#acne scars are genuinely so beautiful to me

[thawthebeez]

one of these days i'm gonna write a tsukkiyama or yamakage fic and write abt yamaguchi's acne scars instead of his "freckles." one of these days i'm gonna start spreading the gospel. one of these days...

[luveline]

Hi jade baby my acne has gotten so bad and I feel so insecure could I get a Spencer or regular Steve fic of him comforting her

It’s fine. It doesn’t bother you. It’s fine. 

You repeat the mantra over and over again, but it isn’t true, and it doesn’t stick. You feel like the ugliest person alive. You wash your face twice a day, sometimes three, and yet every spot and lump and scar makes you feel dirty to the core. 

The first tear falls of its own accord. The second when you sniff. You wipe both away with your knuckle, dragging a cotton pad damp with toner over the planes of your face. It stings a little over the worst of your acne, where everything hurts, skin tight and congested. 

“Angel?” Spencer says from the bedroom, peeking his head up. 

You turn your face from him in the en-suite. “Yeah?” 

“You okay?” 

You sniff again. Your voice comes out fraught, throat aching, “Yeah, I’m fine.” 

The bed creaks as Spencer gets up. The floorboards shift under his feet. You turn to him as he nudges the bathroom door wide open, already sick of hiding from him. Desperate for a soft touch, for him to tell you what you need to hear. 

“What’s wrong?” he asks. 

You laugh bitterly, but not cruel with him. “What’s wrong?” you repeat. 

Again, you aren’t being cruel, because you aren’t mad at him, but the tears are moving quickly toward sobbing and you’re trying to bite it back. 

“Spencer, I look disgusting.” 

“No you don’t.” He grabs your elbow first, then your arm. “Of course you don’t.” 

You drive your miserable face into his chest. 

“You’re the prettiest girl in the world,” he murmurs, curling his long arms around you.

“You have to say that.” 

“That logic won’t work, angel. I don’t have to say that, I don’t even have to be in this room, if you think about free will, but I want to be here, and I want to tell you what I think is true. You’re beautiful.” 

“I look so gross,” you say, your shoulders giving a rough shake. 

“You don’t.” He shushes you gently, rubbing your back with warm, careful hands. “You don’t, you never look gross.” 

“It’s getting so bad again even though I haven’t changed anything,” you say, a sort of heave to your breath, spluttering at the injustice of it. 

Spencer cups the nape of your neck. “It’s not your fault. I know you do everything you can, and I know you’re beautiful regardless. You don’t get to see what I see all day, so you wouldn’t get it, but you’re perfect.” 

You hold your breath until it hurts. “I just want it to go away,” you say. 

“I know. I’ll do some more research, okay? And I’ll make you another appointment with the dermatologist, we’ll find a way to manage it, I promise. But,” —he encourages you away slowly— “if it weren’t painful, I’d tell you genuinely that it doesn’t matter. If it didn’t bother you, it wouldn’t bother me, you know? You’re beautiful.” 

You smile weakly. “Sorry.” 

He just shakes his head and pulls you in for another hug. 

[flippinpancakes64]

can you write cullens x reader who is insecure about their acne? 😽

The Cullens with a reader who is insecure about their acne

Again with you people being inside my walls. I’m convinced someone has a camera in here.

Thank you for requesting and I hope you enjoy!

Edward:

He thinks you’re perfect either way

He loves you, acne or not

He’s rich so if you want to do like a chemical peel or something else that’s expensive but will help with the acne he will do it no questions asked

And yes you can use his cold hands if your face starts to burn up from it

He hears what people think, but he doesn’t tell you

And if anyone tries to say something to you they are getting decked

Alice:

This is her department

She’s all about fashion and makeup, i feel like she knows about skincare too

She does everything she can to help you

Creams, treatments, washes

But she’s also very clear that she loves you no matter what

She’s helping you because you want the help

She also doesn’t lead you on with false hope

“I just saw that this cream doesn’t actually help you much in the future, so let’s try something else”

Jasper:

Genuinely doesn’t notice

He just sees you, feels your beautiful emotions, and loves you

But he definitely understands the most out of everyone

He has all of his scars that he hates but he can’t control

On really bad days, he uses his ability to help you feel better

But again he’s super supportive in anything that you try to help get rid of your acne

He reads up a bit on what’s supposed to help the most and he tries to do that

But more than anything he’s very understanding

Rosalie:

She is perfect, so you’re a little hesitant to bring up your insecurities around her

But she’s so nice

She keeps up with beauty trends and products throughout the years, so she has some stuff for you to try

She will do anything with you

You feel weird about using this new product? She’ll get in the bathroom with you and put it on too

And don’t even get me started on people at school

I’ve already established she will kill someone for being mean to you

That still applies here

Emmett:

He feels a lil crazy

He genuinely didn’t even notice that you had acne

Bro thought it was freckles or moles or smthn

So when you start complaining about it saying you hate it he’s like “no you’re perfect i love your birthmarks”

Cue the deadpan from you

He just steps back from that side of things

He lets you handle that cause he doesn’t know what he’s talking about lol

But he will beat a bitch up for you so you have that going at least

Esme:

She knows the struggle

I feel like she probably had pretty bad acne for a while when she was a teenager

She tells you all of the things that used to help her

She’s there for you every step of the way

Constantly reassuring you that she still finds you attractive no matter what

And yes she will fund any treatment you want to try

She just loves you and wants you to be happy

Carlisle:

Just looked it up, he is a surgeon (meow 😼 yummy)

So dermatology is not his strong suit

But working in a small town he has to know a little about everything

So he can help you on the surface level (telling you to wash your face, what foods to avoid, etc)

But he’s much quicker to schedule you an appointment with an actual dermatologist

But again, this only happens if you expressly state that you hate your acne and want it fixed

You don’t have to change anything for him

Vampire! Bella:

Some kids used to call her pizza face in middle school

So she knows the feeling

Nothing ever worked for her tho so she doesn’t really know how to help

It just sort of evened out as she got older

But she’s supportive with whatever you want to do

Or don’t want to do

If you never try anything to get rid of your acne then she’s okay

She loves you for you and you don’t need to change anything for her

[decompose1]

genuinely blown away when people talk about rating people's appearances or like what a "beautiful" person is or what makes someone more attractive and it's the same regurgitated supermodel crap you hear all the time. not to bash supermodels whatsoever, gals got it rough, but i do genuinely think someone needs to have some odd little quirks. 100% instantly hotter to me if you look kinda funny. there is so much more beauty in quote-unquote imperfection i think. the birth marks the freckles every unique way eyes can be set. crooked teeth are so cute. facial hair on fems is cute. boxy faces round faces triangle faces. every hair texture ever. no makeup or messy bad makeup or silly extravagant theater makeup that tells me a story. birth marks and bumps and acne and scars and rosacea. tall girls and short boys. adam's apples on any gender ever. happy trails and hairy legs. missing teeth and face tattoos. i'd prefer to see someone happy and themself more than anything else i think

[gay-dorito-dust]

Hear me out.

Ken with someone who has stretch marks/scars and beauty marks here and there and Ken is just fascinated with them

Ken would oh most defiantly be fascinated by the things you’ve been conditioned to believe were unappealing.

So whenever you found Ken just stare at you, naturally you thought he was staring at your many ‘imperfections.’ Completely unaware of the lovesick look within his eyes as he looks you over with a dopey smile.

He can’t help it! I mean look at you! Your so handsome/beautiful/gorgeous/charming and so much more! Ken just wants to admire the masterpiece before him and engrave each and every aspect to memory.

Your beauty marks

Your acne/and or acne scaring

Your stretch marks/ and or scars

Ken will memorise it all because to him, they’re the most beautiful aspects of your person. According to Ken, these things that you don’t like about yourself, served their purpose in enhancing your beauty even more.

Also in Ken’s eyes, having these things made you the most unique person he’s ever met outside of BarbieLand where everyone were basically dolls.

Mini Drabble;

‘Ken…’

‘Hmmm?’

‘Am I pretty/handsome/Beautiful?’

At your question Ken was immediately on his feet and in front of you with worry laced in his cerulean eyes. ‘Of course you are! I’m looking at the most dashing/handsome/pretty/beautiful person I’ve ever meet.’ He truthfully admits, his hands holding your face as his thumbs caressed the places where your beauty marks/acne scarring were. Ken’s voice barely above a whisper as he asked, ‘What’s brought this up sweetheart? You know how I feel about you, is today one of those bad days you’ve told me about?’

You didn’t say anything but that was enough confirmation for Ken as he then said, ‘welp you know what that means.’ But before you could ask what he meant by that, Ken had already begun to pepper kisses against your cheeks whilst his hands kept your face in place, just so it’d be easier for him to love on every aspect of your face with his ‘healing kisses’ or as he calls them whenever you got like this.

Ken genuinely didn’t know why you were forced to feel bad or ashamed of your stretch marks, of your acne/ acne scaring and your beauty marks, and if he ever met the very people who made you feel like that, he’s sooo going to beach them off for making his favourite person upset about their natural body. Your a god/deity/goddess in the blondes eyes, Ken has even made songs about every facet of your body and how much he loves them, along with a long winded verse where he’d wish you loved all these things about yourself as much as he does. However Ken was blessed with an never ending amount of love to give out, so he was more then content to love on them for the both of you, and he’ll continue to love the parts you didn’t like until you learnt to love them yourself; No matter how long that may take, Ken was a patient man who just wants you to be confident in your own skin and see what he was blessed to see.

Even when you do suffer from bad days, Ken will tell you how much he loved your stretch marks or lightning strikes as he likes to call them because of how cool he found your stretch marks.

He’d call your acne/ acne scars ‘twinkle twinkle stars.’ It’s a bonus if any of your acne scars do resemble a star or something similar as he’s absently tracing over them with the pads of his fingers. (I’d like to call my acne and acne scarring stars cuz it makes me feel overall better about them)

He’d write a whole arse essay on why your beauty mark is called a beauty mark for a reason before it descends into ramblings on pretty he found it and how how it’s a distinct feature that helps him distinguish you from the rest in a positive way because of how much he loved your differences compared to others.

Again Ken just thinks your unique, one of a kind for having such things as stretch marks, acne and or acne scarring, or beauty marks.

[nickeverdeen]

Hiiii there!! 👋 I saw you come on my fy page and omg I love your writingsss! Like even though I haven't read all of them, I literally know you such an amazing writer. <333 But anywhoo, can you by any chance do a matchup for me, hon? Harry Potter, Divergent, and Hunger Games/the Ballad of Snakes and Songbirds, and Spiderman are the ones I would like! (If that too much work for you, you can just do hp and divergent!) ❤️

So about me: Physical Appearance/Discription: I am a 5'5 girl who is 17 and half. I have shortish brown curly hair (3b curls). I am a pretty skinny person but I do have some sort of muscle on me. I do also have a bit of ance and some acne scars on my face. I have pale white skin. Whenever I get ready to go out of the house, my go to makeup is just mascara and a bit of eyeliner. But when I want to get ready to go somewhere fancy/get ready formally, I do more then that. I have more of a tom-boyish/skater/streetwear style, but when I get ready ready, I can clean up nice. 😜

