Rhode Cosmetic Chemist and BeautyStat Founder Ron Robinson on Crafting Cult Favorite Products and the Buzzy Ingredient That’s Not Worth the Hype

Summary

The Who What Wear Podcast: Detailed Summary

Episode Title: Rhode Cosmetic Chemist and BeautyStat Founder Ron Robinson on Crafting Cult Favorite Products and the Buzzy Ingredient That’s Not Worth the Hype
Release Date: July 2, 2025
Host: Erin Johns, Beauty Director at Who What Wear
Guest: Ron Robinson, Renowned Cosmetic Chemist and Founder of BeautyStat

---

1. Introduction

In this insightful episode of The Who What Wear Podcast, host Erin Johns engages in a comprehensive conversation with Ron Robinson, a seasoned cosmetic chemist and the visionary founder behind BeautyStat. With a career spanning over three decades, Ron shares his journey, expertise, and perspectives on the evolving beauty industry.

2. Ron Robinson's Career Path

[01:56] Erin Johns: "Ron, I'm super excited to be here today. It's been a while."
[02:12] Ron Robinson: "A cosmetic chemist is someone who researches, develops and formulates beauty products. I've been doing this for the past 35 years."

Ron delves into his unexpected entry into the beauty industry. Initially aspiring to be a medical doctor and enduring parental pressure to attend med school, Ron pivoted to cosmetic chemistry after realizing that medicine wasn't his true calling. His passion for biology and chemistry led him to Clinique in the early '90s, marking the beginning of his illustrious career in cosmetics.

3. Early Skincare Experiences

[03:27] Ron Robinson: "My first memory of getting into skincare was using Biore pore strips. It provided instant gratification for cleansing pores, even if it was a bit gross."

Ron reminisces about his early interactions with skincare products, highlighting how simple experiences fueled his interest in the scientific aspects of beauty.

4. Balancing Science and Creativity in Product Development

[04:10] Ron Robinson: "A good cosmetic chemist needs to be really creative... blending the science of ingredients with the texture to make it look and feel fantastic."

Ron emphasizes the harmonious balance between scientific precision and creative artistry in his work. From selecting the right ingredients to determining the product's texture and aesthetic, creativity plays a pivotal role in formulating effective and appealing beauty products.

5. The Birth and Growth of BeautyStat

[05:02] Ron Robinson: "When I launched BeautyStat, I wanted to educate consumers about ingredients and help them find products that actually work for them."
[06:57] Ron Robinson: "Our Vitamin C serum is shelf stable for three to five years. It doesn’t oxidize, stays pure, and delivers consistent results."

Ron discusses the inception of BeautyStat, which began as a blog in 2009 aimed at demystifying skincare ingredients and product efficacy. Recognizing the demand for stable and effective Vitamin C formulations, Ron committed to developing a potent, stable Vitamin C serum, overcoming challenges like oxidation and unpleasant odors to create a flagship product that has garnered significant acclaim.

6. Partnership with Rhode and Hailey Bieber

[09:34] Ron Robinson: "Hailey loved our Vitamin C serum and eye cream moisturizer. Her vision for Rhode as a lifestyle brand was inspiring, and collaborating with her has been fantastic."

Ron shares the story behind his collaboration with Hailey Bieber's brand, Rhode. This partnership leverages Ron's expertise to create products that align with Rhode's vision of delivering barrier repair and hydration tailored for a Gen Z audience, contrasting with BeautyStat's focus on more mature skincare needs.

7. Evolution of the Beauty Industry

[10:21] Ron Robinson: "Consumers today are more educated thanks to social media. They seek expert opinions to cut through the misinformation."

Reflecting on industry changes, Ron notes the shift from passive consumers relying solely on brands for information to today's informed buyers who actively seek expert advice. Social media has empowered consumers but also introduced challenges with misinformation, necessitating brands to take on educational roles.

8. Navigating Social Media and Educating Consumers

[11:51] Ron Robinson: "Vitamin C, peptides, and effective sunscreens are ingredients worth paying attention to. They have solid data supporting their benefits."

