If you delight in watching gooey zits pop and in seeing their nasty insides shoot across the room, take comfort in knowing that you are in the company of millions. And the Internet is totally supportive of your habit, too, providing popping videos in spades. At the forefront of the most gruesome ones is Dr. Sandra Lee (also known as Dr. Pimple Popper), who posts intimate excavation videos of blackheads so big and cysts so goopy, they have to be seen to be believed. With more than 1.8 million extraction videos on YouTube, Dr. Lee’s clips are in fine company.
If you see a “freaking goldmine,” as one commenter posted, where others just see a lump-filled nose — or just can’t look away from never-ending streams of pus that drain from enlarged pores — then hold onto your tweezers, because we’ve assembled the ultimate pimple porn playlist.
Ahead, see the most watched extraction videos of all time, each more intense than the last. And hold onto your lunch, you’re in for a bumpy ride.
Riverdale’s Lili Reinhart doesn’t have a problem telling it like it is, whether that means sharing her beauty routine when she’s stuck at home with bronchitis, getting real about her misconceptions about sex, or, most recently, calling out a magazine for Photoshopping her body in a social media post.
On Thursday, Reinhart called out Cosmopolitan Philippines for altering images of her and co-star Camila Mendes from the February cover shoot of Cosmopolitan US, trimming each of their waists to appear smaller (on International Women’s Day, no less). The actress shared her and Mendes’ retouched images on her Instagram Story. “Camila and I have worked incredibly hard to feel confident and comfortable in the bodies that we have," Reinhart wrote on one of the slides.
“It’s an everyday battle sometimes," she continued. "And to see our bodies become so distorted in an editing process is a perfect example of the obstacles we have yet to overcome. So we cannot stop fighting. Our battle has only just begun. We are fucking powerful, beautiful, and strong… we aren’t going to hide behind photoshop to conform to your beauty standards.”
Reinhart ended her body-positive rant with a call to action, encouraging women to continue to “kick some ass” and asking celebrities to “stop photoshopping their waists/noses/arms/legs in their photos,” as it’s only encouraging an unrealistic body image. We applaud Reinhart for being a strong role model who champions real body bodies.
The posts have since been deleted from Cosmopolitan Philippines' Instagram account.
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Peanut butter and jelly. Fried chicken and waffles. Grilled cheese and tomato soup. While there are plenty of tried-and-true duos we’ll never tire of, that doesn’t mean there isn’t room to try something new. In fact, there are tons of delicious food combos you probably haven’t even thought to put together.
In the spirit of embracing new things (and saving you from the boredom of another soup and salad lunch), we’re rounding up the most unexpected (and completely delicious) food pairings. From a meaty burger with grape jelly to pizza dipped in Hidden Valley Ranch, these seven unique matches are sure to add some much-needed variety to your everyday eating experience.
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Florida Gov. Rick Scott broke with the National Rifle Association (NRA), which in the past has given him an A-rating, and signed a major gun safety bill into law on Friday.
The governor said he signed the sweeping gun safety bill because "this is a time for all of us to come together, roll up our sleeves and get it done." Scott's decision marks a shift for the state of Florida, which has been used for years as a testing ground for legislation that expands the rights of gun owners.
The bipartisan bill is a compromise, but has opponents on both sides of the aisle. On Thursday, the Florida Education Association asked Scott to veto the measure, arguing that "the provision that would arm school employees will do more harm than good." Though President Trump and several other lawmakers have proposed arming teachers, the program created by the Florida legislation would not be open to those who "exclusively perform classroom duties."
Meanwhile, earlier this week NRA lobbyist Marion Hammer called the legislation "a display of bullying and coercion." She argued that the legislation violates the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners, and urged supporters to tell Scott to veto the bill.
However, organizations like Everytown for Gun Safety praised Scott's decision, calling it an historic move for the state.
“Since the Parkland shooting, survivors and the families of those killed and injured – along with concerned parents and students across Florida – have done everything and more that democracy asks of us. They showed up to demand change," Shannon Watts, founder of Everytown's Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, said in a statement. "And, because of that, something incredible happened: Politicians in Florida actually carried out many of their constituents’ demands and ignored the objections of NRA lobbyists. That’s how our government should work, and this legislation is just the latest proof point that the NRA’s political power is quickly eroding.”
Despite playing a character who fights tooth-and-nail to resist the Dark Side, Daisy Ridley is failing at it in real life. The actress, who shocked everyone with her buttery blonde makeover exactly one month ago, has already given in and dyed her hair back to a rich mahogany. As our little green friend once said, "Once you start down the dark path, forever will it dominate your destiny."
The star debuted the new look, wrapped up in an elegant chignon (with red nails to match!), on the London TV show This Morning earlier this week — proving that her 30-day trial on the Light Side just didn't stick.
But this isn't the first time Ridley has bounced between a spectrum of hairstyles in a short amount of time. In 2016, she chopped her hair into a bob and dyed it copper. Months later, she was rocking an ombré lob before going full-on brunette for Star Wars. Either the actress is constantly dipping under the hair bowl for roles, suffers from frequent hair boredom like the rest of us, or has her pulse on the biggest beauty trends. Case in point: Just this month, Julianne Hough, Rumer Willis, and Jennifer Morrison all dyed their hair a similar shade — which we're predicting will be the biggest hair color craze of 2018. (Not into red? Check out the rest of our hair color predictions here.)
Knowing Ridley, we advise against getting too attached to this new look. But we can all enjoy it while it lasts — and Ridley, might we suggest picking up some Olaplex in case the Light ever calls you back?
Like it or not, everything in fashion is cyclical. Just look at all the vintage-inspired elements we've seen come back in recent seasons: Shoulder pads, kitten heels, and wide belts are just a few of them. In the world of bags, it's the vintage-inspired top-handle silhouette that's officially become the It-bag of the fashion crowd, with tons of new options on the market in a range of price points.
Unlike a typical crossbody or shoulder bag, a top-handle bag just has a certain fashion-forward element to it, if you ask us. That's probably why they've been such a go-to for street-style stars the past few Fashion Months. Whether super-tiny to line up with the baby-bag trend or full-size and large enough to carry an umbrella and other essentials, the top handle is becoming ever-present in high-end and fast-fashion stores alike. This bag trend perfectly complements a floral dress or skirt suit, but it works well with more casual athleisure looks, too. If you prefer to be hands-free, many top-handle bags also include the option of a longer strap, fortunately.
Since this trend is already in full swing, click ahead to get a handle on the best top-handle bags we could find.
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And yet — unless you count every time her brows have been used as a frame of reference for anyone with a unified line of hair above their eyes — there's not much info out there about her specific grooming habits. Perhaps this is because Kahlo's belongings have been tucked away in Mexico City for half a century, but according to The Guardian, that's all changing when the Victoria & Albert Museum opens its show on the late artist and activist in London this summer. In it, visitors will get to see more than 200 of her personal items, including her jewelry, clothing, prosthetic leg, and the exact pencil she used to fill in her famous unibrow.
Like many famous women from that time, Kahlo fancied Revlon makeup — the brand of which her gently-used blush, lipstick (in her favorite shade, "Everything's Rosy"), nail file, and, yes, ebony eyebrow pencil will be on full display in its original packaging. (None of the products are still around today, but the closest match to the latter, a brand rep tells us, would be Revlon's Soft Black ColorStay Pencil.)
But the pencil holds more than just cosmetic significance — it's what Kahlo used to break the mold and express the woman she wanted to be. As Claire Wilcox, the exhibition's co-curator, told the publication, "This is the real material evidence of the way Kahlo constructed her identity." And, in the landmark year of women's empowerment, that's something worth celebrating.
Some celebrities are notoriously tight-lipped about their love lives... but are more than open when it comes to their skin -care routines. Thankfully for us, singer Jhené Aiko is open when it comes to both. We're just as obsessed with her relationship with Big Sean as we are with her gorgeous skin (and face, and voice... ). And someone with a face like hers should share the wealth, you know? Turns out that the Grammy Award nominee credits her clear complexion to Fraxel laser treatments, and we're already tempted to book a session right now.
On March 8, the Trip singer Instagrammed a selfie along with the caption, "Got laser on my face the other day and they burnt my forehead." Her fans pressed her for more details, and she delivered all the way. "I get Fraxel about twice a year. It's an intense laser treatment that improves texture, acne scars and enlarged pores," she wrote in the comments. "It's kinda expensive. And hurts like shit. Ur face micro scabs... the scabs fall off gradually... over a period of like 7 days. And then a new layer of skin is revealed... your face stays swollen for like another week. Its all so worth it tho lol."
Her experience mirrors that of most people who've tried the treatment. Dr. Jessica Weiser of the New York Dermatology Group once explained why Fraxel hurts so damn much. "Instead of completely destroying the surface of the skin [like older laser therapy did], it’s a pixelated-type destruction,” she said. “You’re making tiny micro-thermal zones. Those areas are then stimulating new collagen production.” But if the end result is looking as hot as Aiko, then it may be worth the temporary discomfort.
In between sessions, Aiko also has a really specific and dedicated product regimen. "I keep up the results w/ Alastin skin care, iS Clinical serums, [Cerave] wash, Lancer scrub and [Circcell Abo +|-] serum. Also I take collagen pills, drink kangen water, apple cider vinegar and take Super Food by Dr Shulze's daily!" She also mentioned that her birth control plays a part in her routine, too. "I [used] to have cystic acne due to ovarian cyst," she says. "The b.c. helps w/ that."
Despite the fact that her routine might set us back thousands of dollars, we're just grateful to have a celebrity who gets real about the process — and doesn't give water all the credit.
Lily Allen is one of my all-time favorite artists. I love her pop songs, I love her unfiltered shares, I loved when she used to cry on MySpace back in the day, I love it all. I am so excited to hear she's got a new album coming out (June 8; mark your calendars). Let's read the tea leaves of what's coming up: Allen says she's going to be brutally honest on this one. Apparently, Sheezus, which was rather disappointing, suffered from a lot of meddling by record labels and pressure to do things like not talk about being a mom. So one of the first songs, "Three," above, that she drops from the new album is written from the point of view of her 3-year-old. That's a classic Lily Allen "fuck your rules" move. She also worked with producer Greg Kurstin (Adele, Sia, Kelly Clarkson) on the last one, which is what you do when you want a big hit. For this album, she's back on the Mark Ronson wagon, and she hasn't worked with him since her debut album. In fact, he did "Littlest Things," which is one of her more intimate and lovely tracks. If that's what is in store, sign me up.
