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Global air travel accounts for two percent of the world’s carbon dioxide emissions. While that might sound like a small percentage, it’s equivalent to 860 million metric tonnes of carbon dioxide every year. (For reference, the average American emits 16.6 tonnes of CO₂ per year.) At the current rate of greenhouse gas emissions, scientists warn that we have only 10 years left to reverse global warming and avoid further catastrophic environmental effects. Which means many climate activists are pledging to give up flying altogether.

Flying less is a great way to reduce your personal carbon footprint — but for people who rely on air travel to visit their families and perform their jobs, this might not be a feasible option. Enter: carbon offsets, a method of counteracting carbon emissions by investing in global carbon-reducing projects.

Cool Effect is a nonprofit dedicated to supporting global greenhouse gas-reducing projects like deforestation prevention and methane capture. Via the organization’s Travel Offset Tool, you can calculate your personal carbon output per flight (based on the duration) and then pay to offset the corresponding tonnes of carbon emitted via the 14 carbon-reducing or carbon-preventing global Cool Effect projects. You can also buy carbon credits from Reformation, where you can choose to offset the carbon emitted by an average wedding, an international flight, and a domestic flight, as well as the amount of carbon emitted by an individual or a family over a six or 12 month period. For these carbon offsets, your money goes to Gold Standard verified clean energy projects through NativeEnergy.

Of course, it should be said that the science here is hardly exact — achieving a carbon neutralizing one-to-one ratio is difficult when there are so many unquantifiable differentials from flight to flight and person to person. But if you’re interested in helping to reduce the planet’s carbon emissions and you can’t afford to reduce your air travel, carbon offsets are a great way to start.

Curious to learn more, we talked to Jodi Manning, Director of Marketing at Cool Effect about how exactly carbon offsets work:

What are carbon offsets and why should people care about them?

At its basic core, a carbon credit or offset is a measurement of greenhouse gas emissions reduced by a project — exactly one metric tonne of carbon emissions — which can then be sold to compensate for emissions created somewhere else in the world.

How does one reduce carbon?

If you save a tree from being cut down, which is called carbon sequestration, the carbon that the tree holds is saved from being emitted. And you can be awarded a carbon credit for that. Another example is a cook stove. In many parts of the developing world, they use open source flames like you would at a campfire. If a project is building cookstoves that vent outside and use less fluid, which then scientifically reduces carbon emissions, they can then be awarded carbon credits.

How does the Cool Effects travel offset tool work?

People were trying to understand the carbon output of their flights. Everybody knows how long they sit on that airplane, so we created a tool that’s based on the number of hours. There’s a calculation for short haul, medium haul, and long haul flights, and it not only calculates the carbon but it puts a price on it. And 100% of the time, consumers are shocked at how little it costs to actually offset their flights. So we have seen a rapid increase in people taking action using this tool.

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Another piece of evidence has been found in a decade-long open investigation of a serial killer case on Long Island, New York. The infamous Long Island Serial Killer has shocked and horrified the masses since 2010 when a cadaver dog found a body at Gilgo Beach during a search for missing New Jersey sex worker Shannan Gilbert. Since then, the killer was named in 11 murders, most of them being young women. Now, new evidence brings us the first public insight into the case that sparked it’s own Netflix film and brings police one step closer to discovering and tracking down the serial murderer at-large.

On Thursday, Police from Suffolk County released a photograph of a black leather belt with the letters WH or HM imprinted on it. The leather belt, which was found at a crime scene, police believe is linked to the murder investigation.

Suffolk County Police Commissioner Geraldine Hart discussed the new evidence at a press conference on Thursday afternoon, saying it didn’t belong to any of the victims. The initials written on the belt likely belong to the perpetrator. The police commissioner said that the belt was found “at the initial stage of the investigation” along Ocean Parkway on Long Island.

Solving the case has been a top priority for investigators at the precinct, but has been an especially difficult one to crack. “We are hopeful that this photograph will bring somebody forward with information about the origin of that article,” Hart said.

This is the first evidence brought forward in years, since the serial killer who is believed to have murdered up to 16 people over a period of almost two decades. Of those, at least eight identified bodies belonged to women — and most of them were fairly young, too.

Authorities have confirmed that at least four of the 10 bodies unearthed since then are linked, and that the killer has been using the area as a kind of dumping ground. All of the women’s remains found on the beach have been wrapped in burlap and placed within about 500 feet of one another. 

Since the case was first opened, the four remains were identified as Amber Costello, Megan Waterman (pictured above, right), Maureen Brainard-Barnes (pictured above, left), and Melissa Barthelemy. In an even more sinister twist, all four women were linked together because they worked as escorts. They were all reported missing between 2007 and 2010, too.

Last month, Police Chief Stuart Cameron told People that a case of this magnitude will take ample time to solve. “It’s a priority for the police department, always has been a priority for the police department to solve this case. It’s really an unprecedented case in Suffolk County history. So we’re going to continue to put our attention on it and with the intent to solve the case. We would pursue everything to solve this case,” he said, adding, “I do believe in my heart that we’ll solve the case.”

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Growing up in New York City in the early 2010s, I was one of many moody teenagers obsessed with Tumblr. I spent hours reblogging weird makeup looks and outfits far too flashy and expensive for my 14-year-old pockets (and lifestyle), and following up-and-coming stars who’d carved out niches for themselves on the photo-centric platform.

Among them was Justine Skye, then a teenage singer and influencer — years before influencing was even a thing. Beyond her vocals, Skye’s adventurous style earned her thousands of likes and reblogs. White lipstick, tiny tattoos, and bright purple hair became Skye’s beauty M.O. long before the trends took hold on Pinterest, and set her up to be the style inspiration that she is now.

Today, that same experimental, no-limits swag is what garners attention from brands like Keyshia Ka’oir, MAC Cosmetics, and H&M. It’s also the flair that convinced The Lip Bar to tap Skye as the brand’s first-ever celebrity collaborator for its first big launch of 2020. “I’ve admired Justine for a long time,” Melissa Butler, founder and CEO of The Lip Bar, tells Refinery29. “I’ve always loved that she was cool with being different and owning her individuality, because that’s what The Lip Bar is all about.”

