Poking hundreds of teeny-tiny holes into your face might sound like a good way to cause skin problems, not cure them. But the overwhelmingly positive effects of micro-needling, sometimes also referred to as dermarolling, are proof that the technique isn’t half as scary as it sounds — provided it’s done correctly, of course. (At-home amateurs, beware: Make sure your model is no more than 0.5mm, and leave everything else to the professionals.)

The procedure, which involves using a paint roller-like tool covered in tiny needles to prick microscopic punctures in the epidermis, has seen a surge in popularity over the past couple of years, thanks to its two key benefits: One, it helps your serums and treatments absorb deeper into the skin, and two, it creates “micro-injuries” which signal the skin to go into repair mode, kickstarting collagen production and increasing blood flow. The result is brighter, plumper, healthier skin. As celebrity medical aesthetician and skin expert Kat Rudu says, “It’s non-invasive instant gratification,” with results generally seen within a week.

When our subject Lindsay went to see Rudu at her Venice, California, studio, she'd tried just about everything on the market to clear up her sensitive, finicky, acne-prone skin, to no avail. After years of insecurity, and feeling unable to even leave the house without makeup on, she decided she was ready to take the next step with an in-office procedure. Click the video above to get a close-up look at Lindsay's experience — and to see just how much has changed since Rudu worked her micro-needling magic on her.

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Chromat designer Becca McCharen-Tran revealed back in February Nordstrom placed a pretty big order of her “future-forward body wear” in sizes up to 3X. Not only is it the first time a retailer has supported Chromat in its curve-inclusive mission, but it’s the first time the label will be producing swimwear up to that size. It’s a pretty big undertaking, and McCharen-Tran told Refinery29 at the time that she was nervous about the launch but had “partnered with a great factory that is experienced in producing curve sizing for other swim global brands.”

Thanks to Chromat’s latest Instagram story, we know that process is underway — and it includes body-positive mannequins. The brand shared the above photo of a dressform from a factory in Sofia, Bulgaria, with its followers, captioning it, “This is where our pattern grading begins.” McCharen-Tran previously explained to us her swimwear was the result of engineering the grading of the product samples based on the curve fit tests Chromat has done over the last five years (technical speak for expanding a size range), and this picture is a sneak peek at what exactly she means. The brand also teased a few different versions of swimwear samples ahead of their Nordstrom debut, which is scheduled for this month or next.

We can’t say we’re surprised about the mannequin, considering Chromat has done the work time and time again to show diversity and inclusivity in a non-tokenizing way. Like we saw during New York Fashion Week, where she presented her fall 2018 collection, McCharen-Tran’s reputation of mass representation is so integral to Chromat's DNA it would seem odd if these suits were made off of anything but a reflection of real life.

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Scroll through your Instagram (or the finsta you use just to keep close tabs on your celebrity crushes) and you'll notice that there a lot of trendy places to get a tattoo right now: the back of the arm, the inner elbow, the wrist. But there's one sweet spot you don't usually see on social media that's actually prime real estate for the ink you've been dreaming of, and that would be the butt. The ass, the derrière, the gluteus maximus — whatever you want to call it, it might be time to consider putting a tattoo on it. Just look to those celebrity crushes of yours for proof.

Tattoos on one's backside aren't as easy (or legal) to show off as, say, something on your arm or leg, which is probably why we never knew so many of our favorite stars were hiding theirs under their jeans. But now that we know they exist, we're ready to call on these A-listers for a hit of inspiration should we also decide that a tat on our tail-end is the next permanent decision we want to make.

Ahead, Rihanna, Cardi B, and six others who are rocking the best celebrity butt tattoos you never knew you really needed to see...

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At the Santa Clarita, California, filming location of A Wrinkle In Time last February, there was an unmistakable electric aura in the air, as though the entire set had been touched by Disney magic. The weather was crisp and sunny, and as I walked into the production office, I could almost swear tiny animated birds were singing to me from the trees.

It turned out that chirping was actually just a handful of other journalists also eagerly awaiting our day of observing filming for one of Disney's most buzzed-about movies of all time. That anticipatory energy only increased when a group of smiling publicists confirmed that later, we'd get the chance to interview Mrs. Whatsit and Mrs. Which, better known as Reese Witherspoon and Oprah Winfrey. The pair are two of the three witches in this story — the third, Mrs. Who, played by Mindy Kaling — that guide the main character, Meg Murry (Storm Reid), her brother, Charles (Deric McCabe), and their friends on a sci-fi, fantasy-filled adventure through time.

Our official welcome comes from producer Catherine Hand, the magicmaker who has worked for five decades to make A Wrinkle In Time a reality. When the passing of Walt Disney in 1966 crushed a then-teenaged Hand's dreams of ever seeing her favorite book, A Wrinkle In Time by Madeleine L'Engle, turned into a Disney movie, she decided she would one day make it happen herself. Eventually, while working as a creative executive in television, she reached out to Disney about obtaining the rights to L'Engle's book. She later befriended L'Engle, and the duo became close friends over 20 years before L'Engle died in 2007.

Still, it took several starts and stops — including a made-for-TV version in 2003 that was less-than-stellar thanks to budget constraints — before Hand's big-budget dream was able to come to life. Now, A Wrinkle In Time has a script written by Frozen 's Jennifer Lee, is being helmed by Ava DuVernay — one of Hollywood's most in-demand directors — and includes an Oprah-level star-studded cast led by newcomer Storm Reid as a bi-racial, curly haired Meg Murry.

"People always ask why I held onto this idea so long — and I'm sure Disney is tired of me by now," Hand says. "But Walt Disney himself has a quote that I've always held onto: 'Get a good idea and stay with it. Do it and work at it until it's done right.' So this idea is the one thing that kept me inspired over the years. And A Wrinkle In Time means different things to different people at different times in their life, and there are so many threads. To be able to take those threads and create an adventure that will go down in history... that makes it all worth it. "

By the time we’re able to get a close-up look at some filming, the sun has already begun to set in Southern California, casting a cool lavender glow over the lot. But in the Murrys' backyard, it’s still a bright morning. DuVernay stands over Reid and 9-year-old Deric McCabe, who plays Meg’s precocious little brother Charles, softly but firmly explaining the emotions she wants to see on their faces to believe they’re getting ready to travel through time. Chris Pine, who plays Meg's kooky scientist father who's lost in space, is suddenly on hand to tell us that DuVernay is “the best kind of director. She’s a wonderful balance between a good general, good alpha, and a good creative left brain.”

One look at her in her element, and that assessment very clearly rings true. If the set of A Wrinkle In Time has been sprinkled with some sparkling, otherworldly magic, then Ava DuVernay is the magician. But her greatest trick of all is not just being the first Black woman to direct a $100-million movie, though that is a history-making feat in itself. It’s the way she has effortlessly shown the world what true colorblind casting can — and should — look like.

Between takes, DuVernay takes a few minutes to answer some of our questions. But she has the kind of distracted demeanor us writers know well, the attention span of someone who’s been in the creative zone all day and isn’t able to easily snap out of it — especially to answer questions she very frankly says she shouldn’t be asked.

“We're not doing anything that shouldn't have already been done when it comes to diversity,” she says. “The question is: why hasn't this been done before? There's nothing outstanding and outlandish about this cast. It's outstanding and outlandish that there's been casts without reflecting the true inclusiveness of our daily life. I get the diversity question a lot, and my question back is: We should've been asking that question for the last 75 years of cinema.”

Once that conversation is out of the way, however, DuVernay warms up. She’s not sentimental about taking on this project, but instead, very matter of fact about why it was simply too great of an opportunity to pass up.

