Don't trust anyone with perfect skin who tells you they don't wash their face; you just know they're lying. And if we were to hazard a guess as to why, it's probably because they found The Cleanser — the one that vacuums pores 'til they're clean and tight, rinsing away those stubborn mascara marks hanging out under the lower lash line to leave skin baby-soft, glowy, and gorgeous — and they just don't want you to know about it. Again: not to be trusted.

Instead, take it from our R29 editors, a group that recently tested just shy of $250 worth of cleansers for this year's Beauty Innovator Awards, and found our skin positively transformed by a few of the formulas. Ahead, check out our winners' list to find the face wash that'll make you want to hide the bottle in the back of your bathroom cabinet and never tell anyone your good-skin secret... especially not your roommate.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

How To Get Rid Of Ingrown Hairs Everywhere

A Comprehensive Guide To Growing Out Your Pubic Hair

Target's New Curated Beauty Boxes Are Practically Made For Gifting Season

The wait is finally over - America's favorite unofficial holiday has finally landed. The Friday after Thanksgiving never fails to see thousands of people in their Turkey induced comas lining outside of store fronts at 5 a.m., fingers furiously typing in credit card numbers, and bank accounts slowly depleting as retailers announce their mega mark-ups for the national sale day. Seasoned sale shoppers can expect this year to be no different.

If there's one thing we've learned over the years, it's that Black Friday sales never really wait until Black Friday. Itching to get a good discount before you consume mass amounts of stuffing? Nordstrom, Amazon, and Target are here to help you out with that.

Good things come to those who wait, however. Even if you don't have to wait as long as November 23. Ahead, we're putting together an ever evolving list of the best Black Friday sales (and the best Cyber Monday sales) to study, bookmark, and shop.

So enough chit-chat, we know you just came here to barrel through a list of discounts. Without further ado, our annual A to Z guide to Black Friday's best fashion sales.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Cyber Monday Is Coming - These Are The Best Sales To Shop

Consider The Crop Top: A Surprisingly Versatile Wardrobe Addition

Now's The Time To Finally Embrace The Stretchy Pants Trend

The Golden Age of the supermodel may be long gone, but it’s still possible for a model to break through (and maybe drop her last name). But she has to be everything: a face, an activist, an actor, a creator.

While it seems easier than ever to summon fame thanks to Instagram, viral videos and the like, the offline world of modeling is as competitive as ever; go-sees are endless and days are long. And it’s what makes people like Adesuwa Aighewi stand out.

She’s 26 years old, 5’10”, and though she speaks with an American accent, is of Nigerian, Thai, and American descent. In the modelsphere, she’s the whole package, and has become ubiquitous on runways, editorials, and more. But, ultimately, she’s just like you and me.

Bespoke jumpsuit; Tory Burch Tory Sport Ruffle Sneaker, $225, available at Tory Burch; Vintage jewelry.

Despite a global pedigree, Adesuwa, now stationed in New York City, is American by birth – thanks to her mother’s ingenuity and determination to give her kids every opportunity. For her two sons and Adesuwa, she traveled from Nigeria to Maryland to give birth, guaranteeing all of her children birthright citizenship, and then back to Africa to raise them. When Adesuwa was 13, her older brother died and her family moved back to America for good; it changed the course of her life forever. After skipping a few grades, she enrolled at the University of Maryland to study medicine when she was 16. “I wanted to make sure that my parents didn’t feel so sad he was gone, so I spent years trying to be him. Everything he would do, I would try to do,” she tells Refinery29. Her brother had hopes to become a doctor; Adesuwa stifled her desire to study art and enrolled in chemistry, pre-med. “In the first semester, my teacher called my parents in and said, Hey, I think your daughter is depressed. Because I never talked about my brother dying. We were so close, we were like twins.”

By trying to be her brother and not herself, in a sense, she sunk deeper into depression and, after a brief internship at NASA, she eventually switched gears. “The idea of depression to an African father doesn’t make sense. Mental illness in the Black community is like a unicorn; there’s no word for it,” she says. According to Adesuwa, death happens so frequently in Africa that reacting to it is considered indulgent, a first-world privilege. “My dad was just kind of like, get over it. To be like, I’m depressed, I need to go see a doctor or I’m really tired from work so I’m gonna take a day off — that kind of thing doesn’t happen in Africa because everyone is trying to survive.” When she was 19, a junior in college, her friends sent her photos into a modeling agency. Unlike some models, Adesuwa’s ensuing career paced like a slow-burning candle. The photos worked and gained her a few test shoots. Then came what she calls the “weird-stuff-for-free” gigs.

Thom Browne coat; Vintage jewelry & shoes.

“On my first job, they paid me the same amount of money for one day that I was making all summer doing research [on HIV/AIDS and global warming]. So, I thought I should try it out,” she says. Though they’re “tight” now, Adesuwa claims her parents disowned her several times and still don’t understand modeling. “They were like, ‘Okay, you want to be stubborn? Go ahead. But when you’re poor, come back home.’ My mom’s worries were that if I was so poor that I had to become a waiter, I had to come home. To them, modeling was like Playboy.” But, to Adesuwa, modeling was a chance to say goodbye to her brother and hello to herself. “I thought I could take the time to figure out who I was, and who I wanted to be, since my brother passed. And since I didn’t want to be a doctor anymore, it was a cool way to make money and figure myself out.”

Then she nabbed Target and some editorials in independent magazines. But then Chanel and then Vogue. And then the cover of Numéro, the cover of i-D, and the cover of T. Now, you’re better off trying your luck at finding a runway Adesuwa isn’t on than logging all of her show appearances. So, is she famous? Compared to the rest of us, yeah. But Adesuwa knows progress is gradual. And she plans to keep it that way.

“Some girls take off quickly, but they don’t last. Fashion is insane. Nobody outside can understand it until they get in. Imagine you’re in school, you just graduated, and then you’re going on three flights a week, not sleeping. You never have an ‘off’ day. If you feel sad and don’t feel like being bubbly, too bad — there are no days like that. You always have to be on-point,” she says. She notes she’s witnessed more than one mental breakdown on jobs. “It’s not normal what we have to do. Some of these girls are as young as 16; as a kid, you’re treated as an adult and they hold you to the same standards as an adult, so they don’t realize that’s a fucking child they’re putting clothes on. It’s a really bizarre world.”

Thom Browne top and bottom; Vintage jewelry and boots.

She reached her own breaking point while leaving the No. 21 show in Milan last season. A pair of raw leather shoes had peeled the skin off the back of her foot. As she lined up to walk again, this time for the finale with her shoe “overflowing with blood,” she mentally prepared herself to walk with the same amount of aggression — the shoe still digging into her skin. “As soon as we got off the runway, I ripped the shoes off, ran to find my driver outside, put a hoodie over my face, because I was crying and didn’t want anyone to see, and street photographers are chasing me,” she recalls. Adesuwa knew some of the street style photographers personally, so she politely asked them not to take her picture. “They don’t care,” she insists. One woman continued to follow Adesuwa to her car, trying to get the shot she needed. She did — and she published it.

That unfortunate incident aside, Adesuwa refuses to let the pressures of her industry break or compromise her. “I’ve been a bad bitch this whole time. I didn’t change.” she explains.

In addition to modeling, there are a few other things that make Adesuwa tick. She’s on a mission to destigmatize America’s interpretation and views toward Islam (for the record, she’s Buddhist), to promote unity and art and Africa, and she’s got a lot to say about diversity in fashion. All of this means books, film, and more. She’s working on a children’s book about a young Nigerian boy who sets out on a year-long journey through the desert, rivers, and the bustling city of Lagos in search of his family, too. Her directorial film debut Spring In Harlem, focuses on the beauty — not race or religion — of Muslim women. She shot her friends in traditional Islamic garb, including hijabs, walking through the streets of Harlem. The short was released via LOVE and saw Adesuwa steaming hijabs at 5:00 am (“Do you know how goddamn hard it is to steam polyester?”). The experience taught her the technical side of her job, giving her a real appreciation for all that goes into photo and film shoots “Everything I would want on set, I did. I was like, I’ll never be a brat on set ever again because this shit is hard.”

Thom Browne jacket; Louis Vuitton boot.

