Life Style

“Lip Cuffing” Is Like a Facelift For Your Mouth

For those of you who may not know this about me: I love a good makeup hack. From concealing my brows to giving myself a faux-bleached look to strategically placing my concealer to fake a facelift - I'll try almost anything. That's why when I saw makeup artist Huda Kattan's latest hack for getting the "poutiest, most juicy-looking lips" (her words, not mine), I had to try it. The process includes over-lining your lips and shading in the sides before adding any color. Kattan's steps are aptly titled: cuff it, blend it, link it, fill it, and gloss it. Her results? Deliciously glossy lips that I couldn't wait to recreate - so I did just that. My products of choice were the Dibs Beauty No Pressure Lip Definer ($14, originally $16) in Dark, the Made Beauty Velvet Matte Liquid Lipstick in Cookie Butter ($22), and the Huda Beauty Faux Filler Lipgloss ($19) in the shade Sugar Baby. Like the makeup artist, I started outlining my lips, making sure to fill in the corners of my mouth with the dark-brown liner. After rubbing the liner in with my finger to blend the color into the rest of my lip, I connected the right and left edges (just like my normal lip-lining technique). I then filled in the space with the pink lipstick, and topped it off with the lip gloss. As to whether or not my lips looked the "juiciest" they ever have, I'd have to say no, as I typically find that tacky formulas like MAC's Clear Lipglass ($23) tend to give that effect. But those formulas also typically feel a bit sticky as a tradeoff. The Huda Beauty gloss does not provide that shine or tack, so depending on your preferences, you'll either want to go in with another layer or clear gloss for that shiny effect. When it comes to the technique, however, especially the "cuff it" portion, I'd say that this hack is a winner. I've never been good at contouring any part of my face or body, but that's exactly what this is - playing with shadows and light to achieve a desired outcome. I noticed an upturn in the shape of my lips. Though the edges of my mouth typically tend to fold inward, making that area look a bit more pulled down when my face is at rest, I noticed that it wasn't as prominent after using this technique. When I smiled, my eyes immediately went to the lighter part of my mouth: the middle. So, is this a technique that fundamentally changes your lips or makes them look super juicy? No, but it is a lesson in what a proper contouring technique can do for you. So in that sense, it's still a win for me. Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.
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Ryan Gosling’s Tattoos Each Have a Sentimental Meanings

Last year, Ryan Gosling's partner, actor Eva Mendes, debuted a wrist tattoo that reads, "de Gosling." In Spanish, "de" translates to "of," which is a common preposition women in Hispanic culture use to add their husband's surname to the end of theirs. (Mendes is Cuban.) This sparked rumors among fans that Gosling and Mendes have gotten married at some point in their 12 years together. While neither has commented on what the ink means, it did make people wonder whether the couple have more sweet tattoos. Although Mendes has just one known design, Gosling's tattoos come to a grand total of five known designs so far. The actor has been open about the meanings of many of them, and he's even shared that he has some DIY ink as well. Some have pretty clear meanings - like his "Esme" tattoo dedicated to his daughter Esmeralda - while others, like what looks like a cactus tattoo, have a significance that's less obvious. Gosling has worn fake tattoos for his movies, like a design that's a reference to Greek mythology in "The Gray Man." In "The Place Beyond the Pines," you can see one of Gosling's real pieces of body art - a tattoo of a ghostly woman - on display among many fake ones. (For the record: no, you won't see him wearing any tattoos for his role as Ken in Greta Gerwig's "Barbie.") If you're wondering what each of his five known tattoos means, we've rounded them up for you in the slides ahead. Keep reading for a guide to Ryan Gosling's tattoos - and the significance behind them.
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I Still Feel Like My Natural Hair Doesn’t Go With My “Aesthetic”

