Against all odds, 37-year-old Marta Cross has managed to establish herself as an actress in Hollywood. She’s starred in several high-profile feature films, had guest roles in over a dozen TV shows, and has produced, directed and starred in her own films. But unlike the glitz and glamour of daily red carpets, her life looks like what some might say most working actors’ lives look like: She runs from audition to audition, hosts screen parties, manages an Airbnb with her husband on the side, and is working on developing a TV pilot with her friends. To say her life is hectic is an understatement — and on top of all this, Marta is also a new mother to a two-year-old boy named Maxwell.
To get to her stable, albeit busy, career, Marta has had to hustle, and she’s had her own share of Hollywood’s ups and downs. When she first moved to Los Angeles from Austin, TX, she was on the tail of two movies she starred in, 2006’s Believe In Me and Red Ridge. But Marta quickly discovered that those credits weren’t a guarantee. Shortly after her arrival, Marta was up for the lead role in a big TV movie. And though they initially told her she got the part, they later changed their mind. “They told me, ‘Oh you’re gonna love [shooting in] Montreal,’” Marta said, “and then I got a call saying they went with the other girl.”
Marta had to start from square one in the new city, taking on two waitressing jobs to support herself and her acting career. And despite everything Hollywood threw at her, Marta persisted and managed to create a fruitful career for herself. And have a family to boot.
So exactly how is Marta able to do this? (Note: She does not have super powers.)
Watch the video above to see what a day in the life of Marta is like, as she balances motherhood with Hollywood.
For many of us, our extensive skin-care regimens are established out of need. Whether it's acne or rosacea, eczema or premature signs of aging, most of our routines are built specifically to fend off whatever our personal skin hang-ups may be. But if your skin’s always pretty much fine — normal, even — then what’s the impetus for you to invest time and money in a thoughtful regimen? After all, if it ain’t broke…
But that doesn't mean you're exempt from the importance of having at least a few good skin-care products that work for you. A good regimen is part maintenance, part insurance: keeping what you have in check, and ensuring your good-skin streak lasts as long as possible. And most people will tell you that the three pillars of an effective routine are cleansing, exfoliating, and protecting.
So first, cleansing. Double-cleansing might sound like overkill, but if you live in a city or wear makeup daily, it's actually a necessity. Taking your makeup off is just the beginning; if your cleanse stops there, you leave untold amounts of bacteria, grime, and residue lurking in your pores. A good makeup remover doesn't have to be expensive — micellar waters, like the classic Bioderma formula, make light work of even waterproof makeup. And then on to your second cleanse, which removes any last trace of makeup as well as general day-to-day dirt. Sure, your face may not look dirty, but the accumulation of even microscopic particles of buildup and grime can still make your skin as congested as L.A. at rush hour. Gel cleansers are great all-rounders suitable for most skin types.
Then, onward to exfoliation. Your skin has a natural exfoliation cycle that it goes through every day, where dead cells slough off and fresh new ones come through, but makeup and SPF can get in the way of this, so make sure you expedite the process with an exfoliant a couple times a week. The jury’s out on whether physical exfoliants like scrubs are better than chemical, like lactic or glycolic acid, and there are compelling arguments on either side. Try rotating between the two for the best of both worlds, but be careful not to overdo it.
The next part is the most important, so pay close attention. Protection takes a lot of forms — primarily, SPF and a good antioxidant. UV damage is the silent killer when it comes to your skin health, and while you do get more sun in the warmer months, you need to wear sunscreen all day, every day, regardless of weather. The sun's rays can even penetrate glass, so if you sit near a window or drive a lot, you'll be getting exposure without setting foot outdoors.
Antioxidants are your best friend when it comes to fighting the free-radical damage that pollution brings. Free radicals are nasty little suckers that go around attacking cells in your body and causing oxidative stress. Your body is pretty good at fighting them off using antioxidants of your own, but over time, you get less good at it, and modern-day pollution is sky-high. Vitamin C, in addition to being a powerful antioxidant, is supremely brightening on the skin and has numerous side benefits, making it a winner all-around.
Then you'll definitely need a hydrating booster, to be worn under your sunscreen every day. And these are truly the basics — the skin-care adventure doesn't stop here, so add whatever you see fit. Try some niacinamide in the evening if you're in pursuit of smaller pores, and you'll definitely want to add a retinoid at some point.
The thing is, skin care shouldn't be a chore, no matter your skin type. For some, a 10-step regimen of toners, essences, serums, and lotions is the perfect day to wind down before bed; for others, it's as much fun as filing your tax return. Find a happy medium in terms of effort and cost that works for you, and make sure you cover all the bases, and your "normal" skin will be better than fine.
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 digital strategist working in journalism who makes $56,100 per year and spends some of her paycheck this week on lingerie.
Occupation: Digital Strategist Industry: Journalism Age: 24 Location: Boston, MA Salary: $56,100 Paycheck (Monthly): $1,774, plus $600-$800 in freelance income
Monthly Expenses Rent: $1,100. (My SO makes about three times my salary, plus a significant bonus, so we split rent 60/40. It's important to me that I feel like I'm paying for my own living expenses, but he always picks up nice dinners, bigger vacation expenses, etc.) Student Loan Payment: $0. (I graduated from college with $30,000 in private loans, and paid them off two years after graduating.) Utilities, Cable & WiFi: ~$100 Spotify: $4 New York Times Subscription: $4 Therapy: $50 Headspace: $12.99. (This is a new expense, suggested by my therapist.)
Phone Bill: $97 Netflix, HBO Go & Hulu: I use my boyfriend's. Workout Class Package: $125, alternating between spin and barre every month Transportation: $0. (I walk to work.) 401(k): $400
Day One
10:30 a.m. — I wake up and learn that there's a story I need to work on. I'm a little irritated because it's going to take up my entire afternoon, and I become grouchier and grouchier about it as the day goes on. My boyfriend makes matzo ball soup with homemade broth we have in the freezer; it cheers me up a little, but my anxiety over work is pretty high.
3:30 p.m. — Finally done with work for the day; what a Sunday. It's rainy and gross out so we knock out our errands early and stay in for the rest of the day. I call an UberPool to Whole Foods. $2.89
3:45 p.m. — Spending money on “fancy” groceries is probably my biggest vice. I like to cook with food I'm excited about, and it makes me want to eat out a lot less. I grab ground chicken, kale, broccoli rabe, parsnips, chickpeas, steak tips, salsa, bell peppers, and a bag of honey-roasted chickpeas I keep in my desk to snack on ($58). My boyfriend picks up two bottles of wine, a bag of Linzer cookies for me and a few cans of cold brew, which he pays for. (He usually eats dinner at his office on weeknights, so most of our groceries are my stuff). $58
6 p.m. — I decompress from a stressful morning and afternoon by reading. I'm just getting to The Rules Do Not Apply and am loving it, as a journalist myself. My boyfriend makes roasted sweet potatoes and broccoli over rice (a favorite Smitten Kitchen recipe) while I watch The O.C. He's wonderful and we really work to support each other on days when one of us needs it. He sits down beside me and tolerates a full episode of the show.
8 p.m. — We make a pot of tea. (We're big on tea, less on coffee, in general). It turns into a solid Sunday after all.
Daily Total: $60.89
Day Two
8:00 a.m. — Wake up just as my boyfriend is leaving for work. I get dressed and throw a breakfast round into the toaster oven. (We get them at Whole Foods, and I'm obsessed. Today's flavor is cranberry apple.) I make a cup of matcha too; it's way cheaper than buying coffee or a matcha latte at work, and healthier, too! I read The New York Times and scroll through Instagram.
12:30 p.m. — For lunch, I eat leftover broccoli and sweet potato over brown rice with soy sauce. I really try to minimize how much I eat out during the week. (I'd say this played a huge role in how early I was able to pay off my loans after college.)
