Episode 1: Everything You Want To Know About Serums

Transcript: Beauty IQ Uncensored Episode 1

 

- Hannah

Welcome everybody to Beauty IQ the podcast.

 

- Jo

I'm your host Joanna Fleming

 

- Hannah

and I am your co-host Hannah Furst. So what are we talking about in today's episode Jo.

 

- Jo

So on today's episode of the podcast we're going to be talking about all things laser hair removal everything you need to know about serums and the two products we didn't know we needed. So welcome to our first episode I guess you should all know a bit of background about why we're here and why we're telling you things about beauty.

 

- Hannah

I feel like on duty we should really tell you who we are because last time we did a masterclass someone was like sorry who are you two.

 

- Jo

Yes. Literally a lady commented saying I don't mean to be rude but who the hell are you.

 

- Hannah

Look you weren't being rude. We really should have said who we are. So we're not going to make that mistake.

 

- Jo

 We assumed and we shouldn't of

 

- Hannah

Because we think we're important.

 

- Jo

So I have a pretty extensive background in the beauty industry as a whole. I've been in the industry for about eight years and I've been a beauty editor at Adore Beauty for three and a half years. So I might not know everything but I kind of know my shit.

 

- Hannah

She really does know her shit. I will definitely vouch for you though sometimes she knows a shit a little bit too much and it's a bit condesc..  I was about to say condescending but no. You're not condescending you're very knowledgeable. My name is Hannah. I've been working in the beauty industry for the last year. I've always worked in social and content.

 

- Jo

she's a newbie

 

- Hannah

 I am a newbie but I've learnt a lot but I still have a lot to learn. And hey that's why we're here. Jo you still have stuff to learn.

 

- Jo

I know I absolutely do. I know I totally agree.

 

- Hannah

So for our very first segment of our first episode we are gonna talk about hair removal and in particular laser hair removal.

 

- Jo

Yay.

 

- Hannah

The reason these came up was I was thinking about getting laser hair removal and I had a lot of questions about it

 

- Jo

 and I couldn't believe he hadn't had it done yet

 

- Hannah

I know. And I think this was really interesting because we had a drink with a friend the other night.First of all she didn't say I think I said like oh yeah that's true bush is back and she's like sorry bush is not back. Bush has always been in. That was first of all. And second of all she made a good point that when she was younger she couldn't afford Brazilian waxes. So she just let it grow. And then she actually decided she really liked it. And I think it's really up to personal preference what you like. So I think is not like one way or the highway. This is really about busting myths about laser hair removal.

 

- Jo

So if you like your hair

 

- Hannah

Keep it

 

- Jo

But if you want to know about laser hair removal. Keep listening because we're about to school you. When you have a Brazilian there's no question about whether they're doing the behind.

 

- Hannah

Yeah. So to me Brazilian is all

 

- Jo

Yeah. I certainly agree.

 

- Hannah

Yes. So I just didn't realize. So when and when I first turned up to laser hair removal. I've been getting Brazilian waxes and they always ask you in the Brazilian wax in a very delicate manner. Would you like that behind done? and you just like. Yeah.

 

- Jo

I was never asked it. They just did it

 

- Hannah

They usually ask you and then you kind of like flip around and like

 

- Jo

 I literally was never asked. I was just told to pull my buttcheeks apart.

 

- Hannah

That was very delicate Joanna. Well I was always asked maybe I look like I'm a bit more hippie than you. You look through a proper and prim of course you don't have any anus hair.

 

- Hannah

So I went for my first laser hair removal appointment and she's doing my legs and my underarms. Then she gets to the Brazilian. And then she doesn't do the bum. And I'm like such an awkward conversation and I was like

 

- Jo

excuse me. I think you've missed an area

 

- Hannah

Sorry are you gonna do the you know. And she was like oh the behind and I was like Yeah. She was like it's an add on it's an extra six dollars. And I was like What the fuck like an add on? Why would I just want hair  there? Like Why would I want to do my whole Brazilian and not do behind. So. I got to work the next day and I had an invoice in my inbox and it said six time sessions: anus. Why. Are you calling this anus?. I mean

 

- Jo

 it could have been worded so much better

 

- Hannah

so much better like bum butt behind any anything but I

 

- Jo

anything would be better than I anus. I know they're just trying to be you know using the actual medical term but none of us want to be saying: Can you please do my anus. At the same time thank you.

