2023 Skincare and Makeup Empties

  Hey Subbies,

It took me a while to do this post because I was waiting for the Lunar New Year which is usually the week of my Birthday and Super Bowl. I have more empties than usual and some decluttering to include because of the panorama. lol. Don't worry it's mostly minis because of those trips I had last year and some things took me longer to get through because of the density/texture of the products I had. I tried to put all the products in their own categories to make it easier but some of the single product shots because I had some empties around my room. Most of these came from Marshall's, the KCON convention, my South Korea trip, or from online orders ( I will recommend Stylevana for skincare enthusiasts doing 14-28-day reviews because they have options for minis.)

Cleansers

First, I really enjoyed the Nivea body wash but the bottle typography did confuse me when I first bought it because I thought it was body cream. I'm currently on my second bottle but white bottle version. It was a great alternative to the Olay body which was really drying and overly fragrant. The Banana Facewash was a 2 set but this one is a declutter because the smell and performance were telling me it was going bad. Sirois gel cleanser was okay but I think I talked about the weird smell last year so it will not be a rebuy. Hemish vs E.L.F. cleansing balm and E.L.F. won this battle in texture, hydration, and spread/density. Heimish caused me to break out so I had to use an electronic face brush to make sure I didn't leave behind any residue but it became tedious to the point I just wanted out of my routine ASAP. I almost forgot about Innisfree Apple Wash which is really great for beginners and this I think was the second bottle I went through.

Toner

Next, Abib Heartleaf toner has to be my favorite out of all four of these. If you have sensitivity/inflammation then pick this up. It calmed my skin and even helped with hydration levels in my skin when I used it as a quick mask. The Roundlab Dokdo 1025 toner I got in Korea before it became viral and I would recommend it for the Spring/Summer if you have a sensitive combo skin type like me. I really enjoyed using the Abib and Roundlab toner last year in the summer going into fall. I want to talk about Cosrx AHA toner for Whiteheads because it's very comparable to The Ordinary's Glycolic acid toner but if you want a simple formulation go with Corsx. The Pacifica Rose Flower Mist was hit or miss for me I just bought thinking it would help with dehydration.

Essences

I LOVE Missha The Revolution and I know it's not SK-II but my skin does amazing with it that my mom even notices a difference instantly. Definitely recommend this to intermediate skincare users looking to add fermented ingredients to their skincare regime. Okay, Elf Skin Pure Skin was really hydrating oat milk/aloe juice and will with texture but I think I need to pick up the full size. Holy hydration is basically the same but you'll smell the witch hazel which may be a bit harsh for some people's skin. I need to buy the Neogen in full size because I finished it so fast and they need bigger minis lol. Medicube Deep Vita C is what I received when I bought the skincare devices set for my mom and me. I personally think it works better with the Booster-H devices or the original formula of the Collagen Glow Bubble Serum. When it comes to vitamin C treatments I found 15-20 min masks or creams better penetrate my skin than the serum that requires daily use. Also, ingredients really help with inflammation and have protective properties.

Ampoules

We talk about the high percentage of Activities when the studies show you only need .25% - 5%...these companies really want to be regulated like what the EU is doing right now. Again Missha is that girl lol, and this is also a dupe for Estee Lauder's advanced night repair and this also a staple that is my backup just like the ELF Antioxidant booster which isn't available anymore online. The Rovectin LHA blemish Ampoule was a nice addition to my skincare regime I think is what helped with the hyperpigmentation I was struggling with since it has Glutathione and wasn't irritating. ELF Skin Superrefine with 10% Niannamide thankfully has that B5 with a buffer from irritation but I would not recommend it. The Skinmiso Pore Vitamin-C Serum is similar in consistency to Medicube vita-C which has 100,000 ppm more. However, I found that the Skinmiso worked faster possibly due to the first key ingredient isn't water, it's Sea buckthorn which is then followed up with moisture-soothing extracts to reduce scars, wrinkles, and treat acne with other antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory extracts but it does contain fragrance. The last two are oils I use for my whole body. I love the smell of Sweet Almond oil and really helps me keep my skin from dehydration which usually causes irritation. This Tamunu oil is really thick so I would add it to my soap, lotion, and baths which helps with fading blemishes.

Mask

I really enjoyed this mask and it does help to brighten the skin.

