Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2019 i Cosmopolitan

Hey! Before you jump into our new You section (six pages that way) full of fun breakdowns of your weirdest habits and answers to urgent Qs like whether you should get bangs, let me tell you a little about me: As the new editor-in-chief of Cosmo, I’m the insanely lucky person who gets to be in charge of making the thing you’re holding in your hands, plus the digital, video, and social content that’s distracting you while you read it. (I see you!) (It’s okay, I do it too.) I never could have imagined I’d land here—I grew up doing ballet in the South and leapfrogged my way from NYU film school to internships at magazines. Over the past 10 years, I’ve written and edited stories for all my favorite publications.…

PEACE SIGN This one’s a classic. And while you might think throwing deuces simply means “peace out, y’all,” Hill says it’s also a sign of victory. Translation: You feel like you’re slaying life. SCREEN STARE-DOWN If you’ve been posting selfies sans eye contact with the cam, you need a girls’ night stat. Intentionally disconnecting from the viewer signals that you might be bummed about something, says Hill. “You probably feel like you need a hug.” BIG CHEESE With teeth as far as the eye can see, you’re a star, babe. A huge smile that reaches your eyes indicates that you’re full of energy, says Hill. Chances are, you’re the party-starter of your group, notorious for spreading good vibes. SMILE SANS TEETH You holding back, girl? Keeping this hint of a…

“I met my crush at a bar for drinks and there were candles everywhere—the scenery was really pretty! But while trying to be cute and flirty, I leaned against the bar and suddenly felt heat and smelled smoke. My hair had literally caught on fire from the candle behind me. Luckily, it wasn’t totally engulfed in flames, so I put it out quickly. Still, I was really self-conscious about the smell, so I went to the bathroom and soaked myself in perfume. I ended up smelling like burnt cotton candy.” —ANNA G., 25 “While on my first official date with this dude I was hooking up with, the guy took a ring off my finger and started playing with it. I wear this ring every day because it used to…

“My sisters and I agreed to get the same tattoo of an infinity sign with three hearts on our wrists, but because my middle sister lives hours away from me and my older sister, we had to get them separately. I was the first one to get mine and loved it! But when I showed my sisters in person, they decided the infinity symbol was too big and that they didn’t want to do it anymore. Still bitter.” —LEXI A., 22 “While waiting for my friend to meet me for dinner, I decided to kill some time by getting a tattoo. I walked into a random parlor and told the artist I wanted my husband’s name in my handwriting. I quickly wrote Jimmy on a piece of paper in cursive,…

JUNE 2010 “Permanent December” DIRT: This is one of Liam’s favorite tracks from Can’t Be Tamed, but Miley thinks it’s just because it contains the word Australia. LIAM LYRIC: “It’s been like a permanent December, so much colder than I can remember. When I get you back, this time I swear that I won’t, won’t ever let you go.” OCT 2013 “Wrecking Ball” DIRT: Ah, the breakup banger every single one of us has drunk-texted to an ex at least once. Miley is typically painted as the wild child in the relationship, but she seems to put a lot of the blame on Liam. LIAM LYRIC: “I put you high up in the sky and now, you’re not coming down. It slowly turned, you let me burn, and now, we’re…

“I add extra heat with a pair of neon-orange pumps.”—SHANNON BARBOUR, ASSISTANT EDITOR 1. THE NAKED DRESS Not exactly a birthday suit but pretty damn close. UNDER-GARMENT 101 A matching slip will be your BFF if you need extra coverage. “I struck a balance by wearing a soft hue with major volume.”—ANDREA ZENDEJAS, ASSOCIATE FASHION EDITOR 2. OVERSIZE RUFFLES Boring black dress? We don’t know her. “Rhinestones make it extra.”—HANNAH NICOLE MILLER, ACCESSORIES ASSISTANT 3. SPORTY FRINGE Like your high school gym uniform but with flair. “Floral bike shorts for spring: groundbreaking.”—RACHEL BOGO, FASHION ASSISTANT 4. BIKE SHORTS Tour de France but, you know, cute.…

