Across The World, Young People Are Experiencing ‘Climate Grief’

Posted on 27/06/2026 by Boris Clair

Schools have closed. Wildfires have broken out. Trains have been cancelled and buses have caught on fire.

It’s not just the UK, and it’s not just this month. Parts of France and Spain have experienced exceptionally high heat, while India has been battling a weeks-long, unbearably hot spell. The El Niño currently in place will probably bring very hot weather “nearly everywhere for June to August,” the UN said.

These warming trends have been growing for decades, and are expected to continue. So perhaps it’s no wonder people – especially younger people – are experiencing “climate grief”.

In a TikTok, UK poster Daisy said: “Climate grief is so crazy… the world I grew up in is just gone. I spend my summers bracing for hellish heat in a country that has no infrastructure for it.”

The comments were filled with people from the UK and across the world who agreed with the sentiment – “my kids have never experienced a snow day,” one reads. Other replies came from the US, Germany, Poland, the Netherlands, and more.”

Here, HuffPost UK spoke to 19-year-old German student Emilia Werth (who commented on Daisy’s video), Alison Kirkman from Greenpeace UK, and psychologist Dr Candice O’Neil about the phenomenon.

What is “climate grief”?

Dr O’Neil said, ”[Climate grief is] a deeply existential concern and links heavily with fears around mortality, death and dying – the ambiguity of all that we know about the world around us changing and evolving beyond our control.”

It’s “especially prevalent with younger generations who are thought to be more conscious and proactive about… our climate.”

Maybe you’ve begun to miss the sense of certainty that used to come with changing seasons and holidays, or are worried you’ll never experience the autumn and winter you loved as a child again.

Kirkman said that for her, “Summer swifts feel fewer where I live this year. I find myself searching for them, every day willing more to come, but lack of insects have seen some bird numbers plummet to record lows.

“Grass verges and hedgerows no longer buzz with clouds of butterflies and bees and wildflowers are increasingly absent – often shaded out by grasses and other dominant greenery as fertilisers seep into soils at field edges.

“For younger generations especially, there is a painful sense that parts of the natural world are being lost before they’ve had the chance to know them.”

Werth said she began feeling “climate grief” aged around 10.

“I was aware of climate change before, but realizing us humans are the direct cause of it deeply troubled me, I think. I often feel helpless,” she told HuffPost UK.

“I… feel like it doesn’t matter what I do as an individual, it will never be enough. In general, I feel a kind of Weltschmerz (pain for the world/what’s happening in the world).

“It makes me anxious to the point where I am terrified of… any kind of heat.”

How can we live with “climate grief”?

We asked environmental campaigning group Greenpeace how they handle “climate grief”.

Kirkman said: “Giving space to climate and nature grief matters because it can easily turn into numbness or despair. But it’s also a powerful reminder of the things we love and turning our grief into action is one of the best ways of finding hope again.”

For instance, she said, wildlife loss is not inevitable.

“Nature will bounce back if we let it, so by speaking up together… we can turn our grief into the kind of pressure ministers can’t ignore.”

Dr O’Neil had similar advice.

“Seek to join online or in-person groups with a shared mission” to help the climate, she wrote.

“Other ways of coping might be discussing concerns in the hopes of educating and influencing friends and loved ones to adapt habits which keep us conscious and mindful of our climate.”

This can help you to reframe issues from ”‘I’m not doing enough to protect the climate’ to ‘I am actively working to protect the climate, my choices reflect my purpose-driven goal to live with an awareness and committed action towards this,’” she ended.

‘I’m Not Lying’: Fiona Bruce Clashes With Zia Yusuf In BBC Question Time Bias Row

Posted on 27/06/2026 by Boris Clair

BBC Question Time presenter Fiona Bruce clashed with Zia Yusuf after he suggested the show’s audience was not balanced.

Reform UK’s home affairs spokesman complained after only eight people put their hands up when he asked who supported the party.

But Bruce hit back by insisting the BBC was “scrupulous” in ensuring the make-up of the audience represented wider public opinion.

After one audience member said Nigel Farage should never be prime minister, Yusuf said to Bruce: “You did ask earlier who supports Reform, and I make out four people in the audience put their hands up, which is interesting given Reform is at 28% in the polls.

“It’s a genuine question, can we get a show of hands from people who actually support Reform?”

When several people put their hands up, Bruce told him: “I think you’ll see that’s a bit more than four.”

Yusuf said: “I make that eight. It’s certainly nowhere close to representative I’m afraid, Fiona.”

But Bruce told him: “Can I just point out there are more people than that in the audience, they’re just not putting their hands up.”

Yusuf said: “We’ll all have to take the BBC’s word for that.”

In response, Bruce said the corporation was “scrupulous” in ensuring the Question Time audience is balanced.

“I’m certainly not lying about it, I can tell you that,” she said.

When Yusuf then asked “where’s the evidence”, the presenter replied: “As you know, we interview everybody over the phone, we check their social media.

“But what also happens is not everyone wants to put their hand up and show their political allegiance on national television, and there is nothing I can do about that, I’m afraid.”

Listen to Commons People, the podcast that makes politics easy. Every week, Kevin Schofield and Kate Nicholson unpack the week’s biggest stories to keep you informed. Join us for straightforward analysis of what’s going on at Westminster.

The ‘Overlooked’ Social Anxiety Symptom That Appears When You Say Someone’s Name

Posted on 27/06/2026 by Boris Clair

When you think about social anxiety, you might imagine common symptoms like sweating, avoiding group conversations, and trembling.

But a 2025 paper called another lesser known sign of social anxiety – dubbed alexinomia – “important” and “overlooked”.

Alexinomia, which seems to have been coined in 2023 in a Frontiers study, may also be linked to autism and mental health conditions, though it is not an illness or diagnosis in and of itself. Research from 2024 suggests it may be more “widespread” than many of us realise.

