You can spend your Saturday slouched in a salon chair, f uming because you've spent hours waiting and waiting. Or, you can avoid the hassle altogether and do your hair yourself. In the end, it's not only cheaper than the salon, but it also puts you in complete control of how your style turns out. Not to mention, styling at home allows you to clean, meal prep, and catch up on Netflix while your deep conditioner sits.

This is why most Black beauty editors prefer to take the DIY route when it comes to their hair. After years in the beauty industry interviewing pros and testing products, the simplest lesson we've learned is that no one knows your hair like you do, and oftentimes no one can silk pres s or twist-out your curls as well as you can.

We've tested thousands of beauty products in the name of research, but only a few make it onto our scalps and strands when wash day rolls around. Ahead, seven women spill the items that they turn to again and again to make every day a good hair day.

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Ageism is all around us. Being stereotyped or discriminated against on the basis of age may feel like an issue that only affects older people — like when someone is told they’re too old to work in a certain industry or wear an item of clothing. But in reality, it affects each and every one of us, whether you’re a 63-year-old who feels underrepresented by wrinkle-free shots in magazines or a 23-year-old whose coworkers make comments like, “You’re doing THIS job at YOUR age?”

Chances are, you've had a moment in your life when something (or someone) made you feel like you were being shamed, either directly or indirectly, for being “too old” or “too young.” Ageism, in all its forms, is so embedded in our culture, across all regions and socioeconomic groups, that most of us don’t even recognize it. That’s why we teamed up with AARP, which spoke to 2,000 women — all from diverse backgrounds and ranging in age from 21 to 72 — about everything from changing appearance to representation in the media to how we can shift the narrative around aging. Below, we've broken it all down, highlighting the staggering numbers that show why it's a topic that demands more attention. It's time we fix our view on aging.

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Just as we prepare our Halloween costumes weeks (if not months!) in advance, so too do we pre-plan our New Year's Eve outfits. Slinky dress or all-black suit? Gold or silver? Velvet or sequins? The possibilities go on and on. But after all those decisions, it's easy to forget about that one item that can make or break any New Year's Eve look: the shoes. You might have found the perfect dress, but without a killer pair of shoes to pair it with, the whole 'fit could be a dud — and that's no way to start a new year.

So since we know how crazed the the holiday season can be, we're offering up our knowledge in the shoe department. After combing through every current holiday shoe collection, we rounded up the worthiest contestants. From sky-high stilettos to weather-appropriate boots, the 17 party shoes ahead are sure to put a finishing touch on your last look of 2018.

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Back Friday and Cyber Monday are done, but Amazon isn't. Just when we thought the huge wave of holidays sales had hit a crescendoing peak, the mega online shopping destination lit up a whole new batch of steals — and dubbed it the 12 Days of Deals. Starting today and continuing on through the festive month ahead we'll be able to snag discounts on everything from books to boardgames, tech to fashion gear, beauty to food, home decor, and more. Essentially, Amazon is now Santa and he's given us 12-day access to his workshop.

Since the sales are only available for a limited time, we'll be monitoring the top deals each day and serving up the best every 24 hours. Scroll ahead and get a little shopping inspiration for yourself or someone else while saving few extra buckeroos. Cheers to feeling a little less broke AF this holiday season! Thank you, Santa Amazon.

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It's easy to feel overwhelmed shopping on Amazon. Not that we don't do it all the time (because free two-day shipping is the bomb), but you can't help but let out a heavy groan when you realize you're almost out of an essential — say, shampoo — and a simple Prime search pulls up 351 pages of what seems like every bottle ever made.

Fret not, because we're here to help. After skimming through thousands of handmade soaps and razor-refill boxes, we compiled the best beauty deals available on Amazon right now. From fresh new finds, like a lash growth serum that's actually affordable, to can't beat deals, like 30% off a Sonicare electric toothbrush, we've got every winter beauty essential to add to your next Prime order.

Scroll through all the goods ahead, and add them straight to your cart, zero filtering required.

