What actually works for healthy, vibrant skin—and what’s just hype? In this episode, we sit down with the brilliant and refreshingly honest Dr. Mary Alice Mina, Harvard-trained dermatologist and host of The Skin Real podcast. We dive deep into what midlife skin really needs, what treatments are worth the money, and how hormonal changes can shake up everything we thought we knew about our skincare routines.

Together, we unpack skin minimalism, sunscreen truths (spoiler: it really matters), and the difference between aging gracefully and chasing the next trending procedure. We also get personal—sharing our own frustrations about neck bands, droopy brows, and that “face falling” feeling—and ask Dr. Mina everything from estrogen creams to slugging and Botox. 

 

Episode Highlights:

[0:02] - Welcoming Dr. Mary Alice Mina and diving into hormonal changes and midlife skin shifts.
[3:38] - Our own candid stories about "face falling" and dry, aging skin.
[5:00] - The psychological toll of aging and the importance of internal confidence.
[8:10] - What “skin minimalism” actually means—and why less really can be more.
[11:37] - Estrogen’s role in skin hydration and how perimenopause changes everything.
[13:53] - Sunscreen strategy: how often to reapply, the importance of hats, and Dr. Mina’s favorite brands.
 [19:07] - Retinoids 101: how and when to use them for best results.
 [20:26] - All about neck bands: what works (and what doesn’t).
 [26:09] - Estrogen creams for the face: what Dr. Mina prescribes and how it works.
 [28:58] - Why sleep is skin care and how sleep deprivation shows up on your face.
 [30:58] - Sunscreen myths, TikTok fads, and Dr. Mina’s biggest dermatology pet peeves.
[33:59] - Genetics vs. skincare habits—what really makes the difference.
[40:16] - Starting or restarting retinoids without overwhelming your skin.
[40:39] - Why annual skin checks are essential and how to talk to your dermatologist.
[43:31] - How to connect with Dr. Mina and find your “skin style” through her quiz.

 

Resources:

• Dr. Mary Alice Mina’s Podcast: The Skin Real
• Find your skin style quiz: https://www.theskinreal.com/style 
• Skincare Compounding: Skin Medicinals (estriol cream)
• Sunscreen favorites: EltaMD, La Roche-Posay, Neutrogena Stick
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drminaskin  
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drminaskin
• YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@drminaskin
• Titktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@drminaskin
• Medium: https://medium.com/@drminaskin
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drminaskin/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.ph/06k6qtsxj4uvtpulz6w5ghdc8l2gwo/

Make sure to visit the “Resources” page on our website www.insightsfromthecouch.or

Come hang out with us in The Chat, our free community for midlife women, where we keep the
conversation going at insightsfromthecouch.org/the-chat.

And don’t forget to
download our free guide 7 Skills to Master Midlife so you can stop living small, start taking action, and
live the life you really want at insightsfromthecouch.org/midlife-roadmap.