Jennifer Chiu
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I tried to hide it...👀

I tried to hide it...👀

A stressed-out week, a skin breakout, and the unexpected lesson I walked away with.

Jennifer Chiu
September 10, 2025

Hi beautiful, ☕️

This week came for me. 😂

Lunches packed. Shoes lost. Drop-off tears (mine included).

And yep… the stress breakouts made their grand entrance.

Stress doesn’t stay in my head — it shows up on my skin, in my chest, in my tired eyes.

Like my body saying, “Hey, you’re carrying too much.” 😩

So I went back to basics. Here’s what’s inside today:

My skin-calming routine I only use when stress wrecks my face ✨
Strong-girl habits at 40 that keep me steady, not fried 💪
The unexpected lesson that hit harder than I thought 💔

Stress called, my skin answered…

When life gets heavy, my chin tells the truth.

Little bumps, redness, and that stingy “don’t touch me” vibe. I couldn’t hide it.

Here’s how I calm the chaos when stress shows up on my skin:

1. Melt it all away 🫧
On bad days, I crave the ritual. I scoop out my lipid-rich night cleansing balm (this is my 3rd jar, not exaggerating) and watch the day literally disappear, then pair with a non-stripping foaming face wash that never stings, no matter how mad my face is.
Tip: Massage for a full 60 seconds — it’s the closest thing I get to therapy most nights.

2. Barrier blanket 🛏️
Stress wrecks your skin barrier, period. My mom swears by this activating essence lotion + revitalizing repair cream. It’s like wrapping my face in a weighted blanket. Redness fades, the sting stops, and I wake up looking less frazzled.
Tip: Pat it in, don’t rub. Pretend you’re tucking your skin into bed.

3. Spot shrinker 🎯
My chin is basically a stress billboard. I dot on a breakout serum (yes, I have a backup just in case I have a super stressful week) and swipe this acne-treating cleansing paste just on the angry areas. Shrinks bumps fast without wrecking the rest of my face.
Tip: Multi-mask — clay where you’re oily, hydration everywhere else.

4. Light cover, real skin 💡
Heavy makeup is a disaster when I’m stressed. I keep it simple with this super tinted hydrator — I’m in shade 03 (my forever no-makeup hack) and creamy skincare concealer just where I need it. I look rested without smothering my skin.
Tip: Only conceal where you need — let your real glow peek through.

5. SPF forever ☀️
Even stressed skin needs protection. My multimodal defender with SPF 30 is super lightweight and leaves no white cast. For the rest of my body, the triple power body SPF keeps me shielded when I’m on the court. 🎾 Breakouts heal faster when they’re not fighting sun damage on top.
Tip: Reapply mid-day with a sponge — makeup stays put, skin stays safe.

Strong girl habits at 40…

Here’s the truth: I don’t bounce back like I did at 25. 😆

At almost 40, my body needs support…not perfection.

These are the sneaky, simple things that actually help me feel like myself:

Weights matter 🏋🏻‍♀️
I’m not here for max lifts. Just me, my dumbbells set (this has all the weights I need as a beginner) and a few squats or presses.
Tip: Keep them where you can see them — sneaky reps totally count. I even keep a pair near my bedside table!

Multivitamins 💊
I used to overcomplicate supplements. Now I take this essential multivitamin, gut + skin trio altogether and honestly? That’s enough. Because really, I should be getting everything else through my diet. My skin looks brighter and my energy stays steady.
Tip: Mine live by the coffee machine so I never forget.

Move like Blue Zones 🌿
People who live the longest don’t “work out.” They weave movement into their day — walking, carrying, gardening. It’s so simple but so lasting.
Tip: Take a 10-minute walk after meals — your mood (and blood sugar) will thank you.

Fiber is queen 👑
Yes, she deserves her own crown. I stir this organic finely milled fibre supplement into smoothies, yogurt, even toast (don’t knock it till you try it). My gut feels calmer, my skin looks clearer, and my energy is more consistent.
Tip: Stir before you taste-test. Trust me. 🫠

Me pretending I’m fine after kindergarten drop-off 😅☕️

From smiling to spiralling…

I thought I was ready.

Lunch packed, shoes tied, big smile plastered on.

But the second I let go of that tiny hand… my chest caved.

Would they make friends?
Would they feel left out?
Would they sit alone at lunch?

It broke me a little — remembering what it felt like to be small in a big world.

Here’s the lesson I didn’t expect this week:

“Sometimes the hardest part of having kids is letting go enough to let them grow.”

And here’s the thing:

I can’t control the playground.
I can’t bubble-wrap their heart.
But I can make home a soft place to land.

And let’s be honest…

The schoolyard comes with its own tiny soap operas.

Schedules, sign-ups, group chats.

Half the time I feel like I need a flow chart just to survive drop off and pickup. 😅

So this week, I leaned on what matters:

Cheering my kids on.
Keeping routines simple (even when they’re chaotic).
Sneaking in more court time (because I need the reminder that I’m still me too.)

If you’ve been cracked open by life or school drop-off, I see you.

And maybe this is our reminder: breaking isn’t failing.

It’s just another way of growing.

Until next week… 💛

xo Jen