Indholdsfortegnelse for July/August 2023 i Cosmopolitan

1. Your platform of choice, because obviously, is: a TikTok. b YouTube. c Instagram. d Twitter. 2. You can easily flex your epic knowledge of: a Internet subcultures. Ask me for my piping-hot take on the West Coast Cottagecore Mom feud. b Really well-shot glam routines. I mean, I’m not saying I can re-create them myself, but…I probably could. c ASMR videos. They make you a calmer, better person—it’s basically science. d Celeb interview compilations. Just waiting for my own turn. 3. Which stage of a night out is peak for you? a Making random best friends in the bathroom line. Everyone’s a stranger until they’re not! b Getting ready at home—picking an outfit, putting my face together, all of it. c Is it corny to say “anytime I’m making…

Anointing myself the authority for an entire people might sound a little presumptuous. But consider my chops: I’ve tested hundreds of sunscreens over the course of my career and made it a particular mission to identify the ones that work for those of us with deep and delicious skin tones. I’ve spent years rubbing and rubbing…and rubbing… often in vain. The truth is that most sunscreens don’t blend into my complexion (which, as you can see, isn’t even the deepest of deep); they leave my skin looking ashy or chalky. Which, besides being unattractive, may lead to an actual health threat. Yup, I said health threat, because—spoiler alert—our Black person magic doesn’t fully protect us from the sun’s damaging rays. At most, our skin can act like a natural SPF…

My daily beauty routine used to be filled with intense treatments that promised smooth, baby-like skin. Now it’s full of formulas that, quite literally, could be used on a baby. I attribute this shift to Cocokind, a sustainable and conscious beauty brand that’s all about being, well, kind to your skin. (Some of its key words: “soothe,” “hydrate,” and “calm.”) Before launching Cocokind in 2014, Priscilla Tsai had tried every acid and exfoliator under the sun in an attempt to clear up her cystic acne—only to have destroyed her skin barrier in the process. “It was so bad that I would put my moisturizer on in the dark,” she says, “because my skin was so inflamed that light would make it sting.” Discouraged by harsh products and overly strong actives,…

First, some basics, because you’ve gotta understand the process before you master it: Dermaplaning is a form of physical exfoliation that removes your outermost layer of dead skin cells as well as any peach fuzz with a surgical blade, explains licensed aesthetician Joie Tavernise. Just how sharp that blade is depends on where you’re getting it done. Actual aestheticians generally use much sharper ones, leading to a deeper exfoliation, but you can expect to pay much more for a professional treatment (dermaplaning costs about $100 per session, with results lasting around two to four weeks). So it’s a good thing the newest at-home tools work almost as well. Possibly the best part of dermaplaning is that it’s quick, painless, and instantly gratifying. There is zero downtime. Your skin will feel…

SILVER NITRATE, by Silvia Moreno-Garcia July 18 The horror queen is back with a look at Mexico’s film industry in the ’90s. IMMORTAL LONGINGS, by Chloe Gong July 18 This fantasy book proves that Shakespeare reimaginings can still be unique and well done. THE CROW VALLEY KARAOKE CHAMPIONSHIPS, by Ali Bryan July 25 This wacky tale about a town’s high-stakes karaoke competition is simply delightful. THE BLONDE IDENTITY, by Ally Carter August 8 A middle school bookshelf staple, Carter returns with this road trip spy novel for adults.…

I mean, what is there to say about John Boyega that hasn’t already been said? But here’s my best attempt to add something new to the narrative: On top of being an extremely accomplished actor with credits in Star Wars movies and BAFTA, Critics Choice, and Golden Globe awards sitting on his shelves, the 31-year-old is very, very good on the phone. Like, almost too good. I know because he was incredibly game for this thing we do, where we call up famous people and ask them totally random and borderline-naughty questions about their personal lives. And then we go ahead and share every word with you. Read his answers while imagining a British accent that will have you looking up flights to London. “If they end up being better…

Deep-Sea Kissing One partner wraps their legs around the other’s waist—the perfect position to grind their clit against that person’s torso. Hot Tub Head A penis-having partner sits on the tub’s steps or its edge so the other can go down on them. One-Legged Shower Bang The penetrating partner stands, resting one foot on the edge of the tub or another stable surface, while the other partner faces away, putting their hands on the wall for balance.…

SATURDAY, 10 P.M. “Yes.” Did I really just say that? I did. Because it’s true. I’m ready to try an extremely new-to-me type of relationship: a committed but non-monogamous one. Last week, my former ex James (for me, he’s that ex, the one you never quite forget) asked if I’d be down for an open partnership, meaning we’d be together when we’re together but have complete freedom to sleep with other people when we’re not. Now I’m standing in the doorway of his loft with my answer and, so far, it’s going…well. He unzips my dress and starts kissing my breasts and biting my nipples before lifting me onto his countertop and licking down my body from breast to clit. He feels how wet I am and slides into me…

