5 surprising makeup mistakes that are aging you 

Here are five common makeup mistakes Taylor sees in midlife and her easy fixes:

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Using concealer that’s too light 

Wearing a concealer that’s a shade too light for your complexion (a trend popular in the mid-2010s) can bring more attention to under-eye texture, leaving the area looking tired rather than brighter, explains Taylor. 

Quick fix: “Instead, choose a shade that works with your skin tone and use less product,” says Taylor. “I also recommend using a hydrating formula and properly prepping the under-eye area first. I love a good eye balm, because hydrated skin gives concealer a much smoother, fresher finish.”

Wearing foundation that’s too matte or light 

“For years, we were taught to go lighter with foundation and then add color back with blush and bronzer,” says Taylor. “That approach is dated.” An overly matte or too-light foundation can make your face look flat and bring attention to dryness and texture, which are more common problems as we age. 

Quick fix: “Rule of thumb: If you feel like you have to immediately run for your blush or bronzer after applying your foundation, your foundation may be too light,” explains Taylor. “Your foundation should match your skin properly, and sometimes going just a touch deeper can make the complexion look healthier and more awake.”

Using black eyeliner on your waterline

We’ve all done it. But black eyeliner in the waterline can highlight redness in the eyes (often triggered by dry eye that flares up in midlife) and make the eyes look smaller, says Taylor. 

Quick fix: “Instead, try a softer bronze or brown liner, and smudge it along the outer portion of the eye,” recommends Taylor. “It gives you definition while helping the eyes look larger, softer and more rested.”

Wearing your blush or bronzer too low 

“Placement makes a huge difference, especially as we age,” explains Taylor. “When blush and bronzer are applied too low on the face, they can visually pull the face downward.”

Quick fix: Taylor provides an analogy for blush and bronzer. “Think about rerouting traffic upward,” she says. “Apply your blush and bronzer slightly higher to create a more lifted, youthful effect.”

‘Baking’ under the eyes

“Heavy baking [applying a thick layer of powder to ‘set’ makeup before brushing it off] is not my favorite technique for mature skin, especially underneath the eyes,” adds Taylor. “If you have any texture or fine lines, powder can settle into them and make them much more noticeable.”

Quick fix: Taylor recommends applying a very light “dusting” of powder just to the areas where you need it and skipping a heavily powdered under-eye. “I also love finishing with a hydrating setting spray to help the makeup melt into the skin and bring back a fresh, more natural-looking finish,” she adds. 

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6 Natural Eye Makeup Looks for Women Over 50 That Prove That Less Is More

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3 instant makeup hacks for more youthful skin

For healthy, radiant skin in a flash, try these quick tricks:

Gently exfoliate first

“Beautiful makeup starts with good skin prep,” says Taylor. “Gentle exfoliation can help remove surface buildup and create a smoother canvas for makeup.” Just avoid over-exfoliating, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin, she adds. 

Hydrate your skin before makeup 

“I love hydrating primers, eye balms, serums and creams instead of overly matte or heavy blurring primers,” explains Taylor. She adds that when your skin is hydrated, makeup has a smoother, fresher and more natural look. 

Restore moisture with the right products 

“I always say that the right skin prep is 70 percent of the battle for a beautiful makeup application,” adds Taylor. “Look for hydrating and plumping products that help your skin look smooth and moisturized before you even pick up a foundation brush. When the skin is properly prepped, you can often use less makeup—and less makeup can look much more youthful on mature skin.”

4 affordable makeup picks Taylor recommends for mature skin

Now you know the makeup mistakes that could be impacting your look and the simple hacks that can help, but what products should you pick up? Here are a few of Taylor’s top picks:

• Global Beauty Care Hydrating Double Face Serum ($1.25) “This is one of my favorite budget finds,” says Taylor. “I discovered the Global Beauty Care Double Serum at Dollar Tree, and it has gone viral with my community. It’s become a favorite because of how affordable it is and how beautifully it works as part of a skin-prep routine.”
• L’Oréal Paris Collagen Moisture Bounce Serum ($12.79) “A very affordable option for makeup prep,” adds Taylor. “I love products that help hydrate and plump the skin before makeup, and this is a great drugstore find.”
• L’Oréal Paris Lumi Le Liquid Blush ($14.99) “A beautiful, affordable way to add that healthy, fresh-looking flush to the complexion,” says Taylor.
• Milani Cheek Kiss Cream Bronzer ($13.99) “Cream bronzer is a great choice for mature skin because it can give the complexion warmth without looking dry or powdery,” explains Taylor.

The bottom line on correcting common makeup mistakes 

Aging does not mean giving up the things you love. You can still wear the bold blush that brings warmth to your cheeks or the eyeliner that makes your eyes pop, but the way you use those products may change. And now you know exactly what to do.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Pumpkin doormat

Greet all who come to visit you with a gourd-geous mat! This $10 coir mat shaped like a bright orange pumpkin features a pretty “Welcome” inscription across the center. To complete the look, pair it with with faux or real pumpkins just outside your door. 

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Dollar General Has 'The Nightmare Before Christmas' Decor for $12 or Less!

Attention fans of Tim Burton’s 1993 film The Nightmare Before Christmas! Dollar General has amazing merchandise inspired by the movie—and it’s $12 and under! From festive Halloween pieces to nostalgic Christmas items, there’s a little something for every fan and every budget. To make your shopping a breeze, we rounded up the best The Nightmare […]

Fall mat

Pay homage to autumn’s natural beauty with this find ($10). The dark brown “Hello Fall” pops against the neutral-colored background, but it’s the detailed fall leaves and greenery that make this one a standout. It’s perfect for anyone who loves decorating their homes in a rustic style. 

