I’ve been a little frustrated with what scientific concepts I can get through in words and crudely drawn illustrations on this here blog. When I teach at my day job, I do a lot of hand-waving, emphatic underlining, symbolic gesturing and smashing together of whiteboard markers, and not having the ability to show movement sometimes feels a bit like I have one arm tied behind my back. So I’ve decided to venture into video, which has allowed me to whip up some very crude animations which took me way WAY longer than you’d expect from looking at the end result.
This is as good as it gets, peeps. It took me an embarrassingly long time so I hope y’all appreciate.
The video is on why pH matters for acids in skincare. I touch on why different acids need different pHs, why free acids penetrate better, and why some acids aren’t affected by pH, amongst other things. (Chemistry and pharmacology nerds out there, it’s very simplified… I should have talked about anion stability and not just bond strength, but cut me some slack!)
I know it’s not the best quality, but I wanted to get something out there to act as a starting point, and I kept changing my mind on what to use and I just reallyreallyreally needed to get it out of my hands so I’d stop fiddling with it. I’d love any feedback and tips you have!
The things I’m particularly annoyed about are:
- Sound quality – I’m recording on my phone’s voice recorder program, and I’m struggling through the back end of a cold after a 24-hour teaching week. The volume isn’t super consistent because I didn’t manage to record it all in one go, but I feel like there must be a video editing program that would let me fiddle with that?
- YouTube know-how – I have none. What have I forgotten to do? Hit me with all 5000 obvious things I should’ve done…
- My phlegmy throat. I’ve taken pseudoephedrine, Zyrtec, guaifenesin, bromhexine and warm honey water… what else can I shove in?
- My hair. Will my hair ever not be frizzy?
All that aside, here it is – my first video!
I love the way you don’t waste our time with filler. So much great info in a crisp delivery. Learned so much!
Love it! Thanks for sharing your knowledge.
Great job, keep them coming
So thrilled to be an early subscriber to your YouTube channel. And don’t worry, the more you film the more comfortable you’ll become.
You’re my favourite blogger even though I’m on the other side of the world.??
And I love all your sciencey explanations.
This is awesome and so informative, thanks so much Michelle! Definitely keen for more!
Great video. Keen to see more.
It’s absolutely brilliant, I love it! And it’s nice to see you. I would love to see more skintellectual videos. ?
Loved it! To the point, simple and clear. The only suggestion is to speak a little slower and leave the graphics up a tad longer for those who are slower absorbing information. Truly you are a gifted teacher (I am also chemist but my calling was pharmaceutical research). I have a preference for written words in a blog (especially love all your diagrams) vs a vlog – primarily because I am more visual that auditory; second and third, it’s generational (I can’t abide rambling cutesy vloggers which is distracting) and I snag time during lunch at work and don’t want the office to hear the vlogger. I hope you continue to do both – being able to go back and re-read and study your diagrams is what draws me to your page! Thanks for bringing the science to us!
I agree with the point about the speed, I had no interest in (and thus no knowledge of) chemistry before my skincare addiction kicked in, so I need a little extra time to process everything. Taking the pace down just a tiny bit and leaving the illustrations up a little longer too would be of great help! Also, may I suggest: I wouldn’t mind you using an actual whiteboard or something if that helps you. Feels like school again, but in a good way.
Thank you! I’ll talk a bit slower next time, I think I was just nervous 🙂
I love the video, perfect length, please do more!
P.s.- I thought your hair looked great but since you were complaining about frizz, living proof no frizz shampoo has changed my life
Yay! Congrats on your first video! Very clear explanation, nice to hear your voice. 🙂
I love your voice!! The content is good too of course!
Thank you! 😀
What a treat to see you in action. I have been following you forever, and you are even more delightful than I imagined! I agree about the filler, too. I am retired teacher/librarian and found that kind delivery reaches EVERYONE of your students, no matter what their level of accomplishment may be. Also I suspect with your background and sense of whimsy you could do a marvelous video on how wrinkle or pimples actually form!
Oh yes…and after 60+ years of curly, frizzy hair I found that moisturize, moisturize, mositurize, is the answer. Have you heard of NaturallyCurly.com? Lots of wonderful hair science there!
Thank you so much! 🙂
I’ve been using lots of moisturising conditioners lately but I think my hair is just a bit slow to adjust 🙁 And yes, I love that site! So much good info!
Great video!!! Thank YOU!
Fantastic job! Very clear, concise and understandable. Would love to see more!
Have you tried hair oil on your ends? Helps me a lot with frizz on my bleached blond locks.
And I don´t think you really forgot anything major. Maybe introduce yourself a little more in detail and give some background on why you are so familiar with this stuff? For people that don’t read your blog.
LindaLibraLoca recently posted…Retinol – Everything you need to know
I’ve been trying out hair oils but I think I forgot to use coconut oil as a prewash before this video! Thanks for the reminder 🙂
That’s a good idea! I’ll do that next time!