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WHY Should I Ask The Beauty Brains?
Most women agree that when they use the right products, they do feel better. But there are two problems with finding the right product. First, there are literally THOUSANDS of products for you to choose from. Second, you’re constantly bombarded with confusing and, sometimes, false information from beauty companies.
Our job is to help you cut through all the clutter by giving you honest, unbiased information about cosmetics. We believe that the more information you have, the better you’ll be able to find products that you like at a price you can afford.
WHO Answers My Questions?
Depending on the topic, your reply may come from any one of the different lobes of The Beauty Brains. Click here to learn more about the Brains.
WHEN Will My Answer Be Posted?
It may take us a few days to a few weeks to provide your answer. If we think your question will be of general interest to our community, we’ll post it on the blog. But sometimes we might simply answer you directly in a personal email.
If you don’t get an answer after a few weeks it means that we weren’t able to find enough scientific information to be worthy of a response or that we have more questions than we’re able to answer. We get so many emails that it’s not possible to respond to each and every one, but we promise you that we do read them all!
WHAT kind of questions can I ask?
Pretty much anything you put on your body is fair game for a question. Here are some of the categories that our readers frequently ask questions about.
Make up: eyeshadow, mascara, blush, eyeliner.
Skin care: body wash, hand lotion, facial moisturizers, acne preparations, wrinkle creams, facial masks
Hair care: shampoos, conditioners, hair sprays, gels, mousse, shine sprays, putties,
Oral care: toothpaste, mouthwash, whiteners, anti-tarter products
And then there are antiperspirants, deodorants, eye care and ear care products, foot care, tattoos, scar products and the list goes on and on.
What questions should I not ask?
We typically don’t answer questions that ask for:
Shopping advice. There are plenty of other websites that can tell you where to buy the cheapest eyeshadow. That’s not what we do.
Product recommendations. We specialize in explaining how products work, but we don’t usually recommend products. Everyone’s hair and skin, and their tastes, are different so it’s impossible for us to tell you “what’s the best skin cream for me.”
Sarah Bellum will occasionally blog about her personal experiences with products but for the most part the Beauty Brains focus on the objective science of how products work.
What kind of information can I expect in my answer?
Most of our answers cover one or more of these five basic areas:
1) What you can really expect the product to do (or not do)
2) How the product does what it does.
3) How the product is made.
4) How the product is (or isn’t) different from similar products.
5) What the advertising behind the products really mean.
That’s it!
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Is there evidence that the product by Jan Marini Age Intervention for eyelashes actually work?
What is nano technology and how it work in cosmetic product?
Do skin whitening creams and lotions actually work?
I started taking fish oil capsules daily for omega 3 that we all have been hearing about. My friend told me I should only take them a couple times a week because all the fish oil will build up and I would have a fishy odor. Although I’m not too sure if this could happen I have heard that you do excreat body odor based on your body chemistry and your intake. I don’t want to smell like a fish!
Hi! I read your blog a lot, and it’s so interesting that I’m actually considering to change my major from Biology to Chemistry!
Anyways. I want to grow out my hair to very long lengths, so I’m always looking for ways to take care of it. A lot of people at the Long Hair Community use henna and swear that it strengthens and conditions their hair. Some people use cassia obovata to strengthen and condition, but the effects are less than henna.
If I got it right from what I’ve read, henna coats the hair shaft, and even penetrates the hair to a certain extent, and binds to the protein of the hair, thus the strengthening. The coating effect smooths down the cuticle, so there you have the conditioning.
I’ve read that cassia obovata coats the hair, and smooths the cuticle, but the effects aren’t as lasting as henna. Anyways, a lady on the Long Hair Community says she actually did a study on the effects of traditional hair treatments, and the only ones that prevented damage was henna, and to a lesser extent, cassia because it prevented the hair from stretching, which she claimed “When you stretch hair, you separate the cuticle scales and they never ever go back. Long hair stretches under it’s own weight, especially when wet. Stretching causes roughnss, loss of reflectivity, splits, and tangliness.”