Haunted house mat

Calling all spooky season fans! You can give your home a touch of Halloween magic with a captivating coir haunted house mat. The purple residence—complete with ghosts, bats, Jack-O’Lanterns and crooked windows—is sure to be a hit with trick-or-treaters on October 31. The highlight of this $10 gem? The playful “Home Sweet Haunted Home” in the center. 

‘Hey there pumpkin’ mat

For a more affordable option that still boasts plenty of charm, consider this $5 polyester option. Measuring 18” x 24,” it showcases a watercolor-style pumpkin and playful greeting. Unlike many doormats that can be visually busy, this design is refreshingly simple. 

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Score the Ralph Lauren Fall Look With Dollar General Budget Finds $5 and Under

Ralph Lauren’s take on fall decor is all about that old-money, English-countryside look—think plaid, brass, and rich autumn colors that feel collected over generations rather than bought last week. The good news: you don’t need a Ralph Lauren budget to get it. Dollar General is stocking pieces inspired by that same aesthetic for $5 and […]

Turkey mat

Thanksgiving may still be several weeks away, but there’s no better time to grab this too-cute $10 coir mat. It looks just like the iconic holiday bird! It’s sure to spark smiles as everyone comes to your home together. 

Harvest doormat

This harvest-themed treasure offers plenty of good vibes with a “Home Sweet Home” and fall leaf pattern. The best part? The polyester mat is only $5! 

Whether you love a classic design or something a little more playful, Dollar General’s doormats are an easy and low-cost way to decorate your home this season! 

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Taylor Swift Fans Think ‘Patient Zero’ Is Connected to ‘Verity’

The music video for “Patient Zero” by Taylor Swift premiered at the 2026 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) and fans are already speculating about what it means and which Easter eggs were in it. One theory that’s gaining traction claims that Swift’s new song  will appear in the new book-to-screen adaptation of Verity, the bestselling […]

For Dakota, this approach is a reflection of the way she reads. “There are a lot of people who do things like I do and they have book clubs, and I was always like, ‘Oh, the way that I read books, it’s so different,’” she shared with Bustle in 2024.“I want to fall down the rabbit hole every time I read…to invest in the book, invest in the language, invest in the references. Like, ‘Oh, what is that piece of art she’s talking about? Who’s that musician?’”

Here, check out a few of the books Dakota’s shared and discussed over the years.

‘A Little Life’ by Hanya Yanagihara

In a recent chat with Hits Radio UK, Dakota shared that A Little Life is the book she’s always recommending. “But, it’s like, a devastating novel, and people are like, ‘Why did you do this to me?’ But I think it’s so stunning.” The book revolves around four friends living in New York City, with Jude—a member of the group whose life has been colored by immense trauma—at the center of their story. 

What readers are saying: “Its brilliant writing, its broken characters, and its bleak, unforgiving story dug into my heart, into the very pores of my skin.”

‘Beautyland’ by Marie-Helene Bertino

In 2024, while chatting with Bustle, Johnson shared that Beautyland, which was her book club pick at the time of her interview, was “a book that I will recommend to people for the rest of my life.” 

Beautyland follows Adina, a woman born to a single mother in Philadelphia who grows up believing that she has ties to a faraway planet, and spends her life communicating her unique human experiences to her alien counterparts through a fax machine. 

What readers are saying: “Bertino skillfully dissects the alien nature of growing up and the complexities of human existence with dry wit, deadpan observational comedy and incisive insights into life’s little absurdities.”

‘The Bell Jar’ by Sylvia Plath

Back in January, Dakota’s book club pick was The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath, and a post shared to the TeaTime Pictures Instagram account revealed that it was “one of Dakota’s favorites.”

The Bell Jar follows Esther Greenwood, a college student who, while completing an internship in New York City, struggles with feelings of alienation and depression. Upon returning home, her mental state worsens, and this famed story chronicles her deep struggle and path toward healing while navigating the expectations of a 1950s woman. 

What readers are saying: “What it has to say about what women expect of themselves, and what society expects of women, is as sharply relevant today as it has always been.”

‘Things I Don’t Want To Know’ By Deborah Levy

During Dakota’s chat with Hits Radio UK, she shared that the book she had most recently read was Things I Don’t Want To Know by Deborah Levy. In this autobiographical tale, Levy responds to George Orwell’s famed essay “Why I Write” through a female lens, while weaving in her unique life experiences and story. 

What readers are saying: “A really outstanding, thoughtful, and engaging little book.”

‘On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous’ by Ocean Vuong

In a 2020 interview with Marie Claire, Johnson revealed that she had read On Earth We’re Briefly Gorgeous by Ocean Vuong after her friend, Carrie Brownstein, gifted it to her. The novel, which Johnson called “so beautiful,” is written as a letter from a son to his mother who cannot read, and chronicles a traumatic family history and the way that trauma carries through generations. 

What readers are saying: “Ocean Vuong will completely destroy you emotionally and then put you back together as a new person. Slaps some line breaks into this prose and it’s pure poetry. An absolute devastating banger of a novel. Bring tissues.”

Here, check out a full list of Dakota’s favorites. 

First, what is ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Season 3 about? 

Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3 is based on The Titan’s Curse, the third book in Riordan’s bestselling series. The story begins after Percy Jackson, Annabeth Chase and Thalia Grace are asked by their friend Grover Underwood to scout out two potential new demigods, Nico and Bianca di Angelo. While there, Annabeth gets kidnapped, and soon after, the goddess Artemis is taken by the same people who nabbed Annabeth. Now Percy and his friends must travel across the country to save Annabeth and Artemis before it’s too late.

