Welcome to Unfiltered, where we give our honest, no-B.S. reviews of the most buzzed-about beauty products, brands, and services on the market right now.

The words "universally flattering " are all over the beauty industry lately. From highlighters to lipsticks, everyone wants to get their hands on something that will make shopping for makeup a little easier, especially in the drugstore where it's impossible to open packaging for a closer look. In a perfect world, you'd never have to throw out another product because the color isn't as flattering as you expected. But is a universal shade even possible?

Maybelline thinks so. The drugstore-favorite announced a new Made For All by Color Sensational lipstick — a lineup of seven shades that were tested on 50 different skin tones in order to flatter everyone, all for $8. But the idea of one product working for all skin tones is one that is hard to believe. So, we decided to put the bold claims to the test.

We asked seven Refinery29 staffer's to try out one shade from the collection (Pink For Me), and we got their honest opinions on whether it was a match for their skin tone or not. Read everyone's reactions, ahead. Then pick up this one-size-fits-most nude when Made For All launches in January 2019.

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For some, it's a musky, cool scent that makes them feel invincible, or a thick, sharp cat-eye that sets off their superpowers. For full-time student and beauty blogger Lynn Kate, however? It's her full head of curls that inspires all kinds of confidence. And while she likes to keep it natural when it comes to her hair, she's not afraid to experiment with the rest of her look. As a part of our ongoing Power Faces series, Kate shares exactly how she achieves her bold beauty beat: a bright berry lip, lit-from-within highlighter, and a playful pop of color with Alcon AIR OPTIX® COLORS contact lenses. Check out her fierce full routine above, and see why we're taking more than a few pages out of this Gen Z'er's book.

© 2018 Novartis 10/18 US-AOC-18-E-2399a

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Black Friday is a shopping day dedicated to holiday sales that annually take place the day after Thanksgiving. But lately, the once day-long celebration has grown into a week-long event — an event that retailers are christening, "Black Friday Week." Mega site Amazon is at the forefront of alleviating our shopping-associated stress by turning the former fierce and frenzied store holiday into a more palatable and gradual, at-home affair with a boatload of early deal drops.

In addition to sales on popular tech gear and essential kitchen gadgets, Amazon is also currently offering an impressive lineup of discounted home buys — with up to 40% off a wide selection of goods, including items from cult-favorite brand exclusives like Rivet and Stone & Beam. The slashed-price finds range from big-ticket furniture to artful area rugs, rustic coffee tables, stylish ottomans with secret storage, mattresses, unique decor pieces, and much more.

No need to put your shoes on, just sit down and check out the best of Amazon's Black Friday Week home buys available ahead. This year, we're staying home post-Turkey Day and shopping in slippers while the sales continue to simmer on through November 23.

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.

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Between hidden rainbows, jewel tones, and pantry-inspired shades (like red velvet and mulled wine), I’ve got serious whiplash from all the Instagram hair color trends. Each one seems more eccentric than the last, and honestly, most of them don’t work on women who look like me(brown skin, jet-black hair, natural curls). Because of this, I have no problem resisting all the hair-color hype.

But that all changed when I saw Beyoncé’s most recent style change (leave it to Queen Bey to make me a believer). During her On The Run II Tour, she debuted cocoa-colored hair with pieces of her iconic caramel blonde framing her face. Her stylist Neal Farina h dubbed the look “hot chocolate hair,” and I was in love. Finally, a color that looks good on brown skin and wouldn’t be considered last week’s hair trend after a few months passed. I was game.

But I haven't dyed my hair since getting horrid yellow streaks in high school (which doesn't really count if you ask me). And after that debacle, I was nervous permanent dye would permanently eff up my curls. Even though I wear my hair straight 90% of the time, I want to keep my ringlets as healthy as possible. So, I took the time to research colorists who cater to natural hair. After weeks of searching hashtags on Instagram, I found Jaxcee, color director at HairRules salon in New York City, who has years of experience bleaching curls and Afros. I knew my 3B hair would be safest in her hands.

I walked into Hair Rules seeking hot chocolate hair with subtle highlights, but two weeks later I was practically blonde. Here are the things you need to know if you're considering a drastic hair color change for your curls.

You don't always need bleach to lighten your base.

