Do you ever find that when you apply your foundation post-beauty routine, your makeup starts to... ball up on your face? Like when your knitwear has seen better days and small balls of fabric sit on the material. This is makeup pilling, and it's ruining the impact of our well-chosen foundations. But why is it even happening? "Product pilling is to do with the ability of product to be absorbed by the skin. The less a product is absorbed, the more likely it is to ball/pill", co-CEO of cult brand Deciem, Nicola Kilner, tells me.

Can we prevent this with the type of product we're using? Vanessa Crawley is a biochemist who worked on Epara's skincare formulations: "Common materials that tend to create a pilling effect are silicones. Many products contain various forms of silicones which when rubbed, or applied in a large volume, can cause this effect." Pixi makeup artist Amanda Bell also warns against the use of too many varying ingredients at once: "It's caused by ingredients being mixed that are too dissimilar – water, silicone, wax – and the main culprits are: talc, iron oxide, mica, synthetic fluorphlogopite. Also look at ingredient listings and stick to the same family groups – face oil with a foundation containing oil is effectively layering like for like." Crawley tells me that "the Epara serum has been formulated by avoiding the use of silicones, allowing it to be more readily absorbed by the skin rather than forming a ‘layer’ on the surface." Other silicone-free products we love that will prevent pilling are dermalogica barrier repair, Elemis' Pro-Collagen Cleansing Balm and Phyto's Secret de Nuit Intense Hydration Regenerating Night Cream.

Remember, less is more. You don't need to waste money and product by slathering it on your face when a little goes a long way, Kilner tells me: "Certainly with Deciem products they are formulated in a way that means you really only need 2-3 drops of a serum and a pea-sized amount of any heavier products (such as our Hydration Vaccine). Any more and you increase the chances of product pilling."

Now you're sure you're using the right formulas and the correct amount, which order should we be applying them in? Kilner says: "It is worth looking at the order in which you apply products. Always go from the lightest weight and viscosity to the heaviest. Water-based products should be applied first (most toners/serums) and end with oil-based products (most creams/foundation/sun block)." And if you're already following this rule, perhaps take your time with your routine, allowing each product to absorb and dry before applying the next: "If you like to use multiple products and steps in your regime, then it can also work to spread out your regime a little further. If you do other tasks such as brushing your teeth, blow-drying your hair, etc in between layers, it will make sure the skin has enough time to absorb the products fully and still allow you to have the best of everything!"

And finally, now we have our skincare routine on anti-pilling lockdown, how can we prevent our makeup from causing it? Hydration. "Keep skin damp when you start applying your base, as this aids absorption of products", Bell explains. So a damp Beauty Blender or brush is actually beneficial. Goodbye pilling, our bobbly nemesis – our skin will look clean and glowing from here on out.

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Summer, you beauty, you've finally landed. After months of wind and rain, the best season of the year has arrived, complete with sweaty Tube journeys, Saturdays spent in lidos, and ice-cold beers aplenty. It looks like the hot weather will continue, too: this is set to be the first week-long heatwave since 1995.

While we're delighted the weatherman is (finally) on side, deciding what to wear in the scorching sun can be tricky. Time to turn to Instagram. Our feeds are awash with sartorial inspiration for warmer days, from gingham and head-to-toe pink to nautical colour combinations and extravagant sleeves.

Click through to see our favourite get-ups, and tackle the heatwave in style.

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Ed Sheeran's known for being a pretty normal, down-to-earth guy (or at least that's the impression he likes to give off), who doesn't need the luxuries that other multimillionaires consider non-negotiable.

In "Shape of You" he sings about filling up his plate at an all-you-can-eat restaurant and recently, he chose a lifetime's supply of ketchup as his luxury item on Radio 4's Desert Island Discs. Basically, he seems like a nice bloke who you wouldn't mind grabbing a pint with.

So we can't say we're surprised by the items on his list of backstage demands ahead of his headline slot at Glastonbury on Sunday night.

Sheeran's alleged demands, which were revealed by Deliveroo, include items that you could pick up from your local supermarket: a bottle of Robinsons Squash, a six-pack of Coca-Cola, a six-pack of Diet Coke, a six-pack of Fanta Orange, a six-pack of Sprite and a jar of Manuka honey, The Sun reported. Pretty boring stuff – not even any booze! – and not all that expensive either, at £57.31 in total.

Katy Perry's rider is a bit more upmarket and slightly healthier, but also reasonable. She has reportedly asked for freeze-dried strawberries, pitta bread and salsa, a bottle of pinot grigio and a bottle of Sprite, which comes to £21.90.

Foo Fighters, who are headlining on Saturday, have a longer list of requirements – 99 in total – which reads more like a weekly shopping list. The group will apparently be munching on avocados, dark chocolate, energy bars, bread, peanut butter and a load of fruit. The list may cost just under £150 but it couldn't be less rock 'n' roll if it tried.

We miss Mariah Carey's requests for 20 white kittens, 100 doves, pink carpets and butterfly-shaped confetti.

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The fire at Grenfell Tower began inside a Hotpoint fridge freezer on the fourth floor, the police have revealed.

They also said the building's outside cladding and insulation failed safety tests and are now considering manslaughter charges in relation to the fire, which killed at least 79 people, the BBC reported.

Det Sup Fiona McCormack said the police were trying to work out why the fire spread so quickly, adding that tests indicated the cladding using aluminium composite tiles and the insulation behind it was to blame.