Butler and her team approached Skye to create a multi-product collection, aptly named Island Gyal, a nod to the singer’s Jamaican heritage. “My culture is a huge part of who I am and how I grew up, and I wanted that to come through in this collection,” Skye says. “Jamaica is hot and vibrant, so I gravitated towards purple and orange tones when picking colors.” For her eyeliner, she chose a bold Caribbean Sea cerulean, cleverly dubbed Eyeland Ting. Also in the lineup is brown lipstick and lip gloss, both essential in Skye’s makeup routine. “Brown gloss is my thing, but I love that all of the colors are super wearable and fun, especially on darker skin,” she says. “The blue liner is dope.”

It feels natural that Skye’s first complete makeup collection would include pops of color, true to her creative roots, and versatile neutrals, true to her evolution. The 24-year-old has virtually grown up on social media, where her loyal fanbase — to whom she’s known as “The Purple Unicorn” — has witnessed her entrepreneurial glow-up firsthand. But it hasn’t always been rainbows and unicorns, Skye says; she acknowledges that, as a teen first navigating the industry, she felt the need to suppress the cultural influence that’s now her biggest inspiration.

“When I was younger, I was very aware of people and their opinions. I let myself drown in that,” she says. “I diluted who I was to fit into something that I didn’t need to fit into, ironically, because I got here by not fitting in.” Skye’s bright purple hair was part of how she stood out, for a while — but the star has since left it behind, and not by coincidence. “My hair has been purple since I was about 16, up until about a year ago,” she says. “At that moment in my life, I needed a change, and I felt like it was the start of a new Justine era.” And besides, she says, purple wasn’t even her first choice to begin with: “It was the only color my mom let me dye my hair, so I went with it and became a comfort thing for me.”

But Skye is learning that being outside of her comfort zone isn’t necessarily a bad thing. As of last year, she formally stepped away from Roc Nation records and began her journey as an independent artist. “Even though things have changed in regards to my label situation, the path is still the same. The music doesn’t stop. It’s just even more authentic and true to my experiences now,” she says. “It wasn’t until recently that I realized how to be myself again, and I feel excited about the new year and decade ahead.”

If Skye’s colorful, eye-catching Lip Bar collection is indicative of anything, it’s that 2020 is looking mighty bright for this island gyal. 

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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It’s well-known that migraines can be pretty rough — they can cause people to miss work, social commitments, and even make them act differently. Unfortunately, there’s an even more intense version of the debilitating headache that can overtake you, called a migraine with aura. They come with many more symptoms than a regular migraine headache does, and can cause you to feel terribly nauseous, disrupt your vision, make you dizzy, and mess with your senses. The aura can even come on its own without the symptom of a migraine headache, but with all of the intense side effects listed above. These are called silent migraines, or typical aura without a headache.

“Migraine is a genetic brain disease, and it is the second most common disabling disease worldwide,” says Jennifer Robblee, MD, assistant professor of neurology at the Barrow Neurological Institute. Dr. Robblee says that about one third of her patients will have an experience with these auras involving “reversible neurological symptoms,” and no headache at all.

What happens when an aura occurs is called cortical spreading depression. “A wave of electrical changes spread across the brain affecting the parts that cause the type of aura being experienced,” Dr. Robblee says. Don’t freak out — you’re not going to exactly feel this electrical change as a symptom.

The neurological symptoms in question for a silent migraine are made up of a series of disturbances such as vision loss, flashes of lights or zigzags, numbness, tingling that usually occurs on one side of the body, or an inability to speak clearly. These symptoms can occur individually, or all together. Silent migraine episodes last can last anywhere from five minutes to an entire hour, and they are fierce.

Unfortunately there are no guidelines on treating silent migraines specifically, but some standard migraine treatments may be used to alleviate symptoms. Dr. Robblee explains that you can try preventative over-the-counter medication used for classic migraines, like Magnesium or acute medications, for relief.

As for trying to prevent a silent migraine before it happens, the approach is basically how you’d try to prevent any classic migraine — avoid fasting, drink enough water, stay away from caffeine, optimize sleep, and try to manage your stress.

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It looks like Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will be spending even less time in the United Kingdom than originally thought. Mere days after the Queen called an emergency meeting to sort through the Sussexes’ surprise announcement that they are stepping back as senior members of the royal family, new reports about the status of the couple’s current U.K. residence suggest they may be prepping to have a stronger stay elsewhere in the world. 

Frogmore Cottage, where Meghan and Harry have lived since before the birth of their newborn son Archie, is possibly in the process of closing down, according to several news outlets. Last year, the Queen offered the cottage, which sits on the larger Frogmore Estate in Windsor, to the Sussexes so they could begin to nest and settle in as a family with the arrival of baby Archie. 

Now that they plan to split their time between the United Kingdom and North America, particularly in Canada, many have speculated about the future of the property and whether the couple will continue to use it as a home base during their visits across the pond. 

“Frogmore Cottage will continue to be the property of Her Majesty the Queen. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex will continue to use Frogmore Cottage — with the permission of Her Majesty The Queen — as their official residence as they continue to support the Monarchy,” reads the funding section of their new website.

However, Meghan is already in Canada and has shown no signs of wanting to return to the U.K. anytime soon. In fact, she opted out of attending that aforementioned emergency meeting in person and reportedly chose to phone in instead. 

So, when it comes to the future of Frogmore Cottage, what is the truth? Reports indicate that the Duke and Duchess of Sussex are in the process of laying off the Estate staff, though that may not be the case just yet. “No members of staff have been let go,” a royal aide told Harper’s BAZAAR. “In quiet periods staff are often redeployed elsewhere around the estate.” The aide also indicated that the original reports were a stretch from the truth.

