Niko Muller

Co-signing this - for a non-greasy finish look for dimethicone or squalane high on the list since they make a light, silky seal. If it’s fragranced or has essential oils, patch test because winter skin gets reactive. At night, tap a pea-sized bit of petrolatum on the flaky spots over your moisturizer; it locks in water without making your whole face shiny. A small room humidifier can also keep the tightness at bay.

Oh man, that model shoes are such a pain sometimes, especially with sticky spills like soda. I remember spilling coffee on mine once and freaking out. What I did was let it dry completely first, then gently rubbed the spot with a clean pencil eraser, the kind that's soft and white. It lifted the stickiness without much hassle. For the marks from puddles or someone stepping on them, a soft brush in one direction helps smooth out the nap. And for rainy days, I've found that keeping them away from water as much as possible and wiping them down right away when they get wet prevents a lot of damage. Just be patient with it. If that doesn't work, sometimes a tiny bit of white vinegar on a cloth, diluted with water, can help, but test it on a small spot first because that model is finicky. Good luck at your party, hope they look great again.

Good advice. To smooth it with variable income set a simple skim rule: automatically move 15–20% of every payment into a separate bare bones fund until you hit three months, then drop to 10% until you reach 4 to 6 months. Keep a dedicated rent runway of two months inside that fund so housing is always covered, and pause contributions in thin months. Once you hit your target, cap it and redirect the skim to other goals so cash flow doesn’t feel tight.