Healthy lifestyle
A healthy lifestyle is one which helps to keep and improve people's health and well-being.Many governments and non-governmental organizations have made big efforts in healthy lifestyle and health promotion.
Mental Health
Mental health can be considered a very important factor of physical health for the effects it produces on bodily functions. This type of health concerns emotional and cognitive well-being or an absence of mental disorder.
Public health
Public health can be defined in a variety of ways. It can be presented as "the study of the physical, psychosocial and socio-cultural determinants of population health and actions to improve the health of the population.
Reproductive Health
For the UN, reproductive health is a right, like other human rights. This recent concept evokes the good transmission of the genetic heritage from one generation to the next.
Health
Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.
samedi 6 mai 2017
What a Month of Superitchy, Horrible Skin Taught Me
The following post originally appeared on Medium.
Imagine being addicted to something and not even knowing it. That's what happened to me. And it's not even a somewhat glamorous addiction. I'm addicted to cream. Not whipped cream - the cream that you put on your skin. A steroid cream. Probably the lamest form of drug you can be addicted to.
When I was around 5, I was diagnosed with eczema - a skin condition where you get dry, itchy red patches on your body. It appeared on my hands, arms, back and legs.
The doctor said eczema was genetic and that they didn't really know why people got it. I was told that it was incurable. I would have eczema for the rest of my life. So they prescribed steroid cream as the solution.
Oh yes, the cream worked - I'd put it on and the eczema would go away. But it would always come back. And when it did, I'd just put on more cream. But the eczema would come back. Cream. Eczema. Cream. More Eczema. More Cream. Etc. This cycle went on for 16 more lovely years until one month ago, when I decided to stop using all steroid creams.
What made me decide to do this? Well, a couple months ago I was reading The Art of Seeing by Aldous Huxley. Huxley used unconventional methods to heal his eyesight. There was a quote about eyeglasses that stuck in my head:
"Suppose that crippled eyes could be transformed into crippled legs. What a heart-rending parade we would witness on a busy street! Nearly every other person would go limping by. Many would be on crutches and some on wheel chairs." - Matthew Luckiesh
True. Lots of people wear glasses. Lots of people with eczema use steroid cream. But not a lot of people walk around on crutches and never fix their broken leg. And that's when it occurred to me: my skin was broken, and the cream was a crutch! Why should I keep using the crutch when I could just heal my skin for good?
As I typed "how to heal eczema" into Google, I realized that I'd never actually done my own research before. I'd put 100 percent of my faith into what the doctor told me, and took her word as truth. (I don't think she had any evil intent. I think she was just doing what she thought was right - without realizing the damage.) Now I am not a doctor, and I'm not saying not to trust doctors, I just wish I had done my own research earlier.
I found something called topical steroid addiction. This is what I know so far - the steroids suppress your adrenal glands and make them lazy. The adrenal gland is responsible for producing cortisol, your body's natural anti-inflammatory. But when you start using steroid creams (cortisol creams), the glands stop doing their job because the steroids are doing it for them! Your body starts relying on the cream, and when you stop using it, the adrenal gland realizes it hasn't made cortisol for years . . . so your body cries out for the cream. It's explained very well in this video.
I found hundreds of stories of people just like me, who were using steroid cream for a long time . . . but no one was ever cured by it. In fact, it only made the eczema get worse and worse. People would get prescribed stronger and stronger steroids, and when it didn't help, some people even started taking oral steroids. But as I read these stories of people quitting the cream, I felt quite hopeful. I saw pictures of people fully healed and never having to use a drop of cream again.
At the same time, the journey to get there looked absolutely terrifying. Red, peeling, burning faces. People taking time off work and school. Being bedridden for months. Going through withdrawal took most people around 6-12 months. Some, even years.
Even though it looked scary, I knew I couldn't go on using the cream. I wanted to be cured, not on crutches. So I quit the cream. I went into what's called topical steroid withdrawal (TSW). And yeah, it is freaking painful; it's a total shock to your body. For the first three weeks, my arms burned bright red. They felt hot to the touch. It got so itchy I just wanted to rip my skin off. It's so depressing waking up, feeling ugly and disgusting, and seeing dead skin everywhere. I started everyday feeling like a crusty mummy coming out of the tomb after a million years. I avoided mirrors and I didn't go farther than five minutes from my house for three weeks.
I did try and go to doctors again. I told them about topical steroid withdrawal and about the red skin syndrome that follows . . . and they wrote me another prescription for steroid cream and said see you later. One doctor even told me to try oral steroids. None of the doctors would really listen.
I kept looking to the internet for answers. Since sleep was almost impossible, I started using night time as research time.
I've been hunting down every source on TSW I could find. I joined Facebook groups with people going through the same thing. Turns out there is a lot of us. Many people have similar stories, and many have it way, way worse than me. Even little babies are going through it. YEAH. BABIES. It breaks my heart to see all these people suffering, especially because this pain is preventable with just a little bit of research and caution.
What I didn't realize for so long is that eczema is only the tip of the iceberg. It's just a symptom of a much larger underlying problem.
Eczema was my body's way of firing off a warning sign saying "Something's wrong! Help!" But I just kept covering up that sign with more and more cream, because that's what I was told to do. I was just treating the symptom without curing the cause.
As it turns out, there is a huge link between your skin health and gut health.
It didn't even cross my mind that I might have issues with my digestion. But it does explain why I fart so much. So as I started to swim deeper down the iceberg, I discovered that the problem with my skin had to do with basically everything, including soaps and detergents I used, stress levels, and how much I exercised, but especially what I was eating.
Throughout this whole thing - there has been one especially inspirational dude I found named Rob Stuart. He used to have eczema too, and actually cured himself through diet and lifestyle changes. He explains how a whole food, vegan diet is the best for the body, skin, and digestion. It's not too big a transition, since I've been mostly vegetarian for about a year.
I don't believe in going too extreme any one way or another, so I took changing my diet slowly. I cut down a lot on eating meat, but I was still eating lots of cheese, eggs, and ice cream. I love ice cream. I never thought that dairy could be bad for my skin. My boyfriend is lactose intolerant and a while ago, he suggested for me to try cutting dairy out, because he used to have skin issues too when he ate dairy. This was even before I discovered steroid withdrawal and my gut issues . . . but now it all links together.
So to fix my skin and my gut, I've cut all animal products out, and trying to stay away from processed foods and refined sugars. I'm experimenting with what foods set my skin off - so far I'm not sure about nuts, tomatoes, and grapes. There are also foods high in histamines, which make you itch. There's a lot of information out there, but to really find out, I think I'm just going to have to slowly experiment on myself.
Two years ago I was the worst cook in the world. (Once I put a whole broccoli in the microwave and covered it with soy sauce for dinner.) I used to be terrified of cooking with more than two ingredients. Now I am cooking for myself almost every day, even using more than two ingredients. For anyone who's going to change their diet, I would definitely recommend an app called cronometer. It helps you make sure you're getting enough calories, proteins, & vitamins.
Even though going through steroid withdrawal is so painful and annoying, I'm glad it's happening. It's made me wake up. It got me to do research and question things, rather than believing everything I'm told. The fact that I thought eczema was incurable and genetic made me think that steroid creams were my only option. I never knew that diet had a connection with skin health. In school and on the TV, all I heard was that milk is a good source of calcium, and that it isn't a meal without meat. That meat = protein. The only source of protein. The meat and dairy industries have worked hard to get those messages in my head from a young age. They don't want people knowing the health consequences.
I didn't care what I was putting in my body. I just ate whatever, and my skin ate whatever. I didn't read labels on soaps or shampoos, or think about what the steroid creams were actually doing inside my body. I didn't think that not getting enough exercise would have an impact on my skin either. Turns out, everything is connected. The body, the mind, the environment.
The way you think about a problem affects the way you will treat it, and your surroundings change what options you think are available. When you walk into a grocery store and 60 percent of the store is dedicated to animal products, you assume it must be OK. When you go into the body care aisle or whatever and see all these products with a million chemicals in them, you assume they should be fine. Because it doesn't look like there are other options. But there are, you just have to look a bit deeper to see them. With the help of my mom I started making my own lotions, so I know exactly what is in them and can see how my skin reacts directly after.
It's been a month now, and since paying attention to what I'm putting in my body (both food and products), my skin has already improved so much. It's not perfect, I'm still eating processed foods like pasta, noodles, and soy sauce - but like I said I'm just doing the best I can for now. Amazingly, I had a full night's sleep last night. I know I'm not fully healed yet and that this is just the beginning, but at least I finally feel more in control of what goes on in my body.
All I wish is that someone had told me sooner to do my own research, rather than putting 100 percent of my trust into someone else. To look deeper and work on treating the root cause, rather than covering up the symptoms. I hope that anyone reading this who's suffering from eczema or any other skin problems will dig deeper. I know there's a lot of contradictory information out there - but when you start asking the right questions, you will find the answers.
