Sunday evenings have a way of stirring up more stress than serenity. That creeping sense of dread — often dubbed the “Sunday Scaries” — can hijack the last hours of your weekend and leave you feeling drained before Monday even begins. But for Jordan Harper, founder and CEO of Barefaced skin care, the antidote lies in structure, simplicity, and a heavy dose of perspective.
Harper is no stranger to busy schedules. A board-certified nurse practitioner, entrepreneur, and mother of four (yes, including a set of twins), she admits her days are far from picture-perfect. “I’m definitely not an aesthetic influencer — the house isn’t perfectly clean, but I’m doing my best, and I think people relate to that,” she shares with a laugh. Her life may be packed, but Harper has learned that being intentional with small habits makes all the difference in staving off Sunday anxiety.
Building Barefaced
Harper’s journey into skin care didn’t start with social media campaigns or beauty counter obsessions. It began in Charleston, South Carolina, where she worked directly with patients. Time and again, she heard concerns about acne, sun damage, and discoloration. The treatments she prescribed in-office helped, but she realized her patients needed something they could rely on every day — a regimen that was both approachable and effective.
That realization became the foundation for Barefaced. Today, the brand’s streamlined line of products — including its beloved SPF and buzzy Toning Pads — has earned fans ranging from everyday moms to influencers like Lauryn Bosstick and Valeria Lipovetsky. But for Harper, the mission remains rooted in practicality. “Skin care is something that should be easy as much as it is effective and still only take two minutes of your time,” she explains.
Her philosophy rests on what she calls the “core four”: prevention, protection, repair, and correction. “It’s like a foundation to a house,” she says. “If your skin isn’t getting those essentials, it won’t function properly.”
Simplifying the Stress
It’s one thing to simplify your skin care, but quite another to simplify your life — especially when you’re raising four children under the age of six while running a growing company. Harper acknowledges the chaos with humor: “You think you have no time, and then you have children, and you realize you really do have no time.”
For her, the key isn’t about squeezing more hours into the day but about being present in the moments she does have. Whether she’s in the lab developing new formulas, in meetings steering Barefaced’s growth, or at home reading bedtime stories, Harper leans on small rituals that keep her grounded.
A Sunday Reset That Works
So how does Harper quiet the Sunday Scaries? She swears by a routine that blends efficiency with care.
First, she sets aside time for skin care — but never more than a few minutes. “The goal isn’t to overhaul your face in one night; it’s to stay consistent with prevention and protection,” she says. A quick cleanse, SPF, and a treatment pad are often enough to reset her skin — and, symbolically, her mind — for the week ahead.
Second, she prioritizes rest over perfection. “The house might be messy, but if I can get a good night’s sleep, I’m in a much better place Monday morning.”
Finally, she leans into the idea that rituals, no matter how small, create calm. Lighting a candle, jotting down her priorities for the week, or simply sitting with her kids before bed helps her close out the weekend on a positive note.
Finding Balance in the Mess
Harper’s advice to anyone struggling with the Sunday Scaries is simple: Don’t overcomplicate things. Instead of crafting elaborate routines or rigid schedules, focus on essentials — in skin care, in work, in life. “It’s about creating habits that are sustainable,” she says. “If it’s too much, you won’t stick with it.”
And while her calendar may be bursting, Harper is careful not to frame her life as flawless or unattainable. The brand she built reflects that ethos: easy, effective, and real. “At the end of the day, I want to feel present in everything I do — even if the laundry isn’t folded and the dishes are still in the sink.”
The Takeaway
Scare-Free Sundays aren’t about eliminating stress entirely — they’re about creating small moments of intention that allow you to breathe, reset, and step into the week with clarity. For Jordan Harper, that means a pared-down skin care routine, a focus on prevention, and giving herself permission to be imperfect.
Because sometimes, the most powerful form of self-care is knowing that “good enough” is more than enough.
