Beauty is what you buy

By now it shouldn’t come as a surprise that sexting can be great for your relationship. Whether you’ve been in a relationship for a while or you’re just starting something new, sending flirty, dirty messages is a great way to spice things up and keep them fresh — especially if you and your partner are long-distance. The thing is, not all of us are master sext crafters; some of us need a little inspiration when it comes to sexting ideas.

What is sexting?

Exactly what it sounds like, texting that centres on sex. Whether it’s sexual flirting, detailing sexual fantasies, or texting that’s designed to turn someone on.

It can be difficult to overcome feeling awkward, stilted, or stale when you’re trying to start (or continue) a sexting session. That’s why we turned to sex therapists Dr. Liz Powell, Vanessa Marin, and Mal Harrison for expert tips on how to bite the bullet and commit with the confidence of a sexting pro.

How to sext

“People might think, ‘I don’t know what to say’ or ‘I’m not creative,’ but you don’t have to dive in with all these kinky, dirty things,” Marin tells Refinery29. It’s true that sexting can make people uneasy, but it doesn’t have to be daunting: It can be playful and silly. And it should be fun.“Find a specific language you feel comfortable with,” Marin says. “If you’re not comfortable with being too explicit from the get-go, that’s okay — just start slow. I think the best way to get started is just by looking at examples.”

Here, experts share their favorite sexting ideas to get you going. Click through to view them and gain some sext inspo to send to a very lucky recipient.

This article was original published in August 2023 and has since been updated.

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There are countless online sales to keep up with around the Fourth of July, but the annual Ulta Big Summer Beauty Sale occupies a special place in our hearts (and browser tabs). The three-week event, running from June 29 to July 19, is the perfect opportunity to score both summer beauty essentials and investment purchases at deeply discounted prices. What we love about this sale is how it encompasses a wide array of brands across almost every product category, including makeup, skincare, fragrance, hair care, and various beauty tools. There are a handful of offers running throughout the sale period, as well as limited-time deals unveiled week-to-week, to keep our shopping senses tingling.

Everything from your favorite cleanser to your go-to sunscreen — even viral K-beauty finds that have recently landed stateside — is now discounted at up to 40% off. The timing can’t be more ideal to strategically restock your beauty cabinet ahead of the peak summer season. But with thousands of deals on Ulta’s sale page, there are a lot of products to sort through. Fear not: we have done the legwork for you and consolidated all the best products to cart up. Read ahead to find out what goes on sale when, plus our editor-approved lineup of on-sale products.

Skincare, Body Care & Suncare: Buy One Get One 40% off

Mediheal Madecassoside Blemish Pad, $24 $14.40

When: June 29 to July 19

Ulta is offering buy one, get one 40% off across its sun care, skincare, and body care sections, and it’s definitely worth a scroll. Some of our most-loved affordable skincare brands like Naturium, RoC, and CeraVe are included, making it the perfect time to restock your favorite cleansers and body lotions. At the top of our list? Mediheal’s toner pads, a viral K-beauty staple packed with skin-soothing tea tree essence. They help keep redness and summer breakouts at bay.

$100 Off Shark Beauty

Shark Beauty FlexStyle Air Styling & Drying System, $349.99 $249.99

When: June 29 to July 19

Shark’s FlexStyle is an absolute haircare hero in our book. Its powerful air-flow technology and comprehensive family of attachments can style your hair straight or curly in no time, without causing any heat damage. If you’ve been waiting for the right moment to hit “add to cart”, we have great news: you can now knock $100 off this beloved blow-dry tool.

Up To 40% Off Select Fragrance

Marc Jacobs Perfect Eau de Toilette, $137 $82.20

When: July 6 to July 12

It’s pretty rare to see a big chunk knocked off the price of this classic Marc Jacobs scent outside of Black Friday or Cyber Monday. The invigorating blend of peppercorn, cedarwood, and white daffodil never fails to lift our mood and makes for a refreshing summer perfume. You can enjoy 40% off select products from Ulta’s fragrance section until July 12.

30% Off Skincare Tools

Solawave 4-in-1 Radiant Renewal Skincare Wand, $169 $118.30

When: June 29 to July 5

If you’ve been thinking about investing in a skincare tool, keep your eyes peeled as the retailer has expanded this year’s sale lineup. Solawave’s skincare wand is one to watch, given its ability to boost collagen production and leave the skin brighter, clearer, and firmer. Given how pricey this gadget is, getting over a quarter off the price is a dream. If you’re looking for something that can help you achieve more radiant skin, the brand’s red light therapy eye mask will also be 30% off.

