“Paraben-free,” “non-comedogenic,” “medical-grade skincare,” "collagen-boosting," "benzene-free," “fragrance-free,” and “dermatologist-tested” are among the most commonly used terms in cosmetic and skincare marketing worldwide. These familiar labels are often treated as shortcuts for trust, quality, and clinical legitimacy—yet without consistent regulation, their meanings can be surprisingly fluid. Do they carry meaningful weight from a scientific and dermatologic standpoint, or are they simply marketing buzzwords that blur the line between evidence and persuasion?

In this episode, we are joined by Dr. Michelle Wong, PhD. Dr. Wong is a Chemistry PhD, beauty and cosmetic science communicator, and author based in Sydney, Australia. She is known online as Lab Muffin Beauty Science, having amassed over 1.5 million followers by educating the public about the science behind beauty products and ingredients.

Dr. Wong received her PhD in Chemistry from the University of Sydney, with a dissertation focused on cyclic peptide-based structures for medicinal and supramolecular applications. She then received the Diploma of Personal Care Formulation from the Institute of Personal Care Science. Since then, Dr. Wong has written two books: ‘The Science of Beauty' and ‘The Lab Muffin Guide to Basic Skincare.' She also co-founded BeautySciComm, an online initiative to increase the quality, volume, and reach of accurate beauty science content.

Dr. Wong is a trusted voice, featured as a media expert on The New York Times, The Atlantic, HuffPost, Daily Mail, ABC News, ELLE France/Canada, Well+Good, IFLScience, and The Cut.

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