AUG 14, 2026

INSIDE: Hydrating Hacks, Emotional-Support Purchases, and Hidden Habits.

TODAY I WILL:

Remember that small shifts create big change.

Everyone's talking about e.l.f.’s Sheer For It Blush Tint, and honestly? We get it. Plus, it comes in nine shades and gives our skin and our lips a boost of hydration (thank you, hyaluronic acid). We're obsessed, TikTok's obsessed, everyone's obsessed.*

The Hydration Upgrade 

Luxury has officially come for your water, and while designer H₂O might feel a little extra, it’s a good excuse to check in on something decidedly less glamorous: Are we actually drinking enough of it? The truth is, you’re probably not, and your emotional-support water bottle knows it. Water is essential for nearly every system in your body, including your mind—it helps regulate your temperature, protect sensitive tissues, lubricate joints, and get rid of waste. And when you’re running low, dehydration can leave you feeling tired and low-energy. So, before you convince yourself that a chic new bottle is the answer, let’s upgrade your hydration habits instead.

Make it taste better. If plain water is boring you, add lemon, cucumber, or mint. And remember, sparkling water counts toward hydration, too. 

Habit-stack your sips. Attach drinking water to things you already do: A glass when you wake up, a few sips every time you check your email, or a refill before lunch. Don’t forget to add your favorite supplement to make you feel like you’re making the most of it, too. 

Eat your water. Hydration doesn’t have to come exclusively from your bottle. Foods with high water content—like watermelon, cucumbers, strawberries, oranges, and soups—can contribute to your overall fluid intake. And today, you can even get hydrated via a gummy. 

Try This Today: Your current water bottle works perfectly well…assuming you can actually see it. So grab your colorful water bottle and put it on your nightstand, desk, and your tote bag. Sometimes the best hydration hack is simply making water harder to forget.

Denim Collaborations are Getting Personal 

From Hailey Bieber for Gap, Tatyana Lafata for Aligrace, and Cardi B for Old Navy, denim has been getting the collaboration treatment this season. Celebrities and designers from other categories have gone all in on lending their taste to brands. For the fashion girls, it’s been an exciting time in the denim space. After all, who doesn’t love seeing how two iconic favorites can bring new life to a classic category? 

Since more collaborations are surely on the way, we tapped jewelry designer Jennifer Meyer and Marianne Gallagher McDonald, Creative Director of Citizens of Humanity, to talk about why these collections are hitting so hard. The LA-based design powerhouses (and friends!) recently worked on the latest collab on our radar for sustainable denim brand Citizens of Humanity, which uses a refined California lens (our editors love this pair of jeans from the collection). And in the same way that celebrities have given fans a gateway to their unique aesthetics, Jennifer and Marianne told The Newsette that this collection feels personal, noting that details were key. 

“Honestly, it was the pieces I was always searching for and could never quite get exactly right,” Jennifer said of the collection. “It really became about creating those perfect pieces you didn’t know you couldn’t live without. Things that can be mixed and matched into any outfit and worn a million different ways. That’s how I love to dress.” She added that “the best details are usually the ones you don’t necessarily notice right away. You just put something on and think, ‘Oh, this is perfect.’ That was really the goal with every piece.” 

“What Jen brought to the brand was the instinct she has in creating her jewelry, translated into clothing,” Marianne said, adding that the concept is a collection of modern heirlooms with each piece contributing its own attitude that ultimately captures both brands. 

At The Newsette, we’re no stranger to the popular force that collaboration in fashion brings. And while many have earned a place in our hearts for bringing iconic design to wider audiences (in case you missed it: John Galliano will be Zara’s creative partner for two years), we love that the denim crowd is focused on the authenticity and personal feel that these partnerships are bringing. 

Marianne has shared that, from her perspective, the best pieces are ones that you love so much that they become personal over time, and we couldn’t agree more. “I think the best pieces start with exceptional materials and craftsmanship, but longevity is really about what happens after you bring them home,” she said. “The more you wear something, the more it takes on your life. It gets softer, develops character, and eventually feels like something that could only belong to you. Ultimately, longevity comes from creating pieces that don’t belong to just one moment. You wear them, reinterpret them, and they become part of your personal style.” 

Hear that, Kate Sanders? The best dressed are actually outfit repeaters.

Three Hidden Habits Keeping High-Achieving Women from Advancing

Being the person who stands out for getting it right, always saying yes, and keeping everything under control sounds like a recipe for getting ahead in your career, no? Well, early in your career, it often is. But according to clinical psychologist, executive coach, and author Dr. Anne Welsh, some of the behaviors that help high-achieving women succeed can eventually become the ones holding them back.

Dr. Welsh told The Newsette that she calls these habits the Three Ps: perfectionism, people-pleasing, and pretending. “These aren’t simply dysfunctional habits women mysteriously develop,” she said. “In many cases, they’re strategies that helped women become successful. Until they start getting in the way…I realized these weren’t three separate problems. They are integrated and reinforce each other.” 

The thread that runs through perfectionism, people-pleasing, and pretending is that “they keep you focused on other people,” which holds you back. Dr. Welsh explained, “Perfectionism is about meeting an external standard. People-pleasing is directly focused on what other people need and want from you. And pretending is about making sure other people don’t see you sweat, if you will.” All three “drain you of energy and time, but also keep you from making progress toward your own goals.” 

Unsurprisingly, as someone becomes a leader at work, Dr. Welsh said that these behaviors contribute directly to burnout. “And meanwhile, you may watch other people move ahead who are more able to focus on their own priorities, protect their time, and put their energy toward the work that advances them. You cannot succeed as a senior leader by doing all of the things yourself or agreeing with everybody.”