Table of contents for Aug 2016 in Cosmopolitan UK

A few months back, in this very column, I wrote about London – a city that, over the years, has thrown countless opportunities my way. I lamented the way our capital, a place once famous for nurturing the bright, young talent of tomorrow, has now turned a cold shoulder on so many young men and women, instead setting its sights on the dull and the rich. Hundreds of you wrote in – mainly from box rooms you could barely afford. You were despondent and angry. But mainly angry. Many of you were giving up on careers you had spent years working towards because you simply couldn’t afford to live. Most of you were barely surviving. I asked one of our writers, Jennifer Savin, to see how bad things really were.…

PLANE FOR ONE PLEASE After around 10 days of dating a guy, I spontaneously booked us a trip to Budapest. I didn’t ask him, I just texted to say I needed his passport number. I thought I was being cool. He told me I was crazy and ended it. PENNY, 21, POET, RUGBY PEEP SHOW I bought a playsuit from a charity shop, but failed to spot the massive hole on one bum cheek. Still unaware, a few weeks later I wore it on holiday without any pants. Yes, everyone got to see a lot more of me than intended. LOUISE, 26, YOUTUBER, BOURNEMOUTH CRASHING DOWN  ONCE, IN THAILAND, I HIRED A SCOOTER THINKING THEY WERE EASY TO RIDE. BUT AS I PARKED ICRASHED INTO A STATIC VAN AND CATAPULTED…

Best ever advice “When I was 14, Nick Carter from the Backstreet Boys told me, ‘Learn from the mistakes of the people you respect the most, so you don’t make the same ones.’ I took that on.” Seeing red “I’m pretty calm, but if I’m set off I’ll get in someone’s face. [I lose my temper] if anyone messes with my friends or family. I also don’t like it when someone talks about themselves a lot – and never asks you any questions.” Internet shame “I’ve had a few interesting hairstyles that I’d like to delete from the internet. But all my mistakes have helped me grow, so I wouldn’t get rid of anything.” My perfect woman? “The biggest thing is finding someone who can travel. The most romantic gesture…

Remember your first day at school and the box-fresh squeaky shoes that made you feel like a complete dork? No one wants to relive that. Thankfully, Italian fashion brand Golden Goose has the answer: luxury pre-worn trainers. They’re not literally pre-worn, obviously – they haven’t hired a doppelgänger with your size feet and got them to pound the pavements/fields/festivals in your honour. No, these are artfully distressed trainers, with scuffs and nicks in all the right places. Which, of course, makes it appear as though you’ve been to all the right places. Footwear that saves you a trip to a sticky-floored house party this summer? We’re cool with that.…

GENTLE ANIMALICS “Animalic notes are definitely back, but you’ll see them used in a softer, gentler way,” says Gilbert. Wearing these means the closer someone gets, the sexier they’ll find you. 1 Penhaligon’s Luna EDT, £128 for 100ml As bright as a full moon, it lingers sexily thanks to a base of musk and ambergris (that’s fossilised whale vomit to you and me). 2 Juliette Has A Gun White Spirit EDP, £200 for 75ml Crisp and a little disturbing, jasmine, tuberose and synthetic ambergris make for a cocktail that’ll have you hooked. PALE PERFUMES “Transparent, clean, subtle scents are an antidote to the noise of many fragrances,” says Craven. Think vegetal notes or molecules designed to enhance, as opposed to mask, your own personal scent. 3 Calvin Klein CK2 EDT,…

St Tropez Gradual Tan Everyday Tinted Body Lotion, £15 Gives legs an instant blotch-blurring tint that has the effect of very sheer tights, and develops into a subtle lasting tan to boot. Diego Dalla Palma Calze Spray Spray On Tights, £16 This silk-infused mist settles on the skin and smooths out imperfections like a really good foundation. Why isn’t it my favourite? Because it’s only available in two fairly light shades. Shame. Kardashian Beauty Airbrush Leg Spray Sunbeam, £17.95 Less airbrushing, more spray-on tan – this gave my pasty legs an instant deep olive glow. Downside? A bit messy – be prepared to ruin a towel in pursuit of Kardashian-esque legs. This Works Perfect Legs Sculpt & Shine, £28 A flattering caramel tint with a bit of hyaluronic acid thrown…