Sade "Flower of the Universe"
First things first: Sade can do no wrong. Her track for the A Wrinkle in Time soundtrack is soothing, as one expects a Sade smooth jam to be. But it's also uplifting and clearly covered in Black girl magic. There's something mournful in her voice, which is not unusual for Sade, but in the context of this song, it puts me in the place of listening to a woman who is full of calm confidence and imbuing me with a little of it.
Fatoumata Diawara "Nterini"
Fatoumata Diawara brings the music of Malawi to your ears with this gorgeous track. I'm very into how the guitar doesn't even sit on top of the music, it is just out in left field doing its own thing with total autonomy from the melody of the song. "I didn’t want to sing in English or French because I wanted to respect my African heritage. But I wanted a modern sound because that’s the world I live in," she said of the track, whose video puts the migration crisis at the forefront. It was created by Ethiopian photographer Aïda Muluneh.
Lissie "Love Blows"
Ever feel like all the things you've been told about a woman's place in the world and the role that romance should play in your life are part of a lie you've been fed? So does Lissie. Here, it feels like Lissie is chanting ideas I've had back at me, directly in my ears via her microphone. I love a good sad song, and this may be my new fave.
Doja Cat "Go To Town"
On the flip side of the coin, I love a good tribute to cunnilingus, and Doja Cat more than delivers. She caught my ears in the first verse with some questionable phrasing (your genitals do not taste medial, what?), but I've been talking to a lot of female songwriters about what voice we're missing when men write songs for women and a take that's quite this joyful on oral sex is most certainly among them. She walks the line between celebrating it and demanding it, but honey that's real.
After my first job at MTV working as a music programmer, I can't stop trying to matchmake people with music they might like. So, I wrote a book calledRecord Collecting for Girlsand started interviewing musicians. The Music Concierge is a column where I share music I'm listening to that you might enjoy, with a little context. Follow me on Twitter or Facebook, or leave me a comment below and tell me what you're listening to this week.
More often than not, females play small roles in action films. There are plenty of femme fatales, occasional sassy sidekicks, and a lot of female love interests. However, when it comes to female action heroes, the list is short. But it starts with Lara Croft from the iconic video game turned film franchise Tomb Raider. She’s an archaeologist/adventurer who has a lot to teach us: from her raw determination to her vast wealth of knowledge. As if that's not enough, she’s helped pave the way for more characters like herself.
We partnered with Warner Bros. to celebrate the new Tomb Raider, in theaters March 16. Above, Alysia from IGN Entertainment lists all the reasons we love (and always will love) Lara Croft.
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I have a confession to make: I don’t like salt spray. I know it’s one of those things I’m expected to rave about — after all, every model with artfully tousled hair I’ve ever interviewed has always waxed lyrical about the stuff, and it's the calling card of the aesthetic we know as cool-girl beauty. But for me, it’s filed away with coriander, The Beatles, and prosecco as a Thing I Just Don’t Get The Hype About. So when I heard that Kérastase was launching a "sugar spray" that had all the benefits of salt spray (added volume, loose texture, a piece-y finish) with none of the downsides (crispy lengths, tangles, flat ends), I decided to give it a whirl.
A big part of the problem I have with salt spray is that it involves so much scrunching of the hair. I like products you can work and style through your hair in a formulaic fashion, whereas salt spray requires so much ad hoc, nonchalant styling that it makes someone as type-A as me positively twitch. But in the name of journalistic integrity, I decided to throw caution — and my hair-dryer nozzle — to the wind. I started by straightening my hair while it was dry, which isn’t how I’d usually wear it, but I didn’t want any texture in there to begin with so I could see what the spray is capable of.
I then misted my hair (with a plant-watering bottle, of course) until damp, then went to town with the sugar spray. I’d been advised to use two to four pumps on each section of hair, so I took two-inch sections and sprayed up and down the lengths. I wasn’t sure if I’d used enough, but figured I could always add more as it dried, but couldn’t really take any away. I scrunched my hair with my fingers (you can use a hairdryer, but I wanted to go as lo-fi as possible) and let it air-dry, adding more spray where I felt I needed it.
The spray activated curls I’d forgotten I even had, thanks to years of blow-drying. The nape of my neck and the mid-lengths of hair sprung into cute, mid-sized waves, but other parts of my hair stayed stubbornly straight, though the spray did give them soft texture, minus any crunchiness. I think the lack of a uniform effect is down to the hodge-podge nature of my hair (I’ve got balayage, highlights, and the remnants of a Brazilian blow-dry), rather than a lack of efficacy from the spray. I did like the soft waves and insouciant texture it created, and it was easy enough to wash out at the end of the day.
If you like a loose wave, or desperately want to texturize super fine hair, this is a good bet, especially if you’re kind of a wash-and-go girl. Meanwhile, I’m off to collect the next stamp on my Drybar rewards card. See ya!
Kérastase Aura Botanica Eau de Vagues Sugar Spray, available at Kérastase beginning in April 2018.
I see a lot of beauty products in any given week, and most of them are really good, too, but rarely do I feel the urge to jump up and parade an item around for others to ooh and ahh over. But then again, rarely do expensive luxury brands make affordable miniature versions of their beloved, massive 15-pan eyeshadow palettes.
What makes Natasha Denona's new Mini Sunset Palette so special (besides the fact that it's adorable, perfect for travel, and only contains shades you want to wear) is the fact that the brand's original Sunset Palette costs a whopping $129. That's a pretty unattainable price for any single piece of makeup, no matter how great (and even Denona's other palettes cost almost $50). But the new Mini Sunset Palette rings in at $25, includes five shades, and, despite the name, isn't actually that tiny. (If you can't hide in your palm, is it really mini?)
