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Even though the weather may suggest otherwise (it’s currently triple digits as I write this), fall is right around the corner. And just as you might swap your summer wardrobe and skincare routine for something a little more seasonally appropriate, you may also be ready to find a new signature scent — or two! — to carry you through the autumn months.
To help us navigate the season’s best new fragrances, we tapped Nordstrom Beauty Director Autumne West, an industry veteran who no doubt sees and smells more fragrances in a day than most of us do in a lifetime. Her picks prove that fall fragrance is about so much more than the usual campfire-inspired scents. For example, dessert-inspired gourmand fragrances are still having a major moment, but they’re getting a cozy update for fall. “Instead of leaning overly sweet, these scents feel more sophisticated, blending creamy textures with darker notes like warm spices, woods, and musks,” West tells Refinery29. “At the same time, fragrance remains incredibly personal,” she adds. “More than ever, people are choosing scents as an extension of their individual style — an accessory that reflects who they are and how they want to express themselves.”
Below, West breaks down the fragrances she’s recommending for fall, from unique gourmands to unexpected takes on the season’s coziest notes. Consider this your ultimate autumn fragrance shopping guide — curated just for us. (Well, really, you.)
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How to shop for a fall fragrance online
Shopping from your couch is convenient, but the visual medium does leave us missing one essential feature: smell-o-vision. West recommends starting with the fragrance profiles you already know you love.
“If you’ve noticed you tend to wear floral fragrances or you’re always drawn to woody scents, that’s a great place to begin,” she says. We also love searching a database like Fragrantica to research a fragrance’s specific notes (and how intense those accords are) to get a better idea of how it actually smells. West also recommends paying attention to the overall language used to describe a scent, whether it’s fresh, cozy, vibrant, or sensual. For example, spicy and woody notes tend to feel warmer and cozier on the skin, making them natural choices for a fragrance that screams “fall.”
And if you’re still unsure? “Travel sizes or discovery sets are such an easy way to explore something new,” she says. Consider it a low-commitment way to find your next signature scent before investing in the full-size bottle.
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How to build your fall fragrance wardrobe
According to West, Nordstrom shoppers are experimenting with scent more than ever before: “One thing we’ve really noticed is that people are building fragrance wardrobes instead of looking for just one signature scent,” she says. “They’re choosing different fragrances depending on the season, their mood, or even what they’re doing that day.”
That shift is also making discovery sets and travel sprays increasingly appealing. “People enjoy trying something new before committing to a full-size bottle,” West says — a particularly useful strategy if you’re still figuring out which fragrance family feels most like you. Building your own scent wardrobe can include choosing a scented deodorant, or crafting a sensorial body care routine with your shower gel, body lotion or oil.
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The day-to-night fall scent lineup
If you’re looking to build a fragrance wardrobe but don’t know where to start, West has a three-scent lineup for every part of your fall calendar.
For daytime:Byredo Mojave Ghost. “It has this beautiful balance of soft woods and airy florals that feels effortless and polished without ever overpowering the room,” says West. Its versatility is precisely the appeal: “It’s the kind of fragrance you can wear from morning meetings through dinner and still feel like yourself.”
For evenings:Carolina Herrera Good Girl Blush Eau de Parfum. West points to its combination of peony and rosewater, which brings a fresh floral quality, alongside a double dose of vanilla for warmth. “It’s feminine, modern, and just a little unexpected,” she says.
For special occasions:Maison Francis Kurkdjian Baccarat Rouge 540. “It has incredible presence without feeling heavy,” West says of the recognizable blend of jasmine, saffron, and warm ambery woods. “It’s one of those fragrances that becomes part of your outfit and leaves a lasting impression long after you’ve left the room.”
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The fragrance brand to watch this season
When it comes to the fragrances poised to make a splash this fall, West has her eye on Tom Ford. “The brand has this incredible familiarity and sultriness that people already trust,” she says, noting that the brand is putting unexpected twists on its classics this season. (Case in point: Tom Ford’s new Santal Blush, with its notes of comforting sandalwood punctuated by spicy cinnamon.) “We’re looking for scents that feel memorable without being overpowering, and I’m personally obsessed with how these more layered, wearable fragrances are becoming the ones people keep reaching for on repeat.”
For West, that balance between familiarity and surprise is exactly what makes a fragrance feel right for fall. “Fall fragrance is all about depth this year, and Tom Ford is proving you don’t have to choose between familiar and unexpected,” she says.
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Gourmand scents, but make it fall
If you’ve felt like you can’t scroll through your TikTok feed without encountering a new vanilla or gourmand fragrance, you’re not imagining it. But according to West, the gourmand trend isn’t going anywhere — it’s simply evolving beyond scents that smell like straight-up dessert.
“I don’t think gourmands are going away anytime soon; they’ve just become a little more refined,” she says. Rather than leaning sugary, this season’s gourmand fragrances are incorporating richer notes like tonka bean, roasted nuts, amber, and warm spices. (Some examples of these include Commodity’s Tonka Eau de Parfum and Parfums de Marly Oajan.) “They still have that cozy feeling people love, but they feel more sophisticated and easier to wear every day.”
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The fragrance notes to look out for
When it comes to the fragrance notes catching West’s attention, she’s gravitating toward unexpected combinations that feel modern but effortless. “One of my favorite parts of my job is discovering new brands and seeing how they’re approaching fragrance differently,” she says. Lately, that means soft woods and musks paired with prim florals or airy tea notes — combinations she describes as easy to wear — and scents that “somehow become even better throughout the day.”
One fragrance at the top of her list is Phlur Vanilla Skin, a Nordstrom-exclusive duo (which is sadly sold out) that includes an Eau de Parfum and Hair & Body Fragrance Mist. “It takes vanilla in a much more elevated direction,” says West, pointing to its blend of creamy vanilla, pink pepper, sugar, cashmere, and sandalwood. The result is a warm, layered gourmand that has an addictive, skin-like quality. “It’s the kind of gourmand that isn’t overly sweet, making it incredibly wearable from day to night,” she says.
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The unexpected pick to try this season
For a less obvious autumn pick, West recommends Le Labo An0ther 13, a fragrance that proves fall scents don’t necessarily need to be heavy, smoky, or spicy.
