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The Truth About Anti-Aging Skincare: Zombie Cells, NAD Creams, Exosomes & What Actually Works with OneSkin’s Carolina Reis Oliveira

The Truth About Anti-Aging Skincare: Zombie Cells, NAD Creams, Exosomes & What Actually Works with OneSkin’s Carolina Reis Oliveira

Carolina Reis Oliveira, PhD and co-founder of OneSkin (code: BIOHACKINGBRITTANY), exposes why so many “anti-aging” products quietly inflame your skin, accelerate cellular aging, and wreck your barrier — and what a true longevity-first skincare routine looks like instead.

We unpack senescent “zombie cells”, exosome facials, NAD+ creams, rating apps like EWG and Yuka, and how to choose products that are both clean and clinically effective without overloading your skin. As a mom and longevity nerd, I also ask her how women can simplify their routines without sacrificing results, especially when we’re juggling babies, work, and sleep.

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We talk about: 

02:00 - Why OneSkin started by testing popular “anti-aging” creams on real human skin

10:35 - What senescent “zombie cells” are and why they act like rotten apples inside your skin

14:15 - Why OneSkin keeps its OS-01 peptide topical (not oral) and what that means for safety vs. supplements

17:45 - Exosome facials, plant stem cell exosomes, and how to tell if what’s in the vial is actually still active

19:15 - NAD, NMN, niacinamide and so-called “mitochondria” creams — what the data really shows on skin aging

25:55 - The kinds of clinical tests and lab data Carolina looks for before she’ll trust a formula

31:05 - Exactly where OneSkin fits into your routine with vitamin C, retinol, eye creams and exfoliants

34:05 - Non-comedogenic formulas, coconut oil breakouts and how OneSkin formulates for acne-prone skin

39:15 - How to actually use a gua sha for lymph drainage, jaw tension and lip lines 

40:35 - The future of longevity: Shifting from “anti-aging” to extending women’s healthspan and vitality into our 70s and 80s

43:40 - Hormone therapy, prevention and why “just get used to it, you’re getting old” is a dangerous narrative

45:40 - How to spot longevity greenwashing in both skincare and supplements

Questions answered in this episode: 

  • Why did OneSkin’s founders discover that many “anti-aging” products were actually inflaming and aging skin in the lab?

  • What are senescent “zombie cells,” and how do they silently sabotage your skin from the inside out?

  • How does clearing senescent cells improve both the look and function of your skin barrier as you age?

  • Why does Carolina see skin as a longevity organ and not just something to treat for wrinkles and pores?

  • Are exosomes and stem cell serums in skincare worth the money, and what are the stability + safety concerns?

  • What’s the real difference between NAD/NMN/niacinamide in your serum versus in your supplement stack?

  • How can you vet a skincare product for both cleanliness and efficacy without being a chemist?

  • Which clinical tests (instrument data, dermatologist grading, consumer studies) actually matter when you’re deciding what to buy?

  • Why can overloading your routine with retinoids, vitamin C, peels and 20 peptides make your skin more reactive?

  • How reliable are sites like EWG and Yuka and what are their biggest blind spots when it comes to full formulas?

  • Where does OneSkin fit if you already use vitamin C, retinol, eye creams, and weekly exfoliants and how should you layer it?

  • Is OneSkin comedogenic for acne-prone or sensitive skin, and what do they do differently in formulation?

  • How can tools like a lip mask and gua sha support lymph, lip lines and facial tension as part of a longevity routine?

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