My name is Katie, and I’m a holistic esthetician based in Fort Worth, Texas. I help women with sensitive, reactive skin find lasting relief through gentle, results-driven treatments that honor the connection between skin, body, and overall wellness.
MY SENSITIVE SKIN JOURNEY
My journey with Apoterra has been more than just finding a skincare line—it’s been about healing, trust, and creating a space where women with sensitive skin finally feel seen.
I know what it’s like to be scared of skincare.
For so long, my skin was too sensitive, too reactive—no one seemed to understand it, and I definitely didn’t trust anyone to touch it. Every product, every facial, every “this shouldn’t make you react” moment left me feeling defeated. Like my skin was a problem no one knew how to solve.
And I hear the same thing from my clients. They sit in my treatment room, hesitant, almost bracing themselves. "Every time I get a facial, I react. No one listens when I tell them how sensitive my skin is. I don’t know what’s safe anymore."
I get it. Because I’ve been there. I’ve spent thousands trying to find something, anything, that wouldn’t set my skin off. Nothing worked. And then my body went through even more—endometriosis, IVF, and then, against all odds, a natural pregnancy. My skin changed completely. Cystic acne, inflammation, sensitivities I had never dealt with before. I felt like I had no control.
That’s when everything shifted.
I stopped looking for quick fixes and started listening to my skin. I stripped my routine down, removed everything unnecessary, and went back to the basics: nourishing my skin instead of overwhelming it. I let go of the idea that skincare had to be complicated, harsh, or aggressive to be effective. And then I found Apoterra—the first brand that didn’t make me react. No burning, no irritation, no uncertainty—just calm, relief, and for the first time in years, my skin felt understood.
...for the first time in years, my skin felt understood
FROM CHALLENGE TO CALLING
I’m transparent about my journey because I know I’m not the only one who has struggled. Sensitive skin can feel so limiting, and it’s exhausting trying to navigate skincare when nothing seems to work. That’s why I built Willow & Sage—so other women wouldn’t have to go through what I did. I wanted to give them a place where they could finally trust that what’s being put on their skin won’t just “not harm” them, but will actually help them heal.
Apoterra is the only skincare I use in my treatment room because it’s the only line I trust fully for myself and my clients. Women who have never been able to enjoy a facial without fear of a reaction now tell me they finally feel at peace with their skincare. They see real, lasting results—not just a temporary fix, but actual healing.
I know there are so many women out there still searching for something they can trust. Apoterra proves that skincare can be simple, gentle, effective, and completely transformative.
Apoterra is the only skincare I use in my treatment room because it’s the only line I trust fully for myself and my clients.
HOW I GUIDE MY CLIENTS TO LASTING REPAIR
When I meet a client facing the same struggles I’ve walked through myself—compromised skin barrier, sensitive skin, constant inflammation—I focus on one thing: nourishment.
Their skin might be red, tight, itchy, flaking, or breaking out. It’s often overstimulated and under-supported. And they’re usually exhausted from trying everything, only to feel more confused and unsure of what’s actually helping. I’ve been there, and I know how defeating it can feel.
That’s why I always start with calming the skin and gently rebuilding the barrier. We go back to the basics, removing anything overwhelming and focusing on simple, supportive care.
Each person’s skin is unique—what it needs depends on their body, their lifestyle, and what their skin has been through. But no matter the starting point, my approach is always the same: slow, intentional, and rooted in nourishment. We focus on calming inflammation, restoring hydration, and bringing the skin barrier back into balance.
My 3 Steps for Sensitive Skin Success
I focus on three essential steps in these moments: gentle cleansing, hydration, and nourishment. These are the foundation of barrier repair. When the skin is reactive, true progress comes from supporting its natural healing process—not overwhelming it further.
1. GENTLE CLEANSING
I start by introducing a gentle cleanser that removes buildup without disrupting the skin’s natural oils. Most people don’t realize their cleanser could be doing some of the most damage to their skin. The Vetiver Illuminating Oil Cleanser and Chamomile & Tansy Cream Cleanser are two I trust completely. Both deeply cleanse while supporting the skin’s natural moisture barrier, leaving it soft, balanced, and calm.
