Innehållsförteckning för Apr-14 från Cosmopolitan

Umbrella-ella-ellas "Vinrella gets me: I go through umbrellas like wine. Always need more!" —MAY HASSO, FASHION ASSISTANT Pic Inspo "PHOTOGRAPHER TODD SELBY'S NEW BOOK IS THE COOLEST OF THE COOL. IT EVEN HAS DIY PAPER DOLLS (A GUY AND GIRL) WITH MIX-AND-MATCH CLOTHES." —AYA KANAI, FASHION DIRECTOR Fashionable Selby, $35, amazon.com Crop top, $39, skirt, $69, Buffalo David Bitton, buffalo jeans.com A Hint of Skin "I love a good crop top. The trick is to wear it with something high-waisted so you just show a sliver of skin." —SHIONA TURINI, MARKET DIRECTOR Bright Carryalls "CAN'T WAIT TO TOTE THIS CANDY-COLORED BUCKET BAG TO THE BEACH THIS SUMMER!" —KATHY LEE, SENIOR ACCESSORIES EDITOR Bag, Dooney and Bourke, $139, dooney.com Quotable Cuffs "Mean Girls jewelry! Just in time for one of…

KATE HENDRICKS TWITTER: @KateTheWasp Comedian Hendricks riffs on what it takes to be ballsy in the quiz "How Big Are Your Ovaries?" (p. 248). HOW I GOT MY FIRST BIG BREAK "Two words: Sherri Shepherd. She saw me do stand-up and went out of her way to recommend me as a guest on her show, The View. She is the antithesis to the argument that women don't help out other women." WORST ADVICE I'VE GOTTEN "'Be sexier and dirtier onstage. No one wants to hear from a woman in a cardigan.' So awful." ANN BRASHARES TWITTER: @ANNBRASHARES The author of The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants debuts her upcoming novel, The Here and Now, as this month's Red-Hot Read, "Worth the Risk" (p. 244). HOW I GET PAST MY CREATIVE…

"HALFWAY THROUGH A FIRST DATE, HE GOT ARRESTED (HANDCUFFS AND ALL) FOR DRIVING WITH A REVOKED LICENSE." —MORGAN M., 31 "HE EXCUSED HIMSELF FOR 'TINKLE TIME.' " —MARIE G., 24 "I went on a date with a guy who kept complimenting my dress and makeup, and I loved that he was so into me. When he got up to go to the bathroom, the waitress whispered, 'Girl, you know he's gay, right?'" —NICOLE T., 24 "I went out with a PhD who took me on a sophisticated, charming date. At the end of it, he walked me back to his car and said he had something to show me. He whipped out a dildo. The date ended immediately." —JENNY J., 24 "My husband and I went on a double date…

What's up with Jaime Lannister having sex with his sister on GoT—does it gross you out? It's so twisted. When I think of it as myself—I have two older sisters—it's beyond weird. The GoT girls seem more kick-ass than the guys—would you agree? It's true, and it's great because it mirrors real life. The women in my life are very strong. It's just the way the world is, which is good. It surprises me when you see shows that don't have very strong women. You play a dirty cheater in The Other Woman, but you've been wifed up for 15 years. What's the secret to making it last? You have to like each other—that's a good start. And of course, you have to stay physical together. But you also have…

EAU, REALLY? FUN Louis C.K. + CK One: Imagining the world's best celebrity fragrance. The clean scent of a cranky, truth-talking ginger. FEARLESS Beyoncé launches her newest fragrance, Rise, inspired by Maya Angelou's "Still I Rise" poem. Beyoncé Rise, $34, kohls.com FAIL Andy Cohen turns Lady Gaga's urine into perfume to keep in the Watch What Happens Live Clubhouse. Pee-ew. What's that smell? TOPSY TURVY FUN Kaley Cuoco hangs her wedding cake upside-down from a chandelier. The trailblazing bride calls it epic. We agree. FEARLESS Patrice Letarnec goes head over heels, putting his subjects in clothes while they do crazy handstands. What a feet! FAIL At an upside-down house in Russia, everything is flipped, even the bathroom. Um, that's not going to end well. Watch your heads, folks. BREAST…

Blazer, Boohoo.com, $50, boohoo.com Sunglasses, Quay Eyeware Australia, $45, nastygal.com Bracelets, C. Wonder, $48 each, cwonder.com Jeans, Forever 21, $24.80, forever21.com Bag, Cosmopolitan, $44.99, jcpenney.com Shoes, JustFab, $39.95, justfab.com WELL-HEELED TIP Rugged boyfriend jeans and stilettos clash—in a good way—for serious street chic. Jeans, Riders by Lee, $20, Kmart Jacket, Wet Seal, $39.90, wetseal.com Shirt, American Eagle Outfitters, $34.95, ae.com SHORTS STORY TIP Reach style Nirvana in worn-in flannel and tattered cutoffs. T-shirt, Junk Food Clothing, $32, junkfoodclothing.com Shorts, Silver Jeans Co., $49.60 with promo code SHORTS20, silverjeans.com Boots, Forever 21, $39.80, forever21.com HELLO, MOTO TIP A motorcycle jacket is the easiest way to nail off-duty edge. Jeans, Denizen from Levi's, $27.99, target.com Medium-faded skinnies work for day…

Vacation Time Peter Som takes you to the beaches of St. Barths with his tropical-cool DesigNation collection for Kohl's. Jacket, Peter Som for DesigNation, $78, kohls.com BIRTHDAY (JUMP)SUITS While Elie Tahari's new Edition 1974 collection marks the designer's 40th anniversary, its iconic silhouettes don't look a day over 20. Blue jumpsuit, Elie Tahari Edition 1974, $548, elietahari.com; black jumpsuit, Elie Tahari Edition 1974, $398, saksfifthavenue.com Vest, Peter Som for DesigNation, $68, kohls.com Pants, Peter Som for DesigNation, $50, kohls.com Easy LISTENING Earbud upgrade! V-Moda's DJ-quality headphones can be personalized with any design or phrase. Headphones, V-Moda, $310, v-moda.com Bra, $77, brief, $31, Rachel Roy, rachelroy.com FANCY FOUNDATIONS "Intimates are an essential starting point of any day. It's important that women feel strong, sexy,…