The 3 Places Parents Should Completely Ban Cell Phones
As tempting as it may be, there are three key places where parents should put down the phones and always make it just about the family, and our friends at Common Sense Media explain why.
You're sitting down to dinner and - buzz, buzz! - your phone starts vibrating. You're driving your kid to practice and - beep, beep! - a call comes in. You're tucking your kid into bed and - squawk, squawk! - an app begs to be played. It never fails: Technology interrupts our most treasured family moments.
Sure, our devices keep us connected, informed, and engaged. But meals, bedtimes, and even time in the car are the three times when we need to just say no. Kids are beginning to complain about the amount of time parents spend on their phones. And if we don't draw the line on our own phone use, who will? Creating no-phone zones is key to taking back important family time. It also sets an important example for our kids. Here's how to carve out three important tech-free areas - and why.
The dinner table
Everything from better grades to a healthier lifestyle have been credited to eating together as a family. Phones at the table can block those benefits. Author Sherry Turkle says that even the presence of a phone on the table makes people feel less connected to each other. The solution? Have a Device Free Dinner. Once the food is ready, ask everyone to turn off their phones, silence them, or set them to "do not disturb." And if you're tired of getting no response when you ask how your kids' day was, start talking about something funny you saw on your phone, and they'll soon chime in with their own stories.
The bedroom
There's scientific proof that the blue light emitted from cell phones disrupts sleep. Poor sleep can affect school performance, weight, and well-being. Also, if kids are texting with friends until the wee hours, they're more likely to say or post something they'll regret in the light of day. Set a specific time before bed for kids to hand over their phones, and charge them in your room overnight.
The car
We're not even talking about texting and driving, because you would never, ever do that, right? Right? Phones in the car also interfere with those conversations you tend to have with your kids when you're driving them around. Maybe it's because you're not face to face, or maybe the open road makes kids open up. So store your phones in the glove compartment until your arrival. Sometimes the car is the place where the deep talks take place. And no one wants to interfere with that.
This Unexpected Nail Look Is the Manicure Trend Everyone Will Be Wearing Next Fall
Just when you thought nail art might be waning, New York Fashion Week Fall 2017 has brought it back with a vengeance. We're only halfway through Fashion Week, and already we've seen nails featuring geometric shapes, negative space, and layered colors.
Perhaps one of our favorite looks so far is the pointer finger accent nail designed by Jin Soon for Tibi. At the show, models rocked a bright color on just the pointer finger nail. To recap: the ring finger has traditionally been the accent finger of choice.
"Tibi's collection was inspired by menswear – very clean and simple with unexpected details," says Jin Soon Choi of Jin Soon. "She used a lot of 1980s pop colors in the clothing, so we used that pop color on the models' nails. We didn't want to put those pop colors on every single nail because that's too predictable, so we decided to do only one finger."
Fortunately, you don't have to be a Picasso to pull this look chic look off. To re-create, apply a clear base on all your nails. Then, on the pointer finger, choose a bright hue a la the '80s.
Models at Tibi wore one of the following shades from the Jin Soon line: Heirloom, Pop Orange, Charme, Hope, or Cool Blue ($18, jinsoon.com).
The 3 Places Parents Should Completely Ban Cell Phones
As tempting as it may be, there are three key places where parents should put down the phones and always make it just about the family, and our friends at Common Sense Media explain why.
You're sitting down to dinner and - buzz, buzz! - your phone starts vibrating. You're driving your kid to practice and - beep, beep! - a call comes in. You're tucking your kid into bed and - squawk, squawk! - an app begs to be played. It never fails: Technology interrupts our most treasured family moments.
Sure, our devices keep us connected, informed, and engaged. But meals, bedtimes, and even time in the car are the three times when we need to just say no. Kids are beginning to complain about the amount of time parents spend on their phones. And if we don't draw the line on our own phone use, who will? Creating no-phone zones is key to taking back important family time. It also sets an important example for our kids. Here's how to carve out three important tech-free areas - and why.
The dinner table
Everything from better grades to a healthier lifestyle have been credited to eating together as a family. Phones at the table can block those benefits. Author Sherry Turkle says that even the presence of a phone on the table makes people feel less connected to each other. The solution? Have a Device Free Dinner. Once the food is ready, ask everyone to turn off their phones, silence them, or set them to "do not disturb." And if you're tired of getting no response when you ask how your kids' day was, start talking about something funny you saw on your phone, and they'll soon chime in with their own stories.
The bedroom
There's scientific proof that the blue light emitted from cell phones disrupts sleep. Poor sleep can affect school performance, weight, and well-being. Also, if kids are texting with friends until the wee hours, they're more likely to say or post something they'll regret in the light of day. Set a specific time before bed for kids to hand over their phones, and charge them in your room overnight.
The car
We're not even talking about texting and driving, because you would never, ever do that, right? Right? Phones in the car also interfere with those conversations you tend to have with your kids when you're driving them around. Maybe it's because you're not face to face, or maybe the open road makes kids open up. So store your phones in the glove compartment until your arrival. Sometimes the car is the place where the deep talks take place. And no one wants to interfere with that.
Celine Dion Had Entirely Too Much Fun at Her First Met Gala
Celine Dion made her Met Gala debut in NYC on Monday night, and the singer seemed to have had the time of her life. Not only did she flash some leg while hitting the red carpet in a custom Versace dress, but she also hammed it up while posing for Vogue's Instagram art installation (did you catch that shoe phone?) and partied it up with Migos at Katy Perry's afterparty. Not a bad Monday night for 49-year-old Celine, who revealed to E! that she worried about not being let into the event. "Bring your stuff just in case they don't let you in," she said. "I would've started singing in the middle of the street [had they not let me in.]"
Celine Dion Had Entirely Too Much Fun at Her First Met Gala
Celine Dion made her Met Gala debut in NYC on Monday night, and the singer seemed to have had the time of her life. Not only did she flash some leg while hitting the red carpet in a custom Versace dress, but she also hammed it up while posing for Vogue's Instagram art installation (did you catch that shoe phone?) and partied it up with Migos at Katy Perry's afterparty. Not a bad Monday night for 49-year-old Celine, who revealed to E! that she worried about not being let into the event. "Bring your stuff just in case they don't let you in," she said. "I would've started singing in the middle of the street [had they not let me in.]"
Take the Magical Beauty Trend to the Next Level With the Healing Power of Crystals
I am a skeptic. Chalk it up to being a native New Yorker, extremely neurotic, or a combination of the two, but my entire life, I have refused to buy into concepts that I deem "crunchy granola" or "hippie dippy." But after trying - and enjoying - acupuncture and meditation, I've become more open-minded to alternative therapies, including crystal healing.
My newfound objectivity is perfectly timed, as crystals are having a major moment in the beauty world. I'm not talking rhinestone-encrusted packaging (though I'm always on board with that). No, I'm referring to using actual stones for health and beauty purposes.
I consulted three women who have a strong passion for crystals and their healing properties: celebrity esthetician Ildi Pekar (who has dozens of different crystals adorning her NYC skin atelier), Själ founder and author of the book Elemental Energy Kristin Petrovich, and Karma Bliss founder Devi Brown, who advised me on the best ways to incorporate them into a daily routine.
From the get-go, you should know that there is no scientific explanation for how these stones work. However, Petrovich broke down the concepts of healing therapy. "We are made up of water, tissues, and minerals, our bones have a crystalline structure, and just as we have an electronic exchange with the Earth, we have an electronic exchange with crystals, gemstones, and precious minerals," she said.
"Our bones have a crystalline structure, and just as we have an electronic exchange with the Earth, we have an electronic exchange with crystals."
"They vibrate at a higher frequency, which gravitates toward the weaker cells in our body," she said. This energy is said to work with the body's energy to create a sense of balance. Whether you believe in this or not, many have said to have felt the electric charge of crystals and experienced their properties.
I'll get into types of crystals and their specific benefits later, but when it comes down to actually picking out a stone IRL, all three experts said that shopping for the correct crystal is a very personal process.
"Look for the ones which you are drawn to or resonate with," Petrovich advised. "These are usually the ones that you need the most." She mentioned that the first time she went crystal shopping, the stone she selected caused a slight tingling sensation in her arm. (She believes this isn't coincidence - it was a rose quartz, which encourages love and friendship, and she found it at a time of loneliness in her life.) Pekar agreed, saying, "I believe the crystal will choose you, not you choosing the crystal."
Brown added that you should really take your time during the crystal shopping process. "It doesn't so much matter where you go to buy them," she noted, "but it is important that you try to feel their energy or focus on what energetic properties they have that you are willing to invite into your life." She recommended closing your eyes as you roll a crystal around in your hands.
Once you've purchased it, you must clean it. This is an important step, as you want to purify your crystal of any external energies that it may have absorbed. "Depending on the type, you can soak it for several hours in a salt and spring water mixture," Brown said. Porous crystals and stones like turquoise, opal, and lapis lazuli should be cleansed with an alternative method, such as smudging with sage. Pekar also likes to leave her new crystals out in moonlight or sunlight, which charges them.
