Amanda Wan Amanda Wan

How Stress Ages You and What Your Skin Is Trying to Tell You

Your skin is always communicating with you. When you are stressed, your body shifts into survival mode, and that internal imbalance shows up quickly on the surface. Stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline directly affect your skin cells, your barrier, and even how your skin heals.

When cortisol stays high for too long, it breaks down collagen and elastin, which leads to fine lines, dullness, and premature aging. Cortisol also increases oil production, which can clog pores and trigger acne, especially along the jawline and cheeks. This is why people often break out during periods of emotional overwhelm or major life changes.

Chronic stress also slows down your skin’s natural repair process. Blood flow is redirected away from the skin toward vital organs, leaving your complexion looking tired, flat, or inflamed. Your barrier becomes weaker, which makes your skin more sensitive, reactive, and easily irritated.

From a holistic point of view, the skin is one of the clearest mirrors of your internal world. When your nervous system is dysregulated, your skin will often be the first to respond. And when you support your stress levels through grounding practices, deep breathing, hydration, movement, or simply giving yourself space to rest, your skin responds just as quickly in the opposite direction. It calms. It brightens. It heals.

Your skin is not against you. It is messaging you. Listen to it.

Sources

    1.    Arck PC, Slominski A et al. Stress and the skin. Experimental Dermatology.

    2.    Hunter HJA, Momen SE, Kleyn CE. The impact of stress on the skin. Clin Exp Dermatol.

    3.    Chrousos GP. Stress and disorders of the stress system. Nature Reviews Endocrinology.

    4.    Zouboulis CC. Acne and hormones. Dermatoendocrinology.

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Amanda Wan Amanda Wan

Perioral Dermatitis and Fluoride Toothpaste

Perioral dermatitis is one of those conditions that shows up out of nowhere and makes you feel like your skin is working against you. It usually looks like tiny bumps or irritation around the mouth, nose, or even the eyes. And one of the most common triggers I see is actually heavy, high-fluoride toothpaste.

Fluoride is not “bad,” but certain forms can be extremely irritating to the delicate skin around the mouth. Every time you brush, a little bit of toothpaste foam sits on the corners of your lips. Over time, this repeated exposure can break down your skin barrier and trigger inflammation. It is basically the perfect setup for perioral dermatitis.

What makes it even trickier is that the rash can look like acne, but it does not respond to acne products. In fact, most acne treatments make it worse because they dry the area out even more.

If you are dealing with perioral dermatitis, switching to a low-fluoride or fluoride-free toothpaste is one of the first things I recommend. Choose something gentle, SLS-free, and fragrance-free. Most people see a noticeable improvement within a few weeks once the irritant is removed.

The skin around your mouth is incredibly sensitive. What touches it every single day truly matters. Sometimes the fix is much simpler than we think.

Sources

1. Katta R, Schlichte M. Oral products and perioral dermatitis. Dermatitis.

2. Lipozenčić J et al. Perioral dermatitis: Causes and triggers. Clinics in Dermatology.

3. Abeck D, Neri I. Perioral dermatitis in children and adults. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology.

4. Guin JD. Irritant reactions to fluoride-containing products. Cutis.

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Faithlynn caruso Faithlynn caruso

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic Aging

can we help our aging?

Intrinsic vs Extrinsic aging…Can we change it?

Intrinsic aging: internal factors that cause aging such as genetics and hormones.

This type of aging is determined by internal factors that your can’t usually change.

Extrinsic aging: external factors such as poor diet, sun, smoking, pollution, stress, lack of sleep, and lack of exercise.

Outside factors determine this type of aging… the excellent news is that we have more control over this type of aging. Monitoring our external surroundings and putting our diet and lifestyle choices first will help reduce extrinsic aging. Remember to get your beauty rest, eat your greens, and apply that SPF!

