Beyond SPF: What Your Skin Is Really Telling You This Summer

This month, we’re peeling back the layers on something we hear all the time at Magnolia: “Why isn’t my skin getting better, even though I’m doing everything right?” In this blog, Michelle breaks down what your skin is really trying to tell you—about your hormones, inflammation, and internal health.

​You’ll also get her favorite summer skincare essentials! Whether you’re dealing with melasma, stubborn breakouts, or just trying to glow without the guesswork, this is your summer skin reset—inside and out.

What Your Skin's Telling You About Inflammation, Hormones, & Sun Exposure

We’ve been taught to treat our skin like it’s separate from the rest of us—something to fix with a serum, smooth over with SPF, or cover up when something doesn’t feel right.

But at Magnolia, we believe your skin is never just about skin.

It’s a reflection of what’s happening beneath the surface--your hormones, inflammation, immune system, and stress. That’s why our approach goes beyond skin deep. We look at the whole picture, because true skin health starts within.

And with May being Skin Cancer Awareness Month, there’s never been a better time to shift from reaction to prevention—not just by protecting your skin from the outside, but by supporting your entire system. 

Your skin is always communicating with you.
The question is—are you listening.

Skin as a Messenger, Not a Mystery
That stubborn Melasma? That breakout that always shows up during your cycle? That dull, tired look no matter how many serums you use? None of it is random.

 As a nurse practitioner, I look at skin through a clinical and functional lens. I’ve seen how inflammation, hormone imbalance, and environmental triggers—especially sun exposure—can show up on the skin in ways that are often misunderstood or misdiagnosed.

​Here's what we want you to know:

1. Hormones and Skin: The Monthly Rollercoaster
Hormonal shifts—especially during perimenopause, postpartum, or even just monthly cycle fluctuations--can cause a surge in oil production, trigger breakouts, and increase skin sensitivity. Estrogen plays a role in collagen production, hydration, and skin thickness. When it dips, you may notice dryness, sagging, or changes in texture.

Signs your skin is hormone-influenced:
Cystic acne around the chin or jaw
Dry, dull, or thinning skin
​Melasma that darkens with heat or sun
Increased sensitivity or reactivity to products

2. Inflammation: The Invisible Accelerator of Aging
Chronic inflammation can be subtle—but its impact on the skin is powerful. It breaks down collagen, impairs healing, and disrupts the skin barrier, leaving you more prone to redness, breakouts, pigmentation, and premature aging.

This isn’t just about what you put on your skin. Inflammatory foods, poor sleep, gut imbalance, unmanaged stress, and blood sugar swings all add fuel to the fire.

Skin signs of internal inflammation:
Flushed or inflamed skin (rosacea-like)
Persistent breakouts
​Uneven tone or texture
Skin that feels tight, dry, or reactive

3. Sun Exposure: Not Just About the Burn
Here’s the thing—sun damage doesn’t always show up as a burn. Sometimes it appears years later as pigmentation, fine lines, or loss of elasticity. Even 5-10 minutes of unprotected exposure a day adds up over time.

Add in hormone shifts or inflammation, and your skin becomes even more vulnerable to sun-related damage. Melasma and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation can worsen significantly with even minimal heat or UV exposure.

What to watch for:
Dark patches (especially on cheeks, forehead, upper lip)
Freckling or uneven pigment
Accelerated signs of aging
Rough texture or dryness after time in the sun

What We Do Differently at Magnolia
At Magnolia, we don’t treat your skin like a surface problem. We treat it like the full-body communication tool it is. That means we:

Look at your lab work, hormones, and inflammatory markers if needed
​Recommend clean, effective topical products—but pair them with internal support
Provide education and a plan, not just a list of products
Help you understand the why behind what your skin is telling you

Skin is never just about skin. It’s about stress, hormones, inflammation, nutrition, lifestyle, and the environment you live in.

