An intimate conversation with Radiate Joy founder Michelle Puffer about finding joy in everyday moments, making room for self-care, and transforming simple skincare rituals into meaningful experiences.
In a world that constantly asks us to do more, finding time for ourselves can feel like a luxury. Yet sometimes, the most meaningful moments of self-care are the simplest: a warm bath, a favourite book, a comforting skincare ritual, or a few quiet minutes at the end of a long day.
For Michelle Puffer, founder of Radiate Joy, joy is something we can intentionally cultivate, even during life's most demanding seasons.
Through her Five Pillars of Joy and 100 Days of Joy practice, Michelle encourages women to recognize the moments that bring them happiness and create more space for their own well-being.
Her philosophy resonates with something we believe deeply at OKOKO: skincare can be more than a daily routine. It can be an invitation to slow down, reconnect with yourself, and appreciate the beauty of the present moment.
Michelle has also incorporated OKOKO into her personal self-care rituals and introduced the Essence Rare Precious Gold Mask during the Radiate Joy retreat experience.
For this edition of OKOKO Journal, we invited Michelle to share her perspective on finding joy, prioritizing self-care, and creating small but meaningful moments of indulgence.
1. The Art of Making Time for Yourself
You've spoken about the importance of finding joy even during demanding seasons of life. What helped you realize that making time for yourself wasn't something to postpone, and what advice would you give women who struggle to prioritize their own well-being?
When both my physical and mental health were a constant struggle I realized that I had to make a choice for myself, my family and my work. I wasn’t showing up as my best self and when you are struggling mentally and physically you do not make the best decisions either.
I keep talking to women about the need to put their own oxygen mask on first, despite how cliched that may sound. While it’s important for everyone, I find that women, especially, do so much juggling and multi-tasking that our priority for ourselves not only falls to the bottom of the list, but sometimes disappears altogether.
Using the Five Pillars of Joy is an easy way to start to prioritize yourself. It helps you notice and build on joy by naming it, choosing it and protecting it. Prioritizing our own joy inherently means we start protecting things that assist with our mental and physical well being.
2. Finding Joy in Everyday Moments
Through Radiate Joy and your 100 Days of Joy practice, you've encouraged women to recognize the beauty in everyday experiences. What are some of your favourite small rituals that help you slow down, reconnect with yourself and find joy in the ordinary?
Some of my favourite ways to reconnect to myself, my joy and help me slow down are to take a bath, use great skincare products and read a good book. I try hard to create a spa like atmosphere when I indulge in these things as it feels like a treat. I even bought a portable towel warmer to keep the mood going. One of the other things I do is cuddle with my dog and watch a favourite show. Both of these rituals have physical and mental benefits (yes, research shows that dogs can help improve human mental well-being). Neither of these options are huge or life-changing when you look from the outside, but the feeling I achieve with both keeps the embers lit.
3. Your Personal OKOKO Ritual
You've shared that OKOKO has become part of your self-care routine, including Diamant Bleu in the morning, Sublime Balm at night, and the Essence Rare Gold Mask for moments of indulgence. What have you enjoyed most about these products, and how do those few minutes of skincare fit into your approach to caring for yourself?
The scents are what I noticed first about the Okoko products and I’m a sucker for essential oils. Also, the luxurious feel of them as they are being applied is incredible. Just breathing them in as I’m using them calms me immediately. Again, it’s like a mini spa treatment in the comfort of my home. Caring for our skin is important, especially as we age. My mom always treated her skin well and she looked amazing at all ages. I’m hoping to keep a similar regime going for myself as, sometimes, just feeling good in your own skin is a form of self-care.
Anne Mok holding an OKOKO Gold Mask jar beside Michelle Puffer, who holds a gold bowl and applicator by the waterfront." width="1080" height="1620" loading="lazy" style="display:block;width:100%;max-width:640px;height:auto;margin:0 auto;">4. The Radiate Joy Experience
During your Radiate Joy retreat, women had an opportunity to experience the OKOKO Gold Mask as part of Anne Mok's Radiate It session. What did that experience mean to you, and what did you hope participants would take away from those moments dedicated to themselves?
I loved Anne’s idea to incorporate that into her keynote session as a part of my fifth pillar of joy, Radiate It. What a unique way to make us stop and take a moment for ourselves, breathe it in and feel the skincare working. Not to mention that the gold colour of the mask completely tied into the pillar. I would hope that the guests would take away a reminder that in even just 5-10 minutes you can find a moment of joy and peace that can keep you moving forward into whatever comes next.
5. A Message to Women Who Give So Much
For the woman reading this who is constantly caring for others, managing responsibilities and rarely stopping for herself, what would you most want her to remember? And how can she begin creating more room for joy in her life, even if she only has a few minutes each day?
I’d say that just because we can do it all doesn’t mean we have to do it all from empty. It’s not selfish to prioritize your own joy. The more you fill up, the more you can help others do the same. The first pillar of joy is to Notice It. So that’s what I recommend people do. At the end of your day, just before bed, just think back on your day and find one moment, even a small one, that brought you joy. Think on it for a moment and put it in your mental bank. If you do that every day you will build up the bank and it makes it easier to move through challenging times. Eventually you’ll be able to notice those moments throughout the day, not just at the end of the day. If it helps to write it down the Radiate Joy: 100 Days of Joy workbook is on Amazon, which has prompts and things to help each day, a look back where you can see what your biggest joy moments were and it gives you evidence of joy that you can review when you need it.
No matter how tough life gets you have a bank that reminds you that there is joy too. That two things can be true at once. You can have a rough day and still have had a moment of joy. As long as you have a spark, you can light up the darkness.
A Beautiful Reminder to Make Time for Yourself
Michelle's reflections remind us that self-care doesn't have to be elaborate to be meaningful.
Sometimes, it's simply choosing to slow down, savour a familiar ritual, and give yourself permission to enjoy a few moments that belong entirely to you.
At OKOKO, we believe these moments deserve to feel extraordinary. Whether it's the comforting richness of a beautiful balm or the indulgence of a luxurious facial mask, skincare offers an opportunity to bring a little more intention and pleasure into everyday life.
Because caring for yourself isn't something you have to earn. It's something worth making time for.
Explore Michelle's OKOKO Skincare Ritual
Discover the luxurious skincare experiences Michelle has incorporated into her moments of self-care.
Diamant Bleu Clarifying Cream
Michelle's morning skincare ritual includes Diamant Bleu, bringing a touch of luxury to the beginning of her day.
Sublime Balm
An indulgent part of Michelle's evening routine, Sublime Balm offers a rich, comforting skincare experience.
Essence Rare Precious Gold Mask
A moment of golden indulgence. Michelle incorporated this luxurious mask into the Radiate Joy retreat, inviting women to pause and reconnect with themselves through self-care.
Explore the products behind Michelle's OKOKO ritual.
Discover Radiate Joy
Through Radiate Joy, Michelle encourages women to notice, celebrate, and create more moments of joy in their everyday lives.
Learn more about Michelle's work and her 100 Days of Joy practice.
@michelle.puffer, @radiant.leadership
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