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11 beauty trends that should have never happened

Avoid these beauty buzzkills at all costs Recent years have seen particularly vibrant, eccentric and unpredictable movements in the beauty sphere. Don’t get us wrong; beauty is an aesthetic concept that is indeed subjective to the eye of the beholder, but some of these recent trends aren’t as appealing as you might think. While you’re recovering from the traumatic fashion trends embedded in our history, take comfort in knowing that just about every decade has encountered questionable decisions – whether that be sartorial or cosmetic. If the thought of sporting orange Crocs and popcorn shirts makes you cringe, consider discarding these unflattering beauty trends as well. As proven peeves for guys, makeup artists and job employers alike, these 11 beauty trends actually do the opposite of their intended purpose. Overly sticky lip gloss We all love to sport a glossy pout, but when your lips are so sticky that they begin to look like you doused your mouth in maple syrup, that’s a problem. Wearing it outside especially doesn’t help; nobody likes spending the day with sticky, raspberry pink-streaked strands. Not surprisingly, men aren’t fans of it either; surveys have found that the majority of men vote against women donning it on a dinner date. Not only does it diminish the whole effortless, woke-up-like-this impression you’re trying to pull off, but nobody wants to make out with super glue. Instead, try opting for long-lasting lip tints that moisturise with a subtle sheen. Extensive self-tanner Unless you’re naturally blessed with the wondrous genes of a luminous rose gold complexion, the rest of us mere mortals have been turning to self-tanners to bestow that subtle bronze glow. This doesn’t come with no strings attached however; not only can it ruin that expensive white cashmere sweater you just bought, one coat too many and you’ll begin to resemble a baked pastry. Instead of that “fresh-out-of-the-oven” look, try a tinted moisturiser instead. Stiff hair Applying too much hairspray can make your locks crunchier than a forest floor during September. Instead of spritzing half a bottle of hairspray on your poor scalp, keep it minimal or natural. Hair add-ins While synthetic clip-ons can be cute on a kid or at Coachella, feathers, extensions, and bells on a regular basis can come off rather childish. To prevent looking like a walking Christmas tree (and avoid making your hair look like an arts-and-crafts project), opt for dangling these trinkets on handbags or sporting them as jewellery instead. Neon lips While we’ve all seen the numerous images floating of (admittedly cool-looking) vibrant lipstick styles all over Pinterest, we’re still left scratching our heads as to what public setting one can don a neon green pout. Sporting electrifying colours too drastically divergent from your natural lip colour may make yourself come off as unprofessional and overly aggressive, so it’s best to stay away from the popping lips if you’re attending a job interview. Wet hair look Makeup artists worldwide have predicted this to be the major hair trend of the year. With celebrities like Rosie Huntington-Whiteley and Kim Kardashian West donning it on red carpets and said to have been inspired from Calvin Klein’s campaigns in the ‘90s, it has caught major spotlight everywhere. Although the tousled, wet hair look may look nice on the beachside, having a twist with too much slick on the streets may just come across as greasy, unwashed hair. Colour-blocked makeup Colour-blocking on clothing is undeniably chic, but colour-blocked makeup can make your face appear much too angular, and not in a good way. If you want to avoid looking like a makeup novice, don’t neglect the blending brush. Hangover makeup You know those mornings after a particularly rough night out, and you awaken to the sight of a bloated, saggy face? Well, now there’s a makeup trend striving for just that. A new trend known as “hangover beauty,” this look praises “aegyo-sal” (translated into “charming fat”), striving to highlight the puffiness under one’s eyes. To achieve the look, one has to line the bags underneath the eye and add blush above the cheekbones before blending them together into a reddish hue. This one’s pretty straightforward: don’t try to enhance what the rest of society usually tries to cover up. While having your eyes appear puffy and red-rimmed may have been an intentional choice for you, chances are people are just going to wonder how much sleep you got last night. Furry nails Ever since Jan Arnold, renown co-founder of CND nail polish, showcased furry nails on the runway, people have been plastering actual faux fur on their nails. Several obvious questions arise to the impracticality factor of this trend (how do you even eat or wash your hands with those?), but this nail art might be stretching it a tad too far, even for nail aficionados. You don’t want someone holding your hand to feel like he’s on a date with Sasquatch, so stick with the gel and acrylic for first impressions. Stark ombre hair Don’t get us wrong; we love ombre for many reasons – when done right. The biggest advice you could take for this is to seriously invest in a reputable hair stylist, or else your hair may just end up looking like you are in desperate need of a root touch-up. Never go cheap with ombre, and make sure your colour transition is gradual as opposed to stark. Bleached brows We have Cara Delevingne to thank for sparking the brow obsession; the pencil-thin arches reminiscent of the ’90s have officially been eliminated for thicker, fuller brows. But if you thought microblading was a bold move, think again. Stars like Katy Perry, Kendall Jenner and Rita Ora have all plunged into the peroxide party, inciting an entire movement of people grabbing the bleach to make their arches completely invisible. While that’s fine and all – if you’re into that sort of thing – fuller brows are proven to make you look younger. Image credits: Getty Images This article was originally published on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/healthsmart/beauty/11-beauty-trends-that-should-have-never-happened?pages=1" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Beauty & Style

Why are people putting toilet paper in the fridge?

Recently, people on social media have been advising you to replace that box of bi-carbonate of soda (baking soda) in the back of your fridge with a roll of toilet paper. Does this weird trick work? We asked kitchen and appliance experts to see what the pros had to say! <h4>Why put toilet paper in the fridge?</h4> Ruiz Asri, editor of Honest Food Talks, says toilet paper’s absorbency is behind this hack. “Moisture in the refrigerator often contributes to mildew and unpleasant odour,” Asri says. The toilet paper absorbs excess moisture, along with foul smells. References to toilet paper in the fridge can be found as far back as 2015. But its dedicated use of it as an odour absorber seems to be more recent, with videos appearing on TikTok and Facebook. Does it work? Yes, to a point. While TP will absorb odours, other options are more efficient, take up less space and generate fewer odd looks from houseguests. Amy, from the parenting blog Amy & Rose, has tried the TP technique. She had some fishy smells in the fridge, and her daughter suggested that she try the toilet paper hack. So did it work? “In my experience, somewhat,” she says. But here’s the catch: It’s just a temporary fix. <h4>Alternative fridge odour busters</h4> So if you want something longer lasting that takes up less space, read on for some alternate odour-fighting strategies. Bi-carbonate of soda Bi-carbonate of soda (also known as bi-carb and baking soda) is the go-to solution for many households. It caught on in the 1970s, when one manufacturer promoted it as an environmentally friendly alternative to chemical cleaning. By 1994, a US newspaper reported “more refrigerators are likely to have bi-carb than working light bulbs.” Bi-carb is a base material, which means it neutralises acids. Because most odours are acidic, it can cut off the smell at the source. (Side note: After deodorising a fridge with bi-carb, don’t use the contents of that box for baking. Cooking can reactivate those acids and contaminate your cake.) As the bi-carb interacts with more acids, it becomes less effective. Most people will need to replace it every three months. Black cumin seed oil Corinne Segura, a building biologist practitioner and founder of My Chemical-Free House, has first-hand experience with fridge odours. “When food went bad in my fridge, it left a lingering foul odour,” she says. “I used black cumin seed oil, which has a deodorising effect, to clean up the smell.” Segura credits this to the essential oil’s ability to deodorise methyl mercaptan, a chemical that produces a rotten scent. “I mixed five drops of black cumin essential oil with 1 tablespoon of dish soap and applied it in a thick layer to all the plastic components inside the fridge,” she says. “I let it sit for two hours before washing it off. This worked well to get rid of foul odours in the fridge.” Activated charcoal Activated charcoal captures the particles that cause bad smells, just like toilet paper. It’s available as a powder, in pre-cut filters or as fabric you can cut to size. It functions by collecting the volatile compounds given off by smelly items, reducing odour. Swap out the charcoal every month or so to keep it effective. Vanilla extract For those who prefer a more pleasant scent, especially around their food, Asri offers a particularly sweet recommendation. “Soak a cotton wool ball in vanilla extract and place it in the refrigerator,” he says. “This combats bad odours and leaves your fridge smelling like a bakery.” Crumpled newspaper and charcoal If you want a deep-clean on your fridge or freezer at minimal expense, go with one paper product that’s even cheaper than toilet paper. Fill up a particularly stinky fridge with crushed charcoal and crumpled newspaper (you can buy unprinted newsprint paper). You’ll need to replace the newspaper every day for about a week, but it’s a low-cost way to deal with a foul-smelling situation. <h4>UV light purifier</h4> If you gravitate towards high-tech solutions, consider a fridge with a UV light filter. “Ultraviolet light can destroy bacteria, mould and other pathogens,” says Alexander Hill, a sales rep for UK-based Appliance Depot. “Some fridge purifiers use UV light to sanitise the air and surfaces inside the fridge, thus reducing the source of many odours.” Take that, toilet paper. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/food-home-garden/diy-tips/why-are-people-putting-toilet-paper-in-the-fridge" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader's Digest</a>.

