The Functional Aesthetician

Samantha Dench
  • 5.0 (25)
  • Alternative Health

Join licensed esthetician and student of functional medicine, Samantha Dench, to explore the deeper connection between your skin, gut, and hormones. The mission is to help you get to the root cause of your skin problems so you understand what your skin is trying to tell you.

  1. 5d ago

    The Skincare Step Nobody Talks About

    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 overlooked step in skincare, your  lymphatic system is your skin's cleanup crew, and what actually happens when you apply products with your fingers (spoiler: it's not great).  If you've been spending money on good skincare and not seeing results, this episode is going to shift something for you. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Why application method matters as much as ingredients and formulationHow the lymphatic system impacts skin health The skin-brain connection and why intentional touch is a form of self-careHormonal changes in perimenopause affect your lymphatics and skinWhy fingers and sponges waste your product and introduce bacteriaThe "up and out" technique you can start using todayHow to turn your skincare routine into a nervous system reset➡️ Connect with Jen Website Save 15% with code: ATA15 Instagram

    26 min

  2. May 12

    Perimenopause, Thyroid, and Cortisol: The Real Reason Your Skin Is Changing in Your 40s

    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 isn't having with you,  and the one you've been searching for. You'll learn why perimenopause affects far more than your cycle, how your thyroid could be the missing piece nobody has checked, and why cortisol is quietly driving your skin changes, your weight gain, your exhaustion, and your mood, and what you can actually do about all of it. If you've been told your labs are normal but you still feel awful, if you've Googled your symptoms at midnight, or if you're doing everything right and still not seeing results, this episode was made for you. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Your skin is directly affected by every hormonal shift happening in perimenopauseBreaking out AND having dry skin at the same time is not a contradictionInsulin resistance and cortisol both increase during perimenopause and both accelerate skin aging Thyroid dysfunction affects 8-10% of perimenopausal women and is frequently missed Your gut health directly impacts your thyroid, your hormones, and your skin, and they all need to be addressed togetherChronic stress during perimenopause hits differently because your hormonal safety net is thinnerSimple, skincare, blood sugar stability, nervous system support, and daily movement are the foundational tools to start withWorking with a functional medicine practitioner means getting answers that go beyond what traditional blood panels revealConnect with Samantha: Instagram  TikTok

    23 min

  3. May 5

    Holistic Skincare: How Gut Health Impacts Your Skin

    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 acne and hyperpigmentation. Kisha also shines a light on global skin and explains why corneotherapy and barrier repair are essential for achieving real, lasting results for these clients. She also shares what she’s working on for estheticians. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: •  Why acne can signal vitamin and mineral deficiencies •  The supplements Kisha recommends for clear skin •  What is TEWL and why it’s disrupting your skin barrier •  A barrier-first skincare protocol, and why actives shouldn’t come first •  Understanding global skin and how its structure differs from mainstream skincare education •  Kisha’s upcoming training for neurodivergent estheticians ➡️ Connect with Kisha Website Instagram

    26 min

  4. Apr 28

    Perimenopause, Insulin Resistance & Your Thyroid: Why Your Body Isn't Broken

    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 childhood thyroid condition, to a surgical menopause, to becoming one of the leading voices in midlife metabolic health.  She breaks down the connection between estrogen decline, insulin resistance, cortisol, and weight gain in ways that actually make sense, and more importantly, what to do about it. This episode covers the thyroid's role in hormone health, why your doctor may be missing key markers, how blood sugar instability masquerades as anxiety and brain fog, and the metabolic shifts that actually work for a menopausal body. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Why estrogen decline makes your cells less responsive to insulin and what that means for fat storageThe hormone health triangle: insulin, cortisol, and thyroid and why order mattersWhy slashing calories and intense cardio is working against youWhat a complete thyroid panel should look like (TSH is not enough)How to structure meals to stabilize blood sugar without counting or deprivationThe truth about intermittent fasting during perimenopauseYou are not broken your body just needs a new strategy➡️ Connect with Lora Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIN YouTube ✅ Download Lora's FREE Guides Fast Metabolism Recipes Happy Hormones Checklist

    31 min

  5. Apr 21

    Nervous System Safety: The Missing Piece in Chronic Stress, Skin & Weight Loss

    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.  Stephanie explains how chronic stress and unprocessed trauma keep your body locked in survival mode and why that makes healing nearly impossible, no matter how hard you try. If you've ever felt like your body is working against you, this conversation will finally give you the language, and the tools, to understand why. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: What nervous system safety actually means, and why it's the missing link in healingWhy "doing everything right" still isn't enough when your nervous system is stuck in threat modeHow trauma (even the kind you don't think counts) gets stored in the body and blocks repairThe surprising connection between your nervous system, skin inflammation, and weight loss resistanceWhy high-achieving women are especially vulnerable to chronic stress dysregulationThe real reason urgency and rushing are keeping your body in survival modeA simple, accessible grounding practice (external orienting) you can use today to start calming your nervous systemWhy self-compassion isn't just "feel-good advice" it's nervous system medicine➡️ Connect with Stephanie: Website Facebook Instagram YouTube Free Guide: Why You're Not Broken

