Nashville’s Maegan Griffin, founder and CEO of Skin Pharm, as well as a board-certified nurse practitioner, has big plans to continue to expand her skincare enterprise. The company recently announced a minority investment of $15 million from Prelude Growth Partners, a female-founded growth equity firm focused on high-potential, fast-growing consumer brands.Â
From in-clinic treatments to product lines, Maegan has created an accessible approach to an often confusing industry. We caught up with Maegan to learn more about her Nashville-based company (with additional locations in Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Houston, and Franklin), what we should add to our summer skincare routines, and even what products and treatments we should avoid.Â
What led you from the nursing field to the skincare space?
After graduating with my Bachelor of Science in Nursing, I worked in the intensive care unit. I traveled to hospitals in Nashville and the surrounding areas to meet different people and challenge myself professionally. After two years of working in the ICU, I realized this was not my long-term career path and enrolled in a family nurse practitioner program.
I fell in love with the nurse practitioner model right away â providing holistic care, looking at the human as a whole, and focusing on preventative measures.
Prior to starting Skin Pharm, I worked in plastic surgery and led the practiceâs injectables clinic. I was part of a team with two other physicians, a plastic surgeon specializing in reconstructive surgery and a medical dermatologist. Iâm grateful for the training and exposure I had during this time, as it provided a fundamental understanding of skin health â and was also when I noticed the need to offer patients a better experience when receiving aesthetic treatments.
You founded Skin Pharm in 2017. What inspired you to start the company?
I founded Skin Pharm in 2017, aiming to create a clinic environment and product line I sought as a patient myself. We now have clinics in Nashville, Atlanta, Dallas, Charlotte, Houston, and Franklin (with Alpharetta in the works) and an effective, high-quality skincare line created by us and inspired by our patients.
I started Skin Pharm for customers like myself who didnât feel satisfied with the existing beauty market. Our customers desire ease in their skin health routine and donât have time to second-guess if theyâre investing in the right products and practitioners. Weâre committed to providing this experience both with our in-clinic treatments and at-home skincare products.
What is it about Skin Pharm that draws so many in and sets it apart from other brands?
The cosmetic dermatology space grows more and more crowded by the day, but Skin Pharm was truly one of the first in the industry to offer personal, individualized care. At its core, Skin Pharmâs model was built upon my own desire to receive safe treatments from trustworthy providers in a relaxed, comfortable environment, and I think weâve mastered this!
With summer in full swing, what should we add to our skincare routines?
Sunscreen is a must all year long, but itâs especially important in the summer! Make sure you have an SPF that you love and will actually wear daily. (I alternate between our 100% Mineral and Sheer Defense SPFs â both offer lightweight coverage and a tint I prefer more than makeup most days!)
With warmer weather and more humidity, swapping heavier moisturizers for lighter ones can help keep the skinâs hydration levels balanced.
And if you know youâll be spending lots of time outside, limit the use of exfoliants like AHAs and retinols that can make you more sensitive to the sun.
What do you feel is the most common misconception in skincare?
That you need a different product to address every skin concern. Your skincare routine shouldnât feel complicated! At Skin Pharm, we have a no-frills approach. This means each of our products really packs a punch to tackle multiple skin concerns at once.
Take our Youth Serum, for example. It combines ingredients like hyaluronic acid, niacinamide, and an antimicrobial peptide to fight breakouts, hydrate skin, reduce redness, and more â all in one effective, easy-to-use serum.
We never want your skin health journey to feel overwhelming; on the contrary, skincare should be approachable and allow you to create a routine, a ritual, a habit of self-care and maintenance that you feel comfortable with!
In your opinion, what are the most overrated products, methods, or treatments on the market?
Dermal rollers have gained popularity as a kind of DIY microneedling treatment, but they can cause irritation and infections and donât deliver results. The goal is targeted micro-punctures that stimulate collagen production, but dermal rollers donât properly penetrate the skin, which causes the skin to tear. Microneedling is better left to the professionals!
The Hyaluron pen is another overrated (and unsafe!) product you should avoid. It contains hyaluronic acid thatâs not medical-grade, and the pressurized air makes it difficult to control where the product goes. These pens can cause swelling, potentially block blood vessels and lead to puffy, unnatural results.
On the flip side, what are the most underrated options we should have on our radar?
Sculptra! While itâs not a traditional hyaluronic acid filler, itâs still used to restore lost volume to the skin. Sculptra contains a biocompatible substance that helps replenish collagen and elastin gradually. The results arenât immediate, but theyâre so worth it â they can last up to two years!
We should also give âtox its due â itâs not just for the forehead area! We see lots of patients for Botox and Dysport injections to smooth out smile lines and upturn corners of the mouth, but the jawline is also a target area. Injections here relax the muscles that cause teeth grinding and jaw clenching while slimming the face, too.
Whatâs on the horizon for you and Skin Pharm?
I am so grateful for the community Skin Pharm has cultivated. Iâve met some of the most amazing women who are moms, sisters, wives, businesswomen, and fellow healthcare professionals. I hope to meet even more people on their skin health journeys as we continue to open more clinics â and I would love for Skin Pharm to become a staple in everyoneâs skincare routine!
Whatâs the best piece of advice youâve ever received?
Trust your gut. Some of my biggest mistakes (I try to think of them as âlearningsâ) have come from not trusting myself. It takes time, and Iâm still learning to trust my intuition, but Iâve gotten better at this as Iâve progressed in my career. In recent years, Iâve had scenarios where my intuition sent off mayday signals, leading me to ultimately walk away from wrong deals or situations. Make sure the decision in front of you is going to be a fulfilling one because youâll have to push yourself to extreme limits to get to that fulfillment!
Outside of faith, family, and friends, what three things canât you live without?
Can I say four?!
- I already touched on Youth Serum, so Iâll say Skin Pharmâs Clay Time polishing charcoal mask. Iâm particularly proud of the creaminess of this formula â clay masks tend to be harsh and drying, but we made sure this one was impactful yet still gentle. Plus, the natural hint of lavender is so very relaxing.
- I love a 45-minute CorePower sculpt class and try to catch them as often as I can, both in Nashville and while traveling. I never regret moving my body!
- I rarely go without my Yearly Co. bangles and Consider the Wldflwrs rings, either. We all have our own thing â for some, itâs handbags, coats, or shoes; for me, it became fine jewelry once I hit my mid-30s. Plus, I love supporting other local (and female-founded) businesses!
- I always have a good book and podcast in regular rotation, too. Iâm about to pick up Happy Place by Emily Henry (so readable, so relatable!) and Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus. Podcast-wise, Iâve been on a âSuperwomen with Rebecca Minkoffâ kick lately.
All photography by Haley Terrell.
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