Whatever the case may be, these new reports that staff members at the cottage are either being laid off or “redeployed” elsewhere further indicate that the Sussexes will be substantially scaling back their U.K. presence moving forward. This means the couple will be able to focus on their new lives as not-so-senior royals and on becoming financially independent from the Queen. 

We all know breaking up is hard to do. But severing ties with a centuries-old monarchy? Well, that’s a whole different level of complicated.

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It’s been a major week for YouTuber and makeup artist Nikkie De Jager, better known as NikkieTutorials. On Monday, the makeup artist and influencer released a brave and now-viral YouTube video titled “I’m Coming Out.” In it, she revealed to the world for the first time that she is transgender.

In the days following, De Jager’s video has amassed more than 29 million views on YouTube, and an outpouring of support from fans around the world. 

“I’ll never be able to put into words what these last few days have been like,” De Jager wrote to her Twitter followers on Wednesday. ”Thank you for accepting me and teaching me that on the other side of fear lies freedom. I love you so unconditionally, always.” As more beauty brands and celebrities come forward to thank the YouTube star for sharing her story, De Jager is showing that she has the support of the community right at her fingertips.

💙💖 pic.twitter.com/fo7DM7yKls

— NikkieTutorials (@NikkieTutorials) January 17, 2020

Earlier today, in her first tweet since thanking her fans, De Jager showed off a symbolic new manicure, which features gradient blue nail art on one hand and a gradient pink design on the other. She captioned her nail pic with blue and pink hearts.

Fans were quick to point out that Jager’s polish choices are also the colors of the Transgender Pride Flag (blue, pink, and white). According to Monica Helms, the transgender activist who created the flag, the blue stripes symbolize the traditional color for baby boys and the pink for baby girls. The white lines in the middle stand for “those who are intersex, transitioning or consider themselves having a neutral or undefined gender.”

Twitter users instantly flooded De Jager’s mentions with uplifting comments, praising her fresh paint job, but — more importantly — uplifting its meaning. “I just thought these were cute nails but it just clicked they’re the trans pride flag colors I’m crying,” wrote one fan. “Trans pride hell yeah!!!” wrote another. One tweet summed it up pretty perfectly, though: “New nails, new life, new year.” For NikkieTutorials, that’s the most beautiful part about them.

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Harry and Meghan Markle continue to step further away from the traditional royal path by abandoning their titles, an unexpected announcement just 10 days after the Duke and Duchess of Sussex said they would split their time between North America and the U.K. 

Buckingham Palace said in a statement that Harry and Meghan have agreed to no longer use the titles His/Her Royal Highness (HRH) as they step away from public duties as senior members of the royal family. The two will continue to work towards financial independence and have made their intention to pay back the public for renovations of their home, Frogmore Cottage. The latest announcement comes to the surprise of those who suspected the couple would retain their titles while stepping back from the royal family.

What does it mean to give up royal titles? Will Harry get a last name? Is he still in line for the throne? Here are the answers to these burning questions and everything else you need to know about what will happen now that Harry and Meghan are stepping back from their roles as senior members of the royal family.

Is Harry still a prince?

Yes, Harry because he was born into it as the child of Charles, Prince of Wales, and Diana, Princess of Wales. The titles in question that Harry and Meghan are giving up are the HRH, or His/Her Royal Highness titles. The couple will also stop using their Prince and Princess titles.

The HRH titles were limited to only the children (of either gender) and grandchildren of a sovereign in the male line by Queen Victoria in the 1830s, according to the BBC’s History Extra. It has since been expanded to include female heirs who may ascend to the throne. Additionally, Dr. Jonathan Spangler, a senior lecturer in history at Manchester Metropolitan University specializing in the history of the monarchy, explains that “George V in 1917, when modifying the house rules…clarified this, and added the eldest son of the eldest grandson.”

Harry will still be a prince by birthright, but he will no longer be His Royal Highness Prince Harry, a title now granted at the pleasure of the Queen to senior working members of the royal family who are direct heirs.

Will Harry and Meghan keep their titles?

Yes, Harry and Markle are still the Duke and Duchess of Sussex. The only title they are giving back are the HRH designation as they step back from royal duties. Otherwise, Harry retains that official title, as well as those of Earl of Dumbarton and Baron Kilkeel. Meanwhile, Meghan’s official title is still Duchess of Sussex. She will not use Princess Henry of Wales, which she holds through marriage.

What will Harry and Meghan be called?

It is currently unknown whether the couple will take a last name after giving up their HRH titles. There is a case to be made for taking the name Wales, as Harry was called Captain Harry Wales in the British Army. They may be known as the Sussexes, given that the Queen referred to them in her statement as “Harry and Meghan” and Buckingham Palace’s official statement referred to them as the Sussexes. The Sussex name is also prominent on baby Archie’s birth certificate, where Harry’s full name is listed as His Royal Highness Henry Charles Albert David Duke of Sussex.

The couple could also take the surname Mountbatten-Windsor, as Windsor was officially adopted as the surname for the family in 1917 and Mountbatten-Windsor given as the specific distinction for direct descendants of the Queen and Prince Phillip, Duke of Edinburgh. If in doubt, however, you can still call them Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

What does this mean for Harry’s role British line of succession?

Nothing has changed in this regard. Harry still remains sixth in line for the throne. It is still unlikely he will face any need to worry about the line of succession. Additionally, Harry has not turned his back on his royal position completely — just the HRH title — in contrast with Edward VIII, who abdicated to marry American divorcée Wallis Simpson in 1936, thus losing HRH and becoming the Duke of Windsor after his marriage. This led to King George VI, who left the throne upon his untimely death to his daughter, Queen Elizabeth II. Harry needing to ascend to the throne is a possibility only an is an extremely unlikely sequence of events. 

This article was originally published on January 18. It has been updated throughout.