1:45 p.m. — I had a fairly successful no-shop January. As someone who freelances a lot, it's hard not to treat freelance income as “fun money” and not budget appropriately with it. To get over this, I'm really trying to only buy things I love and can't stop thinking about buying. So far this month, I've bought a pair of pants from Everlane that I think I'll wear all spring and summer. (I've officially decided I can no longer wear short shorts on a regular basis. RIP.) To that end, I see L.L. Bean is having a sale on summer clothing, and I find a seersucker sundress that can replace a white linen dress I've had for years, which is sadly too short for me now. $63.25
5:30 p.m. — On my walk home, I decide to be nice and pick up my boyfriend's dry cleaning since he's having a really busy week. It's cash only, but luckily, I actually have cash for once. He Venmos $5.40 me for it.
6:30 p.m. — I hop on a call with a creative recruiter I found on LinkedIn since I want to take on more copywriting projects. He's nice enough, but it sounds a little bit like a scam. I read reviews online and learn that people do not like working with this agency. It's not for me, but I'll follow tomorrow with a "thanks, but no thanks."
7 p.m. — Dinner is leftover short rib, collard greens, fingerling potatoes, and matzo ball soup –what a feast! I snack on kalamata olives (my favorite) that I bought at the overpriced Whole Foods antipasto bar. Then I chow down while watching Gossip Girl for the 500th time. I also embark on an ambitious lunch creation for tomorrow, and TOTALLY mess up – it turns out really gross, and I can't bring myself to package it up in Tupperware. I'm mad at myself for wasting steak tips, veggies, and an hour of my time. Dejected, I toss the whole production into the trash (so wasteful), and shower to try and de-stress.
10 p.m. — Remember I never invoiced one of the writing projects I just filed. I submit the invoice, looking forward to the $200 check that should come my way in two weeks. Then it's time for a little reading before I am tuckered out. My boyfriend texts to say he's leaving the office soon, but I fall asleep before he gets home.
Daily Total: $63.25
Day Three
8 a.m. — Breakfast is a cranberry-orange whole wheat round and vanilla cold brew with almond milk. I really don't want to buy lunch, so I grab a frozen burrito and a Siggi's lemon yogurt. I throw deodorant, lipstick, and a perfume sample in my bag because I have a photoshoot for a freelance gig after work, and I want to feel somewhat put together.
12:15 p.m. — Several fire drills in the office since we're well into production for our spring issue. I clean up edits on an online piece that's running tomorrow. I also get an email from a client I'm eager to work with on freelance editing work, asking if I'd be interested in pursuing a new project for two or three hours a week. I'm so excited: It'll be about $400-$500 a month, regularly! Not pitching publications and brands for copy work is so nice, and having anchor clients is my dream as a freelancer. I accept and then happily eat my frozen burrito and Siggi's while reading Into The Gloss.
4 p.m. — I walk back to the office and try to finish last-minute tasks on my to-do list, like laying out a marketing email and chatting with our art department for my online piece that will run tomorrow. I also book a bike for a post-work spin class on Thursday because it's going to be over 50 degrees and that is TROPICAL in Boston this time of year.
5 p.m. — I have a photoshoot for a piece I wrote for one of my side-hustles, along with a friend who works on it with me. It's at a local wine store, and we are really excited about it. We hop on the T. $2.25
6 p.m. — The photoshoot is a blast, and we get to sample a few different wines. I ask for a recommendation and pick up a new Bordeaux. $22
6:30 p.m. — My friend and I want Greek food right across the street for dinner, so I break my no-eating-out-during-the-week rule because it's nice out and sometimes life is worth breaking your own rules for. I get a chicken gyro and we split fries. $9.50
8 p.m. — Time to plop down on the couch. I make a small pot of green tea and force myself to make lunch for tomorrow: refried beans, whole wheat tortillas, salsa, and cheddar.
Daily Total: $33.75
Day Four
8 a.m. — I eat a hard-boiled egg for breakfast and make a quick mug of matcha. My boyfriend kisses me on his way out the door.
11:30 a.m. — I'm hungry earlier than anticipated, so I start picking away at my lunch. I'll be really hungry later, too. I can feel it. While eating, I look at lingerie and wish I'd bought something when there were Valentine's Day sales, even though I know I was being lured into the marketing. I interned at a lingerie brand when I was in college (it was a total nightmare) but it instilled a love of nice undergarments in me. There's a lovely boutique down the street from my office. I walk over on my lunch break with the intent to browse but leave with a Chantelle bra I love – a quality purchase! $50
6 p.m. — Once I'm home, I start cooking what turns out to be a very ambitious dinner for one. I wasn't expecting my boyfriend to make it home, so I thought I'd treat myself. It's ginger-maple ground chicken meatballs over pasta with broccoli rabe. Broccoli rabe is my favorite vegetable, but tricky to get right. I turn on music (Arctic Monkeys, the classics) and get to work.
7:45 p.m. — My boyfriend gets home relatively early and with a box of chocolates from Burdick's! I'm really pleased and surprised and eat three truffles at once. We make tea and catch up before bed.
Daily Total: $50
Day Five
11:30 a.m. — I run an hourlong recurring meeting for our team twice a month. Initially, it was daunting to get up in front of so many people and be in charge, but it has turned into a great learning experience for me that I wouldn't trade. This one goes fairly smoothly, luckily.
3:30 p.m. — My day slows down considerably, so I walk around the corner for a cold brew. Surprise: it's way too late in the day for me to be drinking coffee, and I'm way too hopped up and borderline nauseous the rest of the day. $4.25
5:45 p.m. — Once I'm home, I work on freelance projects, trying to channel the energy into something productive. I pitch an editor a new idea for a piece, and he actually responds an hour later (rare) with the green light. At least I'm selling work in my queasy state.
10:30 p.m. — Pop a Pepto Bismol and crawl into bed.
Daily Total: $4.25
Day Six
8 a.m. — Friday, glorious Friday! I make a smoothie with almond butter, blueberries, strawberries (I keep these frozen), and almond butter. Plus a sprinkle of matcha.
12:40 p.m. — I have a stressful morning at work. My copy is getting a ton of edits that I don't necessarily agree with, and it frustrates me more than it should. I do a Headspace session in my office, and then realize I just really don't want to eat my frozen burrito for lunch. A friend and I order Dig Inn on Caviar. I get the herb chicken marketplace bowl over farro with cashew Caesar and sweet potatoes. $16
5 p.m. — I'm meeting friends from my old office for drinks before we go to karaoke. I swing home to drop off my stuff and change before calling an Uber to the bar by our old office. It takes forever in traffic, but my phone says the T is very delayed so I thought this would be better (plus, I have 40% off of Uber for the week). $7.68
6 p.m. — I buy a Corona and pay in cash, which sucks because I can't budget well when I don't use my card. Catching up with old colleagues is fun, though! $3.50
7 p.m. — We walk to a Japanese place down the street because we figure the trendier spots near the karaoke spot will all have terrible wait times. We were right: This restaurant only has a 25-minute wait. We each get a sake cocktail at the bar while we wait for our table. I order soba in warm miso broth with fried bean curd and fish cakes. $38
10 p.m. — Several rounds of drinks later, my work week exhaustion is catching up with me at karaoke. I stick to gin and tonics to avoid a hangover tomorrow morning (mixing liquors is my downfall) and am pleased that everything is fairly cheap. $25
10:45 p.m. — We debate staying for another set, but there's a great restaurant across the street. We get raw cookie dough and profiteroles for dessert. I order a personal pot of sencha, feeling very adult about this decision. $13
12 a.m. — I walk home and it's freezing out. My boyfriend is also out with friends and isn't home yet. In the mirror, I notice my face looks really dehydrated (probably because I am dehydrated), so I do a face peel followed by a hydrating mask after taking a quick shower. I also drink a lot of water and watch an episode of The O.C. before my boyfriend gets home.
Daily Total: $103.18
Day Seven
10 a.m. — Not hungover! A bit achy, but that might have been all the sugar before bed. We make breakfast burritos with eggs, veggies, and refried beans.
