Home/Women's Lifestyle/Cosmopolitan UK/December 2017/In This Issue
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017FROM THE EDITORAs the year reaches its alcohol-saturated finale, thoughts turn to loved ones, lack of sleep and things we really want to find at the end of our beds come 25th December.Because I’m greedy, I’ve been making a very long list this year. I see things I want every time I refresh my social media feed, earwig on other people’s conversations and step into new hotels.I doubt I’ll get the whole list. Not this year anyway. Probably not next year either. But you know what they say – if you put it out there and only one person hears your call, you’re one step closer to getting what you want. So here goes…1 I wish peace and goodwill to the term ‘feminist.’ Men – it does not mean we want to…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017ConfessionsKID GLOVESI was on a volunteering trip in Uganda, living with a family who kept a few goats. One night I came back a bit drunk and decided one of the goats had looked at me funny, so I squared up to him. He head-butted me in the balls. I left with my pride, and testicl*s, in tatters.PATRICK, 23, SOCIAL MEDIA MANAGER, LEEDSCRYING SHAMEI cry at every single TV show or film I watch: happy or sad, they all have the same effect. I have no idea why this happens, but I get so embarrassed by it that I’ve never watched a film with someone else. Cartoon Simba is the only one allowed to see me bawl.HOLLY SMALLBONE, 23, MUSIC PR, LONDONSPLASH HAPPYMy friend and I always prank each other.…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017The CompassFloating our boatPARTY FRINGINGMove along, cowboy, this trend is perfect for shimmying across festive dance floors. Also prime Boomerang material. Win-win.BOOZEMALLOWSSick of your nan’s box of chocolate liqueurs? Say hello to The Naked Marshmallow’s proseccoinjected treats. Warning: toasting kills the alcohol.SHOW TIME*New robot alert!* Part tablet, and voice-activated helper, part video speaker, the new Amazon Echo Show (£199.99) is a lazy girl’s best friend.BINGO’S BACKAnd not just for your great aunt and her friends – among under-35s, too. So eyes down, look in at Anita Mangan’s illustrated guide* to the lingo behind the game. Doctor’s orders.DRAKE’S DADThe mustachioed man on the cover of Drake’s More Life album? His dad, Dennis Graham, who is slowly becoming an Instasensation, and even has his own single, Kinda Crazy.Sinking our shipHOT HANGOVER CURESProfessor Brian…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017DIRTY STOP OUT!CLEANSE DODGER?Ah, yes, the one-eyed mirror squint, blackened face wipe in hand. We get it, double cleansing isn’t an option when there’s double you staring back. But with most dermatologists in the anti-face-wipe camp, what’s a drunk girl to do? “Sleeping with make-up on stops dead skin cells from shedding and pushes make-up into pores as you move your face around the pillow,” says beauty consumer expert Paula Begoun. But she won’t arrest you for face-wipe frivolity – not if it’s the occasional lesser of two evils. Opt for alcohol- and fragrance-free wipes – bonus points if they contain soothing ingredients such as camomile or aloe. If you can manage a drunken commando roll to the sink, then your hands, some water and a creamy (for drier skins) or foaming…4 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017The model methodThe dress is bought, and you’ve had a strict sheet-mask routine in place that has mainly involved looking like Hannibal Lecter most weeknights.You’re almost good to go. Except for one crucial thing – you’ve hit the mince pies so hard you feel like a bauble in bodycon. The solution? David Kirsch. Famed for whipping Heidi Klum, Kate Upton and most of the Victoria’s Secret Angels into shape, he’s devised this at-home fat-burning workout to get quick Christmas-party results. Hot HR guy? Watch out…STEP 1 Plank with hip abductionTARGETS Abs, outer thighs, inner thighs1 Start in a low plank position.2 Bring the right knee in towards your left shoulder, then extend it back and out to the side.3 That’s one repetition. Repeat 15 times on each leg. Easy.STEP 2 Plank with…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017RED ALERTDesigner, limited edition, made of the finest fabrics… Wouldn’t it be nice if this described our wardrobe instead of just that of a six-figure earner? Well, it can. This autumn, Next launches its new Label/Mix line, offering all this – but at prices from £35. Every season, the