It's easy to feel overwhelmed shopping on Amazon. Not that we don't do it all the time (because free two-day shipping is the bomb), but you can't help but let out a heavy groan when you realize you need to restock an essential — say, a mascara — and a simple Prime search pulls up like 231 pages of what seems like every tube ever made.

Fret not, because we're here to help. After skimming through thousands of handmade soaps and razor-refill boxes, we compiled the best beauty deals available on Amazon right now. From a fancy T3 blowdryer to your new favorite waterproof mascara price-chopped for a limited time only, this is what to add to your first Prime order of the month.

Scroll through all the goods ahead, and add them straight to your cart.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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I grew up in Lima, OH, the oldest of five siblings with immigrant parents who juggled two and three jobs each. I lived most of my adolescent life in the shadows , as an undocumented immigrant. I was constantly in fight or flight mode. And yet, my fear of deportation didn’t stop me from pursuing my ambitions. If anything it made me work harder.

I was 17 when I realized I wouldn’t be able to apply for students loans because of my undocumented status. Affording to pay for college was going to be an uphill battle, but I learned something important about creating your own luck and being empowered to define your own narrative. I began to see “No” as an opportunity to find creative solutions around challenges. I refused to believe I couldn’t afford college, so I enrolled at Miami University of Ohio anyway and took each semester one payment at a time; applying for private scholarships, entering creative writing contests, working short-term cash-paying jobs, and finding ways to minimize the costs of room and board. There were semesters I had to take off altogether when I didn’t have enough money to pay tuition. But instead of completely giving up, I forced myself to think of those obstacles that left me feeling defeated as bumps in the road, rather than an end-all. I taught myself that Yes was only a few No’s away. The was key to moving forward.

I forced myself to think of those obstacles that left me feeling defeated as bumps in the road, rather than an end-all.

The summer before I graduated from college, I was desperate to get my foot in the door at a media company in New York City. I sent my résumé to dozens of companies for unpaid internships. On my résumé, instead of saying I lived in Ohio, I wrote an NYC address — a place I dreamed of living but had never visited. I heard back from Sean “Diddy” Combs’ Bad Boy Entertainment company; his marketing agency was looking for a summer intern, and following a phone interview, I was invited to come in person for the second round.

Heart pounding, I accepted.

Not being able to afford a plane ticket, I hastily looked for the next bus out. Eighteen hours later, and nine stops through the night, I arrived at Port Authority in Times Square. I cleaned up and changed in the bathroom and booked it to the interview on Broadway. I couldn’t afford a hotel room to stay the night — and I didn’t know anyone in the city — so after meeting with the hiring manager, I immediately made the return trip home.

A few weeks later, I was back on a bus to New York City. I had secured the internship at Bad Boy Media, a second internship in the ad sales department at MTV, and found housing at Columbia University. Affording those unpaid internships in one of the most expensive cities in the world, while also struggling to finish paying for college, called for creative thinking. When I found no luck walking up and down restaurant row with my résumé in hand, I resorted to Google. I funded that summer with short stints as a babysitter, dog walker, pet sitter, a club promoter, and working at a bar. I regularly worked more than 80 hours a week between the internships and side gigs.

That summer, the Obama administration rolled out Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA), and I was able to apply for a work permit. All my sacrifices were paying off. Here was the Yes I was looking for. High on confidence, I applied to the prestigious NBC Page Program. I started the program in 2013, and it gave me the incredible chance to work in and around NBCUniversal. I found myself working on shows like Saturday Night Live, and eventually landed a full-time staff role at Morning Joe.

Ironically, the success of my work today is predicated on my network. As a booking producer for Morning Joe, I’m responsible for four hours of live programming a day; booking newsmakers, elected officials, Washington insiders, cultural influencers, and some of the world’s best journalists. But it was a tough slog to get valuable work experience starting out.

For young women in marginalized communities or with underprivileged backgrounds, working hard is only half the battle. Confidence and ambition are crucial. Sometimes you have to be your own best supporter and harness your strength from your core.

In my new book, Earn It!, that I co-authored with Mika Brzezinski , the research we conducted with Harvard University shows that although white women are becoming more comfortable with being described as ambitious, Hispanic women and other minorities still have trouble seeing it as a positive attribute.

As a Latina, who was conditioned to value traits like patience and embrace notions such as, “If you wait for your turn, good things will come,” ambition was made to seem like it’s a self-serving vehicle to bypass qualities like humility, and dare I say, teetering into arrogance. I felt the uneasiness of saying that word out loud, “ Ambisiosa.”

But what I’ve learned about overcoming my own challenges and getting to where I am, is that you shouldn’t ask for permission to move forward. Don’t wait for your turn. To not only embrace ambition – by getting over the fact it’s a dirty word – but to be and act ambitious.

And even though it’s tough to become the things you don’t see around you, we all have a chance to own our narratives. When I was 20, I didn’t have professional mentors, but I decided it was up to me to change my course.

If that path isn’t paved for you, find tools where you can and carve that road for yourself.

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When you have acne-prone skin, finding the right foundation is hard — and when you finally do, you never want to let it go. The process of scouting the perfect formula in the first place means paying close attention to a few qualifiers: level of coverage, texture, finish, and the potential for clogging pores. That's where the term "non-comedogenic" comes in.

"'Non-comedogenic' is a term used to describe a product that will not block pores and promote acne," says Joshua Zeichner, MD, director of cosmetic and clinical research at Mount Sinai Hospital. Not to be confused with oil-free products — as most, but not all oil-free products are also non-comedogenic, Dr. Zeichner explains — non-comedogenic translates to being free of pore-clogging ingredients, whereas oil-free applies to products that do not contain petrolatum, but can still contain alternative oils.

Most dermatologists do stand by the recommendation to look for non-comedogenic formulas, but the claim itself is actually flawed: There is no approved industry regulation for that label. Some brands place the term on their products based only on the fact that they don't contain certain individual ingredients known to block pores, without actually testing to prove that the formula doesn't cause breakouts. That’s why it’s crucial to still look at the ingredients list, even if the the product boasts the non-comedogenic claim.

