College may only last four years, but a lot can change from the time you step on campus as a clueless freshman to when you leave and enter the “real world.” Every year of college is a different experience, and you don’t want to be unprepared for the new challenges of each year, whether it be frat houses or job interviews. We’ve got you covered with some staples so that you can look the part every year.  

Freshman Year

Frat flats

Fraternity houses are notoriously disgusting, however, they are a necessary evil for the freshman (and beyond) party scene. You really don’t want to wear your Tory Burch sandals or club heels there, so a cheap pair of ballet flats normally does the trick.

Mossimo Black Ona Flats, $16.99

A practical backpack

Backpacks kind of seem like a nerdy thing to care about, but honestly they’re super necessary in order to be a functioning college student. You can always go with something trendier, but honestly a nice, sturdy backpack will be more comfortable and more practical for day-to-day classes.

Fjållråvan Mini Backpack, $65

Sophomore Year

Sweatpants

Let’s face it, the sophomore slump is very real. You’ve already been in school for a year, so you’re kind of over trying to impress everyone. No shame in being comfy though. For this year of laziness, a nice oversized pair of sweatpants is essential.

 LululemonStreet to Studio Pant II, $98

Cross-body bag

Sophomore year is also when you’re confident enough to step up your going-out game. That means you’ll need a cross-body to keep all your items secure and close by.

AEO Tassel Mini Crossbody Bag, $14.99

Junior Year

Pencil skirt

Time to become an actual adult and get an internship, which means you’ll need to buy some uncomfortable but necessary work attire, i.e. a pencil skirt. After all, nothing says “I’m a young career-oriented adult” like shopping at Banana Republic.

Banana Republic Paneled Bi-Stretch Pencil Skirt, $78.00

Going-out heels

Junior year is also usually the year you turn 21, which means more bars and clubs for you. While you might already have some heels for going out, you’re going to need a new pair that tells the world you’re a legal adult.

Steve Madden Ankle Strap w/ Low Block Heel, $24.95

Senior Year

A mature LBD

Skin-tight bandage dresses are a no-go if you’re trying to be taken seriously in the world, but you have to have some kind of an LBD. As an up-and-coming young professional, you’ll need a little black dress that can transition from interviews to going-out effortlessly. Throw a blazer over it and you can meet with companies, but wear some funky heels and you’ll blend in at a bar.

ASOS Y.A.S. Pencil Dress, $89

A work bag

Despite your best efforts, you can’t stay in college forever and eventually, you’ll need to invest in a career bag. You may want to go ahead and buy the classic briefcase, but there are a lot of briefcase-esque bags that can also serve the same purpose but look way trendier.  

ZARA City Bag with Charm, $59.90

Name: Dee Poku Spalding
Job Title and Description: Founder Women Inspiration & Enterprise, The Other Festival
College Name/Major: Math
Website: www.theotherfestival.co
Twitter Handle:@deepoku
Instagram Handle:@deepoku

What does your current job entail? Is there such a thing as a typical day?

DPS: WIE creates educational programming and networking events for professional women. We host monthly salons, dinners and master classes, as well as an annual festival called The Other Festival. So we’re basically always in planning on something.

My job requires me to create programming that will prove most useful to our members and I spend a lot of time researching, soliciting ideas, reading the press and reviewing member feedback, to help shape our output. I generally start my day by scanning social media and media newsletters to get a sense of what’s happening in the women’s space—who’s been hired, promoted, fired and issues around women’s rights, and use that to shape our content in the form of social media, our newsletter and talks. I usually set three key priorities for each day so my overall goal is to complete those tasks. I try to limit in person meetings to a maximum of three a day. The rest of the day is filled with conference calls, writing, responding to emails, strategizing and planning for future events.

What is the best part of your job?

DPS: I spend my days connecting with amazing female achievers and change-makers and it’s incredibly motivating. I often wonder what it might be like to restart my life at age 21 armed with all the knowledge I’ve gleaned from these incredible business and cultural leaders. Where would I be now in that alternate universe?  And it’s very much the point of what I do and what truly motivates me. I love giving young women the tools and knowledge I wished I’d had when I started out in my career.

What was your first entry-level job in your field and how did you get it?

DPS: My first job was working for a fashion marketing and PR agency. I’d always idolized that company. I used to walk by it on my way home and was so intrigued by the creative looking people I saw going in and out.  I wanted to work there so badly that one day I just walked in and asked the receptionist whether they were looking for interns. And they were! I interned for two weeks and to say I worked hard is an understatement. An assistant position came up while I was there, and they offered it to me—my first career milestone.

What words of wisdom do you find most valuable?

DPS: "Work smarter, not harder" are the words I try and live by, though I’m not always the best at this. My natural inclination is to just get everything done, even if I have to do it myself, but delegation is a key component of success, as is thinking big picture and using one’s time effectively. Doing the work is important, but how are you simultaneously connecting with your networks and managing your personal brand? That’s working smart.

What is one mistake you made along the way and what did you learn from it?

DPS: Expanding too quickly is one that springs to mind. With early success, the instinct is to go into overdrive, but slow and steady wins the race.

What has been the most surreal moment of your career thus far?

DPS: Hearing both Queen Rania and Melinda Gates speak at our first conference was pretty mind-blowing.  They were both so inspiring. It was such an honor to have them.

What do you look for when considering hiring someone?

DPS: I look for people who genuinely believe in the cause. People who demonstrate real passion for advancing women in the workplace. If they’re smart and genuinely interested in making a difference, everything else follows. When you love what you do, it naturally sparks creativity, hard work, dedication and ultimately, results.

What advice would you give to a 20-something with similar aspirations?

DPS: For anyone interested in a creating a network, conference or female focused media company, it all begins with your immediate network. Start with smaller meetups that connect like-minded friends and colleagues. There are so many digital tools at your disposal to build platforms, create networks, promote events and sell tickets eg Squarespace, Google Groups, Facebook and Eventbrite.

What's the one thing that's stood out to you the most in a resume?

DPS: Generally when a candidate outlines how their work resulted in tangible results such as increased revenue, community growth or media attention, I sit up and take notice. It means they’re results-oriented.

Good morning Her Campus! With a break-neck news cycle, there is no possible way for you to stay on top of every story that comes across your feeds—we’re all only human, after all.

But, life comes at you fast. So grab a cup of coffee and settle in for this quick and dirty guide to stories you might’ve been sleeping on (like, literally. It’s early.)

More Than 20 Fatalities Have Been Reported in a Texas Church Shooting

The New York Times reports that more than 20 people were killed after a gunman entered a rural church near San Antonio, Texas, on Sunday. Wilson County official Paul Pfeil said that as of Sunday afternoon, a total number of casualties has yet to be confirmed, while constable David Keen said "there were kids involved."

Victims were shot inside the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, while the gunman was reportedly killed after being chased into the neighboring county. It is unclear whether or not he shot himself or if police killed him. Church pastor Frank Pomeroy was away during the shooting, but his daughter was reportedly inside the church at the time of the incident.

Carrie Matula, an employee at a gas station about 50 yards away from the church who heard the gunfire, told MSNBC, "It's a small Baptist church. It's an older building. I don't know that they would have security cameras...And I know they didn't have security in the parking lot."

An American Woman Won the NYC Marathon for the First Time in Decades​

An American woman has won the women's section of the New York City Marathon for the first time in 40 years, The New York Timesreports. 36-year-old Shalane Flanagan completed the marathon in two hours, 26 minutes and 53 seconds, finishing only a minute before three-time winner Mary Keitany, who is from Kenya. This is also Flanagan's first major marathon victory. If you need a good bout of motivation, just watch her crossing the finish line.

