Makeup, skin, and hair -- the good, the bad, the ugly

[Opti]

Jun 19, 2021 13:15:00 GMT -5 The Walk of the Penguin Mich said:

Jun 19, 2021 13:03:56 GMT -5 Opti said:

I have worked places where I had to do more feminine things to blend in, that were not things that I liked doing on a regular basis. Sometimes you have to fight against people using their expectations against them. While he probably meant less harsh, he may have also meant more feminine. Some people are big on that male/female appearance thing. I often forget that looking shiny, to a male colleague, sometimes is a bonus. While distracted my beauty or feminine dress, sometimes you can get them to agree to certain things quicker, or fight less.

Lastly, if you are alive, people will try to walk over you. As the FT front desk person, it is a constant dance to humor people yet not get treated badly, etc.

No, that is not what her female boss meant at all.  My friend runs the budgets on multi million $$ projects.  She looks young (at 50) and cute, which makes her difficult to be taken seriously in the first place.  

Her longer hair makes her look younger and cuter, which has been resulting in push back from those who are using the budgets she administers.  By being more feminine, it has made her job MORE difficult.  

Sorry. FWIW, it has been my female bosses at this job who have tried to mold me into some version of female front desk acceptable personhood. Wearing jewelry, getting my hair cut & dyed, even my clothes. I'm 61 and can pass for younger when my hair is dyed. 

As a techie, my usual work dress was a polo shirt and pants, unless it was winter. I never wore dresses to work. Now I do sometimes.

[Opti]

Its possible mine was somewhat of a unique experience, IDK. Later after female boss R gave me some clothes and jewelry, she realized the corporate office was jerking her around. That's when I realized Our corporate office liked to test my new bosses by telling them they had to change how I in specific dressed, or basically fire everyone working there because they loved blaming their problems on the front. Instead of addressing the real problems, or choosing which negatives of the satisfaction survey of customers that they wanted to fix.

My current boss might be the first one in recent memory, that only wanted the desk to run sanely and did. So no sweep to get rid of all the white women, or the many appearance changes for various pieces of mgmt. Many in our facility have uniforms, being a SNF/ALF. The uniform they originally picked for us made us look like severe security guards. I guess until this boss, it has been a struggle on the dress code thing which no one ever seems to write. (I wasn't the only one who got "schooled" on her appearance. One of our occasional people R fought for wanted to do the fun hair color thing that many of the nurses and aides were doing. Before R shared with me her insight, they had negotiated this person was allowed to dye her hair red, even if the red was more like Splat Red than say L'Oreal red.) And of course not at the desk there were the usual black hair spats, which has evolved over time as to what's allowed, again based on the current in house mgmt mix.

[Deleted]

I think I'm going to try micellar water when I use up my supply of Neutrogena makeup remover towelettes.  Although I don't wear makeup often these days, I don't like having to scrub my eyes to get stuff off.  

[stillmovingforward]

Jun 19, 2021 12:58:40 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jun 18, 2021 13:22:03 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

My lupus extends into my eyes so no mascara for me.

For curly or super wavey hair, which I have a lot of, a good cut is essential from someone who understands curly hair. And I have to go every 5 weeks of I don't want to fuss a lot with it. Otherwise, I get mine damp in the morning, righ it up with my fingers and leave the house. When I get to work I may or may not briefly touch it with a pick to organize any strays. Looks great, fast, and easy!

Yuck. What does that mean?

I agree with the haircut comments. If you go to anyone, usually your haircut is shit at best. Someone who gets it makes a huge difference.

I have lupus, an autoimmune disorder that, among other issues, causes a red butterfly rash across my nose and cheeks. Mine extends up into my lower eyelids which is atypical and makes my eyes very sensitive.
No yuck, it's a fact of my life and not fun at all to negotiate in a business environment.

[Deleted]

My job doesn’t care about tattoos, piercings, what I do to my hair or how I dress as long as my goodies aren’t showing and nothing on me poses a safety hazard. The only things I do that might be objectionable in another work environment though, besides wearing jeans and t-shirts or hoodies to work, is wear my natural hair and a nose ring. 

You might see anything at my workplace….. visible tattoos, including sleeves, face piercings, brightly colored hair, including multiple vibrant colors on one head. I have a female coworker who shaved her head bald. She’s a big girl, solid and shapely with a BIG butt. So the clean shaven head draws even more attention to her, and she’s in her late 50’s lol. She didn’t shave her head for attention, she was losing her hair at the top, so she just shaved it all off and kept it that way. But even if you’re a straight woman, she’ll probably get your attention, even if it’s just for an extra second.