Now that you're inspired to go out and buy a crystal, you have multiple options! Petrovich recommends that New Yorkers visit Astro Gallery of Gems and Rock Star, while Brown's brand, Karma Bliss, offers jewelry and accessories that incorporate crystals. Or you can go for the most glamorous route, which is shopping for beauty products that are actually infused with crystals. Considering that crystals' powers are best felt by keeping them with you at all times, it makes sense that a moisturizer or toner would do the trick (they're on your skin all day!). Keep reading to discover which stones you should try and how you can incorporate them into your regimen.
Take the Magical Beauty Trend to the Next Level With the Healing Power of Crystals
I am a skeptic. Chalk it up to being a native New Yorker, extremely neurotic, or a combination of the two, but my entire life, I have refused to buy into concepts that I deem "crunchy granola" or "hippie dippy." But after trying - and enjoying - acupuncture and meditation, I've become more open-minded to alternative therapies, including crystal healing.
My newfound objectivity is perfectly timed, as crystals are having a major moment in the beauty world. I'm not talking rhinestone-encrusted packaging (though I'm always on board with that). No, I'm referring to using actual stones for health and beauty purposes.
I consulted three women who have a strong passion for crystals and their healing properties: celebrity esthetician Ildi Pekar (who has dozens of different crystals adorning her NYC skin atelier), Själ founder and author of the book Elemental Energy Kristin Petrovich, and Karma Bliss founder Devi Brown, who advised me on the best ways to incorporate them into a daily routine.
From the get-go, you should know that there is no scientific explanation for how these stones work. However, Petrovich broke down the concepts of healing therapy. "We are made up of water, tissues, and minerals, our bones have a crystalline structure, and just as we have an electronic exchange with the Earth, we have an electronic exchange with crystals, gemstones, and precious minerals," she said.
"Our bones have a crystalline structure, and just as we have an electronic exchange with the Earth, we have an electronic exchange with crystals."
"They vibrate at a higher frequency, which gravitates toward the weaker cells in our body," she said. This energy is said to work with the body's energy to create a sense of balance. Whether you believe in this or not, many have said to have felt the electric charge of crystals and experienced their properties.
I'll get into types of crystals and their specific benefits later, but when it comes down to actually picking out a stone IRL, all three experts said that shopping for the correct crystal is a very personal process.
"Look for the ones which you are drawn to or resonate with," Petrovich advised. "These are usually the ones that you need the most." She mentioned that the first time she went crystal shopping, the stone she selected caused a slight tingling sensation in her arm. (She believes this isn't coincidence - it was a rose quartz, which encourages love and friendship, and she found it at a time of loneliness in her life.) Pekar agreed, saying, "I believe the crystal will choose you, not you choosing the crystal."
Brown added that you should really take your time during the crystal shopping process. "It doesn't so much matter where you go to buy them," she noted, "but it is important that you try to feel their energy or focus on what energetic properties they have that you are willing to invite into your life." She recommended closing your eyes as you roll a crystal around in your hands.
Once you've purchased it, you must clean it. This is an important step, as you want to purify your crystal of any external energies that it may have absorbed. "Depending on the type, you can soak it for several hours in a salt and spring water mixture," Brown said. Porous crystals and stones like turquoise, opal, and lapis lazuli should be cleansed with an alternative method, such as smudging with sage. Pekar also likes to leave her new crystals out in moonlight or sunlight, which charges them.
Now that you're inspired to go out and buy a crystal, you have multiple options! Petrovich recommends that New Yorkers visit Astro Gallery of Gems and Rock Star, while Brown's brand, Karma Bliss, offers jewelry and accessories that incorporate crystals. Or you can go for the most glamorous route, which is shopping for beauty products that are actually infused with crystals. Considering that crystals' powers are best felt by keeping them with you at all times, it makes sense that a moisturizer or toner would do the trick (they're on your skin all day!). Keep reading to discover which stones you should try and how you can incorporate them into your regimen.
Chrissy Teigen Just Shared the First IRL Glimpse of Her Becca Palette at the Met Gala
With the launch of the Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette happening any day now, we're looking for every and any clue as to the exact debut date. While "early May" is all we know right now, we've been keeping ourselves occupied with sneak peeks at swatches. Now we're finally seeing the palette's pigmentation in real life - Chrissy herself rocked the palette to the Met Gala!
According to the brand, makeup artist Mary Phillips used the Becca palette's Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighter in Rose Gold and Beach Nectar, then layered on the Sunlit Bronzer in Malibu Soleil. "I very faintly applied for an all-over glow, and then more concentrated under the brow bone. I swiped along her cheeks by the temple and top of the cheekbone. Then, I very sparingly dusted some more along the side," Phillips divulged, adding, "sometimes your highlight needs some depth, too!"
Chrissy's luminous radiance was the perfect accent to her glamorous Marchesa gown, and seeing her rock the Becca palette only made us want it even more! Keep reading for more shots of Chrissy's glam.
Chrissy Teigen Just Shared the First IRL Glimpse of Her Becca Palette at the Met Gala
With the launch of the Becca x Chrissy Teigen Glow Face Palette happening any day now, we're looking for every and any clue as to the exact debut date. While "early May" is all we know right now, we've been keeping ourselves occupied with sneak peeks at swatches. Now we're finally seeing the palette's pigmentation in real life - Chrissy herself rocked the palette to the Met Gala!
According to the brand, makeup artist Mary Phillips used the Becca palette's Shimmering Skin Perfector Highlighter in Rose Gold and Beach Nectar, then layered on the Sunlit Bronzer in Malibu Soleil. "I very faintly applied for an all-over glow, and then more concentrated under the brow bone. I swiped along her cheeks by the temple and top of the cheekbone. Then, I very sparingly dusted some more along the side," Phillips divulged, adding, "sometimes your highlight needs some depth, too!"
Chrissy's luminous radiance was the perfect accent to her glamorous Marchesa gown, and seeing her rock the Becca palette only made us want it even more! Keep reading for more shots of Chrissy's glam.
Cara Delevingne: It's "Exhausting" to Deal With Society's Beauty Standards
ICYMI, Cara Delevingne debuted a drastic hair change on the Met Gala red carpet this year: a shaved (and silver!) head. And now that the Gala hype has settled, she's using her new 'do as a platform to address society's outdated standards for beauty.
Over the past few weeks, the model-actress has been snipping her strands little by little to prepare for her role in the upcoming film Life in a Year. But when she arrived at the Costume Institute Gala on May 1, our jaws dropped at her bald head, which she bedazzled and painted silver to match her sexy pantsuit. And damn, did she rock it!
To elaborate on her new appearance, Cara recently took to Instagram to post two powerful photos; in the first, she's all dolled up in head-to-toe silver, and in the second, she's makeup-less and wearing a sweatshirt. Though the stark contrast between the two photos is certainly noticeable, it's her captions that really speak volumes, as she perfectly sums up exactly why society's definition for beauty is so darn f*cked up.
In the first snapshot, she speaks of how empowering it is to find beauty from within, writing, "The more we embrace who we are as people and rely less on our physical attributes, the more empowered we become." She then explained how there's no singular definition for beauty, which we couldn't agree more with. "Beauty shouldn't be so easily defined. It is limitless," she wrote.
In her second post, Cara got real and opened up about how it's "exhausting to be told what beauty should look like." Again, she challenged readers to look inwardly, not outwardly, to find true beauty. "Strip away the clothes, Wipe Off the make up, cut off the hair. Remove all the material possessions. Who are we? How are we defining beauty? What do we see as beautiful?" she wrote in the photo's caption. We thought it wasn't possible to love Cara anymore than we already do, but these eloquent words of wisdom just made our obsession grow even more.
10 Signs You're Obsessed With Nordstrom Beauty, as Told in GIFs
You've signed up for the newsletters. You've set up Google alerts. And that's just the beginning. That's what happens when you discover the vast world that is Nordstrom Beauty, where exclusive (often money-saving) shades and bundles, as well as gifts with purchase, are par for the course. From skipping lunch hour to check out the latest arrivals to ditching friends to attend Nordstrom's in-store events (the tips! the samples!), read on to see just how bad you have it.
Look Back at Princess Charlotte's Cutest Pictures - So Far!
Princess Charlotte made her grand entrance on May 2, 2015, days after her reported April due date. While the wait was longer than expected, the princess more than made up for it with her first public appearance outside the Lindo Wing of London's St. Mary's Hospital. We got another glimpse at the little royal when her first portraits were released in June 2015 and again when she was baptized a month later. Last year, Prince William and Kate Middleton released photos from their ski vacation to the French Alps, as well as some precious pictures of the little tot roaming around their family home in Norfolk - and most recently, she embarked on her first royal tour. Take a look at the princess's cutest moments so far, and then be sure to check out Prince George's best pictures!
