#in my esthetician era

[theloveinc]

I don’t wanna be sukuna’s concubine I wanna be the esthetician he calls when he needs blackheads picked out of his back and I want to be wearing these

[girl4pay]

looking for job number 2.5 while signing up for montessori paraprofessional training and looking into going to esthetician school finally. entering my adam parrish era

[dancedance-resolution]

job & gender thoughts

i have just realized that a lot of the issues i’ve had at work regarding appearance are all just gender lol. first it was my scrubs fitting like shit, and it was resolved when emi gave me her old scrubs, “girl why were you hiding that figure!”. then my hair looking like shit bc i never do anything with it. then my lack of makeup. and today when emi asked if i wanted to be a “model” for laser leg hair removal and was astonished i turned down what is equivalent to a ~$1.5k series of services…. she asked why and i said some old catholic hang ups which is honestly fucking hilarious looking back but like. yeah. idk why it’s taken me 3 months here to connect the dots that it’s all gender lol

i do enjoy femininity in myself, and i fucking loved it when i was dating a butch. being with her made me feel so much joy and confidence with my gender and allowed me to explore femininity so much more. she’s not really relevant to this since we had broken up a month before i started this job but yeah - wait Oh i remember the point i was trying to make. so the big motivator to my thinking i was transmasc era was a reaction to how restrictive the forced femininity of existing in a catholic space felt to me. but the type of femininity forced on me back then was even very different from now. this is all appearance based, and in my old life i was allowed to not put too much effort into a feminine appearance (TO AN EXTENT) so long as i maintained other signifiers of catholic femininity.

i remember when i first started this job and emi sent out that text about how makeup etc is mandatory, i told my mom i’d quit on the spot if that was actually enforced. and i made it some principled social thing when justifying that to her lol bc even to my own self i think i hadn’t realized how gender related my opposition was.

(“ddr why does your job require makeup etc” estheticians work there and it’s essentially a beauty-making place so i understand it to an extent)

i know i’m not great at my job but i’m very fucking decent at it. i unfortunately do work quite hard. when i started i was basically just a cashier and now i am the sole ava person, sole pictures person, main phone person, and 9 times out of 10 the runner (though i am the cashier far less). i am always busy (i’ve stopped even bringing a book to work) and always working when on the clock. and emi knows this but doesn’t know this i think. today i told maddy i didn’t want to take on extra picture responsibility and i guess i/she conveyed it wrong bc then i overhear emi tell her “since when could ppl pick what to do at their job” and like first of all maddy “picks” not to do pictures or numbing bc it makes her uncomfy and i’m able to do it for her easily, and so i assumed i was allowed to “pick” not to be the picture file person bc taylor already does that as far as i know. i think i did decently explaining my actual thought process to emi but like. i feel like the difference btw how lauren is presumed competent (which she is!!!) and how i’m not presumed competent by maddy (lots of other examples of this) is very obvious to me but not emi. but maddy is emi’s source of info regarding what me and lauren do so. my mom would say i need to talk to emi directly and advocate for myself more but idk. this is just a job to me and i need to learn how to care less about what emi thinks of me as a worker lol.

but what im also getting at here - to what extent was lauren presumed competent over me bc she appears more professional. which is valid to an extent! like she is objectively more “professional” i think, but also i still don’t really understand what creates professionalism so maybe i’m wrong. but anyways - emi has had to fight me regarding my appearance etc and that’s never been the case for lauren. she has been competent appearance wise from day one, so i guess she gets subconscious presumption of competence at her job too. (which she is!! lauren is lovely and a hard worker! but objectively does way less than i do and yet maddy’s out here telling emi i don’t want to take on extra responsibility in a way that doesn’t paint me well i guess meanwhile she says to emi that lauren shouldn’t have to take on that same work bc lauren’s always busy, but she’s on her phone sometimes WHICH IS NOT A SIN TO ME but when i’m breathing wrong it’s a sin to maddy lol so. what’s going on with this lol.

so idk these are my thoughts. what have i gotten out of writing this, i need to care less about work lol. way less haha. i’m not on the clock why have i spent this long thinking about work. & also maybe i need to figure out a way to convey to emi that my lack of feminine appearance isn’t motivated by me blowing off her rule but rather is complicated and hard for me lol. idk if she’ll respect that (she certainly won’t understand it lol) so maybe i don’t but yeah

[itwas50yearsagotoday]

8/13/23: It was 50 years ago this month, August 1973, Can would release their fourth album Future Days. This is the culmination of the Damo Suzuki era of this seminal experimental German 'Kraut-Rock' band. It could easily be considered one of the first Ambient (for Ambient's sake) genre records... I mean this album feels like a direct forerunner to a non-electronica William Orbit, or the Orb perhaps... I may be speaking out of turn here, as I'm not an Ambient expert. Like Tangerine Dream is sometimes considered a proto-Ambient group, but I think this record is so much more relaxing than, say, 'Phaedra' by TD (won't get to it, sry)... and what's weird is that, really, it's super busy, like every damn Can record is... tons of percussion, sudden changes in time signature, Suzuki's yelps here and there, but the vibe is just so laid back. The title track is probably my favorite Can song (although 'One More Night' off their previous record is about its equal, as is 'Vernal Equinox', which we won't also get to)... I used to like the shorter (and more Spotify-popular) 'Moonshake', but the title track is just such a winner... like if I were an esthetician I would play this to relax clients while I'm plucking their eyebrows. Yep. 'Moonshake', like I said, is good too... at this point in their career it is probably their most mainstream-ish song, if that is possible for Can. Again, don't forget, Damo Suzuki is only pretending to sing English here... somehow his nonsense sounds kinda poppy. Maybe the only okay-ish song on here is 'Spray'... just kinda meanders. The magnum opus of this record is of course the side-long number 'Bel Air'... I see this song referenced a lot by critics as being the big cheese on this record. I can see it, I s'pose. About nine minutes in it seems to stop, but then after some studio mumbling it picks up again. Whatever! Admittedly it's so fucking dense I get a bit lost in it, but it's growing on me too, all twenty minutes of it. Will you like this record too? I think you could have it as background at a party and it wouldn't clear it... and how often can you say that about a Can record? Sehr gut.

[soothingaura]

I’m currently in school to become an Esthetician. I adore skin care and facials but I’m having some trouble coming up with clever ways to network and build my clientele. Do you have any tips on networking and building your Esti presence irl and on social media, especially as a student? I currently have an Esti Instagram with no followers 😭 but I’m willing to put in the work.

✨ IRL ✨

Start with people you know. You have a built-in network of friends, family, and acquaintances. Take advantage of this if you haven't already! Ask them to talk about your business with others; you never know who might be interested.

Attend seminars / networking events hosted by established aestheticians, skincare brands, people in the beauty industry in general. Go prepared with business cards (I know we're in a social era and business cards are considered old-fashioned, but they're something the other person can hold onto and "stumble upon" later on, unlike an Instagram handle which can easily be forgotten).

Host a small gathering of your own if you prefer and invite people in your area; they don't even have to be in the same field as you.

Speaking of not being in the same field as you, don’t limit yourself to your own industry. Reach out to people from different backgrounds, they could be great connections down the line!

When networking, help people and really mean it. It’s the best way to build genuine relationships. Avoid focusing on what you can get out of networking, rather view it as a way for you to be an asset to others; that way they'll keep you in mind and return the favour.

Don't forget to follow-up with anyone you met, even if you spoke to them briefly. If you had a conversation with someone and you exchanged details, it's considered good practice to keep in touch with them. You can build that relationship there.

✨ ONLINE ✨

Follow people in your field with a small following. Smaller, upcoming businesses tend to follow back and support one another. Keep in touch with them by commenting on their posts, liking them, sharing them on your stories and they'll likely do the same for you. This is how you get your name out there.

A carefully crafted feed can be the first step to success. If your content has a consistent aesthetic, you’ll give your followers a sense of familiarity and create a community that cares about you/your brand. A social media template pack (that you can purchase for cheap on Creative Market or create on your own on Canva) is helpful when it comes to this.

Switch to a business profile to keep tabs on your analytics to see which posts are doing well and which ones aren't, that way you can recreate the successful posts and avoid the ones that didn’t take off!

Post more carousels and reels, Instagram seems to favour them and pull more of a reach than single posts do. Post them consistently. Reels are especially helpful if filmed properly (correct dimensions, popular sounds, using tags, etc.). I recently posted my first reel and it landed on the explore page and therefore was exposed to hundreds of thousands of people. I gained a total of 1k followers since then (posted it on May 13th) and it currently has 724k views. My other reels are slowly getting views too and I think it has to do with this one reel. As with everything on social media, post consistently.

Get on Twitter if you aren’t already. I’ve noticed a lot of aestheticians on there networking and promoting their business and willing to help other aestheticians as well.

