If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

I know everybody and their mother tells us not to pick our zits because doing so will leave behind scars, but I simply can’t help myself. When I see a big honking whitehead on my face, the only thing I want to do is get that popped and out of my system. But, of course, this leads to the scarring that I’ve been warned about. Is the satisfaction of popping zits worth it? Welllllll sometimes. Hey, those things can hurt! And I have a product on my side that can help erase those marks fast. And when I say fast, I mean it. After just one use, I noticed a difference in an acne scar overnight.

My hero product is Peace Out new Skincare’s Dark Spots Serum. You might know the brand because it produces those TikTok-viral pore strips that suck up gunk like they’re Dyson vacuum cleaners. For the record, the brand has so many other life-changing products, like a retinol stick that makes using the exfoliant so much easier. But, I digress.

I tested the dark spot serum early before it launched, and let me tell you: This thing is no joke. I first patch-tested it on a new scar on my arm to make sure it wouldn’t result in any weird spots on my face and found that it lightened the area with ease. But the real magic happened when I used it on an acne scar on my face. I used one pump of the product on a particularly dark spot that was the result of some glorious cystic acne that popped up during my period. After just one night, the area was lighter and less noticeable. With a good concealer on my side, I could finally cover the spot for real.

I didn’t think this treatment could get any better—until I found out the entire site is 30 percent off (one of the highest we’ve seen all year)—during Peace Out’s Presidents’ Day sale. Make sure to get this serum at a discount before the sale ends on February 21. Usually $29, you can shop it now for just $20.

RELATED: Shoppers Call This Retinol Balm ‘Botox on a Stick’ For How Fast It Works on Wrinkles—& It’s on Sale For Under $20

Photo: Peace Out Skincare.

The brand calls this a “supercharged” serum and they’re not joking. This is a seriously potent potion! It’s chock-full of AHAs, chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid that help rebuild collagen production, as well as tranexamic acid, kojic acid and alpha-arbutin. All of these ingredients minimize the look of dark spots, brighten skin tone and even out the tone of your skin.

I’ve used this on everything from light dots to extremely deep scars and it does the trick each time. For those harsher spots, it takes about a week to heal. I use it every night after my other serums and before my moisturizer and haven’t noticed any bad side effects. Not even dryness. This is a big feat given that my skin gets dry the instant I go outside!

For the record, the vegan serum lasts a long while. I’ve been using it every night for about a month and I don’t even think it’s anywhere close to done. Be warned: It has an odd smell to it, but that goes away after a little bit. A slight stinge to the nose is fine with me for the incredible impact this has on my face, anyways.

This is the kind of skin treatment I didn’t know I needed until I started using it. As somebody who suffers from acne and acne scars, it’s heaven-sent. It treats those scars better than anything I’ve tested, and I can’t imagine my skincare routine without it. With this serum in my arsenal, I know that my skin will be glowing and looking as healthy as can be. That’s something to write home about, am I right?!

Make sure to grab it during Peace Out’s Presidents’ Day sale, alongside other top picks from the brand like this line-smoothing retinol stick.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

I know everybody and their mother tells us not to pick our zits because doing so will leave behind scars, but I simply can’t help myself. When I see a big honking whitehead on my face, the only thing I want to do is get that popped and out of my system. But, of course, this leads to the scarring that I’ve been warned about. Is the satisfaction of popping zits worth it? Welllllll sometimes. Hey, those things can hurt! And I have a product on my side that can help erase those marks fast. And when I say fast, I mean it. After just one use, I noticed a difference in an acne scar overnight.

My hero product is Peace Out new Skincare’s Dark Spots Serum. You might know the brand because it produces those TikTok-viral pore strips that suck up gunk like they’re Dyson vacuum cleaners. For the record, the brand has so many other life-changing products, like a retinol stick that makes using the exfoliant so much easier. But, I digress.

I tested the dark spot serum early before it launched, and let me tell you: This thing is no joke. I first patch-tested it on a new scar on my arm to make sure it wouldn’t result in any weird spots on my face and found that it lightened the area with ease. But the real magic happened when I used it on an acne scar on my face. I used one pump of the product on a particularly dark spot that was the result of some glorious cystic acne that popped up during my period. After just one night, the area was lighter and less noticeable. With a good concealer on my side, I could finally cover the spot for real.