brand will work with a handful of upcoming designers (Osman and Teatum Jones are our picks from the inaugural 91-piece collection), who’ll create stand-out pieces your wardrobe will go gaga over. A collection that supports young designers and makes you look catwalk-fresh? We’re renaming it Bloody Genius. Top, £285, Mix/Whole9YardsPHOTOGRAPHS LEO ACKER. LABEL/MIX IS AVAILABLE EXCLUSIVELY ONLINE AT NEXT.CO.UK…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017THE JEANIUS... DRESSED-UPDENIMReady to party like it’s 1999? I AM! Someone crank up that Justin Bieber playlist. So, we’ve all seen denim at parties before – usually an embellished jean, or a plain black skinny with some kind of cleavage-revealing loose blouse – but to bring these variations screeching into the here and now, wear with a pointy white ankle boot. If anyone asks why, just say, “It’s very Balenciaga.” They will be silenced immediately.This month I forced myself to think about how to wear denim for evening in a totally new way. The answer? Well, I couldn’t just choose one, so I now have two major players in my wardrobe. Firstly, a denim dress. Make the LDD partypropriate by avoiding those ’70s-style dungaree pinafores, and instead opting for something dark and…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017The radical SABBATICALThat feeling. A year ago it was as much a part of my Sunday routine as roasts and a Netflix binge. I’d lie awake counting down the hours until I’d have to go to work in the morning. Knots of stress would tighten in my chest and I’d just lie there, thinking about how long my to-do list was – and how I didn’t want to do anything on it. I’d been desperate to leave my job in the Civil Service for months, but I felt trapped. The problem was I had no idea what I would do instead.Mine is a generation bombarded with messages that we should ‘follow our dreams,’ and that if we work hard enough at something, we can get there. I knew I was a hard…7 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017BRAINS AND BEAUTYCindy CrawfordAn original super, also a chemical engineering scholar and valedictorian. What’s that? A US high-school student with the highest ranking among their graduating class? Obviously.Karlie KlossCoding chat will bring the average person out in a rash. But this self-confessed maths and science nerd became fascinated in 2014, and after learning to code herself, set up Kode With Klossy to encourage young girls to do the same.Natalie PortmanAs well as English, the Oscar-winning actress can speak French, German, Spanish, Japanese and Hebrew. She is also a graduate from Harvard University with a degree in psychology, and has co-authored two research papers published in scientific journals.…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017SCREEN SAVERSON YOUR PHONEThe Mental Illness Happy HourHosted by Paul Gilmartin, this weekly podcast interviews artists, comedians and the occasional doctor about mental illness, trauma, addiction and negative thinking.ON INSTAGRAMLet’s Talk About Mental HealthThe page aims to end the stigma, and features quotes about mental-health struggles from people all over the world. You can also submit your story on their website Letstalk.12kindsofkindness.com.ON BBC IPLAYER RADIOAll In The MindThis Radio 4 show is a must-listen, covering everything from personality change to body dysmorphia.…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017GIFT GUIDEDear Santa, if you’re reading this (and we have no reason to believe you’re not), here’s the deal: we’ve worked bloody hard all year. Really. It’s been a slog. Between the office overtime and the seemingly endless life admin, it’s really quite a Christmas miracle we’ve made it this far in one piece. Plus, we’ve done a tonne of good deeds the past 12 months. (Ticking the Gift Aid box when taking stuff to the charity shop and holding doors open for people we don’t know count as good deeds, yes? Phew.) So we’ve made a teeny list of gifts we’d quite like to find under our tree come the 25th. OK, so maybe it’s not so teeny. FINE, it’s not a list, either. Yes, it’s colour-coordinated. No, it’s not…4 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017WORST DATES EVERI saved up to treat my date to a birthday trip to London, only to be ignored the entire day. When he did speak, it was to call me selfish – as he “hates crowds and would rather have stayed at home”.ELLA, 17After watching Miss Congeniality at his, one thing led to another. But then he stopped to grab a bag of