Natalie: The art of effective expression and communication, how to master it while enhancing your relationship.

Natalie: Hi everyone. Welcome back to the podcast. I am thrilled that you've joined us for today's episode. Sorry, I sound a little bit nasally, but I've had a cold the last couple of days, so I am just going to power through. Okay. Today we're going to dive deep into the power of effective communication. We

My experience as a communication specialist primarily comes from my 27 year career as a reporter and TV anchor, but my other roles, which include mom and high school teacher required this skill as well. So today, let's go into how to be a. Better communicator. If you're wanting more tips and tricks for navigating your busy life, be sure to join me on my website, natalytisdal.

com, where you wilNatalie: One of my all time favorite guests, Katie. I'm so glad to have you back on the podcast. And by the way, this is after many years of interviewing Katie on the news and just loving her passion and her expertise in not just beauty, but in science and what's behind all the products we use. Hi, Katie.

Catie: Hi, thanks for having me back.

I am so excited to reconnect and just, talk shop with

Natalie: you. Yeah. So let's talk clean beauty for those who, and I will encourage you, I'll put the link for our last episode was over a year, maybe two years ago. What's new? What are you working on? What are you, you're always up to something in the clean beauty world.

Catie: there's so much innovation. It's really an exciting time in the beauty industry. And, you know, since we last spoke, I went out on my own, started a fun women dominated business where we work with indie brands and really good product lines that want to get it right from the beginning and put out quality products for consumers.

And so we do everything behind the scenes from product innovation to website management and marketing. But, you know, on the clean beauty front, technology is playing such a role in today's clean beauty landscape.

Natalie: How so? How does technology play into our clean beauty

Catie: routine?

So I was recently at one of the biggest, industry events and it's Cosmoprof North America.

It's in Las Vegas every year in July. so hot. but they had and skin care devices and along with apps to track how long you're cleansing moisture balance levels. interesting to see techno the beauty industry in co

Natalie: Do you think that's a good thing? I mean, is this knowing how long you're washing your face, the moisture level, those things, those are important to know, or do we overanalyze those types of things?

Catie: I'll use the toothbrush analogy with the children, right? Because the timer on the toothbrush to get them to wash long enough.

Amazing. And so I think for even adults, we usually don't wash our face the full 90 seconds, you know, your wash, you go through your zones, you rinse it off and maybe it's been 30 seconds. So I do think that just helps you be more mindful and gauge, you know, okay, yeah, I am really washing my face and removing the dirt and debris.

so I think information can be powerful, but. It's also knowing what kind of information you really want to

Natalie: get from an app. Yeah. I think that's, that's fascinating. Okay. Let's get into the clean part of beauty and why that's important. You know, we, we buy products all the time. I would say, and I know you will have the statistics more so than me.

Most people aren't looking at the ingredients in what they're putting on their skin. Why is that so important?

Catie: It is important because especially with products we're using every day, you can start to have a buildup within your skin cells and within your system. And so I think making those healthy choices when you can.

It adds up incrementally over time. It also if you're using, you know, ingredients that can be harsh or toxic over time to can have an impact on you in a negative sense. So looking at the bottles, looking for the ingredients that you really understand is important. And not every ingredient that's listed scientifically is Bad.

you know, there are certain preservatives that are going to be in products. There are going to be certain surfactants in products, but you don't wanna see a whole list of ingredients that you have no idea what they are.

Natalie: So give me some examples. Why, why does it really matter? What are. Bad things and what bad things can happen if we're using them over time.

Catie: So one of the most common is parabens and parabens are used as a preservative for a lot of different things. But I think in today's green clean beauty innovation, there's other alternatives, honeysuckle, there's propane diol, there's ingredients that aren't going to be based from a paraben in parabens.

there's. Various research out there, but the thoughts behind parabens are that they can lead into your endocrine system and, you know, build up and lead to things, different types of cancers, different cell disruptors, and so parabens can be very caustic on the skin. So if there's. other alternatives.

Why even bother with one that you don't need? So parabens, and it's just looking for that in the ingredients is one really quick way to make a healthier choice.

Natalie: So when it comes to, products that are going to be effective, I think that's probably where a lot of people are like, I'll pay the price. If it means.

Look good. Mm-hmm. , are there effective products that will help with the things we worry about most? splotchy, skin wrinkles, acne, those, you know, more common skin problems?

