Gut Check: Unlocking Skin Health with The Gut Cø
January 19 | 5 minute read
Words by Madeleine Boles de Boer
Pernille Jensen knows better than anyone that good skin (and everything else) starts in the gut. A naturopath, herbalist and clinical nutritionist, she was struggling to find supplements that combined quality, sustainable formulations and science-backed dosages for both her and her clients. So, she started making them.
After bulk-buying ingredients and blending them at home, she founded The Gut Cø – a range of powerful supplements backed by proven research and results.
With years in clinics and countless conversations with clients, Jensen has experience addressing a wide range of gut – and general health – concerns. However, she often sees clients who aren’t aware that addressing issues with their gut has wider benefits beyond digestion.
“One of the biggest misconceptions I see is that skin issues are purely a surface problem and can be fixed with topical products alone. While skincare is important, the skin is often reflecting what’s happening internally – particularly in the gut,” she says. Breakouts, inflammation, sensitivity and even accelerated signs of ageing can often be a sign of a compromised digestive system, explains Jensen: “Gut–skin health is a two-way conversation.”
So, how do we get the inside and outside talking to each other again? Jensen says it’s a combination of two factors that create a healthy gut: the microbiome and the lining. Naturally, two of The Gut Cø’s bestselling supplements focus on exactly these factors. FEED was designed to nourish beneficial gut bacteria and support a thriving, diverse microbiome (the community of good bacteria living in your digestive system). This in turn strengthens digestion and immune function, allowing the skin to receive and absorb the nutrients it needs. The flavourless supplement can easily be mixed into water, coffee, tea, smoothies – or anything else.
Then, to support the integrity of the gut lining, Jensen created REPAIR. A strong gut barrier reduces reactivity and inflammation – often reflected in calmer skin with fewer breakouts. The specialised supplement also includes essential vitamins and minerals that help with repair, hydration and that lit-from-within glow. Subtly berry-flavoured, it’s a great addition to water, smoothies, yoghurt and even matcha.
For Jensen, the quality of the ingredients she uses are just as important as the formulations: “The body can only respond to what it can effectively recognise, absorb and utilise,” she explains. Browsing The Gut Cø’s ingredient lists, you might see some familiar names from your favourite skincare products: Kakadu plum for naturally brightening vitamin C, hyaluronic acid for hydration, antioxidant-rich guava leaf for defence against environmental stressors, and collagen to support skin structure all feature. Thoughtfully selected, these ingredients work together to support improvements both inside and out, “addressing skin health at its root, rather than masking symptoms,” says Jensen.
However, nutritional supplements aren’t the only key to a healthy gut; Jensen notes that products like FEED and REPAIR, or multivitamins such as the Multi-Tasker and Sleep, go hand-in-hand with good nutrition and lifestyle habits. “Eating whole, minimally processed foods and slowing down at meals helps reduce digestive stress,” she explains, adding, “Prioritising good-quality sleep and daily stress reduction also supports gut repair by lowering inflammation and supporting the nervous system.”
Topical skincare is also key, and she recommends choosing products that support the skin barrier alongside targeted actives.
In her personal routine, Jensen follows her own advice with a simple but considered regimen: cleansing using Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Cleanser and a brightening, balancing serum like Clinique Smart Clinical Repair Serum or MECCA COSMETICA Replenishing Niacinamide Serum. She’s also a fan of the popular bareMinerals Complexion Rescue Natural Matte Skin-Perfecting Tint Mineral SPF30 for some light daily coverage and finishes the day with a soothing layer of sans [ceuticals] Superdose Sleep Infusion Masque.
And if all this gives you a knot in your stomach, Jensen suggests starting with supporting your gut lining – combining REPAIR with better daily habits. While results won’t happen overnight, consistency is key. She notes that most people start to feel internal improvements (like reduced bloating and improved digestion) within weeks, and visible results like reduced redness and less reactive skin soon after.
It’s a cumulative approach that produces tangible results: “When we address gut health through nutrition, lifestyle changes and targeted supplements, the skin often improves as a natural downstream effect rather than needing to be treated in isolation.”