Ron highlights the importance of credible information in the age of social media, advocating for the promotion of scientifically backed ingredients. He underscores the role of experts in guiding consumers toward effective skincare solutions amidst the noise of trends and buzzwords.

9. Buzzworthy Ingredients in Skincare

[12:14] Ron Robinson: "Vitamin C and peptides are proven gold standards. People are also becoming more discerning about sunscreens, seeking options that cater to their skin types and tones."

Discussing trending ingredients, Ron affirms the lasting efficacy of Vitamin C and peptides while noting the growing consumer interest in advanced sunscreen formulations that offer both protection and aesthetic appeal.

10. The Role of Peptides vs. Vitamin C

[12:48] Ron Robinson: "Peptides are short chains of amino acids that can hydrate, repair the skin barrier, reduce inflammation, and address wrinkles. They complement Vitamin C by targeting different skin concerns."

Ron explains the distinct benefits of peptides compared to Vitamin C. While Vitamin C is lauded for its brightening and antioxidant properties, peptides offer a multifaceted approach to skincare by promoting hydration, barrier repair, and anti-aging benefits.

11. Debunking Skincare Myths: Beef Tallow

[14:51] Ron Robinson: "Beef tallow claims to be a cure-all are ridiculous. There's no data supporting its efficacy in reducing wrinkles or acting as a sunscreen."
[15:19] Ron Robinson: "Beef tallow is too greasy and can clog pores, making it unsuitable for acne-prone skin."

Addressing misinformation, Ron critiques the exaggerated claims surrounding beef tallow in skincare. He emphasizes the importance of evidence-based formulations and warns against deceptive marketing that misleads consumers.

12. Community Feedback and Product Development

[15:59] Ron Robinson: "We've received overwhelming positive feedback for our C Lip Serum. Consumers are requesting more shades, and we're excited to introduce new variations soon."

Ron highlights the significance of community engagement, particularly through platforms like TikTok. Feedback from consumers directly influences product enhancements and expansions, ensuring that BeautyStat remains responsive to its audience's needs.

13. Process of Formulating Products

[16:14] Ron Robinson: "Formulating a product can take anywhere from a year to five years, depending on the complexity. Our Vitamin C Serum took five years to perfect."

Explaining the meticulous process behind product development, Ron details the challenges and timelines involved in creating effective skincare solutions. The journey from concept to market involves extensive testing and iteration to achieve the desired results.

14. Favorite or Easiest Products to Formulate

[17:22] Ron Robinson: "Our Pro Bio Moisture Boost Cream was one of the easier products to formulate. It's a lightweight, fast-absorbing moisturizer that repairs the skin barrier and suits all skin types."

Ron shares his appreciation for certain products that came together smoothly, highlighting the balance of functionality and user-friendly attributes that make them staples in his brand.

15. Upcoming Projects and Innovations

[18:04] Ron Robinson: "We're launching new shades for our C Lip Serum and have some top-secret products in the pipeline. We're always exploring new ingredients and innovations to bring to the market."

Looking ahead, Ron teases forthcoming products and innovations, maintaining an air of excitement and anticipation for BeautyStat's future offerings.

Conclusion

Ron Robinson's expertise and passion for cosmetic chemistry shine throughout the conversation, offering listeners a deep dive into the science and creativity behind successful skincare products. From his personal journey to insights on industry trends and consumer education, Ron provides valuable perspectives for both beauty enthusiasts and aspiring cosmetic chemists.

---

Notable Quotes:

• "A cosmetic chemist is someone who researches, develops and formulates beauty products." — Ron Robinson [02:12]

• "Our Vitamin C serum is shelf stable for three to five years. It doesn’t oxidize, stays pure, and delivers consistent results." — Ron Robinson [06:57]

• "Consumers today are more educated thanks to social media. They seek expert opinions to cut through the misinformation." — Ron Robinson [10:21]

• "Peptides are short chains of amino acids that can hydrate, repair the skin barrier, reduce inflammation, and address wrinkles." — Ron Robinson [12:56]

• "Beef tallow claims to be a cure-all are ridiculous. There's no data supporting its efficacy in reducing wrinkles or acting as a sunscreen." — Ron Robinson [14:51]

---

Stay Connected:

For more insights and updates from BeautyStat, follow Ron Robinson on TikTok and other social media platforms. Subscribe to The Who What Wear Podcast to never miss an episode, and feel free to share your thoughts or suggest guests via podcastwhatwear.com.