 

- Hannah

And I really do feel that they should just group it all together. But I mean look

 

- Jo

I totally agree. Some places do though. So this is like yeah the place that you've gone and I've also been to the same place and had the same experience. But there are places that do it all in one as they should in my humble opinion.

 

- Hannah

Well do you know what though maybe it's just not for everyone. I think it would be

 

- Jo

well one of the girls in the office was like I don't have anything there. Which is a very valid point

 

- Hannah

 I guess. What do you think some of the common myths about laser hair removal is. Because when I first went I just was like the fake tan thing is just a nightmare.

 

- Jo

Yeah. The fake tan things annoying but also I don't think fake tan is that hard to remove like at the end of the day if you can remove most of it they'll just set the settings lower so they're not burning you. I was tanned one time when I had it done and I ended up with these circle imprints on the inside of my leg and I was tanned in that area. So that was like my learning from that experience. And I was like shit they're really serious when they say that you can't be tan because it actually can burn you. And it was in Summer. So I was wearing like bikinis and looked like I had some kind of genital warts syndrome but I didn't.

 

- Jo

It was just like you know it was a burn. Yeah.

 

- Hannah

So I think one thing that I did order from Adore straight away after my laser hair removal appointment was Laser Aid.

 

- Jo

By Skinstitut?

 

- Hannah

By skinstitut. What are your thoughts on Laser Aid.

 

- Jo

I think it's just a nice thing to have handy. After your treatment I don't think it's absolutely necessary like you wouldn't negatively affect the treatment if you didn't use it one time. It's just a soothing it's like an aloe vera gel.

 

- Hannah

I did find the first couple of times I got laser hair removal. It was quite hot.

 

- Jo

Yeah.

 

- Hannah

My legs were really hot and so it really cooled it down.

 

- Jo

I think the thing with laser hair removal is paradoxical growth which is when you have laser on areas that don't have existing hair it can stimulate hair growth. So that's something important to remember. And teganmac.skin has mentioned this before.

 

- Hannah

Yes.

 

- Jo

Is it if you walk into a clinic and you asked to have like your mustache done for example and they go let's just do your whole face she's like walk out of there. And that's a really good piece of advice.

 

- Hannah

Can we talk about the facial hair removal. I heard a rumour. Maybe it's a myth that if you get your face done because it's hormonal that it could not be effective.

 

- Jo

Sometimes the growth on your face is hormonal but that's more likely in the case of someone who has a hormonal imbalance like polycystic ovary syndrome.

 

- Hannah

OK

 

- Jo

they'll have hair growth that even if they have laser it may not be super effective that will reduce it and maybe make the hair less coarse?

 

- Hannah

I have a question for you actually do you get facial hair.

 

- Jo

I get quite bad sideburns actually. I get a little bit of hair on the side of my upper lip. Not in the middle which is a few darker hairs around the side and I actually bleach mine when I wax or if I get threading I find my makeup doesn't sit quite right because those areas like it's obviously taken off that top layer of the skin and I just. My makeup doesn't sit right for like a week. So I'd rather just bleach it and then you can't really see it because the hair's really fine it's not thick hair.

 

- Hannah

I don't bleach although I was gonna try it based on your recommendation

 

- Jo

I think you should

 

- Hannah

I actually do hair removal cream because if I pluck or wax or thread I get pimples straight away. Yeah I get a pimple moustache.

 

- Jo

Yeah. Yep that's really common.

 

- Hannah

 Almost almost as bad as a proper moustache. I mean I also get the really coarse like random ones which to me feels hormonal. Maybe I should get an add on next time I go to the hair removal clinic. I did get a little add on last time which I don't want to talk about.

 

- Jo

No I think you should talk about it because this is actually something when you said you were getting it done I was like I've always wanted to get that area done.

 

- Hannah

Yeah. So I got the technical term. Areaola.

 

- Jo

Add on areaola and anus

 

- Hannah

please date me if you're listening.

 

- Jo

She's single.

 

- Hannah

I am single. So please date me I have no hair on my anus or my areaolas. I do have a moustache and get a few chin hairs and I pluck them on the couch. So you have to be okay with that.

