Podcast Summary: The blondEST

Episode: This Is Why You're Always Breaking Out
Host: Savanna Boda (The Dallas Aesthetician)
Date: August 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of The blondEST centers around answering rapidfire skincare questions from listeners, focused heavily on acne, breakouts, and barrier health. Host Savanna Boda, joined by Tyler, delivers candid, expert insights mixed with their signature playful, no-nonsense banter. Topics range widely—from specific product recommendations and treatment protocols to funny personal stories and industry tips.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Personal Fun Facts

• Personal health history:
  • Savanna shares she had Guillain-Barre syndrome as a child, describing it as a “neurological disorder, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves” (01:41).
  • Tyler mentions catching “every, like, novel disease… swine flu” (02:36).
  • Memorable playful exchange about who had the worse childhood illness:
    • Savanna: "It's worse, bitch. I think." (01:11)

2. Favorite Products & Brands

• Jewelry:

  • Savanna currently likes Logan Hollowell but prefers mixing unique pieces (02:48).

• Editing & Camera Tools:

  • Capcut is the editing app of choice (04:05).
  • GoPro for underwater photos (04:13).

3. Skincare Q&A

Acne Programs & Product Preferences

• Face Reality vs. Glymed Acne Education:
  • Savanna hasn’t done Glymed plus acne education, prefers only certain Glymed products for acne: “...besides like Idealic cleanser and like sulfur mask” (03:26).

Pore Minimizing

• Routine suggestion:
  • “Maestro with clearing serum and a little bit of refining foam cleanser and detoxifying scrub mask” (03:52).

Managing Strawberry Legs

• Exfoliate & hydrate:
  • “I would do personally Cinnamon Vanilla Scrub and Encore Body and then Alpharet Body at night” (04:43).

Mandelic Acid (Face Reality) Effectiveness

• Individualized treatment:
  • “Depends on your skin. I need to see ya... can’t answer that without seeing them or knowing any history...” (05:01).
  • General advice: “Everyone would be fine with 5%, but it may not be ideal” (05:16).

Skincare Before Water Activities

• Morning regimen still matters:
  • “...gentle active like Onduer, 5% mandelic, a hydrating serum, a pigment inhibitor, vitamin C, sunscreen” (05:39).
  • Wait at least 20 minutes to let products absorb before getting into water (06:10).

Acne Scarring (Dents/Craters)

• In-office treatments preferred:
  • “TCA cross, a blade of lasers. Topicals alone will not fix it” (06:26).

Suspera & At-Home Chemical Peels

• Not the same:
  • “It’s just a powerful pigment inhibitor. It’s not exfoliating” (06:40).

Eye Treatment Product Breakdown

(One of the most detailed segments)

• Comparing SkinBetter Interfuse Eye, IMAX, and Plated Eye Serums:

  • Interfuse Eye: Peptides “able to do what they can do to their full capacity” due to novel delivery tech; “amazing for crow's feet, lines, wrinkles” (08:17).
  • IMAX: Uses Alpharet (retinoic acid + lactic acid); great “as a nighttime for anti aging of the eye… especially if you have milia” (09:46).
  • Plated Eye: Exosomes, “literally going to tighten the skin on your eyes—if you have hooded eyes, that's gonna help. And then also it builds new collagen and elastin” (10:22).
  • Best regimen: “Plated eye first then Interfuse on top in the morning, then Plated first at night and IMAX on top” (10:42).

• Notable Quote:

  • “Milia is going to literally fall off your eye.” – Savanna (10:01)

Exfoliants and Skin Concerns

• Difference between Ondue and Glass Skin Liquid Exfoliant:

  • Glass Skin = BHA (salicylic, stronger), Ondue = PHA (gentle) (11:03).

• Dermatitis patch under nose:

  • Alternate to prescription: “Sieve and lipid serum and then Ondo and comfort cream in that order” (11:44).

