Frances Phillips knows skin from both sides of the consultation room. As a Registered Nutritional Therapist, she helps clients tackle the root causes of stubborn skin conditions through targeted nutrition and lifestyle changes. As someone who battled chronic eczema and cystic acne during her modelling career, she understands exactly how devastating problem skin can be.
Frances shared her insights on sugar, stress, and why your diet shows up on your skin whether you like it or not.
Why your breakfast shows up on your face by lunchtime
"Basically, you can't hide from a bad diet when it comes to skin," Frances tells us. "Sugar negatively impacts the quality of the collagen in your skin. The wrong food choices can lead to hormonal imbalance, which is the primary driver of adult acne. Plus pro-inflammatory foods can exacerbate conditions like acne, eczema and psoriasis."
But it's not just about cutting out inflammatory foods. Frances is equally passionate about the positive impact of good nutrition. "Foods containing vitamin C play a key role in collagen formation and synthesis. Omega-3 fatty acids are anti-inflammatory and assist in skin healing. And antioxidants protect our skin from the damaging free radicals in our environment."
From model with problem skin to nutritional therapist
Frances's journey into nutritional therapy started with her own skin struggles. "I used to suffer with chronic eczema and cystic acne. It was definitely a really challenging time for me as I was also modelling. It massively affected every area of my life: work, sleep, mental health, relationships, social life."
The experience shaped her entire career path. "Coming out the other end of that, I appreciate every compliment I get about my skin now. But more importantly, I understand what my clients are going through. I've been there."
The advice Frances gives every client
After years of working with clients on their skin health, Frances has one standout piece of advice: "Stress less! Stress negatively impacts our health in many ways, including the health of our skin."
Simple to say, harder to do. That's why she focuses on practical, achievable changes rather than overwhelming transformations.
Frances's Pai favourites for sensitive skin
"I love the masks. My skin always feels amazing after using them. I've also been using the Gentle Genius Body Cream for years. It's brilliant for eczema-prone skin like mine."
When it comes to her non-negotiable skincare step? "All of them! But if I had to choose just one then cleansing because I can never leave makeup on my skin."
Living with sensitive skin: Frances's reality
"I've suffered with eczema on and off all my life, so I'm used to only being able to use a very small proportion of the body care products available," Frances explains. "When I travel, I take all my regular products with me because nine times out of ten the products in a hotel won't be suitable."
She's quick to point out that sensitive skin management is ongoing. "I'd say I'm quite lucky now as my skin is mostly normal all the time. I do have to keep on top of my stress levels and nutrition choices though to prevent eczema flare-ups."
Frances's three non-negotiable nutrition rules
We asked Frances for her top tips for anyone wanting to improve their skin through nutrition:
- "Try to include as much variety in your diet as possible to ensure you're getting a wide range of vitamins and minerals and won't get bored."
- "Make sure you're eating good fats such as avocados, nuts and seeds and oily fish."
- "Don't think you have to take an 'all or nothing' approach. Healthy eating is a lifestyle and not a diet."
Her favourite nutrition mantra captures this perfectly: "Everything in moderation, including moderation! I believe there isn't any harm in indulging if you're taking care of yourself most of the time."
Where diet meets skincare
Frances's approach mirrors our philosophy at Pai. Just as she focuses on root causes rather than masking symptoms, we formulate with ingredients that work with your skin's natural processes. Our skin-identical ingredients support barrier function. Our cold-pressed oils deliver omega fatty acids in their most bioavailable form.
Because whether you're addressing skin health from the inside or outside, the principle is the same: give your skin what it actually needs to function at its best.
For more from Frances, visit www.thenaturaledit.com and follow @franvphillips.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does diet affect skin conditions like acne and eczema?
According to Registered Nutritional Therapist Frances Phillips, sugar damages collagen quality, poor food choices can trigger hormonal imbalances (the primary driver of adult acne), and pro-inflammatory foods can worsen acne, eczema, and psoriasis. On the flip side, vitamin C supports collagen formation, omega-3 fatty acids reduce inflammation and aid skin healing, and antioxidants protect against environmental free radical damage.
What are the best foods to eat for healthier skin?
Frances recommends eating as wide a variety of foods as possible to cover your vitamin and mineral bases, and making sure you include good fats like avocados, nuts, seeds, and oily fish. She also stresses that healthy eating is a lifestyle, not a restrictive diet. Her mantra is "everything in moderation, including moderation."
Can stress really cause skin problems?
Yes. Frances says stress is her number one concern for clients because it negatively impacts health in many ways, including skin health. She manages her own eczema-prone skin partly by keeping stress levels in check, noting that slipping on stress management can trigger flare-ups.
What Pai products does Frances Phillips recommend for eczema-prone skin?
Frances highlights the Gentle Genius Body Cream as a long-time favourite, calling it "brilliant for eczema-prone skin." She also loves Pai's masks for the immediate improvement they give her skin, and considers cleansing her non-negotiable skincare step.
Do you need to completely overhaul your diet to see skin improvements?
Not at all. Frances specifically advises against an "all or nothing" approach, encouraging small, sustainable changes instead. The goal is a varied, balanced lifestyle that includes good fats and nutrient-rich foods, not perfection. Occasional indulgence is absolutely fine if you're taking care of yourself most of the time.
