At what point can we own too many bralettes? If J.Crew's newest endeavor is any indication, probably never. On February 27, the retailer is following in the footsteps of its sister brand, Madewell, and launching its first ever in-house intimates line.
If minimal undies are your thing, then Intimates by J.Crew is your jackpot. While a few choice prints like a sweet cherry print and a soft leopard pattern pepper the collection, the majority of pieces stick to solid colored basics in all shades of the rainbow. (And if your approach to life is matchy-mathchy, as a little added bonus, J.Crew's paired up with the nail polish brand Veque to create a line-up of non-toxic nail polishes in hues identical to the underwear sets.)
As for the silhouettes, J.Crew Intimates will offer a large collection of bra and bralette sets: The pont d'esprit (a dotted mesh fabric) and cotton bras will feature two matching underwear options in both bikinis and thongs. Sizes for the bottoms will run from an XS to an XL, while the bras and bralettes will come in sizes 32A through 36D. Retailing from $12.50 to $36, the pairings are an affordable way to amp up the flirty and comfy (we've touched the cotton and it's oh, so soft) factor of your underwear drawer.
J.Crew French Bralette in Tiny Cherries, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Tiny Cherries Bikini, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Leopard Print Underwire Bralette in Microfiber, $36, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Leopard Print Bikini in Microfiber, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew French Bralette in Dot Lace, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Dot Lace Bikini, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew French Bralette in Striped Microfiber, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Striped Thong in Microfiber, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Striped Hipster in Microfiber, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew French Bralette in Dot Lace, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew French Bralette in Dot Lace, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Plunge V-neck Bralette in Matte Stretch, $36, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Plunge V-neck Bralette in Matte Stretch, $36, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Underwire Balconette Bralette in Point D'Esprit, $36, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Underwire Balconette Bralette in Point D'Esprit, $36, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew French Bralette in Point D'Esprit, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew French Bralette in Point D'Esprit, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew French Bralette in Point D'Esprit, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew French Bralette in Point D'Esprit, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew French Bralette in Point D'Esprit, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew French Bralette in Point D'Esprit, $32, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Cheeky Bikini in Matte Stretch, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Dot Lace Bikini, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Dot Lace Bikini, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Hipster, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Hipster, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Cheeky Hipster in Stretch Cotton, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Cheeky Hipster in Stretch Cotton, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Cheeky Hipster in Stretch Cotton, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Hipster, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Hipster, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Hipster, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Hipster, $14.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Stretch Cotton Thong, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Stretch Cotton Thong, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Stretch Cotton Thong, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Thong, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Thong, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Thong, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Thong, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Thong, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
J.Crew Point D'Esprit Thong, $12.50, available at J.Crew.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
In 2018, skin care is a serious business. Long gone are the days when women blindly bought whatever product someone behind a counter told them to; in its place, a new era of intelligence, transparency, and information has arrived. While makeup has become more democratic — think Rihanna venturing into the industry with the hugely successful Fenty Beauty, or Into The Gloss founder Emily Weiss creating Glossier, a brand that’s just received $52 million more investment capital — skin care has veered far more toward the expert-led.
Now, it’s not just diehard skin-care fanatics who know their vitamin C from their cannabinoids, their AHAs from their vitamin A; customers overall are savvier than ever. As Cult Beauty co-founder Alexia Inge explains: “We are entering an age of 'skintellectualism,' whereby consumers are adopting a much more investigative approach to their routines, and educating themselves about the best ingredients for every stage.” With shoppers no longer content with generalizations and indefinite promises, they’re looking for solutions to specific skin care issues — acne, anti-aging, dehydration — which require the knowledge, research, and science of experts.
Not only are those buying and using skin-care products paying attention to the latest buzzworthy trends and ingredients, but the brands creating said products are marketing their own doctor-backed, lab-formulated ethos more than ever. You won’t find the vague sentiment "dermatologist-approved" on the bottle containing the most hyped serum these days, but rather a detailed ingredients list, the time spent formulating the product in high-tech settings, and where the ingredients were individually sourced.
One such brand taking this approach to skin care is world-renowned aesthetic doctor Barbara Sturm, whose uncomplicated yet potent offerings have attracted the likes of Kim Kardashian West. "Today’s customer is deeply educated, and long past vague promises in a jar,” she explains. "They have tried a lifetime of products already, and are mostly unsatisfied with the results. They want to find products that work, and before trying them, they want to understand why, which is a scientific inquiry.”
"I think it is important to have a very deep understanding of ingredient science, as well as of the functions and scientific processes of skin."
For her part, Sturm began her career as a practicing orthopedic doctor focused on anti-inflammatory research. Once she made the connection between inflammation and the aging process, she applied her knowledge to the skin, and used it as a foundation for her skin-care line. “I spent years developing my skin care in close consultation with my professors from Pittsburgh and Harvard," she says. "I think it is important to have a very deep understanding of ingredient science, as well as of the functions and scientific processes of skin.”
Daniel Isaacs, formulation and development director at Medik8, agrees. "The skin is the body’s largest organ, and it needs to be looked after just as you would the rest of your internal organs," he says. "It is vital to understand the biology of the skin and chemistry of its functions to establish the mechanisms by which skin care works.” Medik8, best known for its "time-released, low-irritation retinols," has science at its core — hence the brand name. With before and after photographs from clinical studies and patented, professional-strength products, it’s established itself as a skin-care authority that people can trust. “We have a rigorous approach to our formularies and products, which are critically evaluated prior to launch," Isaacs says.
"Skintellectualism" has a different name for Dr. Phillip Levy: He calls it "medi-luxe." "Medical-grade ingredients and results, combined with a delightful luxurious experience, are what I envisioned for my products,” Levy says. An example of this is the brand’s Booster Serum; it went through 30 formula overhauls to finalize the texture and scent before becoming the product we now know. Its Stem Cell line? Levy developed it over three decades of working as a dermatologist. “My laboratories have spent years developing patented and powerful formulas,” he explains. “You will rarely find such a level of successful improvement for skin care using totally independent clinical data.”
If you’re inclined to believe that this is mostly insider baseball within the bubble of doctors and dermatologists, with little impact on what the average woman is putting on her skin, think again: The "skintellectual" output of these brands is without a doubt impacting customer behavior. Dr. Dennis Gross explained that customers coming to his brand had “literally doubled in the last 12 months,” while Previse 's Sean Patrick Harrington said: “Our customers, whether patients in a clinical setting or shoppers in-store and online, consistently share their preference for a brand anchored in dermatology.” Perhaps this is because the internet has turned skin care from recommended-by-friends or passed-down-from-grandma into a playground of inquisitive exploration run by consumers with high, industry-level standards.
"Our customers are now really, really well-researched and well-read. For them, it’s not about being green or not; it’s how the formulas are put together."
Social media’s role in the beauty industry has been fundamental to the rise of "skintellectualism," which has been seen firsthand by beauty influencer Caroline Hirons. “I’ve changed the depth of my product reviews from ‘this is really nice, it’ll be out next week’ to me listing whether something is vegan, if it’s appropriate for certain allergies, who the ingredients would be suitable for,” she tells Refinery29. “It’s because of the readers’ demands — they give me my best questions.” Dr. Sturm also recognizes a rise in her customers' standards: “I’ve seen a significant rise in consumers coming to me as an expert, which can also be attributed to the rise of social media. I spend at least an hour every day answering questions sent via social media — I love doing that because I get to receive real feedback and questions, plus an insight into their skin concerns.”
At a recent Cult Beauty panel on adult acne, Alexia Inge said: “Our customers are now really, really well-researched and well-read. For them, it’s not about being green or not; it’s how the formulas are put together. They catch me out sometimes and I have to put them in touch with the brand founders.”
And for what it's worth, "skintellectualism" shows no sign of waning. “Our dermatology and sustainability credentials aid a dynamic audience of women and men pursuing worry-free, highly efficacious skin care products,” Harrington states. Savvy, switched-on customers are more clued-in about skin care than ever, whether it’s regarding everyday SPF application or the type of acid suitable for oily skin. As Levy says: “If they’re investing in a treatment or product, they expect the best, and will not compromise on quality or value for money.” Long live the "skintellectuals" making our evening skin-care regimen smarter — and therefore more effective — than ever before.