To start, Jaxcee lightened my jet-black hair to create a brown base. She used Pravana permanent light brown hair color to lift my entire head to a warm cinnamon tint. “This color is ammoniated, and there’s no bleach or lightener,” Jaxcee explained to me. “You only need bleach to lift your base if you're going more than four levels lighter.” In other words, since my virgin hair was only transforming to a light brown, no dye was required. After about 30 minutes, my base was lifted, and it was time to get on with the fun stuff: highlights.

Hand-painting is the best method for coloring curls.

Jaxcee used the foilyage technique to do my highlights. Foilyage is where foils and balayage meet. She hand painted my curls, then wrapped each highlight in foil to trap in heat. “Keeping the color in foils allows it to process better,” she says. To create warm blonde highlights (think: milk in your hot cocoa), Jaxcee mixed up three different bowls of bleach with different volumes of peroxide: 10,20, and 40, respectively. “Using different volumes of peroxide will lift the hair to different shades of blonde,” Jaxcee explains. “Some pieces will be lighter than others, so you can achieve a multidimensional look.” After placing my hair in foils, Jaxcee let it cook for 40 minutes. Once the bleach processed, I was back in the shampoo bowl to remove my foils.

A gloss keeps blonde from looking brassy.

After bleaching my hair, Jaxcee applied a gloss. "A gloss is a demi-permanent coloring agent that revives your hair color and makes it vibrant and shiny," she says. To mimic the creamy froth on a fresh hot chocolate, she coated my bleached pieces in beige gloss. But a gloss can also be used to darken strands (more on that later), and they are easy to use at home between appointments to keep color fresh.

Bleach and split ends don't mix.

The morning after my color session, I was really able to get a look at what my new hair looked like in natural sunlight. Running my fingers through my hair, I noticed my ends felt like straw and looked downright raggedy (I desperately needed a trim). “Bleach can emphasize already dry or damaged ends by drying them out further,” Jaxcee says. “Lighter color can also highlight things you wouldn’t normally see on jet-black hair.” So, I made an appointment to go back to Hair Rules for a cut. Anthony Dickey, owner of Hair Rules salon, chopped my fried, dead ends into a cropped lob for "sexy movement."

At this stage, I also realized that I loved the lighter pieces surrounding my face so much I wanted more. Prior to coloring my hair, no one told me it was addictive, but as I envisioned myself as a blonde in the mirror, I quickly realized it's a slippery slope. So I went back to Jaxcee, thirsty for more highlights.

Curls can survive bleach without looking limp and frazzled, but you have to do it the right way.

I was nervous that more highlights would completely fry my hair, but Jaxcee reassured me that natural hair can be color treated and still thrive when done correctly. The key to avoiding damage is not overprocessing and keeping your hair hydrated. “Single process color doesn’t damage hair texture per se,” she says. “But if hair is overprocessed from bleach, it can cause curls to loosen temporarily. If your hair is super dry leading up to the chemical process, your curls can also loosen.”

This time, we spent over an hour highlighting my hair to achieve more blonde. My entire head was covered in foils, and as I gazed in the mirror I was anxious: Am I going overboard? Would my hair match with my outfits? Would I have any curls left? But there was one step left before I could find out: shadowing.

Going darker at the roots will help the color grow out more naturally.

To contrast the vibrant highlights, Jaxcee warmed up my roots with the shadowing technique. "Shadowing is when you apply a darker gloss to the roots of the hair," she explains. Once my roots were shadowed, she followed with a beige glaze to give my highlights a "coffee creamer" effect.

The color process was a long one, but it was more than worth it in the end. When I faced the mirror after my hair was completely styled, to say that I was feelin' myself would be a huge understatement. This must be what Beyoncé feels like after her hair appointments, was the only thing that danced through my mind.

Having colored curls requires a lot of maintenance.

Jaxcee sent me on my way with a list of homework. "Natural hair is delicate, and you can really cause damage if you don't care for your hair color correctly," she says. Her to-do list: Use a sulfate-free shampoo (or cleansing cream) to gently lift dirt from your hair, invest in a magical deep conditioner and use it weekly, avoid excessive heat styling, and — most importantly — keep your hair hydrated.

