The Science of Beauty….Real or Imagined?
I worked as a sales person at the cosmetic Counter at my local Department Store when I was in high school. The representatives from the different cosmetic companies would come to the store and coach us on what we were to tell the customers about the different products. I remember listening to them and wondering why anyone in their right mind would believe this stuff and thinking that if this is all true than all of these Reps and Trainers would be beautiful and they were not. One day I was waiting on a lady that bought a product based on the information I was giving her and I felt terrible because I did not know for sure if any of the information I had given her was actually true! I definitely had my doubts. The next day I asked to be transferred to the Toy Department! That experience left me with a good degree of skepticism regarding the Beauty Industry’s claims.
So how much of the beauty industry is science and how much is wishful thinking on the part of the buyer? Well one thing for sure is that women have gotten a lot smarter since my days at the Cosmetics Counter. Today women want to know the ingredients in their products for many reasons. Not just their effectiveness but their impact on the environment. They not only want to know if they work but how and why they work. In today’s world the Wellness Sector and the Beauty Sector are converging. Not just beauty but healthy skin and body are primary concerns.
Naturally not all product claims are completely accurate and there will always be the marketers appealing to women emotionally and making promises that are designed to make them feel good about what they are buying. But today’s woman want results not just promises.
Now there are millions of dollars spent on research and development of products. Major Universities have departments dealing with the fundamentals of Cosmetics Science. such as The University of Rhode Island’s Department of Applied Pharmaceutical Sciences that offers an M.Sc. in Cosmetics and Personal Care Products Technology. The University of Cincinnati and Fairleigh Dickinson University offer master level programs in Cosmetic Science.
Today as an influencer I still maintain a healthy skepticism and daily I turn down requests to represent products that have outrageous claim to them. But now I do believe that there are products out there that can offer results. I am always being asked about my skin care routines. I believe that when it comes to your skin less is more. I only use Dove for Sensitive Skin Bar Soap (less chemicals) to wash my face. I do not use waterproof makeup or makeup remover because I don’t believe that all the tugging and wiping it takes to get them off is good for delicate skin. I use a moisturizer and sunscreen under my makeup and a moisturizer at night with a few drops of oil under my eyes.
Is it really making a difference ….I don’t know!! But to quote my dear father when he returned from buying my 92 year old mother her wrinkle cream “ This “Wrinkle Cream must really work because you sure have a lot of them”!
Epilogue March 19, 2022
Myself and Professor Augustinus Bader
March 16, 2022
After 18 months of researching Augustinus Bader and the new line of skin care that he and his partner Charles Rosier have brought to the market I find that I have changed my opinion. If you read the above Blog post you know I have a very healthy amount of skepticism regarding skin care claims. But Augustinus Bader has really merged skin care with medical technology. I had the good fortune of meeting both Professor Bader and Charles Rosier this week and had many of my remaining questions answered.
Professor Bader’s work has always been in the field of medical research. Several years ago he developed a medical grade hydrogel that could provide rapid, scar free healing for those with severe burns. Charles Rosier had the vision to apply the technology to skin care. It took two years for Dr. Bader to be convinced. The skin care line taps into similar self-healing technology activating the body’s own stem cells. The price of Bader products is high and the price is based on the research and development that goes into each product. 10% of the profit from each sale of Augustinus Bader goes to the Augustinus Bader Foundation. The Foundation’s first mission is to aid children’s burns providing treatment kits and support to doctors and clinics, helping less privileged victims in developing countries.
It was my privilege to meet both of these men this week and learn so much more about how Bader Products came about. This time the convergence of medical research and technology have produced what may well be the first skin care cream that can really make a difference. I have been using the products for about a year now and feel that they are truly making a difference in my skin. Something I never thought that I would say. For further information on Professor Bader Click Here.