You probably just read that headline and thought to yourself, “girl, you must’ve been disappointed by the end of the month.” Well, kind of. But I also kind of wasn’t. Let me explain. For the last 30 days, I’ve been saving every receipt, muttering prices under my breath and writing down every dime I spent into a meticulously crafted spreadsheet. Sounds super smart, or super obsessive. Take your pick. But I figured this would be an interesting experiment since in just a few short months, I’m going to be a grown-ass college graduate who will have to deal with the scary financial shit I’ve been avoiding all this time. And, I wanted to at least try to start exercising good money habits (and learning more about what I blow through my bank account on so I can avoid that later).

I usually try to think of myself as a frugal person. I don’t spend that much money, and when I do it’s usually on stuff that’s really important—like new releases from Colourpop and the next viral ice cream cone. But I honestly didn’t think that I’d walk away having filled out my spreadsheet as much as I did.

Was it cringe-worthy to have to document my larger purchases? Kind of. Was it worth doing? Sure. Would I ever attempt this madness ever again? Hell. F***ing. Yeah.

1. I spend more money on social interactions than anything else.

The last 30 days were huge for me in terms going out with friends. My money was basically spent on eating out with them, and those meals made up the majority of my spending habits (aside from my $130 purchase from PINK in one day). Not only that, but I also used social hangouts with friends as a way to unwind and forget about what I needed to do for class for a little bit. I found that being with friends is something I love doing, even if I’m spending $30 on brunch or $10 on taquitos at 7Eleven.

I definitely think this is something I should be aware of and budget for in the future, since I clearly spent a lot on that.  

2. I would rather just buy something instead of checking to make sure I already have it.

So, on one of the first days of this experiment, I needed batteries for a class project. Double A batteries. I kind of thought I already had one or two in my room that I could use, but I forgot to check before leaving in the morning, and I wanted to buy them right away because I wouldn’t have any time later on. I probably could have just waited until the next day to buy the batteries after checking to make sure that I actually didn’t have any. Or I could have asked around to see if anyone else had batteries I could use. But I was so caught up in wanting things to move quickly that I just put out the money for the batteries.

If we actually stopped to double check on what we already have before buying more of it, we’d save so much money. We tell ourselves that it’s totally okay to have extra because “you never know,” but it’s actually wasteful when you don’t have money to throw around like that.

3. I actually make really good splurging decisions.

Over the years, I’ve come to realize that there are certain things that are worth the investment. I’d continuously spend money on super cheap items that would break or be ruined within a few months, and then proceed to re-buy cheap items to replace them. And that was only burning a hole in my wallet. So, I started putting out the big bucks on items that I genuinely thought would last me a really long time so I could reuse them over and over again.

On a day with a great sale, I splurged on some clothes from PINK. It wasn’t anything crazy, but I got a pair of sweats that I have wanted for a really long time now, and it’s now my favorite thing to wear when I’m feeling lazy or just want to feel cozy. And I bought a new sports bra, which I have been meaning to get. These were some of my more satisfying purchases since I knew I’d use them and the quality is really good, so I’d have them for a really long time.

4. Starbucks may be the death of me.

Or at least the death of my bank account. I’m seriously in Starbucks almost every day, but when I’m spending my college meal points at my campus Starbucks, I don’t really care what I get or how many times I get it (signs of a true Starbucks addict). But, when I was off campus and had to use real money, suddenly I’d order a grande iced white chocolate mocha instead of a venti. I became more aware of what I purchased from the notoriously expensive coffee chain, but not enough to simply not buy anything from there. Seriously, that’s almost $35 a week, and that’s $140 per month. In other words, Every month of going without Starbucks would put me $140 closer to a trip to Paris.

5. Tracking my spending is smart, not obsessive.

For me, anyway. It’s different for everyone and, honestly, I can really only speak for myself with this one. The habit suits me perfectly since I like being in control, and I don’t think that’s different for my money spending. It has made me more aware of what I should consider budgeting for in the future (near and far) and what I should do to avoid overspending in the future.

If you want to learn more about how you drain, er I mean, spend your bank account, try tracking all of your purchases. As for me, I think I might actually purchase a financial tracker so I can continue making note of how I spend money.

Your hair can reflect a lot about your personality, and if you take notes from celebrities like Katy Perry and Bella Thorne, sometimes that means looking to the rainbow for inspiration. If you’re thinking about straying away from ‘natural’ colors like blonde, black, ginger and brown, you have to be ready to commit. So before you pick up the magenta hair dye or call your local hair salon, make sure you know all of the facts before taking the rainbow hair plunge.  

1. Make sure your new hair color is acceptable for the workplace

You may think getting hot pink highlights is cool and trendy, but your conservative workplace may not agree. Check your employee or intern manual to see if your company has any policies about unnatural hair colors before you get to working on your new color. You may think the new social media startup you just landed an internship with will be cool with a rainbow ‘do, but they might think it’s unprofessional. Even if you find yourself at straight-laced company, get creative with how you can slip some funky tones into your hair!

Sophia Walker, a senior at Bowdoin College, was able to have a little fun without coming off unprofessional. “What I did was to put in some well-placed highlights (I have very dark hair) and then dye my entire head purple with a dye that I could reapply by myself as the need to re-dye arose,” she says.