Trump's Approval Rating Hits All-Time Low

A Washington Post-ABC poll says that President Donald Trump's approval ratings have hit a historic low as he nears the one-year anniversary of his election, CNN reports. 59 percent disapprove of Trump's presidency at the moment, which is the worst of any president at this point in their presidency since modern polling began.

Does anyone want to bet that Trump will find a way to brag about this? 

What to look for...

Today is known as National Nachos Day, so here's your excuse to eat unhealthily today. (But, let's be real: You don't need an excuse.)

Anyone with toxic parents or dating someone with toxic parents likely knows how difficult they can be when it comes to relationships. Your parents already want to control every aspect of your life — school, work, extracurriculars — and now they want to control who you date? If your SO is the one with toxic parents, that may be even worse — now you have someone else’s parents trying to control your life. Or maybe love wasn’t given freely when you were a child, which can undoubtedly take a toll on your love life. Don’t worry — Her Campus is here to help. We’ve talked to Carole Lieberman, M.D., psychiatrist and author of Bad Boys and Bad Girls, and collegiettes who’ve been there to let you know what it’s like to date with toxic parents in the picture and how you can make the most of a situation like this.

1. You’ll feel forbidden from certain events and experiences

When you or your SO has toxic parents, it may feel like you can’t do certain things, such as date freely. “It is likely that these toxic parents will continue to haunt your relationship in other ways, too, even now that you are grown up,” Lieberman says. “For example, if they are too critical, controlling or are absentee parents, they will affect how you see yourself and how you see your significant other.” Jasmine Yadeta, a junior at the University of Victoria, knows this firsthand. “They consistently undermine you regardless of age or experience and that becomes extremely evident in the dating scene,” she shares. “Their feelings tend to come before your own and no matter how badly you want to start dating and getting yourself out there, you are ridden with guilt because their emotions are a priority in comparison to yours (or at least that’s how it seems).”

Jasmine was able to get out of this once her parents got divorced. “I was lucky and was able to start fresh with my relationships as me, and I became really grounded in who I am,” she says. “My mother listened to reasoning with an open ear after the divorce and honestly it only went up from there.” Even if your parents aren’t getting a divorce, don’t feel like you’re stuck — you’re your own person and are entitled to having your own healthy relationships.

2. It may be harder to commit or say “I love you”

Lieberman mentions that growing up with toxic parents can make it difficult to experience intimacy. “Still feeling the sting of rejection or other [forms of] hurt, you are afraid to get closer to your partner for fear that they will similarly reject or hurt you,” she says. “This makes it harder to commit or to say, ‘I love you.’” If you’re wondering why you have a fear of commitment or are dreading those three little words, your upbringing might be the answer. If your parents didn’t show you love as a child, it will be hard for you to show love to someone else.

3. You’ll face judgment and drama

This goes without saying — toxic parents will judge your every move, which leads to inevitable drama. Jenna*, a sophomore at the University of South Carolina, recently went through a breakup because of a toxic parent, specifically her ex-boyfriend’s mom. “She would be nice to my face and then he would tell me things that would take me aback,” she says. “It was a constant argument in our relationship that he wouldn't stick up for me enough when his family would say things that were absolutely crazy, so we got to a breaking point.” If your SO is blind to his family’s pettiness, it’s probably time to move on. You can’t let toxic parents drive you to a breaking point.

Related: You’re Ruining Your Love Life by Doing These 5 Things

4. You may fear your SO is cheating on you

Growing up in an unsteady household may make you doubt your SO’s commitment. “If you were raised with a father who cheated, who left home or who otherwise did not make you feel worthy of a good man’s love, then you will be fearful that your partner will cheat on you, abandon you or disappoint you in some other way,” Lieberman says. It’s important to remember that your partner’s actions won’t automatically reflect your parents’. It may be hard to put those thoughts on the back burner, but it’s still important. If you’re in a healthy relationship, you should trust your SO.

5. Your SO will make you feel stronger

Although having toxic parents (or an SO with toxic parents) makes it difficult to date, it can make your relationship that much more important. “My mom is emotionally abusive and it definitely affects my dating dynamics,” says Emma*, a junior at the University of Alabama. “It makes it even more important for me to have a supportive SO because they kind of have to outweigh the negativity she creates in my life.” Finding someone who will be there for you, toxic parents or not, is extremely valuable and will put a true test to your relationship.

What can do you?

Although you’ll have difficulty in any relationship, it’s important to keep things between you and your SO. “I think while dating, especially in a long-term relationship where you think about wanting to be with someone forever, it's important to keep your relationship between just the two of you and not get toxic families and their opinions involved,” Jenna says. “But, if it's a constant argument and makes the relationship toxic too, you have to take a step back and see if this is really worth the fight.” If you’re able to put the issues aside and become closer, you know you and your SO are in it for the long haul.

Although toxic parents may put a burden on your dating life, it’s ultimately up to you how much it affects you. If you and your SO use each other to stay strong and keep the relationship between the two of you, you can get through it. Good luck, collegiettes!

*Name has been changed

By: Lauren Alston

Warning: The below contains spoilers from Season 2 of Stranger Things. If you haven't finished binging, turn back now!

So we all remember Steve Harrington from Season 1 of Stranger Things. He was the popular guy that lured Nancy in, and we kind of hated him because his negligence led to Barb's death. But holy cow, Season 2 Steve is back and better than ever! He truly cares about Nancy, and he has become the big brother Dustin never knew he needed. Here are all the ways his character has been redeemed. 

1. He has goals and dreams.

Working at his dad’s shop is an easy out, but he’s working on his college applications (and applying early!) because he wants to do something with his life. He’s not the greatest writer in Hawkins, but he has Nancy to proofread his essays.

2. He puts Nancy's needs first.

It’s definitely not how he wants to be spending his nights, but he goes to dinner with Nancy at the Hollands’ home every week. He’s doing the best he can to support the love of his life, and he barely complains. Talk about #BoyfriendGoals!

3. He’s protective. 

Nancy is going through a lot and tries to drink away the pain, but Steve keeps a close eye on her and tries to dissuade her from going too far. Steve lets her do her thing without letting it go too far. 

4. He's not afraid to show his emotions. 

Okay, so he may not handle his fight with a drunk Nancy in the best way possible, but he tries. Nancy may break his heart when she drunkenly calls their relationship bullshit, but drunk words are sober thoughts and Steve can't deal. He doesn’t yell in her face or try to pick a fight. Instead, Steve takes the time he needs to deal with the situation.

5. He doesn't play the victim. 

We know how hard it must be for him to realize that Nancy left for days with Jonathan, especially when he shows up at her house with flowers to try and make things work. But he's able to have a calm conversation without accusing her or making her feel bad about the situation. He’s completely focused and in control.

6. He’s there for the boys, especially.

Steve could have gone home and spent his weekend getting over his breakup, but he tries to help Dustin deal with Dart. He even reveals how he gets his signature gorgeous locks and gives Dustin advice on how to get the girl he likes. When their plan goes south, Steve puts his own life at risk to protect the kids and somehow it works out for him. He even sticks out his neck to protect Max and Dustin from Billy, getting his ass kicked in the process. Maybe he’s doing it to win back Nancy, but that’s a lot to endure for a girl who has made it clear that she’s just not that into you.

