Beauty by the Beaker

Beauty by the Beaker

By Beauty by the BeakerScienceChemistry
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Beauty by the Beaker episodes

  • EP 25 - Why Are Perfumes So Complex? The Science Behind Your Favorite Fragrances

    We have spent all month talking about smells, but how do perfumes even work? And what makes them all smell so different? In this week's episode we are explaining some perfume basics, like what is the difference between cologne and an eau de toilette? We are talking about fragrance ingredients, and the important roles that they play in finished perfumes. Plus, we are telling you what perfume bottles you are likely to find on each of our shelves, and the scent notes that are inside. Of course, since Natalie and Sadie don’t necessarily sniff nose-to-nose, we end with a reminder that fragrance is truly so personal. 

    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, and we aren't afraid to bust some myths while doing it. 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.

    Perfumes Mentioned: 

    Versace - Crystal Noir 

    Carolina Herrera - Good Girl Supreme 

    Yves Saint Laurent - Libre Intense 

    Kayali - Vanilla 28 

    Versace - Yellow Diamond 

    Dolce & Gabbana - Light Blue 

    Maison Francis Kurkdjian Paris - Baccarat Rouge 540 

    Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with sources.

    Join us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!

    @beautyxbeaker

    @natbxb

    @sadiebxb

    Contact us at [email protected]

    Special thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and Hailey Romero for our branding.


    44 min
  • EP 24 - Some Animals Use Pheromones to Find a Lover. Do Humans?

    This week we are back in the Salon to talk about a special type of chemical that MIGHT help you find your Valentine, Pheromones! Which as you may have guessed, are linked to some debatable science. We are discussing some well known examples of animals who use pheromones, and then talking about why humans probably don't. Even if we don’t use our noses to find love, we are talking all about how our sense of smell influences our decision making. 

    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, and we aren't afraid to bust some myths while doing it. 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.

    Pheromones are very well studied  in the Silkworm, which does in fact grow up to become a silk moth. 

    https://www.si.edu/spotlight/buginfo/pheromones#:~:text=silkworm%20family%20moths%2C%20where%20males%20are%20noted,following%20a%20pheromone%20trail%20in%20the%20air. 

    Learn about The Whitaker Museum and the silk lady! 

    https://www.centervilleutah.gov/229/Whitaker-Museum

    Mealworm beetle

    https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0022474X19304400

    Obi L. Griffith, Ramin Vakili, Robert W. Currie, Désirée Vanderwel,

    The effect of mating on the sex pheromone system of the yellow mealworm beetle, Tenebrio molitor L. (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae),

    Journal of Stored Products Research,

    Volume 86,

    2020,

    101572,

    ISSN 0022-474X,

    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jspr.2020.101572.

    We talk about how humans actually do use Pheromones, just not with their Jacobsons Organ. We use them to protect crops from pests. Research on pheromones started in the 1950s, and they were originally used by farmers to lure in insects and trap them. In the 1970s, they started using them as a way to prevent mating success, which decreased the population. 

    https://agresearchmag.ars.usda.gov/ar/archive/1997/jan/science.pdf


    56 min
  • EP 23 - Have People Always Cared About The Way They Smell? The Weird History of Perfume.

    Chances are, you probably have some sort of fragrance in your going out routine, whether its a scented lotion, body spray, deodorant, or perfume. For many of us, the way we smell is in some way tied to our identity, but this isn't new. Humans have been using fragrance oils and perfumes for basically as long as we have been around. Today we are diving into the weird history of perfume. From Egyptian head cones to Chanel no. 5 and Creed Aventus, we are learning how scent has shaped our society.


    Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where science meets your bathroom shelf. We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products - and we aren't afraid to bust some myths while doing it. 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.


    Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with sources.


    Join us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!

    @beautyxbeaker

    @natbxb

    @sadiebxb

    Contact us at [email protected]

    Special thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and Hailey Romero for our branding.


    45 min
  • EP 22 - What's That Smell? Is it Disrupting My Hormones?

