Table of contents for May 2015 in Marie Claire

1 RIDE ALONG Make the morning commute more bearable by bypassing some of the traffic on two wheels— National Bike to Work Day is May 15. Just beware helmet hair. 2 BIG EYES Fashion fanatics, rejoice: Iris Apfel (above), the whimsical 93-year-old bespectacled style icon, is the subject of Iris, a documentary by late filmmaker Albert Maysles, opening this month. 3. PARTY CITY This year’s New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival (April 24 to May 3) has two things we love: John Legend’s swoon-inducing sound and beignets all day. 4. BIKINI BABE Hit the beach looking like a Mad Men extra with Rebecca Taylor’s ’70sinspired swimwear—the capsule collection, a collaboration with Giejo, hits stores this spring. (Bikini top, $125, bottoms, $104, Rebecca Taylor x Giejo; rebeccataylor.com) 5. A DIFFERENT WORLD…

IN OUR INBOX MARGOT’S MOMENT Margot Robbie is my new girl crush, so I loved seeing her on the cover [“Mad About Margot”]! She is crazy-talented and has this Old Hollywood glamour about her. It’s great to see her get the fame she deserves and still remain so poised and elegant. She truly is remarkable. —Tiffany Baxi, Troy, MI Wherever you’re talking about MC—Twitter, Facebook, blogs, snail mail, or e-mail—we’re listening. Here’s how you responded to our March 2015 issue … TECH SUPPORT I love your features on women in the world. The tech story in the latest issue has been my favorite by far [“Tech Influencers”]! I love knowing there are women out there I can look up to who haven’t necessarily made headlines. —Jesi Stuvek, Lynnwood, WA CONSCIOUS…

“PEOPLE ASK ME SOMETIMES, ‘WHEN WILL THERE BE ENOUGH WOMEN ON THE COURT?’ AND MY ANSWER IS: WHEN THERE ARE NINE.” —SUPREME COURT JUSTICE RUTH BADER GINSBURG, PBS NewsHour “EVERY DAY, YOUR SMALL ACTIONS MEAN SOMETHING.” —AMY POEHLER, speaking at Harvard “There’s no one particular way you have to be in order to stand for all of the things feminism stands for.” —KRISTEN STEWART, Wonderland magazine “I’ve never heard the phrase ‘male comedy.’ Ever.” —KRISTEN WIIG, on the way comedies starring women are framed, Sundance’s “Serious Ladies” panel “I’M VERY MUCH OF THE MIND-SET THAT I HAVE TO MAKE MY OWN OPPORTUNITIES.” —ISSA RAE, mtv.com “I LEARNED MY LESSON QUICKLY—LIKE YOU DON’T HAVE TO BE NICE TO EVERYONE WHO ASKS FOR YOUR CREDIT CARD ON THE STREETS.” —ELLIE KEMPER, on…

BREAKING PLAID The deconstructed design on this top-handled tote is not your tartan variety. JOIN THE FRAY Left loose at the ends, woven leather in a chevron motif gives a slip-on mule a tribal touch. STITCH PERFECT Leather cord details add even more texture to a suede peep-toe ankle bootie.…

PARTY LINES Q: It seems like every weekend I’m attending either a wedding shower or a baby shower. What is the appropriate attire? —Libby, Charlotte, NC Two words: Dress up. To dress down is to show disrespect for yourself, the hostess, the bride- or mother-to-be, and the other guests. While the location of the shower may inform your fashion decisions (poolside or picnic, for example), don’t compromise on dressing up. Ask yourself, “What would Jackie O or Angelina Jolie do?” Pants and a crisp top, a skirt and blazer, a cocktail dress— let your own style proclivities guide you. IN THE TRENCHES Q:I love a good trench coat for spring, but classic tan isn’t really my taste. What are some other styles that can work as a transitional, all-weather jacket?…

STARK REPORT What’s black and white and right all over? Spring’s It bag is set to stun…

New York native Elise Stefanik is a 30-year-old truck-driving, Instagram-loving D.C. badass. She’s also the youngest woman ever elected to Congress. We asked for her top tips for slaying the naysayers and becoming a political supernova 1 YOUR AGE IS A COMMODITY– SO OWN IT “I was a young candidate who does not look like a typical candidate. I realized that people would talk about that early on, so I really wrapped my arms around the youthful aspect of my candidacy. My slogan wasn’t Stefanik for Congress; it was Elise for Congress. I wanted it to be accessible, young, and energetic. Some voters didn’t even know my last name.” 2 FORGET YOUR CRITICS (There will be many) “You have to have a thick skin. Some of the comments [people make]…