To help cut down on the time you spend deciphering the itty-bitty print on the back of the bottle, we've researched the products that don't just say they're non-comedogenic, but actually don't include common skin-clogging culprits (like petrolatum, which Dr. Zeichner says is the biggest offender). The best non-comedogenic foundations on the market, ahead.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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The 2019 Met Gala may be over and done with, but that doesn't mean that we have to stop talking about it. The jury's still out on whether last night's camp theme inspired a red carpet success, or, for that matter, if many of the attendees even understood what the theme actually meant. Alas, we still found ourselves watching, Googling, and Instagram-stalking every moment of the night, from Serena Williams' neon sneakers to what happened to Jared Leto's severed head at the end of the night.

Since no one's quite ready to say "'til next year" to the Met Gala just yet, we’re setting our sights on what happened after the museum closed its doors. Yup, we're talking about the infamous after parties — and with a handful of soirees for stars to choose from, celebs made sure to squeeze in a quick outfit change. Their style direction? A slightly toned-down but no less campy look for their second event of the night.

From Hailey Bieber to Kim Kardashian West, click ahead for a glimpse at what your favorite boldfaced names wore after they left the Met.

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Today, Google announced two new additions to its Pixel lineup: the 3a and 3a XL, the most inexpensive offerings in the Pixel family thus far. They come in black, white, and just about the cutest damn lavender I have ever seen called Purple-ish.

The 3a's main difference from the Pixel 3 is that it's made of polycarbonate instead of aluminum, which is why it costs nearly half the price of its predecessor. This also means it can't charge wirelessly. (So no more Pixel Stand, which allows for such delights as the Sunrise Alarm that mimics the sun and helps you wake up more naturally.) It's also not waterproof, though it is splash- and dust-resistant. And as far as the camera, the 3a and 3a XL don't have dual front-facing cameras, so you can't take the wide selfie that you can with a Pixel 3. (But you basically can do everything else.) Ahead, here's how the Pixel 3a stacks up.

First Impressions

It's light, fits in my hand better than an iPhone does due to its narrower screen, and unlocks when I place my index finger on the back of the phone. Because of the fingerprint sensor on the back, there's no swiping up necessary, which is handy if you, like me, have small hands that often drop phones. Also, the yellow power button looks very chic with the purple body. All other phones should hereby step up their fashion game.

And the battery life is very impressive. Charging for just 15 minutes gives you a seven-hour charge, and a full charge give you up to 30 hours of usage. As a person whose phone is chronically dead, this is important. Its adaptive battery also uses machine learning to optimize your battery life by prioritizing the apps you use most. Plus, we have headphone jacks again! Those of us who have not yet been converted to Bluetooth life will care about this.

The Camera

The Pixel's main claim to fame (and one that Google enlists the help of many A-list celebs to endorse) is its camera. And the 3a, like its predecessors, has an excellent one. Even without the dual-facing camera, its selfie game is strong. With Photobooth, you can set the phone to snap a photo whenever its subjects are smiling — which is super convenient for group shots. And now, Photobooth also has the ability to capture kisses as well (thus rendering the old-fashioned photo booth pointless).

The 3a's camera also introduces a new feature: Time Lapse, which records videos by capturing between six frames per second and one frame every four seconds, perfect for shooting cityscapes, music festivals, or starry nights. And like the 3, it has all the other fixin's — Night Sight, which provided me with the best photos I've ever taken when I used it at Coachella, Lens, which lets you take a picture of someone's outfit and shop their look right then and there, and Playground, which will suck hours of your time if you let it, because it lets you dance with Childish Gambino among other very cute stickers.

Google Assistant & Digital Wellbeing

Just like on the Pixel 3, the 3a has Active Edge, which means you can squeeze on the bottom half of the phone to engage the Assistant. (You can also do this by saying “Hey Google” or “Okay Google,” pressing on the Home button, or clicking on the Assistant image on home screen, but squeezing the phone is the easiest and most fun method.)

The Assistant then prompts you to provide a command — which can be everything from "Tell me what the weather is like today" to "Wind down." The latter will initiate the Pixel's bedtime mode, part of the Digital Wellbeing feature, which fades your screen to Grayscale and turns on Do Not Disturb. Also, the 3a introduces another clutch way of turning off notifications: Shh mode, which lets you automatically enact Do Not Disturb by flipping your phone facedown. Simple and yet genius.

Google Assistant is also integrated with Call Screen, a feature that screens calls from unknown numbers (which I seem to get more of every day). The Assistant gives the caller an automated message asking for more information and the discussion is displayed in text, which you can use to decide if you'd like to take the call rather than having to pick up every time for fear of missing an actually important call.

But my favorite Assistant integration is with Photos. Look at this animation of my coworker dancing with Childish Gambino that Assistant suggested for me!

Maps & Music

My friends have made fun of me on many occasions for Shazam-ing music at bars — but I can't help it, I like to know what I'm listening to! Now Playing is a really cool new feature on the Pixel 3a that doesn't require opening up an app to identify music. Once enabled, the Pixel will detect the song and artist of any ambient music playing near your phone and display it right on your home screen (a feature that came quite in handy for me the other day when I wanted to identify what Billie Eilish song I was hearing). You can then open and play the song via the music service of your choice — but with purchase of a Pixel 3a, Google is giving users three months of YouTube Music Premium for free.

The new phone also comes with a new and improved Google Maps, which is getting the AR treatment. Soon when you open your Maps, you'll see AR-powered visuals directly overlaid on the map with signs and arrows to give you real-life directions.

The Price

As far as pricing, the Pixel 3a (5.6") starts at $399, and the Pixel 3a XL (6") starts at $479, compared to the 3 and 3 XL, which sell for $799 and $899 respectively. For half the price, with the 3a you still get the essentials of the Pixel 3 without shelling out nearly one grand. For those of us who don't care about wireless charging and glass finishes, the 3a is definitely the way to go — and might convert some of the iPhone diehards among us looking for a more affordable price point.