Final Thoughts
If your skin isn’t responding the way you hoped… it’s not that you’re doing something wrong. You may just be missing the deeper message. The good news?  Once you know what your skin is trying to tell you, you can finally give it what it needs. 

You don’t have to keep guessing or wasting money on products that aren’t working.
Let’s get to the root—and support your skin from the inside out.

Want to take the next step? We’ll help you decode your skin’s signals and build a plan that actually works—with guidance, not guesswork.

Book A Consultation

Michelle's Soapbox

You Can’t Out-SPF a Lifestyle of Inflammation

At Magnolia, we believe education is everything. When you understand what your skin is actually trying to tell you, everything changes. You stop wasting money on products that don’t work. You stop blaming yourself for “bad skin.” And you finally start making real, lasting progress.
​
Because let’s be honest: most people are stuck chasing surface-level solutions for what’s really a deeper, internal conversation.

​So let me get on my soapbox for a second—because in honor of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, there’s something I need to say: ​

Sun protection is non-negotiable…
​​
But here’s the part that gets overlooked: SPF can only protect you from external exposure. What about the internal triggers? Hormonal shifts, chronic stress, nutrient deficiencies, gut imbalance, and even blood sugar instability can all create inflammation that visibly shows up on your skin.

I see it all the time—clients showing up with drawers full of products, religious about their sunscreen, doing “all the right things”… and still frustrated with dull skin, stubborn melasma, flare-ups, or premature aging.

Here's what they're not being told: You can’t fight inflammation from the outside in.

If your hormones are out of whack, your stress is through the roof, your gut is struggling, and your blood sugar’s on a rollercoaster, it will show up on your skin. That’s not harsh—it’s just how the body works. Your skin is an extension of your internal health, not a separate system you can patch up with product.

So yes, wear the SPF. But don’t stop there. Prevention doesn’t come in a bottle.
It comes from understanding your body, honoring what it’s asking for, and giving your skin what it really needs--from the inside out.

With Love!
Michelle
Nurse Practitioner & Founder, Magnolia

Book A Consultation

Michelle's Ride Or Die

Summer Skincare Essentials

When it comes to summer skin, I’m all about that sweet spot: protected and glowing, supported and simple. Here are my non-negotiables—things I actually use, actually love, and actually recommend to our clients every single day.
​
1. A Trustworthy SPF (that doesn’t make you break out)
​If your SPF clogs your pores, causes irritation, or leaves a white cast—it’s not the one. Look for clean, non-comedogenic, zinc-based options that protect and play nice with your skin.

Favorites: CLEARSTEM You Are Sunshine, BIOJUVE Sheer Finish SPF

2. SPF for Your Lips (because yes, they burn too)
Lips are often forgotten, but super prone to sun damage. A swipe of SPF lip balm = major payoff.

Favorite: SunBum SPF Lip Balm

3. A Hat That You’ll Actually Wear
Nothing fancy—just something cute, comfy, and wide-brimmed enough to keep your face shaded. Especially important if you’re dealing with melasma or pigmentation that flares in the heat.

4. Internal Support (your secret weapon)
Skin health isn’t just topical. Think antioxidants, Omega-3s, and collagen to reduce inflammation, support elasticity, and keep your glow going strong.

Client faves: Vitamin C, Omega-3s, or a clean collagen peptide

5. A Body Oil That Feels Like a Ritual
Post-sun skin craves nourishment. A high-quality, unrefined body oil locks in moisture, calms irritation, and gives that silky glow without the endocrine disruptors.
​
Favorites: Prakash Organics Nectar Unrefined Clinic Grade Body Oil—clean, rich, and so good after a shower.

Not sure where to start with your summer skin game?
Come see us at Magnolia. We’ll help you build a routine that’s not just protective—but powerful. Real results, real support, and products we actually stand behind.

Happy Glowing!
​Michelle
​Nurse Practitioner & Founder, Magnolia