Personality/Who am I: I am 100% an extrovert. I love talking to people, but sometimes I don't talk to them, not cus I am shy, but cus I just don't wanna, yknow? Anywho, here are a list of words that describe me: passionate, determined, adventurous, ambitious, considerate, beautiful (😉🙈), authentic, unique, generous, smart (sometimes the dumbest person ever 😭), kind, friendly, dedicated, hardworking, caring, gorgeous, amazing, hilarious, and confident! I genuinely think I am a confident person. I love myself and who I am. I am the most funniest person you will ever meet. Like literally everyone who meets me thinks I am so funny. (Which I cant blame them 😜) I stick up for my close ones whenever needed and am protective of my loved ones. I have good grades(I have severe academic validation needs), but sometimes I just can't with school 😭. I

Likes/Hobbies: My favorite animals are snakes and dogs. I love candy and sweets and chocolate. Like I have the biggest sweet tooth ever! Like I LOVE chocolate. I like to dance and listen to music.(My music taste is all over the place, but I will never, I mean NEVER, listen to country 🙅) Love hip-hop, pop, & rap the most tho. I also love going to the beach and hanging out with the fam, but also love the suburbs/towns/city and hanging out with friends but I also like the countryside and everything like that. I think I just love every single place honestly.I love the color green. I also love watching disney movies, and horror movies, and fantasy movies. I do read, but I can't really read well 😭 (And write, as you can tell 😭) Dislikes: I hate slow-walker, people are are disrespectful, losing (I am really competitive), pickles, onions, & spicy food. Oh, and country music. And I hate seeing blood and all that type of stuff (in real life at least, I can still watch horror movies, just not action ones with blood 😭) I also like spring. I love taking picture, like of everything. Especially people, places, the sky, animals, and flowers! I like to dance hip-hop (maybe even two partner dances 🙈).

Love Language/What I look for. I lowkey think its all of them, but my top ones would be quality time, words of aff, and physical touch. I love when a mans tell you he loves me AND shows me he does 🙈 I also love a mans who can take my sense of humor and make me laugh 24/7.

I would like a male match-up result and a romantic match if thats fine! My pronouns of she/her. Again, you are such an amazing writing and I cant wait. Thank you so much for this! Have a good day/night hon! ❤️❤️❤️

Omg, thank you so much it means a lot to me, cariño 💚

—————————

Your Harry Potter match is…

Fred Weasley

Fred would love taking you to the joke shop after hours to try out the newest pranks, sharing sweets while you both laugh uncontrollably

He’d always be coming up with spontaneous adventures to keep things interesting, like sneaking into the Forbidden Forest

He would compliment your makeup style, always amazed at how you can go from streetwear queen to “stunningly dressed up” in an instant

Fred would let you know daily how much he loves you through both playful words and unexpected acts of affection

He’d love challenging you in competitive games, and you’d both be the kind of couple that playfully argues about who won

He’d make jokes whenever you’re feeling overwhelmed by academics, keeping things light while also encouraging you to take pride in your achievements

Fred would adore your taste in music and would make a point of finding ways to make you laugh—getting you into the silliest of dance battles

He’d find your confidence incredibly attractive, but he’d also be super protective, always watching out for you

You’d have secret meetings at the Three Broomsticks, where he’d buy you chocolate treats and tease you for having a massive sweet tooth

When you go out together, he’d always take photos of you, knowing you love capturing memories, and would make fun of your intense dislike of pickles and onions

Your Divergent match is…

Four/Tobias Eaton

Four would appreciate your competitiveness, often challenging you to small competitions in Dauntless training exercises or sparring

He would admire your confidence and humor, feeling lucky to be with someone who’s so sure of themselves

Your love of snakes would interest him—he’s not afraid of them and might even surprise you with a trip to a reptile sanctuary

He’d listen to all your playlists and would start to appreciate your love for hip-hop and rap, eventually sharing a few songs he secretly likes too

Four would bring you small, thoughtful gifts to show his appreciation and would love any quality time spent with you

He’d respect your boundaries but would be completely comfortable with affection, holding you close when you’re together and making you feel protected

Four would understand your drive for academic validation and would remind you that you’re brilliant just as you are

He’d admire your adventurous spirit and wouldn’t hesitate to go exploring with you in abandoned buildings or quiet city corners

You’d help him open up more, encouraging him to let loose and have fun, which he secretly loves

On lazy days, he’d watch horror movies with you, comfortingly close during the jump-scares, and tease you about your aversion to real blood

Your Hunger Games match is…

Finnick Odair

Finnick would adore your sweet tooth and surprise you with chocolates and treats whenever he gets the chance

He’d be protective, always wanting to make sure you’re safe, especially given your adventurous streak

Finnick would get a kick out of your love of dancing and would definitely try to impress you with his own (surprisingly good) dance moves

He’d love spending time by the water, especially since you enjoy the beach; it would be your shared peaceful getaway

Finnick would love to make you laugh, finding creative ways to show you his affection

He’d be impressed by your ambition and smarts and would be the type to help you through your studies with words of encouragement

Finnick would challenge you playfully, especially since you’re competitive, and he’d love the spark this brings to your relationship

He’d always find ways to make you feel special, whether through spontaneous beach outings or playful gifts

Knowing you’re a great friend, he’d trust you with his secrets and open up about his past, knowing he has someone supportive and strong by his side

Finnick would be deeply moved by your confidence and individuality, always hyping you up and reminding you how incredible you are

Your Spider-Man match is…

Peter Parker 3

Peter would be in awe of your confidence and admire how you’re so protective of those you care about

He’d constantly be cracking jokes with you and would get a kick out of your sense of humor, finding it hilarious and refreshing

Peter would love your skater style and might even surprise you by learning to skateboard (probably after a few failed attempts)

He’d be over the moon every time you dress up, knowing you’re usually laid-back but enjoying how stunning you look either way

Peter would always be trying to impress you with silly science facts, loving the fact that you’re also driven academically

He’d be protective but never overbearing, always respecting your independence and admiring how outspoken you are

Peter would adore that you’re a fan of horror movies and would try to keep his cool during the scary parts just to make you laugh

