Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue 3 i Cosmopolitan Australia

Is your relationship fit for the long haul? 1 When you think of your partner, what three words come to mind? a Unpredictable, passionate, unsupportiveb Emotional, jealous, aloofc Trustworthy, supportive, hilarious 2 You’re about to introduce your new partner to your friends. You are: a Nervous and worried but have an exit plan in case the night turns sour.b So excited and can’t wait to see how they get along.c Keen to get your friends’ opinions on whether they think it's a good match. 3 You get offered your dream job but when you tell your partner it involves a lot of late nights, they: a Worry about how it will impact your life but ultimately support your decision.b Are so happy for you and reassure you that it will…

Behind the scenes A speaker plays the eerily familiar recorder notes on a loop as I step on to the set, wearing mandatory protective grey socks over my trainers. I inhale the overwhelming aroma of fresh paint (bright pink, yellow and blue: childlike colours because, well, that's the point) as I take in the scene around me. It's a cold-but-not-too-cold mid-December morning and I'm fresh off the bullet train from Seoul, arriving two hours south in the Chungcheong Province of South Korea, otherwise known as the shrouded-in-secrecy filming location of Squid Game season two. In autumn 2021, a surprise hit arrived on Netflix. There had been little fanfare in the lead up to the arrival of the Korean-language drama, which followed desperate adults playing a series of childhood games for…

If finding the perfect gift is an art form, then call me Picasso – particularly when it comes to beauty. After a decade of testing thousands of products (tough gig, right?) I’ve developed a gift of my own: an ability that allows me to pinpoint the perfect present for any skin type, makeup style, fragrance preference or hair concern. Whether you’re on the hunt for your mum or a bestie, or facing the annual challenge of buying for that colleague you only ever see in the kitchen, I’ve got you covered with MECCA’s selection of this season’s most giftable beauty treasures. From stocking stuffers to serious splurges, here’s my ultimate beauty wishlist for the holidays – whether you’re giving or getting for yourself. THE ULTIMATE INVESTMENT The Dyson Airwrap Multi-Styler…

Cosmo Closet…

You’ve done the research. You know exactly what you like. Your solo seshes are a well-choreographed routine featuring your fave lubes, the perfect combination of vibrators and erotica you already have bookmarked (how many times is it OK to listen to Andrew Scott’s Quinn story? Asking for a friend). But when it comes to asking for what gets you off? Suddenly you’re letting someone rub your inner labia for 10 minutes while they ask if you’re close – you’re not and neither are they. Asking for what you want in bed can be hard, but it’s also the key to the best sex of your life. “We’re all responsible for our own pleasure and orgasms,” says clinical sexologist Gigi Engle. “Our partners are not mind readers and if you don’t…

READS Work in progress What do we owe the people we date? Respect? For sure. Clear communication? Definitely. The most “healed“ version of ourselves? Not so sure on that one. Yet the conversation around whether we need to be “healed“, “doing the work“ or even just in therapy in order to be dating never seems to go away, does it? Remember when Jonah Hill was accused of weaponising therapy-speak against his then-girlfriend Sarah Brady when she claimed that he sent her a list of “boundaries“? These included not going for a surf with other men or hanging out with any friends from her “recent wild past” (sounds pretty fun, tbh). Or when people started sending out questionnaires to people they had matched with on dating apps, asking them if they…

For the entire year I was nine, I wore a turquoise hoodie with a cartoon monster splayed on the front. Paired with black leggings or folded denim shorts (sometimes both), it was the epitome of fashion to me. I look back and know my style was concerned with comfort, fun and cheekiness. While it’s long been a concept, the sartorial world has become fixated on personal style again – who has it, who wants it, what is it, how do you hone it? TikTok users clamour for trends like the ‘75 hard style challenge’ and stylist Allison Bornstein’s ‘three-word method’ to pin down their elusive style. In the midst of rampant micro trends, overconsumption fatigue and our collective tightening of purse strings, the allure of embodying your personal style is…

THE BACK PAGE Eco threads 1. PIÑATEX Piñatex is what happens when pineapple leaves are turned into a leather-ish fabric that can make very cool coats, shoes and, honestly, anything. For proof, look to the extremely chic Mashu bag, above. 2. DESSERTO Hello to this cactus leather, known for its softness (no spikes!). Only the most mature parts of the plant are used, leaving the rest to regrow. 3. MYLO Mushrooms, folks. Thread-like fungus filaments, called mycelia, grow on beds of sawdust and other organic materials, forming a fluffy layer that’s then processed and dyed to make trainers and bags. Trippy, right? 4. ECONYL Nylon, but make it out of fishing nets, old carpets and other plastic waste. It’s used in swim and sportswear (and the occasional Prada bag). 5.…

