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Ruth Bader Ginsburg Is Not Here For Any #MeToo Backlash

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Internet trolls and cheap-trick thinkpiece writers don't keep Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg up at night. Speaking this past weekend at the Sundance Film Festival, she said she's not concerned with any backlash to the #MeToo movement.

“So far it’s been great. When I see women appearing everywhere in numbers, I am less worried about that,” she told NPR host Nina Totenberg.

Moreover, the 84-year-old Associate Justice of the SCOTUS, who's served for almost 25 years, thinks "it's about time," she said of the movement's rise. “For so long women were silent, thinking there was nothing you could about it. But now the law is on the side of women or men who encounter harassment, and that’s a big thing.”

Ginsburg was at Sundance for the debut of the RBG documentary, which celebrates her life and chronicles the obstacles she encountered as she worked her way up as a young lawyer.

She even discussed her own #MeToo moment in the interview.

“Every woman of my vintage knows what sexual harassment is, though we didn’t have a name for it then,” she said. The term wasn't coined until 1975, and wasn't widely discussed until 1991, when Anita Hill testified against U.S. Supreme Court nominee Clarence Thomas. “The attitude towards sexual harassment was, 'Get past it, boys will be boys.' This was not considered anything you could do anything about, that the law could do anything about.”

She told Totenberg about an incident when she was a student at Cornell University in the 1950s and her chemistry professor offered her a practice exam before an upcoming test. Only, it turned out that the "practice test" was exactly the same as the exam itself. “And I knew exactly what he wanted in return,” she said. “I went to his office and said, ‘How dare you. How dare you do this.'”

Ginsburg also discussed not being paid as much as the men when she was a law professor at Rutgers University — reportedly, the administration said, because her husband had a good job — and how she banded together with other women to sue their employer.

It's no wonder that Ginsburg isn't fazed by any potential backlash to the powerful movement. She's spent her entire life fighting for women's and minority rights, helping create the ACLU Women's Rights Project, pushing for equal pay in the Lilly Ledbetter case, and defending women's right to privacy when it comes to abortion in 2016's Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt, the biggest abortion case since Roe v. Wade. She's also called Donald Trump a "faker " and called for him to resign.

The best part is, RBG is not going anywhere anytime soon — and she won't stop speaking up for the rights of women, either.

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Forget Mad Men — Here's How To Wear A Pencil Skirt In 2018

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If the idea of a pencil skirt conjures up images of flight attendants or secretaries in Mad Men, it’s time to reconsider. The spring 2018 catwalks have revived the typically prim and proper office staple in an array of prints and fabrics, demonstrating a thoroughly contemporary way to style the midi skirt.

But if the demure sophistication of the pencil skirt isn’t your aesthetic, don’t write it off just yet. From Balenciaga’s kilt-inspired heritage check number (paired with an oversized striped shirt, proving clashing prints are here to stay) to Victoria Beckham’s dainty-but-cool sheer dusky pink piece, the runways provided ample inspiration for ways to style the skirt now. Salvatore Ferragamo’s snake print brought further sex appeal to his silk camisoles, while Fendi made us fall in love with diagonal stripes, namely in brick and duck egg hues. Christopher Kane’s print of choice was ditsy florals straight from the English countryside, while Virgil Abloh referenced Princess Diana via polka dot pencil skirts at Off-White.

Whether you wear with a long-sleeved graphic tee and box-fresh sneakers for a streetwear switch-up, make it modern with abstract prints, or layer it over silky underskirts, there are endless ways to style your new wardrobe staple. Click through to find the best we’ve seen for the season ahead.

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Highlighting Tips For Women Of Color

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Strobing, or — as we like to call it — highlighting overload, is poised to take over contouring in the beauty space. And with its rise in popularity has come an avalanche of highlighter products — including powders, creams, and liquids. But many of these pearly-pink and Champagne shades are geared toward fairer complexions, and they can appear chalky or overly sparkly on women with dark skin. (Not exactly the luminous, lit-from-within glow we're aiming for.)

Thankfully, brands are getting privy to the dilemma and releasing illuminating products that look amazing on ladies of color. When it comes to choosing the highlighter of your dreams, you should stray from pinks and frosty whites if you have a dark complexion. “You want to pick a highlighter almost the same way that you would pick a foundation — it should look like a part of your skin, as opposed to, like, a disco ball," says makeup artist Nick Barose. "If you’re darker, then I would go for a bronzy gold, and if you’re deep-dark, like Lupita [Nyong'o], for example, I would go for a copper shade. That way it adds a highlight, but it doesn’t add too much of a contrast, because it’s similar to your skin tone."

Click through to check out the newest highlighters on the market, as well as Barose's tips for wearing them. Then strobe on, pretties.

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In the pan, this mosaic highlighter looks bronze but when the colors are swirled together, they create a gorgeous rose-gold hue that's so flattering on.

ColourPop SuperShock Highlighter in Iced, $8, available at ColourPop.

This buttery powder highlighter from Dose Of Colors can go two ways. A sheer layer catches the light in a pretty, subtle way — but layer on two or three swipes and you get a mega-watt glow all your favorite Instagrammers would be proud of.

Dose Of Colors Supreme Glow Highlighter in Royal Hotness, $28, available at Dose Of Colors.

According to celebrity makeup artist Carola Gonzalez, who works with Kerry Washington, Uzo Aduba, Leona Lewis, and Gugu Mbatha-Raw, this highlighter is amazing for dark complexions.

"This liquid illuminator is the bomb!" Gonzalez says. "It comes in three colors, but I recommend the Golden shade because it reflects very nicely on dark skin."

For the perfect application, heed her advice: "After makeup application, at the very end, rub a bit between your fingertips then dab it on cheekbones, the bridge of the nose, the center of the forehead, and center of the chin."

L’Oreal True Match Lumi Liquid Glow Illuminator in Golden, $12.99, available at Ulta Beauty.

This baked powder gives a radiant glow that doesn't leave specks of glitter on your cheekbones.

Urban Decay Naked Illuminated Shimmering Powder for Face and Body, $32, available at Sephora.

According to our senior beauty editor, this stick is "idiot-proof." "Just swipe a line above your blush and tap, tap, tap it in," she says. The result is a luminous glow that never looks chalky or sparkly.

Glossier Haloscope Highlighter in Topaz, $22, available at Glossier.

This shimmering tangerine hue looks flattering on the cheekbones, but even better to strobe your eyelids.

NARS The Multiple in Puerto Vallarta, $39, available at Sephora.

If you're a strobing amateur, this golden highlighter is for you. Even if you use too heavy a hand, your cheekbones won't shine as brightly as Jaclyn Hill 's.

Make Up For Ever Pro Light Fusion Highlighter in Golden, $39, available at Sephora.

For those of you looking for cheekbones that send messages to space, this golden highlighter will be right up your alley.

Becca Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed in Topaz, $38, available at Sephora.

Flower Beauty's creamy highlighter in Gold Coaster has been dubbed a perfect dupe for Becca's formula by a few beauty vloggers — making it's affordable price tag even more alluring.

Flower Beauty Glisten Up Highlighter Chubby in Gold Coaster, $9.98, available at Walmart.

Those with dark skin should simply enhance the glow they already have, Barose says. "Sometimes people go crazy on the browbone, the nose, and on the upper lids — but on darker skin, it’s definitely not necessary... It can make you look greasy, which isn't what we want."

Hourglass Ambient Lighting Powder in Radiant Light, $45, available at Sephora.com.

This bronze-colored powder from Jay Manuel Beauty doesn't add additional oil and comes with a super-soft brush for a nice, even dusting on the cheekbones.

Jay Manuel Beauty, $32, available at Jay Manuel Beauty

Makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury took her beloved Filmstar Bronze & Glow compact and tailored it to those with medium to dark skin. In addition to a darker bronzer, the highlighter has a golden-peachy base (rather than a Champagne one).

Its superfine light reflectors are also key, Barose says. “Avoid anything that has detectable signs of shimmer because, on darker skin, it will show up more. So you want ones that look luminous,” he says. “Sparkly is okay as an eyeshadow, but on the skin it gets tricky.”

Charlotte Tilbury, $68, available at Charlotte Tilbury

Barose — along with many other beauty pros — loves Armani Fluid Sheer liquid highlighters because they come in a range of different shades. For dark skin, he advises picking up gold (14) or copper (18) and buffing it onto the skin with a Beautyblender.

Giorgio Armani, $62, available at Sephora

For those with oily skin, though, Barose always recommends powders over creams. “You should really pick [a highlighter] based on your skin type," he stresses. "If you’re oily, then you might not want to use a cream formula because it will just end up making you look greasy.”

Make Up For Ever, $39, available at Sephora

As a woman of color herself, Jessica Alba knows the highlighter struggle well. Her brand Honest Beauty's new luminizers come in three different shades for that exact reason. Dusk Reflection (a soft bronze) is the best bet for those with darker skin tones.

Honest Beauty, $25, available at Honest Beauty

SheaMoisture has an especially impressive range of highlighter shades, including Ceylon Cinnamon (a bronzy brown), Boracay Hibiscus (a light chocolate), and Tortola Tan (a golden peach).

Shea Moisture Illuminating Mineral Bronzer, $14.99, available online only at Ulta Beauty.

Bobbi Brown's new highlighting powder might look a little intimidating, but Barose has a trick for keeping it subtle: Apply it before you sweep on powder foundation. This will give you a pretty sheen without overpowering your face.

Bobbi Brown, $46, available at Sephora

You can use that same strategy with a chubby, creamy pencil. Simple buff into the high points of the face before foundation for a lit-from-within glow that is soft and subtle.

Nyx Hydra Touch Brightener, $9, available at Nyx.

Barose loves to sweep this highlighter-and-contour stick on the queen herself, Lupita Nyong'o. It's both compact and easy to use — great for highlighting rookies.

Lancôme, $36, available at Lancôme

This gilded shade buffs into a muted golden, with no shimmer, so it looks natural, yet dewy, on a wide variety of darker skin tones.

Cover FX Enhance Click Highlighter in Gilded, $18, available at Sephora.

R29 staffers swatched the entire collection of glow-getters from this Black-owned brand — and a favorite of the crew's was Heir, a rose gold.

Koyvoca The HiLife Highlighter in Heir, $12, available at Koyvoca.

"This palette has three luminous shades that can be worn across the board," Tinashe 's makeup artist Clarissa Luna says. "The blush is subtle and sweet, while the highlight and contour colors can be used as eye shadows as well. The cherry on top is the yummy peach scent!"