Currently, The Titan’s Curse has more than 1 million ratings on Goodreads and is considered to be one of the most devastating books in the series. 

“Did the deaths in the book break me or was it Nico’s reaction after hearing about ‘someone’s’ death? I still don’t know. And I don’t think I’ll ever know,” one reader wrote in their review. “In The Titan’s Curse Uncle Rick [the fandom’s nickname for the author] introduced us to a lot of ‘dam’ [an inside joke from the book] characters. Uncle Rick is not a good man though. Why do authors introduce characters, make us fall in love with them and then BOOM! They snatch them away like their lives meant nothing to us.” 

Others argue that the book features one of the best cliffhangers of the series, but some people—including this author—think that that honor goes to The Mark of Athena, the third book in the follow-up series, The Heroes of Olympus. 

“I have a long and glorious history of cliffhangers. Even as a classroom teacher, I would always design it so that if I was telling a story, for instance, in the classroom, I would always end it with ‘and then suddenly, oh look at the time!’ It made them all want to come back the next day and have the class again,” Riordan tells Woman’s World. “And yes, they were furious at me, but most of them forgave me.” 

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Who will star in ‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3’? 

The Percy Jackson Season 3 cast will bring both old and new actors to the small screen. Returning are Walker Scobell as Percy Jackson, Leah Sava Jeffries as Annabeth Chase, Aryan Simhadri as Grover Underwood, Charlie Bushnell as Luke Castellan, Daniel Diemer as Tyson, Virginia Kull as Sally Jackson, Toby Stephens as Poseidon, Glynn Turman as Chiron and Courtney B. Vance as Zeus.

Joining are Dafne Keen as Artemis, Saara Chaudry as Zoë Nightshade, Ming-Na Wen as Hera, Hubert Smielecki as Apollo, Jesse L. Martin as Frederick Chase, Holt McCallany as Atlas, Levi Chrisopulos as Nico di Angelo and Olive Abercrombie as Bianca di Angelo.

“I honestly think it’s the best one yet. I think it’s really great. I think the new actors that we have playing Nico, Bianca, Zoë Nightshade and Artemis are great,” Riordan says. “I think they’re all amazing. I probably can’t tease anything specific, but I can tell you that it came together beautifully, and I think you’re going to enjoy it.” 

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‘Percy Jackson and the Olympians’ Season 3 release date 

Episode 1 of Percy Jackson and the Olympians Season 3 will debut on Disney+ on Friday, November 20, 2026. There will be eight episodes total.

Be sure to pick up your copy of The Wild Zone, which follows Katie Kim, a new camper who is determined to figure out what happened to her missing brother, by Rick Riordan and Annabeth Oh, now wherever books are sold.

What is a facial massage and what does it actually do?

A facial massage “refers to rubbing and manipulation of the skin and muscles of the face,” Joshua Zeichner, M.D., Associate Professor of Dermatology and the Director of Cosmetic & Clinical Research in Dermatology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City, told Prevention.

“This can be done with your fingers or different types of tools or electronic devices,” he says, adding that there can be “application of skin care products to enhance penetration into the skin.” Translation for value shoppers, your own two hands qualify.

Face rollers “come in varying sizes and material and apply gentle pressure on the skin,” according to Ramya Garlapati, M.D., a board-certified dermatologist from Miami. Vibrating massagers add a deeper effect, and microcurrent devices use small electrical currents that stimulate skin and underlying muscles.

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What are the different types of facial massage?

Four techniques lead the pack. Gua sha, lymphatic drainage, buccal and acupressure each use different tools or pressure points to work the skin and muscles below.

Gua sha is “an East Asian massage technique that uses blunt objects to press and scrape all over the skin to relieve muscle tension and boost blood circulation,” according to L’Oréal Paris. Lymphatic drainage “may increase blood circulation and reduce puffiness in your face, giving your skin a glowing boost,” per Cleveland Clinic.

Buccal massage is the priciest of the bunch, involving a trained specialist “working both on the outside of your face and, wearing gloves, on the inside of your mouth simultaneously,” according to FACECO. Acupressure, on the other hand, is free. The points sit “approximately a whole finger’s length below your pupils, on either side of your nose, slightly beyond your nostrils,” per NuFace.

How does a facial massage impact the nervous system?

Facial massages may influence the nervous system through sensory pathways in the face, including the trigeminal nerve. Light to moderate massage can promote relaxation that supports vagus nerve activity. Very deep or uncomfortable pressure can push the body into a “fight-or-flight” response.

“Scientific research has finally caught up with old-world wisdom in realizing that we need to build resilience to stress, and that the signals to lower the effects of it are passed through a well-functioning vagus nerve,” Dr. Navaz Habib, author of Activate Your Vagus Nerve, told Elle.

Vernon B. Williams, MD, a sports neurologist at Cedars-Sinai, said many activities associated with calmness, including “deep breathing, meditation, massage and even the experience of awe,” effect changes in the brain “in part, through increasing vagus nerve activity.”

Other massage research has found that moderate-pressure massages can produce a parasympathetic response, including changes in heart-rate variability associated with increased vagal activity. These studies have generally looked at massage more broadly.

How often should you do a facial massage?

Once or twice a week is enough for most people who see results, according to dermatologist Loretta Ciraldo, MD, meaning your investment stretches a long way.

