Episode 323 - Predictions, Reviews plus some beauty questions answered

Perry Romanowski (0:00)

Hello, everyone, this is Perry, and I just wanted to break in here and apologize for the sound quality of today's show.

Apparently, my microphone wasn't working great, and I had to do a little audio magic to get it to work, but I thought it was important for us to get a show out, and I think it's all right to listen to. We'll have better quality next show, and have a happy new year. So on with the show. Hi, I'm Perry, 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 cosmetic industry. This is episode 323, and that is a palindrome. I love palindromes. I'm your host, Perry Romanowski, and with me today is the lovely and talented Valerie George. Hello, Valerie.

Valerie George (1:03)

Hi, Perry.

Perry Romanowski (1:03)

On today's show, you know, this is the end of the year show, so we're gonna only answer a few questions, but we got lots to talk about, like our predictions from last year, predictions for the future. We got feedback, and we're gonna answer questions about what ingredients are banned in cosmetics in the US what does petrolatum do for hair, and what are our favorite hair conditioning ingredients?

But first, a little chit chat. Valerie, we're coming to the end of the year this year.

Valerie George (1:34)

We are, in fact, if you're listening to the show and the day it downloaded, it's probably New Year's Eve and you're getting ready to celebrate 2023

Perry Romanowski (1:44)

Exactly, well, welcome to the new year.

But one of the things I like to do at the end of the year is to look back on the year and see how you did. So just think of the entire year and give it a grade. What would you grade 2022?

Valerie George (1:59)

I would give it a 10 for me.

Perry Romanowski (2:02)

A 10?

Valerie George (2:02)

It was a pretty great year.

Perry Romanowski (2:04)

Well, that is pretty good. Nicely done.

Valerie George (2:08)

Yeah, well, I was fully gone from corporate America this year and I couldn't be happier than that. I had a great year professionally at work, building my business, working on my other business, Simply Ingredients.

For those of you that don't know, I also started a formulation company called Simply Formulas where I formulate hair and hair color products for brands and I work with other manufacturers and ingredient companies on different technologies or helping them with reformulations. So.

Perry Romanowski (2:38)

So let's get this straight. You're, you actually make formulas. So you're still in the trenches as a formulator.

Valerie George (2:44)

I have a lab, yeah.

And people are like, oh, are you out of your home? And I'm like, no, I invested in building a lab because the fire department doesn't like when you keep chemicals at home. But anyway, so I've been doing that. That was great. My ingredient business is still a good outlet for me. A lot of fun.

And personally, I am doing great health-wise. I wasn't doing so hot at the end of last year. That's right.

Perry Romanowski (3:09)

You had some heart issues or something last year.

Valerie George (3:11)

I had heart surgery. I'm feeling fantastic. Couldn't be better on that front.

Perry Romanowski (3:19)

Well, that is excellent. And hopefully you get a repeat in 2023

Valerie George (3:23)

Repeat of a great year, not repeat of the heart surgery.

Perry Romanowski (3:28)

Repeat of the great year is of course what I meant. My, let's see, my grade for 2022?

Well, you know, probably, I'd give it a seven or an eight, I guess.

Valerie George (3:42)

Okay.

Perry Romanowski (3:42)

Yes. Yeah. You know, my father did pass away way early in the year.

You know, but mostly things were all right. All right, I got to travel to a lot of interesting places. I read a lot of books. I saved a few kittens, you know.

There's good, there's bad. So I'm a seven or eight, so a little better than average.

Valerie George (4:09)

I'd say Mr. Romanowski aside, you had a pretty great year.

Perry Romanowski (4:15)

Well, you know, probably that starter sort of diminished all of the other great stuff. So it's hard to boil, I guess, a year down to just a single measure.

So life is complicated. But to be honest with you, I don't think I'd ever give anything a 10, because I'm just by nature. I read this, I do this great, great, what is it, Goodreads, you know that app where you track your books. And I never give a five star rating to like anything, but I usually give a four.