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If you’re wondering whether or not it’s too early to start your holiday shopping, the short answer is: no. Once the winter coats, scarves, and boots have made their way out of the depths of your closet, gifting season isn’t too far behind.

Luckily for you (and the beauty hoarder on your list), there’s already an awesome selection of dope gifts lining the shelves at Sephora right now. And this season, you can wrap up everything from shimmery eye mask s to cult palettes — all for under $10.

Ahead, we rounded up the sweetest gifts to shop during your next Sephora trip. Some of these deals are so good, it might be hard to resist the urge to buy stuff for yourself, too. (Don't worry, we won't judge.)

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Everyone is difficult in their own way, which is why the myth of people who are "difficult to shop for" is not only patently ridiculous but, quite frankly, a bit rude. Unless the person you are shopping for is a child who has written out a list of the exact items they would like (or, more likely, provided the link to a running Amazon wishlist) or someone who collects something wildly specific (roosters or elephants for good luck, perhaps?), it is standard to have to put forth some effort to find something that suits your people and their complex, multifaceted selves perfectly.

What is unarguably difficult is picking out fragrance for other people. Sure, you can confidently buy your mom her 10th bottle of Dolce & Gabbana Light Blue without pause, but when you want to introduce a seasoned fragrance fanatic to a new scent, you've got your work cut out for you. Perfume, after all, is personal — but the challenge of finding someone something they'll actually want to wear is better than buying someone a porcelain doll for their overflowing, creepy-as-fuck collection, don't you think?

Ahead, a compilation of fragrances and gift sets that acknowledge and account for the idiosyncrasies of the people you care about — and show them how much you love them anyway.

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There's no mistaking the enduring popularity of the bob, which first blew up as the preferred hairstyle of flappers in the 1920s and has since held up its status as a very modern trend, complete with well over 850,000 hits on Instagram for #bobhaircut (and a whopping 4.8 million for simply #bob, though that also pulls up a fair amount of images of men named Bob).

The nature of the bob is that it is versatile, and comes in many iterations. But for spring 2019, which is closer than we realize, pros are pinpointing one style in particular as the cut to end all cuts: the chin-length bob. Melissa Timperley, the director and stylist at her own Melissa Salons in Manchester, says she's seen a major increase in clients requesting the look. Timperley describes it as a classic bob cut right to lip level, with bangs cut above the eyebrows growing slightly longer at the temples and blended into the length.

Sam Burnett, founder and creative director of London's Hare & Bone, is also calling it: "The blunt, jaw-length bob is going to be the biggest haircut for 2019," he says. "We are seeing a growing trend towards women going much shorter, adding fringes, and playing with more layers for an effortless boyish look."

But when nailing the perfect chin-length bob, there are rules, Timperley explains. "You have to take the corner off or it just becomes a normal bob, which can be a bit harsh," she says. "It's a strong statement, and it shows that the person wearing it is confident and that their idea of femininity is not necessarily expressed by having long hair."

Timperley points to model and Instagram "It" girl Taylor LaShae as the perfect example of the look — but the best part? A chin-length bob can be worked into any hair texture, and although it looks particularly excellent with full-on French-girl baby bangs, you don't need to commit to that to get the vibes right. Ahead, all the Instagram inspiration you need to go full bob for 2019...

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The nail salon is a tough place for the indecisive. First, you spend ten minutes in front of the rainbow wall of polishes, eventually walking towards the chair with a navy bottle in one hand and a dusty pink in the other. Then, the manicurist asks the million-dollar question, "Square or rounded?" Uhhh.

Well, don't waste any mental energy on that particular debate at your next manicure. According to Pinterest, you should ask for neither sharply squared off edges nor nails curved into a half circle. The nail shape that's huge right now — up 97% in search on Pinterest — is the almond tip. For those unfamiliar, an almond nail is a more exaggerated variation on the oval tip. It has a long base filed into a distinct, rounded point — which kind of looks like, well, an almond.

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As we all know, winters are not made equal. The Midwest is regularly blanketed in feet of snow, the Pacific Northwest is generally wet and wild, lucky Southern California is chilly at best, and the Mid-Atlantic is always in for a surprise with its grab bag of a forecast. But, at some point, everyone (with maybe the exception of those living in the dry, desert areas) is bound to experience some degree of each winter version.