What I really want to know if this is true or not. Also, somewhere in TLHC, heidi w. writes a post claiming henna forms a barrier on the hair to make hair “seem” healthy, while masking underlying problems, henna also makes it harder for moisture to be taken up, and it’s heavily laden with salts.
I don’t want red hair, so I’m interested in using cassia obovata. I just don’t know if it’ll have a negative effect on my hair in the long run, like drying it out, making it brittle, and creating buildup. I got interested in it when I read that it helps prevent stretching, since long hair can stretch on it’s own weight (when wet). Do you think using cassia obovata is a good idea? or I just shouldn’t bother since my hair is already in perfect condition. But it’s interesting to see if henna and cassia can actually strengthen/and or condition hair, since I’ve never heard of something that would actually strengthen hair. Is this true, or just a bunch of myth and hopeful thinking?
Thank you!!
Also, here are the links to the topics/posts that I mentioned:
http://www.longhaircommunity.com/forums/archive/index.php/t-19798.html
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=963394&postcount=9
http://forums.longhaircommunity.com/showpost.php?p=963645&postcount=14
Also, sources where I got my info on henna and cassia:
http://www.mehandi.com/shop/cassiaobovatabuy.html
http://www.mehandi.com/hair/cassiaobovata.html
http://hennaforhair.com/
What’s up with permanent lash extensions? I’m worried if I get them that I’ll lose what few I’ve got. Can you help?
Hi There, I have asked two questions before and received no reply so I am really hoping third time is a charm. I have highlighted hair and recently had my roots done. I use a bio – ionic blow dryer and curling iron which I use a few times a week. I just noticed last night that the ends of my hair are turning pink!!! Oddly enough, one of the pair of silver colored hoop earings that I often wear is also turning pink. This may be due to tarnish and unrelated to the hair turning pink but I can not figure out for the life of me why my ends are turning pink!! Can you please – please – help me?
I was wondering if it is safe to put commercial lice treatment shampoos on newly dyed hair. How long should you wait after treatment to dye your hair? Also, does the dye provide any lice protection?
Hi. My question is about using creamy/milky facial cleansers as facial moisturizers. I read an online review of Aquanil cleanser (water, glycerin, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, benzyl alcohol, sodium laureth sulfate, xanthum gum) in which the writer explained that a dermatologist had said to use the cleanser to cleanse and to moisturize any dry patches. How does leaving a detergent (sodium laureth sulfate) on your face not irritate it, or could it potentially cause redness? I suffer with rosacea and have been using Cerave cleanser from Walgreens (water, glycerin, behentrimonium methosulfate and cetearyl alcohol, ceramide-3, ceramide 6-II, ceramide 1, hyaluronic acid, cholesterol, poloxyl 40 stearate, glyceryl monostearate, stearyl alcohol, polysorbate 20, potassium phosphate, dipotassium phosphate, sodium lauroyl lactylate, cetyl alcohol, disodium edta, phytosphingosine, methylparaben, propylparaben, carbomer, xanthum). I’m unsure whether this cleanser even has a detergent in it. If I use Cerave cleanser as a moisturizer, would I be leaving a detergent on my face thereby risking irritation, or am I cleansing with only conditioning agents? Thank you for you time. (I have your site bookmarked on my homepage so that I can check it daily!)
On the back of my daily cleanser (Alpha Hydrox Nourshing Cleanser to be specific) it instructs to apply with an “upward motion”. Is there any actual reason for this, or was it just thrown in to seem more “special”? Should I be applying other products in a certain direction/motion?
EMERGENCY!!!! PLEASE.HELP.FAST. I’ve recently gone and experimented with fake eyelashes since they seem to be the new trend. The shop where I got them guarenteed they would stay on for at least 3 weeks. It is now 4 1/2 weeks later and I have begun trying to remove them myself, and I am noticing that it is pulling out my own natural eyelashes.
1. Is there a better way to get them off?
2. Am I doing permanent damage to my eyelashes?
3. If not….how long will it take for my own eyelashes to grow back?!?!?!?!
THANKYOU! for the info. on the product line I asked, but I’m also trying to know a little bit more about this line ARCONA it seems to be “good” but I still have my Q’s about it….cant wait to hear from you…THANKYOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!! so much!
