Health

The Skin Consult Pushes Beauty Tech To New Levels

Published

4 years ago

June 8, 2022

Dr. Sajani Barot knows firsthand the pain of time and money wasted on beauty products that don’t live up to advertising hype. After spending decades suffering from skin trouble, and hundreds of dollars on testing various products — only to find that nothing worked for her particular issues — Dr. Barot felt compelled to act.

Carrying a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree, Dr. Barot had more experience and know-how than the average beauty product entrepreneur. This particular education and skill set combination sets her company, The Skin Consult, apart from the competition within the crowded skincare market. Dr. Barot has also introduced a healthy dose of cutting-edge technology into her business, making The Skin Consult exceedingly unique.

A Move and an Idea

Dr. Barot’s personal skin issues began in 2012 when she moved from Chicago to Jackson, Mississippi. The change in climate did a number on her skin, so she searched high and low for a skincare regime that would address her acne and hyperpigmentation.

“There was no methodological way of building an evidence-based skincare routine,” says Dr. Barot. “Despite visiting local dermatologists and a couple of med spas, I did not get the help I needed or the personalized concierge skincare education and consultations that I was seeking.”

Dr. Barot also observed that social media often served as a roadblock to finding the best skin care products. “So many influencers have become skincare experts without proper training or knowledge of how ingredients work, pharmaceutics, product formulation, skin science,” she notes.

The trial-and-error approach wasn’t working for Dr. Barot, and she knew she wasn’t alone in her struggles. Spending hours researching ingredients, methods, and professional opinions, Dr. Barot eventually landed on the idea for The Skin Consult, a concierge skincare service that offers professional advice and proven results.

Bringing Tech and Beauty Together

Right before the pandemic prompted nationwide shutdowns, Dr. Barot decided to combine her research and interest in making professional skincare more accessible and tailored to the individual into a one-stop-shop for skincare needs. The Skin Consult brings knowledgeable skincare professionals together into one site, creating a single resource to access tried and true experts no matter where the consumer may be located. “There are many knowledgeable skincare professionals out there,” says Dr. Barot, “but the challenge is we don’t know how to find them and how to know who is good. This was one problem I wanted to solve.”

Dr. Barot created software that would allow approved skincare experts to list their profiles, availability, and specialties in one easily-searchable system. Once a customer finds an expert they are interested in working with, that professional can be easily booked for a video-based virtual consultation.

This merger of beauty and technology speaks to the new post-pandemic approach to meeting consumers where they are. People have become accustomed to online shopping, online health and wellness care, and having services tailored to their individual needs via sophisticated algorithms. The Skin Consult brings this novel mix of technology together in one cohesive site.

To Dr. Barot, the medical community has always been data-driven, and she believed her skincare site needed to be data-driven as well. With The Skin Consult, every product is vetted. Clinical trials, ingredient panels, and marketing claims are reviewed before products hit the site’s virtual shelves. The Skin Consult again turns to the data to match users with the correct consultants and the best possible products. The site’s algorithm is based on peer-reviewed published literature and 50-plus data points collected from users during the consultation booking process. This AI-enabled algorithm allows tailored recommendations to be created for each individual site user in real time, during their consultation with their chosen professional.

A New Frontier for Skin Care

The Skin Consult represents a new frontier for skincare, not only with its use of advanced technology but in its holistic approach. “We aim to tackle skincare as it relates to the entire mind and body,” remarks Dr. Barot.

The platform has already onboarded 35 professionals that include doctors, PAs, pharmacists, and estheticians. Since its inception, over a thousand patient surveys have been compiled, and data has been extracted to direct site users to the best care team and products for their skincare needs.

Dr. Barot sees The Skin Consult platform changing the way people approach skincare, but also how skincare and beauty brands find their market.

“Every day, there are new brands launching in a very crowded space. A trusted platform can help the best of these brands stand out and continue to be available to the public. Our marketplace offers a place for consumers to find the lesser-known brands that are vetted by experts in the field.”

On The Skin Consult site is the promise that the concierge service “meets your skin where it is and walks with you every step of the way”. This highly-personal and intuitive service is at the forefront of the new consumer market, bringing users precisely what they’ve been looking for in an accessible way.

Health

Addressing Common Myths About Vitamins and Supplements by Amanda Tirado

Published

16 hours ago

December 12, 2025

Michelle Langton

The wellness industry is filled with advice about vitamins and supplements, but not all of it is accurate. Many people rely on supplements for better health, but misunderstandings about how they work can lead to wasted money or even potential harm. Amanda Lorena Tirado, founder of Xmy, is passionate about educating people on making smarter supplement choices. Her company focuses on high-quality, effective products while also giving back to the community through charitable initiatives. Let’s break down some of the most common myths about vitamins and supplements so you can make informed decisions.

One of the biggest myths is that all supplements work the same way, regardless of how they are taken. Many don’t realize that traditional pills and capsules have to pass through the digestive system, where stomach acid and enzymes break them down. This can significantly reduce the amount of nutrients your body actually absorbs.

In contrast, oral strips and liquid supplements enter the bloodstream more quickly, making them more effective. For example, vitamin B12 is often poorly absorbed in pill form but is much more bioavailable in liquid or sublingual forms. Choosing the right delivery method is just as important as picking the right supplement.

Another misconception is that supplements can replace a healthy diet. Many people assume taking a daily multivitamin covers all their nutritional needs, but that’s not how the body works. Supplements are designed to support a good diet, not replace it. Whole foods provide more than just vitamins, they contain fiber, antioxidants, and other compounds that work together to benefit your health.

For example, an orange does not just offer vitamin C. It also provides fiber, flavonoids, and other nutrients that enhance absorption and support overall health. Research has shown that people who get their nutrients from food rather than supplements tend to have better long-term health outcomes. So while supplements can help fill gaps in your diet, they should not be your primary source of nutrients.

Many people also assume that if a supplement is labeled as “natural,” it must be better and safer. But that’s not necessarily true. The term “natural” is often used as a marketing tool rather than an indicator of quality or safety.

Some natural ingredients can be harmful, especially in high doses or when mixed with certain medications. On the flip side, some synthetic nutrients are actually more stable and easier for the body to absorb. The key is to choose well-researched, high-quality supplements from reputable brands rather than relying on misleading labels.

Another dangerous myth is that taking more vitamins means better health. Some believe that if a little is good, a lot must be even better, but that’s not always the case.

Certain vitamins, especially fat-soluble ones like A, D, E, and K, can build up in the body and become toxic if taken in excessive amounts. Too much vitamin A, for example, can lead to liver damage, while excessive vitamin D can cause kidney problems. Even water-soluble vitamins like B-complex and C can cause side effects in very high doses, such as nerve issues or stomach discomfort. Moderation is key when it comes to supplementation.

At Xmy, the focus is not just on convenience, it’s about real impact. The company is committed to producing supplements that prioritize effectiveness and bioavailability. But their mission goes beyond selling products.

Misinformation about supplements is everywhere, but being informed is the best way to make smarter health choices. The way a supplement is absorbed matters as much as what’s in it. A balanced diet is still the foundation of good health, and more vitamins don’t always mean better results.

Xmy is changing the way people think about supplements. Amanda and her team believe that good health is not just about what you take, it’s about making informed choices and supporting brands that genuinely care. Choosing the right supplements means choosing a brand that stands for something bigger. With Xmy, you are not just improving your health, you are supporting a company that is making a real difference.