He’d love your hip-hop playlists and would start recommending songs, surprised to find how much you both enjoy the same artists

Peter would appreciate that you’re down-to-earth and supportive and would find comfort in your relationship when he’s dealing with Spider-Man pressures

He’d surprise you with small acts of love, like random treats or cute notes, always making sure you feel adored

[theshinazugawaslut]

i love your prom photos so sad you took them down

was wondering if you could give us your skincare routine and if you could tell us what products have and haven't worked for you?

and your skincare prep for b4 makeup?

a/n: hello! of course i'm willing to do that — I'll link everything as well. it'll be separated into a few different sections: products i use (separated into different sections, and w/ a 'review'), products i tried but didn't like, morning + night routine, make-up skin prep routine. all products from LIKESKIN (check out their website)

SKIN TYPE: dry, acne-prone (I'm prone to pustular acne, cystic acne, and hormonal acne) & MY SKIN CONCERNS: hydration, acne, blemishes, scarring, and hyperpigmentation

THINGS I ALWAYS DO:

Retinol 2-3x a week Vitamin C 2x a week Mask 3x a week Exfoliating toner 2-3x a week

PRODUCTS I USE:

cleansers -

[IUNIK] Calendula Complete Cleansing Oil ;; gets make-up and sunscreen off, gentle and sensitive skin friendly, doesn't break me out.

[BEAUTY OF JOSEON] Green Plum Refreshing Cleanser - doesn't dry me out, gentle, foams up well, and cleanses my skin properly!

toners -

[ANUA] Heartleaf 77% Soothing Toner - hydrating and soothing, helps take down my redness and blemishes

[NEEDLY] Daily Toner Pad - helps with texture and acne

[NUMBUZIN] No.5 Vitamin-Niacinamide - helps with acne scars and any darkness i have, i tend to put these on my cheek area and leave them for awhile

[BEAUTY OF JOSEON ] Green Plum Refreshing Toner: AHA + BHA - this is a light exfoliating toner that overall helps keep my rejuvenated

[DEAR KLAIRS] Supple Preparation Unscented Facial Toner - extremely hydrating, i use this every day and night so matter what, somewhat viscous

[SOMEBYMI] 30 Day Miracle Toner: AHA + BHA + PHA - exfoliating toner, don't use this if you have sensitive skin, but this helped me get rid of my pustules (acne filled with yellow pus)

serums -

[AXIS-Y] Dark Spot Glow Correcting Serum - mixed feelings on this serum since it helps a lot with my dark spots BUT it works on new scarring + if I use it too often, it triggers my acne.

[SKIN1004] Madagascar Centalla Asiatica Ampoule - incredibly soothing and hydrating, helps keep my acne under control

[The Ordinary] 10% Niacinamide Serum - started using this recently and i love it so much, helps the skin shine, removes texture, reduces acne and pore appearance

[The Ordinary] 0.5 Retinol - helps me extremely with acne; i worked up from 0.1% to 0.2% and now at 0.5%

[BEAUTY OF JOSEON] Retinal Eye Serum - i just love this one so much, very plumping

moisturisers -

[BEAUTY OF JOSEON] Dynasty Cream - i love this so, so much; hydrating, lightweight, and doesn't trigger my acne

[IUNIK] Centella Calming Gel - like the axis-y glow correcting serum, over-using this causes me some acne so i tend to use this once or twice a week, and it works wonders!

[COSRX] Centella Blemish Cream - HOLY GRAIL PRODUCT! this is genuinely one of the things that helped me clear my acne to extraordinary levels, especially when i had a huge breakout EVERYWHERE! i also use this as a spot treatment, repurchased this like seven times now

[DEAR, KLAIRS] Freshly Juiced Vitamin E Mask - using this with vitamin c works wonders and it overall enhances any dark spot removing products! very lightweight, jelly-like texture!

[I'm From] Vitamin Tree Water Gel - i adore this one so much; such a cooling, soothing moisturiser, and it targets almost every skincare concern ever, totally underrated!

sunscreen -

[AXIS-Y] Complete No-Stress Physical Sunscreen - only sunscreen that didn't make me break out and doesn't have white cast!

masks -

[I'm From] Mugwort Mask - i love this because everytime i have a breakout, it just helps me so much with redness.

[I'm From] Honey Mask - a miracle mask for an acne-prone person! one of my all-time favourite products! gives the skin a gorgeous shine as well! when i run out of this, i also just use manukka honey and oats!

/ so most of the products i use are anti-inflammatory, soothing, and target blemishes/texture/scarring; most people tend to forget that you should try and avoid anti-inflammatory products if you're not acne-prone because it may just end up triggering a breakout! all our skin is different! so here's PRODUCTS THAT DIDN'T WORK FOR ME:

(disclaimer: some of these products were good but i wouldn't repurchase!)

[BEAUTY OF JOSEON] Relief Sunscreen: Rice + Probiotics - sunscreen - triggered my pustular acne but was incredibly lightweight, super sad it didn't work out for me :(

[HARUHARU WONDER] Black Rice Hyaluronic Toner For Sensitive Skin - toner - i just didn't like this, it didn't do anything for me and caused my skin to itch.

[AXIS-Y] Mugwort Pore Clarifying Wash Off Pack - mask - i used all of this up and came to the conclusion it just didn't do much for me and was also incredibly difficult to wash off.

[BEAUTY OF JOSEON] Glow Serum: Propolis + Niacinamide - serum - now, i genuinely loved this but it only gave me a glow and was very small, ran out too quickly! much better products that do the same job with more product and more cheap!

[BEAUTY OF JOSEON] Glow Deep Serum: Rice + Arbutin - serum - this triggered my pustular acne so bad that i threw it away almost immediately, nuh-uh!