I have to admit, my hair was feeling drier than usual, so when my first wash day as a blonde baddie came around, I pulled out the big guns. I shampooed my hair with Kérastase Elixir Ultime Shampoo, which is oil enriched to add shine to dull hair. I followed with the sister conditioner and gently detangled my strands with a wide-tooth comb. Masking, according to Jaxcee, "is like giving your hair medicine," so to treat my strands I mixed Kérastase Elixir Ultime Mask with the Vibrance-Boosting Mask by Frederic Fekkai. Both formulas are meant to restore dry hair and keep color vibrant. I let the cocktail sit on my hair for 15 minutes, and afterwards my curls felt incredibly slippery and were soft enough to run my fingers through. To style my hair, I used a color-safe leave-in conditioner, heat protectant, and finishing oil to straighten my hair and curl it into loose waves (like pictured above).

Deciding to dye my hair (thanks to Beyoncé) was one of the most freeing choices I've made in a long time. A fresh color gave me a fresh perspective on hair: Life is too short to hang on to hair you're bored with. Do whatever you want with it — even if that means waking up one day and deciding to bleach it all. Maybe one day I'll decide to return to my dark hair, but for now I'm content living on the brighter side.

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The daith. The snug. The constellation.  If it seems like celebrity piercers usher a new trend into the beauty zeitgeist every few months, it's because, well, you're kind of right — but that's not exactly by design.

"I find lots of women are more adventurous now," L.A.-based piercer Brian Keith Thompson tells R29, "So they come in and let me decide what to do to their ears." Hell, Beyoncé, Scarlett Johansson, and FKA Twigs trust him, so it makes sense that during the month he favored the rook, for example, it created a massive uptick in L.A. But the origin story behind the latest trend is different.

"I started doing stacked piercings because a lot of people were coming in with original lobe piercings that were placed too low," he explains. Whether it's leftover from a 5th grade mall trip or just poor placement, Thompson started adding to them instead of ignoring or replacing them.

The result is what he calls "the vertical lobe" piercing, a stacked effect that's popular whether you have a low piercing to start or not — and it's pretty damn cool. Keep clicking for everything you need to know about this rad new trend coming out of L.A.

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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.

Whether you want to crank volume up to 11 or just want something that won't leave you spider-lashed, there is truly a tube of mascara out there for everyone — and it's not unusual to be very particular about what you coats your lashes with. But what if your priority is saving some cash? Do great mascaras that don't break the bank really exist?

Luckily, the answer to that is a resounding "hell yes."Ahead, we've rounded up the top mascaras — for just about every need — that won't cost you more than your favorite brunch order. Click through and find your heart's desire in a tube. Your lashes, and your bank account, will thank you.

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.

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Flowers are the epitome of effortless, bohemian bridal style. Adding a sunflower or a few roses to your wedding updo is a classic way to accessorize, but it’s also super common. Literally, every other bridal hair photo on Pinterest involves some type of flower crown. So when someone takes the traditional trend and gives it new life, we take note.

Recently bouquets have been showing up everywhere, from the red carpet to the runway. Hairstylists have been using flowers to create dreamy, fashion-forward looks that are anything but basic. But when it comes to your wedding, you don't want to be so on trend that you're cringing at the photos in 20 years. But Mandy Moore and her wedding stylist Ashley Streicher found the perfect balance between trendy and timeless.

This weekend, Moore married Dawes musician Taylor Goldsmith in a custom blush Rodarte gown with baby's breath hair accents — and it was good. "Her look was very inspired by Rodarte's latest show, where they used tons of baby's breath flowers in models' hair," Streicher tells Refinery29. "We scaled it back a little for the wedding but still wanted her hair to be whimsical and classic," says Streicher.

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A post shared by Ashley Streicher (@streicherhair) on Nov 19, 2018 at 4:26pm PST

To create her NYFW-inspired look, Striecher styled Moore's hair in fluffy side-parted waves using Garnier Fructis Flexible Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray and a volumizing mousse at the roots right under the veil. The actress' look was completed with clusters of pink baby breaths placed throughout her hair, which Striecher secured using Ardell Lash Glue.

Moore's bridal style is proof you shouldn't overlook the runway for wedding hair and makeup inspo and that flowers can be groundbreaking when done right.

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You already know it's borderline criminal to sleep on a good Target sale. On any ordinary Tuesday, you can walk in, grab a six-pack of paper towels for 50% off, plus a tube of toothpaste, and a pack of gum at checkout, and call yourself a bargain shopper. But when it comes to the biggest discount day of the entire calendar year (aka Black Friday) our favorite retail store truly ups the ante.