To help deal, we’ve outlined four different outfit ideas for each of the diverse winter climates, from one coast to the other. The one thing each look has in common? The leggings and long-sleeve tops from Cuddl Duds keep them cozy, serving as either base layers or standalone pieces. Ahead, we present how we would assemble the looks for every winter situation. As you’ll see, there are plenty of ways to stay stylish and cute this season, even if your surroundings aren’t.

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Justin Bieber's flippy bangs. Harry Styles' boyish lob. Joe Keery's retro mullet. When you're an emerging Hollywood heartthrob, your hair walks into the room before you do — and Timothée Chalamet knows that full well. The 22-year-old's mop of curly hair has garnered its share of attention, including inspiring its own Twitter account and sparking multiple social media debates.

It's safe to say fans are attached, which is why people lost their minds when Chalamet went and cut most of it off into a bowl cut for an upcoming role in Netflix's The King. After finally debuting the medieval look at the Toronto International Film Festival in September, a general consensus became apparent on Twitter: They didn't like it. One fan said the reveal of his Henry V-inspired cut was the worst day of their life. Another called it "tragic." A third said she can't sleep thinking about it.

But everyone has it all wrong. Not only do we still stan the star with his choppy new look, but it's not even his most drastic hair transformation. Go back just a couple years into his career, and you'll find even more astonishing styles that will remind you: Chalamet is more than his hair, and even more importantly, it always grows back.

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Chances are you spend a lot of time talking to the girlfriends you wake up every morning for outfit advice, your mom who wakes you up before an early flight, the sisters you miss more than anything, or the partner you waited forever to find. But while the holidays are all about celebrating the special people in your life (a.k.a. all the women who keep you sane), figuring out what to get them isn't always easy.

If you've got tons of names on your list, that's a lot of gifts to buy and not a lot of time to buy them. Thankfully, there's one place that has everything for the women you love this holiday season: Nordstrom. From cashmere lounge pants to boob-printed bath mats, we're betting our favorite one-stop-shop has a gift that everyone special in your life will adore.

Hint: If you order by noon on December 18th, you'll not only get free delivery, but everything will arrive just in time for "Santa's" arrival.

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

Today: a video producer working in digital media who makes $57,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on cupcakes.

Edit note: Some of the details of this diary have been removed to better protect the diarist's anonymity.

Occupation: Video Producer
Industry: Digital Media
Age: 24
Location: Philadelphia-Area, PA
Salary: $57,000
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $1,782.58
Pet Sitting Income: $150-$250/month

Monthly Expenses
Rent: $400 to my parents
Student Loan Payment: $200
Car Insurance: $120
Car Payment: $0 (I purchased my car in cash.)
Adobe Premiere/Photoshop: $21
Phone: $50 (My mom pays the bill, but I contribute monthly.)
Gym Membership: $10
Savings: An average of $2,000 a month into my personal savings account, my 401(k), or my investment accounts
Health Insurance: $0 (I'm on my parents' plan for one more year. My job doesn't offer benefit because I'm an independent contractor. *Cries*)

Annual Expenses
Amazon Prime: $119 (My parents pay for Netflix, my sister pays Hulu, and we share all three.)

Day One

10:30 a.m. — I wake up to the sound of an alarm, and as I roll over to hit my phone, I remember I never set one last night. The noise is coming from my dad's cell phone ringing downstairs. My dad and I both work from home; it's…interesting. I moved back home when I took my current job to save money, and it's getting old real fast. I throw on warmer clothes and grab my keys. The wind is whipping outside this morning, and I don't feel like walking the one block to my neighbor's house. In addition to my job, I pet sit on the side for about eight different families. This week I have to feed my neighbor's cat twice a day, and it brings me in an extra $100.

11:45 a.m. — I get back home and open the fridge to look for breakfast. There's a tiny piece of my grandmother's spinach quiche left, so I warm that up and eat it as I watch the fall finale of This Is Us.