“This fall, I’ve been reaching for Le Labo An0ther 13,” she says. The fragrance combines creamy musk, soft woods, and a touch of spice, while woody ambrox gives it the clean, skin-like quality West finds particularly addictive. Jasmine and moss add dimension without weighing it down.
“It’s one of those fragrances that feels effortless and becomes part of you rather than announcing itself,” she says. “Whether I’m heading into meetings during the day or out to dinner in the evening, it always feels appropriate, and that’s exactly what I want from a signature fall scent.”
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Fall scent layering made easy
Fall is also an ideal time to experiment with fragrance layering, and West’s first piece of advice is refreshingly simple: Start with moisturized skin. “It really helps your fragrance last longer,” she says.
From there, she encourages playing around with contrasting fragrance families. “I love pairing a clean musk with a richer vanilla or adding a woody fragrance underneath something brighter to give it a little more depth,” she says. And when it comes to layering, have fun with it: “There really aren’t any rules, and I think that’s why people enjoy it so much.”
Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?
The cancellation of Not Suitable For Workafter one season has hit fans like a truck. While we’ve all had a favorite TV show ripped away from us far too soon (I’m looking at you My Lady Jane), this cancellation feels different. It’s a warning flare for the kind of messy, horny, occasionally mortifying twenty-something TV that has made streaming feel genuinely fun again.
Hulu opted not to renew Mindy Kaling’s comedy for a second season just two months after its first season ended. The series followed five young professionals in New York navigating jobs, friendships, romance and rent. The first season ended with multiple cliffhangers, a Giggly Squad cameo and a bubbling love triangle that will now haunt me for years to come.
The show was not universally adored by critics. Not Suitable For Work holds a 54% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes, although its audience score sits at 82%. It did have its issues — some accused the show of being out of touch and romanticizing corporate America. It reportedly averaged about 800,000 viewers across its first five episodes after 11 days, a figure described by Variety as among Hulu’s lowest-rated programs since 2005. Despite various qualms, there was absolutely an audience warming to it, even if the show had not yet become a full-scale streaming event.
And that’s the problem. Sometimes a show needs time to settle into its characters, learn which dynamics work and let viewers find it without relying on beloved IP. The last few years have offered a genuinely enjoyable wave of twenty-something shows. Adults, Overcompensating and Sterling Point are different beasts, but they share a willingness to let young people be complicated, broke, horny, overly online and, occasionally, deeply annoying. Which is to say: recognizable.
They also feel like they were made by people who understand that Gen Z does not speak in TikTok slop or run exclusively on oat milk-iced matchas (we drink coffee too). The characters make jokes about sex, money, work and their own terrible choices. They are politically aware without sounding like a producer is having an aneurysm off screen about brand safety. At a time when there is endless chatter about Gen Z becoming more conservative, it has been refreshing to see shows that are not afraid to be a bit filthy, emotionally direct and interested in the awkwardness of growing up. Not Suitable For Work was far from perfect, but its premise was clear: your twenties can be chaotic, humiliating and very funny. You can be ambitious and still have no clue what you are doing. You can have a career plan and then immediately set it on fire because someone tall texted you.
When I spoke to Kaling before the show premiered, she explained that she had put parts of herself into each of the five leads. “The joy of making a TV show is that I get to infuse different parts of my personality, the good and the bad, into all of the characters,” she said at the time. She described relating to Davis’s “longing and this neediness to be loved at that age”, particularly the desire for a first serious relationship, “so you can prove to people that there’s nothing wrong with you”. It’s a very specific early-twenties feeling: wanting to appear completely fine while privately treating every minor romantic interaction like a judgement on your entire worth.
Kaling also spoke about writing women’s anger, particularly the pressure on Asian women to suppress it. “I love writing about the rage that women feel that they cannot express,” she said. That emotional messiness was part of what made NSFW work. Abby (Avantika Vandanapu) could be polished and furious, while AJ (Ella Hunt) could be ambitious and out of her depth, and everyone could make the incredibly wrong call for reasons that made perfect sense in the moment. It was not always subtle, but neither are your twenties.
Historically, television has given comedies room to be themselves. Parks and Recreation had a first season that was criticised for feeling too much like The Office before it reworked Leslie Knope (Amy Poehler), expanded its ensemble and became a beloved workplace comedy and my fave gardening show. I personally had to try out Schitt’s Creek three times to make it through (and understand) season one in order to get the rest of the show, which is a masterpiece.
The idea that a comedy might need a few episodes to figure itself out was not once treated as a moral failing. This is not an argument that every underperforming show should be granted indefinite life support. Sometimes a series does not find its footing, and that is television. We have been saved from enduring more of some truly terrible shows. But original comedies without book-fandom hype, a recognisable intellectual property label or a cast of household names are now being asked to arrive fully formed, instantly beloved, perfectly marketable and capable of triggering discourse before the opening credits have ended.
The idea that a comedy might need a few episodes to figure itself out was not once treated as a moral failing.
Simran Pasricha
Meanwhile, adaptations and reboots arrive with their fandoms pre-loaded. They have readers or die-hard fans who already know the characters, built-in social-media discussion and a marketing hook that can be explained in four words: “It’s based on the book”. Original storytelling has to work much harder just to get people to press play. It’s not like Hulu is even against a multi-season moment. The streamer currently has 22 seasons and 466 episodes of Grey’s Anatomy available to watch, meaning Meredith Grey (Ellen Pompeo) has had approximately 253,863 opportunities to endure an absurdly stressful day at work.
So, yes, there is room for a show to last. The question is which ones get that chance. Hulu / Disney+ already had Adults on its roster, but surely a platform can support more than one series about people in their twenties. Prime Video has made a noticeable habit of commissioning YA fare. Hulu and Disney+ could have owned the slightly older, sharper and more adult version of that space: stories about the post-uni years, the early career grind and the humiliating gap between how put-together you look online and how little you understand your superannuation.
Instead, Not Suitable For Work has been cancelled after one season, with its characters left suspended in romantic and professional chaos. Warner Bros. Television is reportedly shopping the series elsewhere, so there may still be hope for a second life.
