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

    Menopause, Cancer & Chronic Stress: What "Normal Labs" Don't Tell You

    What do you do when your labs say "normal" but your body says otherwise?  Samantha sits down with Moyra Gorski, a wellness educator, breast cancer survivor, and menopause advocate, to talk about alternative approaches to health, cancer, and menopause. Moyra shares her personal journey from a skeptical nurse to learning alternative approaches to health, including the breast cancer diagnosis that sent her searching for root causes instead of radiation treatment.  She opens up about the mindset work that shaped her recovery. The conversation shifts into perimenopause and menopause and why symptoms get dismissed as normal, hard workouts can backfire on a stressed nervous system, and walking, protein, and hydration often do more than another HIIT class.  Samantha and Moyra also dig into hormone replacement therapy, functional lab testing, and why there's no single right answer for every woman. If you've ever left a doctor's office feeling unheard, this episode is your permission slip to keep asking questions. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Normal labs don't mean normal symptoms, doctors are trained in fertility, not perimenopause and menopauseStandard lab panels can miss what's actually going on.Chronic stress is a major driver of hormone disruption and played a role in Moyra’s cancer diagnosis Cortisol and adrenal fatigue deserve as much attention as diet or supplements.Functional testing digs deeper than conventional bloodwork, explaining symptoms that get written off as "normal."Hard workouts can backfire in perimenopause: intense cardio and HIIT stress an already-taxed nervous system; walking and lower-intensity movement tend to work better.Protein, fat, and vegetables are key to a healthy diet, swapping starchy carbs for vegetables, plus prioritizing protein and healthy fats, helps curb insulin resistance and constant hunger.There's no one-size-fits-all protocol: the goal is education and self-advocacy, not chasing trends.Openness to the unfamiliar can change everything➡️ Connect with Moyra Website Facebook Instagram LinkedIN

  2. Jul 7

    SIBO, Bloating & Probiotics: Why Your Gut Protocol Might Be Making Things Worse

    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 the kitchen, not the pharmacy. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: How ZuZu got off epilepsy medications and has been seizure-free since age 21 using food aloneThe gut-nervous system connection: why your microbiome makes your neurotransmitters and hormonesHealthy fats: why the omega-6 to omega-3 balance matters so muchSIBO and bloating: why probiotics and fiber can backfire when bacteria has overgrown in the small intestineThe truth about store-bought yogurt (and what to make at home instead)The 6 hidden causes of constipation, and why you should never start a detox without a practitionerSimple, free daily habits to improve your gut, energy, and long-term wellness starting todayWatch the YouTube video version of this epsiode ➡️ Connect with Zuzu: Website Instagram Facebook Holistic Health Educators Lily Fields Retreat Center

  3. Jun 23

    Skin Microbiome, Gut Health, Acne: The Hidden Root Cause No One's Treating

    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’ll Learn: Why the skin's pH balance are entirely dependent on microbes not productsHow "controlled damage" treatments (like microneedling and peels) only work if the skin is functioning properlyThe three ways the gut directly impacts skin healthWhy standard acne treatments and long-term antibiotics fail to address the root causeHow dysfunctional gut health can trigger autoimmune-like skin responsesWhy pediatric eczema is so poorly managed and what helps repair the skin barrierThe Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging linking skin health to osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer's riskWhy pairing with functional medicine doctors and nutritionists can help estheticians work around scope-of-practice limitationsThis episode is essential listening for any esthetician or client who wants to understand why topical treatments alone fall short, and what's really going on beneath the surface. Connect with Kiran: Website Instagram The Baltimore Longitudinal Study of Aging Overview

  4. Jun 16

    Perimenopause, Cortisol & Weight Gain: What to Do When Harder Workouts Stop Working

    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 insulin resistance make certain workouts work against your goals, and the specific fitness shifts that support your hormones instead of stressing them further. Katie also shares her simple framework for choosing workouts that fit your life, plus her full weekly movement recipe for women navigating midlife hormonal changes. Whether you're a devoted HIIT class-goer or just starting to wonder if your current routine is serving you, this conversation will completely shift how you think about movement after 40. ➡️ In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Why HIIT workouts can spike cortisol and stall fat loss in perimenopauseThe three types of movement every woman over 40 needs in her weekly routineWhy recovery is as important as the workout itselfThe truth about cold plunging for women Why walking is more powerful than most women realizeHow to start strength training if you've never done it, and why heavy weights matter➡️ Connect with Katie Website Instagram Listen to Katie's Podcast: Wellness After 40

  5. Jun 9

    Cortisol, Perimenopause, Skin Microbiome: Why Women Are So Hard On Themselves

    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 quietly destroying your collagen. If you've ever caught yourself picking apart your reflection, feeling like you've aged overnight, or wondering why your skin isn't responding the way it used to, this episode is for you. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: What mirror anxiety is, and why it's not vanityHow the loss of progesterone increases brain sensitivity and makes every "imperfection" feel like a threatWhy chronically stressed women are often unaware they're stressed The cortisol-collagen connection: how elevated cortisol breaks down your skin from the insideYour adrenal glands become your primary hormone source during perimenopause, and why that matters for your skinThe truth about the skin microbiome, over-exfoliation, and why stripping your skin makes aging worse"Glass skin" and social media beauty standards: why that glowing look may signal inflammationThe danger of anti-aging ingredients (retinol, salicylic acid, and Botox) being used too youngDr. Natalya's mirror exercise and how to build what she calls "mirror hygiene"The three free anti-aging tools every woman should be using ➡️ Connect with Dr. Natalya Website Instagram  Linkedin ❤️ Free gifts  Enjoyed this episode? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts, it helps more women find this show.

  6. Jun 2

    Acne and Gut Health: Clearing My Skin Naturally After Accutane, Client Testimonial

    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, and her journey to clear skin through healthy eating and the positive impact her diet has not only on herself, but her family too. In this Episode, You’ll Learn: Why most turn to Accutane and why this is  a "band-aid fix" How acne comes back after stopping birth control, and what led to a different approachTeresa’s surprising gut test results The lifestyle and dietary changes that cleared her skin and improved her overall healthHow she navigates temptation, travel, and falling off the wagon Why she started reading ingredient labels and what she found in "healthy" foods

  7. May 26

    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

  8. 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

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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
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 The Functional Aesthetician
  • Show Website
    The Functional Aesthetician

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