cold cheeseburgers from under his bed. Turned out he had a feeding fetish...PAUL, 26I told him my hobbies were sport and sleeping. He replied that I couldn’t possibly enjoy sleep as it was “subconscious and I wasn’t truly present for it”. We argued about it, then I left.HANNAH, 26When we arrived at the cinema, he announced very loudly in front of the server that the sweets were “absolutely…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017On your marks, get set, SNOWLAPLANDContributor JOSIE COPSON salutes its cross-country skiing, Northern Lights and very sociable reindeerOK, HOW MUCH SNOW IS THERE? A lot. Which means all the activities – reindeer farms (local trivia: there are officially more reindeer in Lapland than people), a husky farm, snowshoeing (walking through the snow in ridiculous giant boots) and cross-country skiing – at the Holiday Club in Saariselkä always run. The latter, which is essentially just gliding across the white-washed countryside with massive sticks strapped to your feet, is tougher than it looks. Warning: after two hours with no gravity to help you move, you’ll be walking like a Ken doll for days.WILL I SEE THE NORTHERN LIGHTS? If you’re lucky. The Aurora trail leads you out of town to the top of a mountain, and a…7 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017FASHION EDITLUXE FASHION LABELAcclaimed for its glam high fashion calibre Australian label LUXE FASHION LABEL creates effortless glam with standout pieces that are versatile for day to night wear. With each seasonal collection evolving and constantly indulging in new elements such as fabrics, textures and colours to bring new flavour. The LUXE babe is confident who loves her glam and always wants to look the part. She is sexy but fun with a cheeky side. She loves to flaunt stylish statement pieces, enjoys a classic timeless piece but also lives for an off duty look every other day of the week. www.luxefashionline.com.auKARUNA APPARELKaruna Apparel merges fashion and compassion. Their commitment to transparency, ethical design, and eco-minded production is contagious. Karuna’s active-wear is made from recycled plastic bottles and their yoga mats…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017The Secret Santa1 THE BRIEFIt’s the most wonderful time of the year! But first The Gifter must survive the most terrible time of the year… which will arrive in the form of a ‘top-secret’ email from the HR intern pretending to be an elf. The Gifter will pray she’s been given one of her work friends and not the millionaire CEO, or the dude from IT who leaves tuna in the sink. She will 100% have been given the millionaire CEO, or the dude from IT who leaves tuna in the sink.2 THE BRAINSTORMThe Gifter will decide to stay calm and buy The Recipient something generic. She will narrow down her options to: a desk cactus or some bubble bath and a box of Ferrero Rocher. Then she will panic – what…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017WILL.I.SLAMIf you think slam poetry is code for aggressively shutting doors while narrating in iambic pentameter, think again. Instead, it’s deeply cool – the art form of telling stories of woe and hardship with the sort of rhythm that would put Rihanna to shame. Find the best new bards on the block on YouTube, including political poet Kate Tempest, debate-starter Emmet Kirwan and Peckham teacher turned ‘young laureate for London’ Caleb Femi. Or you could try it for yourself at monthly event A Lovely Word, held at Liverpool’s Everyman Theatre. To MC or not to MC… that is the question.…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017TOASTY TREATMENTSMove over, Pop-Tarts – there’s a new piping-hot contender for our affections. Introducing the toasted sheet mask. That’s right – the latest Japanese craze to rock our beauty world is a face mask you can heat to 45°C using an electric mask heater. Those of you who’ve done the ‘face over a bowl of boiling water’ trick will know that steam helps to purify pores and boost circulation, so your skincare can penetrate your skin and work a lot harder. Slapping on a heated sheet mask works in just the same way, and the extra warmth also improves the flow of oxygen, giving skin an instant glow. Find a range of electric mask heaters at Amazon.co.uk – and, no, a George Foreman grill is not the same thing…PHOTOGRAPH LOUISA PARRY.