 

- Jo

Anyway. Okay back to the script

 

- Hannah

Sorry. that's another story for another time

 

- Hannah

So now that we've talked about the really sexy stuff let's get on to exciting stuff. I find this stuff really exciting. And the reason that we want to talk about this is because we get so many questions about serums on our Instagram. It is crazy.

 

- Jo

I'll be honest serums are really confusing. Like I understand why people message me on Instagram going. Please just tell me what to use because I get it. It's really confusing and you don't know what to use with what. But hopefully this little guide will make it easy.

 

- Hannah

Can I just say though the whole journey of learning is fun

 

- Jo

isn't it.

 

- Hannah

Oh my. I feel like a child right now.

 

- Jo

No I just my face lights up when people are like skincare's exciting and I'm like I know welcome to my world!

 

- Hannah

So. I did spend my 20s worshipping the sun. I just didn't have the education and that's the thing and that's the whole reason that we're doing this is because you really just want people to know the  one anti aging is SPF.  all know that.

 

- Jo

Yes. Yep.

 

- Hannah

But if you if you if you're too far gone like I was

 

- Jo

Second best is vitamin A.

 

- Hannah

Yes. And that's - that is like I feel like my skin i've got before and afters I actually cannot believe it. Yeah. I can't believe how clear it is

 

- Jo

It's improved so much

 

- Hannah

It never breaks out and the texture. And sometimes I even glow.

 

- Jo

Yeah. You do

 

- Hannah

And people comment on the glow. And I'm like This is crazy. Yeah it's true.

 

- Jo

Isn't it nice when someone's like you've got nice skin and it's like thank you.

 

- Hannah

I mean have you ever not got that? I remember being in an event with you and someone was like "Jo your skin. Oh. Hannah. Yours too. Sorry." Like. And they were like trying to make me feel better. I was like yeah whatever.

 

- Hannah

And then I just like you always

 

- Jo

Is this Ava?

 

- Hannah

Yes shout out to to Ava from Ultra Violette. Thanks so much.

 

- Jo

So on the second best ingredient vitamin A. We are going to address that in the next episode. So let's not get into that now.

 

- Hannah

Let's not. Let's move on.

 

- Jo

We're going to cover that extensively because it's a really complex ingredient. So maybe let's start with the acids which are AHAs and BHAs.

 

- Hannah

Great.

 

- Jo

So you've got your alpha hydroxy acids and your beta hydroxy acids. So your AHAs are like glycolic, lactic, mandelic. That's what you'll see on the ingredients label. Then the most common BHA you will see is salicylic acid.

 

 

1. So these two ingredients differ quite a bit because one is water soluble one is oil soluble so your glycolic acid for example which you'll find in the very popular is an exfoliating acid. So these brightens the skin it makes your texture feel amazing. It improves the absorption of products that you apply afterwards and it can improve the appearance of fine lines and other signs of aging whereas your salicylic acid is an oil soluble ingredient. So how this works is that it breaks down the oil and debris inside the pore.

 

 

So it can exfoliate the inner wall of the pore which is amazing. And so it breaks down the oils that can cause acne. So anyone with acne should be using a product with salicylic acid.

 

- Hannah

So as an example we've spoke about Liquid Gold as an AHA which a lot of people know that product for salicylic. I think you've recommended The Ordinary to me when I used to have breakouts.

 

- Jo

Yes and I used that as a spot treatment.

 

- Hannah

So that is what I was going to ask with your salicylic serum. You have a serum not a spot treatment do you use that all over your face if you're not breaking out all over your face.

 

- Jo

No. So it is quite drying especially if you're using that like every night I would use it specifically on areas where you're having breakouts. I use it if I feel a pimple coming up and it hasn't quite come up yet. I'll use salicylic acid just on that spot.

 

- Hannah

And then what's your thoughts on  serum which is one of your favorite serums. It's AHAs and BHAs is that okay for all skin types?

 

- Jo

Yes. Yep. I don't use that every day I use it maybe once or twice a week.

 

- Hannah

What I do about that product is it's silky. It doesn't feel acidy. And so if you have if you've used liquid gold which I have and you may feel that it's more irritating on your skin. I do find that one a little bit gentler. I don't like

 

- Jo

because it's got other ingredients

 

- Hannah

Some people love a hard core acid. My sister loves a hardcore acid and she will put liquid gold on her face every night. Don't do that at home. Now on to the  B.

