Shows / ASCP Esty Talk
ASCP Esty Talk
Produced by Associated Skin Care Professionals (ASCP), ASCP Esty Talk and The Rogue Pharmacist is specifically created for estheticians. Where no topic is off limits, we share all kinds of great information on this podcast from ingredients and the science of the skin, to business, and beauty diversity. We hope you come away having learned more about your career, the industry, and maybe even life in general!
Episodes
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 428 – Lived Vs. Learned Experience
What makes someone an expert in skin care? Is it formal education, professional training, or personal experience? In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 427 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Cellular Aging
What happens when our cells reach the limits of their ability to divide and function? In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Benjamin Knight Fuchs explores…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 426 – The Unsaturated Market
Is the esthetics industry oversaturated, or are we overlooking what's really keeping appointment books empty? In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 425 - The Intentional Man
In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella explore how men, particularly Gen Zers, are changing the way they approach grooming, beauty, and self-care…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 424 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Hormonal Acne Without Hormonal Imbalance
Does the location of a breakout really tell us what's happening beneath the surface? In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben takes a closer look at…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 423 – The Anti-Social Algorithm
Using Lush's decision to walk away from millions of social media followers as a jumping-off point, Maggie and Ella explore the power of referrals…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 422 – The Trouble with Looking Trendy
What happens when a trend can't be washed off? In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella explore how quickly beauty trends can shape our perception of…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 421 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Natural Does Not Equal Better
Does a natural ingredient automatically mean it's better? In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben challenges the idea that natural and botanical…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 420 – Getting to the Root of Stem Cells in Skin Care
In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella are joined by molecular biologist Dr. David Stachura to break down the science behind stem cells in…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 419 – Shady Science
Why is finding the perfect foundation shade still so difficult, even with more shades and better technology? In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 418 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Vitamin D—More Than a Vitamin
In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben explores the important role vitamin D plays throughout the body and how it functions as more than just a vitamin…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 417 – Are We Really Done with Anti-Aging?
The esthetics industry has largely traded the term "anti-aging" for language like healthy aging, longevity, and pro-aging, but has the goal actually changed?…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 416 – The Emotional Side to Esthetics
Estheticians often become trusted confidants. But where's the line between listening and carrying a client's emotional weight? In this episode of ASCP Esty…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 415 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Perioral Dermatitis
Perioral dermatitis can easily be confused with acne, rosacea, or general skin irritation, making accurate recognition especially important. In this episode of…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 414 – Korean Skin Care: Fact, Fiction and Room to Learn
Korean skincare is far more than a viral trend or a multi-step routine. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella explore the philosophy behind Korean…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 413 – Spicules and Sponges: The Liquid Microneedling Craze
Liquid microneedling has quickly become one of the hottest trends in professional skin care, but what exactly happens beneath the surface? In this episode of…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 412 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Petrolatum – Friend or Foe?
Petrolatum is one of the most debated ingredients in skin care, praised by some professionals while avoided by others. In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 411 – Do No Harm: What Esthetics Schools Need to Know
The Department of Education's "Do No Harm" rules have sparked important conversations throughout the esthetics industry. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 410 – What the Deck: MicroRNAs
What if your skin could just . . . remember how to act young again? That's essentially the pitch behind Biocogent's new RNActivate W, a next-generation active…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 409 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Why Healing Slows with Age
As clients age, they often notice that cuts, irritation, and post-treatment recovery take longer than they once did. In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 408 – Esty Talk Mailbag: Early Career Experience
Sometimes one client can shape the way you practice for the rest of your career. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella open the ASCP mailbag to…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 407 – ASCP's Esty of the Year
In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella are joined by Armenthia Carr, the 2026 ASCP Esty of the Year, to discuss her journey through the industry…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 406 – The Rogue Pharmacist: How Chronic Stress Accelerates Aging
In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben explores how chronic stress impacts the body and how those physiological changes present in the skin. He breaks…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 405 – The First Facial
Through a surprising story about a prison barber who offered facials, Maggie and Ella explore how a first experience with skin care can completely reshape a…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 404 – Gray Market Peptides
Peptides in skin care span everything from well-researched cosmetic ingredients to highly unregulated compounds circulating in the "research" market. In this…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 403 – The Invisible Revenue Stream with Shannon Erley
In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella are joined by Shannon Erley, CEO and founder of Pomp, to talk about the invisible revenue stream many…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 402 – Command Prompting for AI
In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella talk about command prompting and how the way you communicate with AI shapes the results you get. They break…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 401 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Allergies, Histamine, and Mast Cells
In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben discusses how histamine, mast cells, and allergic responses impact the skin beyond sinus symptoms. With allergy…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 400 – The Wellness Split
In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella discuss how wellness is splitting in two directions: hyper-optimization and a return to nervous system care…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 399 – The Proof Problem
