Indholdsfortegnelse for November 2020 i Cosmopolitan

1 TRICHOLOGIST (TRANSLATION: HAIR SPECIALIST) WITH ADVICE FOR GROWING YOURS OUT. 10 PSL fueled late editing nights. 25 Gilmore Girls fans, 13 of whom have seen the series more than once. So, yeah, we know our shit (page 18). 8 hours spent on Zoom styling this beautiful road-trip shoot from a NYC apartment 2,746 miles away. 14 exis tential-crisis-related phone calls with Mom. 1 visit with a relationship psychic (ya know, before we discovered Saturn on page 64). 31 HOR RIBLE FORMER BOSSES, WHO WE HAVE TO THANK FOR BOTH OUR EMOTIONAL BAGGAGE AND THE STORY ON PAGE 58. 6 horrendous hiking dates. 28 stress-induced breakouts (see page 36). 38 THE NUMBER OF ITEMS IN OUR MERCH LAUNCH (!!!), aka the number of totes (like this one, $28), tees, puzzles, and accessories…

If you’re aggressively holding your phone… We get it, people can be scary—like that flat-earther you were just trapped in a convo with. Gripping your cell for dear life = subconsciously bat-signaling your crew to bounce for afties and taquitos at tu casa, stat. If you’re aggressively holding a friend… This is basically the 21st-century equivalent of playing faves. It’s not that you’re trying to make the others in your group feel nonexistent…but you also don’t hate that they’re jealous of this bond rn. “This must be how Oprah and Gayle feel.” —you If your arms are high in the sky… Let’s get real: A sexy someone you’ll probably never see again just caught your eye. Even though you think you’re playing it cool, your lowkey desperate/very flirty stance screams,…

10th Harry Styles THE PEOPL E’S CHOICE TBH, we get it. The One Direction alum has style for days, a fluid attitude that is beyond sexy, and, based on his turn in Dunkirk, the chops to pull it off. 9th Daniel Kaluuya THE THINKING PERSON’S SEX SYMBOL Fantasy scenario: He signs on and the resulting movie turns a mirror on society and truly modernizes the world of 007. Here. For. That. 8th Janelle Monáe THE AMERICAN WHO COULD GET IT Unlike most of the people on this list, she’s not British. But she is one of the most talented humans on the planet, which is why her name’s been thrown around as a contender to sing a new theme song. We have a far better idea: Let her own the…

1. PLAID Does it have overlapping perpendicular lines in various colors and widths? Check! I mean, not check. It’s PLAID, omg. 2. TARTAN Fun fact: The colors denote specific Scottish clans of yore. So pretty much plaid with cultural significance. 3. PRINCE OF WALES Aka Glen plaid. This ~moody~ black-and-gray design is typically associated with wool or thicker fabrics. 4. GINGHAM If you see a bunch of overlapping squares in white + one bold hue, it’s most likely this. 5. BUFFALO PLAID Like gingham, but make it lumberjack and mostly red and black. 6. HOUNDSTOOTH You’ll recognize this from its jagged lines—just like a lil pup’s teeth IRL.…

FAUCI, WAY? Glasses chains were a hot trend in 2020—and then the world hit the fan. Now, style stars are repurposing the pretty accessories for a higher cause: making masks look cute as hell and also keeping them attached to our necks so we don’t lose them.…

This ultra-protective SPF I genuinely look forward to slathering on this dreamy cream every morning (yes, I just called a sunscreen dreamy). It makes my skin plump and dewy, protects it from damaging UV rays with mineral SPF 40, and has a sheer tint that minimizes dark spots and redness. The most overachieving MOISTURIZER My skincare mantra is simple: the fewer steps, the better (bc literally who has the time/energy/patience??). That’s why I’m obsessed with this does-all-the-things lotion—thanks to antioxidants and the right acids, it’s a hydrator, an anti-ager, and a brightener in one. An exfoliating FACE WASH NGL, my melasma was in a bad place at the end of the summer, but I swear this cleanser cleared up my skin. Its glycolic acid gently dissolves the glue that holds…

