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: An office manager working in construction who makes $70,000 per year and spends some of it on a short bob cut.

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This diary was written in 2026.

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Occupation: Office manager
Industry: Construction
Age: 40
Location: Norristown, PA
Salary: $70,000
Joint Income/Financial Setup: $180,000. My husband and I have a joint checking account, HYSA, and cash back credit card. We also have our own personal checking, savings, and our own credit cards. We mostly use the joint credit card for expenses and bills to get cash back when we can. My husband contributes $686 a week to the joint checking, and I transfer $950 twice a month, sometimes more. My husband contributes more since he makes more than me, but since I have fewer bills than he does, I end up contributing extra.
Assets:
High-Yield Savings Account: $30,200
Combined retirement accounts: $172,230 (total across all of our accounts) Joint checking: $1,876.46
Debt:
New car: $18,300
My husband’s student loans: $12,000
Joint credit card: $2,734
Paycheck Amount (bi-weekly): $2,074, after 401(k)
Pronouns: She/her

Monthly Expenses

Housing Costs: $2,300 (my husband and I rent a two-bedroom single-family home)
Electricity: ~$200 for the warmer temps
Internet: $99
Gas: $225
Water: $70
Loan Payments:
Car payment: $368
Husband’s student loans: $500 (sometimes he pays more if he can)
Other:
Car insurance: $221
Cell phone: $225
Subscriptions: HBO Max: $20; Netflix: $19; Apple TV: $14; Reddit: $7; Spotify: $13; Peacock: $8.50; Amazon Prime: $16
Pet supplies: $130
Husband’s Personal Expenses:
Gym memberships & personal trainer: $350
My Personal Expenses:
Apple Music: $12
Clothing subscription: $98
Savings contribution: $700

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 — my parents did not go to college, so there was an expectation. However, it was not strictly required that I go to college. I went to art school for undergrad, where I received several academic and housing scholarships, took out $15,000 in student loans, and my parents helped with off-campus housing expenses. I also went to graduate school, which my full-time job paid for 60% of, and the rest I paid for through $12,000 in loans.

Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s) educate you about finances?
My parents didn’t really educate me about finances. My parents did set me up with a checking account when I got my first job at 16. Then at 18 they set me up with my first credit card (which I still use!) that I used for college expenses, and my dad paid it off while I was in school. Otherwise, I learned on my own how to budget my money.

What was your first job and why did you get it?
My first job was at TJ Maxx, the chain retail store, at the age of 16. I got it to earn extra money to buy things for myself. My mom was a stay-at-home parent, and my dad was our primary income source. When I would come home from college for the summer, I would go back to TJ Maxx and work to save money for college expenses.

Did you worry about money growing up?
A little bit. I knew that my dad made a good amount of money for me, my brothers, and mom, but since he works in the construction world, there were times we couldn’t afford certain larger purchases. As I got older, I became more mindful of the costs of the things I requested from my parents. We would bargain shop a lot with coupons or find deals.

Do you worry about money now?
I think everyone worries about money to a small degree. I struggled through my late 20s and early 30s living solo on a small paycheck, and worried about money A LOT. I reached a point where I had no money, maxed out my credit card, and had to move back in with my parents. But now, I feel comfortably stable about being able to pay for monthly expenses, contribute to savings, and also be able to enjoy a few luxuries in life.

At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net?
When I was 24 years old, I moved out of my parents’ house after returning home from undergrad and was fully financially on my own. Now at the age of 40, my husband and I do have a financial safety net. His parents were in the medical field, and his dad made a very decent living. If something were to happen, I know my in-laws would step in to help. My husband and I also have four months of expenses saved in the event one (or both of us) lost our jobs.

Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain.
I received inherited income from my grandmother. Before she passed away, my mom had power of attorney and gifted $10,000 to each of my grandmother’s six grandkids. She passed right after I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, so I used most of the money to buy my first car, which I had for 18 years.

Day One: Saturday

6:00 a.m. — My alarm goes off and I take my daily birth control pill. I lay in bed a little bit longer as I didn’t sleep well last night and tossed and turned from 2:30 a.m. onwards. My husband, B., was also up around 2:30 and had gotten back in bed around 4:30. Both of us are out of bed by 6:30 and B. makes some coffee for us while I feed the cat breakfast. I take my coffee with oat milk and B. likes his black. I then turn on the TV to catch up on my weekly shows. We love food, so we have been watching Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy.

7:15 a.m. — B. makes breakfast for me — scrambled eggs and an English muffin with peanut butter. He’s going for a bike ride soon, so he’s not having breakfast now. B. also cooks most of our meals since he used to be a professional chef — lucky me! I cook dinner on Wednesdays and Sundays.

10:35 a.m. — B. goes to the grocery store since I have to leave soon for my hair appointment. He gets kombucha, apples, bananas, carrots, greens, cucumber, oat milk (for me), chicken, ground turkey, chicken sausage, yogurt, macaroni and cheese, granola bars, Chex Mix and Fritos (for me), seltzer, and stuff for dinner (basil, mirepoix, ground meatloaf mix, ricotta, marinara). We use a shared grocery list app on our phones, and earlier I added items I need and most of our staples. Before shopping, we go on the GIANT grocery store app and clip any coupons. At the store, B. scans his reward card for $1 in grocery dollars, then with the coupons and discounts, he saves us an additional $14.72. $110.54

11:00 a.m. — I quickly eat a leftover slice of pizza from dinner last night before I jump in my car to head to my haircut and color appointment, which is at 12:15 p.m. I get my hair done about once every three months. On the way, I stop to get gas ($46.96), then I pop by FedEx to drop off packages for work. (I had prepaid labels on them already). $46.96

3:15 p.m. — I’m done with my hair appointment. I get highlights and a women’s cut. I went blonder this time since summer is approaching and got a cute, short bob cut. I’ve been with my stylist for a long time, so I give her and the shampoo girls a nice tip. $285

4:40 p.m. — I get back home and B. has washed our towels and the bedsheets! He has dinner in the oven, which is a fancy pasta dinner of stuffed shells. He bought this Italian pasta, Pastificio Di Martino, after watching an episode of Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy last week, so he’s using the large shells — conchiglioni rigati from Campania, Italy. I pour myself a glass of white wine and sit outside on an Adirondack chair, enjoying the warm weather until dinner is ready.

