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Festival season is in full swing, as we’re in the midst of Summerfest’s three-weekend festival and preparing for Essence Festival over Fourth of July weekend. (And let’s not forget about Olivia Rodrigo’s newly announced Daisy Chain Fields festival!) That means it’s prime time to plan your music festival outfits for it all.
Each event has its own flair — from the music and performers to the venues, and, of course, the crowd’s fashion. So if you want to dress on theme for this summer’s hottest music marathons, we curated mini style guides for every kind of vibe. Whether you’re after a matching set for a desert fest, durable boots for a camping weekend, an all-denim fit for a big city lineup, or a breezy dress for a seaside show, we’ve got all the essentials you could possibly need (and want).
Whether you’ve secured a coveted ticket to Burning Man (August 30 to September 7) or have another desert festival on the horizon, you’ll need outfits that can handle sunny days and chilly nights. These festivals — and their scenic backdrops — are synonymous with effortless, breezy, boho style. Just take inspiration from Coachella-coded outfits. Think bikini tops, wide-brim hats, and turquoise jewelry by day. And be sure to wear cowboy boots, flowy blouses, and fringe pants that can take you into the windy nights.
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Camping & Park Music Festival Outfits
Heading abroad for Tomorrowland (July 17 to 26)? Camping at Outside Lands (August 7 to 9)? Perhaps, you’re hoping to frolic in the park at Daisy Chain Fields (August 29) or Shaky Knees (September 18 to 20). No matter what, you’ll want to be strategic about your festival outfits — bring versatile, comfortable, and packable pieces that can go from stage to stage and last all day (and night). For grass-field festivals, balance your indie sleaze ‘fits with scarves to cover your face and rugged biker boots that can handle muddy terrain.
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City Music Festival Outfits
In big cities, pretty much any aesthetic goes. For East Coast festivals like All Things Go in both NYC and DC (September 25 to 27), the weather should be mild — perfect for a denim-on-denim moment. In the Midwest, events like Summerfest (June 16 to July 4) and Lollapalooza (July 30 to August 2) bring the heat, so lean into easy shorts and light fabrics. And for Essence Festival (July 3 to 5) in New Orleans — which spans both indoor and outdoor venues — go for something casual and cute, like soccer jerseys and statement sneakers.
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Boardwalk & Beach Music Festival Outfits
Whether your toes are literally in the sand or you’re catching a boardwalk breeze at Sea.Hear.Now on the Jersey Shore (September 19 to 20), keep things effortless and cool with styles you’ll want to rewear all summer long. Vibe out seaside in a comfy ‘fit like a linen dress, a patterned matching set, or a swim short look. Don’t forget a baseball cap or straw hat for extra sun protection — and for shoes, go with chunky slides, jelly shoes, or fisherman sandals that won’t fly off mid-dance sesh.
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Just when we thought it was going to be a whimsical experience for us all, Mercury’s backsplash in Cancer from June 29th to July 23rd puts a damper on our travel, relationships, and desires. It won’t be as bad as it seems. Just make sure to be careful in how we express ourselves, back up information to the Cloud, and allow extra time when preparing for any trip. We can still have a fun season as long as we are mindful of the company we keep and how we use our energy. Self-preservation and protection may push us to lean into our comforts and nourish our spirits with nurturing and TLC. Feed your soul with love.
Now, think back and take note of the story that began on June 13th — the day before the New Moon in Gemini, which was June 14th, when the New York Knicks won the NBA championship, and the internet was buzzing with excitement. Whatever was happening in our lives then was a stage for the theme of Mercury’s moonwalk in Cancer.
As the retrograde commences, the way we communicate with others will be more important than usual. Mercury in Cancer is already a sensitive placement, but when retrograde, it intensifies our emotions. Therefore, opting for sincere, tender-hearted dialogue is vital to ensure we don’t ruffle any feathers. The flipside is that we can be extremely moody. Cancer is ruled by the moon, which changes signs every 2.5 days and goes through eight phases a month. As a result of the lunar evolution, we may become unable to pin down and erratic. If we’re not feeling the vibes, we should take a time out and focus on self-care instead of taking our issues out on others.
Throughout the cosmic journey, we will revisit old relationships and childhood dreams. Looking back is an amazing way to heal the past and our wounds; however, we must be gentle with ourselves as we do so, rather than be critical of mistakes made, and evoke compassion and empathy. Nostalgia is reclaiming our minds, offering a different perspective on memories with our families. The version we believed in for years might change, due to a new understanding of circumstances. The insights will urge us to forgive ourselves and others, even if we cannot forget. The goal is to release and relinquish anger from our auras.
July 12th brings a day of enlightenment, as the sun and Mercury retrograde form a conjunction, known as “cazimi.” The Latin term, which translates to “in the heart of the sun,” offers a transcendent moment of clarity amongst the retrograde chaos. For the first time in weeks, we’ll be able to see matters clearly and accurately, guaranteeing that we will not falter. To honor this astrological transit, set initiatives and make plans for the future. Make amends with those whom we care about. Seek closure with an ex. Speak up in the face of adversity. Respond to emails and texts that are piling up. Do not remain silent.
For the two weeks after Mercury turns direct, the planet will still be retracing and revisiting the degrees it was in during the retrograde. From July 23rd to August 6th, Mercury will be in its post-retrograde period, known as “retroshade.” We are going over the lessons and dramas of the planetary backspin with awareness and knowledge in how we wish to move forward.
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Beyond buzzy ingredients like spicules — tiny, dissolvable microneedles designed to deliver skincare ingredients deeper into the skin — and PDRN, a regenerative ingredient derived from salmon DNA, Korean skincare has always put the skin barrier first. While many products popular in the West have traditionally focused on exfoliating or stripping the skin, K-beauty aims to repair, strengthen, and protect.
Always overdoing it on retinol, I, for one, need the help. But it seems I’m not the only one. Google search queries show that many of us are currently dealing with dryness due to warm weather, air conditioning, and dehydration from increased UV exposure and long summer evenings spent outdoors. Can Korean skincare get us back on track? I’d argue yes.
After spending an hour at a skincare masterclass with K-beauty favorite Medicube (the brand behind those viral Pore Pads) and skincare expert Dr. Kemi Fabusiwa, I came away with plenty of tips for achieving hydrated, glowing skin. Here are the 5 takeaways worth knowing.
You’re missing out on hypochlorous acid
I’ve watched hypochlorous acid go from an ingredient known mainly to dermatologists and surgeons to a skincare staple embraced by brands like Tower 28, e.l.f. Cosmetics, and Bubble. If you ask me, it’s one of the few skincare ingredients that pretty much everyone could benefit from. It’s an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory molecule that reduces bacteria on the skin, helping to prevent breakouts while calming redness and irritation. People with acne-prone skin and eczema often swear by it, as do those with bug bites, cuts, and grazes, thanks to its soothing, skin-calming properties.
