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Self Care Chaos: One Mom, One Tween, and Way Too Many Serums
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items Trust me, this shelf isn’t a stock photo—it’s my actual bathroom jungle. One roof, two completely different skin sagas: I’m in my fabulous 50s, navigating hot flashes, wrinkles, and rogue chin hairs 💃, while my tween is just discovering skincare 🌸 ...
Sections
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Tween Territory: The Sparkle (and Spot) Zone
Mom’s Shelf: The "Mature" Skin and Hair Survival Kit
The Shared Shelf: Neutral Ground (Mostly)
Tween Territory: The Sparkle (and Spot) Zone
"Glitter, bubblegum scents… and the occasional emergency pimple patch." This is my tween’s wonderland of fruity lip balms, panda-shaped sheet masks, sparkly bath bombs, and skincare that smells like a candy store exploded 🍭. But we’ve also got the b...
I’m already a CeraVe fangirl—honest, cheap, dermatologist-approved skincare that actually works—so when my tween started getting acne, this was the first thing I grabbed. It’s gentle but has salicylic acid to keep breakouts in check without leaving h...
CeraVe Renewing SA Cleanser – The Tween Acne Lifesaver (That Won’t Torch Their Face) 🧼
This stuff is magic for breakouts. Salicylic acid, niacinamide, and a formula gentle enough that it doesn’t turn your face into a peeling disaster zone. When a zit pops up, I dab this on and—boom—by morning, it’s either gone or at least demoted from ...
CeraVe Acne Control Gel – The Pimple Hitman 🔫
My tween’s skin started staging a full-on breakout rebellion, so we added this to her routine—and it’s been a game-changer. Lightweight, non-greasy, and designed for acne-prone skin, it hydrates without clogging pores or making her face look like a s...
Benzac Oil Control Moisturiser 50mL | Skincare
These things are awesome. I started using them on those “uh-oh” zits that already popped (because let’s be honest, self-control is not always my strong suit). You stick one on, and overnight it sucks out all the gunk like a tiny, magical vacuum. No r...
Pimple Patches – The Tiny Stickers That Save the Day ⭐
My tween is obsessed with this, and I get it—it’s like a cozy blanket for your lips. Super rich, hydrating, and somehow not sticky, it keeps lips soft and smooth all night (and honestly most of the next day). She loves the cute, glossy vibe, and I lo...
Lanolips 12-Hour Overnight Lip Mask – The Bedtime Lip Saver 💋
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=My tween fell in love with this gentle Cuide-se Bem body splash—the Melissa scent—and now it’s basically liquid treasure. Of course, they discontinued it (why do brands always kill the good ones?!), so she’s rationing what’s left like it’s a rare pe...
Cuide-se Bem Body Splash – The Scent My Tween Won’t Let Die 🌸
Mom’s Shelf: The "Mature" Skin and Hair Survival Kit
"Because my skin can’t decide if it’s 25 or 75." This shelf is where the heavy hitters live: retinol serums, hydrating masks, firming creams, and the occasional “miracle” potion I bought at 2 a.m. while googling “best serum for hormonal chaos.” Basic...
I’m not just a fan—I’m a full-blown evangelist for this lipstick. I own two (one in my bag, one by my keyboard) because going without it feels like forgetting pants. It’s that sheer, moody wash of color that somehow works on literally everyone. I’ve ...
Clinique Black Honey – The "Almost" Lipstick 💄 That Looks Good on Literally Everyone
At a certain age, using powder or heavy foundation basically turns my face into something that looks like cracked desert soil after a drought — with foundation settling into every fine line like it's trying to fill potholes. 🏜️😂 This foundation? To...
IT - Cracked desert skin, no more
I found this moisturizing cream that’s made specifically for around the lips — it hydrates, softens, and actually helps with those sneaky little lines. 🙌 It’s a bit pricey, but honestly? It lasts forever. A little goes a long way, and I’m totally ob...
Who needs duck lips?
Not the cheapest product ever but worth every penny! This stuff is fantastic, indeed does what it says. Specifically for my mature skin. I got only 3 beauty products that are a bit more in the pricey range this is one of them - but it is neither supe...
