Kiss Kiss Magazine

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• Cover£10 Spring Issue 2026
• ON THE COVERPhotographer Lekan Costa Creative Director Kyuri Bae
• Page 3
• EDITOR'S LETTERWelcome to KISS KISS. We are a London-based magazine exploring romance in all its complexity, not the fairy tale, but the messy, lived experience. KISS KISS traces the many ways intimacy shapes our lives, challenging how we think about romance, identity, and connection. Stylish, intelligent, and unafraid to look at love with open eyes.
• Page 5KISS MEET THE TEAM
• Page 6CONT 2026 SPRING EDITION
• Page 7ENTS 03
• Page 8THE RU
• Page 9AS
• Page 10KISS KISS Look Book: First Date
• Page 11"I must have made a good first impression... a year and a half later, we're still together"
• Page 12Scent or a Scam? From viral Tik Tok testimonials to lab research, we investigate whether pheromone perfumes are the secret to desire or just a really expensive placebo
• Page 13in 'strategic' places (around nipples and genitalia) which to me have given the impression that the body wants to smell." Here's what the science actually says: humans do respond to chemical cues, subtle, almost imperceptible scents that can nudge our mood or shift how we perceive someone. Studies on androstadienone found that it could produce minor mood lifts in women and make them more attuned to emotional faces. Interesting, sure. But these effects were inconsistent, only appeared under specific lab conditions, and crucially, didn't reliably make anyone more attractive to anyone else. Real life is messier than a laboratory, and no molecule has yet been proven to make someone want you.
• Page 14LUST LUST
• Page 15Evidence that pheromone perfumes reliably trigger attraction in real-life settings is limited. Despite glowing reviews and viral trends, these products do not guarantee that anyone will fall for you. Suzy Nightingale, a multi- award-winning fragrance journalist, explains that the main effect is psychological: “It's all about confidence," she says. "When you spray on something that makes you feel powerful, or cosy, or just more you, you stand differently. You talk differently. You smile like you know something good. That energy? That's what people actually notice." Olsson agrees that the psychology is real even if the biology isn't, noting that wearing a scent one enjoys increases self-assurance, which itself can genuinely improve social interactions. Perfume can shape the way the wearer behaves and is perceived. Like putting on a favourite outfit, a scent that makes someone feel at their best can subtly enhance how others notice them. Marketing claims may exaggerate biological effects, but the boost a fragrance provides can still be very meaningful.
• Page 16Situationships explained... What happens when a relationship has all the feeling, but none of the definition? We asked strangers what undefined relationships really look like beyond the label.
• Page 17"If someone takes three or four days to reply, I'm not doing that anymore" I set by standards, learned my mints and figured muns ford figured out what want
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• Page 19KISS KISS MAGAZINE For Dean, 32, the distinction is more straightforward and something he feels he's grown out of. “If you're anxious about when they're replying and what to say,” he says, “it's probably not love - it's lust.” For him, love is defined by calm rather than intensity. “When it's love, it should feel comfortable and natural. Sometimes it's fun to chase, but it ends in tears for everyone." It's a perspective shaped by experience rather than idealism. “I don't want the drama anymore,” he says. “If it's something casual, accept that. Don't take it further.”
• Written by Nandini KhuranaThey're a 10 but.... The tiny habits that change everything
• Page 21KISS KISS MAGAZINE They're a 10 but... they're always busy
• Page 22
• Page 23OUTINE
• Page 24KISS KISS Look Book: In Love
• Page 25"When we are together, my style naturally becomes darker and more gothic because I can see that it makes her smile
• Love is in the cardsAleysha, 21, won't commit unless the cards say yes. In a dating culture defined by uncertainty, oracle readings have become a method of decision-making for her... Written by Lia Keeble Oterto
• Page 27KISS KISS MAGAZINE RECONSIDER
• Page 28The resurgence of oracle cards is not happening in isolation. Their popularity mirrors a broader Gen Z search for meaning in a dating culture defined by ambiguity, situationships, soft launches and emotional half-commitments that rarely come with explanation or closure. During the pandemic, tarot and oracle readings surged across TikTok, often framed with captions like “if this finds you, it's meant for you.” For many, the messages felt uncannily specific, a reflection of both algorithm and emotion. In a time when romantic outcomes are rarely clear, the cards provide what many relationships do not: a sense that events unfold for a reason, even when they do not last. They do not remove uncertainty. They organise it. The appeal is not only in what the cards reveal, but in what they make possible: a structure for feeling, a ritual for waiting, a way of making the unknown briefly manageable.
