Innholdsfortegnelse for Jul-14 i Cosmopolitan

CALI-COOL "Tie-dye is having a moment right now. I plan on wearing this suit during my trip to L.A. for the 4th of July weekend." —SARAH CONLY, SENIOR MARKET EDITOR Bikini top, bikini bottom, Collections by Catalina, $15.96 each, Walmart CHANNELING RITA "Ever since I saw Rita Ora in the Made in America documentary, I've been obsessed! Now everyone can copy her fierce style." —LEAH WYAR, BEAUTY DIRECTOR Rimmel London Rita Ora 60 Seconds Colour Rush Collection, $1.99 each, drugstores BUZZ CONTROL "The UP Coffee app syncs with sleep data from my Jawbone UP24 band, so I can track how each coffee affects my zzz's at night." —LIZ PLOSSER, SENIOR EDITOR Free, itunes.com AQUATIC LIFE "With Edie Parker's sweet clutch, I can live every week like it's Shark Week."…

UZO ADUBA TWITTER: @UzoAduba Actress Aduba, star of the hit Netflix series Orange Is the New Black, explains how she finally learned to love her natural smile in the beauty essay "Mind the Gap" (p. 96). WORDS I LIVE BY "I love an expression of my Igbo tribe: Onye kwe, Chie ekwe. The literal translation is 'One speaks, God speaks.' It means that when you trust your inner voice and have a positive attitude, the universe will help you achieve your dreams." THE BOOK THAT CHANGED MY LIFE "Reading Shakespeare's play Macbeth for the first time made me fall deeper in love with words. The challenge of decoding the characters taught me to dig past the easy into the belly of the hard. That's where the excitement lives." KAYLEEN MCADAMS…

"I went on a date with an aspiring actor who performed a 10- minute monologue in which he played a serial killer, just to show me how 'good' he was." —DANIELLE L., 23 "I was at a guy's house watching a movie, and he turned to me and said, 'I've got to use the bathroom. Cover your ears, cutie.' I left while he was in there." —BRIANNA G., 20 "WHEN I SHOWED UP TO MEET A GUY FOR DRINKS, HE WAS ALREADY DRUNK AND BUYING DRINKS FOR OTHER GIRLS AT THE BAR." —BECKY R., 24 "ON A FIRST DATE, HE ASKED IF HE COULD BITE MY NIPPLES, AND WHEN I SAID NO, HE ASKED, 'SO, IS THAT A FOURTH-DATE KINDA THING?'" —RACHEL B., 24 "On a first date, his lead-in…

I WAS NEVER PARTICULARLY DRAWN TO BAD boys—bad girls are so much more interesting. From the time we are little, we hear the same refrains: Listen to authority figures, be feminine, defer to others, and follow the rules—official and implied. And "Where's your smile, sweetie?" The women we see as bad girls may defy all those edicts. They do what they want. They flout the rules. They don't give a damn about their bad reputation. And they pay the consequences. Two decades ago, I followed a bad girl around the globe. She was mixed up in drugs, and I later went to prison for my choices while we were together. In prison, I was one of hundreds of bad girls who had transgressed our laws and social norms and joined…

THE GLAM GIRL A fresh coat of bronzer is a must when going for gold. FITNESS TIP GIVE YOUR ABS A QUICK FIRM-UP RIGHT BEFORE YOU HIT THE SAND WITH BALLET BEAUTIFUL'S 18-MINUTE BIKINI BLAST. DVD, Ballet Beautiful, $18.99, balletbeautiful.com Bikini, Marie France Van Damme, $290, Bergdorf Goodman; necklace, C. Wonder, $48, cwonder.com; swimsuit, Michael Kors, $494, neimanmarcus.com; bronzer, Hampton Sun Airbrush Bronzing Mist, $42, hamptonsuncare.com; shorts, American Eagle Outfitters, $44.95, ae.com; shoes, Club Monaco, $198.50, Club Monaco THE COOL FEMME Streamlined one-pieces with deep- V necklines flatter fuller figures. Sunglasses, Fendi, $465, select Solstice Sunglasses nationwide; dress, Melissa Odabash, $203, everything butwater.com; clutch, Samudra, $60, samudra11.com; bracelets, Sole Society, $34.95 each, solesociety.com; shoes, Shellys London, $70, urbanoutfitters.com; swimsuit, ASOS, $60, asos.com THE SEXY SPORT Rule…

JEWEL OF THE NAIL Set an iCal for July 15, when Phillip Lim's sure-to-sell-out collection of jewel-toned Nars polishes goes on sale! St. Tropez Self-Tan Express, $54, sephora.com 3.1 Phillip Lim for Nars Nail Collection, $20 each, narscosmetics.com #NOFILTER FOUNDATION First came powder, then liquid, mineral, mousse, BB, CC…and now, serum. Free of oils, silicone, and HO, it offers a picture-perfect, undetectable finish. Squeeze a few drops into its reservoir brush, then buff for selfie-approved skin. BareMinerals Bareskin, $29, bareescentuals.com SELF-TAN—ON DEMAND Sixty minutes is the new six hours with St. Tropez's latest glow-getter. An innovative ingredient (called Gransolve DMI) makes body-bronzing DHA absorb and develop faster. Even cooler: It's customizable, making skin look sun-kissed after just an hour and super-bronzed in three—simply shower as soon as…

