From "clean beauty" fairy tales experts wish you’d forget to the marketing myths clogging your feed, today’s guest is stripping away the bullshit to reveal the cold, hard science of skin.

On this week's episode of The Formula, content creator and evidence-based advocate Sam [By The Counter] breaks down why reading an ingredient list is like trying to guess a cake recipe without the measurements, the truth about who actually pays for "cruelty-free" research, and why your favourite luxury products might actually be worth the splurge. Plus, Sam explains why fragrance isn't the enemy, the "moral superiority" trap in sustainable packaging, and the indie products he swears by for a perfect barrier.

PRODUCTS MENTIONED: 

build [skincare] b-cream, $30. 

Biologique Recherche Lotion P50, $260.

Rationale #5 The Milk Concentrate, $214. 

DAB by Augustinus Bader Science Supercharged Glow Complex, $138. 

CHANEL SUBLIMAGE LA CRÈME TEXTURE SUPRÊME Ultimate Cream, $670. 

CHANEL COCO MADEMOISELLE Foaming Shower Gel, $215. 

The Eco Well (Jen Novakovic)

Lab Muffin Beauty Science (Michelle Wong)

FOR MORE WHERE THIS CAME FROM: 

Hosts: Kelly McCarren

Guest: Sam [By The Counter]

Producer: Sophie Campbell

Audio Producer: Tegan Sadler

Video Producer: Artemi Kokkaris

Just so you know — some of the links in these notes are affiliate links, which means we might earn a small commission if you buy through them. It doesn’t cost you anything extra, and it helps support the show. Happy shopping!

Mamamia acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the Land we have recorded this podcast on, the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures.