Podcast Summary: Skin Anarchy – "Lessons in Longevity: The NAD Conversation and the Evolution of Modern Skincare with Melisse Shaban"

Date: February 17, 2026
Host: Dr. Ekta
Guest: Melisse Shaban, visionary entrepreneur (founder of Virtue, leader at Rmory/Aramore, Aveda, Body Shop, Strivectin, and more)

Episode Overview

This episode of Skin Anarchy dives into the intersection of longevity science and modern skincare, focusing on the role of cellular energy—specifically NAD— in skin health and aging. Host Dr. Ekta and special guest Melisse Shaban discuss the shifting definitions of beauty, the science behind "biology-first" skincare, innovations from labs outside the beauty industry, and how consumer education is evolving. From behind-the-scenes stories to candid insights on marketing, industry trends, and clinical evidence, this conversation is both deeply scientific and refreshingly honest.

Key Themes & Insights

Melisse Shaban's Journey & Evolution in Beauty

• Family roots & early days: Melisse was raised around the beauty industry—her father worked for Revlon—and found her passion not for beauty itself, but for understanding consumer psychology and authentic communication.
• Industry transformation: She witnessed the shift from "hope in a jar" and shame-based marketing to a wellness-centric, empowering approach.
• Vision for leadership: Success in beauty often comes by breaking the mold, collaborating with “brilliant, crazy” visionaries (03:15).

Redefining Beauty & the Age Factor

• Beauty through the prism of wellness:
  “We’re in a period… where defining beauty is really through the prism of wellness. And I think we’re going to, to that, we’re going to get joy.” (03:15, B)
• Age as a new standard: Shifting from youthful ideals set by male-dominated leadership toward celebrating beauty at every stage, especially after 50 (04:33).
• Industry’s “pet peeves”: Overuse of anti-aging and lack of real biological consideration in product marketing (06:10).

The Rise of Science-Led Skincare

• Science-first, not marketing-first:
  “Clinical skincare, medical grade skincare... none of this stuff means anything. But I think when you say science first, that does mean something.” (06:10, A)
• Product innovation comes from real science:
  • Shared examples of Strivectin (originating from skin cancer research), Virtue (born from military-grade regenerative medicine), and Rmory/Aramore (advanced NAD research by top-tier academics and peptide chemists) (07:12–11:13).
  • Laboratories working on disease often inadvertently produce breakthrough skincare ingredients (09:59).

The NAD Conversation: What It Means for Skin Longevity

Understanding NAD in Skincare

• Essential cellular fuel:
  “All of your cells, every living cell… requires NAD because it stimulates cell [energy].” (16:42, B)
• Challenge of delivery:
  Historically, NAD molecules were too large to penetrate skin; recent advances allow “stimulating NAD in your own body with the skin” using fatty ketone pathways (16:42–18:34).

Real-World Implications & Consumer Education

• Longevity as daily maintenance:
  “This is like steady, everyday nourishment of your cells.” (20:20, A)
• Prevention over intervention: Early NAD support can lengthen the ‘healthspan’ of skin by continually supporting cell health (18:34–20:13).
• The “soldier analogy” for skin cell renewal:
  “Think of it as soldiers… working their way up to the front lines... We want those soldiers to be strong and full and really robust.” (32:55, B)

Key Recovery & Intervention Concepts

• NAD’s role in recovery and intervention:
  “NAD plays a very big role in how effective that stimulation is and how quickly you recover... after disruption.” (22:22, B)
• Everyday ‘recovery’ is as vital as intervention: “Recovery is a really important component of longevity… We are recovering every day. From something.” (22:22, B)

Industry Critique: Science, Marketing, and Consumer Clarity

Science vs. Hype

• Call for better clinical standards:
  “It’s a discipline of both the industry spending the money on clinical data, not consumer perception…” (25:28, B)
• Transparency over perception:
  – “8 out of 10 consumers saw their skin was dewier. Of course they did. You just put moisturizer on.” (25:46, B)

Influencers & Misinformation

• Needs for scientific literacy in the space:
  “Influencers… need to read a lot more on skin science, for real.” (26:13, A)
• Policing false claims: The industry must regulate claims and demand true clinical proof, not just "shilling" (27:01, B).

