Clean Beauty School

“If the only advice you’re saying to someone is to wear sunscreen and ignore the rest, that might be a little problematic,” says science journalist George Zaidan. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, beauty director Alexandra Engler and Zaidan discuss the many misconceptions we have about sunscreen, what your SPF labels truly mean, and how real user behavior throws a wrench into the works. Show notes:-Zaidan’s book, Ingredients: The Strange Chemistry of What We Put in Us and on Us.-Australian study showing daily sunscreen use is associated with a lower risk of skin cancer.-A report showing benzene contamination in a large number of sunscreens.-A study showing SPF 100+ is more protective against burns than SPF 50+.-Research stating nearly half of sunscreens in the U.S. don’t live up to their SPF numbers.-FDA 2019 report requiring additional investigation for 12 common sunscreen ingredients.-A study stating advertising intentional sun exposure represents a form of abuse. -Product recommendations for Zaidan: Rahua’s Classic Conditioner, Odele’s Smoothing Conditioner, Osmia’s Rose Clay Facial Soap, Ethique’s Bliss Bar, and Oars + Alps Moisturizing Bar Soap.-mbg article on the difference between physical and chemical sunscreens.-mbg article on the difference between UVA and UVB rays.Comments: podcast@mindbodygreen.comSponsorship inquiries: sales@mindbodygreen.com

“When a patient comes in, I sit down with them and ask all about their stress, sleep, relationships, work, exercise, and sex lives. Usually they’ll be confused and say ‘Oh, I’m here for a skin thing,’ but a lot of people are walking around with undiagnosed and therefore untreated disorders, and we need to start there,” says double board certified dermatologist & psychiatrist Amy Wechsler M.D., one of the handful of physicians in the country with both certifications. “Research shows that when people go to the doctor, even more than looking for a diagnosis—they are looking to be heard. It’s important that we listen to them.” In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodgyreen’s beauty director & host Alexandra Engler and Wechsler discuss the immediate and long-term consequences of chronic stress on the skin—plus, her go-to solutions.  Show notes:-Read up on the brain-skin connection. -Understanding how brain & skin cells develop. -Learn about the benefits of sex for skin. Comments: podcast@mindbodygreen.comSponsorship inquiries: sales@mindbodygreen.com

“It’s about creating a mental framework that removes you from needing to be perfect to being OK with being good enough,” says Perpetua Neo, DClinPsy, who specializes in helping executives, perfectionists, and type-A individuals. In this episode of mindbodygreen’s beauty podcast Clean Beauty School, beauty director Alexandra Engler and Neo discuss how being a perfectionist can set you back in your skin care goals, as well as how to set beauty boundaries in a world of social media influence and unattainable expectations. Show notes:- Read up on some of Neo’s work on mindbodygreen: cognitive photoshop, perfectionism and beauty, and forming habits. - Research on the increase in perfectionism in younger generations, and the unrealistic standards or academic and professional achievement, how they should look, and what they should own. - Research on social media and anxiety.Comments: podcast@mindbodygreen.comSponsorship inquiries: sales@mindbodygreen.com

“I wish clean beauty would care about toxic beauty standards the same way it cares about toxic beauty ingredients. Because when you look at the physical and mental harm caused by beauty standards versus beauty ingredients, there's no contest: Beauty standards are so destructive to our psychological harm and to our physical bodies,” says beauty expert & journalist Jessica DeFino. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, beauty director Alexandra Engler and DeFino discuss beauty standards, how to define clean (if you can), and how to help your skin—no products necessary. Show notes:-Read up on recycling shortcomings. -Why we are drawn to beauty. -Connecting beauty standards to mental health issues.-How meditation can improve your skin barrier. Comments: podcast@mindbodygreen.comSponsorship inquiries: sales@mindbodygreen.com 

“I always felt like if you can do better for yourself and the planet, why not? And now the clean beauty industry is freaking fantastic now, there’s no reason not to try,” says former social worker, clean beauty expert, and celebrity makeup artist Katey Denno. “Now I would never in a million years suggest that it's fine if you don't have clean beauty skincare, and to just grab anything that's not clean. The clean market is so big—you can find anything you need.” In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen beauty director Alexandra Engler and Denno talk about how to clean up your beauty routine, Zoom and social media dysmorphia, and their favorite makeup recommendations. Show notes:-Read our report on Zoom dysmorphia—and how to deal with it.  -The rise of clean beauty during COVID. -Research connecting acne and psychological distress. -Research on endocrine disruptor exposure and mascara. Comments: podcast@mindbodygreen.comSponsorship inquiries: sales@mindbodygreen.com 

