In this week’s Our Take, Vaseline starts with darker skin, saunas get even sweatier, the four stages of dating that apps can’t change, and exclusivity is back on the media menu.
Skin in the game
For far too long, people with Black and Brown skin have had to tack “on Black skin” onto every medical search just to get relevant, accurate imagery. That’s more than a tech oversight – that’s systemic bias built into the web itself.
See My Skin is a new platform powered by Vaseline and HUED that flips the default. Here, melanin-rich skin is the starting point. It’s a quiet revolution that says: we see you, and more importantly, we know how to treat you.
Yes, it’s a resource. Yes, it’s functional. But it’s also a cultural reframe. It says that equitable healthcare isn’t just about access – it’s about visibility. For too long, dermatological education and diagnosis tools have centred white skin. See My Skin challenges that by spotlighting imagery, stories, and providers who understand the nuances of treating skin of colour.
The beauty industry has a pretty good track record in representation, both on runways and in product packaging, but this is the backend. The code. The diagnosis. And right now, when DEI is being attacked by governments and corporations alike, this platform stands its ground. It’s not performative. It’s practical. It’s proof that DEI can save lives.
From detOX to dANCEFLOOR
Wellness isn’t what it used to be. Saunas, once venues for quiet, solo relaxation, are now hosting everything from DJ nights to singles events, with people eager to sweat, connect, and dance in the steam!
And Dublin is ‘well in’ on the trend, with Helios Sauna in Dundrum and Bray reporting overwhelming demand for their Sauna Sessions events, featuring DJs and live music.
This shift has also been seen in the recent ‘coffee rave’ craze. (Coffee is Wellness, don’t @ me). In January 2025, Grindstone Café hosted Caffeine Kicks: a daytime, alcohol-free rave powered by coffee. Timed with Dry January and the “New Year, New Me” energy, the event offered a fresh, healthy alternative to traditional nightlife, attracting a crowd keen to socialise without the hangover.
These events reflect a growing appetite for connection that doesn’t rely on alcohol. Wellness is going social: blending health, music, and community in unexpected ways, and turning saunas and cafés into spaces that fuel both the body and soul.
GET ME TO (STAGE 4) ON TIME
Dating! The quaint old ritual whereby people met, flirted, and possibly paired off without the aid of algorithmic overlords has become… a UX problem, with social media warping expectations like a funhouse mirror, and modern attitudes toward sex, marriage and commitment doing their best impression of a rollercoaster. The world has cartwheeled into the future, and naturally, romance has had to update its software too.
Or… has it? That’s the question Brian Ogolsky and his team asked in a January 2025 study for Personal Relationships. And it turns out that perhaps we’re dealing with less of a reinvention, and more of the same old dance in shinier shoes. According to his study, there are four stages to relationships, and it doesn’t matter if the beginning is analogue or digital.
1. The ‘Flirtationship’
That delicious limbo where nothing is official but everything is implied. Equal parts flirty banter and Olympic-level subtext, the flirtationship is where romance stretches its legs. Sure, the medium has shifted – now it’s all late-night DMs and “accidental” likes from 47 weeks back – but the point remains: human beings still need a little emotional reconnaissance before diving in. Apparently, no amount of tech can shortcut the weird magic of wondering do they like me or are they just like this with everyone?
2. ‘Relationship Potential’
You’ve survived the gauntlet of playful emojis and actually made it into the daylight – maybe even a bar with subpar lighting. Now it’s all about seeing if your weird is compatible with their weird. Despite the illusion of infinite choice on dating apps, this is where the slow burn begins. Bios lie. Filters flatter. But chemistry? That still does the heavy lifting. And if you can both get through a first date without referencing your therapist more than twice, congratulations – you’re onto something.
3. In a Relationship
Welcome to Coupleville, population: you two. Even in an age of open relationships, polycules and relationship anarchy, most people still secretly (or not-so-secretly) want to know where they stand. And ideally, they want that status shared in at least one group chat. There’s comfort in labels, stability in shared Deliveroo orders, and untold joy in not having to pretend you’re still cool with “seeing where things go.”
4. Commitment or Bust
The final frontier. That pivotal moment where you must decide: Do I love them, quirks and all? Can I handle their very strong feelings about dishwasher organisation until death, or a lease renewal, do us part? The existential question is timeless: Are we in this, or am I swiping again by Christmas? Society might have changed the commitment “rules” a bit, but the game is the same: build a future together or peace out . So yes, our options have multiplied. Our terminology has evolved into a linguistic pretzel. But underneath the tech, the takes, and the TikToks, modern love still wants what it’s always wanted: a bit of connection, a bit of clarity, and someone who won’t judge your 3 am search history.
Members Only, Darling.
Nylon mag just slid into the VIP lane with its new exclusive-but-free membership club – think Soho House, but less snooty. Come for the pop culture, stay for the perks.
It’s the latest sign that media is going for community, not clicks. From newsletter nooks to IRL perks and private Discords, the game is shifting. It means less shouting into the algorithm void, and more building your own clubhouse (no, not that one).
Accenture Song called it in The Life Trends Report, and GQ clocked it too: from Dimes Square dens to digital cool corners, social life is going members-only – and not just for the clout. People want curated over chaotic. Connection over noise.
Our Take?
The club’s the thing. But make sure it culturally clued-in, and built on more than just who you know. It’s not gatekeeping, it’s community. And if done right? Your brand becomes the room everyone wants to be in.