11:45 a.m. — The weather's fairly nice out (for Boston in the winter) so we go to a museum. My Charlie Card is out of money again, so I reload for us to take the T there. I have free admission at the museum through work. $20
3 p.m. — After a full afternoon of walking around, we're both pretty hungry. We stop at by Chloe for lunch, where I get a black bean burger and sweet potato fries for us to share. This place is good but definitely overpriced. $15
6 p.m. — While walking around the stores on Newbury, I find lightweight linen pants at Marine Layer that I know I'll live in this summer (drawstring waists forever!) — and there's a 15% discount. $83
6:30 p.m. — We stop at Trader Joe's to buy groceries for dinner tonight (lentils, kale, and chicken apple sausage soup) and staples like oatmeal, tofu, and almond milk. Also, crumpets for breakfast, because they're so good. We split it evenly. $25
7 p.m. — Back home, we get cooking while watching mindless television. It's an easy recipe with a long cook time (about an hour and a half), so we want to get things going as quickly as possible.
9:30 p.m. — After dinner, we rent a movie on Amazon Prime through our Roku. I fall asleep way earlier than I mean to.
Daily Total: $143
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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Kerry Washington may be a gladiator, but she still has struggles like the rest of us — including conquering her cosmetics bag. "I think beauty is an inside job, and sometimes makeup can feel very complicated," the Scandal star and Neutrogena brand ambassador tells Refinery29. "For me, we look most beautiful when we feel most beautiful. And that's not to say it doesn't help to have some tools in your toolkit."
That idea led the star to design her own makeup products with Neutrogena, including the Essential Cheek Palette and the Essential Eye Palette, which both launched at Ulta yesterday. "I wanted to create something easy and accessible that you could just throw in your bag... so that no matter what else I'm wearing or using that day, I have the bottom line essential needs."
She also worked to ensure the colors and formulas celebrated everyone and their own personal style. "I think I have a particular sensitivity about that as a Black woman, because growing up, it felt like there was an aesthetic where you were supposed to look 'other,'" Washington explains. "I was lucky to grow up in a home with a mom where I was surrounded by Essence and Black Barbie dolls and images of beauty that looked like the world I come from. But I'm really sensitive to the beauty industry preying on insecurities, presenting ideas that are unattainable, or even making us feel like something that we're not, as opposed to recognizing the beauty of what we are."
That's part of why the shade names are also affirmations, including Brilliant, Confident, Captivating, and Powerful. "I just wanted the product to evoke those inner qualities that make us feel beautiful," she says. "Plus, the palettes were inspired by people. I've met so many incredible people that fall on different places on the gender spectrum who are using our products and living big, bold, complicated, busy, beautiful lives. The kit isn't about being somebody else. It's about being the flirty version of you. The empowered version of you. This is really about bringing your best qualities and your best self forward."
Taking off your makeup might be the last thing you want to do at the end of the night, when all you want to do is get horizontal, mascara streaks on your pillowcase be damned. But neglecting to wash your face before bed leaves you susceptible to clogged pores and breakouts; plus, the day's pollution and bacteria can also cling to the surface of your skin, building up to wreak havoc in the form of dullness, fine lines, and loss of firmness over time.
But as straightforward as it might seem to do a quick cleanse before bed and call it a day, scrubbing and tugging at your face to get rid of stubborn makeup remnants can do more harm than good. Which is why you'll need to be armed with a good makeup remover to make the process that much easier — but not all makeup removers are made alike. From micellar water and wipes to cold cream and cleansing oil, some pull their weight more than others, and your personal preferences factor in, too.
To show you each type of makeup remover in action, we took them all for a test drive so that you don't have to. Watch the video above to see which remover comes out on top, and remember: No matter which one you opt for, make a habit of it, and always follow up with a more thorough cleanse to remove every last speck of debris. Your skin will thank you — we promise.
Don't get us wrong — sleeves are one of our favorite ways to add interest to an outfit. Between the bell sleeves, balloon sleeves, and sheer sleeves we've been wearing over the past couple of seasons, excess fabric near the shoulder or arm has become our secret weapon for looking put-together on the fly.
But after too many months of piling on the layers, if there's one thing we're ready to say goodbye to in our wardrobe, it's sleeves of all kinds. It may sound dramatic, but our arms haven't seen the light of day in far too long. So as we creep up on the middle of April, we're starting to look forward to sleeveless pieces. Consider them the light at the end of the tunnel we call winter.
Ahead, we've rounded up some sleeveless dresses to get the warm-weather ball rolling. Because until the forecast cooperates, we'll just have to dress for the weather we want, not the weather we have.
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Typically, our 20s are marked by a number of milestones, including graduating college, entering the workforce, moving up the career ladder, and, for some, getting married and starting a family. Each comes with a host of substantial lifestyle changes that require a solid understanding of your personal finances to avoid drowning in debt.
Certified financial education instructor Jamila Souffrant is a perfect example of how staying intentional with your money can lead to great success. Aside from providing coaching services through Journey to Launch, she’s most noted for saving $85,000 in one year, enabling her to buy real estate at the age of 22. “You can either subscribe to the idea that you need to work forever, pay bills, and be unhappy,” Souffrant tells Refinery29, “or you can decide to take control of your life and figure out how to use your job and all these other things to your benefit.”
Feeling lost? In partnership with Adobe Document Cloud, we tapped into Souffrant’s expertise for tips that’ll steer you in the right direction. From investment advice to tax preparation guidelines, click through for everything you need to know about personal finance in your 20s.
Find ways to maximize your income.
As a newly employed, full-time worker, what you start out making and your take-home pay might be less than ideal. But rather than feeling stuck with limited funds, Souffrant suggests picking up a side hustle to rake in extra cash. "Look at what you're good at," she says, "then, look at what services you can offer in relation to your strengths." Small tasks like doing hair, tutoring, or babysitting on the weekends can help — even if you don't generate thousands on day one. "The goal is to act to get some momentum going," according to Souffrant. "Try as many things as possible until you find something that works."
Illustrated by Eline Van Dam.
Get organized before tax season.
According to Souffrant, gathering paperwork last minute to file your taxes is a big no-no. Rather than waiting for the inevitable, she recommends keeping track of important documents (e.g. W-2 forms, 1099 forms, other income statements, etc.) year-round with Adobe Document Cloud. The Adobe Scan mobile app quickly converts printed materials into digital PDFs to "alleviate paper clutter that causes stress," she explains, while Adobe Acrobat DC can help you organize all your documents in one place for easy access anytime. You're even able to protect and send your documents as an Adobe PDF with encrypted password protections as well as redact any sensitive information, if needed. Overall, both tools, Souffrant says, are great for saving more time — a huge benefit for tax filers.
Illustrated by Eline Van Dam.
Stay intentional about why you’re saving funds.
A lot of personal finance requires putting mind over matter, Souffrant says. "You can Google how to budget and do all this stuff, but the piece a lot of people miss is that you, personally, have to understand what you’re saving towards." Whether it's an overdue vacation or a new car, keep track of your goals. If not, "It's very easy to see big pockets of money and think, It doesn't really matter if I pull from it," she warns.
Likewise, you never want to have so much access that you're tempted to spend money allotted for emergencies. As a general guide, Souffrant recommends stashing away enough to cover your expenses for at least three months. "People who don't have anything saved, should anything happen, are forced to put things on credit to pay them off," which could lead to more problems down the road.
Illustrated by Eline Van Dam.
Create a budget that incorporates a debt-repayment plan.
One of the first steps to budgeting involves mapping out your expenses, Souffrant says. "You may think your expenses are too high and that you don't have enough money, but oftentimes people factor in more costs than what they absolutely need to live." Knowing exactly how much money is being spent compared to how much money is coming in will determine where you should pull back.
Reducing the amount and/or quantity of luxuries you pay for each month (e.g. cable television, fancy clothing, and dining out) can drastically improve your financial standing, Souffrant adds. "Maybe instead of allocating $300 towards hanging with friends, you decide to cut that figure in half and use the difference to pay off your debt." Consider it a temporary sacrifice to accelerate your journey towards financial independence.