LESLIE KNOPE, PARKS AND RECREATION “Organising my agenda. Wait, that doesn’t sound fun… jammin’ on my planner!” DAVID BRENT, THE OFFICE “You’re not looking at the whole pie, Jenny. Wernham-Hogg is one big pie. If they’ve let me be in charge of that one big pie I’ll be in charge of that pie, and the people are the fruit.” JEN BARBER, THE IT CROWD “What does IT stand for? What doesn’t it stand for?” MICHAEL SCOTT, THE OFFICE US “Well, just tell him to call me ASAP as possible.”…

‘Letting out anger in a class beats yelling at a Gocompare ad from your sofa’ Behind a black curtain in the back room of a dank pub, loud grunts can be heard. There’s a soundtrack of thrash metal, too, and every so often a united chant of “fuck!” roars out. The weekday 6pm yoga class has just kicked off. It might shake traditional yogis to their chakras, but Rage Yoga – the foul-tempered brainchild of 24-year-old Canadian yoga teacher Lindsay Istace – has struck a collective chord. Participants exhale with their favourite swearword, drink beer and end the 60-minute class with a united “fuck yeah” instead of the traditional “namaste”. The classes have proved so popular that angry Brits can now stretch and swear this side of the pond, after…

They say: Cosy. We say: You’d better be good at yoga, because this room is so small you’ll be sleeping in crow pose for the next 12 months. They say: Up-and-coming area. We say: This is code for the part of town that’s still a bit shit, but not quite as shit as it was a few years ago. They say: Period features. We say: Freezing your tits off at night, while dreaming of double glazing and fending off a small battalion of rodents. They say: Studio flat. We say: The name may have Phil Collins overtones but this is basically agent doublespeak for bedsit/ possible crime scene. They say: Three-bed property. We say: One big bedroom, one average bedroom and one absolutely beyond minuscule bedroom for…

THE BOOK: MAESTRA BY LS HILTON This year’s Fifty Shades brings sexual intrigue to the world of art fraud. At last someone has (£12.99, Zaffre Publishing). THE WEBSITE: OMGYES.COM Everything you need to know about getting yourself off, on one site. Emma Watson is a fan, and if it’s good enough for her, it’s good enough for us (£40). THE TOY: ARTEMIS According to research,* 86% of women are put off sex toys if they’re a garish colour. This sleek grey number is the Whistles’ cashmere of the sex-toy world (£40, perlesque.com). THE TRAINER: ELVIE Elvie’s Pelvic Floor Exerciser is a muscle stimulator that connects (wirelessly) to your phone. Kegels of steel await you (£149, elvie.com).…

SURF GIRL While other top models are working out with their PTs or partying with Leo DiCaprio, Hanalei Reponty is busy saving the world. She’s a Positive Vibe Warrior (that’s the name of her charity, by the way, which recycles surfboards for underprivileged kids). She was also a pro surfer and has her own surf label, Abysse, which raises environmental awareness through the Sirens For The Sea initiative. She rules the waves.…

‘I was surprised at how good his technique was’ ‘Grinding together in the middle of a club, cheesy R&B blasting from the speakers… To onlookers, we could have been any drunken pair, heading for a one-night stand after too many shots of Jäger. But this time was different – for the man I was all over was an old friend. And someone who, till that moment, I was convinced only liked men. I didn’t fancy Harry* when I met him a year earlier – of course I didn’t! He was handsome, yes, and he made me howl with laughter, but I knew he was gay, so the thought didn’t cross my mind. We did become firm friends, though – we were united over our love of an after-work drink and…