This monochromatic wash of pink shadow, blush, and lip color strikes a sexy-sweet vibe—perfect for when the sun's still up. CK One Color makeup artist Kayleen McAdams makes it easy to DIY. To start Cream foundation mimics skin best and looks most natural in sunlight. Dot it down the center of your face, and blend outward. Pat on illuminating under-eye concealer with your ring finger. (It has the lightest touch, so it spreads evenly.) 1 CK One Color Water Fresh Face Makeup SPF 15, $32, ulta.com 2 CK One Color 3-in-1 Concealer, $20, ulta.com Next up A daytime-friendly way to add drama: enhance your brows. Draw short diagonal dashes—how your brows actually grow—with brow pencil in sparse areas, then set with clear brow gel. Tap cream blush onto the apples…

SUMMER SITCH HOT NIGHT OUT SHOW SOME SKIN Crop-top it with confidence by massaging in a caffeine lotion (like Bliss, below) to tighten skin. The effect lasts a few hours. Then reach for a body sorbet—this new type of lotion cools and softens skin with zero residue. The Body Shop Pink Grapefruit Body Sorbet, $14, the bodyshop-usa.com; Bliss Fat Girl Slim Arm Candy, $38, blissworld.com Sexy Spritz Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau So Fresh Delight Edition, $89, sephora.com DANCE-FRIENDLY DO A textured updo (like this messy bun) gets sexier as you sweat. Pull air-dried hair into a low pony, and tie the ends with an elastic. From the bottom, roll the tail upward to create a messy bun at the nape. Pin in place, mist on hair…

Hobson's firm manages more than $8 billion in assets. BUILD YOUR NERVE When I started at Ariel Investments, right after college, John Rogers, the company's founder, said to me, "You'll be in rooms with people with a lot of money and big titles, but it does not mean your ideas aren't as good." That stayed with me and helped me to speak up. I built my confidence by playing a game in the meetings I went to with John. I answered in my head questions he was asked, to see if I was on the right track. Once I could match his answers, I pushed to come up with even better answers than his! Remember, it is no one else's job to make sure you're learning. STAND UP TO SEXISTS…

THE NATURAL WOMAN Amber Koonce, 24, founder of Beauty Gap In the summer of 2009, Koonce was living in Ghana, teaching at a primary school and mentoring girls at a correctional center, as part of a service scholarship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. "I was beginning to wear my hair in a natural Afro, and I thought being in Ghana would be an opportunity to celebrate my natural beauty," says Koonce. "But all around me, I saw girls struggling with not looking Western enough." Children were playing with dolls with white skin, blonde hair, and blue eyes. So Koonce started Beauty Gap, a nonprofit that provides dolls of color to girls of color. Since her trip to Ghana, Koonce has delivered dolls (some donated, some bought…

All right, if there's anything I know as fact, it's that while David Hasselhoff is appreciated only in Germany, Katy Perry and her music are loved by everyone, everywhere. My nieces tell me every time they text me that I really need to get it together and hang out with Katy Perry already. When I informed them that I would in fact be speaking with Katy for Cosmo just a few weeks before she starts her Prismatic world tour, my nieces insisted they be there for the interview as well. I gently reminded them of how asinine they had behaved when they met Oprah. They too recalled the incident and instead settled for tickets to Katy's upcoming New Jersey show…from Katy herself. CHELSEA: Be honest—how often do you Google yourself?…

IT'S NOT A DATE IF… 1. YOU HAVE COMPANY. Unless you're 16 or a contestant on The Bachelor, group dates are not a thing. If you show up and his friends are also present, go to the bathroom and take off your Spanx, because this isn't a date. 2. HE BRINGS UP HIS EX… SEVERAL TIMES. If his ex is mentioned more often than your water is refilled by your waiter, this guy is probably more interested in hearing a woman's perspective on why she left him than in seeing you naked anytime soon. 3. YOU KEEP WONDERING IF YOU'LL MAKE IT HOME IN TIME FOR THE MINDY PROJECT. It may look like a date and it may act like a date, but if you find yourself wishing you…

I was sitting across from my friend S. after dinner when she leaned in close over our cramped restaurant table and inhaled dramatically, as though she were about to confess to murder. "This is not something I advertise about myself," she said, "but I've never really dated anyone." I looked at her, relieved I could still consider my friend a non-killer. "Like, ever," she said, as though maybe I hadn't understood her the first time. But I had. I just wasn't all that surprised. I have a confession to make too. I'm 27, and I haven't really dated anyone, like ever, either. When my book, a memoir called Never Have I Ever: My Life (So Far) Without a Date, came out last year, I thought I was the only relationship…

NICE GUYS' CLASSIC BULLSHIT LINES—DECODED A jerk will flat-out lie to your face. But a nice guy? He'll spew a web of white lies so astonishing, you'll forget where the conversation even began. He does it to spare your feelings, avoid a fight, or relieve his conscience. I've done it. Every nice guy has done it. And now I'm translating some classic male BS. "LET'S NOT USE LABELS." If I cheat on you and you're my girlfriend, I'm a jerk. But if you're just someone I'm seeing, am I really such a bad guy? Hard to say. So I prefer to give myself the benefit of the doubt.…Oh, sorry, I gotta take this call from my—I mean, this girl I see sometimes. "I JUST CAN'T BE A BOYFRIEND RIGHT NOW."…

Love works in mysterious ways, but one of the most perplexing of dating mysteries is how we can suddenly go from intense attraction to intense repulsion when it comes to the same guy. One day, you're getting all sexy with him; the next, you recoil at his profile pic, feel deep embarrassment when you see him through others' eyes, and wish you could go back in time to kick your own ass for hooking up with him. You can experience it with two-night stands or virtual life partners, but the gist is the same: he suddenly grosses you out. Jasseigh I., 23, knew she was through with a casual fling when he Donald Ducked her: "He'd put on a tee shirt with no bottoms, and it just looked ridiculous. I…