MAY 4, 2010 “ate breakfast a stone’s throw away from the Dalai Lama this morning!” ... “In tears as his holiness led a temple of Tibetans in prayer for victims of the earthquake in Tibet ... one of the most intense spiritual experiences of my life ... wow.” AUGUST 10, 2010 “spent the day swimming in the Mediterranean sea and biking aLL over my new friend Tel aviv! This city has much to offer me, what do I have for it? Freedom is an ever-evolving bird with ever-expanding wings ... let’s do it.” APRIL 15, 2012 sharing a shot of a Buddhist sculpture, Mueller quoted Vietnamese Zen monk Thich Nhat Hanh: “When you understand a situation ... what you do is help without creating more suffering.” DECEMBER 22, 2012 a…

“I’ve always experimented with my voice, but I have no idea—it’s a miracle. I drink a gallon of water every day and try to get as much sleep as possible. Never skip sleep; it’s crazy-important.” Alabama Shakes’ sophomore album, Sound& Color, drops April 21. Go to marieclaire.com/alabama-shakes or download our iPad app for more conversation with Brittany Howard.…

When Hailee Steinfield, 18, walks into Olive & Thyme café in L.A.’s Toluca Lake, there’s not much to set her apart from the other mid-morning patrons. She may rock designers like Prabal Gurung and Suno on the red carpet, but today she’s dressed like your average affluent teenager: J Brand boyfriend jeans, Tory Burch lace-up combat boots, and an IRO leather moto jacket. And though she’s got beyond-her-years poise, she occasionally drops things like “Shoot!” and “Oh, snap!” in conversation. But Steinfeld’s not the average teenager. She has an Oscar nomination (for True Grit, when she was 14) and a role in, for a certain demographic, the biggest sequel of the year: this month’s Pitch Perfect 2. “Emily lives, breathes, and sleeps everything Bella,” she says about her a-capella-obsessed character,…

Kate Upton hates losing. It’s what made her a champion equestrian growing up horse-obsessed on a farm in Melbourne, Florida; what took her from preteen wannabe Miami swimsuit model to two-time Sports Illustrated cover girl; and what propelled her—with measurements more Jessica Rabbit than Kate Moss—to the heights of high fashion, appearing on the runway for Louis Vuitton and working it for photographers Steven Meisel and Bruce Weber. “Anytime there’s doubt or someone says I can’t do something, I always accomplish it,” Upton, 22, says. “Haters and doubters are very, very good motivation.” And she’s had her fair share: the Victoria’s Secret casting agent who famously called her essentially too basic to book; the hackers who last fall stole and leaked nude photos of Upton with her boyfriend (an experience…

Q: Can using vibrators “desensitize” you, making it harder to orgasm with a partner? A: No. They can cause impatience and frustration. When you use a vibrator, you teach what I call your ”little monitor“—the discrepancy-reducing feedback loop in your brain that’s aware of the effort you’ve made toward your goals—that orgasm should happen at the ”vibrator rate.“ If it doesn’t, you get impatient with your body, which triggers a brake in your brain and slows you down. Vibrators are awesome; you just have to be aware. Q: Is a vaginal orgasm ”better“ than a clitoral one? A: There is only one thing: orgasm. What matters is that you wanted it, not how you got there. Clitoral stimulation is the most common way. You can orgasm through anal or breast…

I FAKED AN ORGASM a couple of times with my first boyfriend, in high school. I’d had enough, but I was afraid to say so. I just wrapped it up with a few moans and gasps, some overly excited body language, and a languid smile afterward. He never seemed to know the difference—but I felt empty. Pretending was the same as lying, so after that, I committed to never fake again. It takes me a long time to climax. Someone has to really know my body. I need tons of foreplay and clitoral stimulation. But if I am distracted, or tired, or any litany of issues that might get in the way of climaxing—that’s OK. I need a partner who understands that sex is not just about mutual orgasms. It’s…

FRONT COVER On Iggy Azalea: Top, $845, Skirt, price upon request, Dolce & Gabbana; (877) 70-DG-USA. On Felicity Jones: Crochet Dress, price upon request, Dress With Embellished Collar, $3,400, Dior; (800) 929-DIOR. Black Top, price upon request, Dior; (800) 929-DIOR for special order. Ring, $2,550, Cartier; (800) CARTIER. On Zoë Kravitz: Jacket, $4,140, Pants, $1,220, Christopher Kane at Barneys New York; (212) 826-8900. On Hailee Steinfeld (also on inside cover): Jumpsuit, price upon request, Céline at Neiman Marcus; (888) 888-4757. INSIDE COVER On Azalea: Top, $425, Michael Kors; (866) 709-KORS. On Jones: Top, $1,050, Skirt, $2,150, Miu Miu; miumiu.com. On Kravitz: Dress & Briefs, prices upon request, Balenciaga; (212) 206-0872. BEAUTY COVER On Kate Upton: Dress, $2,495, Dolce & Gabbana; (877) 70-DG-USA. Necklace, $1,600, Jennifer Meyer at Barneys New York;…

