Skin Leaf Talks

Every cosmetic ingredient on the market was declared "safe" based on a test that never accounted for the other ingredients sitting next to it on your skin — or the thirty years you'll spend using it.

In this episode, Lia Cardoso breaks down the real math behind toxic exposure in the beauty industry: the cocktail effect, where chemicals that are "safe" in isolation become active when combined, and time, which turns a negligible daily dose into decades of accumulation the body can't fully clear.

Drawing on hormone-disruption research and recent studies linking chemical hair straighteners to uterine cancer and fertility issues, Lia unpacks what "safe at this concentration" actually means, and why it's the wrong question to be asking. Educational content, not medical advice — full sources in the show notes.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

We obsess over our faces. We build routines around them, spend fortunes on them, and treat every new ingredient like a revelation. And then we completely ignore the rest of our bodies.

Aïda Touré saw that gap and decided to build in it. Texture is the brand pioneering somatic skincare — intentional, zone-based care that starts where most beauty ends. The underarm. The bikini line. The inner thigh. The skin we cover, hide, and never think twice about.

In this episode, Aïda joins Lia to talk about what somatic skincare actually means, why the underarm is one of the most chemically exposed zones on the body and the least cared for, and what happens to our confidence when we finally start paying attention to the skin we've been ignoring. A conversation about body awareness, barrier function, and building a brand in a category that barely has a name yet.

Because your skin is always communicating. It's time we started listening.

About Aïda Touré & Texture

Aïda Touré is the founder of Texture, a somatic skincare brand built around the connection between skin function, body awareness, and how we inhabit our bodies. Texture focuses on the zones traditional beauty has always overlooked — starting with the underarm — with products formulated to listen to the skin's signals rather than suppress them.

🌐 Website: https://textureskin.com/

📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/textureskincare/

💼 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/texture-skincare/

🎵 TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@textureskincare

About Your Host

Lia Cardoso is the Founder & CEO of Skin Leaf Cosmetics and host of Skin Leaf Talks — FeedSpot Top 50 Skincare Podcasts 2025. A cosmetics formulator and clean beauty advocate with over 15 years of experience, Lia built Skin Leaf on one belief: skincare is healthcare.

🌐 skinleaf.co

📸 @theskinleaf.co

📧 [email protected]

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

That's how Sarina Pilaroscia's father described living with psoriasis — 45 years of twice-daily steroids and a condition his doctors called lifelong and inevitable. Sarina didn't accept that.

She spent two years educating herself, opened her own R&D lab, and led one of the first Health Canada clinical trials for CBD in cosmetics — all to build Phoilex, a steroid-free, barrier-supportive skincare brand for eczema, psoriasis, and hypersensitive skin.

In this episode, Sarina shares the story of what it took to get her father completely steroid-free for the first time since his teenage years — and what millions of people living with topical steroid withdrawal still don't know. This one will stay with you.

To learn more about Phoilex, please visit: phoilex.com | @phoilex.releaf

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Season 7 is here — and before we dive into everything coming this season, Lia sits down alone to catch you up on everything that happened while you were waiting.

First: Skin Leaf Cosmetics stepped onto the floor of the Be+Well Show in Fort Lauderdale, Florida — our first major trade show in the United States. Five years after starting a brand in a kitchen in Portugal, we showed up. In person. With a booth, with products, and with everything we've built. That moment deserved to be named out loud.

Second: if you've come across a brand called Leaf Cosmetics at leaf-cosmetics.com — there is something you need to know. Lia addresses it directly, briefly, and clearly. That brand is not us. There is an active legal process. And Skin Leaf is not going anywhere.

And third: a preview of the season that's coming. From a daughter who watched her father live with psoriasis for 45 years and decided steroids weren't the only answer — to a founder who built a skincare brand from a hospital bed because her daughter's eczema had no solution on the market — to the chemist who removed water from her entire product line and replaced it with Moroccan botanicals. Season 7 is full of founders who built something real from a real place. And it starts right now.

New episodes every Wednesday. Welcome back.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sunscreen fraud. Lab samples sold as luxury. Celebrity brands collapsing. Children on retinol.

The skincare industry is going through it — and most brands are staying silent. Not us.

In this solo episode, Lia breaks down the four biggest scandals shaking the beauty world right now, separates fact from fear, and gives you practical tools to protect yourself as a consumer.

Because transparency isn't a trend. It's the foundation.

🌿 Get the free Skin Science eBook at www.skinleaf.co

📲 Follow us @theskinleaf.co

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most people don't have a skincare problem. They have a consistency problem.

In this episode of Skin Leaf Talks, host Lia Cardoso sits down with Marlee Bruno — PA-C, aesthetic injector, and founder of Mind Body & Soul Medical in Pensacola, FL — for a conversation that cuts through the noise of trend-driven beauty culture.

Together they unpack why 10-step routines are sabotaging your skin, what over-layering actually does to your barrier, the most dangerous habits Marlee sees in her clinic daily, and the short list of ingredients that genuinely deliver — including what Skin Leaf's Antioxidant Facial Oil, Sensitive Facial Oil, and Anti-Aging Moisturizer were formulated to do.

No trends. No filler. Just the skincare truth you've been missing.

