The Edit
How We Formulate for Pregnancy Safety
Learn how Hizo formulates pregnancy-safe skincare with dermatologist-led development, carefully vetted ingredients, and a barrier-first approach, designed for real results at every stage of motherhood.
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Meet Dr. Katherine Unverferth: Maternal Mental Health Advisor to Hizo
Pregnancy doesn’t just transform the body, it can reshape how women think, feel, and make decisions about even the smallest daily routines. Partnering with experts like Dr. Katie Unverferth allows Hizo to approach skincare from a more holistic perspective, one that recognizes the connection between physical care and emotional wellbeing. As a leading voice in women’s mental health and reproductive psychiatry, Dr. Unverferth brings critical insight into the anxiety and information overload that often accompany this stage of life, helping inform a more thoughtful, evidence-driven approach to skincare that supports not just the skin, but peace of mind as well. Dr. Katie Unverferth is an Assistant Clinical Professor at the David Geffen School of Medicine where she serves as the Director of the UCLA Women’s Life Center and the Medical Director of the UCLA Maternal Mental Health Program. She is a national expert in Women’s Mental Health and regularly lectures on topics such as perinatal depression, premenstrual dysphoric disorder, and perimenopausal mood and anxiety disorders. She is a faculty member of the National Curriculum of Reproductive Psychiatry (NCRP), where she contributes to the development and dissemination of training in women’s mental health across the United States. Dr. Katie is a graduate of Duke University where she majored in Chemistry with a Mathematics concentration. She completed research at the Duke Clinical Research Institute with the National Children’s Study. She attended medical school at Georgetown University and was inducted into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society and received the Francis L. Clark, Jr. Award for Excellence in Psychiatry. She completed her psychiatry residency at the UCLA Semel Institute for Neuroscience where she served as the Chief Resident in Reproductive Psychiatry and completed a fellowship in Mood Disorders. Dr. Katie has appeared on LAist 89.3 NPR and NPR's Life Kit, and her expert commentary has been featured in Women's Health Magazine, the Guardian, the LA Times, The Times (UK), Good Housekeeping, and Parade. Through her media presence and public advocacy, Dr. Katie is helping to shift the national conversation around women’s mental health, making evidence-based understanding more visible and more central to public discourse. Why have you decided to work with Hizo? What about the brand speaks to you? What do you hope to help Hizo accomplish in the world of maternal skincare? "Pregnancy can be a time filled with anxiety and indecision, with worries about the safety of the baby from exposure to various chemicals. With so many different voices out there on social media and online, it can be difficult to find clear, researched, evidence-based information that you can trust. Hizo helps by cutting through the noise for pregnant and breastfeeding women, simplifying an already complicated time with data-driven, pregnancy and breastfeeding-safe skincare. As a Reproductive Psychiatrist who regularly treats anxiety and depression in pregnant and postpartum women, I see how having even one less thing to worry about can meaningfully reduce anxiety and improve outcomes in this population. Even with the training to critically evaluate primary medical literature and access to clinical databases, determining what is safe for skincare use during pregnancy requires significant time and research, and some of the answers are not intuitive. As a mother of a 2.5 year old, I experienced this conundrum firsthand. I found myself turning to online dermatology influencers in the absence of clear data and spending many hours trying to determine safety. The information gap in pregnancy-safe skincare is real, and it falls on patients to navigate it largely on their own, often turning to unreliable sources as a result. Hizo addresses that gap directly, bringing the same level of rigor to skincare formulation that we expect from evidence-based medicine. This is a brand supported by physicians and experts in skincare and pregnancy health, and one that women can trust." Instagram: @drkatiemd Facebook: @drkatiemdLinkedIn: @drkatiemddrkatiemd.com
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Meet Dr. Kim Hashemi: Dermatologist Advisor to Hizo
