If you’re in the habit of spritzing perfume on your wrists, you’re missing out on a key piece of real estate: your hair. As a fragrance-obsessed editor, I find hair perfumes to be a vastly underrated category. They come at a snip of the price of eaux de parfum — which typically feature a higher fragrance oil concentration — making them a low-commitment way to trial a new signature scent and a great option for gifting. Unlike traditional perfumes, hair perfumes typically contain little to no alcohol and instead boast moisturizing, shine-enhancing ingredients that help nourish rather than dry out your ends.

Standing at just 5 ft tall, I’ve come to learn that my hair often makes the first impression when I talk to taller people. Having hair that smells amazing feels like a small but meaningful way to make a good first impression. I personally find that my hair holds on to scent molecules longer than my skin does, especially in the summer when I’m sweating a lot in the heat. Not only are hair perfumes great for scent layering, but they also leave a lovely trail when I move around.

Ahead, I’ve rounded up a list of hair perfumes I’ll always keep on my beauty shelf.

Initio Parfums Privés Atomic Rose Hair Perfume, $93

This intensely feminine hair mist is by far my most complimented perfume. I always get told that I “smell so expensive” when I hug someone while wearing this scent. Bulgarian rose, bergamot, jasmine, and pink pepper form the basis of this sensual and spicy floral scent, which lingers on my hair for hours and has incredible projection. I’d say that because of how heady the rose heart notes are, it’s more suitable for nighttime wear.

Ellis Brooklyn Peaches Hair and Body Fragrance Mist, $48 $36

Peaches is the hair perfume equivalent of a refreshing cocktail on an unbearably hot and sticky afternoon. It has a candy-like initial blast, but the dry down is surprisingly photorealistic: juicy peach notes smell exactly like the actual fruit, while orris and ambrette musk bring a skin-like intimacy that reminds me of peach fuzz. It’s an ideal beach perfume that feels carefree and flirty, without being too much.

Diptyque Do Son Hair Mist, $76

Do Son needs no introduction. This gorgeous white floral scent is a classic for good reason: it has a linear scent profile that’s equal parts elegant and distinctive, thanks to intoxicating tuberose, gardenia and orange blossom. The hair mist version is heavily slept on, in my opinion: the hit of tuberose is just as potent, and the packaging is equally beautiful as the full-size eau de parfum.

Phlur Vanilla Smoke Body & Hair Mist, $25

Vanilla Smoke marks an interesting deviation from the sweet gourmand perfumes that Phlur has helped popularize in the last couple of years. The scent is still anchored by warm and comforting vanilla, but smoky incense and sappy birch are here to inject depth and personality. The result is a woody, spicy aroma that almost smells like a burning vanilla candle. It’s so unique and elevated, especially considering the $25 price tag.

Chanel Coco Mademoiselle Hair Perfume, $82

I reach for this crowd-pleaser of a scent when I need to impress. The bergamot, mandarin, and orange top notes lift my mood at first spray, and as the scent dries down, my nose is hit with an exquisite concoction of rose, jasmine, and ylang ylang. I love catching whiffs of this every time I move my head, and it helps me feel more self-assured. I’m glad that Chanel has retained its chic glass bottle and square cap, as many luxury brands package hair perfumes in a plain-looking aerosol bottle.

Gisou Lavender Berry Honey Infused Hair Perfume, $25

Gisou’s hair perfumes are my go-to for when I’m getting ready for bed. There’s something about making my hair smell like delicious honey that helps calm my thoughts, not to mention nourish the hair and boost shine. I carry the mini version of the lavender and blackberry scent on my travels; I’m convinced it helps me fall asleep faster.

Byredo Mojave Ghost Hair Perfume, $85

If you can’t get enough of clean, musky perfumes, this Byredo classic is the one. There’s a reason Mojave Ghost is enduringly popular: it envelopes you in a cloud of magnolia, cedar, and musk that smells so alluring on freshly-showered hair. I like spraying this liberally onto my paddle brush and pulling it through my hair.

Le Monde Gourmand Lait De Coco Hair & Body Mist, $28

It doesn’t get any more summery than this coconut-based scent. I’m normally not a fan of sweet gourmand perfumes, but here the combination of coconut, vanilla praline, and bergamot really works to create something that smells delicious and inviting without coming off as cloying or juvenile.

Parfums De Marly Delina Hair Mist, $93

Delina is an all-time R29 editor favorite; we can’t get enough of this sweet-yet-sophisticated fragrance, which greets the nose with a buoyant cocktail of lychee, peonies, rose, and rhubarb. I’m very happy to report that this fruity floral scent hits just as hard in hair perfume format. In fact, the creamy vanilla and cashmeran base notes smell more prominent on the hair. This is a great one to pop in the purse for fun summer plans, from festivals to picnics and garden parties.

Ruka Hair Perfume, $35

I spritz this scent in place of a leave-in conditioner or hair oil when the weather gets too hot. It contains mongongo oil, an ingredient from Zambia that is rich in nourishing vitamin E and omega-6. There’s also aloe vera, which prevents breakage. My hair immediately feels softer after using this, and the refreshing coconut and musk scent is simply gorgeous.

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Cosmic beings, July 2025 will feel different than any month we’ve experienced in recent memory… not just because it is different, but because we are. On July 7th, Uranus, the planet of disruption, awakening, and revolution, enters Gemini for the first time since 1942. Yes, that 1942. The last time Uranus was here, the world was at war, nations were grappling with identity, misinformation was being weaponized, and technologies like the radio and telephone were reshaping how humans connected.

Now, we’re at the threshold of a new kind of information revolution — and this time, we get to choose how we show up. Uranus in Gemini is here to rewrite the rules of how we speak, think, teach, text, post, and connect. The question is: Will we use our voice to divide or to liberate?

This shift won’t happen all at once. Think of July 2025 as a preview window. Uranus will be in Gemini from July 7th to November 7th, then dip back into Taurus until April 25, 2026, when it officially begins a seven-year stay. So this summer is your chance to observe what the next era of your life — and humanity — is asking of you. It’s likely we’ll see even more breakthroughs in AI, media, virtual reality, education, and collective resistance movements. But with Pluto in Aquarius (another generational planet in an Air sign), this isn’t just tech hype… it’s soul evolution. A more queer, more creative, more conscious world is trying to emerge from the static. Yes, it can feel chaotic. But chaos is the birth canal of change. July reminds us: we’re not just watching history unfold, we are the unfolding.

The 7/7 portal (aka July 7th) is also significant in astro-numerology. Sevens are the number of spiritual awakening, divine alignment, and completion. Uranus entering Gemini on this date is no coincidence. You may feel like something old is crumbling fast: an identity, relationship, ideology, habit. Let it go. Let it breathe. The more you try to hold on to the old ways, the more disoriented you’ll feel. This is the beginning of fresh air sweeping through your consciousness. Even if you don’t have the whole plan figured out yet, stay open. This is the energy of quantum leaps — and we rarely feel “ready” when they arrive.

Then comes the Capricorn full moon on July 10th, anchoring us with earthy clarity. If Uranus in Gemini is a lightning bolt to the brain, this full moon is the mountain beneath your feet. It asks: What have you built in the last six months? How have you shown up for yourself? Where have you been overly self-critical, and where have you quietly crushed it? This lunation is here to remind you that discipline is divine, but so is celebration. You are not a robot. You are not behind. If you’re alive, growing, and showing up as best you can — that’s legacy work. That’s resilience. That’s enough.

Meanwhile, Neptune and Saturn are both retrograde in Aries this month: Neptune begins its journey on July 4th, and Saturn follows on July 13th. This is the first time in our lifetimes that we’re experiencing these two planets both retrograde in the same sign — a fire sign that rules identity, instinct, and inner courage. And retrogrades in Aries have a specific flavor: they strip us of distractions and say, “Who are you without the noise?” We’re being called inward to reconnect with our inner child — the one who danced just to feel the music, who colored outside the lines, who didn’t care what people thought. That’s where your magic lives. And during times of collective burnout, leaning into joy, softness, and play is not frivolous. It’s radical. As much as the world is spiraling with disinformation, chaos, and control tactics, there is also a counter-energy rising — a movement toward slowness, integrity, pleasure, and repair. This becomes especially clear in the second half of the month.

Mercury retrograde begins July 18th in Leo, joining Saturn and Neptune in the slowdown club. You may feel overstimulated, tired, or more reflective than usual. Don’t fight it. Uranus in Gemini might be speeding up external events, but that doesn’t mean you need to keep up. Give yourself permission to pause. You’re not missing out… you’re plugging back into your own power source.

Once Leo Season begins on July 22nd, followed by the Leo New Moon on July 24th, the fog starts to clear and the fire returns. You may suddenly feel ready to share something you’ve been holding close: a dream, an idea, a desire, a truth. If Cancer Season has been the cocoon, Leo Season is the butterfly’s first stretch. Step into your boldness without apology. Express yourself like someone who knows that vulnerability is power.

And just as July comes to a close, we get two potent transits on July 30th: Chiron retrograde in Aries and Venus entering Cancer. Chiron is an asteroid known as the wounded healer — its retrograde brings deep truths to the surface. You might see a pattern in your behavior, a fear you’ve avoided naming, or a loop you’re finally ready to close. Venus in Cancer softens this process. It reminds us that healing isn’t about fixing — it’s about feeling. We are all walking this road together. Grown adults, inner children, future ancestors. This is a month of paradox: radical disruption and sacred tenderness. Remember cosmic beings: the revolution starts within, and the healing does too.

Read your horoscopes for your Sun and Rising signs for the most in-depth forecast.

Aries Sun & Rising:

This July 2025, you’re entering a new era of expression, Aries — one that’s less about being the loudest in the room and more about being the clearest in your truth. Uranus, the planet of upheaval and innovation, has officially entered Gemini and is activating your communication sector for the first time in 80+ years, giving you a preview of what it means to speak in ways that shake up stagnant systems. This isn’t just about what you say, it’s about how you think. Expect your mindset, your relationship with tech, and even your inner dialogue to undergo rapid rewiring. If you’ve ever wanted to podcast, publish, teach, or shift your narrative, this is your cue to do it your way.