…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017YOUR LATEST SQUEEZESelfies and airbrushing apps have produced a nation of pore-rexics and I’m no exception. L’Oréal Paris recently reported that 45% of women want to change the size of their pores… and we’re not just talking teenagers. Surprising? Not really. First of all, instances of adult acne and oily breakouts are on the rise, with more clogged and dilated pores as a result. Secondly, pores get bigger with age. From your mid-twenties, the breakdown of collagen and hyaluronic acid causes pore walls to thin, triggering those tightly packed skin cells to start slacking. And you thought you’d be done worrying about pores post-puberty…MISSION: IMPOSSIBLEWhat is very important to understand from the off is that nothing will close your pores. They simply dilate and constrict a tiny bit, so anything you read…6 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017INGE HAS ISSUES ISSUESWhat’s the deal with …Dodgy daily SPF?UV protection (yes, even in December) is essential, but new formulas are eschewing chemical formulations, which sink into the skin to absorb UV, for physical ones (using zinc oxide and titanium dioxide), which sit on top to deflect rays. But don’t they make you look like Casper? Yes, they leave a whiteish film – but it dissipates after a minute. Why not go chemical? There’s too much concern for my liking over some chemical filters potentially affecting hormones. Plus, crucially, some oxidise in the sun, not just losing protective powers within hours, but also creating free radicals that can then attack skin cells. Sh*t. Should I bin chemical sunscreens? Hold up, not all are problematic: look for bemotrizinol or ethylhexyl triazone for safe options.…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017THE sleep CHEAT SHEETSchlepping halfway across the country to see your family this Christmas? (Or jetting off to far-flung climes to avoid them?) Spending the season snoozing on sofas, airbeds and in spare rooms can affect your sleep. It’s not just a cricked neck that lets you know you’re not in your own bed – your subconscious knows, too. A study from Brown University found that on your first night in a new place, brain activity tends to rise because half your brain is watching out for trouble. Travelling in itself – time-zone changes, middle seats – can also wreak havoc on the amount and quality of sleep you get, says Natalie Dautovich, scholar for the National Sleep Foundation. And, believe us, you want those ZZZs: a night without enough of them can…4 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017Time to SHINEGo cosmicWhen it comes to Christmas, you can wish for the moon and stars and have them all over your dress. It’s time to get intergalacticTip If cosmic prints make you feel more fortune teller than fabulous, try a simple pair of star earrings or a themed clutch to feel subtly out of this world.Slip into satinSilky-smooth textures and rich jewel tones create the look that most says luxe glamour, even if you’re dancing to The Thong SongTip If you’ve picked a subtle tonal dress, try a contrasting jolt of colour like a pair of electric-blue sock-boots (right). Handily, these are super-stretchy, too.Shine in sequinsBecause is it even a Christmas party if no one’s attempting to outsparkle the decorations? Don’t fight it – flash itTip Of course you can wear…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017Dress codeFLORALThese prints have sprung up all over A/W 17. Now let them bloom across your nearest dance floorLACEDecadent. Flirty. Magnets for ‘Ooh, where is it from?’ comments. These earn their price tagRUFFLEDThis trend has some serious stamina. After slaying S/S 17, it’s pushing on into party seasonSTRIPEDFind dresses a bit… dressy? Angular or abstract prints are the perfect understated option…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017“Resilience decides who thrives”> Take (selective) risksSix years ago, I left my dream job as a merchandiser at My-Wardrobe [now defunct] to set up fashion website SilkFred, despite a lot of people telling me not to. I took huge risks, like taking on two bank loans, and placing big international orders just using Google Translate. Now the business is bigger, with more staff to take care of, decisions are more considered.