 

- Jo

Yeah.

 

- Hannah

Why are they both called Vitamin B it just makes it more confusing there's B3 and B5

 

- Jo

So your B3 you'll see on your ingredients label as niacinamide. And then your B5  you will see on your ingredients label as panthenol. Your vitamin B3 is basically designed to balance the skin's natural oil production. So this is also a good ingredient for acne prone or really oily skin types but it also helps you improve barrier function so that prevents moisture loss from the skin in any acne prone skin types it's really important to maintain a healthy barrier because that will ultimately improve the acne whereas your vitamin B5 is more of a hydrating ingredient so it has soothing and repairing properties as well but it also supports the skin's barrier because the skin's barrier is so important for so many reasons.

 

- Jo

 It helps to maintain moist during the skin protects the skin from aggressors it's just like your skin's barrier is very important.

 

- Hannah

Many of these hydrating serums also contain  acid.

 

- Jo

Yes

 

- Hannah

for me I thought it had to be like a really heavy ingredient to be effective but I have been using the NIOD Multi-Molecular blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. I find that one more hydrating even though it's just like it's like almost like water. Tell us something about that.

 

- Jo

Yes so that's a bit of a misconception because with active ingredients like hyaluronic acid which is a moisture binding ingredient you want it to be in a lower molecular weight because it can penetrate the skin further. So if you've got a hyaluronic acid in a cream for example that can't penetrate the skin as far as the serum can. So you want something that's as lightweight as possible because that's able to penetrate the skin better.

 

- Hannah

Interesting. Next let's go on to  C.  is also known as ... I can't say this word

 

- Jo

it's ascorbic acid, but there's lots of different forms of vitamin C. It's a very hard ingredient to keep stable. A lot of vitamin C's will be in like a UV a protected bottle where it's like tinted but it is very hard to keep stable. So I tend towards cosmeceutical ranges again with a vitamin C because they are doing the research behind being able to stabilize that ingredient for it to be effective.

 

- Hannah

And we really should definitely talk about the best selling vitamin C and it's really the Holy Grail Vitamin C

 

- Jo

Yes. The SkinCeuticals C E Ferulic which is Kate's favorite.

 

- Hannah

And that you get your vitamin C and you get your Vitamin E which you can also talk a little bit about.

 

- Jo

Yes. So your vitamin E is an antioxidant as well so Vitamin C is also an antioxidant both provide protection from environmental aggressors. So things like free radical damage pollution all those sorts of things that can accelerate aging. But Vitamin C does brighten the skin and just makes it look very fresh and plump.

 

- Hannah

I think Dani from the office - she's our skincare buyer and she said to me Vitamin C it's like an investment in your face in the future because you're not going to see immediate results. Is that true.

 

- Jo

Exactly. Yeah.

 

- Hannah

So you're like if you want to be JLo. Well I do want to be JLo yes in 20 years. She is 20 years older than me. A plastic surgeon or dermatologist looked at her face or studied her face and said she had the face of a 30 year old - 32 year old?

 

- Jo

She does. Yes. I mean I don't need to be a dermatologist to tell you that I can just look at her. She looks 30.

 

- Hannah

She really does look 30. So the last thing we wanted to talk about was   I feel is the most misunderstood ingredient.

 

- Jo

Absolutely. Yes. So peptides are very complex and usually you only find peptides in cosmeceutical skincare. So these ingredients essentially help to improve the communication between cells. So when that happens it helps the cells to function at their best. And that supports a more youthful complexion. So essentially they're anti aging ingredients because they're helping the skin function at its absolute best.

 

- Hannah

Do you think they're necessary. That's probably a good question.

 

- Jo

 I do think peptides are necessary and I use quite a few different peptide serums and I notice a visible and physical difference like my skin feels better but it also looks better

 

- Hannah

thing I'll say about Jo's skin is I'm looking at her right now and it's like she's got Botox it just looks like you've had it in your forehead.

 

- Jo

I actually have been noticing I'm getting these horizontal line across my forehead

 

- Hannah

Oh my God It just looks very tight and I wonder have you, it feels like you potentially using skincare ingredients that are mimicking those effects because you're 26 and I had lines at 26 on my forehead.

