The Skincarma® Pod

One of the biggest misconceptions in aesthetics right now is that filler is a problem — the problem.Spend a few minutes online and you’ll find countless videos blaming filler for everything from facial puffiness to “filler migration.” But according to board-certified dermatologist Dr. Kathleen Welsh, the real issue isn’t filler — it’s how filler has been used.In this episode of The Skincarma Pod, Carmine sits down with Dr. Kathleen Welsh, founder of Bay Area Cosmetic Dermatology, alongside Roxanne Krempa, Director of Bay Area Body & Wellness, for a fascinating conversation about how aesthetic medicine is evolving beyond volume alone.Drawing on nearly three decades of clinical experience, Dr. Welsh explains why she believes the backlash against filler is actually a backlash against overfilling, how social media has distorted public perception of injectables, and why today’s most natural results come from treating aging as a multi-layered process involving skin, fat, muscle, and structure.Together, Carmine, Dr. Welsh, and Roxanne explore the rise of Emface, the role muscle loss plays in facial aging, the importance of prevention, and why sunscreen remains the single most powerful anti-aging intervention available.The conversation then shifts into one of the most intriguing developments in aesthetics today: Exomind. Dr. Welsh and Roxanne explain how this neurotechnology is helping patients address stress, anxiety, focus, and emotional well-being — and why caring for the whole person may be becoming just as important as treating the face itself.In this episode, you’ll learn:Why Dr. Welsh believes people aren’t moving away from filler — they’re moving away from being overfilled;What “filler migration” actually is and why it may be widely misunderstood;How facial aging involves changes to skin, fat, muscle, and even bone structure;What Emface is and how it helps support the underlying architecture of the face;Why prevention remains the most effective anti-aging strategy;The surprising role sunscreen plays in long-term facial aging;What Exomind is and how it supports neuroplasticity, focus, and emotional well-being;How stress, anxiety, and mental wellness increasingly intersect with aesthetic medicine;And, why the future of beauty may be less about chasing perfection and more about supporting overall health.Key TakeawayThe future of aesthetic medicine isn’t about finding a single miracle treatment. It’s about understanding aging as a structural, biological, and even emotional process. Dr. Welsh reminds us that the best outcomes come from prevention, thoughtful intervention, and treating the whole person — not simply chasing volume, trends, or quick fixes.Connect with Dr. Welsh and Roxanne at Bay Area Cosmetic Dermatology on LinkedIn here and on Instagram @bayareacosmeticdermatology. Discover their cutting-edge treatments – including Emface and Exomind – on the Bay Area Cosmetic Dermatology website at weloveskin.com (or via the links below).—Follow Skincarma on Instagram and on TikTok. Catch product reviews of Carmine’s top picks of the best skincare on the Skincarma Blog. You can also connect with Carmine on Substack and LinkedIn – and explore his extensive work in beauty on the Carmine Montalto INK website here.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and/or leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Substack, or Spotify to help Carmine reach more curious listeners.Cutting-edge treatment links:EmfaceExomind Product reviews on the Skincarma Blog:Explore the Best Sunscreens for Face here.Explore the Best Retinol Face Creams and Serums here.Explore the Best Vitamin C Serums here.Explore the Best Niacinamide Serums here.Explore the Best Acne Treatments here.Explore the Best Anti-Aging Creams and Serums here.Explore the Best Face Creams for Dry Skin here.Explore the Best Face Creams for Oily Skin here.The Skincarma® Pod is where indie beauty meets fearless curiosity. Hosted by Carmine, his podcast pulls back the curtain on the beauty industry with sharp insights, candid interviews, and a healthy dose of irreverence. From deep dives into ingredient science to raw conversations with dermatologists, brand founders, and industry insiders, each episode is a no-BS exploration of what really matters in skincare: how to attain and maintain healthy skin. If you’re obsessed with products, passionate about transparency, and love calling out hype, this is the place to learn, question, and glow smarter.The Skincarma® Blog is written and curated by skinfluencer, skincare junkie and Brooklyn writer Carmine Montalto. With 25 years of expertise in beauty across every category, Carmine has helped build multiple consumer brands from the ground up. He’s named 100s of skincare, haircare & makeup products – some of which are probably in your bathroom cabinet right now! And, he’s tested 1,000s of products, the best of which can be found reviewed on his blog at skincarma.com.With the right skincare routine including sunscreen...You CAN change your skin’s destiny!™ Get full access to Skincarma® at skincarma.substack.com/subscribe

