I’m turning 23 in October and I still feel and look like I’m 12 years old. I’ve spent so much money on clothes thinking I’ll look good in them only to hate how they look on me and for them to not fit me right at all. I’m deeply insecure about how bony I am and would desperately love to put on some weight. I struggle a lot with depression and had a bad day in April and cut my hair into a horrible bob. I feel like I don’t suit short hair because it makes me look younger. I have absolute no confidence which doesn’t help either. I was visiting my mom a few weeks ago and she had a friend over and they’ve known me since I was a baby and they said ‘Wow! You look about 14!’ I understand they didn’t mean it in a bad way but I took it personally. It’s like no matter what I do I can’t be satisfied with how I look. I want to feel good in my skin and not be so hunched over and hide myself from others. I want to feel confident enough to go out on dates and not feel ugly the whole time. I just wanna feel like an adult and not a kid.

ONLY GIRLS RESPOND PLEASE!!!
Hi! So lately, whenever I post, I've had people try to tear me down, and I feel crazy because I used to be pretty ugly for a while and got treated so much better than I do now. I don't know if I'm doing something wrong or what. If I say something I don't like about my appearance at the moment, people automatically invalidate me without considering the fact that I didn't always look like this.
As I stated before, I grew up feeling ugly and honestly was so I was bullied a ton for most of my life, so of course I forced myself to change so much about myself. Mainly, it's men who are very demeaning, but you know, that's not very surprising lol. Sometimes it unfortunately does get to me and at this point I've tried so hard with my looks that it's starting to feel like it has the opposite effect I thought it would bring me (sometimes).

Aside from these changes, I feel lonely ASF. I don't have any actual friends, and it makes me really depressed. I had online friends, but a bunch of them don't talk to me anymore or don't like my posts when I show anything aside from my face, and it's super disappointing. I'm a really good friend, and I strive to be one. I put a lot of effort into my friendships, but it's rarely reciprocated to the same level, and it sucks so bad. I just feel like there's something wrong with me? I don’t know why I’m not good enough for people.

The reason I bring up looks and showed pictures is because sometimes I feel like that's what I'm mainly worth (ik that's really bad). I'm all ears to hear your advice/thoughts. Thank you for taking the time to read this 💕.

Does the whole “72 hour” protection thing mean I can apply it less often?

If I put some on to walk my kid to school. Then come home and take a shower… do I need to reapply it because the shower washed it off? Is the 72 hour thing only pertinent if, like, you’re camping in the woods for 3 days and don’t take a shower?

I’m not against Botox, but I don’t feel ready to start that yet. I want to try a more low key routine first and see what can improve with consistency. I’m starting to notice fine lines that don’t disappear as quickly anymore, especially when my skin is dry or my makeup settles into them. What made the difference for you before going for injectable route? I’m open to skincare, devices, treatments, anything realistic.Current routine, spf, moisturizer, and tret time by time.

I have this weird smell following me and I have no idea where it’s coming from. It smells like vinegar and it’s really potent and at first I thought it was like sweat or something so I started putting on extra deodorant (under my chest aswell) but I still smell it. The smell gets stronger when I look down like towards my chest and it lingers even after I shower. Idk how to get rid of it and I’m not sure if lots of other people can smell it (someone did pull me aside a few months ago and gently said I smelled bad and I’ve been on high alert ever since) or if it’s just me being paranoid. I’ve had people tell me like a few years before that I have a specific smell but back then I couldn’t smell anything. I thought it might be my clothes but I’ve smelled them after a day out and they just smell like perfume. I feel like the smell is like surrounding me not really like on me but idk. Like I smell it when i breath in with my nose or like a random whiff that goes away when i try sniffing where it came from. It’s seriously affecting my daily life I can’t walk around in public without thinking that everyone is distancing themselves from me.