KNOW YOUR PEPPERS Capsaicin, the compound that puts the hot in hot peppers, speeds up metabolism, prevents headaches, and regulates insulin for appetite control. The hotter the pepper, the more benefits! SOURCE: MICHELLE DUDASH, RD, AUTHOR OF CLEAN EATING FOR BUSY FAMILIES 1 POBLANO Mild and sweet, this biggie is perfect for stuffing with lean beef and rice, then roasting. Eat the whole pepper for vitamins A and C, fiber, and potassium. 2 CHIPOTLE Naturally smoky, diced chipotles (fresh or canned) make fillings taste magical. One idea: Stir with black beans; spoon onto a tortilla. 3 JALAPEñO These have a bright, fresh taste and a vitamin-C-packed kick. Finely chop and sprinkle on a mild whitefish or stir into salsa. 4 HABANERO Slice these fiery peppers very thinly and add gradually.…

BOOTY SQUATS 1 Stand a few feet from bed. Lift left leg behind you and place your foot on edge of bed, with knee bent slightly. Bend right knee to lower yourself slowly, keeping back straight. Pause when right thigh is parallel to the floor. 2 Press back up through your right foot, ending on tip-toe, to standing position. Repeat 15 to 20 times, then switch sides. Do two sets on each side. MAKE IT HARDER The lower you go, the perkier your butt gets. Be sure to push through your heel. Backup dancer Leah Adler tours with Katy Perry 200 days a year. Get Her Gear! Leotard, Lucas Hugh, $205, lucashugh.com; sports bra, Saucony, $38, saucony.com; leggings, Onzie, $56, onzie.net; shoes, Brooks, $85, brooksrunning.com OPEN-UPS 1 Start in…

GO AHEAD AND LOOK REAL CUTE Stripes and booty shorts forever. Bikini top, Despi, $82, everything butwater.com Shorts, Shop Priceless, $32.97, shoppriceless.com Shoes, Ugg Australia, $130, ugg australia.com START YOUR PARTY WITH A PLAYLIST Are music choices more patriotic on Independence Day? Ehhh, not really, says Spotify trends expert Shanon Cook. Even on the 4th, the most popular tunes are the Top 40. Here are Cook's can't-go-wrong picks. "CHANDELIER," BY SIA Gloriously emotive track showcases Sia's soaring voice. "BEST DAY OF MY LIFE," BY AMERICAN AUTHORS Upbeat everything: lyrics, chorus, banjo riff, and more. "SUMMER," BY CALVIN HARRIS Bombastic beat and sexy, raspy vocals? No-brainer. RIBS, RUB, AND THE PURSUIT OF HAPPINESS Make your life easy and "cook a big hunk of something," says Steven Raichlen, author of Man Made…

"HOLD MY CALLS," JAMISON SAID TO Bobby without so much as a good morning. Bobby didn't look surprised, at least not until Jamison added, "And hold all of Ms. Fox's calls too." "But…she's—" Bobby began. Jamison silenced him with a stare. He didn't give a damn what Caite was doing. In about 10 minutes, she was going to be doing whatever he wanted her to do. He'd left her apartment when she told him to, his prick so hard, it ached. It had stayed that way, on and off, for most of the weekend. He'd edged himself in the shower and at bedtime, then again when he woke up on Sunday, teasing himself almost to completion over and over until he'd had only to lie back and remember Caite's mouth…

GET OVER YOUR EX …WITH ONE OF MOLALA'S CUSTOM BREAKUP BASKETS, AN ADORABLE CURE FOR ANY SPLIT—TO GIVE OR TO GET!—COMPLETE WITH CARDS, CANDY, AND VOODOO DOLLS (MOLALACOMPANY.COM). PROVING THAT THERE'S NO SUCH THING AS TOO MUCH NICOLE RICHIE, VH1 DEBUTS THE HIT AOL SERIES #CANDIDLYNICOLE AT A FULL HALF-HOUR JULY 17. LOSE YOUR SHIRT STREAK THROUGH THE NIGHT IN YOUR OWN CUSTOM-DECORATED BRA FOR MOONWALK NYC'S SECOND-ANNUAL MARATHON TO RAISE MONEY FOR BREAST-CANCER AWARENESS, ON JULY 26. BEGIN AGAIN KEIRA KNIGHTLEY SINGS AND ADAM LEVINE GETS BEARDY IN THIS TALE OF MUSICAL REDEMPTION FROM THE DIRECTOR OF ONCE. YOU WANT, NO, NEED THE SOUNDTRACK. HAPPY CHRISTMAS THINK OF IT AS A GIRLS HOLIDAY SPECIAL: LENA DUNHAM PLAYS THE SANE ONE TO ANNA KENDRICK'S LOOSE CANNON, WRESTLING WITH LIFE IN…

I would never pretend my job isn't wildly fun. In fact, we had so much fun shooting the women of SNL that we got together for a reunion dinner. I knew much penne and pinot grigio would be consumed, but I wasn't expecting the insight we got into their intense work lives. Their only downtime is Sunday—Monday, they're back at the studio, starting on the next week's sketches. Forty ideas are offered up, of which only 12 are chosen. Those get subjected to endless criticism and rewriting. Some get dropped right before the show airs. All the women discussed learning not to take criticism personally but, instead, to get back up every week to try again. Nasim Pedrad also talked about being open to new things, even if they're terrifying:…

