POV: your largest organ
Sent to subscribers on Dec 31, 2024. Reproduced here as it was written.
I'm Jacob Katz, and this is The Renewal: your smart no-bs friend who actually reads scientific journals telling you what you need to know about how to live longer.
If you're like me and enjoy boiling in the shower like a lil lobster, your skin's probably screaming rn. We need to fix that before you get hit with the "your legs are ashy" this winter.
"Compound interest is the eighth wonder of the world. There is no force in the universe more powerful." ~ Albert Einstein
^ This applies to more than just money - relationships, health, knowledge, habits, exercise, sleep, diet, student loans, back pain, your bday suit
FREE STUFF BECAUSE WE'RE ALL BROKE FR:
The 3-Minute Rule: Tactical breakdown: Water stops. Clock starts. 180 seconds to execute. Target: Lock in moisture with lotion. Mission status? Critical. Don't fumble this bag. (damp skin traps moisture)
Quit Rubbing It So Hard: No more rubbing your skin like you're trying to start a fire. Pat that ish dry. Aggressive rubbing destroys your skin cells and your moisture barrier.
Keep the Steam: Close that bathroom door during showers. Congrats, you just made a poor person spa. The steam creates a humidity chamber that helps your skin cells drink up moisture.
Stop Boiling Yourself 🦞: Hot showers hit different. Trust me - I love hot showers just as much as the next lobster, but they're literally cooking your skin.
Keep it Shawty: I like overthinking my entire life thinking in the shower. You might like winning imaginary arguments. Whatever you do, try to keep it under 10 minutes. If not, you're basically waterboarding your skin's protective barrier.
Lathering Too Thicc: You know how people say "a little goes a long way"? THIS IS THAT MOMENT. Too much cleanser disrupts your skin's pH faster, plus that thicc lather you're creating strips your natural oils â›”
Pro Tip: If your skin's sticky and tight, you've just removed all its protective oils. That's your sign to calm tf down with the cleansing 🚨
INVEST IN YOUR FLESH SUIT (paid solutions):
Face washes (you don't need to spend a lot on cleansers because you rinse them off quickly—save money here and spend more on serums): Vanicream Facial Cleanser ($17)
Lumene Hyaluronic Acid (serum) ($26): HUGE - It's basically a water magnet for your thirsty ass skin
Face Moisturizer: Lumene Glow Moisturizer ($23) - The holy grail for broke kings/queens
Body Moisture That HITS: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion ($17) - The OG
The Extras That Are Actually Worth It
Bamboo face towels: Baby butt soft and kills bacteria naturally ($17)
Turkish cotton (body): 5-star hotel type beat ($33)
Humidifier ($40) - Osmosis is magic
Silk pillowcase ($30) - Your face deserves better than cotton - less wrinkles and less acne (antimicrobial)
THE REAL TEA ☕
Layer your skincare like you're playing Tetris - thinnest to thiccest. And if your face feels tight after washing, that cleanser's toxic and needs to go 🚮
Your skin's literally keeping your organs from falling out, so maybe treat it nice?
Expose yourself: What's the most unhinged thing you've done to your skin? (Mine was not using lotion until 2020 💀)
[Bonus tip: If anyone calls you high maintenance for having a skincare routine, remind them that dermatologists exist for a reason and you're just trying not to look like a raisin by 30]
[Final thought: You want to age like fine wine, not milk. Take care of your largest organ (skin).]
Stay hydrated, Jacob & The Renewal team
P.S. If you're still using liquid crimes 3-in-1 shampoo/body wash/dish soap, we need to have a different conversation...