Table of contents for Issue 1 2022 in Cosmopolitan

It continues to amaze me that despite 57 years of Cosmopolitan exploring and reporting on love (in addition to, you know, all the Shakespeares and de Beauvoirs and Rooneys of the world), we’re no closer to figuring out, once and for all, how to actually “solve” the damn thing. Love continues to stalk around, complex and inscrutable, forcing us all to DIY a strategy on the fly. What we have collectively accompl ished is widening the scope of how we define, think about, and experience love, which has never been more inclusive or had more potential: Our culture has started treating the nuances of self-love, friend love, and family love with an importance that’s long overdue. Incidentally, one of the complaints about young women that I often roll my eyes…

SMOOTH IT OUT The key here (outside of good genes and a 10/10 skincare routine): mattifying formulas. Start with a hydrating moisturizer—flakes are not the trend—then layer on a mattifying primer and a mattifying foundation. Then tap on a semi-matte lip cream with your finger for a soft, diffused finish.…

After the death of my young son in 1990, I was alive but lifeless and desperately searching for a way out of my pain. Anyone who lives with depression knows that when you’re at your darkest, sometimes the bravest thing you can do is simply take a shower. Once I got to the point where I could commit to that small but radical act, it became a ritual. For the brief time I spent each day loving my body, I was able to feel like me; for a second, my immeasurable sadness felt a little less heavy. Over the years, my ritual expanded to include adventurous hairstyles, colorful manicures, and a full-on makeup obsession. I was still a very broken woman, but when I focused on self-care, on making myself…

Let’s go right ahead and combine exactly what “they” tell us not to: business and pleasure. Because for these fashion duos, this isn’t an HR issue, it’s everyday life. Romance and work—and, yes, style—are one. Is it always seamless? Lol. But there’s a lot to uncover (the sweet, the sour, and the runway-worthy) about working with your significant other. Preen by Thornton Bregazzi Justin Thornton (founder) and Thea Bregazzi (founder) On getting through the creative process together: “We are inspired by each other always—no piece is designed by just one of us, it’s all a collaboration. We make each other better designers. But we can also spend hours just choosing colors…and it can get pretty heated.” On the benefits of being a team: “We get to experience the most amazing…

When I asked Amy Liu, a former exec at Smashbox and Kate Somerville, why she wanted to bring another brand into the already *highly* crowded beauty industry, her answer was simple: “I saw a white space based on my own needs: beauty products that are cute, clean, accessibly priced, high-performing, and safe for the most sensitive skin.” Based on the instant success of Tower 28—and how well the products work on my own temperamental skin—I one hundred percent agree: Tower 28 has finally filled a makeup void. In fact, it’s the only makeup brand that has a stamp of approval from the National Eczema Association, so you know it’s the real deal—especially for anyone struggling with rosacea, acne, redness, or just easily irritated skin. But you don’t have to have…

It was the early spring of 2021, and we were just a few minutes into our weekly Face-Time when my grandmother announced it: She had a new beau, and that beau had met Joe Biden. In fact, here was a photo of him shaking hands with the president. His name, she said, was Bram. I wanted to be happy for her, but even then, at the start, something just felt wrong. Before I go any further, you should get to know the matriarch of my family. Her dazzling style (see: high heels, formfitting black leggings, silky shirts, and gold bangles) puts mine to shame. Ditto for her pre-COVID-19 social calendar, marked with dinners, party invitations, and trips. Despite all this, I’ve long suspected that she, a single woman well into…

In 2022, because no social network is safe, Linked-In is an ecosystem in which a new type of influencer—a Linked-Influencer, if you will—can thrive. But “creators,” as the platform officially calls them, aren’t out here sharing their Amazon hauls or what they eat in a day. They’re writing inspirational posts about how they market themselves to recruiters despite having no “real” “job” experience and getting deep with personal stories about bad bosses. Go ahead and check (we’ll wait)—their earnest memos are probably cutting through the noise of your LinkedIn feed right now, attracting thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of followers. And also attracting job offers, side hustles, and cold hard cash. Take Natalie Riso, 25, arguably one of the world’s first Linked-Influencers. In 2018, she became the most followed…

Did your parents’ relationship impact how you navigate love for yourself? 84% Absolutely. 16% I don’t think so? Not to get all Charlotte York on you, but do you think soul mates can be platonic? 76% Yes! 24% No. What has led to your breakups in the past? (Check all that apply.) 65% Communication issues. 47% Misaligned life goals. 40% I fell out of love. 32% Distance. 32% Infidelity. 11% Issues with a partner’s family or friends. 5% A big difference in political views. How have you met your past/current love(s)? (Check all that apply.) 60% Through mutual friends. 56% At school. 35% On a dating app. 32% At a party, club, or bar. 29% At work. 5% Through family. If you have a romantic partner, are they what you…

