Jennifer Chiu
Posts
I wasn’t ready to see this photo of me... 📸

I wasn’t ready to see this photo of me... 📸

My new butter skin routine that makes me glow, the surprising way I’m handling white hairs, and what an old photo album taught me about beauty and belonging.

Jennifer Chiu
August 21, 2025

Hi beautiful, ☕️

Ever flip through an old photo album and instantly cringe? 😬

This week, I found my elementary school pictures…the bangs, the shiny forehead, the look of someone begging to fit in.

And just like that, I was back in that awkward ache of feeling not enough.

But here’s what I realized: we all carry that kid inside us.

And she’s also the reason I know how to care for myself now—in skin, in health, in life.

Here’s what I’m spilling today:

The butter skin routine that finally made me ditch the “glass skin” hype 🍞✨
How I’m handling white hairs without losing my mind 👩🏻‍🦳
The old school photo that hit me harder than I expected 📸

Let’s get into it. 👇️

Butter skin era unlocked 🍞✨

In my butter skin era.

My skin used to feel tight, flaky, and blah.

Makeup wouldn’t sit right, and even moisturizer felt useless.

But once I nailed the right layering, everything changed—hello butter skin.

Here’s what’s working:

Glow starts here ✨
When my face felt clogged and lifeless, the French water milky cleanser + 2% BHA exfoliator toner reset everything. No more heavy, gray-looking skin—just smooth, fresh, and clear. I’ve re-bought these more times than I can count because nothing else gets me this clean without drying me out.
Tip: Do this at night so your morning skin actually drinks up hydration.
Bye-bye chin bumps 👋
Those little bumps were driving me wild. The blue tansy clarity mask plus this concentrated ginseng water calmed them down without wrecking my barrier. The result? Even, calm skin that doesn’t feel stingy. This is one of the best combo’s that works for me long-term.
Tip: Alternate days—overdoing it is what causes flare-ups.
The bounce hack 🥟
People kept asking if I’d had a facial. Nope—it was just my Korean black rice essence layered with this cult favorite bouncy skin reactivating serum. No wonder it has over 1,000 (4.5 star reviews!) Together, they made my skin plump, hydrated, and glowy. I’m on my 3rd bottle—it’s one of those things I panic if I run out of.
Tip: Press in with palms—rubbing wastes the good stuff.
Locked & loaded 🔒
My mom always said, “seal it in.” A few drops of this antioxidant superfood face oil at night plus this water gel invisible sunscreen (I get the hype now) in the morning keep the glow protected and long-lasting. She was right (again). I notice a huge difference on the days I skip this.
Tip: Toss your SPF in your bag—you’ll never forget to reapply.
Netflix face-lift 📺
I thought gadgets were hype until I tried the zippy device with my skin LED mask. Ten minutes later my face looked tighter, calmer, and lifted. I literally do this while watching Netflix and feel like I’m cheating time. And yes, if you’re wondering…”does this really work?”. Yes, yes, yes it does.
Tip: Always go upward—gravity already does enough.

I found a white hair…and then

I yanked it. 😮

Then three more popped up. Like a cruel joke.

Now, I don’t fight them…

I care for my scalp + strands the same way I do my skin: little rituals that add up.

Here’s what’s been helping:

Scalp SOS 🧴
I didn’t realize how much my scalp was the problem until I tried a cooling scalp serum. Suddenly, less itch, less flake, and my roots feel healthier and alive. I swear I sleep better when I massage this in.
Tip: Use fingertips—it doubles as stress relief.
Shower repair crew 🚿
For years, my hair snapped like straw. A bonding shampoo + creamy conditioner are the only pair that made it smooth, soft, and strong again. Even my stylist noticed. That means it’s working!
Tip: Leave conditioner in for an extra 2 minutes—you’ll feel the slip.
Drain drama fix 🌀
I used to laugh at multi-vitamins. But now? Way less shedding, and yes—even my shower drain thanks me. I love this essential, gut & skin trio to help tackle all the vitamins I might be missing daily. My mom actually reminded me to stay consistent here (and she was right).
Tip: Pair with morning coffee—you’ll actually remember.
Sunday saver 💆🏻‍♀️
Once a week, I clip my hair up with a deep moisture hair mask while the steam does its magic. My hair drinks it in and comes out shiny, soft, and manageable. It’s become my weekly sanity step.
Tip: Rinse with cool water for that salon-fresh finish.
Frizz, who? 🌬️
The wiry flyaways used to drive me nuts. This celebrity hairstylist founded featherlight smoothing spray makes my strands sleek—not weighed down. When I want that silky shiny hair, this is the one I go to. And I get why it has over 30,000 (almost 5 star reviews!) 🤯
Tip: Two spritzes max—less is more.

This girl felt invisible. She grew into someone unshakable. 💗

From cringe to credit….

This week I opened an old elementary school album.

Not the cute, “aww baby” one. The other one.

The one with uneven bangs, stiff school portraits, and eyes that gave away how much I felt out of place.

I remembered being left out at recess.
The whispers.
The way I wished I could disappear.

It hurt.

And even looking back as an adult, I still felt that lonely, not-enough girl staring back at me.

But here’s the thing—those years also built me.

The teasing, the awkwardness, the trying-so-hard… all of it made me tougher and more empathetic.

It’s why I can show up with both grit and softness today.

❝

“The girl who once felt invisible… is the woman who now shines.”

And when I think about my kids, I know they’ll have their own awkward seasons too.

I can’t shield them from it.

But I can remind them: awkward doesn’t mean broken. It means becoming.

So if there’s an old album you avoid—pull it out.
Not to relive the cringe.
But to remind yourself just how much you’ve grown. 💛

Until next week,

xo Jen