Episode 255 - Is there a difference between facial oils and other beauty questions

Valerie George (0:00)

Hi, I'm Valerie, and you're listening to The Beauty Brains.

Welcome to The Beauty Brains, a show where real cosmetic chemists answer your beauty product questions and give you an insider's look at the cosmetics industry. This is episode 255 I'm your host, Valerie George, and with me today is Perry Grominowski. Hi Perry.

Perry Grominowski (0:27)

Hi Valerie, so good to be here.

Valerie George (0:30)

So good to have you on today's show. We're going to answer questions about is buying $800 worth of beauty products a mistake? Only if Mr. Cosmetic Chemist says so. Is there a difference between oils in facial oil products? Do you need special shampoos for chlorine-exposed hair? What is the best age to start using anti-aging products?

And can you use a cleansing oil to wash your hands?

And of course, we'll do our inane chit chat. How are you this week, Perry?

Perry Grominowski (1:00)

I'm good. The foster cats that we have are finally coming out from under the bed. Although they're very strange. They stay under the bed like all day, and then at nighttime, they come out and they'll pay attention to us for like 10 minutes, and then they go in the basement.

But then the one cat lays on top of the other cat. There's this entire house they have full rain, but they have to lay on top of each other. I don't get it, but they sure like each other.

Valerie George (1:27)

Oh, that's so interesting. And how's the weather in Chicago?

Perry Grominowski (1:30)

The weather is not bad. I mean, we got into the 40s, so it's better than negative 11 Celsius, which it was earlier last week. So yeah, makes for better running.

Valerie George (1:44)

It has been a super dry winter, at least in Los Angeles. I've been looking at my skin. I look like an alligator.

Perry Grominowski (1:54)

Really? You don't look like it on video here, but...

Valerie George (1:59)

No, I do. It's awful. I thought about taking a picture, and I was like, yeah, that's kind of gross.

Perry Grominowski (2:05)

That might make a good insta-post.

Valerie George (2:08)

Just my really pale, ashy skin. Oh, goodness.

I don't know about that.

Perry Grominowski (2:13)

I've never seen a pale, ashy alligator, though.

Valerie George (2:16)

An albino alligator. That's basically me.

Perry Grominowski (2:21)

There must be some, right?

Valerie George (2:23)

Yeah. And I have access to all the lotions and creams and stuff.

I'm just lazy. I mentioned on the last episode, I like to use the cocoa butter, Palmer's Cocoa Butter Lotion.

Perry Grominowski (2:35)

Sure, yeah.

Valerie George (2:36)

I actually don't put it on my legs. It's just like my upper body, so I can smell it, so I can smell that I smell like chocolate.

I probably should put some on my legs.

Perry Grominowski (2:45)

Did you ever see that internet meme where it was a debate about whether you wash your legs or not?

Valerie George (2:52)

No.

Perry Grominowski (2:52)

Are you on team washing your legs or team not washing your legs?

Valerie George (2:56)

I actually do wash my legs. Do you? Wait, I already know you're not.

You're on team run down your body.

Perry Grominowski (3:05)

Well, I do usually wash my legs, though. But it's only with the foam from the shampoo that I've used, though.

Valerie George (3:13)

Yeah, I actually use the shampoo foam, or excuse me, the body wash foam. I use that to shave my legs.

Perry Grominowski (3:21)

Yeah.

Yeah, I just use the hot water for shaving. Not my legs, but my face.

Valerie George (3:28)

Ouch, oh gosh.

Perry Grominowski (3:29)

No, it only hurts when I have that disposable razor that I've had for like four weeks, then it starts to hurt. But like a new disposable razor, oh, it works good.

Valerie George (3:40)

I am so not surprised. Well, let's get into some beauty science news.

I saw an article this week, we've talked a bit about consumer habits throughout COVID, and I thought it was interesting that GCI Magazine actually posted about a study that showed the habits of more than 10,000 consumers now that we are almost one year into this COVID lockdown. I believe California-

Perry Grominowski (4:10)

That's right, it is almost a whole year.

Valerie George (4:11)

Today was the day I showed my first symptom a year ago, but the whole world, or excuse me, at least California actually shut down March 16th, so we have a couple of weeks to go to hit that one year.

But it was interesting to see, interesting but maybe not surprising to see what had happened. So according to this study, 21% of people say they spend more on beauty products now compared to pre-COVID.