Professionally, the full moon in Capricorn on July 10th brings long-awaited recognition. If you’ve been laying low or feeling underappreciated, the spotlight is likely to find you this month — but it’s not about applause, it’s about alignment. Something you committed to six months ago could now be culminating: a project wraps, a title changes, or you finally admit it’s time to pivot. Don’t be afraid to move differently than you’ve ever moved before… Uranus is guiding you to liberate your definition of “success.”

Then comes Saturn retrograde in your sign on July 13th, and while that might sound like a buzzkill, it’s actually a chance to breathe. You’ve been sprinting toward self-mastery ever since Saturn entered Aries, and now the retrograde invites you to pause and assess: What parts of your identity are built on pressure instead of purpose? You don’t have to carry every weight alone. Unlearning can be just as powerful as action.

By the time Leo Season arrives on July 22nd, you’ll feel flames being lit in your sector of romance, joy, and risk. The Leo New Moon on July 24th asks: What have you been longing to express — creatively, emotionally, sexually — but haven’t dared to name? Name it now. July is your revolution era.

Taurus Sun & Rising:

Money talks, Taurus, but this month, it’s singing a whole new tune. Uranus, the planet of radical change, will leave your sign on 7/7 after a seven year stay, and enter Gemini for four months, activating your income and values sector for the first time since the 1940s, and you’ll feel the tremors immediately. This July through November preview is not just about sudden shifts in your finances, but in what you value about yourself. You may wake up realizing you’re done tolerating underpaid work or investing your energy into what doesn’t reciprocate. Financial freedom looks different now — not just more, but better aligned. Let abundance be your rebellion.

The Capricorn full moon on July 10th shines in your sector of exploration, making it an ideal time to widen your world. You may be closing out a chapter related to travel, education, or publishing, and it’s time to integrate the lessons. If something you’ve believed for a long time suddenly feels outdated, trust that inner shift. This lunation wants you to own your wisdom and know that you don’t have to stay loyal to old versions of yourself just because they helped you survive.

Saturn retrograde in Aries (beginning July 13th) turns your attention inward. This retrograde activates your house of spirituality and healing, slowing down your momentum so you can tend to what lies beneath. Dreams may become more vivid. Past versions of you may visit in unexpected ways. Let this retrograde be your spiritual sabbatical — an opportunity to reconnect with your intuition and reclaim your solitude as sacred.

When Leo Season hits on July 22nd and the Leo new moon follows on the 24th, your attention turns to home and your emotional foundation. What parts of you have longed for deeper security, softer spaces, or more nourishing roots? You might feel called to beautify your space, shift where or how you live, or redefine what “home” even means to you. This is your season of rerooting.

Gemini Sun & Rising:

It’s happening: the revolution is personal. Uranus enters your sign on 7/7 (a twin date for a twin sign!) — and though it’s just a four-month preview, it’s already redefining how you see yourself. Uranus hasn’t been in Gemini since 1942, so this is a generational shift, and you’re leading it. This July, you might feel more restless, electric, or even rebellious than usual. Don’t panic. This is the planet of surprise reminding you that you are not meant to stay who you were. Changes in appearance, identity, and how you present to the world may unfold rapidly. Let them. You’re not unraveling… you’re emerging out of your cocoon.

On July 10th, the Capricorn full moon illuminates your sector of intimacy, secrets, and transformation. This isn’t a surface-level lunation. Something deep is ready to be acknowledged — whether it’s the ending of a sexual relationship, the beginning of emotional transparency, or a financial truth that needs confronting. It’s okay if it feels vulnerable. Capricorn energy reminds you that maturity means holding space for the messy and the sacred at once.

Saturn’s retrograde in Aries, starting July 13th, slows things down in your friendship and long-term vision sector. You might realize you’ve outgrown a group or goal that once felt like home. That’s not a failure — it’s growth. Use this 4.5 month retrograde to revisit the big picture: What kind of future are you building, and who do you actually want to build it with?

Then, with Leo Season igniting your communication sector starting July 22nd, and the Leo New Moon following on the 24th, your voice takes center stage. This is a brilliant time to relaunch a brand, share your story, or start a conversation that shifts everything. This month your words can open doors, both personally and professionally. Don’t water yourself down to be understood. Speak like you’ve already arrived.

Cancer Sun & Rising:

You’ve made it to the other side of an emotional revolution, Cancer. And yet, July reminds you that healing is not a destination — it’s a rhythm. On 7/7, Uranus, the planet of surprise, begins its four-month preview in Gemini, activating your sector of closure, dreams, and your subconscious. This may feel like a spiritual static at first — your dreams might become louder, weirder, or more vivid. But this isn’t just noise. It’s a download. You’re receiving information from your higher self, ancestors, and inner child — all asking you to shed, to forgive, to reimagine. Let go of trying to make logical sense of it all. This is a cosmic cleanse.

On July 10th, the Capricorn full moon lights up your partnership sector, bringing clarity to your closest relationships. A connection you’ve been deepening since the Capricorn new moon six months ago could reach a new level, or naturally come to a close. Either way, you’re being asked to take accountability: are you showing up with reciprocity and boundaries? Are you receiving the love you give so freely? You may be more emotional than usual — but that’s not weakness, it’s awareness.

Saturn begins its retrograde on July 13th in your career sector, inviting you to revise how you’re building your legacy. If imposter syndrome or burnout has crept in lately, this is your cosmic cue to restructure the system you’re building your dreams upon. You don’t need to “hustle harder” — you need to lead with more intention and less guilt. Success should feel soul-fed, not soul-drained.

By the time Leo Season arrives on July 22nd, followed by the Leo New Moon on the 24th, your attention shifts to your money, values, and self-worth. This is a moment to set bold financial intentions — not just in terms of income, but in terms of how you value yourself. What you ask for now reflects how deeply you believe in your own abundance. The universe is watching, and matching, your energy.

Leo Sun & Rising:

You’ve been quietly evolving this year, Leo. Now, July blasts open a new portal. On 7/7, Uranus, planet of rebellion and reinvention, enters Gemini, highlighting your sector of social networks and long-term goals — and this four-month preview will radically shift who you associate with and what you dream toward. Friendships that once felt like lifelines might suddenly feel limiting. On the other hand, unexpected connections could activate your next big collaboration. Be open. Your future wants to meet you, but it needs you to let go of the past first.

July 10th’s Capricorn full moon brings a more grounded tone to the mix, helping you reflect on your wellness and work rituals. You may realize you’ve been overextending yourself, or you may receive praise for a job you’ve quietly been crushing. Either way, this lunation urges you to balance output with rest. Your body is a barometer. If you’ve been ignoring its cues, this full moon will lovingly — or loudly — remind you.

Saturn begins its retrograde in Aries on July 13th, turning your attention to what you believe. This is a powerful time to unlearn what you’ve been taught about truth, faith, and freedom. A belief system or academic pursuit you’ve clung to may start to feel shaky — and that’s okay. Let yourself evolve past dogma. You’re allowed to change your mind. You’re allowed to change your life.

Once Leo Season officially begins on July 22nd and the Leo New Moon lands on the 24th, it’s all eyes on you. You’re not just the main character — you’re the director, the producer, and the set designer. What kind of life are you building for yourself? What kind of story are you writing? You don’t need to shout to be seen. Just be honest. Be radiant. Be real.

Virgo Sun & Rising:

The ground beneath you is shifting, Virgo — but not in a way that should scare you. On the 7th, Uranus officially enters Gemini, highlighting your career and public image sector, and this four-month preview gives you clues about how you’re meant to evolve professionally. If you’ve felt boxed in or overly “responsible,” Uranus says: break free. It’s time to take risks, experiment, or even pivot. The old ladder-to-success model? Outdated. You’re being asked to innovate, not assimilate.

The full moon in Capricorn on July 10th brings powerful creative closure. Something you’ve been crafting or birthing — whether a project, romantic relationship, or even a part of your identity — is coming to a meaningful turning point. Allow yourself to be seen, praised, or even vulnerable. This full moon wants you to recognize the beauty in your messiness. Joy doesn’t have to be polished. In fact, the more real it is, the more freeing it becomes.

Saturn in Aries begins its retrograde in your intimacy sector on July 13th. This is a slow- burning invitation to check in on how much you’re giving — and whether it’s being received with the reverence you deserve. Emotional, sexual, and financial entanglements may need revisiting. It’s not about control, it’s about clarity. What and who are you merging with, and why?

By the time Leo Season hits on July 22nd, followed by the Leo New Moon on the 24th, your energy naturally turns inward. You’re in a reflective, behind-the-scenes mood. This new moon is ideal for journaling, meditating, or retreating — not because you’re avoiding life, but because you’re integrating it. You’ve been doing so much, Virgo. Now’s the time to gather yourself before the world asks for more.

Libra Sun & Rising:

Libra, this July 2025, your mind is entering new terrain. With Uranus, the planet of surprise, shifting into Gemini on 7/7, your sector of expansion, truth, and long-distance journeys is receiving a four-month activation. You’re ready to think radically, live globally, and speak freely. Whether you’re planning a relocation, writing a book, applying to grad school, or dismantling outdated ideologies — this is your signal to leap. You’ve outgrown playing it safe. Curiosity is your new compass.

The Capricorn full moon on July 10th activates your home and emotional roots. You may be craving a deeper sense of safety, not just in your space, but in your soul. Something from your past may resurface now, offering an opportunity for closure, forgiveness, or simply integration. This is a powerful time to end leases, cleanse your space, or move toward a more aligned home base, literally or metaphorically.

