Itchy scalp, skincare ingredient trends, how to get sick less

Latest posts on Instagram and TikTok:

• More zinc sunscreens that might have lower SPFs

• Microplastics in sunscreen

• Tips for itchy scalp

• Spray sunscreens don’t give much protection

• Changes to Australian sunscreen ingredients (new TGA safety review)

• Azelaic acid and adult breakouts

• Hydrocolloid pimple patches

• How much sunscreen do you need

• Toxic ingredients “adding up” in products

I’ve had issues with an itchy scalp for most of my life, but I didn’t really work out how to deal with it until I started researching my book, The Science of Beauty! It’s more complicated than I expected, because some scalp products can make the situation worse if it’s targeting the wrong cause.

I go through the science behind the multiple potential causes, and then how to deal with them in this video (watch it on YouTube or Nebula).

I wrote an article on skincare ingredient trends with my friend and fellow skincare science nerd Hannah Collingwood English for a dermatology journal. There was a word limit, so we decided to also make some videos as well!

My video (also on Nebula) goes through delivery systems, ingredient derivatives (and “retinol alternatives”), microbiome, microneedling and menopause. Hannah’s video tackles exosomes, anti-pollution, azelaic acid and other newly permitted skincare ingredients.

Hannah’s just started making more YouTube videos, so make sure you subscribe to her channel - she put me onto red light masks for helping with skin reactivity, and she just launched a cool azelaic acid product finder!

Our article is here, if you prefer reading!

You might’ve noticed I’ve become an air quality nerd during the pandemic! I’ve had a lot of questions about the N95 respirators and CO2 monitors I post from time to time, and my neat Nukit UV torches.

I collated a bunch of tools and resources in a new blog post on how to get sick less. I’m still adding to it - let me know if there’s anything you think would be helpful!

• Videos I enjoyed recently:

  • I really love Tony Robinson’s walking history videos - in this one he takes a walk through Sydney, and talks about the history behind a random plinth that I’ve wondered about before

  • Farming Explained talks about the fascinating history of organic farming, which had more to do with class warfare than I expected

  • Engineering is more of an Omar thing, but I enjoyed this video on some of the theories behind how pyramids were built by Fern

• I finished the Monday Sweater by PetiteKnit! There are some minor tension issues and I still have to take proper photos, but I’m overjoyed to have finished a wool jumper that doesn’t make me super itchy before the end of winter (I used Bendigo Woollen Mill Whisper).