While most beauty pros can wax poetic about their favorite cheap mascaras and bargain hairsprays, they give the world of affordable shampoos and conditioners considerably less love. Don't take these products lightly, though — especially if you're on a budget. Besides cleaning and conditioning, this duo can keep your color true, your scalp healthy, and your miscellaneous woes (frizz, split ends, and so on) in check.
Ahead, members of our own beauty team and a few A-list Hollywood hairstylists share the drugstore hair products they love — all of which clock in at under $15.
"After getting my very first dye job in December, my curls started shedding like crazy because color-treated hair craves moisture. It was difficult to wash-and-go during the winter months, so I always made sure to do some really intense conditioning every few days. Cantu's anti-fade conditioner works just as well as my pricy Oribe products — my curls are always soft and defined, and my copper color looks gorgeous afterward."
"My scalp is about as temperamental as I am when I'm hungry. If it's washed too much, it dries out. But if I use formulas filled with moisturizing properties, it's oil city. This shampoo is middle ground. It clarifies to remove all the gunk, hydrates, and adds just enough lift."
OGX Anti-Gravity + Hydration O2 Shampoo, $8.29, available at Ulta.
"Someone recommended this formula to me years ago when I was dealing with breakage and I haven't stopped restocking it in my shower since. It not only strengthens my hair, which helps my strands to grow longer, but it really gets the job done when it comes to cleansing. I always feel brand new after just one wash."
The Expert:Scotty Cunha, hairstylist to Kylie Jenner, Kourtney Kardashian, and Lucy Hale
Best For: Any hair type
"It's natural, paraben-free, blah blah, but it really works! And it's great for all hair types because it's really conditioning, but not too heavy, so it won't weigh down straight hair. It's great for conditioning color-treated hair, and it will also help control frizz on curly hair."
"It usually takes a whole lot of pre-poo oil, loads of product, and a prayer to detangle my hair when it's dry... but with this thick conditioner, the process is cut in half. It works like a deep conditioner, and takes out the hassle of fussing with a goopy mask."
"I'm a huge fan of this brand's body wash, so I was stoked when I discovered the shampoo. The hydrating formula didn't disappoint and left my hair feeling clean, but not deprived of moisture. It's a win-win!"
The Seaweed Bath Co. Argan Shampoo, $12.99, available at Target.
The Expert: Chan, R29 beauty writer
Best For: Any hair type
"As a beauty writer, I've had plenty of opportunities to try pricey shampoos, but I always go back to this one. Seriously, I rave about this shampoo to anyone who will listen. The scent is super-refreshing, and [it's] really pleasant to use. I wash my hair every day, which I know some people will scold me for, but this one has such a gentle-but-clarifying sulfate-free formula that it doesn't cause me any problems at all."
Trader Joe's Tea Tree Tingle Shampoo, $3.99, available in-store at Trader Joe 's.
The Expert: Underwood, R29 beauty writer
Best For: Dehydrated coils
"I'm always skeptical when products promise to deliver a 'salon-grade' experience. But I quickly ate my words after getting a wash with the new Damage Slayer system. My 'fro was really dry — like, tumbleweed dry — but once my stylist finished my coil-out, I was surprised at how springy and soft my hair was. Maybe I'll skip a few bi-weekly appointments and treat myself at home..."
"I grabbed this from my roommate's shelf the other day when I ran out of my own $28 conditioner and was seriously impressed by the results. While I didn't love the smell (a bit too honey-sweet for my taste), I air-dried my hair and put it in a bun and when I took it out it was so smooth and shiny it looked like I had gotten a blowout."
Garnier Whole Blends Repairing Conditioner, $3.49, available at Target.
The Expert: Sasso, R29 beauty writer
Best For: Heat-damaged hair
"I bought this shampoo on a whim and it blew my mind. I've never experienced such a transformation with such an inexpensive product. My ends had never been softer and my shine levels are through the roof — even after air-drying."
L'Oréal Paris Total Repair 5 Restoring Shampoo, $3.99, available at Target.
The Expert:Ryan Richman, hairstylist to Lorde, Ashley Tisdale, and Sarah Hyland
Best For: Dry hair
"This shampoo is great for damaged and coarse hair, because it helps to strengthen it and leaves hair really smooth."
"This clarifying shampoo is super - strong, so don't even think about using it every day. However, if you use it a few times per month it will cleanse every bit of buildup out of your hair. I have highlighted (and therefore, more fragile) hair, so I only use it once a month, but even so, I can immediately tell the biggest difference. It's strong, but when used correctly, it will make your hair bouncier and respond better to all your other products."
"This mask is incredibly thick, smells great, and you notice a difference in your hair after one use, which, for under $10, is pretty impressive. It makes my hair feel softer — even right after I get it bleached!"
L'Oréal Advanced Haircare Total Repair Extreme Emergency Recovery Mask, $6.99, available at L'Oréal.
The Expert: Underwood
Best For: Natural hair
"For a solid 10 years, Creme of Nature was all I knew. My mom and aunts used the brand's shampoos and conditioners on their relaxed hair for years. The packaging has changed, but the refreshing scent and ridiculously creamy formula remains the same.
Crème of Nature Moisture & Shine Shampoo With Argan Oil, $4.99, available at Target.
The Expert: Lebsack, R29 senior beauty editor
Best For: Dry hair
"This rich conditioner has long been my drugstore stand-in when my hair feels parched, or just after bleaching, and I don't want to splurge on something more expensive. It makes my strands feel smooth and soft without weighing them down."
Neutrogena Triple Moisture Daily Deep Conditioner, $4.22, available at Walmart.
The Expert:Sheridan Ward, hairstylist to Chloë Sevigny and Lana Parrilla
Best For: Dry hair
"This is infused with naturally-derived cleansing extracts including seaweed. It works best at balancing the hair's moisture levels."
Aveeno Active Naturals Pure Renewal Shampoo, $7.99, available at Walgreens.
The Expert:John Ruggiero, hairstylist to Chrissy Teigen and Ashley Bell
Best For: Dry coils
"This formula automatically transforms the most brittle hair, leaving it soft, silky, and smooth," Ruggiero says.
Bumble and bumble Hairdresser’s Invisible Oil Shampoo, $12, available at Sephora.
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First came headbands, then came scrunchies, now comes one more '90s hair trend we never thought we'd see again: snap-on clips. The last time most of us saw the metal-coated accessories (and felt their tendency to poke you right in the scalp), it was 1996 and we were in kindergarten. Now, they're back and trending everywhere, from the runways to the red carpet.
But it wasn't until today, when we spotted Ariana Grande sporting the throwback look, that we were convinced this is one nostalgia train worth hopping on. The best part? Unlike some other accessories amid the '90s renaissance (we see you, Wang claw clips), these styles are just as accessible — and affordable — as ever. Ahead, our favorites that look more chic than they do cheap.
A simple gold clip to snap back your bangs turns your post-spin look into a look.
The Fourth of July is about more than just hot dogs, fireworks, and ample opportunities to accessorize with stars and stripes. The holiday is first and foremost the anniversary of the United States of America as its own nation, and its history and traditions in the two-and-a-half centuries since. Some people celebrate by hosting BBQs or family reunions; we prefer to do it by supporting beauty brands that honor our country's core values by producing products that are 100% made in America.
This list of American manufacturing companies may surprise you, because it's not just boutique-y, all-natural companies you've never heard of: There are also major global labels that are keeping their sourcing, formulation, product development, and manufacturing stateside, in an effort to maintain quality control of the products and provide jobs to the American workforce.
Ahead, a breakdown of beauty brands and products that are exclusively American-made — so you know exactly what to do with the rest of your cash after you've made hefty donations to Planned Parenthood and the ACLU.
ODE was born out of the McEvoy Ranch in Northern California, a place famed for its extra -virgin certified-organic olive oil. Unlike the bottles you pick up at the grocery store, the oil native to the region contains high levels of readily absorbable squalene, which dermatologists have found to be an extremely hydrating lipid similar to the skin's natural sebum. Because they harvest the olives before they're fully ripe, all ODE skincare formulations contain concentrated polyphenol, as well as vitamins A and E, and come locally sourced by way of the California coast.
All Boscia formulas are made in Irvine, California, which brand co-creator Lan Belinsky says is because it affords the developers the most quality control. "Being able to literally step outside my office right into the warehouse allows me to be involved in every step along the way," Belinky explains. "Our Southern California base gives us access to cutting-edge technology and serves as source of inspiration. We are constantly motivated and moved by the health and wellness-centric lifestyle that naturally fills the air here. And, as an American brand, we are also extremely proud to be creating jobs in the USA."
All MAKE beauty products are developed and produced in New York City, and the legacy of the city serves as a focal inspiration for the product design and packaging. The brand also makes an effort to give back to the local community, donating 10% of product sales to the We See Beauty Foundation supporting women-led, worker-owned cooperative businesses across the country.
