R29 babes, September begins with a collective exhale because we made it through the final two eclipses of 2026, and Virgo Season is giving our nervous systems a chance to recalibrate after life has been life-ing. The Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th acts like a cosmic check-in one week after the Pisces lunar eclipse, helping us look at what changed with a little more perspective and a lot less emotional intensity. This is a good moment to ask yourself what actually needs your attention now, what can be released, and which thoughts or conversations you may have been overcomplicating while eclipse season had everyone in their feelings. Gemini energy helps us zoom out, loosen our grip, and remember that clarity sometimes arrives once we stop trying to force it.

September 10th is one of the most action-packed days of the month. Venus enters Scorpio, making relationships and money feel more intimate, passionate, and psychologically revealing; Mercury enters Libra, bringing more diplomacy and balance to the way we communicate; and Uranus begins its retrograde in Gemini, asking us to review the mental shifts, technological changes, communication breakthroughs, and new ways of thinking that have been developing since Uranus first entered Gemini.

Then, at 11:27 p.m. EST, the Virgo New Moon officially closes out eclipse season and gives us our first clean slate in weeks. This is your moment to set intentions again, but keep them simple and intentional. You do not need a fifty-item manifestation list; focus on the decisions, habits, and goals that could genuinely improve the course of your life over the next six months in a constructive, healing, and productive way. It’s very back-to-school energy: sharpen the pencils, organize the vision, and show up as the version of yourself who is actually ready to follow through.

But wait… there’s more! On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through this sign, bringing us back to some of the core wounds and lessons we’ve been working through since 2018. Chiron in Aries has taught us about courage, identity, anger, self-trust, independence, and the pain that can come from feeling like we have to fight for the right to exist as ourselves. This final stretch may bring old insecurities or unfinished lessons back around, especially where we still abandon ourselves, suppress our anger, or hesitate to take up space. The goal now is to recognize how much stronger and more self-aware we’ve become, while still being honest about the places that need one more round of healing before this chapter fully closes.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd, bringing more beauty, connection, laughter, and social ease into the picture, even with Venus, Libra’s ruler, moving through intense Scorpio. So yes, we want lightness, but we also want depth. We want pleasure, but we are less interested in superficiality. We want love, but we also want truth. By the end of the month, the Aries Full Moon on September 26th and Mars entering Leo on September 27th bring fire back into the sky, filling the final days of September with passion, confidence, purpose, and playfulness. Compared to the emotional, watery ending of August, this feels like a full-circle moment: we’re moving from sensitivity and release into courage and action, with a much clearer sense of what deserves our energy now.

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

Aries Sun & Rising:

Aries, September begins with your body and daily life asking for a reset after the intensity of eclipse season. Virgo Season is moving through your health, work, and routine realm, so you may feel more tired than usual, more aware of what has become unsustainable, or simply less willing to force yourself through habits that no longer work. The Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th adds a mental check-in, helping you notice which conversations, thought patterns, or obligations are creating unnecessary noise. Slow down enough to hear what your body is saying, simplify your schedule where you can, and let this first stretch of the month be about restoring your energy rather than immediately filling every open space.

Chiron retrogrades back into your sign on September 17th for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through Aries, making this deeply personal. Since 2018, you have been learning what it means to trust yourself, take up space, advocate for your needs, and stop defining strength as constantly being ready for battle. Old insecurities around your identity, appearance, independence, anger, or right to choose your own path may resurface one last time, but you are meeting them as a very different person now. Notice where you still abandon yourself to keep the peace, where you shrink after rejection, or where defensiveness has become armor you no longer need. These final months are about recognizing how much of your confidence you have already reclaimed before Chiron moves back into Taurus in 2027.

Then Libra Season begins on September 22nd and turns your attention toward partnership, making the end of the month much more relational, romantic, and socially active. The Aries Full Moon on September 26th takes place in your sign, bringing a personal goal, identity shift, or realization about what you need to a culmination, especially if you have spent too much time prioritizing everyone else. One day later, Mars enters Leo and harmonizes beautifully with this Full Moon from your romance, creativity, fame, and inner child realm, bringing your fire all the way back. You may feel more magnetic, playful, creatively inspired, and willing to take a chance on love or yourself. September ends with you remembering that confidence is supposed to feel good too.

