Imagine your dream holiday party outfit — hopefully what you're wearing this weekend. Maybe it's a simple silk slip dress, strappy heels, and a goldenrod Jennifer Behr braided-velvet headband nestled perfectly at the crown of your head. Now that you're standing out in a sea of candy stripes, you have to make sure the small details — like your fingernails, wrapped around the thin stem of your wine glass — are equally as striking under the twinkle lights.
The eternally en voguenail trend that's going to be huge this holiday season is — you guessed it — glitter polish. Though not earth-shattering in the least, the glitter manicure has long been seen as youthful, reminiscent of the bright, sparkly polish bottles scattered across the carpet at your middle-school sleepovers. That is, until now.
Ahead, celebrity nail pros break down the best grown-up glitter nail polishes to stock this holiday season. Pick one of these bottles and you can DIY your perfect party manicure, saving yourself a trip to the salon, plus the cost associated with it. Hey, you're saving up for that Jennifer Behr headband, after all.
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?
Scroll through Kim Kardashian West 's Instagram on any given weekend and you'll be sure to see: a gigantic floral arrangement, dispatches from a private jet, promo for her latest KKW Beauty launch, and if you're lucky, videos and pictures of her daughter North Westplaying with makeup and sometimes even roleplaying as her mom's makeup artist.
In an interview with Refinery29 for the launch of KKW Fragrance at Ulta, Kardashian West says that she is all too aware of West's makeup fascination.
"I already know North is into makeup for sure," Kardashian West says. "She had friends over this weekend and some of her girlfriends came and they were just all in her room, giving themselves makeovers. I was like, OK, she’s really, really into makeup. When companies send makeup and I have a lot, I’ll give it to her."
But Kardashian West also wants to enforce some rules for North — who just turned five this summer — and told us she plans to take the same approach as her late father, Robert Kardashian. "I remember when I was 14, my dad for Christmas got me a makeup class," Kardashian West says. "And I went to makeup school. He was like, 'I don't want you girls looking crazy. If you’re gonna wear makeup, I want you to learn to do it in the right way.' That was really helpful and I think I will take a cue from that. I’m definitely going to set guidelines."
Though in the Kardashian West household, those guidelines will be pretty liberal. "I don't think she should wear lashes or too dark of a lipstick," Kardashian West says. But she also recognizes that makeup is about more than just flaunting particular facial features. "It is a form of expression," she says. "So I want her to express herself, but I want her to be appropriate, too."
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Over the years, we've come to learn that one is either born to holiday gift...Or not. And for those of us who were skipped by the gifting gene, this season represents a time of idealess turmoil instead of festive shopping sprees. But this year, we won't be throwing in the towel when our creativity banks hit empty. Because this year, the effortless solution of the subscription box has hit an all-time high in creativity and quality.
When you can't figure out how the hell to wrap friends, family members, or SOs up into one thoughtful box with a ribbon on top, there's a service out there to do it for you. These companies all offer a unique range of pre-curated goods that can be subscribed to, for either one-offs or recurring periods, and delivered directly to your (or a giftee's) doorstep. Unsure of what the hell to buy your picky brother? There's a specialty man-scaping box to handle that. How about your dog-obsessed BFF? A themed box brimming with pet products has that covered.
Let the wild, weird, and wonderful subscription sites ahead stand in strong as your missing gifting gene this holiday season. With categories from wellness to fashion, beauty, food, and even sex toys ( ahooga), there's a box to wrap up every character in your life.
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?
After months of impasse, members of the Senate and House of Representatives were finally able to agree on a bicameral, bipartisan legislation to fix Congress' archaic system for dealing with sexual harassment complaints. Both chambers voted to pass the bill on Thursday, and now President Donald Trump needs to sign the legislation.
Some of the provisions of the deal include holding members personally liable for sexual harassment complaints, instead of allow them to use taxpayer money for settlements; publicly naming lawmakers involved in misconduct cases, instead of keeping the cases confidential; and eliminating some of the roadblocks to reporting.
"This is a bill that fundamentally changes the way sexual harassment cases are handled in the Senate and in the House," Sen. Amy Klobuchar, one of the sponsors of the legislation, told reporters. "The process we have will now protect victims of harassment instead of protecting politicians."
This past year, members of Congress were not immune to the reckoning about sexual harassment and power. Male lawmakers from both sides of the aisle faced their own set of allegations, leading to a swath of resignations. One of the results of the fallout was acknowledging that Capitol Hill's complaint system, which dates back to the the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995, was in desperate need of a fix.
Those who came forward with allegations were forced to spend months in a "cool-off period" involving mediation and counseling with their alleged harassers before being allowed to file an official complaint. The parties involved were also required to sign a confidentiality agreement, which in turn kept constituents in the dark about the allegations against their representatives. If the event that an accuser went ahead with a complaint, they were required to file it in court or ask for an administrative hearing. Lawmakers also could use taxpayer money to settle the cases against them, which former representatives such as Republican Blake Farenthold and Democrat John Conyers took advantage of. (Farenthold, for example, has said he doesn't intend to repay the $84,000 he used to settle a sexual harassment and gender discrimination suit against him.)