Here, we spoke to BACP-certified therapists Kamalyn Kaur and Bhavna Raithatha about what the term means, who it might affect, and what to do if you think you have it.

What is alexinomia?

“Alexinomia is the fear of speaking someone’s name,” Raithatha told us.

Kaur described it as “when someone experiences extreme discomfort, difficulty, or even anxiety when using a person’s name in conversation, even when they know the person’s name and the person really well”.

An example, Kaur added, might be that someone is able to ask their friend Hannah, “Can you please pass me the salt?”, but would find it harder to say “Hannah, can you please pass me the salt?”.

“Using the person’s name can trigger feelings of vulnerability, self-consciousness, or emotional exposure,” Kaur added.

Mentioning someone’s name directly might feel too intimate or embarrassing: “Often the difficulty is less about the name itself and more about what the name represents emotionally,” Kaur continued.

“For some people saying the name out loud feels like suddenly acknowledging closeness in a relationship e.g. ‘If I say your name, I’m stepping into closeness I don’t fully safe in yet’.”

She said that “avoidants or anxious-avoidants” may find that “saying someone’s name brings up a fear of dependency or attachment, so not using the person’s name becomes a subtle way of staying emotionally regulated and feeling in control”.

Who might get alexinomia?

According to Kaur, the condition may be more likely among people who experience:

Social anxiety
Shyness or self-consciousness
Fear of being judged or noticed
Insecure attachment patterns
Difficulty with emotional intimacy or vulnerability
A history of feeling emotionally unsafe or unstable in relationships.

Then, Raithatha continued, there’s culture to consider. “Historically and culturally, many people are raised to address others as uncle or auntie, Mrs or Mr so and so. To then be expected (as I was) to address people not only by their names, but elders by their first name was incredibly anxiety provoking. I still address people with their titles out of respect,” she told us.

Meanwhile, others may be worried about saying someone’s name wrong, could have come from a background which involved a lot of bullying, and/or have been silenced often as a child – all of which the therapist said may increase your odds of developing alexinomia.

What should I do if I have alexinomia?

“Like many anxiety related behaviours, avoidance tends to strengthen the fear so it’s best to gradually expose yourself to saying the name rather than avoid it altogether,” Kaur shared.

Some first steps may include saying the person’s name when you are alone, using it in text messages before actually saying it, practising short greetings (e.g., ‘Hi Hannah’, ‘Nice to see you, Hannah,’” and gradually using people’s names in real conversations.

Small, repeated challenges can help over time, she advised.

Additionally, Alexinomia appears closely linked to social anxiety, so experts suggest working on this could also help with the former.

“Approaches such as cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT), nervous system regulation, somatic approaches, and self-compassion practices can help,” said Kaur.

The therapist also thinks becoming self-aware of, and staying present during, the discomfort can help. Ask yourself questions like:

What do I worry will happen if I say their name?
Does it feel too intimate?
Am I worried about sounding awkward?
Do I worry about drawing attention to myself?

Raithatha ended that, ultimately, the important thing is to have tried: “You should be proud for trying, the more you do it, the easier it will feel.”

‘The Holy Grail Of Anti-Aging Lip Products’ Is 30% Off Today Only

Posted on 26/06/2026 by Boris Clair

Prices change quickly on Prime Day, so keep checking back to see the latest updates. Make sure to sign up for an Amazon Prime account to get the deals.

Some products go on sale so rarely that it feels like breaking news when the price tag drops. That’s certainly the case for Revision Skincare’s YouthFull Lip Replenisher, a luxury, peptide-infused lip balm that I credit for transforming my aging lips. It’s like no other product out there for smoothing and replenishing my smile. After months of stubbornly sitting at full price, it’s on rare sale for Amazon Prime Day for 30% off, the lowest price it’s been since Black Friday. Trust, this balm is worth every penny at full price, so this deal is a steal. But you have to move fast because Prime Day ends tonight, and the deals are going with it.

Designed to target visible signs of lip aging, the balm has several peptides and other research-backed ingredients like vitamins E and C and green tea.

I’m only including this marketing image from the brand because I found my results to be very similar.

My lips have gotten just as much sun damage as the rest of my face over the last nearly five decades, and it was starting to show. I decided to try the YouthFull Lip Replenisher in a mission to combat signs of aging on my lips. I’m not overly bothered by wrinkles, but I do want to take care of my skin. Yet, I can’t slap retinol cream on my lips like I can on my crow’s feet. Lip skin is wildly delicate.

I figured one of the most promising lip-safe active ingredients would be peptides, given that certain peptides can have skin-restoring abilities and help address things like loss of firmness, dullness and fine lines and others are solid antioxidants. Although they don’t produce quick miracles — no skin care does — peptides can be effective, and some are gentle enough to be included in lip products. I tried a few of them, including Hailey Bieber’s peptide lip gloss (what can I say? she has good skin!), but nothing was really doing it for me.

More, the balm offers vitamins E and C and green tea, which have been studied to work well in tandem with peptides. Plus, the balm offers very solid moisturizers like shea butter.

I put it on overnight, and let me tell you, I could actually tell a difference the very next morning. No wonder reviewers call it “the holy grail of anti aging lip products!”

I will note that when I first put this on, I immediately knew it wasn’t going to be a product I’d wear much during the day, despite Revisions’s guidance of applying it three times daily. It’s pretty thick and sticky (if you are constantly pulling your hair out of your lip gloss, you know the struggle).

But as one reviewer noted, this is actually the product’s superpower, because it absolutely does not budge, even if you wear it overnight. “Although some reviews complain about the tackiness of the balm, that’s actually what is so great about this product!” wrote a Dermstore customer named Lizzie. “It sticks to lips better than any other balm I’ve tried.”