Around 250 specialist investigators have been tasked with finding out what happened, and they will now aim to establish whether the use of the aforementioned materials was illegal and how they were installed.

McCormack said: “We will identify and investigate any criminal offence and, of course, given the deaths of so many people, we are considering manslaughter, as well as criminal offences and breaches of legislation and regulations," reported the Guardian.

The police have collected documents and materials from various organisations but are yet to question anyone, as the investigation is still in its early stages.

LIVE: Detective Ch Superintendent Fiona McCormack provides statement on the investigation into #GrenfellTower fire https://t.co/du4ff7CQHZ

— Metropolitan Police (@metpoliceuk) June 23, 2017

McCormack continued: “We are looking at every criminal offence from manslaughter onwards, we are looking at every health and safety and fire safety offence and we are reviewing every company at the moment involved in the building and refurbishment of Grenfell Tower.”

The police have been inside the tower "from top to bottom" and will be installing a lift on the outside of the building to help with the investigation, but the forensic search may not be complete until the end of the year, McCormack added.

Meanwhile, Whirlpool, which owns Hotpoint, issued a statement to say the company offered its "most profound condolences to the victims, those who have lost loved ones, homes, and possessions, and to their friends and families."

This is the make and model of fridge-freezer that sparked the Grenfell Tower fire. A Hotpoint FF175BP that has no history of fire issues. pic.twitter.com/PKqFz7PvEe

— Richard Suchet (@RichSuchet) June 23, 2017

The government has ordered the model of fridge freezer, the Hotpoint FF175BP, to be tested immediately. Consumers who own one have been urged to contact the manufacturer, but haven't been advised to switch it off.

The fridge's model number is generally found on a barcode on a sticker behind the salad container; owners have been advised to call 0800 316 3826 or visit the Hotpoint website.

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With white sands, the clearest waters and no need to leave the UK, Cornwall is the ideal (and affordable) summer break. Its rugged, historic coastline is entirely walkable and takes in some of the country's most picturesque beaches. On top of its natural good looks, the county has established itself as a real creative hub, packed with artistry – from galleries to festivals to culinary wonders, and everything in between.

Cornwall isn't just about Newquay, Padstow and St Ives, though: there are hidden gems aplenty, where you can avoid the hordes of tourists and enjoy this unspoilt, proudly independent county.

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The official start of summer was the 21st of June, but we've been celebrating with rosé since the very first hint of spring. Now that the days are slowly getting shorter again, however, we're starting to wonder — is there something more than pink wine for this time of year?

It's not that we'll ever quit rosé, of course, but sometimes, it's good to have alternatives. And if you, too, are hunting for a crisp, refreshing option to spice things up, we'd like to suggest Lambrusco. A sparkling wine that is typically red but can also be rosé and even white, it hails from Northern Italy and is another perfect easy-drinking, effervescent wine for hot summer days.

To find out more about Lambrusco, we chatted with winemaker Alicia Lini. To say that wine is in her blood might be an understatement. Her family has been making Lini 910 , a Lambrusco hailing from Emilia-Romagna, for over 100 years. Lini explains that what makes Lambrusco Lambrusco is simple — it's all about the grape. Lambrusco wine is made from the Lambrusco grape. The name isn't regionally protected, like Champagne or Merlot, though the grape is native to the Emilia-Romagna region.

All Lambruscos are meant to be served chilled, no matter the colour, which is another reason it's a summer pick. It's especially great for red wine drinkers who may be reluctant to switch to lighter-coloured wines in the summer. Just how cold is up to you — most experts recommend chilled wines around 49-55 degrees F, which is warmer than a home fridge — but Lini says she likes to enjoy hers "very cold," especially during the summer.

Similar to rosé, Lambrusco is also considered an easy-drinking wine that pairs well with a number of foods. In fact, Lini says that the origin of Lambrusco may have something to do with the richness of other foods from the area, like Parmesan and balsamic vinegar. "Many people in that region traditionally enjoy Lambrusco as a nice, light, sparkling wine that will counterbalance the richness of these foods when paired together," she says. That doesn't mean Lambrusco can only be paired with Italian foods. One of her favourite pairings is with sashimi.

Further cementing Lambruco's reputation as an easy-drinking, everyday wine, it is traditionally drunk out of regular glasses. Your favourite tumblers, Mason jars, or stemless wine glasses are perfect for pouring a cup, though you can also pour it in a flute or wine glass if you want. So whether you're toasting a special occasion this summer or sipping out of a plastic cup at a picnic, Lambrusco is a great accompaniment. We'll definitely drink to that.

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The day we saw our baby’s heartbeat for the first time, I was six weeks pregnant, on the dot. We’d been trying to conceive for a full year, and it had been hard — with lots of emotional ups and downs, tons of money spent on pregnancy tests, and one fairly heartbreaking miscarriage. So catching a glimpse of that surprisingly strong thump-thump-thump made our hearts sing (and our inner type As loved hearing the doctor call this foetus an “overachiever,” as it’s not always possible to detect a heartbeat so early). We took the rest of the day off to celebrate, hitting a museum, then heading to local restaurant for a dinner of our favourite Greek food — and almost as soon as we sat down to eat, the nausea began. I could barely touch my food, and the taxi ride home was fairly excruciating. Considering I hadn’t had morning sickness during my first pregnancy, I was sort of comforted (it is, after all, a good sign) — but also filled with a bit of dread. Was I about to embark on 34 weeks of misery? Would all the pregnancy clichés turn out to be true?