Daily Total: $442.50

Day Two: Sunday

7:00 a.m. — B. makes breakfast for us. He makes a frittata with broccoli, peppers, goat’s cheese, and basil, with fancy olive oil drizzled on top. B. and I were both up at 4 a.m. this morning for no reason.

8:45 a.m. — We leave the house for the day to head to the shore to spend some time with my in-laws. They just came back from being in Florida for six months. On the way, we pick up Starbucks. I get an iced grande caramel macchiato and B. gets an iced coffee. We also pop by my friend’s house to check in on their cats. $10.07

10:45 a.m. — We make it to the shore! (Tolls cost us $9.60 to get here). We catch up with my in-laws for an hour — we help bring up the flowers and soil for the deck planters that my mother-in-law purchased. There’s not much at the house to eat yet, so B. and I go to Chipotle and get chicken bowls ($25.96). $35.56

5:00 p.m. — We sit down to eat dinner that B. has cooked. He always cooks for everyone when we are at the shore house. We leave right after dinner to head home since it takes us an hour and 45 minutes to get home. We take the cheaper toll route home ($8.37), otherwise, it would cost us $18! $8.37

7:00 p.m. — When we get home, I feed the cat his wet food and we prepare for work the next day. I notice that the cat’s dry food is low, so I order it separately from his recurring order. $31.73

Daily Total: $85.73

Day Three: Monday

6:00 a.m. — My alarm goes off and I take my pill. I really don’t want to get out of bed and go to work. I hit the snooze button at least three more times and then finally get out of bed at 6:30. I shower and get ready for work to be out the door by 7:40.

8:00 — I make coffee at the office. I brought my own oat milk and leave it in the work fridge. I don’t usually eat breakfast during the week, but I end up eating the snack I brought.

11 a.m. — Today has been a chaotic mess at work. I spent the morning rescheduling meetings; there was a homeless guy outside the building bothering people, a spam number kept calling the office number (which I answer), and then the clothing company across the hall accidentally had 30 boxes delivered using our office suite number. I had to meet the FedEx driver and get him access to the loading dock, which caused me to miss my boss’s messages regarding the rescheduled meetings. When I finally checked the FedEx packages, I realized every box was actually for the company across the hall. Needless to say, I wasn’t thrilled with them. 

1:45 p.m. — I finally sit down to eat lunch. I brought a salad I made from home: greens, carrots, cucumber, hummus, chicken, a boiled egg, and some homemade dressing.

5:40 p.m. — Home from work and B. has dinner almost ready. He cooked sausage, broccoli, and macaroni and cheese. After dinner, I drive over to my friend D.’s house, which is nearby, to return her tree trimmer that we borrowed. I also stop at Walgreens to pick up my prescription refill. $18.31

Daily Total: $18.31

Day Four: Tuesday

6:00 a.m. — As usual, my alarm goes off and I take my pill. I carry on with my usual morning routine.

8 a.m. — I arrive at the office, but no breakfast for me. I just have a coffee with oat milk.

11:30 a.m. — My coworker says she’s going to order from Wawa for lunch and asks if I want anything, so I order a breaded chicken Caesar wrap. I didn’t have time to pack lunch this morning, so this works out nicely.

11:50 a.m. — The order arrives and I eat lunch in the kitchen. I Venmo my coworker $10 for lunch.

12:15 p.m. — I’m back at my desk working because there’s so much to do. This Thursday we are having a baby shower for another colleague who’s having a baby girl. I handle most of the internal and external events for my company, so I’m pretty much on my own planning and preparing for this shower. $10

5:00 p.m. — On my way home from work, I stop at the grocery store to pick up some ingredients to make a few appetizers for the baby shower at work on Thursday. I only have a $200 budget for food and decorations for 20 people, so I decide to make a few dishes (in addition to ordering some things) to get more bang for my buck. The theme is ‘garden picnic’, so I decide to make deviled eggs, pasta salad, and a veggie tray. I pick up 1.5 dozen eggs, baby carrots, cucumber, peppers, orzo, feta, red onion, cherry tomatoes, hummus, lemonade, lemons, and a $25 Starbucks gift card for the game prize. They don’t have a few items I want, so I will have to go to the GIANT near work tomorrow. $52.83 (Expensed)

5:45 p.m. — I’m back home and B. has dinner cooking because he’s a great husband and he gets home before me most days. He’s making a ground turkey bowl with brown rice. After dinner, B. insists on boiling and peeling the eggs for the deviled eggs I want to make for the baby shower — such a good guy I got here!

7:00 p.m. — I pour myself a glass of wine after doing a few things around the house and put on Top Chef to relax. B. scheduled a swim lesson with a trainer for this Saturday, which he had to prepay for ($50). He’s training for a race that involves swimming, running, and biking. $50

Daily Total: $60

Day Five: Wednesday

6:00 a.m. — Same alarm time and same routine for getting ready for work. No, I still don’t eat breakfast and I always make coffee at work.

11:45 a.m. — I order lunch from Grubhub and get a poke bowl. $21.30

12:30 p.m. — It arrives and I sit at the work kitchen table with my coworker and we eat our lunches.

1:00 p.m. — After lunch, I head to the GIANT near work to get a few things for the baby shower that I couldn’t get last night. They have Martinelli’s Sparkling Blush and frozen raspberries that I need. $21.06 (expensed)

5:25 p.m. — I’m home from work and B. has already ordered Mexican takeout for dinner. Today is usually my day to make dinner, but I have to make deviled eggs and pasta salad for tomorrow, which is why we decided to order takeout. A. orders three chicken tacos, I get a massive burrito, and we split a churro. $53.28

6:25 p.m. — As I wrap up eating my burrito, B. brings in a FedEx package and just looks at me. I know what it is. My birthday is in a week’s time and he was teasing me on Sunday that he finally bought my birthday gift. I immediately open it and it’s a Kindle Scribe! I’ve been reading more lately since I joined the book club at work. I can also use it when traveling to keep notes on my crochet and knit patterns, too. After all that excitement, I start making the pasta salad and deviled eggs.

