Lifestyle Barometer: Your guide to what’s hot and what’s not this week, from Madonna to Crocs

From millennials to rum, this is our guide to what’s hot and what’s not

Very much in Vogue this week: Madonna (Shutterstock)

Going up:

Care workers

An open letter from a care worker went viral on Facebook this week (Getty/iStock)

Tired of stereotypes surrounding her job as a care worker, one woman penned an open letter to those who label the position as a “glorified a** wiper.”

Beth Sturgis, from Plymouth, shared a lengthy post on Facebook to explain the role of a care worker is so much more than people think, as she described being a cleaner and cook, a hand to hold and a friendly face.

The post has since gone viral, garnering more than 6,000 likes and 7,000 shares.

Postpartum honesty

Women are beginning to share candid stories of what life is really like, postpartum (Getty/istock) (Getty istock)

Childbirth is tough but we rarely hear about what happens afterwards – until now that is. This week, two eye-opening stories made headlines by lifting the lid on the reality of postpartum, or postnatal life.

The first saw singer-songwriter Adele share the story of her friend Laura Dockrill’s experience with postpartum psychosis.

“This is my best friend.She had my beautiful godson six months ago and it was the biggest challenge of her life in more ways than one,”Adele wrote on Instagram.

“She has written the most intimate, witty, heartbreaking and articulate piece about her experience of becoming a new mum, and being diagnosed with postpartum psychosis.”

The second story came from Autumn Benjamin, who decided to share a candid photograph of herself just days after giving birth, breastfeeding and wearing fishnet-style pants to control bleeding.

The new mother opened up about all the things people didn’t tell her would happen after having a child, and explained why she thinks becoming a mother is “the ultimate sacrifice.”

Madonna

This week Madonna turned 60 (Rex/AFP/Getty/MTV) (Moviestore Collection/Rex/Shutterstock/HECTOR MATA/AFP/ Gareth Cattermole/Getty Images for MTV)

This week American singer Madonna turned 60, prompting people all over the world to celebrate the life of one of the music business’s most radical figures.

While the pop star’s influence on music is well documented, Madonna has also been an inspiration to many when it comes to female empowerment, fashion and fitness.

From her muscular arms to her ever-changing style and her penchant for dating younger men and being open with her sexuality, Madonna is so much more than one of history’s most celebrated musical talents.

Rum

Plantation Pineapple Rum, £33, Marks & Spencer

As we enter the final few weeks of summer, the time has come to bid adieu to seasonal drinks like Aperol and Pimm’s in favour of hearty spirits like rum.

And, as luck would have it, August 16 marked national Rum Day.

With a rum revival well under way, what better way to celebrate than a tipple served straight up or in a wide range of cocktails?

Real skin

Beauty brands are beginning to embrace so-called “imperfections” (iStock)

Thanks to the rise of photo editing apps that eradicate wrinkles, freckles and ‘peach fuzz’, some of us have started to forget what real skin looks like.

However one beauty brand has chosen to ditch the airbrushed look by showcasing the work of makeup artists who choose not to remove their so-called “flaws”.

Sharing the images on its Instagram account with 10 million followers, Urban Decay was flooded with praise by people for its realistic portrayal of skin – pores and all.

Hot mugshot girl

Marshala Perkins could be launching her own makeup line (Hunt County Sheriff’s Office) (Hunt County Sheriff's Office)

Following in the footsteps of Jeremy Meeks – aka “hot mugshot guy” – a woman whose police photo went viral has revealed her makeup range could soon be in the works.

19-year-old Marshala Perkins’ mugshot went viral after she was arrested for possession of marijuana, and was shared via the Mugshot Baes Twitter account.

After receiving more than 11,000 likes, Perkins has revealed someone has asked her to start a beauty range, and says she’ll be sharing more news soon.

Going down:

Work without boundaries

Checking your emails after work could be bad for your health (Getty/iStock)

Are you guilty of checking work emails after hours? You’re not alone but according to new research, doing so could be affecting your health and relationships.

The study, by Virginia Tech, found checking emails after work can lead to stress and anxiety and compromise family wellbeing.

Worried you’ve developed an email habit? Start by turning off the push notifications so you’re not notified every time you receive a new one.

Millennial bashing

Millennials are being blamed for a fall in potato sales (Getty/iStock)

Joining the long list of things that are crumbling thanks to millennials this week, is the humble potato.

According to a report by The Grocer, potato sales have fallen 5.4 per cent since 2015; something which agricultural experts are claiming is down to 18 to 34-year-olds favouring “healthy, convenient and exotic” options over stodgy carbohydrates they believe fattening.

Crocs

Classic Clog, £29.99, Crocs

One of the most divisive pieces of fashion of all time, Croc-haters will be glad to hear the comfy clogs could soon be on the way out.

This week Crocs announced the closure of its last manufacturing facility in Italy, much to the dismay of its global army of fans.

Despite widespread belief the company would be folding, Crocs has said that isn’t quite the case, with a tweet that read: “False alarm: We aren’t going anywhere.”

Intrusive fertility questions

One woman is urging others not to question people on their fertility (Getty/iStock)

A Twitter thread urging people not to plague couples with questions about when they are going to have children has gone viral.

Lisa Marie, from Newfoundland in Canada, called upon people to stop probing women about fertility as part of polite conversation, warning comments can be upsetting when a person’s circumstances are unknown.

The post came after she responded to a woman who asked her that very question by responding that she’d had seven miscarriages.

Dying for the perfect Insta pic

The quest to get the perfect selfie could have deadly consequences (Getty)

All around the globe, selfie and photo deaths are on the rise, with the main causes including drowning, gunshot wounds and getting hit by trains.

One of the most popular spots for Instagram users to show off to followers, Kaaterskill Falls, a scenic waterfall in New York, has seen people put their lives at risk for the perfect picture.

Despite new safety measures, a New York forest ranger has revealed the last four people to have lost their lives at the falls did so while taking or posing for photos.