The Beauty Brains

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On today’s show we cover lots of questions including…
Are eye masks and eye creams worth using, and where does castor oil fit in?
How can you replace discontinued exfoliating wipes?
Can a spray replace a moisturizer, and can you find a fragrance-free alternative to a conditioner you love?
What evidence should you look for when comparing scalp serums?
Does red hair call for different skin and hair products?
Katie and Nikki join us through their recorded questions this week. We talk through finding a replacement for a much-loved wipe, what moisturizers need to do beyond adding water, and why comparing scalp-serum marketing claims can be tricky. We also discuss eye-area products, fragrance preferences and the questions still open about red hair and skin.
Beauty News
Jennifer Lawrence’s announced hair-care brand, followed by a discussion of NAD+ skin care, formulation challenges and the evidence for niacinamide.
Links mentioned
NAD+ skin-care article in Fashionista
Curél Deep Moisture Spray — Canadian product page
L’Oréal EverPure bonding conditioner — Canadian product page
Approximate timestamps
0:00 - Opening and today’s questions
1:00 - Holiday chatter and Halloween decorations
3:30 - Society of Cosmetic Chemists updates
5:10 - Jennifer Lawrence’s hair-care brand
7:35 - NAD+ skin care and niacinamide
12:00 - Carol: eye masks, eye creams and castor oil
16:45 - Katie: replacing discontinued exfoliating wipes
22:45 - Allison: Curél spray versus moisturizer
26:30 - Allison: conditioner scent and fragrance-free alternatives
35:00 - Nikki: comparing scalp serums
43:20 - Monica: red hair, skin and product choices
51:40 - Closing and how to send a question
Five Ways to Ask a Question
Send us a message through Patreon!
Record your question on your smartphone and email it to thebeautybrains@gmail.com.
Send it to us through social media using the links below.
Submit it through the Ask a Question form.
Leave a voicemail message: 872-216-1856.
Social Media
Instagram: @thebeautybrains2018
Twitter/X: @thebeautybrains
Bluesky: @thebeautybrains
YouTube: The Beauty Brains
Facebook page
More from the Hosts
Valerie’s ingredient company: Simply Ingredients
Perry’s other website: Chemists Corner
Follow the Porch Kitty Krew Instagram account

Support the show

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Listener questions
How can you protect chemically treated hair while swimming regularly in chlorinated pools?
Which conditioning ingredients help prevent tangling after hair dries?
How do curl creams improve definition, and how do they differ from leave in conditioners?
Why might moisturizing shampoos leave buildup, and do you need to shampoo twice?
What do we think of iNNBEAUTY Project products?
Beauty news
We discuss The Business of Fashion’s “The Politics of Duping” and why matching a successful cosmetic product is a familiar assignment for formulators. We also look at Head & Shoulders’ scalp care collection and its updated packaging.

The Politics of product duping
Head and Shoulders launches scalp care collection
Thank you to our patrons for helping us keep the show going and for sending thoughtful questions. Heather’s hair care questions gave us plenty to discuss this week.
Approximate timestamps
0:00 Welcome and this week’s questions
0:35 Valerie’s Australia trip
2:25 IFSCC, skin research, and favorite organelles
5:30 Naturally Kiawah and natural ingredient claims
8:45 Beauty news: dupes and copying cosmetics
14:25 Head & Shoulders scalp care collection
18:45 A Japanese sunscreen follow-up
19:15 Protecting chemically treated hair from pool water
28:15 Heather’s questions and detangling ingredients
30:35 Curl creams versus leave in conditioners
34:00 Moisturizing shampoos, buildup, and washing twice
41:00 Our thoughts on iNNBEAUTY Project
43:55 Peptide percentages and raw material blends
47:00 Closing, listener questions, and supporting the show
Referenced links
The Beauty Brains
Naturally Kiawah conference
Five Ways to Ask a Question
1. Send us a message through Patreon!
2. You can record your question on your smart phone and email to thebeautybrains@gmail.com
3. Send it to us via social media (see links below)
4. Submit it through the following form - Ask a question
5. Leave a voice mail message: 872-216-1856

Social media accounts
on Instagram we’re at thebeautybrains2018
on Twitter, we’re thebeautybrains
On Tik Tok we're @thebeautybrains44
On Bluesky we’re @thebeautybrains
On Youtube we are at thebeautybrains2018
And we have a Facebook page

Valerie's ingredient company - Simply Ingredients
Perry's other website - Chemists Corner
Follow the  Porch Kitty Krew instagram account
Support the show

