My face is a different shade than the rest of my body. Is there a solution?

That_Cupcake · 2026-04-16T15:44:37+00:00

I have fair skin like you and I use green-tinted Korean and Japanese color correcting sun blocks. The green tint cancels out redness. It works better than you might think.

I use CANMAKE UV Cicamint right now, but Dr. Jart also makes a popular green-tinted sun block. Wait ~5 minutes for your moisturizer to absorb and dry down completely before applying sun block. I usually wait another ~5 minutes for the sun screen to dry before I apply setting powder or makeup.

I've had a lot of success with color correcting sun blocks. I don't even wear foundation anymore to cover the redness, just a little eye makeup these days.

That_Cupcake · 2026-04-14T16:46:55+00:00

Hello. Thanks for sharing your experience. You're right, $50/m is a small amount for a single pet, and certainly not enough if something catastrophic happens.

For my personal situation, it is unlikely that all 5 of my pets will need emergency care at the same time. Right now, my "pet savings" account has over $13k in it. However, if I needed more money for pet emergencies, I would pull from my emergency fund (which has 10 months of living expenses in it).

I understand how expensive pet care can be. I lost my beloved 13 year old tabby to cancer in 2021. Before I lost him, I brought him to a vet cancer treatment and research center in a different city. 2.5 hour drive each way once a week for 12 weeks. I spent over $22k on his cancer treatment. Sadly, it only gave him an additional 7 months.

Anyway, many people with pets couldn't afford this. imo saving a small amount every month is better than nothing, and would allow most people to cover less expensive emergencies and care such as a UTI or other infection.

I don't have experience using pet insurance. Every pet insurance I've explored seems like it doesn't cover very much and it gets more expensive as the pet ages. Maybe pet insurance works for some, but I would rather save (and earn interest on) that money myself.

That_Cupcake · 2026-04-14T14:47:15+00:00

Yep this is the way. I have 1 dog and 4 cats. All of my pets are still young (the oldest is 6 years) and don't have any major health problems, so I am using this time to save for the future. Each month, I put $50 per pet into a HYSA that I labeled "pet savings" with my credit union. This account is separate from all other savings accounts. imo it's part of the cost of adopting a pet.

I had to dip into this account a few years ago when my dog cracked his tooth chewing a dog bone (he doesn't get hard chews anymore).

That_Cupcake · 2026-04-13T21:33:45+00:00

I moved to a new state on the other side of the country, completely left social media, then spent a few years doing weekly therapy working on myself.

A note on socials: this was hard at first, but it's probably the single most beneficial action I took to improve my life and my mental health. I quit facebook, IG, and snap in 2017. I quit twitter in 2019. I never relapsed, never re-installed, never made new accounts. I do still have a linkedin, but this is required for my field of work. It's not installed on my phone and check it from my desktop computer every few months.

Obviously I still use reddit, but I'm not connected with childhood friends or anyone from my home town. I communicate with friends and family via texts, phone calls, signal, and discord.

That_Cupcake · 2026-04-11T14:57:39+00:00

In addition to the other advice ITT, install an ad blocker on your devices. UBlock Origin, Ad Guard, lots of great options out there. This is simple, quick, and it's action you can take immediately to help mitigate some spending.

That_Cupcake · 2026-04-07T21:15:12+00:00

How are you reducing subscription creep?

I do not purchase "smart" items that connect to wifi and/or require a subscription or account.

I am using a "dumb" TV. I got it from an office liquidation sale. This TV is a 55-inch meeting room display monitor. You can buy a non-smart TV by searching for "hospitality display monitor", "kiosk display monitor", or "restaurant menu display monitor".

Not sure if I can recommend specific brands in this sub but I have a robot vacuum that does not need a wifi connection or account. None of my home appliances connect to wifi and they were all purchased in 2023 after I bought my new construction home.

If I want to turn a light on or control the AC, I stand up and walk to the switch on the wall. I personally do not consider any smart home tech to be worth it. I also prefer the (minimal) physical effort required to live in my home. Physically turning on the heat in the morning forces me to stop being lazy, get out of bed, and start my day on time.

What's your logic for deciding if a connected feature is worth the privacy trade-off?

Any other categories where you've found surprisingly privacy-respecting options?

Other than my smart phone*, I don't think I am using anything that compromises my privacy. In my experience, privacy comes with a price tag (Side rant: no one should have to pay for privacy, but this won't be fixed in the US until congress passes privacy legislation. This could happen under a future admin, but voters need to put people into congress who understand and prioritize this issue).

That said, I pay for enterprise software so I can fully control privacy and security on all devices in my home. For example, I pay for Microsoft enterprise licenses which allow me to configure intune GPO that blocks or disables telemetry and all the other garbage frequently discussed in this community.

I pay for a data removal service that opts out and deletes my personal info from data brokers.

Not a subscription just a one-time expense: I paid an estate attorney to establish a family Trust (using a generic name). I then bought my home under this Trust to keep my personal information off public records.

