A Chemists’ Guide to Skincare That Works

Stem cells and snail slime are not on the list

Dana G Smith
Elemental
Published in
8 min readApr 10, 2019

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Credit: Makidotvn/iStock/Getty Images Plus

TThe amount of skin care options available to slather on your face is dizzying. There are lotions, serums, masks, oils, and acids as well as stem cells, snail slime, charcoal, and even diamonds. And with complicated ingredient lists, it can feel like you need a chemistry degree to purchase a basic moisturizer.

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Dana G Smith
Elemental

Health and science writer • PhD in 🧠 • Words in Scientific American, STAT, The Atlantic, The Guardian • Award-winning Covid-19 coverage for Elemental