The Beauty Brains: Episode 383 - Goodbye 2024!

Release Date: December 31, 2024
Hosts: Valerie George and Perry Romanowski
Description: In this end-of-year episode, Valerie and Perry reflect on their accomplishments and challenges from 2024, discuss notable beauty industry trends, address listener questions, and share their goals for 2025.

**1. Personal Reflections and Achievements

Valerie’s Move to Texas and Lab Setup

Valerie shares significant professional milestones, including her relocation to Texas and the establishment of a new lab space. She describes the extensive work involved in setting up the laboratory, emphasizing the transformation from her previous setup in California.

Valerie (00:54): "We've redone the floors. We ripped down a ton of drywall. We only have about 20% of the drywall left to demolish and hang."

Despite encountering unexpected challenges, such as an unidentified animal causing disturbances within the walls, Valerie remains optimistic about the lab's potential for future formulating projects.

Valerie (08:16): "And now our gas line is ripped up. But it means the cats can’t come because it's kind of blocked their way."

Perry’s Yearly Spreadsheet and Personal Goals

Perry discusses his meticulous habit of maintaining a yearly spreadsheet since 2003, tracking daily activities and goals. Highlighting his dedication, he mentions maintaining a 16-year streak of daily running, learning Spanish, and his recent travels to Argentina and Brazil.

Perry (05:20): "I have like 20, 20 plus years of. And I write down, like, every day, I write down just a little note of what I did and who I saw."

Additionally, Perry shares his election as SEC Vice President Elect, celebrating this professional achievement with Valerie.

Perry (07:37): "I'm so excited. I'm going to be running next year, so hopefully, I can be alongside you."

**2. Highlights of 2024 in the Cosmetic Industry

Lawsuits and Regulatory Changes

The episode delves into the increasing number of lawsuits within the beauty industry, highlighting cases against major brands like Sephora and Johnson & Johnson. Valerie underscores the importance of truthful marketing to mitigate legal risks.

Valerie (20:40): "Just be truthful, and you'll reduce the risk of these lawsuits."

Perry reflects on a specific lawsuit involving PVP in styling gels, emphasizing the ongoing scrutiny beauty companies face regarding ingredient safety.

Perry (21:46): "They sue all the companies for the same things."

Talc Restrictions and Alternatives

The conversation touches on the decline of talc in beauty products, noting its ban in the EU and upcoming FDA testing guidelines in the US to ensure asbestos-free talc.

Valerie (22:12): "I think we'll see talc go by the wayside."

Perry speculates on the economic implications, suggesting that replacements for talc may increase product costs.

Perry (22:34): "It'll probably cost people more money because those replacements tend to be more expensive."

Celebrity Beauty Lines

The hosts discuss various celebrity-driven beauty lines launched in 2024, including Serena Williams' tennis ball-inspired makeup line and LeBron James’ foray into cosmetics. Valerie expresses mixed feelings about Beyonce’s beauty line, referencing previous discussions on the topic.

Valerie (23:56): "I was just really disappointed."

**3. Listener Q&A: Tranexamic Acid and Estrogen Creams

Tranexamic Acid for Hyperpigmentation

Listener Lydia poses questions regarding tranexamic acid’s efficacy in treating hyperpigmentation, referencing claims made by Dr. Michelle Wong (Lab Muffin Beauty) about its skin penetration challenges. Valerie and Perry, along with their co-host Laura, address these concerns by citing multiple studies that demonstrate tranexamic acid’s effectiveness when properly formulated.

Laura (31:34): "Tranexamic acid is valuable for a couple of things. One, it treats existing pigmentation and can prevent new pigmentation from occurring."

Valerie emphasizes the importance of using tranexamic acid in combination with other ingredients to enhance skin penetration and efficacy.

Valerie (35:35): "Use it with niacinamide, put it at, you know, a pH of 6 to 7."

Estrogen Creams on the Face

Lydia also inquires about the trend of applying estrogen creams to the face for beauty purposes. The hosts express skepticism and caution, highlighting the lack of scientific evidence supporting such practices and the potential risks involved.

Laura (37:18): "I would just pass or I... would consult my doctor first."

Perry (38:00): "Overall, I just think it's a bad idea."

**4. Goals and Aspirations for 2025

Perry’s Thematic Approach: Produce More, Consume Less

Perry introduces his 2025 theme aimed at increasing productivity while reducing consumption. He plans to focus on creating more content and moments while minimizing time spent on passive activities like watching TV or scrolling through TikTok.

Perry (17:19): "Produce more, consume less."

Valerie’s Personal Objectives

Valerie outlines her goals for the coming year, which include dedicating more time to reading, decluttering personal items, and enhancing her presence on social media platforms despite previous challenges and commitments.

Valerie (17:19): "My goal is to read the books... give it to people who want these things."

Joint Ambitions for The Beauty Brains

Both hosts express enthusiasm for expanding the podcast’s reach in 2025, aiming to increase episode frequency and incorporate video elements to engage a broader audience.

Perry (16:30): "I'd love to add a video element to it."

Valerie (16:53): "Frank comes in, he's tongue popping me. It's like, oh, gosh, that's right."

**5. Closing Remarks and Community Engagement

Gratitude to Listeners

Valerie and Perry extend heartfelt thanks to their listeners for their support throughout the year, acknowledging that the community’s engagement is the cornerstone of the podcast’s success.

Valerie (41:15): "Your questions and feedback and the enthusiasm that has really made doing this fun for us."

Encouraging Reviews and Support

They encourage listeners to leave reviews on platforms like Apple Podcasts and Spotify to help grow the show's audience. Additionally, they highlight the importance of Patreon support for covering the podcast’s operational costs, offering patrons benefits such as prioritized question answers and episode transcripts.

Valerie (42:48): "The Beauty Brains are also on Patreon... your support is truly appreciated."

Upcoming Plans and Sign-Off

Looking ahead, the hosts reiterate their commitment to answering more beauty-related questions and enhancing the podcast’s content. They bid farewell with wishes for a joyful 2025.

Perry (44:44): "Have a Happy and joyful 2025."

Valerie (44:47): "See you guys next year."

Notable Quotes

• Valerie on Tranexamic Acid:

  "Tranexamic acid significantly improved existing freckles while preventing new ones from forming over daily use over 12 weeks." (31:34)

• Perry on Produce More, Consume Less:

  "Produce more, consume less. I've got to create more stuff or create more moments and watch less TV." (17:19)

• Valerie on Lawsuits:

  "Just be truthful, and you'll reduce the risk of these lawsuits." (20:40)

Conclusion

Episode 383 of The Beauty Brains serves as a comprehensive reflection on the past year in both the hosts’ personal lives and the wider cosmetic industry. Through candid discussions, they provide valuable insights into industry trends, endorse scientifically-backed beauty practices, and foster a sense of community with their listeners. As they look forward to 2025, Valerie and Perry remain committed to delivering evidence-based beauty advice while navigating the evolving landscape of cosmetic science.