Up to 40% Off Jumbo Haircare

Olaplex No.4 Bond Maintenance Hair Shampoo, $56 $28

When: June 29 to July 19

Jumbo-sized hair care from the likes of Redken, OUAI, and Pureology will be marked down by 40%. Summer activities can do a number on the hair, which is why we’re eyeing Olaplex’s No.4 Shampoo, which gently cleanses while making hair stronger, shinier, and easier to manage with every wash. With such a hefty discount, now’s the moment to snag a bottle (or two).

40% Off Mascaras

Fenty Beauty Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara, $20 $12

When: July 13 to July 19

For the final week of the sale, Ulta will be slashing 40% off a bunch of top-selling mascaras. Our eyes are firmly on Fenty’s Hella Thicc Volumizing Mascara, which impressed us with its moisturizing yet weightless formula and lasting power. We will be stocking up on 40%-off mascara across several other brands, too, including Tarte, IT Cosmetics, and Smashbox.

Buy One Get One 50% Off Curl Products

PATTERN Deep Scalp Detox, $29 $14.50

When: June 29 to July 19

Ulta’s BOGO sale is a great way to stock up on your everyday beauty essentials, since you can purchase multiple units of the same product and receive half off. We have spotted a few cult-favorites from the retailer’s curl products lineup, such as Pattern’s Deep Scalp Detox, a detoxifying pre-shampoo serum rich in tea tree oil, pink clay, and lemon peel oil. It’s a winner for refreshing your scalp between wash days.

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Just five months ago, Mexican firefighters were rushing to Los Angeles to keep the city  from burning to the ground. Now, before there’s even been time  to process or heal from that trauma, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is targeting undocumented immigrants with brutal raids. Since Friday, June 6, the organization has violently seized 330 people. Immigrants are living in fear — of showing up at graduations, churches, grocery stores and their places of work. This fear, of course, isn’t new, but it’s currently being magnified in cruel ways. It feels like there is no safe space. To make matters worse, we’re seeing this play out in real time with every video, every post, and every update with social media making it impossible to avoid. The cycle doesn’t just happen once, it replays and retraumatizes us each time.

Colombian therapist Cristina Castrillón, LMFT, says these conditions can trigger and further traumatize immigrants — many of whom have already experienced  the trauma of leaving their homelands and families behind. Castrillón also points out that immigrants, particularly people of color, are more prone to complex post-traumatic stress disorder (CPTSD), which studies have found can result from experiencing long-standing trauma.

“Then there’s the social and economic adversity of being undocumented, being impacted by things like food scarcity,” Castrillón adds. “There might also be more chances for higher substance abuse.” According to the therapist, there is no shortage of trauma for immigrants. “This is especially true for folks who fled their homelands due to violence — like people from Central America.”

And now, it’s happening all over again.

On that fateful Friday in June, entrepreneur, educator and immigrant rights organizer Sharet García witnessed one such ICE raid unfold in downtown Los Angeles’ Piñata District, a neighborhood that’s long been home to countless Latine immigrant-owned businesses over the years. She was shopping for decorations for her son’s high school graduation party when she witnessed the raid take place.

“ICE had just trapped all the workers inside this fashion apparel company,” she tells Refinery29 Somos. “I knew that we needed to record this. We couldn’t stay quiet; I wanted the people to know.”

Even though she’s undocumented herself, García — founder of UndocuProfessionals, which serves as a safe space for undocumented students and professionals — knew she had to stay at the scene. But, more importantly, it was clear she could not do it alone. She would need to rally her community.

“They lined up 30 to 40 people there,” she says, adding that some of the detained workers’ daughters were present. The children reassured their parents that they were in this lucha together, and that they would never stop fighting for them. “It was really hard to see that, but we wanted to make sure that we recorded everything. And that’s when everything started happening.”

Slowly but surely, people showed up to protect the Piñata District workers. Ultimately, García says, it became difficult for ICE to detain people because the crowd was “not allowing them to just easily leave.”

This solidarity isn’t lost on the people of L.A., who are currently turning out in troves to protest the military occupancy in their sanctuary city. One Latine Angeleno, who requested to go only by the name of Crystal, has attended several protests in the city and can vouch  they are not nearly as violent as certain media outlets portray.

To be clear, seeing these images — whether you are undocumented or not, whether you love someone who is undocumented or not — harms folks mentally and emotionally. And the cruel truth is:  that’s the point. “[Seeing violent footage] just further creates a narrative that makes us feel alienated,” says Castrillón. “Think about what that does to someone’s sense of self, worth, identity and belonging.”

