Welcome to Grounded Wellness, your go to podcast for
simplified and trusted information on how to live a
more non-toxic and holistic life.
We're your hosts. I'm Bethany McDaniel, founder of
Primarily Pure biohacking enthusiast and mom of three.
And I'm Courtney O'Connor, holistic esthetician with over
15 years experience in the healing power of touch and
holistic skin care rituals. Let's dig in.
Welcome to Grounded Wellness. I'm Courtney, primarily Pure's
holistic aesthetician. I'm here on our regenerative
farm, grounding in my bare feet and so excited for today's solo
episode. Today I am answering some of
your top questions from what are my skin care non negotiables?
What are my top tips to treat active breakouts?
What are some low budget lifestyle practices and my best
bridal beauty tips which I am currently doing to prep for my
own wedding right now? Let's dig in.
The first question I received from you guys is what is your
skin care routine and non negotiables for products?
I love this question so much and I feel like this is a super
important foundation for everyone to figure out.
So these are my personal non negotiables for skin care and I
hope they inspire you to discover your own too.
Number one is no fragrance. This is a hard no for me and any
of the products that I use on my skin for my body, beauty and
home. Fragrance is actually a known
endocrine disruptor and it's also known as the new second
hand smoke. So this is how serious applying
or inhaling this ingredient can be.
I definitely want to have babies one day, especially now that I'm
getting married soon and with infertility rates on the rise.
I want to do everything within my power to make the best
choices for my body and my future babies.
So surrounding myself with fragrance just does not fit into
my self health or skin care routines #2 non negotiable is
getting both water and oil on my skin and in my body.
I say this all the time but it's true.
Aging is simply drying out. So for youthful skin and a
healthy body, hydration is foundational.
And for a balanced moisture barrier and a natural glow, skin
needs both water and oil. So topically this looks like
spritzing skin with a facial mess with plant hydrosols.
My favorite is our clear I missed and then while the skin
is still damp, applying a facial serum or facial cream.
Ours that primarily pure are oil based and animal based to
rebuild and really lock in moisture levels.
And then internally also obviously makes a big impact on
skin health. So adding natural electrolytes
or minerals into the water that you're consuming to help boost
the absorption more deeply into your cells and enhance hydration
in the body. And also, of course, consuming
lots of healthy fats like fatty fish.
Shout out to sardines, olive oil and avocados, really to help
support hormone health, gut health, and brain health, which
all also impact skin health and #3 is a skin amylism.
If it takes 20 minutes or if it requires 10 steps, I'm not
interested. Less is more when it comes to
skin care, and because benefits build over time and consistency
is needed to see results, I need a routine that I'll actually
stick with and genuinely look forward to.
A Skinmalism skin care routine is a sustainable skin care
routine. Plus, less products are actually
better for your microbiome as it helps to protect the diversity
and replenish nutrients in the skin.
My skinnimalism routine typically includes a cleansing
oil, but just at night. In the morning, I typically
splash my skin with water. Then I'll go in with our
clarifying mist. This mist is a must for me, both
AM and PM. And then of course the facial
serum while my skin is still a dampened Dewey.
And I'll rotate our facial serums depending on how my skin
is feeling and what it needs that day.
And then I'll finish with either our plumping cream or our
antioxidant balm. These animal based bombs contain
tallow from grass fed cows and it creates such a youthful Dewey
glow on my skin. And then of course incorporating
some kind of facial tool in my routine, whether it's daily or a
few times a week, even just fitting in a 2 minute facial
massage makes a huge difference for skin health.
So that leads me into my favorite and final non
negotiable which is facial tools.
Facial massage truly is the foundation for radiant skin and
even a calm mindset. Ancient beauty tools like Washa
cupping and dry brushing work with the functions of the skin
and the systems below the surface to kick start lymphatic
drainage and blood flow while releasing muscular tension and
even stagnant emotions. If you really want to see a
positive change in your skin then I highly recommend making
facial tools one of your non negotiables as well.