THE Woodsy ONES These bbs are full of earthy notes like sandalwood and patchouli—but in a “cozy Joshua Tree getaway” way, not an “actually sleeping on the ground” way. They are rich and calming and give off warmth, kind of like your favorite vintage cashmere sweater. HOW TO NAVIGATE THE (VIRTUAL) FRAGRANCE AISLE Stalk your past faves Peep the notes on your old perfumes to help decode what you’re into. Judge the packaging Think of it as a visual representation of the scent. Looks clean and minimalist? The stuff inside likely will be too. Stock up on minis Rollerballs are your friend (truly, they’re, like, a fifth of the price). Another option: a subscription service like Scentbird that will send you a 30-day supply of a trendy scent for $15.…

54 % of Americans are cooking more now than ever. SOURCE: HUNTER PR FOOD STUDY I was foam rolling my randomly sore hip on the floor of my apartment when I got a text from a friend: “I’m leaving the city, Susie!” I was shocked to hear that she, a diehard New Yorker, was packing up for good. I immediately sat up to call her, but my hip was like, “Lol, NOPE,” and I thought (not, by the way, for the first time this year), WTF, when did I become a million years old? Some obvious information: Pretty much all of us are now facing constant pandemic-related stress and anxiety, while our regularly scheduled distractions and de-stressing activities (commutes, the gym, date nights) are MIA. And although it can certainly…

They were right about one thing though: It’s definitely a ~powerful~ moment. See, in many ancient cultures, including the Sumerians, Egyptians, and Romans, feminine goddesses were worshipped as much as masculine gods, if not more. And they were often associated with planets. Examples: Venus, named for the goddess of love and beauty, and the Moon, which represents maternal energy. Some cultures also tied each planet to a day of the week, with Friday being dedicated to Venus. And planetary cycles were also very important, including the Moon’s approx 13 yearly ones. Put all this together and it turns out Friday the 13th is all about really good, really strong feminine vibes. Ones that you should definitely not let go to waste! The next time this day rolls around (that would…

My all-time favorite TikTok. When Mia sent it to me, I did a literal spit take. Pls go watch it. 6 A.M. I’m out on a (masked) solo run. I miss my run crew so much that I decide to race a toddler. I show them no mercy. 9:30 A.M. Assembling a daily Snapchat Discover edition is like making a mini magazine every morning. For tomorrow’s Story, I write up celebrity news for my designers to animate. Y’all, this is a ton of work!! Mia and her team make it seem easy, but they hustle hard to get this done every day. 11 A.M. On TikTok, our goal is to be educational and funny. Today, that means a guide to budget-friendly vibrators and a prank (go ahead and search our…

Hunt down three recent “Happy birthday!!” posts on random friends’ Facebook walls. They must contain exactly two exclamation points (no more, no less). Send a random Venmo “friend” a 50-cent payment request with just and no explanation. Go to the cutie with a booty you’ve been talking to’s IG. Scroll all the way down—avoiding the accidental double-tap—until you find a photo of them holding up a fish. You know the kind. (We promise not to tell them about this!) Look for five couples photos on any platform with the words “this dork” in the caption. Untag yourself from all the photos your friends swore they wouldn’t post but did. (Consider this very early spring-cleaning.) DM five celebs an astro meme dragging their sign to hell and back. If they respond,…

Hello and welcome to the “I can’t stop thinking about this show” club. I’m Ashley and I’ll be your guide because my mind simply will not move on from actor-writer-producer-director-genius Michaela Coel’s groundbreaking HBO masterpiece. It follows her character, Arabella, as she tries to find out what really happened the night of her sexual assault—and, in the process, totally dismantles traditional victim narratives. One way? With clever wardrobe choices you don’t even notice that you notice (like Arabella’s rotating selection of cardigans-as-armor) until you notice (a striking, rare shot of her shoulders during a breakdown). Costume designer Lynsey Moore explains the power of the show’s key looks. 1 A MEN’S SHIRT A few eps in, Arabella is assaulted by another man and leaves his apartment with his button-down. “We picked…

