March 5, 2015

Do You Selfie?

muse selfie

I feel selfies aren’t just about social media anymore. It’s just a really common way to take a photo isn’t it? I can’t say I “selfie” but thinking on it I realized yeah, I kinda do because Musings of a Muse is filled with selfies. But I’m not one for constantly posting self images of myself on Instagram or Faceboook etc…! I’m not terribly comfortable doing so as I’m not the most photogenic person in the world.

Now, funny, some people are annoyed by selfies but I personally love them. I really like looking through other people’s selfies. I find the selfie culture absolutely fascinating. I use the self view on my camera, tablet, or phone to check my makeup but I’m not really taking shots of myself daily. So the fact that people do and proceed to post one or several a day absolutely blows my mind. To me it translates as they are a very confident person and comfortable in their own skin!

Posting photos of myself on Musings is very difficult and it’s something I don’t think a lot about because if I analyze it too much I likely won’t post shots at all. So I do a lot of it without thinking. Some people say bloggers are brave to put themselves out there for the world to see, others say we deserve any criticisms we get because we do put ourselves out there. I’m of the mentality we likely don’t think of it much and just slap the photo up without over analyzing it to death because if we did we’d likely become less brave and a lot more uncomfortable doing it. Or at least that’s the case for me.

In the end, I don’t think Musings of a Muse counts for selfies so I’m going to say I don’t selfie…often. But on a rare occasion I do.

Do you selfie?

How often?

Why do you selfie?

Do share!

P.S. I might not selfie but I chronically post photos of my food. But that’s an entirely other ballgame isn’t it?

82 Comments

About the Muse

Isabella MuseIsabella is just an average everyday geeky girl who doesn’t blend her eyeshadow correctly, wears too much blush, and hopes she never finds her holy grail products because she likes the thrill of the chase so much. Her mission is to bring you super honest reviews on makeup, skincare, fragrance and all things beauty. She’s in no way an expert on the topic and she sure as hell isn’t a super model. But she’s passionate about makeup and is seeking like-minded individuals that like pina coladas, getting caught in the rain, and ones that enjoy spending hundreds of dollars at Sephora without feeling buyer’s remorse. If you’re that person feel free to reach out and leave a comment or follow me on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Bloglovin‘.

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Comments

  • Mary Kay

    I don’t selfie much myself. I am a pretty skilled amateur photographer and post a lot of pictures, but I’d rather show myself through how I see the world rather than how people see me. I could be accused of hiding behind my camera and there’s some truth in that. I do have profile pictures and shots of me with people and at places, but I don’t consider them selfies. I do have friends who take lots of selfies and frankly I don’t get it, and some of those people border on narcissistic. A few selfies from people is a nice way to get a ‘picture’ of their personality, but I don’t like to see them everyday. I loved yours last night because you don’t post a lot of them!

    • Isabella Muse

      I think that’s lovely Mary Kay! seeing the world through the camera is a different and exciting experience sometimes 🙂 I kinda like the selfie subculture, I enjoy looking through people’s looks and stuff so it doesn’t really annoy me or anything. AWWW that’s really sweet thanks 🙂 I think I make up for it here as I’m constantly posting photos of my mugs in reviews haha!

  • sunshine

    HAIR! ive always wanted to see your hair down when you do swatches/reviews. gorgeous!

      • DivaDebbi

        OMG Is,
        YES. Your hair is gorgeous and you look stunning. I selfie just for me. Andrea Robinson suggested in her book that you get a better perspective than looking in the mirror. I think she’s right. I often re tweak my hair after seeing how it really appears. Its an odd phenom.

        • Isabella Muse

          oh you’re lovely thanks debbi! I agree, I feel like my camera phone shows me something I’m not seeing in my mirror!

  • Christina

    I think you are beautiful and you should lose the hairband and show us more pictures with your hair down, or up, or whatever you want. just don’t hide them <3 And you could definitely take more selfies 😉

    • Isabella Muse

      thanks Christina you’re too kind. not really one for selfies but enjoy looking at other selfies!

  • The Silver Nail

    No, I don’t selfie. I understand people doing it sometimes but to do it constantly (not that you, do, Muse!) is annoying and self-centered. I think more people should look up and look at the world around them, not at themselves so much.

    Also, can the fad of taking a photo of everything one eats and drinks and then posting it just die? Please??

