This Has Nothing to Do With Skincare (But Everything to Do With Radiance)

This isn’t your usual skincare blog post.
There are no beauty tips in here. No product links. No before-and-after photos.

But I hope you’ll read it anyway.
Because this one’s about something that leaves a longer lasting glow than any serum ever could:

Generosity.

I Was 20 Years Old, Waiting Tables at Chili’s

It was a Sunday in the spring of my junior year. I had my apron on, my hair pulled back, and I was probably running around like I always did, refilling teas, smiling through chaos, making sure everyone had extra ranch.

A couple sat at one of my tables. They were maybe in their 30’s, friendly, kind, nothing particularly memorable… until I picked up the bill.

The total was $23. But they left me two twenties and a fifty-dollar bill.

Instantly, my heart dropped into panic mode. I was sure it was a mistake, that the $50 had stuck to the $20. I bolted outside, scanning the parking lot, trying to find them.

When I finally caught up with them, out of breath, I told them, “You left too much. I think this was an accident.”

But it wasn’t.

They looked at me, smiled, and said, “No. That’s for you.”

That was the first time someone had ever seen me in that way, not just as a server, not as a student trying to make rent, but as someone worthy of a generous, unexpected blessing.

It stayed with me.

Fast Forward: A Spa, a Stranger, and a Decision

Last weekend, my family and I went on a short cruise with another family. We arrived early, and while everyone else was exploring the ship, I made a beeline for the spa (well because… priorities).

There was a sign for complimentary 10-minute massage and before I could even say “yes,” a petite woman gently grabbed my arm, sat me down, and started working on my shoulders.

She didn’t say much, but I could feel she knew. She knew I was holding more than tight muscles. She knew this was long overdue.

I signed up for a full massage on the spot.

Seventy-five minutes later, I emerged floating. Lighter. Softer. Quieter.

Even though the $44 gratuity was included in the service, I kept thinking about something Vishen Lakhiani, CEO of Mind Valley said at a conference I attended a few weeks earlier: “Don’t negotiate at the flea market, pay the vendors more.”

It made me reflect on the thrill we sometimes get from saving a few bucks. From bargaining. From cutting corners. But who are we saving from? And what does that say about how we value someone else’s effort, their energy, their time?

So I emptied my wallet and handed $60 over to Lily.

Her eyes immediately welled up. She asked if I was sure. And I said with certainty, “Absolutely. You just massaged my concrete back for 75 minutes straight. I should give you more.”

This Isn’t About Money

This is about intention. It’s about noticing the moments when we have the chance to do more and choosing to do it.

That couple at Chili’s didn’t have to leave me a huge tip. I didn’t have to tip Lily beyond what was required. But those choices? They ripple.

They create moments where someone feels seen. They remind people that their presence and their effort matters. They inspire a kind of glow that no beauty product can replicate.

Generosity Is Radiance

So no, this isn’t about skincare. But it has everything to do with how you move through the world.

And generosity? It doesn’t have to be financial. It can be your time. Your presence. Your patience in a moment someone else loses theirs. A genuine compliment, a DM of encouragement, a text that says “just thinking about you.” It can be the quiet decision to lift someone up without needing credit for it.

Because love conquers all. Let that always be your guide.

In my lifetime, I hope to leave hundreds, maybe thousands, of little moments like that behind me. Moments where someone walks away smiling, softening, believing in the goodness of people and humanity again.

And if you’re reading this, I hope you do too.

Let generosity be your signature scent. Let kindness be your glow. Let love always be your guide.

With gratitude and open hands,

Jenaya Devan
Founder, Uncommonly Gorgeous