Month: May 2021

Source: Getty

The U.S. Supreme Court is back in session! The nine Justices have reconvened after the summer recess and are hearing oral arguments for cases dealing with some of the most pressing issues facing our country. Oral arguments allow time for both sides of a case to present their facts and legal claims before the justices. In turn, the Justices ask questions of the attorneys and seek a better understanding of the relevant legal matters. The Court hears multiple oral arguments each day and is scheduled to hear nearly 30 arguments through mid-December. Decisions for these cases are expected to come down in early 2022. In the meantime, here’s a snapshot of three cases to keep on your radar.

 

 

Death Penalty for the Boston Marathon Bomber

In 2013, three people were killed and nearly 300 people were injured when two pressure-cooker bombs detonated near the finish line of the annual Boston Marathon. During the multi-day search for the suspects, a MIT police officer was murdered in his patrol car, and authorities linked the two incidents to brothers Tamerlan and Dzhokhar Tsarnaev. Tamerlan Tsarnaev died while trying to flee police, but Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was arrested, convicted on 30 counts in federal district court, and sentenced to death.

The First Circuit Court of Appeals overturned Tsarnaev’s death sentence, explaining that the district court jury hadn’t been properly questioned and that evidence wasn’t allowed that connected his brother to a prior murder. The Department of Justice, under former President Trump, appealed the overturned sentence to the Supreme Court and maintained that the death penalty should be upheld. The Justices heard oral argument for this case early on in the fall session, and the conservative Justices (Roberts, Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, Barrett) expressed general support of reinstating Tsarnaev’s death sentence. The liberal Justices (Breyer, Kagan, Sotomayor) were more sympathetic to Tsarnaev’s defense that his older brother coerced and influenced him into the bombing, and that the First Circuit decision should stand.

If the Court comes down in support of Tsarnaev’s execution—as is expected by legal scholars—it will reflect discord between the executive and judicial branches on the federal death penalty, with the former seeking to limit the practice and the latter aiming to extend. Even in states that prohibit the death penalty by state law, certain crimes can still be punishable by death under the Federal Death Penalty Act. President Biden has been pushing to end capital punishment, and earlier this year, the Department of Justice issued a moratorium on federal executions while a review of the Department’s policies and protocols are reviewed.

 

 

Unrestricted Concealed Carry for Firearms

New York state law requires that applicants for unrestricted concealed carry permits show “proper cause” and “​​demonstrate a special need for self-protection distinguishable from that of the general community.” This law was enacted in 1913 in response to an uptick in homicides in New York and is defended by the state government as a necessary, effective means of reducing gun violence. In this case, two permit applicants were denied unrestricted carry permits, but they were approved to carry while traveling to and from work, in hunting and target practice settings, and for self-defense in limited areas. The applicants viewed the limitations as an infringement on their Second Amendment rights and filed suit against the current New York Superintendent of Police.

Both the district court and appellate court dismissed the applicants’ claims, citing a previously decided Supreme Court case, District of Columbia v. Heller, which indicates that the Second Amendment right isn’t unlimited and should be regulated to some degree. The gray area is that regulations are interpreted differently according to jurisdiction, and there aren’t clear guidelines from the Supreme Court on how regulations should apply across the board. Heller was decided in 2008 and is the last major Second Amendment case that the Supreme Court has decided… until now.

If the Court rules in favor of the applicants, there could be a significant broadening of firearm accessibility in the U.S. There are seven states besides New York that require a showing of “proper cause” for concealed carry permits, so deeming the measure unconstitutional in New York would also deem it unconstitutional in those seven states, as well as preempt any other state from implementing the practice in the future. Additionally, the ruling could lead to further relaxation of other firearm regulations.

Oral argument for this case is scheduled for Nov. 3, 2021. An audio recording of the oral argument will be posted here on the same day.

