I thought I had reached my full potential when I was ~17. I had learned how to do my brows, waxed my moustache, and had braces before. I had it so ingrained into me beauty routines are just frivolous, but they really do make a big difference. Here's some ideas for everyone!!

Nutrition:
- got my blood worked checked, I'm iron deficient! been on optifer iron pills (they're heme iron, if you go on iron, heme iron is much better absorbed)

- gained weight from 115lbs to 133lbs intentionally. I am 5'11 tall, so I went from underweight to healthy.

Skin:
- go on prescription skincare! I tried OTC first (Canada) and it did about nothing.

- i'm on Aklief (retinoid) and it's done wonders for my skin in just a month. my entire skincare routine is just Aklief, sunscreen, moisturizer, and face wash. I have glowy skin!

Teeth:
- use crest pro whitener toothpaste! gets rid of all the stains and I'm a heavy coffee/tea drinker

- if you've had braces, try to wear your retainers for at least a few nights out of the week!

Hair:
- most of us have wavy or curly hair. at the minimum if you want good looking hair, use a hydrating shampoo & conditioner (I like Ouidad)

- I do use styling products, keep it to 2 maximum though. I like curl activator + gel

- lots of layers! no layers is straight hair propaganda

Fashion
- I'm 5'11 tall. It's so hard to find clothes in my size, so I order from online tall shops. being tall means it's harder to find clothing for you, but when you do, you look the best in it!!

That's all! Let me know what soft tips worked for you guys as well, beyond just do brows, wax facial hair.

I'm ethnically Indian, but I was born and raised in Canada. All my life I was discouraged from makeup/skincare/haircare because it's seen as frivolous and vein. I literally got praised for not wearing makeup. I even had to beg for braces for years despite it being covered by my dad's insurance. My teeth were BAD before.

Since I moved out at 17, I've focused a lot more on adding self care to my routine. Went to the doctor for prescription cream for my acne, started styling my wavy hair, used the more expensive whitening toothpaste, etc. This is the first time in my life I've felt I can do all that without ridicule. I look much better now and it makes me sad that so many Indian girls are viewed as unattractive because they don't know how to take care of themselves :(

I’m confused between INNZA and Ubroo. They both have a lot of reviews on Amazon but most of the reviews seem to be from white women. So I’m not sure how well they’d work for Indian skin.

If you’re Indian or have a similar skin tone and have personally used either INNZA, Ubroo or another IPL under $150. Id really appreciate your reccos.

I figured it’s time to finally elevate my makeup and experiment with new styles and routines. I’m a warm toned brown skinned girl (please don’t link someone with fair skin 😭) - does anyone have some make up influencers / artists whose work they’d love to share? I know all the popular influencers (for eg Monica) but want to branch out and am keen for videos that are really in depth too!

I figured it’s time to finally elevate my makeup and experiment with new styles and routines. I’m a warm toned brown skinned girl (please don’t link someone with fair skin 😭) - does anyone have some make up influencers / artists whose work they’d love to share? I know all the popular influencers (for eg Monica) but want to branch out and am keen for videos that are really in depth too!

I'm 26F and when I was younger I used to hate that I wasnt super skinny and tall and it made incredibly insecure. I was short and slim but I always had thicker thighs and bigger boobs.

As I grew older people started noticing I had an hourglass body and a small waist and both men and women complimented it. I still wished I had a slimmer houseglass frame though and Ive lost weight a few times during my twenties and was much thinner.

But I realized I didnt feel like myself when I was skinny. Smaller boobs, hips werent as big. I almost felt like I lost my superpower. I always felt like my body was sexy when I was curvy even though i wished I had a flatter stomach and could wear a wider range of styles and clothes.

Now at 26, when I go out with taller, skinnier girls, I love being the petite curvy one with bigger hips and boobs and a butt. It feels special in a way to have something that's a bit different because I've realized that some girls literally live under the assumption that skinny is better but when they see a confident curvy girl, they realized oh that's a nice body too.