Illustrated by Eline Van Dam.
Invest, invest, invest.
Recent research gathered from Merrill Edge suggests millennials are scared to invest. In light of The Great Recession, they tend to prefer taking on the responsibility of monitoring and allocating their funds themselves, rather than risk losing money due to another financial crisis. That same report discovered a grave majority believe their savings accounts alone will be sufficient enough to rely on in 20 years. There's a huge problem, though: Money sitting in a savings account collects interest at a substantially lower rate than when placed in the stock market, according to Souffrant.
Not sure where to invest first? Index funds are a great option because "all of your money is spread out over several different companies," she says. Therefore, you're able to withstand any negative market fluctuation should individual stocks dip. The most important thing to remember is that buying stocks is a long-term decision — so don't panic: "If you keep your money in, it will eventually bounce back. And the longer it's in there, it'll grow."
Illustrated by Eline Van Dam.
Establish credit the smart(er) way.
A credit score, in the simplest sense, is what lenders use to determine whether or not you're a dependable borrower. There are a few different types; FICO scores are the most well known and feature a range between 300 and 850. According to Experian, a top three credit reporting agency in the U.S., a FICO score of 700+ is considered good, while 800+ is excellent.
One of the fastest ways to build credit is by using a credit card, but it should always be used to your advantage with discipline — not like it's free money, Souffrant explains. "The way [credit cards] become a liability and a disadvantage is when you rack up debt without paying it off." And yes, debt accumulates interest, too.
Credit card application rejected? That's okay. "[Credit] is really all about taking a look at one’s overall payment history," she says, "so as long as you’re not defaulting on purchases or bills in your name, that’s also a way to establish it."
Illustrated by Eline Van Dam.
Plan for retirement now.
Similar to stock investing, the earlier you save for retirement, the better, according to Souffrant. If you've been offered a 401(k) plan, she suggests enrolling ASAP, especially if your employer also has a matching program. "Say your company will match you up to your 5%: Your goal right off the bat is to invest the 5%, because that figure has already been worked into your whole compensation package." When you don't match or do nothing at all, you're losing out, she continues.
For those who are without access to a 401(k) plan (or anyone wanting to contribute more than what's allowed by law), Souffrant says they can open up either a Traditional IRA, Roth IRA, SEP IRA, or Simple IRA account. All of these accounts serve the same purpose, which is retirement planning, but each has set restrictions worth investigating beforehand.
Illustrated by Eline Van Dam.
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The end of a date is, hopefully, full of feelings. But one of these feelings is more awkward than the others: Raise your hand if you've fumbled, engaged in the tried-and-true wallet reach, or said "oh no you shouldn't have" when a date insists on paying the whole check.
The world of heterosexual dating can feel like the last frontier in overcoming old-fashioned gender roles and stereotypes. It goes without saying that you can be a hardcore feminist and appreciate when a guy holds open the door or picks up the bill on a date. Conversely, it shouldn't be emasculating to a guy when a woman offers to pay. But is it okay to feel a tinge of disappointment if you go splitsies?
Let's face it: the check on a date can be really awkward to navigate. There is a slew of factors to consider: If you know your date makes three times your salary, is it incumbent upon them to pick up the check? Or should you just split the difference the whole night no matter who makes what? And to what extent does ego play into the whole thing?
Ahead, four recent Money Diarists dive into how they felt when their dates picked up the check.
This 23-year-old aerospace engineer in Englewood, CO, toggles between a few prospects (she met L. on Coffee Meets Bagel, and B. on Bumble) over the course of her Money Diary.
How did you experiences with L. and B. compare in terms of payment?
"On our first date, L. bought the drinks, and on our second date, I bought the drinks. For our third, he came over to my place to watch a movie and brought a six-pack of beer. But when I went on a date with B., he bought a drink and closed his tab prior to me arriving, so I ended up paying my own tab."
What happened when the check came on your first date with L.?
"When L. paid on our first date, I was in the bathroom, and when I returned, he stated that he got this one but I could get the bill next time. I found this interesting because we hadn't officially decided to go on a second date, so I'm not sure if he actually wanted me to buy next time or if he was just trying to segue into us going on a second date."
What is your philosophy when it comes to paying on first dates?
"Usually on first dates, I don't offer to pay, but I am very willing to if asked. If we go to multiple places or have multiple rounds of drinks, I usually offer to buy the second time, because I can afford to. Equality!"
This 35-year-old project manager from San Francisco, CA, went on two dates with a guy she met on Hinge in one week (and then hopped into her Money Diary comments with an update: the second date was their last). She admits going back and forth on how she feels about dating apps, bemoaning how much of her time they tend to take up.
What happened when the check came on your first date?
"He reached for his wallet immediately. To me, that’s usually a signal that he intends (and wants) to pay. Although I did half-reach for my wallet as well, he motioned that he had it, and that was that. He asked me out and chose the restaurant, so, despite it being our very first date, I was expecting him to pay."
What about your second date?
"He bought us movie tickets online prior and paid for our drinks at the bar while waiting for a table to open up at the restaurant. I was already planning to pay for our food at that point, and he let me. He didn't reach for his wallet."
What's your philosophy when it comes to paying on first dates?
"If a man asks me out and recommends a bar or restaurant, I assume it’s within his budget and he’s planning on paying. The way I feel is, if money is a concern, choose a date that you can afford. This goes for both sexes. A coffee date or a free art exhibit works. I typically think the adage “whoever asks, pays” works most of the time. Although, I’ve asked men out for a first date and they’ve insisted on paying – even when I offer. In this case, I graciously accept.
"I’ve noticed younger men are keener to split the check on first dates, and they handle this by flat out mentioning it when the check comes. I don’t love this, to be honest. I find men closer to my age (35 or older) typically insist on paying for the first date. Maybe they are more financially stable? Old-fashioned? If we are having a great time and the man makes it clear he wants to pay, all the better. I'll offer to pay on our next date. Everyone likes to be treated. If a date isn’t going so well and I know I won’t see the person again, I'll offer to split the check right away. I've learned to always carry cash!"
We met this 26-year-old sales director in Brooklyn, NY, on her fourth date, where she was verbally harassed by a girl in the bar bathroom (and got the bouncer involved), before heading back to her date's place for some wine and rooftop skyline-gazing.
What happened when the check came?
"After our first three dates, I knew he didn't expect me to pay, so I let him pick up the check without any discussion. My date had a successful professional background and was also over ten years older than me. I feel like in those situations (where the man is clearly more established financially), they go on the date expecting to pay for everything. I would never assume that someone earning more money should be responsible for paying the tab, but it also does feel silly arguing over a bar tab with someone who makes over twice my salary. He also paid for my Uber to go home."
What is your philosophy when it comes to paying on first dates?
"I always offer to split the bill. This guy was the type who takes the bill directly from the waiter (before it even hits the table). In those situations, I'll offer to pay next time. After two or three dates, if I see a pattern (like if they swoop for the check), then I'll assume they enjoy treating me. I think when men take responsibility to pay for everything, it's partially driven by ego. They want to appear as successful, able providers – and you paying their share is a blow."
This 24-year-old copywriter in Massachusetts went on two dates with a guy she recently started seeing. She says she foots the bill for their outings one-third of the time, because he makes three times her salary.
What happened on your dates when the check came?
"He paid for everything on our first few dates, and now that we've been regularly going out for the last few months, we take turns more often. We've had brief discussions about our finances, and he makes a significantly larger salary than me and has less debt, so he usually pays for pricier outings."
What is your philosophy when it comes to paying on first dates?
"On first dates, I usually let my date pay for me. If we go to dinner and he pays, and then go for a drink or dessert somewhere, I would pay. In my experience, the guy usually insists on paying. I think a lot of it depends on the chemistry of a date, and several guys have told me that if the girl is insistent on paying or splitting the bill, it makes them feel like she doesn't want to go out with them again or take things further. If it's a not-so-great date and I just want to get out of there, I'll offer to split the bill. I think the more I have dated, the more I have preferred to keep early dates as low-key as possible – like going to a dive bar instead of an expensive meal. It's easier, logistically and economically, to take turns buying rounds of drinks."
