Innholdsfortegnelse for February 2023 i Cosmopolitan

It’s not just that Glass Onion and Outer Banks star Madelyn Cline looks money on our cover (and here, and on page 66, and *especially* on page 70)—this is the Money Issue for other reasons. Like, for example, this ever-looming and ever-stressful recession/inflation mess. Or how crypto was supposed to save us but imploded instead. Or the increasingly undeniable and infuriating fact that our generation is so much more financially screwed than our parents were, with less spending power and heavier debt. According to new Cosmo research, “being able to pay my bills” is a worry that’s taken up residence in the mind of basically every reader we have. And at a time when traditional finance advice blames your Grubhub habit for problems that are way outside your control—or when,…

Let me first take you back to a much simpler time. The year was 2013 and I was a senior in high school with two main things on my mind: college and the show Glee. The latter had me obsessed, to the point where I’d buy DVD box sets of each season. When a rejection letter from my dream college convinced me my life was over, my mom cheered me up in the best possible way: by buying me the new Glee season on DVD. Let’s now pretend this scenario happened in 2023. It would likely involve my mom emailing me a link to a digital download or a Netflix log-in. And that would be…fine, I guess. There’s just something special about a tangible copy of content you love. Like,…

1 Waist-Long Layers Truth: Most of us aren’t blessed with this kind of natural length, so most of us will be bringing clip-ins to our next appointment and asking the stylist to cut them in soft layers. 2 The Bowl Bob The key to making this skew chic Parisian versus awkward middle school? Layers that end right at your lip line, “to round out the shape and add the right amount of volume,” says hairstylist Adel Chabbi. Bonus points for throwing in a wispy bangs situation. 3 A Modern Shag Aka the “wolf cut,” according to your FYP. Find a stylist who will cut your hair dry, Chabbi says. “It’s how to make those choppy angles blend with your natural texture.” 4 The Rachel 2.0 Yeah, just like everything else…

Hi, I’m Beth and I’ve been online dating since my 18th birthday. I’ve probably swiped through the entire city of Chicago and about half of New York at this point. And all I really have to show for it is a few dozen matches that went absolutely nowhere and one kind of amazing story about hooking up with a CIA agent… who only disclosed their identity after dumping me. What does all this have to do with makeup? I’ll tell you: I’m not excessively picky. All I ask for is a sense of humor. I’m not super exclusive—I’m open to dating men and women. What I am is an ardent lover of makeup, and it shows. My profiles are filled with photos of me sporting glitzed-out cheekbones, vibrant red lipstick,…

NEW YEAR’S EVE Did you spend your NYE on a corporate Zoom? No? This girl did. My company had a new product going live at exactly 12 a.m., so the only thing I watched drop was my last crumb of joy. Then again, a friend of mine went home with a Tinder rando who asked her to narrate depressing news headlines while he masturbated into a tube sock, so it’s all relative. Anyway, every January, I pick a word that defines how I want to approach relationships for the next 12 months. 2021’s was “reciprocity,” which challenged me to end one-sided friendships and romances. Last year, it was “untethered,” freeing myself from expectations and commitments. This year, I’ve decided to go with “bold,” a call to more bravely and authentically…

41% The increase in IUD appointments at Planned Parent-hood clinics in the three weeks after Roe fell. Your work wife. Your sister. All of #IUD TikTok. And anyone else part of one of the loudest whisper networks in the health space. They’ll tell you about the pinching, the stabbing, the searing cramps that made them see God. And sure, people like to embellish when recounting horror stories, so it’s important to look at hard data too. Like the fact that 78 percent of women found getting an IUD to be moderately or severely painful, according to a study in the Journal of Family Planning and Reproductive Health Care. Or that in a recent Cosmopolitan poll, 69 percent of respondents said getting the procedure was “pretty awful, actually.” So here’s the…

HAVEN’T YOU ALWAYS WANTED TO LIVE IN THE HOLIDAY? If the whole finding-yourself-in-a-snowy-cottage thing sounds pretty damn appealing, may we suggest Breckenridge, Colorado, for your main character moment? You don’t even need a car to get around this luxe yet laid-back resort town. Walk, trolley, or bus—all for free—your non-skiing self to a tarot reading at Be Your Own Guru Wellness or a hands-on BreckCreate workshop in the Arts District before choosing something to cuddle up with from Ole Man Berkins book-shop. Breckenridge Stables will take you up the mountain in a horse-drawn sleigh for cocoa and views, but the vibe is just as cozy underground at Mimo Fancy Tapas or from the heated confines of Cabin Juice inside the Gravity Haus hotel. TIPSY SNOWSHOEING IS MORE FUN THAN SPIN…

