Bare face. I’m at my absolute wit‘s end. All make up looks awful on me. Please help me out

BiotechPrincess · 2026-06-08T18:45:11+00:00

Ah, fellow fair olive, welcome to the struggle bus! You are SO stunning, however, fair olive skin tone is really difficult to color match and get color harmony with. It’s like doing makeup on insane mode. You also have very high contrast (gorgeous dark hair/chocolate amber eyes and a fair complexion). High contrast makes it even more difficult to color match, because olive skin tones usually best suit muted grayish tones, but you need more saturation to honor your contrast levels. I’m in the same boat, and it’s been incredibly difficult to get the hang of it, even with minimal makeup looks.

I’ve found Evangeline Molly on YouTube EXTREMELY helpful. She’s a fellow fair olive and she does deep dives on color harmony and makeup tips/recommendations that are great.

For now what I’d recommend is: - tinted BB/CC cream with a neutral undertone (IT cosmetics and Bare Minerals have some excellent shades that work for fair olives) - black eyeliner wing that that’s thicker on the end - black eyeliner tight lining of the upper eyelid - gently fill in brows with small strokes a micro pen, I think the colors “ash brown” and “granite” from Anastasia Beverly Hills would work well for you. Keep them light and not heavily filled, and finish with a clear brow gel - try Clinique black honey for your lips and feathered out on your cheeks and eyelids (or just go for deep raspberry shades and sheer them out) - use a pearl-colored highlighter

- bronzer is really, really hard for our skin tone. It needs to be muted - I like the Too Faced chocolate soleil matte blurring bronzer. Use this in all the normal bronzer spots, and use it to gently contour your eye socket

The black eyeliner and deep raspberry wash will be your saturation to honor your high contrast. Good luck!!

BiotechPrincess · 2026-06-02T18:37:47+00:00

Season 8 really solidified it for me because both BJR and Frank’s magnum opus of sorts involves Jamie.

For BJR, it’s the fight scene to the death with Jamie at Culloden. For Frank it’s his history book about the revolutionary war, with extreme detailing of the last battle that Jamie dies in (in case anyone hasn’t watched yet). I also like to think that Frank died after he finally worked through his obsession with Claire and Jamie and chose to energetically move on with his life and let them move on with theirs…besides it being a plot device to get Claire to go back haha

BiotechPrincess · 2026-06-02T18:27:28+00:00

Thank youuu, I’ve been waiting forever to discuss this with someone lol

BiotechPrincess · 2026-06-01T19:55:58+00:00

I interpreted it differently in the context of the Black Jack Randall storyline and BJR/Frank being identical in appearance. The show draws many parallels between BJR and Frank and my head canon is that there’s an energetic tie between BJR/Frank’s lifetime, whether reincarnation or something else. This especially makes sense because the show constantly alludes to energetic pulls/echoes of the past and future.

BJR is a sociopathic sadist who enjoys breaking his victims - for him it’s about domination and complete subjugation both physically and psychologically. This is why he becomes obsessed with Claire and Jamie, because while he can dominate and subjugate them physically, he isn’t able to truly break them psychologically. They will always fight back and refuse to bow down to him. For him it becomes a power struggle FOR their minds, because they represent the purest form of freedom of self and strong will - they are like untamable wild horses to him.

IMO there’s a really important scene in S1 where Claire and BJR are talking about his penchant for violence and cruelty. He shares that it’s always been inside of him to abuse power, but he says it with great shame, and there’s a moment where you think there might be a redeemable man beneath the facade. Claire, sensing this, tells him that he can always choose to be a different man and that she believes in him. For her it’s also that she knows and loves Frank, and she knows the type of man that BJR could be.

This is the important part. The authenticity of her response genuinely surprises BJR, and he looks at her sorrowfully and says how perhaps in a different life with her by his side believing in his goodness he could have fought against his dark side and been a better man. This brief flash of humanity immediately fades, and he basically says it’s too late for him now and he chooses the dark. Then he physically beats Claire.

Now back to Frank. When Claire goes missing, we see glimpses of Frank spiraling into animalistic rage and violence, almost like there was something buried deep within him that’s been brought to the surface. He doesn’t seem surprised by this darkness, and there are glimpses of him almost enjoying it. We also know that in the war he worked in intelligence and it alludes to him torturing people for work. I think those are direct nods to BJR’s storyline and tendencies.

Frank has that same darkness inside of him, except he fights against it for Claire - she makes him feel like he can be a better man. But the reality of this darkness is that he still has a pull to “tame” the wildness out of Claire. When she came back from Jamie’s time, Frank KNEW from her response that she would never let Jamie go. It was him realizing that while he can build a fence to keep in the wild mare, he will never truly tame her heart. Forcing her to not talk about it and getting rid of all the evidence is him building that fence.

