6 New Products That Will Help Make Your Periods Less Painful

It’s 2019, which means it’s about time that periods finally get the KonMari treatment. (Not that we need to tell you, but painful, messy periods definitely don’t spark joy.) We’ve rounded up the latest in period tech and supplements you need to make over your menstruation and go for a greener, cleaner, easier cycle.

FLO PMS Gummy Vitamins

Candy that helps with cramps? We’re sold. Packed with vitamin B6, chaste berry, and dong quai, these gummies contain natural PMS-fighters to help make periods more manageable. And according to the site’s oodles of reviews, they work. Take two daily to help reduce PMS symptoms and cramps before they start.

THINX re.t.a., The Reusable Tampon Applicator

When you think THINX, you probably imagine their ingenious period panties. But in January, the company released the first FDA-cleared reusable tampon applicator. (Did you know plastic applicators take 500 years to decompose?!) Working with most non-applicator tampons to simplify insertion, the BPA-free device is about the size of a lipstick and cleans right up with soap and water.

Blume Cloud 9 PMS Oil

If you’re the type to curl up with your Advil bottle the moment your period hits, you may benefit from trying Cloud 9. An essential oil-based roll-on, it’s formulated with clary sage and geranium oils to help curb cramps, soothe nerves, and reduce stress. Apply to your abdomen, wrists, or chest and breathe deeply.

Flex Disc

Hailed as the “most comfortable period product on the market,” Flex is a disposable menstrual disc that sits at the base of the cervix and can be worn up to 12 hours. The small, flexible disc can collect the equivalent of five tampons’ worth of menstrual blood. It’s still a disposable product, but using Flex creates up to 60 percent less waste than using pads and tampons, and, bonus: Flex is the only internal period product *not* linked to TSS.

Tushy Classic Bidet

Hear us out: A bidet may seem like an unnecessary luxury, but in fact, it’s a heaven-sent appliance when you’re on your cycle. Tushy works with your existing toilet and uses tap water to rinse and refresh your lady bits — a must for those heavy flow days when you just want to feel squeaky clean.

Avocado Cooling + Heating Pad

A huggable heating pad (with eco-friendly buckwheat filling) is just what the doctor ordered. One minute in the microwave, and you’re ready for a lavender-scented snooze session.

Olivia Munn bared it all in her latest SKIMS ad, proving you don't have to hide your scars. The actress posed in a campaign for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, supporting Susan G. Komen®and highlighting her own journey with the disease. She looked absolutely stunning in every photo, but the most gorgeous moment was the way Munn didn't shy away from showing her mastectomy scars. She spoke to TODAY about her experience during the shoot, and why she ultimately decided to ditch her insecurities. Here's what she had to say!

SKIMS

Munn shared with TODAYthat she didn't initially plan to show her scars on the set. The campaign was focused on her recovery post-breast cancer diagnosis, but the makeup artist had a hard time covering up the scars throughout the shoot. She explained that she took a look in the mirror and thought, "I’m done being insecure about my scars." From there, she took the idea to show them off to the SKIMS team — and the rest is history.

SKIMS

And while she was scared to be so vulnerable on camera, this was ultimately a really empowering move for Munn. She elaborated that there are "so many women that have these same scars" who feel just as insecure as she did about them — and she really hopes those women see this ad. "Skims is so iconic and associated with beauty and sex appeal, and cancer really doesn't have that same connotation," she said. "So I just really hope that other women who have gone through my same path feel a little better after seeing it."

SKIMS

The star also took to Instagram to give a behind-the-scenes explanation of her experience. She reiterated that she was "done being insecure" about her scars. "Every mark life has left behind on my body is proof of how hard I fought," she wrote. "I hope other women who have been self-conscious about their scars see these photos and feel all the love I’m sending."

She also shared that SKIMS will donate 10% of their bra sales (except bralettes) to Susan G. Komen® — a charity dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer — from October 23-31 in stores and online. "It’s really meaningful to be part of an initiative that supports research and helps countless individuals impacted by breast cancer," she said.

SKIMS

All of this comes on the heels of Munn's announcement earlier this year that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. She revealed the diagnosis came after recently tested negatively for well-known breast cancer genes and had normal results from her annual mammogram — but her doctor to check her Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Score. The test showed Munn had a 37% risk of breast cancer, so she pushed for more answers that eventually lead to her diagnosis.

Since then, Munn shared with PEOPLE that she had 4 surgeries in 10 months and underwent medically-induced menopause — all the while juggling being a new mom with husband John Mulaney. She shared, "I'm lucky. We caught it with enough time that I had options. I want the same for any woman who might have to face this one day."