If you’re a reality TV stan, chances are you’ve seen me on your screen. And if you haven’t seen me, you’ve definitely seen my food. I’ve cooked for lots of famous faces, including, for a while, full-time for the truly great Kardashian-Jenners (seriously, they are so kind). I’m still with them, just part-time now; the other part of my job has me bouncing between events (ask me about Justin Bieber’s star-studded parties). It is wonderful—but it’s not always glam. I’ve worked pretty much every holiday since I started my career, and my bones kinda always feel like they’re breaking. And I wouldn’t recommend this profession to anyone without thick skin, because clients will let you know if they hate a dish. But getting to be a part of people’s special…

1 1986 Us: “Kitchen-ingredient masque for a quick pickup before a date: yogurt, lemon juice, honey. Rinse after fifteen minutes.” 2023 Us: Please, friends, no lemon juice on the face. 2 1986 Us: “New medical advances to discuss with your dermatologist: laser skin peels, cryosurgery with liquid nitrogen, solid-stick CO?.” 2023 Us: They’re no longer breaking news, but laser peels = still very much a thing. 3 1986 Us: “Standing on your head—or even lying on a slantboard—counteracts gravity flow and brings extra oxygen to skin cells (good for brain…hair…legs too!).” 2023 Us: Yeah, um, no glow guaranteed. 4 1986 Us: “Skin vitamins par excellence: A and E. Eat plenty of fish. If you’ve a tendency to bruising or broken blood vessels in cheeks, take vitamin C supplements.” 2023 Us:…

FOR A FACE-ART MOMENT These lil cuties don’t just give you main character energy, they’re excellent at absorbing the white pus from pimples too. Your concealer could never. Starface Party Pack, $11 for 32, revolve.com; Squish Flower Power Acne Patches, $14 for 20, amazon.com FOR NOSE BLACKHEADS A smarter alternative to traditional pore strips, these hydrocolloid patches help soak up the excess oil on your nose that leads to blackheads. They’re even infused with retinol to boost cell turnover and unclog pores. Peace Out Pores, $19 for 8, sephora.com FOR DEEP, ANGRY PIMPLES When your cystic acne is screaming at you, calm it down with this pick. Its tiny microneedles infuse the area with pore-clearing salicylic acid while simultaneously minimizing inflammation. Skin Inc Deepcare Blemish SOS Patch, $25 for 12,…

Up until recently, my relationship with makeup was pretty one-sided. I’ve always been drawn to the creative expression it provides. I love experimenting with foundations, concealers, blush, and more. It’s just that the companies that make this stuff haven’t always loved me back—or, honestly, seen me at all. In middle school, I would wander through drugstore makeup aisles and not be able to find a *single* complexion product for my dark South Sudanese skin. I’d get angry and annoyed as I watched my lighter-skinned friends shop without a care in the world. Later, as a freshman in college, I vividly remember the embarrassment I felt when an associate at a popular makeup store picked up the darkest shade of a new concealer and swatched it on my cheek—only to reveal…

STEP 1 Prep With a Gentle Cleanser For the deepest exfoliation, it’s essential to clean your skin thoroughly first to remove any excess oils or residue, says Tavernise. Gillette Venus Facial Hair & Skin Cleansing Primer, $15, amazon.com STEP 2 Start Shaving Hold the blade at a 45-degree angle. Using firm, even pressure, move it across your skin in short, downward strokes. Don’t go over any area more than once, and skip any spots with active acne. Dermaflash Luxe+ Advanced Sonic Dermaplaning + Peach Fuzz Removal, $199, sephora.com; Versed Instant Gratification, $20, versedskin.com STEP 3 Layer on Your Skincare Dermaplaning enhances product absorption, so you need to be strategic about what you apply next. One ideal combo: this antioxidant and hyaluronic acid serum and peptide cream. Biba de Sousa The…

JUST TO BE TOTALLY TRANSPARENT Designers are filling up the shelves (and therefore we’re filling up our closets) with every see-through add-on imaginable for the most colorful, carefree vibes all summer long. We’re all about to look so good!…

Sheer! The more mesh, the merrier. Mini Shorts! Is it summer if you can’t see a little ass cheek? Not for me. Cutouts! You don’t need to be good at geometry to wear these shapes. Crochet! More peekaboo moments by way of your grandma’s favorite pastime. She’ll be so proud.…

It’s just so tempting. All those happy memories. All that great sex. And your ex really knows you, you know? Plus, dating around again can feel like a colossal challenge, and said ex seems sincerely willing to try again.…Look, we get it. We truly do. Which is why we consulted relationship therapists Leanna Stockard and Laura Heck to bring you a pretty definitive answer. Add up your points and let this expertise guide you to making a decision. Let’s talk about what led to your split. Would those issues remain a major problem? • Well, we had only One Big Thing that we could never resolve. 3 POINTS • Maybe, but I’m willing to do whatever it takes to fix them. 6 POINTS • Nah. We’ve grown a lot during…