Moisturizer 

I used the Holika Holika aloe over the summer to help with overheating and inflammation. I liked adding the aloe to lotions after a bath or shower. The d'Alba multi balm has a lot of fruit extracts but it did help with dry patches or helped fade some scarring/blemishes. The belief aqua gel paired nicely with the Isntree hyaluronic SPF because for a while I could not use either one cause they did pair well with other products. I suggest getting aloe, belief, and Isntree SPF with a water-based foundation to avoid peeling. ELF BRING BACK THE CICA SUPERMASK!!! I currently using the Laniege Cica sleeping mask and it is very comparable but the ELF Mask requires you to wash off after 15 mins because it has a higher percentage of Cica.

Body

I bought the Sol De Janeiro 62 set during the spring sale last year and I'm hooked and got the bigger size bottle but I used this when I would go to the gym. Usually, I don't have time to test out the other fragrances but I went to Sephora on my birthday to test them out; 40 which I have mixed thoughts about it because of the jasmine/musk, and the newest 59 which fits with my birthday month (Plum, Violet, Orchid, and wood) but vetiver hits me in the face so it might work better for people born in Spring and or Autumn; however I think the body butter is forgiving. Also, it might be because something I noticed that Sephora had to water down some of their testers because of the issue with preteens/teens messing up the testers. I also bought the full size of the Quai body and hair scrub but the sandalwood is really overpowering to the point I think it smells like tobacco to me but don't worry I finally bought a new body brush.

Protection

The first item is a Korean ointment I was prescribed when I had CO2 treatment for moles and wurts removal. Next to the ointment Differin gel which I highly recommend for beginners. I used it mainly as a spot treatment for acne flare-ups and texture. I went on to try out The Inkey list's Retional which is a cream type. Like I said before the Isntree watery Sun gel works best with other gel types or it will peel. I really enjoyed using Heimish Artless glow balm SPF which I think formulation had mica which helps tone up your skin. Bringgreen Tea Tree CICA Tone Up Sun Cushion made for a really good base especially if you have redness and suffer with ance. Next to it is an EM cosmetics Daydream cushion that I had to declutter because it's past its best-buy date. I'm so happy Ms. Pham added backups but I bought two packs because I thought I might have to buy another one in the future.

Lips

Most of these are old formulations of ELF's lipsticks, glosses, and balms that aren't sold anymore. I wish ELF would bring back the Alissa Ashley formula because it bit more pigmented and could be a dupe for the Rare Beauty lip oils or any of these oil higher-pigmented hybrids.  I don't think I like lip plumpers right not because I feel it burning my lips. I enjoyed using the moisture lipsticks but I had to get rid of them because they are going bad. The last two are NYX and that I can't pull off.

Misc 1

I loved using the ELF liquid eyeshows and are very universal because I use them as a base with an SPF or lotion or highlight or contour. The ELF precision pencils are literally pencils and I went through them really fast and might be more comparable to the new Benefit Precisely, My Brow Detailer. I literally go through ELF products but the fibers remind me of Japanese waterproof lengthening mascara that has me hooked.

Face

The bronzer is an old ELF one which was very beautiful but I think it exploded when I opened it so I had to use the alcohol trick because that's what I found in how to fix broken shadows. Thankfully it didn't change the performance or quality. Next, the Dr. Gio cushion was the best skincare foundation cushion compact I have tried but there haven't been any updates from the founder/company. I was supposed to get a replacement but never received one and I contacted the company so who knows what happened but upset because I really wanted to get another one. The elf bake highlighter and blush is just really old and it's hard to get any pigment now. One of the Black ELF compacts is a cream foundation but it's way past its best buy date and the other was a precursor to the current primers pots but closest to it is the Perfect Finish HD Powder.

Misc 2

These just need to be decluttered because again one is an ELF conceal stick and the other is LABIOTTE Chateau Wine Lip Tint that used to be really popular and was heavily duped. 

Blush

The first I think is a finishing powder but I hit pan on it and the one below is what the  brow kits I used to like. The blushes on the right are really old oranges/peaches that don't fit my deep/ winter color palette which is also this year's color of the year. 

Mousse

I love these two and they smell great. I usually use them to revive my hair when it's feeling dry or I use them to refresh my protective hairstyles.

Dry Shampoo

This is my favorite dry shampoo brand but Marshall's sometimes overpriced them so I haven't been able to get my hands on more. I just found out last year that you should use a blow dryer to get the formula to absorb faster.  I used this manly to help with the oily scalp and bacteria from going to the gym, especially in the summer.

Supplements

I was watching Andrew Huberman's podcast and the expert said Rhodiola Rosea helps with Brain Fog in women and I had been struggling with brain fog probably since the first year of college but this definitely helped. Also, I tried AG1 right before getting this supplement but I noticed that it also had this supplement. If you struggle with insomnia get Lemon Balm, my coworker literally told me to get some coffee which would just make my insomnia worse. I think PMS symptoms are starting to really affect my sleep and anxiety when in the past I could easily just knock out. The Green tea was to helps me walk up and help with oxidative stress. SECRET OF BEAUTY Skin Master collagen chewable is a product I got from KCON and contains collagen, vitamins and minerals to help with skin concerns.