Slipping in a few colorful pieces of hair may be okay with your boss, but it’s always better to double or triple check when your career and paycheck are at stake. If you don’t see it written down anywhere, ask your manager or someone in the human resources department just to be sure.

2. Getting your dream color may take a while

Rome wasn’t built in a day and your hair isn’t going to go from jet black to pastel purple in one session! Depending on the color of your hair and your hair’s previous exposure to dyes and bleaches, achieving the color you want doesn’t happen right away.

“For example, if you have blonde hair whether it be virgin or highlighted, most crazy colors will take on it,” says Macaria Pabon, a hairstylist at Charise’s Salon in Pittsburgh. “But if you have black hair it would require several lightening processes before you could apply any crazy color. This can all be determined in a consultation between you and your stylist.”

If you’re trying to stay within a price range when converting your hair to a crazy color, visit your hairstylist and see how many sessions and the possible cost of getting your rainbow ‘do.

3. Bleach may be involved, and it’s not always a good thing

If you have dark hair or even dirty blonde hair, your hair will probably have to get bleached in order to get a vibrant, rich color like bright orange or cobalt blue. But bleach can be harmful to your hair by breaking it or drying it out, so make sure your hair can handle the coloring and bleaching process.

Kristen Tajili, a graduate of the University of North Carolina, says, “If you do a poor enough job bleaching your hair it can fall out, which happened to me in certain parts of my head after I had to re-bleach some of my dark spots. The second time I bleached it I wanted to go silver but got kind of freaked out from bits of my hair falling out so I was left with orange hair.”

Save yourself the embarrassment and stress and shell out the money for a salon visit. Not only are hairstylists trained in making you look good, but they also are trained in keeping your hair healthy and determining what your hair can take in terms of chemicals.

Pabon says, “Lightening your hair should always be left to a professional. A professional should look over your hair and know your hair color history to determine if your hair is healthy enough to lighten.”

Just remember that your hair is not a science experiment and head to the professionals and get the advice you need so that you don’t have to spend time dodging Snapchat stories because you hate your hair.

Related: 5 Ways to Style Dirty Hair

4. Pick a color that looks good on you

Dyeing your hair any color is hard to reverse, so make sure the color you pick works well with your skin tone and wardrobe. For example, you may want pastel pink hair, but it could wash you out if you’re on the paler side. Likewise, girls with dark brown skin can make their skin tone pop with colors like bright yellow and red, while those with olive toned skin may not find orange and yellow as a good complements to their skin tone, but could totally rock pinks and purples.

“Please think long and hard about it and make sure it fits you,” says Pabon.

A unique hair color can bring change in your life or make you feel more confident. The last thing you want is to do the opposite. If you’re shy and don’t like the spotlight on you, dyeing your hair all of the colors of the rainbow may bring unwanted attention. On the contrary, if you’re someone who loves the attention, choosing which color will get you the most Instagram likes may end up being the ultimate struggle.

5. Find out color maintenance practices that work for you

If you’re spending major bucks on making your hair a rainbow hue, make sure it lasts too!

“Any shampoo I've ever tried causes the color to bleed or run. Conditioner does not. If you can, only wash your hair with shampoo once or twice a week,” says Samantha Burke, a senior at Siena College.

Keeping your hair away from water and shampoos doesn’t mean avoiding a shower altogether. Instead, use a shower cap.

Pabon says, “There are plenty things you can do to at home to get the most out of your color. You can even ask your stylist about a colored conditioner to deposit color on your hair at home with every wash.” Don’t waste your money or your stylist’s hard work by letting your color fade, make sure you can keep your color vibrant!

6. You’ll be a regular at the salon

Deciding that you want to have bright red hair forever is a bold decision, but keeping that color for long periods of time is no joke. Only washing your hair a few times a week and using color-depositing shampoo will keep your color from fading, but when your roots start growing in, you’ll need to make a hair appointment. The same goes for when you’re tired of your rainbow hair and want to go back to au naturale. Avoid the awkward growing out process and call your stylist.

“Expect fading, and expect a line of demarcation,” says Pabon. “Most of all expect a trip to the salon to get your hair back to its natural color if you are just tired of seeing the crazy color.”

Skip the bad hair days and see what your stylist has to say. You don’t have to be stuck with roots or a color you don’t want anymore when there are trained professionals there to give you their expertise. Depending on your color history, you could be visiting the salon every 4-6 weeks. Make sure you talk to your stylist about this before you commit to your new color so you’re not surprised if it starts fading.

If you want to dye your hair all of the colors of the rainbow, make sure your hair can handle it and pick a color (or colors) that will make you feel bold and confident! A bold hair color can turn a new leaf and mark the start of a big change in your life. Take the dive and seek inspiration from your childhood crayons.

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.)

The House Has Passed a Bill to Prevent a Government Shutdown (For Now)

On Thursday evening, the House approved a short-term spending bill with a 230 to 197 vote in order to prevent a government shutdown just in time before current government funding expired Friday at midnight, the New York Times reports. However, the bill will move to the Senate this morning, where many Democrats are prepared to vote no following charged DACA and immigration talks last week, in which Trump referred to Haiti and several African countries as "shithole countries." If passed, the spending bill will keep the government open through February 16.