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Have a story you'd like to share? Email ushere.
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Sen. Tammy Duckworth welcomed a daughter on Monday, making history as the first senator to give birth while in office.
The Illinois Democrat announced she was pregnant in late January. The baby, who was named Maile Pearl Bowlsbey, is the second child for Duckworth and her husband, Bryan Bowlsbey. The couple are also the parents to three-year-old Abigail.
Duckworth, who turned 50 in early March, is one of the 10 women in history that have given birth while serving in Congress. Her first daughter Abigail was born in November 2014, while the Iraq War veteran was representing a suburban Chicago district in the U.S. House of Representatives.
In a statement provided to Refinery29, Duckworth said: "Bryan, Abigail and I couldn’t be happier to welcome little Maile Pearl as the newest addition to our family and we’re deeply honored that our good friend Senator Akaka was able to bless her name for us — his help in naming both of our daughters means he will always be with us."
(Former Sen. Daniel Akaka, the first native Hawaiian to serve in the Senate, died Friday.)
She continued, "Pearl Bowlsbey Johnson was Bryan’s great Aunt, an Army Officer and a nurse who served during the Second World War. He spent many summer months with her while growing up, we feel her presence still and are grateful for her service to our nation during the most challenging of times. We’re also so grateful for the love and support of our friends and family, as well as our wonderful medical teams for everything they’ve done to help us in our decades-long journey to complete our family."
No disrespect to the carefully curated peonies, garden roses, and foxgloves that will be wafting through Westminister Abbey on May 19, but it seems as though Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have an entirely different scent in mind for their wedding day — and it's coming from the royally anointed perfume brand, Floris London.
As for what the future Duke and Duchess of Sussex will smell like on that fateful afternoon, it's hard to say exactly: The full details on the couple's custom nuptial fragrance are under strict lock and key. But, according to People, you can expect it to be inspired by Floris' Bergamotto di Positano, a warm and salty blend of bergamot, orange blossom, ginger, and green tea that reportedly smells like a sea breeze. (Very different from the white florals that both Kate Middleton and Princess Diana wore.)
Enter Equal Pay Day, with the purpose of creating awareness about the gender wage gap in the U.S. This year, it falls on Tuesday, April 10.
Ahead, we break down what Equal Pay Day really means and why the gender pay gap even exists. We'll also bust some of those pesky myths that are still pervasive when we talk about why women are still earning less than men.
First, what is Equal Pay Day?
Equal Pay Day is a symbolic day marking how far into a year women would have to work in order to earn the same amount men earned the year before. According to the Economic Policy Institute, in 2017 women were paid on average about 22% less than men. (The institute obtained this figure after controlling "for race and ethnicity, education, experience, and location.")
Simply put, it would take until April 10, or 100 days into 2018, for women to make the same as men did in 2017.
Why would it take women 100 extra days of work to earn as much as men made in 2017?
You can thank the gender pay gap for that.
What does that mean again?
The gender pay gap is basically a term to explain how much money women are paid relative to men. For the longest time, women earned a lot less than men. But as women have made strides in education and labor-force participation, the gap started to close. However, it's still pretty significant.
To determine the gap, you divide women's wages by men's wages. The ratio (i.e. how much a woman is paid for every dollar a man earns) is expressed as a percent or in dollar terms. Therefore, you'll either hear that women make 80% of what men make, or that a woman earns 80 cents for every dollar a man earns.
I've read that the gap is not a real thing. Why is that?
There are a couple of reasons for that.
First, we live in a society where some men and women feel like the conditions for gender equality are already in place. For example, a 2014 Pew Research survey found that 77% of women and 63% of men believe "this country needs to continue making changes to give men and women equality in the workplace." That's 23% of women and 37% of men who believe things are fine the way they are.
And second, there are multiple ways to calculate the wage gap. As a result, some people believe that because there are different measures, the data is automatically unreliable or even false.
One of the most common methods to measure the gap takes into account the U.S. Census Bureau. When the bureau's data is used, the ratio is typically measured for year-round, full-time employees by comparing the annual wages of the "median" or "typical" man and woman. Some wage gap data also looks at hourly pay and includes the wages of part-time workers, or adjusts the measure to take into account conditions such as education level and occupation, or demographic subgroups.
Obviously, different measures will give people different results. Maybe it will show that the ratio is 78 cents, 80 cents, or even 83 cents. But it's really important to note that no matter how the data is calculated, the results show there's always a gap.
Okay, so how does the gender pay gap have an impact on women?
In terms of hourly wages, the Economic Policy Institute estimates that women make about $3.27 less per hour than men. The median hourly wage for women is $15.67, while men earn $18.94.
For some women of color, the gap can even be wider. The Economic Policy Institute found that Asian women make slightly less per hour than a white male worker — just $2.15. But Black women and Latinas suffer the most. They end up taking home $7.31 and $8.91 less per hour, respectively.
The wage gap even affects women after they retire from work. Because women earn less than men during their working years, when they end up retiring they tend to receive less income than their male counterparts from sources such as Social Security, pensions, and retirement accounts.
When you look at how much money women lose throughout their lives because of the gender wage gap, the results are even more staggering. According to the Institute for Women's Policy Research, the average female worker loses more than $530,000 over her lifetime. For the average college-educated woman, it's even worse: She will lose about $800,000.
What are some of the reasons the pay gap exists?
"Segregation by occupation" is one of the main reasons why the wage gap persists, according to the American Association of University Women (AAUW). Women tend to be overrepresented in certain areas, such as education and health care. So, even though the pay gap exists in pretty much all of the occupational fields, the jobs in traditionally male-dominated industries tend to pay better than female-dominated jobs. And even though women have been taking more historically "male" jobs, that's not enough to close the gap. For example, women in industries like engineering and computing are still paid 82% and 87% of what their male coworkers earn.
Another reason is the "motherhood penalty." If women decide to have children, they often either stay at home or take on part-time jobs. Once they make the choice to return to the workforce full-time, employers are less likely to hire them — or they offer them less money than their non-mom female coworkers. However, men don't encounter a "fatherhood penalty" in comparison with other working men. In fact, studies have even found they get a "fatherhood bonus" — i.e. earning a higher wage after having a child.
And finally, there's always good-ol' gender discrimination and bias. Every year, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, established under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, oversees thousands of cases of sex discrimination. But the wage gap is not necessarily tied to those cases. (Even though they're highly problematic.) Discrimination and bias is much more difficult to detect, but it's not impossible. Studies have found that even after statistically factoring for things like education level, work experience, geographical region, and other variables, there is still an unexplained gap in the earnings of some women when compared to male counterparts who have the same qualifications.
Is it possible for us to close the gender pay gap?
If conditions don't change, it will be a while before that happens. According to the AAUW, there could be pay equity by 2059 at the rate of change we saw between 1960 and 2015. But the issue is that progress has considerably slowed down since 2001. If the rate of change keeps stalling, then society won't close the gap until 2152. Yes, you read that right. It could take approximately 134 years for there to be pay equity between men and women.
Police arrested a person who was hanging anti-Semitic, anti-gun control flyers near the American University campus in Washington, D.C., on Monday morning.
The posters depicted an anti-gun control message along with pictures of Adolf Hitler and one of the students advocating for gun safety after the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting in Parkland, FL, according to Dr. Fanta Aw, vice president of campus life and inclusive excellence. The administration did not say which student was pictured, and we reached out to the campus police for more details.
The university police stopped and questioned the perpetrator, and immediately notified the D.C. police, who arrested him for defacing public property. He reportedly had no affiliation with AU.
