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your-dietician · 2 years

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Products To Help You Care For Yourself, Your Pets, Home And Your Life

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Products To Help You Care For Yourself, Your Pets, Home And Your Life

Popular items from this list:

• A pack of dishwasher tablets that clean water marks, stains and leftover food residue from the inside of your dishwasher, all in one cycle.

• Bio-Oil, a multi-purpose skincare oil infused with vitamin E, hydrating mineral oil and tons of soothing botanicals that can rid the skin of scars, stretch marks and unevenness.

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• Invisible and squishy bumper guards that can preserve furniture and protect newly walking kiddos from injuring themselves on sharp corners.

HuffPost may receive a share from purchases made via links on this page. Prices and availability are subject to change.

www.amazon.com

An immunity-boosting allergy supplement to help dog’s skin

Promising review: “Absolutely the best product. It saved my itchy goldendoodle! We tried changing food, Benadryl, medicated shampoo, fish oil, everything you can imagine… nothing worked long-term. He was itching his face so badly he would make himself bleed. Had sores and scabs all over his face and neck. I bought these because they had good reviews and I was desperate. It changed his life! He no longer scratches AT ALL! His coat looks great and all of his sores are healed. He’s the happiest he’s been which makes me a very happy momma. He is also very picky and never eats treats… he eats these every time so that’s an added bonus!” — Darcie Nation

$28.97 at Amazon

www.amazon.com

A leave-in conditioning spray for curly hair

Reviewers say this spray will leave wavy or curly hair (from 2a–4c hair) shiny, soft, and bouncy.

Promising review: “Miracle product. My 4-year-old has long, curly hair. She sleeps like she’s in an MMA ring and subsequently wakes up with hair matted and tangled. She cries if you brush it because it’s obviously a nightmare. I got this and spray it all over her dry hair and HOLY MOLY where has this been?! The brush glides through her hair with no issue. I don’t know what magical unicorn made this stuff but I swear by this now!” — Meghan Anne

$7.99 at Amazon

www.amazon.com

A microwave veggie steamer

Promising review: “I love fresh vegetables but hate having to cook up the whole batch and store. This little microwave steamer worked out even BETTER than I could have imagined! I use it almost every day now. I can break off a few stalks of broccoli, cut up a some asparagus, carrots, steam it in the microwave for 3–3.5 minutes and I have a wonderful serving of mixed fresh veggies anytime I want. I love it! It is small, so if you’re feeding a family, look for something bigger along the same lines. It’s easy to clean, and it seems sturdy enough for the dishwasher, but I hand wash it because I had a microwave steamer that got warped after a few runs through the dishwasher. Would definitely buy again.” — terifrancis

$9.99 at Amazon

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www.amazon.com

A pair of compression gloves that can help with arthritis symptoms

Promising review: “I love these gloves, I’m actually wearing them right now. I have a degree in computer science which means that I’m constantly using my hands to code and mess around on computers. I use a computer at home and at work. By the end of the day my hands are sore and they hurt. These gloves work miracles. Before bed I put these on and I wear them all night. I get a good night’s sleep when I wear them and I can tell when I forget to put them on because I sleep awful. I also like how easy it is to wash them. I hand wash but I’ll admit a couple of times I’ve just thrown in the washing machine because I was too tired to hand wash and they turn out completely fine, literally the same as if I would’ve hand washed. I’m 26 and I wear these gloves. My grandma is 69 and she wears these gloves. We both love these gloves very much!” — BritMcConnell

$19.97 at Amazon

Amazon

A pack of six cleaning tablets to rid your washing machine of any mold or smells

They’re safe to use with pretty much any type of washer: HE or regular, top-loading and front-loading.

Promising review: “I noticed a funny smell in my laundry room and realized it was coming from my washer. I bought these and tried them the same day I got them. Ran the washer on hot and open the lid midway through to see the washer was full of gunk and debris and things that this cleaner brought up. Once the cycle was done there was no more smell. My washer was clean. This product is seriously amazing. I wish I found it sooner.” — Amazon customer

$8.99 at Amazon

www.amazon.com

A six pack of cleaning tablets to wash away the grime inside your dishwasher

Promising review: “Convenient, easy, quick way to keep the dishwasher fresh and working at peak.” — Amazon customer

Promising review: “I rarely post reviews, but this stuff has completely changed our lives. Our dishwasher, utensils, plates, and glasses were covered with dry scale and nothing we tried came close to helping. After using the tablets three times our dishwasher looks like new; our glasses are sparkling like fine china and everything else looks fabulous. Highly recommend, worth every penny, best product BY FAR!!! One great advantage is you can use it with your dishes. Some other products are used to clean the dishwasher but not to clean dishes and glasses. Buy this, you will be blown away!!! It is astounding!” — Jenny

$11.78 at Amazon

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www.amazon.com

A multi-use and vitamin-rich skincare oil that can help soothe and even skin tone

Promising review: “I’ve been using this on a scar on my chest for the past few weeks (trying to make it less noticeable before my wedding in September!), and it’s slowly but surely fading away. I apply it at night, but reviewers recommend apply it in the morning as well for best effectiveness, so I’ll start doing that too. It smells really nice and it doesn’t feel as oily on your skin as you might think.” –– Ciera Velarde, Buzzfeed

Promising review: “I was skeptical of how amazing the reviews are, but this stuff is pure gold. I use it on stretch marks on my legs and in just a week they went from bright angry red to purple. I use it twice a day if I remember, and it’s amazing. I also rub it on my face after I wash my face. It has made my acne on my cheeks go WAY down, and is removing the scars. I have amazing skin now. I use this stuff EVERY day, and I’ve barely even put a dent in it. This size is amazing, and for the price — holy cow. I seriously never leave reviews, but seriously this stuff is pure magic. I tried vitamin C serum, rosehip, witch hazel, etc. and this is the only thing that has worked for me. Good luck!!” — Jessamyne Campbell

$8.92 at Amazon

Eucalyptus Blooms / Etsy

Three aromatherapy eucalyptus lavender pouches for the shower

Each bag lasts for two to three showers. Eucalyptus Blooms is a North Carolina-based small business that specializes in eucalyptus bunches designed to freshen up your home.

Promising review: “These smell AMAZING, and they’re such a perfect size for the shower. I used to have big bundles of eucalyptus, but they always took up so much space. These are perfectly sized and the blend of Eucalyptus and Lavender is HEAVENLY.” — Maggie

$12.79 at Etsy

Amazon

An odor and stain eliminating spray great for stubborn pet messes

Rocco & Roxie is a family-owned small business named after the Magleby family’s pets Rocco, a labradoodle, and Roxie, a former shelter tabby cat. They make a variety of pet supplies, including cleaners, treats, grooming tools, accessories, and toys.

Promising review: “I have six elderly cats, and a few of them oftentimes leave smelly pee puddles to register their disdain at whatever cats get ‘peed off’ about. It’s not a litter box problem and, although I’ve caught one or two of them doing it, I can’t blame them all. This product works great on fresh messes as well as dried ones. After blotting up fresh pee pods, I saturate the area with Rocco & Roxie’s odor remover and let dry. For dried stinky stuff, I just saturate the area and let it dry. It has a pleasant odor and completely eliminates the ammonia odor. Believe me, I’ve tried all kinds of products, and this one works the best. I buy gallons now just to have on hand. It’s better than smelling that awful pee!” — mona mia

$19.97 at Amazon

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www.amazon.com

A nourishing oil that’ll restore your shredded nails and dry cuticles

Promising review: “This product is amazing. I’ve always had acrylic or dipped nails because my real nails have always been brittle and always break and peel. I decided to give my nails a break and wanted to try and grow them out. I can’t even believe the outcome! They are stronger than ever and growing! I really wish I had taken a before pic to show the difference!” — JOE D.

$8.50 at Amazon

Emma Lord / BuzzFeed

A pair of super absorbent period underwear

Available in sizes XXS–6X and individually or in packs of two or three in various colors.

Promising review:

“Very comfortable and incredibly absorbent compared to other brands I’ve tried. These are exactly what I needed! I don’t want to have to think about my period every moment or worry about leaking. These give me such peace of mind. I don’t use other products, just period underwear. I was so tired of everything else and even got sick of using cups. So I just wear these for my entire cycle. Heavier days I’m changing every five or so hours, but I’m talking really heavy. Regular days, I can go morning to evening. These are great for sleeping, too!” — Amazon customer

$15.90+ at Amazon

www.amazon.com

An anti-fungal dandruff shampoo that can alleviate a dry flaky scalp

Promising review: “MIRACLE PRODUCT! If you have a flaky scalp from dandruff, BUY THIS. I was about to go to the dermatologist if this stuff didn’t work. Thank goodness I saved myself hundreds of dollars by giving this product a shot. I used it four of five times (over a month) and it cleared my scalp almost completely. One more use and my scalp will be 120% healed! This stuff blew my mind. Totally worth it.” — chris

$15.47 at Amazon

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Emma Lord / BuzzFeed

A shampoo scalp massager for breaking down product buildup and improving circulation

Promising review: “I started using one of these a few months ago and WOWZA, it really helps you get extra mileage out of your shampoo. I have a whole lot of hair on my head so sometimes it’s a struggle to feel like I’ve soaped up my whole scalp thorough, but this was a very effective way to spread out the suds and really get them to the roots. I was worried it might tangle in my hair, but it was totally fine on that front, too. I’ve noticed that my hair has been a little less greasy at the roots since I started using it. And I’m echoing a ton of reviewers here when I say it just feels reeeeeally, really nice.” –– Emma Lord, Buzzfeed

Promising review: “I saw this little thing all over TikTok and everyone swore by it. To be honest, they’re right and I now swear by it. It’s perfectly soft and sturdy to massage the scalp. Works shampoo into roots, helps with dry skin and such. I absolutely love it and I use it every time I wash my hair. I most definitely would recommend to anyone. Don’t hesitate.” — Z

$6.98+ at Amazon

www.amazon.com

A pack of 12 inconspicuous corner guards for furniture

Promising review: “Must-have. I love these. We just moved in with family, and they had a coffee table with super-sharp corners and I have a little one who pulls up on everything and is trying to walk. To say I was on edge is an understatement. My sister-in-law didn’t want an obnoxious baby proof item around her house, but these were so discreet she didn’t even notice that I had installed them. They are so soft that my little one started gumming on them to soothe his gums, LOL. They were super easy to install, stuck on very well and with not much effort, and came with plenty so if I need them I’ll have them handy. Super satisfied! If you’re thinking about getting, them please do!” — Amazon customer

$12.98 at Amazon

www.amazon.com

A creamy paw butter that hydrates dry, cracked paws

Promising review: “One of my puppers is a super athlete who lives to go for walks and on runs. She is about 9 now and the vet gave her a stellar bill of health save one thing: her pads were getting really rough and worn from paved trails and city walks, and this may be uncomfortable, especially as summer comes and pavement heats up. I was skeptical about any kind of balm as I figured that it would leave a mess on my floors or one/both dogs would just lick it off their feet. No problems whatsoever, and after a single application, both dogs’ pads are really soft and supple. Hopefully the dogs can feel the difference. I can surely see it and feel it. Also, the balm smells like oatmeal cookies, so bonus for that.” —Todd Snyder

$7.13 at Amazon

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www.amazon.com

A memory foam orthopedic knee pillow that can help reduce back strain

Promising review: “I have significant pain in my left knee. My expectations for this product were low but I figured, given the very reasonable price, it was worth a try. I’ve got to say I am very pleased. Its size/design have reduced my discomfort while sleeping and allow me to get a much higher quality of sleep. It works well both on my back (under my knee) and on my side (between my legs). I would buy it again.” — Joe F.

$21.95 at Amazon

www.amazon.com

Dawn’s dish spray that removes stubborn grease and grime without scrubbing

This bundle comes with a spray bottle and three refills.

Promising review:

“Best cleaning product I have ever used. TikTok doesn’t lie…on this one at least.” — R. Oakeson

$24.32 at Amazon

Amazon

A bleach-free, no-scrub weekly shower spray to prevent scum buildup

Promising review: “We cannot BEGIN to tell you what a lifesaver this is! We have two old fiberglass tubs with vinyl shower enclosures that no matter what amount of scrubbing we have done with everything from bleach to cleanser to vinegar and baking soda would NOT come clean. After I took my shower last night, I sprayed down the tub and walls. Within minutes, all the built-up water deposits and dirt and grime began to melt away in front of my eyes. I left it on overnight, and when I got up this morning, it did not look like the same tub and shower. This product is a godsend, especially for old folks like us who have difficulty getting down on our hands and knees and scrubbing anything. More importantly, it performs as advertised. We plan on using it as part of our weekly cleanup routine. This is truly an overnight sensation!” — Amazon customer

$18.61 at Amazon

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www.amazon.com

Two pain-reducing knee stabilizer bands

Promising review: “I have suffered from chronic knee pain while running for years now after experiencing an injury. With running being one of my hobbies, I thought I’d never run again without being in extreme pain. These little contraptions have changed my life. I now run without even the slightest pain in my knee. The only thing is that it’s kinda uncomfortable without long pants on. But that’s a sacrifice I’m willing to take for no pain. I’d highly recommend.” — Amazon customer

$12.88+ at Amazon

Amazon

A pack of colorful squishy, sticky balls that don’t make a mess

Promising review: “I waited over two months to write my review! My 4-year-old daughter plays with these DAILY! YES they do attract dirt and hair. HOWEVER they are so easy to rinse off it’s not a big deal! We took these to a family gathering and ended up giving two away because they were SO loved! The two we gave away went to a 12-year-old and my 19-year-old brother. They discovered throwing them at the ceiling fan and watching them shoot across the room, which was pretty entertaining! None of them have busted or ripped and they are definitely NOT gentle with them! I will definitely be buying more!” — Heather Hambrick

$10.46 at Amazon

www.amazon.com

The cult-favorite Squatty Potty that can help relieve constipation

Promising review: “What can I say? The process of excretion can only be compared to a real life exorcism where it feels, pleasantly if I may add, that the devil himself is trying to burst out of your gut. Needless to say, the stool changed my life. I found myself creating excuses to run to my magical place and discharge whatever little portion of food was left inside me; I was hooked. Soon people started wondering why I’ve become so distant; the stool had taken over my life. It would have taken over your life too if you would have experienced the kind of pleasure that I was now enjoying; it was my high.” — Dino

$24.99 at Amazon

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www.amazon.com

A plant-based stainless steel cleaner and polish for a smudge-proof shine

Therapy is a family-owned small business based in Dover, New Hampshire.