Los Angeles Times Employees Are Calling for the CEO to Be Fired Amid Sexual Misconduct Allegations

Following a report by NPR, which found Los Angeles Times CEO Ross Levinsohn had engaged in sexual misconduct at multiple media companies throughout his career, multiple reporters and editors at the newspaper are calling for Levinsohn to be fired, BuzzFeed News reports. Levinsohn was the defendant in two sexual harassment lawsuits and reportedly referred to gay members of the fashion industry as "fags," often creating, "a frat house environment," as described by one former coworker.

As a result, employees of the LA Times have been calling for the CEO to, "resign or be fired immediately." For their part, Tribune Publishing, the paper's parent company, has said it, "is taking the allegations seriously" and promises it will "take appropriate action."

Millennial Pink Kit Kats Are Now a Thing That Exists

You can now officially buy pretty much everything in millennial pink —including your chocolate. Just in time for Valentine's Day, Kit Kats now come in everyone's favorite shade of pink thanks to something called a Ruby cocoa bean, which turns the chocolate a rosy hue without any weird food coloring. The only bad news? Like many other fancy Kit Kat flavors, these new ones are only being sold in Japan and South Korea for now — though those of us in the U.S. will be able to order them online starting in February. #Bless

What to look out for...

Tomorrow is the 11th anniversary of High School Musical — so while I'm over here freaking out over how old I now feel, please enjoy this GIF of Troy Bolton being dramatic AF:

In an interview that aired Thursday night on the new BET show Mancave, Lamar Odom didn't shy away from the topic of his ex, Khloe Kardashian.

"I understand when it's over, it's over," Odom said. "When she was with her second or third NBA ball player, I can see that." 

The quote was tweeted out, and Kim Kardashian immediately jumped to Khloe's defense.

A little less than a year ago, before the major revelations of Harvey Weinstein's alleged sexual assaults or the current Time's Up movement, Lorde made a seemingly vague tweet about "old men in power."

She couldn't have known then, but the tweet became particularly relevant considering 2017's reckoning of sexual assault — especially since many of those accused were in positions of power or authority. 

The tweet resurfaced in December, with people highlighting its significance for the prior year. This includes Lorde herself.

Joining the ranks of ground-breakers like Nike, L'Oréal Paris has stepped up to become one of the first major beauty brands to feature a hijab-wearing model in a hair campaign. Joining a cast of all types of women sporting all types of hair, beauty influencer Amena Khan shook the beauty world in a baby pink hijab. 

A mega-popular beauty vlogger and founder of Ardere Cosmetics, Khan spoke to Vogue UK about her relationship with her hair and headscarf. "I didn't start wearing a headscarf until I was in my twenties, but even prior to that I didn't see anyone I could relate to in the media. It was always a cause [for] celebration when you saw a brown face on television! I think seeing a campaign like this [back then] would have given me more of a sense of belonging"

Needless to say, her role in L'Oréal's new campaign has wrought a massive outpouring of cheers and support from her fans. "No one really understands that hijabis have problems with their hair as well," one person posted. "Just because we cover our hair doesn't mean we don't have hair that's why we are hiding it or we have hair problems like any other girls that show. So I am glad we have someone representing us," wrote one woman. 

Here's hoping we see other brands rise to meet the new standard L'Oréal has set in 2018, 'cause we all want to take care of our hair.

Header Image: Amena / Instagram

Fame, as the paparazzi-filled handful of decades has shown, is a double-edged sword. On the one hand, celebrities find themselves with legions of fans willing to defend and adore them at every moment of the day. They have notoriety, respect and a bank account that would shock many. However, there is also a more sinister side of fame. Ridicule and inspection of their every move is a constant, it can oftentimes be fleeting and there’s a threat of people assuming a celebrity belongs to them in a possessive way.

For most of her career, Taylor Swift has been the shining example of this constant dichotomy of fame. She’s won over hearts across the globe, but been the object of criticism. She’s won awards, but been accused of being a mean girl. Swift has also been the target of quite a few stalkers.

And it seems that one specific stalker had some new allegations come to light.

According to E! News, Frank Andrew Hoover of Texas, violated a restraining order the star had taken out against him in 2016 when he camped outside her show at a local arena, which landed him in jail. But he certainly did not stop there.

As it turns out, he also somehow obtained the email address of Taylor’s father and allegedly began sending threatening emails saying that he would wipe out the entire Swift family in one go. Coupled with the restraining order violation, Hoover could face some serious jail time.

This is a clear violation of Swift’s privacy as well as her family’s. Just because someone is known on a global scale does not mean that a person is allowed to say and do whatever they want to that person. Fame is a scary place and Swift knows that more than anyone.

The holidays are fast approaching, meaning that parties, family gatherings and group outings are also around the corner. But what’s worse than not having anything to wear for these occasions? Having makeup that doesn’t suit your face. While makeup doesn’t need to be the end-all, be-all, it’s a staple part of the holiday season, and a fun opportunity to get fancier than your everyday routine. But it’s insanely important to get the right hues for eye color and eye shape, as well as to make sure you’re accentuating the correct parts of the eye while making them pop at the same time. There's a lot more to it than you thought, huh? So we asked some expert makeup artists, as well as some collegiettes, to get you the best tips to 'sleigh'  this holiday season.