SPF SunStick

Why is this so hard to get your hands on!? I found a seller based in Korea on Amazon because other websites it was sold out. I know a lot of brands don't want to get into trouble with the FDA but I still wish Korean brands would sell their formulation as an option because as an American I hate our sunscreen because they are oily and our government could care less about our FDA's funding in R&D. Anyways, It's really hydrating however when it got to summer this made me look really oily and cause my foundation to smudge during the hot summer heatwaves we had. 

Washcloth

This is my old Japanese body towel but it's in the new Daiso packaging aka both scrub cloth. The new one I have is not as exfoliating as this old one here so look for the COURSE version and you can also find some Daiso products on Amazon. 

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Let's Dissect Cobra

 Hey Subbies,

From Sweetie Pie to Her to Plan B to Cobra, this is the song that I have been waiting for since the prelude. People kept saying Meg was falling off but she has remained consistent throughout this last couple of years on this roller coaster ride. Unlike Sweetie Pie this song holds a lot more symbolism and reserves all the metaphors in her lyrics. This song is not for the religiously Herpetophobia types so keep your personals to yourself thank you. Megan funded this project herself after leaving her label thankfully the quality didn't drop or disappoint and to think people wanted her to do an up-tempo track when she had just done a Summery up-tempo collab with Cardi B. I love the fact that's a rock that fits in the rhythm and Blues genre that goes with the storyline.

Megan here is sharing mental struggles and her personal views which is really relatable to us as women who are realizing the trauma and reflecting on it by shading our skin so that it becomes our past. And you know Megan is big on advocating for Mental Health since she lost her Mom, Dad as well, and Grandmother while going through legal battles. Anyway, I still have to work with her framework along with the cinematography of the music video so be patient with me y'all because it's in a more similar vein to Gaga's 911 than Sweetie Pie symbolically. Thankfully, I have experienced recently covered K-pop groups like Blackpink, aespa, LE SSERAFIM, and even Hwasa which there seems to be a theme going on these couple of years so it won't be sparse.

A little recap from my Dissect of Sweetie Pie so if you haven't read that post you might want to before going to read this dissect. "Cobra [Naga / Nagi (f)] here to be exact. In Hindu (and Buddhist) iconography,  snakes are divine gods that live in bodies of water and underground in an underworld called "Patala." The Nagas are guardians of treasure and keepers of magic. They live in an enchanted underworld filled with jewels, gold, and other treasures. They can sometimes appear in (a) humans with snakes on the head and neck; (b) Fully serpent; and (c) Half-human, half-snake. Megan is an Aquarius "The water bearer." Aquarius (the old ruling planet is Saturn) the modern ruling planet is Uranus which is King Vasuki/ Naga in the Hindu epics the "divine being great king snake" (cobra) with a gem (Nagamani) on his head."

Lastly, I noticed how they filmed Megan here. They start with close Intimate head shoots to slowly revealing the rest of her body. It's kind of like when we hear a snake we usually see their face before we see the rest of the body. 

What does the Cobra mean to Megan?

Courage

Cobras exemplify courage and self-reliance. They stand tall and

fierce in the face of challenges, teaching one to tap into their inner strength and rely on oneself to conquer their threats. Emulating the cobra helps one be more confident in the person they are within.

Fun Fact: "There are 21 species of cobras, but the king cobra is the sole member of the genus Ophiophagus. It is distinguishable from other cobras by its large size and neck patterns. The name “king cobra” stems from its ability to kill and eat cobras."

Etymology of Cobra

Cobra (n.) Venomous hooded snake found in India and neighboring regions, 1802, short for cobra capello (1670s), from Portuguese cobra de capello, literally "serpent of the hood," from Latin colubra "a snake, female serpent" (source of French couleuvre "adder"), which is of uncertain origin. So-called for the expandable loose skin about its neck. The word came to English via Portuguese colonies in India, where the native name is nag (see naga)."The Uraeus was was the Ancient Egyptian cobra symbol of the Goddess as Creator. The symbol was worn on the foreheads of deities and rulers in the position of the "third eye" of the insight. It stood for royal spirit, healing, and wisdom. The Uraeus was a hieroglyphic sign for "Goddess," derived from one of Egyp's oldest deities, the Serpent Mother variously called Uatchet, Utahit, or Ua Zit. To the Greeks, she was Buto, after her sacred city Per Uto. Together with the Vulture Goddess Nekhbet, she represented cycles of birth and death, beginning and ending. These archaic goddesses were known as the Two Mistresses, by whose authority all pharaohs ruled and the cycles of nature were constantly renewed. The Cobra Goddess eventually merged with Maat as the All-Seeing Eye and with Isis as the mother of the Sun."