“If you see benefits from facial massage, and I find this is most commonly seen in younger women up to late 40s, you can do it once or twice a week,” Ciraldo told Women’s Health. A study from the National Center for Biotechnology Information found that short-term facial massage with a roller increases skin blood flow, and long-term use improves the vascular dilatation response.

How do you do a facial massage at home?

Clinique recommends starting on freshly cleansed skin with moisturizer or facial oil so your fingers glide instead of pulling, then working through the face and neck with light upward and outward strokes.

The brand’s basic sequence includes these steps.

• Warm up with small circles behind the ears, then move down the sides of the neck toward the collarbones
• Sweep the forehead upward and outward toward the temples
• Glide down the bridge of the nose and under the eyes toward the temples
• Work outward from the nostrils under the cheekbones using the index-finger knuckles
• Massage outward from the smile lines toward the ears
• Move along the jawline from the center of the chin outward
• Finish by sweeping up the neck toward the jaw

Repeat each section three to five times. “Oils are often used for lubrication to allow the hands or massage tools to glide across the skin without pulling, and these motions can be used to relax and smooth muscles, along with encouraging lymphatic drainage and circulation,” dermatologist Courtney Rubin, MD, told Women’s Health.

Lowen Ashleigh accepts an offer to finish a bestselling book series for renowned author Verity Crawford, who is incapacitated after a car accident. After moving into the Crawford home, Lowen discovers a secret, unfinished manuscript, detailing dark truths from Verity’s life. But as her view of Verity begins to shift, she’s drawn into a dangerous relationship with Verity’s husband, Jeremy. The psychological romantic thriller, which was published in 2018, is about to be released, starring Anne Hathaway, Dakota Johnson and Josh Hartnett.

While fans wait to see Verity make the leap from page to screen, there are plenty of other books to keep them turning pages—including five titles recommended by Colleen Hoover herself.

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Ali Hazelwood Recommends 5 Romance Books Fans Will Love

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‘Me Before You’ by Jojo Moyes

Louisa Clark’s life changes when she takes a job caring for Will Traynor, a wealthy young man who was left paralyzed after an accident. Once adventurous and fiercely independent, Will is bitter about how dramatically his life has changed and initially wants little to do with the relentlessly cheerful Lou.

But when Lou learns that Will has made a devastating decision about his future, she becomes determined to show him how much life can still offer. Despite their vastly different personalities and backgrounds, the two gradually form an unexpected bond that changes them both.

Although Colleen Hoover hasn’t spoken about her love for Me Before You, she did add this novel to her list of Top 10 Favorite Books on Goodreads as part of their 10 year anniversary celebration. Me Before You is a heart-wrenching romance, so it’s no surprise it landed on Hoover’s favorite books list, considering the deep and emotional novels she’s penned (It Ends with Us, Ugly Love, etc.)

What readers said: “I’m sitting here with tears running down my face having just finished this book…I’ll be chasing down more of Ms Moyes’ works.”

‘Twisted Love’ by Ana Huang

 Alex Volkov has spent much of his life haunted by a tragedy that left little room for love or emotional attachments. Ava Chen carries painful memories of her own, but unlike the guarded Alex, she remains determined to see the good in the world around her.

When Alex agrees to keep an eye on Ava while his best friend—her brother—is away and moves in next door, the two find themselves increasingly drawn to each other. Their attraction soon develops into a forbidden romance, but as they grow closer, long-buried secrets begin to surface, threatening far more than their relationship. 

What Colleen said: “I understand the obsession with the Twisted series that has fully taken over #BookTok. This story caught my attention from the jump and being that I sincerely appreciate a forbidden trope, I was sold. I love being surprised by an ending.”

What readers said: “This was so good! i devoured it in one sitting!…the chemistry was off the charts between these characters.”

‘Book Lovers’ by Emily Henry

Nora Stephens knows she’s not the heroine of a small-town romance. She’s a fiercely ambitious literary agent whose life revolves around her authors and her beloved younger sister, Libby. So when Libby convinces her to spend a month in the picturesque town of Sunshine Falls, North Carolina, Nora reluctantly agrees, hoping she might finally get the chance to become the heroine of her own story.

Instead of meeting a charming small-town stranger, however, Nora keeps running into Charlie Lastra, a brooding book editor she already knows—and dislikes—from New York City. The more often they’re thrown together, the harder it becomes to ignore their chemistry, forcing both of them to reconsider the stories they’ve been telling about themselves and what they actually want.

What Colleen said: “Undoubtedly, one of my favorite authors. A must-read for sisters.”

What readers said: “Book Lovers is my perfect romance. It will never, ever get better for me than this… I can’t get over how perfect this book was. I’m going to reread it again tomorrow.”

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Every Emily Henry Romance Novel to Read Before Summer is Over

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‘Every Summer After’ by Carley Fortune

Persephone Fraser hasn’t returned to Barry’s Bay, the lakeside town where she spent her childhood summers, in nearly a decade. After making what she considers the biggest mistake of her life, Percy fled to the city and left that part of her life behind. But when tragedy brings her back for the first time in years, she must come face to face with Sam Florek—the boy she grew up with and the man she never stopped loving.

For six summers, Percy and Sam were inseparable, their childhood friendship gradually growing into something more. Now, reunited for one weekend, they discover their connection is as powerful as ever. But before Percy can imagine a second chance with Sam, she’ll have to confront what happened between them all those years ago—and somehow find a way to forgive herself.

What Colleen said: “I devoured this book in one night and then psycho-messaged the author all my thoughts and feelings at three in the morning. It’s that good.”

