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Brooke Devard
Hello. Hello, this is Brooke Devard, and you're listening to the Naked Beauty podcast, if you're watching on YouTube. I've done very minimal makeup today because I really want the skin to shine through. I have been working so hard on my skin. I feel like it's really in its peak form. And today I'm speaking to someone who is a true insider in the skincare industry. Oftentimes we don't get to hear from the people behind the scenes and the chemists that are making the incredible formulations that sell out time and time again. And Ron Robinson is truly a pioneer in his field. I'm going to tell you a little bit about his background. Ron Robinson is a cosmetic chemist and the founder of Beauty Stat. Ron has worked behind the scenes at some of the best legacy beauty companies. He started his career at Clinique and then went to work for Revlon, Lancome and La Mer. Ron is also the chemist behind Hailey Bieber's beauty brand Rhode, helping them to formulate skincare products that have become cult favorites. Ron is so knowledgeable when it comes to skincare and has such deep expertise and industry experience. I cannot wait to talk to him here. Ron, welcome to Naked Beauty.
Ron Robinson
Thank you. Brooke, I'm so excited to be here with you.
Brooke Devard
I'm so excited. I miss running into you and Chelsea.
Ron Robinson
Chelsea? Yes. We used to be neighbors in West Chelsea.
Brooke Devard
I know. And I see.
Ron Robinson
How's LA life treating you?
Brooke Devard
You know what? I feel like you would love LA, too. Cause you're into wellness and I love the sun. Yes.
Ron Robinson
I love being outdoors. Into fitness.
Brooke Devard
You're into fitness? Yes, I think so.
Ron Robinson
I think so. I'd love it here as well.
Brooke Devard
Do you think you would ever move?
Ron Robinson
Looking.
Brooke Devard
Looking.
Ron Robinson
Right, looking. It's a little distance, you know, I feel New York City's been my home base. I'm born and raised there. I know, but you never know.
Brooke Devard
Yes. How does your fiance feel about a potential west coast move? I'm putting you on the spot.
Ron Robinson
He loves it out here. So. Out here. So we'll see. We'll see if that happens.
Brooke Devard
Yes. So let's talk about growing up in Brooklyn.
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
Were you always into math? Science? Were you into skincare?
Ron Robinson
First of all, my parents are from the Caribbean. Barbados.
Brooke Devard
Barbados.
Ron Robinson
Barbados. So my mom was a nurse. She wanted to be a medical doctor.
Brooke Devard
Okay.
Ron Robinson
And that's the thing with folks from the Caribbean back in the day, they only recognized two careers. You were either a doctor or a lawyer.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
So me and my brothers did better in sciences. So they pushed us to do pre med and to become a doctor. Two of my brothers became doctors.
Brooke Devard
You dropped out, right?
Ron Robinson
Dropped out. Didn't know what I wanted to do. Went to med school and dropped out.
Brooke Devard
What was the reaction to you dropping out?
Ron Robinson
My mom was so upset, so hurt. She was crushed. She really was.
Brooke Devard
Yeah.
Ron Robinson
And I moved back in with my parents. They were like, what are you going to do with your life? And I started to send out resumes and Clinique called me in for an interview. Clinique is a division of the Estee Lauder companies.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
They called me in for an interview back in 1989.
Brooke Devard
Wow.
Ron Robinson
And hired me on the spot. And that's how I fell into the beauty industry and became a cosmetic chemist.
Brooke Devard
Oh, my goodness. Well, now I'm understanding your age, because I was born in 1989 and you were working then. You look so good. You look so good. So in 1989 you join Clinique?
Ron Robinson
Yeah, actually 1990, early. So I interviewed, hired, and then actually started early 1990s. That's 35 years ago.
Brooke Devard
Wow. And what was the position?
Ron Robinson
Cosmetic chemist.
Brooke Devard
Okay, okay. And so before doing that, did you have any conception of what cosmetic chemistry was? Were you paying attention to skincare that you were using?
Ron Robinson
The only thing I was using, really, was scrubs, facial scrubs. And do you remember the Biore pore strip?
Brooke Devard
Yes, yes.
Ron Robinson
Where everyone was ripping their noses off.
Brooke Devard
Right. And that's just dead skin that's coming off?
Ron Robinson
Yes, dead skin. And some of the plugged pores as well. It was pulling out the clogged pores. So I think my visual, in terms of seeing what was being pulled out of my skin, that was my first interaction with beauty. But I had no idea there was this world of science and formulation until I became a cosmetic chemist for Clinique.
Brooke Devard
Okay, and so what did you do at Clinique?
Ron Robinson
Yeah, so I formulated some of the early bestselling products for Clinique Skincare. Do you remember the Turnaround cream and Turnaround products? Those were some of the big sellers. So what we did back then is, is we leveraged a beta hydroxy acid called salicylic acid, and that was one of the first times it was incorporated into a topical treatment, serum gel or lotion. And so I created and formulated some of those, which became bestsellers for the brand.
Brooke Devard
Wow.
Ron Robinson
Yeah.
Brooke Devard
And so help me just visualize for a cosmetic chemist. Are you in a lab? Like, what is the day to day? What does a day look like?
Ron Robinson
Yeah. So a cosmetic chemist is someone who Researches, develops or formulates skincare or beauty products. And so I'm working in the lab.
Brooke Devard
Okay, so you're like in a lab coat.
Ron Robinson
In a lab coat.
Brooke Devard
Okay.
Ron Robinson
That was my lab. In the lab coat. Formulating, understanding raw materials. Basically, if you look at my. In fact, I have some photos of myself back in the day with all of my ingredients on a shelf that I would use and leverage to start mixing and putting together products and formulating skincare products.
Brooke Devard
Wow. Wow. And so then, are cosmetic chemists also involved in the clinical trials?
Ron Robinson
No, that's a separate department. And sometimes cosmetic companies can either have some internal clinical testing or external. We have third parties as well that will do testing for us there.
Brooke Devard
Now for Beauty Stat. It's very unique because you are the CEO and founder and cosmetic chemistry chemist.
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
Which is very rare in the skincare industry. Right.
Ron Robinson
There are not many of us at all.