Daily Total: $74.58

Day Six: Thursday

6:00 a.m. — My alarm goes off and it’s hard to get out of bed this morning. I get up a little earlier than usual since I have to pack everything I’m bringing to work for the baby shower, which is today!

8:00 a.m — I arrive at work and make my coffee with oat milk as usual. No breakfast for me, but I do have a mini blueberry muffin that my coworker brings in.

12:15 p.m. — I run out around lunch to pick up the tomato pie, the pretzel nugget tray, and a last-minute BJ’s Wholesale Club order for work. The pretzels and BJ’s order are prepaid with the company card, but I have to pay cash for the tomato pie. It’s the best in our area! $20 (Expensed)

1:05 p.m. — On my way back to the office, I stop and get gas in my car as my tank is really low. Gas has been high lately — it’s $4.51 per gallon at the Liberty Gas Station I go to, which is low for my area. $51

1:20 p.m. — I get back to the office and a coworker helps me unload everything. I also eat the salad I packed for lunch as I’m starving.

2 p.m. — I start setting up for the baby shower.

6:30 p.m. — The work baby shower was a hit! I’m exhausted, though. I’m finally home, waiting for B. to finish dinner. While waiting for dinner, I buy a case for my new Amazon Scribe ($24.47).

8:00 p.m. — I relax for the rest of the night until bedtime. (B. also got gas in his car today after work ($31.58)).

Daily Total: $107.05

Day Seven: Friday

6:00 a.m. — I’m alive! My alarm goes off as usual and I start a new pack of pills.

7:30 a.m. — I leave for work around 7:30 and say goodbye to B. and our cat. B. works remotely on Fridays — lucky him! On my way, I treat myself to some Starbucks. I get my usual grande caramel macchiato with oat milk and a bacon/gouda sandwich, too. $11.66

12:25 p.m. — Since this weekend will be Memorial Day Weekend, my work gives us a half day, in addition to Monday off — yay! I finish a few things, then check to see who is left in the office before locking the doors.

1:00 p.m. — I get home and B. is still on the couch where I left him, attempting to work. I brought him a couple slices of leftover tomato pie. I order some sushi for lunch since we don’t have much in the house. I’m really hungry, so I get a shrimp tempura roll, salmon roll, gyoza, and shrimp shumai. $40

2:45 p.m. — B. goes to the grocery store to get stuff to make pulled BBQ chicken for my parents’ Memorial Day Party and a few items for us to get through the weekend: hot dogs, buns, potato salad, kombucha, mac and cheese, bananas, kiwis, Chex Mix, onions, four packs of chicken, chicken stock, Sweet Baby Ray’s, and frozen pizzas ($109.26). While he’s gone, I preorder cannolis to bring to a housewarming we are attending on Saturday. $109.26

5:40 p.m. — B. makes the frozen pizzas for dinner. I pour myself a glass of wine.

7:00 p.m. — After dinner, I order yarn to fix my aunt’s crochet blanket I made her a couple of years ago ($19.06). Her puppy put a hole in one of the granny squares, which damaged mostly the yellow rows. Of course, I don’t have any of that yarn left. I end up finding it on an online website and then have to pay almost $10 for shipping. So much for fixing it before I see my aunt on Sunday! $19.06

Daily Total: $179.98

The Breakdown

Conclusion:
This was a unique week that included events and purchases that aren’t standard in an average week for me. I did spend more than usual, but a few expenses were reimbursed from work. After writing this Money Diary, I realized that most of our purchases are food-related. It doesn’t surprise me because my husband and I love food, and he used to be a chef and loves cooking. I do want to order less takeout for lunch in the future, though. I used to have better habits when it came to bringing lunch to work, so I would like to get back to that. I had a lot of fun writing this Money Diary and would definitely do it again!

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

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

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Before Amy Liu built Tower28, the company that currently sells products every 10 seconds in Sephora, she was working in the beauty industry and struggling with sensitive skin. With encouragement and investments from close friends, Amy leveraged her 15+ years of experience to bet on herself and build Tower 28, a company that keeps sensitive skin at the core of its product development. During the conversation, Amy shared that she dealt with chronic eczema and sensitive skin her entire life. However, despite working in major roles at companies like Kate Sommerville and Josie Maran and having firsthand experience of how product efficacy could change her life, she still didn’t feel ready to leap. Shortly after turning 40, Amy was in conversation with a former business school classmate who asked what she was waiting for. This friend affirmed her skills and experience, and then offered to invest in her dream. She reached out to other friends and family, all of whom were excited to support her vision for Tower 28. In the seven years since launching, Tower 28 has blossomed into a brand beloved by everyone from essential workers to “gym rats,” to celebrities, and influencers like Hailey Bieber and fellow Naked Beauty guest, Toni Bravo. Amy offers us a glimpse into her life as CEO, mom, and lifelong advocate for clean beauty in this chat. She shared what it was like growing up in Los Angeles, in a predominantly white community, instead of a Chinese-American neighborhood.

During the episode, Amy details her parents’ decision to move to America and why her dad, an entrepreneur, tried to dissuade her from starting a business. It’s exactly this persistence that has allowed her to become a strong leader, despite having been exposed to some of the worst bosses you might imagine. Amy’s leadership skills are defined by not only what she has done but also by her commitment to educating others. In the summer of 2020, she decided to develop Clean Beauty Summer School, a professional-development program that gives BIPOC founders industry access and education that they might otherwise not have access to. Amy has built a brand that is 100% compliant with the National Eczema Association and regularly gives back to minority founders. Amy Liu’s story proves that a true commitment to inclusivity benefits every single one of us.

Watch the full episode below:

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This just in: In new brand collab news, FP Movement is teaming up with On for a sneaker drop that will have you running to hit “add to cart.”

This month, Free People unveiled its second footwear collaboration with Swiss brand On, featuring two exclusive silhouettes inspired by the native wildflowers of the Swiss Alps. First, there are two floral colorways of the Cloudmonster 3 Sneakers, one in petal-pink and the other in lavender-ivory. Then there’s a cream-and-sage iteration of the Cloud X Tempo Sneakers.

Below, find an in-depth breakdown of each pair and shop them before this limited-edition drop sells out.