When you order from Tata Harper's site, your mask, moisturizer, serum, or green-bottled cleanser — all made with naturally-sourced ingredients — is shipped directly from the brand's Vermont farm factory, straight to your doorstep.
Founded by Tennessee-based dermatologist Dr. Purvisha Patel, Visha Skincare was created to address the need for a simple, safe, multi-use regimen that combats a wide range of skin-care issues from acne and scarring,to aging and hyper-pigmentation. Made and manufactured on a small scale, the whole line is formulated and produced in Texas.
It's no wonder that It's a 10 hair products are so great at blocking humidity, hairstylist Carolyn Aronson, the brand's owner and creator, formulates and rolls out all the products in the country's most tropical destination: Florida.
Jane Iredale founded her eponymous brand out of a desire for a makeup line developed with quality minerals and skin care ingredients that are actually beneficial for your skin. With products offered through fine spas and luxury resorts around the country, it's no surprise that the collection is housed in the picturesque Berkshires in Massachusetts.
Created by dermatologist Carl Thornfeldt, MD, Epionce offers botanical-based products that are both clinical and clean, and they're all manufactured in Boise, Idaho.
Manufactured in New Jersey, Briogeo was inspired by the diversity and individuality of the nearby metropolitan area to offer bespoke hair-care regimens that cater to a wide variety of hair types.
The brand-new beauty brand co-created by Mariana Hewitt is still a fledgling line, with only one product on the market (the Jet Lag mask). Currently, all the formulations and production takes place in Utah.
Farmacy’s natural honey-based skin-care line was born out of a small farm in upstate New York, where farmers discovered a potent antioxidant-rich "super-plant" they named Echinacea GreenEnvy. Staying true to the brand's beginnings, Farmacy still sources most of its ingredients from local farmers to ensure everything is cultivated in an eco-friendly way.
Peter Thomas Roth, the brand's founder and product formulator, scours the globe to find game-changing skincare ingredients to infuse into his comprehensive line, but he does the hands-on testing stateside. Roth leads all research and development efforts that take place in the lab and production factory in Moonachie, New Jersey.
Another New Jersey-based brand, the June Jacobs spa skin-care products are churned out of their boutique lab, which, like Peter Thomas Roth's HQ, is also located in Moonachie.
In 1986, skin therapist Jane Wurwand opened the International Dermal Institute in California to teach and train young dermatologists. Dermalogica was born from the cutting-edge research conducted at the institute, and the brand still makes all their products in Southern California, both to maintain a superior quality standard and level of oversight as well as to support the American economy.
In the past year, we've seen SZA everywhere we turn. Every Instagram story, every Snapchat replay, every charting duet. The SZA movement is one that's not going to stop, and for that, we are grateful. Before the New Jersey native — born Solána Imani Rowe — hit the mainstream scene, the singer was quietly dropping dope EPs for years. But with her breakthrough debut CTRL, Gap and Fenty Beauty campaigns, and much more to come, all eyes will remain on her. And she's giving us plenty to look at.
Click ahead to see why SZA is the beauty icon we all need this year (and the ones after that) and try not to save every photo to your Instagram for future inspiration.
People went crazy over SZA's "new" hair color, but real fans know that the singer's had copper curls before. Hopefully this means new music is coming... or perhaps she's just tapping into her Pepper Annobsession.
Photo: Via @sza.
It's rare to see Solána with straight hair, but when it happens, it's magic.
Photo: Via @sza.
Some try to hide their frizz, but SZA embraces it — and styles it in two adorably-messy ponytails.
Photo: Via @sza.
And sometimes, she'll braid them and tie them with ribbon for down-on-the-farm realness.
Photo: Via @sza.
"Shit not sweet," she captioned... but her pineapple totally is.
Photo: Via @sza.
For the "All The Stars" video, she looked absolutely regal with these tribal-inspired Bantu knots.
Photo: Via @sza.
Good thing that she told us "issa wig," because we would've been fooled otherwise. Short hair is very becoming on the singer.
Photo: Via @sza.
Of course 'Lana got in on the braided bang trend early.
Photo: Via @sza.
Even though SZA told us that she has 4c hair, don't get too excited... issa 'nother wig. (A good one, but still.)
Photo: Via @sza.
Bodega and half-ponytail goals. This one is actually a wig from Slayer Hair Co.
Photo: Via @sza.
One of the many, many reasons why we love SZA is because she's just so real. Like, posting on the 'gram in her bonnet, real.
Photo: Via @sza.
Remember when everyone and their mother was rocking rosé hair? SZA tried the trend first.
You'll rarely catch the singer with her hair up, but when she does, she does it right.
This low-key look is one of our absolute favorites. Her wine red hair has us tempted to try the color ourselves.
SZA loves to rock glam makeup onstage, but we often see the artist showing off a more natural look on Instagram. With mile-long lashes, of course.
SZA's love for switching up her hair color makes her beauty evolution especially impressive. Just last summer she was rocking this ashy blonde hue. She credits Jane Carter Solutions products for keeping her strands healthy between dye jobs.
If you didn't think a little bit of gloss could go far, then you haven't seen SZA. From her lips to her eyelids, the singer is glowing.
Her signature freckles are the kind of beauty trait that people get tattoos to copy.
Looking for some #hairgoals? SZA is a walking Pinterest board of inspiration, including this full braid.
When the Ctrl singer posted this photo showing off her new braids, fans were quick to note her resemblance to another iconic singer: Brandy.
If we had to rank her best hair colors, we'd definitely choose the jet-black hue as the GOAT.
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We use clothing to express ourselves, but sometimes, it’s what we wear below the surface that makes us feel most powerful. This week, UndHER World is taking down the taboo of lingerie through personal stories, shoppable roundups, and a closer look at what lies underneath.
Since we can barely be bothered to follow the care instructions on our normal clothing, dealing with delicate lingerie definitely feels like another chore we can get away with side-stepping. Those instructions are just suggestions, right? Wrong. If we're being grossly honest with ourselves, we wash our bras with the same infrequency with which we wash our jeans — a tri-annual cleansing once they start to smell. And, whenever we do get around to it, our method probably involves popping them in the washer (on delicate if we're feeling really attentive), and calling it a day. We usually remember not to throw them in the dryer, since that only results in bent underwire, stretched out straps, and lumpy padding.
Well, it's time to resurface your grandmother's strict advice for scrubbing and hang-drying techniques. When we're investing as much cash as we are in the items we wear more than anything else in our closets, it makes sense we'd want to get as much longterm wear out of them as possible. Though there's no shortcut for properly caring for your lingerie, to make the task easier, ahead we're giving you a guide to effectively washing your underthings. Click through to remember the mantra: soak, rinse, and repeat!
Invest In A Lingerie Wash Yeah, yeah. You're probably asking yourself: I'm already spending a mini fortune on laundry detergent, is buying a secondary specialized one worth it? The answer is yes. Since most regular detergents are too harsh and soapy for delicate lingerie materials — think silk, lace, cotton blends, etc. — investing in a lingerie-specific one will help ensure longterm endurance for your underwear. And, more often than not, you only need a capful per wash, so this stuff will last you.
Note: If a lingerie detergent costs more than you're willing to spend, try making a DIY version using one cup of hot water, one teaspoon of baby shampoo, and one drop of essential oil.
Soak, Soak, Soak Don't let the time commitment of a long soak scare you off of this chore. The beauty of hand-washing your undergarments is that it requires just five minutes of actual hands-on labor.
Here's what you do: Fill a basin (a sink also works) with enough lukewarm water to fully submerge the articles. Add in your lingerie detergent, and let the items soak for 10 to 15 minutes. Then, gently rub any part of the bra that touches your body or becomes particularly smelly (pro tip: use a toothbrush to get out stubborn stains). Drain the basin and refill with clean water, then give the lingerie another five minutes to soak. Once that's up, gently squeeze the garments (Do not wring them out!), pop them on a dry towel, roll it up, and press gently to release any additional water. For extra softness, add a few drops of distilled white vinegar during the rinsing process to help remove soap and act as a fabric softener.
Eberjey, $60, available at EberjeyEberjey, $46, available at Eberjey
Give Special Bras Special Attention Not all bras are created equal. When dealing with underwire, padding, and additional shaping, it's best to stick to hand-washing, as washing machines will typically bend them out of shape. Anything that can beat your bedding into clean submission is powerful, and powerful is the opposite of how you want to handle your delicates. Also, be sure to separate and wash your garments the same way you do with your regular laundry, so they're only being washed with like colors. The last thing you want is your fire-engine red bra bleeding onto your trusty nude set.
