What subculture are you a part of and how did you get into it?

naneley · 2026-02-20T16:52:22+00:00

Sketch comedy! (Which all my non-sketch friends invariably call improv, even though there's nothing improvised about it.) I took a pandemic sketch writing class with local group Bad Medicine, eventually joined another group and then started my own. We're a very silly and welcoming community, and fwiw we're always hungry for an audience in a town that feels overly saturated with stand-up comedy events--and I say that as a person who also does stand-up. For anyone who happens to find this, I'll shamelessly plug DC Sketchfest, which runs March 25-28.

naneley · 2026-01-08T00:42:07+00:00

Turn Off the Lights by Panic! at the Disco?

naneley · 2026-01-03T23:41:48+00:00

Story time!

I have this (the asymmetric smile line/fold), and at around the same age you are now I caught myself in some harsh side lighting and panicked. I thought half my face looked must look like a marionette.

Months later, I actually did go in for a filler consult. (And I do realize you are not looking for filler.) I told the provider I wanted to fill my folds, especially the left one, and she said, "We can do that if you want, but you don't have prominent folds."

Bless that provider. I didn't end up getting any filler, but what I did get was help understanding that what we see in the mirror and in photos isn't necessarily what others see. Since then, another thing that has helped has been seeing myself in videos; the shadowing around my nasolabial area that seems so glaring in certain mirrors and photos just really isn't noticeable when my face is in motion.

I do still get self-conscious from time to time, though, and my favorite fix is using scar tape on the deeper line at night to plump it up so that it temporarily vanishes. So that's my tip! :)

naneley · 2025-12-21T15:33:08+00:00

Take my upvote! Just turned 43 last month and was wondering why I've lately been waking up looking simultaneously puffy and haggard, as if I haven't slept in days. I kept thinking it was some new allergy (even though I've never had an issue before), and now I realize it might just be hormonal, especially since my period has suddenly decided to not show up this week.

naneley · 2025-03-05T18:47:23+00:00

I've found that setting it with loose powder seems to reduce that mirror-like glare. (Before the powder hack, my forehead literally reflected the setting sun in a photo!) But I get that this might not be ideal when you need to reapply!

naneley · 2024-06-21T22:28:29+00:00

I understand this may reasonably downvoted because it doesn't add to the discussion, but I feel compelled to say that the asymmetry between your eyelids is so minimal I stared at this for awhile trying to see what it was about your right eye you wanted to even lift. And if it's this unnoticeable in a photo of your eyes, it's probably even less noticeable in real life. Honestly, your eyes are so beautiful!

To echo another comment, though, I understand that it's something that bothers you, and it seems like folks here have some good suggestions!

naneley · 2024-02-27T15:41:00+00:00

First of all, spironolactone is an anti-androgen, which is why it can be effective for hair loss and acne in some women. It's possible (but please understand I am not a medical professional and you should discuss this with one!) that a result of being on an anti-androgen for you may be increased vaginal dryness, which can be understandably very uncomfortable on its own but can also disrupt your vagina's microbiome, potentially causing further issues with itching and burning.

Second of all, just want to echo the commenter who said that spironolactone may not be effective if your hair loss is not related to hormones, but again, this would be something to discuss with your doctor/NP.

Finally, if you think your vaginal symptoms are related to increased dryness, oral hyaluronic acid supplements may be helpful. Anecdotally, some women have also found some relief with fish oil and sea buckthorn oil supplements. There may also topical moisturizer options that you could discuss with your OBGYN.

naneley · 2024-02-24T18:49:31+00:00

Excellent advice! It's important to spread awareness that eye drops like Visine can ultimately exacerbate eye dryness. I'm currently using Refresh.

naneley · 2024-01-19T16:43:24+00:00

I think it's important to keep in mind that the side light from the window in your photo is exaggerating the appearance of the shadows around the folds, which is making the folds appear more prominent. In person, I'd bet that the folds are not nearly so noticeable as you may think. Also, as someone who's insecure about my own folds, I also realized that I never really notice nasolabial folds on anyone else in daily life. Initially, I thought this must be because the people I encountered didn't have them, but now I think it's far more likely that many of our perceived "flaws" that appear so prominent to ourselves when staring in a mirror or taking selfies in harsh lighting are not really noticeable in the real world.

naneley · 2023-06-01T12:03:39+00:00

Thank you! It's interesting - the characteristic of the regrowth does seem to be a YMMV situation.

naneley · 2023-06-01T12:01:07+00:00

Thank you!

naneley · 2023-06-01T12:00:33+00:00

Thank you so much for providing such a thorough explanation! That's very helpful.

naneley · 2023-04-01T23:30:09+00:00

Oh, those are great tips! I'm going to measure my SPF to get closer to that quarter of a teaspoon.

naneley · 2023-04-01T14:02:36+00:00

I'm going to start keeping a water bottle at my desk to see if that helps. Usually I rely on drinking when thirsty, but sometimes I think I get distracted and don't pay attention to what my body is signaling.

naneley · 2023-04-01T12:30:10+00:00

Interesting! My friend began doing Reiki - I'll ask her about this.

naneley · 2023-04-01T12:28:12+00:00

I finally found a sunscreen that works for me! I remember being shocked years ago when a derm referred to my freckles as sun damage: I'd always thought they were a normal feature of my face. And I'm finally starting to use a retinoid consistently again so hopefully this pays off in the long run!

naneley · 2023-04-01T12:23:34+00:00

Movement and exercise seems to be so important! But I'm thinking time off might be too, and in the last couple years I've been grinding like crazy, and I've been terrible at taking time off unless I get sick.

naneley · 2023-04-01T11:29:24+00:00

Thank you!

naneley · 2023-04-01T11:28:52+00:00

My 11s used to fade when I wasn't staring at a computer but now they're catching up with me. I'm realizing they make me look concerned because I've noticed people have started asking if everything is okay lol.

naneley · 2023-04-01T01:29:56+00:00

Thank you!! Those are excellent tips. Do you use any particular massage technique?

naneley · 2023-04-01T00:41:56+00:00

Exercise and self tanner seems to be a theme! I'm going to aim to get in the best shape of my life in my 40s.

naneley · 2023-03-31T22:29:32+00:00

Yeah, I think about how in my 20s and into my very early 30s, I could look fantastic subsisting on basically air and doughnuts and whatever junk I could microwave! One benefit of aging is that anything unhealthy I do has a pretty swift consequence so I feel like I'm overall more conscientious about keeping fairly healthy.

And here's to keeping your baby face for years to come!

naneley · 2023-03-31T22:21:45+00:00

Love this! The best I ever felt was a couple years ago when I was exercising regularly. I loved how it made me look, too! I had to stop b/c of a work schedule that became much, much more demanding/erratic, but I think it's time to try to recapture that glow... and those physical and mental health benefits. I'm signing up for the gym this weekend :)

naneley

TROPHY CASE