Blackheads What They Are Not dirt! These are open pores filled with a combo of dead skin cells and oil that “when exposed to air, oxidize and turn dark,” explains Jordana Mattioli, a medical aesthetician in NYC. When to Pick Unlike other zits, blackheads don’t have a life cycle, meaning they’re always there, ripe for the picking, according to celebrity skin-care guru Renée Rouleau. How to Deal 1 Exfoliate first Start with a scrub (this one from Clinique doubles as a detox mask). “The more dead skin you remove, the easier extractions will be,” explains Mattioli. 2 Squeeze smart Before you go at it, wrap each of your two pointer fingers in a damp tissue or cotton pad to stop your nails from digging in and spreading germs. Then place…

TRY MARBLE LIPS It’s only a matter of time until Rihanna rocks this one. DIY with clear gloss and cream pigment. M.A.C. Cosmetics Lipglass Clear, $17.50, maccosmetics.com; Kryolan Aquacolor Interferenz Palette Le Colors, $37.50, kryolan.com SUNNY EYES Yellow is having a major moment, from fine-lined lids to full-on smoky. Dior Diorshow On Stage Liner in Matte Yellow, $30.50, dior.com SUPERFINE GLITTER The shiny stuff isn’t going anywhere—it’s just getting better. Small-scale sparkle looks amaze without doing too much. Chantecaille Lip Cristal in Citrine, $50, chantecaille.com BABY LASHES Minimal drama, maximum cool. A swipe of water-based mascara is all it takes to get a long, dark, born-this-way fringe. Maybelline New York Snapscara in Pitch Black, $6, drugstores BYEEE MARBLE TIPS Not bad, just boring. SUNSET EYES Pretty…but sooo played out.. RUBY-SLIPPER…

THE BURN FACTOR THE HIP-DIP SIDE PLANK Lie on your right side and stagger your feet, placing your left foot in front of your right. Extend your right arm so your hand is under your shoulder, and place your left arm on your hip. Lift your hips so your body forms a straight line from your head to your heels. Slowly lower your hips until they tap the floor, then immediately bring them back in line with the rest of your body. That’s one rep. Do as many as you can in 30 seconds before switching sides, performing three sets. Knock this out three times a week. NOW MAKE IT YOUR OWN… If putting on a sports bra = cardio… Lazy but legit: Place your forearm instead of your palm…

Spotting A period ambush is annoyingly common when you start bailing on your usual rhythm, says Dr. Minkin. But taking your placebo pills every three or four months can help. Prescriptions Make sure your doc writes “take continuously” on your prescription so you can refill it whenever and insurance should cover it. Pregnancy Fears “If you take your pill daily, it’s highly unlikely you’ll get pregnant,” says Dr. Minkin. But if you start feeling bloated or queasy out of the blue, take a test ASAP.…

6:00 A.M. Aya: I live in NYC, but today’s shoot is in L.A. An early call time can be tough, especially with jet lag, but TRESemmé Smooth Renew Anti-Frizz Cream, $5, cures my plane hair and boosts its shine, so I look totally fresh. 9:15 A.M. Aya: Shoots are nonstop, so planning is essential. Leah and I start the day with a powwow to make sure we’re on the same page with the looks we need to capture. 7:30 A.M. Leah: A topknot on a hectic day is clutch—it lets me fit in a workout without shampooing and keeps my hair off my face. TRESemmé Volumizing Dry Shampoo, $5, sets the stage by absorbing oil and reviving any flatness. 9:45 A.M. Aya: When curating a story, I study the Fashion…

Finally, there are numbers to back up a sad-ass truth that straight women have known for too long: When it comes to oral sex, many dudes are tonguetied. In a recent survey, 67 percent of hetero men admitted to sex-toy startup company Cunni that they sometimes feel completely lost down there. And 59 percent are in the dark when it comes to knowing what their partner likes during oral—which may be the reason a lot of guys are skipping it entirely. (Yep, women are more likely than men to perform oral on their partners, according to a study published in the Canadian Journal of Human Sexuality.) Considering 73 percent of us require some kind of clitoral stimulation to orgasm or have better orgasms—and tongue attention is an effective way to…

You can’t stop swiping on Tinder. WHAT’S TO BLAME: Venus is in Aquarius, which rules your friendship and tech sector, March 1st to 26th. You spill your guts to bae too soon. WHAT’S TO BLAME: Sparks fly, and awkwardness follows with the Mars-Pluto trine on March 20th and Venus-Mars square on March 21st. You give a first date a TMI explanation as to why you don’t eat dairy anymore. WHAT’S TO BLAME: Communication-ruling Mercury squares Jupiter on March 15th, basically bulldozing boundaries. Your eyes will start to wander from your casual flame. WHAT’S TO BLAME: Venus is in Pisces from March 26th to April 20th, throwing a wrench in your happily-ever-after plan. You can’t keep your hands to yourself! WHAT’S TO BLAME: Venus slides on into Pisces’ DMs on March…

