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? The Beauty Brains respond: Topical Botox? Yeah, right. That’s right up there with anti-wrinkle lotions that work like lasers, hair growth products, Bigfoot, and the Easter Bunny. Wait a minute…what’s that? There’s a peer reviewed, placebo-controlled study that says this might actually work?!? What the hell?!? Promising test results for topical Botox A 2010 study conducted by Dermatology Research Institute, LLC, Coral Gables, Florida , ...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 26, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy Schueller Source Type: blogs

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? The Beauty Brains respond: Topical Botox? Yeah, right. That’s right up there with anti-wrinkle lotions that work like lasers, hair growth products, Bigfoot, and the Easter Bunny. Wait a minute…what’s that? There’s a peer reviewed, placebo-controlled study that says this might actually work?!? What the hell?!? Promising test results for topical Botox A 2010 study conducted by Dermatology Research Institute, LLC, Coral Gables, Florida , ...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 26, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy Schueller Source Type: blogs

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 cosmetic ingredients. Also, once you buy an anti-aging product, it takes you a long time to determine if it’s really working for you or not. That’s why we’re going to focus some of our podcast episodes on specific anti-aging ingredients, Today we...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 24, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry RomanowskiDiscover the beauty and cosmetic products you should use and avoid Source Type: blogs

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 environmental pollutants and can also bioaccumulate. Is their any justification in their use in skin care products? The Beauty Brains respond Perfluorodecalin is a fluorocarbon which, as Steven pointed out, is used skin moisturizers. What does perfluorodecalin ...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 23, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry Romanowski Source Type: blogs

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 working out. Crazy, right?! But, my question is–are there any products out there that can help women maintain their hair so they can’t use the excuse to not work out is because it ruins their hair? Good luck answering this one. I really struggled to find the right way to word this question…lol!!! I know the...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 21, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy Schueller Source Type: blogs

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 pages so it’s packed with useful information. Vitamins, oils, waxes, anti-aging ingredients are all touched on here. If you want to be more educated about the beauty products you buy check it out! If you’re in ...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 19, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy Schueller Source Type: blogs

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 commercial in 1972 featured the same voice actor who did the Leprechaun from Lucky Charms cereal. 2. “Manly but I like it too” is arguably Irish Spring’s most famous slogan. One of its lesser known slogans was “You smell like you’re worth exploring.” 3. When Irish...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 17, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy SchuellerDiscover the beauty and cosmetic products you should use and avoid Source Type: blogs

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 app is simple. You enter your favorite premium nail polish product and the app will spit out a comparable nail polish color from a much cheaper brand.  Super Duper is smartly designed, it seems to work quite well, and best of all it’s free. (Note: Smart phone beauty apps are not always that grea...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 15, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy Schueller Source Type: blogs

How can I tell the percentage of ingredients in cosmetics?
Rae really wants to know…Hi, in your blog you talked about the 1% line. I’m not a cosmetic chemist and I kind of always wondered how to guestimate where the 1% line is. So my question is, if you’re not a cosmetic chemist, what’s a good guide to know more or less the ratio of an ingredient to the whole product? The Beauty Brains respond This is a really tricky question because there is no single answer that covers all products. But we can give you a very rough, general rule of thumb to follow. Ingredients in cosmetics The vast majority of cosmetic products are water based. These include emulsion products (oils mixe...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 12, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy Schueller Source Type: blogs

Is collagen a good anti-aging ingredient? Episode 73
Do you wonder which anti-aging ingredients really work? Today we’re starting a new series where we review the evidence to find out. We begin with a look at collagen.  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 cosmetic ingredients. Also, once you buy an anti-aging product, it takes you a long time to determine if it’s really working for you or not.  That’s why weR...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 10, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry RomanowskiDiscover the beauty and cosmetic products you should use and avoid Source Type: blogs

Does peanut oil enlarge breasts?
Annette asks…I have heard that peanut oil can make breasts bigger as a result of cutaneous hypernutrition. The are people who says that the only effect is the oil moisturizes the area making it seem bigger. What is the real effect of peanut oil? The Beauty Brains reply I recently received a question about breast pimples and now this. It must be “Booby Brains” week. Nutty theory We can’t find ANY references to peanut oil working in the way that you described. The idea doesn’t even make sense from a basic skin biology perspective – we don’t know of any mechanism for a topically applied oil impacting the metabo...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 9, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy Schueller Source Type: blogs

Are there any natural hair color products?
Michelle asks…Do you know of any natural hair color product on the market yet (other than Henna) for people to use in place of the ones on the market with harsh chemicals? I’ve heard of a few salons that have options for consumers but they don’t allow us to purchase them and use on our own. It seems there is a trend right now in the beauty industry with natural ingredients and I’m wondering if you’ve heard of any coming up with hair color that regular consumers can buy and that actually work without too much complication. The Beauty  Brains respond Well Michelle, we’ve got good news and bad news for you. The ...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 7, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry Romanowski Source Type: blogs

Do you rely on makeup to be more attractive?
In our podcast Episode 70 we discussed a research study which indicated makeup is not the key to attractiveness. One of our astute listeners, Nadia, pointed out that we neglected to mention other research which came to a much different conclusion. She graciously took the time to summarize these additional studies and, with her permission, I am reprinting her email below. Take it away Nadia… A lot of blogs and the media, including The Beauty Brains were buzzing about a study in the Quarterly Journal of Experimental Psychology that implies women wear too much makeup based on misperceptions. However, it is only one paper...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 5, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy Schueller Source Type: blogs

Are Lush products really self preserving? Episode 72
How can products like Lush’s Charity Pot be self preserving? Tune in to this week’s show to find out. Plus – more Beauty Science News! Claim to fame: How are Lush products self preserving? This is a popular new feature where we look at the claims of popular beauty products and explain what the claim really means, how the company might support the claim, and most importantly, if the claim really makes enough of a difference for you to buy the product. A listener named Fernanda asked us to review Lush’s self preserving claims for their skin lotions and she sent a link to this video. What does the cla...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 3, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Randy SchuellerDiscover the beauty and cosmetic products you should use and avoid Source Type: blogs

5 tips for coloring your hair
Kelly’s question…What is the best way to prepare hair for hair dye? Freshly washed, day old etc? The Beauty Brains response If you’re having your color done by a professional stylist, he or she should give you good direction on how to prepare your hair. But if you’re doing it yourself at home, or having a friend do it for you, here are some tips that should ensure a better coloring process. Top 5 Do’s and Don’ts For Coloring Your Hair 1. Ban bleaching Avoid chemical processes like bleaching and highlighting in the weeks prior to getting your hair colored. These treatments can damage your hair, making it more po...
Source: thebeautybrains.com - March 1, 2015 Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Perry Romanowski Source Type: blogs