Home & Garden

Throwing things on stage is bad concert etiquette – but it’s also not a new trend

<a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/timothy-mckenry-287534">Timothy McKenry</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> The recent spate of <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/music/fans-throwing-objects-concerts-trend-2023-rcna93631">incidents</a> where objects have been thrown at musicians by people who paid to see them perform has generated comment, consternation and condemnation on media both mainstream and social. One <a href="https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/cardi-b-police-report-microphone-las-vegas-rcna97344">recent case</a> involved liquid being thrown on stage during a performance by American rapper Cardi B. The singer retaliated by throwing her microphone into the crowd. Media accounts suggest the incident has resulted in a police complaint filed by someone in the audience. With mobile phones, soft toys, flower arrangements and even <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/music/2023/06/27/pink-concert-fan-throws-ashes-on-stage/70359893007/">cremains</a> raining down on the world’s most famous musicians, commentators and celebrities alike predict injury and interruption are inevitable. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> Cardi B is now under investigation for battery after throwing her microphone at a fan <a href="https://t.co/yf3WXklkpo">pic.twitter.com/yf3WXklkpo</a> — Complex Music (@ComplexMusic) <a href="https://twitter.com/ComplexMusic/status/1686095347511128064?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 31, 2023</a></blockquote> <h2>Why has concert etiquette been forgotten?</h2> “Have you noticed how people are, like, forgetting fucking show etiquette at the moment?” <a href="https://themusic.com.au/news/adele-will-f-cking-kill-you-if-you-throw-anything-at-her-while-she-s-on-stage/LQCTISAjIiU/05-07-23">pointed out singer Adele</a> recently. <a href="https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2023/07/11/concert-fan-bad-behavior">Some scholars</a> see this trend as a consequence of the suspension of live performances during COVID-19. The idea being that audiences – particularly those made up of large crowds – are out of practice when it comes to concert etiquette. <a href="https://www.rmit.edu.au/news/media-releases-and-expert-comments/2023/July/fans-throwing-things-at-artists">Others suggest</a> the behaviour represents an attempt by fans to interact with the performers they love and achieve status within fan communities through viral social media content. It’s also possible we’ve overstated this phenomenon and that ravenous media, hungry for stories and scandal, are interpreting unrelated events as a trend. Motivation, for example, differs markedly. The devoted fan who <a href="https://www.today.com/popculture/music/harry-styles-hit-face-concert-vienna-rcna93333">threw a rose at Harry Styles</a> is clearly not in the same category as the <a href="https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/bebe-rexha-stitches-hit-cell-phone-1234774163/">man who hit Bebe Rehxa</a> in the face with his mobile phone “because it would be funny”. <h2>Throwing things historically</h2> Additionally, none of these incidents are without historical precedent. Whether a bouquet of flowers <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/292498073_The_operatic_event_Opera_houses_and_opera_audiences">tossed to an opera singer</a> to communicate delight at their performance or a story of <a href="http://journals.ed.ac.uk/forum/article/view/642">rotten fruit hurled at performers</a> to convey disdain at a disastrous opening night, history shows throwing things at live performances is nothing new. Just as the social status of musicians has changed over time (in the late 18th century top-rank musicians gradually transitioned from <a href="https://www.perlego.com/book/801073/music-art-and-performance-from-liszt-to-riot-grrrl-the-musicalization-of-art-pdf">servants to celebrities</a>), so too has concert etiquette. Concert etiquette is a <a href="https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/978-3-319-99166-5_1?pdf=chapter%20toc">manifestation of the social contracts</a> that exist between musicians and their audiences. These are in a constant state of flux and differ wildly over time, place, style and genre. For example, were I to attend the opera this weekend and spend the evening chatting to those around me, tapping my feet and shouting across the auditorium and at the performers, I’d be committing a major breach of etiquette. Indeed, I would quickly be escorted out. Were I to display these same behaviours in a mid-18th-century Parisian opera house, I would <a href="https://www.jstor.org/stable/3128412">fit right in</a>. <h2>Flowers and souvenirs and mania</h2> In the same way, throwing items like flowers, love notes and handkerchiefs at musicians, in some settings at least, has transitioned from aberrant to ordinary. Some 180 years before fans were casting flowers at Harry Styles, the composer and pianist <a href="https://www.britannica.com/biography/Franz-Liszt">Franz Liszt</a> was the object of fanatical adoration. His 1841-42 tour of Germany saw crowds of mostly women shower him with flowers and other tokens, scramble for souvenirs, and throw themselves at his feet. Soon dubbed “<a href="https://books.google.com.au/books/about/Liszt_in_Germany_1840_1845.html?id=5eaYF1v2S5cC&redir_esc=y">Lisztomania</a>”, this collective reaction to a musician by an audience was a relatively new phenomenon and one that was pathologised and criticised. In the words of the contemporary writer Heinrich Heine, Lisztomania was part of the “<a href="https://web.p.ebscohost.com/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?vid=0&sid=219aa480-1756-49ce-a493-8b1ad12a72af%40redis">spiritual sickness of our time</a>”. Over time, these “manic” audience behaviours are, at least in some contexts, normalised and even celebrated. <a href="https://www.researchgate.net/publication/254957654_We%27re_Going_to_See_the_Beatles_An_Oral_History_of_Beatlemania_as_Told_by_the_Fans_Who_Were_There_review">Beatlemania</a>, for example, is generally understood as a watershed moment of cultural exuberance. <h2>Changing concert etiquette</h2> Musicians can be agents of change in relation to concert etiquette. Tom Jones, <a href="https://www.proquest.com/docview/2527891177?accountid=8194&forcedol=true&pq-origsite=primo">speaking in 2003</a>, recalls the first time a fan threw underwear at him. While performing and perspiring at the Copacabana in New York, audience members handed him napkins. One woman threw underwear. Jones explains that a newspaper report, combined with his “leaning in” to the audience behaviour, created a phenomenon. "I would pick them up and play around with them, you know, because you learn that whatever happens on stage, you try to turn it to your advantage and not get thrown by it." Jones’ engagement with this new mode of behaviour generated such a degree of positive reinforcement that it has become a clichéd fan behaviour employed in relation to numerous musicians. Jones came to view underwear throwing with a degree of ambivalence. He soon refrained from leaning in in the hope of moderating an act that became a parody of itself. Throwing things at concerts goes both ways. Consider Adele firing a T-shirt gun into the crowd or Charlie Watts <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bszhqrybXnQ">throwing his drumsticks</a> to the audience after a performance. These acts are part of the performance and universally viewed as non-controversial. Somewhat more controversial are mosh pits where performers sometimes even throw themselves into the audience. <a href="https://www.ucl.ac.uk/news/2018/sep/heavy-metal-music-inclusive-and-governed-rules-etiquette">Recent research</a> reveals a strict etiquette tied to this practice, founded on community and safety. <figure><iframe src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/bszhqrybXnQ?wmode=transparent&start=0" width="440" height="260" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></figure> Finally, no concert etiquette ever permits throwing something hazardous or throwing something with the intent to harm. If these incidents do trend towards violence in service of notoriety on social media, live music will suffer. Measures such as added security, physical barriers, airport style screening and even audience vetting will quickly become commonplace. Remember, celebrities like Liszt and Tom Jones aren’t the only agents of change. We can be too.<img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/210717/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /> <a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/timothy-mckenry-287534">Timothy McKenry</a>, Professor of Music, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/australian-catholic-university-747">Australian Catholic University</a> Image credits: Getty Images This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/throwing-things-on-stage-is-bad-concert-etiquette-but-its-also-not-a-new-trend-210717">original article</a>.