Dr. Fabusiwa swears by a spritz of hypochlorous acid after cleansing and before moisturizer, throughout the day on bare skin, and post-workout to help prevent bacteria from mixing with sweat and triggering body breakouts on the back and chest. Medicube’s Hypochlorous Acid Daily Facial Spray is also packed with moisturizing allantoin and panthenol, so skin feels hydrated and dewy, not stripped.
Sheet masks are an indulgent part of a skincare routine, especially when stored in the fridge on hot days (don’t knock it until you’ve tried it). But while some of the essence absorbs into the skin, much of it stays in the mask itself, which ultimately gets tossed in the trash. If you’re serious about masking — and even more focused on boosting hydration — consider investing in a microcurrent device and using it over the top.
Medicube’s AGE-R Booster Pro X2 — the latest version of its beloved microcurrent wand — now features a Mask mode, which allows it to be used over sheet masks or paired with moisturizers and serums to help enhance absorption and deliver hydration deeper into the skin.
While this step is by no means necessary, it is certainly effective. If you’re thinking about picking up a device for Prime Day, the Booster Pro X2 is currently $60 off. In reality, any facial massage tool can help, but few offer as many modes — including microcurrent, electric muscle stimulation, LED therapy, and sonic vibration — as this one does.
Why hydration is all about lightweight layers
When my skin is dry and dehydrated, I’m notorious for reaching for the most unctuous moisturizer, hoping it will fix everything. But I’ve learned that long-lasting hydration is rarely achieved that way. Instead, it’s all about strategically layering lighter products, rather than relying on one thick, heavy cream that risks being occlusive or pore-clogging.
Post-cleanse, your best bet for meaningful hydration is a milky essence or toner, followed by a lightweight moisturizer, and, in the morning, sunscreen. The key is that milky textures sit somewhere between an essence and a serum, so you can skip the serum step if you want to. Right now, I can’t get enough of Medicube’s PDRN Pink Niacinamide Milky Toner, which is ever so slightly richer than others thanks to ceramides, which act like glue between skin cells to keep skin soft and smooth, skin-strengthening peptides, and, of course, PDRN — an ingredient derived from salmon DNA that helps support the skin barrier for a plumper, dewier complexion. Rather than pouring it onto a cotton pad, I apply it with my hands to avoid wasting a drop.
“Polydeoxyribonucleotide — aka PDRN — is an ingredient we’re seeing in clinic treatments,” says Dr. Fabusiwa. “So it’s great that we’re now seeing it enter at-home products.” And it really is everywhere. K-beauty brands from Anua to Dr. Reju-All were among the first to adopt the ingredient — commonly derived from salmon DNA — in skincare, but brands like The Inkey List and U Beauty have also since come on board. What makes PDRN interesting is that it closely resembles human DNA, and when applied topically and consistently, it’s thought to support skin repair, improve hydration, and may help encourage collagen production over time.
It’s especially useful when applied under the eyes, where the delicate skin is more prone to fine lines caused by dryness and dehydration, says Dr. Fabusiwa. Happily, it’s now being incorporated across a wide range of skincare, from serums to moisturizers. Dr. Fabusiwa’s pick is Medicube’s PDRN Pink Collagen Capsule Cream, which contains rich cream capsules suspended in a hydrating gel base for an extra boost of moisture on application.
In fact, capsule creams are very much du jour among Korea’s skincare enthusiasts. Also worth trying are VT Cosmetics’ PDRN Capsule Cream 100, which combines PDRN with hydrating niacinamide and squalane, and P.CALM’s PDRN Caffeine Blue Capsule Cream, which pairs PDRN with hyaluronic acid and panthenol for an extra hit of moisture.
Lastly, if PDRN isn’t for you, volufiline is worth knowing
Besides PDRN, volufiline is another ingredient popular in Korean skincare that’s likely already on your radar — especially if you’ve ever googled filler alternatives. The plant-derived extract, often sourced from asparagus root, has been touted as a non-surgical option for subtly improving the appearance of facial volume in areas prone to hollowing, such as the cheeks and under the eyes.
I can report that the stick is particularly effective on lips prone to dryness and, as a result, more pronounced lines. It also makes an excellent base underneath concealer around the under-eye area as it combines volufiline with hydrating hyaluronic acid, puffiness-reducing caffeine, and vitamin E for an added moisture boost. What’s also pretty great is that this is currently the most affordable skincare volufiline product right now, even cheaper than The Ordinary. It’s become a staple in my routine, and I keep it in my bag for lips and eyelids when they’re feeling dry in the city heat.
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Usually when we talk about unbelievable finds at Lululemon, we're referring to the brand's "We Made Too Much" section. But this time is completely different. Those who love a great activewear set will be delighted to know that the label is hosting an official summer sale right now.
Members were granted early access on June 23, but starting June 25 the shopping extravaganza is open to everyone online. If you're a tennis girlie looking for statement pieces like colorblock skirts, you'll find styles at more than 40% off. Want the best basics for your workout routine? Some classic black leggings are marked down by 20%. And don't skip the jackets just because it's summer. Most places are blasting the air conditioner indoors so sporty windbreakers and coverups that can be tied around your waist come in handy, too. And you'll find styles at up to 35% off.
Of course, that's only if they haven't already sold out. The true Lululemon fans move quickly, so now's the moment to get to it before your size sells out.
Lululemon Split Shift Running Shoe, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Dance Studio Evolve High-Rise Relaxed Short 3.5", $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Dual Pouch Wristlet Wallet, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Short 6" 5 Pocket, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Swiftly Cami Tank Top, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Women's SwayDay Mule, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Align No Line™ High-Rise Pant 28", $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Define Cropped Jacket Nulu, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Everywhere Belt Bag 1L, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Structured Classic Ball Cap Script, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Court Champ High-Neck Tennis Tank Top, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Unisex Quarter-Length Ragg Socks, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Fast and Free High-Rise Classic-Fit Split Short 3", $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Steady State SuperLoft Hoodie Wider Cuff, $, available at Lululemon
Lululemon Hotty Hot High-Rise Lined Short 2.5", $, available at Lululemon
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Action planet Mars is flying into airy Gemini in one big swoop on June 28th. The last time Mars was in Gemini was during the summer of 2024. If you cast your mind back you’ll remember it was a season where we hated to state our annoyances and grievances to others. Hopefully, this time around, we will be more conscious of the energy we’re putting out into the world and will not give others too much of our attention, conserving it for ourselves instead. Basically, be good and no trolling — even if the temptation is there.