I can attest to this. Each morning when I wake up, it’s still there as if I just applied it. I sleep on my side, but it doesn’t melt off or get on my pillow. The fact that it clings so hard and lasts so long gives me some assurance that all those little peptides really are hard at work while I sleep, safely ensconced on my lips in a very stay-put formula. I kept going with overnight use, and within days felt like this it was making a real difference. My lips hadn’t been in terrible shape, but they definitely seemed smoother than they’d been in years. They didn’t look wrinkly. And they certainly felt supremely healthy.

Although some reviewers do enjoy it wearing this formula as a daytime gloss, many others are using it overnight only, too, and say it makes their lipstick easier to apply the next day.

I was honestly floored when I woke up each morning, and kept being reminded during the day when they just felt so freshly smooth all the time.

And given how little of it I have to squeeze out to give my lips a solid coat, I feel like this one tube is going to last for an almost comically long time (a relief given that $40 is way more than I typically spend on a lip balm).

Some aren’t so concerned with fine lines, and simply use it for dry, cracked lips in winter or desert climates (and they say it’s hugely effective for that).

I can’t say enough good things about Revision’s lip treatment, a sentiment that seems to be shared by everyone who’s tried it. Read more 5-star reviews and grab one for yourself before the Prime Day price jumps back to normal.

“This deserves 10 stars. I was given this as a gift from a friend, and I loved it so much I bought the regular and the tinted. Worth every single penny! Yes, it is very sticky, but I honestly prefer when glosses/balms are sticky because I feel like that helps it last all day. Plus it makes my lips feel super moisturized after taking it off. Since it’s sticky, a little goes a long way, which is such a plus given this is a little pricey!” — Marie

“After years of hearing people mention having a ‘holy grail’ product, I finally have my own. This stuff is incredible! I originally got it after having a lip moisturizing treatment done, because it was recommended as a great post-treatment maintainer, but it works fantastically all the time. I have always had great lips, but they’ve been thinning due to age. This makes them look insanely plump, incredibly moisturized, and very ‘I used a filter but in real life.’ One caveat: it is crazy sticky. That’s what keeps it on as a great all-night moisturizer, and doesn’t require constant touch-ups on a night out. But it’s definitely a hair-grabber in a windstorm. Absolutely worth it to me to just wait and put it on when I’m inside!” — Golden golden

“It actually works! My Dermatologist recommended this to me. Results are noticeable some in the beginning but with daily use (throughout the day) my lips are fuller, less wrinkles! (age 46)” — Amy Gragg

“I’ve tried so many lip masks. Laneige, Tatcha, First Aid Beauty (was amazing and now discontinued), Bite, Fresh, Ole Henricksen, Kiehl’s (tastes and smells fantastic, lasts on lips for 4 minutes)…Tarte, Buxom, Dior, was a Burt’s Bees fan for a decade. BB is nice and keeps the moisture in, but no active ingredients to nourish. Revision is serious business… I travel for work, am on planes and changing climates weekly. My lips are soft and nourished. I’m over 50, and no lip lines. **Can’t recommend strongly enough. 10/10**” — Kimberly S

Amazon

Tula’s brightening eye balm stick (30% off list price)

A simple balm stick can be one of the easiest ways to give your eye bags a wake-up call — and way more cost-effective. Not sure where to start? Tula’s hyaluronic acid and caffeine eye balms have impressed reviewers of all ages, with some claiming it makes them “look years younger” and garners them compliments on their skin, even after a terrible night’s sleep. The price on this balm seems to only go down during major Amazon sales like Black Friday or the Spring Sale, so you might be stuck waiting until fall to get it for under $30 if you don’t grab it now.

An undereye brightener that works miracles for the sleep-deprived (20% off list price)

Lourdes Avila Uribe/HuffPost

If, like me, you suffer from dark under-eye circles, then this is an incredible tool in your arsenal. It’s a brightener that not only helps to lighten dark circles, but can give eyes a more open, awake look. I wear it on its own or layered under concealer on especially tragic days. It’s really lightweight and has a smooth finish that stays put without creasing. I love it on days when I don’t want to wear makeup but need to perk up my overall appearance. It honestly takes years off my face and is a must for anyone with babies and small kids. It’s available in four shades, and is formulated with skin-loving ingredients like hyaluronic acid and shea butter. And for this price, it’s worth picking one up and giving it a shot.

Amazon

Supergoop’s famous invisible and weightless sunscreen (35% off list price)

This cult-favorite sunscreen from Supergoop is arguably the product that put this trendy sun care brand on the map. It’s renowned for its clear, lightweight and unscented formula that won’t leave behind an irritating white cast but still offers broad-spectrum protection. It’s also oil-free formula, great for anyone who might have sensitive or acne-prone skin, and layers seamlessly beneath makeup or can be worn on its own. Middle age is not the time to be messing around with skin health, and as experts have mentioned, it’s the most effective anti-aging skin care product you can use.

Amazon

An iconic resurfacing lotion with a skin-firming twist (15% off list price)

For anyone who just wants one body care product that will do it all, we suggest this body cream. Amlactin is a trusted brand for its lactic acid-containing lotions that help exfoliate rough, bumpy and textured skin. In addition to that 15% concentration of must-have resurfacing power, this cream also contains barrier-restoring ceramides and hydrators to help firm and soften thin, crepey skin that often comes with age.

In past HuffPost reporting, experts have explained the benefits of ceramides, which can strengthen the skin barrier, aid in moisture retention, and keep irritants at bay.

Amazon

AmazonTruSkin vitamin C serum (49% off list price)

In case you didn’t know, vitamin C is a really valuable player in the skin care game. In fact, after sunscreen and retinol, it’s the most helpful ingredient in defense against premature skin aging, as experts have previously explained: It can promote collagen production and can protect against the damaging effects of free radicals.

This makes this popular serum’s enthusiastic reviews all the more viable. The nourishing formula works to reduce in fine lines, sun damage and aging spots — improving the appearance of skin conditions like melasma and an overall increase in skin brightness and radiance.