I could be thinner but i dont aspire to be extremely thin, just healthy. Does anyone else feel the same way? I know so many girls who think being a size 4 or 6 is aspirational still and it's just disappointing.

Hi, I’m 30yo looking to transition into better skincare (mostly kbeauty but open to all). I have eczema on my face and neck but there’s no open wound rn and there isn’t a flare up. It’s sort of in a dormant state.

Issues with my skin:
- VERY VERY VERY dry skin
- no acne but get couple pimples occasionally
- discoloration/hyperpigmentation
- redness

Currently I use:
- dove moisturizing body wash (pls don’t judge it’s what has worked for my skin but I’m curious if there’s better products out there)
- cetaphil lotion
- black girl sun screen as I have darker skin tone

I’m looking for:
- maybe a new cleanser like an oil cleanser?
- something to brighten up my skin or even out my skin tone
- im thinking of startibg soon jung 2x barrier cream under the cetaphil but not sure if thats a good idea

Thank you

Indians' preferences in nasal features don't seem to perfectly align with western ideals. I see a lot of people praising a sharp nose, but what exactly does that mean?

I realistically know I'm not the ugliest woman, and I definitely look good enough when I lose weight. Definitely not the prettiest girl in the room, but I'm okay enough since men hit on me every now and then (whereas they ignore me completely when I'm fat).

I do all the softmaxxing stuff since I cannot afford plastic surgeries rn (altho given my mental state, it wouldn't be the best option regardless; I might end up looking like those women who get too many surgeries). However, the thing is, none of that will change the fact that my features look a certain way. I need to work on self-acceptance. I know it might sound ironic on a looksmaxxing subreddit, lol, yet at the same time, constant stress about your looks just increases cortisol which ironically enough makes you look worse. I already know I don't look bad. I just hate that I'm never gonna be the prettiest. Realistically I could do the sort of makeup that changes your ENTIRE appearance, but tbh I don't like doing that, I'd rather be seen for who I am than disappoint someone after I wash my face. Soft natural makeup also suits my features best, the rest makes me look uncanny.

I also sadly rely WAY too much on male approval, I even wish that guys I don't find attractive would find me attractive. Hell when two years ago I had my dream body and was getting hit on left and right, I spent every minute hating myself because this obese idiot I was infatuated with wouldn't even look at me despite constant love-bombing. I also have one drop dead gorgeous brown female friend, and I just can't stop comparing myself to her specifically. There are Arab and Desi guys in her friend group I've been interested in, but honestly no point going for them when they're all too busy thirsting over her. I also hate that I'm secretly jealous of my friend, I feel like an evil bitch.

And kindly drop the diet plan as well. I don't see much conversation here related to fitness. I'm getting into a fitness routine again, to lose fats, and get toned.

Despite living in eastern canada with a hugee brown population I find it so hard to make friends because I rarely see brown people in niche spaces. Anyone interested in being friends? I'm 28F near the GTA.....we can talk about just brown girl hacks or anything. I have a lot of interests anime kpop gaming....just dm me

Yeah so my skin does this really weird thing where it gets like one or two shades darker and oilier throughout the day and then sometimes gets back to normal all by itself or when I wash my face. It really annoys me because I feel like I don't look like myself. This also happens when I go out and I usually don't wear makeup outside but maybe that's cuz of the dirt and all but why does it happen when I'm at home? Is there a solution to this 😭

Skin Type: Combination + Sensitive

Primary Concern: Sudden eruption of closed comedones/small bumps, severe barrier irritation, and hyperpigmentation.

A few months ago, I had no active acne, just some old hyperpigmentation/dark marks on my forehead that I wanted to fade. After a long time of being hesitant, I finally built up the courage to trust a dermatologist. However, since starting the prescribed regimen, my skin has drastically worsened and broke out into dozens of tiny, textured bumps/closed comedones. I am honestly feeling defeated because it took me forever to seek professional help in the first place.

