The Functional Aesthetician

What if the root of your bloating, low energy, and even your skin issues isn't a mystery, it's your gut microbiome?  In this episode, I sit down with ZuZu, holistic health care practitioner and founder of Lily Fields Center and Holistic Health Educators, who reversed her own epilepsy over 35 years ago through food, and has spent decades teaching others how to rebuild their health from th...

Samantha sits down with microbiologist Kiran Krishnan to break down one of the most under-taught topics in skincare: the skin microbiome and its direct connection to gut health.  Kiran spent over a decade pioneering gut microbiome research before turning his focus to the skin, and what he shares will change how you think about acne, skin sensitivity, and aging skin for good. In this Episode, You’l...

If you've been pushing harder in your workouts but seeing fewer results, this episode is for you. This week I'm joined by Katie, a fitness professional and host of the Wellness After 40 podcast, to break down exactly why exercise needs to change in your 40s, and what to do instead. We're talking about the real reason HIIT workouts can backfire during perimenopause, why cortisol and...

Why do so many women in their 40s look in the mirror and feel like a stranger is looking back?  In this episode, I sit down with Dr. Natalya Borakowski, naturopathic physician, founder of Desert Bloom Skincare, and creator of the Unveil You platform, to talk about the science behind mirror anxiety. We also talk about how perimenopause rewires the brain's self-perception, and chronic stress is...

What if the missing piece in your acne journey wasn't more skincare products, it was your gut? In this special episode, Samantha sits down with her client Teresa, who spent years battling acne.  She tried Accutane and birth control before booking her first facial and discovering what was really driving her breakouts.  Teresa shares her full journey, from her first facial to running a gut test...

In this episode, I'm joined by Jen Sugermeyer, founder of ATA Cosmetics, a tool that is completely rethinking how skincare and makeup are applied to the skin.  Jen shares her powerful self-love journey, and how that transformation led her to build a brand rooted in the philosophy that attitude, thoughts, and actions shape everything. We're breaking down why application is the most overlo...

Are you in your 30s, 40s, or 50s and your skin suddenly feels like a stranger's?  You haven't changed your routine, but your skin is dry, breaking out, and aging faster than it ever has, and nobody seems to have answers. In this solo episode, Samantha breaks down exactly what is happening hormonally and why your skin is the first place it shows up. This is the conversation your doctor is...

In this episode of The Functional Aesthetician, Samantha Dench sits down with Kisha Hamilton, award-winning licensed esthetician and founder of The Rebeauté, a corrective skincare sanctuary rooted in holistic healing.  Together they talk about the gut-skin connection, what a compromised skin barrier actually looks like, and how a barrier-first approach can transform stubborn skin conditions like a...

If you're gaining weight, exhausted, and doing everything "right" eating less, exercising more, and nothing is working, this episode is for you. Holistic nutritionist and menopause health coach Lora Ulrich breaks down the hormonal cascade that happens during perimenopause and menopause, and why the old rules simply don't apply to your body anymore. Lora shares her story: from a...

If you've been doing all the "right things" eating clean, exercising, taking your supplements, and you still can't lose the weight, clear your skin, or feel better, this episode is for you. Samantha sits down with Stephanie Lee Hayes, somatic educator and founder of Roots and Rituals, to unpack the nervous system piece that most practitioners (and even therapists) are missing. ...

In this episode, Samantha sits down with Megan McCue, a speech language pathologist and Botox injury advocate, who became seriously ill after a single cosmetic Botox session in 2024.  What followed was months of neurological symptoms, swallowing difficulties, hair loss, extreme anxiety, insomnia, and cognitive impairment.  Doctors dismissed her. The ER couldn't explain it. And no one connecte...

Are you struggling with chronic fatigue, hormonal imbalance, or PCOS and feel like nothing you try is actually working?  In this episode of The Functional Aesthetician, I sit down with Dr. Jaday Garcia, board certified doctor of natural medicine, functional medicine practitioner, and founder of MindBodyRestored to talk about the root cause healing approach that conventional medicine keeps missing....

This week, Samantha shares a full recap of her first-ever experience at the Skin Games in Dallas. From speaking on the holistic skin panel to connecting with some of the most inspiring aestheticians in the industry, this episode is equal parts behind-the-scenes and big-picture. Samantha shares what she witnessed, what she's building next, and why stepping outside your comfort zone is still th...