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Millie Bobby Brown served up a major beauty moment at Sunday night’s Screen Actors Guild Awards, with a simple touch that was so unexpected and chic it was hard to miss: her simple French manicure. Yes, Brown was rocking the early 2000s fave with long oval-shaped nails. The Stranger Things actor has become a burgeoning style star at the young age of 15, and this retro move is just another example of her mastery. 

Of course, this isn’t the first time in recent memory we’ve seen French manicures paired with high fashion. They appeared on the runway this past September at New York Fashion week and models like Bella Hadid have been remixing the look with bold colors. Kate Hudson showed off the look with baby blue at a Michael Kors presentation at NYFW, as did Beyoncè, who went throwback like Brown, with white tips in a series of Instagram photos.

Brown is one of many Gen Z stars taking risks with beauty that include throwing it back. Speaking about the launch of her line, Florence By Mills, in August, she told Refinery29 her mantra is about feeling her best. “It’s not about other people; it’s about making yourself feel good.” 

Interestingly, the backstory of the white-on-natural mani is a Hollywood one and has nothing to do with French trends. Apparently, it’s all keeping continuity and saving time while making movies and shows, so, in the 1970s, the creator of Orly nail polish created the white-tip-and-natural-base look as a response to the movie productions that were slowed down by actors needing to change their nail color for costume changes. 

As for the rest of her beauty look at the SAGs, Brown’s hair was cut several inches, worn sleek over her shoulders, and parted down the middle. Her makeup was soft with a smoky eye and a nude lip, with products from her own beauty line and celebrity makeup legend Pat McGrath, according to Brown’s makeup artist Kelsey Deenihan. She prepped Brown’s skin with Doctor Babor Hydro RX Hyaluron Cream and the Doctor Babor Power Serum Ampoules – Hyaluronic Acid Serum.

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Rihanna may not have given us an album yet, but she has been keeping herself busy with a special creative project with i-D. The global superstar has collaborated with the magazine on a one-off zine to celebrate its 40-year anniversary.

Rihannazine highlights a cast of brilliant changemakers who are set to re-shape culture and their communities in 2020. For the issue, Rihanna and i-D handpicked 43 inspirational people across fashion, art, cinema, music and activism from musicians Kelela and Tommy Genesis, and models Adut Akech, Adwoa Aboah and Gigi Hadid to writers Roxane Gay and Zadie Smith, as well as activist and founder of the #MeToo movement, Tarana Burke.

The 144-page zine also features interviews with rising actress and star of HBO’s Euphoria, Alexa Demie, writer and producer Lena Waithe, and RuPaul’s Drag Race star Vanessa Vanjie Mateo.

The one-off limited edition issue was shot entirely by world-renowned photographer Mario Sorrenti and will be available to buy globally January 27 with a limited run of 5,000 copies.

Alongside the zine, i-D‘s will roll out a series of videos featuring Hadid, DJ and producer Kitty Cash, and model Paloma Elsesser answering questions from RiRi herself. The Q’s include personal aspirations for 2020 and the one thing they’ve always wanted to ask her.

Speaking on the creative project, Rihanna said: “For me, this very special issue of i-D represents change and culture. It is dedicated to some of the people who are progressively reshaping communities across fashion, music, art, and activism — creating a more inclusive and diverse future.”

“Reaching this milestone deserved something monumental. Something we’ve never done before in our 40-year history,” said Alistair McKimm, Editor-in-Chief of i-D.

“Working with Rihanna, we handpicked the people featured in this project for many different reasons; they may all represent different things but what unites them is everyone featured in these pages is incredibly inspirational,” McKimm continued. “They are artists, writers, activists, musicians and women on the front lines of the fashion industry.”

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🖤 HI @badgalriri! 🖤⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ To kick off the new decade and our 40th anniversary year, i-D and the global icon that is Rihanna have collaborated on a special, limited edition issue – titled ‘rihannazine’.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ This visually-driven project is a celebration of incredible people, handpicked by Ri and i-D for their inspirational and progressive impact across culture, art, fashion and activism.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ Stay tuned throughout the week as Rihanna takes over the i-D Instagram page, interviewing those leading the charge for change in⁣ 2020.⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Hit the link in bio to preorder #rihannazine exclusively at i-Dstore.co⁣⁣⁣ 🛒⁣⁣⁣⁣ ⁣⁣⁣ [i-D SPECIAL EDITION 01 2020]⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ .⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Photography @mario_sorrenti⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Editor-In-Chief & styling @alastairmckimm⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Creative Director @lauragenninger @studio191ny⁣⁣ Casting director @samuel_ellis⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Hair creative director @yusefhairnyc⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Hair @naphiisbeautifulhair⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Make-up Kanako Takase⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ Nail technician @jennynails at @clmagency using CHANEL Les Vernis and CHANEL La Crème Main.⁣ Set design @emmaroachstudio at @streetersagency.⁣ Full credits on i-D.co⁣⁣ @badgalriri wears @fenty⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣ #Rihanna #Fenty⁣⁣⁣

A post shared by i-D (@i_d) on Jan 20, 2020 at 6:30am PST

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Cori “Coco” Gauff is coming for that “greatest athlete of all time” title. 

The 15-year-old tennis star defeated her “idol” Venus Williams in Monday’s opening round of the Australian Open 7-6 (5), 6-3. This marks their second match up, the first being at last year’s Wimbledon, where Gauff also won. 

“I definitely was more confident this time,” Gauff told ESPN following her victory. A mere six months ago, Guaff was a relatively unknown Grand Slam rookie. Now she’s on a mission “to be the greatest.” 

“My mission is to be the greatest,” Gauff told The New York Times. “That’s my goal, to win as many Grand Slams as possible. But for today, my mission was to win.”

Winning as many Grand Slams as possible means Gauff will have to best record holder Serena Williams, whom she’s yet to play at this event. Williams has won the most Grand Slam titles of all time during her career, with a total of 23 Grand Slam tournament victories and has made it clear that she wants to win another at the Australian Open.

Fortunately, Williams thinks Gauff is more than capable of being a champ, declaring that she’s a “big fan” of hers. 