Colors

Brown Eyes

It’s a common mistake for those with brown eyes to wear browns or darker, natural colors. But venturing out of your comfort zone is a must for a one-of-a-kind, amazing look. “[Wearing colors, other than brown] allows the eye color to stand out,” says Margina Dennis, a makeup artist and educator who has done looks for celebrities including Lea Michele and Jane Lynch.

For some specific colors to try, makeup artist Ashlee Glazer suggests Smith & Cult’s Book of Eyes Eye Quad in Interlewd. This palette offers colors that are in the purple family, but Glazer also suggest navy as a great color for brown eyes. “Navy also enhances the white and accentuates the brown of your eyes,” says Glazer, who appeared on The Today Show this past summer with her great beauty tips!

Jenna Adrian, a junior at Drexel University, is a brown-eyed girl. “For girls with brown eyes, the Lorac Pro palette is great because it's full of warmer toned shadows that bring out the warmth in brown eyes,” she says. Having a wide range of colors to choose from also helps you out when trying not to clash with your outfit.

Blue Eyes

What’s the trick to making blue eyes pop? Browns! “Brown hues will make blue eye appear brighter,” says Dennis. “Greys can work on a fairer skin with cool undertones as well if the grey has more of a blue undertone to it.”

Try to avoid going too dark if you have a cooler blue eye color. Light champagne colors or pinks are perfect because they won't draw too much away from your lighter eyes.

Glazer also suggests a palette like Smith & Cult’s Book of Eyes Eye Quad in Noonsuite. “[This] is gorgeous for blue eyes," she says. "The copper/rust and gold undertones truly make your baby blues stand out.” Your blue eyes will have a nice “peek-a-boo” moment when looking up from under gold and bronze lids.

Green Eyes

Green eyes are pretty versatile, allowing a slew of colors to go well with them. “Plums, purple, and browns with a cooler, red undertone will help to bring them out,” says Dennis.

If you feel like you’re having too much trouble picking out individual colors that go with your eye color, makeup companies usually have palettes made specifically for your color! “NYC and probably most major brands created palettes that were designed for specific eye colors!” says Samantha Burke, recent graduate of Siena College. “I have green eyes, and I love using purple shadow and liner. It really makes the green pop.”

Glazer seconds this pairing of purple hues and green eyes! “Super sophisticated and universally flattering, plums and mauves (especially ones with red or brick undertones) contrast gorgeously with green eyes to make them pop.” The best palettes for this look would be the same Smith & Cult’s Book of Eyes suggested for the brown eyes (Interlewd) or the New York Colors IndividualEyes palette Burke mentioned above.

Hazel Eyes

For those who have hazel eyes, you know that your eyes have so many different colors within them. And one of the best parts about hazel eyes is that no two pairs looks the same. So for this color, it’s best to know how your own eyes look. “Focus on what color you want to bring out in the hazel, whether it is the green or blue [or another color] and follow the suggestions [for that color],” says Dennis.

Having relatively versatile eyes is great because it is harder to go wrong. However, for specific colors Glazer has some ideas. “On hazel eyes, Smith & Cult’s Book of Eyes Eye Quad in Soft Shock has strong colors [and] shades like silver, black and olive that use dark shimmery tones to really emphasize all the different colors in the iris.” The olive would be great for a more everyday look, and then add a smoky edge with the black color. And who could ever go wrong with some silver? No one, that’s who.

Gray Eyes

Unlike with brown eyes, gray eyes can stand alone with a shadow of a similar hue. “On gray eyes, I love how Smith & Cult’s Book of Eyes Eye Quad in Mannequin Moves contains lots of neutral browns and greys,” says Glazer. “There is a beautiful pink pearl shimmer that is lovely when applied all over the lid.” She also suggests top off the look with a defined eyeliner in a dark gray color as well, like the b-line eye pen from Smith & Cult or the Sketch Marker Liquid Eyeliner from Too Faced.

Related: These Unicorn Mermaid Makeup Brushes Will Make You Swoon

Shapes

Deep set

Deep-set eyes have many characteristics that put them apart from the rest, one being a prominent brow bone. To really compliment these eyes, Glazer suggests drawing attention to the center and working your way out. “On deep set eyes, I recommend a pop of shimmer in the center, and to only darken the outer corners,” says Glazer.

Dennis also suggests a technique like this, but instead of a shimmer, she says you can just use a lighter color. “Use a lighter lid color or one that is closer tonally to the skin tone and then apply a darker color slightly above the crease area to create the illusion of depth,” she says.

Dennis also emphasizes that importance of blending! “Blend your eyeshadow edges, it creates a finished look to your application,” says Dennis. And don’t let that full brow bone fool you! “Also a brow that is slightly fuller it more youthful looking, but you go overboard on filling them because it will give the exact opposite effect,” Dennis adds. Nice and natural is hardly ever a bad thing.

Monolid

The definition of a monolid is just that: there is really no crease to the eye shape and has a less defined brow bone. However, the canvas made by having “one” lid is great for many looks. “A single mid tone color across the lid blend toward the brow bone works best with emphasis on eyeliner at the lash line and lots of mascara,” says Dennis. ”It helps to open the eyes up.”