Taurus Sun & Rising:

Taurus, September begins on a much steadier note, and Virgo Season helps you come back to yourself after the intensity of eclipse season. Because Virgo harmonizes naturally with your earth energy, the first part of the month can feel soothing to your nervous system and bring out your more playful, creative, romantic, and childlike side. You may feel more drawn to pleasure, hobbies, dating, beauty, or simply doing things because they make life feel good again. Then the Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th brings your attention to money and security, giving you a chance to look at the numbers without panic. Use it as a financial audit: notice what needs adjusting, where you can be more flexible, and which expenses or income strategies no longer make sense now that the dust from eclipse season is settling.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries, temporarily stepping out of your sign and returning to your spirituality, solitude, and closure zone for one final stretch before re-entering Taurus in 2027. This is a chance to revisit the private healing work that prepared you for Chiron’s arrival in your sign in the first place. Old fears, grief, guilt, self-sabotaging patterns, or unresolved endings may come back into awareness, but you’re not starting from scratch. The lesson now is to recognize what you’ve already outgrown, give yourself permission to rest, and stop carrying emotional weight simply because you have gotten used to carrying it.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd and shifts your focus toward health, wellness, and daily routines, helping you make your life more balanced and sustainable. Then the Aries Full Moon on September 26th lights up your spirituality and closure sector, bringing a private realization, emotional release, or ending to the surface. One day later, Mars enters Leo in your home and family realm and forms a supportive fire trine with that Full Moon, helping you turn inner clarity into something tangible in your living environment or family life. You may feel ready to create stronger boundaries at home, make a bold domestic change, or simply build a space that reflects the peace you’re trying to cultivate internally. The fire energy at the end of the month may feel different from your usual pace, but it can help you move forward with more courage than force.

Gemini Sun & Rising:

Gemini, September begins by helping you get your footing after eclipse season, especially around home, family, and your emotional foundation. Virgo Season moves through that part of your chart, encouraging you to create more order in your private life so your nervous system has somewhere to land. This may look like reorganizing your space, having a practical family conversation, or simply admitting that you need more quiet than usual. Then the Last Quarter Moon in your sign on September 4th becomes a personal check-in, helping you notice what version of yourself feels outdated now. You may want to change your look, your priorities, your pace, or the way you communicate what you need, and the lighter Gemini energy helps you do that without turning every realization into a crisis.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through your friendship, community, and social network realm. Since 2018, you’ve been learning major lessons around belonging, rejection, collaboration, and what it means to build community without losing yourself inside it. Old friendship wounds, social disappointments, or questions about who truly supports your future may come back around, but this time you have more perspective. These final months are about choosing people who respect your growth, releasing the need to be liked by everyone, and understanding that some connections were meant to teach you something rather than come with you forever.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd and lights up your fate, creativity, romance, and inner child zone, bringing much more playfulness into the picture. Then the Aries Full Moon on September 26th activates your friendship and future-goals realm, revealing which dreams and connections still feel alive and which ones are ready to be released. One day later, Mars enters Leo in your communication sector and forms a supportive fire trine with the Full Moon, giving your voice extra confidence and momentum. A conversation, creative idea, announcement, or spontaneous plan could help you end September feeling more inspired, more social, and much more ready to say what you actually want.

Cancer Sun & Rising:

Cancer, September begins by helping you organize your thoughts after an emotionally intense eclipse season, and Virgo Season gives you the mental structure to do exactly that. The sun is moving through your communication, learning, and local community realm, so this is a good time to get clearer about what you mean, what you need, and which conversations actually deserve your energy. Writing things down, making practical plans, and simplifying your mental load can help you feel less scattered. Then the Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th moves through your spirituality and closure zone, encouraging you to step back from the noise and release the thoughts you have been carrying in circles. You may realize that some answers only arrive once you stop chasing them.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through your career, reputation, and legacy realm. Since 2018, you have been learning what it means to be visible without tying your entire worth to achievement, recognition, or how professionally “successful” you appear. Old insecurities around leadership, being taken seriously, or feeling behind may resurface, especially if a career goal has taken longer than expected. These final months are about separating ambition from self-punishment and recognizing that you can still want more for yourself without treating every delay as proof that you failed.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd and brings more focus to home, family, and emotional security, helping you create a softer foundation as the month winds down. Then the Aries Full Moon on September 26th lights up your career sector, bringing a professional goal, decision, or public chapter to a culmination. One day later, Mars enters Leo and energizes your money and self-worth zone, forming a supportive fire trine with that Full Moon and helping you turn professional clarity into something more tangible. This can be a strong moment to negotiate, ask for more, pursue a better-paid opportunity, or simply back yourself with greater confidence. September ends with you feeling clearer about what success means now and more willing to build toward it on your own terms.