In a word: No. In fact, a bunch of pregnancy side effects (both fun- and shitty-sounding) skipped me over completely, much to my surprise.

There’s a weird disconnect here — on the one hand, it’s almost a cliché in itself by now to say that no two pregnancies are alike; but on the other hand, our cultural depictions of pregnancy (and the questions we cannot stop asking pregnant people) still make it feel like there’s basically just one very specific pickles-and-ice-cream way to be pregnant.

Whether you’re pregnant and feeling… I don’t know, excluded from the narrative — or you’d just like to get a taste of truth regarding what pregnancy can actually be like, read ahead to discover 9 supposedly normal symptoms I have not (yet?) experienced over the course of 38 weeks of pregnancy.

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Summer is Pride season, which means beauty so colourful and psychedelic you'll probably need to step your game up to match the intense looks taking over the streets. Whether you're heading to a march this weekend or just looking to show your pride at the office, it's time to incorporate some colour into your everyday look. But not everyone is willing — or comfortable — with rocking a full colour wheel on their cheekbones via some rainbow highlighter or My Little Pony extensions on their head. So we found one trend that's wearable everywhere, incorporates plenty of colour that's Pride-worthy, and still manages to fall under the minimal makeup umbrella. Enter: the rainbow strobe.

Probably One Of My Fav Makeup Looks On @shaymitchell Ever 👊🏼 Details To Come On My App Flawless By Patrick Ta Launching Next Week

A post shared by Patrick Ta (@patrickta) on Jun 17, 2017 at 12:32pm PDT

If you were digging the "upside down" liner trend, try this: focus the colour on your inner corners. Credit goes to celebrity makeup artist Patrick Ta for showing off how a little bit of vibrant pigment on the inner corners of your eyes can give any look major lift.

Shades Of Blue #magicmikevegas

A post shared by Patrick Ta (@patrickta) on May 16, 2017 at 7:29pm PDT

So how do you do it? Reach for your lilac highlighter, blue shimmer shadow, or any shade of your choice and dab a small bit in the corners, like you would regular highlighter. Not only does it make your irises stand out like traditional strobing, it also doubles as a subtle way to show your support for the month.

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Sometimes, it feels like the Kardashians are trolling us with their workout Snapchats. I'll be minding my own business, tapping through stories, and then I see Kourtney, Khloe, and Kim squatting, sweating, and jump-roping on a basketball court. And then I feel guilty about not working out myself.

Plenty of people post about their workouts on social media, for a number of reasons, and that's their prerogative. In fact, many folks who post workout selfies do so not because they're showing off, but because celebrating small victories helps motivate them to keep going — and maybe they hope that motivation rubs off on some of their followers. But regardless of intentions, sometimes it can feel like their posts aren't meant to inspire you, and are just rubbing their success and discipline in your face. Humblebrags are actually pretty transparent, and a 2015 study found that people really don't like it when someone tries to humblebrag, because it's clearly a self-promotional strategy. So seeing posts like, "I feel amazing after my 10-mile run!!!!" or "Just casually slayed my morning bootcamp and it's not even 6 a.m.!!!!!" can feel like a personal attack, regardless of whether the person meant it that way.

So yes — the workout post can sometimes be the worst. But the truth is, your reaction is probably more about you than it is about them. Even though someone's post or comment might seem obnoxious, think about why you feel so annoyed, suggests Kendra Knight, PhD, assistant professor of communication at DePaul University, who studies communication and relationships. "On one hand, someone's bragging might lead us to engage in a negative self-to-other comparison, resulting in feelings of envy or frustration," Dr. Knight says. For example, if you see a Kardashian Snapping their workout, it's only natural to compare yourself to them, and feel like you're not as fit or motivated as they are.

You might have a gut reaction to roll your eyes and use the sarcastic Kristen Wiig Bridesmaids line, "You dooooo?" or a cool, "Nice" in response. Or you'll feel tempted to send a screenshot of the post to a friend so you can get someone to commiserate, she says. "In our less-assured moments, we might respond to our negative feelings in an antagonistic way; antisocial responses to envy include belittling the other or becoming defensive," Dr. Knight says. "Even if we don't feel envious, it might annoy us that someone is taking time out of our day to detail their physical fitness regimen."

Again, people who dish about their exercise routine truly might not be doing it for your reaction. A 2012 study found that people like to share information about themselves because they find it "intrinsically rewarding." Dr. Knight says it can be helpful to think about something you perceive as humblebragging as a "bid for connection," rather than a way to isolate you. Dr. Knight cites relationship expert John Gottman, who believes that it's crucial to "turn towards" a partner when they seek our attention, interest, or approval through these kinds of bids. To a degree, the same can be said for casual relationships, she says. "In other words, recognise that they are seeking our attention and make an attempt to emotionally connect with them."

If someone says something to your face, or sends you a personal message about their workouts, and you have to respond, what should you say? "Resist the urge to assume that they are trying to demonstrate superiority," Dr. Knight says. "Even if they are, becoming defensive just plays into their hand." Instead, "turn towards" them and acknowledge that they are talking about something they care about, and say something encouraging, she says. You don't have to gush, but Dr. Knight suggests you say, "Cool, good luck," or "You must be working very hard to reach your goal."