The next question that I received, if I had to choose
just one, would I choose the facial cupping or facial dry
brushing? Which first of all, I feel like
this question is kind of like the question, if you had to pick
one kid, which one would you pick?
I feel like that's an impossible one to answer.
So I'm just going to briefly describe the benefits and the
differences of each of these tools and then maybe it might
help me create more of a clearer answer afterwards.
So first of all, facial cupping. I love how this traditional
Chinese medicine tool is both grounding and invigorating all
at the same time. This suction technique increases
microcirculation and oxygen rich blood flow to boost skin's
natural glow while also clearing away blockages in the lymphatic
system and softening the look of wrinkles, so it helps to de puff
and plump naturally. Also, facial cupping is very
effective at reducing any scarring.
The beauty of this ancient ritual is that it only needs to
be done three times a week, so it's super easy to implement
into your weekly skin care routine.
Then facial dry brushing is truly one of the best daily skin
care habits and it takes only less than two minutes.
I like to think of this tool as a 2 for one treatment as it
activates lymphatic drainage to detoxify the skin tissue and
create clear skin from within, but it also helps to buff away,
build up on the surface of the skin, helping to gently
exfoliate and refine skin texture.
Both facial cupping and dry brushing offer different but
supportive benefits and I personally love having a variety
of tools to reach for depending on what my skin is needing and
how I'm feeling that day. The next question that came
through is what practices can I incorporate in my lifestyle on a
low budget? I love this question because I
am all about easy, accessible, and when possible free practices
to promote holistic health. So here are a few of my favorite
low budget holistic lifestyle practices.
The first one is grounding. This one is a given and it's
what we're doing here on Grounded Wellness on our
regenerative farm. Just getting outside barefoot on
the earth begins to ground the emotional body.
It lowers inflammation levels, it fortifies your immune system,
It resets the nervous system and supports our circadian rhythms.
But if you're in a cold climate and maybe you're buried under
snow for most of the year, you can also purchase a pair of
grounding shoes or a grounding mat so that you can receive the
Earth's healing properties all year long.
Next is oil pulling. All you need is coconut oil for
this one. And oil pulling promotes a
healthier oral microbiome, which also impacts your skin
microbiome. Simply swish coconut oil in your
mouth first thing in the morning for about 5 to 10 minutes.
And this is what I like to have it stack.
So while I'm oil pulling, that's when I'll prep my morning coffee
or begin making breakfast. Then simply spit it into the
trash and finish with your complete oral care routine.
Doing this daily helps to detoxify your entire body.
It even helps to define your jawline and ease any jaw pain
you might be experiencing. Plus, I've personally noticed a
significant difference in how white my teeth become.
My dentist has even noticed when I do this practice regularly.
The next low budget lifestyle practice is stillness and
sunlight. Watching a sunrise or sunset has
serious health benefits as it contains higher levels of red
light at these times, plus habit.
Stacking this with times of stillness can have a significant
impact on your nervous system, quality of sleep, and emotional
regulation. God has truly given us so many
free gifts in nature that are truly life changing.
Plus, sitting in stillness, focusing on diaphragmatic
breathing, practicing gratitude, and being mindful of our body
all help us engage our parasympathetic nervous system
and help to heal at a root level.
And lastly, I probably sound like a broken record when it
comes to this, but it's because it's so powerful and creates
such positive change in your body, skin, and mindset.
But it's facial massage and all you need for facial massage are
your hands. So focusing on facial massage
offers so many positive benefits for your skin and the systems
below the surface such as lymphatic drainage, circulation,
and faster release. And when you touch your skin,
you're truly touching your nervous system.
And we could all benefit from a little bit more nervous system
regulation in our day-to-day lives.
