Debunking Exfoliation Myths

Exfoliants are one of the first products you start using when you get into REAL skincare. They’re a really great gateway product, but they can be a bit confusing and there are loads of myths about them. So today I’m doing the debunking! (More info on exfoliants in my Essential guide, in case you haven’t downloaded it yet!) The YouTube …

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More SPF Mythbusting

chemical vs physical sunscreens

This video is sponsored by Skillshare – the first 1000 people to use this link will get a 2 month free trial of Skillshare Premium Membership. It’s that time again… SPF mythbusting time! Because no matter how hard I try, more of them turn up. (I did a video on SPF myths last year – check that out as well if you …

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7 Common Retinoid Skincare Myths, Busted

Retinoids are vitamin A derivatives, and they’re some of the most popular ingredients in skincare. They’re anti-aging, anti-pigmentation and anti-acne, plus their effectiveness is backed by lots of studies. But like everything else in skincare, there are lots of myths and half-truths about how they work and how you’re meant to use them. Here’s the video on YouTube – keep scrolling for …

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Silicone Mythbusting

Silicone Mythbusting Video

This post is sponsored by Grant Industries. Silicones are one of the Big Bad ingredients in skincare, make-up and haircare. They’ve been demonised by natural brands, and there are more warnings about them than you can count. So I was delighted when Grant Industries (ingredient manufacturer, maker of Granactive Retinoid, physical sunscreens and of course, silicones) asked me to do a …

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Mythbusting: Are Vitamin C Serums Bad for You?

Mythbusting: Are Vitamin C Serums Bad for You?

I’ve been asked a lot for my opinion on a recent article on whether vitamin C serums are bad for your skin. In the article, Wendy explains why Oumere will never have a vitamin C serum in their line. She outlines that vitamin C can: Act as a pro-oxidant when it reacts with iron in the air (or iron and …

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Video: Are Natural Beauty Products Better?

Video: Are Natural Beauty Products Better?

I’ve uploaded a new video on whether natural beauty products are better or safer. This is a topic that’s close to my heart, as it was the reason I started my blog all the way back in 2011 and it was my first science post! So I donned my best natural-themed jacket and recorded this. Check out the video here. …

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What Does SPF Mean? The Science of Sunscreen

What Does SPF Mean? The Science of Sunscreen

Gio of Beautiful With Brains suggested that I do a post on this after an Instagram conversation about SPF, and how it doesn’t actually tell you how much longer you can stay in the sun without burning. So what exactly does a sunscreen’s SPF mean in terms of sun protection? I’ve touched on this topic a few times in my …

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Are unsaturated oils bad for your skin?

structures-saturated-unsaturated-fatty-acids

An article by Beautyeditor (now rebranded as The Skincare Edit) recently came to my attention, thanks to some readers who pointed me in its direction. In it, she blames polyunsaturated oils for aging, tells you to avoid them in your skincare AND diet, and tells you to use saturated fatty acids (in particular squalane) instead. As a big fan of …

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