How we choose to express ourselves and share our passions, can also distress us at times. We can simultaneously be playful, flighty, demanding, and downright mean. Don’t forget that Gemini is the twin star that has the devil on one side and an angel on the other. Choose your archetype wisely! Plus, Mars in Gemini isn’t known to mince words, which means they can weaponised if we’re not careful.
Mars in Gemini definitely allows us to have a sharper wit and tongue when discussing emotions, politics, and small aspects of daily life. The objective is to win at all costs by swaying people to our point of view and having the last word; however, there may be times when we are unable to do so, which will only make us dig our heels further into the mud by resorting to our charm and grace to manipulate people into believing our words. More often than not, we use distractions to create confusion, so that our opponents have no choice but to drop the matter because they are unsure what is real.
Although Mars in Gemini is usually a time when our energy levels are at a high, this year the transit will prove to be exhausting and frustrating. The reason is that Mercury, the planetary ruler of Gemini, will be in retrograde from June 29th to July 23rd. Since Mercury is beginning to moonwalk the day after Mars enters Gemini, we are going to feel an immediate shift in how we assert ourselves and what takes precedence in our lives until the retrograde ends. Instead of fighting for our convictions and vocalizing our sentiments, repression could take hold, urging us to stay in our lane and keep mum on matters. Contrarily, Mercury’s backspin brings out erratic sentiments, causing us to be impulsive in our interactions.
With Uranus in Gemini and Pluto retrograde in Aquarius, intensifying the energy on July 4th and 5th, the need to be the authority on situations and circumstances is extreme. It’s a case of little boss versus big boss — meaning the chasm over who is in charge will cause power dynamics issues and struggles with others. Taking the backseat isn’t going to resolve dramas, as we are called to participate and argue back. Be mindful of those who stir the pot by spreading falsities. The truth is sometimes bizarre and stranger than fiction, especially with Neptune in Aries shaking things up on July 4th.
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Important Dates for Mars in Gemini:
June 28th: Mars enters Gemini, leveling up the way we use our words to express ourselves and to take action.
June 30th: Mars in Gemini squares the Nodes of Destiny on the Pisces and Virgo lunar axis, urging us to choose how to utilize our vitality.
July 4th: Mars forms a conjunction with revolutionary Uranus in Gemini, bringing unforeseen changes our way.
July 4th: Mars in Gemini sextiles Neptune in Aries, making us unsure of how to proceed. Releasing worries and anxieties about the future is vital.
July 5th: Mars in Gemini harmonizes with Pluto in Aquarius, giving us the stamina and motivation to be successful.
July 19th: Mars in Gemini aspects Saturn in Aries, urging us to take the lead and set the rules in motion.
August 10th: Mars in Gemini links up with the Nodes of Destiny on the Aquarius and Leo lunar axis, pushing us to implement change.
August 11th: Mars swims into Cancer, adding a moodier element to how to take on tasks and improve our lives.
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When you first meet Kara Zor-El aka Supergirl in DC’s latest blockbuster, Supergirl, she’s drunk. She’s a mess of a woman — dishevelled, dissociating from her trauma, and self-medicating with alcohol, isolation, and her dog, Krypto. Milly Alcock’s stumbling, reckless, and sloppy Supergirl is a fascinating character and the edgiest female superhero I have ever seen onscreen. Alcock is exceptional in the role. It’s too bad the movie, in theaters Friday, never quite meets her magic. Kara is a character who lost her family way too young, was sent to a planet with her overachieving cousin, and whose only friend is a dog with superpowers. Her empathy is heroic and of course, when she’s not fleeing to planets without yellow suns so she can get wasted, she’s got all the strength of a superhero too.
But Kara isn’t your typical heroine, and she’s nothing like her cousin, Clark. She is a character who could have delivered one of the most original and thrilling films in the DC universe because Alcock is giving a performance worthy of a great and unique story. Instead, the movie focuses more on Ruthye (Eve Ridley), a girl on a mission of revenge after her family is murdered, and gives her the bigger arc and opportunity for character growth. It’s disappointing that the movie wastes so much time on Ruthye (and straight up wastes Jason Momoa’s Lobo) because Alcock’s Kara is so captivating, all you want is to root for her and watch her battle her demons while battling some bad guys. The latter is there — lots of fighting, explosions, and typical over-the-top CGI action sequences — but the movie never really meaningfully digs into Kara’s complexities and why she’s been so self destructive. It’s a shame because Alcock is bursting off the screen, begging for material worthy of her performance.
That said, I still think Supergirl is worth your time. Alcock puts the film on her back and saves it from itself. Her take on Kara alone makes it worth it, but there are also some entertaining moments where glimpses of a gritty, messy young girl tasked with caring too much when she’s desperately attempting to be careless shine through. When I talk to Alcock and screenwriter Ana Nogueira, they explain why this character is so special: she’s exactly who they would have wanted to see onscreen in their youth. I agree. I just wish she was given a better story. Below, Alcock and Nogueira talk about bringing this character to life, the impact on young girls watching, and Alcock’s affinity towards Kara’s “smelly” trenchcoat.
Refinery29: We don’t often see alcoholic disheveled women onscreen, period, but especially not in the superhero genre. Milly, talk about how important it was for you to play this drunken mess of a young woman.
Milly Alcock: I think that is exactly what excited me to play the role, because she’s so unconventional. I think that she’s such an exciting character, and she brings such a different perspective to the superhero universe entirely. I was just really thrilled.
I think the fact that she is messy and doesn’t have her shit together is something that I really connected to. Anna, you said that you were very intentional about making Supergirl rougher and grittier and edgier and funnier than people have seen onscreen before. So, talk about taking that approach.
Ana Nogueira: In a lot of ways it was inspired by Tom King’s comic run, and he kind of gave me permission by putting it in canon that this is how she is. To me, it just made sense with her backstory. If I had been through what she had been through, and then I showed up on this planet, and the first person I met is my relative [Superman], who is the ultimate lovely boy scout. It’s all a little, let’s say, destabilizing. It just made sense to me. It wasn’t grit for grit’s sake. It just felt true to the character.
It was a film that, if I was a young girl, I would have really loved to see, and I think that that is what makes this film so exciting.
milly alcock
There’s so much talk about this being woman-led. Supergirl is such an iconic woman in this DC universe. How much did both of you think of the impact this movie would have on young women and young girls watching?
MA: In terms of impact, it was a film that, if I was a young girl, I would have really loved to see, and I think that that is what makes this film so exciting, and it made it so much fun to play and to be on set. The impact is tremendous.
AN: Totally. When I first saw the costume design of the trench and the blondie, I said, if I had seen this when I was 16 years old, I would have lost my mind. I would have just wanted to be this girl. There are a lot of female superheroes, but they’re all… I just wanted this one to feel different. You can feel like you want to be like Wonder Woman, you can feel like you want to be like Black Widow, you relate to these characters, and I just think that there’s a whole swath of young women who are going to be like that is the one that reminds me of me, that is the one that feels aspirational and cool.