But the cancellation should still worry anyone invested in original young-adult television. If streamers keep giving new shows barely enough time to establish an audience, viewers may eventually stop investing in them altogether. Why fall in love with a messy group of fictional twenty-somethings when there is every chance they will be gone before they have even made it through their first proper workplace meltdown?
Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.
This week: A strategy manager working in fashion who makes $170,000 per year and spends some of it on olive oil tasting.
If you’d like to submit your own Money Diary, you can do so via our online form. We pay $150 for each published diary. Apologies but we’re not able to reply to every email.We are legally unable to publish any diaries that have been written with the use of AI.
This diary was written in 2026.
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Occupation: Strategy manager Industry: Fashion Age: 24 Location: Los Angeles, CA Salary: $170,000 Joint Income/Financial Setup: n/a Assets: Roth 401(k): ~$70K Bonds: ~$20K HYSA: ~$240K (I get really stressed and overwhelmed trying to learn about investing, even though there are so many resources out there for it. I know I need to start investing in stocks and it is a high-priority thing on my checklist but whenever I get overwhelmed I keep pushing it back — it’s been four years now.) Debt: $0 Paycheck Amount (2x a month): $3,839 Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing Costs: I pay $1,325 in rent — I live with two roommates and have the smallest bedroom, and I share a bathroom with one of them. ClassPass: $79 (~$40 of this is reimbursed through work) Oura Ring: $5.99 Netflix, Spotify, New York Times: $0 (I’m on a family plan) Cell Phone: $0 (reimbursed through work) Health Insurance: $24 Hulu & HBO Max: $0 (I’m using my roommates’) Utilities: ~$100
Was there an expectation for you to attend higher education? Did you participate in any form of higher education? If yes, how did you pay for it? Yes, absolutely. My immigrant parents placed a really large importance on going to a “good” school, so I spent all of my time in high school working towards this goal. I ended up going to a top 10 university. My parents really wanted me to go to an in-state public school in California due to the difference in cost, so I ended up graduating from my college in three years instead of four to try to make up some of the cost. This was paid for out of my 529K.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s) educate you about finances? We didn’t talk a lot about money or receive education about finances except that we should try to save as much money as possible. There were certain rules that were instilled deeply in me as a child: always trying to buy in bulk; never buying from convenience stores; not buying name-brand items, etc. I’ve had to work really hard to unlearn them. I always thought my parents were not well off but they were. My dad, the primary breadwinner, was just really stingy.
What was your first job and why did you get it? My first job was as a camp counselor and as a violin tutor in high school. I worked these jobs to try to make a little bit of money on the side to be able to get coffee with friends, go to the mall, etc., as my parents did not give me spending money.
Did you worry about money growing up? I didn’t worry about it specifically, but I definitely felt that I sometimes couldn’t have the things I wanted. My parents were kind enough to pay for extracurriculars, and we would take one/two vacations a year, but this is what they chose to spend their money on. We didn’t go out to eat much or go to fun activities. I grew up in a very affluent town and would often get bullied for wearing clothes from Ross instead of name-brand clothes. I remember once having to ask my dad for new socks and he told me to learn how to fix my socks myself. I thought they didn’t have enough money but they were just really strict about saving. Things like this have made me develop a difficult relationship with money.
Do you worry about money now? Yes, I do. I’m lucky to make a great salary for my industry but the cost of living, especially in LA, is skyrocketing and even seeing the bill at Trader Joe’s stresses me out sometimes. I also struggle with understanding personal finance and investing, and every time I try to get started with it I encounter some sort of setback, which makes me feel really stupid. My goal for this month is to make sure I start investing in stocks — better late than never! I don’t know if I will ever be able to afford a home, or if I choose to have kids, be able to financially support them.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net? I’m still not fully financially responsible for myself — I’m on my parents’ car insurance and borrowing their car, too. However, they kept the majority of the money I made through formal internships in high school so I consider this just dipping into the money I rightfully earned myself. If I lost my housing or source of income, I could go back home, but this would be very taxing on my mental health.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain. Yes, I received $50,000 from my grandfather after he suffered a severe stroke two years ago. He passed away earlier this year and it was really, really sad for me, as we were close growing up and I was lucky to have him until so late in my life. I plan to use this money to pay for graduate school as education was really important to him, and give back to charity later in my life.
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Day One: Thursday
7:30 a.m. — It’s my roommate’s birthday today! She’s going to be at work and school all day so I want to get her something before she heads out. There’s a small cafe right across the street so I run downstairs to get her favorite drink from there: an iced strawberry macadamia milk matcha. I ask the barista to write happy birthday on the cup and then I make a card, and leave it on the dining table for her. $8
8:00 a.m. — I make some palak paneer by defrosting leftover spinach gravy, putting a paratha on the stove to warm up, and crisping up some paneer in olive oil. I mix the gravy and paneer together and eat it with the paratha. I love warm, savory breakfasts most days and it’s really overcast and cold out today (LA June gloom!) so it hits the spot. Then I take my meds and settle in for a WFH day. I’m usually in the office five days a week but most of my team is traveling today and tomorrow, so luckily I get to WFH for those two days as well.
12:10 p.m. — Normally, I would have eaten lunch or more snacks by now but it’s been a really busy and stressful day. I got into a car accident last weekend, and between dealing with insurance, needing to renew our apartment lease by tomorrow, work, and grad school applications, the stress is giving me a stomachache. The peach tea energy drink I chug as I’m working is definitely not helping. Lunch ends up being some vegan chicken nuggets around 2 p.m. — not what I was craving, but I’m almost out of groceries and trying to avoid making a grocery trip until Sunday since I know I’ll be eating out all day Saturday.
6:00 p.m. — Finally log off for the day. I snack on an apricot and mango Greek yogurt from Trader Joe’s while I rot on the couch. I’m debating if I should go out tonight or take it easy on my foot since I injured it last week. I want to do one thing and know I should do the other. I end up reading a book and then the guilt of not having invested my money kicks in, so I finally go and make a Fidelity account and invest some of my money. I end up going to Trivia and then leaving after 20 minutes because I’m feeling overwhelmed. Eat a handful of random snacks for a ‘girl dinner’.