• Page 29ANGEL ANGEL
• The must-watch list for the Romance ObsessedYou're curled up on the sofa in your comfiest PJs, snacks within reach, screen glowing, but the endless scroll begins. What to watch? Fear not, fellow binge-watchers KISS KISS, has curated the perfect list for you to obsess over for the next month. From modern French fashion to secret sports romances, this list has something for every kind of hopeless romantic. 12
• For a Bingeable Teen Romance: Maxton HallWant a break from modern settings? Travel to 1850s Australia with The Artful Dodger. It follows adult Jack Dawkins, a brilliant surgeon whose criminal past resurfaces when his old mentor reappears. The romance with the governor's daughter is full of tension, but the show's real hook is the blend of high-stakes surgery, betrayal, and adventure. Why watch? It's a thrilling, unique mix of medical drama, crime caper, and historical romance. With Season 3 set for February 2026, now is the time to catch up. (Streaming on Hulu/Disney+). For relatable, raw, and real teen romance: Heart Breakhigh
• Page 32Garlic Bread is better than sex? In 2026, it's time for the world to learn more about asexuality. Let's listen to the the stories of three aces in different situations.
• Page 33"It felt like my asexuality was being treated as a disorder" "No one really respected what I was saying'
• schima£10.99 Spring 2026
• Page 35“On a date, I can be really happy just talking,” Sugi says. “But if the other person suddenly tries to hold my hand or kiss me, I feel nauseous. I feel really uncomfortable... I can accept physical contact," she adds. “I even like linking arms when I walk with someone. But everything depends on it not having a special meaning." Sugi understanding asexuality does not mean denying emotions. "It means accepting that the way you express emotions can be different," she says.
• THE REC TH RECT EC
• CKONING CKINGVain IG
• KISS KISS Look Book: Rough PatchPenelope Guillard, 18, a French student studying biological sciences in London. She has been in a long-distance relationship for eight months, with her boyfriend, Romeo, living in France. 38
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• ARE WE DATINGOR JUST REPLAYING? Ever felt like your new relationship is strangely familiar?
• Page 41"Attachment theory is the best known explanation of love and relationships" You meet someone new. The conversation flows easily, the excitement builds, and everything seems effortless at first. Yet as time passes, the emotional rhythm of the relationship can begin to shift. The early spark slowly gives way to uncertainty. Moments of closeness are followed by distance, and emotional clarity becomes difficult to find. Even when we meet different people, many of us recognise this pattern. The faces may change, but the emotional experience can feel strangely familiar. Modern dating culture often intensifies this dynamic. Dating apps, texting, and social media have changed the way relationships begin and develop. Connections can feel emotionally intimate before they are clearly defined, and feelings may deepen quickly while commitment remains uncertain. Within this space of ambiguity, even small signals begin to carry emotional weight. A delayed message invites interpretation, a short reply feels loaded with meaning, and even silence can feel like a response.
• Page 4242 “Modern dating environments often limit opportunities for authentic communication,” she says. “When interactions are mediated through screens, people may feel pressure to present themselves in particular ways.” This can activate what Oskis describes as a performative side of relationships.”
• Page 43So the next time a relationship feels confusing, it may be worth asking a different question. Not just “What is this person doing?" but also "How do I usually respond to closeness and distance?" Understanding our own attachment style is not about labelling ourselves. Instead, it can offer something quieter and more valuable: a little more clarity about our patterns, and perhaps a little more compassion for ourselves and the people we love.
• Page 44What it's like to have your relationship permanently on show.... KISS KISS speaks to influencer
• Page 45At what point did you start feeling like this channel could be something you keep doing long-term? W: We try to make what people want to watch, but it still has to reflect real life. We can't really do something that's fully planned. Sometimes we see other couples and get inspired, then we make a simpler version, but we always add our own touch. It has to feel natural.
• Written by Nandini Khurana46 46
• CatfishingCatfishing refers to the act of creating a false identity online to deceive others, often in romantic contexts. This can involve using fake photos, fabricated personal details, or entirely invented personas. Not every face behind a screen tells the truth. False personas appear frequently across online platforms. While national statistics from Britain remain limited, personal reports and media coverage suggest that more than one in four people using dating apps have encountered someone presenting misleading information. Sean Fry told The Sun he thought he had “met the love of my life" after meeting Rebecca Gray, who later conned him by faking terminal cancer. Claiming she had only months to live, she persuaded him to give her money, with Sean saying "I did really care for her and just wanted to do what I could." He later discovered she was lying and deceiving another man too, admitting “it became very clear that everything was a lie," and adding that the emotional impact was "the absolute least of it." Harshita, 21, a student who just completed her degree says that she met someone on a dating app who initially appeared genuine but consistently avoided video calls. Over time, inconsistencies in his messages became apparent, prompting her to step back. “It stung a bit," she said, "but it showed me how important it is to trust your gut.” Communication online carries weight. Still, identities can be shaped and controlled, making it hard- er to distinguish authenticity from fabrication.
