The Skincarma Pod | Ep. 68: Why Beauty Leaders Burn Out: Ageism, Perfectionism & Reinvention with Elyse Conroy

The beauty industry sells aspiration, transformation, and perfection. But what does that culture do to the people building it from the inside?

On this episode of The Skincarma Pod, host Carmine Montalto sits down with executive coach and former beauty industry leader Elyse Conroy, founder of Soul Makeup and creator of Beauty Career Lab. After more than a decade working inside the corporate beauty world, Elyse now helps high-performing women navigate leadership, burnout, and reinvention.

Together, Carmine and Elyse unpack the emotional architecture of the beauty industry — and why so many successful professionals quietly struggle behind the scenes.

They explore how perfectionism shapes corporate culture in beauty, the growing conversation around executive burnout, and the difficult reality of ageism and salary compression facing women in mid-career leadership roles. Elyse also shares insights from her coaching practice, including the psychological patterns she sees in founders, executives, and high achievers who feel trapped between success and exhaustion.

This candid conversation looks at the human side of an industry built on image — and what it really takes to reclaim identity, confidence, and purpose after stepping away from corporate life.

If you’ve ever wondered what lies beneath the surface of beauty leadership, this episode offers an honest and deeply relatable perspective.

Connect with Elyse on Instagram at @elyseconroyxo and on LinkedIn here. Catch her podcast The Confidence Lounge with Elyse Conroy on Apple Podcasts here and explore her executive coaching programs and events at soulmakeup.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 Substack and LinkedIn – 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.

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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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