What's the Best Skincare Ingredient? | Lab Muffin Beauty Science

Ranking skincare ingredients! I go through my picks and why I chose each one, and go through the popular vote as well.
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Lab Muffin Beauty Science is a channel by me, Michelle - I'm a chemistry PhD and beauty lover, here to explain how beauty products work, debunk myths, and help you make smarter decisions about your skincare, hair and makeup!
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---SKINCARE GUIDE---
The Lab Muffin Guide to Basic Skincare is here! Find out more: labmuffin.com/...

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

What was your winner? Should we do another bracket on a different topic? Let me know! ❤️

[@toshapace4024]

Tretinoin and yes, this was fun!

[@Kian_Nichol]

Surprisingly my winners are Glycerin and Tretinoin. Wow... i'm amazed with my result. I mean, i love Tretinoin and Glycerin so much...

[@hillary4716]

Please do a bakucinol video 😊

[@TracyD2]

Kian Fahrentia same 💯 %

[@oceanbird.]

Yes, another bracket please! It was fun :)

[@geengengena]

"I am obsessed with glycerin-there is a molecule of it here" I melted omg ❤

[@kitanakitty82]

Lol, "niaciamide probably cooks your dinner for you and give you a kiss before you go to work ". I cracked up at that. You're hilarious 😁😂.

[@youknow7856]

justice for tretinoin

[@daniella4889]

Could you do your top favourite products for the winning categories? Pleeeease 🙏🏼😬

[@makaylasampson4344]

Yes, what is your favorite product with glycerine?

[@livjunkie]

Who thought Michelle can be this funny 😂😂😂

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

Hahaha thank you! ❤

[@KM-rt5jj]

loved it! feels like we got to see the usually suppressed snark! 😍😂

[@nurulauliaoctaviani]

Eh. Kegep deh

[@IrfanNurIlman]

@A PP how she'd get retinol informations etc, etc, if not for youtube? medical journal? lol lol

[@easter.a1722]

@@LabMuffinBeautyScience love u!!

[@Josh-pe5pl]

You are SO good at what u do. Plus u r still amusing. Signed, a fan with no fan in the mid-Pacific.

[@rajiarr2364]

😍😍

[@breannaspinn3220]

I would love multiple versions of this (like moisturizers, cleansers, etc) so that ingridients who do more similar things are pitted against each other! Overall this is a fun interactive activity with a side of learning!

[@EspadasYCopas]

Yeah,more organized.

[@chipityzu]

she was younger and not as wise..lol

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

😅

[@dsarah60]

Pls make a video about peptides

[@jctxyz]

A kiss before work😂😂😂💖

[@HZ-fg9sf]

I thought it was funny how my final two was an acid and a sunscreen ingredient. Very revealing of what I most want for my skin at this moment: exfoliation while protecting my skin from the sun and preventing more sun spots from popping up. I would name this video: "What is your current subconscious skin concern" 😄

[@alexandra109]

New subscriber. Came over from Hyram. Loved this! For me Tretinoin is much more effective than Retinol. The amount of difference in my skintone and reduction in wrinkles in the year I’ve been using it has me believing in it over everything else. I’m 42 and I think I look better now than I did when I was 35.

[@reginamalina1273]

Tretinoin is much more potent! Dr Shereen Idris explains this in her Retinoids explained video :)

[@fab9652]

Wow, wow, wow.... what a fun video/IG idea!!!! I had so much fun participating and then seeing how the end results compared to how I voted when you had it on your stories. By the way, I voted for retinol because I haven't tried tret. Same with matrixyl, haven't tried it. centella won for me, in the same way glycerin won for you; it soothed my skin at times I thought all hope was lost.

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

Centella is fantastic! It's interesting that it didn't take off til it was in K-beauty, even though LRP Cicaplast has been a cult product for so long!

[@may6651]

Brackets related to sun protection please 😍 love you

[@ozi9888]

Hyarulonic acid did wonders to my dehydrated skin 💚

[@thebeautyeconomist5700]

I loved this video❤️. I sympathize with your overthinking and systematic approach😃

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

My middle name is Overthinking!

