The Beauty Construct as a Whole

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Sally Kohn: Does society and in particular beauty industry place too much emphasis on how we look versus kind of how we feel and who we are? And this kind of link between femininity and in particular, which is kind of linked quite tightly to beauty that I'm sure leads to insecurities. She says it's something that will never completely go away but at the same time, it is something that doesn't have to be exploited. Kohn: My takeaway message is yeah, the beauty industry is trying to exploit you insecurities to make you buy more.

Episode #235. Cosmetic chemist Michelle Wong shares a different approach to skincare – one you're probably not used to seeing on your Instagram feed. In an age of extensive skincare routines and misleading marketing, how do we navigate our skin’s natural state and optimise its appearance and wellness?

We cover this question and many more in this week’s episode.

Specifically, we discuss:

Intro (0:00)
Defining ‘Clean Beauty’ (2:17)
‘Natural’ vs synthetic (7:14)
EWG’s Skin Deep Database (8:26)
What to Avoid (10:17)
Is the Risk worth the Reward? (15:32)
PFAs (20:25)
“Free From” Claims (22:59)
Risk During Pregnancy (30:08)
Effective Ingredients (32:56)
Addressing the Root Cause of skin issues (35:05)
Skin’s ability to Heal (36:11)
Danger in Combining Ingredients (38:06)
Aging & Collagen (40:21)
Combining Multiple Products (52:02)
Does Price Indicate Effectiveness? (54:16)
Participants in Studies (59:31)
Preventative Aging (collagen vs retinol) (1:01:57)
Hyaluronic Acid (1:07:49)
Exfoliation (1:09:57)
Skin Microbiome (1:15:14)
Pigmentation (1:17:24)
Overrated Ingredients (1:19:27)
Natural Plant Compounds (1:21:27)
Acne (1:24:36)
Hair Care (1:32:47)
Shampoo/ Conditioner (1:37:34)
Hair Loss (1:40:41)
What to Avoid (1:42:01)
Deodorants (1:44:49)
Society’s Beauty Standards (1:51:12)
Outro (1:55:29)

To connect with Michelle Wong, PhD, you can find her via the Lab Muffin Beauty Science social accounts on Instagram, TikTok, Twitter, and YouTube. For a comprehensive guide on skincare basics, Dr Wong has an eBook available for purchase here. Listen to Dr Wong’s previous appearance on The Proof, focusing on sunscreen, at Episode #234.

Discover additional resources, supporting studies, and more insights in the full show notes.

Enjoy, friends.

Simon

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Simon Hill, Msc, Bsc (Hons)

Creator of TheProof.com and host of The Proof with Simon Hill

Author of The Proof is in the Plants

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Enjoy, friends.

Simon