Want to Rewire Your Nervous System but Don’t Know Where to Start? Meet Sensorial Skincare
Did you know it’s possible to soothe your nervous system while taking care of your skin?
In our first limbic system series blog post we discuss the connection the limbic system has to skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea and psoriasis.
In part II of that series we provided resources that can help rewire the brain for better skin health and overall wellness.
Now, we want to discuss how to utilize skincare as part of a nervous system rewiring practice.
But first, for those who don’t know what the limbic system is, the limbic system is located deep within the brain and is generally located lateral to the thalamus, underneath the cerebral cortex and above the brainstem. [1]
The limbic system primarily handles functions related to survival which includes [2]:
processing emotions and associated behaviour
memory
responding to stress
motivation and reward
olfaction (sense of smell)
and influences and regulates the autonomic nervous system (ANS), by way of connecting with the hypothalamus. [3]
When the ANS enters a state of hyperarousal, it can lead to fight-or-flight symptoms affecting heart rate, breathing and digestion for example. If the ANS stress response becomes 'stuck' in a chronic loop, it can lead to disruptivesymptoms like chronic fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, anxiety disorders, and multiple chemical sensitivities to name a few.
Sensorial skincare can be one way to tend to the limbic system (therefore your autonomic nervous system) while taking great care of your skin.
1. Use colourful skincare formulas
Colour has a strong impact on the brain. So be away with those white, bland moisturizers and clear serums. Reaching for products with golden tones, orange hues and even blue colouring can be uplifting and soothing for the brain.
Colours are “powerful psychological tools that are can influence mood, behaviour and cognitive processes”.[4] Indeed, colours have the ability to influence emotional responses and cognitive functions, with bright, intense colours having the ability to activate the limbic system.[5]
It is suggested that warm colours like yellow and red boost energy, concentration and creativity.[6] While cool tones, like blue and green are suggested to promote calm and focus.[7]
We liken our soothing radiance balm to a jar of sunshine that sits beautifully on your bathroom counter. It’s yellow-orange colour reminds of a golden sunny day and can uplift the mood by invoking feelings of joy.
2. Use ingredients that interact with the skin’s sensory and nervous systems
Our skin barrier contains nerve endings, neurotransmitter receptors and immune cells that interact with our brain.[8] This means that the skin can influence and be influenced by emotional stress.[9] Certain active ingredients in skincare can, for example, stimulate β-endorphin production, which can reduce stress-related skin reactivity and muscle tensions, which then in return can contribute to psychological relief.[10]
These active ingredients can act like messengers, which tell the skin’s nerve endings and special channels (like the transient receptor potential channels) how to interpret the sensations. When these ingredients are applied to the skin with a pleasant smell and feel (i.e., sensorial skincare), they can help regulate your emotional state.[11]
Botanical ingredients that can improve your emotional state via skin application[12]:
Lavender[13] & Chamomile essential oil – both demonstrate aromatherapeutic effects which can promote relaxation and reduce anxiety
Ashwagandha extract – an adaptogen that reduces cortisol and protects against cortisol-induced skin aging
Rhodiola extract – an adaptogen that can boost endorphins, improve mood and comfort the skin
Both Replenish & Glow and Soothing Radiance utilize lavender and roman chamomile essential oil for their soothing effects on both the skin and nervous system.
3. Use gentle touch on your skin like massaging and stroking
It is known that calming or relaxing touch can act on a neurobiological level, signaling safety.[14] In fact, the skin contains specialized sensory nerves called C-tactile afferents, which respond well to gentle, soft touch.[15] Gentle stroking and massage on the face can trigger the release of oxytocin (the love hormone)[16], serotonin (mood-lifter) and dopamine (pleasure) while helping to lower cortisol (the stress-hormone).
4. Use skincare products with natural essential oils
Essential oils have been used for centuries for their ability to promote physical, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. Aromatherapy involves utilizing essential oils in diffusers, steams or in skin application to promote relaxation and reduce stress.
The scents from the essential oils take a direct route to the limbic system, where they are processed by the amygdala and hippocampus, which then elicits an emotional response and stored memory associated with the experience.[17]
Take a look at our essential oil table below to see which one may be best for your nervous system needs and skin type.
5. Use skincare products with soft textures
The texture of soft materials or substances against our skin are picked up by our C-tactile afferent nerve fibers. The nerve fibers then send messages to the insula (a limbic-related cortex in our brain) that processes emotions and helps regulate our internal state. [18] Products that have soft, velvet, and cushion like textures can invoke feelings of safety and comfort while encouraging relaxation.