AT HOME: PREP These products go on fast, require zero precision, and work their magic during your commute. Quench skin. You know how you crave water in the a.m.? Your skin's desperate for a drink too—especially if you skimped on sleep, which leaves skin parched. Look alive. Rehydrate dry, bloodshot eyes with drops before bringing potentially irritating eye makeup anywhere near them. Wake up your face. "Liquid foundation reverses the look of tired skin almost instantly," says makeup artist Troy Jensen. Dot it in the center of your face, and blend outward. Perk up with peach. Coral blush masks dullness, says Jensen. Cream formulas melt into foundation and can be dabbed on as you brush your teeth. Work with bedhead. "Mist hair with texturizing spray, and throw it into…

Carrie Bradshaw convinced me to get my first bikini wax. "I feel like I'm nothing but walking sex," she said in that landmark 2000 episode of Sex and the City, from which millions of women were introduced to the concept of going Brazilian-bare. Being Australian, with a go-natural ethos toward beauty, I wasn't sure I wanted to be walking sex—or even what that meant—but her cheeky grin intrigued me. Besides, I was about to meet my long-distance boyfriend in Hawaii after being apart for three months. It seemed like the perfect opportunity to see if some nether-region grooming would add a little pep to my already excited step. With my legs in a gynecological position, I looked up at the ceiling and imagined a thought bubble floating above the technician's…

The blue words are power words. Use them to describe yourself! It was the moment on the 2008 campaign trail that went viral long before Texts From Hillary. In South Carolina, a woman asked Republican presidential candidate John McCain about his opponent, Hillary Clinton. "How do we beat the bitch?" she asked, to chuckles all around. McCain replied, "That's an excellent question!" Clinton had heard it all before. Whether she was deemed too ambitious to appeal to voters or not experienced enough for the Oval Office, the woman who could yet be president was—and remains—a case study in the way we use language to reinforce stereotypes. Literally. Deborah Tannen, a linguist at Georgetown University, has written half a dozen articles on what she calls The Hillary Factor—the double bind that…

At Stanford, where she got her MBA, Liz Anderson gave sexist quips she heard around campus little more than an exasperated eye roll. "She's hot but too ambitious." "She's too bossy to date." Or as one male classmate put it to one of her friends out at a party one night: "I don't think I could marry a woman from business school, because I want somebody who's going to be a good mom." It was absurd, antiquated, and a total double standard. Yet when Anderson sat down that year to create an online-dating profile, she was strategic. She didn't mention where she went to undergraduate school (Harvard) or how she ended up on the West Coast (Stanford). She didn't state the name of the company she worked for (a high-profile…

Maria Ruiz-Santana sat watching the clock in her oceanography class at Northern Illinois Univer sity, hoping time would speed up. "Ten more minutes," she whispered to a friend. It was 3:05 p.m. on Valentine's Day in 2008. That's when time slowed down. A 27-year-old gunman burst through a door at the front of the room, beneath the clock Ruiz-Santana was watching. Wearing a black shirt with the word Terrorist across the chest, he carried a sawed-off shotgun, three handguns, and eight loaded magazines. Ruiz-Santana, a junior, saw only the shotgun, which looked to her like a long pole. Her mind didn't have time to register that it was a weapon—she had already been hit. "I felt pressure on my left shoulder, then everything went numb," she says today, sitting in…

Q My guy likes getting oral on his balls more than his penis. I didn't even know that was possible.… A When it comes to BJs, anything is possible! "I've seen guys who can only orgasm if they have clamps on their penises," points out certified sex therapist Michael Aaron, PhD. Although most guys prefer oral love to their twig over their berries, it makes sense that your man is into testicle touching. The skin around his scrotum is super thin and ultrasensitive. Just "handle them more gently than you would the shaft of his penis," advises sex therapist Ian Kerner, PhD. (Translation: more tongue, no teeth!) Now…play ball! Q My friend has genital herpes, she recently got herpes simplex 1 on her finger, and she's seeing a guy with…

THERE WERE SIX OF US. DANNY, THE bearded Noah, the delicate Eric, the old artistic director, Olivia, and me. Cape Cod was abandoned, but we were up in the artistic director's Provincetown shack for a post-cast-party party. Danny was doing summer stock again, and I'd driven up for the final performances. I actually ate a lobster by myself before I got to the theater, picking wet meat out of knuckles as I watched the summer's final families appear from a dune drop-off and bang boogie boards against the sides of their cars. The show was terrible for two reasons: one, that the show was terrible, and two, that it involved a lot of kissing between Danny and Olivia. Danny smiling with his eyes inches from hers—pulling at her belt loop…

The 5 Friends You Wish He'd Ditch You found an amazing boyfriend—he goes to Katy Perry shows and gives great Os!—but his friends effing suck. Here's how to deal and still be the cool GF. (1) THE PERMA-BACHELOR WHO HE IS: An influence so bad, he makes Charlie Sheen look senatorial. He comes over smelling like misogyny and daddy issues from his serial visits with Bambi at Strip Service. And if you guys ever break up, he'd have your boyf begging a bouncer for spare singles that night. HOW TO DEAL: You're not his babysitter. It would be overstepping to make your man defriend this degenerate, but remind him that, unlike Bambi, you actually allow him to touch you—for free—outside the Champagne Room. —LAUREN PANARIELLO Get lost, Schmidt. (2) THEBIG…