The Serpent Ouroboros

Several Traditions indicate that the original serpent protecting the World Egg was female, a mother-serpent, like Ananta the Infinite in India, or Mehen the Enveloper (Ua Zit, Buto Uraeus) in Egypt. The male serpent became the guardian of the Egg only after patriarchy was well established. 

Mouth

We open with an intimate close-up shoot of Megan's mouth and her opening monologue. 

Just as a snake shed it's skin we must shed out past over and over again."

 This statement is really about American culture and intersectionality that fragility isn't really afforded to black women. But Megan is ready to rise again although she suffered and made some mistakes which has been really transparent about in her music which is her current confrontable to open up about her struggles in the industry. A lot of people see women talking candidly or not at all as a threat or risk out of fear. 

Tongue

Also, I want to talk about the tongue or power of the tongue which is really on brand for Megan because she usually ends her sentences or phrases with "Aah" and tongue out which has very negative conations in the West due to medieval depictions of devils and it's linked with untruthfulness'. In Asia, an extended tongue is a sign of potency and life force because the tongue between the lips imitates the sacred lingam-yoni. 

Biblically the tongue was synonymous with language such as the well-known term and Acts parable "Speaking of the tongues" which direct copy from Buddhist text that mentions the Ushnisha, symbolizing knowledge of all languages. 

Eyes

"The God of the Circle, the one" in Hinduism and the idea that the cosmos is an unbroken circle repeated by Gnostics with the image of a Serpent eating his tail also known as Ouroboros. By the 1st century B.C., it became synonymous with the Full Moon and the pupil of the All-seeing Eye. Snake Eyes hold a lot of spiritual symbolism and as the saying goes "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" snakes are feared for the most part.

Genesis of the Desolate Garden

[Verse 1]

Breakin' down and I had the whole world watchin'

But the worst part is really who watched me

Every night I cried, I almost died

And nobody close tried to stop it

Long as everybody gettin' paid, right?

Everything'll be okay, right?

I'm winnin', so nobody trippin'

Bet if I ever fall off, everybody go missin'

 After leaving the confines of the snake she enters a setting of tall grass and dead and barren trees. Megan is now seen as Eve or Lilith's archetype character based on her public persona also known as the Madonna Whore Complex is so prevalent in American Religious Zeitgeist. Women are often not given a chance to choose and shamed for failing Relationships. The lack of community that Megan lost over time from her intimated family members passing at a very important transition time for young adults, my generation calls it "adulting" which isn't taught in school. 

The Garden usually associated with Biblical and Near Epics is actually sexual in nature where seeds are fertilized to grow bare fruits and vegetables. But they weren't associated with common folk they were associated with the Kings and Queens and those who could afford it like merchants. The Fruits of labor are a metaphor for the Queen because she produces the next heir(s). Coming back to the Madonna whore complex the Virgin Mary is usually depicted in Vulgate Hortus conclusus so Gardens with the Tree of Life in the center and a fountain which is associated with the cycle of the moon and life.

Black & White (Past) 

[Verse 1]

Shit, I'd probably bleed out some Pinot

When they find me, I'm in Valentino, ayy

He pourin' me shots, thinkin' it's lit

Hah, little did he know

[Chorus]

This pussy deprеssed, hmm, I'm about to stress him, yeah

Pink nails 'round his nеck, huh, but this ain't domestic, ayy

Think it's goin' down, hah, now he stand corrected, ayy

This pussy depressed, hmm, I'm about to stress him, ah

 "Black is the strongest of the neutral colors. On the positive side, it's commonly associated with power, elegance, and formality. On the negative side, it can be associated with evil, death, and mystery."

"The color white has several meanings and associations purity, innocence, cleanliness, blankness, coldness, emptiness, simplicity, and minimalism."

When a person chooses to film something in BW it is usually for aesthetics purposes it brings out things that color can't do and it is very editorial. But in Film it can usually represent a time in the past similar to the classics from Pre-code Hollywood like Film Noir. Megan looks elegant yet cold due to the atmosphere which is great for expressing her lyrics.

Megan here is talking about some type of self-censoring herself and the people around her were essentially enablers in all her relationships. The snake on the ground symbolically feels like she was exposed and this is backed up by the fact that we are in a bedroom and she is on a bed. A bedroom is a very intimate setting for usually one or two people that definitely turned toxic. Also, white and black snakes like California King Snake, Black Mamba, or Southern Black Racer are usually in flight or fight or flight mode when put in a defense position.

