Lab Notes On Skin: A Science-Driven Approach to Skincare
Hi there! Welcome to my blog, Lab Notes On Skin! My name is Iris, and I’m a 25-year-old cosmetic chemist-in-training living in sunny Los Angeles. Here, I’ll be sharing my journey as a R&D lab technician, as I dive deeper into the world of cosmetic science and skincare formulation.
We all know skincare can feel overwhelming—everybody and their mom seems to have an opinion about what you must use, what’s secretly ruining your skin, or what’ll give you “glass skin” overnight. Honestly? It’s a lot. My goal is to bring something fresh to the table: a science-backed approach to skincare, minus the marketing fluff. Since I’m lucky enough to work alongside experienced chemists (future me included!), I want to share what I’m learning, simplify complex ideas, and create a community where we can geek out over ingredients, formulations, and everything in between.
Finding My Way: Overcoming Doubt and Embracing a New Path
I studied biochemistry at the University of Washington, following what felt like a natural path for someone who enjoyed science growing up. And like many kids with ambitious parents, mine dreamed of me becoming a doctor—and for a while, I did too. I told myself it was what I wanted, but my heart (and actions) didn’t match. Especially during the latter half of my college years, I felt unmotivated, suffocated, and frankly, lost.
So, naturally, I decided dentistry was the answer. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. I went all in—I took the DAT, wrote my personal statement, collected glowing recommendation letters—only to procrastinate on submitting my applications until the very last day. Pro tip: that’s basically a one-way ticket to rejection city (and my mom still doesn’t know!).
I vividly remember that night, sobbing on my best friend’s bed at 11 p.m., feeling like the weight of my “failure” was crushing me. She sat there with me, not just letting me cry but somehow making me laugh through it too—whether it was a silly story, a sarcastic comment, or just her pretending this whole mess wasn’t as dramatic as I made it out to be. That mix of tears and laughter felt like such a bizarre lifeline in the moment.
That period also came with the worst hormonal acne. Stress eating, sleepless nights, and crushing self-doubt wreaked havoc on my skin. It felt like my body was waving a giant “STOP” sign. The acne was a visual reminder of my mental state, and it hit hard.
Looking back, my heart hurts for my younger self, tangled in so much confusion and pressure. But I’ll always be grateful for my best friend, who didn’t just sit with me in my pain but reminded me there was still room to laugh, even when I couldn’t see past my tears.
And, more than anything, I’m grateful for that period of struggle because it pushed me toward a path I didn’t even know existed.
The Pivot: Starting my Career in the Cosmetics Industry
After graduation, I packed up my life—uncertainty in one hand and a biochemistry degree in the other—and drove down the Pacific Coast Highway to Los Angeles to stay with my mom. In the new city, I had no friends, no job, and no plan beyond “find work and move out.” But sometimes, life has a way of connecting dots in the strangest, most peculiar ways.
When I was in high school, I stumbled upon a YouTube video that broke down the infamous Jaclyn Hill lipstick controversy. A biochemist was explaining why the lipsticks had what appeared to be “mold” or “fuzzies” growing on them, and whether they posed a biohazard. I was hooked. It was fascinating to hear about the science behind cosmetics—and a little unsettling to realize what could go wrong! As much as I thought it was the coolest thing ever, I had no idea where to begin or if cosmetic chemistry was even a path I could take. So, like most teenage obsessions, I tucked it away and moved on.
Fast forward to post-grad me in LA, scrolling through job postings and realizing that a lot of the chemistry roles here were in cosmetics and skincare. That forgotten fascination came rushing back. Without even planning it, I found myself landing a job as a HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography) chemist at a cosmetic manufacturing company.
There, I tested for active ingredients in sunscreens (Avobenzone and Octocrylene, etc) and acne products (Benzoyl peroxide and Salicylic acid). It was a great introduction to the cosmetics world. But while I enjoyed the precise and methodical process of analytical testing, something was missing. I didn’t want to just analyze skincare products—I wanted to create them.
That teenage spark reignited, and my creative itch became impossible to ignore. I knew I had to keep moving forward towards my dream of formulating.
Chasing the Dream: QC to R&D
After a year, I transitioned into quality control (QC), where I tested raw materials, bulks, and finished goods for various parameters like color, odor, appearance, pH, and viscosity. It was fascinating and gave me a broader understanding of how the whole manufacturing process works. But QC wasn’t my endgame—formulating was. So, I kept applying, kept learning, and eventually, I got there.
Now, I’m officially an R&D lab tech! I’m a part of a very small team, so I get to be hands-on with formulations daily and feel like I’m making a real impact. Every day, I’m learning, experimenting, and loving it.
What to Expect from This Blog
Here’s what I’ll be writing about:
- My skincare and acne journey (it’s been a rollercoaster)
- Ingredient breakdowns (what’s in your products and why it matters)
- Skincare formulation insights (from the lab to your bathroom shelf)
- New skincare trends (and whether they’re worth the hype)
- My personal experiments (think DIY formulations and lessons learned)
Let’s be clear: I’m not an expert—I’m just starting out. And this blog isn’t a “how-to”, at least not yet. My goal here is to share my thoughts, spark conversations, and create a space for science-backed skincare enthusiasts to connect.
This blog is as much for me as it is for you— a way to document what I’m learning and keep track of my progress. Think of it as my personal lab notes, sprinkled with humor and love for the science of skincare. So, here it is.
Welcome to Lab Notes On Skin.
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