The lie I was sold... 😶‍🌫️

Hi beautiful, ☕️ 

You know that sudden urge to clean and declutter at 10pm?

And then 5 minutes in…

You’re staring at the crime scene you just created? 😵 

Bottles everywhere, half-used lipsticks and expired serums that should’ve been thrown out three summers ago.

And then I looked in the mirror and actually wondered, am I even doing life right? 😂 

This week is for anyone who’s one declutter away from an existential crisis.

Here’s what’s inside:

💄 10 beauty things that never let me down
💪 The “live longer” lie I was sold (and what actually matters)
💭 A scroll that wrecked me…and what it taught me

The 10 I’ll never quit…

I’ve tried everything — trends, dupes, “must-haves.”

But some things always make it back into my drawer. Some for over a decade! 🤯 

These I never let go of, and why they’ve earned their spot in my drawer. ✨

Here they are:👇

1. The nighttime smoother on rough days 💆🏻‍♀️
You know those nights when you’re too tired to try? I grab my retinol line-softening cream (makes my skin SO smooth and I’m on bottle #2!) and top it with a wrinkle-shield serum that softens lines overnight! They reset my skin when I’m sleeping.
Tip: I use every night after cleansing — your morning face will thank you.

2. The base that made me stop hiding ☕
There was a time I couldn’t leave the house without layers. Now, it’s just my radiance boosting primer and long-wear skin tinted serum (shade L3). Together, they give “you look well-rested” energy when the truth is caffeine and chaos. It’s light and real-skin pretty — my weekday armor.
Tip: Warm it with your fingers — it melts in better than any brush.

3. The forever serum I still swear by 🌙
If you haven’t tried an ectoin serum yet, this is your sign. I love using this post-shower to revive dry + hot skin. I notice a glowing difference right away. I follow it with a 100H replenishing hydrator that keeps my face soft and bouncy all day.
Tip: I love using this combo before makeup to help smooth, grip and give that radiant glow!

4. The hair fix that finally worked 💇🏻‍♀️
I’m all about prevention and just thinking about thinning hair (it runs in my family) I panicked — until I found a rhythm. A LED scalp activator, hair growth vitamins, and a few drops of this bonding hair oil gave me hair that actually feels alive again. My ponytail’s stronger, my mood’s lighter, and I finally stopped hiding behind dry shampoo.
Tip: Consistency is key. I wish I started this routine in my late 20’s.

5. The multitasker that saves me 💋
Most days, I’m doing school drop-off in a sweater, not glam. But this creamy, natural lip liner with a lip & cheek tint gives me color and confidence in one swipe. It’s my “I’m fine, just busy” lip — and honestly, I get asked about this combo all the time!
Tip: Watch this tutorial to see it in action. 📽️ 

The lie we’ve been sold.

Every week my feed tells me a new way to live longer. 🕊️ 

Cold plunges. More Protein. Infrared Saunas. Walk 10K steps. Meditate. Manifest. Eat your greens.

Basically, it’s a full-time job just staying alive. 😂 

No one tells you that trying to live longer feels a lot like slowly burning out.

So I started paying attention to what actually helps me feel alive instead.

1. Stress ages faster than sugar 😬
You can do all the “right” things, but if you’re tense all day, your body still thinks it’s in a crisis. I’ve realized my shoulders live somewhere near my ears.
Tip: Drop them right now. Easiest anti-aging move ever.

2. Purpose is the real supplement 💭
People in those “live to 100” towns don’t track their protein. They just have a reason to wake up. Turns out joy adds years too.
Tip: Write down one thing you’re looking forward to tomorrow.

3. Laughter is your anti-aging cream 😂
You can drink all the matcha you want, but nothing fixes a bad week like dinner with someone who makes you laugh-snort.
Tip: Text that friend. You know the one.

4. Movement is medicine, not punishment 🏃🏻‍♀️
I stopped doing workouts that make me miserable. Now I count dancing in the kitchen or using my walking treadmill pad as cardio, and somehow I show up more.
Tip: Ten minutes of something that makes you sweat and smile.

5. Calm shows on your face ✨
No serum hides stress. When I’m grounded and my mind is at peace, I literally look different — like my features exhale.
Tip: Trade one scroll for stillness before bed. It’s skincare for your soul.

The comparison hangover…

I was having a perfectly normal day.

Hair washed, makeup on, coffee in hand ☕…

When I saw a post that stopped me.

Someone absolutely crushing it. More successful, more consistent, more everything.

And in about 3 seconds, my good mood evaporated. 🫠 

It was that quiet little voice that whispers, “You’re behind.”

Later that day, I listened to this podcast that flipped it for me.

The host said, “No one dominates all areas of life.”

And I felt that, because we only see people in the light they choose to stand in.

Not the mess behind the camera, not the anxiety under the captions.

When I actually wrote down what success means to me…

Physically, financially, emotionally, spiritually, I realized I was comparing myself to someone else’s checklist, not my own.

Now, when that feeling sneaks back, I ask myself one question:
“What can I learn from them instead?”

Because comparison doesn’t disappear, but curiosity turns it into something useful.

You can be inspired by someone else’s growth and still love your own light. 💛

And when you see someone else looking like they’re doing better, don’t forget — you’ve already built so much to be proud of.

See you next week. 💕 

xo Jen

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xo Jen

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