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Welcome to Hindsight 2020, Refinery29's weekly column reflecting on the women running for president and the lessons learned (or not!) from 2016.

In case you missed it, Sen. Kamala Harris eviscerated Attorney General William Barr on his handling of the Mueller report last week, making the most of her seven minutes with an impressive prosecutorial performance. It was only the latest in her inquisitions of President Donald Trump's lackeys. She reportedly made then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions cry during another hearing on the Russia investigation, and during the Brett Kavanaugh hearings, her repeated, deliberate questioning made the now-Justice fidgety and red in the face.

That's the kind of energy the former prosecutor's supporters want to see her bring to the Democratic debates, which start in June, and then to her quite-possible potential matchup with Trump. Harris' biggest online fans call themselves the #KHive, echoing the adoration of Beyoncé's #BeyHive, which is fitting: Harris is their Beyoncé in a suit and pearls, the one who can make political history while putting on one hell of a performance. Of course, the term #KHive also acknowledges all the firsts she's achieved as a Black and South Asian woman — and the breathtaking, historic first of potentially seeing her elected president.

If you missed @KamalaHarris’s smack down of Attorney General William Barr or simply want to see it again, here you go: pic.twitter.com/v6koYcr5T6

— The KHive (@TheKHive) May 1, 2019

"She was masterful!" Reecie Colbert, 37, a finance manager and blogger in Washington, D.C., told Refinery29 of Harris' performance with Barr. "She doesn't let people bulldoze over her, she asks incredibly pertinent questions, and knows when to keep pressing for an answer and when to move on. She puts fear in the hearts of men who have gotten too comfortable shredding political and legal norms. One of the most important things to me is someone who will be tough on Trump and not back down. She has shown that grit!"

Maggie Beeler, 36, an adjunct classics professor at Temple University in Philadelphia, agrees. "I think it’s important to have someone who is going to prosecute the president. I believe that working from within to effect positive change within institution, as she has done with criminal justice, is the best way forward. She caught my attention when she questioned Jeff Sessions and nearly made him cry, and at the Kavanaugh hearings she demonstrated both her grit in questioning Kavanaugh and warmth and empathy in questioning Dr. [Christine] Blasey-Ford."

The #KHive could talk your ear off about Harris' efforts to better the lives of Americans: the LIFT Act tax credit for middle-class families, the Rent Relief Act, and the Maternal CARE Act to address the high rates of maternal mortality among Black women. But what they praise most is that she thinks about what is possible in the scope of being an executive, and what is not. For example, she has vowed to take executive action on gun reform if Congress doesn't act: a logical next step for a president amid a national gun epidemic, and something she can actually do without being blocked by Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell if Republicans retain control of the upper chamber.

Harris' supporters have a way of turning the biggest concerns detractors have about her record into evidence of strength. Colbert, who frequently tweets using Harris' campaign hashtag #ForThePeople on @blackwomenviews, has compiled a "mega-thread " on Harris, which partially aims to "debunk" some of the harshest criticisms her career as San Francisco District Attorney and then California Attorney General, like the truancy law Harris supported as California Attorney General, which she has said she regrets. "I have no reservations about Kamala's prosecutorial background and I think it will serve her well in the field," Colbert said. "Contemporaneous reporting on her efforts — I searched thru ProQuest — were nearly all favorable, but it has been reframed as a negative years later."

They imagine the senator deploying her incisive, no-frills logic at Trump's stream-of-consciousness and sputtering insults — he's already called her "nasty" more than once, something her campaign has capitalized on — and coming out on top. It's optimistic to believe logic and reason will win in 2020 when they lost so handily in 2016. But that's what Harris Democrats have right now: organizing, optimism, and a candidate they truly believe in.

Of course, first she has to beat former Vice President Joe Biden, who is leading the pack by far in early 2020 polls. An interesting question has arisen lately, though, about whether voters are saying they'll pull for Biden because of an archaic idea of "electability" (read: white male) that no longer applies given how many women and people of color won in the 2018 midterm elections. Early polls, as Harris herself demonstrated in 2003 when she was at 9% in the San Francisco DA race, as her team points out, don't mean too much.

“We have 45 presidents who have been men. And seeing a woman in that role is still something that we’re not used to,” Kimberly Peeler-Allen, a cofounder of Higher Heights, a national Black women's leadership organization, told the New York Times in a recent article that explained how the women in the race are actually more "electable" than the men. “We have to, as an electorate, change our mind-set on what executive leadership looks like. Women lead differently. And that’s not a bad thing.”

Harris herself recently challenged the idea of electability in recent interviews, saying, "Every office I've run for — no one like me had ever done the job. Based on gender, based on race. Every time, pundits said the people weren't ready for it. But I won. Voters are smarter than sometimes pundits give them credit for."

Besides, as the NYT pointed out, unlike Biden, South Bend, IN, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Beto O'Rourke, Sen. Bernie Sanders, and Sen. Cory Booker, the women in the race, including Harris, have never lost an election in their political careers. How's that for electable? On top of that, in a matchup, Harris can statistically beat Trump, according to MSNBC.

Hand-wringing about electability aside, Harris has plenty of tools in her arsenal that could help her come out on top. One "secret weapon" is her Howard University sorority Alpha Kappa Alpha, a national network of Black women who have not only turned out in numbers for her, but have plenty of fundraising strength. Hollywood loves her (although they love Buttigieg, too).

"The name of the book is 'Each Kindness.'"

Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris visits a school in Dearborn, MI and reads to schoolchildren as Teacher Appreciation Week kicks off. pic.twitter.com/xuu1pSemSN

— The Hill (@thehill) May 6, 2019

For all that the #KHive thinks Harris' prosecutorial chops will help her take on Trump, it's the softer "Mamala" side that had them sold on her in the first place. You have to watch her give advice on public speaking to a group of young women to truly see her in action, but there are countless examples. As Marina Aguayo, 24, a member of the #KHive from Riverside, CA, student, and part-time sales associate at Macy’s, said, "The top reason I’m supporting Kamala Harris is that she makes me feel seen. She has a way with connecting with people and making them feel seen and heard."