“For me, this book was science, spirituality, social commentary. There's so many layers and so many different parts of the story that I just want to offer to people so they take from it what’s important,” she says. “Some people might watch this and see sci-fi. Some might see romance. Some see a story about math nerds. Some see a family story, and some see girl power. I watch it and see this cool, quirky, dark, odd grand adventure of a girl searching the universe, but in the end, finding herself. I don't know how I got here, but I'm glad I'm here. I hope they're gonna call me back!”

Later, we watch from a production tent screen as DuVernay gently coaches Reid to prepare her for her first onscreen kiss with her character's love interest, Calvin, played by Levi Miller. The moment feels private, and we can’t hear much, but it’s clear from the then-13-year-old’s awkward, shy body language that despite headlining a future blockbuster, she’s still just a kid.

When we met Reid, though, she's back to business, poised and thoughtful with a vocabulary more well-versed than many full-grown adults I’ve met. I immediately ask her about what it was like to envision this main character, whose race is never discussed in the book, with her own brown skin and curly hair. I add how important the casting was for me, a Wrinkle In Time fan with brown skin and curly hair myself who's used to seeing my favorite book characters portrayed by white actresses.

“When I first got the role, I was getting tweets and messages that said 'Yay, Storm! There's a character in a movie that finally l ooks like me!” says Reid, who for the record, had coincidentally just read the novel in sixth grade before auditioning for the movie. “Then, when Ava told me that I was the first little African-American girl to lead a sci-fi movie, it was absolutely inspirational and incredible. People are calling me the lead, so it’s a lot of pressure. But I hope that more African-American girls get more opportunities like this because of it.”

"It's about finding your flow in life, the current that you're supposed to follow that is like no one else's. And that is a story for all times."

Just when I think it doesn't get better than that, we're reminded that there are plenty more creatives bringing A Wrinkle In Time to life. Celebrity stylist Kim Kimble, who’s worked with everyone from Beyoncé to Kim Kardashian and Shakira, was tasked with putting together what she estimates were about 20-25 wigs for the cast and their stunt doubles. While the natural curls of her main character were easy enough, the most challenging was executing the whimsical looks of the three witches, whose wigs required intricate braiding, styling, and testing in advance — then hours of careful application and additional styling at the beginning of filming each day, plus upkeep and storage at the end.

“I worked on Beyoncé’s Lemonade, so I’m used to really pushing the envelope — but this was really challenging,” Kimble admits. "You've never seen Oprah Winfrey or Reese Witherspoon like this before. That was something that Ava really wanted to make sure of, that they all got into their characters. So all of the women are excited when they come into hair and makeup, because they transform into someone else.”

Kimble describes Witherspoon’s look as a “spiritual flower child.” Oprah’s Mrs. Which, meanwhile, is “the bold, metallic, diva of the galactic,” while Kaling was more culturally inspired, “like a quilt: A little bit of Africa, a little bit of Asian, a little bit of Colombia.” Her colleague Paco Delgado, the movie’s costume designer, agrees. A veteran of period dramas like Les Misérables and The Danish Girl, Delgado was excited at the prospect of working on something a bit more fantastical, charged with dressing the Mrs. in addition to the movie’s villain, Red (Michael Peña) and its comic relief, the Happy Medium (Zach Galifianakis).

Delgado walks me through the costume trailer, and his Canary Islands, Spain, accent becomes increasingly passionate as he runs silver-ringed fingers over layers of shimmering tribal-printed fabrics and asymmetric, blooming confections that barely fit onto garment racks.

“I start by asking the main questions: Who are they? Where are they coming from, and what sort of world do they represent?” Delgado explains. “Mrs. Who [Kaling] is always speaking in sentences from worldly books, so she looks almost like a librarian with layers covered in calligraphy, like the pages of a book. When we first meet Mrs. Whatsit [Witherspoon], she’s stealing bedsheets from people, so her look incorporated a lot of white and billowing movement. And then Mrs. Which [Winfrey] is energy and light. I thought of her as a supernova, so she was all metallics and silver and light. All of these women are from out of this world, so we needed to create something out of this world. I hope we succeeded.”

Soon we’re whisked away to a nearby tent, where we all make nervous small talk while we wait to meet two of the witches themselves. To pass the time, we chow down on slices from the New York-style pizza food truck that’s parked outside, a filming mainstay brought to the set to feed the cast and crew courtesy of Winfrey, Witherspoon, and Kaling.

And then in walks Oprah Winfrey as no one has ever seen her before: Her hair stark white, eyebrows bejeweled, lips, nails and a geometric suit all shimmering silver. She slowly slides her body sideways into a chair, partially because her layered costume is so bulky she can’t sit up straight, and partly because…

“My vajayjay is chapped!” she announces. “I was hanging from a wire literally with the strap in my genitalia. They cut me down!”

Of course, Winfrey’s explanation of why she chose to sign on to A Wrinkle In Time — considering the book “never made it to her neighborhood" — is the kind of thing you want to immediately write down and perhaps share on an inspirational Pinterest quote board.

“Mrs. Which is a supernova angel woman wisdom teacher who has come to help Meg and her brother find their father, but it’s really about helping them find their own sense of belief, confidence, and empowerment,” she says, adding that her personal interpretation of Mrs. Which is somewhere between Glenda the Good Witch and her dear friend Maya Angelou. “In the lines we did today, Mrs. Which says to Meg ‘you just have to know the right frequency,’ meaning get on the right vibration — you just have to know the right frequency and have faith in who you are. That's really what the film is about. It's about lining up with what is your true frequency. It's about finding your flow in life, the current that you're supposed to follow that is like no one else's. And that is a story for all times.”

And then Reese Witherspoon floats in to join the conversation like a Grecian mermaid in a white toga, fiery orange hair braided to the side, blue eyes popping out from dark lashes. Witherspoon and Winfrey are an unlikely pair, but it’s immediately clear that the two have forged a bond on set (one the rest of the would see nearly a year later when a gushing Witherspoon presented Winfrey with the Cecil B. DeMille award at the Golden Globes). They have the habits of two people who have spend many idle hours together; Winfrey likes to mimic Witherspoon’s sweet Southern “y’all,” and Witherspoon nods along encouragingly to every word that Winfrey says.

Witherspoon describes her Mrs. Whatsit as young and playful, a curious cross between a "merman and a Cheshire cat." A fan of the book from childhood, she says she jumped at the opportunity to be a part of this moment.

“Growing up in Nashville, Tennessee, we didn't have the internet, I didn't know what was out there beyond where I was from,” she says. “So I was a big reader. This book was really important for me because it taught me that anything is possible if you focus on the good in life — and that women can be heroes!”

But it was also because of the opportunity to work with this cast. “You know, Mindy’s been writing a book in her trailer, Oprah is a correspondent for 60 Minutes, Ava is doing the awards circuit for her documentary 13th... we’re all so insanely busy, and I think it’s really wonderful we knew the importance of this message and what Ava wanted to accomplish and put our busy stuff aside to make this possible. I think that’s because it flows so nicely into all of our intentions as creators, and as women…”

“As warriors of light!” Winfrey finishes for her.

The duo is soon whisked back to the set, and just like that, our little bubble on the set of A Wrinkle In Time quickly bursts as we all head back to our cars and say goodbye. Driving back from the mountains toward Los Angeles’s sleek skyline that night, I feel as if I myself have tessered back and forth through time, just like young Meg. After all, just a few hours ago, I was eating pizza provided by three dazzling wise witches and talking to a hero who looks just like me. But then I realize that that’s the true magic of this new adaptation of A Wrinkle In Time: It’s a reminder to all of us that no matter who you are, you can be the hero. And in today's real world dark times, we could all use some warriors of light.