I didn’t think this treatment could get any better—until I found out the entire site is 30 percent off (one of the highest we’ve seen all year)—during Peace Out’s Presidents’ Day sale. Make sure to get this serum at a discount before the sale ends on February 21. Usually $29, you can shop it now for just $20.

RELATED: Shoppers Call This Retinol Balm ‘Botox on a Stick’ For How Fast It Works on Wrinkles—& It’s on Sale For Under $20

Photo: Peace Out Skincare.

The brand calls this a “supercharged” serum and they’re not joking. This is a seriously potent potion! It’s chock-full of AHAs, chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid that help rebuild collagen production, as well as tranexamic acid, kojic acid and alpha-arbutin. All of these ingredients minimize the look of dark spots, brighten skin tone and even out the tone of your skin.

I’ve used this on everything from light dots to extremely deep scars and it does the trick each time. For those harsher spots, it takes about a week to heal. I use it every night after my other serums and before my moisturizer and haven’t noticed any bad side effects. Not even dryness. This is a big feat given that my skin gets dry the instant I go outside!

For the record, the vegan serum lasts a long while. I’ve been using it every night for about a month and I don’t even think it’s anywhere close to done. Be warned: It has an odd smell to it, but that goes away after a little bit. A slight stinge to the nose is fine with me for the incredible impact this has on my face, anyways.

This is the kind of skin treatment I didn’t know I needed until I started using it. As somebody who suffers from acne and acne scars, it’s heaven-sent. It treats those scars better than anything I’ve tested, and I can’t imagine my skincare routine without it. With this serum in my arsenal, I know that my skin will be glowing and looking as healthy as can be. That’s something to write home about, am I right?!

Make sure to grab it during Peace Out’s Presidents’ Day sale, alongside other top picks from the brand like this line-smoothing retinol stick.

If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, STYLECASTER may receive an affiliate commission.

I know everybody and their mother tells us not to pick our zits because doing so will leave behind scars, but I simply can’t help myself. When I see a big honking whitehead on my face, the only thing I want to do is get that popped and out of my system. But, of course, this leads to the scarring that I’ve been warned about. Is the satisfaction of popping zits worth it? Welllllll sometimes. Hey, those things can hurt! And I have a product on my side that can help erase those marks fast. And when I say fast, I mean it. After just one use, I noticed a difference in an acne scar overnight.

My hero product is Peace Out new Skincare’s Dark Spots Serum. You might know the brand because it produces those TikTok-viral pore strips that suck up gunk like they’re Dyson vacuum cleaners. For the record, the brand has so many other life-changing products, like a retinol stick that makes using the exfoliant so much easier. But, I digress.

I tested the dark spot serum early before it launched, and let me tell you: This thing is no joke. I first patch-tested it on a new scar on my arm to make sure it wouldn’t result in any weird spots on my face and found that it lightened the area with ease. But the real magic happened when I used it on an acne scar on my face. I used one pump of the product on a particularly dark spot that was the result of some glorious cystic acne that popped up during my period. After just one night, the area was lighter and less noticeable. With a good concealer on my side, I could finally cover the spot for real.

I didn’t think this treatment could get any better—until I found out the entire site is 30 percent off (one of the highest we’ve seen all year)—during Peace Out’s Presidents’ Day sale. Make sure to get this serum at a discount before the sale ends on February 21. Usually $29, you can shop it now for just $20.

RELATED: Shoppers Call This Retinol Balm ‘Botox on a Stick’ For How Fast It Works on Wrinkles—& It’s on Sale For Under $20

Photo: Peace Out Skincare.

The brand calls this a “supercharged” serum and they’re not joking. This is a seriously potent potion! It’s chock-full of AHAs, chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid that help rebuild collagen production, as well as tranexamic acid, kojic acid and alpha-arbutin. All of these ingredients minimize the look of dark spots, brighten skin tone and even out the tone of your skin.

I’ve used this on everything from light dots to extremely deep scars and it does the trick each time. For those harsher spots, it takes about a week to heal. I use it every night after my other serums and before my moisturizer and haven’t noticed any bad side effects. Not even dryness. This is a big feat given that my skin gets dry the instant I go outside!