Glazer adds, “For a monolid, a soft smoky blend all over the eyelid is beautiful.” For those that don’t want to just “open” up the eye, this smoky look would be even more dramatic.

Hooded

Hooded eyes have a brow bone that drops over the crease, hiding the lid. Since this part of the eye is hidden, you need to find other areas to accentuate instead. “A light highlight under the brow bone to give the appearance of a lift works well on a hooded eye,” says Glazer.

Dennis advises using a brighter color on the lid. “I like to use a satin or even a color with a bit of shimmer,” says Dennis. “I put the emphasis on the liner around the eye to give it definition and also mascara.” This contouring of the lid is great for definition on an eye shape that can possibly be hard to make look more dimensional.

Round

Round eyes are, obviously, more round-looking than other shapes. A big characteristic is the fact that more of the whites of the eyes are showing. These eyes look bigger and also have an “awake” to them, according to some makeup artists. But if you don’t like the wide-eyed look you may have, Dennis has a suggestion. “If you want to make the eyes look smaller, lining top and bottom and also lining the inner eye top and bottom with a dark liner and help create the illusion of a smaller eye,” says Dennis. However, if you really want to play up those big eyes, you can make them look even more open by getting a thick white, eyeliner, like the Jumbo Eye Pencil from NYX, and use it on your waterline. This extends the whites of your eyes, giving a bigger, doe-eyed look.

In terms of eyeshadow placement, it’s best to focus your makeup on your top lid and lash line. For your lower lash line, again, go with something like the white eyeliner or use a taupe or beige color for a little less extreme look. And just like with anything else, a smoky eye can take your look from “cute” to “sexy” in no time.

Downturned

Downturned eyes curve, you guessed it, down. Some may say these eyes look “sad” however, that’s just not true. “The key is to give the illusion that the eye isn't downturned,” says Dennis. “I like to not extend any shadow past the outer edge of the eye and all shadow, liner, [and other eye makeup] turn be applied in an upward fashion. I'll even usually cheat the liner slightly on the eye and make it thicker towards the outer part of the eye”

A very popular eyeliner trend for a downturned eye is the cat eye. “Cat eye, without much liner on the bottom, lifts a downturned eye,” says Glazer.
And if you have the opposite ‘upturned’ eye shape? Dennis says: “An upturned eye is youthful.” And while that may be true, the best way to play up that eye is with a straight wing liner, according to Glazer. “[It] looks great on an upturned eye,” says Glazer.

Almond

Eyes that are a little less round and more almond-shaped are super versatile with a lot of looks. They are also super symmetrical. “[They are] what most people strive for, so have fun!” says Dennis. And although almond-shaped eyes are easier to style than others, one trend does look better than the rest. “Smokey, blown out shadows are gorgeous on almond eyes,” says Glazer. If that doesn’t say dramatic, nothing does!

Even if you have the best makeup or an easy eye-shape like an almond-shape, Glazer does stress the importance of good brushes. “I think it is important to invest in good brushes and prep your lids before applying makeup,” says Glazer. Even if an eyeshadow has built-in primer, it’s always a good idea to use a separate one beforehand. Glazer says that a translucent powder over the eyelids also helps create a smooth foundation for your color.

Hopefully these tips and tricks get you through the holidays and beyond! Remember that makeup isn’t necessary, but if you’re going to indulge in it, might as well do it correctly!

Walking into a Sephora store is totally dangerous—at least, for the bank account. We're all so obsessed with trying the new Tarte bronzer or Naked palette, but there are actually quite a few amazing cosmetic stores beyond Sephora. While we'll always love the staples, here are 10 other places that actually have rockstar beauty products. 

1. Target

Their logo is a bulls-eye for a reason. Aside from the typical drugstore brands like Maybelline and NYX, Target also has Pacifica products and Neutrogena makeup remover wipes, which are absolute must-haves. It's a one-stop shopping place for your standard beauty brands. 

2. Amazon

Amazon is taking over the world—and their Beauty & Personal Care department is no exception. You can choose between fragrance, makeup, skin care and even luxury beauty. This means you can get Stila and Lorac products online and delivered to your door in two days with Amazon prime. Another perk about buying makeup online? Amazon gives you suggested gifts, so if holiday shopping is in your future, you might want to opt to buy online versus talking to a salesperson behind the counter. 

3. Nordstrom Rack

Nordstrom products are known for their superior quality, as they sell high end brands like Clinique and MAC in-store. Nordstrom Rack, however, gets many of the same Nordstrom brands, but at better prices. Yes, that means hello Urban Decay lipsticks and eyeliners for half price. It's a great spot to find everything from NYX Wonder Stick Universal for contouring to Mario Badescu setting spray. You might think the clearance rack only means clothes or Marc Jacobs bags, but Nordstrom Rack offers premium cosmetic brands at lower prices—just make sure the box isn't crushed and the lipstick isn't dented. 