Two of our favourite things collide this month: cereal and booze. That’s because some mixologist with a PhD in mash-up (and possibly too much time on their hands) has stumbled upon the fact that alcohol + milk = an easier-than-average hangover. “Milk is high in B vitamins and calcium – nutrients that can lessen the negative effect of alcohol on the body,” says nutritionist Beau Scott. Hot new LA bar Nighthawk serves the concoctions in old-school milk bottles (Honey Nuts and bourbon, or Cocoa Puffs with brandy). Over here, the London Edition hotel infuses Havana rum and Kahlua with Coco Pops milk for its Cereal Killer cocktail (£13.50), and Aqua Shard’s Morning Glory Cup (£10.50) mixes cornflakes and almond milk with Chambord and vanilla vodka. BYOC (Bring Your Own Cornflakes):…

Get your freak on A ‘drink’ so massive you’ll need a knife and fork to eat it (and a forklift truck to get you home), Freakshakes are the way to do dessert this summer. These gargantuan concoctions involve pimping an ice-cream-milkshake base with baked goods, biscuits, sweets, booze – hey, sometimes even bacon – and are now served everywhere from Newcastle to Covent Garden. Despite containing so much sugar and fat they should come with a government health warning, 250 Freakshakes a day are being sold by Maxwell’s in London. They may look like a game of cake/ice cream Jenga, but there is a method to creating the perfect shake – see opposite for Maxwell’s formula. HACK YOUR FREAKSHAKE For the best results whip your milk for at least 5…

NATURAL BEAUTY Take a break this summer and escape to the enchanting and wild wood of John Greed’s newest jewellery collection. Featuring flora and fauna themed silver and gold jewellery, the exclusive Wildwood Collection is sure to delight and inspire. An ideal gift with prices starting from just £24.95. Shop johngreed.com. Cosmopolitan readers special offer: Use code AUGCOSMO at checkout and pay only £1 for standard delivery. Ends 31/08/2016. T&Cs apply. KC MALHAN Finished with vibrant cobalt blue and electric green shades, KC Malhan’s clutch is the perfect colourful accessory to take you through the spring parties and summer nights. The bag’s bright hues are enhanced by its intricate, embroidered sequin detail. Soft, dreamy lines create a stylish shape and an easy-to-wear piece while the unique eggshell pattern blends vintage…

If you thought your ’90s cassette-tape collection was destined to gather dust in the attic now, along with your SodaStream and Swiss exercise ball, then take heed. The tape is back. Sure, it’s tinny, it melts and you need a pencil, a steady hand and about two free hours in your day to unscramble a wrecked one, but there’s nothing as beautifully nostalgic as the comforting warble of a well-worn cassette. Kanye and Justin Bieber have just released albums in this format, although we say you can’t beat rediscovering ’80s classics like Roxette and Salt-N-Pepa on your ghetto blaster. And by the way, we’re buying drinks for anyone who still has any Salt-N-Pepa rap down, word perfect.…

Floating our boat DATE-NIGHT DRESSING Want to blow his eyeballs out of his head? Do as Alexa Chung does and buy a date-night dress. Check out Réalisation’s collection. Jenna Dewan Tatum (right) is a fan – and we wouldn’t mind her date… PATSY AND EDDIE Chuck the Bolly on ice, sweetie darling – Eddie and Patsy are back in the Ab Fab film, with more celebrity cameos than Pats has Louboutins. VIRTUAL ID A new system could make carrying ID redundant, with retailers verifying your age electronically as you pay. So not as fun as trying to doctor your Blockbuster Video card. IZZY BIZU She’s cool and effortlessly stylish, but when Izzy opens her mouth to sing… wow. Check out her new single with Honne, Someone That Loves You, out…