The new deal blows everything up, extending protections to accusers instead of the accused. First off, it eliminates allowing lawmakers to use taxpayer money to fund settlements. Instead, members will be personally liable in these cases, even if they eventually leave office, and directs the claims to the Ethics Committee. The legislation also gives accusers to choose whether they want to participate in the cool-off period or pursue action right away. Before, unpaid staff such as interns were not protected by the complaint system, leaving them vulnerable. The legislation changes that. Another important victory for transparency is that awards and settlement will need to be publicly reported, which will include naming the lawmakers involved in complaints.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
"How to apply magnetic lashes " was Google's official most-searched beauty question of the year, but for skin-care junkies, the biggest question hanging over all of 2018 may as well have been, "Where can I buy Deciem products right now?"
Under the direction of company founder Brandon Truaxe, Deciem's diehard fans found themselves on an emotional rollercoaster-meets-Easter egg hunt when products were yanked from Sephora shelves in June, fueling rumors that Deciem would land at Ulta Beauty instead. (It did not.) Then, in October, Deciem’s own stores were suddenly shuttered after Truaxe claimed in an Instagram video that the entire company was closing... and just a few days later, the stores were open again. In short, followers had to stay on top of a very active Google Alert in order to nab affordable retinol and more from The Ordinary. It was all enough to make a lengthy waitlist look quaint.
But today, the company has announced the guessing game will finally be over. Starting next month, WWD reports, The Ordinary will relaunch at Sephora. In a statement to Refinery29, the retailer confirmed, “We are pleased to once again offer The Ordinary as part of our skin-care product assortment starting this January. Our utmost priority is bringing our clients the most differentiated and most innovative products and brands. The Ordinary delivers this and we are looking forward to a new chapter together.”
Perhaps no one welcomes this new chapter more than the brand’s strong customer base, which has stuck with The Ordinary through all its ups and downs. (Even after a supremely tumultuous year in which Truaxe was eventually ousted by court order, the company clocked its biggest month in November, racking up some $20.4 million in wholesale figures, according to WWD 's report.) With new leadership and a relaunch at one of beauty’s most ubiquitous retailers, The Ordinary is finally finding the stability for which its skin-care products are known — something that will free us up to Google other pressing beauty questions, like when new stock of its beloved foundation will hit Sephora.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Here's a fun holiday-shopping idea: While you're racing around buying carefully considered gifts for your family/friends/barista/local shaman this December, why not add a little something for number one to the end of your list? 'Tis the season of giving, but that doesn't technically exclude any giving of the you-to-you variety. (Aw, you shouldn't have!)
Plus, a quick jaunt to the ashram might be impossible with your social schedule now, so just think of a chic new bag or oversized scarf as alternate forms of self-care. Ahead, shop 10 pick-me-up J.Crew goods that'll see you through the season's festivities — and the year beyond.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Out of all the controversial trends out there, leggings have to be the most debated. There's no in between — you either love them, or you really, really hate them. But no matter what your feelings, you still probably wear them time and time again. Whether you're hitting a yoga class and layering to stay warm, there's rarely a better choice for your everyday activities.
Thankfully for us, brands have finally stopped making the same boring black leggings and started getting creative. Now, there are leggings out there for every occasion. So whether you're heading to SoulCycle or jumping on a redeye, there's a pair of leggings in the mix ahead waiting for you.
Face it: you'll probably be wearing leggings for the rest of time. Embrace your fate by getting a pair for every occasion.
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?
Dandruff is one of those common issues many of us struggle with, yet shy away from speaking about. Having white flakes fall on your black turtleneck has been portrayed in beauty campaigns and commercials as a nightmare, but the reality is that dandruff is super common and doesn't have to prevent you from feeling fabulous in black — or in general. Some cases are mild, and others more severe, but thankfully, with the right regimen, dandruff can be easily controlled.
Stephen Pullan, a trichologist at the Philip Kingsley Trichological Clinic in New York, tells Refinery29 that all dandruff doesn't look the same."It can be thought of as dead skin cells shedding off the top layer of the scalp, [which] happens all over the body," he points out. "The process can speed up, however, creating visible dandruff, or even worse, [symptoms] such as a bothersome form of flakes that adhere to the hair shaft and can create hair loss."
The good news, however, for people living with this annoying issue is that it is treatable and it starts with finding the right shampoo. "Dandruff shampoos work to decrease flaking, normalize rapid cell turnover, hydrate the scalp, and indirectly decrease itching," dermatologist and Dove hair expert Francesca Fusco, MD, adds.
Dermatologist Neil Sadick, MD, of Sadick Dermatology in New York City notes that it's important to pay attention to ingredient labels when shopping for cleansers. "Look for shampoos that have ingredients like ketoconazole or zinc pyrithione," he says. "Both of these are chemical compounds have anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties that reduce and prevent fungus growth on the scalp."
To help you have a more soothing shampoo experience, we asked the pros for their favorite formulas for ditching dandruff, 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?
