Good Morning, it's Wednesday, April 16. South Korean police stations have mascots and plushies, we FINALLY know what skincare Paloma Elsesser uses, and probiotics may be able to improve your mood.
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To bring you an enhanced reading experience, we are going on a short break to get ready for a major update we’re bringing you this summer. In the meantime, please join us on Instagram, where we’ll still be bringing you the latest beauty, wellness & lifestyle updates you need to know.
Kawaii Police: South Korean police stations are going viral for their approachable look, with buildings painted in pastels and decorated with plushies and cartoon mascots like “Ppomppu”.
“I am Very Happy”: A recent survey has found that only 13% of Japanese people are satisfied with their quality of life, making Japan one of the lowest among the 30 countries in the study. India ranked highest, with 51% saying they were “very happy”.
Arab Women in E-Sports: Competitive gaming is still male-dominated, but Arab women are creating space for themselves with female e-sports leagues.
Toilet Paper Resignation: The toxic work culture in Singapore is gaining attention as an unconventional resignation letter written on toilet paper goes viral.
An All-You-Can-Buy Tariff War: From Lululemon leggings to luxury bags, Chinese vendors are encouraging Americans to buy directly from them to bypass Trump tariffs, and at ridiculously low prices, too.
No Fame at Home: Joe Takawira, or Jo Stak, is a Zimbabwean singer who found fame for singing in Mandarin while in China but he faces obscurity in his home country after the expiry of his work visa.
Paloma Elsesser’s Beauty Bag: The supermodel loves a good LED mask for light therapy, the iS Medical Eye Complex Contour Cream and the Masque Vivant by Biologique Recherche.
Chloe Chong’s Beauty Routine: The Formula 1 academy driver uses Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Serum Crystal Elixir and the Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray to keep her face game-ready.
Skincare by a Plastic Surgeon: Dr. Lara Devgan’s skincare line includes its first-ever body product, the Intensive Lactic Acid Cream for keratosis pilaris and body acne.
Blur It Out: Milani’s latest Conceal + Perfect Smoothing Primer is POC-approved, as beauty editor Khera Alexander says it “held up throughout the day”.
Sunscreen for Filipino Skin: Ever Organics Papaya Brightening Sunscreen is a Filipino-focused sunscreen combining SPF 50 PA+++ and papaya extract.
Probiotics & Your Mood: A new study observed that probiotics may reduce your negative mood, as participants felt mood improvements within two weeks of probiotic use.
Silent Signs of Depression: High-functioning depression can be hard to notice, but board-certified psychiatrist Judith Joseph says to look out for anhedonia or a loss of interest in once pleasurable activities.
India’s Vitamin D Lack: With one in five Indians being vitamin D-deficient, think tanks are pushing for more targeted supplementation and reduced taxes on supplements.
If you love a good dress for the summer, Poppy Paro’s Endless Summer 2025 collection is right up your alley. The collection by designer Parul Sahni includes eclectic patterns and bright prints on shift dresses that are comfortable and stylish. We highly recommend the Yellow Square Halter Dress.
Jessica Blue’s Bright Chicago Condo: Step into the interior designer’s eclectic Polish-meets-African-American home, featuring several art pieces and a traditional portrait of her grandmother.
The Qatari Royal Retreat: Get into the London home of the royal family of Qatar, designed by Egyptian creative director Marie Soliman.
Studio Saransh: Located in Ahmedabad, this studio is inspo for what a collective workspace should look like, with its sunken courtyard for hangouts and the mezzanine over the desktops.
Amoako Boafo’s latest show at Gagosian, London, is titled “I Do Not Come to You by Chance”, taken from the 2019 novel of the same name by Nigerian author Adaobi Nwaubani. In this show, Amoafo Boafo explores Black joy and identity, turning stereotypes on their head with inspiration from his home country, Ghana.
An Ordinary Tale About Women: Prolific Malay writer Fatimah Busu’s selection of short stories is found in An Ordinary Tale About Women. This book details the realities of Malay women with crippling candour.
Noname’s Book Club: The Chicago rapper’s book club has expanded from providing incarcerated persons in the US with books to the diaspora, curating reading communities in Nigeria and Kenya.