I have a theory that there is in fact a sixth sense. No, I’m not talking about Bruce Willis; I’m talking about the intuition that we all seem to have with our skin. Sometimes, days before a pimple visibly rears its head, you can just feel a spot coming on. There’s a throb, a tingle, an itch, and then, lo and behold, a spot will appear. While no one welcomes the arrival of a zit, one that comes through with a whitehead would be my preference over an unpleasant under-the-skin spot. I know what to do with a whitehead! I nuke it by day with Medik8 Beta Gel, and with Malin + Goetz Sulfur Paste by night. But without a "head" to treat, under-the-skin spots can be stubborn little so-and-sos.
"The proper name for an under-the-skin spot would be a papule or a cyst, or a nodule, depending on how it looks," explains clinical facialist Kate Kerr. "A papule is a red bump, and a cyst or a nodule is one of those very sore, shiny ones that lingers for quite some time." (FYI, what you and I consider a whitehead is actually called a pustule. The more you know!) "When you have an overproduction of sebum, the combination of all that oil and dead skin starts to clog the pore, and then acne bacteria invades that pore, and inflammation sets in. With a pustule, all of that rises to the surface, but with a papule or a cyst, the inflammation spreads deeper and wider into the skin, rather than upwards — hence them being so sore," she adds.
This gave me some pause. I’ve always thought of acne-causing bacteria as the bad guy, the guy behind the curtain, the mastermind of all spot woes — but what Kerr is saying is that the overproduction of oil and poor cell turnover were causing a problem before the bacteria made its move. "My 4-year-old daughter has acne bacteria on her skin," explains Kerr. "That doesn’t mean she has spots though — we all have that bacteria. When you’re looking at papules and cysts, it’s a four-pronged approach. You need to look at oil production, inflammation, cell turnover, and yes, the bacteria," she says.
In layman’s terms? It’s about prevention rather than a cure. While reaching for over-the-counter spot treatments might ease your immediate anxiety, the penetration of those topical products just won’t be deep enough to really make a difference.
To tackle these spots once and for all, Kerr's advice is to look at your regime, rather than applying some sort of miracle ointment/lotion to the spot (though I’ve noticed that twice-daily applications of La Roche-Posay Effaclar Duo and The Ordinary Salicylic Acid 2% do seem to stop them getting too angry).
"Twice-daily cleansing with something that has salicylic acid, plus gently exfoliating every day is a good start," Kerr says. "Skip the balm or oil cleansers — go for gel, and make sure to scrupulously remove your makeup before exercising and shower immediately and thoroughly after finishing. This will help stop oil and bacteria clogging up in your pores." Exfoliating will help with the cell turnover part, while cleansing with salicylic acid will help balance the bacteria and calm inflammation.
Kerr recommends ZO Skin Health Offects Exfoliating Cleanser and Polish. You could also look into getting something like the Neutrogena Visibly Clear Light Therapy Acne Mask, which uses bacteria-killing blue light and inflammation-calming red light, and has the added benefit of making you look like Optimus Prime for 10 minutes a day.
Unfortunately, there's no magic wand you can wave to get rid of these overnight (and to be honest, if there was, I’d patent it). As Kerr says, "A spot is the symptom of a condition, not the condition itself." Make the changes in your regimen as necessary, and remember that antibiotics or Accutane alone are not the answer.
Related Video:
I Tried Out The Oxygen Enzyme Facial
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
White House Communications Director Hope Hicks will be questioned by members of the House Intelligence Committee on a closed door meeting. The testimony was originally supposed to take place in January, but it got postponed because the White House counsel and the committee needed to determine the scope of her testimony.
Hicks has an unique relationship with President Trump and has been by his side through his presidential campaign, the transition period, and his time in the White House. Her role as a right-hand woman and confidante has made her an essential witness, who could shine light on whether anyone in the Trump campaign had contact with Russian agents during the 2016 presidential election.
Though it's unclear what limitations, if any, the White House impose on Hicks' testimony, one of the key issues that might be addressed during her meeting with lawmakers is related to the controversial Trump Tower meeting between a Kremlin-connected lawyer, Donald Trump Jr., and Jared Kushner in June 2016.
Hicks was on board at the Air Force One when the initial response from the White House — which falsely claimed the meeting was about an adoption policy related to Russia and not about obtaining political dirt on Trump's opponent Hillary Clinton. According to The New York Times, Mark Corallo, a former spokesman for President Trump's legal team, alleges that Hicks said on a conference call that emails written by Trump Jr. about the meeting "will never get out." (He released the emails last July, a few days after the 2016 meeting was reported.)
Hicks' lawyer Robert Trout denied the claims.
"As most reporters know, it’s not my practice to comment in response to questions from the media. But this warrants a response," he told The Times. "She never said that. And the idea that Hope Hicks ever suggested that emails or other documents would be concealed or destroyed is completely false."
Welcome toMoney Diaries, where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.
Today: a program manager working at a nonprofit who makes $51,000 per year and spends some of her paycheck this week at a brewery.
Occupation: Program Manager Industry: Nonprofit Age: 27 Location: Worcester, MA Salary: $51,000 Paycheck (4x/month): $603 post-taxes
Monthly Expenses Rent: $850 Student Loan Payment: $200 Car Payment: $250 for my leased car Credit Card Debt: ~$300. (I have $9,000 in total outstanding credit card debt.) Health & Dental Insurance: $130.24, taken out of my paycheck pre-tax. Electric & Internet: ~$80. (I split internet with my friend/housemate. We each have our own apartment but live on the same floor of a renovated house. It's a real-life Friends situation.) Car Insurance: $146 YMCA Gym Membership: $22 CBS Go: $5.99 Hulu: $10 Netflix: $0. (Thanks, Mom!) Spotify: $7.50, split with my housemate.
Additional Expenses Savings: $100 of each of my paychecks automatically goes into savings each week, but sometimes when I'm not cautious with my spending I have to pull from savings to pay rent or other bills.
Day One
9:30 a.m. — I wake up in Albany, NY, after arriving the night prior. My friend and I are visiting a close friend of ours and we sleep in much later than we expected. The friend who is hosting is already awake and so is her partner. She makes us delicious cold brew coffee, eggs, and toast. The four of us decide to head to the gym since we know we have a day of gluttony ahead of us. We hit the road (which is a bit icy from snow the night before) and work out for about an hour.
1:30 p.m. — The four of us head into downtown Albany to meet another friend for lunch. We order two orders of pretzel bites, three orders of wings, beers all around, and a salad (for balance). We are all stuffed but happy and split the bill. $28
3:30 p.m. — My friend's partner bought a Groupon for us to do a beer tasting at a local brewery. We get to the brewery and are each given five tokens. We drink as many samples as possible before the brewery closes and play Uno. (My friend who is driving disperses her beers throughout the day.) I leave rather tipsy and play DJ in the car.
5 p.m. — Somehow we end up at another brewery with more beer. We spend a while longer here and play Trivial Pursuit. I love the atmosphere and the beer is good. I would spend every weekend in a brewery if it were both physically and financially healthy. $20
7 p.m. — Today just keeps going! We end up at a new casino in Schenectady. At this point I am drunk so I need to be cautious on how much I gamble. (I hear my mom's voice in my head!) I take out $20 from the ATM, play a few penny slots and electronic roulette ($20). I also somehow lose (and find!) my wallet within 10 minutes of entering the casino. I buy a beer and cocktail for my friend and then proceed to not win anything. $30
8:30 p.m. — I need pizza so I get two slices. $8
9:30 p.m. — Head back to my friend's place and play two rounds of Phase Ten. Then I have another beer and watch the Patriots beat the Titans. We all decide to hit the hay around 11 as we are exhausted and already hungover from the day.
Daily Total: $86
Day Two
8:30 a.m. — I am up early for a Sunday and am surprisingly not hungover…must have been the pizza. My friend makes us breakfast and coffee and we finish watch a few episodes of Chopped.
