Charles Mayfield joined Sean Kelly on the Digital Social Hour to talk about an unconventional corner of skincare: traditional animal fats like lard and tallow. Charles Mayfield runs a skincare business built around these ingredients and argues they deserve a second look in an industry dominated by synthetic formulas.
The conversation moves from the specifics of skin health into bigger questions about regenerative farming and food systems, tracing how modern manufacturing shifted away from ingredients people relied on for generations.
About Charles Mayfield
Charles Mayfield is an entrepreneur in the natural skincare space, building a product line around lard and tallow rather than the plant-based oils common in mainstream skincare. His approach draws on traditional formulations paired with a broader interest in regenerative agriculture.
Beyond his own products, Mayfield speaks about the wider food and farming system, tying his skincare philosophy to arguments about soil health, animal agriculture, and reducing reliance on synthetic fertilizers and preservatives.
What Charles Mayfield and Sean Kelly Talked About
- Charles Mayfield's case for using traditional animal fats like lard and tallow in skincare products
- His view that plant-based skincare oils represent a relatively recent shift away from older, traditional ingredients
- His perspective on synthetic preservatives in modern skincare, which he considers largely unnecessary
- His take on regenerative farming and its connection to soil health and animal agriculture
- Thoughts on how over-sanitizing and frequent washing may affect the skin's natural microbiome, in his view
- His argument that skincare regulations haven't kept pace with ingredient science
- Why he believes consumer demand, more than regulation, is driving change in skincare and food choices
- His broader concerns about synthetic fertilizers and their environmental impact
Why This Conversation Matters
Charles Mayfield's conversation with Sean Kelly offers a look at a business built on ingredients most skincare brands have moved away from. Whether or not viewers agree with his approach, it's a window into how one entrepreneur is betting on traditional methods over synthetic ones — his perspective and experience, not medical or dermatological advice.
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About Sean Kelly & the Digital Social Hour
Sean Kelly is an entrepreneur and the host of the Digital Social Hour, one of the fastest-growing interview podcasts in the world, where he sits down with entrepreneurs, athletes, creators, and cultural voices for candid, long-form conversations. The show draws over 100 million views a month across platforms. Explore more guest features on SeanKelly.io.
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