At the end of the day, humans want to be seen, Dr. Knight says. "Although sometimes they go about it in an awkward way, it's not necessarily an affront to you." Even though it's not your responsibility to praise someone for their workout, "fortunately, it doesn't cost very much to give somebody a little praise." If seeing the Kardashians' posts about working out are pissing you off, just unfollow them. As for the people you actually know IRL, the good news is if you do take the time to answer them, "it might fill up the person enough that they will leave you alone," Dr. Knight says.

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Last year may have been a bit of a washout thanks to the dismal weather (and the devastating Brexit result, which also dampened the mood) but with a promising weather forecast for Glasto 2017, don't expect to see many plastic ponchos, mud-splattered wellies and rain-soaked ensembles.

The best way to look good at a festival is to have a bloody good time. Glasto isn't Coachella or Couture Fashion Week so we're not interested in outfits that are so polished and contrived that you can’t dance until dawn or run around having fun in them. Instead we're looking out for the girls encapsulating the festival spirit with their fun, carefree and idiosyncratic style. From Alexa Chung to Adwoa Aboah and all the fashionable faces in between, here's our roundup of the best looks from Glastonbury 2017.

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Glastonbury 2017 has already given us awesome performances from Lorde, Dua Lipa, Radiohead, Charli XCX, and more. Meanwhile, Cara Delevingne, Adwoa Aboah, and Alexa Chung are bossing it when it comes to festival fashion. But they all have an unlikely rival for Glasto's biggest hero: Jeremy Corbyn.

Before he even drove down to Somerset, the Labour leader's presence was being felt at Worthy Farm. Spontaneous chants of "Oh Jeremy Corbyn!" broke out in the entrance queue, at a silent disco, and even during Radiohead's Friday-night headline set. The Times journalist Caitlin Moran suggested on Thursday that "Corbynmania" was already sweeping the festival.

At Glastonbury: the act that everyone's talking about - the "Gotta see him" thing - is Jeremy Corbyn. There's proper Corbyn-mania.

— Caitlin Moran (@caitlinmoran) June 22, 2017

This afternoon, Corbyn made his eagerly anticipated appearance on the Pyramid Stage. At 4pm, he drew a huge crowd to hear a 14-minute speech in which he attacked prejudice and called for greater equality within our society.

At the Solstice Bar at #Glastonbury. Looking forward to my 4pm speech at the Pyramid Stage. pic.twitter.com/DPnvPvLYrp

— Jeremy Corbyn (@jeremycorbyn) June 24, 2017

"Racism is wrong, divisive, and evil within our society," he told the crowd. "Racism in any form divides, weakens, and denies us the skills and brilliance of people who are being discriminated against – in just the same way that sexism does, be it in lower pay for women, less opportunities for women, or less aspirations. We need to challenge sexism within any form in our society."

Corbyn continued: "And we need to challenge homophobia, to challenge all the discrimination that goes on – and to ensure that the society we want to build is one that is inclusive for all."

During his speech, he also urged society to do more to tackle global warming, and sent a very unambiguous message to Donald Trump. "If you can see that far, look on the wall, right over there, that surrounds this wonderful festival," Corbyn told the crowd. "There's a message on that wall, for President Donald Trump. And you know what it says? Build bridges, not walls."

Corbyn then ended his speech with a rousing statement of hope: "Let us be together and recognise another world is possible, if we come together to understand the power we've got and achieve a decent, better society where everybody matters."

Watch Corbyn's stirring speech in full below.

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There's no denying Katy Perry is one of the defining pop stars of our generation. She's sold an estimated 100 million records, given us globe-conquering hits like "Roar," "I Kissed A Girl," and "Firework," and even played the biggest gig going: the Super Bowl halftime show.

But her performance tonight on Glastonbury's iconic Pyramid Stage was still a landmark for the singer. "This makes me feel cool," Perry told the crowd after singing her second song of the evening, recent single "Chained to the Rhythm".

"I don’t ever really feel cool," she continued. "Am I cool yet? What is cool? Who cares, there's so many people here! I didn’t know if you even liked me."

She went on to charm the crowd with renditions of songs from her latest album, Witness, as well as huge hits like "California Gurls," "Teenage Dream," "Dark Horse," and of course "Roar."

Every day we love you more 😍 @KatyPerry ❤️ Owning the Pyramid stage right now #Glastonbury2017 @BBCGlasto

📺 👉 https://t.co/3aMthNH4v0 pic.twitter.com/v8THlLY7vf

— BBC Music (@bbcmusic) June 24, 2017

Although Perry was rightly thrilled to be performing at Glastonbury, it's worth noting that she wasn't on stage as a top-billed headliner. This year's trio of headline slots went to Radiohead, Foo Fighters, and Ed Sheeran.

In fact, the last 10 Glastonbury festivals have given headline slots to just three female artists: Adele (2016), Florence and the Machine (2015), and Beyoncé (2011), and gender parity is a widespread problem on the UK festival scene. According to a Press Association study , over the last decade, just 14% of headline acts at the UK's biggest music festivals have been all-female or included at least one female member in their lineup. Meanwhile, just 27% of headline acts have included at least one BAME member in their lineup.

Glastonbury and many other music festivals are clearly events which celebrate all kinds of different performers - Jeremy Corbyn, a politician, just bossed it on Glasto's Pyramid Stage. But it's surely about time that this commitment to equality was reflected right at the top of their lineups: year in, year out.

