The Weekender 10/17/25

End of summer, beginning of fall - cozy skincare.

Every Friday, I send out the Weekender, which is essentially a list of all my random favorite AF things to try, see, and do. Think of it as a high-five for anyone looking to feel good.

This time of year, I am always pleasantly reminded of California's best-kept secret - September and October are known to be the nicest summer months of the year. It’s the time when the beaches are still quite warm and sunny during the day but free of tourists and children (our favorite), with the evenings becoming a little chillier, making sunset hangs and backyard bbqs feel more like East Coast happenings. It’s when we get to frolic in swimwear during the day and snuggle in with our loved ones at night. The best of both worlds, if you ask me.

Recently, one of my WhatsApp girl groups decided to do a top-five favorite products video for one another. By the way, if you don’t have your girlfriends on WhatsApp yet, start that group. It’s an excellent way to stay connected when you live apart, and it also doesn’t blow up your phone when you are at work and the chatting lights on fire, like text messaging does.

The group started with evening skincare favorites, and while I worked all this past week and never got a chance to send them a video, I decided to share it here. Also, I am a bit rushed because I am sitting in a hotel room in London, where I have been resting, eating, and meandering for two days, waiting to board a train to the countryside so I can surprise one of my oldest and dearest friends for her 50th birthday party.

While I slowly recover from jetlag, I hope you don’t mind me writing about one of my favorite topics, skincare.

Actually, make that my favorite evening skincare for fall.

CONSUMPTION

Of course, skincare always starts with what we consume (and what we do not), and for us non-drinking girlies, we already know the wonders of not drinking alcohol for our skin. But may I add (and you may not want to hear it), the increased sugar intake is likely a problem. I know I am not the only non-drinker who has a sugar thing, so if this is you as well, you may want to make note of what and how much you are consuming. Two favorites:

• Organic Olivia GlucoBitters (heads up, this has an alcohol base, like most herbal tinctures)

• Himalaya Organic Gymnema

• PUKKA herbal teas Radiance for skincare (all of the PUKKA blends, really).

EVENING SKINCARE

Again, a lot of us non-drinkers have found such comfort in spending our evenings at home, taking care of ourselves, and doing things that make us feel good, unlike all those evenings we were out doing things that made us feel anything but good. I will never apologize for wanting to take care of myself, nor do I think anyone should. And that goes for anything that makes you feel good.

With that said, here is what I am using during this summer-to-fall seasonal change.

• Keep that summer glow going sans the damaging rays with BeautyBio Bronzing Blendrops.

• YES, you can put non-systemic estrodiol cream on your face for the same benefits that it does for the walls of the vagina. The choice is to pay (a lot) for a telehealth service like MyAlloy, or use your insurance and get it for approximately $5 a tube. Plus, it lasts a hell of a lot longer than one month of applications. My insurance pays for it, but if that is not an option for you, MyAlloy is a Godsend of a company. Here is a study for all my curious folks. Also, check out the studies at the bottom of this study.

• Vitamin C, but make it thick for the new season. Dr. Idriss Major Fade Active Seal is my go-to this time of year. I also love her YouTube channel for her no-bullshit approach to skincare and products.

• GOOP Beauty Glycolic Acid Overnight Glow Peel. Getting to all that summer sun damage. The first time I used this product, I was shocked at the results when I saw myself the next morning. I was very impressed with it, and I am not someone who gets all that impressed about any one product. This one, though, I love it.

Side note, none of these products “changed my life.” I really wish people would stop saying that. No product, supplement, or skincare gadget ever changed my life. The only thing that ever changed my life was quitting alcohol.

• The Ordinary 100% Organic Cold-Pressed Rose Hip Seed Oil. There is a time and place to spend money, and more often than not, you don’t have to drop rent on a product. The Ordinary brand can be quite lovely. I have tried several of their products and the rose oil is one I return to. You can’t beat $11.

• And of course, we still need sunscreen. I work with nurses who travel back and forth to Korea, so I always get a small supply of their favorite sunscreen brands. I especially like Birch Moisturizing Sunscreen UVLock SPF 45+ because it’s not thick but works very well.

• Super luxe moisturizer at a fair price. Just started this one and even though it is meant to be a mask a couple of times a week, I have been using it every night as my main moisturizer. That said, my skin loves loves loves tons of moisture and oils (yours may not). Definitely worth trying without breaking the bank. Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Overnight Hydrating Face Mask.

And I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that there is nothing, nothing better for our health and the health of our skin than good old SLEEP. And if you are like me, you probably hate being reminded of the thing you know you need more of and can’t ever seem to get. Maybe next week, we’ll discuss all things sleep if you like?

Have a wonderful alcohol-free weekend wherever you are in the world!

MM.