4. Urban Outfitters

Urban sells all the trendy chokers, velvet and rompers you could want. But their makeup section isn't half bad either. Yup, they sell the Anastasia Beverly Hills Glow Kit ($40) or the NYX Professional Makeup #GLITTERGOALS Kit ($15) if you want something as ~out there~ as your chic denim jacket from Urban Outfitters. I also highly recommend their bh cosmetics 10 Piece Sculpt + Blend 2 Brush Set ($20), which are cruelty-free vegan synthetic brushes. Urban's face masks are always a good option, too, if you want to de-stress.

5. Madewell

Madewell curates its Beauty Cabinet and then photographs the products themselves to show you what they're like. One of their best sellers is the french girl™ lip tint ($16). However, my favorite part about Madewell's cosmetic counter is their blog, Madewell Musings, which features a lot of fun content about beauty and hygiene. Staffers talk about their own beauty routines and some of their fave items—they're trying to keep it authentic by giving us real talk about makeup brands. It's helpful for beginners who want to try out products reviewed by their staff. 

6. Anthropologie

Walking into this store means stepping into a wonderland. Whether it's home decor, fringed apparel or quality cosmetic products, Anthropologie provides beautiful and useful goods for college women. It's not just for real adults. Anthropologie's wellness section includes not only makeup, but also body care products, so you can be sure to find salt spray for your hair, thick shea butter for your hands or that creamy lipstick you've been wanting. Some of their top products include Henne Organics Lip Exfoliator ($24) and the Ilia Lipstick Crayon ($24). 

7. Hot Topic

I know, hear me out. This place of our middle school horror days has a few redeeming qualities. While their beauty products might not be as long-lasting or good quality as Too Faced or NARS, Hot Topic is an ideal option for one-time makeup for parties and costumes. From the Unicorn Makeup Kit ($6.99) to the Cosmic Eye Palette ($12.90), you can find a lot of vibrant colors and niche products for your New Year's party or Under the Sea themed formal. 

8. ipsy

ipsy offers glam bags each month with a surprise bundle of bougie products. You can subscribe and pay $10 a month to get a shipment with five beauty products tailored to your preferences and type. For example, one goodie bag came with Urban Decay 24/7 Glide On Pencil in Perversion, Cute Balms Lip Balm in Vanilla, Tarte Cosmetics Deluxe lights,camera, lashes 4-1 Mascara, Hey Honey Trick and Treat: Active Propolis Cream Concealer and Doucce Freematic Highlighter in Solstice. Just check out #glambag if you want to see all the options for yourself. 

9. Birchbox

Similar to ipsy, Birchbox has you pay $10 a month to get a mix of five personalized sample products. Their current trend spotlight is Glimmer & Shimmer if you want a touch of pixie dust in your life. Again, Birchbox provides one fab resource for those just starting their makeup collection, because you are able to try a variety of luxurious products from 550 different brands. 

10. Dermstore 

This online shopping site has it all--and always has free shipping. While Sephora and Ulta offer free shipping on purchases over $50, Dermstore has free shipping with no minimum always, and often has huge site-wide sales where you can save 20-30% on all your favorite brands, including Tarte, bareMinerals, First Aid Beauty, Herbivore Botanicals and more. Plus, when you sign up for their email newsletter, you get 20% your first purchase. 

North West, Saint West, and... Chicago West!

Kim Kardashian took to Twitter this afternoon to announce the name of their daughter who was born earlier this week. 

If you're among the leagues of people who have tried and absolutely loved Rihanna's Fenty Beauty line, you've probably felt like Eden at some point. Who is Eden, you ask? Oh, she's just your average true Fenty fan who documented her experience with the Pro Filt'r Foundation for the world to see. 

Before being picked up and featured on PopSugar, Twitter user @ShaunJuan2 found this gem of a review on the Fenty Beauty website. The post starts off on a high note and just gets better and better from there, with Eden basically declaring herself royalty by the end. We're talking about some serious self-love goals here. 

Can the Fenty Beauty Fam get any better? 

Header Image: badgirlriri / Instagram 

If you’ve ever spoken to a child, you know that they can brutally honest. As they’re unaware of certain social graces, it’s easy for them to lack a filter entirely — even when talking about the President of the United States. 

Jimmy Kimmel, known for his various sketches involving children (like parents pretending they ate all of their Halloween candy), has struck gold yet again. He sent a camera crew out on the streets to poll kids on their feelings toward President Donald Trump’s first year in office.

They say Kris Jenner never rests, but neither does the internet.

The latest story circulating the Kardashian rumor mill centers on the newest member of the West family, a baby girl born to Kim and Kanye on Monday via an anonymous surrogate.

This might be the cattiest skincare feud of 2018 so far, and it’s only January. The responsible party? According to Allure, a beauty brand known as The Ordinary, shaded competing brand Drunk Elephant completely out of nowhere for selling "overpriced" Marula face oil. Here's a shot of the original post, which you can view on Reddit:

It's quite obvious that The Ordinary used a play on words to call out Drunk Elephant. To compare, The Ordinary’s 100% Cold-Pressed Virgin Marula Oil retails for $10 (30-milliliter bottle), and Drunk Elephant’s Virgin Marula Luxury Face Oil retails for $72 (30-milliliter bottle). Obv, one is way cheaper and The Ordinary wants face oil buyers to know what's up. 