• Page 4848 6 sense ad
• Navigating modern datingDating in 2026 isn't hopeless, but it does demand more awareness than ever. Trends like ghostlighting and catfishing show how easily trust can be manipulated, while the scale of romance scams proves the risks are real. At the same time, behaviours like sweeping suggest a shift, with people becoming more intentional about who they invest their time and energy in. The reality is, online dating isn't slowing down, so learning how to navigate it matters. Recognising patterns, spotting in- consistencies, and trusting your instincts can make the differ- ence between a genuine connection and a damaging experience. It's less about overthinking every interaction and more about knowing when something doesn't feel right. Understanding these trends isn't about becoming cynical, it's about staying in control. The more aware you are, the easier it is to protect your time, your energy, and your sense of self while still leaving space for something real. As Claire Renier explained in comments to UNILAD, a UK based digital media company known for viral news and lifestyle content, “Even in a world of ghosting and scams, there's room for real connection. Sweeping is about opening doors for the right people, not closing them on love altogether." Warning signs you should look out for Staying alert matters when using dating apps, since some people might mis- lead others for personal gain:
• Page 50THE R
• Page 51REPAIR
• Page 52Kiss Kiss Look Book: Love, After
• 72 WKINS ооLAMOPS POLICE
• NO TWO FIRSTS ARE THE SAMEFirst sexual experiences are confusing, exciting, awkward, and unforgettable. They shape us in ways we rarely notice, and the stories we carry reveal the mess, the thrill, and the humanity of our first steps into Written by Aimee Wheeler
• Page 55"We laughed as we heard Kung Fu Fighting playing in the background. That became our song" How often do you think about your first time? That moment that, at the time, felt enormous, confusing, or even a little scary. Most of us try to forget it or at least gloss over how innocently naive we once were, no matter our age or experience. Yet those first encounters shape us in ways we rarely notice, leaving behind stories that are funny, awkward, tender, and unforgettable. Here, KISS KISS readers share their own experiences, offering a glimpse into the mix of nerves, curiosity, and discovery that comes with taking that first step.
• Gracie, 24, from SouthamptonHow did your first time happen? I was 15, in year 11, with my boyfriend of around one month. He'd had sex before and knew I was a virgin. It was a very common conversation topic in that first month; sex would often be brought up, always followed by "we'll do it when you're ready." But it was brought up so often that I did feel pressured. Eventually, when it happened I was thinking just to get it over and done with. We were round mine and watching a film, cuddling, and we started kissing, and then it ended in us having sex. I told him I was ready, and he made me feel safe and comfortable, but I felt as though it was definitely some sort of pressure that made me do it so soon.
• Jack, 21, from PortsmouthHow did your first time happen? I lost my virginity in my bed at home. We were just two 15-year-old boys in the dark, figuring it all out for the first time. We didn't have any idea what we were doing. Keeping the lights off, I think, created a space where we could explore each other without feeling so perceived. It's strange how not seeing each other can remove so much pressure, even when engaging in arguably one of the most intimate human acts.
• Page 58Although I don't regret it, I wish my views around it had been different. How do you view it now?
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• How Dementia Changes LoveWhen debilitating memory loss disrupted the rhythm of Lia Keeble Otero's Spanish family, it forced them to rethink what love looks like... Written by Lia Keeble Otero
• "Care may even be the most durable form of love"The most unexpected transformation has been her relationship with my grandfather. For most of my life, their dynamic existed within careful boundaries, respectful, distant, resolved. Their divorce felt like a fixed point in our family history. Holidays were negotiated. Presence was measured. And yet, since the diagnosis, he has stepped back into proximity. He asks how she slept and insists she does not walk alone. When she visits Murcia, where he lives, he walks with her along the beach, pushing through the pain of a knee surgery he underwent three years ago, when we were not sure he would walk properly again.
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• Page 63Dementia has not brought them back together in the way people expect. It has not erased the distance of their divorce. Instead, it has changed the way they show up for one another. This is not a romantic reconciliation or the erasure of their divorce. It is something steadier. It was his response that made the situation feel real. The changes in my grandmother had been gradual, easy at times to minimise or explain away. But with him, it felt immediate, like something had shifted that could not be ignored. In our family, stepping in to support her was never a question. But his involvement felt different. It carried a sense of urgency, of something like now or never. Watching him show up for her made something clearer to me. Not through anything that was said directly, but through what he chose to do, the calls, the walks, the quiet consistency. It made me realise that love does not necessarily disappear. Sometimes it changes form, becoming visible in what people do rather than what they say. "I can't go on my walks alone anymore, I get lost"
• Page 64Why can't lovers be together forever? Our pick of 'bad-ending' love stories
• Page 65The moment we chose to say goodbye, we loved each other most Adam is a screenwriter living in a high-rise in London. The building is almost empty, and so is his life. One night, his neighbour Harry shows up at his door, drunk, and cracks open what looks like Adam's quiet routine. They don't really connect that first time, but fate has a way of looping back. Again and again, it pushes them into each other's path. And almost without meaning to, they slip into something intimate. And then the world starts to tilt. More and more things happen that simply don't make sense, as if from the very beginning, something about all of this was fundamentally wrong. The film is built on a chain of twists, each one locking neatly into the next. By the end, you'll understand – suddenly, painfully – and you might find yourself crying before you even realise it.
• Love advice from strangers"There is an abundance of love in this world - if you haven't found it yet, it's coming.” "The more you love yourself, the more you'll attract the kind of love you deserve."
• Page 67£10 Winter Issue 2026
• Page 68KISS-KISS-2026