Too Faced Sweet Peach Glow Peach-Infused Highlighting Palette, $42, available at Sephora.

"Highlighter is very big right now and Nars has a stunning palette," says Anthony Merante, who works with Grace Byers. "The Band De Sable Highlighter Palette is perfection. Three nude shades to flatter any skin tone with a metallic finish. Layer this highlighter over [cream] illuminator for intense shine."

NARS Banc De Sable Highlighter Palette, $49, available at Sephora.

Barose says to try this formula in Gold (14) or Copper (18) — and apply it with a damp Beautyblender for perfect results.

Giorgio Armani Beauty Fluid Sheer, $62, available at Sephora.

"You want to look like you effortlessly have God's favor — that's the goal," Sir John once told us. To achieve that, he likes sweeping this bronzer on the apples of his clients' cheeks.

Tom Ford Bronzing Powder, $68, available at Sephora.

"This is my little jam," Sir John reveals. He applies this formula on top of his clients' cheekbones for the perfect glow.

Cover FX Custom Enhancer Drops in Candlelight, $42, available at Sephora.

Shimmery formulas that offer a copper sheen are a surefire win to slay your look.

Anastasia Beverly Hills Liquid Glow Highlighter, $25, available at Sephora.

If you want to take a break from your powder formulas, try squeezing this into your foundation... or just buff it into the parts of your face where you'd usually highlight.

NARS Illuminator in Laguna, $30, available at Neiman Marcus.

Normally, we don't place too much weight in celeb endorsements of their own products, but having tried the Fenty Beauty line, we can confidently say that Rihanna's quote on Sephora's site gets it exactly right: "You can use this on any part of your face—your eyes, your cheeks, your nose bridge, your collarbone. I like to use it on my body as well because it's such a high sheen. You look at it and think, ‘is it going to deliver? … is it going to deliver?’ Then—BAM!—it delivers!"

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Trophy Wife, $34, available at Fenty Beauty.

Not only did Fenty kill the game with the revolutionary bright yellow Trophy Wife highlighter that looks amazing on darker skin tones, but they layer, too. Victoria's Secret model Jasmine Tookes uses the white, opalescent Metal Moon shade to get her "extra, extra" glow.

Fenty Beauty by Rihanna Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Metal Moon, $34, available at Fenty Beauty.

Celebrity makeup artist Carissa Ferreri reports that this universally-flattering stick works like magic on all skin tones — especially medium and dark. Simply draw directly onto the high points of the face and buff any harsh edges with your fingers.

Maybelline Face Studio Master Strobe in Medium Nude Glow, $7.99, available at Target.

These powder highlighters melt into skin the moment you apply it, and with three shades in varying depths to choose from, you can't go wrong.

ColourPop Legit AF Super Shock Highlighter Trio, $24, available at Sephora.

"It's super creamy, so you can really blend it in," celebrity makeup artist Carissa Ferreri says.

Jordana Glow N Go Creamy Strobe Stick in Bronze Glow, 4.99, available at Walgreens.

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NYC's 6 Coolest Tattoo Artists — & The Ink That Proves It!

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Photographed by Keiko Lynn.

Visiting New York for the first time? Or just ready to explore your home base deeper than you have in the past five years? No problem, because we put together the ultimate tour guide. Our map to the must-see spots doesn't involve checking out the top of the Empire State building or biking across the Brooklyn Bridge. Instead, ours leads you to destinations offering up the best New York City souvenir you could ever imagine.

New York has nearly as many tattoo artists as art galleries — and for good reason. Not only does it seem to be the city of dreams, but it's also the place you should consider getting your first tattoo. Sure, we're a little biased, but when it comes to new designs, artistic linework, and trends sweeping Instagram, you can trace every bread trail back to the Big Apple.

But when you’re getting permanently inked, you want to find a tattooist whose aesthetic matches your own. Luckily, we’ve done the dirty work for you and found six of the most amazing, insanely talented tattoo artists in the city — all with their own unique styles and specialties.

Click through to get acquainted with New York's finest before booking your appointment. Or just stare at the out-of-this-world images if you're a little (ink-) gun-shy. That’s totally fine, too.

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Keith "Bang Bang" McCurdy
Years of Experience: 10
Find Him At: His new (and improved) Lower East Side shop, or BangBangForever.com

Why did you decide you wanted to become a tattoo artist?
"I always wanted to be tattooed since I was a kid. My older cousin Edward, who is now my manager, had tattoos, and I always thought they were really cool. As soon as I turned 18, I went out and got one. From then on, I just always wanted another. That was my first introduction to being tattooed, and I just fell in love with it."

Photo: Courtesy of Keith McCurdy.

Where was your first job?
"The first tattoo shop that I worked at was in Wilmington, Delaware — that one is now long gone. In New York City, my first tattoo gig was at a shop on 4th Street and Sixth Avenue when I was 19."

How would you describe your tattoo style?
"I would describe it as well-versed. There's no one thing that I am the best at, but there are a lot of things that I try to be really, really strong at. I try to incorporate that into everything that I do."

Photo: Courtesy of Keith McCurdy.

Who are some tattoo artists you personally admire?
"Shige from Yellow Blaze Tattoo in Yokohama, Japan — his tattoos are orchestrated just as a master of poetry would create a poem. He creates the best large-scale tattoos I have ever seen."

Photo: Courtesy of Keith McCurdy.

What would you say to someone who's thinking about getting a tattoo, but doesn't know where to start?
"Everyone who is thinking about a tattoo should gather references and do a lot of research on the artist that you are going to choose to have your work done by. The more homework you do, the more likely you are to find someone that you are on the same page with. That will develop the best tattoo possible.”

Photo: Courtesy of Keith McCurdy.

Becca Genné-Bacon
Years of Experience: 3
Find Her At:Kings Avenue Tattoo

Why did you decide you wanted to become a tattoo artist?
"I've done art for my entire life and became interested in tattoos and body modification in general as a teenager. I knew I wanted a career in art, but the fine arts/gallery world never appealed to me, nor did graphic design. The more I learned about how much of an art tattooing could be, the more obsessed I became.

"When I was looking at colleges, I met Tom Woodruff at an open house at the School of Visual Arts; he is the chair of the illustration department and a former tattooer. It clicked that this could be what I do, and from there I was pretty driven to make this my life. I studied illustration at SVA for four years, and received a lot of support from teachers there to make the next step of getting an apprenticeship.”

Photo: Courtesy of Becca Genné-Bacon.

Who are some tattoo artists you personally admire?
"I'm really inspired by and admire all of my co-workers. They've helped me so much on a daily basis since I started, and I have no idea what I'd do without their support. I also met Regino Gonzales of Invisible NYC while I was at SVA, and he was a huge help and inspiration to me way before I started tattooing."

Where was your first job?
"My first job is my current job! I started apprenticing under the owner of my shop, Craig Rodriguez, in June 2011, and I've been here ever since."

How would you describe your tattoo style?
"Bold, bright, and graphic. I do a lot of American traditional-inspired pieces, but I'm working on learning more Japanese, as well."

What would you say to someone who's thinking about getting a tattoo, but doesn't know where to start?
“I really think it is all about finding the right artist for you. If you love the work they do, you'll have a much easier time trusting the process.”

Lalo Yunda
Years of Experience: 22
Find Him At: His private studio in Williamsburg

Why did you decide you wanted to become a tattoo artist?
"Punk rock, my love for drawing, and the crazy amount of shitty tattoos that were around."

Photo: Courtesy of Lalo Yunda.

Where was your first job as a tattoo artist?
"I basically just tattooed all over the world, on the road, for the first six years. The first shop I ever worked at was a bootleg/pirate/MTV shop in Bogota, Colombia."

How would you describe your tattoo style?
"Magic realism."

Photo: Courtesy of Lalo Yunda.

Who are some tattoo artists you personally admire?
Buena Vista Tattoo Club in Germany, Timur Lysenko in Eastern Europe, Steve Moore in Montreal, Justin Hartman in San Diego, Emily Rose Murray in Australia, and Daniel Acosta Leon in Colombia. [I admire] them for their impeccable technique, but more than anything, because of their artistic statements."

Photo: Courtesy of Lalo Yunda.

What would you say to someone who's thinking about getting a tattoo, but doesn't know where to start?
"Research and see what is possible, because nowadays the possibilities are wide and amazing. Second, make sure that you get the tattoo you want. By that, I mean get it done by the artist you want, pay whatever you have to pay, and take the time it has to take, because tattoos are the shoes you're going to wear for the rest of your life. No replacements."

Photo: Courtesy of Lalo Yunda.

Megan Massacre
Years of Experience: 10
Find Her At: Megan Massacre Tattoo Studio

Why did you decide you wanted to become a tattoo artist?
"I have been drawing since I was very young. Growing up, I learned everything — painting in different mediums, calligraphy, photography. Basically, anything I could get my hands on. At about the age of 14, I started to see some of my older friends getting tattoos. At the time, tattoos weren't very cool and were looked down upon. But, to me, they were another form of art. I tried going around to tattoo shops asking for an apprenticeship, but none of the tattoo guys wanted a 14-year-old girl working there. I got frustrated, and after a while I just thought it wasn't going to happen for me.

"Fast-forward about four years. I had just graduated high school and was working a miserable job selling furniture to put myself through community college. I really had no idea what I wanted to do with the rest of my life yet. I was just going through the motions of what I thought I was supposed to be doing. One day at work, a co-worker asked if I would give her a ride to a local tattoo studio to try out for a job as a body piercer. While there, she told the tattoo artists I could draw very well, and while I waited for her in the lobby, they asked me to draw them a few pictures.

Photographed by Steve Prue.

"They were impressed with what they saw, and they asked if I had ever done a tattoo before. Of course I said no, but they followed with, 'Would you like to do one now?' I was terrified, but knew this was the opportunity I had been waiting for. They set everything up for me and walked me through my very first tattoo that night, on the shop's poor apprentice.

"He was a good sport about it though, seeing as he was also at the stage of practicing tattooing on people. I tattooed his name, 'Timmy.' You start with the 'Y,' and work backward from there. I started out pretty shaky, but by the 'T,' I got a feel for it. Immediately after, they offered me an apprenticeship. I started tattooing then, and have been in love with it ever since!"