[MIXSOON] Bean Essence - serum - this isn't bad per se, but i feel like it's a very overhyped product and doesn't do much other than boost hydration, i use it but i wouldn't buy it again

[NUMBUZIN] NO.3 Skin Softening Serum - serum - i have such mixed opinions on this one because it really does help with texture but not if you keep using it? so i'm not sure if i'd repurchase.

[NUMBUZIN] NO.5 Goodbye Blemish Serum - serum - feels heavy, doesn't do shit other than trigger my acne and make my skin itch

[SOMEBYMI] 0.1% Retinol - serum - definitely a great beginner-friendly retinol but far too light for me and my acne-infested skin :(

MORNING ROUTINE:

cleanser (green plum refreshing cleanser from Beauty of Joseon

toner (i'll switch between the ANUA Heartleaf one and the Dr, Klairs Supple one)

serum (i'll tend to use a soothing serum such as the SKIN1004 centella asiatica one or a vitamin C serum)

moisturiser (dynasty cream or vitamin-tree water gel)

sunscreen

NIGHT ROUTINE:

double cleanse (IUNIK cleansing oil + BoJ green plum refreshing cleanser)

mask (either honey or mugwort mask, leave for twenty minutes)

toner pad (leave on for five minutes minimum)

toner (usually an exfoliating toner at night-time or a hydrating toner)

serum (tend to opt for niacinamide + retinol at night)

moisturiser (usually the vitamin e mask OR dynasty cream)

spot treatment (COSRX Blemish Cream)

MAKE-UP SKIN PREP ROUTINE:

(this is what i did on the day of prom as well!)

toner pad (leave these on for ten minutes and rub around face, this helps hydrate the skin; i use the numbuzin ones)

niacinamide (helps tighten pore appearance and just helps in every single way)

soothing serum (centella asiatica to overall help the skin!)

moisturiser!

/ i hope this helps!

[stiffyck]

Hi stiff!! I was writing this as a comment but I think it’s a better ask. It’s very long and I will not be upset if you don’t answer! :3

I think part of peoples aversion to it is that it doesn’t conform to the style people are used to seeing online by popular artists. There’s this sorta phenomenon I’ve noticed where people tend to move their style towards a very cartoon/anime ish style with little variation because it’s pretty and that’s what people/algorithms like. People gravitate moreso if they intend on selling their art though.

So, when someone has a stylistic choice that doesn’t really fit that mould people find it “weird”. Exaggerated features (or in this case and many others like, a feature people just have???) are often seen as ugly or strange. An example of this is the person on TikTok who drew characters with big foreheads and lower eyes and got bullied off the platform for it! Another example could be “the tumblr art style” where commentary channels bullied artists who drew any minority ever or “ugly” features. It really exemplifies to me how online culture (especially on western apps) views western standards of beauty as the only way people can be beautiful. And why, in their mind, would someone create art that isn’t beautiful in that way unless they’re trying to be weird or make a statement? When, in reality, the beauty is in that they’re drawing what they see, what they want to see, and what they think is beautiful. Without diversity in what we consider beauty there is no beauty.

In this case it also feels a bit. Weird. To have the big nose be such a big issue. I don’t see people getting mad at hooked nose scar? How is this any different? There is nothing different about the way you draw scar now and the way you drew him before aside from that. You’ve always drawn him with body hair and fat and with these details that really just. Humanize him. And I think the point I’m trying to make here is that drawing people with big noses or crooked eyes or acne scars isn’t bad or weird and only adds to your art. It only makes you a better artist and I’ve genuinely watched you improve really really fast as you’ve drawn these characters with so much body diversity. Anyway. Big nose scar sweeeeep

honestly yea. sometimes when i see people draw certain characters it almost feels like theyre afraid of making them "unattractive" if you know what i mean? like i dont know how else to describe it but its really weird.

making their nose smaller, giving female characters bigger eyes and fuller lips, drawing only skinny characters, drawing older people with less wrinkles then they actually have or should have etc. and like people can draw whatever they want of course but tbh i see those "unattractive" parts as beautiful.

like i genuinely think wrinkles are pretty. i think big noses, hooked noses, small noses, crooked noses or just any kind of noses are beautiful. i think someones lips dont have to be full to look pretty. i think fat people and skinny people and just all kinds of people are beautiful. acne scars and and skin markings of any kind are beautiful.

idk just all those things and imperfections even make people beautiful to me.

like i find diversity beautiful and its kinda sad that some people dont see it that way? not everyone is skinny and buff, not all women will have the perfect hourglass figure or full lips etc.

those body types are beautiful too of course but sometimes i feel like people should see beauty in other body types and features as well.

anyway thank you for the ask it was very sweet and i do agree with you <3

[smoothiewrites]

Despite having just fallen from the sky, they were celebrating.

The canoe, while quite large for a boat of its general stature, was far too small to well contain all of its occupants. Each of its passengers were all stuffed close together along the seats and sides, but they hardly were thinking about that. They were thinking about victory. 

And that sense was easily present on their faces. They felt that joy and relief down into the depths of their souls. Fear held their hearts still, but its grip was loosening minute by minute as the port lights grew closer, shining like pure gold across the night-black waves. The canoe rocked its way towards those lights, on its own time.

The grizzled looking, war-scarred woman stood over everyone, placing a hand on her comrade's shoulder to not fall over the side. "A toast, everyone!" She shouted into the night air, smiling wide. She held up her hand holding an imaginary glass, "A toast to Aegeus, and his broken fucking sword!" And thrust the glass into the air, to a cheer from the folks around her. The whole crowd cheered and laughed warmly as they looked to the boy in question, to warmly shake his shoulders and lay congratulations on to him.

