Podcast
Skin Anarchy
Hosted by Ekta et al. · EN
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.)
145episodes
Episodes
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The Science Behind Effective Skincare with Scott Futterman and Samuel Raoof of DRMTLGY
Yesterday00:45:56Summary readySend us Fan MailIn this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with DRMTLGY co-founders Scott Futterman and Samuel Raoof for a conversation that cuts through one of the beauty industry’s biggest misconceptions: that great skincare is defined by ingredient lists alone. In a market flooded with trending actives, viral products, and marketing claims, they offer a rare look at what actually determines whether a product performs. The story begins long before DRMTLGY entered the consumer market. Raised around dermatology, Samuel developed a deep appreciation for skin science and eventually recognized a gap in physician-dispensed skincare. Rather than relying on existing manufacturers, he built his own facility to create formulations that met the standards dermatologists were seeking. Years later, Scott saw an opportunity to make those same products more accessible, helping transform DRMTLGY into one of the most recognized science-driven skincare brands today. Throughout the episode, the founders challenge the industry’s obsession with ingredient names and buzzwords. A product’s effectiveness, they explain, depends on far more than whether it contains vitamin C, retinol, or peptides. Stability, delivery systems, concentration, bioavailability, and formulation architecture all influence whether an ingredient can actually perform inside the skin. The conversation also pulls back the curtain on product development—from stability studies and preservative testing to finished-formula clinical trials. Rather than relying on supplier claims, DRMTLGY evaluates how ingredients behave within the final formulation, where real-world performance is determined. Listen to the full episode to hear Scott Futterman and Samuel Raoof explain why formulation matters more than buzzwords—and why efficacy should remain the standard by which skincare is judged.SHOP DRMTLGYDon’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 collaborationSupport the show
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Why Kindness Belongs in the Longevity Conversation with Dr. Brent Ridge of Beekman 1802
1w ago00:45:26Summary readySend us Fan MailIn this deeply reflective episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Dr. Brent Ridge to explore the story behind Beekman 1802—and how a simple act of kindness unexpectedly became the foundation for one of the most beloved brands in modern beauty. What begins as a conversation about goat milk skincare quickly expands into something much larger: resilience, longevity, emotional wellbeing, and the role human connection plays in how we age. Before founding Beekman 1802, Dr. Ridge worked in geroscience and longevity medicine, studying healthy aging long before “longevity” became a beauty trend. But the turning point came after he and his husband purchased a farm in upstate New York and agreed to help a local farmer keep his goats during the 2008 financial crisis. Searching for a way to survive financially after both losing their jobs, they began making goat milk soap—a decision that would ultimately launch an entirely new category of skincare. As customers began reporting dramatic improvements in sensitive skin and barrier health, Dr. Ridge became increasingly interested in the biology behind goat milk itself—from fatty acids and oligosaccharides to the microbiome and emerging exosome research. But throughout the episode, one message remains central: healthy skin cannot be separated from emotional health. Stress, connection, optimism, and self-perception all influence how skin functions and heals. The conversation ultimately reframes longevity as something broader than biology alone. It’s not just molecular—it’s emotional, social, and deeply human.Listen to the full episode to hear Dr. Brent Ridge discuss Beekman 1802, longevity science, and why kindness may be one of the most powerful health interventions we have.Shop Beekman 1802Don’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
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Burnout, Boundaries, and Returning to Yourself with Dr. Thema Bryant