    Welcome back! This week is a fragrance overview to get you ready for some stinky subjects! This week, hosts Sadie and Natalie are talking about fragrances in cosmetics! Sadie tells you what a fragrance is, how we smell them, and some of your burning questions regarding fragrance safety. Learn about allergies, how they develop, and the dangers of misusing essential oils. If you have ever wondered if you need to avoid scented products, this episode is for you!


    Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where science gets a hot new makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products - and we aren't afraid to bust some myths while doing it. 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.


    Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with sources.


    Join us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!

    @beautyxbeaker

    @natbxb

    @sadiebxb

    Contact us at [email protected]

    Special thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and Hailey Romero for our branding.

    49 min
  • EP 21 - Sadie Reveals One Product She WON'T be Buying Again

    Happy last week of January and last week of surfactants. On this episode, we are talking about our favorite soapy selections! We are telling you all about our favorite cleansing products.

    Natalie tells you about her favorite high end shampoo, despite recently ranting that expensive shampoo is a waste of money. She also talks about a classic foaming hand wash, and what makes foaming products less moisturizing. Her last recommendation is a solid style product, and we discuss the difference between surfactants and soaps.

    Sadie tells you about a face wash that has been helpful for her acne prone skin, and they review the difference between drugs and cosmetics. She tells you about a cheaper shampoo option that she loves, and her favorite featured ingredient, Amodimethicone. Sadie's last product can be found throughout her house, so it can be enjoyed anytime hands need washing. Stick around to find out one product they think may have missed the mark.


    Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where science gets a hot new makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products - and we aren't afraid to bust some myths while doing it. 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.

    Products Mentioned:

    Amika - The Kure Strength Repair Shampoo

    PanOxyl - Acne Foaming Wash (4%)

    Bath and Body Works - Foaming Hand Soap

    Garnier Fructis - Sleek and Shine Shampoo

    Kitsch - Solid Body Wash

    OUAI - Hand Wash


    *None of these products are sponsored


    Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with sources.


    Join us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!

    @beautyxbeaker

    @natbxb

    @sadiebxb

    Contact us at [email protected]

    Special thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and Hailey Romero for our branding.




    41 min
  • EP 20 - Are Sulfates Natural? Washing Away Myths About Cleansers

    Forget everything you thought you knew about surfactants, this week we are talking about the most common cleansing myths. We answer - if my cleanser is burning, does that mean it's working? Does your shampoo open and close your hair cuticle? Do rinse off products even matter? Spoiler, they do. They are actually designed to be rinsed off, and we are talking about why. We are talking about the science behind double shampooing, and why you get so much foam the second time. We’re ending the episode with a conversation about Natural vs Synthetic, and how natural doesn’t always mean better, or anything at all. Most importantly, we are reminding you of the complexities of surfactant systems, and why you can’t really judge a cleanser based on its ingredient list.

    Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where science gets a hot new makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products - and we aren't afraid to bust some myths while doing it. 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.

    Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with sources.

    Join us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!

    @beautyxbeaker

    @natbxb

    @sadiebxb

    Contact us at [email protected]

    Special thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and Hailey Romero for our branding.


    55 min
  • EP 19 - Face Wash, Micellar Water, and Makeup Wipes - Are They Really That Different?

    We are back in the Science Salon, and we are ready to chat more about our favorite unifiers. This week we debrief from the chemistry lesson we had on the 4 types of surfactants. We are talking about color safe shampoo, and how sulfates got such a bad reputation. Then we are talking about a familiar grapefruit acne facewash, and different types of makeup removing methods. This one is all over the place, so try to follow along!

    Additional notes from todays episode: We mention Anionic Surfactants are petroleum derived (crude oil), but they can also be coconut/palm derived. This is a whole different ethics question. The Microbead-free waters act of 2015 - prohibited the use of plastic microbeads in the use of rinse off products. The deadline for the change was 2017.


    Products Mentioned in the Episode:

    Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser ($8)

    Neutrogena Makeup Remover Cleansing Towlettes ($8)

    Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where science gets a hot new makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products - and we aren't afraid to bust some myths while doing it. 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.

    Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with sources.

    Join us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!

    @beautyxbeaker

    @natbxb

    @sadiebxb

    Contact us at [email protected]

    Special thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and Hailey Romero for our branding.

