August in Review: The Real Glow-Up Was Emotional Regulation

Aug 31

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From birthday cake and burnout to scalp rinses and sugar science, here’s everything I actually loved, learned, and used this month.

Hi friends.

If August felt like a portal, it’s because it was. One of those months where you're one meltdown away from shaving your head, but also one collagen faux-tini away from getting your life back.

Here’s what actually worked, what surprised me, and what I’m still not over from the past 30 days, so you can steal the rituals, skip the spirals, and walk into September feeling like the main character.

✨ The Vibe: Emotional Glow-Ups and Better Lighting

I went into August thinking I needed to be more productive. I left August realizing I needed better light bulbs, fewer choices, and a lot more magnesium.

We’re taught that fall is about getting back into a routine. But this past month made it really clear: I’m not going back to anything that made me anxious. That includes overly complicated morning routines, 12-step skincare, and pretending I don’t need snacks every 2 hours to function.

August gave me permission to stop performing "having it together" and actually start feeling good again.

💬 August’s Realest Realization

Here’s what I wrote in my Notes app that hit hardest:

“What if it’s not that I’m lazy, it’s just that I’ve been spending too much energy performing health instead of actually healing?”

That’s where my head’s been.

This month taught me that clarity > discipline.
That feeling good isn’t something you earn after checking off your to-do list. It’s something you deserve now, even if your to-do list is still half-finished and your collagen scoop fell on the floor.

Most Game-Changing Product I Tried: Zbiotics Sugar-to-Fiber Drink

I don’t gatekeep this kind of thing. Zbiotics legit changed how I feel after sweets. No crash, no bloat, no “why did I do that” spiral.

Here’s the sciencey part: It turns sugar into fiber. Yes, inside your body. No, it’s not woo-woo. It’s a real biotech drink. You mix it into juice or water, and it helps your gut bacteria eat the sugar instead of letting it ferment and destroy your digestion.

What I loved:

It tasted like nothing (no weird kombucha vibes)
Didn’t make me feel bloated or itchy
Actually helped me tolerate sugar better on my period (especially birthday cake)

What I didn’t:

It’s $45 for a 30-day supply (aspirational pricing, I know)
You have to remember to take it before eating. Which… I didn’t always

🛒 Use code CHICSAVE for 10% off: Zbiotics Sugar-to-Fiber

🍸 Best Nighttime Ritual: The Sleepy Girl Faux-tini

Quick View

Chronically Chic Can-Shaped Glass

$15.00

August was hot. It was loud. It was a little chaotic. This drink brought me back to myself.

Sleepy Girl Faux-tini: Pomegranate + Magnesium Edition

½ cup pomegranate juice
½ can of Recess magnesium water (I like Pomegranate Hibiscus)
1 scoop grass-fed collagen
A pinch of pink salt
Serve over ice in a chic glass with a straw (because we’re fancy even when we’re fried)

This became my go-to after long days where my brain was overstimulated but I still had things to do. It’s like a nervous system mocktail. No fake sugar, no weird aftertaste, and the magnesium hits.

🧴 Best Beauty Ritual I Actually Did Consistently

Apple Cider Vinegar Scalp Rinse. I had an itchy scalp for years. This fixed it.

Here’s what I did:

After shampooing, I poured 2 tbsp ACV + warm filtered water directly over my scalp
Let it sit for 1–2 minutes
Rinsed like normal

It calmed everything. No flakes. No itch. No weird product buildup. Just soft, clean, bouncy hair.

I did it once a week in August, and my scalp has never felt better. No, it didn’t smell like salad dressing.

Most-Loved Blog Posts This Month

These five posts were your faves, and honestly, they’re mine too:

Zbiotics Review: Sugar, But Make It Fiber
What if sugar was secretly good for your gut?
Why I’ll Never Use Regular Light Bulbs Again
Because your mitochondria have lighting preferences.
Steam Your Face at Home Like a Facialist
Glow without leaving your bathroom or buying a new serum.
No Planner Ever Worked for Me… So I Made One
The story behind the e-book that actually helps.
14 Game-Changing Baths That Go Beyond Epsom Salt
Because hot water alone is not enough.

🛍️ Product I Created (and You Loved)

The Chronically Chic Goal Tracker relaunched this month, and I’m so grateful for the response.

If you’re the kind of person who feels allergic to productivity culture but still wants to feel semi-organized, this is for you.

It’s a flexible digital tool made for women who are managing health, burnout, creative dreams, and real life, not just to-do lists.

🛒 Shop it here and use CHIC10 for 10% off

📎 Freebie You Probably Missed

August also saw the debut of my printable Chronically Chic Commandments, a cheeky, powerful set of standards to live by when you’re trying to feel chic but overwhelmed.

Some of my faves:

Thou shalt fix thy skin barrier first
That which is not sustainable is not true wellness
Taste is not bought with gold. It’s curated.

📎 Download the PDF here

❓My Favorite Prompt This Month

What’s one “high-maintenance” habit you’ll never give up because it actually makes your life easier, better, or just… more fun?

Leave a comment or reply with yours! I’ll feature the best in next month’s recap.

💌 My Big Takeaway from August

This was a month of friction. The things that didn’t work? They really didn’t. The things that made me feel better? I clung to them like a satin robe during a breakdown.

Here’s the takeaway:

The glow-up isn’t just about skin. It’s emotional regulation. It’s lowering your cortisol, blocking blue light, and protecting your peace like it’s your designer bag.

And if that means magnesium in a wine glass and laying on the floor with your feet up? Perfect.