April 4, 2025

Things I Don’t Care About After Blogging Beauty for Nearly 20 Years

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I feel like I’ve seen everything there is to see in the beauty world after nearly twenty years of being a beauty blogger. Crazy trends, unusual beauty products, tons of new products, etc…etc….! It’s been a wild ride that I’m grateful for everyday of my life because not only do I get to speak to all of you everyday but also, I just love beauty and I love doing this even after all this time. I dunno how long I’ll be doing this but I can’t imagine a time I won’t be doing this or don’t want to do it. The beauty world and community has changed so much over the years and it’ll only change further in the years ahead but I do hope no matter what happens that I’ll be here for it and hopefully, you’ll be here with me too.

I know I’ve learned a lot over the years. I mean, I still don’t know how to apply makeup correctly LOL! But I think I learned a lot about people and why they love makeup, about products and how to use them and what they do, about ingredients, and I also, learned how to love who I am and not to be so critical about myself. With growth, experience, and a little self love I also find myself not caring or sweating the small stuff.

In nearly twenty years of beauty blogging these are the things I don’t care about anymore.

Packaging
I used to gush over packaging. It was a massive factor in my beauty purchases. I admit, I’d make a purchase if the packaging was good and the product inside wasn’t even all that special. Beautiful packaging was something I adored. But I’ve found in recent years it’s really not as important to me as it once was. I’m really more concerned about the color, the formula, and how the product performs. Does it come in a cheap plastic compact but has the smoothest, most beautiful finish? Sign me up! Does it come in a fancy, heavy gold compact with beautiful diamonds accenting it but the formula is sheer and applies patchy? I’ll skip thanks every so much. On a rare day, I’ll get excited about packaging but it’s very, very rare I do. It’s just not something that I look for in beauty anymore and simply not something I care about.

Critical comments under the guise of being helpful
Thank you for your help but telling me I look old because of my blush shade or some other backhanded comment under the guise you’re helping me out isn’t something I care about anymore. I used to take comments to heart but I find myself caring less and less about them nowadays. If you want to help me out I’ll happily accept your criticism but not if it’s in a backhanded way. I just feel like there’s a way nicer way to offer help without being a d*ck about it. I find myself caring less about crappy comments and just let people say whatever and move on from it.

Ok, Say What You Want
I don’t get this one a lot anymore because I’m surrounded by so much love on this website but occasionally I’ll get a snarky, mean spirited comment. And of course, I’ve been Reddit famous a time or two with plenty of hate coming at me for how I do my makeup, to how I swatch, to the way I do my hair, or dress, etc… When I first started blogging this would upset me and I was sort of shocked anyone would want to direct that much hate on someone they didn’t know. A lot of it was excused with, “Well, she puts herself out there so she deserves it!” I understand it a little bit better now that I’m older and I even sort of get it to some extent. Do I like it? No. Who wants anyone to hate on them but hey, it is what it is and as I get older I find that I care a lot less what people are saying about me particularly ones that are either strangers or just not a part of my life. I just don’t care anymore and I focus on the good not the bad.

Boxes
This one probably should be grouped in with packaging but I do think it deserves a separate discussion. No one told me that when I got older I’d want things to be simpler. I remember as a makeup lover and collector that I’d save every single box and most times I was even storing stuff in the boxes. I’m talking about even the most basic of basic boxes like my MAC Eyeshadows I’d have them all in the boxes. It was a little absurd and perhaps OCDish of me. The last several years I simply don’t care about boxes anymore. SOMETIMES I’ll keep a box but even my LE boxes are just tossed out. I don’t need all these boxes and it’s absurd I ever thought I did. I don’t care about boxes or keeping makeup in their boxes anymore.

No Concealer? No Problem!
There was a time in my life I wouldn’t leave the house without makeup on. It made me feel confident and happy. The older I get the less I wear and sometimes I even go out without any at all. Why am I hiding my skin? I have good skin why am I piling foundation, concealer, blush, and more on when I look perfectly fine (and even younger) without it all? I just don’t care about having a face full of makeup on when I go out anymore.

Brand Pleasing.
I say what I want when I want about who I want. I’m not here to spare the feelings of beauty brands. At one point, in my blogging life I felt like I was being to brand pleasing and I regret that terribly because it did my readers a disservice. I’m not here to brand please. I speak my truth and my mind and if brands don’t like that too bad. This blog is about being honest, telling reader’s what I really think and feel, and not about saying great things about a mediocre product. I simply don’t care about brand pleasing.

This is my beauty life and I just don’t care about certain things anymore and that’s ok because it gives me time to concentrate on more important things. When you aren’t dwelling on the weird or bad stuff you have more time to embrace the good. And that’s how life should be!