2w ago00:41:40Summary readySend us Fan MailIn this deeply reflective episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with psychologist, author, and trauma expert Dr. Thema Bryant for a conversation about healing, identity, and the emotional patterns that quietly shape the way we move through life. What unfolds is not just a discussion about trauma or relationships, but a broader examination of how people learn to disconnect from themselves in order to survive. Drawing from decades of clinical work and lived experience, Dr. Bryant explores the difference between healthy effort and self-erasure. Many people, she explains, mistake emotional suppression for being “easygoing” or accommodating, slowly shrinking themselves in relationships, workplaces, and social environments to avoid rejection or conflict. Over time, this conditioning becomes so normalized that people stop asking whether something is healthy—and instead ask whether it’s “bad enough” to leave. The conversation also dives into the emotional cost of visibility, performance culture, and burnout—especially for women and marginalized communities taught to equate worth with productivity. Dr. Bryant unpacks how rest, boundaries, authenticity, and joy often feel inaccessible not because people don’t want them, but because they were never taught they were allowed to have them. Throughout the episode, one message becomes clear: healing is not about becoming someone new. It’s about reclaiming the parts of yourself that were silenced along the way. Listen to the full episode to hear Dr. Thema Bryant discuss emotional wellness, relationships, burnout, and what it truly means to return to yourself.Learn more about Dr. Thema BryantDon’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
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The Science Behind White Cast and Sunscreen Inclusivity with AJ Addae
3w ago00:40:37Summary readySend us Fan MailIn this episode of Skin Anarchy, award-winning cosmetic chemist and clinical researcher AJ Addae joins Dr. Ekta Yadav for a science-driven conversation that challenges one of skincare’s biggest blind spots: why sunscreen still fails so many consumers—especially those with deeper skin tones. What unfolds is a deeper look at formulation chemistry, particle optics, and the gap between sunscreen marketing and how these products actually perform on real skin. AJ shares how her own experiences growing up as a dark-skinned daughter of immigrants shaped her relationship with beauty and science. Long before becoming a cosmetic chemist, she was already questioning why products weren’t designed with melanin-rich skin in mind. That curiosity eventually led her into formulation science, where she began investigating the physical behavior of mineral UV filters like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide. A central focus of the episode is the science behind white cast. Rather than treating inclusivity as a marketing issue, AJ explains how particle aggregation, light scattering, and suspension stability directly influence how sunscreen appears on the skin. Her research into specialized zinc oxide “tetrapod” structures reveals how changing particle shape—not just adding tint—may significantly improve wearability across skin tones while maintaining UV protection. The conversation also dives into the limitations of SPF testing, the misunderstanding of hyperpigmentation, and why aggressive skincare often worsens long-term skin health instead of improving it. Throughout the episode, AJ advocates for a more rigorous, transparent, and evidence-driven future for cosmetic chemistry. Listen to the full episode to hear AJ Addae break down the science of sunscreen, inclusivity, and why meaningful beauty innovation starts in the lab—not in marketing.Learn more about Sula Labs and AJ AddaeDon’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
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Precision Care for Acne and Eczema with Oliver Liu of Hypothesis
3w ago00:44:18Summary readySend us Fan MailIn this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Oliver Liu of Hypothesis to unpack one of the most misunderstood areas in skincare today: the microbiome. While the term has become a marketing staple, this conversation reveals just how early we still are in understanding the microbial ecosystems that shape skin health—and why most current treatments fail to reflect that complexity.Oliver reframes common conditions like acne and eczema as problems of imbalance, not simple bacterial overgrowth. In eczema, a weakened barrier, immune dysregulation, and the presence of Staphylococcus aureus create a self-reinforcing cycle of inflammation and irritation. In acne, it’s not the presence of bacteria that drives breakouts—but which strains dominate. This shift challenges the long-standing idea that eliminating bacteria altogether is the solution.That insight exposes a deeper flaw in traditional treatments. Broad-spectrum approaches like benzoyl peroxide and antibiotics remove both harmful and beneficial microbes, often leading to temporary relief followed by recurrence, increased sensitivity, and long-term imbalance.The conversation then turns to a new model: precision skincare. Inspired by naturally occurring enzymes, Oliver explains how targeted approaches can selectively eliminate harmful bacteria without disrupting the surrounding ecosystem—preserving balance while addressing the root cause.This episode ultimately reframes skincare as ecosystem management, not correction.Listen to the full episode to hear Oliver break down the science of the microbiome and why the future of skincare lies in precision, not force.Shop HypothesisDon’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 sponsored collaborationSupport the show