MEG JAY The Defining Decade: Why Your Twenties Matter And How To Make The Most Of Them Now Her TED Talk: Why 30 Is Not The New 20 Views: 8 million Who is she? A psychologist who aims to make twentysomethings grow up and get serious about their careers and relationships. Read it if: You’re 28, sleeping on your best mate’s sofa and still sending aubergine emojis to your friend with benefits. Jay has stern words for you, young lady. Her mantra: “Let’s get going. The time is now.” HYEONSEO LEE The Girl With Seven Names: Escape From North Korea Her TED Talk: My Escape From North Korea Views: 5.5 million Who is she? Growing up under the brutal regime of North Korea, Lee saw her first public…

Rainbow You don’t have to be on acid to appreciate the beauty of seven colours in one go… FYI: Not convinced rainbow hues are for you? Add rainbow-stripe stickers and charms to a monochrome look. Anya Hindmarch does the best. Tribal The tribal trend has graduated from naff Aztec and batik prints to something altogether more stylish. Sign us up… TIP: Anything goes with this eclectic look – clashing textures, woven fabrics, animal prints… oh my! Metallics Bait your inner magpie with these blinging beauties, guaranteed to brighten up even the dullest summer social occasions FYI: Play the super-match game with silver nails (we love Ciaté’s Fit For a Queen) and mirrored shades to shield your eyes from the brilliance.…

Ah summer – the smell of freshly cut grass, steak on the grill and… the unmistakable stink of fake tan. Thankfully, that’s all about to change. “Our scent receptors link directly to the part of our brains that stores memories,” says Dr Anne Churchill, a sensory scientist who has helped engineer a revolutionary new scent for St Tropez’s upgraded tanners (from £14), “so we went for notes that evoke a ‘holiday feeling’: invigorating bergamot and apple, and relaxing rose, lavender and jasmine. The scent dries with notes of cedarwood and musk to envelop the ‘biscuit’ smell.” Meanwhile, Clarins’ Self Tanning Milky-Lotion, £20, has a juicy-fig-to-sexy-musk aroma that works in the same way. We’re calling it a spray-cation.…

“My first ever lipstick was Rimmel Londons Heather Shimmer, and the new anniversary collection echoes some of my favourite London looks from the last decade and a half ” Two British beauty icons, 15 years of London looks… it’s time to celebrate one of the most successful, unrivalled partnerships in the world. Rimmel London and Kate Moss introduce a special-edition lip and nail collection in the super model’s favourite reds and nudes, both timeless classics. Rimmel London’s muse since 2001, Kate has always embodied the edgy styles and soul of the capital city; she’s the true original spokesperson for the London Look. Paying homage to Kate’s most iconic looks, the new anniversary collection celebrates the different facets of her fashion personality from red carpet idol to boho goddess. “I’ve focused…

VICTORIA BECKHAM SINGER › DESIGNER Oh boy, did she get some stick when she announced she was designing a fashion line in 2008. But she’s now making more money than she did as a Spice Girl. ALEX JAMES POP STAR › CHEESEMONGER When the Blur bassist upped sticks to live in the country he discovered cheese – in a big way. He now makes award-winning fromages. Respect. LORRAINE PASCALE MODEL › CHEF A top model who opened a cake shop, then starred in a cookery show, then sold a million cookbooks. You couldn’t make it up.…

> Having a career-obsessed mentality won’t necessarily make you the best The best professionals I know aren’t fixated on work; they’re well-rounded humans. They look at their jobs with perspective and have judgement that comes with life experience. You can’t get that if you obsess over every centimetre of your work life. Having passions outside work is key (I cook or run) and it’s something I look for when recruiting – you want the person and the professional. > Aiming high is a duty in life Ambition sometimes has bad connotations for women. Men seem to have less of a problem with saying they want to stretch themselves. If you have a talent, or you’re in a situation that not everyone else has the pleasure of enjoying, it’s your duty…

PUNK ROCK YOGA Unleash your inner Courtney Love. This is traditional yoga with a side of hardcore tunes. Mohican not required (it makes downward dog pretty tricky anyway). punkrockyoga.com, badjuju.eu FIGHT KLUB Be thrice as hard with this tough mix of boxing, kickboxing and Thai boxing, to a drum and bass soundtrack. Warning: “don’t talk about Fight Klub” jokes will get old quickly. fightklub.co.uk THE PACK Virgin Active’s latest HIIT spinning class gets very competitive – three teams pitted against one another. Screaming is good; howling at each other like dogs in the changing rooms not so. virginactive.com…

