5 Reproductive Rights Breakthroughs That Are Changing Women’s Lives

On Wednesday, the Food and Drug Administration announced that they would be easing the strict usage guidelines surrounding mifepristone, an abortion-inducing pill, making it a more accessible option in several key states—a set of changes that has far-reaching implications for American women. “This is a significant advance for women, particularly in states where medication abortion has been restricted,” says Janet Crepps, senior counsel in the U.S. Legal Program at the Center for Reproductive Rights, who believes that the new guidelines will provide women with more choice. The announcement comes on the heels of several major shifts in the modern reproductive rights movement, which will come to a head this year, when the Supreme Court rules on a landmark abortion case. Here, five recent developments that are impacting the lives of women in the U.S. right now.

New Access to the Abortion Pill
This week, the FDA approved a label change for the abortion-inducing pill mifepristone, which now lets women request a medication-induced abortion up to 70 days after conception—up from 49—while reducing the dosage instructions and the number of mandatory doctor’s appointments, as well. “It opens up the option to more women, and reduces the cost to providers, who in some states were actually forced to ignore clinical guidelines and essentially overmedicate women,” explains Leslie McGorman, NARAL’s deputy policy director, of the impact of the decision.

The Rise of OTC Birth Control
In January, over-the-counter birth control hit Oregon—now, women could receive contraception without a doctor’s prescription, after a simple self-screening with a licensed pharmacist. California passed a similar measure going into effect in April, while states like Missouri, South Carolina, and Washington are considering legislature, as well—which means widely accessible birth control may actually become a reality, 56 years after The Pill was first approved by the FDA.

Colorado’s Free IUD Program Overcomes a Lack of Public Funding
Last year, the Colorado Family Planning Initiative, which provides free IUDs to teens and low-income women and has helped reduce the state’s teen pregnancy and abortion rates by nearly 50 percent, was in danger of shutting down, after state government funding was eliminated. Instead, a flood of private donations—some $2 million worth—saved the program, marking an unexpected victory for local health providers. While the fight for public investment remains key, could such privatized gestures indicate a new wave of greater public support and funding?

The Pro-Choice Movement Gets Personal
Earlier this month, the Supreme Court began hearing oral arguments in the landmark Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt case, which challenges restrictions placed on Texas abortion clinics, and in solidarity, dozens of women stepped forward to share their firsthand experiences. It’s part of a larger movement that’s breaking down the stigma and secrecy that have long surrounded abortion, one that’s gaining momentum as women in the public eye, including actress Jemima Kirke and former Texas senator Wendy Davis, continue to put a personal face on the issue.

State Courts Strike Down Anti-Abortion Restrictions
Lately, the issue of admitting privileges—laws that require doctors performing legal abortions to secure patient admission privileges at a nearby hospital—has taken the forefront, as it is one of the central questions at the heart of the Supreme Court’s Whole Woman’s Health v. Hellerstedt case. Without admitting privileges, many legal abortion clinics have been shut down in states like Texas, but as events have continued to unfold, a different story has taken shape. State courts that have evaluated those laws on a case-by-case basis are largely blocking them—U.S. District Judge Myron Thompson, for instance, permanently struck down a similar law in Alabama just last week. As a court in Wisconsin reached the same conclusion, the growing consensus at the state level may prove telling, even as the country awaits the Supreme Court’s final ruling.

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Jennifer Aniston on Her Biggest Beauty Regret—And Why Easy Always Does It

Two decades have passed since Jennifer Aniston burst onto the scene and became a reigning ’90s beauty icon, thanks to that shining blonde hair and sun-kissed skin captured weekly on Friends. Since then, the 47-year-old actress has kept the preternatural glow and easygoing charm that made her a star, but more recently, has seen her life head in a new direction. There was her quiet marriage last summer to director Justin Theroux, coming on the heels of her Golden Globe–nominated turn in Cake, which let Aniston flex her acting and producing chops. With another dramatic role and production credit in American war film The Yellow Birds planned for later this year, plus her status as a burgeoning beauty powerhouse—as co-owner of Living Proof and the longtime face of Aveeno—that momentum is only growing. Here, she takes a moment to discuss her skin-care secrets, her biggest beauty regret, and why she’s thrilled that the ’90s are back.

How has your philosophy about beauty changed over the years?
Emotionally and mentally, I would say it’s just about loving yourself and loving what you’ve been given—to really appreciate it and take care of it. Because this is the only body we’re given, we need to be really good and mindful of what we eat and how we take care of our skin—getting a good night’s sleep is extremely important, as is hydrating with water, water, water. It’s so important to getting that extra glow.
 
You have such a signature look. Did you go through any memorable hair or makeup phases along the way to finding it?  
Sometimes you learn the hard way. Sometimes what’s in fashion isn’t always your best friend. There was a phase in the ’80s where I don’t think anyone was sporting good hair and makeup. The amount of makeup I piled onto my skin and the wonderful hair colors and cuts that my hair went through—I don’t look back fondly on some of those choices. But I do laugh at them!

What do you regret most from that period?
The entire decade! I would have to say, there was a period where I cut my hair really, really short. It was long on top, short on the sides. I think right above the ears—about an inch above—I shaved my head, and that was kind of a really bad look. It was like a faux kind of chicken shit mohawk [laughs].

Still, the ’90s are coming back in a big way and—
The ’90s are coming back!? Why are they coming back, that’s mean. I’m just kidding. That’s really good because I have certain things I have yet to throw away from my days on Friends. My red squared-toe loafers might actually be making a comeback, that’s awesome. See, it’s coming back—I knew it. I also have those nice high-waisted jeans. I’m so glad I didn’t throw any of those out. I loved the ’90s.

Looking back at what you’ve learned over the years, what lessons have you applied to your routine now?
I think over the years, everything’s just continued to get simpler. Less is more, less makeup, less fuss, and just more natural, which I kind of prefer. My skin-care treatment is very simple. I’ve found that anytime I try to do some kind of fancy hair or makeup routine or skin-care routine, it gets more complicated. I love simple Aveeno products—they just came out with a new Absolutely Ageless night time cream and a new night time serum, which are wonderful. It’s important to find something that’s simple and affordable—and easy.

 

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Artist Lorna Simpson Returns to Her Favorite Subject—Hair—With Exclusive New Works

 

In a video currently playing in the Art Institute of Chicago’s “Nothing Personal” exhibition, two women silently and simultaneously perform their morning rituals, their skin-care and makeup routines and hairstyles providing clues to their social roles, their place and time. The work is by New York–based artist Lorna Simpson, who has spent much of her nearly 40-year career exploring visual identity—namely the language of hair. Take, for example, Wigs, where a long blond tumble of curls hangs bodiless on a white backdrop, nearby a stretch of braid is neatly coiled just below a frothy cloud of disembodied afro; or Twenty Questions, which features four gelatin silver prints of an obsidian bob shining against equally dark skin and the collar of a soft white tank top—between each image, plaques propose interpretations, from “Is she as pretty as a picture” to “or sharp as a razor.”

From the sprays of updos in Stereo Styles to the chronologically organized ropes of braids in 1978–88, Simpson seems to suggest that if we wear our history, it’s on top of our heads. From birth, the texture and color of our hair alone speak volumes about centuries of heritage, while length and style become culturally coded symbols of sex, location, musical preferences, and professions. “Hair is a cipher of identity,” said Simpson over the phone recently, speaking about her fascination with the material. “I had questions about representation and what we learn about the subject.”

They are questions she leaves open-ended. Without a voice and often faceless, Simpson’s portraits instead confront us, the audience, with our own preconceived notions about race and gender as they’re tied to beauty, a theme that became more prominent in her later collage work, in which found photographs of anonymous African American women (and occasionally men) were stripped of their original coifs and surrounded, instead, by swirls of Simpson’s free-form ink paintings that she has likened to Rorschach tests. There, the forward-facing gazes seem to ask, “Who do you think I am?” and “Why?”