In short, this dehumanizing treatment rips apart our self-esteem and sense of security to shreds. It can lead to higher rates of anxiety, depression and relational issues. Some people have even left the country in what’s being called “self-deportation,” because they no longer feel safe in the U.S. Other people are experiencing vicarious trauma when they see their loved ones in fear or hear them talking about their trauma, she adds.

But, as always, the community protesting these immoral ICE raids proves that they’re not criminals; they’re just trying to do what’s right.

“There are people carrying and passing around water and snacks,” says Crystal, who also notes that some folks are acting as medics, carrying first-aid kits, masks, and goggles, and treating people who have been wounded by rubber bullets. “I feel like that’s what’s not being credited, not being shown. It’s a very different experience being there than watching it.”

A large percentage of immigrants and folks on the front lines are Latine. But make no mistake, these ICE raids are not just a Latine or “raza” issue. While it’s true,  Latinos account for a majority of immigrant communities, we’re not the only ones impacted.

According to a Pew Research Center analysis of U.S. Census Bureau data: “A third of all Latinos in the United States — an estimated 21.4 million people — are immigrants.” That’s roughly 45% of the nearly 50 million immigrants currently living  in the U.S. The next largest group? Immigrants  from Asian countries, who make up 28% of the U.S. immigrant population. This doesn’t account for immigrants from African, Caribbean, Middle Eastern or European nations. And just for context: less than 10 miles from the Piñata District, in Mid-City, you’ll find L.A.’s Little Ethiopia.

Each and every single immigrant is equally important in this struggle. Every immigrant’s story matters. Every community is part of this fight.

Edwin Sotos, an immigrant rights and community organizer knows this firsthand. He says these are the people who have long been on the front lines, often undocumented themselves. But even those committed to the work are feeling the weight. Castrillón says, many in the movement  may have experienced or are currently experiencing compassion fatigue.

“People are really feeling burned out, fatigued, unable to continue, or needing moments to themselves to pull away from the work,” she says, adding that keeping up your “self-care is necessary, because it is becoming so pervasive, there is no break — especially for people on the front lines.”

Sotos agrees, pointing out that people in the immigrants’ rights movement have always felt a lot of feelings. “For one, I feel very inspired to see how people are becoming very aware of how ICE has been treating our communities and how violent and terrorizing they are towards our community, and that the community is standing up against them and fighting back,” he says. “I feel that if we had this type of awareness 10 to 15 years ago, a lot of our work and advocacy would be very different.”

Sotos also feels upset and concerned with how some influencers and content creators have responded. “They either center themselves and erase immigrant voices or overlook and ignore the work that we have done as immigrants and documented people to get [to] where we are right now.”

Overall, though, Sotos attests this time is more intense. “I’m definitely concerned at how different and how much more violent this round of ICE raids are in comparison to what we have seen in past years. I do think that these violent attacks from ICE, and the deployment of armed forces, are going to have a long-term effect on our community.”

This is why it bears repeating that the community of people advocating for immigrant rights isn’t exclusively Latine.

“In our fight for immigrant rights, we have to include [folks from other countries], too,” Soto says. “At some point, they are struggling with the same issues. Immigrants come [to the U.S.] from almost every country in the world, and from different races and different ethnicities, cultural and racial backgrounds.”

To that end, Sotos spotlights a few resources for undocumented people who may not identify as Latine:

The UndocuBlack Network: Black immigrants who organize communities and advocate for policy changes

National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC): Korean and Asian American immigrants fighting for social, economic, and racial justice

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California: Civil rights advocates for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community

Even so, it’s irrefutable that the effect of these brutal raids are hitting L.A.’s Latine communities hard. On TikTok and Instagram, the fear is loud and visible with videos showing just how deeply these raids are shaking us. One viral clip shows an MSNBC reporter standing in an empty field — farmland usually tended by immigrant workers, now deserted due to ICE threats. Another video shows a KTLA anchor reporting on an ICE raid at a local  elementary school.

People are scared. And the same conversations aren’t just happening online, they’re happening in person, over WhatsApp and on the phone. García says she has received an increased number of calls from undocumented individuals admitting they want to protest and show their support but are worried about their safety, especially being in close proximity to la migra.

“Some people are angry about what they’re seeing, but there’s definitely a lot of fear in the community,” says García. This fear holds a lot of people back from being in public, making it even more critical for documented citizens to stand up and fight back.

Doris Anahí Muñoz, an artist and activist who previously endured family separation at the hands of ICE, says there are several things she wished she knew during one of the darkest moments of her life.

“The hardest part of a path to citizenship is how costly it is,” says Muñoz. “I wish I had known about these kinds of organizations back then. For people like my parents, they didn’t even know support like this existed.”