    42 min
  • EP 18 - Not Sulfate Free? Not a Problem! Surfactant Chemistry Will Teach You Why.

    Its Wednesday again! Welcome back to the Science Salon for another episode of Beauty by the Beaker. This week hosts Natalie and Sadie are breaking down what it means to be a surfactant, or rather, a Surface Active Agent. They review surface tension, and the difference between water and oil, and talk charged molecules - Cations and Anions. They discuss the four types of surfactants, and how different they all are. But like always, they remind you that nothing is black and white, and what matters the most is that you use products that make you happy!


    Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where science gets a hot new makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products - and we aren't afraid to bust some myths while doing it. 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.


    Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with sources.

    Join us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!

    @beautyxbeaker

    @natbxb

    @sadiebxb

    Contact us at [email protected]

    Special thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and Hailey Romero for our branding.

    46 min
  • EP 17 - The End Of the Birth Year of Beauty By The Beaker Podcast

    In this week's episode, hosts Natalie and Sadie are catching up after a long break. They are reflecting on the past couple months of podcasting, and discussing what the next year holds for BXB and their personal ventures.


    Sadie talks more in depth about her company Strandprint, and the value of microscopic hair analysis. If you struggle with your hair, or just want to learn more, visit:

    https://www.strandprint.com/


    Natalie introduces her new cosmetic consulting company Atomic Beauty Science, which focuses on education and transparency at any stage of product development. See more at:

    https://www.atomicbeautyscience.com/


    Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where science gets a hot new makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products - and we aren't afraid to bust some myths while doing it. 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.

    Visit our website to read more about this episode.

    Join us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!

    @beautyxbeaker

    @natbxb

    @sadiebxb

    Contact us at [email protected]

    Special thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and Hailey Romero for our branding.

    44 min
  • EP 16 - Which Cosmetics Do We Think Should Be Under The Tree?

    Merry Christmas Eve, everyone! Today hosts Sadie and Natalie are finally talking in depth about some specific products. First, we’re discussing products we already love, purchase, and would consider gifting to someone this holiday. After that we talking about cosmetics we’ve had our eye on, that we might try to pick up in the new year. We’re covering some viral beauty sensations, as well as some boring routine items. So come along to deep dive into ingredient lists, and get to know us more. 


    Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, the podcast where science gets a hot new makeover! We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products - and we aren't afraid to bust some myths while doing it. 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.


    Sadie’s Favorites

    Vanicream Daily Facial Moisturizer ($14)

    Dove Body Wash - Spiced Chai Latte ($8)

    Alastin HA Immerse Serum ($134)

    K18 Leave-in Molecular Repair Hair Mask ($75)


    Nat's Favorites 

    Colgate Optic White Toothpaste ($6)

    Supergoop Tinted  Mineral Mattescreen SPF 40 ($40)

    Colourpop Pretty Fresh Tinted Foundation Balm ($14)

    First Aid Beauty KP Bump Eraser Body Scrub 10% AHA ($30)


    Sadie’s Wishlist 

    Educated Mess Golden Hour Gold- Stabilized Vitamin C Serum ($85)

    Regimen Lab Azelaic Advanced Treatment ($58)

    Prequel Lip Visor Sunscreen Broad Spectrum SPF 30 PA+++ ($14)

    Naturium The Smoother Glycolic Acid Exfoliating Body Wash ($17)


    Nat’s Wishlist 

    Sulwhasoo Gentle Cleansing Foam ($38)

    Medicube Collagen Niacinamide Jelly Cream ($39)

    Rare Soft Pinch Liquid Contour ($30)

    Gloves in a Bottle Shielding Lotion for Dry Hands ($28)


    *None of these products are sponsored


    Visit our website to read more about this episode and check out our blog post with sources.

    Join us on Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and Youtube!

    @beautyxbeaker

    @natbxb

    @sadiebxb

    Contact us at [email protected]

    Special thanks to Flip Twogood for our photos and Hailey Romero for our branding.

    47 min

About Beauty by the Beaker

From the publisher's feed

Welcome to Beauty by the Beaker, a podcast where Science Gets a HOT New Makeover. We're two cosmetic chemists who want to reveal what really goes into your favorite products - and we aren't…