Now, her subjects are more liberated than ever. Above, in a new exclusive series for Vogue.com, Simpson has lifted the faces of 12 women from “very mundane” ’60s and ’70s advertisements in Ebony magazine—the culture and politics monthly she grew up with that “informed my sense of thinking about being black in America”—and paired them with illustrations of geological and astrological forms from a 1931 textbook. Stripped of any fundamental context, the women provide no origin story and no identifying characteristics. The geometric shapes replacing their hair weren’t chosen for their resemblance to, say, Nefertiti’s crown or Erykah Badu’s emerald head wrap—references that may spring to mind as you look at them—but rather for the same reason you might cut, color, or change the texture of your hair: simply because, says Simpson, “I thought they were beautiful.”

 

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Savages’s Jehnny Beth May Be Beauty’s Biggest Trendsetter

Why Rihanna’s “Kiss It Better” Video Is a Study in Bold Body Confidence

How Gigi Hadid Goes From Urban Minimalist to Bardot Bombshell in an Instant

Beyonce’s New Ivy Park Campaign Is the Best Gym Hair Inspiration Yet

Introducing the Completely Mess-Proof Juicer That Will Change Your Life

The Dreamiest Bathroom Vanities on Instagram

A charming vanity is a beauty-lover’s dream—a sign, in some sense, that you have arrived. Just look to the dreamy Instagrams shared by some of the world’s most pulled-together women, whose envy-inducing bathrooms have left us inspired to rethink our own. 

There’s blogger Courtney Trop, who stocks clean tubes of Context eye cream and Grown Alchemist balm beside her white Mason Pearson, while Yasmin Sewell keeps a high-low mix of castor oils and Astier de Villatte candles tub-side. A snap of Tavi Gevinson’s dressing-room table, scattered with pink glosses and stray flowers, makes a strong case for the unstaged tableau, while Jenni Kayne’s vase of white anemones is sheer minimalism with a kick. But perhaps it’s Donatella Versace who does it best with four shelves bursting with products and a makeup and hair artist on either side. Talk about #vanitygoals.

 

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Victoria Stretches in Stilettos! Serena Does the Splits! 17 Celebrities With Stealth Fitness Moves

Last week, a mesmerizing bit of workout inspiration appeared on Instagram—of SZA, performing a double back handspring in her sun-drenched backyard. The singer’s feel-good clip revealed a hidden talent—who knew SZA could flip?—and yen for an unorthodox workout that left us wondering who else among our favorite celebrities might be hiding a fun fitness secret.

Well, there’s Serena Williams performing a split in mid-air, her legs stretched effortlessly through two gymnast’s hoops—no doubt a trick to help the tennis player reach those far corner shots. Lena Dunham has showed off her next-level flexibility, too, with a quirky acro-yoga snap, while Beyoncé’s joyful half-moon pose made a serious case for going limber and vegan. And yes, Iggy Azalea’s prim horseback riding does take the cake for biggest surprise—but it’s Victoria Beckham, lengthening her lithe, stilettoed leg up high above her head while mid-text, who stopped us in our tracks with an “oh, of course.” After all, the best secrets hide in plain sight.

 

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The Comb Makes a Comeback: 7 Pretty Reasons to Pick One Up

There are certain elemental tools—the wheel, the drinking cup—that invariably turn up in all corners of civilization. Take the comb: You’ll find carved ivory relics in the Egyptian and European wings of The Metropolitan Museum of Art, while no-frills plastic ones bathe in aquamarine Barbicide at neighborhood salons. Even Ariel, the Disney mermaid, combs her hair with a long-handled model—in other words, a fork. But after years in which “a Wet brush or a Mason Pearson has been the replacement,” as Serge Normant (comb in hand) put it during a recent trim at his Chelsea salon, the utilitarian staple is once again earning pride of place on the vanity table.

In part, we can thank the growing enthusiasm for natural textures (think Frederikke Sofie’s diaphanous blonde lengths and Mica Arganaraz’s untamed shag on the Fall runways)—hair that can temperamentally fluff up with a pass of a brush. To leave those ethereal waves intact, says Normant, “a good, thick comb is the solution.” (His arsenal includes a straight cutting comb as well as a tail comb for updos.)

Today’s design-forward combs also have a shelf appeal of their own. Eternally in Amber, a line of cellulose-acetate hair tools created by Amber Randell, incorporates speckled finishes that call to mind rose quartz or lustrous abalone shells. Acca Kappa’s wood combs fit right in with laid-back interiors strewn with sheepskins and hand-thrown ceramics. And Aerin Lauder’s gold-finished versions speak to an unabashedly glamorous era, when women like her grandmother Estée “always carried around an evening comb, mirror, and lipstick,” she notes.

My own conversion came not long ago when I discovered Yves Durif’s cream-colored wide-tooth comb, inspired by French ivory. I had been finger-detangling my waist-length hair (a boar-bristle brush seemed to give too prim a finish), but, in Goldilocks fashion, the comb proved just right. This handsome lineup might just make a convert out of you, too.

 

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23 Women Who Have Rocked the Buzz Cut

If you’ve felt the urge to pick up the clippers recently, you’re not alone. On runways, streets, screens, and stages, when it comes to hair as of late, less is becoming so much more. Take, for example, models Ruth Bell and Kris Gottschalk, who, after ditching their waist- and chin-grazing lengths, respectively, in favor of a layer of blonde fuzz, have found themselves more in demand than ever, earning runway castings and campaigns for the likes of Alexander McQueen and Givenchy. Grace Bol’s calling-card shorn head received star billing at Bottega Veneta, Erdem, and Marc Jacobs, where it was further emphasized with a layer of light-catching black glitter. And, just last night, former model turned Savages front woman Jehnny Beth, who first buzzed her Jean Seberg–length pixie in 2013, played a sold-out show at Brooklyn’s Warsaw, continuing her world tour of the album Adore Life and unofficial campaign for at-home haircuts.

The trend, of course, isn’t entirely new. Agyness Deyn made waves in the early aughts by shunning her girl-next-door waves for a look more at home in her then-neighborhood, the East Village. The ’90s saw Eve Salvail become fashion’s favorite profile (and visible head tattoo) without the supermodel bombshell blowout, and the ’80s had Sinead O’Connor, who headed straight for the barber’s chair when record executives suggested miniskirts and hip-grazing hair. It was an empowering move that’s defined her ever since—or as she famously said, “I don’t feel like me unless I have my hair shaved.”

Razoring off your lengths by choice is inarguably liberating. There’s a reason that when Natalie Portman and Charlize Theron played rabble-rousing heroines, they did so without classic Hollywood waves. It’s the same explanation for why Grace Jones’s ultrashort hair was so fitting: A close-to-the-head crop nonverbally communicates that you are a woman who isn’t going to ask for permission. A buzz cut leaves you with nothing  to hide behind. And in a world where #nofilter is on the rise and makeup is a playful afterthought, why would you?

 

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Can Marijuana Save Your Skin—And Your Sex Life? Inside the New Topical Cannabis Phenomenon

As state laws allowing the use of marijuana—medical or otherwise—continue to relax like the crowd at a Phish show, places like Colorado, Washington, and California are turning out products unlike anything the world has seen before. Vape pens that double as design objects? They exist, even if you can’t buy them outside Oregon. Pot-infused granola bites from a James Beard Award–winning pastry chef? They’re coming, Chicago. Yet perhaps the most promising use for the plant is in a form that doesn’t even get you high. Cannabis is turning up in a host of new skin balms, lotions, oils, and bath salts, promising body benefits ranging from pain relief to better orgasms.

These potent products take the pot connection a step beyond those made with hemp seed oil, the moisturizer found in body-care brands like the recently launched Marley Natural line. That legal substance softens skin, but it doesn’t contain measurable amounts of cannabinoids, the naturally occurring compounds found in the flowers and leaves of the plant.