Promising review: “I live in an apartment. The sink is about 35 years old and has become badly stained and scratched from neglect and indifferent care. This has made a noticeable difference. This sink will never look brand new again, but your product removed, I would say, about 80% of the stains, without any extraordinary effort, and put a really polished look on the sink. It is gleaming and actually looks very clean for the first time since I have lived here. I am betting that with continued and consistent use of Therapy cleaner, it will continue to improve. Thank you for a most excellent product.” — David Brennan

$19.95 at Amazon

www.amazon.com

A box of 14 medicated wart-removing pads that apply like a bandage

Promising review: “This stuff works! I’ve never had a wart in my life! At first I thought it was a small callus but as months went by it was getting larger. I started to google and realized I had a plantar wart on my thumb! Eww, embarrassing! So I got the freeze off and thought ‘This has to work!’ Nope! I tried the freeze off three times and nothing! I than realized the same thing was happening on my other thumb, a small callus but I knew that the wart had spread! Now I was desperate to get rid of them and knew I had waited too long! Bought the invisible strips and it removed my small wart in four days and my big wart in eight!! I couldn’t believe it. I left strips on for two days then pulled back the dead skin with a cuticle clipper and reapplied! My bigger wart was a little tougher to removed and I had irritated my skin trying to cut it out, so I left it alone for few days before reapplying strip and by the second 48-hour treatment, it was gone! I thought my skin would be damaged but it looks like nothing was ever there!” — Audrey N.

$6.96 at Amazon

Meowy Janes / Etsy

A pack of matatabi chew sticks for your cat

Meowy Janes is a wonderfully named small business based in New Egypt, New Jersey. It specializes in catnip and catnip alternatives.

Promising review: “I recently tried some of these out with my cats and they were a hit! TBH they’ve never really been super into catnip — they’ll play with it but they don’t go wild — so I was excited to see they were into these. They bat them around, rub their faces all over them, and ultimately, when they’re done, hide them under a chair or in their cat condo so they can come back to them later.” –– Chelsea Stuart, Buzzfeed

Promising review: “The second I put a stick down our kitty was obsessed! Our cat loves ‘chewing’ so these are a great fit for him. All natural, great packaging, and quick shipping! Thank you.” — kr323

$9.97+ at Amazon

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www.amazon.com

A popular air purifier that removes dander, dust and allergens from the air

Promising review: “I’d never heard of this brand before but love their product now. Immediately this air freshener worked as advertised. I felt the air in my room was fresh. I have many cats and was grateful for the feeling of clean air around me. The product looks to be very well made and very nice to look at. Easy to set up, easy to use. I hope for many reliable years.” — Amazon customer

$89.99 at Amazon

ScratchPad for Dogs / Etsy

A nail file board for dogs

ScratchPad for Dogs is a small biz based in Atlanta. This pad is available in four styles and three grit levels.

Promising review: “Love this scratch pad! We adopted our dog almost a year ago and he’s been terrified of clippers and grinders since day one. We’ve never been able to maintain his nails due to his super reactive anxiety around nail care. That’s all changed since we got the Scratch Pad a few weeks ago! He took to it right away and his nails have shown significant improvement in just a few sessions!” — Kira Armajani

$39.91+ at Etsy

www.amazon.com

Bissell’s best selling carpet and upholstery cleaning machine

Promising review: “Two months ago we got an 6-month-old puppy who has needed some time to get adjusted. That included more than a few accidents in our living room and on his bed. This machine has made clean up of everything so much simpler and I love that it’s deep cleaning and has a nontoxic pet cleaner so that our not-so-little puppy can isn’t harmed through exposure or smells. Also helpful since my teenage sons like to camp out on the couch with their friends on long weekends and our couch gets that fresh clean smell in an hour.” — Kindle customer

$123.59 at Amazon

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Amazon

A tonsil stone remover kit

Promising review: “I’m in my early thirties and just started getting tonsil stones. Until a few months ago, I never even knew what these things were! I’ve been struggling with cotton swabs to fully remove the stones but couldn’t get rid of them and they would just come back within the week. I received this and OMFG…best investment ever. No struggle holding my phone as a flashlight while awkwardly posing myself in front of my badly lit bathroom mirror. I sat comfortably at my vanity, used one hand, and removed the whole stone in less than a minute. Why did I not know this was a thing? Why have I been struggling? Get it! Stop struggling, suffering, and awkwardly dealing with this ridiculous condition…trust me.” — Wren

$9.98+ at Amazon

www.amazon.com

A professional grade callus-removing gel to dissolve hard dead skin from feet

Promising review: “This is a Hail Mary! This is hands down the best product ever!!!! I have been using this product on my clients and it has made my job so much easier and less time consuming.” — Diamante Valentine

$14.49 at Amazon

www.amazon.com

A pack of 20 stain-removing pads by Bissell

Promising review: “WOW! Honestly, I was a little skeptical of the promise of these pads, but I bought them just to try out. THEY WORKED AMAZINGLY WELL! Seriously. I have some stains that are 1.5–2 years old. I’ve tried everything to get them out. I put these pads on the stains (two to cover the spot), let sit for about an hour, pulled them up, and the stain was gone. I truly couldn’t believe it. The pad was yellow. Somehow the old urine was soaked up into the pad. My carpet looks like new. I couldn’t recommend these any higher for what I wanted and what I got. Wish I could give this more than five stars.” — Matt

$27.48 at Amazon

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www.amazon.com

Forty hydrocolloid acne patches that draw out impurities and help blemishes heal

Promising review: “I cannot say enough about these patches! They are my skin savior! I actually gave myself a facial where I pushed up all the blackheads and whiteheads from my pores, which is why there is so much puss on the patches (gross, I know), but I couldn’t believe all of that was trapped in my skin!! Woke up and removed the patches, not a single pimple! If I would’ve not put these on, guaranteed I would have woken to multiple pimples in the area. I usually break out when I try to exfoliate and extract, so I only do it when my pores start to look huge and filled (yuck). I am now a true believer, leave the ‘spot treatment’ creams and switch to these! They will pull out that white head and reduce your pimple to practically nothing overnight! And it’s safer than a cream that just brings all that gunk to the surface but doesn’t actually remove it… then when you do you’re left with an oozing pre-scar for the rest of the day! I am now a monthly subscriber. I will never use anything else. In fact, just ordered the XL acne patches to pull out more gunk on my forehead (live in AZ, constantly sweating and naturally oily). Thank you for making such a great product!!” — Jennelectric

$8.49 at Amazon

www.amazon.com

A pen that leaves behind a bad taste to stop your kid from biting their nails

This has anti-inflammatory ingredients like organic aloe leaf juice and organic eucalyptus leaf to soothe sore fingers.

Promising review: “I love this stuff!! It’s taste horrible, which was great to help stop my 4-year-old from biting her nails. In about three days she completely stopped now and her nails have grown..” — Denise Batista

Promising review: “OMG it works!! My 3.5-year-old was a constant thumb sucker. Four days and she hasn’t put her thumb in her mouth!! It’s the worst taste ever but it works. We tell her we are painting her nails. We put it on during the day and at night. Best product around.” — Natalie Plaza

$16.95 at Amazon

www.amazon.com

A liquid tartar remover if your dog hates getting his teeth brushed

Promising review: “My dog’s molars were turning black and he had a ton of build up on his canines. In the photo (above), just imagine everywhere you see slight yellow, instead covered in black and brown gunk and hard plaque. His gums were beginning to look inflamed. And, of course, his breath could kill a horse. After one week of constant use (a cap full for every bowl of water) you could see an obvious difference in tooth color. I was blown away. (Why can’t human mouthwash do such a good job on our teeth?) After three weeks, his molars were almost completely clean. After a couple months of use, the plaque on his canines was soft enough to brush some of it off, which was totally impossible before. Plaque covered the canine approximately 70%. Obviously that’s no longer the case. Idk what insane solvent this is made of, but it keeps his gross mouth clean as a whistle. Now I don’t have to worry about my picky princess mutt losing his teeth because he can’t be bothered to chew anything.” — BaconPancakes

$8.41+ at Amazon

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www.amazon.com

A TikTok-famous cleaning paste that works on a number of messes and surfaces

Promising review: “If this stuff isn’t in your arsenal yet, you need it. I accidentally got GREEN hair dye all over my white sink. Bleach, CLR, Magic Erasers — nothing touched it. The Pink Stuff was my Hail Mary while I was panicking about what I would tell my landlord. The stains are completely gone and I have a white sink again!” — Courtney Foltz

$5.97 at Amazon

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birdkoskincare · 4 years

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#SkincareSunday: A total beginner’s guide to skincare

If you’re reading this, you may be feeling a little lost in the terminology and seeming complexity of the world of skincare. Fear not, I’m here to let you in on a secret: it can be as simple or as complicated as you want it to be! I’m going to cover the basic info you need to get started here, but you can always go on to browse my blog or send me a question for any specific clarifications you need.

In this post:

Q&A: the basic information

Actives: an ingredient glossary

Products: building a routine

Tips: from a veteran to a newbie

——— Q&A: the basic information

Q: Does everyone need skincare?

A: Yes, at a very basic level, everyone should take care of their skin to ensure its health, now as well as many years in the future.

Q: What are the non-negotiables in a routine?

A: In the morning, you can do as little as just applying sunscreen. in the evening, cleanse and moisturize. If you don’t want to, you need not complicate it any further.

Q: I hate sunscreen. Do I really need to wear it?

A: Yes.

Q: What if I have specific skin issues I want to fix?

A: Then let me direct you to this post. The first step of skincare is understanding your skin: its levels of oil (whether you are oily, dry or combination) and hydration (whether you are dehydrated), as well as more particular concerns, like hyperpigmentation (dark areas — sometimes called PIH, or post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation as it can happen as a result of wounds and acne), erythema (sometimes PIE — same deal, but with redness and expanded capillaries), rosacea and redness, acne, premature ageing (fine lines and wrinkles, loss of elasticity and plumpness, sun spots, etc.), dullness, rough texture, etc.

Q: I have this specific skin condition (acne/rosacea/eczema/allergies/...), what should I do?

A: Visit a dermatologist and listen to their advice first and foremost, over that of brands, bloggers, influencers, friends and family, well-meaning though they may be.

Q: Who do I listen to in the skincare world? This blogger is telling me to stop washing my face and use only organic coconut oil...

A: Listen to experts: dermatologists, cosmetic scientists and aestheticians, who are educated in the actual facts behind why stuff works, rather than brands, bloggers and influencers who push their financial agendas via fear-mongering.

Q: Are fragrances/alcohol/parabens/silicones/PEG/whatever toxic? How do I avoid chemicals?

A: No, no, no, no, no, and no. Ingredients get demonized by brands who don’t play fair and use fear-mongering to sell their stuff over their competitors’. The ingredients used in cosmetics (speaking from an EU/USA/Japan regulatory perspective) are very closely regulated and monitored for toxicity. Also, everything is a chemical. A chemical-free product is just a vacuum (no air, because that’s chemicals, too).

Q: I am concerned about my wellbeing and the environment. Should I only buy “clean beauty” products?

A: Clean beauty is a huge scam with cult-like overtones. Here’s some info on that.

——— Actives: an ingredient glossary

“Actives” are the ingredients in a formulation that have an active impact in our skin, beyond just moisturizing or providing the structure of the product. Here’s a handful of ingredients that have a lot of scientific evidence behind them, and which you’ll see mentioned a lot. You don’t need any actives in your routine besides UV filters, but the ones below may help you target specific concerns; remember, though, they can sensitize your skin, so less is more. Click the name to see the corresponding tag in my blog.

Retinol: the gold standard molecule for anti-aging and fighting acne. Its derivatives, retinoids, do the same thing at varying strengths.

Vitamin C: ascorbic acid and its derivatives. A great brightening and anti-hyperpigmentation active, also has antioxidant properties and boosts SPF effectiveness.

Niacinamide: anti-hyperpigmentation, fights acne and excess sebum production.

AHAs: alpha-hydroxy acids, the best known chemical exfoliants. These include lactic, glycolic, mandelic, citric, and tartaric acids, among others. They help prevent clogged pores, flaky skin and dullness.

PHAs: poly-hydroxy acids, like lactobionic acid and gluconolactone, which offer gentler exfoliation than AHAs while also helping with hydration.

Salicylic acid: a.k.a. BHA (beta-hydroxy acid), great for dissolving oil-clogged pores and fighting acne.

Azelaic acid: great for those who struggle with redness, hyperpigmentation and acne.

Ceramides: fatty ingredients that mimic the skin’s natural moisturizer; very good at aiding wound healing, and soothing sensitized or dry skin.

Hyaluronic acid: a humectant, that is, a molecule that holds onto water and keeps the top layers of your skin plump and dewy.

Plant extracts: these have a myriad different claimed functions, and varying levels of evidence backing them up. Not to be confused with essential oils or plant oils.

There are many, many more actives than these, of course. remember, All of the above ingredients work at different concentrations; a 1% retinol is very strong, while a 1% ascorbic acid product may or may not give any results. Also, these are strong: you do not want to use many at once. Choose one or two to start with, and introduce them slowly and gradually into your routine.

——— Products: building a routine

What if you want to experiment beyond the bare-bones routine outlined above? Knowing what each product type does or their order in your routine can be confusing. I’ve listed the product names below in the order they would be applied on the skin and whether it’s better suited for the mornings (AM), nights (PM) or both (AM/PM), but you do not need to use them all (and indeed, you should not). Again: click the links for more info on each.

