Beauty by the Beaker

This week we are feeling extra spooky, because it’s nearly Halloween! So we wanted to give you a sneaky little peak into the scariest things we have heard as cosmetic chemists, and we promise its more than just unpreserved cosmetics (Of course its still a little bit of that, because they are really scary). Sadie and Nat are sharing some of the times that things didn’t go as planned while working in the lab. Maybe they were honest mistakes, but we can’t prove that these events weren’t supernatural. We discuss spilling banned ingredients, broken glass, and Natalie gives her professional opinion on why mascara is so bad. We talked about frightening client interactions and finished good failures to show you the (not so scary) details that need to be considered when making cosmetics. We also share the one and only time either of us ever tried working with soap noodles, and spoiler it led to an evacuation. We discuss why even if something is ‘safe’ it's probably best to still take precaution when handling it. We discuss how development labs are different than manufacturing labs, and the precautions that are needed to keep chemists and consumers happy and healthy. And while we can’t prove that there are ghosts haunting the air of the laboratory, we can confirm that there are potential irritants like silica and capsaicin powder floating around. We are also sharing some anonymous stories from fellow cosmetic chemists and talking about color changes, form changes, and failed stability testing. Join us for a silly episode, and learn what we find frightening! Your Appointment Includes:  00:00 - Cosmetic chemistry’s spooky lab stories02:07 - A shattered beaker and a two-kilo spill04:31 - Broken glass, lash formulas, and a rough lab day08:05 - Getting cornered at an industry event09:56 - The tenfold lip-gloss color mistake12:45 - Soap noodles and a lab evacuation16:01 - Lab exposure, protective gear, and a sodium hydroxide tale19:00 - Capsaicin powder turns the lab air spicy22:10 - Unexpected color changes and foundation brains25:07 - Peanut butter and jelly toothpaste27:21 - Why late stability failures are so stressful32:15 - Mislabeled chemicals and risky sniff tests34:08 - Wrong samples, homogenizers, and metal spatulas36:08 - Preservative-free briefs, aerosol risks, and impossible costs39:25 - How cosmetic lab scares can be avoidedWelcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where Sciences Gets a Hot New Makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products. Join us in the Science Salon! Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast, a curious consumer, or just tired of being told coconut oil cures everything, you’re in the right place. Let's gossip about all things beauty together! Pull up a chair, your appointment's about to start.Questions About Your Cosmetics? Call NOW! (801) 901-3804Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with more sources.www.beautyxbeaker.comJoin us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!@beautyxbeaker@natbxb@sadiebxbContact us at [email protected] thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and music and Hailey Romero for our branding.

Fungi are everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE. And they tend to be pretty misunderstood.  Yeast, mold, and mushrooms are not plants, not bacteria, and not just spooky Halloween germs. They are a completely different branch of life, and they play a much bigger role in your environment, your skin, and your cosmetics than you probably realize.This week we break down what it means to be a fungus in a way that finally makes sense, from the cell-wall secret ingredient that separates them from bacteria and plants to the digestive reason they can be both helpful and harmful.This episode also gets into one of the strangest and most useful parts of fungi - their byproducts. From ancient moldy-bread medicine to modern ingredients like citric acid, azelaic acid, beta carotene, and fermented squalane, fungi show up everywhere once you know what to look for. If you care about skincare, cosmetic preservation, microbiomes, or just want to stop side-eyeing mushrooms every time they pop up on your feed, or in your lawn, this one is for you.Perfect for anyone with a little mycophobia, a lot of curiosity, or a growing obsession with the science behind beauty products. By the end, fungi may still seem weird - but they’ll make a whole lot more sense.We are chatting about:Why fungi are similar to humans What chitin is and why it matters in fungal cell wallsThe difference between yeasts, molds, and mushroomsHow fungi help decompose matter and recycle nutrientsWhy your skin microbiome includes both bacteria and fungiThe real risks behind fungal infections like athlete’s foot, ringworm, and fungal acneHow cosmetics get contaminated, and how GMP and preservatives help prevent itWhich fungal-derived ingredients show up in skincare, including snow mushroom, reishi, shiitake, chaga, cordyceps, and moreWelcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where Sciences Gets a Hot New Makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products. Join us in the Science Salon! Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast, a curious consumer, or just tired of being told coconut oil cures everything, you’re in the right place. Let's gossip about all things beauty together! Pull up a chair, your appointment's about to start.Questions About Your Cosmetics? Call NOW! (801) 901-3804Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with more sources.www.beautyxbeaker.comJoin us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!@beautyxbeaker@natbxb@sadiebxbContact us at [email protected] thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and music and Hailey Romero for our branding.

