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Fragrance creator and Influxious founder Funmi Monet joins Skin Anarchy for a Fragrance Friday on scent as storytelling: how retail taught her to match people to fragrance, why she reimagined the skin scent, how social media reshaped perfume, and the funding gap Black founders still face.
How did Funmi Monet become a fragrance creator?
Through a therapist's advice and a job at the fragrance counter. Eight years ago, while studying to be a therapist in grad school, Monet began sharing the fragrances she loved online. "You should find something that gives you joy and find people that also enjoy the same things you do," she recalls being told, and her perfume collection became her most loved content.
How do you find a fragrance that fits you?
By being matched, not overwhelmed, Monet says. She used active listening from her counseling training to pair customers to scents based on personality, memories, and lifestyle rather than pushing a sale. "I was able to kind of almost be a matchmaker of sorts," translating that into online guidance so you can skip sniffing 500 bottles.
Can fragrance actually help with anxiety?
Yes, through scent, memory, and comfort, Monet says. She used calming scents to ease clients in unfamiliar settings and saw her platform grow in COVID as people scented their homes. "Certain types of scents in the environment can make people feel more relaxed," she says, framing the fragrance you wear as an extension of that.
Why did she reimagine the skin scent?
Because most skin scents center one kind of skin, Monet says. She compares it to "nude" band aids that assume one tone, and asked where the shea butter and cocoa butter scents were. "When I thought about what skin meant to me... clean skin is well moisturized skin," she says, which became her fragrance Well Loved.
How has social media changed the fragrance industry?
It opened space for storytelling and new voices, Monet says. Designer brands once leaned on heritage and celebrity faces, but now people want the inspiration behind a scent and build fragrance wardrobes. "I think it's democratizing fragrance," she says, pointing to the rise of Middle Eastern and founder led brands.
Why do so many fragrance notes trace back to other cultures?
Because the industry often decenters where its raw ingredients come from, Monet says. Many French houses farm ingredients across Africa, then wrap them in marketing that erases those origins. "They're translating it into these marketing stories that decenter the places where they're taking it from," she says, which drove her to center her Nigerian American heritage.
What is the story behind her bestselling fragrance?
Gold Standard was built on contrast and confidence, Monet says. A late addition inspired by perfume school, it pairs blood orange, ginger, and an expensive saffron heart with a caramel, rum, and vanilla dry down. "It's almost like you get two fragrances in one," she says, and it became the collection's bestseller.
Is fragrance really genderless?
Monet believes so, and her sales show it. Though her audience skews female, men sought out Gold Standard and High Life from the first week, often sent by friends. "I believe fragrance is genderless," she says, noting people gravitate to scent profiles that make them feel confident, however a brand is marketed.
What funding gap do Black fragrance founders face?
A severe one, Monet says. Despite her audience, retail backing, and a prior bestselling collaboration, she still heard "we need to see more after you launch," then did a million dollars in her first month self funded. "There are brands I know that had VC funding that didn't even do a million dollars in the first year," she says.
Listen to the full episode with Funmi Monet of Influxious on Skin Anarchy, available wherever you get your podcasts.
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Dr. Vali joins Skin Anarchy's longevity series for an expert take on the field: why she treats the inside before the outside, why biomarker overload is a trap, which regenerative treatments actually hold up, and why most of what is marketed as new is just a rebrand.
What is Dr. Vali's approach to longevity medicine?
Treat the inside first, then the outside. With 25 years in practice, Dr. Vali assesses mood, sleep, hormones, gut, and anxiety before any aesthetic work, calling it "look like a superstar, perform like a legend." "I need to improve your sleep, reduce your anxiety... and maybe after that you won't even look at your jawline," building lifelong trust over a quick sale.
Is at home biomarker testing actually worth it?
Only with an expert to interpret it, Dr. Vali says. She warns that endless panels and full body scans create "death by data," flagging asymptomatic findings that trigger needless worry. "You need a good clinician who can interpret the data and tell you this is nothing to worry about," favoring pattern recognition over a single value outside a range, since everyone is epigenetically different.