Amazon

Revision Skincare YouthFull lip replenisher (30% off list price)

We’ve rarely seen an audience response quite like we did when former HuffPost editor Janie Campbell introduced our readers to the Revision Skincare YouthFull lip replenisher. You purchased this nourishing lip product in droves, and upon closer inspection, it’s clear why. Campbell made a compelling case for this balm, calling it a “truly stellar and game-changing product.”

Formulated with several peptides, vitamins E and C, green tea and shea butter, it’s designed to target visible signs of lip aging like puckering, wrinkles, dryness and dullness. And while it’s not typically like us to recommend such an expensive lip balm, the results speak for themselves. It has a thick, tacky texture that really grips the lips, making it a great overnight treatment.

In previous HuffPost reporting, experts explained why peptides are such a popular ingredient and how they work. Peptides can also help skin “appear plumper and smoother” and improve skin hydration, texture and firmness, said Dr. Kseniya Kobets, a dermatologist and the director of cosmetic dermatology at Montefiore Einstein Advanced Care in Elmsford, New York. They are particularly beneficial for “lines that form with expression, such as laugh lines around the mouth and eyes,” added Dr. Toral Vaidya, a dermatologist with MDCS Dermatology in New York.

Amazon

A PDRN collagen capsule cream that one editor swears by (27% off list price)

I previously wrote about my love-love relationship with Medicube’s PDRN collagen capsule cream, a unique moisturizer featuring suspended spheres in a jelly-like cream — an encapsulation formula the brand claims is the most effective delivery method of its main plumping ingredient, PDRN.

The result is a highly customizable and effective cream that is light as a feather yet somehow also incredibly hydrating. The satiny, dewy finish makes it feel like it’s much more expensive than it actually is. I recently got a facial and my aesthetician confirmed that the state of my skin was much improved. It’s a must for dry or finicky middle-aged skin like mine.

Amazon

A peptide-injected face cream that relaxes fine lines (41% off list price)

HuffPost shopping writer Tessa Flores will always opt for a moisturizer with peptides for their proven skin-plumping power and the way they always make her skin feel juicy and hydrated like this one. Peter Thomas Roth created an amped up moisturizer that contains both regular peptides and neuropeptides, which may reduce the appearance of expression lines, similarly to how neurotoxins like Botox work, but on a much lesser scale. It also contains some of dermatologist-beloved hydrators like squalane and hyaluronic acid.

Amazon

A French pharmacy cream with three types of retinol (25% off list price)

If there’s one thing that HuffPost readers and editors love, it’s French pharmacy skin care products. A313 cream is the highest-strength retinol cream you can get over the counter, with three kinds of retinol that can help stimulate collagen. Its efficacy is renowned, as is the reasonable price point, making it a unique entry in the retinol category.

Reviewers have long noted that it’s nearly as potent and effective as prescription-strength Tretinoin, without the negative side effects. In fact, some users who had been using prescription-strength Tretinoin then switched to this alternative and say they prefer A313 and have maintained the same results they had with the prescription-strength formula.

In past reporting, dermatologists have explained that because this product has very few ingredients, it can be a smart choice for anyone who’s sensitive to fragrances or other additives that may appear in other OTC retinol products.

Ultimately, what makes A313 distinctive (along with the price) is the thick occlusive texture, which is closer to a balm, and according to reviewers, can be more hydrating compared to other pricier formulations that you might find on the OTC market. The brand claims that the 2% retinol concentration can help unclog pores, minimize fine lines, reduce hyperpigmentation and even out skin texture.

Amazon

StriVectin tightening neck cream (41% off list price)

This dermatologist-recommended neck tightening cream by StriVectin is a targeted cream containing spilanthol, an ingredient designed to strengthen the skin, along with a patented peptide exclusive to the brand. Peptides can help to improve collagen levels and elastin which can help to fight skin laxity. This neck cream can also help brighten and even skin tone, diminishing the appearance of sunspots. Two different sizes are on sale for Prime Day (the larger 3.4-ounce size is pictured here).

Amazon

Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta daily peel pads (25% off list price)

HuffPost contributor Carolin Lehmann previously described her experience with the Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta daily peel pads, reporting that, since she started using them, people keep underestimating her age.

“I simply wipe down your face with these exfoliating pads, go to sleep, and wake up glowing like never before. These wipes are seemingly “magic,” helping my pores look smaller, minor acne clear up, fine lines iron out, and my skin [feel] baby smooth,” Lehmann said of the 2026 winner.

Also previously suggested to HuffPost by board-certified dermatologists, the Dr. Dennis Gross daily peel pads can offer the benefit of a chemical peel, but with a gentler approach than what you might find in a dermatologist’s office. Each treatment contains two pads: one to exfoliate and smooth your skin, and one that provides anti-aging benefits. The pads are pre-dosed with five acids, including glycolic, salicylic and lactic, that each work to reduce dullness and uneven texture, pores and hyperpigmentation. They were even compared (and preferred) to an in-office chemical peel by Amazon customers.

Amazon

Clean Skin Club disposable facial towels (20% off list price)

Washing your face daily can feel like an arduous task, made more so when you factor in the labor or having to launder washcloths. As if that weren’t annoying enough on its own, dermatologists have previously told HuffPost that washcloths can harbor a plethora of microorganisms when left wet for a prolonged period.

The search for a sanitary solution led former HuffPost Shopping writer Haley Zovickian to the cult-favorite Clean Skin Club towels. Plant-based and disposable, they’re designed to help keep skin germ-free post-wash, so you can apply products with a fresh face, clean conscience and without added microorganisms.

Endorsed by thousands of happy reviewers, these soft, plush and surprisingly large towels are as good as it gets. Some users even noted that they helped to reduce skin irritation. It’s no wonder they’ve become a staple in myriad HuffPost readers’ skin care routines, making them worthy of high praise.

