Life Style

As a beauty editor, people expect me to know a lot about everything related to the cosmetic space. From knowing the latest makeup trends to being able to tell them what manicures are popular at the drop of a dime, it's a tall order that I can usually handle with ease. However, I can readily admit that I'm not an expert in every category - in fact, I'm downright pitiful when it comes to hair. I don't know what it is, but something in my mind just stops working whenever I try my hand at recreating a hairstyle or mastering any new techniques. No matter how hard I try, I simply never end up with the results that I'm looking for. That being said, when I came across a bobby pin hack that looked so easy that even I could do it, I was intrigued. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Matt Newman (@mattloveshair) The hack in question was popularized by a content creator by the name Krista. In her video, she uses a bobby pin to give her hair a bit of volume, completely concealing the usually hard-to-hide hair accessory. It seemed simple enough, so I decided to try it for myself. Keep reading to see how my experiment went. In a recreation of Krista's video, hairstylist Matt Newman broke down the steps to get the look. He explained that she tucked the front piece of hair toward the back of the head, swooped the side piece to cover it up, and pinned them where they connected. She then finished by bringing the rest of her hair forward to hide the hair pins. During my first attempt at doing this trend, I quickly realized that you have to work in smaller sections if you have coarse hair, like myself, and you definitely need to double-up on the bobby pins. When I first tried to pin the pieces back, the bobby pin immediately flew out of my hair. However, after some trial and error, I was eventually able to get it to stay and achieve the desired look. So, on the other side of my head, I tried to recreate it more seamlessly. Just as Krista did, I split the hair toward the front of my head. I brought the bottom piece toward the front and the top piece toward the back, pinning where they intersected. Not only did the additional bobby pin help the hair stay in place, but it also added the tiniest lift to the side of my head. This made it look like I just sprayed a volumizing hairspray and fluffed it out a bit. To blend everything together, I brushed the rest of my hair into place and, I had to admit, the style looked pretty good. While I initially was struggling, after a few tweaks this hack worked for me. It's going to be a great trick to keep in my back pocket, especially when I want to keep my hair out of my face in the upcoming warmer months. Ariel Baker is the assistant editor for PS Beauty. Her areas of expertise include celebrity news, beauty trends, and product reviews. She has additional bylines with Essence and Forbes Vetted.

Kelsea Ballerini's tattoo collection may not be as robust as boyfriend Chase Stokes's many designs, but they're still worth checking out. While her latest piece of ink - a delicate hummingbird located on her back - has caught many fans' eyes, you might be surprised to learn this is far from her first tattoo. The Grammy-nominated musician has been slowly building up a meaningful tattoo collection that now boasts six designs - many of which she got in 2023 alone. Though Ballerini got her first tattoo in 2014 in a somewhat haste (more on that later), she's made sure that all her designs serve as an authentic reflection of her personal and artistic growth. This explains the extended hiatus between her newer and older designs. "I took a break," Ballerini tells PS in an interview. "Then [I] made some life changes in the last year and a half, and got it," she explained, referring to the minimalist wave that she got on her hip earlier this year. When asked whether she'd ever consider potentially covering her existing tattoos or removing them, she says, "I believe in no regrets." Even as she embarks on a new era of her body art, she says, "I stand by my life. And so I made the decision to get this when I made it," adding, "I think if things no longer suit you, you're allowed to change your mind." Ahead, we have rounded up all of Ballerini's tattoos along with their meanings. From capturing her sentimental memories to celebrating her personal and musical milestones, read on to learn more about the country star's growing ink collection.