11 a.m. — I hit the road back to Worcester, only after spending 15 minutes scraping ice from my car. When I left Worcester on Friday it was 60 degrees and raining. As soon as I got to Albany, it started snowing and sleeting. I love the winter, but not when it's two degrees outside.
12 p.m. — My travel companion and I decide we are hungry so we stop for ramen to warm our bellies (and it's freezing outside). I get miso ramen with pork and a Diet Pepsi. We split the bill and continue on our way. $20
2 p.m. — I drop off my travel companion because she is meeting other friends for the afternoon. After I am almost back on the highway, I remember that I will need gas to make it back to Worcester. $20
4 p.m. — Back in good ole Worcester and happy to be reunited with my kitties. I recently adopted a kitten and he and my older cat are still working on getting along. (I call them kitties collectively but my older cat is definitely middle-aged.) I play with both of them individually for a while, clean up their mess from the weekend, and settle in for a night at home.
6 p.m. — Call my parents for our nightly chat. This is something that started in college and we have continued to talk to each other every night since. It is a nice way to connect even if we don't have much to say. I cherish the conversation.
7 p.m. — After spending a significant amount of money over the weekend I opt to cook at home instead of ordering in. I make eggs and French toast. I could honestly eat breakfast for every meal.
10 p.m. — I watch an embarrassing amount of Chopped and decide that in my alternate reality, I'll either own my own restaurant or become Alex Guarnaschelli. I go to bed dreaming of the dessert I didn't have.
Daily Total: $40
Day Three
9:30 a.m. — I get to sleep in today since my agency is closed for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. I decide that I want to have a productive but relaxing day and vow to only put a few things on my to-do list.
11 a.m. — After a quick breakfast of yogurt, apples, and honey, I head to the gym for a quick cardio session. Last summer, I ran a 10-mile race and did a sprint triathlon. I think that was maybe the last time I exercised? I vow to get back into shape and remind myself that I actually feel good when I move my body.
1 p.m. — After a shower and a quick tour-de-Pinterest, I decide to make turkey chili and creamy lemon-chicken pasta for lunch and dinner this week. I write out my list and head to the store.
1:30 p.m. — They recently built a Chick-fil-A in Worcester and despite my dislike of the company's politics, I cannot resist their chicken. I order grilled nuggets and a side salad with a Diet Coke. I get back to my car and realize they gave me regular nuggets. Oh well, guess I have to eat these. $11
3 p.m. — Back home and feeling proud of myself for not straying from my shopping list. I unload groceries and prep for my night of cooking. $40
5 p.m. — The chili is in the crock pot and my water is almost boiling for pasta. I munch on some Pirate's Booty and play with the kittens. Then it's pasta for dinner.
8 p.m. — I notice that my dishwasher is leaking water onto the kitchen floor whenever I use the sink. This is something that has plagued me since I moved into my apartment three years ago and periodically returns for unknown reasons. I make a mental note to call my landlord in the morning.
10 p.m. — After a couple hours of watching Friends (I was one of those people that never watched growing up but now I am kind of obsessed), I crawl into bed, exhausted.
Daily Total: $51
Day Four
7 a.m. — My alarm goes off and I snooze for eight more minutes. After, I hesitantly get out of bed and instantly throw on my slippers and robe. I get some water boiling for my morning coffee, grounding my beans and getting my Chemex ready to go. (It's my newest toy.) I make myself eggs and an English muffin with a side of cucumber for breakfast, shower, get dressed, feed the kittens, and eat my breakfast while watching CBS This Morning. I love Gayle!
8:30 a.m. — Get to my desk and am pleasantly surprised by my lack of emails. I sip my coffee and respond to what is there. I have a big day ahead of me as my colleagues and I are meeting with one of our funders for a new project. I have heard that this funder is intimidating and intense so I try to prep myself as much as possible.
12 p.m. — My coworkers and I typically eat lunch together and today is no different. I reheat my pasta leftovers and have an apple with peanut butter and a seltzer. Over the weekend, I discovered the Google Arts & Culture app that compares your selfie to a famous piece of artwork. Mine is ridiculous but kinda looks like me and I am not ashamed. My coworkers all take turns with my phone taking their own selfies and we spend our lunch hour cracking up. It's great to work with people who take their work seriously but also find time for pleasure in the workplace.
4:30 p.m. — My afternoon funder meeting went extremely well and I am excited to continue work on this project. It is a financial justice project helping area residents who have no access to banking. Also exciting is the fact that our agency will be closed tomorrow since it is supposed to snow! I am really happy to work at a place that values employee safety and will cancel work (yet still pay us!) if the weather looks bad.
5:30 p.m. — Home from the gym and eating my chili. It's good but unexciting. I'd prefer tacos.
9 p.m. — A friend comes over to spend the night at my place since it's closer to her office, and she can walk to work in the morning instead of driving in the snow. I catch up with her and my housemate over a bottle of prosecco and other libations. We watch a few episodes of Carpool Karaoke and go to bed around midnight.
Daily Total: $0
Day Five
7:30 a.m. — I am awake early since my friend is heading to work and my landlord is supposed to come by with a plumber to look at my dishwasher. I have a little bit of a headache from the prosecco so I immediately drink two full glasses of water as soon as I wake up. I make coffee and egg sandwiches for my friend and me and then curl up on the couch with the kittens while I wait for the plumber. (Spoiler alert: He never comes.) I take two Advil and hope that my headache goes away soon. I decide to be productive with my early morning so I reorganize my closet and do laundry. My headache goes away after the Advil, eggs, and cheese do their job.
12 p.m. — I find some mozzarella sticks in my freezer and decide to have those, a salad, and seltzer for lunch. I also watch more Friends. I try to take a quick nap on the couch but for some reason cannot fall asleep. Instead I decide to do a Cup O' Coffee face mask from Lush. I love skincare products, especially ones from Lush.
2 p.m. — I must get outside! I don't do well cooped up in the house and I decide to shovel out my car and put some salt on the sidewalk. It's technically our landlord's responsibility, but I'm particular about certain things and sidewalk clearing is one of them. I also like to have some ownership over where I live despite being a renter, so this is a way for me to do that and have a safe home at the same time!
3 p.m. — I chat with my best friend who recently moved to San Francisco. I can't wait to visit her once she's settled – I miss her so much!
5 p.m. — The guy I am dating (P.) picks me up and we go to dinner and a movie. The roads are relatively clear but people are still driving horrendously. We go to a pizza place and then see The Post (yas, Meryl Streep). He pays for the food and beer and also the movie. Swoon.
9:30 p.m. — P. has an early morning and I am beat from the day so we part ways and I get into bed. I recently got a bamboo foam mattress pad and it is literally heaven. I chat with my friends for a bit on iMessage and read Reddit. My kitten curls up next to me.
Daily Total: $0
Day Six
6:45 a.m. — My alarm goes off and there is a kitten on my face. It's really hard to get out of bed when there is a purring animal anywhere near me. I take a deep breath, move him off me, and get out of bed. I do my typical morning routine (coffee and eggs) and am out the door at 8:15. My commute only takes three minutes and I am at my desk by 8:25.
10 a.m. — My morning meeting was canceled so I have little extra time to write some speaking points for the city manager for an event later this month. I bang that out and drink my coffee and water at my desk. I snack on some dark chocolate too.
12 p.m. — Have my lunch (pasta still) and review notes for a meeting later this afternoon. I chat with P. on iMessage and look at Instagram, Facebook and Money Diaries while I eat. I also look at flights to San Francisco and download the Hopper app to help me buy tickets at the right time!
4 p.m. — I notice that my direct deposit hits, so I pay my remaining bills for the month: a credit card payment, my internet bill, and the excise tax on my car. (Thanks, Massachusetts!)
5:30 p.m. — I'm home from the gym and starving. I eat some chili with a lot of cheese and sour cream on top, then put away my clean laundry from yesterday, shower, and have my nightly chat with my parents.
