Dr. Jen Newell, ND

Dr. Jen Newell, ND Dr. Newell is a Naturopathic Doctor and Healthy Skin Expert. She offers modern diagnostic tools as well as natural treatments to skin concerns like acne.

I believe that health and happiness are tightly intertwined. As a board-certified Naturopathic Doctor, I strive to help my patients optimize both so they can fully live their best life. I have extensive experience in skin, hormone, and digestive health; I understands how the health of these systems is often integrated and the impact these issues can have on quality of life. I am passionate about helping people look and feel their best by combining knowledge and expertise to develop customized and comprehensive plans for glowing health.

Although many query the benefits of drinking plenty of water with regard to the skin, research published in 2015 suggest...
09/18/2026

Although many query the benefits of drinking plenty of water with regard to the skin, research published in 2015 suggests that increased water intake in those who do not drink enough improved deep and surface level skin hydration, and reduced the likelihood of TEWL (transepidermal water loss).

However, these benefits are only pertinent if our skin can hold onto that increased hydration.
"What do you mean my skin might not be holding on to that hydration?", you ask.

Unless your skin is perfectly healthy, it's possible you're losing moisture minute by minute. Your skin's stratum corneum, it's uppermost layer made up of lipid-locked dead skin cells, is actually compromised quite easily.

Think of it as a water balloon that serves the purpose of keeping water inside. Now, what happens if there's a hole in the water balloon? That delicious H20 is going to seep out everywhere.

If we're not nourishing our body properly, our skin will struggle to form its barrier, to create skin cells with healthy cellular membrane (the water balloons within the water balloon) and to be generally healthy.

So how do we maintain a health barrier? One of the most important parts of your skin's barrier is lipids - high quality fats. So you want to incorporate essential fatty acids like EPA, DHA and GLA into your diet either by eating more fish, nuts and seeds or by incorporating a high quality supplement into your routine.

GLA is found in the plant seed oils of evening primrose, black currant and borage making it difficult to get in your daily diet so I recommend incorporating a high quality supplement that includes EPA, DHA and GLA into your routine to ensure adequate consumption of essential fatty acids.

Although many query the benefits of drinking plenty of water with regard to the skin, research published in 2015 suggest...
09/18/2026

Although many query the benefits of drinking plenty of water with regard to the skin, research published in 2015 suggests that increased water intake in those who do not drink enough improved deep and surface level skin hydration, and reduced the likelihood of TEWL (transepidermal water loss).⁣
⁣
However, these benefits are only pertinent if our skin can hold onto that increased hydration. ⁣
“What do you mean my skin might not be holding on to that hydration?”, you ask. ⁣
⁣
Unless your skin is perfectly healthy, it’s possible you’re losing moisture minute by minute. Your skin’s stratum corneum, it’s uppermost layer made up of lipid-locked dead skin cells, is actually compromised quite easily.⁣
⁣
Think of it as a water balloon that serves the purpose of keeping water inside. Now, what happens if there’s a hole in the water balloon? That delicious H20 is going to seep out everywhere. ⁣
⁣
If we’re not nourishing our body properly, our skin will struggle to form its barrier, to create skin cells with healthy cellular membrane (the water balloons within the water balloon) and to be generally healthy.⁣
⁣
So how do we maintain a health barrier?
One of the most important parts of your skin’s barrier is lipids - high quality fats. So you want to incorporate essential fatty acids like EPA, DHA and GLA into your diet either by eating more fish, nuts and seeds or by incorporating a high quality supplement into your routine.⁣
⁣
GLA is found in the plant seed oils of evening primrose, black currant and borage making it difficult to get in your daily diet so I recommend incorporating a high quality supplement that includes EPA, DHA and GLA into your routine to ensure adequate consumption of essential fatty acids.