Transcript

[Sasha]

Sasha hated sand, the way it stuck to things for weeks. So when Maddie shared a surf trip on Expedia Trip Planner, he hesitated. Then he added a hotel with a cliffside pool to the plan, and they both spent the week in the water. You were made to follow your whims. We were made to help find a place on the beach with a pool and a waterfall and a soaking tub and of course, a great shower. Expedia Made to Travel.

[Erin Johns]

Welcome to the who what Wear? Podcast, your direct line with the designers, stylists, beauty experts, editors and tastemakers who are shaping the ever evolving world of fashion. I'm who what Wear beauty director Erin Johns, and today I'm so excited to be sitting down with renowned cosmetic chemist Ron Robinson. Ron's first foray into the beauty industry was at clinique in the 90s, and he's since worked on products for beauty giants like Revlon, Avon, l' Oreal, and Lancome. He's also the founder of Beauty Stat, a brand he originally began as a blog and later transformed into a line of impeccable skincare products like his groundbreaking vitamin C formula. On top of all of that, he also became the chemist in residence of Hailey Bieber's Road in 2022, which, as I'm sure you know, was just acquired by ELF in an enormous one billion dollar deal. I was thrilled to chat with Ron about formulating products for various brand needs, how social media impacts his work and his favorite ingredients. It's all coming up on who.

[Ron Robinson]

Thank you so much for joining me, Ron.

Erin, I'm super excited to be here today. It's been a while.

I know we've talked before and I always learn so much from you, so I'm really excited. Our audience is pretty well versed in the beauty space, but for anyone who might not know, can you kind of explain what a cosmetic chemist does and how you got started in your career?

Sure. So a cosmetic chemist is someone who researches, develops and and or formulates beauty products. So I've done all of that and have been doing so for the past 35 years. I started as a cosmetic chemist back in 1990, but what's interesting is that was not my initial goal, so I had ambitions of becoming a medical doctor. I had some pressure from my parents to go to med school and after studying biology and chemistry in college, I actually applied and got into med school and realized it was not for me and I dropped out. Really disappointed. My parents and I had to get a job and I was sending out resumes and back in late 89, early 1990, Clinique Division of the Estee Water companies called me in for an interview, and they loved my passion, my experience in my research of chemistry and biology, and they hired me on the spot as a cosmetic canvas. So that's how I fell into this industry that I now love.

Not a bad first place to land, Clinique, right?

Yes. Right.

Were you particularly always interested in skincare, or when did you first develop your own skincare routine or realize that that was important?

I had no idea there was this world of science and research around cosmetics and skincare. So my earliest memory of me personally getting into skincare was. I don't know if you remember the Biore pore strips.

Oh, yeah.

These were like band aids that you'd put across your nose. You'd let them dry and. And you'd pull them, and it would pull out all of these clogged pores. And it was something that provided this visual impact. It was kind of gross, really, when you think about it. But that was my first experience with being able to see some instant, in this case, gratification of cleansing my pores, if you will. So that was my first interaction or engagement with beauty before I actually became a cosmetic chemist.

What would you say is the balance between science and art in your work that you do now? How creative do you get to be when you're a cosmetic chemist?

I think a really good cosmetic chemist needs to be really creative, because obviously my job is to know ingredients, how to put them together to make a product, deliver results. What type of aesthetic do we want to create from this cream, lotion, serum, whatever it might be? What's the texture feel like? Is it matte? Is it watery? Is it a natural finish? Does it have a lot of playtime and slip? Does it absorb quickly all of these things? The moment she actually opens up the jar, pumps the product out. What is that aesthetic? And I think that's where a lot of the creativity comes in that actually blends the science of ingredients as well as the texture to make it look and feel fantastic.