    • Isabella Muse

      lol can’t help it. I post food porn a lot no idea why 😀

      • The Silver Nail

        Muse, I’m afraid my post came across as mean and “Bah, humbug!” Sorry.

        I’m just tired of going out with friends and they seem unable to pay attention to me for more than 5 seconds without answering their phone, writing or receiving texts, or taking pictures of themselves and their food. To me that says, “Hey, you aren’t worth my time. I would rather be elsewhere. You aren’t as interesting as a bunch of inanimate pixels.” Sadness.

        • Isabella Muse

          it didn’t! you’re fine! and you’re right. Sometimes we forget to actually interact with each other when hanging out because we’re on our phones! INSANE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  • Maria

    Hi Muse. You look great with your hair down. Beautiful wavy hair. So used to seeing you with your headband. By the way. I do not post my selfies. I do not like seeing pictures of myself. Ps. I finally was able to use liquid eyeliner on upper eyelid today. I have always did it crooked with unsteady hands. I used Revlon color stay skinny liquid eyeliner for first time and it was easy. I used brown shade called mahogany.

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thanks Maria! I don’t either, I HATE seeing pics of myself 🙂 yay happy to hear it! 🙂 I’m always klutzy with liner too don’t feel bad!

  • Gillie

    I agree with sunshine! I understand that you want to highlight the makeup, but when I see the rare picture of you with your hair down, I feel like we’re seeing Muse The Person not Muse The Blogger. I love it!

    Of course you want to retain as much anonymity as possible, because you’re just a normal person living a normal life. I respect that, but I won’t lie and say that I’m not just a little curious about Muse The Person, because I find Muse The Blogger pretty interesting. 😉

    Now, do I selfie?? I do use my cell phone camera as a mirror, especially to see the back of my head, but I usually delete any pictures, unless I get a really good one, and then that becomes my profile picture. So, I guess the answer is “yes and no.”

    I actually saw someone using a selfie-stick at the ski area the other day. He snapped the picture, then realized I was watching and looked horribly embarrassed. I felt a little bad, but I had to laugh!

    • Isabella Muse

      haha Gillie I like that thought 🙂 I don’t think many people are interested in Muse the person and just want to blogging aspect and makeup! I tend to like my hair out of my way when I go to work and that’s how you see me. In the AM, makeup applied, getting ready for work and snapping a pic at the same time for the blog. But thank you, it really is flattering you’d like to know more about me as a person 🙂 <3! LOL! I have one! but don't use it for myself, I use it when I go on vacation with a friend and we don't have anyone around to snap our photos 😀

      • Christina

        Yes, yes, YES. I would also like to know more about you. I like your “About”-page. The way you describe yourself is fun, quirky and super lovely. You must be a fun person to have around.

        • Isabella Muse

          awww christina thanks 🙂 <3! Quirky, for sure, Dorky for sure, weird, absolutely hehe 🙂

  • Staci

    I think there’s a big difference between a selfie here and there and daily selfies. I’ve had days where I thought I looked pretty and wanted to capture it. So I get it. Some people go over board. Even worse is the fitness selfie. I have yet to figure out what bare breasts and butts have to do with fitness. Cover that up please.

    • Isabella Muse

      HAHA are there fitness selfies? I see a lot of yoga selfies though!

  • Ari

    I have managed to resist selfie-ing (is that a word?) but only because I’m one of the last people on earth to not have a smartphone. My five year old slide phone that I got before college doesn’t have any internet access and an awful camera, which is probably for the best knowing my vain self! I actually love it but it’s on it’s last legs. I fear that when I finally replace it I will fall to temptations and transform into a selfie monster…:P

    • Isabella Muse

      you sound like my dad Ari! he still uses a motorola flip phone hehe!

  • Missy

    You are so gorgeous, you should selfie more often! How can you not, with those big brown eyes?!? 😀

  • reen

    i don’t selfie on social media, I do selfi to check my makeup though (personal use hidden in my cell phone!)…

    I have to admit, people who post TOO MANY selfies do annoy me a bit…occasional selfies r fun to look at!

    • Isabella Muse

      thanks reen! 🙂 most important though do you selfie? 🙂

  • Angel

    Duuude, that selfie of you on IG yesterday was awesome! Your hair looks amazing!! I know you’ve said you’re much more comfortable with it pulled back, but wow Muse, your hair looks great.

    I don’t selfie. I’ve tried, but I look insane every time. Like a different person. I know there is an art to it but I haven’t figured it out yet. I don’t count Bloggers in the selfie category. You’re doing your job.