[@thanhha4896]

When u said you’re a glycerin lover and show your at-home molecule i died 😂 Cutenesses overload

[@Zantetsukens]

Without going through the chart I can say Retinol ftw. I just started using it 6 months ago and it was life-changing

[@deanskibinski]

I really can't believe Retinol won over Tret in the popular vote! Like, what?! 🤣I LOVED this bracket exercise; a couple of them were super difficult for me, but I persevered! Tret forever! ❤️

[@SusanIvanova2257]

Maybe because of availability? I'm in Germany, the only way to get tret here is through a dermatologist prescription. Which has a long waitlist if you're not a urgent case. Also, other people might have more sensitive skin than you this leading them to prefer retinol. Or it might not fit their skin concerns as much, why go through the whole tret dryness dilemma if your skin is mostly good and you just want to do some prevention and hydration with your skincare. If you have next to no acne and no serious aging yet I can see why someone would choose a skincare regimen that isn't as harsh. Or someone who already has seriously dry and sensitive skin would definitely think twice about trying tret

[@alishamcg]

@@SusanIvanova2257 This answer said it perfectly!

[@nyanyamero]

@@SusanIvanova2257 You can just fly to Spain, Portugal or Italy to buy tret. It is otc in those countries. Life hack 🤔

[@thebeautyeconomist5700]

And I’m looking forward to the video on Azelaic acid products. I have mild rosacea and I tried TO and Skinoren Rosacea and hated using them because they were both very matt. My skin is on drier side.

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

I don't know if it's possible to make an azelaic acid product that isn't pretty matte... have you tried mixing it with an oil or other moisturiser?

[@thebeautyeconomist5700]

Lab Muffin Beauty Science is it ok to mix it? I’m always worried to make the formula less effective if I mix it with something?

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

@@thebeautyeconomist5700 It could make it a bit less effective, but if the alternative is not using it or using significantly less, it's worth a try!

[@HelloThereIAmAlice]

Love seeing so much of your personality! I think this is the video where it’s showing the much so far. There was a lot of ingredients I haven’t even heard of, I want to research them and would love it if you made a video about the more uncommon ingredients. I’m Swedish so maybe that’s why, for example I’ve never even heard of Tretinoin (probably only exists when prescribed here)

[@TheFierina]

Tretinoin = retinoid acid 😊😊

[@mary2270515]

Tretinoin = Retin A

[@schmeekie1]

Wait, if we're doing science-based results for anti-aging then sunscreen should always win. The problem is that not all sunscreen ingredients were in the bracket and the ones that were might not be people's favorite.

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

I agree! I think if "sunscreen" was a contender it would hands down be the winner.

[@carylarose5703]

Tretinoin is my winner my skin loves and has never gotten irritated from it thankfully. It also really helped my acne 😊

[@beer_bad]

I just luve your sense of humour! I WANT NIACINAMIDE TO COOK ME DINNER! NOW!! 🤣 Btw, tretinoin & niacinamide aaaaall the way. (But tretinoin was the winner.)

[@miiaproductions]

I just found your channel this year, and I love your videos (both old and new). So much useful information about skincare and ingredients 🙏🏼✨

[@NickLS7]

When you first posted about this on Instagram, I thought for sure your final bracket would be Tretinoin vs. Vitamin C! I severely underestimated your dedication to Glycerin though lol. Also, I was so disappointed that the popular vote picked Retinol over Tretinoin, ugh.

[@GinAmber]

I'm a natural skin care brand owner and I have to agree with you on everything you said. Even acids like mandelic or lactic comes from natural sources. Great video. Thank you Love xoxo

[@HarryLovesRuth]

Somehow your bracket worked out to the way that I would prioritize my various products if I had to rank them if I had to give them up. We are very smart.

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

YES WE BOTH HAVE THE ONLY CORRECT OPINION, OBVIOUSLY. HIGH FIVE ✋

[@debwest7816]

I watch a lot of skin care videos and this was by far the best and most informative. I agree tretinoin wins for me.

[@bennik2001]

That was the funniest skincare video I've ever watched😂, I loved it. Please more of that kind of content :)

[@liznotslow]

Love this! Love the bracket! So unique! So smart! Do more! Yay data!

[@jdoe5873]

I love this! So well edited and your humor is a killer! Thank you for doing this.

[@Crystal-xm6zu]

I followed on IG but didn’t vote. Was fun to watch and yes please do another!

[@azharel]

Mine is Tretinoin.. from normally having adult acne for years, when I am starting using it, for the last 6 months, I only had 2 small acnes. Fingers crossed it will be my long-term use!

[@bellememorie]

My winner was Snail. I have just noticed so many positives in my skin since I started using snail mucin products.

[@JReid-yl4ys]

I'd probably agree if for the fact it broke me out into itchy pimples. I really wanted to like it.