Send us Fan Mail
On today’s show we cover lots of questions including…
- Are Japanese mineral sunscreens effective, and what can their labels tell us?
- What do we think of Brooke Shields’ Commence line for mature hair?
- How does Hairstory New Wash work, and how does co-washing compare with shampoo?
- Why can curls behave differently at the beach, and how do humectants affect them?
- Is Vita Reset worth considering as a skin supplement?
Beauty News
- Beef tallow’s return to skin care: moisturizing properties, texture, and the limits of stronger claims.
- PFAS in beauty products: their formulation roles, environmental concerns, and the hosts’ discussion of ingredient labeling and restrictions.
Plus, Valerie prepares for Australia, Perry plans a Toronto talk, and a listener asks how to find the earliest Beauty Brains episodes.
Approximate timestamps
0:00 - Welcome and episode preview
1:00 - Australia, Toronto, and travel plans
3:25 - Beauty News: beef tallow in skin care
7:25 - Beauty News: PFAS in cosmetics
13:40 - Listener feedback: finding the earliest episodes
15:20 - Japanese mineral sunscreens and SPF labels
23:35 - Brooke Shields’ Commence and mature hair
29:35 - Hairstory New Wash and co-washing
35:50 - Beach hair, salt, and curls
37:55 - Humectants, glycerin, and frizz
41:10 - Vita Reset and skin-supplement claims
47:30 - Closing, listener questions, and Patreon
Five Ways to Ask a Question
1. Send us a message through Patreon!
2. You can record your question on your smart phone and email to thebeautybrains@gmail.com
3. Send it to us via social media (see links below)
4. Submit it through the following form - Ask a question
5. Leave a voice mail message: 872-216-1856

Social media accounts
on Instagram we’re at thebeautybrains2018
on Twitter, we’re thebeautybrains
On Tik Tok we're @thebeautybrains44
On Bluesky we’re @thebeautybrains
On Youtube we are at thebeautybrains2018
And we have a Facebook page

Valerie's ingredient company - Simply Ingredients
Perry's other website - Chemists Corner
Follow the  Porch Kitty Krew instagram account
Support the show

Send us Fan Mail
On today’s show we cover lots of questions including…
Does Kerastase Thermique Heat Protectant work?
What do you think of the Labo hair roll on serum?
Do oils in body washes help with moisturization?
Do derivatives of actives show good results?
Is the Anua Azelaic Acid just clever marketing or is this actually a product?
Beauty News
What AI cannot sense about beauty
Links from questions
LABO products
Anua azelaic acid - starting the controversy
derms respond
Approximate timestamps

0:00 - Introduction
0:55 - Valerie’s skin check and host chitchat
4:10 - Beauty News: what AI misses about skincare and formulation
9:20 - A live ChatGPT spelling experiment
12:30 - Listener feedback and Perry’s consumer-advocate perspective
14:20 - Kérastase Thermique heat protection and budget alternatives
18:05 - Timothy’s question about the LABO scalp roll-on serum
25:15 - Do oils and petrolatum make cleansers moisturizing?
29:55 - Active derivatives and routines for sensitive skin
34:15 - The Anua azelaic acid pH controversy
41:45 - Ending
Five Ways to Ask a Question
1. Send us a message through Patreon!
2. You can record your question on your smart phone and email to thebeautybrains@gmail.com
3. Send it to us via social media (see links below)
4. Submit it through the following form - Ask a question
5. Leave a voice mail message: 872-216-1856

Social media accounts
on Instagram we’re at thebeautybrains2018
on Twitter, we’re thebeautybrains
On Tik Tok we're @thebeautybrains44
On Bluesky we’re @thebeautybrains
On Youtube we are at thebeautybrains2018
And we have a Facebook page

Valerie's ingredient company - Simply Ingredients
Perry's other website - Chemists Corner
Follow the  Porch Kitty Krew instagram account
Support the show

Send us Fan Mail
On today’s show we cover lots of questions including…
Does Peptonix really grow hair?
What’s up with the new Skinceuticals C, E, Ferulic formulation? 
Is there any science behind DHT-3 blockers to promote hair growth?
Does clear gloss dp-Hue work?
Can you damage hair on purpose to get body?
Relevant links
Peptonix copper-peptide product
SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic
BosleyMD BosRevive non-color-treated hair shampoo
dpHUE gloss range
Approximate timestamps
0:00 - Introduction
1:00 - Chit chat
9:50 - Listener feedback: skepticism and consumer advocacy
15:20 - Peptonix, copper peptides, and hair-growth claims
22:15 - SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic reformulation
28:00 - BosleyMD shampoo and DHT-blocker claims
33:30 - dpHUE gloss, color, and buildup
37:50 - Can deliberate hair damage add body?
43:35 - Ending

Five Ways to Ask a Question
1. Send us a message through Patreon!
2. You can record your question on your smart phone and email to thebeautybrains@gmail.com
3. Send it to us via social media (see links below)
4. Submit it through the following form - Ask a question
5. Leave a voice mail message: 872-216-1856

Social media accounts
on Instagram we’re at thebeautybrains2018
on Twitter, we’re thebeautybrains
On Bluesky we’re at thebeautybrains
On Youtube we are at thebeautybrains2018
And we have a Facebook page

Valerie's ingredient company - Simply Ingredients
Perry's other website - Chemists Corner
Follow the  Porch Kitty Krew instagram account
Support the show