LÉ Blog

Let’s set the record straight: Retinol purging isn’t your skin “rejecting” a product. It’s more like a sped-up reveal of breakouts that were already in your skin’s pipeline, triggered by the introduction of retinoids accelerate cell turnover. But not every flare-up is a purge. Sometimes, it’s just plain old irritation or a bad match. Being able to tell the difference helps you stick with the right plan or switch gears when needed. The chemists have spent years getting up close and personal wi...

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3-o-ethyl ascorbic acid, or “ethylated ascorbic acid” is a vitamin C derivative that’s risen quickly in the popularity ranks in recent years. But just because it’s a structural cousin of hte famed ascorbic acid doesn’t automatically mean that it’s going to delivery all those vitamin C skin benefits you’re looking for. So let’s break down the science - chemist style - and get the the bottom of just whether or not ethyl ascorbic acid is the stable, gentle, age-prevention superstar worthy of rep...

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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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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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New skincare science is as alluring as it is mysterious. It can often be hard to distinguish between hype and science. But worry not! Let the chemists dissect everything for you. Today, we’re tackling PDRNv—van ingredient that’s been making waves in the beauty world. But what exactly is PDRN, and does it deserve a spot in your routine? Let’s break it down. What is PDRN? PDRN, or polydeoxyribonucleotide, are simply DNA fragments ranging from 50 to 1500 kDa. The concept of using PDRN for therap...

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We have talked about the science behind vitamin C skincare, we have even tested a bunch of CE Ferulic dupes - yet there’s still more for us to cover in the vitamin C serum landscape. Vitamin C is actually a whole family of related molecules that all behave slightly differently. The OG vitamin C with the glitzy skin benefits that you often hear of is L-ascorbic acid. But since ascorbic acid is notoriously unstable in the presence of light, water, and air, many have turned to derivative compoun...

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