    24 min

  6. Apr 14

    Is Botox Causing Your Hair Loss, Anxiety & Insomnia? The Truth About Botulinum Toxin Adverse Effects

    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 connected it back to that one injection. Megan is now a leading voice in informed consent advocacy and has written multiple books, launched a podcast, and co-produced a documentary to get this information into the hands of women everywhere. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: What botulism is and why cosmetic doses can trigger itHow botulinum neurotoxin spreads through the central and peripheral nervous systemWhy symptoms like hair loss, anxiety, insomnia, brain fog, and nerve pain can be Botox-related and misdiagnosed as perimenopause or anxiety disordersThe FDA adverse event reports, and what the real numbers likely look likeHow long-term Botox use actually ages your skin What to do if you suspect you've been injuredConnect with Megan: Website Instagram Documentary: The Dark Side of Beauty Check out her Podcast

    34 min

  7. Apr 7

    PCOS & Chronic Fatigue: Nervous System Healing & Root Causes

    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. Dr. Garcia shares her personal journey navigating PCOS, PMDD, chronic migraines, and chronic fatigue after years of being handed prescriptions with no real answers.  Her story is one every woman dealing with hormonal imbalance will recognize. We dig into why nervous system healing is the missing piece for women with chronic fatigue, PCOS symptoms, and gut health issues, and why your body literally cannot heal when it's stuck in fight or flight mode.  If you've been told it's just perimenopause, or that your labs are "normal," this episode is for you. Dr. Garcia also opens up about her daughter's PANS and PANDAS diagnosis, what finally worked after years of dismissal, and why functional medicine for women goes so much deeper than standard bloodwork. In this episode we cover nervous system regulation, gut health and hormone connection, insulin resistance in women, and why root cause healing requires treating the whole body, not just the symptoms. Whether you're dealing with PCOS, chronic fatigue, adrenal fatigue, hormone imbalance, or you just know something is off and can't get answers, this conversation will give you clarity on where to start. ➡️ In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Why you cannot heal if your nervous system is stuck in fight-or-flight no matter what supplements or protocols you followThe truth about PCOS: it goes way beyond hormones, facial hair, and fertility PANS/PANDAS diagnosis can go unrecognized for yearsThe insulin resistance connection that most women are completely missingWhy the perimenopause label is being handed out too soonFunctional testing vs. standard bloodwork: why knowing how to read results matters more than the test itselfThe one free, simple morning habit Dr. Garcia recommends to start calming your nervous system todayConnect with Dr. Jaday Website Instagram Dr. Garcia's Free Nervous System Regulation Guide

    27 min

  8. Mar 24

    Inside the Skin Games: Holistic Skin, Big Announcements & a New Direction

    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 the fastest path to growth, personally and professionally. Plus, she's announcing something brand new: the Inside Out Jumpstart, a 30-day functional medicine entry point built specifically for the woman who's not quite ready to commit to a full program but is absolutely ready for real answers.  In this Episode, You’ll Learn: The Skin Games isn't your typical trade show, it's an intimate, community-driven competition where the people changing the industry show up in personAestheticians are hungry for holistic skin knowledge is leaving a gap that needs to be filledStepping outside your comfort zone, even when it's scary, is where the real connections and growth happenSamantha is developing holistic skin education for aestheticians, rooted in the gut-skin connectionThe Inside Out Jumpstart is a 30-day functional medicine program with a full intake, personalized protocol, lab guidance, and a follow-up session.DM JUMPSTART on Instagram to grab a spot Ready to stop guessing and start getting answers? DM JUMPSTART on Instagram.  ➡️ And if this episode resonated with you, subscribe and leave a review, it helps the right women find this podcast.

    14 min
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5
out of 5
25 Ratings

About

Join licensed esthetician and student of functional medicine, Samantha Dench, to explore the deeper connection between your skin, gut, and hormones. The mission is to help you get to the root cause of your skin problems so you understand what your skin is trying to tell you.

Information

  • Creator
    Samantha Dench
  • Years Active
    2025 - 2026
  • Episodes
    31
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Functional Aesthetician
  • Show Website
    The Functional Aesthetician