“I think there are some 15-year-olds, like me, who wouldn’t know what to do at Wimbledon,” Williams said back in 2019. “Then you have a 15-year-old like Coco who knows what to do. I think she’s definitely on a different level.”

Oh, to be in the stands when this match finally does happen.

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In a historic announcement, The New York Times broke with longstanding tradition on Sunday night to endorse not one, but two Democratic contenders in the 2020 presidential election: Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. 

The paper has endorsed a presidential candidate in all but two elections since its founding, and most recently backed Hillary Clinton in 2016. 

As a cultural signifier, the “Times endorsement” still amounts to some form of political currency, and the paper’s decision to lend its support to two women candidates is a striking break with tradition. 

In an op-ed announcing the dual endorsements, the editorial board praised Warren’s singularly detailed legislative agenda and Klobuchar’s centrism, framing the decision to lend support to two candidates as a tacit acknowledgment of an increasingly factioned Democratic Party that will need to reconcile itself in order to meet the moment and win the presidency. 

“There will be those dissatisfied that this page is not throwing its weight behind a single candidate, favoring centrists or progressives,” the editorial board writes. “But it’s a fight the party itself has been itching to have since Mrs. Clinton’s defeat in 2016, and one that should be played out in the public arena and in the privacy of the voting booth.”

However, it is precisely the role of an endorsement to choose between divergent political impulses — to hold up one ideological envisioning as the most correct one. The choice to endorse two women who employ such drastically different means to achieve their ends feels like an abdication of that responsibility.

Nevertheless, the Times endorsement ends on a hopeful note: “May the best woman win.”

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Hermès, the luxury French fashion house behind the iconic Birkin bag and logo jewelry collection, has announced its first foray into makeup with the launch of Rouge Hermès, a brand new lipstick line.

Following in the footsteps of Gucci Beauty, which relaunched in 2019, Hermès is set to unveil a 24-strong lipstick collection in intense shades such as deep red, rose and coral. Manufactured in Italy, the lipsticks will be available in two popular finishes – matte and satin – with the latter said to take inspiration from the sumptuous leather finish of Hermès’ world-famous Kelly bag, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Of course, Hermès fans will know the brand’s burgeoning fragrance dynasty well, with popular perfumes such as Hermès Twilly and Eau des Merveilles. While it has already put its stamp on the beauty world, this is the first time Hermès has branched out into color cosmetics, and the new drop is already making waves.

In true Hermès style, the block-color packaging is Instagram-worthy but it is also sustainable. Made of metal and permabrass hardware, which you’ll spot on some of the handbags, Pierre Hardy, creative director of jewelry and shoes at the brand, told WSJ that he wanted the lipstick cases to be as luxe as possible in order to give them their own value. What’s more, they can be refilled time and time again. Each lipstick will retail at $67 and refills will cost $47.

Judging by the very first pictures of the collection, the lipsticks, which have been in the pipeline for two years, look brilliantly pigmented. The formula also boasts lots of natural ingredients such as beeswax to lock in moisture and hydration, and ensure better color payoff. A handy lip brush will also accompany the products.

You can find the lipstick collection, which will be available in 35 countries starting in March, in various Hermès boutiques and on hermes​.com.

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A post shared by Le temps suspendu (@hermestory) on Jan 16, 2020 at 8:13pm PST

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As we head into the Iowa caucuses on February 3, the pressure is building for the Democratic presidential candidates to distinguish themselves from the pack and convince voters that they’re the one who could finish off Trump this November. With a historically diverse electorate — one-third of voters are predicted to be non-white in 2020, up from a quarter in 2000 — the Brown & Black Democratic Presidential Forum hosted by VICE News was a deciding moment for the candidates to prove that they have the interests of communities of color in mind.

The Forum, taking place on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, was established in 1984 and is the only nonpartisan presidential forum that exclusively addresses issues faced by communities of color in the U.S., including Black, indigenous, Latinx, and Asian people. Refinery29 was on the ground in Des Moines, IA, for the event, and while it was bitterly cold outside, the excitement at hearing candidates’ concrete plans around issues such as criminal justice, immigration, maternal mortality, and economic development heated up the Iowa Events Center with energy.

Candidates on stage included Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts, entrepreneur Andrew Yang, Sen. Michael Bennet of Colorado, former Vice President Joe Biden, former Mayor Pete Buttigieg, former Rep. John Delaney of Maryland, and Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota. However, with several candidates of color — including ex-Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julián Castro, Sen. Kamala Harris of California, and Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey — having recently dropped out of the race, many believe the conversation was missing crucial voices.

The Forum was moderated by VICE News correspondents Antonia Hylton, Alzo Slade, Paola Ramos, Dexter Thomas, David Noriega, Krishna Andavolu, and Roberto Ferdman. After a thorough Q&A session with the moderators, candidates took questions from members of the audience. Then came what’s arguably the hardest part for most politicians: a segment called The Short Answer, during which the moderators volleyed rapid-fire questions, to be answered briefly. Spoiler alert: Most of them missed the memo and went on tangents instead.

Ahead, key highlights from the Forum. (If you missed the event, you can still catch the action on the VICE News Facebook page, or right below.)

Michael Bennet: the “bland white guy you’ve never heard of“

The moderators grilled Bennet on the fact that no one in Iowa seems to know who he is (he is currently polling at around 1%). He grudgingly agreed that he’s the “bland white guy you’ve never heard of.”

Pete Buttigieg knows all the words to “The Star-Spangled Banner.” (Please clap.)

Hylton and Slade pressed Buttigieg on his handling of the police force and racial issues in South Bend, IN, where he was mayor. They wanted to know why the already small number of Black police officers dwindled by half since he took office, according to a joint investigation by the Young Turks and The Root. Buttigieg admitted that his city struggled to retain Black police officers, but defended his administration by saying that its non-responses to Black officers have been taken out of context.