JAMES BLACK, 29 “I’m proud of my defined abs; crop tops help emphasize them.” TONI GAVOTEY, 24 “Most people have a pair, but I love my single dimple!” MELISSA EVE CHIN, 22 “Thanks to my mom, I’ve been lucky to inherit full lips.” NATASHA LEE, 24 “I embrace the gap between my teeth. It gives me personality and charm.” “MY SHORT PIXIE CUT WORKS WELL WITH MY CHISELED JAWLINE.” GUEST EDITOR KACI FENNELL, 22 Who better to give us her hometown highlights than the reigning Miss Universe Jamaica (and this year’s fourth runner-up Miss Universe)? Hotel haven: If you’re looking to relax, head to the Blue Mountains outside the capital. Strawberry Hill (strawberryhillhotel.com), a peaceful retreat with awesome city views, was once frequented by the likes of Bob Marley and the Rolling Stones,…

THE AFRO PROVENANCE: USA This natural look took off in America during the Black is Beautiful movement of the 1960s FRENCH TWIST PROVENANCE: FRANCE Gallic girls (and French hairstylists working in the States) helped popularize this chic style, which is actually called the chignon banane (banana bun) in its birthplace. HAIR JEWELS PROVENANCE: INDIA Brides in India have worn hair jewelry such as maang tikka (the head chains and pendants shown here) since at least the 15th century. “HEIDI” BRAIDS PROVENANCE: GERMANY We may associate a well-known Alpine heroine with pinned-up plaits, but the look began in the 1500s, when German women wore fake braids called zöpfe. TOP KNOT PROVENANCE: JAPAN Almost every culture has its own version of the hair knot, but the intricate shimada worn by Japanese geishas is…

ON A RAINY EVENING last November, a small crowd of hand-selected guests from all over the world—Texas to the Middle East—flew in to New York City, braved the chilly drizzle, slipped into taxis, and made their way to swank restaurant Betony, where a private event promised to serve their particular common interest. Candles flickered in the darkness as their heels clicked down the stairs to a hidden room below the dining area. As they descended, they could see the objects of their desire gleaming ahead, isolated on pedestals of wood and glass, each accompanied by a beautiful, polished young woman ready to recite each object’s history like a museum docent. These pieces were extremely rare, priced in the five figures, and never before viewed in the U.S. Some had been…

BONUS: THIS MONTH, MARIE CLAIRE READERS CAN GO TO YSLBEAUTYUS.COM/MARIECLAIRE TO SCORE AN EXCLUSIVE FREE “DOSE” OF BLACK OPIUM.…

DIONNE POOL BEAUTY DIRECTOR, Marie Claire NETHERLANDS KELLY FUNG FASHION & BEAUTY EDITOR, Marie Claire SOUTH AFRICA SUSANA BLÁZQUEZ BEAUTY DIRECTOR, Marie Claire SPAIN JIA LING BEAUTY DIRECTOR, Marie Claire CHINA…

PHOTOGRAPHER DAN MARTENSEN @danmartensen (Instagram) “Once you spend a few minutes with any of them, you understand why you’ve been asked to put them on the cover of a magazine,” says Martensen, who shot May’s Fresh Faces cover stars (“Brave New Girls,” p. 144). “I wanted the photos to feel easy and cool—to connect the girls with the reader without too many bells and whistles. It’s always nice to feel like you’ve met the person you’re looking at in a magazine, right?” Secretly obsessed with: Real estate. Style icon: “My wife!” CONTRIBUTING EDITOR ALEXANDRA ROBBINS @AlexndraRobbins “There’s so much the public doesn’t know about nurses, who are egregiously underappreciated,” says Robbins. The D.C.-based writer used her new book, The Nurses: A Year of Secrets, Drama, and Miracles with the Heroes…

“WHERE DO YOU buy your gold?” When eco-activist Livia Firth (wife of actor Colin Firth) posed this question to Chopard copresident Caroline Scheufele in 2013, it caught her off guard. Despite having grown up with the brand (her father, a descendent of a German dynasty of watchmakers and jewelers, ran it for more than 40 years), she wondered: Was Chopard doing enough to make sure materials were ethically sourced? “The object of luxury is being able to follow how a piece was produced from A to Z,” says Scheufele. After partnering with Firth’s consultancy, Eco-Age, and the Alliance for Responsible Mining (ARM), Chopard is now pioneering the effort to put ethics at the heart of the luxury jewelry industry. Actress Marion Cotillard debuted the brand’s first Green Carpet Collection at…

WHILE MOST DESIGNERS debuted pre-fall collections in dialed-down mode behind closed doors, Max Mara ramped things up—way up. On a frigid January morning, hundreds of guests were greeted by a sprawling abstract sculpture and a runway decorated with fresh green moss delivered mere hours before. If anyone wondered what all the fuss was about, they didn’t have to wait long for the answer. As an avid supporter of the Whitney Museum of American Art and sponsor of this month’s opening party for its buzzy new Renzo Piano–designed space in NYC’s Meatpacking District, Max Mara paid homage to the institution’s history, artworks, and hip new neighborhood. “The Roxy was blocks away, where Jean-Michel Basquiat and Andy Warhol met Madonna and Debbie Harry, and that was the starting point of the collection,”…