SUNDAY FAMILY CHAN Dinner with the folks calls for a casual top, blazer, and jeans—#ChanStole YourLook. MONDAY MULTITASKING CHAN Back to the grind. While you chat and check e-mail, Channing jams and rides. TUESDAY THE CLOTHES MAKE THE CHAN To own the room at your weekly 9 a.m. meeting, you better werk. WEDNESDAY HUMP-DAY CHAN Half-way through! Have some (eye) candy. THURSDAY DELIVERY CHAN Scandal is on—it's an order-in kind of evening. Don't forget to tip the Channing. FRIDAY FLASHBACK-FRIDAY CHAN TGIF! Stop watching the clock, and start counting some vintage Channing abs. SATURDAY WEDDING-DATE CHAN Another weekend, another wedding—bring a guy with moves like Channing's. LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN: MAGIC MIKE XXL HITS THEATERS JULY 3, 2015.…

ARM CANDY FUN Jimmy Kimmel takes the Rainbow Loom–bracelet craze to the next level with his epic Suit of the Loom. FEARLESS Oregon State University develops a silicone bracelet that detects and absorbs toxins in the environment. FAIL Taking baby talk way too far: The "I Pooped Today" bracelet overshares your most private business. Team Mother Nature! LA VIE EN POSE Yummm—we mean, ommm. FUN Brogamats, aka yoga mats for guys (or girls, for that matter) who dig burritos as much as Bikram. FEARLESS Anyone who stays Zen during stand-up paddleboarding yoga pretty much wins at life. Namaste. FAIL Among the reasons to justify that new pair of Calvin Klein leggings: naked yoga. Doesn't that get slippery?! SELFIE CITY FUN A woman running a half-marathon keeps things interesting by snapping…

THICK AND THIN Be mindful of straps. The shorter your legs, the skinnier the ankle band should be. Longer gams can afford to lose the inch or two thicker straps can steal. SMOOTH BLUES Blue is the new black. No, seriously—treat navy and royal blue as neutrals. Wear with everything. GET 'EM NOW 1 Kate Spade New York, $328, katespade.com 2 Sole Society, $69.95, similar styles available at solesociety.com 3 Pierre Hardy, saksfifthavenue.com 4 Beau and Ashe, $59.95, shoedazzle.com 5 Jessica Simpson Collection, $79, zappos.com 6 Reed Krakoff, reedkrakoff.com BEAUTY TIP METALLIC TOES LET BOLD PRINTS SHINE. Essie Nail Polish in Penny Talk, $8.50, essie.com…

—LONI ALBERT GET EVEN Green-tinted lotion makes heat-induced redness disappear. Hard Candy Sheer Envy Color Correcting Primer, $8, walmart.com BALMS AWAY Stash a shea butter stick in your clutch to stay kissable 24/7. Pixi By Petra Shea Butter Lip Balm, $8, target.com EYE CANDY Finally! Glittery shadows that won't migrate during a dance party. L'Oréal Paris Infallible 24HR Eye Shadow in Golden Emerald and Endless Sea, $7.95 each, drugstores SANDAL RX Ouch-proof your heels by rubbing on a pain-blocking foot serum. Sole Serum Travel Size, $9.99, soleserum.com MIST OPPORTUNITY Moisturize your entire body in 10 seconds flat with spray-on lotion. Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer in Aloe Fresh, $8, drugstores LOOK AT ME! A swipe of bold liner creates maje impact with minimum effort. Jane Water-Resistant Eye…

THE TOE-TAPPER OPI Vampsterdam or Essie Mink Muffs? With a testy nail tech breathing down your neck, you feel pressured to grab a trendy green and convince yourself you love it. (You hate it.) WHAT TO SAY Nothing. Stay strong, and take your sweet time, says Jin Soon Choi, owner of Jin Soon Hand and Foot Spas. "Problems start when you rush," says Soon. Our regret-proof method: Go in with bare nails, and test out a few shades before the mani begins. If you're chronically indecisive, take a BYOP approach—you'll save yourself stress and leave with a mani you love. THE CHATTY CATHY As soon as the lights go down, this facialist or masseuse wants to know your life story. WHAT TO SAY At the first sign of convo:…

When I was little, I didn't smile much. Don't get me wrong. I was a happy kid, but I couldn't stand the space, dead center, in between my teeth. Yeah, I could whistle through it, but so what? That didn't win me many points on the playground in Medfield, Massachusetts. To me, it was the greatest imperfection. Straight-up ugly. Family photo albums from those years show a sea of closed-mouth smiles. I can still hear my mother saying, "Uzo, open your mouth and smile," with her calm but firm accent. She, a proud Nigerian woman, always assured me my real smile was perfect, but it was hard to feel that way when no one looked like me. Even my own brother Rick and sister Chi-Chi had shiny white rows of…

THE TIME I TOOK THE PITCH One day, walking in New York, this woman came up to me and said, "I'm sorry to bother you, but, Mika, I'm a big admirer of yours. I design shoes, and I want you to wear them." That was it! She was confident, didn't take much of my time, and communicated that her product was something I should see. I tried the shoes and loved them—they are sexy and comfortable; that's hard to find! Now, I wear them on-air; I wore them to my Cosmo photo shoot. Layla-Joy is doing great because she believed in herself and her product enough to be aggressive about it. THE TIME I GAVE A THIRD-DATE ULTIMATUM On my third date with my husband, I said, "I really like…