If You Are Going To Use Your Washing Machine... Sometimes, our laziness gets the best of us. So, if you do decide to resort to this method, be sure to wash your bras and undies in a mesh washing bag and always, always hook the backs to prevent snagging. Keeping your delicates separate will ensure they don't get tossed and beaten among the rest of your laundry; the key here is to keep the shape of your bras and to keep the strap from getting knotted up or stretched. Once your cycle has finished, lie your lingerie flat on a drying rack or hang dry (seriously, never ever throw them in the dryer).
Summer technically lasts a mere 93 days — a handful of which you’ll inevitably lose to rain, weddings, family events, and all those shows you just have to binge. Plus, we can all agree that it’s really over once Labor Day arrives and Summer Fridays are a thing of the past.
To help you make the most of your precious time this summer, we teamed up with Halo Top® to bring you 10 outside-the-box seasonal challenges to last you every week until Labor Day hits — from solo travel to an ice-cream potluck. Click through to get started ASAP.
Make a summer reading bucket list.
There was a time when the words “summer reading” inspired dread in the hearts of all young students. But now, you’re the boss. Get some friends to hold you accountable, and piece together a literary bucket list for the summer. Add some dense titles you keep meaning to pick your way through, treat yourself to some beach reads, and hit the middle mark with some of this year’s best new fiction and nonfiction. To mix it up, opt for all female authors or writers of color. It’s time to give your brain the summer workout it’s been craving and reclaim the “summer reading list” from nagging high-school English teachers once and for all.
Illustration by Janet Sung.
Go screen-free for a full weekend day.
Commit yourself to one full weekend day spent screenless — no phones, no computers, no tablets, no TVs. Talk out loud to other human beings, breathe fresh air, soak up some sun, and rest assured that all the while, there will be nothing more interesting happening on your phone. Compete with friends to see how long you’ll last, be sure to make your plans ahead of time (how old-fashioned!), and see if your food tastes just as good without the Instagrams.
Illustration by Janet Sung.
Throw an ice-cream potluck.
While a BBQ is a perfectly fine way to spend a summer afternoon, a full-on dessert party is far more fun. Challenge your friends to pull together as many Halo Top® flavors as possible (we’re talking 25 dairy options and 14 non-dairy options), stock up on some toppings, and see who can build the most outlandish sundae of them all. Be sure to lean into the seasonal flavors — Peaches and Cream won’t be around forever.
Illustration by Janet Sung.
Make (and distribute) a single-page zine.
Handmade zines are a great way to express yourself creatively. Take a cue from some of the hippest self-published zines out there (Repro Rights Zine, Stranger Than Bushwick), pick something that inspires your crew, and get to it. Whether you choose to focus on a cause, a cultural phenomenon, or another creative pursuit, it’ll be a physical ode to a topic or an art form that inspires you. Write some copy, create some illustrations to match, and learn how to lay out and fold your mag on just a single page. Then make some photocopies, throw a zine-folding party, and get to work distributing your indie pub all over town.
Illustration by Janet Sung.
Try a new outdoor activity.
Air conditioning is a beautiful thing — especially when the temperature outside is upwards of 90 — but that doesn’t mean you should squander your whole summer in front of it. Dedicate a week of summer (or more) to trying a new outdoor activity — whether it's surfing or axe throwing.
It’s not easy to abstain from plastic packaging — your favorite iced tea, those cotton swabs, that salad container — but if you can swing it for even just a few days, the Earth will thank you profusely. It’s summer, so fresh produce is at its finest, meaning there’s no need to order in or snack on things that come in individually wrapped baggies. Stock up on tupperware and try your hand at meal prep, use one of your 96 tote bags for groceries, and drink from a reusable coffee mug. Keep a journal to help you stay on track.
Instate a BYO-produce rule for your next dinner party, and throw the most colorful event of all. Load your kitchen with fresh tomatoes, blueberries, cucumbers, and nectarines, and marvel at how beautiful it all looks arranged on a countertop. Roast veggies, toss salads, slice berries, and mix together fruity cocktails: It’ll be a healthy and indulgent feast, all at once. And to cap off the whole aesthetic, give your soiree a suggested dress code: fruit prints only.
Illustration by Janet Sung.
Shoot and develop a full disposable camera over the course of a week.
With the aid of the mysterious, all-powerful cloud, your phone camera will never run out of memory — but what if you only had 26 pictures available to you throughout the course of a whole week? Carry a disposable camera around for seven full days and see what inspires you, whether you’re embarking on a multiday camping trip or just recording a series of daily activities. Take note of how much of your week you can capture with such a limited supply of film. Once your seven days are up, send it off to get developed. Reminiscing while you flip through actual photos will be way more satisfying than scrolling through a phone screen.
Illustration by Janet Sung.
Master a new seasonal cocktail (and invite your friends over to drink it).
Save yourself the $18 craft cocktail fee, pick a seasonal recipe, and learn how to make it at home — bonus points if you can nail a cocktail shaker toss. Once you’ve mastered your drink, invite some friends over to watch you do your thang (and then drink your thang, of course).
Illustration by Janet Sung.
Go on a spontaneous solo adventure.
Skip out on the complicated Venmo tabs and stressful scheduling that accompany traveling with friends, and book a last-minute train or bus to a nearby city you’ve always wanted to explore. Or, if you can’t make it that far, try out a new neighborhood on foot. Summer is all about refurbishing the social life you abandoned when it was cold out, but it’s important to take just a little bit of time for yourself along the way.
Illustration by Janet Sung.
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Denim shorts, much like the crop tops or tight dresses of the world, tend to dance on that fine line between rad and basic (yes, in the negative sense of the word). It's all too easy to settle for the mass-fashion end of the spectrum when it comes to these types of trends (you know those millions of "meh" options we're talking about). But if you're looking to edge toward the side of cool, you really just have to know where to shop.
While we all have that pair of cutoff denim shorts we automatically reach for on a too-hot weekend, you won't regret having an alternative on hand that's a little more of a conversation starter. Wouldn't you rather show up to a party and stand out? Click on to shop some next-level denim, and leave those denim diaper shorts in the back of your drawer in exchange for one of the offbeat picks ahead.
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The best thing about nail trends is that, unlike your hair or wardrobe, they're very low-commitment. No matter how much you love or hate your latest color or art choice, like clockwork, it's only going to last a week or two, so why not experiment with the latest and greatest?
If you're hoping to be on-trend with solid polish this season, opt for '80s brights and creamy nudes. But if you're looking to up the ante, you'll need the raddest nail art all the pros are trying. That means tons of minimal designs that will let your hands do the talking. And for those that really like to switch it up, there are rad new stickers on the market that make it incredibly easy. Ahead, the coolest summer nail art trends to try now.
Negative Space
Consider these nearly-naked designs if your manicures tend to chip faster in the summer months. (Hint: Pools and oceans aren't exactly great for keeping polish in place.) The tiny details — like these dainty gold dots — won't easily show the wear and tear of the polish, so they'll look better for longer.
Not only is this trend minimal chic, but seems to last forever. With the bare polish as a base, the grow-out phase is practically undetectable even weeks after you leave the salon. That is, if you opt for gels.
A double-layered French tip adds some detail without overwhelming this naked mani.
Half Moons
Whether you pair this design with negative space or color-blocked hues, it's hard to deny how quickly it amps up your look.
Jan Arnold, CND style director, tells us that whenever you want to get a little fancy with your next mani, just add metallics.
Half Dips
The major appeal to this manicure is that it incorporates the beauty of negative space with tons of color.
Can't decide on one polish? Use a different shade on each nail for a rainbow effect.
Stickers
Nail decals aren't new, but the clever accessory has certainly gotten more advanced since the last time we checked. These butterfly options from Olive & June are already an L.A. cool-girl favorite.
Looks like we found a new purpose for those stick-on earrings from middle school — and we don't hate it.
Rainbow Layers
Focusing most of the color near the cuticle is the reverse-French manicure you've been waiting for.
Like the glitter stripes of Coachella, but with a psychedelic twist.
These neon tips nail the technicolor trend without being an eyesore.
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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.
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Today: a digital marketing account manager working in hospitality who makes $37,100 per year and spends some of her money this week on a pint of Guinness. Editor's note: All prices have been converted to U.S. dollars.
Monthly Expenses Rent: $1,970 (My boyfriend and I split this. I pay $810, and he pays the rest. We don't really keep track of who pays for what in our day-to-day, but he generally pays for more than I do and takes care of the larger bills, as he makes more than three times as much as I do.) Student Loan Payment: $0 (My parents generously paid for my bachelor and master's degrees, but I also had a partial scholarship.) Utilities: $95-130 (My boyfriend pays.) Internet: $70 Cell Phone: $29 Health Insurance: $0 (Incredibly, my boyfriend's company covers us both.) Charitable Giving: $18 to the Irish Cancer Society, as well as $25-70 to various GoFundMe causes. I try to donate to at least three causes per month, but it can be more, depending on what's going on at the time. Gym Membership: $24 Netflix, NFL Pass, Hulu: Boyfriend pays for these. Spotify: $12 Savings: $920 (I'm trying to save rather aggressively at the moment. I put this amount in every month, but sometimes I have to dip into it a little. Also, all major purchases and expenses like medical bills and airfare come out of this account.)