Amazon

A luxury pro-collagen cleansing balm (45% off list price)

The first time I tried the famous Elemis cleansing balm, I couldn’t believe how soft, supple and clean my skin felt. And it’s been endorsed by dermatologists in previous reporting. I had always assumed that someone with acne-prone, oily skin like me should stay away from oil cleansing, but I couldn’t have been more wrong. It has a buttery soft consistency that starts off like a rich, thick oil and slowly melts into the skin, dissolving makeup, grime and impurities. It’s formulated with fatty acids that can help to improve skin elasticity and moisture retention, and the brand says its starfish and elderberry oils help soothe irritation and smooth out the complexion.

My colleague Kristen Aiken is also a huge fan of this cleansing balm. She told me that “this item is way pricier than what I’m usually willing to spend on cleanser (which is usually from the drugstore and under $10), but I’ve found it’s one of the only products that can effectively cleanse my skin AND nourish it without making me break out. I have perpetually dry skin no matter how much water I drink, and this saves me from drying out (especially in the winter months). Bonus: If you use it as a second round of double-cleansing (i.e. after you’ve already removed the day’s initial layer of gunk), you can use your favorite facial massage tool over top it, to help your tool slide smoothly along your face and de-puff.”

Amazon

My magic kojic acid bar soap that brightened my underarms (24% off list price)

This bar soap is surprisingly great for brightening skin and reducing dark spots, thanks to kojic acid, tranexamic acid, vitamin C and glycolic acid — ingredients previously cited by dermatologist for their collective ability to combat hyperpigmentation. Both Flores and I are big fans of these Japanese-formulated bar soaps that are also packed with other skin-loving ingredients such as hydrating hyaluronic acid and retinol, which is essential for promoting collagen production.

Amazon

Sunday Riley Good Genes lactic acid treatment (40% off list price)

I am a longtime fan of Good Genes, it’s an incredibly powerful and rapidly effective serum. The secret is in the high percentage of active ingredients in both, particularly content of lactic acid. It is a unique chemical exfoliant that encourages quick cell turnover in the surface layers of the skin, leaving it smooth and helping clear up blemishes. It’s paired with licorice and lemongrass, which help brighten up the look of dark spots, sun damage and other discoloration, and prickly pear extract that helps soothe redness and calms sensitive skin. This serum will go on sale here and there, but rarely at such a steep discount. It’s definitely worth taking advantage while you can.

In previous reporting, experts said that products with lactic acid are a good option for anyone looking to treat dry, dead skin and improve hydration. It can also be used to soften the little bumps some people get on the backs of their arms, known as keratosis pilaris.

Amazon

Shark FacialPro Glow hydro-powered facial system (25% off list price)

Amazon

An incredibly moisturizing Laneige water sleeping mask (30% off list price)

This overnight mask is meant to be moisturizing and hydrating, with a blend of sleepy scents, including orange flower, rose and sandalwood. It’s formulated to feel rich and luxurious, wihtout leaving skin greasy. Hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, squalane, ceramides and other dermatologist-recommended ingredients give this night cream a whole lot of oomph.

Amazon

Image Skincare Vital C hydrating anti-aging serum (20% off list price)

We know dermatologists love vitamin C serums, and this one is formulated with hyaluronic acid to lock in moisture while delivering antioxidant goodness. It’s on the pricier side, making this the right time to save when you shop. One reviewer raved, saying, “My skin has never felt this good!” They added, “The scent is light, fresh, and not overpowering—just enough to feel like a little spa moment each time I use it. What really sold me, though, was how hydrated and smooth my skin felt afterward. It absorbed beautifully without feeling greasy or sticky. I’ve been using it daily since and my skin looks brighter, feels softer, and has a healthy glow.” Another boasted, “I’ve gotten compliments that my face is glowing.”

Amazon

A PDRN serum packed with five different plumping peptides (32% off list price)

In previous reporting, experts suggested this recognizable pink serum, a Korean beauty brand that’s quickly become synonymous with tons of PDRN-based products, from jelly masks to toners and face creams. The PDRN peptide serum is one of Medicube’s best sellers on Amazon, and in addition to salmon sperm-derived PDRN, it’s enriched with a complex containing five different types of peptides. According to dermatologists that we previously spoke to, peptides are amino acid proteins known to boost collagen production, improve skin texture and promote wound healing.

Amazon

A famous caffeine serum that tackles all your skin care bases (20% off list price)

HuffPost readers love a high-quality skin care product that can replace pricey facial treatments, like this K-beauty serum that one beauty TikToker calls “filler in a bottle.” Its prowess is attributed to an ingredient called PDRN, which is widely used in injectables overseas. Like the aforementioned Medicube serum, it has anti-inflammatory and tissue-repairing capabilities that can improve skin firmness and leave recipients with a telltale glow. It’s usually extracted from salmon sperm cells, but Iope’s serum has a completely vegan, plant-based formula that is as unique as it is effective.

Additional ingredients like niacinamide, probiotics and caffeine round out this repairing formulation — all ingredients that are beloved by HuffPost editors and readers alike. It’s such a great product that it was awarded a HuffPost Awards seal of approval.

I have covered countless serums in my many years of beauty reporting, and this one by Iope covers all my must-have bases. My skin is significantly more hydrated, glowy and bouncy. I make an effort to put it on my neck lines and it definitely helps to blur them as well. I’m a convert for life.

First Aid Beauty

An ultra-rich repair cream that’s helped my eczema (40% off list price)

Flores is a fan of a few First Aid Beauty products, like this intensive repair cream. She credits it with saving her itchy, flaky, eczema-prone skin on more than one occasion. Dermatologist have also previously sung this product’s praises, citing the soothing, barrier-repairing powers of ingredients like colloidal oatmeal, shea butter and allantoin.

