Episode 156 | Nov 13, 2025

The Science of Healthy Skin as We Age, With Cynthia Garcia

How can we care for our skin in a way that reflects how we want to feel as we age? This week on Health Coach Talk, Dr. Sandi is joined by Cynthia Garcia, founder of Rewritten and a leader in identity-based transformation. Together, they explore the science behind skin aging, the emerging role of senolytics, and how daily skincare can become a meaningful ritual that supports both confidence and well-being.

“The goal is that we want to target aging where it begins so that essentially your skin looks as unbothered, unapologetic, and truly as unlimited as you feel.”

Cynthia Garcia

Cynthia’s journey toward rewriting the narrative around aging began on her 40th birthday, when messages she received implied life was “downhill” from that point on. Instead of accepting that story, she began exploring the biology of aging and how identity and mindset shape how we experience it. That work led to Rewritten and its first product, Show the Face Up, an all-in-one senolytic and neurocosmetic serum designed to clear senescent “zombie cells,” support healthy cellular renewal, and create a grounding daily ritual to reconnect with value and self-worth from the inside out.

This conversation highlights both the science and intention behind Cynthia’s mission: to reshape how we see aging. We should see aging not as decline, but as evolution. For health coaches, her approach offers meaningful opportunities to support clients who are navigating changing identities, self-image, and wellness needs over time. The ritual element of Show the Face Up also models how small, consistent practices can influence mindset, physiology, and emotional well-being, offering coaches another way to help clients build confidence and connection in their bodies.

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Transcript

Dr. Sandi: What does it mean to rewrite your story? What does the word rewritten mean to you? Well, rewritten can apply to aging, and it can also apply to the development of new products that are going to help your skin. One in particular that we’re going to talk about today is a senolytic. That means it gets rid of all zombie cells.

I have a fascinating conversation that I know you are going to really enjoy, and it’s with Cynthia Garcia. Let me tell you about Cynthia. She’s the founder of Rewritten, and she’s the creator of New SELF Made Movement, a multi-brand ecosystem blending beauty, business, and identity-based reinvention.

From poverty in the Appalachian Mountains to rewriting every rule that didn’t work for her, Cynthia is now a four-time founder, certified clinical nutritionist, and sought-after voice in transformation. She’s the visionary behind the Modern Life Coach School, the Institute of Transformational Nutrition, and Rewritten, a luxury, science-based skincare brand built on the radical idea that aging isn’t shameful and self-worth has no expiration date.

She’s also the host of “I’d Like to Thank Myself,” a bold, story-driven show featuring founders, creatives, and rule breakers who built something undeniable against all odds. Cynthia’s work has been featured in Forbes, Vogue, and Elle. Her philosophy is simple, “You can’t create a rich life from a version of you that still thinks small.” She’s proof that no matter where you start, you get to decide where you are going. I know you are going to love my conversation with Cynthia.

Cynthia Garcia, thank you for being here.

Cynthia: Are you kidding? It is such a pleasure. You know this. I am such a big fan and supporter of yours and the work that you’re doing and always have been. I know we have a lot of overlap in coaching and health, and I just have the utmost respect for you. So, it feels really nice to be here today chatting about this new launch and new endeavor.

Dr. Sandi: Yeah. When I first heard about it, I was so excited. And that’s all we’re going to talk about today. You felt there was a story about aging that needed to be rewritten. And so you created Rewritten. And before we start, I’m going to show you. This is so beautiful. I am obsessed, Cynthia, with this product. And over the years, I’ve had so many products, first with more traditional chemical-laden, high-end luxury products, and then all natural products. But this really takes the cake. I look forward to putting this on morning and night. So, tell us about this Rewritten story around aging.

Cynthia: Yeah, so thank you. And thank you for your kind words. If I could tell you the struggle that we went through to find these bottles and the formulation, I’m so glad. We really wanted that luxury, elevated feel and performance of it but also a cleaner formula. That was really important to us. So thank you, first of all, for recognizing that.

And yeah, I mean, the truth is I’ve thought about skincare and, obviously, healthy aging for a really long time. And I think I came from this place, maybe similar to you, where we understand the health behind it. We really get longevity and how to approach it. And I felt pretty solid in that, but something happened on my 40th birthday, Dr. Sandi, and it really threw me for a loop.