Hi, it’s me—recipe developer, dip queen, guest judge on Netflix’s Easy-Bake Battle, and now your resident food whisperer. Welcome, everyone, to my delicious little corner of Cosmopolitan. Let’s kick things off with my favorite weekend ritual. It’s a low-fuss, high-reward version of self-care that normally involves me crawling back into my unmade bed, still in pajamas, to rewatch episodes of The O.C. Tucked into my cozy duvet cave, I have a TV tray on my lap—holding something very eggy and very cheesy—and a big ol’ glass of creamy cold brew in my hand. (Pausing to say I see you, people screaming, “But the crumbs!” to which I respond that it’s still worth it, and in my case, what the tray doesn’t catch, my dog Miso definitely does.) Anyway, I consider…

For those personally traumatized by the online ticketing nightmare of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour last November, please accept our sympathies. For anyone who missed the melee, a recap: Before tickets went on sale, Ticketmaster, the exclusive seller, created an early-access link for “verified fans.” The goal was to outsmart bots and scalpers. That very much did not work. The site crashed and glitched, stranding fans in the queue for hours, with many losing their seats on the checkout page. A batshit resale market arose, in which a single ticket climbed to nearly $95K. Millions of furious people melted down on social media, inspiring many a meme. But the debacle also marked a consciousness-raising moment, as fans connected their experiences to broader economic critiques of how megacorporations with outsize market shares…

I asked ChatGPT, the new AI bot that’s suddenly everywhere, to read our magazine. Here’s its review.* The Etch a Sketch Effect Will Explain Every Breakup You’ve Ever Had PAGE 36 “The article presents an interesting perspective on a specific phenomenon in relationships and provides insight from experts in the field of psychology and relationship coaching. It is worth noting that the article is written in a personal and opinionated style.” Help! I Can’t Stop Cyberstalking People From My Past PAGE 46 “The article suggests that if this behavior is starting to feel like a time suck, the reader should try to replace it with something more nourishing or positive. As an AI, I am not capable of giving personal advice, but the article provides some helpful insights and suggestions.”…

STONE COLD FOX, by Rachel Koller Croft February 14 An ambitious woman meets her match when she tries to marry for money in this gripping thriller. CLYTEMNESTRA, by Costanza Casati March 7 Fans of Circe and Elektra should pick up this powerful Greek myth retelling. WHAT HAPPENED TO RUTHY RAMIREZ, by Claire Jiménez March 7 This novel follows the family of a woman who mysteriously disappeared, only to show up on a reality show 12 years later. BLACK CHAMELEON, by Deborah D.E.E.P. Mouton March 7 Mouton transforms the Black women in her life into legends in this moving, genre-bending memoir.…

STEP 1: Get a DVD. This is probably the most important step, as without it, well, you’re going nowhere. STEP 2: Take it out of the box. Very carefully. You may want to wear gloves because a scratch could mean technical difficulties. Unless you like watching things with missing scenes. STEP 3: Put DVD in DVD player. Click the button that opens up the disk holder (still cool, decades later!), then rememberyou didn’t actually turn on the DVD player first, so press that baby again. STEP 4: Assure yourself that nothing is wrong. That whirring noise that sounds like something is screaming inside your DVD player is a good thing. Head back to your couch, where all your snacks are. STEP 5: Don’t get too comfy. Oops, you left your DVD remote (different from your…

1 A HYDRATING LEAVE-IN Adwoa Beauty Melonberry Hair Milk Leave-In Conditioner, $24 for 8 oz., sephora.com 2 A SMOOTHING CREAM Living Proof No Frizz Smooth Styling Cream, $42 for 8 oz., sephora.com 3 A NOURISHING OIL Fable & Mane MahaMane Smooth & Shine Hair Oil, $36, fableandmane.com 4 A VOLUME-BOOSTING FOAM JVN Embody Volumizing Foam, $29, sephora.com Mist on hair spray before styling for extra hold without stiffness. 5 A FLEXIBLE HAIR SPRAY Arkive Headcare The Mastery Hair Spray, $20, arkiveheadcare.com 6 A SPEEDY BLOW DRYER Bio Ionic Smart-X High Efficiency Dryer, $329, ulta.com…

Not to sound dramatic, but moisturizing for Black folks is a *big* deal—so important that we use the word “lotion” as a verb. See the above question and “Don’t forget to lotion before you leave this house!” and “Lotion that beautiful skin,” all things my mom would say when I was growing up. This idea of lotioning (yes, also a word) is a unique cultural nuance that still lives on: When I asked a few fellow Black women at Cosmo (they = Gen Z, me = millennial) whether my mom’s words rang true, their responses ranged from “hell yeah” to “1,000 percent.” We agreed that our parents’ pleas were layered with meaning. They were impassioned reminders to cherish our brown skin—despite what the world might think of it—and to It’s…

