BEST KEPT SKIN

Moon face, high cortisol & the moment I chose myself

I want to talk about something I see often — and something I’ve personally lived through.

Moon face. Puffiness. High cortisol. Feeling “off” in your own body.

As women, our bodies change in cycles. Every 7 years or so, we shift — hormonally, emotionally, physically.
For me, things started to feel different when I turned 30.

I noticed:
• Night sweats
• Heart palpitations
• Increased anxiety
• A puffy, swollen face
• Constant tension
• Feeling wired but exhausted

All signs that my stress hormones were running the show.

At the time, my life wasn’t in a happy place. I was in a relationship where I felt disconnected and unfulfilled. I was prioritizing everyone else before myself — something I had trained my nervous system to do for years.

Does this sound familiar?
Does it sound like someone you know?

Even after leaving that relationship, I didn’t feel completely better — because the pattern was still there. I was still putting everyone first.

So I started asking myself:
What do I need to actually feel better — not just look better?

🌿 What helped lower my stress & support my body

I was already eating gluten-free, Mediterranean-style.
I walked my dogs daily.
I stopped drinking alcohol.

But my body still felt like it was stuck in survival mode.

When I finally checked my hormones, everything made sense.
Because my body had been in fight-or-flight for so many years, many of my hormone levels were low.

My body wasn’t broken — it was doing exactly what it needed to do to keep me alive, not to support optimal function, balance, or restoration.

Once I understood that, I stopped asking, “What’s wrong with me?”
And started asking, “How do I help my body feel safe again?”

Things truly began to shift when I added:

1️⃣ Strength training + yoga
Movement that builds resilience while calming the nervous system

2️⃣ Cutting out coffee
This one hurt — I won’t lie.
But switching to matcha dramatically improved my sleep, anxiety, and cortisol response

3️⃣ Daily facial & body massage
Not for beauty — for regulation
For lymphatic drainage
For nervous system support

4️⃣ Addressing stress at the root
Learning to stop living in constant urgency
Setting boundaries
And slowly retraining my body to move out of survival and into support

✨ A little honesty

You’d think that because I do facial massage for a living, I’d be perfect at self-massage.

The truth? I got lazy.
I wanted someone else to do it.

So I compromised:
• I give myself facial and neck massage daily
• And when I travel, I intentionally book treatments with providers who do what I do

Because care isn’t indulgence — it’s maintenance.

🌿 Choosing myself changed everything

When I finally started prioritizing myself — not out of guilt, but out of necessity — my body softened.

The puffiness reduced.
My face felt lighter.
My sleep improved.
My nervous system felt safer.

And most importantly — I felt like myself again.

If you made it this far, take it as a sign.

Choose yourself today.
Your body has been asking for it.

I would truly love to be the one to help you relax, reset, and feel supported — inside and out.

With care,
Stefania
Best Kept Skin

Moon face, high cortisol & the moment I chose myself Click here for an update from Best Kept Skin!

Why starting facial massage early helps preserve your youth ✨

One of the most common things I hear from clients is:

“I wish I started taking care of my skin sooner.”

The truth is, facial massage isn’t just about correcting signs of aging — it’s one of the most powerful tools we have for preserving youth before major changes begin.

Here’s why starting facial massage earlier makes such a difference:

✨ Facial aging starts in the muscles

Aging doesn’t begin at the surface of the skin.
It starts deeper — in the facial muscles, connective tissue, circulation, and lymphatic system.

Over time, we develop:
• Muscle tension (jaw, brows, neck)
• Repetitive movement patterns
• Reduced circulation
• Slower lymphatic drainage

These changes eventually show up as fine lines, puffiness, loss of definition, and sagging.

Facial massage works at the source, not just the symptom.

🌿 Prevention vs. correction

When facial massage is started earlier, it helps:
• Maintain healthy muscle tone and balance
• Support circulation and oxygen delivery
• Encourage lymphatic drainage (less congestion + puffiness)
• Reduce chronic tension that leads to etched lines
• Support collagen and elastin naturally

Instead of trying to “fix” changes later, you’re slowing the process altogether.