BRIGHT STRIPES PUNKLIKE STREAKS TAKE THE PRISSINESS OUT OF A PONY. STYLE IT FIRST Tease the front of your hairline, and twist it into a pomp. Pull the rest into a ponytail. THEN ADD COLOR Using various shades of pastel sticks (from an art-supply store) or hair chalk (like Splat, $6), draw stripes on the side of your head. Top, Dior; earrings, Fallon, $88 MAID YOU LOOK! THIS MILKMAID BRAID LOOKS LIKE IT'S BEEN WOVEN WITH RIBBONS. STYLE IT FIRST Braid two low pigtails, weaving in colored extensions (we love Manic Panic's, $12). Pin each along your hairline for the Heidi effect. THEN ADD COLOR Color block even more of the braid with hair chalk (another fave: Tint, $20). Top, Cushnie et Ochs, $595; earrings, Joomi Lim, $88 OMG OMBRÉ…

—JESSICA GIRDWAIN SMOKY Melt this cinnamon-y, salty, and smoky dark chocolate Olive and Sinclair Mexican Style Cinn-Chili bar in milk for a to-die-for hot cocoa. $6.99, oliveandsinclair.com THE 11-WORD RECIPE Add sliced onion, avocado to black beans; heat. Garnish with lime. SOURCE: MARISSA LIPPERT, RD, CHEF/OWNER OF NOURISH KITCHEN + TABLE IN NYC THE NO-BINGE BUFFET Diners in a buffet line where cheesy eggs, bacon, and pastries came first piled on all of it, says a study in PLOS One. But when greeted by nutri tious fruit and yogurt, they ended up with healthy plates. Hit a spread's good-for-you food first, even if you have to step out of line to find it. —LIZ PLOSSER SALTY The burnt-sugar caramel you taste in Trader Joe's Dark Chocolate Bar Caramel With Black…

HERE'S WHY I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO POP A XANAX BEFORE EVEN STARTING MY WORKDAY: WALKING TO MY LOCAL STARBUCKS, I'M FORCED TO PLAY SIDEWALK FROGGER BEHIND PEOPLE WHO SUDDENLY STOP TO TEXT. A CAR DRIVES BY BLARING "WHAT DOES THE FOX SAY?" WITH THE WINDOWS DOWN. AT THE COFFEE SHOP, THE WOMAN IN FRONT OF ME ORDERS A HOT VENTI, THEN DRINKS WITH A STRAW. IN THE CORNER, A HIPSTER COUPLE SHARE A GLUTEN-FREE SCONE WITH THEIR TODDLER…NAMED WOLFGANG. By 8 a.m., my annoyance meter has hit DEFCON 1 status, and it's not just me: A quick scroll through Facebook and Twitter reveals a real-time stream of bitching, about everything from crazy weather patterns to people who use the word moist. But annoying stuff has been around forever.…

DO YOU LIKE YOUR DRINKS… SHAKEN or STIRRED SWEET or SOUR UP or ON THE ROCKS BOOZY or LESS BOOZY LIGHT or DARK SHAKEN drinks are made in cocktail shakers with ice. They are fresher, often more citrusy, and lighter in alcohol. STIRRED drinks are chilled in a mixing glass and stirred with a spoon. They are usually clear and stronger. SWEET: Think of a piña colada. SOUR: Think of a mojito (puckery limes). UP means the drink is chilled, strained, and served without ice. ON THE ROCKS means it's served over ice. BOOZY drinks are for sipping slowly. LESS BOOZY drinks mean you can drink a little faster and try a bit more. LIGHT spirits—gin, rum (silver), tequila (blanco), vodka—are clean and fresh. DARK spirits—tequila (reposado, añejo), rum (Jamaican),…

Bitch It Out! Crazy situation working your last nerve? Vent here! Throw in the Towel "My roommate is a total slob and so lazy! Instead of cleaning her dirty towels, she just accumulates more. When my mom visited, they fell on her." — Sam D., 21 Feelin' Good "I don't care how cold it gets outside, you put your hands in your pockets, not your underwear." — Kaitlan W., 23 Risky Business "Business casual…only in New York." — Adam M., 25 Foot Fail "I don't remember when it ever became acceptable not to wear shoes in a sit-down restaurant!" — Lauren B., 23 ANNOYED BEYOND BELIEF? LOG ON TO COSMOPOLITAN.COM/BITCH-IT-OUT TO SHARE YOUR PET PEEVE (AND PHOTO). IF WE PRINT YOUR SHOT, WE'LL GIVE YOU $50!…

1. FORGIVE … An ex's side pieces—à la Cameron Diaz, Kate Upton, and Leslie Mann, whose characters unite against the serial cheater Nikolaj Coster-Waldau (see page 62) in The Other Woman. 2 PLAY WITH YOUR PEEPS Wrecking Peep! The Peep of Wall Street! Take inspo from The Washington Post's annual Peeps Show contest to make your own peep-culture diorama. 3. GO BOHO Can't make the Outkast reunion? The style at the Coachella Music Festival (April 11 to 13 and 18 to 20) is as major as the live acts. More skin is more. 4. PICK YOUR SCARJO Ass-kicker in Captain America: The Winter Soldier or emo alien in Under the Skin—the voice of Her shows face in the two films out April 4. 5. STOP AND SMELL THE PEONIES…

The best part of climbing the lad der in any field is the amazing people you meet along the way. As the editor of Cosmo, I come into contact with so many brilliant women—from the stars we choose for our covers to those we ask for career advice (Valerie Jarrett, Stacey Snider, Roberta Kaplan)—who inspire me with their big ideas, work ethic, smart talk, and leadership styles. I learn from them every day. One of my favorite women is Sheryl Sandberg, best-selling author of Lean In and COO of Facebook. She's also guest editor of Cosmo Careers. When Sheryl and I partnered up a year ago to create Cosmo Careers, we wanted it to be a cheat sheet of all the get-ahead intel we've picked up firsthand, what we wished…