Green With Envy

"It can represent new beginnings and growth. It also signifies renewal and abundance. Alternatively, green can also represent envy or jealousy, and a lack of experience."

Why Women Are Stripey?

The Battle between Mom and Dad gene activation at the 4th-day mark of 100 cell embryo with X-chromosomes (female) to full maturity of the offspring these 100 cells will manifest a stripy partner on the skin of the women. Sadly it's a visible gene expression but is common on other mammals like female calico cats. That's the beauty of Epigenetics

Veritasium - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BD6h-wDj7bw

Into the Wilderness

[Outro]  

I ain't goin', yeah, no emotion, ayy  

Back outside, yeah, back in motion, ayy  

He keep callin', hmm, I ignore it (Ayy)  

He say I'm crazy, hmm, don't I know it, ah

 Spiral

Both single and double were among the most sacred signs of Neolithic Europe. They appear on megalithic monuments and temples all over the continent and the British Isles. Spiral represented the Serpent guardians of Sumerian Temples.  The spiral was connected with death and rebirth; Megan's story represents the process of entering the earthly womb represented by a snake at the being of the Music Video and ends with a Sacred Dance imitating this movement of which many pagan European folk dances use spiral lines of dancers circling into a center and out.

All I have to say is Megan is embodying Mami Wata here. And who is Mami Wata you ask...well

"Mama Wata (also Mamba Muntu, Water Mother, La Sirene) is a water spirit venerated in West, Central, and Southern Africa and in the Afro-American diaspora. The appearance of her hair ranges from straight, curly to wooly black and combed straight back. Sacred Fertility dances performed by the African women during ritual possession by their Devine African mothers, and deities, and the European’s Ignorance and fear of them earned her, and the African Goddess, reputation as the “harlot, whore, prostitute, etc..."

I hope you guys enjoyed the read I was actually working on something else before I got a notification from my socials that she dropped this so I'm trying to post this since there has been a lot of discussion recently since it dropped. I may add more as get art history and ancient history books in the future.

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E.L.F. Cosmetics Best Selling Dupes

 Hey Subbies,

I wanted to do an updated post on ELF Cosmetics since it's been years since I did one. ELF has gone viral in the last couple of years and has really stepped up it's game in the formulation department. I personally buy a lot of Elf products I even stock up on old favorites/ best sellers. The huge thing to know is always invest in your Foundation and the rest is up to you and your personal preferences plus a lot brands use the same labs and or manufactures. Anyways, this time around I went and did my research to find dupes of higher end products (some better than others) and added the skincare this time because I personally experienced similarities between some of completion and skincare products that might have dupes. The only thing I found during my research that is of concern is that there wasn't enough color depth in their cream or powder products so hope they expand some of their best sellers color ranges. I'm also glad they still had older products that are actually dupes of older high end products. I just realized they don't stock the Supersoothe Cica mask which was super popular and I have one but I'm scared to use all because it's that good and might be a dupe for laniege cica mask which I also have but haven't tested it yet. Let me know if you have tried any of these products. 

Also DUPES are by definition wise are supposed to be DECEPTIVE so, they act like and sometimes out perform a product, they are NOT meant to be be same exact experience because if that was the case we would be seeing a lot more lawsuits. So it's okay to feel like you're being deceived because that's the point. I don't know why so many people backtracking like they might be sued for their opinions on products. 

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Let's Dissect Sweetest Pie

 Hey Subbies,

This is another unusual post, basically a breakdown of Megan Thee Stallions' new music video Sweetie Pie.  Megan actually has done another childhood story that draws from childhood fables or modern stories like In Don't Stop. I know right now the industry is trying to break her with all the so-called "bad press" but I will not be discussing that nonsense because haven't we had enough of trying to alienate women in the media industry. In the lyrics, Megan references "Hansel and Gretel" and the concept takes most of its Q's from the fairytale Hansel & Gretel. I actually showed it to a group and one person said, "What Symbolism!?..they are playing witches." But before this, I watched someone dismiss the video and say that it was giving "Illuminati" vibes which are getting really old at this point. Weirdly, people are okay with the Greco-Roaman mythology being the concept for an MV but if you try to highlight another mythos it's like you're canceled. Only an art history /history buff could understand and I'm usually rolling my eyes when people use the secret society cliche. 

