A Gut Health Dietitian’s (mostly) Clean Beauty Favorites

Written By Molly Pelletier

How a 3-Step Natural Routine repaired my Skin Microbiome and Elevated my Self-Worth

If self-worth ebbs and flows, my tide was too low for too long.

About seven weeks ago, I hit a particularly low point. For the last two years, I have been hyper-focused on building my business, and for the last year, I have been locked into fitness—specifically Hyrox and triathlon training. Neither of these environments particularly lends itself to embracing femininity. I spend my days in male-dominated meetings and my evenings in gyms filled with the scent of testosterone.

I'm eternally grateful for these past two years because I realized I was strong, capable, and disciplined—but there were times I felt like the tithe I paid for this empowerment was the loss of my softness. I needed to take action to recapture some of my lost feminine energy.

I started with the easiest step I could think of: refreshing my daily ritual—from my skincare to my makeup.

The "Easy Hinge": Why I Started with the External

To be clear: I am not suggesting that you can purchase self-esteem with a new moisturizer. But I am saying that when you feel lost, simplifying and making small, external changes can be the "easy hinge" that helps swing the door back open to your confidence.

Psychology actually backs this up. Researchers Hajo Adam and Adam Galinsky coined the term "Enclothed Cognition" to describe how the symbolic meaning of how we present ourselves influences our psychological processes. Just as their study found that wearing a lab coat increased attention, I’ve found that the simple ritual of refreshing my skin acts as a signal to my brain. It isn't just vanity; it is a tangible way to tell myself that I am worthy of care. (Source: Adam, H., & Galinsky, A. D. (2012). Enclothed cognition. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.)

The Foundation: The Gut-Skin Loop

However, as a Dietitian, I cannot talk about skin without acknowledging the internal foundation. I can get so focused on the internal—obsessing over details like how higher levels of zonulin indicate intestinal permeability—that I sometimes forget the external. But the truth is, they are a two-way street.

We know now that the 'gut-skin axis' is real. Systemic inflammation in the gut often manifests externally as acne or dullness. But perhaps even more importantly, roughly 95% of your body’s serotonin (the 'feel-good' hormone) is produced in the gut. This means that while my skincare routine is the signal for self-worth, my gut health provides the biological resilience to actually feel it. (Source: Salem, I., et al. (2018). The Gut Microbiome as a Major Regulator of the Gut-Skin Axis. Frontiers in Microbiology.)

The routine below is how I marry these two worlds: honoring the internal biology while celebrating the external ritual.

(Note: I am not affiliated with any of these brands. These are simply my findings after seven weeks of personal use.)

The Routine: The "Clean Edit"

When I decided to refresh my routine, I knew it had to be as natural as possible. Just as I try not to put too much processed food in my body, I didn't want to put synthetic disruptors on my face. This is my "Clean Edit"—focused on botanical and skin-identical ingredients that nourish rather than strip.

1. The Reset (Cleanse)

I believe cleansing is a way to wash away the "armoring" we do to survive in high-stress environments.

  • The Philosophy: I treat my skin barrier the same way I treat a gut barrier. We want to nourish it, not strip it.

  • The Product: La Roche-Posay Toleriane Hydrating Gentle Cleanser

  • Why I use it: It uses gentle, prebiotic thermal water to cleanse without disrupting my pH. It’s effective enough to feel like a true reset but gentle enough to keep inflammation at bay.

2. Nourish

I don't believe in 10-step routines that overwhelm the skin. I believe in potency and simplicity. My philosophy here is similar to my nutrition philosophy: give the body exactly what it needs to function, without the "filler."

  • The Hydration: Kiehl's Ultra Pure High-Potency Serum 1.5% Hyaluronic Acid

    • Why: I love this because it is pure simplicity (only 7 ingredients!). Hyaluronic acid acts like a sponge, pulling moisture into the skin without irritating my barrier with unnecessary additives.

  • The Barrier Seal: CeraVe PM Facial Moisturizing Lotion

    • Why: This is the "RD" choice in my routine—it’s pure science. It contains ceramides (lipids naturally found in skin) and niacinamide. Just like we heal the gut lining to prevent inflammation, this repairs the skin barrier while I sleep.

  • The Glow: Saltyface Tanning Water

    • Why: This is my secret weapon for that "Cape Cod summer" look in November. It gives me a subtle, buildable glow without the sun damage or clogged pores. I mix a few drops in, and I wake up looking like I spent the day outside.

3. The 5-Minute Face

This was the biggest shift for me. I wasn't looking for a mask to hide behind; I wanted to highlight the vitality I was feeling internally. Truthfully, I have never been a 'makeup person'—aside from a brief, questionable stint during my freshman year of high school that we are officially striking from the historical record. Because I was coming from a baseline of bare skin, I didn't want a jarring transformation. I needed a seamless bridge: products that act as skincare first and makeup second. The result is a routine that feels natural, breathable, and gets me ready in under five minutes.

The Base: Protection & Glow

The Eyes: Lift & Structure

  • Anastasia Beverly Hills Brow Wiz: The brows frame the face. When I’m tired, my features can get dull; this brings the structure back using precise, hair-like strokes.

  • Honest Beauty Extreme Length Mascara + Lash Primer: A clean mascara that actually works. The primer is key for volume—it opens up my eyes instantly, making me look awake and present even if I’m running on a less than ideal number of  hours of sleep.

The Color: Life & Softness

  • Ilia Multi-Stick: I use this cream formula on both cheeks and lips because it melts into the skin rather than sitting on top of it. It brings life back into my face for that natural, post-workout flush.

  • Poppy & Pout Lip Balm: The final touch. It’s 100% natural, comes in eco-friendly cardboard packaging, and keeps my lips hydrated without that sticky gloss feeling.

On Self-Worth & Skincare

We often think our self-worth requires a massive overhaul. But taking five minutes to care for my skin didn't solve every problem in my business or make me 75% more confident overnight.

But, I would say it made me roughly  5% more confident. More importantly, it gave me a moment of softness on a hard day. It reminded me that I am allowed to be both strong and soft.

If you are stuck in a "low tide," try finding one small hinge in your routine this week. Internal or external, it might just be the shift you need.

With love,

Molly

If exploring these small, nurturing shifts has you craving deeper support—beyond products and into the internal roots of confidence, gut health, and skin healing—you don’t have to figure it out alone.

Our FLORA dietitians take a holistic, nervous-system–aware approach that connects nutrition, hormones, stress, and the gut-skin axis to create real, lasting change—not just surface-level improvement.

If you’re ready to feel more at home in your body and rebuild confidence from the inside out, you can apply for a 1:1 session with a FLORA dietitian HERE.

Written by Molly Pelletier, MS, RD, leading expert in Digestive Health & Reflux Specialist

Molly Pelletier
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