On Sunday, first lady Melania Trump released a statement about the separation of immigrant families at the U.S.-Mexico border, a directive put in place by her husband's administration as a way to deter illegal immigration.
"Mrs. Trump hates to see children separated from their families and hopes both sides of the aisle can finally come together to achieve successful immigration reform," the statement reads. "She believes we need to be a country that follows all laws, but also a country that governs with heart."
Not long after, people began to sing Melania's praises. "Melania Trump takes a brave stand against her husband's policies," one Washington Post op-ed headline read (the on-page headline has since been changed). The Hill tweeted "Melania Trump blasts Trump policy." Time even put her on a list of Republicans who "criticized" the administration's policy.
On first glance, you may be tempted to say, "Good for Melania! She's standing up to this immoral policy!" But that's not what's happening here. What you're actually seeing is a statement that was masterfully crafted by a publicist, designed to make you believe the first lady is speaking out against children being ripped away from their parents. In reality, Melania — an immigrant herself — is peddling the same mistruths and mischaracterizations as her husband.
Melania does not deserve praise for doing the bare minimum.
Separating families at the border is not an issue of "both sides"; it is squarely a decision of Trump's Republican administration — one its officials continue to defend. Additionally, despite what is in implied in Melania's statement and what White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders would like you to believe, there is no law that requires families to be separated. (See explainers fact-checking the administration's false claims here, here, and here.)
Children and families at the U.S.-Mexico borderPhoto: John Moore/Getty Images..
Releasing a statement so painfully thin that it can be interpreted in a number of ways is something President Trump does often. Clearly, Melania is taking notes. "The First Lady’s statement is pure Rorschach test," reporter Adam Klasfeld tweeted. "The words communicate next to nothing, but they became all things to all observers."
The idea that Melania Trump is a "prisoner" of sorts in the White House, one who "resists" her husband's policies with subtle messages, needs to end. At best, Melania is apathetic about her husband's policies and how they are affecting people; at worst, she's complicit.
Considering Melania's platform as first lady is all about the wellbeing of children, I would expect her statement to be more forceful about why taking children away from their parents for an indefinite period of time and essentially putting them in cages is harmful. Former first lady Laura Bush condemned the policy in an op-ed in the Washington Post, calling it cruel and immoral.
"Our government should not be in the business of warehousing children in converted box stores or making plans to place them in tent cities in the desert outside of El Paso," Bush wrote. "These images are eerily reminiscent of the Japanese American internment camps of World War II, now considered to have been one of the most shameful episodes in U.S. history."
For context, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) was created under her husband George W. Bush's administration. Putting Melania's statement next to that of Laura Bush, it's clear which one was crafted to be a distraction and which one was written by a person who is genuinely disconcerted by what is happening.
You may argue that just because Melania is married to Trump doesn't mean she endorses his xenophobic policies or racist beliefs. Remember when Melania pushed back against Trump's theory that President Barack Obama wasn't actually born in the United States? Oh, that's right, you probably can't recall that because Melania actually joined in on the conspiracy theory herself!
It's hard to know what Melania really feels about anything because she says so little and when she does speak, it's a perfectly prepared statement that does not go off script.
But when it comes to this current immigration and human rights crisis happening at our border right now, she has made it clear that her allegiance is really to her husband and upholding his agenda — not to the children.
Melania is not a clueless victim and does not deserve our sympathy.
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Before the directive went into effect, the administration was already splitting families apart. The New York Times reported that between October 2017 and April 2018, nearly 700 families were separated. Then, the Department of Homeland Security announced that nearly 2,000 children had been separated from their parents over the span of just six weeks, from April 19 through May 31.
Since there's been a surge in the number of children placed in detention after the policy went into effect, the Trump administration is planning to start building new tent cities at military posts in the state of Texas to shelter these kids. The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has told the U.S. that the practice of separating families violates the children's rights and international law.
MSNBC reporter Jacob Soboroff had the opportunity to visit a former Walmart, now used as a detention center in Brownsville, TX. He tweeted: "This shelter, Casa Padre, is the largest licensed childcare facility of its kind in the country. Nearly 1,500 boys 10-17 in here now. They’re supposed to sleep four to room. Nearly every room has 5. They’ve received a variance from the state because of overcrowding."
According to Soboroff, the center hosts a mix of children who showed up unaccompanied to the U.S. and children who were separated from their parents. They get only two hours a day outside and the rest of the time is spent in the facility. Rooms are supposed to host four kids, but due to overcrowding, they're currently packing five children.
Here are some photos of the boys in the cafeteria.
This is not a school cafeteria.
Hundreds called to eat at a time on rotating shifts.
Together Rising: This Virginia-based organization is helping provide legal assistance for 60 migrant children who were separated from their parents and are currently detained in Arizona. Donate here.
Al Otro Lado: This bi-national organization works providing legal services to deportees and migrants in Tijuana, Mexico, including deportee parents whose children remain in the U.S. Donate here.
The Florence Project: This Arizona-based organization offers free legal services to men, women, and unaccompanied children in immigration custody. Donate here.
Border Angels: This California-based organization supports San Diego County's immigrant population and focuses on issues related to the U.S.-Mexico border. Donate here.
Neta: This Texas-based grassroots organization helps asylum seekers on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border. Donate here.
Fronterizo Fianza Fund: This project, ran by the Detained Migrant Solidarity Committee, assists families in coming up with the bond amount needed for a detained immigrant to be released. Donate here.
National Immigrant Justice Center: This Heartland Alliance program fights for policy reform and provides legal services to immigrants, refugees, and asylum seekers. Donate here.
Don't underestimate the power of pressuring your elected representatives. There are several bills and resolutions floating around Capitol Hill to prohibit family separations at the border and support migrant children, including the Senate Democrats' Keep Families Together Act and the Fair Day in Court for Kids Act.
The coalition Families Belong Together has organized rallies and vigils in dozens of cities across the country. Find one of their events near you here and check out our list of upcoming protests here.
This story was originally published on June 14, 2018. It has since been updated.
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With all the big sleeves, eyelet lace, giant ruffles, gingham prints, and retro collars that have taken over our closets recently, we tend to forget that summer is a time when less really is more. Case in point: the white tank top.
As July 4th weekend approaches, we're already seeing white tank tops trickling onto our Instagram feeds, and even though they might remind you of the ribbed tanks you wore back when you were obsessed with Abercrombie, this easy-to-wear summer staple hasn't actually gone anywhere. Paired with gold layered jewelry and a pair mom jeans, (or high-waisted shorts), they're the ultimate go-to for summer days when it's just too hot to deal with anything more complex.
All we can say is, if bodycon is dead, well, this may be the exception. Click on to get convinced and shop some of the best white tanks out there right now.
All Paloma Elsesser needs is a good white tank and some can't-miss eye makeup.
The ideal pairing for your favorite high-waisted shorts.
Pile on the layered necklaces for a look that works every time.
Three words: Beat the heat.
Linen trousers and Chucks make for a laid-back outfit that still looks put-together.
Even Kim Kardashian shows her support for the classic white tank.
Tie it up in the front for a more trend-forward styling trick.
A ribbed tank with gold, personalized jewelry is a match made in heaven.
A shrunken fit pairs well with statement jeans and a bucket hat.
Don't be afraid to take a scissor to the bottom half for a crop-top variation.
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If the sell-out popularity of brighter-than-bright metallic highlighters is any indication, we humans may be trying to look more like shiny robots by the day. But on Westworld, a show in which humans and robots coexist in carefully constructed environments, it’s the robots who are trying to pass for human, with help from a little makeup magic.
In the show’s park setting, the hosts’ (or robots’) artifice is reflected in perfect doll-like makeup, as worn by Evan Rachel Wood’s character Dolores. But when fellow host Maeve (played by Thandie Newton) tries to disguise herself as flesh and blood, her flawless signature smokey eye is the first thing to go, leaving a slightly less-than-perfect, and therefore convincingly human, application of neutral shadow in its place.
Dolores in Season 2, Episode 5.Photo: Courtesy of HBO.
How do the show’s makeup artists use eyeliner and blush to subtly push plot points forward, while keeping its lead actresses protected from the harsh elements on set — which include hours-long exposure to unrelenting sun, dust, and wind? Makeup department head Elisa Marsh and makeup artist Rachel Hoke share their secrets ahead, including which cleanser has a serious following on set for keeping element-exposed complexions looking poreless.
Why Dolores Always Looks Pristine — Even When Others Are Dusty AF
Rachel Hoke, makeup artist for Evan Rachel Wood and principal cast: “The character of Dolores was created to look very porcelain-like. As the oldest host in the park (and as a host in general), her appearance is meant to remain consistent, so we don’t see her change her overall look. We know that she is on a journey, for example; we now start to see her getting shot in season two, which provides a juxtaposition — the injuries read a bit more powerful because she is so doll-like and perfect-looking. Part of what makes her character a bit jarring and different is that she appears to look innocent while she is causing destruction and terror.”