TRUST ME WHEN I say I’ve spent countless hours scouring the racks in search of chic, well-made swimsuits that provide coverage without sacrificing style. For too long, I’ve had to settle on the ruched black one-piece. You know the one—chances are you own it, too. But these days, there’s thankfully no shortage of gorgeous (and sturdy!) options for curvy girls like us in all the vivid colors and cool prints you’ve always wondered if you could pull off. Yes, you can, so go ahead and splurge on that sexy two-piece already and rock it like the beach baby you are. Be sure to snap some selfies and tag me on Instagram @nicolettemason so I can applaud you!…

MAYA NUSSBAUM, 38 founder and executive director of Girls Write Now As the first writing and mentoring program for girls in the country, Girls Write Now pairs top women in media (think Pulitzer Prize winners) with at-risk and underserved girls from New York City’s public high schools. Mentors guide the students’ writing, encouraging them to develop their own voice. Nussbaum’s proudest accomplishment? One hundred percent of high school seniors in the program graduate and go on to college. BECKY STRAW (right), 34 & JODY LANDERS, 36 cofounders of The Adventure Project In the past four years, The Adventure Project has created 745 jobs in India, Haiti, Uganda, and Kenya in four key professions: well mechanics, health care, farming, and stove masonry. The jobs lift workers out of poverty, and the…

IN HER FIRST MONTH of serving in Congress four years ago, Jaime Herrera Beutler faced a test, one the Republican from Washington state remembers vividly. Right on the House floor, the chairman of an important committee (she won’t say who) strode toward her with a bill and a list of other freshmen who had signed on as sponsors, and said, “Here, sign this.” “I said, ‘Do you have a copy of the bill? Could I look at it?’ ” recalls the self-described conservative, who, at 36, is among some of the youngest members of Congress. “He looked at me and said, ‘I don’t have a copy. Just sign.’” Though she’d only served a month—still early enough to cement a reputation within her party that could haunt her for the duration…

TRY 75 Years of Savings GEICO has been saving people money on car insurance for more than 75 years, and we’d love to do the same for you. Get a FREE quote at geico.com, call 1-800-947-AUTO (2886) or your local office. geico.com Some discounts, coverages, payment plans and features are not available in all states or in all GEICO companies. See geico.com for more details. GEICO and Affiliates. Washington DC 20076. © 2015. The Mix is brought to you by TRY The New Pro-Look of Longwear Introducing Infallible® Pro-Last Lipcolor from L’Oréal Paris, which offers up to 24HR high-intensity color without the dry-out. Step 1: Intense color. Step 2: Conditioning balm. Available in 24 shades. Visit MarieClaire.com/Promotions to enter the L’Oréal Steal-The-Spotlight Sweeps. One lucky winner will win tickets to…

GENIUS! ONE WOMAN ONE BRILLIANT IDEA HER INSPIRATION: When San Diego native April Estrada, 27, joined an afterwork running group, she often ended up wriggling into her running gear while sitting in her car. HER BIG IDEA: To solve her problem, Estrada and Dennis Caco developed The Undress. Women in need of privacy can put on the loosefitting maxi and use its strategically placed holes and pockets to take off an outfit and replace it with another. RESULTS: A Kickstarter campaign resulted in more than 8,000 orders (the dresses sell for $89 each), and in November, theundress.com opened for business. As for Estrada, she says she can now change out of her running clothes in 90 seconds.…

THE IRANIAN GOVERNMENT is not pleased with the growing popularity of Western-style online dating. Although officially banned, about 300 “immoral” sites attract Iran’s youth who are looking for love. Now, Iran’s religious rulers are fighting back—launching a matchmaking site to help singles find government-approved “ideal spouses.” With a rising divorce rate and 55 percent of the population under age 30, the rulers hope the site will create 100,000 successful unions. Its methods are hardly romantic, however: Instead of photos or chatty details about hobbies, users must submit birth date, education, and social status information—and receive parental approval before meeting IRL. So will anyone use the unsexy site? “I imagine Iran’s youth will be skeptical of any government attempt to exert greater control over their personal lives,” says Saïd Amin, the…

1. A GOD IN RUINS By Kate Atkinson (Little, Brown and Company) If you loved Atkinson’s Life After Life, you’re in luck. If you’re one of the, say, five people who didn’t read it: You’re still in luck— Atkinson is a master at the top of her game. A quiet, moving portrait of a guy navigating life’s small pleasures and painful failures. 2. LUCKIEST GIRL ALIVE By Jessica Knoll (Simon & Schuster) When Ani FaNelli wants something, she gets it: the job, the body, the man. What starts as a Mean Girls–seeming story line transforms into something so dark, so plot-twistingly intense that … well, actually, no spoilers here. 3. THE GUILD OF SAINT COOPER By Shya Scanlon (Dzanc Books) The world is turned upside down, and a sort-of writer must rewrite history.…

