Live & Well is your weekly catch-up with author, mother, and influencer Melissa Magsaysay and her circle of experts and icons—diving deep into the latest wellness, longevity, beauty and fitness and issues surrounding women. Melissa will take listeners into a vibrant world where beauty, fashion, and wellness intersect with cultural moments and personal transformation.
Each episode features conversations with leading + buzzy dermatologists, fitness innovators, beauty founders, and celebrities alike. Listeners can expect pro tips, product recs, juicy insider stories, and empowering perspectives that go beyond surface-level self-care—because looking good is great, but feeling good is everything.
Publisher
L.A. Times Studios
Category
health & fitness · health & fitness · society & culture
Is "cortisol face" real? Does morning coffee ruin your hormones? Is low-impact exercise actually better for stress?
Board-certified endocrinologist and hormone specialist Dr. Eva Cwynar breaks down the truth about cortisol, hormone balance, and social media trends. From the "90-minute coffee rule" to GLP-1 weight loss plateaus, Cushing’s syndrome, and how stress impacts fertility — learn what your body is actually doing throughout the day and how to optimize your hormones without falling for online marketing gimmicks.
Timestamps:
00:53 - Is "Cortisol Face" real or just social media marketing?
01:23 - The daily "dance" of cortisol: Morning spikes vs. evening drops
02:50 - How disrupted cortisol ruins sleep & triggers a domino effect
04:05 - The link between high cortisol, insulin resistance & belly fat
04:35 - Red flag symptoms vs. everyday stress: Cushing's Syndrome explained 07:37 - Pseudo-Cushing's: How lifestyle choices mimic endocrine disease 08:55 - The Morning Audit: Checking your phone, caffeine & early workouts 09:59 - Debunking the 90-minute morning coffee rule
11:03 - Soy milk, estrogen, and testosterone levels
12:24 - Why cortisol causes targeted weight gain in the midsection
14:20 - Does cortisol "steal" progesterone during perimenopause?
17:10 - GLP-1 Weight Loss Plateaus: Is cortisol stopping your progress?
20:17 - The danger of unmonitored online peptides
21:52 - Why cortisol is the most controversial & misdiagnosed hormone
25:13 - How high cortisol directly impacts fertility & implantation
30:46 - The worst time of day to spike your cortisol
31:45 - Caffeine sensitivity, liver metabolism & the MTHFR gene
34:47 - Puffy faces, Pilates vs. HIIT & testing cortisol
39:18 - Where to find Dr. Eva Cwynar & closing thoughts
Key Topics Covered:
* The Cortisol Rhythm: Why cortisol is supposed to fluctuate like a "double-humped camel" throughout the day.
* The 90-Minute Coffee Myth: Why drinking coffee right when you wake up won't ruin your cortisol awakening response.
* Cushing’s vs. Pseudo-Cushing’s: Physical signs of true hormone excess (buffalo hump, purple stretch marks, facial changes) vs. lifestyle-induced symptoms.
* GLP-1 Weight Loss Stalls: Why aggressive starvation modes trigger fight-or-flight responses and insulin resistance.
* Stress & Fertility: How reducing adrenal stress directly alters the uterine implantation environment.
#Cortisol #HormoneHealth #HealthAndWellness #GLP1 #CortisolFace
15 Oct 2026
Is Your Medication Causing Skin Problems?
Are GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or prescription drugs triggering sudden skin redness, dryness, or irritation? In this episode of Live + Well, Melissa Magsaysay sits down with skin health practitioner and esthetician Lashelle Ullie to to break down the hidden connection between prescription medications, chronic illness, and your skin barrier.
Discover why active ingredients like retinol, tretinoin, and AHAs/BHAs might be doing more harm than good for stressed skin, what “Ozempic face” actually is, and how simplifying your skincare routine to 3–4 core steps can restore hydration and balance.
Key Takeaways & What You’ll Learn
• Medications & Skin: How GLP-1 drugs, alopecia treatments, and chronic illness impact skin texture and hydration.
• The Truth About "Ozempic Face": What happens to your facial structure and skin barrier during rapid weight loss or medication changes.
• Active Ingredient Warnings: When to pause tretinoin, glycolic acid, and heavy exfoliants.
• Skin Barrier Repair: How to use ceramides, hyaluronic acid, and simple serums to rebuild compromised skin.