Where was your first job?
"It was at a small street shop in Eastern Pennsylvania, where I'm originally from. If you're not familiar with the lingo, a 'street shop' is a tattoo spot that generally does small tattoos that are cheap and lower quality; it's more about the money than the artwork. At the time, shops weren't these well-manicured, professional studios that some are today. It was rougher then. Most shops were involved in some sort of illegal activity or gangs. It took about four years until I finally came upon a shop that was filled with some truly talented artists whom I could learn a lot from. That shop was Deep Six Laboratory in Philadelphia.”

How would you describe your tattoo style?
"There are many different styles of tattooing. Most artists just stick to one thing and get really good at just that, but for me, I wanted to learn multiple styles. I started off doing tattoos that were new-school: Very graphic and cartoon-like with bright colors and bold lines. At the time — maybe 10 years ago — that was the trend. As time progressed, color portraiture became very popular, and I made a point to learn that as well. I've also learned a little traditional, neo-traditional, dot work, black-and-gray, and many more. Today, my style is a mash-up of all of these. In most of my tattoos, there are sections that look like a 3-D photograph or oil painting right next to sections that look like a traditional tattoo."

Photo: Courtesy of Megan Massacre.

Who are some tattoo artists you personally admire?
"It's really impossible to answer this question with just one person, because there are so many amazing artists out there that inspire me in so many different ways. Off the bat, Paul Acker, who works at Deep Six in Philadelphia, is one of the people who really helped me learn about tattooing as an art form. My friend Teneile Napoli owns Garage Ink Tattoo in Brisbane, Australia; she's an amazing artist and an incredibly strong, badass chick. I did a guest spot at her tattoo studio, which is made up of all amazingly talented female artists, and it was really inspiring to see so many women kicking ass in this massively male-dominated industry. And there's my friend Ami James, the owner of Wooster Street Social Club. He's done so much to bring tattooing from the underground into mainstream culture. He's brought this industry to a place no one thought it could go, and I aspire to be able to do the same."

Photo: Courtesy of Megan Massacre.

What would you say to someone who's thinking about getting a tattoo, but doesn't know where to start?
"If you think you want to get a tattoo but don't have any idea what to get, then don't get one! It's incredibly important to really think through what you’re going to get, because it will be there forever. Tattoo trends are just like fashion trends, they come and go with every season. While you can always buy a new dress, that '80s arm band or '90s tramp stamp can't be taken off.

"Never follow the trend. Get something timeless and meaningful to you personally, such as a tribute to your family, a commemoration of your favorite pastime or career choice, or even a wonderful memory or period of your life. If it has a great meaning that makes you smile, no matter how many years go by or regardless of how the artwork ages, you will always love it. Or, just get a rad piece of artwork from one of your favorite artists because you appreciate their work."

Photo: Courtesy of Megan Massacre.

Minka Sicklinger
Years of Experience: 5
Find Her At: MinkaSicklinger.com

Why did you decide you wanted to become a tattoo artist?
"My interest from a very young age in anthropology and rituals throughout the history of mankind in different cultures."

Photographed by Bobby Stackleather.

Where was your first job as a tattoo artist?
"In my bedroom."

How would you describe your tattoo style?
"Custom pieces that use fine lines, a high level of detail, hidden symbols, and only black-and-gray."

Photo: Courtesy of Minka Sicklinger.

Who are some tattoo artists you personally admire?
"There are too many good tattoo artists for me to single one out!"

Photo: Courtesy of Minka Sicklinger.

What would you say to someone who's thinking about getting a tattoo, but doesn't know where to start?
"Work out what you want first and foremost, then go and talk to an artist whose work you like and is a similar style to what you are looking for. See if your idea will translate well into a tattoo, and go from there."

Photo: Courtesy of Minka Sicklinger.

Where was your first job?
"Diamond Club Tattoo in San Francisco, with Bill and Junii Salmon."

How would you describe your tattoo style?
"Eclectic. I draw most of my inspiration from the Chinese and Japanese aesthetic of brush work and Edo period woodblock prints, as well as 19th-century engravings. I try to take those influences and redraw them my own way, which usually ends up falling somewhere between what I hope is a mature elegance or cool essence of the images I'm working on. I really let each piece dictate where I might go with it.

"My goals are to have fun and make images I can be proud of, as well as making sure that my client has a great experience. I want them to walk away with a piece that is more than they ever expected, and I want to feel like I achieved a beautiful, graceful, cool, or tough tattoo for them."

Photo: Courtesy of Stephanie Tamez.

Stephanie Tamez
Years of Experience: 21
Find Her At:Saved Tattoo

Why did you decide you wanted to become a tattoo artist?
"The level of commitment involved and the ties of tattooing to history and art."

Photo: Courtesy of Stephanie Tamez.

Who are some tattoo artists you personally admire?
"Filip Leu in Lausanne, Switzerland — everything he does is either incredibly beautiful or incredibly tough and cool. He is truly my tattoo hero. Alex Binnie in London has this great graphic sensibility and his work just reads strong. I love Seth Wood 's animals — they are always so fierce and dynamic. Thomas Hooper 's ability to compose complex detailed images is astounding. And Chris O'Donnell in New York. His work is so damn perfect."

Photo: Courtesy of Stephanie Tamez.

Are you more skilled in a certain tattoo area?
"Large pieces."

What would you say to someone who's thinking about getting a tattoo, but doesn't know where to start?
"Do your research! Find a tattoo artist that has the same natural vibe or style that you like."

Photo: Courtesy of Stephanie Tamez.

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They say there are two sides to every story. But in this case, there are four. When blogger and Future Tech Lab founder Miroslava Duma posted a photo of a fashion show invitation from her friend and designer Ulyana Sergeenko to her Instagram Tuesday, the industry went berserk. Not for any other reason than the fact that Sergeenko called Duma the N word, using lyrics from the Kanye-Jay-Z anthem "N****s in Paris." The receipts were in full view and the consensus was clear: Wait... what? After Sergeenko released a statement, and then deleted it, more controversy was unearthed from Duma's past. This time, blogger Bryanboy and model Andreja Pejic were dragged into it.

In the video, which has been reposted by several industry figures, Duma calls BryanBoy "weird" and misgenders Pejic not once, but twice. She continues to explain that both need to be censored and would not be featured on her fashion and lifestyle site, Buro 247. Following backlash from the industry, including Bryanboy, in which he claimed to be shocked by the video and reminded his followers that racism and bigotry is not cool, Duma released statements via her Instagram to address both controversies. At the time of publishing, she has 1.6 million followers and disabled comments on both posts.

After processing the news, Pejic posted a photo and response of her own. And, out of all four, it's the best yet. "I’ve never been the girl to do every campaign or walk every show, but I’m happy that I’ve had some pretty unique moments in this industry — a few of which have challenged the dominant paradigm, outdated views of gender, and a few that have even spilled over into pop culture," she wrote. After acknowledging that she'd seen the video and heard the hurtful comments about herself and Bryanboy, she continued: "I won't say it wasn’t hurtful. However instead of focusing on this blatant ignorance, I couldn’t help but realize the contrast between the state of our business today in comparison to 2012, the yr [sic] of this video."

Here’s one of my favorite pictures from the time I’ve been working in this business. I’ve never been the girl to do every campaign or walk every show, but I’m happy that I’ve had some pretty unique moments in this industry – a few of which have challenged the dominant paradigm, outdated views of gender and a few that have even spilled over into pop culture.  I woke up to a video yesterday, where a woman by the name of Miroslava Duma said some pretty ugly things about @bryanboycom and me during a conference (scroll right to see). I wont say it wasn’t hurtful. However instead of focusing on this blatant ignorance, I couldn’t help but realize the contrast between the state of our business today in comparison to 2012, the yr of this video. Fashion hasn’t always celebrated, to quote @miraduma “people like us.” Today I can say I’ve walked for iconic designers like @MarcJacobs and even landed on pages of American Vogue as none other than myself. However for a long time I didn’t believe that I was deserving of a firm place in fashion. I remember when I was one of only two people representing a specific “trend” that many people would now place under the title “gender diversity in the fashion space.” Circa 2010 my friend @LeaT and I found International media attention on the one hand and faced ignorance and scorn on the other. Today we are part of a movement of unique talents that are smashing the old categories that once stood and proudly displaying a spectrum of age/color/gender/class. @miraduma ‘s hopes that “this trend fizzles out quickly” have not been realized. I am thankful I got to stick around! I understand that some sort of apology has been issued and I do think people should be given the chance to grow, change, overcome their ignorance. To my sisters, bros and non binary siblings who don’t have the resources to fight back, to change schools, pay for medical care and the support of thousands of followers and who experience cruelty directed at them only because they have the guts to follow their hearts and minds in the hope of an honest, happy life please remember, chin up ALWAYS! Evolution is no stranger to our cause and one day we’ll see revolution❤️

A post shared by Andreja Pejic (@andrejapejic) on

Pejic went on to recap the love and acceptance she's received from the industry, no matter her gender, which have led to many fashion firsts for transgender models, influencers, activists, and more. And, in her view, she's thankful she got to stick around. Like Pejic, we hope Duma has learned from her mistakes and expanded her views — especially in an industry that acts as a safe space to those who've been outcasted from society because they're told being different isn't cool. As Pejic states, it's important to keep pushing forward.

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Don't Sleep On Eloquii's Swim Section This Year

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Just under a year ago, Eloquii launched a swim section that (finally) recognized the fact that damn good one-pieces and bikinis (and everything in between) can come in every size. Ranging from sizes 12 to 28, it was a lesson that trendy bathing suits aren't size-inclusive, although the limited options available to busty and plus-size women may say otherwise. From off-the-shoulder bikinis to printed rompers, Eloquii's poolside offerings were in an instant success.

For a quick refresher, Eloquii's been a fast-emerging powerhouse in the plus-size realm. Mixing current trends with classic staples, it's evolved the conversation that all runway styles should and can be accessible for women outside the industry's standard "straight sizing." With majority of women falling outside the model-size 0/2, we needn't remind you that this is major a problem. And considering brands like Eloquii — which advertises that almost all of its product comes in size 14-28 — thrive while also deeply engraining themselves in fashion-forward designs is a much needed step we're ready to see more of. Even Chrissy Metz is a fan.

Though it may be cold outside, Eloquii has us looking towards summer by bringing its swim collection back (three cheers all around). The new resort 2018 collection is a mix of nods to last year's offering with a focus on primary colors and high-waisted bikinis, and adapting new trends, like the keyhole stomach and ruffled power shoulders. For the chicest swimsuits you'll wear all year, check out Eloquii's new styles ahead.