Catie: Yes, absolutely. I think it is about consistency in skincare. Nothing happens overnight. And if it does then you know it's probably an injectable

So if you wanna go the more holistic clean route, then finding a vitamin C product in the morning to utilize is critical because we don't produce vitamin C as humans. So using it topically, helps to produce, you know, collagen. It helps to target discoloration, even out the skin tone. So it's really my multitasker.

I love to use during the day and it's for every skin type. It's never too late to start using vitamin C. It's also never too early. I have a 13 year old son dealing with breakouts and vitamin C is definitely in his routine to help with that post acne scarring. So vitamin C and then at night, especially for those of us who are more, inclined to look at age corrective, products or age preventative trued.

Ingredients in skincare and there's various forms of retinoids, everything from your prescription retin a from your dermatologist down to topical retinoids that you can find in over the counter products too.

Natalie: Are there some products that we know if we're shopping at a certain place or a certain line that we can count on?

Because I think as a, as a busy mom working, like I just, I want to grab and go and I just don't want to have

Catie: to think about it. Yes. You know, here loca have such an amazing mark there's quality products your local whole foods, y natural grocers, which is

lines they bring in, whe or skin care. So when you I always feel as a consum shopping there because bu in did their homework, wh And so, you know, sho There are also online stores that you can look for, like Ulta has their conscious beauty program and they're clean, where you can look for their clean logo and shop their conscious products, which are sustainable, cruelty free, vegan, and offer you cleaner options, but still in that mass store setting.

Natalie: Yeah. Okay. So let's go through a routine. Can we? because I get busy and I forget when you just said, did you say 90 seconds or 30 for washing your face? What did you say? I

Catie: don't even know. Yeah. 90 seconds.

Natalie: I'm sure I don't do that, Katie. And now I'm going to, now you're going to have me doing it, which is good because we have to, right, we have to be aware first, but let's go through a routine.

Can we, for just, just good, basic. Skincare for us as moms our age, but also, I've got a teenage boy too, and he doesn't wanna have to think about this stuff. It's enough to get him to brush his teeth at night.

Catie: Yeah. Right. So you have to make it accessible for them, but then really make sure and spell it out.

And for us, it, it really is. I try to look at it more as, my self care time to really wake up and do the next day's Katie a favor. So she wakes up a little bit brighter and happier. but for your routine, you're going to in the morning really focus on cleansing. Serum, vitamin C go to, and a really good moisturizer.

Those are your three essentials. So you know, if you're a simple, you know, on the go, you don't want to do too much in the morning. That's a really good step. I can handle

Natalie: that. That's good. And the moisturizer, I'm assuming with sunscreen or on top of the

Catie: moisturizer. So I prefer to use a mineral based sun protectant after my moisturizer.

And if you think about a moisturizer, you want it to penetrate down into your skin to give you all that hydration. And if you are using a, sunblock mixed in with it, you really don't get the best of either. So I prefer that additional layer of SPF after my moisturizer so my dry Colorado skin can tolerate the day a little bit better.

So I actually look For my SPF and my cosmetics, if I'm wearing makeup in the day, or even just a light BB cream, if I'm not going to have makeup on, but still want that tinted coverage, and lighter effect. Yeah.

Natalie: And, um, I I use an example, you know, here in Colorado, we're, we're close to the sun, so we have to, we have to think about wearing it every day.

But I was telling someone, recently, like, do you wear sunscreen every day? I'm like, no, I'm really not out in that. in the sun that often. And I shared the story of, I started to get little sunspots on my, let's see, my left side of my face and arm only to realize that's my driving window. I mean, like we think we're not in the sun, but to see that and go, Whoa, just that little bit.

I'm not, you know, I'm in the car for maybe. Half an hour a day, 15 minutes to work, maybe a little bit more, but we're getting that no matter what, if we're not putting the sunscreen on those parts that are anything that could be exposed.

Catie: Yeah, absolutely. I'm up in a second floor. I've got the window right here.

Absolutely I'm covered in sunblock. I might not step foot outside today, but I'm still getting that exposure. So I think, you know, preventative. care. SPF is your number one product you can be using year round every day for the overall health of your skin, not just the anti aging benefits.

Natalie: I know you're a science nerd.