Image Source: Getty/Delmaine Donson Occasionally, someone on the internet says something that either makes me question why I share space with them on this planet or nod feverishly in agreement. When it came to a recent video from vlogger Evelyn Ngugi, I found myself in the latter camp - and feeling slightly ashamed to admit it out loud. In the video, Ngugi explains that she feels like her natural, type-four hair doesn't go with the personal aesthetic she is trying to create as an adult. She makes it clear that while she loves her hair, it can feel equal parts juvenile and too mature. As someone who shares her hair texture, I have been struggling with the exact same thing. When the natural hair movement was at its height in the mid-2010s, while I experimented with a few styles like Bantu knots, twist-outs, and wash-and-go's, I never quite found my signature look. As a result, I stuck with protective styles like braids or silk presses, peppering in a few sew-ins here and there. When I hit college, I tried everything, but I realized that I didn't like the way my natural hair looked unless I spent hours manipulating it with product before leaving for classes. Still, I figured that as soon as I got my "big girl" job and could have someone style my hair for me regularly, I would be all set. Except that never happened. @myinternetcousin a little ramble 🥲 #naturalhair #personalstyle #zoekravitzbraids stitch with: @Goldynaps ♬ original sound - ✨evelyn✨ When I could afford the convenience of getting my hair professional done at a salon regularly, I still found myself opting for box braids and other, more convenient styles. Whenever I'd try to do my natural hair in a new way that I thought I'd love, I always ended up feeling childish - and anything but the grown woman that I was trying to portray. No matter what I did, I did not feel like the adult I was envisioning in my head if my hair was in its natural state. It didn't help that the fictional women that I looked up to growing up, like Monica (played by Sanaa Lathan) from "Love and Basketball" or Isis (Gabrielle Union) from "Bring It On" typically also used straightened or relaxed hairstyles to portray maturity - and to be frank, attractiveness. This is the subtle message that has been sent to young Black women for decades. Without me realizing it, the media that I have been consuming for the better part of my life is likely where I got this notion that my natural, coily hair is juvenile. Black hair in this country has long been politicized. The Afro was a big part of the "Black Is Beautiful" movement by the Black Panthers, aiming to shift the narrative around naturally coily hair in the '70s. Then, the dominant belief was that whiteness - and, therefore, the phenotypical features typically associated with white people - was the pinnacle of beauty. Because of movements like this, one of the dominant narratives about Blackness - and, by extension, Black beauty practices and traditionally Black features - is that it is born out of defiance. The ability of enslaved people who were forcibly brought to this country to fight for equal rights was first seen as audacious before it was applauded. By extension, the gumption that it took to openly celebrate Black features - like wearing an afro in the '60s at a time when racism and segregation were still overtly practiced - has been the throughline that connects every Black beauty aesthetic that has emerged since then. Long, bejeweled nails, faded haircuts, and even locs were once seen as too "urban" for most of America. Except over the years, I've come to realize that whiteness and white features are not the backdrop for which I need to compare my Black features - whether I'm doing so subconsciously or not. This realization that I don't particularly love the way my natural hair looks has been one that I've been trying to work through by myself as I mature. Still, it's always affirming to hear that I'm not alone in my experience. Struggling so much with the hair that grows out of my head has, at times, felt guilt-inducing. Still, like anything else in life, this is a journey. Instead of speaking negatively about myself or my hair, I will continue to do what works best for me and my lifestyle - whether it's continuing to wear protective styles or, one day, committing to wearing my natural hair fully. As a handful of comments on Ngugi's video expressed, the goal is hair neutrality. Until then, I'm trying to fix the way I regard my natural hair, and that's just going to have to be enough. Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for POPSUGAR Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.
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8 Renter-Friendly Shelves, No Drilling Required

So, you've viewed a rental, fell in love with it, and moved in, only to find that it's severely lacking in storage space. Where will your books, toiletries, and knick knacks live? Will you have to resort to decluttering things that are important to you, or storing your essentials in baskets sprawled across your new home? Before you make attempts to rescind your security deposit, know that there is a solution that's as renter-friendly as it is functional: shelves. We're not referring to the kind of shelves that'll wreck your walls (and make for one unhappy landlord). Rather, we're talking floating, free-standing, and countertop-friendly shelves that don't involve any drilling or holes. These shelving options are an ideal workaround for spaces that have little to no storage options, and they can maximize space in your home. Searching for the best no-drill, renter-friendly shelves can be overwhelming, especially if you're not one to enjoy home shopping to begin with. From acrylic and wood to stackable and adjustable designs, the market is overflowing with options. Thankfully, we did the grunt work and combed through several retailers to scout the best no-drill shelves that'll fit every need, space, and budget. Below, find eight of the best renter-friendly shelves that you'll be excited to use in your bedroom, kitchen, living room, and everywhere in between. Related: How to Get the "Bookshelf Wealth" Look, According to an Interior Designer
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Butt Tattoos That Will Have You Feeling Positively Peachy

When it comes to choosing the tattoo placement for your next design, there are some areas that are naturally sexier than others. Your sternum, for example, can feel more sultry than your right bicep. Still, of all the locations, the best place has to be on your booty. That's right, sexy butt tattoos are back. So if you've been considering getting a butt tattoo, first of all, we say go for it, and second: you've come to the right place. You wouldn't be the only one interested in this particular tattoo trend: Halsey, Cardi B, and Teyana Taylor are among the many celebrities who've decided to embellish their booties with cheeky designs (yes, pun intended) - and it's easy to see why. For one, because it's in a relatively hidden spot, not everyone will get to see it - making the tattoo your (and anyone else you choose to show) little secret. Not to mention, the sex appeal of a tattoo is generally in its placement; the right design may end up being the best permanent reminder of just how hot you truly are. Whether you're thinking of adorning your backside with a subtle and tiny design or turning your entire butt into a hyperrealistic work of art, we've rounded up a ton of inspiration that proves a butt tattoo can also be tasteful. To check out more bum tattoo ideas, keep scrolling. - Additional reporting by Renee Rodriguez Related: What to Wear to a Tattoo Appointment: Side, Back, Butt, Chest, and Hip
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