So I woke up ready. I was like, this is a turning point. This is a huge milestone. I’m feeling great. And I was getting flowers delivered, like all the really beautiful things that people do to celebrate you. And I was getting these text messages, and some were very kind and loving and great, and others were very interesting. They said things like, “Well, I hope you enjoyed the ride. It’s all downhill from here,” or “It’s been fun, but now enjoy becoming invisible,” or “Hope you have the anti-aging serum ready.” And I was like, “Wait, what?” I felt like I was just getting started, and it really threw me. And I thought, “Is this what people think?”

And so that set me off on this journey because, much like you, I am such a big advocate, especially for women, but people in general, just looking on the outside like they feel on the inside—being healthy, being vital, knowing their self-worth. And for me to think that, or for women in general to think, or men too, that it all is downhill after 40 and that you become invisible, I couldn’t believe it. So, I dug deeper into the research and started talking to people like, “Do you really feel like you become invisible?” And the answer was a resounding yes. And I thought, “Okay, we have to do something about this.” I mean, it became personal at that point for me.

And so that’s what started this journey that has been eight years in the making of looking at how do we first address aging at a cellular level in a high-performance way so that I can give a solution that actually works to people permanently at the root while also rewriting the stories that we’ve been told about aging, so that we don’t go gently into that good night but that we realize our biggest contributions, our biggest opportunities are still in front of us.

Dr. Sandi: So beautifully said. And, wow, well, I’m so glad that you did not buy into those messages that you received on your party because they’re not true. And I’m 75, and I hear amongst my contemporaries the same thing on steroids, where they’re just, “Oh, it just sucks to get old. It’s all downhill. There’s nothing to look forward to. It’s just death and disability and one disease after another.” And I said, “Nope, I’m not buying it.” I love my life. And every day I wake up and I say I’m going to make it a good day and focus on the things that are going to be filled with meaning and purpose in my life but also critically the importance of what it takes to feel good.

And I think that in terms of, yes, I do everything in terms of strength training and eating enough protein and all those good things, getting enough sleep, but there’s something about, and I’ve always felt that joy of just feeling like I’m taking care of myself. It doesn’t have to be in an artificial way, but skincare is critical. And we’ve had a big issue with skincare. I think I shared recently on social media that I was in a big department store, and they had the entire first level as cosmetics and skincare. And I had been in the clothes section but there’s no way to get out of the store without walking through this huge section. And these were luxury products that were very expensive, and I felt like I could not breathe. It just felt awful. And I felt sorry for the sales associates working there and having to be inhaling that every day.

Whereas yours, it’s so clean. So, could you describe what’s the underlying biology that makes Rewritten capable of actually reversing some signs of aging. It’s senolytics, stress biomarkers, cellular pathways. Describe what this is all about.

Cynthia: Sure. So, I think the first thing to just say and kind of position it… And I know I’ve been in those situations before in these malls and I’m just like, “Get me out of here.” And I’m very sensitive. I don’t know if you are as well. And so I knew I didn’t want fragrance or crazy chemicals or anything like that. Again, just a really clean product. And I also just want to underscore what you said about strength training and sleep and hydration. That is at the core of what we’re talking about here, right? And we very much are big proponents of that here at Rewritten. And it’s very much a wellness brand. Like, it’s not either/or. It’s a both/and approach.

The approach that we took when we wanted to formulate this product was really getting to that functional, that cellular root. And so, to be clear, Rewritten wasn’t created to sell you being 25 again, right? Our formula is very high-performance, very science-based, and it’s powered by both senolytics, which we’ll talk about, and neurocosmetics. And the goal is that we want to target aging where it begins so that essentially your skin looks as unbothered, unapologetic, and truly as unlimited as you feel.

And so when it comes to looking at anti-aging solutions, the first thing that I knew we wanted to do was get to the root cause. And I know you’re a big fan of getting to the root cause of things as well. It’s how we’ve operated for my entire career. And so I started looking at these hallmarks of aging and really diving deep into senescent cells or zombie cells is an interesting name for them. And so I know you’re aware of this, but essentially, these zombie cells or senescent cells are damaged cells that have stopped dividing. They’re no longer healthy, but they don’t die. And instead, they secrete these really harmful inflammatory molecules that end up damaging healthy cells that are nearby. So, they’re very toxic. And so in aging skin, this buildup of these zombie cells on your skin and in other areas of your body as well, it leads to these visible signs of aging that we typically think about like wrinkles, lines, loss of firmness, thinner skin, right? And it does that by breaking down collagen and elastin, which impairs your skin’s structure as well as its natural ability to heal. And so we knew if we could get to the root of that, then we could clear away these zombie cells and look at how we could regenerate healthy cellular regrowth, that would truly be key, right? If we can get rid of the thing aging you and then stimulate new growth cells, that’s it. And then, of course, we wanted to protect the skin’s barrier, which we’ve done. We wanted to really hydrate it with different molecular levels of hyaluronic acid. And we wanted to bring in these really natural, beautiful oils like argan oil and prickly pear, just to really nourish what your body does naturally in that beautiful oil production.