THC, the compound responsible for marijuana’s signature buzz, is the best known of these. CBD, another cannabinoid also found in both marijuana and industrial hemp plants grown for fiber, is non-psychoactive and a proven aid for pain, nausea, and anxiety (plus, if isolated and extracted from industrial hemp, it’s legal). But according to Ah Warner, founder of Washington–based body-care line Cannabis Basics and an activist for the industry, there are hundreds more of such compounds, each with unique healing properties. “They’re anti-inflammatory, antispasmodic, analgesic, cell-regenerative, and anti–cell proliferative for bad cells,” she says.

And when applied topically, cannabinoids can bring localized benefits without detectable brain buzz. Think of them as a natural high for your bum knee, or that pesky patch of irritated skin. This Vogue editor swears by Apothecanna’s minty, cooling Extra Strength Relieving Body Crème, a gift from a friend in L.A., for lower-back stiffness.

Most cannabinoid skin-care products on the market are designed to soothe achy spots or surface issues such as eczema. But those applications are just the tip of the iceberg: Oraximax, a forthcoming oral-care line, will tap into the antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties of the cannabinoid CBG. Kannactiv and Cannabis Beauty Defined, two skin-care lines from the same parent company, contain hemp-derived CBD as part of their formulas for clearing acne and combating signs of aging, respectively.

Last but not least, there are even cannabis topicals for the bedroom. Leading the charge is Foria, which claims its THC-heavy Pleasure oil for women, when applied externally and internally, increases blood flow and nerve sensation—amplifying sexual pleasure and intensifying orgasms. (Less titillating, though equally ingenious, are its CBD-rich Relief suppositories, designed to ease cramping and pelvic pain.)

Dr. Jennifer Berman, M.D., a prominent sexual-health advocate and clinician in Los Angeles, prescribes both Foria products to patients regularly—and is, in fact, such a fan of the line that she recently discussed it on Conan. “Perimenopausal, menopausal, and post-menopausal women who have noticed a decline in response have had great success with it,” she says of the oil. “Younger patients who have difficulty achieving orgasm have had enhanced response with it as well.”

All of which immediately sparks the question: How, and where, to get it? Some companies, like Oregon-based Empower Bodycare and Colorado-based Apothecanna, ship CBD-only versions of their products nationwide. But as Empower Bodycare founder Trista Okel points out, marijuana extracts that include THC “work better—this is because of the ‘entourage effect,’ in which the combination of cannabinoids are greater than the sum of their parts,” she explains.

In states where marijuana is legal, like Washington, Oregon, and Colorado, anyone of age can buy the products from cannabis dispensaries, though some marijuana-derived brands, like Cannabis Basics, sell only in the states where they’re made. Medical cardholders can access dispensaries in states like California and Illinois. Some companies, such as Foria for patients in California, allow online orders from certain medical-marijuana states once you’ve submitted the appropriate paperwork.

For the curious, the products offer an excuse to visit Portland or Seattle or Aspen this spring. “They’re effective, and they’re nonthreatening,” Warner says. “There’s no reason why everyone shouldn’t have access to them.” In any case, the anecdotal evidence appears highly promising.

 

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Pack Away Your Wolfords! Why Rosie Huntington-Whiteley’s Bare Legs Are Everything

Rihanna’s New “Kiss It Better” Instagram Is Bringing Back the Unibrow

Last night, amid a flurry of Instagrams teasing the release of tomorrow’s music video for “Kiss It Better,” Rihanna shared a photo of herself leaning back, providing a clear view of her signature bold lip; a light-catching smoky, glossy eye; and the thick, drawn-on eyebrows we became familiar with from the “Bitch Better Have My Money” single cover. These are the singer’s fail-safe beauty staples, but a new off-kilter detail accompanied the look: a smear of pigment between her brows that read as a unibrow. Blame it on the angle of the photograph, but beauty’s best bad gal just made one of grooming’s biggest noes a resounding yes. In other words, next time you’re thinking about picking up the tweezers, don’t.

 

Kendall Jenner, Cara Delevingne, and more of Rihanna’s Navy pay tribute to “Work”:

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Guess Which Hollywood Beauty Just Joined Instagram?

If the rise of the Instagirl has taught us anything, it’s that a thoughtfully curated profile just might beat the best publicist. But for a certain kind of celebrity, true Hollywood glamour requires an air of mystery that’s achieved by a careful balance of red carpet magic interspersed with the odd fuzzy paparazzi snap.

What better way, then, for the fiercely private Halle Berry to join the social media party than with a next-level beauty shot that manages to serve up a headline-grabbing hair transformation without giving away too much?

The Oscar winner rang in her new account with her short crop traded in for a long sun-bleached mane somewhere far, far away from winter’s last gasp. It’s a brand-new look for Berry that’s enough to convince us that even fashion’s new sense of polish has nothing on the eternal bombshell appeal of dried-in-the-breeze vacation waves.

 

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Can You Make Mall Goth Beauty Work in the Real World?

Who was the prevailing muse of the Fall 2016 season? Not some grand lady of the canyon or 17th-century courtesan queen, but the humble mall goth! Surely you remember that creature of the early aughts: born from suburbia to haunt Hot Topics in black JNCOs or fishnets, their heads doused in red Manic Panic.

There were echoes of her in the sulky nymphs who walked the runway in Marc Jacobs’s visionary collection, for which makeup artist François Nars crafted matte black lips and alien bleached brows, while at Louis Vuitton, Pat McGrath whipped up a subversive burgundy lip stain to flatter models’ come-as-you-are hair. But it was at Rihanna’s Fenty x Puma debut that the trend really took shape, when the singer asked Pat McGrath to transform golden goddess Gigi Hadid with a slick vinyl pout and white paint raked through her roots. With that stamp of approval from the ultimate beauty bellwether, the look seemed primed for a comeback—but how to execute the ’90s redux for the here and now?

The secret is to keep things fresh. Take Korean model Sora Choi, whose personal style recalls a goth-inflected Jane Lane. Flitting around Paris in combat boots and leather jackets, she makes ebony statement lips and a gritty shag haircut look wholly modern, thanks to a youthful flash of skin—shredded fishnets, or the décolleté, highlighted by a spiked collar. Lately, Fernanda Ly, too, has pushed her look into gothic territory, with a dark stain and oversize clothes kept grounded by shining skin and that pretty pop of pastel pink hair. And, of course, there’s Bad Gal RiRi herself, who eschewed lank goth strands for soft curls in her Fenty x Puma campaign, adding a vibrant touch as she whipped her head back and forth.

When I, too, decide to take the look for a spin, I focus first on crafting a healthy canvas by blending a hydrating cream foundation into my skin and dotting concealer under my eyes and around the nose. Near-flawless skin is the key to balancing intense gothic makeup—without it, I find, the color contrast highlights every flaw—and I choose to approach the makeup by focusing on one single statement at a time. A heavy slate shadow I’ve blended into the socket, for instance, is softened by a simple slick of lip balm to create a rather romantic look.

Starting from scratch the next day, I opt for matte black and swatch it onto my lips to sheer horror. Despite my clean complexion, I look instantly sallow; a coworker declares I look dead, while my less-than-perfect lip shape is spotlit for the world to see. At a loss, I decide to take a cue from Dior’s Fall show, where makeup artist Peter Philips gave a noir lip polish by topping it with clear gloss, and so learn that a dewy dark pout is imminently more wearable—especially when paired with a kicky plaid kilt and boyish black hoodie. As for the nails, exchanging long jet talons for a neat pitch violet manicure keeps my head-to-toe blacks from looking dated or dull.

It’s those playful touches that make it all work (work, work, work, work), and singlehandedly make the case for the return of the mall goth. This time, with less LiveJournal.