"Particularly given that these posters were found during a week in which we remember those who were lost in the Holocaust, we understand how hurtful and deeply offensive this can be to our Jewish community and to all who mourn in solidarity with them," Dr. Aw said in a statement. Holocaust Remembrance Day begins on Wednesday night, and Jewish student organizations are planning events to honor the victims. "As I have stated previously, we reject hate, bigotry, intimidation in all its forms and firmly believe that they have no place in our society."
Five of the 17 people killed in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas were Jewish, as are some of the leaders of the Never Again movement for gun reform. Right-wingers have been attacking Parkland students, such as when Fox News host Laura Ingraham made fun of David Hogg and a candidate for the Maine state House of Representatives called Emma González a "skinhead lesbian. "
AU has long been a target for white nationalist recruiting and propaganda, but it's far from the only college in the U.S. where this has occurred. On Friday, we published a report that detailed the growing number of anti-immigrant, racist, and anti-Semitic propaganda at schools around the country, from AU to the University of South Carolina to Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo.
According to the Anti-Defamation League, the number of anti-Semitic incidents in the U.S. grew by almost 60% in 2017, with incidents on college campuses nearly doubling from 108 in 2016 to 204 in 2017.
In response to previous racist occurrences — such as Confederate-flag flyers with cotton affixed to them hung on campus — AU introduced an ambitious diversity and inclusion plan in January, which includes bias training and hiring more diverse faculty.
"I know personally I'm glad they actually caught the person this time," senior Zoey Jordan Salsbury, who is Jewish, told Refinery29. "But it's still pretty terrifying it keeps happening. It feels like nothing we can do will stop them, other than over-the-top security."
Steph Black, a junior at AU and an educator on feminist and Jewish issues, said she's been working to build relationships with non-Jewish members of the campus community around this issue. "Anti-Semitism is a legitimate form of oppression that is overlooked on our campus, even though nearly 25% of our campus is Jewish," she told Refinery29. "There is a major educational gap about this."
On her website, Black features learning materials about anti-Semitism including topics such as intersectionality and allyship, and she holds workshops for the campus community. "Unfortunately there is not a lot (as in, none) as far as an existing age-appropriate curriculum for teaching anti-Semitism on a college campus. I put it all up on my website in the hopes that others will use it," she said.
Today's GQ feature on Cardi B is — not surprisingly — getting a lot of attention. Part of that's due to the fact that the chart-topping rapper just appeared on SNL, announced her pregnancy, and put out an album even Oprah can't stop playin g. But the beauty world can't stop talking about it for another reason. In the interview, Cardi B does what very few celebrities ever do: openly admits to her butt augmentation. Not only that, her black-market butt augmentation. It's not the first time she's mentioned it, but the story doesn't fail to shock.
When she was 21 (she's now 25) and working as a stripper, Cardi B tells GQ writer Caity Weaver that she decided to enhance her backside for two reasons: 1) her boyfriend cheated on her with someone who "had a fat, big ass" and 2) she was convinced it would make her more money at work. But rather than looking up a seasoned, licensed doctor to do the job in a medical facility (which can be incredibly expensive and isn't covered by insurance), she visited a woman's basement apartment in Queens, New York and handed over $800 for silicone filler injections.
"It was the craziest pain ever," she told GQ, noting that she wasn't under anesthesia or any numbing agents during the process. "I felt like I was gonna pass out. I felt a little dizzy. And it leaks for, like, five days." (This isn't entirely different from another illegal butt augmentation we've heard before.) Still, she says she was happy with the results and planned to return for a touch-up — but wasn't able to for one very scary reason: "By the time I was gonna go get it, the lady got locked up 'cause she's supposedly killed somebody. Well — somebody died on her table."
It's safe to assume the woman administering the procedure was not at all qualified to do so, and while we're relieved that the singer isn't suffering from any complications, that's just pure luck. Wright Jones, MD, double board-certified plastic surgeon and founder of Muse Plastic Surgery, warns that these types of procedures are extremely dangerous because "liquid silicone is not approved by the FDA or any medical board for direct injection into the body and it can migrate into the blood stream causing loss of limbs, pulmonary complications, or even death."
Dr. Jones tells Refinery29 that even if a patient survives the initial injections, they will likely experience their body's rejection of the silicone, which could result in foul-smelling wounds called granulomas. "The wound can drain from the deep tissues and out of the skin," he explains. "The rejection may take as long as 10 or 15 years, so many individuals are not out of the woods even when they think that all is well."
If you're considering a butt augmentation or any plastic surgery procedure, stay far, far away from cheap alternatives being offered outside of medical facilities by people who aren't board-certified surgeons. No cheating partner or number on a paycheck is worth risking your life for.
The only thing certain about being a mom is that nothing is ever easy. Balancing motherhood with work, family, and social obligations is stressful — and right about now, you're probably looking for a break. That’s why, in collaboration with Focus Features, we’re hosting an exclusive screening of Tully for moms in the L.A. area. The comedy stars Charlize Theron as Marlo, a mom of three trying to navigate the emotional and physical weight of motherhood.
Leave all your stress at the door and join us on Monday, April 16. Before the screening, there will be speciality cocktails and light bites. We might even have a few more surprises planned. Let’s just say: You won’t want to miss out. RSVP here, and get ready to spend a night celebrating the modern mom.
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Festival season lineups may change every year, but one trend remains the same: flower crowns. You can mock them, but you can't escape them. It doesn't matter if you're on the West Coast kickin' it at Coachella, or eating a New York slice at Governors' Ball in New York... there will be a Revolve romper-wearing Instagram star with a headband full of daises. Get used to it.
But despite all of the Twitter jokes, everyone should feel free to do their hair however they please. And naturalistas with 'fros of all lengths have the advantage of taking it a step further by wearing flowers in their hair. Real or faux, this is a trend that truly feels fresh.
Orange and yellow blooms highlight Amandi's gorgeous texture and color — captured by photographer Kenny Kenny.
Photo: Via @kidandfro.
You can expect us to be wearing this look (modeled by Camille Felicity) as soon as roses come into bloom.
Photo: Via @camillefelicity.
Hair artist Hadiiya Barbel made this creation — which features flowers and butterflies — from scratch for Afropunk.
Photo: Via @hadiiyabarbel.
No need to break out the Snapchat filters when you can have the real deal.
Photo: Via @inikotaylor6.
Raquel, an actress, got help from her mom to really make her hair blossom.
Photo: Via @rockwell826.
Flowers add a dash of whimsy to this trio's all-black, badass outfits.
Photographed by Courtney Yates.
It's rare when a bride's hair rivals her own bouquet – but that's exactly what happened with this elegant fro-hawk with side twists (and you've got to see the back).
Photo: Via @rebeccayale.
For a little variation, add a few bantu knots to the front of your 'do, like hairstylist Aieasha did for an Atlas Magazine shoot.
Photo: Via @aieshadoeshair.
If you're concerned with keeping your blooms in place throughout the day, try securing them with a small bobby pin on a medium-sized section of your hair.
Photo: Via @roxiejanehunt.
But when you've been blessed with texture like this, then you don't have to worry about toppling petals. They'll just stay put — because that's a part of our magic.
Photo: Via @tildakimono.
Model Dominique Robinson used the same flowers on her hair to accessorize her glossy nude lip.
Photo: Via @iamdominiquerobinson.
You don't need to pick the whole patch — Kiera proves that three to four blooms can make the look.
Photo: Via @kieraplease.
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History would tell us that Mandy Moore only has one foot tattoo — and only one for good reason. (The last time she took a needle to that area, she got a tattoo of a tiny sperm.) But today, she added another to her collection and the story behind it just might inspire you to update your bucket list.
If you don't follow Moore on Instagram, then you might not know that she recently spent over a week in Africa to make the trek up the highest mountain peak on the continent: Mount Kilimanjaro. As one might imagine, spending several days hiking a trail that crosses five different ecological zones to a peak that most adventure seekers rarely reach due to altitude sickness can really change a person. Making the climb has been one of Moore's goals since she was 18 years old and, naturally, it left a mark on her forever — figuratively, and now literally thanks to tattoo artist Daniel Winter of L.A.'s Winter Stone.