Milly’s performance is everything you would want when it comes to relatability. You mentioned the trenchcoat and I said the word “disheveled” earlier. Milly, what was your favorite part of the look she’s in for most of the movie since the Supergirl costume doesn’t come until later?
MA: I adored her look, and it’s probably the only piece of clothing that she owns. It’s the look that she has, because it’s not a priority for her at the time. It was such a comfortable costume, and as soon as I put on her civilian look, it felt like I understood who she was, and the way that she wanted to be seen and not be seen by the world, by it being so disheveled and so worn, and probably a bit smelly.
AN: Totally smelly. Totally. You see what her ship looks like? That trench doesn’t smell good [laughs].
Supergirl is in theaters Friday, June 26, 2026.
This interview has been edited for clarity.
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Livies, this is not a drill. Olivia Rodrigo has announced the successor to Lilith Fair, which launched in 1997. In the ’90s, Sarah McLachlan created a concert tour to help champion female artists and female-fronted bands, after being frustrated by radio stations and concert promoters who wouldn’t play female musicians back-to-back. Rodrigo’s all-women-led festival, Daisy Chain Fields, will take place on August 29 in Irvine, California. All net proceeds will be donated to non-profit organizations that advocate and benefit women and girls.
If you were thinking about heading to Cali for a hot girl summer, Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields could be a perfect stop. Imagine screaming and singing songs from You Seem Pretty Sad for a Girl So In Lovein the summer air!
Below, we’ve rounded up all the information about Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival, including how to buy tickets and the lineup.
How can you buy tickets to Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields festival?
There are four different ticket tiers. General Admission is $250 USD, and includes entry to all performances across two stages.
GA+ is $350, and adds access to a GA+ lounge which has relaxed seating and lawn games. You also receive a dedicated Premium entrance into the festival, a complimentary refresh station with amenities and dedicated GA+ hospitality staff.
VIP is $500 and adds access to the on-field viewing area at the Dandelion (Main) Stage. There’s also a VIP Lounge, a private bar with drinks for purchase, on-site VIP hospitality staff, and a dedicated Premium entrance lane into the festival.
Pit Viewing is $1250 and adds exclusive front-of-stage viewing at Dandelion (Main) Stage with direct access to the VIP lounge, which has complimentary sodas and water. It also offers exclusive front-of-stage viewing at Marigold Stage and access to the dedicated Premium entrance lane into the festival.
What does Olivia Rodrigo’s Daisy Chain Fields lineup look like?
The lineup for Olivia Rodrigo’s new music festival is stacked. She’s performing, obviously, alongside some killer acts. There’s Bikini Kill, Chappell Roan, Die Spitz, Doechii, Eli, Garbage, Katseye, Mitski, Not For Radio, Quiet Light, Rachel Chinouriri, Santigold and The Breeders.
Special guests include Karen O, Sarah McLachlan and Stevie Nicks.
On Instagram, Rodrigo wrote about how she had been dreaming of creating this festival for years. “I am so ecstatic it’s finally coming true! Daisy Chain Fields features an all-women lineup, and 100% of the net proceeds will go to charities dedicated to advancing and advocating for women and girls,” she wrote.
“The lineup is truly insane and full of my heroes and friends. I firmly believe that joy, community, and music can be the drivers of meaningful change and I’m hopeful this festival will be just that. I absolutely cannot wait to scream and dance and sing with you guys August 29th!”
Which women’s charities is Daisy Chain Fields supporting?
Rodrigo has chosen 10 charities to support. They are as follows: Baby2Baby, Jhpiego, National Institute for Reproductive Health, Black Mamas Matter Alliance, John Hopkins Center for Indigenous Health, The National Women’s Law Center, Center for Reproductive Rights, National Domestic Workers Alliance, Planned Parenthood and Freefrom. You can read more about the charities here.
How annoying is it having combination skin this time of year? You might be feeling dry from the air conditioning, while the heat and sweat are also triggering breakouts. You don’t want to treat the pimples with an overly-drying spot treatment for fear that you’ll end up making the situation worse. But something’s gotta give.
Chronic dryness with the occasional breakout is my personal skin-type POV, but I was recently introduced to a very if-you-know-you-know antibacterial ingredient that helped me handle dryness and acne in tandem — a multifunctional wound-healer that’s on the rise in skincare. I’m talking about hypochlorous acid.
What is hypochlorous acid?
Similar to hyaluronic acid, hypochlorous acid is a natural substance made by your body. While the function of hyaluronic acid is to retain water to keep your skin hydrated, hypochlorous acid is a natural disinfectant, made by the white blood cells in our body to fight pathogens.
So what is its function in topical skincare? Some dermatologists use hypochlorous acid spray on the skin before and after a procedure that will disrupt the skin barrier — like an injection, laser, or peel — to lessen the chances of a wound, redness, or reaction. “In my medical clinic, I use it to prep the skin before injecting someone with Botox,” explains dermatologist Geeta Yadav, MD. She continues, “It’s shown to be much less irritating and equally as effective as chlorhexidine [an antiseptic], which is how we normally prep the skin before a procedure. Even post procedure, I find [hypochlorous acid] soothing on the skin, while still being cleansing.”
Unlike a disinfectant with alcohol, hypochlorous acid is a natural derivative, which makes it safe for all skin types and a range of skin concerns, including eczema, cystic acne caused by clogged pores, and post-procedure sensitivities, all of which are rooted in inflammation. “Hypochlorous acid is fantastic,” adds NYC dermatologist Hamza D. Bhatti, DO, FAAD. “It works really well [for] eczema. When you have a break in the skin barrier from the scratching and itching, your antimicrobial properties are lower, so you’re more prone to infections. This acts like an antibiotic.” Even better? It’s OTC.
How do you use hypochlorous acid?
You’ll really only find hypochlorous acid in a face mist form, which is nice because it’s easy to apply and less concentrated than a cream or ointment. You can spray it on your skin in place of a face toner (after face wash and before any serum or moisturizer). You can also use it on the body, with hypochlorous acid fans saying it helps prevent post-gym breakouts.
During a recent skincare elimination forced by an allergic reaction to high-strength vitamin C, hypochlorous acid spray was my only form of skincare for about a week. I spritzed it on my face for three days straight, and not only was it incredibly soothing, but my red and rashy skin healed fast. Disclaimer: There is a naturally occurring smell of chlorine — it’s a little bit like a swimming pool — but it’s faint and harmless. Like the beloved SkinCeuticals CE Ferulic that some people say smells like hotdog water, it’s part of the experience.