On x FP Movement Cloudmonster 3 Sneakers, $200

The On Cloudmonster 3 is the latest iteration of the brand’s popular Cloudmonster design, and a personal favorite of mine for everything from casual walks to longer runs. (I also love it as an airport shoe, since it’s seriously comfortable and comes in handy when you need to sprint to your gate.) But that chunky sole isn’t just for show: It’s packed with plush cushioning and responsiveness, making every stride feel surprisingly springy. If you’re looking for an everyday running shoe that’s equal parts stylish and functional, I personally ride for this one.

On x FP Movement Cloud X Tempo Sneakers, $190

Next up is the On Cloud X Tempo, a newer silhouette that combines the smooth feel and responsiveness of a running shoe with the stability and support of a training sneaker. Whether you’re lifting weights or you’re a cardio girlie, this one is game for all of it. I also love that the collab’s signature floral print is printed inside the shoe instead of on the exterior, as it is on the Cloudmonster. It’s a subtle nod to the brand’s alpine inspiration — and not to mention, a fun detail to discover when you put them on. Lastly, the adjustable drawstring-lace design means you can easily slip them on or off in seconds.

Whether you’re actually training for your next race or simply love a sneaker that can keep up with your daily commute, the On x FP Movement collab makes a strong case for both form and function. Add in the pretty floral details and limited-edition status, and this is the kind of sneaker drop you won’t want to miss out on.

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This is a clear picture of the moon taken with a long zoom lens with the milky way in the background

Beware: The last New Moon of summer on September 10th is a doozy! The New Moon in Virgo, which marks the onset of the monthly lunar cycle, brings a lot of change our way. At this point, we’re probably tired of having to evolve and transcend every week — but the cosmos are prepping us for the onset of retrogrades that are happening in the fall. You know the drill…

The New Moon is triggered by Mars in Cancer, blending intuition with action. We’re going to find a way to integrate our internal emotions into how we pursue our desires and goals. The caveat is that our high energy and determination may make us super competitive with others, particularly those with whom we don’t wish to have conflict. In the end, we may not feel great about winning because the result distances us from people we care about. In Virgo fashion, we’ll blame ourselves when we should be mad at the circumstances. The lesson is that we can maintain friendships and alliances without escalating the issue.

The good news is that if we’re looking to start a project or take the lead at work, the New Moon’s connection to Mars gives us the stamina to do so. This isn’t a time to sit on the sidelines, even though we may not be emotionally ready to confront matters. Since the vibe can lead to passive-aggressive feelings, we intend to pursue endeavors and ventures that speak to our spirit. Under this cosmic influence, being direct is challenging, which is why underlying tensions can heighten. Beware of backhanded comments and attacks that appear out of thin air.

Taking the astrological influences of the sky further, Saturn retrograde in Aries forms a quincunx (or inconjunct) with the New Moon. This minor frustration pushes us to be cautious and pragmatic in how we move forward; although Mars is pushing us to react with wild sentiments, Saturn retrograde urges us not to let others get to us in that way. To handle the vibe, we must address matters maturely and offer simple responses. The objective is not to give others fuel to start a fire, but to have a chill demeanor in the face of adversity and not let their drama create problems in our lives. 

The presence of the fixed star Asterion (Chara) alludes to ruthless and selfish attempts to control outcomes. We can conquer our goals, but be at odds with our frenemies. Their success isn’t going to sit well with us; in fact, it might make us do shady stuff behind their backs to sabotage them — the same applies to their behavior. Protecting our energy is vital to ensure they stay in their lanes and don’t let their insecurities swerve into our auras. Even if we want to be of service and help others, we must think twice before intervening. We may find ourselves feeling a certain type of way (jealous or angry) as a result. 

The same day as the New Moon in Virgo, Mercury glides into Libra, Venus enters Scorpio, and Uranus retrograde in Gemini commences. These planetary shifts will pack a lot of punch, so it’ll be hard to keep up. Mercury’s movement into Libra is going to be pivotal, as the planet of communication rules Virgo. The verdict on how we wish to proceed will still be out, due to the indecisiveness of Mercury in Libra. Venus’ dive into Scorpio sets the tone for the next several months. 

The romantic planet, Venus, begins its retrograde on October 3rd, lasting until November 13th. Venus remains in Scorpio until January 7th, 2027, making the circumstances that are set forth on September 10th significant to the ongoing saga we’ll be facing. Uranus’ moonwalk in Gemini, which completes its cycle on February 8th, 2027, is eye-opening and reflective. Revolutionizing our lives is an uphill battle because we have to leave our comforts behind and do not want to. On the other hand, it brings us into the future, allowing us to advance and grow. 

All in all, the New Moon in Virgo is an extremely potent time. Tread lightly and focus on yourself. If you’re feeling daring, go out and have midnight margaritas or watch Practical Magic 2, to find out how you can enchant your life for the better.

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After 12 years and thousands of chicken nuggets, Amelia Dimoldenberg has called time on her successful YouTube series, Chicken Shop Date.

With 3.4 million subscribers, over 1 billion views on YouTube, and 2.1 million followers on Instagram, what began as a column for Amelia’s local youth club magazine grew into one of the most popular celebrity interview formats on the press circuit.

The self-created series turned Amelia’s charming yet awkward British flirting into a compelling viral sensation and put her show at the top of every celebrity publicist’s press list.

In 2025, the host was named in Time Magazine’s TIME100 Creators list as one of the most influential digital content creators and has hosted the Academy Awards red carpet for the past three years.

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On paper, the 32-year-old was at the top of her game. That’s why an Instagram post announcing the end of Chicken Shop Date came as such a surprise.

On Thursday, 3 September, Amelia wrote, “I never thought I’d stop Chicken Shop Date, I thought maybe it would be a part of me forever, and in some way it always will, but I feel like it’s now time to move on from this adventure and onto a new one.”

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Describing the show as her “very own romcom”, Amelia announced a slate of final dates before the beloved chicken shop closes forever.

While the news is sad (and we’ll all miss witnessing celebrities blush over Amelia’s signature deadpan charm), knowing when to say goodbye to a creative project is both a brave and strategic business move.

