Building Power Moves For The Next Decade | Skin
How I’m using my 30s to build a life I’ll thank myself for in my 40s.
Welcome to Part 3 of my June series: “Building Power Moves For The Next Decade.”
Missed Parts 1 & 2? You can catch up on them here before diving into today’s edition.
Today’s newsletter is all about skincare.
Before I continue, here’s a little disclaimer: I’m not a dermatologist nor a trained aesthetician.
I’m not even what you’d call a “skincare girlie” who knows every viral product on the market.
I don’t have any proven anti-aging tips or miraculous ways to get rid of acne (I wish!)
And, I’ll admit: I’ve been lucky that I’ve never had major skin concerns (and I know a big part of that comes down to pure genetics)
But, I still wanted to include this chapter in the series because I do care deeply about how my skin looks, how it feels, and how healthy it stays as I move into the next decade of life.
And, I know a lot of you do too.
Because let’s face it. We’re at that stage where we notice things like fine lines, dark spots, and uneven skin texture.
At one point, I even seriously considered injectables because it felt like everyone around me was getting snatched jawlines, pillowy lips, and dewy skin.
But I’ll be honest, the most extreme thing I’ve ever tried is yellow laser treatment (just once!) to see if it would calm the redness in my skin.
It worked, and my skin looked great for about a month and a half.
After that, it went back to normal with redness, dry patches, clogged pores.
But during that visit, the aesthetic physician did share some genuinely helpful and simple skincare tips, which I incorporated into my skincare routine.
And, guess what?
My skin’s been doing pretty well. Nothing fancy or extreme. But healthy.
For the record, my skin type is normal to combination: I have an oily T-zone but sometimes I get a few annoying dry patches right between my eyebrows.
So, yes, today’s newsletter isn’t about getting perfect glass skin or aging backwards.
I’m sharing five gentle, realistic, and sustainable power moves I’m making now to help my skin stay healthy (and happy!) for the next decade or two.
THE LESSONS
Power Move #1: Use A Sheet Mask Weekly
Confession: I don’t know why but I used to think sheet masks were a scam.
How can flimsy wet sheets of paper help smoothen the skin?
But, the aesthetic doctor I visited said to incorporate it three times a week into my routine.
And I thought: hey, why not, let’s give it a go?
(Actually, my thought process was a lot more complicated than that but at the end of the day, I figured sheet masks were going to be way cheaper than monthly yellow laser treatments)
The results surprised me.
My skin felt healthy, supple, and moisturised. No more weird dry flakes in between my brows!
Now I get why Koreans swear by sheet masks every single day!!!
Here’s the good news: you don’t need fancy or expensive sheet masks.
In fact, my doctor told me to skip the ones with anti-aging, brightening, exfoliating claims and stick to the simple hydrating ones - especially those with hyaluronic acid.
These days, I don’t use them three times a week (real life, amiright?) but I try to pop one on weekly or at least every other week when I forget.
I store mine in the fridge so they feel cool and refreshing after a shower.
It’s one of my favourite self-care moments, especially living in a hot tropical climate like ours.
Power Move #2: Let Your Skin Rest
I used to be a full face make-up girlie - foundation, concealer, contour, bronzer, blush, matte lipstick, the works.
(If you want a visual, just search “2016 makeup” on TikTok!)
I barely left the house without a full face of makeup.
Until the pandemic hit, which meant I got to stay at home every day and didn’t have to wear a tinge of makeup.
Finally, my skin got to breatheee.
I started to get fewer breakouts and my skin felt less dry and tight.
Nowadays, I’m makeup-free most of the time.
I haven’t touched foundation in over five years because I can't stand the heavy, cakey feeling anymore (concealer is a different story though... sorry, my under-eyes still need help!)
Science backs this up too.
Giving your skin time off from makeup helps reduce clogged pores, irritation, and inflammation.
It can also help repair your skin’s barrier function, especially if you live in a city or a humid climate.
So, if you can go bare-faced for a few days each week, I highly recommend it.
Power Move #3: Schedule Routine Facials (Or Learn How To DIY Them At Home)
I used to be wary of getting facials until I met a fuss-free beautician that understood what my skin needed and delivered results.
No fancy 10-session packages and absolutely ZERO hard-selling.
Just good, old-fashioned cleansing, manual extraction, a gentle chemical peel, and a calming hydrating mask.