NAME Ashley Small, 27 CITY Brooklyn, NY CURRENT GIG 2014 graduate of Pace University with a degree in marketing and advertising DREAM JOB Fashion marketing for Calvin Klein "Before college, I spent five years in the Navy as a fiber-optics engineer, saving up for school. I loved the camaraderie, but there's nothing like taking off your steel-toe boots at the end of the day and putting on shoes you love. I've always wanted to work in marketing. It's the quickest way to tell a story and change people's lives." "THIS OUTFIT FITS SO WELL, IT LOOKS LIKE IT WAS MADE FOR ME. IT MAKES ME FEEL CONFIDENT!" WHAT SHOULD I WEAR? "For an interview, you're told, 'Wear the suit, wear the blazer,'" Ashley says. "But that doesn't reflect me, and…

MEET THE U.S. NATIONAL BOYS Graham Zusi POSITION Midfielder HOMETOWN Longwood, FL HEIGHT 5'10'' AGE 27 Matt Besler POSITION DefenderHOMETOWN Overland Park, KS HEIGHT 6' AGE 27 Omar Gonzalez POSITION DefenderHOMETOWN Dallas, TX HEIGHT 6'5'' AGE 25 Kyle Beckerman POSITION MidfielderHOMETOWN Crofton, MD HEIGHT 5'10'' AGE 32 Chris Wondolowski POSITION ForwardHOMETOWN Danville, CA HEIGHT 6' AGE 31 ALL-STARS (Left) Tank, Love Leather; bandeau, Franziska Fox, $225; skirt, Ohne Titel, $435; leggings, Michi, $199; sunglasses, 3.1 Phillip Lim by Linda Farrow Gallery, $280; red necklace, Holst and Lee, $175; silver and blue chokers, Santiago Casanova, $160 each; green choker, Alexis Bittar, $495; (on left arm) cuff, Maison 203, $57; (on right arm) cuff, Gucci (Right) Sweatshirt, Timo Weiland, $595; bra, Xersion, $24; skirt, Ohne Titel, $425; shirt, Nike, $60; choker, Santiago…

There's nothing like a sexy summer romance. But getting down during the dog days comes with its own unique set of hazards: sun rash, dehydration, bees. The good news: There are plenty of ways to take advantage of the warm weather and perv out in seasonally specific settings. All you need is a little foresight and a dash of preparation and you can have plenty of outdoor kicks while avoiding jail, injury, and hypervigilant amusement-park attendants. Follow these pointers and positions, and as your high school crush once wrote in your yearbook, have a great summer! IN WATER Water makes you buoyant! Take advantage! Try The Dirty Mermaid: Face your guy while he stands, wrap your arms and legs around him, and go to town while he holds your legs…

I WAS BORN AND RAISED IN SAN ANGELO, a small west Texas city that has about 100,000 people and a lot of cattle farms. It's the kind of place where everyone knows one another. When I was in high school, I worked as a hostess at Chili's. This guy, Brian, who was 19 and stationed at Goodfellow Air Force Base in town, would come in and hang out with his friends. He'd always try to give me his phone number, but I had a boyfriend at the time so I would never take it. Brian was good-looking, but he was cocky. I liked him, but I was afraid if I dated him he'd cheat on me, so I played hard to get. I didn't know it then, but he told…

Q I've started getting my period more than once a month. What the fresh hell is this? A Ugh! Condolences. Hope you're stocking up on gelato and back episodes of Long Island Medium. According to Laura Corio, MD, an ob-gyn in New York, getting your periods between 21 and 35 days is normal. (So it could be normal to get it twice a month.) If your cycle isn't within that time frame or has recently changed, see your gyno. "Most of the time, it's hormonal," Dr. Corio explains, in which case you might need thyroid meds or want to go on the Pill. Your doc might also order a sonogram to check for cysts. There's a solution to your problem (and it's not just buying more tampons). Q I get…

Whatever your sunscreen issue—it's heavy, smelly, or stingy, or it makes you break out—we have a high-tech solution. FEELS SUPER LUXE Light-reflecting pigments make skin look glow-y, while the silky texture is decadent. Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Ultra Radiance Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30 or SPF 50, $8.99 FEELS SUPER LUXE Light-reflecting pigments make skin look glow-y, while the silky texture is decadent. Hawaiian Tropic Sheer Touch Ultra Radiance Lotion Sunscreen SPF 30 or SPF 50, $8.99 DRIES INSTANTLY The spray covers a ton of surface area and has a powderlike finish. L'Oréal Paris Quick Dry Sheer Finish Spray SPF 50+, $10.99 FENDS OFF ZITS Thanks to redness-erasing pigments, you get clear and protected skin. Estée Lauder Clear Difference Complexion Perfecting BB Creme SPF 35, $40 PRETTIFIES SKIN Hate layering makeup…

THE CASE FOR KETTLEBELLS The cannonball-like lower half looks wonky but is the key to its awesomeness: You use extra muscles (and burn extra calories) as you lift and lower it. Start with 8 kg, then try this basic head-to-toe move: Stand over kettlebell with feet hip-width apart. Bend from your waist, back flat, and grab handle. Straighten and lift it until elbows are at shoulder height. Now tap the kettlebell on the floor. Repeat 10 times. —LIZ PLOSSER SOURCE: JAMES EICHAS, A TRAINER AT EXCEED PHYSICAL CULTURE IN NYC; STUDY BY THE AMERICAN COUNCIL ON EXERCISE WET HAPPENS Sweat, swimming, water bottles: They're some of the best parts of a summer workout, but they spell trouble for fitness gadgets. Revive your tech with the Bheestie ($17.95, bheestie.com), a porous…

