunks as a cover-up. Over a one-piece, it's a look that can take you from the water to the bar with ease.
Statement Jeans If we're talking menswear, we're talking Raf Simons, and as a fan of the 1981 film Christiane F., these jeans are the perfect excuse to go a little punk this summer. (And, yes, black jeans are a year-round staple).