> For God’s sake, do your homeworkWhen I did my first public pitch event in front of an audience with PowerPoint (and a panel of potential investors, Dragons’ Den- style), I was really unprepared, and too shy to practise with my co-founders – meaning five minutes before going on stage, I was still writing my script. It was a disaster, of course. Now…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017CONFESSIONS OF A MALE GOLD DIGGER“She was cool. She was insightful. She was… affluent”On a blisteringly hot July morning in Ibiza, Chris adjusts his sunglasses and tucks into a breakfast that costs more than he takes home in a day. The plates are piled high with French toast and poached eggs; there’s barely space on the table to accommodate the steaming hot coffee, the jug of freshly pressed orange juice and the main event, a fillet of salmon cooked in rosemary and drizzled with fresh lemon and maitre d’ butter.Chris is dressed casually, a low-neck burnt-orange T-shirt and ripped jeans; he’s relaxed after a week in the Balearic sun. His date is less casual; she’s wearing gold jewellery, and her blue-and-white designer dress drapes over pedicured feet and onto the gleaming tiles of the hotel…12 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017Desperately seeking a squad”Was it even possible to make new friends now?”i am a loser. A complete loser. Ten minutes ago, I had a whole different set of labels for myself – author, journalist, wife, sister, gelato obsessive, late-’90s hip-hop enthusiast – but now, sitting all by myself, I’m simply a desperate idiot. I’m in a coffee shop that’s normally bustling with people, but today it’s eerily quiet. I stir my tea and stare out at the beach. It’s a bleak, windswept day, but the view out of the window makes me feel slightly more cheerful than the one that surrounds me – I can see nothing but empty chairs. I feel like they’re glaring at me, gloating over my loneliness.For the past two weeks, I’ve been covering Margate with flyers. I ordered…12 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017The COSMOPOLITAN BEAUTY BIGSKINCAREBest MAKE-UP CLEANSERNUXE MICELLAR CLEANSING OIL, £15Wear a lot of slap? Then this is your BFF. It cossets skin and melts make-up like an oil, but rinses off like a wash, thanks to added gunk-grabbing micelles and plant (not heavy mineral) oils.Best EVERYDAY CLEANSERSIMPLE WATER BOOST MICELLAR GEL WASH, £4.99Bold claim alert: this is one of the best cleansers we’ve ever used. Gets rid of all traces of make-up and grime, and doesn’t make skin feel tight.Best EYE MAKE-UP REMOVERLA ROCHE-POSAY RESPECTISSIME WATERPROOF EYE MAKEUP REMOVER, £11Ultra-gentle, bi-phase (the oil slays eyeshadow and liner, the lotion clears residue), and nails the oil:water ratio.Best AT-HOME FACIALBEAUTY PIE FRUITIZYME FIVE MINUTE FACIAL, £50 (£5.86 FOR MEMBERS)It’s a fine scrub packed with added peeling enzymes, but the name alone makes you want to…10 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017SOUNDS NAUGHTYThere once was a time when it wasn’t possible for Colin Firth to read us a bedtime story,* and when the nation wasn’t totally gripped by what is, essentially, a woman reading aloud court documents.** But podcasts and audiobooks have changed everything – and now they’re taking on the way we consume our filth, with sexcasts (sex-based podcasts) available for our aural pleasure. The most leg-clenching is Bawdy, which broadcasts genuine sex tales from a public storytelling night, then there’s Why Are People Into That?!, which has a different expert guest each episode, answering all the questions you’d usually open an incognito browser to search for. Or try Sex With Strangers – no, not an instruction to get off with that random barman, but a sexcast that takes an intelligent…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017First Love“When we broke up, I was distraught”Colette Little, 19, is a student from London‘Sam and I met on the first day of secondary school. Our last names both begin with ‘L’, so we used to sit next to each other in class. We started talking and became close, but at only 11, we weren’t thinking about a relationship. It was only four years later, when we went to the cinema over the Christmas break, that we realised our feelings for one another had grown. We hadn’t spent time just us two outside school before, but after that, we started to.We were at my house one day when I suddenly took the plunge and asked him what we were. It was then that we had the chat about being boyfriend and…4 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017Drop it like it’s HOTThe spicy oneRich, smooth, and with a backnote of Indian spiceINGREDIENTS150-200ml milkA dash of coconut cream25-30g Colombian or Dominican chocolate1 tsp cocoa powder1 tsp garam masala½ tsp sugarMILK MIX-UPSweetened almond milk is your go-to substitute here.METHOD1 Pour the milk and