We learned so much from this week’s interview with Dr. Rajani Katta, and we hope you do, too! Dr. Katta is a dermatologist and nutrition expert, and she explains how vitamins are (and aren’t) regulated, how to judge the safety and efficacy of supplements, and the truth about collagen powders, biotin, vitamin A, and other hair, skin, and nail vitamins. Before we chat with her, we talk about the beauty industry’s continued fixation on “unboxing” and discuss the week’s beauty news: more brands dropping the racist language used to market skin-evening products, Space NK’s U.S. store closures, Coty’s investment in KKW Beauty, the first curbside-recyclable pump for a skincare product, a fragrance that smells like space, and the health risks of the preservative butylparaben.
This week in beauty news:
L’Oréal is getting rid of its outdated product names
Retailer Space NK is closing its U.S. Doors
Coty takes 20% stake in KKW Beauty
Charlotte Tilbury valued at $1 billion
The world’s first recyclable pump bottle is here!
InnBeauty Project Slushy - the serum-moisturizer with a recycable pump!
Eau de Space Fragrance lets you smell like Space
Butylparaben added to ECHA list of high concern
Silent Spring by Rachel Carlson - the book Jenn mentioned that details the environmental impact of pesticides and the possible health dangers of cumulative exposure to particular types of chemicals
Unboxing - Love it or hate it?
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Dr. Rajani Katta talked about:
Learn more about Dr. Katta
“A Low-Glycemic-Load Diet Improves Symptoms in Acne Vulgaris Patients: A Randomized Controlled Trial”
The FDA's guide on dietary supplements
Over 50% of supplement factories that the FDA investigated last year received citations
More information on the link between diet and different dermatology conditions - this is a link to handouts Dr. Katta provides her patients, and they’re great resources if you want to learn more
Dietary Supplement Act of 1994
biotin - a vitamin often marketed to help with thinning hair that Dr. Katta says may not be beneficial unless you’re actually biotin deficient
Biotin may interfere with lab tests - a warning
beta carotene warning - learn more about precautions to be aware of when taking this supplement
melatonin - beware of drowsiness when taking supplements that contain this
vitamin A - learn more about precautions to be aware of when taking this supplement
more
saw palmetto - learn more about precautions to be aware of when taking this herbal supplement
Consumer Lab - this organization investigates a number of supplements. After we interviewed Dr. Katta, she emailed us to say, “If a friend asks me about a supplement she’s taking, I always check the Consumer Lab database first for results. They are an independent investigative lab that has a subscription service, but some of their content can be accessed publicly.”
The NIH answers FAQs about supplements - an excellent resource that Dr. Katta recommended if you want to learn more about the different seals she mentioned
telogen effluvium - a type of hair loss; listen to ep. 211 to learn more
transepidermal water loss
Does collagen do anything for skin? - check out this summary of 11 randomized controlled trials of collagen for skin
Consumer Lab review of collagen - some collagen supplements may contain high levels of heavy metals such as cadmium
a pilot study finds that almonds can reduce wrinkles
Taste the Nation with Padma Lakshmi - Dr. Katta has been loving this show
“Dancing Queen” by Abba - Dr. Katta’s pump-up song
Instant Pot - Dr. Katta’s Raise A Wand
#RaiseAWand
“Laura from the French Alps” raises a want to Nars Afterglow Palette
Jenn: Ultra Violette SPF 50 Queen Screen
Jess: Tweezerman Baby Manicure Kit