We’re looking forward to introducing you to Dr. Sabrina Fabi. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Sabrina , thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My mornings always start with my two-year-old son, Mateo. Waking up to his smile is the best part of my day. I have a little ritual of meditating then snuggling, and easing into the morning together before the whirlwind begins. Those quiet, grounding moments remind me of what really matters and set the tone for everything that follows.
From there, it’s all about balancing a very full workday – whether I’m in San Diego seeing patients or traveling for lectures and meetings. My partner, Dr. Steven Dayan, and I are bi-coastal (he’s in Chicago and I’m in San Diego) and together we share a passion for aesthetics. That passion led us to create XOMD, our skincare line that we launched in January 2025. Between my practice, my son, and building this brand, life is busy, but I truly love it. Having a partner in both life and business makes the journey more joyful. We’re constantly juggling, but we get to do it together, which makes everything more fulfilling!
During the week Mateo is with me in San Diego, and on weekends Steven and I make it a point to reunite in either San Diego or Chicago so the three of us can be together as a family. Being bicoastal isn’t always easy, but it’s something we’ve embraced because it allows us to grow both personally and professionally while keeping family at the center.
That balance of science, artistry, and human connection really extends into everything I do – whether it’s treating patients, raising my son, or building XOMD with Steven. My postpartum journey with Mateo was actually the spark that inspired me to explore the connection between hormones, skin, and confidence, which ultimately led to creating the world’s first Moodceutical™. In many ways, I feel like I’ve been raising two babies these past two years: Mateo and XOMD. Both fill me with so much purpose and joy.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Dr. Sabrina Fabi, a dermatologist based in San Diego and the co-founder of XOMD Skincare with my partner, Dr. Steven Dayan. Together, we’ve dedicated our careers to advancing aesthetic medicine, but XOMD was born out of something very personal. After having my son, I experienced that radiant “pregnancy glow” firsthand and became fascinated with the science behind why my skin looked and felt so different during that time. That curiosity led us to discover an entirely new way of thinking about skincare: the connection between skin, confidence, and human connection.
At XOMD, we’re pioneering what we call Moodceuticals™, which is skincare designed not only to improve how your skin looks, but also how you feel in it. What makes XOMD unique is that we’re not just chasing surface-level beauty. We’re working at the intersection of neuroscience, dermatology, and human connection. Our jasmine-based OX Factor (the secret sauce to XOMD) is inspired by oxytocin (what people call the “love hormone,” which is tied to bonding and confidence) and works with your skin to help you feel more centered, radiant, and at ease.
In many ways, I like to say I’ve been raising two babies these past two years: my son, Mateo, and XOMD. Both have filled me with a sense of purpose and joy, and both remind me every day that real beauty comes from feeling good in your own skin.
Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Without question, it’s the relationship I have with my mother. She immigrated from Ecuador with nothing certain except her determination to build a better life, and she did just that. She became the CEO of her own business, all while raising a family and showing me what it means to be both courageous and self-sufficient.
What inspires me most is how pioneering she was – navigating a new culture, creating opportunities where none existed, and never once doubting her ability to succeed in spaces where women, especially immigrant women, were often underestimated.
She always saw me clearly, even in moments when I doubted myself, and instilled in me the belief that I could build my own path too.
Her example is the foundation of who I am today – as a dermatologist, an entrepreneur, a mother, and a confident woman. Whenever I feel the weight of balancing it all, I think of her bravery and resilience.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
For a long time, I believed that divorce meant failure, that if my marriage ended, then somehow I had failed at one of the most important relationships in my life. It took me a while to realize that wasn’t true. Divorce was painful, yes, but it also created space for a future I never imagined possible.
I met Steven later in life, and together we built a partnership that is both personal and professional. We welcomed our son, Mateo, something I once thought I might never experience. What I used to see as the end of a story actually became the beginning of an even richer one.
Life has a way of leaving its mark, through loss, divorce, or illness, and those experiences show up in how we look, how we move through the world, and how we see ourselves. But I’ve learned that those “failures” often clear the way for growth, for deeper connections, and for unexpected joy. My happy ever after looks different than the one I once imagined, but it’s more fulfilling than I ever could have planned.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is very much who I truly am. I think the only thing people may be surprised to learn is that I’m actually a bit of an introvert! I do a lot of public speaking, lecturing, and spend my days engaging with patients and colleagues – which I genuinely enjoy. Because of that, I often come across as extroverted, but at heart I’m more introverted.
For me, that means while I love the energy I get from being around people, I also deeply value my downtime. I recharge by meditating, spending quiet time alone or with my family, and I need those moments to feel balanced.
At the end of the day, whether I’m in front of a large audience or curled up at home, the values that define me, which are empowering others, staying optimistic, and helping people see and feel their best at any age, remain the same. At my core, I’m someone who wants to help others see their own potential, conquer whatever they set their minds to, and feel comfortable in their own skin. That’s not just my public persona – that’s truly me.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What will you regret not doing?
I try to live my life without regret, but if I hadn’t had my son, Mateo, I think that might have been the one thing I would have looked back on with longing. Being pregnant has been the most magical time in my life for me. To carry a human life and have that connection with another, and to then finally meet was a surreal experience for me that I am grateful I’ve had. For a long time, I believed motherhood wasn’t in the cards for me, and I had genuinely made peace with that.
I froze my eggs at 34 just in case, but Steven and I decided we wouldn’t go through IVF, and if it was meant to be, it would come. To our surprise, years later, it did!
My son is my greatest legacy, along with the women I’ve empowered through my work. Whether they’re patients who gained the confidence to aim higher, or trainees I’ve mentored to pursue more than they thought possible – I love working and spending my days alongside women who are pursuing the best version of themselves – and that I get to be a little part of their journey!
I also want to acknowledge that every woman’s journey looks different. Some choose motherhood, some don’t, and many face challenges that aren’t always visible. Regardless, I believe every woman has the innate ability to nurture, whether it’s through children, relationships, or the work we put into the world. That, too, is a legacy worth leaving behind.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.xomdskin.com
- Instagram: @sabrina.fabi
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabrina-fabi
- Twitter: https://x.com/sabrinafabiguil
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/drsabrinafabi/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@thrivinginaesthetics
