Innholdsfortegnelse for Winter 2025 i Cosmopolitan

While recently in Morocco shooting season 4 of the wildly popular Netflix series Outer Banks (OBX to its fandom), Chase, who plays the often-shirtless John B, had a thought: “If you told us five years ago that this show about stoner kids from the wrong side of the tracks would end up in a place like Morocco… I think all of us would laugh.” It’s finally sunk in now, though, that the adventure drama, which quickly rose to number one on Netflix after its 2020 release, has made bona fide celebrities out of him, Drew, JD, and Rudy. Each actor is now in that sweet spot of taking their teen-show stardom and leveraging it for something else, something even bigger. But while all that happens, there’s still more OBX to…

There was a time when over-the-top nail designs were deemed unsightly, even “ghetto.” But in true Black-folk fashion, we flipped the script, reclaiming the narrative and renaming the aesthetic “ghetto fabulous,” thanks in part to the now-iconic manis of people like Lil’ Kim, Cardi B, Mary J. Blige, and Nicki Minaj. My own mood board will always and forever hold space for the late great ’80s track-and-field phenom Florence “Flo-Jo” Griffith Joyner and her bedazzled four-inch curved claws. And for Sha’Carri Richardson, currently keeping the Flo-Jo vibes alive with her fierce and flashy styles. Their nails have become inextricably linked to their legacies. The masses are now taking inspo from and re-creating these looks, with six-inch studded acrylics, coffin-shaped high-gloss chromes, and 3D stiletto tips. Is cultural appropriation at play as…

For most of her life, Priyanka Ganjoo didn’t vibe with makeup. It felt unrelatable. She never saw people like herself in big beauty campaigns. And so much of it seemed to be about catering to the male gaze. It wasn’t until Ganjoo was in her late 20s and working on the business side of beauty companies like Estée Lauder and Ipsy that she asked herself, What if makeup felt instead like a source of happiness and self-expression? Her answer to this what-if: Kulfi, her line of clean and colorful eye, lip, and complexion products. “I wanted to bring joy back into makeup,” she says, “to create something playful and approachable.” Ganjoo injected South Asian culture into the brand, starting with its name (kulfi is a popular Indian ice cream). The…

Pandan Cinnamon Rolls MAKES 12 ROLLS Cinnamon Sugar Filling 8 tbsp. unsalted butter2 tbsp. granulated sugar2 tbsp. light-brown sugar1 tbsp. ground cinnamon Coconut Cream Cheese Glaze 8 oz. cream cheese, room temperature2 tbsp. unsalted butter, room temperature½ cup canned coconut milk1 cup powdered sugar Pandan Roll Dough 1 cup whole milk1 envelope (2¼ tsp.) active dry yeast4 cups all-purpose flour plus more for dusting¼ cup granulated sugar¼ cup (packed) lightbrown sugar2 large eggs5 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted2 tsp. pandan extract½ cup canned coconut milk 1. Make the cinnamon sugar filling: In a small saucepan, heat butter over medium heat, whisking until it starts to foam and then subside, 4 to 6 minutes. When you see brown specks appear, take it off the heat. Transfer the butter to a heatproof bowl.…

DO THE MOST Getting Revenge Ready™ means making them sweat with a skintight rhinestone one-piece they can’t look away from. SEEING GREEN Sure, it’s the color of envy. But nothing says “I’m not gonna put extra effort into making you regret it” like wearing the same hue head to toe. JUST LIKE THE OG Safe to say this updated, shorter take on the original revenge dress—famously worn by Princess Diana in 1994—absolutely slaps. Take That Olivia Ponton probably (definitely) had a more productive 2024 than most. The 22-year-old scored a cameo in the extremely buzzy It Ends With Us movie alongside Blake Lively; starred in fashion campaigns for Boss, Victoria’s Secret, and Tory Burch; and somehow also managed to fit in a quick trip to the White House for its…

I’m sitting in a Costco parking lot, staring at my Instacart app. It’s my first week as a shopper, and all morning long, I’ve been at supermarkets in the sprawling, affluent community of Summerlin, Nevada, locations where the algorithm has detected a high likelihood that a customer will enlist my services. Except no one has, which means I’m currently making less than the $22 I spent on the insulated grocery bag Instacart recommended as part of its “best practices.” I have 18 miles of gas left. Anxiety is starting to kick in. I open TikTok and type “Instacart how to get orders”—and instead get my first taste of a genre that will ultimately suck me in for weeks. The initial video I stumble on shows a young woman named Shelly…

’60s Let’s have a mod moment and pay homage to the era of short, structural dresses and chic knee-length boots. WEAR IT TO: A COFFEE CATCH-UP WITH YOUR WORK WIFE. East-West Bags Go long! This horizontal silhouette is your perfect everyday staple. WEAR IT TO: THE ROAD TRIP THAT MADE IT OUT OF THE GROUP CHAT. Leopard Print Your outfit says “compliment me” but also “watch me roar.” WEAR IT TO: A BAR WHEN YOU’RE ON THE REBOUND. Travel Bags This trend is carrying winter on its back—and also every last thing you think you might need for the day, just in case. WEAR IT TO: EVERYWHERE, DUH.…