But guess what, none of it keeps any of us from doing our jobs well. I understand that some jobs and careers require you to look a certain way because you’re interacting with the public or other “professionals”, but still, a couple of prior posts make me glad I don’t have to deal with any of that.

[Deleted]

I'm fighting on FB with someone who claims to be all about aware and woke and inclusivity, but doesn't answer anything about gender identity/sexual identity stereotypes like short hair.  Except for the Covid time, my hair ranges from short to really short to you ain't kidding short.  I can't begin to count the number of times I've been told to let my hair grow so I would not look "butch".  I'm definitely hetero but I totally don't get it why haircuts represent our sexuality.  And, if our hair does represent our sexuality, WTF  Mine is short to super-short b/c it's hotter than Hades in Texas 99% of the year, I spend a lot of time gardening, I sweat like a horse, and I  am too old for high maintenance hair.  

I did the heels and panty hose, girdles, slim skirts, etc. for many decades because we needed my income.  Done with that and those who fake their game.  

[Opti]

Jun 19, 2021 15:45:12 GMT -5 stillmovingforward said:

Jun 19, 2021 12:58:40 GMT -5 Opti said:

Yuck. What does that mean?

I agree with the haircut comments. If you go to anyone, usually your haircut is shit at best. Someone who gets it makes a huge difference.

I have lupus, an autoimmune disorder that, among other issues, causes a red butterfly rash across my nose and cheeks. Mine extends up into my lower eyelids which is atypical and makes my eyes very sensitive.
No yuck, it's a fact of my life and not fun at all to negotiate in a business environment.

Sounds challenging. I didn't know lupus could affect one's eyes.

[Opti]

Jun 19, 2021 18:18:31 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

My job doesn’t care about tattoos, piercings, what I do to my hair or how I dress as long as my goodies aren’t showing and nothing on me poses a safety hazard. The only things I do that might be objectionable in another work environment though, besides wearing jeans and t-shirts or hoodies to work, is wear my natural hair and a nose ring. 

You might see anything at my workplace….. visible tattoos, including sleeves, face piercings, brightly colored hair, including multiple vibrant colors on one head. I have a female coworker who shaved her head bald. She’s a big girl, solid and shapely with a BIG butt. So the clean shaven head draws even more attention to her, and she’s in her late 50’s lol. She didn’t shave her head for attention, she was losing her hair at the top, so she just shaved it all off and kept it that way. But even if you’re a straight woman, she’ll probably get your attention, even if it’s just for an extra second.

But guess what, none of it keeps any of us from doing our jobs well. I understand that some jobs and careers require you to look a certain way because you’re interacting with the public or other “professionals”, but still, a couple of prior posts make me glad I don’t have to deal with any of that.

I wish that was true of where I work, although now I do have a front desk appearance wardrobe now. I remember at least three different female managers working on front desk appearance, only two were my direct boss. One was my boss's boss on one side of the facility. When she had the opportunity to hire someone, she even physically looked like her. Some people IMO are too much into appearance and not enough on substance. And I freely admit I am more a substance person even knowing far too many people are sold or concentrate on the outside shiny.

[Deleted]

Jun 19, 2021 19:40:36 GMT -5 Opti said:

Jun 19, 2021 18:18:31 GMT -5 @pinkcshmere said:

My job doesn’t care about tattoos, piercings, what I do to my hair or how I dress as long as my goodies aren’t showing and nothing on me poses a safety hazard. The only things I do that might be objectionable in another work environment though, besides wearing jeans and t-shirts or hoodies to work, is wear my natural hair and a nose ring. 

You might see anything at my workplace….. visible tattoos, including sleeves, face piercings, brightly colored hair, including multiple vibrant colors on one head. I have a female coworker who shaved her head bald. She’s a big girl, solid and shapely with a BIG butt. So the clean shaven head draws even more attention to her, and she’s in her late 50’s lol. She didn’t shave her head for attention, she was losing her hair at the top, so she just shaved it all off and kept it that way. But even if you’re a straight woman, she’ll probably get your attention, even if it’s just for an extra second.

But guess what, none of it keeps any of us from doing our jobs well. I understand that some jobs and careers require you to look a certain way because you’re interacting with the public or other “professionals”, but still, a couple of prior posts make me glad I don’t have to deal with any of that.