Brooke Devard
There are very few. I'm trying to think. I feel like. Matter of fact, Skincare, Matter of fact.
Ron Robinson
Yeah. Yes.
Brooke Devard
One. And then I'm trying. I can't really even think of others.
Ron Robinson
Dew. One of the co founders of Dew.
Brooke Devard
One of the co founders of Dew. Not Charlie.
Ron Robinson
Cosmetic chemist. Yes. Yeah. Joyce is a cosmetic chemist as well.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
And it's. Yeah, they're not many of us. It's really tough as a cosmetic chemist, really. They're focusing on ingredients, technology. And mostly, especially back then, we weren't. We were kind of working in the lab like a lab rat. We weren't really exposed to consumers. And really, we really partnered up with marketing to come up with these products and develop these products, but we weren't really exposed. This is before social media.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
So we couldn't tap into what's going on. Basically, we had to just rely on either our marketing counterparts to tell us what the market needed and what we should be working on, or we would go out to the shopping mall and actually interview consumers as they were walking in and out of department stores. So we would have a clipboard and we all. Yeah. We were able to stop a consumer as they were coming and say, hey, do you have a few minutes? I'd love to offer you $5 if you'd answer some questions about skincare. What's in your routine? What do you find that's missing? What would you love to see?
Brooke Devard
Wow.
Ron Robinson
That was the only interaction. So it was really old school. It was kind of really guerrilla in terms of how we encountered and engaged with consumers back then.
Brooke Devard
Right. And then. I know you went to Revlon.
Ron Robinson
I did.
Brooke Devard
And my mother was an SVP at Revlon.
Ron Robinson
Oh, amazing.
Brooke Devard
In the late 90s.
Ron Robinson
Okay.
Brooke Devard
So she was on, she was on the marketing side.
Ron Robinson
Okay. Yeah.
Brooke Devard
So one of the things that she always tells me is they had to invent new ways to sell the same product. Right. So a lot of it is like marketing skin. How in, in your field, how often are there true scientific breakthroughs? We're going to talk about your iconic vitamin C serum because I know that, that that's in terms of how it's formulated, very unique. But how often are we just getting the same product repackaged in a new way?
Ron Robinson
I think these days, I think because of brands being more transparent with consumers, they're demanding, consumers are really, they're smarter than ever, savvy as ever. They know ingredients, they expect to be educated. And I certainly do that. My goal is to really educate and inform. That's one of my jobs as well. But consumers want that transparency. So it's hard to pull the wool over consumers eyes these days.
Brooke Devard
True. We're so much more educated.
Ron Robinson
So much more educated. They could, they see it. They could sniff it. They could see it in a minute. They will call you on it. Yes, they will call you on it.
Brooke Devard
Well, I want to talk about luxury skincare for a moment. Because of your time at La Mer.
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
I am someone that loves the La Mer soft cream specifically, which I know you helped formulate Some of the early.
Ron Robinson
Some of the early ones.
Brooke Devard
The early ones, because keep in mind.
Ron Robinson
This is back in like early 2000s, the 90s. So this is what Estee Lauder just recently acquired, La Mer.
Brooke Devard
Okay.
Ron Robinson
And at that time there's only one skew, the cream. That's it.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
And then I helped formulate and develop some of the cleansers, the ancillary products to that cream.
Brooke Devard
Okay. So one of the questions that people always ask me is, is it worth it? Is luxury skincare worth the price tag? How would you answer that?
Ron Robinson
How would I answer that? Well, luxury, what you're getting, you're getting a fantastic package. So if that's important to you and a lot of people, it is esthetics and having some, it looks good, feels good, has the weight, etc. You're definitely getting it there. In most cases you're getting perhaps higher levels of ingredients that might not be in the mass or prestige products. So you're getting that.
Brooke Devard
Okay. And are you getting better efficacy, though? Not always.
Ron Robinson
It sounds like it's that the efficacy is really shrinking. The gap is narrowing.
Brooke Devard
Right.
Ron Robinson
It's really Narrowing in terms of getting that much better. So right now we're seeing the mass brands, the masstige brands, the game. They've stepped it up.
Brooke Devard
They have.
Ron Robinson
So what I'm seeing now from an innovation perspective is getting or giving the consumer great value, great benefits. As less expensive as possible.
Brooke Devard
Yes. Now you have a moisturizer that I love. It's called the Universal, the Pro Bio.
Ron Robinson
Moisture Boost Cream, or the Peptide Wrinkle Relaxing Moisturizer. The pink jar or the green.
Brooke Devard
The green and white jar.
Ron Robinson
Green and white jar. Okay. Yes. That's a Pro Bio Moisture booster.
Brooke Devard
That was the first product, in addition to your vitamin C that I really fell in love with. How much does that cost?
Ron Robinson
That costs $50.
Brooke Devard
$50. And I think the performance is incredible. It's super hydrating. It's, you know, and you explain to me, because you're the cosmetic chemistry. Sometimes I use moisturizers and I feel like they really sit on top of my skin and others really sink in and penetrate. What is that difference?
Ron Robinson
Yeah, that difference. And that's what, you know, I feel that product is very underrated.
Brooke Devard
So underrated. This is what I always say.
Ron Robinson
It's so underrated because we launched that product with our star vitamin C serum. So it really, like, it took a backseat. It took a real backseat. So I think the magic in that product is developing a texture that's lightweight. My goal in that product was to deliver hydration that lasts without the grease and buildup.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
And I think we achieved that.
Brooke Devard
Oh, it's phenomenal. It's phenomenal.
Ron Robinson
Yeah. Love it myself.
Brooke Devard
We have to talk about the vitamin C because that is truly breakthrough in terms of the levels of ascorbic acid and. Let me not talk about the science. Let me hand this over to you to talk about why it is so just breakthrough.
Ron Robinson
Yeah. The purpose and where I was going with that product is the feedback I got from consumers around their frustration around vitamin C. Why does it oxidize? Why does it turn brown and turn orange? Why does it smell like hot dog water?
Brooke Devard
Why does it smell so bad?
