Hi beautiful,

Summer’s over, but my skin is still paying for it…

Dark spots, dullness, rough patches. 🫠 Sound familiar?

Add back-to-school drop-offs, Costco chaos, and a brain that feels fried by noon… it’s a lot.

I’m already feeling exhausted, and now TikTok gave us another man with another opinion—so yes, I had to clap back. 🤐

Here’s what’s inside:

• 5 beauty hacks to undo summer’s damage 🌸

• A TikTok video that got me rolling my eyes 🙄 

• Why the first 10 years change everything ♥️ 

Let’s get into it. 👇️

My post-summer skin reset

Every summer this happens, and I’ve got a game plan for it. ✨ 

If you’ve been out, you know the drill…

Dark spots, hyperpigmentation, fine lines all start creeping in like souvenirs you didn’t ask for.

Here’s how I’m fixing it, with the products I keep re-buying:

1. my fake-8-hours duo ✨
There’s nothing worse than staring in the mirror and looking as tired as you feel. This retinol + vitamin c serum is my cheat code. (Ya, you read it right…both retinol and vitamin c in one bottle!) It’s actually incredible. I seal it in with my super hydrator (second jar, not sorry) because my skin always throws tantrums after summer.
Tip: Pat them on damp skin. It sinks in faster and feels bouncy, not sticky.

2. the skin reset button 🔄
By September my skin feels like sandpaper. Too much sun, too many scrubs. This gentle enriched water brings it back to life, and this essential hydrating cream (my mom’s favorite) I layer on top is my insurance policy against stingy skin. Without these two, I’m a flaky mess.
Tip: This routine works really well with dry skin, try it twice a week and see the difference!

3. sunday-night facial 💦
You know that dull, uneven texture that makes makeup look worse? This 5% multi-acid peel smoothes me out in 10 minutes flat. Then I drench my skin in this Korean madecassoide mask (I hoard backups because they’re great for blemishes!). I do this ritual once a week. It’s my reset before the weekly chaos starts again.
Tip: Re-use the mask and wrap over the tops of your hands. Don’t waste it!

4. the drop-off filter 😎
School drop-off at 9 a.m. and I look like I haven’t slept since 2019. This glowy tinted SPF is my filter in a tube (I’m color 24N). It evens everything out and keeps me protected at the same time. For those dark circles, this vital skincare concealer is my go to for that natural and awake look. PS - I never travel without it.
Tip: Spritz setting spray all over on a clean and moisturized face before doing this step, you’ll have all day wear!

5. my alive-again combo 😴
By September my skin always looks so blah—uneven, just tired. Suntanning is a no-go, so I use this self-tan body serum that gives me the healthiest color without ever looking orange. I pair it with this creme + powder blush duo and suddenly, people start asking me “Have you been on vacation?” whenever I wear it (I wish).
Tip: I apply it in the morning after my shower and it develops over 4–8 hours. Exfoliate first and the glow looks even better.

Men and their opinions…

The other day, I watched a TikTok of a guy saying:

“Why do moms look like they’re going into combat just to take a walk… with ankle weights and weighted vests? What happened to sundresses?” 🙄”

Sir, no one asked. If choosing strength over sundresses makes us “combat warriors,” then hand me the armor.

Speaking of strength, my 97-year-old grandma doesn’t even know what an ankle weight is, but her energy rituals are too good not to share.

Take notes:

• the after-dinner secret 🚶🏻‍♀️
  She swore by her evening walk. I add ankle weights and my favourite walking shoes (they are so supportive and stylish!). A 5-minute stroll suddenly feels like a sneaky workout.
  Tip: Even 5 minutes after meals helps digestion and clears your head.
  

• my couch recharge ⚡
  Grandma clapped her arms to wake her blood. I’ve had this portable massage gun for over 5 years (and love it) and rub in recovery cream after long days. It melts the knots from pickups and Costco chaos.
  Tip: Keep them by the couch so you actually use them during Netflix.
  

• my daily insurance policy 💊
  She lived on tofu and greens. I try but still need to fill in my gaps so I take a women’s essential multivitamin along with gut & skin support every morning and sneak collagen into my coffee. It’s my insurance for skin and energy.
  Tip: Store them by the coffee machine so you never forget.

• my bedtime wind-down 🌙
  She boiled herbs…I make a “sleepy girl” mocktail with magnesium powder and pair it with my black out sleeping eye mask. It flips my nervous system off.
  Tip: Drink it a 1-2 hours before bed so it kicks in at the right time.

The 10 years you’ll miss the most…

Someone told me once:

“The first 10 years of your child’s life are when you’re their best friend, their safe place, their favorite person.”

And lately, that line has been stuck in my head. 💭

I’m almost 40.
I love my career.
I’m proud of what I’ve built. 👩🏻‍💻

But most nights, I’m staring at a never-ending to-do list.
My brain is fried. 😵‍💫
And then it’s time to be mom—dinner, bath, bedtime, repeat.

My 5-year-old son just started kindergarten.
My 3-year-old daughter still clings to me like I’m her whole world.
And I know this version of them won’t last.

The other day at Costco, my kids were yelling.
Grabbing things off shelves.
Testing every ounce of my patience.

I was about to snap when a mom stopped me and said:
“I miss those days. Always having a buddy with me.”
Her kids are grown now.

In that moment, I thought: lady, take them.
This trip would be so much more peaceful if I was alone. 🛒

But later that night, I realized… if I were her, I’d probably say the same thing.

And that’s a punch in the gut.
These chaotic, messy, exhausting days are the ones I’ll look back on and miss.

So now I’m trying to hold on tighter.
One more book.
One more kiss.
One more song.
One more tickle.

Because one day, they’ll stop asking.
And that thought breaks my heart. 💔

If you’re in this season too…

Stretched thin, running on empty, carrying the guilt of not doing enough—I see you.

We are enough.
We are showing up.
And that’s what they’ll remember. ✨

See you next week.

xo Jen

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xo Jen

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