Day One
9 a.m. — I get to sleep in a bit this morning because, although it's Monday, my boyfriend B. and I are in Switzerland visiting my parents, and our flight back to Dublin isn't until later tonight. I read a little of my current book, Medium Raw by Anthony Bourdain, to start the morning.
10 a.m. — After a quick breakfast of eggs and avocado on toast for me and cereal for B., I cuddle with my dog for a bit. She's about 14 years old (we adopted her, so we aren't 100% sure of her age) and her health is failing fast, so I am very aware that this might be the last time I get to see her. She has been a big part of all our lives, and I'm really going to miss her.
12:30 p.m. — My mother, brother, B., and I go out for lunch before we have to drag ourselves to the airport. Mom treats us to an Indian feast of onion bhajis, raita, samosas, various curries, rice, and naan bread — her treat!
1:30 p.m. — We get to the airport, go through security, and head over the the business lounge, which B. has access to (with a plus one), thanks to all his business travel. They have a very well-stocked free bar in this one, which I take full advantage of, and by the time we head to our gate two hours later, I have to admit, I'm a little tipsy. I have a fear of flying, and unfortunately, alcohol is the only thing that calms me down. I stop by Duty-free to buy a bag of chocolates for my office ($12.30). After rough turbulence kicks in mid-flight, I order wine on the plane ($10.30). $22.60
6:45 p.m. — We land back in Dublin and grab a taxi home. B. pays.
7 p.m. — Time to restock the fridge. We head to the supermarket below our apartment and pick up diced turkey, Greek yogurt, cherry tomatoes, grapefruit juice, two small flavored waters, cauliflower, broccoli, red onions, green beans, mushrooms, rice crackers, asparagus, pickles, watermelon, a lemon, microwave lasagna (for B.'s lunch), tissues, and toilet paper. $72.50
8 p.m. — Despite the grocery haul, we're both tired and not in the mood to cook, so we decide to order Japanese. I get salmon nigiri, pork gyoza, and a small side portion of egg fried noodles. B. gets chicken Katsu curry. He pays.
11 p.m. — After two episodes of MasterChef Australia and an episode of Grace and Frankie, we're ready to call it an early night. B. has to travel to Dusseldorf for a business trip tomorrow, so he packs while I get ready for bed. My evening routine consists of washing my face, cleaning with micellar water, applying toner and moisturizer, brushing my teeth, and heading to sleep.
Daily Total: $95.10
Day Two
7:30 a.m. — B. wakes me up and helps encourage me out of bed. I'm really not a morning person, so it's always a struggle. As I finally step out of bed, B. is ready to leave. We say goodbye, and I finish getting dressed, apply my basic makeup (concealer, powder, eyebrow gel, mascara, and a little lip color), and head out the door.
8:30 a.m. — Get to the office, make myself a coffee with almond milk from the office coffee machine, and get started on my emails. I work in the hospitality industry, which never sleeps, so Monday mornings are always an exercise in playing catch-up. Since I was off yesterday, I'm even further behind. My angel of a coworker made Christina Tosi's chocolate chip cookies, so I have two and call it breakfast. No shame — they are AMAZING.
1:10 p.m. — The morning flies by — I'm so busy! It's lunchtime now, though, so I head home. I live a six-minute walk from the office, and I really enjoy taking my lunch break at home to really get away from it all for an hour. Plus, I save a lot of money on food this way. I cook the diced turkey and mushrooms I bought last night, add sun-dried tomato paste and cottage cheese to make a sauce, and boil pasta to go with it.
5:30 p.m. — The rest of the afternoon is a blur of emails, calls, reports, and meetings. I actually leave on time today though (for once), because I have an appointment to get to.
6 p.m. — Today is my first assessment with a CBT professional. I have a lot of anxieties and really need to get my fear of flying under control in a healthy way, so this is long overdue. After the appointment, I'm a little apprehensive about the process, but I want to give it a real honest try, so I book another appointment for next week. The assessment costs $52 but I don't have to pay until after the next appointment.
8 p.m. — Time for my Zumba class! I hate the gym, really, but this Zumba class doesn't feel like work. It's so fun!
9:15 p.m. — As tired as I am now, I feel amazing! I really love to dance and I'm always proud of myself for getting my shit together and going to class (something that I have, prior to this class, never been able to do). I don't stick to things for long, so this is a big deal for me. When I get home, I eat lunch leftovers for dinner. B. calls afterwards and we chat for 20 minutes until he heads to bed.
10:30 p.m. — Zumba days always tire me out, so after two episodes of Unreal (I'm still catching up) and an old rerun of Cutthroat Kitchen, I'm ready for bed. I go through my normal evening routine of washing, toning, and moisturizing and brushing my teeth, and am out by 11.
Daily Total: $0
Day Three
8 a.m. — I've snoozed three alarms, but I have to obey to the fourth. Whenever B. is out of town, I struggle even more, and my whole morning routine is totally thrown off. After losing my keys, water bottle, earbuds, and phone, and forgetting to lock the front door and having to run back. Then, I'm finally off and on my way to work.
8:40 a.m. — Arrive at the office, make a coffee with almond milk from the office kitchen, settle in at my desk, and get right to work. I wish I could put together a to-do list for my day, but I am always at the mercy of my inbox and the phone. My job is 50% actual marketing strategy and implementation, and 50% putting out fires and answering client queries. We do a lot more than marketing at my company, and although I work on the marketing team, my job extends much further than that. I'm expected to know about and help out with other departments, so there is never a dull moment and always a whole lot to learn.
10 a.m. — I'm feeling hungry, so I pour a bowl of granola brought from home with almond milk from the office fridge and eat at my desk. I usually eat breakfast late, since I don't get very hungry early in the morning.
1:10 p.m. — I pull myself away from my screen to head home and eat lunch. I stop off quickly at the supermarket and get radishes and fresh tarragon. At home I make a salad with radish, watermelon, mint, and pine nuts from Jamie Oliver's 5 Ingredients cookbook. I thought I had feta left, but I guess I only imagined it, so I substitute feta in the salad for cottage cheese I have on hand, and it works just fine. $2.30
4 p.m. — I've been feeling a little run down since Monday evening, which I attribute to the stress of being back at work, but it has persisted and now it's getting noticeably worse. I make an echinacea tea and plan to stop by the pharmacy on my way home.
6:30 p.m. — Call it a day and head home. I stop by the pharmacy and get cold and flu medicine ($10), and then quickly pop into the supermarket for tortellini (I can't be bothered to cook tonight) and two small green juices ($7.56). $17.56
7 p.m. — I make the tortellini and watch more of Unreal. B. calls and we chat, but he has a lot of work to catch up on, so our call is brief.
9:30 p.m. — This run-down feeling is getting the best of me, and after my usual evening routine, I head straight to bed and am asleep by 10. I have a busy weekend ahead of me and really don't want to miss out.
Daily Total: $19.86
Day Four
4:30 a.m. — I wake up from a vivid nightmare in a cold sweat and can't go back to sleep right away. Usually B. is beside me to offer comfort and cuddles, but this morning I have to self-soothe. I put on an episode of the Beautiful/Anonymous podcast and end up falling back asleep around 5:15.
7:50 a.m. — I get up after my third alarm, text with B. a little, and roll out of bed. My skin is really dry from lack of sleep, so I choose to just put on a little mascara today with my toner and moisturizer. I get dressed and head out the door.
8:30 a.m. — Get to work. I'm barely at my desk for 10 minutes and I have to head into a meeting. B. texts me that he's boarding his flight back home and I wish him a safe one.
10 a.m. — Out of the meeting and I need food. Our office coffee machine is broken, so I drink one of the green juices I bought yesterday and pour a bowl of granola with almond milk from the office fridge.
1:10 p.m. — Time for lunch. I walk home and make another recipe from the 5 Ingredients cookbook — this time asparagus, soft-boiled eggs, tarragon, and a red onion mustard vinaigrette. I have a lot of cookbooks, and I love to cook and try new things, so this year I have set myself the goal of cooking at least three new recipes every week from my books. Doing well so far!
6:15 p.m. — A big group from work is going out for drinks tonight and they're trying to encourage me to come, but I think it's best I stay home tonight. I feel serious FOMO, but I know this is the right move, plus I haven't spent time with B. since Monday, and I'm going out with friends this weekend. I pull myself away from my computer and walk home in the warm evening sun.
7 p.m. — B. decides we'll order Japanese again, and I'm happy to oblige. I get four salmon nigiri and a salmon avocado roll, and he orders pork dumplings and chicken katsu. He pays.
