Hello my name is Rowena.
I used to work in the beauty industry.
Inspite of the ample salary, the “impressive” title and the enviable perks of free cosmetics and my weekly “Hello” magazine – making women feel ugly inadequate just so I can sell more lipsticks just did not feel right.
When I left, I started this blog revealing the lies in the biz. It was an angry blog which was an instant hit to a modest number of fans. After all, an angry bitch can be quite a funny bitch.
But the blog was short lived.
The hate that fueled it was exhausting. Rejecting the industry that fed me and throwing my lifelong experience hasn’t exactly made my life a Met Gala.
While all the basic bitches of the world was busy taking pumpkin latté selfies in their outfit du jour, I went through a period of career improvisations, of struggle after struggle, of going from plan A to B to C to D till I lost track which plan I was executing anymore. Of sleepless nights over unpaid debts, broken partnerships, lost friendships, alienated families, homelessness, starvation, depression and dire hopelessness.
Until now…
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I realized that inspite of life’s seeming “injustice”, I am in control of my life and responsible for what it has become. Not the beauty industry, the politicians nor the capitalists. Because giving them all the blame means I am a helpless victim with no control of my life.
A victim, I was not.
It was I who bought into the notion that I was not enough and had to prove myself to the world. That I was in competition with other women in a dog eat dog world.
It was I who valued career success over interpersonal wellness, that this job is more important than a good night’s sleep, a home cooked meal, and sunny walks with a loved one.
I bought the car, the Big Mac, the 5€ t-shirt. And the lip balm too because it’s for a good cause.
After having been through hell and back, I have come to make sense of myself and this society I helped create. Of this interconnected world of choices I have taken for granted.
I now know that change will not come from the beauty industry, the politicians, nor the capitalists. Change will come from myself.
You might be angry, might be struggling, might be hopeless. This blog would like to take your hand through them and encourage you to keep going until you rediscover love.
You have a choice. Choose love over envy, over anger, over fear.
Because only in love will you find your peace, happiness and beauty that does not expire with the next beauty trend. Choose love and the world will change with you.
And so, this blog which could not be sustained by hate is reborn in love.
Because only love is sustainable. Only love has beauty that lasts.
Let’s blog on bitches!
Rowenaisms: Life Learnings In <288 Characters
Eat My Blog
Why you shouldn’t fear whitening soaps
In Asia, you will lament the fact that all they sell are whitening soaps- because er, people in Asia want to be white much the same way white people want to be bronzed. Whitening soaps have enzymes which promote sloughing off of the outer layers of the skin. Skin has a 28 day cycle to […]
Slow Travel to Italia
This blog has had its share of accolades. I can boast to be perhaps the only beauty blog that has male heterosexual followers (for realz). I am also one to tell you not to spend your money but rather hold on to it. But I also had criticisms for not knowing how to celebrate […]
No BS Make Up Guide For Engineers
Author’s note: Could be interesting read for men who just couldn’t understand how “that” could have taken two hours and 14 products. —————– The only rule in make-up is that there are no rules- yadda yadda yadda. – said all those who wrote a whole book on make up. ————— […]
The BB on BB Creams
–> Beauty Balm has the same initials as Beauty and the Bullshit. Coincidence? I think not. I have been ignoring all this BB cream hooha for the longest time – i figure that at some point, all this – developed by ( insert adjective) German doctor, does (insert logic-defying miracle wonders) […]
To my personal bullshit whistle blower
Today marks the 25th death anniversary of my father. He was a brilliant inventor, a so-so entrepreneur and a progressive communist. He shunned all things pretentious and can speak heart to heart with anyone – from the president of the country to the street prostitute (but he does have a flaw of discriminating against idiots). […]
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Recent Posts
- Mind Your FAQs
September 27, 2019 - Smelly Pussy
September 20, 2019 - Are you happy yet?
September 30, 2019 - How To Dump Consumerism Like An Old Boyfriend
April 17, 2018 - When is It Ok To Lie To Kids? (The Secret Primer On How To Be Ballsy)
November 7, 2017
