Skin Anarchy

Ekta et al.
  • 5.0 (6)
  • FASHION & BEAUTY
  • UPDATED DAILY

Skin Anarchy is where beauty meets curiosity and science. Hosted by Dr. Ekta, this podcast dives deep into the behind-the-scenes world of beauty, uncovering the stories, trends, and innovations shaping skincare, makeup, haircare, fragrance, and more. Featuring candid conversations with industry pioneers, we explore the art and science behind beauty with passion and purpose. Join the revolution on Instagram @skincareanarchy and discover the beauty world like never before. (Not legal or medical advice, all views expressed are non-legal and non-medical opinions.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

  1. The Truth About Med Spa Safety Standards with Tom Terranova of QUAD A

    8 HRS AGO

    The Truth About Med Spa Safety Standards with Tom Terranova of QUAD A

    Send us Fan Mail In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Tom Terranova to explore a side of aesthetic medicine that patients rarely see—but that ultimately determines their safety: infrastructure. While most conversations focus on results, pricing, or provider reputation, this episode shifts the lens to what happens behind the scenes, where clinical protocols, operational systems, and regulatory gaps quietly shape outcomes. Terranova shares the mission behind QUAD A, a nonprofit that has long established safety standards in surgical settings and is now expanding into the rapidly growing med spa space. As aesthetic treatments move further into consumer-driven environments, the industry faces a critical challenge: demand has scaled faster than standardization. One of the most compelling insights from the conversation is the idea that risk in aesthetics is not binary—it’s stratified. Procedures often perceived as “low risk” can vary significantly in complexity and potential for harm. Yet unlike traditional medicine, med spas have lacked a clear framework to define and manage that risk. QUAD A’s tiered approach introduces a more structured way to evaluate procedures, shifting how both providers and patients should think about safety. The discussion also challenges a common assumption: that credentials alone ensure safe care. Terranova emphasizes that true safety depends on more than technical skill—it requires the ability to recognize complications, respond in real time, and operate within a system designed for consistency and accountability. Ultimately, this episode reframes safety as something systemic, not superficial. Listen to the full episode to hear Tom Terranova break down the hidden gaps in aesthetic medicine and what every patient should understand before choosing where to get treated. Learn more about QUAD A Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Reach out to us through email with any questions. Sign up for our newsletter! Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf! Support the show

    1h 3m
  2. From Infant Immunity to Cancer Therapy: The Power of the Microbiome with Dr. Stephanie Culler of Persephone Biosciences

    2D AGO

    From Infant Immunity to Cancer Therapy: The Power of the Microbiome with Dr. Stephanie Culler of Persephone Biosciences

    Send a text In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Dr. Stephanie Culler, co-founder and CEO of Persephone Biosciences, to explore one of the most rapidly evolving frontiers in modern health science: the human microbiome. From early immune development to cancer therapy, the conversation reveals how the trillions of microbes living in our bodies may shape health in ways scientists are only beginning to understand. Dr. Culler’s path into microbiome research began with a personal mission to understand disease after losing both of her grandmothers to cancer. Following her PhD at the California Institute of Technology, where she studied gene therapy approaches to cancer, she moved into industrial biotechnology and microbial engineering. That work eventually led her to co-found Persephone Biosciences, a company focused on translating microbiome science into real-world therapeutics and consumer health solutions. A major focus of the discussion centers on the infant microbiome and its role in shaping immune development. Dr. Culler explains how microbes transferred during birth and nourished through breast milk help “train” the immune system in the earliest stages of life. Yet modern research suggests that key beneficial bacteria—particularly Bifidobacterium infantis—have dramatically declined in Western infants. In large-scale studies conducted by Persephone, only a small percentage of U.S. infants carry adequate levels of this once-dominant microbe. The conversation also explores how microbiome balance may influence responses to cutting-edge cancer treatments like immunotherapy. Emerging research suggests that gut bacteria can significantly affect how patients respond to checkpoint inhibitors, opening the door to microbiome-based interventions that could enhance treatment outcomes. Listen to the full episode to hear Dr. Stephanie Culler explain how microbiome science is transforming our understanding of immunity, disease prevention, and the future of medicine. Learn more about Persephone Biosciences Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Reach out to us through email with any questions. Sign up for our newsletter! Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf! Support the show