Saturn retrograde begins in Aries on July 13th, spotlighting your relationships. This transit doesn’t necessarily mean breakups, but it does mean setting more boundaries. You might reflect on how much you’re compromising in your closest bonds, and whether that’s still serving you. It’s time to re-negotiate your needs. Balance doesn’t mean silence. Harmony includes honesty.

Once Leo Season begins on July 22nd and the Leo New Moon arrives on the 24th, your social life reignites. The themes you set in motion now could influence the rest of your year. New friendships, aligned communities, or expansive dreams are on the horizon. Don’t underestimate the power of who you surround yourself with — they’re mirrors for who you’re becoming.

Scorpio Sun & Rising:

Scorpio, the truth is, you’re evolving more than even you realize. Uranus, planet of surprise, shifts out of Taurus on 7/7 (where it’s been activating your partnership and marriage sector ever since May 2018) and enters Gemini, lighting up your sector of intimacy, shared resources, and psychological transformation. This isn’t light stuff — but then again, you never came here for easy. Over the next four months, you’re being cracked open in the most liberating way. Think of it as emotional detox. You’re rethinking what it means to merge — in love, business, sex, and spirit. New collaborations may arrive in shocking form this July, while old attachments may break away, leaving you freer than you’ve ever been.

On July 10th, the Capricorn full moon lands in your communication zone, sharpening your inner voice. Conversations you’ve delayed may come to a head. This is a great time to sign that deal, publish that essay, or say the thing you’ve been holding in — especially if it helps bring a lingering story to completion. But because Capricorn is a no-fluff energy, whatever you say now should come from the most grounded, clarified version of yourself. You don’t need to raise your voice to be heard. You just need to mean it.

Saturn in Aries begins its retrograde in your wellness and routine sector on July 13th, offering you the chance to restructure your relationship to time, rest, and responsibility. You’ve been operating like a machine — this transit says: you are not one. Use this retrograde to assess how much of your life is aligned with your actual values versus societal pressure. You don’t need to do more. You just need to do what matters.

By the time Leo Season and the Leo New Moon arrive in your career sector (July 22nd and 24th), you’re ready to shine professionally — but on your own terms. Whatever intention you set now has the potential to take you far, especially if it’s rooted in authenticity rather than performance. You’re stepping into leadership, Scorpio — and this time, without burning out to prove your worth.

Sagittarius Sun & Rising:

Sagittarius, this month changes your relationship to relationships — permanently. On July 7th, Uranus in Gemini begins its four-month preview in your partnership sector, making you question everything from how you commit to why. You may feel pulled toward unconventional connections, or notice that traditional structures of love and loyalty no longer resonate. Long-term couples might experience a communication shake-up, while single Sagges may attract people who challenge their ideas of “forever.” This cosmic shift is not chaos — it’s bringing clarity. Let love surprise you.

On July 10th, the Capricorn full moon activates your values and money sector, offering a reality check. Where are your resources flowing — and is it truly aligned with your soul’s calling? A financial opportunity or long-awaited payoff could arrive, but it’ll come with a reminder: how you earn must reflect who you are. Use this lunation to affirm your worth, raise your rates, ask for the promotion, or simply recognize that you’ve come farther than you give yourself credit for.

Saturn in Aries’ retrograde in your sector of fate, true love, and creativity begins July 13th, and it’s here to help you get honest about your priorities. You’re being asked to assess your dating dynamics, creative patterns, and what “fun” really means to you. If you’ve been running from your own softness, this retrograde asks you to question why that is. You don’t have to heal it all at once. You just have to listen to your heart.

By the time the Leo New Moon strikes on July 24th, your inner philosopher is lit. This lunation activates your expansion zone, encouraging you to dream beyond borders — literal or metaphorical. You may find yourself booking a trip, signing up for a course, or simply envisioning your next chapter. Don’t downplay your wanderlust. It’s guiding you to the version of yourself you’ve always meant to be.

Capricorn Sun & Rising:

You’ve been building in silence this year, Capricorn. July reminds you why. Uranus enters Gemini on 7/7 and brings a wave of innovation to your daily life and work sector. This isn’t a quick fix — it’s a systems upgrade. From now through November, you’re being called to streamline your workflow, reclaim your time, and automate or eliminate what no longer aligns. Expect surprises with coworkers, wellness routines, or even your physical health. Pay attention to where your body resists structure, and where it craves it.

The full moon in your sign on July 10th is your annual spotlight moment. Something major that you’ve been working on — whether publicly or internally — reaches a climax. Let yourself be celebrated, Capricorn. You often rush to the next mountain without stopping to acknowledge the climb. This is the universe saying: pause, breathe, receive. You’ve earned this. You’re not the same person who set this intention six months ago… and that’s the point.

On July 13th, Saturn in Aries begins its retrograde in your home and emotional roots sector, and it’s here to help you get honest about your foundations. You’re being asked to assess your family dynamics, ancestral patterns, and what “home” really means to you. If you’ve been running from your own softness, this retrograde pulls you inward. You don’t have to heal it all at once. You just have to listen.

Then Leo Season arrives on July 22nd, followed by the Leo New Moon on July 24th, activating your sector of transformation, intimacy, and shared resources. A fresh start is possible, but only if you’re willing to be vulnerable. Whether it’s a merger, a debt, or a deeper emotional bond, this new moon wants you to lean into what’s real. Power doesn’t come from control — it comes from surrender.

Aquarius Sun & Rising:

You’ve been craving more joy, Aquarius, and July 2025 is here to deliver it. Uranus, your modern planetary ruler, shifts into Gemini on 7/7, activating your creativity and romance sector for a four-month sneak peek. Expect inspiration to strike in wild, unconventional ways. You may fall in love suddenly (with a person, project, or version of yourself you never expected). You may rediscover an artistic talent you thought was lost. You may decide that fun is a spiritual practice — and act accordingly. The only rule? Let it be weird. Let it be yours.

The Capricorn full moon on July 10th brings something to a close behind the scenes. Your subconscious is speaking loudly this week: through dreams, signs, and sudden inner knowing. Let yourself retreat a bit. You’re not escaping, you’re integrating. There’s a part of your past that may be asking to be released. Offer it grace. Thank it for its role in your story, and then choose peace over nostalgia.

On July 13th, Saturn retrograde in Aries begins in your communication sector, helping you refine your voice. Have you been oversharing, undersharing, or speaking in ways that don’t fully reflect your truth? Now’s the time to revise your messaging — whether it’s how you show up online, how you text your crush, or how you advocate for your needs. Think of this transit as a sacred editing process for your thoughts and words.

Once Leo season hits on July 22nd and the new moon in Leo follows on July 24th, relationships move front and center. You’re being asked to start fresh — especially if you’re willing to own your role in past patterns. Whether you’re coupled, single, or somewhere in between, this lunation invites a new era of connection. One built not on codependency, but co-creation.

Pisces Sun & Rising:

Pisces, July brings you back to your roots, and asks you to redefine them. Uranus in Gemini activates your home, family, and foundation sector for the next four months. Expect changes in your living situation, conversations with relatives that shift dynamics, or even a desire to live more nomadically. What matters now is freedom —emotional, spatial, and generational. If your childhood blueprint no longer matches the life you’re designing, this is your cosmic cue to redraw it.

The Capricorn full moon on July 10th brings a climax in your friendship or community life. A connection you once deeply relied on may evolve, or you might finally be seen and celebrated by the people you’ve poured so much into. Either way, this lunation is reminding you that your people reflect your values, and if your circle’s been feeling off, it’s okay to lovingly recalibrate.

Saturn begins its retrograde in Aries on the 13th, activating your sector of money and self-esteem. This is a practical yet powerful transit that asks: are your finances aligned with your values? You may need to revisit a budget, cancel a draining subscription, or reframe your definition of abundance. You’re not broke — you’re becoming more intentional. Make space for income streams that feel as good as they pay.

By the Leo New Moon on July 24th, you’ll feel a shift in your energy, like you’re ready to bring structure to your dreams. This lunation activates your wellness, routine, and sacred service sector. Whether you’re revamping your schedule, launching a new offer, or simply recommitting to hydration and movement, it’s all aligned. Take your time. Small tweaks now will lead to radical transformation by the fall.

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

Cancer Season 2025 Is Here

Fourth of July fashion sales are firing up like all the barbecues and fireworks we’re going to enjoy over the holiday weekend. And unlike a fleeting firecracker, these stellar markdowns are arriving earlier and lasting longer (some until July 20!).

We’ve looked for the best Fourth of July clothing, shoe, bag, and jewelry deals that the internet has to offer. And we found a host of stylish goods on offer from reader-favorite retailers like Anthropologie, Free People, and more. Whether you’re looking to find summer staples like lightweight dresses, trendy swimsuits, matching sets, or comfortable sandals, there are plenty of labels treating us to their summer sales early — with some offering discounts as high as 75% off.

Ahead, peruse 34 early Fourth of July sales to start your summer off with a new wardrobe.

Abercrombie & Fitch 4th of July Sale

Through July 1, take between 20% and 50% off almost everything, plus an extra 20% off clearance during the Best of Summer Sale.

Aerie 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 70% off select styles, plus shop $20 swim, shorts, and sweatshirts during the It’s A Big Deal Sale.

Ann Taylor 4th of July Sale

Through July 3, take 50% off all sale styles during the Semi-Annual Sale, plus take 40% off your full-price purchase.

Anthropologie 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take an extra 50% off sale styles during the Big Summer Sale Event.

Artizia 4th of July Sale

Through July 6, take between 20% and 50% off sitewide during the Summer Sale.

Banana Republic 4th of July Sale

Through July 20, take up to 60% off sale styles.

Baublebar 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take an extra 50% off sale styles.

Cole Haan 4th of July Sale

Through July 7, take 30% off sitewide, with some exclusions, with code JULY30.

Cos 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 50% off new sale styles.

Damson Madder 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 40% off select lines during the Summer Sale.

Dolce Vita 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 40% off select styles during the Summer Event.

Everlane 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 50% off during the Summer Clearout Sale.

