If you’re tired of your vacation feeling like a mundane checklist of activities, Megan Thee Stallion and Airbnb are here to shake things up. As part of Airbnb’s latest initiative to enhance travel experiences, the vacation rental site has expanded beyond booking people’s homes through Airbnb Services and Airbnb Experiences. And kicking off Summer 2025 is the ultimate anime game day with Meg.

In the “Otaku Hottie Quest,” 12 participants take on a series of five challenges in the Otakuverse, a dimension Megan created dimension where the Otaku Hottie journey begins. The players level up to new tasks like styling their own preppy anime school outfit, a “floor is lava” hidden treasure quest, and a one-on-one Mortal Kombat competition on Xbox Series X. Along the way they’ll collect charms from Megan, their hottie senpai, to make prize Quest Bracelets to take home.

“Bringing the Otaku Hottie Quest to life with Airbnb has been such an amazing process,” Megan told Refinery29. “Anime has always been a passion of mine, so I’m really excited for the Hotties to get a little taste of my world. It’s going to be an adventure that the Hotties are going to absolutely love.”

Services offers travelers all the same conveniences as a hotel, from spa treatments and personal training to private chefs and personal photographers. The best part of these offers is that you can enjoy them either at your Airbnb-booked trip or from the comfort of your own home. Meanwhile, Experiences introduces travelers to the lifestyles of locals so you can skip general group tours of touristy spots. All Experiences activities are exclusively designed for Airbnb, like touring the Notre-Dame Cathedral with restoration architect Axelle Ponsonnet, making ramen with an award-winning chef in Japan, and journeying into an anime world designed by our favorite Hot Girl.

We had a quick chat with Megan about her love for anime, what to expect from the Otakuverse, and more.

Refinery29: What are your top 5 favorite anime?

Megan Thee Stallion: They change all the time, but right now, I just finished Solo Leveling. So I would have to say Solo Leveling is number one right now. JJK [Jujutsu Kaisen], InuYasha, Hunter x Hunter, and My Hero Academia.

How does Airbnb’s new Otakuverse experience create the ultimate Hot Girl Summer?

Well, to all my hotties that like anime, basically the experience is them going through quests, and we play Mortal Kombat and we eat ramen. There’s a challenge where they can’t touch the floors — that’s really crazy. They really just get to step into my world with me and it’s really going to be insane. You have never really done anything like this in real life.

It’s really amazing to be able to introduce us to this experience because a lot of Black people never used to feel comfortable openly embracing Japanese culture.

But the thing is, Black women have always loved anime. I just think A) If you’re a baddie and you like anime, people don’t believe you. Which is crazy because how are you not allowing me to enjoy this experience because I’m cute? And then, people never championed Black people who like anime. They were like, ‘Oh, you’re a nerd, you’re weird.’

R29: Which ties into the fact that we don’t want people putting us in a box as a monolith.

It’s like I don’t get it. What do you want from us?!

Selected fans will join Megan Thee Stallion in Los Angeles on June 12. In the meantime, there are a ton of other special offers to check out to get the most out of your PTO days this summer. We’re starting with an at-home deep tissue massage.

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Welcome to Refinery29 Loves, the monthly news bulletin where you’ll find our editor-approved lineup of the best to shop and see in fashion and beauty right now.

When it comes to fashion and beauty, the end of May was defined by one thing and one thing only: The Cannes Film Festival. After a so-called “decency” rule that cracked down on nudity and long trains on the famed red carpet, some could assume that the looks would be more reserved and restrained. But thankfully, our favorite stars still brought the heat to the South of France, including Charli XCX wearing a lilac feathered YSL silk slip and Dakota Johnson partying in a sheer crystal-embellished Gucci gown. Even in the rain, Rihanna made the case for aquamarine being the color of the season, attending the Highest 2 Lowest premiere in a blue knotted Alaïa dress — complete with an umbrella.

When it came to beauty, Julia Garner turned heads in a dark vampy lip and slick bleached hair, while Gabriette kept it all about the eyes with heavy black liner and a nude lip. But it was Bella Hadid that really got everybody talking — likely making tobacco blonde the salon request of the summer. As we look ahead to June, we’re turning our attention away from the red carpet and towards the store shelves, with a never-ending selection of beauty and fashion launches coming our way this month.

To discover all our favorite products and collections dropping this June, click through the slideshow ahead.

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When it comes to Las Vegas, certain things always come to mind: the iconic neon lights, the never-sleeping Strip, the world-famous clubs, and yes, those glittering casinos where trays of drinks seem to magically appear. But beyond the high-rolling headlines, Vegas is packed with unexpected activities that cater to every kind of trip you want to take, whether that’s a wellness weekend or a couple’s getaway or even your typical bachelorette party.

The city offers so much more than meets the eye, so we pinpointed different reasons to visit Vegas and then compiled a very comprehensive itinerary for each, from must-sees to not-so-known jaunts to budget-friendly finds. Between the omakase bars and art exhibits, there’s a version of Vegas you probably haven’t experienced yet.

Keep reading for under-the-radar activities that prove that Vegas is full of surprises — and not all of them involve a slot machine.

The Bachelorette Party

No one does parties quite like Vegas. And while it’s easy to get wrapped up in the must-dos of a bachelorette party (hello, Magic Mike), there are also ways to go off the grid (or save some money).

The Must-Sees: Brunch at one of the famous buffets is always a win, especially with a round of mimosas. Wicked Spoon at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas fit the bachelorette-meets-buffet bill, while Sadelle’s in Bellagio, Kassi Beach House inside Virgin Hotels Las Vegas and LAVO at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas give perfect bach vibes (sans buffet). For a more subdued mood, go for Sadelle’s, but if you want to start the party early, head to Kassi Beach House and LAVO. Don’t miss seeing a Magic Mike Live at SAHARA Las Vegas. But if you want something more chill, relax at the Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas, which includes bookable treatments, vitality pools, and even a theater-inspired heated room with aromatherapy, specialized lighting, and choreographed towel routines. You can also go for a more intimate cocktail vibe with live music at The Laundry Room or Velveteen Rabbit downtown.

The Not-So-Known Jaunts: For a moment off the Strip and away from the crowds, head to The Neon Museum, where vintage Vegas signage makes for a quirky, artsy photo op — especially golden hour evening tours. You can also book a private mixology class, like one with Mixology Las Vegas, to get the perfect night going.

The Budget-Friendly Finds: Big fun doesn’t have to come with a big price tag. Start the night with happy hour cocktails at spots like Alexxa’s at Paris Las Vegas, where they have happy hour Monday through Friday from 3 to 6 p.m. or Toca Madera that serves up a great happy hour from 4 to 6 p.m. on Monday, Wednesday to Friday. Try getting off the Strip to hit up Jammyland, located in the Arts District, for reggae vibes, strong drinks, and a colorful outdoor patio perfect for group hangs. Fergusons Downtown hosts rotating pop-ups, music, and food truck nights on weekends that feel like a hidden gem party. Then continue the party and head to Fremont Street for free live music, DJ sets, and the dazzling overhead light show — it’s retro Vegas energy at its finest.

The Couple’s Getaway

Vegas might be known as a wedding destination, but it’s also a wildly romantic place to sneak away with your significant other. Whether you’re after a little glamour, adventure, or a break from reality, there’s a version of Las Vegas for every couple.

The Must-Sees: Start with a stroll through Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Gardens, where the seasonal floral installations feel straight out of a storybook. While at Bellagio, grab a table at one of its many restaurants that overlook the fountains, or just book some bubbly before dinner on the champagne terrace. End the evening at the Mayfair Supper Club for live entertainment and golden-age Vegas glam, or take in an experience or concert at Sphere, one of the craziest ways to watch a concert or catch an immersive show. (Believe me.) Off the Strip, escape the crowds with a romantic dinner at Barry’s Downtown Prime at Circa Resort & Casino — an elegant, retro-modern steakhouse with moody lighting, plush booths, and a swanky, romantic vibe that channels old Vegas in all the right ways. Looking for something to liven up the night? Head to The Golden Tiki downtown for tropical cocktails and music.

The Not-So-Known Jaunts: For a totally different kind of date, head out to Seven Magic Mountains, a surreal, colorful art installation just 20 minutes south of the Strip. Or plan a sunset visit to Red Rock Canyon for hiking and unbeatable desert views — especially romantic if you bring a little picnic and time it right.

The Budget-Friendly Finds: Catch the Fountains of Bellagio (free, of course) or go for a casual cocktail at ReBAR, a kitschy cool spot in the arts district (don’t miss out on the $3 mystery shots). For something unique but affordable, grab tickets to a show at The Smith Center, a performing arts venue off-Strip that often features jazz, ballet, and Broadway shows without the Strip markup.

The Solo Trip

Whether you’re traveling for business or just because you can, Vegas is a surprisingly great city to explore alone. There’s no shortage of things to see, do, and eat, on your own terms.

The Must-Sees: Dive into interactive art at AREA15, a massive indoor space filled with immersive exhibits, installations, and experiences like Meow Wolf’s Omega Mart. (This is the second permanent exhibition, which opened in 2021.) Check out the Colors of Mexico, an immersive art experience that will blow you away (and the $15 entry fee goes straight towards anything you want at the restaurant or bar), or settle in for a solo dinner at Komodo or Mother Wolf — both in the newly opened Fontainebleau Las Vegas, where you’ll find beautiful settings that’ll have you feeling welcomed. You can also check out Cirque du Soleil, with shows at five venues across the Strip, including the longest-running Vegas show, Mystère at Treasure Island – TI Hotel & Casino, all of which will leave you speechless (and give you respite from the Vegas heat).