 

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Woody Allen’s Most Memorable Muses—From Diane Keaton to Blake Lively

This morning it was announced that the Cannes Film Festival’s opening night will kick off with Woody Allen’s Café Society, starring Kristen Stewart and Blake Lively—two actresses who reign on opposite ends of both the acting and beauty spectrums. Lively’s sunny optimism and highlights are an obvious choice for Allen, representing the buxom blondes that are the crux of the director’s plot twists. Will she play a naive and curvaceous Scarlett Johansson type, or might she be cast as an intriguingly cold Cate Blanchett–esque lead?

Then, of course, there’s Kristen Stewart, who has the potential to become a very different kind of Allen muse, following in the footsteps of the sharp-tongued, smoky-eyed Penélope Cruz; the unhinged and wonderfully disheveled Radha Mitchell; or the beguiling androgyne Diane Keaton. No matter their roles, Lively and Stewart’s knife-pleat cheekbones, pale eyes, and slept-in waves have the ability to render his cast of hyperintellectual leading men speechless. Because history has shown that, for Allen, a steadied gaze from the right set of piercing eyes (see Charlotte Rampling and Carla Bruni) has the ability to make a person feel, in the words of Stardust Memories character Sandy Bates, “indestructible.” And a wide, easy smile from the likes of Emma Stone or Julia Roberts can have even his darkest protagonists walking on air. Above, while we wait for Café Society’s May premiere, a look back at 16 muses who have defined Allen’s work.

 

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Work Out With Models at Manhattan’s Newest Gym

What We Know About Autism: Separating the Science From the Scandal

Shortly after pulling a controversial documentary linking autism and common childhood vaccinations from the Tribeca Film Festival, Robert De Niro issued a statement explaining that festival organizers and members of the scientific community “do not believe it contributes to or furthers the discussion I had hoped for.” Instead, his decision has sparked a conversation that has recirculated discredited theories, leaving even the most informed among us feeling slightly confused.

As it happens, there is no proven link between vaccines and autism spectrum disorders, which are characterized by difficulties with social interaction, verbal and nonverbal communication, and repetitive behaviors. The theory’s origins lie in a study of 12 children published in 1998 in the British medical journal The Lancet. The article blamed the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine typically given to babies between 12 and 15 months for the eventual onset of behavioral problems among the children. It was retracted in 2010, and Andrew Wakefield, the doctor who led the research, has since been stripped of his medical license.

“It’s positively clear there is no relationship between the vaccine and autism,” says Eric Hollander, MD, director of the Autism and Obsessive Compulsive Spectrum Program and a professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center in New York. According to the CDC, one in 68 American children—one in 42 boys and one in 189 girls—is on the autism spectrum. The disorder is 10 times as prevalent as it was 40 years ago (though as a society we’re more informed about early signs, which means that higher detection rates are likely behind the surge).

Autism presents itself in many forms—from cases that would have once been characterized as severe intellectual impairment to those of individuals with high intelligence and good verbal skills who aren’t diagnosed until mid-life. The common thinking today is that its causes are a mix of genetic and environmental factors, which might include air pollution, gestational illnesses such as diabetes, and parental age. “There has been some data supporting advanced age of parents, but there’s also a theory that people with autistic traits can be awkward and marry later in life, so what we’re actually seeing is it being passed down genetically,” says Andrea Roberts, PhD, a research associate at Harvard’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health. She finds the gestational diabetes hypothesis more solid. “Obesity causes inflammation, which can have negative effects on the development of the fetal brain,” she says. “It’s plausible in terms of explaining autism’s increased prevalence—we used to be a lot thinner.”

In addition to identifying environmental triggers, scientists are still working to uncover the hundreds, or possibly thousands, of genetic mutations (there are more than 200 known genes linked to autism at present).

There is no FDA-approved treatment for the core autism symptoms. For now, says Dr. Hollander, researchers’ best bet is to focus on the 30 to 40 percent of cases that have a known genetic underpinning, and to attempt to create medical treatments to match genes. “It’s more of a personalized approach,” he says. “Every case is a unique interplay of several gene variations and environmental factors. This way of thinking doesn’t offer an easy solution.”

The most effective course of action is a combination of early detection (if a baby doesn’t point things out or smile at other people by his first birthday, it could indicate the condition) and intervention therapies aimed at helping young children build neural pathways, such as floor time and intense face-to-face interaction with a caregiver. “Late infancy is a major period of brain development,” says Rebecca Landa, PhD, director of the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the Kennedy Krieger Institute in Baltimore. “We’re not curing autism, but we can help children make sense of the world around them.”

No matter how patient and informed parents are, the meltdowns, anxiety, and difficulty expressing emotions that often accompany autism can be painful to cope with. Other experimental treatments gaining favor include transcranial magnetic stimulation, oxytocin (a hormone associated with social bonding that can be administered nasally), vitamin B12 injections (to improve brain function), and even cannabis (which has been shown to help those who suffer seizures).

“When I was starting out, we thought it was going to be easy,” says Dr. Hollander, who has been studying autism for more than 25 years. “We thought: We’re going to find a gene and develop a drug treatment that targets it. It has proven to be far more complex. I completely understand the urge to hang it all on one simple cause and blame vaccinations.”

 

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Why Your Next Moisturizer Should Be a Gel

Gel moisturizers have long had an image problem. Known more for what they lack—potentially pore-clogging oil—than what they could possibly provide, they’ve been relegated to the troubled-skin realm for years. “We always steered those with sensitive or dry skin away from gels, because they were stripping and better suited for oily, acne-prone complexions,” says New York City dermatologist Dr. Whitney Bowe, M.D. But a new wave of gel formulas is changing all that, promising deep hydration and powerful doses of anti-aging actives.

These reimagined moisturizers bear little resemblance to the harsh alcohol-based formulas of the past. And those still relying on alcohol tend to use it sparingly, offsetting it with generous doses of humectants, like hyaluronic acid and glycerin or encapsulated shea butter and healing ceramides. The special polymers used in modern gels “can really hold a lot of water—much more than you’d commonly find in a cream or lotion,” says cosmetic chemist Jim Hammer. Beyond basic hydration, gels excel at delivering skin-repairing plant extracts and water-soluble antioxidants, like vitamin C, into the skin. (Countless overnight masks take advantage of this trait.)

To capture the same sense of indulgence found in creams, chemists have tweaked gels’ consistency—but their cool, classic freshness remains. Which is precisely why “they’re such a saving grace in the warmer months when the air is humid, and we don’t need or desire a heavy moisturizer,” says Dr. Dendy Engelman, M.D., a dermatologist in New York City, who praises Skin Medica HA5 Rejuvenating Hydrator for its five types of hyaluronic acid and miniscule amount of alcohol. A favorite of Bowe, Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel also counts on hyaluronic acid for all-day hydration, while Koh Gen Do All In One Moisture Spa Gel suspends melt-on-contact capsules of jojoba seed oil, olive squalane, and shea butter in a botanical base. And Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Gel quenches and brightens skin with an invigorating mix of pineapple ceramides, bearberry, and watermelon rind that practically begs for a cocktail parasol.

 

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Gigi Hadid Confirms Her Status in the Supermodel Club With This ’90s Hair Signature

5 Korean Models Share the Secrets Behind Their Surreally Good Skin

Backstage at Seoul Fashion Week’s Fall 2016 shows, a group of fresh-faced young models sat chatting away as makeup artists hovered above them with concealer palettes and cushion compacts. Yet in most cases the girls required the most minimal of touch-ups, thanks to the near-flawless complexion and lit-from-within glow that a devotion to Korean skin care can bring. Here, five of the week’s top models share one beauty tip that they’re loving right now—from a hydrating alternative to oil cleanser to the low-key secret to a full pout.

 

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Malaysian Pop Star Yuna Shares the Secrets to Her Epic Head Scarf Game

If you haven’t yet heard of Yuna—born Yunalis Mat Zara’ai—you’ll soon hear her everywhere. Following the recent release of her new single recorded in collaboration with Usher, “Crush,” the Malaysian-born, L.A.-based singer-songwriter is preparing to release a new album, Chapters, in May, made with a host of Hollywood super-producers. She describes her sound as “vibe-y—a really cool mix.” And the same description applies to Yuna’s distinctive beauty look, which, with its nods to her Malaysian Muslim culture, isn’t quite like anything the mainstream pop and R&B worlds have seen before. She is, as concisely summed up by her Instagram bio, “a different kind of modern woman.”