“I’ve never dreamed in film before, only books and letters,” she says. Fashion crosses hairs with music and film, and Adesuwa plans to take full advantage of her platform. “I remember the first time I was on a set where I met a female director. And I was like, That’s so sick! Like, I could be her. I could have a voice without being judged. Because everything I have a passion for is in Africa. All the woes I experienced in Africa — those things to me seem so tiny compared to all of the problems that I’m aware of. ”

Though she has no problem checking her biracial privilege, and uses film as an outlet for that, Adesuwa sees the flaws in fashion’s current diversity push, too — specifically in designers of color. “It’s starting to get a bit redundant. There are changes here and there, but I don’t think there are significant changes in terms of the ratio of talk versus action,” she says. “In fashion, yes, there are more Black people on the runway these days but I think it’s based on monetary value. People are realizing what the Black dollar is and its value. That’s why you see Virgil [Abloh] at Louis Vuitton — people are realizing that Black people make the culture and the culture is what sells.”

“The people who are benefitting from the changes need to put other Black people on [their teams] and not just beef with themselves,” she says. ”Virgil should hire more Black designers and realize that we’re there because we’re worth it — but take the opportunity to help your fellow brethren shine, too. Because we are the culture — we’re the ones people steal things from.” It’s the kind of criticism Abloh has heard before.

Bespoke shirt.

Adesuwa is one-of-a-kind, and she credits that somewhat to her deepest love: “In Nigeria, we don’t think in a community mindset; we don’t have one thing uniting us, like television where we’re all watching the same shows and wearing the same clothes. There’s none of that. Everybody is an individual.” But Adesuwa does see herself as part of a much larger picture. And while she lives her life in pictures, her mind is in space — dreaming, formulating, drawing a world in which things like fashion, race, politics, and religion don’t collide but coexist.

As she readies herself for a Chanel fitting, she embarks on an unfinished, pragmatic thought about realizing her biggest, most ambitious plans: “It’s like, why am I here? What is my purpose? Is it really posing? People say I’m paving the way in fashion. But what is that — ‘paving the way in fashion’? Nobody really cares about what ideas you have unless you have accolades. And the fastest way to get that is through American fame, so here I am.”

Her ultimate end game and destination, she says, is far from the runways of New York, but it’s where, with some hard-earned recognition and money, she wants to continue her work in cinema, art, and humanitarian efforts. “Nigeria is so nostalgic for me because that’s the only place I’ve ever felt is home,” she says, smiling and, one could imagine, envisioning a future beyond mere supermodel-dom.

Welcome to MyIdentity. The road to owning your identity is rarely easy. In this yearlong program, we will celebrate that journey and explore how the choices we make on the outside reflect what we're feeling on the inside — and the important role fashion and beauty play in helping people find and express who they are.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Cardi B's Fashion Nova Collab Sold Out Within Hours

Why Trans Awareness Week Matters To This Filipina-American Model

When It Comes To Gender, Oslo Grace Is A Runway Shapeshifter

When something is off with your skin, a good face mask can put you back on the right track in a matter of minutes. The bigger headache comes with finding the best one for whatever it is that ails you — be it a stress pimple with its own zip code, redness around your nose, a constellation of whiteheads on your cheek, or some combination thereof.

Walk into any store that calls itself a beauty supplier, and you're met with a full aisle of options, from single-use sheets to a jar filled with charcoal that promises to "vacuum pores" and even masking sticks, whatever those are. Click over to Ulta, Sephora, Target, or Amazon, and it's the same deal — just with a lot of scrolling, as opposed to physically picking things up (and, more often than not, putting them back on the shelf again when you realize they're just not quite right).

To make life easier, we're giving you a complete guide to the best, most effective face masks that hit the market this year. There were a lot: Our R29 editors tested almost every single one (with gusto) for this year's Beauty Innovator Awards and came to a unanimous decision on the favorite, which received perfect scores across our varying skin concerns. Catch all the candid reviews, and shop the top four with confidence, ahead.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

We Tested $249 Worth Of Face Wash — & This Cleanser Was The Clear Favorite

How To Get Rid Of Ingrown Hairs Everywhere

A Comprehensive Guide To Growing Out Your Pubic Hair

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.

Calling all entrepreneurs: We want to hear from you! If you’re a freelancer or self-employed, we’d love to feature your Money Diary. Submit here.

Today: an associate manager working in live entertainment who makes $75,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on a burrito from Chipotle.

Occupation: Associate Manager
Industry: Live Entertainment
Age: 27
Location: New York, NY
Salary: $75,000
Paycheck Amount (Weekly): $838

Monthly Expenses
Rent: $1,164 for my half. (I split rent equally with my husband. We haven't combined finances yet since we're newlyweds.)
Student Loan Payment: $0 (Due to a combination of scholarships and my parents being generous.)
Health/Vision Insurance: $84
Dental Insurance: $20.83
Hulu: $5.99 (I got a promotional price two years ago that still hasn't changed.)
Netflix: $0 (I use my old roommate's account, and she uses my Hulu.)
Cell Phone: $0 (I'm on my parents' family plan.)
Pet Insurance: $18 (my half)
Dog Walker: $180 (my half)
AMC A-List: $19.95 (I just signed up last month — hard to tell if it's worth it yet.)
Gym: $27
DirecTV Now & Internet: $52.50 (my half)
Electricity/Gas: $30-$60 (my half)
Tolls: $100
Car Insurance: $131
401(k): I contribute 6% with a 4% company match
Savings: $300

Day One

5:30 a.m. — I hit snooze.

6 a.m. — Oops, too many snoozes. I dry shampoo my hair and throw on my favorite flannel. (I get dressed in the dark most mornings because my husband starts work two hours later than I do.) I walk into the foyer and notice my flannel has a bleach stain on it – curse communal washers! I put it in my pajama drawer and choose a sweater instead. My office dress code is definitely casual, but not bleach stain casual. I also pack my breakfast (a Krispy Kreme donut purchased at a work fundraiser), lunch (cannellini beans, roasted tomatoes, garlic, and spinach), and an almost too-ripe avocado and peanut butter crackers for snacks.

6:55 a.m. — I meet two coworkers at my car parked a block away from my apartment on the street. Carpooling is one of the many ways I justify driving in the city. Some people may scoff at the idea of owning a car and living in Manhattan, but I make it work for me. When I compared the costs of driving versus train commuting before purchasing, I ultimately decided that buying a car would improve my work/life balance. I paid cash for it and park on the street, so I usually don't have to pay much for parking. It shaves an hour off my commute every day and my carpoolers also occasionally chip in for gas/tolls.

7:15 a.m. — We stop at Dunkin' on the way in. One of my carpool friends is obsessed and goes in every single morning. I get a double espresso ($2.70) and pay on my credit card. I used to have the Dunkin' app and collected loyalty points, but I realized it was absolutely increasing my spending there. $2.70

10 a.m. — Busy morning. I work on preparing budgets for some of my extra duties. I volunteer to do some marketing and workplace culture stuff for the company, and I am happy to say that I get compensated extra for it. I go over some 2019 proposals with a peer and then schedule a meeting to review with my boss tomorrow.

1 p.m. — I catch up on some newspaper reading over lunch. I try to go outside for most lunches, but I have an accumulation of interesting articles to read today and I don't always have the energy to read when I get home from work. My husband pays for a New York Times subscription for us and his dad. We got married in the spring, and are slowly working on combining finances. I just finished officially changing my name and he just started a new job, so there's been plenty of paperwork to handle first.

2:30 p.m. — Super slow afternoon. There's been a surprising lack of Halloween candy this week, so I scrounge around in my desk drawer and come up with exactly enough change for a chocolate bar from the vending machine ($1). Our best couple friends text us about us coming over tonight — a mid-week Halloween is a little lame for partying. We agree to get in costume and watch movies. My boss also requests that we move the budgeting meeting to next week. I am disappointed, but oh well. $1

4 p.m. — I stop by the post office on the way home and drop off a Poshmark package I sold. I continue home, park on the street with quick success, and take the dog on a super long walk. Our friends live in a no-pet apartment, so he'll be home alone tonight. I dress him up like Chewbacca for the walk, and to our delight, we run into dozens of trick-or-treaters.

6:30 p.m. — Husband gets home from work, and we change into our costumes and pack beer and games. Then we trek up to Chipotle to meet our friends and get our $4 "booritos" to go. I love a good spooky promotion. I decline guac since I didn't eat my avocado earlier – I'll add it in to my burrito when we get to our friends' apartment. I pay because the line is CRAZY and I get my wallet out first ($13.63), though normally my husband pays when we eat out. (I cover all of the groceries, so it ends up being a good balance.) We head to our friend's apartment and watch Halloween episodes of some of our favorites shows ( Parks and Recreation and Brooklyn Nine-Nine). $13.63

10 p.m. — What a fun night of friends! My husband takes the dog for another walk and I do my nighttime routine — face wash, lotion, pajamas, open windows. Our landlord, ahem, aggressively complies with NYC winter heat regulations so we have to sleep with all the windows open to get it to a tolerable temperature. I am always dried out in the winter but I much prefer this to freezing!