The Not-So-Known Jaunts: Explore the city’s more offbeat side at the Atomic Museum or Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum — ideal for a quirky solo experience that lets you explore your interests at your own pace. If you’re up for it, book a solo spa day at the Palms Casino Resort — the 17,000-square-foot spa has everything you could want, and you can use it all day with any $100 service.

The Budget-Friendly Finds: Wander Downtown Container Park, an open-air shopping and dining spot filled with boutique vendors, art, and live music — and no ticket required. Then, grab a bite at Evel Pie (for a cheese slice and a beer under $10) or treat yourself to a daytime show or matinee comedy set, which often come with discounted solo seating options.

The Foodie-Focused Visit

For the traveler who plans their day around reservations and hidden gems, Vegas is a world-class culinary playground. From celebrity-chef hotspots to secret eats tucked behind unmarked doors, there’s no shortage of bites worth booking.

The Must-Sees: Make time for a meal at é by José Andrés – The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, a high-concept chef’s counter hidden inside Jaleo. Or grab sushi at Kame Omakase, a luxurious omakase experience with only a handful of seats per night located in Chinatown. The Fontainebleau Las Vegas also has another great omakase option, ITO, which offers two seating options a night with just 12 seats. Other top hits: RPM Italian inside The Forum Shops at Caesars Palace, the newly opened Gjelina – The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, and the unforgettable Hell’s Kitchen by Gordon Ramsay – Caesars Palace, where the Beef Wellington lives up to the hype. Head to Main St. Provisions in the Arts District or La Mona Rosa in Fremont East for delicious eats that are beloved by locals.

The Not-So-Known Jaunts: Sneak over to Secret Pizza (no sign, third floor of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas) for a late-night slice, or book a food tour with Lip Smacking Foodie Tours, which offers guided tastings at multiple top restaurants without the wait. For off-Strip eats, Vegas’ Chinatown is a goldmine — try Raku (Japanese), Chubby Cattle (hot pot), or Pho Kim Long (a Vietnamese staple that’s open very early and very late).

The Budget-Friendly Finds: Tacos are king at Tacos El Gordo, where a loaded plate and horchata won’t break the bank. For happy hour hits, Esther’s Kitchen in the Arts District is a fave of many, serving handmade pastas and house cocktails for a fraction of the usual price. And don’t sleep on the city’s many all-you-can-eat sushi spots, where quality rolls often come in under $30 a person.

The Wellness Retreat

Yes, Vegas can absolutely be a reset destination. Beyond the casinos and cocktail carts, the city has carved out a space for travelers looking to relax, recharge, and get a little headspace.

The Must-Sees: Spend a day at Canyon Ranch Spa inside The Venetian Resort Las Vegas, where day passes get you access to hydrotherapy circuits, fitness classes, and relaxation lounges. Another favorite: the spa at Waldorf Astoria Las Vegas, with sweeping Strip views and deeply restorative treatments. Start the morning with a smoothie or acai bowl from everbowl or Tropical Smoothie Cafe, before heading into a spa day or yoga session.

The Not-So-Known Jaunts: Venture beyond the Strip for a hike at Mount Charleston or book a sound bath at the spa at Virgin Hotels Las Vegas, which offers sound healing and mindfulness treatments in a serene, offbeat setting. For something unique, try halotherapy (salt therapy) at Salt Room LV, which is great for skin, respiratory health, and relaxation.

The Budget-Friendly Finds: Take advantage of free yoga in Downtown Container Park. (And check with your hotel concierge to find other yoga offerings throughout the Strip and beyond.) Visit Springs Preserve, a low-cost oasis only five miles from the Strip with walking trails, botanical gardens, a butterfly habitat, and sustainability exhibits.

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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 customer experience senior manager who makes $143,524 per year and who spends some of her money this week on a theatre donation. 

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: Customer experience, senior manager
Industry: SAAS technology
Age: 38
Location: San Diego, CA
Salary: $143,524
Household Income/Finances Setup: $143,524 — my husband V. and I share a single income. He used to own a business and supported me while I built my career, then he sold his business so we could pursue my career opportunities. He is now retired. We put almost all our monthly expenses on a points credit card, which we pay off in full each month. He does errands, laundry, and maintains the home and sticks to the budget we set together.
Assets: About $8,000 in liquid/emergency savings in a HYSA; $224,000 in retirement investment accounts; $18,000 in brokerage accounts (split into a dividend-focused portfolio and a long-term growth portfolio). We also have 10-year-old Honda, Blue Book is approximately $14,000 on it.
Debt: $0
Paycheck Amount (2x/month): $4,382.81
Pronouns: She/her

Monthly Expenses

Housing Costs: We rent a loft in the downtown area for $2,900 and pay an additional $175 for a dedicated parking space in a garage.
Loan Payments: $0
Internet: $65
SDG&E Electric & Gas: $125-350 (this varies. It’s low in the winter, then up to $350 in the summer — and that’s not just a/c, the prices go way up in summer).
ClassPass: $99
Entertainment Subscriptions: $165 (streaming services, AI, games, LinkedIn Pro).
Coffee Bean Subscription: $45
Money To Family: $350
Life Insurance: $86 ($38 for me and $48 for V.).
Savings “Expenses”: $307.81 auto-deposit from paycheck (after net) to retirement; $500 transferred to brokerage.

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?
Oh, yes. It was absolutely understood that everyone in our family must go to college or university and absolutely must pay for it themselves, just like my parents did, because (to my parents) that’s the only path to upward mobility. They were enormously disappointed when I chose to go to trade school instead of university, but I chose one that still offered a bachelor’s to mitigate the impact. Even so, I’m the youngest of five kids and was still the first to get a college degree (some of my siblings later got undergrad and graduate degrees). To pay for school I took out student loans (going into tens of thousands of dollars into debt as a teenager) and worked full time. When I graduated with my degree, my parents paid off one year’s worth of tuition of my loans as a graduation gift. I’m lucky to have paid off the last of my student loans last year.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s)/guardian(s) educate you about finances?
My parents tried very hard to teach us about money and finances. They encouraged savings and budgeting and would fill in an accounting ledger of household expenses with us, and were transparent about resource constraints. If we wanted something we had to present a “business case” for the purchase explaining our reasoning, the budget for it, and where we expected the money to come from. At any time we could do work around the house or property for an hourly wage to “earn” enough to “pay” for our item and they would show us how it was budgeted. My dad would also talk around the dinner table and with his friends about investments/stocks/the economy which we sometimes paid attention to and often didn’t.

What was your first job and why did you get it?
Aside from working around the house, I would babysit, do odd jobs, and sell things around the neighborhood. Around Christmastime my sisters and I would gather mistletoe from the trees and tie it up with ribbon and sell them outside the grocery store for extra spending money. My sisters were in FFA and raised and sold livestock, but I never really involved myself with that. I would deliver eggs across the neighborhood for money. We were very entrepreneurial. I got a job at a local ice cream and smoothie shop in town as soon as I turned 16 to start earning “real money” at minimum wage.

Did you worry about money growing up?
I thought about money constantly growing up. I hated being stuck out in the country and really wanted to live in a city, and I thought money was the only way to gain independence and accomplish that. I started saving money as early as I could and was always looking for opportunities to grow my little nest egg so I could move out on my own. I dreamed every night about a house with no siblings in it!

Do you worry about money now?
I try not to, but honestly, I do. I make a good salary that feels like it should be “enough”, but I worry about having enough money for retirement. I have some savings but not much and I know my parents will leave me an inheritance, but I still worry about the future and our long-term finances. Day to day and month to month, I’m not too concerned, although there are some luxuries I go without because I feel guilty buying them and some luxuries I’m totally capricious about (usually food). Our biggest expenses are entertainment (concerts, shows), travel (when we can), gifts (big families), and food (high grocery expense and dining out), so it is easy to pull back if we start to feel overextended.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
I moved out of my parents’ house when I graduated high school at 18 and was completely financially independent from that time on. During college they would give cash gifts for my birthday and Christmas to help me out, but no regular support. I understand the enormous privilege of knowing that if I were ever hard-pressed or insolvent my parents would be able to, and likely willing to, bail me out.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
Yes — my parents paid off about $12,000 worth of student loans when I graduated college with my degree. When my grandmother passed she left each of us $10,000 and my dad’s brother left all the nieces and nephews $20,000 when he passed away (he had no children). My sister gave me her car when she moved away and my husband’s family gave us a car when a grandparent passed away. I currently receive about $900 a year in dividends from my investment accounts and those are all reinvested back into the portfolio. My parents intend to leave money and property to us kids, evenly divided, when they eventually pass.

Day One: Wednesday

4:15 a.m. — UGH, a neighbor’s poor dog has been barking for hours and disturbing our sleep. It’s just been a generally noisy night so sleep has been interrupted a lot. Such is urban living! It’s one of the trade-offs at times. We try to go back to sleep and drift in and out. Around 5:20 a.m. we just commit to being awake. I do my usual morning routine: check the news, play my word games, send Wordle to Dad, and check in on the schedule and work before my team starts at 6 a.m.

6:45 a.m. — Realize we forgot to buy milk (again), so I have a double espresso instead of my usual cappuccino. An avid tea drinker, I brew a pot of Thunder Dragon green tea — smells amazing, but a little too delicate, I note on the bag to try mixing it.