1. YOUR MATE’S HAVING A PARTY IN THEIR GARDEN TONIGHT. WHAT DO YOU WEAR? a) Doesn’t really matter. Everything goes with your Glasto wristband. b) Racer-back crop top. It really shows off your lats, traps and upper abs – and gives you scope to use all those words. A lot. c) The kaftan and camel-leather bag you just brought back from Morocco. d) Top and jeans, as always. Er… why? 2 WHAT PHOTO BEST SUMS UP YOUR SUMMER? a) The one where you can just see the outline of your wristband silhouetted against the lights of the Pyramid Stage. b) The headless selfie you took of your abs yesterday. Or the day before that. c) One from the secluded cove in Goa. Let me show you the Facebook album. d)…

Kristen Stewart “Between ages 15 and 20, it was really intense. I was constantly anxious. If I didn’t know how something was going to turn out, I would make myself ill.” Ellie Goulding “I thought I was having a heart attack. From that day, I kept having [panic attacks]. I couldn’t even get into the car and go to the studio.” Adele “I have anxiety attacks, constant panicking on stage, my heart feels like it’s going to explode because I never feel like I’m going to deliver, ever.” Emma Stone “The first time I had a panic attack I thought the house was burning down… For the next three years it just would not stop. I would go to the nurse at lunch most days and just wring my hands.”…

NEED A HOME? WE’RE ON IT… We’ve teamed up with Dot Dot Dot property guardians to offer up to 20 Cosmopolitan readers the opportunity to live in central London for a fraction of the exorbitant rents you’d usually pay. We’ll even decorate your new pad! All you have to do is have a job in London (or be on your way to one). Think you’ve got what it takes to be a Cosmopolitan property guardian? Send us an email telling us why, to housing@cosmopolitan.co.uk AND THAT’S NOT ALL… Here’s what else we’re campaigning for as part of #cosmohomemade: Getting at least 10 big businesses to sign up for employer-funded deposit loans for renters. Struggling to pull together three months’ rent in advance? Yep, we…

ST.TROPEZ SELF TAN CLASSIC BRONZING LOTION, £30 The original and most iconic St.Tropez product allows you to build a deep, long-lasting colour. And, as a lotion, it boosts hydration for up to 24 hours so your skin looks extra flawless. ST.TROPEZ SELF TAN EXPRESS BRONZING MOUSSE, £33 Control your depth of tan and reveal a light, sunkissed glow in just one hour, a medium, golden tan in two, or a deeper bronze in three. A bestseller and St.Tropez’s most advanced formula yet. ST.TROPEZ SELF TAN DARK BRONZING MOUSSE, £33 Want to go darker? This easy-to-apply mousse will take you to a deep dark bronze to suit your skintone. It’s the easiest and most natural way to amp up your colour to the max. ST.TROPEZ SELF TAN CLASSIC BRONZING MIST, £21…

If Tinder and ClassPass hooked up and spawned a new dating-app baby, it’d look something like Sweatt. After exploding onto the New York dating scene, the app designed for buff singles is now available here. Sweatt’s algorithm pairs users based on the type of exercise they enjoy, their number of weekly workouts and, yes, even their dietary choices. (So no more “Sorry I can’t do dinner, I’m paleo this month”.) And while the app’s waiting list is longer than a queue to bounce protein balls off Channing Tatum’s abs, we’re all for workout first dates (exercise boosts testosterone = increased sex drive). Well, as long as he doesn’t turn up in a unitard, that is.…

