Mar 8 - Organized Skin Care: A Simple Ritual - GON in 5 Minutes Newsletter

Published: Sun, 03/08/26

Updated: Sun, 03/08/26

Get Organized Now!

In Less Than 5 Minutes!

by Maria Gracia

March 8, 2026

GetOrganizedNow.com

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Use your phone to make a quick home inventory video. Walk through each room, open drawers and closets, and capture what you own. No need to be perfect.

If a fire, natural disaster, or burglary ever happens, heaven forbid, you’ll have proof for insurance. Save the video to the cloud or email it to yourself for safekeeping.

Organized Skin Care: A Simple Ritual

There are a lot of things in life that can slide. The laundry can wait a day. The dishwasher can sit overnight. Email can be answered tomorrow.
But removing your makeup before bed? That’s one thing I don’t skip.

And before anyone thinks, "This is just for women," let me say this clearly: good skin care applies to everyone...women and men alike. If you have skin, this matters.

Over the years, I’ve developed a very simple, organized skincare ritual. Nothing fancy. Nothing extreme. Just consistent. And I truly believe that consistency, not expensive products, is what makes the difference.

Evening

Remove Makeup, Every Single Night
I don’t care how tired I am. I don’t care if it’s late. I don’t care if I’ve had a long day teaching classes or working on newsletters. My makeup comes off.

Sleeping in makeup traps dirt, oil, sweat, and environmental pollutants against your skin. That can clog pores, irritate the skin barrier, and over time contribute to breakouts and dullness. Even "light" makeup leaves residue behind.

Use Lukewarm water
When I wash my face, I use lukewarm water, never hot. Hot water feels relaxing, especially in winter, but it can strip your skin of its natural oils and disrupt the protective barrier. That can leave your face feeling tight, dry, or irritated.

Lukewarm water is ideal. It’s warm enough to help loosen makeup and dirt, but gentle enough to protect your skin. If your face feels squeaky-clean and tight afterward, that’s usually a sign it was too harsh.

Use a Gentle Cleanser
I use a gentle cleanser every night. It doesn’t have to be complicated. What matters most is that it’s mild and non-stripping.

Most standard facial cleansers are designed to be massaged in and rinsed off within about 30 seconds. The key is gentle massage. I lightly work it over my face in small circular motions to break down oils and residue, then rinse thoroughly.

Dab, Don't Rub
After washing, I gently dab my face to almost-dry with a fresh, clean towel. You can also use disposable makeup towels or even allow your face to air dry.

Note: When I say clean towel, I mean clean. Using the same hand towel that everyone else in the house uses (or that you've been using to clean your face all week) can transfer bacteria back onto freshly cleaned skin.

I keep small face towels just for this purpose and rotate them each day. Remember to dab, not rub. Your skin is not a kitchen counter. It doesn’t need aggressive scrubbing.

Moisturize While Skin Is Still Damp
I moisturize while my skin is still slightly damp. When your face has a bit of moisture left on it, applying moisturizer helps lock that hydration in. If you wait until your skin is completely dry, you’re sealing in dryness.

Morning

Use Sunscreen, Non-Negotiable

Each morning, I wash my face with plain, lukewarm water, pat dry, and apply a moisturizer that includes sunscreen.

Even on cloudy days. Even in winter. Even when I’m mostly indoors.

Daily sunscreen use is one of the most powerful anti-aging and skin-protecting habits you can have. UV exposure happens year-round, and consistent sunscreen use helps prevent premature aging, discoloration, and long-term skin damage.

Night and morning, these small habits are a simple way to care for yourself without overthinking it. Just a few steady minutes each day can protect your skin and remind you that you’re worth the effort.

P.S. Ready for some spring cleaning?
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Cooking Shows and Why We Love Them

Every Sunday, I settle in and watch The Pioneer Woman. It’s become a little ritual...coffee in hand, the week still quiet, and Ree Drummond cooking away on her Oklahoma ranch. There’s something comforting about seeing meals made with love. It feels relaxed, welcoming, and easy to enjoy.