8 p.m. — I decide I want a cocktail and make myself a vodka seltzer. I also settle in and do some work for a part-time gig that I have, which is coding wire-taps for a friend's company in Philadelphia. It's an interesting way to make a few extra bucks, but it's only temporary. I have Friends muted on the TV. I plug in my headphones and hunker down.
10 p.m. — Finished with the taps for the night and I crawl into bed. I love food and cooking and am trying to read more instead of looking at screens before bed, so I read a few chapters of Blood, Bones and Butter and fall asleep.
Daily Total: $0
Day Seven
7 a.m. — It's Friday and for some reason it's always easier to get out of bed on Fridays. I shower, feed the kitties and myself (eggs and coffee – I am a creature of habit), and hit the road to work.
12 p.m. — I had a series of phone conversations this morning about a different food-related project that I manage at work. I am re-energized and excited that people are interested in the work we're doing. I finish the last of my pasta and take a walk to get an Americano. It's sunny and in the mid-30s today, which is practically summer here, so I take advantage. $3
4:30 p.m. — I submit my timesheet and am outta here! After work, I meet up with my friend and we cook a homemade dinner of steak quesadillas with strong whiskey drinks on the side. After dinner, we go to a local hockey game (sponsored by my work, so tickets are free!).
9 p.m. — The game is a blast. It's always fun to hang with coworkers outside of the office. My friend and I head back to my place and have a couple more drinks as we get ready to go to our friends' birthday party at a local spot. After buying drinks for me and the birthday girls ($30), I Uber home around 2 a.m. covered in glitter. $40
Daily Total: $43
Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.
The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here.
Have a Money Diary you'd like to share? Right now, in addition to our ongoing diaries, we're looking for potential diarists along the following theme:
Your Spending In Your State:We want to run one Money Diary from a different state each week. Want to rep your state? Submithere!
We want to hear about that time you asked for a raise:Did you get more money? Or did your boss shoot you down? We're looking for stories about the time you got up the guts to negotiate, even if you weren't successful.Fill outthis form, and you could see your answer on the site!
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
This Woman Is Fighting For Her Home And The Environment
On the very southwest border of Pennsylvania is Greene County, bordered on two sides by West Virginia. It’s coal country, but, more accurately, it’s energy country. Fracking, extraction mining, and valleys filled with toxic coal ash – Greene County has it all. The county can be viewed as a microcosm of a tension all too common across the United States: public natural resources pitted against private profit.
Driving through lush, green hills and valleys on the county's winding roads, you lose cell reception, but you never lose sight of the architecture of industry. Roads are dotted with mining signs, gas wells, and foreboding advisories against trespassing. Coal trains haunt backyards in the county, with a population hovering around 38,500. Large trucks barrel down the slim and shoulderless two-lane highways under the towering coal conveyor belt systems that criss-cross the landscape.
Pennsylvania's constitution states that its streams and rivers are the property of "all the people, including generations yet to come." But extracting coal, oil, and gas has side effects that imperils these bodies of water. Longwall mining, for instance, can destabilize land through subsidence, which can destroy streams and damage property. Consol Energy, the owner of Greene County's enormous Bailey Mine Complex and proponent of longwall mining, has bought and overtaken vast tracts of land to dispose of its coal waste.
What is it like to live here? I followed local environmental activist Veronica Coptis, the executive director of the Center for Coalfield Justice, a environmental non-profit organization that serves Greene and Washington counties with organizing and legal work. The organization seeks to hold private energy companies accountable to their impacts on public health, air quality, and water quality – something Coptis says state regulators are not doing. Watch the video above to see what they're up against.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
If you’ve worked in the fashion industry, you’ve either heard stories, or have some of your own. Interns working for free in full-time positions. Interns expected to work until 2 a.m. and then be on set by 7 a.m. Interns charged with any number of impossible tasks as parodied in The Devil Wears Prada, when Miranda Priestly asks her assistant, Andy Sachs, to get her hands on J.K. Rowling’s unpublished manuscripts of Harry Potter for her children to read because "they want to know what happens next."
Anonymous Instagram account @fashionassistants is posting real-life accounts from former fashion assistants and interns, which range from having Christian Louboutin stilettos thrown at them to being called fat, ugly, stupid, and even banned from eating. The account, which started as a meme account in December 2017, has just under 4,000 followers at the time of writing. Its followers, however, include many fashion editors, stylists, creative directors, and PR executives.
Replying to our Instagram DM asking what they hoped to achieve by posting these anonymous stories, the account said: "Other movements got the conversation started and quite rapidly saw change within the industries. We've got people sadly, but appropriately referencing The Devil Wears Prada, discussing what needs to change. So many messages of support and questions about how we can work together to unionize have arisen, or how we can set up a platform where agencies can help with problems, abuse, late payments, etc."
At the end of last year, when Weinstein was in full swing, models started coming forward about their experiences of abuse under the hashtag #MyJobShouldNotIncludeAbuse, spearheaded by model and activist Cameron Russell. Since then, heavyweight photographers and creatives such as Terry Richardson, Patrick Demarchelier, Karl Templer, Mario Testino, and Bruce Weber have all come under fire. Perpetrators are being exposed, and social media continues to be a catalyst for cultural change — if not actual legal prosecution.
Though the accounts posted on @fashionassistants are not about sexual harassment or sexual assault, they are part of a wider movement to expose those abusing their power and taking advantage of young, eager-to-impress individuals in the industry. As fashion editor Jo Ellison described it in The Financial Times this weekend, “Few of the stories [on @fashionassistants] involve sexual harassment. And few involve men. The perpetrators tend to be women and the abuse is usually verbal or physical. There are stylists throwing shoes and clothes hangers in a temper. Or forbidding staff from eating. There is petty unpleasantness. The list demonstrates quite pointedly that women with power can be just as monstrous as men.”
One assistant, who wished to remain anonymous, told Refinery29 about her experiences over the phone. “I was an assistant for a number of years before I started working for a well-known stylist, whose work I adored,” she says. “I was a really good assistant too, I had a good reputation. But working for this person shattered my confidence. I became the sort of person who was afraid of my own shadow. The experience taught me to be really strong, and maybe I needed that…but I wouldn’t want anyone else to go through it.” She added: “There’s one person I know who assisted a stylist many years ago and is still in therapy because of it.”
Fashion activist, writer, and editor Caryn Franklin told us that she never witnessed the shoe-throwing type of behavior on set in her fashion career — which spans three decades — but that "no intern should have to deal with someone like that." Caryn has written about the fashion industry’s complicity with abuse in relation to the photographers mentioned above and says complicity is relevant here too: “If someone higher up the food chain is on a shoot and witnessing that sort of behavior, they should speak up. What happens, of course, is that everybody is fearful for their position, but I find it very hard to hear that nobody stands up for the young inexperienced intern when somebody who ought to know better is throwing their weight around.”
The stories on @fashionassistants are accusing stylists specifically, and most of the stories take place on shoots, which, admittedly, are high-pressured situations. “On shoots, there’s very limited time, and quite often things that look very high production are done on very limited budgets,” Caryn explains, “so it’s a very precarious situation that puts people under a lot of stress, and that can bring out the worst in someone who is so fixed on the end result that they are bullying people in order to achieve it.”
“Some powerful people are corrupted by their own status and have this sense that they are so unique and so special that they can overstep all professional boundaries,” Caryn continues. “That is not a good leader or an inspirational creative."
Another stylist assistant, who also asked to remain anonymous, told us about her experiences working for a “big name stylist who worked on shoots for all the household names.” On one occasion, she says: “I was sent to Chinatown to retrieve a certain type of shoe, which I couldn't find anywhere. When I returned to the office at 10 p.m., after crying and panicking that I couldn’t find this shoe, I was told I should leave my job if I couldn't do the work. I never got paid, which meant all those weeks I’d spent working for this woman, running around from borough to borough — which I was told would be expensed — ended up coming out of my pocket. I chased her three times for payment. My emails were ignored.”
“Maybe those stories aren’t so bad?” this assistant concluded, asking a question that most of the former or current assistants we spoke to who haven’t been hit by shoes but have been treated unfairly did. Earning your stripes by burning yourself out trying to meet impossible demands from impossible people is, unfortunately, a fairly common experience, and not just in fashion. But while long hours, poor pay and little thanks is one thing, physical and verbal abuse which causes lasting emotional damage is entirely another.