Blink and You'll Miss This Edgy Detail of Solange Knowles's Met Gala Beauty Look
Solange Knowles is no stranger to sporting head-turning Met Gala styles, but this year, you have to look very closely to see the daring detail she tried.
To go with her puffer-coat-like Thom Browne jumpsuit, celebrity makeup artist Lottie traced a graphic white liner down the side of Solange's cheek and onto her earlobe. The artist used Nars Cosmetics Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Santa Monica Blvd ($26) to create the simple but stunning look, keeping the rest of the performer's appearance minimalist.
We're fairly certain that this is the first time we've spotted the ear makeup trend IRL, and we must admit, we completely dig it. We could totally see this makeup masterpiece looking badass at a music festival in a variety of different colors, like black, cobalt blue, and orange. Keep reading to see more shots of Solange's Met Gala look.
Blink and You'll Miss This Edgy Detail of Solange Knowles's Met Gala Beauty Look
Solange Knowles is no stranger to sporting head-turning Met Gala styles, but this year, you have to look very closely to see the daring detail she tried.
To go with her puffer-coat-like Thom Browne jumpsuit, celebrity makeup artist Lottie traced a graphic white liner down the side of Solange's cheek and onto her earlobe. The artist used Nars Cosmetics Larger Than Life Eyeliner in Santa Monica Blvd ($26) to create the simple but stunning look, keeping the rest of the performer's appearance minimalist.
We're fairly certain that this is the first time we've spotted the ear makeup trend IRL, and we must admit, we completely dig it. We could totally see this makeup masterpiece looking badass at a music festival in a variety of different colors, like black, cobalt blue, and orange. Keep reading to see more shots of Solange's Met Gala look.
Look Back at Princess Charlotte's Cutest Pictures - So Far!
Princess Charlotte made her grand entrance on May 2, 2015, days after her reported April due date. While the wait was longer than expected, the princess more than made up for it with her first public appearance outside the Lindo Wing of London's St. Mary's Hospital. We got another glimpse at the little royal when her first portraits were released in June 2015 and again when she was baptized a month later. Last year, Prince William and Kate Middleton released photos from their ski vacation to the French Alps, as well as some precious pictures of the little tot roaming around their family home in Norfolk - and most recently, she embarked on her first royal tour. Take a look at the princess's cutest moments so far, and then be sure to check out Prince George's best pictures!
Zoom In on All the Gorgeous Manicures From the Met Gala
Beaded gowns, rhinestone-encrusted minaudières, baubles and bling - in our eyes, they all pale in comparison to the glittering beauty of a freshly lacquered nail. Due to all the incredible manicures, the red carpets of 2017 award season have us mesmerized. Read on to see some of the most fabulous fingers so far.
Zoom In on All the Gorgeous Manicures From the Met Gala
Beaded gowns, rhinestone-encrusted minaudières, baubles and bling - in our eyes, they all pale in comparison to the glittering beauty of a freshly lacquered nail. Due to all the incredible manicures, the red carpets of 2017 award season have us mesmerized. Read on to see some of the most fabulous fingers so far.
This Is What It's Like to Live With Birth Marks Covering Your Face and Body
"Ugh, what happened to you?" "You're not pretty like the other girls." "No one likes you. You look like you're covered in dirt." "No one is ever going to like you."
These remarks were the norm for me when I was growing up. Every comment hurt a little bit more than the last. I subconsciously hoarded them until they started to become the very things I was telling myself. I have a rare epidermal nevus condition called Phacomatosis pigmentokeratotica, which affects about 1 in 2,000 people. A nevus is the scientific term for birthmark or mole. My case is caused by a genetic mutation, although the specific gene remains unknown. It isn't something you'd see everyday, which was why I garnered this kind of attention.
I might've only been 7 or 8 years old, but I could still understand the magnitude of disgust behind every mean comment. I was constantly bullied in school by my peers. They would make fun of me for looking different. During sixth grade lunch hour, a boy threw food at me and crumpled notes with mean things written on them such as, "You're ugly." The harassment didn't stop with my classmates.
Parents of these kids would tell my mom and dad that I should have surgery to remove them, because I wasn't attractive. Adults walking past me would sneer at the sight of me and take pictures to laugh at. My sixth grade Spanish teacher even publically bullied me in front of class and said, "Why don't you go and connect the dots on your face?" You could imagine the amount of emotional trauma this caused to my self-esteem. I received positive comments here and there, but it was always the negative ones that held more weight to me.
My mom would take many measures to cover me up as best as she could to protect me from the world. I was always outfitted in turtlenecks and long pants. When it got hot, my mom would slather on foundation that was five times too light and too sheer for my skin. I was always running around so the makeup melted off anyway. It was not ideal.
I was taught was to hide and to cover my skin so people wouldn't say anything. But no matter how hard I tried, every negative comment and experience felt like the weight of the world. I hated what I looked like and soon I embodied everything that hurt. I believed that I wasn't beautiful and that I never could be. I briefly contemplated suicide around the end of middle school. If I just stopped everything, I wouldn't have to hurt anymore. I could stop my parents from tirelessly trying to find the best medical care for me, since at the time, most dermatologists didn't know what to do with my case. "Maybe I could stop my parents from having to take the emotional abuse. It would be so easy to end my emotional suffering," I thought to myself. [Editor's note: if you or a loved one feels suicidal, find help here.]
I am now 24 years old, and all I can say is that I am grateful I chose otherwise. It was a painfully slow but steady journey to attain self-acceptance. To this day, I feel like I still have a lot to work on. There are days when I'll cry, but I'm only human, and I need to allow myself to feel emotion. Regardless of those bad days, I know that I will always pick myself up and continue on with my life.
Today, I can't help but tell you how much I love my life and how much I am appreciative for my birthmarks. Not only have they given me confidence in my appearance, but they have also given me the strength and drive to pursue my dreams. I grew up with a lot of negativity, but slowly, I learned to stand up against it. I kept telling myself that they were wrong and that what they said meant nothing to me. I began to apply the mindset of "never taking no for an answer" to all aspects of my life.
Being bullied when I was young made me sensitive. I used to hate that I didn't have tough skin but now, I feel fortunate that I don't. My sensitivity allows me to be compassionate towards people who are hurting and it allows me to pick up on subtle hints that they are in pain. My birthmarks also taught me to be positive for myself and for other people around me. There is enough hate in this world and enough people telling us that we can't do something.
I didn't want to add to that, and instead, I chose to have a positive outlook on my life and to lift up the people around me. When I see the people around me reach success, it's a chain reaction for more great things to come. So I can't help but continue to be positive. I can't express the amount of emotional suffering I went through to get to the confidence level I am at now. I came up with things to remind myself when things were especially difficult, and I hope these tips empower you to believe in your worth and your beauty. You have so much to offer in this world! Without further ado:
1. You have to love you.
This was the most difficult, but most important idea to grasp in my journey to accepting myself. My family and friends were always encouraging about my appearance and say that it's what they love about me. It is what makes me different. What I came to realize was that although the support was strong, I could not accept it until I came to accept myself. Strength at its paramount comes from within. People can be strong for you, but it is meaningless until you truly believe you are beautiful. Once you are confident that you are strong, no one can take that away from you.
What is even more important is that once you love yourself, the negative comments you receive become so irrelevant to you that you barely even notice they exist. You can create your reality. If you bottle up those negative comments and make them a part of you, then they will overcome you. But, if you believe that you are strong and beautiful, then that will in and of itself become your reality.
Something I do to feel strong inside and out is that I go to the gym! I love lifting weights and circuit training. I make sure to work out each muscle group throughout the week. I also rarely eat out, because I love to cook healthy. The combinations of both working out and eating clean make me feel great both physically and mentally.
2. When times get tough, get tougher.
There were many situations in which I found myself behind closed doors by myself, crying because I didn't know what I did to garner such negative attention. I would just sit there and feel so bad for myself. It came to a point when I would be sitting in an ocean of used tissues, dizzy from hyperventilating and unable to squeeze any more tears out of my eyes. I realized that life goes on. It's not going to sit and wait for you to feel bad for yourself. There are things out there to be done. Goals to be reached. Empowerment to be gained. Success to be earned. I bit my bottom lip and redirected my energy into the things I felt made my life worth living.
I channeled this energy into becoming a doctor. I had been exposed to dermatology my entire life and have been fortunate to meet some incredible and inspirational physicians who changed me forever. I also have had over 60 major and minor surgeries, so I have also been exposed to the field of plastic surgery. It's something I want to dedicate my life to because I want to help people through what I am currently going through. Because of my birthmarks and the arduous journey with having them, I feel I am able to relate to my patients and lead them to a physically and mentally healthy life.
So, my lesson for you is that you need to take life by the balls and own it. Find something worth being tough about and run with it. The world is yours. You have to choose to take it.