Music

Violent concert trend sees Harry Styles added to injured list

Harry Styles has become the latest victim of “object throwing culture” at his concert, after the British pop star was hit in the eye by a flying item. The 29-year-old was in Vienna, Austria, as his years-long Love on Tour begins to wrap up, singing to a sold out crowd of 50,000 strong. During his performance, Styles was prancing around the stage when a flying object hit him directly in the eye. The former One Direction member was seen wincing in pain as he bent over and covered his eyes with his hands. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> This is why we can’t have nice things. Harry Styles is the latest celebrity to be hit with something from the audience while performing at his concert in Vienna. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/HarryStyles?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#HarryStyles</a> <a href="https://t.co/tithlDqfb2">pic.twitter.com/tithlDqfb2</a> — Glitter Magazine (@glittermagazine) <a href="https://twitter.com/glittermagazine/status/1677851992700641280?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">July 9, 2023</a></blockquote> Videos captured by fans showed Styles rocking a green and purple sequin pants and vest combo and walking across the stage between songs when the unknown item was launched at him. As the trend of throwing items on stage during live performances continues to grow, Styles’ incident leaves many wondering when this ritual got out of hand. “Why do people keep doing this, paying money for the front row just to do this too. I’m tired of y’all,” one person asked on Twitter in response to a video of the incident. “This object throwing culture is about to kill how we experience concerts & festivals moving forward. They’re about to get more expensive and more exclusive,” another person wrote. A third chimed in, “I genuinely don’t understand like I get throwing stuff on the stage where they’ll see it but they always aim for the face like why???” Harry is just one of the latest performers to be struck while on stage, with UK singer Bebe Rexha also coping an object to the face just weeks ago. During her concert in New York, the 33-year-old singer was hit in the face by a mobile phone, resulting in her sustaining a massive black and blue bruise around her eye. While not all objects tend to hit performers in the face, some flying items are just downright strange, as US singer Pink discovered in recent weeks when a concert-goer <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/fan-throws-mother-s-ashes-on-stage-at-pink-concert" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threw their mother’s ashes</a> on the stage. Shocked by the remains being thrown on stage during her show in London’s Hyde Park, the singer simply said, “I don’t know how I feel about this.” Image credits: Getty Images

Music

‘Everything Everywhere All at Once’ and other Oscars 2023 films show a trend towards linguistic realism in Hollywood

At the 95th Academy Awards, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/film/2023/mar/13/daniel-kwan-and-daniel-scheinert-win-best-director-oscar-for-everything-everywhere-all-at-once">Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan’s</a> Everything Everywhere All at Once took home <a href="https://variety.com/2023/awards/awards/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-oscars-record-1235544633/">wins in acting, editing and directing categories, and also won the coveted best picture</a> award. The quirky and expansive sci-fi action film is famed for its absurdist take on the idea of a multiverse, yet it is still grounded in realness and humanity: In one masterfully choreographed scene in Everything Everywhere, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2wID9_FFD0">three languages are spoken by three generations of one chaotic immigrant family</a> over dinner. As a linguist, I am interested in how screenwriters and directors use language in film to <a href="https://books.google.ca/books/about/Multilingualism_in_the_Movies.html?id=hfhclpshb8UC&redir_esc=y">do much more than just convey dialogue</a>: Language and subtitles also provide characterization, establish the tone of a scene and ground fictional stories in reality. Increasing use of non-English languages and subtitles demonstrates both a trend toward linguistic realism in Hollywood and also broader acceptance of linguistic diversity in a globalized society. <figure></figure> But filmmakers must negotiate the tension between narrative goals and audience engagement. By <a href="https://www.routledge.com/English-with-an-Accent-Language-Ideology-and-Discrimination-in-the-United/Lippi-Green/p/book/9780415559119">examining different ideologies held by filmmakers and audiences alike</a>, we can also still sometimes find long-standing associations between foreign language and villainy. <h2>Languages breaking through</h2> As South Korean filmmaker <a href="https://www.cjenm.com/en/news/director-bong-joonhos-parasite-wins-the-best-foreign-language-film-at-the-77th-golden-globe-awards/">Bong Joon-ho</a> described in his <a href="https://variety.com/2020/film/awards/south-koreas-parasite-crashes-the-subtitles-barrier-1203488979/">Golden Globes acceptance speech for 2019’s Parasite</a>, when audiences move past the “one-inch tall barrier of subtitles” a richer world of film awaits. <a href="https://doi.org/10.1177/0963947013519551">Telling authentic stories</a> in a modern, globalized and multicultural world means fairly portraying the languages spoken and signed all throughout our society. Hence, at times, the need for subtitles. In another scene in Everything Everywhere, spoken language is eschewed altogether: Two rocks converse silently while gazing over a barren canyon, with black and white subtitles appearing on a bright blue sky. This simple yet <a href="https://twitter.com/Refinery29/status/1635118157206794243">emotionally resonant scene</a> was somehow enough to <a href="https://www.refinery29.com/en-gb/everything-everywhere-all-at-once-review">move many viewers to tears</a>. Although <a href="https://ew.com/movies/movie-reviews/tar-cate-blanchett-todd-field-nina-hoss/">Todd Field’s Tár</a> did not clinch any Oscar wins this year, star Cate Blanchett notched multiple <a href="https://www.vogue.com/article/full-winners-list-golden-globes-2023">other acting awards</a> <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2023/01/awards-insider-critics-choice-awards-2023-winners">for her role</a> as the titular orchestra conductor. In some of the film’s best scenes, the maestro uses only German during orchestra rehearsals and subtitles are dropped completely. Non-Germanophone audiences might not understand the words Blanchett says, but they are instead encouraged to focus on the visual aspects of the character’s communication: her facial expressions, physical tics and tremors and the building tension, both visible and audible, between her ego and everyone around her. The Oscar performance of “Naatu Naatu,” from the Indian <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64935389">Telugu-language blockbuster</a> <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-64935389">RRR</a>, which received a standing ovation, was evidence that performances can cross language boundaries by leaning into creative elements far beyond words. <h2>Two sides of language representation</h2> The flip side of positive aspects of linguistic representation is that filmmakers, free to use the tool of multilingualism to provide characterization and establish tone, and even to showcase threatened languages, are also free to use it to entrench certain linguistic stereotypes, namely the association between foreignness and villainy. The <a href="https://screenrant.com/black-panther-wakanda-forever-talokan-lore-phase-5-complicated/">warriors of the underwater Talokan kingdom</a> in Ryan Coogler’s Black Panther: Wakanda Forever never speak a word of English. In this Marvel Cinematic Universe story, the fictional kingdom of Atlantis was <a href="https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/the-mesoamerican-influences-behind-namor-from-black-panther-wakanda-forever-180981106">repositioned as a Mesoamerican-inspired society</a>. The <a href="https://globalvoices.org/2023/01/05/indigenous-and-proud-a-maya-speakers-reaction-to-black-panther-wakanda-forever/">language of Talokan is the real-world language of Yucatec Maya</a>, spoken by Indigenous people in present-day <a href="https://www.britannica.com/topic/Yucatec-language">Guatemala, Belize and southern Mexico</a>. <h2>Sharing an Indigenous language</h2> Yucatec Maya is stigmatized and marginalized in the geographic areas where it is traditionally spoken, one of the <a href="https://theconversation.com/in-mexico-how-erasing-black-history-fuels-anti-black-racism-175315">long-lasting consequences of colonization</a>. But Coogler’s creative decision to use Yucatec Maya as the language of Talokan, as well as to borrow heavily from Mayan and Aztec cultures for <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/black-panther-wakanda-forever-ruth-e-carter-oscar-costume-design-1235349112/">visual inspiration</a>, has delighted some <a href="https://globalvoices.org/2023/01/05/indigenous-and-proud-a-maya-speakers-reaction-to-black-panther-wakanda-forever/">Maya-speaking Indigenous moviegoers</a> who say they saw their culture represented and are happy to see the language widely shared. Two strong minor characters, Namora and Attuma, speak only in Yucatec Maya throughout the entire movie, with English subtitles in an elegant blue script. <h2>Archetypes of antagonism?</h2> Yet, these characters are the primary villains of the story, portrayed as powerful and physically otherworldly. Thus, while the characters are not one-dimensional, their language seems to narratively underscore certain archetypes of antagonism, beyond simply showcasing a real Indigenous language of the world. This is especially noticeable when contrasted with the protagonists, the mostly-anglophone Wakandans. Although the <a href="https://screenrant.com/black-panther-movie-wakanda-language-xhosa-explained">language of Wakanda is the real-world language of Xhosa</a>, spoken in South Africa, in Wakanda Forever, it was mostly relegated to greetings and asides. Instead, the protagonists speak a kind of pan-African accented English. Unlike in James Cameron’s <a href="https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/avatar-the-way-of-water-vfx-oscar-2023-1235343383/">Avatar: The Way of Water</a>, viewers are never explicitly told that what the audience hears has been “translated” for us. <h2>Refreshing to see, hear more languages</h2> In Avatar, which took the <a href="https://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/oscars-2023-all-the-kiwis-nominated-at-the-academy-awards-this-year/G7PU6REBKFDRVLTOTUZJ4TEM4A/">Oscar for best visual effects,</a> the protagonists all speak Na'vi, the language of <a href="https://gamerant.com/avatar-creation-human-navi-hybrids-explained/">the species living across</a> the fictional Pandora. Most of the language has been “translated” in the mind of the narrator, Jake Sully. In a neat expositional trick, the main character narrates the beginning of the film and explains that he learned the alien language well enough that it just sounds like English to him. This way, audiences won’t have to read for the entire film, and the heroes (and actors) can speak only English without sacrificing the “realism” of the science-fictional universe. It has been refreshing to see, <a href="https://mashable.com/article/minari-korean-language">in recent years</a>, many productions in film achieve critical and commercial success in the anglophone world despite being in non-English languages and <a href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-03-04/sound-of-metal-deaf-actors-chelsea-lee-jeremy-lee-stone">using subtitles</a>. There’s much more room for films to highlight both linguistic diversity as well as authentic characterization of characters who speak and sign without resorting to potentially harmful tropes. And I’m sure audiences wouldn’t mind hearing more Na'vi in Avatar 3. Image credit: Getty

Movies

Could buccal massage – the latest celebrity beauty trend – make you look older, not younger?

Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, <a href="https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2018/05/meghan-markle-royal-wedding-prep">reportedly</a> had it before marrying Prince Harry. Jennifer Lopez is also <a href="https://www.eonline.com/news/917768/jennifer-lopez-is-a-fan-of-meghan-markle-s-pre-wedding-facial-too">apparently</a> a fan. We’re talking about a type of facial called a “<a href="https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/jan/30/why-celebrities-love-buccal-massage-mouth-facial">buccal massage</a>”. But what exactly is a buccal massage? Does it really sculpt the face, <a href="https://www.skincarebyamypeterson.com/buccal-sculpting-facial">as claimed</a>? Are there risks? Could it actually make your skin look “looser” and older? You probably won’t be surprised to hear there isn’t evidence from rigorous controlled scientific studies to show buccal massage gives you a more contoured look. But talking about it can raise awareness about our facial muscles, what they do, and why they’re important. <h2>What is buccal massage? Does it work?</h2> Buccal massage (pronounced “buckle”) is also called “intra-oral” massage. The term “buccal” comes from the Latin “bucca” meaning “cheek”. In buccal massage, a beautician inserts their fingers into the buccal cavity – the space between your teeth and the inside of your cheeks – <a href="https://www.instyle.com/beauty/skin/buccal-facials">to</a> “massage and sculpt your skin from the inside”. They apply pressure between the thumb (on the outside the mouth), and pinch and move fingers (inside the mouth), to stretch and massage the muscles. You can also <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPpPEG7ZX2w">perform it on yourself</a>, which may give you better control over stopping if <a href="https://www.dazeddigital.com/beauty/article/44445/1/buccal-massage-sharpen-cheekbones">it hurts</a>. But could all of this (rather expensive) action really change the shape of your face, or how it looks, feels, or moves? It’s extremely unlikely, since the shape of your face is influenced by a lot more than your muscles. Any claims of buccal massage providing any lasting impact or “uplift” on the contours of the face are purely anecdotal. In the absence of controlled trials reporting on the effects of buccal massage, it’s unlikely stretching your skin and oral or facial muscles in this way will provide any lasting benefit. That’s possibly because buccal massage is “passive” – the muscles are only moving by the effort of the beautician. In contrast, “active” movement of face muscles, through a program of face exercises, was associated with some improvements to facial appearance in a <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5885810/">small study</a> of middle-aged women. <h2>But facial massage and stretching can help some</h2> External massaging or stretching muscles in the face, however, can help some people with certain medical conditions affecting the jaw, or how the mouth opens. This includes people with <a href="https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/24086-trismus">trismus</a>. This is when the temporomandibular joint – where the jawbone meets the skull – can be so tight it’s <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493203/">hard to open your mouth</a>. Face massage can also provide <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5237268/">some relief</a> for people with jaw clenching or <a href="https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/bruxism/symptoms-causes/syc-20356095">bruxism (teeth grinding)</a> when it relaxes the muscle and reduces tension. Health professionals might also <a href="https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0305417915000546?via%3Dihub">prescribe</a> mouth and face stretches and exercises for someone recovering from <a href="https://www.vicburns.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/Face-and-mouth-exercises_020419.pdf">facial burns</a>. This is to make sure that, as someone heals, their skin is flexible and muscles mobile for the mouth to open wide enough and move properly. Being able to open your mouth wide enough is vital for eating and tooth brushing. <h2>Is buccal massage safe?</h2> As there is no scientific research into buccal massage, we don’t know if it’s safe or if there are any risks. The firm touch, squeezing and movement of another person’s fingers on the sensitive mucous membrane (moist lining) inside your mouth could be both uncomfortable and off-putting. This action will also <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/odi.12867#:%7E:text=Stimulation%20of%20mechanoreceptors%20in%20the,%2C%20%26%20Berg%2C%201987">stimulate your salivary glands</a> to produce saliva, which you’ll need to spit or swallow. As buccal massage involves a beauty therapist’s fingers being inside your mouth, infection prevention and control measures, including <a href="https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/environment/factsheets/Pages/beauty-treatment.aspx">excellent hand hygiene</a>, is essential. It would also be interesting to know whether or not buccal massage could actually further <a href="https://www.huffpost.com/entry/what-is-buccal-face-massage_l_6352be32e4b03e8038debf83">loosen your skin</a> and make you look older, sooner. <h2>Your face muscles are important</h2> Regardless of whether buccal massage has any effect, it’s a chance to talk about our face muscles and why they’re important. We often take them for granted. We may not think about keeping these muscles “supple”, and they don’t usually feel “stiff” unless we hold a smile for long periods, grind our teeth, or have a medical condition affecting the face, jaw or mouth. There are more than <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK493209/">two dozen</a>, muscles in our face, most in pairs, one on either side of the face. They’re a vital part of who we are, shaping our appearance, and allowing us to make facial expressions, lower and raise our jaw and the corners of our mouth, smile, blow a kiss, speak, suck and swallow. Face muscles help define the shape of our face and our identity. It’s no wonder we can struggle with age-related changes that affect how our face looks. <h2>3 cheers for our buccinators</h2> The <a href="https://www.healthline.com/human-body-maps/buccinator#1">buccinator muscles</a>, which buccal massage moves, are vital to our survival. The buccinator is one of the first muscles <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK546678/">to contract</a> when a baby suckles. These muscles lie deep beneath the skin of the cheeks and are important for a number of reasons: <ul> <li> their main function is to help us eat. They contract to help move food between the teeth for chewing. We can squeeze our buccinator muscles to push food back into the mouth from the sides </li> <li> they help us puff out our cheeks, blow out a candle, or blow a trumpet </li> <li> when they contract, they move your inner cheek out of the way of your teeth. Without them, you’d bite your cheek every time you closed your jaw </li> <li> they help keep your teeth in place. </li> </ul> <h2>In a nutshell</h2> Buccal massage mightn’t make your face look “sculpted”. It probably comes with infection risks, and we know little about its safety. But if nothing else, the buccal massage trend has highlighted just how important our face muscles really are. Image credits: Getty Images This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/could-buccal-massage-the-latest-celebrity-beauty-trend-make-you-look-older-not-younger-198990" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>.

