Connective tissue
Healthy skin starts in the connective tissue
Our Skin & Fascia Specialist Katja Kunimori Hollnagel has put together everything you need to know to get healthy, beautiful and vital skin - and it starts in the connective tissue. Explore the functions of connective tissue at a deeper level in this Beauty IQ theme. We take a closer look at the skin itself and the connection between healthy connective tissue and healthy skin.
What is connective tissue?
Connective tissue
Connective tissue is a collective term for a tissue with multiple functions, layers and structures. It is in the connective tissue that the body produces important “building blocks” including collagen, which is the alpha and omega if you are a fan of well-aging like us. You can think of the connective tissue in your body as a whole festival with tent camps, each with its own specialty and one common purpose: To connect, support your body’s structure.
Connective tissue membranes
Fascia is the tent cloth or protective layer designed to wrap muscles and organs tightly so that we don't rub them when we move. It's your connective tissue that gives shape to your body and holds organs like your heart in place.
Ligaments
Ligaments are designed a little differently, but are actually a continuation of the connective tissue bag and therefore connective tissue in a more condensed version. Your ligaments connect muscles to joints and structures on either side of a joint. If we are going to stick to the tent metaphor, the ligaments are the guy ropes on the tent.
Bones
Bones are also made of a form of connective tissue, however, bones have a completely different composition than the connective tissue in soft children's cheeks. The bones are therefore not just the tent poles of the body, as they are far more alive than you think. When you move the connective tissue around the bones, for example through Fascial Flow and yoga, you "feed" the bone marrow, and you get "happier" bones.
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What kind of tent is your connective tissue?"Imagine a tent with tent cloth, tent poles and guy ropes, as a picture of your connective tissue. Like tents, your connective tissue comes in several different qualities and varieties depending on the role it is designed to perform.. The big question is, what kind of tent is your connective tissue? Ready for a Polar expedition or a post-music festival?" - Katja Kunimori Hollnagel |
Connective tissue and the skin
The connective tissue that lies just under the skin has a more direct connection with the skin. This type of connective tissue corresponds to a farmer's soil. Is there biodynamic and well-tended soil, and therefore delicious, nutritious vegetables just around the corner? Or is it a depleted and nutrient-poor soil that produces vegetables, but the taste, quality and nutritional content are debatable?
The connective tissue just under the skin is easy to access, but you also have connective tissue that is more hidden, as it is located in places where you cannot immediately reach it. However, this does not mean that it is not still noticeable, it just takes a little more finesse to work with this type of connective tissue. On the other hand, it is like getting a reset for the whole body, both for muscles, nervous system and inner peace.
It is these techniques that are used in our facial treatment “ Yrolí Fascia Therapy - Face ”, which has won the Danish Beauty Award.
Collagen – the skin’s important building block
The quality of your connective tissue is of great importance for your skin. Your skin gets important building blocks from connective tissue, including the protein collagen. Collagen provides structure, support and strength to the skin and body. In combination with hyaluronic acid and elastin, both of which are produced by the body itself, it gives your skin fullness, elasticity and supports skin hydration from within.
“If you think about plump children's cheeks and your grandmother's cheeks, you can see what happens to the connective tissue over the years. We naturally produce less and less collagen as we age, and therefore the skin also loses its fullness and elasticity over the years. Fortunately, there is a lot you can do yourself. Some things work best when they come from within, and others make good sense to do from the outside. For example, it is more effective to boost collagen production from within through diet rather than adding collagen from the outside. On the other hand, it also makes good sense to have quality skin care and movement of the connective tissue, both of which are added from the outside.” - Katja Kunimori Hollnagel.
What is healthy connective tissue?
When your connective tissue is healthy, it is plump and airy like cotton candy. In healthy connective tissue there is plenty of room for blood, lymph, fluid and it helps you sense how your body feels. When your connective tissue is healthy, your skin will look fresher, plumper and healthier.
When your connective tissue is not functioning optimally, it is sticky and sluggish. This makes it really difficult for blood, lymph and fluid to flow freely. You will often also experience pain because the tissue is squeezing the nerves. The texture is not like fluffy candy floss, but more like sticky caramel. This results in skin that is more collapsed, lifeless and with more pronounced lines and wrinkles.