Yeah, I feel like different people want different things. Some people really like a thick moisturizer where if I feel that, I instantly back away. And other people like something really thin, depending on who the consumer is for the particular brand that you're working with. But I know that you also have your own brand Beauty Stat, which started as a blog in 2009 and then transitioned into a skincare line, which I think the hero product was the vitamin C, which tons of celebrities Love it. So can you share a bit about the early days of Beauty Stat and then what made you want to develop your vitamin C product and then the products that kind of spilled in after that?

Yes. So when I launched Beauty Stat, the blog, this is at a time where I thought the market was crowded. And I felt that if I left corporate at the time, working as the head of product development for Avon back in the 2000s, what if I started a blog in a community where me, a cosmetic chemist, could educate consumers about ingredients as well as review products and help them cut through the clutter and actually find products that actually work for them? So it was during that time that I really got a lot of feedback from consumers around vitamin C. They loved this ingredient. They thought it was really beneficial for their skin. But there was a lot of frustration around why is it unstable? Why does it oxidize? Why does it smell like hot dog water? And that got me thinking that if I could stabilize pure vitamin C, wouldn't that be the holy grail of beauty? And I made it a mission to stabilize pure vitamin C. So literally in my own lab, thousands of iterations and formulations until I got to this final formula that had a fantastic texture, delivered great results, but also was rock stable. And that's what prompted me to launch the brand Beauty Stat with this star now best selling vitamin C serum, our universal C skin refiner.

When you say stable, how long do typical vitamin C serums on the market stay stable or good compared to how long yours does?

A lot of vitamin Cs that I see in the market, they can start the oxidation process pretty quickly when a brand manufacturer gets it packed and shipped and onto the shelves. Sometimes by the time I go and buy the product, it's actually starting to oxidize right there and then. So it could happen pretty quickly. Of course, airless packaging or opaque packaging, that could help delay the process. But really the oxidation process, what happens when there's any exposure to air or light? So in our vitamin C serum, we have the testing that that shows that our product really is shelf stable three to five years. It doesn't oxidize, it does not turn brown or orange. It stays pure, potent and delivers results in its fragrance free does not have any odor as well. And that's what consumers really gravitated to our product for because of the stability of it and of course the results.

Totally. I'm also always curious about how people choose which creations to keep for yourself, like with your own brand versus what you're willing to make for Other brands. For example, I know that you have a vitamin C lip serum with spf, but I'm sure you've made a lot of other lip products for other brands. So what makes this particular product fit within the beauty stat world?

Yeah, I think the Beauty Stat customer, she tends to be millennial Gen X. And those consumers are really starting to see more concerns, whether that's hyperpigmentation, fine lines, wrinkles, loss of firmness, and in the case of our new vitamin C lip serum, they're actually looking for protection and correction around some of the lip lines that they're starting to see as they start to get up there in age. Obviously the Gen Alpha and tweens are really into skin care beauty stat products, most of them are probably not for that consumer base. Our vitamin C is really one of the most potent on the market. I recommend customers coming to us, maybe late teens, but really 20s, 30s plus in is when it's really great to be using a vitamin C, especially a powerful, potent one like ours. Other than that, those younger folks probably it's too strong and they don't need it yet. For other lines like Hailey Bieber's road, her customer is Gen Z and her whole premise for the brand is really delivering barrier repair, hydration, that glazed donut look. And that's different from the Beauty stat customer.

I remember seeing that Hailey was a huge fan of your vitamin C. And is that how you became involved with her brand row? Did she approach you or how did that partnership form?

Yeah, she connected with me and definitely heard of my products. Loved my vitamin C serum, our eye cream moisturizer. She loved those products. You know, we Talked back in 2020 and she shared with me the concept for Rhode and I was just blown away with her vision about creating this lifestyle brand and what she wanted the products to do and deliver for her customers. So it was just a fantastic ride to be on and to work with her. She's really brilliant and has such a strong vision and such a sophisticated taste level that is really unmatched.

