As layered as our skin is, so is the holistic approach to skincare. It’s not just about the products you apply—it's about how you nourish your body, mind, and soul to support your skin from within.
In a world overflowing with questionable quick fixes, synthetic miracle cures, and tedious ten-step routines, holistic skincare invites us to slow down, to reconnect, to understand that real beauty isn’t skin-deep—it radiates from a place of balance, vitality, and deep care.
In this guide, we’ll explore what it truly means to care for our skin through a holistic lens. From the mind-skin and gut-skin connection to seasonal rhythms, facial massage tools like gua sha and face yoga, DIY beauty rituals, and more—you’re about to discover that your skin reflects your inner world more than any serum ever could.
Contents
Get ready—because in this guide, we’re diving deep into the beautiful world of natural radiance and discovering what it truly means to glow from within. Let’s sparkle that magic, shall we?
Disclaimer:
While I am a certified aromatherapist, Ayurvedic health adviser, Gua Sha and Face Yoga instructor and trained in holistic health, I am not a dermatologist or medical professional. This guide is for informational purposes only and should not replace medical advice or treatment.
1. What is Holistic Skincare?
Holistic skincare goes far beyond what we apply to our skin. It’s a whole-person approach that considers our skin as part of the bigger picture. True beauty and radiance always come from within. And I’m not just talking about self-love or mindset here!
🌿 Our skin is a reflection of our soul. Everything that happens within us eventually shows up on our face, our skin. So, focusing on your skin alone is a symptom-oriented approach, which ignores investigating the actual cause.
Holistic skincare dives a lot deeper, beyond lotions and serums. It cares to uncover the many layers of our health by considering the many systems that influence the skin (nervous system, gut health, hormones, and emotional state).
Holistic beauty invites us to ask why our skin is reacting, not just how to cover it up. As opposed to modern skincare, which tends to isolate the skin and offer quick fixes, we aim for true, long-lasting results.
We go inward first, tuning into our body, checking in with our mind, looking at our diet, and exploring our emotional realms. Then, we move outwards by incorporating gentle skincare routines, touch, and nature-based ingredients to bring everything in alignment.
Our intuition, our inner voice, plays a key role in this, guiding us, nudging us in the right direction. It’s our innate superpower that we are all gifted with; we only need to learn to trust it again. It’s always there, waiting for us to listen to its wisdom. Let it be your guide—that’s what it’s here to do.
At its heart, holistic skincare is rooted in…
- Supporting the skin from within (nutrition, stress, hormones, digestion)
- Being in tune with your body’s cycles and seasons
- Choosing natural, simple, and earth-based ingredients and DIY skincare
- Rituals that connect you to your body, not just treat symptoms
- Trusting your intuition over rigid rules
When you shift your focus from controlling your skin to caring for it—everything changes. It’s a simple pivot, and this guide will help you on your way. You’re not alone in this, I’m here for you! So let’s begin the journey and understand the different systems that influence our skin.
2. The Mind-Skin Connection
Have you ever noticed how your skin changes when you're stressed or when your emotions are running wild? Or ever looked in the mirror and simply thought: wow, I look tired, and old?
That’s because our nervous system and skin are closely linked [1]. Stress, anxiety, and emotional imbalance easily show up on our faces, and can trigger breakouts, dullness, premature ageing, and inflammation.
In our modern world, we play this important fact down, ignore the many signs our body sends us, and simply roll with the punches, which ultimately leads to detrimental results. Only because we think it’s normal.
But that’s not true. Blemished or irritated skin shouldn’t be seen as normal. Just as much as considering dullness and premature ageing a genetic disadvantage.
The Importance of a Regulated Nervous System
Let me give you a quick example from my life because I think you might be able to relate to this, and maybe it’ll be a hint for the solution of your skin problems.
At the young age of 25, I noticed my body started to age—drastically. Deep lines and wrinkles were showing on my face in the following years (it was sagging!), and my body got stiff and tense with a limited range of motion (despite me doing yoga on a daily basis!).
On top of that, my menstruation decided to come and go as she pleased—with varying PMS symptoms, eventually resulting in such heavy cramps that I couldn’t go to work whenever I was on my period.
Nearly ten years later, I found one of the culprits: a devastatingly burnt-out nervous system that was affecting my entire body. Not just physically, but also mentally and emotionally. Did I feel stressed? No! Or otherwise, I would have figured it out earlier.
It’s a natural coping mechanism that our body goes into. Instead of burning out—which would eventually mean you die—our intelligent body raises the bar of tolerance. Even though our systems are running on high, we don’t feel it because our body lets us “tolerate” it…to survive! Of course, this can’t be masked forever. Eventually, the damage slips through the cracks.
