A-Level results day can be joyous for some – a time to celebrate their hard work and look forward to the next chapter of their life. For those who don’t get the grades they were expecting or hoping for, however opening the fateful envelope can spark a range of unpleasant emotions – shock, sadness, regret, and even shame. “Receiving your A-Level results, or any result at all, can be a tough moment in one’s journey, with the outcome possibly impacting one’s plans for the future,” says Dr Jeri Tikare, clinical psychologist at Kooth Digital Health. “Bearing this in mind, it’s easy to see how one can be left with tricky feelings if the results do not meet one’s expectations.” If your teen is unhappy with their results, they’re going to need your support in dealing with the disappointment and navigating their next steps. Psychology and education experts advise on how you can be there for your child on results day and beyond… Be empathetic On results day, it can be helpful to deal with the emotional fallout first, before discussing next steps, such as university or career options. “Make them aware that it is natural and possible to have a mixture of emotions – some of which could include sadness centred around the loss of their dreams of success, anxiety about what the future holds, anger at the self (‘I should have worked harder’), anger at others (‘They did not offer me enough help’), and other emotions,” says Tikare. Instead of brushing their reactions under the rug, try openly discussing and normalising whatever feelings arise. “We know that repressing our emotions can lead to heightened stress and anxiety,” says Tikare. “Recognising and acknowledging the emotions that the student is experiencing can serve as an initial step towards effectively addressing them.” Try to avoid cliches, says Catrin Owen, careers adviser for Working Wales: “Telling someone who’s worked incredibly hard for years towards getting these grades that ‘everything happens for a reason!’ can be like rubbing salt in a wound, and could cause them to become more upset with how their results have turned out.” Don’t make them feel worse On the other hand, recriminations aren’t likely to help. “Rather than focusing on any negativity about exam performance, chances to have revised harder or emphasising what they’ve missed out on, look at all the options and reassure them making a different plan isn’t the end of the world,” Owen adds. “It’s the start of their future, and there are so many opportunities for them to get excited about – whether that’s finding a different course or uni place, going into a different form of training like an apprenticeship, or deciding to enter the world of work now.” Offer guidance “Try to resist the urge to ‘save’ the young person,” Tikare says. “Let them know how proud you are of them, that it is not the end of the world and that despite the pain, things like this happen.” Instead of jumping in and telling your teen exactly what to do now, help them consider their next steps. “Now the initial emotions have passed, it’s time to make a plan,” says Owen. “Speaking to a professional can really help as they can give an objective and impartial view of the situation, and offer solutions you might not have considered yet. “Whether that’s speaking to your school about querying a grade, getting set up with clearing, or contacting a careers adviser – expert guidance can help take the weight off your shoulders as a parent and can reassure you that your child is getting the best help possible.” Signpost support If your teen is continuing to struggle in the weeks after results day, encourage them to seek further support if they need it. “It can be helpful for the student to reach out to trusted people around them, whether it’s a friend, family member, teacher, or counsellor,” says Tikare. “Having someone to talk to can provide emotional support and a listening ear. Remind them that they do not have to go through this alone.” And finally, Owen adds, “Focus on the positives – planning their future is exciting, even if there are curveballs.”

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Sarah Jessica Parker seemed to pay homage to her character Carrie Bradshaw as she took to the red carpet in New York on Thursday (5 October). The And Just Like That and Sex And The City star paired her black tutu-inspired dress with mismatching shoes at the New York City Ballet Fall Fashion Gala. Parker, 58, tapped into the “balletcore” trend with a black bow in her hair and a full skirt in the Carolina Herrera dress – perhaps a nod to the white tulle mini skirt she wore in the opening sequence of Sex And The City. Dance has been a big theme on the runways of fashion month in September – Victoria Beckham’s spring/summer 2024 Paris Fashion Week show was inspired by her childhood love of ballet, with the collection full of diaphanous tulle gowns. But the most notable part of Parker’s outfit was undoubtedly her footwear. With one pearlescent pink high heel and the other black – both from the star’s own brand, SJP Collection, and with statement buckles – the shoes seem to hark back to her character Carrie in an episode of Sex And The City. In a 2000 episode of the show called Escape From New York, Carrie and her friends head to Los Angeles – and she dons a white dress with floral detailing, worn with one blue and one pink Christian Louboutin strappy sandals. In an Instagram comment in 2019, Parker explained the sartorial decision: “We had 2 pairs of what I believe are @louboutinworld scrappy [sic] sandals. Pat [costume designer Patricia Field] and I chose to do 1 of each. Perhaps because both were so delicious in color and seemed in harmony with the dress but also because we simply loved doing 1 of each.” Mismatched shoes are becoming something of a signature for Parker: she wore one bright pink and one yellow high heel to attend the same gala event in 2019. Parker, who sits on the board of directors of the New York City Ballet, was joined on the red carpet by her husband, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off actor Matthew Broderick. Celebrities including talk show host Andy Cohen and actresses Laverne Cox and Claire Danes also attended the event. Read More Photographers scream at Dianna Agron for blocking shot of Sarah Jessica Parker Sarah Jessica Parker wears mismatched heels to New York City Ballet Gala Sarah Jessica Parker’s custom 2014 Met Gala dress goes up for auction