8 p.m. — I decide to play a little Sims 4, which I recently got as a gift and started playing again. I spend most of the time designing houses and I love with it — it's a great distraction. I also watch the rest of Unreal on the side, and am ready for bed around 9:30. I need a good night's sleep to really shake this cold. Same evening routine and straight to bed. Asleep by 10:30.
Daily Total: $0
Day Five
8 a.m. — Finally pull myself out of bed after four alarms, thanks to a surprising fifth in the form of my sister calling. She lives in Australia, so it's hard to find a good time to talk that isn't really early in the morning or super late at night. It's good to hear from her, and we chat while I get ready for work.
8:20 a.m. — Walk to work with B. this morning and get right to answering emails when I get to my desk.
9:30 a.m. — I definitely need coffee, and our office coffee machine is still out of order, so I pop over to a cafe around the corner with a colleague and get a large latte with almond milk. $4.05
10:40 a.m. — I've been so busy that I forgot to eat breakfast. I pour a small bowl of granola with almond milk and eat at my desk.
1 p.m. — Every Friday there's a street food market near our office. I go there with a colleague and get an avocado, black bean, and plantain arepa with yucca fries from one of my favorite stalls. On the way to the market though, a colleague pulls me aside to let me know she's leaving her job. I'm crushed. Our team is small and we're all close, so it hits hard. We are an understaffed division, underpaid for what we do, and the workload is very demanding, so I'm not surprised to hear the news. This job is an amazing learning experience, which is why I'm still here, but the way the company is run is starting to get to me. $12
5:50 p.m. — We are allowed to leave at 5 on Fridays, but I have a lot to finish before the weekend, so I get out a little later than I'd like. I meet B. at the supermarket to get a bottle of wine and Quorn Swedish meatballs for dinner. He pays. Once home, I open the bottle, pour a small glass, and continue designing my dream apartment on the Sims. I need an escape from today...
7 p.m. — B .cooks up the Quorn meatballs and couscous with red pesto, which we eat for dinner in front of the last episode of Grace and Frankie. Then we peruse Netflix and iTunes for something new to watch, but can't settle on anything, so I decide to draw up a bath instead, pop in a Lush bath bomb (my kryptonite), and go for a soak. There really is nothing better after such a long and stressful day.
10 p.m. — Bath over, and I think it's time to call it a night. Wash my face with micellar water, use toner and moisturizer, brush my teeth, and tuck myself into bed. I read a little more Medium Raw and fall asleep after a few pages.
Daily Total: $16.05
Day Six
9:30 a.m. — I slept really well last night and wake up feeling refreshed. Read more of Medium Raw and watch some videos on YouTube videos on my phone in bed before getting up.
10 a.m. — I take a shower and get ready for the day. I am meeting my friend, S., for brunch this morning and also to pick up our numbers for a 10k we're walking tomorrow. I leave the house and take the tram into the city using my prepaid travel card.
12 p.m. — I hop off the tram and run into another mutual friend, A., so I invite her to join us for brunch. I order a cauliflower and halloumi fritter with bacon, poached eggs, micro greens, and beet whipped ricotta, plus a flat white with oat milk. $20.50
2 p.m. — As we're picking up our numbers, A. decides to join us for the 10k tomorrow too (it's a charity run for women). The more the merrier — I'm really looking forward to it! At the check-in, I spot a sports store booth with big discounts on sneakers. I've been looking for new ones and spot a pair of Nike running shoes on sale, so I snag them. After we pick up our numbers, we part ways and I head home on the tram with my prepaid card again. $62.50
5 p.m. — I snack on watermelon and rice crackers whilst getting ready for tonight. A friend and I are going to RuPaul's Werq the World Tour, and I can't wait!! I am a huge fan of the show — obsessed even. I've seen every season at least twice. I bought the tickets for myself and a friend, who is just as big a fan as I am, for Christmas, and have been counting down the days ever since!
7 p.m. — We meet up ahead of time for a drink. I buy the first round, a pint of Guinness for me and an alcohol-free Paulaner for him. He gets the second round, although I only order a half pint of Guinness this time. I don't want to drink too much tonight before the race tomorrow. $11.40
8:30 p.m. — We make our way over to the venue and I get popcorn to snack on during the show. $5.83
11 p.m. — The show was amazing. It was so cool to see all the queens live and in person! We go our separate ways afterwards and I stick around a little to see if I can catch any of them leaving the venue. No luck, but I do make friends with the couple standing next to me and we end up taking the tram together. I use my prepaid travel card. I'm happy to have company and not to have to make the trip home alone so late at night. I get home just before 1 a.m., chat with B. for a little about the show, and head to bed.
Daily Total: $100.23
Day Seven
10 a.m. — Sleep in a little this morning and get up slowly after a little cuddle with B. I decide to make another cookbook recipe of poached eggs with mushrooms, spinach, and truffle oil on toast. I don't have spinach, so I substitute for asparagus and pull toast out of the freezer. I poach my eggs but quickly realize something is very wrong with them. As I try to figure out how they got so weirdly spongy and bubbly, I burn my toast. Not a great start to the morning. I give up on my fancy breakfast and instead defrost protein banana bread from the freezer and eat a slice. I also make a coffee from our Nespresso machine.
12:30 p.m. — I get changed, put a few essentials into a bag, and I'm off into town to meet my friends for the race! The tram is PACKED, but I manage to squeeze in and use my prepaid travel card. I also happen to be on the same one as A. (whose birthday is today), so it makes meeting up that much easier. Race starts at 2, but we have to be at the starting line at 1:30. We find S. and we're off!
4 p.m. — We made it! The weather was beautiful and the ambiance was amazing, plus we did it in great time! We collect our goodie bags and medals, snap a few pics, and part ways. We're meeting up later to celebrate A.'s birthday, but first, I need to put my feet up for a bit.
8 p.m. — After a shower at home and chill time watching MasterChef Australia, I get dressed, put on makeup, and dash out the door again to meet the girls. My travel card needs to be topped up, so I do that now. $12
9 p.m. — We have dinner at a fun hibachi restaurant and it is all the riot I expected it to be. Our chef is hilarious, and since we are just three people, he gets us to talk with the people seated beside us. We all have a good laugh. We get beef, prawns, duck, fried rice, veggies, and two bottles of wine. We split the bill evenly between the three of us. $49.10
11 p.m. — Now it's time for drinks! Over to a Mexican bar/restaurant just down the road for margaritas and dancing. We each get our own first drinks, and then I get a round for everyone. (S.'s birthday is next weekend and she won't be here, so this is my chance to get her a birthday drink, too.) $46.80
2:30 a.m. — A. lives near me, so we get a taxi home together and split it. I've never been happier to crawl into bed. It has been a long day, and I know I'll feel it tomorrow, but nevertheless, I'm one happy fish. $14
Daily Total: $121.90
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15-year-old Alyssa Carson is on a quest to become one of the first humans to go to Mars — even if it means leaving Earth forever. Watch above to see her incredible journey, and how she and her father are preparing for this major milestone.
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On Monday, a woman named Kristin Mink confronted embattled Environmental Protection Agency head Scott Pruitt as he ate lunch at Teaism, a restaurant in Washington, D.C.
Holding her 2-year-old son, Mink, who is a teacher, approached Pruitt and his companion and urged him to resign in light of his mismanagement of the EPA and all the scandals he's been embroiled in.
She introduced her son to Pruitt, and told him he loves animals, breathing clean air, and drinking clean water.
"We deserve to have somebody at the EPA who actually does protect our environment, someone who believes in climate change and takes it seriously for the benefit of all us, including our children," she said. "I would urge you to resign before your scandals push you out." Pruitt didn't respond, and promptly got up and left with his security guards.
This administration has had quite a few weeks when it comes to dining out: Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was heckled out of an upscale Mexican restaurant near the White House by protestors shouting, "Shame!" after she defended family separations in a press briefing. A protestor called senior policy adviser Stephen Miller a fascist in a different Mexican establishment in D.C. And Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the press secretary with creative interpretations of the truth, was asked to leave the Red Hen, a farm-to-table restaurant in Lexington, VA.
These minor skirmishes — none of which were in the least bit violent — have sparked a conversation about "civility," in which even top Democrats like Nancy Pelosi have told Trump's detractors to pipe down. Let them eat in peace, said Bernie Sanders of all people, whose own supporters have engaged in many a nonviolent protest.
Rep. Maxine Waters struck a different note, for which she was summarily tone-policed by Pelosi and others. At a recent rally in L.A., she rallied attendees to publicly shame members of the administration. "If you see anybody from that Cabinet in a restaurant, in a department store, at a gasoline station, you get out and you create a crowd and you push back on them and you tell them they're not welcome anymore, anywhere," she said.
The expressions of protest are an answer to decidedly uncivil policies. Thanks to Republicans' manipulation of the Supreme Court, it's a possibility that even more women will lose their reproductive rights. Not only does the humanitarian crisis on the border rage on, but the administration has proposed changing the asylum process so as to leave even more vulnerable people struggling.