9:30 a.m. — V. (my husband, retired) does a grocery run (eggs, milk, and cereal) and makes me a cappuccino when he gets back. Morning meetings done. One of my team is out on parental leave, so I give the other departments a sweet update about the new baby. I check in with HR about a gift. $31.46

12 p.m. — Pulled into a call and work through lunch. I snack on wasabi peas and a peanut mix while trying to figure out when I’ll squeeze in yoga today…

2:45 p.m. — Sign off early. It’s gray and rainy and I’m ready to be done. I confirm plans with my friend S. for tonight (we’re watching Succession together) and decide we’ll start at 5 p.m. I was thinking about a bath but V. is using the tub for hand-wash laundry. I realize I’m so hungry, so I eat half the Caprese salad we made yesterday and finish the wasabi peas. V. puts on music (The Smiths, Kraftwerk, Blondie) while I prep dinner, then he cleans the tub and draws me a bath. He takes over dishes and cleanup. I open a bottle of Rioja from my dad’s cellar (his favorite gift to give) — perfect rainy-day pairing.

6 p.m. — Our friends S. and P. come over for our weekly viewing night. I bake chicken and veggies on a sheet pan, make a big salad, and bake madeleines as a treat.

9 p.m. — We do our nighttime routine: wash face and follow with glycolic acid, The Ordinary serums, moisturizer, and lip balm. Brush and floss teeth. Body and foot lotion and a sleep mask on my eyes!

Daily Total: $31.46

Day Two: Thursday

5:30 a.m. — Awake but groggy from a restless night. I check work to make sure nothing needs immediate attention before my team starts at 6 a.m., then lounge reading the news and playing my morning games. V. is still snoozing, and I didn’t get out of bed for yoga today. I drag myself up, wash my face, put on my beloved Coola Sun Silk Drops (I’m obsessed!), and make a cappuccino. I sip and scroll Reddit for a bit while the sun rises and the fog burns off outside our windows.

7 a.m. — Sit down to work and dig into the new analytics framework we’re building to support the revenue team. I brew a big pot of genmaicha and go heads-down until lunch.

10:15 a.m. — Skipped yoga again this morning, so V. and I tackle 40 minutes of Rodney Yee Power Yoga. Quick shower and hair wash afterward, then back to my desk with a snack: cottage cheese topped with black pepper, plus a fresh pot of Thunder green tea.

11:30 a.m. — V. reminds me that his dad’s birthday party is this weekend and he needs to grab a gift. He orders high-end socks his dad mentioned over the holidays. Shift gears for a team training session. We’re adding a new discipline to the team, and it leaves me feeling really excited for the future. $70

2 p.m. — Virtual happy hour with a former colleague. She’s recently married and in a new role she loves! I share that I’m preparing for a pivot to a larger company and reflect on how much I’ve developed over the past year.

3 p.m. — Done with work and head over to my dad’s house to help him hang some pictures, so he thanks me with lemons from my mom’s garden and a box of wine bottles from his cellar (score!). I rush home to hand off the car so V. can go to a friend’s game night.

5 p.m. — Solo night in! I steam a couple of eggs, reheat some leftovers V.’s sister sent us home with on Friday, and heat up a pot of ramen broth. Open one of the gifted white wines to chill. Quick sweep while dinner heats. Sparkling water in a giant glass and ready to watch a movie remotely with my brother (Edge of Tomorrow). We text live reactions throughout. He lives far away so this is our monthly routine to stay in touch, I do a remote-view movie night with each of my siblings on occasion (two brothers and two sisters, all live far from me). It’s a nice way to keep in touch without the pressure of a full conversation — we all live very different lives and my brothers especially are of few words.

8 p.m. — I take a quick shower, wash my face and do a hydration mask (Paula’s Choice Repair+) and start watching things I like that V. doesn’t (specifically, a Jane Austen mini series called Lost in Austen. I love it but five hours of Jane Austen is too much for him). I end up falling asleep on the couch.

11 p.m. — V. wakes me up when he gets home. We chat, brush teeth, and head to bed by 11:30 p.m. So glad I have tomorrow off!

Daily Total: $70

Day Three: Friday

5 a.m. — V. and I are wide awake! On a Friday! We snuggle and lounge and read in bed until 7 a.m., then he makes us cappuccinos and puts on a jazz mix this morning — Domi and JD Beck, Khruangbin, Miles Davis. We read and play games for a bit; I have today off from work (I sprinkle in PTO days on weekdays to run errands and spend some time together — we haven’t been traveling lately so I don’t need to save up vacation days).

9 a.m. — V. hops in the shower and I do some mobility training and a dumbbell circuit. While he’s shaving, I clean up and we both get ready for our hair appointment at 11 a.m. I realize I’m hungry, so I make a peanut butter and banana sandwich and weigh out the peanut butter — which comes with the realization I have forgotten to track ANY of my meals for the entire week! I’m tracking to drop a few pounds and ensure I keep my protein intake up (I know protein is a contentious topic in Money Diaries, but I do struggle to eat enough of it). I try not to beat myself up about it and log *this* snack. It’s almost exactly half of my daily calories — so I guess that’s a meal, not a snack! I log it in my nutrition tracker for the first time this week.

11 a.m. — We drive to our hair appointment with my friend, who runs her own salon studio. V. grabs coffees for all of us from the cart outside ($32.45). Haircuts for both of us are $150. She’s the only one who touches my hair — we also do keratin treatments two or three times a year. Today it’s just a trim each for me and V. $182.45

12:45 p.m. — Back home and chill out for a bit, playing games and reading. I start a new book, Automated Alice. V. suggests going down the block for a snack so we grab Palomas, guac, and sopes at our usual happy hour spot. $80.82

2 p.m. — Back home again, we lounge and watch an episode of Reacher and do our nails — cut, file, buff, and cuticle cream.

5 p.m. — I make a salad and we open one of the wines from Dad’s cellar. We settle in for a lazy night and talk about the day.

9 p.m. — Nighttime routine: wash face, hyaluronic, peptides, moisturizer. Brush and floss and into bed.

Daily Total: $263.27

Day Four: Saturday

7:22 a.m. — It’s Saturday! Sleep in a bit, then I putz around on my phone while V. makes coffee and puts on a great mix — Black Pumas, The Kills, Anderson .Paak. I do yoga while we listen to music. After, we chat about meals for the week and make a grocery list. I text with my dad about watching a movie together tonight — he’s headed to the farmers’ market and can grab veggies. We wash up and head to the store around 10 a.m.

11:30 a.m. — We drive to the good grocery store since we need heavier pantry items, which makes it a pricier trip. We restock on some spendy items: giant bottle of olive oil, a few spices, hot sauce, canned beans and peppers, two bottles of wine. We also pick up groceries for the week (salmon, chicken, pie dough, frozen and fresh veggies, eggs, whole and non-fat milk, and a pack of beer) plus some treats: freeze-dried strawberries for a new recipe to try, chocolate covered almonds. $235.46

12 p.m. — Back home, we unpack groceries. V. cracks a beer and puts on more music — Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Phoenix, Hot Chip — while I prep dinner. I cold-brew green tea with rose, then chop veggies and chicken for a pot pie. I try the new cookie recipe using ground freeze-dried strawberries. The dough smells amazing, but they come out underbaked despite following the instructions and leaving them in an extra couple of minutes. I always try a recipe as-written first before making any updates — I will definitely want to tweak this one.

3 p.m. — I spend the next couple of hours working on my passion project — I’m building a small app in my free time. After that, V. and I chill with some TV before heading out to see our friend in a play tonight. I’ve been avoiding it, but I finally check my investment account to see how it’s doing after the tariff announcements. Most of my holdings are long-term or dividend-focused, but I’m down 12%. Woof. Trying not to stress.

6 p.m. — Despite having older sisters, I never learned to do hair or makeup — they always did it for me. I went to culinary school and worked in kitchens, so there was never much need. Now, anytime I try to “glam up” for an event or date night, I feel totally lost. This year I’m trying to teach myself using YouTube. I practice curling my hair with a curling iron my mom gave me. It turns out bouncy and cute! The makeup doesn’t work, so I wash it off and stick with my usual tinted sunscreen and mascara. Still, I feel good and head out to the play with V. It’s a long drive up to North County to the playhouse. We jam out to some music, find easy street parking, and pick up our tickets at the box office before the show. $37.50

8 p.m. — At intermission, V. grabs us each a drink and drops a donation to the theater. $39

10:20 p.m. — We finally get home. We eat some Triscuits and watch a little Schitt’s Creek to wind down before bed.

Daily Total: $311.96

Day Five: Sunday

7 a.m. — We’re up and lounging with cappuccinos. There’s a lot of noise outside as a block party is being set up downtown. We hang on the couch reading and chatting with the windows open, listening to the city wake up.

9:30 a.m. — We roll out our mats and do an hour of yoga. Both of us had plans to do workouts later, but neither of us is feeling it, so we call this our movement for the day. After yoga, we make a big pot of tea and sit down to read with music on.

11 a.m. — V. finishes off the leftover chicken pot pie and I eat some cottage cheese with a big glass of milk. Then we head out for a long walk in the sunshine along the waterfront, people-watching and boat-gazing until the heat drives us back home. V. and I are watching the Spartacus show he got me into and we make it to the finale! So surprising! I’m so excited to continue but sad to see that season 2 goes back in time as a prequel so I will have to wait until season 3 for the events to continue!!

1:45 p.m. — I’m feeling snackish so I quickly mix together one of our favorite snacks — yogurt cake. Unfortunately after mixing the cake batter I realize I loaned our cake pans to a friend! I make do with two mini casserole dishes but the cake will bake weird in glass — it will still be a tasty snack but not the intended texture. I top one with almonds and one with the leftover fresh strawberries from yesterday. They indeed turn out weird but fine.

3:30 p.m. — V. opens a bottle of white wine while we settle in to watch the Spartacus prequel and munch on yogurt cake. We purchase the season, which is $9.99, using credit card points. It’s a pretty good story and I like how it fits into the season 1 we just finished, but I’m still really eager to move on to the events following the dramatic season 1 finale. Lucy Lawless is flawless in this show!