Daily Total: $8
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Day Two: Friday
08:00 a.m. — I wake up hangry after yesterday’s sad rummage of snacks so I know I’m not lasting until Sunday without groceries. I go to Whole Foods and get Greek yogurt, tofu, mini cucumbers, mini sweet peppers, a maitake mushroom, vegan chicken, ravioli, and a couple of snacks. The total comes to $46.61 and I use the last of a gift card I had leftover from Christmas to cover most of the cost. I make a big snack plate for breakfast (I realize this is ironic given that eating snacks last night is what made me go to the grocery store today anyway, but this plate was way better!). $7.78
1:30 p.m. — I try a new brand of protein mac and cheese for lunch. I don’t have any milk so I use a mix of ricotta, heavy cream, and pasta water for the sauce. I add salt, pepper, chili flakes, and parm on top. It’s not bad but I think my usual brand of protein mac and cheese is much better than this one. Then back to work! I’m hoping to log off early today.
4:00 p.m. — My friend comes over to pregame; we’re going to a Dodgers game tonight! I make us spiked peach mango iced teas with vodka. She calls us an Uber to the train station (this is as good as LA public transit gets sometimes) and then I tap on to the train. We meet up with her boyfriend a couple stops down and he buys us Gatorades with shooters. $1.75
7:20 p.m. — I buy my friend and I plant-based Dodger dogs. I have mine with mustard, ketchup, and relish, while she has it with onions instead of relish. I’m not usually a fan of hot dogs, but this one hits so hard. The ticket for the game itself was $100, which I had sent via Venmo to my other friend a couple of weeks ago. I also buy us popcorn to share from my seat. It ends up being $17 (???), and I wish I had asked the price before I gave the guy my credit card, lol. The game ends up being boring because no one scores until one run in the very last inning. After the game, we walk to Chinatown to go to a bar. My friend’s boyfriend buys us a round of drinks and we hang out for a little bit before taking an Uber home. $34.28
Daily Total: $43.81
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Day Three: Saturday
10:30 a.m. — My friend A., and I are doing a day trip to Ojai today! I’m super excited because we’ve been trying to plan this for several months now. It’s going to be a treat-yourself day of good food, drink, and window shopping. I start the day off with a veggie Italian sandwich from a local shop. Unfortunately, I really hate this sandwich. The entire filling is pickled cauliflowers and onions (both caramelized and raw), plus a bit of lettuce and cheese. It’s also dripping with oil everywhere. I’m disappointed, especially given the price but I still eat the whole thing — my mom taught me to never waste food, lol. $22.52
12:00 p.m. — I get a pina colada matcha from another local cafe. It has a coconut cold foam top and dried pineapple, and it is SOOO good. I could have had three of them. $8.08
1:05 p.m. — We stop buy a bookstore that is run by volunteer Friends of the Library. I really like supporting places like this. I buy my mom an Indian Vegetarian Cooking in the Instant Pot cookbook. $3
1:30 p.m. — We go olive oil and balsamic tasting! This is a super unique experience and we try over 20 flavors, and it’s fun to sit and yap with my friend and rank the various flavors, sitting under the olive trees and dipping bread into the oils. It’s $20 for a tray between two people, so $10 for my share. $10
3:00 p.m. — We stop by a really cute wine store that has a gorgeous back patio and split a flight of wine and a tangerine Hugo Spritz. I don’t really like any of the wines but they do their job; I’m tipsy and outside, and life is good. The spritz is delicious, though. It’s $44 total, so $22 for my share. We spend the next 2.5 hours before dinner walking around a beautiful hotel property and doing some window shopping. My friend ends up finding a cute maxi skirt but everything I try on either doesn’t fit right or is too expensive. This is probably for the best, though. $22
5:45 p.m. — We head to a Burmese-inspired restaurant for dinner and eat outside, really trying to take advantage of the weather. We split a crispy rice salad and I get a coconut chickpea curry for my main. Dessert is a passionfruit orange guava sundae that we also split. $55
7:30 p.m. — The last stop of the trip is at a mezcal bar and listening room, where I get a mango margarita. The vibes inside are IMMACULATE and I feel so content. Finally, we head back home (my friend is the one driving) and stop by the beach to catch the remnants of the sunset. Life is so beautiful and I’m full of gratitude that I got to give myself a day of just fully treating myself. My friend stops by my place briefly to borrow a couple tops for a birthday party she is going to next weekend. Then I shower and start a new movie on Netflix but turn it off about 30 mins in to go to sleep. $17
Daily Total: $137.60
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Day Four: Sunday
10:15 a.m. — I accidentally cut off a little bit of my eyebrow yesterday when I was trying to trim them so I know I’m way overdue for an appointment. My eyebrow lady is my favorite, and I haven’t found a new one despite moving apartments a year ago, so I drive back to my old apartment. She cleans me up so quickly. I then walk around the farmers’ market for a little bit but don’t get anything. $10
11:00 a.m. — I meet up with an old coworker who I haven’t seen in over a year for coffee. I get an Earl Grey matcha with a sea salt cold foam top and it is also super yum. I will definitely be coming back to this coffee shop! It’s fun to catch up with her and hear how things at my old job are going, and to fill her in on my life. Then it’s back home to do lots of chores. $7.68
2:00 p.m. — Lunch is the leftovers of my protein mac and cheese from the other day. I also had a breakfast of leftover coconut chickpea curry and rice earlier in the day. I do a couple loads of laundry, make myself a drink and chill on my balcony in my underwear since neither of my roommates are home. My friend S. calls me so I end up chatting with her while I do some meal prep. I make a cold soba noodle salad with edamame and fresh veggies with a spicy peanut sauce, mini bell peppers stuffed with a sun-dried tomato ricotta mix, and yogurt-marinated paneer tikka and bell peppers. I snack on some Hippeas while I’m doing this and then my friend A. calls, so I yap with her too. I was supposed to see my friend for dessert later today but it’s inconvenient for both of us since he needs to take care of his dog and my car is still messed up from the accident, so we decide to just reschedule.