Makeup remover: micellar water, wipes, biphasic cleansers, etc. can help you dissolve stubborn makeup, although most oil cleansers work just as well. (PM)

Oil cleanser: the first cleanse, to dissolve oil-soluble grease, makeup and sunscreen. Can be an oil or a balm. (PM)

Second cleanser: can be a foam, milk, gel, etc.; this is your standard cleanser (AM/PM)

Wash-off mask: clay masks and masks that come in a pot or tube, with varying purposes, should be applied and then washed off before the rest of your routine. (PM)

Toner: in the west, usually an astringent (drying, causes a pore-shrinking illusion). In asia, a hydrating step meant to prep the skin for actives. Can also contain actives, i.e. exfoliants, etc.; face mists fit into this category. (AM/PM)

Essence: popular in asian cosmetics, in-between the thickness of a serum and a toner. delivers hydration. Often contains fermented ingredients. (AM/PM)

Serum: a thicker liquid product, often in a dropper or pump. Good for delivering actives to the skin, as well as an extra layer of hydration. (AM/PM)

Sheet mask: a way of delivering an essence-like liquid to the skin that should not be rinsed off. (AM/PM)

Eye cream/gel/serum: products for the eye area are formulated specifically to address the delicate skin there. You may or may not need them. (AM/PM)

Moisturizer: can be a gel, gel-cream, or cream, depending on the richness of the texture. (AM/PM) or just (AM) if it contains SPF.

Sleeping pack/overnight mask: a richer moisturizer-like mask with actives meant to sit on your skin overnight and be rinsed off in the morning. (PM)

Spot treatment: localized, intensive treatments for breakouts or blemishes. (PM)

Sunscreen: the final step of every morning routine (AM)

There are more product types; new names keep popping up as brands strive to appear original and innovative, but in all likelihood, new products slot into one of these categories. Please note that some actives, like retinoids, should be used in specific ways that override the order that, say, a serum would be applied in: retinoids must be applied on clean, dry skin, at night.

——— Tips: from a veteran to a newbie

Here are my top skincare tips for someone just starting out.

Keep it as simple as you can. Skin sensitization is real; you don’t want to do more harm than good. Start slow whenever introducing something new.

Patch test new products. This will save you the heartbreak of a full-face breakout.

Shop mindfully and don’t buy into the hype blindly. For the sake of our planet, your wallet and your face, really consider whether a product has a place in your routine before purchasing.

Trust the experts, and do your own research. This is the best way to avoid falling into the trap of misinformation, which is sadly omnipresent even in the skincare community.

Above all else, though, trust your own skin. Something might be perfect on paper, but you skin can still hate it, and vice-versa. Skincare is extremely personal, and oftentimes the only way to know how you’ll react to a certain ingredient/product is to try it.

Take progress photos. Your memory is unreliable, and you’ll want to look back and assess whether your routine is actually working or not.

Don’t be afraid to search my blog and/or send me any questions! Best of luck 🕊

If you’d like to support me and the work I put into these informational posts, you can buy me a coffee on ko-fi ☕️

Myths about green/clean beauty

Is pricier skincare better?

Sunscreen indoors, in winter, etc.: necessary or excessive?

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bevioletskies · 3 years

Text

(and i’m lost) in a daydream

summary: Napping together, in Klavier’s opinion, is one of the most romantic things a couple can do. But, he has to admit, staying up all night with Apollo to talk about nothing in particular is pretty good, too.

word count: 5.4k | read on ao3

a/n: For @klapollo-week, day six of seven (prompt: "sleep"). All seven of my fics take place in the same continuity! However, each can be read as a stand-alone, with the exception of day seven being a sequel to day five.

This fic takes place at some distant point in time after Spirit of Justice where Apollo and Trucy have learned that they’re siblings, but doesn’t reference any specific plotlines otherwise. Fic title is from the song Daydream by The Lovin' Spoonful.

“Why are your feet still so cold? You’ve been lying here for like, ten minutes already!”

“Don’t question my blood circulation, baby, it’s rude.”

“I - what?” Apollo shook his head incredulously as he snuggled deeper into the mattress, pointedly moving his feet away from Klavier’s. “You know what? Never mind, I’m not even gonna ask. Just when I think I finally get you…”

“I’m an enigma, liebling. Hard to understand,” Klavier deadpanned, adjusting the covers so Apollo was snug underneath his duvet, weighted blanket, and faux-fur throw. Apollo seriously questioned how his boyfriend’s skin could be anything but blazingly hot with enough sheets on top of him to legitimately smother someone.

“You? You’re about as deep as a puddle on a freshly-paved road.” Klavier pouted exaggeratedly; Apollo leaned over to kiss his trembling bottom lip with a teasing grin. “Kidding, kidding. How could I possibly question the depth and breadth of someone who writes songs like 13 Years Hard Time For Love and Gonna Lock U Up? Clearly, Guilty Love is your magnum opus - ”

“You are so mean to me,” Klavier whined, wrapping his arms around Apollo’s shoulders and pulling him closer. “How are you still one of my favorite people in the world, achtung.” Laughing, Apollo buried his face against Klavier’s neck. “But...you’re not wrong about Guilty Love. It’s obviously my best work.”

“I prefer The Guitar’s Serenade myself,” Apollo mumbled into his hair, slowly detangling himself from Klavier so he could get a good look at him. He felt deliriously tired for some reason, like he’d been worn out to the point of restlessness. Strange, considering it was just like any other day; there was nothing that would’ve made him more exhausted than normal. Klavier seemed to be that way, too, blinking sleepily at Apollo with a wide grin, more lazy than flirtatious. “...hi?”

“Hallo.” Klavier kissed him again. “We should sleep, it’s late.”

“It’s barely ten,” Apollo pointed out.

“It’s late,” Klavier repeated, throwing an arm out across the pillows. Apollo took that as his cue to move in closer once more. “Some people need their beauty sleep, Apollo. We can’t all be fresh-faced, rosy-cheeked engels like you.”

“Now I know you’re tired, ‘cos that was complete crap,” Apollo said, poking Klavier in the cheek. “Have you seen this pimple on my chin? Look, Klav. It’s big enough to have its own legal system.” Klavier half-snorted, half-yawned. “Why’re you so tired, anyway? I thought you said you had a power nap at work, which is definitely not something you should be doing.”

“Herr Edgeworth can manage without me for twenty minutes, ach,” Klavier said derisively. “And I like a good nap, but it’s no substitute for sleep. And besides, it’s...it feels nicer, going to bed, when I have someone to share it with.”

“You are nauseating,” Apollo informed him, kissing him more intently this time. “...but I get what you mean.” He pulled back, swallowing. “Trucy and I were talking the other day about, like...stuff we missed out on by not growing up together. Y’know, family trips, home movies, falling asleep in the same bed...or, at least, that’s what I think it’s like. I wouldn’t know.”

Klavier went silent for an unsettlingly long time. “...it’s not all bad. Having a sibling. Until you look back on it and start to question all the...you know what, never mind.” He shook himself before he could finish his sentence. “You make a pefekt older brother, baby. Though you’re more like a little big brother, now that she’s taller than you.”

“By half an inch!” Apollo protested loudly, prodding Klavier more insistently now. “Look, her dad has the height gene - ”

“And your dad had the ‘loud voice’ gene, I hear.” Klavier took Apollo’s hand in both of his and brushed a kiss across his knuckles. “Well, thanks to you, mein kleiner sirene, I’m definitely awake now.”

“Asshole,” Apollo said affectionately. “So, what, you wanna get up or something?”

“Nein, not at all.” Klavier rolled onto his side, bringing Apollo’s hand to his chest. Apollo could feel Klavier’s steady heartbeat beneath his fingers. “Let’s just...hang out, ja? We can talk until we fall asleep, just like we used to when you were working in Khura’in. Or, more recently, just the other day.”

“Emphasis on ‘day’ - we were s’posed to be helping Ema finish the decorations for Kay’s surprise party!” Apollo spluttered. “That was not a good time to take an accidental nap.”

“Well, entschuldigung for wanting to reflect fondly on a nice memory we shared,” Klavier griped, poking Apollo in the stomach. “For a moment there, I forgot I was dating the most pedantic man on the planet.”

“We’re lawyers, we’re pedantic for a living.” Apollo poked him back. “Hell, you got mad at me just the other day ‘cos I accidentally swapped two of your face serums or whatever - ”

“My skincare routine is a delicate ecosystem, baby, you can’t just move things - ” Klavier then cut himself off with a long exhale. “Nein, nein, we’re not getting into this again. I don’t like being mad at you. It’s unfathomable, really.”

Humming, Apollo used his free hand - the other was still being held against Klavier’s chest - to gently run his fingers through Klavier’s hair, brushing it out of his face. It was silky smooth and tangle-free, naturally; Klavier had a whole wealth of products he used on his skin and in his hair to maintain their quality. He still hadn’t forgiven Apollo for telling him that his own skincare routine consisted of nothing but St. Ives’ apricot scrub and Ponds cold cream (“At least let me buy you an actual cleanser, ach. And don’t tell me you don’t wear sunscreen!”).

“What’re you thinking about?” Klavier said quietly, finally releasing Apollo’s hand so he could cup his jaw, his thumb brushing across Apollo’s bottom lip. “I can practically see the little hamster wheel turning in your head right now.”

“Shut up,” Apollo murmured, playfully nipping the tip of Klavier’s thumb with his teeth. “I’m not thinking about anything, actually. Which is kinda nice, not gonna lie. I don’t have, like, a million pieces of evidence flying around in my brain for once.”

“The benefits of date night after a trial is over, ja?” Klavier said. “We can enjoy each other’s company without...conditions. Though to be fair, you were right when you said we shouldn’t spend nights together while we’re working the same case. Separate the lover from the lawyer and all that.”

Apollo groaned. “I hated that saying when you came up with it, and I still hate it now.” Laughing, Klavier moved closer, neatly tucking his head underneath Apollo’s chin. He pressed a kiss to Apollo’s collarbone, winding his arms around Apollo’s waist. “One of the many things I gotta put up with, I guess.”

“You love it,” Klavier mumbled against Apollo’s chest. “You think I’m so clever - ”

“Rewind to about five minutes ago when I said you’re about as deep as a footprint on a hardwood floor,” Apollo said wryly, pinching Klavier’s waist so he would look up; Apollo ducked down to kiss him. Grinning, Klavier deepened the kiss, letting out a pleased hum as he did so. “...I don’t totally mind putting up with you, though. Wouldn’t be here if I did.”

“I’m still not completely convinced you aren’t here for my mattress and heated floors.” Klavier began pressing open-mouthed kisses along the crook of Apollo’s jaw, savoring the smell of Apollo’s shampoo as he went. “From what you’ve told me of your apartment, it sounds like an absolute nightmare. A complete schreckgespenst.”

“Gesundheit,” Apollo murmured, tilting his chin upwards to give Klavier better access to his neck. “Yeah, my apartment sucks. The only reason I’d want you to come over is so you can finally meet my cat. Hell, he’s a nightmare and a half on his own.”

“Is this the same cat I’ve heard you refer to as your son?” Klavier asked, sitting up slightly. “The one who you said eats more expensive food than you do - ”

“One and the same,” Apollo replied with a long-suffering sigh. “Fine, fine, you caught me. I’m only dating you ‘cos you have air conditioning, a flatscreen TV, and food that isn’t frozen.”

The laughter that escaped Klavier’s mouth was near-hysterical; his exhaustion was getting more and more obvious by the minute. “And here, I thought you actually loved me. My mistake.” His laughter was swiftly cut off by Apollo’s lips on his, his breath hitching when Apollo quickly turned them around so he was now straddling Klavier’s hips. “So was I right after all - ”

“I can’t believe we have the exact same stupid sense of humor, you make me so angry,” Apollo said breathlessly between kisses. “God, I love you. You’re the worst. The absolute worst - ”

“You and your mixed messages.” Klavier moved his hands from Apollo’s waist to his backside, gripping him possessively; Apollo’s back arched at his touch, anticipatory. “Your thoughts are as confusing as your logic, you know that?”

“This is the part where you say ‘I love you, too’, not ‘I think you can be stupid sometimes’, you asshole,” Apollo retorted, grinning.

Klavier leaned in close, his lips brushing against Apollo’s ear, his voice low and warm and more than a little bit sensual. “Ich liebe dich mehr jeden Tag.” Apollo shivered with pleasure. “Ich kann nicht ohne dich leben. Liebst du mich?”

“Ja,” Apollo whispered, kissing Klavier yet again. “You know that I do.”

_____

Fifteen minutes later, Klavier reluctantly detached himself from Apollo long enough so he could get up and crack open a window; his bedroom had gotten noticeably warmer, and it wasn’t just because they’d spent the last ten minutes making out like teenagers with a limited window of opportunity.

“Warm,” Apollo grunted, rolling up the sleeves of his t-shirt. “It’s so warm - Klav, can we please get rid of at least one layer of bed covers already? I have no interest in getting roasted anymore than I already do.”

“Fine, fine.” Klavier rolled up his faux-fur throw, then disappeared briefly into his walk-in closet so he could set it aside. When he returned, Apollo was sprawled out like a starfish on top of the duvet, his fingers and toes brushing the edges of Klavier’s California king bed, staring up at the ceiling with an exhausted, yet blissful smile. “Er...you okay, baby?”

“Excuse me for enjoying the cool air,” Apollo huffed, smirking when Klavier crawled on top of him once more, knees braced on either side of Apollo’s hips. He automatically reached up to run his hands along the sides of Klavier’s waist, his touch warm through the thin fabric of Klavier’s t-shirt. “...hi. Can I help you?”

“Nein, you’re just fine where you are.” Klavier leaned down to kiss him, then rolled onto his side, letting out a contented sigh. “What do you think, are you good to sleep now?”

Apollo snorted, nudging Klavier’s thigh with his foot. “You’re the one who has a self-imposed bedtime, you tell me.”

Klavier propped himself up on his elbow, then ruffled Apollo’s unstyled hair, sweeping it out of his face. “I was thinking about what you said earlier, actually. About the things that you and Trucy missed out on sharing together.”