• Less Is More: Why 3–4 targeted steps beat a complex 10-step skincare routine every time.
Timestamps:
00:00 How Medications & GLP-1s Affect Your Skin
03:30 Chronic Illness & Skin Barrier Health
06:30 Rosacea, Dermatitis & Common Flare-Ups
08:20 Stop Overcomplicating Your Skincare Routine
10:30 Why a Simple Skincare Routine Works Better
11:25 Skincare Strategies for Chronic Conditions
12:00 Do You Really Need Serums? 13:00 How to Build a Routine You'll Stick To
15:00 Managing Realistic Skincare Expectations
17:00 Medication-Induced Skin Changes Explained
18:20 GLP-1s, Facial Redness & Texture Shift
19:00 Should You Stop Using Retinol? 20:00 How to Fix a Compromised Skin Barrier
24:00 The Body-Skin Health Connection
25:00 Hair Loss / Alopecia Medications & Skin Side Effects
28:00 Hyperpigmentation & Drug Side Effects
29:30 What Is "Ozempic Face"?
32:30 Best Ingredients for Sensitive & Stressed Skin
33:00 Professional Skin Treatments vs. Hydration 35:30 Why "Age Management" Replaces Anti-Aging
36:00 Ingredients to Avoid When Your Skin Barrier Is Damaged
40:30 Tretinoin: Overhyped or Worth the Hype?
42:00 Why Healthy Skin Starts with a Strong Barrier
#OzempicFace #SkincareRoutine #Retinol #SensitiveSkin #GLP1
8 Oct 2026
Can a Plant Extract Trigger GLP-1 & Stop Food Noise?
Can a plant-based hops extract naturally trigger GLP-1, CCK, and PYY to curb appetite and stop food noise? Calocurb CEO Sarah Kennedy joins Melissa Magsaysay on Live + Well to break down the science of natural appetite control and perimenopause weight management.
CHAPTERS:
00:00 The Plant-Based Supplement Being Compared to GLP-1s
01:01 How Calocurb Was Developed
02:52 Why We Have Bitter Taste Receptors in the Gut
05:04 How Hops Extract May Affect Appetite Hormones
05:47 What the Early Clinical Research Found
07:09 How and When Calocurb Is Taken
08:18 How It Differs From Other Weight Loss Supplements
11:16 Calocurb vs. Prescription GLP-1s (Ozempic/Wegovy)
12:08 What the Weight Loss Trial Found
13:42 Appetite Hormones, Fat Loss, and Muscle
14:13 Why Hunger Isn’t Just About Willpower
16:10 Late-Night Snacking and Food Cravings
19:17 How Practitioners Are Using Calocurb
20:09 What Happens When You Stop a GLP-1? (Rebound Hunger)
21:04 GLP-1 Microdosing and Midlife Weight
22:03 Menopause, Metabolism, and Visceral Fat
23:21 Can Calocurb Help After Stopping a GLP-1?
24:37 Potential Side Effects
25:37 GLP-1s, Weight Loss, and Diet Culture
28:12 Why GLP-1s Changed the Willpower Conversation
29:49 Why People Talk About “Food Noise”
32:31 Is Taking a GLP-1 a Shortcut?
35:00 What “Natural” Means in the Supplement Industry
37:21 The Clinical Trials on Hunger and Cravings
38:17 Why Researchers Studied Women Separately
41:02 Who Should Avoid Calocurb?
41:28 Can You Take Calocurb With a GLP-1?
43:09 Does Drinking Beer Have the Same Effect as Hops Extract?
44:23 Cost and Accessibility
46:15 The Connection Between Appetite and Food Noise
47:16 Could It Affect Alcohol Cravings?
49:46 What Calocurb Is Studying Next
IN THIS EPISODE, YOU'S LEARN:
• How hops-derived extract stimulates natural appetite hormones (GLP-1, CCK, PYY)
• What "food noise" is and why hunger is controlled by biology, not willpower
• What happens when stopping prescription GLP-1 medications like Ozempic or Wegovy
• How perimenopause and menopause impact metabolism, body composition, and weight
• Clinical findings on Calocurb, side effects, and who should consult a doctor first
DISCLAIMER:
This episode is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for medical advice. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or stopping any prescription medication or supplement routine.
#GLP1 #Calocurb #WeightLoss #FoodNoise #NaturalGLP1
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