Here's proof: Target recently announced its 2018 Black Friday beauty offers — and it's a BOGO steal on every single holiday beauty gift set you can reach on the shelves. Yes, all the shiny, new holiday gift sets, the ones that launched just a few weeks ago, will be buy one, get one 50% off on Black Friday. You can mix and match sets of equal or lesser value, or buy two of the same kit (give one to your mom, keep one for yourself).

From a rose butter-infused Love Beauty & Planet in-shower essentials kit to Essie's most festive glitter nail polishes, find the best Black Friday Target deals, 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.

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Global fashion search platform Lyst today released its Year in Fashion Report 2018, charting its findings from 80 million shoppers in 120 countries and revealing the most buzz-worthy brands, influencers, trends and items of the year.

Tracking more than 100 million searches, it analyzed the page views, Insta likes and sales figures that produced 2018's most coveted designers and cult products.

While the report covers everything from the most influential celebrities in fashion – the top two spots were taken by Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian West – to the most-worn logos – like Supreme and Champion – we're most taken by the top 10 Insta-brands of the year.

"To name and rank the most wanted brands of Instagram, we monitored the spikes in search demand correlating to Instagram mentions and brand tags during the course of 2018," the report states.

From the sustainable stars to the breakout brands, click through to see the names worth knowing – and following – right now.

Veja

Sustainable trainer brand Veja aims to make the most ethical footwear in the world. The sleek brand has become a street style staple (and has been inducted Meghan Markle's style hall of fame) and, according to Lyst, searches have increased 113% year over year.

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A post shared by VEJA - OFFICIAL ACCOUNT (@veja) on Nov 19, 2018 at 4:00am PST

Reformation

Reformation uses offcuts and more sustainable materials like linen and cotton to create influencer favorites. Lyst reports that the brand's Thelma dress was in the top 10 most viewed dresses of the year.

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A post shared by Reformation (@reformation) on Sep 30, 2018 at 2:34pm PDT

Attico

Founded by Giorgia Tordini and Gilda Ambrosio – influencers in their own right – Attico gets sumptuous fabrics like velvet and animal print just so. It's your go-to for party season.

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A post shared by THE ATTICO (@the_attico) on Nov 15, 2018 at 11:19pm PST

Realisation Par

Remember the Naomi, the leopard print midi skirt that sent Instagram into a frenzy and sold out every time it came back in stock? Realisation Par is the brand behind the cult hit, which dominated summer – and our feeds.

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❣️Dreamgirl @ayxvna photographed by Alexandra Spencer wearing the Ana top & Naomi skirt in Sid❣️

A post shared by Réalisation Par (@realisationpar) on Nov 17, 2018 at 5:21pm PST

Ganni

According to Lyst, global searches for the brand are up 52% year over year, and with good reason. Ganni leads the charge of super cool Danish brands flooding our Insta feeds (and wardrobes). Search the hashtag #GanniGirls for easy breezy Danish style.

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Full on prints for a full English breakfast @emmajanementeath

A post shared by GANNI (@ganni) on Nov 2, 2018 at 11:45pm PDT

Staud

Staud 's The Shirley bag was a summer sellout, and its Moreau Macramé inspired many a knockoff. Think statement-making bags around the $200 price point.

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A post shared by S T A U D (@staud.clothing) on Nov 1, 2018 at 11:41am PDT

Nanushka

Budapest-based Nanushka is another sustainably minded brand we've been adding to our wardrobe. Its denim and jumpsuits have been most popular among Instagram's influential, but any of its minimal, earthy-toned pieces is an instant classic.

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@thehautepursuit wears the Africa vegan leather pants🔥 #nanushkagirls

A post shared by NANUSHKA (@nanushka) on Oct 10, 2018 at 12:14pm PDT

Faithfull The Brand

Searches are up 12% year over year for Faithfull The Brand, a go-to for jet-setting influencers like Lucy Williams. Think ruffled blouses and bleached denim for beachside cool.