Sitting at my cluttered desk at an advertising firm in Manhattan, I heard a subtle ringing in my ears. But within seconds, it sounded like a blaring, monotone fire alarm. I flinched, covering both ears with my palms. When I realized no one else noticed the noise, I literally bolted from my office building to catch a cab to the ER. Doctors took vials of blood, scanned my skull from every angle, and gave me a hearing test. I was pronounced deaf in my left ear—the ringing was my brain's way of attempting to process sounds—but there was no explanation. I hadn't suffered a trauma. I had no trace of a virus or a tumor. I'd never even had an ear infection. I was 24. Going deaf is surprisingly very…

Birthdays always start out happy. What's not to like about a day that's just about you? Hello, you were born—of course we should be celebrating! So you're excitedly planning your birthday week, then before you know it, you're cry-yelling because somebody wrote only on your Facebook wall and didn't text you. (Ugh, are any of your friendships even real?!) Birthdays are like the new weddings these days, and while they can be wonderful occasions, they can also steer a girl dangerously close to the 'zilla zone. It doesn't have to be this way. Birthdays should be fun, not stressful. Here's how you can pull off the best day/week/month ever—no diva-ing necessary. Happy Gift Ideas Four awesome ways to break out of your "I'm buying you a drink!" pattern. Wine, $22,…

FACE TIME "Love how social my friends are when we hang out. You can't put your phones away for an hour? #MillennialProblems" — AVERY S., 21 GET IT POPPIN' "It's one thing to pick your zits in the privacy of your bathroom. It's another thing to pop them in public. But it is never acceptable to pop your boyfriend's zits while waiting for the subway. Ew!" — GABRIELLE H., 22 BASKET CASE "If your kid is taller than you are, you shouldn't be pushing him in the grocery cart." — RACHEL R., 31 JAGGED EDGE "This lady was filing her nails on the train, and the shavings were getting all over me. Gross!" — ALEXANDRA I., 24 ANNOYED BEYOND BELIEF? LOG ON TO COSMOPOLITAN.COM/BITCH-IT-OUT TO SHARE YOUR PET PEEVE (AND…

TWEETS WE LOVE ALLEIGH @Mae_Allie It seems like Cosmo has been stalking me. Every article is directly related to my life this exact moment. #Creepy CALEB FERNANDEZ @CalebJF The kind of chick you want to be BFFs with. @KaleyCuoco in @Cosmopolitan MORGAN ELIZABETH @MeHayyycock Men should really read Cosmo specifically for the Love, Lust & Other Stuff section. RODNEY CLIFFMEYER @HotRod914 This issue of Cosmo is hilarious, laughing out loud alone on the train. They must have so much fun going through confessions. EDITOR'S NOTE: We do! Now send yours to Confessions@Cosmopolitan.com. TELL US WHAT YOU THINK OF COSMO…AND YOU COULD WIN $5,000! What do you love? What would you change? Take our super-quick online survey and boom!—you'll be automatically entered for a chance to win $5,000. Hello, new wardrobe,…

"My roommate and I got invited to a new friend's pool house. It was actually a celeb's mansion. Our new friend was the celebrity's son, and he hadn't told his mom we were staying there. When she found out, we bolted, but not before swiping some fancy lotion!" —chayenne s., 20, STUDENT, FROM HOUSTON, TX "I bought 6-inch heels for a big night out with my boyfriend. I didn't practice walking in them and was tripping all night. I almost fell into a swimming pool and nearly dragged him in with me. It was so embarrassing." —natalia r., 18, STUDENT, FROM CALABASAS, CA "At a work dinner, the table was crowded, so I put a plate of spicy octopus on a ledge behind me. Of course, I knocked it over…

Your part in 22 Jump Street is pretty unforgettable.…Yes. I can confidently say that it's the weirdest thing I've ever done on film—and I've done a lot of strange things. Your Funny or Die videos are a riot. What cracks you up? Christopher Mintz-Plasse—no one makes me laugh harder than he does. Also, my two enormous cats. They are 17-pound tabbies who love to spoon. There's a lot of cat incest going on in my house. If you were on Tinder, what would your tagline be? "I go to sleep every night with 34 pounds of cat on top of me." That would probably scareoff 90 percent of the Tinder community, but for the 10 percent that embraces it, I've got nothing to hide from there. Would you ever date…

FASHION FLASHBACK RENE RUSSO NAILS SAFARI CHIC ON OUR NOVEMBER 1978 COVER. 1 Hat, Tommy Hilfiger, $50, Tommy Hilfiger, 212-223-1824 2 Water bottle, Tote+able, $19, clay-company.com 3 Bag, Gap, $44.95, gap.com 4 Vest, Aéropostale, $45, aeropostale.com 5 Bikini top, Iconix, $7, walmart.com 6 Shoes, H&M, $29.95, hm.com 7 Shorts, Joe Fresh, $19, Joe Fresh, 212-219-2850 8 Dress, Shopsosie, $49, shopsosie.com 9 Bag, Zara, $49.90, zara.com 10 Swimsuit, Xhilaration for Target, $29.99, target.com 11 Shirt, Forever 21, $12.80, forever21.com 12 Bra, GoJane, $28.20, gojane.com 13 Shoes, Cosmopolitan for JCPenney, $50 with code COSMO5, jcpenney.com 14 Necklace, Aldo, $19, aldo.com 15 Skirt, Gap, $49.95, gap.com 16 Sunglasses, Required…