“...ah.” Apollo’s expression grew serious. “What about it?”

“Do you think…” Klavier hesitated. “It’s just, you grew up as the younger sibling. Not by much, natürlich, but you were still the younger one. Do you think you would've preferred being the older sibling instead?” He let out a bitter laugh that made Apollo’s heart ache. “Not that I’m projecting, of course. Nein, not me.”

“Oh, Klav,” Apollo sighed, wrapping his arms protectively around Klavier’s shoulders and pulling him into his chest. “And...I dunno, I don’t think it’s really comparable, you know? Nahyuta’s barely a year older, while Trucy’s a whole seven years younger...besides, it really comes down to personality and, like, compatibility. Would I be the same person if I grew up with Trucy instead of Nahyuta? Probably not. Hell, definitely not.” He then snorted. “I mean, for one thing, I wouldn’t be living in the mountains.”

“I’m still not convinced when Herr Sahdmadhi tells me he doesn’t have any other pictures of you two lying around,” Klavier chuckled, his laughter causing the mattress to tremble. “Papa wants to take up scrapbooking, by the way, and he’s been asking me if I have any gut photos of you. Ach, it’s like my parents already decided you were their son-in-law the moment we started dating.”

“I think it’s sweet...a-and a little intimidating,” Apollo admitted. “No pressure, right?” Still, he snuggled in even closer, legs loosely wrapped around Klavier’s hips. “But your parents are great, I’ll see if I can find some photos for your dad. I'm sure I’ve got something in those boxes I brought back from Khura’in that I never bothered opening.”

“Sounds like someone needs to do a little spring cleaning,” Klavier teased. “But danke, baby. It’ll certainly be interesting, seeing our childhood photos side-by-side. Me with my hot pink braces, you with your...what was it, pet rabbits?”

“So many rabbits,” Apollo said forlornly. “We didn’t have the means to stop them from, y’know. Procreating. So, uh, think I’ll stick with my neutered cat any day.”

“Did you have a favorite?” Klavier asked; he seemed much more relaxed now, though Apollo couldn’t help but wonder about his earlier comment, if it was worth mentioning at all. “I had a favorite hündchen. She was very stupid.”

“Nice way to talk about your favorite childhood pet,” Apollo snorted. “Though I frequently brag about how much of an asshole my cat is, so I guess I’m one to talk.”

“Nein, like - she was the kind of dog who ran into glass doors and barked at her own reflection,” Klavier explained, biting back another laugh. “Her name was Sascha, and she was this darling cream-colored retriever who loved to sleep on my legs every night. I would always wake up with numb toes.” His smile then turned sad, melancholy. “The first time I tried a weighted blanket after she passed, I...I almost cried. It had been so long since I had that feeling, you know? Like someone was hugging me while I slept...keeping me safe.”

“Babe,” Apollo said softly, gently cupping Klavier’s face.

“Mir geht's gut,” Klavier reassured him, placing his hands over Apollo’s. “It’s a nice memory, that’s all.” He cleared his throat, making small, soothing circles on the backs of Apollo's hands with his thumbs. “So, your favorite häschen?”

“Well, they were wild rabbits, so it’s not like they were ‘ours’, exactly,” Apollo said thoughtfully, leaning into Klavier’s touch. “We didn't give ‘em names or identifying marks, so we got them mixed up all the time. But there was one little guy who was a real piece of work. If I didn’t feed him fast enough, he’d bite my fingers. I had a weird soft spot for him.”

Klavier raised an eyebrow. “...you have a strange relationship with your pets, liebe.”

“Hey, maybe he was my favorite ‘cos he reminded me of me,” Apollo said defensively. “Just like how your favorite dog liked sleeping on your legs. You sure like hogging the bed, after all - which is an incredible feat, considering this is a California king.”

“True,” Klavier agreed. “You do remind me of kätzchen, sharp nails and all.”

“I accidentally cut you with a broken fingernail while holding your hand just one time,” Apollo sighed. “So, do you have pictures of Sascha? I’d love to see her.”

“At my parents’ house,” Klavier said, smiling softly. “I’ll have to break out the photo albums the next time we drop by.”

Humming, Apollo lowered his head to Klavier’s shoulder, half-burying his face against Klavier’s neck. Klavier’s hands moved to Apollo’s back, tapping out rhythmic patterns along his spine. They stayed like that for a while, quiet, almost zen-like, with the occasional breeze whistling in through the open window. Finally, after a few peaceful minutes, Apollo began to shiver, the hairs on his arms and legs prickling from the cold. “...it’s getting pretty windy now. Maybe it’s time for us to actually try to sleep?”

After closing the window, the two of them got back under the duvet, Klavier playfully prodding Apollo’s bare legs with his literal cold feet. Apollo countered him by aggressively poking Klavier’s cheeks with his frozen fingers, only stopping when Klavier begged for mercy. “You’re a cruel one,” Klavier sniffed despite the fact Apollo was now rubbing his face to warm him back up.

“And you’re such a diva,” Apollo said affectionately, pecking him on the nose. “Remember that one time we went to get poké and they didn’t have furikake? You honest-to-god pouted like a kid who didn’t get their favorite ice cream flavor.”

“I know what I like,” Klavier huffed. “And speaking of which, between the way you talk about Mikeko and the way you talk about me - are you sure you actually like us, schatz?”

Apollo softened somewhat. “To borrow a phrase from you - you know you’re, like, one of my favorite people ever.”

“I would hope so,” Klavier murmured, nudging his face against Apollo’s neck. His fingers then slipped underneath Apollo’s t-shirt so he could feel his warmth, feel the softness of his skin. “That’s something my parents used to say, actually. Back when they were in school, when they wrote each other love letters. ‘You are my favorite star in the sky’, Mama would write.”

“Did they end up keeping those letters?” Apollo asked. “It almost sounds like you’ve read them.”

“Nein, I could never,” Klavier protested. “It’s their private correspondence, after all. They just read me some of the nice bits, the poetic parts. I’d write you a poem myself, if I didn’t think you would absolutely hate it.”

“Hey, I wouldn’t hate it.” Apollo kissed the side of Klavier’s head. “I’m just not big on performative romance, y’know, big displays of love that seem to be for people that aren’t part of the relationship. But this right here...it’s more my speed.”

“I can tell,” Klavier hummed, kissing him. It wasn’t long before the two of them found themselves distracted again, caught up in each other’s embrace. Despite seeing plenty of each other over the past few days, Apollo couldn’t help but - privately - admit that he’d missed being able to see Klavier as his boyfriend, not his rival. Every time Klavier smirked at him from behind the prosecutor’s bench, he had to remind himself that he usually preferred to kiss him, not slap him. “...we’re never getting to sleep, are we?”

“Keep your shirt on, Gavin,” Apollo mumbled against Klavier’s lips.

“Not what I meant, but I like where your mind is at,” Klavier teased. “Besides, a bit hypocritical of you when you have your hands on my ass, ja?”

Apollo quickly withdrew his hands as if he’d been burned, ducking down underneath the sheets so Klavier couldn’t see how red his face had become. “Sh-shut up. It was just more convenient to hold onto than your waist, that’s all!”

“My ass is more convenient than my waist, you say? That’s a new one.” Klavier pulled back the duvet with a mocking grin. “Ah, there’s my favorite forehead. Where’s the rest of you, hm?”

“I hate you so much,” Apollo groaned, reluctantly crawling back out. “Why do you even start calling me that, anyway? It’s not like we were talking about my forehead, it was the location of Dr. Meraktis’s bullet wound!”

Klavier looked at him thoughtfully, his head cocked. The dog-like resemblance was becoming more and more apparent by the second. “Honestly? I don’t actually know. All I know is, I wanted to give you a cute nickname, and it just...stuck for one reason or another. And you have to admit, your hair makes your forehead quite...prominent.”

“Cute nickname?” Apollo repeated.

Now Klavier was staring at him more incredulously than anything else. “...I know we’ve talked about this before, but could you really not tell I was flirting with you from the start? Granted, it wasn’t meant to be anything serious until after our first case together, but still.”

“Oh,” Apollo said faintly, slumping back against the headboard. “I, uh...I honestly thought you were just making fun of me.”

“Achtung,” Klavier remarked, trying his hardest not to laugh. “Maybe it’s time we take a trip down memory lane and see what you thought I was doing. For my curiosity’s sake, if you don’t mind.”

Apollo yawned and stretched. “Hell, why not? It’s not like we’re sleeping anytime soon...apparently.”

_____

Thirty minutes later, the two of them were sitting cross-legged on top of Klavier’s duvet, trying their best not to touch anything with their still-wet nails. Apollo wasn’t a fan of having painted nails - not that he didn’t like nail polish itself, it was more the fact that chipped polish bothered him - but he liked letting Klavier do them, liked the feel of his boyfriend’s soft, gentle fingers as they tenderly held his own.

“Wait, wait, wait - you only said that you didn’t think Athena was my type ‘cos you wanted to know if I was single?!”

“I thought that was obvious,” Klavier said, sighing. “How are you so clever and so unobservant at the same time, ach. My boyfriend, the walking contradiction. The man who helped rebuild an entire legal system, the man who can’t tell when someone is asking him to dinner. You truly are a wonder, liebe.”

“Why didn’t you just ask me - ”

“My mistake, clearly. I should have just walked right into Themis, wearing a neon sign that says ‘Ask Me About My Romantic Feelings for Apollo Justice’.” Klavier snorted at the incredulous look on Apollo’s face. “What, too subtle?”

“I just can’t believe you were into me for that long,” Apollo admitted, his voice small. “Like, if you really thought I wasn’t interested...why didn’t you just...stop?”

“You say that like it’s easy.” Klavier turned away for a moment to delicately blow on his nails, pointedly avoiding Apollo’s eyes, then reached for his bottle of Seche Vite. “Remember what you said to me once? About...feeling your feelings before realizing you even have them. After all, it’s not like feelings are just something you can turn on and off, like a switch.”

“I got pretty good at doing that, actually,” Apollo muttered. “Compartmentalizing, I mean.”

“That’s not the same, though, is it?” Klavier said gently. “Pretending not to love you and not loving you are completely different things. I could act like a carefree flirt all I wanted, but...at the end of the day, my heart was always set on you.”

Apollo bit back a grin. “You are such a sap, sheesh. But I hear you. Sorry I made you wait around, I guess.”

“Don’t be,” Klavier murmured. “I’m just glad we got here in the end, you know?”

“Same.” Apollo leaned in to kiss Klavier chastely on the lips, both of them still taking care not to touch each other or the bed. “So, now that we - ” But before he could finish his sentence, he was interrupted by a short, but loud grrrrr. “...Klav?”

“Achtung,” Klavier said, staring down at his stomach in surprise. “I guess we should’ve ordered more dumplings, after all.”

“Or you shouldn’t have let me take the last one,” Apollo pointed out, laughing. “Okay, okay, after we’re done here, we’re raiding your fridge.”

Another fifteen minutes later, they found themselves sprawled on top of Klavier’s duvet once more, this time with two empty bowls that once held ice cream sitting on his bedside table. Apollo’s eyes were closed in contentment as he hummed a little something - some strange combination of The Guitar’s Serenade and something else he couldn’t identify - only for him to jolt slightly at the feeling of Klavier’s cold fingers on his skin.

“Ah - babe, your hands are freezing - ”

“Sorry.” Klavier didn’t look all that sorry as he pressed a sticky-sweet kiss to Apollo’s stomach. “What’s that you’re humming, liebe?”

“I...I don’t actually know.” Apollo furrowed his brows in confusion. “It feels like something I’ve heard over and over again, but I couldn’t begin to tell you what it is. Weird, huh?”

“It almost sounds like…” Klavier then began to hum it himself, tapping out the rhythm on Apollo’s thigh. “...like a lullaby of sorts. Maybe that’s why you’re mixing it with The Guitar’s Serenade.”

“A lullaby?” Apollo repeated. “Wait, you don’t think it’s something that...I mean, Mom told me this story the other day that…” He swallowed thickly. “...she said my dad used to sing to me, like. All the time. Apparently, Mom would come home from work and find him making dinner, and he’d have me on his back in one of those baby wrap things, and he’d just be...singing. Bouncing up and down to the beat to make me giggle.”

Klavier placed his hands over Apollo’s heart, lightly resting his chin on top of them. “That sounds like a wunderschön sight to come home to. Your papa must have been an amazing man.” Apollo shot him a rueful smile, running his fingers through Klavier’s hair. Then, after a moment’s consideration, he separated a portion of it from the rest and began to braid it almost mindlessly, instinctively, resuming his quiet humming. “Ah - you know how to braid hair?”

“Muscle memory,” Apollo explained, continuing to braid. “I liked keeping my hair short, but Nahyuta experimented with growing it out all the time. Aesthetics and beauty are a big part of Khura’inese culture, so he liked switching things up, even though we were never around anyone but...but Dhurke. I learned how to do braids and buns and stuff so he could have a different hairstyle every day.”

“Maybe I should seriously get you to do my hair sometime,” Klavier mused, right as Apollo tied the ends off. “We’ve got that work event next month, maybe then.”

“Hey, I’m no expert,” Apollo chuckled, leaning back to rest on his elbows and admire his handiwork. It wasn’t quite as neat as it used to be, but even in the middle of the night, even with his sloppy attempt at a simple braid, Klavier was still one of the most beautiful people Apollo had ever seen. “But if you let me practice on you, maybe I will be.”

“As long as you don’t pull all my hair out while you’re at it,” Klavier said, preening.

Apollo continued to laugh; then, his expression grew sober. “...is it weird that I think about, like...if I should miss my dad or not?”

Klavier frowned. “Why is it weird?”

“Because I shouldn’t have to think about it, right?” Apollo said, shrugging. “Like, either I miss him...or I don’t. And it’s not like I can tell Mom, ‘cos she loved him, and she misses him all the time, but I...I…” He inhaled sharply. “...I didn’t know him. Not really. So, uh...how do I miss someone I never knew?”

“Well...maybe it’s not about missing him, per se,” Klavier offered. “Maybe you just...miss that you never got to know him. That all your mama’s stories are just that - stories, not memories. And you wish you had the chance to make your own.”