Thankfully, community support is growing, as a result there are more resources available including  free legal services across L.A., offering help to undocumented folks in need. Some of these organizations include:

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA): Diverse immigrant families and individuals whose mission is to achieve a just society fully inclusive of immigrants

UCLA Civil Rights Project: Legal services networks, nonprofits and private practice attorneys who can assist undocumented residents needing legal assistance

Chicas y Cafecito Community Resources Los Angeles: A round-up of helpful phone numbers and legal services for immigrants

At the end of the day, mental health experts and community organizers also acknowledge and agree: this work is heavy and it is important for the people in this fight to take care of themselves and each other. One of the best and most important ways to do just that is to find moments of joy.

“Our true community efforts are the most important in this. We really need each other right now to keep this movement going,” says Muñoz. Naturally, people are doing this — dancing in the street, hyping each other up and chanting like the ancestors are watching.

Sotos admits, it can be difficult for organizers and community advocates to center their own emotions and well-being since their primary focus is fighting injustice. “But I will say that I have been sleeping and resting more because I’ve been very tired. Also, being in community spaces and connecting and checking in on my friends and my family has been very helpful,” he says.

“We’re validating each other, sharing that we are there together and that we’re going to defend and protect the community. But we’re also going to be there to connect, uplift each other and hear each other out.”

Castrillón encourages folks to have self-care practices on their own time, too. “Some people cannot step away from it like other folks can. Not everyone gets the privilege,” she says. But even if you only have five minutes, try to use those to check in with your body. Ask yourself: “Did I eat well today? Am I nourishing myself? Am I sleeping enough and getting enough rest? Am I getting support?’” she suggests. “Cry, be held, be seen. Go to therapy, support groups or healing circles.” These are all warm and necessary reminders that we are not alone.

Sotos echoes this truth. “I feel sometimes we are so into wanting to protect our community and advocate, and we feel like we need to be strong,” he says. “But sometimes, we just need someone to listen to us…especially in the work that we do.”

Despite attempts to erase or dehumanize immigrants, our communities continue to show up, for each other, for justice and for joy. That in itself is a powerful act. As Sotos puts it: “Being openly undocumented is my most powerful tool at this point. My mere existence as an undocumented person is my most powerful resistance.”

Resources for undocumented people who may not identify as Latine

The UndocuBlack Network: Black immigrants who organize communities and advocate for policy changes

National Korean American Service & Education Consortium (NAKASEC): Korean and Asian American immigrants fighting for social, economic, and racial justice

Asian Americans Advancing Justice Southern California: Civil rights advocates for the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community

Self-care tips from mental health professionals

Check in with yourself to make sure you’re eating, hydrating, resting and taking care of your body

Talk to friends and family to avoid the isolation that results from living and reliving trauma in person and on social media

Try to take breaks from the work to find moments of joy with the people you love

Find and attend an immigrants rights support group, workshop or healing circle

Where to donate

Mijente PAC: Political action committee comprised of Latinx and Chicanx people who seek racial, economic, gender and climate justice

The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights (CHIRLA): Diverse immigrant families and individuals whose mission is to achieve a just society fully inclusive of immigrants

InnerCity Struggle Eastside Immigrant Families Mutual Aid Fund: Mutual aid distribution fund to alleviate the increased financial burdens placed on families most affected by the ongoing ICE raids

La Puente Mutual Aid: East L.A. mutual aid community that supports working class people with free groceries, haircuts, and STD screenings

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An audience of 130 people cheered infectiously at the big screen as they enjoyed cocktails, bar food and conversation with strangers at 275Park in Brooklyn, a venue typically used as a comedy club.

This may sound like the scene from fans watching the NBA Finals, but instead, the crowd was locked in for a Love Island USA watch party thrown by Peak and Pace on Monday night as the highly anticipated Casa Amor episodes began.

“It’s usually just me screaming at the TV, but doing it with other people just made it,” said Morenda Jebo, 31, who has been watching Love Island for the past three years. “I’m not the only one who feels this way.”

Since Season 7 premiered in early June, Love Island USA has become appointment TV, racking up more than 1 billion minutes viewed. According to Deadline, about 39% of viewers are new to the franchise. Night after night, conversations flood timelines, FYPs, and group chats with real-time reactions and recaps of the drama that ensued in Fiji, where the show is filmed. On social media alone, the show has generated 54 million interactions across Instagram, Facebook, X and YouTube. As a result, Love Island watch parties have been in high demand and are popping up in cities across the country.

“It’s basically watching sports, but for reality TV,” attendee David Gilstrap said, an attendee who’d never seen the show before last Friday when his homegirls convinced him to start watching all of the reality show drama. He enjoyed it so much that he ended up binging the latest season over the weekend and pulled up to the party alone, ready to watch, holler at the screen with strangers and make new friends.

