I’ve been wearing the Lumi skin from Glam Affair since it was released back in March. In real life time, that’s not very long at all. In Second Life time, though, it feels like ages ago. But does time even matter when you like a skin? You could probably wear the same skin for years and never feel dated, especially with the current state of Second Life. Until LeLutka releases the new PURE mesh heads, most of us are still wearing EvoX heads, and skin designers continue to create beautiful 2048 skins with the same level of skill and quality. There is really no rush to change your look unless you want to.
Glam Affair – Alix skin | w/ Tattoo Layers added to soften the pores/freckles
That said, in Gogo time, four months feels like a long time. I spend an embarrassing amount of time staring at my own face, after all. So today, even though it seems like Glam Affair releases dozens of skins every month, I finally found a new face. The new Alix skin from Glam Affair is available at Equal10. I like most Glam Affair skins, but if I’m going to call something my face, it has to feel instantly familiar. It’s that little moment of, “Ah, there you are,” when I put it on. That’s exactly how I felt with Alix, even though I already knew I would be reaching for Izzie’s to remove the freckles and pores. As you can see, I did just that, and I love the result. The original version is beautiful too, and honestly, a lot of skins in Second Life are released looking more like my edited version. People then use Izzie’s or other tattoo layers to add freckles, pores, highlights, and other details back in. I sometimes go in the opposite direction and remove those details instead. The fact that we can customize skins so easily now is one of my favorite things about Second Life.
ISON recently had a 40% off sale, so I picked up something I do not normally wear, a leather outfit. Paired with the new Truth Verse hairstyle, the whole look reminds me of an anime baddie, and I am kind of obsessed with it. Maybe I need to stop wearing pastel pink and white all the time and lean into dark leather. Then again, let’s not get carried away.
This “currently crashing out” print on the Honey Cropped Tank from The Kiwi Co. feels a little too relatable right now, because mainland has been testing me lately.
When I first went Premium back in 2019 to get a Linden Home, it was also the first time I could finally own mainland. I eventually bought a snowy parcel that I absolutely loved and kept it from 2022 onward. It was extremely landlocked and surrounded on three sides by massive ugly ice walls from neighboring parcels, but somehow I still made it work because I liked the region.
Recently, several abandoned coastal parcels nearby became available after a former neighbor left. I submitted support tickets hoping to expand naturally into the coastline, but instead the parcels were sent individually to auction. I managed to buy some of them, but after getting outbid on the final piece, I realized I was done fighting with the region. The walls finally won.
I still wanted snow land though, so I moved a couple regions over and spent a pretty significant amount acquiring new coastal land through auctions and direct purchase from a land baron. In total, it probably cost around $500 USD worth of Lindens, but I was excited to finally own a beautiful coastal snow parcel.
Then I discovered a 32m micro parcel sitting directly in the middle of my new land.
The owner had no other land in the region and was asking L$32,000 for it.
That isn’t normal land use. It’s extortion.
I submitted another support ticket hoping Linden Lab would step in, especially since Second Life already has a policy against land cutting practices. Unfortunately, my request was denied, and no discretion was used to resolve what is very obviously a bad-faith micro parcel situation. That part is what disappoints me the most.
As someone still relatively new to mainland ownership, I’m starting to understand why so many residents say mainland can be incredibly frustrating. One bad neighbor or one strategically placed micro parcel can completely ruin an otherwise beautiful area.
And if anyone is wondering how my planned move from Gaeta 1 to New Zindra is going, it isn’t. I bought Gaeta 1 land back on April 15, but after realizing I’d likely be at the very end of the migration queue, I decided to put everything up for sale instead. At this point, I’d rather just settle into my snow land and enjoy it in peace.
Happy New Year! I think the future of Second Life skins is leaning into more textured looks, which adds to realism. I don’t usually love textured skins, but they do look so much more realistic than the smooth, flat skin we’re used to. That shift is really obvious with this new Madeline skin from Glam Affair. It’s very textured and very freckled, and while that isn’t normally my preference, I ended up loving it. I did tone it down a little with a few of Izzie’s tattoo fixes, which helped balance everything out.
That move toward texture feels closely tied to PBR, which is now being added not just to environments but to avatars as well. Because of that, I expect skins to keep changing in 2026, adding more depth in ways that make our avatars look more real and less flat. Even though PBR has some interesting moments, I still think it’s unfortunately a turn off for a lot of current residents. Change is difficult, especially when you’ve been around long enough to remember how things looked before. Maybe newer residents, who don’t have that comparison, will like it more.
All of this ties into the bigger picture of where Second Life is right now. When I decided to close my region at the end of 2024, I had a strong feeling that 2025 was going to be a difficult year in real life, and that it made sense to pull back spending in Second Life. I’m glad I stuck to that decision all year and didn’t bring the region back, even though I wanted to at least a dozen times. I also won’t be bringing it back in 2026 because of the economy, both in Second Life and in real life. There isn’t a lot of growth yet, and it feels like the Lindens are panicking.