Frame 4th of July Sale

Through July 4, take an extra 30% off sale styles during the Summer Sale.

Free People 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take 50% off select tennis styles.

Gap 4th of July Sale

Through July 3, take 50% off shorts, tees, swim, and dresses during the Summer Sale.

Good American 4th of July Sale

Through July 7, take 30% off sitewide, with some exclusions, with code GET30.

Hill House Home 4th of July Sales

For a limited time, take 20% off select styles with code HAPPY4TH.

J.Crew 4th of July Sale

Through July 7, take an extra 60% off sale styles with code EXTRA during the End of Season Sale.

Lands’ End 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take 50% off sitewide, plus 60% off two-piece swim and clearance during the Summer Sale.

Levi’s 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 50% off select styles during the End of Season Sale.

Madewell 4th of July Sale

Through July 9, take up to 60% off sale items with code SUMMERTIME during the End Of Season Event.

Mango 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 50% off sale styles.

Missoma 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 65% off select styles, plus an extra 10% off at checkout.

Nordstrom Rack 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 65% off select styles.

Old Navy 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take between 40% and 70% off select styles during the Summer Sale.

Rei 4th of July Sale

Through July 7, take up 50% off select products.

Rellery 4th of July Sale

Through July 6, take 10% off sitewide with code RW10, 15% off $250+ orders with code RW15, and 20% off $450+ orders with code RW20.

Saks Off Fifth 4th of July Sale

Through July 7, become a Rewards Member to access an extra 25% off select styles with code JULY.

Saucony 4th of July Sale

Through July 14, take up to 40% off select styles.

Steve Madden 4th of July Sale

Through July 7, take up to 50% off select styles with code SPARKLE.

Urban Outfitters 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 75% off new sale styles.

Victoria’s Secret 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take up to 60% off select styles during the Semi Annual Sale.

Zara 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, shop deals during the Summer Sale.

& Other Stories 4th of July Sale

For a limited time, take an extra 30% off sale styles.

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“It’s good to be tired after you’ve done something special,” said Kenyan, three-time Olympic champion, Faith Kipyegon to Unbothered, smiling ear to ear. When we spoke, it had been less than 24 hours since Faith Kipyegon attempted to become the first woman ever to run a mile in less than four minutes. On June 26, Faith’s “moonshot” attempt took place at Nike’s dedicated “Breaking4” event at the Stade Charléty in Paris. And the result? A turbo-charged 4:06.42. For the uninitiated to the world of athletics, she ran roughly around 15 miles per hour. While she didn’t break the four-minute mile, Faith Kipyegon beat her own world record (4:07.64) and ran the fastest mile a woman has ever attempted — again. As I sat with one of the world’s greatest middle-distance runners in Nike’s Parisian showroom, surrounded by photos of her decorated athletic career, I agreed with Kipyegon that she has every right to honor being tired in this moment.

“I would say I got what I wanted,” she explained when I asked how she felt about not “breaking 4”. “To execute as fast as I did yesterday was the best I wanted. I didn’t hold anything like regret after the race [or thought that] I could have done this better. For me, I gave it all yesterday, and I will keep on trying.”

To read some of the headlines that followed the Breaking4 attempt, you’d think Faith Kipyegon hadn’t just made history in the French stadium last Thursday. ‘Faith not enough as Kipyegon misses four-minute mile barrier by six seconds’, read the Guardian’s headline. ‘Kipyegon falls short in sub-four-minute mile bid’ wrote the BBC, and ‘Faith Kipyegon fails in bid to become ‘female Roger Bannister’ per The Times. Though factually correct, the words “fail” and “falls short” are far from Kipyegon’s reality as an athlete.

It’s a sad but common story for women, especially Black women, to be the best in the world yet find the focus aimed at what you didn’t achieve, rather than what you did (just ask Simone Biles and Serena Williams). It has long been considered by some scientists and sporting experts that a woman can’t run a sub-4-minute mile. As running experts examined and scrutinised Kipyegon’s efforts lap by lap, second by second, I marveled at the Kenyan woman behind the incredible metrics; who as a child in Kenya would run 4 kilometres to school while barefoot, who began competing on an international stage at just 16-years-old, who ran the fastest recorded mile by a woman, who is just six seconds closer to pushing the boundaries of what women athletes are said to be able to achieve. Faith Kipyegon, as she would say, “dared to try” the impossible — and came exceptionally close.

I was lucky to be in the stadium as Faith Kipyegon made her historic bid for a sub-4 mile. Between fans screaming her name, the looming clock, and the global livestream, there was something palpably electric (and truly nerve-wracking) about watching Kipyegon take her place on the track alongside 13 world-class athletes, pacers who were positioned to help push Kipyegon forward. Of the 13 pacers, 11 were men; in basic terms, they were chosen to shield Kipyegon from the wind so she could run faster, and since she is the fastest woman in the mile, male pacers — who can sustain a faster pace —were needed to keep up and support her attempt. The culmination of months of highly strategic training, custom, one-of-a-kind, aerodynamic running gear developed by Nike, and elite training came down to those crucial minutes. It was electrifying to watch.

At 31 years old, and mum to 6-year-old daughter, Alyn, Kipyegon has often addressed the spoken and unspoken limitations placed on athletes who become mothers (specifically mothers, because let’s face it, fatherhood isn’t considered a limitation in the same way). “This was a message to young women out there, to young mothers out there — everybody out there! — to know that we are limitless in this world,” she shared, suddenly serious. “You know, we can limit ourselves [in our] thoughts, but we can just go out there, explore, and do anything in this world.”

When a top athlete becomes a mother, they quickly become subject to probing questions about the future of their careers and what their prospective comeback could look like — and whether they’ll make one at all. To say the quiet part out loud: many athletes have previously felt that choosing to have a child meant having to quit. The reality of women’s sports has meant uncertainty about paid maternity leave, insecurity over sponsorship contracts and support during and after pregnancy, not to mention facing old-fashioned assumptions about what a woman’s body can achieve after birth.

Faith Kipyegon is part of a well-established club of mothers (including the likes of Serena Williams and Shelly Ann Fraser-Pryce) who continued to achieve in their athletic careers in motherhood and are also vocal about increased support for women in sport.

“We can push ourselves as women,” Kipyegon said confidently. “We can inspire the other women in the world that whether you are a doctor or a nurse, or anything, you still have to go there and work.

“You have a baby, yes, but you still have to go there and do what you have to do,” she added. “So for me, [it’s about knowing] that my daughter is back at home, knowing that I’m out there inspiring the next generation… When she grows up, she will know mum was up to something which was for the whole world.”

By now, a lot’s been said about the magnitude of Kipyegon’s moonshot and how it will inspire a next generation of women in sport to also dare to try. Brands like Nike are increasingly investing in women’s athletics, and I was told by Nike’s VP of Global Women’s Marketing, Tanya Hvizdak, that they’ve invested “equal parts” in women as in men’s track and field athletes, following athletes’ demands for visibility and equity. However, even a momentous moment like Breaking4 doesn’t always lead to women’s increased participation in sport.

In the UK, where I’m from, young Black girls are said to show the most interest in sport, but “48% of Black girls drop out of sport as a teenager”. This research by the Women In Sport organisation, released earlier this year, reveals Black girls are being failed by a system that “pushes Black girls away from sport, despite their overwhelming passion for it.” I wonder what seeds were planted in the mind of a young Black woman or girl who watched Kipyegon cross the finish line and make history. Will they dare to try, too?

I had many more questions for Faith Kipyegon than our five-minute conversation would allow. We briefly spoke about her love for her home, Kenya, a country that continues to produce athletes, such as Eliud Kipchoge, who push our understanding of human potential. It’s also here where the Kenyan philosophy of “harambe” — loosely meaning to all pull together — became embedded in Kipyegon’s training and mindset.  “We can fly our Kenya flag in the world. I’m so so proud of my country,” she said, beaming.

As for her legacy, Kipyegon is keen for another attempt at breaking4. She’s far from finished. And still has, of course, faith.

“As I said yesterday, if it is not me, [the sub-4] will be broken by a woman. One day, one time.”

This article was originally published on Unbothered’s UK edition.

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While it may be too late to cart up the sold-out, TikTok-viral 2-in-1 Maxi Dress, Lululemon’s new arrivals are here to refresh your summer wardrobe. The reader-favorite athleisure brand recently debuted new linen styles, expanded the colorways for the no-line Align leggings, and released updated iterations of its popular bags. Plus, from Wundermost camis and running shorts to Nulu mini skirts and button-down tops, Lululemon will have you dressed from barre class to brunch, and everywhere in between.

Read on to shop Lululemon’s summer arrivals, which are bound to become the next internet-obsessed styles — so act fast!

Lululemon Bags & Shoes

Whether you’re looking for a canvas tote bag and cushioned flip flops to pack for summer vacation, or the iconic belt bag (in a trending leopard print) and workout sneakers for hot girl walks, Lululemon has bags, shoes, and accessories in chic neutrals and versatile patterns to take you from season to season.

Lululemon Shorts & Skirts

Jumping on the Bermuda short trend, Lululemon is offering several six-inch and eight-inch styles in breathable and stretchy fabrics for everyday wear. But if you’re looking for more leg-baring styles, check out the Shake It Off running shorts in new colorways and the ballet-inspired Nulu mini skirts.

Lululemon Leggings & Pants

Famously beloved for its leggings, Lululemon is always elevating this category. Right now, you can find several new colorways in the seamless Align leggings, plus trendy capri lengths that are warm-weather-friendly. And don’t sleep on the joggers and wide-leg pants when putting together your casual summer outfits.

Lululemon Tops & Bodysuits

Of course, there are plenty of new activewear tops to shop, but we’re also gravitating toward more elevated styles like bow-tied tanks, square-neck camis, and three-quarter-sleeve linen tops. Style them as matching sets or with your favorite denim shorts. Also consider the Wundermost bodysuit for pilates classes and picnics alike.