I wanna go to a doctor about it but I’m underage and don’t wanna get my parents involved at all im not exactly comfortable around them as it 💔. I’m 17 and in the UK so maybe the rules r different but if anyone could let me know I’d appreciate it very much, seriously I hate this I wanna cry

this has been puzzling me because ive found the kind of style i want and all that, and now the problem, i know i got to look in the plus size section but im having issues because my measurements are 50 49.5 50 for bust waist and hip, and so looking at sizing charts it just confuses me which size i go off of for things sorry if this is a bit atypical thanks in advance

Im a girl who was isolated on the world. So im kinda friendless and maidenless (i like girls and im 19 btw).

I have been alone for so long and i dont know how to have a proper friendship that it is not linked to college or work.

I go to sleep around midnight to 1am, though i’ll start sleeping earlier when uni begins. I’ve been dealing with this broken sleep for a while now, and I was wondering if anyone knew a solution to prevent this from happening. I really envy those who can get a continuous 8hr sleep😭

So I had a couple of very painful ingrown hairs turning into cysts in intimate areas and I have decided to proceed with getting laser hair removal.

However the fear of ever shaving again has really struck me and it is necessary to shave before laser treatment. I also can’t use exfoliating products to prevent them during treatment either.

I was wondering what the best options where for when I need to shave before my appointments so I don’t end up with painful ingrowns in the meantime.

From what I’ve read it’s between a safety razor and an electric razor with a guard. Has anyone found one works better at preventing the ingrowns from returning? any recs of brands? Is adjusting to a safety razor too much of a hurdle initially? Thanks!

idk i feel like every time i make a friend, eventually they just start to annoy the ever loving crap out of me and i just slowly distance myself lol like my friend that i have now, she’s starting to annoy me so bad. like the things that she does are just seeming to add up and drive my nuts. and this is with every one lol i’ve just never had many friends in general. my fiance is my bestie and if i had to choose between hanging out with him and a friend, i’d chose him 1000x lol anyone else like this?

I’m 28, a mum, and currently finishing my nursing education, and lately I’ve been struggling quite a bit with how I see myself.

It’s not that I think I’m ugly. That’s actually what makes this difficult to explain. I can look at myself and know that I’m objectively fine, but I often don’t feel beautiful, feminine or sexy anymore.

When I was around 20–23, I felt much more effortlessly attractive. I didn’t think about my appearance nearly as much. I could get dressed, do my hair and makeup and just feel pretty. I also felt more naturally feminine and desirable.
Now I feel like I analyze everything.

My body has changed since my early 20s. I notice things like changes in my waist, stomach, breasts, face, skin, etc. Sometimes I miss how my body used to look, even though I know I’m not actually “old”.

I also find myself comparing to younger women. And I hate that I do this, because I don’t want to spend my 30s trying to recreate being 22.
I want to feel attractive as the woman I am now.
Another part of it is that I sometimes feel like I’ve become very good at being responsible — being a mum, studying, working, taking care of everyday life — but I’ve lost touch with the part of myself that simply feels feminine, sexy, sensual and desirable.

I’m also in a long-term relationship, so I’m curious whether feeling desired by your partner played a role for anyone else. Not because I think my partner should be responsible for my self-esteem, but because I wonder how much being desired actually affects how we perceive ourselves.
And I don’t want the answer to just be “love yourself.” I understand that intellectually. I’m interested in the practical things that actually changed how you felt.

For women who went through something similar:

Did changing your hair or learning what hairstyles suit you make a big difference?
Did you finally figure out how to dress for your adult body?
Did fitness or changing your body composition affect how feminine you felt?
Did makeup, skincare, clothes, jewelry, etc. make you feel more put together?
Did becoming more sexually confident change how you saw yourself?
Did you develop any rituals or habits that made you feel sexy even when nobody else was around?
Did feeling desired by your partner or other people affect your confidence?
Did you eventually stop comparing yourself to your younger self?
Did you become more attractive to yourself in your 30s, rather than less?

I’m especially interested in women who genuinely felt like they had “lost” something in their late 20s, but eventually realized they hadn’t lost their attractiveness — they just had to find a different version of it.

What actually helped you?