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Love Island. The six-days-a-week guilty pleasure that 80% of your friends are talking about. The ITV2 dating show is ruining my social life and making me dread Saturdays (the sole day deprived of a fresh episode). But one thing it shouldn't be doing is providing me with a foolproof dating manifesto. Yet it is.

I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised; in a year when Brexit happened, Trump moved into the White House and Binky from Made in Chelsea had a baby, there are no surprises left to be had. That said, if you had told me at the start of this summer that a trashy ITV2 programme would become my dating bible, I would have cackled like a hyena on laughing gas.

To get things straight, I don't have a lot in common with the women on Love Island. I don’t have fake boobs, I resent wearing makeup, I feel anxious in a bikini, I let my hair dry naturally and I won’t go near a man who looks like he has ever done self-improvement to his eyebrows. But most of all, they understand men, and I do not.

I have no clue how to behave around men; I frequently blur boundaries, screw with friendships, confuse people, baffle my friends and get myself in a pickle, without even a kiss for my troubles.

In the spirit of self-discovery through the medium of reality TV, here are the lessons in love and lust I’ve taken from this year’s Love Island. Do with them what you will.

Men change their mind and say stuff they don’t mean

Ok I’m not naïve. Yes, I know people change their mind and yes, of course, people are liberal with the truth – that’s dating 101, even for hopeless romantics like myself. But Love Island has made me realise how quickly that can happen. I was aghast when hunky lad Dom seemingly dumped Montana for new sexy glamour model Jess after a glass of chardonnay and a couple of tealights (his best ever date). He made his promises. He kissed her. He said she was special.

My eyes have been opened. Thanks to two weeks of watching, this kind of behaviour no longer shocks me. I now take everything with a proverbial pinch of Himalayan pink salt. It is just as easy for a man to say you are beautiful as to never text you again. A month before my Love Island obsession began, I was sucked in by a man who told me he couldn’t wait to tell our grandkids how we met. I have now realised it was just an elaborate way to get a snog. I am not trying to give you trust issues and build Trump’s dream wall around your heart, but just take your time, suss people out and don’t melt for every compliment.

Be bold, be clear and compliment

“You are a bit of me”, “You are good-looking” and “Am I fit? You’re fit. Let’s go” are just a few lines thrown out by our bikini army in Mallorca over the last couple of weeks.

These girls may not know what a hung parliament is, but they do know men. It all came to fruition for me at a party on Saturday night. A boy caught my eye. He was attractive. As Olivia would say, “He’s 100% a bit of me”.

Old me, pre- Love Island me, would stare at him, much like a seen-but-not-heard Victorian character, wondering if I could accidentally bump into him, ultimately not speak to him, and go home wondering what could have been. I feel bad for old me. I think they call it the breakthrough moment in therapy.

New me, with Olivia’s ‘craic’ on one shoulder and Montana’s ‘forthrightness’ on the other, walked on over (I may have even strutted). After a quick, flirty smile, I told him: "You are really fit, and what is even fitter about you, is that you don’t know you are fit." Poetry, no, and yes a repetitive sentence structure that my university lecturer would have cringed at, but sassy nonetheless.

The interaction was crystal clear, there was no friend-zone haziness, no potential girlfriend, no one having to create a faux work/hobby-related reason for us to follow each other on Instagram. Just clear-cut, straight-to-the-point chat. If he wasn’t interested, he could walk right away. Admittedly that would have felt like rejection, but I’d rather that than spend the night talking to someone who wasn’t interested.

In the end he asked for my number, saying he’d like to take me to an Arsenal match. Premier League, yeah, cool.

Following our interaction, I asked him how he felt to be approached in that upfront manner. “Guys that claim to like the chase aren’t always telling the truth,” he said. “It was refreshing”.

Don’t feel depressed about dating

As your mum always tells you: there are plenty of fish in the sea. But the truth is sometimes it feels like there are a lot more dead trout floating around than sashimi-grade tuna. However, Love Island has taught me there really is always someone round the corner.

One second there's no one in the villa who's 'a piece of me’ for Marcel, our Blazing Squad Z-list celeb, the next he's re-living Makosi from Big Brother ’s infamous sexy jacuzzi moment, and talking about kids with twerking specialist Gabriella Allen. Never give up: there are a lot of people in the world to sext with.

I’m not the kind of girl who normally takes life advice from wannabe celebrities, but we can all change. I’m wearing my Love Island passion with pride. You know where to find me at 9pm for the rest of the summer.

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I was 24 when I decided to quit my job as a journalist and boarded a one-way flight to Australia. It was slap-bang in the middle of the global financial crisis and, naturally, I didn’t have another position lined up for when I got there. But what sounds like the precursor to a story about That Time I Screwed Up My Life, taking the elusive first step on the career ladder only to hop straight back off was the best decision I have ever made – only I didn’t know that at the time.

While outwardly I shrugged off the weight of my decision (aren’t I hilarious! Aren’t I just so fucking reckless!), I was in secret, incomparable turmoil. Quitting my job was flying in the face of everything I had worked towards throughout my entire adult life; my A-levels, my degree, the countless hours of unpaid work I’d cheerfully carried out in order to land my first paid position. While my peers were being made redundant or still fruitlessly searching for something within their chosen sector, I was opting out of a good-on-paper job, with zero other prospects on the horizon.