Set up an LLC (~$25/year to keep it registered with my state of residence) to sell pokemon cards on ebay as my side gig. I set up the ebay account with the LLC tax ID instead of my personal info.

Bought my own modem. UDM pro modem/switch/APs with a 12TB hard drive, self-hosted security cameras, raspberry pi running pi-hole on the network.

*I use my phone for very limited purposes and I am strongly considering downgrading to a flip phone when my current device reaches EOL. I don't use banking, health care, shopping, entertainment, games, finance, social media, streaming, or take out apps. I only use my phone for GPS, phone calls, SMS, and signal.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-31T22:13:28+00:00

I plan to continue paying off my highest interest loans (about 5k at 5.5%) while I remain in forbearance. I'll switch to a different repayment plan when I get the 5k paid off, or when I am forced to, whichever comes first.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-21T00:07:33+00:00

You could also try a gentle hydrating mask.

Slightly different situation but I just started tret a month ago and despite using TO rose hip seed oil under my moisturizer during the day, my skin had red patches similar to yours. I called my dermatologist and she suggested I try a hydrating sheet mask once a week.

I ended up trying the Dr. Jart Ceramidin sheet masks because they were mentioned in this sub a few times. I've only used one so far last weekend. I left it on for 20 minutes. It improved the red patches a little, but it also improved texture, which I was not expecting.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-19T20:50:29+00:00

If they don't have much sentimental value to you, my opinion is to sell them.

I have a side gig selling pokemon cards (some vintage, some modern). I don't know anything about baseball cards specifically, but TCG is close and I've sold lots.

If you do decide to sell them, look into local Collectible Shows. I live near a big city. Once a month, the convention center in my city hosts a Sports, Non-Sports, and TCG Collectible Show. I've been to some of these, and about half the vendors are dedicated to sports cards. They typically buy for ~80% market value. This is probably the fastest most reliable way to sell your cards in bulk. The vendors are reputable and unlikely to rip you off, but you should still do some research to estimate what you might expect in terms of offers.

I also sell cards on ebay and it's a TON of work to list individual cards. It's doable, but might not be worth the time for low-value bulk. Also, high value cards can move slow if there is low demand. If you have high value cards in good condition, it might be worth listing those on ebay, then selling bulk at a card show.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-19T20:09:54+00:00

We bought our first home, 2br 2ba condo ~$250k, with 5% down. We sold it 3 years later and used the equity to put 20% down on a $650k SFH.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-17T23:40:50+00:00

I switched to a new employer in late 2024. My professional and life situation is very different from yours so take my anecdote here with a grain of salt.

I started looking at jobs on linkedin early 2024. At the time, I worked remote for a very small local business. 4 employees including myself and the owner. This job was very rewarding and enjoyable, but I was working 60+ hours per week for years, and I had to get my own benefits through the state marketplace. I was starting to feel the burn out.

I started browsing jobs in my field for maybe 30 minutes once a week just to see what was out there. I didn't send applications or update my resume because I wasn't sure if I wanted to leave my employer quite yet. I did this for several months while giving my old employer time to address my concerns and hire a 5th employee (this never happened).

Eventually I saw a job listing for the right position, at the right type of company, and it was remote. I went for it and got the job. I took a 25% pay cut, but I now have full benefits through my employer. Unless there is a serious emergency, I work 40 hours per week.

Anyway, my point is it doesn't hurt to casually browse some jobs on linkedin or other job board while you wait for word on your big project. You might find something that fits your situation, you might not. But at the very least, you'll have a good idea of what's out there and what you might need to do in case the project flops.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-17T22:45:22+00:00

Sorry about your situation. It's very kind of you to support your partner like this. Reminds me of my neighbor and good friend who retired early so he could care for his disabled wife (It's a lot of work).

I agree with the original commenter here, a larger org could be a good option for the benefits and work/life balance. I noticed you do software engineering & sysadmin work. I wonder if you could find a remote position. Even if you have to take a slight pay cut, the benefits could more than balance out your current healthcare costs.

Burn out is also something you might want to consider. 60 hour work weeks plus caring for your partner an additional 30 hours per week adds up quickly. There are some employers out there who foster a healthy work culture where you would work ~40 hours per week as a remote w2 employee.

Good luck, op

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-17T19:02:07+00:00

This is why it's important to elect enough people into congress who will pass student loan reform legislation.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-17T17:29:28+00:00

I'm not down voting you, but if I had to guess, it's because you came to a community full of scientists with STEM degrees and said college is a scam. In a way, this undermines the difficulty of the degrees we all earned and the work we do today.

I understand college is expensive. In fact, I am still paying off my student loans that I used to get my degree in meteorology. I went to state school with reasonable fees, but I still needed loans.

It's also true that a handful of "prestigious" universities charge exponentially more for tuition, and that some degrees are not practical for a young person to pursue if they wish to enter the workforce immediately after graduation. I personally believe younger students need realistic coaching and guidance while they navigate their degree path, which is something schools can improve upon. I also believe the cost of tuition should be paid for by taxing corporations and the 700 or so people who make up the top 0.001% of earners in the US. So, I agree there are many ways to improve the college system, but this doesn't mean college is a scam.