Use a scheduling app if you're busy or want to post a certain time and can't do it manually. You need to post when everyone is online and that may not be a time where you are free, so use a scheduling app.

Lastly, observe your competition (or your inspirations!) and what they're doing. Take notes. Everyone has a different formula for success but you can adapt their successful marketing strategies into your business model.

That's it for now! I think these are good to start with. Hope this helped!

[meechibell]

Build Your Own Sims 4 EP Challenge

Uptown World Expansion Pack

*My entry for #BuildYourOwnEPChall by #SimsBogdy99

 The 3 models I made are wearing all black salon uniforms. Dressing in all black takes the focus off of the stylists and puts it onto the clients where it should be.  All of their other outfits are made with their favorite colors in mind and are heavily themed with a 1980's vibe because I'm kind of stuck in that era because the music, fashion, and hair were so cool... still cool. So on with the pack...

Welcome to Rockin Key, the home of some of the world's greatest musicians!  Rockin Key is where the rich & famous go to play, and the locals that keep it going play here too. Located 5 miles West of Del Sol Valley, it's easy to find... follow the endless sounds of great live music across the 5 mile bridge to Rockin Key... the city that never sleeps.  Rockin Key entertainment venues are open 24/7. 

 On Rockin Key you'll find many new venues & plenty of room to build with 15 new lots to build homes/businesses! Including new lot types such as hair salons, Day Care Centers, houseboats, indoor concert halls, and movie theaters.

  Rockin Key (new) Venues Include: -Santiago's Hair Salon - Sims can now visit Hair Stylists, Nail Techs, & Estheticians for a variety of services. Don & Jori and their team are here to help you be the best looking version of yourself. Remember, it's all about the hair!

-Rockin Key's Slice of Paradise Concert Theater - This is the largest new venue. This is where the biggest names in the sim music industry come to perform. It's always the hottest ticket in town.  

-Rhapsody Twin Movie Theatre - Sims can now take their family, or a date, to the movies! The Plaza Twin Theatre has a full service concession stand, and the movie popcorn machine is always popping to make sure the popcorn is hot & fresh. To wash the popcorn down they also serve fountain sodas, and there's a variety of candy to choose from. In each theater for all sims' comfort, they'll find recliner chairs with built in soda & popcorn holders. It's stadium seating so no worries about someone's head being in a sim's line of view while enjoying their movie. And for the kiddies there are booster seats available.

-Sunny Sushi Bar - Indoor & outdoor dining w/ live music nightly by Toffee Butler (piano) or The Dunk-a-noos (steel drum band), located next to the marina. -Moody's Marina - Here sims can buy/own a luxury yacht w/ hot tub & full bar. Yachts can leave port and travel the area. Sims can fish off of a yacht or they can now charter a fishing boat.

-Lil' Sponges Daycare Academy - Sims can now drop off their children at this Nautical themed, state of the art Daycare Academy for ages infant - 5 years old. This isn't just a babysitting service; as an Academy it has licensed teachers to teach age appropriate lessons while keeping track of each child's growth and progress in their speech, fine motor skills, gross motor skills and social skills. By the time these little sponges are ready to move on to Kindergarten at 5 yrs old, many will be able to skip right into 1st grade.

NEW CAREERS

 -Hair Stylist This career is for the sim that believes it's all about the hair. Once a customer has the right hairstyle, anything is possible! Hair Stylists can wash hair, cut hair, color/highlight hair, perm or straighten hair & blow dry hair. Top level Supreme Hair Stylists unlocks hair extensions that come in long, medium, short, & extra short (to add bangs/fringe to most hair styles already in the game) with each length also being in straight, wavy, curly, or braided styles, each available in all colors for both females and males, age teen-elder. Depending on the hairstylist's level will be the outcome of the hairstyle given, so sometimes with lower levels there may be mistakes and corrections needed that result in comedic reactions by sims/hairstylists.  

 *Supreme Hair Stylist Bonus: Becoming a CELEBRITY HAIR STYLIST: Once a sim reaches top level as a Supreme Hair Stylist, they will begin to gain notoriety and in time will reach "celebrity" hairstylist status. Once this is achieved they will start to receive celebrities/rockstars as clients, be asked to go on location to music video sets, and backstage at concerts, to work on musicians'/celebs' hair, and they'll hob-nob with the rich and famous. Also, a celebrity hair stylist can be Owner & Creative Director of a very successful hair salon w/ barely any problems. They'll even be given the opportunity to own a chain of hair salons if the first one is successful. 

 -Nail Technician/Artist 

A career for sims that believe a person can't be their very best without well manicured hands and feet. Services provided, how well and how quickly done, depends on the level of Nail Tech/Artist. Lower levels may either take longer or make mistakes such as wrong nail color or spills water on the client.  Once a higher level is reached the Nail Tech adds Artist to their repertoire and unlocks fun nail art & nail accessories. When a sim visits a Nail Artist the prices are higher, appointment is quicker, and you get to choose the color(s) of nail polish used on the sim, along with a paint design (flowers/hearts/holiday themes) and/or nail accessories such as glitter or rhinestones.  

 -Esthetician For the sim that sees other sims as walking Barbie & Ken dolls and helps them reach that status through ridding them of any and all body hair through artful waxing. Starting level can only provide facials, moustache waxing, & eyebrow waxing/shaping. They also provide skin treatments afterwards to sooth the red hot burning newly waxed fresh skin after peeling off a layer with the hot wax. Clients are taken to a private area (behind a curtain or door) for body waxing. Bikini waxing for female/male adult-elder is unlocked once an Esthetician reaches the top level as an Elite Esthetician.  

(Note on how I see the Esthetician career as working in the game... Once an Esthetician reaches "elite" level they can start body waxing clients, so the nude sim laying on the table will have blurred privates, same as when they shower, but we'll know the spot the Esthetician is waxing as the sim will make some kind of horrible scream and/or face due to the wax being ripped off which makes for funny game play. You see it too, right?

 -Hair Salon Owner & Creative Director  This career is the ultimate goal for most Hair Stylists... a dream come true. This career is best suited for the sim who has achieved the top level as Supreme Hair Stylist because they know what they're doing, what the salon needs, and more importantly what their employees and clients need. Even with all of their experience and knowledge in the hair industry, they still hit bumps in the road and make mistakes. Hair Salon Owner & Creative Director may also work well for other salon employees after a sim reaches either the Finest Nail Artist level or the Elite Esthetician level. They will run into a few surprise bumps that the Supreme Hair Stylist knows how to avoid, but they have a better chance of success than a sim that has no salon experience. With that being said a sim without prior salon experience who can afford it, can be a Hair Salon Owner & Creative Director; however, that sim will  have a much more difficult time in being the salon owner & creative director with more mishaps, unhappy employees, angry clients, and more stress than the Supreme Hair Stylist that becomes an owner & creative director. Their chance of failure with the salon closing down is 50% higher than that of a salon employee & 75% higher risk than that of a Supreme Hair Stylist.  Top level for Hair Salon Owner & Creative Director opens up the opportunity for them to expand into a Hair Salon Chain Owner.

-Professional Contemporary Music Artist This career is for the sim that wants to be a Music Idol & Pop Culture Icon. Those that seek after a career as a professional contemporary music artist include sims that have dreamt about success as either a solo pop or hip-hop artist, or as a member of a rock band, or a member in a popular boy or girl band. Their journey begins when they begin to practice singing and/or playing instruments. As their skill increases, they'll gain notoriety performing in venues around town until finally a big music manager contacts them after hearing them perform in a local bar and offers them an audition. If the audition goes well, they'll then be offered a contract with choices such as music genre & solo artist or in a band to begin their musical career. Once the contract is signed, the sim will start receiving dates for live concert gigs that you will be able to follow and play sim through the onstage performances as well as the backstage after parties. At top level the sim will become known as a "King/Queen of Music" which will unlock many new items made for a rock/pop superstar including clothing,  jewelry, big hairstyles, & other rockstar items themed after 1980's musical legends that are known for their music & iconic fashion styles such as George Michael (Wham!), Prince, Bon Jovi, Tina Turner, Cher, Run DMC, Heart, Janet Jackson, DJ Jazzy Jeff & the Fresh Prince, Cyndi Lauper, & Boy George (Culture Club).

 NEW ASPIRATION CATEGORY: TRADESMANSHIP 

NEW ASPIRATIONS: 

-Supreme Hair Stylist 

-Finest Nail Artist 

-Elite Esthetician -Hair Salon Chain Owner -King/Queen of Music

 NEW TRAITS: 

 FINICKY - A sim with this trait is extremely hard to please & they change their minds often too. Finicky sims are the customers that businesses, hair stylists, & servers have nightmares about. They want things exactly like they want it, and if it's not to their preferences, they'll throw a hissy fit refusing to pay for services. At the hair salon they're the client that will ask for a certain hair style or nail style, and halfway through they'll change their mind or when finished burst out in tears saying they don't like it. If they place an order over the phone, or in a restaurant, there's a good chance by the time it arrives, they'll no longer want it causing them to pout, complain & refuse to pay for it. If they enjoy an activity one day, they may hate it the next. If they have a romantic interest, they may lose interest faster than other sims. They may even become the runaway bride or groom. Their likes & dislikes change often because they are FINICKY. 