I recently watched a snippet of an interview with Brett Linden on MetaRealities’ YouTube channel, and what really stood out to me was how much growth is needed for survival. Needed. Not just for Second Life as a company, but for the creators who make a living here. You can only get so much out of the current residents, which is why attracting new people feels so urgent right now.
So I’m ending one year and starting the next in a much calmer mindset. I rang in the New Year in this cozy Eboshi pajamas set from Aurun at Anthology. Comfort and chill is the vibe I’m going for this holiday season, so I paired them with the Not Tired Bow Slips from The Kiwi Co.
Unless you’re new to Second Life, you already know that every December LeLutka gives out two free mesh heads. They’ve been doing this for about five years now, so it’s something residents expect and genuinely look forward to. Weeks before December even arrives, I see people in the official LeLutka Discord asking daily when the “12 Days of Christmas” is starting, with the hype steadily building.
I’ve always thought that if they suddenly stopped doing it one year, it would be a bit of a letdown. Yes, it’s a free gift and no one is entitled to anything, but it’s become a tradition. It’s something longtime customers look forward to and it’s also a great way for new residents to dip their toes in and start the new year with a brand new face.
This year, LeLutka is doing things a little differently. The heads are no longer free for everyone, they’re free for previous customers only. There’s also no 12 Days event this year. While there isn’t a collaborative gift giving event, I’m sure brands will still be generous on their own since they enjoy the traffic and publicity.
LeLutka Holiday Announcement
This year, we will not be hosting our traditional 12 Days of Christmas event.
Real life has been particularly hectic for us, and for the first time in five years, our CSR team truly deserves a proper Christmas break rather than working nonstop through the holidays 🙂 At the same time, our focus has been fully on the development of our new line of heads, which requires an enormous amount of time, testing, and attention. Organising a full event like 12 Days of Christmas also means weeks of preparation, coordination with designers, region rentals, promotions, and constant support, and this year we simply did not have the capacity to do both properly.
The holiday season is about giving, and we appreciate the understanding of our community as we take a different approach this year.
That said, we deeply appreciate our customers and the continued support you have shown LeLUTKA over the years. Because of that, we are still giving back.
The free heads have been added to all existing LeLUTKA customers in our database.
Every eligible customer has been gifted two heads:
Vela, our female head
Rune, our male head
You will find them in the Redelivery terminal, under the “Gifted to You” tab.
Please keep in mind that this is Second Life, and there are a lot of you. The server will almost certainly be under heavy load and may struggle or temporarily fail, much like busy regions do during peak events. Your gifts are there and they are yours. If you do not receive them immediately, you will shortly. Please be patient and avoid clicking repeatedly, as that only puts unnecessary strain on the system.
To our customers, and to every hardworking designer and creator in Second Life, we wish you a peaceful and happy Christmas. Thank you for your continued support, loyalty, and understanding over the years. We wish you all the very best for 2026.
Even though LeLutka is a private business and not Linden owned, it’s such a major part of the Second Life economic ecosystem. So many brands rely on LeLutka staying popular and relevant so they can continue selling skins, makeup, and accessories made specifically for their heads. I’ve always thought it made perfect sense for LeLutka to give away heads once a year. It helps them stay dominant and ensures their partners keep creating products that elevate the brand all year long.
Other mesh head brands have followed this same model, often giving away free heads to capture market share. There are even free LeLutka heads available in the Second Life library.
Unfortunately, for new residents or people who have never purchased from LeLutka, there won’t be a free head this year. That said, I imagine at this point nearly everyone owns something from LeLutka, so the number of people missing out is probably pretty small.
To get the mesh head, you’ll need to go to the LeLutka store and touch the Redelivery kiosk on the wall, or use the Redelivery HUD in your inventory. Here are the details I found posted in their Discord:
This year’s gift heads are for existing customers only. Meaning, only folks who have bought/received something from Leltuka in the past. Everyone in the redelivery system as of the announcement had the free heads added to their redelivery.
If you have never gotten anything from Lelutka before, buying something now or in the future will not give access to this year’s gift heads.
The heads themselves are not at the store. They are not anywhere. They are in your redelivery list.
The heads are in the “Gifted to You” tab on the redelivery page.NOT the main page, you must navigate to the tab for gifted items.
You can access redelivery through the redelivery HUD, if you have it. If you do not have one already, you will have to swing by the Lelutka main sim to get one, or use the redelivery link. And yes, the sim will be full for a while. And it will be laggy when you get in. Please be patient. The delivery server cannot handle everyone having the gifts sent at once anyway, so as always, patience is key.