Beauty & Style

Warning against latest egg-stremely restrictive diet trend

A viral “egg diet” is the latest weight loss trend taking over TikTok as people continue to find ways to drop a few kilos. The #eggdiet has attracted over 68.5 million views, with a lot of people sharing their weight-loss success. Nutritionists warn the egg-stremely restrictive diet is simply unsustainable and just another eggs-ample of why most diets fail. According to TikTok users, the egg diet consists of eating only eggs for every meal, alongside low-carb snacks such as fruit, veggies, and some additional protein. While this diet is capable of boosting your metabolism and burning fat in the short term, it can then slow the metabolism and make it more difficult to lose weight in the future. One TikTok user trying the diet admitted she had broken it, writing, ”I think the last nine days of eating the bare minimum has caught up with me today. The whole day I just felt nauseous.” A diet focused on one food eggs-cludes many healthy food groups that are otherwise beneficial for your body. This can lead to nutritional deficiencies, an unhealthy amount of weight loss, mood changes, muscle weakness, and hair loss. A nutrition eggs-pert from Fitness Volt says most people fail to stick with their diet long enough for it to work sustainably. They make fast progress, but egg-ventually, they fall off the wagon and return to their previous diet plan. "That's why so many of us lose weight only to regain it shortly afterwards, and it seems long-term, sustainable weight loss is rare nowadays," Saini said. "Fortunately, healthy eating doesn't have to be complicated or unpleasant, and weight management doesn't have to take over your life. "You don't even have to give up your favourite foods. However, you will need to quit looking for short-term fixes and adopt healthier long-term habits.” It is clear the #eggdiet is not sustainable and the lack of nutrition is likely to leave your brain scrambled. The idea is a bit of a crack-up, but don’t whisk it. Image credit: TikTok

Body

The unusual wedding style trend causing a stir

Every year, a new wave of wedding trends rolls in for brides and grooms to either embrace or reject as they plan their big day. The latest trend, focused around the bride’s attire, has caused a stir online, sparking a heated debate over whether it's stylish or tacky. Instead of opting for the traditional white (or some variation of) heels for their big day, brides are reaching for bedazzled crocs to wear for their nuptials. In some cases, the entire bridal party has stormed the reception wearing the divisive shoes stamped with jewels and words like “wifey”, “bride” and “I do”. Traditionalists have blasted the fad, calling it “classless” and “gross”, while others see the value in the comfortable shoe, saying it makes perfect sense. “That's the problem. People have no class anymore. No one dresses up, it's all about comfort,” one horrified critic said. “I hate few things in life but crocs are at the top of my list, and when coordinated with an outfit. Lord help me I physically shudder,” another wrote. Despite the criticism, one bride defended her decision to wear bedazzled crocs on her wedding day, saying she was comfortable all day and all night while insisting she “regrets nothing”. The $70 shoes have long been praised by fans of the shoes for their comfort, breathability and lightweight material, making them a perfect all day wedding shoe. “I am not a heel person at all - Converse for the ceremony and crocs for the reception,” one bride said. “The appearance is not unpleasant and let's face it, dancing in heels is painful and challenging. One must be comfortable to enjoy such a wonderful and momentous day,” another said. Despite the mixed reaction of the wedding trend, online businesses who specialise in personalising and bedazzling crocs for brides are booming, with the shoes regularly retailing for between $200 and $300 a pair. Image credits: Twitter

Beauty & Style

Diana dubbed an “icon” of this winter fashion trend

Those hitting the slopes this winter have been inspired by a surprising fashion icon, with Princess Diana’s iconic ‘après-ski’ style being adopted on the snow and runway. Though many of us might turn to snow jackets and pants, insulating thermals, and helmets for a trip to the snow, the trend of ‘après-ski’ - meaning the ‘after ski’ socialising Diana is considered an icon of - has even made an appearance in Balenciaga’s latest runway show, starring Bella Hadid in a faux snow field. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbXoLJ9g93L/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CbXoLJ9g93L/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Bella 🦋 (@bellahadid)</a> </div> </blockquote> Leather pants, chunky knits, faux fur headbands and stirrup leggings are mainstays of this trend, with celebrity stylist Elliot Garnaut noting that it is all “about transitioning” from the slopes to socialising. “The key to a chic après look is incorporating your pieces from the slopes: your ski jacket becomes your going-out jacket,” Mr Garnaut told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/fashion-trends/bye-bye-helmet-apresski-style-you-need-to-know-this-snow-season/news-story/1d581d07e6e1aa3ec2d6689632e3c8ab" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a>. “Ditch the thermals and skivvys from day, replace with an oversized knitted turtle neck for evening. “Bye bye helmet, woollen hat or beanie, replace your face covering with your favourite scarf. It’s as simple as replacing your technical elements with those of fashion items.” LA-based Australian luxury fashion expert Gab Waller said her clients have requested “unique pieces” to dress up their post-skiing outfits, adding that ski capsules are a feature across the major fashion houses each year. “As always, whatever the celebs wear on their ski holidays tends to influence the slope style for the season,” Ms Waller explained. “So when Kendall Jenner wore New Zealand brand, Entire Studio, snowboarding we got several requests for their oversized puffers.” She pointed to Diana - known for styling thick headbands and red snowsuits - as an icon of this trend. “I am a huge fan of the iconic looks by Princess Diana from the 90s,” she said. “My tip for great après-ski style is definitely to stay warm but play with colour and accessories to accentuate your look. “A bold ski goggle or helmet goes a long way to making a look pop.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/diana-apres-ski.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Princess Diana’s bold snow-suits and ski attire have made her an icon of the après-ski style. Image: Getty Images Unsurprisingly, this trend isn’t a new one, with Vogue Australia fashion features director Alice Birrell noting that après-ski was at the fore in the 1960s. “From cocktails on the slopes at ice bars, to stand-up picnics and drinks by the (heated) pool, there was an occasion to dress for and, continuing through to today, it demanded comfort as much as style,” Ms Birrell said. “Après-ski means high-winter style cues like faux fur-accents, luxurious soft knits, with an undercurrent of sportswear; think athleisure with the glamour factor dialled up. “More than anything, it’s an attitude. In a throwback to those salad days of the jet-set, it’s about luxuriating in the post-ski glow of knowing you’ve put in a decent session on the slopes and rewarding yourself with a hot buttered rum (the drink de jour back then) in an outfit that signals elevated ease.” For those looking to adopt this attitude in their own outfits, Ms Birrell suggested trying a matching knit set in a monochrome or matching print. “Those who prefer the sportier side of ski are leaning into second-skin jumpsuits – think a modern catsuit worn under boots- or leggings,” she continued. “Look for accents that nod to performance wear like contrast colour details, or high-vis colours. For accessories it’s oversized sunglasses – to block out the glare – and the return of the moon boot.” Images: Getty Images / @bellahadid (Instagram)

Beauty & Style

Anne Hathaway and Reese Witherspoon jump on new Barbiecore trend

After official <a href="https://oversixty.co.nz/entertainment/movies/first-look-at-completely-transformed-ryan-gosling" target="_blank" rel="noopener">behind-the-scenes photos</a> emerged of Margot Robbie and Ryan Gosling as Barbie and Ken in the upcoming live action Barbie film, there’s been a resurgence in Barbiecore, with celebrities and high-end fashion houses deciding that its vibrant pink hues are the new “It” colour this season. The nostalgic trend that embraces hyper-pink shades and feminine silhouettes has been cropping up on social media, high fashion runways, and at red carpets and A-list events around the world. “The main theme? More is more – and you can never have too much pink,” reports <a href="https://www.beautycrew.com.au/what-is-barbiecore?category=makeup" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Beauty Crew</a>. “When it comes to fashion, the vibe is essentially dopamine-dressing in fluorescent pink and as many sparkles as you can handle.” <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/barbiecore1.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Anne Hathaway (left), Reese Witherspoon (centre), and Duckie Thot (right) have stunned with their own spins on the Barbiecore trend. Images: Getty Images Stars Anna Hathaway and Reese Witherspoon are among the growing number of celebrities jumping on the fuschia-focused trend, which has also been featured heavily by designer brand Valentino to the point where “Valentino pink” is the fashion house’s “now-signature magenta hue”, per <a href="https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/anne-hathaway-valentino-couture-front-row-magenta-dress-1235248441/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Women’s Wear Daily</a>. Hathaway was spotted styling a sequin minidress in the brightest of hot pinks, paired with towering platform shoes and a studded minibag in a matching shade at the Valentino Haute Couture show in Rome. Joining her in the front row in equally pink outfits was Korean pop rapper Hwasa and West Side Story star Ariana DeBose, with actress Florence Pugh also spotted styling the vibrant hue. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/barbiecore2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Anne Hathaway, Hwasa, and Ariana DeBose were spotted in all-pink outfits in the front row of the Valentino Haute Couture, flanked by Giancarlo Giammetti (far left) and Anna Wintour (far right). Image: Getty Images Meanwhile, Witherspoon styled a knee-length, fuschia frock at the New York premiere of Where The Crawdads Sing, where actress Karen Pittman was also spotted pairing a hot pink camisole and skirt with a bold 80s-style blazer. Other celebrities who have embraced the trend include Lady Gaga, the Kardashians, Australian model Duckie Thot, Lizzo, Sebastian Stan, and Natalie Portman. <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf6c52LOMAQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Cf6c52LOMAQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Natalie Portman (@natalieportman)</a> </div> </blockquote> Australian designer Mariam Saddiq, who featured Barbie pink suits and dresses at her Australian Fashion Week show this year, describes it as feminine without being “sickly sweet”. “When people ask me for the Barbie treatment, it’s about helping them look like they have a magically snatched-in waist. It’s a move away from the androgynous look to something feminine, with prettier silhouettes, blazers with nipped waists and the celebration of that hourglass silhouette,” she told the <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/the-barbiecore-summer-is-coming-blame-margot-robbie-20220630-p5axxt.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney Morning Herald</a>. “For me, it’s about making sure that there’s an edge to pink looks so that they’re not sickly sweet.” Erik Yvon, a Melbourne designer, says the trend is a continuation of the current generation’s interest in styles from the 80s and 90s. “You can see it happening internationally at labels such as Moschino already but I totally see it happening here,” Yvon says. “There’s an energy and playfulness to it.” Images: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

