Motherhood changes everything.
There’s actually a word for this transformation: matrescence. It’s the emotional, physical, and hormonal evolution that reshapes who you are: your identity, your routines, and your relationships.
When I became a mother for the first time, I poured everything I had into caring for my baby — and in the process, I forgot about myself. My needs, my rest, my identity all faded into the background. I fought the change, trying to hold onto who I was instead of making space for the new version of myself.
Whether you’re expecting or newly postpartum, recognizing this shift helps you move through it with awareness, compassion, and intention. And if you know the change is coming, you can lean into it instead of resisting, honoring the lessons of rest, reconnection, and strength along the way.
And through all that change, one thing is certain: your skin changes too.
Navigating Skincare During Matrescence
As your body and mind adjust to these changes, your skin often reflects the same transformation. Hormonal shifts during pregnancy and postpartum can bring unexpected challenges: breakouts, uneven tone, dryness, or loss of elasticity. Even parents who never struggled with skin issues may find themselves navigating new concerns as estrogen, progesterone, and other hormones fluctuate.
The Face of Pregnancy
There’s also a common skin condition called melasma, which I experienced with both of my pregnancies.
Melasma, also called the mask of pregnancy, shows up as soft, brownish patches across the face. During pregnancy, your hormones surge (hello, estrogen and progesterone), and your skin’s pigment makers (called melanocytes) go into overdrive. And unfortunately, sunlight can fan the flames!
The good news? Understanding that these changes are natural and temporary can make them feel less overwhelming. Just as matrescence reshapes identity and daily life, it also alters your skin’s needs, calling for care that is gentle, effective, and safe.
This is where intentional skincare routines become more than a beauty ritual. They are small, restorative moments that help parents reconnect with themselves, care for their changing skin, and establish a sense of grounding amidst the constant demands of parenthood.
Introducing Matrescence Skin.
Thoughtful Skincare for Every Stage of Motherhood
This is where Matrescence Skin comes in. Founded to honor parents who give endlessly and often put themselves last, the brand is dedicated to helping mothers care for themselves during this unique season of life.
Their mission is to provide hormone-safe, thoughtfully formulated skincare that supports both the body and mind, offering small but meaningful moments of restoration amid the demands of parenthood.
Each product is designed to nurture, replenish, strengthen, and protect — turning everyday routines into intentional rituals that help parents feel seen, supported, and cared for. With a commitment to safety, efficacy, and clean ingredients through their “Beyond Clean” philosophy and EWG VERIFIED™ formulations, Matrescence Skin targets common concerns that arise during pregnancy and postpartum, including hormonal breakouts, dryness, and changes in elasticity.
With the right support, skincare becomes more than just a routine.
Small Postpartum Rituals, Big Impact
As a mom of two, I know this to be true: sometimes, the smallest things make the biggest difference.
During postpartum, it’s easy to lose yourself in the feedings, the laundry, the constant giving and the sleep deprivation. But simple acts of hygiene, like washing your face or applying a serum, can become small moments of self-return. Skincare isn’t just about skin; it’s about reconnecting with yourself in the midst of it all.
Here’s what I learned about those small rituals that I wish someone would have told me:
1. Reclaiming a Sense of Self
In the blur of postpartum life, so much feels out of your control. Something as small as washing your face or applying a moisturizer can restore a sense of identity and agency. It’s a gentle reminder that while everything around you has changed, you are still here.
2. Calming the Nervous System
Simple, tactile rituals like massaging in oil, feeling warm water on your skin, can all activate your body’s rest-and-restore response. These small sensory moments lower cortisol, calm the mind, and remind your body that it’s safe to slow down.
→ Massage in the Hydrating Oil
3. Creating Emotional Check-Ins
Postpartum can make you feel invisible. Taking even five minutes for skincare reframes the act as self-connection, not vanity. It’s a daily pause to ask, “How do I feel today?” instead of, “What do I look like?” and that subtle shift supports emotional wellbeing.
4. Honoring a Changing Body
Your skin tells the story of what your body just did. Stretch marks, pigmentation, and new textures are all part of it. Touching your skin with care is an act of gratitude, not correction—a way of saying, “Thank you for carrying me through.”
→ Lather on the Restorative Butter
5. Finding Rhythm in the Chaos
In a season where days blur together, skincare can become an anchor of consistency. A small, predictable ritual that grounds you in your body and your new reality, offering just enough structure to steady your mind.
→ Indulge in the Pregnancy Skincare Set
Why Matrescence Belongs on Your Poppylist Baby Registry
Caring for yourself is preparing for your baby or it’s making you a better mother. Matrescence makes skincare that supports your body’s evolution with products designed for motherhood, not just pregnancy. Adding these to your registry isn’t indulgent; it’s intentional. These are the small, everyday rituals that remind you you’re still you.
Explore the Matrescence Collection now and start adding to your registry—because your baby registry should take care of you, too.