ARIES Take your boss out for lunch. TAURUS Reserve a spot at a new yoga studio. GEMINI Put your money to work by giving it to charity. CANCER Get a new conversation piece to liven up your place. LEO Fill your gas tank and take a day trip a few towns over. VIRGO Revamp your website or make a new set of business cards. LIBRA A drugstore makeover is in order—pick up all your fave products. SCORPIO Time for a relaxing mani-pedi to keep you centered. SAGITTARIUS Get you a lotto ticket. CAPRICORN Buy nothing. Return those bucks to your bank account, stat. AQUARIUS Pick up a handful of healing crystals. PISCES Get a pair of tickets to the movies or a museum.…

Ever wonder why the zodiac begins at the end of March with Aries instead of at the New Year with Capricorn? The zodiac corresponds with the spring equinox (aka the vernal equinox), which occurs around March 20th, because when the zodiac system was adopted by the ancient Greeks more than 2,000 years ago, they fused it with their own calendar. At that time, they tracked the Sun’s movement in accordance with their agricultural systems, which began with the start of spring. The four cardinal signs of the zodiac correspond with the seasonal equinoxes and solstices, and their energy corresponds with action, initiation, and manifestation. So get out there!…

COVER Ermanno Scervino, ermannoscervino.com. Maison Miru, maisonmiru.com. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE 7: Ryan Storer, matchesfashion.com. Chanel, chanel.com. HOW OFTEN DO I WASH THAT PAGE 52: Araks, araks.com. Guess, shop.guess.com. Tory Sport, torysport.com. Hysteria by Happy Socks, happysocks.com. Topshop, us.topshop.com. Cosabella, cosabella.com. Intimissimi, intimissimi.com. DKNY, macys.com. Bldwn, bldwn.com. Aritzia, aritzia.com. Tna for Aritzia, aritzia.com. LANA TAKES THE LEAD PAGE 107: Galvan, galvanlondon.com. Gianvito Rossi, gianvitorossi.com. Carrie Hoffman, carriehoffman.com. Soko, shopsoko.com. Shinola, shinola.com. Bychari, bychari.com. Jennifer Fisher, jenniferfisherjewelry.com. PAGES 108 TO 109: Ermanno Scervino, ermannoscervino.com. Maison Miru, maisonmiru.com. PAGE 110: Markarian, modaoperandi.com. Dannijo, dannijo.com. Shinola, shinola.com. MM Druck, mmdruck.com. PAGE 111: Jonathan Simkhai, jonathansimkhai.com. Jason Wu, netaporter.com. Loren Stewart, lorenstewart.com. Dalmata, shopdalmata.com. PAGE 113: Michael Kors Collection, select Michael Kors stores. Alexandre Birman, alexandrebirman.com. PAGE 114: Dannijo, dannijo.com. Agolde, revolve.com. Chloe Gosselin,…

YOU’LL NEVER CATCH ME WITHOUT A red lip. (One time, deputy editor Rosa Heyman—see next page for a breakdown of the whole Cosmo team—saw me without it and asked if I was okay.) My new fave: L’Oréal Paris Rouge Signature Matte Colored Ink in “I Don’t.” MY SECRET WEAPON A bizarre ability to function on very little sleep. Also, my brilliant assistant, Sam! She is a lifesaver. WHAT’S ALWAYS IN MY BAG There are approximately 45 pens at the bottom of my purse at any given time. THE MOST SURPRISING THING ABOUT ME I cut my own hair! Have done it for years. Hey: Virgo. Control freak.…

1. Let’s get the obvious question out of the way: Has your relationship status recently changed? A Nope! No breakup chop for this girl! B Does getting ghosted by a Bumble date count? C *Sobs* Yes, but…what does this have to do with my hair?! 2. Why are you drawn to bangs? A I have the perfect face shape for a fringe. B Three words: Instagram Explore wormhole. C There’s an empty void in my life and I want to fill it with BANGS! 3. Bangs are kind of like a pet…. Are you willing to take care of them daily? A I’m already a magician with a round brush. B It can’t be that hard, right? C That reminds me—I should prob water my succulent. 4. When something is…

