When inflammation becomes chronic, it stops being helpful and starts causing damage - weakening your skin barrier, accelerating aging, and contributing to conditions like acne. In this evidence-based deep dive,...
Everything I was told about skincare oils starting out turned out to be wrong. They don’t seal in skincare - or moisture - very well. My dry skin needed more...
Did you know that there’s different types of wrinkles? Whether you choose to embrace the signs of aging or want to minimize them, understanding the different types of wrinkles—dynamic and...
Ever found yourself wondering, "Do I really need a facial toner?" If so, you're not alone. Social media is flooded with conflicting opinions - some dermatologists say it's essential, while...
Our skin works hard to stay hydrated. But even the smallest changes within the skin or its environment can increase water loss and influence hydration status. That’s why Stratia Skin...
How a passion project in a kitchen became a thriving small business.
Homemade sunscreen recipes pop up every summer and with it, the myth that you can get protection from raspberry seed oil or other plant oils. The only DIY that can...
In the 21st century, we know more about our skin than ever before. Let’s take a deep dive into what exfoliation is on a scientific level, the different ways we...
Your skin can change by the season, month, or even day. Here’s just a few of the common contributors to skin changes.
If you’ve been using skincare for a while, chances are you’ve experienced a product reaction of some kind at least once. Perhaps you were excited over a new product but...
It’s 2023 and the skincare landscape has changed drastically over the last decade. Never before have we had so much access to education on skincare - and it’s just a...
All the power of Lipid Gold in a nourishing eye cream formula designed to get rid of dark circles under eyes, enhance firmness, and fortify the delicate skin around the...
This week, let’s take a deep look at the albatross hanging around the neck of many skincare addicts: long-term discoloration caused by acne. There are three types of long-term physical...
Clogged pores are one of the more baffling aspects of having skin. Sometimes, clogged pores get inflamed and turn into pimples; sometimes, they just hang around indefinitely, like a party...
Preservatives. A word that doesn’t exactly evoke the same excitement as sexy ingredients like peptides or Vitamin C. But while they don’t bring to mind the image of glowing, hydrated...
While the buzz around retinaldehyde has been steadily growing for several years now, it’s recently taken over the retinoid conversation - and taken social media by storm. Touted as “the...
Out of the three classes of moisturizing ingredients (humectants, emollients, and occlusives), humectants are probably my favorite. Well, tied for first. But they’re incredibly cool.
A key ingredient in our Vegan Rewind Formula
Glycerin. The humectant that you’ve probably seen in most of your skincare products but never really stopped to think about. If hyaluronic acid is the show horse of the skincare...
Sensitive skin? Pregnant or breastfeeding? Experiencing hyper pigmentation? Chances are, you’ve been told to use mineral sunscreen. Zinc oxide and titanium dioxide based sunscreens are often touted as the safest, most...
Moisturizers not only combine an array of moisturizer ingredients like emollients, occlusive agents, and humectants but can act as a vehicle for UV filters or other ingredients. Yet instead, TikTok and...
Ceramides are really having their moment in the spotlight, shooting from a little known skincare ingredient to the star ingredient of countless new launches. They’re an integral part of a...
Hyaluronic acid. One of the most popular ingredients in skincare yet often misunderstood. We’ve sifted through all the claims, myths, and most importantly the science to bring you this deep dive...
You may have noticed that there’s been a growing debate on the safety of preservatives - particularly parabens. Concerns range from their supposed endocrine disrupting ability to their presence in...
Fatty acids are absolutely necessary for healthy skin (and healthy everything else, technically). Some people, especially ones raised in a Western beauty ethos, tend to equate “oil” with “clogged pores”...
Let’s learn about cleansers and surfactants! Starting with the Basics Cleansers work via a class of ingredients called surfactants (that stands for surface active agents). Surfactants are long, two-headed molecules. One head is hydrophilic, meaning it’s...
Sea buckthorn oil is one of the most interesting ingredients in Liquid Gold. It’s what gives Liquid Gold its signature color, but that’s just a fun side effect. I chose...
This week, we’re going to talk about a very special type of acid: the chemical exfoliant workhorses of our skincare toolkit, hydroxy acids. What Are Hydroxy Acids? In terms of...