Skincare during pregnancy and postpartum often comes with more questions than answers, especially when underlying skin conditions or sensitivities are involved. Through partnerships with specialists like Dr. Kimberly Hashemi, Hizo brings a deeper level of medical insight to maternal skincare. With her background in complex and inflammatory skin diseases, Dr. Hashemi offers a perspective grounded in both scientific rigor and individualized care, helping shape an approach that prioritizes clarity, safety, and real-world effectiveness for women navigating this uniquely demanding time for their skin. Kimberly Hashemi, MD, is a board-certified dermatologist and academic physician specializing in complex medical dermatology, with a particular focus on autoimmune and inflammatory skin diseases. She currently works in Charleston, SC, where she cares for patients with a wide range of skin conditions and contributes to advancing the field through research and education. Dr. Hashemi completed her undergraduate studies at Vanderbilt University before earning her medical degree from Brown University, where she was elected to the prestigious Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society. She then completed her dermatology residency at the Medical University of South Carolina, followed by advanced fellowship training in dermatology–rheumatology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School. Her clinical expertise includes conditions such as psoriasis, lupus, dermatomyositis, and other connective tissue diseases that impact both the skin and overall health. She is known for her thoughtful, patient-centered approach and her ability to translate complex medical science into practical, personalized care. In addition to her clinical work, Dr. Hashemi has authored numerous peer-reviewed publications and has presented nationally on topics related to inflammatory and autoimmune skin disease. Why have you decided to work with Hizo? What about the brand speaks to you? What do you hope to help Hizo accomplish in the world of maternal skincare? "I am so excited to be working with a company that truly supports pregnant and breastfeeding women. This can be a challenging time when finding skincare products that are both safe and effective often feels overwhelming. Hizo is dedicated to making this easier by focusing on products that empower women to feel confident in their skin. Every formulation uses only the very best ingredients, with safety and efficacy as the top priorities. By providing products that women can trust, Hizo helps them care for themselves with confidence, giving them one less thing to worry about while navigating this transformative stage of life."
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Meet Dr. Leah Ansell: Dermatologist Advisor to Hizo
For many women, skincare during pregnancy and postpartum becomes a source of uncertainty rather than confidence. Partnering with experts like Dr. Leah Ansell allows Hizo to bring a more grounded, science-led perspective to this experience. As a board-certified dermatologist, and a mother herself, Dr. Ansell understands both the clinical realities and personal nuances of skin changes across every stage of motherhood. Her approach aligns closely with Hizo’s philosophy: replacing confusion with clarity and supporting women with skincare that is informed, effective, and thoughtfully designed for this unique chapter of life. Leah Ansell, MD is a board-certified dermatologist with expertise in medical and cosmetic dermatology, and a particular focus on women’s dermatologic care across all life stages, including pregnancy and the postpartum period. As both a practicing dermatologist and a mother, Dr. Ansell has a deep professional and personal interest in helping women navigate the unique skin changes and concerns that arise before, during, and after pregnancy using evidence-based, safe, and thoughtful approaches. A third-generation physician, Dr. Ansell grew up in the Chicago area and graduated cum laude from Dartmouth College. She earned her medical degree from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, where she was elected to Alpha Omega Alpha, the national medical honor society, and received the Phi Rho Sigma Prize for highest overall academic standing and excellence in medical training. Dr. Ansell completed her internship in Internal Medicine at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, followed by a dermatology residency at Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital, where she served as Chief Resident. She has also participated in multiple medical mission trips, providing care in Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Rwanda. Clinically, Dr. Ansell has extensive experience treating conditions including acne, melasma, hair loss, eczema, pigmentary disorders, and skin changes related to hormonal shifts, pregnancy, breastfeeding, perimenopause and menopause. Dr. Ansell has worked on Manhattan’s Upper East Side and outside of New York City in Rye, New York, where she provides comprehensive dermatologic care for the entire family. She is an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at Columbia University, where she teaches cosmetic dermatology to dermatology residents. She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology and a member of the American Society for Dermatologic Surgery, the American Society for Laser Medicine and Surgery, and the Women’s Dermatologic Society. Outside of medicine, Dr. Ansell enjoys cooking, hosting events, reading, and spending time with her husband and three young children—an experience that continues to shape her perspective on women’s health, pregnancy, and family-centered care. Why have you decided to work with Hizo? What about the brand speaks to you? What do you hope to help Hizo accomplish in the world of maternal skincare? "I decided