Despite what Janis Ian taught you about the high-school cafeteria in "Mean Girls," goths are no longer relegated to the back corner of the lunchroom near the sexually active band geeks. Goth culture, particularly goth makeup, has found its way to the plastics table - or at least the cultural mainstream. Between all of us living in the Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker rocker-chic era, makeup tutorials on soft-goth makeup reaching hundreds of thousands of views on TikTok, and even the resurgeance of the look on the popular Netflix series "Heartbreak High," it's safe to say that goth makeup has made a much-awaited comeback. Here's what you need to know about the trend so that you can sit with it. What Is Goth Makeup? "Traditionally, we know goth makeup to be mostly pale skin, dark smoky eyes, and black or deep red lips," makeup artist Ashley Rebecca tells PS. "People also add signs and symbols to their eye makeup, such as upside-down crosses or drops that resemble blood, to really drive the goth theme home." But like other makeup trends (we're looking at you, '90s makeup!), today's goth makeup is inspired by its classic predecessor with some modern twists. "Despite popular belief, it's pretty easy to take goth makeup and make it a tad more mainstream," Rebecca says. "Traditional goth makeup touts a paler complexion, but that doesn't always need to be the case now if you play up your eyes and lips." Contrast is key when creating this look, so as long as you keep that in mind, you can take tons of creative liberties. What Is Soft Goth Makeup? If you don't want to dive head first into the skinny brow and jet-black eyeshadow of it all, soft goth makeup is a slightly less intense version of the trend that can almost feel a little romantic. "Soft goth makeup is about adding an alternative edge to your look and not just wearing makeup to enhance your appearance," makeup artist Gabrielle Alvarez says. "It's more about using makeup to express yourself." With soft goth makeup, Alvarez says that she loves a dark liner around the eyes or lips. "That plus a chunky, spider-y lash with a cool-toned contoured cheek is perfection," she says. With soft glam makeup looks, don't be afraid to play with color; you can achieve the essence of the trend by choosing one feature to emphasize. "Opt for something easy, like your eyeshadow or lipstick," Alvarez says. Goth Makeup: Products You'll Need Still, if no one can pry your favorite goth glam looks from your Pinterest board no matter how hard they tried, you'll need a few products to recreate those looks. Black kohl eyeliner: The softer and more blendable the formula, the better for smoking out. Black eyeshadow: You'll need a black shadow, preferably matte, to set your liner and help diffuse any unwanted harsh edges. Bold lipstick: Think black, deep red, or purple tones. How to Create a Goth Makeup Look Step 1: Create your base. Forget the thick white foundation creams you can find at Party City. Today's goth makeup is more customizable than a stark white face. "You don't need to have a super-pale complexion to pull off the goth trend," Rebecca says. "It's OK to wear a foundation that matches your skin tone. You can choose to play up your eyes and lips in a way that still pays tribute to goth looks without it being as obvious." Step 2: Add some depth to your complexion. Rebecca notes that contour, blush, and highlighter haven't been utilized in traditional goth makeup looks in the same way that they've become a mainstay in our everyday makeup. But in goth makeup 2.0, we're seeing them make an appearance. Frosty white highlighter is commonplace, as is the trendy pop of blush under the eyes. Step 3: Play up your eyes. "The simplest way to create gothic-inspired makeup is going by the phrase: 'the darker, the better'," Rebecca says. She recommends using deep black eyeliner and shadow to create a smoky eye. To start, line your entire lash line (top and bottom) with your liner. Don't forget your waterlines. Then, using a small smudge brush or even your fingers, buff the liner up and out to cover more of your lid space. Once you have the general shape you want - this is totally up to you - take your black shadow on a flat shader brush and pack it on directly over your liner. This will lock in all your hard work and create an even deeper shade of black. Black shadow tends to have a lot of fallout, so using a clean, small fluffy brush without any product, gently blend out the edges until it creates a soft gradient effect on your lids. Step 4: Paint on your lip. There's no right or wrong way to wear gothic-inspired lipstick. Rebecca recommends experimenting with deep lipstick tones, from black to blood red and even purple. If you really want your eyes to be the star of the show, rather than picking a traditional pink- or brown-based nude, try a more gray- or purple-based nude, like a mauve or stone. And stick with matte finishes if you want to stay true to the trend. Our Favorite Goth-Makeup Inspiration Photos

Growing up, I didn't think I had much in common with Taylor Swift. I mean, one of us sang in front of millions of people for a living, and the other did imaginary sold-out world tours in the shower. Still, there was always something I loved about the star, and that's her affinity for a bold red lip. Whether she is fresh-faced or wearing a full beat, Swift has been known to keep her signature lip color close by, and ever since her romance with Kansas City Chiefs star Travis Kelce became public, fans have been obsessed with finding out her go-to lipstick shade, particularly the one she's been wearing at his games and during the couple's date nights. Turns out it's the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Legendary Wear Matte Lipstick ($34) in the shade Elson 4, a formula extension of its popular preexisting shade. As someone who prides herself on being a red-lipstick connoisseur, I knew that I had to try this one out for myself. Plus, after watching countless videos of Swift and Kelce post-concert or football