Anyway, here I am doing another breakdown again. It's been a while since I've heard the German fable/ folktale. From my memory, A brother and Sister become orphans and like many European stories, it always has someone going into a forest or being abandoned in a forest. Then they find this house in the forest and they are lured in by a woman with an assortment of desserts and candies. Basically, they eat till they can't move anymore and the lady turns out to be a "witch" but they somehow outwit the "witch" and they escape. In other iterations, she's either boiled alive or baked alive. 

There is a lot to dissect and break down here...

Megan is the personification of a Serpent ( or Draco belongs to Ursa Major and is one of the biggest constellations) or Cobra [Naga / Nagi (f)] here to be exact. In Hindu (and Buddhist) iconography,  snakes are divine gods that live in bodies of water and underground in an underworld called "Patala." Shiva always has a cobra around his neck. The Nagas are guardians of treasure and keepers of magic. They live in an enchanted underworld filled with jewels, gold, and other treasures. They can sometimes appear in (a) humans with snakes on the head and neck; (b) Fully serpent; and (c) Half-human, half-snake. If you read the last breakdown with Lady Gaga I touched a little on the snake symbolism as a really ancient symbol and its connections with Hermes, Minerva, and Ceres (personified)  in the Greek pantheon that we still use today. But the snake comes up in almost every cultural religion throughout the world from Egypt (Wadjet), India (Nagas), Australia, and the Americas. People usually see serpents as symbols of sexuality because their physical attributes are associated with fertility and phallic imagery. The serpent according to Carl Jung is a symbol of the spirit(s), the divine (agricultural), and the pathway to enlightenment. In other religious and philosophical texts, the snake is a symbol of Truth, Wisdom, and Healing but is described as "Evil" and "Deceitful." I would bring up Medusa after finding out the Historical origin story but I will not be retelling that story.

Dua Lipa is a personification of a spider (their domain is in the form of a spider.) Spiders are mainly associated with the art of crafting textiles. In Ancient Egypt, the creator Goddess Neith was the patron of Looms. There is an Ancient Greek story about Lydia/Arachne and the goddess Athena who is the patron of handicrafts (Minerva is a patron of spinners and weavers).  I don't know why but in almost every Greco-Roman Story they always have the Goddess getting Angry and Jealous at mortals for going above and beyond and the mortals get transformed into some creature or animal. Spider Women are also present in Japanese folklore as Yokia called Jorogumo who can transform into Seductive women that could play the shamisen which would lure men instantly into her seductive woman's web for their last night of passion to a slow painful death (the Aztecs have this in common). The other story is about men being too open about their sex life or not having a work-life balance which leads to their deaths. In the Native American Navaho story of Spider Women a girl becomes curious about a crack in the earth so she looks into the crack to find a room full of woven textiles. The Spider Woman says "If I teach you how to create textiles like these can you teach all of the girls in the tribe." In Hopi, four Creation myth involves the Spider Mother/ Grandmother (primordial figure) creating the stars, birds, and fish, and the Genesis with two Humans who lived in the first world which was underground (common in native American beliefs) but had to work their way to the fourth world, and not everyone could come. The other three stories involved a Flood/Fire myth and the splitting up of tribes. She taught them how to live in a society, (4) languages, and farming.

The two Men or Men are of course symbols of Patriarchy and stand-ins for Hansel and Gretel. Men of Power are usually associated with Thunder gods or Apex predators like lions, tigers, and bears. Many Epics of notable men are usually Slaying Serpents or Dragons (trope) which are symbolic of powerful Ancient women to prove they are powerful. I was talking to a close group of acquaintances trying to dissect the video and we came to the same conclusion that the men in this is a portrayal of "Modern men" who have become synonymous with "F-boy culture" and yes they do have a look (the hats have a double meaning here that are both religiously and politically linked). Also, their indulging in the desserts, and climbing the trees is a symbol for men who have given into their Primal needs and eventually led to the "Fall of Man" due to their own "follies and vanity." Also when they start Hallucinating and freaking out they were probably bitten that's why they are shown in the fetal position. Then men become angry because they feel like they have been deceived by the women.

Megan is also portrayed as a Modern Maria Antoinette and states "I got cake, I know you want a slice" in her rap. Even though Maria Antoinette didn't actually say "Let them Eat Cake" it was actually coined by another Royal specifically Princess Marie-Thérèse of Spain according to Historian Lady Antonia Fraser but we're always playing the game of telephone when it comes to history. However, she liked the finer things in life since she did marry young but she became the focus of rumors and scandals even though she was known for her philanthropy.  And maybe Dua Lipa is portraying Marie-Therese here? Megan has a baby blue one-piece bodysuit and white hair that is in a similar shape as a corset and Dua is wearing a Stay. The scene is reminiscent of Sofia Coppola's 2006 modern rendition of Maria Antoinette which Kirsten Dunst also wears a lot of baby blues and is surrounded by an assortment of pastel indulgences.