LEECH - A sim with this trait is outgoing, cheerful, & charming so making a new friend, or romantic connection, is easy for them & quicker than other sims, but once another sim befriends them they will become the center of the LEECH sim's world. A LEECH will only want to do things with that one friend or love interest, and they will expect the same from that friend or love interest. They want to do everything with ONLY that 1 person, and can show up at any time, & anywhere, uninvited to be with them. When not with their friend, they're calling them on the phone, even if they're at work. And if they see their 1 friend/love interest being friendly with anyone else, they will act out in sneaky jealous "accidental" actions towards the other sim who is "stealing" their friend's attention away from the LEECH, such as spilling a drink on them, or bumping into them hard enough to knock them out of the way, or causing them to trip, or pulling their chair out from under them. A LEECH will talk to anyone that will listen to them, and when they're really lonely they will visit their favorite hangouts to talk to the employees knowing as a customer they have to talk to them and be nice. The LEECH is often a Rockin Key business' nightmare client because they tend to hang around bothering the employees or other customers looking for attention.   Some leeches even ask for free things like a drink. The LEECH doesn't have the same obsession with their family members, only with that 1 special friend/love interest which may be their spouse. With family members the LEECH is known for inviting themselves to dinner, or on outings (and of course leeches always forget their wallet no matter who they're with); however, when they make that 1 special friend or love interest their family is relieved because they get a break from the LEECH that will now come around much less often, if ever, while in the other relationship. Breaking off a relationship with the LEECH is not pretty either. They will throw huge fits no matter where or how the break up happens. And don't be surprised if the sim that broke it off now finds themselves being watched with a telescope or being followed when they go out as the LEECH has a very hard time letting go & may pop up at any time just to say "hi" w/ a creepy smile as they walk away. They also may find that their mail has been stolen when the electric is suddenly shut off due to non-payment since the LEECH out of anger stole their mail, though they're unable to prove it to the police. 

 WALLFLOWER- This sim is a romantic at heart, creative, super sweet & friendly, but has trouble approaching other sims, especially strangers because they're shy. They long to socialize with other sims & enjoy going out on the town to different venues/events hoping to make a friend, or meet that special someone; however, once they arrive, they will stay seated and will not approach sims becoming a WALLFLOWER while they wait for sims to approach them. Once they become friends with a sim, they're charming, super sweet, & a bit more chatty, but still more quiet & agreeable than most sims. Being shy they are the exact opposite of a leech as they will often pay for others, and wait for their friends, or family, to call them to make plans as they don't want to bother anyone. If a sim they care about takes too long to contact them they become gloomy or will sit at home & cry alone wondering why that sim doesn't like them. When it comes to business owners, the WALLFLOWER is a favorite customer/client as they're so sweet they're always happy/content with the service provided for them. 

 COUCH POTATO - They live to entertain themselves from a chair or a couch whether at home, a friend's house, or a night out. They tire much faster than other sims & have to sit down more often if out and about. One of their favorite things to do is sit and watch tv which they also enjoy blogging about their favorite shows and movies. If sim also has an outgoing trait they can often be found out at venues that have entertainment, or activities that require or encourage sitting such as a bar, movie theater, park bench, laying out by a pool, library, or hair salon. These venues look forward to visits from their COUCH POTATO customers/clients as they tend to stay awhile, spending more money, so they don't have to get up and go back home after coming all this way. The thought, or sight, of physical exercise quickly drains their energy, and they may need to stop for a power nap whether they are at home, a friend's house, or out on the town.

  New Objects: 

-Hair extensions (4 different lengths/textures/all colors) & accessories (barrets, headbands, bows, scarves) for all ages -Hair salon accessories - couches/chairs, mirrors, work stations w/ stylists' supplies, shelves, hair products -Nail Technician manicure table & chair, client chairs, nail equipment  

-Nail art & accessories -Esthetician table & supplies/cabinet -5 piece drum sets (2 sizes adult & child) -Steel drums in 4 different sizes 

-Electric Guitars 

-Bongos (2 different sizes)

-movie popcorn machine

-soda fountain

-Recliner chairs with large built in cup holders

-Oversized Kites 

A Special Thank You... I'd like to thank my daughter ( #SparkleMuffin21 ) and my son ( #DarthDjoe ) for their help in listening to my ideas and giving me their own opinions on this challenge, as well as pretty much all my sim's creations. My grown children both play Sims 4, so I value their opinions, and appreciate the kindness/patience they've shown me as they often help me by sharing their opinions on my creations. This time around they gave me a lot of advice on what I should or shouldn’t include, and my daughter helped me with the naming of the pack & the name of the town for this challenge. Thanks kids! <3

[songbirds-sweet]

Okay so, in my head, we live LA of course, I’m an esthetician (that’s actually what I’m going to school for) he’s obviously Nikki Sixx, late 80s early 90s of course. (My fave era) I feel like our house would have a dark kinda feel? If that makes sense. Corpse bride/Tim Burton ish...but I just love Halloween. We’d be like the dark/edgy kinda couple. Definitely the most horny/sexual out of our friend group. LMAOOO! We’d definitely have dog..Nikki loves dogs. I’d have a black kitty, bc I’ve always wanted one 🥺🥺🖤🖤

I 100% LOVE THIS!!!!

Oh that's awesome that you're going to school as an esthetician!

I'm still working on the stuff for Rachel and I but I have some stuff in mind 👀

[sailorvinus]

What are your thoughts on people who goes all out on the aesthetic for their blogs? Do you think they’re have the right to express their creativity however they want? && Other than roleplaying, what’s your favorite hobby?

✨ @deductry. meme. still accepting!

17. What are your thoughts on people who goes all out on the aesthetic for their blogs? Do you think they’re have the right to express their creativity however they want?

i think its fine as long as aesthetic doesnt hinder the ability to make a reply i can read. some people really do be out here triple spacing their words, adding bold, italics, upside down letters, strikethroughs, underline, and everything else and for what???? for a reply that the kids i used to teach could write. and they were like 4 years old. lol. thats sad....... that’s when i know someone’s not confident in themselves

dont rly understand why ppl trend chase. ive noticed ppl putting dividers in their replies now and im just??? mystified???? what is this... what does it add to the reply.... which if ppl wanna do it then fine but please consider this: my blog is pretty and its bad enough ugly icons that dont match them are ruinin the vibe now mfs wanna add a border that is totally irrelevant to the actual reply???? i.......... im gonna get a divider / border like these 2001 old web ones and then force everyone to look at it on their blog then the concept becomes goofy

i think id be fine with aesthetics if they didnt involve those chunky dunky ass container themes with super busy backgrounds + 50 textures, the crispiest color psds, promos that all look Exactly alike, navigation that u cant see, 20 x 20 icons the size of a cheerio, 4px text, the shittiest formatting on this side of lady gaga's america, and actually gave some sort of idk. pizzazz to the muse.

like if the aesthetics are important then at least let them tell a story too. and authentic. not something thats bein done cuz everyone else is doin it. id like to think i go balls to the walls with my blog too but you walk into my blog and you know it’s a myspace era throwback because that’s what my muse is supposed to be.

everyone can do whta they want! but if its uglee imma call it dat so......

30. Other than roleplaying, what’s your favorite hobby?

im a musician before im anything else so im probably in my daw fucking around. producing something. ive recently gotten into ambient electronica / ambient techno production so im finding joy in stringing together a bunch of synths til i hit the 6 minute mark, adding random bitcrush effects, some percussion just so it looks like i actually did some work, maybe a vocal sample of someone whispering.......... and then i delete it gfkldjgslf. im actually working on a beat tape tho. its been a work in progress for the longest time. but if i actually managed to find my voice as an electronic music producer then i guess i could get somewhere. using a daw is new to me. im more of an instrumentalist. drummer and flutist, primarily. but i dont have any drums and my flute is at my grandmas so there's that..............

i also like to read!!! i buy like 3 - 4 books a month. havent bought any since like november. i only bought two i think. but its fine because ill always revisit my recent favorites. ummmmm... video games. i rly like those old school ass niche ps2 era games like mr. mosquito, space channel 5, kinetica, etc.

wow do i luv internet drama. so im probably reading up on someone’s dumb bullshit on reddit or something!! or youtube. i love internet drama, its my favorite thing on the internet. i live for watching people be the very worst!!! other than that??? i like to collect and try out different skincare and research ingredients cuz its just fun. might go to school to be an esthetician when this whole covid19 panera bread is over.

i love collecting obscure jazz records from taiwan.