The shadows within live up to Natasha Denona's reputation for creating stellar powders. They're easy to blend (almost creamy), highly pigmented, and have next to no fall out — all reasons the formula was a finalist in our Beauty Innovator Awards. While none of the shades are exact matches for any in the original Sunset Palette, the new Mini has the same warm orange, burgundy, and neutral bronze tones that work just as well for day as they do for night. I recently took a trip and packed this palette as my only form of eyeshadow and didn't feel like I was lacking colors — and I'm someone who doesn't shy away from rainbow makeup.
March 10 is the National Day of Appreciation for Abortion Providers. It’s a day to say thank you to the many healthcare providers around the country who work tirelessly to give pregnant people access to abortions or abortion-related treatment, like consultations or post-procedure care. It was started in memory of Dr. David Gunn, an OB/GYN physician who was murdered in 1993 by anti-abortion activists.
Today, we give thanks to the myriad of healthcare providers who perform this crucial healthcare procedure. This also includes their clinical staff, front desk workers, insurance billers, counselors, and researchers in the OB/GYN field. Their work ensures the health and safety of people seeking this constitutionally-protected service.
In the video below, Planned Parenthood spoke to anonymous patients who expressed their gratitude to their providers. One word kept coming up: compassion. Abortion providers allow pregnant people to make a decision about their own lives, relying on kindness and facts. One patient spoke of a provider who noticed them wavering on their decision, and encouraged them to forgo the abortion. Another is a trans man who expressed gratitude that their healthcare wasn’t marginalized because of their gender identity.
The scarcity of providers belies how often women access the service. The Guttmacher Institute (using data from the CDC) found that 19% of pregnancies were terminated through elective abortion in 2014, and that was a historic low. That is a lot of people seeking the service — almost 1 in 5 pregnant people has an abortion.
The fact is abortion is common, and the people who provide it face stiff opposition. Today, we give our thanks for those doing this work on behalf of fair, safe reproductive healthcare.
Today is National Abortion Provider Appreciation Day! A good way to celebrate is to donate money for women in need of affordable abortions and also to help me win a thing because I love winning things! https://t.co/VNPfslFiRY
— Ashley Nicole Black Panther (@ashleyn1cole) March 10, 2018
It's Abortion Provider Appreciation Day & we want to thank ALL of the providers around the world who provide such a necessary service for those who need it. We support you! #CelebrateAbortionProviders
ABC isn’t just defending Ryan Seacrest, they are standing firmly behind him, reports the Hollywood Reporter. The embattled host is currently under scrutiny for allegations of sexual misconduct by his former stylist, Suzie Hardy, when they worked together at E! News. Disney/ABC, which purchased the rights to American Idol in 2016, is rebooting the series after its Fox finale two years ago, with Seacrest returning to hosting duties. Seacrest has denied all allegations of sexual harassment.
Seacrest is accused of, among other things, pressing his crotch into Hardy’s face as she was tying his shoes, hugging her while in his underwear, slapping her butt hard enough to leave a red mark, and groping her genital area, which she claims caused her to cry. After the assault, Seacrest allegedly asked her, “Are you going to sue me?” Hardy replied that she would not if she was able to keep her job.
As a single mother, Hardy says she felt unable to speak out about Seacrest’s alleged advances for fear of losing her employment. “I didn’t know how to deal with [it]...I was battling finally being in a decent financial position to breathe and be a mom, that I didn’t have to be freaking out all the time, and then dealing with this infantile celebrity person who was testing me on every level and manipulating me and knew that I was in a vulnerable position,” she told Variety. Hardy also alleges that when she brought the matter to human resources at E!, she was terminated from her job two weeks later.
When the allegations were brought to E!’s attention, the network conducted an investigation and ultimately cleared Seacrest of any wrongdoing. Channing Dungey, ABC’s Entertainment president told THR that “we stand by the results of the investigation.” E! previously defended the quality of their investigation, telling Refinery29 that “over the course of a two month process, our outside counsel interviewed more than two dozen people regarding the allegations, including multiple separate meetings with the claimant and all firsthand witnesses that she provided. The investigator is an attorney with nearly 20 years experience and is highly regarded professionally. Any claims that question the legitimacy of this investigation are completely baseless."
FremantleMedia, which produces American Idol, also supports Seacrest. Their CEO, Cecile Frot-Coutaz, told THR: “I've known Ryan now for almost 16 years. I stand by him. Obviously it's unfortunate. I'm not privy to the details. He seems to be very robust in his defense. And we'll see where it all goes.”
The revamped American Idol will premiere on Sunday, March 11. The new Idol judges include singers Katy Perry, Luke Bryan, and Lionel Ritchie, with Seacrest reprising his former role as host.
10 Things I Hate About You wasn't just a movie. It was a literature lesson, a fashion moment, and a romantic awakening all in one. This adaptation of Shakespeare's Taming of the Shrew was set in 1990s Seattle (but filmed in Tacoma), with lots of scenes filmed at the home of the Stratford sisters. And if you have a cool $1.6 million, that home can be yours. Get ready to act out the pregnancy suit scene whenever you wish.