What readers said: “There are some books that you know are going to be worth 5 stars even before you read the first page. And this was one of them for me.”

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‘The Secrets You Keep’ by Kate White

This psychological thriller follows Bryn Harper, a self-help author struggling to recover from a devastating car accident that has left her plagued by disturbing nightmares—dreams she increasingly suspects may be trying to warn her about something. Her husband, Guy, has supported her through her recovery, but after the couple moves into a new home, his behavior begins to change and Bryn suspects he’s hiding something.

Her uneasiness deepens when a woman hired to cater one of their parties is found dead, followed by another murder. As Bryn searches for a connection between the deaths, she begins to wonder whether the answers she’s looking for have been hiding in her nightmares all along.

What Colleen said: “I have a soft spot for thrillers; this was the perfect escape. If you need to get your heart pumping, look no further. This psychological thriller sucks you inside the world of Bryn as she begins to discover that her husband might not be who she thinks he is. This whodunit will keep you up at night, be warned.”

What readers said: “This is not my first book by Kate White and it will certainly not be the last one. I read it while having breakfast and then again while having lunch and then again before falling asleep—it’s difficult to put it down.”

What is the grunge aesthetic?

The raw, lived-in look of the grunge era is back in style, much like the rest of the ’90s. This era of counterculture and rock music was one for the books and it still lives on as a unique aesthetic, rejecting the minimalist, clean space for a DIY, imperfect look. If you’re looking to recreate, consider using darker colors like charcoal, black, brown, burgundy, forest green and navy. Keep the colors muted and moody to set the tone.

Materials for this space should be distressed, so think weathered wood, exposed brick, aged metal and worn leather. But while the space should look distressed, that doesn’t mean it can’t have a comforting, cozy feel, so grab some faux-fur blankets, rugs, faded velvet and other similar finds. The overall look should feel a bit chaotic and have a ’90s feel, so opt for nostalgic touches like string lights, lava lamps, cassettes and vinyl records.

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'90s Finds To Snag From Dollar Tree

If you lived through the ’90s, you’ve probably noticed the decade making a major comeback. Much like the return of the Y2K aesthetic, ’90s-inspired trends are everywhere—from baggy streetwear and retro hairstyles to the bold colors and playful designs that defined the era. And now, Dollar Tree is getting in on the nostalgia with affordable […]

The grunge aesthetic at Dollar Tree

Bleeding taper candle

The bleeding taper candle has the dark, distressed, and slightly unsettling appearance of a grunge aesthetic. The dripping wax is black and red, creating a raw, moody look that works well for the aesthetic and features a worn texture. Bring a touch of grunge’s rough, edgy element for an alternative-feeling space. Each candle is just $1.50, perfect for the Halloween season or to fit your new aesthetic. See the candles at work here.

Industrial gray dinnerware

Achieve the darker, edgier vibe of the grunge aesthetic with the gray dinnerware set. The charcoal color has an industrial feel and can easily be paired with other grunge decor, whether it’s black or a pop of color. The dinnerware comes with several pieces including 10.5 inch plates, 7.5 inch plates, 6 inch bowls, and 12 ounce mugs. Each item is $1.50 each, so shop the budget-friendly decor now!

Flannel-esque plaid shelf liner

Plaid is an essential piece of the grunge aesthetic and this gray and white plaid shelf liner. Keep your shelves, counters and drawers scratch-free and protected from any damage. With an adhesive backing to keep the liner in place, you can size and cut it to fit any space you need. Each roll of liner is 12×30 inches and costs $1.25, so grab one or as many as you need to grunge up your space.

Black iron candleholder

A black iron candle holder is the perfect addition for the grunge aesthetic to hold your dark, moody-colored taper candles. Whether you plan to fill this with the bleeding taper above or something a bit more simple, the candle holder will work. Available in three heights, the candle holders are just $1.25 each and perfect to display on your dinner table, your vanity or countertop. Grab one of these candle holders to complete your grunge aesthetic.

Check out your local Dollar Tree for all things grunge for just $1.50 or less!

Sitting at the top of the list is Matt Dinniman‘s The Eye of the Bedlam Bride, the sixth installment of his enormously popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series—and a book that’s currently appearing among Goodreads’ most-read fantasy titles as well. It’s followed by Fury in Death, the newly released 63rd installment in J.D. Robb’s long-running futuristic mystery series.

But this week’s list isn’t dominated by new releases. Emily St. John Mandel’s 2022 Sea of Tranquility and Becky Chambers’ 2021 A Psalm for the Wild-Built continue to attract readers years after publication, while Alexis Patton’s new Us Defiant Few completes her dystopian Us Dark Few trilogy.

Here are the five sci-fi books Goodreads members are reading most this week—and what their authors have said about the stories and their inspiration for them.

1. ‘The Eye of the Bedlam Bride’ (July 2, 2023)

Author: Matt Dinniman
Publisher: Originally independently published; republished by Ace/Penguin Random House

What it’s about: Book six of the wildly popular Dungeon Crawler Carl series finds Carl and Princess Donut reaching the dungeon’s eighth floor, where the surviving crawlers face a bizarre new challenge: capture six dangerous monsters that will be transformed into cards for an increasingly deadly game. Among the potential catches is Shi Maria, the terrifying Bedlam Bride. And as Carl and Donut have learned repeatedly, the dungeon’s rapidly deteriorating AI is perfectly capable of making an already impossible situation even worse. Dinniman originally independently published the book in 2023; Ace released its hardcover edition in May 2025.

