Dr Michelle Wong - Lab Muffin Beauty Science

@labmuffin.com

4217 Followers 457 Following

#SciComm and educator, medicinal/supramolecular/synthetic chem PhD, cosmetic chemist, YouTuber I explain the science behind beauty products and debunk misinformation. I talk a lot about sunscreen and "toxic" ingredients 🌞 labmuffin.com/links

Misinformation family tree, labelled "misinformation multiplies". Starts with "Chemical sunscreens absorb UV and convert it to heat, physical sunscreens reflect UV", which turns into "Chemical sunscreens need to absorb into skin to activate and work", which turns into "Chemical sunscreens protect less skin because they get absorbed while physical sunscreens sit on top" and "Physical sunscreens protect immediately but chemical sunscreens have a wait time". First myth also births "Chemical sunscreens absorb UV via a chemical reaction so they aren't photostable" which turns into "You only need to reapply chemical sunscreens, not physical". The first myth also turns into "Physical sunscreens reflect all wavelengths so they're broad spectrum but chemical sunscreens aren't" which births "Chemical sunscreens don't give as high UV protection as zinc oxide" and "Physical sunscreens are effective against blue light". First myth also turns into "Chemical sunscreens produce heat that triggers melasma and rosacea".
Screenshot from paper with misinformation highlighted: "certain products were recalled for having detectable levels of benzene" "this concern pertained only to a few specific products"
Table of some @labmuffinbeautyscience TikTok video stats, 2023-2025 - this is available in a Google Doc linked at the end of the thread. Sponsored and boosted videos have high views but required more views to get a like, and a comment. Unboosted sponsored videos from a similar time have low views and few comments. Unsponsored videos generally have more comments. The unsponsored videos promoting products are from 2023, since they were the closest videos in date that were highly viewed videos promoting a product - I don't promote products enough it seems!
Table of categorised videos. This is available in the Google Doc linked at the end of the thread. It shows similar metrics to the previous table. Explicitly sponsored videos with "ad" or "partner" in the caption or "paid partnership" label are very likely boosted, and had far lower engagement with 25841 views needed per comment, compared to videos posted by the brand (likely boosted) needing 2464 views per comment and videos that feature only 1 brand positively (often boosted) needing 6022.
Table of top 44 most viewed videos categorised. This is available in the Google Doc linked at the end of the thread. It shows video categories with metrics including number, total views, likes, average views per like, comments, average views per comment. Videos posted by the brand account (likely boosted) have low engagement, e.g. require 32695 views to get one comment. Explicitly sponsored videos with "ad" or "partner" in the caption or "paid partnership" label are very likely boosted, and had the lowest engagement, requiring 53554 views per comment. Videos that feature 1 brand positively only are often undisclosed sponsorships, or organic content - these are often boosted, and required 4760 views per comment. Likely unsponsored videos are rarely boosted and needed 3109 views per comment.
Screenshot of @labmuffinbeautyscience TikTok profile sorted by popular. A video with 10.9 million views is listed below videos with 52.1K, 72.6K, 98.1K and 251.2K views. Label also says: clearly other parameters involved but also clear boosted views are weighted less
Table of some @labmuffinbeautyscience TikTok video stats, 2023-2025 - this is available in a Google Doc linked at the end of the thread. Sponsored and boosted videos have high views but required more views to get a like, and a comment. Unboosted sponsored videos from a similar time have low views and few comments. Unsponsored videos generally have more comments. The unsponsored videos promoting products are from 2023, since they were the closest videos in date that were highly viewed videos promoting a product - I don't promote products enough it seems!
Table showing top 5 viewed videos in dataset - labelled partner, partner, partner, brand, partner. The 4 partner posts have #NeutrogenaPartner in the captions, while the brand post has #neutrogena. This is available in a Google Doc linked at the end of the thread.
Screenshot from CBC News Edmonton showing a screenshot of a TikTok search for sunscreen - 3 out of 4 videos send the message "avoid chemical sunscreens", the 4th video is still misinfo, but at least nothing about big health risks
The American Academy ofDermatology recommends broad-spectrum sunscreen with an SPF of30 or higher daily, even on cloudy days. Mineral sunscreens containing zinc oxide or titanium dioxide are considered safe by dermatologists.
Bottle of Diptyque Philosykos perfume, it was very fancy 10 years ago but feels reasonably priced now, possibly because Sydney houses are appreciating by an average of $1000/day
We could do much more. Polls consistently show that the majority of the public, especially low-income communities and communities of color, support mask mandates. But because many places have dropped mask mandates, fewer people are wearing masks. CDC research shows that people are more willing to wear a mask when there’s high Covid transmission, but most also think Covid-19 transmission levels are much lower than they actually are. Another barrier is that a number of people can’t afford N95 and KN95 masks, but the government is not providing them for free. Widespread disinformation about the science of masks undermines policy and education efforts that can bridge these gaps.
Square matcha cookies on a plate