When your nervous system goes haywire, it influences the body slowly and deeply. It’s a snowball effect like: stress affects the brain, which has an impact on the organs, which leads to digestive issues and hormone imbalances, which then result in showing up on your skin (dark circles, dullness, etc.). And sooner rather than later, disease (especially chronic) knocks on your door.
As you can see, it’s all connected. And I don’t only think, but know, that most of us modern humans have an unregulated nervous system, because the symptoms a lot of us suffer from prove it to me, over and over again.
How to Calm the Nervous System
I can’t stress it enough how important self-regulation, daily rituals and rest are! Gentle practices such as self-massage, slow or restorative yoga or qi gong, or meditation can really make a difference. Or sit down and read a book, or go for a walk in nature!
Personally, I find breathwork to be the best and most effective way to calm the nervous system. There are so many simple exercises, but those where you focus on longer exhales or holding your breath out for several seconds (“box breathing” is a good one) will do wonders.
When we honour our body and respect its rhythms, we automatically calm the nervous system. When our body feels safe and cared for, it doesn’t have any reason to be stressed.
🌿 Remember: Always be kind to yourself. You can’t hate your skin into healing. And be patient. Healing your nervous system, your body, and your skin will take time.
3. The Gut-Skin Axis
You are what you eat: Your gut health impacts your skin health. Skin issues often reflect deeper digestive imbalances (inflammation, food sensitivities, leaky gut) [2]. After all, it’s your body’s way to bring what’s going on inside to the outside—for you to finally notice something’s off.
If you want to bring your body back to balance, this is where you start: your digestion. Your digestive system is your engine, and without a properly functioning motor, how far would you get? Right…not very far.
Ayurveda (an ancient Indian medical system) as well as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) both have studied this link for millennia and teach us so much about how the what and how we eat affects our digestion, our health and well-being.
Simple mindful practices such as appreciating your meal, chewing your food for at least 15 times before swallowing or enjoying it with all your senses, can already make a massive difference for your digestion. (If you’re interested in learning more about Ayurveda, I recommend you check out Hale Pule, the school where I studied.)
Choosing foods that truly nourish you is important. Even though I’m an Ayurvedic Health Adviser and love the wisdom this system holds, I stepped away from the many “rules” they teach (they’re good, don’t get me wrong—they’re just not for me). Instead, I found a gentler way that called to me more: intuitive eating.
💡 Note: If your digestive health is already quite poor or if you’re struggling with your health in general, I do recommend sticking to the Ayurvedic or TCM system. They will guide you on a safe, proven and effective way to well-being.
Intuitive Eating
Intuitive eating is all about listening to your body, to your innate wisdom, and not restrictive rules—especially those that the diet culture has been feeding us, like calorie counting, no fats, no carbs, no animal products, just raw foods, etc., etc.
At its core, intuitive eating is about remembering what we have always known: Our body is our compass. It knows how to guide us toward nourishment, balance, and joy.
On my food blog, donutfollowthecrowd.com, I have a bunch of blog posts about this topic, if you’d like to dive further into it. Also, in my holistic intuitive eating guide, you learn how to reconnect with your body’s natural hunger and fullness cues, break free from diet culture, and build mindful eating habits that nourish you inside and out.
Hormonal Balance & Cyclical Care (for Women Only)
Women’s health is one of my core missions, my number one topic, my obsession. It plays a crucial role when it comes to your gut and skin health and holistic skincare.
I mean, who doesn’t know those pesky hormonal breakouts/acne, the cravings for ice cream and chocolate or the runnies (or constipation) on our period? Our hormones rule us, and when we’re out of balance, they wreak havoc on our system.
But let me get this one thing straight: our menstruation is not a burden, not something disgusting and especially nothing we need to be ashamed of! Our cycle is sacred!! PMS, painful periods and diseases such as endometriosis are signs of an imbalance and NOT normal—common, yes, but not normal.
And the good thing? An imbalance can be brought back into balance. If you want to tackle your hormonal acne (usually along the jawline and around the mouth), you need to work with your cycle. No ointment or superficial treatment will cure it. You need to go deeper to get rid of it.
Bringing balance to your hormones by caring for and nurturing yourself throughout the different phases of your cycle is important. I will be posting a few articles around this topic soon because it’s very dear to me, and I know many of us women are struggling with our menstruation. So, stay tuned!
4. External Influences on Skin
Holistic skincare does not only focus on the internal troubles affecting our skin health, but also on the external influences: Our environment and what we apply to our skin matter, too.
