Cortisol, Perimenopause, Skin Microbiome: Why Women Are So Hard On Themselves
From The Functional Aesthetician by Samantha Dench
June 9, 2026 · 38 min · Episode 33
About this episode
The episode discusses the impact of perimenopause and chronic stress on women's self-perception and skin health.
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, ...
People in this episode
Host: Samantha Dench
Guest: Dr. Natalya Borakowski
Topics covered
- cortisol
- perimenopause
- skin microbiome
- mirror anxiety
- self-perception
- chronic stress
Keywords
- cortisol
- perimenopause
- skin microbiome
- mirror anxiety
- self-perception
- chronic stress
- collagen
- women's health
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Desert Bloom Skincare, Unveil You
More episodes of The Functional Aesthetician
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- The Skincare Step Nobody Talks About · May 26, 2026 · 26 min
- Perimenopause, Thyroid, and Cortisol: The Real Reason Your Skin Is Changing in Your 40s · May 12, 2026 · 23 min
- Holistic Skincare: How Gut Health Impacts Your Skin · May 5, 2026 · 26 min
- Perimenopause, Insulin Resistance & Your Thyroid: Why Your Body Isn't Broken · April 28, 2026 · 31 min
- Nervous System Safety: The Missing Piece in Chronic Stress, Skin & Weight Loss · April 21, 2026 · 24 min
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