Lululemon Dresses & One-Pieces

If you’re playing tennis, practicing yoga, or attending music festivals, Lululemon has a range of dresses, onesies, and jumpsuits appropriate for all kinds of summer activities. So whether you slip into a breathable Align dress with hidden shorts for low-impact workouts or a sporty lightweight jumpsuit from the brand’s Saul Nash collaboration, you’ll feel comfortable and cool while looking chic.

Shop all Lululemon new arrivals

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The moment summer arrives, I ask myself one question: How blonde is too blonde? This season, however, my normal desire to go as bright as the sun has been softened, partly thanks to conversations around ‘recession blonde’, which embraces more lived-in looks for the warmer months. While the top line might be about saving money (less bleach = fewer salon visits), the move towards a more relaxed blonde is exactly what my over-processed hair has been crying out for — and one particular shade has piqued my interest.

Enter: “teddy” blonde.

What is the teddy blonde hair color?

If you’ve taken one look at Pinterest lately, you’ll know that soft, grown-out blondes are everywhere, and no color is more popular than teddy blonde — a shade said to resemble the golden nuances of a teddy bear’s fur. The color has been spotted on celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Sofia Richie Grainge, who have left their bleached lengths behind to embrace more honey-hued, natural shades like this one.

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A post shared by Rosie HW (@rosiehw)

According to Emily Payne, a colorist at George Northwood salon in London, the shade is defined by golden, warmer tones rather than the cool ashy ones we’ve been seeing recently: “There’s more depth to the blonde,” Payne told me, adding, “It’s not just a bleach blonde — there are much richer tones within it.” As such, it’s more of a low-maintenance blonde, as it can incorporate your natural color in between the lighter strands.

Payne cites cost and busy schedules as reasons behind people seeking more low-effort looks, but she also thinks that hair health is a key component: “I think a lot of people are trying to be in their healthy girl era and don’t want to bleach their hair as much as they used to do,” Payne told me. “Even brunettes, who maybe had highlights or balayage, want to go back to more of their natural color,” she reports.

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A post shared by 𝑮𝒍𝒐𝒓𝒚 𝑹𝒐𝒔𝒆 (@curly.glorii)

What is the process to dye your hair teddy blonde?

As a blonde already, I was keen to know how the teddy blonde process would differ from my usual bleach and tone. According to Payne, it depends on how much blonde is already in the hair: “If there’s a lot of blonde and you want to add dimension, you can weave in more of the client’s natural color throughout the strands,” says Payne, much like this look on Glory Rose. She refers to the process as “reverse balayage”, essentially hand-painting dashes of darker hues.

As we were starting from a grown-out bleach balayage, Payne began by adding some reverse balayage to the back, which would help tone down some of the bright blonde and introduce more golden tones. Then she applied some sporadic bleach pieces to refresh the existing color and make the newly dyed pieces pop against the lowlights. Then we moved to the front of my hair, where we started to pack on the color, layering neat foils of bleach highlights around the top and sides, each interspersed with reverse balayage lowlights to add depth.

Instead of using permanent dye for the lowlights, Payne reached for salon favorite, Redken Shades EQ gloss, which fades out naturally and doesn’t leave behind regrowth lines. Even better? It’s less harsh on your strands: “A gloss is an updated version of a toner, where the color is a little bit more sheer and adds a shine as it closes down the hair cuticle post-dye,” Payne explains. Once all the highlights and lowlights were in, Payne layered on another slightly darker gloss at the backwash to soften the blonde pieces and to create a more golden sheen near the roots.

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A post shared by Angelica Adamé | Stockton Balayage Specialist 🤎 (@jellythecosmo)

Is teddy blonde suitable for both light and dark hair?

Viral trends like this one won’t work for every hair colou, or it could take a while to get there. According to Payne, achieving the perfect teddy blonde requires starting from a handful of specific base colors: “For this look to work best, you would need to start from a ‘dirty’ blonde, dark blonde or light brown shade,” says Payne. For those with a darker base, Payne says that it’s possible to lift the hair to a richer, more caramel tone that’s similar but not as light.

How long does teddy blonde hair last?

The main appeal of teddy blonde is that it requires very little effort. For me, the looming feeling of having to get my roots done is never a fun one. Seeing a darker root emerging is something I’ve enjoyed, but anything that requires less work was always going to be a win for me.

That said, it’s still hair color, so with that in mind, how often do you need to refresh teddy blonde? “To start with, I would say every three months,” suggests Payne, but because it’s slightly darker than your average blonde, you might be able to stretch it to three or even four months. That’s all thanks to the lowlights, says Payne: As time goes on, the lowlights will gradually penetrate deeper into the hair shaft and bond more strongly over time, making the shade last longer. At the same time, any bleach will relax and soften, says Payne. The appeal of the softer, lived-in look is that it fades more naturally. In other words, if you choose not to refresh it over the summer, it won’t look severe come fall.

How do you best maintain teddy blonde hair?

While teddy blonde is low-maintenance, it still deserves some love. Payne suggests investing in a deeply hydrating shampoo and conditioner: “I always recommend the Pureology Hydrate range, and the Hydrate Nourishing Superfoods Treatment Hair Mask is lovely, too.”

How do you style teddy blonde hair?

Styling is equally important to maximize the nuances of teddy blonde: “A lot of the reference photos people bring in are of that ‘90s bouncy blowdry, which really does complement the color,” says Payne. Adding, “I also think using your natural texture works great, especially if you have beachy waves or natural curls, because the blonde bits really pop and the darker pieces will create more dimension.”

While I usually wear my hair brushed out or in a slicked-back ponytail, Payne recommends enhancing natural waves with a hair cream (try Olaplex No. 6 Bond Smoother Frizz Control Styling Hair Cream) to help define strands, smooth hair and limit frizz. For curly hair, her top pick is the Moroccanoil Curl Defining Cream, which nourishes parched strands and imparts shine, all while enhancing your natural curl pattern.

To elevate the shade, hairdresser Harry Payne recommended cutting in some texture to amp up the ‘lived in’ look. He took inspiration from ‘00s icons like Sienna Miller and Kate Moss, making my hair more piecey at the front with subtle curtain bangs. Now I get those soft, flowy pieces around my face even when I wear my hair up. Payne’s top tip: Tuck the bangs behind your ears when your hair is damp to achieve the perfect C-bend shape when dry.

What’s teddy blonde like IRL?

I expected something super warm, but teddy blonde turned out much more subtle on me. The dark blonde tones woven through the honey blonde hues suited my complexion way better than the bleach blonde I’d outgrown. The gloss made my hair feel heavenly soft, and teamed with a much-needed cut, it left my hair feeling so much healthier. What’s more, the added layers somehow made my hair look longer and thicker. Since I’m on a mission to grow my hair out this year, it was much appreciated.

Bounding into the office, I was met with cries of “It looks so natural!” and “It suits you so well!”, confirming my feeling that the color was a good match for me. While the sun is likely to brighten the tones slightly over the summer, I know that I can go back to tone my hair at any time, without having to spend hours in the salon chair. Better still, it will look even more natural as it starts to grow out. Teddy blonde is a triumph, if you ask me.

This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.

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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 dollar.

Today: a paramedic who has a $223,000 household income and who spends some of her money this week on a metal yard flamingo.

If you’d like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via our online form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we’re not able to reply to every email.

Occupation: Paramedic
Industry: Emergency medicine/healthcare
Age: 31
Location: Denver area
Salary: My pre-tax salary is about $110,000, but my overtime really causes it to fluctuate. I have an hourly rate, not a technical salary, which is $28.84.
Joint Income & Financial Setup: $223,000. My husband, A., makes $113,000 and our finances are mostly combined. We share the mortgage, streaming services, bills, etc, but each have our own car payment and “fun money”. We contribute $2,250 monthly to a joint account for bills. We also have a high rewards credit card that we try to use and then immediately pay down. I have a second job teaching paramedic students part time, making about $400 monthly when I pick up shifts.
Assets: HYSA: $3,465 (this is usually about $1,500 higher but I had to take some out at the beginning of the year to pay for classes up front); joint retirement and investment account: $11,390; 401(k): $22,000; personal savings: $500 (this should be higher, I know — my goal this year is to bulk up my savings. I do try to keep my larger savings in my HYSA); house worth: $533,800; joint savings: $176 — we redid our entire yard last summer and have struggled to build up our savings again. A. has slightly expensive tastes (and tbh I can be this way too).
Debt: Joint credit card: $646; car: $43,000; mortgage: $431,191.
Paycheck Amount (bi-weekly): $2,500-$4,000 (this varies depending on how much overtime I pick up).
Pronouns: She/her

Monthly Expenses

Housing Costs: $2,678 (mortgage payment).
Utilities: $150-$300, depending on the heating or cooling time of year.
HOA: $35
Water: $100 (this is higher in summer as A. has an obsession with having the nicest yard in the neighborhood).
Internet: $113
Loan Payments: I pay $800 for my car, a little higher than the minimum. I don’t know what A.’s payment is but I think it’s about $1,200.
Pet Insurance: $78 (I cannot overstate the lifesaver this has been).
Verizon Phone Bill: $355 (Netflix, Hulu, Disney+ are included).
Car Insurance: $421
HBO: $20, I mooch Peacock and Paramount off my bff, and share mine with her.
Church Donations: $70
Kindle Unlimited: $13
Gym: $15
Pilates: $124
Just the Recipe: $12.99
Dog Sitter: $100
Credit Card Fees: $25 for my personal card; $95 yearly for our joint card.
Savings: I don’t have a set savings amount, just whatever is left over after I pay down my credit card and contribute to the bills.
Dog Food: $72 every six weeks.
Dog Allergy Shot: $108 every seven weeks.
Pest Control: $150 every three months.
House Security System: $500 (annually).
Instacart: $112 (annually).
Amazon Prime: $70 (annually — I’m getting the student discount because I’m taking classes).

Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it?
My parents are both very well educated, and all three of my brothers have some sort of bachelor’s or master’s degree, so education has always been an option, but I knew in high school that college wasn’t for me. I was homeschooled until my senior year, took a year off to figure out what I wanted to do, and then took an EMT class at 19. I went to paramedic school in 2018. I got an AA degree last year and am working (very slowly) on my bachelor’s degree, since I have about $5,000 available to use yearly. I was a pretty hard-working teenager and I think my parents knew I would land somewhere without a degree. I paid for EMT and paramedic school out of pocket, and my job paid for half of medic school. The AA degree was covered fully by my job.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s)/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
I don’t remember specific conversations, but my parents required us to earn at least $1,000 each summer of high school. I do wish they had talked about credit cards, as I didn’t open my first one until I was 22, and it’s hurt my credit a little. I also didn’t really understand the importance of retirement savings until probably about five years ago.

What was your first job and why did you get it?
Mother’s helper at 12. I got it to help the neighbor out and the money was a bonus. I moved from babysitter to nanny with that kid until I graduated high school. I worked five jobs (food service, nanny, multiple babysitting jobs) the summer after I graduated high school. I saved all that money to move out the following summer when I got my first EMT job.

Did you worry about money growing up?
Not really, my dad has a good career, but I do remember a few times he was between jobs and my parents were worried about money. It usually didn’t last long, and we were fortunate to go on nice vacations and always have nice birthdays and Christmases. I am sure their different money styles caused conflict between my parents as I remember “budget meetings” where me and my brothers made ourselves scarce.

Do you worry about money now?
I try not to, but the world is changing fast and the economy seems shaky at best. We don’t have a real savings account, beyond our retirement accounts. We are still on the fence about having kids, but I am adamant about wanting a decent savings and child account before we decide to start down that road. I could definitely tighten up my own personal spending and saving, and it’s one of my goals for this year. I got cancer at 24 (cancer free now for six years!) and the medical bills were high for some years, with all my extra money going to pay them.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I would say 20, when I moved out and got my first EMT job. My parents would be my safety net, as my dad now has a very high salary. I know A.’s parents would also help us if we got into a tight spot. Honestly, if we just tightened up our finances and focused on saving, I think we could build up our savings account.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
No inherited income, but both my and A.’s parents gave us $5,000 for our wedding. We used half of that for a nice mattress and bed frame, and the other half for our wedding.

Day One: Monday

5:30 a.m. — This week starts with a bang: I’m on shift, and we get up for a call and don’t have time to go back to bed before shift change. I grab a cup of coffee and finish my reports. We got wrecked this set, so I am very ready to go home. I work 48 hours on, 96 hours off, which is great unless you don’t sleep for two days.

7:15 a.m. — On the way home, I pick up doughnuts for me and my husband, A. He works as a firefighter and we’re very fortunate to work the same shift hours. $13.16

7:30 a.m. — I get home and let our two dogs, L. and M., out of the bedroom and am knocked over by their exuberant love. My best friend, B., stays at our house and dogsits while we’re on shift. I give her $100 a month, which doesn’t sound like much, but she lives with her parents and so having a house to herself for two days is something she loves. A. and I drink our coffee with donuts and chat about our shifts.

10 a.m. — B. and I drag ourselves to the gym and do arms and core. I chug a protein drink and have some leftover pizza when we get home before hopping in the shower. I do my AM skincare: hypochlorous acid spray, Naturium Vitamin C and Azelaic Acid, Experiment Super Saturated, Kopari Ceramide Cream, and Beauty of Joseon Sun Relief. I’m so tired I can barely see straight but I have one quick homework assignment to finish before the deadline tonight. After that, I crash hard for about two hours.

3:30 p.m. — B. and I go see The Accountant 2. She bought the tickets last week. The movie is really entertaining!

6:30 p.m. — We stop for pho on the way home, my favorite food. I get hers since she got the movie tickets. We take it out and feed the dogs before finishing Avatar: The Way of Water with chai espresso martinis. A. is out with friends tonight, so after we finish the movie, I make myself an old fashioned and play the new Assassin’s Creed game until I can’t keep my eyes open. $40.35

10:30 p.m. — I do my nighttime skincare: Prequel cleanser, Naturium Azelaic Acid, The Ordinary Niacinamide, prescription Tretinoin 0.05%, and CeraVe Night Cream, with CocoKind Eye Cream and a Frownie patch on my 11s lines. Teeth brushed and put the girls in their crates. I think A. gets home about 1 a.m. but I am unconscious.

Daily Total: $53.51

Day Two: Tuesday

7:05 a.m. — I drag myself out of bed, wondering why I picked up a teaching shift the day after my real job. I do my AM skincare, let the dogs out for potty and breakfast, then kiss A. goodbye. Wildly jealous he’s still asleep. I pack a blueberry yogurt parfait I made a few days ago and my leftover pho for lunch. The commute is trash today — Denver traffic is always a nightmare. So glad I usually only have to drive to work once a week. I get a Venti Caramel Macchiato from Starbucks but I have a Christmas gift card still hanging on, so it’s technically free. #girlmath

9 a.m. — We run medical scenarios all morning for the paramedic students, and then our boss offers to buy us Jimmy John’s for lunch. This has literally never happened in the four years I’ve worked here?? Definitely not complaining. My leftover pho will have to wait another day.

11 a.m. — I work on homework on the lunch break, and purchase a wave curler and some cuticle lotion from Amazon. I got gel nails for the first time ever for our vacation at the beginning of the year, and it WRECKED my nails. I am going to try moisturization and see if it helps. $35.67

3 p.m. — I get done early, and on the drive home I call my dad to sweet talk him into buying his own ticket for a concert my brothers and I are getting my mom for Mother’s Day. He agrees, but I’m waiting to hear back from two of my brothers if they’re in. I’ll buy the tickets and Venmo request them at some point.

4:30 p.m. — I swing home and change into gym clothes, and then drive two minutes to the Pilates studio and take a class. I just started Pilates and I find it a great balance to my normal strength training. After class, I get home to find A. making Cajun shrimp pasta for dinner. I take a body shower and make a gin and tonic before starting on the dishes he used to make dinner, which appears to be every pan we own? I feed the puppies before we eat. The food is worth the dishes.

7 p.m. — We start watching Havoc on Netflix but quickly realize neither of us are interested. We pick Draft Day instead. A. makes us each an old fashioned. We mosey to bed around 11 p.m.

Daily Total: $35.67

Day Three: Wednesday

9 a.m. — I get out of bed slowly and do my morning skincare. Start a pot of coffee, feed the dogs, and have a bowl of cereal with vanilla yogurt and coffee with cream. I play Assassin’s Creed for a couple of hours. I love my schedule, but trying to balance productivity and rest is always a struggle. I feel guilty for doing nothing but I can’t go all out for four days and then try to go back to work. It’s a never-ending battle.

11 a.m. — I do some quick chores around the house: plant a few flowers I bought last week, start a wash with bed sheets, and vacuum. The dogs get to run around the backyard for a while and somehow get soaking wet.

12:15 p.m. — I’m teaching at one of the fire departments my agency works with about some new medications, so I swing by our headquarters to pick up supplies. The lockbox won’t work and I have to wait for our chief to come let me in. I call and let them know I’ll be a little late. The training goes smoothly. I’ll add these hours to my timecard when I get to work.

3 p.m. — A. and I take the dogs for a walk. Our golden retriever is getting chunky and May is her month to get her summer body ready. I play a little video games before switching the sheets around and showering. I do a little makeup (Saie Blush and Highlight, mascara) and diffuse my hair.

5 p.m. — A. is heating up leftovers when I leave for a painting event with friends. We’re celebrating one of my old work partners becoming a paramedic. She’s been a paramedic for like six months, which just speaks to how hard it is to get a group of adult friends together. I buy a bottle of wine because it’s cheaper than two glasses. We’re all painting our pets tonight. I agonized over which puppy to paint, and settled on the chocolate lab. We have a blast painting and everyone’s pet turns out amazing. $14.12

9:30 p.m. — I drive home in the pouring rain. A. pulls the painting out of the bag, laughs until he cries, and immediately hangs it on the wall. He says I got her face perfect but her body looks like a seal. I have to agree. We watch an episode of Breaking Bad and I suddenly remember we need a few things from the store. I place an Instacart order for the following day for ranch dressing, olive oil, coffee creamer, baby wipes, chicken breast, rice, zucchini, and an orange. I use our joint checking account. I also realize I haven’t had any real food since this morning, so I heat up a frozen burrito quickly. $41.15

11:30 p.m. — We finally mosey to bed and I do my nighttime skincare. The dogs beg to get on the bed but I just washed the sheets so I like at least one night of hair-free sleep.

Daily Total: $55.27

Day Four: Thursday

8 a.m. — I was trying to sleep in later than this but once I wake up, I’m up. I waste time on my phone before doing morning skincare, dogs fed, etc. I’m headed to brunch so I make a small single-serve pour over for the drive (shoutout, Copper Cow Coffee!). It’s churro flavored, which tastes slightly odd with my white chocolate mocha creamer, but I’ll drink coffee in about any form.

10 a.m. — It’s mostly the same work friends from last night at brunch. It’s easy to bond with people when you work for the same 48 hours straight and deal with the type of things we do. We have a really fun time; I get French toast and an espresso martini. I also get a flight of bacon to take home for A. My voice is very sore, one of my vocal chords was damaged during my cancer surgery so loud social settings really tire me out. This has been a social week! $58.20

12 p.m. — I am SO tired when I get home. Day drinking will do that to ya. I mope around trying to find motivation to do anything until A. tells me to go take a nap. I don’t need any more convincing.

2 p.m. — I feel much better. I start a load of laundry and play video games for a little bit. I bug my brothers about a Mother’s Day gift and finally get the okay from all three of them. I’ll buy the tickets tomorrow when I get paid. I clean the fish tank, switch the laundry, and update my one-sentence-a-day journal. Dinner is going to be crockpot butter chicken with rice and zucchini, so I put the chicken in on high.