Our oil-based formulas have soft, ultra smooth and velvet like textures that can provide instant calm once applied on the skin. Pairing soft textures from your skincare products with face massages can amplify the sensorial experience, shifting your nervous system from fight or flight (sympathetic) to rest and digest (parasympathetic).
The Author : Adisa May
Adisa May is the founder of Adisa May Skincare, a line that utilizes botanical ingredients to create gentle effective formulations. Prior to becoming a beauty entrepreneur she was a lawyer who practiced criminal law Downtown Toronto. Through her research-backed and spiritually guided insights, Adisa shares knowledge and routines that aim to support long term skin and health wellness.
[3] Limbic System - an overview | ScienceDirect Topics. (n.d.). www.sciencedirect.com. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/limbic-system
[4] Roya, S. F. (2025). An Examination of Color Psychology and Its Impact on the Design of Educational Environments for Children and the Enhancement of Their Learning Processes. Iran University of Science & Technology, 35(3) https://doi.org/10.22068/ijaup.910.
[5] Ibid.
[6] Ibid.
[7] Ibid.
[8] Diala Haykal, Enzo Berardesca, Kenji Kabashima, Brigitte Dréno, Beyond beauty: Neurocosmetics, the skin-brain axis, and the future of emotionally intelligent skincare, Clinics in Dermatology, Volume 43, Issue 4, 2025, pages 523-527.
[9] Ibid.
[10] Ibid.
[11] Ibid.
[12] Ibid.
[13] Goes, T. C., et al. (2012). Effect of lavender essential oil on anxiety: A systematic review. Phytomedicine.
[14] Eckstein M, Mamaev I, Ditzen B, Sailer U. Calming Effects of Touch in Human, Animal, and Robotic Interaction-Scientific State-of-the-Art and Technical Advances. Front Psychiatry. 2020 Nov 4;11:555058. doi:10.3389/fpsyt.2020.555058. PMID: 33329093; PMCID: PMC7672023.
[15] Schirmer, A., Croy, I., & Ackerley, R. (2023). What are C-tactile afferents and how do they relate to “affective touch”? Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 151, 105236–105236. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105236.
[16] Uvnäs-Moberg K, Handlin L, Petersson M. Self-soothing behaviors with particular reference to oxytocin release induced by non-noxious sensory stimulation. Front Psychol. 2015 Jan 12;5:1529.doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2014.01529.
[17] F. Hedigan, H. Sheridan, A. Sasse, Benefit of inhalation aromatherapy as a complementary treatment for stress and anxiety in a clinical setting – A systematic review, Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice, Volume 52, 2023, 101750, ISSN 1744-3881, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ctcp.2023.101750.
This combo is fantastic! I use both morning and night. My accupunturist, who I see for facial work, even commented on how great my skin looked after using the products for 10 days. I noticed a difference after the first night with these products. Adisa has created a beatiful product that is so nourishing to my skin. I'd highly recommend it.
After meeting Adisa and learning how her balm helps keep moisture in my skin I was sold. I tried this product and was sold based on the over night results. My skin looks years younger because it is significantly less dry so all the little fine wrinkles I would get due to dryness are gone. This product feels so soothing and moisturizing when I put it on my skin and it feels like its cummulative in its results. The longer I use it the better my skin looks.
It was a pleasure meeting you at the holistic healing fair Jen! Yes, soothing radiance is fantastic because it usese occlusives which help trap moisture in the skin and prevent transepidermal waterloss. Soothing radiance is cummulative in its effect, remain consistent and let the benefits continuing to pile on!
I started using this coupled with the balm. After the first use I could tell there was something special with these products. For the first time my skin wasn't puckered when I woke up in the morning. It still felt moisturized. 10 days after starting the products I saw my accupunturist who said he'd never seen my skin so calm and clear. It was the best he had ever seen it. I can't say enough about this product.
Jennifer, I am so happy you are enjoying Replenish & Glow and that your acupuncturist noticed the changes in only 10 days! This is excellent news and we are excited for you :)!
This set has become such a grounding part of my daily ritual. The ingredient quality is exactly what I look for- clean, thoughtful and skin supportive.
The textures are beautiful - rich yet elegant, absorbing in a way that feels both nourishing and refined. The scent is subtle, natural, and calming with a soft spa like feel.
I’m very particular about quality, texture and overall experience and this set delivers on all of it. My skin looks consistently healthy and radiant with a natural glow.
I also had the chance to meet Adisa, the owner. she’s wonderful and the care and intention she puts into her products truly shows.
Shalini thank-you so much for your thoughtful review. It was such a pleasure meeting you and I am so happy you and your skin are loving the glow set!