You've been in the industry for so long. I would love to hear your perspective on just how the beauty landscape has changed over the past few decades. Because I feel like it's changed very quickly. As someone who's only been in the industry not even 10 years. So as a cosmetic chemist, what kind of problems were you trying to solve when you first started at Clinique versus now in this crazy industry with so many brands and a lot of incorrect information swirling around and everything?

Yeah, there's A lot of misinformation going on. I think in terms of how I'm trying to address consumer needs, they're pretty much the same as back in the 90s. Consumers want brighter, more even skin tone. They want improved texture, they want a reduction of fine lines and wrinkles, they want firmness and improvement in elasticity. What's different now is that the consumer, thanks to social media, is really more educated now. Before, they used to really rely on the brands to educate them. So the big change is how social media has impacted the consumer. They know ingredients and they're noticing that not all creators are giving good information. So they're really now needing to cut through and decide who can I trust. And they're looking for experts, whether that's the dermatologist or the cosmetic chemist or the esthetician that really knows about skin care, to really educate them. That's a big difference. And I think brands, and especially my brand, had to step up and become the educator first and foremost.

So if you're on Beauty TikTok, which I feel like most people that are listening to this probably are, you're constantly getting bombarded with new buzzwords and new trends. And I know that you're on TikTok and I'm so glad that you're on there spreading correct information. But in your opinion, what are some of the buzzy ingredients and products that people really should listen to the hype and really are worth it?

Certainly vitamin C peptides, another proven gold standard ingredient. What's exciting is that people are now really listening to experts around sunscreen. They are looking for new and exciting sunscreens that really work well with their skin type and tone. They're also looking at mineral and understanding that there are better mineral sunscreens out there as well. So I think those are the ones that have all the merit and have all the data to support that. Yes, consumers should continue looking for those products that will work for them that contain those ingredients.

And I know that we talked about vitamin C a little bit, but since you mentioned peptides, can you go into what peptides are doing for your skin that vitamin C isn't doing?

Yeah, peptides, there are short chains of amino acids and there's so many different types of peptides out there and they could be made to do different things, whether that's to hydrate, repair the skin barrier, they can work to provide anti inflammatory and calming and soothing benefits, or they could address firmness and wrinkles as well. So there are different types out there. The ones I recommend for the younger population are those more hydrating barrier repair peptides. Even some of the plumping peptides can be great for younger consumers. And as you advance looking for more anti aging concerns around expression lines and wrinkles and that sort of thing, then there are other peptides that you could use as well. At Beauty set, we use different types of peptides. We have our new peptide Wrinkle relaxing moisturizer. This is for the Gen X consumer that's looking for wrinkle relaxation. Really an alternative to Botox in a jar, if you will. It's not a replacement, it's just an alternative. If a consumer is afraid of needles or is concerned about the cost for going to a derm treatment, we're giving her a nice option that has some great clinical results against smoothing skin. In our new C Lip serum, we also have peptides that are working to help plump the lips and help to plump out those expression wrinkles around the lips as well.

I once was talking to a dermatologist because a lot of products do like to make that claim of injections or Botox or whatever it is in a bottle. And he said it's more like if getting injections or going into a clinic for some type of treatment is like seeing a personal trainer, then daily what you're doing is just like your gym membership. And sometimes that consistency of what you're doing, which might seem smaller, is actually what will yield the most results long term.

Exactly. Helps you maintain a little bit. Yes.

So on the other side, is there anything that you see swirling around that you just wish you could wipe? Any myths or things that drive you nuts when you see it on social media?

Beef tallow. Who is doing the PR for beef tallow? It's like, how did that ingredient become the cure all? It addresses wrinkles, it prevents acne, it's a sunscreen, it does it all. And I think it's really ridiculous some of the claims that are being made around this ingredient. You know, beef tallow is a fat that's rendered from beef. It's very greasy and if you have really dry skin, I think it could be fine as an emollient.