Ron Robinson
So bad when it oxidizes and it basically stops working? So the goal, my goal was, what if I could stabilize pure vitamin C, Would that not be a breakthrough in skincare? So many years of testing, researching literally thousands of formulas before we came to that one formula that felt good, had a great texture, blended right into the skin, had 20% pure vitamin C, which is potent. Very potent. It's.
Brooke Devard
Yes, you may feel irritating.
Ron Robinson
No, it's not. The goal was to make it potent, really effective and as less irritating as possible. Because if you have a compromised skin barrier, whereas your skin is dry, irritated, you shouldn't be using vitamin C until you get your moisture barrier intact. So if you have a good healthy barrier that's not compromised, go into vitamin C hours 20%. You're really going to see so much great results around evening out skin tone fading. The look of hyperpigmentation, it firms the skin, reduces fine lines. It does it all. Vitamin C does it all. And that's why I love it. And so I'm so thrilled to be able to bring that product to market.
Brooke Devard
Yes. I need to re up on my. One of the things that I learned recently, I think for some reason in my head I just had vitamin C is something you put on in the morning under sunscreen. And then I don't know if it was an esthetician or dermatologist and they were really, you can use vitamin C at night? I was like, absolutely.
Ron Robinson
You can.
Brooke Devard
Yeah, absolutely can. I don't know how we got into this narrative that vitamin C is like a morning product.
Ron Robinson
Well, I think the reason why is that vitamin C3 great benefits for the skin. It's a powerful antioxidant and I think that's why a lot of scientists derms recommend it in the morning because this way you're getting that protection from free radicals that you might face throughout the day. Also, it helps to stimulate collagen. People don't really realize that, that it's really effective at firming the skin and reducing fine lines and wrinkles. And lastly, what it's known best for is, is brightening the skin, evening out the skin tone and helping to treat and fade hyperpigmentation.
Brooke Devard
Yes. And your latest product is a lip product that has both vitamin C and mineral sunscreen.
Ron Robinson
Absolutely, yes. So the goal there basically was hearing from consumers about the fact that, hey, you know what? I'm seeing hyperpigmentation and unevenness around my lip area. And they're exacerbating that by not finding lip treatments with good sunscreen protection. So the goal with this product, our new C lip serum, this guy here, is basically to combine pure vitamin C mineral sunscreen so that consumers get really that total effective protection against UV and free radicals along with vitamin C to brighten even out the skin tone. It leaves your lips juicy, soft, hydrated. It's amazing. I love it. I'm wearing it right now.
Brooke Devard
Yes. I was so happy to hear that you were wearing it because when I hear mineral sunscreen, automatically I'm like, oh, it's going to be this chalky white and no, it has a beautiful, beautiful kind of peachy tint to it.
Ron Robinson
Peachy tint to it? Yes. Two years in development. This was a tough one. This was a really tough challenge to develop. So excited to launch it now.
Brooke Devard
I'm. I'm very excited to try it. I want to hear about going from idea to product in your hand.
Ron Robinson
Yeah.
Brooke Devard
And specifically, what are the considerations that you keep in mind when you're formulating for dark skin? Now, I know the beauty stat products are for everyone. They are. But just given your background, you know that we have different skincare needs.
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
So what comes into play when you're formulating for darker skin and how do you get from idea to final product?
Ron Robinson
Yeah, I think, well, those with more melanin in their skin. My approach is making sure that we're addressing the biggest concern around hyperpigmentation, evening the skin tone. So once we can get and solve around that, and of course, making sure if we're using sunscreen or mineral sunscreen, we're delivering a sheer product that's going to really blend into the skin. You know, looking and feeling seamlessly. Other than that, our skin is. Is basically works and functions the same as our fair skin counterparts. So. So that's the approach is how can I achieve really the needs for everyone? Of course, keeping our melanin skin folks in mind as well and making sure that we could really get and capture and deliver results for all skin tones.
Brooke Devard
You just mentioned that it takes two years, that this product took two years. So there is a long lead time. And then we kind of see, as consumers, we see trends in the skincare industry. So we're seeing a lot of lip products right now.
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
How do you one, like stay on top of the trends? Like, are there trade publications or conferences that you attend to kind of like know what's happening and then how do you know what the latest science is?
Ron Robinson
Yeah, all of those things. First of all, I am front and consumer facing.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
So that's. I hear it firsthand.
Brooke Devard
Right.
Ron Robinson
I hear from the consumer, I hear their frustrations, I hear their concerns, I hear what they like, what they're missing. And of course, as the scientists, I'm able to match that with innovation. I love working with gold standard ingredients. For all the gold standard ingredients, whether that's retinoids or vitamin C, there's always a downside. So my goal is how do I provide as much upside, meaning how do I take vitamin C, which is notoriously Unstable and stabilize it and make it effective. And I'm doing that with peptides and other other gold standard ingredients that always are so great. But they're not perfect. And it takes a cosmetic chemist or formulator to perfect them and make them really ideal and optimal for everyone.
Brooke Devard
Okay, I'm going to ask you about some common skin care concerns.
Ron Robinson
Okay.
Brooke Devard
And then I'd love for you to tell me which ingredients or products people should look for. We mentioned it a little bit. But fine lines and wrinkles, which I think everyone runs immediately to Botox, which is great. Like if people want to for sure, Botox great.
Ron Robinson
Totally effective, totally effective.
Brooke Devard
But there are also creams that you can use to help with fine lines and wrinkles. What are the benefits of peptides and what should people be looking for to treat fine lines and wrinkles?
Ron Robinson
Yeah, peptides are would be one go to especially for those deep lines and expression lines. So I love neuropeptides. Basically peptides are short chains of amino acids and they work by as a messenger to help communicate to the skin to tell the skin to take certain actions. Neuropeptides work specifically to signal the skin to relax and smooth out those expression lines and wrinkles. And you have those peptides that work really well about helping with fine lines and wrinkles as well.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
So the different types. And there are also peptides for hydration and barrier repair. So it really depends on what you want for that product. But for fine lines, wrinkles, peptides, that's the way to go.
Brooke Devard
What about dark circles under your eyes?
Ron Robinson
Dark. So okay. I love licorice extract. Licorice extract, Licorice extract. It comes comes from the east. It's definitely been pioneered and used out there. We've used it and we use it in our beauty stat eye cream.