[vixenpen]

hi :) I just applied for esthetician school and I’m just wondering if you think it’s worth it (personally and financially)? I’m trying to get some insight into the field before I fully go through with it.

Honestly I do think it’s worth it personally. The things that you learn can be applicable in a wide arena wider than you might think but I definitely recommend supplementing it with make up courses or buy learning make up also getting certified and other things like lash application Or certain other facial treatments that they may not teach you in the basic program. We are reaching an era where people are all about self-care and we have an aging population in the boomers and our parents and they are getting more and more treatments and they have the disposable income to get them so it’s definitely worth it in my opinion

[princebete]

So Wednesday morning I got a call from the same person who hired me at my current job, who was supposed to train since joining as an Esthetician.

She said that “ I am not spunky enough” and not “ what they are looking for” as far as the position and basically discontinued my candidacy in the training program... 

thing is... 

i never even got to train. 

When I was hired in October, my license was still in limbo and I was put on the front desk to learn that basic position, until my license would be posted. Not to mention, when I was hired, their main desk person was there for two days before dropping to one shift a week. So I filled a hole, but I did not get trained appropraitely. Queue the fucking holiday rush. All November and mid-December I worked on front desk... awaiting my license to be approved so I could end the nightmare. I wanted to be a service provider so bad, and then I went to California for christmas, and came back to the desk again... and my family was asking me when I’d start training, and I asked myself this question. And I noticed I had a personal development meeting scheduled... so I though perhaps that I’d learn more front desk until they could train me. And my license had finally been posted...  

I feel so mislead and lied to. Like ... I told an esthetician that I consider an acquaintance and SHE IS MORE QUIET THAN ME ... what the fuck 

i feel like there is another “non legal” reason... and honestly ... no matter what anyone says. Estheticians and Cosmos are opposite. Esthes are not meant to be with a personality of a cosmo, and when I WAS IN SCHOOL HALF OF THE COSMOS WERE LIKE “ why are you not a stylist?? you have the personality for one!” what the fuck.  Esthes are the “spa” relaxing, mellow lighting, soothing music--- massage type of environment. Not the loud obnoxious pop rock music blaring in the background while people scream out their life story over hair dryers and alumnimum foil. No--- 

no i think it’s bcause of the fact that I am a fuller figure

that because I am larger, the illusion is that-that i move slower and do less.. that because i am big i seem “ Less” and because of this it takes away opportunities. it’s terrible. 

it’s a world of outliers. there is no more middle ground it’s either :

body positivity!! and accepting unhealthy behavior 

or it’s 

“appear” healthy because of ur size ( which is total bull shit) and ur not a health insurance risk, and u fit the social standard that’s been around in post modern era. 

.... like i HATE THIS ... i am trying hard right now. 

I am HUNGRY, guys. I’m STARVING right now. 

I HAVE eaten, I am on a special diet plan to lose up to 5 a week ( yes dropping 5 a week is not as healthy as 2-3... i already know) 

I am following a diet plan that was written in 1984!! and for what? so i dont have to worry about being a fat bride!! so I can make more money!! SO I DONT HAVE TO WORK IN A POSITION WHERE I HAVE TO BEND TO THE WILL OF SOME PRIVLEGED SNOB. 

this society sucks. it takes away job opportunities, it takes my happiness( well for 6 months...) and i know this isn’t forever, and this is a special metabolism diet plan, so it’s not crash dieting. i mean it is a LOT less food, but it’s healthy... I mean 

i get a limit on calorie intake, and i walk after eating consistent meals. they aren’t filling, but i mean-- my stomach is shrinking and that diet world is all backwards all the time anyway. but it SUCKS. i can’t just march up to the fridge and grab a cheese stick right now ( unless weight watchers which if u do, u just track it) -- anyways I digress... but there is just so much pressure and stress, which to me is a lot of suffering just to “ get it right” in the world. 

It’s just very sad to go through this, and make an effort ... yet still get rejected... I mean I was kinda disliking the place anyway?? but i was hoping that my training would turn around my feelings and help me reconcile my view. but it was all a lie. 

and they paid me less than a desk person... yep. they paid me what an esthetician would make when not taking commission. I feel like i got sucked into this, so they could put me on desk, pay me less, then tell me i wont be working as an esthetician to keep me on desk

... and ever since I’ve been in a state of shock. “ Well”  I thought   “ at least I have my other $14.50/hr job that makes me a $100 per 8 hour shift. That’s good!” ....  but oh no 

an email came from my supervisor last night .

Mandatory company wide call at 9 am in the morning. On a Friday... our pay day... in JANUARY. 

----o fuck this can’t be good. 

and my suspicions were correct.... 

they disbanded the beauty concierge program.  I got my sister a job with this company and she lives on her own with her bf so i mean... she dependso n this too... so it sucks... i am kinda... wow

After 6 years they decide to disband THIS year. The year I join. 

So I am now working very part time as a front desk person earning 10.50 and hour with the looming storm of student loans in student view.... 

anyways i dont know why i spew all this yhere. im looking for an outlet so perhaps some people, you, my friends-- can see what is up.

Honestly.. as far as career goes...

I don’t really know what I want anymore. I know that I dont wanna waste my life on something meaningless, and I feel like I am endlessly searching for something-- learning about the bad parts, and discarding it... but Iwould like to find something where if I find those bad parts, I’d be okay with embracing it and just rolling with the punches.

So far I have not found it yet. 

in all honestly, if i could just be a home maker and not work at all, do art and cosplay and sing in  the evenings-- that’d be ideal. 

Right now I am learning more about UX/UI to see if I could use my art degree and make more money. But... for the most part I am looking up wax specialists, and office administration type jobs... where the front desk person does all the party planning and grocery shopping for the office. lol .. I know sounds lazy, but whatever  Ican admit that--- my laziness can be translated to depression.

I just really wanna lose weight...  this strict plan isn’t forever. The book I am using the method from strictly outlines that it is a temporary thing just to get metabolism on track using a series of net carbs, good fats and calorie reduction-- so it’s not like it is unhealthy. It’s not like if I went and got some cheetohs or ate a cookie I’d be fucked like if I was on keto .... 

tbh I should be a weightloss plan expert I’ve done it all... 

but yeah. 

anyways-- thanks for listening to my rant

all in all my life isn’t that bad 

i have a home 

a car 

a wonderful cat 

a loving fiance 

education 

and some money to my name. i’m not totally broke.

I am very grateful and i am not to sore about all of this, it’s just crazy that it’s happening within days of eachother. and it kind sucks cuz this means i may not have a paycheck next couple weeks... or atleast a good one. 10.50 an hour my ASS. but oh well it’s SOMETHING. 

ALSO .... I might make a blog for tracking my wedding plans-- if anyone likes that suff and wants to follow... I may post reference to that. otherwise <3 love you all 

[erotomanicpixiedreamgirl]

dyed my hair lana lust for life era it's a light copper brown from ion mixed with the dark mahogany blonde (the creme bc i have thick hair) and it looks soooo bomb. not showing my face bc im bloated/sickly looking bc of my period but take my word for it. i think hair might be becoming my special interest like skin care was ...... before i got le GED i was interested in beauty school bc i wanted to become an esthetician. i never thought i could do anything with hair but i realized im GOOD at it i just used fail brands. if my mom trusts me i might color her hair and do a treatment omg this is exciting

[elisaflowersmakeup]

The List

How to get Meghan Markle's flawless beauty look

Long before Meghan Markle was revealed to be Prince Harry's girlfriend (and became the most-Googled actress of 2016!), people have been wondering what the actress, humanitarian, and now soon-to-be royal does to look as gorgeous as she does. Luckily she's open to speaking with the press about her beauty routine, so we did some digging to see what helps her stay gorgeous, youthful, and polished. We were happy to learn that many elements of her beauty routine are both relatable and within reach!

Follow her number-one rule of thumb with makeup

One of Markle's key tactics is to ensure her makeup routine isn't too fussy or time-consuming. In a 2014 interview with Allure, Markle explained that she prefers to keep things uncomplicated when it comes to her makeup. "My routine is very simple," she said. "I call it the five-minute face. It's just Touche Éclat [concealer], curled lashes, mascara, Chap Stick, and a little bit of blush. That's my favorite kind of look." As for her blush, she relies on Nars Orgasm both on camera and in real life since "it gives you a nice glow from within."

Min Min Ma, celebrity makeup artist who did Markle's makeup for her July 2016 appearance on The Today Show, followed the same rule of thumb. As Ma explained to E! News, she decided to keep the makeup light in addition to just a touch of concealer under her eyes. She also noted that she minimized her use of powder to help ensure that Markle's skin looked fresh and glowy.