If you’re dealing with active acne, Dr. Bhatti recommends spraying your hypochlorous acid right on top. But again, you don’t have to worry about over-drying because there’s no oil-stripping happening. I’d also recommend using it anytime you have a skin barrier disruption or flare-up. A new piercing? Spray it. An itchy spot on your neck? Spray it. A nick at your cuticle? Spray it. A chin pimple? You know what to do. One off-label use I like: dampen your Beautyblender with a little hypochlorous acid spray to ensure you’re not spreading bacteria as you blend your concealer or contour.
What are the best hypochlorous acid face mists?
Hypochlorous acid is no longer a budding ingredient with brands like Medicube and e.l.f. Cosmetics all recently launching face mists. Without further ado, these are the best ones to shop, according to Refinery29 editors.
Even if you haven’t heard of hypochlorous acid before now, you’ve likely seen the very popular Tower 28 SOS Spray, which has hypochlorous acid as its key ingredient (alongside saltwater). Hundreds of satisfied reviewers report that it has cleared their skin, and there are a handful of very impressive before/afters. Brand founder Amy Liu created it as a soothing face mist for sensitive skin — it’s actually certified by the National Eczema Association and safe enough to use on a baby’s diaper rash — but we know people with oily skin who use it to refresh their face throughout the day. It comes in an XL bottle, too.
e.l.f. Cosmetics is the latest brand to tap into the hypochlorous acid hype, and, impressively, its new spray is just $12 for 100ml. The brand highlights four key benefits: soothing stressed and inflamed skin, calming sensitivity, reducing visible redness, and being especially suitable for acne-prone skin, thanks to its ability to target acne-causing bacteria on the skin’s surface. The mist is ultra-fine, so it delivers an even, veil-like spritz.
Medicube’s hypochlorous acid mist is a little different from others, thanks to a formula packed with additional skin-friendly ingredients. Most notably, niacinamide helps hydrate the skin while also reducing excess oil and the appearance of enlarged pores, while soothing allantoin and panthenol support comfort and moisture. It also contains antibacterial tea tree, making it especially appealing for acne-prone skin. We like to mist it post-cleanse, as well as over skincare devices like LED masks and red-light wands to help keep them clean.
Mario Badescu’s Repairing Facial Spray contains just water, sodium chloride, and hypochlorous acid to help reduce bacteria on the skin. The mist casts a wide, even net over the face and dissipates quickly, leaving skin feeling fresh rather than parched or tight.
Magic Molecule’s Hypochlorous Acid Spray has thousands of five-star reviews, and for good reason. It’s formulated to help with cuts and grazes, breakouts, eczema, and even sunburn. One reviewer calls it a “staple for the home”, while others praise its ability to reduce post-workout pimples, soothe itchy bug bites and support faster healing for piercings. It’s a true all-rounder.
Water and hypochlorous acid are the only ingredients in Bubble’s Clean Landing Daily Purifying Spray, which feels instantly refreshing and cooling on the skin. It’s even better when kept in the fridge on hot days, and in sweaty weather it can help prevent sweat-induced breakouts across the body — not just the face — making it popular for use on the back, legs, and arms.
If you’re shopping for a hypochlorous acid spray on Amazon or you’re getting a recommendation by a dermatologist or doctor (eye or otherwise), you might be pointed towards OCuSoft HypoChlor Spray. Spate identifies OCuSoft as the market leader in the hypochlorous acid space.
When we asked Dr. Yadav what OTC hypochlorous acid she recommends to her patients, she points to this one by Twenty/Twenty. “Eczema and rosacea can involve the skin around your eyes,” explains Dr. Yadav. “Some people complain of dandruff on the eyelids, more frequent styles, and inflammation of the eyes. For all of that, it fits nicely to think about the eye area and a hypochlorous acid that’s ophthalmologist tested.”
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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: An international medical student, rotating in the US working in medicine who makes $4,059 per year and spends some of it on a vinyl record.
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This diary was written in 2025.
Occupation: International medical student (currently rotating in the US) Industry: Medicine Age: 24 Location: Chicago, Illinois Salary: $4,059.06 (I was paid 30,000 INR a month, which over twelve months adds up to 360,000 INR. In USD (according to the conversion rate at the time of writing) it works out to be $4059.06 annually). Joint Income/Financial Setup: At the moment, I’m living alone and trying to survive on my own two feet. Assets: Nothing in my name as of yet. I’m usually burning through my entire salary by the end of the month. Debt: $0 Paycheck Amount (1x month): $338 Pronouns: She/her
Monthly Expenses
Housing Costs: $2500/month for my rent. Currently, I’m living in student housing at my university in Chicago, and paying this astronomical amount for an apartment the literal size of my balcony back in India. Loan Payments: $0 Cell phone: $50 — I paid for a SIM card with a month of data included the day I landed in the US. Internet: $0 (this is covered by my phone and campus wifi) Spotify: $0 (I piggyback off my best friend’s family plan. Yeah, we’re close close) Amazon Prime: $0.27 — my friend group splits a subscription, but it ends up being so little when so many people split it that it’s negligible. Yay anti-capitalism, I guess. Netflix: $0 — I canceled it on principle because the geolocking is just getting pedantic at this point. I can’t be forced to verify myself every time I so much as walk across the hall now, can I? Ventra Card: 30 days at $75 Hydroelectricity: This is covered in the university housing price.
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? I’m Indian, which means unless I go to college, I’m practically a pariah. I went to med school straight out of high school, as per how things work in my country. My parents paid for all of it, and it was a lot by Indian standards, around $170,000.
Growing up, what kind of conversations did you have about money? Did your parent(s) educate you about finances? My dad didn’t grow up very financially secure and was basically a breadwinner from the age of 20 or so for his entire family. So even though nobody ever really sat me down and had a talk about being financially responsible, I grew up seeing how careful he was with money. My parents did try to spoil me since I’m an only child and they didn’t want me to grow up wanting for anything, but I try to be somewhat sensible with how I spend my money.
What was your first job and why did you get it? I worked as a math/science tutor in high school. It was kind of a problem at home because again, in Indian culture, kids don’t really do jobs at that age, but I went to high school abroad in a very international environment and everyone around me was doing it. I got the job because I was kind of a nerd and did really, really well on some super difficult exams, and everyone in the grade below me wanted to be tutored so they could do well, too. I got paid around $30 per hour, three times a week, for one person, and I tutored five kids.
Did you worry about money growing up? Not really. As I mentioned, I did go to a kind of posh school, so everyone was quite rich; like, home theatres and giving-each-other-MacBooks-as-birthday-presents rich, and though my family was definitely well off, we certainly weren’t that. I did wish when I was in high school that I was that kind of rich, but then I came to India for med school and realised I’d had a lot more growing up than the people around me did, so I guess I felt kind of spoiled there in comparison.
