eos Organic Smooth Sphere Lip Balm: Look at the label

Trying to crack into the top 10 best selling beauty products on Amazon.com this week is this eos lip balm. What makes it organic? Let’s look at the label. As you can see from the ingredient list below, these eos products are  based on the following: Natural oils for moisturizing (coconut, olive and jojoba) Beeswax [...]

Is squeaky clean hair harmful?

Bluechase asks…I use Tresemme Daily Cleansing shampoo on a weekly basis. It leaves my hair squeaky clean. I use coconut oil and leave in conditioner afterwards. Is squeaky clean hair harmful? The Beauty Brains respond: “Squeaky clean” is a signal that there’s no residue left on your hair, which is a good thing from the [...]

Where can you find the most cosmetic chemists on the planet?

I walked out of the New York Hilton and waved down a cab. The drive got out of his taxi and I said, “Can I get a ride to LaGuardia?” “Sure,” he says as he went back to his car to open the trunk. Just then a man and his wife asked if I wanted [...]

Why do glycolic acid products always contain water?

Esthilove asks…I was just wondering, if glycolic acid is neutralized by water why do so many products with glycolic acid in them have water as the first ingredient?  Doesn’t that negate the effects of the glycolic acid? The Beauty Brains respond I’m not sure where you got your info but glycolic acid is ALWAYS used [...]

Do diamonds do anything in beauty products?

I was recently interviewed by NY mag’s “The Cut” to help determine if “diamonds in beauty products actually offer any benefits.” Spoiler alert: the bottom line (for my part at least) is this: as skin ages it reflects less light in a certain portion of the visible spectrum. Diamond dust is a component of an [...]

Hair conditioning myths Episode 08

In our last episode we explained how hair conditioners work. This week Perry and I talk about the different types of conditioners and bust some conditioning myths. Plus – more fascinating personal anecdotes about Perry’s family! Show notes Rinse off vs Leave on Many natural oils and other simple ingredients can do a good job of [...]

Why do I shed more hairs when I shampoo?

LindyGirl asks…I wash my hair on a daily basis. I only use shampoo every third day. All other days I wash with a no silicone conditioner. I have noticed that on days when I use shampoo I seem to shed a lot more. My hairdresser says he is stumped. Any ideas? The Beauty Brains respond [...]

Beauty science news of the week – December 8

More narratives for nosy newsies…. Do you need sunscreen in winter? 14 of history’s craziest baldness cures. Over half of young men use facial moisturizer. Caffeine and the skin. More studies needed to confirm the safety of Vitamin A in skincare.

Do you need special shampoo after straightening hair?

Al asks…I’ve always read that once you have gone for some type of permanent straightening (like Brazilian or keratin one…) you should not use either salt (Sodium Chloride) or sulfates. If I’m right those process change covalent bridges in the hair so, how do sulfates or salt affect then? I’m also curious if per example [...]

Vintage cosmetic video – Wildroot Cream Oil is non-alcoholic

I realize it was the 1950’s but I still find the use of a talking dragon as a spokesperson for Wildroot Cream Oil to be very bizarre. Interestingly the dragon claims that the cream oil is “non-alcoholic. (There’s no explanation of how the product can be both a “cream” and an “oil.”) Alcohol free is [...]

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