SHE MADE US DO A SCAVENGER HUNT AND IT WAS REALLY FUN. “I was taking a nap at my parents’ house one afternoon—about two months after my brother and soon-to-be sister-in-law got engaged—when the bride’s sister stopped by. She woke me up, handed me an envelope, and told me to get in her car. She said that my brother and his fiancée had set up a scavenger hunt for us! We had to solve a series of riddles about important locations from our childhoods, which made sense since the four of us grew up together. The first clue sent us to my former middle school, where a bouquet of pink balloons and an envelope were waiting. We stopped at five locations, including an ice rink where we used to hang…

The Smile Miley’s grin when she looks at Liam is genuine, says Cobb. The creasing at the corner of each eye, the visible top teeth, and the cheek muscles pushed up are all signs of this. Liam usually has a “polite smile.” The Faces Miley and Liam often make similar facial expressions—this shows they’re emotionally connected. Couples who are in sync mirror each other’s expressions and body positions subconsciously. The Hands Cobb: “I like how he’s touching her. His fingers are grazing her tush. That’s a touch of tenderness.” In other words, major sexual chemistry. The Eye Contact Cobb: “The look in her eyes is very telling. She is smitten.” The Body Language Miley is typically facing in toward Liam, which Cobb says people do when they’re attracted to someone.…

I HAVE A WEAKNESS FOR: Salt. Anything with salt. Also doggies. MY WEIRDEST QUIRK: I still sleep with a stuffed animal. MY HAPPY PLACE: Anywhere my hubby is. SOMETHING THAT GETS ON MY LAST NERVE: Condescending people. SOMETHING I USED TO WORRY ABOUT BUT DON’T NOW: I used to care so much about what people think about me. It’s still a battle at times, but I’ve learned that staying true to myself is the most important thing. THE SEXIEST THING THAT’S EVER BEEN DONE FOR ME: My husband bought us Hamilton tickets for my birthday when we had just started dating. He isn’t a musical person but I am, and I found the gesture incredibly sexy, considering it wasn’t his thing and he knew how badly I wanted to see it!…

JUNE 8, 2017 Moschino Fashion Show, L.A. “This was a very hot summer night and I didn’t need that jacket, but the things we do for fashion! I sat next to Charli XCX, Cameron Dallas, and Amanda Steele—a good group of people. I was on my way to pick up some Chick-fil-A and go home.” NOV. 22, 2017 Outside MTV, NYC “I felt like a baby giraffe trying to walk, on top of it being freezing cold outside. I’m not used to wearing combat booties. The majority of the time, in real life, my phone is clutched in my hand like this.” JAN. 29, 2018 Black Panther Premiere, L.A. “This is me trying really hard not to look confused. I was fully lost trying to find the after-party. Literally right…

SH*T, THERE’S A STAIN Spot-treat and run it under warm water ASAP unless it’s blood—then use cold. We got all our intel from Mary Begovic Johnson, Tide and Downy principal scientist for P&G Fabric Care, so you know it’s legit.…

BEST BLOWOUT LOTION “It really makes a blowout last thanks to the beeswax, which creates what the brand calls ‘shape memory.’ Two days later, my hair still had body and volume.” —LWR BEST STRAIGHTENING CREAM “It made my hair feel like actual silk thanks to the blend of cranberry and argan oils. But the real magic? It helped me blow out my curls in under 10 minutes.” —CM BEST HOT TOOL “This ventilated wand uses the force of air to wrap hair around the barrel before heating it. The result: the perfect nonfried curl.” —CCV BEST TEMPORARY COLOR “Most spray-on shades make hair feel shellacked and stiff as hell. But this 24-hour formula is so soft and flexible that you can easily brush right through it.” —CCV BEST FRIZZ FIGHTER…