Matt Dinniman says: “When I first started writing [Dungeon Crawler Carl], I was writing a very simple straightforward story about a dude and his cat on an alien game show. I wasn’t anticipating such a complicated overarching political plot. As I started working and going on, that’s kind of what happened. [But] I kind of make it all up as I go along with no outline and no plan. It’s how I prefer to write. Because of that, I have to keep track, or I simply wouldn’t be able to make it work. It’s like doodling on a giant canvas.”

“I’ll start writing something and discover, ‘Oh, I need to know about the Queen’s corgis,’ for example. Then I’ll find a Wikipedia article or a short documentary on YouTube and I’ll watch it while I’m sitting in bed.” A perfect example was a Patreon choice for the setting of book six. “They picked Cuba of all the countries in the world for the characters to land in. I knew nothing about Cuba. I had to get books. I had to watch hours of YouTube videos, researching everything.” (Goodreads)

Note: Matt Dinniman is simultaneously showing up at the top of Goodreads’ current fantasy rankings.

2. ‘Fury in Death’ (September 8, 2026)

Author: J.D. Robb
Publisher: St. Martin’s Press

What it’s about: The 63rd installment in J.D. Robb’s futuristic In Death series sends NYPSD homicide detective Eve Dallas after a killer capable of extraordinary violence. A wealthy biotech executive has been brutally murdered inside his supposedly secure home, apparently by someone possessing unnatural strength. What initially looks like a deeply personal killing becomes considerably more complicated when Eve uncovers suspicious money, corporate secrets and another victim. Set in Robb’s mid-21st-century New York, the long-running series combines police procedural mysteries with a futuristic science-fiction setting.

Why J.D. Robb made this series sci-fi: “I wanted to try something a little different. I love writing romance and suspense, but I also wanted a twist. The near-future setting provided this and allowed me to more or less create a world. What would it be like in 2058? I could decide. And I could illustrate my own feeling that while the toys may change, people remain basically the same. they still love and hate and covet, they still have courage and cowardice. They’re still human. And these are not just books about murders. They’re about interaction and relationships and the evolution of characters.”

3. ‘Sea of Tranquility’ (April 5, 2022)

Author: Emily St. John Mandel
Publisher: Alfred A. Knopf

What it’s about: Spanning centuries, Sea of Tranquility connects an Englishman’s strange experience in the Canadian wilderness in 1912 with a novelist living on a moon colony hundreds of years later and a detective investigating an anomaly in time. At the center of the mystery is an eerie moment involving violin music, a forest and an airship terminal that appears to cross the boundaries of time. Mandel mixes time travel, pandemic fiction and questions about the nature of reality into a story whose characters’ lives intersect in unexpected ways.

What Emily St. John Mandel says of the origins of this book: “My book The Glass Hotel came out in March 2020, and in the months before publication, I’d started to play around with autofiction. I’d been wanting to write about the experience of the long-haul book tour, which is both an incredible privilege and a very weird, very specific kind of business trip. Then Covid hit, and it lent me a kind of creative recklessness. I thought, ‘Why not try things that I never thought I’d try before? Everything’s awful, so I’m just going to write whatever I want.’ [Laughs.] At the same time, I thought, maybe that’s what the autofiction could be for: Using a sci-fi lens, maybe I could talk about the experience of the approaching pandemic.”

“I’d also been wanting for a really long time to write a time travel story. But the problem with time travel narratives is that they kind of fall apart under close scrutiny most of the time. Time travel creates an infinite loop, removing both cause and effect and free will from the equation, which is disastrous for fiction. That’s where the simulation hypothesis comes into play. The way to make time travel work for myself, as the writer, was to have a character in the year 2400 saying, ‘We don’t really understand why time travel works as well as it does. We feel like it should always create an infinite loop, and we think maybe the fact that it works at all is evidence that there’s something else going on here and we’re living in a simulation.’” W Magazine

4. ‘Us Defiant Few’ (September 1, 2026)

Author: Alexis Patton
Publisher: Bloom Books

What it’s about: The concluding volume of Patton’s Us Dark Few trilogy returns to Khalani and Takeshi following their escape from imprisonment—but Takeshi has lost his memory. As Khalani tries to help him rediscover both his feelings for her and his commitment to humanity, their search for the mysterious Project Helix could determine whether humans can reclaim Earth’s surface. The dystopian science-fiction romance mixes artificial intelligence, climate devastation, warring revolutionary factions and a relationship whose survival has become almost as uncertain as humanity’s.

What Alexis Patton says of the series’ inspiration: “I love video games and dystopian books. The Giver was a huge inspiration for me as well as Divergent. When I played the game Horizon Zero Dawn, that really inspired me to lean into a post-apocalyptic world and figuring out what happened to cause the mass destruction. Ultimately, I had a dream about the characters in my book and I knew the dream took place in prison. It really stuck to me so I created a story around that dream and these influences.” (lgjenkins.com)

5. ‘A Psalm for the Wild-Built’ (July 13, 2021)

Author: Becky Chambers
Publisher: Tor.com Publishing

What it’s about: Centuries after the robots of Panga gained consciousness and disappeared into the wilderness, tea monk Sibling Dex leaves the city in search of something they can’t quite define. Their journey brings them face-to-face with Splendid Speckled Mosscap, a robot who has ventured back into human society with one deceptively simple question: What do people need? The first Monk & Robot novella uses their developing friendship to explore purpose, contentment, humanity’s relationship with technology and the possibility of building a kinder future.