6:00 p.m. — I take a shower since I’m all sweaty from tanning and then put fresh sheets on my bed. I only tanned the front of my body since we have chairs on the balcony and nothing to lie on, but I doubt I tanned enough for it to be noticeable. For dinner, I put the paneer tikka into a Thai roti that I heat up and add green chutney and pickled jalapeños. I have calls with two more friends, which is really fun, but I am so drained by the end of all of the calls. I end the night with some Drizzilicious and TV in bed.
Daily Total: $17.68
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Day Five: Monday
5:30 a.m. — One thing about me is I’m a terrible sleeper, unfortunately. I’m up super early and end up just reading a book in bed and doing some online window shopping for Asian groceries. I don’t end up buying anything but bookmark some ideas for later. End up dozing for another 15 mins before I’m up for real. I pack my soba noodle salad for lunch and some blackberries, and cheddar cheese as a snack. I do my Tatcha skincare and throw on light wash jeans, a long-sleeve yellow shirt, and white mesh ballet flats. I don’t usually wear makeup to work unless I have plans after work that I want to look nice for.
8:45 a.m. — I drive into the office and grab a peach energy drink, chocolate protein shake, and fill up my water. Need to be beverage-maxxing at all times. I log into my platforms to see how all the metrics are from over the weekend. I’m a bit blocked on my main activities today so I end up doing a few small tasks. I also eat my snack around 10:15 a.m. since the protein shake isn’t substantial enough to be breakfast.
1:00 p.m. — I spend most of the afternoon setting up products for our website, which requires picking out photos, writing about each photo, and writing the features of each product. Once I have all the products in for a particular collection, I rearrange them to put what I think will be the bestsellers up front. Then I work with our graphic designers to create a cute banner and hero image to announce the collection launch next week. I also prepare an email to go alongside the launch.
5:00 p.m. — I get my nails done after work. I convince myself I’m going to try something out of my comfort zone, but as soon as the first layer of teal polish goes down on my pinky nail, I realize that I actually am not ready to jump quite that far lol. We end up just doing a darker shade of pink than the month before. I already paid for the appointment through ClassPass credits so I tip $5 on Venmo. I’m ravenous when I get home so I make some fresh guac as a snack and eat it with tortilla chips while I wrap up some more work things. $5
7:00 p.m. — I call both of my grandmas since I haven’t spoken to them in too long and I have really been missing them and feeling guilty. I also make dinner of some premade vegan butternut squash ravioli that I throw in a quick alfredo sauce. Then there’s a good amount of doomscrolling and crashing out over text to my friend before I go to bed.
Daily Total: $5
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Day Six: Tuesday
6:30 a.m. — I wake up sweaty from tossing and turning a bunch in my sleep and waking up many times, so I take a shower. I’m doing a project pan/pantry before I move out in six to nine months (I know I will need to buy some things again after using them up but I at least want to use up all my mini products, duplicates, etc.), so I get excited about using up a hair mask and being able to throw it away. Today’s filling breakfast is another Thai roti stuffed with the rest of the paneer tikka but I use guac this time instead of green chutney. Would def recommend just using the chutney next time but it was fun to try something different. I also throw together a quick salad dressing with Thai basil, black bean sauce, almond butter, and miso to eat with the rest of yesterday’s salad for lunch.
7:45 a.m. — I’m going to a business school admissions event after work so I have to dress a bit nicer than usual. I opt for all black — Reformation satin pants, an Old Navy tank top (that I will swap out for a long-sleeve for the actual event), and an oversized lightweight Uniqlo blazer. The statement piece in the outfit is a pair of leopard print loafers. For makeup, I do the e.l.f. Halo Glow, Tower 28 Concealer, Tarte Cream Blush, Anastasia Beverly Hills Clear Brow Pomade, and Hourglass Mascara. I’m not a big fan of this tubing mascara but trying to use it up as part of my project pan.
8:00 a.m. — I take my car to the body shop to have it appraised and they told me they need to add several hundred dollars to the estimate insurance gave me. I have no idea if I’m being taken advantage of or not, but I don’t think I have much leverage in this situation, so I just agree and tell them I will come drop my car off in two weeks’ time once the parts come in.
11:15 a.m. — I eat an early lunch — today’s dressing turned out very strange and it’s not good compared to yesterday’s salad but it does the job. I also grab a dark chocolate-covered quinoa crisp from the office after as my sweet treat. My afternoon is slow with a handful of meetings and trying to project manage a few different tasks across graphic designers, copywriters, and leadership. Later, I snack on some gluten-free pretzels. I’m not gluten-free, but these pretzels are so much crunchier than the regular ones — it just tastes like biting into a really satisfying twig.
3:45 — I head out really early to try to make it to my MBA admissions event around 5:30 on the other side of town. As I’m about 20 minutes away, I realize I grossly miscalculated and will not be able to make it until the end of the event, let alone getting home to eat some kind of dinner. I was trying not to eat out tonight since I have plans with a friend tomorrow but I decide it is not worth showing up to the event hangry. I decide to pull over and order online from a local small plant-based chain I have been wanting to try. To my happiest surprise, they have a rewards program where you get a free burger for signing up, so I only pay the convenience fee! I get a Western burger with vegan bacon, onion rings, ranch, and BBQ sauce, and inhale it within seconds in the parking lot before driving to the event. $0.18
8:00 p.m. — The event is pretty good; I had been to one for another school at the same location a while ago and was upset with myself for not networking with anyone after it, so I make an effort to do that this time and am proud of myself for pushing myself a little bit. It only takes about 30 minutes to get home instead of the 1 hour and 30 mins it took to get to the event. I call my mom and then flop on the couch to watch two episodes of the show I’ve been following: Not Suitable for Work. They make living in New York look so fun. Then, 80% because my period is imminent, I end up crashing out really hard before bed. I can’t stop spiraling and crying despite trying to both journal it out and find some distractions. My Oura ring says I fall asleep around 11:15.