And so that was really the essence and the aim of the product. And so to do that, we have this trifecta ingredient that has an alpine rose active paired with a neurocosmetic called neurophroline. And we blended it together to create the first cosmetic ingredient with clinically studied senolytic activity. So, we know through clinical studies that it actually clears out those age-promoting zombie cells so that healthy, fresh cells start to grow and shine through. So, it’s a really powerful blend, and we can get more into the science of that, but that was our main target is to get rid of those zombie cells and create new ones. It’s the whole point, right?

Dr. Sandi: Yeah, and that’s what a senolytic does. It takes away the senescent cells and lytic, that is actually the part of that word that is the taking away part. And, for example, there’s products that are similar that you could take a couple of times a month, for example, and to just clear out. And so we’re talking about systemically as well, but up to this point, I wasn’t aware of anything that was a topical that was addressing particularly your skin and does that.

Cynthia: And there wasn’t one. This is the very first one. Alpine Rose Active is the very first cosmetic ingredient again with clinically tested studies for the skin and senolytic. So, it’s a pretty extraordinary breakthrough. I mean, there’s a reason it took us 8 years. And we looked at everything. We looked at peptides, we looked at stem cells, we looked at exosomes, like we looked at everything on the market. But again, when it comes to getting to that root cause, this was the one thing. And finally, we were able to research and find something that targeted that.

And so then from there, we really focused on what we call the five pathways of cellular renewal, because it’s like, okay, we’re going to get rid of these zombie cells and then regenerate new growth. What does that look like for the skin? And so we thought, okay, well, first of all, is that clearing out of zombie cells? That was step one, that renewal process. And then we thought, okay, well, stress defense is critical. We have to neutralize the impact of daily stress on skin so that these zombie cells don’t just start reforming, so that you don’t have these unhealthy cells to begin with. And that’s where we chose an ingredient called neurophroline. Based on our studies and industry studies as well, it reduces cortisol production by 70%, increases beta endorphins by 163%. And so what that ends up looking like is your skin calmer, more balanced, more radiance, just based on this one ingredient.

And from there we thought, okay, the third pathway is really brightening and antioxidants. So, we brought in vitamin C, ferulic acid, vitamin E to really shield from that oxidative stress and brighten your skin tone. And from there we thought, okay, hydration is key, especially as we age, right? And so we brought in different molecular weights, as I mentioned, of hyaluronic acid. Last but not least was barrier support. We want to make sure that we’re really supporting that strong barrier of skin so that we don’t have the redness or the larger pores or the texture on our skin. And so it really created this really beautiful blend that we’ve gotten rave reviews on and done our own studies on and seen amazing results.

So, yeah, and I know this is very science-minded. I’m such a nerd, and I geeked out on this. But again, it was just really important not to have one or two hero ingredients. You see these products and it’s like, “They don’t really work. It’s a lot of marketing.” And we just didn’t want that. We wanted an all-in-one serum that would even replace so that you don’t have this 12-step skincare formula. And we really feel like we’ve done that, and based on studies, we have.

Dr. Sandi: I love what you said about all-in-one because I think that’s what I always find so complicated. I think many women do too. I remember years ago, I had something that was like 10 steps and I had all these… I had to do step number one. Then I had to do this product. And then I had to apply that oil and hyaluronic acid. By the time I was done, it was exhausting. And then there was a different routine for morning. It was the nighttime ritual with those creams. And I had to travel.

Cynthia: Yes, and then you have to stop and wait for one to fully sink in.

Dr. Sandi: Yes, yes.

Cynthia: I know. I mean, it takes time. It’s truly unbelievable. And what we hope we’ve done is turn this into an experience for you because, in addition to this physical product that, again, we talked about how it works, we created what we call the Rewritten Ritual. And that’s where rewriting the stories that you’ve been told about aging and your value really comes into play. So, this is one of my favorite parts.