coconut cream into a saucepan, then stir together over a medium heat until the mixture is simmering.2 Take off the heat and stir in the chocolate, cocoa, garam masala and sugar.3 Return to the heat for a couple more minutes to thicken, adding a little more coconut cream for extra Christmas-in-paradise vibes.The boozy oneHot chocolate + booze = snoozy winter heavenINGREDIENTS150-200ml milk25-30g dark chocolate, finely chopped1 tsp cocoa powder½ tsp sugar2 tsp hazelnut butter1 shot of Frangelico1 nutmegMILK MIX-UPIf you’re lactose-intolerant, oat milk is a good switch-up in this.METHOD1 Warm…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017TREAT YOURSELFPRIMA MAKEUPSparkle this Christmas with Prima’s range of sensationally glittery cosmetics. From highly pigmented pressed glitters to scented sparkling glitter mixes. We have all you need to create an amazing impact. Sparkle bar event service now available! www.primamakeup.com instagram: @primamakeup_ 15% off with code COSMO15NO MORE OF THOSE ‘LITTLE LEAKS’Pregnancy, childbirth and even high impact sports contribute to a weak pelvic floor.And they lead to those ‘little leaks’. You know, when you laugh too much! Or you sneeze or cough! 85% of women think it’s normal and just part of life. 1 in 3 women suffer with leaks. 1 in 2 will suffer from a prolapse!The World Health Organisation say that incontinence is preventable and treatable. It is not just part of getting older. Be proactive and you can avoid…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017WELL, HELLO THERE Max RogersHIS VITALSAge 35Hometown BedfordshireBig break Appearing naked on the cover of GQ Style in 2008, as directed by Tom Ford.Crazy fact #1 Max is terrified of glitter. “I have a meltdown if it enters my house.”Crazy fact #2 Max is also talented behind the camera, having written and directed several short films.Who is your greatest love?“My family – that’s my wife and two daughters [Willow and Maple]. We’ve been having a bit of family time recently and it’s been lovely.”What do you still not understand about women?“Their need to pluck my eyebrows!”The most misunderstood thing about men?“That we’re all the same. We are not. Everyone is an individual.”Last time you cried?“My wife [former puss*cat Doll Kimberly Wyatt] gets really annoyed because I didn’t cry at the birth of our baby,…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017The midi MANI1 SPLIT ’EM UP LAZINESS SCALE 1/3Described as a ‘modern take on the classic French manicure’, this look, as seen at Jenny Packham, is fairly easy to recreate. First things first: prep. Negative-space nails need clean, manicured hands, so “file and buff, nip away hangnails, moisturise hands and wipe with remover to get rid of excess moisture before your base coat,” says nail technician Loui-Marie Ebanks. Next, choose your colour and use a striper brush (available online, its long, thin bristles are perfect for precise work) to draw a diagonal line from the top to the bottom of each nail. Fill in one side with the nail-polish brush, then use a small brush dipped in polish remover to sharpen the lines, and finish with topcoat. Fancy-pants nails you don’t have…2 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017HONEY, I SHRUNK YOUR PORES…Clarins SOS Pure Rebalancing Clay Mask, £30A cream mask enriched with white and green clay, this effectively sucks up impurities.Neutrogena Visibly Clear Spot Proofing Daily Wash, £4.99Contains both salicylic and lactic acid to aid exfoliation and stop bacteria spreading.Sanoflore Aqua Magnifica, £17Softens skin and reduces inflammation with a blend of botanical essential oils. Makes gunk far easier to dislodge.Bioré Ultra Deep Cleansing Pore Strips, £8.99 for sixPositively charged strips that stick to negatively charged dirt, so these do clean pores from the root.Hylamide Booster Pore Flush, £15Dissolves congestion and stops sebum build-up. Spray this on morning and night post-wash.Tata Harper Clarifying Mask, £68A trio of natural salicylic acids plus antibacterial ingredients to get skin off that sebum seesaw.Skin Laundry Night Renew Treatment, £34Containing retinol to slow down sebum and wrinkles,…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017HEAVILY MEDITATEDRemember when the ultimate fitness brag was the triathlon? Or taking on a muddy, waterlogged obstacle course for ‘fun’? Thankfully, the latest endurance test is much calmer: the mindful triathlon. Pioneered by US company Wanderlust, it comprises a 5k run, 90 minutes of yoga and a 30-minute meditation. Sponsored by Adidas, the first event has just been held in the UK, with more planned for 2018. And with a new study* showing that pairing cardio with mindfulness can help to reduce negative thoughts and depression, we’re swapping the extreme challenges for some deep exhalation. Can’t make the next event? Try Yoga Boxing** or BlokFlow† – both combine a serious workout with mindfulness. Next up: the TV-tri: Doctor Foster, The X Factor and mindful ice-cream eating.