POPE BEACH Lake Tahoe, California It’s true that pine trees and beach days don’t typically go hand in hand, but Lake Tahoe is here to show off, as per usual. Pope Beach is protected national forest land, making it a quaint slice of clear-water heaven for swimmers, picnickers, and those of us who just want to lie back and read the latest celebrity memoir in peace. COLIGNY BEACH Hilton Head Island, South Carolina Voted best beach on HHI (by us, we voted), Coligny is five miles of near-pristine shoreline. The water is as calm as the relaxed vacationers, the boardwalk is bustling with bikers, and the proximity to oceanfront bars (where frozen daiquiris are a must) makes it an A+ escape for your next summer vacay. CAPE MAY BEACH Cape…

Some of my family members want to be in the suite with me as I get ready, but I just want my friends there. Am I terrible? Have the group you want around you and don’t feel bad about it. But! If you have people-pleasing syndrome (same), invite your family for some photos right before you head out. Do people still rent limos? Asking for a friend who doesn’t want to splurge on an XXL vehicle…. Hi, friend. Not everyone does and you definitely don’t need to. There’s a gorge 5-star hotel I want to block rooms at, but they’re $$$. Is that inconsiderate? In this economy? Sorry, but yes, kind of. If you can, I’d reserve a more affordable block somewhere else as well. Options are important! *Not the…

At this point, it’s a given that birthing a child is painful. That the physical recovery is tough. That, sure, babies are soft and cuddly, but the parent’s body just needs a break, preferably a long one. What’s not a given: that their mind may also need some time and, crucially, some help. It’s not that absolutely no one is talking about maternal mental health—influential women like Chrissy Teigen and Adele have publicly shared their struggles with postpartum depression and anxiety, opening the door for countless others to do the same. (And there are countless others: Around 1 in 5 mothers will experience a mental health condition during pregnancy or in the year afterward, according to the World Health Organization.) But when it comes to one of the most severe…

Leo The tail end of Cancer season is, as always, a real bummer, but once Mercury enters your sign on July 11, it feels like you’re waking up. Before you know it, Leo season will arrive, and it’s all about you. Don’t count on finding a birthday boo though, because it’s also Venus Retrograde. (Sorry.) Sagittarius Cancer season has you deeeeep in your feels, but come July 10, Mars enters Virgo and tries to draw all your focus to work. While you might be tempted to ignore your emotions and dive straight into the spreadsheets, try your best to find a balance. You can do this, bb. Virgo Wow, you’re somehow becoming a social butterfly? Send a thank-you card to Cancer season and do your best to embrace your outgoing…

Forgive Me, Father… 1 Talk About Temperature Play 2 Adventures in Anilingus 3 A Quickie Between Courses 4 The Professional Touch 5 An Introverted Exhibitionist 6 Teenage Dream Come True 7 1 The Night I Became a “Daddy” Girl Forever Altered THE Course of My Sex Life You could say I’ve had sex with my share of daddies—by which I mean men who have literally fathered children as well as hot, dominant, sexy-older-man types. But actually calling any of these men “Daddy” out loud? That always felt a bit on the nose. As a teen of the 2010s who would get ready for school listening to Lana Del Rey’s Born to Die album, the whole “Daddy” thing felt more like a campy shtick than something I could imagine anyone actually saying with any level of erotic authenticity. That…

1 The Basics Radiofrequency (RF) and micro-needling treatments are each, on their own, great at stimulating collagen, the stuff that helps keep your skin smooth and firm. But combined into one procedure in which you get stamped with ultrathin needles that emit RF energy? We’re talking an unmatched ability to tighten skin and minimize the appearance of acne scars and fine lines. You’ve likely already heard that this genius comes at a cost… well, two costs: the actual price tag (around $1,000 for one treatment, and most people won’t see results until after three, spaced a month apart) and the sensation of having RFemitting needles pierce your skin. Depending on your pain tolerance and even after extensive numbing, that’s exactly as painful (or not) as it sounds. There are a…

After decades in the spotlight, actress Christina Ricci has never felt more comfortable in her own skin. “As you get older, people start to value different things about you—your talents, what you contribute to the world,” she says. Breaking free of past insecurities and self-consciousness has allowed her to lean into her individuality, ground herself in the moment, and focus on the things that matter most. For Christina, that’s exploring dynamic characters at work, hanging out with her family at home, and taking care of her body. Her current rituals? Prioritizing sleep, having daily baths, and getting services at European Wax Center. “I feel confident when my skin is moisturized and soft.” Want to feel your best? Your first wax is on us at waxcenter.com *First-time guests only. Valid only…

