Skin | Earth | Vitality

Today we're kicking off the daily habit series with the easiest habit of all: tongue scraping. We're getting into why Ayurveda has recommended this morning practice for thousands of years, what your tongue can tell you about digestion, and how tongue scraping supports taste, saliva, oral health, and the very beginning of the digestive process. I'm also walking you through exactly how I tongue scrape,  and the rest of my Ayurvedic-inspired morning oral care routine, including herbal tooth tablets, flossing, and oil pulling.
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If you've ever looked in the mirror and felt like you looked old or felt a draw toward Botox even though you aren't sure that's the answer for you... Instead of trying to look younger, this episode shares the introduction to have to look and feel more alive.  
 
This is the first episode in my newest mini-series.  We're exploring dinacharya, the Ayurvedic practice of daily routine, and why tending yourself every day isn't about turning wellness into a part-time job. It's about rhythm, relationship with the body, and creating the conditions that give you more capacity for your actual life. Plus, why these simple daily practices might change the way you experience your skin, beauty, and aging.
Prep for next week by purchasing your copper tongue scraper here. 
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If you've ever dealt with angry breakouts, perioral dermatitis, weepy eczema, or skin that feels hot, inflamed, and impossible to calm, you've probably been willing to do just about anything to get rid of it.  That's where I was when someone suggested neem to me. 
In this episode, I'm sharing why neem isone of my favorite herbal allies for these situations. We explore why this remarkable Ayurvedic herb has been called the "queen of the skin," how I personally used it during my own battle with perioral dermatitis, what its bitter and astringent qualities tell us about who it may help (and who it may not), and why understanding an herb's nature is just as important as knowing its benefits. I also cover the important safety considerations around neem, the difference between neem leaf and neem oil, and why I believe herbalism is less about following protocols and more about learning to make thoughtful, informed decisions for your own body.
 
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If you've ever stood in the skincare aisle staring at dozens of products, wondering which ones will help your redness instead of making it worse, you're not alone.  
In this final episode of my redness and rosacea series, we're shifting from lifestyle to skincare. We'll walk through every step of a routine, from cleansers and moisturizers to sunscreen, facial tools, and even a simple herbal mask you can make at home. Along the way, I'll share how I evaluate products through the lenses of corneotherapy, herbalism, and years in the treatment room, so you can better understand why certain ingredients support reactive skin.
My hope is that you'll finish this episode feeling less overwhelmed by skincare and more confident choosing products that truly support your skin's ability to heal.
You can shop products from my reactive skin collection here. 
Resources mentioned:
Manual Lymphatic Drainage Video
Lymph Brush Tutorial
 
Download the Soothing Masque for Reactive Skin Recipe 
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Rosacea can feel like such a vague diagnosis. It tells you what your skin is doing, but not why it's doing it. In this episode, I'm sharing what I wish I had learned about rosacea in school. We talk about what's happening beneath the surface, from the nervous system and the skin microbiome to gut health, barrier function, and why flushing can become more chronic over time. My goal is to give you a different way of thinking about your rosacea.
Resources Mentioned
• Blissoma Pure Sensitive Skin Cream• Laurel Cooling Relief Support Cleanser• Laurel Unburden Serum• Laurel Recovery Balm• Laurel Hydrating Elixir No. 2• Cecily Braden Lymph Brushes• Kansa Wand• Emily Lex Watercolor Books• VivaRays Blue Blocking Glasses
 
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Studies referenced:
Parodi A, Paolino S, Greco A, Drago F, Mansi C, Rebora A, Parodi A, Savarino V. Small intestinal bacterial overgrowth in rosacea: clinical effectiveness of its eradication. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2008 Jul;6(7):759-64. doi: 10.1016/j.cgh.2008.02.054. Epub 2008 May 5. PMID: 18456568.
 
Weinstock LB, Steinhoff M. Rosacea and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth: Prevalence and response to rifaximin. Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology 2013;68:875-876.
 
Sánchez-Pellicer P, Eguren-Michelena C, García-Gavín J, Llamas-Velasco M, Navarro-Moratalla L, Núñez-Delegido E, Agüera-Santos J, Navarro-López V. Rosacea, microbiome and probiotics: the gut-skin axis. Front Microbiol. 2024 Jan 8;14:1323644. doi: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1323644. PMID: 38260914; PMCID: PMC10800857.

If you've noticed your cheeks becoming redder, flushing more easily, or staying pink long after a workout, glass of wine, or stressful day, this episode is for you.
Before we talk about rosacea, we need to understand the foundation: vascular reactivity.
In today's episode, I explain what's happening beneath the surface of the skin when redness becomes more persistent. We explore the physiology of chronic redness, how your skin barrier, nervous system, inflammation, lymphatic system, and everyday habits all influence the tiny blood vessels in your face, and why supporting your skin is about so much more than finding the "right" skincare products.
Then we zoom out and take a whole-person perspective, exploring how patterns like excess heat, chronic stress, depletion, and nourishment may influence the way redness shows up in different people.
Rather than offering another one-size-fits-all skincare solution, my hope is to leave you with a deeper understanding of your own unique patterns and an invitation to become more curious about what your skin may be communicating.
Products Mentioned:
Kansa Wand
Lymph Brushes
Laurel Hydrating Elixir I 
Laurel Unburden Serum 
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You don't age, you dry out, and our thoughts have a physical effect on our juiciness. Chronic worry and resentment, perfectionism, political outrage, and our obsession with self-improvement, these stories and identities we cling to can create real physiological consequences. True beauty isn't just about what we put on our skin. It's also about the freedom to soften, receive nourishment, and loosen our grip on the thoughts and patterns that keep us suffering.
 
