Chemist Confessions

Decode that Occlusive | CC Podcast Episode S4E25

The slugging trend is here to stay and if you've ventured into this realm, you might have realized that the products suggested can vary a lot! Here we decode two popular "slugging" products and go through which one to choose for your skin type.

Are You Exfoliating Correctly? | CC Podcast Episode S4E24

It's time for an exfoliation update! But this time, we're spending a segment on physical exfoliators aka. scrubs. Scrubs can actually be a helpful addition to your exfoliation game specifically for very stubborn texture concerns and blackheads. We discuss the various kinds of scrubs, any testing behind them, and what to look for when you're shopping for them! 

Decode the Home Peel | CC Podcast Episode S4E23

Chemical exfoliants come in all sorts of product types and one type that seems to be expanding is home peels. These typically include higher concentrations of chemical exfoliants and are meant to be used as wash-off masks. To give everyone a general picture of the landscape, we go through a few product decodes and soon realize this realm isn’t as straightforward as we thought!

To Decode or Not to Decode the Ingredient List | CC Podcast S4E22

6 years ago our journey started in skincare education started with decoding ingredient lists. Since then, this realm has evolved a lot...for better or worse. In this episode, we've decided to take some time to break down decodes based on product type and discuss when decoding can be helpful and when decoding could lead you into a pit of confusion.

 

Decode that Claim (Challenge Mode!) | CC Podcast Episode S4E21

We’ve been decoding all sorts of claims in the skincare world, but devices happen to be some of the most confusing products to figure out. Today it’s decode challenge mode! We walk through a really good example of a device that comes with the works in terms of claims and talk about what to pay attention to and what we’d probably ignore.

Which Vitamin C Derivative is Better? | CC Podcast Episode S4E20

There’s a whole world of Vitamin C molecules outside of ascorbic acid, but they all get lumped under the “Vitamin C” serum category. The difficulty here is that not every molecule has been validated to give the same benefits of ascorbic acid. So let’s get into a few of the major players, what they’ve been tested for, and how to go about shopping for these Vitamin C alternatives.

Decoding Vitamin C? Body Products | CC Podcast S4E19

Vitamin C seems to be entering all sorts of skincare arenas, including body care. But is Vitamin C actually helpful in the category? Let’s take a look at a couple products to understand what’s really going on here. 

Which Vitamin C Dupe Reigns Supreme? | CC Podcast S4E18

You’ve probably wondered, “Out of all the Skinceuticals CE Ferulic Dupes out there, which one should I buy?” Well we’ve decided to put a few dupes to the test. After some surprising results, we go over which serums we would avoid. We also discuss what clues to look for to help you decide whether or not its time to let that Vitamin C serum go. Let’s get into it!

Decoding Body Products | CC Podcast S4E17

Have you wondered if your body needs a skincare routine too? You’re definitely not the only one. Despite this arena getting a lot of attention, there isn’t a ton of research or data to go off of. Instead, let’s go through a few common body products that would have some sort of testing behind them..and no it’s definitely not caffeine.

Skincare changes for summer? | CC Podcast S4E16

Summer is in full swing now! In addition to the gazillion sunscreen articles, this is also the time of year when all these jazzy “summer skincare routine guides” come out. But do you really need to change up your routine just for summer? Is skin actually different during this time of year? Should you continue with retinol usage? What about your hyperpigmentation routine?