Forever Kerry

Why is the same ingredient in your face cream, body lotion AND hand cream? 🤔

Have you ever looked at the ingredients on your skincare products and spotted GLYCERIN?

It's one of those ingredients that pops up everywhere, but what does it actually do?

Well, glycerin is what we call a humectant.

That's just a fancy way of saying it helps attract and hold water in the outer layers of your skin.

And that's quite an important job.

💜 Helps with hydration - attracts moisture to help keep skin feeling soft and comfortable.

💜 Supports the skin barrier - helps maintain hydration, which is important for keeping our skin in good condition.

💜 Helps skin feel smoother - particularly useful when skin is feeling dry or tight.

And here's something interesting.

Glycerin isn't some fancy new ingredient that's suddenly become fashionable. It's been used in skincare for years because it's effective, versatile and works well alongside lots of other ingredients.

You'll find it in all sorts of products, including ESSENS skincare and body care.

But does more glycerin automatically mean a better product?

Not necessarily.

It's the overall formulation that matters, including the other ingredients and how they work together.

That's why I think it's worth understanding a little about what's actually IN our products rather than just going by the claims on the front of the bottle.

Do you ever read the ingredients on your skincare products, or do you tend to go by how a product feels and whether it works for you?

And is there another skincare ingredient you've come across that you'd like me to explain in plain English? 💜

It's October. Surely we can put the sunscreen away now? 🍂

Not necessarily!

We tend to associate sun protection with summer holidays, sitting on the beach and those rare Scottish days when the sun actually makes an appearance. 😂

But the sun doesn't disappear just because the temperature drops.

And here's something worth knowing.

☀️ UVA rays are present throughout the year. They can pe*****te clouds and window glass and contribute to premature skin ageing.

☀️ UVB rays are the main cause of sunburn. They're generally stronger during the summer months, but they can still affect our skin at other times of year.

So even when it's cool outside, UV protection can still be important.

I think it's easy to forget about sunscreen once the summer clothes have been packed away.

But if you're spending time outdoors, particularly when the UV index is 3 or above, it's worth remembering that protecting your skin isn't just a holiday habit.

And with ESSENS having its own sun care range, it's something I can help with beyond the summer months too.

Do you use SPF on your face all year round, or is it something you only think about when the weather gets warmer?

And be honest - have you ever been caught out by the sun on a day that didn't actually feel particularly warm? X

Can your skin be oily AND dehydrated at the same time?

Absolutely! And this is something that can cause quite a bit of confusion when choosing skincare.

Because dry skin and dehydrated skin aren't actually the same thing.

💜 DRY SKIN

Dry skin is a skin type that naturally produces less oil (sebum).
It might feel rough, tight or flaky, and often benefits from richer moisturisers that help support the skin's protective barrier.

💜 DEHYDRATED SKIN

Dehydration is about a lack of water in the skin rather than oil.
And here's the interesting bit - even oily skin can be dehydrated!
Your skin might look shiny but still feel tight, or you might notice fine lines looking more obvious when your skin is lacking moisture.

And unlike your natural skin type, dehydration can affect anyone.

So what does that mean for your skincare?

It means choosing the right products isn't simply about whether your skin is oily or dry.

Ingredients such as hyaluronic acid and glycerin help attract water, while moisturisers can help reduce moisture loss and keep skin feeling comfortable.

That's why I like having different options within the ESSENS skincare ranges. Not everyone needs the same texture or type of moisturiser.

And sometimes a lightweight hydrating product is exactly what you want, rather than automatically reaching for the richest cream available.

So here's my question for you. Does your skin tend to feel:

💜 Dry and tight.
💜 Oily or shiny.
💜 A mixture of both.
💜 Pretty balanced most of the time.

And have you ever noticed your skin feeling tight even when it doesn't look particularly dry?

I'd be interested to know, because understanding how your skin actually feels is a great starting point when choosing skincare. X

Does the packaging really make a difference? 🤔

We spend lots of time looking at what's INSIDE our skincare products, but have you ever thought about the packaging?

It's not always just about making a product look pretty on the bathroom shelf.

Take two ESSENS products I use as examples.

💜 Colostrum+ Mild Face Soap

This comes in a 150ml pump bottle, which I love because it sits beside on bathroom sink.
No fiddling with lids, no dipping fingers into a jar. Just pump out what I need, wash my face and I'm done.

💜 Colostrum+ Cellulite Cream

This comes in a pump bottle too, but there's also a refill pouch available.
I love the idea of being able to refill a container rather than buying another one every time. It's a practical way to cut down on unnecessary packaging.

And there are other things worth considering too.

Pumps can help reduce how often we touch the remaining product.
Tubes make it easy to dispense a little at a time.
Jars can be handy for thicker creams, although it's best to use clean hands or a spatula.

Of course, the formulation and how well a product suits your skin are still the important bits.

But sometimes it's the little practical details that make you enjoy using something even more.

Have you ever loved a product but hated the packaging it came in?

And which do you prefer for skincare - pumps, tubes or jars?

I'm definitely a fan of a good pump bottle. 💜

Are you a creature of habit, or do you like trying something new?

I've been thinking about how differently we all shop.
Some people find something they love and that's it. They'll buy exactly the same thing for the next ten years.

Others are always curious about what's new, even when they've already got something that works perfectly well. 😂

I think I'm a bit of both.

There are products I've been buying for years because I know I love them. My W142 perfume is a perfect example - it's still a favourite after all this time.

But then something new comes along and, of course, I want to try it!

And that's one of the things I enjoy about having such a big range to explore. There's always something I haven't tried yet.

