Stem Cells - the nonsense continues

Nearly three years ago I wrote this post about stem cells and the utter nonsense of brands claiming that plant stem cells can 'reactivate stem cells'.

I don't usually repeat posts of this nature - but these claims are getting more and more outrageous and when I am offered a £100 spray - a spray - that says 'phyto-stem cell extract protects and activates dermal stem cells', frankly I call bullshit. In their defence, at least this particular brand says 'dermal', unlike a lot of others, who randomly throw the words 'stem cells', 'repair', 'reactivate' and 'regenerate' around like it's nothing.

This is my friend Lorraine.

Lorraine was my much-talked about favourite Clarins consultant who got me my first interview in the beauty industry for Aveda. I got the job. The rest is history and one of the reasons you are reading this.

Eleven years ago, when we were both working on the shop floor in Fenwick, Lorraine was paralysed when a man jumped off a balcony in a nightclub and landed directly on top of her.

The words 'stem cell' and 'regenerate' and 'repair' matter a lot to Lorraine and her family and friends.

So I hope you'll forgive me for losing my patience when I see the words banded about so freely by brands to sell skincare, when nothing, nothing - so far - repairs human stem cells in that way. Certainly not some cells extracted from your hydrangea bush.

If you have £100 to spend on a 'stem cell' spray, perhaps you might consider donating it to Spinal Research instead. At least there, we may, eventually, get a result.

More information on Lorraine, the Cure Girls and spinal research can be found here:

curegirls.wordpress.com/fight-for-a-reversal-for-paralysis

Lorraine's Story

Spinal Research

Stem Cell Basics

In the meantime, if you're using the cells taken from a plant stem in skincare, please make it exceedingly clear to your consumer that you in no way expect those products to actually affect human stem cells. It's a nonsense.

Sorry for the rant. 

Beauty Myths No.15 - Celebs don't wash their faces/Caveman Regime

Here's the thing: if you don't want to use anything on your skin, don't. If you want to only use manuka honey on your skin, do. If you don't want to wash your face ever, that's up to you (filth).

The 'caveman' regime is the latest thing to hit the press - aided and abetted by reports of certain celebrities who swear they 'only ever use soap and water' on their skin and are 'horrified' at the thought of washing their faces in the mornings.

Firstly, let's be clear. Celebrities saying they don't wash their faces and saying they only use soap and water is not new, some have always said that.
It was utter bollocks then and it is now.

The 'average' woman (you and me) have enough pressure on them to be perfect without xyz celeb saying they don't work out (lies), they eat 'everything in sight!' (lies) and now that they don't wash their face at all? Bollocks don't you.

*literal eyebrow explosion*

Give me a motherflannel-loving break.

If it was just celebs being arses it wouldn't be that big of a deal - but there is a whole industry behind this caveman crapola. You can spend $200 of your hard-earned dollars to be shown how not to use any products on your skin.

*pauses*

TWO. HUNDRED. DOLLARS.

Yes. You PAY to be shown how NOT to use products. Jesus H is it THAT hard to understand? I did the math based on the cost of the Caveman regime and how many people they claim have tried and tested their 'protocols'. Not all the extras they sell, just the basics. $3 million dollars. 3 MILLION DOLLARS from telling people how 'not' to use product. I wish I was joking.

Yes, of course you can use too much stuff on your face. I've always said do what you have to do for you - whatever that is. But please don't think that these people have perfect skin without skincare and/or without medical intervention (or huge lips - Kylie Jenner I am looking at you). The jig is up people. Enough.

Now go wash your faces. Filth.

Beauty Myths No.12 - You have to use everything from the same brand

Ever since I started putting pictures of my daily routine on Instagram I have been asked these two questions: 'Do you use different products every DAY?' and 'Don't you have to use everything from one brand in order for them to really work?'

The answers are 'Yes'. And then 'No'.

Yes, I use different skincare every day. In the same way that I wear different clothes and eat different food. And I always have. Even when wildly restricted by budget, I would have at least two moisturisers and 2/3 cleansers on rotation. Your skin is different every day. So should your products be.

No, you don't have to use everything from the same brand. The only thing to be concerned about are clashing vitamin A products that you get on prescription, but in that case, your doctor would have advised you separately about what to use/not use when issuing the prescription. 

Over the counter products very rarely 'clash' because the %'s of active ingredients are low - they won't build up/interfere with each other.

What IS important is the order you use items and the formulas themselves. Your serum from XYZ won't know that your moisturiser is from ABC and stop working in protest. That's not how it works, no matter what sales hype you are given from the brands at counter. 

My products, as a rule, tend to have peptides, hyaluronic acid and vitamin a (at night) in them. Varying strengths, varying formulas, similar ingredients. There are thousands of products out there. Embrace them (again, obviously within your budget).

The next time someone tells you that you simply have to use their moisturiser on top of their serum, don't buy either of them. 

Or you could hold up this picture of Danny Devito below and say 'I DON'T THINK SO MATEY.'

Beauty Myths No.10 - Waiting lists

Right. Happy Friday everyone! WHOOP. Down to business. Waiting lists. You know the things. Those long lists of 'literally thousands' of people 'eagerly awaiting!'. See the Daily Fail (link warning) most days for the latest one.

Here's the thing. They don't exist. At least not in the way that they are portrayed. Nowhere is there a list with thousands of names of people eagerly awaiting whatever product that marketing company is being paid to push that week.

In the case of something like the iPhone 6, with 10 million sold in the first weekend of sales, the majority on pre-order, i.e. already bought and paid for; that's a legitimate claim. It's fact.

A 'waiting list' for beauty products simply doesn't exist in the way that some marketing departments - or brands - would have you believe. It's all hype to make you want the product more and keep up with the Jones'.

If the product is really as 'wanted' as that, release it to market, let it genuinely sell out everywhere and spread via word of mouth. Stop this nonsense. It's Friday. We're all over here just trying to chill.