What if one of the most beneficial skincare molecules was already living on your skin?In this episode of The Skincarma Pod, Carmine sits down with Ann Marie Simpson-Einziger and Mike Einziger, the husband-and-wife founders of Mother Science – and self-described citizen scientists whose curiosity-led research reshaped how we think about skin biology, antioxidants, and aging.Their journey began not in a traditional lab, but on tour, when Ann Marie noticed a strange, brightened pattern on her skin. That question sparked six years of rigorous scientific investigation into the skin microbiome, oxidative stress, and a naturally occurring, microbiome-derived molecule called Malassezin.In this conversation, Ann Marie and Mike explain:what it means to be citizen scientists – scientifically literate, deeply curious, and guided by data rather than dogma;how Malassezin functions as a next-generation antioxidant and interacts with the skin’s own defense systems;why oxidative stress is a major driver of visible skin aging, and how they use the term “oxidaging” to reframe the conversation;what it means to be “a science company that expresses itself through skincare”;and, how regulatory boundaries shape the way skincare science is communicated responsibly.They also break down Mother Science’s three core products – the Molecular Hero Serum, Retinol Synergist, and Molecular Genesis Moisturizer – and discuss how backgrounds in music, pattern recognition, and systems thinking influence their scientific approach.This is a thoughtful, science-forward conversation about skin biology, antioxidants, education-first brand building, and the power of approaching beauty through curiosity, rigor, and respect for the scientific process.Connect with Ann Marie on Instagram at @annmariesimpsoneinziger and on LinkedIn here; and connect with Michael on Instagram at @michaeleinziger and his LinkedIn page here. Explore Mother Science on Instagram at @motherscience and learn more about the products and brand ethos at motherscience.com.Follow Skincarma on Instagram and on TikTok. Catch product reviews of Carmine’s top picks of the best skincare on the Skincarma Blog. You can also connect with Carmine on LinkedIn here and explore his extensive work in beauty on the Carmine Montalto INK website here.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and/or leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Substack, or Spotify to help Carmine reach more curious listeners.Product links: Mother Science has graciously extended an offer of 20% off their products for the Skincarma community. Simply enter code SKINCARMA at motherscience.com. N.B. Excludes sets and subscriptions.Mother Science Molecular Hero SerumMother Science Molecular Genesis Barrier Repair MoisturizerMother Science Retinol Synergist—Product reviews on the Skincarma Blog:Explore the Best Sunscreens for Face here.Explore the Best Retinol Face Creams and Serums here.Explore the Best Vitamin C Serums here.Explore the Best Niacinamide Serums here.Explore the Best Acne Treatments here.Explore the Best Anti-Aging Creams and Serums here.Explore the Best Face Creams for Dry Skin here.Explore the Best Face Creams for Oily Skin here.The Skincarma® Pod is where indie beauty meets fearless curiosity. Hosted by Carmine, his podcast pulls back the curtain on the beauty industry with sharp insights, candid interviews, and a healthy dose of irreverence. From deep dives into ingredient science to raw conversations with dermatologists, brand founders, and industry insiders, each episode is a no-BS exploration of what really matters in skincare: how to attain and maintain healthy skin. If you’re obsessed with products, passionate about transparency, and love calling out hype, this is the place to learn, question, and glow smarter.The Skincarma® Blog is written and curated by skinfluencer, skincare junkie and Brooklyn writer Carmine Montalto. With 25 years of expertise in beauty across every category, Carmine has helped build multiple consumer brands from the ground up. He’s named 100s of skincare, haircare & makeup products – some of which are probably in your bathroom cabinet right now! And, he’s tested 1,000s of products, the best of which can be found reviewed on his blog at skincarma.com.With the right skincare routine including sunscreen...You CAN change your skin’s destiny!™ Get full access to Skincarma® at skincarma.substack.com/subscribe

On today’s episode of The Skincarma Pod, host Carmine Montalto is joined by Shelley Hancock – a licensed esthetician, educator of educators, mentor, and author of Esthetic Success: A Seasoned Esthetician’s JourneyShelley’s career didn’t follow a straight line – and it wasn’t polished in hindsight. Before finding her calling in esthetics, she moved through multiple jobs, industries, and identities, searching for work that truly fit. Along the way, she faced doubt, generational expectations, and a defining moment when her father expressed a fear that she might never find her passion.That moment – and the many “leaps” that followed – shaped Shelley’s confidence-first philosophy. As she puts it in their conversation, “Leap even though you’re fearful.”In this deeply human conversation, Carmine and Shelley explore:Why confidence often comes before competenceThe career detours that quietly prepare us for successHow connection, not credentials, builds lasting client relationshipsThe difference between knowing everything and trusting yourselfWhat today’s estheticians need to both learn and unlearn to build long, fulfilling careersShelley shares stories from her early days as a cosmetic counter associate, medical-office assistant, spa owner, and eventually an “esthetician’s esthetician,” revealing how curiosity, courage, and self-confidence shaped a decades-long career in skin health and education.This episode is a must-listen for anyone navigating a nonlinear career path, questioning their next step, or learning how to move forward even when fear is present.🎧 Listen now – and discover why leaping before you feel ready might be the most powerful career move of all.—Follow Shelley on Instagram here and on LinkedIn here. Learn more about Shelley and her work in aesthetics, and even schedule a consultation with her, at shelleyhancock.com.Follow Skincarma on Instagram and on TikTok. Catch product reviews of Carmine’s top picks of the best skincare on the Skincarma Blog. You can also connect with Carmine on LinkedIn here and explore his extensive work in beauty on the Carmine Montalto INK website here.