Amazon

A brightening and depuffing multi-balm from Korea (25% off list price)

In a previous story, HuffPost shopping writer Griffin Wynne reported that topical calcium can strengthen the skin barrier and increase cell turnover, making it a useful ingredient for anti-aging skin care. That’s where this Dr. Melaxin calcium multi-balm stick comes in: This non-sticky balm contains calcium, vitamin D, collagen, elastin and adenosine to smooth, hydrate and firm the skin, plus reduce the appearance of wrinkles. In previous reporting, experts have extolled the virtues of collagen and elastin, making them foolproof ingredients in any anti-aging regime.

The stick packaging makes it so easy to apply this balm wherever needed on the face and neck without making a mess. Best of all, reviewers in their 50s and 60s love it for its help with “turkey neck” and fine lines.

Amazon

First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser body scrub (36% off list price)

This exfoliating scrub, which has earned a cult following among people with all types of skin, is a fine pumice-based formula that functions closer to a microdermabrasion treatment. Flores says, “I have been a dedicated user of First Aid Beauty’s KP bump eraser for years as a way to instantly treat my incredibly stubborn and very obvious keratosis pilaris on my arms. Its ability to soften rough skin is probably primarily due to its 10% concentration of AHAs, like glycolic and lactic acids.”

This category of derm-approved chemical exfoliants can work to refine skin texture and slough off the dead skin cells that are responsible for those pesky bumps. The formula is also enriched with natural bisabolol, an antioxidant that offers soothing benefits post-exfoliation.

Amazon

A 40% urea cream for baby-soft skin (19% off list price)

Experts previously put us on the skin-smoothing benefits of urea, especially when it comes to softening rough and cracked callused heels, psoriasis, keratosis pilaris and more. The Ebanel intensive moisturizing and softening cream, which, at 40%, contains the highest concentration of urea out of many market options out there. Protective, intensely moisturizing and softening, this cream also features 2% salicylic acid to help exfoliate away patches of rough and flaky skin, as well as targeting things like calluses, corns and cracked skin. The shea butter-based formula is enriched with trusted hydrators like hyaluronic acid, coconut and jojoba oils, and antioxidants like green tea and vitamin E. It’s a combination that can be useful for feet and elbows and even promote healthier-looking nails.

Amazon

Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion+ (30% off list price)

Also loaded up with dermatologist-beloved ingredients like urea, along with glycerin and other nourishing ingredients, this timeless facial moisturizer will never go out of style. It is made to seriously soften and smooth skin, qith a quickly absorbing formula that can help to repair and strengthen your natural moisture barrier. Pick up a bottle and find out why it’s been a must-have since it was first developed in 1968.

Amazon

A glazed jelly lip mask that I trust to plump and hydrate my lips (19% off list price)

Flores swears by this Korean lip mask with a distinctive jelly texture and a heavy dose of derm-approved PDRN to minimize the appearance of her lip lines, make her pout look more plump and, above all, stave off chronic dryness — especially around the corners of the mouth where regular retinol use can make it go flaky. Not quite a balm and not quite a gloss, but somewhere in a delightful jammy middle, the Abib treatment feels cushiony and velvet-like on the lips and not at all sticky. Because of this, it’s much more comfortable to wear as an overnight lip mask and she loves waking up with noticeably softer lips.

Many users are also that this thick and nourishing lip gel “was the best product” they had ever used and worked miraculously on wrinkled, aging lips.

Amazon

A set of teeth whitening strips (36% off list price)

Dentists have previously recommended these Lumineux whitening strips for people with sensitive teeth. They’re non-toxic and peroxide-free, instead using natural ingredients like coconut oil and Dead Sea salt. The box comes with seven treatments that work in much the same way as the Crest strips: Apply them for 30 minutes once a day for four days, and then once a week after that or as directed by your dentist.

We all know what a difference shiny, white teeth can make to your overall youthful appearance, and this is an easy way to brighten up your complexion.

Amazon

A tried and true minoxidil foam by Rogaine (15% off list price)

Rogaine is probably the best-known product that features minoxidil as the active ingredient for hair growth. This three-month supply features a 5% minoxidil along with a variety of botanical extracts and humectants, which can draw moisture into the hair.

The once-a-day treatment is also in the form of a foam — an important requirement according to experts we’ve previously spoken with — so the product won’t drip down to other areas of the face, thus risking unwanted hair growth.

Amazon

A serum with a concentrated dose of retinal for wrinkles (25% off list price)

If you’ve ever wondered how to get your hands on some of the strongest retinoids, without a prescription, this is a much-talked-about option, which actually comes in six strengths for everyone from the retinol beginner to the seasoned expert. The Medik8 Crystal Retinal (in the mid-strength option) is also one of my favorites, it’s an effective yet gentle addition to my repertoire.

It leaves my skin looking and feeling great. Not only does it address typical signs of aging like wrinkles and texture quickly and efficiently, but it’s also helped to round out my anti-hyperpigmentation routine without stripping my skin of moisture or being overly harsh. The formula is balanced with hyaluronic acid and glycerin to help keep skin supple, soft, smooth and hydrated.

The Crystal Retinal 10 is no longer on sale, but you can still get the other formulations at a discount. Just act fast — they’re lightning deals and inventory is limited!

Amazon

A two-pack of a heavy-duty hand cream (20% off list price)

If you’re hard on your hands, you need a hand cream that works even harder. O’Keeffe’s Working Hands cream nourishes even the most chapped hands, supporting healing and alleviating pain from blistered skin. Apply it daily and help your hands go from dry to baby soft. If you’re in perimenopause, you need this in your dry skin arsenal. It’s chock-full of all the nourishing ingredients our dry skin craves.

The Real Deal: We use deal trackers and commerce experience to sift through “fake” hike-and-drop deals and other deceptive sales tactics. Products will usually be rated at least 4 stars with a minimum 15% discount. (And when there’s an exception, we’ll tell you why.)

