Podcast 172: Skintellectuals and the rise of informed beauty shoppers

In this opinion episode, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier delves into the intriguing world of “skintellectuals” and the significant influence Gen Z is wielding in the beauty industry. But who are these self-proclaimed “skintellectuals” and what movement, if any, do they represent and what do they stand for?

 

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With scientific jargon bombarding beauty consumers, it’s only natural that individuals would seek to understand the terminology and concepts behind skincare ingredients. Almost all of us are familiar with label ingredients like niacinamide, retinol and collagen thrown around liberally in beauty marketing. The beauty industry has experienced exponential growth over the years, saturating our lives with advertisements, product placements, and endorsements, making it nearly impossible to escape its influence.

We heard in the previous episode from our guest, recent cosmetic science graduate Riley Cowen, how Gen Z has grown up with the internet and social media revolutionising information-sharing, and is using its knowledge to pressure beauty brands to be more transparent about their products. However, this rapid dissemination of information has also given rise to misinformation.

Lorraine highlights the increasing presence of cosmetic chemist influencers online who educate their audiences about ingredient science and provide in-depth analyses of product formulations. This accessibility to knowledge has given rise to a “skintellectual movement” that can only gain momentum. Lorraine proposes that it should play a pivotal role in challenging beauty brands on issues like sustainability and their science-washing practices, where complex scientific terminology is used to impress consumers without conveying meaningful information. By questioning and demanding transparency, skintellectuals can contribute to cleaning up the beauty industry and making it more environmentally conscious.

Key takeouts from this opinion episode include:

• Skintellectuals have emerged as a group of informed skincare consumers who seek to understand the science behind beauty products.
• The exponential growth of the beauty industry, coupled with the rise of social media and the internet, has shaped the expectations and knowledge-seeking behaviour of younger generations.
• Skintellectuals have the power to challenge beauty brands on their use of scientific jargon and demand greater transparency in sustainability practices.
• Holding influencers accountable for accurate information and sustainable beauty choices can contribute to a more transparent and responsible beauty industry.

Join Lorraine’s challenge to skintellectuals: engage with influencers who discuss sustainability in beauty and scrutinise the science behind skincare formulations. By asking more questions and seeking accountability, the skintellectual community will be made accountable too, and as such, can be an even greater force driving positive change and making the beauty industry more transparent and sustainable.

Thank you for joining us for this episode of the Formula Botanica Green Beauty Conversations podcast. If you enjoyed listening, please share, subscribe and review this episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify or Youtube so that more people can enjoy the show. Don’t forget to follow and connect with us on Facebook and Instagram.

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Lorraine Dallmeier

Lorraine Dallmeier is a Biologist, Chartered Environmentalist and the CEO of Formula Botanica, the award-winning online organic cosmetic science school. Read more about Lorraine and the Formula Botanica Team.