Leo Sun & Rising:

Leo, September begins by helping you stabilize everything eclipse season stirred up around identity, confidence, and direction. Virgo Season moves through your money, security, and self-worth realm, which is a useful comedown after such an intense period of visibility and change. This part of the month is less about proving yourself and more about making sure your resources, habits, and financial choices can actually support the life you are stepping into. Then the Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th activates your friendship and community zone, helping you reassess which people, collaborations, and social spaces still feel aligned now that you are seeing yourself differently. You may feel less interested in maintaining connections simply because they are familiar.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through your expansion, travel, education, publishing, and belief sector. Since 2018, you have been learning where fear, self-doubt, or old wounds around being “qualified enough” may have kept you from going farther, teaching what you know, or trusting your own worldview. A dream around school, travel, entrepreneurship, spirituality, or sharing your work more broadly may come back for one final review. These last months are about recognizing that your wisdom was never meant to be validated only by credentials or outside approval. You have lived enough, learned enough, and grown enough to take your own vision seriously.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd and brings more movement to your communication, writing, learning, and local community realm, making the end of the month much more social and expressive. Then the Aries Full Moon on September 26th lights up your expansion zone, bringing a big idea, trip, course, publishing goal, or long-term vision to a culmination. One day later, Mars enters your sign and forms a supportive fire trine with that Full Moon, which is a powerful confidence boost. You may feel more magnetic, courageous, creative, and ready to act on something you had only been thinking about before. September ends with your fire fully back online, and this time it has direction.

Virgo Sun & Rising:

Virgo, September begins in your solar season, and after eclipse season shook up your relationship axis, this is your chance to come back to yourself without rushing to define every change. The sun is in your sign, helping you reconnect with your body, priorities, confidence, and sense of direction, while the Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th activates your career and public image realm. You may realize that a professional goal, role, or expectation no longer fits the person you are becoming, or that you want to be seen differently moving forward. Instead of forcing an immediate answer, let this be a recalibration point where you refine your ambitions and make sure your outer life actually matches your inner evolution.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through your intimacy, transformation, and shared-resources zone. Since 2018, you have been learning major lessons around trust, vulnerability, debt, outside support, and how much of yourself you are willing to merge with others. Old wounds around betrayal, financial dependence, control, or feeling exposed may resurface, but this is your opportunity to respond with more maturity than you did years ago. These final months are about releasing the belief that you have to manage every risk alone and recognizing where receiving support, setting cleaner boundaries, or having the uncomfortable conversation can actually make you stronger.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd and shifts your focus toward money, security, and self-worth, which helps you ground the month in practical reality. Then the Aries Full Moon on September 26th lights up your intimacy and shared-resources realm, bringing a financial, emotional, or relational matter to a culmination. One day later, Mars enters Leo in your spirituality and solitude zone and forms a supportive fire trine with the Full Moon, helping you process whatever comes up without being consumed by it. You may feel ready to release a debt, close an emotional chapter, forgive yourself for an old choice, or finally stop carrying something that has been living rent-free in your subconscious. September ends with a quieter kind of power: knowing what you are done carrying and trusting yourself enough to put it down.

Libra Sun & Rising:

Libra, September begins by helping you clear the mental and emotional clutter that eclipse season left behind before your birthday chapter officially begins. Virgo Season moves through your spirituality, solitude, and closure realm, encouraging you to protect your energy, get more rest, and pay attention to what you’ve outgrown beneath the surface. Then the Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th activates your travel, education, publishing, and belief zone, helping you step back and gain perspective on a long-term plan or idea that may have felt confusing during eclipse season. You may realize that you don’t need to force the answer yet; sometimes changing your environment, learning something new, or simply seeing the situation from another angle is enough to unlock the next step.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through your partnership sector. Since 2018, you have been learning major lessons around compromise, reciprocity, boundaries, abandonment, and what it means to stay connected to yourself while loving someone else. Old relationship wounds or unresolved dynamics may resurface one last time, but this chapter is less about reopening everything and more about seeing how differently you respond now. These final months are about recognizing where you used to overextend, avoid conflict, or wait for someone else to validate your needs, and choosing relationships that can actually meet the version of you that exists today.