Have you heard of Zombie Cells? Senescent cells are real, but the skincare claims built around them are often way more terrifying than the science supports. This week in the Science Salon, Sadie and Nat unpack the spooky truth behind these dormant skin cells. The scariest thing might be all the new vocab words. This week we discuss telomeres and apoptosis and explain how UV damage and stress fit into the story. You’ll hear how certain ingredients are being sold as senolytics, and why the jump from petri dish results to real-world skin benefits is a much bigger leap than brands want you to think. This week we help you understand why these “zombie cells” are suddenly everywhere in anti-aging marketing. We also dig into the products making the loudest promises like Peach and Lily’s Zombie Cream featuring DSM’s Eterwell™ Youth. We dive into the studies, including the in vitro, ex vivo, and human data behind the ingredient claims. We press on the details that matter most: sample size, placebo controls, concentration, and whether the marketing is really about science or just smart wording. The conversation also gets into why hydration ingredients like glycerin may be doing more of the visible heavy lifting than the “zombie cell” story.We are chatting about:Why senescent cells are called zombie cellsHow telomeres and cellular damage push skin cells toward senescence or apoptosisWhat DSM claims about targeted apoptosis and collagen supportWhere the evidence is strong, where it gets fuzzy, and where brand marketing starts to overreachWhy a $435 serum with a confusing ingredient deck is not automatically worth your moneyWelcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where Sciences Gets a Hot New Makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products. Join us in the Science Salon! Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast, a curious consumer, or just tired of being told coconut oil cures everything, you’re in the right place. Let's gossip about all things beauty together! Pull up a chair, your appointment's about to start.Questions About Your Cosmetics? Call NOW! (801) 901-3804Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with more sources.www.beautyxbeaker.comJoin us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!@beautyxbeaker@natbxb@sadiebxbContact us at [email protected] thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and music and Hailey Romero for our branding.Your Appointment Includes: 00:00 Spooky October intro01:00 What zombie cells are and why they matter03:12 How cells age and lose communication05:55 Telomeres, cell division, and senescence07:26 Senescence versus apoptosis09:36 What triggers senescence besides telomere shortening10:28 Why senescent cells can still be useful12:45 How senescent cells may spread damage13:46 Zombie cell skincare marketing14:27 Peach & Lily Zombie Cream and its price16:00 Eterwell™ Youth and supplier claims18:15 What DSM says the ingredient does21:02 Lab testing, petri dishes, and skin samples23:28 Human study results and their limitations26:16 Why formulation matters27:01 Glycerin, hydration, and the formula’s effects29:10 Prescription Skin Care and brand naming34:27 The Nescens Zombie Cell Clearing Serum and its price point38:39 The ingredient list and marketing claims41:07 Is zombie skincare legit?43:09 Aging, anti-aging pressure, and the closing message

We are kicking off Spooky Season the scariest way we know how! Beauty misinformation is more than annoying, it shapes what people buy, believe, and do with their skin. In this episode, Sadie and Nat break down some of the most persistent beauty myths, from chemical sunscreen fears and “reef-safe” claims to oral sunscreen supplements, preservative misinformation, and the ways AI and sensational headlines can distort scientific evidence.The hosts recap the Truth and Beauty eSummit from The Eco Well, exploring how emotional marketing, cherry-picked studies, and the attention economy help beauty misinformation spread. They discuss why chemical sunscreens are often unfairly villainized, why sunscreen supplements probably aren’t the safer shortcut they sound like, and why “reef-safe” is more of an unregulated marketing claim and less of a scientific guarantee.From sunscreen myths to fear-based beauty marketing, this conversation looks at the real-world consequences of misinformation and offers a more thoughtful way to evaluate skincare claims. If you’re interested in skincare, cosmetic chemistry, sunscreen, or making sense of beauty science, this episode is for you.Grab a seat, we are chatting about: The Importance of Science CommunicationThe financial problem behind beauty researchWhy the term “chemical sunscreen” can sound scarier than the evidence suggestsWhat to consider when evaluating sunscreen claimsWhy sunscreen and coral reef headlines can leave out important contextHow AI search results can amplify low-quality or misleading scienceWhy preservatives matter for cosmetic safetyHow science, art, and aspiration shape the beauty marketQuestions to ask when deciding who to trust, and what they might gain from your beliefThe importance of source vettingWelcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where Sciences Gets a Hot New Makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products. Join us in the Science Salon! Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast, a curious consumer, or just tired of being told coconut oil cures everything, you’re in the right place. Let's gossip about all things beauty together! Pull up a chair, your appointment's about to start.Questions About Your Cosmetics? Call NOW! (801) 901-3804Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with more sources.www.beautyxbeaker.comJoin us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!@beautyxbeaker@natbxb@sadiebxbContact us at [email protected] thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and music and Hailey Romero for our branding.Key Sources: Truth In Beauty eSummit Replayhttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpiU8-a9RIo&t=19023s&list=PLV7JqwvL7SSsYciULwVUZuYwXPZybUDHNMore Info on the eSummithttps://www.theecowell.com/truth-in-beauty-esummit

