This article is 2 parts.

Part 1: Understanding Birth Control, The Forms & How They Work

Part 2: The Birth Control Guide

Let me be clear from the start: I’m not anti-birth control. I understand its purpose and necessity for some. I was personally on the pill for 10 years, and severely struggled with the testosterone rebound effect and post-birth control syndrome after getting off. What I am against is the lack of informed consent when it comes to hormonal contraceptives, the lack of education around support, and the gaslighting I have seen occur when women question and fight for their own bodies when struggling with issues related to being on birth control.

In my experience, Doctors rarely give you the full picture (some do, and I LOVE the ones that do, we need more of that!). Most don’t tell you about the long-term effects on your body, and how everyone's body can react differently to different forms. Many times, it’s not explained how to properly support yourself while you’re on it, and what is being depleted in your body when you are on the medication. And in my personal experience, they definitely don’t prepare you for what happens when you decide to come off.

I believe in knowledge equaling power. You deserve to know exactly what you’re putting in your body, how it works, what the potential side effects are, how to support your body if you choose to be on it, and most importantly, how to take care of yourself through it all.

This is the guide I wish I had when I was on birth control. Whether you’re considering starting, currently taking, or thinking about transitioning off, this is for you.

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Understanding Birth Control: The Forms & How They Work

There are several forms of hormonal birth control, and they all work differently. Here’s what you need to know about each:

The Pill (Oral Contraceptives)

How it works:
Contains synthetic versions of estrogen and progesterone (progestin) that prevent ovulation. It tricks your body into thinking it’s already pregnant, so you don’t release an egg.

Common side effects:

• Mood changes, anxiety, depression

• Weight gain or difficulty losing weight

• Decreased libido

• Nutrient depletion (B vitamins, magnesium, zinc)

• Blood clots (rare but serious)

• Nausea, breast tenderness

• Headaches or migraines

• Acne (can improve for some, worsen for others)

What they don’t tell you:
Birth control is linked to anxiety and depression, so much so that many women end up on anti-anxiety or antidepressant medication because of birth control (this happened to me; within months of being on the pill, I was put on Prozac, and I stayed on it for the remaining 10 years I was on the birth control). It’s a vicious cycle: one medication causes symptoms, so they prescribe another to manage those symptoms.

IUD (Intrauterine Device)

How it works:

• Hormonal IUD (Mirena, Kyleena, Skyla): Releases progestin locally to thicken cervical mucus and thin the uterine lining

• Copper IUD (Paragard): Non-hormonal; copper creates an inflammatory response that’s toxic to sperm

Common side effects:

• Hormonal IUD: Irregular bleeding, mood changes, acne, ovarian cysts, weight gain

• Copper IUD: Heavier periods, cramping, copper toxicity (rare), inflammation

What they don’t tell you:
IUDs can cause chronic inflammation in the uterus. The copper IUD can lead to copper toxicity over time, which can cause anxiety, fatigue, and hormonal imbalances. Removal can sometimes be traumatic or difficult.

The Shot (Depo-Provera)

How it works:
An injection of progestin every three months that prevents ovulation.

Common side effects:

• Weight gain (often significant)

• Bone density loss with long-term use

• Irregular bleeding or no periods

• Mood changes, depression

• Delayed return to fertility (can take 12-18 months after stopping)

What they don’t tell you:
This form can cause the most dramatic weight gain and has been linked to significant bone density loss, especially in younger women. Your fertility may not return for over a year after stopping.

The Vaginal Ring (NuvaRing)

How it works:
A flexible ring inserted into the vagina that releases estrogen and progestin.

Common side effects:

• Vaginal irritation or infection

• Increased yeast infections

• Mood changes

• Headaches, nausea

• Blood clot risk

What they don’t tell you:
The ring increases your risk of yeast infections and can disrupt your vaginal microbiome. It also carries the same blood clot risks as the pill.

The Implant (Nexplanon)

How it works:
A small rod inserted under the skin of your upper arm that releases progestin for up to three years.