Everything in life circles back eventually — this we all know — but to be honest, we did not see this one coming: the return of hair bows. On both runways and red carpets, celebs and models alike are finishing off their updos and blowouts with long strands of satin, velvet, and grosgrain fabric.
And unlike designer headbands or nameplate barrettes, these accessories will only set you back a few cents. Even better, they require almost no effort: Just slip one around your ponytail like Kate Middleton, or use one to tie off your French braid like Emily Ratajkowski. The messier and more imperfect it is, the cooler it will look.
Check out our favorite ways to wear the trend, ahead.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Like drugstore end caps and your favorite coffee chain, as soon as December rolls around, we transform into people who strive for shimmer and relish in anything that makes us feel cozy. We wear sultry reds to holiday parties (and to run errands), a shimmery smoky eye becomes appropriate all day, every day — and nail polish? Well, that’s where the fun really happens.
In the weeks leading up to the holidays, we’ve been replacing our everyday neutrals with reds and glitters, because 'tis the season. In fact, there's a colorful selection of seasonal polishes out now that make holiday beauty all the more exciting. You can pick up Grinch-themed lacquers and advent calendars for gifts, or rack up fun shades for your own collection.
Ahead, we've rounded up some of our favorite holiday nail-polish collections that'll make you feel warm and fuzzy every time you look down at your fingers... which is plenty, now that you'll be wearing gloves on the regular.
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?
Ivanka's schedule has not been made public, so each week, we will do our best to cover the public events and forums she attends, the meetings she has with lawmakers and government officials, and her social media presence.
Sunday, December 9
Ivanka Trump has started speaking up more against human trafficking in recent weeks. This is one of the many issues she has in her sprawling White House portfolio. On Sunday, she celebrated the passing of a bill which aids survivors of child pornography.
It remains to be seen whether Ivanka will advocate for Cyntoia Brown, a trafficking survivor who was convicted at the age of 16 in the murder of a a 43-year-old man who solicited her for sex. Brown, now 30, is back in the news because a judge ruled must serve 51 more years before she can be considered for parole.
A new report alleged that Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner had a hand in forcing out embattled White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, who will leave his post by the end of the year.
The first daughter praised a tax break she helped push earlier this year called "Opportunity Zones." The Associated Press reported that Ivanka and Jared could potentially benefit financially from the program — another example of the blurring lines caused by the couple refusing to divest from their real estate investments when they joined the administration.
The AP said Jared held a stake at a company that's about to build several properties through the program. His family's firm also holds at least 13 properties in these zones, which would make them qualify for the tax breaks. "[They] could profit even if they don’t do anything — by potentially benefiting from a recent surge in Opportunity Zone property values amid a gold rush of interest from developers and investors," AP reported.
All Americans, regardless of zip code, should have the opportunity to experience the American dream. Opportunity Zones will catalyze private sector investment that will create jobs + economic growth in overlooked communities nationwide.https://t.co/R8wtbAL5XV
When contemplating which holiday classic to binge watch tonight (an installment of the Harry Potter series, or The Holiday, perhaps?), we're going to go ahead and put in our recommendation for the Dr. Pimple Popper holiday special. In case you're behind on your popaholic news, the hour-long episode aired tonight, and should already be available for your streaming pleasure on TLC.
If you want to get a better idea of what you're in for before you hit that "play" button, all you really need to know is that the episode features 12 pimple-popping procedures in a festive dermatological play on "The Twelve Days of Christmas." Not only is the hour filled with a dozen shocking skin abnormalities — like one 55-year-old ear blackhead, which has ballooned out to a huge charcoal-colored crater, and a mysterious snowman-shaped squishy lipoma on one guy's arm — but Dr. Lee works in holiday puns throughout every step of the craziness, bringing it all together into one freaky, festive fever dream.
If you're looking for a good Friday-night drinking game, take a sip of whatever red wine you have on hand every time Dr. Lee somehow manages to turn a pimple into something seasonally appropriate. So bottoms up — and check out the recap, below.
The first pop of Christmas: Jaila and her ear-keloid ornaments When Jaila was two years old, she suffered a botched ear piercing, which resulted in lobe trauma and two growths that just kept getting droopier — ending with 20-year-old keloids, which Dr. Lee calls "her bauble ornaments" (drink). In surgery, Dr. Lee is able to slice off both keloids with two clean cuts, one on each ear. And with that, Jaila can hear the jingle bells, instead of wearing them.
The second pop of Christmas: Justin and his snowman-shaped lump Justin travels all the way from North Carolina to see Dr. Lee about the tri-lump formation popping out of his upper arm. Dr. Lee compares the skin configuration to a lumpy snowman (drink). The best part is when Justin, in his deep Southern accent, tells the camera: "I don't know what's in there, but it sure ain't snow." In the surgery, Dr. Lee cuts deep into Justin's skin and begins squeezing the sides of the protruding bump, and a fountain of white pus spills out — and it doesn't look unlike a melted snowman.