By the time we’re all Olds, this here situation will probably be referenced in textbooks as one of the most politically, economically, environmentally, socially, everything-ly fraught years in modern history. And through it all, we’ve become more aware of who we are (or aren’t) supporting with our dollars. Because, according to this exclusive Cosmo State of Shopping survey, despite record unemployment numbers, we’re still spending… even more than last year. And our buying behavior points to a maybe-kinda hopeful future, where people actually care about the people on the other end of the sale (oh, and also the planet). Check out what we found. THE STATE OF SHOPPING During the pandemic: 38% of you became more aware of employee safety conditions in the shopping supply chain. 23% consider it a deal breaker if…

A fact about 2020: Sweats aren’t going anywhere, but we all wanna feel more put together sometimes. We also all wanna forget that we’re couch-bound for basically ever, which is why Senegalese German jam skater Oumi Janta went viral on Instagram this summer (to wit: her mesmerizing, distinctly non-couch-y skate-dance moves and her enviably bright yellow short set). In other words, give your comfort a side of retro and you just might feel half as cool as she is. Here’s how. 1 Everything goes with athletic shorts Sure, they’re sporty…but also v chic when layered with a printed button-down and sweater. Bonus points for coordinating sunnies. 2 Just say yes to flared patchwork denim The wider the pants, the closer to God better you can fit them over your skates.…

I know what I just said—and I’m standing by it—but first, a wompity-womp fact (and also an apology to your vitamins/oils/serums/IG feed/mom): You can’t actually make your hair grow faster—it’s just gonna chug along at a relatively steady rate of half an inch per month. But! You can help it look longer and be healthier, which is kinda the whole point anyway, right? “Hair growth is a two-stage process,” explains trichologist (that’s beauty for “hair expert”) Audrey Davis-Sivasothy. “The actual growth from your scalp is stage one”—aka the part you cannot control—“and the retention of that growth is stage two.” And that, my dear friends, is where our fun begins. First, cut your hair I know (again!), but to retain length, you have to lose length—specifically, about a quarter of…

THE fresh ONES A whiff of either of these implies that you are currently WFH in Hawaii and have a two-step skincare routine, one of which is washing your face. While floral notes are def part of the scent profile, their overall mood is light and clean, like the silk sheets you’ll slide into after your post-surf shower. THE citrus ONES Y’all can think of these as the adult version of the juice boxes you used to guzzle down after soccer practice. (Jury’s still out on whether an adult Capri Sun is just an Aperol spritz, btw.) They lean sweet, not sugary, like the fruits they contain: mandarin, pear, and tangerine. THE spicy ONES Okay, this is the fragrance version of That Friend—you know, the one who carries a pricey…

GOT AVOCADOS? Fry a couple of eggs, add slices of ripe avo, and sprinkle on some parsley. Bonus points for pickled onions, cotija cheese, and hot sauce. Post it on IG. GOT BEANS? Sauté any kind with onions until they’re toasty, scramble le eggs, and fill the tortilla so she’s thick. Generously add cheese and hot sauce. GOT FROZEN TOTS? Stick these puppies in the oven for however long the bag says, then mush ’em up with some scrambled eggs. If you love yourself, add bacon bits.…

Breakup season edition ARIES Post a FaceTime screenshot of every chat you have with your gossipy-est mutual friend. TAURUS Change your Netflix password when they’re halfway through a series. GEMINI Book a (safe! local!) trip and oh so casually mention it when you text them to reclaim your toothbrush. CANCER Send a mixtape to make them believe you *do* wanna stay friends…then move on. LEO Study up on social media strategy to make sure you always have more followers than they do. VIRGO Slide into their work frenemy’s DMs and get them to mention you. LIBRA Become a permanent part of their social circle. SCORPIO Pretend you’re sorry. Then change the story: The breakup was all their fault. SAGITTARIUS If anyone asks about your split, act like it was NBD.…

