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i don't know who needs to hear this (me. i need to hear this. i wrote this rec for me.) but late-stage capitalism influencers reaaaally want you to believe you need to have this whole grand 15-step skincare routine with all the little gadgets and gizmos or you are doing something fundamentally wrong. hear me out here - you are fine. the only thing they are contributing to is the ever-growing need to consume and the systematic destruction of your skin barrier. as long as you wash your face regularly and put on some sunscreen every morning, the rest is mostly just for the vibes.
Mar 21, 2024
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i keep hearing this on tiktok from dermatologists and others and have to cosign as a lazy person who does not do much for her skin (mine is oily for reference). tbh it is in amazing shape and i admittedly do very little. in the morning i wash (avene cleanance), moisturize (avene hydrance - light + the laneige lip sleep mask but i use it when i wake up as well), and apply spf (elta md). at night i consider myself accomplished if i do anything at all tbh. i often sleep in my makeup from the day. if i do anything, i will just remove my makeup (lancome), tone (cosrx but likely switching to laneige soon), and moisturize (laneige water bank cream and lip sleep mask). something important that i learned on reddit last year is to always moisturize while your skin is wet. i am not rly particular about the specifics of this so if my face is still wet after washing i will just use that, otherwise i apply an essence (i use the one from philosophy). anyway according to me, all u have to really do every day is cleanse, moisturize, and protect, but im truly not an authority on this so if u have a dermatologist or similar source listen to them!!
Jan 26, 2024
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You have to haul your face around for your entire life, and there’s just no getting around it. As someone who is lurching perilously toward what us old people refer to as “the wrong side of 40,” I am here from your future to tell you not to be afraid, because you can retain your hotness with a little planning! Ever since my very best stage mother and personal BFF Lena Dunham publicly called me out for my elaborate skin care regimen, I’ve been getting questions, so let’s start at the basics and move into the baroque… I don’t think expensive products really make a difference, but if you love them and they make you feel good, by all means waste the money you should be saving for treatments (more on that in a minute) on a 50 step routine—it’s your life! I prefer to streamline because I am old and tired, so while I have definitely tried all of those ritzy oil cleansers and I DO LIKE THEM, in general I think Cetaphil and a microfiber cloth is fine. I usually only wash my face at night and follow it up with some Retin A mixed with a nice heavy moisturizer or oil, and I seal the whole shit in with Aquaphor before going to sleep on a special pillow that doesn’t deform my face. The morning is when things get complicated, because I am a firm believer in all of those gadgets that dermatologists tell you don’t work: I like a red light mask followed by either microcurrent, a muscle stimulation device, or radio frequency, and I follow that up with a CE ferulic serum, hyaluronic acid, moisturizer, and sunscreen. Take your collagen and a vitamin D-K supplement every day, and stay the fuck out of the sun!
Feb 28, 2023
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now i firmly believe beauty culture is a product of white supremacy, capitalism, and patriarchy meant to construct and then profit off of widespread insecurities-- an idea that i first read in jessica defino's wonderful work. it tells us lies like you're not good enough as is... here is a magic fix to cure all your ailments... those natural aspects of your appearance are unslightly flaws!!... but buy this concealer and nobody will have to see it :). what lies!
over the past year i have grown tired of the endless aesthetic labor and self-criticism. and also the price tags of today's most popular beauty products. i'd like to have more time and energy for the other beautiful deep parts of life!
now i am down to a very straightforward cleanser/moisturizer/sunscreen/aquaphor for skincare & blush/mascara/perhaps eyeliner and a lip for makeup. giving up concealer was probably the hardest for me insecurity-wise (see: dark circles and occasional acne) but it has truly been so good for my skin!! sunscreen is an absolute non-negotiable. i am very partial to blush because i like to match the shade to how i am feeling and what i am wearing on a given day. the ultimate results to reducing your beauty product consumption are:
1. your skin will probably not be that different than when you bombard it with a 20-step routine
2. your wallet will be so much happier and you will have more $ to spend on non-superficial things!
3. you will have so much more time and energy for creative and comforting pursuits
4. your routine will feel much less arduous and much easier to stick to!
5. with time you will begin to feel more comfortable in your very own, unchanged skin. it doesn't need to change to please other people-- your face and body are so radically unique and divine! <3
and, divesting from beauty culture does not mean no engagement at all. i too still enjoy a face mask or a trip to the salon as a splurge self-care ritual. i like putting on a cute little blush and a red lip!! i do still care about my appearance-- but less so. i am more comfortable with my unadulterated face. my self-worth is less dependent on how i look. all that matters to me is that my external state authentically reflects my inner state!
for further reading on gender, class, and capitalism, def check out Problems of Women's Liberation by Evelyn Reed!! findable in gale archives if you have university access ^-^
Nov 13, 2024
Top Recs from @saraiguess
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seeing a movie on a huge screen (as most directors intended it to be seen) and just indulging in approximately 2 hours of pure uninterrupted escapism without anyone to worry about (plus supporting your local cinema at the same time). works best with "slow" films where the scenes linger. total bliss.
Mar 18, 2024
i shoot analog a lot but no pic ever came close to the energy this photo holds
Mar 31, 2024
i have three, the first one (right rib) was meticulously planned and hurt like hell. i thought just one was it for me but then, a few months later, i sort of happened to be at a place where there was also a tattoo machine just laying around so (without any prior experience) i just tatted myself and i had a blast. its on my left thigh, about 4cm and looks like shit (see pic) but also now i have a semi-good story to tell when people ask me abt it. the third one is also on my left thigh just sort of tying the whole shitty trashy aesthetic together and i will totally get another one. for anyone reading this thinking abt getting one, my point is: have fun with it, don't overthink it and just do it!
Mar 24, 2024