Most mornings, we stand at the mirror with a question. Sometimes it's a small one, like "why does my skin look tired today?" Sometimes it's bigger. Whatever it is, a lot of us then type it into Google.
I've been making skincare by hand in Nottingham for 10 years, and the same questions keep coming up. Here are the ones I hear most, answered honestly. I'll also tell you about something I think skincare often leaves out, which is how you feel while you do it.
Why does my skin look dull and dry?
Skin changes through life. Hormonal changes around the menopause can make skin feel drier and less plump than it used to, and that often shows up as a loss of glow. Cold weather, central heating and a busy, sleepless week can add to it.
What helps most is usually the simple stuff: gentle products, good moisture, and not stripping the skin. That's why my formulas are waterless, so there's no diluting water, just oils and butters like shea doing the work.
Why does my face flush?
Flushing has lots of possible triggers: heat, stress, alcohol, spicy food, and hormonal changes. It can be unsettling when it happens without warning.
I can't diagnose anything, and skincare can't change menopause. If your redness is persistent, comes with bumps, or worries you, please see your GP or pharmacist, as it could be something like rosacea. What I can say is that gentle, calming ingredients such as black seed oil and frankincense are a lovely way to look after skin that feels easily upset. Regarding rosacea and reactive skin complaints the feedback I hear most from customers is that it feels calmer looks more radiant, healthy, smoother and much more comfortable.
What is the skin-brain connection?
Your skin and your nervous system talk to each other all the time. Think about blushing when you're embarrassed, or the way a stressful week can leave your skin feeling more reactive. Many people notice their skin has a mind of its own when they're tired, anxious or run down.
That's the idea behind the way I work, which I call self-regulation skincare. It's about two things together: what you put on your skin, and how you pause while you do it.
I can't promise that a few quiet minutes will change a skin condition. What I can say is that slowing your breathing and your pace helps most of us feel calmer, and feeling calmer is a good place to start looking after your skin.
That's why I made my short guided mirror rituals. There's a morning one, an evening one, and one for the moments when you feel a flush coming on. Each takes a few minutes, and you play it while you apply your skincare. No inspection, no checking, just a moment to notice how you feel.
What does "skin barrier support" actually mean?
Your skin barrier is the outer layer that holds moisture in and keeps irritants out. When it feels tight, sore or reactive, it's often asking for kindness rather than more products.
A short routine of nourishing oils and a good moisturiser is a gentle way to support it. My Organic Frankincense & May Chang Moisturiser (£27) is the one most people start with.
Why black seed oil and frankincense?
Every formula I make starts with the same two ingredients, and I chose them on purpose.
Black seed oil comes from Nigella sativa, a plant with a long history in traditional systems of medicine such as Ayurveda and Unani. Its main active compound is thymoquinone. Research has found thymoquinone to have anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and antibacterial properties, and it has been studied closely for skin wound healing.
Frankincense is a resin with a long history of use, including for wound healing in many cultures. Its boswellic acids showed the strongest anti-inflammatory activity in lab and animal studies. Clinical trials have also looked at Boswellia as a topical remedy for skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. (Planta Med 2006; 72(12): 1100-1116 +2)
I want to be straight with you. Much of this research uses concentrated extracts, and a lot of it was done in labs or on animals, so it can't promise what a moisturiser will do on your face. The researchers themselves say most of black seed's other effects need further clinical and animal studies. For me it's a good reason to build my range around them, along with ten years of seeing how they behave in my own formulas. In January 2026 I was invited to present my approach at the University of Nottingham Dermatology Society conference.
Is bakuchiol really a gentler alternative to retinol?
Bakuchiol is a plant-based ingredient often chosen by people who find retinol too much. In a 12-week study of 44 people, bakuchiol and retinol gave comparable results overall, and bakuchiol was better tolerated. That study used 0.5% bakuchiol, so I can't promise the same for any particular product, but it's why I use it.
I use 2% bakuchiol in my Intensive Night Cream, Super Natural Oil and 4% in my All Around Eyes Elixir.
How do I get a glow without a ten-step routine?
A glow tends to come from skin that feels comfortable and well looked after. You don't need ten steps. A cleanse, a nourishing oil or moisturiser, and a few quiet minutes will do more than a shelf of products.
What if the real search is for a break from the mirror?
I think a lot of us are searching for something else when we stare at our reflection. Not a fix, but a moment when we aren't a project.
Try this tomorrow morning: apply your skincare, notice the texture and scent, then step away from the mirror and get on with your day. You've looked after yourself. You don't need to mark the work.
If you'd like some company, my short morning mirror ritual is a guided audio you can play while you do it. It comes free with the Discovery Set.
Not sure where to start?
The Discovery Set is £20 and includes all five of my handmade formulas, a ROOTED 2 card, a guided audio ritual and free UK tracked delivery. Try them before you choose a full size.
This post is general information, not medical advice. If you have persistent redness or a skin concern, please speak to a healthcare professional.
Sources
Sallehuddin et al., 2020, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Gholamnezhad et al., 2016, Journal of Ethnopharmacology
Biagi et al., 2023, on Boswellia serrata
Ammon, 2006, Planta Medica
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