Going out on a limb here, but it’s probably pretty rare in celebrity land to publicly describe your bedroom vibe as “mid-century modern sex dungeon.” But the OG influencer and beauty guru—who contoured his way to fame on YouTube before getting his own MTV show and multiple Big Beauty Brand collabs—is nothing if not true to himself, and he’s worked hard to make sure every inch of his Hawaii home reflects his unique personality. “I feel like the rest of my house is bright and open-concept, but my bedroom is giving cave,” Bretman says of the dark and moody spot. “When I’m in here, I feel like I’m in outer space.” “Good lighting is important, obviously, and I’m all about the natural light! I use one of those suction-cup phone…

Maybe it was the ATM fee that plunged your account into overdraft or a rent hike that stretched your budget past the brink. It could have been a boomer calling you out for buying too much avocado toast (which…you’ve never actually done) or someone you follow on Instagram posting a “new house who dis” pic without acknowledging it was a cash offer funded by the Bank of Mom and Dad. Whatever set you off, it’s clear that money rage—yours, ours, everyone’s?—is in the air. Our survey of zillennial women quantified the vibe: A large share of you are beyond the point of ambient financial frustration and are feeling full-on livid. And when we asked you to sound off on the subject, your responses revealed a widespread struggle to survive, let…

SO SICK OF… “Renting is like throwing money away—save for a down payment!” Thanks, but I don’t want to be locked into a property deed when the world is aflame? “Freeze your credit cards—literally, in a block of ice—so you’ll stop using them.” Um, except I literally need credit cards to survive. “Save six months of expenses in an emergency fund.” Right, so I’ll just stow all that cash in a Scrooge McDuck–style swimming pool in my mansion. “Cut out nonessential purchases to save hundreds, even thousands, of dollars every year.” Cool, guess I’ll never have fun again. “Leverage your free time by starting a side hustle.” CAN I NOT LIVE? INSTEAD, HOW ABOUT… See if your landlord reports your rent to a credit bureau—if you’re paying it on time…

(Cat)suit and Tie Bodycon jumpsuits are the new easy way to make a bold monochrome moment happen at work. Slip on some practical slingbacks and statement jewels, and you’ve got yourself a fierce office ’fit. Saint Laurent by Anthony Vaccarello bodysuit, pumps, earrings, and bracelets. That’s a Bright Idea There’s no reason gray, black, and white should have a monopoly on business casual. Bold color choices look strong and confident. No one will even ask why you’re sitting on the floor. Christian Dior top, jacket, skirt, and pumps. Power Player Fashun insists we look to the past for sartorial inspo, so bring a little ’80s to the cubicle. Head-turning looks only in 2023. Emporio Armani blouse, trousers, and sandals. Yes, Jeans Call corporate and tell them to update their handbooks.…

1. A family of six behind you at airport security is about to miss their flight. How are you telling them they can’t cut the line? a By looking straight ahead and ignoring the kids’ pleading faces. b I might not even notice? c With a full-blown diva meltdown of my own. 2. Imagine you’re commissioning an artist to compose your personal theme song. What’s on that artist’s résumé? a An EGOT, obviously. b A reality competition victory. c Daily TMZ coverage. 3. Your bestie just got a promotion! How do you react to the announcement text? a A thumbs-up. b A heart emoji. c An exclamation mark. You know, for emphasis. 4. If you had the funds to employ a personal staff, who would you hire first? a A…

It should surprise absolutely no one that in addition to acting (see: her very spooky new thriller Alice, Darling) and directing (see: The Dating Game, her upcoming directorial debut about a game-show serial killer), Anna is exceptionally good at setting the mood on a rare night in. Also not surprising: That mood is super intimate but also smart and fun and not just a little bit weird. She says you’re welcome. Anna, hi. It’s finally the weekend. How are you getting your relaxation on? I was doing one of my favorite procrastinating activities, which is planning trips that I’m never going to take. Where you’re like, Where are the Maldives? Maybe I’ ll go there. That is highly relatable. By the way, I lit a candle specifically for this call.…

WHO NEEDS A SPACESHIP? If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve noticed that the suddenly very fashion-y shade is everywhere. And why not? It’s flashy! It’s fun! You can dip a toe in or go full ’fit! Welcome, friends, to this spectrum of optionality.…