What Becky Chambers says of her inspiration for this book: “So many different bits and pieces went into Psalm. A lifelong love of robots. A strong itch to write something solarpunk. Growing up in Los Angeles and living in the woodsy middle of nowhere now. Lapsed Catholicism. Road trips with my wife. Studio Ghibli movies. A bone to pick with the idea that technology and nature are fundamentally at odds. A soft spot for tea, farms, cob houses, bugs, green roofs, and overgrown buildings. A desire to write something that serves as pure comfort for an adult audience.” (lapl.org)

Why perimenopause and menopause cause hair changes

During perimenopause, the transitionary period leading up to menopause, and menopause, the official period when you’ve gone a year without a period, your hormone levels fluctuate and the ovaries start producing less estrogen. The result: hot flashes, mood changes and, yes, even hair changes, explains Aamna Adel, MBBS, MRCP, PgCERT, founder of Rhute and a consultant dermatologist specializing in hair loss across all ages.

“Estrogen plays an important role in supporting the hair’s growth cycle, fullness and density,” adds Kim Nichols, MD, FAAD, a Harvard-trained, board-certified dermatologist that treats both cosmetic and medical skincare concerns. “As estrogen levels fluctuate and eventually decline, hair may spend less time in its active growth phase. As a result, some women may notice their hair becoming thinner, drier, less dense or more prone to shedding. Aging itself also affects the hair follicles, so what we’re seeing is often a combination of hormonal changes, genetics and the natural aging process.”

Beauty

What Is Water Misting for Gray Hair? This Simple Styling Hack Will Give You Shiny, Soft, and Silky Locks

Restore the shine.

Fast fixes for perimenopausal hair changes 

So, what are a few key hair changes you can expect? We asked dermatologists to break down what might happen and why, and hair experts for their best instant hacks to help.

Coarse hair or frizziness? Try an ACV rinse 

“Many women notice their hair feels different during this time, often drier, coarser or more wiry, and sometimes with a change in how much wave or curl it has,” explains Dr. Adel. “This happens partly because falling oestrogen is associated with subtle changes in the structure of the hair as it grows, and partly because the scalp produces less natural oil, so the hair isn’t as well lubricated and can feel rougher and more brittle.”

The fix: Amerah Underwood, co-owner and stylist at UMI Salon in New York City, offers an instant hack to make dry hair softer and smoother. “Finish your shampoo with a cool, acidic rinse,” she says. “Mix a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar (ACV) into a cup of water and pour it over your hair. Hormonal shifts make the hair cuticle rougher and more open, and the low pH snaps it flat so hair feels silkier and reflects more light. Follow with your conditioner as usual.”

If the texture change you’re noticing is more frizz, Antonio Velotta, New York-based celebrity hairstylist, has a tip. “Don’t keep brushing frizz,” says Velotta. “Press it down. I like to put a tiny amount of smoothing serum gently on the hair, blow dry it in and use a flatiron just at the frizzy parts (especially at the roots.)”

Thinning hair? Blow dry this way

“Hair thinning is very common during perimenopause and menopause,” says Debra Jaliman, MD, New York City cosmetic dermatologist and author of Skin Rules. “The hormonal changes can cause more hairs to enter the resting phase of the hair cycle and can shorten the amount of time that hairs remain in the growth cycle. Women may notice that their ponytail feels thinner and they see a widening of their part. Some women also notice increased hair shedding. The individual hairs can also become shorter and finer.”

The fix: “I like to blow dry the roots in the opposite direction where the hair falls,” says Velotta. “Pin it up and let it cool down.” He also says a volumizing dry shampoo can help, and recommends the b.pure Volume & Body Dry Shampoo ($3.00) if you’re looking for a Dollar Tree steal. 

Gray hair turned brassy? Try a shampoo trick

“Grey and white hair has lost its pigment (its natural colour), which makes it more porous and more prone to picking up tones from the environment. So things like sun exposure, mineral deposits in hard water, product buildup and pollution can leave it looking yellow or brassy,” says Adel. “Grey hair also tends to be drier, partly because the scalp produces less oil around this time, and drier, more porous hair holds onto those unwanted tones more easily. So it’s less about menopause directly and more about the nature of greying hair combined with everyday environmental exposure.”

The fix: Purple shampoo. Just “Don’t use purple shampoo straight,” says Underwood. “Mix a small amount into your regular conditioner and leave it on for two to three minutes. Gray hair is more porous during menopause, so it grabs pigment fast, and straight purple can leave it dull or lavender. The blend cancels the yellow while keeping the hair soft and bright.”

Beauty

Long Hair Over 50? Why Not? Here’s How to Flaunt It If You’ve Got It

Hair longer than shoulder-length used to be taboo for women over 50, but times are changing

The bottom line on hair changes during perimenopause and menopause

Whether entering perimenopause or menopause has meant developing a new routine around your skincare, your sex life or even, yes, your hair, it can take some getting used to. But not all changes are bad, like getting to explore more curls than you used to have. And for the ones you don’t love, there are “hair hacks” that make an instant difference, helping you feel like yourself again.

Ready for more inspiration? Subscribe to our YouTube channel for video podcasts, health tips and uplifting stories designed for women 40, 50, 60 and beyond.

Hazelwood’s first and most popular novel—The Love Hypothesis—initially began as Star Wars fanfiction, eventually becoming the BookTok sensation and No. 1 movie on Prime Video. Plus, with her sequel to the book, The Two-Body Problem, on the way in 2027, you know she is deeply immersed in the romance world. 

So, if you adored The Love Hypothesis as much as we did and enjoy her other STEMinist (STEM and feminist) novels, check out the books the romance author has recommended for your next read while you wait for her follow-up.

