Take note: Mars, the planet of action, aggression, and sex, enters its home sign of Scorpio on October 12 and will remain there until November 24. When Mars swims in the water sign Scorpio, we begin to rely on our instincts as a form of guidance and protection. Our confidence will be high, allowing us to have fortitude in moments of strife, as we ride along the rapturous waves of Mars in Scorpio period and dive into the deep end.
Mars in Scorpio utilises the intense energy to its advantage. According to Bri Luna, owner of The Hoodwitch and author of Blood Sex Magic: Everyday Magic for the Modern Mystic, this transit is “an intense time” that “inspires us to grow and motivates us to make necessary shifts that can take us to the next level of success.” This is the time to take action and to make plans about how we can make our dreams a reality. “With the right amount of dedication we can achieve anything we put our minds to,” says Luna. “Nothing and no one can stand in our way of attaining greatness, not even ourselves.”
The placement of Mars in Scorpio brings a need for success and the drive to get it. But it can also induce jealousy, manipulative behaviour and cause us to act out of character: we must win at all costs. Scorpio is one of the three zodiac signs that has two planetary rulers, and we can see the energy of the other ruling planet come through. Mars is the traditional ruler and Pluto is the modern ruler of Scorpio — which is why this placement feels comfortable in evolving and growing. Luna notes that “nothing can hold Mars in Scorpio back from taking the lead, as it’s very productive and completes tasks swiftly and with ease.” There is a brooding energy, a force to be reckoned with.
When it comes to relationships, Mars in Scorpio is persistent. This cosmic sentiment pushes us to fight for who we love and in their defence. Loyalty is a must, since Mars takes on a ride-or-die vibe. We can expect our gut to unite us with others and to tell us to run away from the people that rub us the wrong way. Even though Mars in Scorpio is a warrior, it isn’t super talkative or chatty — so watch out for pent up aggressions to come out in frustrated arguments, followed by total silence or ghosting. Mars in Scorpio makes big declarations and follows up their statements with action, not words.
Sex activates Mars in Scorpio. Fantasies are awakened, kinks are brought to life, experimentation with sex toys is encouraged, and passions are alight in our boudoirs. Our sexual appetites will be hungry for extra lovin’ so be sure to pleasure oneself when the moment strikes and feels right.
In tarot, the Five of Cups aligns with Mars in Scorpio. It warns us to not take our blessings for granted. Even though situations seem challenging, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Perseverance and resilience are key. The card is telling us to not let setbacks prevent us from reaching our goals. The presence of the three overturned cups and the two cups right side up reminds us not to dwell and to see the positive in a bad situation.
Important dates for Mars in Scorpio:
October 12: Mars enters Scorpio, pushing us to attain our aspirations.
October 13: Mars in Scorpio harmonises with Saturn retrograde in Pisces, urging us to use our authoritative demeanour to set boundaries.
October 28: Mars in Scorpio opposes Jupiter retrograde in Taurus (the same day as the lunar eclipse in Taurus), expanding our desires and emotions.
October 29: Mars and Mercury firm up a conjunction in Scorpio, bringing vigor to our words.
November 18: Mars and the sun unite in Scorpio, creating the “cazimi” effect. This is an empowering time to take charge of matters.
November 21: Mars in Scorpio and Pluto in Capricorn link up, heightening our desires and need for change.
November 24: Mars glides into Sagittarius, taking on an adventurous attitude.
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Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last penny.
This week: “I’m a 28-year-old primary school teacher, living in a suburb of Leeds. I now live alone after buying a house with a partner and subsequently breaking up. I took on all the house expenses, which allowed him to move out and get a new place (while the re-mortgage completed), as I will be staying in the house on a solo mortgage. Taking on the expenses of the house on my own has been a stretch, but it is so satisfying to work on a house that is your own and I feel so grateful to be in this position. I am trying to take my spending more seriously as I have a lot less disposable income now. This is hard in the summer holidays with so much free time to fill. I’m hoping this money diary will be a good chance to reflect on my outgoings.”
Occupation: Primary school teacher Industry: Education Age: 28 Location: Leeds Salary: £33,850 Paycheque Amount: £2,012.50 Number of housemates: None Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing costs: £731.19. After we split, I took over all the costs of the house, including the full mortgage payment. I am in the process of switching from a joint to a solo mortgage, which will reduce this payment, with the help of my parents. Loan payments: £49 student loan. Savings?: £1,500 emergency fund for the house, £10,000 in an ISA and about £900 in a separate savings account for an upcoming trip to Mexico. Pension?: 8.6% of my gross salary. I don’t think about my pension much — I was automatically enrolled at the percentage I currently pay and have been paying into it for five years. Utilities: £28 water, £134 gas/electric, £124 council tax, £22.44 house insurance, £24 Virgin Media. All other monthly payments: £29.99 gym. Subscriptions: £9.99 Twinkl; £8.99 Amazon Prime.
Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it? I got student loans to cover the fees, as well as some living expenses. The loan didn’t completely cover my housing, so my parents also contributed each month. I also worked waitressing shifts over the holidays to cover my extra living costs.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? My parents are very money savvy, particularly my dad, and they’ve always extolled the virtues of saving. My mum is more relaxed about spending and encourages me to spend on things like holidays and time with friends. Neither of them are materialistic and prefer to spend money on activities, which I’m trying to emulate by reducing my spending on clothes and so on.
If you have, when did you move out of your parents’/guardians’ house? I moved out when I was 18 for university. The summer that I finished, I moved back in for about five months.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself? Does anyone else cover any aspects of your financial life? I became financially independent aged 22 when I moved back to Leeds, where I was waitressing, as well as volunteering in a school while I secured a school-based job in Leeds.
What was your first job and why did you get it? My first job was waitressing at weddings and events during college and university holidays. I applied for the job as a friend worked there and absolutely loved it for nearly five years.
Do you worry about money now? Yes! Since I have taken on the costs of the house myself, I worry lots about money, especially as my parents are helping me to take on the mortgage on my own. I feel a huge responsibility towards them and want to be respectful with my spending. I’m hoping this diary will allow me to reflect on my spending and make changes, while still maintaining my social life.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? My parents contributed £10,000 to the deposit of my current home when my ex-partner and I initially bought it. As the house is not quite within my affordability on my own, they have offered to contribute more towards the house so that I can afford the mortgage solo. While this fills me with anxiety, and feels like a huge debt to repay, I am so grateful for their offer. This money will come from my mum’s inheritance from my lovely grandad.
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Not every month is so iconic that it has its own bop from Earth, Wind & Fire. (Okay, fine — I’m biased as it’s also my birthday month.) But groovy songs aside, September is a solid month all around: Summer changes into fall, back-to-school season kicks into high gear (and no, you’re never too old to get a fresh pack of Sharpies for the occasion), and cozy vibes are all around. There’s also a ton of end-of-season sales, which make it an excellent opportunity to shop — and shop we did.
For our latest installment of MVPs (that’s “Most Valuable Products,” if you’re new around here), we polled R29’s savvy team of shopping editors to divulge the best under-$100 purchases from the past month. While each month always brings new, unlikely favorites (vacuum-sealed storage bags and status laundry detergent are past stars), you can always count on solid finds across fashion, beauty, home, and more. But enough chit-chat — keep clicking for 29 things you’ll want to add to your own cart.
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. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.
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When you’re doing a trivia night at a random bar and the question is, “What two things are millennials stereotypically obsessed with?,” please think back to the article you’re reading right now, because I, a Gen-Z-millennial-cusp writer, have the answer that will win you that $50 gift card and the admiration of your teammates alike: dogs and coffee. Enter: Grounds & Hounds, the brand that has seamlessly united the two with its fantastic coffee blends, a portion of the profits from which give back to dog shelters in need. Offering 100% organic Arabica beans from specialty growers in countries like Nicaragua, Peru, Guatemala, Mexico, and Colombia, the brand’s lineup includes a wide variety of roasts (from light to dark) and delicious flavors (like chocolate peanut butter). Curious to taste? R29 readers can get their favorite blend (or anything else on site) for 20% off with the R29-exclusive promo code R2920. Not only are these blends beloved by hundreds of reviewers but they’ve even earned the coveted approval of the shopping team’s self-proclaimed coffee snob, senior strategist Kate Spencer.
Other than its tasty small batch roasts, Grounds & Hounds’ core mission is animal philanthropy, with 20% of all profits helping to fund rescue initiatives. To date, the brand has provided 4.2 million meals, 22,000 vaccines, 16,000 microchips, 24,000 toys, and more to animal shelters throughout the United States. So, when you purchase from the brand, you’re not only getting a delicious cup of joe to start your day with, you’re also helping a pup in need — and that’s enough to make any morning a good one in our books.
Tasting Notes: Caramel, toasted pecan, dark chocolate, and red currant
Roast: Medium
Rescue Roast is one of Grounds & Hounds’ bestselling blends, with a 5 out of 5-star rating and 224 reviews. The blend is beloved not only for its incredibly smooth flavor but also its mission: 100% of the profits are donated to a different rescue organization every month. The R29 shopping team’s resident coffee connoisseur, Kate Spencer, had her own glowing review to share, too. Spencer, who ground the beans fresh, added a double shot from her espresso machine, and topped it with steamed oat milk, describes the taste as “much smoother and more neutral than I expected (in a good way) and perfect for any kind of coffee drinker,” calling herself “pretty impressed” by the full experience.