In the world of beauty supplements, biotin is treated as the magic fix - like the beauty equivalent of restarting your p...
09/17/2026

In the world of beauty supplements, biotin is treated as the magic fix - like the beauty equivalent of restarting your phone. ⁣
⁣
Hair feeling thin? Take biotin! ⁣
Brittle nails? Try biotin! ⁣
Skin looking blah? B-I-O-T-I-N. ⁣
⁣
You hear about it so often that you probably don’t even think to question it.⁣
⁣
When your body is deficient in biotin it can lead to hair thinning and brittle nails (among many other things), but since it’s found in a lot of foods, like meat, eggs, fish, nuts, and some dairy products, you probably get an adequate amount in your diet. In other words, the likelihood that you would be biotin deficient is pretty low.⁣
⁣
All right, let’s cut to it: The simple truth is that there’s not enough scientific proof that biotin is the key to growing your hair.⁣
⁣
Biotin is a water soluble B vitamin - which means that any excess amount of it in your system gets flushed out through your urine.⁣
⁣
Taking extra biotin supplements does not lead to extra nutrient-based hair growth.⁣
⁣
Potential adverse effects of taking biotin:⁣
Biotin can alter the accuracy of certain lab tests, like thyroid studies (something they also examine as a clue for hair loss) and troponin (which is used to monitor a potential cardiac event), which means taking biotin unnecessarily could mask a serious health condition.⁣
⁣
Not only that, but biotin has also been said to contribute to acne. Excess biotin prevents adequate absorption of vitamin B5, which can lead to skin barrier disruption.

In the world of beauty supplements, biotin is treated as the magic fix - like the beauty equivalent of restarting your p...
09/16/2026

In the world of beauty supplements, biotin is treated as the magic fix - like the beauty equivalent of restarting your phone.

Hair feeling thin? Take biotin!
Brittle nails? Try biotin!
Skin looking blah? B-I-O-T-I-N.

You hear about it so often that you probably don't even think to question it.

When your body is deficient in biotin it can lead to hair thinning and brittle nails (among many other things), but since it's found in a lot of foods, like meat, eggs, fish, nuts, and some dairy products, you probably get an adequate amount in your diet. In other words, the likelihood that you would be biotin deficient is pretty low.

All right, let's cut to it: The simple truth is that there's not enough scientific proof that biotin is the key to growing your hair.

Biotin is a water soluble B vitamin - which means that any excess amount of it in your system gets flushed out through your urine.

Taking extra biotin supplements does not lead to extra nutrient-based hair growth.

Potential adverse effects of taking biotin:
Biotin can alter the accuracy of certain lab tests, like thyroid studies (something they also examine as a clue for hair loss) and troponin (which is used to monitor a potential cardiac event), which means taking biotin unnecessarily could mask a serious health condition.

Not only that, but biotin has also been said to contribute to acne. Excess biotin prevents adequate absorption of vitamin B5, which can lead to skin barrier disruption.

Yesterday I logged into a virtual conference and watched a Naturopath, someone whose opinion I genuinely respect, tell a...
09/14/2026

Yesterday I logged into a virtual conference and watched a Naturopath, someone whose opinion I genuinely respect, tell a Zoom full of attendees that a new rosehip oil "fades hyperpigmentation" and is "rich in vitamin C."

Neither claim is true.

Rosehip oil is lovely stuff. It hydrates, it softens, it supports your skin barrier. But the vitamin C lives in the skin and pulp of the whole rosehip, not in the seed oil that gets pressed and bottled. And "fading hyperpigmentation" is a job for a properly dosed antioxidant serum, not a facial oil with trace actives.

I'm not naming names. I'm not trying to start a fight with a sponsored talk. But I've swiped through enough skincare shelves stocked on this exact myth, and I think you deserve the real story before you spend your money.

Swipe through for the breakdown ➡️

Save this for your next skincare shop, and send it to the friend who swears their oil is "basically a serum."

Yesterday I logged into a virtual conference and watched a Naturopath, someone whose opinion I genuinely respect, tell a...
09/14/2026

Yesterday I logged into a virtual conference and watched a Naturopath, someone whose opinion I genuinely respect, tell a Zoom full of attendees that a new rosehip oil “fades hyperpigmentation” and is “rich in vitamin C.”⁣
⁣
Neither claim is true.⁣
⁣
Rosehip oil is lovely stuff. It hydrates, it softens, it supports your skin barrier. But the vitamin C lives in the skin and pulp of the whole rosehip, not in the seed oil that gets pressed and bottled. And “fading hyperpigmentation” is a job for a properly dosed antioxidant serum, not a facial oil with trace actives.⁣
⁣
I’m not naming names. I’m not trying to start a fight with a sponsored talk. But I’ve swiped through enough skincare shelves stocked on this exact myth, and I think you deserve the real story before you spend your money.⁣
⁣
Swipe through for the breakdown ➡️⁣
⁣
Save this for your next skincare shop, and send it to the friend who swears their oil is “basically a serum.”

