It’s Sunday morning, I get on the streetcar, and I arrive at Health Hut’s College St shop, located just east of Ossington in Toronto’s west-end. What I expected to be a quick chat turned into a thorough and thoughtful conversation about my skincare products and routine, covering everything from what I was currently using to how my skin responds to different ingredients. Mary, Health Hut's Purchasing Manager, shared her extensive knowledge on clean and natural skin care products.

We talk about ingredients I’d never heard of, like Turmeric Root Extract, Tremella Mushroom, and Irish Sea Moss. Routines I’d misunderstood, like double cleansing, purging, and the Retinol Sandwich Method. Product combinations I should steer clear of, and even lifestyle factors that might be affecting my skin. I also learned that two of the products I was using at home actually had contraindications to one another—something that was certainly not mentioned to me by my favourite TikTok influencer.

After a lengthy consultation, Mary guided me through how to use a facial cleanser correctly—starting with dry skin, massaging in slow circular motions to break down makeup and SPF, and finishing with a warm cloth to gently remove any dry skin and leftover product from the day.

As I stood at the sink trying the products she recommended, I worked my new favourite cleanser, Monastery’s Rose Cleansing Oil, into my skin knowing it was acne-safe and actually effective. In that moment, I realized that cleansing isn’t just about the right product, but also about the care and intention behind how you use it. Despite my fixation on my previous gel cleanser being right for my skin, I learned that a foaming cleanser would be much more effective and not strip my skin barrier.

It made me wonder, how many other things had I been holding onto simply because I thought they were supposed to work?

And even though I thought I’d never be able to use serums—I thought these luxurious anecdotes were for dry skin only—Mary answered my prayers by introducing me to LESSE’s Ritual Serum. This has become a holy grail in my routine that’s perfect for sensitive skin, and one I can’t go a day without. 

Standing at the checkout counter, I purchase a few of Mary’s recommendations, enough to get started without overwhelming my skin. I’d tried everything at this point and I wanted to see for myself if these products would actually make a difference once I was back into my own routine at home. “Try these and let me know how your skin responds.” I appreciate not feeling “sold to” like I had so many times before. Mary took her time to create samples of the products I was curious about, like ACTIVIST’S Mānuka Honey Mask and Living Libations’ Zippity Dew Dab Ozonated Beauty Balm. 

Back at home, matcha latte in hand, an email from Mary pops into my inbox. She followed up with a personalized email highlighting the products she most recommended for my skin, along with why they stood out and how to incorporate them into my routine. It felt like I was walking away with a personalized cheat sheet that I could revisit anytime I was unsure or overwhelmed.

After a week, my skin looked brighter, more even, and less reactive. I quickly noticed how much better my makeup was applying, and I couldn’t get enough of how therapeutic this new routine felt for me. 

Perhaps the most surprising part for me was that I was using real, raw Mānuka honey on my skin. I fell head over heels for ACTIVIST’s Mānuka Honey Mask— not just because it felt luxurious, but because it actually worked. My reflection went from inflamed to calm thanks to this natural hero. Designed for wet bathroom use and intuitive application, it made my routine feel less clinical and more like a ritual. Who knew raw honey was antibacterial?! My acne-prone skin felt saved.

I don’t fault my mom for preaching her 3-step routine. After all, it clearly works for her. But what I came to realize is that skincare isn’t one-size-fits-all. The truth is, less isn’t always more. Retinol isn’t always the solution to “glass skin”. And a 7-step Korean skincare routine could be the key to your best skin ever…but it could also be the opposite.

We’re constantly bombarded with so much information that it feels impossible to truly know what’s right for our skin without taking the time to understand our skin type, our triggers, ingredient compatibility, and so on. In a world obsessed with instant results and viral trends, it’s easy to forget that skincare isn’t a universal formula. It’s personal. And sometimes, it’s less about following rules and more about rewriting them for ourselves (with a product expert). 

Ready to start your own personalized skincare journey? Book a consultation and get tailored recommendations that work for your unique skin at Health Hut.