Skincare Made Simple

Skincare Made Simple

by Ella Elston
Fashion & BeautyHow ToSelf-Improvement
Season 3
Sunscreen Made Simple: Mineral vs Chemical | New Filters | UV Index | & More!
The ingredient people complain about the most is the single one that'll make the biggest difference in your skin — and no, it's not a retinoid or a fancy peptide. It's your sunscreen. This week we're getting into why SPF is the highest-leverage thing you can do for your skin (prevention is cheaper and easier than reversal), the difference between UVB and the UVA rays nobody talks about, chemical vs. mineral without the fear-mongering, what those "sunscreen in your bloodstream" studies actually found, and the new filter the FDA finally approved in June — what it is, and when you'll actually see it on shelves. No demonizing, no overclaiming. Just the nuance, from a friend who did the research so you don't have to. 🔗 Links: 💌 Work with me one-on-one 📲 Your free monthly skin tracker + Community Board ✅ Pore Check | Ingredient Checker 🧪 Not sure where to start? Take the quiz 🌐 yourestieella.com 🔬 Studies Referenced Matta MK, et al. Effect of Sunscreen Application Under Maximal Use Conditions on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2019;321(21):2082–2091. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.5586 Matta MK, et al. Effect of Sunscreen Application on Plasma Concentration of Sunscreen Active Ingredients: A Randomized Clinical Trial. JAMA. 2020;323(3):256–267. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.20747 🧴 Products Mentioned: TOWER 28 - SOS FaceGuard SPF 30 Mineral Sunscreen: https://go.shopmy.us/p-75715149 CERAVE | Invisible Mineral Sunscreen SPF 50 Face: https://go.shopmy.us/p-75715156 Skin1004 | Pro Bio Cica Glow Sun Ampoule: https://go.shopmy.us/p-75715160 INNBEAUTY PROJECT | Mineral Sun Glow Broad Spectrum SPF 43 Pa +++ With Peptides And Vitamin C: https://go.shopmy.us/p-75715175 BEAUTY OF JOSEON - Day Dew Sunscreen 50 Ml: https://go.shopmy.us/p-75715188 Medik8 UK | Advanced Day Ultimate Protect+ https://go.shopmy.us/p-75716920 Cabanamilk Mineral Barrier Fluid SPF 50: https://go.shopmy.us/p-75715327 Loved this one? A share and a 5-star review genuinely helps more people find clear, healthy skin. And don't forget to reapply. 🌞
S3 · E10
Jul 30, 2026
26:45
Skincare Shopping Made Simple: Reviewing Ulta's Newest Skincare | How to Actually Shop Skincare
There are hundreds of new skincare products hitting Ulta every month—but which ones are actually worth your money? In this episode, I'm scrolling through Ulta's newest skincare launches and giving you my honest first impressions! We dive into the ingredient lists, look past the marketing claims, and talk about what these products are actually designed to do and who they might be right for! We'll cover: ✨ Which new launches genuinely caught my attention ✨ Why ingredient percentages matter more than flashy marketing ✨ How to tell if a product is truly acne-friendly ✨ The difference between ingredients that sound impressive and those that actually have research behind them Resources & Links • • Take the FREE Skin Profile Quiz • Try my FREE Ingredient Checker • Explore my skin-specific mini courses • Work with me 1-on-1 Products Mentioned: Daily D-Clog Pore-Clearing Cleanser -: Silkfoliant Daily Tri-Acid Smoothing Toner With Mandelic Acid -: ANUA - PDRN Caffeine Rejuvenating Eye Cream: RAEL - Glow with Your Flow Miracle Patch Kit: Madeca Derma Shield Vital Dewy Sunscreen Cream SPF 50+: Madeca Azelaic Acid 10+ Calming Serum: Glow Potion Illuminating Superfood Serum: The Power Move Ectoine Hydrating & Plumping Facial Serum: Facialrx Daily Peel Pads: COSRX - One Step Original Clear Skin Calming Pad: White Truffle 2-In-1 Exfoliating & Glow Toner Pads: Tx-Astaxanthin Anti-Dark Spot & Brightening Capsule Cream: ORIGINS - Youthtopia Apple Jelly Lip Balm: Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Teca Plumping Ampoule: Madagascar Centella Hyalu-Teca Glass Skin Milk: COSRX - The Blue Peptide Bakuchiol Plump Glow Serum:
S3 · E9
Jul 23, 2026
57:07
Skincare Q & A: Purging, Teen Acne, First Time Retinoid Use, Body Care, Vitamin C After 50, & More!