    32 min
  3. Lessons in Leadership: The Future of Beauty with CEW President Elana Drell Szyfer

    MAR 11

    Lessons in Leadership: The Future of Beauty with CEW President Elana Drell Szyfer

    Send a text In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Elana Drell Szyfer, president of Cosmetic Executive Women (CEW) and one of the most influential leaders in the global beauty industry. With more than three decades of experience spanning companies like Chanel, L’Oréal, Avon, Estée Lauder, and RéVive, Elana offers a rare behind-the-scenes look at how careers in beauty evolve—and what it takes to navigate an industry that constantly reinvents itself. Elana's path into beauty was anything but conventional. Originally a history major who imagined a future in nonprofit arts philanthropy, her first role at the Juilliard School focused on connecting donors with scholarship recipients. A shift toward business studies eventually led her into the beauty world through a position at Chanel’s family office. Determined to move closer to the operating side of the industry, she studied trade publications, reached out to industry leaders directly, and ultimately landed at L’Oréal—where her career in beauty truly began. Over the next two decades, Elana built a foundation in marketing leadership across some of the industry’s largest brands. Later, she transitioned into the entrepreneurial side of beauty, leading privately backed companies and guiding brands through transformation, acquisition, and growth—including her tenure as CEO of RéVive. Along the way, she witnessed firsthand how dramatically the beauty landscape has evolved, from traditional advertising and retail counters to today’s fragmented world of social media, influencer discovery, and science-driven storytelling. As she steps into her new role at CEW, Elana reflects on leadership, the future of marketing, and the growing need for clarity around industry buzzwords like biotech and longevity. Listen to the full episode to hear Elana Drell Szyfer share lessons from her career and her vision for the future of the beauty industry. Learn more about CEW Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Reach out to us through email with any questions. Sign up for our newsletter! Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf! Support the show

    40 min
  4. A Breakthrough in Exosome Skincare ft. Madhavi Gavini of Droplette

    MAR 5

    A Breakthrough in Exosome Skincare ft. Madhavi Gavini of Droplette

    Send a text In this special episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav welcomes back Madhavi Gavini, founder of Droplette—one of the earliest science-forward brands featured on the show. What once felt like a radically different approach to skincare technology now feels increasingly relevant as the industry shifts toward biologics, regenerative ingredients, and delivery science. The conversation revisits Droplette’s origins and explores why effective delivery may be the missing piece in modern skincare innovation. Gavini’s journey into skincare began far outside the beauty industry. With a background in pharmaceutical development, she spent years designing therapies for pediatric diseases, where she encountered one of medicine’s most persistent challenges: delivery. Even when researchers identify the therapeutic molecule that could help treat a condition, getting that molecule into the correct layer of skin is often the hardest part. That realization became the foundation of Droplette’s technology, originally developed alongside MIT-affiliated researchers to enable large molecules to reach skin tissue without needles or barrier injury. The Droplette device generates high-velocity, submicron droplets capable of moving ingredients past the stratum corneum—the skin’s protective outer barrier—allowing molecules far larger than traditional topical ingredients to access viable layers of skin. The implications extend beyond cosmetics, with ongoing collaborations exploring delivery for antibiotics, gene therapies, and other advanced biologics. The episode also dives into the science behind exosomes—one of the most talked-about yet misunderstood areas in regenerative skincare. Gavini explains what exosomes are, why sourcing and stability matter, and why many topical exosome products degrade or fail to penetrate the skin barrier. Double Board-Certified Dermatologist, Dr. Dan Belkin, also shares his clinical perspective on how exosomes are currently used in dermatology and why reliable sourcing, cold-chain handling, and effective delivery systems are essential for maintaining biological activity. Listen to the full episode to hear Madhavi Gavini explain how Droplette is bringing pharmaceutical-grade delivery science into the future of regenerative skincare. Use discount code 'ANARCHY' to get the Exosome Starter Set on subscription for just $349 SHOP DROPLETTE 1.Quek BL, Srinivas RL, Gavini MP. Droplette: a platform technology to directly deliver nucleic acid therapeutics and other molecules into cells and deep into tissue without transfection reagents. Methods Mol Biol. 2022;2398:211-230. doi:10.1007/978-1-0716-1811-0_14. 2.Mahmood A, et al. Droplette—a fluid dynamics-driven platform for transdermal and intracellular delivery of large molecules. FASEB J. 2018;31(S1):924.7. 3.Pulakat L, Chen HH, Gavini MP, Ling LA, Tang Y, Mehm A, et al. Transdermal delivery of high molecular weight antibiotics to deep tissue infections via Droplette Micromist Technology Device (DMTD). Pharmaceutics. 2022;14(6):1134 *This is a sponsored collaboration Support the show

