Skin Anarchy: The Wisdom of Intentional Skincare with Molly Sims of YSE Beauty

Podcast: Skin Anarchy
Host: Dr. Ekta
Guest: Molly Sims, Model, Podcaster, Founder of YSE Beauty
Date: December 10, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Skin Anarchy features a rich, candid conversation between host Dr. Ekta and the multifaceted Molly Sims—model, podcaster (“Lipstick on the Rim”), and founder of YSE Beauty (pronounced “Wise Beauty”). The discussion explores Molly’s lifelong relationship with beauty, cultural perspectives on skincare, the evolution and philosophy behind her brand, and actionable wisdom for navigating both personal skincare and entrepreneurship in the crowded beauty industry.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Molly Sims' Beauty Origin Story

• Influences: Molly’s introduction to beauty stemmed from her mother’s love of self-care and chic style, as well as from reading iconic fashion magazines before the age of digital overload.

  • “My mom was a huge—she just was everything to me. She was so aspirational and she was so chic and she was so fun. Watching her and seeing what she did and how she did it, I definitely think... beauty was her thing, and she embodied it.” (03:03)

• Early Beauty Fandom: She recounts using products like Aussie scrunch spray as a teen and following three-step routines from the Clinique counter.

  • “In your kid years, you'll use two bottles of Aussie scrunch spray to curl your hair after everyone says it looks absolutely ridiculous. But you'll do it anyways because you love it. And now, my friend, is the beginning of my beauty journey.” (02:03)

• Modeling Journey: Molly left a potential law career after Vanderbilt to pursue modeling in New York, which evolved into years spent in Europe—significantly shaping her appreciation for different styles and approaches to beauty.

  • “It was like going to school...I learned how the French girls do the undone done better than anything; the Brits make it a little rock, a little edge; the Italians, it's all very sexy, very easy, very flowy.” (03:27)

2. Changing Trends & Philosophies in Skincare

• European vs. American Approaches:

  • Molly admires the European mindset centered on daily self-maintenance and subtler interventions, compared to America’s more aggressive, all-or-nothing approach.
  • “They absolutely do things and take care of themselves. They just do it in a very different way than Americans.” (04:41)

• Reflections on Aesthetic Trends:

  • Both Dr. Ekta and Molly question aggressive trends such as over-exfoliation, extensive use of fillers in young women, and the misconception that women must drastically change their routines after a certain age.
  • “Look at what's happening with filler...It's insane when I see people and this is no shade to anybody. Do you! By all means. But when I see these girls that are 21 years old and their face is filled, I'm just sitting here like, where did we lose the plot?” (06:46)

• Cautions & Lessons:

  • Molly highlights the migration of fillers and long-term dissatisfaction as key issues, and wishes more young women had trusted mentors to guide such decisions.
  • “A lot goes into it. We all, including myself, can't see ourselves at a certain point. And some of the younger girls don't even see it... I just think I wish that you had a really good mentored friend." (08:01)

3. Intentionality & Wisdom in Skincare Choices

• The Ethos of YSE Beauty:

  • Founded out of Molly’s personal frustrations with harsh actives and a lack of inclusive, effective, and pleasurable products for women 35+, YSE Beauty emphasizes multitasking, clinically proven, and “cushioning” products over maximalist routines.
  • “If you're stripping and like sandpaper, then you gotta make sure on the other side you are repairing and barrier. And that I think is our superpower.” (17:53)

• Ingredient Education:

  • Both Dr. Ekta and Molly stress the widespread problem of poor consumer education, especially around actives like retinoids.
  • “Think about retinol... every few months will be like, I know I look dry, I know I look red, I know it's a little patchy, but my skin's getting used to.” (12:13)

• Sensible Product Philosophy:

  • Molly talks about preferring minimalist, multitasking products that are a pleasure to use, and designing her line to avoid the need for owning 57 different products.
  • “I just don't like—even my lip balm, which happens to be sitting here. It's a gloss balm mask all in one. It just looks good, right? Then I turned it into a lip... I want my products to multitask like I do.” (16:40)

• Affordability & Efficacy Over Hype:

  • Strong pushback against luxury products priced for packaging rather than real efficacy.
  • “A lot of the $500 is spent in the packaging.” (21:47)
  • “There is absolutely no biotech out there that justifies like a 5, $600 cream.” (21:53)

4. Building & Running a Beauty Brand

• The Realities of Foundership:

  • Molly shares the struggles of starting and scaling a brand amid a market crowded with celebrity and influencer startups.
  • “Everyone wants to be a founder. It’s one thing to become a founder, and it’s another thing to remain a successful founder.” (27:44)