Screenshot of a TikTok video from Dr Aamna Adel - dermatologist secrets everyone needs to know. Laser hair removal will do nothing if you have blonde body hair Greasy hair? Blow dry >> air dry you're welcome Hypochlorous acid (for) stinky pits, back acne, butt acne, boils 2.5 mg of biotin a day will fix your weak, crumbly nails Urea cream and cotton socks is godsend for crusty feet
Two succulent sausages in bread with "democracy sauce" (tomato sauce, NOT ketchup) in the background
Blue hand knit jumper
Original tweet: Nancy Mace: Get the chemicals out of our food. Quote tweet: Simon Maechling: Hi, PhD chemist here - literally everything is made of chemicals.
First time? Meme
Article version https://labmuffin.com/factcheck-low-tox-sunscreen-swaps/
Screenshot from Build a Ballot: 81% match for the Greens, 39% for Labor, 24% for One Nation, 19% Liberal, 17% Trumpet of Patriots
Phthalates are often used in fragrances, says Barrett, who studies environmental chemicals and their impact on pregnancy and child development. "They're very good at carrying scent and color in products." But they have been linked to preterm birth in pregnant women with high levels of the chemical in their bodies.
A gorgeous furry black cat's tail, with scattered white strands and a white band near the tip
Huberman Lab post: It is interesting to learn that many psychiatrists who treat children with ADHD report that the kids' parents are often late to appointments as well and show direct signs of ADHD. This raises the question of whether some of it is genetic. There are too many variables to separate, but it is interesting nonetheless.
Threads post: koreydior_ you can just put PhD next to yourname. no one checks Reply from labmuffinbeautyscience: I'm a woman of colour, so someone actually emailed my PhD supervisor on a weekend to check, and decided I was a fraud because they didn't get a reply immediately
Threads post from carlingnicole Huberman, Kim K, and Bryan Johnson in a collab talking about "healthy aging" is wild when what they are *really* talking about is being rich
Instagram post from Dr Jessica Knurick: Now after years of undermining trust in food regulation, the EWG are currently alarmed that the FDA's food safety leadership is collapsing. And their own audience isn't having it.
Collage of 12 medfluencers with huge followings, recommending rosemary oil for hair loss. There's also one trichologist and one chemist, but the vast majority are medical doctors.
Diagram showing how 10 umbrella companies own a huge chunk of supermarket brands
Decedent specimen collections over the past 30 years were not focused on minimizing external plastic contamination. However, given the consistent nature of handling and processing across all organ samples within objectively clean clinical and forensic settings, the significant accumulation of MNPs in the brain cannot be dismissed as an artifact of contamination. Furthermore, the 2016 samples were stored for 84–96 months compared to only 2–4 months for the 2024 samples, which exhibited greater concentrations of polymer. Thus, contamination from plastic storage vessels should not influence the conclusions.
McKenzies citric acid in a shaker
Tweet from @labmuffin: If you've accidentally swallowed poison and desperately need to throw up, FYI there's a Tesla around Double Bay with the licence plate "MUSK" 10:44 pm 18 July 20
Instagram post comment: Isn't that what the FDA is supposed to regulate? What lobby bought them off to disregard health risk factors? Let's go RFK Jr!
Apollo passing the red ball of prophecy
Calendar event for January 19: Post Fahrenheit jokes on TikTok
Let's look at this reasonably: Firefighting used to be a private for-profit industry. In the 1800's, the early days of urbanization, in cities like New York and Baltimore, there were private "clubs" or "gangs" who were in charge of putting out fires. The infamous Boss Tweed started his illustrious political career at a volunteer fire company. The way it functioned was the first club at the scene got money from the insurance company. So, they had an incentive to get there fast. They also had an incentive to sabotage competition. They also often ended up getting in fights over territory and many times buildings would burn down before the issue was resolved. They were glorified looters. It was corrupt, bloated and expensive -- but at least it wasn't the much maligned "government controlled." https://www.huffpost.com/entry/firefighting-in-the-1800s_b_247936
First, know your emollient options "There's definitely not a one-size-fits-all for all skin types,' says Rebecca Kazin, MD, FAAD, a board-certified dermatologist in Bethesda. Rather, moisturizer - which works by putting moisture into the skin, as well as preventing water from leaving the skin - can describe a number of different products, including lotions, gels, creams, and ointments. There are subtle differences among them. A gel is often water-based and tends to feel lighter on the skin than a lotion. A cream is thicker and has higher oil content than a lotion and gel, making it more hydrating. An ointment is the thickest of all, making it the most effective in remedying dry skin. Emollients in these moisturizers keep your skin soft and smooth.
Quote from Donald Horne: "Australia is a lucky country run mainly by second rate people who share its luck. It lives on other people's ideas, and, although its ordinary people are adaptable, most of its leaders (in all fields) so lack curiosity about the events that surround them that they are often taken by surprise."
A pretty tabby with her booty spilling out slightly from a cat tree container
Ah shit, here we go again GTA meme
A video on YouTube about AI behind a very impressive colourwork sock with excellent tension (this is very impressive, trust me)