 

 

Determining Fetal Viability for Abortion Access

Abortion rights have been a major topic this year as 90 restrictive abortion laws were enacted in the first six months of 2021—the most since Roe v. Wade was decided in 1973. The Texas legislature made headlines when it passed and implemented the most limiting abortion law in the country, SB 8, prohibiting abortion services after the first detection of fetal cardiac activity, usually around six weeks’ gestation. The Supreme Court had the option to block enforcement of SB 8 before it took effect on Sept. 1, but the Court declined.

Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health was already scheduled for oral argument when SB 8 was enacted, so that is likely a contributing factor as to why the Court refused to hear SB 8 at the time. The Court’s inaction on SB 8 bought them a couple of months, but the question of fetal viability—a primary point of contention—is also at issue in Dobbs, once again resting the legality of abortion access with the Supreme Court. Dobbs focuses on a Mississippi law that bans abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy. Under Roe v. Wade, abortion access cannot be denied anytime before a fetus is viable. Viability refers to the ability of a fetus to survive outside of the womb or be resuscitated after delivery. Most hospitals and medical providers consider the point of viability to be around 24 weeks.

Many legal scholars are considerably worried that Dobbs v. Jackson will ultimately lead to the overturn of Roe v. Wade. Upholding the law would essentially eliminate the viability condition that’s outlined in Roe and make abortions inaccessible before many childbearing people even know that they’re pregnant. Each of the six conservative Supreme Court Justices have expressed pro-life views, and a majority decision that strikes down the law would require two of the conservative Justices to depart from their political ideologies.

Oral argument for this case is scheduled for Dec. 1, 2021. An audio recording of the oral argument will be posted here on the same day.

 

Other Cases on the Docket

The Supreme Court will remain in session well into 2022, with a few breaks scattered throughout, and will hear a number of oral arguments. Some other legal matters the Court will decide include expanding Supplemental Security Income benefits to citizens of Puerto Rico (United States v. Vaello-Madero), gambling regulations on tribal land in Texas (Ysleta Del Sur Pueblo v. Texas), and disability discrimination under the Affordable Care Act (CVS Pharmacy, Inc. v. Doe), among others. Check out the Supreme Court’s website here for more info about each of this session’s cases.

 

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Source: @jahirka

When I finally succumbed to creating a TikTok account after resisting for far too long, I learned what everyone else in the world has already known for years: The app is full of fascinating, educational content. I’ve learned how to find the right beauty products for my skin type, how to change a light fixture, and, most recently, how to manage my friendships. During my routine nightly scroll, I stumbled across a TikTok from Tinx (AKA TikTok’s “big sister”) in which she explains the “Fatal Flaw Friend Theory.” After applying this rule to my friendships, all of my relationships became richer, more meaningful, and intentional. So what is the rule and why is it so important? Read on for my experience and how you can apply the rule to your own relationships. 

 

In this article

1
What is the “Fatal Flaw Friend Theory?”

2
My experience

3
How to apply the Fatal Flaw Theory to your friendships

 

What is the “Fatal Flaw Friend Theory?”

The rule (because it’s “more a rule than a theory,” as Tinx says) states that everyone has their own fatal flaw or a flaw that is going to cause you the most distress. Once you realize each friend’s fatal flaw, you either have to accept it and choose to not be bothered by it or rethink the friendship. If the fatal flaw is truly unacceptable and something you can’t look past (like constantly needing validation, telling harmful white lies, or always canceling plans at the last minute), the friendship should probably be reevaluated. Otherwise, you’ll constantly be mad at a friend for a simple factor of their personality you’re already aware of and can expect. In other words, identify what irks you the most about each friend, and then decide if it’s something you want to accept and not let bother you or if it’s something worth rethinking the friendship over. 

 

@tinx Answer to @jfeldman20 another tinx theory that has served me well #adviceforgirls #friendshipadvice #theories ♬ original sound – Tinx

 

 

My experience

I learned to appreciate my friends more

As someone who didn’t meet her best friends until college (except you, mom—love you!), I’m less experienced with friendships than those who grew up sharing halves of a bracelet from Claire’s. Because it took me so long to find friends whose personalities and values aligned with my own, I always worried that if some of their traits bothered me, it meant that we must not be good for each other. Tinx’s rule helped me realize that some flaws should be accepted. Just because a friend has a personality flaw doesn’t mean they’re not a great friend.