The good news is that there are, realistically, only a few handfuls of these people among a sea of kind, supportive, encouraging creatives. And as evidence and testimonies mount on social media, and publications like TheNew York Times continue to investigate the individuals who have abused their power for too long, fashion’s nasty outer layer may soon be shed for good. Because no long should this behavior be considered ‘initiation’ into the industry. It just shouldn't exist, period.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The international fight against animal testing in the cosmetics industry has been slow and arduous, a battle of baby steps — one forward, another back. Nearly 40 global economies, including the European Union, have fully outlawed the inhumane practice, but the United States still isn’t one of them. And beyond that, there's the gray area of supposedly "cruelty-free" brands that continue to sell in lucrative markets like China, where animal testing isn't just legal, but mandatory. It's tricky business, and more consumers than ever are growing savvy to the cause and ditching shadier brands for those that are confirmed cruelty-free.
But if pressure from consumers alone won't be enough to end animal testing in the United States, legislature is the natural next step. This month, Democratic Senator Cathleen Galgiani of Stockton, California, introduced the California Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Act, SB 1249, in the California State Legislature to prohibit the sale of animal-tested cosmetics in the state.
The bill, sponsored by Social Compassion in Legislation and the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, and supported by Cruelty Free International and Lush Cosmetics, proposes making it "unlawful for any cosmetic manufacturer to knowingly import or sell any cosmetic, including personal hygiene products such as deodorant, shampoo, or conditioner, in California if the final product or any component of the product was tested on animals" by 2020, or risk being fined.
"California has long been a leader in promoting modern alternatives to animal tests," Senator Galgiani said in a statement. "Inaction at the federal level compels California to lead the way in ensuring a cruelty-free cosmetics market for its citizens by barring any new ingredients or cosmetics that are tested on animals." Founder and president of Social Compassion in Legislation Judie Mancuso pointed to the success of the EU's 2013 initiative as all the more reason why the same rules should be enacted in the US. She said, "This policy is tried and true as the European Union implemented a similar law over 5 years ago and the sky didn’t fall."
In 2000, California became the first state to ban animal testing whenever alternative methods are available; this bill, if passed, would take it one step further by banning the sales of any cosmetics that have been tested on animals in any stage of the manufacturing process. It's a tall order, but in today's climate, where more and more people are demanding their beauty products come cruelty-free, it just might have the power to turn the tides.
America is all about reinvention, and Stacey Dash knows that very well. After her acting career went south, she put on a red bathing suit and threw her support behind Mitt Romney's 2012 presidential campaign. Boom. Suddenly, she was a Fox News contributor known for calling for an end to Black History Month and BET. In what seems like a hot minute, she penned a memoir called There Goes My Social Life: From Clueless to Conservative.
People have suggested that Dash's jumping on the Fox News train (and later, on the Trump train) was opportunistic. "African-American women who are on the liberal side are a dime a dozen," Jasmyne Cannick, a political and social commentator in L.A., said in a 2016 Broadly profile of Dash. "If you want to stand out, be a Black conservative [who has] no problem self-hating and hating on your people, and you will be loved by all Fox [News] viewers — she has found a niche."
Whatever your opinion on the actress-commentator still best known as the buggin' BFF of Cher from 1995's Clueless, she does have a knack for turning over a new leaf, a sort of brashness that dares you to contend with it. Her heartbreakingly rough childhood in the South Bronx — drug-addicted parents, abuse — has undoubtedly contributed to it.
After her Fox News contract wasn't renewed last year, she's in the midst of yet another reinvention — running for Congress in California's 44th district. CNN reported that she filed the paperwork on Monday. The district, where she said she lives, includes Compton, Watts, San Pedro, and North Long Beach, and Hillary Clinton won 83% of the vote there during the 2016 presidential election, while Trump only got 12%.
She hasn't made any formal statements about her campaign yet, but on Monday she did tweet, "Come to my account for the straight news. Formal statements coming."
Dash is known for making statements that harm other African-Americans, women, trans people, immigrants, and more — and, unfortunately, there's no sign that she plans to stop during her campaign. Here's a reminder of some of the more ridiculous things she's said.
We Should Get Rid Of Black History Month & BET
In recent years, America has been having a necessary, long-awaited conversation about the lack of diversity and representation at the Oscars. After no actors of color were nominated in any of the acting categories in 2016, #OscarsSoWhite was once again in the media.
Here's what Stacey Dash had to say about this on Fox News in January 2016: "Either we want to have segregation or integration. And if we don't want segregation, then we need to get rid of channels like BET and the BET Awards and the [NAACP] Image Awards, where you're only awarded if you're Black. If it were the other way around, we would be up in arms. It's a double standard." She also said, "There shouldn’t be a Black History Month. We're Americans. Period."
Dash has appeared in music videos that aired on the channel. ( BET Jams even trolled her by playing music videos she was in with the hashtag #NeverForget.)
The actress later made fun of herself in a brief, but cringe-worthy, Oscars appearance that caused Chrissy Teigen to make this face.
America has taken both major steps forward and huge steps back on trans rights in recent years. On Entertainment Tonight in 2016, Dash made comments that were transphobic, vile, and ignorant. The conversation was about trans people's right to use their own gender's bathroom, and Dash said: "Why do I have to suffer because you can't decide what you want to be that day?" The host, Nischelle Turner, helpfully interjected, "But is it a decision?" to which Dash responded, "It's your body! So, it's your decision, right? We all make choices."
When Turner patiently responded that transgender people don't choose their gender, it is who they are, Dash said, "Okay, then go to the bushes. I don't know what to tell you, but I'm not gonna put my child's life at risk because you want to change a law. So that you can be comfortable with your beliefs — which means I have to change my beliefs and my rights? No."
Clearly, Dash has some reading, growing, and talking to actual trans people to do. While there have been no known instances of violence from trans women in public bathrooms, violence against trans women — especially trans women of color — happens every single day.
Let's Stop Talking About The Gender Wage Gap
In a 2015 interview with Meredith Vieira, Dash threw out a typical Republican-woman talking point about how she doesn't want to be a "victim" and thus women should just buck up and work harder instead of complaining about the gender wage gap. Which she admitted exists! ("No, I know that the numbers are true.") "It's the same thing as with race. It's an excuse. Stop making excuses," she said. It's more like a quantifiable fact that we're fighting to fix every day. Join us, Stacey.
We Should Go Back To The Mad Men Era
In the same ET interview, Dash claimed that feminism is ruining men. "What we're doing is we're chipping away at what it is to be a woman and to be feminine," she said. "And what it is to be a man and be masculine. We're chipping away at that. I wish we could go back to Mad Men days. I love those days. Men were men."
There are so many things wrong with that statement. But we're exhausted.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The potential of the internet is vast and still largely unknown, yet nothing can compare to watching adorable animal videos. For those that love all things cute and cuddly, we have a new collab for you. Thanks to the help of designer Nicola Formichetti (his designs are Lady Gaga-approved), MAC's latest collection is nothing like you've ever seen from the pro cosmetics brand before — and it's all because of pandas.
Our love of pandas originated far before YouTube compilations of adorable bears or Desiigner, but MAC and Formichetti are taking the intrigue of the fur babies to a whole new level. MAC recently announced its collaboration with the designer in the form of MAC x Nicopanda, a makeup manifestation of Formichetti's popular streetwear clothing brand by the same name.
"Beauty is about creativity, freedom, and fun," Formichetti told Teen Vogue. "Beauty can be the most simple and natural look or something totally over-the-top and crazy because it’s an opportunity to both empower and express.” That being said, crazy-over-the-top is exactly what Formichetti is giving us thanks to his panda-embossed lip glosses, compacts, and makeup brushes.