THE BOW-DOWN-BITCHES SELFIE Meryl Streep and Hillary Clinton THE FOR-THE-PARENTS SELFIE Rihanna and brother Rajad Fenty THE INTERNATIONAL-RELATIONS SELFIE British Prime Minister David Cameron, Danish Prime Minister Helle Thorning-Schmidt, and President Barack Obama THE "LET ME SHOW YOU HOW IT'S DONE" SELFIE Kim Kardashian and Willie Geist THE "OMG! WE'RE SO FUN!" SELFIE Austin Butler and Vanessa Hudgens THE FASHION-MEETS-FUNNY SELFIE Designer Stella McCartney and Amy Poehler THE RAWR!-FACE SELFIE Michelle Rodriguez and Cara Delevingne THE "WE'RE ON A YACHT!" SELFIE Beyoncé and Jay-Z THE HOME-BROS SELFIE Neil Patrick Harris, Joshua Sasse, and Ian Somerhalder…

"You're, like, really pretty." "Thank you." "So you agree.…You think you're really pretty." Picture this. Guy A tells Guy B: "Dude, kick-ass presentation." Dude B: "Thanks, bro. Sweet graphics, right?" End scene. Between two women, it's a different, more complicated story. For most of us, accepting kudos is akin to swallowing a goldfish—we just can't do it. Take the popular Inside Amy Schumer sketch "Compliments." In it, a group of women reject each other's kind words with increasing hilarity ("Look at your cute little dress!" "Little? I'm like a size 100 now."). When one responds with a simple "Thank you!" it so upsets their universe that they lose their shit and turn homicidal. One woman even lights herself on fire. We all get it: rejecting compliments is ridiculous (and funny!)…

Two days before Khloé Kardashian files for divorce, she is hunkered down in her mother's Hidden Hills home—the one made famous by Keeping Up With the Kardashians—helping Kris prepare for the holidays. Mom and daughter are curled up on an oversize sofa in Kris's office, taking a break from working on the Kardashian Kollection clothing line at Sears, the Kardashian Beauty line, and their E! show (the new season premieres this summer). The D word never comes up. Instead, they paint a picture of a warm, happy family living in beautiful chaos (and indeed, at one point, soon-to-be brother/son-in-law Kanye West strolls down the hall in his socks). Read on for a glimpse of what life is like for them when the cameras are off. On Khloé: Blazer, $425, shorts,…

T-shirt, Tommy Hilfiger, $39, tommy.com; jeans, Levi's Made and Crafted, $195, levi.com; plaid shirt, Express, $49.90, Express stores; boots, Freda Salvador, $595, fredasalvador.com; necklace, $100, bracelet, $120, Karen Egren Jewelry, karenegren.com; ring, Gorjana, $75, gorjana-griffin.com; earrings, worn throughout, Taylor's own Jacket and pants, $435, Joseph, Joseph, 212-570-0077; T-shirt, American Apparel, $18, American Apparel stores; shoes, Casadei for Prabal Gurung, Barneys, to order; choker, Uncommon Matters, $610, The Webster Miami, 305-674-7899; snake ring, $50, Karen Egren Jewelry, karenegren.com OFFICE SWEET For work, stick to crew- or scoop-neck tees. Skip the black lace or bright bra for neutral no-show underpinnings. Wear with a statement blazer and tailored pants. 1 Blazer, $300, pants, $220, Bec and Bridge, becandbridge.com.au 2 T-Shirt, White House Black Market, $35, whbm.com 3 Blazer,…

POWER SHOWER Its energizing oceanic scent is like a.m. Aromatherapy. Caress aqua sparkle body wash, $4, drugstores BLUE'S HUES Nine shades (from aqua to sapphire) for any occasion. NYX LOVE IN PARIS PALETTE, $10, ULTA SCRATCH AND SNIFF Apply and let dry for a beachy hue and scent. REVLON PARFUMERIE SCENTED NAIL ENAMEL IN SURF SPRAY, $6, DRUGSTORES COLORED PENCIL A swipe of cobalt liner makes eyes extra flirty. L'ORéAL PARIS COLOUR RICHE EYELINER BY PENCIL PERFECT IN COBALT, $9, DRUGSTORES MAKEOUT MUST Soft, sexy lips swear by this stick. NIVEA A KISS OF MOISTURE ESSENTIAL LIP CARE, $3, DRUGSTORES GET LEI'D The scent of sandalwood is a serious mood-setter. PACIFICA WAIKIKI PIKAKE CANDLE, $8, PACIFICA PERFUMES.COM DREAM CREAM The secret to a smooth DIY blow-dry: this! PANTENE SMOOTH BLOW…

To start Using a brush, apply hydrating foundation (it gives skin a fresh, night-out finish), carefully blurring any obvious lines around your nose, hairline, and jaw. Next, tap illuminating concealer underneath your eyes, and blend. 1 CK One 3-In-1 Concealer, $20, ulta.com 2 CK ONE 3-IN-1 FACE MAKEUP, $30, ULTA.COM Next up Fill in brows with pencil. (For the most natural look, choose one that's a shade lighter than your hair, and use diagonal strokes to mimic how hair grows.) Apply shimmery highlighter beneath brows, along cheekbones, and up to temples. 1 CoverGirl Brow & Eyemakers, $3.12, drugstores 2 STILA ALL OVER SHIMMER POWDER DUO IN KITTEN, $22, STILACOSMETICS.COM Almost done For a flush that lasts all night, apply a double dose of cream, then powder, blush to cheeks.…