7. He drives Dustin to the Snow Ball.

I don’t know how or when this became his responsibility, but Steve is officially Dustin’s cool older brother and I’m completely here for it. He stole my heart when he saw Nancy at the dance and didn’t go in. It proved that he was there for one reason: Dustin. And regardless of whether he’s accepted that Nancy is not his girl, he’s sticking around and letting what happens happen.

It was reported by several outlets on Monday morning that Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul was assaulted by a neighbor who broke five of his ribs on Friday afternoon. But, apparently, as The Hill reports, this drama has nothing to do with politics. 

Rene Boucher, Paul's neighbor and a physician who reportedly worked with Paul when he was still practicing medicine, allegedly tackled Paul from behind, forced him to the ground and injured him in a dispute on Paul's property. 

Matthew Baker, Boucher's attorney, said in a statement that "The unfortunate occurrence of November 3rd has absolutely nothing to do with either’s politics or political agendas. It was a very regrettable dispute between two neighbors over a matter that most people would regard as trivial. We sincerely hope that Senator Paul is doing well and that these two gentlemen can get back to being neighbors as quickly as possible.”

Boucher was charged with fourth-degree assault (a misdemeanor) but, as The Washington Postreports, could see more severe charges depending on Paul's injuries. It's also still up in the air as capitol police and the FBI investigate the federal crime of assaulting a member of congress. 

Senior advisors to Paul told CNN on Monday that the Senator's injuries also included "displaced rib fractures," which they noted can lead to more potentially life-threatening conditions including "hemopneumothorax, pneumothorax, pneumonia, internal bleeding, laceration of internal organs and lung contusions," 

Paul also tweeted thanks on Sunday to those who reached out and offered thoughts and prayers for his health. 

By: Riley Farmer

Warning: The below contains spoilers from Season 2 of Stranger Things. If you haven't finished binging, turn back now!

It took two sittings to complete my binge-watch of Stranger Things the weekend it came out. My roommate and I sat on the couch for hours, stuffing our faces and screaming during nerve-racking scenes (seriously, I’m surprised we didn't get a noise complaint). Once the final credits rolled on episode nine, I was left feeling perfectly content. Although the story is extremely predictable at times, to the point where I spoke lines of dialogue moments before the characters, it was a beautiful story that explores the complexities of the characters we already love. The season is exactly what I needed it to be. It's comfortable, while still stepping outside of expectations and exploring new problems.

In short, I loved Season 2 of Stranger Things. Imagine my surprise when I logged back on to the internet, now free from lurking spoilers, to find out that fans hated "Chapter Seven," one of the most pivotal moments in Eleven’s story.

“Chapter Seven: The Lost Sister” sees Eleven traveling to Chicago, where she finds her “sister” Kali, who also has psychic powers as a result of the MK-Ultra experiments at Hawkins Lab. Many viewers had complaints about "Chapter Seven" being too boring and deemed it an unnecessary deviation from the show’s main plot. However, it was an entirely necessary page in Eleven’s narrative. While there's a focus on the story of Kali and her gang tracking down Hawkins Lab scientists, which is not uninteresting, some people saw it as a distraction from characters the audience connects with. But the purpose of "Chapter Seven" was to give Eleven agency.

Throughout Season 1 and six episodes of Season 2, Eleven was presented as a very physically powerful girl with no power over herself. Although she has abilities beyond what most could imagine, she was never taught to act on her own accord and therefore had no agency. At Hawkins Lab, she was abused, experimented on, and only shown affection for the sake of manipulation. During her time at the lab, she had no free will to explore herself, care for herself, or make decisions for herself, and because she didn't know any different, she didn't realize she could have more. For 12 years, Eleven had been so confined that she was unable to recognize her lack of agency. It isn’t until she's scared that she takes one of the first steps to securing her own freedom and escapes from the lab via anger-driven violence.

In "Chapter Five" of Season 2, viewers see Eleven run to her mother’s house: the first female-dominated household that she's resided in. She empowers herself by learning more about her own history and then runs away again to find her sister. It is here that viewers experience not a standalone story about a lost sister, but rather Eleven’s journey to gain her own agency. Kali teaches Eleven to control her powers through anger, and for the first time, Eleven appears to fight against the male-dominated world in which she's lived her life. By learning to control her powers through channeled anger, she frees herself from the irrational emotions that often drive her actions. However, she does not allow the anger to control her—she shows sympathy and acts out of love by saving the scientist’s life.

Eleven becomes a more complex character because she's able to experience both love and hate simultaneously. Due to her newfound multiplicity, she has a sense of agency. Rather than being a girl of single syllable answers, who nods when men ask her things to do and reacts with power when she angers, Eleven has chosen to channel her hate into acts of love. Therefore, she is no longer controlled by the negative reactions sparked by male dominance—she finally has authority over herself.

I couldn't understand the negative reaction so many fans had to this beautifully constructed quest for agency. The mildly interesting Kali-centered story was extremely important in order for Eleven to go on a journey of self-discovery. Hawkins will always be her home, but had she stayed there, she would've always been an angry girl stuck without a means for self-expression or identity formation. Her small exploration into her past gave Eleven the agency she needs to escape her constraints and become the driven, loving and powerful woman she needs to be in order to continue her narrative. Eleven can now move forward as an independent entity rather than a reliant and vulnerable plot device.  

Friday night's episode of Jane the Virgin proved that Season 4 will definitely not be short on scandal, romance and surprise. Animal references were out in full force as Rogelio planned a photo shoot for his newborn daughter, baby Michaelina. The extra AF father deemed Jane the mama bear, Xiomara a protective she-wolf and Alba the "wise old owl." While Rogelio has a new baby, Jane is diving into a new relationship, and Petra and Rafael are conniving a new plan to win back the hotel, Alba is the one character to keep everybody sane. 

JtV wouldn't be the same without Jane's life going awry and Alba preaching some beautiful advice to help her granddaughter (and me) make sense of the world. The Villanueva women would be nothing without their rock, who never fails to provide clarity and just a little bit of sass. Alba has been a voice of reason for just about every character throughout the series, and this season is no different.

In the most recent episode, "Chapter Sixty-Eight," the wise owl guided Rogelio toward a name for his new daughter and encouraged Jane to listen to her heart rather than her maternal instincts. In a moment when the future of Jane and Adam's relationship was on the line, Alba offered words of wisdom that warmed my heart.

"Stepping into a child's life is a big deal. I like that Adam took a week. That's mature. It sounds like he's being realistic about what having a child means…Maybe you're doing the same thing as Rafael. Making it about protecting your family, when it's really about protecting yourself." God bless Alba! Team Tyler Posey—I mean, Adam—all the way!

We could all use an Alba in our lives—someone to make even the hardest of situations a little easier to handle. And while I'd love to borrow Jane's abuela, it looks like the wise owl is going to have her hands full with her own family for a while.

As I wait for more life lessons in coming episodes, I can't help but reminisce on past Alba-isms that Jane, and her fans, should never forget. When Michael died, Alba kept Jane grounded as she grieved for her husband. She knew exactly what to say to help Jane move on, and she gave her the push to keep doing what she loves. Not to mention Alba's basically an encyclopedia of information when it comes to love and motherhood, and she always knows how to make Jane feel better. 

If Abla Villanueva has taught us anything, it's that wisdom really does come with age. And you're never too old to be a badass.