I think that's what I love when we talk is I know you'll tell me like the ins and outs of of all the products and what it means, but we need vitamin D. And the sun gives us vitamin D. Are we still getting that? If we're using a mineral based or a strong SPF based product, are we getting the benefits from the sun?

Catie: You need about 10 minutes at most of exposure for vitamin D from the sun. And there are vitamin D supplements, which I think are really great. If you have vitamin D deficiency. I think a supplement is a lot safer than UV, you know, aging rays or the burning rays, which can cause cancer. So with melanoma on the rise in today's society, I think, you know, if you want that 10 minutes of sunshine.

Go for it, but 10 minutes at most and really a small area of skin is absorbing what your body is needing. so a supplement would be the route. I'm going to get my vitamin D. Yeah.

Natalie: Okay. Other things we need to be taking into consideration or some of your favorite new things on the market in terms of clean beauty.

Give us some tips.

Catie: So, I am loving a couple of skincare lines. I've recently been introduced to, and one of them is called organic mail. It's O M for men. com and men's skin care has. Seeing a rise as far as beauty trends go, and I think, you know, your millennials, your younger demographics are caring for their skin in such a different way than my dad would have, or even my brothers.

and so we are seeing the beauty industry, which has always been thought of as very female dominant. Really start catering to a male demographic. And this particular brand is based out of Colorado and their founder, his name is Mike, has just done a great job of creating this high end spa quality product that is organic and clean, and also delivers results for the needs of men's skincare.

Their skin is thicker texture. You've got follicles, hair follicles. They age a little bit differently than us. And so he's created an entire. line that really meets the needs of men's skin. Unlike anything I've seen in the market,

Natalie: should men follow the same type of routine that you just mentioned? The 90 seconds of washing vitamin C, like would it be the same

Catie: routine?

It is the same routine, you know, If you've got a skin specific issue, let's say with min, testosterone breakouts tend to be a concern, if you're a shaver shave rash. So they have a great product that is an all-in-one shave mask cream. So you use this product and it helps to smooth the follicles, gives you a better shave experience, and really treats the skin.

And there's nothing out there that. Is this dual functioning product quite like that? So I think for men, their routine might be slightly different depending on if they shave every day. but their line caters and in a four step system where you wash, you tone, you serum and you moisturize. And the toning part for men is so important because their pores tend to be a little larger.

They tend to be a little more. oily. And so that pH balancing toner is going to help just bring their skin into a better condition throughout the day.

Natalie: But can like say, okay, so say you have a boyfriend or a husband, can they use the same products that we're using if they're lazy and they don't want their own kid?

Could we say, yep, use my vitamin C. Here's my moisturizer. And obviously it's still going to do some good.

It's

Catie: going to do some good for them. It will be better than the bar of soap. They're likely using. So, you know, even if I can just get men on a cleanser, that is not a bar of soap and a moisturizer, those two, you know, can be a huge difference with the very basic sperm and skin.

Natalie: Can we talk about acne? So, you know, let's, let's talk about it through the ages, teenagers, obviously you've got hormones going on, but for through teenagers and then even for middle age, like why, why are some middle age? And I'll include myself. Why are we still getting this? We were supposed to have paid those dues when we were younger.

Catie: Oh, it is the gift that keeps giving. Unfortunately, as we age, and so starting at the younger years, I think creating those healthy skincare practices, we, we think of the teeth for kids, but we really don't think of the skincare, right? We think of bath time. But I think it is important to have a nightly routine of brushing your teeth.

Washing your face, moisturizing. And then in the morning, same thing. Did you brush your teeth? Did you wash your face? Did you put on your sunscreen? Great. They can go out into the world. But no matter of like the proper care, hormones play a role. Genetics play a role. And also internally what's going on in the body plays a role.

And so for teens, I think establishing those healthy habits. Being consistent in your routine and when needed working with an aesthetician, is always great. And that's actually how I got into skincare. I had really bad acne and I fell in love with an aesthetician in college who helped me find the right routine, get the right microderm, abrasions, and care for my skin in a way that was customized to me because I do think.

Acne can be so hard for every individual for different reasons. And so working with a professional, whether it's a licensed esthetician or a dermatologist is one of the ways you can really set yourself up to care for the acne journey at an early age.

Natalie: What a great way. I mean, the routine, obviously that's important, but once it hits, how do you best get rid of it?