Then, on September 22nd, Libra Season begins and the sun enters your sign, bringing your energy, confidence, charm, and sense of possibility back online. The Aries Full Moon on September 26th lights up your partnership realm, bringing a relationship, commitment, collaboration, or boundary to a culmination, while Mars enters Leo one day later and harmonizes with that Full Moon from your friendship, community, and future-goals zone. The end of September can feel socially exciting and romantically clarifying, with the right people helping you feel more supported in where you’re headed next. Your birthday season starts with a powerful reminder that love and community should expand your life, not make you disappear inside it.

Scorpio Sun & Rising:

Scorpio, September begins by helping you sort through who and what actually belongs in the future you’re building. Virgo Season moves through your friendship, community, social network, and long-term goals realm, making the first part of the month ideal for becoming more intentional about your circle, your collaborations, and where your energy goes socially. Then the Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th activates your intimacy, shared-resources, and transformation zone, helping you look at what you’re carrying with other people — financially, emotionally, sexually, or energetically — with a little more objectivity. You may realize that a bond needs clearer terms, that a financial arrangement needs to be revisited, or that you’ve been holding onto a dynamic simply because the history is deep. Let perspective guide you more than intensity.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through your health, work, and daily routine sector. Since 2018, you have been learning how much your body, schedule, and sense of usefulness are connected to your emotional well-being. Old patterns around overwork, pushing through exhaustion, perfectionism, or feeling like you have to prove your value through productivity may come back up for one final review. These last months are about creating a relationship with discipline that doesn’t require self-punishment and recognizing that your body’s been giving you information all along. The more sustainable your routines become, the less likely you are to end up in cycles of depletion and recovery.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd and pulls you into a quieter, more reflective phase, giving you space to process everything that’s shifted before your own season begins. Then the Aries Full Moon on September 26th lights up your health, work, and routine realm, bringing a habit, workload, wellness issue, or daily pattern to a culmination. One day later, Mars enters Leo in your career and public image zone and forms a supportive trine with that Full Moon, helping you turn clarity about your daily life into greater professional momentum. You may suddenly see that the next level of success requires different boundaries, better systems, or a healthier pace, and once you make those adjustments, your ambition has much more room to move.

Sagittarius Sun & Rising:

Sagittarius, September begins by helping you get serious about the direction your career is taking now that eclipse season has cleared so much emotional clutter. Virgo Season is moving through your career, reputation, and long-term goals realm, making this a useful time to refine your strategy, tighten your schedule, and get more intentional about how you want to be seen professionally. Then the Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th activates your partnership zone, helping you reassess how the people closest to you fit into the future you are building. A relationship, collaboration, or agreement may need more flexibility, especially if one of you has changed significantly over the past few weeks. Let the conversation evolve instead of forcing it back into an old format.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through your fate, creativity, romance, and inner child realm. Since 2018, you’ve been learning what it means to take your joy seriously, trust your creative instincts, and stop letting rejection or fear of looking foolish keep you from expressing yourself fully. Old insecurities around dating, visibility, talent, or being chosen may come back up, but this is your chance to see how much stronger your relationship with yourself has become. These final months are about choosing pleasure, creativity, and courage on purpose instead of waiting for life to give you permission.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd and brings more movement to your friendship, community, and future-goals zone, making the final stretch of the month much more social and collaborative. Then the Aries Full Moon on September 26th lights up your romance, creativity, and inner child realm, bringing a love story, passion project, or personal dream to a culmination. One day later, Mars enters Leo and forms a supportive fire trine with that Full Moon from your travel, expansion, publishing, and belief zone, giving you a serious burst of momentum. You may feel ready to book the trip, share the work, take the romantic risk, or finally act on the idea that’s been calling you for months. September ends with your fire back where it belongs: moving you toward something that feels exciting and deeply alive.