game, I figured what better way to see if it's really worth the money than to put it through a kiss test? Thankfully, my fiancé makes it a point to indulge in my shenanigans, so read ahead to see if this formula beloved by Swiftis actually worth picking up for yourself. About the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Matte Lipstick The entire LiquiLust line has 14 shades with both matte and shimmer finishes. The shade Elson 4 is a blue-based red that provides a whitening effect to the teeth. The formula is nondrying and has a soft matte finish. What I Like About the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Matte Lipstick When applying the color for the test, I carved out my lips with my favorite red lip liner, the Lip Bar Straight Bawse ($10), just to make sure that the lipstick didn't bleed. I then applied one coat of the liquid lip and let it dry for a little over two minutes to ensure it set. Immediately, I liked how opaque the formula was after just one swipe. Additionally, the tear-drop shape of the applicator made it easy to get to the corners of my lips without having to deposit a ton of color that I'd later have to wipe off. While I was waiting for it to dry, I enjoyed how velvety smooth the lipstick felt. I've tried my fair share of formulas that have been matte but to the detriment of my lip's moisture levels. My experience with this one was noticeably more comfortable. Kiss Test For the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Matte Lipstick For the actual kiss test, I made sure that my partner had no product on his lips before laying a big smooch on him. Of important note: we both kept our mouths closed to make sure that if there was any transfer, it would strictly be because of lip-to-lip contact - not saliva, tongues, or teeth. After the kiss, I noticed some slight transfer onto his mouth, so I waited another moment to see if the formula needed to dry a bit more, and kissed him again. There was still some transfer the second time around. I waited about five minutes and then kissed the back of my hand lightly with the same results. As you can guess from my findings, the Pat McGrath LiquiLust Lipstick isn't smudge-proof, per se. (If you're looking for one of those, my favorite long-wearing red lipstick is the Maybelline Super Stay Liquid Ink ($9, originally $11), which truly does not budge.) Still, the LiquiLust formula is slightly more comfortable on the lips than most other formulas on the market, and has more of a velvet matte finish, similar to the Lisa Eldridge True Velvet lipstick ($36). What to Consider About the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Matte Lipstick From my results, I would say that this formula is not exactly transfer-proof and recommend using a lip liner when wearing it. This doesn't seem to be an issue for Swift (there were quite a few red kiss marks present on Kelce's cheeks earlier in their relationship), but if you want something to stay put all day, this might not be for you. I personally like the color and formula itself, so when I want to have it on for a while, I'll just bring the tube with me to reapply as it rubs off during the day. That said, if you're looking for a liquid lip that feels comfortable and not drying, it's worth trying. Or, do what I'm going to do: buy it in a few neutral shades so that the transfer isn't as obvious as it is with such as bold color like red. Where to Buy the Pat McGrath Labs LiquiLust Matte Lipstick You can buy this lipstick at Net-a-Porter, Sephora, and the brand's website. Rating: 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.

Megan Thee Stallion has three Grammys, writes songs that top the charts on the regular, sells out arenas, and just generally has a lot going for her. As for me, sometimes just getting out of bed is enough of an accomplishment. Ever since the passing of my uncle, who had been my father figure throughout my life, I've managed to neglect my well-being, allowing both my physical and mental health to decline to a point that I'm not proud of. I realize that it isn't realistic to compare myself to a celebrity, especially under these circumstances. However, Megan Thee Stallion knows a thing or two about picking yourself up and rebuilding after going through something life shattering. Her father passed away while she was a freshman in high school, and she lost her mom just a few months before her hit song "Hot Girl Summer" put her in the spotlight. A year after, Megan was shot by her ex-friend, and that - and the media frenzy that ensued - causing her to spiral, she revealed in a recent interview with Women's Health. So that's why I couldn't help but notice when Megan shared bits and pieces about what helped her heal from what she considers some very dark times of her life. The rapper had to make intentional decisions surrounding her mental health, and over time she built a nourishing wellness routine that she continues to keep up with. I was so inspired by the honesty, vulnerability, and hope in the artist's story, that I was excited by the idea of trying her plan myself. I'm currently on day four of Megan Thee Stallion's wellness routine, and I'm already starting to understand why it's worked so well for her. Here's what she does every day, and how the journey has been for me so far. Megan Thee Stallion's Morning Routine My day usually starts out pretty rushed. After spending some time on my phone, I get out of bed and almost immediately get ready and start work. Megan, on the other hand, told WH that she deleted social media apps to avoid doomscrolling. Additionally, she carves out time in the morning for herself. "In my everyday life, I speak with so many people. When I perform, I take on so many energies," she explained in the interview. "Let the start of the day be about me; then, I can give my energy to everybody else." Her morning routine is stacked. She meditates and prays about her plans for the day out on her balcony before playing with her dogs. She also journals about how she's feeling, listens to music, and