In this inaugural episode of The Beauty Equation Podcast, hosts Dr. Christelle Oliver-Dussault, Dr. Harpreet Lotay, and Amanda Manholt share the inspiration behind their new show—created to empower listeners with knowledge about the beauty industry and the aging process. Together, they unpack the stigma surrounding aesthetics, the flood of often-confusing information, and the importance of making informed choices. The discussion highlights the deeply personal and subjective nature of beauty, the challenges of navigating societal standards, and the emotional experiences clients face when seeking aesthetic treatments. With honesty and empathy, the hosts emphasize the value of understanding individual goals and embracing beauty on your own terms.

About the Hosts:

Dr. Harpreet Lotay is a family physician specializing in aesthetic medicine. She is the founder of Sona MD in Kamloops, BC, and serves as Chief Medical Officer at Bios Wellness Clinics. Known for her artistic approach and comprehensive non-surgical treatments, Dr. Lotay combines medical expertise with an eye for natural results. She is also an educator, a national trainer and holds academic appointments where she shares her knowledge in clinical dermatology and aesthetics. You can get in touch with her on Instagram @hlotaymd

Dr. Christelle Oliver-Dussault is a family physician specializing in aesthetic medicine, women’s health, and psycho-education. She brings a holistic, whole-person perspective to her clinical work, blending science with a deep understanding of the mind-body connection.

She is also the founder of Reclaim The Pink Within, a movement that empowers women to rediscover themselves during life’s most transformative stages. In addition, she is passionate about medical education and mentors the next generation of family physicians through her work with the department of Family Medicine at the University of British Columbia.

You can connect with her on Instagram @drchristellemd

Amanda Manholt is a clinic manager, patient consultant, and co-host of The Beauty Equation Podcast. With over 30 years of experience in beauty, aesthetics, and leadership, she has guided patients and teams alike toward confidence, growth, and empowerment. Known for her ability to connect with people and simplify the often-overwhelming world of aesthetics, Amanda brings a warm, practical, and relatable perspective to every conversation. You can find her on Instagram @crowsfeetandconfidence.

Websites

https://sonamd.ca/

https://www.getyourpinkbackproject.com/

Disclaimer: The Beauty Equation is for informational purposes only and not medical advice. This podcast does not create a doctor–patient relationship. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making medical or aesthetic decisions. Information may change as the field evolves.

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Hi, welcome to the Beauty equation podcast. I'm Dr. Christelle Oliver

Dusseau. And I'm Dr. Harpreet Lotte. And I'm not

a doctor. I'm Amanda Manholt. So today's first

episode, we will be talking about the why behind this podcast,

the reason we all came together to have these discussions and really

to empower you to understand the beauty industry

and the aging process. So I might start with Dr. Lotte or

Harpreet, if that's okay with you. Yeah, absolutely. Call me

Harpreet. What does the Beauty Equation mean to you? Well,

you know, the reason I'm here doing this podcast is really because

I feel like aesthetics and the beauty industry should

be accessible to everybody. And I think that oftentimes

we create a lot of stigma around it, a lot of

mystery around it, and it seems like magic potions

and spells to a lot of people, but for me, it's really

based in science and visual art.

And I really do believe that

everybody should have agency to choose

the type of aesthetics they want, how they want to age. And

I just love providing information to people. Yeah. And I

love talking to people like you. I love talking to you. We've had a lot

of these conversations in the hallway. What about you, Amanda?

I think for me, I just love to empower people to make

good decisions. You know, there's so much

nonsense out there, just to be totally blunt, and

I think it can feel really overwhelming. And I feel like we're drowning in

knowledge between Reels and TikTok. And, you know,

it's so different than when Harpreet and I grew up. You're a little younger than

us, but I'm sure you as well, right? I mean, we didn't have all of

this information at our fingertips. No. I still remember writing

papers, had written paper essays. Yeah.

Yeah. I'm dating. And it's. It's the same problem, right?

It's. It's. It's either they have too much information and can't make a decision,

or they don't have enough information and they can't make a decision. So I just

love helping people understand just what's

accurate, you know, and just give them the information so that they can,

you know, make an informed decision. Yeah. It's a very vulnerable space

to be in, and we carry a huge

responsibility when we have those conversations with

women and men. And I think sometimes that's

forgotten, and our clients can sometimes be

taken advantage of. And for me, that was a huge driver

to demystify what's available and to

reassure people that they're actually in control and to

give them the tools to make those decisions so that they're

happy with their journey and the treatments

that they're offered and the treatments that they receive.

Absolutely. And I think to make it approachable, I think a lot of times

people feel really intimidated by aesthetics. And also,

you know, there's a certain veneer

around aesthetics. Even aesthetic clinics, you know, oftentimes they're very

fancy places and they're very blingy, and you feel like you might

not belong there. So I think our podcast is a

space to have honest conversations with three very normal people.

So. So bring your questions and. And listen to us chat.