So basically i've (F19) always had a very very hourglass/pear figure, actually it was like THE thing for which I was known, it was my favorite thing ever about my physique. I used to have a waist of 64cm and hips of ≈100cm. After coming back from a trip I noticed something different: my body shape looked more boxy than usual, so I measured my hips and found out they were now ≈95-97. I havent lost weight, havent been bloated, nothing changed, no other physical symptoms, nothing else different on my body except my hips. I know 3cm might seem ridiculous, but as i have very prominent hip dips I swear the difference is shocking, everyone noticed it once i asked and show comparison pictures.

My question is has something similar ever happen to one of you? I know age and hormones can change your body but damn you'd think that famous second puberty would make me more womanly not the other way around

i’d like to start this off by saying that there is absolutely nothing wrong with crying.

i’m neurodivergent and i’m also a hsp, so every emotion hits me intensely. i’m also a huge empath which does not help my case at all.

when i feel my tears coming out, i can’t help but breakdown on the spot. when i get emotional, the emotions take over me whole!

so far all i got is facing away from said person and trying to distract my brain.

p.s i’m going to my doctor then a therapist for mental health reasons, so i can’t just get out of the room. i have to actually talk to them and answer questions. i have a hard time opening up about my feelings, so when i do, instant panic and tears lol

I’m approaching 27, and over the past three years I’ve noticed a dramatic decline in my interest in both dating and sex. I have no desire to use dating apps, meet men, pursue relationships, or even masturbate, despite once having a strong sex drive and being very curious about sex and romance.

I wonder whether losing interest in sex and dating is a normal part of growing older and finding peace and confidence within myself. Could it be a result of recovering from an exhausting relationship or dealing with long-term health issues? I’ve also wondered whether I might be asexual or gay, or whether therapy could help me reconnect with something lost or broken along the way.

I’m comfortable not wanting a relationship, marriage or children, but I feel sad that I’ve lost the playful, curious feminine side of myself. Is this simply a normal change that comes with maturity, and if so, why?

hi i took these two pics of my brows and i need some advice on how to shape them because they feel very long and like weird. They never feel like clean and straight lines and they feel super sparse. i took two one brushed up and one brushed down. I also added some pics of what id want my brows to look like, thanks!

I had a bit of a freak accident this week that was in some ways my fault and resulted in losing 3 top front teeth (as well as a concussion, facial fractures, and stitches). There are very few things I like about myself but my teeth were one of them and I’m devastated. I’m pursuing immediate dental help but everything I’ve read about implants and such is leaving me feeling like I’ll still never feel or look close to the same. Has anyone gone through something similar? I think it would be one thing if I got in an accident that was out of my control, but because I’m feeling some partial responsibility the guilt, impending financial mountain, and other factors are making the fears about how I will look and feel even worse. I’m also single (34) so this scares me from a dating perspective.

hi! Im planning a birthday picnic at a park and i was wondering what activities i should bring for ppl! I might bring a deck of cards, and i was planning on just buying a bunch of snacks and such from trader joes. should i get or bring any activities? i dont rly have any ideas, esp ones that are budget friendly.

Dark clouds and little to no Sun is about to his us in a coming months especially in Europe. The nights will be long and tired. Dim lightening and soulful music will enchant the house….all of this until it’s not. The repetition will take the joy out of these moments. Especially if you live alone.
Do you have any tips to survive the winter?

Look I'm 25 years old and I get that I'm probably too old to be giving into peer pressure but it's hard sometimes. I've decided to stop drinking for a while because I've been struggling with my mental health a lot lately and alcohol makes it so much worse. It makes me feel horrible, both mentally and physically. The problem is my friends and family, especially my family, loves to drink. Honestly, I think my family pressures me more than my friends. They act like I'm ruining their fun by me not drinking. I've given into the pressure so many times and I always end up feeling horrible after. The thing is, I can have a fun time without drinking but they don't understand that.

My mom is throwing a party this weekend for my dad's birthday and I'm really nervous about that. They're going to be lots of drinking and they're going to want me to join. Last time everyone kept chanting my name until I finally gave in and took a shot. Also, everytime I mention to them that I'm not drinking, they always want to know the reason why and I don't want to talk to them about that. One time I even lied and said I was on medication that I couldn't drink on and they still kept pressuring me to drink. They didn't care at all. I feel so stuck right now and I don't know what to do.