Best exfoliant eveeerrrrrrrrrrrrr
Yet another glamorous gift from the hormone fairy: rosacea. Because apparently, my skin woke up one day and chose rage. 🔥 This toner? Saved me. It’s like therapy for my face — calms the drama, evens things out, and lets me pretend I’ve got it all to...
The Toner That Ended My Skin’s Midlife Crisis
Does the same stuff a $100 eye cream would do for a quarter of the price. I have been using for a while now, ok… i think most of the results are a bit psychological but hey a girl has to look after herself.
Fighting Crow's feet
This is hands-down my favorite moisturizer. It’s lightweight, hydrating, and packed with niacinamide—which, if you haven’t heard, is basically the Beyoncé of skincare ingredients (brightens, smooths, keeps everything calm). The best part? It’s cheap,...
CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion – The Big Bottle of Skin Happiness 🫶
Look, I think my wrinkles are badges of honor — I’ve earned every single one of them with laughter, late nights, and real life. But hey, there’s also nothing wrong with trying to slow the clock a little, right? There’s no miracle cream that’ll turn b...
CeraVe retinol skin serum - Honest skin care, not sorcery
ost eye creams make two promises: “brighten your under-eyes” and “empty your wallet.” This one only does the first—and I’m here for it. It’s lightweight, fragrance-free, packed with vitamin C (to fight dark circles), and—bonus—it doesn’t cost as much...
CeraVe Vitamin C Eye Cream – Bright Eyes Without the Splurge 👀
If you’ve ever been scared of retinol because you’ve heard horror stories of flaking, redness, and looking like you lost a fight with a loofah—this one is your safe entry point. The texture is lightweight, almost milky, and sinks in without drama. No...
The Ordinary Granactive Retinoid 2% Emulsion – Gentle, Glowy, and Won’t Make You Peel Like a Lizard 🦎
Full disclosure: I did not fall in love with the texture of this one. Those little spheres make it feel a bit sandy, and at first, I wasn’t sure if I was applying skincare or exfoliating my face with fairy dust. It’s not the most luxurious experience...
Gritty but Gets It Done ✨ The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres
My doctor recommended this because of my mid-life crisis rosacea, and honestly, I rolled my eyes—because nothing about this bottle screams “luxury.” But plot twist: it’s now the cleanser I can’t quit. It’s fragrance-free, gentle, and somehow gets my ...
CeraVe Foaming Face Cleanser – The Boring Bottle That Saved My Skin 🫧
This one is definitely an acquired taste. Unlike my go-to CeraVe PM lotion (light, breezy, slather-everywhere), this night cream is thick. We’re talking “feels like Vaseline, but fancier” thick. But here’s the thing—it’s a lifesaver when my skin is a...
CeraVe Anti-Aging Skin Renewing Night Face Cream with Hyaluronic Acid
If you can only afford one skincare item, it has to be sunscreen—because no wrinkle cream on Earth beats just protecting your skin. And this tinted version? It’s my favorite shortcut to looking alive. It gives the same lightweight, non-greasy protect...
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50 (Tinted) – My Sunscreen + “I Woke Up Like This” Trick 🌞
I’ll admit it: I’ve got a shelf full of fancy face creams promising eternal youth… while my poor feet were over here cracking like desert pavement. Then I found this little miracle. It’s thick, rich, and actually works—softening calluses and healing ...
Dr. Scholl’s Ultra Hydrating Foot Cream – The “Oh Right, I Have Feet” Miracle 🦶
The Shared Shelf: Neutral Ground (Mostly)
This is our Switzerland of skincare: sunscreen, micellar water, aloe gels, gentle moisturizers, and the face masks we both “borrow” (read: steal) when the other isn’t looking. It’s the one corner of the bathroom where peace almost exists. 🕊️
If you can only budget for one self-care item, make it sunscreen. No anti-aging serum, cream, or miracle potion can undo sun damage—prevention is everything. This La Roche-Posay SPF 100 is the one I keep buying because it’s lightweight, sinks in fast...
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 100 – The Self-Care Staple I Swear By (Find Your Favorite, But Just Wear One) ☀️
This stuff is pure gold. I love it! I not only use as a serum but also mix up with moisturizing and with my IT foundation. It does improve the appearance of the skin and is about ¼ the price of other fancy brands that have the exactly same ingredient...