Markle's former hair and makeup stylist, Lydia Sellers, echoed those sentiments when speaking with Refinery29, saying, "It was more about the amount of product that went on her skin and keeping it really fresh and dewy, rather than caking it on."

When it comes to her cosmetics regimen, less really is more!

Hydrate and use a dab of shimmer

Another crucial part of Markle's beauty routine is to load up on liquids. "Drink lots of water, as we all know," she told Beauty Banter in November 2017. However, she noted that in addition to the more obvious beauty factors like hydration, she "also learned to add the smallest touch of shimmer to the inner corner of the eye after they're lined."

This trick, which is part of a broader trend known as strobing, brightens up the eye and helps to balance out any dark eyeliner, eyeshadow, or lashes sporting a heavy layer of mascara, according to Glamour.

Speaking to Refinery29, makeup artist Elisa Flowers explained, "Adding a shimmery highlight to the inner corners of your eyes creates a bright, open, and youthful appearance," and that this trick both reflects light and can help you look less fatigued.

Markle told Beauty Banter that her go-to product for some eye shimmer is Chanel's Cassis Eyeliner, and added, "Even if I have no makeup on, I am likely to apply concealer and a bit of shimmer to the corners of my eye." YouTube strobing tutorials, we're coming for you.

Use this Sephora product as a secret weapon

On the topic of fatigue-fighting makeup techniques, when Markle spoke with the good folks at Birchbox in 2014, she revealed her go-to secret weapon for looking like she got a ton of rest the night before: Yves St. Laurent's Touche Eclat highlighter.

"To open up your eyes, apply a highlighter like Touche Éclat to the inner corner — this trick is especially good for when we're filming at 3 a.m. and I need to look bright eyed and bushy tailed," she said. And, adding to its appeal, Yves St. Laurent's Touche Éclat is available at Sephora, Nordstrom, and other places where non-royals shop. Hip hip, hooray!

An unconventional trick for a sculpted look

In the same Birchbox interview, Markle noted that she relies on facial exercises and massages to maintain her sculpted visage. The facial exercises, which come recommended by London-based esthetician and facialist Nichola Joss, basically "sculpt your face from the inside out," Markle explained. "I swear it works, as silly as you may feel. On the days I do it, my cheekbones and jawline are waaaay more sculpted."

The exercises are part of a facial treatment that Joss offers at her popup shops in London and New York, and they involve deep lymphatic massage from inside the mouth. According to the website, this massage is designed to improve the firmness and tone of the facial muscles by de-stressing the tissue, reportedly adding both youth and vitality to the skin.

As Joss explained to People, the massages not only make the skin more youthful, but also healthier. "It makes it softer but stronger, and obviously working from the inside of the mouth really addresses the core element of the muscle," she explained.

The treatment is $350 per session, as People notes, but Markle and other fresh-faced celebs like Jennifer Lopez, Kate Moss, and Gwyneth Paltrow are huge fans. It may be unconventional, but it clearly works!

Pick up three of her must-have products at the drugstore

Happily, despite being a global celebrity and a soon-to-be duchess, some of Markle's favorite products can be found in your neighborhood CVS. As she told Beauty Banter, her must-have beauty products include things like Bioré Cleansing Cloths, Nivea Skin Firming Hydration Body Lotion, and Dr. Bronner's Body Wash.

The Bioré cleansing cloths, she explained, are "great to keep in the car and on your nightstand" — the perfect remedy for when the idea of washing your face is just too much. (Celebrities: they're just like us!)

Meanwhile, Markle uses her Nivea body lotion "religiously," noting that it's her all-time favorite body lotion due to its reasonable price point and incredible results. "I would buy a case of this at a time if I could find it," she said.

As for Dr. Bronner's body wash, Markle joins the millions of people who are opting for natural skincare. She told Beauty Banter that she buys the lavender and almond scents, and she tends to alternate between the two.

Emulate this beauty icon with your brows

Ever wonder how Markle keeps her brows looking so impeccable? Enter her brow stylist, Sherrille Riley of the London-based Nails and Brows salon. According to People, Riley has been the go-to gal for Markle's brows since the summer of 2016, when another member of the royal family recommended the salon.

In January, Riley told People that Markle gets The Audrey Brow treatment, which models her brows after classic style icon Audrey Hepburn. Described by the salon as "suitable for women of all ages and face shapes," The Audrey involves shaping the brow into a straight look without a pronounced arch, and which tapers out as it approaches the temple. According to the salon, the process lifts the face and leads to an appearance that is youthful and fresh.

Riley told People that the treatment entails shaping and tinting, and that she uses a tint that mixes "brown with a hint of black, which gives a really soft neutral look." It isn't meant to dramatically change appearance, instead Riley explained, "It's just about accentuating her features in the most natural way." So, Audrey Hepburn aficionados: the era of the Audrey brow has arrived.

Love the skin you're in

Both as a mixed-race woman and as someone with freckles, Markle has encountered significant pressure to change her appearance. In a 2017 interview with Allure, she explained that although her family always ensured that she felt confident about her looks, "It was only outside the comforts of home that the world began to challenge those ideals."

After taking an African-American studies class during college, she learned that colorism was why she felt "too light in the black community, too mixed in the white community." Her freckles made the matter even harder to navigate, and they, too, have been subject to much discussion.

As she explained to Allure, "To this day, my pet peeve is when my skin tone is changed and my freckles are airbrushed out of a photo shoot." She embraces her freckles and encourages others to as well. "For all my freckle-faced friends out there," she said, "I will share with you something my dad told me when I was younger: 'A face without freckles is a night without stars.'"

In order to let her natural beauty — including her freckles — shine, she told Birchbox that she only uses foundation in the spots where she really needs it. "I never want to cover my freckles, so we just do a 'wash' of foundation in certain sections instead of over the entire face," she explained.

Do this for soft, touchable hair

Markle's amazing complexion and facial structure are enviable enough on their own — and, as it turns out, so is her hair. In every picture, her hair looks amazing: healthy, shiny, and soft. "I put deep conditioner in my hair more than you could imagine," she told Gritty Pretty in 2015. "I never let hairdressers tease it for volume — it's not good for it," she added.

You may be wondering what makes deep conditioners different from their regular counterparts. James Corbett, celebrity hairstylist of James Corbett Studio in New York City and color director for Clairol, spoke to The Today Show and explained that because deep conditioning hair masks have more lipids and fatty acids in them, they actually help protect hair by returning lost moisture.

Corbett noted, "When the hair is healthy, the cuticle stays closed, which means less frizz and your color looks better because light reflects off your hair. Masks can help repair what styling and the environment takes out."

So, if deep conditioning masks are Markle's go-to hair product, what kinds does she use? "There are two lines I use religiously," she told Beauty Banter. "Kerastase (masquintense and the oleo relax line) and Wella, which has a hair oil I'm obsessed with. It smells like vacation and makes your hair slippery and touchable." Now that's an endorsement!

Choose these colors for your next mani/pedi

In addition to getting her Audrey brows, Nails and Brows salon owner Sherrille Riley told People that the royal bride-to-be also regularly gets her nails done there. She prefers the natural nail treatment over gel or shellack manicures, and often picks neutral colors for her polish. "She tends to go for quite natural colors as she's quite a natural, understated person," Riley said.

Additionally, Riley noted that Markel typically matches her manicure to her pedicure and chooses "lots of creams and very pale pinks." In one recent visit, Markle chose a pale pink nail polish by Kure Bazaar — a brand known for being free of toxins — in a color called Rose Milk.

So, if you want your look to follow Markle's playbook, stick with neutral, natural shades and stay away from bright, bold manicures.

Read More: http://www.thelist.com/109629/get-meghan-markles-flawless-beauty-look/?utm_campaign=clip 

[wtfisbeautyjennifercarrasco]

What is Natural Beauty

What is natural beauty? Beauty at every age, today's going to be a very personal podcast on the natural aging process. At age 40, myself has been through definitely triumph times of what I feel that natural beauty should look like within a person, in my perception of my beliefs or what I see with my clients. Natural beauty is portrayed in the media and magazines with 20-year-old models. But as we age, we start looking up to the people that are older than us in the social spotlight. I have noticed over the last decade of women getting Botox injections, fillers, facelifts, other alternatives to always stay in that 20-year-old range. So today, what do we think? Or what the fuck do you think beauty is at every age of your journey?

When you look up to these individuals and they're changing their face to pretty much look 20 years younger than what they are, it makes us feel that we need to do those things for ourselves. And maybe think that we need to do these things to make ourselves look younger. And I'm here to say that I feel that in life, there should be a balance. We need to age gracefully. Having some fine lines are your journey in life and your path in life. It's your character. It's what shows you that you've laughed hard through life. I'm not against by means because I do it myself, Botox, fillers. I agree with all of that, but I think there is a point that you do it gracefully as we age.