Entertainment

Every Emily Henry Romance Novel to Read Before Summer is Over

Emily Henry is one of today’s most popular romance authors. With more than  10 million books sold and five adaptation deals, the 34-year-old is truly a force to be reckoned with. Whether you’re drawn to friends-to-lovers tales, fake-dating stories, small-town romances or all three, Henry has a book that will leave you swooning. Here, we’ve […]

Ali Hazelwood’s recommendations

‘Georgie, All Along’ by Kate Clayborn

Georgie, All Along is the perfect small-town romance for all of Ali Hazelwood’s fans. The story follows longtime personal assistant Georgie Mulcahy who has always put others ahead of herself. But when she finds herself back in her home town and away from the chaos of her life in L.A., she’s met with the blank page that is her own hopes and dreams.

Discovering an old diary, full of possibilities she once dreamed of, Georgie is inspired to make them happen and get her own life on track. Soon enough, she meets Levi Fanning, former town troublemaker and current hermit, who offers to help Georgie complete her list. But through all of their time spent together, Georgie discovers that what she really wants might be right beside her.

What Ali said: “So I just finished this book and I’m a bit shell shocked at how good it was so this review is not gonna be coherent at all, more like an unhinged list of all the things that made me fall so hard for this book…but kate clayborn takes a simple story and makes it SO SPECIAL AND MAGIC AND CHARMING…”

What readers said: “This time, instead of a review, I’d like to just leave a big, fat, red heart emoji, if that’s okay with you guys. Because – this book!!! This beautifully written, hilarious and wholesome book!”

‘Marlowe Banks, Redesigned’ by Jacqueline Firkins

Marlowe Banks, Redesigned shows you that failure and forgiveness are a part of life and sometimes you just need a little redesign. 

Marlowe Banks is going through it: her engagement just ended, critics tore apart her latest costume design, she has overdue student loans and her parents are disappointed. So, Marlowe takes the failure and shoves it down by relocating from New York City to Los Angeles in an attempt to hide. 

After getting a job as a production assistant on a popular TV show, a costume mix-up pushes Marlowe in front of the camera, where she shares a heated look with the show’s star and bad boy, Angus Gordon. As they’re forced to be together on set, Marlowe has to decide whether it’s better to stay in the shadows or give her life a redesign. 

What Ali said: “Okay, this book is my child now, I have adopted her, we will grow old and happy together on a diet that’s 99% serrated strawberries���The thing I liked the most about the book… is the theme of failure and dealing with criticism.”

What readers said: “I LOVED both of these characters!! They are so well developed that I felt like I knew both!! I adored the banter and wit!! I really didn’t want it to end!”

‘If You Ask Me’ by Libby Hubscher

Violet Covington is the author of a popular advice column, Dear Sweetie, where she offers polite solutions to every situation. But when she discovers that her husband has been cheating on her, Violet turns to her column as an outlet for her frustrations—which quickly goes viral. 

Another solution for her venting? Burning her ex-husband’s clothing in her front yard, which draws firefighter Dez to put out the flames. While her boss and ex-husband are looking for the old, sweet Violet to return, Dez appreciates her just the way she is. Although she finds herself at odds with her former self, Violet considers that this new version might be the way to find her own happy ending. 

What Ali said: “Incredible book. Libby Hubscher is just so good at writing stories that are both funny and moving–I am IN AWE.”

What readers said: “I read Meet me in paradise last year and now this one and I can safely say I will read anything Libby Hubscher writes! I LOVED this book so much!!!”

‘The Ex Talk’ by Rachel Lynn Solomon

Shay Goldstein has been at her Seattle radio station for nearly a decade and she loves it—until Dominic Yun joins the team and acts like he knows everything about being on the radio. The two clash and when the struggling station needs a new show idea, Shay has a concept that her boss loves: The Ex Talk, featuring two exes who deliver relationship advice live. 

But when her boss suggests that she and Dominic portray the exes because the two of them already can’t stand her, the two have no choice but to take on the challenge—or lose their jobs. Although they don’t like lying to the listeners, Shay and Dominic are good at faking their history and the show skyrockets. But when lines get blurry and feelings become real, revealing the truth can do more harm than good.

What Ali said: “I have read it, and if you are a fan of romcoms, or romance, or excellent writing—basically, if you enjoy anything that’s good in life, I can guarantee that you are going to LOVE it, and therefore you should read it too.”

What readers said: “TRULY a fun little delight! Reading The Ex Talk made me feel the exact same way that watching How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days / 13 Going on 30 makes me feel…This is romcom material.”

‘From the Jump’ by Lacie Waldon

Liv Bakersfield does everything she’s supposed to do. She’s financially responsible, works out, is a good person and she takes her job seriously—maybe too seriously. Overworked and tired, Liv is about to miss out on yet another trip with her college best friends. But when she finally decides to start saying no, Liv relishes it by quitting her job and heading to South Africa on vacation. 

Everything is perfect there, from the sights to spending time with her friends and, of course, her friendship with the emotionally unavailable Lucas Deiss. But when they head back to L.A., Liv realizes her whim decisions weren’t all that smart, sending her right back into Lucas’ life. Now, she has to decide whether she should get back on the right track or risk it all by taking the jump. 

What Ali said: “Sweet swoony and suuuuuuuper romantic amazing story on the importance of trying to step out of our comfort zone, and of course, I loooove friends to lovers stories! super recommend!!”

What readers said: “Lacie Waldon’s sophomore novel strikes a perfect balance between romance, friendship, family and discovering who we all are once we drop our carefully crafted facade.”