I mean, can you like quickly dry it up or do you want to let it play its course?

Catie: You want to tackle it and you want to take care of it. You definitely want to keep your hands off of it. So I've got a 13 year old and an 11 year old and we are constantly looking at breakouts and. They play sports and so, you know, just bacteria and dirt and debris on the skin.

Mm-hmm. can be a cause. So making sure their, you know, sports equipment's clean, but then also having the pimple spots for the nights they can go to bed and they won't pick at it, but they have that little salicylic spot. I love the Yes. Two brand. She like those. There's stickers

Natalie: you put on. Yeah. Okay.

Catie: I keep, wipes in their bags so that after something where they played hard or been out, they can wipe down really quick to remove that extra oil and the dirt and debris.

So I think you just start treating what you can and tackling it. And if it. getting progressively worse. That's when you reach out for additional help. and you look at, okay, something else be going on. Digestive issues. You know, probiotics are really something great that can help fight the bad bacteria.

The propionium on the skin with internal probiotics and topically you can use prebiotics as well and look for products that promote your microbiome.

Natalie: Mm. Those are all of these such good recommendations. I'm writing a lot of these down because I'm going to put them in the show notes because it's a combination of these things.

It's finding that right balance. And I've certainly been through it myself and with kids too. I want to ask you about another product though, because I got one of these a year ago and I don't know if it just makes me feel better, but then my daughter started using it and she got one to take with her to college.

It's that you'll have a name for it. I don't know. We call it the zapper and it plugs in and then it has the little shock. Like, you know what I'm talking about?

Catie: Oh yeah, you can go in and you can put the electric shock on the zit and it does help tremendously. Does it kill bacteria

Natalie: like we feel like it does?

For anybody who doesn't know what I'm talking about, you plug it in and then it's a, piece of glass that the electricity comes through and it actually feels like a little, it feels good. It's like a little shock, but it could also be used they say for wrinkles and other things. We love it. Do you think it works?

Catie: I do. Absolutely. And if I'm ever in a treatment room and have an acne client, that is definitely the part of the facial they do after your extractions because you want to go in and then, really combat that bacteria. And it's 1 of the safest, cleanest ways to do it with that little magnetic tool. And so that is something, for, you know, if you're battling breakouts, it's well worth the investment to use it, you know, consistently use it safely. Do your research, don't burn yourself or zap and create like a little scar. but it's definitely a tool that you can get benefits from.

Natalie: Yeah, we've never had anything that like burns or anything.

It's just this little like tingle and it's kind of fun and they say it can help with hair growth and I don't know if any of that's true too. But, And I think the one that I have, I'll put it in the show notes. I think it was like 30, 40. It's not even like ridiculously expensive. okay. So we like all these, these are clean, right?

These are things that you're okay with.

Catie: Yeah. These are tools. And I think that's where I lean into tools. equally because, you're using a device to stimulate the skin versus a product that could be toxic, or an injectable that could, you know, paralyze half your face or lead to long term, you know, issues.

So I love a good tool and some of them work that one in particular. Tried and true. It's approved. some of them I've tried and I'm like, that doesn't do much of anything. And then some on the market, like the germ rollers with the little needles, I say avoid at all costs because people are puncturing their skin.

They don't know what pressure to use, and it can actually lead to aging and scarring over time if you're not using something like that properly. So.

Natalie: Wow. I didn't know that. I have one of those. Yeah.

Catie: I would, I would do away with it. I haven't

Natalie: used it much cause I just don't like it, but it's in my drawer.

So good. Good to know

Catie: that. Yeah. If you want to keep it, you could use it if you've got places for like, for new mommy's stretch mark areas or cellulite, any of that, like the. Skin is much thicker on my thighs. So I don't mind that tool there for a little stimulation But never on my face and especially around your eyes.

It's just so thin and delicate You can be causing more damage than good.

Natalie: Yeah, any other last minute tips? You always you always bring me good stuff

Catie: Oh, you know, I think my latest My latest DIY because that's always what I loved doing with you. I will tell you my newest obsession is rice water Which has been around for a really long time and I've played with it in Korean beauty formulations But this is just something so easy.

You can do at home and you just take some organic rice cook it up drain out the water Let the water soak for a while in a jar. and then you've got, you know, a fresh rice water that can help to tone the skin, help with discoloration, help with hydration. And it just is this really lovely, light product that is so easy to make for everybody.