This guide breaks down the roles of estheticians, cosmetic chemists, dermatologists, and other skincare professionals- their education, specialties, and the topics they’re best qualified to speak on.
Whether you’re pressed for time or unsure where to start, this guide has you covered with skincare gift ideas for everyone on your list.
The skincare sold at your dermatologist’s office or local med spa looks effective. Sleek bottles line the shelves with words like “MD” or “clinical” crisply printed on the bottles. When you...
Halloween is right around the corner, and it’s the season for haunted houses, carving pumpkins, and spooky costumes. But what about scary skincare trends? From DIY disasters to self-proclaimed “experts,”...
If you’re trying to figure out how to layer products in your skincare routine, there’s a simple rule (with a few exceptions) – I call it the “I before E except...
Fall is here and with it comes our favorite hot drinks, cozy sweaters, and falling leaves. But what you probably aren’t looking forward to… dry, flaky skin. We’ve got you...
There is a lot of information out there and it can feel like you’re navigating a tightrope just trying to figure out when to use your Vitamin C serum and if your...
Once you’ve taken the plunge and decided to begin your skincare journey, every beginner has the same question when those products start showing up in the mailbox… how on Earth do...
Are eye creams a scam? Short answer: no. Much longer answer: although some sources claim there’s no difference between eye cream and regular moisturizer, the eye area actually has some...
As someone who’s had dark undereye circles since kindergarten, I know how frustrating – and stubborn – they can be. I want to dive into the science behind how dark...
One of my favorite trends in skincare in the last decade is the shift away from a blind trust of marketing claims and a focus on truly understanding how skincare...
When inflammation becomes chronic, it stops being helpful and starts causing damage - weakening your skin barrier, accelerating aging, and contributing to conditions like acne. In this evidence-based deep dive,...
Sunscreen is the foundation of any skincare routine - it reduces skin cancer risk, prevents premature aging, and protects against UV damage. But here’s the catch: sunscreen alone isn’t enough....
While the underlying cause of acne requires further study, we know a lot about the pathophysiology of acne - or the physical changes to the skin that are happening when...
Is dermaplaning really that different from simply shaving your face? And do you need to visit a professional or can you do it at home? In this blog, we’ll break...
“Drink more water.” This advice is everywhere—from celebrity beauty tips to esthetician recommendations. If you have dry skin or struggle with breakouts, chances are you’ve had someone suggest upping your...
TikTok is full of videos on how to fix a damaged skin barrier and there’s countless Google search results on what the skin barrier is. But a decade ago, the...
A serious sunburn increases your risk of skin cancer and the more times you’re burnt, the higher the risk. But what is a sunburn and why is it so damaging?
If there’s one ingredient category you should be adding to your morning routine this summer, it’s antioxidants. They work alongside your sunscreen to protect against the sun - and other...
Dark spots can be very difficult to address with skincare and many people end up feeling like they’ve tried it all with nothing to show for it. If that’s you,...
Retinoids are one of the most researched and effective categories of skincare ingredients. They can improve a variety of skin concerns, making them highly popular with experienced skincare users.
If you’ve ever experienced acne, you’re probably familiar with the unsolicited advice that it can invite. But while acne may be one of the most common skin concerns worldwide, affecting over...
We all know the visible signs of aging and it’s an inevitable process that we will all face. And while everyone has different feelings on getting older, aging can be...
Fear sells, and by making customers feel worried about their health and safety, clean brands have found an easy way to market their products. We’re here to say: you can...
Dry skin is different from dehydrated skin. Unlike typical dehydration, where your body is low on water, skin dehydration comes from a damaged moisture barrier.
There’s been a lot of buzz around peptides on social media and it would be easy to write them off as another viral TikTok trend. But peptides in skincare have...
Growth factors. If you’re a science nerd, this category of skincare ingredients is one of the most fascinating in terms of the science and possibilities for skin rejuvenation. But like...
The pH of skincare is a hot topic, and an issue that can have a dramatic impact on your skin. Fortunately, it’s also a fairly easy concept (at least as...
For me, the most difficult part of building a good skincare routine was actually listening to my skin. I’d get so starry-eyed over rave reviews that I’d buy a product...
