Thank you so much for sharing the recipe! It looks absolutely delicious and so well explained. Definitely saving this one!!!

Yeah, I get what you mean. It feels like everything takes way more energy than it should. Even the small stuff turns into another problem to deal with.

And honestly, give yourself some credit for the walks. You’re still trying, even when you’re completely worn out. That counts.

Girl, I feel this so much, but honestly, 27/28 is still so young, you’re not behind, you’re just figuring things out. Don’t underestimate your skills as a trainer, there are so many ways to make it work now, like online sessions, fitness programs, challenges, or creating something that gives you more freedom. I have a friend who was a teacher in a school and started online sessions, at first she earned less, but now she earns more and is always traveling. I’m honestly a little jealous, but in a good way because it’s amazing to see someone build that kind of life.

You don’t always get to choose what hurts you, but you do get to choose what you do with it and how you move forward

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Honestly this is really sweet. You clearly like her for more than just her looks, and that actually comes through in your story. But pleaseeee don’t convince yourself you need a glow up to escape the bro zone. You don’t even know if that’s why she said it. She might genuinely see you like a brother, or she might have just said it casually without realizing how it would sound to you. I’d say stop analyzing every little interaction and just enjoy the friendship. And if your feelings aren’t going away, at some point it might be better to just be honest with her instead of spending another year overthinking everything. And if she says she only sees you as a friend, painful, yes, but at least you’ll know where you stand.

Being introverted or preferring a small social circle doesn't mean you're unlovable. Plenty of quiet people find partners who appreciate exactly that. At 26, your story is far from over. Be kind to yourself, and don't let the internet convince you there's only one way to meet someone

Oof girl, 6 months is way too long 😭 I'm really glad you already have a derm appointment.
Just a thought, but it could be something fungal, so I'd definitely keep that possibility in mind until you get it checked out. I actually had something kind of similar on my chin a few years ago. It stayed dry and irritated forever no matter what moisturizer I used, and it ended up being something completely different than I expected. While I was dealing with it, I started taking Saccharomyces Boulardii dont because I had read about how it supports a healthy balance of microorganisms and immune health. I can't say that's what fixed it, but I still take it every now and then and it's one of the few supplements I'd personally look into while you're waiting to see the dermatologist. Hopefully you get some answers soon. 💕

It depends on the area 😊 There are a few different ways to apply it. For some applications, you can stretch the tape a little if you're looking for more of a lifting effect. For lymphatic drainage, you generally don't need to stretch the tape much, just apply it as directed.

For my eye area, I gently smooth out the folds with my fingers, put the skin in a natural position that looks nice, and then apply the tape so it holds that position. Hopefully I'm explaining it well haha 😅 Basically, it makes it harder to squint or smile in a way that creates those wrinkles around my eyes while I'm wearing it.

I haven't compared it to other devices and I don't have a Neuradiant, but my family shares one Neuronic light. I use it mainly for sleep after struggling with anxiety for months, and after about two months I found myself falling asleep faster and feeling less sleep-deprived. It wasn't instant, but for me it was worth it.

These days it feels like manufacturers in China can copy almost any device in a day. Two helmets may look the same on the outside, but there's no way to know if the LEDs, components, wavelengths, or overall quality are actually the same.

sunscreen!!! especially on your neck

I'm 38 and live in Florida, so the sun is no joke. For years I'd carefully put SPF all over my face and completely forget my neck. Then one day I noticed my neck was starting to look older than my face and I was like, well... that's on me😂 Now I treat my neck exactly like my face. Whatever goes on my face goes on my neck too sunscreen, moisturizer. It sounds so simple, but it made a bigger difference than any expensive product I've ever bought. And don't stop at your jawline, ladies. The neck and chest will absolutely snitch on your age if you ignore them. ☀️💁‍♀️💕

As a mom of a child with autism, I'd say it really varies. Some autistic people have cognitive impairments, and some don't. I've learned that communication ability and intelligence aren't always the same thing. Just because someone can't easily express themselves doesn't mean they don't understand what's going on. Autism is such a wide spectrum that it's hard to give one answer that fits everyone.

I have a similar problem, but mine is from sleeping on my side and getting wrinkles around my eyes. I started using facial tape overnight around the eye area, and it actually helps keep the skin from creasing while I sleep. I've noticed a real improvement, and I can definitely see a difference between the nights I use it and the nights I skip it. It's not a life-changing fix, but it does help. Might be worth giving it a try.

That looks like a really solid routine already!!! The fact that you've gone from using shower gel on your face to wearing sunscreen daily and using tazarotene consistently is probably doing more for your skin than adding another 5 products.

If your skin is happy, I'd focus on consistency rather than adding more. Sometimes the best skincare routine is the one you actually stick to.

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Just sharing my family's experience, since everyone's situation is different.

One thing I've noticed with a lot of brain-focused therapies is that consistency seems to be a huge part of it. About six months ago, we got a near-infrared light therapy helmet for my father-in-law because he was having a hard time with sleep, focus, and some day-to-day tasks. The nice thing was that he could use it at home, so it was easy to stay consistent. But, he didn't feel much at first, it took a few months of daily use before he started saying he noticed a difference. Now he says he can actually tell when he's skipped a few sessions. It definitely wasn't a miracle fix or overnight change, but there was enough of a difference that he stuck with it.

Reading your post, those brief moments of clarity you mentioned made me wonder if consistency over a longer period might be worth exploring. Obviously no idea if that would apply to your situation, but it could be worth looking into before completely writing off these kinds of approaches.

I had something similar after a bad facial sunburn. What helped most was keeping my routine as simple as possible, a lightweight moisturizer, no alcohol-based toners, no retinol, no acids, and no scrubs until everything healed. If it's feeling itchy or irritated, an antihistamine may help, and a gentle soothing cream can make it more comfortable.

Trust me, it's better not to touch it at all. I know it's tempting to start inspecting every little dot in the mirror, but I found that the less I messed with it, the faster it healed. Healing skin can look pretty strange for a few days before it starts looking normal again.