Travel Trip-Up TIGHT, FLAKY SKIN WHAT'S THE DEAL? "The air on a plane is only 20 percent humidity, while our skin's optimal environment is 50 percent," says derm atologist Jeannette Graf, MD (fun fact: her husband is a commercial pilot). IN-FLIGHT FIXES Practice the triple-eight rule: "Drink eight ounces of water an hour before, during, and after your flight," says Marta Rendon, MD, a dermatologist in Boca Raton. (Score an aisle seat for easy restroom access!) And avoid alcohol—it's seriously dehydrating. Once an hour, mist your face with a hydrating face spray (we like Caudalíe Beauty Elixir, $18, sephora.com), then apply a layer of lotion made with super-hydrating hyaluronic acid (like Philosophy's, below), says NYC dermatologist Debra Jaliman, MD. Travel Trip-Up SWOLLEN LEGS WHAT'S THE DEAL? The air pressure in…

No manager can be Mary Poppins, Miranda Priestly, and your mom all wrapped up in one—a reality check for women in charge and the workers who want to love them. If Nicole McWhirter is one thing, it's a feminist. "I think that women are amazing, powerful beings who have every right to do everything that men do and that they should be paid the same," says McWhirter, who is 36, lives in Denver, and attended all-women's Barnard College. Yet if McWhirter had her way, she'd never work for another woman again. Back when she was in communications, she worked for a woman in her 40s who treated her pretty poorly. It seemed like she'd sacrificed a lot to become a vice president at her company, and McWhirter's best guess is…

WHAT WOULD BEYONCÉ DO? BE PASSIONATE. BE COURAGEOUS. BE YOUR BEST. —gabby giffords Fear Is A Four-Letter Word Life is always either a tightrope or a feather bed. Give me the tightrope. —Edith Wharton —DEMI LOVATO Go out and grab the world by the lapels. You've got to go out and kick ass. —MAYA ANGELOU If you want something said, ask a man. if you want something done, ask a woman. —margaret thatcher A girl should be two things: who and what she wants. —coco chanel I'M NOT BOSSY I'M RIGHT Keep Calm and Kick Ass —Amelia earhart You're not in competition with other women. You're in competition with everyone. —TINA FEY ROAR Find out who you are and do it on purpose. —DOLLY PARTON Always Be Inspired Share and…

1 THE MAN-CHILD So what if he's getting an MFA in apple-bong carving at His Mom's Basement University? It's just fun to watch My Strange Addiction together. Date him now when his aimlessness helps you relax a little and before his graphic tees and lack of a 401k start giving your vagina sadface. 2. THE TORTURED MUSICIAN As the front man of a garage band named Finger Burrito, this guy is unafraid of "feeling things"…and into performing oral. But by the time you hit 30, you'll be sick of his total lack of self-awareness. Some gel and a leather wrist cuff do not Adam Levine make. 3. THE SMOLDERING FOREIGNER In your 20s, it's totally legitimate to trump "he barely speaks English, and even if he did, we'd have nothing…

Between Tinder swipes, Lulu hashtags, and Match winks, dating is more dizzying than ever. Who has time to focus on finding Mr. Right when you're texting with Mr. Tonight? Chances are, Shannon Truax is going on a date tonight. The only question is with whom? It might be Mike*, whom she took home last week after drinks at a chic hotel bar, or Amrit, with whom she sparked up a conversation at a work event last month—or another of the 11 (yes, 11) guys she's currently juggling in her romantic rotation via Facebook, Twitter, text, and e-mail. "Eleven is the high end, three is the low end, and six is the sweet spot," says the lively blonde social-media director from Seattle. To be clear, she's talking about the magic number…

When Jessica Grose went off her depression meds and realized her emotional issues weren't just a teenage phase, she experienced a whole new fear: what her husband would think of her if he saw her at her worst. I WAS 23 WHEN MY husband and I met. I wore skirts so short that on our second date, a homeless man told me to put some pants on. I ordered Jameson on the rocks at bars. I worked for a music magazine and had plus-ones for all the best concerts. I was always a little intense—a friend of mine once described me as emotionally extravagant—but I was mostly a lot of fun. I was also on a daily 10-mg dose of Prozac. I was always up-front with my then-boyfriend about what…

Q My boyfriend is really into PDA. I'm not—our relationship is ours and I don't need to put it on blast for everyone to see. When he kisses me in public and I pull away, he gets offended. How do I get him to tone it down? A By meeting him halfway. People have vastly different definitions of what constitutes too much PDA. Holding hands can be over the line for one person, while engaging in behavior that can practically result in pregnancy is perfectly acceptable to another. It sounds like you're relatively conservative when it comes to PDA, and there's nothing wrong with that. But there's also nothing wrong with your boyfriend occasionally wanting to kiss you in public (assuming it's not a 37-minute-long tonguing during a family member's…

As if saving the trees, oceans, and baby animals weren't reason enough, adopting these eco-friendly habits will make you way healthier. LET LIGHT IN Shut off energy-hogging lamps, and open the blinds. Natural lighting delivers all the sun's perks—more energy, better mood, sounder sleep, sharper eyes—without direct exposure to harmful UV rays. Hang mirrors opposite windows to maximize sunlight. EAT FRESH STUFF Bagged and boxed foods trash the planet…and your bod, thanks to all the added sodium, sugar, and artificial substitutes that preserve shelf life. Look for products with five or fewer ingredients. CUT OUT PAPER Women with cluttered homes may have higher levels of depression, p.m. fatigue, and chronic stress. For your own mental health, recycle! —MARISSA GAINSBURG SOURCE: JENNY POWERS, NATIONAL MEDIA DIRECTOR, NATURAL RESOURCES DEFENSE COUNCIL; HEATHER…