Do you worry about money now? When I was in India, no, because my salary covered everything I needed and more, even stupid things like online shopping splurges and random unplanned trips with friends. In the past month of being in America, though, I’ve started to worry. It’s weird; the immense difference in cost of living has given me a bit of a miserly mentality. I think about my choice multiple times before I even treat myself to a cab or an extra sandwich at lunch.
At what age did you become financially responsible for yourself and do you have a financial safety net? I started my medical internship (the mandatory year of work doctors do as part of training) about 11 months ago, which is when I started earning. I’ve been paying for my own rent, groceries, living, and travel costs since then. I do have a huge, huge financial safety net in terms of not having to save up, since I know my parents have done that for me already.
Do you or have you ever received passive or inherited income? If yes, please explain. I haven’t, but I will receive a significant sum in the ballpark of six figures in USD as an inheritance.
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Day One: Monday
7:15 a.m. — I wake up to five Citizen app alerts about random concerning events in the area around me, including a couple of robberies and shootings overnight. I take screenshots to send to my friends back in India, because back home, this would be NEWS. BIG news. After that, I get ready for my second week of rotations in my US hospital; I still haven’t figured out whether it’s okay for me to wear scrubs or not, so I stick to business casual. I wonder whether I should keep the sleeves of my dress shirt down or roll them up; down makes me look like the kid you’d bully in a high school movie, and up makes me look a bit like I’m trying to be sexy in a different kind of movie, so I stick to down. I have a mug of coffee and two slices of cold bread from the fridge.
8:00 a.m. — I dash to make the 10-ish minute walk to the hospital on campus, because the last thing I want to do is annoy my attending somehow, who has already been very sweet, kind and patient with me during my first week when I couldn’t work the electronic medical records system (back in India, we use paper records at the hospital I work/study at, because it’s a big hospital serving predominantly an underserved population, and it’s run by the government as a non-profit). My resident tells us our attending is running late, and since all my follow-ups have been discharged, I’m kind of at a loose end. I stop by the underground cafeteria thing and get myself a medium-sized cappuccino. $5.99
12:00 p.m. — I’m finally done with rounds for today. I’m kind of cruising, because I’ve finally presented my patient really well for once, and managed to answer all my attending’s follow-up questions, too. If you’re in medicine, you’ll know rounds are one of those times when, sometimes, you even forget your own name when the whole team is shooting questions at you left and right, and it’s always quite a frazzling experience when you’re presenting a new patient to the whole team.
2:00 p.m. — After notes are done for the day, I’m told very kindly by my resident to go “grab lunch; enjoy the sunshine”. Which would be lovely if I could actually afford anything; everything near our hospital costs an arm and a leg, and I’ll have to make the 30-minute trek down to the student-y area nearby to actually be able to eat anything. I decide it’s not worth the hassle today, and fish this pack of trail mix out of my bag to eat instead. My previous rotation was at this hospital that had a FULLY stocked doctors’ lounge that they were kind enough to let me raid on the daily, and I’d accrued enough uneaten snacks to last through an apocalypse.
8:00 p.m. — I attempt to cook my first proper meal of the day — it’s an avant-garde mishmash of all the vegetables I had left from the past few days, some pasta, plus the bottom scrapings of the jar of red sauce I’d bought. I scroll through DoorDash while it’s cooking, and have to fight hard not to order the delicious-looking pizza I see on the front page. I know my parents wouldn’t mind at all sending me more money while I’m here, and they’d be horrified at some of the meals I’m having, but I somehow feel on principle that I want to get this done on as low as a cost as possible; spending two months doing medical rotations in the US isn’t cheap by any means, and I don’t feel right spending more than initially budgeted.
11:00 p.m. — Citizen’s going off again. I try to ignore it while I videocall my parents and put in a load of laundry in the communal machines downstairs, but then the group chat we have going for all the international med students starts going off. The guy living 10 minutes away says he can hear sirens and… helicopter noises??? I watch Independence Day to distract myself and fall asleep, praying we’re not actually in a real-life version or something.
Daily Total: $5.99
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Day Two: Tuesday
7:30 a.m. — I wake up a little later today, mostly because I’m feeling super lazy, and also because my attending physician usually gets to rounds late on Tuesdays, which means I have an extra half hour to relax. I wonder about making breakfast, but then I realise I never actually took out the laundry I put in last night, and run down in a manic panic. I breathe a sigh of relief when I realise it’s still there; soggy and damp, but there. I throw it in the dryer for a 45-minute cycle — something I’ve realised works best to actually dry stuff out, though it weirdly washes the colour out of the clothes. Or maybe I’m imagining things?
9:00 a.m. — Rounds begin. I’m feeling a little extra grumpy today because I’ve wasted my precious extra half hour of relaxing on the laundry situation, and my stomach’s rumbling as well. I didn’t manage to get a cappuccino, either; we have a lot of patients to see today, and a noon conference afterward. I have yet another snack I squirrelled away from my previous rotation: a peanut butter granola bar.
12:00 p.m. — We walk straight to noon conference from rounds. I’m in a much better mood now, even though I’m starving, because our patients have all been so sweet and accommodating the whole day. I’m realising every day that my favourite part of hospitals in the US is the patients; they’re very friendly, and go out of their way to answer the same medical student questions again and again. My attending and residents have placed bets on whether there’s going to be lunch at noon conference, and what it’ll be. So far, we’re at one vote for no lunch, one vote for lunch and Panera, and one vote for lunch and pizza. I add my own vote to no lunch, because I like to expect the worst, so I’m pleasantly surprised otherwise.
12:30 p.m. — There was lunch! Someone had come to give a presentation about some therapy or the other, and brought along an absolute spread: pizza, pasta, and about four kinds of salad. I’m a vegetarian, so I’m extra happy to see the salad, which turns out to be this delicious thing with kale and candied pecans, and blue cheese dressing. I have seconds, and then thirds, and manage to sneak in fourths while I listen to the presentation. Everyone in the room is making jokes and saying intelligent things; they say the best way to make a bunch of medical students and residents happy is to feed them, and I think that’s a fact.
4:00 p.m. — We wrap up the day a little early today, and life’s looking good. I have to go get groceries on my way home, so I decide to do a little exploring on the way, and figure since I haven’t spent anything on lunch, I can treat myself to cannoli and coffee from this adorable Italian deli. I have one, and like it so much I get another. I think cannoli might just be the greatest thing in the world. $12.49
6:00 p.m. — I’ve spent two hours wandering around random streets looking in random shop windows at this point, and realise I should grab some groceries before it gets late. I get some assorted veg, pasta, bread, and some bananas, because they’re on discount and I’m probably getting zero fiber these days. As an afterthought, I throw in a giant bag of pickle-flavored chips. It’s an addiction I’ve picked up through my time in the US, and I remind myself to stock up on the flavor before I go home. $78.49
8:30 p.m. — I’m exhausted after I lugged two huge bags of groceries home and caught two buses (I miss the autos [rickshaws] in India with all my heart). For less than a dollar, you can go pretty much anywhere, anytime. I muse about beginning a start-up involving autos in the US, and bandy the thought around for a while as I cook dinner in my teeny-tiny kitchen. Fresh vegetables! Rice! My dinner tastes incredible today; butter chicken with the chicken subbed for tomatoes and peppers instead. God, I’ve missed eating. I think this is the most food I’ve eaten in a day since I came to Chicago.