That much comes across immediately in her omnipresent head scarves, or hijabs—a defiantly demure statement in what already feels like the year of the naked selfie. “I believe in modesty, so I cover myself,” Yuna explains. “It’s gaining a lot of popularity with hijabi fashion bloggers. I’m no different from those girls, except I make music.” Though Yuna didn’t grow up wearing one—she describes her native country as “more on the liberal side” and estimates about half the Muslim women in Malaysia sport them by choice—she made the decision to do so around a decade ago, and now keeps hundreds of styles in her daily rotation. “It became a part of me immediately,” she says. “When I put it on, I feel more confident. A lot of people think it’s a symbol of oppression. But it’s very liberating, actually.”

Part of that sense of empowerment is in the way a head scarf shifts focus toward a woman’s facial features, Yuna explains. “You’re protecting your identity as a woman. You’re protecting your magic, you know?” Yet she refuses to judge anyone for doing otherwise: “On the other end of the spectrum there are women who believe in showing your body, and that’s fine, too,” she says. “It’s an interesting time to see people embracing differences.”

It’s an attitude Yuna would like to see more of in her own culture. “You know what’s weird?” she says. “A lot of Southeast Asian girls think that being fair-skinned is beautiful. So they always try to use whitening products. I was never considered beautiful back home.” As hard as that is to believe, Yuna is using her fame to ensure her experience won’t be repeated across generations. “When I got here [to L.A.], a lot of people were so intrigued by my features. I think that’s what I realized—in America, being colorful is beautiful. I always try to tell that to the younger girls back home in Malaysia. I recently tweeted about this—I’m tan, too, you can be on my team.”

And though she says that she, like most Malaysian girls, “like[s] to be made up,” Yuna prefers a natural look that lets her features shine through. First and foremost are those almond eyes: “If I don’t have makeup on, I still do my brows and mascara.” (Her favorites: Anastasia Beverly Hills’s Brow Powder Duo and Urban Decay’s Perversion, respectively.) For lips, she keeps things neutral, rotating between shades in NYX’s Lip Lingerie collection. And she’s “obsessed” with Burberry’s Cashmere foundation—“I went around L.A. to look for my shade, warm honey. I use it every day. It feels great on my skin, looks great.”

As for taking care of that skin, “I’m all about SK-II,” she says, ticking off the brand’s moisturizers, makeup remover, mask, and Pitera spray as go-to’s. And beyond the surface, Yuna also swears by ulam, a traditional Malaysian vegetable salad made with the leaves of the medicinal gotu kola plant, and the more universal practice of drinking water with fresh lemon every morning.

The list of women who inspire Yuna’s approach reflects her global perspective: There’s Sade (“the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen”), Gwen Stefani, and Malaysian pop star Ning Baizura, whom Yuna says “doesn’t have the typical Malaysian look. I could relate to her since I was 6.” Back then, Yuna says, “people said I was ugly because of my lips. But I think I grew out of that and just embraced my natural beauty.” Spoken like an icon in the making.

 

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The 10 Best Beauty Looks: Week of March 28, 2016

Model Kiki Willems Goes Red! Why We Love Her Fiery Hair Transformation

5 Plus-Size Models Transforming the Way We Look at Beauty

The Off-Duty Hair Upgrade That Karlie Kloss Swears By

If you ruefully shampooed and styled your Easter bedhead into a thing of office-ready elegance this morning, Karlie Kloss has a message for you: There’s no need to rethink a perfectly good head of weekend waves.

The model was snapped while out on a Sunday stroll with her boyfriend, Joshua Kushner, in New York City yesterday with a scraped-back knot that felt as classic as her slim-fitted, belted trench. It’s a date-friendly style that’s no longer just the international signature of the off-duty model—but the kind of effortlessly chic civilian upgrade that promises to work seven days a week.

 

Taylor Swift vs. Karlie Kloss—who’s the best best friend?

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Beauty Shopping at Seoul’s Best Drugstore With Model Ji Young Kwak

Taking Cues from Marnie’s No-Makeup Makeup on Girls Last Night

Emily Ratajkowski and Lily Aldridge Master This Twinning Beauty Signature

Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid may have elevated BFF hair to supernatural heights—and Cara Delevingne and Annie Clark leave us convinced that the couple who buys lipstick together stays together—but judging by our favorite new Insta twins, a next-level doppelgänger moment may be as simple as an eyebrow tweak.

Emily Ratajkowski and Lily Aldridge posted a selfie yesterday looking practically identical, with glowing, sun-kissed skin, flesh-toned lips—and a matching set of luxuriously thick, brushed-up arches. It’s the kind of look that could put Tweezerman out of business, not to mention cure an extreme case of nude-makeup boredom just in time for the sunny season, but the real takeaway is this: There’s simply no greater beauty game changer than getting your eyebrows just right.

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5 Baby Shower Gifts to Please Any Mom-to-Be

If summer is the season for weddings, spring always seems to feel like a baby shower bonanza. So what to gift the soon-to-be moms on your list? Teddy bears, onesies, and mobiles are old standards, but they’re also in high supply at a Saturday afternoon gift-opening fete. Instead, treat your girlfriend to chic bath and body products featuring ingredients that are safer for infants. Eco-minded line Beautycounter has just launched products for children and babies housed in colorful, sleek, kid-friendly packaging perfect for any nursery. The Honest Company has become a go-to for most chemical-conscious parents, while miniOrganics is a favorite of savvy moms like Gwyneth Paltrow who want simple, organic products for their little ones. Sophie La Girafe—the brand behind the classic teether toy—also has a line of eco-certified, adorably bottled kits for kids. And luxe children’s clothing company Bonpoint has delved into the world of bath time with a body oil elegant enough to sit on Mom’s dressing table. Above, five favorites to wrap up and tote with you to your next baby shower—your friends (and their new bundles of joy) will thank you.

 

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DJ May Kwok’s Surf Diary Will Fuel Your Spring Break Dreams

In need of spring break inspiration? Take a scroll through DJ May Kwok’s Instagram. When the New Yorker isn’t counting down the days until summer at the Rockaways, her local surf spot, she’s chasing an endless one on the coasts in Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Costa Rica, and, most recently, Mexico.

Drawn south of the border by videos of her favorite surfer, Lola Mignot—the anointed Gypsy Princess of Sayulita—cross-stepping in the waist-high swell, Kwok made a weeklong escape from winter in favor of practicing yoga, powering up with fresh organic smoothies, browsing colorful blankets at local boutique Evoke the Spirit, and, of course, catching waves from sunrise until sunset. Armed with little more than lash extensions (which belied the need for makeup), sunscreen, and a few bikinis, she assembled a photo diary of her latest adventure, which she recounts here.

 

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How Jennifer Lawrence is Bringing Back the Bobby Pin

The 10 Best Beauty Instagrams of the Week: Selena Gomez, Kendall Jenner, and More

Spring is officially in the air, and our favorite beauty innovators took to Instagram to celebrate with bikini bodies, bold pops of color, and the kind of windblown hair that can only come from windows-down weather.

One such mane belonged to eternal flower child Drew Barrymore, who shared a quick video of the classic California road trip we’d love to be on, featuring cool shades, smooth moves, and the actress’s trademark blonde waves. Lou Doillon embraced a city-centric take on breezy hair in Paris, with artfully tangled lengths tipped in blanched blue, while one half of the Khadra twins elevated a sunny Manhattan crosswalk with a gusty sheet of mahogany strands.

Back inside, power duo Gigi Hadid and Lily Aldridge created their very own elements, shaking out a series of ironed and lengthy ponytails, each paired with a choker and the particular brand of bone structure that separates the models from the supers.