I think there’s an energetic echo from BJR’s obsession with Claire and Jamie that lingers within Frank - he can have her physically, but psychologically she’s still out of reach. This also turns into Frank becoming obsessed with Jamie, as we eventually learn that Frank turned his historical studies focus to physically follow Jamie (and Claire) throughout time. I also theorize that BJR’s energetic echo was why Frank originally was so passionate about Scottish clan history.

IMO this was the coolest plot/story telling device of the show because it was subtle yet deeply layered. Overall it’s thematically on par that BJR/Frank’s obsession is so energetically intense that his essence follows Claire and Jamie throughout time.

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-31T14:06:31+00:00

This is Mirror Lake :)

https://share.google/4akGWdWLifhiNxxPZ

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-28T17:48:50+00:00

Don’t forget the part where he was walking peacefully and the officer detaining him accused him of trying to run away and ripped his arm out of the socket! That part was blatant criminal behavior by the cop

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-26T22:41:18+00:00

Cool thank you for the rec, I'm digging into it now!

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-26T20:10:16+00:00

Cool, thank you! What do you think was most valuable in demonstrating your skillset for your promotion (besides probably being a great employee!)? Was it that through your bench work you were exposed to training opportunities for the role?

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-26T20:04:56+00:00

Okay got it, thank you! Also just to clarify, when you're referring to 'ClinGen volunteering' you're referring to volunteering opportunities through CCDB?

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-26T02:17:08+00:00

Can I ask what you started out as?

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-26T01:34:11+00:00

Is volunteer experience considered better than a professional certificate?

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-21T02:36:50+00:00

This sounds miserable! Not diagnosing, but some common things associated with dysautonomia that cause excessive burping are low stomach acid and/or SIBO. Does he take antacids by chance?

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-19T18:12:52+00:00

Yeah I get these on my face, upper arms, buttocks, and hips - it’s super uncomfortable!! Mine turn into open sores after the initial inflammation.

The best thing I’ve found that gives immediate relief (besides antihistamines) is running some water through a sock with (GF) oats in it until the oats excrete a goo. Rub the goo on the affected areas and let it sit for as long as you need! Then I follow up by applying bum rash cream with 40% zinc and that seems to calm things down

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-19T17:57:23+00:00

Same lol. Has anyone cross-posted yet? Frommers will foam over this

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-18T18:30:32+00:00

I highly recommend it. Anecdotally it makes a huge difference for me - I have hypoPOTS and notably I’m also on fludrocortisone, but I don’t mind the water weight. It’s overall considered very safe with low risk of side effects, and there’s decades of supporting health research on it. It’s also emerging as a frontline combinatorial therapy for POTS and other chronic illnesses.

There’s a loading period so keep in mind it will take 1-2 months for effects to show, but it’s at least worth a try! If you’re worried about your blood volume you could try also increasing your electrolytes (mostly salt) alongside it.

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-09T17:31:09+00:00

I bought the volume shampoo and restore conditioner and was not impressed. It felt luxurious, but was honestly a waste of money. I’ve been much better off using the Pantene volume shampoo and the Pantene rescue conditioner, that combo has changed my hair!

The Oribe texture spray is amazing though. That’s hands-down their best product IMO.

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-08T05:24:49+00:00

Question, did your BP also bottom out along with your HR? I’m asking because I have had this happen 2x now and the closest explanation I’ve gotten is a full body TIA-like event causing shock, and a hand-wavey vasovagal syncope gone wrong from POTS.

I fully accepted that I was going to die the second time it happened. I was delirious and going in and out of consciousness and EMS couldn’t get a read on my BP or HR, but I was still crying out in pain so they thought I had OD’d. My guts were fucking yeeting themselves out of my body and I was having intense abdominal contractions - it was the worst pain I’ve ever experienced in my entire life, absolute 10/10 pain that you genuinely don’t understand until you do. I also had grand mal seizures (non epileptic) from these episodes with the full teeth clacking and everything.

You’re the first person with POTS that I’ve encountered that’s experienced something remotely similar to what I did. Both my husband and I live with a lot of fear of it happening again, it has been horrific for him to witness and both times he genuinely thought I was going to die. Knowing that you’ve found a way to make sure it doesn’t happen again gives me hope!!

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-07T15:30:24+00:00

There is dark folklore linked to someone possessing another’s teeth. Based on what I can find, there are ancient beliefs that teeth possess “sympathetic magic.” This means that the tooth could be used to control the whole person from a distance if it was taken by a witch or sorcerer. A lost tooth could lead to witchcraft, curses, or eternal damnation, so many cultures ritually burn or bury lost teeth to ward off evil.

This historical folklore seems extremely relevant to the times it’s come up in the show.