Common side effects:

• Irregular bleeding (most common complaint)

• Weight gain

• Mood changes, depression

• Acne

• Headaches

• Decreased libido

What they don’t tell you:
Many women experience unpredictable, prolonged bleeding that can last weeks or months. Removal requires a minor surgical procedure.

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What Birth Control Actually Does to Your Body

Here’s what I wish every doctor explained before prescribing birth control:

It Cuts Off Communication Between Your Brain and Ovaries

Birth control uses synthetic hormones to mimic and control ovulation, but you’re not actually ovulating. It’s cutting off the natural connection between your brain and your ovaries. Your body thinks it’s pregnant, so it stops its natural hormone production. Many women are on birth control for 10,15, 20 years, which, when you apply common sense to this information, I personally feel unsettled and alarmed that for 10+ years my body could lose connection between my brain and an organ (ovaries) and my body is tricked into thinking it's pregnant. Just something to think about, “the body keeps score”.

It Suppresses Androgens (But Not Always the Problem)

Birth control can work by suppressing androgens (like testosterone), which can help with hormonal acne in some cases. But here’s the problem: many women are prescribed it without ever testing their hormone levels. So you might be suppressing hormones that were never high in the first place, which wreaks havoc elsewhere in your body.

I want to lean into testosterone suppression for a moment, because birth control and Spironolactone are often prescribed quickly for acne without knowing the root cause. And that really upsets me.

Here’s why: there are SO many things that can raise testosterone levels from a root cause perspective. So when women are just put on a testosterone suppressant for acne, two major problems happen:

1. Lab work isn’t done, you don’t even know if high testosterone is the reason for your acne in the first place

2. You haven’t identified WHY testosterone is high, and testosterone is SO important for women! It’s not just a “male hormone.” It’s crucial for energy, libido, muscle tone, mood, and bone health.

Exploring the root cause as to why it’s high in the first place is how you address the issue long-term and prevent a cascade of other health issues from suppressing a valuable hormone.

What Actually Raises Testosterone Levels

If your testosterone is high, here are the real root causes that should be addressed, not just suppressed:

• Insulin resistance and blood sugar dysregulation

• Chronic stress and cortisol dysregulation

• Inflammation and gut dysbiosis

• Highly refined carbs or dairy intake

• Over-exercising and undereating

• Environmental endocrine disruptors (Chemicals like BPA, phthalates, parabens, and pesticides act as xenoandrogens, mimicking testosterone or disrupting hormonal feedback loops)

• Liver congestion / poor detox pathways

• Inflammatory or high estrogen birth control rebound

• Genetics (Some women have higher baseline androgen receptor sensitivity, but it’s epigenetically expressed through lifestyle triggers above (stress, diet, toxins, insulin)

• Poor sleep

It Depletes Essential Nutrients

Birth control is known to deplete:

• B vitamins (especially B6, B9, B12) → fatigue, mood issues

• Magnesium → anxiety, muscle cramps, poor sleep

• Zinc → immune issues, acne

• Selenium → thyroid problems

• Vitamin C → weakened immune system

It Disrupts Your Gut

Hormonal birth control can contribute to:

• Leaky gut

• Candida overgrowth (yeast infections)

• Dysbiosis (imbalanced gut bacteria)

• Digestive issues

The Estrogen-Candida-Heavy Metal Connection

Here’s something really important that no one talks about: certain hormonal birth control raises estrogen levels, which disrupts the natural yeast balance in your gut and vagina. This makes you more prone to candida overgrowth.

And here’s where it gets worse: recent studies show that tampons can contain heavy metals. So you’ve got elevated estrogen + candida overgrowth + heavy metal exposure = the perfect storm.

This is why antifungal treatments often don’t work for women on birth control. You’re not addressing the root cause (heavy metals + hormone imbalance).

It Can Flatten You Emotionally

Our facial expressions are deeply tied to emotional processing. But beyond that, birth control can literally change your emotional experience. Many women report feeling “flat,” disconnected, or less like themselves. It’s not just in your head; it’s the hormones.