3. Stop trying to hide it - own it!
My mom insisted that I use makeup to cover my skin when I was younger, but now, all I want to do is show the world that I am proud to be me. I tried to use foundation once, but I looked so silly. The coverage was too sheer and the amount I had to use was ridiculous. I honestly didn't feel authentic. If people look, I say let them look! Let them admire your beauty. In a world where people are dying to stand out, we are lucky to already have that trait.
Though I decided to forgo cosmetics for coverage, I still have products to protect my skin from damaging UV rays. My beauty secret is to use a broad-spectrum SPF moisturizer and body lotion. It'll also prevent premature aging, an added bonus. My favorites include: Jergens Natural Glow SPF 20 ($11) for the face and Neutrogena Ultra Sheer Dry Touch Sunblock ($7 each), SPF 45 and SPF 100 for my body. I encourage everyone, even to those who do not have birthmarks, to use SPF. I love Jergens Natural Glow for its smell and its self-tanning product. Since I can't go out and tan, this my way of getting some color. Neutrogena's Dry Touch line is amazing because it doesn't feel heavy. I've gone through too many greasy sunblocks and am glad to say that this product line definitely does not disappoint.
4. Be compassionate.
The comments that people make must never define you. Sometimes, people will say mean things that will hurt you to the very core. It's an uncomfortable situation, especially if the topic of your appearance is an extremely sensitive subject. It's important to keep in mind that people are curious. Sometimes they are ignorant. If they are mean to you, it is because they still have more to learn about life. They just don't understand how to process your beauty. Continue to be kind, for they are simply naive.
As I get older, less mean things are said to me, but I still get asked about them. I realize that the questions come from curiosity. It's harder to understand this when it's a sensitive topic, but it's important to be compassionate and to not be defensive to those who question. I get asked all the time if I wanted to get them removed and my answer was, is, and will continue to be: no. My birthmarks made me the person I am today. They gave me the confidence to pursue my dreams in more ways than one. They have given me the confidence and grit to continue my goals of being a doctor. They made me compassionate and optimistic.
I want people out there who are going through what I went through to understand that it's OK to be a little insecure sometimes. I want you to know that you are beautiful and that you are loved, even if you can't see it. You don't have to prove your worth to anyone but yourself. You are already great. You have the potential to be even greater and you have it within you to never stop until you reach success. Believe that your differences make you unique. Be confident that they can change your life once you accept them and love them for what they are and who you can be.
Jenna Lee is currently workong on completing a Masters Degree in biomedical sciences; follow her on Instagram here!
Get Glam at the Gym With These 12 Athleisure Beauty Sets
It's that time of year again . . . you know, when everyone realizes bikini season is just around the corner, yet many of us have long forgotten about those "get fit" New Year's resolutions. The good news is that your favorite beauty brands are making it easier than ever to look your best both at the gym and beyond (do not cancel that post-Zumba cocktail!) with athleisure beauty offerings.
From Tarte's no-budge brighteners to Drunk Elephant's bag of antiaging and hydrating tricks - and all the no-rinse, no-fuss products in between - you're bound to find the ideal gym beauty bag of complexion perfectors for you and your favorite type of workout. Read on for some of the latest high-tech collections and kits made with the fitness enthusiast in mind.
Why Millennial Women Are Embracing Atheism
Danielle Schacter never thought she would become an un-Christian. "I slowly became more and more disgusted by the way I saw people treating others," says the 32-year-old, who was raised Baptist. "I didn't want to be associated with a religion that preached so much hate."
Danielle Schacter, who identifies as agnostic, is one of a growing number of people who identify with no religion. Photo courtesy of Danielle Schacter.
Schacter, like so many millennials, has chosen a secular life, and she's not alone: according to the Pew Research Center, only four in 10 millennials say that religion is very important to them, compared with six in 10 Baby Boomers.
The numbers of religiously unaffiliated support this, too: 23 percent of the population identifies with no religion. This number is up from 2007, when it was only 16 percent. Of older millennials, 35 percent are religiously unaffiliated - and they're driving the overall growth of the nonreligiously affiliated in America.
"I didn't want to be associated with a religion that preached so much hate."This is a big deal. To be religiously unaffiliated means you not only avoid identifying as a Christian or Jew or Muslim, but that you eschew organized faith altogether. From there, "nonreligious" can be broken down into four categories: secularism (the belief in separation of church and state and that all beliefs are equal), agnosticism (the belief that it's impossible to know if there is a god), humanism (the idea that human reason drives us, not higher powers), and atheism (the belief that there is no god). This last group, the atheists, has become increasingly vocal in recent years. They are fighting to keep religion separated from laws that affect them and to shift society away from religious trappings.
Kayley Whalen, a queer transgender Latinx woman who identifies as "a humanist and an existentialist and an atheist." Photo courtesty of Kayley Whalen.
What's fascinating is that while millennials are moving away from religion, they are moving toward spirituality. This demographic considers itself just as spiritual as older demographics, even as they represent an exodus out of organized religion and into the throes of secularism. When you consider the issues facing young people today, the reasons for the exodus are easy to understand. In rejecting religion, millennials are asserting their progressive attitudes and passion for social justice. They're committed to the idea that they don't need religion to know the difference between right and wrong.
Perhaps no one represents this cultural shift better than millennial atheist women. While they may sit at the most extreme side of the nonreligious spectrum, atheist women are fueled by the same concerns plaguing millennials in general: a quest for independence and a rejection of the status quo.
The Atheism and Feminism Connection
Lauryn Seering, 27, has never been religious, but she found atheism in high school in reaction to mainstream fundamentalist Christian ideas that condemn her lesbian mother. "Millennial women want autonomy over their own bodies," says Seering, communications coordinator for the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which is dedicated to protecting the separation of church and state.
"They recognize that all the arguments against this autonomy (contraception, birth control, marriage) are religiously fueled," Seering continued. "Women aren't being pressured by society anymore to get married at a young age, have children right away, and tend house while their husbands work."
Lauren Seering, an atheist who works for the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Photo courtesy of Lauren Seering.
Schacter identifies as agnostic. She's based in Kansas City, MO, where she founded a digital marketing agency called Boxer & Mutt. To her, growing secularism is a sign of independent women. "It's becoming more socially acceptable for women to think for themselves and really question why things are the way they are rather than blindly accepting them," she says.
Kayley Whalen, 31, is a queer transgender Latinx woman who identifies as "a humanist and an existentialist and an atheist." These different identities certainly influence how she approaches the world. "We have ethical values without the need for the supernatural," Whalen says. "We believe in social justice, that we can live a life with meaning, purpose, and dedication to social justice without the need for supernatural guidance." Unsurprisingly, Whalen's beliefs are tied up in her activist work: she's the digital strategy and social media manager for the National LGBT Task Force and is on the board of directors for both the Secular Student Alliance and the Trans United Fund.
As Whalen epitomizes, many young women who do not believe in god share a point of view that goes beyond just being atheist or just being a woman. The two are intertwined identities oppressed similarly in the United States.
"We have ethical values without the need for the supernatural."Lee Blackwolf, who runs the popular Facebook page Black Atheists, constantly copes with this intersection. "It's important to me because, as a black bisexual woman, there's not many of us who are atheist," explains Blackwolf, a 29-year-old stay-at-home mother in Twinsburg, OH. "We're not welcomed in most spaces that are atheists. We already have a lot of hurdles to jump through in life so it takes a lot of strength. I lost an entire family because of it. I actually have the luxury to say that I'm better off without them. It's not the same for most."
Blackwolf's concerns hint at societal assumptions about atheist women, which every woman we spoke with touched on: being a woman who isn't religious breaks away from the social norms that frame femininity. Emily Greene, an artist and activist working in promotional marketing in Augusta summed it up best. "You're probably seen as less feminine," the 32-year-old said. "You're definitely judged, looked at more harshly. It's an assumption that it's a negative thing."
Ironically, being atheist can mirror being religious, as it plays a role in many aspects of young life. "That was very important to me in choosing a partner," says Katherine, a 32-year-old HR manager in California. "I have gotten into some debate with friends before where they're like, 'If you're an atheist, why do you care if the other person is of faith?' I'm like, 'You - as, say, a Christian person - would not want to marry a non-Christian person."
Why Are Young Women Interested in Atheism?
Phil Zuckerman, professor of sociology and secular studies at Pitzer College, believes that young people are turning away from religion as a result of how closed-minded and conservative many congregations can be, particularly when they are responsible for enabling xenophobic and queerphobic mindsets. For instance, many churches reject the idea of same-sex marriage, while 71 percent of millennials support it (in comparison with only 46 percent of Baby Boomers).
"A lot of young people are being turned off of by that brand of Christianity," he explains. "They're just seeing religion as an institution and saying, 'Ah, screw it.' Even though that brand of Christianity is not the majority - most Christians are decent, kind people who aren't anti-gay and aren't racist and aren't anti-Islamic. But they don't make the headlines. They're not dominating the news."
Emily Greene, an artist, activist, and atheist. Photo courtesy of Emily Greene.