I hope you can answer this question – Sometimes when I apply body cream, it seems to roll right off in nasty little balls. Is this the cream’s fault, or is it my dry skin coming loose and rolling off (ew)? Either way, what is a good solution to preventing this?
I use a cream called Clindoxyl at night that my dermatologist prescribed for my mild acne, and it works amazingly, no complaints there…but I have quite dry skin, so I wondered would a lotion applied before the cream interfere with it? And if not, is cetaphil lotion a good choice?
Oh Please Oh Please. I recently went to a salon that friends of mine recommended to me. I wanted to have my upperlip and chin waxed and then my eyebrows threaded. My eyebrows turned out wonderful. I have complaints about the waxing though; the ladies were very agressive, and waxed a lot more than i wanted to have done, my neck, under my ears, and then they did a “calming mask” that they said would help with the irritation. Well, that did not help, when i got home, I had an allergic reaction to something. I am now covered in a rash on every inch of where they waxed me. There is no rash where the calming mask was that was not waxed, so I’m sure it wasn’t the mask, but more along the lines of the wax. I have never had a reaction like this to waxing before, but now I am in so much pain. Itching, burning, bumps, my lips are on fire!!!!! What can I do to relieve the pain. I have tried washing the skin, allergy medications (benedryl) topical ointment (lanacane) and ice, nothing soothes it. I don’t know what else to do!?! Please email me with any answers or comment here, thank you [email protected]
Hello Brains…
I hope this hasn’t been asked before. What’s the deal with placenta shampoo? Not that it’s weird, but does it really cause cancer because of the hormones? TTFN..
Hi, I’ve read in so many magazines that have said tinted moisturizers are better than foundation on the skin. What exactly is the difference between tinted moisturizers and liquid foundation apart from the fact that tinted moisturizers is lighter? I’ve also heard from some friends that tinted moisturizers are bad for your skin. So are tinted moisturizers good or bad? Thank You!
I wanted to know whether you think Bremenn Lab new product, Lumedia Facial Brightener, is safte to use. They stated that it’s 100% Hydroquinone free, but I don’t know whether to believe it because they are in controversy right now for fake advertisement. What is your opinion on this?
Hi! My 5 year old daughter has uncombable hair syndrome. She is healthy in all other areas. Do you know of any treatments for this syndrome or any hair products that help with this syndrome? Thank you so much! Elizabeth Turgeon
There has been a lot of controversy lately about silicones in hair products. I am a member of a naturally curly hair website and many of the members are anti-silicone because of the claims that silicones bond to the hair and do not allow moisture into the hair shaft. Since curly/wavy hair tends to be drier than other hair types, many of the curlies do not use silicones because they sometimes require sulfates to be removed, and supposedly once the silicone is on the hair it acts as a barrier between your hair shaft and any moisture. Is all of this true, or is it just a myth? Some have said that there is no way silicones can block out moisture because think about someone with frizzy hair who goes out on a rainy, humid day. Most of the time, reguardless of products the hair will frizz out because of the moisture in the air. I’ve had this happen plenty of times when I was loading my hair with silicone products. All of this information is enough to make someone very paranoid about what they put on their hair! I will sometimes use a silicone product, but then later feel guilty that I am suffocating my hair, and wash it all off. I think it would be great if you guys can let everyone know the truth behind silicones. Thanks for your time!
Hi Brains. I just saw this post on Beauty Addict (http://beautyaddict.blogspot.com/2007/01/i-think-ill-stick-with-dumb-shade.html)
and I was wondering if you could provide any scientific insight. It’s
about Almay’s Smart Shade foundation. Chemically, is it
possible for a foundation to “adjust” to your skin shade, or is that
just hype?
Thanks!!