A “toilet with a view” is the latest popular bathroom trend

The bathroom, often considered a sacred and private space, is the subject of a divisive new trend that does away with the one thing ensuring this security: doors. Instead, open plan ensuites are the latest trend that can even include a view to the great outdoors. “Open plan bathrooms are on the rise for a few reasons,” Tim Bennett, the founder, architect and engineer at Tim Bennetton Architects, says. “Society has been more exposed to ‘resort-style’ living where spaces feel more generous than they used to be. “We have all allowed ourselves that touch more luxury - where the bathroom is not purely functional.” According to Bennett, one popular layout includes opening up one wall to a view or courtyard to create a space that feels open “while still being private and intimate”. “We did this with one of the first houses we designed back in 2008, so it’s certainly a trend that’s been around for a while but is quickly gaining popularity, and it makes sense,” he explains. But when it comes to the key issue - the privacy of using the toilet - Bennett notes that it’s “the only real issue that needs to be discussed”. “Some people are quite uncomfortable with an open plan toilet. But others are fine with it,” he says. “You could argue that a toilet with a view adds to ‘the experience’, but on the other hand, many people like the extra level of privacy and separation that a separate compartment provides to the toilet.” If you are considering this trend but find that privacy is a top priority, there are a few things you can do to achieve both. “Flexibility is the key - allow sliding doors so that the ensuite or bathroom can be separated off if desired, or decorate screens or blinds,” Tim says. Image: Getty Images

Home Hints & Tips

The biggest beauty trends this year

We’re already halfway through the year, and a new study has ranked the beauty trends that have been the biggest hits for 2022 so far. The study, conducted by <a href="https://heydiscount.co.uk/consumer-research/the-biggest-2022-skincare-and-beauty-trends-most-popular-beauty-trends-of-2022-revealed" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Hey Discount</a>, analysed views on TikTok videos, Instagram hashtags and web searches to compile the list, which ranges from experimental makeup looks to simplifying skincare routines. Without further ado, here are the top ten beauty trends for 2022, as ranked by Hey Discount. 1. Retinol Skincare has been a major focus in 2022, and retinol is one of the products that has taken social media by storm. A derivative of vitamin A, retinol has been used for decades but has seen a surge in popularity that has resulted in it appearing in an array of popular serums and creams. Though the benefits vary from person to person, they generally include a reduction in fine lines and the appearance of blemishes, improved collagen production and the correction of pigmentation issues. According to the study, the hashtag #retinol garnered 1.2 billion views on TikTok and was used in 635,767 posts on Instagram. 2. Graphic liner The basic eyeliner trends of 2021 have been overtaken by a resurgence in sixties and seventies styles, with graphic liner being worn by celebrities such as Kylie Jenner and Gigi Hadid. In comparison to the previously popular, perfectly symmetrical cat-eye look, graphic liner is a beginner-friendly option that emphasises creativity and unique designs over perfection. Under the hashtag #graphicliner, the study found there were one billion TikTok views and 655,325 posts on Instagram. 3. Gua sha The traditional Chinese practice of Gua sha, meaning ‘to scrape petechiae (red or purple spots on skin caused by minor bleeding from blood capillaries)’, is often used to treat chronic pain, reduce puffiness in skin and help with lymphatic drainage. Though it has been practised since the 1300’s during the rule of the Ming dynasty, it has only recently become a popular trend and has skyrocketed to the fore of the beauty world due to social media. The study found that the hashtag #guasha has been viewed 976.9 million times on TikTok and used in 502,093 posts on Instagram. The top 10 list See the full list of the Top 10 Beauty Trends of 2022 rankings below: <ol> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Retinol </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Graphic Liner </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Gua Sha </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> SPF </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> DIY Skincare </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Lip Scrub </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Ombre Lips </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Glass Skin </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Hyaluronic Acid </li> <li dir="ltr" aria-level="1"> Niacinamide </li> </ol> Image: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

15 winter nail colours and trends you won’t be able to resist

Winter nail colour trends Even if you spend most of the winter bundled up, there are still parts of you worth showing off all year long. And let’s not forget about that moment of pure joy when you slip your hands out of your gloves to show off your favourite new nail polish. So, now that autumn is over, what are the hottest winter nail colours and trends that should be on your radar? From rich, jewel-toned hues to dupes for frosty snowflakes, winter nails aren’t following one set of rules right now. We’re still seeing a lot of nail art, but it’s less cutesy and more architectural. For example, according to celebrity nail artist Brittney Boyce, instead of going with an overt candy-cane look, opt for a “chic, angled half-French in a sultry red, or do a half white nail with a diagonal cut across that looks clean and elevated.” You also won’t find just the typical wintery shades this year – you might see pastels on the chicest nails. If we had to sum up winter 2022 in a word, it would be unexpected or bold. We asked celebrity nail artists and other experts for their take on what’s trending right now so you can take your manicure to the next level. To get salon-quality results, use non-toxic polishes and gel nail polishes. Nail trend: a hint of sparkle Don’t overdo the shimmer on your winter nail designs – a small amount will do the trick for this 2022 trend. Even if you use polish with chunky glitter in it, add only a dab or two. The idea is to catch the light, not pile on the glitter. “Adding a bit of sparkle is a great way to put a classic spin on a French mani and is also perfect for the winter,” says salon marketing manager, Jennifer Bell. Nail trend: browns, taupes, and chocolatey shades Winter is the time of year you can match your mani to your hot drink! “We will continue to see a lot of neutral browns and chestnuts throughout the winter,” Bell predicts. There are so many gorgeous shades in this family that you can take it from nearly nude to deep sueded shades, depending on your mood. Nail trend: a touch of grey Expect to see a lot of steely, slate, silver, or pale grey polish this season. “We [particularly] love a wintertime grey with a shimmery finish,” Bell says. Greys look great on nearly everyone, but a good rule of thumb (as it were) is that if you’re not sure which grey shade to choose, opt for a darker one because it flatters more skin tones. Nail trend: naked nails Believe it or not, one of the hottest winter nail looks is perfectly pampered hands and cuticles with barely any polish. “Nude nails have been a beauty staple for years and are back with a new twist that embraces the barely-there look,” says Patricia Freund, managing director for cuticle oil brand, Cuccio Naturalé. While nude or barely there polish is a classic look, it also makes sense as there’s no need to worry about chipping a nail or ruining your nail art! Freund advises applying cuticle oil daily “to maintain hydrated and healthy nails throughout the winter and keep the ‘less is more’ nude manicure looking fresh all season.” One more tip for your tips: while short nails make sense during glove season, a look that’s gaining traction right now is a slightly longer oval nail with the sheerest polish, perfectly groomed cuticles, and moisturised hands. Nail trend: red hot It wouldn’t be winter without classic red winter nails in every shade from spicy tomato to deep burgundy blacks. “We’ll also continue to see classic deep reds throughout the winter,” notes Bell. If you do plan on painting the town – or at least your nails – red, opt for a chip-proof top coat so you won’t have to keep touching up your mani. Nail trend: black Classic black will be having a moment this winter. “The opposite of the opaque white trend for spring/summer is onyx – shiny patent leather nails,” says celebrity manicurist Michelle Saunders. It’s all about high contrast and showing off your sparkly jewellery with this winter nail idea. Think black tie meets high fashion. Saunders says for maximum impact, be sure to use a high-shine top coat. Nail trend: glitter ombré tips If don’t want to go all-out with glitter, try using just a hint of it in your nail art. Boyce’s advice? “Apply a strip of glitter polish on the tip, then gently drag the glitter chunks downward with the brush. This way, most of the glitter is on the tip and you’ll get a nice ombré effect.” You can also experiment with this effect to add a little oomph to your favourite shade. “Do this on a bare nail, a nude nail, a white nail, or even a darker one,” Boyce says. But if you’re going dark, stick to a neutral shade like a dark taupe or dark blue so there aren’t too many competing elements. Nail trend: forest inspired While some trees may be stripped bare, your nails will look amazing in a leafy-green polish. “All kinds of greens are still in the forefront of people’s minds,” Saunders says. And while you’d think deep, lush greens were the only trending verdant hues, you can also go playful and polish your nails any shade of green for an on-trend winter manicure. Nail trend: baby shades Despite light colours usually making an appearance in spring, Saunders says, “we are going to see a ‘pastel winter’ with muted, serene colours on fingertips.” Picture Easter-egg hues on your winter nails. If you’re not sure that light colours are your thing in the winter, opt for colours that are classic, not cutesy. Think shell pink instead of bubblegum, or shimmery apricot instead of a bolder orange. Nail trend: winter blue This winter nail colour can be rocked all season long. “Blue will win the race for this winter,” Saunders says. She’s predicting that everything from baby blue to deep metallic blue will be on all the chic nails this season. “It’s a nod to the ’90s, and super fun to create nail art with,” she adds. Nail trend: rich jewel tones If you love the look of lush nails, get ready to indulge. “Deep gemstone colours are always a classic during wintertime,” Saunders says, “and that isn’t changing anytime soon.” Add some oomph to your LBD with any of these rich colours. Think ruby, emerald, sapphire and amethyst for a super luxe look. Nail trend: gold half moon “Winter is a fun time to play up shimmer and texture,” Boyce says, adding that not all winter nail art needs to be complicated. “A gold half-moon near the cuticle is simple nail art that makes a big statement. You can play up different types of metallic shades for this [trend] depending on your look, from a standard gold to rose gold to even a bright orange bronze shade.” Nail trend: dark meets light Create a bit of drama with mostly sheer nails and a hint of a darker colours. “For winter, I like dark, still shades because it reminds me of just how quiet it gets during the night,” Boyce says. Think muted blues or purples contrasted with barely-there colour. “While black gives a lot of edge, you can soften it up with midnight navy or dark forest green shades,” she adds. How can you create this look at home? “An Angled Half French can be achieved easily by using washi tape as a guide and a dry brush dipped in nail polish remover to clean up the edges,” explains Boyce. “You then use a glossy top coat over the entire nail for a finished look.” Nail trend: classic French tips in metallic shades If you can’t get through the winter without a French mani, consider mixing things up. “A classic French tip using a shimmery shade on an oval-shaped nail, either short to medium length, looks really gorgeous for the holidays,” Boyce says, adding that the easiest way to get the perfect French tip is with a silicone nail stamper. Stampers are easy to use, but they come with a bit of a learning curve, so practise before that big event. If you’re not comfortable with a stamper, try dotting on a design with a nail art brush or using a fan brush to create a softened tip. Nail trend: all the winter colours Still can’t decide which winter nail colour or trend is your favourite? You don’t have to choose. Simply paint each nail a different colour for maximum wow. The experts we spoke with for this story all said winter nails this season are more about self-expression rather than sticking to any particular trend. Written by Rachel Weingarten. This article first appeared in <a href="https://www.readersdigest.co.nz/culture/15-winter-nail-colours-and-trends-you-wont-be-able-to-resist" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here’s our best subscription offer.</a> Image: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