Aegeus, or Aggy as most people called him, was content to receive all the praise from the knights who all looked at him with a twinkle in their eyes. He had a genuine mop of dark brown hair and a genuine face just on the cusp of adulthood, with some fading acne marks still marking his cheeks. Particularly bright green eyes looked towards each soldier around him with each word of praise. As he acknowledged them one by one, he glanced at the girl next to him, who looked unbothered by all the commotion but all the same unsure if she was looking at anything at all. The girl, named Calliope, had Asian features and straight black hair that covered most of her face from Aggy's perspective, looked over to him. They had, unmistakably, the same eyes. The two regarded each other quite seriously for a moment, the silent and brief exchange replaced a conversation that might have gone like this:

"You alright, Callie?"

"Oh, great. Just overwhelmed."

"By the knights?"

"They sure aren't celebrating your intelligence."

"Harsh."

"Just show them your sword or something. Hold it away from me, please."

Aggy freed his arm from the tangle of folks and drew what was left of his sword, and each figure aboard the boat shrunk in its strangeness. The hilt and guard shone in the approaching port lights, the gold highlighting the bronze in quite a magical way. 

The blade, less so. To a length of about four inches from the guard it was indistinguishable from an average blade. What was left of the rest of the blade was corroded, scorched, weakened with frost growing in the cracks. Even reduced to such a diminished form, the weapon's power was clear in the chill it left in the air, how it seemed to be eating even the light from the port into itself. Its ominous presence was felt through all of the occupants of the boat. Calliope shivered a bit as he brought the blade into view.

"To the real hero, all." He lifted the sword above his head, a tight grip held it horizontally above his head in salute. "The Banisher Blade." The boat's raucous joy faded a bit at the presence of the blade, yet all in the boat gave the salute back in respect. Aggy was gladdened to notice that many of the knights were not looking at him anymore, their eyes instead fell upon the blade. Fear squeezed the hearts of the company here, but they took shelter in the proximity of each other, the safety of the sea, and the warm lights at their backs. They stood firm, and for that, Aggy felt proud.

Aegeus glanced to the front of the boat, and noticed the one figure who was not looking at him or the blade. He faced the sea, staring. Unlike most of the people on the boat, he was not wearing armor. All he had were clothes of red cloth, rich and beautiful in the light, which was the second most interesting thing about him. The massive, feathery wings on his back took the number one spot for that. His hair was blond just like his feathers, long and graceful in the way they fell down his back. His profile outlined a soft yet somehow sharp face, young but also aged, and glowing brightly yet looking so solemn.

Aggy thought he was, in a word, beautiful.

He placed the Banisher Blade back in its scabbard, and mumbled something to the crew to get them back to their carousing. Carefully stepping across the boat over many pairs of legs, he approached the radiant figure. Somehow, it was quieter on this side of the boat.

Aggy extended a hand to his shoulder, bare skin shivering at the touch. The face looked up at him, surprised.

"For what it's worth, Ganymede, I forgive you." He said quietly, gesturing with his eyebrows. Ganymede looked back out to the sea.

"What does one do with forgiveness, Aegeus?" His voice floated to meet Aggy's ears like a gentle violin. "Carry it with you? curl it up into a ball and throw it away once you're not looking?" 

"Flatten it into a stone and see how many times it skips." Aggy remarked. Silence fell between them for a moment, his attempt at a lightening remark falling noticeably flat.

"I'm sorry for lying." Ganymede said. "I've never done it before." At this, Aggy crouched down to Ganymede's level. Ganymede's eyes were not like his, but they met each other's gaze with a soft familiarity.

"Mortality's tough, huh?" Aggy asked. Ganymede nodded like a dog shaking out its fur. "Like I said, I forgive you, Gans. "

"And Calliope?" Ganymede asked, voice quivering slightly.

"She'll get over it." Aggy said, looking over at Callie, who was deep in a conversation with some knights, holding a drawing of an ox and gesturing emphatically. "I should probably get back to the company. We'll all sit down over a meal and talk it out tomorrow, okay?"

"Can we have those ribs again?" Ganymede asked. Aggy thought for a minute on what to say.

"We'll get something just as good, promise." He said, and walked back to his seat. For now, his armor was quiet, and the Banisher Blade weighed much less in its scabbard. As he met eyes with Calliope once more, he thought back to what the Oracle told them.

He couldn't possibly kill Ganymede, that didn't seem right. I wouldn't do that, he thought to himself. I won't.

Right?

[keiraboberia]

One of my Favorite parts of this community is the genuine body positivity. Like there is no shame behind drawing any kind traits that society has deemed unattractive. Acne? Always! Scars? Bring ‘em’ baby! Fat? Not a problem! Short, tall, fat, skinny, blemishes, braces, anything under the sun goes here and it makes me feel so happy. I have never once seen someone complain about the way a character looks, that’s the beauty of an audio format. This entire fanbase is so unapologetic and non-performative. And the best part?? All of these traits don’t make the characters unattractive!!! Quite the contrary infact!! Finally normal human bodies are being represented in a non-harmful light!! I know I shouldn’t praise the bare minimum, but this is genuinely so valuable to me.