4 GAME-CHANGING WAYS YOU’RE NOT USING BLUSH…BUT SHOULD BE 1 APPLY IT WITH A LARGE POWDER BRUSH. It’ll pick up less pigment than a denser blush brush—ideal for beginners. 2 TAP IT ON TOP OF FRESH FOUNDATION. Do it while your makeup is still slightly damp and it’ll mimic a natural glow. 3 DON’T JUST DO THE APPLES-OF-THE-CHEEKS THING. You also flush naturally on your temples and earlobes. 4 LAYER A POWDER OVER A MATCHING CREAM. And all this goodness will last from prework to pre-game. The Best Shade for Your Skin Tone DEEP SKIN Go for matte, highly pigmented red powders, which translate to a bright, pretty pop on your face. TRY NYX Professional Makeup HD Blush in Crimson, $6.50, nyxcosmetics.com DARK SKIN Warm shades like terra-cotta and brick…

The Hookup Handbook by Kendall Ryan, out March 19 HOTTEST LINE “I touch her in soft circles and groan as she grinds herself closer, eager for every inch of pleasure…. With a shuddering sigh, she lets go and the feel of her body contracting around mine is almost enough to finish me.” WHY YOU’LL BINGE-READ IT Keeping a fling a secret is such a turn-on. 99 Percent Mine by Sally Thorne, out now HOTTEST LINE “A squeezing handful of my butt has me shuddering.…The seams on my clothes are like blades against me. He shows no sympathy and instead takes a tour of my body.” WHY YOU’LL BINGE-READ IT Having an unrequited crush is so relatable…and makes for the most delicious sexual tension. Getting Hot With the Scot by Melonie…

Nothing defines temptation like the glowing circle that screams, “Hey! Someone you should definitely not creep on has posted an Instagram Story.” You’re dying to look, but it’s just too risky—what if your name ends up in the top-viewer spot and your ex realizes you’ve been lurking?! Luckily we have a little-known trick: With a steady thumb and some serious self-control, you can spy on the first post of the IG Story that’s haunting the top of your feed. Follow these steps to leave no receipts.…

Aside from the monthly reassurance that you’re not knocked up, getting your period sucks. The hassle of carrying tampons, enduring painful cramps, and dealing with hormonal acne is enough to make any reasonable woman ask: “Can we not?” In fact, in a 2018 survey of 1,000 women by Pandia Health, a women’s telemedicine site, a majority of participants said they’d straight-up shut down their periods for good if they could do so safely. As it turns out, thanks to your never-not-magical birth-control pill, you can. Yes, it’s safe. Yes, you can do it as long as you want. Yes, a lot of your friends are already on board. Here’s how to catch up. CRASH COURSE Let’s take it back to health class: Your ovaries naturally produce progesterone and estrogen, hormones…

The Top 4 Tongue Movements Most Women Love Up and down Circular Side to side Rapid pushing (pulsating) in one spot SOURCE: JOURNAL OF SEX & MARITAL THERAPY…

If you consider “What’s your sign?” to be less of a cheesy pickup line and more of a totally acceptable way to greet strangers, you’ve landed in the right place. Welcome to Cosmo’s bigger, better, brandnewer eight-page astrology section. Starting with this issue, we’re dedicating a chunk of the magazine each month to breaking down how the stars are influencing your love life, career, friendships, bank accounts, and literally everything else in fun, actually useful ways (no astrology-school degree required—a real thing we’ll get to later). Because we know you’re thirsty for way more than just monthly horoscopes. ZODIAC KEY ARIES (03.20–04.19) TAURUS (04.20–05.20) GEMINI (05.21–06.20) CANCER (06.21–07.21) LEO (07.22–08.22) VIRGO (08.23–09.22) LIBRA (09.23–10.22) SCORPIO (10.23–11.21) SAGITTARIUS (11.22–12.20) CAPRICORN (12.21–01.19) AQUARIUS (01.20–02.17) PISCES (02.18–03.19)…

ARIES The month starts slow under Pisces season’s moody ’tude, but luckily romantic Venus is in outgoing Aquarius—perfect for flexing those flirty skills. Careful though: Mercury Retrograde messes with communication starting on the 5th, so reread that message before sliding into your crush’s DMs. You get a break from the drama on the 20th, when your season begins. TAURUS Pisces season is perfect for connecting with new people, and with Venus in intellectual, communicative Aquarius, networking is a big theme for you in March. All month, ambitious Mars in your sign fills you with determination to get the job done, but when Aries season starts on the 20th, your energy level stalls. Sorry, bb. GEMINI Venus in Aquarius encourages you to take risks and tackle big goals while connecting with…