For the record, the vegan serum lasts a long while. I’ve been using it every night for about a month and I don’t even think it’s anywhere close to done. Be warned: It has an odd smell to it, but that goes away after a little bit. A slight stinge to the nose is fine with me for the incredible impact this has on my face, anyways.

This is the kind of skin treatment I didn’t know I needed until I started using it. As somebody who suffers from acne and acne scars, it’s heaven-sent. It treats those scars better than anything I’ve tested, and I can’t imagine my skincare routine without it. With this serum in my arsenal, I know that my skin will be glowing and looking as healthy as can be. That’s something to write home about, am I right?!

Make sure to grab it during Peace Out’s Presidents’ Day sale, alongside other top picks from the brand like this line-smoothing retinol stick.

When was the last time you journaled with the intent of loving more of yourself?

There are many different reasons and ways to journal. But what about journaling a new love story for yourself after 60?

What would that look like? And why would this be beneficial to you?

In this article, and the accompanying video, we are going to answer those questions and more.

Loving More of Who You Are

When you cross the threshold of 60, you are entering a new era of your life. This means it’s time to create a new life on your own terms.

To do that requires letting go of limiting beliefs and loving more of who you are.

This is where journaling a new love story for yourself comes in.

To journal a new love story for yourself begins with a deeper knowing about what self-love is, and what it is not.

With this newfound level of understanding, a shift in perception illuminates the path to sustainable love and happiness after 60. It also opens the door to your personal freedom in ways you may not have experienced before.

This all sounds simple enough until loving more of yourself starts to feel uncomfortable.

Overcoming the Fear of Love

As I have shared in previous articles, self-love has been socially packaged into something disdainful, often being described as selfish, narcissistic, and arrogant.

Although love is universally desired, it is also feared.

This is because many people have been hurt or traumatized through experiences with love, but still deeply yearn for a loving relationship with others.

All this leads to both a mistrust of love and a misunderstanding of self-love.

As a result, when we reach 60 and desire a new, more loving life for ourselves, choices for that new life can feel intimidating and overwhelming.

For example, do you chase after love, or do you become the love you seek?

Processing this question, and others like it, can stir up anxiety on top of feeling uncomfortable loving more of who you are today.

So, how does journaling a new love story for yourself help overcome the stigma of self-love?

A New, Neural Pathway to Self-Love

When you journal a new love story for yourself, you are rewiring the neural pathways of your brain.

The neural pathways in your brain contain neurons that receive and process information. Everything from your emotions, impulses and memories are part of the neurons that send signals across your brain.

We are unconsciously creating new neural pathways all the time, but through journaling a new love story for yourself, you are intentionally and consciously creating them.

While these pathways are essential for learning and interacting with the world, some are not in our best interest. This is due to limiting beliefs that have formed unhealthy habits and perceptions about ourselves, especially as it relates to loving who we are.

Journaling a new love story produces a newfound way of seeing yourself. This in turn creates the foundation for daily practices of self-love and self-care without guilt, shame, or feeling uncomfortable.

Putting It All Together

In order for new neural pathways to take root, it’s not enough to just ponder new ways to love more of yourself. You have to take physical action.

Journaling is a physical action just as other forms of self-love and self-care practices are.

But they all start within you.

This inner and outer work is crucial for it diminishes the painful effects of The Seven Myths of Love & Happiness, which I have written extensively about. These myths unconsciously shape your perception of reality, and usually in ways that are not beneficial to your emotional well-being.

Journaling a new love story for yourself is one of the more effective ways to silence your inner critic and ward off unwanted influence of people’s negative opinions. It also helps you not only set healthy boundaries through self-love but sustain them.

To help you get started, here are three excellent journal prompts:

1. What new ways can you honor yourself and love more of who you are?
2. A new story requires new experiences. With that in mind, what new loving experiences are you eager to create for yourself?
3. What daily activity can you do less of so that you have more time for daily practices of self-love and self-care?

Join me in the video at the top of this article where I will share additional insights and guide you through three more thought-provoking journal prompts, along with a 30-day self-love action plan.

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What new story have you come up with for how to love more of who you are? Have you considered self-love a narcissistic endeavor? Do you believe self-love is important to have a fulfilling life?

