In this episode of Outside The System, I spoke with Athina Christacos, founder of Feminrgy, a holistic skin health business. Athina and I worked together at The Estee Lauder Companies, one of the largest cosmetics companies in the world, where she was a cosmetic chemist. Using her background in biology and chemistry, Athina spent years trying to solve her own rosacea. This journey led her to dig deeper into the true cause of her skin problems and ultimately helped her create her inside-out approach to health and skincare. 

During our conversation, we got into:

• The major factors that influence overall health and skin health in particular
• The troubled history and effects of birth control
• Female vs male cycles
• Adapting your daily, weekly, and monthly routines to your cycle
• The history of Accutane (prescription acne medication) and the birth control requirement
• Sunscreen and skin cancer
• How lack of science literacy makes you buy products that don't work
• Why one size fits all healthcare doesn't work
• Scientism
• Practical tips to experiment and improve your skin and overall health

Resources and Links

Athina's Instagram

Feminrgy Website

Feminrgy blog with tons of actionable information

Skin cancer rates over time

Accutane, birth control requirement, and birth defects