Daily Total: $17.33

Day Two

6 a.m. — Up and in the shower. As always, as soon as I get up, my dog gets in bed and takes my spot. I wish I could snuggle this morning, but instead I'm off to work. I pack my leftover burrito and a pear.

8 a.m. — My coworker brought in leftover candy, so I munch on a Reese's cup and a mini 100 Grand bar for breakfast. It's a slow morning, so I daydream on Zillow about houses in my hometown. Neither my husband nor I are from NYC originally, and we've talked about moving out of the city in the next few years. We're still not sure if that means the 'burbs or back to where our family is. I honestly love my job, so I think it's going to be difficult for me to leave and find something similar elsewhere, but I sure am getting homesick. Also, the cost of living is so much lower almost everywhere else in the country.

10:30 a.m. — I drink a beet juice that I put in the office fridge last week, which does not deter me from eating more chocolate like I had hoped it would. I have some M&M's.

1 p.m. — Over lunch I check my email and see that Azazie processed my $50 refund! I purchased a "custom size" bridesmaid dress for my friend's wedding, but the sizing came in really funky and I had to get it altered. Azazie has an amazing alteration refund policy, and the request was super easy. I also see that Lincoln Center released new tickets for My Fair Lady — $35 for audience members under 35. My husband isn't interested in classic musicals, but I love me some Laura Benanti. I pick a date in December for a date with myself! I also read through this week's Money Diaries, polish off my leftover burrito, and promise myself this Kit Kat is my last candy. $35

5 p.m. — I read at work while I wait around for my coworker to finish up. I grabbed a bunch of books from my building's recycling last week, all fairly recent — and right now I'm reading Travelling to Infinity (which the movie The Theory of Everything is based on). Jane Hawking is smart as hell! I make a note to rewatch the movie after I finish…Eddie Redmayne is delicious. My coworker lives near me, so I drive him home and we sneak in a few beers and sandwiches at a new neighborhood spot before I have to walk the dog. I have a pulled pork panini with French fries and they give me au jus to dip it in! So delicious. I intend to save half as a surprise for my husband for dinner, but it's so good I eat the whole thing. $31.63

8 p.m. — Husband brings the mail in and then goes for a four-mile run with the dog. I open the mail and find a letter from the IRS noticing an error in my tax return…uh oh. They don't demand any money, they just want me to figure out if the errors I reported are legit. I will deal with it tomorrow. I settle in for a few episodes of Daredevil. Husband doesn't enjoy Marvel's darker series, so I only watch when he's not home. I'm a little behind in terms of release dates. I watch the first episode where Punisher is introduced, get hooked, and stay up far too late.

Daily Total: $66.63

Day Three

6:20 a.m. — TGIF!! I snooze too much, dry shampoo my hair, and pack a frozen acai bowl for breakfast, a frozen Amy's pesto tortellini for lunch, and extra granola as a snack. I also prep a Kong for the dog and throw it in the freezer. He has separation anxiety, but if we give him a long-lasting treat before we leave, he gets too distracted to do anything destructive.

7 a.m. — Dunkin' stop. Another double espresso. $2.70

10 a.m. — My boss is out today, so it's a little busier than normal for me while I cover for her. It slows down a little mid-morning, so I pour granola in my acai bowl and chow down while pulling up my tax records. I think the IRS is right on some of the differences, so I print out an amended form to mail in.

1 p.m. — I eat my pesto bowl (yum!) and pack up another sale for Poshmark. I normally only sell my own clothes, but a few weeks ago I dipped my toes into buying thrifted clothes specifically for resale. I nabbed a few name-brand wool coats in good condition, mostly because I was shopping for myself, but also to try to sell. I figured if they didn't sell I would donate them to the NYC Coat Drive without feeling bad about losing money. However, the first coat sold last night, and the profits will cover the whole thrift store purchase!

4 p.m. — I jet out at the end of the day and stop by the grocery store t0 pick up Honey Bunches of Oats, flour, sugar, cranberries, pumpkin, honey, bananas, and almond milk. $25.13

6 p.m. — Dog and I walk around the block. My friend whose upcoming wedding I'm going to be a bridesmaid in comes over and my husband goes over to her place to play video games with her fiancé. We cut out some wedding decorations on my Cricut and I also cut some vinyl iron-ons — my husband is running the NYC Marathon this weekend and I'm making surprise t-shirts for everyone who is coming to cheer him on! We drink wine and order fries and hot dogs from the corner diner. $15.98

Daily Total: $43.81

Day Four

7 a.m. — I snooze in bed and read the newspaper on my phone while my husband gets ready for a sponsored race breakfast. The dog and I walk him to the train. They allowed plus ones to sign up last week, but all the spots were taken in 45 minutes, so I got waitlisted to no avail!

9 a.m. — I put on a pot of coffee and slice a banana to put in my cereal. After eating, I finish off making the marathon t-shirts. I also listen to last week's Live From Here and make a note to see when the show is coming to NYC this year. We went to the show last year and it was insane. Chris Thile is a genius.

11 a.m. — Husband is back and I clean the guest room and bathroom while he catches up on work emails. We both have desks in the guest room — we are lucky to have so much space in New York, and we make sure to offer it up to friends and family whenever they're in town. Our friends are coming to stay with us in a few days, so I change the bedsheets. After everything is clean, I make pumpkin cranberry muffins, roast salmon, and sauté spinach! I ignore the part of the muffin recipe that calls for artificial sugar packets (weird Southern cookbooks!) and put in brown sugar...but I'm not sure about my ratios.

3 p.m. — I open a ginger cider and we watch two episodes of MasterChef. We are woefully behind on this season. Muffins are under-sugared, as expected, but still delicious.

5:30 p.m. — We take a break from TV to keep working on an Ikea project we started three months ago. We are planning to stay in our apartment for a few more years, so we added some extra kitchen cabinets where there was just empty space. It has already improved life immensely, but we forgot to buy hinges, so we've had open shelving for months. Today we put all but one door on — we had the order pulled for pickup, and it turns out they pulled the wrong sized door for one of them! We also decide we hate the door handles we picked out, so we will make the long haul trip next weekend to return everything and purchase the correct door.

6:30 p.m. — I call in dinner from our favorite Italian place — it's time to carb up for the marathon! We leave a few minutes later to pick up the food with the dog. I get butternut squash gnocchi in butter thyme sauce and tiramisu, and my husband gets lemon spaghetti with grilled chicken. The portions are so big that we both keep leftovers for tomorrow post-marathon. Husband pays.

8 p.m. — Home with the food, and I pour a glass of wine for myself while my husband sticks with water. We nom and watch the first two episodes of The Romanoffs. We have no idea if we like it or not, but it is very well done. Then we head to bed — big day tomorrow!

Daily Total: $0

Day Five

5:30 a.m. — Husband leaves to catch the bus to Staten Island for the New York City Marathon. I try to get back to sleep and fail, so I take the dog out for a quick walk, make coffee and cereal, and read Reddit for a few hours.

9 a.m. — Whoops, I took a quick nap on the couch. I take the dog out for a long walk, get cash out of the ATM down the block, and get ready to go. I leave $20 for my dog walker. (This is separate from my monthly dog walk cost, since we budget that for only weekdays.) I'll split this with my husband at the end of the month when we reconcile utilities and rent. $20

11 a.m. — I meet up with a group of friends and we head to Brooklyn to try to see my husband at mile five. Once we get there, I dip into a bodega for a seltzer, chips, and a backup water in case he needs one along the way ($4.25). We use the marathon app to track him, and — success! We cheer him on as he runs by. On to the next stop. I also top up my MetroCard, which should get me through today, and honestly the next month ($40). $44.25

12:45 p.m. — We make it to mile eight. The subway station is SLAMMED — this seems to be a popular place to watch. My husband texts me from his watch (it's the future!!) and asks me to have Tylenol ready for him. I sneak my way through the crowd to get a spot in the front and a few minutes later, I see him! He grabs the pills and continues to run. I momentarily feel like a badass for nailing the handoff.