Of course, Trump has called on his own supporters to harass demonstrators, and has denounced journalists as "enemies of the people." One of his most visible backers, the deranged Milo Yiannopoulos, recently told reporters that he "can’t wait for the vigilante squads to start gunning journalists." In response, we heard crickets from the same people who think politely asking the press secretary to leave a restaurant is un-American.
Holding the government accountable and engaging in peaceful protest, whether it's on the Mall in D.C., in your town's public square, or as part of the business you own, is as American as the fireworks we're all going to watch on Wednesday. And, as Michelle Goldberg writes in the New York Times, "As long as our rulers wage war on cosmopolitan culture, they shouldn’t feel entitled to its fruits. If they don’t want to hear from the angry citizens they're supposed to serve, let them eat at Trump Grill."
We'd say the summer of "incivility" is off to a productive start.
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We've heard it over and over again — social media and technology in general are making us anxious, depressed, and ruining our self-esteem. Maybe they are, maybe they aren't. But what if there were ways to use our liking and texting skills to make us feel better about ourselves? Or to make us feel like we have everything under control?
That's where the good news comes in: There are a ton of apps out there that can help you do everything from de-escalate a panic attack to remember to take your meds.
These aren't alternatives to therapy and they won't cure you of anything. But they will make the day-to-day struggles of living with a mental illness or just run-of-the-mill stress a little bit easier. With these in your pocket, you'll have new options for handling those moments when you're not feeling great. And when you do feel better, you'll be able to see it right in front of you. Ahead, we've collected a few of our (free) favorites.
It's always best to be able to meet with a therapist face-to-face, but if you just don't have the time or would prefer to write down your thoughts, Talkspace might just be the next-best thing.
You start with a free consultation, where you'll be matched with a licensed therapist who's best equipped for what you're going through. Then, for $49 a week, you'll have somewhat unlimited access to them, meaning you can text them through the app, but some therapists will understandably have times of the day when they aren't working or responding.
Happy Not Perfect has a whopping 200+ mindful exercises that help you practice more positivity, meditate, and lower stress. You can use it as a journal, to create a daily relaxation routine, and even to send good vibes to friends on the app.
It's also got a clean, soothing interface that makes it easy to use, but one downside is that you do have to pay for a subscription ($9.99 per month) to use a lot of the features.
While it's not a replacement for therapy (and no app is), Pacifica incorporates cognitive behavioral therapy exercises to help make anxiety and stress a little more manageable. And if that doesn't help, it also includes a directory where you can find a therapist in your area.
This app comes recommended by the American Psychological Association for stress management, especially amongst those who suffer from anxiety disorders or PTSD.
Breathe2Relax guides you through breathing exercises to help with stabilizing your mood, controlling anger and managing anxiety. It's also user-friendly, and can even be personalized to fit to a pace that's best for you.
In this app’s first life, it was a website called Panoply developed by an MIT researcher as a social network for people with depression. And it functions much the same way in its app form.
Users can share problems, feelings, or thoughts with the community, and get feedback from others. How does this help? The idea is based on a form of a well-established cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) technique called “reappraisal,” which is a way to help reframe negative thoughts. For example, you can share an experience like having a bad day at work, or a fight with your S.O., and the community might offer alternative readings of that situation to help you not jump to negative conclusions. (Like you’re going to get fired or you and your partner are breaking up.)
The best news of all: A 2015 study of the original website found that this approach significantly improved participants depression symptoms after just 25 minutes per week for three weeks.
The main goal of this app is to just “feel happier,” and the program gives you plenty of options for working toward that goal. You’ll get to choose a path of activities that reflects what that really means for you.
You’ll start by taking a test to see where you're at and how you tend to approach tough, stressful spots in your life. Then the app will suggest a path based on your answers. To move along the path, you’ll complete gratitude exercises, do a little meditation, and learn a lot about yourself along the way.
Flowy is a game app created to help those with panic and anxiety disorders. In the game, you’ll solve puzzles with your breath. You hold down a button while breathing in and let it go while breathing out, sending your little boat forward along its path.
The goal here is to actually retrain the way you breathe: Rather than taking breaths with your chest muscles, which can cause a similar sensation as an oncoming panic attack (and actually start to make you feel panicked), you’ll learn to breathe with your diaphragm. You’ll breathe deeper, your heart will slow down, and you’ll feel calm on the waves.
This helpful app comes to us from the makers of Iodine, a website where patients can share their real-life experiences with different medications. But Start is their app specifically dedicated to helping people manage and keep track of their depression symptoms as well as any medications they’re taking. Because it can take weeks for you to notice any changes on antidepressants, the app is designed to help you spot when (or if) you’re starting to feel better and whether you’re experiencing any side effects.
Keeping track of your ups and downs is crucial when you’re dealing with a mental health issue. Without knowing what’s going on, you can’t predict an anxiety attack and you can’t tell if all that time doing mindfulness exercises is really lifting your mood. Rather than lugging your diary everywhere, try In Flow’s mood-tracking system. You can put in a new entry whenever you want, but the app will also prompt you a few times a day to check in. From there, it will show you trends and, if you want, connect you with friends to cheer you up during tough times and celebrate the good ones.
Unfortunately, it looks like In Flow isn't available in the iTunes store anymore. But you can still snag it with Google Play or in the Windows Phone Store.
Remembering to take your meds is tough — until you get a little reward for it. Seriously, we’ve seen gamification of pretty much everything (hello FitBit takeover!), but rarely is it as effective as it is here. Mango Health functions as a medication reminder, but also gives you information about what you’re taking and a heads up for how it might interact with anything else in your regimen. Plus, take your meds when you’re supposed to and you’ll get those precious points, which are entrance into raffles for a chance to win actual rewards — including charity donations and gift cards to places like Starbucks.
Although there’s no substitute for real, live therapy, 7 Cups Of Tea can help you out when you just need someone to talk to, fast. Sign in and the app connects you with a trained counselor (or “listener”) to talk about pretty much anything. You can choose a listener based on what you’re interested in talking about or their life experience. Whether you want to chat about anxiety attacks with someone else who’s been there or you just want to vent about your boss for a few minutes, 7 Cups has your back.
We won’t lie to you, T2 Mood Tracker is the definition of “no frills.” But this tried-and-true mood tracker is a classic for a simple reason — it works. Developed by the National Center for Telehealth and Technology, it was originally created to help people in the military to monitor their emotional health. Since then, it’s become popular with the rest of us, too. The app will prompt you at certain times of day to tell it where you’d rate your emotional state on a variety of axes. It will also graph your progression over time so you can keep a lookout for any trends.
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Surveyors of Maria Grazia Chiuri's latest collection for Dior were probably split yesterday when the creative director sent its fall 2018 haute couture offering down the runway. For those who rely on the 'haute' in haute couture as a source of fantasy, a repose from the cycle of ready-to-wear, or a welcomed interpretation as fashion as art, it was bleak at best. But for those who are well-versed in the true nature of the craft — its very definition of clothes that are made to fit a client — then Chiuri's most recent lineup, set in a room of walls lined with toiles (3-D blueprints of what couture is made out of), was a quiet success.
Its palette of neutrals — nudes, dusty pastels, and some navy — may not stand out amidst the rest of the week's lineup of intense embroidery and hues, but it is, however, innately French, which is (ultimately) a key selling point for the storied fashion house. (Because this stuff is for sale, after all.) And in terms of variety — suits versus dresses, sleeves versus no-sleeves, flats versus heels — there was some, but not enough to keep younger generations, who may not be on the market for a multi-thousand dollar gown but still like to window shop, interested. Chiuri's subdued take might not be reflective of the current state of fashion, but it seems the Dior woman, who's taken on the roles of equestrian, feminist, ballerina, and fencer in recent seasons, needs a break.
In that sense, Dior's fall 2018 haute couture show felt like the eye of the storm that is haute couture week, which made for the perfect moment to take a breath backstage at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris. In the slideshow ahead, we went behind the scenes to capture the show's most intimate moments. Because while couture may not be the most affordable range of made-to-measure, it sure is pretty to look at.
Rebecca Leigh Longendyke gets her makeup done backstage.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Irina Djuranovic, Emm Arruda, and Sara Dijkink await their turn on the runway.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
He Cong plays with her earrings before the show.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Louise Robert watches from the sidelines.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Louise Robert and He Cong gives us a look at the finer details.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Maria Clara poses for the camera before strutting her stuff.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Now multiply this by 70 other looks.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Indira Scott gets ready to close the show.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
Jay Wright, Indira Scott, and Nora Attal pose for snapshots backstage.
Photographed by Chris Smart.
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The top tattoo artists in the game might have conflicting opinions over designs — especially whether or not inking your partner's name on your body is bad luck — but the one thing they can agree on is that there's no wrong time to get body art. We, on the other hand, like to play favorites with the one time of year we have ample opportunity to show off our fresh ink the most: summer.