Brooke Devard
Okay. I haven't tried your eye cream.
Ron Robinson
Yeah, it has vitamin C and licorice extract. Superior performance against dark circles.
Brooke Devard
Really. And you've been able to formulate a vitamin C that can get close to the eye area because it's such a sensitive area.
Ron Robinson
It is. So we use 5% vitamin C, not 20% in our eye cream because we want it just enough to be effective without irritating. Because as you said, the eye area is sensitive, the skin is thinner. But licorice is one of those go to ingredients for dark circles that it's underrated. And we have been pioneering it here.
Brooke Devard
Okay. I hope you're going to name one of my favorite products for this problem. But large pores, enlarged pores. What do you recommend?
Ron Robinson
Large Pores. You want to exfoliate?
Brooke Devard
Exfoliate. Okay. I was thinking of my. The mask that I love, but exfoliation. Physical or chemical? Or chemical?
Ron Robinson
I like chemical. Chemical you could really control better. Physical, it could be too abrasive. It's harder to control. It's very sensitive to the pressure of your hands. So it's not even in terms of the application or the pressure applied to the skin. So I like chemical. It really. It's a really more effective. And it can be gentle. So I love hydroxy acids because keep in mind, large pores. What's making them large? They're clogged. They're clogged. And. Or you've lost firmness. So think of Swiss cheese, how it stretches.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
That could be your pores stretching out because you've lost elasticity. So I love hydroxy acids. They could help clear out the pores, help firm up the skin and tighten the look of those pores.
Brooke Devard
And what about my favorite mask that you've created?
Ron Robinson
Oh, yes, yes. It has micro silver. So that mask. Love that. It's a blend of clays, charcoal, and silver.
Brooke Devard
What does silver do for the skin?
Ron Robinson
Silver is fantastic. So we used medical grade silver. It's fantastic for antibacterial benefits, helping to keep skin's natural microbiome intact. That's a natural bacteria that our skin needs to function at its best. So it optimizes for that, kills the bad bacteria, keeps the good and helps your skin thrive and deliver brightness and glow to your skin. How does your skin feel after you remove that mask?
Brooke Devard
Very smooth, very soft. And I feel like, I don't know, the texture of my skin has improved from using that mask.
Ron Robinson
Yeah, you've rinsed it all away. After that mask hardens up, you rinse it off, you're left with glowing skin.
Brooke Devard
Yeah, it's wonderful. It's wonderful. So you have been really a pioneer in your field, creating all of these amazing formulas for your own company, for other companies. When does Hailey Bieber call? You say, I need help with Rhode.
Ron Robinson
So we start to talk back during the pandemic. So 2020.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
And she had this concept. She shared this concept for me, for Rhode, and I was blown away.
Brooke Devard
How did she find you? How did you initially connect?
Ron Robinson
I believe she found me in the press.
Brooke Devard
Okay.
Ron Robinson
And I think she wanted a cosmetic chemist that would kind of advise and help her, guide her with the right ingredients to use.
Brooke Devard
Very smart.
Ron Robinson
But she had, she had road. She had the concept for road. And I was so impressed with how, how well studied and how much research she's done in ingredients. She loves product. She tries everything. And she was just so determined and really had this fantastic vision for what road. And look what. Look what it's turned out to be.
Brooke Devard
And look what it's turned out to be. There was a road pop up here in la. The line was wrapped.
Ron Robinson
I saw. It's amazing.
Brooke Devard
It's incredible.
Ron Robinson
Yeah.
Brooke Devard
And a testament to these incredible formulas that you've developed. The price point is very accessible.
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
So how are you able to make such effective skin care at this price point?
Ron Robinson
It's amazing. Well, I think that's the goal these days. Our consumers are realizing that they don't have to spend a lot of money for results. And the brands like Rhodes certainly pioneered that, making it accessible for all, delivering results, using great ingredients that deliver results and making it affordable.
Brooke Devard
Which Rhode product is your favorite?
Ron Robinson
I love the Peptide Lip.
Brooke Devard
The Peptide Lip.
Ron Robinson
And of course, that's a bestseller. Yes, it's one of. It's one of the stars. One of the many stars in the collection, and it's my fave.
Brooke Devard
And what makes it so unique?
Ron Robinson
I think the texture. It just gives the lips that glow, that radiance, that glazed donut look. There's nothing else like it.
Brooke Devard
Yes. So how does a cosmetic chemist. So if I come to you and I say, I want to create a product that makes your skin look like a glazed donut, what ingredients do you immediately think, okay, that's squalane, or that's like. Do you immediately know what to include to give that look?
Ron Robinson
Yeah, sure, I do. I do. There's plenty of emollients and esters that can provide that look, and that's what I go to. But that has to be balanced as well. You have to balance that with also making sure it's not too tacky and sticky, making sure it applies nicely, that it dispenses properly. So all of that. That's the magic of being a cosmetic chemist, being able to balance all of those things based on you coming to me and asking, I want this. There are other things to consider as well. So it takes time. Sometimes it could take literally hundreds and sometimes thousands of iterations before you land on that product that you love and approve and want to move forward with.
Brooke Devard
Yes. What excites you these days in the world of skincare? What are you excited about?
Ron Robinson
I'm excited, but so much. I love new ingredients, and again, I love a challenge. At Beauty Set specifically, we not only independently clinically test our products, but we also patent a lot of our technologies as well. So we own them. And so wherever I see an opportunity to uncover a great ingredient that I see delivers great results, I look to see if there's a way of me also owning it, making sure that no one else can use it and that we could really own and promote and build the brand and products around that ingredient with that technology.
Brooke Devard
And that's a very big deal for people listening in the skincare world. It's very rare to have a patent on your specific formulations. Have you been looking into exosomes at all? I think exosomes is something that we see more and more in the skincare conversation. There are a lot of very high ticket items that use exosomes. How are you thinking about them?
Ron Robinson
Yeah, it's interesting. It's definitely trendy right now. There's definitely a lot of people looking at them.
Brooke Devard
Trendy, bad, I think.