Elisa Marsh, makeup department head and makeup artist for Thandie Newton and principal cast: “Dolores maintains a more pristine look for two reasons: First, she is the leader of the horde, and most of the time others do her bidding — reminiscent of a general looking on while the soldiers are doing the hand-to-hand combat. Also, [it gives] the creative license to have this doll-like beauty shooting people and relishing in it.”
… And How Her Makeup Stays So Perfect In Spite Of All That Dust
Dolores in Season 1, Episode 10.Photo: John P. Johnson/HBO..
Hoke: “We shoot in heat, dirt, wind, and sun, so keeping Dolores fresh-faced during filming is challenging. When we first started filming, it felt like a science experiment learning how to keep Evan’s skin protected, her body makeup and face looking flawless, and her tattoos covered. For example, I tried using a liquid sunscreen the first day we shot with Evan, but it oxidized with the makeup. When she came in the trailer after filming, there was a yellow highlighter-like hue everywhere that I had been unable to see outside in the sunlight. As the lighting in the makeup trailer revealed, I had to switch sunscreens, so from then on, we started each day by applying iS Clinical Eclipse SPF 50 Plus to her face and body.
Because we shot outside in elements almost every day, Evan and I decided the best thing to do after lunch was to remove all makeup from the skin with Collosol Eau de Lait cleansing milk and start the process over, keeping the eye makeup intact. This cleansing milk quickly became such a cast and makeup artist favorite that we had a hard time keeping it on hand. It cleanses and moisturizes the skin, which feels nice after filming outside all day.”
Marsh: “Keeping the dust off of Evan and Thandie was a constant concern, as it would rest on the eyelashes and dull their complexions, so we kept a large powder brush handy to sweep it off the face.”
Creating Blood & Battle Wounds
Hoke: “This season, we had an extensive makeup artist team, which comprised one team that worked more on the beauty end and with the principal cast, and the other team, which rendered most of the special effects. However, depending on the scene and character, creating blood and dirt could easily fall in the hands of whichever artist was on set taking care of any specific character. We had to be prepared at all times to jump in and create as necessary.
A lot of the cuts and gashes were applied using transfers, then hand-painted with color and fake blood to complete the illusion. We use a fake blood from a company called Red Drum because it washes out of clothing and hair, and if removed properly, doesn’t stain the skin.
Maeve in Season 2, Episode 2.Photo: Courtesy of John P. Johnson/HBO.
When I first started in makeup, fake blood made me feel queasy. But I quickly learned that unless I kept an open mind and willingness to participate in all spectrums of the craft, I wouldn’t grow. All it took was one project early on in my career that was filled with creating wounds and gashes; from that point on, I started really enjoying the effects side of creating. Any good makeup artist will have a broad knowledge of all makeup application, whether it’s applying mascara or blood.”
Marsh: “It’s always odd to see your actors beat up, bruised, and dead. Later in the season, there is a scene with Maeve that was hard to see. The special-effects makeup artists did an amazing job.”
The Palette That Brings Out Maeve’s Human Nature
Marsh: “For Maeve’s ‘human look,’ we ditched the Mariposa madam’s heavy smokey eye and went with a more natural makeup look, since she’s attempting to blend in with humans who are leaving the park and doesn’t want to be recognized. Here, I use the Kevyn Aucoin The Legacy Palette which has a mustard shade that’s so beautiful on Thandie's brown eyes and caramel skin. For her eyeshadow, I used wheat, caramel, and a touch of cocoa shades, for depth.”
How Geishas Inspired Maeve’s Shogun Look
Marsh: “The biggest shift in the hosts’ appearance in season two is that they are no longer objects of desire, but of their own agency. In Westworld, the hosts’ looks, including makeup, were created in a diagnostic lab, and they move into season two looking as they did at the end of season one. Though there is a lot of consistency in the hosts’ looks, some altered their appearances through costume change or, in Clementine’s (played by Angela Sarafyan) case, through scarification.
Maeve in Season 2, Episode 5.Photo: Courtesy of HBO.
We’ve all been there: We step outside to [insert summer activity here], only to be slapped in the face with the inevitable heat and humidity that comes with our beloved rosé season. Is excess sweat, oil production, and smelling not so great natural? Maybe. Does it have to be that way? Absolutely not — at least not if we’ve got a say in it.
So for the sake of not letting a little 90-degree weather stop us from said summer activity (like, say, hitting up the beach or that new rooftop bar with Insta-worthy frozé), we asked our fellow Refinery29 editors to share their go-to tricks on how they stay cool and feeling fresh. Think: stocking your vanity with fruit-infused Hint sunscreen that won’t feel greasy the moment you get to the cabana or filling your fridge with ooh, ahh- inducing face masks. Take note, ladies. You and your sweaty glowy selves deserve it.
"Nothing’s better than washing your face with cold water after a day in the sun. Except following up with a refrigerated sheet mask. (I keep a few propped up beside my iced tea pitcher all summer long, to my guests’ dismay.) As you might imagine, the chilled serum is super refreshing — but also it helps hydrate parched skin and soothe any irritation from saltwater, chlorine, or the sun." —Cate Seiser, Senior Content Editor
"A spritz of a summery floral fragrance in the morning won't do much when it's being overpowered by a super-strong-smelling sunscreen (I know you know what I'm talking about). Instead of fighting it, I always opt for an SPF that actually smells good — like Hint 's fruit-infused sunscreen in scents of grapefruit, pineapple, and pear. They seriously smell delicious (is that weird to say?). A little goes a long way, and it keeps me feeling fresh all season long — even on the hottest of days." —Jen Anderson, Lifestyle Writer
"I'm fine wearing synthetic clothing in most seasons, but as soon as Memorial Day hits, I refuse! Now, it's cottons and linens all the way — preferably in the form of flowy caftans, wide-legged jumpsuits, or A-line dresses." —Claire Fontanetta, Senior Beauty Editor
"I live and die by blotting papers in the summer. It's inevitable that I'm going to sweat (especially in the unforgiving NYC subway), and while the sweat is super annoying, the oil left on my skin is much, much worse. I recommend keeping a pack of blotting papers in your bag, so you can easily press away the excess shine throughout the day." —Anissa Richmond, Branded Video Producer
"I always brush a non-talc, corn-starch-based powder into the soles of my shoes on those extra-humid days when I don't want to give up my super cute (but slightly constricting) kicks. The powder helps absorb sweat and humidity, which is kind of game changing because — let's be real — no one wants sweaty feet." —Isabella Alesci, Associate Photo Editor
"My hair is long, wavy, and very, very thick. It might sound simple and straightforward, but I always keep a scrunchie or hair tie around my wrist or in my bag. When I'm feeling hot, I'll just pull up my hair in an easy topknot or bun. It keeps me cool and breezy all summer long." —Lauren Petty, Associate Director, Production
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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.
If summer for you means paring down your makeup routine until it's nothing but sunscreen, tinted lip balm, and maybe some mascara, then we're going to take a wild guess and say you'll also make an exception for cream blush. Sheer, natural, and requiring nothing more than a swipe of your finger to apply, there are few things as low-maintenance as a travel-friendly pot of color.
So it makes perfect sense why so many people flock to the cream-based summer solution as soon as the temps rise. And from our very in-depth research, those same people are willing to shell out a fair chunk of change for the best ones. Take By Terry's Cellularose Blush Glacé, for example: The $60 tint, with its bouncy, marshmallow-like texture, is completely sold out.
The lightweight, long-lasting formula might be a summer beauty routine's dream come true, but it's not the only option out there that will meet your seasonal needs (and your high standards). And since it's currently out of stock on Net-a-Porter, we figured it might help to offer some alternatives that also meet the mark, ahead...
When it's too hot to actually go for a run, this sheer — but buildable — gel formula creates the just-jogged-10-miles flush without actually having to leave your comfortably air-conditioned apartment. No wonder it's sold out...
Although we fully respect a Patrick Starrr level of glam, we can't be expected to bother with a full face of makeup when the heat and humidity index is off the charts. Instead, we'll opt for a glossy blush like this to maintain a natural glow.
Looking for a bit more color pay-off? This whipped blush is just as nourishing as the rest (it uses Spanish lavender and lipoamino acid to plump skin), but it boasts brighter washes of color than you would normally find in other potted formulas.
Packed with avocado, coconut, and sunflower seed oils and an added dose of cocoa butter, this stuff successfully bridges the gap between makeup and skin care.
Success stories can seem just as fantastical as the fairy tales you (may have) loved growing up: Bold career woman finds herself in the right place at the right time, and poof, herfairy godmothermentor snaps her fingers, transforming our hero into an overnight success who brings home a 7-figure salary, jet-sets the world spreading her you-can-have-it-all gospel, all while looking awesome and Instagramming the whole thing. Umm...really? Why do we so rarely hear the other side of the story — the false starts, the waves of doubt, the failures, and the fuck-ups? Those late-night worries and, occasionally, breakthroughs that are so relatable to the rest of us?
IntroducingSelf-Made, Refinery29's newest column spotlighting the real stories that fueled success — the wins, the fails, and the curveballs —proving there's no one path to getting what you want.