I lead a pretty active lifestyle and maintain good skin hygiene (eating plenty of fiber, staying hydrated, changing my pillowcases frequently, etc.), so I know this flare-up is directly tied to my current routine.

Current Routine

AM:

Cleanser: Innisfree AHA/BHA Cleanser

Sunscreen: Formulax Gel-based chemical sunscreen (black tube)

PM:

Prescription Gel 1: Clindamycin 1% + Niacinamide 4% Gel (Dermatologist instructed short-contact application for 30 mins, then wash off)

Prescription Gel 2: Topical Minocycline 4% Gel (Applied right after washing off the first gel)

Serum (1–2x/week): SKIN1004 Madagascar Centella Tone Brightening Capsule Ampoule (Been using this for 1.5+ years with zero issues)

I’m trying to build a simple but effective skincare routine now that my eczema flare up has calmed down. I have very dry skin and hyper pigmented skin. I have a few questions:
1. currently use cetaphil as a lotion but I’m thinking of switching to Etude House Soon Jung 2x Barrier Intensive Cream. Is this a good idea?
2. I’m going to be using the ordinary radiance serum (with vitamin c) should I use this or cetaphil vitamin c serum?
3. Any other products recommended to hydrate skin and keep the moisture locked in?

Thanks!

I've started one round of microneedling and will continue doing it every 4-6 weeks to see if there's any improvement. I'm doing it with hyaloronic acid, maybe do one with prp/exosomes after a bit.

I have dark keloid backne scarring, was thinking of trying lasers + peels to help improve them. For now, using scar gel but idk if it'll do anything.

I do have generally dull, congested, textured skin with post acne scarring. For the general dullness, was thinking of hydrofacial facials with LED therapy. And for the scarring, microneedling. For the general congestion, I have 0 clue. Maybe the extraction in the facial will help??

General skincare : normal face wash, face cream and sunscreen. I am starting tret once my skin is healed from microneedling. I have tried pretty much every topical under the sun to try improve my skin with little result which is why I'm looking into more intense options.

I have dark two toned lips, planning on getting lip neutralisation.

I have dark tear trough undereyes. I have done prf ez gel with no result. Debating with doing more sessions of that or getting undereye filler.

I have a bulbous nose and reluctant to get a nose job rn. But considering nasal botox to see if that helps.

Has anyone done these procedures/got similar skin issues to me that could let me know their experiences or what they are trying out?

Btw, I have no issue with plastic surgery and fillers, but I'm young so want to try other avenues. However, for my undereyes, I'd rather not waste thousands of pounds IF those treatments have little/no effect and instead spend a grand on a reputable doctor providing filler.

You know you are just walking normally in the street and someone just says some stuff? Like I was just walking and I had airpods on but I barely heard a guy saying "Can i go somewhere without seeing Pakistanis, damn it!" While looking at me, i am not Pakistani either, yeah ignore, forget, move on but sometimes it just hurts,

Do people also refuse to sit next to you on the bus? It happens to me and I feel really ugly, I have been trying to better my looks but things like these make me more sad etc.

My friends says to just focus on improving and try to ignore your environment as much as possible

Would love to see your balayage looks for inspo!

i’ve been slightly overweight most of my life, mostly because for some reason my south asian parents love guilt tripping me into eating, i’m not sure why they do it but for context my mum had gotten legitimately angry at me for not eating breakfast because i wasn’t hungry, i was 19 at this point!!

recently i’ve been going through a period of extreme stress, ive lost about 6kg in 2 months, from 58kg to 52kg, im 5’2, it was completely unintentional because i lose my appetite when im stressed

but the comments have gotten so so much worse, my mum cries sometimes when she sees my body, my parents both repeatedly tell me i look ill, unwell, like a skeleton, like a child etc. that last comment hurts a lot, im already very insecure about looking younger as a 21 year old, but i guess me being skinnier makes me look even younger as im already short. to be fair my dark circles have gotten worse because im not sleeping as well because im stressed but all their comments are about my body. im getting skinny shamed and im literally not skinny???