The five-bedroom 5,760 sq. ft Victorian home was built in in 1907 and overlooks Puget Sound. According to real estate agent Jeff Jensen, it hasn't been on the housing market for over 30 years, and the photographs show how diligently the home has been cared for. It still boasts original Victorian woodwork, including stunning carved wood stair railings and mantelpieces. Stained glass windows and built-in cabinets keep the place feeling true to its time, but don't worry, there's still plenty of home upgrades for the modern family. A finished basement with a party bar can entertain Kat (Julia Stiles) and Patrick's (Heath Ledger, we miss you) RiotGrrl friends, while Bianca (Larisa Oleynik) can cook dinner parties in the spacious kitchen with steel appliances and a granite island.
Browse through the photos to see the home, but be warned, you'll be running circles in your brain trying to figure out how to score a mortgage. Also, you should know the home doesn't include Kat's guitar or Bianca's collection of tiny floral dresses
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Female military service members are being forced to deal with male service members sharing nude photos of them, reports Vice. The photos were shared through a secret Dropbox account, which reportedly contained hundreds of photos of women throughout all five branches of the armed forces.
Vice describes the images as selfies or images taken by another party. They note that some images also appear to depict the servicewomen engaging in sexual activity. Some of the explicit photos are juxtaposed with fully-clothes images of the women, in an attempt to degrade them further. Dropbox has since deleted the offending folder and its contents.
"It’s been reported through NCIS and the appropriate measures have been taken," said Capt. Christopher Harrison, a Marine Corps spokesperson, to the Military Times. "I believe the site has been taken down."
Congress passed a law in December 2017 that made the "wrongful broadcast or distribution of intimate visual images" a criminal offense, subject to military court-martial and dishonorable discharge. 97 Marines were implicated in the original scandal following an investigation; seven were later court-martialed.
The images in the current scandal come from a similar Facebook group that sprung up when Marines United was shut down after the initial scandal broke. Vice ominously notes that there are several other closed male-only Marines Facebook groups that may be trading similar material.
Refinery29 has reached out the Department of Defense and representatives for the Marines for comment.
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People have always said that straight men don't like to kiss women who wear lipstick, to which I have always said, who the fuck cares? Women will wear whatever they want and kiss whoever they want, within reason. It is not on us to worry about what sticky gloss might come off on your face, or which rich red might transfer onto the pressed collar of your white shirt — and besides, it'll all come out in the wash. Only recently have I started to think of my own lipstick choices in terms of kissing. But it's not my boyfriend I'm so worried about: It's my dog.
As adorable as my 70-pound baby looks with a poppy-red lip print in the pale scruff on top of her head, I find myself wondering whether the products I wear on my face could be harmful to her. The possibilities are endless and terrifying; they keep me up at night. (The book I've been reading before bed every evening, about the assassination by poison of Russian FSB officer-turned-British secret agent Alexander Litvinenko who effectively solved his own murder, has nothing to do with that.) This, I think, is exactly how Jessica Alba must have felt before she started the Honest Company, hoping to create natural, non-toxic products that were safe for her children and children everywhere. Exactly like this.
But without the disposable income and potential investors to help me establish a safe-for-dogs health-and-beauty empire of my own, I'm doing the next best thing by wearing makeup that's natural and safe enough for my dog to lick off my face. Is that weird? Probably, yes, but she is a big dog with a big tongue and moves very quickly, so these things do happen. Fortunately, when they do, I'll be wearing Context's Nude Balm, an excellent sheer, creamy, shiny lipstick-balm hybrid that I can't get enough of right now. It's conveniently made with candelilla wax, watermelon extract, and vitamins C and E, and without parabens, sulfates, and phthalates. (The brand is also cruelty-free, which is good, because I would not want any animals harmed in the making of a product that's safe for my animal.)
Really, maybe I'm the one who should be more concerned about safety — I'm the one letting a dog that eats sticks off the ground and dust out of corners lick my face. But you know what? Love is love, baby, and good lipstick is good lipstick. We should all be so lucky as to have both... and dogs. Everyone should have a dog.
How do you make this season’s The Bachelor finale even more dramatic? Well, if you’re Saturday Night Live, you add Robert Mueller into the mix. SNL ’s parody of The Bachelor finale was all about impeachment. And just like Arie Luyendyk Jr., Mueller had trouble committing to Becca K., who just wants him to do the damn thing already.
Mueller, played by Kate McKinnon in some serious prosthetics, tells Becca (Cecily Strong, who’s spot-on in an off-the-shoulder blouse) that he won’t actually be giving her his final rose. Unfortunately, he’ll be choosing the investigation of President Donald Trump instead. The cold open pokes fun at Arie, with Mueller giving Becca some of the same pathetic excuses for breaking things off. In fact, Mueller’s excuse is almost exactly what Arie told the real Becca K. “I don’t think I can give you everything that you want right now,” says McKinnon’s Mueller, before adding, “and I think you sense that.”
While Strong’s Becca wasn’t wishing for a diamond ring, she just wants an indictment to happen — and quickly. Because who cares about marriage when democracy is on the line? She’s stunned that after all this time, he doesn’t have Trump on collusion already. Mueller basically gives Becca the old “it’s not you, it’s me” line to let her know that he’s only “half in with collusion,” proving that line works not only in dating, but in politics, too.
The truth is, there’s more at stake with Mueller’s investigation than with the dramas of any reality show — especially Arie’s boring season of The Bachelor — because it’s actually reality. While we all want Becca K to find love as the next Bachelorette, it’s all about her journey. Likewise, Mueller’s investigation is really about our journey as a country. Basically, SNL ’s Becca screaming, “Collusion is literally the only thing I’ve been looking forward to for the past year!” represents everyone who can’t stop watching CNN when a new detail about the investigation is revealed.