The millennial dream

As children, millennials were told they could be whatever they wanted to be. If we worked hard, applied ourselves and stayed on track, all of our dreams would come true. With elder millennials graduating into the 2008 Global Financial Crisis and zillennials graduating into a pandemic, it was also instilled in us that once you’re in the room — once you’ve “made it” — don’t ever let it go.

Exemplified by Emily Charlton’s “A million girls would kill for this job” line in Devil Wears Prada, if you were lucky enough to achieve your career dream in a climate of redundancies, cost of living pressures and stagnant wages, you should be grateful and grip onto it tightly.

But what happens when you’re ready for a new dream? For Amelia, the answer seems to be: you go for it. Through her own production company, Dimz Inc., Amelia has multiple creative opportunities in the works, including writing her own romcom film and a series in production for the BBC.

Chicken Shop Date isn’t the first example we’ve seen of a wildly successful creative project calling time while at its peak. In 2020, British pop culture podcast The High Low, hosted by writers Dolly Alderton and Pandora Sykes, called it quits after four years spent dominating the charts. The pair told Grazia UK that when they began the podcast they decided they’d be “all in” for four years.

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“We wanted to go out on a high, and we feel like we’ve really honored the show by ending it now,” they told journalist Anna Silverman. Since ending The High Low, Dolly has gone on to publish her novel Good Material in 2023, write a Pride and Prejudice Netflix adaptation, and turn her memoir, Everything I Know About Love, into a TV series.

Pandora has created the UK’s number one culture newsletter, Books+Bits, and hosted multiple podcasts, including The Missing and Unreal: A Critical History of Reality TV for the BBC.

While the pair have gone on to work on other exciting things, there’s no denying that walking away from a creative and commercially successful project is daunting.

In a capitalist society, where success is measured by wealth and, increasingly, social media views, “quitting” a successful venture rejects the sunk-cost fallacy. But perhaps our idea of success should be ever-changing. We’re constantly told to dream bigger, but maybe the bravest thing you can do is admit that you’ve already achieved the dream — and start a new one.

I’m reminded of this as I sit in my therapist’s office explaining that the people I once aspired to work with are now my creative peers. How it’s so normal. The therapist suggests that, despite having achieved exactly what 24-year-old me wanted, maybe six years on I’m a bit… bored. Maybe, for this chapter, I’ve “made it”. She asks what a new dream could look like. It feels like a revolutionary statement, but she’s right. What was The Dream in your early 20s doesn’t have to be the same at 30.

Our culture teaches us to always strive for more: more money, more followers, more opportunities. But as Amelia has shown, it can be even more satisfying to close a chapter on your own terms rather than continuing on until the format stales or, as the internet is wont to do, Amelia gets “woman’d” (a phrase coined by culture writer Rayne Fisher-Quann for the cultural phenomenon where the internet stops liking a woman at the same time).

In a recent interview with Rolling Stone, Canadian musician Sarah McLachlan explained why she ended her music festival Lilith Fair after just three years. Between directing a festival, touring, songwriting, and recording albums, similar to Amelia, Sarah made a call on when to step back from a successful project.

“I like ending things on a high note,” Sarah shared. “It was also a selfishly motivated thing too, of ‘I’m sort of losing myself’ in this too much.”

It’s a sentiment Amelia seems to understand. With a movie and TV series already in the works, we know that the Chicken Shop Date host will go on to achieve other markers of traditional Hollywood success. But there’s no denying that it’s refreshing to see a woman create her own bootstrapped series, turn it into a cultural phenomenon, and then decide that this particular dream has run its course — even while it’s still at the top.

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Uranus, computer artwork.

Cosmic beings, take note because the yearly backward spin of Uranus has been in full gear for nearly five months now. From September 10th, 2026, to February 8th, 2027, the retrograde is going to challenge us in many ways, but mostly give us the power to march on and become the best versions of ourselves. Uranus in Gemini is teaching us to use our voice to speak up. We get to take command of the narrative and make our own rules to follow.

Every year, the planet of discord, Uranus, moves backward in the sky, electrifying us with revelations and surprises. The retrograde lasts approximately 150 days, charging our auras with information that we overlooked and ignored. Having a second and third chance to reassess and understand matters from a different perspective will enrich our lives. Uranus retrograde in Gemini is going to intensify Gen Z’s desire not to transcend with modern technology and revisit the former days of landline telephones without the internet and social media. Returning to a simpler time helps us remain present.

From September 10th, 2026, to February 8th, 2027, we’ll need to sharpen our intellect and focus because we’ll be given another look at the momentous events that transpired in the summer under the influence of the Barbault Basket (also known as the four 4s). If you recall, the Barbault Basket connected Jupiter in Leo, Uranus in Gemini, Neptune retrograde in Aries, and Pluto retrograde in Aquarius at the same degree, forming a trapezoid shape [flat, four-sided geometric shape] in the cosmos. Now, we’re reviewing the incidents that unfolded. Partnerships and friendships that aren’t mutually beneficial and hinder our growth will fall by the wayside.

For the bulk of 2026, we’ve been making changes and processing who and what we want to keep in our lives. This retrograde will be the moment when we stop and think about how to move forward, with or without those external elements. The progress will not be difficult because we can see things clearly and take steps to foster growth. In the months-long retrograde, we will undergo unpredictable metamorphoses that allow us to expel from our lives situations or relationships that are insignificant, and detrimental to our personal advancement. The reason is that Uranus is the planet of rebellion, and we have to move forward. It’s a sign of the times to break free.

What makes Uranus retrograde unique is that the zodiac is Mercury-ruled, making certain moments problematic due to the trickster and dualistic nature of Gemini. Tense moments will arise during Mercury’s moonwalk in Scorpio from October 24th to November 13th, 2026. We may be at a loss for words or unable to comprehend the yearning to express our views. Finding a space where we are heard and seen is imperative, especially since we are looking inward at how we can evolve on a soulful and intimate level rather than broadening the collective and community’s universal mindset. 

The objective of this transformative moment is to act better, to be better, and to feel better. The introspective aspect forces us to dive inward and aligns with our spirit. Restlessness might persist, causing a few late nights tossing and turning, but it’ll lead us toward a path of enlightenment. Even if we center our energy on healing and nurturing ourselves, we’ll become aware of how we can right the wrongs of our past and forgive ourselves for taking the long road forward. Yes, there will be unforeseen obstacles that emerge in the coming months; however, we will survive and thrive because we are resilient, adaptable, and strong. Never doubt your ability to astonish yourself by becoming the person of your dreams. 