That’s music to Peak and Pacer founder Owen Akhibi Herrera’s ears.

Herrera started Peak and Pace as a run/walk club to bring people together in a healthy way after his first year moving to New York. Over time, it evolved into a community dedicated to trying new things together, including skiing, hiking, and, now, watching Love Island USA together.

“It’s a cultural moment, and it gave us an opportunity to bring our community together in a fun and unexpected way,” the founder said in a Zoom interview. “[The show] sparked so many different conversations online, and we saw the opportunity to take that digital energy into a real-life thing.”

Peak and Pace announced the watch party just 24 hours before the event and packed the venue to a max capacity of 130. Herrera said they will host watch parties at 275Park every Monday for the rest of the season.

Meanwhile, on Friday evening, Tyra McAdam also hosted a Love Island USA watch party at RumBar, a Black woman-owned bar in Brooklyn, where she works. Tired of watching the show on her phone behind the bar, she surveyed her TikTok followers to see if they’d be interested in joining a watch party. After receiving more than 26,000 views, 2,700 likes and hundreds of eager comments, that was enough for her boss to sign off on approval for McAdam to start creating Love Island-inspired cocktails for the event.

“The girls were like, ‘I want it to be where the boys are watching sports games watching Love Island,’” she said. “It’s such a community, and it’s such a girly thing. It’s so feminine.”

She credits the show’s real-time reactions and the audience’s ability to vote and influence what happens in the villa, making it perfect to watch in a sports bar setting.

“I like that it comes on every day, and we all have to watch it at the same time,” McAdam said. “It’s not like on Netflix, and you watch something before someone else. It’s almost like back in the days in the ‘90s, we all had to watch the show at the same time.”

On Eventbrite, hundreds of Love Island watch parties have been listed. Roseli Ilano, the platform’s head of community and trends, said in a statement the parties are a great example of how pop culture moments still drive real-world connection.

“Young people are craving shared experiences where they can have those immediate reactions together—the gasps, the debates, the collective investment in something happening right now,”  Ilano said. “Love Island is just the catalyst, but what they’re really after is that authentic connection that only happens when you’re actually in the same room, fully present with each other.”

A common thread between Herrera and McAdam’s parties: They’re building welcoming, inclusive and intentional spaces that prioritize joy and connection for Black audiences who can come out and have a great time near their own neighborhoods.

Though Gilstrap admits the show stresses him out and the cast makes awful decisions, he’s having more fun watching Love Island USA than he did watching the NBA Finals. He’s already considering attending another watch party before the season ends.

“The fact that you get to hang out with your friends and then talk about it, that’s what makes it fun,” he said. “That’s what keeps me watching every night. It’s purely not like the content of the show. It’s because I get to hang [out] with my friends and kiki with my homies. That’s what keeps me coming every single time.”

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As we grow older, we often forget the teachers from our early childhood, the ones who quietly shaped us and had a hand in nurturing our development long before we realized it. They might cross our minds from time to time, but if we’re lucky, the ones who truly impacted our development and growth remain with us — either throughout the journey or, in my case, reappear nearly 30 years later.

I was a shy kid, and opening up to anyone outside of my immediate family was unheard of. I still remember my first day of school. My mom and dad pried me out of the car as I kicked and screamed, begging them not to make me go into that place. Some would say I was spoiled; I say I was deeply loved at home. I just needed to feel safe, sure and a sense of comfort that someone had my back as I entered the hallways of what I considered unfamiliar territory.

That all changed in first grade, thanks to Miss Kish (as we knew her before she married and became Mrs. Spurio). She saw me. She helped me bloom. Her impact was so profound that even now, in my 30s, I find myself telling anyone who will listen how much she helped cultivate the person I would become early on. Excellence was her standard, and if you started to fall short of your best self, she gently and lovingly guided you back.

I’ll never forget the quiet transformation. From the child who cried every day during school drop-offs, I became the one begging to be dropped off early. I was proud to be her morning helper. I felt seen and wore the title with complete honor. It was then that I began to fully blossom and completely emerge from my shyness shell at school. I excelled socially and academically under Miss Kish’s watch. I won the spelling bee, was a top reader in my class, and leaned into my creativity by writing fictional stories.

I was also fully engaged when it came to class participation and exercising my public speaking skills. All those tools would later help me in life, both in social and professional settings and contribute to building my career, unknowingly honing my skill sets and inadvertently shaping my future as a journalist, both behind the keyboard and in front of the camera. By the end of the school year, that shy little girl had come in full bloom.