The third pop of Christmas: Christina and her neck blisters Dr. Lee immediately diagnoses Christina's field of little blister-like neck lumps as steatocystomas, which is a kind of benign cyst that secretes oily material. This one's a speedy surgery — all Dr. Lee has to do is squeeze each bump between her thumb and forefinger, and a buttery string of pus spills out of the skin. Dr. Lee loves popping these buggers so much, she proclaims them to be "filled with Christmas cheer." (You know what to do.)
The fourth pop of Christmas: Farrah and her cheek cyst A facial cyst is worse than any other because it's the first thing people notice when they look you in the eye — and fourth patient Farrah, with her confidence-wrecking cheek cyst, is proof. In surgery, Dr. Lee slices into the cyst with a scalpel, and with a single squeeze at the edges of the cut, a bullet of pus squirts out. Gummy white liquid continues to spill out as Dr. Lee keeps squeezing. She compares the facial cyst to an iceberg, because the tip is just the beginning, and there's so much more buried underneath. It starts as a snowball, and with one squeeze, the pus explosion becomes a full on Nor'easter. Drink.
The fifth pop of Christmas: Dorris and her 55-year-old ear blackhead Dorris has traveled all the way from Ontario, Canada, to have Dr. Lee treat an ancient ear blackhead she's carried with her since 1963. Dr. Lee calls it the unicorn of dermatology, the dilated pore of Winer, which is another word for a giant blackhead that has grown so big it's actually stretched out the pore. To excise the aged blackhead, Dr. Lee first rips off the hardened exterior — which she compares to a hardened lump of coal (sorry). Then, she uses a pair of pliers to pull the rest of the deep-rooted gunk from the gaping skin hole.
The sixth pop of Christmas: Randi and her under-eye bags Upon meeting Randi, Dr. Lee immediately diagnoses her with xanthelasma, a rare but benign condition wherein yellowing bumps form around the eye area, usually related to high cholesterol. It's scary to have knives and needles around the eyeball area, but Dr. Lee handles the thin skin and delicate area like a pro. There's even a soft "Carol of the Bells" ringing in the background as she takes us through Randi's bump drainage.
The seventh pop of Christmas: Kenneth and his back bulge Kenneth has had a bowling ball-sized bump growing in his left shoulder for the past ten years. To get rid of it, Dr. Lee slices into the squishy mass and, using two hands, begins to squeeze Ken's lump. The bugger is stubborn, requiring some yanking and tugging at the sticky gunk to remove everything from under Ken's shoulder. In the end, after a lot of wrestling, Dr. Lee defeats the bulge.
The eighth pop of Christmas: Connie and her face & back steatocystomas Connie comes to us from Miami and says she's dealing with chronic pimples that sprout up all over her face and back — that her family members have taken to popping for her. Dr. Lee finds that the bumps are deep steatocystomas (the same condition Christina was diagnosed with). Using her fingers, Dr. Lee squeezes the bumps, and butter-like spirals spew out from each one.
The ninth pop of Christmas: Felix and the bump on his head Felix has a 25-year-old golf ball-sized lump sticking out of his upper forehead, which he's tired of hiding with a hat. After touching the skin around the lump, Dr. Lee diagnoses the lump as a pilar cyst, a condition that typically occurs at, or close to, the scalp. After cutting into the skin, Dr. Lee pops the chestnut-like clump out from Felix's face.
The 10th pop of Christmas: Jean Marcus and his 14 lipomas Jean Marcus has a compilation of spongy lipomas growing all over his body — mainly on his arms and chest — which have tripled in abundance over the past few years. Following the brief consultation, Dr. Lee diagnoses him with familial multiple lipomatosis, an inherited condition that both his sister and his dad also have. These lipomas are benign, but are kind of an eyesore — and Jean Marcus has a lot of them. In surgery, Dr. Lee speedily squeezes all fourteen blubbery lipomas out from under his skin, and Jean Marcus walks out lump-free.
The 11th pop of Christmas: Jennifer and her skin tags Jennifer believes that the array of skin tags covering the front of neck are a byproduct of her polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). After consulting her medical books, Dr. Lee explains that Jennifer may have been misinformed, because there's no concrete link between skin tags and PCOS. Instead, Dr. Lee thinks it's more likely a result of insulin resistance, which can be controlled. "It's not uncommon for people to demand a definitive diagnosis," says Dr. Lee. "But sometimes dermatology is more nuanced — a true Christmas mystery." Bottoms up to Jen's successful skin-tag removal.
The 12th pop of Christmas: Santa Claus And just when you thought that Dr. Lee had forgotten about the twelve drummers drumming, she brings out the final holiday patient. Yes, to finish off the marathon of popping, Dr. Lee gets a surprise appearance by Jolly Old Saint Nicholas himself. It's a fitting ending to an extremely festive special — one that we hope got you just buzzed enough to not be traumatized by Santa's skin condition.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
Ahead we're outlining our hit-list of 20 buys from across the web that shop like a stylish steal and gift like a luxe home good. Whether you're shopping for a coworker, in-law, S.O., friend, or family member, the unique items ahead are equipped to delight both your giftees and your bank accounts. Keep your most dangerous bargain-hunting game alive by scrolling on into a land of discounted neon, "killin' it," signs, Himalayan salt lamps, beaded pillows, faux fur throws, quartz cheese boards, and much more.