1:20 p.m. — We take the train to mile 15 and have 30 minutes to kill, so we find a burger bar and order food and beer. I Venmo a friend for my beer ($3) and get mozzarella sticks and lobster bisque ($12.25). The kitchen is a little more slammed than expected, so I chow down on the mozz sticks, chug my beer, and run back to the race, soup in hand. Classic soup-to-go situation, you know? We manage to all get spots in the front and my husband runs by with high fives for everyone. $15.25

2 p.m. — We take the train to mile 18 and sprint down the street to First Avenue, where we JUST miss him by a block. Sad, but we've managed to see him a lot today! We have an hour before we want to go towards the next stop to see him again, so we duck into another bar for a round of drinks. I order a Christmas-themed bourbon drink and my friend pays for everyone and tells me not to worry about Venmo-ing her because of the hot dogs on Friday.

3:30 p.m. — We walk over to Fifth Avenue and manage to see my husband as he enters the park! He's in super great spirits and only has 2.5 miles to go! We walk down to the pedestrian crossover on 86th and get as close to the runner exit as possible, but it's packed. My friends wait further up and I snake my way down another 10 blocks or so. As I'm walking, I get a picture of my husband and his medal! Score! He finally makes his way out and wants a beer. I send my friends on the mission to find an open bar with no luck, so we head back uptown. They take the train, but I call a Lyft for the marathon man. $55.61

6 p.m. — We have a round of beers and sandwiches as we all share stories. I grab the bill just because it's easier to put it on one tab, and find out they are giving 20% off for marathon runners today! I pay the $190 bill with the intention of Venmo requesting the group, but my husband instead sends me the full bill amount — he wants to thank everyone for supporting him and says the cheers and smiles got him to the finish line. Adorable.

Daily Total: $135.11

Day Six

6 a.m. — I roll out of bed feeling pretty energized this morning! I take a shower and then prep breakfast and lunch: muffin, mini candy, leftover chips from yesterday, cereal, and gnocchi. Feels like a little much today, but I can leave food in the kitchen at work if I need to.

6:45 a.m. — I meet my coworker at my car and we stop at Dunkin' on the way in. I'm feeling a little dehydrated but also want caffeine, so I opt for a black iced tea ($2.71). I text with my friends from out of town who are staying with us to figure out how to get them the keys. They're staying at an Airbnb tonight with hopes to switch over to my apartment midday tomorrow. I decide to pick them up at the airport to make everything easy! $2.71

10:30 a.m. — Slow morning. I eat my leftover chips and a brownie that one of my coworkers brought in.

1 p.m. — I eat at my desk and continue reading my book. This gnocchi is still incredible even two days later! I also finally figure out what to get my husband for his birthday — Milk Bar does classes, and he looooves their stuff. I call in to see if I can get two spots, but they only have one left. I put my name on the waiting list and hope that someone cancels (which they say is rare). It's a little pricey ($190), but my birthday is the following week so I'll count it as a treat for me too. I won't be charged until a spot opens up.

2:15 p.m. — I leave work early to go to a doctor's appointment. I have been dealing with plantar fasciitis in my feet, and this is hopefully my last appointment for a while. I pay the parking meter ($3), get another cortisone shot in one of my feet, and drive to the local shelter to drop off eight bags of gently used clothing. I did a big spring cleaning and I also collect other friends' donations. Since I have a car, I volunteer a few times a year to take items that people might otherwise toss. I fill up the gas tank on the way to the airport ($25.71). $28.71

5 p.m. — I arrive at LaGuardia a few minutes early and circle the airport a few times. The traffic around the airport is gross due to the construction, but this is much better than it is on weekends. I am reunited with my friends and am so happy! I hand off the key and drive them over to the East Side, before heading home. Traffic is a little worse than expected on the way home, but I feel like I did a good deed. Hopefully I will see them at home tomorrow night!

8 p.m. — Car is parked, dog is walked, and I'm on the couch with my feet up. I eat some cheddar cheese off the block (no shame) and toast while watching an episode of Daredevil. My husband brings home leftover Thai food for me, which I save for lunch tomorrow.

Daily Total: $31.42

Day Seven

5:30 a.m. — Man, the whole fam is snuggled under the comforter and it is hard to listen to my alarm! I get ready and trudge to the train — when I have a lot of things planned after work, it's sometimes easier to leave my car parked on the street for the day. I pay for my subway ride with my preloaded MetroCard.

6:45 a.m. — Train commute means I can stop at Starbucks! I get a grande peppermint mocha with almond milk, banana nut bread, and a sparkling water, since I forgot my water bottle today. $12.61

7:15 a.m. — I transfer to the commuter rail and show my ticket to the conductor. I buy a handful of one-way tickets every six months, so this one is prepaid. I get into work and it's already busy.

12:45 p.m. — I scarf down my Thai food — so good! I make a grocery list for tomorrow. Between the marathon and seeing a show tonight, my normal meal planning and prep has fallen by the wayside.

4:30 p.m. — I head back home via the trains. I walk the dog and drop him off at my neighbor's apartment. When I'm out all day I feel guilty leaving him, so I try to get him some social time when it works out. My neighbor ADORES him but doesn't feel like she can handle owning her own dog right now, so she enjoys watching mine. She'll drop him off at my apartment later in the night whenever she's had enough snuggles. I head back to the subway, snag a seat, and finally breathe.

6:30 p.m. — I meet my husband for a quick bite at a hidden food court near Times Square. I get pork buns and a green tea ($13.17) and he gets a Mediterranean wrap and some INSANE fries. (He pays.) I demolish most of his fries and somewhat apologize. This food court is good for a delicious quick bite, but the prices are a little inflated since it's so close to all the theaters. We head over to The Lyric Theatre — we bought tickets for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child over a year ago and it's finally time! We step into the gorgeous theater and stop by the bar on the way. I get a double cabernet sauvignon and my husband gets a Brooklyn Lager. It's packed and I am able to get my card out first, so I pay ($26). $39.17

10:45 p.m. — Well, that was incredible! We decide we've got a little more energy left, so we meet up with some friends at a bar. I grab a table while my husband gets a Manhattan and an Old Fashioned from the bar. He pays and doesn't tell me the total! My friend and her boyfriend arrive and we catch up for a single drink. An hour later we are feeling super tired, so we catch a cab uptown. (Husband pays.) I'm going to be wiped tomorrow!

Daily Total: $51.78

Money Diaries are meant to reflect individual women's experiences and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29's point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.

The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more money diaries, click here.

Have you been working for at least 8 years and seen your salary increase or fluctuate? If so, fill out this form for a chance to be featured on our Salary Story series!

Have a Money Diary you'd like to share? Right now, in addition to our ongoing diaries, we're looking for potential diarists along the following theme:

Your Spending In Your State: We want to run one Money Diary from a different state each week. Want to rep your state? Submit here! In particular, we're looking for diaries from Hawaii, Kansas, Maine, New Mexico, and North Dakota.

Have questions about how to submit or our publishing process? Read our Money Diaries FAQ doc here: r29.co/mdfaqs

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

A Week In Houston, TX, On A $117,400 Salary

How To Stay Cool When Your Family Asks About Your Career At Thanksgiving

A Week In Washington, D.C., On A $40,000 Salary

Amazon is this close to being our one-stop shop for everything, fashion included. While it's a secret hub for cheap and cute buys you can still get with two-day shipping, it's also become a home to many contemporary brands and trend-driven wares. Mara Hoffman swimsuits, Milly dresses perfect for a wedding invite, kick-ass boots that are weekend- and work-friendly; you name it, Amazon now carries it.

Seeing as it's starting to build a hefty repertoire of things we love, we're keeping a close eye on the site for more than just kitchen and electronic deals. In an effort to keep up with Amazon's fast-growing fashion presence, we're sifting through the thousands of products to suss out the best fashion buys from cheap, deep-dive finds to new arrivals to add to your wishlists. So the next time you're at check out with just a $5 cereal box and a new iPhone charging cord in your cart, make that two-day shipping worth it and beef up your order with one of the Prime style picks ahead.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Start Studying Up On This Year's Best Black Friday Sales

Cyber Monday Is Coming - These Are The Best Sales To Shop

Consider The Crop Top: A Surprisingly Versatile Wardrobe Addition

There are two very different types of cold weather. The first is the type where you're forced to dress practically, but you can still get away with showing a bare ankle or be decently comfortable in a V-neck sweater, sans scarf. Those are those brisk-but-sunny days when you can embrace the chill and still look cute in the process. But later in the season, we experience a type of cold that doesn't screw around. Every inch of skin needs to be covered to protect ourselves from that subzero windchill and it hardly matters what's under your puffer, because no one is going to see it.