What is the danger of DIY longevity and stacking peptides?
Missed red flags and a confused body, Dr. Vali warns. She sees patients arrive with bags of peptides from clinics worldwide, taking one for inflammation, one for longevity, one for hair. "The organ, the body is confused, it doesn't work like that," she says, adding that alternative routes can miss warning signs like weight loss or bleeding.
Do regenerative treatments like exosomes and stem cells work?
They can, though the trials lag the practice, Dr. Vali says. She uses exosomes and stem cells and insists on measurable results. "Does it work? Yeah, it kind of does," she says, noting stem cells are not new and that anything she offers must show objective markers, not just how a patient feels.
Are polynucleotides worth it?
Dr. Vali is skeptical. She sees polynucleotides, from salmon or trout DNA, as mostly temporary inflammation and freshening, and warns mixing them with other injectables causes complications. "If you're gonna use someone's DNA... just take your husband's," she jokes, noting blended fillers often lead to swelling months later.
Is Sculptra or a biostimulator actually new?
No, it is a rebrand, Dr. Vali says. Sculptra has existed over 30 years, and much marketed as breakthrough is old technology renamed. "Sculptra's not new, it's been around for 30 plus years. It's just a new marketing campaign," she says, noting the real refinement is diluting it more and placing it deeper to avoid nodules.
Does skincare work the same on every skin type?
No, and most brands ignore this, Dr. Vali says. Different ethnicities have different collagen, yet the industry fixates on only two of 28 collagen types. Her formulations took eight years to reach the reticular dermis. "It has to work on a cellular level... not the epidermis where most skincare brands sit," she says.
Should you chase every new skin device?
No, wait for the long term data, Dr. Vali says. She refuses to replace working technology just because a machine is rebranded or a protocol is suddenly recommended twice as often. "You have to wait for the studies to come out before you throw these things at your body," asking what a treatment does at year five or ten.
How should peptides and GLP-1 be used safely?
In structured programs, one organ at a time, Dr. Vali says. Rather than stacking, she sequences peptides and pairs GLP-1 medications with others to protect muscle and skin. "We combine it with CJC and ipamorelin... to protect the muscle, to make sure your skin's not hanging," keeping patients on the lowest effective dose.
Listen to the full episode with Dr. Vali on Skin Anarchy, available wherever you get your podcasts.
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Shane Evans, founder and CEO of Heights Wellness Retreat, joins Skin Anarchy's longevity series to cut through the noise: which wellness modalities actually work, why the basics beat biohacking, how beauty and wellness converge, and why community may matter as much as any treatment.
Who is Shane Evans, and how did Heights Wellness Retreat start?
A wellness entrepreneur who discovered massage therapy for her own back pain in her early 20s. After it got her walking in two days, she founded Massage Heights in 2004 on a membership model, later evolving it into Heights Wellness Retreat with over 100 locations. "Massage is not just a girl's day at the spa... it is actually therapeutic," she says.
Which longevity modalities actually work?
The best backed are red light therapy and sauna, Evans says, with cryotherapy less proven. Quality matters, since cheap red light devices may not reach the cellular level. "I think red light is one that everybody should be paying attention to. It's science backed," she says, while cryotherapy mostly gives an energy burst.
What matters most for longevity?
The basics, not biohacking. Evans reframes longevity as living well now rather than reaching 120, and insists the foundation is free. "The number one thing is sleep... you don't have to go anywhere or spend money to do that," she says, pointing to sleep, hydration, electrolytes, and calming your nervous system as what moves the needle.
Are peptides safe for longevity?
Only alongside a provider monitoring your biometrics, Evans cautions. She is wary of people stacking peptides bought offline, some with poor ingredients, without checking organ function. "You need to see a doctor and make sure that everything is functioning okay," she says, stressing peptides should be an addition after basics like blood work and hormones are handled.