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Cecile Richards Announces She's Leaving Planned Parenthood

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Update: Cecile Richards announced on Friday she's stepping down as president of Planned Parenthood, after more than a decade at the helm of the women's health and reproductive rights organization. Her departure was first reported by BuzzFeed News on Wednesday.

"Leading Planned Parenthood over the last 12 years has been the honor of my lifetime," she said in a statement provided to Refinery29. "Together, we have made real progress in this country, expanding access to services and making reproductive rights a central priority of our nation’s health care system. I’m deeply proud of the progress we’ve made for the millions of people Planned Parenthood health centers serve across the country each year."

She continued, "Every day we see the incredible power that grassroots voices can have — there has never been a better moment to be an activist. You can bet I’ll be marching right alongside them, continuing to travel around the country advocating for the basic rights and health care that all people deserve. I’ve been an activist my entire life — and that won’t stop any time soon."

In an interview with The New York Times, Richards said that after leaving her role she will be promoting her memoir Make Trouble in the spring and will focus on helping the Democratic party as we inch closer to the midterm elections.

This story was originally published on January 24, 2018.

Cecile Richards will be leaving her role as president of Planned Parenthood after more than a decade leading the women's health organization, BuzzFeed News reported on Wednesday.

In a statement provided to Refinery29 via email, a spokesperson for the organization said: "Cecile plans to discuss 2018 and the next steps for Planned Parenthood’s future at the upcoming board meeting."

The official did not provide further comment.

According to BuzzFeed News, Richards has already told several board members about her plans to step down from her position.

She joined Planned Parenthood in 2006, and has since transformed the organization, which is currently the biggest abortion provider in the nation. Under her leadership, Planned Parenthood expanded its capacity for fundraising and organizing, which elevated the organization's profile. And ever since President Trump took office, Richards and Planned Parenthood have been at the forefront of many fights, including the effort to repeal the Affordable Care Act and the attacks on women's healthcare.

"That's really what we're fighting for: How do we ensure that people will continue to get coverage in America, and continue to get healthcare. As you know, these issues are far beyond Planned Parenthood," she told Refinery29 last year. "We're talking about literally millions of people in this country losing access to healthcare. That's our commitment: to ensure that we have healthcare equity in America, but this administration and this Congress is making it very difficult."

Through her tenure, Richards has faced constant attacks from Republicans in Congress, and now the Trump administration, which have constantly tried to come up with ways to withhold federal funds from the organization. And in 2015, she weathered a major scandal after an anti-choice activists secretly recorded and heavily edited a series of videos that made it seem like Planned Parenthood was illegally profiting from the sale of fetal tissue. After five congressional investigations and more than a dozen state-level probes, none of the inquiries found evidence of wrongdoing.

It's unclear what Richards will do next if she ends up leaving Planned Parenthood, but that didn't stop some of her fans from saying on social media that she should run for governor of Texas like her mother, the late Gov. Ann Richards. (The deadline to file to run for office in the 2018 election in Texas was December 11. Records indicate Richards has not filed to run.) What we do know is that her memoir Make Trouble is scheduled to come out in April, but what happens before or after that is anyone's guess.

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All The Politicians In D.C. Who Have Been Accused Of Sexual Misconduct

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We're now seeing that, for too long, men in positions of power have gotten away with abuse due to a complicit system that protects predators and a culture of fear where victims don't feel safe speaking up. A cultural shift is happening in the post-Weinstein world, and in this new world order, even the people in the higher spheres of government aren't untouchable anymore thanks to brave women who are sharing their stories, intrepid reporting, and a willingness from the public to believe survivors.

Both Republicans and Democrats are struggling to deal with sexual harassment claims and subsequent fallouts among their ranks, from the accusations against President Trump to the allegations made against freshman Democratic Rep. Ruben Kihuen.

Ahead, we're keeping a list of all the elected officials in Washington, D.C. who have been accused of sexual misconduct. We'll continue to update this story if more allegations come out.

If you have experienced sexual violence and are in need of crisis support, please call the RAINN Sexual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673).

Rep. Patrick Meehan

The allegations: Rep. Meehan was accused of sexually harassing a former aide who was decades younger and looked up to him as a father figure. After the woman began a serious relationship with someone else, Meehan allegedly tried to confess his feelings, though they were unrequited. The woman says the Republican became hostile as a result, which led to her filing a formal complaint and eventually leaving her position. Eventually, Meehan's office paid an undisclosed amount to the aide as part of a confidential agreement. Meehan denies the claims.

The aftermath: House Speaker Paul Ryan announced Meehan was removed from his position at the House Ethics Committee and that there will be an investigation into the allegations. Meehan should also repay the taxpayer funds used for the settlement, Ryan said. In late January, Meehan announced he wouldn't seek re-election.

Rep. Ruben Kihuen

The allegations: Two women have accused Rep. Kihuen of sexual harassment. A former campaign staffer alleges that Kihuen, a freshman congressman, sexually harassed her continuously during the 2016 election. A female lobbyist came forward in mid-December, alleging Kihuen made several unwanted sexual advances to her and groped her on three separate occasions while he was a Nevada state senator.

The aftermath: In response to the allegations, Kihuen said: "I sincerely apologize for anything that I may have said or done that made her feel uncomfortable." Several Democratic leaders have asked him to resign, but he has said he will not step down from his position. In mid-December, the House Ethics Committee announced it was launching an investigation into the allegations. Kihuen said he would cooperate with the investigation, but won't seek reelection in 2018.

Photo: Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images.

Rep. Alcee Hastings

The allegations: A former staffer accused Rep. Hastings of sexually harrasing her repeatedly for over two years while she worked at the Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe. She also alleged he threatened to fire her after she resisted his advances. The woman sued Hastings and the commission, and the case was settled in 2014 for $220,000.

The aftermath: Hastings denies the allegations and says he wasn't aware of the taxpayer-funded settlement until the story about the payment was reported in early December. (He was removed from the lawsuit in 2012.) As of mid-December, Hastings hadn't been asked to resign by the Democratic leadership.

Photo: Al Drago/CQ Roll Call.

Rep. Blake Farenthold

The allegations: Rep. Farenthold's former communications director sued him on grounds of gender discrimination, sexual harassment, and creating a hostile work environment. They settled the case, and she received a $84,000 payout.

The aftermath: Farenthold said he "didn't do anything wrong," but will pay back the settlement money to taxpayers. The House Ethics Committee has reopened an investigation into the allegations. In mid-December, he announced he will not seek reelection in 2018.

Photo: Larry French/Getty Images.

Rep. Trent Franks

The allegations: Two female aides said Rep. Franks created an uncomfortable workplace environment by asking them if they wanted to be surrogates and bear his child. The staffers allege they were concerned that Franks was asking to impregnate them by having sexual relations with him.

The aftermath: Franks admitted the allegations are true, but said he had never "physically intimidated, coerced, or had, or attempted to have, any sexual contact with any member of my congressional staff." The House Ethics Committee announced it planned to investigate the allegations, so Franks said he would step aside. His resignation was originally supposed to take effect on January 31, 2018. But one day after making that announcement, Franks said he would resign immediately due to his wife being admitted in the hospital for an "ongoing ailment."

Photo: Brendan Hoffman/Getty Images.

Sen. Al Franken

The allegations: At least seven women have accused Sen. Franken of groping, forcible kissing, or unwanted advances.

The aftermath: Franken has apologized in some cases, and denied the allegations in others. Originally he said he was open to being investigated by the Senate Ethics Committee, but after the seventh accuser came forward, several Democrats called for him to step aside. On December 7, Franken announced on the Senate floor that he would resign "in the coming weeks."

Photo: Alex Brandon/AP Images.

President Donald J. Trump

The allegations: At least 16 women have accused President Trump of sexual misconduct, ranging from groping to rape over the last several decades. Many of them came forward after the infamous Access Hollywood tape, where Trump can be heard boasting of "grabbing [women] by the pussy," was made public.

The aftermath: Trump has consistently denied the allegations, and the official White House position is that his accusers are lying. And even though POTUS admitted in October 2016 that the Access Hollywood tape was real, he is now claiming the voice in the recording isn't his. ( Access Hollywood said the clip is authentic.) Trump is also facing a defamation lawsuit brought up by one of his accusers, Summer Zervos.

Photo: Olivier Douliery­Pool/Getty Images.

Rep. John Conyers, Jr.

The allegations: At least four women have claimed Rep. Conyers groped them or made sexual advances and inappropriate remarks toward them. One of his accusers received a $27,000 settlement.

The aftermath: Conyers resigned several weeks after news of the allegations broke, and endorsed his son John Conyers III to succeed him. His lawyer Arnold Reed has said Conyers is not planning to pay back Congress for his past settlement, since ethics attorneys "cleared" the payout.

Photo: Alex Brandon/AP Images.

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Abortion Bill Could Be Life-Changing For California College Students

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Students in California's four-year public universities could have access to abortion medication on-campus, thanks to a bill currently being considered at the State Legislature.

The College Student Right to Access Act, also known as SB 320, was introduced by state Sen. Connie Leyva in February 2017 and will be up for a vote in the Senate at the end of this month. Then, it would be up for consideration at the State Assembly. The bill directs the schools within the University of California and California State University systems to stock up their health centers with medical abortion pills and start providing the service by 2022.

In an interview with Refinery29, Leyva said the bill protects women's constitutional right to choose and would make access to the procedure easier.

"The reason medicative abortion is important on campuses it's because you can only take [the medication] up to 10 weeks of pregnancy. You usually don't find out you're pregnant until you're four or five weeks along," she said. "They have to travel off-campus, it's going to be very costly and it's going to be inconvenient. If they can go to their health center, where they feel safe and comfortable, it's the perfect environment for a woman who finds herself in that situation."

Medical abortion — commonly known as the "abortion pill" — is not to be confused with emergency contraception. The process is a safe option to terminate an early pregnancy and involves two drugs: mifepristone and misoprostol, one which is taken at the doctor's office and the other which is taken at home 24-48 hours later. According to the American Pregnancy Association, the final cost can range from $300 to $800 — depending on factors such as health insurance, region of the country, and the type of testing needed.

The bill came to be thanks to a group of students at the University of California, Berkeley. In 2016, Adiba Khan drafted a resolution asking UC Berkeley's health center to include medication abortion among the services offered to students. Khan, the co-founder of Students United for Reproductive Justice (SURJ), told Refinery 29 she had noticed that while the school's Tang Center offered all 18 forms of contraception, and the students' health insurance offered abortion coverage, medical abortion wasn't available.