If you’re in perimenopause and feel like your skin is fighting you on every front at once, acne one week, hyperpigmentat...
09/11/2026

If you’re in perimenopause and feel like your skin is fighting you on every front at once, acne one week, hyperpigmentation the next, fine lines that seem to appear overnight, you’re not imagining it. Your skin is dealing with multiple hormonal shifts simultaneously.

This is exactly why Aerolase Neo Elite has become one of my favourite in-clinic treatments for this stage of life.

Most devices are built to do one thing well. Aerolase is different.

Here’s why it works so well for perimenopausal skin specifically:
For acne: it targets the bacteria and inflammation driving breakouts, without the harsh downtime of older laser technology. Gentle enough for reactive, hormonally-driven skin.

For age spots and hyperpigmentation: it breaks down excess pigment built up from years of sun exposure and hormonal changes, gradually fading spots that topical products alone often can’t touch.

For fine lines and wrinkles: it stimulates collagen production at a deeper level, supporting the skin’s structure as natural collagen decline accelerates during perimenopause.

All of this, in one treatment, with virtually no downtime.

Here’s what I love most as a Naturopathic Doctor: this isn’t a replacement for addressing what’s happening internally. It’s a complement to it.

Your hormones, gut health and inflammation levels are still the foundation. Aerolase is the tool that helps your skin’s surface catch up to the healing happening underneath.
That combination, internal root-cause care alongside targeted aesthetic treatment, is what creates real, visible transformation. Not just calmer skin. Renewed skin.

What patients typically notice:
→ Clearer, calmer skin with fewer active breakouts.
→ Softer, more even-looking pigmentation over a series of sessions.
→ Smoother texture and a visible improvement in fine lines.
→ Minimal to no downtime, so it fits into a real life.

Results vary based on individual skin history and hormonal status, and a personalized treatment plan makes all the difference.

If your skin has felt like it’s dealing with everything at once and you want a treatment that actually meets it there, this might be exactly what you’ve been looking for.

If you're in perimenopause and feel like your skin is fighting you on every front at once, acne one week, hyperpigmentat...
09/11/2026

If you're in perimenopause and feel like your skin is fighting you on every front at once, acne one week, hyperpigmentation the next, fine lines that seem to appear overnight, you're not imagining it. Your skin is dealing with multiple hormonal shifts simultaneously.

This is exactly why Aerolase Neo Elite has become one of my favourite in-clinic treatments for this stage of life.

Most devices are built to do one thing well. Aerolase is different.

Here's why it works so well for perimenopausal skin specifically:
For acne: it targets the bacteria and inflammation driving breakouts, without the harsh downtime of older laser technology. Gentle enough for reactive, hormonally-driven skin.

For age spots and hyperpigmentation: it breaks down excess pigment built up from years of sun exposure and hormonal changes, gradually fading spots that topical products alone often can't touch.

For fine lines and wrinkles: it stimulates collagen production at a deeper level, supporting the skin's structure as natural collagen decline accelerates during perimenopause.

All of this, in one treatment, with virtually no downtime.

Here's what I love most as a Naturopathic Doctor: this isn't a replacement for addressing what's happening internally. It's a complement to it.

Your hormones, gut health and inflammation levels are still the foundation. Aerolase is the tool that helps your skin's surface catch up to the healing happening underneath.
That combination, internal root-cause care alongside targeted aesthetic treatment, is what creates real, visible transformation. Not just calmer skin. Renewed skin.

What patients typically notice:
→ Clearer, calmer skin with fewer active breakouts.
→ Softer, more even-looking pigmentation over a series of sessions.
→ Smoother texture and a visible improvement in fine lines.
→ Minimal to no downtime, so it fits into a real life.

Results vary based on individual skin history and hormonal status, and a personalized treatment plan makes all the difference.