2. HYDRATION
Then, we focus on hydration. For many, this step has either been skipped entirely or replaced with harsh actives that leave the skin inflamed. Apoterra’s Rose Nourishing Mist and Neroli Clarifying Mist help soothe inflammation while infusing the skin with water-based hydration—an essential when the barrier is compromised. This step ensures the skin is able to fully absorb and benefit from the nutrients that follow.
3. NOURISHMENT
When the skin needs extra support—whether it’s inflamed, depleted, dry, or just overwhelmed—I always turn to the Vitamin C Regenerative Balm. It’s rich in antioxidants, deeply hydrating, and full of ingredients that nourish and repair. With skin-loving botanicals like rosehip, sea buckthorn, and cupuaçu butter, it helps soften rough texture, ease inflammation, and brighten dull, depleted skin without overwhelming it.
I often remind my clients: if we don’t simplify, the skin can’t heal. Barrier repair isn’t about piling on more products—it’s about removing what’s standing in the way and giving the skin space to recover.
Barrier repair isn’t about piling on more products—it’s about removing what’s standing in the way and giving the skin space to recover.
WHERE TO START WHEN EVERYTHING FEELS LIKE TOO MUCH
If your skin feels like it’s in survival mode—flaring up, breaking down, or barely hanging on—you’re not alone. I’ve been exactly where you are, and I know how hard it is to know what to do next when it seems like everything is a trigger.
Here’s what I recommend if you’re starting fresh:
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Simplify. Put all your products aside for a few days. Start with just a gentle cleanser, a hydrating mist, and a nourishing balm. Sometimes by simplifying your skincare routine, you create the space your skin needs to repair itself.
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Prioritize nourishment. Look for ingredients that support the skin barrier: plant oils, antioxidants, gentle humectants. Avoid anything that feels harsh, stripping, or overly active—especially if your skin is already inflamed.
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Look inwards. Your skin reflects what’s happening internally. Sleep, stress, hormones, and digestion all play a role. I always encourage clients to start building small, sustainable habits that reduce inflammation and support the body’s detox and repair processes.
Sometimes healing starts when we stop trying to fix and start allowing space for rest, repair, and a return to balance. Trust the process—even when it feels slow or frustrating. Healing isn’t linear, but that doesn’t mean it’s not working. Gentle care, inside and out. That’s always where we begin.
Sometimes healing starts when we stop trying to fix and start allowing space for rest, repair, and a return to balance.
CLOSING THOUGHTS
My journey with sensitive skin has changed the way I see the body—as one interconnected system.
It’s made me more in tune with myself and taught me to see the skin not just as something to fix, but as a reflection of what’s happening internally. The skin is our largest organ, and it’s constantly communicating with us. Learning to listen to those messages with curiosity instead of frustration has shifted everything for me.
Because of that shift, I now get to help other women feel seen, supported, and safe in their own skin. It’s not just about calming what's on the outside. It’s about honoring the body as a whole and creating space for deeper healing.
My journey with sensitive skin has changed the way I see the body—as one interconnected system.
If you’re navigating sensitive skin, I want you to know it’s not a flaw—it’s an invitation.
A chance to slow down, tune in, and begin supporting your body in a more loving, aligned way. Helping clients rebuild trust with their skin has been one of the most meaningful parts of my work. I get to watch their relationship with their skin begin to shift—where fear turns into understanding, and overwhelm softens into clarity. And from that place of safety, true healing begins, often in ways that reach far beyond the skin.
If you’re frustrated or discouraged with your sensitive skin right now, I hope you know this: there’s nothing wrong with you. Your skin is simply asking for a slower, softer approach. And when you begin to care for it with intention and compassion, everything starts to shift—not just on the surface, but radiating outwards from deep within.
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