"clink clink, snap, pour, fizz, ahhhhh..."

The moment you've been waiting for.

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Welcome to Masks & Mocktails

 

When "I'm Done" Becomes the Beginning: Amanda's Story

You wake up one morning and you're done.

"I'm done," were the first two words I heard when Amanda called me.

"I'm done spending all this time and money on all these products and my skin is getting worse and I don't know what to do. I was running late, again, frustrated when I got to work, and my co-worker said I should call you. She's been using your products for years, and it's taken me over a week just to make this call. I don't use your products, and honestly I'm exhausted. I'm only 40 years old and my skin is aging before my eyes. I'm beyond frustrated that I can't get this right."

That was Amanda, 8 weeks ago.

Tired of trying everything and not feeling sure about one more brand, one more time trying to get this right.

Just exhausted by what felt like a hustle.

She felt like she was spinning in circles, listening to too many voices - the endless scroll of tips, tricks, and everyone's answer to clear skin, glass skin, no wrinkles.

Face exercises, gua shas, red lights - she had it all, and she felt like she was failing.

So many products, and skin that was far from pleased with her choices.

I could feel every ounce of frustration in her voice.

The story went on...

She had 10 products for her morning routine and a different 10 products for her evening routine.

The list was more like an instruction manual in another language than a skincare routine.

She was nearly in tears over the amount of time it was taking and how much she had spent on all this stuff.

We worked on a plan.

We removed the 10 steps from her morning routine and evening routine, down to 3 for a few weeks.

Just 3.

Her 3-step routine?

The Wash, The Serum, The Creme.

This may change in the future.  We may cycle in a few different products and one more step.

The real focus today is less on the number of products and more on how different she feels compared to when we first talked.

Sometimes the results are multifaceted.

You may see them on your skin, but others may also see them in your spirit.

And when I spoke to her last week, the conversation was so much different.

She was almost a different person.

Reducing to 3 products gave her skin a chance to breathe, and slowly it began to respond. Less irritation for both her and her skin.

• Less frustration, wondering if any of this was working.

• Less time, she was (big exhale moment) relieved about not spending so much time.

• The money she saved was added to her dream vacation fund, which was looking less like a dream and more like a reality in the near future.

But mostly it was that she was starting to see her skin come back to life. And that changed everything. She went from hiding in the shadows to lighting up the room.

A Reminder From the Garden

And because no week feels complete without something from the garden, this weekend I made fresh grape juice from 20 pounds of grapes from my sister's garden. Sticky hands, a few hours of work, but juice so good it didn't need sugar. Some went into this week's mocktail, and some went into the freezer for a little January surprise.

Just like Amanda's story, it was a reminder that good things take time. The grapes took all summer to ripen, and with a little work and a few hours on a Saturday, they turned into something worth savoring.

Today's Reset

Good things take time. Patience pays off. Less is often more.

Are you or someone you know feeling frustrated with your routine? Or are you starting to simplify things lately and want to tell your story? I really do love hearing these stories — they remind me why this work matters.

Routines can be detailed or quick, but either way, they're worth it. If yours feels off or you're not sure where to start, let's talk. I'm happy to help you create a fall refresh that fits your skin and your life.