Apollo shot him a soft smile. “You got all of that out of one train of thought, huh? Though...you might not be wrong. It’s kinda like the whole ‘what if’ with growing up with Trucy versus growing up with Nahyuta, y’know, only with...with my dad. What if things had gone completely differently? Would it be better, worse?”

“You seem to be thinking about family quite a lot these days,” Klavier commented. “What’s on that beautiful mind of yours, hm?”

Apollo shook his head. “I meant what I said earlier - nothing, really. It’s just the kind of thing my mind comes up with at - well, it’s not that late, but still.” He then bit back a smile. “Would be, uh. Would be kinda nice, though, wouldn’t it? If that really was dad’s lullaby I was remembering, that I still - that I have a piece of him still with me?”

“Natürlich,” Klavier agreed. “You should sing it to your mama next time you see her, see if she recognizes it. Even if she doesn’t, it can become your version of The Guitar’s Serenade, for just the two of you.”

“I’d like that,” Apollo said quietly. Klavier squeezed Apollo’s thigh, then shuffled back up the bed so they were face-to-face, kissing Apollo chastely. “Hm...your lips are cold, too.”

“You could warm them up for me,” Klavier murmured suggestively; once again, it was his turn to grab Apollo’s backside, pulling him closer and closer until their chests were pressed against one another, his knee sliding neatly between Apollo’s legs. Apollo groaned at the cheesy line but continued kissing him regardless, his lips parting slightly so he could deepen the kiss. “What happened to us having the same stupid sense of humor, baby?”

“You still make me so mad.” Apollo captured Klavier’s bottom lip between his teeth, tugging slightly with a wicked grin that made Klavier shiver. “It’s funny, whenever I complain about you to someone else - ”

“Which I suspect happens often,” Klavier commented.

“ - they always ask, ‘so why are you with him, then?’.” Apollo released him, nudging his nose affectionately against the underside of Klavier’s jaw. “And usually, I give ‘em some bullshit excuse. No need to tell them more than they have to know, y’know? But the actual answer’s pretty simple.”

Klavier smoothed Apollo’s hair away from his forehead, his thumb tracing a line across Apollo’s freckles. “Tell me.”

“Because it just...makes sense. Which doesn’t make any sense at all.” Apollo’s smile was so warm, so open, that Klavier felt as if he was falling in love all over again. “You get what I mean?”

“I get you, liebling,” Klavier said fondly, capturing his lips once more. “I’ve got you.”

_____

Sugar, sugar...oh, that night, in your embrace…

Apollo violently jolted awake at the sound of his ringtone, nearly tumbling right out of bed in the process. Groaning, he blinked blearily into the morning sunlight streaming in through the windows, then threw his arm out in an attempt to grab his phone from his bedside table without getting out from under the covers. Instead, he ended up hitting something else entirely.

“Ach! Apollo, what are you doing?”

“Crap - sorry, Klavier,” Apollo winced, sitting up properly so he could rub the sleep out of his eyes. He then turned to pick up his phone, letting out an annoyed huff when he realized it was just an unknown number. “Great, spam calls. And at this hour?” He paused. “Wait...what time is it? Shit, it’s - Klav, it’s almost eleven!”

“Perfekt,” Klavier sighed, rolling back over and pulling the duvet over his head. “Another seven hours, bitte.”

“No, i-it’s eleven in the morning!” Apollo shook Klavier’s shoulder. “Babe, we gotta get up!”

“Why?” Klavier said, yawning as he reluctantly opened his eyes. “It’s the weekend, süßer, relax. Neither of us has anywhere to be, ja? I missed my morning run, sure, but considering we didn’t fall asleep until...ach, three? Four? I’m in no mood to work out.”

“But...shouldn’t we…” Apollo was swiftly interrupted by his own yawn. “...fine, fine, you have a point.” He collapsed back into bed, defeated. Grinning victoriously, Klavier pulled him closer, fitting him snugly underneath his chin. Apollo braced his hand against Klavier’s chest; his heartbeat was steady, comforting, beneath Apollo’s fingers. “Seriously, though, let’s never do that again.”

“I don’t know about that,” Klavier hummed. “Personally, I thought it was a night to remember.”

“A night to remember, not a night to repeat,” Apollo muttered. Klavier merely laughed, dropping his head to rest on top of Apollo’s, briefly turning to kiss his forehead. “Klavier…”

“I mean it, liebe,” Klavier murmured; Apollo felt his own eyes drifting shut at the sound of Klavier’s low, soothing voice, his muscles relaxing as his body melted against Klavier’s familiar embrace. “We have nothing to do today. Sounds like the right time to take a nap, don’t you think?”

“I guess it wouldn’t hurt to get a few more hours,” Apollo mumbled into Klavier’s chest. “Early dinner after we get up?”

“Someone’s optimistic,” Klavier chuckled, rubbing Apollo’s shoulder. “Sure, baby. Now go back to sleep, okay?”

_____

a/n: Welcome to my sixth entry for Klapollo Week 2021! Continuity-wise, this is the fifth of seven fics, but again, there is no need to read the others to follow each fic on its own. This is definitely the most plotless fic out of the seven, which is just fine by me, since as I've mentioned before, I love writing dialogue between these two - especially when they're together and get to lovingly snark on each other. It gives me a chance to slip in some little headcanons here and there without worrying about connecting it to the actual plot. For some reason, I have this really vivid image in my mind of Jove holding Apollo on his back while singing along to the radio and working in the kitchen; I think it would be adorable (and a little heartbreaking).

Thank you so much for reading and I hope you enjoyed! Likes and reblogs would be much appreciated. Hoping you’re all safe and healthy and doing well ❤️

#KlapolloWeek2021 #klapollo #kyodoroki #klapollo fic #ace attorney #ace attorney fic #myfic #long post #this one is no plot all soft lmao #i keep wanting to make longer versions of all my klapollo week fics whoops

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dadoroki · 4 years

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Every Comic Has A Story

Tomura Shigaraki x Reader

Warnings: softboi shiggy, fluff, swearing

Summary: When Japan’s most dangerous villain meets a witty and flirty comic store clerk.

The mall was unsurprisingly packed, as it was the weekend. Everyone had something to do or somewhere to go. Shopping for items, chatting with friends. Not for Shigaraki though.

After his tight encounter with Midoriya, he walked the crowded mall all alone, stuck in his own thoughts. How could he become stronger? To become better than Stain? To defeat All Might? His thoughts would be dispersed when a loud angry voice boomed from his right side.

“How many times do I gotta tell you kids? This stuff is 18+!” Shigaraki turned his attentive gaze towards your voice, a voice that could instantly gain anyone’s attention. Well, aside from how loud it was. He slowly walked into the store, staring at a messy rack full of comics but secretly eavesdropping on the conversation.

“Ma’am, I’m 18! See?” The boy handed you an ID card, one that instantly made you aware of how fake it was. The card was poorly constructed and taped for crying out loud. “You all look 12. Now get lost before I call one of those bad guys to come down and beat your asses.” The boys ran out of the shop in a hurry, fearing for their lives. You turned your attention to the new customer who wore his black sweater a bit too suspiciously. “Aye, you.”

Shigaraki calmly turned his head towards your direction. He was sure to cover his face, hanging his head down low. “You’re lookin’ hella suspicious. Did you come here to shoplift?” He stood in his place, squinting his eyes at the ground. Were you always this talkative and annoying? “Are you profiling me?”

You were taken aback by his response, moving your hands and shaking your head frantically. “Uh, no. Not at all. Sorry.” His face filled with annoyance, moving to grab a random comic and walking to your counter. You glanced at the book he chose, ‘Pretty Princess Diaries’. A giggle couldn’t help but escape your lips, causing Shigaraki to grow more agitated. You reached under the counter and grabbed a more suitable comic for him. “I think you’d enjoy this better. It’s about the psychology of the villain, Memphis, and how he defeats the heroes.”

There was no reason as to why he even stepped foot in the comic store but this was perfect for Shigaraki. It would give him many ideas and ways to help in the current situation he was in. However, he wasn’t willing to pay the price. “I don’t feel like buying this.” He began to lower his final finger on the cover page, ready to deteriorate it. That way, you’d be frightened by him. “Oh, don’t worry. It’s on the house.”

He removed his entire hand completely away from the comic, watching you take it and place it in a white bag. Confusion was the only emotion he was feeling. You handed him the bag with a smile. Even though you could barely see his face, he strongly caught your interest. He looked mysterious and interesting. Or maybe you’ve just been reading too many romance themes. “If you like it, come back and get the next one.”

Shigaraki looked at you with disgust, fully aware of the love eyes you sent him. He mumbled a quick “sure” and left the store, hoping to never step foot inside ever again.

When he got back from the long travel, he tossed the bag to the side and slumped on his cold bed. He glanced at the plastic bag before pulling out the comic and taking a long look at it. A dark matte cover, red cheapfire font imprinted in the center, and underneath was the main villain. Shigaraki had nothing else better to do so he decided to read only a bit of it. Going from one page, to thirteen, to forty, until it reached the end. He wasn’t aware but it was already 4am in the morning.

Shigaraki entered the store, the same place he refused to step foot in again. He placed the white bag on the counter, setting his empty hands back in his pockets. “I need the next one.” You could barely understand him through his mumbling, causing you to lean in closer. You noticed a few of his hidden features. His fragile face, chapped lips. Chapped lips?

“Nah, what you really need is some chapstick for those crusty ass lips.” You grabbed your cherry lip balm from your purse, holding it out to him with a wink. “You can have mine. It’s my favourite flavour.” Shigaraki snatched the item from your hand, shoving it in his pocket with a huff of annoyance. Your flirtatious presence really started to get on his nerves.

This would be his last visit to you and he couldn’t wait to leave but then, a thought popped off in his head. He needed a pawn to do his dirty work. The work that he nor his group could carry out due to the huge attention it would gain. He needed someone who was as easy as you. “You know, you’re quite a view.”

You raised a brow, not expecting the sudden compliment. “Oh, thanks.” Shigaraki wasn’t the best at flirting but he needed to try in order to fully wield you in. “When’s your lunch break?” You sat straighter in your chair, a smile slowly forming across your face. You weren’t really sure when but you knew your friend would cover your shift if he knew about the situation. “I can end now. Eijiro!” You called in the back room. “I need you to cover my shift please.”

Without even waiting for a response, you grabbed your purse and stood beside an irritated Shigaraki. He didn’t expect to be hanging out with you so soon and wasn’t fully mentally prepared for your excessive energy. It was going to be a long dreadful day.

You both sat on the edge of the water fountain, ice cream in hand. It had only been an hour and Shigaraki was ready to end himself. You gladly licked your ice cream while he sat still, staring at you. Everything about you annoyed him. The way you sat perfectly under the mall sunroof or how graceful you looked eating your ice cream. You took notice of the way his pinky extended away from his cone. “What are you, British?” You pointed at his finger, causing him to look down at it. “I don’t think all British people do that.”

You shrugged your shoulders, standing up from your spot. He followed your movements, his height causing him to look down on you. You embraced him in a tight hold, feeling the rigidness of his body. “I had a great time. By the way, what’s your name?”

He wasted no time in saying his name, incapable of standing your presence any longer. “Shigaraki.” Finally, you’d regret spending the day with him and leave him alone. You stood there silent in confusion, resting a finger on your chin. “Huh, like the villain?” Holy shit, this girl was dumber than he thought. “Anyways I gotta go. Come by tomorrow so we can do this again.” You left him speechless, standing all alone in the middle of the busy mall.

He was sure of giving up. You weren’t worth all the mental suffering but here he was with you again, walking around the same mall. Earlier, he had mentioned how he hated holding hands so instead, you linked your arm with his while he had his hands in his pockets. The big advertisement sign of skincare caught your attention, stopping you in your tracks and making him do the same. “Look Shigz, we should go in. You need that.”

You looked up at him with a cheeky smile, causing him to groan in revulsion. He wasn’t sure why he was going along with it. Applying chapstick was enough for him but to you, if it worked on his lips, it would definitely work on his face.

He noticed all the skin products on display, walking down the extremely bright aisle. He heard his nickname being called and turned around, feeling your soft hands rub against his face. “You said you had a skin condition so the employee recommended me this.” Shigaraki watched as you ran your fingers from his face, all the way down to his neck. He never recalled feeling another human’s touch in such a caring way.

You both made your way towards the counter, paying for the product and leaving. To his surprise, he actually bought the cream. The very first time in his life, he actually bought something instead of stealing it. You were a bad influence on him and his work and he needed nothing more than to depart from you.

“Shit, it’s almost time for my shift.” You stood on your tippy toes, placing a gentle kiss on his cheek before steadily jogging off. “I’ll see you soon!” Never in his life had he been given such affection. Shigaraki touched the area of where your lips had kissed with delicate fingers.

That night, he tossed and turned in his bed, struggling to find sleep. You were an internal battle to him. On one side, he hated your guts and wanted nothing more than to escape from you. On the other, he hated to say it but he enjoyed your company. The way you made him feel something he’d never felt in all his years of living. He decided at that moment, he’d confess to you. No, nothing romantic in any way but strictly his identity. The identity that you somehow failed to process.

“What do you mean she doesn’t work here?” The next day, Shigaraki stepped foot in the comic shop, only to be told you weren’t there. The new clerk adjusted his glasses. “I’m sorry, sir. You’re gonna have to describe her.” A now frustrated Shigaraki grew heavily impatient, not having the time to deal with this. He realized he never asked for your name, a stupid rookie mistake he made. “She’s this short, (y/h/c) hair, (y/e/c) eyes, a little slow, annoying, and dumb.”

The man shook his head with a puzzled face. “I’m sorry but I just started working here and I don’t know much of who works here.” Shigaraki scratched his neck, seconds away from decaying him but restraining himself. “What’s the point of asking me that question then?”

He walked out of the store defeated. Shockingly, he didn’t reach over the counter to kill the goof. You really were a bad influence on him. A moment of walking later, he felt a tap on his shoulder. “Shigz.”

