On today’s episode of The Beauty Brains we’re going to be answering your beauty questions about The differences between salon and store bought deep conditioners Whether curology is better than going to a dermatologist And what are the pros and cons of using a bar soap form of shampoo and hair conditioner? Beauty Science News Here’s a story that ...…

Welcome to episode 177! It’s a solo episode of the Beauty Brains. On this episode we’re going to be answering your beauty questions about Thinning hair and the research going on in that area Whether cupping is an effective facial treatment Which sunscreen ingredients block UVA Why mandelic acid is used in deodorants. Beauty science news Is dust ...…

Welcome to episode 176! Today is our all-fragrance question extravaganza!! On this episode we’re going to be answering your beauty questions about What do the terms unscented and fragrance free mean? Should you avoid fragrance in skin care products What’s the difference between synthetic and natural fragrances? And how do fragrances get chosen ...…

We had a technical glitch this week & Perry is on vacation so enjoy a show from the archives…episode 101 Question of the week: How are cosmetics regulated outside of the US? Jacs from the UK asked…”Can you add a overview on how cosmetics are regulated in the rest of the world other than America please?” Our answer comes from UK-based cosmetic c ...…

This is episode 175 and on today’s episode we’re going to cover a news stories we found interesting in the cosmetics industry, and then we’ll answer your beauty questions about: Are sunscreen sprays legal? What is the level of SPF we should use on our face everyday? Why hasn’t the FDA approved the new sunscreen filters available in Europe in As ...…

Beauty questions covered on this episode include… Why is the prescription azelaic acid so expensive? Do cosmetic products expire? Is petroleum in skin products like Aquaphor bad for you? What’s the difference between moisturizers and hydrators Beauty news How will the microplastic ban affect cosmetic products? I saw this story that the EU was p ...…

Hello and welcome to the Beauty Brains, a show where real scientists answer your beauty questions and give you an insider’s look at the beauty product industry. Beauty questions answered on this show Do silicones dry out your skin? Why do white hairs on my head turn reddish at the ends? What ingredients should look for in sunscreen while exerci ...…

On today’s episode we’re going to be answering your beauty questions about Does a product’s price indicate anything about quality? Does Glycerin and Aloe Vera really moisturize? What does Salicylic acid do in products? And how legit are beauty product / ingredient trends? Beauty Science News Unilever goes further with transparency The Big Compa ...…

On today’s episode we’re going to be answering your beauty questions about Do jade rollers work or are they just hype? Is micellar water good enough for cleaning off makeup? Will supplements give you better looking skin? Is this hot, expensive hair line worth the money? And are the ingredients in cosmetics safe? Chit Chat Beauty App mentioned o ...…

On today’s episode of the Beauty Brains we cover beauty questions about Shampoo and what it does to hair color Whether collagen works in skin care products The Curly Girl method of treating hair Beauty Science News Is there asbestos in J&J baby powder? Reuters says that J&J was selling product with asbestos in it. J&J says they weren’t. Science ...…

Welcome to the Beauty Brains podcast. In today’s episode we answer questions about Petrolatum and it’s use in skin care, whether eyebrow growth serums really work and dish on a couple cosmetic industry stories that we found interesting. Beauty Science News Hemp is now legal to grow in the US. What will this mean for beauty products and the hot ...…

Beauty Science News What makes a cosmetic chemist? Here’s a story published in the Insider back in November talking about the Luxury skin-care brand Sunday Riley and whether their founder is actually a cosmetic chemist. But what makes someone a cosmetic chemist? Nearly all cosmetic chemists working in the mainstream cosmetic industry have a col ...…

Hello and welcome to the Beauty Brains, a show where real scientists answer your beauty questions and give you an insiders look at the beauty product industry. On today’s episode we’re going to be answering questions about should you wash your hair every day whether dermatologist recommended products are better, the difference between natural a ...…

After a brief hiatus, the Beauty Brains podcast is back. Covered on this episode: Beauty Science stories: Cruelty free products are free from cruelty. What does it mean for consumers? Getting rid of animal testing means that products will not be much different than what you could ever make. EWG on the Kardashian’s show – We got an email from th ...…

We don’t have a transcript for today’s show yet but please enjoy the audio. Listen to the end of show when Perry and I announce that this will be our final podcast for the foreseeable future. Thanks for stopping by!