Bel-Air Premiering February 13, Peacock You know that “one little fight” Will Smith’s Fresh Prince character got into when some guys started making trouble in his neighborhood? This very un-sitcom reimagining explores what really went down and offers a more complex take on Will’s life in Cali. Far from your basic nostalgia play, this series is a dramatic masterpiece of its own. Pam & Tommy Now streaming, Hulu Pam as in Anderson and Tommy as in Lee, based on a true story. Lily James and Sebastian Stan are unnervingly on point as the world-famous couple grappling with the aftermath of their sex tape’s leak. Seth Rogen also stars as the creep who figured out how to even sell a sex tape online in 1995 in the first place. Yellowjackets Now…

Nowadays, queer teens have no idea how good they have it, with their lesbian-outfit Instagram accounts and their dreary homophobia movies and their JoJo Siwas. Back in my day (2003), finding something gay to be horny over was like navigating the Oregon Trail. You’d have to run home from school and sit in front of the TV for hours waiting for the “Me Against the Music” video to play on MTV just so you could get a sliver of gay, and that would be your only shot at seeing gay that whole day. No quietly streaming Netflix on your laptop in your room, no saving photos of Cara Delevingne and Selena Gomez showering together to camera roll, no “every Jamie and Dani scene in The Haunting of Bly Manor” compilation…

UPDATED: CHECK There’s just something timeless about this pattern that’s both sophisticated and spicy. Make the seasonally advantageous look stand out even more by going extremely matchymatchy in headturning hues.…

IN: BRACELETS AS BIO Express yourself with some flashback fashion—but this time, mix and match brands for a more unique aesthetic. Now to find some hobbies and interests….…

Oh, this? You just casually threw it together with some no-bigdeal recipes and really, really (really) great taste in dishware and candles. It’s whatever. Of course we also made you a dinner playlist to go with this bragworthy spread.…

I’m gonna go ahead and assume you’re familiar with the beverage that makes cold weather feel like you imagined it back in August and not like it actually is. So I can cut right to: Regular old hot chocolate is even better with a few tiny tweaks. If you’re thinking, Oh! With alcohol? you are correct. But if you’re thinking, Aha! With candy! you are also correct. Join me on this rewarding journey. 1. MAKE IT DESSERT Dip the rim of your mug in frosting, crush up some Oreos, and dunk your rim into the Oreos. 2. MAKE IT SPICY Whisk in a square of dark chocolate, a dash of cinnamon powder, some vanilla extract, and a pinch of chili powder. Top with ’mallows and a cinnamon stick. 3. MAKE…

1. Your morning ritual includes: a. Waking up right next to my lil furbaby. b. Getting swatted in the face for food. c. Wondering if my cat is hiding under the bed again. 2. And quality time together looks like: a. Purrs and snuggles until my arm falls asleep. b. A few minutes of cuddling until they get distracted by a toy. c. Spotting my cat on top of the fridge when I grab a snack. 3. You just got home! Where is your kitty? a. At the door to greet me, of course. b. Either totally thrilled or totally indifferent. Honestly, it depends on the day. c. In a brand-new hiding place and won’t come out. 4. What’s your cat’s idea of a good time? a.Getting attention 24/7. b. Napping…

Ten minutes into scrolling through bad, jackhammer-y porn, I was ready to give up. I was horny and desperate to get off to something that wasn’t so performative or obviously filtered through the male gaze. I wanted to see a real person experiencing genuine, orgasmic pleasure. A real person like…well, me. And that’s when I realized I’d never find that someone in any video unless that someone was actually me. I didn’t have the interest (or the time, let’s be real) to attempt to get myself cast in some kind of off-Broadway version of a porn shoot, but there was something instantly sexy about the idea of filming myself right there on my phone. Except. Every insecurity I’ve ever had begged me not to open my camera app. There was…

Sydney Sweeney changed my life. In 2019, I was Cosmo’s op-ed editor—a busy job unto itself. But I was also in the midst of another professional challenge: finishing my first novel, They Wish They Were Us. Around the same time, Sydney was stealing scenes in Sharp Objects and The Handmaid’s Tale—and although she was about to debut as the hungry-for-love, baddecision-prone Cassie on Euphoria and the snarky, privileged Olivia on The White Lotus, she was dreaming even bigger too. Determined to be the person in control of her career, she was plotting the launch of her own production company, through which she’d option books, adapt them for the screen, and become a Reese Witherspoon–level Hollywood boss. She was, by the way, 22. Sydney ended up reading my book—a prep school…