SKIMS

After that March announcement, it's clear Munn is dedicated to raising awareness for women's health — and particularly their options. While chatting about the SKIMS campaign, Munn told TODAY, "You've got to go your doctor and you inundate them with information and you don't stop until they give you the test you need."

If you want to test your own risk for breast cancer, the National Institute of Health has resources here.

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Valentine’s Day is just around the corner, meaning we’re gonna be seeing a lot of heart-shaped everything. One heart-shaped item I patiently await every single year is none other than Chick-fil-A’s iconic Valentine’s Day trays – they combine my undying love for chicken nuggets with the season's cutest shape, and they’re always perfect for sharing with my besties!

Rumor has it that the Chick-fil-A heart-shaped trays will hit restaurants super soon – here’s everything you need to know about their return.

Chick-fil-A

So, exactly when do the Chick-fil-A heart-shaped trays come back? There’s no official word on the timeline for 2025, but last year, Chick-fil-A locations started rolling them out on January 29. The trays were available to order through February 24.

Based on 2024’s heart-shaped tray rollout, I expect them to launch around the last week of January – though there are rumors that some CFA’s have already started serving them. 👀

Chick-fil-A

The Chick-fil-A heart-shaped trays are typically order-able in four different varieties, and the best part is there’s something for every craving, from sweet to savory!

You can find the Valentine’s trays in 30-count nuggets, 10-count Chick-n-Minis (only during breakfast hours), 12 brownie halves, or 6 chocolate chunk cookies. I’m especially excited about the nuggets.

Famed foodie Instagram account, @snackolator, recently shared the news about the Chick-fil-A heart-shaped trays with their followers, and everyone seems to be just as thrilled about their return.

“I need that 30pc ASAP!” one person said.

“I'm eating all those nuggets I'm not sharing at all,” another commented.

“As a teacher I would be getting the brownies 🫶,” one more user shared.

Chick-fil-A

The Chick-fil-A heart-shaped trays are only available “while supplies last” at certain participating locations. The price of each tray may vary based on your location.

Last year, this Los Angeles-based Parade reporter noted that the 30-count nuggets cost $18, while the 10-count Chick-n-Minis went for $12. They also shared that the 12 brownie halves sold for $12, and the 6 chocolate chunk cookies cost $9.

Will you be picking up a heart-shaped tray from Chick-fil-A this year? Make sure to subscribe to our newsletter for the official drop!

The early 2000s were true teen drama royalty like we'll never see again, and One Tree Hill's Hilarie Burton (who played Peyton Sawyer for the first 6 seasons) loved shows likeGilmore Girls and The OC as much as you did. But as she remembers it, One Tree Hill didn't always feel as beloved as it is now.

"We were the nerds," she jokes. "Like, you would see every other chick get beauty campaigns and things, and we were just kind of the stepchild."

Warner Bros. Television

Despite the fact One Tree Hill might not have been considered the golden child at the time, the series has garnered a cult following since its on-air days, drawing fans to Wilmington, North Carolina for its anniversary celebration, and nearly breaking the internet when news of a sequel series leaked online.

"It's very, very early development," Burton says. "And so what has been really cool for us? And when I say us, I mean the entire cast, like everybody and our old crew, they're all really proud of the work that we did back then too. And so to see the public support this little show we made 20 years later, that's so special and it's so rare. And I love that, even though that news was leaked, Netflix gets to see that public outpouring of support. That's cool. So, fingers crossed we'll make it to the next step."

Warner Bros. Television

Burton was in her twenties for the majority of OTH, and while she (alongside other female cast members of the show) have since vocalized the mistreatment they experienced from showrunner Mark Schwahn, the challenges of her twenties don't overshadow the accomplishments.

"I was not afraid to say difficult things in my twenties," she says. "And what I can tell other people in their twenties is that the long game will pay off. If you say the difficult thing and you say the truth, and you don't mask and you don't make up an alternative narrative, people will eventually realize that you were right."

Although the people pleaser in all of us might not want to rock the boat, she praises young people who refuse to accept toxicity: "We definitely have a feistier generation coming up than what I grew up in."

Getty Images for Netflix

With her fiery attitude and sharp sense of humor, I have no problem believing Burton was one of the feistiest women of her generation, and she now finds herself advocating for a new phase in her own life: perimenopause. The actress is currently partnering with OLLY for their new Mellow Menopause supplements, bringing awareness to a conversation that should have been happening all along.

