What Chinese Medicine Says About American Skin Habits

What Chinese Medicine Says About American Skin Habits

Why skincare might never fully work for you — until you try this. In this episode of Face It, Bari sits down with Ava Lee — known online as Glow With Ava — who blends traditional Chinese medicine, inside-out wellness, and K-beauty in a way that actually makes sense. Together, they break down why the Western approach to skincare keeps so many people stuck, and what ancient practices can teach us about getting to the root cause. From what you eat and drink to how you move and sleep, this conversation reframes everything you thought you knew about clear, healthy skin. This is skincare from the inside out — no quick fixes, just real habits that actually work. We cover: * Why the US approach to skincare and medicine is fundamentally different from Chinese medicine * What it means to treat your body as an ecosystem — not separate parts * The one daily habit Ava says has the biggest impact on your skin * Why ice water, cold coffee, and raw salads may be quietly wrecking your digestion * What "dampness" is in TCM — and how it shows up on your face as acne and congestion * What your breakout location is actually telling you about what's going on inside * The TCM organ clock and why eating breakfast at the right time matters more than you think * Why going to sleep with wet hair and cold feet can affect your hormones and skin * What to actually eat for skin brightening, plumping, and anti-aging benefits * The truth about collagen — does eating it actually do anything? * Why cold plunges may not be good for women * What gua sha, facial massage, and lymphatic drainage actually are — and how they differ * The biggest misconception about lymphatic drainage (more pressure is not better) * What ear seeding is, how it works, and what it can actually change about your appearance * Why Korean skincare is not a scam — and the real reason K-beauty is so far ahead * The three K-beauty rules everyone should follow * Why habits don't sell bottles — and how the beauty industry benefits from that * Face movements for smile lines, crow's feet, jawline, dark circles, and more Watch now and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

Your Doctor Is Treating Your Symptoms and Ignoring the Real Problem

Your skincare routine might only be solving half the problem. A leading functional medicine doctor is here to explain why. In this episode of Face It, Bari sits down with Dr. Will Cole — bestselling author and one of the world's leading functional medicine practitioners — to explore the powerful connection between what's happening inside your body and what's showing up on your skin. From the gut-skin axis to hormonal imbalances to the everyday habits quietly driving inflammation, Dr. Cole brings over 16 years of clinical expertise to a conversation that challenges everything you thought you knew about healing your skin. This is skincare from the inside out — and it changes everything. We cover: * What functional medicine actually is — and how it differs from the conventional medicine most of us grew up with * Why your labs can come back "normal" and something can still be very wrong * The gut-skin axis explained — and why your skin is often a direct reflection of what's happening in your gut * What leaky gut actually is, why it happens, and how it shows up on your skin * The four foods most likely to be secretly sabotaging your skin — and the better-for-you swaps that don't require giving up everything you love * Why alcohol is one of the biggest skin saboteurs nobody wants to talk about * Whether probiotic sodas like Poppi and Olipop are actually doing anything for your gut * The truth about probiotics — and why just taking one daily isn't always enough * How to know if your hormones are out of balance — and the surprising signs hiding in plain sight * Why birth control is still being prescribed for acne in 2024 — and what Dr. Cole thinks about that * How chronic stress is quietly aging you faster than almost anything else * Why fixing your mood might start with fixing your gut * What "hormonal acne" actually means — and why it's often diagnosed without a single hormone being tested * The supplements Dr. Cole says almost everyone should be taking — and the ones that are mostly marketing * How sleep quality is directly impacting your skin — and the simple nighttime habits that can change everything * What you can do starting tomorrow to begin healing your gut and transforming your skin from the inside out