Tasting Notes: Pumpkin pie, cinnamon, vanilla, and graham crackers
Roast: Medium
Why go to Starbucks when you’ve got your very own Pumpkin Spice coffee at home? Reviewers don’t just love the taste, they also say “one can actually smell the aroma of pumpkin in the air while it’s brewing.” This seasonal blend from Grounds & Hounds is available as whole beans, ground coffee, and single-serve pods. While it can be prepared practically any way, you’ll get the best taste using a French press or drip brewer.
Tasting Notes: Chocolate chip cookies, caramel, blueberries, and walnut
Roast: Medium light
Described as “approachable and complex,” Grounds & Hounds’ Founder’s Blend is a light roast blend that’s earned high praise from 89 reviewers — all of whom have rated it a 5-star experience in a cup. It combines the brand’s best organic beans from specialty growers in Nicaragua, Guatemala, Mexico, and Colombia for a light, floral, and sweet taste with a hint of savory flavor.
Tasting Notes: Chocolate peanut butter cup, vanilla, graham cracker, and blueberry
Roast: Medium dark
This is your perfect blend if you’re a total sucker for Reese’s. With a near-perfect rating and 153 reviews, the cup this blend brews is a smooth, rich, and sweet one. The brand recommends brewing it via French press, drip, or cold brew methods.
Tasting Notes: Toffee, marshmallow, toasted vanilla, and milk chocolate
Roast: Medium dark
Inspired by the countless pit bulls in shelters awaiting a forever home, Lovable is a sweet and rich blend that focuses on bringing awareness to anti-breed-specific legislation initiatives. The beans — sourced from Colombia, Guatemala, Ethiopia, and Peru — are best brewed via French press, pour-over, and drip methods. With a perfect rating and 112 reviews, the 100% organic coffee is described as having a “clean and flavorful taste.”
If all you’ve got is a Keurig brewer, worry not! Grounds & Hounds has thought of your needs, too (which — let’s be real — not a lot of specialty coffee brands do). Not only does the brand have most of their blends available in single-serve pods, but they’ve also put together a season-appropriate bundle. It includes four medium-roast blends: Caramel Swirl, Cinnamon Roll, Italian Hazelnut, and Madagascar Vanilla.
Can’t decide on which tasty blend to get? We get you. Lucky for the indecisive readers, Grounds & Hounds has a sampling kit on sale that comes with three 6-ounce bags of their most popular blends in either whole beans, single pods, or ground form: Morning Walk, Paper & Slippers, and Alpha Blend.
For those total coffee newbies (or, at the very least, cold brew newbies), Grounds & Hounds’ Cold Brew Essentials kit includes absolutely everything you need for a nice glass of iced coffee. It includes a 12-ounce bag of Sunny Spot (a dark roast blend with notes of hazelnut, red currant, milk chocolate, marshmallow, and graham cracker), a cold brew coffee maker, an adorable glass for puppy lovers, and reusable metal straws.
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There were a seemingly endless number of deals to shop for Amazon Prime Big Deal Days, which ran between October 10 and 11 this year. To date, we’ve covered everything from the site’s hidden gems to its viral products (and even Prime Day sale alternatives). But in this roundup, we’re unveiling something that’s a little closer to our own carts: Refinery29 readers’ most wanted Amazon products that are, of course, on super sale.
After digging into an entire year’s worth of anonymous shopping data from our most popular stories, we were able to whittle down a product list that includes only the top Amazon products R29 readers have eagerly scooped up. Peep all the noteworthy and unexpected Amazon deals that just may have been carted by you or your closest friends and family — from beauty hidden gems to cult-favorite travel best sellers. We’ve outlined each of these hot-ticket Amazon best sellers and more ahead.
At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff — and, while we do receive commission from Amazon, all of the goods linked to on our site are independently curated by our Most Wanted shopping team editors. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication.
On June 26, 2019, the front page of The New York Timesshowed the bodies of Óscar Alberto Martínez Ramírez and his 23-month-old daughter, Angie Valeria, floating on the bank of the Rio Grande in Matamoros, Mexico. All the weeds in the photograph are in motion, pulled to the left of the frame. Perhaps this is how the wind weeps, roars, and mourns the violence of border crossings.
In the photograph, the water is muddy, and Angie’s left arm is seemingly holding her father’s neck. Neither of their faces is visible. Her father’s T-shirt, which wraps tightly around Martínez Ramírez’s torso, also shields Angie’s upper body. Angie’s shoes still protect her feet; her father has had no such luck. His knees dig into the river’s floor and his bare feet float above water. Martínez Ramírez’s limbs give the allusion that he can still move; that his body is in control. This is not the case. Neither of them survived.