The season of heat waves might not come to mind as perfect tattoo weather, but once you see the designs that are currently trending online, you may just change your tune. From thighs to backs, the placement trends sweeping Instagram are perfect for summer clothing and long days outside.
Need help figuring out exactly where to start? All the inspiration you need for the four sweet spots to consider inking this summer, ahead,
The Placement: Thighs
You'll rarely find a dainty tattoo on someone's thigh. Expect thick, bold and clean lines.
Some people love tattoos packed with meaning — and this unlikely jellyfish option is no exception. It's said that the free-swimming marine creatures represent finding balance in your life and going with the flow.
Earlier this year, Sophie Turner paid a visit to tattoo artist Curt Montgomery for this rad thigh tattoo. The result: A minimal outline of a woman — a woman suspiciously similar to the one on her fiancé Joe Jonas' arm.
Good news: Montgomery tells us that thigh tattoos are some of the easiest to create. "I always say, for me to do a really nice tattoo, hopefully, it's on the upper thigh," he says. "That's because it's a flat surface and the pain is very tolerable since you're not going to move around a whole bunch."
When minimal is your thing, you can still include the tiny details that make your tattoo stand apart from everyone else's.
This design takes on two trends at once, including watercolor ink.
The Placement: Shoulders
Like wrist tattoos, shoulders are a fit for anyone who likes to keep their personal real estate subtle, but impressive nonetheless.
With two tattoos covering her shoulder, you can count SZA as a fan of this trend.
Although Halsey boasts dozens of tattoos, her shoulders are some of our favorites.
One scroll through Instagram and you'll notice flower tattoos are some of the most popular designs for shoulders.
Whether they're tiny and bursting with color...
... or so big the art expands from your collarbone down to your elbow, this is one sweet spot for summer you don't want to miss.
The Placement: The Back
The best part about back tattoos? You've got tons of surface area to play with and cover in art.
For singer Lauren Jauregui, this includes trailing script right down her spine.
Not a fan of dainty ink? Go for something large and symbolic instead.
Just below the nape of the neck is a popular spot for a medium-sized design.
Tattoo artist Jess Chen proves that color makes any design that much more unique.
These floral stems are equal parts realistic and whimsical.
The Placement: Ankles
UK-based illustrator and tattoo artist Lotte Vanns says there's something coy about a tattoo placement that's easily revealed by an unrolled sock.
But not everyone wants to play coy...
The area may be small, but you have tons of space for creativity down there, like this pointillism-inspired dot work that greets almost everyone who looks down to admire your shoe game.
Consider a design that twists from the side and finishes somewhere below the back of your ankle.
Add some jewelry and no one can avoid noticing your ankle art.
We've all had our fair share of bad dates — from that terrible setup our friend swore we'd hit it off with to that match whose red-flag-filled bio we accidentally skipped over. The thing is, as uncomfortable as it may be at the time, a bad date doesn't have to be the end of the world — in fact, most of the time, it can even be a good learning experience. And another thing to remember? There's always someone with a more cringeworthy story than yours.
Inspired by Netflix's new romantic comedy Set It Up, about two executive assistants determined to matchmake their bosses, we challenged R29 fans to tell us about their absolute worst dates. Ahead, five of the funniest and most painfully uncomfortable confessions.
Meet The Parents
Meeting someone's family is one of the most exciting parts of early dating, but it probably helps if you know more about them than the details of their dating-app bio. For one R29 reader, that was far from the case: "My date wanted me to meet her parents…on the first date."
Illustrated by Janet Sung.
Ab-solutely NOT
The only person you should be trying to impress while on a date is...your date. Unfortunately, not everyone follows that advice: "I went out with a guy who took me to a fast-food restaurant and tried to get the meal for free by showing off his abs to the woman at the front register. #Fail"
Illustrated by Janet Sung.
Seeing Ghosts
When you're single, it often feels like the world is a crazy-small place (is it just us, or does everyone see all the same people on every app?). Cross your fingers that it never gets this small, though: "I showed up for a job interview and [the interviewer] turned out to be a previous match from a dating app who had ghosted me."
Maybe Don't Look To The Stars
Reading up on a crush's horoscope to see if it's compatible with yours is all but ritual in 2018. Still, it's important to not get too carried away: "I went on a date with a guy who called his friend to ask about my zodiac sign prior to the date. For the rest of the night, he told me I was a compulsive liar just because that is what his friend told him my sign was like."
Illustrated by Janet Sung.
Fashionably Late
Remember that time your date showed up late and you sat awkwardly at the bar, scrolling through Twitter for what felt like centuries? At least it wasn't this bad: "I went out with a guy for a first date. He chose to have the date at a decent Italian restaurant, but when I got there, I found out he didn't make a reservation and was late. When we sat down, he told me he already ate, so he was going to get beer. Cherry on top? He lied about his height. Very disappointing."
Illustrated by Janet Sung.
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Even before film buffs could pack up their skis and parkas at this year's Sundance Film Festival, critics were already buzzing about Sorry To Bother You. Starring Atlanta 's Lakeith Stanfield, Westworld 's Tessa Thompson, and Call Me By Your Name star Armie Hammer, the social commentary film debut from director Boots Riley is set to be the indie hit this summer.
If you've read any early reviews, you already know that this isn't your average film. The independently made film only took six weeks to shoot, but there's much more than meets the eye. It's visually arresting, deliriously smart, and features an eclectic range of characters you've never really seen on the big screen before. From colorful hair to fluorescent makeup, no detail was spared. To find out more, we asked the film's makeup department head, Kirsten Coleman, for all the details.
Coleman confirms that Riley's particular eye for detail to character descriptions is something you rarely see in this industry — at least when it comes to his willingness for both Coleman and the actors to collaborate on ideas, especially for the protagonists Cassius Green (Stanfield), his girlfriend Detroit (Thompson), and sarong-wearing antagonist, Steve Lift (Hammer).
"I got to fill in the blanks," Coleman exclusively tells us. "He trusted my opinion, which doesn't always happen with directors. For characters who can be outlandish and different, it was a lot of fun. The actors were excited because they likely haven't had the opportunity to play these characters in their careers, so they were willing to take risks and push the limits."
And push the limits they did. From Thompson's rainbow hair to Hammer's multi-colored eyes, Coleman spilled almost every secret you need to know before seeing Sorry To Bother You this summer, ahead.
A Lot Of The Looks Were Improvised
Similar to how Thompson and Antoinette Yoka, head of the film's hair department, created the technicolor dip-dyed ends we now recognize as Detroit's signature look, Coleman and the actress did the same for her makeup. After creating and combining Pinterest boards for inspiration, the two landed on a look that would embrace the essence of Afropunk style. What's more, it would be decided on the fly. With almost 15 different looks in the whole film, Coleman and Thompson had nothing more than one day of makeup testing with little time to prep for the entire filming schedule. That said, almost every look was improvised based on how Thompson felt Detroit might feel on any given day.
Coleman says that for a lot of the looks, the stars aligned. For example, at one point Coleman was without her full makeup trailer, being transported back and forth from the set now stationed somewhere on a hill in Oakland. In a hurry to create an impressive look for Detroit, she dug in her back-up bag and pulled out whatever she could find. "I had a blue lipstick, a couple bindis, a mascara, and I said, 'Alright, I'm going to Macgyver this look.' I used the lipstick as her eyeshadow and bindis on her lids, so when she closed her eyes it was really wild."
Photo Courtesy of Kirsten Coleman.
The Details Tell A Deeper Story
With an evolving beauty look, it's no wonder that Coleman stuck to accessories to beef up Detroit's style. Some of which she's even noticed Thompson using on the red carpet IRL, like her Met Galaface and body pearl embellishments. Coleman tells us she'd use gems on Thompson's body, bindis on her nails instead of her face, and other subtle details you have to look out for while watching. "These just add a subliminal idea that Detroit is constantly progressing and she wears her art," explains Coleman. Which also might explain her tattoos...
Photo Courtesy of Kristen
Stanfield Had To Cover His Tattoos — Every Single Day
Speaking of tattoos, Stanfield has a lot — but Green has none. The first day of filming, Stanfield had to appear in a scene where he's shirtless, so Coleman covered the actor's entire body in airbrush makeup with custom-blended shades to fully hide his various tattoos."He's almost always wearing body makeup in the movie," explains Coleman. "He was a trooper."
So why couldn't his tattoos show? "Green is supposed to be, in my opinion, a little insecure, trying to make something of himself," Coleman explains. "He’s the opposite of Detroit in that way. She’ll paint her face and walk around outside because she doesn't attach her identity to her body. [Unlike him] she puts her art on her body."