Simple, but so effective (I swear she gave me better results than the pricey Hydrafacial I once tried at a medical clinic!)
Since then, I’ve made it a point to get a facial at least once every three months.
When she got pregnant and sadly closed her business (still mourning this loss), I started the hunt for a new place (I’ve got an appointment next week. Fingers crossed this one's a keeper!)
If you’ve never tried facials before or don’t see the importance of getting a facial, let me break it down for you.
Facials do what our daily routine can’t:
Deep cleanse the skin and remove built-up oil, dirt, and dead skin cells that can clog pores and dull your complexion
Remove blackheads and congestion via professional manual extraction (although this part hurts, I feel like a facial is incomplete without it)
Offer targeted treatments for hydration, soothing for redness, acne control, etc
Improve skin texture and barrier health so your regular skincare absorbs better
Honestly, if you wear daily makeup, live in a busy city, or just want a skin reset every season, I promise facials are worth it.
Just make sure you pick the right, trustworthy spot.
If my new place works out, I promise I’ll share it with all of you!
Power Move #4: Simplify Your Skincare Routine
Look, I know it’s intimidating watching skincare videos on social media.
One minute I’m happily moisturizing, the next minute I’m spiraling after a TikTok says I need Vitamin C, retinol, peptides, BHAs, AHAs, snail mucin, niacinamide...
I definitely get overwhelmed too.
But you know what?
I strongly believe simplifying your skincare is the safer choice.
Overloading your skin with too many actives can cause irritation, sensitivity, and breakouts, especially if you don’t introduce new products slowly.
I’ve seen and heard people with healthy skin damaging their skin barriers because they tried too many new things at once.
That’s one of the reasons why I’ve never tried vitamin C, retinol, or even salicylic acid on my own.
My skin feels good enough as is and I don’t want to risk damaging my skin barrier.
My only real concerns are occasional dry patches and some hormonal chin acne during the time of the month.
So, here’s my very simple skincare routine (that works for me!)
AM
Cleanse with water only (no facial cleanser)
Light moisturiser (I’ve used Clinique’s Moisture Surge for years but I’ve switched to the Torriden Dive In Soothing Cream, which has a similar gel texture that I like and is more affordable)
PM
Remove makeup with an oil-based cleanser
Gentle non-drying facial cleanser
Alcohol-free toner
Hyaluronic acid serum (as per the aesthetic doctor’s advice - I alternate between Dr Dermis and Torriden)
Thick moisturiser (because I sleep right under the AC which is very drying to the skin)
On sheet mask nights, I skip the serum and moisturizer because the mask gives enough hydration.
Remember, your skincare routine should suit your skin.
Some skin types (especially oily or acne-prone) may benefit from actives or additional steps in their routines.
But if your skin is happy and healthy, keeping it simple is 100% okay.
Power Move #5: Wash Your Makeup Brushes Regularly
In this space, there’s no shaming or judgment, so put your hand up if you’ve never washed your makeup brushes before.
I’ll start first 🙋🏻♀️
Pre-pandemic me simply tossed out old beauty blenders instead of cleaning them. Oops.
Every time your brush touches your face, it picks up sebum, dead skin cells, leftover makeup, and whatnot.
If you don’t wash them regularly, these things build up and create the perfect home for bacteria, yeast, and even dust mites (yep, gross but true).
Even though my skin never looked terrible when I wasn’t washing my makeup brushes regularly, I can feel the difference now that I do.
Since making it a habit to clean them, my skin feels so much less clogged, and my makeup goes on way smoother.
If you use heavy makeup every day, a weekly wash is ideal.
Since I wear less makeup now, I clean mine at least once a month, either with a gentle brush cleanser or plain facial wash. Both work fine!
Washing your brushes regularly is a small habit that makes a big difference in keeping your skin clear and healthy over time.
THE TAKEAWAY
Everything I’ve shared with you today comes from real experience - things I’ve genuinely tried, tested, and still do in my daily life.
I know how overwhelming it can feel to sift through endless advice online, especially when it seems like every influencer has a new “holy grail” product to sell.
But here’s what I know: simple, consistent, realistic habits matter.
I hope these small but powerful moves help you feel a little more confident in building a skincare routine that actually works for you.
Stay tuned because next week I’m focusing on hair (the lessons, mistakes, and small changes I’m making to improve my hair health!)
All my heart,
Lilian