Daily Total: $0.18
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Day Seven: Wednesday
5:55 a.m. — I’m up and my eyes are terrifyingly puffy from how much I cried last night, so it’s time to bring out the big guns (my Rhode eye patches) instead of the ones I usually use from Pixi. I kind of feel like shit from a mix of sleep deprivation and dealing with all of my emotions, but I know I have to go to work. I make a second batch of pasta sauce for the ravioli I cooked the other night so I can take it for lunch. I ran out of heavy cream so I make the sauce using ricotta, a lot of parmesan, some spices, and a handful of kale and peas. It’s not bad. I pack that and the stuffed peppers I made that taste vaguely similar. This is my biggest challenge with cooking for one. I love cooking and being creative but there are only so many ways to transform ingredients sometimes.
07:20 a.m. — I try to go to a local beauty school for a haircut but someone hits the back of my car on my way there. Luckily, it’s just some scratches and I don’t think I’m going to do anything about it because I don’t have the energy but it puts me in a really bad mood. When I get to the beauty school, there is a sign saying they are only doing facials today and no hair services. I give up and just drive to work.
08:15 a.m. — After the morning I’ve had I decide to treat myself to a matcha. I walk about a mile to a food truck to get an iced banana matcha and walk back along the beach. I can’t say my mind is exactly at peace, but I try to enjoy the experience before going into the office and starting my day. $8.50
12:20 p.m. — Lunch is my ravioli and two of the stuffed peppers. The sauce I made ends up being super delicious; I think the secret to good pasta sauce is really just adding a ton of cheese. The weather outside is stunning and it feels like no one is really in the mood to work, so I end up taking a 1:1 meeting and then a phone call, both as outdoor walks, which is lovely.
5:00 p.m. — I head out of work and need to go charge my car. The charger is about a 15-minute drive away and it takes an hour to charge, so I catch up with an old friend on the phone while it’s charging! I get impatient waiting for it to finish so I decide to stop at 94% and head home. It costs me about $23 since I was pretty low on battery (like 10%) when I got to the charger. I have dinner plans with a friend tonight, but I’m so hungry that Hippeas aren’t cutting it. I throw together some Trader Joe’s wheat noodles, chili crisp, frozen edamame, soy sauce, and a few sliced peppers in a pan and eat about half of it while I’m waiting. $23.21
7:45 p.m. — My friend picks me up and we go to a vegan burger chain. As you can tell, I really love burgers. On Wednesdays, they have a two-for-$10 deal. It’s $6.50 for my cheeseburger. Then, we drive to a local bar — for some reason, the first three bars we look up all have karaoke on Wednesdays and it isn’t feeling like a karaoke type of night so we end up at a bar neither of us has been to before. It’s pretty empty inside but the space is huge and really cool, and we both think we should come back on a weekend with a bigger group of friends. I get a lager and he gets an IPA. I know I’m going to hate his IPA but I try a sip anyway and make a face. My lager is great though! It’s $8. He drops me off at home and I shower and throw on a rom-com after. $14.50
Daily Total: $46.21
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Day Eight: Thursday
12:45 a.m. — I wake up in the middle of the night as usual and remember that the Sephora sale starts today and I have been wanting to get a new Tatcha moisturizer since I’m almost out. It’s 20% off, which is pretty good for Tatcha! There’s also a deal for 500 points on an order of $75+, which translates to $10 off a future order, so I decide to also add in a Sephora Favorites haircare set I have been wanting to try. I feel like at this point I’m pretty decent about doing my makeup and know what products I like, but my hair is a lost cause, so I want to try new products and see if any work. So much for also doing my project pan hahaha but I think I will use all of these so I don’t feel too bad about it. The total is $117.65 — woof! But I have a gift card for $150 that I got for Christmas that I hadn’t used yet so it ends up being free — yay!
7:45 a.m. — We have a work event today that I want to look marginally nice for since we are wearing our brand’s product at the event. I wear two brand tops with a long denim skirt from Anthropologie and silver Alohas, and put on some silver jewelry. I straighten my hair, and for makeup, I do the same as yesterday but with my Haus Labs mascara instead of the Hourglass one. Breakfast is some more of those wheat noodles I made for dinner last night and then I grab a Greek yogurt and mini cucumbers to take to work.
10:15 a.m. — Things are kind of slow at work right now because I’m waiting on some assets to put up on our website, so I just check in on performance across channels and make agendas for upcoming approvals meetings today and tomorrow. I drink a chocolate protein shake from the fridge as breakfast: part two.
1:15 p.m. — Lunch is the last of my stuffed peppers, then I drive over to our company event. We take some photos of the event and then I head back to the office. It’s so hot out that I get sunburned. I’m coordinating between a bunch of different projects and building some emails, then get pulled into a meeting at 5 p.m. Before the meeting, I snack on gluten-free pretzel sticks and a mango and orange sparkling water.
6:30 p.m. — By 6:30 I’m starting to feel lightheaded so I end up ordering Thai food for dinner.
6:45 p.m. — Dinner tastes weird and I freak out that it’s not vegetarian even though all of the listed ingredients were. I end up eating a few bites and then even though I hate wasting food, I throw the rest away because it’s making me feel queasy. I work a bit longer until 7:30 but I’m just in a bad mood and decide to head home. Once home, I take a shower and then get in bed to keep working. I demolish a bunch of my bag of Drizzilicious — I’m usually more of a salty snack person than sweet, but all bets are off when I’m on my period. $31.30 (Expensed)
Daily Total: $0
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The Breakdown
Conclusion: This week was way more expensive than usual. I do spend most of my money on food and drink because I love good food, exploring new spots, and spending time with my friends, but this week was more so than usual due to a day trip. I don’t take many vacations so I felt like this was okay! I am also so glad this diary motivated me to finally start investing my money despite being overwhelmed by the subject. I hope to keep getting better at this and become more financially literate.
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After an ultra-hot summer of barely-there dressing, we’re looking forward to the fall and all the outfit inspo that comes with it, from back-to-school season to NYFW street style. And style It-girl Brenda Song has been spotting all the early fall trends for us. Teaming up with Marshalls, Song’s perspective helped launch the Fall Fashion Field Guide, highlighting five distinct aesthetics to shop and style.
“I feel like this might be a cheat of an answer, but I’m a little bit of all of them. And that’s how these personalities sort of came to be. I always say my style depends on what mood I’m in,” Song tells Refinery29. “But most of the time I’m probably an off-duty icon. I wouldn’t call myself an icon, but I’d like to dress like one!”
