You don’t need me—or the mental health content currently dominating your TikTok algorithm—to tell you that we’re all a little on edge right now. Most days feel like they’re one notification away from pushing me into a full-blown panic spiral, and never have I ever been so aware of just how much is out of my control. One thing I can control, though, is my skincare routine. And whenever my anxiety feels like it’s on the brink of boiling over, that’s exactly where I turn.
I spend a full minute massaging cleanser into my face in slow, circular motions. I rinse it off with a steaming washcloth, then wait exactly thirty seconds between serum layers. I pat (not rub!) moisturizer into my skin and press eye cream beneath my eyes. It’s not that I believe ceramides can fix my life or that having glowing skin will miraculously make me feel better. It’s that these small steps give me something structured to focus on when everything else feels chaotic.