may apply a face mask. Megan is a morning shower type of person, using the time and space to ground herself to the present moment by listening to the sound of running water, and write lyrics in her head. Not every day, but regularly, Megan makes time for therapy and massage appointments. As she shared in a YouTube video that accompanied the WH interview, she also unwinds by taking Epsom salt baths, during which she lights candles, listens to R&B, and keeps her phone strictly on Do Not Disturb mode. I followed Megan's exact routine every morning for four days, and while I initially didn't like the idea of having to wake up earlier than normal to accommodate such an involved a.m. self-care routine, soon enough my not-a-morning-person grumbling was drowned out by an appreciation for just how clear-minded I felt going into my day. It was also very freeing to not feel an obligation to reply to texts or check notifications first thing in the morning, and without social media on my phone I found I had more time to devote towards the other self care activities she does, like relaxing in a bath. Megan Thee Stallion's Exercise Routine Whenever I actually find the motivation to exercise, it's usually at night after work, but Megan Thee Stallion exclusively does it in the - you guessed it - morning. Four to five days per week she works out at the gym, her home, or the beach. But no matter where or what time of day she's working out, what she wears is an important aspect. She opts for clothing that makes her feel confident, or more specifically anything that makes her look "like an anime character" or a superhero, which usually means a matching set. We know from past interviews and social media posts that Megan Thee Stallion's workout routine is notoriously challenging. In the WH interview, she names 40-minute cardio sessions (involving an elliptical, stair stepper, or sand hills for running), and strength and conditioning workouts that include weighted sit ups, hip thrusts, and, of course, plenty of stallion kicks. Sometimes she switches things up by attending a Pilates class. Her soundtrack is up-tempo - she loves listening to her own song "Freaky Nasty" and "Ain't it Fun" by Paramore, plus a lot of Key Glock and Young Dolph. I swapped a treadmill in for sand hills and her at-home YouTube workouts for a personal trainer, but other than that I stuck to her workout routine to a T. The exercise portion honestly ended up being the hardest but most rewarding part of Megan's routine for me, not so much because the workouts were difficult, but because they were mentally challenging. I had recently gained weight in a short amount of time, and being a hockey player in college, it was extremely discouraging to struggle through her workouts more than I hoped. However, the fact that part of her workout routine is specifically to dress like a superhero helped a lot with feeling more confident. After working out I also felt a sense of accomplishment that made me motivated to tackle the rest of the day with the same level of determination and intensity from the workouts. Megan Thee Stallion's Eating Routine Megan Thee Stallion also talked food with WH, and while she clearly used her diet to help her physical health - she mentions some stomach issues - she's also clearly a believer in the mind-body connection, and eating to feel good is part of that. The rapper isn't a coffee girl, so her routine had me drinking green juice (with spinach, kale, ginger, turmeric, apples, and collagen powder) and smoothies (with strawberries, bananas, almond milk, and protein powder) instead. The artist's eating plan wasn't hard to follow, since it wasn't restrictive. She prioritizes nutrient-rich foods: lots of fish, vegetables, greens, and fiber-rich grains. She also drinks about a gallon of water every day. The biggest adjustment for me was breakfast, because I usually just drink coffee. Unsurprisingly, I'm also usually starving by lunchtime, and ever since starting Megan's routine I haven't felt that way, which has been a welcome change. In fact, eating more frequently may be why I've felt more energetic during this experiment, despite the fact that I've been ditching coffee while also waking up earlier to get started on a self-care morning routine. Although that could also have something to do with the fact that on workout days, Megan (and I, during the past four days) follows breakfast with a preworkout. What I Learned It's only been four days, but even though it's too early to see major changes, Megan Thee Stallion's routine has shifted my mood and perspective enough for me to want to continue following it. Based on my experience so far, the best part about this routine is how it begins with a focus on productivity and self-care, setting a positive tone for the rest of the day. It also made work feel like such a small part of my day, almost like my day was about self-care with work squeezed in the middle, instead of the other way around. I've also found myself feeling more in control of how the day unfolds and more in tune with my emotions, which makes me more motivated to keep working on myself. To be clear, Megan Thee Stallion didn't intend for her interview to be used as a roadmap for a mental health-building wellness routine. But she's someone who demonstrated strength and resilience during intense pressure, while on a public stage. And this window into how she took care of herself during the difficult times she experienced over the past few years was incredibly inspiring. I don't feel like the epitome of wellness after trying this slice of Megan Thee Stallion's routine, but I do feel a bit better than I did going into it - and for that reason alone, I'd highly recommend it to anyone who wants to jumpstart their wellness journey. Kalea Martín is a lifestyle writer and PS contributor who mostly writes about food and cooking, but also covers fitness as a former figure skater and hockey player herself. You can find more of her writing in Tasting Table, Better Homes & Gardens, and Martha Stewart Living.