What if your eczema, psoriasis, gut issues, fatigue, or chronic inflammation aren’t random at all, but signals from a nervous system that’s been stuck in survival mode? In this episode of The Functional Aesthetician Podcast, Samantha Dench sits down with holistic health coach and alternative health practitioner Sabrina Hall to unpack the deeper connection between nervous system dysregulation, syst...

What if your bloating, fatigue, headaches, brain fog, and skin flare-ups were actually early warning signs of chronic inflammation? In this episode of The Functional Aesthetician Podcast, Samantha Dench sits down with naturopathic doctor Elizabeth Yarnell to break down what inflammation really is, how it shows up in the body and skin, and why most people miss the signals until symptoms become impo...

Your labs are “normal.” Yet you’re exhausted, inflamed, bloated, and don’t feel like yourself. What if hormones aren’t the real problem… but a downstream symptom of something deeper? In this episode of The Functional Aesthetician Podcast, we sit down with functional medicine practitioner and aesthetician, Heidi Cooper, to unpack why so many women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s experience fatigue, weig...

In this episode of The Functional Aesthetician Podcast, we sit down with licensed esthetician and founder of LBH Skincare, Heather Reay, to break down the truth about the skin barrier. We discuss signs of barrier disruption. Heather explains the difference between clinical skincare and over-the-counter formulations, how low pH and proper exfoliation support skin regulation, and why layering multip...

If you’ve been treating your eczema with creams, prescriptions, and elimination diets, but it keeps coming back, this episode will change how you see your skin.  Eczema isn’t just a surface issue. It’s a signal from your gut, nervous system, and immune system that something deeper needs attention. In this episode, I’m joined by functional nutritionist Krista Harcus to unpack the root causes of ecz...

If your body feels stuck in stress mode, it could be a nervous system issue. In this episode, our special guest, Brenda Mundt, talks about how breathwork regulates the nervous system, influences cortisol, and helps bring the body back into balance. She explains why most people have shallow breathing, which keeps you in a state of stress, and how intentional breathing can signal calm and safety to...

Starting a new diet, lifestyle, or skincare routine shouldn’t feel this hard, but for many women in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, it does. If you feel stuck, overwhelmed before you begin, or disconnected from your body, this episode explains why starting feels so difficult, and why it’s not a motivation or discipline problem. In this episode, Samantha breaks down how nervous system overload, hormonal s...

If your hormones feel out of control but your labs are “normal,” this episode is for you. Weight gain, fatigue, acne, gut issues, and skin changes during perimenopause and menopause are often blamed on hormones, but the real issue is insulin resistance. We talk about why so many women struggle to lose weight, feel worse when dieting or exercising, and develop skin and gut issues in their 30s and 4...

If you’re in your 30s or 40s thinking, “I’m eating well, I’m working out, so why am I gaining weight and feeling puffy, tired, and off?” Samantha sits down with Kelsey Ale, functional nutritionist and women’s hormone health expert, to unpack what most women are not being told about perimenopause, insulin resistance, blood sugar, inflammation, and the skin changes that show up on your face first. Y...

Clean beauty isn’t always safe, and in some cases, it may be doing more harm than good. In this episode of The Functional Aesthetician Podcast, host Samantha Dench sits down with Afshan Hussein, environmental health educator, fertility coach, and founder of Pregnancy Safe Cosmetics , to expose the biggest clean beauty myths impacting skin, hormones, fertility, and metabolic health. Afshan breaks d...

Not all wellness trends are created equal. In this episode, learn which 2026 skin and wellness trends are worth your time, and which ones to question before jumping on the bandwagon. In this first episode of 2026, Samantha Dench explores the top skin, beauty, and wellness trends shaping the year ahead, and the ones to approach with caution.  From the return to professional skincare and the rise of...

In this episode of The Functional Aesthetician, Samantha breaks down the role sleep plays in your skin, hormones, digestion, and overall health. From overnight cell repair to cortisol regulation and collagen production, this episode takes you inside the body's nighttime restoration process and explains why sleep quality impacts everything from breakouts to bloating to premature aging. Samanth...