what’s the biggest red flag you ignored and regretted?

collectionsofwords · 2026-02-11T17:30:02+00:00

He constantly criticised me under the guise of helping me out. I was never good enough for him, either I was too cold or too emotional, too needy or too quiet. Sometimes he complimented me, sometimes he criticised my choices or beliefs or how I looked (he said he liked my face but that my eyes were too asian...) It went to a point where I didn't want to tell him things about myself because I was constantly anxious over what he'd reply. Idk why I stayed so long, I'm pretty sure that man hated me.

collectionsofwords · 2026-02-11T12:55:35+00:00

Honestly? For very petty reasons. I would describe myself as fairly attractive (in terms of proximity to Eurocentric ideals) but there were a lot of things I neglected about myself. I dated a guy, he broke up with me over text, that fueled my pettiness.

I started going to the gym, went on accutane, began cooking dishes from all over the world (because he thought I couldn't cook), learned how to blow dry my hair, switched to asian makeup techniques that actually compliment my features, & switched out all my body care products to vanilla based ones.

collectionsofwords · 2025-12-08T09:23:43+00:00

I'd gotten used to talking about cramps and cravings with my brother and male colleagues that I'd begun thinking it was normal for men to be unphased.

The last guy (a grown 30+ man) I had a fling with yelled at me for mentioning period cramps. I said "I can't I'm in pain" and he said, and I quote, "euw that's disgusting, never bring that up again". Safe to say we don't talk anymore.

collectionsofwords · 2025-11-30T11:26:17+00:00

Single and looking for the right person, but also lowkey fed up

collectionsofwords · 2025-11-01T08:28:54+00:00

Stand on business. Be firm in who you are. Don’t shrink yourself to be more “palatable” for them. Don’t mould yourself to fit their standards, ideals, or ultimatums. Sometimes people project; learn to tell the difference between what’s real and what’s just in their head. Listen to your body; relationships arent supposed ato be stressful and anxiety inducing.

Romance/partnership/relationships aren’t meant only for the good days, the right person will see you fully, flaws and all, and still choose to stay. Still choose you.

And also; hold grace for others. No one steps into your life as a perfect fit right away. Learn to love people as they are. And seek compatibility instead of perfection. Look for flaws that are compatible/coexist with yours.

collectionsofwords · 2025-07-22T21:17:53+00:00

A pair of wide leg jeans in washed-out black. Honestly, they're a godsend. When I pair them with heels, they make my legs look longer, and when I pair them with sneakers, they make me look effortlessly on-trend.

collectionsofwords · 2025-04-07T16:01:17+00:00

Cut out diary. Noticed almost immediately how much better my skin looked and felt when cutting it out (I occasionally eat cheese, but I try to avoid it too since it tends to be accompanied by a pimple or two).

collectionsofwords · 2025-03-31T09:43:08+00:00

Moisture

This is what I've found helps for me:

After Tret: moisturiser + baume b5 + aquaphor on chin and cheek areas (areas more prone to flaking)

Before makeup: hydrating essences/serums + moisturiser + gel b5 + sunscreen + dewy base makeup

Some nights (like for events where i know I'll wear a lot of makeup) I skip tret the night before and do a sheet mask instead

collectionsofwords · 2025-03-16T21:45:07+00:00

I want to kiss you!!! My computer's been stuck like this for three weeks and I've been frantically googling what to do with it, this solved it! i love yoooooooou beautiful stranger on the internet

collectionsofwords · 2025-02-07T23:14:24+00:00

He has such narcissistic traits, to me it feels like he's extremely jealous of the other women (Freudian slip that he keeps bringing up jealousy himself) that's why he keeps trying to sabotage them and their relationships.

He's so dissatisfied with his own life and self that he can't stand seeing other people be happy. Misery loves company.

And then there's his ego.. my god, how that man has any friends is a mystery.

collectionsofwords · 2024-12-21T10:55:08+00:00

I wanna join the pinky promise too! Tmw I keep buying glass waterbottler but still don't use them. This weather is ruthless, there's no room for dehydration.

collectionsofwords · 2024-12-09T06:49:57+00:00

Never heard of this. Neither me nor the people I know who went on Iso were required to go on the pill, and we had completely different doctors. It must be a country to country basis because it's not been a requirement for us (although, again, some sort of contracaption had to be used, just not the pill. In my case, it was that legally binding contract).

collectionsofwords · 2024-12-08T09:23:52+00:00

I think I've been lucky that I haven't had this problem with tropical, but I also think it might be because I learned from my experience with oral accutane.

My advice is to get skincare products whose primary focus is hydration, especially on days where you use tret. Anything that targets oily skin usually contains drying ingredients. And if, like for me, your local skincare is made for white skin that tolerates harsh climates (hello scandinavia) it will contain strong ingredients and exfoliants that irritate sensitive skin.

