My mom's skincare > mine 😤

Hi beautiful, ☕️

I was supposed to take a break this weekend…

But instead I found myself deep-cleaning my skincare drawer at 10 p.m., surrounded by half-used bottles and expired serums...

I’ve tried a lot of things.

And somehow, my mom's skin still looks better than mine.

She’s 65, sticks to her tried-and-trues, and I got a peek at what’s actually in her drawer. You won’t believe some of the things I saw. 🤯 

Here’s what’s inside:

• The skincare staples my mom’s used for decades—and why I’m finally copying her 🧴

• The high-protein meals + easy strength habits actually working in my mom life era 💪

• A full-on Sunday meltdown, a lost voice, and the quiet moment that helped me reset 😮‍💨

More on that below…👇

She’s 65. Her skin? Unfair.

No lasers. No 12-step routine.

Just a few ride-or-die staples she’s used for decades 

Here’s everything I’ve quietly stolen from her (and why I’m never going back)

1. Brighten and bounce ✨
My mom would tell me, “You always need one thing that wakes up your skin.” She means this illuminating serum (she has gone through bottles of this one!). She swears it brightens and reduces dark spots. And when she needs a boost, she adds this watery oil dropper—just a few drops and her skin legit looks lit from within.
💡Tip: She always applies it on slightly damp skin and pats it in—never rubs.

2. Lift without filler 🙋‍♀️
She’s shown me exactly how to press this vital firming day cream up her cheekbones, saying “never drag down—you're not ironing a shirt.” Her favorite thing is this overnight wrinkle cream she uses at night—she calls it her “sleeping mask but better.” She told me she’s gone through probably 20+ bottles. 👀 
💡Tip: She massages it in for 30 seconds while watching her K-drama—“good skin doesn’t come from rushing.”

3. Eye bags, who? 👀
I’ve been told 100 times to “never tug your eye area.” She dabs supercharged night repair cream gently under her eyes before bed, and if she’s going out, she adds a little bit of this depuffing eye serum on top for that wide-awake look.
💡Tip: Both live in her fridge—because “cold fixes everything for the eyes.”

4. Sun protection queen ☀️
My mom has worn this milky sun protector lotion for as long as I can remember. Her rule? “If there’s light in the sky, sunscreen goes on.” And at the end of the day, removing SPF is key (especially waterproof ones!). She swears by this Japanese deep cleansing foam to get rid of every bit of leftover spf, makeup, oil and dirt!
💡Tip: Take it one step further and wear the visor and hat. IYKYK. 😆 

5. Her glow-up oil 💫
She presses this multi-use glow stick into her cheekbones before dinner and says, “You don’t need highlighter—just use this.” On special days, she still doesn’t wear a lot of makeup, but when she does, this radiant fluid natural foundation is her go to pick for glowing, radiant and beautiful skin.
💡Tip: Start with half a pump of foundation. “You want to enhance, not cover.”

Strong girl habits that changed my life. 🫰 

I’m not in my clean girl era.

I’m in my carry both kids and three bags of groceries era. 💪 

I was tired of feeling... tired. Not just “I need a nap” tired—like bloated, foggy, and over it.

I didn’t want a new routine. I just needed things that actually helped.

Here’s what’s been working:

• Breakfast that keeps me full 🍳
  My go-to is scrambled eggs, sautéed spinach, half an avocado, and high-protein sourdough. If I’m in a rush, I throw together a Greek yogurt bowl with chia seeds, hemp hearts, berries, and a scoop of vanilla protein powder I actually like.
  💡Tip: Add cinnamon to yogurt or toast—helps with blood sugar and makes it feel cozy.
  

• Adult lunchables + snacks 🧀
  This is my crash-proof snack window. I’ll make “adult lunchables” with veggies, cheese, crackers, and hummus (stacked on this cute little bento tray I found online). Or I meal prep vanilla chia pudding with almond milk and top it with nut butter for something sweet-but-filling.
  💡Tip: Always pair protein + fat with carbs—it keeps your energy even.
  

• Supplements + recovery  💊
  I take magnesium glycinate at night for muscle tension and deeper sleep, and stir collagen peptides into my morning coffee. If I’m feeling sore or tight, I’ll add a turmeric capsule, sip electrolytes, or soak in an Epsom salt bath after the kids go down. For my daily supplements, this multivitamin, gut + skin trio is great to help balance my gut microbiome too!
  💡Tip: Keep your go-to supplements in a cute pill organizer or mug by the kettle—you’ll actually remember to take them.
  

• Strength that fits into mom life 🏋️‍♀️
  Three sets of squats, lunges, rows, and shoulder presses—just twice a week with dumbbells I keep in the corner of my room. I also started doing 15 squats every 45 mins while working (yes, it helps with blood sugar and yes, I count it as a workout).
  💡Tip: If your gear’s out where you can see it, you’re way more likely to actually use it.

The Sunday that broke me…

This past weekend… wrecked me.

I had all these well-meaning plans—snacks, crafts, a little dance party, maybe a “fun memory” moment. 🎨 

But no one was impressed.

No one cared.

There were meltdowns, whining, nap refusals, random injuries, and zero appreciation for the snack tray I made like a Pinterest mom on 2% battery.

By Sunday night, my voice was gone.

Not metaphorically—literally gone from saying “stop” and “please” and “can we just…” a thousand times. 😵‍💫 

And the worst part?

It made me feel like all my effort didn’t matter.

Like I showed up all day and still somehow didn’t do enough.

But once the house finally went quiet and I sat down—probably for the first time that day—I remembered something I forget every time I’m this tired:

• They don’t care about the crafts.

• They don’t remember the meltdown.

• They just know I was there.

• That I showed up.

• That I loved them even when I was frustrated.

• That I kept them close, even when I wanted space.

So if you’re in your "I'm touched out, talked out, and trying my best" era—same.

You are not alone in this.

You’re doing better than you think. And they feel it. 💛

See you next week.

xo Jen

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xo Jen

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