So our next question is when should you start the anti-aging? When should you start those fillers? When should you start those Botox sessions? It's a great question. And it's a question that honestly, individuality wise, you have to figure out that for yourself. When you start getting a fine line that is not going away, it is forming a wrinkle. And that wrinkle forms scar tissue. Scar tissue starts to embed the tissue and it gets thicker and more embedded with time, especially as you're making those expressions over some time. My feeling is that is the point that you need to do Botox. That is the point that you need to deaden that line, so that way you still have a line there, but it's not embedded and deep into your skin to make you look or appear a lot older than your age.

I honestly tell the majority of my clients to do the Botox about every five to six months, because then you are getting some of the muscle atrophy during that period, so it's not embedding that line, but it also is making it to where you have a good month to two months without the Botox so you can work that muscle a little bit more and get more of that muscle movement because if you don't use that muscle over some time, it will sag like any muscle. It's called muscle atrophy.

And with getting filler, I believe that time that you start getting those embedded lines in your lips or your smile lines that are very prominent, that start to age you. I  feel that that's the time that you definitely should start doing a little bit more or even looking into some fiber blast treatments. I honestly think that fiber blast treatments are a great alternative for a nonsurgical approach to tightening the skin. I encourage my clients to start their fiber blast treatments probably in their late twenties because if we do that about once a year, it's going to keep that skin nice and tight through the aging process.

The other question is, do you think we have a choice in the anti-aging process? And my honest opinion is no, I don't think we have a choice. I feel that social media and marketing is making it to the point that females need to take that extra step and they need to take care of themselves and make themselves look a certain way. I'm not saying that's for everybody, but for the majority of women, we all want to appear younger or look younger or grow gracefully. And I don't think there's anything wrong taking that next step of doing little things. Honestly, I  feel that when you are about adolescent age, I would say 13 to 16 years old, you should teach your children to come in and get cleanings, get their skin cleaned, keep up the maintenance. I have clients that are in their sixties and seventies who have never touched Botox, never had laser, have never had a facelift that is continuously seen me every four weeks for about 20 years and their skin looks just like a 40-year-olds.

As I tell my clients, as we age, we're like potatoes. So unfortunately potatoes start growing random roots out of it. And that's what happens within our bodies. I mean, we do form more moles, skin tags, lesions, and honestly, we're in a great time, a great era to be able to take care of these things and be confident in our skin. And I'm not talking about over plastic surgery or overcompensating with Botox or being frozen, but I'm saying we can age gracefully and we can do it beautifully. There are so many products on the market now that can help with skin tags, they can help with moles, they can help with tightening the tissues. There are so many alternatives that you can do naturally with your esthetician to get so many benefits that enhance your skin from aging.

The breakdown of the aging process and why I recommend my clients and patients to get regular facials is as we get older, our skin cells do not shed off as they used to and they accumulate on the skin and it gets thicker and you get a less collagen and elastin production. So when you're coming in for your monthly facials, you're getting that exfoliated, sloughed off. Helping the reproduction of the cells to stimulate, helping that collagen, helping that elastin.

And if you have a great esthetician that knows what she's doing, she's using microcurrent to help to lift and tighten the muscles. She's doing different treatments with vitamin As or infusions or non-surgical facelifts, things that are helping to stimulate the collagen, the elastin, the muscle stimulation, the product penetration. It's not just about going for a facial and just getting products on the skin. It's about finding an esthetician that can actually manipulate and maneuver and get that skin tissue back to the way it was.

And I always have my clients every year, usually about the holiday time or January time when they're not out in the sun, I have them come in for a series of treatments. And the reason behind that is it takes off that whole year of that sun damage, the aging process, it's getting in a little bit deeper. We usually do a great fiber blast. After the fiber blast, we do some non-surgical facelifts, some peels. We do about six to 12 treatments and it's about every single week that they come in. But honestly, it literally will take off a year to two years of their skin and it will keep them refreshed as they age and without having to go under the knife, without having to do a lot of invasive treatments for the skin and the tissues, which it's pretty harmful to the skin.

So aging gracefully to me is maintenance. It's about maintaining yourself, just like an older car. It's more maintenance. You have to get the tune-up now and then, you have to get the spark plugs changed. It's the same thing with our skin. It's about keeping up with it and doing it gracefully as we age.

I think it's time to change the message. I think that, and this is my belief, that if you want to get the Botox and you want to get the filler, I think we should. I think we should age gracefully. I think we need to do things to make us feel better as women, to make us feel youthful. I don't think there's anything wrong with going beyond what we want to do for our beauty and to own that, because that beauty is us. It's our confidence. It's what makes us stand out. And if that is what makes you happy, then, by all means, I think that is something that you need to own as a female.

I do think it's time as women who are over 40, over 50 and over 60 years old, show they're sexy and be them and be who they want to be and be able, I mean honestly, I don't feel like I put myself on social media as a sex goddess by any means and show anything provocative. But to me, I'm going to own my sexiness as I get older. And as a 40-year-old with a 20-year-old son, I'm going to age gracefully and I am going to take care of myself and take care of my body and be happy within my skin. And I don't think there's anything wrong with doing extra things to make ourselves more beautiful for our selves, not for anybody else.

But where it boils down to is beauty lies within. Beauty lies within if you are happy with yourself, with you're confident with yourself. Beauty stems from the beauty that's inside you. And that is the beauty that people are attracted to, and that is the beauty that people seem to gravitate towards.

I do see a lot more women wanting to go the natural route, wanting to do things more naturally. And I'm blessed to say, as a master esthetician, we can provide so much more for women these days to become that beauty that they want to be naturally. If a woman feels like doing something about a frown line, a wrinkle, or hanging eyelids, she should go right ahead. If that what's makes her feel beautiful and therefore happy inside, but to see a woman's struggle with the pressure of the media to look five, 10, or 20 years younger than she is, it does trigger an activist in me and I get upset. Because those are impossible, unnatural, and therefore unfair expectations. The media can be misleading, showing and telling us what we should look like at a certain age while in fact, the woman we're looking at in the picture or video or movies is always retouched, covered with filters, not even to mention Botox fillers and/or plastic surgery.

But I also believe that times have changed. That Botox, et cetera, will never leave our society. This is precisely why I started this podcast. To show how beautiful natural beauty is, and it won't be forgotten. I think that Botox injections, fillers, if you think you need it, it should be seen as something you do because you think it makes you look better for your age, not to look years younger. A small improvement without having to erase years off your aging appearance. To me, I believe that is what the fuck is beauty. And honestly, women, I think a little gray hair, I think a couple of little age spots and a little couple of wrinkles are nothing to be ashamed of. But I also do have Botox, I have filler and I color my hair. But I do have fine lines and I'm going to own them. So the answer for myself is I am aging gracefully, but the question to you is what the fuck is beauty to you?

[oxygenetixfoundation]

Interview with DermaSweep: Life Unfiltered Can Be Beautiful

The health of your skin is the first thing you see when you look into the mirror and the first thing you notice when you engage face to face with others. Both men and women are seeking ways to correct their skin imperfections whether it be from sun damage, scarring, sagging skin, large pore reduction, and more. Luckily for us in this modern era of aesthetics, skin-resurfacing solutions such as microdermabrasion, laser resurfacing, and micro-needling offer a multitude of benefits to restore skin health and vibrancy. 

The aesthetics community offers a plethora of skin-resurfacing options and we oftentimes find ourselves overwhelmed with so many choices. It’s important to choose a system that has proven credibility amongst the medical technicians and patients along with successful results. 

DermaSweep is one of the leading skin-resurfacing systems making headway the marketplace. We recently sat down with DermaSweep trainer and territory manager, Laura Hunnewell, LE, to learn more about this innovative technology.

What sets DermaSweep apart from other skin-resurfacing systems?

“DermaSweep is different in that the tips that we use are a nylon bristle brush. Nylon bristles are tolerated better by the skin than a plastic or diamond tip that may be more abrasive. When someone has more sensitive skin or mild rosacea we can actually do the treatment without an issue. 

DermaSweep claims to be the only resurfacing device of its kind on the market to be able to safely treat the eye area. Laura explains, “We can reduce the suction and go around the eye area without it causing any kind of streaking or damage.”

What does the DermaSweep treatment look like?

“We start off with a cleansing of the skin to prepare it for the treatment. The first step is a dry sweeping done with the suction and nylon bristle tip. Depending on your skin type we would use a black tip for sensitive skin, green tip for medium skin, yellow for coarse, and red for super coarse. So we can choose how aggressive we want to be with the skincare treatment.”

DermaSweep treatments are customized for each individual with paraben-free infusions that target specific skincare concerns with cutting edge ingredients such as Growth Factors, Peptides, Vitamin C, TCA, and Hyaluronic Acid for optimal skin rejuvenation.

