In this podcast episode, I answer a question the question:  "How do I get rid of chin acne breakouts that keep coming back each month?" Cyclical breakouts, especially those in the chin and jawline area point directly to our hormonal cycle - which includes the increase in inflammation in our body that happens at this time as well as the change in our sebum (our skin's natural oils get stickier during this time). SKINCARE ROUTINE - Check out the full show notes for a step-by-step simple skincare routine. To really get a handle on monthly breakouts though, you'll need to focus on internal support for your skin as well (a low inflammatory diet, etc). HOLISTIC LIFESTYLE - Check out the skin-supporting actions and internal support suggestions that have worked for me in the full show notes over on the blog.  For further help with inflammation and breakouts that flare up due to hormonal spikes, check out the fulls show notes for links to checklists and other resources. FULL SHOW NOTES - Available here.

In this episode of the Grounded Sage Podcast, we tackle two trending skincare concerns from our radiant rebel community: dry winter skin and acne scars. In this episode, I answer two common skincare questions: 1) "My skin is dry and flaky no matter what I do! Help?!"2) "How do I fade post-acne scars/uneven skin tone and redness?"   Helpful links: Facebook Group Vitamin C + Probiotics Serum - fade acne scars! See how quickly I faded a big scar on my arm here. Apply Body Butter to legs, arms, etc while your skin is still slightly damp for the best absorption. Use a cocoa butter-rich bubble bar to turn bathwater into a moisturizing treatment.   For dry lips, apply Lip Balm+ each and every night before bed - during the day, try out flavoured lip balm or lip rescue jelly. Gentle cleansers Good Morning Micellar: Soothing Sea Salt Good Morning Micellar: Acne Clarifying Pure Amore Gel Cleanser Wild Basil & Cucumber Oil Cleanser Happiness Boost Body Wash  Hydrating and moisturizing clean skincare products  Don't skip using a dedicated hydrator - these products are applied after cleansing and before moisturizing. They soften skin, help lubricate our pores (so debris and dead skin cells can be purged), and are often the missing key to healthy skin when a moisturizer alone isn't cutting it. Use this quiz to find one that's right for your facial care routine. For body care, use our aloe-ver body hydrator. Calendula Gel Hydrator Pumpkin Enzyme Mask as an overnight treatment (applied as my moisturizer) Balance Serum overtop - but feel free to try different combinations to find out what works best for you. Add a serum to your evening routine to give your skin the lipids it needs to rebuild and repair. My top recommendations for correcting winter dryness with serums are: Super dry skin: Flourish and Nourish Serum Sensitive skin: Rosy Repair Serum Acne-prone skin: Balance Serum

Did you know that many skin challenges can be attributed to by a weak lipid barrier in our skin? It's our skin's natural protector (like a suit of armour) and when it's down (or in a weakened state) it leaves our skin open to irritants and sensitivity. The good news is that checking our lipid barrier, and supporting it when it needs it, doesn't have to be complicated! In this episode, Jamie talks about: How to check if our lipid barrier is in a healthy state How to make seasonal adjustments for autumn that support our lipid barrier How to support your lipid barrier with natural ingredients How to make sure you're not missing a key piece of the skincare puzzle How to identify if your lipid barrier is down and needs some TLC   Helpful links: Facebook Group Subscribe to my in-depth monthly email for even more support

As requested from the radiant rebel community, this episode of the podcast is all about hormones and our skin - more specifically what hormonal imbalances are connected with which skin concerns, and what to focus on based on the symptoms your skin is experiencing right now. Skin concerns covered in this episode (and how hormones are related to them): hyperpigmentation melasma (aka "the mask of pregnancy") uneven skin tone acne enlarged pores blackheads sebaceous hyperplasia (small bumps that are often skin-coloured but can also take on a white to slightly yellow tint) excess oil sensitive skin rosacea eczema dry skin dermatitis being prone to hives (skin allergies) mature skin premature collagen loss or wrinkling of the skin Helpful links: Topical probiotics: Pumpkin Enzyme Mask with Probiotics Topical probiotics: Vitamin C + Probiotics Serum Calming Surface Level Inflammation: Quick Calm Pink Clay & Calendula Mask Podcast Episode: Supporting our skin from the inside out with Whisper from Alternate Routes Podcast Episode: Overlooked factors that stress out our skin BLOG: learn the real deal with acne causes & triggers. BLOG: Hormonal Acne Explained + How the Digestive System Factors In BLOG: The inside scoop on insulin – why spikes cause acne BLOG: Hormonal Acne: Tips for balancing naturally BLOG: Chin & jawline acne: the most common mistakes BLOG: Vitamin Deficiencies + Skin Facebook Group Subscribe to my in-depth monthly email for even more support

In this episode, Jamie (the founder of Grounded Sage) and Krystal (the founder of Little Bird Holistics) chat about how you can support your skincare journey through nutrition. A holistic approach to skin health is your best defence against skin conditions like acne but navigating the world of whole-body, healthy living can be confusing and overwhelming. Jamie and Krystal share their knowledge and experience in managing and balancing a holistic lifestyle. Topics discussed in this episode include: Habits, hormones, and their effect on our skin Important information for those who are new to supporting their skin through nutrition. Meal ideas for overall wellness. A quick "build to suit" framework for skin-supporting meals Exfoliating BROWS - "Spock brows", birth control + brows, filling brows Microblading - questions to ask before diving in Inflammation - and clues to know when you've triggered an inflammatory response Body confidence Advice for speaking with doctors Mother-daughter conversations about skincare and makeup Products from our teenage days What skincare products work for Krystal's skin Self-care routines Real mindfulness practices for busy moms Helpful links from this episode: Little Bird Holistics Little Bird Holistics on Instagram Little Bird Holistics on Facebook Rising Moon Sisters Rising Moon Sisters on Instagram Radiant Rebel Facebook Group