Megan and Dua Lipa embody the Dark Mother Goddesses Hestia/Vesta (Goddess of the hearth) and Wadjet (the protective serpent goddess who sends fire to burn her enemies) with a Skeleton bodysuit and all-black attire. Megan references Italy (Rome) with "Cesear and Milan" in her rap.

 However, both of them are captured to be burned at the stake as witches which is a reference to The Burning Times and The Witch Hunts. But Megan and Dua Lipa turn the tables or fire around back on the patriarchy like how Mount Vesuvius turned the city of Pompeii into ash and stone. Megan and Dua emerge victoriously dawning in silver and gold attire which is a possible reference to the Goddess of Sight Theia and a nod to the Goddess of wisdom and war Athena from which the city of Athens draws its name.

Okay about the trees with feminine forms which are a reference to Norse Mythology. The tree is a known symbol of Knowledge (Biblical/Near East Epics) life (Kabbalism) or the World(s) (Norse/ Shamism); the most notable tree is the evergreen tree Yggdrasil. Trees are also symbolic of Power, Wisdom, Karma, Rebirth/ Immortality, Nourishment, and "Stability and Security" (Celts). Ash Trees were seen as a connection to the heavens and earth, as well as, associations with medicine and the healing of the youth. Norse Creation Myth involves Odin walking with two other gods on the coast when they came upon driftwood so he breathed life into them creating man and woman and his companions gave them Mentality, Vitality, Language, Senses, Clothes, and Names: Ask (Ash tree) and Embla (Elm tree) and given the world Midgard to dwell in. Like Yggdrasil, they have access to the other realms, upper and lower. Ancient Predynastic Women of Notability were usually Warriors Queens, Mago / Magi (the male form), Oracles, and Priestess and if you were male you had to have a direct lineage to her to be able to inherit her dynasty in those fields. 

Side note: The Cimbri Tribe (they predate the Nords) ritual involved sacrificing their victims to Wodan ( this "The Hanging God"/ "Breath of Life" Odin/Mercury; Dua Lipa part actually references "...Hung up from across the room") by hanging them over cauldrons and then thrown into lakes. Human sacrifice was a worldwide phenomenon in almost every culture to appease the gods but today it is known as genocide due to tribalism, religion, and Government.

The Temple scene in the MV actually references Aphrodite Temples which are throughout the Ancient world and are known for their beauty and love. The cauldron which I didn't go into very deeply in my Let's Dissect 911 post so I will expand on it here. "Kumbha is a Full vase, pot, a jar, or a pitcher is also symbolic of the womb." That's why the saying "I have a bun in the Oven" is a thing. And if you didn't know Megan is an Aquarius "The water bearer." Nut, the goddess of the sky, the headdress was the hieroglyphic of part of her name, a pot, which may symbolize the uterus.) And Aquarius ( the old ruling planet is Saturn) the modern ruling planet is Uranus which is King Vasuki/ Naga in the Hindu epics the "divine being great king snake" (cobra) with a gem (Nagamani) on his head. That's why Megan has jewels on her bodysuit and has the little Asuras (evil spirits) dancing with her because they are aiding her in possibly seeking revenge on their behalf against the men's bad karma. The Tree is, of course, referring to Yggdrasil but it is possibly a model of a Royal Poinciana Tree aka "flame tree" or "flame of the forest" which has religious significance ("burning bush") and can be found all around the world. 

I hope you enjoyed the breakdown and look forward to seeing more in the future but you can also follow my WordPress where I do a lot more post-music symbolism there.

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My 2021 Skincare Empties

 Hey Subbies,

Okay, I just want to put it out there that I bought Tone up cream ( I bought a similar product from TheFaceshop). When this new type of skincare came out I was confused. I was looking for information on how to use it at the time but now there are multiple videos on it. But what I logically put together about is that is a Toner and Cream moisturizer. Now I have seen YouTubers use it as a base to even out their skin tone for makeup or if they don't have time to do all of their skincare they will throw it on to save time. It is also great for the Glass Skin application since some of them contain specific physical filters of that of Sunblock/ SPF (Sun Protection Factor).

Anyways, here is my empties. I decided to divide it up into sections this time so please let me know if you have tried any of these products.

Will Buy Again/ Re-bought

This is a Black-owned brand that I have mentioned before and I to take a minute to remember they had rebranded. It's a great nighttime moisturizer since it contains lavender. I usually don't like lavender in skincare but I don't mind it on the body since it also contains shea butter.