Maria Hatzistefanis is the founder and CEO of the skincare and beauty brand Rodial, as well as the author of How To Be An Overnight Success, an advice book for aspiring entrepreneurs. The book's tongue-in-cheek title aims to take down the age-old myth that success is something that just happens spontaneously. Maria, herself, has certainly had a circuitous career path, from beauty writer to MBA grad to working in corporate finance before she finally launched Rodial in 1999. In the nearly 20 years since, the brand has grown to a world-wide operation sold in 20,000 stores in 35 countries.
Refinery29 talked with Maria about taking risks, getting fired, and how weekends are for binge-watching Netflix.
What do you think the definition of self-made is, as it pertains to you? To me self-made is having ambition, passion, and drive to achieve your goals. You need to push yourself to get where you want to be. No one is going to give you anything unless you excel yourself to make it happen.
What quality do you think you possess that’s made you a good candidate for self-making your destiny? I think that I am a risk-taker, and I tend to make quick decisions based on instinct. Sometimes that doesn’t pay off, but ultimately, I think that you need to be brave in order to create a business in a fiercely competitive industry. I am also very driven, and it can be hard for me to switch off from work. I am in the office with my team every day, if I take a holiday I continue to work remotely having calls and responding to all emails. If you have your own business, you really need to give it all that you have, and it is worth it in the end.
You started your career as a beauty writer for Seventeen, then got your MBA and moved to London to work in finance. What motivated you to finally decide to launch Rodial and marry your love of beauty and business? I was at a point in my life that I knew I wanted to start my own business; I was working in finance and I knew it wasn’t the right path for me. I had identified a gap in the market to create a really innovative, results-driven brand using new high-tech ingredients not available in the market. I really believed in Rodial, and I had the motivation and passion to really dedicate my time to starting the business.
Tell us a lesson you keep trying to learn, that you hope to master at some point. Patience. Being the founder of my business I want amazing things to happen immediately, so when I have to wait to get my products into certain retailers it can be really frustrating. I encourage myself to always try to stop and look at what’s been achieved, rather than focusing on the challenging aspects.
You’ve talked before about being fired from your job in finance. How did you overcome that failure and find the confidence to start your own business? I found being fired quite a liberating experience as it was the turning point of making the scary decision of doing what I always wanted to do, starting my own brand. Working in finance was not what motivated me, it was the wrong career for me, so getting fired wasn’t really a surprise as I wasn’t working to my full potential. I think that getting fired gives you the opportunity to self-reflect, and ensure the next move is the right fit for you.
Photographed by Rosaline Shahnavaz, designed by Abbie Winters.
What aspect of your path do you think has been the most motivational to other young women coming up through the ranks? How do you share that part of your experience with people? I started the business from a back room at home, literally from nothing. I didn’t have an investment to allow me to have an office or a team at the beginning, I worked from a laptop in Starbucks pretty much on my own. To this day Rodial is one of the only privately owned brands in the industry, which I am so proud of. I think it is motivational to young women that you can build something from nothing; it just takes time.
You released a book last year, How To Be An Overnight Success, which is a bit of a tongue-in-cheek title. Do you think it’s harmful when the press labels businesses as overnight successes? For sure, I think that it diminishes all of the hard work people put into their careers to get to the point they are today. The title of my book is really challenging this label, as there really is no such thing as an overnight success. I was working night and day on Rodial for 10 years before the launch of the Snake Serum completely revolutionized the beauty industry. People were quick to label me as an overnight success when the truth of the fact is that it takes a long time to breakthrough and to be acknowledged in a mainstream way. My book goes through all of the challenges I have faced to get Rodial to where it is today, along with offering advice to all budding entrepreneurs.
Being self-made means committing to self-care, too. How do you fuel and refresh yourself when shit really starts to get hard? Meditation and Netflix! I like to meditate as it really helps me to balance my mind and encourages me to have patience when dealing with difficult business situations when all you really want to do is scream! Netflix is my weekend comfort, the best way to refresh is to detach yourself, so I like to binge-watch shows — it's escapism.
Where do you see Rodial going next? How do you want to continue to grow the business? I really want to continue the growth of Rodial on a global scale. We are currently available in over 20,000 doors in over 35 countries, but there is always more places to go. Rodial Makeup is still really young, being only 4-years-old, and the expansion opportunities are endless. It's really my focus to continue to grow the makeup.
What’s your Self-Made Mantra for other women, no matter where they are in the process? Don’t give up. People around you will doubt you, they will tell you that you shouldn’t take risks. You have to ignore that. It’s going to get hard, and at times it’s going to feel impossible, but those are the times you need to drive yourself the most.
What are some unexpected challenges of running your own business? I think that people always focus on the big moments, such as opening a big store or getting a big counter, but for me the biggest challenge has been dealing with the everyday team issues. I spend a lot of my time fire-fighting problems, which can be incredibly challenging!
What are you generally doing atmidnight? Sleeping!
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It’s one o’clock on a Thursday in Manhattan’s financial district, and Wall Street is out to lunch. Literally: This upwardly mobile workforce subset is snagging a midday meal, either to eat on site or take back to their desks, searching for something delicious and satisfying that will power them through the rest of the afternoon.
Small takeout shops sprinkle the winding streets. No doubt there are countless Seamless orders being delivered right under my nose. But the most impressive food queue exists in an unassuming storefront on actual Wall Street, behind a paper bag brown vestibule that leads into a bright space decorated with subway tile, rustic wood, and vegetables en plein air. At Sweetgreen, the line snakes around the ordering space twice, and well-heeled millennials pass the time by catching up on their Instagram feeds or gossiping with colleagues.
Anyone familiar with a fast casual salad concept chain knows what comes next: You get to the counter, decide whether to order off the menu, or create a bespoke masterpiece. Next a friendly but hurried employee ushers you through your selection, adding ingredients one station at a time. A swirl of dressing, a quick stop at the register for add-ons and payment — cards only, please — and you’re on your way. You can stick around and partake in the act of self-care which is screen-free eating (if there are tables left, that is), but today I’m on the go.
Unlike with other chains, there’s no accessory carb that comes with your meal: What’s in the bowl is what you get. My salad, chosen from the seasonal menu, is called the “Rad Thai,” and only after I gobble the last shrimp do I take a look at the receipt stuck to the bottom of the plastic bowl. For this culinary experience, I have parted ways with $18.13. Not exactly a steal — but these days, pretty par for the fast-casual course. Still: How did a $20 salad become the new lunch normal?
***
Illustration by Louisa Cannell
As both a side dish and main entree, salad has been evolving for centuries (though concept salad franchises are a recent food world creation). The word itself has Latin roots: ”sal,” meaning “salt,” became “salata,” i.e. “salted things” — like, for example, raw veggies dressed with oil, vinegar, herbs, and salt. The word turned up in France as “salade,” and later in English as “salad” or “sallet.” Depending on where and when you were, those veggies dishes might have been served pickled, fresh, or cooked. But the takeaway here is that salad is an O.G. in the food space, and dates back centuries upon centuries.
Near the end of the 1800s, salad entered a different kind of heyday, one in which it literally took on a new form. That era in America brought the advent of “domestic science” — the study of household skills like cooking and sewing, bestowed almost exclusively on women. Advocates of this burgeoning field of study were obsessed with order, and piles of mixed greens were deemed disgracefully disorganized. The chaos had to be tamed, and the whip wound up being instant gelatin, which allowed the lady of the house to tidily preserve leftovers — and coax other ingredients into eye-pleasing formations — and then call it a salad.
Perhaps the epitome of this culinary culture moment is something called the Perfection Salad: a 1905 award-winning recipe containing celery, red pepper, and cabbage, nearly contained in aspic. (For the uninitiated, aspic is a savory, meat broth-based jelly, set in a mold.) According to the book Perfection Salad: Women and Cooking at the Turn of the Century, by food historian and culture writer Laura Shapiro, the ability to make one of these molds was evidence of high social status. It meant that the cook had access to a refrigerator, a sign of wealth at the time.
Suddenly, veggies and greens started to float in Bundt-shaped aspic molds — the precursors to the 1960s Jello dessert salads, like ambrosia and pistachio fluff, available in Midwestern supermarkets today. Eventually, rigid molds started to fall out of food vogue, and salads began to relax into something more familiar to the construction we’re accustomed to today. There was the Chef’s salad, the Caesar salad, the Cobb salad; the Wedge; the Tuna Salad, the Taco Salad.
Then came the rise of self-serve salad bars, including the first one, in Chicago, in the late 1930s, and the role they played in the so-called “beauty lunches” popularized by famous Cosmopolitan editor-in-chief Helen Gurley Brown in her book The Single Girl’s Cookbook. And of course, now salads have risen to ubiquity in high-end grocery stores, home refrigerators, restaurants, and the fast-casual dining chains of today. Still, for much of their history, “[s]alads were perceived as ladies’ food,” Shapiro wrote, “reflecting the image of frailty attached to the women who made them.” And not just “ladies’ food,” but also “diet food”: unsatisfying and undesirable. But then, in the early 2000s, food culture shifted, and everything changed.