The climate we live in, the weather changes, the seasonal shifts, sun exposure, pollution, and product overload (yes, we can overfeed our skin!) all impact our skin. Just like we adapt our clothes to the temperatures outside, we need to do the same with our skin.
While in summer a light moisturiser or serum does the trick to keep our skin nourished and plump, in winter, we may feel the need for heavier duty to combat the dryness and harsher weather conditions.
By adjusting to the change in weather, you can support your skin through seasonal shifts. Therefore, whenever I make my serums and moisturisers, I focus on small batches. This way, I can swap the oils, if needed, or create a product that’ll just get me through the season (more on DIY beauty in a bit).
Less is More – Product Overload
Many people believe that they have to pile on product after product during their skincare routine. However, less is more. 3-5 products per routine (morning and evening) are plenty.
It is possible to overfeed your skin! Just like our body, it only takes what it needs. But instead of storing it in fat cells for later use, our skin simply gets tired because it can’t deal with the overload. Dull-looking skin, blemishes, and breakouts may be the result.
Every now and then, I do a skincare fast—a day, where you don’t apply any product—no washing your face, no serums and moisturisers, no mask. The next day, you check your skin, how it feels.
If your skin is dry, you may need to add more moisture or a heavier oil to your products. If it’s still well-nourished, you can definitely step down on your products or use lighter oils. And if it’s soft and smooth, it’s a good sign that you’re using just the right amount.
5. Holistic Self-Care Tools
Now, let’s get into the yummy part of holistic skincare: holistic self-care tools and modalities. Because, guess what, applying an anti-wrinkle cream will not get rid of your wrinkles—understanding what causes them in the first place does!
Let’s be honest, every one of us wants to look young and beautiful, that’s why we’re so obsessed with skincare, right? And that’s okay, and in my opinion, it has nothing to do with vanity or narcissism.
When looking at beauty from a holistic point of view, it rather has to do with inner radiance, with self-love and acceptance, and with celebrating balance. From this perspective, ageing becomes a disease that can be cured.
I’m not talking about the natural ageing, though, I’m referring to premature ageing, to the ageing that comes from tension, an overworked nervous system (as mentioned earlier), or the wrong posture.
Best example here is the tech neck, a condition where the shoulders and neck are strained due to looking down at the phone or sitting in front of the computer for too many hours a day. Over time, the person slouches, shoulders often round, and the neck moves forward.
When this posture becomes permanent, the blood flow to the brain and tissues gets constricted, and the lymph doesn’t drain properly anymore. The results: poor circulation, dull skin, less muscle tone, tensed fascia, and the skin sags and wrinkles appear.
💜 Everything in the body is connected—yes, I love to repeat this.
No cream, no miracle cure will fix the wrinkles in this case, but correcting the posture, working deeply with the muscles and fascia, as well as the lymphatic system, will bring the desired outcome!
The Modalities
There are a few modalities out there, but my favourite ones, the ones I’m educated in, are Face Yoga, Face Gua Sha and Face Massage.
- 🌿 Face Yoga: Lifts, tones and strengthens the facial muscles with various exercises. Kinda like bodybuilding for your face—only without bulking up like Hulk (our facial muscles are a bit different from the rest)!
- 🌸 Gua Sha: Lymphatic drainage and tension release by using a Gua Sha tool—a flat crystal, traditionally jade, that comes in different shapes. It increases micro-circulation by 400 % bringing blood and life back to the tissues.
- 🩷 Face Massage: A hands-on self-care ritual that works deeply with the fascia and muscle tissues to release tension, sculpt the face and for lymphatic drainage.
As opposed to many experts, I believe the three of them together form a beautiful synergy, each of them supporting the others. I know there’s a lot of confusion around these modalities and the most abstruse accusations course through social media. But let me clear these up:
- Myth: Face Yoga ruins the face and makes you look older. Not exactly, not when you’re doing it in the right order. It’s important for many people to release the tension first, which is why I always recommend starting with face massage.
- Myth: Face Massage stretches the skin. So not true! Have you ever pulled on your skin and seen it hanging down from your arm? I guess not. Our skin is elastic—you will never risk overstretching the skin with an expert-guided 20-minute face massage!
- Myth: Gua Sha stresses and bruises the skin. This only happens when gua sha is used incorrectly (often how you see it done in those trendy IG reels and TikTok’s—please only follow experts who know what they’re doing!). When applied properly, gua sha is a safe tool to use.
With all that being said, a little teaser: I’m currently working on a platform where I will be teaching these modalities, and more! Follow me on IG (@radiatingyou) or TikTok (@radiating.you) to keep up to date!