In case you were curious, when asked in The Short Answer to what song he knows all the words, he said “The Star-Spangled Banner,” to groans from the audience. 

“I get a lot of questions about why I removed a black police chief, almost never do I get a question about why I appointed a black police chief in the first place.” – @PeteButtigieg on criticism of how he handled policing and race as mayor of South Bend, IN #brownandblack pic.twitter.com/PaKQK19vMS

— VICE News (@vicenews) January 20, 2020

Andrew Yang thinks universal basic income will fix a lot.

Thomas brought up the fact that a number of Black economists have questioned the Value-Added Tax plan Yang has proposed to pay for his universal basic income program, which promises to give each American $1,000 a month, no strings attached. The VAT would impose a 10% levy on certain goods and services. Yang defended it by saying the VAT will be applied to things like yachts and other luxury items, but not diapers and other things “regular” people buy — and that giving everyone a grand a month will even out the higher tax.

Slade questioned Yang about his nonprofit organization Venture for America, which aims to revitalize communities through training young people to work in startups. The organization has promised to create 100,000 new jobs by 2025, but has only created 4,000 so far. What if, as president, he fails at his promises in a similar fashion? “I can do big things while I’m president,” Yang responded, to laughter from some in the audience.

If you had any doubts about his confidence, Yang left the stage shouting, “I’m gonna be president!” — Jack from Titanic-style (“I’m the king of the world!”).

John Delaney defends his existence.

“So, you’ve spent over $12 million of your own money on this campaign,” Slade said to the former Maryland Congressman, whose polls in Iowa hover at around 0%.  (“$10 million,” Delaney corrected him.) “Couldn’t you have used that money on something else?” Slade pressed him, like paying a big chunk to replace the ailing water pipes in Flint, MI, which would be estimated to cost around $55 million. He asked the question in several different ways. Delaney simply said, “I don’t think there’s anything else I can do that’s better than try to fight for the future of our country and engage in the battle of ideas,” and listed the philanthropic projects he and his wife have worked on.

Elizabeth Warren says the 2% wealth tax is good, and so is Black Twitter.

Warren invoked Dr. King when she spoke about the division President Donald Trump is sowing in the country. “This notion of turning people against people is a way to build strength for yourself,” she said. She spent the rest of her interview defending her 2% wealth tax — it would pay for universal childcare and so much more, she argued — and affirming her commitment to spending $50 billion on HBCUs (historically Black colleges and universities) if she were to become president. 

“It sounds great, but also it’s too good to be true,” said Slade of the HBCU proposal. “The question is, when it gets too hot for you and you need to compromise on some things, how do we make sure it doesn’t end up on the cutting-room floor?” 

“The pander radar goes off a bit” with that proposal, agreed Andavolu. 

Warren replied, with her trademark enthusiasm: “YES, this is what I want to do! This is what we’re fighting for! It’s a battle plan!”

In The Short Answer, moderators asked Warren, “What’s Black Twitter?” She responded, “Good!”

Backstage, Warren and Sanders seemed to have a serious disagreement…on Indian food. 

Bernie to warren: “we have a serious disagreement… on Indian food” backstage at #BrownandBlack forum @vicenews pic.twitter.com/MpRGq5fbij

— Krishna Sai Andavolu (@kandavolu) January 20, 2020

Bernie Sanders: “Medicare for All will help fix the maternal mortality crisis.”

Asked why he doesn’t have a plan that specifically addresses the Black maternal mortality crisis, Sanders answered that a single-payer healthcare system like what he is proposing with Medicare for All would help solve major crises like high maternal and infant mortality rates. “Under Medicare for All, we are going to make sure that people can go to medical school and practice the kind of medicine that needs to be practiced,” he said, i.e., help underserved communities. 

Joe Biden: “Black people love me, okay?”

While Biden is the overwhelming favorite with Black voters, according to a recent poll, Sanders is most popular with Black voters under 35, with 42% to Biden’s 30%. When Hylton asked him about this, Biden answered, “He’s not. I’m leading with all voters.” The moderators pressed him on his relationships with members of the Black community, to which he told a story about being “the only white lifeguard in the projects” and talking to his coworkers about their experiences with racism. “Just because you’re the only white guy in a community of Black people doesn’t mean you understand them,” pointed out Slade. Biden agreed, but said he had spent his entire career with the Black community, and that “they know where my heart is.” He also stressed the need for community policing to reduce police brutality.

Amy Klobuchar defends her record as a prosecutor.

Like Sen. Kamala Harris, it now looks as though Klobuchar will spend time defending her eight-year (1999 to 2007) record as a “tough on crime” prosecutor in Hennepin County, MN. During her tenure, she pushed harsher sentences for nonviolent offenses such as drug crimes, which wasn’t unusual for a prosecutor at the time but is being read as cruel or unnecessary in this age of criminal-justice reform. Fresh off a joint endorsement with Elizabeth Warren from The New York Times, Klobuchar defended herself by saying there was actually a reduction in African-American incarceration rates during her tenure. She also noted that she worked with the Innocence Project to review DNA in cases and improve witness identification, as well as interrogation practices.

In The Short Answer, moderators asked Klobuchar when she had smoked weed for the last time. “You have to go back to college days,” she replied.

When was the last time @AmyKlobuchar smoked weed?

Here’s what she told us on The Short Answer. #brownandblack pic.twitter.com/ujSibeCgCE

— VICE News (@vicenews) January 20, 2020

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Tonight on The Bachelor, Champagne Gate is out and Alayah Might Be Fake Gate is in. (It doesn’t have the same ring to it. What can you do?) This episode asks the question, “How many people have to report red flags about a contestant to the Bachelor before he takes action?” The answer? Five, and even then he won’t be sure about his decision.

But first, more Champagne Gate. The episode opens with Hannah Ann and Kelsey both crying. Natasha, who is 100 percent going to Paradise, says of the situation, “You never know when someone is going to snap, crackle, and fucking pop.” Continue with the one-liners, Natasha. Mexico is in your future. Hannah Ann and Kelsey try to talk things out. Hannah Ann insists she’s “not a champagne steal-er.” Kelsey, following in the grand tradition of reality TV stars everywhere, is primarily upset about being called a “bully.”