But, as McKinnon’s Mueller warns, “We just need to come together as a country right now and stop hoping for things that might not happen.” That line could be true of reality show romances and a swift Trump impeachment. In the end, all we can hope is that Mueller’s there for the right reasons.
You never want something until you can't have it. So, each week inThe Sell-Out, we're getting the scoop from your favorite retailers on what's selling like crazy. Watch this space to find out what everyone's buying, sign up for wait lists, and keep tabs on restocks.
If you know of luxury footwear brand Dear Frances, you probably associate the label with its most popular style, the Spirit Boot. Worn by Kendall Jenner, Bella Hadid, and Emma Roberts (just to name a few), the brand's ankle-height chunky-heeled boot has become a cult favorite since launching in 2016, selling out time and time again.
And Dear Frances' most recent launch, the Ayr Mule, is sure to catch on just as quickly. It's an updated take on the brand’s traditional mule, inspired by Danish mid-century modern furniture and featuring curved leather detailing and a unique tortoise Plexiglas heel. That it comes in neutral colors — black and olive — will only add to the sell-out factor. And not only can we envision this style on the same It-girl set, spurring sales, but get this: Only 50 pairs of each colorway are being produced.
It's the perfect spring transition shoe for everyone that's been loving (or coveting) the Spirit Boot all winter long. Click ahead to shop the sure-to-sell-out shoes for yourself, and keep going for some similar options from other brands — we're sure Dear Frances' limited quantities are already waning.
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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 registered nurse working in health care who makes $94,000 per year and spends some of her paycheck this week on bubble tea.
Occupation: Registered Nurse Industry: Health Care Age: 24 Location: New York City Salary: $94,000 Paycheck Amount (Weekly): $1,050
Monthly Expenses Rent: ~$1710 (Our rent includes electricity, which is why it fluctuates each month.) Student Loan Payment: ~$800 (My parents helped me pay for my first semester of grad school, so I pay them back in weekly installments of $200.) Wifi: $49.66 (My roommate Venmos me her half every month.) Netflix: $7.99 Spotify Premium: $4.01 (I'm on my friend's family plan.) iCloud Storage: $0.99 Stitch Fix Subscription: $20 Amazon Prime: $0 (I mooch off of my mom. Thanks, Mom!) Union Dues: $114 (The hospital I work at is unionized, so union dues are taken out of my paycheck once a month.) 403(b): 12% of my weekly paycheck
Day One
6:45 a.m. — I wake up to the sound of my roommate getting ready for work, so I check my phone to see what time it is. 15 minutes until my alarm. I close my eyes again and put off getting out of bed.
7:45 a.m. — I'm normally not up this early, but today's an important day – I have a job interview! I'm not very happy with my current job, so when I saw an opening at a lab recently, I jumped at the opportunity. I open my closet to choose my interview outfit. It's mid-January, yet I still decide on a button-down tucked into a pencil skirt (without tights). I guess I'll regret it later. I don't have time to make breakfast, so I buy a small latte and a blueberry scone on my way to the subway. $7.63
8:20 a.m. — I arrive to my interview a little too early, but I go in anyway. I check in with the front desk and head up to the fourth floor, where I am greeted by the smiling receptionist. I first take a medication dosage test, which I am expected to get 100% on. I do (yay), and wait until the recruiter calls me in.
9:30 a.m. — Time to head off to my interview with the nurse manager! The hospital is just a couple of blocks away from the HR building, and I have enough time, so I walk leisurely and go through interview questions in my head.
11 a.m. — I'm done! I thought the interview went well, but I try not to get my hopes up. The manager has a couple more interviews and told me that I should hear back by the end of next week. I need to pick up my student ID for school before my first day, so I take the subway down to campus. After getting my ID, I pick up lunch at my favorite Vietnamese restaurant, where I order shrimp summer rolls, a pork chop bahn mi, and a Vietnamese iced coffee. I carry all of my yummy food back home. $21.25
5:15 p.m. — Last week, I booked a SoulCycle class for today at 5:30. I'm trying to make a habit of going at least once a week, especially since I live right around the corner from one. I check into class and rent a pair of shoes, which are free because I bought a first-timer class pack!
6:15 p.m. — That class kicked my butt! I felt like throwing up during it and attributed it to being out of shape, but even when I get home, I still feel nauseous. I sit for a little bit and wait for the nausea to pass before finally hopping in the shower.
8 p.m. — No plans for me this Friday night! I curl up in bed and binge-watch Suits on Amazon Prime until I fall asleep.
Daily Total: $28.88
Day Two
6 a.m. — I wake up to the sound of the apartment door closing. My roommate is going home for the weekend and just left. Normally I would check what time it is, but I'm too lazy (and sore from SoulCycle) to bother. I drift back to sleep.
12 p.m. — Finally wake up after snoozing for hours! I have work tonight at 7 p.m., and I usually try to sleep as much as possible before my shift. I make myself avocado toast with eggs and then crawl back into bed to watch Suits. (I bought a bag of avocados from Trader Joe's last week and they're finally ripe, so it looks like I'll probably be eating avocados daily for a the forseeable future.)
5 p.m. — The hardest part is getting myself out of bed and to work. I only work three days a week, but it's still incredibly draining. I put on my scrubs, throw my work stuff in a bag, and head out the door by 5:30.