This post is sponsored by Clarisonic

No matter what, acne sucks. We were all tricked into thinking that blemished skin would pass with our tween phase, but just kidding––depending on your skin it kind of lasts forever. Whether you’re breaking out because of your diet, your period, stress, or if acne is just something you deal with on a regular basis, it can feel like such a struggle to find a routine that ~actually~ improves your skin.

We’re here to tell you that clear skin doesn’t have to be a unicorn feature­­––it’s something that’s possible every day, as long as you have the right tools and the best routine for you. We recently gave some of your favorite beauty bloggers Clarisonic goodies to see if it was possible to clear up their acne. Let’s just say the experiment was nothing short of a Clarisonic miracle!

Read below for the four steps on how to banish your acne using the Mia 1 Cleansing Brush, Pore & Blemish Gel Cleanser, Acne Cleansing Brush Head,Deep Pore Brush Head and Radiance Brush Head. Say hello to your new beauty routine!

1. Invest in the proper tools

   It’s time to say goodbye to the days of simply washing your face with your hands. Not only is this a super unsanitary practice, but it also leaves a lot of room for trace spots of foundation and other makeup to hide on your skin and cause acne later. Ladies, it’s time to upgrade your skincare routine with the Mia 1 cleansing brush by Clarisonic. Consider this the new holy-grail item of your medicine cabinet.

   Kelly, a NYC-based blogger at Amourtera had previously never used a facial brush before. When she tried the Mia 1, she was so surprised by how well it worked, especially the sonic cleanse. “When I wear makeup, I always start removal by using a makeup wipe,” Kelly explains. “After removing what I thought was all of [my makeup], I used my Mia 1. At the end of the minute, I looked down at the brush and saw it was SKIN COLORED because it took off foundation I didn't even know was still there! Now THAT'S a deep clean!”

   
    

2. Find your perfect cleanser
   There are a few essential things your cleanser will want to address when you’re tackling acne-prone skin––specifically oil, pimples, blackheads and whiteheads. On top of that, you also want to find a cleanser that works for your skin type, and as Melissa, a blogger at Trials n Tresses, notes, getting a cleanser that meets all you skin’s needs isn’t easy.  “For my cleanser of choice, I knew I had to use a product that incorporated some form of acne fighting ingredient that didn’t have other harsh ingredients that would dry out my skin,” she explains. “I also didn’t want a gentle cleanser that was so gentle that it didn’t do the right amount of cleansing.”
   
   The only cleanser that could satisfy Melissa’s tall order? Clarisonic’s Pore & Blemish Gel Cleanser, of course! “This cleanser left my skin feeling amazingly soft after rinsing it off. The Pore & Blemish Gel Cleanser not only removed the makeup that my wipes left behind, but it also didn’t leave me feeling dry or irritated.” So basically, brb while we literally cover our faces in this amazing product. Once you’ve got this cleanser stocked in your beauty arsenal, it’s time to move on to the next step in curing your acne.
    
3. Maintain a routine
   The key to fighting acne is to maintain a consistent skincare routine. Alyssa, a blogger at Living in Full Bloom explains, “No matter how great my products are, I still break out when I forget to use them!” Aka, even though the Pore & Blemish Gel Cleanser and Mia 1 may be flawless, your results will be that much better when you establish a daily routine and don’t get off track.​
   
   Since the Mia 1 is easy on skin, you can use it up to twice a day without any negative effects. “One great thing about the Mia Cleanser is that it doesn’t exfoliate – it sonic cleanses,” Alyssa notes. “Meaning it still deep cleans, but is way gentler on skin! You can use it up to twice a day without drying out your skin at all.” Take some time to plan out a maintainable morning and nighttime ritual and your acne will be clear before you know it!
    
4. Adjust your routine based on your skin's needs
   Even after you’ve found your perfect skincare regimen, there are days when you might need to use a different cleanser or brush head to fight acne. 

   Jessica, a blogger at Jessica Rayome, breaks down the three Clarisonic brush heads that work best for her. Regarding the Radiance Brush Head, she says, “This is the brush head attachment that comes with your Mia 1. It has extra fine bristles and really gives you a good, gentle clean. This is the one I plan on using for daily use and maintenance.” 
   
   On days when your acne is fighting hard, she recommends switching to the Acne Cleansing Brush Head. “This one was designed for sensitive, oily and acne-prone skin. This was my favorite attachment. I felt like it cleaned just a little deeper and stronger than the standard brush head and helped to target some of my flare up spots.” And on days when your pores need a little extra love? The Deep Pore Brush Head makes Jessica’s skin “tight and bright!”

   With so many different brush options from Clarisonic, tweaking your routine to fit your skin’s daily needs is that much simpler. Whether you’re simply removing makeup or are struggling through a breakout like never before, with just these few steps, clear skin is always possible.

   Want results just like our influencers? Visit http://www.clarisonic.com/hercampus to get 15 percent off select products, and kiss all those bad acne days goodbye. 

This season of black-ish is probably the best one yet, for so many reasons—but mainly because Yara Shahidi's character Zoey Johnson is literally all of us when we're about to leave high school for the freedom of college. Talk about the most confusing time between you and your family. If you're like Zoey, you've always been independent, and the feeling of college around the corner only makes you want to have all that freedom ~right now~. Here's what that means for Zoey.

Being "just friends" with a guy without your parents asking you every second if you're dating

Trevor Jackson's character Aaron may be (seriously) fine, but that doesn't mean we should assume he'll be Zoey's love interest. They're just getting to know each other and seem super friendly for now. Stay out of it, mom! There'll probably be an episode of grown-ish where Zoey finds the value in all of her mother's weird moments in some kind of heart-to-heart. But for now, Zoey just wants to have some fun.

Finally having your little siblings out of your business

Okay, maybe you relate a little bit more to Diane on this one. This fake love triangle has probably happened between every set of sisters. Zoey's facial expression just screams "What the hell, Diane?!" This is especially awkward if Zoey does have a crush on Aaron. Luckily, her baby sis won't be following her on college dates in a few months. 

Actually being able to avoid the dreaded family game night

I'm not sure why Zoey wasn't there, but I'm glad she wasn't. Monopoly tears families apart! And Dre can't even keep his cool for two seconds, after losing all of his money. Zoey was probably out with Aaron, hanging out with other college friends or going to a free concert in a fly outfit. She has no time for such petty games.

Never being responsible for your little siblings' screwups again

They may be cute, but Zoey is tired of always having to clean up their messes. She was particularly lazy in baby-proofing the house, probably because she knew Jack and Junior would mess it up. Seriously, though—what are they going to do without her? 

Making decisions without your mother's approval

Also, did anyone catch the fact that she didn't ask her mom if Aaron could stay at the house? If I ever told my mom that a boy was crashing at our place (or a girl, for that matter) with no warning, I wouldn't be able to stay in my own house anymore. Rainbow is a super strong mom, but it's tough trying to balance being Zoey's friend and mother. Hopefully they lay down some ground rules before she heads off to school. 

Being grown-ish is something we all go through, but seeing one of our faves portray it on TV makes us feel just a little bit less crazy about this time in our lives. 

Let’s be honest—college is not easy. Although classes may seem a bit more lax than they were in high schoolin terms of scheduling (goodbye, eight-hour school days!), there are plenty of factors in the college scene that can have a negative impact on your grade.

Whether it be spreading yourself too thin with clubs, socializing a little too much on the weekends, not spending enough time studying in the library, or just simply struggling with the class material, the most important thing to remember is that life happens, including a bad grade in college. But, don’t fret! We know that a bad grade isn’t fun in the slightest, so we’ve created a list of five ways to help you handle your first bad grade in college—because life goes on!