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From Finance Bro to Beauty Guru Featuring Aditya Madiraju
4w ago00:40:51Summary readySend us Fan MailIn this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Aditya Madiraju for a conversation that moves far beyond beauty tutorials and social media trends. What unfolds is a thoughtful discussion about identity, representation, creativity, and the realities of building a public career in an algorithm-driven world. Before becoming one of the most recognizable voices in beauty content creation, Aditya spent years working in microbiology, finance, and risk management—an unconventional path that reflects one of the episode’s central themes: the tension between stability and fulfillment. Growing up in a South Asian household where traditional careers were often prioritized, choosing beauty and content creation felt radical. Yet rather than framing that tension with resentment, Aditya approaches it with empathy, recognizing the sacrifices that allowed his generation the freedom to pursue creative work. The conversation also explores the emotional weight of visibility online. Aditya reflects candidly on navigating the internet as a South Asian creator, from stereotypes and racism to the pressure of constantly representing more than just himself. His perspective on humor, resilience, and composure adds nuance to larger conversations around race, beauty, and digital culture. At the same time, the episode celebrates the role of beauty as joy and self-expression. For Aditya, makeup is deeply technical—but it’s also personal, cultural, and meant to be enjoyed without justification. Throughout the conversation, he returns to a larger idea: visibility matters because it expands what feels possible for the next generation. Listen to the full episode to hear Aditya Madiraju discuss beauty, identity, representation, and what it really means to build authenticity online.Learn more about Aditya MadirajuDon’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
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Building Beauty for Melanin-Rich Skin with Sabrina Dhowre Elba of S’ABLE LABS
4w ago00:50:19Summary readySend us Fan MailIn this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Sabrina Dhowre Elba for a conversation that moves beyond products and into the deeper question of what it actually means to build a beauty brand today. What unfolds is a thoughtful look at identity, responsibility, and the tension between visibility and credibility in an increasingly saturated industry. Sabrina shares the realities behind her path—balancing multiple roles while rejecting the idea that success means doing everything at once. Instead, she reframes it as alignment: choosing what matters and being intentional about where energy is placed. That perspective shapes not just how she works, but how she approaches beauty itself. The conversation also explores how personal experience informs product philosophy. Growing up without access to education or solutions tailored to melanin-rich skin, Sabrina navigated skincare through trial and error—often encountering products that created more imbalance than improvement. That experience led her to question how the industry defines skin concerns and to build an approach rooted in balance, restraint, and long-term skin health rather than quick fixes. A key dimension of the episode centers on cultural integrity. Sabrina highlights how often ingredients are sourced without acknowledgment of their origins or the communities behind them, and why transparency must extend beyond formulation into the entire supply chain. Ultimately, this episode reframes beauty as something more intentional and accountable—where meaning, science, and culture intersect.Listen to the full episode to hear Sabrina Dhowre Elba share her perspective on building beauty with clarity, purpose, and integrity.Shop S'ABLE LabsDon’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
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How Lash Care Became Its Own Category With Dr. Michael Brinkenhoff of RevitaLash Cosmetics
Apr 3000:42:36Summary readySend us Fan MailIn this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Michael Brinkenhoff, M.D., Founder and CEO of RevitaLash Cosmetics, to explore the deeply personal story behind one of the most recognizable names in lash care. What began as a private act of care during his wife’s battle with metastatic breast cancer ultimately reshaped an entire category in beauty.RevitaLash Cosmetics was never intended to be a business. It started as a gift of love—created to help his wife feel like herself again after her treatment damaged her eyelashes. But the results spoke for themselves. Friends noticed, demand grew organically, and without traditional marketing, the product spread through real experience rather than hype. In doing so, it challenged a long-standing belief: that cosmetic products rarely deliver meaningful results.Beyond its origin, this episode explores a more nuanced perspective on beauty itself. Dr. Brinkenhoff reflects on how