"I’ve always felt at home in nature; there’s no shortage of inspiration, and my intuition blooms when there aren't city sidewalks under my feet.

Ever since I can remember, finding a deep sense of connection, hope, and grounding happened when I was surrounded by tall pine trees and gentle breezes. So, it was no surprise that any time I felt lost, adrift, or nursing a heavy heart, I’d find my way back to nature. One of those times, in particular, was when I was feeling weary over the state of my highly acne-prone skin.

After years of wins, losses, and the “two steps forward, one step back” merry-go-round that would often leave me back in the same spot with my skin (as is the nature of merry-go-rounds), I retreated to the nearest nature trail. As my dog trotted along beside me, I was trying to find a lifeline to anchor my self-esteem and lead me back to shore.

As I took in my surroundings - the evergreens were moving so slightly in the wind, wildflowers were thriving along the side of the cedar-covered trail, and birds sang sweetly - I pondered how communicative Mother Nature is with us. There are always signs of things to come - first bloom in the spring, leaves changing colour in the fall, the first frost.

All of these signs made me consider whether my skin communicated as nature did, informing me of something other than the results of a genetic lottery. Perhaps my skin was trying to convey to me what was working and what wasn’t. Maybe, just maybe, it was telling me that it needed more support than I was giving it - or more wildly, that it required fewer interventions from me and instead was looking for more space to heal.

This one simple thought sent me down the holistic healing rabbit hole of discovering just how much my skin was aching for a pared-down approach. A balanced, holistic approach that didn’t rely on the next quick fix or the next trendy face wash.

This new approach also healed my relationship with my skin. I no longer saw it as something to fight with, control, or attempt to bend to what I thought it needed to look like. Instead, I got to a place of appreciating my skin for being so communicative about what was and currently is affecting it - both internally and externally, physically and emotionally. I became grateful for all the core functions the largest organ in my body, my skin, performed daily (and often without complaint).

During the discovery phase of this newfound holistic approach, I developed my first skincare products. The products were designed to communicate to my skin that I was now on board - that I now “got it” - and was going to support it naturally, gently, and without judgment.

It’s amazing how much pressure is released when pivoting to an approach that seeks to support rather than force — in fact, getting to know my skin as part of my whole body (not just one piece) becomes a lesson in mindfulness, self-discovery, and self-compassion. As these lessons sunk in and took root, I developed a healthy relationship with my skin. It wasn’t long before my skin responded in kind by showing signs of being deeply nourished, cared for, and calm.

Interestingly, it doesn’t take long for others to take notice of healthy relationships, and the healthy relationship I fostered with my skin was no exception. I started getting requests for the very same products I was nourishing my skin with - and I happily obliged!

It was (and is) exciting to share a peaceful approach to skincare that encourages self-compassion, a connection to nature (through natural ingredients and Mother Nature’s gentle guidance), and a wholehearted invitation to trust your body.

When the requests to handcraft my delicate formulas expanded past the time I had available in my schedule, I redirected my career path and Grounded Sage Skincare (previously known as “Batty’s Bath”) was born."

Grounded Sage Founder,

Jamie Sabot