Founding editor Helen Gurley Brown was so intimidated by the job that she hid under her desk on her first day. (I get it!!) The Harvard Lampoon made a fake Cosmo with cover lines like “Girls Obviously From Ohio” and “How to Tell if Your Man Is Dead.” Cosmo’s famous Burt Reynolds centerfold was such a hit that it led to the creation of Playgirl magazine. In 1976, supermodel Jerry Hall was featured on the cover in a floral Hula-Hoop—with a very visible nip slip! Former EIC Joanna Coles used to have an office gong that she would ring whenever there was something to celebrate. Our legendary copy chief, Ann Wright, has worked here since 1985 (the year before I was born!).…

If your primary destination is a drive-through: “THE” + YOUR FAST-FOOD CRAVING + “RACER” = THE CRISPY CHICKEN SANDWICH RACER If you just crank up the music every time your ride makes a weird noise: ANY DISNEY PRINCESS + THE SOUND IT’S MAKING + YOUR WORST DRIVING HABIT = RAPUNZEL’S HISSING SPEEDER If you’ve ever purchased a glittery, fruity car air freshener that gave you a headache: FAVORITE FLOWER + GO-TO COFFEE SIZE = HYDRANGEA GRANDE If your friends always make you drive: ROYAL TITLE + THE MUSICIAN YOU BINGE THE MOST + THE WATER BOTTLE IN THE BACKSEAT = LORD FETTY WAP FIJI If you refuse to parallel park when Mercury is in retrograde: COLOR OF YOUR CAR + YOUR ZODIAC SIGN + EMBARRASSING WORD FOR “CAR” = SILVER…

JUNE 2009 Miley and Liam meet on the set of The Last Song. NOV. 2009 Miley tells Seventeen that Liam is her “best friend.” MARCH 2010 Miley and Liam confirm they’re together with a red-carpet debut at the Oscars. APRIL 2010 “From the first time we read a script together, it was like I had known her before.” —LIAM JUNE 2010 Miley writes a ton of songs about Liam on Can’t Be Tamed. AUG. 2010 The couple breaks up for the first time. APRIL 2011 They’re back in action (but laying low). MARCH 2012 Engagement rumors fly after Miley is spotted wearing a ring at The Hunger Games premiere. Miley denies it on Twitter, saying it’s just topaz. JUNE 2012 LOL, everyone was right. Engagement confirmed. MARCH 2013 Miley is…

GO AHEAD—TAKE A GOOD, HARD LOOK “I’m a really big man. To be fully seen, embraced, taken in visually, and appreciated in a world where sometimes I’ve felt invisible is really sexy to me.” TL; DR: HE TOTALLY HAS A GIRLFRIEND “With anything you value, exposing it to the world before it’s ready is a really dangerous thing. I share very sparsely the information I treasure so much. Only you can define your relationship.” HE’S DOWN TO TALK IT OUT “Communication is the key to everything. If you can talk, you can survive. Once people start using actions as their main mode of expression, that’s when things get bad.” THE CHARM? HE GOT IT FROM HIS MAMA “I grew up thinking of her as this superwoman. As I became an…

BIKER BABES Actual motorcycle not required. Dress this down with jeans, or glam it up with a mini. DISCO DREAMING The lesson here: Take sequins from elegant to extra by hiking up the hemline. CHECKED MATES Bra top + denim short shorts = a hard-core update to a sweet black-and-white jacket. LEATHER LADIES Fifty Shades, but make it fashion. Grommet details lend the LBD an edgy twist. SLEEK IN SILVER Give a ’90s slip the cold shoulder (literally) and you’re ready for Saturday night.…

BEST CONDITIONER “Leave this on for just 60 seconds. It’s made with a concentrated serum for maximum softness and nourishment, fast.” —CARLY CARDELLINO VACCARO, BEAUTY DIRECTOR BEST DETANGLER “325 flexible bristles glide through tangles without a single snag or tear. A serious game changer for knotty hair like mine.” —LAUREN BALSAMO, SENIOR BEAUTY EDITOR BEST SHAMPOO FOR FINE HAIR “My hair looked significantly fuller in about a month thanks to ginseng and willow bark—ingredients that stimulate hair follicles to produce thicker strands.” —LB BEST SHAMPOO FOR COLOR-TREATED HAIR “I have platinum hair, which requires the most gentle shampoo out there. So this sulfate-free version cleared a high bar.” —CCV BEST CURL SYSTEM “This shampoo, conditioner, and primer left my curls moisturized and soft—shout-out to vitamin E and virgin coconut oil.”…