According to Moore's latest Instagram post, her newest tattoo is an outline of the mountain's peak. "The mountain. Forever commemorated. Thank you @winter_stone for the reminder of what we accomplished," she wrote. As for the meaning behind her other foot tattoo, we may never know.
You could write off a day at the spa as gratuitous, an indulgent pastime reserved for the rich and the privileged, the same people who can afford to stay in Aman hotels and resorts every time they travel. But then you'd be ignoring the timeworn history of the spa, wherein the curative powers of medicinal water have been embraced and made use of since prehistoric times — like, literally forever.
But with that said, a $40 day pass to Spa Castle does not always a truly restorative experience make. For that, you'll have to bring it all the way back to nature, to the lagoons, hot springs, salt lakes, and mud baths that formed from the earth over time. Thanks to the power of air travel, these destinations are more accessible than ever before — provided you have room in your budget.
And if you don't? Well, let's hope you at least have some room in your bathroom, because you can still enjoy what Mother Nature has to offer without even checking for a Kayak flight deal. (Besides, who wants to contribute to pollution by taking to the friendly skies every time you want to spend the day in a hot bath, anyway?)
Way out in the hills of Tuscany, you'll find the hot springs of Terme di Saturnia, where tiered pools of sulfurous water reach a natural temperature of nearly 100 degrees year-round. The legend goes that the ancient Roman god Saturn, exasperated by humans at war, flew into a fit of rage and sent a bolt of lightning careening down to earth. The impact caused hot water to gush forth from a volcanic crater, the warmth of which was sufficient to soothe the men down below and bring forth generations of calmer, happier humans.
The thermal pools are free to access, but frequently crowded, and a night at the neighboring resort's Grand Suite will run you 1,200 euros. So if you hate lines and/or want to save money, this serum — packed with the spa's proprietary thermal plankton and botanical extracts indigenous to the Mediterranean — is ideal for staying home to pamper yourself while wondering where Saturn is when we really need him. (Are you there, Saturn? It's us, America.)
The peak of marble-encrusted luxury it is not, but the outdoor mud pool at New Mexico's Ojo Caliente Mineral Springs, a sacred Native American site located just north of Santa Fe, doesn't need a five-star rating to be exactly what the doctor ordered. Since 1868, when the natural-health resort first opened its doors, bathers have been submerging themselves in the mineral mud, which you're meant to leave on until it dries and cracks as you lay out in the arid southwestern sun and think about how you never want to go back to Chicago.
Recreating the experience of a real-deal naturally-occurring mud bath in your own tub is impossible, and anyone who tells you otherwise is trying to sell you mud for your tub. But you can harness some of Ojo Caliente's signature skin-smoothing properties with this facial cleanser, which uses frankincense and myrrh resins to gently exfoliate and stimulate circulation.
You can't go to Iceland — or on Instagram, for that matter — without checking out the Blue Lagoon, named one of the world's most remarkable places by National Geographic. The lagoon itself isn't a natural phenomenon, per se, but it is a wonder of nature: The unique pools of warm water and silica mud formed as a direct byproduct of the Svartsengi geothermal power plant right next door. (This sounds much, much scarier than it is.)
Regardless of how it came about, the Blue Lagoon is truly remarkable; its waters are said to be so beneficial for various skin ailments that they've established an intensive treatment facility for severe psoriasis sufferers onsite. But if you don't have psoriasis, or just can't make the next flight to Reykjavík, the beloved spa also offers a wide range of beauty products, like this mud-based mask — a consistent bestseller for obvious reasons, given its high concentration of silica.
Lots of brands claim to harness the healing powers of the Dead Sea, but accept no imitations: Ahava is the only company with exclusive access to raw minerals from the salt lake, making their ingredients the purest of them all. And, as anyone who took advantage of their Birthright trip will be happy to tell you, the Dead Sea ranks at 34.2% salinity, making it one of the world's saltiest bodies of water. They call it "dead" because it's so damn salty, no fish or aquatic plants can survive in its murky depths.
But medical research on its shores is very much alive — its strange and unique climate (high mineral content, low pollen content, higher atmospheric pressure...) has made it a hot spot for various therapeutic reasons. A soak in these restorative salts, sourced from the actual Dead Sea, may not cure all that ails you quite like the real thing (and you probably won't float on the surface of your bathtub, either), but they are incredible for relieving muscle tension while soothing and hydrating the skin.
If you've recently walked past your local Zara, noticed an empty store window, and asked yourself what the hell was going on, well, prepare to grab your smartphone. On Thursday, the fast-fashion retailer announced that it has introduced an augmented reality experience at seven of its United States stores (120 worldwide), which aims to engage its consumers in an entirely new way.
After downloading the Zara AR app (from either iTunes or Google Play), customers can point their phones at the aforementioned shop window, as well as "via in-store podiums, on boxes they receive delivering online purchases and via dedicated images at zara.com," and models Léa Julian and Fran Summers are brought to life for seven- to 12-second sequences. In the clips, the two present the current Studio Collection by posing, moving, and even talking, offering up an oddly realistic experience. All looks shown can then be ordered directly at the touch of a button or bought locally in the store. And, according to a release, "the app features a tool for sharing the experience on social media, encouraging users to take and submit photos of the holograms, establishing a virtual connection that appears remarkably real."
Still curious how the technology works? In the video below, you can take a closer look at the augmented reality experience before trying it for yourself.
The AR app is just Zara's latest experiment with innovative technology: In January, the retailer opened its first click-and-collect concept store in London. The 2,152 square foot space offered a dedicated area for collecting online purchases, a selection of menswear and womenswear, sales assistants who held mobile devices to help customers with sizes, stock, and collections, and self-service checkout. The store's dressing rooms were just as high-tech, with information screens embedded into mirrors that allowed customers to scan barcodes on items that then offered up "multiple choices for coordinating and combining the piece with other garments and accessories."
As if we needed another reason to feed our Zara obsession, well, its continued intersection of retail and technology — and not just examining how people shop, but providing them new ways to do so — has us coming for back for more. That, and the 4D models, of course.
A search for #VanLife on Instagram yields nearly three million results. Most are high-def photos of vans on open roads or perched atop mountains with waterfalls cascading in the background. Sometimes, there's a backpack-toting person doing tree pose in the foreground. #VanLife is a lifestyle goal best described as a nomadic, free-spirited existence diametrically opposed to the workaholic brunch-centric urban fantasy.
This story, however, is not really about #VanLife the hashtag.
M.* is an engineer making $122,000 per year in the tech industry in Mountain View, CA. Their Money Diary (M. is agender, and uses gender neutral pronouns) was one of our most popular in recent months, providing a unique lens into the Silicon Valley tech lifestyle and tech workers who live in their vans. M. talked about their involvement in the ace community, sponsorship of a hen at an animal sanctuary, daily Duolingo sessions, love of vegan baked goods, and on-campus aerial silks class. But the aspect of their life that garnered the most attention from our readers was, by far, their decision to live out of their car.
Ahead, an interview with M. about the many factors (financial, cultural, and professional) that contributed to this decision, and how it has impacted their life.
*Name has been changed to protect the identity of the diarist.
How long have you been living in your car, and why did you decide to do it?
"It's pretty much been a year now. Before I moved into my car, I was paying less than $1,000 per month in rent, which is pretty hard to find in the Bay Area, but doable if you live with four other people. And I felt like: What am I — someone who came to the Bay Area for a tech job and is paid a lot — doing in this home instead of someone else who actually can't afford to pay more than $1,000 a month in rent?"
Did you know any friends or coworkers who were living in their cars at that time?
"I have a friend who started living in their car a year before I did, so that kind of made it seem like a possibility. And then another friend of mine, after seeing my build, ended up doing a road trip living out of his car, which was pretty cool."
Who else do you see living in their cars in the Bay Area? And how much of car life is a Bay Area-specific thing?