5:30 p.m. — I take L. for a sniffing walk while A. plays fetch with M. I quickly shower and apply Jergen’s tanning lotion, then fold the laundry while that dries. We eat dinner and watch a Breaking Bad.

7 p.m. — We head over to A.’s grandparents house to watch the Avalanche playoff game. My grandparents all died when I was pretty young, and I feel so fortunate that his are all alive, and I feel like I get to have grandparents again. We did make a terrible mistake eating before coming over, because Grandma has food and is horrified that we aren’t hungry. Should have known better to not arrive to an Italian grandmother’s house without an appetite. They rope A. into hanging a shelf. The Avs win!

11 p.m. — I realize I’m out of my azelaic acid so I place an online order. I find a 15%-off coupon. We rush home after the game to let the dogs run around a little bit before getting to bed a little later than normal. I did my nighttime skincare after my shower so I don’t have to do it now. $27.18

Daily Total: $85.38

Day Five: Friday

5:30 a.m. — I definitely do not feel like I got enough sleep. I do my morning skincare, let the doggies out, and feed them. A. will put them back in their crates before B. gets here around 8 a.m. A. leaves a little later than me because his station is right around the corner. I kiss him goodbye and stop for fuel on the way to work. My car is a hybrid so I get amazing gas mileage, and it is ALMOST worth the car payment. $34.86

6 a.m. — I stop for an iced coffee as a pre-reward for my shift. $7.28

6:30 a.m. — Get to work, get report from the previous medics, and check out our ambulance. I’m training a new EMT, so we talk about the shift and some training we need to get done. I make my bed and set my room up for our two days on shift. The fire crew says we’re doing Hibachi Friday for dinner tonight, which sounds amazing.

9 a.m. — I buy tickets for Andrea Bocelli and the Colorado Symphony Orchestra for my mom. My dad and one of my brothers already sent me a Venmo for their portion. It costs $222.11, but I’ll be reimbursed for all but $27 of that. $27

9:45 a.m. — I got paid, so I pay off my credit card fully, and put money into our joint checking and my car payment bank account. I keep about three months’ worth of payments in that account so I don’t ever have to worry about making the payments. I have about $500 left over after all that, which I keep in my checking account for the next two weeks until my next payday. I try and use my personal credit card for the points, and then pay it off fully every paycheck. My next paycheck should be able to all go to savings now that I caught up.

11:30 a.m. — I heat up some leftover pasta and then try to rest my eyes for a little bit, but we get a call. I finish a report and then get some homework done. I have one week of these two classes left (English 2 and Spanish 3) and they cannot end soon enough. I really don’t like school, but I can’t just let the education stipend go to waste and I know having a bachelor’s degree may come in handy if I ever decide to get off an ambulance.

3 p.m. — I manage to read a few chapters of Red Sister by Mark Lawrence before we run calls all afternoon. I venmo one of the firefighters for meals this set. $19.27

6:30 p.m. — We manage to sit down for Hibachi Friday, which is delicious. There’s a rousing discussion of 100 men versus one gorilla during dinner. I start on the dishes after dinner but we get a call, and don’t make it back to the station until almost midnight. I speed-wash my face and collapse into bed, fingers crossed that the city will be kind. (Spoiler alert: the city was not kind.)

1 a.m. — We get up for a call an hour later. Thankfully, we don’t have any calls past 2 a.m.

Daily Total: $88.41

Day Six: Saturday

8:45 a.m. — I didn’t set an alarm this morning, but the tones go off and the day starts with a bang. I finally sit down for breakfast around 11 a.m. The firefighters made breakfast hash, which is delish. My partner R. and I get caught up on reports. I browse the Mediheal sale but don’t buy anything. A. and I chat on the phone, he got to sleep last night, the lucky duck. I am already planning for my nap today.

1 p.m. — I do end up being able to catch a nap for a few hours, and then we wash the ambulance and get a call right as we sit down for dinner. We run calls until about 9 p.m., when I get to watch the Avalanche get knocked out of the playoffs. Darn!

11 p.m. — I wash my face (just niacinamide and lotion at work) and hope for a slow night.

Daily Total: $0

Day Seven: Sunday

6:45 a.m. — We ran a call at 4 a.m. but otherwise got to sleep! My relief is coming from another station, so I get a call right before she gets there. I am supposed to leave at 7 a.m. but don’t get out until 8 a.m.

8:30 a.m. — I finally get home, say hi to the doggies, and B. shows me her new car. A. makes coffee and we chat about our shifts. We talk about going to church but I think I may fall asleep so we opt to not.

11 a.m. — I played video games for a few hours and A. organizes his football cards. It’s a perfect relaxing Sunday.

1 p.m. — I run to Michael’s because I saw a video about birds made out of pom-poms, and my friends and I are doing a craft day tomorrow and I need a craft. I get three skeins of yarn, a pom-pom maker, and a metal flamingo for the yard. I take the lab with me and she thinks everyone she sees is her best friend. I walk both dogs when I get home. $48.11

4 p.m. — I take a very needed nap, and then A. and I start getting ready to go out tonight. I wave curl my hair and throw some makeup on.

4:45 p.m. — We catch a Lyft to downtown Denver (I pay), and go to a bar where I heard there was an espresso martini flight. The bartender tells us that that bar is actually next door, and closed today. We stay for drinks at this bar. I get an old fashioned and a carajillo. A gets an old-fashioned and a tomato martini. He pays. $32.11

6:45 p.m. — I get the Lyft to a sushi restaurant, where we eat almost our bodyweight in sushi and saki. A. pays for dinner. $8.33

8 p.m. — We get a Lyft to the zoo (I pay), where it’s the last night of a light display. It’s SO cool, and we get to see some of the animals being more playful at night. A. buys himself a beer and gets me some rum drink. We haven’t had much time together lately it feels like, and tonight was a perfect date night. $11.32

10 p.m. — I cover the Lyft home, and we let the dogs run around for a while. We watch a Breaking Bad episode before heading to bed. I do my nighttime skincare and pass out. $31.99

Daily Total: $131.86

The Breakdown

Conclusion 

“This was a really social week for me — I do hang out with friends, but the larger planned group setting is usually more rare. Overall I think it was a slightly higher-spending week, but I feel comfortable spending money on food and friends. If I cut out random Amazon and impulse purchases (the flamingo) then I think my savings problem will start improving. Just writing down my sad savings account was a motivator to stop impulse spending and start saving, and since this diary we got our credit card down to $0 and my savings account has almost $1,000 in it. Baby steps! My ego feels obligated to say I usually go to the gym more but it was a busy week. I also take a lot of naps, ha!”

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Mold makes an appearance in beauty products more often than we like to admit, whether it’s a brand that has formulated its moisturizer without preservatives (they’re essential for keeping bacteria at bay) or storing your makeup in a hot and steamy bathroom (the optimum environment for microorganisms to thrive in). And while mold can turn up pretty much anywhere, you’d assume that your skin is safe. But that hasn’t stopped TikTok from falling down something of a rabbit hole lately.

Whether you’re a chronic scroller or open the app every once in a while, you might’ve seen this viral video posted by content creator Kaley aka @allthingskaley. An enormous 21.8 million people already have, and the phrase “hair mold” is trending as a result. In the clip, Kaley says that she blow-dries her hair as soon as she gets out of the shower so that she “doesn’t get mold”. At first it caused confusion but then came a handful of comments from people who do the very same. The common school of thought? That air-drying your hair — or going to sleep with wet hair — can encourage mold to grow on your scalp.

@allthingskaley Have you heard of hair mold? I’m actually terrified now 😳 #hairmold #preventhairmold #howtopreventhairmold #whatishairmold ♬ Funny video “Carmen Prelude” Arranging weakness(836530) – yo suzuki(akisai)

As expected, TikTok began to panic. “What does hair mold look like????” asked one commenter. Another wrote, “I have never heard of hair mold until now…I’m also terrified!!!”

Can mold grow in your hair and on your scalp?

In my 10 years of beauty experience, I’ve never come across hair mold. So is it really a thing? And should you be worried? I put the question to a trichologist and a dermatologist with a specialism in hair.

First of all, it pays to understand what mold actually is. Molds are fungi, which feed off moisture. They can be harmful, and people with health issues may be sensitive to certain types. In moist environments, mold can technically grow anywhere, but is air-drying — or sleeping with wet hair — likely to cause it on your scalp or in your hair strands?

“In short, no,” says Dr. Sharon Wong, consultant dermatologist and British Skin Foundation spokesperson. “Mold that you find in the air or on damp walls and surfaces is caused by a variety of different fungal species, and they are not the same as the yeasts that live naturally on human scalps,” she says.

What is malassezia — and how does it affect the scalp?

Before we get into the nitty gritty, it’s important to note that said yeasts are totally normal. A common yeast that lives on our scalp is called malassezia, explains trichologist Eva Proudman FIT IAT. It’s different from mold but, says Dr. Wong, “The combination of damp hair together with the heat emitted from the scalp surface creates the perfect warm, moist environment that encourages overgrowth of malassezia.”

Proudman explains that when the malassezia yeast becomes overactive (usually the result of excess oil on the scalp), it can lead to dandruff and seborrhoeic dermatitis, a type of scalp eczema. So what’s the difference? “Dandruff causes loose white flakes that fall easily onto the shoulders, and in many cases does not itch,” says Proudman. “Seborrhoeic dermatitis causes the flakes to turn yellow as they feed off of oil, and for them to sit on the scalp and within the hair,” she continues. “Seborrhoeic dermatitis is also usually itchy and causes inflammation on the scalp.”

While there is no “cure” for dandruff, washing your hair more frequently — and starting off with an anti-dandruff shampoo like Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Daily Prevent Shampoo, $15.88, or Verb Dandruff Shampoo with Salicylic Acid for Dry and Flaky Scalp, $22 — can help. Regularly washing your hair is also recommended to treat seborrhoeic dermatitis, as it thrives in oily environments.