Personal Trainer Shares The ‘Single Most Valuable’ Piece of Gym Equipment

Posted on 26/06/2026 by Boris Clair

We recently asked coffee experts how they’d perfect barista-level cuppas at home, without any fancy equipment.

After all, the endless gadgets and machinery pros use can hog space and drain your bank account ― the same can be said for gym equipment.

Most of us can’t pack a treadmill, an elliptical, a stair master, a full rack of weights, and a Smith machine into our homes, after all.

So, we thought we’d ask Sam Quinn, a personal training lead at Nuffield Health Devonshire, which one piece of gym kit he can’t go without.

If Sam had to pick, he’d go with an Olympic barbell

The fitness expert told HuffPost UK: “The Olympic barbell is the single most valuable piece of equipment for achieving athletic performance, fitness goals, and changing body composition.”

It’s suitable for beginners and pros alike, the personal trainer added, explaining that its versatility makes it a must-have.

“The 20KG 7ft long Olympic barbell is used for resistance and strength training, building muscle, powerlifting and Olympic weightlifting,” Sam advised.

“This enables the individual to have the ability to train whichever muscle group of the body they are looking to develop or improve all physical characteristics from strength, power or speed using only one piece of equipment.”

We’ve written before at HuffPost UK about how important resistance and strength training is, especially as we age.

Of course, everyone’s at different points in their strength training, and progressive overload is key for muscle growth.

So it’s a good thing “the bar is loaded with plates varying in weight for resistance training,” allowing each user to change the intensity according to their ability.

Though some machines dedicate themselves to one part of our anatomy, though, Sam told us that the barbell can be “used to develop all the various movement patterns of the body.”

What exercises can I do with an Olympic barbell?

“The Olympic bar is a versatile, robust and easy-to-use piece of equipment,” Sam told HuffPost UK.

“The exercises that can be performed with the Olympic barbell include clean and jerk, snatch, bench press, squat, deadlift, bent over row, overhead press, hip thrust, landmine presses, bicep curls and skull-crushers.”

That’s a lot of bulk for your buck…

Got A Rude Child? Parenting Expert Shares The Two Words You Should Say To Them

Posted on 26/06/2026 by Boris Clair

A parenting coach has shared the two-word response parents can use if their kids are being disrespectful – and it’s surprisingly simple.

In a TikTok video, Mike Wallach, who runs Apparently Parenting, said: “Stop letting your kids walk all over you with this one trick.

“It’s super simple – and when done correctly, they rarely push back against it.”

What’s the trick?

The parenting coach and behaviour analyst said if a child is disrespectful or rude towards you, all you need to say in response is: “Try again.”

This can be used in a variety of scenarios, added the parenting coach, such as “when they slam the door, when they yell back ‘no’, when they’re playing too rough, [or] when they snatch a toy out of someone’s hand”.

“They immediately know what needs to be done to change their behaviour,” he explained.

Of course, some younger children might need a bit more direction than simply “try again”. If they say something rude to you, or shout at you, you could respond: “That’s not how we talk to each other. Can you try again?”

If they shout a demand at you, like “I want a snack!” you could respond: “Let’s try that again. How do we ask nicely?”

When kids are rude it might be tempting to raise your voice, but parenting pros suggest remaining calm and speaking in a steady voice, otherwise the situation will likely escalate.

According to My Parenting Solutions, asking for a replay is “so simple and effective”. But if your child is having a tantrum, it’s probably best to wait until they’ve calmed down to encourage them to try again.

The method can work well, because you’re giving children the opportunity to practice acting respectfully.

Any more tips?

Yes! If your child is being angry or rude, or having constant tussles with siblings, ‘special time’ might just help.

Child psychologist Dr Becky Kennedy, founder of Good Inside, described it as the “best bang-for-your-buck” parenting strategy.

Put simply, ‘special time’ is a period of time you carve out in your day where you and your child have one-on-one time together.

“So often, our attention as parents is split between work, siblings, admin, getting everyone fed, and the endless mental to-do list and demands on our time and resources,” Anna Mathur, a psychotherapist and author of The Uncomfortable Truth, told HuffPost UK.

But special time “cuts through that noise”.

It could be five minutes, it could be 15 minutes – but the idea is you get rid of all distractions and just sit and spend time with your kid.

Mathur said it works because “even 10 minutes of dedicated one-on-one time is a statement that tells your child: you matter, you’re seen, I want to be with you” and helps kids “feel emotionally secure, which strengthens their nervous system and improves behaviour”.

Even young and fit urged to skip runs and too many beers in heatwave

Posted on 26/06/2026 by Boris Clair

Cardiac arrests have gone up during very hot weather, and it’s not just among the elderly and frail, experts are warning.

Is laughter really the best medicine?

Posted on 26/06/2026 by Boris Clair

Researchers launch a “Laughter Lab” to explore how laughing can improve wellbeing and health.

Earth may have been seeding Venus with life for billions of years

Posted on 26/06/2026 by Boris Clair

The theory of panspermia proposes that life, or the ingredients needed for it, can spread throughout the cosmos aboard asteroids, comets, and other rocky objects. When life develops on a planet, powerful impacts can blast material from its surface into space, potentially carrying microscopic organisms or organic compounds to other worlds. Scientists have long debated whether this kind of transfer may have occurred between Earth and Mars (in both directions). More recently, renewed interest in the possibility of microbial life within Venus’ thick cloud layers has expanded that discussion to include Earth, Venus, and Mars.

A recent study presented at the 2026 Lunar and Planetary Science Conference (LPSC) takes a closer look at that possibility. Researchers from The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (JHUAPL) and Sandia National Laboratories used the “Venus Life Equation” (VLE), a framework developed by Noam Izenberg et al. in 2021, to estimate how material from Earth could introduce life into Venus’ atmosphere. Their modeling suggests that life delivered from Earth could potentially survive in Venus’ clouds for at least a few days per century.