I swim 3-4 times a week and use Ultra Swim Chlorine Removal Shampoo and Pantene conditioner. I’m wondering if the shampoo is actually getting rid of the chlorine or just stripping it of any oils since my hair always feels almost “squeaky clean” after using it. Thank you, Kerry
My esthetician told me about Babor’s Intelli-zyme (just the enzyme crystals, not the 3-piece kit offered at various sites) and highly recommended that I try it. She says that it’s great because it uses natural enzymes that target only dead skin cells and leave live/good skin cells alone. Can this really work? I don’t see a lot of reviews of the product around, so I’m wondering if the product is too new for a lot of press yet, or just doesn’t have a lot of people buying in and liking the product.
Ingredients (from http://www.drugstore.com site):
Sodium Lauroyl Glutamate, Talc, Cellulose, Maltodextin, Water (Aqua), Xanthan Gum, Ascorbic Acid, Subtilisin, Lipase
Thanks for reading this!
IS IT TRUE THAT HANGING YOUR HEAD OVER THE BED FOR FIVE MINUTES A DAY HELPS HAIR GROW FASTER BECAUSE OF THE BLOOD RUSHING TO THE HEAD?
in more commercial skin care products vs. dermatological products what would be more effective in the moisturizer realm? i’d been traditionally using more commercial products like philosophy and clinique as moisturizers but a friend had me try out moisturizers created by dermatologists (lines like Citrix), what would you recommend as better?
and secondly what would you recommend to make under eye-circles disappear?
thank you!
Having allergic reaction to Redken Semi Permanent color….not to some low-light color at another salon, perhaps Wella. Is there a color product that I can use without a reaction?
Hey I am doing a school project on cosmetics =o, hah, and I would like to know…what is in make up that hides things like zits and wrinkles??
If given the choice of an eyeshadow/blush with talc or one with cornstarch, which would you choose? I’ve heard cornstarch can promote bacteria growth. Of course, talc has the cancer controversy. Thanks!!
Besides shaving (which may not be such a good idea), is there anything I can do to reduce the appearance or amount of hair on my arms?
Hey there, BeautyBrains!
Despite all the articles I’ve read about cheap brands being just as efficient as expensive brands I just can’t agree, especially when it comes to haircare products. It’s true that not all products work the same for everybody, but still a salon product always worked better for me than a cheap one. Or maybe I just haven’t tried the right product. I really love the Joico K-Pak Reconstructor and the L’Oreal Professionnel Intense Repair Mask. If you know of any cheaper product that works as well as those two I would love to give it a try.
Thanks!
Thank you so much for answering my question! Now, if I’m not too irritating, I was hoping I could ask another…
I was surprised when you guys said in the past that only a few natural oils actually penetrate the hair shaft, like coconut oil, while most just coat hair. What are the other natural oils that also penetrate hair? Could jojoba oil (okay, it’s a wax ester, not oil =P) be one of them since I heard it’s similar to human sebum?
Thank you for answering my question, Left Brain!
My question is on the preservative, BHT, used in several cosmetics I’ve purchased, specifically lipsticks, lip glosses, and foundation. I’ve read conflicting research on BHT. While it seems to be a decent preservative and antioxidant, there is some evidence that it is carcinogenic.
Please share your comments on whether you believe this is an ingredient I should worry about in topical cosmetic products.
Thank you!
Dear Beauty Brains,
I am envious of your vast chemistry related beauty knowledge. I often feel like I am being doupted by the beauty industry. Surely you are able to avoid the common traps that people fall for. Would you please share with us your beauty routine? I am dying to know what the experts prefer!
I have been wondering forever, what is the best order to give yourself a little spa facial in? Once a week, I steam my face, apply a pore strip to my nose and maybe chin, use a mud purifying mask, and a gentle AHA scrub. What is the best order to do all these things in? Help!
Is mineral make-up truly a healthier and more natural option?
I read somewhere that if you don’t use a moisturizer with a sunscreen, you have to put a seperate sunscreen on FIRST in order for it to bind to your skin and protect from the sun’s rays. However, if it’s “bound” to your skin, will the moisturizer you put over it still be affective? Or does it matter what order you put the moisturizer and sunscreen on?
what can you tell me about the meladerm product from civant? I am frustrated by having tried just about every product out there for my melasma, to no avail!! I am a 35 year old medium olive-complected woman, have never used birthcontrol pills or other hormones, have no medical problems. and have never been pregnant…i.e. have none of the usual causes of melasma/cholasma. This product looks promising, what have you heard about it? Thanks for your thoughts….!!!
