Jennifer Chiu
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I'm embarrassed to admit this at 40 🫣

I'm embarrassed to admit this at 40 🫣

The little things changing my skin at 40, my embarrassing confessions, and my mini me

Jennifer Chiu
October 21, 2026

Hi beautiful, ☕

I looked at my 6 year old this week and saw… me.

Introverted but extremely opinionated.

Emotional, sensitive, and his intuition is insane.

Honestly, it's a little surreal to watch a tiny version of yourself argue with why bedtime is "so unfair." 🙄

If you've ever looked at your kid and thought "oh, that’s me"… I see you.

Here's everything I'm spilling this week:

✨ 5 little things making a big difference in my skin at 40
🙈 My most embarrassing confessions (squeaky knees included)
🥹 The mini me I made, and what he's teaching me

Small swaps, big difference… still can't believe this is 40. 🙂

5 little things that made a BIG difference

Okay, pour yourself a coffee… ☕️

Because I have to tell you what's been going on with my face.

I just made a few little swaps, and my skin is honestly thanking me.

No gatekeeping, babe.

Smile lines that showed up in every photo 😁
So I caught myself zooming in on my own pictures (we all do it, don't lie) and my smile lines were right there and that’s the reminder for me to put this high dose retinoid serum on at night with this ceramide barrier cream on top, and my skin feels lifted, not angry.
Tip: Retinoid first, cream right on top.

Dark spots summer left behind ☀️
Then summer ended and left me a little souvenir: dark spots, so I swapped my drugstore face wash for this AHA BHA exfoliating cleanser and added this vitamin C glycolic serum in the morning. A few weeks later my husband asked if I'd gotten a facial (babe, it's a face wash).
Tip: Cleanser 2 or 3 times a week. SPF always.

The mitochondria thing 🧬
And then my mom group chat would not stop saying "mitochondria" like it was the new kale, so I caved and started these cellular energy gummies for my energy. For my skin, it's this leave on exfoliant that makes my texture look smoother by morning.
Tip: Exfoliate up to 4 nights a week, never on retinoid nights.

The glass skin serum Korean girls swear by
Once my texture was smoother, I wanted that glow, and every K beauty girl I know swears by salmon DNA (I know, I know), so I tried this glass skin ampoule under this nourishing cream. One week in, my skin looked like it drank water and slept 8 hours.
Tip: Pat it in right after cleansing.

Skin that was thirsty, not oily
Last thing, and this one hurt my feelings: my esthetician told me my skin wasn't oily, it was dehydrated (rude, but true). This hyaluronic hydrating essence plus this water gel moisturizer fixed it so fast, I'm mad I didn't listen sooner.
Tip: Essence on damp skin. Cream while it's still dewy.

Embarrassing things I've done…

Okay, confession time.

I like to think I have it together… 🫠

But then I remember some of the things I've done in the name of beauty and wellness.

Here are the ones I'm brave enough to share:

Squeaked my way across the tennis court 🎾
I'm officially at the age where my knees squeak and I show up to tennis in KT tape. I’ve started taking this muscle and metabolism supplement that has a full serving of freeze dried greens! It can also help support muscle strength and I can keep up with hot yoga again.
Put toothpaste on a pimple 😎
Yes, I've dabbed toothpaste on a zit and I will die on this hill! I leave it on for 2-3 minutes and wipe off. This works really well in a pinch! On those bigger breakouts, you need this hypochlorous acid spray (everyone’s talking about it!) and it actually works.
Used one moisturizer for months 🧴
I'm loyal to a fault, and once I love something, I typically use it for a long time. This pro-collagen peptide has a VIP place on my beauty counter. It keeps my skin calm and plump, so why mess with good?
Bribed my kids with their own vitamins 😂 "When you finish dinner, you get a big kid vitamin" works way better than it should. These kids' chewable vitamins are the only ones mine beg for.

He's basically me, just shorter and louder 😂

My mini me…

Can we talk about the embarrassing side of being a mom for a sec?

Your 6 year old yelling "I'M DONE!" from the washroom… while you have guests over.
Whispering something to your husband and hearing a tiny "I heard that" from the next room.
Your kid telling their teacher something that was definitely not for sharing.
A full meltdown in the grocery aisle, and you just smile like he's someone else's child.

But the most embarrassing one?

Realizing my 6 year old is basically me. 😆

He's emotional, intuitive, and questions authority, lol.

That was my move.

All the things I rolled my eyes at with my mom… I'm passing them on without even knowing it.

My 4 year old daughter? She's my husband.

Goofy, funny, mad for one minute, the next, she’s over it.

My son and I are the serious ones.

Some days his stubborn streak drives me crazy.

Then I remember it's also resilience, standing up for himself, and confidence.

And honestly, I'd rather he push back than stay quiet.

❝