Beauty Skeptic

Take That, Undergrad

May 18, 2023 by Beauty Skeptic

Two weeks ago, I completed my undergrad STEM degree, summa cum laude. 🎉 I am appropriately proud, especially since I worked full-time and managed to graduate an entire semester earlier than I predicted in this post. Through a pandemic. Through a job change. Through the accumulation of 5 non-academia professional credentials.

“Omg what will you do next?”

Take a fucking nap. Take many naps, I hope, probably with my Manta mask.

No, seriously.

I am thankful. My mental health is better. I’m working hard to build a more sustainable–in every sense–life. I am tired. I am wiped out.

I’ve heard a lot of, “You should–” with well-intended but unsolicited input on what I should be doing right now. The only, and I do mean *only* thing I should be doing right now is resting.

Maybe clean up my back porch, gazebo, and yard so I can enjoy some time out there with something tasty in this.

Longer term, I am going to start a graduate program this fall. Ideally, I want to wait until November (they allow unusual start dates). This past week, I got news that I won another scholarship towards that, which is incredible. If I win another high-value scholarship that requires I enroll sooner in order to get the funding, I’ll start sooner.

I’m excited about it because it is a competency-based program that allows for self-pacing and acceleration. Basically, if you know a topic, you can take write its papers and/or take its exams immediately without busy work and mandatory discussion boards and bullshit. If you don’t, there’s material for you to learn it. Due to my experience, I can zip through a lot of the content quite quickly.

I have some content planned (drafts in progress), so look forward to some more here soon.

Lume Deodorant

May 1, 2023April 30, 2023 by Beauty Skeptic

I switched away from antiperspirants years ago. In the time since, I’ve tried a few different things with most of my use being in Old Spice-land and more-recently a 0% Aluminum Dove option that I prefer the fragrance of (Pomegranate and Lemon Verbena).

I heard of Lume before and while I was curious, I had mixed feelings. I hate their marketing. Hate. It. Happily, my distaste is for reasons other than the usual.

At some point, I ended up on a mailing list of theirs (thanks for selling my info!) and was appalled that it was very heavily along the lines of (I’m paraphrasing), “Got intimate area stink?” This isn’t just an unfortunately-targeted e-mail campaign, this is de rigeur for the brand.

Why?!

The founder happens to be an OB-GYN. Her intent was to formulate a whole-body deodorant product that won’t cause mayhem near the area(s) she most commonly provides care for. Noble enough, but the marketing is appallingly tactless. (But, spoilers, I did try the product – more on that after the jump).

What’s this? A doctor fulfilling unpleasant stereotypes about abysmal bedside manner?! If someone really DOES have those concerns, I’m sure they’d appreciate a more delicate and tactful approach.

There’s also an insinuation that everyone suffers from all of these complaints. We don’t! Just because these things are normal to encounter does not mean everyone experiences all of them, so its uncomfortable at best and presumptuous at worst.

Anyway, Lume ads are cringe. Whyyy:

If you can get past that, it is inclusively marketed to be suitable for myriad purposes – for everyone’s anatomy if they have and/or wish to address unwanted odors.

After Abra’s endorsement and a timely sale, I decided to give Lume a try.

The Future of Beauty Skeptic

April 3, 2023 by Beauty Skeptic

Years ago, when I enrolled in university while juggling full-time professional employment, I knew this blog’s priority would take a hit. Since then, a lot has happened. The world is different, my career is different, what is important to me is different. I am different.

So in the past few months, I’ve been reflecting on my time writing Beauty Skeptic, and on the future of Beauty Skeptic.

Beauty Skeptic is about a decade old. As my life changed, I made a few attempts to establish a new structure that fit and was sustainable. Upon reflection, they were half-hearted. This is telling because I’m a driven person, but didn’t apply my trademark determination to this project – repeatedly.

I should have reflected on and analyzed this sooner.

What Inspired this Project

…was being annoyed at how completely awful the marketing in the beauty industry is. It is often ridiculous and borderline predatory. I didn’t start using cosmetics in earnest until my early twenties, and was shocked at the bullshit that was completely normalized and too-easily accepted.

Takuminozawa makes the BEST Nail Clippers

February 20, 2023 by Beauty Skeptic

I tend to shy away from absolutist post titles. That I didn’t this time should be telling. Who gets excited about nail clippers? I do, when they’re this good. Hell, my husband evangelizes them.

I had never found a pair of nail clippers I liked. At most, a pair achieved the stunning heights of acceptable. In fact, I went for years never cutting them and only filing to remove length. But that takes a while, burns through files, and creates excess dust.

I have since found that Japanese brand Takuminozawa makes the BEST nail clippers. This brand is also sometimes known as Green Bell. Like a few of my favorite things these days, are imports. They have several varieties, but I am using these fingernail clippers ($12) and these toenail ones ($14).

What makes a good pair of nail clippers?

Fixed, I Think?

February 3, 2023 by Beauty Skeptic

Evidently most of the site was broken for nearly a month. I think I have it mostly fixed based on spot checks I’ve done.

Please let me know if a resource you’re trying to reference gives you a weird error!

Thanks for bearing with me.

Worth it? Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips

May 5, 2023January 25, 2023 by Beauty Skeptic

Before I got into gel manicures, I used to do nail art all the time. This also consumed a lot of time, which was okay back then because I HAD time. Then, I got into gel and got 10-21 days out of a manicure. As my time faded, so too did my interest in nail art. Even now, I don’t dislike it. I just can’t spend hours on my nails 1-2x a week, and I never picked up gel art.

Enter Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips

I had never tried nail strips – neither classic nor curable gel. Though I appreciate the art-on-demand aspect, they didn’t strike me as something I needed to try. I have good polishing skills, and I can live without art. So, I dismissed them for my own purposes. This goes for both gel AND classic strips – just had very little interest at their price point.

Last July, some of the Ohora Semi-Cured Gel Nail Strips went on sale. I bought a pack that featured a tortoise design, and left them untouched until mid-October. It was then sufficiently Autumn, so I gave them a shot.

Application

I was pleasantly surprised that using these things is pretty damn easy! Match up sizing much like you’d do for a press-on nail. Carefully peel from the backing. Align with your cuticle and gently but firmly press to adhere, ensuring no bubbles or gaps.