1. Don’t be too hard on yourself

We’ll start off with one of the more difficult parts. Your first reaction to receiving your first bad grade may be to beat yourself up a bit, because you know you can do better! While you may be feeling a little down, it’s important to remember that no one is perfect and bad grades can happen to the best of us. It doesn’t reflect who you are as a student just because a test, a project or even an entire class doesn’t go your way.

Bad grades in college happen sometimes!

Because it’s your first bad grade in college, it may come as a bit of a shock or a surprise—especially if you feel that you aren’t one to really earn bad grades in the first place. Again, it’s important to remember that college is an entirely different experience that doesn’t always go by the book, and that’s okay!

Hannah Harshe, a sophomore at the University of Michigan, stresses the same idea. “Work your hardest, and remember that in college, bad grades are part of the territory a lot more than they are in high school,” says Hannah.

Think of it this way: the less time you spend beating yourself up about a bad grade, the more time you can spend better preparing for improvement!

2. Take it as a learning experience

College isn’t just for learning about subjects like organic chemistry and art history! It’s also a place chock-full of life experiences that you’re constantly growing from, and earning your first bad grade is one of them. Perhaps the most positive way to look at the situation is to consider it as an important life lesson—it could serve as a blessing in disguise!

Reflect and take ownership to a bad grade when it's due

Maybe, just maybe, you could’ve spent a little more time studying in your class. Remember, it’s important to be honest with yourself and take responsibility when it’s due! Or maybe, your studying habits (or your habits in general) aren’t doing the trick, or the material just isn’t clicking. It’s possible that your body wasn’t prepared for the exam in terms of sleep, because as a college student, a full eight hours can be a rarity (though very essential for success in your classes).  

Jun Wang, an academic advisor and the Assistant Professor of Education at Carthage College, offers some insight into attributing your efforts to your grades.

“Some students struggle or don’t know how to attribute their effort to the exams," says Wang. "Whenever they get a bad grade they will blame the outside factors, like thinking ‘the instructor doesn’t like me’ or ‘I had bad luck.’ So, as the instructor, we need to make sure that we train [students] to make positive attributions, such as thinking ‘Ok, I did bad, maybe I didn’t study that hard,' or, 'I had questions and confusions but I didn’t ask my peers or the instructor, or maybe I need to improve my learning strategies or my preparation strategies.’” 

Use it as a way to learn more about which studying habits work best for you

Molly Crum, a recent graduate of James Madison University, took her bad grade as a sign to change her habits. “I took [my bad grade] as a sign that the way I was doing things before wasn’t working, so I studied earlier and in a different, more focused way before the next test,” says Molly. “I think meeting with the professor or other students in the class can be really helpful for people as well.”

Whatever the case may be, take a moment to reflect and use this bad grade as a learning experience. You may learn that in order to improve, you may need to consider adjusting a certain aspect of your life or two, such as studying more or in a different way entirely. Worst case scenario: the class isn’t your cup of tea, and if you’re just not doing well in the class at all, it may be best to part ways—something you can always speak to your advisor about!

Related: Should You Drop a Class? How to Decide Whether to Stick It Out or Drop It

3. Consider asking for help

A bad grade is just as much a learning experience as it is a signal to consider seeking out a helping hand. No one wants you to fail in college, so there are tons of resources you can use to your advantage to learn more about why you earned the grade that you did and how to better prepare for the future. Your professor, a teaching assistant, an advisor or a tutor are just some of the many people you can consult! Plus, many professors offer office hours where they’re open to discussing your grade, and will sometimes even go as far as to let you retake things like a quiz or a test you weren’t satisfied with.

Seek out your resources, such as tutoring or some extra guidance from your professor

“I was really stubborn about speaking with my professors and accepting help from a tutor when I failed my first test in college,” says Emma*, a junior at Carthage College. “Finally, I came to terms with the fact that asking for help isn’t a sign of stupidity or failure. It only means that you care about your education and learning from your mistakes!”

There's no shame in asking your professors for help as well. Wang suggests talking to your professor as well as your peers to help clear up any confusion you may have. “I would advise students that for the future, if you have any questions relating to a study [guide], go to your professor or talk to your peers. From an instructor's perspective, if a student comes to me, then maybe next time I will do some preventive measures.” Talking to your professor about your confusion with an exam or a quiz may lead them to approach their instruction in a different way to better prepare you for future exams! 

When in doubt, consider extra credit

Extra credit another option to consider. Say it's nearing the end of the semester and your grade is on the borderline from a B to C and so on; you can always meet with your professor to discuss the possibility of extra credit to help balance out a bad grade. It helps to become familiar with their policies of extra credit at the beginning of the semester, but it doesn't hurt to ask!

Asking for help isn’t always easy, but at the end of the day, it’s a part of taking control of your life in college. Being proactive about your grades and taking corrective measures against the bad ones will only help you moving forward!

4. Use it as your motivation

Your first bad grade in college can stir up a whirlwind of emotions such as anger, guilt and sadness. Rather than succumbing to these emotions and feeling down, why not spin it the other way around and get fired up and motivated? One of the best ways to handle a bad grade is to use it as fuel for your next quiz or exam. Life is too short to get hung up on one bad grade, and since your college years may go by faster than you can blink, it’s best to make the most of your time in your classes, learn from the grade you received and get pumped up for your next opportunity to earn a better one.

“I got a 4/10 on a quiz the other day and hung it up on the fridge!” Hannah adds. “That's a reminder that no matter how badly I fail, I'm still so lucky to go to college and learn so much and get an education, and I just want to keep working to make the most of it!” 

Sometimes, failure pushes us to be the best versions of ourselves better than our successful moments do!

Related: What to Do If You’re Failing a Class

5. Learn to embrace the “failure”

Speaking of failure, repeat after me: I am not a failure. Regardless of what that letter or number reads in red ink at the top of your assignment, one grade does not constitute a complete failure. Although everyone has a different definition of what counts as a “failure,” the important thing to realize is that you acknowledge the fact that you’re capable of more.

One bad grade does not equal complete failure

Embracing the failure will allow you to accept what happened and move on knowing that the life skills you’ve learned from the experience can take you way further than the questions on your quiz. Most of the time, your professors care way more about what you’ve learned from the class out of experience rather than what your letter grade says you’ve learned.  

“Learning how to embrace failure and move forward is probably one of the most important lessons I'll get in college, because I'll never have to know the dates of the Haitian Revolution for my career but I have no doubts that I'll have to know how to move forward from inevitable failure,” Hannah explains.

Plus, embracing your first bad grade in college doesn’t always mean that you have to accept your bad grade, because that’s not always the case. Challenge yourself to improve your grade and don’t accept anything less than your best effort!

Sometimes, we take hard Ls in life, especially when it comes to college academics. Getting your first bad grade in college doesn’t mean you’re a total fail, however. All it means is that you’re better equipped to handle your grades in the future and take them into your own hands!

*Name has been changed

Following the horrific mass shooting in Sutherland Springs Texas on Sunday that left 26 people dead and 20 injured at the Sutherland Springs First Baptist Church, it's natural to feel a need to take some kind of action alongside all the other complicated, grieving feelings that comes with such a senseless act of violence.

While it's always advised to take some time to practice some self-care and unplug from the constant coverage, finding ways to quell the helpless feelings and do something positive for the affected community can be incredibly powerful and helpful as you process the event. 

