LÉ Blog

If your skin turns into a slip-and-slide by noon, we hear you. Oily skin needs hydration just as much as dry skin does, but the wrong kind of moisturizer can tip things into greasy territory fast. That’s where water gel moisturizers come in. Lightweight, oil-free, and packed with hydration, these formulas offer a refreshing alternative to thick creams that might leave your pores feeling smothered. In this post, we’re diving into why water gel moisturizers are a smart swap for oily skin and ho...

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When your skin starts feeling a little off, it might be trying to tell you something: It’s time to exfoliate. Exfoliation plays a crucial role in keeping your skin barrier functioning properly, especially when dead skin cells start piling up and clogging the system. But before you reach for the nearest scrub or acid, it’s worth taking a step back and learning what your skin is actually asking for. In this article, you’ll gain insights straight from the chemists behind Chemist Confessions. We’...

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If your skin leans oily, chances are you've dealt with clogged pores, midday shine, or the endless game of blotting paper roulette. While it might be tempting to strip your skin with harsh products, the smarter route is a balanced routine that clears buildup without triggering oil rebound. The right exfoliator (at the right concentration) can help keep pores clear, smooth out texture, and bring back that glow without tipping your barrier into chaos. In this article, we’ll explain what makes a...

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When it comes to skincare ingredients that know how to multitask, retinol is in a league of its own. Whether you're dealing with fine lines or leftover dark spots, this vitamin A derivative has likely popped up on your radar — and for good reason. But despite its reputation, many people still wonder: What does retinol actually do for your skin? In Chemist Confessions fashion, let’s bring it back to the science and review why retinol continues to hold onto its popularity, even decades after it...

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Retinol has been a well known overachiever of the skincare world for quite some time, praised for tackling everything from fine lines and pigmentation to enlarged pores and uneven texture. Basically, it’s doing the most. But if you’ve just started using it and your skin still looks... exactly the same, you're probably wondering: how long does it take for retinol to work? Spoiler alert: not overnight. As much as we all wish it came with instant glow-up powers, retinol is more of a long-game ki...

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Retinol gets a lot of credit for smoothing skin, fading dark spots, and tackling fine lines — but is it technically an exfoliant? It’s a common assumption, especially since retinol can cause flaking or peeling in the early stages of use. But here’s the thing: retinol isn’t actually exfoliating your skin. At least not in the way traditional chemical exfoliants like glycolic acid or lactic acid do. In this post, we’ll clear up the confusion and break down how retinol really works, why it’s ofte...

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Retinol is skincare’s beloved overachiever and, let’s be honest, a bit of a diva. It’s one of the most well-studied ingredients for tackling fine lines, uneven skin tone, and breakouts, but it also comes with a bit of baggage. Namely, redness, flakiness, and an attitude if you don’t introduce it properly. Enter moisturizer, the trusty sidekick that can help keep irritation at bay while letting retinol do its thing. But here’s the million-dollar question: Do you apply retinol before or after m...

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When it comes to trending skincare ingredients, ectoin isn’t exactly a household name. But recently, this ingredient has caught the attention of many clinical skincare brands. It has many interesting properties, particularly for skin barrier support and hydration. In fact, the early data has some people touting that this may just be the “new age niacinamide”. So let’s dive into what ectoin is, what it actually does for the skin, whether or not it can be thought of as a niacinamide replacement...

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Spicules. You might have heard this term or the trendy VT Reedle Shot products that tout spicule technology on social media recently. But what exactly are they? Don’t worry! We gotchu. The chemists are taking a deep dive into what spicules are, how they function in topical applications in theory, any clinical testing evidence, whether you should be considering adding spicules to your skincare routine, and just how to properly use VT Reedle Shots. What Are Spicules? Spicules are structural ske...

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Exfoliating skin, sloughing off dead skin cells, buffing out skin roughness, etc. are all concepts that are probably deemed incredibly “old school” and the least glamorous rituals in a skin routine. But experts like us will always give this arena the dedicated spotlight it deserves because it is just that important to skin health. What is Exfoliation? Exfoliation is the act of removing overdue dead skin cells (keratinocytes). Factors like age, climate, and skin diseases can all impact the lev...

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