    A few selfies here and there are fine. But what creeps me out is when I check someone out on IG, then I see their wall of selfies, I just go WAAHHH! Like, do you spend all frickin day just taking pics of yourself?? Thats when it crosses the line for me. A few here and there, fine. 300? No, just no. And the most beautiful girls who post amazing pics, then say they are so ugly. Too much fishing. Some of these peeps have problems.

    • Isabella Muse

      awww Angel you’re da bestest girl I wanna hugs you! 🙂 I do too! dorksville! haha! My selfies are typically awful! I feel like selfies on the blog are def job-like and an entirely other animal. LOL!!!!!!!!!!! oh no! Well, I guess even if you’re drop dead gorgeous sometimes you need to be reassured of it 🙂

      • Angel

        Hugs back at ya 😉 I’ll try to take a selfie with my pugs and send it to you on IG. If I can get them to hold still LOL!

        • Isabella Muse

          haha LIKEWISE! I’ll do one with my dog and tag you ;-D if he can sit long enough!

  • Holly

    I selfie rather often whereas I never really did even as recently as last year. I am the go-to person among my cohorts–women in our early 40s without a lot of makeup experience/knowledge. I post to show what various products can do and honestly I think I am wicked cute so yes I want to be looked at.

    • Isabella Muse

      HAHAH I LOVE YOU HOLLY! that’s such a beautiful attitude you have “I’m wicked cute to look at” GOOD ON YOU girl!

  • Eli Caroline

    I am so glad that you selfie for the sake of the blog. It’s one thing to see something swatched on your arm, but it’s totally different to see it applied to the face.

    I like selfies a lot – I take a lot of them – but don’t always put them out there on social media. I am also very thankful for filters. HA

  • auntymaim

    Aww man lookit how cute you are! I sometimes take selfies because it’s fun to document a look or a situation (I swear half the selfies I take are of me looking goofily flustered). I’m a fat middle aged lady covered in cathair, so it cleeeearrrly isn’t an exercise in impressing people but rather just sharing candid stuff. But if someone is doing an exercise in impressing people that’s cool too. I think it’s fun to see what anyone has to share as long as its not to boring excess, and sometimes I think that a lot of the anti-selfie (or anti-food-photo!) whining that I see is due to internalized ageism or sexism, it’s a new technology and in general women tend to document and share their leisure more than men.

    • Isabella Muse

      I think you’re probably adorable auntymaim particularly the cat hair haha 😀

  • amy

    No, I don’t “selfie”. Then again, aside from reading a handful of blogs, I don’t do social media, either.

    If someone takes “selfies” for a tangible reason (ie, blog/specific looks), I don’t see a problem with it. However, rando photos border on narcissism. I also find social media accounts specifically dedicated to photos of one’s self for the sake of taking photos, with no actual content, to be kind of sad…

  • Viv

    I don’t selfie or use filters. Maybe it is just laziness. Having your hair down seems to be suit you better.

  • Sarah

    I don’t take selfies… I have so many issues with acne that I’m so self conscious. Yesterday I used the Sephora Pocket Contour, it was kind of petrifying for me to take a selfie even for that! But that tool is fab for contour noobs!

  • Dee

    I very rarely selfie, and when I do I kinda cover up with sunglasses:)Usually when I take a pic and then check it I think, “That’s what I look like? Nope, not posting.” I do like taking food pics. Can’t help it. And my dogs.

    When I saw your selfie on instagram I did a double take because we are so used to seeing your hair up. Your hair is gorgeous! Oh my goodness. And your eyes are so big and beautiful, but we knew that from the blog. You are so pretty and I have a feeling you are just as attractive on the inside.

    I like the glimpses we get of your life that you so nice to share with us on the blog and instagram. I think working and living in your part of the country would be a dream come true.

    • Isabella Muse

      LOL yeah that’s me. I’m all, “Oh god I look like that!??!” haha 😀 aw thanks dee, I’m blushing! That’s sweet!!!!! You have to visit! You’d love NY 🙂

  • Nat

    *everyone goes insane because we’re so happy to see more “Muse with her hair down” pics*

    YAAAAY! You look like an adorable elf – those gorgeous, enormous eyes!!!! Ack, you kill me! 😀

  • Katherine T.

    Muse, you look gorgeous with your hair down! I agree with the other readers here, you should let it down more often. You’re so lucky to have natural curls and waves, I would have to torture my straight hair for hours to look like that

    • Isabella Muse

      thanks so much. Believe me it’s a hassle Katherine! You do not want natural curls and waves, they are a pain to maintain!