Daily Total: $90.98
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Day Three: Wednesday
8:00 a.m. — I have barely managed to get to work today, and I definitely look it. I’ve spent most of the night wrapping myself in layers of clothes and blankets, because the weather decided to lose its mind at around midnight and get really, really cold, and for some reason, the heating system was doing nothing to help the situation. I’d tossed and turned for about three hours before I’d given up and put on my giant duffel jacket instead.
1:00 p.m. — I’m slowly realising the cold was probably partly the temperature, and partly an infection, because my head is killing me and my muscles are in agony. I take a vitamin C tablet I have in my bag, and a paracetamol, but it doesn’t seem to help much. My international student friends are planning on exploring the city today, and I’m burning up with jealousy reading the texts. Unfortunately, I’m also burning up with a fever by late afternoon, so I have to ask my resident to leave early so I can go home and bury myself in my bed.
3:00 p.m. — On my way upstairs, I ask the helper at the desk why my heater isn’t working, and she informs me, “They’ve switched to cooling for the summer”. I can’t help wondering why I’m not allowed to pick my own temperature, especially when I’m paying more than a year’s rent of my apartment back home for one month of housing, but c’est la vie, I guess.
6:00 p.m. — I wake up after a two-hour nap when my mom calls me, and I realise I haven’t eaten anything all day, not even breakfast. My mom is horrified and makes me order myself DoorDash on the spot because I’m not looking too good to cook, and I get a Chipotle bowl with extra guac. The app asks me helpfully if I’d like a vegan maple donut from Voodoo Doughnut nearby, and I do. I’m too tired to be economical today. $28.65
11:00 p.m. — I see pictures of my friends hanging out back home on Instagram, and suddenly I’m feeling horrible. One of the things you really miss as an international student in the US is the sense of community you get back home, where there are people around 24/7 to yap with, run errands with, hang with. Although I love my job and these rotations are great for my future career, and I’ll need them if I want to practice here, being in the US all alone is super isolating sometimes, especially on days like today.
11:45 p.m. — I’m mindlessly scrolling on Ulta Beauty to distract myself, and before I realise it, I’ve added a couple of things to my cart. One of the things I was excited to come to the US for was the makeup and skincare; though we have many brands in India, there are some you can only get in the States. I saved up about a month and a half of my salary back home (which is a big deal, because saving has not been my strong suit historically) just to shop for this stuff, and I decide to put some of it to use. I order the ILIA Fullest Volumizing Mascara and the Clinique Black Honey lipstick that everyone’s been raving about. I browse through the Milk makeup list for fun, but the jelly-looking blush is insanely cute, and I decide it’s coming home, too. At least shipping’s free? I feel a little guilty afterwards, so I decide to study a little extra. Not that that makes any sense, but it is what it is. I fall asleep reading about the thyroid. $80
Daily Total: $108.65
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Day Four: Thursday
7:00 a.m. — I’ve woken up feeling much better, and not in the least because of the online shopping last night. I check the little tracking thing and feel all warm and fuzzy, in the way only over-consumption makes you feel. And also, my clothing cycle has circled back around, and I get to wear my favourite shirt again! I have this thing where I’m always a little extra happy when I wear the clothes I like, and my day goes better as a result. Not that there should be a reason I don’t like some of my clothes, because I have free will and picked out every single one of them myself.
11:00 a.m. — We’ve breezed through rounds today, and the day looks like it’ll be a chill one. My attending doctor is changing rotations today and I’m sad. I’ve really enjoyed working with him for the past couple of weeks, and I will miss the relaxed energy he brought to rounds. I also have to do the nerve-wracking job of asking for a letter of recommendation, which is never easy. How do you even ask someone to review you and (hopefully) say all sorts of nice things about you on paper? It feels like fishing for compliments in the least subtle way possible. I finally manage to ask, and he says he’ll be happy to do it. I fist-pump internally.
12:30 p.m. — I’m feeling a little more energetic today, and decide to make the trek down to the student-y area nearby to get an actual decently-priced lunch. I put on an audiobook, The Anthropocene Reviewed by John Green, as I walk. I feel a bit old and a bit pretentious, but I’m really enjoying John Green’s pivot into nonfiction. I stop by at the little sandwich place I like and grab an eggplant sandwich, and make an almost direct U-turn afterwards and eat as I walk back to the hospital. $6.99
5:30 p.m. — The rest of the day goes by in a haze because we have a lot of new admits this afternoon. It’s kind of a nice distraction because just before I got back to the hospital, I saw on Instagram that my ex had reached the US for his own rotations. It makes me a little sad because we’d planned out this crazy itinerary when we realised we’d be in the country at the same time, including visiting the Art Institute of Chicago to see our favorite paintings and eat at Mr. Beef because we both loved watching The Bear. I bump into my friend, K., again on my way back, and overshare to him about the situation (never mind that we’ve only known each other for two weeks and spoken about four times). He asks for permission to say some mean things, which turn out to be quite funny, so thankfully, I’m in a much better mood when I get home.
7:00 p.m. — I spend the evening doing more laundry. It’s funny how I’ve done less laundry in my entire life than I’ve done in one-and-a-half months in the US, and I can’t seem to figure out why. I see someone next to me holding a box of dryer sheets, and I am immediately curious as to what those are. I learn they guard against static, which is pretty useless if you ask me. Are you even human unless you get a little static shock here and there? Isn’t that the zing of life?
9:30 p.m. — Another dinner of rice and mystery-mix curry. I really am starting to enjoy my own cooking, something I had such a hard time doing the first few weeks here. I wrap the day up earlier than usual, mostly because I feel like I’ll stalk my ex on Instagram, or worse, end up calling him to cry about getting back together. As I fall asleep, I resolve to start journaling. I probably have too many blocked-up emotions, like constipation.
Daily Total: $6.99
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Day Five: Friday
9:00 a.m. — I wake up late and spend another hour dozing on and off, because I’m off work! There’s an American holiday today, so we get a long weekend, something I never got back in India. As a doctor, especially a young one in training, work is quite literally 24/7 there, with no weekly offs, so it was quite mind-blowing to me that even residents and fellows got a day off a week here, even if it was not necessarily on the weekend every time. I scroll on my phone for a while before taking a shower and getting dressed; I’m going to see my aunt and uncle in the suburbs. They’re quite distant in terms of relation, and we’ve never actually met in person, but Indian families have a way of not really caring about that.