***
If you went into a McDonald’s across America between 2000 and 2003, you might have noticed something on the menu that — at the time — didn’t quite fit in. It was the McShaker, which looked a lot like a McFlurry, except instead of ice cream and M&Ms, it contained limp romaine, a couple croutons, and some other veggies or protein. You’d squeeze a pack of dressing into the cup, clip the lid, and shake it up. McShaker salads were okay — nothing you'd crave or savor like a Big Mac. But they are still a notable part of fast food history, because they mark the beginning of large-scale franchises like McDonalds starting to flirt with a more “health-conscious” menu.
“There was a void in fast food salads,” says Bob Goldin of Pantellect, Inc., a food business consultancy in Chicago. “It was an open playing field.” McDonalds may have tried to make a mark on the space, but its core consumers weren’t really buying the home of the hamburger as the spot to get salad at that point, and the dearth of options made it easier to stake a claim in the space. Of today’s frontrunning franchises, Chopt was the first to come on the scene, in 2001; JustSalad and Tender Greens followed in 2006. Sweetgreen didn’t open the doors of its first location until 2007, but has since come out at the front of the pack. (Certainly, there are plenty of other fast-casual spots that sell salad and came first, including Fresh&Co and Pret-a-Manger, but their breadth of menu options puts them in a slightly different category.) Nowadays, Goldin sees fast-casual salad chains as still in the early stages, and the space as filling up — but by no means full.
The health halo that comes with foods that are perceived as health conscious fits in perfectly with currently reigning philosophies about how we should eat — sustainably, macro-consciously, and if it’s at all possible, food that looks good on Instagram. Goldin pointed out that, over the last decade, concepts that emphasize “health, natural, and local” have become very powerful right now. “Health is a moving target,” he says. “But consumer perception around ‘fresh’ seems to be healthier.”
Customization has also been a key component of success here, which sets up the reason that spending around 20 bucks on a lunch salad isn’t something a lot of urbanites think twice about. “We want what we want, and we’re willing to pay for that,” Goldin says. Of course, another reason chains like Sweetgreen and Chopt have been so successful also has everything to do with that old real estate adage: location, location, location. Though the salad concept arena is still early in its development, with plenty of room for growth, the fact that they’ve thrived in dense metropolitan areas shouldn’t be a surprise. They’ve zeroed in on a their prime audience: health and socially conscious, on-the-go, upwardly mobile, urban dwelling millennials. They know exactly who they are selling to.
***
Illustration by Louisa Cannell
There are also qualities of vice and virtue tied up in food, explains psychologist and neuroscientist Rachel Herz, PhD, who is also the author of Why You Eat What You Eat: The Science Behind Our Relationship With Food. “People feel like when they’re being good — for their environment, or even for themselves — it sort of licenses them in other respects,” she says. She told me about a study where researchers tracked people’s shopping patterns in grocery stores. The study found that after people put fruits and veggies in their carts (the “virtue” section), the next thing they went for was vice — the ice cream or snack aisle. It’s as if they were balancing the scale. Organic food, in particular, seems to have a major impact on our psyche, and the allowances we make for ourselves as a result of making that choice.
The phrase “you are what you eat” can be traced back to the 1820s, though in its original French form, it directly translates to “tell me what you eat, and I will tell you what you are.” But the notion that our choice of food reflects something about ourselves has never been as relevant as it is now, in an era where it’s normal to snap photos of whatever we’re about to eat and then share them with the world.
What Goldin did not say, but what I could not help but infer, is that when considering the success of health-conscious food chains, it’s worth thinking about the rise of the personal brand; we want what we want, as Goldin said; but also, we want to telegraph what we want to the world because of what it says about us personally. Choosing to patronize a chain like Sweetgreen or Tender Greens — with their sustainable, ethical, health-conscious philosophy, aspirational branding, and unassailable goodness — is like briefly being your best self. And that feeling is worth at least $20.
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Whenever Instagram releases a new feature, a common pattern occurs: Users play with said feature; someone adopts a stylish approach; and other people catch on and imitate it until it goes mainstream.
This is the process that's beginning to happen with Stories Highlights, a tool Instagram launched this past December that lets you save past Stories to your profile. Many users categorize these Highlights: There might be one collection of food-related Stories posts, another for shopping, and a third for travel. For each Highlight, you have an option to select a cover image, which will appear on your profile, in a small circle above your feed posts.
The default for this cover image is the Story in that Highlight that you posted first. So, if you're including Story posts from January 5 and 6, the first one to go up on January 5 would appear as your cover photo, although you can always select another Story post from the Highlight to take its place.
But if you scroll through the Highlights on the profiles of influencers such as Marianna Hewitt and Jessica Graf, you'll see stylized logos as each of the cover images. These are created using third-party apps, not Instagram, and offer an opportunity to give your Highlights a more cohesive look.
Ahead, a complete guide to four apps you can use to create personalized Highlight cover images of your own.
Canva is a go-to design app recommended by Plann and Preview, two well-known Instagram grid-planning apps.
To make a Highlight cover, open Canva and tap "Instagram" along the upper toolbar. Select the blank template below. From here, you can add a background color as well as any graphics and icons. Keep in mind that it's best to keep the design simple since it will only appear in a tiny circle on your profile page.
When you're finished, tap "share" and select Instagram. Post the image to your Stories and, once your Story is live, tap the "Highlight" icon (you need to share the image to your Stories in order to use it as a Highlight cover). Once you save the post to your Highlights, you can go ahead and delete it from your Story and add it as the cover image for any Highlight.
Logo Maker is similar to Canva, but comes with many different, themed icons, including a large variety of food, entertainment, and animal options. If you see too many people using the logos you like on Canva, Logo Maker is a good way to differentiate your Highlights. However, the cost factor is worth considering: You get a free three-day trial, but if you want to continue using the app, you'll need to pay $9.99 per month.
After downloading the app, tap "create new" and choose any background color you like. The middle triangular icon along the bottom toolbar will give you access to all of the app's icon. When you're done designing, tap the checkmark in the upper right hand corner and export the image to Instagram. Then, share it to your Stories and follow the steps outlined in Slide 1.
Logo Maker Shop, free, available on the App Store.
Watercolor Logo Maker offers a more artistic take on Highlight covers with designs done in watercolor.
When you open the app, start by choosing your "logo style". (If you want to unlock all the styles, you'll need to pay $9.99, which is worth it if you plan on using the app multiple times, but not for a single use case.) Whatever you pick will serve as the background for any icons you place on top of it. Then, change the color or tap "art" along the bottom toolbar to access everything from watercolor animals to flowers. When you've found an icon you like, tap the export icon in the upper right-hand corner and save the design to your camera roll.
Open Instagram Stories, swipe up from the bottom of the screen and share the image. Then, save it as a Highlight.
Watercolor Logo Maker, free, available on the App Store.
A Design Kit is an app created by A Beautiful Mess, the lifestyle company founded by sisters Elsie Larson and Emma Chapman.
Although the app is sold as a photo editor, it can also be used to create stunning Highlight covers. Start by tapping "backgrounds" and choose from a variety of metallic, rainbow, and gemstone-themed options. Select the "Story" template for the correct sizing. Then, choose from the many stickers or (such as this brunch option) and design icons. Again, keep it simple if you want your entire to design to appear in the Highlight circle on your profile.
Once you're done review and share your finished design.
Lena Waithe is constantly bringing visibility to what a ‘Black gay girl’ looks like, whether she’s on the Met Gala red carpet sporting a Carolina Herrera rainbow cape or smirking at her detractors on the cover of Vanity Fair. And while she doesn’t rely on just her physical appearance to be the change the entertainment world needs to see, often speaking out in her acceptance speeches and encouraging her LGBTQ+ family to embrace who they are, on Saturday’s taping of the MTV Movie Awards, Waithe took the opportunity to honor another groundbreaking Black woman.
Waithe walked the red carpet with her fiancée Alana Mayo wearing a custom print Alba jacket, black pants, a pair of sneakers, and a hoodie featuring an image of Shirley Chisholm that her stylist, Tiff Hasbourne, made for the occasion. Chisholm was the first Black woman to be elected to the United States Congress (she represented Bedford-Stuyvesant in Brooklyn), and the first woman — Black or otherwise — to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination. During her time as a politician, educator, and author, Chisholm used her position of power to help disenfranchised people, including fighting for equal rights for women and the LGBTQ+ community.
“Ms. Chisholm did not earn the democratic party’s nomination in 1972, but she did earn a place in history, along with the boundless respect of millions of Americans for her fundamental refusal to live life within the confines of society’s expectations,” senior advisor to President Obama Valerie Jarrett said in 2014. The statement rings true years later, and is one that can also be applied to the work Waithe is doing to champion people of color.
The creator of Showtime’s The Chi is being honored at MTV’s award show celebrating film and TV with the Trailblazer Award, recognizing her work as a content creator who introduces new and unique voices within the entertainment industry.
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Blame it on nostalgia or escapism, but the pastel unicorn trend of 2017 is still going strong. And until the glitter supply dries up, or we get a new administration into the White House, we don't anticipate the shimmery holographic love-fest to die down any time soon. Which is why we weren't exactly shocked when Frank Body's Shimmer Scrub amassed a 30,000 person wait list after selling out in just a few weeks. What did surprise us is how much we loved it for ourselves.