“When we deliver the infusion portion we are pushing the serum into the skin  with a silk fiber tip which is soft and feels very good.”

What does your post-procedure protocol look like?

“You need more protection from the elements since we are removing the stratum corneum and then rebuilding your barrier, so it’s important to follow the steps for good post-care.

Because we don’t have our own skincare brand we are always looking at incorporating other brands into the treatments. Myself being an esthetician I have a lot of products to choose from but I typically like something that has some Hyaluronic acid or a light moisturizer.

I love putting Oxygenetix Hydro Matrix on after a treatment because it has an aloe base. Aloe is a humectant so it helps to bind moisture to the skin. By doing that we are calming down the skin and binding the moisture. A simple sunscreen is fine, but I really like using Oxygenetix moisturizer than applying the Foundation with SPF 30 on top. Sometimes I do a little eye cream around the eye too.”

How long does it take to see results?

“Results are immediate. I usually see a result immediately in most people. Someone who’s a little bit more sensitive might hold on to a little bit of a pink or sunburned look but it dissipates quickly. 

The results last for days. People will wake up the next morning and sometimes I’ll get a text saying, ‘Wow, my skin really looks amazing today’. Doing DermaSweep regularly you will see a difference in your tone, texture, or just overall balance. If you have an issue like breakouts and blackheads it really helps clear the pores.”

How often can someone have a DermaSweep treatment?

“You can get it done every two weeks to correct a problem. We usually recommend once a month for maintenance, unless they have a specific issue to correct or repair.”

What is the number one benefit from a DermaSweep procedure?

“The DermaSweep gives a great overall boost for skin health. It’s like a fitness routine for your face. With DermaSweep you’re keeping your skin healthy and happy by balancing your skin. It really evens the tone out.”

Where can someone find a DermaSweep near them?

“On our website, DermaSweep.com, you can look to see where the providers are in your area.”

To learn more about the revolutionary DermaSweep system visit DermaSweep.com. 

[myupdatesystems-blog]

Top Beauty Tips For Brides and Models - Perfect Skin

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Top Beauty Tips For Brides and Models - Perfect Skin

Beauty of Brides & Models

Being an esthetician, makeup artist, former assistant to a cosmetic surgeon, and a self-proclaimed “beauty junky” have all proven to be surprisingly helpful in my career as a fitness trainer and nutritionist. The majority of my clients have, at one point or another, asked for beauty tips that I’ve luckily been able to provide.

And while I do get skin care, makeup, and cosmetic treatment questions from people with varying fitness goals, no one has more beauty questions than the ladies from two specific groups of my clientele: Those getting married, and those preparing for photo shoots.

After answering countless questions asked by my brides and models in regards to everything from breakouts, enlarged pores, and ashy skin, to Botox and lip plumpers, and on to longest lasting foundations, waterproof concealers, and preventing mascara smudges, I’ve noticed quite a few trends.

Since so many of you have similar concerns, I’ve decided to compile these questions into a series of articles outlining the basics of what you need to know to look amazing on your special day.

Having a flawless complexion can make or break not only your photos but also your confidence. In this edition of top beauty tips, we’ll talk about the skin. By the time you’re through this article, you’ll have a good understanding of how to choose and apply everything from your primer and foundation, to shimmer and blush – and even how to make your pores look all but invisible!

Let’s get to it!

How do I deal with redness? What if I have rosacea?

If you’re naturally prone to get flushed when nervous, hot, or exercising, you’re definitely likely to turn red on your big day – the nerves, the running around to get ready, it’s the perfect storm! There are a few ways to alleviate redness, and the common denominator here is to do your best to relax!

Once you’ve taken a few deep breaths to calm down, try the following: Pour 1/2 cup of whole milk into a shallow bowl, and put in the freezer for 5 minutes. Dip a cotton washcloth into the milk, and put it over your face as you lie down to relax. Keep it on for 10 minutes, and the redness should subside.

For the rosacea sufferers (or those with persistent flushing problems), there are creams that can help. My top recommendation is Avene Anti-Redness Rich Moisturizing Cream, but you may want to experiment to find what works best for you. And don’t forget, staying away from sodium and alcohol are a given here.

There are ways to tone down the redness with makeup, as well – all you’ll need is a green-based primer or powder. My pick is the makeup For Ever HD Microperfecting Primer in Green.

I tend to break out last minute! What can I do to get rid of a pimple fast?

The fastest natural, do-it-yourself way to get rid of a zit is by using 100% pure tea tree oil (apply it with a cotton swab, directly onto your breakout). Your other option is benzoyl peroxide. And the fastest option of all is a cortisone injection – which will require a trip to your dermatologist (and a needle).

If you get a pimple on the day of your big event, you’ll most likely have to cover it with concealer, and just forget it’s there – chances are, it’s much smaller than you think it is, anyway. Besides, it’s much easier to photoshop a small zit out of a photo, than it is to change your frown into a happy expression. Don’t let a breakout ruin your day!

My skin is dehydrated and ashy. What do I do if my dry skin flakes?

You’re really best off preventing your skin from ever flaking in the first place by using highly moisturizing creams and staying well hydrated on a regular basis. Oil-based cleansers are best for you, as they’re completely non-drying; look for squalene and hyaluronic acid in your skin care products, as both of these are great at bringing the much-needed moisture into the skin.

Moisturizing masks are highly recommended for you, as well. You can purchase pre-made ones (my favorite for dry skin types is Pevonia’s Rejuvenating Dry Skin Mask), or make natural versions at home.

Here’s a recipe I like: Combine one egg yolk with 1/2 mashed avocado, 1 Tbsp honey, 1/2 mashed banana, and a few drops of whole milk. Apply to your face, and let sit for 10 minutes. Wash off with warm water, and repeat. After washing off the second time, apply your moisturizer. Repeat at least once weekly.

If you still manage to have super dry, peeling skin on the morning of your shoot or big event, the best thing you can do is soften your skin by steaming it for a few minutes (you can stand over a faucet with hot water running), then exfoliate using a gentle scrub or a washcloth. Once you’ve done that, apply a moisturizing mask (the recipe above will work great!), and follow the procedure outlined in the previous paragraph.

I love that “glowy” look J-Lo made famously, but I have naturally oily skin. How do I get glowing skin without shining?

Unless you’re doing an artistic shoot and deliberately going for the “shiny” look, any shimmery powders or even dewy foundation products should be off limits. You want full control over which spots of your face will be glowing or reflecting light, and the only way to achieve this is by precise placement of shimmer on your face.

You’ll want to use matte products (yes, even if you usually dislike these!) as the base. Matte foundations, blush, bronzers, and powders. Any shimmer can look like grease if applied inappropriately or in too many spots at once.

Now that you’ve applied all of your makeup and are looking nice, matte, and flawless, grab a subtle highlighter in liquid or lotion formula (your selection is important; my personal favorites are MAC Gleam Coat and Halcyon by Illamasqua), and very lightly apply a small amount to the outside of your cheekbones, inner corner of your eyes, and the top of your nose bridge (make sure it’s ONLY the top of your nose bridge, not your entire nose!).

Go over with your matte powder, and you should have just enough glow without looking shiny.

I’m pale and want to look tan but without the damaging UV rays. Got ideas?

You could use a self-tanner; the trick is finding one that won’t make you break out OR turn out orange, splotchy, streaky, or otherwise fake looking. Gradual tanners (like Jergens Natural Glow) are usually a pretty safe bet, but if you plan on using them, you’ll have to start at least a week or two before your big day, and experiment with the color to make sure it does, indeed, look natural on your skin.

The best tip I can give in this scenario, however, is to find a pro to do the job. Airbrushing salons are everywhere these days, and all you’d have to do is scrub well before heading in, wear loose-fitting clothes to your appointment, and not shower for 6-8 hours afterward. You’ll have a fabulous tan for your shoot, and it’ll be completely stress-free, to boot!

I have huge pores and a rough complexion that’s visible with my everyday makeup, how do I make sure it looks smooth in my photos?

As in many other scenarios, you’re best off taking care of your skin year-round to keep your pores and skin texture as smooth and refined as possible. Some of us really are predisposed to enlarged pores, but keeping them clear will help them remain as small as physically possible. Consider using retinol-based creams and kaolin-based masks regularly to de-clog pores and avoid stretching them out.

Avoid pore-clogging products (look for “non-comedogenic” on everything you put on your face), and use gentle scrubs regularly, without overdoing it. Consider a Clarisonic brush; these are known for refining skin’s texture.

Having said all that, some of us really do find ourselves battling enlarged pores, just to find they’re still showing through our foundations; many liquid varieties actually pool in the pores, making them even more pronounced! What’s a girl to do?!

Simple: Find a good primer and a good, long-lasting, matte foundation. Many primers out there are completely ineffective, but I do have a few favorites, including Perfekt Skin Perfection Gel, Becca Line and Pore Corrector, and Illamasqua Matt Primer.