The internet is also serving as a conduit for less religion. As technology occupies more of our time, says Zuckerman, it chips away at "religion's ability to maintain a monopoly on truth . . . It's really corroding religion's ability to dominate our culture and dominate people's lives."
While there have always been religious skeptics - the farthest back is believed to be the Charvaka movement in 7th century BC - the present shift away from religion is notable because the numbers of religiously unaffiliated and atheists are way up. Although the movement is still predominately male and white, more women are stepping forward as religion reveals itself to be optional in their lives - and sometimes to stand in the way of their independence.
Zuckerman believes this has to do with traditional organized religions' male-centrism: teaching women that they're second class, must remain virginal, and must stay out of leadership positions. Pair this with the amount of women in the workplace rivaling men, and the group doesn't need to turn to a church for social or financial support that churches typically offer.
Being an Atheist Is a Political Act
Molly Hanson grew up in a Catholic household but has always been skeptical of the "invisible man in the sky" who tells people what to do. The 23-year-old Hanson, like many atheists, finds that questioning faith and religion makes people wonder if something is wrong with her womanness.
"If a woman doesn't bow down to this god and lord, she must have an issue with that god or lord," says Hanson, an editorial assistant at the Freedom For Religion Foundation. "She must have been damaged. There's a reason why she decided to leave that god. She might have been morally corrupted by another man or might have - I don't know - been wronged."
This issue isn't confined to religious communities. One woman - a 30-year-old Indian American writer in New York who declined to give her name - finds this flaw in atheist leaders, too.
"The movement itself is really alienating toward women," she says. "Leaders like Richard Dawkins are pretty sexist and condescending and talk down to women. Women have been left out in those major discussions of atheism."
The nonreligious believe that, once the church is taken out of the state, equality can be achieved.Whalen agrees: "It's really difficult that one person like a Richard Dawkins or a Bill Maher can be seen as the face of atheism. The difference between a woman who is an atheist, and a male, cisgender atheist is that a woman doesn't have the choice to be a single issue. She can't say, 'Oh, religious discrimination is the most important thing - and being a woman comes second.'"
For women who are atheists, discrimination is complicated further by the many ways their identities intersect. Gender as it relates to religious affiliation is complex, and it's even more complicated as it relates to black female atheists, as Blackwolf can attest. "A lot of black atheist men are often heard saying, 'Black women sure do love them some church!'" she says. "When we start having a discussion, there are implications about where my place in the community should be, and that's behind the man.'"
Atheist Women Want a Future of Equality
In speaking with young atheist and secular women, some through lines appear, among them a hope for equality that could be stymied by religion's grasp on society. There is a desire to normalize differing points of view, from LGBTQ people to atheists.
Katherine sees public events like the inauguration of President Donald Trump as a perfect example. "I was really struck by so much praying happening," she says. "I'd like to see us move kind of away from that and use logic and science and that holistic definition of freedom."
The nonreligious believe that, once the church is taken out of the state, equality can be achieved. Hansen believes these roadblocks arise as the result of unequal representation. "Women understand what it's like to be oppressed by laws that are rooted in religious ideas that oppress women and their sexuality," she explains. "To get more women in government positions is going to be a challenge, especially right now."
When women hold elected office, it inspires more women to run - and more women in government has a powerful trickle-down effect on women as a whole.
But what if these women leaders were atheists? Would they still succeed?
Surveys have shown that atheism is one of the traits in a leader that Americans are most biased against. "I cannot imagine a president who identifies as an atheist," says the Indian-American writer in New York. "I'm a woman and a person of color: a female person of color who is an atheist could never be the president of the United States. It feels like another barrier."
Others, like Whalen, see these many layers as vital to change: "I want a woman politician to run and say that she's an atheist and that she's for reproductive justice, that she's for transgender rights, and win. I want a transgender woman to be able to do that."
Ultimately, for atheist women (and atheists in general) to succeed at changing society, they need to continue on the path they are on and not settle for being silenced. Zuckerman draws parallels to the LGBT community. "Coming out does have an effect," he says. "More and more people feeling comfortable saying 'I'm not that religious' has an effect." Atheists just want to be seen as starting from the same place as any other decent American.
Greene sums it up nicely: "We want to get up, go to work, and enjoy our friends and families and our lifestyles just the same way as the person who gets up on Sunday and goes to church. We have our own ways of self-care. A lot of people find religion and that's how they take care of themselves - and that's great. We just do things a different way and that's OK."
Wedding Music Ideas For the Mother-Son Dance
Nowadays, a wedding isn't all about just the bride, and to reflect that, many couples choose to have a mother-son dance to complement the father-daughter dance. Because it's not the easiest for song selection, we're here to help. We have many ideas for the song that the groom and mother-of-the-groom can dance to at the reception, so scroll through and find the one you're looking for!
Adam Scott's Reaction to Finally Meeting His Hero, Mark Hamill, Is So Freakin' Cute
A long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, a young Adam Scott invited his hero, Star Wars actor Mark Hamill, to his second birthday party. While sitting down on Jimmy Kimmel Live with temporary host Kristen Bell on Thursday night, the Big Little Lies star explained that although Mark never showed up, his love for the actor has never waned. Then, in the middle of their conversation, the Star Wars theme music blasted through the studio, and Luke Skywalker himself strolled on stage. If you need a reason to smile today, Adam's incredibly cute reaction to seeing him in the flesh for the first time should do the trick.
Michael Fassbender Doesn't Just Believe in Aliens - He Thinks They're Here
This week marked the world premiere of Alien: Covenant, the latest installment in the iconic Alien franchise and a sequel of sorts to 2012's Prometheus. On Thursday night, POPSUGAR was lucky enough to land at the film's world premiere in London, where we popped onto the red carpet and even saw the full film in all its terrifying glory. Before we got all the blood and scares, though, we spoke to Michael Fassbender about his character(s), his personal beliefs, and one of the most terrifying movie monsters of all time.
In Covenant, Fassbender's on double duty, playing the part of not one but two different and unique androids. "I mean, David we already know," Fassbender told us, referring to the creepy and calculating character he played in Prometheus. "It's the same guy. His head is attached to his body again." David is more horrifying and villainous than ever in the new film, and now, he has the perfect counterpart. "Walter is the new character. He's on the Covenant," he revealed, referring to the titular spaceship that brings the latest round of alien horror. Walter is an updated version of David. He's much more dutiful and more like a robot, because it's noted that David's almost-human idiosyncrasies made the previous crew too uncomfortable.
Of course, we couldn't resist asking Fassbender why he thinks Covenant (and the monsters therein) is the most horrifying edition to date. All the terror, he explained, lies in the iconic Xenomorph (the giant-foreheaded alien you associate with these films) that first appeared in Alien, the original 1979 film. As we learned from the gory trailers, this version of the creature is set to make a terrifying return. "I think the Xenomorph itself is something that's a very provocative figure," Fassbender mused. "I think it's beautiful. It's repulsive. There's no eyes to it. I think that's terrifying in itself. And that it's a parasite of sorts, it uses us as hosts. I think that, again, is quite an unsettling thought." Having seen the film, if you think the Xenomorph looks scary, wait until you see some of the horrifying sh*t it does in Covenant.
"I think they're among us already."
All things considered, you have to wonder if Fassbender believes in aliens himself. Naturally, he has an equally unsettling answer: "I think they're among us already . . . I just believe that." Um, did we just get a pitch for season eight of American Horror Story?
Alien: Covenant hits theaters on May 19.
Wedding Music Ideas For the Mother-Son Dance
Nowadays, a wedding isn't all about just the bride, and to reflect that, many couples choose to have a mother-son dance to complement the father-daughter dance. Because it's not the easiest for song selection, we're here to help. We have many ideas for the song that the groom and mother-of-the-groom can dance to at the reception, so scroll through and find the one you're looking for!
The Best Pictures From the MTV Movie Awards Over the Years
The MTV Movie Awards are this weekend, and it might just turn out to be the best show yet. How do we know? Well, it's combining with TV for the first time ever, so fans of shows like Game of Thrones and Pretty Little Liars will get to vote. Adam DeVine is set to host, and there are already some incredible presenters lined up, including This Is Us's Milo Ventimiglia and the cast of 13 Reasons Why. Get ready for the big night with a look at some of our favorite photos from all the golden-popcorn ceremonies, including Kristen Stewart sharing the stage with Chris Hemsworth, Cameron Diaz and Victoria Beckham in their younger years, and much more.
Drew Barrymore: "I Want to Be the Rock That Floats"
I enter through a grand wooden door of a mansion in Monterey, CA - we're talking Big Little Lies status with sweeping views of the Pacific in front of me. I'm there to interview Drew Barrymore, who is in the midst of an elaborate photo shoot for Barrymore Wines, a wine label she has developed in partnership with Carmel Road. She has just released the 2016 Monterey Rosé of Pinot Noir ($23), a wine I'll try while catching up with the ever-quotable actress. As I step into the foyer, Drew cuts across the room, half sandwich in hand to take her lunch break. She stops upon recognition and draws me in for a hug.