Those are the moments you'll need to pull out the big guns, but it doesn't mean you have to dread getting dressed. One of the most practical places to start is with your winter boots. The modern day snow boot is both warm and versatile and can look still chic. We've rounded up a few options that check both boxes. Ahead, find a ton of protective footwear that will protect your street style cred, too.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

This Month's Best Fashion Finds On Amazon

Start Studying Up On This Year's Best Black Friday Sales

Cyber Monday Is Coming - These Are The Best Sales To Shop

These days, feminism is ‘cool.’ In fact, it feels like no matter where you go, there are billboards, T-shirts, phone cases — you name it — clad with feminist sayings and imagery. More than ever, celebrities are publicly identifying as feminists, speaking out against misogyny and sexism, and generally jumping on the feminist bandwagon. And though the aforementioned things are arguably positive, these trends do beg the question: What are we getting out of it?

While a lot of feminist issues can be a bit abstract, some are more easily measured. One such issue is pay disparity. And, despite feminism’s trendiness, an unpleasant fact remains: Women are still getting paid much less than men — and the gap isn’t shrinking fast enough. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau’s The Simple Truth about the Gender Pay Gap, white women in the U.S. are still paid 20% less than men. This gap is much larger for women of color, with Black women and Latinas still being paid 38% and 46% less than white men, respectively. In fact, in 2018, the pay gap for Black women actually increased from last year.

In light of these frustrating realities, Secret partnered with Ladies Get Paid to produce a new video campaign — “I’d Rather Get Paid” — that highlights the importance of equal pay.

The video is tongue-and-cheek, with the lead character lamenting over how pop culture's feminist movement spreads empowering messaging that don't directly translate into measurable change. "I see so many lovely gestures telling women we're strong," our heroine sings. "But paying us a fair wage is what we've wanted all along." Simply put: We'd rather get paid.

The video is littered with cameos from famous women who are passionate about ending pay inequality, including actresses Sophia Bush and Samira Wiley, and sports legends Abby Wambach and Swin Cash. The film was directed and led by all women of color.

This video comes at a time when inequality is at the forefront of many global conversations, but it takes a fun approach to the issue, highlighting the hypocrisy of many pseudo-feminist narratives. “It was cool, during the march to see guys in attendance. But moral support is not financial independence,” sings the lead in the video. Still, despite the light-hearted approach, the film does tackle some big issues.

“While the commercial is fun, it points to something very serious: Women aren't expected to reach pay parity until 2059, and we obviously can't wait that long, ” Ladies Get Paid Founder Claire Wasserman told Refinery29. “If Secret’s campaign inspires women to finally ask for that raise they deserve (which in itself is a service to all women), or if it compels companies to reconsider their compensation benefits practices, that will be a step in the right direction.”

With this in mind, Ladies Get Paid is partnering with Secret beyond this music video to help give more women the tools to fight wage inequality. On the Ladies Get Paid website, there is now a free toolkit with resources for women, and, over the next few weeks, Secret and Ladies Get Paid will hold workshops at several locations of The Wing teaching women how to advocate for fair pay, negotiate raises, and ace interviews.

“Secret’s ‘I’d Rather Get Paid’ campaign and our partnership with them is not just about encouraging individual women to ask for a raise (though that’s part of it!),” Wasserman concluded. “[It’s] about banding together to raise the bar on what we collectively will or won’t accept, and ultimately inspire change at the organizational level.”

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Most Inspiring Gratitude Quotes To Share On Instagram This Thanksgiving

5 Ways To Give Back This #GivingTuesday

A Week In New York City On A $75,000 Salary

The future of beauty is here — and you’re invited. Check out the rest of our 2018 Refinery29 Beauty Innovator Awards winners for a full look at the products, brands, and people that are breaking the rules and redefining beauty standards, one lipstick at a time. This story was originally published on February 24, 2018.

I, like most of us, frequently have to get ready in a pinch in the morning. Just the other day, my bathroom was out of commission, I'd had one too many glasses of wine the night before, and my cat kept me up until 3 a.m. meowing incessantly at the birds living outside my apartment window.

Needless to say, I needed something that would make me look like someone who has proper access to a quiet bedroom and a working bathroom — and I was running late. I don't often reach for new products when I'm pressed for time, but for some reason I gravitated toward Laura Mercier's Flawless Fusion concealer. As you might guess, I'm glad I did.

The concealer — which is brand-spanking-new and comes in 12 shades — is blendable yet opaque, dewy yet comfortable, and leaves a skin-like finish that doesn't feel or look like heavy makeup. It has the power of the brand's cult classic Secret Camouflage concealer (a two-pan cream concealer that I find cumbersome to use daily), but with a lightweight finish that's easier to use on the go. It also has a plush, flexible applicator that makes it easy to dab all over the face without having to re-dip for more.

Earlier this afternoon, a coworker described my skin as "glowy, but not in an oily way" — the seven words an oily-skinned individual revels in hearing. Now, I know this entire ordeal means I have only tried this thing a few times, but if it performs this well on one of my skin's worst days, then I'm sold.

Laura Mercier Flawless Fusion Ultra-Longwear Concealer, $28, available at Laura Mercier.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Best Black Friday & Cyber Monday Deals For Makeup Lovers

We Tested 2018's Buzziest Mascaras — & This Was Everyone's Favorite

16 Liquid Lipsticks For People Who Hate Liquid Lipstick

The moment when you suddenly realize you're an adult can come amid a seemingly random activity — depositing money in your newly-formed 401k, making dinner that consists of something other than almond milk and cereal, leading your first department meeting at work. For us, though, that moment came when we finally mastered the fine art of applying sunscreen.

Finding your perfect SPF number and knowing exactly when you need to reapply, and how often, made us feel like we had become true, responsible grown-ups. Now, we can spend a weekend by the pool and not have to deal with the judgy looks of our coworkers on Monday when they catch sight of our lobster skin! But, along with that newfound diligence and lack of sunburns came something troubling: zits.

According to dermatologist Jennifer M. Segal, MD, two things can cause sunscreen-related breakouts: occlusion of the pores by comedogenic materials, or a sensitivity reaction to chemical UV-blocking agents. Basically, the mineral sunscreens can sit on top of the skin and gunk up your pores, while the chemical ones can irritate the skin.

Yep, hell hath no fury like acne-prone skin after a thick coating of zinc oxide. Your pores look at SPF like you might look at a big vat of Crisco: You can't seriously be considering putting that on, right? It's a cruel cosmic joke of damned if you do, and damned if you don't. Apply sunscreen and wait for the pimples to start cropping up, or ditch it and risk melanoma and wrinkles. The choice on that one is pretty clear for us — so we had resigned ourselves to a summer full of blemishes.

Until now. Thanks to some forward-thinking developments in formulations, all of this is starting to change. "Traditionally, mineral blocks have been very thick, but newer micronized formulations of zinc and titanium dioxide are smooth, cosmetically elegant, and very light," says Dr. Segal. Hallelujah.

Ahead, we've rounded up tried-and-tested mineral and chemical (for those of you allergic or unable to get on the mineral-SPF train) sunscreens that we've spent the last month slathering on our faces and bodies. Not one of these caused our skin to go ballistic, so we feel confident giving them our no-pizza-face seal of approval. Click through to see which sun-protection products made the cut.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

11 Reasons You Should Finally Try Charcoal Beauty Products

How To Know If A Lip Pimple Is Just A Pimple — So You Can Zap It, Fast

The Oily-Skin Myth Dermatologists Say You Need To Stop Believing

Young Kim was hoping to become the first Korean-American woman in Congress — and was Republicans' last hope in Orange County, California. But on Sunday, she lost to Democrat Gil Cisneros, making the state's 39th Congressional District yet another House Seat flipped by the Democrats. The seat, a closely watched midterms battleground, had been held by retiring Republican Ed Royce for 13 terms.

Now, the O.C. — formerly called "Reagan country" — is no longer a Republican stronghold, with all seven of its seats controlled by Democrats, four of them having been flipped blue. Cisneros is a former navy officer and shipping and manufacturing manager for Frito-Lay. He got into politics and philanthropy when he won a Mega Millions jackpot of $266 million right after being laid off from his job. Even he was a Republican until 2008, but switched when he felt the party had become "too ideological."