My two best friends are strong-willed, less-than-patient, leadership types (they’re fire signs—they can’t help it!). This can sometimes rub me the wrong way, but viewing our friendships through the Fatal Flaw Friend Theory, I saw that small annoyances (like being 15 minutes early to everything or asking for advice they won’t use) are just that: small annoyances. I can accept these minor flaws because when I accept them for who they are, I’m able to see that my friends add so much value to my life. I stopped feeling annoyed when they were extra early or couldn’t sit still, as those were traits I could expect. The Fatal Flaw Friend Theory reminded me to take my friends’ shortcomings less seriously. Instead of getting annoyed, I’m able to take a step back and remember that their flaws aren’t worth taking away from all the positive aspects of our relationships.

 

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…and I realized which friendships weren’t worth keeping

On the other hand, a couple of other friends are overly competitive and have a history of spewing backhanded compliments. I tried to accept these friends for who they are, thinking I would be a bad friend if I didn’t. But after realizing their fatal flaw might actually be fatal for our friendship, I realized that the cons simply outweighed the pros. Their fatal flaw was not something I could (or wanted to) accept and appreciate, so why bring myself so much negativity getting annoyed about traits that I could expect from them? It was up to me to either let their ongoing behaviors get to me every day or distance myself from them and focus on the people who bring me joy.  

Ultimately, the fatal flaw theory states that if you spend more time in a relationship feeling bad than good, then it’s probably time to walk away. But if a friendship is worth having, accept people for who they are so you’re not spending your relationships feeling annoyed or frustrated. This rule has become my new measuring stick of friendships past, present, and future: Past relationships ended because we couldn’t accept each other’s flaws, my current friendships are more fulfilling because I’m more patient and accepting, and I know to expect that future friends will also have flaws, but it’s up to me to find the flaws that are worth accepting (because I have a long list of flaws my best friends accept too!). 

 

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How to apply the Fatal Flaw Theory to your friendships

1. Check in with yourself

It’s common to get so lost in a friendship that you don’t question if you actually enjoy it. Maybe you are stuck in routine, have been friends for so long, or feel like you need this friend for affirmation or connections. You might not even realize that the friendship isn’t truly bringing you joy. Take time to reflect on how you feel when you spend time with your friend. If your friend’s flaws are so detrimental that you dread being around them, there may be a problem you just can’t overlook. 

 

2. Get clear on your goals

What are you hoping to get out of the friendship? Are you looking for a casual shopping partner, someone you can confide in, or maybe something in between? Take the time to consider what your goals are for a friendship (and you might have different goals for different friends). All friendships serve a different purpose; for example, if you’re looking for a lifelong friend who’s always there for you, but they’re someone who never picks up their phone, you’ll never feel satisfied with the relationship because your goal isn’t being met. Not everyone can be everything to you, and it’s OK to have different friends for different purposes, but make sure your needs are being met.

 

3. Set boundaries 

If you’re not totally enjoying a relationship but aren’t ready to give up on it, first try establishing some personal boundaries. Boundaries provide others with the guidelines for how you expect to be treated and what you won’t tolerate. For example, if you have a competitive friend whose behavior stresses you out (whether it’s competition over a job, a relationship, or your friend group), take responsibility for your part in the competitive dynamic and express to your friend what you want your dynamic to be instead. If someone isn’t willing or able to abide by these guidelines, they may not be worth your time. A good friend will always respect your needs and work to grow together. 

 

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I’m sitting in the office reapplying my lipstick after lunch, or I join a Zoom call with a full face of makeup on before the clock strikes 10 a.m. Sometimes it’s when I walk into a beauty store mainlining it to exactly what I need and not sneaking a peek at anything else. Without fail, once a week, someone asks me, “Can you just take me to Sephora and tell me what to buy?” 

