What Happened When I STOPPED Using All My Favorite Products
A few months ago, I injured my back—herniated L5 disc, pressing right onto my sciatic nerve. The pain was excruciating, and for a while, just getting through the day took everything I had. Skincare? Haircare? Bodycare? None of it was even on my radar.
If you’ve ever shopped at Shimmer, you know I don’t carry a product unless I’ve tested it myself. I need to know exactly how it feels, how it performs, and how it fits into real life. Some would say I was the “guinea pig” for everything we carry… but since none of our products are ever tested on animals (non-negotiable), I really need come up with something better.
I know these products benefit my skin—but it wasn’t until I stopped using them that I realized just how big of a difference they were making.
And yes, if you ever wonder whether I actually like a product I carry, just know: it wouldn’t be here if I didn’t.
1. When I stopped exfoliating my face…
My makeup started pilling. I’d apply my base and suddenly notice tiny flakes or patches where it just wouldn’t sit right. It didn’t last as long and didn’t look as smooth. I’ve always said exfoliating is the secret sauce for makeup to glide on effortlessly, and wow, did skipping it prove that point. My skin looked dull, foundation clung to dry spots, and nothing I applied looked as good as it normally does.
2. When I stopped exfoliating my body…
Let’s just say “winter skin” showed up early this year. Without my usual exfoliating scrub and follow-up body oil, dry patches showed up fast. My shins were especially unhappy—super itchy and especially considering I couldn’t move in a way to easily reach them, this got old real fast.
3. When I stopped my scalp routine…
I stopped using my scalp scrub and scalp oil because shampooing my hair every few days was just about all I could manage. And my scalp let me know it wasn’t happy. My hair started getting oily more quickly, and my roots were flat, lifeless, and lacking the volume I’m used to. I wore a bun every day for weeks—not because it was cute, but because I had no other option. The one, single itchy patch came back with a vengeance.
4. When I stopped using my lip treatments…
Just another example of my skin being drier than it ever has. That one small patch that would always peel came back, making any chance of a lip color lasting all day almost impossible. Not cute.
5. When I finally had the energy to start adding things back in…
I felt amazing. Even just washing my face with the Vitamin B cleanser and following it with the Skin Dew gave me an instant mood lift. Using my favorite scalp scrub again? Immediate difference. That’s the hair I remember! Melting a body scrub into my skin? Never felt better. It felt like I was washing away all the weeks of stress and coming out better on the other side. It was a sign of recovery and moving forward. One big positive of this whole situation was that it almost felt like I was experiencing how wonderful these products are for the first time again.
6. Even my mood changed
There’s something about a skincare or self-care routine that brings you back to yourself. Taking five minutes to slow down, breathe, and care for your body makes a difference. When I wasn’t doing those things, I didn’t feel like myself. But when I started again, I felt like I was coming home.
So, what’s the takeaway here?
All those products we think of as “extras” aren’t really extras at all—they’re part of what helps us feel good and look like ourselves. I didn’t realize how much my mental state relied on these little moments of care until they were gone.
You don’t have to live with those little (or big) annoyances like dry, itchy skin or flat hair you want to hide in a bun. All you need is the right products and just a few minutes each day to take care of yourself. I’ll never take for granted my ability to do that ever again.
If you’ve been skipping your skincare lately or wondering if your products are actually doing anything… maybe try stopping for a week. But don’t say I didn’t warn you 😉