Ingredient-Led Brief

Why Online Shade Matching Still Feels Like a Gamble

Artificial intelligence may be trying to match your undertone with a few clicks and a smartphone selfie, but until it’s perfected, there’s still no substitute for a good old-fashioned swatch comparison. Take the image below: each of these formulas is labeled as a “light neutral” tint. And yet, the differences are obvious—one leans peach, another …

Ingredient-Led Brief

Joan Collins Ate More Titanium Dioxide Than You Ever Will

And Look at Her Now. We just unpacked the latest science behind titanium dioxide in lip products here, but let’s take a lighter moment to ask: what would Joan Collins say? Joan Collins is 90-something, fabulous, and possibly walking, talking proof that decades of titanium dioxide-laced lipstick haven’t killed anyone. Watching her in this interview, …

Ingredients

Titanium Dioxide in Lip Products: What the Science (and Silence) Says

In 2022, the EU banned titanium dioxide as a food additive due to concerns over nano-sized particles that may accumulate in the body and potentially damage DNA over time. While this doesn’t apply to cosmetics, it raises questions for lip products, which can be incidentally ingested. The move reflects a precautionary approach, not proven toxicity, …

Clean Beauty Marketing

The COVERGIRL Cleantopia Waterproof Mascara Looked Too Good to Be True — Was It?

⁠Fragrance-free. Vegan. Waterproof. Leaping Bunny Certified by Cruelty-free International. $10.50. The COVERGIRL Lash Blast Cleantopia Waterproof Mascara checks a lot of boxes, and with a softly tapered brush that builds fluffy volume, it looked like a clean beauty unicorn. Even better? The ingredient list on COVERGIRL’s official Amazon storefront didn’t mention polyethylene, a commonly used …

Biotech Beauty, Product Reviews

Biossance Pro-Peptide™ Lip Perfector Review

Vegan, Clean, and Long-Lasting It’s rare to find a lip balm that feels as good as it performs—especially one that lives up to a 24-hour moisture claim. But Biossance’s Pro-Peptide™ Lip Perfector delivers. At $18 for 15 g (.53 oz), this vegan balm pairs science-forward ingredients with skin-first results. Key Ingredient: Sugarcane-Derived Squalane At the …

K-Beauty, Product Reviews

Beauty of Joseon vs. Saie Slip Tint: Tinted Sunscreen

This side-by-side comparison features two very different approaches to clean, tinted SPF. One is made in Korea, the other in the U.S., and while both aim to blend skincare with sun protection, the textures, finish, and formulation philosophies are quite different. Beauty of Joseon Relief Sun: SPF40 Made in Korea | Zinc Oxide 20.90% | …

Product Reviews

The Best Eye Makeup Removers for Sensitive Eyes: Tatcha, Illiyoon & Honest Reviewed

Eye makeup removal can be deceptively complicated, especially for those with sensitive skin or a history of using aggressive removers (hello, petroleum-based products in the ’80s). Today’s ingredient-conscious consumer demands transparency, performance, and gentleness, and the three products reviewed here deliver on all fronts, each in its own way. This comparison features: Each was independently …

Everyday Essentials

California Naturals: The Feel-Good Formula of Affordable Luxury

In a crowded beauty landscape, California Naturals stands out not just for what’s inside the bottle—but what it stands for. Founded by Shelby Wild, a passionate clean beauty innovator, and joined by the ever-charming Owen Wilson as its “Chief Shampoo Officer,” this California-born brand makes a compelling case for everyday essentials that don’t compromise on …

K-Beauty, Product Reviews

Ingredient-Led Review: Pyunkang Yul Cleansing Foam

Minimal Ingredients, Maximum Clarity Pyunkang Yul, a respected name in the K-Beauty arena, continues to distinguish itself with a minimalist approach to skincare rooted in traditional Korean medicine. Developed by the Pyunkang Korean Medicine Hospital, the brand’s philosophy prioritizes ingredient integrity and skin balance over trends. The Cleansing Foam reflects that ethos well. Though it …

K-Beauty

A Gentle, Ingredient-Led Cleanser: Purito Seoul’s Oat-In Gentle Exfoliating Face Cleanser

Oatmeal in skincare is beneficial for several reasons. It gently exfoliates, soothes, hydrates, and supports the skin barrier. Purito Seoul’s new Oat-In Gentle Exfoliating Face Cleanser may be one of the most ingredient-focused options on the market for sensitive, clean beauty routines. Thoughtful Packaging, Thoughtful Formulation Let’s begin with an appreciation of the packaging. Tamper-resistant …

Product Reviews

First Look: RMS Beauty Cashmere Matte Eyelights in Mountain Mist

RMS Beauty has long established itself as a leader in the beauty industry with a focus on high-performing, skin-friendly formulas and responsibly sourced ingredients. Their Cashmere Matte Eyelights line continues this legacy, offering a unique cream-to-powder eyeshadow housed in a sleek, 8.5 ml artist-style tube. The packaging itself is noteworthy: crafted from 100% recycled aluminum, …

K-Beauty

SKIN1004 Probio-Cica Bakuchiol Eye Cream: A Gentle, Ingredient-Led Alternative to Retinol

In the often-overcrowded world of eye creams, finding a plant-based formula that delivers hydration, wrinkle care, skin barrier support without irritation can feel like a rarity. SKIN1004’s Probio-Cica Bakuchiol Eye Cream stands out, not only for what it includes, but for what it leaves out. First Impressions Shipping was fast from the SKIN1004 Amazon storefront, …