Beyond Soap

In this episode: A very special interview with Bernadette Morra! —Bernadette leads one of the most exciting fashion magazine reinventions in years, with this month's gender-blind relaunch of FASHION magazine for all. —Morra is one of the leading journalists in the Canadian fashion scene and has interviewed everyone from Karl Lagerfeld, Marc Jacobs, Linda Evangelista, Cindy Crawford and Gianni Versace. —on the cover, Morra put a selection of people she thought are helping to redefine gender and other stereotypes in fashion and beauty, including: Donté Colley, on the 'gram@donte.colleyElizabeth Mitchell, on the 'gram@mitchellgirl3 Ladyfag, on the 'gram@ladyfagAleece Wilson, on the 'gram@oddfreckles —Men and women have different skin, but it's not that different. There's no reason why they can't use the same sunscreen, the same retinol, the same moisturizers. Check out the episode for more! Also: —Sandy is excited about the first new retinoid acne drug in 20 years, which is called Aklief. —Chan's concerned about her eyebrows—and Sandy suggests Latisse. Don't forget to subscribe and rate us on Apple Podcasts. It really helps us to make more episodes. Have a question? Send it to beyondsoappodcast@gmail.com. And check out our Facebook group by searching on Facebook for "Beyond Soap podcast." Follow us on Instagram: @DrSandySkotnicki — @ChantelGuertin — @BeyondSoapPodcast This episode was produced in conjunction with Ghost Bureau and audio producer Russell Gragg. Recorded at Toronto Podcast Studio.

Ever wondered why you lost that hair during that stressful spell at work? Or why a third of those strands fell out during your pregnancy? Sandy and Chan go deep on the three types of hair loss that affect one in five people. Hair loss can be caused by many reasons: pregnancy, stress, trauma, disease, treatment for disease (such as chemotherapy) or the natural aging process. Scientifically, these types are known as male-pattern hair loss, female-pattern hair loss, alopecia areata, and a thinning of hair known as telogen effluvium. Here are some of the treatments and products we mentioned in the episode: Oral Minoxidil -- here's a great article, 10 things you need to know about minoxidil for hair loss from Dr. Jeff Donovan, a Canadian dermatologist, who's at the forefront of using minoxidil to treat hair loss. And here's a study from Dr. Renee A. Beach, another dermatologist using minoxidil to treat hair loss -- even in women. Rogaine Viviscal Saw Palmetto Don't forget to subscribe and rate us on Apple Podcasts. It really helps us to make more episodes! Visit our website at beyondsoappodcast.com. Have a question for us? Send it to beyondsoappodcast@gmail.com. And check out our Facebook group by searching on Facebook for "Beyond Soap podcast." Follow us on Instagram: @DrSandySkotnicki — @ChantelGuertin — @BeyondSoapPodcast

Our first listener questions episode in AGES! Sandy and Chan take their first-ever live listener question, and it's about the horrors of teen acne, and the way some simply dismiss what can turn into a life-changing problem. A question by voice memo from Nancy inquires about post-menopausal acne. "Plumpuffs" from Instagram seeks recommendations for chemical exfoliators for women in their 40s. Via Instagram, X-Martin asks why skin reactions happen with products you've used in the past without problem. Plus: @bigdunkel wonders about the timing of transitioning babies from skincare products for infants. AND whether exercise is good for the skin! (We love questions by voice memo—simply record them on your smartphone's voice-recorder app and email the file to beyondsoappodcast@gmail.com.) In the baby skincare answer, Sandy references the commentary she wrote about Pediatric Dermatology. Here's the link: Commentary on "'Hypoallergenic', 'Sensitive Skin', and 'For Kids': Has industry improved labelling standards when it comes to sunscreens? The anti-aging exercise effect is described by Dr. Mark Tarnopolsky in the 2015 study, Exercise‐stimulated interleukin‐15 is controlled by AMPK and regulates skin metabolism and aging. And then the New York Times' Well blog wrote up Tarnopolsky's research based on a presentation he did at a scientific conference: Younger Skin Through Exercise. Don't forget to subscribe and rate us on your favourite podcast app! Visit our website at beyondsoappodcast.com. Have a question for us? Send it to beyondsoappodcast@gmail.com. And check out our Facebook group by searching on Facebook for "Beyond Soap podcast." Follow us on Instagram: @DrSandySkotnicki — @ChantelGuertin — @BeyondSoapPodcast

Probiotics and prebiotics are all the rage in skincare, but do these buzzwords actually mean anything? What is the microbiome? And what does it have to do with the fight against aging? To find out, Sandy and Chan interviewed Dr. Jack Gilbert (@gilbertjacka), microbial ecologist at the University of California (San Diego) and co-author of Dirt is Good: The Advantage of Germs for Your Child’s Developing Immune System. But before we get to Jack, let’s talk about Sandy’s latest challenge! Chan...

Everybody’s talking about the Goop Lab, the Netflix show starring Gwyneth Paltrow and her $250-million lifestyle brand—which, incidentally, deals with much of the same self-care anti-aging subject material as Beyond Soap. So we decided it would be fun to talk to the global expert on Goop and its sometime aversion to science-based therapies: Timothy Caulfield, author of Is Gwyneth Paltrow Wrong About Everything? and Relax, Dammit!: A User's Guide to the Age of Anxiety, out spring...

Andrea Derby received the text from her husband asking her to go to the Oscars just three weeks before last year’s ceremony. And she’s going again this year. We chatted with her about her dresses, makeup and her skincare routine. Andrea mentioned that she likes using the What Happened Last Night sheet masks the night before a big event. (Target and Amazon used to sell them, but seem to be sold out right now--let us know if you have found it somewhere else!) Looking for a stylist to help...

Ever wondered if you really need to be using a moisturizer? We break down the science of moisturizers--and the three components a moisturizer needs to be effective. Plus, Chantel gets her moisturize level checked at Shoppers Drug Mart--to shocking results. What is your moisturizer doing for you? In this episode, we break down the science of moisturizers--and the three components a moisturizer needs to be effective: humectants, emollients and occlusives. Examples of humectants:...

Our first-ever interview! With Victor Casale, the genius co-founding chemist behind M.A.C cosmetics AND CoverFX, about his latest skincare brand, Pure Culture Beauty. Also contest winners, why hand sanitizer is better than washing—and the best non-drying hand sanitizer. Beauty industry legend Victor Casale was just 19 and in his first year at University of Toronto chemistry when his girlfriend’s brother, Frank Toscan, asked him whether he knew how to make lipstick. He lied, said yes and...

Question #1: Is eye cream BS? Sandy points out that eye cream is moisturizer. If it has peptides, you may see some reduction of fine lines and wrinkles. But often, eye cream is full of hyaluronic acid, which will help make you look less dry but there’s no long-term benefits. Have you heard of this gimmicky “miracle” eye cream? Don’t buy it! We also discuss how HEV (high-energy visible or blue) light can interrupt your skin’s ability to repair itself while you’re sleeping and whether it’s...

In this feature episode, Chan reports back on the challenge Sandy gave her in Episode 7, which was to swap out her foaming, fragranced hand soap for a Cerave Cleansing Bar, which is less drying than traditional soap. Then, they share a hot tip from a listener who says she’s using The Ordinary’s glycolic acid to eliminate her underarm body odour. In the dermal dive, Sandy and Chan tackle bespoke skincare -- the idea of made-to-measure or physician-prescribed skincare. Is this the...

In this mini-episode, hosts Dr. Sandy Skotnicki and Chantel Guertin immerse themselves in a giant pool of parabens! Just kidding. Actually they examine the hype and hysteria around the controversial preservative. Do parabens cause cancer? Are they safe to use in skincare products? In the end, Sandy and Chan reach some wholly surprising conclusions. Okay, now that we have the show summary out of the way, let’s wade in to PARABENS! Parabens, one of the least allergenic and non-irritating...

In this feature episode, Sandy and Chan take on ski-trip skin care and all that entails, including how to protect your lips from winter wind, the nastiness of hot tub folliculitis and lip-balm dependency. Plus Sandy reports back on Chantel’s challenge regarding the rose quartz guasha stone and a listener question on mechanical vs. chemical exfoliators! In 2012, Sandy helped to write a book with Xiaolan Zhao, a doctor of traditional Chinese medicine. You can buy Inner Beauty, on...

In this very special holiday mini-episode, we share our favourite 12 listener tips to get through the holidays! We had so much fun reading all of your fantastic tips — thanks to everyone who sent them in. Tip #1: Drink sparkling water with lime to feel full and stay low on calories. You can also ask for your water in a lowball glass if you don’t feel like telling people you aren’t drinking, or add flavouring to soda water to make it more fun than plain water and encourage you to drink...

In this episode: Chantel reports back on using Chanel La Solution 10.TFC-8 -- aka “Trigger Factor Complex” or the secret complex used inAugustinus Bader’s The Cream-- the hottest skincare product that was sold out for weeks. Here are a couple of articles about The Cream: The $225 skincare product Hollywood swears by Is this the secret to rich-person skin? You can buy The Cream at Holt Renfrew, on Augustinus Bader’s site. You can also buy Victoria Beckham’s Cell Rejuvenating Priming...

Mary on Instagram asks. I love skincare, but I don't know where to start in terms of a good routine. I'm 30 and I want to ensure that I'm using the right products. What products, other than sunscreen, should I be using on my face? From Ceri: What amount or percentage of retinol should be in a product to make it effective? I'm 51 and do not want to mess around with ineffective products. From someone who signed herself, “A hopeless skeptic, and product-averse listener": I have a lot of sun...

In this week’s episode: Sandy reports back on her trip to Madrid to theEuropean Academy of Dermatology and Veneralogy Chantel reports back on her hunt for products with bakuchiolSandy delves into the science of fibre mascara -- or lack thereofChan heads toThe Freeze Clinicfor a deeply relaxing cryotherapy facial—and Sandy analyzes the benefits from a scientific perspectiveSandy offers a hack for getting through the holiday seasonSandy gives Chantel a challenge: to try Chanel La Solution...

Our first-ever listener-question mini-episode! Alberta asks, what can I do to get rid of my eczema? From an anonymous listener, we have, Is jojoba oil safe or should you stick with sunflower oil? Esther in Thunder Bay asks about CBD oil and skincare—does it work? What's the deal with hormonal chin acne—can I fight it with my regular acne product, or do I need to do something with my diet? Plus, Dr. Sandy Skotnicki discloses the only food ingredient ever linked to increased acne in a...

Welcome to Beyond Soap, the podcast about skincare, self-care, skin health and the never-ending quest to look and feel our absolute best as we age. In this episode, we dive into: CuyanaEmily Ley Simplified Planner Have questions for Sandy and Chan about beauty and skincare? Send your questions to beyondsoappodcast@gmail.com.