HOT SPRITZ SUMMER There’s no two ways about it: spritzes are the drink of the summer. As the silly season kicks off, happy-hour menus are extending their offerings to include varieties of the sparkling cocktail, and colourful glasses are starting to pepper social-media feeds. The Kid LAROI even dropped a song about them. Most excitingly, the beverage has been bottled – so you can enjoy a spritz on a whim without the fuss. Croser has just launched its Croser Orange Spritz, a new sparkling spritz designed to bring a refreshing twist to any occasion. Crafted from the winemaker’s renowned non-vintage sparkling and carefully blended with orange bitters and citrus, the drink is crisp, flavourful and oh-so-convenient. Effervescence in a bottle, the Orange Spritz would make a sparkling gift come Christmas…

Entertainment Beyond The Valley The festival will be sending us into 2025 Some of the biggest names in music will welcome us into the new year, taking the stage at Barunah Plains Homestead in Victoria from 28 December to New Year's Day. The four-day camping festival has officially confirmed that headlining artist performances will include FISHER, Ice Spice, Tinashe, Royal Otis, Sugababes and more. Ninajirachi She's just released a remix collection of girl EDM Homegrown electronic DJ and producer Nina Wilson, best known by her stage name Ninajirachi, has just launched her remix EP Girl EDM, putting a spotlight on female-produced dance music. She will be touring across the country as part of several festival lineups around the new year, including Tassie’s Great Escape Festival and Victoria’s NYE On The…

Empowering women Cara Delevingne has long been the ultimate cool-girl enigma — a powerhouse model, actress and advocate who has turned heads and flipped the script on what it means to be a modern-day celebrity. Rising to fame with her bold brows and pure it-girl energy, she ruled the runways of every major fashion capital and became the face of high-fashion campaigns, from Chanel to Burberry. But Cara is more than just a model; she’s an unapologetic trailblazer with a razor-sharp wit and a heart that champions authenticity. For this reason, her Walk Your Worth ambassadorship for L’Oréal Paris is the perfect fit. In late September, L’Oréal Paris hosted the seventh edition of Le Défilé (a L’Oréal Paris runway) at the Opéra de Paris, celebrating women’s empowerment and diversity through…

Skin Packed with niacinamide and vitamin C, this revolutionary formula doesn’t just protect – it actively brightens while fighting hyperpigmentation. A clever combo of hyaluronic acid and peptides means you’re getting that glazed-donut glow while keeping skin safe, and its lightweight, non-greasy texture makes it note-perfect for humid days and under makeup. The antioxidant-rich formula also helps prevent premature ageing, while the broad-spectrum protection guards against UVA and UVB rays. Enriched with ceramides and peptides, this potent essence is basically a green juice for your face, delivering that “I do Pilates and drink two litres of water daily” kinda glow, even if your activity rings remain. Featuring a unique blend of probiotics and postbiotics that strengthen your skin’s microbiome (yep, like your fave kombucha but for the face), the fermented…

Cosmo Closet…

Ask an expert Whether you’re a festival newbie or a hardened hippie, you’ll know that what’s about to go down on the campsite will be heavy-going on your body. But is there a way to party hard and recover quickly? We consulted the experts for the lowdown. Before the party starts It’s not just about planning the perfect ’fits; now’s the time to build a solid sleep routine, says Hannah Shore, sleep knowledge and research manager at Silentnight. “Establish a good routine a few weeks before by getting between seven to nine hours a night; your body will recover far quicker.“ Getting your diet in shape now is also a good idea, explains Dr Anthony Hobson, clinical director at The Functional Gut Clinic, who urges festivalgoers to eat foods that…

READS Main fashion 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 colour 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 It Ends With Us 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…

It wouldn’t be dramatic to say that the nine-to-five is going through a reputational crisis. We’re a few years beyond the pandemic-prompted Great Resignation, where a critical mass of people around the world found themselves moving away from their current roles in order to pursue something more meaningful, more flexible or simply just different – and on the other side, many have rethought what work means to them. Recently, a report by McKinsey found that 63% of Gen Z workers prioritise workplace flexibility as a key factor in their job satisfaction. Another study found that 73% of workers would leave or would consider leaving roles due to inflexibility. Many corporates and workplaces have heard the alarm bells ringing and have risen to the occasion, allowing employees to work remotely or…

Nessa Barrett’s new album began with a Pinterest board – sort of. Titled Aftercare, the musician’s sophomore LP dropped on 15 November. But, as she told Cosmo a month before its release, when confronted with the task of crafting the follow-up to 2022’s Young Forever, she didn’t set out to write an album – rather, she was building a world. “FROM THE MOMENT THAT I START WRITING A SONG, I KNOW IN MY HEAD EXACTLY WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE” THE STORYTELLER Every time she sits down to write, the VMA-nominated artist – who found fame on TikTok in 2019, which won her a deal with Warner Music – tries her best to tell a story. Similarly to how a director would storyboard, or a creative director might moodboard, for this…