Today, we bring you a special Beauty Brains episode featuring Sarah Bellum. Randy is on vacation. We answer a few question. About beauty products on Amazon cejxn19 asks – Hi Guys, I’ve heard some horror stories of people buying expired or knock off beauty products on amazon. Is there any good way to tell if a product is legit other than trial a ...…

Is bee venom a good anti-aging ingredient? Monika asks…Korean Bee Venom essence but it does seem to work. My question is the bee venom really magic or is there something else that removes the spots? RS: Thanks Monika…this gives me the perfect excuse time to remind listeners to go back to Episode 105 and listen to the story about how Perry got s ...…

Can you use diaper rash cream as sunscreen? Mari asks…Today a customer came into the retail pharmacy where I work and demanded that we sell him zinc oxide diaper rash paste so he could use it as sunscreen. I tried to steer him in the direction of actual sunscreens with listed SPFs, but he was not to be dissuaded and ended up leaving with a tube ...…

How can you find a cheaper natural lip balm? Abby says…I have a question about Bite Beauty’s Agave Lip Mask. It claims its natural formula smoothes, nourishes and moisturizes lips with a bio active combination of organic agave nectar, jojoba oil, vanilla co2 extract, and triple the amount of the antioxidant trans-resveratrol found in red wine. ...…

Can hair straighteners stop your hair from being naturally curly? Sarah asks…Can straightening your hair for a long time change it from being very curly to being naturally straight? That’s like saying bleaching your brown hair for a long time will make you naturally blonde. It doesn’t work that way because you’re only treating the hair that’s a ...…

Why isn’t everyone exfoliating with AHAs? Melissa says…I’ve been using an night cream with glycolic acid and I noticed that my skin is actually brighter, clearer, and softer. I’ve been using this product for years and I still love it but I worry that it may be too good to be true. Are there any risks associated with alpha hydroxy acid products? ...…

How does color changing makeup work? Julia asks…I’m a make up artist and my question is how does color adjusting makeup work? I’ve tried a few and they didn’t adjust very well. Also, what are both of your favorite ingredients to use on your own skin? Thanks for bringing this up Julia! Color changing makeup has never come up on the podcast befor ...…

Are lotions with water actually bad for your skin? Veronica asks…I heard that using lotions with water is actually bad for your skin because as the water evaporates it removes the skin’s natural moisture and oil. Is this true? Veronica’s question is an interesting twist on a theme that we have discussed a couple of times – and that is how moist ...…

Is aloe lotion good for skin? Gemma asks…I am a huge fan of Vaseline Intensive Care Aloe Fresh lotion. However, I have found another aloe lotion that is even cheaper: Perfect Purity. So I’m wondering can you tell me if the Perfect Purity will perform as well as my beloved Vaseline? Or should I just bite the bullet and save my dollars for a big ...…

Can a patch test predict acne? Janelly asks…I would like to know if patch testing a product for acne can really work. I see this concept mentioned a lot on Reditt as a way to test if a new skincare product will cause acne. That’s a great question but patch testing for acne does NOT work. Unlike an allergic reaction (where can occur in minutes o ...…

Should your cosmetics be biodegradable? Fabi asks about biodegradable products… I have an outdoor shower and it drains into the ground and everyone tells me I have to have biodegradable shampoo, conditioner, and body wash for the ground. Can you explain biodegradable products? It’s really hard to find them. What they’re all about and why would ...…

How can I tell if a store brand mouthwash is the same as the expensive name brand? Victoria says…My husband insists that all name brand products are stronger and better than store brands. He feels strongest about Listerine and his dentist agrees with him. Does it matter in areas other than cosmetics? When discussing store brands, I don’t think ...…

How does baby foot work? Leslie asks…Can you please explain how Babyfoot works and if it is truly safe to use. I have used it and my feet did peel but I really don’t understand how it works. In case our listeners aren’t familiar with this product, it’s a special type of exfoliator designed just for your feet. For $25 you get two “booties” lined ...…

How does Tresemme Beauty-Full Volume Reverse Wash haircare system work? Jess says…I just saw an ad for the Tresemme Beauty-Full Volume system. Is there really something to conditioning first and then shampooing or are they just convincing us to wash our money down the drain? Let’s talk a little bit about the process of reverse washing just in c ...…

What’s the deal with micellar water make up removers? Taylor asks…I’m a new listener and enjoy your show so much. (Gets me through the work day) I want to know the hype about micellar water and is this something new or just a mild makeup remover with a “fancy name.” Micellar waters are named after the technical term, micelle, so before we talk ...…

Is Charlotte Tilbury Multi-miracle cream really worth it? Jo asks…I love Charlotte Tilbury’s Multi-Miracle Glow product but I’m afraid I spent too much and I worry that it really provides any benefits. Can you tell me if it has any special properties and if not is there a more budget conscious version? Thanks for the question, Jo. It sounds lik ...…

Our plane just landed and I’m posting this from my phone while waiting for Perry who’s stuck in customs. Apparently they think his juggling balls are contraband. We’ll be home soon! In the meanwhile listen to this blast from the past about skin cleansers and active ingredients. Click this link to read the original show notes.…

I thought for sure we’d be back in the country by now but before we could board the plane Perry was detained by the police. I’m still not sure what’s going on but apparently it has something to do him getting robbed on the way back to the hotel. Don’t worry though, you can still listen to this encore episode where we discuss the infamous “date ...…

I thought we’d be flying home from our tropical vacation today but it turns out Perry lost our plane tickets in a poker game last night. Looks like we’ll be flying stand by. Until we get this all sorted out, please enjoy this encore episode on fragrance allergies. You an find the original show notes here. Image credit: http://www.blossomofhealt ...…

I was planning on coming back to work today but Perry just ordered another picture of margaritas. That means today’s podcast has to be another rerun. Check out our discussion of the Think Dirty app. Click here for the original show notes.

