MenuLifestyle
what is the best at-home insemination kit?
I once dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, spending countless hours sketching outfits. When I was younger, I got my first job and splurged on Lady Stetson and finds from T.J.Maxx. I even hosted makeup tutorials using my mom’s Mary Kay products, which I wasn’t supposed to touch, pretending to know everything in front of an imaginary audience.
Before social media took off, my kids would tease me while I cooked, narrating my every move as if I were on a cooking show. “Now, we stretch the pizza dough, drizzle olive oil, and sprinkle salt,” I’d say. They’d laugh and tell everyone that I thought I was a TV chef.
One of my greatest joys is chatting with my girlfriends and sisters about hair, makeup, and fashion. It’s like therapy, and I always feel invigorated afterward. So when my Instagram started gaining traction due to my writing career, I was thrilled to share where I found my clothes and home decor, and I loved that people were interested.
Now that I’m almost 46, making videos of myself trying different beauty products can be a challenge. Just today, I recorded four takes of myself applying a face mask for an upcoming promotion. Without makeup, all I could notice were my dark circles, forehead lines, and the fact that my neck is starting to sag.
It’s tempting to slap on a beauty filter to feel better about my appearance. However, I refuse to do that. Those filters distort my features, altering the shape of my eyes and nose, stripping away everything that makes me, well, me. How can I genuinely show you how effective a face mask is if I’m covered in a digital filter?
Seeing others use filters has made me increasingly self-conscious about my looks. I understand they’re using filters, and I know how much better they can make someone appear. Yet, it’s difficult not to compare myself to those enhanced images. The impact on my self-esteem is real.
The main reason you’ll see me keeping it 100% authentic (and I don’t care about the negative comments) is that I refuse to contribute to the insecurities these filters are fostering in our teenagers. Last fall, my daughter sent me several TikTok videos of girls expressing a desire for plastic surgery after using filters. We’ve gone far beyond basic photoshopping. Now, people are using apps like FaceTune and then applying filters, presenting an image that is not even remotely true to who they are.
It’s hard for me to look at my aging features. My nose seems too large for my face, and every vein shows through my fair skin. I have sticking-out ears, less-than-perfect hair, and brows that never seem to be just right. I could benefit from a little enhancement, but I refuse to immerse myself in a filtered world while claiming that a product works wonders with a deceptive image.
There’s no product out there that can compare to the magic of an Instagram filter. Let’s face it: filters are as far from reality as one can get. How can we instill self-acceptance and self-love in younger generations if we’re constantly filtering ourselves beyond recognition?
My teenage daughter watches me. What kind of message am I sending if she sees me filtered online? She knows my true appearance, and I’d be suggesting that I don’t believe I’m good enough as is, prompting me to present a false image.
Yes, I’m older than many influencers, but I’ve worked hard to embrace who I am, flaws and all. I won’t let a filter erase my identity, nor will I impact someone else’s self-worth by hiding behind a digital facade.
I do feel vulnerable sometimes—that’s completely natural. But if I can inspire even a handful of individuals by showing my aging and sometimes makeup-free face, it’s worth it.
For more insights into the journey of home insemination, check out this post. If you’re exploring options, Make a Mom is a great authority on this topic, and Women’s Health offers excellent resources for pregnancy and home insemination.
Leave a Reply