The questions only increased since I started writing about beauty products for a living, so I figured it was necessary to finally answer it. Listen, I get it: Sephora is a minefield of products, and unless you know what to look for, it’s hard to weed out what’s good and what isn’t. But once you get the products that work best for you, your makeup routine will be forever changed.

After a lot of firsthand testing, I compiled the complete list of what to grab for a full makeup routine. So the next time you’re in Sephora, consider this your beginner’s guide to shopping for makeup.

Laura Mercier

Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30

If you’re new to makeup, put down the full coverage foundation and say hi to something natural instead. A
lightweight foundation like this one is easy to blend, won’t require a ton of fussing to make it look good, and doesn’t get cakey if you need to layer it for more coverage.

I personally love this when my skin is on the drier side because it adds that extra dew and life back to my skin and never clings to dry patches.

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Fenty Beauty

Blurring Skin Tint

This unicorn tint truly works on all skin types (our editors with very different skin types agreed in their review). It’s a natural finish with a bit less coverage than the Laura Mercier.

On my oily skin, it leaves me feeling like I can take on the day—even sans powder. I also love how easy the application is—Rihanna even suggests using it with your fingers.

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Armani Beauty

Power Fabric Concealer

When someone asks me for a concealer rec, I don’t have to do much thinking. It’s always this. Armani Beauty somehow mastered the art of a concealer that is medium coverage, lightweight, blendable, and natural—all in one fell swoop. On days I don’t want to wear foundation, I pop this under my eyes and on any blemishes, and it blends seamlessly into my skin. Heck, sometimes I even like how this looks all over my face more than foundation.

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MERIT Beauty

Foundation and Concealer Stick

If you’re sitting there reading this and thinking, 1. I don’t have time for all of that, and 2. the thought of all that dew on my face is making me sweat (same), let me introduce you to Merit’s Complexion Stick. It’s both a foundation and a concealer but also somehow neither. It’s really in a category of its own. I use it under my eyes and over blemishes when I need to run out the door because it blends in about 20 seconds flat. For someone on the go who doesn’t want to fuss with makeup but likes a bit of coverage, this will start living rent-free in your bag in no time.

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Charlotte Tilbury

Airbrush Flawless Finish Setting Powder

Regardless of skin type, powder is necessary. It blurs your pores, prolongs your makeup, and gets rid of that tacky foundation feeling we all hate. But it’s gotten a bad rap for being cakey and drying—until this one stepped in. There’s a reason you’ll find this in makeup bags all over the world. It’s a silky smooth, fine powder that glides right over skin and does everything you want a powder to do without doing what you don’t. No dry and crusty skin here.

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Fenty Beauty

Instant Warmth Bronzer

For a beginner, I’d recommend forgoing cream bronzers for now and heading straight to a powder. When used with a fluffy brush, bronzer can give you an all-over glow that’s pretty foolproof (unless you’re using a very wrong shade, but we love Fenty’s line because none of the shades are orange). For a more targeted application, focus on the 3E method: around the temples, under the cheekbones, and under the jawline.

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MAKEUP BY MARIO

Soft Pop Blush Stick

The first time I tried this blush, I thought to myself, “This would be incredible for a makeup beginner.” For one, it is so creamy and emollient that it blends with the lightest touch without compromising on pigment. Speaking of, it’s the perfect middle ground: pigmented enough to show up but not too pigmented to give you clown cheeks. The best part is that in the bottom of the product is an attached brush—which I’d normally roast—but it’s actually so soft and makes blending out the product a total dream.

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MERIT

Day Glow Highlighting Balm

I will sing this from the rooftops: If you’re new to highlighter, buy a cream or liquid. Powder highlights seem easier to apply and control, but if the powder is too metallic, it can look like a stripe across your face, and if it has too much glitter, well, you know what happens. Cream illuminators have a more natural look, as they often just make your skin appear really dewy or sweaty. Something like this from Merit has a mostly clear base with a hint of color and shimmer to make you look like you’re glowing from within.