We assumed the scrub would leave our tub looking like a '90s candy raver had just rinsed away last night’s warehouse party — or worse, our skin would look like that of a glittered-up '90s candy raver. Instead, we emerged from the bath with ultra-smooth, gleaming skin that can otherwise only be copped from a tube of body makeup. And although the coffee scrub made our bathroom smell like a Starbucks at 8 a.m., it didn’t leave our skin smelling like a barista’s.
The scrub is back in stock, for now, but should it vanish again — and we don’t doubt that it will — we found a few other skin sloughing options we love just as much (glitter sold separately).
The real magic of this scrub: It makes skin look smooth, hydrated, and glowing — without the Edward Cullen sparkle.
This air-whipped scrub is a great pick for the sweaty days of summer: It uses a cocktail of physical and chemical exfoliants (white corn meal, jojoba beads, salicylic acid, and cranberry enzymes) to help keep skin clear of dead skin cells, buildup, and blemishes.
Loads of body scrubs are too abrasive to be used on your face, but this one is an exception. The textured cream emulsifies with water and contains glycolic and 1% salicylic acid to clear skin of oil buildup.
Nothing say summer like fresh strawberries. This gel-based scrub not only captures the fruit’s scent (thanks to included strawberry juice), but uses kiwi seeds to gently exfoliate, too.
Loaded with Atlantic sea kelp, epsom salt, and oil extracted from microalgae, this body balm is meant to be applied a few minutes before getting into the shower or bath. The non-abrasive formula gently exfoliated our skin and helped soothe our sore muscles after a hardcore workout.
Brown sugar, coconut shell, and coconut oil make for a fine body exfoliant, but it’s the scent of this scrub — which tricks us into feeling vacay vibes — that makes it truly addictive.
Beyoncé and Jay Z are back on their shit, dropping a surprise album just before summer officially starts and, not even remotely coincidentally, it starts with a slow, sexy jam called “SUMMER” that may as well be called “Drunk in Love 2.0.” Like much of the album, it’s a redo of the love songs (“Crazy in Love,” “Bonnie & Clyde ‘03,” “Deja Vu”) that got all messed up because Jay was out there cheating and crushing the dream of a perfect power couple. He pays penance all over EVERYTHING IS LOVE, giving props that are more than due to Bey, his family, and his friends for holding it together while he gets himself in check with therapy and a life reset.
You’ll notice that almost every outlet writing about the album, which is attributed to The Carters, lists Beyoncé’s name first. We all know that’s the hierarchy in this couple now; she simply is the most relevant and powerful name in the Carter family right now while Jay Z’s artistic peaks seem to be in the rear view mirror. However, in between Beyoncé’s numerous amusing lyrics on the album, Jay Z is actually the star of EVERYTHING IS LOVE. He shines in his utter vulnerability on “713,” where he details the days when they first started dating, and “FRIENDS,” where he shouts out his ultra-VIP support system — giving us a rare glimpse behind the curtain His verses on “BLACK EFFECT,” one of the most musically gorgeous tracks, are a sober look at the Black experience, as are his verses on “NICE.” His jocular back and forth with Bey on “LOVEHAPPY” is totally charming next to her powerhouse vocals on the chorus. If anything, this is Jay’s comeback album after Lemonade, humanizing and even endearing him in ways that 4:44 failed to do.
“APESHIT ” is arguably Beyoncé’s vehicle, and while the Pharrell-produced track is the most obvious first single and a fun celebration of the Carters’ success, it’s also built on a foundation of thin trap beats that lacks a hook that would make it a real song of the summer contender. That’s continually a problem on EVERYTHING IS LOVE, which chases emotion but does not spend a lot of time on melody. Several songs contain lyrics that indicate they were written relatively recently, despite rumors swirling around this joint album since 2015 when producer Detail let it slip, and confirmed by Jay in 2017. And while those lyrics are endlessly clever and layered, the music overall feels not fully fleshed out — and that’s the primary thing stopping this album from being among their top tier work. Everything is kind of a jam, but there aren’t a lot of bangers; this album is more about adult love and grown folks problems, with music that sets an after-party atmosphere more than starting the party.
Beyoncé shines when she lets Yoncé out to play, talking shit on Spotify, bum whores, and quoting Half Baked. But her serious, activist side comes out when she addresses systematic inequality via lyrics about equity, never seeing ceilings, and the lack of Black people on the annual Forbes richest list. She is excellent at making her wealth a subject without alienating her audience (it helps that she still talks about sipping from Styrofoam cups); that’s a problem hip-hop has struggled with since its earliest superstars became unimaginably rich. It works for Bey, because she elevates the discourse from simply dropping designer names (which she does, but not the usual Louis Vuitton bullshit) into a deeper conversation about what Black and brown people should be worrying about with respect to money
Taken as a whole, EVERYTHING IS LOVE is a celebration of the success of Bey and Jay: financially, emotionally, and creatively. Under every song is a thread of self-celebration, and this album is an invite to join the party.
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Mornings at my apartment go a little something like this: The first alarm goes off at 6 a.m. Then the others follow at five-minute intervals, until I roll out of my bed at 7 on the dot to the sounds of The Breakfast Club (the NYC-based radio show, not the '80s teen movie). If my roommate doesn't beat me in the race to our shared bathroom, I'll shower and cowash my hair — which is a whole big thing, and leaves no space for me to do my makeup (or iron my clothes, or eat breakfast...).
So when I noticed that some of my favorite influencers and beauty editors were incorporating masks into their bright-and-early skin-care routines, I was a little confused. Who has time for that, I wondered, when they're contouring and commuting? According to dermatologist Gervaise Gerstner, MD, however, it actually makes perfect sense.
"A morning mask is great to do pre-makeup to give your skin the base hydration it needs," Dr. Gerstner says. "It's just like using a primer to give hydration and prep skin. It can also temporarily give the skin a tightness and make pores appear smaller." But even though you can see the benefits, that doesn't mean that early-day masking is any better than doing it after work. "You certainly feel more refreshed, but there’s not necessarily any difference in terms of timing," says dermatologist and Specific Beauty Skincare founder Heather Woolery-Lloyd, MD.
No matter what time of day it is, be sure to pick the right hero ingredients for your concern: "Charcoal is always good for oily or acne-prone skin, because it has astringent properties and may help with reducing excess oil," Dr. Woolery-Lloyd says. "For dry skin, find a mask that contains antioxidants and hyaluronic acid to hydrate and moisturize the skin. And for sensitive skin, find a mask that has soothing benefits like aloe that won’t irritate."
The final verdict is that if you've got some extra time on your hands before your commute, adding a mask to your a.m. routine is great. But if you can barely find the time to wash your face to begin with, don't stress: Your sheet-mask selfie can wait another 12 hours. Ahead, our favorite picks that just might be worth getting to work 20 minutes late...
The cult-favorite brand's one-minute treatment has all the makings of a "real" mask: bentonite and kaolin clay to clear your pores, witch hazel for toning, and aloe vera and licorice root to brighten. The main difference with this new launch is that the ultraviolet-colored formula oxidizes on your face and bubbles — instead of hardening — before you rinse it off.
"Antioxidants like vitamin C and green tea are helpful at the beginning of the day, because they brighten," Dr. Woolery-Lloyd notes. Vitamin C is actually the key ingredient in this product by Lixir, which also helps build up the skin's natural defense against UV damage. (No, that doesn't mean you can skip sunscreen.)
The peppermint-leaf water packed into this sheet mask will feel so soothing right before your 45-minute train delay. Plus, you can save some time by skipping your usual serum, as the remaining essence is meant to be rubbed into your skin after you take the mask off before you apply your moisturizer and sunscreen.
Dr. Woolery-Lloyd says that masking is more of a supplement to your existing routine, depending on your particular need. But you'll want to integrate Starskin's instant-results pads into that routine as much as possible, since they're heavy on ingredients that soothe and brighten, like matricaria flower extract.
The panthenol found in Laneige's leave-on mousse is a form of vitamin B5, which is perfect for moisturizing and creating a smooth and even base before putting on a full face.
Parkland school shooting survivor David Hogg is calling for brands to boycott Fox News host Laura Ingraham after she compared immigrant detention facilities to "summer camps" and "boarding schools" on Monday night.
That is, what remaining brands are still advertising with her show, since a dozen companies cut ties with The Ingraham Angle back in March, when Hogg called for an Ingraham boycott the first time. The initial boycott was after she taunted Hogg for getting rejected from colleges, tweeting, "David Hogg Rejected By Four Colleges To Which He Applied and whines about it. (Dinged by UCLA with a 4.1 GPA...totally predictable given acceptance rates.)" (She later apologized.)
In her Monday segment, Ingraham slammed the backlash against the Trump administration's zero-tolerance policy, which has resulted in thousands of families being separated at the U.S.-Mexico border. During these detentions, children often face inhumane conditions — being kept in cages as they plead to be reunited with their families — while babies are ripped away from their mothers as they're breastfed.