I became a makeup artist because … I love the way makeup makes someone feel, both during and after you apply it. To me, it’s much deeper than what someone looks like, it’s adding to their confidence. I’ve been doing it for more than 16 years. The best thing about my job is … You never know who is going to be in your chair and I have a rule: no matter who it is, I always learn something from them. Whether it’s about business, promotion, parenting, whatever it is – for that short time, I listen a lot. I love it because it has given me so many opportunities, whether that be travel or meeting exceptional people and working with some incredible brands. My best advice for makeup prep…

Game on There’s not much to be nostalgic about when it comes to high school PE. We’ll leave it in the (distant) past: the clang of metal lockers unloading themselves of sports kits, elbows knocking in changing rooms, the sting of chlorine once summer rolled around. One thing we’re open to reassessing, though? The rugby jerseys (embarrassing nicknames and all). Suddenly, sporty style has turned très chic. Sportswear has waxed and waned in the fashion consciousness over the years, and right now it’s in an upswing. We can credit two avid tennis players and couturiers, Jane Régny and Suzanne Lenglen, for inviting sports into the realm of fashion in the early 20th century. Long before Challengers made us want to don pleated minis and slogan tees in any possible situation,…

Cast your mind back to the 2012 Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show: Rihanna emerges from a dark haze, adorned in iconic pearl glasses and matching chokers, only to sing her smash-hit Diamonds. The internet was obsessed with Cara Delevingne’s bushy brows so, naturally, she made her debut, joining repeat runway offenders like Candice Swanepoel and Aussie sweetheart Miranda Kerr whose supermodel status is solidified with their angel wings. I was 14 at the time, watching the livestream from my family desktop in total awe. Then, boom! Justin Bieber emerges from an egg-like sculpture in an all-white ensemble and silver fingerless gloves. *squeal!* It’s easy to get swept up in the extravagance of Victoria’s Secret Fashion Shows – a wonderland of glitz and glamour – but beneath the lacy lingerie and feathered…

Position: The Santa’s Lap position brings the holiday spirit straight to the bedroom – Santa hats are optional but highly encouraged. In this position, the receiving partner sits sideways on their lover’s lap, wrapping their arms around their neck, while the giving partner sits on the edge of the bed. The giver enters from underneath, making it the perfect opportunity to whisper sweet (or not-so-sweet) nothings about what you really want for Christmas. Why: Santa’s Lap puts you close enough to feel every sensation. The face-to-face position ensures a deep connection, while the slow, steady movement lets you take control of the rhythm. Plus, it’s a great way to indulge in some cheeky holiday role play. Bonus points if your partner goes all out with the Santa suit. How: To…

Just my opinion There was a time not all that long ago (it was earlier this year), when I would have felt incredibly upset if someone told me I looked 30 years old. From my mid-20s onwards, I always wanted people to think I was younger than my biological age, in the same way I always wanted to fit back into the vintage denim miniskirt I thrashed in high school. A twisted glimmer of smugness would shoot through me whenever someone guessed my age as being younger than it actually was; it was the same toxic self-satisfaction I’d feel after shedding a few kilos and shimmying back into that skirt. Somewhere near the tail end of my 20s, though, people stopped reacting with surprise and saying, “Oh, I thought you…

LOVE Safe space As swiping left, ghosting and breadcrumbing have become the norm, it’s no wonder so many women are fed up with dating. In today’s dating landscape, where emotional unavailability and superficial connections are all too common, it’s becoming harder to find the emotional connection and respect women crave. As a dating coach, I’ve seen it all. Some find themselves stuck in a loop of deleting and redownloading dating apps, while others choose to go ‘boy sober,’ abstaining from physical affection for extended periods. But a controversial new alternative is gaining traction – hiring male escorts. Once a hush-hush option, this choice is now more popular with younger women who want more than just fleeting flings. Whether it’s bouncing back from a bad breakup, owning their sexuality or diving…

I needed some help around the house. He put in overtime After my 11-year marriage ended, I felt like a virgin again. I hadn’t had sex in such a long time, it was almost like I’d never had it at all. And now I was a busy single mum – one who was also the proud owner of a farmhouse that needed some work. Anxious to get started, I hired a friend’s brother to help with odd jobs and heavy lifting. The day we met, he reached out to shake my hand, then turned it over and traced the calluses on my palm with his finger. A surge of energy pulsed through my body; my nipples hardened instantly. “Not a fan of gloves?“ he asked with a little smile. Still,…