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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
Related Recs
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1. I promise promise you donāt look decrepit or dying, I know that it feels that way but you are a much harsher critic than everyone around you
2. If looking at yourself is making you overly anxious, or self-critical, try to do it lessā we look at ourselves so much more now than at any other time in history, and itās okay to disengage when that feels bad or unrewarding
3. When I feel ugly, I brush my teeth and wash my faceā even if it doesnāt fix that feeling, I am now cleaner and have taken care of myself a little.
Try drinking water, and if you feel that thereās a particular skin issue, schedule an appointmentā nothing is more affirming than having a professional tell you that a) they see this all the time, and b) they can help you resolve the things that bother you.
General skin tips:
- drink a glass of water every time you eatā if you have a hard time remembering to hydrate, tying it to an established habit can help
- find a moisturizer and face wash you enjoy using (I use CeraVe and sometimes Beekman)
- get some sun ā this is good for your body and your brain
- try two weeks off sugar and dairy, if youāre ableā these are both often linked to worse skin
- find something that makes you feel confident. I donāt often wear makeup on my skin, but I do my mascara (Ilia) and my lipstick (MAC or Clinique black honey) every day, and that makes me feel way more confident, without clogging my pores or feeling I have to cover up to go out.
Nov 5, 2024
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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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Okay, so I fell into the tik tok trap of trying to look like a teenager for as long as possible, and I told my dermatologist to prescribe me retinol. I used it, like three nights a week, and then got so obsessed with the false belief I had in my head that it was making me like a doll, I was using it almost night...yikes. But THEN, I went to a facialist and the second I walked in she was like ā¦.āyouāre using retinol, arenāt you?ā and she told me it was irritating my skin and that I should stop immediately. She told me to stop with all the serums, the at home peels, the 200$ lotion, and instead wash my face with Kloraneās micellar blue cornflower waterā¦random lol. And to use Aveneās Cicalfate+ cream by pressing it, not rubbing it, into my face over and over again. Iāve never had a more minimal skincare regime in my life, of course I still use SPF every morning, but stripping back on all the glamorous goops has seriously improved my skin texture and my overall vibe. Also, Iām saving so much money because Iām literally addicted to buying skincare, and now I feel like Iām not allowed to, and I have a weird religious school instilled thing where I donāt really do things iām ānot allowedā to do lol. More on that in my next album.
Dec 20, 2022
Top Recs from @antifabricated
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undoubtedly my favorite conversational invocation. i use it a lot and i love to hear it.
imploring someone to tell you more shows such deep interest, attention, and love! curiosity is always the answer; learn more before you pass a judgment.
Nov 7, 2024
thereās something quite melancholy and cathartic about it, like wow, Iām old enough and Iāve been living in this neighborhood long enough to start to be recognized as a familiar face. i love that i can walk into my favorite coffee shop and be greeted as a friend, by baristas who know exactly my coffee particularities but donāt frown if i want something different from my usual order. it feels especially comforting on days i miss home and feel kind of alone, kind of afraid of being an adult. being a regular is feeling seen and known even by relative strangers, with whom you can connect over a comforting drink or meal! this is just one of the ways i love to cultivate a sense of home and community in my coming-of-age yearsā itās so grounding to experience familiarity especially when youāre adjusting to living alone, recently moved to a new city, or otherwise needing to feel settled during tumultuous times!
Nov 11, 2024
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idk about you all but the second i get home i will be putting sweats or lounge clothes on. these clothes only see the indoors and are never exposed to the Outside City. god forbid my jeans or slacks touch my clean cozy bed!! let alone shoes... might be the asian grandmother influencing me but i find it a terrible crime to wear shoes in the house. a pair of slippers is much more comfortable! i find changing into a cozier outfit provides a wonderful mental transition into the coziness/safety of home PLUS it makes me feel extra put together, stylish, and focused when i'm goin out!! effectively switches my brain between work mode and relaxed mode.
Nov 17, 2024