Burton never really had a menstrual cycle until she started birth control, which messed with her hormones and led to a Xanax prescription she never needed. And as she aged, she moved from having pain during her period to having it during ovulation. "I felt like there was something really wrong with me because no one had explained that could happen," she says. "So the more we can throw out what the symptoms are, I think the calmer people will be in their exploration of their own bodies."

Knowledge and education are power, and Burton firmly believes the more you understand your body, your hormones, and your emotions, the safer you'll feel. But that's only one silver lining she's found.

Hilarie Burton/Instagram

"I've talked about the feminine rage that I feel like I've earned," she says. "That Kesha song 'Joyride' came out this summer. She says, 'I've earned the right to be like this.' And I was like, 'Yeah, of course.' I think we spend our twenties experimenting. We spend our thirties kind of, like, establishing our careers and what our goals are. And then our forties are about knowing who we are and owning it. And if biology wants to come out swinging, I think we're in a place where we can control that and we can handle it."

That isn't to say perimenopause hasn't come without its unexpected moments, like having to convince others she really was experiencing perimenopause, despite being "too young." "The more research I did, and then in talking to my doctor, my instinct was right," she reveals. "I was beginning the [menopause] journey, and rather than try to hide it or treat it like a deficit, I get to own it. Now I get to treat it and I get to help other women navigate it. And that feels so much better when you're going through a bad thing, but you know that you're helping someone else through it. It doesn't feel as scary."

Mat Hayward/Getty Images for Ketel One

But while it's important to be vocal about our experiences, I also can't help but point out how it feels like men never have to talk about aging — they just get to do it and no one bats an eye. "Yeah, I think it's important to act like a man," Burton jokes. She remembers when her husband (actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan) embraced his natural gray hair, no one in the industry considered him too old for Hollywood.

"In fact, people thought he was hotter," she says. "So I wanted to act like a man in that journey [and embrace my own gray hair]. And so the different reaction I had was a little bit startling, but also made me laugh...I want to treat this chapter of my life as my expertise chapter. I know what I'm doing. I've been training for 20 years, 25, it's been a lot and I wanted to acknowledge that I know what I'm doing and when I talk about my body, I want to know exactly what I'm talking about."

And part of that expertise is knowing herself inside and out. On the days Burton doesn't feel like herself, whether because of hormones or mental health, she emphasizes how important it is to actually communicate those feelings. "It has been vital for me to communicate, not just with my husband, but with my teenage son," she says. "I want him to grow up to be the kind of man that's supportive of the women in his workplace and the women in his life. You know, we all talk about how we need to educate our daughters, but we also need to educate our sons."

Michael Loccisano/Getty Images

And looking back on her own teenage years, Burton reveals her experience with perimenopause has actually reinforced the values she identified during that period in her life. "I think being a teenager and seeing these people who were gods [in the industry], seeing how insecure and unhappy some of them were really tipped me off right away," she says. "Success is being okay in your little bubble, being okay in your bedroom at night when you're alone by yourself. And so my goals have always kind of centered on, 'Do I feel okay when I'm all by myself?' and menopause is one of those things that can rattle that safety for people."

"It's about knowing who you are so much that no one else can take it away from you," she continues. "And whether it's your work or a sh—ty boyfriend or whatever, you have to know yourself so well that no one can take it away, and menopause can mess with that sometimes. And I'm gonna fight like hell to keep who I am."

Loveall things OTH? Check out This One Moment Proves Brooke Davis Is The Best Character On One Tree Hill.

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Ever since Daphne Bridgerton became Duchess of Hastings (and actress Phoebe Dynevor exited the show after season 2), fans have been taking every opportunity they can to see her onscreen. And in addition to a new thriller with Zac Efron and a shark movie that sounds downright terrifying, Phoebe stars in Inheritance — a new January movie that was entirely shot on an iPhone...and that Phoebe committed a real crime for.

Here's everything you need to know about Phoebe Dynevor's new movie Inheritance.

What is the Inheritance film about?

Inheritance follows Maya, whose world gets turned upside down when she learns her dad is actually an ex-spy. But things get even crazier when she gets sucked into the middle of an international conspiracy herself. Armed with tons of questions (and a killer pair of sunglasses) Maya has to stay alive long enough to find answers.

The movie filmed all over the world, which director Neil Burger calls a "true adventure."