1. THE AGE OF ADALINE So what’s it about? Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) stops aging after a freak accident. Wait, what? And she falls for a guy, only to find out his dad (Harrison Ford) is the man she ran away from more than 40 years ago. Let that sink in. Feast your eyes: Magical realism! Romance! Vintage clothes! 2. FAR FROM THE MADDING CROWD So what’s it about? A young woman (Carey Mulligan) in Victorian England turns down suitors, opting to run a farm instead. Girls rule! But she does get seduced by a slick soldier. Brain vacay: It’s so gorgeously shot and so sexually charged, you’ll forget all about the popcorn. 3. SHE’S FUNNY THAT WAY So what’s it about? A theater director (Owen Wilson) helps an actress/prostitute…

“I’ve been trying the art of dressing up sweatpants,” says Zoë Kravitz, sitting in her Brooklyn apartment, with her cat, Xuxa, meowing in the background. “I feel like an NYU student. Not in a good way. But if you wear them with, like, a chunky boot, it’s kind of cool.” “I was a very theatrical, dramatic child. So it was like, That’s happening. It was just a matter of when. My parents wanted me to have a childhood. They were like, ‘Take your time.’ ” If anyone can make that combo work, it’s Kravitz, whose devil-may-care style includes a septum ring, finger tats, and every hat under the sun. It doesn’t hurt that her rock-star dad, Lenny Kravitz, hands down his old Dogtown Z-Boys T-shirts, or that her actress mom,…

THEY CAN HELP YOUR SEX LIFE NOW WHO: Cindy Meston, Ph.D. WHAT: Director of the Sexual Psychophysiology Laboratory, University of Texas at Austin HER BIG QUESTION: WHAT ENHANCES OR INHIBITS SEXUAL FUNCTION IN WOMEN? WHAT SHE’S FOUND: When the sympathetic nervous system (responsible for the fight-or-flight response) is activated, sexual arousal increases by about 150 percent in women. When your adrenaline gets going, you’re more likely to be turned on. WHAT IT MEANS FOR YOU: “Traditionally, women have been told to relax before sex—take a bubble bath or listen to calming music. My research suggests the opposite. Before sex, women should do something active, like go for a run. This will help their bodies respond more quickly and intensely, which will also facilitate orgasm.” WHO: Beverly Whipple, Ph.D. WHAT: Professor emerita at…

TAURUS (APRIL 20–MAY 20) THE MOOD: Driven Nothing can stop you. That’s almost always the case for those born under your sign; this month, you might feel like you’ve got supernatural power on your side. You’ll discover that what at first seems self-serving actually supports everyone else. POWER DAY: May 16 GEMINI (MAY 21–JUNE 20) THE MOOD: RESOLUTE THE MORE perplexing a situation appears, the more fun you can have and the more useful it will be. Your charm will be at an alltime high. Employ it, and your sparkling sense of humor, freely. POWER DAY: May 19 CANCER (JUNE 21–JULY 22) THE MOOD: Explorative You take initiative any day of the year, though now you get to immerse yourself in some intriguing mysteries that require a thirst for adventure and the unknown. Knowing that…

MC’S MOST WANTED Our strands are finally smooth and frizz-free now that we’re using this oil extracted from the seeds of marula trees growing on uncultivated savannas in Northern Namibia, Swaziland, and Madagascar. Yes, it takes oil harvested in the wild to make our hair tame. The irony is not lost on us. DOPE KIT Travel expert Tumi teams up with Berlin-based cosmetics brand Uslu Airlines (it’s a beauty company, not an airline) on a toiletry bag that packs enough compartments to keep even the most persnickety globe-trotter satisfied. IN A CLUTCH THIS HANDMADE CASE HOLDS KAHINA GIVING BEAUTY’S CULT-FAVORITE OIL AND BALM, BOTH MADE WITH PURE ARGAN PROCESSED BY THE BERBER WOMEN OF MOROCCO. K-BEAUTÉ If the beauty world were high school, South Korea would be valedictorian and France…

FAMILY ORIGINS OF U.S. HISPANICS Mexican 64% Puerto Rican 9.4% Salvadoran 3.8% Cuban 3.7% Dominican 3.1% Guatemalan 2.3% Colombian 1.9% Other 11.8% THE MOGUL SALMA HAYEK Mexican actress, director, producer, and entrepreneur Salma Hayek, 48, produced the upcoming animated film The Prophet and is the founder of Nuance Salma Hayek WHEN I WAS a little girl, kids used to pick on me because I was short, skinny, and really dark from always being in the sun. Later, when I got my curves, I was self-conscious. But on a trip to Europe one summer, I became aware of the power of the color and the curves. I still didn’t think I was beautiful, but when I went to college, the guys liked my personality, which started giving me confidence. Eventually, after I became an actress in Mexico, I moved…