Yeah. And beauty is so subjective as well, too. I

think it's very easy to get caught up in

what you see on social media or in Hollywood and think that that's

the goal I'm meant to achieve, that's the way I'm meant to look. And

if you look across different cultures, you realize that beauty's in the eye of the

beholder. There are so many ways that someone can

be deemed attractive, and you have to respect the person in front of you and

really understand them in their cultural context and respect

that. Absolutely. And I think it can

be very. Just confusing and

overwhelming, and even there's a lot

of shame, I think, around the thought that people are

even entertaining the idea of having a conversation or stepping foot

into a clinic. It's interesting. I don't typically

get that from the men that come, and they don't seem to really have any

issues about feeling ashamed about wanting to address a concern

that they have. But definitely, I feel like it's a big thing

with the women that we see. It's such a fine line because

you're walking that line of, I want to still look fresh,

but I don't want to look done. And you don't want to look like you're

trying too hard. And it's a very hard space to

navigate. And we see that a lot in our clinic because a lot of our

patients are very natural. A lot of them don't buy their hair. I don't wear

makeup, but they still want some tools. And

they're the patients sometimes I love the most. And they're ones that tend to be

the most intimidated by coming to these spaces because there's that notion that, like,

I need to look a certain way to get these types of treatments. Yeah. I

had a consult last week, and she was just a stunning woman that

was turning 77. Zero and

gorgeous. Has never done a thing. And it was interesting to me,

you know, that at this stage, at this age, that she was decided to

make an appointment and come in and have a chat. And, you know, I think

that the. The thing I hear over and over again is, look, look, I'm not

trying to look like I'm 20. That ship has sailed. I'm not interested

in that. I don't want to look like someone else. I just don't want to

look tired, I don't want to look sad, I don't want to look

angry. And that's the thing. It's, you know, if you don't do

something, well, then have you. You've let yourself go. But if you do too much,

then you're. You're trying too hard. You're one of those women. So

it's like you said, Christelle, it's like a little tight rope.

Very fine line. Yeah. And I think we often

underestimate the different factors that come into the

concept of beauty and appearance. And really,

we all have a very similar approach. Very kind of mind, body

focused. And sometimes that's forgotten you, really.

This is why I often repeat, you need to understand the person in front of

you, their goals. And we really love to

work with women and help build back their confidence. Because that's something I've noticed, and

I think both of you have as well too, that sometimes they'll come in, they'll

be very closed, sometimes quite nervous.

And a lot of them will come into us after they've had a very difficult

period in their lives, and they're finally starting to think, I want to do something

for me, and we might start small, but

when you see them for the follow up, you know, they come in, they have

a smile, they're standing a bit more upright, and it's so rewarding to see

that and to meet them at regular intervals and see how they're doing.

Yeah, it's one of my favorite parts. You know, it's when you

see that change in confidence and you see them just approach the

world differently, that means the world to me. You know,

the other driver that seems to bring people in is a certain sense of

dissonance. You know, so many times I have people who

have noticed aging changes, and the thing, you know, doesn't

bother them that they're getting older. That's sometimes that's a privilege.

Right. But what bothers them more is

that they can't relate to the person who they see in the mirror,

Whether that be means the emotional attributes or the

messages Their face is sending due to natural aging

processes or the vitality that they see

reflected in the mirror is not the same as what they feel inside.

And that dissonance in identity is a real

challenge for most people. And so

that's a big driver. And they're scared of coming in

and having work done. As you've both said, that will make them look

further, less like themselves. So they're not interested in changing

themselves. They're interested in being who

they are and were and they don't recognize that

person in the mirror anymore. So I just love.

Yeah, it's like that relevance. Right. Where they say, like,

it's almost like they start to fade away and become less

relevant if they're still working. And I mean, you think about the

years, you know, as people sort of, you know, get into their 40s,

50s and beyond, it's amazing all of the

experience and knowledge that they have in their field. But

it's sort of like our appearance kind of lets us down a little bit

sometimes. So I'm excited to create this space to have these discussions

for people so people can expect these types of conversations more in

depth as we go forward. So this is episode one,

Just a. Taster and so on that. Who

is this for? If there's someone listening and they have a friend that they're

thinking might enjoy this, who do you think would appreciate

hearing our conversations? Well, I think this

is really for anyone who wants honest information,

wants to listen to three smart ladies, if I may say. So

normal, you know, normal three women

having a chat, but with a wealth of experience.

So, you know, Amanda, you've had 30 years in

this industry and have helped women through cosmetics and

skin care and have heard all of the things that drive women

to. To your counter and now to your consultation room.

And I, as my background in family practice for

so, so many years. Decades, unfortunately, and unfortunately

and 20 plus years in aesthetics.

You know, we have a. We have a lot we can share. And Christelle, you

have a breadth of knowledge, you know, studying

in the UK and you know, doing your aesthetics at

the Harley Academy and so much more. You've invested time.

Yeah, we've all kind of had our own past that brought us together.

Yes. And I think that's something we're going to touch on next episode.

Yes. So if you enjoyed today's episode,

I encourage you to share it with a friend.

Send us an email. We'll putty putting the details down below.

And stay tuned for next time where we will go into a bit more

depth about our backgrounds and all. How the three

of us came to work together. Yes. Take care. Bye.