Thompson, on the other hand, got more tattoos added for filming. Although the actress has a few of her own on her wrist, most of them were covered, while some were added. "I hand-painted a teeny tiny tattoo behind her ear every day," Coleman recalls. The meaning: The makeup artist says that you'll find out more in the film, but to keep in mind that Detroit is a progressive character who often blurs the gender binary.
Photo Courtesy of Kirsten Coleman.
Lift's Eyes Are Not As They Seem
"Armie’s hilarious," says Coleman. "I could barely stop laughing when he was in my chair." But his character, Lift, could not be more different. Coleman describes him like a mad scientist with some unexpected depth, so she wanted to show that in his look.
Naturally, Hammer came to set with plenty of inspiration. "He told me he wanted to be that tech guy, like Steve Jobs, but crazier. [Lift is] casual, but has a ton of money, so he had to look distinguished, but different," Coleman explains. To do this, Coleman partially lightened Hammer's real facial hair and dyed some of it gray to create that "refined, silver fox kind of look." But look a little closer and you'll notice something else: Lift's two-toned eyes. "I actually approached [Hammer] with the idea of two different colored eyes. I thought that would make a lot of sense for his character, for him to have a unique distinction he was born with," she says. "It's very subtle, but one is a light blue contact and the other is his real eye color."
Photo Courtesy of Kirsten Coleman.
The Subliminal Messages Are Everywhere
"Every character has something," Coleman says, but notes that most of which you won't spot the first time you see the film. For example, Coleman would make someone's cheeks and nose red to suggest they'd been drinking to much before coming on screen, or add a tattoo to someone's face lending to their punk-rock past. "It’s one of those things where you’ll watch this movie again and again and find something every time," she says. "Even the bandage on Green's head, that prop, pay attention to that. It’s sort of a character itself."
Sorry To Bother You comes out on July 6.
Photo Courtesy of Kirsten Coleman.
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For many directors, coming-of-age films stem from a desire to recreate their own pleasures (and pains) of growing up. And that was precisely the case for director Meredith Danluck. She's always chased her passions — straight to her career as a filmmaker in an industry largely dominated by men. This feeling of following her dreams against all odds is something she knew she wanted to recreate on film. So in partnership with DOVE® Chocolate, we tapped Danluck to write and direct a short film about just that.
The film, Clavadista, centers around 15-year-old Ava Alvarez and her family of clavadistas (or cliff divers). By day, Ava works at a cliffside restaurant while her father and brothers perform dangerous meal-side dives. But in her free time, Ava is secretly passionate about diving as well — and once her family uncovers her secret, everything changes.
Plug in your headphones, grab something to snack on, and click above to watch the entire film. This is one coming-of-age story we can all relate to.
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For 27 years, I’ve had the same hair: Brown, long, and comfortable. I never imagined myself cutting it above my shoulders, let alone going platinum blonde. But recently, I just felt like I needed to make a major change. Every other aspect of my life had become so routine: I went grocery shopping at the same store every Sunday, bought the same types of food, prepped the same meals, hung out at the same bars. I felt like a hair makeover could be just what I needed to break out of my rut and, coupled with the fact that I'm started to experience the premature grey hair that runs in my family, I decided there was no time like the present to take the plunge.
So, despite everyone telling me not to do it, I decided to chop off all my hair and go full-on platinum in a single day. Six hours later, and with red ears and a sore scalp to prove it, I shed 8 inches of hair and got a double process from Natalie and Stefani at Sally Hershberger Salon in New York City. I was afraid that my silky hair would come out yellow, fried, and frizzy beyond repair, but the icy lob is anything but that.
My favorite part of the transformation has been everyone’s reactions. Co-workers didn’t recognize me at first, and it was fun to watch them do a double-take throughout that first week. When my boyfriend picked me up at the airport after a work trip, he almost walked right past me. In many ways, I feel like a whole new woman.
My least favorite part, however, is the reality of the upkeep. Before, I could just wash my hair and go. But now, I've been stocking up on purple shampoo and conditioner, heat and UV protective oils, protein treatments, and moisturizing masks. The shorter (and drier) cut takes significantly more effort to style, and since it doesn’t fall the same way my virgin hair did, I had to invest in new tools like a wand and a round brush.
I also learned, the hard way, that the sun is not my friend — and neither is regular old water. Two weeks after I left the salon, the soft platinum faded into a brassier color because I wasn’t rinsing it out with filtered water. Getting it touched up isn’t cheap either; I’ll need to bleach my roots and trim my ends every six to eight weeks, and that comes with a hefty price tag — like a "half-my-rent" price tag.
I plan to keep my hair platinum through the end of the year, before going back to my natural color for winter. Yes, being blonde is fun. I love the look and it definitely broke me out of my rut, but truthfully, the upkeep is too tedious and expensive to keep up long-term. Maybe next time, I'll just switch up my grocery list.
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If you've stumbled across a photo (as in, an actual hard-copy photo) of your mother or grandmother at the beach decades ago, they're likely wearing a high-cut swimsuit. Well, along with power shoulders and tiny sunglasses returning from the '80s and '90s is throwback swim trend: The high-cut one-piece, originally pioneered by designers like Norma Kamali and more recently popularized by brands like Solid & Striped and Diane Von Furstenberg, is one of the most ubiquitous styles this summer.
Of course, there are varying degrees of how high-cut you're willing to go, but with both one and two-piece options, there's one out there for everyone. And if plunging necklines or string-bikinis aren't quite your thing, this may be the perfect new way to show that sexy bit of skin all season long. Ahead, some of our favorite takes on this legs-for-days summer must-have.
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The fear-mongering narrative around conventional deodorant is like the health-scare version of Coach Carr's safe-sex speech in Mean Girls: If you use it, then the aluminum and parabens will seep in through your armpit and work their way into your bloodstream and then you will get cancer and you will die.
The reality is not quite so extreme. Nobody even knows for sure if any of those ingredients will disrupt your hormones or do any of the terrible, terrible things we've been told they might do. But that's not really why I stopped using them. I stopped using them because, in my experience, deodorants and antiperspirants do not work as well as they should. The number of white T-shirts I've stained yellow in the pits is preposterous, borderline criminal; I shudder to think of the percentage of my young adult life I've spent smelling like a toxic combination of sweat and a plastic floral arrangement melting in the sun.
Of all the natural deodorants I've tried, which is many, I've found a handful that really do work... until about two weeks in, when I invariably develop red, itchy contact dermatitis from baking soda. Baking soda is highly alkaline, and highly abrasive on the skin; it is also the key ingredient that gives most natural deodorants their sweat-absorbing, odor-fighting power, along with equally sensitizing essential oils. I figured I was doomed to a lifetime of red, itchy, irritated — yet blissfully B.O.-free — armpits. Then, I discovered the armpit detox.
Kaia Naturals is not the first brand to endorse using charcoal as a means of controlling odor-causing bacteria — your local health-food store that sells dried mango by the pound was way ahead of the game on this one — but it is making it easier, and more aesthetically appealing, than ever before. With its striped packaging and minimalist sans-serif branding, the Takesumi detox is easy on the eyes, and because it's formulated without baking soda, it's easy on the armpits, too. But not too easy: The combination of activated charcoal and a proprietary ferment (think kombucha or kefir) that balances the microbiome focuses on eliminating the source of the smell, as opposed to just covering it up.
The Canadian-born brand's founder, Mary Futher, says that while she was in the process of developing her product, several of the retailers she planned to work with reported that far too many customers were returning their natural deodorants due to irritation caused by baking soda. "We wanted to create a natural deodorant that was just as effective as baking soda, but gentler," Futher says. "That’s when we discovered activated charcoal and its amazing deodorizing and detoxifying properties."
There's one small catch with the detox, which is that it might get worse before it gets better. There is an adjustment period — generally around one to two weeks — in which you will sweat more, and possibly even smell more, and that's normal and fine. Fortunately, Futher and her team didn't stop at creating something that worked; they created something that smelled good, too. "There was a need for more sophisticated and luxurious scent profiles in the natural deodorant category," she says, so Kaia Naturals tapped a renowned perfumer to create six sophisticated scents — that smell nothing like baby powder or a piña colada.
More recently, Lavanila has followed suit with a charcoal-infused detox of its own, in the form of an underarm mask meant to be used once or twice a week in conjunction with the brand's natural deodorants; Boscia, too, has a charcoal-based powder spray. There's clearly something to the trend, and it's one that the average consumer who still reaches for the big drugstore brands is missing out on, likely out of one particular fear: "If there's one phrase we still hear once a day," Futher says, "it's that 'natural deodorants just don't work.'"
So, um, does it work? In my experience, that's an emphatic yes. Whether you want to avoid aluminum or, like me, are simply sick of ruining your whites and smelling like a genetically-modified cucumber, the pit purge is certainly worth a try. And what better time to detox than during the summer, when you're all but guaranteed to not be the worst-smelling person on the subway by a long shot?
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