From the Group Chat: Kate Middleton, “Status Showerheads,” and Yappers

EDITOR’S NOTE

Happy Sunday. I never thought I’d be grateful for a rainy Saturday, but after a week of “sunshine guilt,” I was perfectly content to spend some quality time with my couch yesterday. In addition to trying to dupe Bella Hadid’s alleged $736 morning wellness routine, I also considered adopting a pet rock and the dicey etiquette question dividing the internet: Is it okay to uninvite wedding guests who miss the RSVP date? I’m honestly not sure, but one thing I do know is there’s no way I’d spend $2.2 million (not that I have $2.2 million) to live inside a replica of Disney’s iconic Haunted Mansion ride.

— Melissa Goldberg / Senior Editor / Washington, DC

💔  “What Happens to the Stay-at-Home Girlfriend After a Breakup?” Shout out to Cosmo for asking the question we didn’t even know we had.

🫣  If you think there’s nothing more mortifying than watching a sex scene with your parents, try watching your parents in a sex scene. 

💫  Forget $100 reservation fees — this Michelin-starred meal costs $495K…and is served at the edge of space.

💉 In this week’s edition of deeply worrying beauty trends: The era of buy now, pay later Botox is here. 

👯‍♀️  Apparently, it’s no longer enough to be a close friend or a best friend. Now, you can be a “tenured friend.”

The Princess of Wales has shut down the rumor mill. In a prerecorded video message released Friday, Kate Middleton revealed she has been diagnosed with cancer, which she called “a huge shock,” and is receiving “preventive chemotherapy.” Like her father-in-law, King Charles III, Kate did not disclose the type of cancer, but she said it was discovered in post-operative tests that followed “major abdominal surgery” in January. The announcement comes after what Kate described as “an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family.”

The limited information up until this point, coupled with the doctored photo of Kate and her children led to weeks of conspiracy theories, wild rumors about her health and well-being, and an investigation into an alleged breach to try to access her medical records. One thing that still rings true: The Kensington Palace comms team did little to control the frenzy. Now, speaking on her condition for the first time, Kate reiterated what she told George, Charlotte, and Louis: “I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal.” And she asked for “time, space, and privacy,” as she continues treatment and focuses on “making a full recovery.” The hysteria around Kate the past couple of months and the somber reality of what was going on behind the scenes has been a reminder to many that our fascination with royal women should not strip them of their agency to tell their own stories — on their own terms.

It’s a big week for sci-fi fans. Because “3 Body Problem,” the new show from the creators of “Game of Thrones” and “True Blood,” just dropped on Netflix. It tells the story of a group of friends, made up of scientific researchers and government agents, racing to save the planet from total chaos — and an alien invasion. The drama is based on the popular book series “Remembrance of Earth’s Past” by Liu Cixin, and it’s got everything you could want from an otherworldly show — aliens (obviously), bends in the space-time continuum, VR gaming, the list goes on. Or, you could just binge it to see your favorite “Game of Thrones” stars back in action.

Forget vintage watches and Le Creuset — “status showerheads” are apparently the new, splashy thing. That would be surprising, except there’s also been a rise in people taking hours-long everything showers and hanging fresh eucalyptus bundles over their showerheads. But before you spend $165 on Jolie’s super sleek design — or nearly as much on one from Canopy or Act+Acre — a couple things you should know: First, the filters need to be replaced every three months, which costs another $30 or so. Plus, while the companies claim their products filter chlorine and heavy metals from water — resulting in healthier, more hydrated skin and hair — some experts have been skeptical that it’d make a noticeable difference. And certainly not in 24 hours. That said, the showerheads are a fraction of the price of Dyson’s next hair dryer…

If you have to ask, you know the answer. While the term, and variations like yapping and yap, have suddenly flooded TikTok, to yap still means to talk incessantly. So skip the videos of people yapping about yapping, because you can probably already name telltale signs: your conversations are more like monologues, you often say “not to rant” then proceed to rant, you’ve been accused of not knowing the meaning of silence. But now, being a yapper may not be a bad thing — particularly on a platform that’s built largely on people talking. That might explain why some are proudly embracing the identity. Yap on.

Farmacy Green Clean Makeup Removing Cleansing Balm

Wondering why anyone would willingly slather their face with something slightly reminiscent of margarine? Well, if you’ve ever woken up with redness and irritation after trying to scrub away a full face of makeup — or, worse, woken up with remnants of said makeup — this cleansing balm might be the solution to your struggle. The fudgy consistency transforms into an oil when massaged into skin, making it easy to remove every bit of makeup (even waterproof mascara) and leaving skin feeling soft and hydrated. Not to mention, it smells like you’re eating lime sherbet on a hot summer day.

Trending products and brands our shopping team has been loving recently.

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2. Money mindsets you should leave in the past.

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