12:30 p.m. — Every few months I like to pay off a bit more of my student loans. Today, I make an additional payment of $300. I could easily pay my student loans off in one go but...I'd rather not. $300

2:30 p.m. — I try to do some work, but I can't unless my client responds back to me. I browse the internet as I wait for them. I get hungry and heat up leftovers from last night's dinner: baked chicken, rice, vegetables, and stuffing.

6 p.m. — My entire day was spent in front of my computer doing work. I leave and head to my grandma's house with my dad, since my mom is working late. Every night at 6, we go to her house down the street for dinner. She's a fantastic cook. Afterwards, I head back to my neighbor's house to feed the cat. I don't go to the gym today because a two-hour episode of Survivor is on tonight. Some things are more important. I bake cookies and watch Survivor, then lay in my bed on my phone until 1 a.m. Oops!

Daily Total: $300

Day Two

8 a.m. — I curse my body that it woke me up this early. I'm so tired that I have a headache. I lay in bed until 11, then get up and go feed the neighbor's cat. I'm starving, so I drive down the road to the grocery store to buy Smartfood popcorn, multigrain chips, a roll for my lunch, mozzarella cheese, chocolate-covered pretzels, muffins, and shaving cream. It comes to $21 exactly. By the time I get home, I'm not hungry anymore. $21

2 p.m. — I finally get my appetite back and make a turkey sandwich with the roll I bought this morning and open up the bag of popcorn. I have to eat fast, though, because I have a work video chat at 2:30.

5 p.m. — I head to Big Lots to get one of my bosses a twin mattress and box spring for a set she's building. It costs $212.61, but she Venmos me back immediately. I drive it over to her house and unload it into her basement for her.

6:30 p.m. — I head to Sneaker King to pick up the Uggs I had on hold there for my mom's Christmas gift. She's always wanted a pair but won't get them for herself, and now that I'm making good money, I'll treat her. The store is having a 10% off sale, woohoo! $143.97

7:30 p.m. — My dad brought me home spaghetti and meatballs from my grandma's tonight. I heat up a plate and eat it as we watch Jersey Shore, my dad's favorite show. Then I go to bed extremely late again, around 1:30.

Daily Total: $164.97

Day Three

11:30 a.m. — I roll out of bed and immediately get dressed in my gym attire. First stop: feed the neighbor's cat. After hitting the gym for an hour, I go across the street to the grocery store to get two gallons of milk, mayo for my dad, and turkey. $12.60

2 p.m. — I get home from the store and make my sandwich, pair it with some Smartfood popcorn (boy, that stuff is ADDICTING) and munch on it as I watch a rerun of Friends. After that, I hope in the shower.

4 p.m. — I text my friend to see if she wants to get a drink tonight. She says she'll let me know, but that's always code for "no," so I don't get my hopes up.

7 p.m. — My dad calls and asks me to make a reservation at a local pizza bar tonight for five: my mom, dad, cousin, cousin's mom, and me. Guess we're going out to eat tonight! We all order pizza and wine. My dad pays for everyone. I never hear from my friend about going out tonight, so I go to bed around 1:30.

Daily Total: $12.60

Day Four

8:30 a.m. — I had to set my alarm this morning to get up early. I eat a muffin as I do my makeup and my dad yells at me to eat an egg instead. Shut up, dad. I leave at 10, feed the neighbor's cat, and head to a convenience store I've never been to before to pick up a package that was supposed to be delivered to the client I work for before heading to her house.

11 a.m. — We all pile in the car and head to a local mall. She's having a meet-and-greet today and I'm helping film it for a video. Five-hundred fans show up, and she's happy she got to meet all of them in the short two-hour window. One guy even freaked out when he saw me; it was weird. During the meet-and-greet, she asks me to go grab her Dunkin'. I don't ask her to reimburse me because it's only $3.28. We leave the mall at 3:30 and head back. $3.28

7 p.m. — I'm starving when I get home, and I don't want to wait for dinner, so I eat the rest of the Smartfood popcorn I have left. My friend tells me that Bath & Body Works is having a sale today where all three-wick candles are $8.95. I grab my keys and head to the mall.

