

Karen Martel: The Truth About HRT, Beauty, and Aging —What Doctors Don’t Tell You
What if the secret to glowing skin, a sharper brain, and a revived sex drive isn’t more skincare, but hormone replacement therapy?
In this episode, we’re joined by Karen Martel, certified hormone specialist and founder of The Hormone Solution, to unpack the misunderstood science of beauty and aging. From pheromones and libido to collagen and facial structure, we explore how estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone shape how you look, and how you feel.
We break down how hormone loss affects everything from your skin’s elasticity to your body composition, and why most women are being gaslit out of getting the care they actually need. We also cover the truth about HRT and cancer risk, the pros and cons of oral vs. topical vs. injectable options, and how to personalize your approach for results that go deeper than just “looking good.”
Karen Martel is a certified hormone specialist and functional health practitioner. She is the host of The Other Side of Weight Loss Podcast and the founder of The Hormone Solution, where she helps women navigate perimenopause and menopause using bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT).
Let’s get into it.
We Also Discuss:
- 00:02 – Are we wired to chase beauty? The evolutionary biology behind attraction
- 13:06 – How hormones secretly shape your skin, face, and sex drive
- 23:26 – The truth about HRT, skin aging, and what most women get wrong
- 30:42 – Menopause isn’t a decline—it’s a reset (if you do this)
- 36:46 – What doctors get wrong about hormone therapy for women
- 45:07 – Inject it? Rub it on? The safest (and riskiest) ways to take HRT
- 56:32 – Using estrogen on your face? What every woman should know first
Learn more about:
Young Goose
- Use code PODCAST10 to get 10% off your first purchase, and if you’re a returning customer use the code PODCAST5 to get 5% off at https://www.younggoose.com/
- Instagram: @young_goose_skincare
Karen Martel:
Website: https://karenmartel.com/
Instagram: @karenmartelhormones