Practitioner & Client Relations

• Building clientele from followers:

  • “Showcasing your results, connecting with them, showing your personality. People book because they feel a connection to you, not just because of what you’re offering” (11:53).

• Successful esthetician tip:

  • “Be a trailblazer. Be different. Do something that no one's done before, period.” (16:23)

Sunscreen & Makeup

• Tonesmart vs. Flex (Colorescience):
  • Tonesmart preferred for acne-prone skin; Flex better for aging but can cause breakouts for some (12:25).
  • “Out of 100% of acne prone people, 40% will break out with Flex. And I am one of the 40%.” (12:42)
  • Thinness/coverage difference discussed (13:07).

4. Product Recommendations & Pregnancy Considerations

• Pregnancy-safe acne:

  • “8% mandalic, lipid serum, carboxy mousse, sulfur mask three times a week” (13:57).

• Vitamin C for sensitive skin:

  • "Yes, because [Alto] is a THD, it's oil soluble and... really good for acne because it helps reduce inflammation and redness." (14:30)

• General regimen size:

  • “As little as six and as many as 12” products, depending on budget and commitment (15:01).

• CBD mist and pregnancy:

  • “It is post show” (15:54).

• Alternating actives:

  • Okay to alternate mandelic and undo daily (16:01).
  • Alto Advanced recommended in AM only (16:08).

5. Industry & Procedure Tips

• Favorite medical aesthetic treatment not done in office:

  • “Emsculpt and Dadsign… Or mirror dry—makes you not sweat or have body odor… it's expensive as fuck, it's painful as and the downtime's like awesome.” (16:50, 16:54)

• Cleaning Colorescience Powder SPF brush:

  • “Use hyacinth. Active. Never had mine clump. But they're antimicrobial, so you don’t really need to wash them.” (17:52)

• Best products for cystic jawline/chin acne:

  • “Regular alpharet, carboxy mousse, sulfur mask, lipid serum” (18:09).

• SPF for sensitive oily skin tone:

  • Tonesmart (18:38).

• Body SPF that doesn’t stain:

  • Colorescience No Show for body (19:03).
  • Honesty about daily use: “I’mma be honest. I could not imagine applying body SPF every day.” (19:19).

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On giving individualized advice:

  • “That would be unethical and like shooting in the dark.” – Savanna, on giving acid percentage advice online (05:10)

• On rapid product stacking:

  • “I'm not gonna have anyone on, like, six serums, you know.” – Savanna (15:35)

• Industry advice for new estheticians:

  • “Be a trailblazer. Be different. Do something that no one's done before, period.” – Savanna (16:23)

• On the reality of daily SPF body application:

  • “I could not imagine applying body SPF every day. Anyway, y’all.” (19:19)

• Classic playful roast:

  • “Why are you trying to one up me? Fuck you.” – Savanna to Tyler (01:06)

Timestamps for Noteworthy Segments

• [01:41] – Guillain-Barre Syndrome explanation
• [03:26] – Glymed vs. Face Reality for acne: product preferences
• [05:01] – Mandelic acid individualization and ethics
• [05:39] – Skincare before swimming/beach
• [06:26] – Treating acne scarring (dents/craters)
• [08:17] – In-depth breakdown of eye product technologies
• [12:25] – Tonesmart vs. Flex for acne-prone and aging skin
• [13:57] – Pregnancy-safe acne routine
• [16:23] – Industry success advice for estheticians
• [19:03] – Favorite body SPF and the reality of daily use

Overall Tone

• Savanna and Tyler maintain a candid, approachable style with plenty of inside jokes and real-life honesty.
• Advice is delivered in a straightforward manner, focused on individualized care and a deep understanding of ingredients and mechanisms.
• No question is too small, and the vibe encourages listeners to take skin health seriously, while not taking themselves too seriously.

For listeners seeking direct, actionable acne and skincare guidance with a healthy dose of expert-level breakdowns and personality, this episode is both informative and highly entertaining.