"It's been a year," Drew sighs. "What a year it's been," I echo. Last April, we sat at a sunny window seat, sipped Rosé a little too early in the day, and discussed everything but her relationship status on what might have been the most challenging day of her life. The afternoon before, she and Will Kopelman announced their divorce. "[E]ventually you start to find grace in the idea that life goes on," the two said in the official press release. Those words seem to ring true for Drew. We have a lot to discuss.
I'm led down rugged stone steps in the backyard to a flat, leaf-blanketed nook. After her break, Drew floats down the steps to join me, wearing a floral BCBG dress. A teal-and-indigo Missoni cardigan hangs off her shoulders. She scrunches her tousled hair - it's become somewhat of a legend since this year's Golden Globes.
The man responsible for Drew's hair is Daniel Howell (he goes by Mr. Daniel). He uses a diffuser to dry her hair "without breaking up the natural wave pattern," Mr. Daniel tells me. Then, he wraps the midsection of the completely dry hair (not the roots or the ends) around a curling iron to "enhance and define the texture." To finish, he mists her hair lightly with Evian to soften "that curling ironed look." Fine mineral water spritzed in her hair isn't the only reason Drew looks so luminous.
Drew's eyes glow thanks to her makeup artist Debra Ferullo, who uses Drew's own line of makeup, Flower Beauty. Debra combines the Foxy Brown Shadow Quad and Shimmer and Shade Eyeshadow Palette and dresses the waterlines with Long-Wear Eyeliner in Brownstone. I can't help but become transfixed when Debra pats something iridescent on the center of Drew's lids. It's the Astral White Pigment found in Pat McGrath Labs DarkStar 006, and it ignites the rosy shadows into a luscious, pearly glimmer. Drew looks damn good - and I know that sort of stunning beauty comes from feeling good too.
We sit alone on wooden stools set next to a rustic table styled for the shoot. The sun and sea breeze dance around us. It's completely silent save for the distant noise of waves crashing on the rocky cliffside and leaves rattling on the treetops. We sip our glasses of Rosé. It's tangy and thirst-quenching and tastes like a memory of a cold, rocky coastline. It juxtaposes the warm day nicely. This moment, these surroundings, Drew and I both breathe in the splendor and smile at one other. I start the interview with a simple question and hope she gives me an honest answer.
"How are you?" I ask earnestly. She responds, "We're all going through so much hard, wonderful, amazing . . . it's blessings; it's lessons; it's hardship; it's life. I guess, I don't know what the definition of life is. I now know the meaning of my life, because of my daughters, but mine is one little tiny speck in the universe. It's nice to not be pretending everything is perfect all the time, because it isn't, but I do love happiness and joy and optimism. I'm not a depressive type; I don't want to be around them. I don't even want to watch a dramatic movie right now. I can't, it's too heavy."
POPSUGAR: You recently said something in an interview that made me think, "Yes! I want this to be my mantra." You said, "I want to be optimistic, problem-solving, solution-oriented. I want to make people happy." How do you live by those values even on hard days?
Drew Barrymore: I can't get caught up in darkness. I just don't. I always want to gravitate towards light. I love picking yourself up or surviving or being grateful for the good stuff and not getting lost in the tough stuff. The discipline is so natural for me.
PS: It seemed like this year was really good for you . . . The public appearances you made, you seemed so radiant. What inspired that?
DB: It was a really hard year actually. I tried to put on a brave face. I felt it in the moment and I never felt inauthentic, but it wasn't without its reality checks and struggles. When you have a big life change, it takes a long time to get used to either the new format or the understanding that you need to create a new dream. Or if things didn't work out, mourning the death of that dream. It's hard, because that's a very private journey. If I read something that's really intense and depressive, I will face it; I will try - but there's plenty of times I also run away. I think it's trying to find a balance between the positive and the negative. They don't exist without each other. It's the polarity; it's two sides of a coin. You can't get one without the other. I don't wallow. I can't stand it.
PS: You mentioned creating a "new dream" for your life. Do you mind sharing it?
DB: My life is so different than what I thought it would be when I engaged in this new chapter. Whether it be like married-with-kids or living-in-California, all these funny things you tell yourself about what your plan is and then your plan goes out the window. I think it takes a while to transition, but you will get there if you get yourself there. I'm excited about the work you have to do. Happiness takes work. It doesn't always fall off trees or come easily. You really have to be someone that doesn't fall prey to being sad. I don't want sad, I can't be sad, I don't want to be about sad; I avoid sad. It inherently envelops you, so do everything that you can to escape it all the time.
My best friend Nancy Juvonen always loved to say, "Happiness is a choice." When I was a kid I would say, "Happiness is a choice"; it's so hippie and lovely. Then as a woman, it's the word "choice" that's the war. That's the valiant effort to be happy, sometimes it takes a lot of work.
"My life is so different than I thought it would be."
PS: I'm sure that involves habits. Did you form any new ones this year?
DB: I did a lot of exercise to feel good in my mind. Whether my body changed or not was superfluous. The discipline of going somewhere and sweating or moving gave me all the more incentive to go to the corner store, get the slice of pizza after, and completely annihilate everything I had worked for - but my brain felt good. Physicality was a big wake-up call for me.
Not to like sit in the sh*t but work out and walk and keep my headphones with me everywhere I went. I loved listening to music again. You have kids, you have a family and you kind of lose touch sometimes with habits, as you said, rituals that you had before. You're so overwhelmed and distracted, and it's so wonderful and you're so present with it. You, in a good way, lose yourself. And then, over time you start to find things that you had love for, and they come back. Music has been a big one for me.
PS: Who are you listening to right now?
DB: I'm so obsessed with Solange's song with Blood Orange "Losing You," "I Dare You" by The XX. Fun, great songs. Those are my two favorites right now, and I'm sure they're not even the current this week.
PS: I think songs find us at the right time.
DB: I walked by this woman at a burger stand the other day and she was telling her friend - really trying to painfully figure things out. I was like, "Yup! Isn't everybody." Their life is so relevant to them, and their problems are so big. The way that they solve them is so interesting. I don't think anyone is coasting on this earth. I think everybody does feel incredible struggles. Any day that you're not held down by the struggle, celebrate it! Be present, because I feel like I lost sight of that for a while going through hard stuff. And now, I'm really enjoying the good moments.
"Any day that you're not held down by the struggle, celebrate it!"
PS: No one would ever know that about you. How you live is an example to many.
DB: Know it's no rodeo clown, like, "Everything is awesome!" I really worked hard on myself and things and struggled to get to a good place, to a better place.
PS: You're involved in so many projects too. How do you do it? How do you become an entrepreneur in so many facets?
DB: My personal life never affects my focus on work and [the] joy that that work brings me. That's a really important lesson for my daughters - have a good work ethic. I really enjoy applying myself. I like the distraction that it causes. Having kids now obviously I dial back the time I spend at work so I can be more with my kids. But when I get back to work or get to do work, I'm very focused and psyched. All moms feel so much guilt all the time, so the more time you spend with your kids the more you time you also enjoy being able to step away and do something that makes you want to make them proud. I think my whole life, work has been a very important and positive thing for me. It never was something that made me feel unhappy or disengaged from life. It always makes me feel like I'm plugged in, in a really healthy way.
"I want to be the rock that floats."
PS: So many of our readers come to our site because they may be in a rut, whether it's in a relationship or a job that's not working. What advice do you have to offer?
DB: Get yourself out. Be brave. Don't leave before you're ready, because you should know that you tried everything. So there's a conviction and a confidence when you step away from something that may or may not be conducive to your life. I think if you run away too quickly, you're going to have that "Oh God, did I try everything?" feeling. Try everything. Make it work. Do everything you can. If it's not working, then know when the signal is and move on. Change. Try something different.
PS: I love that idea of confidence with conviction. How have you found that for yourself?
DB: I stay in it until it no longer works.
PS: Did anyone teach you that confidence?
DB: No, because I grew up in such an inconsistent family dynamic. I don't know why I have a rock-like behavior but I refuse to be the rock that drowns. I want to float and live and survive. I want to be the rock that floats.
PS: I'm watching Santa Clarita Diet and I'm dying laughing, meanwhile my boyfriend is white as a ghost. "She's just eating fondant cake body parts," I keep telling him!
DB: Exactly! Victor [Fresco], the creator and I, we don't think it's that gross or gory. I'm like, "Is something wrong with us, Victor? Seriously." People are losing their lunch. Hopefully, I would suggest not eating while you watch the show, [so] you can get into [it]. Aside from all the blood and guts, it's about a family and the human condition. I found the show at a time where I knew I was getting divorced. It was very helpful [for] me to have this man say, "I've been married to my wife for 25 years and if she woke up one day and everything was turned upside down, how would I deal with it?" I thought that's so hopeful and cool. Set to a really f*cking weird backdrop. I loved it.