I’ve always been a sucker for the expensive department store 3-step skin care systems. “Cleanse, Tone, Moisturize is a must!” claim the sales agents of cosmetics counters. Lately, I was reading through a book that evaluated the effectiveness of step 2 (exfoliation) with skepticism.
To my understanding, I exfoliate because I want to remove the outer layer of dead skin cells that may clog my pores, and also to reveal newer, younger, and more radiant looking skin underneath.
This book explains that normal skin cells do not require any extra aid to slough off. Additionaly, the book goes on to explain that products that claim to increase exfoliation actually do very little. Instad, only more potent medical treatments such as abrasives are effective in removing layers of skin cells.
If toner really is an unecessary and ineffective step, I would like to know so I could stop purchasing them!
Razor bumps and ingrown hairs can be fixed. It is a combination of anti-baterials and a topical anti-inflammatory. I recommend a product called Solution2. It it an effective little product that works. You can get it at http://www.min.com
Dear Beauty Brains:
My favorite brand of skincare products, BIBO (www.bibocosmetics.com), was acquired by Wella and then discontinued some time ago. Do you know of any similar products currently available for sensitive/combination skin – such as “Amazing Grapes†the green grape oil-free moisturizer for normal to oily skin (SPF 15) moisturizer, “Girl’s Best Friend†papaya enzyme age-defying complex, “Cool as a Cucumber†fresh cucumber cleansing gel for normal to oily skin, and “O-live a Little†olive oil-based whipped hand and body lotion? I especially liked these formulations and the reasonable prices. I miss BIBO! Would appreciate your recommendations.
My handcream (by vaseline) claims that it makes your nails ten-times stronger in two weeks. If my nails are ten times stronger, will I still be able to cut them?
hi beauty brains! i was wondering if nail polish fumes are harmful if inhaled about once a week for 30 min? thanks so much
Do non-surgical breast enhancers (creams, pills, etc) have any effect on the breast?
I have a question regarding the professional hair gloss treatments that are performed in salons. Supposedly, these gloss treatments help coat the hair and seal in color for up to four to six weeks. When I had my first one, my hair looked super shiny and I was very pleased. This was of course, after it being professional dried, styled, and shine serum had been applied. However, by the time I shampooed again, my hair looked no different. My question is, what exactly are the active ingredients in these treatments and can they really last for six weeks? Thanks in advance!
I was wondering about Neutrogena’s RapidClear line. It promises to clear acne in hours. Is this a lie or does it work, and does it leave dry white patches on my skin? I’ve used many products and i can’t use them on my face before school bacause of the residue. The only one i can is Amosphere tea tree oil facial stick, but the bacteria gets it the solution because it is roll on, so i end up gettting more acne. Help!
The products CYCLIC & COR claim it can help with anti-aging to discoloration and body odor. Is there any proof to what they claim? Can Cyclic or Cor do any of the claims they make?
Hi Beauty Brains!
Congratulations on an awesome website. I read about it in ‘Science’ and ever since my fellow lady scientists and I are hooked! I had a question about the product DERMAdoctor Picture Porefect Pore Minimizing Solution. They have a list of products and explain what each thing does and even have PHOTOGRAPHIC evidence to show smaller pores. Yet I’m a beauty brains skeptic! Especially after reading your post on how to make pores smaller. Is this stuff worth the $40/ounce?
Thanks so much and keep up the fabulous work!
Vic
how effective is meladerm cream? any potential side-effects that you are aware of?
WATER-BASED/OIL-FREE SKINCARE
Hey guys
Have a couple of questions about water-based skincare. Is the hype true? Is it better than oil-based skincare? In what way? Is it recommended for all skin types, or only for oily ones? What are the common oils found in skincare that might be ‘harmful’ or comodogenic to the skin? Also, can you recommend any affordable drugstore brands that are water-based?
Thanks guys!
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