She Wasn’t a Chemist. She Built a Lab to Help Her Dad | Sarina Pilaroscia

For entrepreneurs and aspiring founders, skincare entrepreneur Sarina Pilaroscia shares how her dad’s struggle with psoriasis led her to build a lab and launch a skincare brand. Watching her father struggle with severe psoriasis led Sarina to research ingredients, approach laboratories, and eventually hire her own chemist. She wasn’t a chemist herself, but she had a clear idea of what she wanted to create. Jennifer Loehding sits down with Sarina Pilaroscia, founder and CEO of Phoilex, to explore the journey from a family need to a self-funded skincare brand that launched online with Ulta Beauty. They discuss developing products from scratch, funding research, navigating regulatory delays, and finding the right customers. Sarina also shares her perspective on natural versus scientifically formulated ingredients, what persistence taught her, and why she’s learning to stop starting new things and focus. Chapters 00:00 Doctor Dismisses Psoriasis 01:07 Meet Sarina and Phoilex 01:36 Small Talk and Setup 02:42 Dad’s Psoriasis Story 05:39 Inside Out Healing Approach 08:32 Topical Steroid Withdrawal 12:43 Holistic Meets Western Care 17:48 Phoilex Products Overview 19:00 Building the Brand From Scratch 23:33 Funding and Regulatory Hurdles 25:17 Building Through COVID 26:09 Cross-Border CBD Rules 27:37 Plant Meets Science 28:51 Stevia Sensitivity Story 31:01 Free-From Reality Check 34:13 ChatGPT For Research 35:12 Entrepreneur Lessons Learned 37:47 Ulta Launch And Vision 40:53 Advice To New Founders 43:34 Avoiding Burnout 45:34 Where To Find Phoilex 46:36 Final Wrap And Call To Action Connect with Sarina Pilaroscia Website: https://phoilex.com Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/phoilex.releaf/ Connect with Starter Girlz Starter Girlz features conversations with founders, entrepreneurs, creators, and thought leaders about what they've built, what they've learned, and the ideas that can help others grow in business and life. https://startergirlz.com Want to be a guest on Starter Girlz? https://www.podmatch.com/hostdetailpreview/17044863446695017c1879d7b