"I was able to meet peers who attempted to get an abortion through our health center and faced many bureaucratic hurdles," she said. "After our initial meetings with Tang health administration, we realized that abortion wasn't offered due to the controversial nature of the service instead of the lack of capacity to offer it as a service."

Though Khan and other students met up with the Berkeley administration, and were able to raise $240,000 to implement the program, the effort didn't work out. So they linked up with the Women's Foundation of California to create a statewide campaign, and the Sen. Leyva came forward in support of the effort. The Women's Foundation of California Women's Policy Institute helped draft the bill, with input from Khan and SURJ co-directors Marandah Field-Elliot and Phoebe Abramowitz.

"College students should not have to face financial, logistical, and bureaucratic burdens for a health service that is so simple and can be easily provided at a student health center," Khan told Refinery29. "Reproductive health includes abortion and since one of the most important services a student health center is concerned about is reproductive and sexual health, abortion is part of that. In addition, this movement intends to destigmatize and normalize abortion as not a 'necessary evil,' but as a positive and typical service that helps people make decisions about their lives. "

No taxpayer money will be used to fund the effort, Leyva said. (The Hyde Amendment bans the use of federal funds to pay for abortion procedures.) Two foundations, the Women's Foundation of California and the Tara Health Foundation, will pay for training and equipment at the health centers and billing of the procedures.

For Leyva, the legislation it's even more meaningful given the Trump administration's constant attacks on reproductive rights. Just in the first year since President Trump took office, we've seen efforts to defund Planned Parenthood and other abortion providers, the partial rollback of the Affordable Care Act birth control mandate, and religious liberty guidelines that would allow health workers to refuse to provide contraception or abortion-care.

"This bill has always been important, but now with what we're seeing it's happening at the federal level trying to limit a woman's right to choose, I think it's critical this legislation passes in California," Leyva said. "Then I hope we can be a model across the country, for every state."

Meanwhile, Khan believes the campaign and subsequent legislation exists because students at Berkeley organized and demanded that their conditions changed. She said, "Student activism can be powerful and impactful and this entire campaign is evidence of just that."

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Upon first glance at Carcel, a newly established Danish fashion brand, you may assume it's just another minimalist essentials label with that lust-worthy Scandinavian design sensibility. And while that's all great, you'll be even more on-board with the clothing company once you read a bit more into it: Carcel, which means "jail" in Spanish, empowers women in prison through work, new skills, and fair wages. And all of the cozy sweaters you're eyeing on its website, made from the finest 100% baby alpaca wool, are produced by 15 women at a female prison in Cusco, Peru.

The idea came to its CEO and founder Veronica d’Souza after she visited a women’s prison in Kenya; there, she saw how its inmates were working all day with low-quality materials and without any market access. This kickstarted a greater business idea: to train women in prison to work with high-quality materials native to the production country — and thus offer a true fashion alternative to the conscious consumer. In 2016, she went to Peru and visited multiple prisons before deciding on the one just outside Cusco in the middle of the Andes.

Carcel has since formed a relationship with INPE (the National Penitentiary Institute), the local prison authority in Cusco, which shares the brand's vision of better opportunities for the incarcerated women, many of whom have been sentenced for drug-trafficking because they are used as 'drug mules.' Around the world, poverty is the main cause of female incarceration, and in Peru in particular, the drug cartels typically target girls from poor backgrounds —young, beautiful, and often pregnant girls have better chances of getting through customs.

Through working with Carcel, these women are offered the opportunity to break the cycle of poverty and gain new skills ("Stories from the Inside" about each woman employed by the initiative can be read on the brand's blog). The initiative focuses on building a healthy work environment and ensuring good jobs and fair wages for the women to support their family and to save up for their future. Plus, each of the final styles carries the name of the woman who made it.

Soon, Carcel plans to expand to a women's prison in Chiang Mai, Thailand, and will launch a new range of products using silk (as a local natural material) later this year. "The vision is to employ more women and create a bigger impact — and within the next five years our goal is to have established production in three to five different countries," d’Souza explains. "We wish to convince consumers that ethical fashion can be sexy." Louise van Hauen, Carcel's partner and creative director, adds: "Our different approach to fashion challenges our design process in a wonderful way. Working with responsible production and against traditional fashion seasons forces us to focus on texture, shape, and fit." And we can attest that the product is just as good as its mission.

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The Hair-Care Trick We Wish We'd Tried Sooner

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Multi-masking is a total game-changer for any skin-care routine, but at this point, the concept is nothing new; we've been putting oil-absorbing clay formulas on our acne-prone T-zones and soothing gels on our dry, flaky cheeks for a while now, and our skin has never been happier. But for our hair? Now that's something new — and now that we've finally figured it out, we wish we'd started sooner.

With bespoke beauty gaining momentum, it makes perfect sense that now would be the time to start approaching our hair and scalp the same way we do our skin. Some salons, like sustainable London hotspot Ralph & Rice, are even offering the customized service in the chair. "Damaged ends, mid-length mysteries, virgin roots, and don't forget your scalp — multi-masking will make all those issues a thing of the past," the salon's cofounder, Anita Rice, explains.

If your salon has yet to cash in on the multi-masking trend, don't worry: It's beyond easy to get the same DIY treatment in the comfort of your own bathroom. "As far as application, roots can be done with a tint brush and bowl, whereas the ends can be literally applied by hand," Rice says. The Davines products she uses in-salon are clay-based, so they can be left on for ten minutes or longer as they won't leave hair lank or greasy; your results may vary.

So next time you reach for your same old hair mask, consider adding another to the mix for the most effective treatment possible. Because, yes, you can have frazzled ends and oily roots — and why not give them both exactly what they need? Ahead, the hair masks we'll be using to get our strands in fighting shape... dry lengths, greasy roots, and all.

For Your Dry Ends
Inspired by the sandy beaches of Bali, the largest coconut producer in the world, Coco & Eve harnessed the benefits of beauty world's favorite drupe (not nut) to create a hair mask to combat parched and damaged tresses. This 5-in-1 treatment is 100% vegan and cruelty-free, and can be used weekly in place of your conditioner. A blend of raw coconut, argan oil, fig, and shea butter adds shine, strengthens, tames frizz, and detangles all at once — and comes with a purse-friendly Tangle Tamer brush.

Coco & Eve Like A Virgin Super Nourishing Coconut & Fig Hair Masque, $49.90, available at Coco & Eve.

Phyto's mask contains a blend of baobab oil and the lesser-known sapote butter, which is rich in twice as many essential fatty acids as shea butter. This is perfect for the driest, most parched hair — dedicated bleachers, take note.

Phyto Phytokératine Extreme Exceptional Mask, $59, available at Ulta.

Rosehip and argan oils, algae, biotin and B-vitamins bring brittle hair back to life. This one is an intense treatment, so using it once a week on over-colored or grown-out ends is plenty — and that means the generous tub will last forever, which is good, since you'll dread the moment you scrape the bottom.

Briogeo Don't Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Mask, $36, available at Sephora.

Ouai's individual masks are a cocktail of nourishing ingredients for fried locks: amino acids, keratin, hibiscus, and tamarind seed all work to repair damaged hair. Perfect for accompanying you on your next tropical vacation, when the pool and sunshine can wreak havoc.

Ouai Treatment Masque, $32, available at Ouai.

For Your Dry Scalp
Suitable for all hair types, Philip Kingsley's mask is an intensive anti-dandruff treatment for those with a dry, itchy, or irritated scalp — and it's great for ditching product buildup, too.

Philip Kingsley Exfoliating Scalp Mask, $30, available at Neiman Marcus.

Not only does this mask bring a hit of hydration to neglected scalps, but it fights the fallout from everyday pollution — like dust and heavy metals — thus purifying the hair. You can use it pre- or post-shampoo, too.

Davines The Purity Circle Hair Mask, available in salons.

Aloe vera, pineapple, olive, and rosemary relieve itchy, flaky or psoriasis-prone scalps. Every ingredient is naturally derived, reducing the risk of further aggravation.

Green People Irritated Scalp Conditioner, $23, available at Green People.

For Your Oily Roots
You're already well-acquainted with salicylic acid's numerous benefits for your skin — now try it for your hair. This formula rids oily scalps of clogged hair follicles and other impurities, and the peppermint and lavender scent is divine, too.

Paul Mitchell Tea Tree Hair and Scalp Treatment, $16.75, available at Ulta.

This mineral-rich mask is a luxe treat for lazy Sunday afternoons. Red clay helps balance the scalp's oil production while apricot kernel oil hydrates, without leaving hair weighed-down or greasy.

Espa Pink Hair and Scalp Mud, $72, available at Espa.

For Your Dull Midlengths
Like a shot of energy for tired, stressed-out strands, this rejuvenating mask contains omega 9, sunflower oil, and quinoa seed to kickstart shine and softness.

Rahua Omega 9 Hair Mask, $58, available at Rahua.

This innovative — and great-smelling — mask from hair maestro Christophe Robin not only penetrates dull ends with prickly pear seed oil, but also helps prevent further breakage with inula flower extract. A little goes a long way.

Christophe Robin Regenerating Mask With Rare Prickly Pear Seed Oil, $71, available at Sephora.

These Redken self-heating mask sachets are fun to use and breathe new life into frazzled hair, thanks to rejuvenating soy protein and argan oil.

Redken Heatcure Intense Self-Heating Mask, $32, available at Look Fantastic.

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Could This Be The Zara Of The Future?

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Zara has officially opened its first click-and-collect concept store in London's Westfield shopping center, WWD reports. The Inditex-owned retail giant has launched a purpose-built space to accommodate shoppers while its flagship store, which is also located on the popular east London site, is being refurbished to double in size. The concept store will be open until May, when the brand's newer, bigger flagship opens once again.

The new location, measuring 2,152 square foot, has a dedicated space for collecting online purchases, while also stocking a selection of pieces from both menswear and womenswear. The biggest draw? Customers will be given the choice of receiving their items the same day if ordered before 2 p.m.

Not only does the concept store cater to your online shopping habits, but it also has some pretty high-tech features. Sales assistants will don mobile devices to help customers with sizes, stock, and collections, and you can pay by card via Bluetooth thanks to a nifty device at the register.

Alongside this, you can avoid lines altogether by paying for your vinyl trench coat or sock boots through an app; the Zara and Inditex Group apps both allow this, plus InWallet. There's also a self-service checkout, though we hope the user experience is less frustrating than those at CVS or the supermarket.

