Cue the internal debate. On one hand, I loved that I could zip up the mediums, even if they were holding on for dear life. On the other hand, the size large felt… comfortable. A little less pinchy, a little less precarious. They fit me. But oh, the sting of choosing comfort over fantasy.

I stood there for what felt like an eternity, staring at myself in the dressing room mirror, pondering the age-old question: “Do I want to be able to breathe when I sit down?”

Here’s the thing: change doesn’t always come in big, sweeping gestures. Sometimes, it looks like a new pair of statement earrings or the perfect shade of lipstick. Sometimes, it’s deciding to wear eyeliner for the first time in years. And sometimes, it’s just realizing you want to be seen in a way you haven’t before.

Speaking of changes I didn’t sign up for, let’s talk about skin care. For most of my life, I’ve been the oatmeal soap and apricot scrub type—simple, no fuss. Then, seemingly overnight, my face decided to change the rules. Dry patches after washing? Check. A mysterious sun mustache (yep, a Sun Mustache - seriously, I Googled it)? Check. Worry lines that I guess I earned by, you know, worrying? Double check. Suddenly, I found myself with a full-blown skincare routine: vitamin C serums, collagen, hyaluronic acid oils, and brightening washes. If you told me last year I’d have all of this on my bathroom counter, I’d have laughed… but here we are.