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and/or leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Substack, or Spotify to help Carmine reach more curious listeners.Product links: Esthetic Success: A Seasoned Esthetician’s JourneyCan You Relate?: Personal Stories with Universal MessagesHow to Become a Skincare Expert—Product reviews on the Skincarma Blog:Explore the Best Sunscreens for Face here.Explore the Best Retinol Face Creams and Serums here.Explore the Best Vitamin C Serums here.Explore the Best Niacinamide Serums here.Explore the Best Acne Treatments here.Explore the Best Anti-Aging Creams and Serums here.Explore the Best Face Creams for Dry Skin here.Explore the Best Face Creams for Oily Skin here.The Skincarma® Pod is where indie beauty meets fearless curiosity. Hosted by Carmine, his podcast pulls back the curtain on the beauty industry with sharp insights, candid interviews, and a healthy dose of irreverence. From deep dives into ingredient science to raw conversations with dermatologists, brand founders, and industry insiders, each episode is a no-BS exploration of what really matters in skincare: how to attain and maintain healthy skin. If you’re obsessed with products, passionate about transparency, and love calling out hype, this is the place to learn, question, and glow smarter.The Skincarma® Blog is written and curated by skinfluencer, skincare junkie and Brooklyn writer Carmine Montalto. With 25 years of expertise in beauty across every category, Carmine has helped build multiple consumer brands from the ground up. He’s named 100s of skincare, haircare & makeup products – some of which are probably in your bathroom cabinet right now! And, he’s tested 1,000s of products, the best of which can be found reviewed on his blog at skincarma.com.With the right skincare routine including sunscreen...You CAN change your skin’s destiny!™ Get full access to Skincarma® at skincarma.substack.com/subscribe

In this episode of The Skincarma Pod, Carmine sits down with Alisa Lask, CEO of Rion Aesthetics and the medical-grade skincare line Plated Skin Science. Together, they unpack what’s real – and what’s hype – in the fast-emerging world of exosomes in skincare.Alisa shares her path from Midwest beginnings and a career across Eli Lilly, Allergan, and Galderma, to leading a regenerative aesthetics company built on platelet-derived exosome technology – a category Plated helped bring into the skincare conversation.Carmine and Alisa dive into:What exosomes are (Alisa’s simple “text messaging system” explanation);Why platelet-derived exosomes are fundamentally different from plant-based “exosome” claims;Plated’s origin story rooted in the Mayo Clinic’s Van Cleve Cardiac Regenerative Medicine Program;How Plated sources material from FDA-compliant platelet banks (and why transparency matters);Why Plated is provider-dispensed, not built for big-box beauty retail;Plus: murder-mystery comfort TV, safari travel, dog rescue, and the lightning-round line you won’t forget: “I feel most like myself when…I’m in the barn.”Curious about exosomes? Explore Carmine’s article 2025 Ingredient Trends: Exosomes Are One Part Science, One Part Story on Substack here.Connect with Alisa on Instagram at @alisa.lask_rion and on LinkedIn here. Explore Plated Skin Science on Instagram at @platedskinscience and learn more about the products, exosome science and brand ethos at platedskinscience.com.Follow Skincarma on Instagram and on TikTok. Catch product reviews of Carmine’s top picks of the best skincare on the Skincarma Blog. You can also connect with Carmine on LinkedIn here and explore his extensive work in beauty on the Carmine Montalto INK website here.If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and/or leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Substack, or Spotify to help Carmine reach more curious listeners.Product links: Plated Intense SerumPlated Daily SerumPlated Hair Serum—Product reviews on the Skincarma Blog:Explore the Best Sunscreens for Face here.Explore the Best Retinol Face Creams and Serums here.Explore the Best Vitamin C Serums here.Explore the Best Niacinamide Serums here.Explore the Best Acne Treatments here.Explore the Best Anti-Aging Creams and Serums here.Explore the Best Face Creams for Dry Skin here.Explore the Best Face Creams for Oily Skin here.The Skincarma® Pod is where indie beauty meets fearless curiosity. Hosted by Carmine, his podcast pulls back the curtain on the beauty industry with sharp insights, candid interviews, and a healthy dose of irreverence. From deep dives into ingredient science to raw conversations with dermatologists, brand founders, and industry insiders, each episode is a no-BS exploration of what really matters in skincare: how to attain and maintain healthy skin. If you’re obsessed with products, passionate about transparency, and love calling out hype, this is the place to learn, question, and glow smarter.The Skincarma® Blog is written and curated by skinfluencer, skincare junkie and Brooklyn writer Carmine Montalto. With 25 years of expertise in beauty across every category, Carmine has helped build multiple consumer brands from the ground up. He’s named 100s of skincare, haircare & makeup products – some of which are probably in your bathroom cabinet right now! And, he’s tested 1,000s of products, the best of which can be found reviewed on his blog at skincarma.com.With the right skincare routine including sunscreen...You CAN change your skin’s destiny!™ Get full access to Skincarma® at skincarma.substack.com/subscribe