TODAY I WILL:  

Swap self-doubt for self-trust.

Our group chat is serving pop culture, nostalgia, and major fashion inspo.

• Decoding every hidden clue in “The Fate of Ophelia.”

• Chelsea Clinton is calling out anti-science health hype.

• Salish Matter proves Gen Alpha stardom hits different.

• Landlines are ringing again.

• Saving these Paris Fashion Week street style looks for later.

Your Phone Might Be Helping You Cope (Really)

The self-care app on your phone might be doing more than you think. New research found that people waiting for mental health treatment saw real (if modest) improvements in anxiety and depression symptoms when they used wellness apps alongside mindful activities. From guided meditations to CBT-inspired exercises, these tools can offer a little relief when support systems are stretched thin.

That said, not all apps are created equal—many aren’t clinically validated, and engagement tends to drop off quickly. Still, when used intentionally (and consistently), they can serve as a helpful bridge between needing care and actually getting it.

Something’s fishy…

From snail mucin to vampire facials, beauty has never been shy about experimenting with the unexpected. The latest treatment catching everyone’s attention? The salmon sperm facial. Yes, really. Celebs like Hailey Bieber and Jennifer Aniston swear by it, crediting the treatment for leaving their skin extra glowy.

What it is: Derived from polynucleotides (the building blocks of DNA) found in salmon sperm, the treatment is usually injected or applied topically to stimulate cell regeneration and repair. It’s making waves because it’s marketed as both futuristic and natural—two buzzwords beauty buffs can’t resist.

What it promises: Fans claim it delivers plumper, more hydrated skin, improves elasticity, and softens fine lines. Dermatologists say it can potentially help with collagen production, but like most treatments, results vary and are rarely as instant (or dramatic) as the hype suggests.

Safety check: While it’s generally considered safe when performed by a licensed professional, risks include irritation, swelling, or infection at injection sites. And, as with many luxury treatments, the results don’t always justify the steep price tag.

The bigger picture: From bee venom to bird poop, skincare has long leaned into the shock factor. Salmon sperm facials are the latest example of how out there ingredients can drive headlines and curious beauty fans in an industry where novelty is half the sell.

Interested, but not ready to go under the needle? You can still get a dose of PDRN’s supposed skin-regenerating benefits without the full-on facial. Look for topical products formulated with polynucleotides or PDRN (polydeoxyribonucleotide), which are designed to support hydration and repair at home. Some of our top picks include: Medicube PDRN Pink Peptide Serum (or the viral jelly mask!), Anua PDRN Hyaluronic Capsule 100 Serum, and Innisfree Retinol Green Tea PDRN Firming & Smoothing Serum.

E. Lockhart’s breakout novel, We Were Liars, became a viral sensation this summer. And whether you lost yourself in the paperback or became entranced with the Amazon screen adaptation, the story was all sharp twists, haunting island settings, and deeply flawed characters.

Having become a phenomenon, E. Lockhart said that she has seen people “watching the show multiple times, then coming to the book and reading that multiple times, then moving on to my novel Family of Liars to understand more about the Sinclair family and the world they inhabit.”

Acknowledging that readers love that the Sinclairs are deeply flawed and complex characters, she said that she enjoyed showing the “Sinclair family [as] a patriarchal institution, a self-mythologizing family whose values of hard work and honor conceal toxic beliefs that are pretty nefarious.” Also, she added, “They might be cursed.”

Still, she told The Newsette that what matters to her isn’t making the bestseller lists, but rather “sharing stories with readers who are paying close attention” which she considers “an enormous gift.”

To bring We Were Liars to a new audience on screen, E. Lockhart was both an executive producer and the writer of the finale episode. She viewed the project as a “grand storytelling adventure” that gave her the chance to collaborate and stretch as a creative.

“One thing I really love are the underwater shots, which deepen the mystery elements of the show, the experience of first love, and the moments of childhood innocence,” said E. Lockhart. “We shot those in a water tank, with a special cinematographer in scuba gear. Joseph Zada (Johnny) was in the water so much one week, he got an ear infection.”

Now, more than a decade after the book was originally published, E. Lockhart is bringing us back to that shimmering, shadowy universe with We Fell Apart—a brand-new story filled with romance, mystery, and (of course) more family secrets. The story, which can be read as a standalone, is set in the same world as the original Liars books but features a new cast of characters exploring generational legacy, the masks we wear, and what happens when long-buried truths start to surface.

E. Lockhart told The Newsette that these new characters will harness the same “beachy, romantic, psychological thriller” energy that fans have come to love. Early readers of