Capricorn Sun & Rising:

Capricorn, September begins by helping you zoom out after eclipse season and reconnect with the bigger vision behind all the practical decisions you’ve been making. Virgo Season moves through your travel, education, publishing, spirituality, and expansion realm, making this a strong time to research, study, plan, or revisit a goal that once felt too far away. Then the Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th activates your work, wellness, and daily routine zone, helping you get realistic about whether your current habits can actually support that larger vision. You may find that your schedule needs more flexibility, your workload needs to be redistributed, or your body simply needs more recovery time than you’ve been allowing. The point is not to shrink the dream, but to create a daily structure strong enough to carry it.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through your home, family, and roots sector. Since 2018, you have been learning major lessons around emotional security, family responsibility, childhood patterns, and what it means to create a home that feels safe rather than simply functional. Old wounds involving a parent, family dynamic, housing situation, or the belief that you have to be the strong one for everyone may resurface, but you are approaching them with years of perspective now. These final months are about releasing inherited patterns you no longer want to carry and giving yourself permission to define family, belonging, and stability on your own terms.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd and shifts the focus toward your career, reputation, and public image, bringing more visibility and momentum professionally. Then the Aries Full Moon on September 26th lights up your home and family realm, bringing a domestic matter, emotional realization, or living situation to a culmination. One day later, Mars enters Leo in your intimacy and shared-resources zone and forms a supportive fire trine with that Full Moon, helping you take action around money, support, trust, or the deeper agreements that shape your private life. September may end with a clearer sense of what needs to change behind closed doors so that your outer success no longer comes at the expense of your inner peace.

Aquarius Sun & Rising:

Aquarius, September begins by helping you sort through what you share with others and what you need to keep firmly in your own hands. Virgo Season moves through your intimacy, shared-resources, debt, trust, and transformation realm, making this a useful time to get practical about money, emotional reciprocity, and the agreements that connect you to other people. Then the Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th activates your creativity, romance, and inner child zone, helping you step back from the heaviness and remember what actually makes you feel alive. You may realize that a connection, hobby, or personal dream has become weighed down by too many expectations, and a little playfulness can help you see what still has genuine spark.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through your communication, learning, and mindset sector. Since 2018, you have been learning major lessons around speaking up, trusting your ideas, and healing the fear of being misunderstood, dismissed, or not taken seriously. Old conversations, writing projects, sibling dynamics, or insecurities around your voice may resurface one last time, but you are not the same person who entered this transit years ago. These final months are about saying what you mean with more confidence, choosing your words with intention, and realizing that you do not have to over-explain yourself to be understood by the people who truly get you.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd and opens up your travel, education, publishing, and expansion realm, helping the final stretch of the month feel much bigger and more adventurous. Then the Aries Full Moon on September 26th lights up your communication zone, bringing a conversation, announcement, idea, or decision to a culmination. One day later, Mars enters Leo in your partnership sector and forms a supportive fire trine with that Full Moon, adding momentum to relationships and collaborations. You may feel ready to have the conversation, make the commitment, take the trip with someone, or move a partnership into a more exciting chapter. September ends with your world feeling wider, and the right person may be part of why.

Pisces Sun & Rising:

Pisces, September begins by helping you get clearer about what healthy partnership actually looks like now that eclipse season’s changed you so personally. Virgo Season moves through your relationship and commitment realm, asking you to pay attention to reciprocity, consistency, and whether the people closest to you are meeting the version of you that exists today. Then the Last Quarter Moon in Gemini on September 4th activates your home, family, and emotional foundation zone, giving you space to reassess what makes you feel safe and supported behind closed doors. You may feel called to change your environment, clarify a family boundary, or simply create more peace at home so that your relationships are not carrying the entire weight of your emotional security.

On September 17th, Chiron retrogrades back into Aries for the final stretch of its nearly eight-year journey through your money, self-worth, and security sector. Since 2018, you’ve been learning major lessons around what you deserve, how you earn, how you handle scarcity, and whether your confidence rises and falls with your bank balance. Old fears around financial instability, undercharging, over-giving, or feeling like you have to prove your worth through sacrifice may come back up, but this is your final chance to meet those wounds with more self-respect and practical wisdom. These last months are about trusting that your value isn’t up for negotiation and building financial habits that reinforce that belief.

Libra Season begins on September 22nd and shifts the focus toward intimacy, shared resources, trust, and deeper emotional merging. Then the Aries Full Moon on September 26th lights up your money and self-worth realm, bringing a financial goal, pricing decision, or realization about what you need in order to feel secure to a culmination. One day later, Mars enters Leo in your health, work, and daily routine zone and forms a supportive fire trine with that Full Moon, helping you turn that financial clarity into action through better habits, stronger boundaries, and a more focused work rhythm. September ends with you feeling more motivated to protect your energy, value your time, and build a life that supports you on both practical and emotional levels.