As former creative director at Mugler, current creative fashion director at Uniqlo, and artistic director at Diesel, Formichetti knows a thing or two about reinvention — and MAC x Nicopanda is no exception. Marrying the Kawaii-cute style of his fashion designs with MAC's cult formulas, you have one of the most unique launches for spring. Sadly, you won't be able to order the collection until April 5 on MAC's site or from Macy's, but until the time comes, we suggest spending the rest of your day searching "baby panda on pony" until either your boss tells you to stop or, well, you cry with joy.
Click ahead to check out the entire MAC x Nicopanda collection launching this April.
MAC x Nicopanda Brush Bag, $52.50, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Blush Highlighter Brush available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Wide Smudging Brush available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Large Rounded Eye Shadow Brush available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Nico's Stickers, $25, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Full Face Kit in Preppy Panda, $40, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Full Face Kit in Prima Panda, $40, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Full Face Kit in Stay Cute, $40, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Gleamer Face Powder in Colour Me Nico, $29, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Panda Lashes $17, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Lipglass in Dreamz, $18, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Lipglass in Glitter Parade, $18, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Lipglass in Panda Kiss, $18, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Lipglass in Sugar Coat, $18, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Lipstick in Galactic Mint, $18.50, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Lipstick in Kawaii Party, $18.50, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Lipstick in Pink-Off, $18.50, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Lipstick in Pop Babe, $18.50, available April 5 at MAC.
MAC x Nicopanda Lipstick in Touch 'N' Chic, $18.50, available April 5 at MAC.
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page. Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
On Tuesday morning, designer Nnenna Stella was scrolling through Instagram in a coffee shop when she found out her Brooklyn-based label The Wrap Life was featured on Vogue Arabia’s one-year anniversary March cover starring two of the Arab world’s most famous models. “I was so hype,” she tells Refinery29 of seeing models Iman and Imaan Hammam wearing her head wraps alongside Saint Laurent dresses. “My hands started shaking and I forgot what I was ordering. I didn’t even know when the cover was coming out, and then Iman sent me an email” — yes, thatIman, who Stella styled for the Black Panther New York premiere — “30 minutes later with a big-ass picture of the cover.”
Coincidently, when Vogue Arabia reached out to Stella, she thought it was a joke. “I was like Vogue? Yeah, right, have them send the call sheet!” Apparently, people who reach out to her don’t always have the best intentions, so she says when the inquiry turned out to be legit, it was a surreal feeling. But the company actually did send a call sheet on a Friday, "and by Sunday, I was on set, styling wraps.”
She says working on the set for the magazine’s biggest issue ever filled with “fashion trends, bold beauty, empowering women, icons of Arabia, celebrity interviews, and a Middle Eastern royal contributor” was great experience. Vogue Arabia showed attention to make sure the representation was balanced, whether that meant pulling a shirt up as not to show too much skin, or understanding the demographic the magazine is intended for. Stella says it was great to see a publication respect a culture’s practices and beliefs. “This strategy was so special because it was inclusive and diverse, and I really appreciate that as a woman of color.”
She shared the cover on Instagram and captioned it: “As wearing head wraps and headdress become more common, we are so excited to be of service in a way that shares black and brown beauty. The world needs more of it. Thank you to the team at Vogue for inviting us. What a dream.”
Stella started in company four years ago after a 30-day-challenge of self discovery; she was feeling uninspired in her work as a waitress. “When you have a clear picture of yourself, it gives you certain room to want to be expressive,” she explains. “As I started to understand who Nnenna is, I wanted to be more colorful and vibrant,” but it was fashioning a winter scarf that was the kick off. “I tied it around my head and it felt really incredible. And that was one hint to start the company. I just wanted to give other women this really good feeling of wearing beautiful textiles, styling them, and walking out into the world. Everything you wear is saying something. It’s really transformative, it’s really magical.”
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
If you've been on Twitter or Facebook in recent days, you've probably seen someone, very possibly an influencer, talking about a social media app called Vero.
That's right, another social media app is vying for your time and smartphone space. Vero (or "Vero - True Social") has actually been around for a few years, as The Independent reports, but it's now beginning to grow in popularity.
The big questions are obviously "what is Vero?" and "why should I consider downloading it?" After all, many of us struggle to keep up with the social media apps we already have, and may find our relationship with them can become a bit love/hate.
Well, Vero is a social media app for your smartphone, a bit like Instagram, but it claims in its manifesto to offer a more "authentic" experience. It gives you an old-school chronological feed which means you'll see everything posted by the people you connect with, in the exact order they posted it.
"The feed is composed of your posts and the posts of people you're either connected with or people you follow," Vero says. "We don't curate it, manipulate it, insert advertising in it, or hold back posts. You see what has been shared with you, when it's been shared with you."
It's also a subscription-based social network. The first million people to join will be given free Vero for life, but after that people will be charged a "small annual fee" to sign up.
These annual subscriptions are actually at the very core of what Vero is about. "As a subscription-based service, our users are our customers, not the product we sell to advertisers," Vero explains. "Our subscription model will allow us to keep Vero advertising-free, and to focus solely on delivering the best social experience instead of trying to find new ways to monetise our users’ behaviour or tricking them back into the app with notifications."
Companies can obviously still post on Vero, but they'll have to pay whenever they include a "buy now" link.
So, is Vero truly a threat to the mighty Instagram and Facebook? It's too soon to tell, but social media apps can definitely come in and out of fashion, as Kylie Jenner pointed out earlier this week. And if you are tempted to give Vero a go, it's probably worth downloading the app ASAP, before those free subscriptions run out.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
To be frank, spa-inspired beauty lines aren't usually our favorite. Not only are they expensive, but more often than not, you can only buy the products in the actual spa. And who has time for that? For millennials on a time crunch, without a ton of cash, looking for a solid 100-like Instagram post, spa lines just don't make sense. Unless, that is, we're talking about Bliss.
Bliss isn't new at all (it's been around for years, having originated in its own spa by the same name) and it's developed something of a cult following. But the brand wasn't always the buzziest until this week, when it officially announced its relaunch — complete with post-worthy packaging, new formulations, and lower price tags. And by low, we mean everything from Bliss now retails for under $25, which is pretty unheard of in the category.
Even better, it's fixing the whole inaccessible issue by adding products to shelves in Target (March 18) and Ulta Beauty (April 1). If you're one of the brand's longtime fans, don't worry, because not every product changed completely — some oldies but goodies still remain, like the Triple Oxygen Mask and zesty Body Butters.
Click ahead to check out the new rollout of Bliss' relaunched line, available now on the brand site.
Like this post? There's more. Get tons of beauty tips, tutorials, and news on the Refinery29 Beauty Facebook page. Like us on Facebook — we'll see you there!
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Dr. David Shafer, MD, is a celebrity plastic surgeon in NYC. He has worked in the industry for 12 years, and specializes in liposuction, facelifts, breast enhancements, and injections. The following story was told to Kelsey Castañon and edited for length and clarity.
I've always been interested in sculpture and the mechanics of putting things back together. When I was a little kid, I would take apart TVs or VHS tapes just to fix them, and in high school, I spent summers studying architecture. That's essentially why I decided to go into plastic surgery. As I went through my training in medical school, one of my favorite parts of being in the operating room was closing the skin — stitching everything back together. The incision is what patients are more concerned about after surgery, so that is what I put my heart into and ultimately found the most rewarding.
Early on my career, I was seeing some patients in the fashion world. I was in the audience at a New York Fashion Week show and ended up sitting next to the mother of a very famous musician, who's also kind of famous herself. I can't say who she is, but we ended up going to a party and she was in my office a few weeks later wanting a facelift. Later, she ended up inviting me to another party, with other celebrities, and I got more patients that way. A lot of appointments come from word of mouth.
Giving — & Getting — The Royal Treatment About a year after graduating from my aesthetic surgery fellowship, I got a call that a Saudi royal family wanted me to come to Saudi Arabia to perform surgery on five or six members. The person said, 'We've done our research, and I need you to go to the consulate by the U.N. to fill out some paperwork and get a temporary medical license. Whatever you need, just tell us your fee and we'll make all the arrangements.' I thought it was one of my friends playing a joke on me! But the next week, my team and I were on a flight to Saudi Arabia.