Readers respond: What was your favourite trend from the ’70s?

From knee-high boots and hot pants to mullets and psychedelic shirts, the ’70s saw some wild fashion trends. We asked our readers what their favourite trends were from that groovy decade and your answers didn’t disappoint. Take a trip down memory lane and check out some of the best responses you shared. Halina O’Neill - Mini skirts and flares and a good body to carry them. Shirley Hawthorne - Definitely hot pants, knee-high lace-up boots and mini skirts. Kirsteen Collison - For men: high-waisted pants with a polo shirt tucked in. For the girls: Levis with off the shoulder shirts. Jeanette Callaghan - Hot pants and knee-high lace-up boots. Very stylish. I have a pic of me wearing these and no I’m not sharing it. Margaret Mclean - Tennis jumpers and box pleat skirts. Kathleen Stipek - Jeans, jeans, jeans. I was almost killed by a pair of platform shoes. Madonna Simon - High-waisted flares, high high platforms and my afro. Stuart Kerr - Low cut hipster jeans & black pointy toe boots, a singlet top, tattoos, & long hair with a mullet. Willi Russell - I loved my hot pants and mini skirts… and most clothing was in psychedelic patterns and bright happy colours. Debbie Regan - Bell bottoms, hot pants, platform cork shoes, peroxide bleached mullet hair. Janice Hunter - Whatever my mum dressed me in whether I liked it or not 😂😂😂. Frank LaFountaine - Alligator cowboy boots. Yvonne Robinson - Farah Fawcett hairstyle. Loved it! To read what else you said, head <a href="https://www.facebook.com/oversixtyNZ/posts/1935117703315510" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Getty Images

Beauty & Style

Turning sporting heroes into NFTs? Here’s how it works

<div>Last week, to the likely chagrin of many an Aussie cricket fan, Steve Smith became the latest public figure to hop on the NFT gravy-train, joining <a href="https://www.glorious.digital/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Glorious Digital</a>, a Kiwi-owned NFT studio and marketplace launched by former All Blacks rugby great Dan Carter.The deal will see Smith put his face and name up for sale as digital tokens, shilling this new form of online memorabilia for a hefty price tag. On Instagram Smith wrote, “I can’t wait to connect with you guys in new and innovative ways.” But what does ownership of a Steve Smith NFT actually mean?What are NFTs?NFTs, short for Non-Fungible Tokens, are units of data stored on a <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/technology/explainer-cryptocurrency/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">blockchain</a>, which is a type of digital ledger that records ownership. In blockchain technology, the information about each transaction is recorded in a “block” which is broadcast to every computer or network in the system. The block contains data about the transaction and the identity of the blocks before and after it, so that all the blocks can be linked in a chain. This makes them completely secure, because blockchains are replicated across every computer linked to the network. If one user’s copy of the blockchain differs from the rest, then it’s clearly a fraud. “If nobody is in charge, then everyone is in charge,” said Mark Ferraretto, an IT legal specialist who spoke to Cosmos last year. “Blockchain reflects this by allowing anyone to become part of the blockchain.”Blockchains are most famously used to record cryptocurrency, but NFTs aren’t actually a cryptocurrency, though they work in a similar way and are often purchased using cryptocurrencies like Etherium.So, what’s the point of an NFT?Generally speaking, an NFT is a token of ownership. It gives its owner rights to a piece of digital media, like an artwork, photograph, GIF or meme. That’s why it’s been leapt upon by digital creatives as a new way to market their work. Some NFTs have famously made people absurdly rich. Last year, a piece of digital art by the artist Mike Winkelmann – professionally known as Beeple – <a href="https://www.theverge.com/2021/3/11/22325054/beeple-christies-nft-sale-cost-everydays-69-million" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">sold for US$69 million</a> through auction-house Christie’s. Paris Hilton, celebrity heiress, <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/artanddesign/2021/nov/06/how-nfts-non-fungible-tokens-are-shaking-up-the-art-world" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">owns more than 150 NFTs</a>, including a virtual Chihuahua preening on a marble pedestal designed as an ode to her deceased pet, and which she displays on screens around her house.But ownership of an NFT is a tricky concept. <a href="https://studiolegal.com.au/blog/nft-ownership/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">NFTs have in-built smart contracts that specify the owner’s rights</a>. In some cases, owning an NFT might grant you exclusive rights to the art or media it encodes, but in many cases owning an NFT of an artwork only gives you the rights to the NFT itself, while the original artwork may well be freely available elsewhere, on the internet or in the real world. An artist can transfer the copyright of the work to the purchaser, but they may also retain the copyright. Which begs the question: what exactly is the point? Do NFTs have actual value? Like many economic products, an NFT’s value is exclusively tied to the fact that people perceive it to be valuable. Whether the value of any or all NFTs will hold depends on the power of the market. The <a href="https://www.marketwatch.com/story/prices-for-nfts-have-plunged-but-that-doesnt-mean-they-will-disappear-11619465199" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">average price of an NFT sank by 70%</a> between February and April last year, but some commentators ascribed that to the weeding out of “gimmicky” tokens. For some people, an NFT is a collectible, like an insanely expensive but less tangible football card. As for Steve Smith NFTs? Think of them as digital memorabilia, and play on.Image credits: Getty Images</div><div id="contributors">This article was originally published on <a href="https://cosmosmagazine.com/people/society/turning-sporting-heroes-nfts/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">cosmosmagazine.com</a> and was written by Amalyah Hart. </div>