—LIZ PLOSSER SOURCE: KEVIN CAFARO, A HIKING GUIDE AT DISCOVER OUTDOORS IN NEW YORK PHONE. Fully charged. WATER. Pack 32 ounces for every hour of hiking. A FRIEND. Bring along one or two buddies. SUNSCREEN! Sweat-resistant SPF 30 is perfect. A SNACK. You don't have to overthink it. Trail mix really is the best. Give Yourself a Pep Talk So easy! Thinking about positive affirmations—like "You got this" or "Feeling awesome" —as you exercise can increase the duration of your workout by 18 percent , according to a new study. (That's an extra five and a half minutes on a 30-minute session…or about 55 more calories burned.) Researchers think that motivating self-talk lowers your perception of effort, so you last longer. —MARISSA GAINSBURG SOURCE: SAMUELE MARCORA,…

I ALMOST DIED. I was on a family vacation in a sunny resort town five years ago and had felt a bit off all week—a little nauseated and fatigued. But as I was packing up my kids' suitcases, I began to feel really sick. I was so cold that I had to put on three layers of clothes. And the cramps I'd been feeling in my abdomen suddenly turned unbearably painful. I went to a nearby health-care clinic and told the nurse that I needed to be prioritized. That's not my nature, but I knew something was wrong. I had a fever of 104.5, but they couldn't find anything else wrong with me. I was sent back to our vacation rental home and told to rest. But I didn't get…

STELLAR GIFTS Your confidence and inner fire draw people to you. BLIND SPOTS When your mind is made up, you can be a bit pushy with friends. FASHION FAVES A look in your closet will reveal a chic mix of preppy classics and luxe statement pieces. INDULGENCE A solo road trip, blasting the tunes, is your go-to gift to yourself. SEDUCTION STYLE You like to be on top! You're not afraid to ask for what you want between the sheets. THIS MONTH Change is in the air! If unexpected news comes your way, take it in your stride. Get all the facts before you make any major moves. Love could strike on the 8th, so dress up and hit the town! YEAR AHEAD TRAVEL IS CALLING YOUR NAME! DOWNLOAD TRAVEL…

1. Your boyfriend's Gmail tab is open on your laptop. [Editor's note: If he has Yahoo, break up now.] You notice an e-mail from his ex titled "Coffee Thursday?" You: a. Say nothing. You shouldn't have been looking at his e-mail. Plus, now you can spend Thursday binge-watching Dance Moms. b. Ask him what his plans are for Thursday. If he makes something up, you know to shift into Code Freaking Red. c. Reply as him: "Thurs works. There's a Dance Moms marathon on, and my GF loves it." It'll get awkward, but you're no one's fool. 2. At a family dinner to celebrate your brother's engagement, you planned to share the news of your promotion, but no one's asked you about work. It's like "hello?" You: a.…

WHAT WE'RE BUZZING ABOUT How cute is this tweet from March cover girl Ashley Benson's proud mom? SHANNON BENSON@ShannonBenson I got some BIG news.… My little Ashley @AshBenzo is on the March 2014 cover of @Cosmopolitan!! Feline superstar Lil Bub came to hang out with the Cosmo editors. #Fangirling LETTER OF THE MONTH "I cannot say enough good things about the February issue. From 'In Search of the Ultimate Orgasm' to 'Baby Betrayal' to 'Girls Who Like Girls' to 'Our Choice: How Abortion Changed Our Relationship,' I could not put it down. I laughed, I cried, and I related to all these stories. Thanks so much for a real take on some interesting issues." —Charlene P., Independence, KS HARVARD GRAD CHARLOTTE LIEBERMAN'S MARCH FEATURE, "WHY IS COLLEGE DATING SO F*&#ED…

1 "ALL MY GUY FRIENDS ARE IN LOVE WITH MY MOM. I'VE TRIED TO TELL HER SHE NEEDS TO STOP WEARING SO MANY LOW-CUT TOPS, BUT SHE WON'T LISTEN TO ME." —CHRYSTAL B., 19, RETAIL SALES ASSOCIATE, FROM BROOKLYN, NY 2 "I WAS ON A DATE AND I GOT A FRAPPUCCINO, BUT I FORGOT THE STRAW. I'D BEEN CRAVING IT ALL DAY, SO I TRIED TO DRINK IT THROUGH THE STRAW HOLE IN THE LID. THE WHOLE THING FELL ON ME. IT WAS ON MY FACE, MY CLOTHES, IN MY HAIR. I WAS LAUGHING AND CRYING AND A MESS, BUT HE WAS NICE ABOUT IT." —ISABELLA G., 18, STUDENT, FROM MIAMI, FL 3 "I WAS OUT WITH FRIENDS AND HAD HAD A FEW DRINKS WHEN WE SAW KIRSTEN DUNST. I…

DUH! Channing Tatum CHAN-ning TAY-tum Ryan Gosling RYE-un GOSS-ling Drake DRAKE *We know, we know, any excuse. Degree of difficulty HIGH Chiwetel Ejiofor CHOO-eh-tell EDGE-ee-oh-for Saoirse Ronan SEAR-sha Ronan Mia Wasikowska ME-ah Vah-shee-KAHV-ska MEDIUM Troian Bellisario TROY-an Bellisario Lupita Nyong'o Loo-PEE-tah En-yong-oh Nikolaj Coster-Waldau Nee-ko-LIE Coster-Wall-DOW See page 62 for more Nikolaj hotness. EASY Amanda Seyfried Amanda SIGH-frid Joe Manganiello Joe MAN-guh-nello Sasha Pieterse Sasha Peter-SUH…

