When it comes to glowing, healthy skin, most of us immediately think about serums, moisturisers, or the latest facial treatment. But what if the real secret starts much deeper inside the gut? To explore this powerful connection between internal balance and skin health, we spoke with Bridget Carmady, founder of Clémence Organics. With years of experience in natural skincare and a deep understanding of holistic wellness, Bridget shares her insights on how gut health influences the complexion, which foods to embrace (and which to avoid), and the simple daily habits that can make a visible difference to your skin.
Many people don’t realise that gut health can play a role in how their skin looks and feels, how would you explain the connection in a simple, relatable way?
Our skin is our largest organ and so it’s very easily influenced by changes in the human body. Our gut is our gastrointestinal system (so stomach, intestines etc) but it also contains large amounts of our immune system, as well as accessory organs (liver, gall bladder etc). These two organ systems have an intricate communication network which means that when one is out of balance, it affects the other. This works in both directions.
When the gut is out of balance, what kinds of skin changes do you commonly see?
Depending on what is happening in the gut, it can affect your skin accordingly. For example, if the microbiome in your gut is out of balance, it can lead to inflammation. This commonly shows up in the skin as eczema but can also lead to acne.
What are some everyday foods you recommend for supporting both gut health and a calm, clear complexion? Why do they work?
To support a healthy gut and skin, I always recommend the Mediterranean diet. It’s such a good balance of fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, fats and protein. It’s very anti-inflammatory and gives your body all the nutrients it needs to thrive. In addition to this, I would suggest adding in some fermented foods e.g. sauerkraut, kefer, yoghurt.
On the flip side, are there any foods or eating habits that tend to aggravate skin issues when the gut’s not functioning well?
Eating too many processed foods is the thing I see that causes the most upset. These are things like soft drinks, chips, processed meats (e.g. ham, sausage, bacon) and even some ready meals. These things are not good for the gut or the skin, and it will show quite quickly.
If someone is experiencing a breakout or flare-up that’s likely linked to internal imbalance, are there any Clémence Organics products you’d suggest to help soothe and support the skin externally?
All of the products in the Clemence Organics range are designed to return to skin to balance, to health. I would always recommend working with a full routine of Clemence products where possible, but if that’s not possible I would suggest starting with our Refining Cleanser so that you are upsetting your skin the least with cleansing.
Do you recommend any internal supports, like teas, supplements, or daily rituals — that work well alongside your skincare range?
I always recommend consuming herbal teas as they are amazing for helping with skin health issues. In addition to this, supplements can be effective where you are unable to get enough through your diet e.g. iron, magnesium. Exercise is also key to keeping skin healthy, as well as beneficial for mental and physical health.
Can you share a personal or client experience where working on gut health led to noticeable skin improvements?
I have seen many examples over the years of improvements to gut health leading to changes in skin health. The ones that stand out the most are with a handful of teenagers I’ve worked with over the years. Once they cut back on their processed foods, as well as drinking cow’s milk, and included some fermented foods in their diet, they saw their acne almost disappear. This was of course supported with Clemence Organics skincare products.
For someone just starting their gut-skin journey, what’s one small food change and one skincare habit they could try that might make a difference?
If you could make one change to benefit your gut health I would suggest cutting back on sugary drinks. I’ve seen clients replace their soft drinks with water, and it improved their skin so quickly. If you could make one change to your skincare routine, I would suggest switching to our Refining Cleanser and only cleansing once a day. It can be a gamechanger to skin health!
Bridget’s advice is a timely reminder that radiant skin isn’t just about what we put on our face, but also how we support our body from within. By making small but powerful changes like reducing processed foods, embracing fermented options, and choosing gentle, effective skincare we can create lasting improvements in both gut health and complexion. To explore the full range of products designed to bring skin back into balance, visit Clémence Organics.
When it comes to glowing, healthy skin, most of us immediately think about serums, moisturisers, or the latest facial treatment. But what if the real secret starts much deeper inside the gut? To explore this powerful connection between internal balance and skin health, we spoke with Bridget Carmady, founder of Clémence Organics. With years of experience in natural skincare and a deep understanding of holistic wellness, Bridget shares her insights on how gut health influences the complexion, which foods to embrace (and which to avoid), and the simple daily habits that can make a visible difference to your skin.
Many people don’t realise that gut health can play a role in how their skin looks and feels, how would you explain the connection in a simple, relatable way?
Our skin is our largest organ and so it’s very easily influenced by changes in the human body. Our gut is our gastrointestinal system (so stomach, intestines etc) but it also contains large amounts of our immune system, as well as accessory organs (liver, gall bladder etc). These two organ systems have an intricate communication network which means that when one is out of balance, it affects the other. This works in both directions.
When the gut is out of balance, what kinds of skin changes do you commonly see?
Depending on what is happening in the gut, it can affect your skin accordingly. For example, if the microbiome in your gut is out of balance, it can lead to inflammation. This commonly shows up in the skin as eczema but can also lead to acne.
What are some everyday foods you recommend for supporting both gut health and a calm, clear complexion? Why do they work?
To support a healthy gut and skin, I always recommend the Mediterranean diet. It’s such a good balance of fresh fruits and vegetables, legumes, nuts, fats and protein. It’s very anti-inflammatory and gives your body all the nutrients it needs to thrive. In addition to this, I would suggest adding in some fermented foods e.g. sauerkraut, kefer, yoghurt.
On the flip side, are there any foods or eating habits that tend to aggravate skin issues when the gut’s not functioning well?
Eating too many processed foods is the thing I see that causes the most upset. These are things like soft drinks, chips, processed meats (e.g. ham, sausage, bacon) and even some ready meals. These things are not good for the gut or the skin, and it will show quite quickly.
If someone is experiencing a breakout or flare-up that’s likely linked to internal imbalance, are there any Clémence Organics products you’d suggest to help soothe and support the skin externally?
All of the products in the Clemence Organics range are designed to return to skin to balance, to health. I would always recommend working with a full routine of Clemence products where possible, but if that’s not possible I would suggest starting with our Refining Cleanser so that you are upsetting your skin the least with cleansing.
Do you recommend any internal supports, like teas, supplements, or daily rituals — that work well alongside your skincare range?
I always recommend consuming herbal teas as they are amazing for helping with skin health issues. In addition to this, supplements can be effective where you are unable to get enough through your diet e.g. iron, magnesium. Exercise is also key to keeping skin healthy, as well as beneficial for mental and physical health.
Can you share a personal or client experience where working on gut health led to noticeable skin improvements?
I have seen many examples over the years of improvements to gut health leading to changes in skin health. The ones that stand out the most are with a handful of teenagers I’ve worked with over the years. Once they cut back on their processed foods, as well as drinking cow’s milk, and included some fermented foods in their diet, they saw their acne almost disappear. This was of course supported with Clemence Organics skincare products.
For someone just starting their gut-skin journey, what’s one small food change and one skincare habit they could try that might make a difference?
If you could make one change to benefit your gut health I would suggest cutting back on sugary drinks. I’ve seen clients replace their soft drinks with water, and it improved their skin so quickly. If you could make one change to your skincare routine, I would suggest switching to our Refining Cleanser and only cleansing once a day. It can be a gamechanger to skin health!
Bridget’s advice is a timely reminder that radiant skin isn’t just about what we put on our face, but also how we support our body from within. By making small but powerful changes like reducing processed foods, embracing fermented options, and choosing gentle, effective skincare we can create lasting improvements in both gut health and complexion. To explore the full range of products designed to bring skin back into balance, visit Clémence Organics.
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