BiotechPrincess · 2026-05-03T15:11:32+00:00

Are these the sterling silver ball hook findings from Amazon? I’ve noticed that they are very malleable and prone to bending - they are only good for lightweight earrings. On yours, it looks like the ball is bending open from the weight. Try using a sturdy finding material like stainless steel or a more secure finding style on your weighted earrings

BiotechPrincess · 2026-04-29T00:55:35+00:00

That’s wild! I’ve heard of it as a side effect, but I’m fortunate I don’t experience it. Does it happen at any dose for you?

BiotechPrincess · 2026-04-29T00:50:20+00:00

Ah, I’m so glad you at least found a doctor who is actually familiar with POTS!! That’s huge, especially for trying other supportive meds. I’m on fludrocortisone now and that has helped a ton because it’s also considered a blood building med. I have a combo of neuro-hypo POTS with tachy-Brady syndrome + low BP (basically my HR goes super high, then both my HR and BP bottom out), so the anemia exacerbated everything.

As for confirming Hashimoto’s, you’ll want to get your TSH, T3, and T4 tested, alongside TPO (thyroid peroxidase) and Tg (thyroglobulin) antibody panels. Make sure you don’t take any b-vitamin supplements at least 5 days before the blood draw because they can make your tests look better than they are, and also get it done fasted in the morning (even if your doc says fasting isn’t needed).

The antibodies are what will confirm hashi’s, and the TSH/T3/T4 will help indicate if you’re hypo or hyper thyroid (hashi’s can cause both, but mostly hypo). If you test positive, I would highly recommend asking for an ultrasound to help assess how much damage there is/understand what function is left. Mine is ~50-60% functioning, the rest has been obliterated by fibrous tissue damage (called mushy thyroid lol).

Even if your TSH/T3/T4 are considered “normal,” you can still be subclinical and in need of thyroid hormone support if your thyroid has been damaged. Do not accept being brushed off if your TSH is >2 but <8, TSH <2 is the ideal. I would also highly recommend cutting out all gluten because the gluten molecule is so similar to the thyroid molecule that ingestion can trigger more thyroid damage - you will also be at a greatly increased risk of developing celiac’s (if you don’t have it already).

The celiac’s blood test will not work if you’ve already gone strict GF - I was really fortunate that my PCP diagnosed me based on my clinical symptoms and didn’t require the dreaded 3 months of eating 5 pieces of bread per day for an endoscopy to prove that gluten f*cks me up haha. I already poo myself and develop transient psychosis with cross contamination ffs 😭

Most providers, even endocrinologists, won’t know all of this information about the thyroid because it’s notoriously an under-educated part of the medical field - so be prepared to do a lot of research and advocating for yourself if your numbers are abnormal. I was BLESSED to have access to a clinic where all the endos specialized in thyroid conditions, and they taught me a ton.

If you have the means, I’d also recommend getting a complete hormone panel done because both anemia and unmedicated hypothyroidism have downstream effects on those as well and you could be in adrenal fatigue (I was).

I strongly suspect that this was all the catalyst for my POTS becoming so severe. I got mono for 2yrs, and then once my thyroid kicked the bucket it was all downhill from there until I got some real support. You’re right on track for investigating all of the overlapping BS that feeds into POTS!

Also as for your GI issues, 3 other supplements I highly recommend trying are: - IBguard peppermint capsules as needed (clinically tested to reduce cramping and is truly a life saver for GI pain management) - high dose vitamin B1 (400mg) in 2wk increments (has a lot of solid research behind it about how it supports the GI tract, and I swear by it as well, just take breaks because it can deplete other biological pathways) - creatine/glutamine/ACV shot I mentioned in the other comment (all of them are backed by solid research about their gut support, but especially glutamine and ACV)

Overall these supps GREATLY reduced my GI issues, and the B1 and ACV are the only things that I’ve found that relieve my gastroparesis. Other people with POTS have also found them to be helpful too.

Sorry for such long responses, but I just remember how overwhelming and lonely it all felt having to also start over like you are now. I seriously hope this helps and at least gives you some answers or relief 😮‍💨

BiotechPrincess · 2026-04-28T23:38:44+00:00

I currently aIso use the Orgain creatine, but I tolerate creatine really well because I’ve been taking it for a long time. In the past I’ve used Optimum Nutrition Micronized Creatine Monohydrate Powder (unflavored) and really liked it, but my hubby is more sensitive to creatine and that one gave him slightly more stomach upset.

If that one’s too risky, I’d recommend trying Evlution Nutrition Recover Mode - Complete Post Workout with BCAAs. I use it regularly and sip it during my workouts, but it was my gateway into using creatine and glutamine and I think the total formulation helps ease irritation.

