(Part 2) Top products from r/FeminineNotFeminist

REQUEST

I've been using Can Make Mermaid UV Skin Gel for a while now and ADORE IT. HIGHLY RECOMMEND. It's a hydrating SPF emulsion that hydrates, has no white cast, and is sooo lovely to use. I'm spoiled, and now that warm temperatures are on and ten thousand layers are off, I want a similarly luxurious SPF for my chest/arms/legs/feet for day to day wear. No white cast, no SPF smell, hopefully that's also hydrating. The Mermaid gel isn't expensive... but it will be if I use it everywhere (I want to use it everywhere.) I'm not trying to get spendy here.. but I can probably be convinced :) Also, if you haven't tried this sunscreen, what are you doing? I feel for you. It's the best. Especially if you are prone to breaking out!

REVIEWS

• Khiel's makes this mud mask that I feel confident is helping to deep cleanse my pores, decreasing their apparent size. It tingles just a bit, which I don't mind. This is my first clay mask, so I'm not sure what to compare it to, but it seems to do it's job! I'm open to trying other ones for sure. There's some Australian made clay mask that I keep seeing on Instagram which has caught my interest.
  
  
• Dr. Gross's universal peeling pads are not bad, oh, at, all. They leave my skin feeling really really clean and ready for the next steps without adding tightness. They do add about five minutes to my routine, since you're supposed to use the pads all over the face until the pads are dry. But I really think these, and my clay mask, are to thank for the drastic decrease in pore size.
  
  
• After patch testing, I've used The Ordinary peeling solution once so far but it's pretty great! It's a fun product to apply.. very viscous and bright raspberry in color. Doesn't tingle or burn at all, and I noticed a lot of dry skin coming up around my forehead and temples which is new for me so success!
  
  
• The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% in Squalane made me peel the morning after use, and is SO GENTLE. No tingling or redness at all! I'm in love.
  
  
• The Ordinary Vitamin C in HA is definitely a tingly product, but it's amazing. My skin is looking so much more refined and even in tone, IMO. It's a gritty suspension so I only do this at night. But highly recommend it!
  
  
• The Ordinary Marine HA is another great one. It's a very watery essence step that instantly moisturizes... I feel like it hydrates deeply, and it also absorbs rather quickly as well! So in love. Love love love. It does smell like algae and sea organic matter, to be expected. It feels amazing but smells kinda gross.
  
  
• The Ordinary HA Moisturizing Factors is lovely. It's so lightweight and fluffy... it's a surprisingly luxurious experience for such a low cost. I notice I do value the Khiel's day oil in combination with this for some added festivity... but I can't go without this stuff!
  
  
• I got a sample of the Rosette ceramide gel and quite like it as a replacement for the Dr. Jardt gel moisturizer I'd been using. It's got a nice ingredient list, and that shows :) Macadamia nut oil seems to be a good thing for my skin.
  
  
• I bought the Dermaflash device when I went to Nordstrom and just tried it yesteray! I don't assume it is as effective as a professional dermaplaning service, but if you'd like something to tide you over between professional services, to test out the concept of dermaplaning, or if you're disinterested in actual dermaplaning! I didn't realize just how much dead skin was clinging to my face! My products really are absorbing sooo much better already, I love not using Nair to remove the peach fuzz on my face. It's awesome! I had to charge a few times during the process, which wasn't ideal, but all in all? I'd totally recommend this. I used it on my chest as well and love how soft all my skin is now :) I love this thing! Excited to try actual dermaplaning to determine the difference :)
  
  
• I've been using the Laura Mercier blemishless primer and think I love Laura Mercier primer like u/theartnomad always said I would... but I don't like this one. It says it prevents breakthrough shine, and it DOES, except I want my breakthrough shine as a bright spring with dry skin perpetually on the hunt for a dewy glowing complexion. It's even a bit too matte for when I want to be more professional in terms of skin finish. I'm not sure if I want the radiance primer (it adds a pearlescent finish... which I like, but I'm wary of white cast, which I think the bronze might help with) or the hydrating one? I'll get some samples at Sephora soon :)
  
  
• Christophe Robin makes a volumizing hair line and I am obsessed. The spray was lackluster for me, but I haven't experimented thoroughly with it. The scalp scrub feels AMAZING, dissolves completely, and the conditioner is so hydrating (makes detangling very easy) and my hair is visibly thicker and fluffier and shinier after use. I'd like to get the non-scrub shampoo as well to add in for my third weekly wash. Highly recommend.
  