I wish had the money for that three-pack when I was in Japan. Hopefully, I'll be able to travel soon so I can stock up the black version which I heard is more moisturizing.

I feel like people are sleeping on ELF cosmetics. I just have really been enjoying their skincare and there has been a lot of South Korean influence on the brand over the years. I'm currently using some of the Super-line with the Cica (Centella) mask, a Squalane moisturizer, and I even bought the Holy Hydration plus the Night cream for my mom that have been favorites.

I really like the texture of the serum. I actually bought a Missha set that includes this serum and the Time Revolution. I'm kind of on a Probiotics kick.  

I actually mention this in my last post. If I had picked between the very popular Aqua Cure based on price and usability I would pick this. Also, it took me forever to get thru lol. 

I really like this cleanser, would recommend it to sensitive skin types.

This was great as a base for makeup.

Really love this product and it is great if you want to achieve the Glass Skin look. Pair this with a highlighting cream /serum. 

This does have a Tea tree scent and skin may purge because of the tea tree but after your skin gets accumulated it will help to keep acne at bay.

I'm so happy you can get this over the counter for everyone. You all know that I had retinol prescribed to me as a teenager and it has wonderful benefits so if you're struggling with ance I would try this or get a doctor to prescribe you a higher dose plus a routine to follow. The derm prescribed me retinol, sulfur face wash or you can get ointment to spot treat, and moisture plus SPF.

I watched a Dr. Dray video and I think it was about body odor and now I'm on my second bottle. If you can't afford it there are a lot of benzoyl peroxide wash-offs on the market at different price points. However, I would like to try the Lume brand that does about the same thing.

I bought this because I thought I would be traveling last year. I also bought Nivea body cream which I'm also working through during this winter. My skin is usually really dry so having this really helped and it has mild scent.

This is another black-owned brand. They have a line of hair care and I really love the smell of this product. Castor Oil is very moisturizing and is similar in consistency of Coconut oil so it would be great for hair and body.

Love this in my baths and very moisturizing.

This mask is great but my first mask of the year was a banana mask. However, when I finished it I was really sad lol.

I have bought this shampoo time and time again. It is great for pH balancing the scalp and all their products smell like Citrus. I currently trying to use up the deep conditioner.

Ichikami I think was alluded to in the video I linked to in my Rice Water post. So if you want to add this to hair treatment day you can. It's very softening and even used on my wigs because of the floral scent (plus my eyes are very sensitive to certain scents I used it so often but the brand has options now.

I looked for a cheaper SheaMoisture brand and bought this purely because it had similar scents as the very Defunct Wen Haircare. I also had the leave-in condition but was not my favorite due to the heavy artificial coconut scent.

Neutral

Love the hydrogel eye patches and the amount you get just not the serum.

Every time I see a snail product I have to think about their just like 1% of snail filtrate in this product. I feel like I'm being scammed but at the same time it does moisturize so I'm conflicted.

I bought this to see what all the hype was about this product. My only gripe with this product was the top and dipping my hand into the product was very tedious. 

The was a really interesting serum and it also smelled like Tamanu oil but I didn't mind it. Also, it contained olive oil and I'm surprised now that I didn't breakout. I'm wondering now if fermenting Olive oil possibly won't cause me to break out in hives.  I will say I would not recommend buying this if you have sensitivity to yeast.

I almost forgot to post this Cleansing Oil by Goodal. I actually wasn't a big fan because they used mineral oil but I became conflicted. Why you ask? Well because I bought Sioris Cleansing Oil which I'm still currently using but actually not a fan of for a few reasons but ended up mixing what I had left of this with the Sioris to make a more pleasant experience. 

No Buy

I paid a pretty penny for TheFacehop's Yehwadam Snow Lotus Brightening Pearl Capsule Cream product. It's literally a precursor for the Tone-up cream. I used it as a base for Diba Cushion to help it match better with match my skin tone. And it does have a fragrance so I had some skin sensitivity.

I'm currently using the Dr. Gio Cushion which I love btw. This cushion like I stated above, it did not match me and I went through the color match system they had on the website a couple of times to make sure I was picking the correct shade. And the cushion came to me near its expiration date and my skin broke out every time I wore it. My other problem with actually both websites is that their promo codes did not work or the website had the promo codes disabled.

I actually got this in a skincare giveaway from Beauty Cookie and as you see I did not finish it. The smell of the product was not pleasant and it actually reminded me of my Tamanu Oil with its earthiness and Playdough. I don't know if I got a bad batch since the minority of people online love the scent and the moisturizing effect it has on the skin. Also, this product has been sitting in a dark and cool place since my bathroom area does not have a window.

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