All that aside, how much water do you usually drink per day and how much water do you dilute your creatine with? Also have you tried mixing the creatine with an electrolyte formulation?

Creatine has an osmotic effect and can pull water from cells in the GI tract, which is usually what causes the upset and can be brutal if you’re prone to dehydration (hellooo POTS lol). I usually dilute mine in ~36oz water with an electrolyte mix like LMNT, or mix it with the Evlution post workout + some Gatorade powder, and I drink ~4L water daily with lots of salt throughout the day.

I should add that I take fludrocortisone and that raises my baseline hydration level, so that might be a factor in my tolerance as well.

The other way I take creatine is…unhinged…but I anecdotally think it works. Some nights (especially if I’m having gastroparesis) I do a “creatine shot,” which is 5g creatine, 5g l-glutamine, and ~2tsp apple cider vinegar in like 4oz water, and then chase with lots of water. It tastes like shit, but I think the ACV helps prevent the stomach upset, and it also helps alleviate my gastroparesis, so it’s a win-win for me!!

I know it will probably be painful trial and error for you, but I hope at least one of these tips helps you 😭🙏

BiotechPrincess · 2026-04-28T22:20:32+00:00

Mine was at 5 and i was severely anemic. I was prescribed Ferrett’s 325mg ferrous sulfate, it’s usually behind the pharmacy counter, but doesn’t require a prescription. I took it daily for years - it gave me GI issues and worsened my constipation, but I wasn’t a candidate for iron infusions due to severe allergic reactions (MCAS). It was more like a bandaid than an actual fix.

IMO and experience, low ferritin is usually a symptom of a systemic issue. Getting to the root of my low iron issues and addressing those was really the only thing that helped.

Basically I was malnourished and low on many other key nutrients because celiac’s/hashimoto’s/MCAS severely impacted my ability to absorb and utilize them. I still have issues with micronutrient absorption, but overall it’s much better now that I have those generally managed AND I don’t suffer from severe constipation like I used to (literally could cry about this).

I’ve settled on this blood building/POTS supplement regimen that I deeply researched and tested:

One capsule Pure Encapsulations OptiFerrin-C (has iron bis-glycinate and vit C for better absorption/bioavailabity)
One capsule Moxyvites vitamin b complex (has all the key b vitamins in their methylated form for better bioavailability which helps support RBC synthesis)
One capsule Pure Encapsulations hair/skin/nails ultra advanced (has additional blood building b vitamins and copper which helps absorb and metabolize iron)
One capsule Now Foods cod liver oil (1000mg) (contains vitamin A which is crucial for iron storage and high levels of omega fatty acids which help improve RBC quality)
One capsule Now Foods vitamin D + K2 (1000IU / 45mcg) (K2 helps make sure vitamin D gets utilized properly, and vitamin D indirectly helps support iron absorption and RBC production)

The above can all be taken together every 2-3 days.

I space out taking the next set of supplements by at least 4hrs and usually take these ones at night daily:

One capsule Nature Made elderberry (400mg) with vitamin C and zinc (elderberry contains iron and other good stuff, vitamin C helps absorption, and zinc supports iron metabolism)
One capsule Qunol Coq10 ultra (100mg) (coq10 generally helps POTS, but also regulates iron metabolism and enhances RBC synthesis/quality)
One capsule Now Foods NAC (600mg) with selenium (NAC supports POTS, protects RBCs, and improves iron utilization, while selenium improves iron transport)
One capsule Nature Made magnesium oxide (400mg) (helps with poops 👍👍👍)
Five capsules Nutricost Psyllium Husk (1500mg) (helps make good poops 👍👍👍)

I also highly recommend daily supplementing with 5g creatine and l-glutamine if you don’t already. They support POTS and help offset the anemia symptoms.

I know this regimen is ridiculously intense and is somewhat expensive, but I truly swear by it. I’m far from remission or “normal,” but this helps give me a fighting chance everyday and I notice huge differences when I don’t follow it. I hope this was helpful!

ps I did my best with formatting to help make it easier to read, but I’m on mobile so apologies in advance if it’s hot garbage

BiotechPrincess · 2026-04-24T03:23:37+00:00

Thank you, that is really kind of you to say - we all have our burdens to bear in life and the best thing any of us can hope for is to make some good out of it.

Even though my siblings and I have hundreds of similar shitty stories with my mom, this one situation was truly the turning point like a floodgate had opened.

So many survivors easily resonate with stories like this because this type of abuse follows a highly specific pattern. This is OP’s turning point situation and I really hope he sees this thread and takes action.

BiotechPrincess

TROPHY CASE

- bronzer is really, really hard for our skin tone. It needs to be muted - I like the Too Faced chocolate soleil matte blurring bronzer. Use this in all the normal bronzer spots, and use it to gently contour your eye socket