Here's just a few ways you can help the Sutherland Springs victims and their families:

Donating blood. 

According to My San Antonio, blood centers in the area are asking community members to donate platelets and O-negative and O-positive blood. 

The sheer number of mass shootings in the United States (tallied at an average of one a day, according to the Mass Shooting Tracker) means that those able to donate blood should keep in mind the various blood centers that might need support.

Donate funds where you can. 

Fundraising is almost always helpful following tragedy — especially considering the medical bills, funeral costs and other costs that fall on the victims, survivors and their families. Finding reputable, trustworthy groups that know how best to allocate funds is vital.

The HHFRF Sutherland Springs Victim Fund, run by the Hardest Hit Family Relief Fund, is collecting money through a GoFundMe campaign and their website to bring money directly to victims of the shooting and their families. Another GoFundMe campaign (verified as legitimate by GoFundMe) is the FBC Sutherland Springs Shooting; organizers say that they set up the campaign after realizing the church's website was crashing and wanting to insure that "people who have the mind to would be able to donate quickly and easily until the church can sort out their own funding page."  

The Holcombe family, who reportedly lost eight members in the attack, also have a GoFundMe page you can donate to.

Combat fake news. 

Immediately following the shooting, there was an influx of misinformation and so-called "fake news"surrounding the motive, identity and affiliation of the shooter. As Politifact noted, a fake news story alleging the shooter had ties to "Antifa" and was attempting to start a "communist revolution" spread wildly on social media during the confusing first few hours after the shooting. 

In addition to being super mindful of what you share (always consider these guidelines in breaking news situations), try to go out of your way to prevent further misinformation and link friends and family members who shared the fake news with the truth.

Call your representatives. 

If you're politically-minded and take issue with the legislative response (or lackthereof) to the number of mass shootings in the United States, taking some time to reach out to your local representatives and grassroots action groups is a great way to channel that frustration, grieving energy. (And taking some time to research legislation that might be in the pipeline is always a good practice.)

Particularly in the days following an event like this, remember that your voice (and your vote) is incredibly powerful.

While it's understandably a disheartening and difficult time following an event like Sunday's shooting, there are almost always ways you can band together to help and support the vulnerable people who are most affected by tragedy.

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth may be engaged, but Miley has previously been pretty vocal about the fact that the celeb couple has pretty much zero plans for an actual wedding any time soon. But according to new reports, that may actually be because they're actually already married — say WHAT?

According to a source that spoke to The Daily Mail, Miley and Liam may have gotten married as early as this past April, in a super private ceremony at their house in Malibu, and they just haven't spilled the news to fans yet.

The source said the wedding took place, "six months ago, way back in late April," he or she reportedly told The Daily Mail. "It was a very intimate ceremony at their house in Malibu. I'm told only a handful of people were there and they're still the only ones who know."

For obvious reasons, fans are freaking out. It certainly doesn't help that, as People points out, they've been rocking some rings lately that look a lot like wedding bands.

That being said, the pair has also previously publicly denied being engaged, saying the rings on their fingers are just promise rings, so who really even knows what's going on with those two at this point? TBH, we're just happy as long as they are.

There's basically no celeb more glam than Blake Lively —I mean, she was Serena van der Woodsen after all. While the actress normally rocks a mane of bombshell blonde waves, she definitely switched things up while filming her latest movie — and chances are you won't even recognize her.

On the set of her upcoming film The Rhythm Section, which the actress was filming in Dublin over the weekend, it appears that she's swapped her blonde locks for a brassy, cropped cut with some pretty gnarly roots. The look is part of her character Stephanie Patrick, who, as Us Weekly reports, spends the movie seeking revenge after losing her family in a plane crash.

Don't panic though — it looks like it's just a wig, and it's likely that Blake's *flawless* tresses are still under there somewhere. 

Of course, her hilarious AF husband Ryan Reynolds wasn't about to pass up this opportunity to poke fun at his wife's ~new look~ in a way that has us all cracking up.

#Nofilter, he captioned the photo of Blake on Instagram — and we officially love him even more.

Sure, it's only November, but the latest steamy trailer for Fifty Shades Freed, the final movie installment in the Fifty Shades trilogy, already has us looking forward to Valentine's Day 2018.

While we already got some sexy sneak peeks at Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey's wedding back in September, this latest trailer, which was dropped on Monday, lets us in on even more details about their wedding and honeymoon. Of course, sexy scenes in the new Mr. and Mrs. Grey's "play room" and shower abound — and let's just say they're definitely not disappointing.

But it's definitely not all just happily ever after, either. From the looks of it, the trilogy's final movie will also involve a high-speed car chase and Ana getting kidnapped — by, as we've learned in this latest teaser, her former boss Jack Hyde. Oh, and then there's the total gem of a scene in which Ana has to forcefully remind flirty the architect of her and Christian's house that, "you can call me Mrs. Grey."

All in all, I'm here for it. Watch the trailer below and get ready to get hyped for Fifty Shades Freed, which hits theaters just in time for Valentine's day on February 9, 2018.

If you're anything like me, you both love and hate your hair. Some days it's your crowning glory, and others it's the bane of your existence. One thing is certain however—even on the best days it never seems to look as shiny and healthy as it could be... until now, for me. 

A few weeks ago, my hairstylist noticed that I had a lot of split ends and my hair was looking pretty damaged. She suggested that the water at my college may actually be drying out my hair, which is obviously something that I can't control, so I asked her for advice, and she recommended coconut oil. 

At first, I was hesitant: Over the years I have tried pretty much every fad beauty trend, be it in the name of fun, fashion (or science), and I honestly just didn't think that this would provide the shine and health to my hair that she claimed it would. However, I had some coconut oil lying around so I decided that it couldn't hurt.

Related: 10 Genius Ways to Use Coconut Oil

I was amazed.

The results were totally noticeable and the process was actually kind of fun! After I was finished with the treatment my hair looked shinier, thicker and actually felt healthier and softer. 

Since the secret is too good not to share, I've made you a step-by-step DIY guide for this easy, overnight coconut hair oil treatment. Give it a shot and be ready to experience your best hair ever!

1. Buy the (right) coconut oil 

Now, this step may seem like a no-brainer, but it's actually a very important one. According to my hairstylist, organic coconut oil is the only way to go. If you think about it, this makes perfect sense—to obtain the best results, you'll want to be using the best possible ingredients, and trust me, after spending almost a whole day with oil in your hair, you'll want only the best. The good news is that organic coconut oil is not expensive, and you'll get so much out of one bottle that you'll have tons of treatments done before you even have to think of buying another one. The brand that I use is a pretty common one called Spectrum, which you can buy at Walmart for less than $8 dollars. However, you should be able to find organic coconut oil at most grocery stores. I am a personal fan of the Trader Joe's coconut oil. Additionally, you can use coconut oil in recipes, as a moisturizer and as a makeup primer and makeup remover among a ton of other things, so your money will definitely not be wasted. 

2. Heat the oil 

The first step in applying the oil to your hair is heating it up. By far the easiest way to do this, particularly if you live in a dorm and don't have access to a stovetop, is to simply place the closed jar in a bowl or sink full of steaming hot water. Allow the jar to sit in the water for about 5 to 7 minutes until the jar itself is warm to the touch. After that, open the jar and see if it has liquefied (it should be the consistency of baby oil or olive oil). You only need a small amount of liquefied oil for this treatment, depending on the length and thickness of your hair. For reference, my hair is thick and hits slightly below my shoulders and I used about 1/2 a cup of oil. 