to work with Hizo because the brand is addressing a clear and long-standing gap in dermatologic care for pregnant and postpartum women. In my dermatology practice, I frequently see patients overwhelmed by conflicting information about what is “safe” during pregnancy, often leading them to unnecessarily eliminate effective skincare or rely on fear-based guidance rather than science. Hizo’s commitment to evidence-based formulation, transparency, and thoughtful ingredient selection immediately resonated with me. As a board-certified dermatologist, I routinely care for women experiencing pregnancy-related skin concerns such as acne, melasma, eczema flares, and postpartum hair changes. These issues are common, yet there is a lack of high-quality products designed specifically with maternal physiology and safety data in mind. What excites me about Hizo is its goal of replacing confusion with clarity and empowering women to care for their skin confidently during this stage of life. This mission is also personal. I have been through three pregnancies and am now in the midst of my fourth pregnancy. I believe maternal skincare should be supportive, effective, and grounded in science, not driven by anxiety or overly restrictive rules. I hope to help Hizo become a trusted, physician-respected leader in maternal skincare by contributing clinical insight, helping interpret safety data, and ensuring that products address real patient needs. More broadly, I hope Hizo helps elevate maternal skincare into a thoughtful, evidence-based category that supports women during a pivotal time in their lives." Instagram: @dermdransell
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Meet Dr. Ohara Aivaz: Dermatologist Advisor to Hizo
Hizo partners with leading experts like Dr. Ohara Aivaz—a double board-certified dermatologist known for her thoughtful, patient-centered approach and deep expertise in both medical and cosmetic dermatology. With a career rooted in clinical excellence and a philosophy centered on caring for the whole person, Dr. Aivaz brings both credibility and compassion to Hizo’s mission: creating skincare that feels as reassuring as it is effective during one of life’s most transformative stages. Ohara Aivaz MD, FAAD is a double-board certified dermatologist practicing in Beverly Hills, California. She is a specialist in both cosmetic and medical dermatology. After graduating Phi Beta Kappa from the University of California, Irvine (B.A., Magna Cum Laude), Dr. Aivaz completed her medical education at Georgetown University Medical School. Dr. Aivaz then completed a prestigious combined Dermatology and Internal Medicine residency program at Georgetown University Hospital and Medstar Washington Hospital Center in Washington, DC. During her residency, Dr. Aivaz had the unique opportunity to receive training at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Dermatology Branch, supplementing her rigorous training by working with the country’s leading experts in Dermatology. Dr. Aivaz was awarded the position of Chief Resident of Dermatology during her last year of residency. Dr. Aivaz’s calm and caring demeanor, as well as her expertise in medical dermatology and facial rejuvenation, have earned her several “Top Doctors” awards since she has been in practice. Her personal philosophy in facial rejuvenation is to naturally rewind the hands of time to make patients appear as a better, more refreshed version of themselves. Dr. Aivaz’s training at Georgetown emphasized the tenet cura personalis, a Latin phrase meaning “care of the whole person.” The idea of cura personalis is borne out in all aspects of Ohara Dermatology’s patient-centric practice: Dr. Aivaz gets to know each of her patients to better understand his or her needs, desired outcomes, and personal philosophy on aesthetic treatments so that together they can best determine which procedures will most benefit her patient. Dr. Aivaz is a fellow of the American Academy of Dermatology, a diplomate of the American Board of Internal Medicine, a member of the Phi Beta Kappa honors society, and belongs to various professional societies including the Medical Dermatology Society and the Los Angeles Metropolitan Dermatologic Society. Dr. Aivaz has lectured both nationally and internationally, and she has been featured in numerous national publications such as Cosmopolitan and Forbes, sharing her expertise in various hot topics in dermatology. She has also authored several articles in peer-reviewed journals such as JAMA Dermatology. In her spare time, Dr. Aivaz loves to travel, bake, play tennis, weight lift, and run. Why have you decided to work with Hizo? What about the brand speaks to you? What do you hope to help Hizo accomplish in the world of maternal skincare? "I wanted to work with Hizo because there is a significant unmet need for safe, effective skincare for women who are trying to conceive, pregnant, or breastfeeding. This is an incredibly exciting time, but it can also be filled with uncertainty and anxiety. Having a trusted skincare line that women can rely on to care for their skin helps simplify one small, but meaningful, part of that journey." Instagram: @oharaaivaz.md
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