Stop Wasting Money on Skincare

Your skin reflects your gut: My journey to glowing skin naturally

People often guess I'm around ten years younger than my actual age. At 47, that's quite a compliment, and while I appreciate it, it’s not thanks to expensive serums, cosmetic procedures, or the latest skincare trend. It hasn’t always been this way. I’ve had my fair share of skin issues, usually signaling deeper health concerns. Every flare-up or dull skin came with a deeper message from within: my skin was mirroring my internal state, especially my gut health.

When I was younger, my skin suffered greatly from a poor diet, heavy drinking, and stress. I had a “worry wrinkle” since an early age. I vividly remember the terrible breakouts after nights out with too much alcohol. Most recently, my skin flared up during a particularly stressful winter when I was raising new puppies. Lack of sleep and stress manifested immediately on my face. That experience, like so many others, reminded me of a deeper truth: our skin is not just a barrier. It’s a feedback system. It tells us when something inside is out of balance.

What shifted everything for me was fasting. Every time I do a juice cleanse or water fast, my skin clears up rapidly. It brightens. It tightens. I see and feel the difference within days. And that’s when I knew, my glow doesn’t come from products. It comes from healing my gut. As always, less is more, and when we give the body a break, it heals itself. And the feedback is glowing skin.

My skincare philosophy?? Keep it simple...

Not many people know this, but when I was 20, after I didn’t get into university in the Czech Republic, my mum enrolled me in a private beautician course. I never went into the profession, but one wild chemistry professor gave me a philosophy I still live by:

“Never buy skincare from shops. Make your own.”

He showed us how to start with a basic pharmacy cream and personalise it with simple, effective ingredients like jojoba oil, vitamin E, and aloe vera. That lesson shaped my approach. To this day, my skincare is minimal and intentional. I cleanse my face with oil (currently sweet almond), rinse with slightly acidic Kangen beauty water, and moisturise with the same oil. Occasionally, I use 11.5 pH alkaline water to strip excess oil, and if I have a breakout, I use pH 2.5 to clear bacteria build-up. And often, I do absolutely nothing.

No scrubs. No peels. No serums. No daily supplements unless my body asks. I believe in supporting the skin’s natural function, not overriding it with chemicals.

And the truth is, even with the best topical routine, you can’t out-cream a toxic gut.

The Gut-Skin Axis: The Science Behind the Glow

What I intuitively discovered through fasting and detoxing is now backed by science. The gut-skin axis is real.  Complex pathways connect your digestive tract with your skin, including your immune system, hormones, and microbiome.

When your gut is leaky, meaning your intestinal lining is compromised and allows toxins, bacteria, and food particles to pass into the bloodstream, your immune system reacts. This leads to systemic inflammation, which often displays as acne, rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, or chronic sensitivity.

Gut dysbiosis (an imbalance in the gut microbiome) can cause:

• Overgrowth of candida and other pathogens

• Decreased absorption of key nutrients like zinc, vitamin A, and omega-3s

• Poor elimination of toxins through the liver and bowels

• Hormonal imbalances, especially estrogen dominance

Your skin reflects all of this. And for women especially, the interplay between gut health and hormone levels becomes even more obvious during times of stress, perimenopause, or digestive issues.

Common Gut-Related Skin Clues

I started paying attention to patterns. And here’s what I’ve learned:

• Breakouts along the cheeks and jawline are often connected to the large intestine and reproductive system.

• Dry, flaky skin? Often related to poor fat digestion and low stomach acid.

• Redness and flushing? It could be gut inflammation or histamine intolerance.

• Dark under-eye circles and puffiness? Linked to poor kidney function and liver congestion.

• Eczema and rashes? Often traceable to leaky gut and food intolerances.

The Power of Fasting and Food Elimination

I fast to give my digestive system a break. When digestion slows down, the body shifts energy into repair. That’s why fasting often leads to a clearer mind, better sleep, and yes, glowing skin.

During a water or juice fast, I focus on clean, structured water, ionised through my Kangen machine. I add sea salt or electrolytes for mineral balance. After fasting, I reintroduce foods one by one, noticing how my body and skin react. That’s how I’ve identified food intolerances over time.

For many, gluten, dairy, processed sugar, and even certain grains or nuts can quietly fuel inflammation. If your skin flares after eating certain foods, your gut is trying to tell you something. Healing requires temporarily removing triggers and rebuilding with nourishment.

Long term, I start most days with a large warm water with lemon and ginger, followed by a juice to hydrate the body, stimulate stomach acid, and give it easily absorbed nutrients. I try to stick to intermittent fasting. My fasting window is a minimum of 12 hours, and some days I do 16 or 20. I cook most of my meals to reduce UPF (ultra-processed food) and cook with real, colourful ingredients, mostly plant-based. I snack on homemade cakes and fruit or chocolate, but sometimes slip to old habits and go for my favourite shop-bought biscuit 🙂

Why Water Quality Matters

Most people think hydration is about quantity, but it’s really about quality. Tap water is full of chlorine, microplastics, pharmaceuticals, and heavy metals. It doesn’t truly hydrate; it overwhelms. Bottled water is no better, as it leaches plastic and lacks essential minerals.

I use Kangen water for its ability to:

• Filter out chemicals and toxins

• Restructure water for better absorption

• Offer various pH levels for different uses

I use 2.5 pH water to clean wounds and for oral hygiene, beauty water (5.5 pH) for facial cleansing and misting, and 11.5 pH water to remove oil build-up and support detox. This water has been a game-changer for my skin and gums. Before switching, I had gum disease and cavities. Now, my oral health is strong, and I haven’t had a skin infection or breakout lasting more than a day or two. And, of course, I drink and cook with alkaline water, which has a pH of 8-9.5.

The Nervous System Link

Let’s not ignore stress. Chronic stress wrecks digestion, disrupts hormones, and depletes the microbiome. It causes the body to remain in fight-or-flight, where healing isn’t prioritised. I’ve seen this in myself again and again, especially during emotionally intense periods. No matter how clean I eat, if I’m holding onto fear or tension, my skin suffers.

That’s why I pair fasting with breathwork, somatic healing, and daily movement. It’s not just about what I eat, it’s about how I digest life.

Embracing Aging as a Natural Process

I’m not trying to look 25. I want to feel radiant, alive, and authentic in my skin. Recently, I’ve added face yoga into my weekly rhythm. It helps tone the facial muscles, increase circulation, and bring life back into the skin. No fillers, no needles. Just movement, breath, and presence.

I accept that aging is inevitable. But I believe we can age beautifully by reducing inflammation, staying hydrated, feeding our cells, and staying connected to our truth.

Final Words

Your skin is your story. It reflects your gut health, emotions, lifestyle, boundaries, and beliefs. If you want to glow, don’t look for a miracle cream. Look deeper.

Fasting, hydration, nervous system regulation, and gut healing will do more for your skin than any product ever could. You don’t need more steps. You need more presence. More intuition. More truth.

If you’re curious about fasting, gut resets, or holistic skin rituals, I’d love to guide you. Book a call or send me a message. Let’s start from the inside, and let your skin reflect the radiance you already hold.

💬 Ready to go deeper? Let’s chat.

If something in this article resonated with you or if you’re exploring ways to improve your health, change your mindset, or reach your freedom goals, I’d love to hear your story.

I offer a 1:1 conversation where we can explore your life goals and dreams and how I can support your next steps. No pressure, just an open space to connect and reflect.

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