    40 min
  5. Rewriting Allergy Care with Lorne Lucree of Wizard Wellness

    MAR 2

    Rewriting Allergy Care with Lorne Lucree of Wizard Wellness

    Send a text In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with beauty industry veteran and product innovator Lorne Lucree to explore an unexpected frontier: allergy care. After decades helping shape iconic brands across L’Oréal, Estée Lauder, and Unilever Prestige, Lucree turned his attention to a category that had remained largely unchanged. What he discovered was striking—while skincare had evolved into a science-driven, barrier-focused discipline, allergy care still relied on reactive treatments designed for symptom suppression rather than biological support. That’s why he created Wizard Wellness. The conversation reframes the nasal cavity not simply as an airway, but as a living barrier system—one with its own microbiome, immune signaling, and protective function, much like the skin. When that barrier becomes disrupted, allergens and pollutants penetrate more easily, triggering inflammation that extends far beyond congestion, affecting sleep, mood, and overall resilience. Instead of approaching allergies as isolated flare-ups, Lucree saw an opportunity to apply principles from microbiome skincare: support the environment itself so the body can defend more effectively. Lucree shares how advances in microbiome science opened the door to a new preventative model—one that focuses on restoring equilibrium rather than sterilizing or suppressing. He also reveals the complexity of formulating for mucosal tissue, where safety, compatibility, and biological precision become paramount. At its core, this episode explores how consumer health categories evolve when science, design, and behavioral insight converge. Listen to the full episode to hear Lorne Lucree explain how barrier biology and microbiome innovation may redefine allergy care—and why the future of wellness begins with protecting the body’s most overlooked interfaces. SHOP WIZARD WELLNESS Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Reach out to us through email with any questions. Sign up for our newsletter! Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf! Support the show

    36 min
  6. Hormones, Oxytocin, and Aging with Dr. Sabrina Fabi of XOMD Skincare

    FEB 23

    Hormones, Oxytocin, and Aging with Dr. Sabrina Fabi of XOMD Skincare

    Send a text In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with double board-certified dermatologist Dr. Sabrina Fabi to examine how hormonal signaling actively shapes skin resilience, recovery, and structural integrity. This conversation moves beyond trend-driven skincare and into the biology that determines how skin functions at every stage of life. Dr. Fabi emphasizes that skin constantly responds to hormonal shifts. Changes in progesterone, estrogen, testosterone, and neurohormones influence collagen production, barrier strength, inflammation, muscle tone, and healing capacity. Aging reflects signaling patterns — not just the passage of time. When hormones fluctuate, skin behavior changes. A central focus of the discussion is oxytocin. While most people associate oxytocin with bonding and mood, Dr. Fabi explains that skin contains oxytocin receptors that participate in local repair and inflammatory signaling. That neuroendocrine connection reframes how we think about resilience. The brain and skin communicate continuously, and hormonal signaling drives that dialogue. Dr. Fabi applies this signaling-first framework directly through XOMD. Instead of topically applying exogenous hormones, she built XOMD around activating intrinsic pathways that support recovery and tissue strength. The focus remains on optimizing communication within the skin rather than overwhelming it with isolated actives. Throughout the episode, she challenges casual aesthetic culture and reinforces the importance of individualized, long-term planning. Hormones shape anatomy, metabolism, and tissue quality — treatment strategies must reflect that complexity. Listen to the full episode to hear Dr. Sabrina Fabi break down hormonal biology, oxytocin science, and how XOMD advances a more intelligent approach to skin resilience. SHOP XOMD Skincare Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Reach out to us through email with any questions. Sign up for our newsletter! Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf! Support the show

    56 min
  7. Lessons in Longevity: The NAD Conversation and the Evolution of Modern Skincare with Melisse Shaban

    FEB 17

    Lessons in Longevity: The NAD Conversation and the Evolution of Modern Skincare with Melisse Shaban