[@girliegirl57]

For an azelaic acid product with a nice texture, I've been using Paula's Choice 10% Azelaic Acid Booster - I LOVE it, look forward to putting it on every day! The lightweight, sink-into-your-skin texture was the first thing I noticed about it. I have just ever so slightly oily skin, this felt moisturizing AND not at all greasy - I think all skin types would love it. Definitely give it a try!

[@MsFuzzyBuddy]

It was a tough pick! Fun to see the results though :D

[@H_e_l_a]

Omg loveeeee you and your personality!! I came here because of Hyram (another great youtuber), expecting a good reasonable channel, but you are reaaaaally awesome!!! Im a follower now!

[@beckyc.5743]

Great video, Michelle. My final pick was tretinoin. Of course, that means I probably won’t be using effective sunscreen so I will become nocturnal.

[@theyogainn]

My final showdown would have been zinc oxide vs centella. Sunscreen is the most important, so you can’t not have a sunscreen filter in the final imo. Also, chemical sunscreens irritate my eyes. Zinc oxide is a life saver for me (when I can find it in a sunscreen that doesn’t have a white cast). And centella is just amazing. I feel like it’s soothing, helps speed up wound healing (I put it on any little cuts I get), calms down my redness, and gives me a more even skin tone. I have more dry/sensitive skin tho so I’m biased 😂

[@ivvan21]

I love your sense of humour! This was as much entertaining as it was informative 😀👍🏼❤👌🏼

[@AllTheArtsy]

Retinoic acid and L-ascorbic acid. Those are the answers. 😝

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

Very fine choices! 👍

[@HWme]

I'm starting to love Michelle more and more 😂😂😂😂

[@imperialtower]

9:41 whT the fuck your channel is actually so gold i cant believe i never started watching your videos before

[@nataliagomez5756]

Best video ever!! Fun to play and fun to watch Michelle go through each ingredient 🤣🤣🤣 I’m laughing so hard!

[@classicallydiana8255]

I honestly can’t even remember what I ended up with 😂. It has to be either Glycolic or Centella...two ingredients that I’ve actually seen results from. Although, it could’ve also been Retinol or Vit C 🤔. This was fun!

[@lapawa]

This was hilarious and the bracket super fun, again please!

[@HWme]

8:09 "You can light fires with Petrolatum 😁🔥" 8:20 👀👀👀 l i f e h a c k

[@ItsDebTV]

What are your favorite glycerine products?

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

I don't really have one, since it's in so many products - I just check cleansers and moisturisers for glycerin before using them 😉

[@i.m.hidden2788]

Tretinoin & Matrixyl are my top two. Can't pick between them. lol. When I was younger, My top 2 would probably have been niacinamide & lactic acid, back before i had my rosacea under control. Fun activity & great video! Thank you!!!

[@LiaLia-hx1ii]

Hi Michelle, how about advising us on Avocado, Grapeseed, Jojoba, Evening Primrose, Almond, Safflower Oils for skincare? I applied all these oils on my skin but find them hard to completely aborbed well into my skin even after 5 minutes.

[@Kimberly-d2k]

Omg I love your humor!!

[@Looking4H8]

Interesting bracket and a great overview of ingredients in the video! Thank you, Michelle! Btw, like your humor very much :)

[@lavayuki]

My favourites are Adapalene, vitamin C, centella and azelaic acid.

[@kamleshverma123]

I use tretinoin, niacinamide, vit c, and glycerine. And i love it

[@madcena01]

I got Tretinoin and Ceramides in the final, I have a really simple routine: oil cleanser, big bottle of spf, prescription tretinoin and cerave in the tub, so yea I think it makes sense xD

[@carolannthornton1918]

Lol so funny and helpful in a colorfully mixy-matchy way!!🧸🎄

[@TheClauMiau]

I LOVE Niacinamide 💕 my favorite!!! It helped with my sebaceous filaments - nothing ever did that before.

[@tojihive]

this video just helped me understand how brackets work

[@montananerd8244]

Lol one great advantage of super dehydrated skin: you can layer so many serums, toners, essences, & moisturizers, so u can get full servings of numerous ingredients. My faves are niacinamide, urea, glycerin, squalene, ceramides, peptides, glycolic acid, lactic acid, alpha arbutin, HA, PGA, jojoba, safflower oil, lanolin, petrolatum, beeswax, witch hazel, clay, baking soda, vinegar, and aloe...and I get all of them daily except lactic & glycolic acid. But I still really need a licorice extract product.