Pop right inside our styling brains, why don’t you?…

You know what happens when you’re a beauty editor with nearly a decade of experience? You’ve covered every model, actor, musician, influencer, and reality TV star’s beauty brands—and you can count on one hand the products you’d actually want to put on your face. On my own short list is Rose Inc from model and actor Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Her skincare is simple but effective, her multitasking makeup is some of the best I’ve tried, and her packaging is minimalist perfection. It’s all about “glowy skin and quick, easy makeup” that’s going to still let you look like you, she explains. She first started Rose Inc as a content platform in 2018 before looking for a partner to expand into the product space. “In the beginning, there was a lot of ‘We…

WillExplain Every Breakup You’ve Ever Had Stop me if this sounds familiar. Your relationship is going great (no, like, for real though), when your boyfriend gets some bad news. Maybe he got passed up for a promotion; maybe his childhood dog died. Whatever it is, it has nothing to do with you or the state of your union. And yet, faster than you can say, “Hey, man, you’re being weird—what is happening?” you’re single. You, my friend, may be a victim of a little thing I like to call the Etch a Sketch Effect. Reminder if it’s been a while: An Etch a Sketch toy has no “backspace” button—if one little aspect of your design doesn’t go according to plan, you have to shake the entire thing and start from…

I’ll be honest: I never expected to end up in the sex industry. I always loved math and wanted to work in finance—and I did for a bit. But for me, that meant a boring-as-hell desk job with a $28,000 starting salary, which I had to supplement with a side hustle at a restaurant. When the pandemic hit, I got laid off from the latter just after moving out of my parents’ house and in with my boyfriend. I was paying my half of the rent with what felt like next to no income, and suddenly, that jokey line we’ve all heard people say—“Ugh, maybe I should just quit and join OnlyFans”—made a whole lot of sense. That is how, in the spring of 2020, Alexia Woods was born. She’s…

LET’S MAKE FURBABY SHOWERS HAPPEN You’re becoming a pet mom! Your friends who had *human* babies did it, so why shouldn’t you make a registry and spoil your new lil one with adorable gifts? Everything’s the same, except bones are involved. Um, so, Americans collectively spend a lot on their animals. Like, more than $123 billion in 2021 alone, and inflation is only making that already bonkers number creep even higher. Which is probably why more than 75 percent of owners say rising pet-related costs are challenging—and that a surprise $1,000 vet visit would send their bank account into shambles, according to a recent LendingTree poll. As an aspiring dog mom, this situation is definitely not going to work for me. I want to be able to spoil my new…

My rich friend who *pretends* she is working My boss My health insurance provider My sh*tty landlord Billionaires in general Congress Elon Musk Literally every founding father My mom, watching me eat ramen from her second house POTUS Myself My student loan officer Don’t Worry—Your Financial Schadenfreude Is Mostly Healthy Go ahead. Mock Samuel Bankman-Fried. It’s fine. In fact, it speaks well of you to delight in the ruin of this man-baby billionaire and founder of the dubious crypto exchange FTX, a person once hailed by Forbes as the “richest 20something in the world.” You are not a bad person if you tingle with pleasure because Sam was barred from his vast Bahamas fiefdom, legally grounded at his parents’ house while awaiting trial for eight criminal counts of fraud and…

I’ve always read other people’s cover stories that start like this. ‘Having lunch with so-and-so at somewhere.’ Like, ‘She sits across from me and….’” Madelyn Cline trails off as she slides into her seat, seeming to grasp what until recently felt unimaginable to the 25-year-old: She is now the so-and-so. (And I truly can’t resist, so yes, she is indeed sitting across from me in a booth with Pacific Ocean views at Malibu Farm, the kind of L.A. place you get after typing “beach aesthetic” into Instagram Explore.) Unimaginable to her because just three years ago, she was still a literal unknown struggling to get auditions. Not too long before that, she was living out of her car. And then…“it” happened—that almost mythical Hollywood win. For Madelyn, “it” went like…

1. MAYHEM “Everybody who works at Hickman’s, get up! Pack your stuff—you’re being moved today!” Corrections offcers swarmed the Santa Rosa Unit at the Perryville women’s prison in Goodyear, Arizona, barking orders and handing out trash bags for belongings. Many women were alarmed. We’re being moved to Hickman’s? How? The offcers weren’t sharing a lot of details. The women would be loaded into vehicles, that much was apparent, then dropped off at one of the company’s properties not far from the prison. Those who refused to go would automatically lose their jobs at the commercial egg farm, offcers said. There was vague talk of other disciplinary action too, a frightening possibility. It was March 25, 2020, and the world outside was plunging into crisis. COVID-19 was a deadly new pandemic.…