Can body wash fragrance be touch activated? Episode 76

 On this week’s show Perry and I explain how the new Caress Body Wash fragrance is “touch activated.” We also cover a handful of beauty science news stories.  Claim to fame: Can body wash fragrance be “touch activated?” This is the segment where we review popular beauty product claims and tell you what the claims really [...]

What’s the best product for frizzy hair?

Harshleen asks…I’ve always had thick, poufy hair that also frizzes easily. Is there a way or product to bring down the volume and smoothen hair without using a flat iron to straighten? The Beauty Brains respond Hi Harshleen. Your question reminds us of the one we received from Kenya about which hair products are best for [...]

Can skin lotions interfere with sunscreen?

Phil asks…Does using facial oils, from certain brands or in general, under a sunscreen affect how good it works? My skin loves certain oils and in spring/summer I use them during the day underneath my sunscreen. I was wondering if it affected the spf, how good it protects, does the oil dissolve some of the [...]

What’s the deal with topical Botox?

CosmeticChem is curious…What is a topical Botox(tm)? Does it work the same way as injectable Botox(tm)? So far how many “In-vivo” studies have been done to check the efficacy? Could it be the cause of seasonal allergies? The Beauty Brains respond: Topical Botox? Yeah, right. That’s right up there with anti-wrinkle lotions that work like lasers, [...]

Is hyaluronic acid a good anti-aging ingredient? Episode 75

Do you wonder which anti-aging ingredients really work? Today we’re reviewing the evidence for hyaluronic acid. Which anti-aging ingredients really work? When it comes to anti-aging products it’s easy to be tricked into spending a lot of money on products that aren’t worth it. That’s because there’s so much pseudoscientific misinformation out there about anti-aging [...]

What are perfluorocarbons and why are they in my skin Lotion?

Steven says…What are your thoughts on perfluorocarbons in skin care? I’ve noticed the use of Perfluorodecalin and Perfluoromethyl-cyclopentane as a slip agent in some formulations. As well they are purported to deliver oxygen to the skin. Perfluorodecalin has been used in this way to enhance wound healing…However I know that perfluorocarbons in general can be [...]

Which hair products are good for working out?

Kenya’s question…I was just discussing with a good friend of mine on how to get women active and workout more when they’re constantly worrying about their hair. We determined that it has to be the types of products and not knowing how to properly style or care for their hair which often discourages them from [...]

A guide to cosmetic ingredients for the perplexed

Do you ever wonder about all those cosmetic ingredients you slather on your body everyday? Here’s a resource that you’ll find very helpful. Fellow cosmetic scientist and friend of the Brains, Colin Sanders, has just released “A Guide to Cosmetic Ingredients for the Perplexed.” Colin calls this a “mini-book” but it covers nearly 50 different ingredients in as many [...]

Can mouthwash make your mouth “dentist clean?” Episode 74

How can Listerine claim to make your mouth “dentist clean?” Perry and I break it down for you in this week’s show. And…more beauty science news! Take our St. Patrick’s Day Beauty Science Quiz! Are these statements about Irish Spring soap true or false? Listen to the show for the answers. 1. The first Irish Spring [...]

A Super Duper way to save money on nail polish

One of the core themes we talk about here on the Beauty Brains  is how to save money by finding less expensive versions of premium products. So when we were contacted by Lizzy, the inventor of the Super Duper nail polish app, you can imagine our how intrigued we were. What is Super Duper? The idea behind Lizzy’s [...]

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