“It’s not about the champagne,” she says.” I don’t even really like champagne.” This seems like a major change of tune, but she was scorned by two separate bottles of champagne last week.

Meanwhile, the first one-on-one date goes to Victoria P. It involves some of Peter’s typical hometown activities: shopping for cowboy boots and hats, and going to a line dancing bar. Lest you forgot, Peter is from Los Angeles, where the show is filmed. This isn’t really what I’d expect for LA, but hey, they’ll be ready for Stagecoach. At the nighttime portion of the date, Victoria P. opens up about how her mom suffered from addiction after her father died, and how she had to take care of her sister. It really seems like a cathartic moment for her, and while Peter is supportive, it’s become clear he’s prone to making grand statements. First, he tells her about how he spoke to god about becoming the Bachelor and then saw a shooting star, which he took as a sign that he’ll find his wife… which could be her. Then he says, “I have never been inspired by someone so much in my entire life.” Obviously, this means she gets a rose, but also I’m wondering if Peter overstating everything with so many women is going to come back to bite him. (It definitely will.)

Next up is the group date, which consists of the very male gaze-y activity of a pillow fight in skimpy pajamas. Well, some skimpy pajamas. It’s hosted by Demi Burnett from Colton’s Bachelor season and Bachelor in Paradise, who gives some of the women lingerie, some of them shorts and tops, some retro nightgowns, and one a big muumuu. The final round comes down to Alayah and Sydney, the latter of whom has noted that she doesn’t like Alayah because she’s “fake.” Alayah wins by sitting on Sydney, which she describes as “an elephant sitting on a rat. How are you going to get up?” This is harsh, but it’s far from the end of things for these two.

At night, Sydney confronts Alayah by asking simply, “Do you work?” Alayah is a pageant girl, and Sydney is trying to get to the bottom of why she always seems “on” and like she’s trying to be perfect in front of the cameras and Peter. Alayah answers all of Sydney’s condescending questions seriously and without showing any offense, which is kind of amazing to see. For one, responding to someone trying to offend you by just taking them seriously is quite a move. For two, this itself is an example of Alayah knowing how to perfectly answer questions, so Sydney doesn’t get anywhere.

Sydney then turns to Peter, telling him that there are women who act different when they are on camera. But, instead of Peter asking Sydney who she’s talking about, he goes to the whole group and asks Sydney to say who she meant in front of them. (He later apologizes for this.) The only person Sydney brings up is, obviously, Alayah, and when Alayah asks if anyone else feels the same way, no one speaks up. 

This move from Sydney is normally a regrettable one on The Bachelor. The person who speaks up about someone else being there “for the wrong reasons” tends to become so involved in the drama that they get the boot, too. But in this case, Peter gives Sydney the group date rose and thanks her for looking out for him. Peter explains that he is shook from the Jed situation on Hannah’s season (without actually speaking Jed’s name), so this time, the game’s a little different. Unfortunately, this is still far from the end of things for Sydney and Alayah. 

The next day, Chris Harrison announces that there’s going to be a pool party instead of a cocktail party. The women are excited. This is usually the time when they get a bunch of flirty shirtless time with the Bachelor. But when Peter shows up, he announces that he’s not in the mood to party because “feels a little bit of doubt creeping in.” Then he sets off on an investigative journey to find out what the women who were not on the group date think about there being “fake” people in the house. Kelsey, Natasha, and Lexi, all say that they think Alayah is, at the very least, different when she’s on camera, with Lexi adding that Alayah raises her speaking voice several octaves when being filmed. In a nice move by the editors we get a clip of Alayah saying “Hiiiii!” to someone in what has to be the highest voice she’s capable of. 

Meanwhile, Sydney and Alayah are talking again, and again, it doesn’t go anywhere. Amazingly, though, Alayah says, “It’s one thing if, like, five girls are walking up to him” to talk about her being fake. Well, Alayah, Peter’s counting ‘em up, so watch out.

There’s just so much back and forth at this point. Peter makes up with Alayah. They kiss. She’s riding a high. Then he goes to talk to Victoria P., who claims that Alayah asked her to lie to producers about them knowing each other from the Miss USA competition. She also says that Alayah “was really open to all the opportunities that could come after this.” Which… aren’t they all? That part doesn’t seem as concerning, but combined with all the other stuff it’s definitely not helping her case.

“My heart says one thing, but my head’s screaming ‘stop it!’” Peter tells the camera. He then talks to Alayah again, telling her that multiple people have warned him about her. “Like, five?” she asks. Just kidding, but I wish. Adding to all the many concerns about Alayah, she says that she knows Victoria P. well, but Victoria had said she was only ever around Alayah for about three hours. Alayah also claims the producer thing was just so they would both have a better chance of being cast. Honestly, who knows what her real goal was with that one. Anyone can easily Google that they both competed in Miss USA, and while The Bachelor hasn’t historically been great about looking up contestants’ tweets or Instagrams, but I’m pretty sure they know what they’re getting when it comes to casting pageant queens. 

Peter leaves the very sad pool non-party without saying goodbye, and at the rose ceremony, he’s still bummed. (He should’ve just stuck with Hannah Brown and her glitter, but who asked me?) Victoria F., Victoria P, and Sydney already have roses and they’re joined by Kelsey, Hannah Ann, Natasha, Lexi, Madison, Shiann, Kelly, Kiarra, Tammy, Savannah, Deandra, and Mykenna. Peter is really unsure about keeping Alayah, and after talking to Chris about it, a rose is removed from the pile and Peter sends Alayah, Jasmine, Sarah, and Alexis home.

The end of the episode shows Peter talking to a producer and doubting his decision about Alayah. I can’t with this. The preview shows that she comes back, but it seems like it was her decision, not his. Of all the Bachelor tropes, the returning rejected contestant is one of the worst. We need to move on. All of us. 