"Feeling seen" is not just heartwarming talk. Ally Maldonado, 20, from Corona, CA, says she probably would not have come out if it weren't for Harris. Maldonado and her friend Becca roadtripped from L.A. to Oakland to see Harris' massive kickoff rally in January.

"We got up bright and early and waited in line where I bought my rainbow flag that says, 'Love Trumps Hate,'" Maldonado, a student at Cal State Fullerton, told Refinery29. "I felt proud and okay and safe. The rally was powerful. I waved my flag and clapped my hands to her spoken words of complete truth. Here we have it: A badass woman running for president who is okay with who I am, [who] supports every bit of my Mexican American and queer existence. The rally ended but the spark stayed." About two weeks later, she came out.

To Sadie and all our future leaders of America, I say: What you know is important and everyone needs to hear it. Especially now.pic.twitter.com/NL6caVbIEV

— Kamala Harris (@KamalaHarris) April 26, 2019

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Presidential candidate Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand promised that, if elected president, she will only nominate judges "who will commit to upholding Roe v. Wade as settled law and protect women’s reproductive rights," she announced in a Medium post on Tuesday.

"I realize that traditionally, presidents and presidential candidates haven’t drawn lines in the sand on judicial appointments, to preserve the impartiality of our judiciary," she continued. "That tradition ended when Mitch McConnell obstructed the nomination process and stole a Supreme Court seat, when Donald Trump nominated dozens of ideologically extreme judges hand-picked by far-right think tanks, and when Republicans confirmed a Supreme Court Justice who is credibly accused of sexual misconduct."

Gillibrand is making this announcement amid an onslaught of anti-choice legislation: 28 states have introduced abortion restrictions just this year. Just today, Georgia's Republican Gov. Brian Kemp signed into lawa measure that will ban abortions in the state once a fetal heartbeat is detected.

Anti-choice advocates know that these types of bans are unconstitutional thanks to the U.S. Supreme Court 's 1992 decision Planned Parenthood v. Casey. But they, newly emboldened by President Donald Trump, and the fact that Justice Brett Kavanaugh is on the Supreme Court, want to trigger a court battle that would eventually overturn Roe v. Wade , the landmark 1973 decision that legalized abortion nationwide.

"We simply cannot let that happen," wrote Gillibrand. "The decision about if and when to start a family should be made by a woman and her doctor  —  not Republican legislators, not Brett Kavanaugh, and certainly not Donald Trump."

It remains to be seen whether other presidential candidates will follow in her footsteps. But by making the statement first, Gillibrand is making it clear that she prioritizes women's health and policies that affect women. And, hers is the only campaign that seems to be having fun with it:

Live from Gillibrand HQ: pic.twitter.com/BqWOX8rv30

— Sara Rodriguez (@sararrodriguez_) May 7, 2019

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The Met Gala red carpet last night was actually the most interesting thriller x action super hero x fantasy movie we’ve ever seen. A lot of characters showed up and while we weren’t able to witness what happened when they all came together for dinner, we can use our imagination. The camp theme was a tough one to grasp for some, but a safe way to play it (for next time) is to dress as your favorite movie character. Take tips from Madelaine Petsch who came as an ethereal Tinkerbell. Or channel your favorite poet and hit the carpet with a cane and top hat à la Danai Gurira. Cool fashion dad, Michael Kors, showed up in a top hat too, but he channeled magician vibes instead.

Set in a flamingo covered Met Museum, the plot of this movie is simple and follows a structure similar to that of Valentine's Day(sans Taylor Swift). A series of interconnected celebrities come together in one night. The climax here being Cardi B's arrival in Thom Browne. And the resolution? Kim Kardashian hosting the after party alongside tennis queen Serena Williams. An epic ending to a cinematic night.

Coming to a big screen near you. We're rolling the credits on our feature film: Met Gala Camp ahead. Here's every celeb that dressed as their favorite movie character for the red carpet last night.

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Lena Waithe is constantly bringing visibility to what a ‘Black gay girl’ looks like, whether she’s at the MTV Movie Awards honoring Shirley Chisholm (the first woman to run for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination) or smirking at her detractors on the cover of Vanity Fair. And while she doesn’t rely on just her physical appearance to bring about change, at Monday's Met Gala, Waithe took the opportunity to honor other groundbreaking Black femmes with her look.

While in 2018 she attended the Met Gala in a Carolina Herrera rainbow cape to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, this year, Waithe decided to support Black drag queens specifically. She wore a custom Pyer Moss zoot suit with a message on the back: “Black drag queens inventend camp.”

Black culture has been noticeably absent from this year's theme, “Camp: Notes on Fashion,” inspired by Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay Notes on Camp. She once described camp as a “love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration… style at the expense of content.”

View this post on Instagram

We had the honor or collaborating with @pyermoss for this years #metgala. We designed 16 custom Iconic sculpture portrait buttons and black power fist cuff links to adorn @kerbito and @lenawaithe’s suits. On Kerby: 8 of his favorite rappers — the late and great @nipseyhussle, @meekmill, @nas, @realcoleworld, @champagnepapi, #tupac, @kendricklamar and #jayz. On Lena: 8 LGBTQ icons — @rupaulofficial , #doriancorey , #freddiependavis , #octaviastlaurent #ParisDupree #pepperlabeija #venusxtravaganza and #willieninja . Thank you @kerbito + @pyermoss ✨👊🏾. #metgala2019 #jewelrybyjohhnny

A post shared by JOHNNY NELSON (JEWELRY) (@johnnynelsonjewelry) on May 7, 2019 at 5:40am PDT

The stripes on Waithe's suit were actually lyrics: Diana Ross' "I'm Coming Out" and Sylvester's "You Make Me Feel (Mighty Real)." Her Johnny Nelson jewelry buttons featured the faces of LGBTQ icons RuPaul, Dorian Corey, Freddie Pendavis, Octavia St. Laurent, Paris Dupree, Pepper LaBeija, Venus Xtravaganza, and Willi Ninja. Jean-Raymond, who accompanied her on the carpet, wore a suit with lyrics from Nipsey Hussle, 2Pac, Jay Z, Nas, Drake, Meek Mill, J.Cole and Kendrick Lamar. The rappers' faces also showed up on buttons.