5:45 p.m. — I always forget that subways run locally on the weekends. Luckily, I snag a seat, so I'm able to close my eyes for the 30-minute ride.
6:15 p.m. — I'm in desperate need of coffee, so I reload my Starbucks app ($15) and mobile order an iced latte to pick up. I realize that I haven't eaten since noon, so I swing by a deli near work and scoop up rice, beef, broccoli, chicken, and veggies into a small container ($9). I'm ready for my night of work! $24
Daily Total: $24
Day Three
7:30 a.m. — Freedom!!! I actually had a very calm night at work, which is pretty rare. I get my stuff from my locker and take the subway down to Trader Joe's to pick up groceries. I get fruit, a Thai Citrus Chicken salad (I live off of this salad), cereal, yogurt, snacks, and some frozen meals. Then I hop back on the subway. $27.66
8:45 a.m. — Home sweet home! I put away my groceries, kick off my scrubs, and jump in the shower. I always feel gross after a shift (who knows what germs I'm carrying around!), so I pretty much always shower as soon as I get home. I watch Suits while eating a bowl of cereal, and then I fall asleep without realizing it.
2:30 p.m. — Thank God I had an alarm set! I probably wouldn't have woken up otherwise. I don't have work again until Wednesday, and when I usually have a couple days off, I try not to sleep too much after work because it messes with my sleep cycle. I decide to make a trip to Target to pick up school and cleaning supplies. First, though, I need my caffeine. I stop by a coffee shop and get a large iced latte ($4.50, but I have 10 drinks on my punch card, so this one's free!) and walk over to Target.
3:30 p.m. — First stop? The dollar section. Everything's so cute! I only walk away with one thing, which I'm super proud of myself for, and then set out to find the items I actually came for. I get school and cleaning supplies ($20) and more snacks ($15.43). $35.43
6:30 p.m. — I'm starving! I resist the urge to order out and instead make my own dinner: Trader Joe's frozen gnocchi plus two handfuls of spinach. I usually don't finish all of it, but I'm extra hungry today and devour the entire thing.
8 p.m. — My roommate is back! We sit around the dining table and chat/gossip for a bit before we both retire to our rooms. I fall asleep by accident again while watching Suits.
Daily Total: $63.09
Day Four
8:30 a.m. — I get out of bed after snoozing for half an hour and make myself avocado toast with a fried egg.
9:45 a.m. — I've decided to run errands and get my life together today. I dress in workout clothes just in case I don't have time to stop back home before my SoulCycle class at 12:15. I head over to the post office, which happens to be next door to my apartment, to send back my Stitch Fix order. I really loved a pair of jeans that I received, but after much debate have decided not to keep them. After the post office, I grab a skim latte. $4.50
10:30 a.m. — I'm blessed (or cursed?) to live just a short walk away from Marshalls, so I head over. The pair of tights I'm wearing right now has a hole in the thigh area, and I've been meaning to replace them. Coincidentally, there's a sale on workout clothes! I fall in love with a pair of Reebok cropped leggings, so I get two pairs in different prints ($29.98). I check out the home goods section and find a lovely rose quartz-scented candle ($3.44). At checkout, the cashier asks if I want to donate a dollar to the children's hospital. Why not? $34.42
11:15 a.m. — I still have time before my SoulCycle class, so I head back to my apartment and change into a pair of my brand new leggings! They feel so nice and stretchy – definitely worth it.
12 p.m. — I arrive at my SoulCycle class and rent a pair of cycling shoes ($3). I grab a set of ear plugs (my ears were ringing for hours after class last time due to the loud music) and stretch. The theme of today's class is “The Evolution of Rihanna,” so I'm pumped! $3
1 p.m. — I have a major crush on the instructor, but I think he might be gay. Oh well. For lunch, I decide to get a smoothie from this little stand a couple of blocks away. I order a large chocolate, peanut butter, banana, and protein smoothie and then relax on a bench at the plaza around the corner. I text my friend about my crush on the Soul Cycle instructor, and he instantly finds the instructor on Instagram. I stalk him for a little and come to the conclusion that he's definitely gay. Story of my life. $6
2 p.m. — Ugh, laundry time. I've put it off for too long. Luckily, I have a laundry room in my apartment building, which is rare for NYC apartments. I decide to wash my sheets too, so I do two separate loads. $10.60
4:45 p.m. — My laundry is all dry and folded! I lay in bed and browse Buzzfeed until I get hungry.
6 p.m. — I make myself a large pot of pesto pasta with chicken and lots of broccoli and asparagus. I'm not a very good cook and therefore don't cook a lot, but eating out gets expensive! I spoon out a generous portion and then refrigerate the rest for tomorrow.
8 p.m. — I force myself to wash the dishes and then crawl into bed. Instead of watching Suits, I decide to read. I started Murder on the Orient Express back in December and am more than 75% finished with it, but haven't picked it back up in a few weeks. My goal is to read one book every month in 2018 (a goal I accomplished in 2017), and I know it'll get more difficult to find free time to read once school starts. Better get started now! I read until about midnight and fall asleep.
Daily Total: $58.52
Day Five
8:30 a.m. — My alarms failed to go off this morning, but I swore I set three yesterday? I have my first day of graduate school today, but my classes aren't until late afternoon. I decide to lounge around in bed until lunchtime. I eat a bowl of cereal for breakfast and spend the morning reading the news on my iPad and finishing Murder on the Orient Express. First book of 2018 is complete!
