In an exclusive Q&A, the pioneering skincare expert discusses his new book, The Beauty Molecule, and how holistic health practices are reshaping beauty from the inside out on the event of his 10th book.
Samantha Yanks: Dr. Perricone, your name has become synonymous with groundbreaking wellness and skincare innovation. What inspired you to return to publishing with The Beauty Molecule after over a decade and why is it so essential for this moment in wellness culture?
Dr. Nicholas Perricone: I continued my research and was waiting to accumulate enough new information to create a new book. This has been accomplished with The Beauty Molecule because it’s all new information for my patients and readers and is not redundant.
SY: You’re widely credited as the father of the anti-inflammatory diet. How has the conversation around food as medicine evolved since you first introduced this concept over 20 years ago? Do you feel like the world is finally catching up to the wellness philosophy you’ve championed for so long?
NP: Yes, the world has really caught up over the past 25 years in terms of accepting the anti-inflammatory diet. It’s been well-proven and comes under many different names—the Mediterranean diet, and many others. It is now mainstream. However, it was not easy when I was there. It is gratifying to know that the anti-inflammatory diet is now mainstream, as it can help so many people in terms of health and longevity.
SY: The 3-Day Nutritional Face Lift Diet had a major breakout moment with your appearances on Good Morning America with Diane Sawyer and later with Oprah. I’m now seeing the challenge all over social media again—this idea of a “face lift in your fridge” is so brilliant and clearly timeless. Would you have ever imagined that 20+ years later, this concept would still resonate and going viral?
NP: The reason being that it is so easy to do and you can get tremendous effects in just three days—in terms of more radiance to your skin, greater skin tone, and incredible radiance.
SY: You emphasize daily movement, breath work and meditation as part of your wellness protocol. Why are these pillars just as critical as what we eat? What’s your take on this movement?
NP: I emphasize daily movement because it is critical in terms of keeping muscle mass up and body fat down. Breathwork is really important, as it also activates the autonomic nervous system and gives us various forms of health. And finally, meditation is important because we can secrete the beauty molecule while we’re meditating and repair our mitochondria.
SY: In The Beauty Molecule, you speak to the science of glowing from the inside out. Can you share what that really means in terms of nutrition, hydration, and lifestyle?
NP: I revisit the anti-inflammatory diet because it is highly nutritious, with adequate amounts of protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and we hydrate through diet and lifestyle. It is also very important to get adequate sleep and remove stress.
SY: Community, connection and spirituality are newer buzzwords in wellness—how
do they factor into looking and feeling our best?
NP: We now know that those people who have good community connections actually have a healthier and expanded lifespan. In addition to that, spirituality is very important, as it helps with the autonomic nervous system activation and decreases stress.
SY: You’ve often said that inflammation is at the root of aging and disease. What are some easy, everyday habits people can adopt to reduce inflammation naturally?
NP: Simple ways of reducing inflammation are moderate exercise, adequate sleep, and of course, following the anti-inflammatory diet. Hydrogen water was chosen because it is a water with extra hydrogen and acts as a natural anti-inflammatory. It tends to repair the metabolism, and therefore it is an essential part of my program.
SY: The beauty industry is saturated with quick fixes. How do we shift the mindset from external solutions to internal transformation?
NP: We have to once again think of beauty from the inside out and the outside in. So, an excellent diet like the anti-inflammatory diet along with hydrating with hydrogen water, and getting adequate sleep and meditation, if one has the time, can lead to a noticeable internal transformation.
SY: From diet to mindset, what does your personal daily routine look like these days?
NP: I start my day with exercise—many times it’s just 20 to 30 minutes of stretching. I also do weight resistance exercises approximately three times per week. Meditation is extremely important to elevate levels of the beauty molecule, which helps repair the mitochondria. I start my morning with green or black tea, some basic supplements. The anti-inflammatory diet is a must—adequate protein, fresh fruits and vegetables, and of course, hydrogen water.
SY: Many of our readers are Connecticut locals. Can you share a little about your Connecticut roots or ties to the area?
NP: I was born in Connecticut and I’ve lived here all my life, except for years while I was in medical school and the U.S. Army. I really enjoy Connecticut. It will always be my home. But during the colder months, I try to escape for a while to get some sunshine.
SY: You’ve created skincare, pioneered dietary approaches, and launched a wellness beverage. What’s next?
NP: I am now trying to introduce healthy diets in school systems across the country, and also trying to introduce nutrition courses in the public school systems from kindergarten right through high school. In addition, I have great interest in science, and I’m currently studying and interested in theoretical physics.
SY: Is there a particular message or philosophy from The Beauty Molecule that you hope stays with readers long after they’ve finished the last page?
NP: The philosophy of the beauty molecule is that we have everything we need in our bodies. We just have to eat the correct foods, meditate, get enough sleep, moderate exercise, and the beauty molecule will be elevated in the body and heal our mitochondria, make us younger, and maintain our cognitive function at a high level.
SY: If someone is just starting their wellness journey today, where do you suggest they begin?
NP: Start with the anti-inflammatory diet. It’s very easy to use. Also, moderate exercise—and try to get some time in meditating.