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A post shared by Faithfull the Brand (@faithfullthebrand) on Nov 20, 2018 at 12:39am PST

Rouje

There were over 9,000 searches a week for Rouje's Gabin dress from July to September, Lyst notes, which explains why everyone and their mother was traipsing around in a floral vintage-inspired tea dress. Thought the French-girl-cool trope was dead? Take one look at Jeanne Damas and think again.

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A post shared by Rouje Paris (@rouje) on Oct 10, 2018 at 8:52am PDT

Stine Goya

Stine Goya is another Danish brand we're investing in. Her dreamy occasion wear pieces are wedding guest staples; according to Lyst, searches for the Copenhagen-based brand peaked in June.

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@stinegoyastudio x @netaporter capsule; ”The Goya universe is very dreamy, and you get the feeling that there are no limits - it resembles the process I am in at the moment with my new project where I am building a new site embracing motherhood. There are so many cool, inspiring mothers and we are all going through the same phases, (balancing work and kids, etc.) so why not share our experiences and stand stronger together as women.” - Stylist and Contributing Beauty Editor @beafagerholt on her new creative adventure Shop the Farrow dress on @netaporter via link in bio #stinegoya #netaporter #netaporterxstinegoya #capsulecollection 📸 by @rasmuswengkarlsen

A post shared by STINE GOYA (@stinegoyastudio) on Oct 28, 2018 at 11:06pm PDT

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Update: The secret is out. Kylie Jenner has finally given us a glimpse of the products in her second makeup collaboration with sister Kim Kardashian West. KKW x KYLIE 2 is an entirely new set of four liquid lipsticks. But instead of having the same finish like their first set of lipsticks, these four shades mix it up with two mattes, one velvet, and one gloss topper. The colors are also deeper than part one, including browns and pink mauves.

Jenner gave her followers a closer look at the collection on Instagram stories with swatches and photos of her modeling the four different products. The price for the set hasn't been announced yet, but being that the release is on Black Friday (November 23), there's a possibility that it might be more affordable than you think.

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A post shared by Kylie Cosmetics (@kyliecosmetics) on Nov 20, 2018 at 10:11am PST

This story was originally published November 15, 2018.

If there's something we know for sure when it comes to the Kardashian-Jenner clan — besides the fact that they know how to make a buck – it's that they love a good surprise. While the rest of the beauty industry has been releasing Black Friday sales for best-selling products that are already on the market, Kylie Jenner and Kim Kardashian West announced that they're releasing an entirely new collaboration for the biggest shopping day of the year.

The sisters took to Instagram to share the news that KKW X KYLIE 2 is coming to kyliecosmetics.com for Black Friday. The photo posted to Instagram has the sisters twinning with dark bobs and nude bodysuits, which is very similar to the campaign photos for their first collaboration in 2017 (back then it was nude bandeau tops and longer strands).

Jenner teased this collaboration back in July when she shared a throwback post of her and Kim on set. "Who wants KKW X KYLIE round 2?," she asked her followers. And a few months later, more behind-the-scenes photos began circulating the Internet of the siblings shooting together, cementing the fact that they had something in the works. The question was just when and what?

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KKW X KYLIE part 2... coming #BlackFriday to KylieCosmetics.com 🖤

A post shared by Kylie Cosmetics (@kyliecosmetics) on Nov 15, 2018 at 9:05am PST

Now, we know when. But we still don't know what the two have coming out just yet. Based off the photos, the nude theme is probably here to stay. Maybe it will be a wider selection of nude lip shades to add on to what they released in their first collaboration, or a neutral eyeshadow palette, or a double-duty highlighter and contour stick?

Regardless of what products are coming, this collection won't be the only thing coming from KKW that day. The reality star is also set to release a beauty kit for the holidays on November 23 called the Glam Bible, which includes a six-pan eyeshadow palette, eyeliner, a set of lashes, mascara, lip liner, two lipsticks, a gloss, blush, and highlighter for $150. The brand will also drop new accessories on the same day, with blending sponges, a pencil sharpener, a powder puff, and a makeup tote joining the enormous KKW lineup.

Kylie also has new makeup releases in the works, with a new holiday collection dropping November 19. All the products are glow themed and snowflake-covered, from the 14-pan eyeshadow palette to the 8-piece collection of mini lip colors.