The job hadn’t exactly landed in my lap, either. I only got an interview through the recommendation of a mutual friend, I got offered the position after a gruelling week-long trial shift, and made it through the three-month probationary period by the skin of my gritted teeth. There were scores of other talented writers lining up to replace me, something I was reminded of daily. But while I knew I was lucky to have it, my job didn’t make me happy. In fact, it made me utterly miserable. And so, after weeks of wrestling with the decision, I handed in my notice.

While most people I told of my half-baked plan egged me on in a way that indicated they were mildly intrigued by how it would pan out but weren’t particularly invested either way ("Amazing! Let me know how it all goes!"), a couple of friends took me to one side to warn me that I was committing career suicide. In fact, they said it so much that I began to believe them, which prompted me to actually beg my boss for my old job back before I boarded my flight (she said no, so I thought I might as well go anyway).

But if I was waiting for the feeling of remorse to catch up with me on Sydney’s golden beaches, it never did. Whereas in the UK I had checked both of my phones on constant rotation, with the kind of nervy anticipation of someone who’s scared to look yet scared not to, it was weeks before I bought myself the most basic, pre-paid mobile I could find. Without the barrage of passive-aggressive voicemails and 24/7 access to emails and social media, I felt myself begin to relax for the first time since I had started my job two years previously.

Which is probably why, despite Sydney being almost comparable to London for opportunities in the media sector, the idea of exploring them never even occurred to me. Instead, I picked up full-time work at a local surf store, where the definitive start and finish time was like a tonic for my frazzled soul. Leaving work for the day meant exactly that – no more thinking about work and certainly no late-night phone calls from my boss wondering whether I had remembered to do X, Y or Z. While I occasionally wondered whether I would ever again have another job opportunity like the one I had passed up, working on a shop floor made me happy. Selling bikinis made me happy. Taking my (obligatory) lunch break on the beach made me happy. I came to the realisation that it didn’t really matter what I did for a living, as long as I was able to squeeze enjoyment out of every day.

It wasn’t until about six months later that I felt ready to dip my toe back into journalism, and was lucky enough to pick up a bit of freelancing. To my great surprise I realised that I had been disenchanted with my old job, not the entire industry. After scoring a great job on a magazine, I never looked back – I poured everything I had into the role. I loved writing, I loved working as part of a team and I loved that I was able to finally do the job I had always dreamed of.

Had I listened to my head and not my heart and attempted to stick it out in my old job, I suspect that I would have ultimately changed careers entirely, and would have missed out on the amazing opportunities that have since come my way. Although it felt more like a quarter-life crisis at the time, I came to realise that my mid-career break was the making of me – both personally and professionally. It allowed me the headspace to realise exactly what I wanted, and gave me the energy to go for it.

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It’s hard to be a Black woman in the world. We’re constantly sent messages and images that tell us that we aren’t enough. We are too dark, too big, too small, and somehow always just too much of the wrong things always. So when an artist that is unapologetically themselves chooses to celebrate what makes them different — including celebrating our Blackness and how we define womanhood — honouring them is the least we can do.

This weekend, with Solange Knowles’ 31st birthday underway, I am happy to celebrate her and the power she gives to Black girls everywhere to be unapologetically and boldly themselves.

Her mama, Tina Knowles, was among the first to wish her happy birthday and the traits of her daughter she chose to celebrate are exactly the things that make her so remarkable.

Happy Birthday my beautiful baby girl❤️31 years ago today you entered this world (when YOU got good and damned ready to come) !10 days late! We were all in love!!! You've been walking to the beat of your own drum every since!! I don't know anyone who is as headstrong and determined to do it thier way , no matter the consequences. I admire your courage , Boldness, intelligence , beauty , refusal to conform to others definition of (traditional beauty , your kindness, loyalty, love of family , great mom skills, fashion sense , work ethic , activism. I could go on. Its one story i will tell . The Asst. principle called me when you were in the 6 th grade and said you started a petition to discipline a teacher because she continuously allowed a student to harass and disrupt the class and keep the other kids from learning! She said you were disruptive and too grown , at which i said "go Solange" i was as proud as i could be! I told her so. You were always lite years ahead of your time . We are always here and got your back !! I love you with all my heart!!!❤️❤️❤️❤️💐💐💐🎍🎍💥🔥🎂

A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinalawson) on Jun 24, 2017 at 6:15am PDT

Happy birthday my baby Girl Solange Knowles Fergurson❤️ now you are 31 and we are going to pick you up again when we see you ! Because in Mariah's voice "you will always be my baby" in this this case OUR baby❤️

A post shared by Tina Knowles (@mstinalawson) on Jun 24, 2017 at 7:03am PDT

Under one post, she wrote, “I don't know anyone who is as headstrong and determined to do it [their] way, no matter the consequences. I admire your courage, boldness, intelligence, beauty, refusal to conform to others definition of traditional beauty, your kindness, loyalty, love of family, great mom skills, fashion sense, work ethic, activism...” She then shared a story about how Solange’s individuality shone through way back when Solange was in the 6th grade when a teacher called her disruptive. Even then, she was as fearless as she is now.