  
• Christophe Robin's moisturizing kit is also nice, but I simply don't need that much moisture. Can't comment on the styling product as I'm allergic to the almond oil included. This is a great option for a deeper conditioning, or any one with breakage/damage I'd imagine, but it left my hair very sleek, if my goal weren't huge massive voluminous hair I'd be a happy camper!
  
  
• u/littlegoosegirl recommended the Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo and it's AWESOME. Leaves my hair feeling totally perfectly squeaky clean! Not drying or damaging either, it wouldn't appear. I use this to remove the deep cleansing product I treat my hair with I've reviewed in the past, and it's a dream.
  
  
• I've long been in love with Khiel's Midnight Recovery Oil but am now entirely in love with the day version of this oil. Totally recommend. It's a drier, faster absorbing oil that lays fabulously under makeup. The warm citrusy scent is absolutely a plus.

Love this! The Bombshell Manual of Style and Your Beauty Mark are two of the best beauty books I’ve ever read!

The Westmore books ~ Westmore Beauty Book -- A Complete 1950s Guide to Vintage Makeup, Hairstyling and Beauty Techniques ~ are great too, written by some of the most prominent makeup artists of Old Hollywood. It’s fun for beauty history buffs and there are some interesting concepts!

I also like The Elegant Woman by Eunice Leong, and her blog by the same title >> The Elegant Woman .

The Madame Chic ~ Lessons from Madame Chic: 20 Stylish Secrets I Learned While Living in Paris ~ books are great too. They’re all on Amazon, you can get them on Kindle. Any books that laud elegance and charm are must-reads for me. I’m always looking to upgrade in this department in every novel way I can. 💖

(Sorry for the weird editing; I’m new to Reddit and still learning the format! :)

Ooooh fun topic! Hair background: I'm not sure if I have thick hair, or just a lot of it, but the volume is not lacking! It's got a mind of its own as far as texture - sometimes more wavy, sometimes more straight, sometimes even straight up curly. Length - mid-back to low-back, depending on whether I needed a big chunk of dead ends chopped off. Dyed religiously because prematurely gray is not my style. :'( Because of this dying, my hair is crazy dry. And I live in a really humid climate.

Products!

• Olaplex No. 3 - I use this pre-shampoo/condition about twice a month. Truly a hair saver. If I could only own a single hair product, it would be this! Makes my "hay" hair soft again, and tones down the tangles.
  
• Oribe Royal Blowout - this is a heat styling spray that I use if I'm going to blow dry or use heat styling. Smells amazeballs!
  
• Oribe Anti-Humidity spray - To be honest, I don't know how much this helps, but it makes me feel better about walking out into 90% humidity after I just finished styling my hair. Also, smells amazeballs. :)
  
• Deva Curl Low Poo - One of the shampoos I alternate between. I don't use it for the curls/waves so much as I do for the gentle formula and softness it brings out in my hair. Does NOT smell amazeballs, haha.
  
• ION Purify shampoo - This is the other shampoo I alternate between. We have extremely hard water (I've also gotten a shower head filter, but still hard) and the build up needs washed out. Supposed to be good for after swimming in chlorine too. My hair feels weird after rinsing it out, like it's dying for the conditioner, but feels SUPER soft after conditioning and drying.
  
• Deva Curl Conditioner - One of the many conditioners I alternate between. This is one that I usually use after the Deva Curl shampoo. Smells weird, but softer hair, so I tolerate it.
  
• Argan Conditioning Mask - Another conditioner I alternate with. I use the heavy duty conditioners/masks once a week because of the dry texture of my hair. This one is a holy grail hair mask! Smells soooooo good and hair is like silk...or as close as it can get after dying every 6-8 weeks for over 7 years!
  
