In this episode of Skin Anarchy, Dr. Ekta Yadav welcomes OneSkin co-founders Carolina Reis Oliveira and Alessandra Zonari for a deeply scientific conversation that reframes skincare as a longevity intervention. As part of the Lessons in Longevity series, this episode explores why skin aging must be understood at the cellular level—and why skin deserves a seat at the longevity table alongside organs like the heart, liver, and brain.
From the Lab to Human Impact
OneSkin began not as a beauty brand, but as a scientific mission. The co-founders met nearly two decades ago while completing their graduate training in Brazil, working side by side in the same laboratory. With combined expertise in stem cell biology, tissue engineering, skin regeneration, and genomics, they shared a common frustration: groundbreaking academic research rarely translated into products that meaningfully improved human health.
Their early work focused on growing real human tissues—including lab-grown skin—to test the safety and efficacy of products already on the market. What they found was unsettling. Many products marketed as “anti-aging” were outdated in their approach and, at the cellular level, triggered inflammation, toxicity, or accelerated damage rather than repair. At the same time, the broader field of longevity science was rapidly evolving—yet skin was being left out of the conversation.
Why Senescence Matters in Skin Aging
A central theme of the episode is cellular senescence, a biological process in which damaged cells stop dividing and begin secreting inflammatory signals. While senescence is a normal part of aging, problems arise when senescent cells accumulate faster than the immune system can clear them.
In skin, this buildup disrupts collagen production, weakens the skin barrier, and accelerates visible and functional aging. Alessandra explains senescence through a simple but powerful analogy: one moldy orange in a basket eventually spoils the rest. The issue is not just the presence of senescent cells, but the inflammatory environment they create—fueling tissue breakdown and systemic aging.
Targeting Root Causes, Not Surface Symptoms
Rather than chasing quick cosmetic fixes, OneSkin set out to address aging at its root. The team spent five years screening over 900 peptides before identifying their proprietary ingredient, OS-1—a peptide shown in lab studies to reduce the burden of senescent cells by up to 50%, depending on the model.
What made OS-1 stand out was not only its efficacy, but its safety profile. When compared to retinoids, OS-1 demonstrated comparable increases in collagen production without triggering inflammation or irritation. Inflammatory markers decreased, while collagen and hyaluronic acid levels increased—an outcome rarely seen in conventional anti-aging formulations.
Clinical Data That Redefined Expectations
OneSkin’s clinical studies reinforced what the lab data suggested. In facial skincare trials, participants experienced measurable improvements in texture, tone, and smoothness early on, followed by statistically significant gains in firmness, wrinkle reduction, and skin barrier function over time. Ninety-five percent of participants showed improved firmness, while more than 87% saw reductions in fine lines and wrinkles.
Importantly, the brand’s primary metric was not appearance—it was skin health. Improvements in barrier integrity were considered foundational, reinforcing the idea that aesthetics are a downstream effect of healthier tissue.
Why the Body—and Not Just the Face—Matters
One of OneSkin’s most distinctive decisions was launching a body product as its second major release. At a time when most skincare brands ignored the body, OneSkin viewed it as a logical extension of their science. Skin, after all, is the body’s largest organ—and it ages everywhere.
The OS-01 Body Lotion was formulated to address thinning, crepey skin using the same senescence-targeting peptide, combined with potent antioxidants and hydration-supporting ingredients. Clinical results showed approximately 40% improvement in hydration and transepidermal water loss—clear markers of stronger barrier function.
When Skin Health Influences Systemic Inflammation
Perhaps the most groundbreaking data discussed in the episode came from a body-focused clinical study in adults over 60. In addition to skin measurements, researchers analyzed participants’ blood before and after 12 weeks of product use. Compared to a control moisturizer, the group using OS-01 Body showed significant reductions in systemic inflammatory markers, including IL-8—a cytokine associated with chronic disease and aging.
These findings suggest a powerful connection: strengthening the skin barrier may help reduce systemic inflammation, linking skincare directly to whole-body aging and longevity outcomes.
Rethinking Longevity Metrics
The conversation also addresses the growing obsession with longevity biomarkers. While there is no single marker that defines aging or senescence, OneSkin evaluates a panel of indicators—including gene expression markers like p16 and p21, inflammatory cytokines, DNA damage signals, and beta-galactosidase activity—to assess biological aging more accurately.
As the founders emphasize, aging is multifactorial and deeply influenced by environment, stress, sleep, and lifestyle. Longevity, therefore, is not about chasing a single number—but about shifting biological patterns toward resilience.
Beyond Skincare: A New Longevity Framework
From facial skin to body, lips, scalp, and hair, OneSkin’s product expansion reflects a unified philosophy: treat skin as a living organ, not a cosmetic surface. In an era where longevity risks being marketed like “anti-aging” once was, this episode serves as a reminder that real longevity science requires patience, data, and respect for biology.
Listen to the full episode of Skin Anarchy to hear Carolina Reis Oliveira and Alessandra Zonari explain how targeting senescence, reducing inflammation, and strengthening the skin barrier may reshape the future of longevity medicine—starting with the skin.