Back in 2010 or so, having finally finished my first book (nonfiction about my family history in Australia) and knowing traditional publishers would be unlikely to take it on, I decided to self-publish it.

Self-publishing was in its infancy then. I knew enough about it to know that it was possible, that other authors with no particular technical or publishing skills had done it, that even established writers were now self-publishing their books in order to keep control of the process (and to make more money!). But that was it.

(We have Amazon KDP – Kindle Direct Publishing – to thank for making this all possible through POD, or print on demand, which means that it costs the same to print one book whether the order is for one or for a thousand, and for allowing anyone to upload a manuscript onto their site for free in ebook and print format.)

Getting Quotes

So I sent off for quotes from organisations to have my book published in print and ebook format.The results that came in varied, from around £3000, which was too much, to £125, which was suspiciously too little and implied there would be very little human intervention.

I didn’t think of doing it all by myself because I assumed I lacked the technical skill, but at the same time I didn’t know if I could either afford or trust anyone else to do it for me to my satisfaction. Confused, yet encouraged by other writers, and wanting above all a finished product I would be happy with, I decided finally to have a go at handling the whole thing myself.

To say it took me longer than it should have is an understatement. The problem was not a lack of information so much as a plethora, much of it contradictory and a lot of it unnecessarily complicated. I got there in the end, and ever since that first endeavour I have managed to streamline the process so it takes me very little time. Above all I learned it is far easier than many people make it out to be.

The Ease of Process Is Surprising

I have no coding skills, I don’t understand and don’t want to understand html. I managed to convert my manuscript into ebook format using only Word. I believe there is software out there – Vellum for Macs for instance – that can do the whole thing for you, and no doubt there is a PC equivalent by now. But I’ve gotten used to doing the whole thing myself, and it works perfectly well for me.

I even wrote a book at the time called Self Publishing for the Technically Challenged, which laid out in simple detail exactly how to convert a manuscript into an ebook, and to format a book for print. (It’s no longer available; things are changing so fast in the indie publishing world, and I didn’t have the time or the inclination to keep updating it. But I can send it to anyone who is interested.)

Beware of Sharks

There are people and organisations out there who are notorious for taking a lot of money from authors and promising to turn them into best-sellers, and then doing very little. They used to be called vanity publishers.

There is even a website called Editors and Predators who list them. (At the time of writing this their website seems to be temporarily stalled, though they have a Facebook group.) And there are organisations such as ALLi, The Alliance of Independent Authors who you can join, for a fee, and get as much information as you could possibly ask for. Authors are remarkably generous with their time and their knowledge.

Ebooks Sell Better Than Paperbacks

That’s my experience at least, and I think I can say the same for many independent authors. Moreover, they are more profitable, as you get to keep 70% of the price of the book. And, of course, they are instantly downloadable.

Amazon Is Not the Only Player in the Game

Of course not. There is Kobo and Nook and Apple and others, although Amazon – whatever you think of them – has very much the lion’s share of the market. There are other organisations for print books also, in particular Ingram Spark, who charge a nominal fee for uploading a ready-formatted print book onto their site, which they will then distribute worldwide.

Promotion Is Another Sport Altogether

To get people to actually buy your book involves a whole new set of skills. Many independent authors make a good living out of their writing, many do not. It helps if you have a background in or knowledge of IT, or marketing, and of course if you are a whizz at social media. It is a crowded market out there after all.

That’s It in a Nutshell

And, of course, there’s a lot more to it that there’s no space here to go into. If you are interested in becoming an independent author there is more information on my website, or if you get in touch with me I can send you a copy of my self-publishing book.

I Also Recommend the Following People and Websites

Some are authors, some not. All of them offer a vast amount of knowledge and information for free.

• David Gaughran
• The Empowered Author
• ALLi Facebook group (for ALLi members only)
• The Creative Penn

They are all UK/ Europe based, as that’s where I live (and I’ve no doubt there are many others in the US and elsewhere), but the information they offer is relevant globally.

Good luck!

Let’s Have a Conversation:

What do you think about self-publishing a book? Do you have some experience with it? What help have you received? Are there any resources you used to get you through the process the first time?