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This is the coconut oil that I use, Organic Coconut Oil by Spectrum 

3. Prepare your hair

First, make sure that you hair is tangle-free and has been brushed; this will help the oil go on a lot easier. Additionally, your hair should be dry for this treatment, as it allows the oil to soak into your hair easier. It's easiest to do this in sections, so putting your hair half-up (if your hair is longer or thicker) is often the easiest way to go. However, this step is really up to your preference. 

Related: What to Eat to Beautify Your Hair, Skin & Nails

4. Apply the oil 

Here's the fun part: applying the coconut oil to your hair! Pour your liquefied coconut oil into a small cup or bowl and simply use your hands to apply it to all the sections of your hair from the root to the ends. This can get messy, so doing this over a sink is your best bet for an easy clean up. After your hair is completely covered in coconut oil, it should have the look of wet hair. The best step from here is to throw your hair up into a high bun to avoid the oil getting on your clothes and furniture. 

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This is my partially liquefied coconut oil, ready for my hair! 

5. Keep it on overnight

At this point, you're almost done, and your next step is to simply leave the oil in your hair overnight (or for at least 5 to 6 hours; the longer the better). Lots of people will put a plastic shower cap (or even a plastic bag) over their bun to avoid a mess, but personally I found that the most comfortable solution for a good night's sleep is simply to put a towel down over my pillow. 

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Here's my coconut oil bun! Ready for a good night's sleep...

6. Shampoo and cleanse

The next morning (or 5 to 6 hours later) your hair should be drier and less oily to the touch than it did when you first applied the oil. At this point, it is time to wash the oil out of your hair. The easiest way to do this is to jump in the shower and shampoo your hair from root to ends. The most important part of this step is to make sure that you shampoo your hair enough to remove all the oil; you don't want residue on your locks. Personally I shampooed my hair twice and did so very thoroughly. Depending on your hair thickness you may need to shampoo a third time, but two is probably enough for most hair types. After you've cleaned your hair completely, jump out of the shower and brush it through or let it dry as you normally would, whether this includes a blow dryer or not. As my hair air-dried, I noticed that it looked a lot shinier and felt so much softer than it usually did. 

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My hair looked shinier and felt softer as it dried after I shampooed it the next day.

Related: 7 Braided 'Dos Perfect for Any Holiday Party

7. The final results! 

After allowing your hair to dry fully you can truly see the results of your treatment. Your hair should be shinier, smoother and feel softer and stronger than it did previously. This treatment can be done as often as once a week, and will definitely help to keep your hair healthy and lustrous. If you have a coconut allergy, this entire treatment can be done with olive oil. 

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Here's my end result: look at that shine!

Give this treatment a try—and let us know how it works for you!

(Photos By: Olivia Katharine) 

Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth may be engaged, but Miley has previously been pretty vocal about the fact that the celeb couple has pretty much zero plans for an actual wedding any time soon. But according to new reports, that may be because they're actually already married—say WHAT?

According to a source that spoke to NW magazine, Miley and Liam may have gotten married as early as this past April, in a super private ceremony at their house in Malibu, and they just haven't spilled the news to fans yet, The Daily Mail reports.

The source said the wedding took place "six months ago, way back in late April." They continued, "It was a very intimate ceremony at their house in Malibu. I'm told only a handful of people were there and they're still the only ones who know."

For obvious reasons, fans are freaking out. It certainly doesn't help that, as People points out, Miley and Liam have been rocking some rings lately that look a lot like wedding bands.

That being said, the pair has also previously publicly denied being engaged, saying the rings on their fingers are just promise rings, so who really even knows what's going on with those two at this point? TBH, we're just happy as long as they are.

Roger Ailes, Bill O’Reilly, Harvey Weinstein and most recently, senior NPR editor Michael Oreskes, are all men who abused their power to sexually harass their female colleagues.

Famous faces went to social media to raise their hands and say #MeToo. Rose McGowan, Angelina Jolie, Gwyneth Paltrow and Lupita Nyongo all spoke out against their harassers, but sexual harassment doesn't just happen to women in Hollywood. Unwelcome sexualizing attention and objectifying behavior can happen in any line of work.

It happened to Samantha, a Siena College grad, at a summer job. It happened to Chelsea Jackson at Iowa State as a freelance photographer, and unfortunately it could happen to you too, but just because your story may not make headlines doesn't mean it should not be heard.

Here are ways you can take action and protect yourself if you are sexually harassed at work. 

Speak up

She would go out of her way to avoid him. Spending time in the break room, planning her shifts around his. He was know for making women feel uncomfortable, and had a reputation among female staff. Samantha had just graduated high-school and started working at Wal-Mart to save money for college. One seasonal job turned into another, and she climbed the ranks to become a manager. Even with her new leadership role, the harassment didn’t stop.

“He made me uncomfortable. Getting too close to me, follow me,” Samantha says. “One day, he went out of his way to sneak up behind me and grab me, and when I told him not to touch me he still didn't take his hand off.” Samantha says she told her supervisors about the harassment, but nothing changed.

“You have to swallow it back and pretend it’s not happening, because if I refuse to help [the harasser] I’m insubordinate.”

Samantha did the right thing by telling her superiors, but according to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, three-quarters of people who experienced harassment “never even talked to a supervisor, manager, or union representative about the harassing conduct.”

Related: How to File an EEOC Claim

Take legal action

Jack Tuckner, women's rights & discrimination attorney, says the most important thing for victims of sexual harassment is to document it and complain formally. Tuckner suggests keeping logs of every incident, and recording them if you can.

“Typically the victim cannot sue the perpetrator or file a police report unless an assault has occurred. When it comes to harassment, it’s the company’s responsibility to remedy the situation.” said Tuckner.

Tuckner cofounded Tuckner, Sipser, Weinstock & Sipser, a New York based law firm that specializes in women’s rights in the workplace. His team has helped thousands of women defend their rights to fair and equal treatment in the workplace. But if you’re like Samantha and your complaints haven’t be taken seriously, then what? Tuckner says to seek legal help.

"If they [human resources] are sweeping it under the carpet and just not doing anything, send a follow up notifying them that you are consulting a lawyer. We, [a legal team], can negotiate a divorce, pay a severance.”

If you are in school, many universities offer free legal aid to students, though you don’t need a lawyer to file a Charge of Discrimination with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Filing an EEOC complaint is free and can be done online, but must be reported within 180 days from when the harassment occurred. Each state has different guidelines so be sure to check the deadlines.

Don’t quit

Chelsea Jackson worked as a freelance photographer for local bars in her college town. What seemed like a fun and social job, quickly became demeaning and nerve-wrecking.

“Customers got out of hand. They would follow me around the bar while I was working, grope me and ask me inappropriate questions about my relationship,” she says. “Often they would make threats that they’d “turn me straight” and would proceed to try hold my hand or touch my crotch.”

Chelsea said management refused to reprimand the customers who assaulted her for fear of losing business.

“They didn't want to kick out ‘paying customers,’ ” she explains. “Management never did anything and often told me, “If you don’t like customers calling you names and touching you sometimes, then you should just quit.”

And that’s exactly what she did.

“...despite the money being stellar...I couldn't mentally withstand this behavior. “

Chelsea chose to leave a job that she actually enjoyed, harassment aside, and unfortunately, that’s the norm. For many victims, quitting seems like the easier option compared to going up against a company you feel may not support you, but Tuckner says quitting before you report harassment is the worst thing you can do.