The actress elaborated that her fall outfit formula always starts with a staple like a T-shirt, jeans, or trousers before amping it up with accessories. “I think that’s where you can really have fun with your outfit. I love a great scarf. I love a fun purse, belt, jewelry,” Song says. “I have a gigantic accessories closet, so I feel like it’s a really easy way to update any outfit or dress up or dress down an outfit from day to night.”
Ahead, learn more about some of Song’s key fall trends, how to shop name-brand styles from Marshalls at any budget, and which of her TV and movie characters she thinks would wear each aesthetic.
When it comes to back-to-school season with her children and the start of NBA season as an avid basketball fan, Song gravitates towards easy, preppy, and sporty pieces. “When I wake up and I’m running around with the kids, I’m definitely an off-duty icon. Comfort is key, but just cuz you’re comfortable doesn’t mean you can’t look cute,” Song explains.
As an NBA courtside staple, Song adds: “I feel like I’m basically a player off the field. I think it’s so fun to pair a jersey with baggy jeans or a fun satin bomber. It’s such a fun way to dress up and still be comfortable while watching a game because you still gotta look cute courtside.” She also said that despite her 5’2″ frame, she’s been very into flats, including sneakers.
And thinking back on which of her characters would most likely wear this aesthetic, she says: “I think Wendy Woo is an off duty icon. She takes casual to the nth degree. She knows how to work with an amazing tracksuit, an amazing satin bomber. She knows how to make effortless look cool.”
The Belle of the Fall aesthetic is quintessential nostalgic fall style, focusing on lots of layering, rich textures, deep colors, and bold accessories. And though we’re still getting hot days, Song says: “I’ve been dressing aspirationally hoping for the fall weather. I go full belle of the fall. Lots of scarves, lots of hats. Give me a big chunky scarf and a big sweater. I want to be cozy.” She also says she loves a knee-high boot as well as a short boot with a fun sock peeking out.
Wondering which of Song’s characters she thinks would wear this aesthetic? “It’d actually be very London Tipton because London loves an accessory. That’s the thing about a belle of the fall; it’s taking your staple pieces and making the outfit with the accessories. London loves a shawl. She loves a scarf. She loves putting it all together.”
When asked about her date night outfits with her husband Macaulay Culkin, Song likes to set the mood with dressier pieces and leopard print (which she declares a neutral). “If it’s date night or dinner, it’s very vibe curator,” she says, adding: “I love a matching set, whether that be a flowy pant and a button up or I love a little satin midi skirt with a little camisole with a cute sweater or a leather jacket. I’m so ready to wear my leather jacket ’cause I feel like it just really makes any outfit instantly feel like that girl.”
You know who else is that girl? Her character Natasha. “One of my favorite characters of all time that I played was Natasha from Stuck in the Suburbs. I feel like she is a vibe curator. She can take one piece and go with it. She follows all the trends. She knows what’s coming, she knows what’s hot, what’s not. And she’s very unapologetic about how she dresses,” Song explains. “I was 16 on that movie set. I still regret not stealing so much of that wardrobe.”
As we enter spooky season, we’ll be seeing more witchy styles from chunky stone jewelry to dark floral maxi dresses. And although it’s the most out of Song’s comfort zone, she finds the style aspirational. “I feel like in this phase of my life, I would want to be more of the mystical muse. But because I’m running around with my kids, it’s just harder to be able to dress that way,” adding: “I feel like in my 20s, I was very much the mystical muse. I loved a big caftan, layering, tons of jewelry, big scarves.”
This is similar to Song’s Dollface character Madison. “It was all girls from California. So they had this sort of effortless, kind of boho vibe. I loved her wardrobe. It was one of my favorites.”
Perhaps there’s no back-to-work season, but the fall certainly feels like it, and it calls for a professional wardrobe. “When I go to work or I feel like I need to look like an adult, I’m the polished powerhouse.” This looks like structured blazers, leather work bags, slingback heels, and chevron prints.
And a not-so-boring office siren is character Ali Lee from Song’s Netflix basketball comedy series Running Point. “That girl has amazing blazers and she knows how to make an outfit feel polished but still really fun. Our costume designer Allyson Fanger is incredible at being able to make things work-appropriate. We use a lot of the same pieces in different ways. And I think that’s what I love so much about my character — the way that we approach fashion is how real people re-wear pieces,” adding: “Ali has a jacket that she loves. She wore the same striped shirt three times last season.”
A few years ago, a dermatologist gave me a piece of advice I didn’t quite know what to make of at the time, but that gradually changed the way I approached my skincare routine. Years of studying people’s faces and tracing what she saw back to their skincare products, not to mention a wealth of ingredient knowledge, had convinced her that eye cream wasn’t all that different from your moisturizer.
It makes sense. Skincare only works on the surface, while many of the concerns we associate with the eye area, like hollowness, puffiness, eye “bags,” and dark circles, are difficult (if not impossible) to treat using topical products alone. With that in mind, eye cream wasn’t something I ever used. Why would I shell out for some fancy eye cream? I thought.
Then I turned 33.
Almost overnight, my eyelids became parched and crepey, and before long, I’d welcomed a handful of new lines, particularly around the outer corners. My moisturizer simply wasn’t cutting it. While eye cream isn’t a miracle product, it can help with dryness, dehydration, and uneven skin texture. Even better when it contains plumping, skin-supporting ingredients such as hyaluronic acid, retinol, and one I consider to be among the very best: ceramides. As it happens, ceramides (more on these later) are the star ingredients in The Inkey List’s newest launch, the Bio-Ceramide Lifting + Firming Eye Cream — and it’s only $16.
What is The Inkey List’s Bio-Ceramide Lifting + Firming Eye Cream and what are the benefits?
If you’re already a fan of The Inkey List, you might recognize the name of this new eye cream because the brand has a moisturizer with a similar moniker: Bio-Active Ceramide Repairing + Plumping Moisturizer. It’s hands down the best affordable moisturizer I’ve used. I waxed lyrical about its smoothing, plumping, glow-giving properties when it launched in 2024, and it turns out most of my beauty editor peers felt exactly the same way. One said it feels so luxurious that it’s comparable to far more expensive formulas she’s tried. I’ve lost count of how many tubs I’ve gone through over the years — it’s that good.