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BIRTH CONTROL GUIDE

How to Support Your Body WHILE on Birth Control

If you choose to stay on birth control, here’s how to protect your body:

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Let me start by saying: I’m 34 years old, and I don’t get Botox or filler. I don’t use retinol or any prescription treatments for my skin. So naturally, a question I get asked a lot is what I’m doing to keep my skin so tight, lifted, and bouncy.

The answer? A combination of targeted skincare (of course, I co-founded a skincare company), regular skin treatments like lymphatic facial massages, microneedling, and NeoGen, and my absolute favorite weekly ritual: face taping!

If you haven’t heard of face taping yet, get ready. I’m going to show you my full routine, technique, step-by-step video, before & afters, and favorite products. This is about to become your new obsession.

What Is Face Taping?

Face taping is exactly what it sounds like: strategically placing specialized tape on your face to smooth fine lines, lift sagging skin, and train your facial muscles while you sleep (or go about your day). Think of it like strength training for your face, but passive, once it’s on, just let it do its work.

Why I Choose Face Taping Over Botox

I’m not anti-Botox or anti-filler. Full transparency, I actually tried Botox years ago. It just wasn’t for me. Do what makes you feel good! But here’s what I learned about Botox that I think is really important to know before you decide (I am a huge advocate for informed consent):

What happens to your muscles over time with Botox:

• The muscles can weaken and atrophy, leading to thinner skin and loss of natural muscle tone. This can create a hollow or sagging appearance once the Botox wears off, particularly around the eyes and temples. Other muscles may overcompensate, creating new expression lines in untreated areas

From a holistic/TCM perspective:

• Facial muscles and fascia help drive circulation, lymphatic drainage, and chi (energy) throughout the body, by paralyzing key muscles can stagnate lymph flow, contributing to puffiness, dullness, and reduced detoxification in facial tissues. This stagnation may also impact skin glow, immune defense, and the body’s natural energetic balance

The toxic burden:

• Botox is derived from botulinum toxin type A, one of the most potent neurotoxins known. While it’s used in extremely small amounts, holistic practitioners often avoid introducing synthetic neurotoxins into the system, especially for aesthetic rather than medical reasons.

Emotional and expressive flattening:

• Our facial expressions are deeply tied to emotional processing and connection, and chronic Botox use can reduce micro-expressions, subtly muting emotional communication and self-perception. Many people describe feeling “emotionally flat” or less connected after repeated treatments, a result of blocking the physical feedback loop between face and brain (known as the facial feedback hypothesis). I’ve heard this one from a lot of friends and experienced this myself.

Knowledge = Power

For me personally, I don’t want to risk causing a weakening, hollow, or sagging appearance over time. I don’t want to block lymphatic flow in my face or freeze my facial expressions.

My family has a history of cancer, and I have Celiac, so I personally avoid things that will overly contribute to my toxic load and ability to detox. I also spent years struggling with acne, so the last thing I want to do is introduce anything that could disrupt my skin or cause breakouts. Face taping is gentle, non-irritating, and gives me visible results without any of the downsides.

Plus, it’s a fraction of the cost. A roll of face tape costs less than $20 and lasts weeks, versus hundreds (or thousands) for injectables every few months.

What Face Taping Actually Does

Here’s what I’ve noticed from doing this 3-4x a week: reduced fine lines and wrinkles, lifts some of my more sagging skin, smooths my skin texture, and trains facial muscles. The key is consistency. This isn’t a one-time miracle fix—it’s a practice. But the results compound over time. I included before and afters below so you can see for yourself.

How I Face Tape (My Exact Technique)

I do this 3-4x a week, usually at night before bed. Here’s my process:

Step 1: Start with clean skin - I cleanse my face thoroughly.

Step 2: Apply my skincare as usual (I skip any exfoliating acids on face taping days, and do my barrier-restoring, hydrating routine) - I apply my full routine, just skip any oils. My skincare is water-based, so the tape still sticks perfectly. If you use oil-based skincare, you will have to skip over the areas you tape.