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Like your parents and siblings all jetting off to Paris for the holidays and accidentally leaving you behind to defend the family mansion against petty crooks, dry patches are usually something that only happens in the winter — or, ideally, not at all. But as for me, I live with them on a daily basis, in scattered areas on my neck and face, no matter the season. I know, I know: Cue the Kevin McCallister Home Alone scream.

If you're not sure where you fall on the spectrum, know that there's a difference between the normal kind of dry skin, the type that just feels tight and uncomfortable right when you get out of the shower or for the entire month of January, and raised, scaly patches that seem impervious to moisturizer. "Concentrated spots of dry skin are generally reoccurring and in the same placement on the body," explains dermatologist Dendy Engelman, MD, of MDCS: Medical Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. "It's usually rough as a result of intrinsic defects in that area of the skin, like a weakened moisture barrier, low density of oil glands, or deficiencies of filaggrin," a protein that's crucial for maintaining the structure and strength of the epidermis.

Throw in a little stress, some chafing winds, a dip in temperature, or exposure to harsh chemicals, and you — like me — have a recipe for disaster on your hands. And dry patches don't discriminate: "All skin types can be prone," Engelman says, though she adds that, in the event of eczema, you'll notice it more in the "bends" of the body where there's a lot of friction. (Inner elbows, knees, ankles, fingers, feet...)

To treat the patches, you'll obviously want to keep them hydrated, but that doesn't necessarily mean basting yourself in Vaseline. First, dial back on any treatments that can be drying to the skin, like retinoids or acne medications. "Gentle exfoliation can help, but only when followed with aggressive moisturization to rebuild the skin barrier," Dr. Engelman says. Reach for fragrance-free formulas that are packed with ceramides, like Cetaphil's new Restoraderm Skin Restoring Body Moisturizer or Elizabeth Arden's Advanced Ceramide Capsules, to do just that.

Adding a second layer of hydration in the shower (with Curél's Hydra Therapy Wet Skin Moisturizer) or immediately after (Engelman swears by Bio-Oil) can also trap in moisture. If your dry patches still persist, spread a thin layer of 1% hydrocortisone over the affected area, then smooth on a generous amount of the thickest salve you can find. I stash Aquaphor here, there, and pretty much everywhere for that exact reason. (Or, you can try a newfound favorite of mine: nipple cream.)

Should the area start to clear up, pat yourself on the back. You're in the clear! If not, now would be the time to talk to a derm about topical steroids or other prescription medications. After all, it's always better to ask for help when you're going through a bit of a rough patch than try and go it alone.

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As the well-documented drama behind the scenes (and publicly, via unfiltered Instagram posts) at Deciem continues to unfold, the parent company of cult-favorite brands like The Ordinary and NIOD has quietly, without any official press announcement, made another big move: venturing into the world of all things fragrance.

The upcoming launch, Avestan, is named for the sacred Eastern Iranian language known only from its use in Zoroastrian scripture, religious texts ascribed to one of the world's oldest faiths. There will be five distinct lines within the brand — eau de parfum, parfum concentré, "lifestyle" (shampoo, conditioner, body wash, body lotion, and bubble bath), and a literal "fragrance for paper" called Printer's Ink — all available in the same range of scents. There's Budapest, described as "a discovery of copper in Budapest architecture," to Tibet, labeled as "a humble selflessness amongst the sands, rocks, and gusts of Tibet." There are no descriptions of fragrance notes listed on the website, though you will find, in true Deciem form, a complete list of ingredients for each product.

Conceptual scents are having a moment right now — from Glossier You to Byredo's new collaboration with cool-kid favorite fashion label Off-White, called Elevator Music — but Avestan's offerings seem a bit more cryptic than most. (Roofs Of Beni Isguen, for example, is described only as "a walk through alleyways of the roofless North African town of Beni Isguen." But how can it smell like the roofs if the town is roofless?)

Controversial Deciem founder Brandon Truaxe's personal introduction to the new collection can be found on Avestan's online landing page, which is the only place to find any information about it as of yet. The idea for the brand, he indicates, was inspired by his recent travels — but that's putting it mildly.

"It began in the presence of things decidedly unworthy of much admiration in the world of aromas: coated clay vats filled with argan oil, earthly walls of a typical village abode and the mud that had formed on my bare feet having crossed the river that bordered the township of Asni in the Moroccan Atlas Mountains. I had been aware of my inner fascination with aromas for years, but it was this moment that caused me to discover the intensity of my absorption," he writes.

"Standing in the almost aroma-neutral abode, I became aware of an aroma. An aroma so faint, yet so intense, that it abridged the argan oil, the clay walls, the mud, the village, the river, the place, the moment — and, most notably yet, an aroma that did not connect me to a distant memory and instead created an elucidation of something unfamiliar." And so, Truaxe says, "Avestan is the embodiment of this pleasing unfamiliarity. It is a deviation from familiar notes that move us through the past. It is an exploration of the untried. It is a journey to create new meaning through scents. It is a departure from lavender and rose to an unfulfilled journey of unfamiliar notes: clays, stems, saps, places and moments. Avestan is an avant-garde play on nature — one that disallows the mind to identify but creates instead a welcomed occasion to explore. Welcome to Avestan."

Welcome, indeed. Deciem's latest launch may have more of Truaxe's fantastical nature in its DNA than NIOD or The Ordinary's rooted-in-science products, but you can guarantee the company's diehard fans will be lining up at the door to get their hands on a whiff of Avestan. We just hope they're not looking for anything with notes of lavender.

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In honor of International Women’s Day, Refinery29 is asking women to pay-it-forward by endorsing a female colleague or expert in their field. Head here to discover inspiring women across all of the categories R29 covers.

As proud beauty fans and feminists, we celebrate groundbreaking women every damn day. So how can we one-up our love for the industry’s biggest innovators on International Women’s Day? By asking these bosses to reveal which women inspire them to work stronger, live bolder, and give back more.

Ahead, boundary-breaking models (Ashley Graham and Diandra Forrest) beauty CEOs (Jessica Alba, Drew Barrymore, and Lisa Price), activists (Amber Rose and Gregg Renfrew), a legendary makeup artist (Pat McGrath), and more highlight the women who galvanize their own inner badass.

Game recognize game? That’s just the start. From one inspiring story to the next, you’ll find women who are lifting each other up, inviting everyone to the table, and advocating for an inclusive beauty industry that actually reflects the people it serves.

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International Women's Day is a kickass celebration where we remember what women all over the world have done in pursuit of equal rights, and honor those who have broken the glass ceiling. It's a day full of events for and by women, which makes it extra special, whether you're celebrating in the U.S. or abroad.

It's also a reminder that, while we have made incredible progress, we've still got a long way to go on issues like the gender pay gap, access to reproductive healthcare, and mandatory paid family leave.

This year, the official theme of the day is #PressforProgress, "a strong call to motivate and unite friends, colleagues and whole communities to think, act and be gender inclusive."

But have you ever wondered how this day was born and what it really means?

Well, you're in luck. Ahead, we've rounded up everything you need to know about the IWD. Share the information with your friends and family, and on March 8, get ready to celebrate the women in your life.

What exactly is International Women's Day?

International Women's Day is defined as a day "celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women" and a "call to action for accelerating gender parity."  It's celebrated all throughout the world, and it's not a centralized effort. Countries and organizations celebrate it as they see fit.

How did IWD get its start?

According to UN Women, International Women’s Day originated in the dawn of the 20th century thanks to diverse labor movements across North America and Europe.

Historian Temma Kaplan says the concept of a “woman’s day” can be traced to the first National Woman’s Day, which took place in February 23, 1909 in the U.S.

The origins of this day were inherently political: The organizers were members of the Socialist Party of America, and the concerns driving their protests were mainly women’s rights and suffrage.

