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Are you falling for these skincare experts?

Lab Muffin Beauty Science

607,207 views

Toxic ingredients, miracle products, home remedies... How do you work out what's true when different "experts" are giving different advice? Let's chat about bad beauty advice, fake experts, and red flags for spotting them.

MY BOOK 📖 The Science of Beauty: https://labmuffin.com/sob
Shop my favourite products: https://shopmy.us/labmuffin
Subscribe for videos every fortnight: http://bit.ly/labmuffinyt

0:00 Doctors, "addicted to chapstick"
5:53 PFAS, benzene, straighteners
12:39 Dr Eric Berg DC, beef tallow, chiropractors
17:33 Pore clogging, fragrance, silicones, talc
29:43 Lotions vs creams, dermatologists
33:55 Dr Vanita Rattan, melanated skin, mineral SPF, vitamin C
40:19 Dr Julian Sass, DIY sunscreen, SPF testing, appeal to authority, PhDs
51:16 Chemical sunscreen, kidney and birth defects
54:55 Credentials, expert responsibility, defensiveness, chemists
59:09 Red flags for spotting dodgy experts: CRABS and MUDCAPS

🙋🏻 I'm Michelle, a chemistry PhD and science communicator, here to explain how beauty products work, debunk myths, and help you make smarter decisions about your skincare, hair and makeup!

Website https://labmuffin.com
Instagram Instagram: labmuffinbeautyscience
TikTok TikTok: labmuffinbeautyscience
Shop my favourite products: https://shopmy.us/labmuffin
✨ Want smooth, glowing skin? Grab a copy of my FREE Essential Guide to Exfoliation! https://labmuffin.com/exfol
Powered By Chemicals Mugs: https://labmuffin.com/shop/

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Free exfoliation guide https://labmuffin.com/exfol
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Some reliable beauty science people to follow: ‪@Moskinlab‬ ‪@hannah_english‬ glowbyram%c3%b3n
Instagram: theecowell
Instagram: themelaninchemist
Instagram: skinsciencebymira

Examples of general science communicators who prove you don't necessarily need to "stay in your lane" ‪@thebrainscoop‬ ‪@hankschannel‬ ‪@TomScottGo‬

🧴 SKINCARE GUIDE 🧴 Find out more: https://labmuffin.com/skin

20 Comments

@juhnetmickerdy 1 year ago

It’s not bullying to correct misinformation. Like you said, it’s a problem and it’s dangerous and I’m grateful that you’re letting us know the truth!

@amassofcontradictions4693 1 year ago (edited)

Lawyer here. Thank you for pointing out the mere fact that there was a lawsuit or that there was a settlement tell us nothing about the merits of the claim or the safety of the product at issue

@emilyking9558 1 year ago

I’m a doctor and I’m totally unqualified to give skincare advice.

Seriously even a lot of dermatologists aren’t experts in cosmetic dermatology.

@bugaboo_daisy9000 1 year ago

It's obvious who isn't an actual "expert" in their field because they can't handle the mildest of criticism. Every academic I've ever met is well-prepared to receive evidence based criticism from others in their field, even if they're an arrogant person. That's the nature of actual research.

@meganmurphy8243 1 year ago

Bless Michelle for doing the work the world needs right now.

@Iceburnification 11 months ago

I start getting suspicious of influencers when they begin selling their own products.

@Vuy-h1m 1 year ago (edited)

I'm still angry on Michelle's behalf for the way Julian Sass framed her with the rhetoric of "petty establishmentarian bullying up-and-coming POCs" and incited his parasocial following to harass her over it. She's a POC herself! I'm glad she'd finally spoken about this because I couldn't stand him

@AlexHider 1 year ago (edited)

Content driven exclusively by a hot take economy is ruining the internet. I’m convinced that a lot of these practitioners would never say bullshit like this if it wasn’t a game of musical chairs with money at the end.

@klatchabobby 1 year ago

NOTHING pisses me off more than when people say something is good because it “doesn’t contain any chemicals” and it’s just a glass of water. Pure chemicals. Do we really need to go back to high school chemistry class to learn WHAT CHEMICALS ARE????

@SusanCavers 1 year ago

I wondered why there weren’t any chapstick rehab facilities or support groups.

@paraumbrella61764 1 year ago

TikTok is the worst place to get information.

@drelizaanam 9 months ago

What amazes me as a doctor is that people are worried about small amounts of chemicals in the small amounts of cosmetics while smoking, being sedentary and eating ultra processed food.

@daisychainreaction 1 year ago (edited)

Caitlin Doughty (Ask a Mortician) had this series called "everyone's asking/no one's asking" where she'd answer a question about something her audience wanted to hear about, but in exchange, she got to tell us something random and related that she wanted to talk about. I think that's sort of what you do on your channel; through the medium of responding to and addressing inflammatory disinformation, I feel like what you're actually doing is teaching critical thinking and communication skills.

I feel like I got tricked into being smarter, so...thanks for that!

@RainbowFishSaysHello 1 year ago

Calling out bullshitters is going to make you a target for retaliation. Stay strong, we appreciate it!

@MMAA09wowz 10 months ago

Dr V used to have a scam clinic in London called the Hyperpigmentation Clinic, that was forced to shut down due to negligence. She then goes online where she can go rogue. She’s a scammer, and has done clinical procedures to people with devastating consequences. I am so glad she’s being called out!

@ninanano 1 year ago

Let us pray for Michelle's mental health because if I get exhausted from debunking my family's theories during family gatherings, imagine her... It's real public service. Didn't expect less from one of my favorite YouTubers

@emimagination 1 year ago

As an anxious person I am so grateful for your B.S. detection!!

@Elparker28 11 months ago (edited)

Dr Eric Berg is also a Scientologist. I’m all for freedom of religion but I’m not into supporting high control groups that harm children and families. When people support his business, they allow him to tithe more to the organization and keep it funded.

@a.george8982 1 year ago

I’m glad someone is calling out Dr.Vanita Rattan. I brought up the same fact you mentioned, that she’s always pushing her brand, while claiming to make non sponsored content. Also, magically, every other brand has poorly formulated products.