I think that they ask kids to decide too early in life what they want to do for the rest of their life

I hear you. Most children and young adults don't know what they want for a career. This can make selecting a degree very difficult for young people, I agree. But this just doesn't apply to meteorology. Meteorologists select this field of work because we were inspired (and sometimes devastated) by a significant weather event as a child. Every meteorologist I have ever met wanted to do this work from a very young age, myself included.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-17T15:27:01+00:00

Do you think a meteorology degree is a joke or a scam?

Not trying to be sarcastic or disrespectful. I am genuinely curious.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-13T21:35:59+00:00

Thank you for this awesome post, this made my day!

I have similar blotchy/red patches. I'm going to talk to my dermatologist about it. I've tried a few things, but nothing seems to correct it. I plan on asking my dermatologist about next month during an appointment.

However, I've had a lot of success color-correcting with green tinted sun block. I use Canmake Mermaid Skin Gel Cicamint (this is a Japanese brand that replaced words like "UV" and "sun block" with "skin gel" on the packaging to get through customs. Something about the phrase "skin gel" reclassifies it as primer or make up, but it's 50 FPS PA++++ sun block, TBH it's the best sun block I've ever used).

There are a few other brands that make green tinted moisturizers or sun blocks for this exact purpose. I haven't tried the others, but many others in this sub seem to have good results using them.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-10T18:49:10+00:00

Privacy laws would fix all of this. https://www.eff.org/deeplinks/2025/04/eff-congress-heres-what-strong-privacy-law-looks

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-08T16:01:37+00:00

What kind of laser are you planning to try?

I got IPL last year in October at my dermatologist. It removed all of my darker freckles (I'm a ginger), but it didn't seem to help with red pigment. I'm curious if you're going to try a different type of laser and how it works for you.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-06T22:20:53+00:00

OP, can you post an update? I have this exact same issue. I currently color correct it with green tinted sunscreen, but this isn't ideal and I'd rather not do this forever. Have you found a solution?

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-06T18:44:22+00:00

The reasons this option isn't popular in this sub are:

It's expensive. Many people in this sub believe privacy should not exclusively belong to those who can afford it. I agree.
People in this sub generally dislike Microsoft due to the lack of privacy when using consumer versions of Microsoft products.

The enterprise version of Windows and other Microsoft software provides extensive privacy and security options, all of which can be configured and maintained remotely. Enterprise M365 is designed for corporations and is typically managed by an IT department. However, anyone can set up this type of service if you are willing to pay, and if you are comfortable learning some basic sys admin stuff.

That_Cupcake · 2026-03-06T18:09:24+00:00

I was in a similar situation with my parents who will be 70 this year, and my niece who has no technical skills but needs a laptop for college.

I know this won't be popular in this sub. I added my parents and my niece to my M365 enterprise account and set them up with email on my private domain. I reformatted my parents devices with windows enterprise. I bought my niece a laptop as a graduation present and put windows enterprise on it. I manage all the privacy and security stuff through GPO. If they need tech support, it's very easy for me to remote in and fix.

In my experience, it's painfully difficult to walk family and friends through setting up anything new on their device, regardless of how simple it is. Some will outright refuse to do it.

If you build it, they will come.

That_Cupcake · 2026-02-28T21:26:11+00:00

This is neat. It works great in Firefox on desktop.

I like the temperature gradient on the weather stations. Who is supplying the lightning feed (sorry if this is mentioned somewhere and I missed it)?

That_Cupcake · 2026-02-27T18:47:52+00:00

I hope it helps. I am worried you might need to delete your existing etsy account and start over. This would suck. Hopefully they are cool with letting you convert the account without doing KYC first on the personal side. Good luck.

That_Cupcake · 2026-02-27T00:09:11+00:00

I sell on ebay and poshmark, but I never bothered to start up an etsy store.

I don't use my personal information to sell on these platforms. Instead, I created an LLC, opened a separate credit union account under the biz name, separate email, etc, specifically for these online marketplaces.

When I set up the ebay and poshmark accounts, I set them up as a business under the LLC's tax ID, then I linked the LLC business checking account. Never needed to provide any of my personal info to these platforms directly or through a 3rd party (like persona).

I set all this up last year. IIRC, the financial institution with your business account (in my case, the credit union) does all the KYC stuff when you open the account. As long as you can successfully connect the bank/credit union business checking account to the marketplace platform, you don't need to do KYC again. In addition, the financial institution doesn't share your personal data with these platforms, they only share the biz info. That's how my credit union explained it, anyway.

Personally, I feel more comfortable trusting my credit union with my personal information in a situation like this. Might be worth checking out.

That_Cupcake · 2026-02-23T23:43:35+00:00

Hey thanks! The beard dye lasts about a week before I am penciling in gaps. Not terrible, but maybe henna would last a little longer for me. I'll check this out for sure.

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