5 GENTLE WAYS TO CARE FOR YOUR SKIN THIS YEAR.

This year (and always!) skincare doesn’t have to be about fixing.

It can be about listening.

When you care for your nervous system,
your skin often follows — naturally, quietly, in its own time.

Here are 5 ways to gently nurture your whole being, and in turn your skin this year with 3 beautiful (free) practices for you to enjoy at the bottom of the page including my signature ‘The Power of Touch’ workshop).

1. START WITH YOUR NERVOUS SYSTEM

Before products, before routines — your body needs to feel supported.

Stress influences our gut function, hormones and skin and can often lead to inflammation, breakouts and flare-ups of sensitivities. It’s often the overlooked piece when working with any skin changes (often we seek topical treatment first) and some simple tweaks in how we care for ourselves amidst the busyness of our day-to-day lives can have the biggest impact.

Intentional slow and quiet moments can make a real difference.

Try:

• Slower, deeper breaths (read about diaphragmatic breathing here)

• Stepping outside for morning and evening light - our circadian rhythm depends on natural light and has a huge impact on our skin. Especially crucial at this darkest time of yeaar.

• Creating small pauses in your day to return to yourself. This can look like a gentle stroll at lunch, drinking a cup of tea in silence without your phone, limiting screen time after a certain time of day, curling up with your favourite book, an epsom salt bath,

2. FULL BODY NOURISHMENT

Skin health starts within & healthy skin requires an appropriately nourished body.

Long gaps between eating, fasted exercise, morning coffee before food, skipping meals and following rigid food rules can place quiet stress on the system.

You might explore:

• Regular meals and snacks to balance blood sugar

• Always having breakfast before coffee

• Noticing which meals help you feel full, more steady and energised.

3. KEEP YOUR SKINCARE SIMPLE

You don’t need a 10 step routine for healthy skin.

Using fewer, gentler products can help your barrier settle and give your skin space to do what it already knows how to do.

Simple routines can be deeply regulating — for skin and nervous system alike.

Try:

• A gentle cleanser that leaves skin nourished in the PM only

• Thin layers of hydrating products (I like a rose mist, moisturiser and sometimes an oil when my skin needs it).

• SPF to keep skin protected. I love the La roche Posay range, Tropic skin care for a more natural option or Everyday Humans for something inbetween.

4. REST AS PART OF THE RITUAL

Rest is sometimes the most productive thing you can do!

When you sleep, your skin repairs.

When you slow down, your whole system recalibrates.

Consider:

• A calming evening ritual

• Putting your phone down a little earlier

• Allowing rest without guilt

• Prioritsing yourself as much as you do everyone else

• Valuing slower, gentler practices as much as we do the high intensity ones.

• Yoga Nidra is my go-to practice (four times more restorative than sleep!) Practice here.

5. LESS FOCUS ON ‘FIXING’

Your skin isn’t a problem to solve.

It’s a conversation with your body.

Constantly trying to correct or improve can keep the nervous system on alert.

When you ease the pressure to fix, you create space for regulation, repair, and trust.

Try:

• Sensory beautiful products you can’t wait to use that encourage a deeper breath and feel like a hug for your skin

• Practicing facial massage because you love how it feels not because it will change how you look. Top tip! Don’t do it infront of a mirror.

• LED light therapy whilst doing a meditation for a full body glow!

Below are some free practices to support these ideas, let me know how you get on!