Hey, They Call Me Connie…

There’s a cruel joke the universe likes to play on me every time life decides to pull the rug out from under my carefully curated routines. Moving is stressful enough—packing, unpacking, and realizing you’ve somehow misplaced your entire spice rack—but throw in my skin rebelling like I just hit puberty, and suddenly I’m asking the universe: Was this necessary?

Let’s just say my recent move has been a journey—and not the spiritual kind where you find yourself, unless “finding myself” includes discovering a constellation of stress pimples on my jawline. Add being a solo parent into the mix, and you’ve got a recipe for not-so-chic chaos. (My mornings are less “Euphoria glow” and more Is this a filter or my child’s finger smudges on my front-facing camera?)

Shout out to my niece, the skin queen herself, @MsKaylanna, for lovingly shaming me back into a skincare routine that doesn’t involve haphazardly scrubbing my face with whatever soap I didn’t commandeer for cleaning countertops. She’s been my guru, and thanks to her, I’ve rediscovered that clear skin requires actual effort and not just

hoping for the best. Revolutionary, I know.

Enter Filterbaby: The Real MVP

One of my biggest revelations—besides the fact that I really need to drink more water (yes, Kaylanna, I heard you)—was that water quality can make or break your skin. Who knew the same water making my hair dry and unmanageable was also contributing to my stress-induced adult acne extravaganza? Enter Filterbaby, my new Holy Grail for skincare sanity.

These shower and sink filters have single-handedly restored some semblance of order to my life. Filterbaby turns your regular tap water into the skincare equivalent of a luxury spa fountain. Softer water, fewer harsh chemicals, and, most importantly, no more wondering if my skincare products are even working when they have to fight my apartment’s hard water first. (Spoiler: they weren’t.)

And let’s be honest: Black Friday was made for investments like this. Sure, the glittery serum ads are tempting, but Filterbaby? That’s the grown-up choice. It’s cheaper than Fraxel, doesn’t involve scheduling an appointment, and fits perfectly into my solo-parent survival kit. Let’s just say when you’re trying to balance school drop-offs, playdates, and everything else life throws at you, a low-maintenance skincare win like this feels like a miracle.

Stressful Situations ≠ Skin Sabotage

Let me paint you a picture: I’m standing in front of my new bathroom mirror, inspecting my skin. I’m exhausted. I’m stressed. But, miraculously, I’m glowing. This is the kind of glow that says, Yes, I’m surviving chaos, but my skin doesn’t have to tell the world.

And that’s the real beauty of this whole setup. As a solo parent, I don’t always have the luxury of booking specialty facials or a day at the spa. Half the time, I’m lucky if I manage to slap on sunscreen before running out the door. (Side note: I still wear it religiously—because even stress can’t age me if I don’t let it.) But with Filterbaby, I’ve got a consistent, simple way to feel like I’m treating myself every single day.

Skincare doesn’t have to be another stressor. Whether you’re navigating a major life change, running after a little one, or just trying to keep it together, the key is finding tools that work with your lifestyle, not against it. Filterbaby is my not-so-secret weapon. If you haven’t already, take this as your sign to invest in yourself—because let’s face it, clear skin is the best kind of revenge against the life-ing part of life.

And remember: skincare isn’t just self-care; it’s survival.