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On today’s episode we’re going to be answering your beauty questions about
- Do jade rollers work or are they just hype?
- Is micellar water good enough for cleaning off makeup?
- Will supplements give you better looking skin?
- Is this hot, expensive hair line worth the money?
- And are the ingredients in cosmetics safe?
Chit Chat
Beauty App mentioned on the show – YouCam Makeup
Beauty Science News
Cosmetic animal testing banned deemed pointless
I was alerted to this interesting story which suggests that the animal testing banned in the EU is actually pointless because it is routinely gotten around.
This actually occurred to me when I first heard of the ban and now the folks at Cruelty Free International have chimed in. This is the group behind the Leaping Bunny Cruelty Free certification.
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Are people boycotting Gillette?
Here’s the controversial commercial.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=koPmuEyP3a0
Correction: Does Petroleum Jelly cause acne? Those concerns turn out not to be based on science.
Remember a couple episodes when we talked about Petroleum Jelly? I think it was episode 169. Well, I was contacted by a listener and he asked me why I cautioned people about petroleum jelly and acne. He suggested I was giving advice that wasn’t accurate any more. So I looked into it a bit further.
It turns out this might not actually be a problem. According to a study done back in 1996 to answer the question once and for all Does Petroleum Jelly cause acne, Dr Albert Kligman (who also happens to be the guy who originally suggested petroleum jelly might cause acne) found that in fact petrolatum does not cause acne or make it worse. The advice to avoid it for facial products is not supported by science.
The bottom line is that you don’t have to avoid facial products containing petroleum jelly even if you have acne prone skin.
Question 1: (audio question)
Can you please explain how a jade roller or other rollers for on the fees are used are they hype do they really help does it matter if it’s Jade or some other stone?
Jade rollers have reportedly been around for a long time, like hundreds of years. The technology comes out of China and ancient traditions so it’s development isn’t steeped in science.
These rollers are part of a more general group called crystal facial rollers. In addition to jade, other types of crystals used include rose quartz, amethyst, and tourmaline. Basically these crystal rollers look a bit like tiny paint rollers with the roller part made out of a polished, rounded crystal.
To use them you just roll it around your face. It’s supposed to give you a facial massage which will supposedly relax your facial muscles? This then presumably would loosen things up and make your wrinkles look better or help prevent you from getting them.
Let’s consider some of the claims made about these rollers. I searched for any scientific evidence to support the claims and here’s what we found.
1. Improved skin tone & elasticity – There’s no evidence that massage with anything will improve skin tone. It may have an effect on elasticity.
2. Natural collage boost – There is no evidence that massage boost collagen production.
3. Reduction of puffiness and wrinkles – Some dermatologists believe that massage can help move fluid around in your face which could reduce puffiness.
4. Increase circulation and promote lymphatic drainage – If done vigorously enough this could also help with lymphatic drainage. But you don’t want to do it too hard because that could lead to rupturing pimples that might increase inflammation.
5. Toxin elimination – That’s just silly talk. A crystal is not going to draw toxins out through your skin.
6. Tightening pores – There’s no evidence massage (or anything else) will tighten your pores.
I would also add that while there is minimal evidence related to facial massage being beneficial to skin, there is even less evidence that using something like a jade crystal will have any additional benefit.
The claims made about different crystals amounts to just belief in magic. This is outside the realm of science but as far as proof goes, magic is not real & neither is the effects of these crystals on you “energy” whatever that is.
The bottom line is that if you like the feel of a facial massage, you might enjoy using a jade roller like this. But there is nothing magic about the composition of the roller. I’m sure you could get the same benefit out of a plastic roller that is shaped and painted to look like jade.
Question 2: (audio question continued)
My second question is about micellar water how is that used as a cleaning agent or to remove make up is it enough to just use that alone or again is it hype or is it something that really works?
Micellar water is a marketing term made up so product marketers can sell you a different version of a facial cleanser. From a formulation standpoint, essentially you take the ingredients found in a standard mild cleanser and dilute them down.
The term “micelle” refers to structure of the detergents (also known as surfactants) in the formula. Surfactants are a special type of molecule in that they have a water compatible portion and an oil compatible portion. Because of this surfactant molecules have this property where they arrange themselves in spherical structures on a microscopic level. These spheres are known as micelles.
When you use a the product the micelles break open, surround oil soluble dirt, which can then be rinsed or wiped away.
But you know what, this is exactly the same way that facial cleanser work!!
The reality is that micellar waters are just diluted cleansers. There are some slight differences in that some products use a positively charged surfactant (called a cationic surfactant) instead of the more common nonionic surfactants found in general facial cleansers.
Question 3:
Jesse want to know – What are your thoughts on the efficacy of taking vitamins and supplements internally for skin health?
1. There is almost no good evidence to show that a person with a standard diet will get any benefit from taking supplements to improve their skin. There are lots of single studies to show some evidence but these have not been replicated and are generally not well designed. Basically, if you’re malnourished it could help skin but for regular people, no.
e.g. https://sci-hub.tw/https://europepmc.org/abstract/med/26659939
2. The only thing for which there might be some effect is Collagen supplements. I don’t find the evidence compelling since it hasn’t been independently duplicated, but there is at least a double blinded placebo controlled study. e.g (https://sci-hub.tw/https://www.nature.com/articles/1602438)
3. There is no evidence whether pills or powders or liquid supplements will make a difference. I would suggest for consumers who find the use of supplements compelling to experiment with the form that works for them best. Pills are preferred by some but liquids by others. It will not make much difference as far as absorption and effect on skin.
Question 4:
Anne from Vancouver says – Glad to you guys are back! Happy new year! I would your opinions on the https://briogeohair.com/ Hair line. Here’s an example product – the Scalp Revival Charcoal and Coconut Oil Micro-Exfoliating Shampoo.
As for whether or not the products are worth the price, it really depends on what you’re willing to spend. Products that avoid the use of silicones and are sulfate-free typically cost more per pound because ingredient companies leverage the market trend and charge more for the ingredients. Additionally, natural ingredients, like esthers, oils or extracts, are more expensive because they rely on Mother Nature for the harvest, and additionally need to be processed, so they tend to be more expensive as well, over silicones that are used in hair care to make the hair feel good. It’s not always necessarily the case because there are some high-performance silicones that do really cool things on the hair that can be pricey.
Question 5:
Finally, Camie asks – are the ingredients that listed in the cosmetics safe to use and what might be the side effects?
There is an easy answer to this one. Yes, ingredients listed in cosmetics are safe to use. In fact, in the US and around the world it is illegal to sell unsafe products, it’s as simple as that.
The CIR is the Cosmetic Ingredient Review board
Cosmetics are safe to use so it’s not something I’d worry about. But if you are afraid of cosmetics, don’t use them. You don’t have to use cosmetics to live a happy, healthy life. However, for a lot of people cosmetics make them feel better about themselves and feel happy.
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