I wish that was true of where I work, although now I do have a front desk appearance wardrobe now. I remember at least three different female managers working on front desk appearance, only two were my direct boss. One was my boss's boss on one side of the facility. When she had the opportunity to hire someone, she even physically looked like her. Some people IMO are too much into appearance and not enough on substance. And I freely admit I am more a substance person even knowing far too many people are sold or concentrate on the outside shiny.

One of the several times I’ve been to physical therapy, was at what I call a *chain* orthopedic group. It’s one of the largest groups in the area, if not the largest. I don’t like it because I always felt like we were cattle being guided and shuffled around at my appointments.

Anyway, a few weeks into my PT with them, I finally noticed that all the ladies were really slim and had long, straight, blonde hair. Once I noticed it, of course I kept paying attention. The entire time I was going there for PT, I saw not ONE woman working there that was “thick” but fit, had curly hair, red or dark hair, or a woman of color…….  pick an ethnicity, race, or whatever. They were all very slim and had long, straight, blonde hair. 

I have no way of knowing if it was deliberate, but I do know it made me feel some type of way. I’ve had PT a few times since then for one thing or another, and I’ve deliberately avoided that orthopedic group, the doctors and the PT part.

I think this is all a separate subject from this thread though, so I won’t comment on that part anymore. I enjoy this thread being a place where we can share self care and “looking good” ideas, and I don’t want to ruin it.

[Tennesseer]

Everything I see this thread title this song comes to mind. The name of the song is 'Nails, Hair, Hips, Heals'.

[empress of self-improvement]

Jun 19, 2021 20:03:23 GMT -5 Tennesseer said:

Everything I see this thread title this song comes to mind. The name of the song is 'Nails, Hair, Hips, Heals'.

The lower half of my body now hurts from watching them do those squats to kicks in heels. I don't think I am even remotely capable of walking in heels anymore, never mind dancing in them!

[CCL]

Jun 19, 2021 15:30:15 GMT -5 @donethat said:

I think I'm going to try micellar water when I use up my supply of Neutrogena makeup remover towelettes.  Although I don't wear makeup often these days, I don't like having to scrub my eyes to get stuff off.  

Micellar water works surprisingly well. You should also try the makeup remover cloths. They really do remove makeup with just water and they're very soft.

[finnime]

I'm very glad this thread mentioned micellar water. I had not heard of it before, and it's been doing a great job with my mascara removal.

I have curly hair when my hair is cut to show it off, in a layered bob. Otherwise it is merely wavy, straighter in the back, which looks odd to me. I found a new hair stylist after the one I had been going to closed down. It's expensive ($100) so I go every 8+ weeks, but a really good cut grows out well. I color my own hair, too. The white hair seeping in at my temples does not take color well, but DD tells me it looks more like highlights. I choose to believe her.

Right now my biggest issue is nails. I need to polish toenails as sandal season is upon us. My fingernails are a lost cause. They break and split constantly. It's been over a year since my right thumbnail was not split.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jun 20, 2021 10:22:26 GMT -5 finnime said:

I'm very glad this thread mentioned micellar water. I had not heard of it before, and it's been doing a great job with my mascara removal.

I have curly hair when my hair is cut to show it off, in a layered bob. Otherwise it is merely wavy, straighter in the back, which looks odd to me. I found a new hair stylist after the one I had been going to closed down. It's expensive ($100) so I go every 8+ weeks, but a really good cut grows out well. I color my own hair, too. The white hair seeping in at my temples does not take color well, but DD tells me it looks more like highlights. I choose to believe her.

Right now my biggest issue is nails. I need to polish toenails as sandal season is upon us. My fingernails are a lost cause. They break and split constantly. It's been over a year since my right thumbnail was not split.

I have given up on manicures as I tend to wreck them an hour after walking out of the salon.  I do get my toes done, only because I can’t reach them myself anymore.  Last winter, I had a pedicure done and had them leave the polish off.  My nails needed a break as they were almost totally white.  

Last week, I had my first pedicure done with polish.  My nails have returned to normal, but I think that when the summer is over, I am going back to naked toes.  

TD cut my toenails while salons were closed.  He got the big chunks off, but left sharp edges.  They do a better job at the salon I go to, especially in digging the nail out of skin.  

[jelloshots4all]

Jun 20, 2021 10:22:26 GMT -5 finnime said:

I'm very glad this thread mentioned micellar water. I had not heard of it before, and it's been doing a great job with my mascara removal.