I have several videos of facial massage tutorials and tips that
you can check out on our YouTube and even a previous Grounded
Wellness podcast episode. The next question is how to
treat active breakouts. I'm going to keep this answer
pretty simple because you don't need a complex acne routine to
see results. So #1 using a cleansing oil that
doesn't disrupt your microbiome. Clear skin starts with a
balanced microbiome, and the first step in your routine can
either make it or break it. Plus, the worm washcloth removal
and your oil cleansing routine helps to soften the skin and
open and purify your pores for greater acne healing.
Next is using products with white Willow bark instead of
salicylic acid, which is a really popular acne fighting
ingredient, but it's also an endocrine disruptor.
White Willow bark is a natural form of salicylic acid, and it's
found in our clarifying mask that you can use as a spot
treatment to help reduce redness, prevent scarring, and
expedite healing. And finally, focus on lymphatic
drainage, either with just your hands or with your favorite
facial tool. Always work around any active
breakouts to open up pathways of healing to the impacted area.
But if you do have inflamed acne all over your face, simply
focusing on the neck flow will begin to open up these pathways
of drainage and detoxification and will ultimately reduce
inflammation on the face. For an added tip, warm your
guashaw, stone or roller in hot water and then place it directly
over the breakout to reduce redness and swelling.
The next question is what do you recommend to reduce fight or
flight symptoms? This is such an important
question because true holistic skin healing starts by sedating
our sympathetic nervous system, which is our fight or flight
response, and engaging our parasympathetic regulation,
which is our rest and digest response.
So to reverse our fight or flight symptoms, we need to
prioritize practices that promote our parasympathetic
nervous system and incorporate more vagus nerve exercises.
The vagus nerve is our longest cranial nerve.
It's also our brain and gut axis and it helps return the nervous
system to a regulated state. So here are some simple and
practical ways to engage your parasympathetic nervous system
and activate your vagus nerve. First is to get outside and even
better if you're barefoot. I know I just mentioned how
grounding is one of my low budget lifestyle practices and
it's really key in supporting our parasympathetic nervous
system. The fresh air, the sunlight, the
earth beneath your feet can immediately help to expand your
perspective, slow your breathing rate, lower your heart rate, and
balance your nervous system #2 is to get moving.
Getting blood flow and lymphatic fluid going can help to relieve
stress and even support a more regulated nervous system.
A simple walk around the neighborhood, bouncing on a
rebounder, or simple restorative stretches on a mat can be easy
ways to move your body and move out any stagnant emotions.
The next one is get quiet. In our world of consumption and
comparison, anxiety and burnout, I believe that stillness is the
antidote. Carve out time first thing in
the morning or before bed for a few minutes of stillness
meditation, maybe even doing legs up the wall to recalibrate
your nervous system and to allow your mind and body to rest.
Lastly is get connected. Positive social relationships
are vital when it comes to reducing stress and feeling
safe. Celebrating life's mountaintop
moments or bearing one another's burdens in the midst of a sad or
stressful season can offer the strength and support needed to
keep going. Call a friend to get a coffee
date on the calendar and feel the difference.
When you live a life that's connected.
The more you incorporate these practices, the more you'll be
able to build resilience to stress and create a more
balanced way of living. And the last question today is
what is the best skin care routine for my face and body
before my wedding? This is the most exciting
question I have ever answered because I am currently in my
engaged era and also prepping for my own wedding and at 37
years old this man was worth the wait.
And our journey is wildly divine and an only God story.
So if you are also a bride to be, of course we want to look
and feel our best and be the most grounded glowing versions
of ourselves for our big day. Here are my bridal beauty goals
and what I'm doing to get there. And I will note that a lot of
these practices I have been implementing for quite some
time, but now I have a new intention and motivation behind
them becoming a bride. So I hope this list inspires you
as well in creating your own wedding Wellness plan.
First, my skin goals are Dewey and defined.