If something works for you, why change it?

But equally, you might discover something you like even more if you're willing to experiment occasionally.

I don't think there's a right or wrong answer.

So here's my Saturday question:
Which type of shopper are you?
A - Find a favourite and stick with it.
B - Always looking for something new to try.
C - A bit of both, depending on the product.

And is there one product that you absolutely refuse to swap for anything else? 💜

I sell hundreds of products, but I don't use them all myself! 😂

And I'm certainly not going to pretend that every single one is my absolute favourite.

After over seven years with ESSENS, I've tried a LOT of products.

Some I've absolutely loved and bought again and again.

Some I've liked, but they've not become part of my everyday routine.

Others just haven't been for me.

And there are still plenty I've never tried.

Take perfume, for example. You've seen me testing the new fragrances recently, and I've been quite happy to tell you when something isn't to my taste.

But just because I don't love something doesn't mean you won't.

We're all different.

The same goes for skincare, body care and wellness products. What suits my preferences or routine might be completely different from what you're looking for.

I'd much rather tell you what I genuinely think, explain what a product is designed for and help you decide whether it's worth trying.

And if I haven't personally used something, I'll tell you that too.

You don't need someone who tells you everything is amazing. You need someone who'll give you useful information and an honest opinion.

So I'm interested to know. When someone recommends a product, what matters most to you?

Have they actually used it themselves? Do you want to know the ingredients and benefits? Or are you more interested in hearing what other customers think?

And would you rather someone told you honestly that a product wasn't their favourite, even though they're selling it? 💜

What actually happens when you place an order with me?

You see the posts, the products and the occasional pile of boxes, but there's quite a bit that goes on behind the scenes!

It usually starts with a message.

Sometimes it's simply “Can I have another bottle of my usual?”

Other times it's “I'm looking for a present, but I've absolutely no idea what to get!” 😂

That's where I come in.

I'll help you choose, check what's available and get everything added to my next order.

Then comes the exciting bit, delivery day!

Boxes to unpack, products to check, orders to sort and occasionally me wondering where I'm going to put everything. 😅

If you've ordered through me, I'll arrange getting your goodies to you. And sometimes there might even be a wee extra tucked in.

Of course, you can also order directly through my ESSENS online shop and have everything delivered straight to your door.

That's one of the things I enjoy about running my own wee business. It's not just taking orders. It's helping someone find what they're looking for, whether that's their favourite perfume or something completely new.

And you certainly don't need to know exactly what you want before messaging me.

I'm curious, when you're shopping with a small business, do you prefer ordering directly online, or do you like having someone you can ask questions and get recommendations from? 💜

Does anyone else save the “nice” things? 😅

You know what I mean.

The lovely hand cream you don't want to finish.

The skincare you've decided is too nice for an ordinary day.

The new product sitting unopened because you're going to start it at the “right time”.

I've definitely been guilty of this, and when you think about it, it's ridiculous.

They're there to be used.

I'm trying to get much better at opening the nice things and actually enjoying them instead of keeping them in a cupboard like they're going to become valuable antiques.

And there's something quite satisfying about getting to the bottom of a product knowing you've properly enjoyed it.

So here's your Wednesday challenge:

Go and use one of the things you've been saving.

What have you got tucked away waiting for a special occasion - skincare, toiletries, perfume, candles, a fancy bottle of something, or even clothes you've decided are “too good” for everyday?

And more importantly, what exactly are we all saving them for? 💜

Why are the smallest habits sometimes the hardest to remember?

It's never the big complicated things I forget.

It's the things that take about 30 seconds.

Take my supplements.

They're sitting there. I know I want to take them. It takes practically no time at all.

And yet if I don't make them part of my normal routine, it's surprisingly easy to get halfway through the day and think, “Oh, I haven't taken those.”

I've found I'm much better with things that have a natural place in my day rather than relying on myself to remember them at some random point.

The same goes for drinking enough water, putting hand cream on or any of those other tiny things we say we're going to do regularly.

It's not always about finding another new habit.

Sometimes it's about making the ones you've already chosen easy enough to actually stick to.

What's your 30-second thing that you STILL manage to forget? 😅

Taking vitamins? Drinking water? Hand cream? Putting something away instead of leaving it on the stairs for three days?

Please tell me it's not just me. 💜

What I thought this business would be, versus what it actually became 💜

When I first joined ESSENS, I honestly thought it would be pretty straightforward.

Sell some perfume. Make a bit of extra money. See how it goes.

Seven years later, it's become a lot more than that.

Yes, I still sell perfume - quite a lot of it. 😂 But I've also learned about skincare, wellness, fragrance notes and ingredients I probably wouldn't even have noticed before.

I've done stalls, packed samples, spent far too long deciding which perfume I'm wearing, met some brilliant people and made friends I wouldn't otherwise have met.

And I've built something that fits around my life and my NHS job, rather than having to completely change my life to fit around it.

That's probably the biggest difference between what I imagined and the reality.

I didn't start with a grand plan to build an empire. I wanted something different alongside a job where my working day is centred around illness - something that gave me a bit more focus on wellness, lovely products and people enjoying themselves.

Seven years on, I'm still here.

Still learning. Still trying new things. Still getting excited when someone finds a product or perfume they absolutely love.

And yes, still occasionally wondering where on earth I'm going to put all the stock. 💜

If you'd told me seven years ago I'd still be doing this now, I'm not sure I'd have believed you.

Have you ever started something thinking it would be a small part of your life, only for it to turn into something much bigger than you expected?