This week is all about scalp health. Your itchy, flaky scalp might not be dandruff, and using the wrong treatment could make it worse. In this episode of Beauty by the Beaker, cosmetic chemists Sadie and Natalie explain the difference between dry scalp, dandruff, seborrheic dermatitis, and psoriasis, plus how to choose a smarter next step.Learn how scalp oil, aka sebum, and the yeast Malassezia are connected to dandruff and why itching can start before flakes appear. Not all scalp issues are microbial, and this week we discuss how clues like flake texture, redness, your environment, and hair-washing habits may help you understand what’s going on. What makes this distinction important? We explain why dry scalp and dandruff typically call for opposite approaches.This episode covers the scalp microbiome (and its limited research), over-the-counter dandruff shampoo ingredients, and how treatments such as pyrithione zinc, salicylic acid, selenium sulfide, sulfur, and ketoconazole work. Find out why some ingredients target fungal overgrowth while others help loosen and break up flakes. Learn how to properly use these products, and why letting dandruff shampoo sit on your scalp for a few minutes can matter.If you’re wondering whether to use a gentle hydrating shampoo, an anti-dandruff treatment, or scalp oil, this practical scalp-care guide can help you avoid common mistakes. Understand when cautious trial and error may be reasonable and when it’s best to see a dermatologist. Remember if your scalp is painful, very inflamed, or symptoms are spreading, it’s best to skip the headache and see a professional for a diagnosis. Disclaimer: This episode is for educational purposes and isn’t a substitute for medical advice or a diagnosis from a healthcare professional.Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where Sciences Gets a Hot New Makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products. Join us in the Science Salon! Whether you’re a skincare enthusiast, a curious consumer, or just tired of being told coconut oil cures everything, you’re in the right place. Let's gossip about all things beauty together! Pull up a chair, your appointment's about to start.Questions About Your Cosmetics? Call NOW! (801) 901-3804Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with more sources.www.beautyxbeaker.comJoin us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!@beautyxbeaker@natbxb@sadiebxbContact us at [email protected] thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and music and Hailey Romero for our branding.Timestamps(0:00) Welcome back to Beauty by the Beaker(2:02) Why scalp care is suddenly everywhere(3:42) What the scalp actually is(4:08) Hair follicles, sebum, and scalp structure(4:34) Why do humans have so many scalp follicles(7:24) The scalp microbiome and Malassezia(8:38) How microbial balance affects dandruff(9:05) What dandruff is and why it itches(10:05) Why itching can appear before flakes(10:28) Dry scalp versus dandruff(12:08) How to spot the difference by flakes and symptoms(13:26) When to see a dermatologist(13:54) Gentle shampoos and scalp serums for dryness(14:51) FDA rules for dandruff treatment products(15:44) Ingredients used in anti-dandruff products(16:19) Why Nizoral and Differin are special(17:29) Pyrithione zinc and how it reduces dandruff(18:26) Salicylic acid and flake removal(19:19) Why dandruff often needs ongoing management(19:45) Seborrheic dermatitis and where it can show up(20:50) Psoriasis treatment options and red flags(21:18) Why washing less is not always better(22:20) When trial and error is okay, and when to seek help(23:21) Rosemary oil and scalp problems(24:51) Final recap and takeaways