"More kids are being separated from their parents and temporarily housed in what are essentially summer camps, or as The San Diego Union-Tribune described them today, as basically looking like boarding schools," Ingraham said Monday. "The American people are footing a really big bill for what is tantamount to a slow-rolling invasion of the United States."
.@IngrahamAngle: "The American people are footing a really big bill for what is tantamount to a slow rolling invasion of the United States." pic.twitter.com/HJd6TsTEca
Ingraham later added, to clarify: "Apparently there are a lot of people very upset because we referred to some of the detention facilities tonight as essentially like summer camps. ... I will stick to there are some of them like boarding schools. And I suggest that a lot of the folks who are worried about that spend more time in Central America. I have. And we should make adoption easier for American couples who want to adopt these kids who are true candidates for adoption because our policies don’t allow that. So let’s put our hearts out there for the kids in the right way. Take care of them the right way. Open your hearts and your homes to them."
Fact-check: The San Diego Union-Tribune said "many elements" of one shelter for unaccompanied children "seem like what one would expect from a boarding school," but on closer inspection it's a high-security facility in which kids are only allowed to make two 10-minute phone calls per week. And while we know Ingraham herself has several adopted children, the adoption connection she made here feels bizarre and irrelevant.
Comparing migrant detention centers to "summer camps" or "boarding schools" — no matter what your stance is on immigration policy — is a gross, attention-seeking, privileged ploy. These kids are not living in the government facilities voluntarily, nor do they have any of the amenities or luxuries of summer camps and boarding schools. (We have to ask: What types of camps is Ingraham sending her kids to?)
After Ingraham's statement, Hogg called for a new advertiser boycott, including from Ace Hardware; John Deere; and IAC, which owns brands like Dictionary.com, The Daily Beast, and CollegeHumor.
"So @IngrahamAngle we meet again," he tweeted. "Who are [your] biggest advertisers now?"
No word yet on whether anyone new has boycotted Ingraham's show, but if the last time she insulted children were any indication, then we should see the brands saying bye-bye pretty soon.
So @IngrahamAngle we meet again. Who are you biggest advertisers now?
There are a few key pieces needed to crack the no-makeup makeup puzzle: a dewy base that covers imperfections yet still looks like skin, barely-there lashes that define but never clump, and, of course, the perfect whisper of color on your lips. The latter is, in our opinion, the hardest part of a fresh face to get right. While a hint of color on the lips is one of the easiest ways to brighten your entire complexion in just a few seconds, it's very easy to go too heavy or too light and miss the mark completely.
That's why the advent of lip oils have been so handy. A product that marries the best parts of a nourishing balm and a colorful gloss? Sign us up. In the past few years, lip oils have flooded our feeds and local makeup stores, so we've been able to try dozens of different variations. Some are tinted, some pack longer-lasting benefits, and some come with funky applicators and interactive packaging. Feast your eyes on the very best lip oils we've tried to-date, ahead.
Chapstick is adding not one, but two new hydrating lip oils to their collection this summer: One is a slick, vitamin-enriched formula that comes in tinted and non-tinted varieties, and the other is a deeply moisturizing night serum that rehabs rough lips while you sleep. Both will be rolled out at mass retailers in August.
After the success of her matte lipsticks, makeup artist Pat McGrath has finally given the world a gloss. The 14 bold and wearable shades are infused with oil to moisturize lips while giving off KiraKira levels of shine.
Already a fan of Burt's Bees' classic tinted lip balms? You'll love the brand's newest lip-care addition. These brush-on lip oils are infused with coconut and meadowfoam-seed oils to hydrate lips, and come in six subtle colors.
This shea butter-packed oil-to-gel balm has a sheer, rosy tint that deepens once it hits your lips, making it an easy option to swipe on without a mirror.
At first glance, this golden oil may look intimidating, but the sheer gloss has super-fine gold shimmer running through it that leaves a gorgeous sheen on the lips. We love wearing it solo or layering it over lipstick for a boost of moisture and shine.
According to our senior beauty editor, Alix Tunell, it's impossible to overdo it with these tinted lip oils. "They're so softening," she says. "Plus, they're dressier than a balm, but not sticky like a gloss."
Not a fan of tinted oils? Ditch your go-to balm for this minty oil from K-beauty brand Nooni. It may look blue in the tube, but the sunflower-, jojoba-, and sweet almond oil-rich blend glides onto the lips completely clear.
Two years ago, Lancôme reinvented the brand's classic Juicy Tubes lip gloss and created its Juicy Shakers. The cocktail shaker-inspired tinted lip oils feature a bi-phase formula that comes in dozens of fun shades like plum, peach, and bright red.
Unlike the other oils in this lineup, this is a longer-lasting formula that won't slip right off the lips. We like wearing it solo or tapping it onto cheeks and lips for a monochromatic flush.
Unlike many lip oils that seem to vanish the second you put them on, this one hangs around thanks to its viscous texture. It won't give your lips a tint, but it does provide the prettiest glossy sheen.
Don't overlook Ulta's own line of makeup when perusing the store: The brand's lip oils impart a sheer layer of color while hydrating and plumping, thanks to a formula rich in vitamin E, jojoba oil, and oat-kernel oil.
Except for what we learned from The Little Mermaid, we may never know what a mermaid's beauty routine would look like — if they were real and all. But if you're still wondering, Rodin's newest collection will satiate your curiosity with a full line of mermaid-themed products, featuring this illuminating lip oil.
Synonymous with summer, watermelon is not just the base of a great daiquiri or fresh feta salad, but also a skin-care ingredient to have on your radar. The latest in the long line of Korean imports, watermelon is now having its moment on the world stage.
Like its name suggests, watermelon is packed full of H20 (92% to be precise). But its benefits go way beyond hydration – it’s also bursting with a cocktail of skin-nourishing ingredients. “The citrulline, an amino acid, improves blood circulation and works as a natural exfoliator, while lycopene, a phytonutrient, is an anti-inflammatory,” explains facialist Su-Man. Suitable for all skin types, watermelon is particularly beneficial for people prone to breakouts, redness, or dry and flaky skin, but it could also come in handy for battling fine lines. “Rich in antioxidants that protect the body from free radicals, watermelon is great at treating the signs of aging,” Su-Man says.
The serious buzz around this juicy pink fruit can be traced back to Korean beauty brand Glow Recipe's Watermelon Glow Sleeping Mask. Utilizing watermelon’s hydrating powers, the lightweight sleeping mask quickly gained a cult following for its skin-softening and glow-giving properties.
For a DIY (and bargain) approach, you can simply use chilled slices of watermelon as a makeshift face mask. Ideal for sun-parched or irritated skin, the watermelon will instantly cool and soothe. Or, if you fancy something a little more hi-tech, turn to one of a number of products enriched with watermelon. From an exfoliating skin polish to a brightening toner, these are our favorites…
This see-through fruity jelly balm will transform any lip color to your perfect shade of pink. The tiny pink-and-gold pill-shaped tube even comes printed with black seeds to look like an actual watermelon.
After garnering a cult following and multiple restocks, the latest addition to the Glow Recipe watermelon collection is here — and it's blissfully travel-friendly. Expect skin to be hydrated from morning 'til night, bright, and de-puffed thanks to this jelly sheet mask, which comes saturated in a cooling watermelon serum.
Yes, it's a serum — in a stick. That means it's never been easier to harness the skin-care benefits of your favorite summer fruit, like the full range of vitamins, nutrients, and free radical-fighting antioxidants you'll find in this brightening formula. Twist it up, smooth over a clean, dry face, and follow up with your favorite (watermelon-infused, naturally) moisturizer for clear, downright luminous skin.
Inspired by royal beauty rituals of times gone by, this heavenly toner contains a mix of fresh fruit and precious essential oils. Watermelon, papaya, rose, and tomato work to gently increase cell turnover and tone the skin, leaving it revitalized and glowing.
A cooling combination of watermelon and cucumber makes this an ideal body moisturizer for hot-weather holidays. Super-light and non-greasy, it sinks in in a matter of minutes while also being nourishing and hydrating. Top tip: Place it in the fridge and use it as an after-sun treatment.
Elemental Herbology, $43.2, available at DermStore
For those days when your skin feels lackluster, this exfoliating polish will come to the rescue. The potent fruit blend of watermelon, papaya, and pomegranate extracts works like magic to gently smooth away dull, dry skin for an instantly brighter complexion.
A true godsend for dry and cracked lips, this all-natural balm harnesses the powers of watermelon extract, shea butter, and jojoba oil. The distinctly watermelon taste will transport you to sunnier climates – whatever the weather – and the packaging is a chic, minimalist dream.
This watermelon-, apple-, and lentil-infused toner is your new post-cleanser must-have. Not only does it immediately hydrate, thanks to a little bit of help from evening primrose oil, but it promises to boost the skin's ability to retain moisture over time, too.
Enriched with Origins’ lychee and watermelon hydra-sustain complex, this moisturizer is seriously thirst-quenching for dehydrated skin. Lightweight and oil-free, it's perfect for combination skin types.
