38 Comments
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Nancy's avatar

i live near books are magic so happen to see you around a lot, and my wife & i have started saying "it's giving emma straub" (huge compliment) when we put together an especially fun outfit. hope that helps you feel more powerful!!

(also - if you happen to get any magic facial/mask recommendations, please share for the similarly botox-averse.)

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Emma Straub's avatar

HA! well, from one deranged closet to another, high five. <3

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SK's avatar

I totally agree with the teeth/face thing. Please can we stop this trend before everyone looks exactly the same!! I have trouble looking directly at those faces lately. They don't look younger, they just look like a person their age who had fillers and Botox. (I say that in the most empathetic/kind-hearted way. We are being scammed into thinking we need these expensive/dangerous/unnecessary surgeries and treatments, UGH)

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Maggie's avatar

Plastic surgery has ruined Nicole Kidman for me - my eyes literally can’t figure out her face and I find her unwatchable now. It’s awful what women feel they have to do, though men aren’t far behind now…. What on earth has Brad Pitt done to himself?

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Beth's avatar

This happens a lot to me. I find myself squinting at the tv…”is that…?”

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SK's avatar

Right?!?!?

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Erica's avatar

My dermatologist (whose job is supposed to be determining which of my freckles is actually be cancer, not critiquing my appearance) is always trying to sell me on Botox. She says my forehead wrinkles are the only thing people see when they look at me, which is great because it means they aren't seeing my unfashionable clothes or misbehaving children.

But she did convince me to have IPL, which is when they use a laser to zap away your sunspots. (You probably don't need this. Nobody needs this. But I had a lot of sunspots.) It hurt, but afterwards I really did look younger and feel more confident walking around barefaced. Annoyingly, the sun continues to exist, so the sunspots come back.

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Christy Moyer's avatar

I have big teeth (thanks dad) and a bit of an overbite, and I still have moments of wondering if I should get them “fixed.” I want to live in a world with people who have interesting faces and features and love themselves in spite of (because of?!) them. Today, that starts with me. ♥️

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Maggie's avatar

Yes,yes, yes!!

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Nicolle Sloane's avatar

I have a shiny Botox forehead; I am ashamed to admit it right now. I did it. It looks weird. I hated my "elevens," as they call them, and looked older than I wanted to. But the shiny forehead is SO WEIRD! I wasn't expecting it. I'm done. You look terrific and quirky in your outfit, just as a novelist should when she goes to meet with her publishers. You and I met years ago in Memphis at a book convention. I can't remember if you were there as a bookseller or an author, either way, we sat together and ate chicken and waffles at a gathering of some sort in a restaurant. It was fun. It was fun to get to know you! :)

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Kelsey's avatar

I fear that photo is what will push me over the edge to get the pink iridescent Danskos I have been eyeing every time Instagram is suggesting I NEED THEM... because, I do.

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Laura Perkins's avatar

When my husband and I first started dating, he told me, "Never fix your teeth. It's what gives you personality." I was horrified, mortified, and still haven't gotten over it. But I get it. It's real and human.

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Beth's avatar

YES on the teeth! Just stop it! Our teeth are not meant to look like Chiclets, and I adore the personality of real teeth! (Though I know there are those whose teeth are damaged for various reasons and getting caps and a brighter smile is a huge boost of confidence

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Kate's avatar

I love that as a power outfit!

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Julie's avatar

Enjoy your teeth and faces (I want a tshirt with that)! Shiny botox foreheads are mesmerizing in not a good way when I would prefer to focus on the person/actor, etc

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Amanda Jane Jones's avatar

I might have to make one!

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Gina Teskey's avatar

Yes, yes, yes, 100% yes.!!! You go girl, so fierce. 💞💞

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Amanda's avatar

Thank you for the heads up that there is First Cat in Space merch!

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Jackie Thomson's avatar

Thank you!! As a owner of a few crookedy teeth despite years of braces, I like feeling seen. I wasn't ever that self conscious about them, they're very Kirsten Dunst, until my kids dentist kept repeatedly asking me if I too was interested in braces (no, no I am not), and now I feel more self conscious about them than I probably should.

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Amanda's avatar

My last dentist asked me if I was interested in braces and I said, madly/sadly, "I already HAD braces!!!" :(

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Alison Schramm's avatar

Micro-needling! Basically you jab your skin for an hour with tiny needles and your body then goes into recovery mode and produces all the good stuff (collagen etc). Downside is you look crazy for a couple days- but I do feel way “glowier” for weeks/months after.

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Maureen O’Connor Saringer's avatar

Facial stuff: I have tiny facial spider veins so I’ve had pulsed light therapy several times and I swear I think it’s helped improve collagen/reduce wrinkles. I would normally do it like once every two years or so. Costs maybe $150 at least here. It feels like they’re snapping a rubber band on your face, so not terrible. I’ve also had laser for the same thing and I feel like I didn’t have the same results for the tiny veins. And my face swelled up for a few days. But it’s hard to find the IPL anymore bc everyone does laser. I’m 65 and my skin looks pretty good. I also go to the dermatologist every six months and get pre-cancerous things frozen off. Also super serious about sunscreen.

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LF's avatar

I am sooo pro original teeth!!!!!

Also, your lipstick look is incredibly chic!

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