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Natasha Denona

Mini Nude Eyeshadow Palette

If you’re new to eyeshadow, skip the giant palette and try something like this instead. I love big palettes as a makeup lover because it offers a lot of variety, but when I’m in a hurry, there are too many options and I end up staring at the palette for 10 minutes, trying to figure out what to do. With a palette like this, coming up with your go-to look (and others) is practically guaranteed. Not to mention, the mattes in this palette are so easy to blend and shade your looks, and the shimmers are glitzy and shiny.

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Benefit Cosmetics

Magnet Extreme Lengthening Mascara

Truth be told, I’d probably recommend drugstore mascara for beginners because there are so many high-quality options to try while you figure out what your preference is. But I’d be remiss if I didn’t point you in the direction of my absolute favorite mascara on the market. It’s so good, I wrote a review the second I tried it for the first time. It lengthens, volumizes, separates, and curls. It’s everything you could ever ask for in a mascara.

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Shiseido

Eyelash Curler

On the other hand, the one thing I’d recommend you splurge on is a good eyelash curler. Finding an eyelash curler that properly fits your eyes is a bit of a challenge, and Shiseido’s is a favorite in makeup artists’ kits because it molds around a lot of different eye shapes (almond included). Plus, these last for a long time because it’s easy to pick up new pads whenever you place a Sephora order.

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Kosas

Tinted Volumizing Eyebrow Gel

Don’t fuss with pencils, pomades, and pens as a beginner. Instead, try a tinted gel that will add volume and color to your brows while shaping them in place. This one comes in tons of shades and really makes your brows look thicker without the giant mess that pomades or pencils might cause.

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Make Up For Ever

Eye, Lip & Brow Pencil

Using a lip liner is one of the quickest ways to look put together, and I’ll admit that I’m a bit of a snob and like to keep a really nice one in my bag. “Wherever Walnut” has been my favorite liner for years, and I’ve used it down to a nub at this point. It stays all day and is a perfect pinky brown, but they have tons of other great shades (I also love Endless Cacao and Up and Down Tan).

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Tower 28 Beauty

Milky Lip Jelly Gloss

And of course, you’ll want a gloss to top your liner. Tower 28’s glosses are literally the best I’ve ever tried in my life—no hyperbole. They’re not sticky at all, have a bit of longevity, and actually make my lips feel softer. These milky, neutral shades pair perfectly with a neutral liner for that ’90s supermodel lip.

Shop it now

MAKEUP BY MARIO

F2 Makeup Brush

I wouldn’t recommend splurging on a huge brush set as a beginner (I personally love e.l.f. brushes). Instead, pick up several high-quality brushes that have a few uses. This double-ended brush can be used for blush, bronzer, highlighter, powder, contour—pretty much for any powder products on the face.

Shop it now

 

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Source: cotton bro | Pexels

You may text your friends about everything from Bumble dates to birth control, but do you spill the details of your Botox or filler treatments to your group chat, too? And what about when it comes to those who share their lives on Instagram—do influencers have a responsibility to talk about getting Botox with their followers? While Botox may have been seen as less of a commonplace procedure in decades past, it’s now frequently mentioned in the media and is administered everywhere from dentists’ offices to medical spas. In fact, recent findings from the American Society of Plastic Surgeons reveal that Botox was the most common type of minimally invasive cosmetic procedure performed in 2020.

Curious to get the scoop on who is sharing the details of their treatments with whom, I spoke with six women about their decision to openly speak about Botox and what led them to this point.

 

On setting realistic standards…

Anna Page, a 28-year-old full-time influencer in New York City, is happy to share with her 114,000 followers that she does indeed receive Botox treatments. “I wanted to be open about getting Botox because growing up, it was a very taboo subject, and not for any good reason,” Page reflected. “I think being open about it sets a very realistic beauty standard and lets people know they’re not alone in having the desire to get Botox or fillers.” Page hopes that others with substantial Instagram audiences can be equally transparent. “I wish people with platforms would be more open about what they have had done so it’s not as mysterious or scary for people who aren’t as experienced but would like to have it,” she said.

