A return to the foundations of gut-skin health
There’s a rhythm to things when they work in harmony. The garden knows it and the body feels it. And more and more I find myself drawn to these small, cyclical truths.
The ones that ask us not to do more, but to tend differently. To shut out the noise that tells us to stay forever young and to respect what we inherently know rather than trying to override it.
Skin health doesn’t begin at the bathroom mirror. It starts much deeper in the gut, in how we eat, how we digest, and how we move through the world.
And at the very heart of it all, quietly doing its work with very little recognition, is fibre.
Soil, gut, skin and the ecosystems in between
When you spend enough time around plants, you notice patterns. Healthy soil is alive; rich with diverse microbes that transform plant fibres into nourishment. It carries the memory of seasons and nurtures the most resilient growth slowly, underground.
The human body isn’t so different.
The gut, like soil, holds a vast and diverse ecosystem. When we feed that ecosystem well, with a variety of fibre-rich, unprocessed plants, we create the conditions for equilibrium. Microbes in the gut ferment fibre into short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) such as butyrate, which are known to calm inflammation, strengthen the gut lining, and support hormonal and immune function.
What happens in the gut doesn't stay in the gut.
Skin often reflects these inner processes. When the digestive system is nourished and balanced, the skin feels less reactive. It becomes hydrated and noticeably calmer.
It’s not a coincidence but a benefit of internal harmony. This quiet connection between our inner ecosystem and the skin’s surface is known as the gut–skin axis,a reminder that what we nourish within is reflected without.
Nutrition and skin are part of the same story
When fibre is consistently present, hormonal symptoms may feel less intense. Fibre encourages the body to remove excess hormones, regulate blood sugar and insulin levels, and maintain overall hormonal health. Energy feels more stable. Skin, in particular, starts to feel more balanced.
This is especially relevant during midlife, when digestion slows, the nervous system becomes more sensitive, and hormonal changes begin to influence everything… from how we sleep, to how we feel in our clothes, to how our skin behaves.
Fibre isn’t a fix-all. However, it is a foundation for gut-skin health.
Skin isn’t an afterthought, it's an active participant
So often, we think of skin as something we’ll “get to” once everything else is sorted. Once the diet is perfect, the stress is under control, the sleep is consistent.
But skin isn’t just a passive reflector of our efforts. It’s an active participant in the body’s response system. It reacts, communicates, and often reveals things before we’ve consciously noticed them.
When we treat it as something to be constantly managed, as something to scrub, resurface, peel, or correct, it’s no wonder our skin becomes confused, irritated and reactive.
The skin barrier, especially in midlife, deserves more care than control.
A gentler way of caring for the skin
For years, the dominant message in skincare has been that we need to do more. Exfoliate more. Use stronger actives. Strip away what doesn’t belong.
But in my experience, both professionally and personally, the most meaningful results come when we simplify. When we choose to protect what’s already working, rather than obsessing over what we think needs fixing.
Our skin barrier is a living structure. It holds in moisture, communicates with the immune system, and offers a physical and microbial shield against the world.
I often liken it to the mulch you might use in a garden… not the most glamorous analogy perhaps. However, like a mulch, the skin barrier insulates, protects, feeds the microbiome, and creates the right environment for new growth.
When we stop stripping this protective layer and instead support it with prebiotic-rich ingredients, gentle plant oils, and fewer aggressive steps, skin tends to settle. The redness softens. The tightness eases. And the need to “correct” disappears.
Because when the skin feels supported, it behaves with more grace. Just like we do.
Small, steady nourishment
There’s no need to overhaul your entire lifestyle. Most of the time, the body responds best when we return to what’s familiar, seasonal, and sustainable.
Fibre is one of those foundations. Quietly essential and often overlooked. Ever since the low-carb trends of the early 2000s, fibre has been somewhat forgotten. But it's having a quiet resurgence, and for good reason.
Current guidelines suggest most adults should aim for around 30g of fibre per day, yet most of us don’t come close. Thankfully, you don’t need to count grams you just need to bring more plant variety onto your plate.
And if you’re wondering what kind of fibre we’re talking about, here’s the simplest way to think about it:
There are two main types - soluble and insoluble, and both play an important role.
Soluble fibre (found in oats, flaxseeds, apples, beans, and barley) helps slow digestion and feeds the beneficial microbes in your gut the ones that produce those skin-supportive compounds like butyrate.
