Perfection is an addictive ideal of beauty that we have now all fallen victim to. This is clear in every thing from our drugs cabinets full of “anti-aging” skincare products to standardization Botox parties. What’s more, we even see it in horror movies (think: ) – revealing our insatiable desire to research and abandon perceived flaws.

This season, nonetheless, perfection is an outdated trend. Wabi-sabi— a Japanese worldview characterised by finding beauty in imperfection — is gaining popularity as a crucial antithesis to the fear of perfection. While aesthetic surgery is entering itsThe undetectable era” in response to the improvements of the watch, the makeup world is questioning whether beauty even exists in perfection.

“Don’t stress about imperfection. Embrace it. Relaxed, vibrant makeup feels more real and authentic” – MAC Senior National Artist Fatima Thomas says ESSENCE. “Things that are a little bit uneven, like a little blurry or a little bit uneven, can actually be quite visually pleasing.”

Below, Thomas explains the impact of Wabi-sabi beauty and her skilled techniques in achieving this look.

The rise of Wabi-sabi makeup

“A lot of people are taking a less stringent approach to makeup,” says Thomas. “When you worry less about having every line be perfect, every blend being perfect, you can actually enjoy applying and wearing makeup.” With beauty tricks like showering after punching to set the look with steam or sleeping in eyeliner for a soft grunge aesthetic, “Wabi-sabi allows for greater freedom and self-expression.”

Why now’s the proper time to adopt this mindset

“Do you really need to spend an extra 10 minutes to get your eyeliner perfect, or is it already good enough,” she asks. “After the pandemic and global inflation, people don’t want to stress about their makeup,” she continues, as TikTok’s viral “dopamine menu” trend turns beauty right into a form of therapy. “Wabi-sabi is about doing your best, and if it’s a little shaky, it’s okay.”

What does imperfect makeup appear like?

With airbrushes and editing apps distorting our view of achievable beauty: “I believe [imperfection] it is an opposition to digital filters and Photoshop,” he says. “It could be intentional or accidental, but it takes away the urge to rush and refine everything to look photoshopped.”

According to Thomas, the wabi-sabi approach relies more on philosophy than on any particular view. However, the important thing to imperfections is in nuances: “Do your makeup quickly and refrain from fixing minor imperfections.”

KFF survey found that roughly 6 in 10 insured adults have experienced problems while using their insurance. Issues include denied claims, network adequacy, pre-authorization delays and denials. As the investigation shows, this is just not a surprise. A hidden industry makes money by denying doctors’ payment requests, called prior authorizations.

According to a ProPublica investigation, one in every of the important thing participants on this scheme is Evernorth’s EviCore. A ProPublica investigation found that EviCore is owned by the big insurance company Cigna. The largest U.S. insurance companies employ EviCore and supply protection to 100 million consumers.

EviCore apparently uses a synthetic intelligence-supported algorithm that insurance industry insiders call “the shield.” The algorithm system will be customized, which ultimately results in more pre-authorization claim rejections.

What’s even weirder is that EviCore reportedly has some contracts that allow it to make more cash the more it cuts health care spending by insurance companies.

EviCore is just not alone. Another big player is Carelon Medical Benefits Management, a subsidiary of Elevance Health, formerly Anthem. Although the corporate has been accused in court of unlawfully denying legitimate insurance applications, it denies all allegations.

How companies respond

EviCore claims that the approval process ensures that the procedures are protected, obligatory and price-effective.

“We are improving the quality and safety of healthcare, and – by a happy coincidence – we are significantly reducing unnecessary costs,” said an EviCore doctor in the course of the company’s series of webinars.

But based on the investigation, EviCore’s approach is way more sinister than it suggests. EviCore reportedly guarantees a 3-to-1 return on investment, which implies your insurer can pay $3 less for medical care and other costs.

For some perspective, in 2021 in Arkansas, EviCore denied prior authorization requests almost 20% of the time. Medicare Advantage plans denied prior authorization requests about 7% of the time in 2022, based on a ProPublica evaluation of knowledge.

A Cigna spokesperson said on behalf of EviCore: “Simply put, EviCore uses the latest evidence-based medicine to ensure patients get the care they need and avoid services they don’t need.”

The spokesperson added that the corporate uses algorithms in some clinical programs “only to expedite the approval of appropriate care and reduce administrative burdens on healthcare providers.”

Oregon House Representative Janelle Bynum made history with a landmark victory in Oregon’s fifth Congressional District race. She will turn out to be the primary black lawmaker to represent Oregon in Congress.

After a decent battle with incumbent Republican Lori Chavez-DeRemer, Bynum becomes the district’s first black representative, a major achievement in an area where black residents make up just 3% of the population.

Bynum led Chavez-DeRemer 47.8% to 45%as of Friday, he had a lead of greater than 10,000 votes in a district that covers parts of six counties. It would allow Democrats to retake the district that Chavez-DeRemer, the previous mayor of Happy Valley, flipped to Republican control in 2022 after being rezoned in the 2020 census.

Bynum expressed gratitude to her voters. “I am extremely honored that my neighbors have chosen me to be the next congresswoman from Oregon’s Fifth Congressional District,” she said in a press release after Oregonian/OregonLive called a race. “My work has always been a love letter to the children of Oregon. I ran for office to brighten their futures, and I will do just that in Washington, D.C. – for their education, reproductive freedoms, job opportunities and so much more.”

At 49, Bynum entered the race with an exceptional advantage after defeating Chavez-DeRemer twice in the previous state election. Her campaign gained strong financial support, raising over $1 million greater than her opponent, signaling strong local and national support.

This victory is personal for Bynum, who was born in Washington. “As a minority in many rooms, I am used to having to listen to multiple points of view and build consensus,” she said in a recent interview with ESSENCE. “Oregon would hire someone who solves problems, someone who shakes up the status quo.”

The daughter of two teachers and one generation faraway from segregation, Bynum brings a dual commitment to public service and business. She is a wife, mother of three and owner of 4 McDonald’s franchises in Oregon, combining her commitment to community with local entrepreneurship.

The centerpiece of the election was Oregon’s fifth Congressional District, stretching from the suburbs of Portland, through the Willamette Valley, the Cascade Mountains and into the high desert. President Joe Biden carried the district in 2020. Bynum’s campaign resonated with voters by prioritizing community-based solutions for public safety, education and economic equity.

With over 543,000 voters in the district – a few third Democrat, third Republican and third unaffiliated – Bynum’s victory shows how vital swing voters were. While each parties had strong bases, her victory reflects the political divide in the district and strengthens Democrats’ hopes for changing the balance in Congress.