I used to think skincare was all about correction. Fine lines? Correct them. Breakouts? Correct them. Dryness? Correct it. Every magazine headline, every commercial, every product label seemed to echo the same message: your skin is flawed, and it’s your job to fix it.

But one day it hit me—my skin wasn’t broken. It wasn’t misbehaving. It was talking. Every patch of dryness, every breakout, every bit of redness was a signal. My body was trying to tell me something. I just had to start listening!!

And the moment I shifted from “How do I fix this?” to “What is my skin saying?” everything about my routine changed.

Why We’re Conditioned to “Fix” Our Skin

It’s not your fault if you’ve ever felt like your skin was an enemy. We live in a culture where flawless skin is treated as the ultimate standard of beauty. Advertisements are designed to highlight your insecurities, promising instant results if only you buy the right product.

But here’s the truth: skin isn’t static. It changes with the weather, with hormones, with diet, with stress, with age. Expecting it to look the same every single day is a little like expecting the sky to always be blue.

So instead of “fixing,” what if we practiced listening?

The Language of Your Skin

Your skin has its own way of communicating—and once you start paying attention, the messages become clearer.

• Dryness and tightness might be your barrier whispering, “I need more hydration.”

• Breakouts could be your body waving a flag about stress, hormones, or even digestion.

• Redness or irritation is often your skin’s way of saying, “Something in this routine is too harsh for me.”

• Fine lines and uneven tone aren’t “flaws” at all—they’re natural expressions of a life well lived.

Instead of seeing these signs as problems, you can see them as conversation starters. Also, please remember—a product that works well for someone else may not work well for YOU! Everyones skin is individual and root causes for skin issues are different from person to person.

Four Gentle Ways to Really Hear Your Skin

1. Pause Before Reacting

It’s tempting to reach for the strongest scrub or the newest trending serum the second something flares up. But quick fixes often make things worse. Give your skin a moment. Sometimes rest, gentle cleansing, and consistent hydration are maybe all it really needs. The point is…when your skin is reacting —  don’t ADD to your routine think more about taking away from your routine. Go back to basics and see if that helps!

2. Keep a “Skin Journal”

This doesn’t have to be elaborate. A quick note in your phone when you notice dryness, breakouts, or irritation can help you connect the dots. You might find that certain foods, stress levels, or even laundry detergents are playing a role. Pay attention closely to this…on more than one occasion I’ve worked with a client who’s skin is breaking out and after a deep analysis of lifestyle, products and food, we discovered laundry soap (even natural~!), a new piece of clothing (hats especially!) or a new cleaning product was the culprit! Everything is connected and your environment plays a BIG role in your skin’s health.

3. Simplify Your Products

More isn’t always better. A shelf full of actives, acids, and treatments can overwhelm your skin. Sometimes a plant-based cleanser, a hydrating serum, and a nourishing moisturizer are plenty. Think of it as giving your skin fewer voices to compete with so you can hear what it’s really saying. Sometimes your skin won’t react immediately to a product, but it’s over time that the product can cause issues with your skin. Over exfoliating…or too much of an active can take time to wear down your skin barrier. So, don’t always think because you’ve been using a product for a while and you didn’t react initially–that it’s still ok! Minimize your routine and see if one of your actives or exfoliants is the issue!

4. Treat Care as Respect, Not Punishment

Skincare doesn’t need to feel like damage control. A slow facial massage with your favorite oil, a few deep breaths while applying your moisturizer, or simply choosing formulas that are gentle and natural—these are all ways of saying, “I hear you, and I’m here for you.” Your skin is your largest organ…it’s important to remember that! Your skin responds to how you treat it that includes talking kindly to yourself. Your skins most important role is protecting you … so take a moment and show your skin some love! Maybe give yourself a little massage with Body Butter, or take a minute to rub some lotion on the feet that get you through each day, or rub some oil on your cuticles. When you take time to do these things, it’s not only showing your skin respect, but it’s making you pay attention to your skin and what it’s telling you!

When Listening Changes the Relationship

Here’s the beautiful part: when you stop fighting your skin, the pressure eases. Instead of chasing perfection, you start noticing patterns. Instead of throwing products at every new blemish, you respond thoughtfully. And instead of resenting your reflection, you meet it with a little more compassion.

Over time, this shift turns skincare from a to-do list into a ritual. It becomes less about erasing and more about supporting, less about flaws and more about connection.

Why Plant-Based Skincare Fits So Well Here

Nature already knows how to nurture. Ingredients like chamomile, calendula, rosehip, or jojoba don’t bully your skin into submission—they support its natural rhythms. They hydrate, soothe, protect, and balance without silencing the signals your body is sending.

Plant-based skincare is about partnership: working with your skin, not against it. And when you start listening, you realize how much your skin thrives on that gentler touch.

A Final Thought

Your skin doesn’t need to be “fixed.” It needs to be heard. Every fine line is part of your story. Every change in texture or tone is part of your body’s language.

The more you listen, the more you’ll understand—and the more peaceful, respectful, and compassionate your relationship with your skin will become.

xoxo
Jewels