However, after reading such a cutting comment, I can imagine that many lovers of The Ordinary will now be turned off by the brand. There should be respect among beauty and skincare brands, you guys! Yes, there is a price difference here for a similar product, but that would give free rein for every brand to throw shade at each other. What ever happened to minding your own business? People buy what they want to buy because they either love a brand, its products, packaging, scents, ingredients or even portability. A little food for thought. 

Header Image: The Ordinary / Instagram

After Selena Gomez's mom, Mandy Teefey, voiced her disapproval of Gomez and Justin Bieber's recent reunion, Bieber's mom took to Instagram to show support for him. 

Pattie Mallette posted a photo of her and Justin to comment on how proud she is of him. The loving picture was taken during their vacation in the Maldives.

Teefey's disapproval surfaced in an interview with Gossip Cop. 

"Teefey confirms that she did not speak with Bieber during Gomez’s medical ordeal. In fact, she maintains they haven’t talked, even via text, in 'years.' She admits she is 'not happy' with the on-and-off couple’s latest reunion, but acknowledges, 'Selena can live her life however she wants as long as she is happy, safe and healthy,'" said the article.

Gomez has not yet responded to her mother's comments.

SaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

According to CNN, James Franco still plans on attending the 2018 Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday, January 21 despite five women recently accusing him of inappropriate or sexually exploitive behavior.

Franco is nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for his part in The Disaster Artist. He recently won a Golden Globe for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for the same role, but he later skipped the Critics' Choice Awards — most likely because they were on the same day that the five accusations surfaced. 

Franco still won the Critics' Choice Award for Best Actor in a Comedy.

The first accusations against Franco appeared on Twitter during the Golden Globes. 

In an interview with Seth Meyers, Franco confirmed he had seen the tweets.

“So yeah, I did read them. I haven’t responded,” he said. He's otherwise denied the allegations.

The 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards will air this Sunday on TBS and TNT.

SaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSaveSave

SaveSave

There are comments you can make that have racist undertones, that cleverly hint that you might secretly be a terrible person—and then there are comments that straight-up say, “Hey guys! I’m racist!” Lately, the Trump administration is really into that second type.

On Thursday, Trump appointee Carl Higbie resigned as chief of external affairs for the federal government's volunteer service organization after CNN some disturbing comments he made in 2013.

In one of his comments, he claimed that could “guess the color” of a family based on their living conditions: “I told this story the other day on my show. Somebody who lives in my condo association that has five kids, and it's her and her husband with the five kids and the mother, the grandmother of the kids, and they don't have jobs, they're there all the time -- I bet you can guess what color they are -- and they have no job.”

In another instance, he said that he did not like Muslims, and that if that made him racist, he was fine with it: "I was called an Islamophobe and I was like, 'no, no, no, no, no, I'm not afraid of them. I don't like them. Big difference.' And they were like, 'well, you're racist.' I was like, fine if that's the definition of it, then I guess I am.'"

Among other appalling statements, he said soldiers with PTSD had a “weak mind”, that 75% of soldiers who say they have PTSD are lying, and not only that he is opposed to gay marriage, but that “I don’t like gay people. I just don’t.”

In a tweet Friday morning, he stated, “I'm sorry. I'm not sorry that my words were published, I am sorry that I said them in 2013. Those words do not reflect who I am or what I stand for, I regret saying them. Last night I informed the WH that I was resigning so as not to distract from POTUS' many success. #noexcuses”

It can be extremely disconcerting to hear the blatant racism that has been excused in our culture for so long, and, frankly, it’s exhausting to wake up day after day and hear another racist comment made by our country’s leadership. Take care of yourselves, collegiettes. We will get through this rocky political climate.

YouTuber Chrissy Chambers won her civil revenge porn case against her ex-boyfriend on Wednesday, several years after he uploaded several videos without her knowledge or consent.

She is the first person in the United Kingdom to win a case like that, according to the Daily Dot. To celebrate her hard-won victory, she proposed to longtime girlfriend Bria Kam on the steps of the courthouse.

The victory marks the end of a legal battle for the YouTuber that lasted more than four years when all is said and done. In that time, she has become a prominent face on the scene in the fight for campaigning for more restrictions and punishments for the creation and distribution of revenge porn. After the verdict came down, she said,"[This] should serve as a severe warning to those who seek to extort and harm with revenge porn: you cannot do this with impunity, and you will be held accountable for your actions." Her case has likely set a precedent for future civil revenge porn cases in the United Kingdom, which is something she can count as a victory in itself.

In September of 2009, Chambers and her then-boyfriend —who cannot be named due to legal stipulations —were together in her house in Atlanta. She was 18 at the time, and planning to break up with him. They both got drunk and he filmed a sexual encounter between them without telling her. Then, in December 2011 and January 2012, he uploaded six separate clips to a free porn site. The clips only showed her face; his was obscured. Three of the clips had titles that contained her full legal name, and two of them contained her age at the time of filming.

Chambers said she first became aware of the existence of the videos when a person who was both a friend and fan got in contact with her and her girlfriend through their joint channel to say “I just want to alert you that someone is spreading these links." She discovered someone was posting a link in the comments section of all her videos on YouTube. The links came with comments like, “You think Chrissy Chambers is a role model? She's actually a whore, look at these videos." When she opened the link to see what it was, she was shocked. She said her horror “felt like [she] was getting hit with a baseball bat.”