  • Paris B

    I’m not much of a selfie-er myself and like you, I’d rather not post any photos on the blog. I can’t deny that it’s helpful though when you’re discussing makeup because it’s always helpful to see how it looks when worn as opposed to just a swatch on the arm (we don’t wear lipstick on our arms do we?!) but critics are harsh and that’s what’s sad. If it’s skincare I don’t see why a face shot is necessary to be honest, unless we want to show before/after pictures.

    But for Instagram, I’m not much into selfies. I can get a bit put off if an account I follow has too many selfies but I post the odd picture of myself just to remind people that hello! there’s a person on this end! LOL

    That said, it’s always nice to see your face, Musey 😀

    • Isabella Muse

      I’m the same way. I try to over come my fear daily and just not think too much about posting a photo! If I think about it too much I’ll end up talking myself out of it. I agree, you can’t get a feel for it on someone’s arm! Yeah, dealing with harsh criticisms is def part of blogging life! I’ve learned to suck it up and not become upset when someone rips into me. I’m also not a greatest photographer nor am I photogenic but hey, I try!? 🙂 HAHA I do that too! I rarely post pics of myself on instagram but occasionally I like to remind people who I am 🙂 And my dear it is always nice to see your beautiful face on instagram, on your blog, or even on Twitter 🙂

  • Ryou

    I feel that many people hate selfies because society still enforces the idea that people (especially women) loving themselves is “vain”. That could also explain songs with lyrics like “You don’t know you’re beautiful, that’s why you’re beautiful”, which annoys me greatly.

    Now, as a plus-sized Asian woman I’ve spent decades being told that I should hate myself and how I look, and that I can only redeem not being normatively beautiful by trying to change how I look.

    Selfies, however, is a powerful tool. I don’t have many pictures from my younger days, and what I have, I hated them. It’s only after I’ve discovered self-portraits while studying photography in college that I’ve started liking pictures of myself. The reason for this is very simple: Unlike pictures of me taken by other people, selfies allow ME to be in full control of how I want the pictures to turn out. The old pictures might be of me, but they’re depiction of how the picture taker sees me, not how I see myself nor how I prefer to present myself to the world.

    The feminist in me has a theory about how this whole thing might be related to how patriarchal values treat women as sex objects, but at the same time it appears to be terrified of female sexuality (slut-shaming, anyone?). I feel that society wants a woman’s (normative) beauty and sexuality to be controlled by (cis) men. Which sucks, because I don’t want to exist to be a decoration nor to be someone else’s version of pretty.

    Sorry for the rant, haha. It always ruffles my feather when society craps on someone solely for not equating humility with hating one’s self. Confidence is not arrogance, folks. (Confidence = “I’m pretty”, Arrogance = “I’m prettier than everyone else”) Also, it’s not really confidence if it relies on whether other people like you or not. Your worth should never be determined by how attractive other people think you are.

    *drops mic*

    • Isabella Muse

      you should NOT HATE yourself Ryou! I’m sure you are beautiful! I agree! Selfies do empower 🙂 I enjoyed reading your response! I didn’t see it as a rant at all! it was great! 🙂

      • Ryou

        Aww, you’re so sweet, thank you! I admit it’s a struggle considering I keep getting messages telling me I should not love myself, but I think I’m at a place where I can be unapologetic about my self-love. If other people have issues with it, it’s their problem. 😉 <3

        • Isabella Muse

          ryou, that’s society for you! I’m a nice person and people treat me like a door mat. How is it acceptable to treat a perfectly nice person so badly?! Society gotta love it 🙂 don’t be sorry for loving yourself! EVER!

  • Joan

    Wow, Isabella! Very pretty pictures. So nice to see you “letting your hair down”. What big beautiful brown eyes you have my dear! I don’t really like selfies myself. I see way too many on Facebook. They get annoying after a while. Joking around one day my husband and I took selfles. Ugh. Delete, delete, delete. LOL.

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thanks Joa. You’re too kind! LOL awww I do that. I take one or two and big old delete 😀

  • Heather F.

    I don’t selfie–my phone doesn’t even have a camera (yeah, it’s that cheap/old! Poor, not hipster). Plus I realized a few years back that when I brought a camera somewhere I was always looking for something to document, rather than looking for something to experience (if that makes sense)? Without my camera, the only way to guarantee remembering a moment is to live it fully in the first place. Sounds kind of new age-y, haha, sorry.

