How I Got My Glow Back (and Found Myself in the Process)

If you’ve ever looked in the mirror and barely recognized yourself, this story might sound familiar. That was me—standing under the harsh bathroom light, frozen. My eyes, once bright and full of life, had dark circles. My skin, once glowing, looked dull. Even my smile felt... tired.

I had become a stranger to myself.

The Wake-Up Call

It didn’t happen overnight. It crept up slowly, hidden in life’s endless responsibilities: sleepless nights with my newborn, never-ending errands, and laundry piles that grew faster than I could manage. I kept telling myself, This is just what being a mom looks like.

But then, one moment hit me hard. My son ran up to me, beaming, holding a drawing. “Look, Mom!” he said. I smiled and told him how great it was, but inside, I felt something crack. I wasn’t smiling out of joy—I was smiling because I had to. Somewhere along the way, I’d stopped living for myself and started living for everyone else.

When I glanced back at the mirror, I didn’t just see exhaustion; I saw a warning sign. I wasn’t even on my own priority list anymore.

Breaking Point: How I Got Here

When I found out we were having a second baby, I was thrilled. We prepped the nursery, picked out names, and tried to get our firstborn excited about being a big sibling. I thought I was ready. I’ve done this before; I can do it again, I told myself.

But I wasn’t ready—not even close.

My husband was supportive, but his job kept him out late most nights. I felt too embarrassed to ask for help, convinced that being a good mom meant doing it all myself. Meanwhile, our dog still waited for the walks and belly rubs I didn’t have the energy to give. The house was chaos—dishes piled up, laundry unfolded, toys everywhere. And me? I was just trying to survive.

Then came the sleepless nights. My baby refused to sleep, so I paced the floor, rocking and shushing him. My older child got sick and started acting out, jealous of the baby. One night, he yelled, “You don’t love me anymore, Mom!”

His words broke me. I cried alone in the dark, but the tears didn’t fix anything. Life kept piling on.

I leaned on quick fixes: frozen meals, takeout, and too much coffee. I used sleep aids at night to grab a few precious hours. My weight climbed. My patience wore thin. My husband and I argued more. And when my son offered to help clean up one day, I said, “No, I’ve got it,” because asking for help felt like failure.

But I wasn’t “getting it.” I was drowning.

A Fateful Shopping Trip

One day, I decided to go shopping for a little pick-me-up. I thought maybe a new dress or jeans would help me feel like myself again.

But in the fitting room, the mirror betrayed me.

Nothing fit the way I wanted. My body didn’t feel like mine. My face looked older, worn down. I left the store empty-handed. That was rock bottom.

The Accidental Lifeline

One night, while everyone else was asleep, I sat at the kitchen table surrounded by mess. I reached for my phone, scrolling through social media. That’s when I saw it: “How to Get Your Glow Back.”

Out of boredom, I clicked the quiz. I didn’t expect it to help—I just wanted a distraction. But as I answered the questions, it felt personal, like someone understood my struggles.

At the end, it offered a simple plan: five to ten minutes a day. I laughed. Five minutes? Like that’ll change anything. But I was desperate enough to try.

The Slow Burn of Change

The first week, nothing happened. I barely followed the plan. But then one morning, I got a notification: “Lisa, how are you feeling today?”

No one had asked me that in months.

I opened the app and followed a five-minute face massage to boost circulation. It wasn’t a miracle, but it made me feel lighter. That was enough to keep me going.

By the end of the first month, the dark circles under my eyes were fading. My skin looked healthier. The app reminded me to drink water, and I started feeling less sluggish.

By month two, I saw glimpses of my old self in the mirror. I started caring about skincare again, using the app’s product scanner to find what worked for me.

Six months later, I’m a different person. No, my life isn’t perfect, and I still have stress. But my skin glows, my energy is returning, and I’m starting to love myself again.

Why I’m Sharing This

This isn’t a quick fix or a miracle. What I found isn’t magic—it’s a lifeline. A small, simple habit that reminded me to care for myself.

Mimika, the app that started it all, is still part of my routine. It’s my daily nudge to make time for me, even when life feels overwhelming. My husband loves me. My kids love me. But now, I love me—and that’s changed everything.

If you’re in a hard place right now, it gets better. Start small. Five minutes is enough to remind yourself that you matter too.

Because you do. 💜