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?
File this under the stuff no one tells you about being a grown-up: Getting mail isn't fun, it's just bills and credit card offers and random furniture store flyers. And for that reason, we'll gladly pay to make the experience a little less dreadful. It's something oodles of start-ups have banked on with subscription beauty boxes. But as the number of beauty box options exploded over the past few years, so did the mailings spattered with off-brand beauty samples and mystery trinkets. With that, we're back to hating the mail again.
Thankfully, a handful of players have risen above the fray, providing more thoughtful curation and full-sized products. For example, after getting into the subscription box game this fall, Sunday Riley began sending quarterly mailers stuffed with the kinds of things we'd pick out of the world's coolest gift shop. The Detox Market provides clean beauty options so covetable that its boxes sell out just about every month. Birchbox, an OG in the field, offers the chance to pick out exactly what we want ahead of time.
Now, splurging on a subscription for ourselves or others doesn't just make getting the mail exciting — some of the boxes ahead are good enough to inspire unboxing videos on Insta Stories, 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?
There are plenty of people out there who have already finished holiday shopping and wrapping their gifts (and love to talk about it every time you see them). But joke's on them this year — because, for once, it pays to procrastinate.
For all you last-minute shoppers, Sephora just slashed prices on some of its most tempting holiday releases and year-round staples — and we're not just talking about a few dollars here or there. How about half off an eyeshadow palette stocked with staple shades that every makeup wearer should have? There's also a deal on NARS lip colors, which almost never go on sale, along with a few dope kits from Bite Beauty and GlamGlow.
In other words, the time for procrastination is over. Find some of our favorite 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.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
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.
We're still looking for diaries from Maine and Hawaii for our series Your Spending In Your State.Submit here!
Today: a senior paralegal who makes $70,000 per year and spends some of her money this week on spring rolls.
Monthly Expenses Mortgage: $2,350 (My roommate pays me $800.) Car Payment: $350 HOA: $59 Car Insurance: $63 Train Parking: $42 Train Pass: $100 Electricity: $100 Water: $25 Health Insurance: $524, with a stipend of $360. (For me and my son.) Dental Insurance: $75 Vision Insurance: $18 Cell Phones: $120 (for me and my son) Netflix: $11.99 Sling: $30 Gym: $50 (My membership comes with unlimited hot yoga classes.)
Day One
7 a.m. — I wake up with my girlfriend, A., who spent the night last night. I immediately head downstairs and make us coffee with our flavored creamer so we're able to function. We watch the news while scrolling through emails and checking Facebook. Then we shower (together), get dressed, and get my son off to school for the day. Afterwards, we decide to go out for breakfast, since there's not much to eat at my house. A. has work at 9:30 and I should be catching the 9 a.m. train into work, but we've heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, so we decide to eat and be a little late to work. We stop at our local favorite breakfast joint and order bagel sandwiches (turkey sausage with egg and cheese on toasted jalapeño bagels). So good. We split a coffee, as my hands are already shaking from my earlier coffee. A. pays, since I bought our dinner last night.
12:30 p.m. — Work is sort of slow, and I catch up on calls and emails before heading upstairs to the cafe. I usually bring my lunch and eat at my desk, but on Wednesdays, my inner 12-year-old wants chicken strips. I get a salad and a few chicken strips for good measure ($4.50). Then I eat at my desk and catch up on all the day's smut: According to the internet, Tristan and Khloe are trying for baby #2. Really? Hopefully Scott can talk some sense into KoKo. This is upsetting me, but my chicken strips are helping. $4.50
2 p.m. — After eating my salad and fried foods, I decide it's a great time to order some bathing suits for my upcoming trip to Cabo with A. and some friends. I start looking on Amazon but quickly lose focus and get off task, watching videos on YouTube of baby giraffes. Then I order a copy of the Money Diaries book. After using my Amazon Reward points, it's pretty cheap. $7.49
7 p.m. — I make it home after a busy day of work, and my mom is there with my son. She picks him up after school for me and usually watches him until I get home from work. His homework and reading are done, so we play a few games of Rummikub, and my mom and I drink some wine by the fire. It is getting cold outside, but still no snow. My mom heads home, and I make breakfast tacos for my son and me for dinner. It's early to bed for him (8 p.m.) as he has to be on the ice tomorrow morning at 5:30 a.m. for hockey practice. Does anyone really get up that early to go exercise? I talk to A. before I go to bed and watch an episode of Hollywood Medium With Tyler Henry. I find this show fascinating.
Daily Total: $11.99
Day Two
4:30 a.m. — Time to wake up and get the kiddo to his early morning ice hockey practice. It is so early, even my French Bulldog stays in bed. Good thing my son is easy to wake up. He pops up and gets dressed for hockey. I grab a coffee, some muffins for him, and a Clif bar for me and we are out the door by 4:55.