“The sense of smell is processed differently than any other sense. You actually experience the sense of smell—it triggers our emotions and the memories—before you're able to actually process it,” says fragrance expert, reiki healer, and founder of Perfumerie Mindy Yang. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen beauty director Alexandra Engler and Yang discuss the scientific reason we’re all so enamored with scent, how to decode perfume notes, and the modern world of functional fragrance. Show notes: -Read all about the limbic system, scent, memory, and motion. -Studies on lavender and blood pressure; studies on vanilla and citrus.  -Learn more about chakras.Comments: podcast@mindbodygreen.comSponsorship inquiries: sales@mindbodygreen.com

“When you follow quick fixes [from social media], you wind up spending a lot of time, energy, money, and resources on things that may not work for your individual case. And I think it's so valuable to understand you are unique—we have a lot of similarities, but your particular situation may not fit neatly into a box,” says board-certified dermatologist and hormone expert Keira Barr, M.D. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen’s beauty director Alexandra Engler and Barr discuss the many ways hormones affect your skin, why it happens, and why there is no one-size-fits all solution. Show notes: -Learn about collagen types, specifically type III collagen and how it declines with age. -Research linking progesterone to skin elasticity. -Read up on endocrine disruptors with a few to look out for.-Explainers on using both vitamin C and vitamin E topically.  Comments: podcast@mindbodygreen.comSponsorship inquiries: sales@mindbodygreen.com

“Hair loss can be so traumatic for women—it's so stressful. This becomes a vicious cycle because stress can worsen hair loss,” shares board-certified dermatologist and hair care expert Raechele Cochran Gathers, M.D. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen Beauty Director Alexandra Engler and Cochran Gathers discuss hair loss causes, if regrowth is possible, and how to care for your scalp naturally. Show notes:-Surveys regarding hair loss during quarantine and for COVID-19 survivors. -Vitamin D’s impact on the hair follicle. -Research connecting pollution to hair aging. -Try tea rinses for hair growth.-A study connecting caffeine with hair growth. -The use of PRP for hair loss treatment. -A study connecting hair massages to hair regrowth. Comments: podcast@mindbodygreen.comSponsorship inquiries: sales@mindbodygreen.com 

“I would really hope that we evolve as a sector to get to a point where the consumer doesn’t feel that they need to read the ingredient list to make sure that their product is safe,” says clean cosmetic chemist Krupa Koestline—but in the meantime? There’s a lot to learn. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen beauty director Alexandra Engler and Koestline discuss how to decode your ingredient list to make sure both it’s safe and effective—with tips like why alcohols aren’t always bad, how to interpret ingredient order, and why she thinks user behavior should influence formulations.  Show notes:-Read up on what “actives” are in your formulas. -Learn about ethical concerns around mica mining & how you can help. -Learn more about endocrine disruptors. -For her favorite effective ingredients, look for these on your ingredient lists: vitamin C derivatives like tetrahexyldecyl ascorbate & aminopropyl ascorbyl phosphate, niacinamide, and polyhydroxy acid. Comments: podcast@mindbodygreen.comSponsorship inquiries: sales@mindbodygreen.com

“If somebody is really upset about their fine lines, wrinkles on their forehead, or the lines around their mouth, I'm like, ‘OK, so you smiled a lot and you were thinking a lot. When did that ever hurt you to be thoughtful, laugh, and to express yourself?” says holistic esthetician Hayley Wood. In this episode of Clean Beauty School, mindbodygreen beauty director Alexandra Engler and Wood discuss how we talk about the way we look—and how that can dramatically change the ways we treat it. Show notes:-Research about body positivity and body neutrality. -Survey about our perception of the ideal age. -Global poll about how women describe themselves. -How to develop a skin gratitude practice.-Why you should use enzyme masks in the shower.Comments: podcast@mindbodygreen.comSponsorship inquiries: sales@mindbodygreen.com