A little something different this week. I pulled the best moments from a recent Wednesday TikTok Live and brought them straight to your ears. Think of it as a rapid-fire Q&A — purging, pigmentation, first-time retinoids, body shaving care, and a whole lot of "please stop adding products before you've maxed out the ones you have." As always, every product mentioned is linked below, plus all the ways to work with me and grab your free skin tracker. 🔗 Links: 💌 Work with me one-on-one 📲 Your free monthly skin tracker + Community Board 📚 The Database Library 🧪 Not sure where to start? Take the quiz 🌐 yourestieella.com (don't miss the niacinamide-free product tab) 🧴 All Products Mentioned
S3 · E8
Jun 5, 2026
59:06
Skin Types vs Skin Conditions Made Simple: Why You've Probably Been Treating the Wrong Thing
Most skincare confusion comes down to one thing: mixing up what your skin is with what your skin is currently doing. In this episode, Ella breaks down the four skin types, the most common skin conditions (including the oily-and-dehydrated combination that trips everyone up), and why accurately identifying both changes every product decision you make. Topics covered: The four skin types and how to identify yours with the bare face test Why combination skin is the most common type and what that actually means for your routine Skin conditions: dehydration, sensitization, acne, hyperpigmentation, barrier damage The oily skin stripping cycle — and how to break it The routine-building framework: address conditions first, optimize for type 🔗 Links: 💌 Work with me one-on-one 📲 Your free monthly skin tracker + Community Board 📚 The Database Library 🧪 Not sure where to start? Take the quiz 🌐 yourestieella.com (don't miss the niacinamide-free product tab)
S3 · E7
Apr 28, 2026
19:08
The Skin Barrier Made Simple: What It Is, What Damages It, and Why It Affects Everything
If your skin has been dry, tight, red, bumpy, stinging, or just… not responding to anything you throw at it, start here. Almost every skin concern you're dealing with is either caused by, worsened by, or masking a barrier problem — and today we're going all the way back to the foundation. 🧠 In this episode: What the skin barrier actually is (spoiler: as thin as a sheet of printer paper) The brick wall analogy — corneocytes, lipid matrix, and why ceramides are ~50% of your mortar Natural Moisturizing Factor, the acid mantle, and transepidermal water loss (TEWL) as the real indicator of barrier health Why Korean skincare "works" (hint: barrier focus, not magic potions) & More! 📚 The research: Acne-prone skin has lower ceramides and a disrupted linoleic/oleic ratio in sebum: Ottaviani et al., Lipid Mediators in Acne Topical linoleic acid reduced microcomedone size by ~25% in one month: Letawe et al., 1998 Linoleic acid's role in ceramide synthesis and barrier repair: Role of Linoleic Acid in Skin and Hair Health, 2024 ✨ Products mentioned: Ur Turnover Ampoule (Silver — PDRN): https://go.shopmy.us/p-53957565 InnBeauty Project Pro-C Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-48252218 Full barrier-supportive product roundup: https://shopmy.us/shop/collections/3708125 🔗 Links: 💌 Work with me one-on-one 📲 Your free monthly skin tracker + Community Board 📚 The Database Library 🧪 Not sure where to start? Take the quiz 🌐 yourestieella.com (don't miss the niacinamide-free product tab) If this episode made something click for you, send it to the friend whose skincare routine is currently stressing their skin out — and if you have a sec, leaving a review genuinely helps the pod more than you know. 🤍 Life is difficult. Skincare shouldn't be. Talk soon, Ella Skincare Made Simple
S3 · E6
Apr 21, 2026
33:18
Sunscreen Made Simple - Everything you need to know about the most important part of your skincare routine