ARIES (03.21 – 04.19) Mercury Retrograde is acting up in your chart’s lurve zone at the start of the month, but whatever drama happens, you’ll finally be feeling much lighter heading into the holidays. CANCER (06.21 – 07.22) Thanks to a lil thing called the Jupiter-Pluto conjunction, your toxic relationships could sink for good. Later in the month, Venus in Scorpio gets your love life on track. LIBRA (09.23 – 10.22) Um, how’s your love life? Mercury Retrograde in your sign + Mars Retrograde in your relationship zone = eek! If you’re “on a break,” you can make up mid-month—or find someone new. SAGITTARIUS (11.22 – 12.21) Thanks to all the activity in your chart’s isolation zone, you’re feeling like you’ve just been dumped, even if you haven’t. Sag season…

Okay, so I really don’t want to make this a story about Barbie Ferreira’s body. About how she is “soft, fleshy, bountiful” (L.A. Times, September 2020) and has “learned to embrace her curves” (Daily Mail, the day after this photo shoot). About what it’s like to “be whittled down to your most marketable, tokenized parts” (Them., September 2019) or whether “the term ‘plus-size model’—is that something you are okay with?” (W, a hundred years ago, in March 2016). And yet here I am, using the opening lines of the 23-year-old’s first major magazine cover story to talk about her body. Because here’s the thing: It’s all a fucking trap. The pointing out, the celebrating, the implicit messaging: This not-thin woman is thriving! Can you believe it?! Yes, it is important to…

Wait, do I have to god own on… the ballot? Yes, you do. WHAT IT IS “Down ballot” refers to everything you’ll be voting for this election that doesn’t involve Biden/Harris or Trump/Pence. Basically, local and state races for things like senators and school board members plus issues like legalizing marijuana and abortion laws. WHY IT MATTERS Of course picking the next president is important, but issues at the state and local levels will affect you in a more day-to-day way. HOW TO PREPARE Use Ballotpedia.org to see a sample of what your ballot will look like. All you have to do is put in your address. Then you can start researching anyone running (*casually googles “what is a magisterial judge”*) or any provisional issues you’ll need to weigh in…

WANNA HEAR SOMETHING sohcking? Most of my beauty icons are nearly twice my age. Ask any Black woman who inspires her when it comes to beauty and she will likely rattle off a list dotted with plenty of older dames. Like the legendary Diana Ross: This woman is 76 years old and looks like she just stepped offstage with The Supremes. Singer Grace Jones might as well be a vampire, slaying at 72 with her signature androgynous look. And then there’s actress Cicely Tyson, who, at 95 (!), was stepping out and dazzling on red carpets as recently as January. Insert the ubiquitous and beloved (if not *entirely* factually accurate) “Black don’t crack!” That’s not to say these women haven’t aged at all. It just means we don’t care that they have.…

FIRST UP 1. Starbucks, Dunkin’, or Tim Hortons? a I’m sorry, what? Can’t hear you over my zillion PSL rewards. b I live and die by Dunkin’ iced coffee. c If it’s good enough for Bieber, Tim Hortons is good enough for me. 2. Do you sleep with your socks on? a It’s the devil’s work. b Eh, on or off, I’ll knock out either way. c My feet yearn for mini jackets during my sweet cocoon slumber. 3. Is pineapple a viable pizza topping? a This is a sick joke, right? b TBH, you had me at “pizza.” c Truly a match made in heaven. 4. T-Swift circa 2008 was her greatest era: Discuss. a Sorry, but 1989 Tay was freakin’ revolutionary. b I will let the Fearless days…

1. THE LAYOUT OF STARS HOLLOW This town is so small, *and yet* Rory and Lorelai approach the square from a different angle every single time they go. That’s just geographically impossible. 2. TOWN HALL MEETING ATTENDANCE I’m sorry, but the exact same group of people would never show up anywhere on a regular schedule unless it’s their job. My group chat can’t even make Zoom happy hours. 3. RORY AND LORELAI’S SPENDING HABITS They complain about being broke but hit up Luke’s for almost every meal, so I guess their burger budg is actually massive? Also, if you drank as much coffee or ate as much sugar as they do, you would die. 4. MAX AND LORELAI They get engaged after dating on and off for just eight months,…