A second International Conference of Working Women was held in Copenhagen, Denmark, in 1910. During the meeting, a woman named Clara Zetkin, who led the Women's Office for the Social Democratic Party in Germany, proposed that countries celebrate an International Woman's Day. The idea was that every year, in every nation, a woman's day should be celebrated as a way to apply political pressure for expanded women's rights. The conference, which hosted more than 100 women hailing from 17 different countries, approved the suggestion unanimously.

That's why the event spread from the U.S. to the rest of the world. On March 19, 1911, an International Woman’s Day was held in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. More than a million people took part in the rallies and protests on that day.

In 1913, it was decided that the official day for IWD should be March 8, and so it has been ever since. Eventually, the event extended to become virtually global, and at some point in the mid-1940s, the terminology was changed from "woman's" to "women's."

In 1975, the United Nations declared it International Women’s Year, and began officially celebrating IWD.

How do we celebrate it now?

IWD is currently celebrated in over 100 countries throughout the world. And right now, it's an official holiday in more than two dozen nations including Afghanistan, Cuba, Georgia, Laos, Russia, Uganda, and Vietnam. (In places like China, Madagascar, and Nepal, it is also a holiday, but only for women.)

Today, there will be plenty of events open to the public across the United States and around the world. Whether by participating in any of these, or finding your own way of commemorating this day, find some way to be a part of it. After all, International Women's Day is for amazing women like you.

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International Women’s Day isn’t about material things. It’s not about shopping or purchasing items that have feminist slogans on them. The day has been set aside for us to celebrate women’s contributions in all areas and explore how we can continue advancement for women in our society. In other words, it’s meant to be about actual work, both recognizing the work of others and doing some work of our own. However, we also live in a capitalist society, which means a lot of brands use women’s empowerment as a marketing tool, especially during International Women’s Month and on International Women’s Day.

While that’s something we have often felt uneasy about, we do kind of get it. We are drawn to products that feature feminist slogans, and we've all got to make that paper somehow. Still, this International Women's Day, we want to focus on the companies that are actually doing good work in addition to selling us products that are branded with women's empowerment.

Ahead we have highlighted seven food companies, both large and small, that have released special International Women's Day products and services. To make it on this list, the brands also had to put their money where their mouth is. For us, it wasn't enough for them to come out with treats that represent their commitment to female empowerment: These companies are making monetary donations to established organizations that are taking concrete steps to aid and advance women and families in America and around the world.

Where we could, we included the prices of their International Women's Day food products and how much the companies have promised to donate. Armed with that information, you can decide if you'd like to celebrate International Women's Day by making a purchase. Or, if you like the organizations being represented, you can always more a direct donation.

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"Show Your Girl Power This International Women's Day!"

"IWD Essentials!"

"Embrace yourself with Hilary Duff's newest eyewear collection on International Women's Day! "

As a market editor, I get thousands of email subject lines like this. It's starting to feel like International Women’s Day — and feminism in general — has become an opportunity for brands to make a buck in the name of gender equality. It’s ironic that as an editor, a customer, and a feminist, all of this leaves me feeling pretty icky — not empowered. The graphic tees, feminist necklaces, girl-power products, and exploitative PR pitches are getting downright disturbing. It’s become obvious that not all brands who are participating in International Women’s Day realize that equal rights should be more than just a one-day thing.

This isn’t to say that brands cannot use International Women’s Day as an opportunity to truly do good. There are plenty of brands that pride themselves on gender parity and support women year-round — and in this case, IWD initiatives do actually advance their efforts and the cause in general. But there are many gestures that are hypocritical. What good is an "I Love Feminism!" sweatshirt when a company doesn't also pay its female employees as much as its men? Or when "10%" of proceeds — the seeming going rate for International Women's Day — only amounts to a couple hundred dollars for charities, but lots of free publicity for the business? Paying lip service to a day that has deep roots in how we hire women, pay them, support them, and advocate for them without actually doing those things is misleading. In that spirit, we're setting a standard to sniff out opportunism. Somewhat of a Bechdel test for fashion brands, this is the Feminism For Sale test.

And so, to warrant coverage on Refinery29’s fashion page this year, we're focusing on brands that 1) will be donating at least 20% of their IWD initiative proceeds to a worthy female-focused cause, 2) practices gender parity 365 days a year, not just on International Women's Day, and 3) is selling a product/design that actually has to do with their business.

Why 20%? According to retail analyst Paula Rosenblum of RSR Research, that is the break-even point where brands would make as much as they donate, given traditional mark-up costs and delivery fees. "Everyone's entitled to make a few bucks," says Rosenblum. "But are they doing this year-round, or are they actually paying the women that sew the clothes 40 cents an hour and then going, 'Yay, it's women's day?'"

With that in mind, you may notice this list is likely a lot smaller than it should be. Nearly every fashion label has an International Women’s Day initiative that’s in "celebration of women." But only a few labels are exhibiting real female empowerment. In fact, out of roughly 100 International Women's Day-related pitches we received, only about 18% of the initiatives pass the Feminism For Sale test. The rest either make no mention of proceeds being donated, do not explicitly state what portion of proceeds are being donated, or will only be donating anywhere from 2% to 15% of proceeds (and thus easily profiting from said product).

In a time when it's all too easy for brands to jump on the feminism bandwagon to get good press, we want to highlight the brands that are truly putting their money where their mouths are, today and every day.

So, with all of this in mind, click ahead to check out of the IWD products that passed the Feminism For Sale Test.

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39,814 days ago — on the first observance of a National Women's Day in 1909 — 15,000 women marched through the streets of New York City for better pay, shorter work hours, and the right to vote. Fast forward to 2018, and the battles are still being fought — with women and allies partnering with organizations to bring forth much-needed change.

And the beauty industry is no exception. As a year-round show of solidarity, you can swipe on a power lipstick. Support female-run businesses. Or, on and in the days leading up to this year's International Women's Day, you can spend your money with brands who are giving back to organizations like the UN Women's Fund for Gender Equality, No More, and Step Up. The fact that you walk away with a shiny new lipstick or eyeshadow palette only sweetens the deal.

Check out the 11 companies we're buying from, ahead.

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Getting actively involved in protests and marches to defend women's rights is a lot like cheerleading, only better. (Go with us here...) Instead of motivating athletes, we’re advocating for ourselves. Win! Still, like cheerleaders, we need a shit ton of energy and at-the-ready chants to carry our message while on the front line. And for many, getting into the spirit means wearing gender-equality flair in any way we can. (In both the cheer and activism worlds, there’s no such thing as too much spirit.) For some, that means rocking a safety pin or two. For others, it’s pulling out that Well-Behaved Women Rarely Make History tee from college. For us? It’s all of the above, with some dope nail art thrown in.

To help inspire manis with a message, we’ve rounded up some of our favorite feminist nail art to hit Instagram as of late. The boldest among us can dupe a design made to resemble period blood, or make talons sing with pussy power lettering. Those who want to go more minimal can rock a few decals of iconic women, placed strategically to show when flashing a peace sign, natch. Check out the tiniest (and most stylish) expressions of gender equality ahead, and get ready to get — and stay — in formation.

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It's no understatement to say that here at R29 (where our mission is to be a catalyst for women to feel, see, and claim their power, 365 days a year), we take International Women's Day very seriously. We wear red in solidarity, band with our work wives to write letters to our reps in protest for women's rights, blast our favorite girl-power songs, and, of course, use our platform to celebrate feminist heroes committed to championing gender equality all over the globe — both past and present.