But, before you drop all your coins on these holiday releases for the beauty obsessives on your shopping list, you'll want to wait to see what the two have in store for the newest KKW X KYLIE collaboration (which we'll be sure to keep you updated on). Looking back to their first collaboration, it'll most likely be a sell-out hit.

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Black sweaters, white sweaters, tan sweaters, gray sweaters — no sweater collection is complete without at least one of each. But after checking the essentials off your list, there's always room for a few pieces that aren't quite so classic. That's where pastel sweaters come in. More and more, brands from Isabel Marant to Nanushka are opting against traditional, muted shades, and instead designing knits with more color in mind. So while no one can deny a black turtleneck on a dreary winter day, this sweater season, we're looking to liven things up.

From chunky pullovers in lavender and soft yellow to cropped cardigans in highlighter orange and bubblegum pink, the sweater market is chock full of pastel-colored knits for you to try out. Unlike those boring black and gray basics, these brighter alternatives can be thrown on with little to no effort and still make for a damn good cold-weather 'fit. So before you settle for yet another navy crewneck (* yawn *), take a peak at the 20 pastel-colored knits in the mix 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.

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When people start planning for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, they usually start saving their coins for new TVs, appliances, or that coat at Nordstrom they've had their eyes on since September. But what's not spotlighted enough are all the beauty buys you can snag on the biggest shopping day of the year.

Most of the products that you'd have to step out of your budget to get (like that $60 NARS palette) or the wish list items you resisted (even if Jackie Aina told you it was worth it), are actually brought down in price over the holiday weekend, sometimes even as much as 50% off.

Because we don't want you to miss out on these sales coming from some of your favorite makeup brands — that includes free gifts with purchase — we've rounded up the best beauty deals for Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Now, you can bookmark that coat and all the discounted lipsticks that will match it.

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.

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Put down that salad fork, everyone. The Centers for Disease Control have just released a pretty drastic warning, advising people in the U.S. and Canada not to eat any romaine lettuce, no matter where it's from. This is due to an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, which has so far sickened 32 people in 11 states, with 13 landing in the hospital. In Canada, another 18 people in two provinces were also infected.

The reported illnesses all happened in October, but because the CDC has not identified a source for the lettuce, it says that all romaine everywhere is suspect. This is the same kind of bacteria — but not the same outbreak — that caused the great Yuma, Arizona, romaine scare of earlier this spring.

"Consumers who have any type of romaine lettuce in their home should not eat it and should throw it away, even if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick," says the alert. "This advice includes all types or uses of romaine lettuce, such as whole heads of romaine, hearts of romaine, and bags and boxes of precut lettuce and salad mixes that contain romaine, including baby romaine, spring mix, and Caesar salad."

If you have had any romaine — or any salad mix that may have contained romaine — in your refrigerator, you should also take steps to thoroughly clean and sanitize the drawer or shelves where it was stored.

Symptoms of E. coli infection can include severe stomach cramps, diarrhea, vomiting and fever. According to the CDC, most people get better within five to seven days, but if you have diarrhea for more than three days or accompanied by high fever, blood in the stool, or the kind of persistent vomiting that won't even let you keep liquids down, see a doctor. There is a chance you could develop a kidney-damaging condition known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, so this is nothing to take lightly.

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DIY haircuts can be disastrous. Many of us have a horror story about a late-night, wine-fueled baby bang trim that quickly became a colossal hack job — snip by tiny snip — and required an emergency trip to your stylist, where you bashfully begged for forgiveness.

Not all cuts that happen in the privacy of your own home need to be regrettable, however. While we don't recommend going from super-long hair to a short, architectural cut using craft scissors and a hand mirror, you can trim split ends (and even go slightly shorter) without causing a mess that needs to rescued by a pro.

There are a few at-home tricks that could save you from the hair walk-of-shame. One, in particular, is so fail-proof that even a monkey with scissors could do it. I share these tips with my clients when they can't squeeze trims into their schedules, and I am breaking them down ahead. Read on for everything you need to know about snipping your own strands at home.

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Five short days ago, Ariana Grande revealed something big on Instagram. No, it wasn't an engagement ring, a forearm tattoo, or a new song — it was a haircut. The queen of pop music and shady tweets debuted the short new look (sans ponytail!) on her feed and it's since racked up almost five million likes. When we asked her hairstylist Josh Liu about the change he not only said it was legit (read: not a wig), but that it was for "a new project." It certainly sounded mysterious, but it's all making sense now. It appears to be a selfie snapped while filming her new "Thank U, Next" music video — and here's how fans figured it out.