Essentially, the way it works, we drop… Every Sunday, we publish The Rewrite, which is our newsletter, or on our social media, We Are Rewritten. We have a daily prompt for you that rewrites some story around aging, whether it’s value or power or confidence. And so we give you this little rewrite. It’s very short, very simple. And so as you are applying your serum in the morning through this, again, one step, you’re rewriting the stories that society has told you about what it means to age. And so we have these really beautiful moments of saying to ourselves, “Even though I’m aging, I’m not fading. I’m here to show the face up,” right? And it’s just this beautiful 60-second ritual that really grounds you in the morning and at evening. And our users have said, “Yes, I have brighter skin. I’m noticing fewer fine lines. But, man, this ritual just has changed my life. It’s changed the days.” And that just is the best thing, Sandi. It’s just the best.

Dr. Sandi: I know. It sure is the best because I’ve been doing mind-body medicine some way, one form or another. I really like the years. And it’s always been about what you say to yourself, the emotions that you experience, your thought patterns, your perspective. And when you are experiencing that rewrite and even that ritual of applying this product, if you do it and you have a negative mindset and you’re just thinking, “Oh, this isn’t going to work, or nothing will help, and I’m just getting older and this is really awful,” and you look in the mirror and you hate the way you look, okay, that mindset and that belief and the emotional reaction is creating inflammation. Your cells don’t like that. They’re getting inflamed and angry.

And so when you rework that and you rewrite that and you get that inspiration, then you are going to change your biology at the cellular level and you are going to feel better. There are even studies that have done, like smiling, just taking a walk and just smiling at people. That act is going to release endorphins and oxytocin, and you’re just going to… People will say, “Oh, did you get plastic surgery? You look better.”

Cynthia: Yes, it’s so true. And I love that you get this on such a deep level. And one of our board members, our board advisors, is Dr. Srini Pillay. And I know Srini and have for some time. And he does a lot of work around this idea of neurocosmetics. And of course, we combine neurocosmetics in Rewritten. That’s what one of our ingredients does. It goes in, reduces cortisol, reduces stress, all of those types of things. But I think that we are really in this time right now where we’re starting to understand that it’s not just an X approach. There really has to be this beautiful mind-body integration. And I think that’s something that has been missing in this world of cosmetics and skincare and even the anti-aging market. I mean, I haven’t seen anything on the market like this.

And so to just carve out a moment where you can have that time for yourself, you can remember who you are, not who the world has told you that you should be, and you can have an amazing product that actually works, it just seemed like the win. That’s what we were missing. And so that’s what we hope we’ve created with Rewritten.

Dr. Sandi: Yes. Well, it has been really exciting to follow your story and what are your plans? So, you have this product, which is Rewritten. What lies ahead?

Cynthia: Yeah, great question. I have such a big vision for this company. And this is the first product. It’s called Show the Face Up. Every product that we’re formulating, we have a couple more formulas in the works but we wanted to start with this all-in-one, as I said. But the idea, the name of each product, is really meant to rewrite some of the old narratives that we’ve been told. So, instead of becoming invisible, we’re saying you should show the face up, right? We have others coming that focus on barrier protection, lots of really beautiful brightening products. So, hold tight for that.

But ultimately, the goal is to create a movement around this idea of your self-worth and your value and to not make anti-aging this terrible term. I mean, listen, aging is not fun. If you’re enjoying it, I am not. I certainly am not. And it doesn’t mean that it’s not going to happen. It’s just, can we make that process an empowering one, one of strength and confidence as opposed to we’re just all falling apart and succumbing to that story?

And so on that note, and based on what you said earlier, we are really working to make Rewritten a wellness brand to where sleep and your diet, like you said, stress reduction, like we’ve been talking about, and weight training and supplementation and your environment and your relationships are all part of this beautiful process of continuing to evolve, right? As opposed to aging, but to evolve and really step into the greatest power yet. And so we have lots of really fun protocols coming to help people do that. We have a new blog series coming where we’ll have experts such as yourself who come on and talk about their journey and what rewriting the stories means to them.

And ultimately, Dr. Sandi, I see Rewritten houses, like a Rewritten house, which is like an old country club back in the day, but it’s all wellness-focused. So, you can come and get personalized skincare. We have a biological quiz coming that’s going to be out soon to help you with that and give you solutions around it. But you come and get your skincare taken care of, and maybe you have a workout, or maybe you have an amazing meal, or this beautiful holistic experience that’s mindful and visualization. So, just a real escape. And ideally, this idea of rewriting becomes obsolete because we just know who we are and there’s nothing left to rewrite. I mean, can you imagine for this next generation for this just to be their way of life? I want them to look back and think, “Rewrite what? This is who we be,” right? So, we’re building this company up so, I guess, have it become obsolete, which sounds crazy, but you get it.