How are beauty and wellness connected?
They are one and the same, Evans says. How your skin looks reflects your gut, stress, hydration, and nutrition, so no topical fixes a deeper problem. "No product you put on your face is going to solve the problem," she says, noting what we put on our skin enters the bloodstream, so we should feed skin as thoughtfully as we feed our bodies.
How does gut health affect your skin and brain?
Profoundly, through the gut brain connection. Evans calls the gut a second brain and says issues there ripple out to neurotransmitters and skin alike. "If there is something that's affecting the gut... it is going to have an effect on the brain," she says, urging people to truly pay attention to their gut.
Why does Heights stay out of IV therapy and peptides?
Because consistency and safety come first at scale. With over 100 locations, Evans keeps clinical services with medical professionals to avoid liability and uneven experiences. "The medical side of things should be left to the medical professionals," she says, positioning Heights as a partner for recovery, massage, red light, and lymphatic support instead.
Can you really rewire your brain?
Evans believes so, and points to neuroplasticity and the work of Dr. Joe Dispenza. His framework, she says, is "believe, behave, become," meaning consistent behaviors built on belief reshape who you become. She describes leaving a meditation retreat visibly changed, and sees brain retraining as a major frontier in wellness.
Why does community matter as much as treatment?
Because loneliness is a serious health risk, Evans says, citing research equating it with smoking. She built a lingering "fourth space" called The Well so people can simply come in and reset, no treatment required. "People are seeking that more than anything," she says, designing Heights to foster connection alongside its services.
Listen to the full episode with Shane Evans on Skin Anarchy, available wherever you get your podcasts.
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Model, entrepreneur, and skit founder Irene Kim joins Skin Anarchy from Seoul for a real world look at K beauty: why Korea innovates so fast, how Korean consumers decide what to trust, what sits beyond the glass skin trend, and what is actually in her makeup bag.
How did Irene Kim get into beauty?
Through years inside the industry, not a lab. A longtime model, Kim grew up in makeup chairs with access to artists, facialists, and dermatologists worldwide, and traces the spark to childhood. "My mom would tell me I would always be playing in her makeup vanity, trying on lipstick and stealing her best creams," describing beauty as part of her DNA long before it was her career.
Why does K beauty innovate so much faster?
Because the whole ecosystem is competitive and informed. Korean consumers hold high standards and know their ingredients, pushing formulators to reinvent quickly. "It's the quickness and the competitiveness around K beauty that really just innovates everything," she says, pointing from snail mucin to newer plant derived PDRN as proof of how fast the market moves.
How do Korean consumers decide what to trust?
Through trust built across the whole brand, not just a viral product. Kim says belief comes from a mix of innovative ingredients, marketing, and consistency over time. "It's really building the trust... having your audience believe that it works," she says, but adds that finding what works for your skin matters more than chasing whatever is trending.
Does PDRN actually work in topical skincare?
It depends on the formulation, Kim says. Injected PDRN is more effective, and topical results hinge on concentration and quality because the molecule is large. "It's like buying a sweater... the purest form maybe is the better quality," she explains, so the PPM and how it is formulated determine whether a topical PDRN product delivers.
How often should you really get skin procedures?
Less often than the trend suggests. Kim has very sensitive skin and does one treatment consistently, Thermage, about once a year, favoring restraint over frequency. "Just because you do a certain procedure at a doctor doesn't mean it makes your skin better," she says, stressing that aftercare matters more than how often you go in.
What actually matters more than chasing trends?
A healthy barrier and consistency. Kim says her definition of good skin shifted from perfection to resilience, built on a strong foundation before any actives. "It's really about resilient skin and a healthy barrier," she says, crediting the lesson to watching her grandmother, who at 88 still does her full routine daily.
Is glass skin all K beauty has to offer?