5 p.m. — I prep dinner: roasted salmon covered in gochujang and blood orange slices, plus a giant Caesar salad with roasted red peppers, tiny mozzarellas, parmesan and Caesar dressing with lots of lemon juice added to thin the dressing. V. checks if The White Lotus finale is out yet — almost!

6:30 p.m. — After The White Lotus, we clean up and discuss the episode — and the whole season. We, like anybody, do plenty of multi-episode watches, but I really like the current series that we watch along the way because the forced week of reflection gives us lots of chances to talk through the story and discuss our impressions. These conversations are the most fun part of experiencing the content for me, like discussing a good book one is reading.

8 p.m. — The block party is still going strong, so instead of getting ready for bed, we hang out in the living room with a sitcom on in the background and play some games. The party cranks the volume for the final songs — lots of Journey singalongs — and we wait it out — they have a pretty strict curfew of 10 p.m. for these block parties so it shouldn’t be loud too much longer.

9:30 p.m. — Nighttime routine and into bed. Music cuts off at 10 p.m. sharp and it’s quiet again. We fall asleep immediately.

Daily Total: $0

Day Six: Monday 

5:30 a.m. — I do my usual news scroll, word games, and send Wordle to dad. Get up to clean my face and do a yoga session before work. My boss is already Slacking me with some things to look into first thing on this Monday morning! Here we go!

6:45 a.m. — At my desk with a cappuccino and ready to start the day. Today’s tea is roasty-toasty hojicha, which feels cozy. I dive into email and prep work for a report due today. I also fill in my planner every Monday morning and, it’s silly, but I give myself a little gold sticker for any days in the previous week that were “$0 Days” or a day where we didn’t spend any money. It’s a little pat on the back for myself.

10 a.m. — I use my lunch break for a full-body workout and snack on some cottage cheese. Back to the grind after.

1 p.m. — My afternoon analytics meeting ends up being a no-show, which is a bit of karmic balance — I totally ghosted someone earlier last week by missing a meeting. I rescheduled it, of course, but still feel bad. I get the time back and keep working on refining our analytics.

3 p.m. — Done with work for the day! I spend some time brainstorming and journaling ahead of dinner with my dad tonight. We like to meet a few times a year to talk through family stuff, end-of-life planning, and creative projects we’re working on. He’s mentoring me on a short story idea, and I want to bring some thoughts to share.

5 p.m. — Try curling my hair again — I’m getting better at it! V. walks me to dinner and I check in for our reservation.

9 p.m. — Dinner was great! Dad gave me updates on his and mom’s end-of-life plans and we talked about the rest of the family. Most of the time we just brainstormed ideas for a short story we want to co-write. I’ve never been much of a writer, but he wrote a few novels (unpublished), and I love the idea of collaborating. Last time we tried, I totally froze up. This time I have a solid idea, and he’s excited to help me get it started. V. meets us at the restaurant for a nightcap and then walks me home to hear all about it. Dad treats dinner. V. picked up Thai takeout while I was out. $45.06

10 p.m. — Nighttime routine. I forget to wash my face (oops). Bed.

Daily Total: $45.06

Day Seven: Tuesday

5 a.m. — I’m awake but just laying with my eyes closed and letting my mind wander. V. and I will often wake up but stay in a half rest and snuggle in the morning for a little bit. I grab my phone for my usual news and games and then get up at 6 to wash my face.

6:30 a.m. — Make my cap and send Wordle off to my dad. I have a call in the personal development realm at 7 a.m. so instead of a video I just stretch and do yoga while reading the instructions for that call. Still feeling Monday’s workout in my hamstrings so they get a lot of attention. At 6:45 a.m. I log into work and get prepped. I’m solid with meetings straight through until lunch so I brew a big pot of tea and get out my notepad!

11:17 a.m. — Back to back meetings all morning — barely even time to pee! I’m hungry and seem to have a crick in my neck that I need to stretch out. I’m a little late getting to lunch and have to hurry back for another meeting so I’ll have an abbreviated lunch. I grab a quick snack of a peanut butter and banana sandwich and a big glass of milk. I munch on this while I scroll LinkedIn and make some updates to my personal webpage for the job hunt, then brainstorm some ideas for personal development to feed the process. Then it is back to the grind.

3 p.m. — Done! V. stepped out for a massage (booked using ClassPass, so he only pays the gratuity) so I have the house to myself so I ditch the headphones and put on some music for my usual post-work dance break with light tidying — today it’s Tame Impala, Thudercat, and Toro y Moi (we are seeing him in concert in May, can’t wait!). $30

3:30 p.m. — V. is back and we will be heading over to his sister’s house for dinner and TV tonight. She makes dinner but it usually isn’t quite enough food and protein for V.’s macros so we cook up a ground turkey taco bowl to give him a boost and I pick at it a little and eat some cottage cheese. We head to his sister’s.

9 p.m. — We stop for gas on the way home from V.’s sister’s. She, as usual, sent us home with a bunch of leftovers and oranges from her tree. I want to clean up the kitchen before heading to bed (I like to wake up to a blank slate and not have yesterday’s mess around). I do some cleanup — this kind of irks V… He doesn’t work so he considers maintaining the home “his” responsibility and sometimes when I clean he takes it as a comment on something he missed, so he apologizes or tells me that he was going to do that — but I think that we both live here and contribute to the making of the mess, so cleaning is everyone’s responsibility. It can be tricky to manage the emotional aspect but luckily we are both kind and generous people so we just talk it out. I try to tell him that I don’t *mind* cleaning, I like to tidy! My skin feels a little grimy after kitchen work so I grab a quick shower and a good scrub before my nighttime routine and into bed. $68.42

Daily Total: $98.42

The Breakdown

Conclusion 

“This week felt like it included a lot of ‘extras’, like getting our hair cut (every few months), dining out a little more, and a big grocery restock of things we don’t buy often. I’m constantly trying to rein in our grocery budget, which always seems so high for just two people, so I try to keep trips to the store to about $100 and make sure nothing goes bad or gets wasted. With the political uncertainty around recent policy changes (announcing tariffs, then pausing them, etc) the volatility makes me a bit nervous. I’ll try to buy the dip in my brokerage, but I’m very risk averse, so it makes me extra anxious. Actually writing everything down, including what V. was spending, was really eye-opening for me about how things add up over the week and afterwards we sat down and redid our budget. I think the little kitschy elements like my gold sticker for $0 days help me have a positive approach to managing my money without delving into stress and worry while introducing and maintaining good habits.”

Money Diaries are meant to reflect an individual’s experience and do not necessarily reflect Refinery29’s point of view. Refinery29 in no way encourages illegal activity or harmful behavior.

The first step to getting your financial life in order is tracking what you spend — to try on your own, check out our guide to managing your money every day. For more Money Diaries, click here.

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A Week In Northern California On A $53,100 Salary

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Forget tinted moisturizer or serum foundation for a moment. “Skin tints” are taking their place as the must-have makeup product ahead of summer.

For those who aren’t already sold on their myriad benefits, skin tints occupy a cosy space between a light-coverage foundation and your most hydrating skincare product. The feel? Featherlight. The finish? Super natural. Unlike heavier base products such as concealer or foundation, tints allow skin to look like skin while very subtly tucking away any gripes you might have, like redness, scarring, or breakouts.

It’s why countless brands, including Saie, Fenty Beauty, and Lisa Eldridge, are on board. But with so much choice out there, weeding out the products that deserve recognition from the ones that fall flat is no mean feat.

Ahead, I tried seven trending skin tints so you don’t have to, and for me, there’s one clear winner.

Lisa Eldridge Enhancing Skin Tint, $40.50

It took me a little while to find the right shade in makeup artist Lisa Eldridge’s first-ever skin tint (T4, in case you were wondering; T5 and T6 were far too yellow for my light olive skin). This appeared matte at first and took a few minutes to “settle” into my skin, but once it meshed with my natural oils, it was virtually indiscernible — and looked so natural. Usually by the end of the da,y my T-zone feels like a slip ‘n’ slide, but I noticed that my face was much less oily, so I delved into the ingredients. It’s hardly sexy, but this tint boasts modified corn starch, which reduces the oily feel of products. I can only assume that it also helped mop up additional face grease throughout the day. Though it’s featherlight, this lasted the longest on my skin. At $49, it’s dearer than most of the tints on this list, but one squeeze was enough to cover my entire face and neck.

MILK Makeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint in shade 4, $34

This skin tint feels virtually weightless, and just a pea-sized amount is enough to blur redness and dark marks. It blends effortlessly in seconds with a fluffy brush, so I tend to reach for it when I need to look put together quickly! As you can see here, the finish sits nicely between matte and dewy, giving skin a soft, healthy glow. Blush and bronzer layer smoothly on top, and best of all, it doesn’t aggravate my acne. However, the packaging could use some work. The nozzle tends to leak, so be sure the cap is tightly closed to avoid spills in your makeup bag. While the formula blends well across tones, the range is limited to just 15 shades. I’d love to see more options for deeper skin tones.

Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 in shade 24, $38

I’ve been reaching for this skin tint non-stop since I discovered it a few weeks ago — it’s that good. The bonus? It comes with SPF 50, making it a no-brainer for summer. One squeeze is enough to cover my face and neck, and while the coverage is sheer and feels more like wearing skincare, it still does a great job of camouflaging breakouts and dark spots. Some days I skip concealer entirely; other days, I just dab a little under my eyes. I’ve even had a few compliments on my skin lately — including at the end of the day, when I’d usually expect my base to have worn off. It lasts better than most tints I’ve tried, which earns it the winning position. That said, I wouldn’t rely on it as my sole SPF and always layer a dedicated sunscreen underneath.