8:45 a.m. — After hockey, we go home to shower and get ready for school and work. I fix our second breakfast of the morning (waffles for him, and eggs and toast for me). He tries to do his daily reading but ends up falling asleep in his book on the floor. I let him sleep for 30 minutes while I do laundry. Then I wake him up and we're out the door again by 8:40. After dropping him off, I head to work and swing into Starbucks for a nonfat White Mocha to get me moving. $5
12:30 p.m. — I eat lunch at my desk, since I was fairly organized last night and was able to pack lunches. I have a turkey and cheese sandwich with a strawberry Bubly water. Work is steady, and I am able to get quite a bit of stuff checked off my list. I check US Weekly and TMZ to make sure I'm not missing out on anything. Cardi B is single.
5:30 p.m. — Since hockey practice was so early, we have a free night. Yay for free nights!! We decide to head to our favorite pho restaurant and order some crab and cheese wontons, spring rolls, and two bowls of pho. The perfect dinner on this cold and dreary night. $25.45
Daily Total: $30.45
Day Three
4 p.m. — I pay my attorneys to defend a motion in my custody case. I adopted my son on my own almost nine years ago and was married to my ex for two and a half years. Somehow the judge found she was a parent, even though I never gave her any rights. Anyhow, it has been a long, drawn-out, and expensive fight, and I need to refill my balance with the firm I have retained. Good times! $1,202.50
6 p.m. — My son and I play Rummikub with Grandma, have a frozen pizza for dinner, and walk the dog. I do some laundry.
8:30 p.m. — I put my son to bed at 8. We are both exhausted. Then I talk with A. for an hour about our weekend plans before finally falling asleep around 9:45.
Daily Total: $1,202.50
Day Four
7 a.m. — I wake up, shower, and get ready for work while my son gets ready for school. He has hot cereal for breakfast, and I make avocado toast before we head out the door. After dropping him off, I take the train into work and then ride a Bird scooter ($1.45) the few blocks to the office instead of walking from the train. I justify this since I have a hockey game later tonight and need to save my legs for skating (either that, or I am being lazy). $1.45
12:30 p.m. — Work has been pretty steady this morning. I eat my sad sandwich and Cheetos at my desk. My coworker gets mad at me for taking bites of my string cheese and not peeling pieces of it like I'm supposed to.
5:30 p.m. — I meet up with a few friends after work for happy hour since my son is spending the weekend with my ex. We have wine, sushi, and appetizers ($25). The food is good, but I don't want to eat a lot since I have to go skate in a few hours. It's good to catch up with my friends. I leave and run home to see my dog for a bit before grabbing my hockey gear and heading out again. My team usually meets before each game at a nearby brewery for a pregame beer. $25
8 p.m. — I have two beers with my team before our game, which is close by. It's fun, and we win 5-4. I have a goal and an assist, and despite being 45, I played pretty well. (Thanks, alcohol!) I head home afterwards, shower, and go straight to bed at 11. $10
Daily Total: $36.45
Day Five
7:30 a.m. — I get an email reminder that my son's school lunch account is low and needs to be refilled. I put $50 in his account and get charged a $2 fee ($52). He usually gets hot lunch once a week, but he also gets snacks. I also get an email that a hockey jersey I sold on Mercari has gone through, and they have placed $23.20 in my account after taking out the selling fee ($3.30) and the shipping fee ($6.50). It is my son's hockey jersey, so he can eat more snacks at school. Go wild, young man! $52
9 a.m. — My son's hockey practice was actually a scrimmage between the parents and players, and it was a lot of fun to be on the ice with the kids. After saying goodbye to my son, I head to Starbucks because I am starving, and order a nonfat White Mocha and a turkey sausage breakfast sandwich. I head home and shower. $10.83
1 p.m. — I head to my hair appointment, where I get a cut and a partial highlight so I can look pretty, especially after playing all this hockey lately. It's $95 and I tip my gal $20 plus another $20 for the Christmas season. $135
4 p.m. — I stop by the grocery store before I head to A.'s house. I get chicken, breadcrumbs, cheese, salad, and ice cream for dessert. She texts that she has wine and not to get any. I drive the 40 minutes to her house and bring my Frenchie with me. Fun Fact: A. also has a French Bulldog (or so she says). Her dog is 40 pounds and looks like a mid-size bloodhound, and my girl is 15 pounds and looks and acts (sleeps a lot) like a Frenchie. $22.30
8 p.m. — We have a great night — eat dinner, walk the pups, watch a little TV ( Narcos: Mexico on Netflix), and head to bed around 10:30 p.m.
Daily Total: $220.13
Day Six
7:30 a.m. — A. and I wake up, fool around, and shower together to save water. We eat a quick breakfast, and she heads out. I head back home, as my son has a hockey game at 9:30. I stop and get gas on my way. $44.01
11 a.m. — The game goes well, and they win 3-2. After his game, I go out for an early lunch with my dad and stepmom, since they came to watch their grandson skate. We catch up over sandwiches and salads at Panera. They pay ($18).
2 p.m. — I head over to a friend's house who is going to watch my dog for me while A. and I are in Cabo in a few weeks. My dog meets with her two sweet dogs and there are plenty of belly rubs all around. Everyone is happy, and I head home to watch football, do laundry, and nap before my son gets home. I cannot wait to see him.