Who, exactly? For starters, the 100 extraordinary women spotlighted in The Little Book Of Feminist Saints by Julia Pierpont. Hitting bookshops — and your local Madewell store — today, the pint-sized picture book is a collection of spirited, one-page anecdotes on a diverse set of females (think artists, activists, scientists, and entertainers) that have broken down barriers and shattered glass ceilings. "I chose to focus on one thing that leapt out at me — a scene from their backstory that set them on their journey, a moment of exceptional strength," Pierpont says. Accompanied by colorful, captivating illustrations by Manjit Thapp, so good they belong in a gallery, it's the kind of read that will not only teach you a thing or two about history but which will also inspire you to become a changemaker. (As in, it's just what we need right now.)

That's why we've partnered with Madewell, a brand devoted to promoting inclusivity, empowering creativity, and giving back to future generations, to get all the scoop on the new book — straight from the author herself. Below, Joyce Lee, the retailer's head of design, talks to Pierpont about why she wrote it and how she hopes it will empower women to get involved. Plus, she shares her POV on feminism today, the current political climate, and what it will take to actually change the course of history. Scroll down for their convo — which, tbh, will make you want to pick up a copy for yourself and every member of your girl squad, stat.

Joyce Lee: First things first. Tell me, what inspired you to write The Little Book Of Feminist Saints?
Julia Pierpont: "The book’s release feels especially timely now, in light of the Me Too movement, in light of Time’s Up. But the project began before all of that — we had no idea what a tremendous year it would be. We were simply making a book that would inspire us and celebrate our heroes — a book that we wished we’d had ourselves."

JL: What's the story behind the title?
JP: "The book takes its form from traditional Catholic books of saints, though ours is obviously secular. Saints books are always beautiful objects — precious in the same way that the saints themselves are precious. That’s something we wanted to emulate. The aim wasn’t just to make the writing and the imagery beautiful — the book itself had to be pleasurable to look at."

JL: In the book, you spotlight 100 extraordinary women. I'm dying to know how you selected this list.
JP: "The process was highly collaborative — I didn’t want to be limited to women I already knew about. My editor and I each made lists of our own, and then we got Manjit [the book's illustrator], as well as our friends and families and peers, to contribute as well. We wound up with about 400 names on a spreadsheet and were forced to whittle it down from there."

JL: What are the main commonalities among these women?
JP: "Perseverance, absolutely, and a refusal to accept injustices. Many of the women had tough hills to climb, and even those who were born to a place of privilege fought to make the world a fairer place."

JL: Illustrator Manjit Thapp did the artwork in the book. What was it like collaborating with her?
JP: "I love collaborating! It’s so rare in writing. That said, Manjit and I didn’t meet in person until after the book was finished, because I’m in New York and she lives in the U.K. I would send an entry I’d written, and then Manjit would create the corresponding portrait, often incorporating something mentioned in the text. When we finally met, it felt like we were old friends."

JL: Who did you ultimately write this book for?
JP: "Young women, obviously, because they’re still in their becoming, and celebrating these women is the surest way I know of to encourage more women like them. But I gave an early copy to my grandmother, too, and she seemed very moved to see the names of women she admired from earlier generations — Bella Abzug, the congresswoman from New York, for instance — and, I think, learn some new names as well. I hope some men pick up a copy, too. They could use it."

JL: So how would you define a feminist?
JP: "Anyone who opposes the oppression of people based on their gender identity is a feminist. Feminism should be a collective goal for everyone in a society."

JL: What do you feel people get wrong about feminists?
JP: "There are people for whom the word 'feminist' has some ugly connotations. It makes me sad when I hear a very young woman proclaim that she isn’t a feminist. There’s a disconnect happening there — as if she’s afraid that being a feminist will mean boys won’t like her. Of course the truth is that if the boy isn’t a feminist, she shouldn’t like him."

JL: This is such an important time for women. What is your take on the current social climate?
JP: "Social change happens in waves, and it seems we’re in the midst of a new one right now, which is exciting. It’s important to celebrate the progress that’s been made and to use that energy going forward — because there’s always going to be backlash, there are always going to be people who resist change."

JL: Lastly, what is your hope for the future?
JP: "I hope to see more of what’s begun this year — more women banding together, equal pay, more women in office. I hope we minimize and repair what damage the current president and his cabinet manage to cause."

The Little Book Of Feminist Saints by Julia Pierpont is available now at Madewell, with 25% of the sales from the book being donated to nonprofit organization Girls Inc. Additionally, Madewell will donate 25% of all in-store and online sales on March 8 from 6 to 8 p.m.

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Here's a question: What do you know about the women behind your beauty products? While transparency is in increasing demand from the industry, there are still a lot of unanswered questions as to where, how, and from whom our favorite ingredients are sourced. What good is a cruelty-free makeup brush or organic cleanser if the women who harvested or packaged your bathroom-shelf staples aren't being treated fairly, or paid well?

Of course, some organizations and brands have been advocating for this principle since their inception. The Fairtrade Foundation has been empowering farmers globally and setting social, economic, and environmental standards across industries since 1992, while vegan lip-color brand Axiology sources all its packaging from a woman-owned recycled-paper collective in Bali. Natural and organic favorite Neal's Yard Remedies lays out on its site where it sources its ingredients, whether it's frankincense oil from the Samburu tribe of northern Kenya or organic beeswax from Christchurch, New Zealand.

While it's important to know where and who our products come from, until you've heard the human stories behind each farmer-to-brand relationship, it's hard to get a sense of just how vital our beauty buys can be for communities across the globe. Anita Roddick, The Body Shop founder and lifelong environmentalist, established the brand's Community Trade back in 1987, a practice that ensured farmers could establish their independence through fair prices and sustained partnerships. Thirty years later, it's still going strong.

"We now have 31 suppliers, made up of 23 ingredient suppliers, and eight that supply into our gifts and accessories," Heather Ducharme, The Body Shop's sustainable sourcing manager, tells Refinery29. One of the brand's most recent success stories comes from Rwanda, where it is partnered with Asili Natural Oils. Asili works with 832 farmers across six of the country's eastern provinces, but it's the cold-pressed moringa seed oil from the Dufatanye Cooperative that The Body Shop buys en masse. The brand has been producing moringa products for some time now, but only from this summer will Dufatanye's harvests make their way into shops, ready to buy.

For the farmers of the Dufatanye Cooperative, the story of harvesting and selling their moringa isn't as straightforward as it could have been: In fact, it was a disaster that left a lot of the members feeling betrayed and economically devastated. "Fifteen years ago, there was a campaign to mass-plant moringa trees in Rwanda," Theo Hakizimana, Asili's general manager, explains. "Farmers were told that the moringa tree was a 'miracle tree', with promises of financial gain and stability. Many farmers sold their livestock and spent their savings to buy the moringa seedlings — they saw it as an investment. But when the trees began providing yield, there was no one to buy the seed. There was such a feeling of disappointment." Those involved began cutting down their trees in anger.

When Asili and The Body Shop approached the Rwandan farmers many years later, in 2015, at first they balked at the idea of yet another outside group telling them to give up their livelihoods for more moringa planting. "At one of the farms I went to, so deep was their disappointment that they had a local man on security, they took a note of my car's registration number, and they charged me," Hakizimana says. "Our manager had to come and rescue me." The first step to building a successful relationship, he concluded, was to first restore local trust.

It's important to note here that land in the east of Rwanda is dry and arid, and prone to drought, meaning that farming — including harvesting food crops — is extremely difficult. The harsh climate means that communities have to find smart, sustainable ways to earn their money; otherwise, food for their family, tuition fees, and medical insurance can't be covered. For many Rwandans, farming is their only viable source of income. Finding the right partner to work with isn't about choice or being selective, but something that their lives depend on.