Halfway through the date he asked,“Just double-checking, you are Beth, right? No? Oh God, I’ve asked out the wrong twin…” He then asked for my sister’s number – she declined. EMILY, 26 He took me to the bar where his ex worked and spent the entire night staring at her, to see if she was watching – then did a weird OTT fake laugh whenever she was. I left after two drinks. SALLY, 31 He turned up with someone else’s lipstick smeared over his chin and tried to blame it on an “ice pop he had earlier that day”. It was December. ROSALIE, 22 I faked a bad stomach halfway through so I could leave – my date said I could fart in front of him if it would make…

...in Dubai Junior writer JENNIFER SAVIN visits the party city where women can drink for free. And, well, she did Oh hi, did someone mention free drinks? Yep – canapés too. Ladies’ nights are huge in Dubai; we kicked off ours with happy hour at 360° (5–8pm every night) for panoramic views and cheap cocktails (around £8). If you’re visiting midweek, head to Zero Gravity for a seriously decadent ladies’ night on Tuesdays. For 100 dirhams (approx £19) women get free-flowing everything until midnight – from drinks to sushi to candyfloss. Men can join in but they pay for booze and snacks, and the club stays open until 2am. Do your research (check out ladiesnightdubai.com) and in theory you could coast the entire week for ‘free.’ Amazing. So, what should…

Cat Ashton’s BURRATA AND ROASTED SQUASH SALAD If serving a salad for dinner feels like a clean-eating step too far, fear not. This Instagram-worthy dish from chef of the moment Cat Ashton – of west London’s iconic Paradise By Way Of Kensal Green restaurant – is heavy on the cheese and homemade pesto, so you can feel both virtuous and, more importantly, full. Serve as a vegetarian main dish, or on the side of some barbecued meats if feeling particularly gluttonous. SERVES 4 INGREDIENTS 100g kale, roughly chopped FOR THE PESTO 25g basil FOR THE CHILLI OIL 2 red chillies, seeded and finely chopped METHOD 1. Preheat the oven to 90°C (fan 80°C, gas ¼). Line a baking tray with parchment paper and lay the kale out evenly. Bake it…

Looking for a special outfit? Originated, designed and made in London. Making limited edition pieces from luxurious fabrics. If you’re looking for something glamorous and chic look no further! At an affordable price every girl needs at least one Ruby Violet Piece! For all orders and enquiries please email rubyviolet1@outlook.com and find us on Instagram @rubyviolet1 Brown Sugar Shop Brown Sugar Shop features a variety of all natural hand-crafted products. Our roots began with an artfully crafted body sugaring paste that leaves you silky smooth and is far healthier than shaving or waxing. Brown Sugar Shop is offering a 10% discount to Cosmo readers. Visit brownsugarshop.com and enter cosmo16. Join the women who have used Slissie to break bad habits! Slissie delivers natural and non-toxic appetite suppressing flavours that help…

Handirest The ultimate manicure cushion accessory available at www.handirest.com www.sparkleandcharm.co.uk Sterling Silver & Fashion Jewellery Boutique Save 10% using: COSMO www.purenaturalbox.com Quarterly beauty box containing organic, paraben free & luxury products. Coat Your Nails in Candy Instagram @candy.coat Use code COSMO10 www.lovecandycoat.com ALT/ACTIVE personal training Workout guides, meal planners and session plans from www.alternativelyhealthy.co.uk Glowie Discount code ‘COSMO25’ www.glowie.co.uk Instagram @glowieuk LW Tan Get 20% off with the code: COSMOLW www.laurensway.com Personalised Made to Order Phone Cases 20% off with code Cosmo20 IG: Initialdesignbykate Pluto’s Ego Promo code COSMO20 plutosego.com www.ragdolls.co.uk 20% discount with code COSMO20 Shop Spring/Summer16 now Steripod toothbrush protector From Boots and Superdrug www.steripod.co.uk #Getyourpodon Hand-Crafted Leather Handbags & Accessories www.larabdesigns.com Candid Essentials’ Advanced Hydration Cleanser Gentle and effective www.candidessentials.com Be Kinder To Your Vagina Switch to…