Ron Robinson
Trendy, tbd, I think, I think more needs to be done in terms, first of all, exosomes, they are carriers or vehicles, so they're messengers, if you will, of or transporters of ingredients to different parts of the skin. So I think in theory that sounds pretty good. If I could deliver and get an ingredient where it needs to go so it could deliver results, that sounds great in theory, but does it actually work? So that's what I'm interested in. I'm looking at. Okay, how, what type of exosomes do we use? What do we put into those exosomes? Where do we want them transported to? What type of results can we see? So that's what I'm interested in. So again, very interesting, buzzworthy, trendy.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
But tbd, in terms of does it actually deliver? And that's what I'm exploring.
Brooke Devard
Yes. And you've been around long enough to know all there is so many trends and the pendulum swings. I was just thinking about, remember CBD, skincare?
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
Like in 2020 that was going to be like that biggest thing and it was going to change everything. And like now no one talks about cbd, skincare.
Ron Robinson
Yeah, totally. That was like, it was totally going to be the game changer of the industry. And where is it, where is it now?
Brooke Devard
Nowhere to be found.
Ron Robinson
And that's where the data, where's the data? And I think now with consumers being as savvy as ever, no one provided any data. So they were like, next, next, move on to the next, move on to the next.
Brooke Devard
You again, run your. I mean, it's so rare that you're actually thinking about what's effective from A clinical perspective. You're also thinking about marketing. You're thinking about hiring a team. Team culture. I mean, you really do it all. A lot of people in your position would step down and have a CEO come into your place. Are you enjoying doing it all or does it sometimes feel like, overwhelming?
Ron Robinson
It's a lot. There's no doubt that it's a lot. It's a challenge. I'm really stretched. But I love it. Brooke. I love working. I love talking to you. I love talking to the consumer. I love educating. I'm a content creator.
Brooke Devard
You are.
Ron Robinson
And I love that as well.
Brooke Devard
Yes. I love when you pop up on my TikTok.
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
Ron, educate us. Tell us something new.
Ron Robinson
And I love managing a team. I have a fantastic team. I brought in folks that are smarter than me. I have a head of marketing, head of sales, head of operations, head of finance. These folks have decades of experience. Experience. And they are helping to educate me. I empower them. And I love building and fostering a team of really great folks with strong voices, strong experience, and it just makes for a better brand, better product.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
I love it.
Brooke Devard
So you're stretched thin.
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
You're traveling a lot. I see you on both coasts.
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
How do you relax?
Ron Robinson
Okay. Wellness and fitness have become really important to me.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
So I'll be 60 years old this year.
Brooke Devard
Wow.
Ron Robinson
And.
Brooke Devard
And you're in such great shape.
Ron Robinson
Thank you.
Brooke Devard
I mean, I should have known from running into Chelsea Pears.
Ron Robinson
Chelsea Pierce. We used to go to the same gym.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
Yes. So I live there. I spend two hours plus a day. I'm a morning person.
Brooke Devard
Okay. Of course you are. All the successful people wake up at 5am and start their day. Are you like a 5am?
Ron Robinson
4:30.
Brooke Devard
Oh, Lord. What time do you go to sleep to be able to wake up at 4:30? That is always my biggest question.
Ron Robinson
9:00Pm 9:00pm, literally, lights out. I reach over and shut the lights off. 9pm I'm out. So I get about seven hours of sleep.
Brooke Devard
And you just. Your body can wake up at 4:30.
Ron Robinson
I can wake up. That's when I'm at my best. That's when I have my peak energy. And I do an hour of weight training, an hour of cardio. Every day.
Brooke Devard
Every day?
Ron Robinson
Every day.
Brooke Devard
Wow.
Ron Robinson
And that keeps me. It keeps me fit, keeps me ready. Fit in all aspects. Mentally.
Brooke Devard
Fit mentally.
Ron Robinson
And that's what's been able to keep me going.
Brooke Devard
And have you always had a kind of practice when it came to working out? Is this something that has been constant.
Ron Robinson
Throughout Your life, it's been constant.
Brooke Devard
Yeah.
Ron Robinson
Yeah. I'm a lifelong fitness enthusiast, so it's part of me. And as I've gotten older, it's become more important to me.
Brooke Devard
Yes. So I'm thinking about the large windows at Chelsea Pierce. Are you wearing sunscreen in the morning when you're working out inside?
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
Okay.
Ron Robinson
Every morning when you go out, even when it's cloudy, even when it's sunscreen. And now we're able to treat and protect the lips as well with our C Lip serum.
Brooke Devard
Right.
Ron Robinson
So don't forget the lips. You know, people forget, you know, they're wearing sunscreen now, which is fantastic. But wear Lip Sun Care as well.
Brooke Devard
Protection. How much is the is the lip product?
Ron Robinson
This retails for $15.
Brooke Devard
Okay, $15. And it feels like a little bit goes a long way. So you can have that for a while.
Ron Robinson
You can have for a while. Again, wanted to make sure that protection brightening of the lips is accessible to all.
Brooke Devard
Yes. Okay, so you. So you're up at 4:30, you put on your, I'm assuming a mineral sunscreen.
Ron Robinson
Mineral sunscreen, yes.
Brooke Devard
Okay. Does beauty set have a sunscreen?
Ron Robinson
Not anymore, no.
Brooke Devard
Okay.
Ron Robinson
We're working on a new one O. Stay tuned. Stay tuned for that.
Brooke Devard
So you're probably, you know, using one of the products that you're trialing. So you put on your mineral sunscreen, you put on your. Remind me the name of the lip product.
Ron Robinson
The Lip C. This is our beauty stats. C Lip serum.
Brooke Devard
C Lip Serum. Anything else?
Ron Robinson
Anything else? No, that's it.
Brooke Devard
Okay. Are you eating before you work out or does the eating come after?
Ron Robinson
Comes after black coffee.
Brooke Devard
Okay.
Ron Robinson
Gives me a little wake up.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
Gets me going.
Brooke Devard
And nothing else?
Ron Robinson
Nothing else. Empty stomach. Other than that.
Brooke Devard
Okay. So is that considered fasting?
Ron Robinson
It's a fast. It is. It is a fast. So I break the fast after my workout.
Brooke Devard
What time?
Ron Robinson
Lots of protein. Probably around 9am okay.