Taken by journalist Julia Le Duc hours after Martínez Ramírez’s and Angie’s deaths, shared by the Associated Press on social media, then repurposed online and in print by The New York Times, the image subjugates Martínez Ramírez and Angie to perpetual laboring. In appearing on the cover of The New York Times alongside the title “Photo of Drowned Migrants Captures Pathos of Those Who Risk It All,” the publication asks the father and daughter to render a certain narrative tragedy for readers or for anyone who is walking by a newsstand, or scrolling through Instagram, TikTok, and more.
The narrative labor forced upon the two is a juxtaposition to the image of Mexican migrants and other Latin American and Antillean migrants as “drug dealers, criminals,” and “rapists,” as former President Donald Trump disparangingly called them. In an ever-growing migrant United States, how do we learn to see the immigrant as more than a foreigner and/or an illegal alien? How do we remember those who die in their migratory journeys? And how do we collectively imagine a future without forced migration?
For 31-year-old Colombian American Paola de la Calle, the answer is art. As the Boston-born daughter of two undocumented Colombian parents, de la Calle’s life in the U.S. has felt limited by the controlled images of Colombians as drug dealers; Colombia as a geography of war; and the narrative that undocumented people are a criminal group. To combat xenophobic tropes, de la Calle uses her art as a way to reimagine migrant futures. Through large-scale textile collages, installations, and sculptures, she introduced a visual grammar to characterize the migrant as human and Colombia as a geography of life and joy.
Walking a thin line between spectacular hope and tragedy, de la Calle’s first solo exhibition, In This House We Are All Buried Alive, refuses to reproduce traumatic images of migrants by centering her own political consciousness as a U.S. citizen who grew up in the conditions of illegality and silence. “The solo show really came from starting my therapy journey and looking at the way in which I was experiencing the world and not being able to connect growing up in a mixed-status home and how that related to my fears of abandonment and the way I was showing up in the world,” she tells Refinery29 Somos about the exhibition, which was on view at SOMArts Gallery in San Francisco in July and August.
The artist’s childhood fear of abandonment came from the fact that immigration officials could have detained and deported all the adults in her life. To address this legal and social anxiety, de la Calle takes to art because, in her words, “Art has allowed me to zoom in on the parts of the stories I can talk about.”
“Hanging Archive,” one of the most compelling pieces in her exhibition, consists of photographs, Google Maps images, and video stills printed on seven large chiffon tapestries. They hang from the ceiling, and their placement mimics the shape and aesthetic of a blown-up film role. Much like a movie, the piece transports the viewer to a different place. For migrants who cannot return to their countries, the land they once knew may no longer exist: Demolished buildings, the displacement of ecological organisms, and even traces of the migrant’s history disappearing can make a place unrecognizable.
Although there are no people represented in “Hanging Archive,” the artwork invites us to relate intimately to Colombia, which means that a person removed from their home can still be in community and witness their country. When one cannot go back to their countries, Google Maps and Google Images serve as mediators of digital travel.
With “Hanging Archive,” de la Calle insists on memory as political work that alleviates the silences and erased histories of Latin America. She pairs this memory work with a text-based art piece titled, “My Accent Changes and The Crack in the Sky Grows Between Us,” which depicts 30 terracotta roof tiles that spell out “The Crack in the Sky Grows Between Us.” An ode to de la Calle’s grandfather, the piece reflects the 10-year gap in de la Calle’s early adulthood when she did not travel to Colombia and her return to the country three months after the passing of her grandfather. Prior to his passing, de la Calle planned to carry out a series of ethnographic conversations with her grandfather so she could archive his life memories, ideologies, and desires.
“I was just thinking about how the sky was the one thing that united us. We shared the same moon, but the sky is this blanket that covers us. … Borders create this sort of crack in that sky,” de la Calle recalls as she reckons with the reality of living through settler borders. Borders don’t only exist between nations; the border haunts the memory of migrants and those who were born in migrant diasporas.
“Nothing is neatly tied together [in my family history],” de la Calle explains as she shares the story of her last name. During a trip to Colombia, she learned about a distant family member on her maternal side named Bejamín de la Calle. Although the artist can’t recall the details of how she found out about Benjamín, she remembers being told that he was a photographer that the family exiled for being queer. Born with the last name “González,” the artist opted for “de la Calle” to invite Benjamín back into the family archive. In this name change, remembrance becomes a daily practice that challenges queerphobia, and Benjamín can engage in a different type of border crossing, a return home.
For migrants, the question of return is always a challenge: Will they welcome me back? Will my home still exist? Does anyone remember those who have left?