"Aside from all the blood and guts, [Santa Clarita Diet] is about a family and the human condition."
PS: Have you started filming season two? Can you provide any more details?
DB: We start in like a month and a half and I'm so excited. Victor took me through the whole second season, because I produce the show. I get to be privileged to know what I'm going into, which really helps, because TV is so mysterious. I wouldn't know how to sign up as an actress. What if I'm signed up for something I don't like? I have nothing to do [with the writing]. This man comes up with all this crazy sh*t that I'm totally into. There's such humanity and normal themes behind it that I can relate to it. I think it comes from my training with E.T. You can have aliens, but it's in suburbia. It's in your backyard.
I would not know what to do if you put me in outer space. I'd be like, "Where the f*ck am I?" I love science fiction. I'm all for it, but I would be lost as an actor. Make it in a backyard, in a house in a suburbia, and I'm good to go. Back to the Future? Time travel, but it was suburban, so you believed in it. Don't go so far away from home. Home is the best theme. You can do flesh eating, time travel, aliens, but you're watching human beings go through it, so you have a nicer relatability at the end of the day.
PS: Can you tease anything about the "crazy sh*t" that goes down in season two?
DB: Weirdly, Netflix is secretive, so they don't allow it. I'm always like, "Is it that serious that we can't give a storyline away?" But they're pretty private. I like it, because they're internet savvy. They know how quickly something will go. They're a very cool partner to work with.
PS: Do you anticipate working more with TV now that you've had this experience?
DB: I have no idea where my life is going and for the first time in my life, I find that to be the most liberating feeling I've ever known. I've always been untethered in my life. Sometimes out of that chaos, you want to create stability. I'm at a moment right now where as long as my daughters have stability, then I like the life adventure and not knowing where it's going. Ironically, my daughters, every time I present an airplane ticket to them, they're like, "Where are we going?!" They're so excited. I'm glad we didn't stay still. Staying still is a very easy thing to fall into. It can be as easy as going out on a Saturday and trying to discover a new thing. It doesn't have to be grand. Getting out of your comfort zone, creating an adventure is really good.
The Huda Beauty Lip Strobes Are Almost Here - See Them in Action
If you've been freaking out over the Huda Beauty Lip Strobes, you're not alone. Huda Kattan has been teasing her new product for weeks now, and we couldn't wait to get a first look at some swatches. She officially unveiled the products on Instagram, and they did not disappoint.
Her post revealed that the 12 shades will be available in June, and she accompanied the reveal with some swatches on her Instagram story. The shades are ultra shimmery and transform her lipstick from a matte finish to a metallic one. Huda went on to show that you can also use the Lip Strobes as liquid eye shadow and applied the shade Fearless to her lids, creating a gorgeous rosy eye look.
We can't wait to pick up these versatile products, but the official release date hasn't been announced yet. We're hoping that Huda posts even more sneak peeks of the product in the meantime, because we're eager to see all of the colors in action.
Noah Cyrus's "Stay Together" Is the Perfect Summer Anthem
Noah Cyrus is back with another banger. Ahead of her performance at the MTV Movie & TV Awards this weekend, the singer dropped a music video for her single "Stay Together," and it's incredibly catchy. Not only do the lyrics about staying up all night make for the perfect Summer jam, but the beat definitely reminds us of a slowed-down version of Miley Cyrus's "Party in the USA." With new music coming from both singers later this year, the world better get ready for a Cyrus takeover.
Stop Everything: There's a Red Lobster Cheddar Bay Biscuit Lip Balm
If you'll drive all the way to Red Lobster just to get some buttery Cheddar Bay Biscuits in your belly and then beg the waiter for a bag of them to go, you're about to lose your garlic-loving mind. The cult-favorite snack is turning 25, and the seafood chain knows just how to throw it the party it deserves.
Red Lobster is offering a once-in-a-lifetime experience of owning a limited-edition Cheddar Bay Biscuit-flavored lip balm. That's right, if you are one of the incredibly lucky winners, you'll be able to taste the delicious flavor of your beloved biscuits every time you apply it to your lips.
If you're itching to get your hands on one of these buttery balms, all you have to do is register for the Fresh Catch Club by 5 p.m. on May 8. When you receive your email on May 8, follow the instructions listed, and wait for Red Lobster to randomly select 250 winners to score lip balms as well as t-shirts, foam biscuits, and even magnets.
Not only does this lippie smell remarkably like the cheesy goodness of Cheddar Bay Biscuits, but the balm is also cruelty-free and all-natural, so you know the balm will become one of your favorites. Mark your calendars for May 8 - and may the odds be ever in your favor.
Asia Kate Dillon Is the Change-Maker the Beauty Industry Has Been Waiting For
In a Donald Trump presidency era, where many social issues seem to be moving backwards in time, it's more important than ever to celebrate the change-makers breaking barriers. Actor Asia Kate Dillon is one of those leaders, whose initiatives to normalize nonbinary gender identity in Hollywood are rewriting history. (FYI, nonbinary gender means a person is not exclusively male or female and would usually use the pronoun "they" instead of "him" or "her.")
Asia is credited for playing the first genderqueer character in a mainstream TV show for their role of Taylor Mason in Showtime's Billions. Off-screen, Asia also identifies as genderfluid.
"My assigned sex is Female," Asia recently clarified on Twitter. "My gender identity is Non-binary. Anatomy and biology are complicated. I said sex, only as in anatomy . . . Sex is between legs. Identity is between ears."
This year, Asia made headlines when they submitted their name for an Emmy Award and choose "actor" instead of "actress," because the former is a more gender-neutral word. The public move to push gender boundaries prompted MTV to combine previously male-and-female-separated categories at the MTV Awards, and Asia will take the stage to present the award for best actor in a movie.
"I'm proud of MTV for joining the conversation about breaking down binaries," Asia told W. "Binaries, whether it be man or woman or black or white, they were created to separate us, to create an us and a them. Without binaries, there's only us. Which means we're actually all equal. So to be presenting the first acting award in history that is based solely on performance and not on sex or gender identity is a historic moment and it's a moment that will go down in history, and that is a history I share not only with my family, friends and coworkers, but with all the trans, nonbinary and gender-nonconforming people, particularly people of color, who have been leading the way for change long before I was born."
But that is not the only reason we want to watch Asia. They're also a beauty inspiration - rocking a badass shaved head, seriously gorgeous eyebrows, flawless skin, and unique tattoos. If their career keeps up (Asia has also appeared in Orange Is the New Black, Younger, and Master of None), landing a beauty campaign is only a matter of time. Oh, and if you were wondering, Asia told Ellen DeGeneres their romantic partner identifies as male.
Keep reading to see more reasons why Asia is our latest beauty idol.
This Little Prince Beauty Line Is Out of This World
Many of us fell in love with the sweet story of The Little Prince as a child, which points out the silly nature of adults. The imaginative story has captured the hearts of people all over the world, and has now even inspired a Korean beauty collection with Swiss Pure.
The line included a selection of skin and hair care items, eye shadows, and soaps adorned with the beloved novel's adorable illustrations and quotes from the book.
Unfortunately, these products were never sold in the US and seem to be sold out everywhere, including our go-to methods of getting K-beauty, Amazon and eBay. We'll have to admire this collection via Instagram and hope that the next K-beauty collaboration will be stateside. Read on to see the charming products.
Adele's Makeup Artist Reveals How to Get the Singer's Signature Cat Eye
There are a lot of beauty tricks that we'd love to learn from Adele - like where she finds the perfect rosy lipstick, or the techniques she uses to sculpt her cheekbones to perfection - but her signature cat eye is at the top of our must-know list. Celebrity makeup artist Lisa Eldridge tracked down the colleague who created Adele's famous retro-chic beauty style, Michael Ashton, and enlisted him to create a DIY on her YouTube channel.
Utilizing a close doppelgänger for a model, Ashton breaks down every step of Adele's now-iconic look and even divulges which products he uses to achieve them. Of course we're thrilled to finally learn exactly how he crafts that razor-sharp cat eye! Watch the above video to discover his tricks, then grab Bobbi Brown Longwear Gel Eyeliner in Black Ink ($26) so you can practice re-creating it yourself.
Alessandra Ambrosio Wore the 1 Monokini You Need to Show Off Your Curves
If you're after the monokini trend, look no further than Alessandra Ambrosio's display of chicness while vacationing with her girlfriends in Saint-Tropez. Back in the Summer, the Brazilian Victoria's Secret Angel posted an Instagram video featuring a peek at the Henna Blues Monokini One-Piece ($180) from her Ále by Alessandra swimwear collection.
Although we're understandably in awe of the fact that she's partying by a hot tub on a boat (seriously), we need a moment to take in how perfect the swimsuit she's wearing actually is. Adorned with a fun paisley pattern and edgy cutouts, the purple-hued suit is one that will never go out of style and always flatter your figure. Press play above to see it in action. Then, check out even more similar styles.
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