Can mold grow on your pillow?

While it’s very unlikely that mold can grow on your hair and scalp, your pillows and pillowcases are not exempt, says Proudman. “[These] will absorb moisture and become damp from wet hair, which can lead to the fabrics becoming smelly and developing mold,” she says. If you do sleep with wet hair, Proudman recommends changing your pillowcase daily and ensuring that the pillow is always dry. If you head to bed with dry hair, Dr. Wong suggests changing your pillowcase once a week.

Is it best to air-dry or blow-dry your hair after washing?

Ultimately, whether you blow-dry your hair, let it air-dry or sleep with it wet is entirely down to personal preference, but from a dermatologist’s point of view, it’s best to dry hair thoroughly before going to bed. “Not just for better scalp health,” says Dr. Wong, “but also because your hair is at its weakest when wet and therefore most prone to breakage in this state.” Proudman agrees: “Wet hair can easily be broken, so I always advise to go to sleep with dry hair for both scalp and hair health.”

Depending on your length and hair texture, Dr. Wong considers air-drying to be time-consuming, but it’s also impractical for a lot of people, especially if you wash your hair in the evening. She has a trick for mopping up water, though: “I would advise using a microfibre towel to dry the hair first, as this significantly increases water absorption and therefore [reduces] the time needed for any subsequent air-drying or heat drying.” Try Kitsch Extra Large Quick-Dry Hair Towel Wrap, $26, or the Act+Acre Microfiber Hair Towel, $30, if you have more to spend.

What’s the best hairdryer for no heat damage?

If it’s heat damage that’s preventing you from blow-drying your hair, consider a smart blowdryer like the Shark SpeedStyle Pro FLEX 4-in-1 High-Velocity Hair Dryer System, $179.99. I also love the clever Dyson Supersonic Nural Hairdryer, $499, which uses sensors to tweak both airflow and temperature, minimizing the chance of burning your scalp and protecting hair strands in the process. If you’d rather spend less, try the BaBylissPRO Nano Titanium Compact Folding Ionic Dryer, $84.99, which boasts impressive airflow. And remember: Heat protectant spray exists for a reason.

Lastly, if you’re air-drying your hair, consider a targeted air-dry cream to reduce waiting time. Try JVN Complete Hydrating Air Dry Hair Styling Cream, $28, with smoothing squalane and moringa seed oil. Also try Briogeo Style + Treat Air Dry Hair Styling Cream, $26, with deeply moisturizing shea butter and glycerin, and Curlsmith Weightless Air Dry Cream, $27, with castor and jojoba oil, both of which are perfect for curly hair but can be used on all hair types.

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Besides sunscreen, I firmly believe that no matter how many expensive serums, masks, or moisturizers you use, a cleanser is the single most important step in any effective skincare routine. Don’t just take my word for it. Whenever I’ve seen a dermatologist, facialist, or esthetician, their first question is always about which cleanser I use.

About a week ago, I got a bit of a scolding from one of those experts. The rich cleansing balm I’d been enjoying was actually breaking me out, and the fruity fragrance — thanks to a handful of essential oils — was completely stripping my skin. I was under strict instructions to pare things back. My mission? Find a gentle, fragrance-free cream cleanser that I could use for double cleansing in the evening (a must for removing all traces of makeup and sunscreen), and refreshing my skin in the morning. So when The Inkey List’s Hydrating Cream To Milk Cleanser, $19, landed on my desk, it felt like I’d hit the jackpot.

At first pump, this face wash feels like a lotion, but it transforms into a lightweight milk on contact with water. Just don’t underestimate its cleansing power — or its skincare benefits. One of the standout ingredients is 5% rice milk, a staple in many Korean skincare products that usually cost two or three times the price. Ideal for dry, flaky skin, rice milk helps soothe and soften while supporting the skin barrier, the outer layer that keeps moisture in and bacteria out. Beyond rice milk, there’s hydrating hyaluronic acid to counteract that tight, uncomfortable feeling post-cleanse, plus ultra-moisturizing glycerin and shea butter — two ingredients I actively seek out in skincare, particularly moisturizers.

The Inkey List Hydrating Cream-to-Milk Cleanser, $19

I usually have two or three cleansers in rotation in my shower, but I’ve shelved them all for this. Just a couple of pumps are enough to melt away the multiple layers of mascara, sunscreen, and foundation I wear every day. My skin feels surprisingly clean after the first cleanse (I always count one minute), but doing a second ensures everything is properly removed and that my skin is prepped for the rest of my routine. Beyond its cleansing power, it’s so moisturizing that I actually forgot to apply moisturizer one evening after using it — and didn’t even notice until the next morning. Normally, my skin feels like it might crack if I skip moisturizer. That’s how hydrating it is

I’m always keen to hear what my fellow beauty editors think, but when I put a call out on Instagram for other fans, I didn’t expect nearly as many replies. Beauty writer and Refinery29 contributor Vanese Maddix was first to extol its virtues: “Despite vowing to myself that 2025 would be the year I stopped having multiple skincare products open at once, every so often, a new launch comes along that completely throws me off guard and right now, that product is The Inkey List’s Hydrating Cream-to-Milk Cleanser,” she said.

Maddix swears by the brand’s Dewy Sunscreen SPF 30, $16, and Exosome Hydro-Glow Complex, $20, (a favorite of mine, too), so it’s safe to say that she trusts the brand with her face. “Its founders, Mark and Colette, certainly know how to make a good skincare product,” she added, “so when I heard the brand was launching a cream-to-milk cleanser, I couldn’t have been more excited. As someone with a normal-to-dry skin type, my face laps up anything with a milky texture, and this one did not disappoint.”

Like me, Maddix found that the intensely hydrating formula removed SPF and makeup effortlessly: “I often wear blue mascara, which can be a pain to take off, but this cleanser is up there with some of my favorite cleansing balms and oils as it removes every trace so quickly, without stinging or drying me out,” said Maddix. “I’ve tried my fair share of cleansers that say they don’t leave your skin feeling tight or dry afterwards, but this one genuinely doesn’t. After almost a month of using it, my skin continuously feels soft, moisturized, and hydrated after each use. That’ll be the 5% rice milk and hyaluronic acid doing their thing.” For Maddix, using it to the very last drop — and adding it to her repurchase list — is a “no-brainer”.

Beauty editor Lucy Abbersteen is equally enamored: “I love a cream cleanser so much and this got promoted to my bathroom cabinet after first use,” she told me. “The texture is such a dream, and it wipes off clean every time.” Beauty editor Madeleine Spencer said that she “adores it,” adding, “It’s so gentle and doesn’t leave my skin angry.” Likewise, beauty editor, trend forecaster, and brand consultant Louise Whitbread said that it’s great for double cleansing and especially gentle on her acne- and rosacea-prone skin.

You’re probably thinking, It’s just a cleanser. But not cleansing your skin properly — especially at night — means anything you apply afterwards (think potent retinol serums or exfoliating acids) won’t absorb as effectively. If you ask me, that’s a waste of both time and money.

Better still, you get a surprisingly generous amount of product for just $19, and it seems we’re all stocking up for the summer.

This story was originally published on Refinery29 UK.

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As I’m typing this, I can’t stop looking at my fingers gliding over the keyboard. Each nail is glossed to perfection (some even have dazzling glitter) in a gradient of luminous sunset tones. And the best part: I did them all by myself.

I’ve dabbled in the trend of at-home gel — and have proved quite capable with a lamp and solid polishes. But when it comes to nail art, I’m no artist. I love press-ons for gorgeous designs with zero dry time, but I struggle to keep them on for more than a few days. That’s  where Ohora’s gel nail strips come in. (I’m wearing the Carmel set here.)

If you’re old enough to remember nail wraps (basically, nail polish sticker sheets that you could apply directly to the nail and set with any top coat), Ohora’s strips work in a similar way. The K-beauty brand makes its strips from a semi-cured gel that finishes curing under a UV lamp. I actually discovered them at a drugstore in Japan, but was delighted to find them online at the brand’s Amazon storefront for $16 per set. (Great news for my nails, bad news for my wallet.)

Ohora Semi Cured Gel Nail Strips, $16

Ohora offers a wide variety of solid and nail art designs (including ones for your toes), plus seasonal options for the holidays, Valentine’s Day, and more. Each pack comes with 28 gel strips in various sizes. (I usually get two manicures per box before running out of sizes that fit my nails.) Since the nails are on clear sheets, you can visually “try on” which size fits best by holding it above your hand. Before starting, prep nails with the included pad (or, once you run out, I also love Dazzle Dry’s Nail Prep on a lint-free cotton pad) to remove oil from the nail surface.

Now for the fun part: If I’m not doing a solid color, I plan out my accent nail(s) accordingly and start with my left hand (I’m right-handed), beginning with the pinkies and working my way to the thumb. Doing it in this order helps avoid sticking nails together since the strips are longer than my natural length. After making sure each strip is evenly adhered, it’s time to finesse the shape. I like to follow a general rule of clipping 90% of the excess length and filing 10%, using downward strokes across the free edge to help it seal. I used my trusty SUNUV UV3 lamp and cured my nails for two minutes. (I tried 60 seconds for the first time and it wasn’t enough.) Repeat the same steps on your other hand, and voilà, your mani is done!Now this last step is optional, but I highly recommend sealing your work with a gel top coat (I use this one from Amazon) for that hyper-glossy shine and extra protection against wear and tear. To give you a peek behind the curtain, I did this mani on Wednesday, I’m writing this article on a Monday, and my nails still look perfect. As in, not-a-single-chip perfect. And mind you, I’m gearing up for a cross-country move and spent the weekend packing boxes and cleaning every inch of my apartment. I did dishes, laundry, cooked, worked out… and they’ve held up impressively well. If that’s not a stress test, I’m not sure what is.

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