Brooke Devard
Gosh, so healthy. 30am okay, so then you have this perfect meal of protein. What are you eating?
Ron Robinson
Lots of protein. Yogurt, Greek yogurt, organic Greek yogurt, protein powder. Sometimes I have a couple of eggs and then I'm into pasta now as well. I have pasta.
Brooke Devard
Well, I think with this lifestyle you can afford a little bit of pasta.
Ron Robinson
Carbs important. Don't deprive yourself. You gotta have the carb. Especially if you're working out a lot.
Brooke Devard
Yeah.
Ron Robinson
Eat the carbs.
Brooke Devard
Okay. Okay. But it seems like you eat a very healthy, balanced diet. You're clearly getting a lot of sleep. And you're doing all of the skin care and then do you do any injections, treatments?
Ron Robinson
I do. I have a great dermatologist, so I do a little Botox.
Brooke Devard
Okay, great. And Botox. How often do you have to get Botox?
Ron Robinson
They recommend. Actually, they don't recommend me coming often.
Brooke Devard
Okay.
Ron Robinson
Like once, maybe twice a year. So you know what's interesting? I've actually learned from my dermot to not express using my forehead. Okay.
Brooke Devard
I hear people talk about this. Like, have you heard this before? I've heard that people try to limit their facial expression. But as someone who I don't know, I talk to a lot of people. I love expressive faces. That kind of makes me sad. But you feel like you've trained yourself.
Ron Robinson
I've trained myself. And this is how they don't. They want me to move, but don't move my forehead. They want me to lift my ears. So that's a cue. That's a cue that you're listening, you're focused.
Brooke Devard
Interesting.
Ron Robinson
But I don't have to lift my. Or raise my forehead.
Brooke Devard
Fascinating. Yes, fascinating. This is fascinating.
Ron Robinson
So I've limited my Botox.
Brooke Devard
Do you also sleep on your back?
Ron Robinson
I do. I do sleep on my back.
Brooke Devard
This is another thing.
Ron Robinson
I do sleep my back.
Brooke Devard
I have excellent skin to sleep on their back.
Ron Robinson
Yes, I do.
Brooke Devard
It's hard for me. I can't do it.
Ron Robinson
I do. I've trained myself to sleep in my back.
Brooke Devard
That's what my mom said. My mom's like, I just trained myself to do it.
Ron Robinson
Yeah.
Brooke Devard
And it does make a difference in your skin.
Ron Robinson
It does, it does. Because I think some derms, based on how you, how you present, they could.
Brooke Devard
Tell you sleep on your left side. That I'm looking at my face like, yeah. In fact, I do. But yeah, that's a real thing. So you sleep on your back. You go to bed at 9pm, you wake up at 4:30, you work out, you have protein. Do you do anything bad? Do you do anything that you're not supposed to do?
Ron Robinson
I love sweets. I love sweets.
Brooke Devard
I love. Okay, thank God.
Ron Robinson
So I could have a chocolate chip cookie. I love cookies. So that's. That's one of my weaknesses.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
I don't drink.
Brooke Devard
Of course not.
Ron Robinson
Of course not.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
But that's my weakness.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
I love a sweet.
Brooke Devard
A good. Any. Any place in. I'm trying to think in Chelsea, there's so many good bakeries.
Ron Robinson
So I go to Magnolia Bakery. Steve and I go to Magnolia Bakery. So we love their. Their yellow cake with chocolate icing yes. Their cake is good. So good.
Brooke Devard
And everyone goes in line for the banana pudding and.
Ron Robinson
Yes. Yeah, I tried it. I tried it. It's okay.
Brooke Devard
It's not for me.
Ron Robinson
It's okay.
Brooke Devard
And my family's from the south, so I know like real banana pudding with like the meringue, like I don't know, the magnolia banana pudding isn' but the cake, the cake. Cake is great.
Ron Robinson
Cake is great. Yeah.
Brooke Devard
What do you think we're going to start to see more of in the skincare conversation? And what, what do you want to see more of?
Ron Robinson
Oh, interesting. Got to think about that. Well, I think what we're seeing now is we're seeing this idea of bringing performance to consumers at a low, low price.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
So we've. One example is one of the classic OG vitamin C serums that's on the. Been on the market for decades. Their patent on vitamin C has just expired.
Brooke Devard
Is this Skinceuticals?
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
The ce. Ferulic.
Ron Robinson
Ferulic, right.
Brooke Devard
Oh, that's expired.
Ron Robinson
That's expired. And then a mass brand, very well known.
Brooke Devard
Can you say which brand the initials.
Ron Robinson
Are E, L, F. Oh, elf.
Brooke Devard
Okay, okay. Elf. Yes.
Ron Robinson
So they just launched the vitamin C serum basically using the same tech.
Brooke Devard
Right. And that Skinceuticals one, I can't remember the price point.
Ron Robinson
It's over, over $180.
Brooke Devard
Yeah.
Ron Robinson
And this new, this new product is $16. Wow.
Brooke Devard
I mean, do you spend much time in Korea and Seoul?
Ron Robinson
I don't. I need to get over there.
Brooke Devard
Yeah.
Ron Robinson
K Beauty is super hot right now. And I, of course, I know and I'm interested in some of the ingredients that are used over there. I think some are very warranted, others are, you know, a little, a little bit of hype. Little bit hype.
Brooke Devard
What do you think is hype? Like snail mucin?
Ron Robinson
Well, snail mucin, I think there's so many great vegan alternatives. I don't think we need to, to harm snails in order to get, get the benefits. You know the salmon sperm facial. That's another, that's another one.
Brooke Devard
Become very popular.
Ron Robinson
Yes, yes. So I think the benefits of that topically. Question mark for me.
Brooke Devard
Yes. Something I will tell you as a consumer that I would like to see more of. I think that a lot of skin care companies struggle with marketing in terms of the age range that they show with their products. I think right. When I look at skincare brands and everyone is like 20 years old and they're talking about this great, you know, anti aging cream, it's like you don't have skin care concerns really yet. I've noticed that a lot of skin care brands struggle to have. There's diverse casting now in terms of, like, skin tone, but not in terms of age.