If you’re a fan of tarot, meditate on The Tower Major Arcana card in reverse. Since The Tower upright corresponds with Uranus, it makes sense that the reversed position is the retrograde version of the planet. This card will offer advice on how to maneuver and avoid conflict. The fear of how to navigate the waters is full of erratic weather. Still, we’ll be able to gracefully fall out of habits onto a safe cushion rather than lose control, allowing us to blossom at our own pace. 

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Your Horoscope This Week: August 30 To September 5

Your Horoscope This Week: August 23 To 29

Your Virgo Season Horoscope Is Here

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Cosmic beings, the second half of this week turns the volume up, but thankfully the cosmos gives us both intensity and perspective at the same time. Venus enters Scorpio on September 10th, making love, money, beauty, desire, and attachment feel much deeper and more magnetic than they have lately. We may want more honesty, more loyalty, more chemistry, and a little less small talk, but this energy can also make us more obsessive, possessive, or emotionally reactive if we’re feeling insecure. Mercury enters Libra that same day and helps cool things down by bringing more diplomacy, balance, and fairness to the way we communicate. So even if your feelings are loud, your words don’t have to be reckless. Let yourself feel deeply, but give the conversation enough space to stay constructive.

Also on September 10th, Uranus begins its five-month retrograde in Gemini, asking us to look back at the changes in mindset, communication, technology, and daily information overload that have been unfolding since Uranus first entered this sign. Then, late that night, the Virgo New Moon arrives and officially closes eclipse season, which feels like finally being handed the steering wheel again after weeks of cosmic plot twists. This is the first time in over a month that intention-setting feels especially supportive, but keep it simple. Choose the one or two shifts that’d make your life cleaner, healthier, more organized, or more sustainable over the next six months, and build from there. Less is more this week, especially when the goal is creating a life you can actually maintain.

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

Aries Sun & Rising:

Aries, how does it feel to realize that magnetism works better when you stop chasing everything at full speed? Venus enters Scorpio this week and moves through your intimacy, merging, shared-resources, and soulmate realm, making your connections feel deeper, more magnetic, and much harder to keep casual. You may feel more drawn to someone, more willing to talk about money or vulnerability, or more aware of who actually has access to your energy. Financially, this can also bring support through a partner, client, investment, or outside resource. Just watch the urge to obsess over every signal or read seventeen layers into one text. If the connection is real, it can handle directness.

Then the Virgo New Moon arrives on September 10th in your health, work, and routine zone, giving you a clean post-eclipse reset around how you actually live day to day. As much as you enjoy momentum, this fresh start works best when you slow down enough to notice where your energy has been leaking through bad habits, overbooking, or trying to do too much at once. Pick one or two routines that would genuinely make your life easier over the next six months and commit to them without turning it into a military operation. Eclipse season already rearranged enough furniture; this week’s New Moon is about deciding where everything should actually go.

Taurus Sun & Rising:

Taurus, this week turns up the volume in your relationship world, and pretending you’re unbothered may require more acting than usual. Venus enters Scorpio and moves through your partnership and soulmate realm, making one-on-one connections feel more magnetic, intimate, and revealing. You may feel more drawn to someone, more interested in deepening an existing relationship, or more aware of where reciprocity has been missing. This is excellent for honesty, chemistry, and meaningful bonding, but watch the tendency to become possessive, suspicious, or overly attached to getting a specific response. Let people show you who they are without interrogating every pause between texts.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th activates your creativity, romance, fate, and inner child zone, giving you one of the sweeter post-eclipse resets of the zodiac. You don’t need to reinvent your whole life this week; you need to remember what makes you feel alive enough to want to participate in it. Start the project, go on the date, return to the hobby, or make space for more beauty and play in your schedule. Virgo energy helps you turn inspiration into something sustainable, so choose the joy you can actually keep making room for instead of waiting for some dramatic life overhaul to deliver it.

Gemini Sun & Rising:

Gemini, this week could make your daily life feel a little more intense than usual, especially around work, wellness, and the people you interact with on a regular basis. Venus enters Scorpio and moves through your health and routine realm, making you much more aware of what feels supportive versus what quietly drains you. You may become more invested in improving your habits, your work environment, or even the way you care for your body, but there can also be a tendency to obsess over getting everything “right.” If you notice yourself turning one imperfect day into a full existential review of your life choices, that’s probably your cue to zoom out. Small adjustments will go much further than trying to micromanage yourself into perfection.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th activates your home, family, and emotional foundation zone, offering a fresh start after weeks of eclipse-season movement. You may suddenly feel called to make your space calmer, spend more time with family, rethink where you want to live, or have a conversation that creates more peace behind closed doors. If you find yourself wanting to reorganize your home or pull back socially for a few days, that’s probably this New Moon helping you create a stronger inner foundation. You don’t need to solve your entire family history this week; simply making home feel more supportive of who you are now is enough.

Cancer Sun & Rising:

Cancer, this week pulls you deeper into the people and experiences that actually make life feel worth living. Venus enters Scorpio and moves through your romance, creativity, fate, and inner child realm, making attraction stronger, emotions richer, and your desire for meaningful connection much harder to ignore. A crush can intensify, an existing relationship may feel more passionate, or a creative idea could suddenly become something you care about on a much deeper level. Just be mindful of turning chemistry into certainty too quickly. Scorpio energy loves depth, but it can also convince you that one meaningful moment must automatically mean forever.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th activates your communication, learning, and local community zone, giving you a cleaner slate mentally after eclipse season. Don’t be surprised if you suddenly feel ready to have a conversation you’ve been avoiding, organize your thoughts more clearly, or finally put structure around an idea that has been floating around for weeks. This New Moon favors precision over noise, so the more intentional you are with what you say, write, or commit to, the easier it becomes to create momentum without overwhelming yourself.