JEOUNGEUN MOON Seoul, South Korea Occupation: Communications assistant Age: 27 Annual income: $27,000 Annual skincare budget: $6,000 on dermatologist appointments; $3,100 on products FACE PHILOSOPHY: “For Korean women, the more products, the better. We want our skin to look dewy and illuminated.” MY ONE THING: “My biggest problem is dark circles, so I can’t live without my eye products.” ON MY SHELF: 1. Chantecaille Gold Energizing Eye Recovery Masks, $195 for eight. 2. Origins Make A Difference Night Repair Cream, $41. 3. Bobbi Brown Extra Repair Moisturizing Balm, $95. “Moisturizing balm is very trendy here. This enriching formula makes a nice base for layering on the other products.” MARGAUX AVRIL Paris, France Occupation: Singer and photographer Age: 23 Annual income: $28,000 Annual skincare budget: $961 on facials and dermatologist appointments; $557 on products FACE PHILOSOPHY: “Skincare…

If a product were called the “Best in America,” you’d probably give it a try. But “Best in the World” sounds a whole lot better, n’est-ce pas? That’s the idea behind Marie Claire’s 29th annual Prix d’Excellence de la Beauté, which relies on the votes of an international jury of beauty journalists to choose its winners. Among the hundreds of cosmetic products launched last year, our panel found seven worthy of a Prix. From a bronzer that can be mixed with any cream and a serum that reinforces skin’s immunity, to a thickening haircare line and an ultra-black, ultra-voluminous mascara, this year’s winners represent innovation, a hallmark of Prix. And to top off this outstanding list, a special jury award goes to makeup artist François Nars, whose NARS line celebrated…

The Festival: CANNES, FRANCE The Look: CLASSIC GLAMOUR HOW TO GET IT: “When I’m doing makeup for Cannes, I always reference old films or iconic celebrities and then modernize the looks,” says L’Oréal Paris makeup expert Karim Rahman. Case in point: a black cat-eye liner (keep the tail short so it looks current) that channels Brigitte Bardot’s sex-kitten vibe. The Festival: DUBAI, UAE The Look: SLEEK & SOPHISTICATED HOW TO GET IT: In a cosmopolitan oasis where you might rub elbows with a crown prince, your hair needs to be as polished as your manners. After straightening strands, Dubai hairstylist Nagham Salim recommends applying an anti-humidity hairspray to prevent flyaways. The Festival: TRIBECA, USA The Look: DOWNTOWN EDGE HOW TO GET IT: It takes a bold look to stand out on the streets of…

Welcome to our Global Beauty Issue, an annual celebration of beauty customs, rituals, and dream products from around the world—which also happens to have the longest cover (36 inches) ever produced in magazine history! I hope you enjoy getting to know this year’s Fresh Faces— Iggy Azalea, Zoë Kravitz, Hailee Steinfeld, Felicity Jones, and Kate Upton—as much as we did. Each one is a revelation in her own way. Iggy moved from Australia to Miami on her own at 16. Actress/musician Zoë may soon become a triple threat, now that she’s writing screenplays. Hailee recorded her first song at 13, which should come in handy for this month’s Pitch Perfect 2. Thank God Felicity picked acting over law, and Kate, an accomplished equestrienne, isn’t just competitive in horseback riding, but…

NINA’S NOTES: From dramatic runway presentations to colorful street-style crowds, fashion is nothing if not a spectacle. But while pre-fall collections arrive with less fanfare than the big spring, fall, and couture shows, they’re just as important. They hint at what designers have coming in September, spend a lot of time on store racks, and—best of all—are extremely wearable. Pieces are subtle instead of flashy (no nipple-baring dresses and impossibly high heels here!), making it a great time to buy wardrobe staples you’ll wear forever. I’m coveting this season’s shearlings and check prints in particular. Which looks will earn a spot in your closet? Tell me @ninagarcia.…

JEWELER LOUIS CARTIER (grandson of founder Louis-François Cartier) knew how to handle a curveball. In the late 1930s, when platinum became restricted for jewelry use to produce munitions for World War II, rather than bemoaning the often-used material’s loss, he simply switched to gold. And when an aviator friend griped about how difficult it was to check the time while flying, Cartier strapped a small clock to his wrist so he wouldn’t have to fish for his pocket watch midair. No doubt then he would appreciate Clé de Cartier, the house’s new watch inspired by the perfect curves of a circle. Unlike iconic predecessors like the rectangular-shaped Tank watch, the Clé gets rid of sharp edges entirely: The bezel is rounded, the lugs are tapered, and the case (available in…