Jean-Raymond had a message of his own on the back of his suit: “Fix your credit. Pool money. Buy back the block” — a Nipsey Hussle lyric. And so, with looks that intentional, there was some confusion about the spelling of "invented" on the back of Waithe's jacket.

Everything I do is purposeful! https://t.co/KZGzbnbB7p

— Lena Waithe (@LenaWaithe) May 7, 2019

First there was “Periodt” ... and Kerby and I wanted to give y’all another one “Inventend”.

— Lena Waithe (@LenaWaithe) May 7, 2019

She took to Twitter to clear the air. "Everything I do is purposeful," she wrote on Tuesday in response to someone tweeting "Am I the only one to assume @LenaWaithe's #inventend was purposeful and not a mistake?"

She explained it further in a separate tweet, writing "First there was “Periodt” ... and Kerby and I wanted to give y’all another one “Inventend” — which we take to mean a heavy emphasis on the "D." Kind of like Black femmes did that.

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"Cheap" and "relatable" are not words you'd use in the same sentence as the Met Gala. In fact, last night's kitschy camp-themed affair proved to be quite the opposite. The outfits coming down the pink carpet were opulent, grandiose, and avant-garde in every way — from Cardi B's crystal-studded fingernails to Lady Gaga's huge metallic eyelashes.

But it's not all smoke and mirrors and performance art. We mere onlookers can pull useful, everyday tips from the out-there Met Gala looks. That's because some of the most gorgeous looks from the event — including Gal Gadot 's celestial silver eyeliner and Ashley Graham 's sleek rope ponytail — were created using under-$15 beauty products. Ahead, click through all the drugstore finds that the celebrities actually wore to fashion camp.

At Refinery29, we’re here to help you navigate this overwhelming world of stuff. All of our market picks are independently selected and curated by the editorial team. If you buy something we link to on our site, Refinery29 may earn commission.

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Cardi B Wore $10 Nail Polish & 250 Swarovski Crystals To The Met Gala

Finals season is nearing its end, which means the "what am I doing with the rest of my life?" mania is setting in for college seniors. Soon you'll don your cap and gown, pack up your life into a few boxes, and fly home from whence you came. It's daunting, to say the least.

The good news: Whether you're moving into your first adult apartment, embarking on a summer of travel, or starting a 9-to-5 a week after graduation (or hanging out in your parents' basement for a bit — no shame), we've got you covered with gadgets that will help you survive the so-called real world. From TVs to wireless headphones to the perfect portable speaker, here are the best tech gifts for graduation.

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How To Watch The Met Gala Red Carpet So You Don't Miss A Single Camp Look

We suspected that Bella Hadid would wear something on-brand sexy for this year's Met Gala. What we didn't expect was a look so dramatic she was virtually unrecognizable — with a shockingly short haircut.

The supermodel showed up to last night's Met red carpet solo, in a tight black Moschino gown with oblong bejeweled cutouts framing her hip bones. Fashion or thematic appreciation aside, the real moment of the look was Hadid's hair: a sleek ear-length pixie, with bangs swooping across her forehead to turn the brunette beauty into the spitting image of '90s runway icon Linda Evangelista.

Upon closer inspection after the fact, it turns out that the side-parted pixie cut is a faux chop, a well-placed wig courtesy of Hadid's hairstylist Jen Atkin.

Atkin posted a red-carpet shot of Hadid smizing at the camera with her fresh short pixie to Instagram, accompanied by the caption, "My Bell-evangalista doll," confirming that the style was a purposeful homage to "The Linda." The side-by-side look — Hadid at the Met and a close-up of Evangelista at a fashion event in 1989 — shows the uncanny resemblance between the two models.

To style the wig, Atkin tells us that she blow dried the hair with a Dyson dryer and a Harry Josh round brush. She spritzed Balmain hair spray all over, then brushed it through for extra sheen. Finally, Atkin shaped the edges and bangs using Kristin Ess Shine Pomade before misting the Ouai Hair and Body Spray over the top for a glossy finish.

Despite the fact that Hadid will probably be right back to her au naturel honey-tinged dirty blonde lob tomorrow, we have to take a moment to appreciate her stunning ability to make a '90s throwback look totally 2019.

This story has been updated.

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Carey Mulligan Debuted A Very Blonde, French-Girl Bob At The Met Gala

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Cardi B Wore $10 Nail Polish & 250 Swarovski Crystals To The Met Gala

On principle, both bright-blonde highlights and bangs are high-maintenance — the color requires frequent salon appointments and the cut takes methodical styling techniques. But if there's anyone who can convince us that the perfect summer haircut is a blunt bob with straight-across-the-forehead bangs and a side of full foil, it's the effortlessly cool Carey Mulligan.

At last night's Met Gala, the English actress debuted a chin-skimming bob with wispy bangs and white-blonde highlights, and it's the epitome of the Parisian aesthetic — like she rolled out of bed and onto the red carpet with soft, perfectly tousled, seemingly sun-bleached waves.

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A post shared by Abbey Spaulding (@abbeyspauldingcolor) on May 7, 2019 at 7:37am PDT

Mulligan's fresh new look comes at the hands of an A-list tag team: hairstylist Jenny Cho (who also gave Lucy Boynton a similar blunt bob) and colorist Abbey Spaulding out of West Hollywood's Mare Salon. Yesterday, Spaulding uploaded this close-up showing off Mulligan's sunny, lived-in highlights, and a peek at her stunning Prada gown.