Ingredient Transparency & the Barrier Debate

• Misleading claims:
  “It is very common in this industry to put trace level ingredients in that allow you to make a claim…” (29:43, B)
• Barrier integrity: 99.9% of ingredients don’t penetrate the barrier—and often shouldn’t, to avoid drug claims (30:17, B).

Longevity, Targeted Delivery, and Rethinking Rituals

Organ-Targeted Delivery Logic

• Drug delivery principles apply:
  “When drugs are developed, their vehicle is developed to go directly to the organ... So why aren’t we looking at longevity the same way?” (39:52–41:48, A)
• Skincare as the rational longevity route:
  “If you want longevity support for your skin, do it through skincare… not with supplements.” (42:01, A)

Consumer Mindset and Routine Evolution

• Re-evaluating multi-step routines:
  “In 10 years we’re going to look back… and be like, dang, I wish I’d bought that one product I could have used every day.” (46:15, A)
• Learning from sun protection: Success with sunscreen as a public health shift foreshadows what could happen with longevity skincare (47:15, B).

Notable Quotes & Timestamps

• On beauty’s evolution
  “I think we are seeing a transformation about how we think about working culture. I think how we think about how long we're going to live and how we're going to live and that's influencing the industry a lot. Our Target consumer isn't 20. She's 50.” — Melisse (04:33)

• On real science in skincare
  “Some of the best innovations are happening…in labs that are not even…they don't care about skin care at first. They're more worried about 'let’s solve a problem.'" — Ekta (09:59)

• On NAD’s role and breakthrough
  “The body needs NAD...the challenge historically with skin is there’s no way to deliver NAD to the cellular level…what these scientists…have been able to do is stimulate NAD in your own body, with the skin, through a fatty ketone.” — Melisse (16:42–18:34)

• On the need for better standards
  “It's incumbent upon people like yourself and...real clinicians to call BS when it's BS and not let companies get away with it.” — Melisse (25:50)

• On the importance of recovery
  “Recovery is a really important component of longevity and it's a really important component of life. … We're always recovering.” — Melisse (22:22)

• On industry responsibility
  “Have to do a better job. But misleading consumers for our own commercial benefit...it does catch up with you at some point.” — Melisse (30:17)

• On the logic of topical delivery
  “The skin is the largest surface area that we have… So, it actually makes more sense if you do go in that way… do it through skincare, don’t do it through supplements.” — Ekta (41:48–42:01)

• On seeing real results
  “The first time I noticed real results… it was an exfoliation night… and I woke up to the most beautiful, glowing, healthy looking skin…” — Ekta (31:31)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Introduction & Melisse’s Story: 00:00–03:15
• Industry Shifts: Beauty, Age, and Wellness: 03:15–06:10
• Defining and Demanding "Science-First" Skincare: 06:10–11:13
• How Lab Innovations Translate to Skincare: 09:59–11:13
• NAD, Cellular Health, and Skin Longevity: 15:44–22:22
• Recovery, Intervention, and the Future of Skin Longevity: 22:22–25:50
• Clinical Claims, Influence, and Marketing Pitfalls: 25:50–31:31
• Targeted Delivery vs. Supplement Stacks: 39:52–42:01
• Closing Reflections: Precaution, Prevention, and Routine Evolution: 46:15–49:54

Memorable Moments

• Soldier analogy for skin cell layers & renewal (32:55)
• “Don’t yuck somebody’s yum” — on personalizing longevity and self-care routines (42:01)
• Comparison to sunscreen’s journey as an example for longevity skincare’s future (47:15)

Language & Tone

The episode is candid, passionate, and no-nonsense—balancing warmth, scientific depth, and a healthy dose of industry skepticism.

Final Takeaways

• The next era of skincare is all about biology, cellular energy, and longevity—not quick fixes or anti-aging hype.
• Consumer education, demanding real science and clinical data, is essential for moving the industry forward.
• Longevity science will likely follow the path of sun protection awareness—becoming daily, targeted, and universally valued.
• Both host and guest advocate for skepticism, transparency, and curiosity in the pursuit of healthier, more vibrant skin—at every age.

For those who want fresh thinking and real science in their beauty routine, this is a must-listen (or read) conversation.