He recognized the fine voice all too clearly. He started to broil in anger. In a matter of seconds, he quickly spun around to face you. “Where were you? I tried visiting you and you weren’t there.” You were astounded, never witnessing Shigaraki this mad before. Usually, he was calm and quiet. “I quit my job. They weren’t paying good.”

He closed his eyes, letting the stress leave his body. “Listen closely.” He opened his red eyes which met yours. In that instant, he wasn’t sure what to say. He wanted to express how he felt but his feelings were too complicated and corrupted. “Like I said, I’m Tomura Shigaraki. The leader of the League of Villains.”

“Uh, yeah. You already told me.” He paused in perplexity, having the inability to speak or understand the situation. What did you mean you already knew? For the longest time, he thought you weren’t the brightest and he was okay with that. You began to laugh, trying to maintain it with a hand clasped on your mouth. “Did you really think I didn’t know? It was pretty obvious, Shigz. I just wanted to get to know you as you. Not how everyone sees you.”

He stood motionless feeling flabbergasted, allowing you to grab onto his arm. “I never asked you for your name.” If he never mentioned it, you’d had completely forgotten about it. “(Y/n).”

“(Y/n)” He trailed in a slight whisper, repeating after you. “Why don’t I take you on a proper date?”

With the biggest smile that warmed Shigaraki’s cold heart, you held him in closer.

“I would like that a lot.”

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jyndor · 3 years

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okay like you don't NEED any skincare besides a cleanser and sunscreen* but if you WANT a proper routine (cleanse, treat, moisturize, spf) you do not need to spend an arm and a leg to get one. I have spent so much money on stupid gimmicky skincare and I promise you nothing beats good old cerave, la roche posay, neutrogena, amlactin, etc. drugstore brands like these have so much research backing them, like actual clinical studies and not just "oh we asked our friends if they liked our moisturizer lol" and trust me, I don't like these corporations but I also have seen people ruin their skin using expensive products by brands owned by l'oreal and estee lauder and j&j, etc. the same brands that own the products you can grab at target or walmart or even my much hated former employer, cvs. and drugstores often carry smaller brands too, some of which are black owned!

want a good sunscreen? try black girl sunscreen, la roche posay, neutrogena. you can buy spf with flex spending cards too, if you have an fsa with your dumbass evilass private health insurance plan. no need to wait until december 28th to go ham on bandaids. stock the fuck up on spf.

you do not need to go to sephora for good skincare. you don't! kate somerville is great but unnecessary. clinique is highly overrated (and I used to work for them). good ol' cerave makes some of the most effective otc skincare and it's always got a coupon available.

if you are like me and cannot just let your skin go, and I literally cannot because you fools think that an esthetician with acne is a bad esthetician, do not feel like you have to drop hundreds on expensive skincare. differin is like $15 bucks and is more effective than any plain old retinol otc. and spf is non negotiable.

anyway just don't get sucked into the skincare hype machine.

*do not fight me you need to wash sunscreen/debris from the day off your face to prevent free radical damage and you need to wear sunscreen to keep the cancer away seriously fuck this idea that ALL skincare is a marketing corporate gimmick. no, your natural diy goop will not protect your skin from uv rays. and forget skin cancer for a moment but acne is a literal medical condition, not just a vanity thing

#skincare #idk just furious about some stuff

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purplesurveys · 3 years

Text

1198

Have you ever bought a YouTuber’s merch? No. Most of the merch that had been put out when I was still into YouTubers were always underwhelming and overpriced, anyway.

Do you think oatmeal tastes better when made with water or milk? Eugh, I don’t like oatmeal. Ate it everyday for breakfast as a kid and I just want nothing to do with anymore.

Have you ever left a note in a library book? No. I’m pretty sure that counted as vandalism or at least under some kind of violation, so I never did anything to my borrowed books beyond reading them.

What time of day do you prefer to wash your hair? There’s no time of day for me; I just wash it whenever I feel like showering.

Has anyone ever spread lies about you? Just a couple times when I was in like middle school but it was all very superficial stuff that I never think about.

Have you ever taken a photograph with a celebrity? If so, did it turn out the way you wanted, or do you wish you could retake it? Nah. I freak out about the idea of meeting celebrities and always turn down or pass up any opportunity I get lmao. I don’t handle nervousness well so I don’t trust myself to be able to behave or speak properly.

If you could move out of your home country permanently, would you? If so, where would you go? Yeah, anything to get out of this shithole. I’d love to move to Canada.

Is there a celebrity that everyone else seems to love, but you find totally overrated? Why is it that you don’t like them? Taylor Swift. Her music’s just never fallen under my personal preferences, but I don’t actively hate on her or bash her when there’s been no reason to.

If you could volunteer for any charity, which one would you choose? Do you think it’s more important to help humans, or are animal and environmental charities equally important? I don’t think acts of charity should be compared. Personally though, I tend to lean towards causes for animals.

Do you prefer holidays where you relax, or actually do things? My family alwaysssssss makes sure our itineraries are absolutely packed when we go on vacations. Seems like a waste of money to travel to a new place just to stay holed up in our hotel room.

Do you think that after we die our spirit is still alive? No, I don’t believe in those to begin with.

Has anybody ever told you that you could be a model? Yeah, usually because of my build. I hate posing and being in front of a camera, though.

Do you use different kinds of moisturizer for different body parts? ie. hand lotion for your hands, face cream for your face. Or do you just use one moisturizer for all body parts? I don’t use skincare products, though I should probably start because my skin is finally biting me in the ass and giving me breakouts 23 years later lol.

Have you ever felt like you were someone’s rebound? Nope.

Has anybody ever broken up with you over something really pathetic? What was it? Have you ever been dumped in a disrespectful way? (eg. through text, through a friend..) I wouldn’t say it was over something pathetic. She had her reasons and I respect that. Doesn’t mean I can’t resent her.

Did you have a lot of role models as a kid? Not really.

Do you feel like anyone looks up to you? Why or why not? I don’t know, but this isn’t a compliment I get a lot either. I don’t actively try to be a role model, so I don’t care about maintaining such an image.

What was the last thing you found offensive? My mom often throws around subtle homophobic remarks in passing. She knows I hate them because I shoot her a glare every time she does it, but for some reason she never learns...

Who is the nicest person you know? Angela.

Do you feel safe in your country? In a country where the president is a blatant liar, misogynist, has anger and cursing issues, and enables extrajudicial killings? Safety is a dream here.

Do you feel safe where you live? Very technically speaking, yeah I do since it’s a gated village so nothing ever happens here.

Have you been falsely diagnosed with something by a bad doctor? Not necessarily misdiagnosed, but I’m pretty sure I was prescribed the wrong set of medicines for my UTI last year...nothing came out of taking those pills and I felt just as sick (and dead) as I was after a couple of days. The only reason I got better was Angels’s mom is a doctor and gave me the right meds to take, which worked on me within a couple of hours.

Have you ever had a doctor refuse to treat you? No.

Name the strangest game you’ve ever played (video game or real game): WarioWare is suuuuuuuch a weird game haha. Doesn’t stop me from enjoying it, though.

Do you know anyone who has been struck by lightning before? Not that I know of.

Which cartoon character would you want to keep as a pet? Gary from Spongebob.

Do you like marshmallows? Haaaaaaaate them. I never got used to its weird, sticky texture so I always take them out when they’re included in like drinks and desserts.

What is your favorite flavor of candy cane? I don’t consume candy canes much. Too sweet.

Have you ever fostered an animal? Nope.

Do you still take hot showers when it’s hot out? No, I want the water to be as cold as possible.

When writing $ sign, do you draw one line through the S or two? I do two, though I rarely have any reason to write down the dollar sign in general.

What animal have you always wanted as a pet but couldn’t have? We weren’t allowed to have dogs as kids because we “wouldn’t be able to take care of them” – which they were right about, anyway. But we have two now, so it all worked out in the end.

List three people you’ve had crushes on: Gabie, Andi...and that’s it, really.

Have you ever thrown up from cramps? No. Fortunately my period cramps have never been that bad, and the only time they can be a headache is if they’re the leg crampjp that sends me waking up in the middle of the night.

List three people you had a hard time forgiving. I don’t really forgive. If someone fucks up badly enough that I feel the need to cut them off, that’s pretty much it for me.

Who is the most spiritual person you know? I don’t know.

Would you ever start a vlog? Sure. I’ve always wanted to try it, but I don’t have a decent vlogging camera and am not invested enough in the venture to spend on one. In general I’m also not comfortable being in front of the camera, as I’ve already shared several times here. Vlogging does look fun though, and I definitely would’ve already given it a shot if only I felt more comfortable.

Are your dreams coming true yet? Some of the short-term ones, sure.

Do you struggle with depression? I go through phases of it, but I’ve never been formally diagnosed just because I’ve never booked a trip to the psychiatrist.

Are you haunted by your past? No

What medical conditions do you have? Do scoliosis and lactose intolerance count? Those are the main issues I have.

Do you use a Magic Bullet? Why did I think this was a vibrator...? Anyway, I looked it up and no, I’ve never used one.

What does your apron look like? I’ve never had to use one regularly.

What are your favorite spicy foods? Curry, tteokbokki, ramen, samgyeopsal with ssamjang, spicy fried chicken.

Which do you like better: being an adult or being a kid? Being an adult has a lot more freedom to it even though I have to go through heavier and deeper shit, so it’s still more worth it to me.

Were you excited to be a teenager on your thirteenth birthday? I was heavily depressed back then, and was for a while, so I didn’t have any feelings about turning 13. I don’t even remember my birthdays up until the 15th.

Did you feel insecure in high school? In the first half, yeah. But I started opening up more and gaining friends by junior year, so at that point I wasn’t feeling too shy anymore.

Would you ever be friends with someone who was suicidal? I hate this question that I am simply ignoring it.

Who was the biggest bully in high school? My school didn’t tolerate bullies so no one ever dared to be one, in the grand scheme of things. But back in kindergarten Kaira used to love targeting me - she was my big bully before she became my friend, lol.

What was your favorite class in high school? History, of course. I personally didn’t like literature but I enjoyed English classes, just because it was easy and was a guaranteed A+ in my report card.

Would you rather have a daughter or a son? Daughter.

Have you ever written to an advice columnist? Nope.

Have you ever had a doctor not believe what you told him? Not really, but I’ve had a doctor be a total asshole towards me before.

If you’re female, would you feel uncomfortable having a male gynecologist? No.

Do you like Lisa Frank? No.

What gives you nightmares? I don’t really get nightmares.

Were you ever hospitalized as a child? Nope. I was hospitalized one time, and I had been 11 then.

Did you get senior pictures taken? Yeah, for both high school and college.

What color is your bicycle? The family bike is blue and silver. Not that I could ride it, lol.

Did you ever have to take home a fake baby in health class? No...is that a practice in other schools? That’s so weird if it was.

Would you rather wear ivory or white on your wedding day? What color will your bridesmaids wear? White. Ivory can be for the bridesmaids, actually.

Would you rather have a swimming pool or trampoline? Swimming pool. Trampolines are neat, but I would get bored of them so quickly.

Do you think babies are cute? For the most part yes, the only exception being if I have to be exposed with a baby/toddler that is prone to screech-crying. My patience is an extremely thin line when it comes to children like that lol and I FEEL BAD for feeling like so... but I just can’t deal with harsh sounds like that one.

Do you dream about the future a lot? I guess I daydream sometimes but it’s nothing obsessive.

Do you think about your past a lot? I’ll daydream or feel resentful sometimes, depending on what or who I’m thinking about lol. But I don’t stay in the past for too long.

How good are you at living in the moment? I’m a lot better at it. It’s nice to be in the now.

Have you ever questioned God’s existence? I did starting when I was 10, and I also disowned my religion by that time.

Vanilla frosting or chocolate? Chocolate foreverrrrr.

What’s your favorite foreign cuisine? It’s always a three-way tie among Indian, Malaysian, and Thai.

Have you ever moved to another state? No. We don’t even live in states.

Did you do anything productive today? Well I had work today, so yeah I’d say I was. I had two meetings and worked on a bunch of spreadsheets and decks, so it was a pretty productive day.

Can you say the alphabet backwards? Nope.

Do you like flowers? Sure, but I’m not obsessed. It always feels nice to receive them, though.

Have you ever thought you were gonna die? Every single time I get catcalled by men I always have the fear that they’d go all the way and drag me away to my death. That’s why I’m usually in shock whenever it happens and I’m never able to retort.

What kind of mood are you in today? Super relieved because it’s Friday. A bit guilty because I had Starbucks delivered when I had already spent a lot this week, but I keep telling myself I deserve it after working all week haha. I just wanna enjoy my coffee and salmon dill sandwich in peace lmaooooo

What are you craving right now? This salmon sandwich I ordered, so I’m hella glad I got it.

Is there anyone you would seriously punch right now if you had the chance? Maybe shove, but not punch.

What is worse, physical or emotional pain? Physical. My pain tolerance is extremely low, lol.

Have you ever walked in on somebody doing something… questionable? I don’t think I have.

If you were to make videos on YouTube, what would they be of? I think just doing the trendy games like the Lie Detector game would be fun haha. I wouldn’t take it too seriously.

Posting pictures of yourself in a bathing suit on the internet - ok or not? ...It’s 2021.

Do you typically laugh when somebody falls down? If it’s a close friend or a relative I’m close with, yeah. Anyone else I would immediately try to help.

What is the most disturbing movie you’ve ever watched? Eraserhead or Under the Skin, which I didn’t even bother finishing.

Your opinion of Katy Perry, please? I like her older songs.

If you could say anything to your Mom right now… what would it be? Stop acting like a brat when you don’t get your way. You’re literally reaching 50.

#survey #surveys

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thenixkat · 4 years

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Voltron notes 2 (edited)

Ep 2

We get the full opening this time. Its pretty bland. Like? What is the music trying to go for b/c its not reaching it. Otherwise mostly generic action/scifi.

Where did Hunk get those jammies? Shiro is an early bird. Where’d Lance get those jammies? And that skincare mask and eyecover? Those are Pidge’s headphones? Sleeps to music and an emergency alarm is not waking him up.

