

135. Hormones Harmonized: Elle Shelley Black of Same Skincare on Syncing Skin to Life’s Rhythms
Karl and Erum sit down with Elle Black, a product designer and manufacturing strategist whose journey into the world of skincare, AI, and biology is anything but typical. Elle shares how her background in physical product development led her to dive deep into the supplement and cosmetics industries—spaces rich with opportunity and riddled with misinformation. From decoding the intricacies of INCI labeling to navigating unregulated beauty markets, she unpacks what it really takes to build responsible, scalable consumer products. Whether you're in biotech, product innovation, or sustainability, Elle's perspective on building smarter—from ingredients to algorithms—will resonate.
Grow Everything brings the bioeconomy to life. Hosts Karl Schmieder and Erum Azeez Khan share stories and interview the leaders and influencers changing the world by growing everything. Biology is the oldest technology. And it can be engineered. What are we growing?
Learn more at www.messaginglab.com/groweverything
Chapters:
- 00:00:00 - Cracking Open the Beauty Industry Mystery
- 00:00:36 - The Cosmic Luck of Being Human
- 00:02:34 - Can We Hack Aging? Let’s Try
- 00:07:40 - Elle Black Joins: Skin, Science & Secrets
- 00:15:17 - Elle’s Origin Story + Clean Beauty Truths
- 00:33:10 - The Truth About Odor-Eating Deodorants
- 00:34:11 - Beauty Products vs. Your Fridge
- 00:35:40 - Why Cold Shipping Costs More Than You Think
- 00:36:31 - Calling Out the Hidden in Beauty Labels
- 00:38:29 - Why I Created a Skincare Ritual That Listens
- 00:39:45 - Your Hormones, Your Glow—Deeply Linked
- 00:40:33 - A Skincare App That Knows Your Cycle
- 00:45:19 - What Men Don’t Know About Their Skincare
- 00:53:32 - What’s Next: AI, Supplements & Radical Transparency
- 00:56:38 - Reflections, Mic Drops & Future Moves
Links and Resources:
Topics Covered:
biotech beauty, skincare, endocrine disrupting chemicals, endometriosis, consumer biotech, supply chain, manufacturing, clean beauty, product design
Have a question or comment? Message us here:
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Email: groweverything@messaginglab.com
Music by: Nihilore
Production by: Amplafy Media