🎙 Find Marlee: @theinjector_coach | mindbodysoulmedical.com

🌿 Find Skin Leaf: @theskinleaf.co | skinleafcosmetics.com

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered why your makeup looks completely different when a professional does it? The secret isn't in the products they use — it's in what happens before the first brush stroke.

In this episode of Skin Leaf Talks, founder Lia Cardoso sits down with Heather Spadaro, a professional makeup artist and founder of two beauty companies — The Makeup Hair Co and The Beauty Circle — to have an honest, expert conversation about the one step most people skip: skin prep.

Heather shares what she sees the moment a client sits in her chair, the most common prep mistakes she corrects every single day, and her go-to routine for creating a base that makes makeup look truly effortless. Whether you're getting ready for a big event or just your everyday look, this episode will completely change how you think about your skincare routine — and why it matters more than any foundation ever could.

In this episode:

• Why hydrated skin and moisturized skin are not the same thing
• The skin prep sequence a pro artist swears by
• Facial oils before makeup — friend or foe?
• How to layer SPF without ruining your base
• What "ready skin" actually looks and feels like

Follow Heather: Instagram: @themakeuphairco & @thebeautycircle

Exclusive listener gift 🎁 Grab your FREE copy of our Skin Science eBook — your complete guide to understanding your skin from the inside out. Available now at Skin Science - EBook | Skin Leaf Cosmetics

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Is slugging the ultimate glow hack—or a skincare mistake?

In this episode of Skin Leaf Talks, Lia Cardoso breaks down the viral slugging trend: what it is, how it works, and whether it’s actually right for your skin type.

Learn how to lock in hydration, protect your skin barrier, and avoid common mistakes that could lead to breakouts.

✨ Discover a better, skin-friendly alternative using facial oils

✨ Find out if slugging is right for dry, sensitive, or acne-prone skin

✨ Upgrade your nighttime routine with science-backed tips

💧 Shop Skin Leaf essentials:

Antioxidant Facial Oil – https://skinleaf.com/products/antioxidant-facial-oil

Sensitive Facial Oil – https://skinleaf.com/products/sensitive-facial-oil

📘 Download your FREE Skin Science Ebook:

https://skinleaf.com/pages/free-skin-science-ebook

Follow Skin Leaf Talks for more simple, effective, and natural skincare insights.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In this episode of Skin Leaf Talks, Lia Cardoso sits down with Kim Laudati, a New York City–based medical aesthetician and the visionary founder of SomaCell®. With over 20 years of experience in the industry, Kim is a leading advocate for natural beauty and a pioneer in the field of regenerative aesthetics.

Together, they explore a philosophy that aligns perfectly with the Skin Leaf mission: the idea that skin doesn’t need to be "fixed" or "corrected" through harsh measures—it needs to be supported and nurtured.

• 
  
• The Shift to Regenerative Aesthetics: Moving away from "forcing" change and instead activating the body’s innate ability to heal and renew.
• Care Over Correction: Why Kim believes in honoring the skin as a living organ rather than pushing for instant, often inflammatory, results.
• The Science of Self-Care: How SomaCell® serves as a clinical extension of intentional skincare, focusing on skin intelligence and natural rejuvenation.
• The Future of Beauty: Reclaiming a beauty culture that values integrity, wellness, and long-term skin health over "overdone" trends.

SomaCell® is a revolutionary treatment redefining clinical skincare by merging advanced science with a deep respect for the skin’s natural rhythm. It offers a powerful alternative to traditional, invasive procedures by focusing on activation rather than aggression.

Whether you are looking to restore radiance or support your skin’s structural integrity, SomaCell® provides a thoughtful, regenerative path to healthy, vibrant skin.

Learn more about SomaCell® and Kim’s work in the links below.

Kim Laudati: Founder of SomaCell® and Medical Aesthetician

Host: Lia Cardoso

Our Mission: Intentional, plant-forward skincare that honors your skin’s natural intelligence.

• Dr. Zoë: Skin/tervention Dermatology: SomaCell® | Non-Surgical Skin Tightening & Facelift

If you loved this episode, share it with a friend—and don’t forget: a minimalist routine, done thoughtfully, can be your most powerful beauty secret.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In a beauty industry obsessed with more — more products, more steps, more actives — what if the real power move is doing less?

In this episode of Skin Leaf Talks, host Lia Cardoso sits down with Skin Expert Kimberley Verdin to unpack the rise of minimalist skincare and why balanced beauty treatments are the future of skin health.

This is not about cutting corners. It’s about being strategic. Intentional. Elevated.

Together, they dive into:

• Why overcomplicating your routine may be damaging your skin barrier
• How to combine professional treatments with a simplified home ritual
• The difference between trend-driven skincare and results-driven skin strategy
• Why minimalism in beauty is a form of confidence — not compromise

Kimberley shares her expert insight from working hands-on with clients, while Lia brings her holistic, inside-out philosophy to the conversation — redefining what modern skincare should look like.

If you’re ready to stop chasing trends and start building a skin routine that actually works long-term, this episode is your reset.

Guest: Kimberley Verdin – Skin Expert

📍 Beauty in Rosedale

📞 647-831-1146

📧 [email protected]

Instagram: @beauty_rosedale

🌐 beautyinrosedale.com

Because true skin confidence isn’t built on excess — it’s built on intention.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.