Keith was awake but not up and that’s valid. He doesn’t have jammies. Keith is ready to fucking go

Pidge just fucking fell asleep working on the computer while sitting on the floor in the medbay

Ya know what? I don’t like Allura’s nose. Give her a fucking negro nose you cowards.

Severed heads cant talk, they don’t have lungs or a diaphragm

75 degrees what? Does Altean meat thermometers record shit in fahrenheit?

Lance arrives 15 mins late with a drink and fabulous skin. Where’d he get the slippers?

Actually… Hunk, Lance, Pidge were attending a military school. And Shiro graduated and was teaching at that school. They should be used to this sort of shit?

But also how the fuck are they supposed to know when its morning on an alien fucking planet? Were they even able to get at least 8 hours of sleep?

??? ALien timekeeping gibberish but I guess Wednesday? They’ve been in space for ~2 days?

Your mission is to free most known inhabited planets? Yer not gonna accomplish that in your lifetime. Especially not their lifetime.

Ranked by height.

Why can’t they go back to Earth and pick up supplies and/or help and/or let their families know they're ok? The lions can generate portals. The kids with families need to talk to them. What about Mrs. Holt? Also go check and make sure that Earth isn’t being fucking invaded. Make Earth yer first stop on your Voltron coalition?

Also how they gonna form Voltron if they barely know each other?

Why is Allura in charge?

HAVE I MENTIONED THAT I HATE FAT JOKES?!

What shitty writers.

Why break up a sequence that we’ve not seen b4 with a shitty attempt at humor?

How do the controls for the lions work?

Again these kids barely fucking know eachother.

Keith tries. Lance be nice.

What is this joke? Also why can’t the other lions also be the head? We know they can fucking shapeshift and shunt/pull mass from the aether

What the fuck Allura. Are you trying to kill them? Why the fuck is she in charge?

Lace tries to go back into the castle to avoid being shot by Allura and just fucking misses the fact that the force field is up?

Hunk tries begging for mercy. Allura doesn’t give a shit and continues to use deadly live ammo on these kids. Why is she the leader?

This bitch turns on the auto lock and just fucking leaves the control panel. Imagine if one of these kids fucking died from this? How’s that for team morale!

Why the fuck is she the leader and who let her use the fucking weapons?

Also, people fucking live on this planet. Allura just fucking exploded a decent fucking chunk of the land surrounding the castle with no fucking heed to checking to make sure no one got hurt.

Zarkon doesn’t give a shit about his people. And doesn’t understand what luck is.

Today a Galra general/commander/someshit finds out that compassion and good leadership skills get you punished.

How the fuck did this dipshit keep and empire going for 10000 yr?

Wow Allura! It's like shitty leadership skills don’t produce the results you want!

Keith is very honest.

Ok but like these kids have to be talking shit about Allura behind her back.

Hunk asks good questions. When the fuck are they going back to Earth?

Also Pidge nice to see you give no shits at all about your mom.

It's almost like these kids barely know each other or how to work together as a team and have very different priorities.

Also like? Pretty sure the lions also have a say as to whether they form Voltron? Like we know those bitches are sentient, maybe the lions are the reason they can’t form Voltron either?

These kids don’t even know all the functions of their paladin armors yet! But yeah, combat scenario that’s what they need

What is the point of Lance’s one sided rivalry with Keith?

Why the fuck is the maze electrified? It doesn’t need to be. And did Coran take human anatomy into effect when calibrating the voltage? I don’t think so.

Keith is trying and I respect that

Why? Why a dangerous nose dive bonding? Shouldn’t they try hanging out with their lion and talking to them first? Not everything needs to be potentially deadly during training

Expert level drill that they shouldn’t be trying until they’ve had years of experience. So what if one of them fucking dies during the drill? You gonna be up shit creek without a paddle

Why would anyone put a feature in a helmet that would allow someone to remotely blind them? Why put a blinding feature in a helmet? The shit could glitch at the wrong moment and then someone fucking dies.

Can Lance just not read Keith’s voice?

How incredibly lucky that they landed in sand and not on the hard earth or any of those rocky buildings strewn about

Shiro has the best bond with his lion. Glowy eyes

Wow actual bonding attempts.

Coran attempts good leadership. Like yes? Give people breaks and make sure they’re hydrated

Ok but like the bonding actually works? Like maybe mindmelding with a bit too much for this stage but actually trying to like bond and work together is a good

Oh fuck off Allura

I don’t see this fight going well. They’ve got an engineer, a navigator/tech support, and 3 pilots. Out of the 5 humans only two seem to have like actual combat experience. Like? Teach these kids how to fight before throwing them in the pit, might be helpful

Yeah, teaching people how to fight and use their weapons is probably very helpful

I still don’t think Coran and Allura are taking human physiology into account with their calibrations on this shit

Lance might have a concussion.

And Shiro needs therapy

Wow Allura, it's almost like they aren’t Alteans. It's almost like most of them have no real combat experience. Its almost like some of them don’t know how to effectively use their weapons in this situation. Also why are Altean children fighting fucking gladiator robots if yall peaceful.

Its almost like they’ve only been at this shit for two fucking days Allura.

Let Lance cuss

Coran is a lot better than this than Allura.

Ok this type of exercise is the short that they should have been doing more of. Just fucking working together and team bonding

Haggar can use the Force

So did she design the robeast with the gladiator dude in mind? She would have had to given the appearance of it. How long does it take to make a giant robot?

What the fuck Lance? Why are you so hostile to Keith? This makes no sense

American revolution against the space Brits

Yes they should yell at Allura. She’s been fucking unreasonable and could have gotten them killed with the fucking shooting at them earlier and she’s mostly fucking yelled at them today.

Also princess of fucking what? A building and a retainer? She ain’t got no kingdom and they don’t have to respect her nonexistent authority.

Damn right Pidge, princess of fucking what?

Allura hits Pidge with food for not respecting her nonexistent authority

My man Keith steppin in and defending his teammate

Coran’s got some skill but I’m rootin for the humans

Ya know, the foodfight coulda been both a nice bonding thing and a decent action piece. Still frames aren't action

The kids won.

Yes bonding. Team bonding is what they needed. Not bad drills.

Also Allura yer bitch ass better not try to spin this like you planned this shit

Stock footage

Allura’s bitch ass is trying to spin the food fight like she planned it

Bonding and hugs are good

I’m just gonna assume that all of the paladins AND lions have to be on the same page to make Voltron

Hunk bear hug

Pidge has secrets

Also if Pidge really looks so much like her brother that people look at her photo and mistake her for him how the fuck did her disguise work?

So how does Zarkon expect to have a giant robot both kill the paladins and have Voltron in any form of working condition?

#nix watches vld #voltron #notes

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syekick-powers · 3 years

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self-esteem improving talks under the cut, look if you wanna see me talk about how hot i am i guess

i know i used to post a lot about feeling ugly and shit and how my old selfie tag used to call my face “horrible” and shit but honestly. honestly. i have some fucking good-ass genetics. like seriously, just making a bulleted lists of traits:

all the afab people in my family line on my mom’s side age like fine wine, often looking 20 years younger than they are, and i know i’ve inherited this because ive been mistaken for being younger repeatedly throughout my twenties.

my face skin is super fucking nice; i get pimples on my face VERY rarely (even on testosterone!) and my skin legit looks so good that when i was growing up i never had to wear makeup because my skin was so smooth and blemish free that i pretty much never needed it. i literally don’t even have a skincare routine because i dont fucking need it. aside from washing my face off with soap in the shower my skin is literally so fucking good that i don’t need to do any fancy skincare routines to look this good, it just looks like this completely naturally with no effort on my part at all.

my teeth are super nice. aside from some wear due to grinding when asleep, my teeth are in pristine condition. the last time i had a cavity was when i was a little kid, and ever since then my teeth have been perfect. every single dentist who examines my teeth is like “wow, aside from grinding wear, you have really nice teeth.”

my hair is super duper thick and takes like a week to get dirty (and, in fact, my hair actually dries out and gets frizzy if i wash it too often) meaning i can wash my hair and it’ll look nice for like 4-5 days without having to bathe at all. kinda similar to the dentist thing, every time i get a new hairdresser the first comment out of their mouths when handling my hair is “wow your hair is so thick!”

my face is nice. like i used to call my face “horrible” in my selfie tag but honestly? honestly. i have a nice face. nice sharp jawline. good smile.

my eyes are fucking pretty. like even when i thought i was ugly as a teenager i knew i had beautiful eyes. the outer ring is super dark blue while the inner ring around my pupil is very light which makes the pupils super piercing and intense. also there’s a little pattern around my pupils that reminds me of a flower.

my face is very expressive, meaning i can make some really fucking goofy expressions. this is a positive for me because my humor is a key aspect of my personality and being able to make dumb as shit faces ALWAYS improves the quality of my jokes.

body type. i used to think of myself as “fat” but honestly i carry my weight really well. i remember back in 2014 when i still worked at that grocery store i brought up my weight in front of one of my coworkers and she was like “no way!! you can’t possibly be that heavy!! you don’t look that weight at all!!” and honestly? i’m pretty heavy, and if you saw me with no clothes on you’d see where the weight is, but i no longer see it as a bad thing. like when i was a teenager i hated the fact that my thighs were so fucking big, but now that big thighs are the sexy thing, i feel less like i’m “fat” and more like “yes i am so thicc. the thiccest. truly dummy thicc.”

this is related to testosterone/transition but. ever since i started T i grew a shit-ton of muscle without any exercise at all and now i’m a LOT stronger than i was when i was estrogen-dominant. like before i started T, back in 2015 or so when me and my friends would work out at the planet fitness, we’d work on the weight machines and my arch enemy was the ab machine. i fucking hated the ab machine so much because my ab muscles were SO weak and i could barely do ten reps on the thing without collapsing into an exhausted heap. then i start working out in a new gym after being on testosterone for a while and i get on the ab machine expecting it to be as torturous as the previous one was. i set it to the lowest resistance. it feels like fucking nothing. i turn the resistance up one. still nothing. i keep turning the resistance up and up and testing it again and again looking for a setting that actually feels effortful and i get up to 45 fucking lbs of resistance and then and only then do my ab muscles feel even the tiniest amount of exertion. i do like 50 reps on that setting no fucking problem. even better, i get on the leg machines that work out like your thighs and shit and my legs are so fucking apeshit bananas strong that i’m doing like 200-something lbs of resistance on the leg press and it still barely feels like fucking anything. i will fucking crush ur head with my thighs.

not really related to appearance but another thing about myself that i like a lot is my laugh. a lot of people have told me that i have a really wonderful laugh that they like listening to. it makes me feel really happy to know that my laugh is such a nice sound that people wanna keep hearing it.

also not related to appearance but more to streaming: everyone tells me i have a really funny scream. this helps me when streaming because people are able to have a laugh when i screech rather than find it annoying. i didn’t really realize how important this was for creating content like streaming until i watched some other LPers and realized that funny screaming will often make or break a streamer/LPer because if their voice/scream is annoying it will really drive people away.

idk bro. i’ve thought of myself as ugly for so fucking long because my measure of how attractive i was, was directly proportionate to the number of people that approached me for a relationship. like i thought that the amount of people asking you out on dates was the hardline indicator of how attractive you are, not necessarily how you look but how other people perceive how you look. and for a while my idea of body positivity was not caring if other people found me unattractive because i didn’t need to be attractive to be a complex human being that deserves respect. and this is undoubtedly true, and should be what all body positivity should strive to do--but i do think i am beautiful now. i didn’t used to, but i do now.

honestly, looking back at my school years and how no one asked me on dates... i honestly think the number one reason why no one asked me on dates was not because i was ugly, but just because i gave off such an intense “Don’t Fuck With Me” aura that people were too intimidated to want to date me. like i’ve legitimately been mistaken for a bodyguard in the past because i give off such a powerful vibe in public. so misguided younger me assumed that because no one approached me that meant i had to have been too ugly for it.

bro you’re not fucking ugly you’re just so used to projecting this incredibly defensive aura that people are genuinely too intimidated to approach you. you’re not ugly. get a fuckening grip.

#sye's babbles #i'm actually making an effort to improve my self esteem now #and i figure HEY why not make a post addressing one of my longest-held neuroses around my self-perception

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seabedeecbdskincare · 3 years

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Can CBD Save Your Skin?

For Skin Distress, CBD is a YES!

It is no secret that 2020 was an overwhelming year. Pandemic, panic, a sort of holding pattern for many people, sitting idle, waiting to see if their world and the world would ever go back to normal. And if you're like me, my skin told the whole story of my pandemic paranoia... holy blemishes and impurities! Luckily, I found a remedy to my distressed skin, and it all started with CBD and CBD skin care products.

As 2021 moves along at a steady pace, I have felt the urge to take back parts of my life that have been ignored. I am ready to replace sitting with running, TV with books, and I am ready to start treating my skin better.

My skin has always been contentious. It turns on me without notice; one day I am basking in a fresh-faced glow and the next I’m ready to hide under a blanket. I have never had an issue with intense hormonal imbalance, but there is certainly enough roiling inside of me to cause my skin to overreact.

Since most of my day is spent writing, I wouldn’t initially jump to blaming a high-stress work environment on my skin’s turbulent nature. But the truth is, a full year - that’s right, 365 days - of pandemic isolation, social distancing, and general future uncertainty, has culminated in my becoming a great big ball of stress.

Can Stress Show On My Skin?

Absolutely. Stress causes hormones that can lead to physiological changes in the body. Acne responds to heightened levels of cortisol. Cortisol tells your hypothalamus to release the corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) which in turn is thought to stimulate oil from the sebaceous glands surrounding the hair follicles. These oils can clog the pores, resulting in acne.

In addition to acne, the chronic presence of stress can cause one to unconsciously hold their faces in a state of concern or worry. My mom used to say “careful with that face, one day it’ll freeze like that,” and I hate to say it but she wasn’t far from the truth. Throughout the day I have to remind myself to unfurrow my brow and unclench my jaw. The deep rivets between my eyes from hours of concentration and underlying anxiety become harder to smooth out as I get older.