To some, Solange was introduced to them by her older sister Beyoncé. But Solange is her own force to be reckoned with. She experimented with styles and musical tones through her previous albums ( Solo Star and Sol-Angel and the Hadley St. Dreams) but it was last year’s A Seat At the Table that made the mainstream sit up and take notice. A Seat At the Table was a direct response to the complexities of being a Black woman, dealing with everything from fetishisation of Black hair to fighting against the stigma of being an “Angry Black Woman ” and redefining self-care. It was a defining moment for Black people everywhere, but particularly for Black women and femmes, it was a moment when we felt powerful and seen.

One of the best things about Solange is her fearlessness. She openly experiments with fashion, beauty, and her own art, showing Black folks the creativity that we’ve always been capable of. The looks in her videos for “Cranes In the Sky” and “Don’t Touch My Hair” are already legendary.

Solange’s impact on the Black community only continues to grow. Yesterday, a little girl’s father tweeted out that his daughter pretended to be FaceTiming with Solange, only to have the artist respond herself wanting to make it a reality. Talk about accessible!

omg heyyyy girl heyyy
bouta slide in your DM's so we can really FaceTime ❤️ https://t.co/yEtSWZWJYK

— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) June 23, 2017

Ok so, Ghazi is everything.
She sang to me, we did some deep breathing, and she waved goodbye with her feet.
My type of gal❤️ pic.twitter.com/n0fPURUSy8

— solange knowles (@solangeknowles) June 23, 2017

She continues to use her platform to spread awareness about topics that matter the most to her, and sharing with her fans that underneath it all, she’s just like them.

So here’s to you, Solange: for your fearlessness, your vulnerability, and your bravery to be unapologetically yourself while giving Black people everywhere the same courage.

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Time to put the "passion" in compassion. This Monday, energiser Mars gets in formation with empathetic Neptune, giving us a clear window into other people's perspectives. Tired of all the squabbling? Purposefully take a walk in someone else's shoes. What experiences have shaped them which might make them see things a certain way? No, that doesn't mean backing off your own values and convictions. But if you want to argue your case successfully, it can be useful to speak to the other person's concerns. Soulful Neptune lends some patience to Mars' short fuse, making these difficult dialogues a lot easier to navigate. Mars is also the warrior planet — and this beam from "heal the world" Neptune can inspire us to fight the good fight for the underdog. Just make sure that you put a little (or a lot) of love in your heart.

Taking off for a four-day weekend? Don't forget your favourite plus-one. With the moon in partnership-oriented Libra on Saturday, you may need to rebalance a few things in your relationship — especially if one of you has been doing more giving and the other more taking. When la luna drifts into sultry Scorpio on Sunday and Monday, duos can become intensely dynamic. Hello, fireworks!

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A fortnight of Pride in London celebrations began on Saturday and to mark the occasion, three central Tube stations are showing their true colours.

The London Underground roundels at Tottenham Court Road, Oxford Circus and Piccadilly Circus – three stations surrounding Soho, an LGBT heartland – have been given a rainbow makeover.

Londoners are already sharing pictures of the colourful rainbow roundels, which feature the pro-equality #LoveIsLove hashtag.

Oxford Circus knows what's up. #Soho #homeoftherainbow #loveislove #Pride

A post shared by Kristian Dennett (@kristiandennett) on Jun 24, 2017 at 7:15am PDT

#happypridemonth🌈❤️💛💚💙💜🏳️‍🌈✊ #happyprideweekend🌈❤️💜💚💛💙 #loveislove🌈💖 #rainbowliciousalltheway😘🌈✨😜😂✌️💘💋💋 #loveisbeautiful💖 #lovemyrainbowlife😜😋💘🌈🌻✨😍🙈✌️❤️💚💜💙💛💋🙏 #peaceandlovealwaysbaby✌️❤️😉😘

A post shared by Shamiya.M.Disney-Love Jackson (@rainbowrockgoddess) on Jun 24, 2017 at 7:17am PDT

The exterior of Tottenham Court Road station has also been given a couple of celebratory #LoveIsLove banners for Pride in London fortnight.

Because still,in 2017 we need to fight for the right to love whoever we want to love! 😐 #youarewhoyouare #loveislove #pride2017 #londonpride #love

A post shared by Magatte Thillo (@maggie_veganmag) on Jun 25, 2017 at 1:49am PDT

The main Pride in London parade takes place on Saturday 8th July. With 81 floats hitting the streets and 40,000 people expected to march, it's set to be the capital's biggest Pride parade ever.

To mark Pride in London, Mayor Sadiq Khan is flying a rainbow flag outside City Hall for the next fortnight. "Here in London, you’re free to love whoever you want to love and be whoever you want to be," the mayor said in a statement. "That is a big reason why I feel our city is seen as a welcoming home for the LGBT+ community and has such a vibrant, thriving scene – one that is bursting with colour, and contributes hugely to the life and soul of London."

The mayor also pointed out that Pride in London has a special resonance this year in the light of recent terror attacks at London Bridge and Westminster. "Pride in London is one of the iconic festivals of our city and underlines our reputation as one of the most LGBT+ friendly places on the planet. We have faced an extremely difficult time in London recently, with terrorist attacks and extremists trying to sow division and discord," he said.

"Pride is another great demonstration of how London will always stand united – and how we will always be a beacon of inclusiveness, acceptance and diversity. Above all, it shows that London is open to all people, regardless of background, religion, race, gender, disability, age or sexuality."

Heading to the parade? Check out our guide for tips and advice.

