Skin Anarchy – Lessons in Longevity: The Science Behind OneSkin

With Co-Founders Carolina Reis Oliveira & Alessandra Zonari
Host: Dr. Ekta
Date: January 19, 2026

Overview

This episode of Skin Anarchy continues the “Lessons in Longevity” series, focusing on the intersection of cutting-edge longevity science and skincare. Dr. Ekta hosts Dr. Carolina Reis Oliveira and Dr. Alessandra Zonari, the scientist co-founders of OneSkin, who discuss their journey from laboratory research to pioneering a new approach in skincare by targeting the root biological causes of aging. The conversation unveils the science behind senescence, the development of OneSkin’s flagship peptide OS1, and addresses the broader implications of true, health-focused longevity in skin and beyond.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Origin Story: Bringing Science to Skincare

• Founders’ Backgrounds
  • The co-founders met nearly 20 years ago in a Brazilian lab during their postgrad training, driven by the vision of translating academic science into transformative health products.
• Lab Insights that Inspired OneSkin
  • Early work tested “anti-aging” products on human skin grown in the lab, revealing many products actually caused inflammation and accelerated aging at the cellular level, contrary to their marketed claims.

    “A lot of these products that were supposed to promote skin rejuvenation … were actually causing some inflammation, some toxicity, potentially accelerating aging." — Carolina (01:57)

• Gap in the Market
  • While longevity companies in Silicon Valley started targeting age-related diseases, no one was applying this modern science to skin, the body’s largest organ.
• Mission Statement
  • Focus on improving skin health, considering beauty as a consequence of health, and include skin as a critical organ in the longevity conversation.

The Science of Senescence (05:01–08:31)

• Cellular Senescence Explained
  • Senescent cells are damaged cells that have stopped dividing and begin secreting inflammatory substances, leading to accelerated aging and deterioration of tissue function.
  • “It’s like a moldy orange in a basket — the bad orange spreads to the healthy ones... ‘Senescence’ is that moldy orange.” — Alessandra (06:25)
• Skin-Specific Effects
  • Senescent cells in skin increase collagen breakdown, decrease collagen production, and undermine the skin barrier.
• Longevity Approach
  • Longevity interventions aim to slow, reverse, or mitigate the accumulation and impact of senescent cells.

Product Differentiation: Face vs. Body (08:31–12:39)

• Formulation Approach
  • Both the face and body products feature the OS1 peptide, but are uniquely formulated for the needs of each area:
    • Face: Lightweight, non-oily, with antioxidants, three types of hyaluronic acid, vitamin E.
    • Body: Enhanced hydration (mushroom extract, sulforaphane), designed for strength and improved thickness of the skin without greasiness.
• Holistic Skin Health
  • OneSkin’s philosophy is to treat the body’s skin as important as facial skin.

    “The beauty industry has looked a lot to the face and … fast fixes … For us, the skin is an important organ for your whole body.” — Alessandra (11:36)

• Product Expansion
  • Applied the same principle to products for lips and scalp, emphasizing skin’s systemic importance rather than quick, aesthetic fixes.

Effects and Data: Clinical Results & Surprises (14:03–20:34)

• Development Timeline
  • Screened over 900 peptides in five years; OS1 was selected for its ability to reduce senescent cells by 20–50%.
• Lab Data vs. Marketed Anti-Aging Products
  • Lab testing showed many anti-aging products made skin layers thinner, while OS1 increased epidermal thickness, collagen, and hyaluronic acid without inflammation.
  • ”We found one [peptide] that reduced up to 50% the number of senescent cells…without the irritation of retinol.” — Carolina (14:32)
• Clinical Study Results
  • Face Product: 95% saw improvement in firmness; 87% in fine lines and wrinkles; 20% improvement in skin barrier.
  • Body Product: In participants aged 60+, hydration and skin barrier improved by ~40%; blood tests showed reduced systemic inflammatory markers (notably IL-8).

    “When you have a stronger skin barrier...you can actually help to slow down the pace of inflammation in your whole body. That starts to connect really skin health and longevity.” — Alessandra (19:09)

Inflammation as the Root of Aging (20:34–27:18)

• Inflammation's Central Role
  • Chronic low-grade inflammation (“inflammaging”) is implicated as the most significant driver of aging, various symptoms, and chronic diseases.

    “If you can control inflammation, you can heal any organ in the body.” — Dr. Ekta (20:34)

  • Retinoids and acids, though popular, can cause chronic skin inflammation.
• Senescent Cells & Inflammation
  • It’s not just their presence, but their release of inflammatory signals that accelerates breakdown and tissue degradation.