In this episode, Jamie (the founder of Grounded Sage) and Karla (brand & marketing manager for Grounded Sage) engage in a casual conversation about factors that stress out our skin outside of topical skincare products.  Factors discussed inhibit balance from the inside out, and while one podcast episode isn't enough time to explore all the factors that can affect a holistic whole-body approach to skincare, Karla and Jamie share how they navigate things that can take a hit on our healing journey.  Some of the things discussed included how the following things affect our skin: Moving our body vs exercise - where the two meet, how we're finding ways to move our bodies that don't require iron clad will power or a motivational pep talk Sleep - two different takes on how to get enough, how we're navigating changes to sleep, and what's working now (and what's worked in the past) Toxic relationships, boundaries, and expectations - why this affects our skin, what we've learned so far, and what hope to continue to move towards within the relationship in our lives.  How skincare and beauty fads, trends and novelties affect the long term health of our skin Seasonal living - what it means to each of us and how we work it into a skin-supporting lifestyle.

In this episode, I speak with Whisper Gardiner, the owner of Alternate Routes (in Woodstock, On). Whisper is one of the most compassionate people I know. She's also a personal trainer, registered holistic nutritionist, fascial stretch therapist, a mom, and a huge animal lover. We discuss the benefits of nutrition + movement + a healthy mindset as well as compassion (how not to burn out, simple ways to be compassionate with ourselves and others) and how all of that benefits our skin and long-term health. Whisper also explains where to start when it comes to supporting your body for long-term health (which includes the health of our biggest organ - the skin) and WHY (this is eye-opening)! As well as some simple suggestions to get us started. We also get dorky about animals! Connect with Whisper via email for any questions you might have, to set up an online/long-distance consultation, guidance with meal plans, personal training, resources you'd like to request, and more! Her email is: [email protected]  Helpful links from this episode: Alternate Routes Website Alternate Routes on Instagram Alternate Routes on Facebook Alternate Routes with Whisper & Carli Podcast Whisper's "Connect Your Core" (Core Confidence) online course

I often get asked what the bare-bones, must-have steps in a balanced, green beauty skin care routine are. Basic routines are my favourite because they are easy to follow and more likely to be executed. When our skin needs extra support, we can quickly figure out where to make tweaks. In this episode, I’ll share the steps that, if our skin could talk, would tell us it wants to remain balanced, happy, and healthy. I also dive into one add-on you might want to consider for boosting a basic routine.  Topics covered in this episode include: The 4 steps in a basic (yet effective) natural skin care routine The what and why behind each step  "Oily yet dry" - why your skin might be feeling this way and what to do about it 3 (good) reasons for including a facial mask in your routine The 4 things I wish I could have told myself about acne skin care routines when I first started breaking out as a pre-teen (including advice about internal factors - like avoiding a common supplement that made me break out like crazy!) Hydration for the skin (why it's important and how to work it into your routine effectively) The different reasons for cleansing at night vs in the morning The different reasons for moisturizing at night vs in the morning The difference between morning and evening routines for the skin How sun protection factors in (and why) How to calm down the skin down - quickly and easily How to support your lipid barrier (and how to know if you need to) My favourite hydration-rich ingredients in natural skin care How to know if your skin is dehydrated (and what do about it) What to do to buffer acne prone skin against sebum oxidation and inflammation   Helpful links: Floral Aura (Skin Type) Assessment Cleanser Quiz - find your fit Hydrator Quiz - find your fit Moisturizer Quiz - find your fit Community Resources - facebook group, free resources, etc Grounded Sage Skincare Shop

In this episode, we speak with Alexandra Mckay from Benevolent Barn about... Sensitive skin (she's an orchid - find out if you are too here) Her skincare routine What her skin is like after 2 years of embracing slow skincare When and why she changes up her skincare routine The connection between yoga and Alex's skin Her approach to self-care (and why that's been good for her skin) Compassionate living through passion projects What the day in the life of a mother, non-profit owner, yoga teacher, employee, wife, and more looks like (and how she manages to juggle it all without going into burn out mode) What restorative yoga is (it's probably not what you're thinking it is) Her mini farm sanctuary  How mindful, compassionate living, self-care, and embracing passion projects helps her and her family be more balanced, happy and fulfilled.    Helpful Links: Benevolent Barn / Alex's website Alex on Instagram Alex / Benevolent Barn on Facebook  Flora Aura Skin Quiz Orchid Floral Aura Info Alex's Current Skincare Routine Pure Amore Gel Cleanser Alternates between: Hydration Mist and Hydra Healing Gel Daily Detox Facial Moisturizer Skincare Products Mentioned: Mild Jojoba Facial Scrub Patchouli Facial Moisturizer Pure Amore Gel Cleanser Hydration Mist Hydra Healing Gel Daily Detox Facial Moisturizer

A big episode where we cover a lot of ground including: Where to start when our relationship with our skin might need an infusion of kindness How to start "reading" your skin to know what it's trying to communicate with you The biggest trend I'm seeing in our Radiant Rebel skincare community right now: weak lipid barriers Causes of lipid barrier damage Signs of lipid barrier damage (it isn't always dry or sensitive skin) One way to check in with your lipid barrier Tips for supporting your lipid barrier Find out more about Grounded Sage at GroundedSage.com Find Jamie on Instagram @groundedsage