The Sunscreen episode - Episode 252

Perry Romanowski (0:00)

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

Hello, and welcome to The Beauty Brains, a show where real cosmetic chemists answer your beauty product questions and give you an insider's look to the cosmetic industry. This is episode 252 I'm your host, Perry Romanowski, and with me today is Valerie George. Hello, Valerie.

Valerie George (0:30)

Hi, Perry.

Perry Romanowski (0:31)

Valerie, did you notice that I changed the number there? Like, last time we were doing episode 250, but I said 252, because last week was really 251 We did 250s in a row.

Oh, no.

Valerie George (0:47)

I hate when we do that.

Perry Romanowski (0:49)

Well, 252 And that's a palindrome. And you know what we like to do on Palindrome days?

Valerie George (0:56)

The sunscreen show.

Perry Romanowski (0:57)

That's right. The sunscreen show. Well, at least 252 That palindrome, we do it then. On today's show, we are answering questions about sunscreen, specifically. What's the difference between Asian sunscreens and US sunscreens?

Should we be worried about UVC from fluorescent lights damaging our skin? What sunscreen does Valerie like?

Looking forward to that.

Well, the oils in a primer interfere with the effectiveness of your sunscreen. And how can a sunscreen with different ingredients have the same SPF? Lots of interesting questions there. And lots of sunscreen beauty science news. But first, Valerie, you were going to give us your big announcement. Well, you teased us last week. So what is your big new venture?

Valerie George (1:43)

Drum roll. I launched a company called Simply Ingredients.

Perry Romanowski (1:52)

Simply Ingredients. Now, that's for making food?

Valerie George (1:57)

Well, don't Google it just yet because that's what you'll see. Google hasn't picked up the SEO on my website yet. But I have launched a company dedicated to sourcing the best ingredients around the world and sharing them with you.

And not only sharing these ingredients with you, but teaching you how to make your own cosmetic products right in your kitchen.

Perry Romanowski (2:19)

So the types of cosmetic ingredients that somebody might find like in products like The Ordinary or something like that, you're sourcing them and showing people how to make their own?

Valerie George (2:30)

Yeah, a little bit. So I have essentials, things that every formulator would need on their bench, glycerin, beeswax, preservation, emulsifiers, etc. And then the really fun ingredients, I call those actives. And they're the really fancy things that you don't need in a formula, but you want to add to a formula because they offer some attribute or they just feel really good. And if I just get really excited about something and I can't stop talking about it for three weeks, and Mr. Cosmetic Chemist is like, I don't care. Please stop talking about this ingredient.

I'm going to sell it because there's just so many cool things in the world. And I think it's really important for people to learn about where ingredients can come from and why palm-derived ingredients can be okay and what to look for when you want to have fun at home making stuff.

Perry Romanowski (3:20)

Yeah, no, it sounds great. I think I might have to get some and make some of my own stuff in my basement labs.

Valerie George (3:29)

Yeah, I thought, you know, we've always talked like, oh, we should make a product. But, you know, for me, this is really a hobby. I'm not leaving my day job anytime soon. This is really just an outlet for me.

I really love what I do and I love ingredients. And it's just a way for me to share all that with everybody.

Perry Romanowski (3:46)

Yeah, and it would be good to have a more science-based person who is sharing ingredients.

Valerie George (3:53)

Definitely, definitely, yeah.

Perry Romanowski (3:54)

Yeah. Well, we'll include a link to that and I encourage everyone to go and check that out.

You know what my big news is now, Valerie?

Valerie George (4:04)

Is it beauty science news?

Perry Romanowski (4:05)

No.

I got two new foster cats. Meow.

Valerie George (4:12)

Wow. Two.

Are they twins?

Perry Romanowski (4:15)

They are brother and brother, I guess, apparently.

Or sister and sister. I don't know what they are, but they're a little older. Like, one is eight and one is ten and they're super shy but super friendly.

Valerie George (4:31)

Have they seen Porchkitty yet?

Perry Romanowski (4:33)

They have not seen Porchkitty.

Valerie George (4:35)

Is Porchkitty mad at you?

Perry Romanowski (4:37)

No, no. Porchkitty is coming every day. I mean, there's like two feet of snow outside and Porchkitty still traips up to get its free food, I guess.