Why the Skincare Industry Is Failing Melanin-Rich Skin

The skincare industry has been leaving melanin-rich skin out of the conversation for too long. A board-certified dermatologist is here to change that. In this episode of Face It, Bari sits down with Dr. Adeline Kikam — board-certified dermatologist, founder of Skin Inclusive Dermatology, and the leading voice behind Brown Skin Derm — to cut through the misinformation around melanin-rich skin and explore what inclusive dermatology actually looks like in practice. From the sunscreen myth that refuses to die to the real dangers of the wrong laser on darker skin tones, Dr. Kikam brings clinical expertise and lived experience to a conversation that's equal parts educational and deeply personal. We cover: •⁠  ⁠What melanin actually is — and why we all have the same number of melanocytes •⁠  ⁠The key differences between darker and lighter skin tones that change everything about how you treat your skin •⁠  ⁠Why the belief that melanin-rich skin does not require sun protection is not only a misconception but a genuinely harmful one •⁠  ⁠How to choose the right sunscreen for melanin-rich skin — and why tinted mineral sunscreen is the most effective choice •⁠  ⁠Why hyperpigmentation is so persistent in skin of color and how to actually treat it •⁠  ⁠The difference between hyperpigmentation and scarring — and why confusing them leads to the wrong treatment •⁠  ⁠How to build a basic dermatologist-approved skincare routine for melanin-rich skin •⁠  ⁠Why chemical exfoliation beats physical exfoliation — and how to pick the right one for your skin type •⁠  ⁠What to know before getting a chemical peel or laser treatment if you have darker skin •⁠  ⁠What microneedling actually does and why it's one of the safest and most effective procedures for skin of color •⁠  ⁠The Black-owned and melanin-focused brands Dr. Kikam has on her radar right now •⁠  ⁠A full product lightning round — love it, leave it, or be cautious — on the most popular hyperpigmentation treatments •⁠  ⁠Why skin cancer in melanin-rich skin is often caught too late — and what you can do about it •⁠  ⁠What inspired Dr. Kikam to start Brown Skin Derm and build a practice centered on inclusive care •⁠  ⁠What she wishes the beauty and skincare industry would change about how it approaches skin of color Watch now and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

What a Miami Injector Actually Thinks About Botox and Filler

What does an injector with over a decade of experience actually think about Botox and filler? More than the internet is telling you. In this episode of Face It, Bari sits down with Pamela Weinberger — a certified aesthetic medicine practitioner and founder of Juné Esthetics in Miami — to separate injectable fact from fiction and explore what it really means to approach injectables the right way. From the rise of preventative Botox to the dangers of going to the wrong injector, Pamela brings real clinical expertise to a conversation that's equal parts eye-opening and refreshingly honest. This is injectables without the hype — just real knowledge from someone who's in the trenches every single day. We cover: * How injectables have evolved — and whether the industry has gotten better or just more crowded * Why Botox and filler are completely different treatments and should never be confused * The real reason so many people end up with results they hate * How to tell the difference between a static line and a dynamic line — and why it changes everything * The biggest mistake people make when they start getting Botox too young * Why filler is not the enemy — and why it's actually the most transformative treatment available * The worst injectable trends on social media right now — and which ones can cause real damage * Why the "no tox" movement's biggest claims don't hold up to the science * What celebrities' skin actually looks like behind the scenes * Why pillow face and frozen face happen — and how the right injector avoids both * How skincare and injectables work together — and which one should always come first * What lifestyle factors are quietly affecting how your results look and how long they last * What "natural aesthetic" actually means — and what it doesn't * Pamela's approach to turning away clients — and why she does it every single day * Her biggest advice for anyone just starting to explore injectables * What Pamela hopes the future of aesthetic medicine looks like Watch now and let us know your thoughts in the comments.

100,000 Facials Later: What Doctors Aren't Telling You

What 47 years of facials actually teaches you about skin. In this episode of Face It, Bari sits down with Nerida Joy — a globally renowned esthetician with over 47 years of experience and 100,000 facials performed — to separate skincare fact from fiction, and explore what it really means to care for your skin long term. From the rise of adult acne to the dangers of at-home peels, Nerida brings decades of hands-on wisdom to a conversation that's equal parts eye-opening and refreshingly honest. This is skincare without the hype — just real knowledge from someone who helped shape the industry. We cover: - How skincare has changed over 47 years — and whether it's gotten better or just busier - Why so many people are dealing with compromised skin barriers right now - The real causes of adult acne (and why it's more common than ever) - How to tell the difference between hormonal acne and food-related acne - The biggest mistake people with acne make when trying to heal their skin - Why moisturizer is not the enemy for oily, acne-prone skin - The worst TikTok skincare trends Nerida has seen — and why some can cause permanent damage - Why red LED lights can actually make certain skin conditions worse - What celebrities' skin actually looks like behind the scenes - Why facelifts in your 20s are a growing trend — and the long-term consequences no one talks about - How massage and movement can transform your skin without a single device - What lifestyle factors (alcohol, smoking, stress) are quietly doing to your skin - What "holistic skincare" actually means — and what it doesn't - The Five Star Method and what's missing from esthetic training today - Nerida's biggest advice for aspiring estheticians just starting out - What Nerida hopes the future of skincare looks like