So to focus on creating Dewey skin, it really starts from
within. So I'm prioritizing hydration
and starting my day with a glass of water with lemon chia seeds
and sea salt to really boost that absorption more deeply into
my cells. And I'm drinking nettle tea
infusions for stronger, healthier hair, nails and skin.
My Dewey Daily Skin Care Your routine consists of a cleansing
oil, of course, Facial dry brushing daily, which helps to
gently nudge along that cellular renewal and detoxify and
brighten my skin. The clarifying mist is my
favorite. I'll even keep it in my bag and
spritz it throughout the day. It contains green tea which
helps to brighten and balance. The plumping serum is my
obsession because it has Puccio which is a natural retinol
alternative along with green coffee oil.
So lots of antioxidants along with caffeine.
And then of course, the plumping cream, which has that tallow
from grass fed cows, which contains a ton of fatty acids
for rebuilding my moisture and then finishing, especially at
night for slugging as we're getting into more colder winter
months, is the antioxidant bone. And this also has the green
coffee oil and acoxanthin, which is one of nature's most potent
antioxidants. So it really helps to restore
dull, dehydrated skin. And then finishing with facial
guacha because better flow equals brighter glow.
Then for my body goals, I really want to focus on creating softer
skin and a stronger body. So movement obviously is
essential. So I'm prioritizing Pilates,
stretching and rebounding for that lymphatic support.
And I'm prioritizing and investing in professional
massages for lymphatic drainage and deep relaxation during the
season. And then of course, at home, my
body care routine consists of body dry brushing.
This is the best for supporting that daily lymphatic drainage
and really softening skin texture.
I'll use our body Polish in the shower, which I'm obsessed.
It creates extremely soft skin, keeps my skin super moisturized
and smooth. Then All Spirits are Everything
spray just to keep my skin clear from head to toe and it's
perfect for post shaving or post waxing and then finishing with
body butter which again has those biocompatible animal based
ingredients to give my skin such a great glow.
I'm also focusing on protein rich meals and supplementing
with collagen, cod liver oil, liver capsules, and prenatals
for bridal and baby prep. I'm also really prioritizing red
light therapy. I noticed such a difference in
the visibility of my fine lines and the evenness of my skin tone
when I'm doing my red light therapy regularly.
And I will have it stacked this at night before bedtime while
doing my legs up the the wall and listening to a meditation.
And then finally, I'm definitely prioritizing professional skin
treatments. I'm doing derma planning and the
buccal intraoral sculpting facial massage to really release
any muscular tension and create more sculpted to find appearance
for my big day. And then also focusing on some
back facials for my wedding dress.
And lastly, my sole goals are to feel relaxed and full of faith
in this preparatory season for getting married.
So in the morning, I'm prioritizing getting sunshine
and earthing to start my day grounded and to support my
circadian rhythms and stress levels in the season.
I'm going on evening walks with friends to unwind after a long
day and to stay connected with the people I love.
I am doing mouth taping every night.
This helps to promote better breathing, deeper sleep, and it
defines your jawline. I am being very prayerful
through my wedding planning. God wrote our love story and
He's going to write our wedding story too.
And I'm inviting people I trust into this journey and just
having those safe people in my circle that I can verbally
process with in times of celebration, in times of stress.
And then I am focusing on just slowing down my breathing and my
body before going to bed and really prioritizing that bedtime
routine, whether it's a meditation app, my Lectio Dulina
app, or listening to binary old beats to help promote deeper
sleep. And finally, just giving
gratitude and praying thank you prayers.
So really starting all my prayers from a place of
thankfulness in this season. If you are in your own engaged
era or still waiting for your divine love story to unfold, I
hope that these holistic practices help to prepare your
skin, your body, and your soul for your big day.
And of course, a lifetime of beauty and well-being and love
to follow. I'm truly so grateful for your
trust in me and primarily pure and that you guys value our
perspectives and inputs to help support your holistic health.
We'll see you next time on Grounded Wellness.