If you are attempting to have the head delivered and it’s not working, you can’t access the website, get an error, etc. please be patient. Thousands of people are doing the same thing. CLICK ONLY ONCE. Clicking more will just bog it down further, not make it work.
Redelivery HUDs will not be sent in groups, put on MP, etc. It would just overload and break if everyone tried to get on the website at once. Again, please be patient. Thousands of people want to get the gifts, it will take time now matter how it is done.
The heads will be in your redelivery page forever, so there is no “deadline” to get them.
ALSO
PLEASE DO NOT USE A REDELIVERY HUD SOMEONE ELSE GIVES YOU, OR REZZES OUT SOMEWHERE. We cannot verify any of these HUDs are legitimate, and they could be sending you to a website that will steal your data or do some other nefarious thing. Please only use the official redelivery HUD you receive from Lelutka.
I decided to give Vela a whirl and spent many hours last night tweaking the face to perfection. I found the eyes a little droopy on me and a bit challenging to work with, but everything else looks amazing. I’m still wearing the Billie mesh head though. Most of you are probably thinking, “This looks exactly like Gogo!” and yeah, I guess it does. I’m wearing the exact same skin and makeup, so the similarities are definitely there.
Let’s be real though. Even though LeLutka has released dozens of mesh heads by now, most of the grid is still wearing Avalon, the very first EvoX head. This phenomenon should honestly be studied. I tend to move on every few months if a head suits me, but a lot of people don’t like change, and that’s totally fine. Avalon is very similar to the newer heads and is actually the smartest choice since so many skin brands still make skins specifically for it. While you can wear an EvoX skin on any LeLutka head, the head it was made for will always have the best fit.
Have you tried the new free LeLutka mesh heads yet? Let me know in the comments!
Recently, I came across a tweet about a photo taken at a Second Life event. The photographer had used AI to enhance the image, and the creator of the build featured in the photo was upset. That moment sparked a deeper question for me about how AI is affecting our community, both in Second Life and in the real world.
As a journalist and the owner of one of Second Life’s longest-running feeds, I believe this is an issue worth exploring. AI is no longer a futuristic concept; it’s here, shaping our virtual and creative spaces right now. So, I did what any curious person might: I asked a question.
I tweeted to Philip Rosedale, tagging him in a repost of the original tweet by the designer, and asked for his thoughts on designers banning paying customers from their stores simply for using AI to edit photos featuring their products.
Let’s be clear. This was a paying customer, not a sponsored blogger who received the item for free in exchange for promotional content.
I also asked the designer a few respectful follow-up questions to better understand the situation:
Was the anti-AI policy made clear before the purchase?
Was the person in question a store blogger or an event blogger?
Rather than engage in dialogue, the response was swift and hostile. The store owner became aggressive, and what followed was an organized harassment campaign: blocking, banning, public call-outs, and social media attacks from the designer and her circle. All of this over a question and a public repost.
Now, let’s talk about rights.
As a store owner, you absolutely have the right to decide who shops at your store. But does that extend to controlling how your customers use the items they’ve purchased, especially when they’re not violating any of Linden Lab’s platform rules?
Think about it: if you buy a designer dress in real life and enhance a photo of yourself in it using AI tools, can that designer dictate what tools you use? Should they?
That’s the heart of the issue.
We’re at a turning point. AI is a powerful tool, and it’s not going away. We need to find ways to integrate it thoughtfully and responsibly. Yes, AI raises valid concerns. Artists have every right to protect their work. But the real conflict is with the AI platforms and usage terms, not individual customers using generative tools for fun or creative expression.
What happened to open discussion?
Instead of resorting to harassment and public bans, we need honest conversations about how AI fits into our world. Shutting down discourse through bullying only creates more tension and alienates those who genuinely want to engage.
Second Life has always prided itself on freedom and creativity. Its slogan says it best: Your world, your imagination. That imagination now includes AI for many users, especially those who’ve found new joy and creative flow through it. If that’s discouraged or punished, we risk losing more of the vibrant community that keeps SL alive.
Let’s talk about it:
Should a customer be banned for using AI on a photo featuring a purchased item?
Should designers disclose AI-related policies before selling items?
What are reasonable boundaries for creators who don’t want their products used with AI?
These are real, evolving questions, and the answers deserve more than a block button.
I’ve included screenshots and a timeline below of the events that unfolded. At no point did I attack or harass anyone. I simply asked questions and engaged with the issue thoughtfully.
I understand people want to support their friends, but inflating a single tweet into a campaign of harassment doesn’t help anyone. If anything, it shows just how badly we need open conversations around these new challenges.
Because one thing is clear: if people aren’t allowed to express themselves or explore creatively, they won’t need to be banned. They’ll just log out and may not come back.