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‘SPF cocktailing’ is the latest beauty trend to make waves on TikTok. It’s all about mixing your favourite SPF with another product – such as concealer or highlighter – and applying that as a ‘cocktail’ onto skin. In theory, the idea sounds good – the aim is to reduce the white cast some SPFs leave, and mean less steps slathering products onto your skin in the morning – but dermatologists and skin experts have started pointing out the potential dangers of this new trend. “SPF cocktailing is a recipe for disaster in so many ways,” says Dr Ross Perry, medical director of Cosmedics skin clinics. “By mixing SPF with products such as concealer or highlighter you are leaving the skin entirely exposed to the dangerous UV rays, which will very likely burn the skin and potentially lead to skin cancer down the line, not to mention leaving you more prone to premature ageing.” Dr Paris Acharya, leading aesthetic doctor and face surgeon agrees, saying: “When you mix an SPF with your other make-up products, such as foundation or concealer, you are changing the overall properties of the SPF and diluting the strength of the product. “This will therefore reduce the protection that you will be getting from the SPF. There may also be certain products within your make-up products that may interfere with the way that your SPF is meant to work.” However, Perry understands why people might be looking for ways to make their SPF look better. “Sunscreens are notoriously cosmetically unattractive purely in part to the ingredients. The reason for this is that’s how they prevent the sun’s rays penetrating into the skin. The suncream companies already try to dilute this down as much as possible in order to make it cosmetically acceptable, however I appreciate in some instances this does not quite go far enough.” So for Perry, it is a “balance between having someone wearing something that will protect your skin, versus not wearing it”. He adds: “I don’t advocate mixing the ingredients together, as it may reduce efficacy. I do believe though that if this is the only way people will wear sunscreen, then some sunblock is absolutely better than no sunblock.” But make no mistake: the best option is wearing SPF that hasn’t been mixed with any other products. “It only takes one sunburn in a lifetime to lead to skin cancer. [Skipping sunscreen] isn’t something you should be doing at all, and in no way should be encouraged,” says Perry. If you do want to reduce the white cast of sunscreen, Perry’s advice is to “apply a good moisturising cream prior to using a sunscreen – this will help the sunscreen absorb into the skin and reduce the tint”. While Perry doesn’t recommend mixing your products together, he does suggest that layering is fine: “If you apply them all separately and give them a chance to absorb first.” Acharya has some other recommendations for best practice when it comes to sunscreen. “My ultimate top tip is to always use a broad spectrum SPF. Broad spectrum protects you from both UVA and UVB rays which helps the skin to stay youthful and will help to reduce premature ageing and sunspots,” she advises. “Another important tip for using an SPF is to always apply it to the face and neck to ensure full coverage and protection of all exposed areas. The skin on your face and neck is some of the first to age on your body so it’s vital that we care for these areas properly.” Acharya recommends an SPF30 or above for your face, and adds: “It is always recommended to reapply your SPF throughout the day at least twice to maintain maximum protection.” 5 of our favourite SPFs… These sunscreens are so good, you’ll want to apply them solo. 1. Collistar Protective Sun Cream SPF 50+, £35, LookFantastic 2. Caudalie Vinosun Protect Very High Protection Lightweight Cream SPF50+, £23 3. Paula’s Choice Advanced Sun Protection Daily Moisturiser SPF 50, £33.15 (was £39) 4. Biore UV Aqua Water Essence Sunscreen SPF50, £15.99, Superdrug 5. PCA Skin Daily Defense Broad Spectrum SPF 50+, £42

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