[@drc4168]

Omg my favourite by a mile is Benzoyl Peroxide🎉🎉🎈 😂😂😂😂 Salicylic and Glycerin joint #2.😅 A very honourable #3 is Petroleum Jelly...#4 Shea Butter (but it is very well tolerated in its raw, unrefined form).

[@mariaflorenciaborioli7614]

Loved this video! Thank you so much!

[@avalyn28]

My final bracket was tretinoin vs azelaic acid. Very difficult to choose between them. I think I prefer azelaic acid, especially as a woman, since it can also be used during pregnancy. But tretinoin is amazing.

[@rosemary5005]

Wow! I love this subject! And yes I love your videos in general so... this will be a favourite 😻 Thank you 🙏 You’re my go to-expert online. I always learn something from you and have a good time. This can light up a dull day 😺 you have no idea how much you help us 🦋 Thank you 🙏 💗

[@qingliu1784]

Enjoy this excercise , fun and testing my knowledge after viewing so many skincare videos since tow months , my result is approaching to yours , happy .

[@megaliberty]

Team Glycolic here. I like it because of its multiple benefits- anti aging, anti acne, and anti hyperpigmentation. It's small molecular size makes it best for anti aging. I use a strong product by Organys. These pads are 20% glycolic acid/0.5% salicylic acid, plus they are cheap. My skin has gotten so much smoother, and I don't have significant acne breakouts since I've been using them. I won't use a glycolic product unless I feel a sting after I apply it, because the sting means it's ph is low enough to make a difference. Alpha Skin Care has an excellent and affordable serum as well. Vitamin c is my second choice. It's cheap, and easy to mix up your own serum. I keep mine in the fridge and their is never any visible oxidation before I can finish the bottle. While it helps with both anti aging and hyperpigmentation, it does not help with acne like glycolic acid does. Don't forget the sunscreen, especially if using a lot of glycolic acid.

[@Donna-cc1kt]

Yes, another bracket please. Can hair care products join the party?

[@survivinglife101]

Which snail serum would you recommend?

[@deepakb3140]

Cosrx snail essence, maybe?

[@belaburkiashvili3413]

Mizon

[@halflife5728]

@@deepakb3140 that doesn't do anything for hyperpigmentation

[@vichgold384]

@@halflife5728 Snail extract is for anti-aging and resilient skin.

[@sorational]

please make a table with all ingredients, how they are backed up with researches, how they strong/important to your skin. It would be great.

[@DanicaSundin]

✨UREA! ✨

[@ruzicaakarose2605]

How long did it take to obtain your PhD? Well done girl! 🙌💫💖

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

4 years (after 4 years for my bachelors and honours). I think that's the standard length in Australia 😊

[@Sebmar24]

Hi Michelle, try the azelic acid from geek & gorgeous. It's an absolutely pleasant serum to use. Love watching your skin-nerding videos 😍

[@steffenbuchner6696]

Squalane and BHA have never failed me 🤗

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

I haven't tried squalane enough to be fully on the bandwagon, but I have a bottle on my bedside table right now!

[@steffenbuchner6696]

Lab Muffin Beauty Science I'd highly encourage you to try using it for a a while :)! Have a great start into the new week Michelle, may you be blessed with good health and lots of energy this week!

[@hellowchanYT]

Come down to Glycolic vs. Vitamin C. I refused to pick.

[@hanagreg]

Hey Michelle, do you have any opinion on Tamanu oil?

[@monas.6839]

A note on petrolatum...the US does not require it to be fully refined, which results in it possibly containing carcinogens (such as PAHs) and is also known as a mild endocrine disrupter. I go out of my way to avoid it because I have Hashimoto’s Thyroiditis and don’t want to risk additional problems. There may be some petrolatum products in the US that ARE fully refined, but because it is not mandated by law, I just stay away from it altogether.

[@dadabml8911]

Awwww... Missed this bracket.. Pls do another 🙏🙏🙏

[@michellegoldsmith]

Hey Michelle, what about Bakuchiol I would love to hear what you have to say about that.

[@margolane8529]

Can you do a video on ceramides?

[@Radjehuty]

Ugh Adapalene vs Tinosorb S....two things that are just so interesting to me. I don't know what I would pick. Probably Tinosorb S as it very directly prevents cancer and benefits from Adapalene are more long term.

[@caitling1708]

For me, glycerin almost doesn't feel like it's even in the same category as anything else on here. I wouldn't skip glycerin any more than I would skip sunscreen. That said, I don't really use it to make my skin look better-- its function is to prevent screaming pain from dry, tight, drawn skin. If it has a cosmetic benefit on top of that, that's great, but not why I use it. And it's so, so, so cheap, which is not something that can be said of lots of skincare ingredients!