A kind of virtual styling tool is available in-store, too. Information screens will be embedded into mirrors, with customers able to scan barcodes of items using sci-fi-sounding radio frequency identification technology. Once the item is recognized, the internal system brings up "multiple choices for coordinating and combining the piece with other garments and accessories."

According to WWD, this futuristic shopping experience comes as part of Inditex's wider plan to slow down its growth in physical retail and instead focus its efforts on 'omnichannels.' Chairman and CEO of Inditex, Pablo Isla, said in a brand statement that this marks “another milestone in our strategy of integrating our stores with the online world, which represents an important part of our identity.”

So is this the future of the fast-fashion? According to Statista, online retail sales in the United States have grown from $72.1 billion in 2016 to approximately $81 billion in 2017, perhaps proving that we all want to get our shopping fix from the comfort of our desk or sofa. At the opposite end of the spectrum, independent and boutique brands are thriving, with pop-ups and smaller stores that offer personable and relaxing retail experiences. And maybe the success (or shortcomings) of Zara's innovative new spot will decide the physical future of Inditex's other labels.

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How A Grassroots Campaign Brought #MeToo To The Forefront At The Grammys

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Kesha has never been nominated for a Grammy before; this year, she is nominated for two and will perform at the awards show for the first time. One nomination is for her latest album, Rainbow, and the other is for the single “Praying,” a song she wrote about finding peace after going through what she describes as a nearly intolerable period of depression. She alludes to, but never directly addresses, her protracted and still ongoing legal battles with the producer of her first two records, Dr. Luke, who she says verbally, physically, and sexually abused her over the course of their 13-year working relationship that started when she was 18. (Dr. Luke has denied the allegations.)

Her performance was announced two weeks ago, and at first it looked like it would be the only showing of #MeToo at the Grammys (in fact longtime producer Ken Ehrlich confirmed as much to the Daily Beast). A group of 15 mid-level industry executives who call themselves Voices in Entertainment decided that wasn't enough. They reached out to the Time's Up movement and organized a white rose campaign on the red carpet to help raise awareness, and more importantly, funds for the campaign.

"We’re all women who work behind the scenes, and we felt really strongly. We thought this would be something we could share with our colleagues and the artists who we work with to spread the word a little. We didn’t think it would become a tsunami," Meg Harkins, SVP of Marketing at Roc Nation and one of the Voices in Entertainment organizers tells Refinery29.

In the rallying email they sent out to women and allies in the industry, they revealed that Rapsody, the only woman nominated for Best Rap Album this year (a category that only one woman, Lauryn Hill, has ever won) would be wearing a white rose. Within hours, their rallying email leaked, and Lady Gaga, Kelly Clarkson, Camila Cabello, Halsey, Dua Lipa, and a slew of other artists signed on to show their support by wearing a white rose.

This “resistance” is more of a last-minute grassroots campaign. In the two weeks spent reporting this story, Refinery29 reached out to over a dozen artists to ask if they planned to represent #MeToo or Time’s Up at this year’s ceremony. No one responded until days before the event. That's when Grammy nominee K.Flay’s publicist reached out on her behalf to say that her client was disturbed to find out that it appeared nothing had been organized. The next day, the Voices in Entertainment email made the rounds.

It is unexpected, in our celebrity-driven culture, to see a campaign of this sort spearheaded not from the top down, but from the middle out. Juxtaposed with what's happening in Hollywood, it begs the question: Do artists feel unable to organize a campaign of their own in music? Did those in the C-suite feel no obligation to lead the charge? Harkins tells us that the response the organizers have received has been all positive; in fact Julie Greenwald and Craig Kallman, the COO and CEO of Atlantic Records, reportedly "escalate[d] it immediately to the top of the Warner Bros. food chain" to encourage their artists and employees to participate. Given the number of artists who have signed on, this is obviously a cause everyone can get behind. But will a one-time show of solidarity affect any real change in music?

Harkins believes this just a jumping off point, saying this can be "the first tentpole in a year, the music industry has festivals and other award shows...It’s for a good cause, and I don’t see it stopping anytime soon."

K.Flay tells Refinery29 she plans to speak up on behalf of Time’s Up, should she get the chance as a Grammy nominee. She is up for Best Engineered Album, Non Classical, and Best Rock Song. She is one of only two women nominated in the former category, and the only woman in the latter. “It’s important for there to be a message at the Grammys,” K.Flay says. “This is a gathering of people who have cultural relevance and the flexibility to say these things. If you’re a domestic worker, you don’t have the platform. If you are in an industry where you have the ability to speak out with some level of freedom, it’s imperative to do so.”

Echoing the mission of the Voices in Entertainment, K.Flay says she hopes the Grammys have more than one moment focused on this movement. “100% I think it should be discussed," she says. "Just because there hasn’t been a Weinstein in music doesn’t mean there isn’t one, in both big and small ways.”

K.Flay, and many artists and industry insiders we spoke to for this article, said they want to see inequality addressed on the red carpet and during the show as well. Grammys host James Corden appeared on CBS This Morning, Stephen Colbert, and Live with Kelly and Ryan to promote the show this week; not one person asked him about addressing #MeToo or Time’s Up, until the Associated Press did on Thursday. When asked, he said "of course" he would be wearing a white rose, and that we should expect Kesha's performance to be a "moving moment."

"We found out last night that James Corden is wearing a rose, as the host of the Grammys," Harkins says. "We didn’t even reach out to him, we found out about it online." Whether he will address it from the stage remains unknown, and our request for comment to a representative for the Grammys telecast went unanswered. (For what it's worth, the always outspoken Kelly Clarkson is a presenter in the show. Smart money is on her bringing a “Natalie Portman moment ” to the proceedings.)

Just because there hasn’t been a Weinstein in music doesn’t mean there isn’t one, in both big and small ways.

Not everyone is as convinced this is a potential watershed moment. “[A reckoning] can’t happen in our business,” a veteran publicist of nearly 30 years who wished to remain anonymous, tells Refinery29. “The men who are actually doing the producing and managing of artists are still complicit, and it seems female artists are not as empowered to get organized. Look what it took Kesha to get to this point. I’m sure the Grammys thought, We have to do something, we can’t just let this go by us. Kesha is the front-page angle, and this is her moment — she deserves a moment. She’s been through hell and back. But that’s not a resistance.”

There has been a significant outing of influential men in music over the past few months. But, before Weinstein, the industry was rocked in May of 2017 when Epic Records President L.A. Reid was fired following a company investigation into a sexual harassment claim against him. Reid announced he’s recruiting talent for a new music venture in August of 2017, that will include a record label, publishing arm, and offer representation to producers; he didn’t take much of a time out. The culture shift after Weinstein appears to have slowed his plans down.

“I’m very disappointed in how the music industry has handled our own,” the publicist continues. “How is Dr. Luke our big moment, when that story is just the tip of the iceberg? Executives like L.A. Reid have been disgraced, and others still have not fallen from grace. We need to do more.”

“We don’t have the kind of strength that the movie industry does,” says Jennifer Justice, the President of Corporate Development at Superfly, the co-producers of Bonnaroo and Outside Lands. “In executive leadership, there has never been a woman who has run a record company or publishing company, without reporting to a man.”

If you don’t think that trickles down, consider this: At the 2018 Grammy Awards, there's not a single female artist or producer nominated for Record of the Year, the final (and biggest) award of the night. One woman, Lorde, is up for Album of the Year. Apparently the Recording Academy’s voting body didn’t feel that women did much to merit notice in this cycle; according to a study conducted by Dr. Stacy L. Smith and the Annenberg Inclusion Initiative, they are right. The “Inclusion In the Recording Studio?” study found that 2017 was a six-year low mark for women on the charts, with female artists only attached to 16.8% of songs and only 11.4% of songwriters credited were women.

I’m very disappointed in how the music industry has handled our own. How is Dr. Luke our big moment, when that story is just the tip of the iceberg?

The lack of recognition is more than an issue of ego. Liz Hart, the principal at Miss Management, tells a story about an recent email from a music supervisor soliciting score submissions for a commercial client. The company only wanted submissions from composers who have won major awards, cutting most of her female clients out of the running. “I think the awards shows have a responsibility to reach out to underserved communities,” Hart says. “They’re doing themselves a disservice to not push through more women, people of color, and the transgender community. And people in those communities aren’t getting jobs as a result of it.”

It also matters to the audience at home. Seeing artists protesting and addressing issues of sexual misconduct and inequality is inspiring. Protests, like the all-black dress code at the Golden Globes, invigorated many home viewers as well as raising their consciousness. A study by MTV found that of young viewers, aged 18-25, 87% of them think talking about #MeToo experiences is a good thing and 45% feel they would have to avoid watching a TV show or movie starring someone accused of sexual assault. And a survey by The Tylt revealed that 66% of millennials think celebrities should be political at awards shows. It seems that the younger end of the audience wants to know who is part of the resistance and trying to bring equality to the world of entertainment. Sexual abuse is an issue so many women of all ages face themselves. They want to see their heroes fighting it, on their behalf.

Music badly needs more people who are willing to have a “Kesha moment.” Now is the time for artists who can be honest and open about their past experiences and use it to affect change for the future. If you don’t see that on your TV screens at this year's Grammy ceremony, grab your wallet. The music industry is run by multinational corporations who are driven by the bottom line — not Twitter activism. It's time we stop supporting artists who are known to abuse women. Don’t buy their work. Don’t see them in concert. Don’t stream them. And if you’re not sure who those people are, Justice has some parting words of advice: “You can always just play all-female artists, all of the time.”

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What You Should Know About Joe Kennedy Before SOTU

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Rep. Joe Kennedy III of Massachusetts is delivering the response to President Donald Trump's State of the Union address next Tuesday night. The 37-year-old, who is serving his third term in the House, has been fairly unknown until recently — but, of course, he comes from a storied line of politicians. His father was in Congress, and he's the grandson of Bobby Kennedy, John F. Kennedy's brother and Attorney General.

“Congressman Kennedy is a relentless fighter for working Americans,” Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a press release. “While President Trump has consistently broken his promises to the middle class, Congressman Kennedy profoundly understands the challenges facing hardworking men and women across the country.”

Top party leaders have often put rising stars in the opposition role at SOTU, so we're sure to see more of him in the coming years. The choice of Kennedy belies the values the Democratic Party wants to project at this crucial moment when it is hoping to make major gains in the quickly upcoming midterm elections. In its statement, the party's leadership said, "Democrats are laser-focused on enacting policies to benefit middle-class Americans, not special interests or the wealthiest."