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Summer served up a handful of intriguing skincare movements: Dermatologists extolled the virtues of retinal over retinol for minimizing pigmentation, fine lines, and breakouts at a faster rate, while buzzy injectable polynucleotides seemed to rival eye cream for reducing dark circles. Now there’s a new season underway, and with it comes an entirely different set of trends.

Fall is synonymous with change, and for me, nowhere is this more evident than on my skin. Plummeting temperatures, central heating and a distinct lack of vitamin D all give my face a free pass to freak out — and it seems I’m not the only one. In the past week, “best moisturizers for dry skin”, “cream for dry skin” and “how to cute dry skin on face” have been commonly googled skincare queries. It makes sense, then, that the industry’s upcoming trends are tailored to keep that all-important skin barrier as healthy as possible.

I’d argue that no one knows skin health like Kat Burki, skin specialist, nutritional scientist, and founder and CEO of her eponymous skincare brand. Without further ado, here are the skincare trends that Burki told me are going to take off this fall and beyond.

Reverse Double Cleansing

One step that most skincare experts unanimously agree on is double cleansing in the evening. The first cleanse (usually with a micellar water, oil, or balm cleanser) melts and dislodges makeup, sunscreen, and daily grime. The second cleanse (it’s often recommended to use a gel or foam) ensures that everything is totally gone. Burki believes in a double cleanse but she reverses the steps — a trick that’s especially beneficial for dry skin.

“I do the opposite of what other [people] do to get a deep cleanse without stripping the skin,” Burki told me. “First I go in with a gel cleanser [namely her KB5 Calming Gel Cleanser], and then I’ll use an oil cleanser,” she said. “That’s because you don’t want to wash away those nutrients.” If gel or foaming cleansers leave your skin feeling uncomfortably tight, rotating the steps — and finishing with something a little more moisturizing — is likely to counteract that feeling.

If you’re prone to breakouts or have oily skin, you might want to switch the oil or balm cleanser for a non-pore-clogging, cream version instead. R29 rates The Ordinary Glycolipid Cream Cleanser, and Kate Somerville Goat Milk Moisturizing Cleanser.

Vitamin C Derivatives

If you’ve tried to get into vitamin C serums but have found that your skin becomes sensitive, irritated, and drier than usual, the star ingredient is likely L-ascorbic acid, or pure vitamin C. While it’s the most effective at boosting collagen and fending off environmental aggressors like pollution, it’s pretty potent, and some skin types aren’t able to tolerate it. To get around the issue, Burki looks to vitamin C derivatives in her skincare. Derivatives are essentially tweaked versions of vitamin C that are more stable (read: won’t turn an alarming shade of orange and become ineffective) and far less irritating on the skin. 

Inside the Vitamin C Intensive Face Cream, you’ll spot STAY-C. “This is a stable form of vitamin C that is converted into ascorbic acid [pure vitamin C] in the skin,” said Burki. Basically, it boasts all the benefits of its powerful sister without the irritating, drying side effects. If you have less to spend, The Inkey List C-50 Serum also boasts STAY-C, while The Ordinary uses a vitamin C derivative called ascorbyl glucoside in its Ascorbyl Glucoside Solution 12%. “I completely believe in derivatives because they are less potent but [do what they need to do] quickly,” said Burki. In short? Derivatives are the future of vitamin C — especially for drier, more sensitive skin types. 

The End Of Collagen Skincare

Cold weather and central heating can sap skin of moisture, making it look dull, dry and flat. If you’re already using skincare with “plumping” ingredients like hyaluronic acid or glycerin and you haven’t noticed much of a change, you might be swayed by the smart marketing around collagen creams. 

Our bodies produce collagen naturally; it gives skin its strength and structure. Over time, though, our levels decrease and so our skin loses that suppleness. There’s just one thing about collagen skincare, said Burki: “It’s not possible to put collagen back into your skin via a serum or a moisturizer.” 