“Don't quit.” Tuckner advises “If you wait to get out then call a lawyer, a company can turn around a say you’re just disgruntled, however...if you complain of sexual harassment and they fire you, that's a case. Retaliatory termination is illegal and compensable.”

Related: Me Too: An Important Social Media Movement in Effecting Change 

Don’t be afraid

Even though Chelsea did not pursue legal action, she did notify her university about her dangerous working conditions.

“I [reported] the bars to the Better Business Bureau and to my university's career service center. The only reason I know about the job posting was because it was advertised on Iowa State's CyHire website, which is the university's online job board Because I spoke out these individuals are permanently banned from submitting a job opening on [the campus site].

While the thought of a lawsuit can be intimidating, know that there are many steps before a sexual harassment case can go to court, and most complaints are settled between the victim and their employer.

Joseph Olivares of the EEOC says the most important thing you can do is not stay silent.

“Talk to a family member, co-worker, anyone,” he says “It's ok to be nervous about reporting sexual harassment, but if you do not report it, the behavior could continue. You can always contact the EEOC if you have any questions or would like to file a charge. Sexual harassment is wrong, but most importantly, it's illegal. Do not hesitate to speak out.”

Related: Harvey Weinstein Under Fire as Women Continue to Step Forward With Sexual Assault Allegations

Many victims of harassment may feel shame and guilt about what they've experienced, even though it was no fault of their own. Everyone handles trauma differently, and there are many reasons why victims may choose to quit or not come forward, but everyone should know there are ways to fight back and support systems put in place to protect you. I hope that victims continue to find the strength to speak out, and that we as a society continue to amplify their voices and hold each other accountable. 

A slew of sexual assault accusations have been crawling out of the woodwork in Hollywood since the Harvey Weinstein allegations surfaced. #MeToo has become a way to raise awareness about sexual harassment and assault, giving women a chance to come forward with their stories. Actress Kristina Cohen is the latest to use #MeToo to share hers: She claims Ed Westwick, who played Chuck Bass on Gossip Girl, raped her three years ago.

In a Facebook post Monday night, Cohen told the story of her alleged assault in detail. She says she was dating a producer at the time, and he brought her with him to Westwick's home. She claims Westwick suggested, "We should all fuck," which immediately made Cohen uncomfortable. She wanted to leave, so she told everyone she was tired. Instead, she says the producer made her stay to avoid making Westwick feel awkward and Westwick suggested she nap in the guest room if she wanted to sleep.

After going in the guest room, Cohen claims things took an extremely disturbing turn. "So I went and laid down in the guest room where I eventually fell asleep, I was woken up abruptly by Ed on top of me, his fingers entering my body," Cohen wrote. "I told him to stop, but he was strong. I fought him off as hard as I could but he grabbed my face in his hands, shaking me, telling me he wanted to fuck me. I was paralyzed, terrified. I couldn't speak, I could no longer move. He held me down and raped me."

Cohen says after she told the producer what happened, he blamed her for the assault, saying Westwick would "destroy her" and ruin her chances of an acting career if she told anyone. WTF?!

As horrifying as this is to read, Cohen offered support to other victims. She ended her post, "I hope my coming forward will help others to know that they are not alone, that they are not to blame, and it is not their fault. Just as the other women and men coming forward have helped me to realize the same. I hope that my stories and the stories of others help to reset and realign the toxic environments and power imbalances that have created these monsters." Yes. This is so important.

Westwick has yet to address the allegations.

I hope Cohen's story helps other women and men with their struggles to come forward. I can only imagine how horrifying this memory was for her to relive and share. Cohen is strong and admirable for sharing her story and reminding everyone that sexual assault is not okay and something needs to change.

UPDATE: Ed Westwick has responded to allegations of rape made against him. Tuesday morning, he posted a note to Instagram that reads, "I do not know this woman. I have never forced myself in any manner, on any woman. I certainly have never committed rape."

Makeup is not one-size-fits-all, and the effectiveness of color correctors depends on how well they blend with various hues and skin tones. Specifically, color correcting can prove to be tedious for WOC because of undertones, hyper-pigmentation and scaring in darker skin that need special attention. According to an interview with Stylecaster, Gilbert Soliz, the Global Makeup Artist for Marc Jacobs Beauty, says that the best correctors for medium to dark skin tones are “rich yellows, burnt corals, and orange shades.” Based on this recommendation, we’ve found 11 color correcting products that are perfect for dark-skinned beauties out there in need of some new products.

1. Anastasia Beverly Hills Contour Cream Kit ($40 at Ulta Beauty)

This palette is available in four shades and can be used for color correcting, contouring and highlighting––talk about getting all your bases covered! Watch below as beauty vlogger Princess Ezeofor gives her best tips for correcting discoloration, dark marks and hyper-pigmented lips.

2. BH Cosmetics Foundation & Concealer Palette 2 ($9.99 at BH Cosmetics)

This palette has buildable shades that can work both as concealer or foundation for dark skin tones. The shades in this set are especially impactful around hard-to-erase under-eye circles. 

3. M·A·C Studio Conceal and Correct Palette in Dark ($35 at MAC Cosmetics)

In this palette, the "Pure Orange" shade specifically acts flawlessly when blended, and you'll probably find yourself using this every day under your concealer.

4. Sephora + Pantone Universe Correct + Conceal Palette($49 at Sephora)

Even though this palette comes with detailed instructions, you'll want to watch YouTuber Kendra Murrell show off her impressive hacks for using these shades to conceal under eye circles and acne scars. 

5. Urban Decay Naked Skin Color Correcting Fluid in Deep Peach ($29 at Sephora)

You can't have a complete makeup arsenal without this color correcting fluid! Say goodbye to pesky acne scars and dark marks, and hello to evenly toned skin. 

6. Becca Backlight Targeted Colour Corrector in Peach ($30 at Becca Cosmetics)

This peach-hued color corrector neutralizes dark spots and hyper-pigmentation, which is perfect for WOC. We can't emphasize enough how crucial a peachy-orange corrector is, even in more natural looking makeup routines. 

7. MAKE UP FOR EVER 5 Camouflage Cream Palette Color Correct & Concealer ($40 at Sephora)

Beauty vlogger Destiny Godley agrees that this palette works wonders on tan to dark skin tones. Watch her finished look below for major makeup inspo!

8. Smashbox Color Correcting Stick in Orange ($25 at Smashbox)

This orange color correcting pencil is great if you're looking for easy and precise application to discolored areas.

9. Makeup For Ever Full Cover Concealer ($34 at Sephora)

This full-coverage concealer comes in many shades, and it's specifically designed with "a high concentration of pigments that stay put" to cover major imperfections like hyper-pigmentation, burns and even tattoos.

10. L.A. GIRL HD Pro Concealer ($4.99 at Ulta Beauty)

YouTuber EssieShay recommends this concealer as a color corrector, not just because of the diverse shade offering, but also because of how friendly this high-quality product is on your wallet. 

11. Fenty Beauty Match Stix Matte Skinstick ($25 at Sephora)

Rihanna definitely proved she knows what WOC need with her entire Fenty Beauty line, so we couldn't finish this without a mention. Her Skinsticks come in 20 shades, and are perfect for precise concealing of discoloration. 

Now that you've got a flawless, smooth finish, what other products will you use to complete your makeup look?