In this episode, we're breaking down why sunscreen isn't just "the anti-aging step" — it's the step that makes every other step in your routine actually worth doing. If those UV rays keep undoing your progress, it doesn't matter how fancy your serum is. 🧪 Studies + sources referenced - The 80–90% photoaging statistic — Flament et al., Clinical, Cosmetic and Investigational Dermatology (2013), which quantified sun damage percentage in facial aging. (https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3790843/) - The twin study — Guyuron et al., Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery (2009), "Factors Contributing to the Facial Aging of Identical Twins."(https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19337100/) - The sunscreen-absorption study I mentioned — Matta et al., JAMA (2019), (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2733085) - The follow-up absorption study — Matta et al., JAMA (2020), (https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2759002) 🧴 What I personally use + recommend - My everyday sunscreen: InnBeauty Project Mineral Sun Glow (PA+++, tinted to counteract white cast, three shades) - Body sunscreen I actually enjoy: Hempz SPF 30 and SPF 50 body lotions (smells like their regular lotions, not like sunscreen) - Kids' sunscreen sticks: Skin1004 and Cell Fusion C sticks — easy enough for my five- and eight-year-old to apply themselves - Touch-up for oily skin: Naked Sundays setting spray SPF 30 🔗 Links: 💌 Work with me one-on-one 📲 Your free monthly skin tracker + Community Board 📚 The Database Library 🧪 Not sure where to start? Take the quiz 🌐 yourestieella.com And if you have someone in your life who still isn't wearing one — send this their way. You care about them. I care about them. We just want everyone protected. Get your annual skin check. Reapply when you're outside. Don't forget your ears.
S3 · E5
Apr 16, 2026
40:14
Copper Peptides & Acne Scars....They're Related??
If you haven't listened to the copper peptides episode yet — go back and start there. This mini episode builds directly on it, and it'll make a lot more sense with that context. This week we're zooming in on one specific molecule involved in how copper peptides actually repair the skin: decorin. It doesn't get nearly enough airtime in the skincare conversation, and for acne-prone skin especially, it's a pretty big deal. 📌 What we cover: What decorin actually is Why just stimulating collagen isn't enough What happens during prolonged inflammation like acne? Why cystic acne scars more severely How decorin changes with age — and why this is part of the aging story almost nobody is talking about Can topical options that can actually influence decorin? 🔗 Resources mentioned: 🗂️ The Peptide Database — find products with Tripeptide-10 Citrulline (and GHK-Cu) at meaningful levels, without the marketing noise 📚 Skincare Made Simple: The Course — build a routine that addresses all of this in the right order for your specific skin
S3 · E4
Mar 16, 2026
11:36
Copper Peptides Made Simple: The Beauty Peptide Deep Dive
GHK-Cu — aka copper peptides — has been crowned the "beauty peptide," but the real story is way bigger than anti-aging marketing. In this episode, we go deep on why this molecule (one your body already makes and relies on for repair) might be one of the most important things you can add to both your skincare routine and your supplement stack. In this episode: What GHK-Cu actually is and why it's different from signal peptides How your natural GHK-Cu levels drop by more than half between ages 20–60 — and why that matters The vitamin C + retinoid compatibility conversation — what actually matters and what you can stop worrying about How to work copper peptides into your routine and what to look for on the ingredient list (hint: copper tripeptide-1) 🔗 Links: 💌 Work with me one-on-one 📲 Your free monthly skin tracker + Community Board 📚 The Database Library 🧪 Not sure where to start? Take the quiz 🌐 yourestieella.com Products Mentioned PEACH & LILY | Copper Peptide Pro Firming Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45564947 INNBEAUTY PROJECT | Elastic Skin Firming Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-46892245 MEDIK8 | Liquid Peptides: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45564326 BIOSSANCE | Squalane + Copper Peptide Plumping Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-46892540 Literature to read: The big one: PMC4508379 — "GHK Peptide as a Natural Modulator of Multiple Cellular Pathways in Skin Regeneration" PMC6073405 — "Regenerative and Protective Actions of the GHK-Cu Peptide" MDPI Cosmetics 2018 — "Skin Regenerative and Anti-Cancer Actions of Copper Peptides" — has some fascinating context on Lester Pickart who basically discovered GHK-Cu