Do you think listening to all these… ANNA’S PICKS 1 Da’ Dip BY FREAK NASTY 2 I Love You Always Forever BY DONNA LEWIS 3 Are You That Somebody BY A ALIYAH 4 Lollipop (Candyman) BY AQUA 5 One of Us BY JOAN OSBORNE 6 Livin’ la Vida Loca BY RICKY MARTIN 7 Far Behind BY THE HIPPOS 8 Me It’s Real BY K-CI AND JOJO 9 Dreaming of You BY SE LENA 10 Back That Azz Up BY JUVENILE FEAT. LIL WAYNE AND MANNIE FRESH MAYA’S PICKS …will make my braces grow back? 1. “I tried to be so sexy dancing to this, with a hard, repetitive double slap of the hips.” 2. “If this doesn’t send chills down your 30ish-year-old spine, you’re soulless. I heard it circa fifth…

Patience is a virtue and so is being fly, my friends. On today’s episode of Why Didn’t Someone Tell Me This Exists, there’s a new site called Reel, which is a magical place where something like AirPods could cost you $10 a day instead of $210 all at once. Basically it’s like one of those “buy now, pay later” programs in reverse. My I-need-it-stat folks might not have the patience for it, but if you wanna treat yourself—sans debt or late fees—this could be the future of shopping for ya. Here’s how it works. 1. Pick your item. Reel (JoinReel.co) looks like your fave online store, except its prices already include taxes. Scroll through tons of saveworthy stuff (Chanel bags, schmancy sunnies) from retailers like Nordstrom and Farfetch. If the…

1 I don’t even care—I’m showing up to this Zoom drenched in pink spot treatment. 2 Alexa, how do I tie my hands to a chair? 3 I hope my dermatologist doesn’t think I’m stalking her. This time it’s actually an emergency! 4 Am I being punished for falling asleep in my makeup or something? It happened once. (Narrator: It happened four times. This week.) 5 I’m pretty sure my coworker thinks these zit stickers are just regular stickers I randomly stuck on my face. 6 If I top off my whitehead with a little brown eyeliner, will it look like a beauty mark? 7 Someone get me a vial of salicylic acid and hydrocortisone right the hell now. This is not a drill. 8 Welp, hope my Hinge date…

Bronzer Maybe you’re not going full Jersey Shore anymore, but you can still use this guy on your lids, blending it up into your creases for a neutral smoky eye. So damn easy. Mascara Save the $ you’d spend on brow gel and brush up your brow hairs with mascara. Fill in any patches and basically look like Gigi. Concealer Hi, guess what? Your cream concealer happens to be a really legit eyeshadow primer. Use it to make your powder and liquid shadows last longer and look way more intense. Lip gloss Super-shiny lids are really cute rn. Just swipe clear gloss over them (or layer it over your favorite shadow) for some serious sheen. Lip balm Tap that lip balm that’s been bouncing around the bottom of your bag…

1 It disguises your purple wine mouth. 2 Strangers on the street probs won’t ask you to “smile more.” 3 You’ll project “I’ve got my shit together” even though you’ve been in the same sweats for days. 4 Prepping for the epic journey that is buying groceries is suddenly way more fashun. 5 You won’t run out of lip gloss for a long-ass time. 6 You can make ~sexy mystery-lady eye contact~ with a hot rando. 7 No one will have to smell your coffee breath but you. 8 Your phone is getting a little TOO good at facial recognition. 9 If your socially distanced first date judges you for it, you’ll know it’s time to bail. 10 Because Lady Gaga and the VMAs. Obviously.…