In an installation titled “A Calling Card is a Portal,” composed of 17 ceramic calling cards placed side by side on an entire gallery wall, one card reads: “Entre Aqui Y Alla,” which may critique the popularized trope that Latine people in the U.S. are neither from here nor there. Melania Luisa Marte recently critiqued this concept in Plantains and our Becomings, her debut poetry collection. The Afro-Dominican writer proclaims: “Ni de aquí ni de allá is a farce,” arguing that nation-states and borders don’t create belonging. For Marte, belonging exists in the systems of care one invests in and in how one shows up for others.
The series of calling cards is akin to the poetry of formerly undocumented cultural worker Sonia Guiñansaca whose poem “Calling Cards” proclaims: “These calling cards / Have heart beats / We survive through phone lines.” For both Guiñansaca and de la Calle, nonhuman objects have the capacity to transform us, to breathe new lessons into us where migrants can be both in between here and there.
The in-betweenness of migration is not something de la Calle wants us to run away from. She’s not chasing roots or routes; she’s chasing political futures where it is easier to breathe.
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As a beauty obsessive who has experimented with makeup since I was 11, I can do a lot of things with my eyes closed. Perfect a bushy brow? Tick. Ace a crisp red lip? Check. They say liquid eyeliner can sense fear but it wouldn’t dare cross me.
All of these makeup looks have one thing in common: they’re pretty heavy. I may have nailed a full face but the trend I just can’t seem to get the hang of is truly natural makeup. I want it to look believable, almost like I haven’t tried. But seamlessly blending concealer, creating a subtle contour and beefing up my lashes seems to take a lot of precision.
I needed schooling, and who better to give me advice than the pros that man the Trish McEvoy counter in London’s Selfridges? Like Bobbi Brown and Kevyn Aucoin, this is a brand that goes back years. That it’s still going strong among countless buzzy additions to the beauty world proves that it holds unshakable cult status. Thinking of Trish evokes images of gleaming cheekbones, naturally flushed skin, fluffed up brows and glossy lips — how natural makeup should be.
If you seek help from Trish’s team of makeup experts, be prepared to get your hands dirty. Little did I know that my artist, Sara, would only work on half of my face and expect me to do the rest. In doing so, what I learned about how to achieve the most convincing natural makeup was invaluable. Even better? The new, effortless look takes me around 10 minutes, which means I don’t have to wake up in the dark to get ready.
Here’s everything I want you to know about achieving easy, natural makeup that actually stays put.
Always Start With Skincare
Without skincare, makeup (no matter how minimal) is unlikely to sit seamlessly on your face. I arrived with freshly cleansed skin and makeup artist Sara suggested we look to the Beauty Booster Eye Serum, £70, to plump out any fine lines and smooth over my dry under-eyes, where concealer always settles. I much prefer a serum over an eye cream, as makeup tends to slip and slide on top of the latter. If you have less to spend, I love L’Oréal Paris Revitalift Filler Eye Serum, £24.99. The great thing about serums this lightweight is that they can be topped up over makeup as they just sink straight in.
“Here at Trish we always start with the eyes,” Sara told me, “so step one is the Jumbo Eye Base Essentials (£31). This is like a concealer for your eyelid. You can apply eyeshadow over the top of it or you can leave it as it is.” For ease, I chose to skip eyeshadow and the difference using just the Base was eye-opening — literally. It brightened my eyes, which can appear dark thanks to discolouration (particularly in the inner corner) and it blanketed the stubbly bits under my eyebrows that I was too lazy to pluck before my appointment. A product like this is undetectable compared to concealer, which accentuates lines and can appear chalky. If you’re on a budget, try KIKO MILANO Neutral Eye Base, £8.49.
Tightlining Is Key To Fuller Lashes
If you’re going to do natural, Sara told me, reach for a deep brown eyeliner pencil and swipe it along your upper waterline. Makeup artists refer to this trick as “tightlining”. Using your finger, lift up your eyelid and glide the eyeliner pencil along, trying your best to avoid the tear duct. “Doing this thickens up your lashes without you having to do anything major,” said Sara. “It makes the lashes look so much more dense. Even if you didn’t want to wear mascara, but you wanted some kind of definition, this is so quick.” Sure enough, the slick of liner made my lashes look lush. Who would’ve thought something so simple could make such a difference?
Ditch Eyeshadow For Powder Bronzer
If you don’t want to use too many products and want a quick, simple look, take your bronzer on a small, fluffy brush and put it in the crease of your eyelid. “Always tap off the excess and follow your natural crease with your eye open,” said Sara. She used the Dual Resort Bronzer, £22, on me. Concentrating it solely in the crease created a sort of halo effect on my eyes and I realised that applying eyeshadow all over my lids was just dragging my eyes down. This trick lifts them, and takes moments. Also try Fenty Beauty Sun Stalk’r Instant Warmth Bronzer, £23.20, or Huda Beauty GloWish Soft Radiance Bronzing Powder, £25.20, if you like a slight shimmer.