I have curly hair when my hair is cut to show it off, in a layered bob. Otherwise it is merely wavy, straighter in the back, which looks odd to me. I found a new hair stylist after the one I had been going to closed down. It's expensive ($100) so I go every 8+ weeks, but a really good cut grows out well. I color my own hair, too. The white hair seeping in at my temples does not take color well, but DD tells me it looks more like highlights. I choose to believe her.

Right now my biggest issue is nails. I need to polish toenails as sandal season is upon us. My fingernails are a lost cause. They break and split constantly. It's been over a year since my right thumbnail was not split.

I have gotten pedicures for years for the summer.  I rarely have gotten manicures, but did a few times in the last 9 months.

However, I have now taken to doing my own manicures.  I use an OPI base and top coat, and a nude color polish in the middle.  I bought all 3 at Marshall's.  My nails are so much more resilient- don't break and split all the time like they used to.  The polishes act like a strengthener.

[The Walk of the Penguin Mich]

Jun 20, 2021 13:33:08 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

Jun 20, 2021 10:22:26 GMT -5 finnime said:

I'm very glad this thread mentioned micellar water. I had not heard of it before, and it's been doing a great job with my mascara removal.

I have curly hair when my hair is cut to show it off, in a layered bob. Otherwise it is merely wavy, straighter in the back, which looks odd to me. I found a new hair stylist after the one I had been going to closed down. It's expensive ($100) so I go every 8+ weeks, but a really good cut grows out well. I color my own hair, too. The white hair seeping in at my temples does not take color well, but DD tells me it looks more like highlights. I choose to believe her.

Right now my biggest issue is nails. I need to polish toenails as sandal season is upon us. My fingernails are a lost cause. They break and split constantly. It's been over a year since my right thumbnail was not split.

I have gotten pedicures for years for the summer.  I rarely have gotten manicures, but did a few times in the last 9 months.

However, I have now taken to doing my own manicures.  I use an OPI base and top coat, and a nude color polish in the middle.  I bought all 3 at Marshall's.  My nails are so much more resilient- don't break and split all the time like they used to.  The polishes act like a strengthener.

Do your fingernails turn white from constantly wearing polish?  My toes were pretty ugly with white spots when I stopped wearing polish on them.  The white spots finally grew out.

[wvugurl26]

My fingernails have never seemed to turn white like my toenails. I also do my own toes most of the time and never bother with base coat. I always have base coat if I do a manicure. I'm not sure if the base coat would keep the spots away?

[finnime]

Jun 20, 2021 13:33:08 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

Jun 20, 2021 10:22:26 GMT -5 finnime said:

I'm very glad this thread mentioned micellar water. I had not heard of it before, and it's been doing a great job with my mascara removal.

I have curly hair when my hair is cut to show it off, in a layered bob. Otherwise it is merely wavy, straighter in the back, which looks odd to me. I found a new hair stylist after the one I had been going to closed down. It's expensive ($100) so I go every 8+ weeks, but a really good cut grows out well. I color my own hair, too. The white hair seeping in at my temples does not take color well, but DD tells me it looks more like highlights. I choose to believe her.

Right now my biggest issue is nails. I need to polish toenails as sandal season is upon us. My fingernails are a lost cause. They break and split constantly. It's been over a year since my right thumbnail was not split.

I have gotten pedicures for years for the summer.  I rarely have gotten manicures, but did a few times in the last 9 months.

However, I have now taken to doing my own manicures.  I use an OPI base and top coat, and a nude color polish in the middle.  I bought all 3 at Marshall's.  My nails are so much more resilient- don't break and split all the time like they used to.  The polishes act like a strengthener.

Good idea, a manicure to strengthen the nails. I'll have to try it.

[Deleted]

Up until March 2020, I had monthly mani and pedi.  I never wear polish on my fingernails, just have them buffed.  But my toenails definitely had some whitish spots which grew out in about 4 months.  I actually debated whether or not to go back to polish on my toes because they looked so dang pink and smooth and healthy.  And my GP strongly recommends going naked nails at least 4-5 months a year.  I'm got my first post-vaccine mani-pedi about 5 weeks ago and I'm going again tomorrow.  I'll probably skip polish December-February because I no longer wear high-heeled sandals when we go out for the holidays.  

[CCL]

I saw Sephora has a couple of Too Faced palettes on sale.