Just last week, Cho posted a time-lapse video of the actress in the salon chair for her bob cut. The clip shows Cho snipping the Mulligan's ends and giving her a quick blowout that left her newly blonde hair purposefully disheveled — the exact same effortlessly chic style she recreated for the Met.

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A post shared by Jenny Cho (@jennychohair) on Apr 28, 2019 at 11:06am PDT

Of course, if you've ever had bangs — a long, curtain fringe or a heavier, blunt bang situation — you know that styling them to fall across your forehead just so can be frustratingly impossible. But on Mulligan's fine, blonde hair, Cho made the French-girl bob look effortless with nothing more than a blowdryer (albeit a Dyson) and a little rough finger-tousling.

So, even if you aren't planning on going for a structured A-line bob or very blonde highlights this summer, let us at least recommend a similar French-inspired approach to styling: It's all about that perfectly imperfect finish, à la Mulligan on the steps of the Met.

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Bella Hadid Just Stepped Out With A Supermodel Pixie Cut

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Cardi B Wore $10 Nail Polish & 250 Swarovski Crystals To The Met Gala

We're transitioning into the sunshine season, meaning it's time to break out the SPF in preparation for UV-rays and bachelorettes. Aside from destination-planning and savvily packing our suitcases, there's also the whole party portion of these celebratory trips. If you're tasked with supplying the festive favors — and cashing out on "penis straws" is not high on your budget priorities — then we've got the tastefully-festive goods for you.

While bachelorette gifts can err on the raunchier side of the party-spectrum, not all are entirely tacky. To prove it we rounded up vibrant favors that run the gamut of stylish accessories to more refined gag goods — whether it's matching sets everyone will actually wear again, or chic-NSFW cookie cutters that the whole crew will want to bake with. Scroll on for your stylish hit-list of party favors that aren't all penis necklaces and "bride tribe" tees (although no judgment if that's your vibe).

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Sen. Cory Booker and Rep. Ayanna Pressley are introducing legislation this week to expand Medicaid coverage for pregnant women and new mothers in an effort to target the nation's crisis of maternal mortality, which disproportionally impacts Black and Indigenous women.

Research has shown the United States has the highest maternal mortality rate in the industrialized world: Between 700 and 900 women die from pregnancy or childbirth-related causes every year, while around 65,000 nearly die. Most of these deaths could be prevented, as well. In fact, three in five pregnancy-related deaths in the nation were preventable, according to the a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released Tuesday.

"Our bill takes on an important and meaningful step towards addressing these alarming statistics by extending and enhancing the care pregnant women receive under Medicaid," Booker said in a call with reporters. "Medicaid now covers almost half of all births in the United States. it's a powerful tool to use to improve maternal health overall, particularly for women of color, low-income women, and other underserved populations."

The Maximizing Outcomes for Moms through Medicaid Improvement and Enhancement of Services (MOMMIES) Act, which Booker first introduced last year, extends coverage for new mothers from its current standard of 60 days after childbirth to a full year of coverage; offers full Medicaid coverage for pregnant women and new mothers, instead of just covering pregnancy care; increases access to primary health providers and women's health providers; and increases access to doula care.

Black and Indigenous women specifically are three to four times more likely to die before, during, and after childbirth than white women, according to research. "My paternal grandmother — I never had the pleasure and honor of knowing her. She died giving birth to my youngest uncle, Jerome," Pressley said in the call. "It's hard to believe that was the case in 1950. Here we find ourselves, in 2019, and Black women are still disproportionately dying in childbirth or in the days thereafter."

For Black women, the high rates of morbidity and mortality remain even after adjustments for income and education. That's why it is important that the legislation aims to provide high-quality care for everyone, Pressley said. "Even Beyoncé and Serena Williams admitted that they wouldn't be able to survive their pregnancies if it wasn't for the fact that they could afford high-quality care. What does that mean for everyone else?" she said. "The MOMMIES Act uses a health equity and community-based approach to ensure that vulnerable child-bearing people have access to the high-quality support and care that they need during and after their pregnancy."

The legislation has been endorsed by more than a dozen organizations, including health providers and women's advocates. "In the United States we currently face the highest risk of illness, complications, and even death due to lack of quality maternal care and more egregiously, institutional bias and racism rampant in our hospitals and healthcare systems," Elizabeth Dawes Gay and Angela Doyinsola Aina, co-directors of Black Mamas Matter Alliance, said in a statement provided to Refinery29. "[We support] the MOMMIES Act due to its potential to advance maternal health, rights and justice for Black Mamas and ensure their ability to thrive before, during and after pregnancy. We applaud Senator Booker and Representative Pressley for taking bold action on behalf of all Black mothers. We urge Congress to support and pass this important bill."

The issue of maternal morbidity and mortality has been brought to the forefront because of the tireless work of activists, such as the members of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance, but also because of women in positions of power such as Williams speaking up. Last year, Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand and Kamala Harris introduced legislation with the intent of targeting hospital negligence and fixing the racial disparity in care that can lead to women of color dying before, during, or after giving birth. The bills, called Modernizing Obstetric Medicine Standards (MOMS) and Maternal Care Access and Reducing Emergencies (CARE), complemented each other. Last month, Reps. Lauren Underwood and Alma Adams launched the Black Maternal Health Caucus in the House. (Pressley is also one of the founding members.) And at an event in late April, Sen. Elizabeth Warren unveiled a plan to address this crisis as part of her 2020 presidential platform.

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It feels like we’ve been waiting for the Duke of Sussex's birth forever, and now, two days after his arrival, Meghan Markle and Prince Harry’s son just made his Instagram debut. The first-time royal parents Meghan Markle introduced their son to the world on Wednesday with a post, captioned: "Today The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are delighted to share their first public moment as a family. They are so incredibly grateful for the warm wishes and support they’ve received from everyone around the world, since welcoming their son two days ago."

The Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped out with their little one at Windsor Castle to pose for photos. Harry held the child who was wrapped in a white blanket. Meghan smiled for the camera wearing a white Grace Wales Bonner tux dress with nude suede heels while Harry wore a gray suit with a navy tie.

Markle’s look is markedly different from the royal baby debuts before hers. When she became a mother for the first time, Kate Middleton wore a short sleeved blue polka dotted dress Jenny Packham dress. It was a nod to Prince William's late mother, Princess Diana who wore a blue polka dot dress when she left the hospital with her eldest son. People speculated that Meghan might wear a red look for her baby's debut, like Princess Diana did when she gave the world our first glimpse at Prince Harry, but the Duchess of Sussex went a different route.

While color is a traditional choice for the royal moms in this family, Markle is known to break convention with her fashion choices. She chose to go bare-legged for her official engagement announcement while most royals always wear pantyhose, and she wore Ralph Lauren pants to Wimbledon though it's reported that the Queen prefers skirts and dresses to be worn for such occasions. Perhaps in this scenario, the Duchess chose white as it represents light, goodness, and innocence, and there are no better words we can think of to describe the new Duke.

Markle choosing to wear Grace Wales Bonner, a Black British designer, is notable as well. Bonner, who won the highly-regarded LVMH Prize for Young Designers in 2016 and partnered with Dior on its cruise collection, is one of only a few black designers gaining access and support in the fashion industry. Markle's decision to break from traditional color and to wear a black designer's dress for this occasion can only mean one thing: she's not a regular royal mom, she's a cool mom.

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Meghan Markle isn't one to waste a potential fashion moment. And if there's ever a time for her style to shine, today would be the day. On Wednesday, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex made their first public appearance as a family, giving the world our initial glimpse of their new baby boy Archie. Naturally, Meghan looked stunning in a white trench dress by black British designer Grace Wales Bonner.

To finish it off, she paired the dress with a Jennifer Meyer necklace and her ubiquitous Manolo Blahnik pumps. Sure, Meghan always dresses the part, but we have to say that this classic look is one of her very best. To cheers to the happy couple, we're rounding up 12 Meghan-approved white trench dresses available now. Clink!

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Daenerys. Cersei. Arya. Sansa. With the exception of Jon Snow and a few dragons, the final season of Game of Thrones really is all about the women. Their rise to power, despite literally deadly odds, demands a close look at what underlies their survival and dominance. These women arguably emerged as leaders largely because they’ve all adhered to the three cardinal rules of a winning personal and political brand — strong identity, trusted credibility, and visible positioning.

Part of the allure of the HBO juggernaut, and what makes fans so obsessed, is that the journeys of all these women have unfolded in notably unexpected ways that speak to the nuances of power play. The only reason any of them made it as far as they have is because they’ve all harnessed the strengths of their brands to buoy them to leadership positions. However ruthless her methods, Cersei Lannister has shown unparalleled consistency and relentless legacy-building ("House of Lannister") to be her strongest power-building assets, while Daenerys has made sure her brand name is saturated throughout the kingdom. Arya’s appeal is that she is always true to her identity and mission, and Sansa’s strength is that she owns her femininity along with her power, not in spite of it. But now we are starting to see the cracks as well as the shifts: Daenerys is succumbing to the paranoia and distrust of her ranks that often comes with power, while Arya is coming into her own as a precocious woman of action.

We are now seeing these female characters, who have faced untold adversity over the course of eight seasons, grapple with power in their emerging roles and responsibilities as political figures. As noted, Cersei has been the most reliable character throughout. She always leverages the brand heritage of her family (“a Lannister always pays [her] debts”), and now she is leaning into that in her efforts to make new allies and hold on to power and influence. The opposite could be said of Daenerys, who started from nothing but has built credibility with titles that evoke progressive, forward-thinking, and inclusive ideals like “Mother of Dragons,” “Breaker of Chains,” and “First of Her Name.” She is at a loyalty crossroads with her advisors (the obliterated Dothraki, for example, and Tyrion Lannister) and (spoiler alert) now faces an urgent crisis of legitimacy. Who deserves the Iron Throne, and who can seize it as her own?

If Game of Thrones has taught us anything, it’s that strategy is not all you need to win — you need a strong brand identity.

Arya and Sansa Stark have also ascended because they’ve played a political long game that aligns with their evolving personas. For instance, Arya's brand is synonymous with defense — fighting and righteous revenge are her sole focus, and she will stop at nothing to fight for justice. Meanwhile, Sansa's strategy is to be an effective leader to whom people look for guidance. She's reliable and the only prominent woman who has been preparing for winter since the beginning.

But now, as their visibility and potential for real power rise, so do the pitfalls and conflicts that come with that public exposure — especially for women. Sound familiar?

As the race for 2020 heats up and the field is more crowded with women than ever, GoT can be seen as a fiction-based lesson in what’s to come (symbolically) in this election. Like the prominent women of Westeros, our female Democratic candidates face particular public scrutiny that picks apart not only their biographies but also pits their personal stories against the narrative of who they claim to be and the people they represent. For instance, much like Cersei, Sen. Kamala Harris knows the value of leveraging legacy and brand heritage as a tough-on-crime prosecutor, which now seems at odds with her progressive commitment to criminal justice reform. Or take Sen. Amy Klobuchar, who has a similar reputation as an aggressive prosecutor, but has also been strategic throughout her career in winning over Republican voters (a skill that Cersei has notably not been able to master). Even Sen. Elizabeth Warren — who is the most brand-consistent in both message and image — will need to position herself (i.e. rebrand) to appeal to a broader base if she’s going to be a contender in this election. Both she and Dany started as women for the people. In order to win, both need to maintain their brand personalities ("Breaker of Chains") to build and engage a loyal following. Finally, Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand is taking a calculated risk in strengthening her brand by running a "feminist" campaign. Will she be able to successfully sell herself as both feminine and brave, like Sansa?