Backcomb Your Lashes
I like full, Bambi-esque lashes and Sara said I’d need the Dramatic Lash Mascara, £22.50. “One coat is enough but you want to coat the top and the bottom of your upper eyelashes.” TikTok calls this hack “lash backcombing” and it really works. “I like to roll the brush down over the top of the lashes first,” said Sara, “as this evenly separates them and builds up the volume.” Then wedge the mascara wand into the base of your lashes and wiggle upwards as usual. “If you just do this step without coating the top of your lashes, you won’t get that volume,” said Sara.
For a natural look, Trish’s makeup artists leave the lower lashes free of mascara. “If you don’t have any lower lashes, I prefer to take a light brown eyeshadow powder and lightly smoke it underneath the lower lash line,” said Sara. “This lends definition, rather than applying mascara and it giving you three lashes.”
Now, onto brows. Mine are thick but I have a few sparse patches. Brushing the hairs into place with a brow wax like the Brow Perfector, £25, really helped minimise the gaps so I could skip the brow pencil.
Practise The “Triangle Of Light” Technique
The “triangle of light” is Trish’s signature makeup method for brightening under-eyes. Using the Instant Eye Lift, £40, which features a soft, doe-foot applicator, Sara traced a large triangle from the inner corner of my eye down to the outer edge of my nose and back up to the outer corner of my eye. She then filled it in.
“When people usually apply concealer or brightening products, they don’t use enough,” said Sara. “I see a lot of people doing the dot, dot, dot and blend method. In order to get a brightening effect, really get it on.” With the small end of the Wet/Dry Even Skin Brush, £55, Sara taught me to smooth it out and blend it in. “You can use your ring finger to press it in, too, but the effect brightens and lifts.” I found that it cancelled out redness and practically erased my large, oily pores. “Because this is a brightener and not a concealer, if you wanted to use a concealer on top, you definitely could,” said Sara. I personally didn’t think I needed to.
Skin tints have had their moment. Now it’s the return of the BB (blemish balm) cream. Sara used the Beauty Balm SPF 35, £65, on me but also consider Saie Dewy Tinted Moisturiser, £27, or Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop, £21.60, which have wider shade ranges. “This BB cream does everything,” said Sara. “It primes, controls oil and gives good coverage. After applying, take a brush and stipple it in.” Stippling is pressing the product in using round motions, sort of like you’re pressing and rolling the bristles over your face. Not only is using a brush going to be more hygienic, said Sara, but when you use your hands, you bring too much blood to the surface of your skin thanks to the rubbing motions. Essentially, you’re encouraging the very redness you might be looking to hide. Try the Trixie Cosmetics P-13 Stippling Brush, £13.
Layer Translucent Powder Under Blush & Bronzer
If you hate that bronzer and blush disrupts your base makeup or ends up looking like a hard line along your cheek, apply a touch of translucent powder over your cheekbones first. This creates a seamless canvas for any colour you then layer on top and makes everything look smooth.
Your technique matters, too. When applying bronzer, I typically dunk the centre of my fluffy brush into the powder. This isn’t doing me any favours, said Sara. “We coat the entire brush all the way around, tap it off and simply apply on the higher part of the cheek in little circles. Hit the forehead where the sun naturally kisses you, apply along your jawline, and then whatever is left on the brush, dust it down the neck.” The result was the most believable sunny glow without harsh stripes.
You can stop here but if you want to dial up the colour with blush, opt for a cream or liquid version. Sara applied a dab of the Liquid Face Colour Lip & Cheek Stain, £27. “You can put this on top of powder and it will give you the nicest, blushed glow. Place it onto your skin with your middle finger and tap it out with your ring finger, concentrating it to the high apple of the cheek to lift. Then press up to the temple. It looks very strong but it’s actually so sheer.”
Sara would usually suggest a tap of lip balm but I wanted some sort of definition and I always line my lips. We went for the Long Wear Lip Liner in Barely There, £22, but any nude that suits your skin tone will work. “Start off in the centre of your top lip and trace upwards towards the bow,” Sara advised, “then repeat on the other side.” When you’re lining the bottom, always start at the centre of the lip. The trick is to take a small, fluffy brush and diffuse the liner so it’s less of a harsh line. A little nude gloss in the centre is all you need to complete the natural look.
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Spoilers ahead.In the late 1990s and early 2000s, David and Victoria Beckham dominated headlines all over the world. The former professional footballer and former Spice Girl were a match made in tabloid heaven when they met at a Manchester United game in 1997 and soon began dating.
The tabloid media followed their every move as they welcomed their first son Brooklyn, married in head-to-toe matching purple, became social pariahs in the aftermath of England’s 1998 World Cup loss, and then became a part of the Hollywood elite after a move to LA.
