Skin Anarchy

In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Smitha Rao—biotechnologist, longtime beauty innovator, and founder of Pareva Beauty—for a grounded, science-first conversation on what skin longevity actually means. Part of the Lessons in Longevity series, this episode challenges the tired idea of “anti-aging” and reframes skincare as long-term biological support rather than surface-level correction.With nearly two decades in biotech and beauty, Smitha brings a rare perspective shaped by molecule development, patents licensed across major brands, and leadership roles behind more than 200 products. That experience revealed a growing disconnect: while consumers want clarity and real science, the industry often defaults to hype, fear-based claims, and trend chasing. Pareva Beauty was born as a response—built on transparency, rigor, and the belief that longevity is about extending skin function and resilience, not reversing time.At the center of the discussion is Molecur 3™, Pareva’s proprietary, plant-based technology inspired by the Hallmarks of Aging. Smitha explains how targeting inflammation, cellular stress, and age-related decline—rather than isolated “anti-aging” claims—creates a more realistic and sustainable path for skin health. The conversation also dives into plant-derived exosomal signaling, why it differs from human-derived systems, and how it offers a safer, scalable approach for topical longevity skincare.Together, Dr. Ekta and Smitha unpack why fewer, better-designed products outperform complex routines, why transparency matters more than vague “clean” labels, and how longevity skincare must earn trust through data—not promises.Listen to the full episode to hear how Smitha Rao is helping redefine the future of skincare—where science, honesty, and long-term skin health come first.Shop Parëva Beauty and use code SA20 for 20% through 3/17.CHAPTERS:(0:02) - Introduction, Lessons in Longevity & Smitha Rao(1:21) - From Biotech to Beauty Innovation(2:50) - Why Pareva Was Created & The Longevity Gap(3:33) - Defining Skin Longevity & Extending Your Prime(5:38) - Rejecting Anti-Aging & Reframing Aging Quality(8:51) - Molecure 3™: Hallmarks of Aging Inspiration(10:27) - Plant Stem Cells, NAD⁺ & Exosome Signaling(14:00) - Exosomes Explained: Plant vs Human-Derived(22:51) - Simplifying Skincare: Fewer Steps, Better ResultsPlease fill out this survey to give us feedback on the show!Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf!*This is a paid collaboration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Dr. Alexes Hazen—board-certified plastic surgeon, microsurgery specialist, and founder of Zen Essentials—for a thoughtful conversation on skin health, ethical aesthetics, and why real results can never be separated from whole-body well-being. With a background that spans public health, global medicine, and some of the most technically demanding surgical training, Dr. Hazen brings a rare depth to how she thinks about beauty, healing, and care.Her path to medicine was anything but linear. From working with the New York City Department of Health during the AIDS crisis to serving in the Peace Corps in Honduras, Dr. Hazen learned early that medicine isn’t just technical—it’s human. Those experiences shaped a philosophy she carries into every aspect of her work today: outcomes are influenced as much by mental health, sleep, nutrition, and support systems as they are by surgical skill.Throughout the conversation, Dr. Hazen challenges the surface-level thinking that dominates skincare culture. Skin, she reminds us, is an organ—and it reflects what’s happening internally. No product can compensate for chronic stress, dehydration, or exhaustion. When those fundamentals are addressed, skincare finally has the space to work as it should.She also speaks candidly about ethics in aesthetic medicine—why board certification matters, why saying “no” is sometimes the most responsible choice, and how listening to patients should always come before selling solutions.That same restraint and intention led to the creation of Zen Essentials, born from Dr. Hazen’s own struggles with severe skin sensitivities. Designed to be effective yet calming, the line reflects her belief that skincare should support the body—not fight it.Listen to the full episode to hear Dr. Alexes Hazen unpack holistic healing, ethical aesthetics, and why real skin health starts with caring for the whole person.SHOP Zen Essentials and learn more on social media!CHAPTERS:(0:02) - Introduction & Guest Welcome(0:46) - A Nonlinear Path Into Medicine(1:26) - Public Health, AIDS Education & the Peace Corps(2:46) - Falling in Love With Surgery & Plastic Surgery Training(3:01) - Early Burn Injury, Scars & Coming Full Circle(4:12) - Why Holistic Care Matters in Surgical Outcomes(8:40) - Skin as a Reflection of Whole-Body Health(11:22) - Ethics, Training & Responsibility in Aesthetic Surgery(26:21) - The Origins of Zen Essentials & Sensitive Skin SciencePlease fill out this survey to give us feedback on the show!Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf!*This is a paid collaboration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this special episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with supermodel, actress, podcaster, and YSE Beauty founder Molly Sims for an intimate conversation on how beauty evolves, how confidence is built, and how skincare becomes smarter with age. Known for her iconic presence and unfiltered approach on Lipstick on the Rim, Molly opens up about the real experiences that shaped her philosophy — from hormonal acne and melasma to rediscovering balance after years of harsh actives.Molly reflects on her earliest beauty memories, watching her mother turn daily routines into rituals that embodied strength and joy. That foundation, combined with her global modeling career, became its own education: effortless French skincare, British edge, Italian sensuality, and a universal truth — consistency beats extremes.Her journey to creating YSE Beauty began after her skin hit what she calls a “benefit plateau,” when aggressive ingredients stopped delivering results. She shares