Here's a Helpful Gift PSA I had to share: after my second baby, my skin broke out all around my chin and somehow looked both oily and dull (I’m a true overachiever…) It turns out, that’s not just bad luck - it’s hormones. And honestly, postpartum hormones are no joke.

To make sense of it (and to make sure I’m pointing you to what actually helps), I spoke with Hilary Metcalfe, the creative brain and formulator behind The Sabi. Hilary’s insights below shaped this piece and the simple, supportive approach we love The Sabi for.

When you give birth, your body goes through one of the most dramatic rebalancing acts it’ll ever perform. Hormones rise, crash and shift for up to 18 months after birth - with intense waves around weeks 3–6, months 3–5, and again near 6–9 months when many women notice breakouts, pigmentation or that lacklustre “grey glow” that no highlighter can fix. Your skin becomes an early warning system that things are out of balance - your body saying: Hey, I’m working hard here. Help me out.

Why postpartum skin feels dull, reactive and unpredictable

Postpartum, detox pathways slow down (liver, gut, lymph). Add nutrient depletion (think magnesium, B vitamins, zinc) and a sleep deficit, and skin starts showing the stress: breakouts, dullness, sensitivity, inflammation.

How postpartum skin can shift over time

• 0–6 weeks: Sharp drop in oestrogen and progesterone.  Skin may feel dehydrated, dull, and sensitive.
• 6–12 weeks:  Hormones begin to stabilise (slowly).  Chin and jawline acne, pigmentation, and dryness are common (definitely felt this one).
• 3–6 months:  Sleep deprivation and mineral depletion peak.  Breakouts and signs of adrenal fatigue may appear on the skin.
• 6–12 months:  Menstruation may return, triggering more hormonal shifts.  Renewed sensitivity and changes in texture or tone.

Hilary’s take: calm the chaos, don’t overload it

“Postpartum skin issues often stem from inflammation - cortisol spikes from poor sleep, slowed detox from hormonal chaos, and nutrient depletion. The job is to calm the nervous system and rebuild, not throw more actives at already stressed skin.” 

That’s why the Nurtured Mothers Set has become my go-to postpartum gift for friends (and why I bought it for myself) - it’s not a “pamper box”; it’s a recovery ritual.

Why it helps:

• Clean, gentle formulas (no hormone disruptors or harsh chemicals)
• Prebiotics to restore the skin’s microbiome
• Adaptogens to ease internal stress and calm flare-ups
• Botanicals like fermented seaweed, calendula, and sage to brighten, soothe, and support balance

They don’t force your skin to behave. They give it the tools to heal itself.

Keep it simple, nourishing, doable

From Hilary’s playbook for the PP period:

• Sleep support: Bank a 70-90 min nap when nights are broken; consider magnesium glycinate before bed or a warm bath with magnesium salts.
• Hydrate with benefits: Mama Recover is a nutritive infusion to support hormones, mood, inner calm - and skin - from the inside out.
• Simplify your routine: Fewer actives, zero endocrine disruptors, calming ingredients. The Sabi’s range is built for this season.
• Micro-rituals: A gentle tea, a spritz of Revive Mist, one deep diaphragmatic breath. Small, sensory, consistent.

Skin, confidence, and coming home to yourself

“When a woman brews a tea, massages her face, or takes five minutes to breathe, it’s not vanity - it’s nervous system care. Skin is a window to vitality. When we partner with our bodies, confidence returns from the inside out.” 

This is why The Sabi isn’t just skincare. It’s support. And the Nurtured Mothers Set is, truly, the most helpful gift for this season - a small ritual of repair, calm, and coming back to yourself.

The herbata that helps your nervous system reset

Each infusion is a therapeutic dose and a reset ritual:

• Oat straw - classic nervine to calm
• Tulsi - adaptogen for cortisol balance + clarity
• Nettle & moringa - mineral-dense rebuilders
• Vervain - lifts low mood, eases gut tension

Layer with: Omega-3s (inflammation/brain), magnesium (sleep/nervous system), and your breath (fastest free reset via vagal activation).

Where to find it

Explore The Sabi Nurtured Mothers Set via We are The Helpful - helpful gifting for postpartum that actually supports recovery and does what it says; nurtures the Mother.

Kate x