Starring HARLEY VIERA NEWTON The front-row fixture and go-to DJ for fashion's most major parties spins—and wears—the hits. ON HARLEY: Dress, Cushnie et Ochs, similar styles available at Bergdorf Goodman; shoes, Zara, $99, Zara; bag, Ashlyn'd, $385, ashlynd.com; string bracelets, Shashi, $23 each, shopshashi.com; (on left arm) blue tassel bracelet, Sole Society, $24.95, solesociety.com; (on right arm) gold bracelet, Lulu Frost, $225, lulufrost.com; gold ring, Third Crown, $280, thirdcrown.com The BACHELORETTE PARTY Make your BFF's last hurrah memorable in a metallic minidress that catches the light (and eyes) on the dance floor. Harley's Bachelorette Playlist "LOVEFOOL," by The Cardigans "DANCING ON MY OWN," by Robyn "SINGLE LADIES/LOVE ON TOP," by Beyoncé "HEARTBREAKER," by Mariah Carey "GET RIGHT," by Jennifer Lopez "NO SCRUBS," by TLC BEAUTY TIP The perfect complement…

THE COMPLAINT Mascara makes your eyes tear up. THE CULPRIT It's probably past its prime. "Mascara expires faster than any other cosmetic—three months from the time you open it," says cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer. The dark, moist tubes are hotbeds for bacteria. Plus, the older mascara is, the clumpier it gets, causing small particles to flake off, landing (where else?) in your eyes. THE CURE Set a three-month calendar reminder, or Sharpie the date onto the tube. Had an eye infection? Toss it. Origins GinZing Brightening mascara, $18.50, origins.com THE COMPLAINT Lipstick makes your lips Sahara-dry. THE CULPRIT "Lipstick's pigments are actually solid powders that prevent moisture from penetrating your lips," says Hammer. Matte versions are chockful of the stuff—the reason they feel like a clay mask after about 10…

My hair is damaged, so I want to start air-drying it. What product will make it look finished, not frizzy? —CHELSEA GRODECK, 23 "Styling creams (a gel/leave-in conditioner hybrid) offer definition and extra hydration—key to preventing a fuzzy texture." Bumble and Bumble Brilliantine, $24, bumbleandbumble.com; Oribe Supershine Moisturizing Cream, $49, oribe.com What's the best way to heal—and hide—bug bites? —KAYLA SPRENGEL, 23 "Use this medicated concealer. Tea-tree oil prevents infection, while chamomile speeds cell turnover and healing." Boo-Boo Cover-Up, $20, booboocoverup.com How should I apply cream bronzer? —LAUREN SBRILLI, 22 "I use my fingers. The heat has a melting effect on the bronzer, blending it seamlessly. Plus, no brush streaks." Chanel Soleil Tan de Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base, $48, chanel.com My deodorant gets clumpy and stains my…

I tried to like her. After all, Ms. Ambitious, as I'll call her, was a star. Cheerleader-perky, she had a real office (with a door!), compared with my lowly cube, although her title wasn't more exalted. When the big boss came looking for Ms. A one afternoon and was told she wasn't in, she chortled, "What's the point in being here without her?" Not to be immature, but I wanted to barf. I'd always been a nose-to-the-grindstone girl whose knack for words got me noticed. But after weeks of pitching ideas, I wasn't sure the boss knew my name. So I was hopeful when Ms. A asked me out to lunch. But as she perkily grilled me over salad, it became clear she wasn't going to share any tips on…

Psych experts and economists have uncovered some seriously wacky reasons we spend more than we plan to. But you can retrain your brain. Alexa helps show you how. YOU'RE CARRYING ONES Economists call it the denomination effect: When you have small bills, you're more apt to spend them on little stuff. On the other hand, you wouldn't break a $50 or a $100 bill to buy a pack of gum or a soda. Keep singles and fives out of your wallet, and stick to larger bills. THE PRICE ENDS IN NINE Retailers love to end a price with the number nine. Why? Customers associate nines with getting a deal, because it always feels like less than the number above it. When researchers at the University of Chicago priced women's clothing…

When I was on 90210 a few years ago, the character I played, Naomi, was raped by someone she knew. I welcomed the story line, thinking it was important for viewers. I memorized my lines and rehearsed the scenes. I felt ready to go. Then when the cameras were rolling on an intense scene—a fight with an unsupportive friend after the assault—I broke down, sobbing uncontrollably. My cast mates thought I had done a great job playing the part. They had no idea that I had actually been sexually assaulted by someone I knew in real life. For you to understand what happened to me and my reaction to it—burying the assault deep down inside—first you need to know a few things about my life. I'm telling my story now…

Undercutting—shaving the bottom half of your hair (a technique that was huge in the '80s)—is back. Style secret. The best part of getting buzzed is the versatility. Wear it down for a more conservative vibe, or rock this punked-out pony. Want even more edge? Go for the micro bangs. Jacket, Nike, $150; bra, Juicy Couture, $60; leggings, Athleta, $69; shoes, Alejandro Ingelmo, $550; earrings, Pluma, $155; necklace, Nektar De Stagni, $399; (on left arm) watch, Swatch, $75; pink bracelet, Paralux Designs, $65; black bracelet, Vita Fede, $315; perforated rings, (on left hand) $110, (on right hand) $125, Kelly Wearstler; (on right arm) studded hand cuffs, Fallon, $160 each A jaw-grazing bob that's slightly longer in front than in back (and super-straight) is the edgiest way to rock a bob right…