As you might expect, the small but mighty eye cream version boasts many of the same ingredients. First up, bio-active ceramides, which act like glue between skin cells, helping to keep the skin barrier — the outermost layer of skin that keeps good stuff in (think moisture) and “bad” stuff out (like bacteria) — soft, supple, and healthy. The “bio-active” part means the ingredients are biologically active, so they can interact with living tissue — in this case, the delicate skin around the eyes. In other words, they get to work as soon as they’re applied.
There’s also glycerin, which helps hydrate and moisturize the fragile under-eye area, which is particularly prone to dehydration, plus shea butter, which smooths the skin. One key benefit that’s missing from the OG moisturizer but takes center stage in the eye cream is an ingredient called Tetrapeptide-111, a peptide that helps support smoother, firmer-looking skin. Together, these ingredients moisturize and plump the under-eye area — a welcome pursuit since this delicate skin is particularly prone to showing signs of collagen loss as we age.
What makes The Inkey List’s Bio-Ceramide Lifting + Firming Eye Cream special?
This eye cream is something of a paradox. It feels rich and cocooning on the skin, yet absorbs in next to no time and never leaves behind a greasy film. Despite containing shea butter, it’s one of the few eye creams I’ve tried that doesn’t seem to contribute to breakouts or milia around my eyes. Instead, its abundance of moisturizing ingredients leaves behind a subtle gleam, as though I’ve just spent 10 minutes reaping the rewards of a luxurious under-eye patch.
Since using it morning and night to maximize the results, I no longer wake up with dry, flaky eyelids, and I could swear it’s helping to protect my fragile under-eye skin from my high-strength retinol serum, because I no longer experience any sensitivity. Beyond that, the deeper lines I’d noticed recently appear a little more ironed out, which I’m putting down to the hydrating ingredients and skin-supporting peptides. I notice the difference most when applying concealer, as it no longer settles quite as heavily into my skin texture.
What to know about The Inkey List’s Bio-Ceramide Lifting + Firming Eye Cream
• Bio-active ceramides act like glue between skin cells, helping to keep the skin barrier healthy, strong, and soft.
• Features a tetrapeptide complex — a blend of four skin-supporting peptides — to minimize the appearance of lines and help firm delicate under-eye skin.
• Can be used morning and night, and layers well under sunscreen and makeup.
How do you use The Inkey List’s Bio-Ceramide Lifting + Firming Eye Cream?
In the morning, after cleansing, I apply a light layer of moisturizer, followed by half a pea-sized amount of the eye cream, paying close attention to my under-eyes and tapping any excess onto my eyelids. Once it’s absorbed, I follow with a high-factor, broad-spectrum sunscreen. In the evening, I double cleanse and repeat the same routine, minus the sunscreen. On retinol nights, however, I apply the eye cream first to act as a buffer between my skin and the high concentration of potentially irritating ingredients.
Final thoughts
This feels just as luxe — if not more so — than some high-end versions I’ve tried, and, just like the OG moisturizer, the results are undeniable. I think it might just be the product that finally convinces me to use eye cream consistently — and at $16, it’s an easy yes.
Where can you get The Inkey List’s Bio-Ceramide Lifting + Firming Eye Cream?
Pumpkin spice is back on the menu, Halloween decorations are slowly infiltrating stores, and we could swear there’s a slight chill in the air. Okay, that might be wishful thinking, but if Instagram’s nail artists are anything to go by, fall is right around the corner.
In the past few weeks, it seems butter yellow has been usurped by soft chestnut, while metallic and chrome finishes are replacing the delicate cat-eye and pastel shades we’ve been obsessed with all summer. And you know what? We’re welcoming the change.
Ahead, find the 12 fall nail art trends we predict will be huge this year. There’s something for everyone, whether you like your nails short or you’re a seasoned BIAB devotee.
The deep French reigned supreme this summer, but with overall nail trends leaning toward shorter shapes, it’s the micro French’s time to shine. Bonus points for choosing a more brooding shade, like burgundy or forest green.
No one does a mix-and-match set quite like @chummy.nails. Using what she calls “romantic neutrals,” this set combines walnut blooming gel, muted gray tones, and gold chrome accents, finished with a smattering of falling leaves.
We can’t get enough of striped tips, but this fall, deeper shades like burgundy and pumpkin-inspired orange are replacing the pastel pinks and sky blues of summer. Take cue from this set by J.Eve.
Nail artist Citre drew inspiration from Chanel’s pony-print bag for this luxe set, layering caramel and amber tones in scattered polka dots over a custardy base.
Polka dots are going nowhere this fall, but the color palette is changing. Olivia Hoath’s butter-yellow and maple-brown set, complete with contrasting French tips, is understated yet guaranteed to earn compliments.
We identified blue suede — nail art featuring a mix of blue and brown — as a key color combination last fall, and it looks like it’s having a second run. This set by Ash combines double French tips, color blocking, and tartan print, and we’re obsessed.
Ombré gets a chilly update with these light-blue tips and a veil of chrome layered over the top, giving this set by Bryony Howell a mesmerizing, frosted effect.
The fall iteration of “pillbox” nails is getting a chrome upgrade. Catya‘s sky-blue tips pay homage to summer, while the metallic base gives the look a frosty finish. Plus, keeping the tips glossy means your nails are less prone to chipping — a major bonus when chrome polish can be notoriously tricky to keep pristine.
Nail artist Stephanie Holland makes a case for muted tones with this teal, chestnut, and butter-yellow set, complete with mix-and-match French tips. The sharp, square shape is a departure from the trending almond shape, but we love it.
Nail artist Cindy Paola hits three trends in one with this short set: monochrome, micro French tips, and filling in the half-moon of the nail, aka the lunula. There’s something beautifully retro about it.
Laura Jane’s stunning cat-eye set is like staring into a lava lamp, with sparkles that shift in the light. So good, we’ve had it bookmarked since July.
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