Chicago Gut Testing, Lymphatic & Skin Barrier Repair | Uviña

YOUR SKIN IS TELLING YOU SOMETHING ABOUT YOUR GUT

Your gut and your skin are in constant conversation. Researchers call it the gut–skin axis: the gut microbiome influences immune signaling and inflammation throughout the body, including in the skin*.

When digestion is off, many women notice it on the outside too:

Bloating and sluggish digestion
Puffiness and fluid retention
Low energy and brain fog
Skin concerns that keep coming back, no matter what you put on them

Skincare alone can't reach what's happening underneath. That's why we start with your gut.

*(Salem et al., Frontiers in Microbiology, 2018)

TEST YOUR GUT

The Uviña A.R.T. Method: Functional Beauty Starts From Within

Step 1: ASSESS - Understand What Your Body Is Telling You
Through 1-on-1 assessments, targeted gut testing, and skin evaluation, we identify the internal and lifestyle imbalances driving inflammation, poor digestion, and stubborn skin concerns.
Our root-cause approach gives you a clear picture, finally.
test your gut health
Step 2: RESTORE - Support Digestion, Drainage & Clearance
We support the body's natural lymphatic drainage and digestion through lymphatic therapy, personalized supplement protocols, and nutrition guidance.
We help create the internal conditions for balanced inflammation and healthier, clearer skin.
book a lymphatic treatment
Step 3: THRIVE - Daily Rituals for Skin Health and Outer Beauty
What you do every day matters most.
Terra Madre (coming soon) carries the work home: Terra, a cleanser, and Madre, a renewal balm, formulated to support a healthy-looking, resilient skin barrier. Assess + Restore = Thrive.
meet terra madre

* NEW SKINCARE COMING *

MEET TERRA MADRE

Terra Madre by Uviña Skin: Skin Barrier Repair, Coming Soon

Uviña Skin is the skincare line of Uviña Holistic Wellness, both founded by Jelitsa, MSN, RN.

After six years, our original collection is evolving into TERRA MADRE: two products built on what we've learned about the skin barrier and the gut–skin connection.

Terra, a gentle cleansing balm
Madre, a renewal barrier balm

Then there's Semilla, Spanish for seed: our Lymphatic Glow Oil, reborn. If Terra Madre is the earth, Semilla is what grows from it, a blend made only from seed oils, the part of the plant that holds everything it needs to begin. One oil for hair, face, and body.

join the terra madre waitlist

* NEW SKINCARE COMING *

MEET TERRA MADRE

What Clients Are Saying About Our Gut Health & Lymphatic Treatments

NURSE-LED CARE - Jelitsa is extremely knowledgeable, driven by research, informative, and excellent… I am so impressed by her approach and level of expertise.
Susan

GUT HEALTH - I am so glad I decided to do gut testing with Uvina… The GI Mapping gave me valuable insight into my gut health and, for the first time, a clear direction for how to move forward.
Wendy

NURSE-LED CARE - Absolutely amazing experience! She was so incredibly sweet, professional, and knowledgeable. You can tell she truly cares and knows exactly what she’s doing.
Vanessa

LYMPHATIC - Jelitsa is incredibly knowledgeable and truly understands the science behind lymphatic massages.
Teresa

As Seen on ABC 7 Chicago, CBS Chicago & Block Club Chicago

What Is Functional Beauty?

Functional Beauty is a root-cause approach to skin. It treats gut health, lymphatic flow, and the skin barrier as one connected system rather than separate problems. At Uviña, that means gut testing and nutrition support on the inside, and lymphatic work and barrier-focused skincare on the outside, guided by a registered nurse.

Uviña Holistic Wellness was founded by Jelitsa, MSN, RN, a Functional Beauty Practitioner who spent her career in healthcare before building a nurse-led practice around the gut–skin connection. The wellness boutique and the skincare line are named after her mother, Uviña, who trusted plants, ritual, and a good salsa song to keep her glowing.

Whether you're in Chicago or anywhere you can receive a test kit, our goal is simple: Support your body's natural ability to heal so your skin can do the same.

meet Jelitsa

Wellness Questions We Hear Most

Can gut health affect your skin?

Research on the gut–skin axis shows the gut microbiome influences immune signaling and inflammation that reach the skin. That doesn't mean every skin concern starts in the gut. But when skin issues persist despite a good routine, looking at gut health is a reasonable next step.

What is Uviña Skin?

Uviña Skin is the skincare line of Uviña Holistic Wellness, created by Jelitsa, MSN, RN.

It includes Terra Madre (coming soon), a two-step evening skin barrier ritual (Terra, a gentle cleanser, and Madre, a renewal balm), and Semilla, a seed-oil blend for hair, face, and body.

What is the skin barrier, and why does it matter?

Your skin barrier is the outermost layer of your skin. Researchers describe it as bricks and mortar: skin cells held together by lipids like ceramides, cholesterol, and fatty acids. When it's healthy, it holds moisture in and keeps irritants out. When it's stressed, skin can feel dry, tight, or reactive.

What does a GI-MAP test show?

The GI-MAP is an at-home stool test that uses DNA-based (qPCR) technology to measure gut bacteria, yeast, parasites, and markers of digestion, inflammation, and gut immune function. Your results show what may be behind symptoms like bloating or skin concerns that won't settle, and they shape a personalized protocol.

Can I do gut health testing if I don't live in Chicago?

Yes. Gut testing is virtual. The kit ships to your home, you collect the sample yourself, and we review your results together via a video call.