After instilling trust and providing farmers with a written contract, Asili handed out the remaining seeds around various plots and provided onsite farming management to get the process moving. Asili's landholders make £16 per year (around $22) from moringa seed sales, although this depends on the yield. Considering most of them can't afford annual health insurance, which costs about £2.50 (around $3.50), this income is a huge boost to their yearly wages. It's also worth mentioning that these farmers grow other crops, too, not just moringa.

So how has the Community Trade relationship benefited members of the Dufatanye Cooperative since teaming up? "Moringa is no longer a waste," Marie Narame, one of the farmers, explains. "Our trust and love for it has been restored. Asili is our client and we get cash from them. We have medical insurance, we can pay tuition fees for our children, and we can buy fabric to make our clothes." Narame is 57 and a widow, so she's the only source of income for her family.

While Rwanda has seen incredible economic growth since the devastating genocide of 1994, for the majority of moringa farmers in the country, the money they're able to earn is only ever enough to buy the essentials. Farmers like Narame hope that with brands like The Body Shop expanding the world's demand for Rwandan moringa — or, for example, Indian soapstone and Brazilian babassu oil across its other Community Trade partnerships — their financial situation will improve, leading to a better life for their children.

"We are encouraging women from other parts of the country to grow moringa so that the client expands the market, and we can get more value for our moringa," Narame tells Refinery29. "Then we can develop more, preparing the future for our children so that when we are no longer here, they will take on the work. I want my children to live a better life. I dream about that always." Make no mistake: The women of the Dufatanye Cooperative are fierce. A lot of them are widows with up to five children, and their work is physically demanding. "We are self-reliant and strong and hardworking. We are local leaders," she says.

When beauty is so much about making women feel confident, powerful, and the best version of themselves, wouldn't it feel even better to know that your products were directly empowering other women? Whether you're slathering your skin in a Neal's Yard argan oil, which has boosted independence for the Tighanimine Women’s Cooperative in Morocco, or painting on your Axiology lipstick, knowing your purchase has supported that woman-owned collective in Bali, beauty becomes so much more enjoyable when its very foundations are rooted in female empowerment.

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It goes without saying that women have long been underrepresented in the film and television industry — but that extends well beyond just actors. According to the Center for the Study of Women in Television & Film, in 2017, only 16% of directors, writers, producers, executive producers, editors, and cinematographers on the top 100 grossing films in the U.S. were women (up a mere two percentage points from 2016). Research is even more grim and practically nonexistent when exploring women in roles such as “best boys,” key grippers, and electricians.

In partnership with DOVE® Chocolate, an advocate for women in film, Refinery29 set out to find the inspiring women pursuing their dreams and breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated positions.

Sound recordist Fiona McBain started her career in 1987 as an audio trainee at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Over the years, she’s become a force to be reckoned with, working on feature films, TV series, documentaries, and commercials in Australia, China, New York, and beyond. She also previously worked on a video project with Refinery29 and DOVE® Chocolate, which showcased the stories of cocoa farmers in Ecuador.

Read on for McBain’s insight into her world behind the camera — from the importance of mentorship in the film industry to the impact #MeToo and Time’s Up will have on society moving forward.

What are the most important aspects about sound and recording sound that many outside your field may not realize?
“I think what a lot of people don’t realize is that sound is the most important. People tend to really think that the visual aspect of any story is the most important, but if you cannot hear the story being told, then you quickly lose interest and disengage. If you can’t hear the story, it doesn’t matter how beautiful it is. These days, we all have our phones; we can all make and tell stories. But as far as documentaries are concerned, you’re not only capturing information, you’re also capturing emotion. So don’t let anybody tell you that they can ‘fix’ sound in post production.”

People tend to really think that the visual aspect of any story is the most important, but...if you can’t hear the story, it doesn’t matter how beautiful it is.

Throughout your career, you’ve had the opportunity to travel to several different countries. How has gaining a more global perspective enriched your filmmaking?
“I think any kind of travel makes you have ears open, eyes open, heart open, and mind open. One of the best things about this job is that it’s a giant privilege to be in other people’s lives. For the DOVE® Chocolate shoot we did in Ecuador, we were walking into the lives of cocoa farmers who had been doing it all their lives. It was such a great privilege to go there and be in their homes and in their lives and to see their work. The great thing about traveling in the film industry is that you really do go places that you would never find yourself otherwise.”

Aside from advances in technology, can you speak to some of the industry changes more broadly?
“Something that has changed as recently as two years ago is the [surge] of more women crews — all-women crews. More specifically, the value that people are finally seeing in having more women in roles that were predominantly occupied by men — certainly in sound. The most important thing we can do is support each other and bring to light the facts that we are here and that we’re just as experienced as the men.

“There are so few women in sound and in other roles like key gripping, [gaffering], and electrics. It’s really important to have women on set and in those roles. That is the most recent change I’ve seen, and truly I think it’s well overdue.”

What do you think has helped spark that shift?
“I think what has changed is that there’s more interest in women’s stories. More women are making films and realizing that they can also have women crews. It’s almost like people just didn’t think of it. They just kept on hiring men; they didn’t think women did these jobs.

“It always used to be, ‘Oh, you can’t do that. The equipment’s too heavy; it’s too strenuous.’ People told women that as if the entirety of the job was to just carry heavy stuff. Of course, it’s not.”

For women interested in pursuing roles behind the camera, what’s been the larger impact of the industry’s lack of female representation?
“Not seeing enough women in these roles was and is a big deterrent. If you’re a woman and you’re in a field that’s predominantly occupied by men, then you don’t see that you can be yourself and approach the job from your own perspective.

“[Representation] is so important because we’re telling stories, and you've got to have our perspective. You have to have it from every level — even if it’s through the sound recordist who’s not literally telling the story. My input — as a woman and from my perspective within what I do — is important and affects the outcome.”

If you’re a woman and you’re in a field that’s predominantly occupied by men, then you don’t see that you can be yourself and approach the job from your own perspective.

In what ways does mentorship directly impact the number of women working in film?
“Mentorship can be as simple as seeing people in roles who are women. There were always a lot of women in the camera department when I was coming up in Australia, but there were so few in the sound department. It was still such a boys’ club that everyone had to be ‘tough.’ It was all about struggling, power, and who’s got the most important job. The job isn’t anything like that now. Now, we can get the job done in a way that we do it without having to act like men.

“Whenever I meet women in film, I recommend them. I always recommend the women I’ve worked with first — whether it’s in camera, sound, lighting, or grips. The most important things we can do are support each other and bring to light the facts that we are here and that we're just as experienced as the men. Keeping the circle of women is really important.

“Mentorship is also good because it says, ‘You are welcome here; you are welcome in this position.’ It says, ‘You are valuable and you have something to offer.’”

Can you share your thoughts on the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements and how you think they will change things for women in the film industry and beyond?
“The #MeToo movement was inevitable. I think a lot of men didn’t realize — it wasn’t on their radar the kind of behavior that was going down, whether they were contributing to it or not. Everything has to change; it all has to change.

“When I listen to music — and consider all the music I’ve listened to in my life — there just aren't enough narratives where women aren’t either objectified, nameless, in the background, lusted after, ‘sweet little girl,’ or ‘angry vixen.’ The narrative’s just got to change; it is about time.”

The most important things we can do are support each other and bring to light the facts that we are here and that we're just as experienced as the men.

What lessons stemming from this shift in society do you want to pass on to younger generations?
“I want [my daughter] to know you don’t have to be so polite, and you don’t have to be afraid of failing. You can say what you want, and it doesn’t have to be perfect or ‘ready to go.’ Men are much more comfortable with saying something and putting it out there as an idea. If it’s not right, it’s okay. I was certainly raised to be polite and well mannered. And on one hand, yes, it gets you through. On the other hand, though, women should feel free and feel valuable. Your opinion is as valuable as anybody else’s. Sometimes I think women don’t have that feeling. That’s something I want my daughter to feel.”