Meanwhile, bikini season made its official debut by way of Melodie Monrose, who donned cornrows for a day of sun-drenched smiles alongside Imaan Hammam. Selena Gomez paired her striped two-piece with a pair of boots and a cascade of raven waves for an afternoon at the piano. And in the world of Kendall Jenner, selfies were snapped and shared, this time in the company of photographer Mert Alas, who demonstrated mock shock as Jenner proved that a matte cherry lip supplements any accessory—even an eye-popping animated gaze.

 

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10 Candy-Colored Lipsticks to Brighten Your Weekend

One glance at the cotton-candy wigs and matching lips on Ashish’s Fall 2016 runway was all it took to turn skeptical editors’ side-eyes into wide, hopeful grins. The cheerful-makeup trend continued with Max Mara’s high-gloss, high-watt mouths paired with colorful barrettes and tailored suits (all wrapped up in one sweet primary palette) and Fendi’s Burning Man–inspired tangerine-painted pouts.

Now, with brighter days ahead, it feels only right to borrow a bit of the recent shows’ upbeat attitude, and spring’s new wave of candy-colored lipsticks, glosses, and balms is just the thing to match our mood. Craving a flash of blue fit for a Pixy Stix wrapper? New York’s Winky Lux created its cruelty-free Matte Lip Velour in Blue Moon without parabens, making it a rare find on the electric-hued cosmetics scene. And Korea’s cult Chosungah 22 brand took the candy craze to the next level with its Flavorful Lipstick in Guava Tint Jello, which tints lips in a clear neon peachy-pink balm that tastes a bit like an orange Jolly Rancher.

Above, 10 bright lip products to help you loosen up this weekend.

 

 

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How Suki Waterhouse Turns Boyish Into a Bombshell Moment

Even when she makes the rare case for brushing your hair or sidelines her signature cat-eyes for a sprinkling of glitter, Suki Waterhouse is a modern-day messenger of Brigitte Bardot–inspired sensuality.

But even this master of bombshell bedhead has her idiosyncratic moments: The Burberry muse inspired a double take on Instagram with her sex-kitten hair traded in for a slick side part this week. Paired with a tuxedo, the look took on a razor-sharp androgyny. It’s a savvy move for a budding actress that carries a universal beauty lesson: Moving out of your comfort zone can yield unexpectedly pretty results.

 

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An Adventurer’s Guide to the Best Argan Oil in Marrakech

Working Out, Korean Style: Behind Seoul’s New Fitness Movement

Do Korean girls ever work out? People tend to believe that much like the Parisienne, whose fitness approach is relatively laissez-faire, the Seoulite can eat whatever she likes without breaking a sweat. Considering the preternaturally slim models and street style regulars who dominate Seoul’s Fashion Week scene, the notion doesn’t seem too farfetched. But when I broach the idea over tea with Korean Vogue Beauty Director Jisu Paek, her reaction—laughter—says it all.

It’s true: Korean women have to work at staying in shape like anyone else, and over the past three years or so, a new fitness movement has swept through the city—one that focuses on building muscle, not losing weight. “It was all about being thin and slim, but now it’s about having that healthy, glowing body,” says model Irene Kim. “It’s recently started to become more of a routine, too.” For the rainbow-haired icon, that means Pilates at Shasha in Apgujeong—a favorite workout studio among models—two or three times a week to create that newly desirable muscle tone.

It’s in nearby Gangnam that Seoul’s beauty and workout trends are born, and according to Paek, the current yen for boutique studio fitness boils down to two camps. Posture correction was the city’s entrée into exercise culture; yoga and Pilates took hold first, followed by extreme homegrown variations like Sling. “A lot of the ones that make you look pretty, or that look pretty when you do them, are trending,” Kim says. Sling is a next-level take on balance training that involves pushing your feet through two cotton loops, hung from a jungle gym structure, and contorting your body in midair.

Lately, Paek adds, more hard-core workouts have been proliferating, too—weight training, TRX, and even CrossFit. Thanks to a spate of chic fitness salon openings, including a popular series with Reebok called CrossFit Sentinel, the high-intensity interval workout has become a favorite of Gangnam women—particularly those who, Paek says, want to build a better butt. “The body trends are changing,” she says. “Now muscular is better than thinner.” But as Kim puts it, “Women are [also] working out for their health.”

The intensity of CrossFit, however, is nothing compared to Micro, which just might best embody the Korean workout philosophy: It’s a machine that delivers low-frequency electrical pulses (or micro-currents) to stimulate muscles. Enthusiasts claim that it packs around four hours of exercise into just 20 minutes—and swear by it. It seems that here, beauty is pain after all.

 

Watch Irene Kim’s Seoul Fashion Week Snapchat takeover:

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The 5 Most Flattering Pedicure Shades for Spring—Straight From the Pros

With each passing week, sweaters become gauzier, tights become optional—and sandals are no longer a souvenir from the warmer months but a viable footwear option to flirt with. As we trade in our ankle booties for minimal mules, pedicures suddenly make a comeback, taking priority in springtime beauty routines.

For those who emerge from winter with a vampirical pallor or find themselves simply unready for summertime brights, selecting the perfect shade for your pedicure’s seasonal debut requires some strategy. To aid in the decision-making process, we asked five experts to weigh in with their recommendations for the most universally flattering shades.

 

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Could Your Workout Impact Your Gut Health? Yes—And Here’s Why

Fungi, protozoans, bacteria, nonliving viruses. It might not be pretty, but the human microbiome is a beautiful thing. The approximately 100 trillion bacteria that live in our gut (and, to a lesser degree, our mouths and skin) boost indispensable functions that support metabolism, immune systems, and mental health. Ever-mounting evidence of the powers of the microbiome—some call it “the forgotten organ”—has the health-conscious among us downing probiotic-packed yogurt drinks and investing in prebiotic supplements. Now, it might have us booking into a Spin class.

The link between physical activity and gut flora was noted two years ago, when researchers published a study comparing the national rugby team of Ireland and sedentary men, which found that the elite athletes had healthier guts. But the study did not control for dietary differences among its subjects into account, which left room for interpretation. The latest research, however, confirms what the rugby study suggested: We can alter our bacterial structure through exercise.

“That people who move more have a more diverse microbiome is something that we noticed at my lab several years ago, but we couldn’t prove causality,” says Rob Knight, Ph.D., director of the Center for Microbiome Innovation at U.C. San Diego. “These studies are incredibly exciting.” One, published last week in the journal PLOS One, compared two sets of young mice: those that exercised and those that didn’t. Some of the rodents ate a high-fat diet, others, low fat. Over the course of 12 weeks, the rodents that ran on a wheel, regardless of diet type, experienced an increase in several helpful bacteria—some by as much as 40 percent. The study’s lead author, Sara Campbell, Ph.D., at the Department of Exercise Science and Sport Studies at Rutgers University, points out that she found exercise to be extremely effective at raising levels of butyrate, the bacteria that helps protect against colon cancer. “Exercise might also help you feel less bloated,” she says.

Recent findings out of the University of Colorado Boulder show a similar cause and effect. While the youngest rats in that study had guts that benefited the most as a result of exercise, researchers also found some beneficial changes in the older exercisers. These findings suggest that there is an age of “peak plasticity”—and it’s likely before adulthood—yet the study’s senior author, Monika Fleshner, Ph.D., says the findings could be good news for those of us who are older than Willow Smith. Fleshner’s hunch: Exercise plus prebiotics (commonly nondigestible dietary fibers, often from plants, which help the body’s healthy bacteria flourish) will be the golden ticket. “[It] could have an exponential effect in adults,” she says of the combination. She is midway through a clinical trial testing out her hypothesis.

