The Skincarma Pod | Ep. 66: Formulation Over Hype — Inside a Chemist-Founded Skincare Brand with Angel Olavarria of Strive Skin

In this episode of The Skincarma Pod, Carmine sits down with Angel Olavarria — chemist, founder, and formulator behind Strive Skin — for a candid, deeply nerdy conversation about what actually makes skincare work.

Angel didn’t enter beauty as a marketer chasing trends. He started as a DIY enthusiast reverse-engineering expensive vitamin C serums in his kitchen, eventually turning thousands of hours of experimentation into a science-led brand built on restraint, transparency, and real-world performance.

Together, Carmine and Angel unpack:

Why many men’s skincare brands underdose actives — or avoid listing concentrations altogether;

The truth about retinaldehyde vs. retinol (and why Angel built a formula around it);

Why niacinamide, alpha arbutin, and urea deserve more respect;

The myth of “collagen serums” and what actually stimulates collagen;

Whether glycolic acid is overrated for anti-aging;

Why sensory experience can “buy time” for results-driven actives to work;

The psychological — not just biological — differences in how men approach skincare;

And, what it’s really like to launch and bootstrap a science-driven skincare brand in today’s volatile market.

Angel also shares the unfiltered reality of being an early-stage founder: Reddit traffic disappearing overnight, Amazon algorithm chaos, and the emotional rollercoaster of building something from scratch.

If you care about ingredient transparency, concentration levels, formulation philosophy, and skincare without the marketing spin — this episode is for you.

Connect with Angel Olavarria on Instagram at @themodernman_ig and on LinkedIn here. Explore Strive Skin on Instagram at @striveskin and learn more about the products and brand ethos at striveskin.com.

Follow Skincarma on Instagram and on TikTok. Catch product reviews of Carmine’s top picks of the best skincare on the Skincarma Blog. You can also connect with Carmine on LinkedIn here and explore his extensive work in beauty on the Carmine Montalto INK website here.

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe, rate and/or leave a review on Apple Podcasts, Substack, or Spotify to help Carmine reach more curious listeners.

Product links:

Strive Miracle Face Moisturizer

Strive Deep Clean Men’s Face Wash

Strive Apex Anti-aging Retinal Serum

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Product reviews on the Skincarma Blog:

Explore the Best Sunscreens for Face here.

Explore the Best Retinol Face Creams and Serums here.

Explore the Best Vitamin C Serums here.

Explore the Best Niacinamide Serums here.

Explore the Best Acne Treatments here.

Explore the Best Anti-Aging Creams and Serums here.

Explore the Best Face Creams for Dry Skin here.

Explore the Best Face Creams for Oily Skin here.

The Skincarma® Pod is where indie beauty meets fearless curiosity. Hosted by Carmine, his podcast pulls back the curtain on the beauty industry with sharp insights, candid interviews, and a healthy dose of irreverence. From deep dives into ingredient science to raw conversations with dermatologists, brand founders, and industry insiders, each episode is a no-BS exploration of what really matters in skincare: how to attain and maintain healthy skin. If you’re obsessed with products, passionate about transparency, and love calling out hype, this is the place to learn, question, and glow smarter.

The Skincarma® Blog is written and curated by skinfluencer, skincare junkie and Brooklyn writer Carmine Montalto. With 25 years of expertise in beauty across every category, Carmine has helped build multiple consumer brands from the ground up. He’s named 100s of skincare, haircare & makeup products – some of which are probably in your bathroom cabinet right now! And, he’s tested 1,000s of products, the best of which can be found reviewed on his blog at skincarma.com.

With the right skincare routine including sunscreen...You CAN change your skin’s destiny!™

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