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.
Why You’ll Love It
Give skin a gentle yet effective wake-up call with our reformulated, better-than-ever Brand New Day Microderma Scrub & Masque. Part of the One Love Organics family since 2010, this long-time favorite has been reimagined as a cream formula, providing the same plant-powered exfoliating benefits to deliver a clarified, smooth, and radiant complexion.
Tropical enzymes derived from mango and banana extracts resurface skin, gently cleansing pores while encouraging a healthy, youthful-looking glow. Other ingredients include mineral-rich clay, which binds to unwanted dirt and oils, helping to eliminate them from the skin’s surface, while offering balancing benefits. Ultra-fine polishing minerals work to gently exfoliate, removing buildup and dead skin cells to encourage a velvety-soft complexion.
Working synergistically, these ingredients provide both physical and chemical exfoliating benefits, delivering a fresh face that’s primed to absorb moisturizers or other treatment products. The deliciously creamy texture of this scrub-masque is largely due to the addition of antioxidant-rich mango butter, which leaves skin feeling supported, supple and smooth—never stressed or dehydrated.
️Tropical fruit enzymes provide powerful-yet-gentle chemical exfoliation, refining the surface of the skin for a perfected finish, mineral-rich clay binds to unwanted congestion, while ultra-fine polishing minerals whisk away additional buildup.
️Lush mango butter provides antioxidant nutrition with vitamins C and E, while smoothing and soothing skin for a replenished complexion.
️Signature, plant-powered vacation-in-a-bottle aroma is delightfully transporting.
️Synthetic fragrance-free, cruelty-free, vegan, and dermatologist tested. ECOCERT/COSMOS® certified natural and organic.
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.
A scalp scrub exfoliation treatment.
This pre-cleanse exfoliation treatment is formulated with Hawaiian Red salt, which is rich in volcanic clay and minerals. Crafted to gently remove impurities, apple fruit restores hydration to the scalp while celery seed extract and peppermint oil stimulates blood flow. Tea tree oil extracts help to soothe inflammation and irritation.
Ideal for everyone.
Fragrant Note: Peppermint
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.
Our Raspberry Acai Smoothie Lip Treatment deeply nourishes, moisturizes, and soothes dry, cracked lips. Formulated with shea butter and vitamin E, it locks in moisture, helps repair dryness, and contains antioxidants to soothe irritation. This treatment reveals smooth, soft lips with a buildable, rich berry tint, while also offering protection for your lips.
Pro Tip: Layer up your lip treatment for more color or pair with your fav lip liner
🫧 Clean Ingredients
🌱 Vegan
🫶 Cruelty-Free
♻️ Sustainable
🌎 50% PCR Tube
Free Of: Parabens, Phthalates, Formaldehyde, and Sulfate Detergents
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 😉