8:30 p.m. — The only candle left smells like Abercrombie cologne. I pass on the deal and browse American Eagle, where I run into an old schoolmate from elementary school. We catch up, and I buy a sweater and a scrunchie for 50% off. On my way home, I stop at the neighbor's to feed the cat for the last time this week. $28.34

Daily Total: $31.62

Day Five

10:30 a.m. — I wake up and rush to get dressed. My dad and I go to church, and then we head to a local diner for brunch. I order a short stack of pancakes and home fries. Dad picks up the bill.

1 p.m. — I get home and put in a load of laundry before spending a few hours deep-cleaning my bathroom and helping my dad move my grandma's mattress for her. Afterward, we go home and watch the Giants game. They win in overtime! Yeah, babyyyy!

6:30 p.m. — My grandma and mom are gone all day, so my dad goes to the store and gets a pre-made chicken for us for dinner. We eat it with some veggies as we watch more football.

8 p.m. — I browse Target online for wine stoppers, a gift idea for my dad this year. I see that they're having a special today of 10%-off gift cards, and you can even buy them online! I shop at Target all the time, and I figure that I might as well prepay to save some money. I purchase a $100 gift card for $90 and opt to send it to my phone. #TreatYoSelf. $90

11 p.m. — I hop on the phone to help my coworker upload this week's video.

Daily Total: $90

Day Six

10 a.m. — I wake up and do some more laundry, eat a muffin for breakfast again, and watch Life-Size 2.

3 p.m. — I'm starting a new therapist today. I think mental health is important, and I feel no shame in going to one. It helps to have someone to talk to. She's very nice, and we set another appointment for two weeks from now. The sessions will cost me $70 each until I meet my deductible, and then they will be free! I truly dread the day I turn 26. $70

5 p.m. — We premiere a new video. We're excited about this one, and it goes well!

7 p.m. — My grandma isn't cooking tonight, so I make some pasta with Alfredo sauce and add the leftover chicken from last night. I was going to get takeout, but I figured I'd use up what we have already and save some money. After dinner, I have a call with one of the client and a discussion about the video we just uploaded. I spend the rest of the night in bed watching a movie.

Daily Total: $70

Day Seven

10 a.m. — I wake up and don't even get out of bed until 11:30. We don't have anything for breakfast, so I just heat up leftover pasta from last night and eat it. I answer some emails and help coordinate some brand deals for the client. I have errands to run today for work, but I'm struggling to get myself going.

2:30 p.m. — I finally leave the house and go to a local bakery to inquire about ordering cupcakes for an event this weekend. While there, I get two cupcakes to go for $5. I eat one in the car and save the other for later. $5

3 p.m. — I then head to Target and stop for gas on the way. The pump won't take my card, so I have to go pre-pay inside. I put $20 worth in my tank. $20

4 p.m. — At Target I get things I need for work: address labels, some Sharpies, cute stickers to seal envelopes with, and an extra cartridge of black ink. While at Target, I see that the TV show Black Mirror created a game based off of their episode “Nosedive.” It's my dad's favorite episode, and I think that the game could be a cute gift for Christmas. I also have a 10% off coupon for it, score! I pick up a toiletry item I also need and head to check out. Then I ring up the things I got for work and put them on the company Amex. Remember that gift card I bought the other day? Yeah. It doesn't work. So I put my purchase on my debit card and set a reminder to call customer service later tonight. $26.06

6 p.m. — Dinner at Grandma's! She made my favorite: cornflake chicken with rice and veggies. I spend the rest of my night making the address labels for work and putting them on the cards to mail out. I finish around midnight and head to bed.

Daily Total: $51.06

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Why You Should Switch Over To Magnetic Eyelashes In 2019

From keto to carnivore, fasting to FODMAP, trying to decode what a fad diet really entails is next to impossible. So, when you hear about a trendy new diet, your instinct might be to throw some terms into Google — even though you know you should probably talk to your own doctor or a registered dietitian to figure out if it's right for you.