12 p.m. — Lunchtime! I heat up the rest of my pesto pasta from dinner yesterday and eat a generous serving. I never know how much pasta to cook and feel like I always end up making enough to feed a small village.
1 p.m. — Even though my first class doesn't start until 4:55, I decide to go to my school's library to print out lecture slides. (Printing costs are covered through school.) It's uncharacteristically warm today (high 50s), and I'm sweating under my thick cardigan. I swear my body temperature is 20 degrees warmer than the average human's.
2 p.m. — I've printed and stapled my lecture slides and decide to get coffee before class. I received an email from Gregory's Coffee, where I'm a rewards member, for $2 off any drink today, so I guess I know where I'm going! I decide to walk because it's nice outside, and it takes me about 20 minutes. I order a large cold brew ($2.32, thanks to the coupon!) and kill some time there. $2.32
3:30 p.m. — Oops, looks like I have to purchase an online book for my Statistics class. There goes $45. I also browse Amazon and end up buying a couple of things: an umbrella (mine has been broken for weeks and I've been borrowing my roommate's), a binder, a 3-hole punch, highlighters, binder tabs, and a screen protector for my iPad. $106.97
4:30 p.m. — Time to get to class! It starts pouring as I begin my 10-minute walk, but luckily I have my roommate's umbrella!
9:15 p.m. — Done with my first day of graduate school! I had Research in Nursing first and then Statistics. My brain is fried! All I can think about is food. As I'm waiting for the subway, my friend texts me and asks how it went. She's also in my grad program, but missed class today because of an emergency. We make plans to meet up on Thursday for coffee so that she can tell me what happened (she says it's CRAZY), and I offer to go over notes with her as well.
10:05 p.m. — It takes forever to get home because the trains are delayed. I eat a Trader Joe's pre-packaged salad and fruit while I go over tonight's Statistics lecture.
11 p.m. — I add a couple of events to my iCal, update my to-do list (I have homework already!), and call it a night. I'm exhausted! By the time I fall asleep, it's almost 1 a.m.
Daily Total: $109.29
Day Six
10 a.m. — I wake up feeling pretty groggy – I'm still feeling the effects of being in class for so long yesterday. I lay in bed a little bit longer and then get up to make myself avocado toast with two fried eggs.
12 p.m. — For some reason, I'm still feeling really sleepy, so I take a nap.
3 p.m. — I wake up from my nap confused by a dream that I had in which I had a chest tube! (I work on a floor of the hospital where a lot of post-surgical patients have chest tubes.) I guess that's my body's way of telling me that I don't want to go to work! I get out of bed, shower, and whip up a quick dinner using Trader Joe's frozen mushroom risotto.
6:15 p.m. — I mobile order a venti iced latte from Starbucks on my way to work using my Starbucks app. I still have money on it from the $15 I reloaded a couple of days ago, so it technically doesn't cost me anything.
7:30 p.m. — Ugh, nights like tonight make me remember why I'm trying to find a new job. Just hoping that the night goes fast and no one dies. Including me.
Daily Total: $0
Day Seven
7:30 a.m. — I fly out of work the minute I finish my report. I have lunch plans at noon with a friend who I haven't seen in over a year, so I hustle back home as quick as possible.
8:10 a.m. — I'm home earlier than usual! I hop in the shower, dry my hair, and fall asleep within seconds.
11:35 a.m. — My alarm goes off, and I realize I'm running late! Luckily, my friend messages me on Facebook to say she'd be a couple of minutes late herself. Perfect! I quickly get ready, throw on an oversized sweater and leggings, and run out the door. We're meeting at a vegan restaurant near campus, and I make it there within 20 minutes.
12:10 p.m. — My friend gets there first and saves us a table. I'm starving by the time I arrive and already know exactly what I'm going to order. We both get the Spicy Thai Salad with a side of sweet potato fries – YUM. We spend the next hour catching up and chowing down our delicious food. $17.64
1:30 p.m. — After lunch, we head to the university bookstore, where I get my coworker and I reusable water bottles. (I had told her I would pick one up for her.) The total is $45.73, and she Venmos me $16 for hers. $29.73
2 p.m. — My friend and I go our separate ways. I decide I need coffee because I'm running on two and a half hours of sleep and use the remainder of the money on my Starbucks app to buy a grande iced coffee. I head to the library to kill some time and also to pee.
3:30 p.m. — I meet up with my friend (the one who missed the first day of grad school classes) for coffee. I get a medium skim latte and listen to her absolutely insane story, which has to do with a crazy former roommate. Then we go over the Statistics homework. $4.50
6:15 p.m. — Running on less than three hours of sleep is starting to get to me, so I head back home. I debate ordering takeout, but my apartment complex has free food today in the lounge! (Every couple of months, my building has "Resident Appreciation Day," where there's free food from a different vendor). I decide to go up to the lounge to check it out. Today is BBQ! I get a brisket sandwich with pickles and a side of coleslaw. Though I still secretly want Chinese takeout, I convince myself that free BBQ is pretty awesome too.
8:45 p.m. — My roommate and I decide that we're both craving bubble tea. We live dangerously close to a bubble tea chain, so we bundle up and make the short trek. I get a medium passionfruit green tea with bubbles and happily slurp my way home. $4.75
11 p.m. — I don't think I can keep my eyes open any longer. Zzzzz.
Daily Total: $56.62
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