Hourglass Veil Hydrating Skin Tint, $49

The most expensive tint on the list suitably boasts the smoothest application. It virtually glides on, blends quickly, minimizes the appearance of pores, tucks away redness, and makes skin glow in all the right places. Even better, it feels like wearing nothing, but it sticks around: I put it through its paces during a 30-minute high-intensity workout, and it didn’t budge an inch. My only gripe is that it becomes ever so slightly darker after a few hours of wear. If you like to look bronzed, this shouldn’t be an issue, but you could always opt for a shade lighter. That said, the color range — 18 in total — isn’t as extensive as others like Fenty, for instance.

MAC Strobe Dewy Skin Tint, $34

This tint was the wettest. That is by no means a bad thing; it blended into my skin quickly, felt cooling and hydrating, and made my face gleam. No, really: MAC isn’t messing around with the word “dewy” here. After an hour or so, I noticed that the intensity had worn off a little and the finish appeared more natural. In fact, it’s this product which Terry Barber, MAC’s director of makeup artistry, used to create a “dim lighting” effect on models’ skin at London Fashion Week last year — essentially providing a warm, muted glow. The coverage is great for a tint — so fluid, and one squeeze is ample.

Clinique Even Better Clinical Vitamin Makeup Foundation SPF 50, $48

I’m including this as a tint because it’s so sheer — and such a joy to use. The first time I applied it, I was in a rush and was genuinely surprised by how quickly and effortlessly it melted into my skin with my trusty fluffy brush. One pump was enough to cover my face and neck, and I didn’t have to work it in at all. It subtly softened the post-acne pigmentation on my cheeks and took the edge off my dark circles. I also love that it’s packed with skin-loving ingredients, and I’m hopeful the added vitamin C will help brighten things up even more, which makes me excited to keep using it. I used the handy QR code on the website to find my perfect match: Light Medium Cool 1. There are another 25 shades to choose from.

Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint, $36

This review wouldn’t be complete without an OG tint to compare the much newer launches to. The first time I tried this, I was an unwavering full coverage foundation person, but I’ve come to appreciate it massively since. It’s a little bit more pigmented than the rest of the tints here, so I can happily skip concealer. The finish occupies a space between matte and dewy, providing a soft-focus effect. Then there’s the shade range — 25 to be exact — which is much more extensive than others. It blends into the skin without any effort, and makeup sits beautifully on top of it.

Kosas BB Burst Tinted Gel Cream, $38

The compliments I received while wearing this tinted gel cream affords it the winning position. The consistency is slightly thicker than the others, which lends a soft-matte effect. One pump evened out my skin beautifully. I needed a dab of concealer to effectively mask an angry red spot on my cheek, but the way it blurred the skin staining I have left behind by previous breakouts was impressive. It lasted all day, including a trip to the hairdresser (a very wet backwash and a hot blowdry) plus a dinner event that creeped into the early hours. It’s the only tint I’ve found myself reaching for since, particularly because bronzer and blush apply so well over the top.

Revolution Pro CC Perfecting Skin Tint, $12

For the price, this is so impressive. At first squeeze it’s bright white — a common feature of most CC (color corrector) creams and tints — but as I blended it into my skin, the tiny encapsulated pigments popped to reveal the tint. I opted for shade Medium, which was a little too dark for my liking, but the product itself was similar to some of the luxury tints on this list: it blended in moments (I used a brush) and masked redness and skin staining left behind by spots. The coverage is substantial (I didn’t use any concealer on my under eyes), and the finish sits comfortably between matte and dewy. It held up so well that it felt a shame to remove my makeup at the end of the day. The obvious downside is the shade range of which there are only four: Light, Medium, Ta,n and Dark. The website suggests that they correspond with four shades of the brand’s foundation, which indicates that they are somewhat flexible, but I’d recommend scoping them out in store.

Saie Slip Tint Tinted Moisturizer, $36

Give this a good shake before you use it! The first few squeezes deposited a puddle of oil onto the back of my hand. Seeing as I have reactive, acne-prone skin, I was reluctant to go any further, but it lent the most skin-like finish out of all of the tints on this list. While the coverage isn’t as substantial as others (you can see a few spots and scars peeking through), my skin appeared quenched and plump. I do have a few gripes, though. Firstly, it has a paint-like smell that takes a good while to dissipate. Secondly, it felt a little sticky, and my curtain bangs kept getting caught on my cheeks throughout the day. That’s nothing a good, lightweight powder, like Saie Airset Radiant Loose Setting Powder — won’t fix. It’ll provide a little extra coverage, too.

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Glossier is a brand that has its finger firmly on the pulse. It pioneered the minimalist, “your skin, but better” look that has dominated the beauty trend cycle for years. There’s also the cult-favourite You perfume, an intimate, musky fragrance that ignited the demand for skin-like scents. And, who can forget when the brand tapped a then up-and-coming Olivia Rodrigo as its first-ever celebrity spokesperson? So when we caught wind that the brand teamed up with pop girl group Katseye for the launch of its new product, a cooling lip oil named Lip Glaze, £22, we immediately knew that this was newsworthy on all fronts.

If you haven’t heard of Katseye, start taking notes now: the rising girl group of the moment is poised to become the Spice Girls of the social media age. Its six members — Sophia Laforteza, Lara Raj, Meret Manon Bannerman, Daniela Avanzini, Megan Skiendiel and Yoonchae Jeung — hail from all over the world, after successfully competing in Netflix’s Pop Star Academy, a K-pop style survival talent show. The group’s newest release, a campy earworm of a club banger named “Gnarly“, has entered the Billboard Hot 100 and Spotify Global Charts.

Off the success of the group’s latest single and the launch of Lip Glaze, we talked all things beauty with Katseye, from their secret skincare habits to the Glossier products they never go without.

R29: How do you personally define the word “gnarly”? From the lyrics of your new single, it feels open to so many interpretations.

Sophia Laforteza: A recent slang word that I’ve been using a lot is “ew”. You know how when people think of the word “ew”, they think it’s gross and disgusting? But I’ve been using it when something absolutely eats, like when someone’s blush looks amazing. That eventually turned into using the word “gnarly” to describe something that looks really good. There’s a duality to “gnarly”; you can definitely use it in a good way and in a bad way.

R29: How are you finding the response to “Gnarly”? There were lots of extreme reactions and memes at first, but the song has really caught on.

Lara Raj: It’s been overwhelming and exciting. To be so real with you, people were really jarred by the song at first, so that was pretty hard for us. But [the turnaround in fan opinion] happened in the span of one day, when we did our first live performance in Korea. I think that because “Gnarly” is such a talking song, the visual part of the performance is something that the song needs. It’s definitely been a rollercoaster for us, but we also understood the fans’ perspective: when we first heard the song, we were like, “Wow, this is so different!”, and it’s something that gags you a little bit. We’re so grateful to see how many people are loving it now and the success that it’s bringing to us.

R29: Let’s chat a bit more about beauty. In your GRWM video with Glossier, Manon talked about her love for shaved brows. Do you have any tips on how to do this perfectly?

Meret Manon Bannerman: I just love the straight brow look; it makes my face look snatched and more awake. Here’s what I do: I shave off the top edge of my brow [where there’s typically a natural arch] and I use a brow pencil to draw on the ends, so it looks more straight. PSA: You have to be very careful, or they might not end up looking good. But my members have all done it and they all look amazing, so I honestly feel like everyone should try having straight brows.

R29: Since you spend so much time together, what are some cool beauty tips you’ve picked up from each other?

SL: Lara loves using her eyeliner pencil as a lip liner.

LR: Yeah, it’s because it stays on so much longer than regular lip products. I’m obsessed with Glossier’s No. 1 Pencil, £18, in the shade Frame. It’s a neutral dark brown that looks kind of ashy. I love to overline my lips with it and sometimes use it to draw freckles, too. I also put mascara on my eyebrows: it’s literally a brush that has colour on it, and it works so well for brushing your brows. Another tip I have is to use highlighter as my eye shadow. I have naturally darker eyelids, so highlighter tends to brighten them up.

R29: Blush is having such a big moment. What are some of your favourite blush placements?

Daniela Avanzini: Surprisingly, I don’t really use blush. I apply bronzer as my blush; it warms up my skin and helps me look more tanned.

Yoonchae Jeung: I do Korean-style makeup, which tends to look softer and sweeter than Western makeup. So I like to put blush right below my eyes, on my chin, sometimes even on my forehead. It helps your makeup look more even and perfectly matched.

MMB: I think I suffer from blush blindness and that’s okay. I apply powder blush all over my nose and eyelids to create that pretty, slightly sunburnt look.

R29: Megan, you’ve rocked some really cool hairstyles. What do you think your next hair transformation will be?

Megan Skiendiel: After my ginger blonde situation last year [for the group’s hit summer song, “Touch”], it was very smart of me to dye my hair black and pink. It looked really cool and I wanted to keep my hair healthy. I’d love to go platinum blonde next, but dye the ends jet black.

R29: What’s one beauty habit your fans might not know about?

SL: One thing about me is that I will never let my lips get chapped. I just can’t focus when my lips are dry, and I use my lips to tell if I’m not drinking enough water. I love putting on a super thick layer of Glossier’s Lip Glaze, £22, before going to bed, and exfoliating my lips in the morning. When I wake up in the middle of the night to drink more water, I will always top it up, or put on Glossier’s Balm Dotcom, £16. I think that’s what makes my lips look plump and glossy all the time; it really comes from how I take care of my lips.

R29: Last but not least, which Glossier products can’t you live without?

MBB: Mine is the Futuredew Oil-Serum Illuminator, £26. It just gives me such a gorgeous glow and I just feel good putting it on. It also smells amazing.