This botanical blend of watermelon, apple, and lentil offers a two-pronged approach to hydration – it provides immediate comfort while also improving the skin's ability to retain moisture. Layer under your moisturizer or SPF if you want to to tackle dryness, flakiness, and rough patches.
An unlikely combination of snow mushrooms and watermelon makes this serum a dream for stressed-out skin. While the magical fungi help promote cell renewal, collagen production, and long-term hydration, the fruity extract offers up a dose of brightening vitamin C.
Chris Moore, the legendary and longstanding runway photographer, has witnessed some of the fashion industry's most memorable moments, from the breathtaking to the bizarre. Having been behind the camera for over 60 years, he's seen the industry change radically, from the emergence of ready-to-wear in the '60s to the Insta-bait extravaganzas of today.
Alongside Moore's photographs of some of the past century's most magical show moments, you'll be able to walk among the original runway outfits, loaned to the museum by a plethora of leading houses. Analyzing the evolution of fashion, from haute couture to the first supermodel, the exhibition promises to be an enthralling look at an industry in constant flux.
Ahead of the show, we asked Moore to highlight some of his favorite moments in runway history. Click through to see the wildest and most wondrous happenings, captured firsthand by his lens.
Body Map, Fall/Winter 1985, London "London Fashion Week in the 1980s showcased a brave generation of talented designers who loved experimenting with presentation. Here, Body Map's show 'Barbie Takes a Trip Around Nature's Cosmic Curves' was choreographed by dance legend Michael Clark, who also models [pictured on the far right]."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Nadja Auermann modeling for a Thierry Mugler retrospective anniversary show, Fall/Winter 1995, Paris "Held at the Cirque d'Hiver in Paris, this show was an amazing rush of excitement presented in true Hollywood style. Nadja Auermann — famous for her legs — walked out through dry ice, modeling an over-the-top gold body armor, looking like a Grecian battle princess."
Photographed by Chris Moore Courtesy Of Catwalking
Jaime King modeling for Alexander McQueen, Spring/Summer 1998, London "The spring '98 collection was formally 'Untitled,' but is now widely known to be 'The Golden Shower.' For the final section of the show, the models walked on tanks of black ink-stained water to the soundtrack of Jaws. Bathed in a sulfurous light, models were showered with water that transformed the all-white fabrics they were wearing into skin-clinging sheer clothes."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Isabella Blow front row at Julien Macdonald, Fall/Winter, 1998, London "Issy Blow would change two or three times a day during London Fashion Week. It was at a Julien Macdonald show that she wore that lobster hat by Erik Halley and was seated next to a fake Michael Jackson. We only learned later that he was a fake — but fake or not, he was still upstaged by Issy’s formidable style."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Shalom Harlow modeling for Alexander McQueen, Spring/Summer 1999, London "The robot arms in this sequence of the show felt at first to be sinister and threatening, spraying the innocent white of a childlike dress. Instead, it proved to be a graceful ballet, thanks to Shalom Harlow's engaging performance."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Hussein Chalayan, Fall/Winter 2000, London "I loved the shows that Chalayan put on at London’s Sadler's Wells Theatre around the turn of the millennium. He was experimenting and transforming shape and function — we saw him turn chair covers into dresses and a table into a crinoline skirt."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Wild & Lethal Trash, Spring/Summer 1998, Paris "Shows by Walter van Beirendonck always had something alternative to offer the photo pack, whether it was line-dancing models, stilt-walking performers, or would-be superheroes. In 1998, it was wartime ballroom dancers complete with gas masks that made us laugh out loud."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Alexander McQueen, Fall/Winter 2006, Paris "2006 had been a difficult year for Kate Moss, who, following a highly publicized scandal, was not seen out and about much. Although she often attended McQueen’s shows, the paparazzi were disappointed to not find her in the front row. If she couldn't be there in person, McQueen wanted his friend to be there at least in spirit, and for the show finale, Kate’s ghostly image appeared pirouetting in a hologram video inside a glass pyramid — to the delight of his audience."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Louis Vuitton, Spring/Summer 2013, Paris "I have seen some spectacles at fashion shows over the years, but I would never have expected to see a steam train come down a catwalk."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Pat Cleveland modeling for Thierry Mugler's anniversary show during Paris couture, Fall/Winter 1984, Paris "At one of Paris Fashion Week's first blockbuster fashion shows, the finale wedding gown was modeled by Pat Cleveland. Styled as the Virgin Madonna, she was lowered from high above on wires onto the catwalk floor to the sound of rousing operatic arias while being showered by a blizzard of pink confetti."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Chanel, Spring/Summer 2012, Paris "It has become Karl Lagerfeld’s personal challenge to impress the ever-expanding live audience at Chanel shows. Even by his standard, it was quite a feat to install an entire wind farm under the glass roof of the Grand Palais."
Photo: Courtesy Of Catwalking
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
On September 20, Hurricane María rocked the island of Puerto Rico. Donald Trump tweeted, “Puerto Rico being hit hard by new monster Hurricane. Be careful, our hearts are with you —will be there to help!” Instead, it would be 13 days until he visited the US territory to see the devastation for himself, tossing rolls of paper towels and toilet paper into the crowd. Almost 6,000 people have died and nearly 13,314 people are still without power in Puerto Rico — a crucial part of the recovery.
The aftermath has been even worse than expected: The New York Times estimated at the time the hurricane hit that 3.4 million people were without power. Hundreds of thousands were without water, and there was a shortage of food and medical supplies. Rebuilding life after María, hasn’t been easy. People have lost their jobs, kids are missing classes. And for Puerto Rico’s budding fashion scene, it’s been especially frustrating.
San Juan Moda, the island’s Fashion Week which stands to show what its designers have to offer has happened bi-annually since 2013, save for its ninth edition originally planned for October 2017 until Hurricane María hit. The shows eventually took place last December after rounds of fundraising and again in April. But as Glamour pointed out in April, the industry is proceeding with caution. Not only have designers lost resources but their clientele don’t have as much disposable income as they may have previously. As the island looks to reinvent itself, so are its designers.
Ahead, we spoke to five designers recount how their businesses were affected and how they are rebuilding.
Aguja Local Founded by Natalia Figueroa, 27, and Paola Figueroa, 28 Based in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tell us about your business. “We are a web-based business. We find the majority of our designers through social media, especially Instagram. Also, people will refer designers to us. We just celebrated our third anniversary on February 28, 2018.”
How was your business affected by the hurricane? “Since there was no power, no signal, and no Internet, it was impossible for us to go about our regular business. Also, those first couple of weeks, designers had to halt production because of lack of materials and no power to use their tools, and they were tending to their needs and families. Likewise, the post office, which is our main shipping method, was closed — we couldn’t get anything out. On top of that, people were spending their money on necessities, so they weren’t really thinking about acquiring luxury goods like the ones we sell.”
Are you in the process of rebuilding? “Nine months later, our designers [as well as the co-founder and founder] are still in the process of rebuilding. Right now, we are reinventing our marketing strategy to target the people living in the mainland.”
Were you able to save any of your pieces? “The way we work is by consignment, so a lot of the pieces stay with the designer until we’ve sold it. So, in that regard, we didn’t have much inventory to worry about. The pieces that we did have, however, didn’t suffer any damages during the hurricane.”
Is business back to normal for you? If not, what will it take to get there? “Not quite. Because of the difficult economic situation that existed in the island before the hurricane, some of our designers had to get other jobs to maintain themselves and their families, so they haven’t been able to get back to full production. Others have left the island, which makes it harder and more expensive for us to obtain their merchandise, while others have kept working on their clothes and accessories, but have had to find other ways to earn money, which sometimes mean less time and products for Aguja Local. We had a great Christmas season in terms of sales, but we are convinced that it’s necessary to refocus our marketing efforts to target the people living in the mainland.”
Lisa Thon Founded by Lisa Thon, 51 Based in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tell us about your business. “I have been in business for the past 28 years. My pieces are created locally in Puerto Rico in my own atelier in San Juan. In earlier years, I produced in Colombia too.”
How was your business affected by the hurricane? “I didn't have electric power for months. Thank God that was the only problem we had to face.”
Is business back to normal for you? If not, what will it take to get there? “Business is still not back to normal. There are citizens still without electricity and most people had to overcome unexpected expenses due to the emergency. As soon as the electricity is fully restored , I think we will be getting a little bit back to normal.”
RR Rura Founded by Rubí Ramírez, 27 Based in Caguas, Puerto Rico
Tell us about your business. “I been in business about a year and half. I created all my pieces in Puerto Rico, at first I begging making all my jewelry at my house but a few month ago a get a studio in Caguas Puerto Rico.”
How was your business affected by the hurricane? “Fortunately I live in a safe place, so I didn’t have any damage in my house or jewelry, but the factor that affected my business most was that we didn’t have electricity. My jewelry needs to be baked, so at that moment, we used a diesel generator, which has a high maintenance cost, so I couldn’t produce as much as usual.”
Is business back to normal for you? If not, what will it take to get there? “Happily, everything is on track, back to normal, and I can say better!”