Leo Sun & Rising:

Leo, this week makes home, family, and your private emotional world feel a lot more magnetic and a lot harder to ignore. Venus enters Scorpio and moves through your roots and domestic realm, deepening your desire for privacy, intimacy, and a space that actually feels emotionally nourishing. You may become more protective of your home, more invested in a family relationship, or more drawn to making your environment feel beautiful and secure. There can also be some old family intensity bubbling up, so try not to let one loaded comment turn dinner into a season finale.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th activates your money, security, and self-worth zone, offering a practical reset after the drama and acceleration of eclipse season. You may suddenly feel more motivated to tighten your spending, rethink what you’re charging, or create a clearer plan for how you want your finances to look over the next six months. This New Moon works best when the goal is simple and sustainable, so focus on the one financial shift that would make you feel noticeably more secure rather than trying to become a completely different person by Friday.

Virgo Sun & Rising:

Virgo, this week brings more depth to the way you communicate, connect, and process what people are really saying beneath the surface. Venus enters Scorpio and moves through your communication and local community realm, making conversations more intimate, magnetic, and emotionally revealing. You may feel more drawn to meaningful exchanges, writing, reconnecting with someone nearby, or saying what you actually feel instead of keeping everything perfectly edited. Just watch the tendency to overanalyze tone, subtext, or one oddly punctuated message as if it contains a secret code.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th takes place in your sign, giving you one of the clearest personal reset points of the season. After eclipse season moved so much around you, this is a chance to come back to your own body, priorities, identity, and sense of direction without trying to reinvent yourself overnight. You may feel called to refresh your appearance, change your routines, or make one decision that better reflects who you are now. The strongest move is the one that feels simple enough to sustain and meaningful enough to actually change your life.

Libra Sun & Rising:

Libra, this week makes money, self-worth, and what you truly value feel a lot more personal. Venus, your ruler, enters Scorpio and moves through your income and security realm, deepening your relationship with money and making you more aware of what feels worth your time, effort, and energy. You may feel more motivated to save, earn, invest in yourself, or become clearer about where your resources are going, but Scorpio energy can also bring scarcity fears or comparison to the surface. Try not to let one expensive week convince you that your entire financial future is doomed. Use the intensity to get more honest about what you want to build.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th activates your spirituality, solitude, and closure zone, giving you a quieter reset after eclipse season. You may feel a stronger need to pull back, sleep more, journal, pray, or simply spend less time absorbing everyone else’s energy. This New Moon is less about announcing a dramatic new beginning and more about clearing enough internal space for your next chapter to actually fit. The most important shift may be private, subtle, and completely invisible to everyone except you.

Scorpio Sun & Rising:

Scorpio, this week puts your magnetism front and center, and people may be picking up on your energy before you even say much. Venus enters your sign, making you more attractive, more selective, and more aware of what you actually want in love, money, beauty, and pleasure. You may feel like refreshing your look, leaning into a more sensual side of yourself, or becoming much less interested in lukewarm connections that require you to decode every mixed signal. The upside is confidence and deeper connection; the shadow is becoming so intense about what you want that you start trying to control the outcome. Let yourself be desired without turning the experience into a psychological case study.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th activates your friendship, community, and future-goals realm, offering a clean reset around who you want beside you in your next chapter. You may feel ready to reconnect with certain people, become more intentional about your online presence, or finally give structure to a long-term dream that has been floating around in your head. This New Moon favors quality over quantity, so the shift may be as simple as choosing a smaller circle that feels more aligned or committing to one collaborative goal that can actually grow over the next six months.

Sagittarius Sun & Rising:

Sag, this week makes your inner world feel richer, more private, and a little harder to brush off with a joke. Venus enters Scorpio and moves through your spirituality, solitude, and subconscious realm, which can deepen your dreams, intuition, romantic fantasies, and need for emotional privacy. You may feel more nostalgic, more reflective about a past connection, or more drawn to creating beauty behind the scenes rather than performing for anyone. Just be careful not to romanticize what already showed you its limits. Scorpio energy can make memories feel cinematic, but that does not automatically make them a sequel.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th activates your career, reputation, and long-term goals zone, giving you a practical reset around what success actually looks like now. You may feel called to simplify a professional plan, tighten your strategy, or become more intentional about one goal that deserves your full attention over the next six months. Rather than chasing ten different possibilities at once, this New Moon helps you notice which path has the strongest foundation beneath it. The clearer you become about what you are building, the easier it will be to stop wasting energy on opportunities that only look impressive from far away.

Capricorn Sun & Rising:

Capricorn, this week turns up the intensity in your friendships, communities, and long- term goals, especially where loyalty and shared ambition are concerned. Venus enters Scorpio and moves through your social network realm, making certain connections feel more meaningful, magnetic, and potentially useful for where you’re headed next. You may feel drawn toward a new collaboration, become closer with someone in your circle, or realize that a friendship has more emotional depth than you initially thought. At the same time, you may become more selective about who gets access to your plans. Everyone doesn’t need the full blueprint, and Scorpio energy is very comfortable with a little strategic privacy.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th activates your travel, education, publishing, and expansion zone, giving you a fresh start around how much bigger you’re willing to think. You may suddenly feel ready to revisit a course, plan a trip, apply for something, teach what you know, or commit more seriously to a vision that has been sitting in the background. This New Moon rewards practical ambition, so the best next step may be less glamorous than the dream itself, but far more useful. Once the first real piece is in place, the rest of the path becomes easier to see.

Aquarius Sun & Rising:

Aquarius, this week makes your career, reputation, and public image feel more magnetic, strategic, and impossible to treat casually. Venus enters Scorpio and moves through your professional realm, which can draw more attention to your work, deepen an important connection with a boss or client, or make you more intentional about the image you project publicly. You may feel ready to refine your brand, pursue a role with more influence, or become more selective about which opportunities are actually worth attaching your name to. Scorpio energy can also make you hyperaware of power dynamics, so try not to assume every closed-door conversation is secretly about you.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th activates your intimacy, shared-resources, and transformation zone, giving you a chance to reset the way you handle trust, money, debt, and emotional merging after eclipse season. A financial agreement may need clearer terms, a relationship may be ready for deeper honesty, or you may simply realize that certain entanglements have become more complicated than they need to be. This New Moon favors thoughtful restructuring, so the shift may come through one practical decision that gives you more clarity, more reciprocity, and less psychic clutter over the next six months.

