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The Beauty Brains

Discover the beauty and cosmetic products you should use and avoid
The Beauty Brains
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317 episodes

  • The Beauty Brains

    Do You Really Need to Shampoo Twice? Episode 435

    22/10/2026 | 48 mins.
    Send us Fan Mail
    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
  • The Beauty Brains

    Why Does Your Hair Look Better at the Beach? Plus Co-Washing - episode 434

    29/09/2026 | 48 mins.
    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
  • The Beauty Brains

    The Beauty Brains

    11/09/2026 | 43 mins.
    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
  • The Beauty Brains

    SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic: What is new? Episode 432

    03/09/2026 | 45 mins.
    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
  • The Beauty Brains

    Can K18 serum reduce hair fall and reverse grey? Episode 431

    21/08/2026 | 46 mins.
    Send us Fan Mail
    On today’s show we cover lots of questions including…
    Do you have to worry about BHT in cosmetics?
    Are hair masks worth using?
    Will a biomimetic hair longevity serum reduce shedding?
    Can you mix products together to reduce irritation?
    What's the deal with QOAT Professional Hair Color?
    Perry and Valerie are back after their summer travels, with stories about Greece, Albania, cats, sidewalks, Texas heat, and a medical-testing catch-up before getting into the latest beauty news and listener questions.
    Beauty News
    - Millions use apps like Yuka to judge beauty products
    - A lawsuit alleging that TRESemmé shampoos containing DMDM hydantoin caused hair loss
    - Beauty trademark filings connected to Lindsay Lohan and Tate McRae.

    K18 FutureIQ product
    Approximate timestamps
    0:01 - Introduction
    7:00 -Yuka product-safety scores and their effect on formulation
    11:40 - TRESemmé, DMDM hydantoin, and a hair-loss lawsuit
    15:50 - Celebrity launch
    18:40 - Is BHT in cosmetics a safety concern?
    23:05 - Are hair masks worth using?
    28:15 - Mixing tretinoin gel with marula oil
    31:10 - K18 FutureIQ hair longevity serum claims
    39:25 - QOAT Professional Hair Color Topcoat
    44:40 - 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
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About The Beauty Brains
Real scientists answer your beauty questions
Podcast website

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