November is National Healthy Skin Month and GCSU is using the occasion to encourage students to slow down and take better care of themselves. As students navigate the stress of exams, projects and upcoming finals, many are turning to small self-care rituals, including skincare, as a way to stay grounded. Paying attention to skin health offers students an accessible way to build healthier habits and support overall well-being, both mentally and physically.

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, “The AAD launched the first National Healthy Skin Month in Nov. 1997. Since then, it’s become an annual event in which the AAD and dermatologists emphasize the importance of good skin care, share tips that can lead to healthier skin, hair or nails and encourage you to take time to pay attention to your skin, hair, or nails and adopt healthy habits to care for them.” 

Bobcats FIRST, a campus program focused on student success and well-being, recently hosted a “Skincare & Self-Care” workshop that brought students together to make DIY face masks, learn simple skincare steps and talk about how small routines can support both physical and mental health.

For Emily Jarvis, assistant vice president for student health and wellbeing, the event was about more than mixing ingredients. She explained how students often overlook the emotional benefits of taking a few minutes for themselves.

“We want to encourage students to take mindful moments for themselves,” Jarvis said. “Self-care doesn’t mean just scrolling TikTok. It can be more productive than that, like taking a few minutes for skincare. Skin care is just one example of a healthful but quick and easy way to take care of your inner self.”

Students today are surrounded by influencers and beauty trends that make elaborate routines look like the norm. It is easy to get swept up in the excitement of trying new serums or mixing different products that promise instant results. 

Jarvis noted that skincare does not have to be overwhelming or costly, what matters most is maintaining habits that fit individual needs.

“There’s a lot of pressure in the media to meet certain beauty standards, but the positive side of that coin is that people are taking care of their skin younger and younger,” Jarvis said. “What GCSU students should know is that you don’t need a ten-step, $200 routine. Skincare should be about finding what works for your chemistry and what gives you a mindful self-care moment every day to ground yourself.”

Skincare tends to fall to the bottom of priorities for students, especially during late-night study sessions or weeks packed with exams. Peyton Eley, a senior business major, explained how it is an issue she sees across campus, including in her own routine.

“As college students, our tendencies to have high stress levels, stay up until late at night and consume a lot of junk food while cramming for exams or writing papers can have harsh impacts on our skin,” Eley said. “It’s important for us to prioritize our health (and skin health) while still getting those study hours in.”

Bobcats FIRST’s workshop included stations where students created their own face masks with natural ingredients, which helped show just how simple skincare can be. The activity was a surprise for many, being located right on front campus. 

“I learned that natural products are really beneficial for your skin and that it’s so easy to make your own face mask at home,” Eley said. “It felt like I was mixing up a little potion and it was so fun to make it myself instead of just picking one up that had already been made.”

The activity fits within the broader purpose of the Bobcats FIRST workshop series, which aims to combine practical skills with opportunities for reflection and emotional growth.

“This month, leading up to finals and the holidays, we focused on self-care,” Jarvis said.“The activity was skincare related, but the real message was about creating rituals and routines that have a great effect on your mental health.”

As the message behind National Healthy Skin Month encourages people to pay closer attention to simple daily habits, GCSU students are also discovering that skincare isn’t only about appearance, it’s another way to slow down, reset and support their well-being during one of the busiest times of the year.