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Is the guy in the logo real? In our first solo mini episode, Nat is going to deep dive into the story behind the brand, Burt's Bees. Burt Shavitz wasn't looking for fame, so how did he go from a self described loner to arguably the most famous bee keeper in the world? It started when a 60s hippie left his life as a street photographer for Time-Life in Manhattan. Burt describes getting his hives as divine intervention, and started selling honey from his truck. In another turn

Next time you walk into Sephora, count how many products say things like clean, sustainable, eco-friendly, non-toxic, reef-safe. Have you ever asked yourself what these actually mean, or who defines these terms? Claims like these are an example of greenwashing. Greenwashing is marketing communication that misleads consumers into forming overly positive beliefs about a company’s environmental practices or a product’s environmental benefits.

Gold can be found in the pot at the end of the rainbow, but it can also be found in your skincare. Today we’re going to explore the history of gold, how it’s been used in cosmetics, and whether it’s actually the anti-aging miracle some people claim it to be.

Perfume is one of those things everyone uses but almost no one thinks about. It might seem like you're just spraying a fragrance onto your body and voila you smell good, but it's actually way more complex than that.

Since we're in the throes of love month, it's only fair that we talk about pheromones. Specifically: do they work in humans, and is "pheromone perfume" a real thing or just a very confident marketing claim? The short answer is: we don't really know, and the perfume is almost definitely a placebo. But the science of how we got here is honestly pretty interesting. Buckle up, you're in for a wild ride!

Long before perfume was something you sprayed on your neck before leaving the house, it was burned for the gods, melted onto people’s heads, and made from ingredients we probably shouldn’t talk about before dinner. This episode is all about how perfume evolved from sacred rituals to everyday identity. Also I must mention that a lot of this information comes from the book Neurobiology of Sensation and Reward. We’ve linked the chapter in the shownotes.

It’s February, which is the month of love, and you know what I love? Things that smell good. I know that might be an unpopular opinion, but I prefer good-smelling things to bad-smelling things. One big way this is achieved is through fragrance. In cosmetics, it’s common for companies to add fragrance to their products. Sometimes this is done to create a sensory experience, shape how we perceive a product, or even evoke memories. Other times, it’s simply there to cover up the

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.

For today's episode, we'll be diving into the world of surfactant myths! As we've discussed this month, there are a lot of misconceptions about surfactants. Let's chat about some of the most common ones and wash those rumors down the drain. Myth 1: If a cleanser tingles, that means it’s working. Humans are very good at trusting feelings over mechanisms they can't see. Tingling feels like “something is happening,” so the brain assigns meaning to it. This is the same reason peo

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!

A couple weeks ago I told you all about Emulsifiers, and how they are the secret ingredient to hold oil and water together to create emulsions. Or things like creams, conditioners, lotions, milk mayo etc. Well today, we are going to back it up a little bit and talk about an even broader term - surfactants. It is officially the new year. And new year = new me. Jk. but a lot of people are making new goals and trying to create new habits. I felt like there was no better way to w

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.

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 t

With the cold comes a lot of changes in the environment; temperatures get colder, brisk winds are more frequent, humidity drops, and our heaters kick on. These environmental changes can, in turn, cause a lot of changes to our skin and hair. So for this episode, we’re going to chat about why our skin & hair changes with the seasons, and what you can do to combat these issues to keep healthy skin and hair all year round.

This time of year, I think many of us find ourselves doing things we normally wouldn’t or seeing people we normally wouldn’t hang out with. But something, or someone is able to bring people together anyway, even if they don't like each other. Maybe we could consider that person to be an emulsifier? It's the holidays, which might mean family time. It might mean extra cooking or baking - for many its just a time of trying to hold everything together.

In this episode of Beauty by the Beaker, we're diving into the science of haircare! We discuss identifying your hair type, and the importance that plays on an ideal haircare routine. We're answering questions about the effectiveness of heat protectants for styling, and rosemary oil for hair growth. Stick around for a discussion on salon ‘grade’ versus drugstore haircare products, and a reminder of the importance of personal preference in hair care routines.

With the holidays and Black Friday coming up, it’s even more important that you’re choosy with the products you purchase, and you don’t waste your money on things that don’t work. So in this episode, we’ll go over the three main facets of personal care products (haircare, skincare, and body care) and teach you how to determine whether the product is a good fit for you.

Once again, I started researching a topic and spent a full day hyperfixated on it and made my notes way too long. This time I let myself wander down all the weird details, but instead of dumping everything on you right now, I’ve scaled it back to an overview. So WHEN you need more, we will be ready to deliver. Today is the first episode on Natural vs Synthetic ingredients!

If you know me, you probably know that I’ve struggled with acne my entire life. I had severe, cystic acne for most of my teenage years and early 20s, and eventually I decided to go on Accutane because I was tired of trying all of the topicals. Because I’ve dealt with acne for so long, I’ve always been curious about it - why it happens, what causes it (is it mostly lifestyle, genetics, or diet?) and of course how to treat it.

In this week's episode, hosts Sadie and Natalie are answering your burning questions, while participating in a Halloween activity, painting pumpkins! We cover our most coveted products, our stance on clean beauty and cosmetic ingredient websites, and how we recommend getting into the industry. We also talk about the 2025 sunscreen drama, or sunscreen gate. Plus the pros and cons of contract manufacturing. This week, its Halloween craft night with your cosmetic chemist BFFs.