That "third party tested" label on your supplements, peptides, and protein powder probably means a lot less than you think it does.

In this episode, Katie and Cris get spicy on one of the most misunderstood phrases in the wellness world: "third party tested." Cris breaks down the four levels of testing, from a company grading its own homework to truly independent watchdog testing, and explains why the version on almost every bottle tells you nothing about whether the product is actually safe. From peptide purity tests that skip heavy metals, to what the FDA does and doesn't check, to mushroom powders that are mostly starch, to how Amazon's warehouse system lets counterfeits slip into brand-name listings, this one will change how you read a label forever. If you've ever bought something because it said "third party tested" and felt safe, this is the episode for you.

In This Episode We Cover

• The four levels of testing and why "third party tested" sits closer to the bottom than you'd expect.
• Why a peptide can test 99.5% pure and still never get checked for mercury, lead, or arsenic.
• How the 1994 DSHEA law means the FDA doesn't approve supplements before they hit the shelf.
• Why the FDA inspects only about 5% of supplement facilities each year, in their own director's words.
• How "mycelium on grain" mushroom products can be 30 to 40% starch with almost no active compounds.
• Why Amazon's commingled inventory means even a brand's official listing can ship you a counterfeit.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• ConsumerLab (independent supplement testing organization)
• Labdoor (independent supplement testing organization)
• Clean Label Project (independent testing and certification organization)
• NSF Certified for Sport (third-party certification to look for)
• USP Verified (third-party certification to look for)
• NOW Foods Quality & Safety (supplement brand that publicly tests supplement quality and publishes testing results, including investigations into counterfeit products sold on Amazon)
• NOW Foods Amazon Authenticity Guide (how to identify authentic NOW Foods products when shopping on Amazon)
• The HTMA Testing Package
• The DUTCH Testing Package
  
  

Work With Us + Connect

• Ready to start working on your skin? Clearer Skin in 30 Days is your next step.
• Follow Katie on Instagram: @katiestewartwellness
  
  
• Loved this episode? Leave us a review, it truly helps more people find the show! 🙏

⭐️ Get your foundations set with Clearer Skin in 30 Days.

If you feel like you're doing all the things for your skin and still stuck, this episode is the reset you need.

In this episode, Katie and Cris get real about why "doing all the things" usually isn't the answer for clearing your skin. They break down the free, boring, daily foundations most people skip or do in the wrong order, why being educated isn't the same as being accurate, and why the body has a built-in order it needs before skin can change. From under-eating and the shiny object trap to lifestyle stacking and tracking your non-skin wins, this one will talk you off the ledge the next time you feel like you need to add one more thing. If you've ever thought "I'm not doing enough," keep this episode in your back pocket.

In This Episode We Cover

• Why "I'm already doing all of this" is the most common thing they hear, and what's usually actually happening.
• How being educated from podcasts and social media doesn't mean the information is accurate or applied correctly.
• Why the order you add things in matters more than how much you add (the body's co-reliance on certain mechanisms).
• What under-eating and under-hydrating actually do to your energy, immune system, and anxious-like behaviors.
• Why your skin is last in line to change, and the non-skin wins to track instead.
• How to slow down, simplify, and integrate one foundation at a time so it actually sticks.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• Clearer Skin in 30 Days (the first four weeks of foundations Katie walks private clients through)
• The HTMA Testing Package

Work With Us + Connect

• Ready to start? Clearer Skin in 30 Days is your next step.
• Need one-on-one help? The Clear Skin Solution includes an HTMA for every client plus custom protocols and support for your whole six-month journey.
• Follow Katie on Instagram: @katiestewartwellness
• Loved this episode? Leave us a review, it truly helps more people find the show! 🙏

⭐️ Get your foundations set with Clearer Skin in 30 Days.

If you've been doing everything right and your skin still isn't where you want it, Monique's story is the reminder you need that slow progress is still progress.

In this episode, Katie and Cris sit down with Monique, one of Cris's clients in The Clear Skin Solution, to walk through a year-long healing journey that was anything but linear. They get into how her acne work opened the door to deeper gut healing, why H. pylori and a mysterious bloating pattern needed more than a food-elimination approach, and how specialized lab testing finally gave her answers when standard advice kept falling short. Monique also shares how nervous system regulation became the biggest lever of all, and why learning to feel safe around food changed everything. From migraines to bowel health to a vacation that proved her body was finally responding, this one is full of hope for anyone who feels like their case is "too complicated."

In This Episode We Cover

• Why Monique's journey took a full year and how the "time, patience, and consistency" trifecta made the difference.
• How a mysterious gas and bloat pattern pointed to something deeper than a single food trigger.
• Why nervous system regulation turned out to be the single biggest lever in clearing her skin and calming her gut.
• How specialized lab testing (viral markers, thyroid, liver, and more) gave answers that standard advice missed.
• What happened on a relaxed four-day vacation that proved her body was finally responding.
• Why food fear and symptom reactivity feed each other, and how structured reintroductions helped break the loop.

Resources & Links Mentioned

• The HTMA Testing Package
• Functional Blood Lab Bundle

Work With Us + Connect

• Ready to start? Clearer Skin in 30 Days is your next step.
• Need one-on-one help? The Clear Skin Solution includes an HTMA for every client plus custom protocols and support for your whole six-month journey.
• Follow Katie on Instagram: @katiestewartwellness
• Loved this episode? Leave us a review, it truly helps more people find the show! 🙏

⭐️ Get your foundations set with Clearer Skin in 30 Days.