(I worry this will be taken the wrong way, I’m just really happy to see characters with fat or acne represented AND seen as attractive instead of just the kooky comedic reliefs (though technically all characters in this podcast comedic reliefs))

[susansontag]

I do hate this narrative that women who chose to stop wearing makeup just did it because we’re attractive or whatever and can’t sympathise with other women. like I had body dysmorphia and wouldn’t let my friends or family take photos of me for years or would be unhappy when they did. that’s memories I look like I wasn’t even a part of. when I started wearing makeup at university I felt like a failure for being bad at it but genuinely thought it was the only thing that could make me look acceptable to others. I couldn’t understand why some of my female friends wanted to be around me I thought I was that ugly! I had terrible dry skin, acne, the works as a teenager and have scars now

I still feel better than I ever did about myself now that I not only stopped wearing makeup but have changed my outlook on myself as a whole. I no longer think it’ll ‘save’ my appearance and actually think it makes women look odd... something has definitely been rewired in my brain. I actually think I look ‘better’ now that I’ve stopped worrying how I look and put more emphasis on whether I appear confident, or intelligent, or empathetic, etc, bc it’s things like this that endeared people to me in the first place. like I try so hard to be considerate towards those who perhaps truly don’t conform to social standards of beauty but so many of us have felt ugly and done it anyway, it’s not right to make assumptions about us like that

[3-lavender]

Why am I so ugly? I’m not fishing for compliments or anything, it’s just a genuine question. Like I look like a man, my body is shaped weird, I have acne, my hair is never right, my brow bone is too prominent, my nose is too big, my lips are crooked, I have a mustache, I have scars, I walk weird, my smile is really gummy, my eyes are too wide I’ve been told it’s unsettling, my face is too round, my side profile is probably my biggest physical insecurity. It is literally messed up from mouth breathing. Search up mouth breather side profile and you’ll get an idea. I’ve kinda accepted that I’ll never like how I look but sometimes it brings me down like today and I just wish I looked like anyone but me. I know I’m my biggest critic but isn’t my opinion that matters the most? I wish I loved myself. I wish I thought I was beautiful 24/7. I’m trying to get there I really am. I just get so tired of living like this sometimes.

[stuckinapril]

i’m constantly torn between loving myself and accepting my flaws versus changing what’s making me insecure and succumbing to beauty standards. for instance, i want a better body but do i only want it because of societal pressure to look my best? because i’ll be treated better? should i embrace my acne scars or should i get treatment to change it bc it’s deemed as unattractive? idk i always feel so guilty when i get insecure and want to change something about myself because i know that this is what society wants but “embrace your flaws” is always playing in my head as well.

babe :( well i just want you to know that it's completely valid to feel like this. being a girl in this day and age is really fucking hard, what w all the expectations society places on us in terms of beauty. the most confident woman in your life has had the same thought loops before. most everyone has. please don't punish yourself for just being human. i am holding you in my arms and telling you it will be ok. i love u

i struggle w this as well. what has helped me the most is asking the question "am i really doing this for me?" but like really, truly asking myself this. i genuinely believe this is what separates a good personal decision from a bad one. do i want that clear skin for me? do i want to be fit for me? do i want that body for me? i think about that one margaret atwood quote all the time, where she's like "you are a woman with a man inside watching a woman." literally so true. we women do so many things for the male gaze--sometimes even by rejecting the male gaze, we're still performing for it. but even w how challenging it can be, sometimes we just need to shut out all that noise and operate from a place of self-direction. it's hard. it's really hard. but i like to think it's still possible.

if you were the only one who could see you, would you still want to change your appearance? this is not to say wanting to alter yourself is bad, more so that it has to be for the right reasons. deciding to do it to fulfill a beauty standard is just a balm on a life-long wound. the truly long-lasting solution is looking your own reflection in the eye, recognizing your unique beauty, and loving yourself for it despite what other people say

[symptoms-syndrome]

Ok on a more positive note. I think.

I'm like. Attractive. I get flirted with/danced on at clubs and am popular on dating apps and the like. So objectively, evidence shows that people find me attractive.

And it's! Kinda weird! Because I definitely was not attractive growing up. I did sex work but I was successful because I fit a certain niche. But I definitely wasn't like. Popular or anything. I had trouble taking care of myself. I didn't really dress fashionably or anything.

It's a pleasant surprise, to be honest, but it's sooo strange because I'm definitely not used to getting the kind of attention I get now and I almost never know how to like, process it? It's so strange to me when people tell me I'm pretty/attractive/beautiful. I mostly just say thank you, or sometimes joke about it or act silly and dramatic (curtsy, twirl, strike a pose, etc) and say something like "aren't I?" Or "I know right?" if it's a friend.

It's not like I really cared about being attractive. Now I do, but mostly like. For myself. And I say that with earnesty. I like to feel pretty. I love my body and finding ways to style it and having other people appreciate it is a very nice bonus. It's also just really strange because like, yea I think I'm attractive, but I'm not like. What I think a lot of people typically think of as the peak of beauty or anything. I'm a little chubby and have large visible scars from skin grafts on my arm and leg and acne and I don't shave or anything. Not that I think any of these are unattractive, because I don't hide them on myself and I sometimes like to show these things off, they're part of my body and I love my whole body. Not just saying that. I'm getting tattoos that use and show off my scars actually. Maybe I'm just wildly attractive to queer people LOL.

I hope this doesn't come off as a humblebrag or a flex or anything. It's genuinely really...I don't know! New and interesting to me. But it's like. A good challenge. Unlike many of the bad and hard challenges I've been having lately. And I kind of think that like. Of course some things changed, but I do think that the biggest factor in people finding me attractive now is that *I* find me attractive now. Like the confidence. Because not THAT much has changed about me between now and then, physically. I got a little chubbier and got scars and stopped shaving but also like. Take care of myself better now and hold myself with confidence.

Take that as you will.

[blondeslovesushi]

Dating Apps

When I was in my teens I fantasised about a high school romance. Think Troy and Gabriela from High School Musical (1,2, and 3) I wanted someone to hold hands with through the school halls, to sit with at lunch. To match their tie to my dress for prom. Alas for me I was painfully insecure and self conscious so I wasted my teen years watching my friends get boyfriends and the boys I liked get girlfriends. I never had my sweetheart love. I was never anyone's first and by the time I had mine I was too embarrassed to admit it.

*sidenote there is no "right" age to do things at. You should never feel pressured, uncomfortable or embarrassed when it comes to these things, and if you are then I promise you that person is not the "right" one.