Ron Robinson
Yeah. I think there's. There's definitely a level of ageism.
Brooke Devard
Yes.
Ron Robinson
In our industry.
Brooke Devard
Right.
Ron Robinson
What happened to the Gen Xer?
Brooke Devard
Right.
Ron Robinson
And the Baby Boomer? Where are they? We don't speak to them any longer.
Brooke Devard
Right.
Ron Robinson
Huge disposable income.
Brooke Devard
Of course. So how do you think about speaking to that consumer with Beauty Stat?
Ron Robinson
Definitely. With our Peptide Wrinkle, Relaxing Moisture. We launched that last year. We made it a. We focused on showing the consumer that was mature.
Brooke Devard
Yeah.
Ron Robinson
I think that's 50 plus. And we asked our consumer base, come forward, tell us your story. Tell us, are you seeing yourselves represented? And a lot of them became our spokespeople. You kind of made this crowdsourced. That's great type of opportunity for consumers to step forward and show. And show theirselves. And we called them out, recognized them and told them, we see you. We've elevated them, posted them on our social, invited them to try our products, all of that. And we continue to do that. So our demographic and customer base is really expanding based on that launch.
Brooke Devard
That's great. That's great. I think people have so many products now. People are confused. People are, do I need all of these products? What order do I put these products in? I think we're just seeing people have too much.
Ron Robinson
Yes.
Brooke Devard
Of everything.
Ron Robinson
Yeah.
Brooke Devard
If you could recommend the ideal, like, minimalist skincare routine, maybe four, five products. What would those products be?
Ron Robinson
The basics. A gentle cleanser, a hydrating moisturizer that's not too heavy, and sunscreen. Three basics.
Brooke Devard
Okay.
Ron Robinson
And those that are looking for more specific treatments around pigmentation, uneven skin tone, introduce a vitamin C serum, and don't forget your lips. Don't forget, they're. They're a very delicate part of our skin. They do need treatment as well.
Brooke Devard
Absolutely, absolutely. You are such an expert in so many things, and it's been such a pleasure talking with you. My final question that I ask all of my guests is, when do you feel most beautiful?
Ron Robinson
When do I feel most beautiful? I feel most beautiful when I feel that level of confidence. It's usually after a workout. It's after that time. It's really euphoria. What I feel, I feel, like, accomplished. I feel good. I feel like I've really done something that's good for myself, and that's when I feel most beautiful.
Brooke Devard
I love It. I love it. Well, thank you so much, Ron for educating us here on N Beauty. Always see you and talk to you.
Ron Robinson
Likewise. Thank you for having me. Appreciate it.
Brooke Devard
Finally, it has happened to me right in front of my face and I.
Ron Robinson
Just cannot hide it.
Brooke Devard
I never thought I would be this obsessed with the toilet, but here we are. We installed the Kohler Vail Smart toilet right before I gave birth. And for any postpartum moms listening, you know how those first few weeks can be. This toilet honestly made my recovery so much more comfortable. In the middle of the night, when you stumble into the bathroom, you don't want to turn on harsh lights that wake you up. The Vail nightlight glows the soft blue light. The seat automatically lifts and it's beautifully warm. You just sit down and do your thing and then the magic happens. The Vail Smart toilet has this little remote with customizable cleansing features that wash you and even gently dry you with warm air. You literally don't need toilet paper. It sounds silly, but this toilet completely upgraded my day to day life. It's luxury, but in the most functional, practical way. And honestly, it's no surprise that Kohler partnered with Laura Kim. So someone who knows great design. As the co creative director of Oscar de la Renta and Mons, I love that Kohler partnered with someone like Laura to show how design can transform even the most unexpected objects like a toilet. Discover the Kohler Vail Smart toilet and go behind the scenes of their Laura Kim collaboration@kohler.com.
Paige
Hey, it's Paige from Giggly Squad. Real talk. If there's one store that I absolutely love walking around, it's Sephora and it's my total guilty pleasure. They have amazing brands that other people don't have and I find something great every time I walk in and there's literally one down the street from me. So I do that a lot. It's so fun to shop in the store and online and the products are just too good. No regrets ever. For example, one of my favorite beauty brands is makeup by Mario, who just launched his new lip gloss that I absolutely love. So the next time you're in the market for great beauty, shop all the hottest products and brands. Only at Sephora, skin care experts and.
Unknown
Dermatologists have often touted the benefits of indoor humidity as essential for healthy, glowing skin. But did you know dry air can start to harm your skin in as little as 30 minutes? For years, many people have relied on humidifiers for better skin, sleep and overall wellness. But traditional models, bulky mold, prone and difficult to maintain. That's where Canopy humidifiers comes in. Recommended by leading dermatologists, Canopy is a completely reimagined humidifier designed to elevate any space. Offering the ultimate in skincare and wellness benefits. Canopy's clean moisture combats dryness, dullness, and fine lines while strengthening the skin's barrier and boosting the effectiveness of topical skincare products. With its sleek design, Canopy is the cleanest and easiest humidifier on the market. With its unique technology, cleaning is as easy as popping it in the dish. Go to getcanopy.co to save $25 on your Canopy humidifier purchase today with Canopy's filter subscription. Even better, use code podcast at checkout to save an additional 10% off your canopy purchase. Your skin will thank you.
Ron Robinson
ACAST powers the world's best podcasts. Here's the show that we recommend. Add a little curiosity into your routine with TED Talks Daily, the podcast that brings you a new TED Talk every weekday. In less than 15 minutes a day, you'll go beyond the headlines and learn about the big ideas shaping your future. Coming up how AI will change the way we communicate, how to be a better leader, and more. Listen to TED Talks Daily wherever you get your podcasts. ACAST helps creators launch, grow, and monetize their podcasts everywhere. Acast.com.
Naked Beauty Podcast: Ron Robinson on The Science Of Beauty
Hosted by Brooke DeVard | Release Date: June 23, 2025
In this episode of Naked Beauty, host Brooke DeVard welcomes Ron Robinson, a renowned cosmetic chemist and founder of Beauty Stat. Brooke introduces Ron as a pioneer in the skincare industry, highlighting his extensive experience with prestigious brands such as Clinique, Revlon, Lancôme, and La Mer. Ron is also recognized for his collaboration with Hailey Bieber's beauty brand, Rhode, where he played a pivotal role in formulating their highly acclaimed skincare products.
