Saturday gave me an insight into skincare I hadn’t expected. Not from a product. Not from a facial. But from living.
And wow, did I live.
The day kicked off at 6am, Brighton breeze in my face, pedalling my bike across town for a birthday surprise. I’d booked the kids’ dad the i360 Walk, a little jaunt 531ft in the sky, atop a glass doughnut.
Now, I don’t love heights, and I definitely don’t love small, especially sealed pods that creep skyward! They turn my belly. However, someone had to stay in the pod with the kids, so up I went, heart pounding, knees wobbling, smiling through clenched teeth. I did it though. I faced my fears, floated into the clouds, and did my best impression of a calm adult. Meanwhile, their dad strolled merrily on top of the glass, wind in his hair and sun on his face like some carefree lunatic.
Once safely back on solid ground (and with the kids back in his care), it was back on my bike. Legs now fully aware of their purpose. Destination, Hove beach for our weekly Seabirds sea swim.
Cold? Yes. Invigorating? Absolutely! Still trembling from the i360? You bet! Now add in the icy sea swim? A full-body shiver fest.
After a brisk dunk, I pedalled home for a gloriously hot shower. The day however was not done not yet, not even close. Trainers on, I headed to the festival at St Ann’s Well in Hove. There was music, dancing, street food, crystals (naturally), and those soul-nourishing chats with friends that double as free therapy. I even picked up a jumper from a fabulous small business called MsDRE. (Support small, always). At this point, every one of my senses was being used, and I was starting to feel very overstimulated, but still, my day wasn’t done.
I wandered back to the beach with a friend for ice cream, and for a little peace and reset. We talked about, what else, crystals, energy work, and the magic of manifesting. The sea sparkled. My legs ached. My soul felt full.
Eventually, I walked home, chatted to another friend on the phone (emotional support mode: always on), and forced myself to stay awake to watch something on telly even though I could have face-planted my bed in a heartbeat.
By the end of the day, I’d cycled 8 miles, walked nearly 25,000 steps, danced, dipped, talked non-stop and fully worn out my adrenal glands. I'd eaten on the go, said yes to everything. I was done.
When It All Hit Me: Skincare Overload Is Real
That’s when it hit me. This must be how our skin must feel when we overload it.
You know the kind of routine I mean, foam cleanser, oil cleanser, oil cleanser again (just to be safe), toner, serum, hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, vitamin c, retinol, face oil, day cream, night cream, eye cream, spf 30, then 50 (for good measure), oh and don't forget the weekly face scrubs, steams and face masks.
Our skin is the largest organ we have it is resilient, yes, but also easily overwhelmed, a bit like I was on Saturday. And unlike me, who simply collapsed on the sofa with invisible toothpicks holding my eyes open, skin shows its exhaustion with flare-ups, breakouts, redness, dryness… essentially shouting, “Please. Stop. Calm. Down.”
The Power of a Simple Skincare Routine
Sometimes, less really is more.
Your skin doesn’t need a military-grade operation, it needs kindness, a gentle, well-formulated cleanser, a nourishing moisturiser and, of course, SPF during the day.
That’s it. No 13-step pilgrimage. No chemical cocktail. Just thoughtful, kind skincare that supports your skin barrier instead of bulldozing it.
At Olive & Joyce, we believe in skincare that lets your skin breathe. That works with it, not against it.
Feel Like Your Skin’s Begging for a Break?
Trust your skin’s natural rhythm. Listen when it whispers "help," so it doesn’t have to shout.
Need a restock? Or haven’t tried our simple 2-step routine yet? Explore our 2-step skincare routine here.
With love (and a slightly crooked neck).
Emily xxx
Founder of Olive & Joyce