Podcast Summary: The blondEST
Episode: Black Friday Skincare Breakdown
Host: Savanna Boda (The Dallas Aesthetician)
Date: November 24, 2025
Episode Overview
In this episode, Savanna Boda dives deep into the best skincare strategies, her favorite products, and essential advice for navigating Black Friday sales—especially the highly anticipated promotions from Skinbetter Science, a leading medical-grade skincare brand. The conversation is rich with practical advice for various skin concerns, key product recommendations, and candid, humorous banter. Savanna's deep expertise and passion for ethical, result-driven aesthetics take center stage, while the episode maintains an authentic, friendly vibe.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. The Power & Burden of Deep Thinking (00:09–01:06)
- Savanna opens up about her overactive mind, touching on how deep thinking has been both a blessing and a curse for her happiness and career success.
- Quote: “Everything holds so much weight to me, which is like one of my superpowers… but it also is, like, the biggest source of my unhappiness because, like, you are what you think.” – Savanna (00:16)
- She briefly discusses mental health before pivoting focus back to skincare.
2. Black Friday Sales & Stocking Up (01:06–02:31)
- Savanna and her cohost detail the year’s biggest Skinbetter sale, recommending listeners stock up since unopened products are good for 24 months.
- They enumerate the exclusive gifts with purchase and limited-edition travel bag for qualifying orders.
- Quote: “If you have a 15 step skincare regimen you can fit the entire thing. Full size bottles in this travel bag. It’s insane.” – Cohost (02:21)
3. Personalized Product Regimens for Skin Concerns (03:07–09:33)
Savanna shares her four must-have Skinbetter products for a variety of skin concerns in a rapid-fire Q&A format:
Hormonal Acne (03:41–04:15)
- Clearing serum with salicylic acid (if tolerated)
- Alpharet (retinoid, for those who can’t do salicylic)
- Maestro Revive (skin balancing, especially for hormone-triggered breakouts)
- Trio moisturizer (non-comedogenic)
- Peel pads (2–3x weekly)
Congested Skin (04:21)
- Refining foam cleanser
- Detox scrub mask (1–2x per week)
- Peel pads
- Clearing serum
Oily Skin (04:45)
- Cleansing gel
- Refining foam
- Maestro for oil balance
- Clearing serum
- Trio moisturizer
Rosacea (05:10)
- Alto Advanced
- Even Tone
- Maestro
- Alpharet or clearing serum
- Quote: “Clearing serum is coming out on top right now.” – Savanna (05:30)
Hyperpigmentation / Melasma (05:58)
- Alto Advanced
- Even Intensive
- Maestro Revive (for hormonal triggers)
- Intensive Alpharet
- Peel pads (if possible)
Texture, Fine Lines, Aging, Dark Circles, Uneven Tone, Blackheads (06:25–09:26)
- Specifics for each concern; notable is Savanna’s enthusiasm for peel pads being “magic erasers for your face” (12:59), and the multiple uses for Detox scrub mask.
4. Memorable Moments and Light Interludes
The “Dank” Smell Mystery (09:35–11:55)
- A humorous anecdote about a strong smell in the spa that turns out to be sage, not marijuana.
- Quote: “I was like, someone smoking reefer in my building… It was sage.” – Savanna (10:29, 11:15)
5. The Skinbetter Line: Deep Dives and Must-Haves (12:00–17:28)
Savanna’s Recommendations (12:02–13:57)
- Top three for anyone: Alto Advanced, Alpharet, and Trio
- Intensive Alpharet for experienced users
- Clearing serum for acne-prone skin (unless sensitive to salicylic acid—Alpharet still works)
Bonus Gems
- Biorewind for reversing glycation (and bonus hair growth!)
- Peel pads for everything from acne to melasma
- Quote: “They’re like literally, literally magic erasers for your face…you’ll wake up and be like a brand new bitch.” – Savanna (13:46)
- Maestro Revive for balancing hormonal skin
Cohost’s Must-Haves and Testimonial (14:16–19:44)
- Alpharet as a non-scary retinoid: “Within three days, like, every bit of irritation I had on my face was completely, like, reduced. My pores were smaller. My, like, complexion was just more even.” – Cohost (15:29)
- Tonesmart Lotion for SPF and color correction
- Detox Scrub for triple-action exfoliation and oil control (with Jojoba beads, glycolic acid, and clay)
- Trio as “more than a moisturizer, it is a moisture treatment”
- Praise for Skinbetter: “They all not only have some of the best technology out there...but feel the best out of every product on the market.” – Cohost (19:22)
Notable Quotes
- “Everything holds so much weight to me, which is like one of my superpowers…and that's why I've been able to create what I've created because of my brain. But it also is, like, the biggest source of my unhappiness…” – Savanna (00:16)
- “If you have a 15 step skincare regimen you can fit the entire thing. Full size bottles in this travel bag. It’s insane.” – Cohost (02:21)
- “Clearing serum is coming out on top right now.” – Savanna (05:30)
- “They’re like literally, literally magic erasers for your face…you’ll wake up and be like a brand new bitch.” – Savanna (13:46)
- “Within three days, like, every bit of irritation I had on my face was completely, like, reduced. My pores were smaller. My, like, complexion was just more even.” – Cohost (15:29)
- “They all not only have some of the best technology out there...but feel the best out of every product on the market.” – Cohost (19:22)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 00:09 – Savanna on deep thinking and creativity
- 01:06 – Black Friday sale details and stocking tips
- 03:41 – Hormonal acne regimen
- 04:21 – Congested skin regimen
- 05:10 – Oily skin, rosacea, and more regimens
- 09:35 – “Dank” smell spa anecdote
- 12:00 – Savanna’s Skinbetter must-haves & usage advice
- 14:16 – Cohost’s Skinbetter testimonial
- 19:44 – Closing thoughts and preview of the next episode
Takeaways & Recommendations
- Stock up during Black Friday for the best deals, especially on medical-grade skincare.
- Personalize your skincare based on your specific concerns—Savanna provides simple, effective regimens.
- Don’t be afraid to switch from harsh actives like salicylic acid to gentler, innovative formulations like Alpharet.
- Peel pads and multitasking products like Detox Scrub are game changers for a variety of skin concerns.
- Skinbetter products unite luxury feel with clinical-grade results.
The episode blends expert advice with genuine, relatable conversation, making it highly informative and approachable for skincare enthusiasts at every level.