FASHION Magazine

Every week our Beauty Fix columnist takes on your questions about makeup, skincare, hair and more. Have a beauty question we haven’t answered? Email us at beautyfix@fashionmagazine.com.

What can I use on my dry ends that won’t weigh my fine hair down?
Because there are so many hair oils on the market, each with its own special consistency and blend, it can be a bit of a task to find what works best with your hair, especially if it’s fine. It’s also important to use hair oil sparingly, starting with a small amount and adding more only if necessary. Drybar 100 Proof Treatment Oil ($35, sephora.ca) provides dry ends with a dose of omega fatty acids thanks to Kalahari melon seed oil in a lightweight texture that absorbs quickly. The pump of this hair oil dispenses a small amount with each press, allowing you total control over how much you use—which is handy since a little goes a very long way.

See our top anti-aging eye products »

“Don’t you think she looks tired?” These six words, murmured by a male adversary, take down an entire government. Doctor Who’s Tenth Doctor is speaking about Harriet Jones, the 50-something prime minister of Britain. As his words spread doubt about her capabilities, Jones begins to panic and worry—appearing tired as a result. The time-travelling Doctor himself may be incredulous at how little has changed with regard to the link between professional women’s work and their appearance-—the appearance of fatigue, particularly.

So age discrimination persists against women? There are “all kinds of it,” says Spring Tompkins, a professor of human resources at St. Lawrence College. One acquaintance, a finance executive in her 60s, has been bombarded throughout her career with faux sympathy for her so-very-tiredness. “I know they’re trying to undermine me,” she says. “I just smile.” Such digs are a way of nipping at one’s confidence and sense of security in the many industries that value youth over experience. It’s a global issue: The Daily Beast reports that in China, professional women nearing their 30s are increasingly resorting to plastic surgery—many job postings are open only to women under 30, and unmarried females in their late 20s are commonly referred to as “leftover women.”

Y’all better take note, because what’s inside today’s bag speaks volumes on how to make things happen. Karen Cleveland, FASHION’s senior manager of marketing and communications, is our resident wheeler and dealer, who makes sponsorships, partnerships and all other ships happen with a smile (and a sincere one at that) perma-planted. To boot, she’s also an etiquette expert, sharing advice (and trust us, she’s always right) on Twitter via @SchoolFinishing. So without further ado, what does this power babe tote along all day long?

Go inside her bag »