• Learning from “No”:

  • “I think the word no fuels me... How do you turn the no into a yes... that has built that resilience, that armor, that muscle that today makes me an extremely good founder.” (28:18–28:41)

• Advice for Aspiring Entrepreneurs:

  • Know your “why,” understand market fit, and accept that your business needs—and thus your team—will change as you grow.
  • “What advice would I give? I think you have to be very clear. What is your why? What problem are you solving? How does it fit in the market? And where do you see yourself in five years?” (30:51)
  • “Who you start with at a million dollars is not who you can be with at $10 million. At $20 million, your needs change.” (31:37)

• The Importance of Team & Strategy:

  • Letting go of early team members as the business scales, and the shift from direct-to-consumer (D2C) to retail partnerships (e.g., launching with Sephora).
  • “I now have two completely separate strategies. I have a D2C strategy and a Sephora strategy.” (32:21)

• Learning On the Go:

  • “We checked the wrong box and a font cost me, I don’t know, $90,000... I learn along the way.” (34:19)

• Being Socially Led and Responsive:

  • Focus on serving the needs of her real users, not just chasing trends or viral TikTok moments.
  • “I am a socially led company. First. What do my women want? How do I want to deliver it to them?” (36:10)

5. Product Highlights and Approach

• Cult Favorites:

  • Exfoliating pads (the “exercise” pads) and the multitasking, hydrating lip glosses received special praise from both Molly and Dr. Ekta.
  • “When I started using the exfoliating pads, the exercise, absolutely fell in love. You really killed it with these.” (19:59)
  • “Even your lip glosses, I love them...It’s become my go-to every day. Like the one in the berry shade. Love it.” (26:24)

• Future Product Development:

  • Sneak peeks of new colors and a desire to create universally flattering shades, particularly for deeper skin tones.
  • “I'm also trying to do one that's a little bit more mocha, a little bit richer...a little bit deeper.” (27:28)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Confidence and “It Girl” Energy:

  • “In your teens, your twenties, your thirties, your forties, and your fifties, you'll make choices. People say you shouldn't; make them anyway, boldly, resiliently, and with your whole heart. That's what it means to be an 'It Girl’.” — Molly Sims (01:39)

• On Skincare Simplicity:

  • “Start with three products, get a good cleanser, a good moisturizer, and then pick your poison on what you want to target.” — Molly Sims (24:49)

• On Beauty Education:

  • “You can still have a proprietary complex...but if you’re going to tell people, yeah, I have a $650 cream and it’s going to completely reverse your aging and hyperpigmentation and... This person just spent their rent money on your cream. You know what I mean?” — Dr. Ekta (22:24)

• Entrepreneurial Honesty:

  • “What I know now, I don't even know if I would start a company.” — Molly Sims (29:00)

• On Consistency:

  • “The magic is the consistency and the consistency will get you the long lasting results.” — Molly Sims (24:33)

Key Timestamps

• Molly’s Intro to Beauty & Modeling: 01:04 – 03:40
• European vs. American Skincare Approaches: 03:40 – 05:08
• Discussion on Trends, Fillers, and Maintenance: 05:08 – 09:23
• Intentionality in Skincare & Founding YSE: 12:13 – 19:39
• Cult Product Discussion & Affordability in Beauty: 19:39 – 23:02
• Minimalism, Consistency, & Building a Simple Routine: 23:02 – 25:32
• Product Development Philosophy & Lifestyle Integration: 25:32 – 27:28
• Entrepreneur Advice, Resilience, and Founding Struggles: 27:44 – 35:17
• Scaling, Retail, and Team Strategy: 31:59 – 37:22
• Final Takeaways & Praise: 38:00 – 39:44

Episode Tone & Takeaway

The conversation is warm, candid, and practical—mixing industry wisdom with personal stories, humility, and plenty of humor. Molly embodies the ethos of “wise beauty,” advocating for confidence, intentionality, and not chasing trends or quick fixes. Both she and Dr. Ekta emphasize that the secret to beautiful skin—much like to a successful business—is consistency, self-knowledge, and doing what actually feels good and makes sense for you.

For Listeners:

• If you want honest talk about the realities of beauty business, what actually works in skincare, and building confidence at any age, this episode is a must-listen.
• Notable soundbites on resisting hype, championing intentionality, and what actually goes into launching and scaling a beauty brand.

Follow Skin Anarchy on Instagram, TikTok, and Medium for more science-driven, in-depth beauty discussions.
Follow YSE Beauty and Molly Sims for product launches and authentic industry insights.