…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017Sleeping THEIR WAY TO THE TOPJON HAMM12 HOURSDon’t get too jealous: apparently it’s taken in blocks of four hours at a time. Like ultra-long power naps.AMANDA SEYFRIED10 HOURSShe’s said to get three hours more then the recommended average. Let’s pretend that’s the reason she looks like that, and we look like… well, exactly.MARTHA STEWART4 HOURSGoes to bed late, but also wakes up early so she can feed her animals, including 200 chickens. Roosters = nature’s alarm clocks.TOM FORD3 HOURSThe designer and director is said to sleep for three hours a night. Good job he’s got access to a hell of a lot of eye cream……1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017HEY, HOW DO I WEAR… Day-to-night PVC?1 WHY IT WORKSOver the last two seasons, PVC, once a mainstay of p*rnHub and cheap Halloween costumes, has firmly established itself as a chic and very important Fashion Thing. It’s been on the runway at Saint Laurent, Lanvin and Marni this season, and adopted by the likes of the Kardashians, so, of course, the high street is all over the vinyl game now, too. The new interpretation is perfectly acceptable for daytime.2 MODEST IS HOTTESTThe number-one rule when introducing this material into your wardrobe? Choose PVC pieces that cover you up, like a trench coat, or if you’ve opted for a mini, throw a long-line blazer on top. What you’re trying to avoid here is having too much limb and cleavage on show – the Pretty Woman vibe is…3 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017WORK HARD, SCROLL HARDERMonday morning in the office – you know the drill: a quick look at the news, Instagram and a swift scan of Facebook. Then your inbox. Then back to Instagram. Suddenly, your screen’s a full deck of tabs and you’ve spent the day reading your mate’s blog and taking quizzes about what kind of breakfast food you are. This behaviour is called cyberloafing – and a recent study* found it’s damaging our careers. We use it to dissociate from what we should be doing, and those hours spent flitting through tabs is us looking for satisfaction elsewhere. Want to quit? Desktop apps like Cold Turkey or StayFocusd temporarily block you from selected sites. Just in time for Black Friday, the cyberloafers’ national holiday.PHOTOGRAPHS ALAMY, GETTY IMAGES. *IN THE JOURNAL OF…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017“YOU ALWAYS HAVE AN EXPIRATION DATE”“If aliens are real, I’m one of the humans they’ll contact”You don’t show up to interview Megan Fox expecting to talk about archaeology. Or neurology for that matter. Never mind Egyptology. But here we are, deep in conversation about Tutankhamen, on a sofa at a photo studio in Hollywood. It’s apt, because without breaking into magazine cliché too much, there’s something of the Nefertiti about Megan herself. There’s the generous, perpetually pursed mouth, the beguiling, slightly slatted eyes and the nose, so perfect in its architecture that it should be in a glass case in Giza.Growing up in Tennessee with strict religious parents, Megan didn’t have the typical ‘pretty girl’ childhood every John Hughes film would have us believe all US kids lived (Cadillac in the drive, fawning mom and…8 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017CAN BUY ME LOVE1975 Sugar Daddy, Fleetwood MacChristine McVie wanted someone to pick her up in a big fancy car and essentially take her to an all-you-can-eat buffet. (Same.)1984 Material Girl, MadonnaMadge said the one with the cash is always Mr Right. Or, in 2017, a Nando’s black card and a good Experian credit rating.1999 No Scrubs , TLCThe song that taught us not to give out our number to guys hanging out of car windows. Solid advice, we’d say.1999 Bills, Bills, Bills , Destiny’s ChildCorrectly identifies a gold-digger as a man who uses your phone and car without paying up. Pre-Uber. Pre-WhatsApp. Pre unlimited data.2001 Hit ’Em Up Style (Oops!), Blu CantrellIf he cheats, take his card and spend it to the last dime for all the hard times. Word.2005 Gold