However I feel that our twenties are advertised to us girls in a Sex & The City sort of way. A jam packed social calendar, a wardrobe full of clothes and of course men (and lots of them for any of my Samantha girls). While FOMO and a shopping addiction have the first two items on the list checked off for me, I have always struggle with the last. And unfortunately unlike SATC the art of approaching someone in public seems to have been lost. That is where dating apps come into play.

A twentieth century phenomena. Tinder, Hinge, Bumble, Plenty of Fish etc etc etc. Every day it seems that there are new dating apps each introducing a 'new' and 'unique' way of dating. Each the same as the one before. On countless occasions I have found myself creating accounts (or shamefully unpausing accounts). I admit sometimes I am not on dating apps for the most bona fide reasons. Sometimes my friends and I just want to have a laugh and see what ridiculous things we can get away with saying, other times I just enjoy the ego boost of seeing a 'Your Matches' section number increase. Watching the notifications of likes from men come in fills that part of my brain with the same praise that I used to get when my teacher would use me as a class example of what a good standard of work was.

However much these compliments and quite frankly horrific pick up lines temporarily fill me with a sense of worth the feeling never lasts - much less turns into a genuine connection. Instead I end up feeling more unlovable (or even worse in this day and age, un-lust-able) then I did before I pressed 'Create Profile'.

I spend far too much time curating a profile of pictures I deem worthy while trying to give witty and intriguing answers to the dull prompts such as "My ideal weekend includes ..." and "A way to win me over is by ..." Shamefully I admit that dating apps have made me far more surface level than I would like to admit. I find myself swiping left on men below 185cm and judging them for the angle in which they took their photo at. When did I get so mean? I was never this judgemental before. When I was younger I used to believe that my friend's boyfriend's friend would only speak to me because he felt sorry for me because I was a spotty teenager with reddish skin and a flat chest. Yet now I suddenly deem myself superior? That I am better than all the people I reject on an app that has on average 75 million users per month just because I only use the photos that don't show my stomach or the acne scars I have on my chin? Similarly I hate how it feels when I am not liked back by a man who I saw on one of my swiping sprees and instantaneously planned a whole life with. Suddenly I am sixteen again comparing myself to every other girl. Is the person who swiped left on me as judgemental and cruel as I am?

Truthfully I do not believe that we should be exposed to this amount of people in such a short period of time. Dating apps have skewed our perception of what beauty is and what somebodies worth consists of. Dating apps have nothing to do with love or meaningful human connection instead they revolve ultimately around superficial lust and self fulfilment. While I can see the many success stories of these various apps I know from my own personal experiences and those of my friends these apps have at most led to awkward meet ups and futile hook-ups.

I think our twenties should be about making memories and mistakes. Staying out late with and staying in with friends. Discovering what is important to us and who we are as individuals. For going out and joining that book club or football team. Our twenties are about screaming and crying and laughing and kissing and loving and living. For meeting new people at a coffee shop or at the club. Your twenties are for forgetting about other peoples opinions and perspective of you and doing things purely for the fact that YOU want to.

I think I will leave the dating apps for my thirties.

Love, Bel xx

[pritysinghrajput007]

Skin doctor in Madhu Vihar

Living in Madhu Vihar? Chances are, at some point you've searched for a "skin doctor near me." Whether you're battling stubborn acne, grappling with unwanted hair, or simply seeking guidance for glowing skin, finding the right dermatologist can feel like a quest. But worry not, fellow Madhu Vihar residents, because nestled right here in your neighborhood lies a haven for all things skin – Dr. Bhawna Gupta's Skin and Laser Center. Why Dr. Bhawna Gupta? Dr. Gupta isn't just any dermatologist; she's a skin whisperer, a maestro of radiant complexions. With years of experience, a gentle touch, and a keen eye for detail, she treats every patient with personalized care and unwavering dedication. Whether your concern is cosmetic or medical, Dr. Gupta tackles it with expertise and genuine warmth. Beyond Acne: A Spectrum of Expertise Acne may be the common reason for seeking a dermatologist, but Dr. Gupta's magic extends far beyond. She's your go-to for a vast array of skin concerns, including: Pigmentation and Melasma: Sun-kissed glow is one thing, but stubborn dark spots are another. Dr. Gupta has solutions to even out your skin tone and reveal a flawless canvas. Wrinkles and Ageing: Time may leave its mark, but Dr. Gupta knows how to turn back the clock. From Botox and fillers to advanced laser treatments, she has tools to restore youthfulness and defy gravity. Hair Removal: Unwanted hair? Laser hair removal is a game-changer, and Dr. Gupta uses the latest technology for permanent, pain-free results. Psoriasis and Eczema: These chronic conditions can be frustrating, but Dr. Gupta offers effective treatments for symptom management and long-term relief. And so much more: From rosacea and allergies to nail concerns and scar reduction, Dr. Gupta's comprehensive expertise covers every inch of your skin's needs. More Than Just Treatments, It's an Experience A visit to Dr. Bhawna Gupta's Skin and Laser Center is an experience in itself. Her clinic is a haven of comfort and tranquility, designed to put you at ease from the moment you step in. Her friendly staff ensures a smooth and seamless journey, while Dr. Gupta's warm smile and attentive listening skills make you feel truly heard and understood. Investing in Your Skin, Investing in You Taking care of your skin isn't just about beauty; it's about self-confidence, well-being, and feeling your best in your own skin. Dr. Bhawna Gupta understands this, and she's dedicated to helping you achieve your skin goals, whatever they may be. So, if you're searching for a "skin doctor in Madhu Vihar," look no further than Dr. Bhawna Gupta's Skin and Laser Center. It's not just a clinic; it's a gateway to a healthier, happier you, starting with a radiant, confident glow. Bonus Tip: Dr. Gupta is passionate about educating her patients. Check out her blog and social media for informative tips and insights on all things skin. https://www.skinandlaserclinic.co.in/