Alaskametro creates the finest BoM tattoos on the grid, in case you were unaware. I hold this brand in high regard; the seams and texturing are simply flawless. I’m not just saying that. Few can achieve the level of detail like Alaskametro does, so I was thrilled to see the release of the Doll Parts BoM tattoo, which allows you to transform your existing Second Life body into a Ball Joint doll. This concept is reminiscent of an episode of Black Mirror, where a doll comes to life or where one’s consciousness is forever trapped inside a doll.
I love the idea of evolving my avatar, which I already consider my digital doll, into an actual doll. The Doll Parts pack comes with BoM tattoos along with extra highlight layers. Despite being made with textures, it’s exceptionally well done and looks fantastic. I appreciate that I can layer this over my current skin, ensuring a seamless blend.
Have you ever dreamed of becoming a virtual doll? If so, you can get this enchanting set at Anthology.
Hello from Korea City! If you’ve ever wanted to be in Seoul and step into your own picturesque K-drama scenery, check out this destination.
Anthology has just opened for another round! I love this Cheeky Umbrella from Kresendo. The HUD features many colors and patterns to change the umbrella top, handle, and details. You may feel a little blush at some of the default text on the umbrella; it’s filled with sexual innuendos related to rain. There is also the option to turn off the text, but I left it on and tinted the color to a nice shade that I call Second Life blue, which also happens to be my favorite color.
I don’t typically mix and match outfits, but today’s ensemble was a happy accident. I am wearing the Emm Jacket from Red Girl, it’s so well made and comes in a few basic colors. I paired it with the skirt from the Christmas Clothes Set by Art&Ko. To complete the outfit, I am wearing the Jacinta boots from CULT. This whole outfit is super cute for the city look, I’m saving it as a new default Gogo.
This new Pillow hairstyle from Truth is so casual and cute, with a great hairline. I’ve started wearing dark roots with some of my blonde hairstyles, and I think it adds a lot of depth to the hair. As I was photographing today’s look, I realized that Second Life is so beautiful; we’ve come a long way. You don’t need to enhance it with AI at all. My photos authentically represent Second Life with minimal edits. Most of the time, I just adjust the color and crop the photo; I don’t have the patience to spend a lot of time post-processing.
I came across this ReShade (MagicBorder) tutorial on X (Twitter) created by a resident named Kody Black and felt compelled to try it. If you are a fan of engaging photo effects without resorting to third-party editing software like Photoshop, ReShade is the perfect add-on. I previously wrote about ReShade; while the installation and usage can be somewhat challenging, once you master it, the results are remarkable.
One drawback of ReShade is that it does not allow for high-resolution photos, but you can take display-sized screenshots. Using the Second Life snapshot tool does not capture any of the ReShade effects. Therefore, I believe ReShade is better suited for videos, as it enables you to create eye-catching borders like this and replicate a widescreen video format, along with stunning blurs and lighting effects that are not achievable with the Second Life viewer. I have yet to explore the full range of effects that ReShade offers, but I have been diligently working to learn it for several months.
I encourage you to give ReShade a try if you are looking to do something different with your Second Life photos.
Even though I had plans for Aurelias next year and had even selected the next theme, I decided to shift my focus for the foreseeable future and take the region offline. Sparkle and I had a lot of fun launching all the different themes on Aurelias over the past few years. It was something we wanted to do together, and we accomplished it. I want to thank everyone who visited Aurelias and shared your photos in our Flickr Group – we will cherish these memories.
Will Aurelias come back in 2025? No. Although I impulsively buy regions all the time, I want to focus on something else next year. While I could cover the costs for Aurelias, I have recently felt that Second Life does not pay adequate attention to some residents. They are concentrating far too much energy on meetings with bloggers and similar initiatives. But what about region owners? Even though I jokingly claimed that my reason for canceling my region was that I wasn’t invited to the secret bloggers’ meeting, the real reason is that I believe Second Life is directing its focus in the wrong areas, which could lead to a significant decline going forward. I hope I am mistaken, but for now, I feel that investing money into Second Life is a waste of my resources.
If you’re looking for a new place to wander, check out Sparkle’s region, Sparkle Skye.
Happy Friday, everyone in Second Life! I’m excited about this new set of poses I found. The Erin pose & anim pack from Goyo comes with cute headphones, perfect for enjoying music or snapping fun photos. What I appreciate most is that each pose has an animation, plus a flipped version. However, I did notice my fingers were not positioned perfectly in some poses, which made me tweak them using the poser in the Black Dragon viewer. It’s not my usual viewer, but it’s pretty useful for these adjustments.
Ever put on a skin and felt like it could use a bit more shine? I found this Highlighter set by Izzie’s that offers lots of options to add a nice glow to your skin. The skin that I’m wearing, Emery from Glam Affair, already looked good, but I couldn’t resist adding a bit more highlight to areas like the eyes, forehead, and the area just above the lip.