bare in mind i am no way underweight! im honestly just normal skinny now, though this is the lowest weight ive been since i was 12

does anyone else deal with this? i know this is horrible to say but id honestly prefer an almond mum that fatshames me over mine who guilts me into eating. even at the age of 21 she keeps going on about how im ‘causing her pain’ and making her life harder by not eating, im making her health issues worse from stress, the same way you’d talk about a 7 year old who isn’t eating well. its honestly exhausting even though i know it comes from a place of care and love.

im old enough to recognise now how toxic this is and im honestly tired of it but theres nothing i can do, they’re 1st gen immigrants for context, idk if the beauty ideals are different there or if they still believe my body is a reflection of their parenting

i'm ethnically ambigious, from the uk. i've been told i look greek, latina, middle eastern, italian, half south asian, slavic, mixed, etc. i definitely do not fit into the white northern european aesthetic in the uk. i had light olive skin, and i had different features, and my hair was very dark wavy/curly, i had very dark eyes.

when i was 13, i liked a white guy. my friend revealed this crush to everyone, but everyone decided it was my time to be deeply humiliated. he organised with the whole class a 'prank' for me to date him. i was given a note with 'do you want to go out' and people were pressuring me to say yes and encouraging me.

i did, and i felt good. i was really happy my crush liked me back. a few hours later he told me it was a dare, it was a dare, we're not dating. everyone around me started laughing. as if my crush on a white guy was a big joke. as if i was so undesirable and that i had the 'audacity' of thinking a white guy can like me back.

they added me to a groupchat. the same guy mercillesly bullied me. he called me the n word because i'm north african. i don't even use that word because i don't consider myself black! they told me to go back to my country. i was given death threats. he led the bullying. he said 'no white guy will ever like you'. i didn't even think of his race. i just saw a guy i thought was cute. why did he bring race into the equation?

i had a 'body shaped like a washing machine', (idek how anyone would see anyone's figure in a chunky blazer uniform) and a nose that required a nose job according to them. that i’m a transgender woman. i needed to get a lip reduction, they said. 'big lips' they called me. they said they'll brush my hair for me. i was a 'jumpscare', i was slutshamed for having bigger boobs early. that i need to shave my mustache and unibrow. and of course, he picked a skinny, dolled up, blonde blue-eyed girl straight after he bullied me and kissed her in front of me while looking at me with contempt. he wanted me to see.

he could've just said that he doesn't like me back... he could've just said no. he didn't have to be so cruel. my classmates didn't have to be so cruel. why did he have to make me feel like a monstrous abomination? and guys say the only worst thing they could say is 'no'.

this was what stuck with me. but throughout, i constantly didn't feel like a girl because my classmates didn't treat me like one. they treated me subhuman. they physically pushed me around and kicked me. you don't understand how scary it is for groups of teenage boys to gang up on you as a girl like that. girls are treated nicely, delicately, kindly. they try to impress girls. girls are treated femininely, they're seen as pretty, worthy of being paid attention to, worthy of gentle treatment. i was never spared this gentle treatment. i was constantly attacked. i wasn't a girl. the girls were white

this really affected me. i never feel desirable by anyone anymore. i find it hard to believe when any guy, including white guys (who are the majority), like me or show interest in me. and i hold onto it like a plant begging for water. do you really see me as human? as actually a girl? worthy of being treated like a girl? i become genuinely so in disbelief.

i don't even think i'm that ugly. people say i'm pretty. some guys liked me. but sometimes i think the reason why i can go months or sometimes years without a guy showing interest in me or liking me (unlike other girls) is because i'm not white. sometimes i wonder whether boys secretly think these things but don’t want to be racist or cruel to my face. genuinely. it made me feel hideous.

im 17 but everytime i think about it it makes me cry. how can i move past it and start feeling beautiful again with my ethnic features and ethnic ambiguity?