Look! It's the girl from—wait, what's she from again? The go-to actress for the "best friend" shares why it's pretty sweet to be almost famous. There are a lot of perks when you're an actor. Free food at work was my second favorite in the beginning, but my first was the weird stuff. Like seeing celebrities in no makeup and finding out what they ate. Admittedly, the weirdest was listening to them pee. There is something so humanizing about bodily functions. They really level the playing field. I have peed next to several very A-list celebrities, and every time, I giggle. You know how as a kid, it was jarring to see your teachers outside school? It's like that. In fact, that's how I feel about celebrities doing anything normal—not…

Ring, Outerbridge, $87, outerbridgejewelry.com PACK SOME POLISH Stick to shiny gold jewelry for a worn-in-jeans-meet-sheen combo. Jacket, Nasty Gal, $250, nastygal.com Clutch, Sara Battaglia, sarabattaglia.com for stores Necklace, Karen Egren Jewelry, $85, karenegren.com Crop top, Wet Seal, $34.90, wetseal.com FRINGE BENEFITS Details like tassels and quilting make basic denim worthy of special occasions. Skirt, Jennifer Chun, $345, Essentia, 781-239-1440 Skirt, Joe's, $158, joes jeans.com Shoes, Club Monaco, $298, Club Monaco stores Cuff, 424 Fifth, $29, lordandtaylor.com Crop top, ASOS, $52, asos.com Pants, 7 for All Mankind, $198, Neiman Marcus Shoes, Express, $69.90, express.com Jacket, Old Navy, $34.94, Old Navy stores;bra top, In My Air, $260, inmyair.com Earrings, Sam Edelman, $35, Lord and Taylor GREAT COVER-UP Tone down a bustier with an open jacket that still keeps some skin…

Is there a way to do nongirlie florals? —ERIN VORISEK, 21 From left: Boots, Wanted, $79.99, zappos.com; dress, Jessica Simpson Collection, $89, macys.com "The best way to keep floral prints from looking too young—or worse, too grandma—is to add black leather. Think tough motorcycle boots and jackets and you'll hit all the right notes: sexy, feminine, and super cool." How can I wear pale pink without looking like a 4-year-old? —DALANEE HESTER, 20 "Pastels aren't just for Jordan almonds. These soft-hued accents balance tough-girl staples like leather pants and strappy heels." From top: Jacket, DKNY Jeans, $109.50, select DKNY locations; clutch, Gap, $39.95, gap.com; shoes, Shoe Cult, $130, nastygal.com Any suggestions for a great winter-to-spring transition coat? —MARIE MIDFORD, 20 "I'm obsessed with multifunction clothes. This coat is…

COMPLEXION POPS Make room in your freezer: These "beauty globes" are made for Cosmo girls. Like ice pops for skin (just freeze them overnight), the massaging bulbs depuff and get skin glowing after you've pulled an all-nighter. BSB Beauty Globes, $75, labelle dayspas.com Lazy Girl Shampoo Love the idea of dry shampoo, but not a fan of its residue? Start washing with this. Formulated with OFPMA (scientist speak for dirt- and oil-repelling magic), it doubles your time between washes in a totally weightless way. Living Proof Perfect Hair Day Shampoo, $24, sephora.com IT GIRL GLAM The latest label to lend its name to makeup: Proenza Schouler. Its MAC collection is just as edgy (there's a dark plum lipstick) and cool (fluoro packag ing!) as its designs. MAC by Proenza…

Do I really need to skip my eye area when exfoliating? —HAYLEY GILMARTIN, 23 "If you use traditional exfoliators, yes. But those made specifically for sensitive eye skin are fine." How can I keep my blonde hair from getting so brassy? —EMILY CONFORTO, 23 "Three words: cool-toned gloss. It neutralizes yellowness and adds back lost pigments typically stripped by shampoo and UV rays." John Frieda Colour Refreshing Gloss for Cool Blondes, $13, drugstores How can I get smooth feet without splurging on regular pedis? —JULIA O'CONNELL, 21 "Like a sandblaster for soles, this battery-powered pumice-like roller spins 30 times a second to soften calluses." Mirabella Highlighter, $40, mirabellabeauty.com Emjoi Micro- Pedi, $40, emjoi.com, comes with two rollers— each lasts for weeks. Will using highlighter on my face make it…

Your guest editor has something to get off her chest…. Most of us remember the girl on the playground: she created games at recess; she enforced the rules; she handed out the parts to the plays (which she wrote and directed). She was confident, decisive, in control. But no one called her that. It just got shortened to bossy. Boys snickered at her. Teachers told her to "let others have a turn." It didn't happen all at once, but as she got older, the bossy girl got less bossy. She shrank into the background in group projects and raised her hand less. She played down her accomplishments, not wanting to sound conceited, and she avoided leadership positions out of fear she'd have to live down the label all over again.…

"Make your age work for you. This is the time to volunteer for a global assignment, which is harder to do later on." "Work hard, do what you love, and good things will happen." "Don't lose sight of your goal, but be flexible. Go with the flow a little and you'll make it happen." "Experiment all over the place! If you listen to the naysayers on the sidelines, you're never going to make anything happen." "Meet people. You might be scurrying around, getting your job done, but look for chances to make connections." "When people ask you to do something, your knee-jerk response should be Yes." "When you walk into a room, think of yourself as a thermostat. You have the opportunity to turn the energy up or dial…

"Ever since I was little, I wanted to be a doctor. But as a biology major at Villanova, I realized I didn't want to be in school forever and then have so much debt. I also realized I wanted to be able to help a lot of people. As a sales rep who talks to doctors about new drugs that could help patients, I'd have the potential do that." What Should I Wear? "I don't know anyone in pharma, and I don't own any work clothes, so where do I begin? Do I need to look 'all business' in a suit with a skirt, or can I wear something a bit more stylish?" THE HAIR: Polished waves are ideal for a job in a relatively conservative industry like pharma, says…