According to the site, We Are Teachers, “79% of students say a teacher encouraged them to follow their dreams.” I am one of them. I carried that confidence with me for years, never expecting our paths would cross again nearly three decades later. But as anyone who’s ever been deeply impacted by a great teacher knows—their influence doesn’t end with the school year. It stays with you. And in my case, it came back full circle.

Fast forward, and I received an unexpected yet pleasant surprise email from Mrs. Spurio. Every emotion came rushing in. I reread her message multiple times and sat with it for a few weeks before finally hitting reply.

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to reconnect. It was actually the opposite. I had thought about her for years and even tried doing a little research to find her, but I always came up short. Ironically, about two years earlier, during a conversation with ABC News 20/20 Co-Anchor and New York Times Best-Selling Author Deborah Roberts, I mentioned how determined I was to find my first-grade teacher. While reading her book, Lessons Learned and Cherished: The Teacher Who Changed My Life, I came across reflections from others about the educators who inspired them. That moment planted a seed and their stories got me thinking: “What would I say to Miss Kish if I ever got the chance?”

Well, I got that chance—and it was everything the little girl inside me needed. We laughed, we hugged, we shared stories and we completely made up for lost time. As I get older, I realize just how important it is to make space for what truly matters: to be present even when life tries to pull you up, down, and all around in a million directions. The reality is there will always be something for us to do, our calendars will always be full and there will always be items waiting on our to-do lists. But when someone special reappears in your life, you have to take the opportunity and make the moment happen. And that’s exactly what I did.

Let me tell you, my heart was overflowing with so much joy. I was proud that I could make it happen and honored to have done so. After some back-and-forth, our schedules aligned. I hopped on a flight back home to Ohio, where we met for dinner. And in true Mrs. Spurio fashion, she didn’t come empty-handed. She brought photo albums filled with class pictures, a birthday card I’d made her at six years old — still in perfect condition — and a story I’d helped illustrate, preserved in a plastic binder that looked like it could have been created yesterday, not nearly decades ago.

She had poured into me back then and was still doing so again unknowingly at my big age. Now, it’s my turn to pour into her.

Mrs. Spurio invested in my future without fanfare, without accolades and definitely without the financial compensation teachers so often deserve. She deserves all the flowers—not just from me, but from every child whose life she touched. And I know I’m not alone in these feelings. I spoke with a few childhood friends who were also fortunate enough to be in her class, and we all shared the same sentiment: She made learning feel like joy. She made it fun.

In making someone feel seen and special, it’s now my turn. So, if you’re reading this, Mrs. Spurio, thank you from the little six-year-old and now adult. Thank you for the lessons and the encouragement for treating your students with such kindness and care. Thank you for seeing a quiet little girl and helping her find her voice. And lastly, thank you for showing me—decades before I knew it—that believing in someone is one of the greatest gifts you can give. You helped me bloom once, and somehow, 30 years later, you did it once again.

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Damson Idris is racing straight to becoming a household Hollywood name. But no matter where his career takes him next, we can say that we saw him first. The “we” is Black women, of course, who dubbed the British-Nigerian actor as a certified Internet Boyfriend long before his starring turn in this summer’s first big blockbuster. After captivating audiences as Franklin Saint in Snowfall, Idris is shifting gears — literally — into high-octane territory with his leading role in F1, the Formula 1 racing film from director Joseph Kosinski and producer/ star Brad Pitt. Whether he’s embodying a South Central kingpin or donning a racing suit opposite Hollywood heavyweights, Idris brings depth, precision, and a quiet confidence that continues to set him apart. And as Unbothered’s very own Christa Eduafo found out when she sat down with him recently in New York City, the actor is well aware that his Black female fanbase bet big on Damson Idris stock early.

“I can’t wait for them to go on this journey with me throughout my career,” Idris said with a smile.

Here, Idris opens up about the evolution of his career, his mother’s influence as both an anchor and a humbling presence (African moms stay on brand), and the unwavering support he receives from the fans who’ve been riding with him since day one. He also teases his upcoming role in Children of Blood and Bone, the hotly anticipated fantasy epic based on Tomi Adeyemi’s bestselling novel. Between blockbuster projects and staying rooted in purpose, Idris is proving he’s not just a rising star, he’s shaping the future of Black storytelling, barrelling full speed towards superstardom — and we’re riding shotgun.

Unbothered: You’re starring in what’s going to be the blockbuster of the summer. Walk me through when you found out you were going to be in F1. Was it shock? Was it readiness? How did that feel?