Kim, a former Republican state assemblywoman, didn't run as a "typical" Republican. In an interview with Refinery29 's Connie Wang earlier this year, she told her immigrant story and criticized Trump's hardline anti-immigration stance.

"My parents didn’t know a word of English," she said. "I found myself taking my parents to the DMV and having to translate on their behalf as they struggled to apply for driver’s licenses. Their education level was elementary school. But that’s the main reason that they came — to seek the economic opportunities to provide for the educational opportunity for their young kids."

She also said she supports the Dreamers. "I don’t support that rhetoric coming out that says all undocumented individuals are criminals," Kim said. "Republicans support people coming here legally to pursue the American Dream like my family did. What we are against are individuals who just come here, hide out, and somehow eventually you’re going to get your legal status — that includes many Asians, not just people from Mexico or Guatemala."

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Ivanka Conveniently Supports Democrats' Headscarf Rule For Members Of Congress

Proposed Ohio Law Could Make Abortion Punishable By Death Penalty

The Women Of Color Who Made History This Midterm Election

You hear that? It's the sound of glass-ceilings shattering all across the nation. A record-breaking number of women ran on the 2018 midterm election. According to the New York Times, "more than a quarter of all the candidates running this year are female, including 84 women of color — a 42% increase from just two years ago." Out of this diverse cohort of candidates, many won big on election night, making history

When running for office, women of color often face more roadblocks and a lack of institutional support than their white counterparts. But that didn't stop an unprecedented number of candidates of color from throwing their hats in the ring this election season. Many of them were victorious in their bids, therefore paving the way for upcoming generations to follow their path and helping make our elected officials look a little bit more like the face of America.

Ahead, a look at some of the women of color who made history this midterm election.

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a 29-year-old Democratic socialist from the Bronx, just became one of the two youngest women ever elected to Congress. The congressional candidate for New York's 14th District pulled one of the most stunning upsets in recent history when she defeated Rep. Joe Crowley, a longtime staple of local politics and the fourth-ranking Democrats in the U.S. House of Representatives, back in the summer. The victory catapulted her to the national stage, with many calling her a political rising star who would change the face of the Democratic party. NY-14 is one of the most liberal districts in the nation, with registered Democrats outnumbering Republicans roughly six-to-one. Ocasio-Cortez's Republican challenger, 72-year-old Anthony Pappas, never really stood a chance to defeat her in the general election.

Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar became the first Muslim-American women ever elected to Congress. Tlaib, also the first Palestinian-American woman ever elected to the House, ran unopposed on Michigan's 13th District candidate. She will fill the seat left by longtime Rep. John Conyers, who resigned last year amid allegations of sexual misconduct. Omar, a former refugee, made history in 2016 when she became the first Somali-American legislator in the history of the United States. Now, she is shattering the glass-ceiling once again, after winning the race on Minnesota's left-leaning 5th District. After being sworn-in, the 36-year-old will also be the first Somali-American congresswoman in the nation.

Ayanna Pressley will be the first Black woman to represent Massachusetts in Congress. The 44-year-old was running unopposed in Massachusetts’ 7th District, after defeating ten-term incumbent Rep. Mike Capuano in the primary in September. Pressley, a Democrat, also made history when she became the first woman of color to be elected to the Boston City Council.

Veronica Escobar and Sylvia Garcia will be the first Latinas to represent Texas in Congress. Escobar, a former two-term county judge, handily won the race in Texas' 16th District, a Democratic stronghold that hasn't gone red in 55 years. "If you have an expectation for a certain type of governance, you better be able to step up and provide it," she told Refinery29 earlier this year. "You can't depend on somebody else." Garcia, who served in the Texas State Senate from 2013 until this summer, also easily defeated Republican Phillip Aronoff in TX-29.

Sharice Davids and Deb Haaland are the first Indigenous women ever elected to Congress. Davids, 37, defeated Republican incumbent Kevin Yoder in Kansas' 3rd District. The former mixed martial arts fighter and White House fellow during the Obama-Trump transition will also be the first openly lesbian congresswoman to represent the state in Capitol Hill. In New Mexico's 1st District, Haaland defeated Republican candidate Janice Arnold-Jones.

Young Kim  will be the first Korean-American congresswoman. Kim, a former Republican state assemblywoman, won the race in California's 39th District against Democrat Gil Cisneros. The 56-year-old is an immigrant: She was born in Seoul and grew up in Guam before moving stateside to attend college.

This story has been corrected to reflect that Young Kim, who would've been the first Korean-American congresswoman, lost her race in California's 39th District to Gil Cisneros.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

Ivanka Conveniently Supports Democrats' Headscarf Rule For Members Of Congress

Proposed Ohio Law Could Make Abortion Punishable By Death Penalty

Young Kim Lost Her Race & Now Orange County Is 100% Blue

This time of year, the commercialization of the holidays can be enough to make your head spin.

Endless sales and the sometimes overwhelming pressure to buy gifts for everyone in your life can turn giving into a less-than-pleasant experience. And yet, there’s a day just around the corner that offers an opportunity to get into a different sort of holiday spirit.

What’s #GivingTuesday?

For the sixth year in a row, next Tuesday, November 28, is a day to give back. Giving Tuesday (or as it’s more commonly referred to #GivingTuesday) first started in 2012 as an initiative by the team at the Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact at the 92nd Street Y in New York City. The day was created in response to the spike in consumerism following Thanksgiving (think Black Friday and Cyber Monday).

Taking advantage of the momentum of these global shopping holidays, #GivingTuesday marks the beginning of the charitable season, encouraging people to give to organizations, charities, and initiatives that are doing good.

In 2017, #GivingTuesday raised estimated $274 million for nonprofits in the United States alone. Using social media as a catalyst, over the past six years, #GivingTuesday has grown into an inspiring movement that creates increased awareness of nonprofits and inspires a spirit of giving.

Whether you’re able to donate your time or money, here are five ways to participate this #GivingTuesday.

1. Donate to your favorite nonprofit

Most of us are familiar with a nonprofit or two that does work that's in line with our values. Whether it’s an organization that supports immigrant families, the LGBTQ community, or domestic violence survivors in your hometown, there are plenty of nonprofits doing great work that rely on donations in order to survive.

If no specific organization comes to mind, you can check out the #GivingTuesday site to find nonprofits in your neighborhood, or browse a third-party databases, like MightyCause, to search for nonprofits by location and type. If transparency is a concern, check out Give.org, which produces reports about organizations and evaluates them based on accountability.

2. Volunteer your time

If you’re able to, consider volunteering your time on Tuesday. Though #GivingTuesday is primarily an online event, there are plenty of organizations that are in need of hands-on help. Rolling your sleeves up can be particularly fulfilling way to give back.

If you have an organization in mind, give them a call to see if they’re looking for volunteers on #GivingTuesday, or check out the #GivingTuesday site to find the contact information for nonprofits in your area.

3. Start your own fundraiser

If you have a Facebook account, one great way to elevate your efforts on Giving Tuesday is to start a fundraiser for your favorite nonprofit.

All you have to do is head over to Facebook and click ‘Fundraisers’ on the left-hand side of the screen under the Explore tab. From there, see options to start a fundraiser for #GivingTuesday. This year, Facebook and PayPal will be matching donations up to a total of $7 million. You can learn more about how to start a fundraiser and how your efforts will be matched on the site.

4. Share your experience on social media

If you're not financially able to give as much as you’d like this year, one thing that’s free and can be helpful is boosting #GivingTuesday posts on your social media.

Use the #GivingTuesday hashtag to write about what you’re doing, retweet and repost social media posts from nonprofits and charities — whether they’re the ones you’re financially supporting or not. Whenever possible, use your platform to give nonprofits some extra love.

5. Start a charitable giving habit

#GivingTuesday is a great way to collectively affect positive change. But, in a world that is struggling in so many ways, it’s good to remember to give back whenever possible — not just the Tuesday after Thanksgiving.

Many nonprofits have membership or giving packages where you can sign up to donate on a monthly basis. If you’re able, consider signing up for one of these memberships so that you can support your favorite nonprofit year-round. After all, every bit helps.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Most Inspiring Gratitude Quotes To Share On Instagram This Thanksgiving

Exclusive: A Music Video That Will Inspire You To Ask For A Raise

A Week In New York City On A $75,000 Salary

‘Tis almost the season for holiday festivities, family commitments, travel plans, and gift giving, all of which can lead to plenty of stress on both you and your bank account. Fortunately, Amazon is making it easy for you to save, while still getting your holiday shopping done.