✨ Think of it like fitness for your face

Just like strength training supports your body over time, facial massage supports:
• Facial structure
• Skin vitality
• Natural lift and contour
• Long-term skin health

Consistency matters more than intensity — and starting early allows treatments to be gentler, more preventative, and more effective long-term.

🌿 Who benefits most from starting early?

Facial massage is especially beneficial if you:
• Clench your jaw or grind your teeth
• Hold tension in your face, neck, or shoulders
• Experience puffiness or congestion
• Want a natural approach to aging
• Want to maintain results without aggressive intervention

Many clients use facial massage as their foundation, whether they choose additional treatments or not.

✨ My approach at Best Kept Skin

My goal is to support your skin through:
• Skilled hands-on techniques
• Muscle balance and relaxation
• Circulation and lymphatic support
• Long-term skin health — not quick fixes

Starting early isn’t about fear of aging — it’s about respecting your skin and face as living, moving systems.

If you’re curious where you are in your skin journey, I’d love to guide you.

With care,
Stefania
Best Kept Skin

Why starting facial massage early helps preserve your youth Click here for an update from Best Kept Skin!

Facial Massage Vs Botox

I get asked this question all the time —
“Is facial massage an alternative to Botox?”

The short answer?
They work very differently, and the right choice depends on your goals.

Here’s a simple breakdown:

💉 Botox

Botox works by relaxing specific muscles to soften expression lines.
It can be helpful for:
• Deep, repetitive expression lines
• Preventing certain wrinkles from deepening

However, Botox does not:
• Improve circulation or lymphatic drainage
• Address muscle imbalance
• Improve skin quality, tone, or elasticity
• Support long-term facial muscle health

It freezes movement — it doesn’t retrain it.

✨ Facial Massage (my approach)

Facial massage focuses on working with your facial muscles, not against them.

Through sculpting, lifting, lymphatic drainage, and buccal techniques, facial massage:
• Releases chronic tension (especially jaw, brows, and neck)
• Improves circulation + oxygen delivery
• Encourages lymphatic drainage (less puffiness, more definition)
• Supports collagen and elastin production
• Helps rebalance facial muscles over time

Instead of freezing expression, we’re restoring movement, balance, and flow.

🌿 The biggest difference?

Botox offers temporary muscle relaxation.
Facial massage supports long-term muscle health and skin vitality.

Many clients choose facial massage because they want:
• A natural approach to anti-aging
• To look refreshed, not frozen
• Improved skin quality and facial structure
• A treatment that supports the nervous system and stress levels

Some clients even combine both — using facial massage to extend results, improve symmetry, and support overall skin health.

✨ My philosophy at Best Kept Skin

There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to aging beautifully.

My goal is to offer treatments that:
• Respect your facial anatomy
• Support your skin long-term
• Deliver visible results without compromising expression

If you’re curious whether facial massage is right for you, I’d love to guide you through it.

With care,
Stefania
Best Kept Skin

Facial Massage Vs Botox Click here for an update from Best Kept Skin!

Forehead lines tell a story of focus, responsibility, and life lived fully.
But tension doesn’t have to stay.

Through intentional massage, targeted exfoliation, and deep hydration,
we can soften expression lines and restore ease to the face.

Swipe to explore my recommended products from ✨

I always tell my students and clients these 3 tips ✨

Book a consultation for your custom skin care plan!

Even with all the creams, lotions and potions we can’t hide our stress…

It wasn’t until I revived multiple feedback from my clients did I realized what power I had in my hands. The power of deep relaxation. I though I was just massaging for tension, but that wasn’t all. I was healing stress, worry and doubt from my clients.

Here is a guide on how your lifestyle and stress may appear in your face as we grow.

Stay tuned for more guidance on how to de-stress ✨

No.1 for a reason, releasing tension, allowing the body to fully relax and let go ✨

An experience worth trying✨