LÉ Blog

While retinol is often hyped up as the gold standard for tackling fine lines, uneven tone, and texture, it can feel more like a risk for those of us with sensitive skin. If you’ve ever eyed a retinol bottle with a mix of excitement and “please don’t ruin my face” panic, you’re in good company. Retinoids are tricky territory—between all the long ingredient names, cryptic label claims, and conflicting advice, it’s normal to hesitate. But here’s the thing: having sensitive skin doesn’t mean you ...

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Today’s ingredient under the chemist's microscope is panthenol. This unassuming humectant has been quietly supporting dry, irritated, and temperamental skin for decades. Whether you've begged your moisturizer to “just do more” or wondered if “soothing” skincare products really work, chances are you could benefit from panthenol for skin. The truth is, skin can be fussy. Stress, weather shifts, overzealous exfoliation—it all adds up. Enter panthenol: a versatile multitasker with a reputation fo...

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Let’s be real: Almost every skincare enthusiast has accidentally irritated their face at least once. There’s no shame in it; even the chemists have been there before! Maybe it was the excitement of a new active or going a little too hard with retinol. Suddenly, you’re dealing with stinging, redness, and that dry, tight feeling. It’s enough to send anyone into a 2 AM deep dive sesh Googling “skin barrier repair.” The journey to your healthiest skin is paved with good intentions... and the occa...

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(90+ Sunscreens and Counting) We’ve reached the third year of our 30 for 30 sunscreen challenge! Every year, we test 30 sunscreens in 30 days across our two faces (one chemist with dry skin and the other with oily, acne-prone skin). We initially created this challenge to see if we could help compare how these sunscreens applied, how they held up over time, and even how they washed off. With sunscreens under constant scrutiny, the ultimate goal was to promote healthy sunscreen habits and ultim...

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What is double cleansing? (And why Victoria did a 100 day experiment) *To help readers learn more about products showcased in this challenge, we built out and organized these results in Shop My Shelf. We do receive a small commission for using our affiliate links to complete your purchase. Thank you for feeding a chemist! Double cleansing is a skincare method that involves using two types of cleansers: an oil-based cleanser to break down long-wear makeup, followed by a water-based cleanser to...

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Dark spots, sun spots, post-breakout leftovers—no matter which one you’re dealing with, they tend to stick around longer than we’d like. And for most skin types and tones, they’re one of the more frustrating skincare challenges to deal with. That’s where retinol comes in! It’s a dermatologist's favorite for a reason. With decades of research backing its effectiveness, retinol has earned its reputation for pulling its weight when it comes to brightening and evening out skin tone. So, does reti...

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Let’s be real: As much as we all wish it did, hydrated skin doesn’t happen by accident. And while trendy actives and shiny new serums tend to get the spotlight, one behind-the-scenes ingredient often does the heavy lifting: glycerin. You’ve probably encountered it on dozens of your skincare ingredient labels and shrugged it off. But it’s the secret sauce that helps keep your skin hydrated and healthy day in and day out. Backed by decades of data (and beloved by chemists for good reason), glyc...

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If you’re someone with dry skin, chances are you’ve tried cleanser after cleanser for dry skin, only to be left with that tight feeling every time. The truth is, most cleansers just aren’t built with dry skin in mind. That’s where science (sprinkled with our chemist-level precision) comes in. In this article, we’re diving into what makes a cleanser for dry skin actually work, which ingredients deserve a permanent spot in your routine, and how a smarter approach to washing your face can transf...

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“Barrier repair” has become one of those phrases that gets tossed around a lot in skincare marketing, but not every skin barrier cream that slaps it on the label has the formula to back it up. If your skin’s been feeling more reactive, tight, or just off its game, chances are your barrier is calling for help. That’s where a skin barrier cream comes in—one designed with ingredients that do more than just sit on the surface. Every formula the chemists create starts with understanding the scienc...

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The hotter days are here and that means you’re probably getting bombarded with sunscreen content. Sadly, more often than not, you’ll see more scary misinformation, conflicting recommendations than actual helpful guidelines on just what to do to protect yourself from the sun. Fear not! We’re here to help tackle all of your sunscreen application questions with evidence-based suggestions. In this guide, we’ll cover the correct sunscreen application amount, just how should you layer foundation wi...

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