In high school and college my skin was super reactive. After eating dairy – and sometimes for what seemed like no reason at all – I would get cystic breakouts that were PAINFUL. I would cake makeup on thinking no one would be able to see them, and I was super embarrassed about my skin.

Quick caveat: You might be wondering why I’m talking about skincare as a non-diet nutrition & weight loss coach. 

Here’s the thing: When you’re carrying extra weight and your digestion is terrible, it’s likely your skin isn’t clear and radiant either.

The body works as a holistic system and every single part of it is connected. When you naturally lose weight and heal your digestion using a non-diet approach like the Good Taste Method, your skin clears up.

Back to my high school years.

I tried hundreds of products to clear up my skin, from natural brands to super harsh tubes of commercial benzoyl peroxide, alcohol-based potions and god only knows what else. I was determined to get rid of my painful cystic breakouts, but the truth is that I was probably aggravating my skin even more with all the products I was using.

By using all those harsh chemicals, I was constantly disrupting the natural oil balance of my skin, crucial for clarity, moisture and elasticity. Not to mention, toxins in skincare products lead to hormonal imbalance, which is one of the primary root causes of blemishes and breakouts.

Although skin health starts on the inside, it does matter what you put on your skin, since it’s all absorbed into your body. If you’re using toxic products like I was in high school, that’s going to make your skin worse. 

Natural products are key for radiant skin, balanced hormones, and a light feeling in your body – which usually involves naturally losing excess weight around your belly.

It wasn’t until I ditched all those toxic products and developed my signature approach to eating that my skin really cleared up.

Today I’m covering what I put on my skin, but it goes so much deeper than that. When you want radiant, clear skin, what’s most important is what you eat and drink. Your skin health is intrinsically connected to the health of your gut.

If you want to learn exactly what to eat and drink for clear skin, leave a comment below.

For a few years now my skin has been super clear 80% of the time.

In the past year, I’ve picked up a few tools that have made it clearer and more glowy than ever 95% of the time…

… and no, I haven’t cut out dairy, gluten, coffee or alcohol.

I get so many compliments on and questions about my skin – even from strangers! – that I want to share my tools with you.

My routine is simple yet kinda weird, and it took YEARS of experimentation to figure out what really optimizes my skin so it’s blemish-free, glowy, and moisturized but not oily.

Here are the steps…

1. I like to shower at night so I can go to bed clean and wake up ready to go.
It also feels like I’m washing away the day, physically and emotionally. I love
letting any stress or worries melt away under the hot water.

Before my nighttime shower I rub olive oil all over my face and body. Yes, plain
olive oil – the essential fatty acids are amazing for your skin. It naturally and easily
removes my makeup, moisturizes my face and body, and protects skin from
the hot shower water, which can be harsh and drying.

I really prefer this to moisturizing after the shower, because then you have to sit
around with lotion or oil all over you and wait for it to dry. When you oil up
beforehand, you get out of the shower with perfectly moisturized skin that’s not
oily or dry. Olive oil restores your skin’s natural moisture balance.

2. After the shower I put Burt’s Bees night cream on my face, and sometimes a
little eye cream. Right now I have a fancy Shiseido one that was a gift from
Sephora – I switch brands often.

I don’t think you need any fancy creams. A lot of the time I only use olive oil
and/or coconut oil on my face and body. I’ve found that olive oil works better
than coconut for me, as it’s a little richer and more nourishing.

I have combination skin, but I believe that oil cleansing and moisturizing works
for all skin types, since it simply balances your skin’s natural oils instead of
stripping them away with harsh soaps and chemicals.

3. In the morning I simply wipe any sleepies out of my eyes with a warm
washcloth. If my face is feeling a bit dry I put on a tiny dab of night cream
or coconut oil.

The lighter consistency of the coconut oil works for my skin in the morning, but
I like something richer like olive oil at night. However, most mornings my skin
is good to go and I put on a little makeup and am out the door.

4. I exfoliate with a natural sugar or salt scrub once a week. You can buy a
toxin-free product, or simply combine sugar or salt with olive oil in a little
bowl and rub it all over your face and body while in the shower.

This is great for sloughing away any dead skin, getting rid of toxins and
buildup, and giving you an extra glow.

I like to do this a day or two before a romantic date or fun event to make
my skin extra soft and glowy.

5. I aim to do a natural clay mask once a week, but it usually only happens
a couple times a month, which is fine. 

Clay sucks toxins and buildup out
of your pores, which is good once in awhile. You don’t want to do excessive
clay masks since they disrupt the natural oil balance of your skin.


Ok, here’s a condensed step-by-step system…

1. Massage olive oil all over face and body.

2. Take a hot shower.

3. Let your skin steam in the shower for a few minutes.

4. Use a warm cloth to gently remove face makeup.

5. Dry off after the shower.

6. Moisturize your face with a natural night cream, like Burt’s Bees, before bed. Apply your favorite eye cream if you’d like.

7. In the morning, wipe your eyes clean with a warm cloth, apply a tiny dab of cream or coconut oil if your skin feels dry, and pat off any excess with a clean towel or cloth. Apply any makeup you like to wear.


And that’s it! Easy peasy.

You do not need expensive products or a 3-step system to get clear skin. You just need to restore your natural oil balance instead of constantly stripping your skin’s natural moisture away with harsh products or overwashing.

What’s your #1 skincare question or frustration?

Post it below – I’d love to connect with you.