Every time I go on set and there’s an all-women crew or a nearly all-women crew, I just think it’s about time.

What has been your greatest career accomplishment thus far?
“I don’t know what my greatest accomplishment is — yet — probably just staying in the game. What’s helped me stay in the game has been the stories and the people. The camaraderie in a film crew is real and fun and lasting. The skills that you learn being a part of a film crew — the life skills — are so valuable.

“Obviously, I’ve worked with many, many, many, men. And many, many, many men have encouraged me to stay in this job. They have encouraged me and have made me feel good about what I do. But in this situation now, where there are more women working in film, I say it’s about time. That is something that has given me a lot of joy. Every time I go on set and there’s an all-women crew or a nearly all-women crew, I just think it’s about time.”

This story has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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How many women of color in journalism do you know about? If you can't come up with a lot of names, it's probably not entirely your fault: A new report found that female reporters of color are severely underrepresented in media outlets across America.

The 2018 Status of Women in the U.S. Media study, by the Women's Media Center, found that women of color make up only 12.6% of local TV news staff, 7.95% of print newsroom staff, and 6.2% of local radio staff. For the sake of comparison: People of color make up 38.7% of the U.S. population and women make up 50.8%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

But while those figures paint a bleak picture, it's also true that there are many amazing female reporters of color out there who are enriching the media landscape with their work.

This International Women's Day, Refinery29 decided to highlight 13 women of color in journalism whose names you should know. They are breaking barriers everywhere from TV to the digital media, creating spaces by and for people of color, or simply reporting issues that have been largely overlooked by traditional outlets.

The truth is that America is changing, so it's crucial for media outlets to employ people who belong to communities that have been historically underrepresented in newsrooms. As CNN anchor Ana Cabrera stressed in an interview with Refinery29 last fall, journalists of color "provide perspective, provide a voice that might be lacking."

"Of course, there are some issues that hit closer to home than others, but because of that, there's more passion in telling those stories. That doesn't necessarily mean that I'm going to cover them with an agenda in mind," she said. "I'm going to do perhaps an even better job in telling the story in all its completeness."

Click through to learn more about these journalists and their work. We hope that you find their reporting as empowering as we have.

Is there a woman of color in journalism whose work you love? Let us know in the comments!

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Oh, boy! Where is the last place you'd expect an edgy fashion show to take place? We'll bet Disneyland didn't even cross your list of possibilities. But if you're friends of Opening Ceremony's cofounders, Humberto Leon and Carol Lim, their Toontown extravaganza on Wednesday evening may not have surprised you. The two longtime Disney fans just made their own dreams come true by merging their brand with their nostalgic love for the House of Mouse in an unprecedented display.

@MickeyMouse is always in style! 🕺✨ Celebrate #MickeyTrueOriginal with an @OpeningCeremony fashion show, live from Toontown at @Disneyland on Facebook.com/Disney at 9 p.m. PST. #DisneyxOC

A post shared by Disney (@disney) on Mar 7, 2018 at 1:07pm PST

Hosting their spring/summer 2018 runway show in Disneyland Resort's Toowntown in Anaheim, California, Opening Ceremony's belated fashion week showing marked the first fashion show that's taken place at the park in 40 years (according to a Disney spokesperson, they hosted a themed runway about the evolution of American women in 1978). In tandem with Mickey Mouse's upcoming 90th birthday, the OC designers worked with Disney to create a limited-edition collection dedicated to the cartoon mouse using the backdrop of his own home. (If you missed the live stream, you can catch it in its entirety on YouTube.)

The spectacle was every bit as over the top as you would expect from an audience serving both hypebeasts and Disney-philes: using the Toontown trolley track as the runway stage, a soundtrack that meshed electro beats with Mickey's recognizably jolly voice, and a near empty cartoon-themed park offered Instagram opportunities galore.

Not two minutes after Opening Ceremony kicked off the event with a rundown of their current spring and summer offerings did the real fun begin. Leading the Mickey-themed runway, Disneyland's in-house band marched out (all matching in Opening Ceremony's new glittery La Cienaga sneakers no less), playing the classic 1960's Mickey Mouse Club theme song. Soon after, Mickey and Minnie emerged in full custom OC ensembles accompanied by a crew of dancers with a choreographed set that made sure to include a dab or two.

But it was the line-up of models that stole the show. Dressed in head to toe Disney gear, each original look one upped the last to reach new heights of what Disney's newfound footing in fashion really means. From a red furry coat adorned in throwback Mickey heads to a denim set embroidered with Mickey body parts, Leon and Lim made sure their pieces were far from subtle. The result? An entire collection of cartoon adorned looks that will have Disney fashion fanatics and cool kids alike clutching their pearls before bolting to the nearest site that'll carry the pieces.

Complete with a star-studded attendee list (Chance the Rapper, Laverne Cox, Maya Rudolph, and Disney starlet Sabrina Carpenter, to name a few) and an after party that included a DJ set by Diplo, access to unlimited Disneyland churros and popcorn, and a few open rides, the OC duo made sure to drive their inspiration home with a party the park's probably never seen before.

A post shared by Disney (@disney) on Mar 8, 2018 at 10:13am PST

A quick intake of Disney's re-emergence in the fashion sphere for the last few years shows the hype isn't going anywhere anytime soon. If anything, Leon and Lim's show fights the idea that Disney x " fashion" may be more than a passing fad and instead a cultural resurgence of how fashion can be fun again, even if the price tag may be a little more than what we're willing to part with.

While the show featured its spring '18 products, only select, retro-inspired pieces from the Disney x Opening Ceremony collection are available for purchase this season (to get your hands on the rest, you'll have to wait for the second drop in November). For now, you can drop by OpeningCeremony.com and ShopDisney.com to pick up some of the Mickey-inspired pieces today.

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Welcome toMoney Diaries , where we're tackling what might be the last taboo facing modern working women: money. We're asking millennials how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we're tracking every last dollar.

Today: a project director working in substance abuse treatment who makes $75,000 per year and spends some of her paycheck this week at Trader Joe's.

Occupation: Project Director
Industry: Substance Abuse Treatment
Age: 31
Location: Long Beach, CA
Salary: $75,000
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,998

Monthly Expenses
Rent: $0. (My husband pays rent and I pay for utilities and food. We keep our finances separate, which works well for us. We have joint savings goals, however, we are free to spend our money how we please as long as we take care of our individual responsibilities. We discuss large purchases and budgeting together, though.)
Student Loan Payment: $605
Utilities: $270
Phone Bill: $95
Gas: $140
Tithes: $200
Car Insurance: $95
Disneyland Pass: $114
Medical Insurance: $500
Credit Card: $800
Private Practice: $200
Gym Membership: $40
Daycare: $400

Day One

7 a.m. — I wake up late as usual. My alarm clock known as my four-month-old baby slept in a bit. (She usually wakes around 6 to eat.) I get up and warm her bottle, feed her, and change her. After she eats I can usually count on her going back to sleep until we leave for the day, but today there is no mini nap. I quickly get dressed and we head out the door. I drop her at Grandma's house. (I pay my sister-in-law monthly to watch her three days a week – I am so lucky!) I head to work, late as usual.

