I Read About the 7 Essence Technique

(I used to apply SPF at night too)

I am probably in the hospital right now or this week having surgery, but….

I prepped these words ahead of time for you and can’t wait to update you on life in “linear order” soon.

For now, I hope you still like these scribbles?

Thank you for being here and being a Word Nerd with me!

I believe in essences maybe more than serums.

I read about the 7 essence technique (applying them between each step of skincare) and that’s more than I can ever commit to… but I do think using a milky toner at least a couple times in your routine is healing and luxe.

I like rituals that heal. I am not healing fast enough right now… so I need them.

I’m starting to think that we have it all wrong with skincare.

That TikTok has triggered a natural attention deficit in all of us and made us long for the NEXT NEXT NEXT. Fillers that can’t resolve. Trends to haunt us.

Remember when Protactive was just 3 steps from a mall vending machine and we thought that was engagement levels of relationship?

There is no perfect equation. We all have our own.

Mine is a mix of the gardenia scents growing in my late grandmother’s garden in Florida, and “baby” anything (baby oil to wash my face, baby shampoo for hair), plus honey.

I believe in ingredients like Manuka, and bee venom, even when I can’t afford them (on a break from purchases right now but my favorite was the Benton snail and bee serum on Amazon). No creatures are hurt in their making (I love snails and bumbles too much.)

I believe in sunscreen that “you’re excited to reapply” - especially because I’m an ocean-born water-baby… but I need suggestions because I’m in a rut.

I used to apply SPF at night too and can explain why, if you want to know. (I’ve fallen off that wagon but will and shall return, hopefully.)

I find the more I use granny tactics - creams and honeys that don’t strip the skin - the more my skin feels bouncier.

If all else fails, I’m a “cleanse once” (using baby oil and a physical exfoliator, or a micellar water, or cold cream to leave some oil on the skin) type of person… and then two creams. End of damn scene.

Slap it with some drugstore essences or sprays, sure, so your skin stays damp throughout all applications, or use an overnight mask as your final cream of the day (it WILL sink in). I’m using a rotation thanks to gift cards and friends: my favorite L’oreal honey creams and Rose Tone creams, or (always comes back to this) good ole Noxema. Often, two after cleansing (no serums) and that’s it. That’s the night.

Sometimes, a system doesn’t have to be more steps or complication than that to be effective.

Today was a simple day but I promise I’ll make up for it soon with new tricks up my sleeve and lots of writing in the works!

xoxo

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