Pisces Sun & Rising:

Pisces, this week pulls you toward deeper experiences, bigger perspectives, and people who make your world feel more expansive. Venus enters Scorpio and moves through your travel, education, spirituality, and publishing realm, making you more magnetic in spaces that stretch you beyond the familiar. You may feel more drawn to travel, study, teach, create, or connect with someone from a different background, and romance can feel especially intense when there’s a sense of mystery or adventure involved. Just be mindful of idealizing the journey so much that you ignore the practical details. Scorpio energy loves depth, but even soul-searching benefits from checking the return flight.

Then the Virgo New Moon on September 10th activates your partnership sector, offering a fresh start in love, friendship, collaboration, and the way you relate one-on- one. You may feel ready to define a relationship more clearly, have a practical conversation about expectations, or become more discerning about who gets close to you in the first place. After eclipse season, this New Moon helps you approach partnership with less fantasy and more intention, which can actually make connection feel safer and more fulfilling. The next six months are less about forcing certainty and more about building bonds that can hold both tenderness and reality.

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Jupiter In Leo Is Here

Your Virgo Season Horoscope Is Here

Your August Horoscope Is Here

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My earliest memories of shopping for foundation and concealer were largely shaped by what I saw in the pages of teen magazines and YouTube beauty guru tutorials. I remember words like “cover,” “mask,” and “hide” being used to describe what complexion products were supposed to do. At the time, it resonated deeply: I had severe acne across most of my face, and I was specifically looking for a product that would hide as much of my skin as possible and temporarily give me the smooth, even complexion I was chasing.

That was more than a decade ago, and a lot has changed: My adult breakouts are much more manageable, and my makeup collection is bursting at the seams with a product that barely existed in the 2010s: skin tints.

These lightweight, skincare-meets-makeup formulas impart a sheer veil of coverage — essentially the opposite of what I was looking for during those early days of wandering drugstore aisles. But I can’t help but wonder if I’m not alone in feeling like my makeup sensibility has evolved, too. Which brings me to the question: What does that mean for full-coverage foundation?

In a world enamored with blurred-but-not-completely-covered complexions, the full-coverage face beat can feel like a relic of another era. But that doesn’t necessarily mean we’re ready to abandon coverage altogether. “I definitely think people are wanting their skin to look and feel more like skin — [and] for me, that’s always been the goal,” celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips tells Refinery29. “My clients want their complexion to feel perfected, but they still want to see their real skin coming through.” 

So is full coverage actually on its way out? I asked several makeup artists what’s replacing it — and whether less really is more. 

Which products are replacing full-coverage foundation?

It’s not just lightweight skin tints and sheer foundations. Buildable, medium-to-full-coverage formulas have gotten remarkably good, too, with finishes that are increasingly undetectable and skin-like.

“I’ve always believed beautiful complexion isn’t about covering everything or making the skin look perfect; it’s about putting product where you need it and letting the rest of the skin come through,” says Phillips. “That’s exactly what I wanted when creating m.ph Le Skin Foundation, something weightless and skin-like that you can apply in a thin layer, but still build where you want more coverage.”

Other editor-beloved options include Drunk Elephant’s new Kamo Drops, which can be mixed into moisturizer or worn alone for customizable coverage, and e.l.f. Cosmetics’ Soft Glam Foundation, which retails for $8 and creates a demi-matte, blurred finish that lends an airbrushed effect while still allowing my natural texture and tone to peek through.

“There’s also something very modern about being able to see real skin,” says makeup artist and Ciele founder Nikki DeRoest. “A little texture or a freckle coming through makes makeup feel alive and personal rather than overly perfected.”

In other words, you don’t necessarily have to choose between a bare-faced look and a traditional full beat. Today’s complexion products make it easier to land somewhere in between — or change your mind halfway through getting ready.

What techniques are worth trying?

Brushes, sponges, clean fingers…there’s no shortage of debate over the superior tool for base makeup application. But when it comes to making fuller coverage look as undetectable as possible, technique can be just as important as the formula.

One trick I swear by is “priming” your brush (a technique made popular by makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes): Dot your foundation onto the back of your hand, then work it into the bristles before applying it to your face. This helps distribute the product more evenly and prevents you from depositing a concentrated layer of foundation in one spot.

Phillips agrees that a lighter hand can make all the difference. “It’s less about covering everything and more about being really intentional with where you’re placing product and how much you’re using,” she explains. “I always start with thin layers and build only where I need it. You can always add more, but you don’t necessarily need the same amount of coverage everywhere.”

Another option: Pair your favorite skin tint with concealer to create a complexion that looks more covered without requiring a full layer of foundation. “I like to start with a thin layer of Enhancing Tint to even out the complexion and create that beautiful, seamless base,” explains makeup artist Lisa Eldridge. “Then I’ll add [concealer] coverage only where I need it. My Pinpoint Concealer is fantastic for this because you can be incredibly precise, rather than covering the entire face.”

The takeaway? If you love a full-coverage foundation, you don’t have to give it up — just start using it a different way, like concentrating it where you actually want more coverage, and leaving other areas lighter or even bare. The result can still be a perfected complexion — just one with a little more dimension.

What’s the future of full coverage makeup?

Eldridge agrees: “I think our idea of ‘flawless’ skin has definitely changed,” says Eldridge. “I don’t think it has to mean completely poreless, completely matte, or completely uniform anymore: Beautiful skin has dimension. It has texture, freckles, little variations in color and all of those things that make it look real.”

In other words, think of skin as not just one step with one product; “What I think has changed is the idea that coverage has to be all or nothing,” says DeRoest. “We’re becoming much more comfortable customizing it: sheer here, medium there, concealer exactly where it’s needed. The modern complexion is really about having control over your coverage and letting your skin still feel like your skin.”

And perhaps that’s the real answer to whether full-coverage foundation is “dead.” Not exactly. The bigger shift is that we’re no longer treating coverage as an all-or-nothing proposition. You can want to cover a breakout, even out discoloration, blur texture, or simply wear a full beat because you like the way it looks — and none of those choices necessarily have to mean covering every inch of your face.

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