If your skin has felt like it's dealing with everything at once and you want a treatment that actually meets it there, this might be exactly what you've been looking for.

Nobody warned you about this part.You did everything “right” in your twenties and thirties. Then perimenopause hit, and ...
09/10/2026

Nobody warned you about this part.

You did everything “right” in your twenties and thirties. Then perimenopause hit, and suddenly you’re breaking out like a teenager, except now it comes with dry patches, dullness and skin that doesn’t bounce back the way it used to.

You’re not imagining it. You’re not alone.

Here’s what’s actually happening.
Your hormones are shifting. Estrogen is declining. Androgens, relatively speaking, are having a louder say. Your skin, always the body’s most honest messenger, is caught in the middle.
This isn’t “just adult acne.” It’s a hormonal conversation your body is trying to have with you.

Here’s where I imagine you might be stuck.

“I’ve tried everything already.”
Most products treat the surface. None of them touch the hormonal shift driving the breakout in the first place. That’s not your fault. That’s a mismatched solution.

“I don’t have time for another complicated routine.”
This isn’t about adding twelve steps. It’s about identifying the two or three things actually driving your symptoms, so you can stop guessing.

“Is it too late to fix my skin at this stage?”
No. Skin at every age responds to the right inputs. Hormones can be supported. Inflammation can be calmed. Barrier function can be rebuilt.

Here’s what changes when you address this through Naturopathic Medicine:
Inside, we look at hormone balance, blood sugar regulation and gut health, the internal drivers that show up on your face months later.
Outside, we support your skin barrier and calm inflammation, so healing isn’t fighting irritation the whole way.

The result isn’t a quick-fix flare-down. It’s skin that actually stabilizes, because we’ve addressed why it was reacting in the first place.

Perimenopause isn’t a phase you simply “push through.” The sooner your hormones are supported, the sooner your skin (and your energy, sleep and mood too) starts to follow.

Waiting rarely makes this easier. It usually just means more months of guessing.

If your skin has been trying to tell you something for the last year and you’re ready to listen, let’s talk.
Book a complimentary discovery consult with me and let’s find out what’s really going on beneath the surface.

Nobody warned you about this part.You did everything "right" in your twenties and thirties. Then perimenopause hit, and ...
09/09/2026

Nobody warned you about this part.

You did everything "right" in your twenties and thirties. Then perimenopause hit, and suddenly you're breaking out like a teenager, except now it comes with dry patches, dullness and skin that doesn't bounce back the way it used to.

You're not imagining it. You're not alone.

Here's what's actually happening.
Your hormones are shifting. Estrogen is declining. Androgens, relatively speaking, are having a louder say. Your skin, always the body's most honest messenger, is caught in the middle.
This isn't "just adult acne." It's a hormonal conversation your body is trying to have with you.

Here's where I imagine you might be stuck.

"I've tried everything already."
Most products treat the surface. None of them touch the hormonal shift driving the breakout in the first place. That's not your fault. That's a mismatched solution.

"I don't have time for another complicated routine."
This isn't about adding twelve steps. It's about identifying the two or three things actually driving your symptoms, so you can stop guessing.

"Is it too late to fix my skin at this stage?"
No. Skin at every age responds to the right inputs. Hormones can be supported. Inflammation can be calmed. Barrier function can be rebuilt.

Here's what changes when you address this through Naturopathic Medicine:
Inside, we look at hormone balance, blood sugar regulation and gut health, the internal drivers that show up on your face months later.
Outside, we support your skin barrier and calm inflammation, so healing isn't fighting irritation the whole way.

The result isn't a quick-fix flare-down. It's skin that actually stabilizes, because we've addressed why it was reacting in the first place.

Perimenopause isn't a phase you simply "push through." The sooner your hormones are supported, the sooner your skin (and your energy, sleep and mood too) starts to follow.

Waiting rarely makes this easier. It usually just means more months of guessing.

If your skin has been trying to tell you something for the last year and you're ready to listen, let's talk.
Book a complimentary discovery consult with me and let's find out what's really going on beneath the surface.

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331 Queen Street E
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M5A2P7

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Thursday 8am - 8pm
Friday 3pm - 8pm
Saturday 9am - 3pm

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