$15, regularly $49:

www.sephora.com/product/pretty-rich-diamond-light-eyeshadow-palette-P439069?skuId=2156610

And $20, regularly $59:

www.sephora.com/product/natural-lust-palette-P441853?skuId=2192920

Urban Decay for half price:

www.sephora.com/product/urban-decay-naked-ultraviolet-eyeshadow-palette-P459819?icid2=selling%20fast:p459819:product

www.sephora.com/product/naked-cherry-eyeshadow-palette-P437427?icid2=selling%20fast:p437427:product

Free shipping with FREESHIP

[Opti]

Jun 20, 2021 16:54:23 GMT -5 finnime said:

Jun 20, 2021 13:33:08 GMT -5 jelloshots4all said:

I have gotten pedicures for years for the summer.  I rarely have gotten manicures, but did a few times in the last 9 months.

However, I have now taken to doing my own manicures.  I use an OPI base and top coat, and a nude color polish in the middle.  I bought all 3 at Marshall's.  My nails are so much more resilient- don't break and split all the time like they used to.  The polishes act like a strengthener.

Good idea, a manicure to strengthen the nails. I'll have to try it.

There's something called Neem oil that's supposed to help nails. You apply it directly to the nail once or twice a day. My Mom got some products from a local person who made cosmetics. Was not cheap, but whatever she used back then for her nails worked really really well.
I wonder if my sibs now what it is and whether it is still sold. 

EVO on your nail beds will work too, but not as well as Neem oil. Dr. Hauschka sells it and I think others do too.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jun 19, 2021 13:26:19 GMT -5 saveinla said:

I had gone for my niece's graduation last week and she took me to her salon - I had my hair cut short, colored and also did a hydra facial. My skin looks so good and I am told  that I look 10 years younger. She also gave me some products for lightening some of the dark spots under my eye and they seem to be working. Spent a lot of money, but it seems to have worked.

She told me that if I can come once a month, it would be very good, but I am not travelling to just get a facial. I checked the prices here and it looks like its 150$ per session for  45 minutes. Not sure if I want to spend the money, but we will have to see . I dont use makeup at all and it feels weird to be thinking of cleansing, toning and then using the cream she gave me. Lets see how long it lasts .

I LOVE facials. 
In that regard, the pandemic has saved me money. Probably $500 since I haven't had one since November 2019. 

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Have any of you done the razor thing on your unwanted facial hair?

[buystoys]

Jul 7, 2021 14:50:17 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Have any of you done the razor thing on your unwanted facial hair?

I pluck.  Daily. 

[Lizard Queen]

Jul 7, 2021 14:50:17 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Have any of you done the razor thing on your unwanted facial hair?

I have this, and then I shave (except for brows):
www.triabeauty.com/products/hair-removal-laser-4x
I didn't pay nearly this price.

[Knee Deep in Water Chloe]

Jul 7, 2021 15:12:24 GMT -5 buystoys said:

Jul 7, 2021 14:50:17 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Have any of you done the razor thing on your unwanted facial hair?

I pluck.  Daily. 

Me too, and pre-pandemic I've spent most of the last ten years having my chin waxed. 
Just researching and wondering about this new fangled idea. 

[CCL]

Jul 7, 2021 15:22:41 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

Jul 7, 2021 14:50:17 GMT -5 Knee Deep in Water Chloe said:

Have any of you done the razor thing on your unwanted facial hair?

I have this, and then I shave (except for brows):
www.triabeauty.com/products/hair-removal-laser-4x
I didn't pay nearly this price.

Does it work?

[Lizard Queen]

Jul 7, 2021 23:21:19 GMT -5 CCL said:

Jul 7, 2021 15:22:41 GMT -5 Lizard Queen said:

I have this, and then I shave (except for brows):
www.triabeauty.com/products/hair-removal-laser-4x
I didn't pay nearly this price.

Does it work?

Works great on the thicker, darker hairs that are the most embarrassing. Hit and miss on the fine darker hairs, and doesn't work on the thinner blond hairs at all.

[CCL]

I'm all blond so I guess it might not work well for me.

[Lizard Queen]

Jul 8, 2021 8:26:47 GMT -5 CCL said:

I'm all blond so I guess it might not work well for me.

Yeah, you might want to try electrolysis in that case, if they're coarse and worth the trouble. If they're not that coarse (more like peach fuzz), there's something called a No No that might work for you.