Before the pandemic, we were able to blow off steam in a multitude of ways - outdoor brunch, venting to friends, a pint of beer in a dark theater - these moments of levity and social relaxation allowed our brains to pause from daily stressors. Laughter does amazing things for our immune system, but how often have we found ourselves rolling in a fit of laughter in the past year?

Stress also increases inflammation, which can cause breakouts in rashes and hives and can irritate chronic skin conditions such as eczema and rosacea.

I think we can all agree that we’d prefer the lines on our faces to come from smiling, and while a part of that effort must come from finding ways to satisfy and stimulate our intrinsic selves, I am also a proponent of finding amazing products that can help contribute to looking great.

How Can CBD Help My Skin?

A 2014 study found that CBD can prevent sebocytes, sebum-producing cells, from creating too much sebum, clogging the pores, and causing acne. CBD also has antifungal and antibacterial properties and can potentially reduce the appearance of acne scars. The terpenes found in CBD soothe itchy and irritated skin.

In addition to these properties, CBD helps with stress and inflammation, and we know how those factors can cause problems for our skin. My journey this past year has made me analyze my own relationship with stress and how I process it, and I have found a direct correlation between CBD and lowering my stress levels - I can actually feel my stomach calm its worrisome fluttering. Because the Seabedee tincture I tried worked so well for my inflammation, I decided to look into their skin care line.

Green Tea Facial Cleanser

I decided to start with the Green Tea Facial Cleanser because I am not exactly a wild child when it comes to skincare products, I start with the basics and add on from there.

Filled to the brim with antioxidants and nutrients, the therapeutic properties found in green tea are anti-inflammatory and anti-androgenic. High levels of androgens can cause an increase in sebum, increasing the likelihood of clogged pores.

I used the Green Tea Facial Cleanser twice a day for two weeks, two pumps with a bit of water, and saw results almost immediately. My main problem areas are my t-zone and chin, so I focused on gently massaging those areas for a minute or so before rinsing with warm water. My skin instantly felt refreshed and there was a slight bit of stimulation. There is the faint smell of regular THC products when first applying the cleanser on the skin, but it was not strong enough to bother me and went away quickly.

My favorite part about the cleanser is that it helps with my sporadic acne issues without drying my skin out, which is no small feat. I have often gone from one extreme to the other, from acne to acne + flaking skin, because of skin cleansers that focus on drying skin out in an attempt to clear acne. This has never worked for me and I see now that it is not necessary.

Within days, my face was smoother and less prone to inflammation. I started using the product to cleanse my upper chest as well, which has issues with redness and rashes, and within a few washes with the CBD cleanser, that area too was showing significant improvement.

I am not one to over-inflate positive outcomes. I tend toward the cynical side of testing products, especially when it comes to my skin, but the Seabedee Green Tea Facial Cleanser has become a staple in my routine because it really does work. Based on my results with the CBD cleanser, I caved and got the full CBD Skincare Set. My Skin has NEVER been happier.

#cbd #cbdskincare #greenteacleanser #cbdforskin #best cbd #buy cbd products #cbd skincare

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gunstreetgrl · 4 years

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i hate when men say, “it’s just a preference.” “i just prefer women who shave their pussies,” or, “i just prefer women who wear makeup.” because at the end of the day, most men have no idea what it’s like to grow up in the botox, collagen, nose job, brow job, nip tuck, boob job, butt job, labiaplasty, highlight, contour, wax, shave, pluck, and trim culture that’s been created for women. the toll that it takes on you. the mindfuck that comes when women are constantly reminded that their bodies and faces as they naturally exist are unhygienic or unattractive. when the reality is that butch women and women who don’t wear makeup are treated worse, are paid less, get the job less. when the reality is that there are women who cannot go out in public without makeup without having an anxiety attack. when the reality is that my 60 year old mother who has grown children, a loving partner, and a career she loves still has body dysmorphia. when the reality is that eating disorders are the deadliest mental illness.

it is exhausting to hear men say, “it’s just a preference,” when waxing and shaving and plucking is expensive, uncomfortable, painful, and time consuming. when women work through exhaustive skincare routines every night just to put on more makeup designed to look as if you aren’t wearing anything at all. as if all of our conditioning is a given. as if men believe their preference is something so inconsequential because they’ve never walked into a room and fought to pass the litmus test of beauty standards before someone will actually give you the time of day. as if their preference is benign. as if it isn’t a battle every day to just feel comfortable in your own skin.

#women definitely police each others' bodies too #often in ways that are more hurtful and insidious #the war against women's bodies never ends

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scientologisabethmoss · 5 years

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jellyfish-study replied to your post “some days i feel like skincare culture is a weird amalgamation of...”

I seriously hate hearing skincare influencers/experts talk about using scrubs and exfoliants on your face even if some of it is legit. I feel like it pushes the idea that faces (lbr women’s faces) are inherently impure and dirty, and that by scrubbing hard you are almost punishing + redeeming yourself for this imagined impurity. Idk I’m no skincare genius but faces aren’t saucepans and probably shouldn’t be treated like they are.

personally i don’t think of exfoliation as some kind of exercise in self-flagellation! and i don’t think that most people who exfoliate treat their skin with that level of harshness. right now, chemical exfoliation seems to be more prevalent than physical exfoliation, and that’s a good thing because the former is gentler and far more affective at treating acne and improving skin texture than the latter. “chemical exfoliation” just sounds gnarlier than it usually is! the fact of the matter is that most acne-fighting ingredients - whether they’re acids (AHAs, BHAs, PHAs, azelaic acid), benzoyl peroxide, urea, retinoids, or something else - are keratolytic, meaning they help shed the outer layer of the skin. it’s this precise property that makes certain ingredients, including prescription topical medications, so effective in fighting acne and sometimes other skin conditions, like rosacea, as well. (this is not to ignore the role that antimicrobial properties play in some of these ingredients and medications too, though!) many, if not all, of these ingredients and medications exfoliate the skin with chemicals. i’m not saying that everyone needs to chemically exfoliate or that there aren’t people who overdo it (they use the wrong strength, they use the product too frequently, or a combo of both) and cause accidental harm to their skin. what i am saying is that aside from any deeper meaning one can infer from women exfoliating their skin, there’s more or less a medical consensus that chemical exfoliation can improve skin’s overall health, generally speaking. there’s legitimate scientific rationale for why so many people have found these ingredients to be helpful in combatting their frustrating, often painful, skin conditions.

my original post was more about how the preventative action of sun protection amongst skincare enthusiasts can and has been taken to such an extreme in some instances where the behavior inhibits people, namely girls and women, from carrying on healthy, active lives in the name of health (like skin cancer prevention) when in actuality, it’s a fear of aging that’s mostly driving this compulsive behavior. at this point in time, i can’t really spot an equivalent parallel between that and exfoliation use, especially because exfoliation has resulted in clearer skin for so many people, and clearer skin often allows people to live their lives with more confidence and less self-consciousness than they may have lived with congested skin. clear skin can be freeing. on the other hand, obsessive sun protection is the opposite; when taken to the extreme, i think sun protection is incredibly constricting and manifests in very unhealthy behaviors that have real-life ramifications.

#jellyfish-study #obviously self-confidence should not require clear skin #i personally feel that you should face no pressure to change your skin based on aesthetic reasons #but we live in A Society #and problematic skin can take a toll on mental health #skincare

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psychofactz · 6 years

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25 Ways to feed your mind, body, & soul

PRACTICE MINDFULNESS Mindfulness is an important practice to infuse calmer into your life. I find that being mindful encourages me to enjoy the little moments I would otherwise miss. If mindfulness feels like a struggle, make it easy with seven days of mindfulness prompts.

DETOX FROM TECHNOLOGY Sometimes we forget that there is an entire world beyond the internet. Lately, I’ve been feeling sucked into my laptop and phone too much, and I’m feeling the urge to take a break and get away from it. That could be one day a week without opening my laptop or setting clear boundaries for a technology-free time at night. Here’s a 7-day media detox challenge if you want to try it out yourself.

QUIET YOUR MIND Quieting your mind is so important for reducing stress. Whether it’s writing all your thoughts on paper before bed or meditating in the morning, make it a priority to quiet your mind at least once a day.

DIFFUSE ESSENTIAL OILS Essential oils can be great for stress-relief. Even though I love essential oils and I have more than one person rationally needs, I always forget to turn my diffuser on. I’m going to start making it part of my morning and evening routine so that turning my diffuser on becomes a habit.

MAKE TIME FOR SELF-REFLECTION Self-reflection is so important for our personal growth. It can be tricky to find the motivation to journal, but it’s worth it to let go of the thoughts floating around in your head. Self-reflection helps you explore who you are and create more space for positive thinking.

TWEAK YOUR MORNING ROUTINE Your morning routine sets the tone for the rest of the day, so try to squeeze in something that creates a sense of calm right away. Try meditating, journaling, drinking a cup of tea, or stretching. Little changes can help you start your day on the right foot. Here are some more ideas to makeover your morning routine.

READ MORE BOOKS When Netflix is calling your name, it’s easy to forget about the wonders of getting lost in a book. Create a healthy balance between the amount of time you spend watching vs. reading. Set a specific time that you want to read each day and stick to it.

LEARN SOMETHING NEW We know it’s important to quiet your mind, but it’s also important to challenge yourself and learn something new. Make time to continue your personal growth in areas you often forget to explore. Try watching TED talks, checking out a book from the library, or taking a Skillshare class.

GET SOME FRESH AIR Whether it’s during the day or at the weekend, getting some fresh air and Vitamin D is a great way to feel more refreshed. I like to go for a walk in the middle of the day to get away from my to-do list and come back to work with a clear head.

Our health is not one-dimensional. In order to find balance and well-being, we must nourish the 3 parts that make up our whole being: mind, body, and soul. Here are 25 ways to nourish your mind, body, and soul!

EMBRACE SLOW MOVEMENT Sometimes our bodies crave slow movement, like yoga or going for a walk. Often we get into the mindset that we have to sweat during a workout to make it “worth it”. Instead, be okay with taking it slow and not feeling the need to ‘sweat’ every time you work out.

REDUCE ADDED SUGAR I’m not someone who reads food labels, but I am starting to pay attention to how much sugar I consume on a daily basis. Added sugar is everywhere! I want to become more aware of this so that I can avoid sugar crashes which no doubt cause me to feel sluggish.

LEARN ABOUT AYURVEDA Ayurveda is a science of life. Its guiding principles are 1) that the mind and the body are inextricably connected and 2) that nothing has more power to heal and transform the body than the mind. Understanding your unique mind-body type (dosha) can help you feel more balanced. Deepak Chopra has a great article about it here.

EAT MORE VEGGIES We all know we should eat more veggies, but actually doing it is another story. Try finding ways to sneak vegetables into your meals without making a big deal about it. Put cauliflower or zucchini in your smoothies, snack on carrots and hummus, or squeeze some lemon juice onto plain veggies to make them more interesting. Also, choose meals at restaurants that contain veggies or ask for them on the side.

STRETCH Stretching is so important to keep our joints and muscles in good condition. The more I sit at my desk, the more I realize how inflexible I’m becoming. I know for sure that my posture is not the best, so I want to make more of an effort to stretch whenever I can.

SCRAPE YOUR TONGUE Sounds a little weird, but have you ever tried tongue scraping? It’s one of the most satisfying things in the world. Bacteria on your tongue can cause bad breath so a tongue scraper can get rid of the nasties. It’s a quick fix to help you feel refreshed after eating.

NOURISH YOUR SKIN Taking care of your skin is an important part of self-care. Not only does it help your complexion, a skincare ritual can allow you time to relax and unwind at the end of the day. I want to stick to a simple yet relaxing daily skincare routine and make sure I’m not skipping any important steps. If you need some inspiration for your skincare routine, here’s a peek at mine.

GET MORE SLEEP Sleep is one of the biggest factors in our energy levels throughout the day. Lately, I’ve been lenient with my bedtime schedule, but I want to make sure I’m getting a solid eight hours of sleep. If you’ve been staying up too late, check out this blog post about creating a nighttime routine.

START A PASSION PROJECT That random idea you’ve had in the back of your mind forever? Start it. As someone who has been blogging for almost four years, I’ve been able to turn my passion into my job. At the same time, I know there’s more to life than what I create on the internet. I want to explore other sides of creativity, whether that’s through drawing, coloring, or photography.

GO SOMEWHERE NEW Even though I preach about the importance of daily routines, it’s necessary to break away from your routine every now and again. Try a new coffee shop or restaurant. Go to a nearby city that you’ve never explored. Switch things up to keep life interesting.

CONNECT WITH OTHERS Connecting with friends and new people can provide such joy to our lives. My word for 2018 is ‘connection’ because I want to break away from my tendency to only spend time with myself. This means actually reaching out to people and making plans, as well as asking for help instead of trying to do everything by myself.

DECLUTTER Regular decluttering is good for the soul. Release the things that no longer need to take up space in your life. As someone who prides myself on not holding onto stuff I don’t need, I’m embarrassed that my closet has somehow morphed into a storage unit. Time to KonMari it!

CLEAN MORE OFTEN I honestly hate cleaning, but I’m noticing how much dirt can affect my mental state. Depending on how much space you have, you might want to clean more often than others. For me, it’s having one day of the week to tackle the dust.

CREATE WORK BOUNDARIES This is especially important for the self-employed, but it can apply wherever you work. Be strict with the times that you make yourself available to your boss and coworkers. Turn email notifications off on your phone after work. Better yet, don’t link your work email to your phone in the first place.

SAY NO Remember that no is a full sentence. You don’t have to justify your decisions to anyone. If you don’t want to do something, stand your ground and make sure your needs are being met first. If you’re ready to stop over-committing yourself, check out this post.

GIVE YOURSELF PERMISSION TO RELAX It’s hard, right? But it’s so important to value your downtime and take advantage of it when you can. Make sure you’re maintaining a good balance between productivity and rest. Here’s how to make the most of your downtime when you get it.

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