As for foundations, I highly recommend getting a few samples of SPF-free and titanium dioxide-free formulas (either of those ingredients may result in a gray reflection in photos). My top photo shoot foundation recommendations are Make Up For Ever HD Foundation, Cinema Secrets foundations, ERA spray foundations, Christian Dior Full Mat, Yves Saint Laurent Matt Touch, and a few others. Just be sure to ask for samples first to ensure a proper color match and that the consistency works with your skin.

Just one other important tip while we’re talking foundations: Be sure to match your foundation to your neck or upper chest rather than your skin! It’s too easy to look like you’re wearing a mask when your face color doesn’t exactly match your neck and decollete! Apply your foundation to your neck and blend it out on your chest and possibly even shoulders, if they’ll be visible as well.

How do I make my makeup stay put?

There are a few factors to consider here. Firstly, you’ll want to apply everything in layers. Use a cream blush right over your foundation, go over it with a powder blush, apply your contouring bronzer (and any highlighter, if using) over that, and go over everything with loose powder.

If you’re the type whose blush seems to evaporate no matter how many of layers of it you pile on, try a cheek stain. There are plenty of options out there, Tarte makes a great cheek stain in many shades, and Benefit recently came out with my new favorite stain product in a perfect pink color, called Posietint.

[pressography-blog1]

While beauty is in the attention of the (robo)behold

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While beauty is in the attention of the (robo)behold

For over a year, I worked as a beauty editor, writing and learning about the products, traits, and those that make us need to look a certain manner. And as studies for the various stories I wrote, I consulted with dermatologists, plastic surgeons, make-up artists, estheticians, and greater trying to answer a simple query—how can I make myself more conventionally attractive?

                                            While Beauty 

Beauty Synonyms

“beauty is a self belief,” they’d continually say, prefacing the actual solution. Necessarily, these professionals could subsequently tell me that you are feeling more confident, and thus extra beautiful, when you look blemish- and wrinkle-loose. (Pending at the product they have been promoting, this may also include being tanner, or more contoured, or thinner, or paler, or much less made up, or curvier, and so forth.) Regardless of respondents’ extraordinary aesthetic tastes, everyone appeared to agree—younger is greater beautiful. splendor became approximately anti-getting older Certainly, the trouble right here is the idea. What is beauty beyond someone else defining it? For so long as humanity’s obsession with the time period has existed, we’ve similarly known about its subjective nature. In the end, “splendor is in the attention of the beholder” is simply a cliché that posits that precise subjectivity of elegance.

However what if the beholder can dispose of subjectivity—what if the beholder wasn’t a person, However a set of rules? Using system learning to outline beauty may want to, theoretically, make beauty pageants and ratings

like Humans’s annual Most lovely inside the International list extra objective and less prone to human error. Of direction, teaching an algorithm to do something might also contain a few bias from whoever does the programming, But that hasn’t stopped this automatic technique from defining equally subjective things like listening options or information fee (we see you, Facebook et al).We don’t need a human opinion,” says biotechnologist Dr. Alex Zhavoronkov, one of the founders at the back of a festival-keeping, beauty-quantifying initiative called splendor.AI. “On the cease of the day, there are masses of disagreements. We’re searching for approaches to assess splendor, and a few approaches may be extra relevant or less applicable to human belief. However, the whole cause of beauty.AI is to remove human opinion, to transcend it.”

splendor.AI became simply one of the ultra-modern tries to have technology objectively compare splendor. But as a web opposition that crowdsourced headshots and allowed bot-pushed algorithms to decide rankings, possibly it represents the fever factor of this exercising. If so, the initiative’s final results made one element definitively clean: synthetic intelligence will by no means decide a well-known face of splendor. Even today, it only highlights how precisely slim one’s definition of beauty can be.Before Warm Or No longer: A brief records of quantifying beauty

Long Earlier than anybody knew what an algorithm turned into, humanity has tried to quantify and measure beauty. Leonardo da Vinci’s pen-and-ink drawing of the Vitruvian Man, whose head was one-eighth of its frame, was based on Roman architect Vitruvius’ writing on the situation from his treatise, De Architectura. Plato believed that splendor resided in components that harmoniously fit into the complete. St. Augustine believed that the extra geometrically equal something turned into, the extra stunning it was. The theories went on and on.

And for so long as Human beings have made these landmark statements on beauty, they’ve additionally found out obvious cultural bias approximately their requirements of splendor. Northern Renaissance painter Albrecht Dürer used his own hands, known for being longer than common, to assemble a canon of the human frame. Or, for the latest example, morning show Top Day DC anchors Knowledge Martin and Maureen Umeh went viral last 12 months for giving the aspect eye to a 2014 cosmetic surgical procedure study declaring that Kate Middleton had the “Most ideal face.” Naturally, the observe became based on a take a look at a group of “everyday-performing white ladies aged 18 to twenty-five years.”

Robo ETF

in the past few many years, scholars have as a minimum come to just accept that ordinary splendor is a complex, perhaps impossible thing. one of the greater popular works furthering that idea comes from creator Naomi Wolf and her 1991 bestselling e-book, The splendor Delusion. “beauty is a forex device just like the gold preferred,” she wrote. “Like every economy, it’s far determined by using politics, and within the contemporary age inside the West it’s miles the last, quality motion machine that keeps male dominance intact.” Wolf believed that splendor is a construction of capitalism intended to preserve the fame quo in the ever-expanding West—essentially arguing that modern, extra various supermodels like Naomi Campbell and Tyra Banks nevertheless had to suit right into an inflexible definition of beauty that involves such things as “tall,” “thin,” and “younger.”

those cultural complications haven’t stopped cutting-edge researchers from trying to teach for a better answer, however. Case in point: University of California, Irvine researchers Natalie A. Popenko and Dr. Brian J. Wong. (Wong, a plastic healthcare professional and professor, turned into one of the specialists in the back of that arguably, Kate Middleton-face examine.) In their Maximum well-known paper—2008’s “Evolving attractive Faces The usage of Morphing era and a Genetic algorithm: A new technique to Figuring out Ideal Facial Aesthetics”—the duo hired digital morphing software program to “evolve” and “breed” greater attractive faces through the years primarily based on records accrued from varied, human resources which include Fb surveys, plastic surgeons, scholar examine individuals, and professionals from an eyebrow cosmetics corporation preferred through Kylie Jenner. within the Maximum basic sense, their paintings attempted to installation predictive computing in a comparable manner to how scientists generate weather models… besides they had been hoping to see whether an average evolved over the years into a perfect face.

Ultimately, Wong and Popenko determined that an “average” face didn’t make for a stunning face. In fact, nasal width, eyebrow arch peak, and lip fullness correlated significantly with the take a look at’s ratings of elegance. In other words, Jenner turned into onto something together with her Kylie Lip Kit (designed to present you full, pouty lips) and heavily arched eyebrows (added to you by using Anastasia Brows). It seems beauty, as a minimum the sort that makes you want to save at Sephora, isn’t determined by evolution—it’s determined by using celeb idols.

As this sort of studies has persevered, agencies have sought to get in on the premise of technologically-described beauty. The task-sponsored Bare three-D Fitness Tracker is a $four hundred clever mirror (available for pre-order) that scans your frame in 3-d and makes use of a heat map to tell you wherein you’re growing muscle or gaining fat, and it claims effects inside 2.five percent accuracy. It comes with a mirror that “seems” to you—a literal “replicate, mirror, on the Wall” situation—and encourages you to stand the information: Are you honestly losing weight? This scale claims it won’t permit you to cheat.

Or, launched last April, an app called Map My splendor claims to use facial sector reputation algorithms to objectively determine beauty. Customers upload selfies, and the app spits out how and where to put on make-up. Up to now in its brief existence, the app has proven in particular useful for advanced techniques like contouring, the antique college technique made viral by way of Instagram and the Kardashians. (Contouring calls for a strong understanding of your personal facial shape so one can manipulate look The use of light and shading.)

“The usage of this lively look version and applying it to selfies we have never seen Before, we are able to extract a handful of parameters which also—amongst others—describe implicitly facial beauty,” says Dr. Kristina Scherbaum, the laptop scientist behind the app. What the one’s parameters are, but, remains a mystery. Map My splendor has commercial enterprise aspirations past aiding at-home makeup artists. The team has formerly worked with global splendor retailer Sephora, and now Map My beauty has its personal team of expert makeup artists. these experts act as a focus organization for labeling and categorizing the database, and Map My splendor says its judgment criteria is proprietary.

Behold Song

This means an app might also spit out the solutions, But a team of human beings is once more backstage making selections (with varying stages of subjectivity and objectivity). So from DaVinci to Wong and Popenko to this, that plain human detail, In the end, permeates consequences regardless of how many layers of the era are brought.