Perhaps most exciting is a study out of the European University of Madrid that used human subjects. Researchers looked at 104 men and women ages 18 to 45, divided into those who were sedentary and those who exercised three to five hours a week. “Our main goal was to see if exercising regularly, but not professionally, was enough to see changes in the microbiota,” says Mar Larrosa Perez, Ph.D., who led the research. The findings included a four-fold increase in bifidobacterium, which boosts the immune system. Another notable finding: Many of the effects were more pronounced in women. So the next time you consider skipping your morning run, think about what it can do for your form and your gut flora.

 

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This ’90s Accessory Will Change Your Hair Game in 5 Seconds Flat

The New French Volumizing Powder That Gives You Brigitte Bardot Hair in a Bottle

Is There a Hair Color That Emma Stone Can’t Pull Off?

With her milky, freckled skin and green eyes, Emma Stone has the kind of Irish coloring that makes her so convincing as a redhead or a brunette, it’s hard to believe she’s actually a natural blonde.

The actress recently traded in her russet dye job for a deep brunette hue that has since settled into a rich auburn that makes the case for crossing over to the dark side. It’s a rule-breaking move as we head toward the sunny season, when lightening up with highlights or embracing a paler base color is the standard norm. The takeaway? While you can’t go wrong by staying within a couple of shades of your God-given hair color, sometimes it pays to play against type.

 

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Shop the Prettiest Pastel Makeup by Color Palette

There’s something sweet in the air this week. Models and It girls alike have been spotted with rainbow-colored hair in Seoul, eggshell-tipped manicures in Paris, and rose-tinted makeup in New York. Just in time for Easter weekend, pastels are back, and this time around they’re softer and prettier than ever.

Now, we’re not suggesting you take the full pink hair dye plunge, but adding a single high-impact touch of confectionary color into your makeup bag is enough to freshen up your brunch look. It can also read more cool than sweet when done right—think a crisp line of baby blue pigment along the lash lines or a coat of fresh lavender polish on nails. Of course, ultimately, it all comes down to sourcing the right palette—and we’ve done the work for you. In honor of Easter weekend, here are four color families worth dipping into year-round.

 

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6 Sunny Fitness Escapes for a Better Body Now

With longer days signaling the arrival of spring and the promise of exposed shoulders, arms, and legs on the horizon, you may suddenly find yourself taking stock of your post-winter body. Or, to put it another way, you’re only two short months from swimsuit season.

This year, rather than a panic-fueled sprint to the nearest gym, why not kick-start your workout routine with a fitness vacation that also promotes a healthier mind-set? After all, the prospect of limbering up under vast open skies in regions warmed by sunny rays seems certain to inspire motion. Retreats in Boulder, Ojai, and Jackson Hole help to heal any muscle stresses or sluggishness accumulated over the winter months by optimizing oxygen delivery or regenerating muscle fascia. High-intensity itineraries, in destinations from Miami to Cuixmala, Mexico, focus on rebuilding muscle tone at beachside boot camps, traversing slot canyons, or surfing hidden breaks.

Here are six inventive retreats that will boost heart rates, realign bodies, perk up dormant muscles, and boost spirits.

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Here’s How Cool Girls Will Be Working a Hair Bow This Month

Emma Roberts Says Goodbye to Platinum—And Hello to a Cool New Brunette

IMG Models Signs Hailey Baldwin: The Model’s Best Instagram Beauty Moments

Late last night, IMG Models announced the signing of a global contract with Hailey Baldwin, further cementing the return of a sunny new breed of bombshell supermodel. Combining Hollywood genes (courtesy of actor Stephen Baldwin) with pillowy lips, pale blonde lengths, and all-American good looks, Baldwin belongs to a new brat pack—along with BFFs Kendall Jenner and Gigi Hadid—that has been exerting the growing force of its social media pull on the fashion industry.

It’s certainly not hard to understand her appeal: Baldwin’s look skews sensual, with power brows, lengthy lashes, and radiant skin that’s most often accompanied by a bold matte lip in nude, fleshy pink, or bordeaux. French braids, chokers, topknots, beanies, and a soft spot for Justin Bieber have made Baldwin the latest face of the new generation of It girl. With a new power agency behind her, she seems poised to take her beauty inspiration to the next level. Here, 18 of our favorite above-the-neck moments from the model’s Instagram.

 

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How Behati Prinsloo Supercharges Her New Pregnancy Glow

Considering that Behati Prinsloo has always shown an honorary French  girl preference for good skin over elaborate makeup, is there anyone who could be more thrilled about that inimitable glow that comes with pregnancy?

The 26-year-old Angel, who is expecting her first child with husband Adam Levine, was spotted at the launch of her Black Label collection for Juicy Couture in New York City last night with the kind of incandescent skin that requires little more than a warm swirl of tawny blush and a dab of rosy nude lipstick to look its best.

A few individual false lashes added a bombshell touch, while her glossy waves acted as a polished upgrade to her trademark disheveled bedhead. But surging hormones and expert styling aside, her bright-eyed radiance might come down to the oldest beauty secret in the book: happiness.

 

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The Best Movie Wedding Hair of All Time, From Cinderella to Audrey Hepburn

While wedding dresses in movies can be as iconic as the actresses who wear them, we contend that it’s not only the gown but also the hair that truly makes the look of our favorite brides on film.

In How to Marry a Millionaire, Lauren Bacall’s cunning Schatze Page character shares her calling card mane, a side-parted, glossy, polished chop that translates from everyday life to multiple walks down the aisle. On-screen aristocratic unions rely on the allure of heightened—at times, literally—hair to embody the drama and glamour of nobility: Barry Lyndon’s well-born bride takes volume to another level entirely, while in Marie Antoinette, Kirsten Dunst’s transformation to the Dauphine of France (which can be easily traced through her hairstyles) begins with an angelic weaving of braids and bows.

Understated styles represent a certain brand of naïveté in both The Graduate and Kill Bill, but in Honeymoon in Vegas, Sarah Jessica Parker’s exuberant, over-the-top updo manages to keep stride with Nicolas Cage’s Elvis-inspired look—signifying the ultimate true love match. And who says twinning hair is a new concept? Jane Russell and Marilyn Monroe paved the way for future BFFs in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, embracing a double wedding in similarly styled coifs. Above, our favorite on-screen wedding hair of all time.

 

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9 Ballet-Inspired Workouts for a Dancer’s Body

Many girls who spent extracurricular hours perfecting their pliés went on to drop ballet, unready or unwilling to trade in their slippers for pointe shoes. With their grade-school ballerina years behind them, those yearning for a lissome dancer’s body have sashayed over to ballet-inspired workouts. Through extensive stretching (an afterthought at many barre studios) and barre and mat work, these classes promise the sylphlike physique and defined musculature of a dancer without the rigorous training prescribed by classical ballet.

Here, we round up the best ballet-inspired classes across the country.

 

New York City

 

Ballet Beautiful
Responsible for whittling Natalie Portman down for her role in Black Swan, Mary Helen Bowers offers classes at her two Manhattan Ballet Beautiful studios. Those unable to join in person can also sculpt their swan arms with Bower’s DVDs or via a live one-on-one session.

Ballet and Body
In additional to ballet, tango, and ballroom dance classes, this sunlit boutique Upper East Side studio offers a Ballet Body Fitness class for those looking to develop lean dance muscles. Slippers optional.

 

Los Angeles

 

Ballet Bodies
This West Hollywood studio delivers on the promise of its name with a Ballet Sculpt class that combines mat Pilates, floor barre, and personal training.

Align Ballet Method
With seven locations scattered about Los Angeles, Align Ballet Method uniquely focuses on training adult beginners in classical ballet with a series of progressive classes. Students whose end goal is not a pair of pointe slippers can opt for the ballet-centric Barre class.

 

San Francisco

 

Avant Barre
Offered in two levels, Avant Barre’s signature class blends circuit training, deep stretching, and heart-pumping choreography for a full-body workout with ballet-body results.

 

Austin, Texas

 

Dancers Shape
Founded by a former Radio City Rockette, this studio offers a range of classes with a signature Shape Barre class focused on stretching and lengthening muscles.