Today, Google announced its Year In Search, which includes the most-googled diets of the year. Some of these diets are ones you've definitely heard of before, while others are pretty whacky.

The bottom line to keep in mind is that any structured eating plan or "healthy eating plan" that puts excess stress on daily food choices or demonizes whole food groups is a diet, and can fall into the disordered eating realm. And more importantly, most diets don't work, meaning they don't lead to sustained weight loss. Instead, they tend to do more harm than good, and perpetuate the idea that in order to be healthy you also have to be thin.

At a time when Instagram bloggers are doling out nutrition plans, and Whole30 is ubiquitous, many of us are just trying to make informed decisions about our health. Given that, here we've broken the most popular diets of the year down from least to most popular to exactly what you need to know — and everything you don't.

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It's official: Fashion Nova is the most popular fashion brand. Just ask Google, which released its 2018 Year in Search findings on Wednesday – revealing, among many other categories, the most-searched fashion brands of the year. While the usual suspects are listed — Louis Vuitton, Versace, Givenchy, Gucci, Alexander McQueen, Dolce & Gabbana, Fashionphile, Dior, and Moschino — it's Cardi B's favorite fast-fashion retailer (rap that three times fast!) that claims the number one spot.

This means that one of the year's most successful clothing brand did it all without an expensive, celebrity-filled campaign or spread in a leading fashion magazine. In July, InfluencerDB — a marketing software company that highlights the best performing brands and influencer marketing campaigns on Instagram — found that Fashion Nova engaged with more social media users than such competitors as Zara and H&M. The secret to the brand's success lies in working with influencers to conquer the market. And Fashion Nova works with women who look like its target customers – more often than not women of color, like Cardi B herself.

The "Bodak Yellow" rapper has waxed poetic about her love for Fashion Nova over the past few years. Who could forget when she summed up her love for the brand on Instagram, saying: “Still on a budget hoe!!! I could never stop wearing my @fashionnova! Ima wear it till the day I die!!!” Cardi has kept her word, wearing the brand repeatedly on the 'gram, strategically placing product in her music videos, and shouting out Fashion Nova on her long-awaited debut album. It's no wonder her clothing line sold out in record time.

For Richard Saghian, the company's notoriously private CEO, Fashion Nova is the house that Instagram built. One major secret to his brand's success? The retailer produces clothing faster than Zara.

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In the days leading up to the Royal Wedding back in May, Meghan Markle completely dominated the global news cycle: Would her father walk her down the aisle? Would she be able to call herself a princess? What did she think of her maybe-racist future in-laws? And everyone wanted to know: what she was going to wear on her Big Day?

Seven months later, the newest addition to the royal family has remained a breath of fresh air. The Duchess of Sussex is someone who isn’t afraid to literally wear the pants; both her persona and style bring a certain excitement reminiscent of her late mother-in-law Princess Diana. It's a fascination that's led the media (us included!) to cover her every messy bun, deleted social media account, and J.Crew purchase. Turns out, we weren't alone.

On Wednesday, Google released its 2018 Year in Search, research determining the most-searched terms of the year, and Prince Harry's beloved places high on multiple lists. She's ranked number five on the list of most-searched fashion terms — which also includes 1980s fashion (number one), grunge style (number two), 1990s fashion (number three), 2000s fashion (number 4), men's fashion (number six), Harajuku fashion (number seven), Hipster style (number eight) and her sister-in-law Kate Middleton (number nine). Markle's wedding was the number one search in the 'Weddings' category, naturally. As for the most Googled person of 2018, Markle lands at number two, behind Demi Lovato, but above such talked-about celebrities as Ariana Grande (number eight) and Cardi B (number ten).

Interest in the now-expectant Duchess began to spike in May 2017, when photos of her dating Prince Harry began to circulate. Everyone’s hunch about the romance was confirmed when Kensington Palace issued a rare official statement about the harassment Markle and her family were facing from the public. (Racist trolls have cruelly targeted the American-born actress, who is biracial and divorced.) Now, a year and a half later, Kensington Palace, for the first time ever, issues “operational notes” with Markle’s fashion credits.