Long before 24-hour programming, people gathered around to watch The French Chef with Julia Child in the 1960s. Did you know that many of her episodes were filmed in just one take? If she dropped something or made a mistake, it stayed in and viewers loved her for it. She made cooking feel human, approachable, and fun, not intimidating.

Things really took off in the 1990s when Food Network launched. At first, it reached only a few million homes. Today, it’s in tens of millions. Suddenly, cooking wasn’t just about learning recipes. It was entertainment.

We had shows like Emeril Live, where “Bam!” became part of everyday vocabulary, and dramatic competitions like Iron Chef, which looked so intense that some people thought it must be scripted (it wasn’t).

And then there’s Gordon Ramsay, known for his fiery personality on shows like Hell's Kitchen and MasterChef. He brought a whole new level of drama and intensity to food television...proof that cooking shows can be loud, competitive, and high-pressure OR calm and cozy, depending on what you’re in the mood for.

That’s what I love about cooking shows. Whether they’re peaceful like The Pioneer Woman, charming like Julia Child, energetic like Emeril, or intense like Gordon Ramsay, they meet us where we are. Some teach us. Some entertain us. Some simply keep us company.

And sometimes, all it takes is half an hour with a familiar show to feel inspired, relaxed, and ready to try something new in the kitchen.

Enjoying my newsletter? Please REPLY and let me know! Also, please forward this newsletter to 5 of your family members and/or friends and share the love!

Here's what just one GON reader had to say...

"I really enjoyed the 8 Heads Are Better Than One article in your February 19th issue. It was such a great reminder of how much easier things are when we work together. It made me think about how often I try to do everything myself instead of asking for help. This one really stuck with me. Thank you for always sharing such thoughtful, real-life examples."
-- Rita B., Lexington, KY

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GON Member Bonus!

As a valued member of my GON in 5 Minutes Newsletter, you get exclusive bonuses, PLUS unlimited access to all of my previous ones.

This month's featured brand new bonus is my...

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Also available:
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To access my new printable, 2026, calendar and ALL of my free bonuses, click here

New Monthly Organizing Challenges:
Springtime Organizing Challenges
Each mini challenge is designed to help you get organized this spring. As you complete each challenge, choose something from the reward list! Access these mini-challenges here

NEW Monthly Organizing Checklist:
March 2026
My NEW March Monthly Organizing Checklist is all about simple, realistic steps that fit easily into your everyday life. Each day includes one purposeful task or idea to help streamline your space, calm visual clutter, enhance your day, and/or make daily routines run more smoothly.

Last Month's Web Poll Results:
What Does Loving Yourself Look Like Most?
Last month, we asked GON readers this thoughtful question...and you shared some wonderful insights. Here are the results, along with comments from our readers

New Web Poll:
What Do You Need More of This Spring?
Vote in this month's web poll on my home page and cast your vote!

"I try to do simple but effective things to keep my skin looking healthy and flawless. I drink tons and tons of water. Also, I believe in eating right. You are what you eat."

-- Anushka Sharma

I'd love to hear from you.

I LOVE GON reader mail! Whether it's a comment, suggestion, or just a note to say hello, REPLY to this email with a short note.

And remember...there's no better time to get organized, than to Get Organized Now!

Warmly,

Maria Gracia
GetOrganizedNow.com

How to Use This Newsletter

In this newsletter, you will find stories, ideas, inspiration, links and more to help you live a less stressful, more organized, more fulfilling life.

We encourage you to apply these ideas to your own life AND share them liberally with your family, friends, and fan base via email, on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter, other social media outlets, and in person, of course!

When you share, please mention my name and web site - Maria Gracia - GetOrganizedNow.com as the source.

Thank you for helping to spread the gift of organizing far and wide!

-- Maria

Maria Gracia,

Get Organized Now!

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-- Maria Gracia

Get Organized Now!
611 Arlington Way
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USA

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