In this episode:
The many ways we become unconsciously imprisoned by our beliefs and identities
Why the body experiences our thoughts and emotions as physiology
The Ayurvedic concept of rasa and why "you don't age, you dry out"
How chronic fear, striving, resentment, and scarcity can deplete vitality
Why our emotional patterns become physical holding patterns in the face and body
The connection between inner freedom, pleasure, and true beauty
The four desires of Vedic philosophy: Dharma, Artha, Kama, and Moksha
Practical ways to cultivate more liberation in everyday life
Questions to contemplate:
Where is my life force still occupied?
What is it serving?
Where am I giving my sovereignty away?
If I could declare independence from one thing this year, what would it be?
Resources Mentioned:
The Four Desires: Creating a Life of Purpose, Happiness, Prosperity, and Freedom by Rod Stryker
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Most conversations about the sun fall into one of two camps: fear it, or worship it. In this episode, Emily explores a more nuanced path. Drawing from nearly two decades as a holistic esthetician, she examines the sun not as an enemy to avoid nor a force to recklessly indulge in, but as a powerful ally that deserves a thoughtful relationship.
By understanding both its healing potential and its capacity for harm, we can move away from fragility and toward a more empowered, responsive relationship with our environment.
Studies + Resources Referenced
The VITAL TrialA landmark NIH-funded randomized controlled trial — one of the largest and most expensive nutrition studies ever conducted. Over 25,000 adults, five years, 2000 IU of vitamin D3 daily. The results showed no significant reduction in cancer, cardiovascular disease, or overall mortality. A humbling reminder that a supplement is not the same as the sun.
Richard Weller — UVA, Nitric Oxide & Blood PressureDr. Weller is a dermatologist at the University of Edinburgh whose research demonstrated that UVA light triggers the release of nitric oxide stored in the skin into the bloodstream — independently of vitamin D. This has significant implications for cardiovascular health and helps explain why blood pressure and heart disease rates are higher at higher latitudes and in winter months.
Richard Weller TED Talk — Could the Sun Be Good for Your Heart?https://www.ted.com/talks/richard_weller_could_the_sun_be_good_for_your_heart
Additional Episodes Mentioned:
Episode 54: Flower Essences (Flexner Report)
Episode 73: Circadian Health
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The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult an appropriate healthcare professional before using herbs or supplements, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a health condition.

What if supporting your skin this summer had less to do with buying another serum and more to do with what's growing in gardens, showing up at farmers markets, and filling your teacup?
In this episode, Emily explores how seasonal eating can support healthy, resilient skin during the summer months. Drawing from herbalism, Ayurveda, and traditional wellness systems, she shares foods and herbs that help cool heat, calm reactivity, clear congestion, maintain hydration, and strengthen the skin's ability to handle sun exposure.
Emily's "Pretty Girl Drink" ✨
A favorite summer ritual featuring:
1 tsp rose powder
1 tsp shatavari powder
1/4 tsp Pearl powder
1 tsp cardamom powder
Cooling, nourishing, and deeply supportive for both skin and spirit.
Resources Mentioned
Photonic SPF 30
Episode 65: Pearl Powder
Mountain Rose Herbs
Anima Mundi Herbals
Banyan Botanicals Healthy Skin Formula
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The information shared in this episode is for educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Always consult an appropriate healthcare professional before using herbs or supplements, especially if you are pregnant, nursing, taking medications, or managing a health condition.

Summer is here, and with it comes pool days, camping trips, travel, and a whole new set of skincare considerations. In this episode, Emily shares her favorite ways to support the skin during the warmer months, from boosting hydration and strengthening the skin barrier to navigating sun exposure with a more balanced, holistic perspective. She explains what actually makes a product hydrating, why water deserves more respect in skincare, and the ingredients she looks for to support resilient summer skin. Emily also discusses chlorine exposure, cooling masks, and practical skincare tips for camping and travel. Whether you're spending your days in the garden, at the pool, or preparing for a summer getaway, this episode will help you build a simple, supportive routine that keeps your skin comfortable, healthy, and glowing all season long.
Products Mentioned in This Episode
Live Botanicals Ambient Moisture Liquid
Live Botanicals Solar Return Serum
Live Botanicals Temperate Forest Serum
Live Botanicals Illuminating Exfoliating Serum
Blissoma Photonic SPF
Blissoma Beta Glucan Mask
Laurel Sun Serum
Fitglow Cloud Body Wash
MENOS Skin Sheet Masks
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