Step 3: Cut and apply the tape - I use this tape specifically with these scissors. Here’s where I place it:

(for picture purposes, I only did 1/2 of my face so I could show the before and after at the end)

• Vertical between my eyebrows to smooth 11 lines or horizontal lines

• Over my crow’s feet

• Above my eyebrows

• Along my nasolabial folds (smile lines)

• Sometimes along my jawline for extra lift

For my exact method, I filmed a step-by-step video HERE. This is helpful to watch because the technique for taking the tape off is super important.

Step 4: Sleep in it (or wear it for a few hours) - I leave the tape on overnight. When I wake up, I gently remove it with wet fingers or spray this spray on my skin to remove it easily.

Step 5: Follow up with my full skincare routine - After removing the tape, I cleanse my skin and go in with my full CLEARSTEM routine to lock in hydration and keep my skin bouncy.

For this example, I did one side of my face with face tape and the other with no face tape - look at that difference!! I have really hooded eyes, and when I use the face tape, it creates a massive lift. I do think the eyebrow lift is my favorite, though.

What Tape Should You Use?

Not all face tape is created equal. Look for:

• Medical-grade adhesive (gentle but effective)

• Breathable material (so your skin doesn’t get irritated)

• Hypoallergenic (especially if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin)

My favorite face tape

My Full Anti-Aging + Acne-Safe Routine (Beyond Face Taping)

Face taping is just one piece of the puzzle. Here’s what else I do to keep my skin looking its best:

Skincare:

• Gentle Cleanser

• Stem Cell Serum

• Peptide Serum

• Non pore-clogging moisturizer (with bakuchiol!)

• SPF every single day (non-negotiable)

Treatments:

• Lymphatic facial massages (I do these at home with a gua sha or get them professionally done)

• Microneedling every few months

• NeoGen plasma treatments for skin tightening

Lifestyle:

• Eating clean, anti-inflammatory foods

• Staying hydrated

• A mix of weight training, low-intensity cardio, and mobility work

• Managing stress (huge for skin aging)

Face taping has been an absolute game-changer for me. If you try it, let me know! I’d love to hear how it works for you. What questions do you have about face taping? Drop a comment or DM me, I read everything.

Five years after I shut down my blog and podcast, I’m back with long-form content. And honestly? I feel like an artist returning to their typewriter after a long hiatus, except my hiatus included a divorce, a global pandemic, growing and scaling CLEARSTEM, navigating dating apps in my 30s for the first time, and now being engaged in the most passionate, fulfilling relationship of my life.

So much has changed. I’ve changed. CLEARSTEM has changed. And it feels damn good to be back.

Here’s the thing: only showing up on Instagram and TikTok made me realize I’ve lost a major part of myself, the vulnerable, messy, real conversations. The deeper connection with this community I’ve built. Short-form content is great, but it’s not enough. I need this space. We need this space.

So I’m back to sharing the hard things. The real things. The “how the hell did I figure that out?” things.

I’ve already mapped out topics for the coming weeks, but this isn’t a one-way street. What do you want to know? What should I dive deeper into? I want this to be a conversation, and who knows maybe I’ll re-launch my podcast soon!

I named this newsletter “The Beauty Founder” (I originally was going to name it “Just Figure It Out” because that’s been the theme of my entire life), but I realized it doesn’t really describe who I am, but just so you know, that’s going to be the theme of this. LOL. I had no formal training in entrepreneurship. Everything I’ve built, I figured out. And honestly? I think problem-solving, just diving in and figuring it out, is the most valuable skill you can have.

Plus, it’s just life, right? This is all of our first time doing this. We’re all just figuring it out together.

So here we go. Happy to be here. Let’s get into it.

Weekly Conversation Starter, or as I like to call them, “Table Topics” because they are great to whip out at the dinner table:

Table Topic: What’s one thing you’ve had to ‘just figure out’ lately?

What’s coming in the following weeks:

• Vlogging a week in the life

• Why you should run your life like an athlete

• A few of my favorite things

• Weekly grocery list & how I view food

• How to craft the perfect skincare routine for your skin

• If you are struggling with acne, read this

• What it’s like going through a divorce under 30, no kids

• The Art of Being a Caretaker and how to see your strengths and weaknesses