"There is this weird dichotomy between people who choose to live out of their cars, and then people who actually need to live out of their cars out of economic necessity. People might not even think of this, but there are people who work in tech but are low-paid, like cafeteria workers and custodial staff, and a lot of them also live out of their cars because they just can't afford being in housing. Many of them are contract workers who don't get the benefits that full-time employees do. So that dichotomy is kind of mind-trippy.
"As far as whether it's a Bay Area/tech thing, I think this lifestyle is definitely more sustainable for tech workers like me who can rely on their workplace for necessities. A lot of tech campuses are structured to provide perks like food, gyms, laundry, etc. so that workers can work longer and not have to deal with those things outside of work. I just kind of take it to an extreme by actually living on campus. One joke idea that my friend and I used to throw around was to build tiny houses for tech workers in each parking space in order to solve the housing crisis in the Bay Area. Over time, it became less of a joke and more of a reason why I moved (more so to live my values than to 'solve' anything, though).
Would you live in your car if you lived in a different city?
"I know it can definitely be harder to find places to park and sleep in other cities and municipalities because many places have laws against sleeping in your car. Part of living in my car is trying to create my own sense of home and place, because it's like I'm trying to figure out my connection to the land – like what it means for me, an immigrant who came to the U.S. as a small child, to buy land that is already stolen. I don't know, I still have to work out my feelings around that."
Do you find that you spend more time on campus, even when you're not at your desk working, than you would if you didn't live in your car?
"Yeah, for sure. My car is definitely more of my bedroom. Sometimes if I want private time and space I'll hang out there and read a book or watch Netflix or something, but otherwise, in terms of meals, I eat a lot on campus, because those meals are covered. And if I want to cook, I cook at friends' places. I also shower at the gym on campus. We have access to buildings 24/7, so that's where I use the bathroom, too."
How has living out of your car affected your work-life balance?
"I'll often work on weekends – usually it's just answering an email, but sometimes it's finishing up tasks I didn't complete during the week. I try to fill up my free time with things outside of work so that I don't work all the time. I'm usually doing things in East Bay or San Francisco on the weekends, so I'm physically away from campus, but I'll have some 'stay at home' weekends where I'm in the office doing a mix of non-work and work. I think work-life balance can be difficult (especially for engineers who need to be on-call), though the culture of each specific company definitely influences how difficult or easy it is.
"What I've found is that, for me and a lot of other friends who started working in the tech industry after college, we all put in a lot of late hours during our first couple years of working. Part of this (personally speaking), was being used to school taking up most of my life, so I let work take up most of my life. Other aspects were still getting used to living in a new place, not having other obligations like a spouse or children, and also feeling grateful for the job (on the heels of the recession, plus a dash of imposter syndrome) and the amount of money and perks I was getting and therefore wanting to 'prove' myself. I think after a few years of working, though, most of us are more jaded or burnt out now and are trying to take care of our bodies and sort out a better work-life balance."
In your Money Diary, you talked about the "money experiments" that you do each month. Do you allocate your money differently now that you don't have to pay rent?
"When I first started living in my car home, I wasn't really thinking about where the money that I would be paying towards rent would be going now. I was just always taught to save money. But then, once I started living in my car, and through different conversations with my partner and other folks — the question that kept coming up was: 'What are you saving for?' And I didn't really have a good answer for that.
"It was kind of confusing, because I was like, 'Wait, what am I doing with all this money?' So the money experiments are kind of a way to try out different ways to spend money each month and see how it feels and if I want to keep doing it. Kind of as a way to build up my spending muscles. So some of the experiments I've tried are paying rent for someone I care about, paying 100% tip on food (and asking who the tip goes to), and donating to podcasts/radio. I also tried giving money to anyone on the street who asked. People tell you not to give money to people who ask for it on the street. If that's what you've been taught or what makes you feel weird, why not try it for a month and then see how it actually feels?
How has your decision to live in your car impacted your life socially?
"I feel like it hasn't changed very much, because I lived in different places in the Bay Area when I was living in an actual building, and those places were still kind of far out from friends. So it feels kind of the same. It's always been a trade off of living closer to work or living closer to where most of my friends are or where I volunteer at. When people visit me down in South Bay, I'll just take them to dinner on campus or something."
How much did it cost to move into your car and what did that process entail?
"It took me about a month to build, and I spent nearly all my free time on it. My workplace has a workshop that had a lot of tools that I was able to use, which definitely helped me cut down the cost. I think the car itself around $6,000-$7,000. And then the rest cost me $364."
For those who are interested, here's a cost breakdown of M.'s car modifications:
Building Supplies: $228 - $50: 4'x8' 3/4" maple plywood for the platform (Home Depot) - $45: 1'x5' 1/2" Russian birch plywood for the cabinets (Craigslist) - $80: 2x4s and various bits of hardware and hooks and things (Home Depot) - $45: spray paint (Home Depot) - $8: sandpaper (Home Depot)
Window Cover Supplies: $74 - $28: roll of reflectix (Amazon) - $44: gaffer tape x 4 (Amazon) - $2: electrical tape x 2 (Amazon)
Car Supplies: $62 - $16: backseat and visor organizers (Amazon) - $11: cargo net (Amazon) - $11: curtain (Amazon) - $24: rechargeable dehumidifier x 2 (Amazon)
This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. Have a story you'd like to share? Email ushere.
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Nobody has to know you buy your entire family's birthday gifts on Black Friday, won't book a flight unless it's a Tuesday, and save your bi-annual Sephora shopping trips for April and November. But if you like flash sales (and, hi, who wouldn't?) as well as tattoos — there are a few more dates worth adding to your iCal.
From Friday the 13th to Mother's Day, click ahead to find out when you can expect the best discounts on select designs throughout the year. There are typically restrictions by way of "flash sheets" (meaning, you might not get that Ryan Gosling ink you've been wanting), but maybe that's not such a bad thing after all.
Have a penchant for all things creepy? Can't pass up a good deal? In the tattoo world, that makes Friday the 13th the opposite of your unlucky day: Tattoo parlors across the country will offer $13 (plus a customary $7 tip) flash sales on small designs. Most are limited to skulls and witches or the number "13," but at this price, you've gotta admit: That's scary good.
April 20
Pizza! French fries! Various pipes! For 4/20 enthusiasts, the marvel of this day doesn't stop at the munchies — there are also countless deals for on-theme tattoos. Prices vary depending on the shop, but the average rings in at $40. Dope.
Mother's Day
Why buy flowers when you can show your appreciation via a permanent mom tattoo? Most sales run through the weekend, just in case you want to get inked on Friday so there's enough time for it to heal by Sunday.
National Tattoo Day
July 17 marks the best made-up holiday — for those looking to catch a deal on ink, anyway. Plenty of places give away prizes (including food) when you show off your tat. And you might find a few studios that offer 10% off any design that day.
First Week of September
Between Labor Day sales and back-to-school specials, this month is ripe with opportunity for saving on tattoos. Flash sheet designs vary by shop, as do prices, but you can expect to save a few bucks of your hard-earned money.
October 31
For the Halloween fans who anxiously await the day it is socially acceptable to wear a Freddy Kruger mask all night, this one's for you: Hundreds of parlors across the country offer flash sheets of All Hollow's Eve-themed tattoos for just $31 a pop.
Black Friday
When you want to avoid the crowds of people at Walmart fighting for the last $100 flat-screen TV, but still want in on good deal, many tattoo shops offer designs as low as $10 on a first-come, first-serve basis.
February 14
Relationship status aside, here's one thing anybody can love about Valentine's Day: dirt-cheap tattoos. Yes, you'll find a lot of hearts, flowers, and cupid's arrow designs on these flash sheets, but the fact that they come in at 25% off certainly sweetens the deal.
Your Birthday
Like Sephora or Starbucks, plenty of tattoo shops offer some kind of discount — which can range anywhere from 10% to 50% off designs — on your special day. (So long as the final cost of the ink doesn't dip below the parlor's minimum.)
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