 

- Jo

You've got to remember I've been using really high quality skincare since I was 18 and I've been using sunscreen. So that's something that's really important. If you're my age now and you're in your mid 20s and you're not using high quality skincare and you're not using sunscreen you're gonna get to 30 and be like fuck

 

- Hannah

like me.

 

- Jo

Yeah exactly like you

 

- Hannah

But do you know what 30 year olds that have not taken care of their skin. It's okay. I feel good about my skin now.

 

- Jo

Yeah.

 

- Hannah

And that is

 

- Jo

you can. The thing is is that you can reverse some of that damage visually. It's just more the damage to your actual cells that you can't really repair.

 

- Hannah

So I can't be JLo is that what you're trying to tell me right now.

 

- Jo

 I'm trying to tell you you've probably already surpassed JLo. I'm not going to lie to you.

 

- Hannah

Oh my God. I cannot believe you just said that to me

 

- Jo

Do you need me to pull up a picture of JLo - I will

 

- Hannah

I do not look older than J Lo.

 

- Jo

Mette our producer - does Hannah look older than JLO? Yes she's nodding

 

- Hannah

 you guys suck

 

- Jo

 She's nodding.

 

- Hannah

I hate you both.

 

- Jo

Surely that's not offensive. You told me I look older than JLo.

 

- Hannah

She's 50 and I'm 30.

 

- Jo

Yeah she looks 30.

 

- Hannah

Yeah but

 

- Jo

maybe like a year older.

 

- Hannah

I'm sorry my dad tells me I look twenty three.

 

- Hannah

Let's get on to our last segment. Which is really we work in the beauty industry so we do get products dropped on our desk all the time so we don't expect that you're going to need these products but these are the products we didn't know that we needed.

 

- Jo

It's funny that you say that because I just took a sip from my pick for this episode which is the  infused water bottle.  I've got the amethyst one which is my birthstone and I feel personally that it chose me.

 

- Hannah

If you follow us on Instagram you will be so surprised at how weirdly spiritual Joanna is

 

- Jo

this is a 2019 thing I was just new year new me

 

- Hannah

living live in the best life.

 

- Jo

I'm buying positive affirmation cards I'm doing chakra readings. I've got a crystal water bottle like you know it's a new me. So the MAAEMO water bottle is absolutely not necessary. Like it's not something anyone needs but I personally ... everybody asked me about it. If I take it anywhere

 

- Hannah

 It's gotta be the ... boujiest of boujee, boujee water bottles.

 

- Jo

Yes it's glass.

 

- Hannah

You've never seen anything like it. It looks like it's double walled.

 

- Jo

It's very thick glass like it doesn't even make a sound when I tap on it.

 

- Hannah

Honestly if you really are enlightened you probably shouldn't be adding unnecessary products to your life.

 

- Jo

So this water bottle isn't necessary but I personally find it a really nice touch and a lot of people asked me about it when I take it places and then I can tell them all about my spirituality. It's a great conversation starter.

 

- Hannah

Maybe I need to get one. So maybe on to my products that I didn't know that I needed now I definitely do need fake tan. I've never not needed fake tan. It's my favorite favorite product in the whole world and the one thing that I discovered at Adore was the . What's this so serum related as well. You put a couple of drops him with your serum at  night, mix it together. It's literally like the easiest glowy-est best product that is in my. I just love it. It's the best.  I didn't know that I needed it and now I will never live without it. In winter I'm wearing jumpers. I'm not fake tanning my body. Also, I'm getting my laser hair removal on my areolas, so I can't fake tan my body anymore. I am also getting my full legs done. This is really ...

 

 

Sorry. This is really good. This is really good because you can just fake tan your face while you're doing your skincare. It's the best for lazy girls. Mm hmm. Sorry. Do I need to like finish off in some way?

 

- Jo

Yeah. What did you say that weird?

 

- Hannah

 Well we've never done this before so we don't know.

 

- Jo

Yeah, okay. Thanks Mom for listening.

 

- Hannah

Oh. Thanks Dad for listening. Thanks for telling me I look 23. I super appreciate it because these bitches told me I look older than J Lo.

 

- Jo

No really. Thanks everyone for joining us today.

 

- Hannah

Don't forget to subscribe and tell your friends. It helps other people to discover us and also we really want to know what you thought about this podcast so you can leave us a review. That would be much appreciated.