Now, the famous couple are finally telling their side of the story in the four-part Netflix documentary series, Beckham. In it, the Beckhams candidly talk about the highs and lows of almost three decades in the public eye, and the challenges their marriage has faced along the way.
Here are the biggest moments from Netflix’s Beckham:
David Predicted He Would Marry Victoria After Seeing Her On TV
Long before they met in real life, David was watching the Spice Girls on TV with his teammate Gary Neville, when he pointed at the screen and said that he would “marry the Posh one” someday.
Then, Mel C and Victoria were guests of honor at a Manchester United game in 1997.
“In the changing room before the game,” Beckham recalls in the documentary, “one of the players came in and was like, ‘There are two Spice Girls here.’ I was like, ‘Which one?’ And he said, ‘The sporty one, and the posh one.’ And I was like, ‘Great.’”
Victoria says she basically went to the game to “stalk” David. “I am not into football at all,” she explains. “I wasn’t into football then, I’m not into football now. But I’d seen pictures of him in magazines, and he was obviously a very good-looking boy … the fact I went to the games really was just to kind of, some would say ‘stalk’ him.”
The pair ended up meeting after the game and “fancied” each other straight away. “I just fancied him,” Victoria says. “It was as simple as that.”
David Tells Victoria To Be ‘Honest’ About Her Working Class Roots
Hahahaha David Beckham wasn’t having Victoria as coming from a working class family. pic.twitter.com/sVBM7IxK6T
In the first episode, Victoria tells the camera that she and David came from “working class backgrounds” when David pops his head in the door and tells her to “be honest.”
“Be honest … what car did your dad drive you to school in?” he asks.
Victoria replies “it depends,” before finally admitting that her father had a “Rolls Royce in the ’80s.” The moment has already turned into a hilarious meme.
David Got A Football Boot Kicked At His Head
In the documentary, David recalls the moment he told Manchester United’s manager Alex Ferguson to “fuck off” and Ferguson allegedly kicked a football boot at him. Ferguson explains that he kicked a pile of worn football jerseys in response, and a boot that was hidden in the pile flew across the room and hit David above the eye.
“It was an absolute freak [accident],” the former manager says in the Netflix series.
Victoria Told David She Was Pregnant Before The 1998 World Cup Match
Victoria explains in Beckham that she told David she was pregnant with their first child the night before the 1998 World Cup match. When asked whether she thought that would help him, she replies, “I don’t know.”
“Before the Argentina game, she phoned me and said I’ve just taken a test and I’m pregnant. So I found out then,” David tells the camera. “The first thing I wanted to do (was get out of there and be with Victoria) but I couldn’t, we were in a major tournament.”
David Was Diagnosed With Clinical Depression In The Aftermath Of The World Cup Loss
David was famously given a red card during the World Cup match with Argentina after kicking Diego Simeone. England then lost the game in a penalty shoot-out, which many people blamed Beckham for. During the following season, Manchester United’s bus was pelted with rocks and glasses during an away game in West Ham. David tells the documentary he was “abused every single day.”
“To walk down the street and to see people look at you in a certain way, spit at you, abuse you, come up to your face and say some of the things they said, that is difficult,” he says.
“I wasn’t eating, I wasn’t sleeping. I was a mess. I didn’t know what to do.”
He said that ultimately the game got him through it. “That was the only thing I could control, once I was on the pitch, then I felt safe,” he said.
“He was absolutely broken. He was in pieces,” Victoria says in the documentary. “He was really depressed … It pained me so much.”
Posh Says She Was ‘Pissed Off’ When David Was Photographed With Beyoncé & J-Lo
When Victoria was in labor with Brooklyn, David was famously photographed with Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé, who he was filming a Pepsi ad with at the time.
“I open the paper and there is a gorgeous photo of David with J-Lo and Beyonce and the headline is, ‘What would Posh say?’”
“Let me tell you what Posh would say — Posh was pissed off!”
The Couple Speak About David’s Alleged Affair
In the documentary, David and Victoria briefly speak about his alleged affair with his former personal assistant Rebecca Loos, which allegedly happened while he was playing for Real Madrid in 2003. The couple do not confirm whether the affair actually happened, but instead talk about the impact the media coverage of the alleged affair had on their relationship.
Victoria tells the camera she was “the most unhappy I have ever been” during that period. “It was the hardest period, because it felt like the world was against us,” she says.
“Here’s the thing — we were against each other if I’m being completely honest,” she continues. “You know, up until Madrid sometimes it felt like us against everybody else but we were together, we were connected, we had each other.
“But when we were in Spain, it didn’t really feel like we had each other either. And that’s sad. I can’t even begin to tell you how hard it was and how it affected me. It was a nightmare.”
David says he doesn’t know how they got through that period.