YJ: I really love Boy Brow, £22. The brand offers one in grey, which is so hard to find and looks so natural on my darker brows.

LR: I’m literally wearing a full face of Glossier right now, but I think my favourite has to be the Stretch Concealer, £22. It’s so full coverage, and yet it feels like nothing on my skin and covers up literally everything. I also love that it comes in a teeny-tiny pot.

MS: The Birthday flavour of Balm Dotcom, £16, has been my go-to ever since middle school. I recently lost mine and felt so sad that I went to the store to replace it immediately. The scent is so delicious and I feel nice putting it on.

DA: I have really dry skin, and The Stretch Fluid Foundation, £34, is the first foundation that I genuinely liked. It’s super hydrating and creamy, and I’d definitely recommend that to anyone with dry skin. I also wear the Glossier You Fleur Eau de Parfum, £70, every single day.

SL: I love Cloud Paint, £22, as a blush, but I also like putting a little bit of it over my eyeshadow and on my lips. It makes my makeup look more cohesive.

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Cosmic beings, are you ready for a lighter and freer season of your life? This is it. On 25th May, Mercury, the planet of communication, enters Gemini, followed by the New Moon in Gemini on 26th May. After trekking through the emotionally charged waters of the Scorpio full moon and the slow, grounding earthiness of Taurus Season, this new moon week hits different. It’s giving: fresh air, clear skies, renewed curiosity, and permission to float a little. If the first half of May felt like being caught in a burning ocean of emotional depth, the final week is the breath you finally get to take after swimming through it. The cosmos are clearing, and the vibe? Laughter, love, lightness, and play.

But don’t get it twisted — this levity comes after major transformation. You’re not who you were at the start of the month. You’re not even who you were two weeks ago. This week is your moment to integrate all the hard-earned clarity from the past few weeks into something that feels more spacious. With Saturn’s transit in Aries now fully underway for its first full week (we haven’t felt this since 1999 — a different millennium!), it’s time to act like the new version of yourself. No more over-apologising for your fire. No more waiting for perfect timing. Saturn in Aries says: go!

Together with Mercury and the moon now in Gemini, this is the most aligned week of 2025 (so far) to set intentions, have the conversations you’ve been avoiding, and tell the universe exactly what you want — or better. Think movement, magic, and fresh starts… all with a cosmic wink.

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

Aries Sun & Rising:

Aries, Saturn’s first full week in your sign is giving “new character unlocked.” It’s been nearly three decades since this transit last occurred, and you’re not who you were back then (or even six weeks ago). This week reminds you that structure can be a love language when used to build a life you actually enjoy. You might be feeling the urge to reinvent yourself from the inside out — your look, your boundaries, your morning routine. No need to do it all in one day, though. The Aries magic is in bold action, not rushed action. Think: what does the future version of me need today? Then give yourself that. Saturn wants discipline, but it also wants truth. So start showing up as the version of yourself who knows what they’re capable of.

The Gemini new moon on the 26th (and Mercury’s entrance into Gemini on the 25th) lights up your sector of communication, making this the best week of the month to manifest through words. Write the email. Pitch the idea. Start the book. Text the crush. This is your week to be your own hype person and get clear on how you want to be heard. You’re learning that being brave with your voice doesn’t always mean shouting; it means saying what you mean and letting the world adjust accordingly.

Taurus Sun & Rising:

Taurus, with Saturn spending its first full week in Aries, your sector of closure, spirituality, and healing is activated — and you may feel a shift in your inner world before anything material even changes. It’s like a chapter is closing, but not in a dramatic way. More like: you quietly realise you’re no longer available for certain habits, friendships, or emotional burdens. You’re feeling the power in saying less, observing more, and not rushing the answers. Rest is productive now. Go inward. Spend time in water, journal without editing, and give yourself the privacy to be in process. Your subconscious is doing major renovations this week, even if it looks like you’re just staring at the ceiling.

Then the 25th and 26th bring Mercury and the new moon into Gemini, activating your money and self-worth sector. You’re invited to reimagine your relationship with security and abundance. Set new moon intentions as if it’s already yours. Imagine: I wake up and check my account, and the number makes me smile. I work with clients who respect and value me. This week is about planting new mental seeds around what you deserve to receive — financially, emotionally, and energetically. Manifest as if it’s inevitable.

Gemini Sun & Rising:

Welcome to your solar return season, Gemini! Saturn spending its first full week in Aries activates your sector of community and legacy, and you’re starting to get serious about your role in the collective. Think: who are your people? And how are you showing up for the causes and collaborations that light you up? This isn’t about performance or perfection — it’s about participating. If you’ve felt a little on the sidelines, Saturn’s presence here is saying it’s time to reengage. Even if that means building new community from scratch or being the leader you’ve been looking for.

Then Mercury enters your sign on the 25th, followed by your annual new moon on the 26th, and you’re being reborn mentally, emotionally, and cosmically. New moon, new mind. Set intentions not just for this week or month, but for your entire next year of life. What do you want your future self to remember about the moment you chose yourself again? You’ve changed. Say it out loud. Celebrate it. And now get excited to attract people, resources, and opportunities that match who you are becoming — not who you used to be.

Cancer Sun & Rising:

Cancer, Saturn’s first full week in Aries hits your career and reputation sector, and it’s giving boss energy, whether you feel ready or not. If the past year has had you questioning your path or pace, Saturn’s shift here brings clarity. It’s asking: what are you building long-term? This is your season to do legacy work —not necessarily the most glamorous or Instagrammable tasks, but the ones your future self will thank you for. Don’t shy away from authority; you’re stepping into your own. And if imposter syndrome creeps up? Take it as a sign you’re levelling up.

Mercury and the new moon in Gemini (the 25th and 26th) bring a breath of air into your sector of rest, dreams, and surrender. You’re being invited to pause and reassess, especially since Gemini season brings its own flurry of activity. This is your moment to recalibrate. Reflect. Catch your breath. Set new moon intentions around your spiritual well-being. What would peace look like in your daily life? What do you need to release to receive it? This week is a beautiful balance between rising to your calling and allowing softness as a strength.

Leo Sun & Rising:

This week, Leo, Saturn is in its first full week in Aries, activating your travel, truth, and expansion sector — and you’re craving more. Not just more experiences, but more meaning. You’re not interested in staying stuck in a loop; you’re ready to reimagine your future with fresh eyes and bold decisions. Think about the philosophies, courses, or adventures calling your name. The next two years are about constructing a life that stretches you (in a good way). Say yes to what aligns, even if it terrifies you a little.

Then, Mercury enters Gemini on the 25th and the new moon follows on the 26th, activating your sector of friendship, technology, and vision. This is your invitation to cast a new net, digitally or IRL. Network. Dream up collaborative projects. Reach out to someone you’ve been wanting to reconnect with. The vibe is: if you can visualise it, you can make it real. This new moon helps you plant seeds for the future. Not just who you want in your life — but how you want your life to feel with them in it.

Virgo Sun & Rising:

Saturn’s first full week in Aries is all about intimacy and transformation for you, Virgo. You’re being asked to look at what you’ve merged with — energetically, romantically, financially — and evaluate whether those mergers are still aligned. You’ve matured in love, in your self-worth, and in your emotional boundaries since last year. Now, Saturn is helping you apply those lessons with clarity and conviction. Think of this era as your energetic audit. What have you been giving too much of, and what’s been flowing effortlessly? Adjust accordingly. Then, your ruler Mercury’s move into Gemini on the 25th and the Gemini new moon on the 26th illuminate your career and public image. It’s glow-up time… on your terms.

You may feel inspired to start something new professionally, pitch yourself more boldly, or reinvent your online presence. People are paying attention to you right now. Use your voice wisely. Set new moon intentions related to legacy, visibility, and confidence. This is the type of week where a DM, a call, or a comment could change your trajectory. Be ready. Be vocal. Be seen.

Libra Sun & Rising:

Saturn’s first full week in Aries hits your relationship sector, Libra — and this isn’t light stuff. Saturn here over the next two years is about committing to alignment. Not perfection, not performance, but presence. You’re learning what real partnership feels like, and what you’re no longer available for. This is the week where the pressure might start rising in certain dynamics. Instead of spiralling, pause and ask: is this love helping me grow or keeping me small? The best partnerships —romantic or not — will support your evolution, not resent it. You’re not being too much. You’re becoming more you.

The Gemini new moon on the 26th (and Mercury’s entrance into Gemini the night before) lights up your sector of expansion, philosophy, and vision. If you’ve been playing it safe lately, this week nudges you to stretch. Dream up a trip, enrol in a course, start that blog or YouTube channel. This isn’t about being ready — it’s about being curious. What if you don’t need a plan right now? What if you just need to believe that something new is possible? Start there. Set intentions from your future self’s point of view. She’s proud of you already.

Scorpio Sun & Rising:

You’re entering Saturn’s first full week in Aries, and for you, Scorpio, it’s activating your wellness, routine, and work sector. Time to get your systems in order, but don’t panic — this isn’t about becoming a productivity robot. It’s about making your days more liveable, sustainable, and satisfying. This is where the magic lies now. A simple tweak to your workflow, a new morning ritual, drinking more water, or finally going to bed on time… it all adds up. You’re refining the vessel that houses your power. Don’t underestimate the glow-up that starts with structure.

Then Mercury in Gemini enters your sector of depth and transformation on the 25th, followed by the new moon in the same sector on the 26th. Things are about to get real. This is a deeply fertile moment for intimacy, healing, forgiveness, and releasing what doesn’t serve your soul. Set intentions not just with your mind, but your body too. Where do you carry old betrayals or burdens? It’s time to breathe through them. To name what you want more of. To let love feel safe again — starting with the way you speak to and deeply love and nurture yourself.

