Some moments never belonged to us. But this one does.
We’ve all felt it—the quiet ache of something unfinished. The almost-love, the almost-moment, the almost-life we could have had. The Ache of Almost. It's an experience. And now, it’s a skincare ritual.
Matte Equation presents The Ache of Almost: The Immersive Skincare Audio Experience—a multi-sensory journey designed to meet you where you are and take you somewhere new.
A fusion of skincare, sound, and storytelling, this experience transforms cleansing into something deeper. It turns skincare into a moment of meditative reflection, renewal, and release.
The Inspiration Behind The Ache of Almost
One night, as I was doing skincare, Scott Street by Phoebe Bridgers was playing. The song was melancholic. But I created this story in my head about two ex-lovers, reuniting for the first time after the messiest breakup. And what that conversation might look like.
Have you ever thought about what it means to be on the other side of your own heartbreak?
We always think of love lost as something that happened to us. That someone hurt us. That someone left. That we were the one left picking up the pieces. But what if we were also someone else’s almost?
I’ve been thinking a lot about the juxtaposition of two people in heartbreak.
The way we tend to make the other the villain. The way we sit with our ache and never stop to consider that they, too, are holding their own version of the story. That maybe they, too, have spent sleepless nights trying to understand where it all went wrong. That maybe we are part of someone else’s “almost” just as much as they were part of ours.
Skincare Was That Best Friend Holding You
Heartbreak is universal. Longing is universal. And the way we care for ourselves in the wake of these emotions should be just as profound. The way we were almost there—but not quite. The way we had to gather ourselves back together, to remember we were whole all along. And that is self-care.
Think of the nights you cried over someone. The ache of almost. The way you looked at yourself in the mirror, eyes swollen, washing your face—reminding yourself:
"Some moments never belonged to us. But this one does."
Creating An Immersive Experience
I wanted to create an experience for you. That moment you stood in front of that mirror. And so I created a fully immersive experience to take your skincare ritual to the next level—a guided, multi-sensory skincare experience that turns self-care into a cinematic moment.
How It Works
The Ache of Almost pairs guided narration, cinematic soundscapes, an anthology of stories, curated playlists, movie and TV recommendations, book lists for healing, and the simple act of cleansing to create an experience unlike anything else.
It unfolds in three parts:
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Listen & Reflect – As you begin your skincare ritual, let the guided narration take you through the emotions of longing, release, and self-reclamation.
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Cleanse & Let Go – Feel the water against your skin, the lather between your hands. Let the act of cleansing become a moment of emotional renewal.
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Breathe & Begin Again – As the experience fades, you are left with something lighter—your skin refreshed, your mind clearer, your heart just a little more at peace.
The Function Flow Cleanser
At the heart of this experience is our Function Flow Cleanser—a lightweight yet deeply nourishing oil-to-milk cleanser designed to melt away impurities, stress, and the weight of the day. Worried about that mascara you cried off? No worries. Just as water rinses away the past, this cleanser softens, replenishes, and resets the skin (and the soul), preparing you for what’s next.
For a limited time, The Function Flow Cleanser is 50% OFF.
More Than Just Skincare
As I mentioned, I wanted The Ache of Almost to be as immersive as possible. It’s about the ways we heal—through music, poetry, stories, and rituals. As part of The Ache of Almost, we’re also introducing:
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An anthology of short stories on self-care and healing
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Curated playlists to accompany moments of reflection
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Book lists & film recommendations to help mend the heart
Experience The Ache of Almost
Let this be your moment. A time to reflect. A time to release. A time to cleanse. A time to take care of yourself in a way that lingers.
