#askmalu

[malusokay]

i’ve been weird for a few months in that deeply unglamorous way where your life changes a bit and suddenly posting feels like being caught in the kitchen at 3am eating shredded cheese out of the bag.

i miss being casual online.

[malusokay]

What's your favorite shower sent combo?

I really just buy whatever smells most aggressively like vanilla haha

My hair care is much more thought out; I changed it recently because Olaplex was lowkey starting to ruin my hair 

[malusokay]

i keep meaning to become the sort of person who puts everything away properly but then where would the atmosphere come from

[malusokay]

i love when a room looks like someone either got ready for a date or hexed a small village. those are the interiors i trust. sterile spaces make me think the owner has done something unforgivable and is trying to remove fingerprints.

[malusokay]

hey malu! do you have any tips on how to rest properly? <3

I wish I did but unfortunately I'm still trying to figure that one out myself lmao

[malusokay]

can you post more of your fashion content here? tiktok kind of annoys me, but I always loved your posts <3

of courseee what do you guys want to see?

[malusokay]

hi Malu! do you use any filter for your Instagram pictures? if not, how do you keep your feed so cohesive?

hiii <3 What I usually do is lower the saturation and vibrancy a bit and then play around with the warmth. I also have an album in my camera roll that’s basically my feed plus whatever photo I’m thinking of posting next, and I just tweak the Apple editing settings until it sort of fits. Very unscientific, a lot of trial and error.

Right now I’m trying to shift everything a little darker for winter, but it’s a slow process, which you can probably tell from my lack of posting lol.

One thing I’ve noticed is that photos almost never look good if you mess too much with exposure. I usually leave that alone and instead lift the shadows slightly and lower the darkness, which gives a more natural, cosy look. I also avoid changing contrast because it tends to make photos look harsher or less sharp. Tinting a tiny bit pink helps with cohesion for my feed specifically.

For me, having one fixed filter never worked for me because the lighting is never the same, so everything ends up looking weird. You honestly get the best results by just playing around and trying to match the overall vibe each time. It’s annoying, but it works hahaha

[malusokay]

Hi, Malu! I'm really struggling with self-esteem, especially after a really bad breakup, and I don't really have friends to rely on. Do you have any tips on how to build self-esteem, especially while being alone?

Hii I’m really sorry you’re going through that. Breakups can absolutely wreck your sense of self, especially when you don’t have a big support system around you. You’re not weak for feeling this way, you’re reacting to loss and sudden emotional quiet.

After my own breakup, I put my energy back into things that were solid and mine. University, the gym, my routines, my interests, reading, writing. Not as a distraction, but as a way of re-centring myself. When you don’t have many people around, structure becomes important. It gives your days weight and direction, and that alone helps stabilise self-esteem.

I think self-esteem is less about feeling good about yourself and more about feeling anchored. Knowing what you do with your time. Knowing what you’re working towards. Taking care of your body even when nobody is watching. Those things quietly rebuild confidence without needing external validation.

Being alone can actually sharpen that process. Without constant input from others, you get clearer on who you are and what matters to you. It’s not always comfortable, but it’s very honest. You start building a relationship with yourself that isn’t dependent on someone else choosing you.

If you’re struggling right now, I’d focus on small, concrete things. Commit to a routine. Pick one thing you want to improve or deepen and give it real attention. Self-esteem tends to follow action, not the other way around.

You’re not doing this wrong. You’re just learning how to stand on your own again, and that’s a strength, even if it doesn’t feel like one yet <3