But.

But I haven't seen any data to show that it is reducing wrinkles or can work as a sunscreen. And as far as acne, if anything it's got to be poor clogging given it's so rich and fatty in content. So that one blows my mind and that needs to be erased.

Definitely one that spread like wildfire for sure. And I do love that you are really Interactive and you will respond directly to your online community, especially on TikTok. So has there ever been feedback that you've received via TikTok, comments that you've taken to heart and then applied in either products that you're thinking about coming out with or reformulating in your existing products?

For sure. So we launched two shades of our C Lip Serum. I'm blown away with the reviews, five star reviews. We are hearing from consumers that they want more shades. So stay tuned for new shades of our beauty stats C Lip Serum to come.

And how long does that process take when you are reformulating from start to.

Finish, it really varies. So this product from the concept has been over two years because keep in mind the challenge here was combining a mineral sunscreen with vitamin C and delivering a really glossy shine and feel to the lips. You think about zinc oxide, which is the sunscreen ingredient we use. It's very matte. It's a matte powder. How do you get a big chunk of matte powder in a product to really deliver shine? It took us over two years to get that product ready for launch. And in terms of the shade extensions, shorter amount of time because it's a matter of just getting the right pigments added to that. But even from a quick perspective, if it's something that we could really go in the lab and I get it done and it's a winner, it could take a year or so before it actually comes to market. With our Vitamin C Serum Universal C Skin Refiner, this was five years in the making. So it really depends on the product and what it takes to formulate and bring all the ingredients we want into it to deliver what we want it to deliver.

What products were easier for you to formulate from the get go?

When we launched our vitamin C serum, we had a companion moisturizer which is probably one of our most underrated products, our Pro Bio Moisture Boost Cream. It's your everyday moisturizer that everyone needs. It's lightweight, fast, absorbing, repairs your barrier, great for all skin types and tones. And it's one of those products that really came together really quickly and we were able to launch along with our vitamin C serum when we first launched the brand.

I love that moisturizer.

It's a great one.

I break out easily, so it's hard for me to find a moisturizer that I really like and I feel like doesn't weigh things down. So.

Right. You're very lightweight.

Before I let you go, is there anything else that you're working on right now that we can look forward to from you.

I think I hinted at some things we're launching in terms of shade extensions and we're seeing lip serum. So I'm excited about that. And then we have some top secret things that are coming at Beauty Stat. We're always looking for new and exciting ingredients and bringing really exciting innovation to the market. So stay tuned.

Yeah, that's actually one thing that I appreciate about Beauty Stat 2 is you're not launching five products every month, which it sometimes seems like brands do. So you know, if you're coming out with something, it's going to be very special and intentional. So I'm excited.

Exactly. Very intentional.

Well, thank you so much.

Thank you so much Erin. Appreciate the time. Thank you.

[Erin Johns]

A huge thank you to cosmetic chemist and founder of Beauty Stat, Ron Robinson. Make sure to subscribe to our show wherever you listen to podcasts so you don't miss an episode. And while you're there, I'd also be so grateful if you'd rate and review us. If you have guest suggestions or any other feedback, drop us a [e-mail] or you can find us on social WhoWhatWear. See you next Wednesday on the who what Where Podcast. This episode was produced by Hilary Kerr, Summer Hammeris and Natalie Thurman. Our editor is Ko Takazuki Ternovan. Our audio engineers are at Glen Canyon Audio and our music is by Jonathan Leah.

[Richard Karn]

Hi, I'm Richard Karn and you may have seen me on TV talking about the world's number one expandable garden hose. The brand new Pocket hose Copperhead with Pocket Pivot is here and it's a total game changer. Plus your super light and ultra durable pocket hose Copperhead is backed with a 10 year warranty. What could be better than that? For a limited time you can get a free pocket pivot and their 10 pattern sprayer with the purchase of any size Copperhead hose. Just go to get copperhead. That's getcopperhead.com for your two free gifts with purchase getcopperhead. Com.