    Send a text In this special installment of Skin Anarchy’s Lessons in Longevity series, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with beauty industry pioneer Melisse Shaban for a conversation that bridges decades of brand leadership with the cutting edge of cellular science. From her early days at Revlon’s counter at Macy’s Herald Square to leading Aveda and The Body Shop — and later founding science-driven ventures like Virtue Labs and Aramore — Shaban has witnessed beauty evolve from aspiration to physiology. But this episode isn’t about nostalgia. It’s about where we’re headed. Together, Dr. Yadav and Shaban unpack how the narrative around aging is shifting. Youth is no longer the sole benchmark of beauty. Instead, vitality, recovery, and cellular performance are redefining the industry. Skincare is moving beyond “hope in a jar” marketing toward biologically grounded innovation — often rooted in research that began in oncology, peptide science, and regenerative medicine labs. A central theme of the conversation is NAD — a molecule essential for cellular energy and mitochondrial function. Rather than attempting to apply NAD topically in ways the skin cannot absorb, Shaban explains how Aramore focuses on supporting the body’s own NAD production through metabolically intelligent pathways. The message is clear: aging begins at the cellular level, and true longevity requires daily metabolic support — not reactive damage control. This episode also tackles accountability in a crowded, hype-driven market. Clinical rigor, mechanistic plausibility, and transparent data are no longer optional — they are the future. Listen to the full episode of Skin Anarchy to hear Melisse Shaban break down cellular energy, NAD science, and why the next era of beauty belongs to longevity-driven innovation grounded in real biology. SHOP ARAMORE Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Reach out to us through email with any questions. Sign up for our newsletter! Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf! *This is a paid collaboration Support the show

    51 min
  8. Creating Iconic Products and Intentional Beauty with Jaimee Holmes of Fel Beauty

    FEB 9

    Creating Iconic Products and Intentional Beauty with Jaimee Holmes of Fel Beauty

    Send a text In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with longtime friend and beauty industry force Jaimee Holmes for an intimate conversation that marks a new chapter in her career—the launch of Fel. Known for shaping some of the most iconic products in prestige beauty, Holmes opens up about the personal experiences, creative pauses, and emotional clarity that ultimately led her to build something entirely her own. The episode traces Jaimee’s journey from her early days at Sephora—where she learned the power of founder vision and retail storytelling—to pivotal roles at Benefit, Perricone MD, and Too Faced. She reflects on leading the launch of Better Than Sex Mascara, the conviction it took to push past skepticism, and how trusting instinct over trend can redefine an entire category. Later chapters at Kendo and Goop offered a different lens: overseeing countless brands and SKUs revealed just how crowded—and emotionally disconnected—the industry had become. That realization, paired with personal loss and reflection, became the quiet catalyst for Fel. Rather than chasing what’s next, Holmes chose to look inward—building a brand rooted in nostalgia, emotion, and the universal language of a kiss. Fel’s debut, Kissylips, is designed to be felt as much as worn: playful, tactile, and intentionally uncomplicated, with packaging and textures that evoke memory rather than perfection. At its core, Fel is about responsibility and care—especially for younger consumers. From globally clean, vegan formulations to a proprietary fel-good complex™ designed to support both the lip barrier and emotional wellbeing, every detail is deliberate. This isn’t makeup built for speed or spectacle—it’s built for connection. Listen to the full episode of Skin Anarchy to hear Jaimee Holmes share how Fel came to life, why meaning matters more than momentum, and how beauty’s future may be rooted in feeling something again. SHOP FEL BEAUTY Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform. Reach out to us through email with any questions. Sign up for our newsletter! Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf! Support the show

    32 min
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Hosts & Guests

5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

Skin Anarchy is where beauty meets curiosity and science. Hosted by Dr. Ekta, this podcast dives deep into the behind-the-scenes world of beauty, uncovering the stories, trends, and innovations shaping skincare, makeup, haircare, fragrance, and more. Featuring candid conversations with industry pioneers, we explore the art and science behind beauty with passion and purpose. Join the revolution on Instagram @skincareanarchy and discover the beauty world like never before. (Not legal or medical advice, all views expressed are non-legal and non-medical opinions.) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Information

  • Creator
    Ekta et al.
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    767
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Skin Anarchy
  • Show Website
    Skin Anarchy

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