Even kids with acne, like you can use this across the board. You can use it in your, in your hair. If you have any dandruff, scalp issues, sensitivities, and if you really want to make it fancy, you can, do some rose petals with it while you're boiling it to have like a rose rice water or a essential oil like lavender.

So really fun product that is clean, easy and effective. I

Natalie: am fascinated by this. So do you just keep it like in the refrigerator, a little mason jar? Can you use it for a few days?

Catie: Yeah, you can use it for up to about a week. Um, and I typically go through it a little bit quicker than that, especially in the summer, post sun damage by the pool, a little cooling mist to help tone it down.

Does it need to be

Natalie: refrigerated or you can leave it out?

Catie: You could leave it out, but I love it cold. So I just keep it in the fridge.

Natalie: And okay, so spray it or would you put it on a cotton pad or something? Or how are you

Catie: using it? You can spray it, put it in a little bottle. You can definitely put it on cotton rounds.

You can actually put it on a cotton round and spray it. Soak it on larger parts of the body. If you do get a sunburn, or if you have, you know, eczema, contact dermatitis, irritation, it won't treat it by any means, but it helps to just calm the area. And, for the hair I like to use it more as like a rinse.

So you can dip your head into a bowl, you can put it in a mister and missed it on. There's just tons of different ways you can do it, but it is a really easy fun d i y that I am digging. This is everybody

Natalie: see why I love Katie so much. She like never ceases to surprise me with these cool ideas. And she used to come on the morning show and then she'd bring all the products and we'd like make it right in front of everybody.

And then she'd send me home with stuff. And so I love your ideas. Katie, you're always coming up with stuff and keeping us clean and feeling pretty. And, anything else new you have that you want to share with people or where can people find you?

Catie: So they can find me at the creative beauty collective.

com and that's where we've got many of our segments. A lot of the articles I've either, collaborated in or written. If you're looking for some additional clean beauty information, I've got a ton on my website and you can always find me on Instagram at Katie Wiggy.

Natalie: All right, Katie, thanks so much. It's good to catch up with

Catie: you.

You as well. Thank you. And thank you for the podcast. I love the topics covered and just the little boost it gives me in my week. I

Natalie: appreciate that so much. And I appreciate you. And we will talk again soon.

find blog posts, podcasts, and so much more.

Now more on communication. I want to start by saying that it's a journey, a journey of effective communication that will probably include several roadblocks. I'm very well aware of that. And that those roadblocks might include time constraints, stress, technology, glitches, right? And just fatigue. We all have busy lives.

Navigating these things really requires a conscious effort and many strategies, but that's what we're going to talk about today. So let's get on with it.

Strategy number one, assertive communication. Let's kick things off with this strategy. This is a skill that is an absolute game changer, whether you're delivering a news report or maybe navigating a conversation with your kids. Imagine this scenario. Your teenager asks if they can attend a party that you're really unsure about instead of simply saying yes or. No, try saying, I appreciate your enthusiasm and I'm concerned about your safety.

How can we work together to ensure that you have a great time while also keeping you safe? So this type of statement allows you to express your concerns in a respectful. Nonjudgmental way that invites them to contribute their ideas and also their solutions. It also helps establish trust and understanding.

Assertive communication can be applied to almost any situation. And it's really important, a really important tool for overcoming any type of roadblock.

All right. Strategy number two, learn to be present in conversations and practice. Active listening, being present in your conversations. We know that's crucial for effective communication and active listening. It's the key that unlocks potential. It involves not merely hearing the words of others, but really understanding their message and their intent.

My motto, and this applies to my students, my husband, my kids, everyone else. And that is. Understand before being understood. Active listening requires full attention, a clear mind, and a genuine interest in the speaker's perspective. I really want to emphasize that a genuine interest in their perspective.

It's about acknowledging their ideas, asking thoughtful questions, and providing constructive feedback by practicing active listening. We not only improve our comprehension, but we also show respect and empathy toward the person that we're trying to effectively communicate with. The real benefit here, your conversation will be better and probably even more important.

Your relationships will be deeper and more meaningful.

Strategy number three, body language. Have you ever considered the impact of your body language during a conversation?