SLICK KNOT Difficulty rating 2/3 The hun (half-bun) had a slicked-back makeover at Chromat’s S/S 16 show, but it can be tricky to master. Remember, it’s a fine line between Kim K and a Croydon face-lift. 1 Blow-dry hair straight with a Mason Pearson brush, from £42.75, and smooth into a ponytail. Too pricey? Try the Denman Medium Natural Bristle Cushion Brush, £9.75, for an equally smooth finish. 2 Secure with a hairband and spray Oribe Foundation Mist, £21.50, around the front of your hairline. Use a brush or your hands to smooth back any baby hairs. 3 Tuck the top of your ponytail under itself and secure with grips roughly an inch from the bottom of your hairband. Leave the rest of it to hang free and secure your…

A big green friendly ghost called Slimer, the catchiest theme tune of all time and Bill Murray… Ghostbusters was one of the best things to come out of the 1980s. But we could never totally get on board with the testosterone-heavy line-up, so we’re ridiculously excited about the reboot, which casts Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, Kate McKinnon and Leslie Jones as the boiler-suited heroes. Oh, and Chris Hemsworth as their receptionist. Thank you! But it’s not the only film to have been tinkered with this summer. Independence Day: Resurgence, starring Chris’ brother Liam (as a space pilot), has also had a tweak. The Jasmine character – the stripper who got off with Will Smith – has hung up her Perspex platforms to become a respectable hospital administrator. How very PC.…

1 TO TUCK OR NOT TO TUCK Do we tuck? How much? Does our friend tuck more than us? That is ACTUALLY the question! We’re going for the half-half (leave the back out) because it looks cool and you’ve got way too many amazing things to do to waste three minutes on neat tucking. 2 CUSTOMISE IT If you’re wary of enormous puff sleeves or print mash-ups à la Gucci, there’s nothing stopping you from creating your own trophy shirt. Choose a classic white number – our favourites are Gap and H&M – and go mad with badges, brooches, ribbons and jewels. It sounds bonkers, but a diamanté stud earring can look really cool – just trust us on this one, OK? 3 HIGHLIGHT DETAILS Got a pie-crust collar but…

We need to talk about... Aftersun The last time I bought aftersun was in 1988, before I figured out that any old body cream would be better for my sun-parched skin than a blue lotion with “cooling” alcohol in it. But research proving that UV-drenched cells suffer active damage for hours after you quit the beach has inspired a wave of aftersuns worthy of investment.“DNA repair enzymes actually patch up the DNA damage wreaked by UV; they prevent ageing as well as cancer” says skin-cancer authority Dr Marko Lens. Meanwhile, the antioxidant superoxide dismutase (that’s its name, don’t wear it out) “suppresses UV activity by 52%, actively quelling damage and burns”, says Abi Cleeve of Ultrasun. Add this stuff to my Ibiza kit, pronto. CHEAP & BRILLIANT Oh, the joy…

Turns out we were on to something when we decorated our school books with hearts, butterflies and “maths sucks” in bubble writing. Two separate studies have found that doodling helps us retain important information and boosts creativity. Far from distracting your brain from that PowerPoint presentation, “doodling at work can clear your mind of clutter”, says professor of organisational psychology Cary Cooper. “This allows spectacular ideas to materialise on the page.” Try it in your next meeting. Just be sure to avoid intricate hangman games involving your boss.…

Time to give your regime a herbal reboot (no, not that kind of herb). We’re talking herb powders – the latest brain-boosters on the clean-eating scene, which are said to help dial down stress (a key factor in weight gain). Their technical name is ‘powdered adaptogens’ – that’s stuff like maca, rhodiola and ginseng – all of which have been scientifically proven to activate the body’s natural defence mechanisms against stress. They’re sold as powdered blends and are much more palatable than spirulina (universally acknowledged to taste like pond); sprinkle on muesli, stir into porridge or whizz up in a smoothie. Toast-munching colleagues may scoff at the colour, but when they see you blitz your in-tray before lunch, that smoothie won’t be the only thing turning green.…

