Podcast

Skin First

Arts, Fashion & Beauty

If you’re tired of complicated skincare routines, overhyped products, and beauty advice that leaves you more confused than confident, you’re in the right place.
I’m Heather Spadaro, and after more than 20 years in the beauty industry, I’ve seen how easily skincare can become overwhelming. On Skin First, I break down skincare, skin health, and makeup, while questioning the rules and trends that make beauty more complicated than it needs to be. From your morning skincare routine to minimalist makeup, I focus on what works, why it works, and what you can leave behind.

Episodes
5
Releases
Every two weeks
Typical length
11 min
On air since
2026
Latest episode
6 days ago

Episodes

5 episodes, newest first

  1. 4: Skin Texture and Social Media Filters | Understanding Filter Dysmorphia

    Season 1, Episode 4

    Show notes

    Do you ever look at your skin and wonder why it doesn't look as smooth as the faces you see online? Social media filters can make us believe that healthy skin should have no pores, lines, or redness. But real skin doesn't work that way.

    IN THIS EPISODE, I’M TALKING ABOUT:

    • How social media filters affect the way we see our skin.
    • Why visible pores, fine lines, and redness are normal.
    • How over-exfoliation can damage your skin barrier.
    • Which skincare ingredients help keep your skin hydrated.
    • How to improve your skincare routine without using too many products.
    • How to stop comparing your real skin to filtered photos.

    ABOUT ME

    I’m Heather Spadaro, a beauty industry expert with over 20 years of experience. I take a skin-first approach to skincare and makeup, helping you understand what your skin actually needs without complicated routines, trends, or beauty marketing noise.

    ≫ IG:@themakeuphairco |@hcs.mua

    ≫ Web:https://makeupandhair.co/

    ≫ Join Loop: my free community,The Beauty Circle where beauty advice is made simple.

    ----

    Produced by https://www.aoli.fm.

    10 min
  2. 3: Is Expensive Skincare Worth It? The Truth About Luxury Skincare

    Season 1, Episode 3

    Show notes

    Does expensive skincare actually work better? Luxury skincare often uses fancy packaging, big claims, and rare-sounding ingredients to make products feel worth hundreds of dollars. But does the price mean better results?

    Today, I break down luxury skincare and what to actually look for in a product, from ingredients and packaging to the claims brands make.

    ∴ IN THIS EPISODE, I’M TALKING ABOUT:

    • Is expensive skincare worth it?
    • Is luxury skincare actually better?
    • What you’re really paying for with expensive skincare products
    • How skincare ingredients affect the price of a product
    • How to read a skincare ingredient list before buying an expensive product
    • How to tell if a luxury skincare product is actually worth the money
    • My simple 3-step checklist for choosing effective skincare

    ∴ ABOUT ME

    I’m Heather Spadaro, a beauty industry expert with over 20 years of experience. I take a skin-first approach to skincare and makeup, helping you understand what your skin actually needs without complicated routines, trends, or beauty marketing noise.

    ≫ IG:@themakeuphairco |@hcs.mua

    ≫ Web:https://makeupandhair.co/

    ≫ Join Loop: my free community, The Beauty Circle, where beauty advice is made simple.

    ∴∴∴∴

    Produced by https://www.aoli.fm.

    15 min
  3. 2: 12-Step Skincare Routine: Is Your Skincare Working Against You?

    Season 1, Episode 2

    Show notes

    The 12-step skincare routine has become the norm, but how much does your skin actually need? With cleansers, serums, acids, oils, masks, and more competing for space on your bathroom shelf, skincare can quickly become complicated.

    In this episode, I’m taking a closer look at how we got here, why skincare became so focused on doing more, and what happens when our routines start taking over our time, money, and attention.

    ∴ IN THIS EPISODE, I’M TALKING ABOUT:

    •

    How many steps should a skincare routine have?

    •

    How many skincare products is too many?

    •

    What does a 12-step skincare routine actually involve?

    •

    Am I using too many actives in my skincare?

    •

    Is my skincare routine complicated?

    •

    How can I simplify my skincare routine?

    •

    Too many actives on my face.

    ∴ ABOUT ME:

    I’m Heather Spadaro, a beauty industry expert with over 20 years of experience. I take a skin-first approach to skincare and makeup, helping you understand what your skin actually needs without complicated routines, trends, or beauty marketing noise.

    ≫ IG:@themakeuphairco |@hcs.mua

    ≫ Web:https://makeupandhair.co/

    ≫ Join Loop: my free community:The Beauty Circle where beauty advice is made simple.

    ∴ Produced by https://www.aoli.fm∴

    11 min
  4. 1: Is Chemical-Free Skincare a Myth? The Truth About Clean Beauty

    Season 1, Episode 1

    Show notes

    Welcome to my very first episode of Skin First. I’m starting with a topic that has been at the center of beauty marketing for years: “chemical-free” skincare.

    What does “chemical-free” actually mean when it comes to skincare? I’m breaking down the language behind clean beauty and some of the claims we see on skincare labels every day.

    We’ve all seen products called clean, natural, non-toxic, or chemical-free. But what do these terms really mean? Today, I’m looking at the ideas behind these labels, the fear around certain skincare ingredients, and why the way we talk about ingredients can make skincare more confusing than it needs to be.

    ∴ IN THIS EPISODE, I’M TALKING ABOUT:

    •
    • What chemical-free skincare means
    •
    • Natural vs. synthetic skincare ingredients
    •
    • What clean beauty actually means
    •
    • Why parabens in skincare became controversial
    •
    • How to read a skincare ingredients list
    •
    • Why preservatives in skincare products matter

    ∴ ABOUT ME:

    I’m Heather Spadaro, a beauty industry expert with over 20 years of experience. I take a skin-first approach to skincare and makeup, helping you understand what your skin actually needs without complicated routines, trends, or beauty marketing noise.

    ≫ IG:@themakeuphairco |@hcs.mua

    ≫ Web:https://makeupandhair.co/

    ≫ Join Loop: my free community:The Beauty Circle where beauty advice is made simple.

    ∴ Produced by https://www.aoli.fm∴

    9 min
  5. Welcome to Skin First: Where Your Skin Comes First Trailer

    Show notes

    If you’re tired of complicated skincare routines, overhyped products, and beauty advice thatleaves you more confused than confident, you’re in the right place.

    I’m Heather Spadaro, and after more than 20 years in the beauty industry, I’ve seen how easily skincarecan become overwhelming. On Skin First, I break down skincare, skin health, and makeup, while questioning the rules and trends that make beauty more complicated than it needs to be. From your morning skincare routine to minimalist makeup, I focus on what works, why it works, and what you can leave behind.

    ~~~

    web | https://makeupandhair.co/

    IG | @themakeuphairco

    2 min