Brooke DeVard ([00:06]):
"Ron Robinson is a cosmetic chemist and the founder of Beauty Stat. Ron has worked behind the scenes at some of the best legacy beauty companies."
Ron shares his personal journey, starting from his Caribbean roots in Barbados to his unexpected entry into the beauty industry. Initially pressured by his family to pursue a medical career, Ron pivoted away from medicine, leading him to an unexpected interview and subsequent hiring by Clinique in 1990.
Ron Robinson ([02:30]):
"My mom was so upset, so hurt. She was crushed. She really was."
Brooke DeVard ([03:02]):
"So in 1989 you join Clinique?"
Ron Robinson ([03:02]):
"Yeah, actually 1990, early. So I interviewed, hired, and then actually started early 1990s. That's 35 years ago."
At Clinique, Ron formulated some of the brand’s early bestselling products, including the Turnaround cream, which incorporated salicylic acid—a relatively novel ingredient in topical skincare at the time. His role as a cosmetic chemist involved extensive lab work, blending scientific research with consumer needs.
Ron Robinson ([03:55]):
"I created and formulated some of those, which became bestsellers for the brand."
When Brooke mentions Ron’s impressive tenure and expertise, Ron elaborates on the intricacies of being a cosmetic chemist, emphasizing the balance between ingredient efficacy and consumer accessibility.
As the CEO and founder of Beauty Stat, Ron stands out in the skincare industry for his dual role as a business leader and a cosmetic chemist. He discusses the unique challenges and rewards of leading a brand that prioritizes scientific integrity and consumer education.
Ron Robinson ([05:23]):
"There are not many of us at all. It's really tough as a cosmetic chemist, really."
Ron highlights some of Beauty Stat’s flagship products, including the highly praised Universal Pro Bio Moisture Booster and the breakthrough Vitamin C serum. He explains the meticulous process behind formulating effective yet affordable skincare solutions.
Brooke DeVard ([10:28]):
"Now you have a moisturizer that I love. It's called the Universal, the Pro Bio."
Ron Robinson ([10:33]):
"I love it myself."
A significant portion of the discussion centers around key skincare ingredients. Ron delves into the science behind Vitamin C serums, explaining how his formulation stabilizes pure vitamin C to maximize efficacy and minimize irritation. He also touches on the benefits of peptides for treating fine lines and wrinkles, and licorice extract for addressing dark circles.
Ron Robinson ([11:00]):
"So the goal, my goal was to make it potent, really effective and as less irritating as possible."
Ron Robinson ([16:37]):
"Neuropeptides work specifically to signal the skin to relax and smooth out those expression lines and wrinkles."
Ron provides practical advice for consumers, advocating for minimalist skincare routines that focus on essential products: a gentle cleanser, a hydrating moisturizer, and sunscreen. For those with specific concerns, he recommends targeted treatments like Vitamin C serums.
Ron Robinson ([35:23]):
"The basics. A gentle cleanser, a hydrating moisturizer that's not too heavy, and sunscreen."
Ron offers his insights into current and emerging trends in the skincare industry. He emphasizes the importance of transparency and the growing consumer demand for scientifically backed products. Discussing innovations, he mentions the development of their new C Lip Serum, which combines Vitamin C with mineral sunscreen to protect and brighten the delicate lip area.
Ron Robinson ([13:01]):
"So the goal with this product, our new C lip serum... is basically to combine pure vitamin C mineral sunscreen."
He also critiques fleeting trends like CBD skincare and the use of exosomes, advocating for evidence-based approaches to product development.
Ron Robinson ([23:46]):
"So exosomes, they are carriers... it's very interesting, buzzworthy, trendy."
Brooke and Ron transition to discussing personal wellness routines. Ron shares his disciplined lifestyle, which includes waking up at 4:30 AM for daily workouts, maintaining a balanced diet, and prioritizing sleep. He attributes his vitality and effectiveness in the demanding role of a CEO to his commitment to fitness and wellness.
Ron Robinson ([26:00]):
"I'll be 60 years old this year."
Ron Robinson ([27:03]):
"I get about seven hours of sleep."
He also touches on personal skincare practices, such as using mineral sunscreen and his approach to treatments like Botox, which he limits to maintain a natural appearance.
As the episode wraps up, Ron emphasizes the importance of confidence in feeling beautiful, linking it back to his wellness routine and professional achievements. Brooke thanks him for his valuable insights, reinforcing the episode’s focus on the science behind effective skincare.
Ron Robinson ([35:58]):
"I feel most beautiful when I feel that level of confidence."
Brooke DeVard ([36:23]):
"Thank you so much, Ron for educating us here on Naked Beauty."
Ron Robinson's Expertise: With over three decades in cosmetic chemistry, Ron brings invaluable knowledge to the skincare industry, blending scientific research with consumer needs.
Innovative Products: Beauty Stat’s products, particularly the Vitamin C serum and Universal Pro Bio Moisture Booster, exemplify the brand’s commitment to effective, affordable skincare.
Ingredient Insights: Understanding the role of ingredients like Vitamin C, peptides, and licorice extract can help consumers make informed decisions about their skincare routines.
Minimalist Skincare: A simple routine focusing on cleansing, moisturizing, and sun protection can be highly effective, with additional targeted treatments as needed.
Wellness Integration: Ron’s disciplined lifestyle underscores the connection between overall wellness and skin health, highlighting the importance of fitness, diet, and sleep.
Notable Quotes with Timestamps:
Ron Robinson ([10:33]):
"I love it myself."
(Referring to the Universal Pro Bio Moisture Booster)
Ron Robinson ([11:00]):
"So the goal, my goal was to make it potent, really effective and as less irritating as possible."
(Discussing the Vitamin C serum formulation)
Ron Robinson ([35:58]):
"I feel most beautiful when I feel that level of confidence."
(On feeling beautiful through confidence)
This comprehensive summary captures the essence of Ron Robinson's expertise and contributions to the skincare industry, providing listeners with valuable insights into effective skincare practices and industry trends.