THE FOOD 1 (4 to 5½ lbs.) whole organic chickenSalt and pepper4 thyme sprigs1 bay leaf1 lemon, halved1 large onion1 large carrot2 celery stalks1 fennel bulb1 garlic bulb, split in half1 oz. soft butter THE RECIPE 1. Season your bird liberally with salt inside and outside. Crack some pepper on top and put the thyme, bay leaf, and lemon inside the cavity. 2. Preheat your oven to 400 degrees, then roughly chop your veggies (don’t bother peeling the carrot). Arrange them, along with the garlic, in one even layer in an oven-safe skillet or baking dish. 3. Sprinkle the vegetables with salt and place your chicken, breast side up, on top. Rub the butter over the bird. 4. Place the skillet in the center of the oven and roast for…

SYNAS TRY CHART Brad’s Saturn makes a trine (a favorable connection) with Angie’s Sun, and her Saturn is on his North Node in his 7th house of ’ships, aka major chemistry ahead! COMPOSITE CHART Saturn is in comfy Taurus in the 8th house of intimacy, sextile (another good type of connection) to the Moon in Pisces. Meaning: They got deep fast! IYKYK: In astrology, Saturn is a BFD. If you’re new here, allow me to explain: The planet represents harsh lessons, restriction, discipline, and authority. Not fun. But it also plays a huge role in compatibility and is a determining factor in whether or not a fling can turn into something bigger. Much more fun, right? Astrologers measure compatibility by studying a relationship synastry chart, which looks at how the…

Are nipple - gasms real? And how do I have one? Yes, they’re legit, says sex and relationship expert Nicole Moore. To up your chances of getting there, she advises establishing a connection between your clit and nips by always touching them at the same time. It’s basically like a Pavlovian way to “train” your muscle memory so your body gets used to feeling pleasure when your nipples are touched. How can I avoid constantly getting bacterial vaginosis? BV—aka the itchy, fishy-smelling, make-you-mad-at-your-vagina infection—comes from an imbalance in vaginal bacteria, says Kiarra King, MD, an ob-gyn in Chicago. You can minimize your risk by never douching and always wearing clean, dry underwear. Probiotics or certain suppositories may also help, but run any products by your doctor before you try ’em!…

You didn’t think we’d let you go through this alone, did you? Helping women navigate their first time is kind of our thing. This year, it’s also our civic duty. Especially since you might miss out. For whatever reason, people 65 years of age and older are getting in on the action at more than twice the rate of those between 18 and 24. And the rumor is that this year, that gap may only widen. We get it—it can be hard to know where to even start. (Ahem, next page.) A quick search online for “how to vote” turns up an overwhelming 2 billion results. And absente-eballot-related questions mean sifting through millions (yes, millions) of answers. Not to mention trying to figure out what voting even is in the…

91 COSMOPOLITAN NOVEMBER 2020 THESE BOOTS WERE MADE FOR traveling coast to coast in all of fall’s best old-school Americana trends, obviously. What were you about to say? Miu Miu jumpsuit and belt. Miron Crosby boots. Roxanne Assoulin earrings. Shourouk ring (left). Bounkit ring (right). SKIRTING THE ISSUE Side slits = the only way to comfortably wear one of these for hours in a car. It’s the range of motion and no fear of wardrobe malfunctions for me. Staud top and skirt. Maryam Nassir Zadeh heels. Roxanne Assoulin earrings. BEAUTY BONUS Speeding around top-down is all fun and games… until you get a look at your hair in the rearview mirror. Tame annoying flyaways fast with L’Oréal Paris EverSleek Frizz Finish Oil-in-Serum, $10. OKAY, MS. ELLE WOODS Fact: A pink…

My overall nightstand vibe Minimalist and simple. I don’t have drawers, so everything is visible, forcing me to keep it neat. Never not on top Spray for soothing my vocal cords plus a bottle of water. I suffer from panic attacks in my sleep sometimes, and drinking water makes me feel safe. My lighting sitch I have this really cute round Flos lamp and a floor lamp with a bulb that can be soft or bright. And I’m a big candle lover. I have candles all over my apartment from Dear Sunday, Sunday Forever, and Byredo. What I steal from my partner’s side You mean the partner who doesn’t exist? Lol. Current bedtime reading A mix of biographies and poetry. I’m about to start More Than Enough, by Elaine Welteroth.…