GET YOUR KIT… ON No more boyfriend tees and bobbly old leggings. Channel your inner Bond girl and arm yourself with a gym-gear artillery you’ll be so proud to wear, you won’t want to confine it to the gym. Look for slick hi-shine leggings and racy cropped tops to show off lats, traps and abs. Where’s the nearest HIIT class? TIP Gym class in the middle of the day? Layer a sexy fitness bra under a sheer dress. Comfortable and easy to strip off for your workout.…

CORNBURY 8TH–10TH JULY, OXFORDSHIRE With comeback queens All Saints on the line-up, VIPstyle posh toilets for all (toilet paper and soap!) and everything around one stage, this intimate festival prides itself on its safe, family atmosphere. cornburyfestival.com BOOMTOWN FAIR 11TH–14TH AUGUST, HAMPSHIRE A festival that aims to build a whole city for just four days. Ambitious? Yes. Lots of fun? Totally. Plus, it has 24-hour campsite security and the White Ribbon Music Project on board – we’d move there if we could. boomtownfair.co.uk SHAMBALA 25TH–28TH AUGUST, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE This independent festival has 24-hour security areas on the campsite, a dedicated tent if you need to chat about anything and roaming ‘Tent Watch’ rangers. Oh, and cocktails in hot tubs! shambalafestival.org…

 i’m standing on a podium, my face projected on to a gigantic screen, delivering the most controversial speech of my life. At a summit in Northern Ireland in front of 600 people, including several high-profile political figures, it’s my job to urge the country to follow in the Republic of Ireland’s footsteps and legalise gay marriage. Half the room gives me a standing ovation; the other half walks out. I don’t care. My desire to fight unfairness beats any fear or trepidation and I feel triumphant. You would never guess that just an hour earlier, I was having a panic attack. ‘I’m struck by acute unease, something is very wrong’ When I tell people I suffer with anxiety, their reaction is always the same: but you’re so confident. It’s difficult…

With the first kiss of sunshine comes the desire to dust coconut-scented shimmer onto our skin and reflect the sun’s rays like a polished coin. But there’s warming up your beauty look, and there’s looking like you need a good wash. With brands launching summer collections inspired by remote islands and Caribbean sunsets, just how do you create a look that says ‘kissed by the sun’ for your particular skintone? Here’s how… You’re bronzing wrong THREE IS THE MAGIC NUMBER 1 STOP! Reaching for that way-too-dark powder… • “Achieve a healthy sun-kissed glow by going one or two shades darker than your natural skintone,” advises Rimmel London make-up artist Kirstin Piggott. As with foundation, try two or three shades at the beauty counter and check them in natural daylight. If…

‘I meant it when I said I loved him’ Nicole Stuart, 35, is a drilling engineer from Bonnybridge ‘Paul and I met at a house party when we were 17. He was meant to go on a date with my friend, but she cancelled and we got chatting. I thought he was sweet and good-looking. I bumped into him a few months later and invited him to a party I was having. We ended up kissing that night, and after a few dates we became official. There isn’t much to do where we live, so we’d just go to each other’s houses or try to get into the local pub. After a year together, we were both offered places at universities in Edinburgh. It wasn’t a joint decision, just a…

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1 Preparation From past experience, the Festivalgoer knows that she will have little opportunity for beautification. Nevertheless, she will spend the weeks prior to the festival watching plait tutorials online and trying to harness Kendall Jenner’s most recent Coachella look. 2 Attire The Festivalgoer will wear something she would never normally wear. This may include crochet, fringing, a fake-flower crown, fedora hat, suede or stonewashed denim. (Or, disastrously, all of them at once.) 3 Mistake The Festivalgoer understands that Portaloos and playsuits do not mix. On no account will this stop her from wearing a playsuit. Cue every toilet trip spent shivering, naked and trying not to drop said garment on a floor so filthy it doesn’t bear thinking about. 4 Packing The Festivalgoer will stuff lots of mini toiletries…