S3 · E3
Mar 11, 2026
38:54
PDRN 101 — What It Is, Where It Comes From & How to Pick a Good One
PDRN is having a major moment in skincare — and for good reason. In this bite-size episode, we're breaking down everything you actually need to know about polydeoxyribonucleotide (yes, that's a mouthful): what it does, why the source matters more than you might think, and how to read a label so you're not just buying the hype. 🐟 What we cover: What PDRN is and why it started in medicine, not beauty How it works and what the studies say Salmon-derived PDRN vs. Centella (plant-based/phyto) PDRN — the research gap, the biocompatibility argument, and what each does well What to actually look for on a label (ingredient names, concentration clues, delivery systems) Who each source is best suited for & more! 🔗 Links: 💌 Work with me one-on-one 📲 Your free monthly skin tracker + Community Board 📚 The Database Library 🧪 Not sure where to start? Take the quiz 🌐 yourestieella.com Favorite topical PDRN products REJURAN | Rejuran Turnover Ampoule C-PDRN 0.5% Renewing Serum for Smooth Texture & Glass Skin 1.01 Oz/30 mL: https://go.shopmy.us/p-46008243 REJURAN | Rejuran Turnover Mask C-PDRN 5-Pack for Uneven Texture & Brightening Dull Skin 1.35 Fl. oz./40 mL X 5 Sheets: https://go.shopmy.us/p-46008254 ANUA | PDRN Hyaluronic Acid Capsule 100 Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-46008112 ANUA | PDRN Hyaluronic Acid 100 Moisturizing Cream: https://go.shopmy.us/p-46008122 Shop more of my favorite products here: https://shopmy.us/ellaelston
S3 · E2
Mar 5, 2026
12:27
Peptides Made Simple: Everything you need to know about adding a peptide product to your skincare routine
Peptides are one of the most hyped skincare ingredients right now—but what do they actually do? In this episode, we break down peptides in simple, no-BS terms. You’ll learn what peptides are, the different types used in skincare, what results are realistic, how to choose a peptide serum, and whether you really need peptides in every product. Plus, I’ll share some of my favorite peptide products at both luxury and budget-friendly price points. If peptides have ever confused you—or felt overpromised—this episode will make it click. 🔗 Links: 💌 Work with me one-on-one 📲 Your free monthly skin tracker + Community Board 📚 The Database Library 🧪 Not sure where to start? Take the quiz 🌐 yourestieella.com Peptides mentioned in this episode Liquid Peptides Advanced MP Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45564299 DR. WHITNEY BOWE BEAUTY | Peptide + HA Plumping Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45564313 MEDIK8 | Liquid Peptides: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45564326 COSRX | The 6 Peptide Skin Booster Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45564355 GOOD MOLECULES | Super Peptide Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45564899 NATURIUM | Multi-Peptide Advanced Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45564915 PEACH & LILY | Copper Peptide Pro Firming Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45564947 BUBBLE SKINCARE | Water Slide Hydrating Serum: https://go.shopmy.us/p-45564997 Shop more of my favorite products here: https://shopmy.us/ellaelston A few relevant peptide studies (more linked in the Peptide Database) Lee E, Ahn DK, Kim JH, et al. Skin Anti-Aging and Moisturizing Effects of Low-Molecular-Weight Collagen Peptide Supplementation in Healthy Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial. J Microbiol Biotechnol. 2025;35:e2507008. Published 2025 Sep 11. doi:10.4014/jmb.2507.07008 Skibska A, Perlikowska R. Signal Peptides - Promising Ingredients in Cosmetics. Curr Protein Pept Sci. 2021;22(10):716-728. doi:10.2174/1389203722666210812121129 Badilli U, Inal O. Current Approaches in Cosmeceuticals: Peptides, Biotics and Marine Biopolymers. Polymers (Basel). 2025 Mar 18;17(6):798. doi: 10.3390/polym17060798. PMID: 40292641; PMCID: PMC11946782.
S3 · E1
Mar 3, 2026
32:46
1 of 4