that experience changed his understanding of medicine—highlighting the role of self-perception in recovery. Something as small as eyelashes can carry significant emotional weight, influencing confidence, identity, and how someone re-engages with the world after illness.The conversation also underscores a disciplined approach to building in beauty. RevitaLash Cosmetics scaled intentionally, prioritizing safety, formulation integrity, and trust over speed. That same foundation extends into its ongoing commitment to breast cancer research and patient-centered philanthropy.This episode reframes innovation as something rooted in real human need. Listen to the full episode to hear how RevitaLash Cosmetics was built at the intersection of science, care, and purpose.Shop RevitaLashDon’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 collaborationSupport the show
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What “Efficacy” Actually Means in Skincare with Jack Jia of Musely
Apr 2800:59:30Summary readySend us Fan MailIn this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Jack Jia of Musely to unpack one of the most misunderstood ideas in beauty: efficacy. In a market flooded with promises, this conversation cuts through the noise to ask a more fundamental question—what can skincare actually do?What emerges is a clear divide between perception and reality. Most products on the market aren’t designed to treat skin conditions at a biological level. By definition, they can’t. Once a product begins to alter the structure or function of the skin, it moves out of the cosmetic category and into pharmaceutical territory—where regulation, cost, and accessibility shift entirely. The result is a system where the majority of products, regardless of price, operate within the same limits.This becomes especially clear when addressing real conditions like melasma, acne, or photoaging. These are not surface-level concerns—they’re biological processes. And yet, many consumers cycle through products expecting transformation from formulations that are only designed to support the skin, not treat it.The conversation also challenges widely accepted “hero” ingredients, highlighting how mechanisms matter more than marketing. Without proper delivery, conversion, or clinical strength, even well-known actives may fall short of meaningful impact.Ultimately, this episode reframes skincare as a system, not a solution. Some products maintain. Others treat. Understanding that distinction changes how—and why—you choose what you use.Listen to the full episode to hear Jack Jia break down the limits of skincare, the role of regulation, and what real efficacy actually looks like.Shop MuselyUse oromo code: SKIN28 for 28% off all treatmentsPROMOTION TERMS: Code SKIN28 must be input at checkout to apply 28% off any Musely treatment(s); Must be initial order with “Refill Every 2 Months” or “Refill Every 3 Months” selected at cart, or for prescription renewals. The $20 doctor visit fee is excluded by law.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 collaborationSupport the show
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From Anti-Aging to Longevity Thinking with Amitay and Anastasia of Young Goose Skincare
Apr 2301:10:28Summary readySend us Fan MailIn this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Amitay Eshel and Anastasia Khodzhaeva of Young Goose to challenge one of skincare’s most ingrained assumptions: that skin is something to fix. Instead, this conversation reframes skin as a dynamic, responsive organ—one that reflects internal biology in real time.What unfolds is a shift in perspective. Skin is not just a surface—it’s an output. Stress, sleep, inflammation, and metabolic health all show up visibly, often before anything appears in labs or diagnoses. This changes the question entirely. Instead of asking how to correct what we see, the focus turns to why it’s happening in the first place.A central theme is the balance between stimulus and recovery. Every treatment, active, or environmental exposure acts as a form of stress. While stimulation can drive results, it only works when paired with adequate recovery. Without that balance, the system becomes overloaded—leading to the very issues many routines aim to fix. More products, more treatments, more steps don’t always mean better outcomes. In many cases, they signal a system pushed beyond its capacity to repair.The conversation also distinguishes longevity from traditional anti-aging. Rather than reacting to damage, longevity focuses on preserving the systems that prevent it—supporting cellular energy, repair pathways, and resilience over time. Results, in this model, are not immediate—they compound.This episode reframes skincare as strategy, not accumulation. Listen to the full episode to hear how Amitay Eshel and Anastasia Khodzhaeva are redefining skin health through the lens of longevity and biological function.Shop Young GooseDon’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 collaborationSupport the show
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