Art

Top three health and fitness trends to try

Well, what better place to find out than at the annual Australian Health & Fitness Expo which was held in Melbourne this April. Hundreds of new products and services were on display, all with the promise to make your life healthier, happier and more enjoyable. We did the research for you and here are the top three trends to keep an eye on. Clean eating From snacks to cereal to supplements, judging by the impressive range of products on display at the expo, the list of additives and artificial sugars is fast diminishing. There’s a strong trend towards using wholefoods such as nuts, seeds and dried fruit to curb the cravings and help you with mindful snacking and if you’re keen to go gluten free there’s a lot more in store for you as well. If you’ve been struggling to find a natural protein supplement, you’re in luck too. Protein powders, which you can shake with water and drink as a mini meal, are being introduced in a more natural form, sweetened with stevia, which is derived from the stevia plant instead of aspartame and other artificial sugars. HIIT & mixed method training One of the huge trends in fitness is functional or mixed method training. This simply refers to combining various types of exercises which strengthens different parts of the body all at the same time, creating a strong foundation for the functional movements our body is exposed to in our everyday lives. It’s a very time efficient way to train and using props like resistance bands, free weights and plyometrics (think frog jumps) makes for a very effective total body workout. Another stable hit in the fitness world is HIIT (high intensity interval training). HIIT is superior when it comes to fat burning and can be modified to suit any fitness level. The basics are go as hard as you can for 30 sec or 1 min then recover and repeat. You can perform HIIT on a spin bike, while running, skipping etc. An example of this drift is the introduction of 30 min indoor walking classes where participants step on to an indoor walker (looks like a cross trainer but it isn’t) and switches between intensity and pace while being directed by an instructor and some good tunes. Indoor walking is a low impact type of training and could soon be coming to a gym near you. Watch the video! Gadget heaven It was gadgets galore at the health & fitness expo this year with trackers and devices monitoring your health and fitness and using apps to make sense of the data collected. One of the things that caught our attention was a pair of pants. Now, perhaps you can’t describe pants as a gadget but this range of clothing is practically magical and deserves a spot on the list. The clothing fabric is made with a special fibre technology called Celliant® which is infused with minerals that when activated by your body heat turns into an infrared light. Your body heat is therefore re-used as infrared light which aids in blood circulation and improves oxygenation of tissue. Republished with permission of <a href="https://www.wyza.com.au/articles/health/exercise/top-three-health-and-fitness-trends-to-try.aspx">Wyza.com.au.</a>

Caring

The 2 travel trends to watch out for

1. Bagging a cheap-as-chips airline ticket Think of this promotion as more playful than practical. In April 2015, Dutch low-cost airline Transavia released “SnackHolidays” packets of chips, gummy bears and cereal bars that doubled as a passenger ticket and boarding pass. The range was stocked at French supermarkets and cinemas and in vending machines on train platforms. All potential passengers had to do was decide between gummy sweets (Lisbon), potato chips (Barcelona) or a cereal bar (Dublin). Ranging in price from €30-40, the packets featured printed QR codes that booked the flight. Definitely a novelty, but one we think deserves a round of applause for originality. And yes, there was a use-by date. 2. Mini fashion bars For anyone who hates packing or has a habit of forgetting things – this could be for you. Visitors to the Banks Hotel in Antwerp now have something extra in their room. Each room is fitted with a Mini Fashion Bar, featuring casual easy-to-wear clothing from the French brand Pimkie. The mini bars are stocked with seasonal accessories, shoes and outfits to suit the guest’s age and size, as well as any preferred holiday activities. To ensure the right choices are waiting when they check in, guests are asked to contact the hotel’s dedicated fashion concierge before arriving in town. So what’s the catch? Well, we couldn’t find any – apart from having to buy the clothes if you wear them. Plans are set to introduce the concept to the company’s hotels in Paris, London, Berlin and Milan. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/tips/Two-Travel-Trends-to-Watch-Out-For">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN93V">here’s our best subscription offer</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Travel Tips

The latest travel trends worth trying

Ride a bike Cycling-based tour operators are reporting a 25-30% increase in demand, thanks to travellers’ desires to stay active and eco-friendly on their getaways. Take all the generations along Cruise lines specialise in multi-generational travel. Climb aboard and watch a poolside movie on a 28m2 screen while the kids practise downward-dog in a youth-focused yoga programme. Step inside your favourite story Now you can follow in the footsteps of your favourite onscreen characters. Several Downton Abbey (Highclere Castle in Berkshire, UK, is pictured above) and Game of Thrones packages were launched in 2013, while searches for hotels in Las Vegas rose by 159% following the release of The Hangover Part III, according to hotels.com. Track your genealogy Relax and find your roots with genealogy tourism: a trip with a twist of uncovering your past. Each year, thousands of people in search of ancestral adventure plan trips to Europe, and beyond. This article first appeared in <a href="http://www.readersdigest.com.au/travel/activities/travel-trends-worth-trying">Reader’s Digest</a>. For more of what you love from the world’s best-loved magazine, <a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.com.au/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRA87V">h</a><a href="http://readersdigest.innovations.co.nz/c/readersdigestemailsubscribe?utm_source=over60&utm_medium=articles&utm_campaign=RDSUB&keycode=WRN87V">ere’s our best subscription offer.</a> <img style="width: 100px !important; height: 100px !important;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7820640/1.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f30947086c8e47b89cb076eb5bb9b3e2" />

Cruising

Scary new travel theft trend: Why locking your suitcase with padlocks is pointless

Locking suitcases may not be enough to keep them from being broken into, thanks to an increasingly popular technology. UK consumer group <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.which.co.uk/news/2019/02/master-key-to-luggage-locks-leaked-thieves-can-open-your-suitcase-with-a-3d-printed-key/" target="_blank">Which?</a> found that keys printed on a 3D printer could “potentially open the luggage locks of almost any bag in the world”. Many suitcases have TSA-approved locks, giving officers from the US Transportation Security Administration the ability to access them if needed. These locks, which have seven different varieties, are used by more than 500 different luggage and padlock brands globally. However, in 2014, the TSA's seven master keys were leaked in a Washington Post article, leading them to be replicated around the world and the templates posted on the Internet. The consumer group's investigation found that after four years, bags are still sold with the same TSA locks and the same key templates still work. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px; display: block; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7824125/lock1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/4fdf36317f0d4294a9adcd6db64df049" /> The group found that a set of keys printed using a £200 (AU$369) 3D printer could open suitcases from a variety of brand, including Samsonite, Antler and American Tourister. The templates could also be used to order the keys in stainless steel from an online 3D printing service, which is available to anyone. Travel Sentry, which produces the TSA lock security system across 30 countries, told the group that while the 2014 leak was taken seriously, it did not affect travellers' property security significantly as thieves still prefer using brute force to break into bags. The company also added that the presence of the locks is "still a proven deterrent to theft and tampering". While it is not mandatory in Australia, travellers are still advised to use these TSA-compliant locks when travelling to the US and Canada. The TSA has not commented on the matter. How do you keep your luggage safe? Let us know in the comments.

Travel Trouble

The new baby name trend parents are obsessed with – is it the craziest yet?

Choosing baby names is no easy feat. Generally, parents must come to a mutual agreement on what to name their child, and then there are factors such as spelling, pronunciation and whether it suits the surname to consider. But amongst the millennial generation, there is now a major deciding factor added to the mix, and that’s if the name has an available domain (website) name. While you may be left confused and wondering who in their right mind would worry about something so trivial, a new survey of 2000 mums and dads who are millennial age have claimed that having an available domain name for their child is crucial when choosing their child’s name. According to research, which was conducted by <a rel="noopener" href="https://au.godaddy.com/" target="_blank">GoDaddy</a> – a web hosting and domain registration company – one in five (20 per cent) of millennial parents have said that they would choose their baby's name in accordance to what domain names were available at the time. Out of that 20 per cent, three in four people had actually “changed the top contenders for their baby’s name based on the availability of that domain name". Further studies revealed that there is a difference in mentalities between Generation X and millennials. With 48 per cent of millennials wanting their child to build an online presence early in their lifetime compared to only 27 per cent of Gen X who shared the same sentiments. Amongst the millennials, 38 per cent claimed that they’ve created or are considering creating a website for their kids, which is a greater amount than the 20 per cent of Gen X who felt the same. Top 3 reasons why parents purchased their child’s domain name before birth: <ul> <li>Wanted to reserve a name for future use – 45 per cent</li> <li>To use as a digital baby book – 42 per cent</li> <li>To use as a tool to teach kids how to use the internet – 42 per cent</li> </ul> Top 3 reasons parents plan to purchase domain names in the future: <ul> <li>To reserve their name for future use – 54 per cent</li> <li>To use as a tool to teach kids how to use the internet – 46 per cent</li> <li>Think it’s important for their child to own their name online – 41 per cent</li> </ul> Do you think this is the craziest baby name trend yet? Let us know in the comments below.

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