5 p.m. — I head to the grocery store and get ground beef, potatoes, and salad to make a meatloaf dinner for my son — his favorite dinner. The weekends he is gone are very long and hard, and I am excited to have him home again. I also get bread, creamer, milk, eggs, avocados, and some snacks for his lunches this week. $34.73
8:30 p.m. — After dinner, we get everything ready to start the week again. Lunches are made and bags are packed for the morning. We watch Planet Earth, and then I tuck him in for the night. I talk to A. on the phone and then finally head to bed around 10:30 p.m.
Daily Total: $78.74
Day Seven
7 a.m. — Although I woke up on time, I stayed in bed drinking coffee, watching the news, and looking at Mercari for Christmas presents, and now I am behind schedule. I can't help it. My bed is so warm and comfy. I finally shower, and we get out the door on time for school and work. I forgot to eat breakfast, so I pick up a breakfast burrito to hold me over until lunch. $4
12:30 p.m. — I meet my my old coworker for lunch. She gets a BLT, and I get a cup of chicken tortilla soup. She pays, as my soup is only $4. We talk about our upcoming trip to Cabo. We can't wait to get out of the cold and be by the ocean for five days.
6 p.m. — My son has hockey practice after school, and I head directly there from work, as my mom has dropped him off at the rink for me. He has an hour on the ice and then an hour of conditioning off the ice. I have a few beers with the hockey dads, and we tell stories and rip on one another (our usual routine), while our sons skate on the ice and do their conditioning off the ice. I also order chicken strips and fries. My son wraps up practice and I drive him home to shower and eat before bed. $24
Daily Total: $28
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 outthis formfor 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:
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?
What do the average woman’s calendar come December and the last train home on a Friday have in common? They’re both packed to the rafters. Somewhere between the leaves beginning to fall and the NYE ball dropping, everyone and their mother has something you simply have to go to: after-work drinks, a weekend brunch, a festive party, a festive "not a party, more of a casual drinks," a house party, the list goes on.
With so much on your plate, the last thing you want is a beauty routine that feels arduous. You want to be able to glide from event to event without breaking a sweat and be able to switch from day to night faster than you can say Prosecco. In honor of that, we’ve rounded up a few skin-care and makeup tips and tricks to help you mentally prepare for the party season (because you're always prepped), easing you in without a hitch…
Go Back To Basics
The foundation of great makeup is happy, healthy skin — but achieving an effortless glow needn’t be, er, effortful. Enter: YourGoodSkin, a targeted, tailored range of skin-care solutions designed to fit into the busiest of routines with minimal work. Each offering has selected active ingredients to make sure the results are all killer, no filler. Here are our sneaky hacks:
1) Massage Your Moisturizer In With Upward Strokes
We’re sure we don’t need to tell you that you should be applying moisturizer — in these arctic climes, you’d be more likely to give up coffee than lotion. But instead of just slapping it on and hoping for the best, applying in upward, massage-like strokes can help encourage blood flow to the area, helping melt away any residual puffiness and giving you a perkier-looking complexion.
2) Cleanse With Cooler Water
Coming in from the cold, it can be so tempting to really crank up the heat and go for an extra-hot face wash. But actually, lukewarm water is much kinder to your skin because it doesn’t cause the same inflammation that hot water does, meaning your skin’s natural moisture barrier is left intact. The result? Your skin will feel much softer, and you might even find yourself needing less moisturizer.
3)Keep Up The SPF
With the days short and the skies overcast, layering up on sunscreen is probably the last thing on your mind. Even when it’s not actually hot out, UV rays are still breaking through and reaching your skin, so a good rule of thumb is that if it’s not so dark outside that you need a torch, you need sunscreen. The reason being because UVA rays can cause skin damage — even when you’re not getting burned. Adding a moisturizer with SPF into your routine is the fuss-free way to stay safe in the chillier months.
They say that only a shoddy workman blames his tools, yet we’re not sure Michelangelo would have done such a hot job on the Sistine Chapel if he’d been finger-painting, you know? Enter: MASQD. With its pro-quality brushes and tools at a fraction of the price, they take all the guesswork out of getting ready, leaving you more time to down a mulled wine and fire up your favorite festive playlist. Here are the must-knows:
1) Use A Spoolie Brush Pre-Tweeze
Using a spoolie before you tweeze to neaten your brows will ensure you get the most precise results possible, as you'll see the shape and unruly hairs more clearly. Because, after all, we’ve all had the experience of thinking we’ve picked up every last hair and then realizing there are loads we’ve missed.
2) Peel Your Nail File
This hack will let you skip manicures altogether. Use a peelable nail file instead of a regular one for a fresh surface when you tidy your nails every single time.
3) Revive Your Base With Translucent Powder
No time to reapply your foundation pre-party? No problem. Simply dab some translucent powder with a Face Powder Brush (it comes in a set) over the areas where you have the most shine for an instant refresh.