In honor of Meghan's ranking, click ahead for a look at five of Markle's outfits that caused a stir on the internet and beyond.

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Google isn't just a search engine, it's our best — and fastest — sous chef. "Google, how do I make a quick meatloaf?" we've asked it, while our kitchen countertops are covered in ingredients and guests are expected to arrive in 20 minutes. And as it turns out, we're not the only ones who hit up the Google machine when we're drawing a massive cooking blank.

The search engine giant just released its annual list of the most-Googled everything for 2018, and this year, the recipes are full of the kind of home-cooked meals that we remember from our youth. Pork chops, beef stroganoff, and lasagna — and more dinner classics, plus a least one very outside-the-box recipe request from Googlers. Check out the list, ahead, and get inspired to pull out your cast-iron skillet.

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Think about all the times you unlocked your phone to ask Google a question this year: When does Crazy Rich Asians release in theaters? How old is Noah Centineo? Where is the nearest bar? Those were just a few generic things we typed into the search bar this year, but Google is also our favorite know-it-all when it comes to specific beauty questions.

The Internet powerhouse just released its 2018 Year in Search, and when it comes to beauty-related inquiries, people were obsessed with one thing: lashes. The most-searched beauty question of the year: How do you apply magnetic lashes?

Over the last two years, magnetic lashes have been popping up in department stores and drugstores, promising easy application and removal. This innovative lash format uses a sandwiching technique: One strip goes under the natural lashes, and a second fits along the top of lashes. The tiny magnets at the base of each strip help them snap together when they are aligned at the lashline. And to remove them, you just pull the false lashes apart — no oil cleansers or wipes required. They're reusable, don't require any messy glue, and are budget-friendly (at around $7 a pair), so it's easy to see why they are so popular. But as great as they sound — because saving time and money is always glorious — we had one more burning question to ask Google: Is using magnets that close to your eyes safe?

The quick and dirty answer: Magnetic lashes are totally fine to use. "It is relatively safe to use magnetic lashes since the amount of electromagnetic frequency emitted from the false eyelashes is low," says Jennifer Tsai, OD, a New York-based optometrist who specializes in eye health and vision care.

"I’ve seen more harm done with lash extensions and glue-on​s... It's best to stick with magnetic lashes or mascara."

In fact, both eye doctors we talked to prefer magnetic lashes over other enhancements, like eyelash extensions and classic falsies with glue. "Magnetic lashes are easily removable, it's not a prescription medication like Latisse, and there seems to be significantly less lash loss than when you use glue application," says Veronica Ruelas, OD, optometrist and founder of the ThirdEyeVision Foundation. Dr. Tsai agrees, "I’ve seen more harm done with lash extensions and glue-ons — like styes, allergic blepharitis, keratoconjunctivitis, and conjunctival erosion. From what I’ve seen in my exam room over the years, it’s best to stick with magnetic lashes or mascara."

But while these lashes don't affect your vision negatively, it is still important to watch how often you're applying them, says Dr. Tsai. "The biggest concern with magnetic eyelashes is traction alopecia, where your natural lashes fall out as a result of the constant weight from the magnetic lashes," she tells Refinery29. Overall, Dr. Tsai recommends only turning to lash enhancements, including magnetic ones, for special occasions.

You also want to make sure you're applying them correctly. (From our experience, magnetic lashes can be a tad difficult to apply, so you'll need practice.) "It is possible to develop corneal abrasions and infections if the magnet or a piece of eyelash comes into contact and injures the cornea," says Tsai. You also want to choose the brand wisely if you have allergies or skin sensitivities. Dr. Tsai recommends Ardell because the brand uses 100% human hair. Removal is also an important step. "Make sure to prevent yanking the magnetic lashes off by gently lifting the top lash up and the bottom lash down."

Don't let that middle-school science lesson about magnetic fields keep you from this makeup trend, because magnetic lashes are actually the best option for making your lashes pop — at least according to eye doctors. Join the tons of people searching for this beauty trend, get yourself a set, and debut them at your New Year's Eve party. New year, new lashes, who dis?

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