10:30 a.m. — I make it to the train station on a bus, which is already covered by my Ventra card. After a little confusion, I realise the trains to the suburbs are different Metra trains, so I’ll need to buy a ticket. $13.50
3 p.m. — My aunt and uncle pick me up at the station, which is lovely since I don’t have to get an Uber. We have lunch, proper Indian food, which I haven’t had since I left home. Their house is beautiful, and I ooh and aah over everything. After lunch, my aunt apologizes for not having made any dessert and pulls out a tray of nut-free, gluten-free chocolate fudge she made for her grandson, who has allergies. I tell her not to worry and have a piece to be polite. The fudge is AMAZING. Over the space of an hour, as we sit around talking, I manage to eat about fourteen squares of the stuff, and the container is looking emptier by the minute. I apologise about ten times for eating so much of it, but my aunt just laughs it off.
5:45 p.m. — They decide to drive me back to Chicago so I don’t have to spend so much time on the train, which is super kind. On the way, we end up having a heated discussion about the beauty industry, of all things, which turns out to be really fun, so much so that I’m a bit sorry to be home. They drop me off at my doorstep and my aunt hands me the rest of the container of fudge, and I’d be lying if I say I didn’t get a little choked up. Family I’ve never met before, and they turn out to be some of the nicest family of all.
10:00 p.m. — The fudge is all gone. I yearn for the fudge. Is it possible to be addicted to fudge?
Daily Total: $13.50
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Day Six: Saturday
10:00 a.m. — I sleep in today and wake up to a barrage of messages from my other international student friends, asking if I’d like to go out to the city. I respond quickly that I would. I’ve been meaning to see some more of Chicago, beyond the touristy stuff I did on my first weekend here, and today’s a good day as any. I eat a granola bar I have left from my hospital stash.
1 p.m. — We decide to meet at this bar place in the city, which means I have to walk to the Pink Line station. J., another friend from India, lives nearby, so I text him and ask if he’d like to walk together. We end up missing our stop and getting the wrong line yet again, which is incredible since everything is… quite clearly marked everywhere. Either way, it’s fun, and by the time we get to the bar, we’re starving. There are five of us, and it’s a hassle getting a table without a reservation, but we’re finally seated and ready to go. The conversation is quite raucous and everyone is getting along great; we order appetisers to share and beer, which soon turns into a cocktail each, which turns into tequila shots. Hey, it’s happy hour! We’re quite sloshed by the time we leave the bar, which is awesome because I’ve really missed drinking with friends, being loud and annoying. The bill comes to $38.50 per person. $38.50
6:30 p.m. — Someone says there’s a jazz festival happening in Millennium Park, which is not far, so we decide to head there. The music is good, and as the evening goes on, we have more beers from a vendor at the park and a plate of nachos to share. We split the total. Beer has a ton of water, so everyone keeps having to pee. $20
11 p.m. — We decide to continue hanging out because everyone’s still having fun; since there’s nowhere else to go, we end up going back to our friends’ place to chill. We get Chick-fil-A on the way, but I just get fries. They end up having a six-pack of beer in their fridge, so we drink that and play charades until 2 a.m., at which point I go home $4.19
Daily Total: $62.69
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Day Seven: Sunday
10:00 a.m. — I wake up feeling weirdly un-hungover, and credit it to the water in the beer. Unscientific, but it works for me. I decide I want to do something really wholesome today, like churn butter or skip in a meadow or something, but then I realise there’s a farmers’ market happening nearby and settle for that. I text the group chat to see if anyone wants to join, but everyone’s asleep or tired.
11:30 a.m. — I attempt to do cottagecore with a cute dress and everything, but it’s still cold out by my standards, and I’m worried I’ll freeze. Instead, I wear a sweater and jeans. I take the bus to the adorable neighbourhood where the market is, all red brick houses and leafy streets, and spend a little time just wandering around looking at how pretty everything is. A woman with impossibly beautiful hair walks by pushing a baby in a stroller, and suddenly I’m struck by the intense urge to become her, immediately. But I realise that blonde wouldn’t go with my colouring, so I walk inside and try free samples of farm-to-table honey and fancy spotty cheese instead. Everything is delicious and really, really expensive, but I get an almond-something-something croissant anyway, and wander around smelling artisanal soap. $6.50
1:30 p.m. — The sun starts getting far too bright, so I head to look at some shops nearby instead. Why do Americans love the sun so much? My friend from back home wants a vinyl record because they’re much cheaper in America, so I go to a record store and sift through the stacks looking for the one he wants. I can’t help but want one myself, because everything is so cool and they have all these esoteric records that are near impossible to find in India, and besides, they’re half the price they are back home. I’d once bought someone a $50 record for their birthday, so I figured I could treat myself to a Khruangbin record for less than half the price. $54.50
2:30 p.m. — I find this really cool hole-in-the-wall bookstore nearby, and I suddenly have the urge to buy absolutely everything. I’ve realised that if there’s aesthetic lighting and a kind of thrown-together vibe, then I’ll buy just about anything, so I have to remind myself every 10 seconds that I already have four unread books on my nightstand. I don’t buy anything, but it’s a task. I pass a sign for the Art Institute of Chicago, and remember I still haven’t been, half because I keep forgetting and half because it’s somewhere I really wanted to go with my ex. I tell myself to stop being lame and needy, and that I can’t possibly leave Chicago without seeing Nighthawks, a painting I’ve loved since high school.
3 p.m. — I get to the museum. I’m already ready to fork over the $27 for admission, but a nice lady at the counter asks me if I’m a student by any chance, and when I show her my campus I.D., she says admission is free. They’re the most beautiful words I’ve heard in a while, and I’m deliriously happy as I head inside.
4:45 p.m. — Finally, there it is in front of me: Nighthawks. It’s smaller than I thought it would be, but it’s better, so much better. In the painting, the diner’s light glows against the dark, and I think about how it’s kind of the perfect painting for anyone who’s ever been alone in a big city; not necessarily sad-alone, just existence alone. When I finally walk out, the sun’s setting on Michigan Avenue, and everything is all beautiful and golden and warm. I don’t buy anything from the gift shop. I don’t think I need to.
Daily Total: $61
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The Breakdown
Conclusion: I definitely spent more than I wanted to. I could’ve eased up on the random impulsive buys and the coffee/junk food/beer purchases, and focused a little more on having three square meals a day. My diary definitely taught me to pay a little more attention to where my money is going.
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Were this world an endless plain, and by sailing eastward we could for ever reach new distances