The clips had already been in existence for a year by the time she discovered them. She asked the site to remove the clips, but the damage had already been done and the videos had been distributed far and wide across the Internet. She used crowdfunding to try to raise awareness for the problem and to bring a civil case against her ex. Revenge porn was made illegal in the UK in 2015, but because the videos were made in 2009, they were beyond the statute of limitations.

Chambers told the BBC she has been affected by becoming a victim of revenge porn “in every way possible.” She suffers from PTSD, depression, anxiety, night terrors and a serious strain on her relationship. She dealt with alcoholism at the age of 23. Her YouTube channel with Kam also suffered, with fans coming to the conclusion that she was actively involved in pornography and leaving hurtful comments or unsubscribing.

Her win against revenge porn means she can sleep a little easier with justice, and her fiancée, at her side. It also means that her ex has to pay her a significant amount of reparations and has signed over the copyright on the videos to Chambers, so she can make sure any remaining copies are taken down forever. She hopes her success will be a light in the dark for others who are dealing with similar situations.

“Justice can be served,” she said.

The newest sex scandal surrounding President Donald Trump gained a new detail earlier this week. Adult-film star Stormy Daniels allegedly had a sexual relationship with Trump in 2006 (shortly after Melania Trump had given birth to their son Barron). A recent report made by Mother Jones says Daniels once said Trump made her spank him with an issue of Forbes magazine. The issue is said to have had him on the cover.

The alleged encounter took place at a celebrity golf tournament in July 2006. One of Trump’s lawyers, Michael Cohen, allegedly paid Daniels $130,000 in October 2016 to keep her quiet about the affair in the last few weeks of the election season. It was also during this month that the infamously leaked Access Hollywood tape with Billy Bush surfaced. Slate magazine tried to report on the story in 2016 after receiving a detailed interview from Daniels, but were not able to publish it until Tuesday due to Daniels’ wishes following the alleged pay-off. Slate’s report states the alleged affair was not a one-time thing, but instead that it lasted a whole year.

The reports of the incident with a copy of Forbes came from a revealed email exchange from 2009 between two campaign consultants that had worked with Daniels when she was seriously considering a run for Senator of Louisiana. (Her slogan? “Stormy Daniels: Screwing people honestly.”) While running through a potential list of campaign contributors, one of the consultants, Andrea Dubé, was surprised to note that Donald Trump was listed as a possible contributor.

Mother Jones reveals the other consultant showed no such surprise, replying, “Yep. She says one time he made her sit with him for three hours watching “shark week.” Another time he had her spank him with a Forbes Magazine.”

Neither Daniels’ reps nor Trump’s lawyer, Michael Cohen, have offered comments on this new development on the scandal.

As it turns out, Trump was on the cover of a 2006 edition of Forbes, so that part of the story does check out. Also with him on the cover, however, were Donald Jr. and Ivanka.

All together, now: EW.

Over the last several months, former Olympic Gymnasts have used their courage to come forward with sexual abuse allegations against Larry Nassar, a former USA Gymnastics Doctor. Earlier this week, Simone Biles revealed that she was also sexually assaulted by Nassar.

As new allegations pile against Nassar, Aly Raisman, an Olympic gold medalist, used her victim statement to call out Nassar and all the other adults in the room (from USA Gymnastics to coaches and other professionals) who didn't do enough or anything to stop him or support his victims.

CNN reports that Nassar is currently on trial for sexually abusing numerous former Olympic Gymnasts. Back in June 2017, investigators started reviewing the USA Gymnastics for its failure to report sexual abuse.

While this investigation has been underway for the last several months, some survivors were able to share their victim impact statements earlier today. Raisman used her victim impact statement not only to provide investigators with evidence of Nassar’s abuse, but to confront all his enablers.

Raisman reveals in her statement, “Over those 30 years when survivors came forward, adult after adult, many in positions of authority, protected you, telling each survivor it was ok, that you weren’t abusing them.” But Raisman wasn’t done laying into his facilitators just yet. “In fact, many adults had you convince the survivors that they were being dramatic or had been mistaken. This is like being violated all over again,” she continued.

If Raisman’s assertions are true, it’s sickening to hear that other adults convinced these women that what was happening to them wasn’t wrong. If true, this is a form of gaslighting and is subsequently a form of manipulative emotional abuse. Nevertheless, this isn’t the first time that Raisman talked about this abuse.

Raisman has previously toldTODAY’s Megyn Kelly that she didn’t share her own #MeToo story because the job to share these traumatizing stories shouldn’t fall on the victims. In the same interview, she also revealed that she didn’t know what was happening to her was abuse—because Nassar had used his perceived “niceness” to groom her.

However, Raisman wasn’t alone in her statements. ESPN reports that Jordyn Wieber also disclosed her own victim impact statement. In her speech, Wieber confesses a chilling statement, “I thought that training for the Olympics would be the hardest thing that I would ever have to do. But in fact, the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do is process that I am a victim of Larry Nassar.” We’re glad that Wieber chose to share the most vulnerable time of her life to fight against her alleged abuser.

However, it’s clear that Wieber, Biles and Raisman are survivors—we just hope that this ongoing investigation uncovers the truth and gives these women the closure they deserve.