3LFPOD 80: Vitamin C, Retinol, Sunscreen: The Big Three with Kim Engelhardt

This Week on the Pod: we’re rolling into Part Two of our conversation with nurse practitioner and skincare expert Kim Engelhardt

...and the timing couldn’t be better. After a Thanksgiving stretch filled with flat tires on The 5, oyster refusals, Bears vs. Eagles tailgates, and Big Ten Championship smack talk (Indiana vs. the Ohio State), the sisters finally settle in to talk about something every woman wants straight answers on: aging skin and what actually works.

Botox, Serums, and TikTok Myths

If you’ve ever gone down the TikTok skincare rabbit hole, Kim gets it — and she’s not impressed. With endless “must-have” serums pushed at women and even pre-teens, she cuts through the noise fast. Her message is simple and refreshingly grounded in reality: 

The Three Things Every Woman 30+ Should Be Doing

Kim doesn’t hedge here. If you want healthier, brighter, more resilient skin, these are the non-negotiables:

1. Vitamin C

A solid vitamin C serum protects your skin from free-radical damage, helps prevent collagen breakdown, brightens, and reduces pigmentation. But quality matters. Cheap formulas oxidize quickly (Kim compares it to sliced fruit turning brown on the counter).

She recommends:

• SkinBetter Science Alto Defense (the high-end option)

• La Roche-Posay (effective and budget-friendly)

Opaque, air-restricted containers are key — if your vitamin C is exposed to light and air every time you open it, it’s dying on the shelf.

2. Sunscreen

Every. Single. Day. A mineral-based SPF 30 or higher is ideal, but Kim is realistic — wear the sunscreen you’ll actually put on consistently.And no, SPF in your makeup doesn't cut it unless it’s specifically a sunscreen that happens to be tinted. Otherwise, it’s nowhere near enough coverage.

3. Retinol (Preferably Prescription Retin-A)

Retinol increases cell turnover, boosts collagen, smooths texture, and improves pigmentation. Prescription tretinoin gives the strongest results, but you need to ease into it.Start twice a week, expect some flaking or redness, and don’t quit when your skin throws its initial tantrum. The results come with consistency. Treatments That Actually Make a Difference

Kim also dives into in-office treatments and separates the “fun to try” from the “proven to work”:

• PRF Vampire Facial — uses your own platelets to speed healing and boost collagen.

• Microneedling — one of Kim’s absolute favorites; improves pigmentation, texture, and glow with minimal downtime.

• IPL — targets redness and sun damage; also stimulates collagen.

• Botox/Dysport — nothing else comes close for softening movement-based lines.

• Filler — effective but riskier; must be done by someone who truly knows facial anatomy.

• Dermaplaning — fine to do at home, but an in-office surgical blade gives a much cleaner, closer result.

Kim’s biggest warning: Don’t let TikTok convince you to microneedle your own face. 

Enough said.

Layering Serums Without Losing Your Mind

Another TikTok casualty: confusion about application order.Kim’s rule is simple:

Thin → Thick → Sunscreen (always last in the morning)

Makeup can go on top.

We dive deeper into the details on the pod, so pop us in your ears to get the gold. If you want more on Kim, find her website here: https://www.kengelhardtnp.com/

What’s for Dinner? Barbecued Hamburgers (Sloppy Joes)

After all that skincare wisdom, the sisters wrap the episode with a cozy, old-school classic from the family vault—perfect for December weeknights. Just don't call them Sloppy Joes! (OK fine, it's basically a sloppy joe, but it's the best sloppy joe you've ever had).

Ingredients:

• 3 lbs ground chuck, drained well

• 1 large onion, diced

• 1 cup finely diced celery

• 1 green pepper, diced

• 3 heaping cups ketchup

• 1/3 – ½ cup white vinegar

• 1 cup water

• 3 tsp yellow mustard

• 3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce

• Salt & pepper

• Garlic powder to taste

Instructions:

1. Brown the meat and drain well.

2. Add onion, celery, and green pepper. Cook on low, stirring often, for about 15 minutes.

3. Add all remaining ingredients.

4. Cook uncovered for about an hour, stirring occasionally so it doesn’t burn.

Pro tip:Tastes even better made ahead. Freezes beautifully. Recipe can easily be halved.

Fishes Out...

If you're tired of mixed messages and marketing hype, this episode cuts straight through it. Kim lays out a simple, proven foundation for healthier skin, explains which treatments genuinely move the needle, and gives women permission to stop wasting money on trends that don’t deliver. It’s clear, practical, and grounded in real experience — exactly what women need in a skincare world that’s louder than ever. Part one of our interview with Kim on menopause got a lot of great feedback from so many listeners, if you missed it it's episode 78 give it a listen!