Jennifer Chiu
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What I'd never do again at 40 😬

What I'd never do again at 40 😬

The beauty mistakes, the trends I'm skipping, and what's landing in your inbox Saturday morning.

Jennifer Chiu
October 28, 2026

Hiii! ☕️

Can I confess something? 🫣

Last week I found myself in a swimsuit…

About to do something only because everyone else was doing it.

And the whole time, I could hear my mom's voice in my head.

It got me thinking about all the things I've done for years just because everyone else did.

Beauty Things I'd Never Do Again...

Some of these I did for years, proudly.

I'm telling you so you never have to. 😬

1. Scrubbing my face like a dirty pan. Harsh tools, gritty scrubs, the works, and my skin was not having it. Now I've switched to this 2% BHA liquid exfoliant that I can't stop reaching for. It does the exfoliating for me, and my skin looks smoother the next morning. I tell every mom I know about this one.
Tip: Use it a few times a week and seal it with this barrier repair moisturizer!

2. Treating sunscreen like it was optional. My 40 year old face is sending the bill for that one. Now I wear this glow-in-a-bottle sunscreen every single day, and it's the one I keep seeing everywhere. It doubles as my primer, and people ask if I got a facial.
Tip: If you want to go one step further, fade those dark spots with this rapid correcting serum the night before.

3. Picking my lips to pieces. In my 20s I picked them constantly, probably from anxiety. Now I'm obsessed with this glass-lip balm and honestly can't leave the house without it. My lips stay so soft that there's nothing left to pick.
Tip: I use this every night before bed. No joke. I have purchased more than 4 tubs of this vitamin c peptide lip balm

4. Forcing the smoky eye. Ever since watching “Where the Mask Ends” on Netflix, I can't stop thinking about those fresh, effortless eyes. Now it's this one-swipe lid glow and I get a soft, lit-up eye in ten seconds, no brush needed.
Tip: C-drama actresses are all about the anti-blush and this terracotta flush balm on the tops of the cheekbones is IT.

5. Filling my closet with fast fashion. It felt like a deal until it fell apart after three washes. Now I'd rather buy one good piece, like this forever leather bomber I keep getting asked about. I throw it on over a hoodie, and with leggings, it looks so put together.
Tip: Paired with this gorgeous Mongolian red scarf and now I’m effortlessly chic.

Things My Body (and Brain) Said No To...

Everyone online is freezing, taping and slathering. 🥶

I tried to keep up, and my mom (and my nervous system) had other plans.

1. The cold plunge. Remember the cold plunge? I did it, and my body actually felt fine. But that voice in my head was my mom, and from a Chinese medicine view…it lets too much cold into the body, so it's a no for me.
What I do instead: I go to an infrared yoga class after the kids are asleep. All the sweat, none of the screaming. My body loves it.

2. Taping my mouth shut at night. Everyone online is taping their mouths for "better sleep." I have two kids who wake me up at 3 AM, so I'm keeping my mouth available, thanks.
What I do instead: I wear these sleeping ear plugs every night so I fall back asleep fast after every 3 AM wake-up call or my husband’s snoring.

3. Rubbing beef tallow on my face. Yes, this is a real trend. I love a steak, but it's staying on my plate, not my pillowcase.
What I do instead: When my skin feels dry or tight, I always have a bottle of this squalene rose brightening face oil. I’ve used this oil for years. Don’t believe me? Check my YouTube days. 😉

4. Putting protein in literally everything. Protein coffee, protein popcorn, protein pancakes. At this point I'm waiting for protein toothpaste. 😂
What I do instead: Real food first. I blend a quick yogurt and berry smoothie in my beast mega 1200 countertop blender and the whole family drinks it…and it’s the most aesthetic looking one too.

Not caring looks good on me. 😎

The Thing Nobody Tells You About 40...

Okay, real talk.

At 40, you just can't dwell on the past or lose sleep over the future.

Who has the energy?

Not me. I'm in bed. 😴

When I was in my teenage years…

I rebelled against my parents, took risks, and did basically everything they told me not to do.

And for a lot of us millennials?

It turned out fine. Somehow. I don’t know how…but we made it. 🤷‍♀️

Here's what I've figured out…

Everything you've done, good or bad, taught you something.

As long as you're heading in the right direction now, you're doing great.

And nobody's perfect.

Not you, not me, not your mom.

If I could tell my younger self something, I'd say this:

❝

You'll spend your 20s worrying what people think, your 30s deciding not to care, and your 40s realizing they were never thinking about you at all.

The people who judge you aren't paying your bills, raising your kids or living your life.

So why do they get a vote?

Just cut them out. ✂️

And keep the people who cheer you on (hi, that's you 🫶).

x Jen

PS - Saturday morning I have something really exciting coming for you.

Make sure you open it.