Insoluble fibre (from veg, whole grains, seeds, and skins of fruit) keeps things moving. It’s especially helpful when digestion feels sluggish, as it often can during midlife and times of stress.
It doesn’t need to be complex. Nature usually gives us both types in the same foods. So the more variety and colour you include, the more your gut and your skin will thank you.
A few soft, supportive ways to begin:
– A warm bowl of oats with a tablespoon of ground seeds (flaxseeds, sunflower, pumpkin and sesame) in the morning
– Beans or lentils stirred into soups or salads a few times a week
– Fill half your plate with leafy greens and vegetables
– Whole fruits, not just juices
– Wholegrains – brown rice, wholemeal bread
It's not about restriction or reinvention. Just daily nourishment that settles the system.
Seasonal Wisdom and Ayurveda
At the heart of Ayurveda is digestion, the power of agni, or digestive fire, in the gut. When agni is steady, the body transforms food into energy and nourishment with ease. When it weakens, imbalance shows up - from sluggishness and mood changes to sensitive or reactive skin.
Midlife is a time when agni naturally shifts, making it even more important to support digestion gently and consistently. Simple seasonal practices can help keep that inner fire burning steadily:
- Improve digestion: favour cooked oats, stewed fruits, root vegetables, lentil soups and one-pot meals, especially through autumn and winter.
- Rhythm matters: regular mealtimes support agni and help energy feel steadier.
- Pause to breathe: 5 slow breaths before meals calms the nervous system, allowing agni to work smoothly.
- Gentle movement: daily walks, stretching or yoga encourage circulation and balance.
Nurturing the Skin Barrier with Prebiotic Skincare
Just as the gut thrives on fibre, the skin flourishes when its microbiome and barrier are respected. Prebiotic skincare supports this balance. Ingredients such as inulin and other prebiotic sugars help condition the skin’s ecosystem. Oat polysaccharides (beta-glucans) hold water at the surface, keeping skin calm and hydrated, while seed oils rich in essential fatty acids replenish the lipid “mulch” that protects and comforts.
Skin, supported both ways
At Hux+Mū, we don’t believe in overstripping the surface to reveal your natural beauty. We believe in skin support
That’s why our approach is always two-fold:
– Feed the skin from within with fibre-rich, anti-inflammatory, deeply nourishing foods
– And care for the barrier externally with formulas that are gentle, active, and respectful
Cleansing becomes replenishment. Serums become soil. And your daily rituals become an act of self-care.
The Hux+Mū Ritual
Step 1. Cleanse with Respect:
SOW Prebiotic Cleansing Jelly
- Prebiotic sugars (inulin) nurture microbial balance
- Saccharide Isomerate binds hydration for a plumped feel
- Marshmallow root and oat oil soothe irritation
- Pequi and coriander oils cushion the barrier
- A gel-to-oil-to-cream texture that removes makeup and SPF in one step
Step 2. Replenish & Defend
CULTIVATE Active Facial Serum
- Oat kernel extract delivers natural beta-glucans for hydration and comfort
- Bakuchiol refines tone and texture without irritation
- CoQ10 and seed oils offer daily antioxidant defence and conditioning omega fatty acids 3,6, 9 and 12
- Phytoceramides strengthen the barrier, while bisabolol calms sensitivity
Together, this refined two-step ritual honours your skin’s natural rhythms. A daily act of nourishment that mirrors the fibre-rich foods you place on your plate.
A Closing Thought
Midlife brings about many changes in our skin, digestion, hormones and energy levels. It may feel like the things that used to work… no longer do.
But this time in our life also offers a chance to shift, not into complexity, but into greater clarity.
We don’t need extreme approaches. We need rituals that restore. We don’t need to control. We need care.
We don’t need perfect skin. We need skin that feels calm, comfortable, and like our own.
And when we approach our inner world and outer care with the same gentleness, we often find that the skin softens in response, not just in texture, but in tone and in how it makes us feel.
Let this be your new rhythm. Nothing to fix. Just something to nourish.
With care,
Shim
Founder of Hux+Mū
Explore SOW and CULTIVATE, hux+mū’s daily companions designed to support your skin with the same nourishment you bring to your plate. Discover them in our shop.
These insights are drawn from my personal experience and expertise as the founder of Hux+Mū. Both gut health and skincare are deeply individual. What supports one person beautifully may not be the right fit for another.
If you have specific skin concerns or digestive conditions, I always recommend seeking guidance from a dermatologist, nutritional therapist, or your doctor to find the most supportive approach for your unique needs.