• It's a 10 Hair Mask - I definitely like this hair mask, just not as much as the Argan one. Smells great - nicely conditions.
  
• Oribe Glaze - I use this halfway between my hair colorings. It's supposed to help bring the shine back like right after you get your hair dyed. I don't like how it makes my scalp feel after using it...kinda greasy/build-up-y feeling, so that's why I use it so sparingly. Plus it is heavily perfumed, and while I like it, I have eczema so I'm cautious about what washes down my body in the shower.
  
  Editing to add things I forgot: I use a special microfiber towel for drying my hair (cause it's supposed to help with frizz), then I air dry the rest of the way 99% of the time. I will use a straightener or curling iron periodically, but actually want to start using those more often. There's only so much pretty you can get without heat styling.
  
  I sleep on a satin pillow case because that's supposed to help with frizz and breakage.

I have been getting really into cooking, and expanding my repertoire of recipes and specialties. I have always been skilled at cooking but I'm trying to amp up my abilities and start mastering more complex dishes. The Newlywed Cookbook should be in everyone's bookshelf. Truly, I have not made a bad recipe from this book. 10/10 would recommend!

I have also always been on the "alternative diet/food lifestyle" train, but my mother recommended "Nourishing Traditions" to me and reading it has been great! I am learning so much more about nutrition and ancestral cooking. I highly recommend it to anyone seeking to increase their level of natural, personal wellness, and anyone interested in bone broth, home fermentation, and the like. Even if you don't subscribe to everything she says, there is still so much to learn and take away from this book!

I don't take a capsule. I take this kind, but I chose it because it had good reviews. I wanted something cold pressed and unrefined.

I was just looking in the mirror and I noticed that my skin does look better. Now, I've been outside in the sun a lot and that always makes my skin look better (with sunscreen and a hat) and I've also been eating really well, which also makes my skin look really good, so I don't know for sure what it is, but I'm hopeful this is adding to it.

I wish I could tell you a perfect mascara, but I don't know of one currently. I'm thinking about just doing an at home eyelash tint since I bought the supplies for it. I use this https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000URYTOQ but it does flake sometimes. Otherwise I've found it's nice and thin and natural. If I want to use a waterproof mascara I apply it really carefully and don't get ones that advertise volume. And I gently "pinch" my eyelashes (without doing anything rough on the eyes) and move up the lashes with my fingers to get the excess stuff off and separate with tweezers if I have to. I could just use an eyelash comb, but it never works well for me.

I am really thinking the tinting and a lift is probably the best option though for color without tons of volume.

Ahhh! I'm so excited! Season Two of Marvelous Mrs. Maisel is coming soon! https://smile.amazon.com/gp/video/detail/B07G9PHJJH/ref=atv_dp_season_select_atf

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The first season was such an inspiration to me aesthetic wise. I LOVE her clothes.

You need to not expect miracles on low-spoon days (spoon theory for those unfamiliar with it).

Work out the basics of your routine & plan a modified, low-energy version. It might include:

• BB cream rather than day cream + foundation
  
• tinted lip balm instead of full lips
  
• make up remover wipes (you can get micellar ones) kept by the bed
  
• a hair dryer stand
  
• a couple of special accessories that make you feel good + are easy to put on - I like brooches, personally!
  
  

What a great post! I want you to dress me.

On a related note, I have this book on my list. One of my favorite bloggers says it changed the way she got dressed.

I would recommend adding an oil to your nighttime routine!

Most health food stores will carry food-grade oils like this, or you can get an oil blend as a skincare product like this!

Some ideas of oils that work for dry skin: almond seed oil, passion fruit oil, jojoba oil, hemp seed oil

Could also patch test and try: coconut oil, olive oil

I use Rosehip Seed Oil and it does the trick but I have oily skin. I also only use it every once in awhile when I feel like I need it! It doesn't smell like roses or anything (sadly) ;D

I loved this one when I was living in a place without a water softener.

Zippered corset

Underbust (not really underbust, sorry) corset (plastic)

Overbust corset (steel boned)

Underbust corset (steel boned)

NOTE: PRICES ARE JACKED WAY UP DUE TO VALENTINE'S DAY! Buy after.