PICK YOUR SHAPE These shorter, curved fauxs are sort of like starter claws. TRY Alice + Olivia x imPRESS Press-On Manicure in Boss Babe, $8, impressmanicure.com Mid-length tips with tailored sides come to a peak for an edgy but fun look. TRY Ardell Nail Addict in Black Stud & Pink Ombre, $8, Walgreens Long, tapered, and flat-tipped: the current go-to for the Insta Stories of A-listers. TRY Kiss Masterpiece Nails, $12, Walgreens This statement look screams badass. TRY The Nailest in Artistic Golden Age, $88, thenailest.com Get Them to Stay on (and Then Come Off) 1 Find Your Fakes The perfect ones will line up as closely as possible to the bottom, left, and right edges of your nails. Don’t forget to swipe an acetone-saturated cotton pad over your real…

THE DUMPER BEN HIGGINSfrom The Bachelor, season 20, on how to dump someone: “You’re dealing with a human who has feelings and emotions. Anytime somebody is telling you, ‘My life isn’t going in a direction where you should be in it,’ it’s going to hurt. So be direct, but also show respect and care. I think there’s a small possibility then for a decent breakup. Not good, but decent.” THE DUMPEE BECCA KUFRINfrom The Bachelorette, season 14, on coping with a split: “Time will heal. You will heal. You will move on. You’ll hopefully learn and grow from that relationship and take something with you that can turn into a positive and a silver lining. In the situations where you don’t think time is your best friend, it really is.”…

Email your sex questions to SexQandA@Cosmopolitan.com. I’m extremely pro-consent, but the guy I hook up with is very into asking me if each step of the sexual interaction is okay. It’s driving me crazy! How do I bring it up without sounding like an asshole? A Ummm, what? This man sounds like a GD gem! He’s respecting you and your boundaries, and he’s clearly smart enough to know that consent can be revoked at any time and for any reason during sex. If anything, you should be thanking him for being such a class-act hookup. That said, since you don’t want to be answering his check-in questions as things are heating up, take the lead and use dirty talk to your advantage. Say things like, “I want you to touch me…

If You’re on the Pill Just skip the placebo week in your pack, or opt for a pack without one altogether (like Seasonale or Seasonique). An important exception: If you’re on the progestinonly mini pill, you can’t choose to skip your period using birth control, says Dr. Millheiser. This form of the pill doesn’t have an inactive pill week, meaning you have to take a dose every single day. If You Have the Patch You already know you have to slap on a new one every week for three weeks. But instead of going patchless on week four, go ahead and pop on a new sticker. Done and done. If You Have the Vaginal Ring Kind of like the patch, this stops working when you remove it during the last…

LIT SKIN You’re going to need two highlighters and a wild card to get this ultra-strobed look. Apply a liquid version (pro fave: Anastasia Liquid Glow Highlighter, $25) on your cheekbones, center of the nose, Cupid’s bow, and brow bones using a damp makeup sponge, says Dedivanovic. Then tap powder highlighter right on top (try Maybelline New York FaceStudio Master Chrome in Molten Gold, $10). The final layer: Aquaphor or Vaseline, Dedivanovic reveals. “The glossy texture gives skin that litfrom-within glow.” SMOKY EYES This going-out staple doesn’t actually require a bunch of palettes and brushes. Just smudge black eyeliner (Covergirl Perfect Blend Eyeliner in Basic Black, $7, blends easily) along the upper and lower lash lines to create definition, then use a shimmery slate-gray shadow along the creases and toward…

Beginning March 5th, the internet’s most notorious astrological event is back to f lip some tables. Mercury, ruler of communication, travel, and technology, enters retrograde in Pisces until March 28th. But it doesn’t have to be all apocalyptic. Sure, your phone will glitch, you’ll get into weird tiffs with your friends, and combined with emotional Pisces season, you’ll probably feel like the hottest mess ever. But 2019’s first Mercury Retrograde also presents an opportunity to take stock of the New Year. Retrogrades typically create challenges when something important needs to be brought to light, so pay attention to any areas you’re having particular difficulty with. Your partner’s inconsistent texting could be related to Mercury Retrograde, sure, but it could also mean there’s something deeper that’s off about the relationship. Same…