Damson Idris: Man, I was in Turks and Caicos. So I was on vacation, I was looking at the sunset, and then I got a phone call: ‘Hey, do you want to be a Formula 1 driver?’ And I lost my mind. I just screamed to the heavens. This is a part that I prayed for. I dreamed of this, so being able to accomplish it, and to be at this place today where I believe we made a brilliant movie, is a dream come true.

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You mentioned prayer. You’ve said that you manifested this role. In a previous interview, you said you downloaded the Formula One game and named your player, Joshua Pierce, which is the name of your character in the film. So do you manifest often? 

DI: 100%. I understand how powerful we are as beings and with the characters that I play, I do believe that what’s mine is mine. So it’s really a feeling that I tend to chase. With Snowfall, I really wanted to work in the States and I loved those kinds of gangster movies, like Goodfellas, American Gangster and the like. And then with this movie, I really wanted to play an athlete because of my football background. But I was also ready and prepared for a movie that I believe was going to reach every corner of the world. So when this opportunity came, I knew it was mine and I wanted to do a really good job. So hopefully I made everyone proud.

You were amazing in the film. I’m a big manifestation person as well, and it’s just about knowing, just being certain, and that’s really it. So between Joshua Pierce and Snowfall’s Franklin, you play characters that have a lot of aura to them. So I was wondering, would you say you have aura?

DI: I just learned what aura is the other day. Do I have aura? I don’t know. No, I’m the worst person to ask. I’ll never admit that I have aura. I’ll never admit it, but I don’t know. Alright, yeah, I got a little, tiny, little sprinkle of aura [laughs].

You said recently that you’re most excited for your mom to see this film, and that she would call to check on your safety when you were on set.  What were those calls like? 

DI: Just her screaming in Yoruba, “you better be safe!” She’s my biggest fan. So when the movie comes out, you know, the opinion that’s gonna matter most to me is hers.

Your character in the film, Joshua, has such a beautifully close relationship with his mother. And I know you mention all the time that you have one with your own. So I was wondering, how does your mom keep you grounded as your star is rising?

DI: I call her all the time. Every day I call her. On this career [journey] that I’m on, you know, you spend so much time in the back of a car alone, alone in a hotel room, you know, alone on a plane, so to have someone that I can call that just constantly reminds me of where I came from is so important to me. And my mom is that person.

That’s so valuable to have. I’m Ghanaian, so African parents can be our biggest cheerleaders, but they can also humble us lovingly. So I was wondering if you have an example of a time that your mom lovingly brought you back down to earth.

DI: Oh my gosh, when I first started acting, working in a theater is this revered thing in the UK. So I would be doing plays, and my mom would come and watch the plays, and she’d be like, “yes, theater is okay, but when are you going to be on EastEnders or Hollyoaks? Because my mom loves soaps. So in my head, funny enough, through that was how I said to myself, Man, I need to be on a screen. So, yeah, I guess my mom was a huge motivator for that. She was underwhelmed by my theater parts.

You have a lot of Black female fans. You’re a little bit of a heartthrob. What has that attention been like? Is that a new experience, something you pay attention to or is it just kind of background noise?

DI: I don’t pay attention to it but I’m grateful that they support my work and that they support my aura. I can’t wait for them to go on this journey with me throughout my career. You know, I always want to make Black women proud. I was raised by one.

Can you give a little message to your Black women fans? 

DI: To my gorgeous Black women out there who are supporting me, thank you. Thank you. Thank you. I can’t wait for you to watch F1. I promise you, Joshua has aura [laughs]. 

Children of Blood and Bone is next for you. It just wrapped. That was a stacked cast. You worked with a lot of members of the diaspora there. What was the most exciting part about being a part of that film?

DI: So many of them are my friends that I’ve known for so long. In passing on this journey, we always say the same thing to each other: “When are we going to work with each other?” So I tip my hat to Paramount and Gina Prince-Bythewood for assembling a juggernaut of a cast. We spent six months in Cape Town filming and we just wrapped. Every day, a new heavyweight would come in and just prove why they exist. You know, from Idris to Viola to Chiwetel to Regina to Cynthia. I could just say their first names and you know what time it is.

But also just watching a lot of us, younger actors, find our way and own our power too. Tosin Cole and Amandla Stenberg, and Thuso Mbedu, our lead, who I just think is such a beautiful actress. I can’t wait for her career to blossom too. So, I just feel really blessed. Lashana Lynch, Zackary Momoh, there was a so much great energy on set. You know exactly how we felt when we walked out of Black Panther? That’s how we’re going to feel with this picture. We put everything into it. We showed so much respect to Africa, and we showed so much respect to the story too.

F1 is now playing in theaters.