When we got there, we were treated like rock stars. They put me up in a room that was bigger than my New York City apartment! I didn't know what to expect, but when I walked in to the operating room, it looked like something out of Star Trek — there was state-of-the-art equipment, all this amazing lighting. What was really interesting was that the women were fully covered, so I didn't even know what they were getting done until 20 minutes before surgery. Some got facelifts; others got liposuction, breast implants, or an abdominoplasty [tummy tuck], but they only exposed the part of the body I was operating on. It was a very different experience for me, because I'm used to meeting with the patient ahead of time and talking through the plan.
Some of the family members have become regular patients and will fly in to New York to see me. They've referred me to their friends in other countries, who refer me to their families. Very quickly, about 50% of my patients became international patients who travel abroad for surgery.
Real Talk With The Real Housewives A lot of women on the show don't have any shame or embarrassment when it comes to plastic surgery. When friends have had the same work done, it's easier to talk about openly. I've known Jules [Wainstein, formerly of RHONY] socially for a long time through friends and just being in the New York scene, even before she was on Housewives. One day, I got a call from her that she was on her way to the emergency room. She was going out of a window to smoke a cigarette, tripped, and injured her labia. I always joke that I've never had a vaginal emergency, but when I rushed to the hospital, sure enough it was a true emergency. If you Google the genital injury, hers was one of the worst cases I've seen.
I've been at many dinners where I've operated on half the people sitting at the table, but I can't say anything because of the confidentiality you have with your patient.
We can look at the humor of it now — and it made for very good TV. They couldn't film the scene in the hospital, so producers shot some of her appointments at my office. When they came to film, they transformed my office to look like a movie studio. They took out a lot of the furniture, put up all this special lighting, installed the microphones — it was really funny.
The Most Requested Procedures In the non-invasive realm, Botox (to decrease wrinkles) and fillers (to enhance the lips or cheeks) are incredibly popular. As much as I hate to admit it, the Kardashians have so much influence on the plastic surgery industry. It's crazy. Every single day, someone comes in asking for Kylie Jenner's lips or Kim Kardashian's butt. On the flip side, there are also patients who use them as a reference for what they don't want: ''I don't want them to look like Kylie's, I want them to look natural." So they're definitely used as a benchmark either in a positive or a negative way.
As far as surgery, what I call "the mommy makeover" — body work for those who've just had kids or lost a lot of weight — is really big with my celebrity patients, and can be transformative both physically and in terms of how they feel.
The Kardashians have so much influence on the plastic surgery industry. Every single day, someone comes in asking for Kylie Jenner's lips or Kim Kardashian's butt.
Keeping Secrets What happens a lot in plastic surgery is you become friends with the patients who come in a lot. You'll go to the same charity auctions or dinners or benefits. I've been at many dinners where I've operated on half the people sitting at the table, but I can't say anything because of the confidentiality you have with your patient. You have to be careful and let someone say something to you first.
A lot of celebrities don't want people to know the work they've had done. So in our office, we have our main entrance and then we have a back door, where we sneak them in through the freight elevator. The nice thing — not just for celebrities, but all patients — is after the surgery, you can choose to go home or to a hotel to recover. I can come to the hotel so the appointment is in a private setting. If they live in New York, it's so easy for me to swing by their apartments to check on them so they don’t have to keep coming in and being inundated by the public.
I always say the best patients are the ones referred by somebody else. They trust you. It's amazing to look back and trace who the primary "big deal" patient was. It's kind of like a tree with branches — you can see how the first patient helped grow your practice.
School shooting survivor and gun control activist Emma González joined Twitter this month with the handle @Emma4Change, to advocate for sensible gun laws after 17 students and faculty were gunned down at her Florida high school, Marjory Stoneman Douglas, on February 14.
So far, she has tweeted 528 times, with many of her tweets and RTs directed at the National Rifle Association. In a short, but tumultuous, period of time, she has built up over 1 million followers.
The NRA — which González, her classmates, and many students around the country are taking on as part of a burgeoning youth movement — joined Twitter in February 2009. That's nine years before González did. The organization's current Twitter-follower count? 596,000.
Twitter isn't everything, but the brief time in which González and her classmates have built up huge followings is a testament to the power of their message. The weekend after the shooting, González called BS on lawmakers' "thoughts and prayers" in a hard-to-forget speech tinged with a very welcome, refreshing anger. Countless rallies and school walkouts followed nationwide. The Florida students have met with lawmakers, and González took on the NRA's spokesperson Dana Loesch (787,000 Twitter followers) in a CNN townhall on gun violence.
Undoubtedly, social media is part of the reason the students' message has resonated so far and wide. González' fellow #NeverAgain activist Jackie Corin also joined Twitter this month and has 67,000 followers. Kali Clougherty has over 20,000. David Hogg has 362,000. Cameron Kasky has 243,000.
The call to march in Washington, D.C., and around the nation, on March 24 originated and spread on social media with #MarchforOurLives, and so did the #WhatIf campaign, in which you can watch Jackie Corin below.
With her trademark shaved head, González has become the visual icon of the movement — people have even created drawings and other depictions of her. But the reality is students, especially students of color, have been fighting for gun reform for years. And what really matters to them aren't Twitter followers or drawings — though those both help propel the movement — but keeping more kids from dying.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
At 17, Lorena Soto was forced to have an abortion.
"I found I was pregnant shortly after ending an abusive relationship with a young man," Soto, now 42, told Refinery29. "I was scared and confused. But at the same time, I knew I wasn't ready to be a parent."
Soto, originally from El Paso, TX, said she had decided to give up her baby for adoption, even going as far as contacting an agency. But her parents told her it was either having an abortion or getting married, shocking her — she had always believed the procedure was something her family opposed. She was devastated to know they would coerce her to get an abortion against her will.
"After a night of crying and yelling, I surrendered," she said. "I went through the process completely numb."
Years later, at 29, Soto had a son — her choice. And at 35, her birth control failed and she ended up getting pregnant. This time, she was the one who chose to have an abortion.
"I was a willing participant," she said. "What is important for people to know, and what made the experiences so night and day for me, was not that I had an abortion [at 17] — is that the choice then was taken away from me."
You should be okay with choosing yourself, no matter what the looks like.
For Soto, losing her freedom to choose was a "dehumanizing experience." That's why she is participating Tuesday on the 1 in 3 Campaign 's Speakout event and Lobby Day in Washington, D.C.
Soto said she can relate to undocumented young women like the ones that were being defended at the Speakout — the Trump administration tried to force them to carry a pregnancy to term, Soto's parents forced her to terminate hers. She said she knows that, right or wrong, her parents made what they thought was the best decision for her. But that can't be said about the Trump administration's meddling in the decisions of undocumented youth.
"The fight for reproductive health, rights and justice is intertwined with the fight for safety and freedom for marginalized communities,” Debra Hauser, president of Advocates for Youth, parent organization of the 1 in 3 Campaign, said in a statement provided to Refinery29. “While the Trump Administration and this Congress brazenly abuse their power, young people are stepping up and leading a movement—and they’re bringing everyone forward in the fight to control their own bodies and health."
Another one of the participants, Kush Thompson, remembers perfectly how devastated she was when she found out she was four-months pregnant at the age of 16.
"First, it was going through my head: 'How can you be so stupid?' and 'How could you let this happen?'" she told Refinery29. But as shattered as she was, she was also sure of one thing: She wanted to terminate the pregnancy.
With help from her sister and financial support from her father, the now-23-year-old from Chicago, IL was able to get care and have an abortion under her own terms. After the procedure, Thompson said she was finally at peace.
"It felt like I had gone back to normal," she said. "I wasn't grieving, I felt relief."
Thompson considers herself among the lucky ones. She had a support system that allowed her to obtain the procedure. She's also had hard conversations with her mother about her decision to have an abortion. "Even though she's proud of me and what I've been able to accomplish, she's still doesn't [approve]," Thompson said.
And those debates only strengthened her conviction that women have a right to choose, which led her to participate in the Speakout on Tuesday.