Marcus! Hello! Tell me what you did today before you got on this call. I like to walk my dog around the neighborhood to clear my mind and see what’s going on. I’m pretty nosy, so, you know, I like being all up in everybody’s conversations. I love gossip. Did you hear anything juicy? Not today, unfortunately. Damn! Fine, equally important: What’s your current stance on candles? I’ve never been a candle person, but I want to get into it now that I have an apartment. I don’t know what fragrance would be good. What do you think? You know, part of being a candle owner is homing in on your own scents. You have to go to a store and sniff a bunch of things. Sounds like a good…

The easiest way to shop ev-er-y-thing you see here is…right here:…

SPARKLES THAT STAY PUT Whether you’re working with rhinestones, sequins, gems, or pearls, you’ll need tweezers and a dab of lash glue to adhere them around your eyes and/or edges. Or just dot them over your still-wet nail polish before locking it all in with a top coat. Pro tip: Play up the effect by swiping some face gloss across your cheekbones, brows, and cuticles.…

Credit where it’s due: The beauty industry is next to none when it comes to hopping on the Cool New Thing bandwagon, even when that cool thing is actually…old. Mushrooms—the skin savior du jour—have been considered a powerhouse ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine for basically ever due to their antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties. And now, thanks to increasing consumer demand for natural ingredients and continued research finding that mushrooms can offer preventive and healing benefits across a wide variety of skin concerns, they’re dominating store shelves and social feeds, fighting for the coveted open spot in our multistep routines. Skeptical? Try literally any of these products, spiked with various kinds of shrooms, and you’ll get the hype. Magic indeed. 1. HYDRATING CLEANSING OIL HERO INGREDIENT: Tremella, which is rich in…

I remember being elated when I signed my first lead designer contract. It was 2011 and I was desperate to get my work out there and give building a brand my all. I was so eager, in fact, that I didn’t even hire a lawyer when bridal house JLM Couture approached me with the opportunity I’d been dreaming of my whole life: to direct my own line of wedding dresses. I read the paperwork and had reservations, but…I was getting a namesake line and I felt I shouldn’t be difficult or push back. I didn’t want there to be any chance of losing my shot. Now, of course, I understand why more experienced people don’t take a company at their word. Over the next eight years, I did live that…

Cereal Bowl Cookies MAKES 24 2 cups sweetened fruit cereal (like Fruity Pebbles)3 cups all-purpose flour¼ teaspoon salt1 tablespoon baking powder2 sticks unsalted butter, softened1½ cups granulated sugar3 large eggs1 tablespoon vanilla extract1 cup white chocolate chips2 cups oat cereal with marshmallows (like Lucky Charms) 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Line a large baking sheet with parchment paper. 2. Throw the fruit cereal into a food processor (or blender), and process until it’s ground up. Set aside. 3. In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, salt, and baking powder. 4. Using a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment or a hand mixer with regular beaters, cream the butter, sugar, and ground cereal for 3 to 5 minutes or until light and fluffy. Add the eggs and…

IF YOU’RE THE BEACH READS AND “DO NOT DISTURB” SIGN TYPE… Departing From the Midwest: You’ll be obsessed with Placencia, Belize, and its 16 miles of sandy beaches and Garifuna culture. Skip Secret Beach in favor of Placencia because, well, the secret’s out, and get your seclusion fix at Naia Resort and Spa’s private beach and wellness center. Departing From the South: Head to Panama City, Panama, for some tropical beauty at the Santa Maria Hotel & Golf Resort’s oasis pool, or bring your sexy page-turner on a day trip to the quiet white-sand beaches on the tiny island of Isla Grande for non-boring alone time. Departing From the West: You’ll love the hippie-chic vibes of Todos Santos in Baja California Sur, Mexico. Spend one day in a mud hut…

Does shopping all this suddenly seem urgent? We’ve got you.…

ARIES Oh, it’s on, Aries, and if you’re already coupled up, you’re never leaving bed. Warning to all though: Keep your eyes peeled for an unexpected ex. TAURUS Pisces season means that tons of new connections (and also ~connections~, if you know what I mean) are coming your way. Make the most of ’em. GEMINI Here it is: your opportunity to prove the “Geminis are superficial” people wrong. The planets are, at last, aligned for you to level up your relationship…or tell your crush how you really feel. CANCER Whether you’re having a vacation fling, dating someone who isn’t your usual type, or trying out a sex toy (or three), this Pisces season is all about The New. LEO So. A breakup may be coming—but honestly, Leo, it’s time. And…

Hair: Lisa-Raquel Baines at See Management. Makeup: Tatyana Makarova at Statement Artists. Manicure: Nori at See Management. Fashion assistant: Ana Tess. Set design: Carrie Ashley Hill at See Management. Model: Jolie Chang/The Identity. Casting: Noir Casting. Production: Brenda Armendariz. Location: Pier 59.…