Well ahead of the usual post-TurkeyDay rush, the online retailer has released their early Black Friday deals with sales and discounts on everything from electronics and toys and every foodie’s favorite items – kitchen necessities.

From sleek and stainless steel coffee makers to blenders, roaster ovens, trendy Instant Pots, and air fryers, we’ve rounded up the best of Amazon’s Black Friday kitchen deals to help you shop smarter, not harder this season. And we promise not to judge if you throw an extra one of any of these into the cart for yourself either.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Best Black Friday Home Deals, Because Your House Deserves A Present Too

Let These Beautiful Christmas Poopers Light Up Your Holiday Season

Wayfair's Black Friday Sale Starts Today — & Here Are The Must-Shop Deals

If your skin type errs on the side of excessively oily, chances are you've taken countless different approaches to combat it: acids, mattifying primers, oil-free foundations... the list goes on. But there's one "tip" currently doing the rounds in the skin care-enthusiast stratosphere that has dermatologists less than thrilled.

You may have come across information that suggests your overly oily complexion could actually be a result of dehydrated skin, which lacks water or moisture and typically results in tightness, fine lines, and dullness. Some experts argue that this is what kickstarts our skin into producing more oil to compensate. Cue a number of people shelling out on expensive facial oils and occlusive moisturizers to counteract the shine — only to find their skin is getting oilier or breaking out.

Confused? We don't blame you. We asked dermatologist Emma Wedgeworth whether dehydrated skin really produces more oil to make up for a lack of moisture. She explained to us that oil production and skin hydration are two separate things, and the myth that oiliness should be combated with extra hydration is just that: a myth. "It's something we dermatologists see all the time," Dr. Wedgeworth said. "People often come into the clinic and I ask them to run through their skin-care routine and they tell me they've been using oils to hydrate, even though they've got really oily skin and [are blemish-prone]. It is really interesting."

So what really causes oily skin, if it's not overcompensation due to lack of moisture? "It's all about the 'settings' on your sebaceous glands, and everyone is different," Dr. Wedgeworth said. As dermatologist Anjali Mahto told us, much of it is genetically controlled; in fact, we "inherit" the size of our sebaceous glands in the first place. But there are other risk factors associated with oily skin, including exposure to humid climates, ethnicity, and conditions like PCOS that cause elevated androgen hormones. "People are referring to two different things here," Dr. Mahto said. "Dehydration is a lack of water in the skin (or increased water loss through the skin barrier), which can occur due to using harsh skin-care products or air conditioning, for example. But there isn't any evidence that oily skin is due to dehydration or lack of water."

Now that that's settled, you can stop overwhelming your already-oily skin with rich oils and heavy creams, and stock up on smart products that minimize oil production effectively — without leaving skin dehydrated, to boot. Ahead, the ingredients you need to know, and the one thing you should never, ever forget to do.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

How To Know If A Lip Pimple Is Just A Pimple — So You Can Zap It, Fast

11 Reasons You Should Finally Try Charcoal Beauty Products

Sunscreens That Won't Make You Break Out, Because That's Not Cool

Red wine is our favorite way to unwind after a long day of work; it's the hostess gift we tote to every housewarming and Friendsgiving gathering; and it's the perfect color inspiration for fall lipstick. If you're wary of using an oxblood color on your face, don't be. Just like there's excitement in pouring a new glass of pinot or merlot that you've never sipped before, you can’t go wrong with testing out a new vampy lipstick.

Celebrity makeup artist Paul Blanch tells Refinery29 that picking out a flattering burgundy lipstick is easy, especially once you understand your undertones. " To find your undertone look at your wrists: If your veins are bluish, then you’re cool toned. If they appear more green (or yellow), then your undertones are warm," he says. If you can't decide either way, then it's likely your undertones are neutral. In fact, according to the pros, burgundy can look good on anyone.

There are tons of different burgundy shades to choose from. "Ultimately, makeup is fun, and it's all about trying a bunch to see what you like," says Blanch. So to help you find your favorite before you start holiday party hopping, we tapped the pros for their picks. Find them all ahead.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

How To Know If A Lip Pimple Is Just A Pimple — So You Can Zap It, Fast

11 Reasons You Should Finally Try Charcoal Beauty Products

I Got Scalp Injections For My Thinning Hair — & This Is What Happened

My hair started falling out in my early 20s. It was sudden and dramatic. One day, my brush resembled, well, a brush, and the next, it looked more like a Lhasa Apso. The shedding itself didn’t bother me. But after a few months, when I noticed my part widening and my ponytail shrinking, panic set in.

The Diagnosis — & What I Tried Next
My dermatologist ran blood tests to rule out typical hair-loss culprits, like hypothyroidism and anemia. When the results came back normal, I was given the diagnosis of mild androgenetic alopecia, or Female Pattern Hair Loss (FPHL). Essentially, this meant my hair follicles were shrinking, causing the hair to fall out faster and grow back finer and shorter in a process called “miniaturization.” Surprisingly common, the condition affects roughly 30 million adult women in the U.S. alone. It can start anytime from your 20s to 60s, and can be caused by hormonal and hereditary factors.

I spent the next few years trying to make my strands stick around. I started using minoxidil, the only hair-loss treatment approved by the FDA for women. I also tried a follicle-stimulating laser comb and spironolactone, a blood-pressure medication believed to help some FPHL suffers. Alas, the only thing the comb “stimulated” was dandruff, and the spironolactone — a diuretic —had me running to the bathroom every five minutes.

By my 30s, I’d all but given up, resigning myself to a life of deep side-parts and mousse. Then, this past summer, I heard about a new hair-loss treatment. It was my dermatologist who clued me in. During a routine mole check, I made a grumbling aside about my scrawny locks. “You should try PRP treatment; it’s really starting to get good results,” she said, giving me the number of local dermatologist and hair specialist Brian Dubow, MD.

Two weeks later (his first available appointment), I was in Dr. Dubow’s Beverly Hills office peppering him with questions.

Enter: PRP
So what exactly is PRP? "It stands for 'platelet-rich plasma,'" explained Dr. Dubow. "Platelets, which are found in your blood, are loaded with proteins called growth factors that accelerate wound healing." As it turns out, in high enough concentrations, growth factors are also believed to help battle hair loss. "They stimulate the hair follicle to turn on, if it’s been in a sleeping state, and if it’s already awake, it’s like giving it a vitamin boost, helping the hair grow longer and thicker," said Dr. Dubow.

The pain was…exquisite. I howled and yelped and spoke in whole sentences comprised of the f-word...

The treatment was pretty straightforward. Blood taken from the patient is placed in a special centrifuge and spun to separate the components: red blood cells, plasma, and platelet-rich plasma. The latter is then extracted and spun a second time to achieve an optimal concentration of growth factors (five to 10 times greater than in the bloodstream). Finally, it’s injected into the patient’s scalp wherever they are experiencing thinning.

Done in office, the treatment takes less than 20 minutes and is considered fairly safe, the biggest risk factor being infection at the injection sites. For an optimal outcome, six sessions within a year are recommended. Dr. Dubow started offering PRP less than a year ago, but he has already been seeing positive results. “About 80% of my patients have seen their shedding slow down or stop completely,” he said, noting he recommends doing the therapy in conjunction with other hair-loss treatments, like minoxidil or spironolactone. “A lot also see new growth and tell me their existing hair feels thicker and fuller.” The cost? The average is somewhere in the ballpark of $1,250 a treatment (or $5,900 if you prepay for your first year). [Ed. note: I ended up paying a bit less than this thanks to a press discount, or, as I like to call it, a (very lucky) beauty-writer-guinea-pig discount.]

Wait, How Much?
“There’s a wide range of fees out there,” said Dr. Dubow, noting he’d seen treatments offered for as low as $500. “But the systems that achieve the highest PRP concentrations are the ones that are more labor-intensive. I also think it’s important to have an actual physician do the injections.”

It definitely wasn’t going to be cheap, even with a press discount. But dammit, I wanted hair! Thick locks like Gigi Hadid’s may be out of reach, but didn’t I at least deserve Bella’s? This didn't feel like going through a bad breakout or having hips that didn't mesh well with fashion's latest trendy silhouettes. Women aren’t supposed to lose their hair. Never mind how common it actually is, in our society, it’s not just unattractive but downright un-female, I thought. (I know, I know, my hair isn't what makes me me, but I want to be honest about the way I felt here...and this is it.)