"My purpose today is to create that space for stories to come forward," Thompson said, adding that her decision to have an abortion didn't have some larger reason behind it; she just didn't want to be a mother at 16. "You should be okay with choosing yourself, no matter what the looks like. When we talk about pro-choice we also talk about your choice to keep your child, not just your choice to not be a mother."
Soto agrees with how talking about your experience helps create a system for support for other women. She also has a message for people who have undergone an abortion: "You're not alone."
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The pop star knows the allure of a classic beauty look. Hers? Winged-out liner, pink lips, and sleek hair. Sure, the star's look has changed since her Nickelodeon days, but the foundation has always been there. It may be one of the things we like most about Grande, that she can play with different textures, accessories, and finishes all while staying true to her style.
In honor of the star's beauty evolution, we decided to recreate three of our favorite Grande looks. And who better to do it on than an Ariana Grande superfan? First off, we took a walk down memory lane, revisiting a look Grande wore often on the set of Nickelodeon's Victorious, where she played the bubbly Cat Valentine. Grande dyed her hair every other week during her stint as Valentine, but rather than coloring our model's hair, we decided a wig was in order.
Fast forward to 2014 and we're starting to see the makings of that classic Grande look, complete with a fierce cat-eye, a slick half-up-half-down ponytail, and a dusty rose lip. The last look? Well, that might be our favorite yet. Press play above to watch all three of our favorite Ariana Grande beauty moments come to life, and comment below to let us know which star you want us to copy next.
When it comes to fashion today, we're reminded time and time again that in the realm of shopping specifically, it's not the same game it once was. Wholesale and retail models are constantly changing (thanks to fast-fashion and technology), and as a result, more young brands are breaking into the market with direct-to-consumer businesses.
But established labels aren't immune to these industry-wide changes. Beginning this week, eigh-year-old, made-in-L.A. brand Stone Cold Fox (you've probably seen its frilly tops and slinky rompers on Instagram, where it boasts a casual 439K followers) is making some major changes — and that means good news for you as a shopper. On Tuesday, it didn't just launch its spring collection; it also announced some shifts that ultimately place its customers back the front-and-center (it can all be read about in an open founders' letter on its site here).
First, Stone Cold Fox is cutting out all wholesale business — which means it will be strictly direct-to-consumer and sold only on its website and at its Venice brick-and-mortar store. The brand will also be debuting new product weekly (hint: every Monday), instead of just season-to-season; we'll call this the "Zara" effect.
"We hold our relationship with our loyal customers at utmost importance," founders Cydney Morris and Dallas Wand tell Refinery29. "For years we've gathered feedback from them about what it is they love or don't love about Stone Cold Fox. One consistent piece of feedback we received was that our prices were simply too high for the average Stone Cold Fox girl. By going direct-to-consumer, we not only lower the costs of our products by up to 50%, but we develop a true one-on-one relationship with all of our customers."
From now on, Stone Cold Fox's products will all be under $300, a major price cut. But don't worry: All materials are still the same, and the quality will not be compromised. And if you don't believe us, just try it out for yourself. Ahead, you can shop the newest collection and its even easier-to-love prices. Yep — that dress you loved on Instagram just became a reality.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Forget what your first-grade teacher told you: Research has shown that a "clean setting" — as in, a tidy desk — might not always be the most effective way to foster creativity. "Everyone wants you to be neat," wrote Kathleen Vohs, PhD, the lead psychological scientist on one such study. "But there may be times being messy is good, too. [It leads] to something that firms, industries, and societies want more of: creativity."
I might not necessarily agree with ditching the Marie Kondo method in every aspect of my life, but when it comes to my latest beauty obsession, Clē Cosmetics Melting Lip Powder, the whole "messy-is-better" hypothesis rings true.
This powder lipstick is messy — like, when you're eating a powdered-sugar donut, and every bite leaves a light dusting of white powder in your lap. Do you care? Not really, because you're eating a donut, and it's a messy means to a delicious end. The same goes for the Melting Lip Powders: Every time you pop open the cap, a bit of the pigmented powder might just land on your keyboard, but you can deal with that, right?
This powder first goes on like a fine dusting, but it melts away within seconds, leaving behind a lightweight stain and matte finish that will not budge. As the intensity fades throughout the day, the color still stays intact in a soft, just-drank-a-bottle-of-Merlot tinted kind of way. With the weightless feel, the perfect color pay-off, and the fact that it makes me think of donuts, this is one (tiny) mess worth making.
Clē Cosmetics Melting Lip Powder, $19.99, available at Cle Cosmetics.
When cooking hiccups occur and overdue grocery trips go off the rails, a well-stocked pantry has the power to save our asses at mealtime. Arming our kitchens with a strong lineup of goods that vary in flavor, texture, and are securely packaged for forgiving shelf-lives, makes throwing together last-minute eats anything but uninspired. If you've already mastered the art of stocking your kitchen at home, try starting a mini pantry at the other place where you probably spend almost as much time: your office.
Desk pantries are the smaller, more streamlined versions of at-home pantries. They are personal to our particular tastes and space, and are there to support us when packed lunches get left behind or takeout salads arrive undressed. If you've yet to assemble one of your own, don't know where to begin, or are looking to freshen up a preexisting arsenal, we have the ultimate guide to building a personal desk pantry ahead. Check out the essential products that set you up for successful in-office dining Monday through Friday.
Storage Structure First things first, pick your drawer and invest in a storage system — this deep bin set will keep a desk pantry arsenal clean, compartmentalized, and secure.
InterDesign Linus Deep Drawer Binz, $14.99-$19.99, available at The Container Store.
Quality Oil Invest in a quality bottle of oil for working more flavor into lackluster salads, soups, or sandwiches.
Gaea Extra Virgin Olive Oil, $23, available at Jet.
Flavored Vinegar A flavored vinegar can serve solo as a dip or dressing atop blander work lunches — and when mixed together with the quality oil, you've got a salad dressing on your hands
The Girl & The Fig Fig Balsamic Vinegar, $12, available at Girl Fig Store.
Hot Sauce Swag No desk pantry is complete without a go-to hot sauce: add it to your dressings, spread it on a sandwich, or use it as a dip for crackers and crisps.
Kitchen Garden Farm Sriracha Chile Sauce, $8, available at Kitchen Garden Farm.
Secret Weapon Sauce Whether it's honey mustard, garlic aioli, or a hot honey situation, secret weapon sauce is any type of condiment you just can't live without.
Mike's Hot Honey 12 oz. Bottle, $10, available at Mike's Hot Honey.
Niche Nut Butter Forget a regular old PB&J. Go bigger with an unexpected flavor blend for spreading on bread or crackers in a breakfast or lunchtime pinch.
Big Spoon Roasters Almond Ginger Butter, $13.95, available at Big Spoon Roasters.
Special Seasoning Sure you could rely on regular salt, but a badass desk pantry is stocked with the special stuff.
Jacobsen Oregon Black Truffle Salt, $19, available at Jacobsen Salt Co.
Next-Level Nuts Normal nuts are for normal pantries — desk pantry nuts are next-level, come loaded with salty-sweet-zesty flavor, and work as a snack or a way to add texture or flavor to a sad salad.
Bee's Knees Salted Honey Lemon Cashews, $9, available at Mouth.
Gourmet Jerky Stocking up on all-natural jerky is a strong desk pantry move for gourmet emergency fuel. Pro tip: Dip it in your secret weapon sauce.
Jacked-Up Crackers Saltines can step aside — jacked-up crackers look something like these sturdy sourdough "slices" from Aida. We'll be crumbling them as makeshift croutons on a salad or spreading our nut butter on top for a savory-sweet snack.
Microwavable Grains When breakfast and lunch are forgotten, let quick oats (or any other microwavable grain) come to the rescue. Go sweet with a drizzle of nut butter or savory with layers of oil, hot sauce, seasoning, and nuts.
Thrive Market Organic Rolled Oats, $4.99, available at Thrive Market.
Stylish Serveware The final layer of any successful desk pantry? The stuff that you serve it on. Pick up a stylish, compact, and reusable option to set the finishing touches on your in-office table.
Ekobo Recycled Bamboo Dinnerware Set, $22.69, available at Amazon.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