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It seems like it's been a minute since the Barden Bellas graced our screen. While we've been anxiously waiting for updates on the third instalment of the Pitch Perfect movies, we've been feeding our thirst with teasers from the set and photos of the cast on a post-filming vacay. Now the Bellas are back, pitches, with a full trailer for Pitch Perfect 3. But, sadly, I have some concerns about the new film.

My concern is definitely not that Ruby Rose is in it because I would watch Ruby Rose do anything. I would watch two hours of Ruby Rose mowing the lawn or taking a nap for goodness' sake. She is perfection in human form. No, my problem is with the fact that the trailer appears to paint the all-woman rock band she fronts as the villains.

I hate to see women pitted against each other like this on-screen. Part of what worked so well about the first films was that they made The Treblemakers, a group of men, such great foils for the Bellas. That allowed for the women to triumph over the guys and gave us heroes we could feel good rooting for.

Girls and women are already so underrepresented in rock that it's a shame to see the trailer demonise a band of instrument-playing women by making them the main competition for the Bellas. It feels like a girl-on-girl crime, and I'm not really here for it.

Women have historically been shut out of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, with girl groups like the Go-Go's and the Bangles not getting inductions (and always being relegated to pop radio, even though they play the same kind of rock as guy bands). Since its inception in 1983, only 37 women performers and bands have been inducted and only one, Carole King, was inducted for songwriting. Just like Elizabeth Banks pointed to the need for more women directors, women who play instruments need representation, too.

When there are so many women on-screen, it leaves room for those characters to be complicated, and that's a good thing. But on the other, pitting women against each other in a field where they're already grossly underrepresented just doesn't sit well.

Thank goodness programmes like Girls Rock Camp exist to do the work of normalising the idea of women playing in rock bands and who lower the barrier to entry for young girls around the country.

Hopefully, the actual film will leave room for the two groups of women to come together, but it would have been nice to have seen this group of women shown as friends and colleagues, as opposed to villains.

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Despite what some adults may want, teens are going to have sex. That means our biggest concern should be making sure that young people are equipped with the knowledge and tools they need to practise sex in the safest and most consensual way possible. And the truth is, teens generally want to be as responsible as possible when they get it on, and often appreciate having the knowledge they need to do so, with more than half saying they seek out information online if they don't get it in school or from parents.

A new study on teens and sex from the US Centers For Disease Control show that most teens are using birth control when engaging in sex, and that's a good thing. The data found that 99.4 percent of sexually experienced (whatever that means) teen girls had used some form of contraception. Eighty-one percent of teen girls said they used birth control the first time they had sex, and about 90 percent said they used it during their last sexual encounter within the previous three months.

That's all great. What's not so great is that while condoms were the most commonly used method of contraception, the second most popular was the pull-out method, with 60 percent of adolescent girls reporting having used this method of birth control.

It's not that the pull-out method is bad, per se. When used perfectly, it's about as effective as condom use. However, it's nearly impossible to use this method perfectly, especially if you are a teen who is just learning what sex feels like and how to navigate your sex organs. According to the Guttmacher Institute, users of the withdrawal method have the highest rates of contraceptive failure, with 20 percent ending in pregnancy within a year.

However, some people are staunch defenders of this method as a form of contraception. However, the one thing the pull-out method definitely can't prevent is STIs. So, come on, kids! Wrap it up.

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Johnny Depp and Amber Heard's divorce may be final, but details of their abusive relationship are still trickling out, this time thanks to Depp's messy falling out with his former managers. In new court documents obtained by People, one of Depp's former managers is alleging that Depp physically abused Heard and that he tried to cover it up.

In the documents, which were filed in May and obtained by People, Depp's former representitives at The Management Group allege, “[Joel Mandel, one of the managers,] was informed well after the fact through communications with various house staff and security that Depp had been extremely volatile and had sometimes ‘gotten physical’ with Heard." The documents also claim that “Mandel was also later informed that Depp had violently kicked Heard during an incident that took place in or around 2014."

Last year, Heard was granted a restraining order against Depp. Court documents obtained during that time showed that Heard had claimed that, "During the entirety of our relationship, Johnny has been verbally and physically abusive to me." The couple's friend, iO Tillet Wright (who has since cut ties with Depp, but remains close with Heard), confirmed Heard's account of abuse and said he witnessed it, even calling the police.

Last autumn, a video was released which showed footage of Depp being both verbally and physically violent. In the video, Depp can be heard yelling, "Did something happen to you this morning? I don't think so!" before smashing a wine bottle and muttering, "You want to see crazy, I'll give you fucking crazy." At another point last year, text messages alleged to be between Heard and Depp's assistant were released that appeared to show the assistant apologising to Heard for a physical assault on Depp's part, saying, "When I told him he kicked you, he cried. It was disgusting. And he knows it. He's a little lost boy. And needs all the help he can get. He is so very sorry, as he should be." Heard responds by alluding to previous incidents. Depp's representatives claimed the messages were manufactured.

In the recent court documents obtained by People, Depp's former business managers confirm the texts were real. “TMG is informed and believes that Depp knew full well that the text messages were genuine, but pressured and berated his assistant to falsely challenge the texts publicly," the documents say.

Depp and his lawyer have vehemently denied the claims, accusing Heard of lying and attempting to "extend [her] 15 minutes of fame."

If you are experiencing domestic violence, please call the 24-hour National Domestic Violence Helpline on 0808 2000 247.

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