Skincare is more than what goes on the skin

We tend to think about skincare almost entirely through ingredients, what we apply, how much, and in what order.

And ingredients matter. But after more than 20 years of working hands-on with skin, I’ve come to believe that how we care for our skin matters alongside what we put on it.

Skin is not simply a surface to be cleansed, exfoliated and treated. It is a highly sensory organ, filled with nerve endings and in constant communication with the nervous system.

Touch is part of that conversation.

The skin + nervous system connection

Think about how quickly your skin responds to what is happening around you.

We blush. We sweat. We get goosebumps. Stress can show up as flushing, sensitivity or changes in the way our skin feels.

The relationship between skin and the nervous system is complex, but on a very practical level, it reminds us that skincare doesn't exist separately from the rest of the body.

This is one of the reasons I’ve always incorporated intentional touch into the way I work with skin.

Slowly pressing an oil or balm into the face. Taking another minute to massage the jaw, temples and neck. Noticing where you’re holding tension instead of rushing through another step.

These things may seem small, but they change the experience of a skincare routine entirely.

Facial massage is about more than sculpting

Facial massage is often talked about in terms of appearance: sculpting, lifting, depuffing.

Those can certainly be reasons people are drawn to it. Massage can encourage local circulation and support the movement of fluid through the tissues.

But I think there is value beyond what we can see in the mirror.

Touch gives us an opportunity to actually pay attention to our skin.

Is it feeling dry today? Tender? Warm? Congested? Does your jaw feel tight? Are you rushing through your routine without even noticing how your skin feels?

That awareness can tell us much more than automatically following the same routine every morning and night.

What if there was less correcting and more connecting?

The language of skincare is so often about correction.

Correct the breakout. Resurface the texture. Brighten the pigmentation. Stimulate collagen. Fight the signs of aging.

There is a place for treatment. There is a place for actives. I formulate with them and have worked with them throughout my career.

But I don't think every interaction we have with our skin needs to be about finding something wrong with it.

Your skincare routine can also be a few minutes when you slow down enough to notice your skin, touch it intentionally and respond to what it actually needs.

Some days that might mean an active. Other days it might mean leaving it alone.

And sometimes it might simply mean taking an extra minute to massage your oil into your face and neck.

A different way to think about your routine

You don't need to turn your evening skincare routine into a complicated ritual.

Start with the products you're already using.

Warm your oil or balm between your fingertips. Press rather than rush. Massage slowly across the face and down into the neck. Notice areas where you're holding tension. Pay attention to how your skin feels beneath your hands.

You don't need ten extra steps.

You might just need another minute.

Because skincare isn't only about what we put on our skin.

How we care for it matters too.