Digger,…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017Mental HEALTH When did it get so competitive?It’s a typical Sunday afternoon, you’ve returned home from a pub lunch and are curled up on the sofa trying to bat away the Sunday blues, while blocking out the fact that in just a few hours you’ll be back at your desk. You take out your phone for an idle Instagram scroll and come across a meme that makes you laugh; it’s a stock image of a woman weeping with the words ‘The feeling when even your depression has depression’ written across it in bold white. You double-tap and forward it on to your work wife, who replies with three crying emojis.Over the past decade, the world has evolved more rapidly than at any other period in history, in many ways for the better – video tutorials on how…6 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017Glam DunkADDITIONAL PHOTOGRAPHS ISTOCK Models Rebekka at Premier, Junior at SUPA, Mudi at AMCK, Reece and Miles at Next, Bradley at IMG. Hair Josh Knight at Caren Agency, using Aveda. Make-up Julie Cooper at Terri Manduca, using MAC Cosmetics. Fashion assistant Maddy Alford…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017MY BEST SEX EVER WAS… with a flirty teacher after hours“Our cries echoed around the school hall”‘Jim* and I were both newly qualified teachers at a primary school. I’d fancied him since our first day in September – he was so good-looking, with his messy brown hair and blue eyes. We hit it off immediately and were always flirting in the staff room. I was newly single and would have jumped at the chance to go out with him. The problem? We weren’t allowed to date colleagues – it wasn’t in our contract as such, but the head had made it very clear in our initial meeting that it wasn’t appropriate.By the time December rolled around, the sexual tension was at fever pitch. And then, as the newest members of staff, we were given the task of staying late to…3 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017SHAKE UP YOUR NIGHT OUTThe end of rooftop season can spell disaster for those who like drinking at altitude: no more sky-high rosés, no more breathtaking city views and no more spam for the ’Gram. But fear not, anti-gravity seekers, because, like The Doctor, your favourite rooftops are set to regenerate into something far better. We’re talking about the ‘winter rooftop’ – a place of snuggly blankets, mulled cider and coat envy. Take South Pole Saloon*, which has replaced Brixton’s Rooftop Beach, and Manchester’s The Ainscow Hotel, where you can booze on the festively decorated terrace. Our favourite? The abandoned-fairground-themed rooftop at London’s Sisu. Complete with tea-cup-ride booths.ILLUSTRATION ALVARO MATAS. *SOUTH POLE SALOON OPENS 16TH NOVEMBER…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017STYLE ESSENTIALSTRY ARIANA LASHES WITH 15% OFFWith our 3D mink eyelashes your eyes will truly pop. Go natural, sophisticated or finish off your glam look to really shine. Our lashes are 100% cruelty free and we offer FREE SHIPPING. Cosmo readers receive an extra 15% off. Enter the code COSMO-UK at the checkout. www.arianacosmo.comCHIC HAIR EXTENSIONSCHIC Hair Extensions specialises in 100% remy human hair extensions. We offer a beautiful range of natural, mixed, ombre and balayage colours for you to choose from. Fashionable, fun, and modern, we supply premium and luxe grade hair to suit any occasion and suit your budget. Make our high-quality human hair extensions part of your daily routine. www.chichairextensions.co.nzHOUSE OF NEONA new homeware and gift brand with a love of neon. Yes we do love neon more…1 min
Cosmopolitan UK|December 2017BEAUTY ESSENTIALSLIGHTUPTHECHRISTMAS PARTY WITH NU COLOURThe must-have makeup look this festive season is bold eyes and perfectly plump lips. Make your beautiful eyes the centre of interest with lashings of Nu Colour’s black curling mascara. With this mascara you can wow the crowds with lashes that have long lasting curling power. Complete the look by giving your lips an instant boost and perfect your pout. Nu Colour Lip Plumping Balm will help your lips look fuller, while also helping them to feel moisturised and soft. With these must-have products you’ll be the belle of the ball. Available from www.nuskin.comPEARLYPOISEDFormulated and approved by UK dentists, PearlyPoised coconut flavoured teeth whitening strips are non-peroxide, enamel safe, effective from first use and easily applied. Using PearlyPoised teeth whitening strips just 30 minutes a day…1 min