Sagittarius Sun & Rising:

Saturn’s first full week in Aries brings heat to your creativity, romance, and inner child sector, Sag. It’s here to remind you: your joy matters. You’ve spent the last year being introspective, doing shadow work, facing the subconscious muck. Now Saturn says, okay… but what brings you delight? And are you willing to be consistent about making room for that? This is a time to treat your joy like a priority, not a bonus. You’re becoming the version of yourself who leads with wonder again. Even if it means unlearning what you thought adulthood had to look like.

The Gemini new moon and Mercury in Gemini activate your partnership sector on the 25th and 26th, making this week a big deal for your one-on-one dynamics. If you’re already in a relationship, this is the week to talk openly, laugh more, and remember what you’re building together. If you’re single, there may be new prospects — unexpected DMs or flirty run-ins. But whether partnered or not, this energy is more about clarity than outcome. What kind of relationship do you want, Sag? Name it out loud. Then show up like it’s already yours.

Capricorn Sun & Rising:

Capricorn, Saturn, your planetary ruler, is in its first full week in Aries, activating your home, family, and emotional security sector. And it’s here to say: safety isn’t always about the past. It’s about how you root in the now. This week might bring up old patterns from childhood or family relationships, but this time, you’re equipped to do something differently. Create your own rules. Define your own comfort. Build a home inside yourself that feels like sanctuary, no matter where you live. You’re learning to soften and secure at the same time.

Then Mercury enters Gemini on the 25th, followed by the new moon in Gemini on the 26th, illuminating your sector of health, habits, and workflow. Start small. This is a fantastic week to reimagine your daily routines and make space for what actually works for you. Not what looks good on paper or on Instagram — but what feels grounding and supportive to you. Set intentions around ease. Find systems that honour your energy. Let discipline become devotion. You deserve to feel held in the way you hold everyone else.

Aquarius Sun & Rising:

Aquarius, your ruler Saturn’s transit in Aries is now in full swing, activating your communication and thought sector, and it’s time to clean up your mental diet. What are you consuming daily, and how does it make you feel? What you watch, scroll, think, and say all shape your experience. This week, you’re getting real about your inner narrative. Replace criticism with curiosity. Instead of trying to be right, ask how you can be clear. You’re developing more emotional intelligence, and with Saturn guiding the way, your words now have weight. Use them with care.

Mercury in Gemini (25th May) and the Gemini new moon (26th May) open a new portal in your creativity, love life, and inner child. This is your week to flirt — with someone, with an idea, with life itself. Be spontaneous. Let joy guide the decisions. If you’ve been in your head, this week pulls you back into your body. Write poetry. Make a playlist. Go on a mini date, even (or especially) with yourself. Your future joy starts now. Set intentions that light your soul up, and remember: love isn’t a distraction. It’s a life force.

Pisces Sun & Rising:

Pisces, the first full week of Saturn in Aries activates your money and values sector. It’s time to have the money talk — with yourself, your work, your ancestors, and your future. You’re learning how to rewrite your worth story. Not based on hustle, not based on sacrifice, but on clarity and consistency. You may feel more grounded than you have in a while (Saturn’s transit in Pisces was a doozy and you’ll experience on final stretch starting 22nd October), and even if you don’t yet, trust that you’re laying new foundations. Start with one step: pay a bill, open a savings account, ask for what you’re worth. That’s how you call in the abundance that’s already yours.

Then Mercury and the new moon in Gemini light up your home and roots sector (25th and 26th May), bringing fresh air into your emotional foundations. You might suddenly want to change up your living space, plan a trip back home, or have a heart-to-heart with a family member. Even if it’s messy, lean in. Gemini energy brings levity to heavy topics. Set new moon intentions around creating emotional security — what it looks like, sounds like, feels like. You’re evolving past survival and into true self-nourishment. Make your life feel like home again.

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In our series Salary Stories, women with long-term career experience open up about the most intimate details of their jobs: compensation. It’s an honest look at how real people navigate the complicated world of negotiating, raises, promotions and job loss, with the hope it will give young women more insight into how to advocate for themselves — and maybe take a few risks along the way.

Been in the workforce for at least five years and interested in contributing your salary story? Submit your information here. Published stories receive £100.

Age: 31
Location: Hertfordshire, England
Current industry and job title: Project Analyst, chemical engineering
Current salary: £0
Number of years employed since school or university: Eight
Starting salary: £18,000
Biggest salary drop: £48,000 to £0 in 2025.
Biggest salary jump: £32,000 to £48,000 in 2023.

Biggest negotiation regret: Apply for jobs, even when you are not actively looking for jobs. It is always good to know how much you are worth on the job market. Also, if you have a counter-offer, it is always easier to negotiate and ask for a promotion in your current role.

Best salary advice: Surround yourself with people who support you and give you confidence while job hunting.

First Job: Administrator

Year: 2017
Salary: £18,000

Upon completing my master’s degree and relocating to Scotland, I was looking for a job. As I became financially independent and also moved in with my boyfriend, I urgently had to find a job. As previously I interned at an airline company, it made sense that I was looking for a job in the aerospace industry. Within a week, I got two job offers, and chose the administrative role that did not require having a car. My boyfriend also just started his PhD, and his scholarship was £14,400. That was probably the only time when I earned more than him. My funds were limited during this period, but as it was my first full time job, I felt that it was a good salary at the time. I did not negotiate, I didn’t even know I could.

Promotion: Assistant Manager

Year: 2018
Salary: £24,000

One year into the role, my salary went up to £22,000 automatically. Later that same year, I also got a promotion and became Assistant Manager at the company. My salary went up again to £24,000. But I later I found out, the previous person got £26,000 for the same role, which made me really upset. My predecessor told me her salary when she left. I found that extremely helpful to know, and realised for the first time how important it is to be transparent with colleagues. I think that hiding salaries only benefit the management, never the employee.

I also got invited to a Management Program, and started travelling frequently to Germany and England. In that year I achieved a lot within the company, and my managers were really hoping that I would relocate to Germany, once I completed the Management Trainee Program. I enjoyed working at the airport, but after the summer business, I knew that it was the last summer I would spend at the company.

Job Change: Data Analyst

Year: 2019
Salary: £27,000

While in my last job, I started saving up £500 monthly, and my plan was to allow six months for myself to find a new job. In May, I quit my job and booked tickets to Japan with my boyfriend. I felt free for the first time in a while and really enjoyed travelling. In June, I got an offer for a Data Analyst role for £27,000 annual salary at a management consulting company. The application was fairly quick, and it was the first time I negotiated a little bit. But six weeks into the role, I travelled so much that I barely saw my boyfriend and was extremely exhausted from travelling. There was lots of driving and early morning hours from 6 a.m.

I started considering jobs further away. My boyfriend also got an internship in New York, so knowing that we would be away from each other helped make my decision to look outside of Edinburgh. At the end, I left and accepted an internship in Oxford and started my journey in the space sector for £18,000. I felt that the salary was really low at the time. I tried to negotiate for a higher salary and/or relocation package, without any success.

Promotion: PMO Analyst

Year: 2020
Salary: £25,000

I know, looking back, it may sound crazy that I accepted the role for such a low salary, but I really enjoyed working at the company. And that internship turned into a permanent role with better pay within a year. I was renting with someone else, a lovely girl, who was also my co-worker, and we became really good friends.

Unfortunately, I did not know that COVID was around the corner. I moved down south, only to spend my time inside four walls. I moved specifically for this job (which I loved), but I could only go to the office in the first four months of my internship, and spent the rest of the time working from home.

I also got married that year, and my partner and I finally moved in together again, this time in Oxford.

Job Change: Project Coordinator

Year: 2021
Salary: £30,000

One year into the role, I made the decision to change career paths within the organisation, as there were more opportunities in project management. I negotiated £30,000 for the role. As there were several people in the team in similar roles, it was easier to get an idea about the salary range which helped me know what to ask for. A colleague with less experience was given this salary, so I asked them to match it for my salary. Internally, employees were also starting to push HR to only advertise roles with salary ranges, to make the process fair and transparent.

Life was going well. My husband completed his PhD, started his first job and we made the decision to move closer to his workplace in Cambridge. I was commuting to the office once a week,  it was a long commute for me. I wish there could be a train between Oxford and Cambridge.

Pay Rise & Maternity Leave: Project Coordinator

Year: 2022
Salary: £32,000

My salary went up a bit to £32,000 automatically. I also applied for a promotion, which unfortunately I did not get. I was really sad at the time, to be honest, I was hoping that I would get it.

I was also expecting my baby, so life became very different after he was born. I was receiving 90% of my pay for only six weeks, then received SMP, which is not a lot. I stayed active in professional networks, and got an opportunity to organise a workshop and travel to a conference in Hawaii. The trip itself was worth over £2,000 and my husband and baby could also come with me. I probably would not have had the time if I had been working. It was a career highlight, although technically I was on maternity leave.

Job Change: Project Analyst

Year: 2023
Salary: £48,000

Whilst on maternity leave, I got a job offer for £53,000 at my dream company. After some hesitation, I declined the offer, as the benefits were horrible, and I would need to relocate with the move, it would not have made financial sense for the family. But it made me believe that I should be earning a lot more. It really changed my mindset, and I started looking for jobs. I received several offers, and accepted a role outside of my sector for £48,000 and excellent benefits (22% company pension contribution, and a free canteen). I negotiated and was very happy with the offer, and personally we were looking forward to the next step of buying a house.

