#503: Beauty Trends, Safety, Industry Tricks, and Controversies with Melanie Petschke, FNP

Today we’re clearing up the clean beauty controversies, tackling myths, and diving deep into everything you need to know about ingredients, safety, and product formulations with my expert guest, Melanie Petschke. We also talk a bit about the tricks of the industry, and exactly what to look out for when evaluating products. To quote the early 00s MTV show Diary: “You think you know, but you have no idea.”

Timestamps:

[4:54] Welcome Melanie Petschke
[5:55] What are the main things we need to look out for on a label when it comes to beauty and skincare products?
[14:13] Can ingredients be hidden on a label?
[17:45] Why does the FDA not regulate ingredients?
[22:18] Is there any regulation around terms like natural, clean, bioactive, or organic when it comes to cosmetic products?
[28:15] Can you explain why some chemical ingredients can still be considered “safe”?
[33:28] Are clean cosmetics more likely to experience microbial growth, like mold?
[37:00] What do you think about phenoxyethanol and is it safe to use in products?
[43:43] Can you please talk about pregnancy safe skincare – what do we need to know and what should we look for?
[52:45] If a product says “fragrance from essential oils”, does that mean it’s completely safe?
[1:04:16] If I want to start with clean makeup, what are the 3 products to change first and should I focus on makeup or skincare?
[1:07:02] What are the top 3 products to use that are simple and budget friendly?
[1:11:19] I have dry, menopausal skin – what do I layer underneath my moisturizer?
[1:14:01] Are there any types of alcohols that are helpful in cosmetics? It seems to be in everything!
[1:16:27] What are some reliable sources where we can dig into our own research? 

Episode Links:

Shop Crunchi!
Honest Crunchi Review: What to Get & What to Skip
EWG’s healthy living App
Think Dirty App to check Beauty Ingredients
Yuka App
Recommended products:
Facial Bar cleanser
Cleansing Balm cleanser
Clarilight Resurfacing Toner
I am Polish Resurfacing Mask
I AM Luminous Facial Oil
Daylight Advanced Facial Moisturizer
Nightlight Advanced Facial Moisturizer

Things to look out for in skincare:

• Fragrance
• Phthalates
• Parabens
• SLSs 
• Petroleum products
• Ethoxylated ingredients like PEGs. The byproducts of ethoxylation are 1,4-dioxane and ethylene oxide, both of which are possible carcinogens.
• -eth at the end

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