9 a.m. — I sneak into the office, drop off my stuff and walk down to the coffee shop on the corner. I oversee a very small staff of people who are are great at their jobs and therefore do not need micromanagement, which I love. By the time I get into the office, our clients are in group and things are running smoothly. I order a decaf coffee (I'm breastfeeding so I limit my caffeine intake, but I love my coffee) and a breakfast croissant with ham, cheese, red onion, and tomato. So good. $9.44

1 p.m. — It's been a typical Monday – small fires and chaos and whatnot. I take a moment to text my sister-in-law asking for a picture of my babe! She loves her aunt and every picture is always a smiley one, unless she's hangry. I miss her so much but I also love the freedom of my job. It's a good balance: I get enough time to be a decisive and articulate individual and then get to go home and be a silly mommy and wife. I am getting pretty hangry myself and I don't want to spend any more money at the coffee shop today. So I eat an everything bagel from my fridge at work and snack on trail mix that I keep in my drawer. That should last me until I get home.

Daily Total: $9.44

Day Two

9 a.m.— Today I get to work on time and manage to eat a breakfast of organic oatmeal and raisins. Oatmeal is great for your milk supply and since my babe is growing fast, I need to produce more breast milk. I check emails and talk to my crew before the day starts. We gossip about other coworkers, which is a horrible habit of mine. I have coupon from Express for $10 off, so I order a pair of black flats. I have a capsule work wardrobe, meaning three pairs of pants and five shirts to pair them with, but I am missing plain black flats. My kid has twice the amount of clothes as I do, but it makes my morning routine simple. I save money and I know I look professional daily. $26.27

12 p.m. — Sweet! I got a free lunch today. My coworker is a great cook but hates eating her leftovers, so she often gives them to me. Today it's homemade spaghetti, which I love. I didn't bring a lunch today so I would have had to buy otherwise. What a wonderful Tuesday.

6 p.m. — I pick up my babe and head home to make dinner. On tonight's menu is Trader Joe's Mandarin Orange Chicken and Vegetable Fried Rice with a side of squash. We eat out twice a week for dinner, usually on Friday and Saturday nights. The other nights I make really simple meals. My husband is a teacher and is studying for his master's as well as pursuing amateur boxing, so if I want to see him, dinner needs to take 20 minutes or less. We get the babe bathed, fed, and down for bed by 9 p.m. I pump for 30 minutes and then snuggle with my husband while watching wrestling on WWE. Great way to decompress. We have a 10:30 sharp bedtime.

Daily Total: $26.27

Day Three

6:30 a.m. — Today I work from home, which means snuggling with my baby and watching Tabatha's Salon Takeover for a few hours. I make myself oatmeal and raisins and get us dressed for the day. On days when I work from home, I take care of household admin tasks like grocery shopping and cleaning, so that I can reserve weekends for family and fun. We head to Trader Joe's and I pick up orange chicken, fried rice, protein cookies, apples, squash, grapes, cheese crunchies, pita chips, sparkling wine, tikka masala frozen dinners, frozen turkey burgers, blueberry scones, yogurt, and vanilla half and half. Basically whatever I see that looks good. I really need to get back on my meal-planning game. The babe is fussy, so no Target run until husband gets home. $57

6 p.m. — Damn Target! I went for toothpaste and of course ended up spending 200 bucks. I purchased an activity center for my babe; she has been super clingy lately and I am hoping this will entertain her just long enough for me to get some chores done. I also purchased a new shower curtain and bath mats for my grandpa's house, a birthday card and glove-and-beanie matching set for my two-year-old cousin, toothpaste, Listerine, Fixodent (for Grandpa), and this new matte lipstick I saw a commercial for. I am trying to feel like a woman/girl/person again so hopefully this will help. $200

8 p.m. — No dinner is being made tonight so my husband brings us home individual pizzas from the local make-your-own-pizza place. I get zucchini, ricotta, and pepperoni on mine. It's so freaking good. I have a glass of sparkling wine from TJ's. We all sit on the couch and watch The Big Bang Theory. My babe is tired at 9 and so am I. I put her to bed, pump for 30 minutes, and head to bed myself. $19.63

Daily Total: $276.63

Day Four

9 a.m.— Back to work! I am on time today, which I always acknowledge and celebrate. While I was pregnant, I took advantage of my freedom, working from home a lot and coming and going as I pleased. When I came back from my maternity leave, I made a goal of giving my 100% everyday, which includes being on time! Today I walk into my office and there's a crème brûlée donut waiting for me. My coworker is the best! I reimburse her for it. $3.50

12 p.m. — I brought a sandwich with cheese crunchies on the side for lunch today – pretty boring. Thursdays are pretty low-key around here, so I listen to Pandora and kill time before a 1:30 training. I look up the cost of Weight Watchers and contemplate signing up.

6 p.m. — We receive a final bill from the hospital in the mail today. $3,777! I actually do a little jig at the mailbox because it's less than I anticipated. When we found out we were pregnant we immediately started saving so we could take the max amount of maternity/paternity leave and not have to worry about bills. I was able to take four months off and my husband took six weeks. Combined, we saved $18,000 and we only used about $3,000 of it. I am really proud of us! We can pay this immediately without stress, which is such a blessing. I'll send it off tomorrow. Turkey burgers tonight for dinner. $3,777

Daily Total: $3,780.50

Day Five

11 a.m. — It's Friday, so I buy my breakfast/lunch: decaf coffee and a breakfast croissant. I decide I am not getting any work done today. I make a few phone calls and chat with my team. We eat cookies and talk about our clients. Fridays are the best. $9.44

5 p.m. — I pick up the babe and chat with my sister-in-law for a few minutes. I don't know what I want for dinner, but then my husband texts me: "Souplantation." Yes please, I have a coupon!

7 p.m. — The food at Souplantation is unimpressive. I'm tired and crash after feeding my babe for the night. My husband puts her to sleep while I doze off on the couch. I didn't even pump, which is going to suck in about three hours. $22.59

Daily Total: $32.03

Day Six

11 a.m. — On Saturdays we all go to my Grandpa's house to get his groceries and do his errands. He doesn't drive anymore, thank goodness. I stop at the donut shop by his house and get him a dozen plain ones. $8

2 p.m. — We pick up his groceries and then grab burgers at In-N-Out. Grandpa pays for lunch. I consider it payment for services rendered.

6 p.m. — I'm still content from lunch so my husband grabs a sandwich for himself. I snack on pita chips and have half a glass of sparkling wine. We cuddle on the couch and watch Dave Chappelle's new comedy special on Netflix. My husband and I talk about going to see Black Panther next week and possibly going to this 80s-themed bar we've been wanting to go to for while. We conclude that there is no way we can do both given our 10:30 bedtime, so we decide to go to the bar next week and the movies the week after. Grandma 1 and Grandma 2 can babysit.

12 a.m. We feel wild for staying up this late and exhausted. After Chappelle, we watch a show about women who go on a New Kids On The Block cruise. It's freaking fantastic. What bedtime? But seriously, I'll be up in two hours for my babe's 3:30 a.m. feed, so I need to go to bed.

Daily Total: $8

Day Seven

9 a.m. — Yay Sunday. We wake up and I eat a bowl of oatmeal and raisins. We head to church and I buy a decaf coffee. We go to my mother-in-law's house for free laundry and Sunday dinner. $2

6 p.m. — My mother-in-law doesn't feel like cooking tonight, so she takes us out for Mexican food. I destroy my dinner – breastfeeding makes me monstrously hungry all the time. My mother-in-law gives me her leftovers and some things from her fridge that she won't eat. We take homemade marinara sauce (which I freeze), tomatoes, and frozen chicken breasts. Yay!

7 p.m. — We get home and settle in. I put away the laundry and freeze the sauce. I pack the baby's diaper bag in preparation for the week to start again. Sundays always make me sad. This week we have an audit at work so I am going to have to step it up and actually do my job. My husband is holding my babe and playing video games. I sit down with my half glass of sparkling cider and read The Power in preparation for my book club meeting. I never finish the book but I love chatting and eating! Bedtime at 10:30.

Daily Total: $2

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.

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