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When it’s too hot for jeans but you still want to wear pants, linen is the answer. Light, breathable, and blessedly low-maintenance, linen pants are the rare summer essential that checks every box: They’re comfortable in triple-digit heat, instantly pulled-together, and look just as good with a bikini top as they do with a blazer. Whether you’re braving a humid subway platform, wandering a weekend farmers’ market, or dressing for a European summer, linen pants are your one-and-done solution.

This season, the category is quietly thriving. You’ll find exaggerated barrel-leg silhouettes as the heat-proof answer to everyone’s favorite jean, cargo styles with a utilitarian feel, and striped pairs that tap directly into the sardine girl summer and fisherman trends. Meanwhile, wide-legs — from drawstring and low-slung to sharply pleated — are everywhere, anchoring everything from office looks to beach outfits with equal ease. Black linen makes the case for warm-weather minimalism, while crisp white remains a forever staple for those devoted to versatile neutrals.

Ahead, we’ve gathered the standout linen pants to wear now — tailored, slouchy, coastal-coded, and everything in between. The best part? They’re as cool as they look.

Linen Barrel Pants

This voluminous silhouette has touched all our wardrobe favorites — from jeans to travel pants and loungewear — and now it’s taking shape in linen fabrications. The result? Structured ease that feels trend-forward and heat-wave approved.

Linen Cargo Pants

Linen gives this utility classic a lighter, breezier feel. Oversized pockets and drawstring waists make these cargo styles equal parts functional and fresh.

Wide-Leg Linen Pants

Wide-leg linen pants are the silhouette of the season, offering ease, movement, and so much comfort. Try a low-slung drawstring style with a ribbed tank, or dress up a pleated pair with an oversized button-down.

White Linen Pants

Crisp white linen is a forever favorite that works for the office, beach days, and everything in between. Go wide-leg for extra drama or tailored for a polished finish.

Linen Striped Pants

Stripes are inherently summery, especially when paired with linen and a breezy silhouette. Channel coastal-core with a pair styled alongside raffia accessories and a fisherman sandal.

Black Linen Pants

If you’re committed to black wardrobe staples, linen is your summer loophole. Lightweight and clean-lined, black linen pants deliver sleek minimalism without the heat.

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There are a lot of cute underwear options out there — mesh, modal, barely-there lace — but when your skin is feeling sensitive, the humidity is at 90%, or you’re just trying to get through the summer day sans swamp, there’s really only one fabric that deserves the crown: cotton.

Cotton underwear isn’t just the OG for comfort — it’s better for your body. The fabric is naturally breathable and soft on skin, making it a go-to for anyone prone to irritation or chafing. Unlike synthetics (looking at you, nylon), cotton doesn’t trap heat and, worse, moisture (which can lead to bacteria). That’s a big deal if you’ve ever dealt with discomfort or that not-so-fresh feeling after a long day in tight, non-breathable undies. In short: cotton keeps things cool and dry where it counts.

That’s not to say you can’t wear whatever you want — your body, your rules. But if you’re looking to upgrade your underwear drawer this summer, with pieces that check both the cute and practical boxes, this edit is it. Every pick here is made from at least 70% cotton (with most in the 90%-to-100% range), so you’re getting all the benefits of breathability without compromising on style.

From no-show thongs and comfy bikinis to cozy briefs, boyshorts, and easy cotton bras, we did the digging to find the softest, cutest, and highly-rated pairs.

Cotton Thongs

Ideal for no-show days, cotton thongs offer minimal coverage. These styles combine soft fabrics with a stay-put waistband for a comfortable fit that doesn’t dig or shift throughout the day.

Cotton Bikini Underwear

A reliable everyday option, bikini underwear features a mid-rise waistband and moderate back coverage. The breathable cotton construction helps reduce moisture buildup and irritation, making this a versatile pick for daily wear.

Cotton Briefs

Designed with a higher rise and full back coverage, briefs are a favorite for their secure fit and all-day comfort. In cotton, they feel soft against the skin and provide breathable support — ideal for those with sensitive skin or anyone seeking more coverage.

Cotton Hipster Underwear

Hipster cuts sit low on the hips with slightly more coverage than bikinis but less than briefs. These styles are great under mid-rise bottoms and offer comfort with enough stretch to move with you without riding up.

Cotton Boyshorts & Boxers 

With a wider leg opening and longer cut, boyshorts and boxers are a comfortable choice. Their smooth, non-binding silhouette helps prevent lines under loose shorts or flowy dresses — or work on their own as loungewear or sleepwear bottoms.

Cotton Bras

Cotton bras offer lightweight support and a softer, more breathable feel than many synthetic, underwire options. From unlined bralettes to lightly padded styles, these picks prioritize comfort without sacrificing shape or structure.

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