“I don’t know how we got through it in all honesty, Victoria is everything to me, to see her hurt was incredibly difficult but we’re fighters and at that time we needed to fight for each other, we needed to fight for our family and what we had was worth fighting for. But ultimately it’s our private life,” he says.
“There were some days I would wake up and I would think how am I going to go to work, how am I going to walk on to that training pitch, how am I going to look as if nothing is wrong…I felt physically sick every day when I opened my eyes.
Whether you’re a guru who knows exactly which beauty products you love or a beginner who wants to know what’s worth trying out, we all love a good beauty sale. It’s the perfect time to stock up on your favorite products or test out new ones while they’re deeply discounted. So just as we love sharing the best sales that come around every weekend, we’re rounding up the best beauty sales, too.
Spanning makeup, skin care, and hair care, these are the very best deals and last-minute steals (including several that are ending tonight) to shop this week while sales and supplies last. So whether you’re looking to add some luxury to your skincare routine with red-light therapy, stock up on iconic and viral MAC products, or snatch up 24-hour haircare deals, read on to find out how to get major beauty savings (and maybe even discover your new favorite product).
If you haven’t already carted up a Solawave red-light therapy wand, you’ve probably at least heard of it (and all the hype around it). Solawave promises to improve the look of your skin in just two weeks with its skincare solutions, and for a limited time, it promises to do so at a major discount. Until end of day Thursday during the Primetime Sale, shop all light therapy tools and skincare formulas for 40% off when you add to cart. That means saving as much as $160 from a splurge skincare buy like a light therapy mask.
Many of Benefit’s products have remained hero products for devoted fans for years, outlasting plenty of newcomers in the ever-changing beauty landscape. If you are someone who is never without its cult-favorite brow products or mascara (or maybe just someone curious about the hype), now is the time to stock up. Benefit Cosmetics’ Friends & Family Sale, which lasts through October 13, includes 30% off deals on bestsellers sitewide, free shipping on all orders, and even a free makeup bag and more treats if you spend $90 when you add code FRIENDS30 at checkout. If you’re looking to lengthen your lashes, stain your cheeks, or fill in your brows, check out Benefit Cosmetics’ discounted beauty products before time runs out.
The beauty gods keep on giving, as is evident through MAC’s current sitewide sale. These discounted beauty products include the very best of the best (meaning bestsellers and fan favorites, of course). Find viral products like the brand’s clear lip glass on sale for 30% off. Products from every makeup category that MAC offers can also be carted up during this sale, now through 3 am EST on October 13. MAC also simultaneously has its Last Chance Sale going on, which includes 50% off select online-exclusive products for extra savings.
We love Dyson over here at R29 (as seen through our many Dyson hair styling tool reviews). And we know that many consider these hair tools to be major splurges, so we love it when we find out about a sale going on. Through October 14, find select hair tools (and vacuums!) discounted up to $220 off. The current hair products and colorways on sale include the Airwrap Complete multi-styler, Supersonic Origin blow dryer, and Corrale hair straightener, which are each on sale for $100 off. That’s a whole lot of savings to keep in your pocket (or to spend on other beauty sales)!
We’re halfway through Ulta’s three-week Gorgeous Hair Event — that’s right, 50% off select hair care for 21 glorious days. But here’s the catch: while we can preview all of the deals now, most of them are only live for 24-hours, so you’ll have to check back daily for day-of discounts. For example, during Week 2, shoppers get 50% off a Hot Tools hair dryer on October 12, Kitsch’s gentle-on-hair satin pillowcases on October 13, Redken heat protectant spray on October 14, and so on. However, you can enjoy two for $32 deals on select shampoo and conditioner combos from Redken, Biolage, Joico, and Matrix throughout the entire sale, running until October 21.
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Thanks to our ongoing nostalgia for the ’90s, the puffer jacket has become the autumn coat of choice over the past few years, shaking off its ski chalet and Alan Partridge associations to be embraced by everyone from your boss to your little sister. With luxury houses and the high street offering their own versions (although tech-first brands like The North Face and Uniqlo are still wintry weather champions), it was only a matter of time before the ubiquitous style evolved into something new. Enter: the quilted jacket.
Thinner and more streamlined than its retro cousin, the quilted jacket is this season’s preferred outerwear. The beauty of the quilted jacket? Much like the puffer, it feels like you’re wearing your duvet, so there’s no need to sacrifice comfort upon leaving the warmth of your flat. Layer up or down depending on Britain’s changeable autumn weather and don with anything from comfy jeans and patterned jumpers to our beloved dresses and boots combo. It’s a sure winner to keep the autumn blues at bay.
Click through to find the best quilted jackets this season.
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 us. All product details reflect the price and availability at the time of publication. If you buy or click on something we link to on our site, we may earn a commission.
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