Dr. Dubow bent down closer to examine my scalp. He counted 18 hairs within a small area that normally houses around 25. “You’re a good candidate,” he concluded. “This treatment doesn’t work on areas with little or no hair. You’re thinning, but you’re not too far gone yet.”

Yet? Oof. I had my credit card ready before I’d reached the receptionist. A week later, I returned for my first treatment, but things didn’t exactly go according to plan.

Let's Do This
The nurse, Manuel, informed me he’d be taking 50 cc's of my blood. For someone who gets queasy at the sight of a paper cut, this was not welcome news. Thankfully, Manuel, an expert conversationalist, chattily steered away my attention until it was all over.

Afterward, Dr. Dubow arrived and offered to anesthetize the treatment area. “No time,” I said, explaining I was due back at work in an hour for a meeting. Using a coolant roller as a numbing agent, he proceeded to administer 35 injections in a grid formation — five rows, seven injections a row — on the top frontal portion of my scalp.

The pain was… exquisite. I howled and yelped and spoke in whole sentences comprised of the f-word.

When it was over, I was angry I’d put myself through something that, if the other hair-loss treatments I’d tried were any indication, probably wouldn’t work anyway.

But the next night when I washed my hair, something funny happened. I barely shed. Normally, I bid adieu to around 15 to 20 hairs, but this time? Five — max! It stayed at that rate, too. Then, about a month later, I noticed patches of baby hairs had sprouted all over the top of my head. Hundreds of them. I had to slick them down with hair spray. It definitely wasn’t my best look, but I didn’t mind.

At my second appointment, Dr. Dubow observed the new hairs, too. “You’re responding nicely,” he said. However, he was quick to remind me the treatment isn’t a magic bullet — at least not yet. “We’re not at the stage where you can expect to regrow a full head of hair,” he said. “But I think PRP will improve with time. Harnessing the power of the human body is where a lot of the promise of the future of medicine is. Up to this point, we’ve relied mostly on drugs.”

I nodded. I realized I’d given hair loss my best fight. If voluminous locks weren’t in my future, I’d find other ways to feel beautiful. A woman is not the sum of hairs on her head.

“Would you like local anesthesia this time?” asked Dr. Dubow, picking up a syringe.

"Yes," I said. "Please."

Correction: An earlier version of this story noted the blood taken was 500 cc's. It is actually 50 cc's.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

7 Hair Gift Sets That Will Win Over Everyone On Your List

The Best Dry Shampoos Ever — & Pro Tricks For Using 'Em

The Shortcut To Keeping Your Hair Glossy & Shiny This Winter

In September, Hedi Slimane presented his first offering as Celine's new artistic, creative, and image director to mixed reviews. Not content with dominating the conversation in womenswear, the designer now has his eye on menswear. WWD is reporting the French fashion house will show during Men's Fashion Week Paris this January. Slimane (formerly of Dior Homme and YSL) showed a few select menswear items during his debut show during Paris Fashion Week, alongside this women's collection of leather jackets, skinny jeans, and sequins.

An exact date for the show hasn't been announced yet, but a spokesperson tells WWD that the brand is in talks with the Fédération de la Haute Couture et de la Mode to lock in a time and place. There is also some speculation Slimane will present a few women's pieces, too. If this move is approved, Celine will join the likes of Givenchy, Balenciaga, Gucci, Maison Margila, and Stella McCartney, who each have coed shows on the calendar. WWD noted that LVMH (Celine's parent company) is making a major push into the menswear market. Along with Celine, there is more of a focus on men's clothing at Givenchy, and new designers at the helm of Louis Vuitton and Dior.

While Slimane's first Celine collection felt more like a crash landing than a new chapter in the brand's celebrated story, come January, we're hoping for more of distinct voice that adds something new, rather than a poor attempt at repeating history.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

The Instagram Highlighting The Fashion Of Our Favorite Music Videos

Queen Elizabeth Just Made Ralph Lauren A Knight

The Story Behind This Year's Must-Have Slogan T-Shirt

If it's your job to bring the wine to this year's Thanksgiving celebration, consider yourself lucky. Yes, choosing a few bottles of wine that will satisfy all the guests at your gathering seems like a daunting task. You'll want options that appeal to many different palettes, compliment a slew of different dishes, and, perhaps most importantly, the bottles should be affordable enough that you'll still have money left over for Black Friday shopping. That's a lot to ask of just a few bottles, but it turns out, wines that tick all those boxes aren't all that hard to find.

To prove it, we asked wine educators, wine directors, and sommeliers for their best Thanksgiving recommendations. Each of their selections is under $12 and will bring a little something special to dinner. If providing the wine wasn't the Thanksgiving responsibility you wanted to get stuck with, ahead you'll find 15 bottles to help you see that you got one of the better tasks. No cooking, no expensive ingredients, and no sourcing a gluten-free pie for you this year.

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

These Are The 10 Best Gluten-Free Pie Recipes, According To Pinterest

5 Chefs Give Their Best Turkey-Buying Tips Just In Time For Thanksgiving

This Just In: Millennials Are "Disrupting" The Thanksgiving Turkey Industry

If we're being honest, it can sometimes be hard to feel grateful when it seems like the world is falling apart.

Over the last few months, the news have been grim. We’ve witnessed mass shootings, continued threats against reproductive rights, anti-Semitic and racist crimes, and climate change-induced natural disasters – to name a few.

But it’s during these trying times that it becomes increasingly important to practice gratitude. Whether or not you're a fan of the Thanksgiving holiday, this time of year is a perfect chance to reflect on all of the things we have to be grateful for in our lives. Despite the inevitable negativity in the world, we always have an opportunity to focus on the good.

If you need some inspiration for bringing some extra positivity into your life and those around you, these gratitude quotes are perfect for spreading the love. Whether you want to share them on your Instagram feed, send one to a friend who’s struggling, or write them down in your planner, these quotes remind us to be grateful for all that we have.

1. “Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.” — Oprah Winfrey

2. "I have what I have and I am happy. I've lost what I've lost and I am still happy." — Rupi Kuar

3. “‘Thank you’ is the best prayer that anyone could say. I say that one a lot. Thank you expresses extreme gratitude, humility, understanding.” — Alice Walker

4. "Be grateful and immerse yourself in the moment because that's all you have." — Deun Ivory

View this post on Instagram

* 🎤 drop* Okay, so instead of going through an existential crisis now that season three of our podcast is officially over, why don’t you celebrate with us? We just hit ONE MILLION DOWNLOADS! Take the advice that Deun Ivory (@deunivory) shared with us in our final episode (link in bio)👆🏾 and please share one #BGIOPodcast moment that got you together, healed you, or made you say amen below 🙏🏾 P.S. Peek at our IG Stories for an amazing way to hang with 1/2 of our dynamic podcast duo soon — Deun’s coming to ATL!💃🏾 #BlackGirlInOmPodcast

A post shared by Black Girl In Om (@blackgirlinom) on Jul 24, 2018 at 12:57pm PDT

5. “We often take for granted the very things that most deserve our gratitude." — Cynthia Ozick

6. “The more grateful I am, the more beauty I see." — Mary Davis

7. “I don't have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness — it's right in front of me if I'm paying attention and practicing gratitude." — Brené Brown

8. 'Be happy with what you have while working for what you want.' — Helen Keller

View this post on Instagram

start each day with gratitude - such a simple but powerful energy. #monthofgratitude #tuesdaythoughts . . . . . #gratitude #thankful #gratitudequotes #gradschoollife #phdlife #phd #tuesdaymotivation #shelovescoffee

A post shared by sarahdoesgradschool (@shelovescoffee) on Nov 13, 2018 at 6:23am PST

9. “In the end, maybe it’s wiser to just keep saying thank you, forever and sincerely, for as long as we have voices.” — Elizabeth Gilbert

10. “We are all more blind to what we have than to what we have not.” — Audre Lorde

11. "Gratitude is looking on the brighter side of life, even if it means hurting your eyes." — Ellen DeGeneres

12. "Smile. Every thank you is a blessing." — Cleo Wade

View this post on Instagram

thank you.

A post shared by cleo wade (@cleowade) on Nov 26, 2015 at 2:47pm PST

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

5 Ways To Give Back This #GivingTuesday

Exclusive: A Music Video That Will Inspire You To Ask For A Raise

A Week In New York City On A $75,000 Salary