Anyway, also next week, it’s revealed that Victoria F. has dated the surprise musical guest on her date! Now that’s the sort of newness we need. 

Winner of the Episode: Sydney for pulling off telling the Bachelor about a “wrong reasons” contestant so well that she got a rose for it. 

Loser of the Episode: Alayah. By a landslide.

What Chris Harrison Tells Peter During The Very Teased Finale: That every contestant was there to become an Instagram influencer. Every single one.

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One year. That’s the goal that I gave myself when I walked out of the salon last December — just minutes after chopping 10 inches off my long, waist-length hair.

After straightening my curls nearly every week for most of my life — a common practice in the Latinx community — I decided it was finally time to embrace them. For me, that meant committing to a heat-free routine for at least 365 days, a number that felt so far away at the time.

I wanted the curls that I had when I was a kid — springy, smooth, and full of shine. Instead, after years of heat damage (including the torture tests of my pageant competition days), my hair was a strange mix of waves, limp curls, and random straight pieces. After several friends recommended that I cut off the damaged ends of my hair, I found myself in the chair of New York-based curl expert Mona Baltazar, a.k.a. @themonacut, toward the end of 2018. She took my hair from mid-length to above my jawline, and I immediately saw a lot more spring in my curls. 

But that was just the beginning of my curl restoration journey. After the chop, I had to be committed to full heat-damage rehab. “Many girls have the misunderstanding that they have to find products that are going to make their hair curly,” says Baltazar. “If you’re transitioning, those aren’t your curls. You want to focus on the process of getting your real curl pattern back.” Baltazar sent me off with one final piece of advice: “You have to have patience.” I had no idea then just how much I would need.

When I got home after my haircut, I immediately tossed my straightening iron and curling wand in a bag to donate. (I did keep my blowdryer and diffuser for days it was too cold to air dry.) Then, I invested in finding the right products: clarifying shampoos, deep conditioners, and bonding treatments.

While I had heard that embracing your curls took a lot of work, I didn’t realize it would end up being more involved than my previous routine. Before my curly hair journey, I would just pick up whatever curl-defining creams were around, or straighten it at the salon so I didn’t have to style it for days. Now, I was cleansing, conditioning, deep conditioning, raking through leave-in, and then scrunching in some mousse or gelée – and if I screwed up and applied too much gel, I had to wash my hair and start all over again.

To be completely honest, there were many moments in those first few weeks when I hated my curls. They weren’t twisting the way I envisioned, the length made me feel like a wet poodle most of the time, and sometimes, I felt a sense of regret for chopping it all off.

One of the toughest moments was when I went to my first wedding after embracing my curls. Growing up, going to events was synonymous with going to the salon — mostly because of the widespread belief in the Latinx community that curly and natural textures are deemed “unprofessional” or “less elegant.” As I drove to upstate New York for the ceremony, I found myself struggling to overcome the mindset that my curls weren’t enough for the formal event. I even picked up a mini curling iron at the drugstore near the hotel the day before the wedding, tempted to style them to better match people’s expectations.

Once I got back to my hotel room, I ended up fighting that urge. That’s when I realized this challenge was about so much more than just my curls. It was about shaking off strict cultural standards and standing up for something that I wanted to do for me. Growing up in a Dominican household, my mom thought she was doing the best thing for me by getting my hair straightened every Sunday. Now, I know that the best thing for me resembles something different.

When I walked into the wedding with my curly bob, I was admittedly a little nervous. But soon, I was getting so many compliments from women pointing out that I was the only person in the room wearing my natural curls. Once I shifted my perspective to see that as a good thing, and to celebrate my individuality, I had an incredible time.

Looking back, I’m happy that I didn’t succumb to the pressure, because that would’ve meant taking steps back in my journey. “Anytime you put chemical [relaxers] in your hair or you straighten it, you’re manipulating the natural pattern of your hair, and that means you have damaged it. “ says Baltazar.

As more time passed, I started to notice my hair’s natural curl pattern emerging. Those pieces in the front that once refused to curl were perfect spirals after six months. My hair overall had more luster and shine, it had grown down to my shoulders, and I noticed way less loose hair in my shower drain after washing it.

My hair was evolving and, with that, I realized that so was my styling routine. While definition was a priority at first, it eventually became about fighting frizz and then maintaining moisture. I wasn’t scrunching as vigorously the closer I got to the 12-month mark because my curls were already defined on their own. But the best part of all was losing the urge to heat-style my hair. Even when I had to blow dry, I used the cold-air setting to reduce damage. By month eight, I developed a routine where I washed at night, laid my head strategically on silk pillowcases, and woke up to air dried curls in the morning.

When I finally reached the one year mark, I couldn’t believe that I had made it that far without flatironing my hair — which, at one time, felt like something I needed to do every week. I thought I wanted to celebrate my year-long journey by going to the hair salon and straightening my hair to celebrate its duality, but when the time came, I felt zero desire to take a hot tool to it. I love my curls and they feel representative of me now.

After 365 days, my hair is healthier — and so am I. Free from the cultural and societal standards I once felt stifled by, I now wear my curls to business meetings, on-camera, and to special events. I’m putting myself out there more at work, just celebrated a promotion, and have connected with other fellow Latinas, who like me, were struggling with their curly hair journey. When I finally found the power within myself to commit and step out of my comfort zone, it reverberated in every aspect of my life.

Patience was crucial every step of the way, and now, my curls are more defined than I ever could have imagined. Over the past year, I’ve gotten two curly cuts, perfected my hair routine to a science, and learned new techniques, like co-washing, from the incredibly supportive natural hair community.

Sure, there are days when my curls just aren’t working for me — some mornings, my strands fall flat or my frizz is on overload. But most of the time, I’m ecstatic with how they turned out. It’s a continuous learning journey to embrace everything that comes with this new chapter of self care. My hair is growing and changing, and so am I.

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