Collagen molecules are too large to penetrate the skin in any meaningful way, so what you’re really getting from collagen-infused skincare is simply an extra layer of moisture and hydration. Instead, Burki suggests ditching collagen skincare and slotting a well-formulated vitamin C serum — like the ones above — into your morning skincare routine to kickstart collagen production from within. Team it with a broad spectrum, high factor sunscreen to further protect your skin against collagen-zapping UV rays. 

Souped-Up Moisturizers

Cold weather calls for ingredients that are going to keep your skin barrier (the outermost layer of skin) moisturized. Think hydrating hyaluronic acid, glycerin and ceramides, which act like glue between your skin cells to keep skin soft and smooth. Burki suggests keeping your eyes peeled for another star ingredient this fall and winter. 

Enter: astaxanthin, which Burki calls a “serious moisturizer”. 

Research shows that applying the ingredient topically via skincare improves skin conditions like dryness and itching. There’s evidence that suggests it boosts skin elasticity and reduces fine lines, too. That’s not all it can do. It’s also an antioxidant so it shields skin against things like pollution and UV rays, said Burki: “It’s like vitamin C times 5,000.”

Burki’s Bio Correcting Face Cream, isn’t cheap but it makes a noticeable difference. Astaxanthin protects skin against dulling environmental aggressors but it’s also packed with various antioxidant vitamins (C and E), highly moisturizing squalane, redness-reducing centella asiatica, exfoliating lactic acid and CoQ10, another antioxidant with powerful protective properties. 

While astaxanthin is still a little under the radar, you’ll also spot it inside Kopari Bright as Day Sheer Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 and Drunk Elephant Bora Barrier Repair Cream. 

Rethinking Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid (HA) is a humectant, which means it attracts and holds onto moisture in the skin, making it look and feel more plump. Countless skincare experts recommend applying hyaluronic acid serums or creams to damp skin to maximize the hydration, but Burki isn’t convinced. “You don’t need to put hyaluronic acid on damp skin,” she said. “While there are many different types [of hyaluronic acid], none of them have that requirement.”

There’s new research to support this, too. A study conducted by The Ordinary found that it didn’t matter whether its Hyaluronic Acid + B5 + Ceramides, was applied to wet or dry skin; the hydration levels were more or less the same. While not all hyaluronic acid serums are created equal, following your HA serum with a moisturizer is equally beneficial — and much easier than trying to open your serum with slippery hands. 

Scaling Back The Niacinamide

Niacinamide (or vitamin B3) has countless skin benefits: It can improve excess oil production (potentially reducing breakouts), reduce the appearance of large pores and prevent water from leaving the skin, limiting dryness. But too high a concentration can be aggravating, said Burki, and it’s easy to go overboard. Cue rough, flaky skin. 

If you want to start (or continue) using niacinamide this fall but your skin is on the dry side, Burki suggests dialing down the percentage and looking for a skincare product which contains 2% niacinamide or less. Try Kat Burki BioCell Correcting Serum, with niacinamide, skin-strengthening peptides and astaxanthin. If you have less to spend, try The Ordinary Soothing and Barrier Support Serum, with 2% niacinamide plus moisturizing ceramides.

A New Way To Exfoliate

Glycolic acid is arguably the most popular chemical exfoliator in skincare, and while it’s excellent for unclogging pores and fading hyperpigmentation, high concentrations can damage the skin barrier when overused. As such, Burki prefers fruit enzymes, which provide a similar exfoliating action in a gentle way. Using a product with enzymes, such as a daily cleanser or essence, will help renew your skin cells and balance the biome (the friendly bacteria that keeps your skin in check). Burki recommends her PH+ Enzyme Essence. Also try Kate Somerville ExfoliKate Cleanser Daily Foaming Wash, or Josie Maran Pineapple Enzyme Exfoliating + Brightening Foaming Gel Cleanser. Aftercare is a must, too. Post-exfoliation, Burki suggests “feeding” your skin with lots of hydration and moisturizing ingredients like ceramides.

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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.)

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.

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.

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.”

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.”

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The cancellation of Not Suitable For Work after 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?

From PEDESTRIAN.TV

This story was originally published on Refinery29 Australia.

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Welcome to Money Diaries where we are tackling the ever-present taboo that is money. We’re asking real people how they spend their hard-earned money during a seven-day period — and we’re tracking every last dollar.

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.

Interested in taking our latest Money Diaries survey? We’d love to hear your thoughts here.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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