Perry and I are still at the beach but don’t worry he’s constantly rubbing me down with sunscreen. While we’re gone please enjoy this encore episode of our podcast about the odors of ovulation. Click here to read the original show notes. Thanks and see you soon!

Perry and I are on summer vacation. While we’re gone please enjoy this encore episode of our podcast about antibacterial soaps. Click here to read the original show notes about antibacterial soaps. Thanks and see you soon!

Do I really need to use 3 kinds of conditioner? Dev asks… Is it absolutely essential to use a leave in, a rinse out, and a deep conditioner? I’ve been washing my hair and appling a regular rinse out conditioner and then I leave it in until the next time I wash my hair about a week later. Am I damaging my hair this way or do I really need to use ...…

Can Coca Cola give you a better tan? Nanda asks…Will Coca Cola give you a better sun tan?? When I first head this I thought it was an obscure, ridiculous rumor. But I was wrong. it turns out it’s a very pervasive, ridiculous rumor. Yeah, if you Google “using coca cola to tan” you get THOUSANDS of search results from people raving about the tann ...…

Does blotting oily sunscreen reduce SPF? Emma asks in Gmail…I don’t like the oily skin I get from using sunscreen so I blot off the excess with an oil absorbing sheet. Is this reducing the SPF of the sunscreen? Yes, blotting some of the sunscreen off your face will reduce the UV protection, to some degree. That happens for two reasons: First, m ...…

Is the NIOD brand really “ultra-scientific?” Saania says…I have a question about a skincare brand that’s gained a cult status amongst serious skin care junkies. The brand NIOD, under the umbrella brand Deciem, claims to be “skincare for the hyper-educated”. Their star product is called Copper Amino Isolate Serum. I wanted to know what you thoug ...…

Are boar bristle brushes better for your hair? Georgina asks…Are boar bristle brushes better for your hair? I’m looking at a Mason Pearson brush that’s about $100 and I want to know if it’s worth it. It’s tough to give a definitive answer because as you might imagine there aren’t many double blind, peer reviewed scientific studies comparing dif ...…

Are super foods effective beauty ingredients? Jana asks…What are your thoughts on super foods in skin care? Ingredients like acacia, coconut, grapeseed oil, berries, green tea, avocado, turmeric and resveratrol. What the heck IS a super food? There is no scientific or medical definition. Typically you’ll see them described like this: “superfood ...…

Can I use clay to shampoo my hair? Joneen says…I have a question about rhassoul clay. I’ve heard great things about using it as a shampoo. My concern, though, is mineral buildup. This is one of the results of hard water that has a negative impact on hair, and something I am currently experiencing and want to avoid in the future. I know rhassoul ...…

Do anti-aging patches really work? Julia asks…Can micro needle patches really work to deliver anti-aging ingredients like hyaluronic acid? Coincidentally I just read a study about a new technology for lightening age spots that involves, get this, Dissolving Micro Needles. This research was published by a Korean team in the Journal of Cosmetic D ...…

Should we be worried about aluminum in deodorants? Erin asks…Should we be worried about aluminum in deodorants? First of all don’t get confused between anti-perspirant and deodorants. Anti-perspirants contain aluminum salts that help plug your pores so you don’t sweat as much. Deodorants do not contain aluminum and they don’t stop you from swea ...…

Is the “Remedy” hair treatment by Rita Hazan really magic? Lizzy asks…Does the Rita Hazan Remedy have any magic in it? My hair feels soft and shiny after I use it, but it didn’t do anything for my sister. I must say I’ve never seen a product quite like this before. It’s a two part system involves something like 60 different ingredients. (See be ...…

How do I find a sunscreen that doesn’t cause acne? Allison asks…What’s the difference between a sunscreen and a sunblock? Also, what ingredients should I look for in a product that will not contribute to acne? And, when’s the best time to apply sunscreen in my morning skin care routine? Sunscreens use UV absorbers to protect your skin while sun ...…

Cosmetic Questions Do silicones melt on your hair? Kylie asks…I am attempting to remove years of black hair dye and came across Scott Cornwall and his product Decolour. He makes a claim that if it doesn’t work likely cause is hair plasticised due to using heat over 220 deg cel. Quote “If you use heated styling products such as hot irons you can ...…

Hair and skin have some things in common but there’s one big difference: skin is alive and responds to so called “anti-aging” ingredients while hair is DEAD. Check out this encore episode where we give you the straight scoop on hair care products that claim to make your hair younger. Click here for the our anti-aging hair care show notes.…