Yesterday morning, Grande started posting cryptic photos and Insta Stories hinting that she was filming a video inspired by Mean Girls. She then revealed to fans that this was only "25%" of the tea and that more clues would come later. By "later" she must've meant this morning, because she's since confirmed that the rumored visual component to her hit single won't just feature a callback to Mean Girls, but also to Legally Blonde and 13 Going On 30.

One clever fan put it all together with a side-by-side image comparing all of Grande's IG photos to screenshots from the suspected film references and it's since been shared all over the internet. There she is as Regina George, Elle Woods, and Jenna Rink — with the exact haircut.

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A post shared by yourarisource (@yourarisource) on Nov 20, 2018 at 8:37am PST

Played by Jennifer Garner in the film, the teen turned 30-year-old magazine editor rocks a relaxed, yet equally iconic, shoulder-grazing cut for most of the movie. Now, so does Grande. In true form, Grande reposted the tweet to her Instagram Story, thus potentially confirming that, yep, the shorter style isn't a result of a broken engagement, but perhaps for a role in the video.

Sadly, since we figured out 75% of what the "Thank U, Next" music video will be about, it looks like Grande plans to keep the last quarter to herself... for now. But hey, at least now we know that she didn't cut her hair because of Maggie Rogers...

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We're getting up close and personal with all thing beauty, in a visually satisfying — albeit slightly uncomfortable — way. Watch as needles pierce earlobes, ink swipes skin , and eyelashes adhere to eyelashes in these hypnotizingly detailed videos, all while the science behind the magic gets unveiled. Have you ever wondered whether or not waterproof mascara really works? Or been intrigued with tattooing your eyebrows? We'll show you this process like you have never seen it before!

When you think about permanent makeup, chances are your mind goes to eyebrow embroidery or tattooed eyeliner. However, did you know that permanent lip liner is also a sought after procedure? With all the buzz surrounding treatments to obtain the perfect pout — especially with celebrities like Kylie Jenner being open about their lip fillers — many people are looking for the bespoke lip enhancements that work for them.

But this isn't anything like plumping your lips with injectables. It works in the same way as tattooing on freckles does, by adding color pigments just like a regular tattoo. For our latest episode of Marco Beauty we dive deep into the procedure with Carolyn Staples, co-founder of California-based microblading boutique Brow House, who is looking to naturally enhance the color of her lips. To achieve her ideal results, she trusted her business partner and permanent makeup specialist Pia Rotman, who used the Aquarelle lip technique, which adds a soft blush color to the lips and also defines the outline with permanent pigment.

For a closer (we're talking real close) look on the procedure and see the end results, be sure to check out the video above.

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Remember the first time you heard about Santa's naughty or nice list? That's the moment you knew what self-restraint really felt like. For months, you'd sweat bullets, smiling through clenched teeth whenever your little brother stole your Game Boy in hopes that all that "nice" behavior would land you a new Bop It Extreme.

We've since learned that Santa Claus and his (highly judgmental) list are works of fiction; as adults, if we're going to police our own behavior, it won't be for a jolly man in a red-velvet suit. Besides, being nice doesn't mean we can't be a little naughty — if you and your best friend's text thread is riddled with eggplant and peach emojis, then you'll know what we're talking about.

But if phallic toys or vibrators are too risqué for your familial holiday gatherings, then we suggest you stick to sex-positive beauty gifts that are as effective as they are dirrrty. Ahead, the kind of holiday gifts that would make even the rowdiest bachelorette party blush.

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There's no doubt that we are obsessed with British royalty, both in the flesh and in film. It's hard to even count exactly how many times we've watched the stories of Queen Elizabeth II, King Henry, or Queen Victoria play out on screen. But out of all the biopics and miniseries, there's one queen that is often left out: Queen Anne.

Luckily, her reign is being brought to the big screen in The Favourite with all the royal drama we expect. Starring Olivia Colman as Queen Anne, Rachel Weisz as Sarah Jennings Churchill, and Emma Stone as Sarah's cousin Abigail, the story unfolds a bit differently than other period pieces. "She's sort of the forgotten monarchy," explains the hair and makeup designer for the film Nadia Stacey. "Even after all my research, there were some gaps that just missed her."

