Molly Sims on Redefining Aging

2026-02-16

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Molly Sims is a true Renaissance woman. From gracing the covers of French Vogue to acting to founding the YSE beauty brand, she’s done it all in the beauty and entertainment industries. After years of hearing that she should model, she accepted an opportunity to take a semester off from Vanderbilt to give it a try in Europe. Her career ramped up quickly, and she soon found herself building a new and unexpected career overseas. Molly is very transparent about that time in her life, and how modeling quickly changed her relationship to her body. Her time in fashion enabled her to build a robust portfolio, which she leveraged into an on-screen career on MTV’s House of Style, Las Vegas, and more. She’s also worked behind the scenes as a producer on multiple shows and has built strong communities across nearly every major social media platform.

No stranger to pivoting, Molly realized that she no longer wanted to be the face of a brand; she wanted to build something of her own. This realization was coupled with serious bouts of melasma and hyperpigmentation that may have been caused by ageing and or pregnancy. None of her usual treatments and products were working for her, but like always, she accepted this as a personal challenge to solve. She quickly realized that the skincare market for women over 35 was missing affordable products with scientifically backed results. Women with similar skincare needs were not being marketed to, and Molly knew just how to fill that gap: enter YSE Beauty. Built on years of professional experience working with makeup artists and skincare professionals, Molly built a brand that is now in hundreds of Sephora doors. During our conversation, Molly shared other examples of how she has faced challenges head-on and refused to accept any subpar answers. We talk openly about our health challenges and how we’ve had to advocate for ourselves when we know that something in our bodies is not quite right. Molly also talks about why she is called the Barrier Queen, her favorite beauty treatments, and why you should never ever settle.

Tune in as we discuss:

(18:45) Did She Feel Beautiful Growing Up In Kentucky

(24:15) Being Thrown Into The Heroin Chic Era

(25:15) On Thinness Being Mandatory

(27:07) How Modeling Changed Her Relationship To Her Body

(32:52) Why Create YSE Beauty

(33:35) How Motherhood Shaped Her Professional Choices

(40:41) YSE Is Clinical And Regulatory Focused

(44:50) Marketing Without Anti-Aging Language

(46:00) Lessons On Using Retinol

(50:42) Cutting Over Filling or Surgery Vs. Filler

(52:45) Peptide Injections Are The Next Big Thing In Beauty