It's likely not something that crosses your mind, but by increasing your awareness of it, you can greatly enhance the comfort of the person that you're speaking with. As a television anchor, we would have consultants who analyzed, well, Pretty much everything, but they often would analyze aspects of our presentation that included body language.

One invaluable piece of advice they always shared was to avoid crossing our arms. Crossed arms give off a closed off vibe, which can make the viewer or anyone that you are interacting with feel Unwelcome. The same goes for having stiff posture, leaning in with your arms open and relaxed. That signals you're welcoming the conversation.

Also adopting a warm facial expression can help make people feel more relaxed and comfortable around you.

Strategy number four. Ask questions. This one is my favorite. I think as a reporter, I definitely learned to ask not only good questions, but open ended questions. And this is so important. Asking questions shows that you're really interested in the conversation.

Not that just you're interviewing someone, but that you are Interested in them and you want to know more from them. It makes it easier for people to open up and just have an open conversation with you. It also gives you insight into what kind of person you're talking to and what topics they're interested in.

It's also a great way to show that you are invested in the conversation and you want to build a connection with other people. Asking questions also helps foster an environment of trust as people begin to feel more comfortable opening up to each other and sharing their stories.

Strategy number five, strike a balance between telling mode and engaging dialogue, you know, striking this balance between telling and engaging.

It's crucial for effective communication. It's about understanding when to share information, when to listen and when to ask for a two way conversation. So let me give you an example. Maybe in a meeting, you need to use the telling mode to share maybe new company policy, something important. So obviously this is really important and it needs to be conveyed accurately and concisely.

However, after sharing the information, maybe shift into dialogue mode. And let me tell you why this is important. It could involve asking these open ended questions like, What are your thoughts on this new policy, or do you foresee any new challenges in implementing this? This encourages feedback and discussion, fostering a more collaborative and inclusive environment.

In personal relationships, this balance is just as important. Consider a situation, maybe where a friend is sharing a problem that they're having. You might. Initially go into telling mode or offer advice mode. I have fallen into that before and I catch myself. It's even more effective though, to engage in a dialogue, asking questions that might help your friend explore their feelings and their thoughts.

This might look like. How did that situation make you feel, or what do you think you could do next time? By striking a balance between telling and engaging in dialogue, we can create more meaningful and productive conversations. I find this strategy especially important in the classroom as my students learn more when they're engaged versus me just telling or lecturing.

And that leads me to strategy number six. Tailoring your communication style to suit your audience, whether you're talking to a friend, a colleague, or for me, maybe a student, it's important to adjust how you communicate. For example, when I'm talking to students, I often. Stop myself and make sure that my language and my tone remain calm, yet assertive, because this helps create an environment where they feel comfortable.

They're able to share their thoughts without feeling judged. On the other hand, when I'm talking to my colleagues, I might use more technical terms or structure my conversation differently to be sure that the other person really understands what I'm saying. Ultimately. Tailoring your communication style to suit the context is key to effective communication.

Thinking before you communicate and the old adage remains, know your audience.

Lastly, strategy number seven. Learn from feedback. We all make mistakes and it's important not to be discouraged when you receive criticism or constructive feedback. Instead, use it as an opportunity to learn and grow at any age, no matter how much experience you have, either professionally or in the classroom or as a mom.

We are all Growing day by day and learning and dissecting what maybe went wrong and implementing strategies that can help you do better in the future will make you a better communicator. Receiving feedback graciously, and let me emphasize that graciously because our natural tendency and its human nature is to be defensive, but to ask and really understand that feedback is a vital skill in professional and personal relationships.

It's important to listen to that feedback without interruption and maintain an open mind and positive attitude. I also want to encourage you to take time to contemplate the message behind the feedback. For example, if your manager maybe gives you feedback on your presentation skills, Don't just brush it off.

Instead, spend some time thinking it over. You might realize that you tend to rush through a presentation because you're just nervous, but becoming aware of your tendency to be nervous is going to make you better next time. Come up with strategies to get over whatever it is that led you to that. And remember, feedback.

It's a gift. It's an opportunity to learn and better yourself. Well, that's it for today. It was short and sweet. Thank you so much for joining me. If you found these insights valuable, be sure to subscribe and stay tuned for more podcasts. Until next time, keep the conversations flowing, embrace every role you play, and continue to communicate with confidence.

Talk to you next week.