If you go in swinging with daily application, your skin might throw a tantrum —and not the cute kind. Redness, peeling, irritation… basically, your face turns into a raging wicked stepmother.

Your first step:
Start with a gentle, over the counter retinol like Oil of Olay’s Regenerist 2–3 times
a week. Low and slow, Snow White. Timing is everything.

Been playing in the shallow end? It might be time for prescription-strength tretinoin (aka the queen bee of retinoids).

But proceed with royal caution:
+ Pause all current retinol for a week
+ Start tretinoin once per week
+ Moisturize like your life depends on it!!
+ Increase frequency very gradually and only if you are not having ANY issues.

Patience, grasshopper. Even magic takes time.

Retinol makes your skin super sensitive to sunlight. Without SPF, the sun will roast you faster than you can say “enchanted forest.”
Use SPF 30+ (minimum) daily. Non-negotiable.

Getting laser or IPL? Hit pause on the retinol and tell your provider.

Fairy Tale Fine Print

(contributed by Lacey Beachum)

Some things just get better with time. Like wine. Or your taste in jeans.

Let’s be real—retinol isn’t trendy. It’s iconic. The quiet achiever of your skincare lineup. Low drama, high impact.

Kind of like that perfectly broken-in white button-down that’s carried you through interviews, brunches, and last-minute Zoom calls. You keep reaching for it because it works.

Just like retinol, some fashion pieces earn their place by showing up and aging well.

Your instant “she’s got her life together” piece—even if your day starts with coffee spills and school drop-off chaos.

Throw it on over biker shorts, jeans, or a silky slip dress. It always levels up your look.

• Try: Abercrombie for petite fits, Babaton by Aritzia for clean lines, or go vintage on Etsy or The RealReal

• Style tip: Keep one in black and one in camel. Mood = covered

⸻

Structured. Stretchy. Survives late-night hangs and early Monday meetings. A truly great pair of jeans doesn’t need trends—it needs staying power.

• Faves: Madewell’s Perfect Vintage, AGOLDE Riley High Rise, Everlane Way-High

• Tip: Wash cold, air dry. Just like skincare—consistency wins

Girl, get you some dark-wash denim….»

Effortless, hands-free, and always in style. Bonus points for gold hardware and grown-up energy.

She’s not loud. She just knows her worth.

• Picks: Cuyana, Polène Paris (neutral heaven), or a vintage Coach for old-school cool

• Style move: Match to your shoes for a pulled-together look without trying too hard

Your retinol glow deserves a supporting cast. A mid-size gold hoop is quiet luxury at its best—timeless, clean, confident.

• What to snag: Gorjana, Mejuri, Ana Luisa—or Park Lane, if you know, you know

• Pro tip: Mid-size is magic. Not too loud, not too shy—just right

For when the weather’s confused but your outfit isn’t. A trench brings that “I woke up like this” energy to literally everything.

• Try: Mango, Banana Republic, or a vintage Burberry if you’re feeling luxe

• Style tip: Wear open, sleeves rolled, and pair with sneakers. Effortlessly cool

⸻

Like retinol, the best style investments aren’t about flash—they’re about longevity.
Good skin takes time. So does good style.
You’re playing the long game—and it looks really good on you.

—

Here for timeless style and filter-free skin,
Lacey

Start with a gentle over the counter product. Go slow (1-2 days/week) until your skin adjusts for several weeks. Then you can gradually increase.

Avoid the sun and harsh skin treatments.
If you’re doing IPL, laser or other medical treatments…be sure to stop your retinol 5 days prior to avoid hyperpigmentation.

Build a wardrobe of basics and slay all day with your fabulous fairy tale self!

Have an amazing week!

Jacqueline, RN
Founder, AgelessIQ

P.S. If you would like an anti-aging consultation and you live in the Ohio/PA/WV area, you can schedule it here →

P.P.S. Forward this to that friend who thinks wrinkles are inevitable. She’ll thank you for this fairy tale ending!

Jacqueline is a MedSpa owner, nurse for 13 years, skincare creator and biohacking nerd who hopes to turn science and self-care into your weekly dose of “how to make a boring glass of water feel fancy”