No, and Kim wants the world to see past it. She is proud of K beauty going global but says the trend only scratches the surface. "K beauty is more than that. It's more than the virality, it's more than the trends," she says, pointing to barrier care and ingredient innovation as the deeper story glass skin opened the door to.
Why did Irene Kim start Skit?
To prove K beauty is more than trends. Kim built skit around sustainability, barrier first formulas, and accessibility, spending a year and a half on a single product. "I always ask for the opposite... what's not trending," she says, designing for what works for her sensitive skin and her community, not the hottest ingredient.
Does skincare need to be different for different ethnicities?
No, skin is skin, Kim says. She pushes back on the idea that Korean skincare only suits Korean skin, framing it as a matter of skin condition, not ethnicity. "Just because you're Asian doesn't mean it's different," she says, arguing good formulas and barrier science translate across a global, increasingly diverse audience.
Listen to the full episode with Irene Kim on Skin Anarchy, available wherever you get your podcasts.
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Jerrod Blandino, cofounder of Too Faced and now Polite Society, returns to Skin Anarchy to talk about building a beauty brand the hard way: self funded, formula first, and without celebrity hype. He unpacks what real success looks like, the private equity trap, and why the industry is overdue for a clearing out.
Why did Jerrod Blandino start Polite Society after Too Faced?
To get creative freedom back. After 24 years building Too Faced and selling it to Estee Lauder, Blandino found the final years creatively stifling, so he launched Polite Society within a day of his non compete ending. "It reinvigorated that fire under my ass to be creative again and be rebellious again," returning to the organic, fan first approach that built his first brand.
How do you build a beauty brand without celebrities?
By meeting the customer directly and letting the product prove itself. Blandino deliberately avoids big celebrity faces so the brand is not absorbed into someone else's personality. "We're creating a world that I want to live in... and together we can be happy here," building a relationship rather than renting someone's fame.
What does a formula first approach mean?
Letting the formula lead instead of the packaging or story. In his old life a theme or package might lead; at Polite Society the formula comes first. "When you pick a product up, it serves and it delivers on its promise," Blandino says, and when the payoff surprises you, it becomes something you repurchase.
Why do so many hyped products disappoint?
Because marketing outran the formula. Blandino says there is more great product than ever, but also more "crap," as private equity chased quick money over passion. "They promise you the world, and you get it home and you're like, is it me? Am I using this wrong?" The fix is formulas that genuinely deliver.
What makes a product a true staple?
Owning the formula from the beginning rather than relabeling a stock one. Blandino contrasts founders who develop from scratch with brands that buy an off the shelf formula and add a name. "You don't always have to invent it, but you have to put your own spin on it," he says, which is costlier but creates products rivals cannot reproduce.
Why did Blandino keep Polite Society self funded?
To never answer to anyone again. Having lived through both supportive and destructive private equity relationships, he and his partner funded the brand themselves to protect control. "It really is about maintaining control, artistic integrity, and keeping your vision tight," recalling an executive who once threatened to destroy everything they built.
Should beauty brands target teenagers?
Not with potent formulas, in his view. Blandino argues Wall Street turned beauty into entertainment for 14 year olds, but strong actives are not made for young skin. "Efficacious formulas are not made for fragile young skin," he says, noting Polite Society performs across Gen X, millennials, and Gen Z by pairing glamour with formulas that work.
What gives a brand lasting power?
A heartbeat that comes from the founder. Blandino says the thing customers feel, and keep coming back for, is authenticity that cannot be bought. "Your brand has to have a heartbeat... and if I see something that does not strengthen the heartbeat, it's gotta go," protecting that emotional connection above hype or logo.
Where is the beauty industry headed?
Toward a clearing out of the noise. Blandino believes distrust and oversaturation have made products stop hitting the way they used to, and that quality will rise as the clutter thins. "You're going to see quality rise and really unique individual, special brands strengthen," predicting more genuine creative moments will break through again.
Listen to the full episode with Jerrod Blandino of Polite Society on Skin Anarchy, available wherever you get your podcasts.
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