Elda Samano Founded by Elda Samano, 34 Based in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tell us about your business. “I've been designing for 12 years, 11 of them in Puerto Rico. Currently, all the custom pieces that I design are manufactured in my atelier in Puerto Rico. There are some pieces that I make in Mexico.”
How was your business affected by the hurricane? “Some of our inventory was damaged. There was structural damage (some windows and mirrors were damaged). The waterproofing treatment that had been given to the roof a month before the hurricane was completely damaged by debris. My workshop area completely flooded, damaging the carpet, the tables of the sewing machines, and several fabrics that I had in the cellar of the workshop.”
“What I found most damaging was the lack of electrical power. We went almost a month without being able to operate completely. We managed to start by the end of October thanks to the installation of an electric generator, which moved only part of the boutique. I could not open at the regular time since there was a shortage of gasoline on the island and it was twice as expensive to operate. It wasn't until the beginning of December that they managed to reconnect the electricity in my boutique area.”
Is business back to normal for you? If not, what will it take to get there? “We are still in the process of reconstruction; we are painting everything, waterproofing, making new ready-to-wear and bridal collections. I have a warehouse area in which all the pieces were protected in special garment bags and at a considerably safe height, but water entered the warehouse and one third of what was there was lost.”
“Even with an electric plant, we continue to serve customers, designing and making our orders. Since electric power returned the situation has improved, stress has continued to decrease, and things are flowing even better. I have a dream that my atelier will work with renewable energy; one of the projects I would love to tackle in the near future would be to use solar energy to operate my business.”
Zelnatt Founded by Zelis Nanette, 35 Based in San Juan, Puerto Rico
Tell me about your business. “I lived in the United States for seven years between Eastlake, Seattle, and South Bronx, New York. I moved back home in 2014 to create a womenswear label. It took me a long time to find a good seamstress in the island. It wasn't until last spring (2017) that I found someone who was able to sew lycra the right way. In September 2017, I teamed up with some talented people to do a swimwear shoot in one of my favorite places, the cliffs of Cabo Rojo, on the southwest corner of the Island. The main goal was to create a lookbook to promote it before and during the Christmas season. We knew there were some weather warnings but we took the risk and got the shots successfully. We edited some pictures for a fews days and then Hurricane María surprised us and devastated the whole land.”
How was your business affected by the hurricane? “At that time, I had left my studio and was crashing at my sister house. Puerto Rico became a completely dark place; we didn’t have power, Internet, or cell phones. We were isolated from the entire world. Once I knew my family was doing well I returned to my place nearby the beach and thankfully didn’t lose anything. The next months were a serious challenge, especially for people who have online businesses. During that chaos I tried to stay focused and positive. I changed my daily routine: I was getting up really early in the morning to get the bright natural light to work on patterns and organize my upcoming collection. By December, the metro area got electricity but the sewing studio is located in the central region of the Island, Cidra, where they were still working with portable generators. The sewing process got slower but patiently we finished a small production to sell during the holiday season (yay!). The results were outstanding.”
Is business back to normal for you? If not, what will it take to get there? “Local Puerto Ricans got closer to each other and were supporting everything that was made in their hometown. It's unbelievable how such a disaster shakes us up to rebuild a better place and to reevaluate our culture behaviors. Now after nine months I could say we are back to a normal life and I’m more inspired to show the world that our artist community is committed to create the most marvelous designs.”
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The fastest way to ruin a perfectly good moisturizer? Add sunscreen. Yeah, we know SPF is a necessity — and trust us, we are religious about applying the stuff a few times a day, every day. But it seems no other category of active skin-care ingredients works so fast to strip the elegance from a fast-absorbing, silky smooth facial lotion and replace those feel-good characteristics with a chalky texture, clinical smell, and greasy or ashy finish on skin. Our dream sunscreen would do more than pull a disappearing act: It wouldn't even register as sunscreen in the first place.
We know that's a big ask, so in the meantime, we've settled for using our favorite luxe moisturizer (you know, for the experience) before dutifully layering on sunscreen for protection. When we stumbled across this oil-free moisturizer, we thought we'd found the perfect pre -sunscreen hydrator. It absorbs quickly, possesses a silky, emollient slip, and leaves skin — and this is very important — looking lit from within. It doesn’t have any tint or cause pilling under makeup. In other words, it’s entirely too elegant to contain sunscreen.
But guess what? Somehow, CircCell founder Maya Crothers has managed to work broad-spectrum SPF 30 into the mix. (Though the formula contains oxybenzone, which has been found to harm coral reefs and was recently banned in Hawaii, the brand tells us it hopes to reformulate the product without the controversial ingredient next year.) We’re not sure what kind of pact Crothers made with the devil to emerge with a SPF-laced moisturizer that hides the less-pleasant side effects of sunscreen altogether, but we’re running with it — and apparently so is everyone else in the know.
CircCell Moisture Shield is currently sold out on the brand’s site and its waitlist is growing, though fans should expect a restock in the next few weeks, according to the brand. To hold us over, we found a few other facial sunscreens that also get points for acting like gorgeous moisturizers, ahead.
Made in Wyoming with special consideration for those in harsh climates, this cruelty-free moisturizer has all the good stuff we like in a plumping skin product — hyaluronic acid, olive-sourced squalene, vitamin E, gluconolactone, and more — plus protective SPF 30.
By the feel of it, you’d never know that this ultra-light sunscreen was made with a whopping 20% zinc oxide. It glides on easily and evenly and absorbs quickly without ashiness, and leaves dry skin types looking especially dewy.
We thought this hydrating sunscreen would be too greasy for summer. We thought wrong. Though it looks thick in the bottle, the whipped lotion absorbs quickly and leaves a satiny finish on skin, not an oily sheen.
This fluid sunscreen leaves skin with a hint of luminescence, not shine. It’s also made with DNA repair enzymes, which promise to work with our bodies' own enzymes to help mend damage previously caused by UV exposure.
If you're struggling to make your hair do what you want this time of year, welcome to the club. Heat, sweat, and humidity are the enemies of well-behaved hair, but nobody wants to spend their summer trying to flatten frizz and add volume to lifeless roots. Thankfully, there are plenty of new hair launches that will help you break out of your summer hair rut, and quite a few of them are stocked at Ulta Beauty.
Along with Sephora, Ulta has dropped some exciting seasonal releases under the hair-care tab, and we've narrowed down what's really good. Whether you're desperately in need of a cleansing scalp-detox scrub infused with gunk-clearing charcoal, or you're just intrigued by a five-star smoothing conditioner named after your go-to drink order at a Japanese restaurant, you're bound to find something you'll want to add to your bathroom cabinet right away.
Ahead, 15 new products from Ulta that might just give you the summer strands of your humidity-proof dreams.
If your hair is feeling a little dull, a dry scalp or product buildup could be to blame. For a quick detox, try this scalp scrub formulated with activated charcoal. It'll slough away all the gunk and restore your scalp's natural balance for healthier hair after just one wash.
Dry shampoos can work a little too well, leaving your hair less greasy but drier and more brittle. The rice starch in this formula refreshes without draining hair of moisture, while the anti-fade complex softens and protects color-treated strands.
This creamy sulfate-free shampoo is designed specifically to gently cleanse colored and highlighted hair — and you won't find it anywhere but online at Ulta.
L'Oréal Professionnel, $26, available at Ulta Beauty
For instant brightening, try this toning conditioner, which nixes brassiness and leaves hair looking softer, shinier, and noticeably blonder thanks to a dose of lemon extract.
This conditioner's smoothing capabilities, coupled with the heavenly scent of jasmine, sandalwood, and Madagascar vanilla, make it fully worth the $24 price tag. The name doesn't hurt, either.
This new straightener is on the pricier side, but it heats up quick, glides smoothly, and the white and gold-plated finish is cuter than anything you'll find at the drugstore.
We've praised the gentle unsnarling powers of the Wet Brush in the past, and this new design is an even better upgrade. The key difference between the new model and the tried-and-true paddle brush? It's more flexible, which helps the bristles reach the scalp to effectively detangle super-thick hair.
A crimper? A straightener? A beveled curling iron? This wand marries all the best qualities of all three heat-styling tools, delivering sleek and shiny texture and waves that last, even on thin hair that struggles to hold a curl.
Scrunch a dollop of this surf lotion into dry hair for some tousled, lived-in texture, plus a UV shield and a blend of plant nutrients to protect your color. It's the easiest $10 you'll spend all summer.
This new leave-in treatment already has more than 130 glowing reviews on Ulta's site, and it's no wonder why: The milky formula detangles and adds shine to curls and coils, and the spray bottle makes it a cinch to apply.
HOUSE 99 BY DAVID BECKHAM, $18, available at Ulta Beauty
If your carry-on liquids are in constant danger of being confiscated by the TSA, try packing a travel-size do-it-all product. This treatment spray acts as a detangler, heat protector, and strengthener, so you can leave your other styling products at home.
If you won't travel without your blowdryer, consider buying this compact, foldable version to save yourself the trouble of having to sit on your suitcase to get it to zip.
The newest launch from DevaCurl's Decadence line, this creamy leave-in conditioner defines curls while moisturizing, providing shine, and keeping unwanted frizz at bay.