1 GOÐAFOSS WATERFALL, ICELAND Niagara Falls who? Drive along the iconic Ring Road in North Iceland and you’ll come across a waterfall so magnificent, it looks like it should come with a “made by AI” label. It (and the photo to the left, promise) is totally real, even more beautiful during winter nights, and just a quick ride from two cities where you can stay—Akureyri, which has a cute art museum, and Húsavík, home to the Geosea geothermal baths. Meet you at the pool bar? FLY INTO: Akureyri International Airport (AEY) BEST TIME TO VISIT: September through April 2 ILULISSAT, GREENLAND The country’s most charming coastal city sits next to a UNESCO World Heritage icefjord, which is honestly reason enough to visit. Icebergs create a sparkling backdrop for the northern…

When Rachel Zegler walks—bounces, really, in a casual strapless dress—into the Cosmopolitan offices and sees music legend Jack Antonoff, he has just one pre-interview question for her: Is she ready—does she know all her lines? He’s not talking about this conversation, obviously, but about Rachel’s new leading role as Juliet in the Broadway revival of Romeo + Juliet, alongside Heartstopper’s Kit Connor. For which she has to deliver all the classic lines and then some, live…in the original Shakespeare. She pulls a Dior notebook from her tote and opens it to reveal page after page of perfectly handwritten iambic pentameter. “Almost,” she says. Jack, the Bleachers front man and brain behind half of your favorite bangers, is ready too. He produced original music for the show, adding a pop-music punctuation…

Venin. My heart seizes. We haven’t found them out on patrol—because they’re already inside. “They’re within the walls!” Tairn bellows. “Already figured that out.” I swap my daggers for two alloy-hilted ones at my thighs and move quickly to hand one to Sawyer. “None of us die today.” He nods, taking the blade by the hilt. “Maren, protect Sawyer,” Rhiannon orders. “Cat, help whoever you can. Let’s go!” “Guess I’ll just…stay here?” Sawyer calls after us, muttering a swear word as we take off sprinting between the rows of infirmary beds. We’re the first to make it to the doors, where Winifred holds the wailing infantry cadet by his upper arms. “Violet, don’t go out there—” she starts. “Lock the doors!” I shout as we run through. “Like that’s going…

Aries Do yourself a favor and triple-check your travel plans because (sorry) Mercury Retrograde is ready to wreak havoc on any long-distance adventures. By the time Mars Retrograde slides into Cancer at the start of 2025, you’re exhausted. Hot tip: Your first New Year’s resolution should be to take it easy. Taurus Late autumn finds you feeling isolated and emotional. Mars Retrograde is also making it tough for you to feel at home, even in your own home. All is not lost, though, especially if you spend time redecorating, cleaning out your space, or even moving. A change of scenery is just what you need. Gemini Incoming! Sagittarius season is typically extra romantic for you, but the Mercury and Mars Retrogrades are bringing Relationship Drama, ruining the vibes and your…

Someday, you’ll meet a magical man and birth his children, who’ll carry on your legacy for generations to come. To me, this rhetoric has always sounded more like a nightmare than a fairy tale. Even as a kid, I had little interest in babies. When my parents would encourage me to play with dolls—“kiss your baby, Breanna!”—I’d toddle over to whatever one I’d left crumpled in the corner, give it a peck, and drop it again. Not much changed as I became an adult. Despite the ubiquitous “girlboss” messaging that dominated my 20s, I never actually “wanted it all.” Being a mom felt like something that would monopolize my time and kill my dream of a leisurely life—and as a writer, I’ve always craved solitude. What I actually want is total…

Bread Alone Make a sheer evening gown a smidge less fussy with a clutch shaped like a baguette, just because. Club Corporate TikTok’s “office siren” aesthetic is telling you to wear your shortest shorts as part of a suit on your next night out. What’s On Your Bag? Inside, it’s chaos. The outside, though, is curated perfection with sweet charms or coordinated accessories. Little Red But no riding hood and a bra top for your next dinner with friends. So Ladylike We’ve always said latex and pearls go together like tea service and the subway.…

FACE Help for your blackheads, whiteheads, cysts, and dark spots. BEST RETINOID “I normally stick to the Rx kind, but this OTC option has won me over. It’s just as effective as tretinoin for keeping my pores clear and skin smooth but with less dryness and flaking.” —Lauren Balsamo, deputy beauty director BEST WHITEHEAD TREATMENT “The second it feels like my skin is starting to break out, I bust out this oilregulating serum. It really keeps my skin balanced and hydrated.” —Julee Wilson, beauty editor-at-large BEST HORMONAL ACNE TREATMENT “With tretinoin, spironolactone, and tranexamic acid, this full-strength trio is the antidote to my cystic zits. And I didn’t have to leave my couch to get the Rx.” —BG BEST FACE MASK “Whenever I’ve got a first date coming up, I…

Forrest, 36, photographer, interior designer, and tattoo artist; Michelle, 33, artist Years together: 11 Michelle: I noticed him in our first class together at the University of Georgia. Forrest: We both changed our major to photography at the same time. Michelle: And then he was in every class I had after that—even the ones that weren’t for our major. Forrest: But the official meet-cute happened when I saw Michelle wasn’t eating lunch. She’d just sit outside. So I brought her a sandwich. Michelle: And I was like, Okay, stalker…. Brandi, 29, medical laboratory scientist; Britt, 31, entrepreneur Years together: 2 Brandi: We used to work out together in the gym. Britt: Her best friend was our trainer. Brandi: Being around her and discovering her personality, I saw what a genuine…