THE ISSUE HE'S GOT A HUGE PENIS Emily*, 35, was about to get busy with a new guy when he asked for a Magnum. She laughed it off as bravado…until he unleashed the dragon. "Maybe 10 inches," she estimates. "By far, the biggest I'd seen." His penis hardly fit inside her, making sex painful for Emily and uncomfortable for him. THE TREATMENT If he's too thick (think bratwurst), get on top to control the speed and lean forward to limit depth. Also: lube. If he's too long (translation: anaconda), have him wrap his hand around the base of his penis before entering you, which allows only part of him in. Avoid doggie-style (which leads to deep penetration). *Names have been changed to protect the naughty patients' privacy. THE ISSUE HE'S…

A couple of years ago, I met a beautiful, intelligent, hilarious girl I wanted to befriend. We'll call her Sarah since that is absolutely not her name. I'd met her through her boyfriend, Paul*, who used to work with my old roommate. We were at a Friendsgiving potluck, and I girl-crushed on her instantly. Part of it was because she looked like Jane—Daria's BFF from the MTV series—with precise, delicate features, dark eyes, and crazy angular hair. The other, extraspecial part was that Sarah happened to possess the bawdiest, blackest sense of humor that you can have without being evil inside. Needless to say, I was smitten. You know how the friends you make later in life tend to be especially high-quality? Not only do you have a better…

I TEND TO BE A DECISIVE PERSON ABOUT MAJOR THINGS. For example, I once went to a car dealership to explore my options, fell for a zippy hatchback, and drove it home that day. Too bad the car is too small for my Saint Bernard and soon had me perilously sliding down a snowy mountain road. Keeping in mind what can happen when I listen only to my gut, I decided to try crowdsourcing for a week—I'd outsource my problem solving to a network of friends, acquaintances, and even strangers via social media, mining its collective intelligence to see if they'd make better decisions than I would on my own. Thanks to Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and apps like Tiinkk, Ovoto, and Seesaw, tapping the wisdom of crowds is easier and…

PARTY TIME Jacket, Denim and Supply Ralph Lauren, $198; crop top, Cheap Monday, $60; jeans, Diesel Black Gold, $595; shield necklace, $195, large armor cuff, $300, small armor cuff, $250, earrings, $95, Knight$ of New York; necklace, Miansai by Michael Saiger, $175; chain cuff, Henri Bendel, $78 DAYTIME Coat, Ann Taylor, $198; top, Kate Spade, $248; bra, Calvin Klein Underwear, $42; skirt, Stella McCartney, $500; handbag, Chanel; shoes, Kate Spade, $350; watch, Seiko, $270; earrings, EK Thongprasert, $320 DAYTIME Jacket, $349, shorts, $299, Tommy Hilfiger; T-shirt, Gap, $26.95; shoes, Alexander Wang, $650; backpack, Meredith Wendell, $395; watch, XNY, $120; earrings, Knight$ of New York, $95 MEET NINA HOMETOWN: Hillerød, Denmark DISCOVERED: I was in the Elite Model Look, which is an annual competition. I didn't win because I…

Psst, YOU MAY NEED A PLAN C… Plan B and other forms of progestin-only emergency contraception don't work well for women who weigh more than 165 pounds (or at all for those more than 176 pounds). One fix: Get an Rx for Ella, which isn't progestin-only and works better in heavier women. —LIZ PLOSSER SOURCE: JAMES TRUSSELL, PHD, PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PROFESSOR AND FOUNDER OF THE EC-INFO WEBSITE NOT-2-LATE.COM PLEASE DON'T EAT THE BABY Fun fact: There's a reason we call babies delicious. A newborn's scent triggers an area of the brain that releases dopamine, the same hormone that lights up when you eat, says a new study from the Technical University of Dresden. —KRISTEN DOLD EPIC PMS HOW TO DEAL Headaches, bloating…ugh, we've all been there. Except for some women,…

MEET YOUR TRAINER Jennifer "JJ Dancer" Johnson Known For Her full-throttle, calorie-torching classes at Movement Studio LA, in Hollywood, which combine cardio, dance, and kickboxing to target specific body parts while strengthening all over. Famous Clients Jessica Alba, Jenna Dewan-Tatum How to Do This Workout You'll need a hand towel and a sturdy chair. Do the routine three times a week. GRAVITY KICKBACKS 1 Stand a foot from the seat of a chair with feet hip-width apart. 2 Swinging your arms for balance, step left foot onto seat, then lift right foot until your right knee is bent 90 degrees. 3 Pause, then lower right foot back to floor; lift left foot a couple of inches. Now, in a fluid arc motion, swing down your left foot, and then point…

OUR PICK! Divergent, by Veronica Roth Going out every night is kind of exhausting. Once in a while, it's nice to chill with friends at home, where there's zero pressure to hook up or dress up. That's where book-club night comes in—it's an excuse to sit around and eat a delicious dinner and drink a bunch in the name of literature. What could be cozier than piling onto your sofa and debating a good read? Let art (or a blockbuster guilty pleasure) inspire you and your pals to talk, laugh, and relax. YOU'LL NEED… A HOST: That's all you, girl. A GROUP: Gather a crowd that will keep the conversation flowing. A BOOK: Our pick is Veronica Roth's Divergent, a story about a girl living in a society where people…

Get a sneak peek of the long-awaited new novel, The Here and Now, from best-selling author ANN BRASHARES (you know her from The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series). Prenna is 17, and her people come from the future. In order to survive, she's not allowed to fall in love with anyone from the present. But what happens if someone falls in love with her first? WE FIND A PLACE TO EAT burgers and milk shakes right on the beach. After we finish, Ethan and I drift down to the water and kick off our shoes. I pull my sweatpants up to my knees, he rolls up his pants, and we wade into the water. It is gentle and transparent, and the sunlight stabs right through. I dig my toes…