Kennedy has spoken out forcefully against repealing the Affordable Care Act, and in favor of immigrant, refugee, and LGBTQ rights. His voting record is solidly pro-choice and he supports gun restrictions. He called the Republican healthcare-repeal bill an "act of malice " in a noteworthy speech, which got over 10 million views on Facebook.

In his passionate rebuttal to House Speaker Paul Ryan's statement that the bill was an "act of mercy," Kennedy said: "With all due respect to our speaker, he and I must have read different scripture. The one that I read calls on us to feed the hungry, to clothe the naked, to shelter the homeless, and to comfort the sick. It reminds us that we are judged not by how we treat the powerful, but by how we care for the least among us." If he uses this type of rhetoric in his SOTU response, it's sure to garner praise.

Kennedy has, however, worried legalization advocates with his views on recreational pot. "I don’t think marijuana should be legalized," he told Boston magazine in 2016. "If we’re going to say marijuana is a medicine, it needs to be treated like a medicine and regulated like a medicine. But when we look at full-on legalization, the potential danger that marijuana poses particularly to adolescents — I’m not convinced."

Before graduating from Harvard Law School (where Elizabeth Warren was his professor, nbd), Kennedy joined the Peace Corps and worked in the Dominican Republic, where he said he created a union to help tour guides earn higher wages. He also worked for a pro-bono law firm in Boston that helped families avoid foreclosure and created a program for at-risk youth.

In an interview on The Daily Show with Trevor Noah in August, shortly after Trump had tweeted that he wants to ban transgender people from serving in the military (which a federal judge later declared unconstitutional), Kennedy was candid about his feelings.

"Our men and women in uniform...they are willing to risk life and limb for us. They don't discriminate and say, 'I will lay down my life for you but not you,'" he told Noah. "[The GOP's] cries [for freedom] ring hollow if you can't deliver the basic fundamental freedom, which is the freedom to be you."

While the response to Kennedy delivering the post-SOTU speech has generally been a business-as-usual shrug, many see it as a missed opportunity to position a woman or person of color in opposition to Trump — especially given the overwhelming support of women and people of color (not so much white men) for the Democratic Party.

Some say it's tone-deaf of the party to promote yet another heir to a dynasty when there are marginalized voices in the wings waiting to be heard. Kennedy is one of the richest members of Congress, with an estimated worth of between $15 and $55 million.

But for others, he's just what the Democratic Party needs.

Elizabeth Guzmán, who was elected in Virginia's huge blue sweep in November, is delivering the Spanish-language response to SOTU. The Peruvian immigrant is the state's first Latina state delegate.

At least five Democrats will reportedly boycott Trump's address, including Georgia Rep. John Lewis, California Rep. Maxine Waters, Florida Rep. Frederica Wilson, Oregon Rep. Earl Blumenauer, and Washington Rep. Pramila Jayapal. Several Democratic women confirmed to Refinery29 that they will wear black on Tuesday night in solidarity with #MeToo and Time's Up.

We contacted Joe Kennedy's office for comment and will update this story when we hear back.

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Sister Tattoos That Are Anything But Basic

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Getting a matching tattoo with your sister basically solidifies all the bullshit you've gone through together. The fights. The tears. The late-night drunk texts begging her to just leave the leftover pizza on the counter for when you get home. But if you're willing to permanently ink your body alongside your best gal pal, you better make it good — right?

This doesn't have to mean cheesy quotes or intertwining hearts, of course. Whether it's a tribute to your favorite childhood memory, a nod to one of your many inside jokes, or a simple matching design, these sister tattoos — which you can check out, ahead — are just as timeless (and meaningful) as the friendship you've worked so hard to build.

An elephant never forgets — and neither does your sister. Just ask her about all those secrets she kept for you in high school...

Like flowers, a good relationship has to be nurtured to thrive. But at least your sister will always be there, even when you forget to text her back.

Sisters can never have too many promises, solemnized by a pinky-sworn oath.

This is one friendship you know will last forever.

She might have stolen your clothes in middle school, but this design is one thing you won't mind sharing.

For the sisters who live miles away, but FaceTime every Sunday morning.

Two halves of one perfectly pitted pair.

Fingers crossed your sister lets you borrow her clothes even after you returned her last sweater with a hole in it.

Who better to fight the patriarchy with than the woman you admire the most?

The larger the family, the sweeter the sentiment.

We all need someone to hold our hands, especially when we're mid-tattoo.

This one honors the fact that you both still want to be Hermione.

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appearance by Alyssa Coscarelli; hosted by Mi-Anne Chan.

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Red Clocks Is Even Scarier Than The Handmaid's Tale — Here's Why

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In the not-so-distant future, abortion and IVF have been constitutionally outlawed in all 50 states. Canada closes its checkpoints to abortion-seekers, sealing the border with a symbolic "pink wall" and returning suspicious young women to the United States for prosecution. With the passage of the Every Child Needs Two Act, single parents are summarily banned from the adoption process. And illegal "Termination Centers," run out of back alleyways and abandoned, dilapidated houses, warp the defiant choice to end a pregnancy into a potentially lethal decision.

Such is the through-the-looking-glass world of Leni Zumas's harrowing Red Clocks — a novel so uncannily close to our own surreal political dystopia you might just find yourself reaching to call your Congressperson with the turn of every page.

Zumas's narrative moves between a chorus of women quietly grappling with their terrifying new reality — a single 40-something craving a baby of her own, an exhausted mother trapped in a loveless marriage, a freshly-pregnant teenager facing her fate alone, and the subversive, off-the-grid healer who binds them all together. Set in a small Northwestern town somewhere outside Portland, the book vibrates with the nerve-jangling claustrophobia of a seismic cultural shift — a spectral panic as diffuse and ever-present as the Oregon fog. But for Zumas, the complete erosion of women's rights doesn't need Atwood's genre-defining crimson cloaks or starched caps — just the enthusiastic signatures of a few charismatic, white-haired senators. It's The Handmaid's Tale, stripped of all its fantasy, for Mike Pence's America.

Red Clocks finds its emotional center in a profoundly relatable feeling. Ro, a single, middle-aged teacher still fighting to become a mother, watches her government careen towards ratifying a Personhood Amendment without ever truly believing it could be possible (until, of course, it's too late). "When Congress passed the Twenty-Eighth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and it was sent to the states for a vote, [she] wrote emails to her representatives. Marched in protests in Salem and Portland. Donated to Planned Parenthood. But she wasn't all that worried. It had to be political theater, a flexing of muscle by the conservative-controlled House and Senate in league with a fetus-loving new President."

Red Clocks unfolds in the amendment's nightmarish aftershocks, with no bold revolutionary solutions to save its female characters from the brutal restrictions on their bodies. Instead, Zumas gives us an all-too-familiar portrait of women trying to rebuild their lives, somehow, in the chasm of lingering disbelief.

"I went through my whole life assuming Roe Vs. Wade was pretty untouchable," Zumas explained to Refinery29. "But when I started doing research into reproductive rights in the U.S., I discovered that Mike Pence and Paul Ryan have both supported fetal personhood amendments. It's all so hard to follow in the chaos, though. The Republican tax bill, for example, had language saying that an unborn child could be the beneficiary of a college savings account, which sets up a precedent for reversing Roe Vs. Wade."

Zumas's story isn't just a chilling exaggeration of the insidious pro-life climate that's saturated American politics for decades, however. "I have a son — he just turned 5 — and he was conceived by IVF," Zumas said. "During the process, I started noticing that there was so much anger from people about the morality of IVF — that it's unnatural, that you shouldn't be allowed to do it, that it's better to choose adoption." Thinking about the dangerous mythology tangling the "right" kinds of mothering to womanhood led Zumas to consider all the ways it impacts our power to earn an income, to develop a creative voice, and, above all, to push back against abuse. "Our bodies and selves are in danger if we don't please someone else," she explained. "It can be a survival method to smile, to acquiesce, to do that extra task, but, clearly, we still pay a price."

Experiencing IVF also made her more aware of the many women who can't access reproductive technologies — how the possibility of motherhood is sometimes a question of privilege. "That pushed me to consider what would happen if no one could have IVF — if evangelical zealots got their way. If you couldn't get pregnant naturally, you couldn't get pregnant at all." The body, Red Clocks proves, is a cruelly efficient kind of prison — an object of constant suspicion and betrayal, plagued by unwanted pregnancies, silent ultrasounds, deadly infections from botched abortions.

In the end, Zumas's deftly woven story leaves us in awe of the power of quiet defiance — the exhausting, morally opaque work of choosing autonomy, even in a world completely unmade. A book as lyrical as it is devastatingly honest, Red Clocks fast-forwards to the time after you've marched and called and voted, showing us all the complexities and pains of life in the aftermath. As Ro tells her students, in a moment of mingled hope and resignation, "by walking is how you make the road."

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Your Life Path Number Is More Than A Personality Type

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Within the practice of numerology, it's believed that we can better understand the world around us by observing numerical patterns in our daily lives. But, this spiritual discipline can also help people better understand their inner world, too. With the help of a simple equation, anyone can discover their Life Path number, a single-digit number that is said to reveal who you are, your deepest values, and the challenges you may have to face.

In order to find your Life Path number, simply take your birthdate and reduce it down to its numerical value. For example, if you were born on July 5, 1989, you'd first identify the separate values of the day, month, and year: July is the seventh month, so its number is seven. Your day of birth is, obviously, five. Finally, your birth year can be reduced down to a single number by adding its digits together (1+9+8+9 = 27) and then adding that sum's digits together (2+7 = 9). So, you now have three numbers you need to add together (7+5+9 = 22) and yet another sum to reduce (2+2 = 4).

Depending on your birthdate, you might end up with another double-digit number after this step — just keep reducing until you get down to a single-digit number. In this example, four would be your Life Path number.

If you're a total newcomer to numerology but are familiar with astrology, numerologist Felicia Bender says to think of it as similar to your Zodiac sign — a representation of both your personality and, in the abstract, your future. "It provides you with what your optimal expression is and also what your tendencies and obstacles will be," she says. In other words, this number can tell you a lot about your personality, but possibly more importantly, it suggests what will be your life's greater purpose.

To use our earlier example, a number four Life Path suggests that you thrive on structure and crave security. When you work within the parameters of your Life Path number by, say, sticking to a steady routine and maintaining your health, you'll feel more present, Bender says. "When we are in alignment with our Life Path purpose, we feel on track, energized, and on point," she says.