Dr. Sandi: Yeah, and I think we’re already seeing it, and I’m so optimistic. We’re seeing this menopause. Nobody talked about menopause in my mother’s day. Listen, if they said, “Oh, we’re going through the change,” but it was hidden and in secret, “the change.” But the emphasis on women turning 40 and feeling empowered and to bioidentical hormones and that whole movement just exploding. But what I have found has been, I would say, rewriting and it often happens naturally but for many women it doesn’t, and that is to still obsess about how they look. And for example, I look in the mirror, it’s like, “Oh,” but now, “So what?” And it needs to be… Increasingly years and years ago, I could never appear without makeup. Now, I screwed up a podcast time a week ago, and I had to be on, and I just went in no makeup, hair totally frizzy. And it was a great interview. But years ago, those kinds of things would have been so upsetting to me.

And I can’t wear high heels anymore. I can’t wear any shoes anymore. So, I have a sneaker collection because your feet get… So, there are things that… Okay, but big deal, I can tolerate it. And so I think that… I love this quote, “Rewritten isn’t just science, it’s a ritual.” And I think that is absolutely key. And as you were talking, I can picture those centers to rewrite that, to both make it happen. And I know we have a lot of health coaches who are listening, and we have done amazing work in training thousands of people to be health coaches. And I think this is something that health coaches can support their clients with, to help them when they are feeling despondent about aging and also not knowing… In terms of confusion, there are so many products out there in terms of skincare and what is good but helping them to make smart choices.

Cynthia: Yeah. No, for sure. Yeah, health coaches, I think are… That’s something for sure in our future. And you said, where do you envision this going? Like, I see the Rewritten houses staffed by these health coaches. I see health coaches introducing Rewritten as both, like you said, that body-mind connection to really shift the stories that they tell. You talk about seeing yourself, and it’s different. I mean, I’ve gone through the same thing.

I think there’s this old quote, “Beauty is in the eye of the beholder.” And I think that’s true. And I think the only beholder that matters is you. It’s how you feel about yourself. It’s the stories that you tell about yourself. It’s the value that you know you have inside. And so I think that’s a really important part of this work as well. And health coaches do it every day. They help people to see that your disease isn’t your destiny. There is a way through this. And I think this market and area of skincare and longevity is just the next step in that.

And so we’re hard at work at ITN, where we teach our health coaches to really look at the role that the skin plays. And now, especially with senolytics and senescent cells—and I know that you are very familiar with the damage that they do, not just on the skin but in the body—and what we’re seeing now, there was a really interesting study at Harvard, and I won’t get off on this, but it shows that the two could actually be connected. And so I think that is a revolutionary approach, that it all comes back together. It’s all the same. And so it’s why I love you so much and the work that you’re also doing with health coaches, because this is the key. Like, this is the key. Health coaching is the key to bringing it together. I believe that with all of my heart. It’s just giving them more and more tools to do their job.

Dr. Sandi: Absolutely. So, Cynthia, this has been a pleasure. Where can people find you and where can people find this product from Rewritten, Show the Face Up?

Cynthia: Yeah, so if you want to show the face up, which I highly encourage, you can go to rewrittenbeauty.com. That’s our website. And for your listeners, I know we have a very special code that we can give them. It’s FUNC.

Dr. Sandi: FUNC.

Cynthia: Which I love. It’s so good. So, once you enter that in, it’s 15% off if you do a single order or 30% off if you want to hop on subscription. We have a lot of fun with our subscriptions. We show up and talk with them live every month, like a fireside chat. It’s really fun. So, yeah, that’s where you can find us. And then on Instagram, if you want to grab those rituals and just try those out, we are @wearerewritten, because that’s ultimately the goal.

Dr. Sandi: Sounds great. And Cynthia, you also have an amazing Instagram. So, follow Cynthia as well. And it has been absolutely a joy to do this podcast with you. I have always admired you. We’ve always connected at conferences, and I just wish you all the best. When I walk through those department stores, Neiman Marcus, Saks, I want to see this product.

Cynthia: Yes, from your mouth to the universe and all those buyers. And thank you for having me, Dr. Sandi, truly. A few people that I look up to and admire and just see as such an icon in every single way. So, when I tell you it’s an honor to be here and to speak with you and to just know you, I mean every word of that. So, thank you so much.