In a beauty industry saturated with celebrity launches, it is rare to encounter a partnership built not on trend, but on shared philosophy. Yet that is precisely what defines the collaboration between Martha Stewart and New York based dermatologist Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali as described by a recent interview made by Airmail News.
What began as a conversation in Miami evolved into something far more thoughtful than another name on a bottle. Their story is not about capitalizing on fame. It is about craft, discipline, and the belief that when you combine the right ingredients, you create something enduring.
Watch the full interview on the Him and Her podcast
A Legacy of Discipline and Detail
Martha Stewart has built her career on precision. From her earliest cookbooks to her meticulously styled gardens and table settings, her work reflects a singular principle: excellence is earned.
Her approach to skin care mirrors that same mindset.
“I’ve cared so much about my skin from an early age,” she explains. She credits her mother, whose simple routine included baby oil, a hot cloth, and Pond’s moisturizer. “She had very beautiful, unlined skin until she was 90.”
At 84, Stewart remains a testament to consistency. She recalls a single sunburn in her life. Now, daily SPF is nonnegotiable. For her, beauty is not accidental. It is the result of attention and effort.
“It’s all about work, It’s not magic.”
That sentence could summarize her entire career.
Nailing down ingredients to bring new value
For Dr. Bhanusali innovation in his field meant addressing a common frustration in skin care: instability. He became focused on vitamin C, an ingredient praised for its brightening and antioxidant benefits but notoriously difficult to stabilize.
“When you open the bottle, more or less it’s degrading in real time,” he explains. “The vast majority of formulas don’t work.”
And when creating a solution for Stewart, it had to feel familiar. Structured. Intentional.
“It was truly like a recipe Martha would put together,” he says.
Stewart immediately connects the metaphor to her life’s work.
“My whole business is founded on recipes. There’s an answer to every problem. There’s a recipe, and when you put the right ingredients together, you have something spectacular.”.
This shared language of formulation and refinement became the foundation of Elm Biosciences.
Simplicity in a Saturated Beauty Market
Stewart is acutely aware of the excess within the beauty industry.
“There are too many products,” she says plainly. Having tried formulas from Korean, Japanese, and French brands alike, she did not want to add more noise.
Instead, the goal was clarity.
A streamlined serum. A night cream. Thoughtfully developed supplements. Each designed to serve a defined role.
Even the supplements were debated. Stewart believed in including them. Dr. Bhanusali was initially skeptical, wary of overpromising claims. Only after consulting with other scientists did he support the final blend.
The dynamic reveals mutual respect. Stewart pushes for vision. Bhanusali grounds it in validation. The result is not impulse-driven beauty. It is iterative.
Their newest launch, the A30 Elemental Night Cream, reflects this measured approach. A retinoid formula supported by lipids to reduce irritation, it balances potency with comfort. It is not about shock-and-awe transformation. It is about sustainable progress.
Longevity Over Trends: A Smarter Approach to Skin Care
In today’s beauty landscape, new products launch daily. Ingredients go viral. Social media cycles move faster than the skin can realistically respond.
But both Stewart and Dr. Bhanusali speak to something different — a longevity mindset.
Trend-based beauty often focuses on immediate results: rapid resurfacing, aggressive exfoliation, dramatic before-and-after transformations. While these can have their place, they are not the foundation of healthy skin over decades.
Longevity skin care asks a more meaningful question:
How will your skin look and function ten or twenty years from now?
For Stewart, longevity has always been intuitive. Her commitment to sunscreen, discipline, and consistency began long before “preventative aging” became a marketing phrase.
For Dr. Bhanusali, longevity is about intelligent formulation. Stable antioxidants. Barrier-supportive ingredients. Retinoids balanced with lipids. Products designed not to overwhelm the skin, but to support it over time.
This philosophy reflects a broader shift happening across the industry — from reactive correction to proactive maintenance. Instead of chasing trends, the focus turns to skin resilience, daily protection, and formulas that withstand time.
In that sense, Elm Biosciences is less about launching something new and more about refining something lasting.
Confidence Without Apology
Stewart’s confidence is legendary.
“I look better than anybody else in the room,"
she says matter-of-factly. Not boastful. Simply declarative.
It is the same tone that propelled her through business expansions, reinventions, and even public scrutiny. Whether launching magazines, appearing on the cover of Sports Illustrated Swimsuit, or collaborating with Snoop Dogg, she moves with confidence.
Her beauty philosophy follows suit.
She will not leave her home without her green juice. She prioritizes routine. She believes in showing up prepared.
For Stewart, appearance is not vanity. It is stewardship.
Beyond the Thirst Trap
The interview closes on a playful note. Asked about her now-famous “thirst traps,” Stewart laughs at the possibility of continuing them for another two decades.
But beneath the humor lies something more powerful: agency.
At 84, she is not retreating. She is expanding.
The partnership with Dr. Bhanusali is not about chasing youth. It is about honoring longevity. It reflects a broader message that beauty, when approached with intention, evolves with you.
In a market crowded with quick fixes and viral moments, their collaboration stands apart because it is rooted in discipline, curiosity, and a shared respect for formulation as craft.
In Stewart’s world, nothing is accidental.
There is always a recipe.
Medical disclaimer
This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Skincare products and treatments should be selected in consultation with a qualified dermatologist, especially for individuals with underlying skin conditions or sensitivities.
About Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali
Dr. Dhaval Bhanusali is a leading dermatologist known for bridging clinical science with modern beauty innovation. He has contributed to the development of widely recognized skin-care products and is respected for his evidence-driven approach to formulation.
In partnership with Martha Stewart, he brings scientific rigor to Elm Biosciences, ensuring that each product reflects both thoughtful development and measurable performance.