Both director Yorgos Lanthimos and Stacey took that as a sign: This would be a period piece that took a few creative liberties to satisfy our craving for 18th century history without putting us to sleep. Aside from the costume and set design, one of the most important details to doing exactly that was getting the hair and makeup just right. We asked Stacey to walk us through the whole process, including that hilarious trailer scene about "badger" makeup. Ahead, her behind-the-scenes secrets.

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Diamond engagement rings are cool and all, but after nearly 550 years in the spotlight (the first known diamond engagement ring was given to Mary of Burgundy by Archduke Maximillian of Austria in 1477), we're due for a change. So, this winter proposal season, we're placing our bets on a new star in the ring department: pearls. They might not be the first thing you think of, but pearls are far from second best.

Whether freshwater or saltwater, baroque or spherical, pearls are just as exquisite as diamonds — and they come with a much more doable price tag. Three months salary, who? Whether you're just not a diamonds girl or would rather put a down payment on our actual wedding, pearls are the perfect engagement ring alternative to those same-old same-old diamonds we've been seeing forever.

Don't believe us? Take a peak at some of our favorite pearl-embossed engagement rings on the market right now.

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There are certain things you should never ask the Internet — paramount among them is medical advice. Take the seemingly harmless query: What to do about a skin tag? Among the top results Google spits out are some seriously dubious DIYs (including one that involves cutting off your blood flow with dental floss).

We get the logic: If skin tags are harmless (which any derm will tell you they are), why can’t we just remove them ourselves? Well, it turns out there are a host of reasons why you should leave even a simple snip to a pro. Below, three board-certified derms answer the web's three biggest skin tag questions — and set the record straight.

What is a skin tag?

“Skin tags are composed of skin that forms on a stalk,” explains Ava Shamban, MD, a dermatologist based in Beverly Hills. These growths often pop up along the neckline, under breasts, and near armpits. Though skin tags are harmless and extremely common, according to dermatologist Jessica Wu, MD, they can become irritated when rubbing against clothing or necklaces.

Why do skin tags appear?

The Internet is flooded with theories as to why skin tags pop up, including having had too much sun damage as a kid, poor circulation, or increased sun sensitivity from using too many skin-care actives (like alpha and beta hydroxy acids or retinoids). But our derms debunk these myths.

As New York-based dermatologist Sejal Shah, MD, explains, we don’t exactly know why skin tags pop up. “One contributing factor may be friction between skin and clothing or adjacent areas of skin, which may explain why we often see them in skin folds. They are also more common in overweight or obese individuals,” she says, pointing to a study that correlates increased BMI with the growths. “Other associated or causative factors that have been proposed include family history, hormonal changes of pregnancy, and impaired glucose metabolism.” Furthermore, Dr. Shamban notes that hormonal changes (such as perimenopause) may, inexplicably, contribute to the formation of skin tags. But really, most of these are only theories.

What’s the best way to remove a skin tag?

Proposed home remedies for eradicating skin tags include repeatedly applying cotton soaked with iodine, tea tree oil, or apple cider vinegar. But Dr. Wu says these likely won’t work. As for the bevy of over-the-counter removal creams and kits, the derm is also wary. “I don’t recommend using a tag removal cream. I’ve seen horrible, discolored scarring and open wounds develop as a result,” Dr. Wu says. “An at-home liquid nitrogen freezing kit may help if the skin tags are small. But be careful and use them sparingly — freezing can leave marks on those with deeper skin tones.”

So what is the right way to rid your body of these barnacles? Hit up a derm for their expertise. “If skin tags are narrow and tiny, I clip them off with sterile surgical scissors, which are very sharp and fine so they don’t traumatize the skin,” Dr. Wu says. “If they are larger and/or wide, I might use an electrical needle to zap the surface. This is less likely to scar if a patient has a deeper skin tone or if the tag is darker.”

Knowing the above, it may be tempting to take a pair of shears to a skin tag yourself. But as Dr. Wu notes, “You’re taking your chances. Every so often a patient comes in with an infection or bleeding that won’t stop.” Also if the growth is dark, grows quickly, and/or bleeds, it’s important to have it checked by a derm, as it may be a suspicious mole disguised as a skin tag.

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