The Venus Life Equation

Like the famous Drake Equation, the VLE estimates the probability of life by combining several contributing factors. Each factor is multiplied together to produce an overall estimate of the likelihood that life exists.

*### L = O x R x C*

In this equation, L represents the likelihood of Extant Life (0 to 1, where 0 is no chance and 1 is certainty). O stands for origination (the chance life began and became established on Venus), R represents Robustness (the ability of a biosphere to survive and adapt to changing conditions), and C refers to Continuity (The chance that habitable conditions persisted until today). Before applying this framework, the researchers first examined whether organic material could survive the journey from one planet to another, regardless of where it originally formed.

Surviving the Journey to Venus

Material blasted into space by an impact must endure enormous challenges. In addition to the violent shock of ejection, it is exposed to intense heat, the vacuum of space, radiation, and extreme temperature swings. Previous computer simulations and analyses of meteorites found on Earth have shown that organic material can survive both ejection from a planet and the trip through interplanetary space. Once it reaches Venus, however, that material would also need to remain suspended within or above the planet’s cloud layers in order to survive.

To investigate this, the team modeled how fireball meteorites (bolides) behave as they enter Venus’ atmosphere, including their ablation, explosion, and breakup into smaller fragments capable of remaining in the clouds. They relied on the “pancake model,” a widely used semi-analytic approach that describes how a bolide fragments while passing through an atmosphere. After the bolide explodes in the atmosphere (an “airburst”), aerodynamic drag spreads the fragments outward into a flattened “pancake” of material that the researchers describe as “cells.”

Billions of Potential Transfers

Using the pancake model together with values derived from earlier studies, the researchers estimated how many bolides from Earth or Mars could have reached Venus’ clouds. Their calculations suggest that hundreds of billions of cells may have been delivered from Earth to Venus, with hundreds of billions potentially remaining viable. Their preferred estimate indicates that about 100 cells become dispersed throughout Venus’ clouds each Earth year. Over the past 1 billion years, roughly 20 billion cells may have been transferred from Earth.

The researchers emphasize that their model does not capture every aspect of how bolides interact with Venus’ atmosphere. They also note that every parameter in the VLE carries significant uncertainty, much like the Drake Equation. Even so, their findings support the possibility that panspermia between Earth and Venus could occur. If a future astrobiology mission discovers life in Venus’ clouds, one possible explanation is that it originally came from Earth.

Einstein Probe may have caught a black hole tearing apart a white dwarf for the first time

Posted on 26/06/2026 by Boris Clair

An extraordinary high-energy event detected deep in space is giving astronomers a rare opportunity to study some of the Universe’s most extreme phenomena.

On July 2, 2025, the China-led Einstein Probe (EP) space telescope spotted an exceptionally bright X-ray source during a routine survey of the sky. The object’s brightness changed rapidly, making it immediately stand out from typical cosmic X-ray sources. The unusual detection prompted observatories around the world to begin follow-up observations.

The research was coordinated by the EP Science Center at the National Astronomical Observatories, Chinese Academy of Sciences (NAOC), with scientists from research institutions in China and several other countries contributing to the effort. Researchers from the Department of Physics at The University of Hong Kong (HKU), who are key members of the Einstein Probe scientific collaboration, helped interpret the observations. Their analysis suggests the event may represent an intermediate-mass black hole tearing apart and consuming a white dwarf star. If confirmed, it would provide the first direct observational evidence of this type of black hole feeding event. The results were published as the cover article in Science Bulletin.

Einstein Probe Detects an Unusual Cosmic Explosion

The discovery relied on the Einstein Probe’s two complementary X-ray instruments.

During its routine survey on July 2, 2025, the mission’s Wide-field X-ray Telescope (WXT), which combines advanced lobster-eye micro-pore optics with a very wide field of view and high sensitivity, detected a rapidly changing X-ray source that was later designated EP250702a (also known as GRB 250702B). At nearly the same time, NASA’s Fermi Gamma-ray Space Telescope detected several gamma-ray bursts coming from the same region of the sky.

Scientists realized the event was far more unusual after reviewing earlier WXT observations. The telescope had already detected steady X-ray emission from the same location roughly a day before the gamma-ray bursts appeared, a sequence rarely associated with powerful cosmic explosions. Around 15 hours after the initial detection, the source erupted into a series of intense X-ray flares. At its brightest, it reached a luminosity of approximately 3 × 10⁴⁹ erg s^-1, making it one of the brightest instantaneous outbursts ever recorded in the Universe.

“This early X-ray signal is crucial,” said Dr. Dongyue Li, first author of the paper from the National Astronomical Observatories of China. “It tells us this was not an ordinary gamma-ray burst.”

Rare X-Ray Signal Points to a Black Hole Feeding Event

Using the precise location measured by WXT, astronomers quickly directed major telescopes around the world toward the source. Observations across multiple wavelengths confirmed that the object was located on the outskirts of a distant galaxy. The Einstein Probe’s second instrument, the Follow-up X-ray Telescope (FXT), then monitored the event as it evolved.

Over roughly 20 days, the object’s brightness faded by more than a factor of 100,000. During that time, its X-ray emission also shifted from higher-energy (“hard”) X-rays to lower-energy (“soft”) X-rays.

After combining Einstein Probe observations with data collected across the electromagnetic spectrum, researchers found that EP250702a displayed several characteristics that existing models struggled to explain. Its X-ray emission began before the gamma-ray burst, it reached extraordinary brightness, evolved unusually quickly, and occurred in the outer region of its host galaxy instead of near the galaxy’s center, a combination that is rarely seen in known high-energy cosmic events. After evaluating multiple possible explanations, one scenario emerged as the strongest candidate: an intermediate-mass black hole tearing apart and consuming a white dwarf star.