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Faithlynn caruso Faithlynn caruso

what foods are bad for your skin?

not all foods are equal when it comes to your skincare

Not all foods are created equal when it comes to the health of your skin. If you are on the journey to healthy glowy skin there are a few foods you might want to be aware of in your diet.
Foods to avoid for healthy skin:

 Peanuts

Sugar

Processed Gluten

Shellfish

Processed dairy

Alcohol

Foods with a high glycemic index (white rice, potatoes, etc.)

What are the best foods for healthy skin and why?

There are many essential vitamins that aid in healthy skin. We all have heard of vitamin C and omegas but what kind and where can get we get this from?

 It's important to note that while omega 3 is vital as well as omega 6, having too much omega 6 can actually have a reverse impact and cause inflammation. I prefer to get my omega vitamins from walnuts, flax seeds, and hemp seeds rather than supplements.

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Guest User Guest User

the truth behind dairy and gluten

the truth behind dairy & gluten…is it really bad for you?

Are dairy and gluten really as bad as people say?

The truth is dairy and gluten are not bad for you unless you have a true allergy or intolerance... dairy and gluten both get a bad rep. Because people typically only share half the truth. Why do people say that? This a question a lot of us are wondering. Well, the type of dairy and gluten that can cause issues are the processed kind. More often than not that is the only kind that is available here in the USA unless you reach out to your local farmers. Understanding the differences between organic and Non-GMO is crucial. Something that is organic means it is not sprayed with pesticides something that is Non-GMO means that the seed has not been genetically modified. Two very different labels. It is vital unfortunately to have the food you are eating say both organic and non-GMO. The marketing here in the USA is very sneaky. They try to use phrases like “all-natural” to confuse consumers into feeling like the food is safe. Be aware of what you're consuming

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Guest User Guest User

escaping the rainy day blues

sometimes it hard to get yourself out of a funk so here are some easy ways to boost your mood

How to get yourself out of a funk

Oftentimes in this Oregon weather, it's easy to feel down. When I'm feeling this way, having plans to look forward to lifts up my mood. 

  • Cooking Classes! I personally enjoy taking classes and learning something new! There are tons of cooking classes here in Oregon that always catch my eye.

  •  Exploring new shops! If cooking isn't your thing I also enjoy shopping! I've recently discovered many antique stores nearby. It's so easy to get lost in those stores. 

  • Get lost in a good book! My absolute favorite book is The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbaugh. Reading is such a fun and free way to escape the winter blues! 

Get exploring in the area or into a good book! Reach out to your loved ones or grab coffee with an old friend to bring some light in the rainy season.

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Guest User Guest User

healthy gut = happy skin

a healthy gut leads to creating healthy and glowing skin

Healthy gut =healthy skin

Did you know that your gut health is directly correlated to how healthy your skin is? Research has shown that when there is an issue with your digestive health the skin tends to become more irritated. This wisdom is dating back to ancient Eastern medicine. Oftentimes skin diseases such as eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea. When any of my clients are struggling my first suggestion is always to heal the gut. Cutting out or minimizing sugar & gluten processed here in the US is crucial sometimes for healing the skin.

Taking probiotics is an essential step in balancing the gut bacteria. My favorite is by the brand, Flora.


Minimizing sugar will dramatically improve the skin. It is the most common sneaky ingredient.


Foods to avoid for healthy skin

Peanuts 

Sugar 

Gluten 

Shellfish 

Processed dairy 

Alcohol 

Foods with a high glycemic index (white rice, potatoes, etc.)


Best foods for healthy skin and why?

There are many essential vitamins that aid in healthy skin. We all have heard of vitamin C and omegas but what kind and where get we get this from? 


It's important to note that while omega 3 is vital as well as omega 6 having too much omega 6 can actually have a reverse impact and cause inflammation. I prefer to get my omega vitamins from walnuts, flax seeds, hemp seeds, and fish rather than supplements.

Read More
Guest User Guest User

my home essentials

some links to my favorite non-negotiables for my home!

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