Do peeling gels really peel off my skin?

“Is all the stuff that rolls off with a peeling gel really my skin?“ This is a question I come across a lot! In case you’ve forgotten, a peeling gel is a popular type of cleanser in Asia. You start off with a watery gel like this, which you spread over your face (the one picture here is Laneige Strawberry …

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Scientism or “Science-Washing” in Beauty

Scientism or "Science-Washing" in Beauty

This is an amended version of a series originally published on my Instagram account @labmuffinbeautyscience. As science has gotten more trendy, scientism is starting to show up more in beauty marketing and the beauty community. Scientism, which I call “science-washing” (although apparently no one says that except me, but I’m vainly trying to make it happen) is science used in …

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Foundation Clumping Science, and How to Fix It

Foundation Compatibility (with Video)

You might’ve had the experience where you apply your foundation over primer/moisturiser/sunscreen etc., and then a little while later your foundation’s gone clumpy. This is foundation incompatilibility. What’s happening, and what can you do to avoid it? Let’s talk about the science behind foundation! [Note: I would recommend watching the video in addition to reading the post, if you’re usually …

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How Do Bubbling Oxygen Masks Work?

How Do Bubbling Oxygen Masks Work?

Oxygen masks are products which come out of the bottle as a gel, but start bubbling with oxygen gas after a few seconds on the skin. Brands like Bliss, Peter Thomas Roth, Dr Brandt, Oseque and Sephora have oxygen bubble masks. What do they do, and how did they get the gas into the bottle? Here’s the video, scroll down …

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How to Use Comedogenicity Ratings

rabbit-ear-test-comedogenicity

You’ve probably seen a comedogenicity chart like these ones (and the one further down the page) before, rating different ingredients on their ability to cause pimples. Supposedly you check the ingredients list of your product against the comedogenicity list. If it has highly comedogenic ingredients, it will cause pimples, if it doesn’t, then it won’t. It’s simple, systematic and foolproof, right? …

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My Current Evening Skincare Routine

My Current Evening Skincare Routine

I don’t really like sharing my skincare routine too often, for a few reasons. Firstly, I’m usually testing products as part of my routine, so I don’t want to look like I’m endorsing a product I haven’t fully tested yet. Secondly, I think it’s tempting for people to see my routine and try to replicate it exactly. I am a …

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Reviewing Pharrell Williams’ Skincare Routine

Pharrell Williams' Skincare Routine

This week’s video is about musician and producer extraordinaire Pharrell Williams of The Neptunes, NERD and “Happy” fame. He’s well known for never seeing to age (often attributed to the fact that he may be a vampire). Here he is at 43: He’s revealed bits of his skincare routine in dribs and drabs in interviews throughout the years, so I …

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Sunscreen reviews: Krave Beauty, Lagom, Pestlo

Sunscreen reviews: Krave Beauty, Lagom, Pestlo

I’ve tried out three more facial sunscreens lately, all of which originate from Korea. Asian sunscreens are known for their light textures and use of newer UVA filters, so I’ve reviewed quite a few of them before. (Note: Sunscreens aren’t approved in US/EU/UK/AU etc, but are approved in Korea.) KraveBeauty Beet the Sun SPF 50+ PA++++ Beet the Sun ($20 …

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