 

Miami

 

Barrebox
This studio offers balletic workouts pairing two unlikely sports (ballet and boxing) in its Balletbox class, created by Barrebox founder and former prima ballerina Maria Teresa del Real.

 

Chicago

 

Mazi Dance Studio
With three locations in the Chicago area, Mazi’s extensive roster includes Ballerina Fight Club and Ballerina Bum Bootcamp classes to strength-train your way to a svelte figure.

 

Boston

 

Boston Ballet School
Among its lineup of classic dance courses for adults, the renowned Boston Ballet offers a Ballet Workout class aimed to give dance-body aspirants the strength, balance, and control exuded by its own ballerinas (whom you might pass on your way to class).

 

Ballet Beautiful

Health & Fitness

Mary Helen Bowers is an industry legend for her incredibly toning, ballet-inspired workout classes. More

Contact

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New York, NY

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3 Tiny Tweaks That Will Supercharge Your Workout Routine

Though bikini season looms on the horizon, recent studies are giving us even more reasons to clock hours at the gym—reasons that go well beyond seaside confidence. From emotional stability to better marathon times, a few minor adjustments to your day and workout routines will have maximum impact on your life (not to mention the payoff when you slip into that Dolce & Gabbana two-piece). Here, a look at how to tailor your habits for optimal head-to-toe improvement.

Indulge in dark chocolate.
It’s time to dismiss any guilt over your weakness for chocolate, according to a recent study conducted by researchers at Kingston University in England and published in The Journal of the International Society of Sports Medicine. Testing the benefits of dark chocolate, which contains epicatechin (a compound known to trigger the release of nitric oxide, which boosts blood flow, cardiac function, energy, and oxygen delivery in the body), eight recreational cyclists were asked to eat 1.4 ounces of the candy every day for two weeks. Without making any other changes to their training techniques, the athletes each saw an improvement in their performance—using less oxygen during moderately paced rides and covering more distance in two-minute sprints than they did before incorporating chocolate. The takeaway? A square and a half of (dark) chocolate a day keeps workout fatigue at bay.

Boost your brain with cardio.
By now, you probably know which exercises work for your body, but do you know which are best for your brain? According to a study published in The Journal of Physiology by researchers at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland, running, weight training, and high-intensity interval training affect the brain (in this case, that of rats) differently. Measuring the number of new neurons that appear in adult male rats’ hippocampi—the location in the brain integral to learning and memory—after a workout, scientists found that continued aerobic exercise (here, running) over the course of six to eight weeks could double or triple the number of new neurons produced, in comparison to sedentary rats. Meanwhile, rats that performed high-intensity interval training showed much less neurogenesis than their running counterparts, and those that participated in resistance training saw no difference in neurogenesis as compared to the sedentary rats. The researchers have reason to believe that humans who run, bike, or swim may experience similar brain growth.

Meditate for your mood.
While we know that aerobic activity is beneficial for the brain (see above), and that meditating is a known mood stabilizer, researchers at Rutgers University have found that when practiced in succession, the two activities are especially adept at fighting depression. According to a new study published last month by Translational Psychiatry, 52 men and women who practiced sitting focused attention meditation for 20 minutes (mentally focusing and counting their breath) and walking meditation for 10 minutes (paying attention to each slow step), and then moderately ran or cycled for 30 minutes twice a week for eight weeks reported a 40 percent improvement in mood and focus—including the 22 members of the group who had been classified as clinically depressed. The reasoning here, the scientists suspect, is that rumination, the thinking pattern that dwells on unhappy thoughts and bad memories, is reduced because of neurogenesis, which is boosted by aerobic activities and sustained by the meditation. And that, clearly, is something we could all benefit from.

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8 DIY Wedding Makeup Tips You Need to Know

Wedding season is approaching, in all of its deeply romantic glory, along with every bride’s homestretch search for fresh, photogenic makeup that won’t stir feelings of regret in the years to come (contour with care, ladies). If you don’t plan on using a professional makeup artist or are traveling to a destination where you’d rather rely on your own skills than entrust a stranger who may not share your sensibility (or taste level) for your most important look, having a seasoned pro walk you through exactly the products to find and steps to take is a great plan of attack.

For this, we called up makeup artist Daniel Martin—whose clients include Saoirse Ronan, Olivia Palermo, and Jessica Alba—for his tips on mastering your close-up on the big day. Think quality brushes; wax-on, wax-off foundation applications; and emergency rosewater mists. Once you’ve got the steps on lockdown, try a trial run at least a few weeks before the wedding, enlisting a camera-savvy friend to snap a few photos in different lighting, and fine-tune your final look to prevent any day-of missteps.

Here, Martin’s insider guide for foolproof DIY wedding makeup.

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Whitening Your Teeth Just Got a Lot Easier

Months spent warming up with glasses of Bordeaux and eating winter comfort foods can leave even the most diligent dental obsessives feeling less than their whitest and brightest. Surprisingly, most foods we eat daily stain our teeth, and discoloration can accumulate despite sipping through straws and brushing after meals. Luckily, a host of new high-tech products are making it easier than ever to press restart on your smile.

Philips Sonicare DiamondClean, for instance, is a powerful electric toothbrush built with five brushing modes designed for sensitive teeth, gum care, and even elimination of surface stains. Skip the dentist’s office with Glo’s Brilliant Personal Teeth Whitening Device, which relies on an at-home eight-minute process that, when used for five consecutive days, efficiently removes discoloration. Another breakthrough product is Apa Beauty’s White Duo system, a combination of whitening pens and strips; after 90 minutes of cumulative use for five days, the result mimics the most powerful professional treatments.

Short on time and looking for an instant fix? Swipe on a layer of Lancôme’s Juicy Shaker in Mint to Be—when applied, the blue pigments help teeth appear whiter.

Try any of these six solutions, and your teeth will shine bright, long after lunch.

 

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How North West and Friends Do Easter Weekend Beauty

Between Harper Beckham’s sun-bleached waves and Seoul Fashion Week’s pint-sized street style stars this week, who could be blamed for feeling tempted to take a picture of a kid to the salon? Here to save us from judgment: North West and friends, who celebrated Easter early this year with hair inspiration too good to pass up—but, crucially, easy enough to create without getting your stylist involved.

The part-time ballerina was spotted on Snapchat today with her cousin, Penelope Disick, as well as another well-coiffed buddy, enjoying a hayride with a trio of devastatingly on-point hairstyles that has us determined to get our bedhead act together: a slim fishtail braid that was woven down the middle and wrapped into a chic knot; a winningly off-kilter high ponytail; and, in the case of fashion’s first toddler, a cloud of free-flowing curls. A sign that, with or without the bunny ears, fashion’s new focus on individuality is resonating with all ages? When you’re about to meet the Easter Bunny, honestly, who cares.

 

Watch Kim Kardashian and Kanye West’s behind-the-scenes video (with a North West cameo!) from their April 2014 cover shoot:

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Meet the Korean Stylist Behind Irene Kim’s Rainbow Hair

Elizabeth Olsen’s Stealth Trick for Turning Up the Bombshell Factor

If her sisters, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, have each parlayed their signature low-key sophistication into a thing of iconic beauty, Elizabeth Olsen is a testament to the joy of constant reinvention. One moment she’s pairing rumpled cool-girl waves with a double dose of mascara, the next she’s setting off a slick knot with a crisp bordeaux lip—all the while showing off an aesthetic dexterity that’s in line with her acting chops.

For the premiere of her new film in Los Angeles last night, the I Saw the Light star reached into still another bag of hair and makeup tricks to create her most bombshell look yet: glowing, lightly bronzed skin that was supercharged with gleaming copper eyeshadow and a diffuse stroke of eyeliner. The effect was a modern take on Brigitte Bardot meets new Hollywood glamour, made all the more sex kittenish with a textured center-parted style that sported a hint of volume at the crown. Now this is how you take nudes and bedhead to the next level.

 

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