Biomarkers and Longevity Measurement (23:53–27:18)

• Complexity Over Simplicity
  • There is no single perfect marker for senescence; instead, scientists use a panel:
    • Beta-galactosidase, gene expression (P16, P21), inflammatory cytokines, DNA damage.
  • The best proxy for progress in longevity may be the reduction of pro-inflammatory markers (e.g., IL-8, IL-1 alpha, MMP1).
• Personalization
  • Aging and inflammation pathways are influenced by environment, stress, lifestyle, and community — a one-size-fits-all biomarker is unlikely.

Hair & Scalp: Extending Longevity Science (29:03–33:31)

• Scalp & Hair Aging
  • The scalp is continuous with the skin and subject to similar aging mechanisms: senescent cells play a role in hair thinning and age-related hair loss.
  • OS1, supported by other ingredients (antioxidants, prebiotics), was tested on hair follicles stressed in the lab—demonstrated reduced senescence.
• Clinical Study Results
  • Six-month human studies showed 40% average increase in hair density, 42% increase in hair thickness (with derma-roller application).

    “It’s a product that takes longer to see results … but people are seeing really good results.” — Carolina (33:31)

Mindset Shift: What Longevity Really Means in Skincare (34:01–41:39)

• True Longevity ≠ Quick Fixes
  • Longevity means optimizing cellular health and targeting the hallmarks of aging at the root cause—not merely smoothing skin for temporary visual effect.
  • Quick improvements in appearance do not equate to longevity.

    “Longevity means your body working healthier throughout the aging process…You need to be targeting some of the drivers of aging. Otherwise, you’re not talking about longevity." — Alessandra (34:33)

• Consistency is Key
  • Like wellness routines, longevity interventions require consistent daily practice.
  • Over-use of aggressive acids and retinoids may actually undermine long-term skin health.
  • “Cell signaling doesn’t happen when you do it one day out of the month. You need to be consistent every day.” — Dr. Ekta (38:01)
• Evolving Consumerism
  • The era of perpetual product rotation and over-consumption is being replaced by targeted, effective minimalism in skincare.

The Future of Science-Driven Skincare: AI & Product Development (41:39–46:11)

• Role of AI in Biotechnology
  • AI accelerates molecular discovery and specificity by quickly modeling peptide interactions and selecting top candidates for lab validation.
    • Before AI: Manual testing of hundreds of molecules.
    • With AI: Targeted prediction yields a handful of promising candidates.

    “With AI … instead of coming back with 700 peptides to test in the lab, I’m coming back with five.” — Alessandra (44:28)

• Intentional Product Line
  • OneSkin deliberately keeps its line minimal and purposeful, targeting holistic skin health: “Less is more.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “The beauty industry has looked a lot to the face and … fast fixes … For us, the skin is an important organ for your whole body.”
  — Alessandra (11:36)

• “A lot of these products that were supposed to promote skin rejuvenation … were actually causing some inflammation, some toxicity, potentially accelerating aging."
  — Carolina (01:57)

• “It’s like a moldy orange in a basket — the bad orange spreads to the healthy ones... ‘Senescence’ is that moldy orange.”
  — Alessandra (06:25)

• “If you can control inflammation, you can heal any organ in the body.”
  — Dr. Ekta (20:34)

• “Longevity means your body working healthier throughout the aging process…You need to be targeting some of the drivers of aging. Otherwise, you’re not talking about longevity.”
  — Alessandra (34:33)

• “Cell signaling doesn’t happen when you do it one day out of the month. You need to be consistent every day.”
  — Dr. Ekta (38:01)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:00–01:18 – Introductions & founders’ story
• 04:36–08:31 – Cellular senescence & its impact on skin aging
• 08:31–12:39 – Face vs body formulation and holistic approach
• 14:03–20:34 – Clinical data, lab surprises, and real-world results
• 20:34–27:18 – Why inflammation matters and biomarkers of aging
• 29:03–33:31 – OneSkin’s approach to scalp/hair products
• 34:01–41:39 – Redefining longevity, importance of consistency, consumer mindset shift
• 41:39–46:11 – AI in science-driven product development and the value of minimalism in skincare

Final Thoughts

In this episode, OneSkin’s co-founders provided a comprehensive look at how scientific rigor and deep understanding of aging biology are revolutionizing skincare. They advocate for a paradigm shift from superficial, result-chasing products toward those that target the underlying causes of aging—senescence and chronic inflammation. The conversation goes beyond skincare, painting a picture of longevity that is rooted in health, consistency, and intentional simplicity. Whether it's their data-driven approach to new product development or their vision for the future integration of AI, OneSkin aims to shape the next era of both beauty and wellness.

For more, follow Skin Anarchy on Instagram @skincareanarchy, and discover OneSkin’s science-backed products.