Redundancy

Year: 2025
Salary: £0

We bought our house, but this year I was made redundant along with my whole department. I am currently looking for my next role in the sector I previously I worked at. I am also volunteering, and enjoying spending more time with my toddler, before I go back to work again.

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Finding the perfect skin tint takes a lot of trial and error. A good one should offer lightweight coverage and a natural finish that subtly enhances your skin, without sitting heavy or erasing your features. Add reliable SPF protection (which can complicate the texture of the formulation) to the list of requirements, and the search gets even more challenging. So when Merit Beauty unveiled The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, £34, a tinted mineral sunscreen that offers both sheer and buildable coverage, not to mention broad spectrum UV protection, we were quick to take notice.

This new launch is a labour of love from the brand by all accounts. It took two years of development and more than 50 formulation attempts to get the consistency and finish just right. The sun protection comes from zinc oxide, a mineral filter that shields against UV rays by scattering and reflecting them away from the skin’s surface. Also featured in the ingredient lists are moisturising plant-derived emollients (in place of heavy silicones) and ultra-fine natural powders for a weightless and even application.

We got our hands on this highly anticipated launch and have been wearing it as our go-to SPF over the past month. Read ahead for our honest thoughts on why it deserves a top spot in your summer beauty routine.

Jacqueline Kilikita, beauty director

She tried: Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, £34, in shade 24

“I don’t say this lightly: this is hands down the best tinted sunscreen I’ve ever tried. It’s replaced my foundation — and even my concealer. The texture is like a lightweight lotion, and whether I use my fingers or a brush, it melts into my skin easily, offering medium coverage that blurs dark circles and the marks left behind by breakouts. The finish sits in a cosy space between dewy and matte, so I don’t need to powder over the top, and the staying power is excellent. I can go a full day at work — in office air, no less — and come home to more or less immaculate coverage.

“On my hand, shade 24 skews a little pink, so I was apprehensive it wouldn’t suit my green undertones. But once on my face, it blends seamlessly into my light olive complexion, giving it a more uniform appearance without erasing my features. If I wanted to wear this on its own without blush or bronzer, I absolutely could, and it wouldn’t look like I was wearing a mask. One thing to note: it’s important to use a dedicated sunscreen first. Yes, this contains SPF 50, but it’s well known that we rarely apply enough SPF makeup (a teaspoon or two finger-lengths for face and neck) to properly protect ourselves from UV damage. So I layer it over my trusty sunscreen — it’s like insurance for my skin.”

Venus Wong, senior writer

She tried: Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, £34, in shade 22

“To me, the hallmark of a truly great sunscreen will always be whether I’m willing to wear it on an unbearably hot day. Anything that feels too heavy and icky breaks me out and will promptly get the boot. I took The Uniform out for a whirl on my recent travels around Asia, where temperatures hovered around 32°C with super high humidity, and I’m happy to report that it passed with flying colours. Out of all the sunscreens I’ve tried, this one has one of the most imperceptible textures. The carefully calibrated formula has definitely made a difference here; it feels very light and powdery and spreads evenly across the skin. There were days I almost forgot I’d put this on, if not for the flattering glow it imparts. For me, shade 22 provides the ideal level of coverage: just enough to neutralise redness and blur blemishes while maintaining a genuine skin finish. When it gets really hot this summer, I feel comfortable ditching all my other makeup and just wearing a layer of this tint, with my trusty Dr. Jart+ SPF stick as the final touch.”

L’Oréal Blackett, Editor, Unbothered

She tried: Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, £34, in shades 10 and 12

“I’m not the easiest to please when it comes to skin tints with sunscreen. With a medium-deep skin tone and a golden to neutral undertone, some skin tints tend to leave me with a grey-ish, dull finish — a familiar story for anyone with brown skin. This is not the case with Merit’s tinted sunscreen. This formula blends with my skin beautifully, slightly evening out my skin tone and leaving a fresh glow. It’s barely perceptible and doesn’t look like I’m wearing any makeup, but that’s the point. It is very lightweight and perfect for everyday wear — I’ve even been wearing it to the gym. However, I still need to go in with a concealer as it doesn’t blur my dark undereyes and blemishes.

“This is not for the full coverage-loving girlies. I wear other skin tints that offer me more coverage, such as Fenty Beauty Eaze Drop Blurring Skin Tint, $38 (shade 18 for my shade twins!), and Beauty Pie’s Luminous Mineral Skin Tint with SPF 40. Still, I love that Merit’s tinted sunscreen offers some of the highest sun protection and is a great shade match. I also have a darker shade of the skin tint on deck for my upcoming travels; I get significantly darker within five minutes of being in the sun and love that the tint contains SPF 50 and can help me prevent pigmentation issues. I typically wear a full-coverage foundation or no foundation at all, so this gives me a nice, reliable in-between option.”

Vanese Maddix, contributing beauty writer

She tried: Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, £34, in shade 8

“The Uniform has quickly become a staple in my routine. The formula is lightweight and blends effortlessly into the skin. As someone who prefers her skin tints and foundations to sit on the lighter side, this ticks all my boxes. While I typically dislike when brands describe their shade ranges as ‘flexible’, I was pleasantly surprised to find I could actually switch between shades 6, 8 and 10, depending on the look I wanted. I also appreciate that the deeper shades are numbered first (a thoughtful detail that didn’t go unnoticed, and one I wish more brands would adopt).

“My only critique is the packaging: The tube has a grey-ish tint, which makes it harder to see the true shade without swatching. The cap also falls off quite easily. It’s worth noting that the brand has created a shade range that corresponds with The Minimalist, its bestselling complexion stick, so finding your perfect match is a lot easier when you happen to own the latter. This product has shot straight to the top of my makeup bag thanks to its lovely finish and genuine lightweight feel. I wouldn’t rely on it alone to meet my recommended SPF protection, but it has become my go-to for layering over a trusted sunscreen.”

Tanyel Mustafa, senior writer

She tried: Merit The Uniform Tinted Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50, £34, in shades 22 and 24

“Let’s start with the positives. This is a lovely formula. The tint gives just the right amount of coverage, and it dries down on skin while still appearing hydrated and fresh. I love how easy it is to apply with fingers. Where this product falls down for me, though, is in the very pink-leaning shade range. As a yellow-olive girlie, I found all of the shades I could make work too pink. Even the shade that corresponds to the Merit foundation stick I have (which I’ve used for years) is more pink. With this new product being a tint, the off-undertone shade isn’t a dealbreaker. Once it’s blended out with the rest of my makeup, it looks fine. But I wish I could apply this more confidently and without other makeup to offset the wrong undertone. Merit team, if you’re reading this: The yellow-olive girlies would love a shade expansion!”

This story was originally published on Refinery29 US.

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The last New Moon of spring is going to rock our worlds amazingly. For the first time in a while, we’ll be able to flourish with the Moon’s phases and begin anew. The possibilities to grow beyond our current range will be enormous and exciting. This lunation pushes us to think beyond ourselves and to give TLC to others who need our support. We are interconnected beings who require compassion and love. Isn’t that special?

May 26th’s New Moon in Gemini emphasises self-expression, curiosity, and learning. At this moment in time, we can reflect upon the past to see where we’re going while offering ourselves a fresh start. The positive side of this lunation is that it allows us to discover and reinvent ourselves as we progress into our most valid form of being. The duality of the New Moon in Gemini urges us to shed the facade we show to the public by letting them see our unique and unfiltered qualities. There is beauty in being raw and pure. Allowing people to get deep with us will be a fantastic experience and adventure.

Communication planet Mercury in Gemini, responsible Saturn in Aries, visionary Neptune in Aries, and transformative Pluto in Aquarius all meet up with the New Moon. This promises to be a lunation that can change our being — for the better. We need to find a way to stop overthinking in the present and be in the moment. The moment we start feeling as though we are in alignment with the flow and rhythm of the universe is when we connect to our true selves. There is no more hiding behind the version of ourselves that we want others to see. The mask we’ve been wearing is coming off. The energy and persona we embody will be acknowledged and loved.

Around the same time as the New Moon, Mercury in Gemini harmonises with Neptune in Aries. This magical transition will push us to dream big and assert our visions in the world. Mercury and Neptune are giving us the strength to do so. The caveat is that we may not be clear about our intentions, so it’s best to write them down ahead of time and think them through clearly. Then, we can easily assert our hopes and aspirations into the universe and allow them to take flight. Pretty soon, they’ll come true. We can attain our desires as long as we believe in our goals and give them the energy to come true in the physical world.

The fixed star Hyadum II gives the overall sentiment a zest of fierceness. Hyadum II is said to embody the characteristics of the action planet Mars, “Great Awakener” Uranus, and inspirational Neptune. These energies can elevate our spirit and make us want to take a humanitarian stand. Regarding our personal lives, it’ll be complicated to understand what we’re fighting for and looking to bring in before gaining clarity — which we will find once the fog clears. The only foreseeable consequence of Hyadum II is that we might get a little power-hungry and selfish if we don’t consider helping others along our journey.

We’ll feel a sense of confidence resulting from the celestial vibe. Looking forward allows us to walk on the “right” side of the street. As we’ll soon notice, there is no better avenue to hang out on since every path is coming up roses. Even if we choose to explore the trails, they’ll lead to the same road, guaranteeing a destined ending (we can thank Neptune and Pluto for this). Since we are guaranteed personal success, we should pay it forward by trying to make a difference in the lives of others. Once we comprehend these soulful passions, it’ll be hard to keep quiet when speaking on behalf of others. After all, what good is having a voice if we don’t intend to make some noise?

As we embrace the lunar vibes of the New Moon in Gemini, it’s important to savour the day. Bask in the joy and glory that you may feel. Enjoy the rush of optimism and good emotions that are brought to our consciousness and the world at large.

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