If there’s one thing I’ve learned through the years, it’s that taking care of our skin is about so much more than finding the perfect cream, serum, or cleanser.

Don’t get me wrong — I love great skincare. I own Best Pure Skin Care, after all! I love discovering products, learning about ingredients, and helping people find products that make sense for their skin.

But I also believe that healthy-looking skin starts with something bigger. It starts with how we take care of ourselves.

Why “Beyond Skin Deep”?

I wanted to create a place where I could talk about skincare without limiting the conversation to products. As a Licensed Massage Therapist, Honey Face Lift Massage Specialist, and Health Coach, I’ve had the opportunity to look at self-care from several different perspectives. And they keep leading me back to the same conclusion:

The little things we do consistently matter.

Drinking our water.

Getting enough protein and nourishing foods.

Moving our bodies.

Managing stress.

Getting enough rest.

Protecting our skin from the sun.

Taking a few minutes to properly cleanse and moisturize at the end of a long day.

And sometimes simply slowing down long enough to take care of ourselves.

None of those things is particularly glamorous. But together, they can make a difference in how we feel — and in how we care for our skin.

Skincare Doesn't Have to Be Complicated

One thing I hope to do with Beyond Skin Deep is take some of the confusion out of skincare. There are so many products, ingredients, trends, routines and opinions out there that skincare can start to feel like a full-time job.

Do I need a toner? (the answer to this is yes! LOL!)

Which comes first, my serum or moisturizer?

Should I use retinol?

What exactly are peptides?

Do I really need sunscreen when it isn't summer?

And do I actually need a 10-step skincare routine?

(My bathroom counter certainly hopes the answer to that last one is yes.)

I want this blog to be a place where we can talk about those questions in plain English.

Sometimes I'll talk about products I use and love. Sometimes we'll talk about ingredients. Other times we may talk about facial massage, healthy habits, nutrition, collagen, aging, self-care, or something new I've learned that I think is worth sharing.

Aging Well Instead of Chasing Perfect

I also want Beyond Skin Deep to have a realistic conversation about aging. I'm not interested in pretending that a cream is going to make someone look 25 again. I am interested in taking good care of the skin we have. There is a big difference. Our skin changes as we get older. So do our bodies, our priorities and our routines. I think there's something empowering about learning how to work with those changes instead of constantly feeling like we're supposed to fight them. For me, skincare is part of taking care of myself — not trying to become someone else.

The Power of Touch

Being a Massage Therapist and Honey Face Lift Massage Specialist has also shaped the way I look at skincare. We spend a lot of time talking about what we put on our faces, but not nearly as much time talking about how we care for them. Something as simple as slowing down when applying your skincare can turn an ordinary routine into a few minutes of self-care. Instead of quickly rubbing on your moisturizer and moving on with your day, take a moment.

Press it in.

Massage it gently.

Take a breath.

Give yourself those few minutes.

It doesn't have to be complicated to feel good.

What You'll Find Here

That's what Beyond Skin Deep is going to be about. We'll talk about skincare and products, of course. But we'll also go beyond the bottle. We'll explore facial massage, healthy habits, ingredients, wellness, aging well, self-care and the everyday choices that can help us feel a little better in our own skin. I'll share what I've learned professionally, things I'm learning along the way, products I'm excited about, and practical ideas you can actually use. And I promise not to tell you that you need 14 different products every morning before you're allowed to leave the house. Some days, washing your face and remembering the SPF is a win. I'm a big believer in celebrating the small wins.

So welcome to Beyond Skin Deep.

I'm glad you're here.

— Judi Mach, LMT
Licensed Massage Therapist , Honey Face Lift Massage Specialist, Health Coach, Owner of Best Pure Skin Care