OPPORTUNITIES FOR BOLD, buzzy roles in television comedies do not come around often, particularly not to ’90s-era sitcom stars on the wrong side of 50. And yet here she is, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, at 54, nearly two decades after leaving her iconic role on Seinfeld, starring in HBO’s acclaimed Veep. Both shows are known for their insider-y takes on elite East Coast subcultures: the first, renowned for its distinct New York sensibility and spot-on examination of social norms (“Yada, yada, yada”), and the latter acclaimed for its cynically astute take on the D.C. political scene (“I’ve met some people, real people, and I gotta tell you, a lot of them are fucking idiots”). Both shows also feature shrewd, darkly funny portrayals of complex, frustrated, and opinionated women who, really, if we…

THE NEWS JUNKIE As an entertainment producer for ABC News, Joi-Marie McKenzie, 29, books and interviews celebrities for the network’s digital and radio divisions. She’s also the creator of The Fab Empire, a blog that covers African-American nightlife and society in Washington, D.C. “I’m based in New York for work but in D.C. every couple weeks,” she says. “I’m always between two cities. Necessary Indulgances At-home workout When I need to get in shape, I do YouTube video workouts for abs in my living room three times a week; I see results in a month! Sugar rush I love Pepsi. It has to be in a can, and I drink it from a straw so it’s more potent and fizzy. My Routine a.m. 6 a.m. I’m not a morning person,…

7 A.M. Right when I wake up, I read THESKIMM in bed to get my daily news scoop in one e-mail. 8 A.M. Full disclosure: I don’t have a TV, but as a supportive twin, I religiously watch the TODAY show online whenever my sister [Jenna Bush Hager] is hosting. 8:30 A.M. On my subway ride to work, I listen to THE ECONOMIST podcast to understand the world (and get a bit smarter). 12 P.M. I read the HARVARD BUSINESS REVIEW for tips on creating a strong organizational culture as a young manager 1 P.M. I read the AFRICA IS A COUNTRY blog for its smart, funny dialogue that challenges the status quo. 6 P.M. I listen to RADIOLAB on my way home for stories ranging from dolphinhuman love to…

START ’EM YOUNG We always went bowling as a family; that’s why it’s my favorite. With the bumpers, of course! My older brother was always the best—he’s very athletic. My younger brother wasn’t the greatest, so I was right there in the middle. I was good sometimes. EASY RIDER I won’t go unless it’s Black-Light Night at the bowling alley: disco lights and colors. That really gets me in the mood … to bowl. BOWLING ALIAS? M. Train. BALL BUSTER I have grandma hands. So I always go for the light balls because they’re easier to hold. Color is crucial, too. I like neon colors, pink or green. Those are my winning balls. LIPS ARE MOVIN’ I trash talk. Like, “Better prepare yourself; I’m about to destroy you.” PERSONAL TRAINOR…

Whatever … Love Is Love (Dey Street Books) isn’t your typical celebrity memoir: “It’s the total opposite of that!” says Maria Bello. Instead, each chapter, through charming candor and humor, challenges a series of “labels” (see: “Am I a Bad Girl?”) that represent impossible standards to which we hold ourselves (“good girls” don’t make mistakes like, say, having an affair). “People are looking to these tiny boxes to put themselves in, to make sense of who they are,” Bello explains. “You should only have labels that empower you.” Like: “whatever.” It’s the same label she gave herself in a 2013 New York Times essay in which she “came out” as a modern family after falling for her best friend, Clare. “A ‘whatever’ is no label,” she says. Through her questions,…

The Live Wire IGGY AZALEA AGE: 24 PROVENANCE: Mullumbimby, Australia CURRENT RESIDENCE: L.A. BREAKOUT MOMENT: When the music videos for her 2011 singles “Pu$$y” and “My World” went viral. UP NEXT: Her Great Escape Tour kicks off on September 18. CONFESSION: “I can get vocal training as much as I want, but I will never be able to sing.” Rapper Iggy Azalea loves to call things ridiculous—her ambitions, taste, boyfriend, and wardrobe, which swings from Grace Kelly glamour to Harajuku wacky. Ridiculous also happens to describe the year she’s had. There’s the good: a supernova shot to the top of the pop charts; four Grammy nominations for her debut studio album, last spring’s The New Classic; a number-one single with the Charli XCX collaboration “Fancy”; and hordes of fans who call…

Felicity Jones, the Oxford-educated, Oscarnominated British actress who blew critics away in last fall’s The Theory of Everything, has a stupid human trick: Inspector Gadget arms. She sets down a cup of English breakfast tea and extends a pair of unusually long limbs to prove it. “I’m 5'3½",” she bemoans. “I need these arms!” Dressed in a Ralph Lauren mariner sweater, slim black Paule Ka trousers, and Dior embroidered pumps, the delicate-featured 31-year-old could pass for Godard muse Anna Karina, but her warmth and quirk bring to mind a different Anna: the visa-challenged, impulsive 20-something she played in Drake Doremus’ 2011 romance, Like Crazy. Jones won a Special Jury Prize at Sundance for that role, but it was her powerful portrayal of theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking’s first wife and longtime…