TWEAK YOUR TONES WITH MIXING PIGMENT Finally found a foundation that’s dark enough, but it’s too warm or cool? Mix a yellow or blue mixing pigment (I love L.A. Girl Pro Matte Mixing Pigment, $9, ulta.com) into the formula to adjust the undertone. DIY YOUR CONTOUR WITH EYESHADOW My favorite replacement for contour is blending a black eyeshadow into the hollows of my cheeks for a sculpted look. You can do a similar thing on your lips with black eyeliner if you can’t find a brown that’s dark enough for your skin tone.…

Barbie July 21, Theaters We have no spoilers because the plot is being guarded by what seems like a thousand Ken dolls, but it’s safe to say this will be *the* movie of the summer. Just look at the fever-dream visuals and epic cast (Margot Robbie as Barbie, Ryan Gosling as Ken, everyone else in Hollywood as…someone!). Only director Greta Gerwig could pull this off. Jaguar II, by Victoria Monét July 14 The Ariana Grande collaborator (hi, “Monopoly”) is back with very sexy tracks that will take over your make-out playlist. Solo moments like “On My Mama” capture her true star power, while unabashed lyrics and soulful retrospectives help push the R&B genre forward. It’s like she says: “The ladies is pimps tonight”—and it’s about damn time. Glamorous June 22,…

Watch this outfit come together with TikTok magic!…

The wet-and-wild hookup in the ocean/pool/hot tub fantasy is a mainstay for a reason, but the often uncomfortable realities of water-based banging have left it with a reputation for being one of those better-in-your-mind sex things. (See also: road head and 69ing.) To be fair, there’s a lot working against it. Water has a tricky way of washing away your body’s natural lubrication, and an insufficiently lubed situation can lead to pain or vaginal or anal microtears (yikes). Worse yet, any bacteria lurking beneath the water’s surface is basically an infection waiting to happen, explains sex coach Lucy Rowett. But fear not. If an aquatic sex sesh is a must-hit bucket list item for you, there are ways to turn this good-in-theory scenario into a very-hot-in-reality sexperience. The trick is…

Between 6 and 24 Points Maybe…Don’t If the factors that led to your split remain present, the relationship may still not work for those exact reasons, says Stockard. Start a Notes app list of all these cons that you can look at whenever you’re tempted to backslide, hit that Block button, and focus on giving yourself the love you deserve. Between 25 and 55 Points It’s Worth Entertaining Ask yourself: Did the good times really overshadow the bad? Do I genuinely miss my ex, or do I miss being in a relationship? Can we work through what drove us apart? Stockard says this last bit is especially important because strong conflict-resolution skills are key to making it work long term. Between 56 and 78 Points Life Is Short—Try Again! Just…

I can’t remember a time when I wasn’t a slut. And by that I mean an unapologetic sex-haver in regular pursuit of pleasure. Most of my adulthood has been rhythmic app swiping, dates, and hookups as fun, casual pastimes. I relished not putting too much pressure on any of it to be perfect and amazing, and I was always deliberate about my sexual choices. I felt so free in my sluttiness. Until the pandemic brought a swift change of pace. Living with severe chronic depression, especially during a global emergency, made it impossible for me to prioritize sex. I had a super-finite energy supply and little motivation, and getting through all the steps that eventually lead to sex took so much effort. The apps exhausted me, and going on dates,…

I have a salty tooth, so for me, it’s always mozzarella sticks over chocolate cake. But even though I’m not personally obsessed with dessert, I’ve always loved to bake for other people. In the ’90s, I brought my Easy-Bake Oven to my dad’s office to make him a cake “from scratch.” In the 2000s, I experimented with extravagant cupcakes before creating desserts with a savory edge, like my Korean-ish Brown Butter Blondies. Nowadays, I keep a “Food-rensic File” in my Notes app with my loved ones’ taste preferences. The best compliment I can get in return for baking for someone is, “Wow, this is so me!” The Lemonade Bars you see here are for all my salty-sweet tooths out there. They’re actually a mashup of two confections: cheesecake (my mom’s…

SHOT ON LOCATION AT THE FOUR SEASONS RESORT NEVIS Clear Cut I don’t need to tell you twice that cutouts are happening this summer (because you’ve read page 44 already, obviously). Shape Shifting You could be like everyone else at the beach. Or you could embrace rosette appliqués and abstract silhouettes. The choice is yours. Less Is More As in bikini fabric. Is there a greater chance of a wardrobe malfunction? Yes, but what’s a life without risk? All the Shade If you’re not re-creating Jackie O’s sunnies look at every possible moment this season, you’re missing the point. Sheer Brilliance I’m not saying to jump into the pool wearing a chic sheer dress, but I’m also not not saying that. Hair and makeup: Tracy Alfajora. Production: Caribbean Production. Model:…