In the dead of winter, the temptation is to care for only the parts of your body visible from underneath the mohair cocoon you’ll be in until April. But with so many special occasions around the corner, you need the speedy yet luxe bathroom routine that is Soap & Glory in your life. The whole range is both delicious-smelling and ultra-nourishing, meaning you can have a moment’s bliss while getting your slightly scaly parts ready for a night on the town. Here's what to do:
1) Moisturize Damp Skin
Getting out of the shower feels like an injustice of Herculean proportions in winter. But did you know that you can both speed things up and better hydrate yourself by applying body butter while your skin’s wet? It’ll maximize hydration, so lotion up to your heart’s content, and enjoy more supple skin ASAP.
2) Layer Scented Products
Want to smell fabulously scented at your soiree but feel perfume melts off of you in seconds? It’s time to layer up. Apply a body scrub and butter with the same scent, and you’ll find the aroma clings to you much better. Plus, it’s two stages already in your routine, rather than in addition to, so it's super easy to incorporate into your routine.
3) Slather On Heel Cream
A pedicure in the depths of winter is probably very low on your priority list, but this season’s most covetable party shoes are slingbacks and mules, and baby, that’s a whole lotta heel. Skip the comprehensive DIY routine; instead slather your feet with heel cream before bed, and then pop some socks on. Your soles will drink it all up overnight, so you’ll have the softest feet come morning.
CYO is all about making your life easier when it comes to makeup — something that we couldn't need more of than during party season. Sure, it's the time to embrace the fact that more is more, but that doesn’t mean you have to spend hours methodically recreating a smoky eye tutorial from YouTube. Instead, try these quick tips to take your work look from zero to hero in an instant...
1) Amp Up Your Eyes With Molten Shades
Blending a metallic shade onto your lids with your fingertips will give a cool, slept-in finish with a punch of pigment. The warmth from your fingertips will help you smooth on the shadow effortlessly, meaning foolproof blending.
2) Choose To Hero One Feature
Pressed for time and got someplace special to be? Instead of attempting a whole face revamp, focus on either your lips or eyes. A bold red lip or berry shade, or adding colored liner to finish your lids, will draw all the attention to the right place. Plus it takes about a third of the time.
3) Swipe On Serious Glow
Give your skin a bit of party oomph with the addition of a little shimmer. A highlighting stick (instead of a powder and brush) is the fastest way to sculpt and define. Add a swipe to the inner corners of your eyes (did someone say eight hours of sleep?) and to your cheeks for glowing skin that pops better than Champagne.
No one’s expecting you to give them a brand-new TV or surround-sound speaker system for the holidays, right? (Or if so, do you have any friend openings?) But even if you're not the presumed giver of big-ticket items, you can still bestow some great tech gifts upon your friends and family this year.
Tech is such a rewarding category for gifts, even with a budget less than $50. The idea here is that you can give others the kind of fun gadgets and accessories they don't need, but would really enjoy playing with. These don't make people feel like you've got the wrong idea about who they are (the way a misjudged beauty or fashion gift might). At the same time, they don't feel super impersonal like that peach candle. We see absolutely zero fake sing-songy "thank yous" in your future.
Another great reason to give tech this year: the variety — from adorable stocking-stuffer phone accessories for those teenage cousins to a rather useful portable speaker for your partner (because this is the winter you plan to get them to love your musical tastes). Well, no one said gift-giving had to be completely selfless, did they?
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
We're smack dab in the middle of the season of giving, and odds are you're probably overwhelmed: Maybe you're still buying last-minute(ish) for others, itching to do something nice for yourself, catching up and celebrating with old friends at fancy dinners out, planning a big vacation for the new year, or all of the above. But, well, you're going to want to prioritize some of that precious time for this: the retail gods have granted us with one last big sale season before 2019, and it's going on right now.
Every big retailer, from Reformation to Net-a-Porter, is slashing its prices as we say goodbye to 2018 with BOGO, site-wide discounts and more. So before you let 2018 end with serious regrets (for not shopping these deals), take a look at our guide for maneuvering through the madness of end-of-year sales.
Kick back, relax and prepare to be amazed at all the deep discount finds you can snag before the ball drops on December 31.
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?
Listen. Our goal here is simple: to help you curate the perfect Rolodex of movies that will help you deal if or when things with your loved one fall apart. And, to help us in our quest for catharsis, we’ve consulted the very academic Kübler-Ross model of handling grief, which divides the process into five stages: denial, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance (because, above all else, we here at Refinery29 are nothing if not academics, of course).
There are many different types of breakup movies: the ones that are actually about breakups in the literal sense and the ones that deal with the different stages of breakups metaphorically. For instance: (500) Days of Summer. That’s about breakups. The Hours, on the other hand, is about handling grief, an emotion that occurs after any loss — especially the loss of a relationship. Because a list of breakup movies exists around every corner of the Internet, we’re digging deeper into the films that will help you cope with those separations in a far less overt but no less helpful way.
Movies, above all else, are therapeutic. The best ones allow us to relieve, relive, or re-evaluate our most tender experiences in a way that no other art form can. Click through to see our picks for the films that will aid you in getting through every one of those five stages — and straight on to renewal.
Here are the top films to get you back on your feet.
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?