Face Mapping
One last tiny (big) thing, I’d like to mention here before we close this chapter: Face Mapping. It’s a TCM tool that I use a lot, whenever something is happening on my face (breakouts, blackheads, rashes, irritations, etc.).
Our face is a mirror for inner imbalance, as we’ve already discussed, and, simultaneously, it’s a map with hints to the underlying causes. Different areas of your face are linked to your organs (see picture).
When you have a skin concern, check what area of your face it appears in and what organ is linked to it. They’re often a sign of problems with that particular organ and point to imbalances or disruptions in the system.
When I get little blisters and blemishes around the corners of my mouth and up to my nose, I know something is going on with my large intestines (just like the liver, it often has to do with detox).
For me, this is a sign that my body is currently working hard to get rid of toxins. It could be wrong foods (e.g. allergies and intolerance) or the wrong ingredients in my skincare products.
The causes don’t always have to be physical, though. More often than not, they’re emotional. For example, I’m someone who worries a lot about everything. According to TCM, the emotion of worry is stored in the stomach—it’s one of my problem areas, and I get breakouts on my cheekbones a lot.
Face mapping is such a wonderful tool to decode your skin’s messages. It always helps me a lot, and I’m hoping it piqued your interest, too.
6. DIY Beauty from the Heart
The heart of this blog is DIY beauty. It’s here where my journey into holistic skincare began. It was the realisation of how much good earth-based, natural, intuitive skincare did, and still does, for my body, for my soul.
I know, homemade skincare isn’t for everyone. It’s too complicated, too time-consuming…I get it. But what if I told you, it doesn’t have to be?
You simply have to rethink skincare. Keep it simple is my motto, my mantra, for everything I do. Whether it’s cooking my food or whipping up a serum in two minutes.
Seriously. All I currently make is my own lip balm—which takes me less than ten minutes to make and lasts me for at least half a year, if not longer! This 2-ingredient lip balm recipe proves it’s so damn easy.
My own face serum—which means I mix two oils in a bottle and add my favourite essential oils. A true no-brainer. And my own hand cream that I also use for my feet and my face (great for winter).
If you like to find out more about this topic, check out my ultimate DIY Skincare Guide next, or simply browse through my many recipes here on my blog!
7. Aromatherapy & the Limbic System
It’s more than just pretty scents and essential oils. Aromatherapy is one of the pillars of holistic skincare—it is the bridge between skincare and emotional healing.
While essential oils have so many amazing benefits for our skin, the powerful plant medicine they carry also influences our mood, emotions, hormones, and energy. They are our emotional allies as each oil holds specific energetic properties to ground, uplift, cleanse or calm our system.
As mentioned earlier, stress, anxiety, or emotional trauma can manifest on the skin. The beautiful scents of essential oils directly affect the limbic system—our emotional brain—which is the reason why certain smells trigger memories, calm your nerves or elevate your mood.
Using aromatherapy in your skincare becomes a true self-care ritual, trust me. When I choose oils for my products, I not only look at their skin benefits, but also at their energetic effects on the emotional body.
For example, lavender and frankincense oils are always a must in my face serum because they’re fantastic multitaskers: They soothe both skin and spirit. Whenever I apply my serum, I feel calmer and a lot more grounded.
8. Final Thoughts: Your Skin as a Compass
Wow, you made it all the way to the end, and it makes me so happy that you took your time to read it all. Let this holistic skincare guide be your inspiration, your invitation to go deeper.
Remember, your skin is your body’s way of speaking to you. It tells you stories of what’s going on inside. When we truly start to listen to our body, we stop fighting against it, and begin supporting it with love, care and understanding.
🌿 Let this be your reminder…
- You don’t need to fix your skin, you need to feel it.
- Nourish it from the inside out.
- Choose rituals over rigid routines.
- Follow your inner compass, it’ll guide you to the solution of your problems, always.
And if you feel the call to go deeper, I’m here for you.
- 🌀 Subscribe to my email list to receive holistic skincare rituals, feel-good recipes, and a free copy of my Glow Naturally Skincare Guide.
- 🌸 Explore the blog for more DIY recipes, intuitive wellness, and soulful beauty. How about checking out my DIY Skincare Guide next?
- 🌿 Follow me on Instagram @radiatingyou or on TikTok @radiating.you, where I share holistic beauty rituals, gut-healthy & feel-good food recipes, and lifestyle tips for a radiating YOU.
- ✨ Stay tuned for Radiating You—a space where skincare, self-care, and soul-care come together in movement, ritual, and deep transformation.
Thank you for being here. Thank you for choosing a gentler, more mindful way to care for your skin—and yourself.
So much love.
From my heart to yours,
💜 Julia | Lavender Gypsy