Delving into the brand journeys of the GoT women is not just an exercise in fandom, but a helpful way to think about what we as “viewers” of this election should be looking for in both a candidate and the overall journey of their character and image. Branding is crucial, because it defines and communicates a message to those who buy in, and provides lessons on those who don’t for the purposes of building relationships. GoT has fans rapt this final season because we aren’t sure who to align ourselves with: These women are more public-facing than ever, and the scrutiny is real both on and off the screen (check out Twitter on Sunday nights and Monday mornings for literally thousands of examples of this scrutiny). The same could be said of the Democratic women who, with the exception of Warren, have had a muted or short-lived time on the national stage.

If GoT has taught us anything, it’s that strategy is not all you need to win — you need a strong brand identity that communicates your brand proposition (i.e. message, identity, and associations). The women of 2020 are no different. It would be silly and useless to make one-to-one comparisons of 2020 candidates to GoT characters, but it’s safe to say that art imitates life (and the reverse). It’s essential for both viewers of the show and voters in the election to see through the brand-making that has happened over the course of these women’s lifetimes, which has made them who they are today. Men still have the luxury of throwing their hat in the ring, more or less. Women, on the other hand, still require a strong narrative that endures before and beyond who they are in that moment.

It’s no coincidence that the final season of Game of Thrones — where all but one male contender has fallen — is a political throwdown amongst the women. There has never been a time in history when more American women have run for political office (529 alone in 2018) and have had as much access to power as they do now. There are a record number of women coming for our own Iron Throne, the White House, in 2020: What can the women running for president (or women in leadership in general) learn from the GoT women in power whose strategies ultimately left them the only ones standing in the game? What can the female candidates do to better compete in this diverse field? And most importantly, what do we as “viewers” of this primary need to look for in a leader? The future of our own Seven Realms — the United States — depends on it.

Dr. Talaya Waller is a personal branding consultant, researcher, and author of upcoming book Personal Brand Management: Marketing Human Value . The views expressed are her own.

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Last Thursday, Cheslie Kryst stood on the Miss USA stage with the other top five finalists, waiting to see if years of hard work would result in a crown. While each contestant had won the hearts of the judges and viewers during the competition, there was one feature that made Kryst stand out from the rest: her voluminous head of curls.

You see, even in 2019, natural hair isn't too common in the pageant world. But this year, both Krystle, who ultimately won the title of Miss USA, and Miss Teen USA Kaleigh Harris toppled the competition wearing beautiful curls, ending the myth that straight hair is the standard for pageant queens.

The internet celebrated Krystle's win, in part, because she made history — Black women now hold the Miss USA, Miss Teen USA, and Miss America titles simultaneously for the first time ever — but this is also a win for women with natural hair.

Thinking about all the black and brown girls who ever felt insecure about their natural hair. A crown never looked so right. Miss USA and Miss Teen USA 2019 y’all ✨ pic.twitter.com/DrRO1gjMht

— marv (@mrvndn) May 3, 2019

The night before the pageant, Kryst prepped her hair in a three-hour session that involved conditioning and finger-curling single strands. On the day of Miss USA, she kept her hair in a bonnet backstage until 30 minutes before showtime when she let her curls free and walked out onto the stage that would change her life. While Kryst was confident in her curls throughout the 2-hour show, she reveals that choosing to wear her hair natural wasn't an easy decision.

“Although more women are competing with natural hair nowadays, there still aren’t many," she tells Refinery29. "So, I was a little bit worried and anxious about doing it, but I thought, ‘I want to do it as the most real and authentic me,’ and that’s really what my hair represents.”

The pageant wasn't the first time that Kryst had doubts about her hair. Kryst transitioned in college, and after she got that initial chop, the North Carolina native worried about how she would be perceived, especially on her journey to being a lawyer.

"I competed on the trial team at Wake Forest University, and I remember talking to my non-Black teammates about having to pull my hair back into a bun so it's not distracting," she recalls. "They looked at me like I had three eyes and said, 'Why would you do that? Why don't you just wear your hair natural?' They're reaction to my concern gave me a sense of hope. It just takes all of us empowering each other to have confidence in our natural selves."

Today, Kryst proudly wears her curls, whether she's strutting in a gown on stage or presenting a case in front of a judge. But there is one thing she wishes people would understand about her natural hair. "Sometimes I’ll go to a networking event or even out in public, and people will just randomly touch my hair, which is a little strange and makes me feel uncomfortable,” says the titleholder, remembering one moment when a woman ran her fingers through her hair. In the past, Kryst might back away to show her discomfort, but now she's speaking up. "It’s OK to remind people that this is still my hair, and I don’t want you to pet it — just admire it.”

"This is still my hair, and I don’t want you to pet it."

As Miss USA, Kryst aims to help other women feel confident wearing their curls in their personal and professional lives. “These wins give me a sense of hope that Kaliegh and I can both be examples and show women that they can wear their hair natural. That they don’t have to flat iron it every morning,” she tells us. “You can wear your hair the way that it’s growing out of your head proudly out in the world.”

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Remember the first time you shaved? It probably went something like this: One day, your mom came home with an extra set of pink razors and offered you some kind words of guidance like, "Please be careful and take your time," or, in my case, "Scream if something goes wrong." After years of watching those comically ecstatic Venus razor commercials, you knew roughly what to do once you got in the shower, sliding that pink razor over your armpits full of stubble and your hairy legs. What was revealed was silky, supple skin that made you feel like a walking, talking goddess.

It was a high that was frankly hard to come down from. But come down we did, especially once we realized that women's razors, for the most part, suck. I can't count the number of times I've gotten a new razor, been thrilled to shave with it for the first time during my nightly shower, and then woken up the next day to find legs that feel like those prickly hairless cats. (Ever held one? I wouldn't recommend it.) Or, how about shaving at night and then waking up to red, irritated bumps along your bikini line? That's fun, too. Oh, and are these razors cheap? LOL, girl, NO. After all, the pink tax exists.

We've had enough. It's 2019. We all deserve to stop wasting our money on razors that simply don't work. Ahead, our editors broke down the ones that do the damn jobs — and do it well.

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