 

On demystifying the process…

New York City influencer Hattie Kolp, 29, also posts about her experience with Botox on her social media channels. “I want other women, young and old, to know it’s an option, and if it’s something they’re curious about, wanting to do, or already doing, I want them to feel comfortable asking me questions about my experience or just talking to me about it,” she shared. “As with anything we do with our bodies, it’s a very personal choice, and I think it’s so important to talk about all things health and beauty to bounce ideas off each other.”

 

 

On rethinking beauty standards…

Washington, D.C. resident Kelly McCoyd started getting Botox at the age of 29 and was sold on the treatment from the get-go—but she held back on singing its praises from the rooftops for some time. “I remember initially wanting to keep it a secret to avoid judgment,” the 34-year-old reflected. “But as I’ve gotten older—and likely overall more confident and self-assured—I realized by keeping it a secret, I was only further contributing to the close-mouthed culture and unrealistic beauty standards women place on themselves.” McCoyd, who maintains a fashion and lifestyle Instagram account, has posted about her treatments on her page. “Of course, some might say by participating in cosmetic procedures, I’m further fueling the unrealistic standards,” she said. “But I think by being honest, I’m able to shed some light on how much time and money I’ve spent to get my skin where it is today.”

 

On destigmatizing beauty treatments…

When she met her now-husband in 2017, 43-year-old Alexandra Gilbert had already been getting Botox treatments for three years. However, it wasn’t until last summer that she told him about this habit. “I had grown up in a culture where I had learned you don’t share beauty ‘secrets’ with your partner,” the Austin, Texas resident noted. “I don’t think I’ve shared with my family,” she added. “I think that has to do with also growing up with the message that we shouldn’t spend a lot on our appearances and that we should age gracefully.” Now, as the stepmother to a 19-year-old, Gilbert looks back on her own young adulthood in wonder. “I grew up in a culture and time where so much of what happens with a woman’s body had to be kept a secret—our periods, wearing a bra, and even deodorant!”

 

 

On redefining what results look like…

After being pleasantly surprised with her Botox experience, 26-year-old Chicago resident Jorian Lenik said she “all but sent out a mass text to all my contacts about how excited I was.” She added, “I think there’s this idea of Botox, and it’s super outdated and stereotypical, and if I can open someone’s mind to seeing it differently, that’d be cool.” Lenik was thrilled that Botox could help with her jaw clenching without resulting in an unnatural, frozen appearance. “My best friend, mom, and grandma were genuinely shocked about my experience and how ‘normal’ of a thing it was to do,” she said. “They truly thought Botox was just for rich, bored housewives, and I thought it would be cool to educate them about the fun medical upsides Botox has.”

 

On developing confidence…

Meg, a 32-year-old living in Fairfield, Connecticut, also withheld the details of her treatment from her partner for some time. “I discuss using Botox with my girlfriends, but I initially avoided telling my boyfriend in fear of coming off as vain or wanting to augment my appearance,” she said.

Like Jorian, Meg noted that despite Botox’s prevalence, it still comes with its share of preconceived notions. “When it comes to Botox, my experience is that a lot of people don’t understand the difference between Botox and fillers. Both are often affiliated with celebrity examples of extreme use, so there is definitely a stigma of Botox that I try to avoid,” she commented. “After time, I have felt more confident in the subtlety of getting Botox injections and have widened the pool of who I discuss with.”

 

Final Thoughts

In a world of Instagram filters and heavily edited selfies, talking about procedures and tweaks to the face can still be seen as taboo. But while some of the women we spoke with shared an initial fear of coming off as vain or too beauty-focused should they reveal their Botox habits, these feelings slowly—but surely—dissipated over time. 

 

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