Jennifer Chiu
Posts
Asian moms do this. We don't. 👀

Asian moms do this. We don't. 👀

The skin rules I fought for years, the thing I swore I'd never wear, and what my mom said to my A+ report card

Jennifer Chiu
October 15, 2026

Hi beautiful, ☕️

Did your mom have rules? 👀

Mine had a lot…

And I rolled my eyes at every single one. 🙄

Now I'm 40… and I do them all.

Here's what I'm spilling today:

🧴 The skin rules I fought her on for years (she was so right it's annoying)
🧣 One thing I swore I'd never wear… until a TV show changed my mind
🥹 What my mom actually said when I brought home an A+ (it still stings)

Mom was right, and this photo is her proof

My mom was right about…

A lot of things…

Her shelf was full of bottles…and some I couldn't read.

Mostly, I thought it was overkill. 🙄

Turns out she was ahead of everyone.

Here’s what she was right about:

"Get ahead of aging" ✨
My mom always told me to get ahead of fine lines, wrinkles because prevention is key! Now that I'm 40, I finally get it. Now I live for this exosome longevity serum, then lock it in with this collagen plumping gel-cream for bouncy, plump skin. Tbh, I should have started it in my late 20s.
Tip: Start before you think you need it.

"Never skip your softener" 💧
Mom has sworn by softener since I was a teen. If your moisturizer just sits on top, pat on this Japanese mugwort softener first, then this plant niacinamide wrinkle cream. I remember asking her why do you use softener all the time? She said, soft and hydrated skin has less fine lines and wrinkles. Sold.
Tip: Pat it in with your hands, no cotton pad.

"Wash it off twice" 🫧
She double cleansed way before it was a trend. This Korean herbal oil cleanser melts off makeup and sunscreen, then this papaya enzyme cleanser leaves my skin soft and smooth, never tight. It’s one extra step, but a step that should not be forgotten.
Tip: Oil first on dry skin, then your second wash.

"Sometimes pharmacies have the best stuff" 💊
Mom always found gems at the pharmacy, and she was right. This 151-billion-exosome PDRN glow serum and this PDRN hyaluronic glass skin cream give me that glass skin glow for way less. Now you can get these online!
Tip: Serum first, then seal it with the cream.

"Don't pick it!" 🪥
Her fix was a tiny dot of toothpaste on the spot, very old school. But honestly, it worked. I still use this tip in a pinch. These salicylic pimple-shrinking dots are better overnight and this 2% salicylic spot gel is my go to for the day time.
Tip: Hands off. Let it do the work.

She said stay warm…

I loved chewing ice as a kid. 🧊

My mom was horrified.

Now I drink warm water only, and so do my kids. (Who am I?? 😅)

Keep your neck warm! 🧣 She yelled this at me every winter. I never wore scarves, until that elegant red one on The Early Spring. I’ve been eyeing this oversized red Mongolian cashmere scarf because it looks so classy, and this organic cotton oversized cardigan that covers your bum (so handy at that time of the month 😅). IYKYK.
Tip: Wrap it once and let the ends hang.
Put something warm on your tummy 🔥 Mom used rubber hot water bottles on my cramps. Now I love this cute, perfectly sized heating pad for cramps or strains, and this 22-nutrient perimenopause multivitamin has made my ragey moments so much calmer.
Tip: Heat on the low belly, over a layer of clothes.
Warm your stomach first ♨️ No cold water, ever. I sip my homemade ginger, goji and red date tea from my stays-hot-for-hours mug day and night, and I boil it for my kids every couple of days. (I've officially become her 😅)
Tip: Sip warm all day. Your digestion will thank you.
Warm feet, warm body 🦶 My mom just used a plain bucket of warm water. I upgraded to this red light heated bubble foot spa with this tea tree oil foot soak, and I'm warm head to toe. Also, makes you sleep so much better.
Tip: Soak 15 minutes before bed.

Strict mom, softest hug 🥰

She never said she was proud…

My mom was never big on compliments.

In grade 8, I came home with straight A's and one B. 😁

I was so proud of that report card.

She was just… cool about it. 😎

"Is that the best you can do? Keep going."

For years, I thought that meant she wasn't proud of me.

And honestly? I kind of stopped trying so hard. What was the point of perfect grades if no one ever said good job, I'm proud of you?

But she had her own way of saying it.

She made sure I had tutors. (Not fun for me. But looking back, they helped me so much.)
She grew a whole garden of fresh veggies and fruit for our family.
She made sure we always had lots of food and healing soups, and she packed our lunch every single day… even through high school. 🤯
She reminded me to do my skincare every night.
She invested time and money (when it was really scarce) so I could learn how to play piano and go to Chinese school.

She wasn't saying I love you with words.

She was saying it with everything else.

Those rules were her love.

And I always come back to this…

❝

"Strict moms don't love less. They just love in a different language.

So if your mom had rules you rolled your eyes at, maybe call her this week.

Just to say thank you for the ones she got right.