how shifting toward cushion actives, barrier support, and clinical but sensorial formulations transformed her skin and inspired a brand built on wisdom, simplicity, and results that feel good.For Molly, beauty isn’t about correction or perfection — it’s about alignment. It’s the confidence that comes from choosing what serves you, whether that’s a glow-inducing exfoliating pad, a subtle procedure, or simply giving your skin room to breathe.Listen to the full episode to hear Molly Sims discuss aging with intention, building YSE Beauty from the ground up, and why true luxury isn’t the price tag — it’s how you feel in your own skin.SHOP YSE Beauty and learn more on their social media!CHAPTERS:(0:03) - Introduction & Guest Welcome(1:07) - Early Beauty Memories & “It Girl” Origins(2:44) - Influences From Travel, Fashion & Global Beauty Culture(4:53) - Shifting Aesthetic Trends: From Harsh Treatments to Maintenance(6:59) - Social Media, Filler Culture & Confidence(9:46) - Personal Journeys With Procedures, Aging & Empowerment(12:11) - Why Wise Beauty Was Created(17:05) - Actives, Cushioning Ingredients & the Skin Plateau(21:52) - Luxury vs. Efficacy, Accessibility & Building a Smarter Beauty BrandPlease fill out this survey to give us feedback on the show!Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this powerful episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with one of the most influential minds in modern aesthetics, Dr. Steven Dayan — facial plastic surgeon, New York Times bestselling author, educator, and founder of XOMD Skincare. Together, they explore the deeper layers of beauty: the biology, the psychology, and the emotional resonance that shape how we see ourselves and others.Dr. Dayan reflects on his unconventional path from sculptor to surgeon, sharing how art, science, and human emotion converged to form his philosophy of aesthetics. Beauty, he explains, is rooted in evolution — a subconscious signal of wellness and vitality — but attraction is the true driver of human connection. Confidence, authenticity, posture, expression, and energy all play into how attractive we feel, and therefore how we’re perceived.Throughout the conversation, Dr. Dayan breaks down the subtle, powerful ways aesthetic treatments can influence mood and behavior. Small changes can boost approachability and positivity — while overtreatment can create emotional dissonance and mistrust. He offers a candid look at how social media has reshaped our aesthetic bias, urging both providers and consumers to recalibrate toward natural proportions and personal identity.Dr. Dayan also gives listeners an inside look at XOMD Skincare, his newest innovation with Dr. Sabrina Fabi, built around the neurochemical link between skin health and confidence.Listen to the full episode to learn how Dr. Dayan is redefining beauty through the lens of neuroscience, culture, and human connection — and why confidence may be the most transformative aesthetic treatment of all.SHOP XOMD and use code SApod for 10% off!CHAPTERS:(0:02) - Introduction & Guest Welcome(1:12) - Early Life, Medicine & the Path to Surgery(3:01) - Writing, Creativity & the Philosophy of Beauty(6:05) - Defining Beauty: Neuroscience, Evolution & Emotion(11:00) - Beauty vs. Attraction & the Role of Confidence(14:50) - Social Media, Trends & Aesthetic Bias(18:40) - Authenticity, Expression & First Impressions(21:03) - Rethinking Training, Safety & Best Practices(24:00) - Global Beauty Standards & Cultural PerspectivesPlease fill out this survey to give us feedback on the show!Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf! Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav sits down with Jordan Harper, board-certified nurse practitioner and founder of Barefaced, to explore the movement toward simplicity, integrity, and long-term skin health. With nearly a decade in aesthetic medicine, Harper brings a refreshing, clinically grounded perspective to a beauty landscape overwhelmed by trends, noise, and overcomplicated routines.Harper shares how her early career in the ICU shaped her detail-oriented, problem-solving mindset — and how she carried that discipline into aesthetics. What she noticed immediately was a disconnect: patients would invest heavily in treatments but neglect the daily routine that actually sustains results. That realization became the foundation of Barefaced’s “less but better” philosophy, anchored by her Core Four essentials: exfoliant, vitamin C, retinoid, and SPF.Throughout the conversation, Harper reframes skincare as prevention, not correction — a longevity-based approach that prioritizes the barrier, cellular health, and consistency over quick fixes. She also dives into the meaning of true “medical grade”: thoughtful formulations, meaningful concentrations, and uncompromising standards. It’s the reason she once pulled a product at a $200,000 loss — integrity outweighs profit.From the cult-favorite Toning Pads that sparked the brand’s cult following to Barefaced’s commitment to education and honest guidance, Harper emphasizes serving the consumer, not selling to them.Tune in to hear how Jordan Harper is redefining modern skincare through clinical rigor, simplicity, and unwavering authenticity — and why the future of skin health is built on foundations, not fads.SHOP BAREFACED and learn more on social media!CHAPTERS:(0:02) - Introduction & Guest Welcome(0:40) - From ICU to Aesthetics: The Turning Point(2:34) - The 80/20 Rule: At-Home vs In-Office Results(4:39) - Common Routine Mistakes & Barrier Damage(7:16) - “Less, But Better” and The Core Four(9:28) - Longevity vs Anti-Aging(12:12) - What “Medical Grade” Really Means(17:28) - Scaling with Integrity & Brand Discipline(20:35) - Cult Favorites, Toning Pads & Community-Centered CarePlease fill out this survey to give us feedback on the show!Don’t forget to subscribe to Skin Anarchy on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform.Reach out to us through email with any questions.Sign up for our newsletter!Shop all our episodes and products mentioned through our ShopMy Shelf!*This is a paid collaboration Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.