Hi beautiful,

Can I just be brutally honest?

I just don’t have the energy to care about what people think anymore…

…and it’s been freeing in the best way ✨

I’m over squeezing into outfits I can’t sit in, staying out for “just one more drink” when I really want to be in bed and trying beauty hacks made for 22-year-olds with perfect lighting. 🙄 

I realized the life I was chasing wasn’t one I even liked…and letting it go has been the best glow-up yet.

This week’s all about:

💄 Little beauty tricks I use because my skin isn’t as low-maintenance as it used to be
👗 How I dress in my almost 40s vs 20s (and still feel like me)
🏡 Why my weekends (and my lifestyle) look completely different now

More on that below…👇

Beauty tricks I didn’t need (until I did)

Some mornings I catch my reflection and think…

Wow… my face looks exactly how I feel. 😩 

But school drop-off waits for no one.

At almost 40, my skin is anything but low-maintenance but these beauty tricks save me:

1️⃣ The overnight reset 🌙
By the end of the day, my skin looks dull and defeated. I smooth on a this vital perfection supreme cream over my ginseng rejuvenating serum that feels like wrapping my face in luxury pajamas. I’ve gone through at least five jars and my mom hoards it like gold. If I skip this step, I wake up looking like a dried prune.
Tip: Press, don’t rub, so your skin actually drinks it in.

2️⃣ My skin but glowier ✨
Heavy foundation and fine lines? Not friends. I mix this feather-light skin tint with SPF (I’m shade 2W1 dawn and looks super natural on asian skin tones) and mist with this Korean collagen-infused spray that gives 10x glow. People always ask what I’m wearing…joke’s on them, it’s barely makeup.
Tip: Mist before and after makeup for that glassy finish.

3️⃣ The blush that fakes 8 hours of sleep 💕
If I’ve been up all night with one of my kids, I reach for this creamy pot blush in pale pink for the most natural flush and pair it with a glow luminizer highlighter. It’s the fastest way to go from “are you sick?” to “you look amazing” in under a minute. I’ve been using this blush since my 20s — still obsessed.
Tip: Blend higher than you think for an instant lift.

4️⃣ Under-eyes that lie 👀
Too many late-night episodes and my under-eyes tell the story. I love these Korean collagen infused eye patches that feel like a cold spoon paired with this hydrating peach-toned corrector to hide away the evidence. Friends try this once and immediately order it. Watch this tutorial on how I use both!
Tip: Keep the gel in the fridge for a bigger refresh.

5️⃣ The 30-second lip 💋
Ever put on a “nude” and suddenly look tired, pale, or like you need a nap? This sheer- shine lipstick wakes you up. Not too pink, not too brown and won’t make your teeth look yellow. When I use this lip smoothie as a base, it goes on flawless even on a bare face. Here’s a live swatch of the lippie (and why over a million people couldn’t stop watching!).

Dressing for me, not them

In my 20s, I thought style meant wearing whatever was “in.”

Now, I’m all about classic (but comfy) elegance.

The other day, I walked past a store window of glittery cutouts and sky-high heels and thought… that’s just not me anymore. 🙅 

It’s not because I’m a mom, it’s because I finally know what I like.

Now, I’m building a closet full of pieces I can live in (from school run to dinner out) without enduring my outfit.

Here are a few of my favourites!👇️ 

1. The Effortless Lounge Set
Soft ribbed grey tank that feels like your favorite worn-in tee, paired with my homestretch smooth mid rise pant in green that drape beautifully. The kind of set you’ll wear for coffee at home but still feel polished enough to answer the door. Easy, breathable, and timeless.

2. The Sporty Chic Combo
Breezy sleeveless knit top that’s light but substantial, teamed with a pleated mini skirt in a rich green that moves with you. It’s the “tennis club” era I’m in right now — playful yet put-together.

3. The Luxe Lounge Jumpsuit
Cozy long-sleeve wrap top and wide-leg lounge pants in matching heather grey that feel like cashmere without the price tag. This is my all-day, WFH uniform that still looks stylish enough for last-minute plans. PS - it actually feels like you’re wearing nothing at all.

4. The Sleek Date Night Knit
I love my black knit polo maxi dress that hugs without clinging (no spanx necessary!), finished with my Nano Montreal bag that instantly elevates it (I get asked all the time where this bag is from!). Soft, stretchy, and made for nights when you want to feel effortlessly sexy without overthinking it.

If this is getting older…I’m all in.

If you told 25-year-old me…

That one day my perfect weekend would involve refinishing kitchen cabinets and cutting flowers from my backyard…

I would have laughed and ordered another tequila shot. 🥃 

Back then, my weekends were basically a to-do list for other people’s approval….

I stayed out until 4 a.m. in an outfit I couldn’t breathe in.
I went to brunch I never tasted because I was too busy posting it.
I shopped for clothes I hoped would make me look more “fun” in pictures.

And yes, it was fun. Until it wasn’t.

These days, I’ve traded all that for weekends that actually fill me up instead of drain me.

• Cutting fresh hydrangeas 🌸 from my yard and putting them in vases around the house. Better than any bouquet I could buy.

• Refinishing our kitchen cabinets 🪵 the kind of project that makes me weirdly proud and reminds me how much I love making our home feel ours.

• Vacations with kids’ camps 🏕️ where I can drink my coffee hot while they make tie-dye shirts.

• Nights in with a glass of wine 🍷, My Oxford Year 🎬, and a sheet mask 🛁. My 20s self would be horrified, but my skin loves it.

• Alone time that’s truly mine. No guilt. No apologies. ✨

Somewhere along the way, I realized life doesn’t have to look Instagram-perfect to be perfect for you 🌿.

I don’t even know what FOMO is anymore, because I’m already where I want to be. And honestly, that’s the best feeling.

Thank you for being here — for reading, for connecting, for sharing a little piece of your day with me.

See you next week. 💛 

xo Jen

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xo Jen

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