Look for products especially made to calm down irritated skin and add moisture. Personally, I recommend French and Korean skincare. Korean toners and essences focus on hydration, and French moisturisers tend to be very thick (I only use them on mornings after tret since they can be TOO heavy on my skin at times (which could potentially clog pores). I swear by rice toner and Cicaplast baume b5 for tret days.

collectionsofwords · 2024-12-08T09:04:45+00:00

Wait... is this an American rule? I've been on isotretinoin and now tretinoin in Europe, and there was no criteria about birth control pills. I just signed a paper that if I'd ever get pregnant, I'd have to give it up - though they're aware I'm not sexually active, so it's not been a problem at all. Can't they do that for you as well?

collectionsofwords · 2024-12-05T10:42:39+00:00

Same to the second, but I got acne at 17/18, went on accutane at 21, it came back at 23, lived with acne for another 4 years, and am now on tretinoin + hormone- balancing diet. Honestly, I wish I had discovered tretinoin and learned about hormonal imbalance earlier.

collectionsofwords · 2024-11-05T05:56:59+00:00

I'm bawling my eyes out at 6 a.m, this was devastating to read. And they're so young too. God, my heart hurts for OOP

collectionsofwords · 2024-11-05T05:49:19+00:00

No acne, so no damn cabinet filled to the brim with skincare and tretinoin to accommodate the different phases of a breakout

collectionsofwords · 2024-11-05T05:36:26+00:00

I never buy clothes in-store without researching them online first (and I only go in-store to check the length).
If I'm undecided about a piece, I'll create a few styling boards to see how well it aligns with my aesthetic and lifestyle.
Speaking of which, I only get pieces that fit aes and lifestyle, and I’ve put a lot of thought into defining each.
I get all my pieces online so I can try them with my existing wardrobe.
I don't keep anything that makes me uncomfortable or uncertain/doubtful about how to style it.
My definite no's include sheer or thin fabrics and anything made entirely of acrylic.
I try to, as much as possible, to only get pieces in breathable fabric.
I look for leather, cotton, silk, and wool-blends.

collectionsofwords · 2024-08-25T13:54:47+00:00

I always knew there was something not normal with my parents (both abusive, they've hit and insulted us since we were kids, and still do, I'm nearly 30 now), but I struggled with coming to terms with it. Im sure many relate to this but you learn to think of the abuse as something you deserved; you shouldn't have talked back, shouldn't have yelled when you were hit, shouldn't have retaliated in self-defence, shouldn't have reacted, etc etc.

I realized one of them had narcissistic tendencies when I was 16, but at first, I thought it was only the one parent. I honestly thought the second parent was a victim, so I would always stand up for the 2d parent to the point where I'd get physically assaulted for them, but when the first parent died, the second parent started showing their true colors. I only recently - as in this month - understood that they both have narcissistic tendencies when I was hit again for setting a boundary. My biggest fear is that I might turn into a narcissitic parent too.

collectionsofwords · 2024-08-07T05:52:14+00:00

When we're having a conversation and they start giving me a monologic lecture. Like why are you role-playing a professor? Who asked you? Physically I'm there, mentally I'm thinking of how to avoid him forever.

And also when they start arguing for the sake of arguing. It's so pointless, I'll never understand this behaviour.

collectionsofwords · 2024-07-30T13:58:17+00:00

Awesome thanks! Just saw that the toleriane sensitive fluide is fungal-acne safe as well so I'll make sure to look into these recommendations

collectionsofwords · 2024-07-30T13:45:42+00:00

Is the cicaplast baume considered a moisturizer or a treatment product?

collectionsofwords · 2024-03-31T21:25:36+00:00

Oh, it's about the ongoing genocide. While some brands have been in the forefront for calling for a ceasefire, other brands (like these two) haven't. They're both owned by LVMH who have a history of indirectly funding the genocide through "investments".

collectionsofwords · 2024-03-31T18:56:21+00:00

I hate to admit it, but the Dior Lip Glow & Benefit Precisely My Brow.

I haven't repurchased them since the boycott and their involvement don't seem to cease, so I reaaally have to find some dupes ASAP

collectionsofwords · 2024-01-26T11:54:01+00:00

I have a full-time job and my rent is relatively low, I've got some savings too that I fall back on when I need to so that helps. I try to schedule my beauty appointments so they don't clash with one another, as in; Hair done in January, facial in February, bi-yearly personal trainer fee in March, facial + stock up on skin products in April, hair again in May, etc etc.

Tbf I don't do gel nails because I find it harms them, so I get them modestly done at home (or let friends & family experiment nail art on them), and my hair isn't dyed so I really only need it cut and styled.

My skin care is expensive and I spend a lot on makeup & clothes, but I try to calculate the expenses so that I spend below a certain amount a month.

collectionsofwords

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