"Shooting around the world and taking risks to achieve the ‘you are there’ feel," he tells The Hollywood Reporter. "Phoebe delivers a phenomenal performance in the movie, and I’m looking forward to audiences seeing her as they’ve never seen her before.”

Now, those aforementioned sunglasses (which Maya steals in the movie) might only be the focus for a moment, but they were a pretty big deal IRL because Phoebe Dynevor actually stole them. “I remember feeling really nervous and afraid that they would think I was actually stealing, but at the time, we wanted real reactions from the staff. It was very scary,” she says in an interview with Entertainment Weekly.

Director Neil Burger explains the team's "contingency plans, excuses, and explanations" in case Phoebe got caught (including buying the same pair of sunglasses so they'd have a receipt). And after Phoebe knocked it out of the park, the glasses were returned, of course!

“There was a safety net that came with the camera being there because it felt like this isn’t real. We’re shooting something,” she continues. “We only had one take to get it right. I’d have to be very cognizant of whether the camera was getting it. You don’t want to have to do that twice.”

IFC Films

And not only did Phoebe Dynevor nab an accessory, but she also almost got arrested for a totally different reason after she played drunk in the middle of New York City. "It was an experience I’ve never had before, and this mother pulled them away understandably," she says. “It was just very, very strange knowing that it wasn’t real, but our director wanted it to feel as real as possible, so sometimes we would keep going and see what we could get out of the exchange with people on the street.

But when the police showed up, and she was worried she'd actually get arrested, she tells EW she immediately switched into her English accent: “I would then come out of [Maya’s] accent and turn on my poshest British actor and be like, ‘I’m an actor.’”

When is Inheritance coming out?

You can see Inheritance in theaters starting January 24, 2025.

Who's in the cast?

The Inheritance cast includes Phoebe Dynevor, Rhys Ifans, Ciara Baxendale, and Majd Eid.

A movie set wouldn't be complete without a crew. And Inheritance's crew was only made up of 10 people!

Stay tuned for the latest news on Inheritance and read up on The 12 Most-Anticipated January TV Shows Coming In 2025.

We're headed back into the world of Panem with Suzanne Collins' fifth Hunger Games book, Sunrise on the Reaping. The new 2025 novel comes out March 18 (along with a new movie that's already scheduled for November 2026!) and it follows the one Hunger Games everyone's been dying to hear about since Catching Fire was published: the 50th Games, AKA the games Haymitch won.

We already know that the novel takes place 24 years before Katniss' first games and that as a Quarter Quell, there's a twist: Haymitch is up against twice as many tributes as normal. People was given an exclusive excerpt from the new book, and it makes me even more excited than I already was.

Here's what happens in the first excerpt from Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping.

'Hunger Games' fans will love the first 'Sunrise on the Reaping' excerpt from chapter 1.

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- YouTube

The Sunrise on the Reaping excerpt opens the morning of reaping day — which is also Haymitch's 16th birthday. (Which could explain his behavior during the day Prim's reaped and Katniss volunteers. What a horrible birthday!). Haymitch hopes to spend the free parts of his day lounging around with his girlfriend Lenore Dove, if his mother and the Gamemakers don't get in his way.

The excerpt continues with a really beautiful depiction of District 12's Seam, which is modern day Appalachia. It's a tight-knit (albeit struggling) community covered in a "protective" mist as the sun rises. Haymitch knows that this reaping will take twice as many children and fights to stay calm.

"No way to control the outcome of the reaping or what follows it," he thinks. "So don’t feed the nightmares. Don’t let yourself panic. Don’t give the Capitol that. They’ve taken enough already."

And 'Sunrise on the Reaping' proves Haymitch and Katniss' similarities.

We also learn more about Haymitch's family. All we know from the original trilogy is that President Snow killed them after he won, but this prequel actually introduces us to them. Haymitch's mother was widowed after a coal mine killed his father. He also has a 10-year-old brother named Sid who I can already tell is very energetic and very loud.

This really proves that Haymitch and Katniss are two sides of the same coin, and that they're able to understand each other more than any of the other characters. Not only are they both from the Seam, but they also lost their fathers by the age of 16.

And the most important detail to me is the fact they both have younger siblings they'd do anything for — they were simply destined to be a father-daughter duo. Sacrificial love is the beating heart of the Hunger Games series, and I can't wait to see all the complexity and nuance Sunrise on the Reaping brings to the franchise.

Stay tuned for more Sunrise on the Reaping news, and check out the 10 Most-Anticipated Book-To-Film Adaptations We Can't Wait To See In 2025 for more movie updates.