Right now, it feels like there's more pressure than ever for skin care to be proven. But what the proof actually means isn't always clear. In this episode of…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 398 – The Rogue Pharmacist: The Barbie Drug
In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben discusses Melanotan II, often referred to online as the "Barbie Drug," and its rise within biohacking and social…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 397 – The Summer Slowdown: What Hot Dogs Can Teach Us About Business Seasonality
Summer brings sunshine, ballparks, and hot dogs. But in the treatment room, it often brings a noticeable shift in business rhythm. In this episode of ASCP Esty…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 396 – Favorite Things
"Favorite Things" is back! In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Ella and Maggie share the treatment-room staples they're currently loving. From multitasking skin…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 395 – The Rogue Pharmacist: The Science of SPF and Skin Protection
SPF looks like a simple number on a bottle, but it's actually based on specific lab testing conditions that don't always translate to real-world use. In this…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 394 – Be the Driver of the Appointment with Claudia Wyatt
Being the driver of the appointment is about shifting from simply performing services to intentionally guiding the client experience with confidence, clarity…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 393 – BEMT: The New Sunscreen Ingredient
Big news in sunscreen regulation: For the first time since 1999, the US is seeing a new active ingredient approved, BEMT (Bemotrizinol), signaling an important…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 392 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Why Skin Scent Changes with Age
Skin carries a natural, individual scent signature that can subtly shift over time. Research is beginning to explore how much of that shift is driven by…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 391 – Niacinamide and Cellular Energy
The skin doesn't just need hydration and protection—it needs energy to repair, regulate, and function optimally. At the center of that energy system is NAD+…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 390 – Japanese Skin Care
Japanese skin care is often associated with minimalism, ritual, and a skin-first philosophy. But what's commonly marketed today is often a simplified Western…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 389 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Urea
Urea is one of the most misunderstood ingredients in skin care. Is it a hydrator, an exfoliant, or both? In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben Fuchs…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 388 – Resilient Beauty
Beauty consumer behavior is shifting, and what happens in mass and prestige retail impacts your treatment room and retail shelves. Trends in 2026 include skin…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 387 – Esthetics and Cosmetology Compacts
The esthetics and cosmetology compacts are key legislation shaping how professionals practice across state lines. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Laura…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 386 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Do Actives Cancel Each Other Out?
Layering skin care products can feel confusing, especially with so many warnings about mixing actives. In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben Fuchs…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 385 – Men's Beauty Market
From reactive visits to proactive, results-driven routines, the male client is evolving. Gen Z and younger Millennials approach skin care with education…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 384 – Coulda Fooled Me
In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella play a game called "Coulda Fooled Me," exploring the beliefs and assumptions that have tripped up…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 383 - The Rogue Pharmacist: Skin Purging
Is your client's skin really "purging," or is it something else? In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben Fuchs breaks down what skin purging actually is…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 382 – Perimenopause in the Treatment Room
Perimenopause is no longer a niche topic; it's a multibillion-dollar conversation in beauty, wellness, and health care. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 381 – The Immune Authority Report with Kiarra Smith
Drawing on her own experience navigating allergies and immune misfunction, Kiarra Smith, founder of Rooted Serenity, shares how she began recognizing…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 380 – Emerging Trends from IMCAS Paris with Jenni Nagle
Each year, IMCAS Paris, the premier cosmetic dermatology and plastic surgery conference, sets the tone for what's next in global esthetics, from innovative…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 379 – Generation Gaps: Same License, Different Starting Lines with Kiarra Smith
The esthetics license may be the same, but the path into the industry looks very different depending on when you started. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 378 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Why Soothing Ingredients Backfire
Soothing ingredients are often the first line of defense for red, reactive skin. But what if those soothing ingredients are part of the problem? In this…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 377 – Drugstore Dupes
Dupes are everywhere in skin care right now, but similar ingredients do not always mean similar performance. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 376 – Beauty on Their Terms: The DIY Boom
From cutting their own bangs to spacing out appointments, clients are changing how they engage with beauty. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Ella and Maggie…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 375 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Clean Beauty from a Pharmacist's Perspective
The term clean beauty has been trending for several years and means many different things, depending on who you ask. In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 374 - Brand-boozled
Being brand-boozled"happens when trust, loyalty, and transparency get misaligned in your professional relationships with skin care brands. In this episode of…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 373 – Vitamin A Debate
Vitamin A is one of the most talked-about ingredients in skin care, but there's a lot of confusion about what works and what doesn't with the vitamin. In this…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 372 – The Rogue Pharmacist: Rosacea is Not One Condition
Rosacea is often used as if it is one single condition, but clinically that may not be accurate. In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben breaks down why…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 371 – I'd Wax That
In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Ella and Maggie take a deep dive into modern waxing and why it can no longer be treated as a simple hair-removal service…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 370 – Overstories and Tipping Points
Estheticians know trends can come and go, but some moments change the whole industry. In this episode of ASCP Esty Talk, Maggie and Ella talk about the tipping…
- ASCP Esty Talk
Ep 369 – The Rogue Pharmacist: The Science of Skin Repair
Skin healing is far more complex than speeding up cell turnover. In this episode of The Rogue Pharmacist, Ben Fuchs discusses the phases of wound healing, the…