How to feel your connective tissue
You can easily feel the quality of your connective tissue by giving yourself a big squeeze. Airy and healthy connective tissue will say "aahhhh, how nice" and tight, dry, stressed connective tissue will make you say "OFF!" Do you sometimes have headaches, neck tension, soreness, pain, itchy skin, lack of energy or difficulty finding your true "happy face"? Your dry, tired, sticky and overstretched connective tissue may be one of the reasons. Your connective tissue is also where your blood supply and your lymphatic and fluid system reside and where your nervous system senses what is happening to you and how you are feeling.
“When you pinch yourself on the thigh and lift it up and away from the bone a little, you have a good portion of connective tissue. Is it tender? Then you have a pretty good indicator that your connective tissue is less flexible, dry and maybe even itchy or burning. It can also give the feeling of wearing a wetsuit that is too small. When your connective tissue has that quality, you cannot work optimally in the tissue or in the skin.” Katja Kunimori Hollnagel
What affects your connective tissue?
Your lifestyle, diet, water, breathing, movement, stress level and your emotions affect your connective tissue. If you have a stressful everyday life, it is not too late. Like all other cells in your body, connective tissue renews itself throughout your life. It slows down a bit with age, but it still renews itself, so it is worth focusing on creating healthy connective tissue throughout your life.
Your secret communication system
When your connective tissue is healthy, you can move without pain, and you have healthy skin with a natural glow and fullness. You may also find that it is easier to make good choices because the connective tissue is also your secret communication system.
“When your connective tissue is healthy, you become more in tune with your body. You gain a clearer sense of what supports you – and what to avoid. This awareness often extends into your relationships and the way you move through life.” - Katja Kunimori Hollnagel
The best way to support healthy connective tissue
"Step away from passive routines and become more present in your body. Your connective tissue responds to how you move, breathe and feel – and adapts over time. When you bring awareness and intention into your body, you support its ability to function more freely and optimally."
If you start your day feeling stressed, low on energy or disconnected, your body will often mirror that state. Over time, this can show up as tension, stiffness or discomfort. The opposite is also true – small, positive inputs can gradually shift how your body feels and functions.
The way you relate to your body matters. Gentle attention, movement and awareness help create better conditions for both your connective tissue and your overall wellbeing.
A simple exercise to support your connective tissue
Set aside just 2 minutes.
• If you enjoy music, choose something calm and grounding
• Look out of a window and focus on something natural – a tree, a cloud, a leaf
• Let your eyes follow the natural movement you see
• Imagine this sense of flow continuing into your body
• Notice your breathing and allow it to deepen naturally
As you do this, you may begin to feel a subtle sense of ease and space in your body.
It is simple, but effective. With regular practice, this kind of gentle awareness can help support fluid movement in the connective tissue and create a greater sense of calm, lightness and energy.
Over time, your connective tissue responds to this attention – becoming more supple, more responsive and more alive.
Another boost for the connective tissue
General movement is also something you can do yourself to improve connective tissue health, and here the carrot works better than the stick. We recommend movement that lifts the tissue, opens it up, gives it space and releases tension, such as Fascial Flow, Yoga, breathing, dance and playful movement. You can also try replacing your foam roller or tennis ball with suction cups and softer balls.
Fewer products with greater impact
Skincare also plays a role as an external factor. We believe that we should cheer on the skin, support it and cooperate with it rather than taking over the work. We should let the skin do what it does best and support it through fewer products with greater impact. Our products are therefore composed of ingredients that work at a deeper level. At the same time, the formulations are designed to also provide nourishment to the skin's surface, so that the skin stays soft, intact, healthy and vital. This, in combination with the movement of the connective tissue, is the way to healthy skin.
You can read more about our One Layer approach here and more about skin needs here .
A queen, not a court jester
The connective tissue should not feel like a court jester, there for show and a passive but necessary layer around muscles and organs. Instead, the connective tissue should feel like a queen and be appreciated, pampered and seen. It is therefore a good idea to devote more time to the connective tissue and give it more attention - especially if you are already committed to caring for, nourishment and create healthy, balanced skin.