Meet your new cosmetic bestie
Since the pandemic, I decided to stop dyeing my hair — especially after my husband had the audacity to say I looked "younger" when my hair was colored. 😂 That same week, I marched myself to the hairdresser... and bought this awesome conditioner that...
Pure Colour - Aging? Yes. Boring? Never
If you can only afford one skincare item, make it sunscreen—because no serum, cream, or magic potion can undo sun damage. This one is the tinted version of the
La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 50 – The One Product I’d Grab in a Fire 🔥
Whenever I want to pamper myself, here is what I do, I bought a Lush bomb bath and one of the awesome home made lush masks and have a long bath with an mask. Our favorite is the twilight bomb.
No time for SPA at home? No problem. Lush got you covered
Ok - this is a bit more in the pricey side but is my feel good gift request to my family every year, for Xmas and mother's day.
L'Occitane Almond Shower Oil
This tiny tube is my go-to: small enough to toss in any bag, luxe enough to feel like a treat, and affordable enough that I can stock up… and use it as leverage. (Yes, I fully bribe my tween: good grades = her own tube.) The lavender scent is calming...
L’Occitane Lavender Hand Cream – The Pocket Bribe 💜
Real story: my child hated washing her hair when she was little. Actually, she hated baths in general (we even had to buy a fancy bucket just to convince her to get clean—yes, I should probably make a baby list). Then one day, everything changed. She...
L’Occitane Purifying Freshness Shampoo – The Fancy Stuff I Now Have to Share 💆♀️
Did I already mention my child hijacks all my L’Occitane stuff? Oh right… I did. This particular bottle showed up as a Mother’s Day gift (because let’s be real—I’d never drop that much on myself for one fancy thing). And, naturally, it became “ours” ...
L’Occitane Treats – The Bottle That Turned Into a Mom-Daughter Tradition 💛
I adore perfume—Allure de Chanel is my forever obsession—but most scents make my nose declare war. One spritz and suddenly, I’m sneezing like I’ve been trapped in a field of pollen. Enter this soft, subtle L’Occitane Cherry Blossom scent. It’s light ...
L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Eau de Toilette – The Only Perfume My Nose Approves Of 🌸
This hand cream feels like a mini luxury break in a tube. It’s rich, silky, and leaves my hands soft and lightly scented with cherry blossom—just enough to feel elegant without overpowering my perfume. I rotate it with two of my other favorite hand c...
L’Occitane Cherry Blossom Hand Cream – The Indulgence I Rotate to Keep It Special 🌸
This stuff makes your hair look fantastic—smooth, soft, healthy, all without blowing your budget. I’m not a big fan of the coconut scent (personal quirk), but I can’t deny it works wonders. Here’s the catch: it doesn’t just work on my hair… apparentl...
Eleven Miracle Hair Treatment – Amazing Hair… If It Stays on Your Head 💆♀️
TRESemmé Keratin Repair – My Fancy-Shampoo Replacement (That My Kid Also Steals) 💇♀️
TRESemmé Keratin Repair – My Fancy-Shampoo Replacement (That My Kid Also Steals) 💇♀️
Did I mention my husband and child have a glow-in-the-dark paleness? Even with SPF 100 slathered on like cake frosting, my two little ghosts sometimes manage to get sunburned. When that happens, this aloe gel is our household blessing. It cools, soot...
Banana Boat Aloe After Sun Gel – Ghost Whisperer
You didn’t think I’d forget body moisturizer, did you? This is my go-to. It’s simple, honest, and just works. The scent is subtle (basically, you won’t smell like a fruit salad or a department store), no fragrance added (so I dont sneeze with it) and...
Aveeno Daily Moisturizing Lotion – The Reliable One 🫶
Another go-to moisturizer, especially if you’re a tad sun-kissed, is this one. It’s lightweight, hydrates like a champ, and absorbs fast—so no awkward waiting around before you can actually get dressed. The scent is fresh and nice, but a tad strong, ...
Vaseline Soothing Hydration Lotion – My Post-Sun, Big-Bottle Go-To 🌿