Thank you for being with me here for this journey. I appreciate you all!

I receive a small commission if you shop through my link.

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

  • Melissa

    You are the absolute best, Muse! You are the one I always turn to, the one I am uplifted and inspired by — again and again. And some of these divine Holy Grail products you’ve turned me onto over the years continue to make my life that much more beautiful, easy and joyful. Thank you! Deeply grateful!

    • Isabella Muse

      ugh stop I’m going to cry! Thank you Melissa! That was the sweetest comment I’ve read in a long time! Thank you so so so much! I appreciate you so damn much! 🙂 I hope we have many more years ahead together!

  • Fey

    Fantastic insights. I hope to grow a thick skin someday. My makeup photos got criticized online a lot, and I stopped posting makeup or doing fun looks for almost a year because of the negative association. When I looked back on those photos a couple years later, I realized how cool and fun they were. Some were actually really good. I was too hard on myself. Besides, I get real-life compliments on rainbow looks and gaudy eyeshadow. That means more to me. I’ve always loved how you apply blush! The funniest thing is that saturated blush is finally trendy again. You were ahead of the time 😉 a trendsetter before Sabrina Carpenter

    • Isabella Muse

      I think with age you just start not caring as much anymore. Or at least that’s how it is for me. I mean, if someone I talk to daily like you for example did it I’d be hurt by that as we comment back and forth daily together and if you suddenly said you hated a look I did and I looked ugly or some other such out of the way comment it would sting. But if someone starts making snarky little comments that I don’t know or interact with daily I just don’t really care anymore. Time is too precious to be discouraged by hate. Gonna go all Cass Elliot on you here but Make your own kind of music Sing your own special song Make your own kind of music Even if nobody else sings along. You do you if it makes you happy that’s what’s important. Don’t stop posting those photos! Post them! I’d love to see btw! And if they make a crappy comment ignore and still post! You deserve to be happy don’t let them get you down. LOL thanks Fey 🙂 I love you for that! I hope you’ll get back on board and post again! And direct me to where you’re posting so I can be your cheerleader!

  • Mary

    Thank you Muse for all the insights, swatches and reviews you have shared in the almost 20 years. I have learned much and am grateful for the time and effort you put forth.

  • DiDi

    I love your honesty. It’s part of what makes you so beautiful. Tune out the negative people and keep being you.

  • Sarah

    Your blog has been a part of my life for 15+ years now! I found your review of the Maybelline Stiletto mascara way back when, and I’ve been reading ever since. You are appreciated!!

    • Isabella Muse

      awww sarah thank you so much for being with me that long! I appreciate it more than you’ll know 🙂

  • Kathryn

    I’ve loved reading your blog over the years, long may it continue! Sending sincere thanks from the UK x

    • Isabella Muse

      thank you so so much Kathryn! I appreciate you being here with me on this adventure 🙂

  • Emily

    I remember being 19/20 and reading your blog in my room and enjoying it so much. Makeup was so fun back then. Some of my favorites I wish they would bring back: borghese nail polish (so many of the colors were absolutely beautiful), h.i.p. jelly balm, Almay intense i-color in amethyst, Smackers sponge on layer cake glosses, bonne belle flip lipsticks and liplix and Nars Captiva lipstick. There’s probably a lot more I’m forgetting but congrats on your nearly 20 years! Oh yeah… mac eyeshadow in Hepcat r.i.p.

    • Isabella Muse

      oh my gosh Emily thank you for being on this journey so long with me 😀 hepcat oh wow that’s a memory! I have so many things I would want back! So many great shades and formulas that we’ll never see again 🙁 Thanks for this comment 🙂 made my day!

  • Molly

    20 years?! And I still can’t line my lips properly?! lol, I really can’t believe it. But congrats. You’re truly the OG of makeup bloggers!

    • Isabella Muse

      not officially here but counting (17 here) but live journal and my space well over 20 LOL! 😀 LOLLLLLL! same same! I still can’t apply blush or eyeshadow right! Thanks Molly 😀

  • katherine l rasmussen

    Love you, Muse! I’ve been following you since 2010! Wow, I can’t believe that. You have been my only go to since. I enjoy you, your sweet precious face, your reviews, and now this cute lil baby dog! Thank you for being for all women of all ages, races, skin tones/types. Thank you for always encouraging us to love ourselves and be confident! Sincerely and with Love, Katherine R

    • Isabella Muse

      Katherine I’m going to cry now thank you so so so much for this it made my entire day! You are so sweet and thank you for being my friend for so long 🙂 I appreciate that more than you’ll ever know and I love you so much for it 🙂 Sniff! I’m literally teary now! My eyeliner is going to run and I’m thanking you for that 😀