If there's one thing you must know about me, it's that I have a type and that type is "unavailable." It's something that started when I was in high school. Crushing on guys who weren't attainable, whether it was because they had girlfriends or because they didn't even know I existed, was an easy way to pretend I wanted to commit to a relationship when I was, in reality, terrified of the idea. Keep that in mind when I tell you about Kyle*, the first guy I met after moving to New York City from Amherst, Massachusetts. At the time, I felt like I was ready to find someone I could date, and Kyle, with his flannel shirts and hipster glasses, seemed like an excellent contender for the role of…

Q I keep meeting guys who "don't do condoms."Is this a new trend?! How canI politely insist on condoms—and what is going on with guys who suddenly think it's okay not to use one? A This is not a new trend. There have always been and probably will always be guys who "don't do condoms," because young dudes tend to think they're invincible and they tend to be bad at assessing long-term risk. So you're going to need to stop worrying about being polite. When a guy tells you he doesn't do condoms, say something like, "That's too bad, because I don't do guys who don't do condoms." He may very well agree to use the condom at that point, but then you need to decide whether you still want…

Julie Touretzky, 22, was sobbing in her hospital bed as she tried to pass a kidney stone when the cosmic humor finally hit her. "It felt like a joke," Touretzky says. "How could this all be happening at once?" Nothing in Touretzky's life seemed to be going right during the month before she found herself in the emergency room. It started when the University of Delaware grad got back from studying abroad and her relationship with her boyfriend of more than a year ended abruptly. Less than a week later, during an interview for an internship with a major accounting firm, Touretzky was midsentence when the older male interviewer cut her off, telling her he couldn't tolerate listening to her talk anymore. When the interview ended, she burst into tears.…

FORCED ULTRASOUNDS ARE OFFICIALLY BS Ultrasounds before abortions—mandated by law in 12 U.S. states—are not only medically unnecessary, but they also don't change women's minds. New data shows that 98 percent of women who viewed their ultrasound still had the abortion, making the test one more emotional burden in an already draining experience. Get your state's rules at Guttmacher.org, and keep in touch with your reps via PlannedParenthoodAction.org.—M.G. SOURCE: KATRINA KIMPORT, PHD, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF OBSTETRICS, GYNECOLOGY, AND REPRODUCTIVE SCIENCES AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA AT SAN FRANCISCO ASK DR. ASHTON Q Will using anti-bacterial body wash help me avoid STIs? A Definitely not. These soaps work no better than plain soap and water when it comes to removing bacteria or preventing disease transmission (and they might teach germs…

1 Clean Sweep Shower without getting in a shower: Ban Total Refresh Cooling Body Wipes leave a powdery finish that makes you feel instantly fresh. $3.29, feelbanfresh.com 2 Sporty Chic This sweat-wicking, tennis-inspired Lululemon Club Dress makes you want to walk home from work—and meet friends at the bar for happy hour en route. $98, lululemon.com 3 Prettier Pony Dress up your ponytail without creating a "she just worked out" crease thanks to these Emi-Jay Kaleidoscope hair ties. $6.50, emi-jay.com 4 Know-It-AllThe do-everything Garmin Forerunner 220—GPS, heart-rate monitor, distance tracker—lets friends follow your route in real time or meet up with you along the way! $299.99, garmin.com 5 Spillproof Use the Neutrogena Beach Defense Stick Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 50+ for quickie touch-ups when fun in the sun…

TRUTH Your odds for a heart attack on combo pills are 0.01 percent. THE WORRY Will birth-control pills spike my risk for heart attack? REALITY CHECK Recently, the internet exploded with stories touting the findings from a New England Journal of Medicine study that suggested oral contraceptives containing both estrogen and progestin could increase a woman's risk for a heart attack or stroke by as much as 80 percent, possibly because of estrogen content. But context is everything. "Even if you're on a combination pill, your risk for stroke or heart attack is still 100 times less than 1 percent if you're young and have no additional risk factors," says Margaret Polaneczky, MD, associate professor of clinical obstetrics and gynecology at Weill Cornell Medical College. "These large, in-depth studies should…

CANCER (JUNE 21–JULY 22) STELLAR GIFTS You are compassionate, glamorous, and determined. BLIND SPOTS You can take things personally and overreact. FASHION FAVES You shine in beautifully feminine silhouettes and classic summer stripes. INDULGENCE You cherish your spa days and girl time. SEDUCTION STYLE You're the perfect combo of mysterious yet available. THIS MONTH July is full of sizzle and fun. Get things done before the 16th, when Jupiter, the planet of good luck, moves on—it's been blessing you for a year. Go on as many dates as you can before then—your charisma and popularity are undeniable. YEAR AHEAD This is a terrific year for you with big potential for making money…cha-ching! It will be amazing for your love life too. You may take things to the next step with…

1. You're at a bar with a friend when a cute guy asks if he can buy you a drink. Your friend immediately interjects, saying: a. "She just barfed up three margs in the bathroom. Thanks, though!" b. "We'll take a bottle of Dom!" c. "I'm gonna go play Candy Crush so you two can get to know each other." 2. Your boss breaks the news that you are being demoted. Your new supervisor is Amanda, the bitchy former intern. Your reaction is to: a. Stay positive and keep doing your best. The boss is so much smarter than you, she obvs knows what she's doing! b. Smile, nod, then immediately go gangbusters on the job search. How do you say hasta la vista in English? c. Laugh in your…