    You are dang gorgeous, though, and your eyes remind me of my little sister’s. She could get away with anything and everything when she used those big brown eyes on my mom!

    • Isabella Muse

      heather, you have a very valid point 🙂 looking at the world with your eyes, not behind a camera does not sound new-age-y to me! aw thanks you’re way TOO kind 🙂

  • Melissa

    Omg girl this is the first time I’ve ever seen your hair, and it is totally gor-jus! You should show more often. I don’t do selfies and in fact have always hated getting my picture taken. I do love to take pictures of things in nature, and when I’m on vacation I’m a photo snapping fool. I can relive those special moments and remember how it looked, smelled, sounded, and felt to be there when I look back at those snapshots. Videos are even better.

    • Isabella Muse

      aw thanks Melissa you’re too kind! 🙂 yeah me too, I can’t be without a cam around my neck when I’m on vacay! I try to capture every moment 😀

  • kellly

    I used to but lately almost never.
    I still think you look so cool without any makeup on at all. You remind me of a Renaissance painting! Your eyes are HUUUUGE, your complexion is so smooth and flawless and with your hair down, you really look like some of those paintings in museums.

    • Nat

      Yes, this! Kellly is correct; you have a very Renaissance look with those curls and your big ‘ole eyes! 😀

      OMG Muse – you should *totally* dress up in an Italian Renaissance dress, with those puffy sleeves and tons of ribbons and your hair all bad-ass curly everywhere. And a little floral wreath on your head! ADORBS! 😀

      • Isabella Muse

        lol…cosplaying renaissance? hm! 🙂 I love you guys!

  • zFashionizta

    I love the way you look with your hair down, makes you look so young…. too young to wear makeup!

  • Amalia

    I’m a long silent follower of you. I have never comment. BUT YOUR HAIR DOWN….AMAZING! A little beautiful girl! I’m ashamed about this, but I Was always curious about your hair. I don’t do selfies either. I look terrible on pictures, unphotogenic, so different from my mirror. Weird? Big hugs from Greece! sorry for my English

    • Isabella Muse

      hi Amalia! your english is fine. WOW thank you 🙂 you’re so lovely to say that 🙂 ME TTOOOOOOOOOOOOO! haha I look AWFUL in photos! I hate taking pics of myself 🙂 I guess some people look amazing in photos but I’m not one of the lucky ones hehe 🙂 xoxoxoxo! Bigger hugs from New York 🙂 <3! Thanks for the beautiful compliment!

  • Michelle Lyman

    I am so glad to have stumbled across this picture of you, you have gorgeous hair and it’s so nice to see it without that headband! You are beautiful as you are!

  • Silvia

    Love your selfies with your wild hair on the loose Muse! Looks so pretty! Being in the beauty business I think you have the sole right to take more selfies. I have the same hair btw, is soft wavy dark brown and tons of volume! Trying to let it grow past shoulder length. Had a horrible person do my highlits three years ago which almost left me bald. Lol! She claimed she knew what she was doing and really should be in jail I wrote her off at Yelp to save others. How disgusting I had been going to her for a few years and someone can do that to you just to grab some quick cash. Never again.
    I don’t take selfies and the few I have are making a funny twisted face. Or I come out laughing like the Dusney hienas. Lol! Oh! Gosh! There’s a male friend at fb he’ll take several not one picture but hundreds holding his grandchildren, showing Miami Beach walking over the sand but his face comes first. He must have an issue thinking he is so hot! Not! Just way too many selfies and some of his friends have commented on it they told him not to include his face only show his cute little grandson. Just way too much! I don’t like seeing plates of food just for the heck of it if friends are dining then ok. but selfies of food no thanks. Whatever.
    I read the note you wrote for Thanksgivings and your blog and you sound like a beautiful person.
    Thanks for all you do!
    Waiting for a discount in Nars to get my daughter the Ignited Eyeshadow palette for Christmas I think is beautiful! I did purchased fircher Give it to me straight from Colourpop as she likes brown colors. Her eyes are brown too she has gorgeous eyes this teeny girl. Mine are hazel greenish I live all those warm colors on myself. I’m cool toned/with red underneath, dark brown wavy hair and hazel eyes and a 5’3 petite.

  • Eileen

    Agree. You are so pretty. More photos of you with your hair down. Pretty please?