TO FAKE OR NOT TO FAKE YEARS AGO, I dated a guy who turned me on completely. Orgasms, however, were another story. An hour would pass and we’d both be exhausted. And that’s when I started to fake it. Orgasms with a partner take time, patience, and valiant effort. I genuinely come about one-third of the time. Most guys I’ve been with—from one-off Tinder flings to serious boyfriends—will pull out all the tricks in their arsenal, but they ultimately seem freaked out when it takes longer than expected. I get bored; I worry that they’re getting bored; the moment is lost. "I ORGASM ABOUT ONE-THIRD OF THE TIME." But they’re trying so hard that I feel I owe them a performance. (And sometimes they won’t stop, or feel like they…

Thousands of OneTaste adherents practice orgasmic meditation, in which a woman lies down while her partner strokes her clitoris for 15 minutes. The sole goal, says Daedone, is for the strokee “to feel.” MARIE CLAIRE: Why is the point of orgasmic meditation just “to feel”? NICOLE DAEDONE: I teach mindfulness, the ability to maintain attention in the present moment. You focus on the touch and where you feel it, so the whole experience is pleasurable, whether or not you climax. If you stay present with the most intense sensations, you can experience that level of connection elsewhere. MC: What orgasm complaints do you hear from women? ND: Number one is, “I can’t get out of my head.” People feel trapped in their minds and unable to access their bodies. You’re…

MY FASCINATION with kajal, as it's known in the Middle East, began long ago when I found myself visiting a modest Bedouin hut in the-middle-of-nowhere, Egypt (as one does). A hijab-clad woman showed me her personal stash, meticulously crafted by soaking plant gum in olive oil and then burning it. The resulting soot helps protect eyes from the sun and raw desert wind—and also happens to look quite fetching! Finding eye-liners in the U.S. that are as carbon-black as true kajal used to be tough, but a new generation of products comes in not just that dark ebony, but all sorts of gorgeous shades, from emerald to plum. Eat your heart out, Cleopatra.…

BERGAMOT MAY WELL be the world’s original “designer fruit”: It’s thought that Arabs first cultivated the chartreuse-colored blend of bitter orange and lemon that’s almost too tart to eat—but pretty to look at and pleasant to smell. In the 1700s, bergamot landed in the southern Italian region of Calabria, now known far and wide for growing it. The fruit’s scent is somehow bold yet subtle, both faintly sweet and strikingly crisp, a perfect juicy medley so sophisticated that it has become a perfume world MVP and one of the most common notes in both men’s and women’s fragrances. “It is very special,” says Laurent Bert, global sales director of the Capua company, a leading producer of the fruit. “When you analyze the oil, you find molecules that you don’t find…

FOR YEARS, women lucky enough to travel through South Korea were rewarded with a seemingly endless bounty of amazing, technologically advanced skincare. There, everything from the basics (face wash, moisturizers, eye creams) to the super-specific problem solvers South Koreans are known for (lip masks, blackhead dissolvers, wrinkle rollerballs) makes complexions clear, eventoned, and as soft as baby skin. And while big-name luxury South Korean skincare (like Sulwhasoo and Amorepacific) has been stateside for more than a decade, it’s the affordable-yet-übereffective indie brands that Americans haven’t had access to without a plane ticket. Even with U.S.-based online shops like peachandlily.com and Memebox, those in the know understood there was more—so much more—still in South Korea. But all that has recently changed, and South Korean beauty products are poised to take over…

all about edie There’s no doubt the gorgeous, London-based It model Edie Campbell, 24, radiates cool—which makes her the ideal muse for Yves Saint Laurent’s Black Opium, the iconic Opium fragrance’s insouciant, urban little sister. Backed by a French heritage, Campbell’s British street cred, and a campaign shot in cosmopolitan Shanghai, the updated scent—which features notes of jasmine, patchouli, and coffee—is fully global in nature. “She’s a jet-setter, she’s quite clever, independent, and she does what she wants,” says Campbell of the scent’s spirit and ideal wearer. “Whereas the original Opium may have been kind of languorous and passive, there’s more ambition and go-getting to Black Opium, a shamelessness almost.” An accomplished equestrian and Courtauld Institute of Art graduate (with honors, natch), Campbell is part of the new school of…

SALLY HANSEN MIRACLE GEL COLOR AND TOP COAT We’re still not sure how they did it, but kudos to the scientists at Sally Hansen for this unbelievable duo: Two coats of the color (which, miraculously, dries much faster than regular polish) and a layer of the special topcoat leaves nails with a shiny gel-like manicure that lasts up to 14 days and doesn’t require a special lamp to cure. SALLY HANSEN Miracle Gel Color and Top Coat (not shown), $10 each. REVLON COLORBURST MATTE BALM Matte and balm seem to be at odds with each other, yet these adorable crayons manage to be both. The color slips onto lips with a trio of hydrating shea, mango, and coconut butters, and the velvety, supersaturated hues stay put for hours. REVLON ColorBurst…