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The Beauty Brains

Discover the beauty and cosmetic products you should use and avoid

Real scientists answer your beauty questions

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312 episodes
Updated July 24

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Episodes312

Can hair really be sensitive to protein? Episode 139
Send us Fan Mail Is the NIOD brand really “ultra-scientific?” Saania says…I have a question about a skincare brand that’s gained a cult status amongst serious skin care junkies. The brand NIOD, under the umbrella brand Deciem, claims to be “skincare for the hyper-educated”. Their star product is called Copper Amino Isolate Serum. I wanted to know what you […] Support the show
Jun 28, 2016 · 31 min
Are boar bristle brushes better for your hair? Episode 138
Send us Fan Mail Are boar bristle brushes better for your hair? Georgina asks…Are boar bristle brushes better for your hair? I’m looking at a Mason Pearson brush that’s about $100 and I want to know if it’s worth it. It’s tough to give a definitive answer because as you might imagine there aren’t many double blind, peer reviewed […] Support the show
Jun 21, 2016 · 29 min
Are super foods good for your skin? Episode 137
Send us Fan Mail Are super foods effective beauty ingredients? Jana asks…What are your thoughts on super foods in skin care? Ingredients like acacia, coconut, grapeseed oil, berries, green tea, avocado, turmeric and resveratrol. What the heck IS a super food? There is no scientific or medical definition. Typically you’ll see them described like this: “superfoods are nutrient powerhouses […] Support the show
Jun 14, 2016 · 32 min
Can I use clay to shampoo my hair? Episode 136
Send us Fan Mail Can I use clay to shampoo my hair? Joneen says…I have a question about rhassoul clay. I’ve heard great things about using it as a shampoo. My concern, though, is mineral buildup. This is one of the results of hard water that has a negative impact on hair, and something I am currently experiencing and […] Support the show
Jun 7, 2016 · 34 min
Do anti-aging patches really work? Episode 135
Send us Fan Mail Do anti-aging patches really work? Julia asks…Can micro needle patches really work to deliver anti-aging ingredients like hyaluronic acid? Coincidentally I just read a study about a new technology for lightening age spots that involves, get this, Dissolving Micro Needles. This research was published by a Korean team in the Journal of Cosmetic Dermatology and here’s […] Support the show
May 31, 2016 · 32 min
Should you be worried about aluminum in deodorants? Episode 134
Send us Fan Mail Should we be worried about aluminum in deodorants? Erin asks…Should we be worried about aluminum in deodorants? First of all don’t get confused between anti-perspirant and deodorants. Anti-perspirants contain aluminum salts that help plug your pores so you don’t sweat as much. Deodorants do not contain aluminum and they don’t stop you from sweating. They […] Support the show
May 24, 2016 · 33 min
Will silicone ruin a coconut oil hair treatment? Episode 133
Send us Fan Mail Is the “Remedy” hair treatment by Rita Hazan really magic? Lizzy asks…Does the Rita Hazan Remedy have any magic in it? My hair feels soft and shiny after I use it, but it didn’t do anything for my sister. I must say I’ve never seen a product quite like this before. It’s a two part […] Support the show
May 17, 2016 · 31 min
Can I mix my own sunscreen? Episode 132
Send us Fan Mail How do I find a sunscreen that doesn’t cause acne? Allison asks…What’s the difference between a sunscreen and a sunblock? Also, what ingredients should I look for in a product that will not contribute to acne? And, when’s the best time to apply sunscreen in my morning skin care routine? Sunscreens use UV absorbers to protect your […] Support the show
May 10, 2016 · 33 min
Do silicones really melt on your hair? Episode 131
Send us Fan Mail Cosmetic Questions Do silicones melt on your hair? Kylie asks…I am attempting to remove years of black hair dye and came across Scott Cornwall and his product Decolour. He makes a claim that if it doesn’t work likely cause is hair plasticised due to using heat over 220 deg cel. Quote “If you use heated […] Support the show
May 3, 2016 · 34 min
Do anti-aging hair care products really work? Episode 130
Send us Fan Mail Hair and skin have some things in common but there’s one big difference: skin is alive and responds to so called “anti-aging” ingredients while hair is DEAD. Check out this encore episode where we give you the straight scoop on hair care products that claim to make your hair younger. Click here for the our […] Support the show
Apr 26, 2016 · 30 min
Are you sick of greenwashed cosmetics? Episode 129
Send us Fan Mail In this encore episode we discuss why cosmetic companies STILL make so many fake natural products. There are a few main reasons: True natural consumers are still a small market segment All-natural cosmetics do not work as well Consumers don’t know the difference Greenwashing keeps costs down There are no required standards Formulating natural cosmetics […] Support the show
Apr 19, 2016 · 20 min
How can I tell if my product contains natural or synthetic colors? Episode 128
Send us Fan Mail Just about everyone has been puzzled about how “natural” certain products are. This is especially true of color cosmetics because not very many of the colorants used in makeup are truly natural. In today’s encore presentation, we discuss a quick history of cosmetic colorants, tell you where colorants come from, and explain the difference between […] Support the show
Apr 12, 2016 · 31 min