By contrast, if you're on a number four Life Path and make risky decisions, splurge on unnecessary expenses, or skip your annual medical checkup, Bender says you're likely to feel out of your element and more than a little aimless. "Everything we experience in our lives has to do with this purpose — everything," she says.

Ahead, Bender walks us through all nine Life Path numbers and what they suggest about you and your life that lies ahead.

1 Life Path
The Leader

Values: individuality, independence, autonomy

Challenges: to develop a voice of your own and a greater sense of self-confidence

Illustrated by Vero Romero.

2 Life Path
The Diplomat

Values: partnerships, balance, love

Challenges: to tap into your emotional sensitivity — and use it to connect with others

Illustrated by Vero Romero.

3 Life Path
The Socializer

Values: creativity, self-expression, fun

Challenges: to remain optimistic — yet realistic — in the face of difficulties

Illustrated by Vero Romero.

4 Life Path
The Worker

Values: structure, discipline, health

Challenges: to balance your ambitions with your need for security

Illustrated by Vero Romero.

5 Life Path
The Free Spirit

Values: adventure, movement, change

Challenges: to find some kind of daily structure that works for you

Illustrated by Vero Romero.

6 Life Path
The Nurturer

Values: responsibility, family, long-term goals

Challenges: to make your home comfortable for yourself and others

Illustrated by Vero Romero.

7 Life Path
The Intuitive

Values: meditative thought, introspection, imagination

Challenges: to listen to your rational side as much as your intuitive side

Illustrated by Vero Romero.

8 Life Path
The Power Player

Values: authority, material things, success

Challenges: to learn when exerting control is helpful — and when you're better off letting someone else take over

Illustrated by Vero Romero.

9 Life Path
The Humanitarian

Values: compassion, understanding, acceptance

Challenges: to come away from every new experience a little bit wiser

Illustrated by Vero Romero.

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Revlon's New Campaign Is A Huge Step Toward Inclusivity In The Beauty Industry

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Let's just say that you happened to see someone like Adwoa Aboah walking down the street, in all of her 5'8" glory. Her high cheekbones, expressive eyes, and her diamond-studded Chanel tooth jewel lets you know that you're in the presence of a model. But years ago, Aboah thought differently.

"When I started my career, it was a different time within the industry. I don't think there was any space for someone like myself," she told us on the red carpet at the Revlon Live Boldly campaign launch earlier this week. "Now, there is room and there is time. People are more open to something that's different."

Revlon's newest brand ambassadors represent the more inclusive world we're moving toward: Aboah, along with Ashley Graham, Imaan Hammam, and Raquel Zimmerman all appear in the cosmetic giant's new television, digital, and social advertisements. They join Gal Gadot in an effort to "support and encourage women to pursue their own dreams with confidence, strength, optimism, passion, and style," as Global Brand President Anne Talley describes the mission.

"Revlon put such a strong, powerful group of girls together," Zimmerman says. "The beautiful thing about it is that we're all so diverse. We're from different countries and have different views, but we've come together in this way that feels great. We're like a sisterhood now."An international sisterhood at that: Zimmerman is Brazilian, Hammam is African-Arabic, Aboah is Ghanian and British, Achok Majak (who appears alongside the ambassadors in ads) is from South Sudan... and Graham is the first plus-sized model to sign a major beauty contract.

Naturally, these powerhouses are stoked to be working with a global brand — what model doesn't dream of landing a major beauty campaign? — but it's more than just looking pretty and posing with lipstick. "I used to look through magazines and I wanted what I was never able to have," Aboah tells us. "I wanted long, blonde hair. I didn't want freckles. I didn't see someone who looked like me. Now, I hope that through this campaign — whether it's Ashley, whether it's Achok, whether it's Gal, Raquel, or Imaan — that you'll be able to relate to one of us. That you'll see your beauty in one of us."

The models are beginning to see that same shift backstage during fashion shows and on set at photoshoots, too. It's not perfect by a long shot, but the fashion and beauty industries are slowly but surely responding to the consumers demanding greater representation. "I hear from colleagues of mine when [casting agencies] try to put them in a box. 'Oh, you're black. Oh no, you're Asian,'" Hamaam, who is half Moroccan and half Egyptian, says. "They are learning, though. People are starting to accept natural beauty. I remember when I just started, they were straightening my hair all the time. They just didn't know what to do with it. Now, in shows, you see curly hair and freckles."

A post shared by Revlon (@revlon) on

Aboah agrees. "People are putting some effort and time into making sure that we never have to walk backstage at a fashion show as women of color and feel ashamed about our hair and the color of our skin," she says. "It's definitely improving. Still we have our favorites. When we're backstage, we wait in line to get that one person who knows color foundation. I'm lucky enough that I don't have hair anymore. I probably won't grow hair until I can really see a change within the industry. I'm not going to walk in and have 10 hairdressers scream at how thick my hair is."

Even though there's work to be done, this campaign is a huge step in the right direction. Plus, the overall message is one that's worth way more than money. "It might sound cheesy, but [my beauty] had to come from within," Aboah says. "That is what's empowering me right now. I don't think that any of these opportunities would have come to me had I not done that work inside. All of this other stuff comes afterwards."

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This Surprising Store Has The BEST Beauty Finds

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In the last year since Revolve expanded its merchandise selection to include beauty products, we've yet to stop refreshing the site. Even though our favorite clothing stores have launched some must-have hair and makeup goods — including the likes of Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Forever 21 — it's Revolve that hands us the trendy essentials.

We'll admit that the selection is not exactly the most affordable, but it's certainly the most lust-worthy. From luxe brands like Kevyn Aucoin to cult-favorites like Benefit, its beauty section has it all. And sure, we spend most of our time envying the shop’s Instagram, but we’re positive the latest beauty arrivals are even more lit. Click ahead to check out our favorite picks from Revolve.

It's true: Benefit Cosmetics has finally hit Revolve on a pre-order basis — so you can stock up on the brow pencil that makes achieving Lucy Hale's arch status easy.

Benefit Cosmetics, $24, available at Revolve

When you're fresh out of ZzzQuil, try a soothing sleep mist for your pillow instead. Then prepare for drift-off.

Vitruvi , $24, available at Revolve

Sometimes you just need a no-frills lipstick that leaves a creamy wash of color that won't awkwardly dissolve by your first glass of wine.

Kevyn Aucoin, $35, available at Revolve

Whenever your radiator is reeking havoc on your skin, this cooling balm will keep you hydrated so concealer rolls on without a crease.

Becca, $32, available at Revolve

This top-rated mascara has been a longtime favorite of editors for years — for good reason. The wand helps coat every last lash without flakes or clumps.

Benefit Cosmetics, $24, available at Revolve

We'd rarely call any skin-care product a catch-all solution to your biggest beauty woes. However, this hyaluronic-infused serum acts fast to soften skin, plump fine lines, and correct uneven texture almost immediately.

Thank You Farmer, $40, available at Revolve

A makeup product does the work of half your makeup bag, these illuminating droplets will have you skipping your foundation by Monday.

Dr. Barbara Sturm, $145, available at Revolve

A curling hair primer basically means it's a leave-in conditioner for curly hair. Protein smooths hair while aloe leaf extract helps define your unique coils.

R+Co, $27, available at Revolve

Like green juice from Jamba Juice, this powerhouse of oils uses cold-pressed seed oils and a blend of antioxidants, and vitamins A and C to leave skin baby-soft and radiant.

Sunday Riley, $90, available at Revolve

If you love the hydrating benefits of coconut oil, then you'll love this tropical scrub. Unlike other exfoliators, this creamy version shouldn't leave your skin high and dry.

Kopari Beauty, $38, available at Revolve

With so many highlighters that seem to blind anyone you pass on the street, this natural glow cream is a refreshing change of pace.

Benefit Cosmetics, $30, available at Revolve

A color-safe shampoo that leaves your bathroom smelling like the most expensive spa.

Aesop, $49, available at Revolve

Kind of like our favorite acne patches, these dark spot correcting stickers strive to restore your skin's even tone with a heavy dose of brightening ingredients.

Patchology, $60, available at Revolve

A mascara so good, you can skip the lash curler.

Eyeko, $26, available at Revolve

No, micellar water is not a gimmick — just ask every French woman, ever. This formula not only cleanses the skin, but also primes it if you want to use it pre-makeup.

REN Beauty, $25, available at Revolve

Besides leaving your lips soft-as-ever, these pink gels make the perfect selfie prop.

Patchology, $15, available at Revolve

As one of the most underrated products from Sunday Riley, this deep cleansing balm-to-milk formula dissolves every inch of makeup in one rinse. Bonus: It smells delicious.

Sunday Riley, $50, available at Revolve

A contour stick for beginners that creates a summertime glow — no sun needed.

Benefit Cosmetics, $28, available at Revolve

Spending $40 on an eye cream might sound exorbitant, but when a formula plumps the skin better than a spa service — it's worth it.

REN Beauty, $42, available at Revolve

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The highlighter market is so crowded, you might have thought to yourself at one point, How is this any different from what I already own? By all accounts, there are hundreds out there to choose from — from blues and pinks to creams and powders. But like any good rat race, there's always one that ends up on top — and in 2018, it's coming from Anastasia Beverly Hills.

The brand tells Refinery29 exclusively that it's launching a new highlighter in collaboration with beauty influencer (and highlighter queen) Amra Olević, also known on Instagram as AmRezy. The result: A compact of pure Champagne gold.

This isn't the first time ABH has partnered with Olević. After a successful eyeshadow palette collaboration, the duo decided it was time to move into the highlighting territory with a powder to end all others. All it took was learning exactly what Olević would want: "I often joke with her that she’s my barometer for certain products because she’s so definitive in what she will and will not wear," says Claudia Soare, the president of Anastasia Beverly Hills. "She was so detailed with this product, and said it had to 'feel like second skin metal and be blinding.'"

You might be surprised to learn that besides the best-selling Glow Kits, ABH only carries one individual highlight powder — so this one had to be perfect. Now, a universally flattering shade is here without flaw: "[It's] the most unique formula in the sense that it’s a powder, but has no fallout, and applies to the skin as smooth as a liquid, but is in fact a powder."

Besides being velvety soft, both Soare and Olević went through countless trials to get the right color that would flatter every undertone. And after trying it ourselves, we can definitely confirm that it does. Bonus: The powder is even better when used wet and on the body for an allover glow you normally can't get without booking a trip to Saint Tropez.

The limited-edition AmRezy highlighter ($28) officially drops February 14 on the brand's website, rolling out to retailers starting March 6. Next up? Selfie — so long as you "always find the light!" Olević says.

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