[@seanvalentinus]

Michelle is the only cosmetic KZbinr who also teaches me how to burn things.

[@cj2108]

Retinol, B3 and ZnO. No brainer for me. I have melasma, over 40, oily to normal, huge pores....have tried everything. Only things that made the difference were those 3. Wonder stuff!!! VitC, several forms, have done zilch. Same with all of the rest of the ingredients listed. Even lactic...I get resurfacing from retinol stuff and way much more! Fading pigmentation from B3 and retinol too obviously...

[@bethdahl3741]

Wait, why does niacinamide flush your skin if not formulated correctly?? Never heard that before. Now I'm scared.

[@LabMuffinBeautyScience]

The niacinamide can slowly hydrolyse into niacin, which causes the the flushing to happen. The flushing isn't dangerous or harmful, just uncomfortable and inconvenient if you're using it during the day. I think the easiest way to check is to look up reviews of the product before buying it to see if anyone's mentioned flushing.

[@ArtsyBaker24]

@@LabMuffinBeautyScience what do you think of the ordinary niacinamide in terms of flushing your skin? I wonder if it contributes to my redness

[@marinaalex0510]

@@ArtsyBaker24 I haven't got redness with TO Niacinamide, but it's been causing stinging and generally uncomfortable feeling every time I've applied it, no matter on which step. And my skin, being dry isn't that sensitive, I use prescription Tretinoin without issues, also Lavender and Rosemary in Pyunkang Yul Oil haven't cause issues at all, in fact I love PKY oil more than many others. I am going to give Niacinamide by The Ordinary up, unfortunately

[@RoseKazable]

@@ArtsyBaker24 I had a lot of flushing with The Ordinary niacinamide. I ended up giving it up because it was just too uncomfortable. I've been able to use niacinamide when it's an ingredient in other products though. I have sensitive, dry skin, with rosacea.

[@SebastianoZanda]

Niacinamide is converted to niacin or nicotinic acid when you use products with low pH (around 3.5-4) that speeds up this process

[@Naayudori_Pilla]

Though not a big fan of overhyped charcoal products, once on my industrial project I visited coke ovens where coal is baked to make coke. When we came out of that chamber with coal, coal powder was all over one of my hand , I quickly washed it and oh boy the hand that I washed ( application of coal) is so clear than other ( we were working in hot sun n pollution all day got super tanned). So there is a probability that coal do work but I still have this feeling that it's a bit harsh for face

[@helen37x]

Loved your petrolatum vs bp rant 😂

[@ellay4514]

Loving your videos.. thank you. Dr Sam Buntings Brightly serum is a lovely consistency like a cream and has decent amount of Azelaic acid in it. It has helped my rosacea skin.

[@angelica3744]

This was very entertaining to watch, and you're really adorable and seem down to earth! Edit: I also liked how you were surprised by your own results lol. I guess it just goes to show what fickle beings us humans are.

[@susanneflora3133]

I would love a comparison review on different niacinamide products! 😃

[@DaPoofDaPoofDaPoofDa]

What a fantastic idea/ game!!

[@nails2me]

What about EGF? Great ingredient for boosting skin health and renewal.

[@Aki-wq6xh]

Azelaic- Skinoren feels nice! Don’t you think so? 😊

[@claudialaroja1225]

“Light it and then it burns really well, so it can set the rest of your fire ...on fire. Life hack” 🔥

[@nyaxa]

Tamanu Oil Glycolic Acid, Snow Mushroooooom 🍄

[@JPMJPM]

How creative and fun!

[@MaxineV]

I found it difficult because although my skincare routine is minimalist. Many ingredients came to my skin rescue with the acne when I was a teen to my now rosacea... It was indeed difficult to pick the ingredients. I would be very curious to find out what other people include in their daily skincare regiment; that could be fun info.

[@megaliberty]

Another thing I don't like about benzoyl peroxide- wouldn't it cause free radical damage, since it is a peroxide? I would choose salicylic acid or azeleic acid first for that reason alone.

[@adminuser7221]

You said it was difficult to find a good vitamin C serum, have you tried Timeless Vitamin C? It is stabilized.

[@cassthompson3386]

"Its stabilized" ? lol so you've been told.

[@adminuser7221]

@@cassthompson3386 it works

[@adminuser7221]

@@cassthompson3386 it’s stabilised by ferulic acid and vitamin e

[@Rambutan.]

Finacea is a beautiful azelaic acid, I get it over the counter in QLD