Scientist's Favourite Innovative Products of 2023 

I consider myself an internet and RU-vid veteran and I wholeheartedly believe that you are one of the only unique creators that produces truly S tier content. Thank you!!!

I really appreciate you covering drugstore brands. I can't afford many fancy products so it's nice to know that there are science-backed affordable options. I am very interested in that Olay super serum!

Thank you for this! I never would have thought an Olay product might be able to replace multiple skincare products. Shame on me for being closed minded.

I noticed they have a fragrance free version called Super Serum Night Repair. Looks like they swapped out the Collagen Peptide for Peptide… whatever that means 😂

Pharmacist here, have been following you for about 1-2 years… Love your approach to these things and your serum testing is top notch. Amazing! Time to look for it in Europe. Also, cool volumetric flask in the back.

I hope olay comes out with a fragrance free version of the super serum:( looks nice

Oh my god. The eyeliner section. My mind is blown. Will I finally be able to live without having eyeliner from my upper lid ending up in the bags under my eyes?? Wild

I keep waiting for a video of yours talking about acrylates and fluid microplastics in cosmetics. You are the only source I would trust on this issue and I'm so interested in your opinion!

I just checked Olay Canada and there’s a super serum night repair with a similar ingredient list with no fragrance. Hopefully it works the same

*La* *Roche* *Posay* *Kerium* *DS* shampoo has been a life saver for my agonizing scalp. As someone who's had to deal with severe itchiness due to seborrheic dermatitis for over two decades, I cannot sing its praises enough!

Naturium’s super serum (I think it’s called super serum plus) is also very good. I’m on my fourth bottle, so I can’t sing its praises enough. It has a retinoid, bha, niacinimide & vitamin c, so a bit different from Olay’s version. I still use a lactic acid once or twice per week though.

I also a sensitive scalp and find that the best way to manage it is to: - wash my hair daily - bring my facial cleansing routine up to my hairline and around my ears and neck every morning and night - use a scalp brush to gently and thoroughly massage shampoo well into my entire scalp without harming the skin barrier - shampoo twice (double cleanse method) - use a hair dyer immediately after washing - alternate shampoos using a mild shampoo Aveda Shampure shampoo most days and the Scalp Shampoo by Sachajuan at least once per week - avoid using conditioner and styling products that remain on the scalp - treat flare spots quickly with a short course of cortisone ointment. I highly recommend testing the Aveda Shampure range. It is so lovely, and is the only shampoo that I can tolerate when I have a flare or broken skin. I only get flares now when I skip the routine. That’s how good it is! I also recommend trying a salicylic acid shampoo. (SA is attracted to the oil, dislodging oily dead skin build up, but you do need to let it sit on the scalp for at least 10 mins). I’ve tried using SA serum on hot spots but it’s just so much easier to use it on the whole scalp. Conditioners can be easier to use as they don’t go on the scalp. However I still react to many products, and stick to Wella SP range (Hydrate or Repair or Lux Oil), Fabuloso with toner mixed in by my hairdresser, and use Olaplex leave in oil and cream on mid lengths and ends. I also use a weekly Olaplex No 0 and 2 treatment. Thank you for another informative video! I hope this info helps. ❤

I can’t believe how expensive Olay has gotten. I had an aunt who swore by it 30 yrs ago. I was never impressed with it. Of course as you get older one becomes more interested in skin support. Thanks

I've been using Nizoral Anti-Dandruff Shampoo with 1% Ketoconazole to help with my oily and itchy scalp, seems to work pretty well

I love watching your nerdy beauty science videos! 😊

Asian shampoos have solved my itchy sensitive scalp problems.. idk what’s in them but they all work. If I use western shampoo I start blistering/getting scalp breakouts again. Thought it was a fragrance problem but all Asian shampoos are super fragranced and still work 😂

For shampoo: My hairdresser recommended me Kérastase Specifique Bain Riche Dermo-Calm. She said she couldn't guarantee it'd work, but it did for 9/10 people she gave this recommendation to. It's not cheap, but I was desperate as I tried a lot of products with little to no relief. It worked wonders for me as well as my brother when he had to borrow it when on vacation.

This is a great channel, very informative. I had to comment on this video because aside from the great recommendations and explanations, the clips and commentary were comedic/sarcasm perfection. Laughing out loud 😂🏆.

The Olay super serum is pretty great, and I love that the mini size comes with a pump instead of a dropper. If it was fragrance free it would be perfect!

Hi! Oliprox by the brand Boderm is hands down the best shampoo I’ve ever used against scalp itching and flaking. Its actives are piroctone olamine and glycolic acid, with an amazingly gentle formulation. I also use Sensinol by the brand Ducray (no actives). There is a huge stress component with itch that not many dermatologists talk about (I am a psychologist). If one of you out there is really really suffering from itchy scalp do consider seeing a professional to see if you would be a candidate for antidepressant & anxiolytic therapy alongside your topicals (like shampoo). These saved my soul during my PhD, putting it out there for someone in need.

I’m excited about that micellar water. I’ve become increasingly disabled over the years and finding products for difficult days is super important!

I use Nizoral as a shampoo/scalp mask; the antifungal in it feels way more effective than Head and Shoulders for my dandruff

As a fellow oily eyelid girl, another thing that has worked for me is eye primer. I stayed away from it for a long time thinking it was a cash grab ala many eye creams, but the NARS one that I use keeps a wing tip in place all day

Hi Michelle! I wanted to put my little coin to the pile of shampoo recommendations. When I'm in dire scalp help I'll use the EUCERIN Dermo Capillaire with 5% urea. bonus point, it makes my hair super soft afterward. I'm not sure if it's super easy to find outside of france, but I hope you can! They also have other kinds of shampoo for "hyper sensitive scalp"!

I’m from the US and completely agree our products are over fragranced. If I use any creams that have fragrance, they tend to be European (Nivea, Barnängen, L'Occitane). The worst is Bath & Body shop. I get a headache from going in there. 🙄 I began using Bio Derma micellar water at your recommendation, love it! I really look forward to trying the eye makeup remover.

Thank you for covering scalp issues! I have the same symptoms/issues finding products that don't seem to irritate my scalp! And everything you hear is don't wash your hair as much, bpah blah, when I know my scalp is way more itchy if i don't shampoo everyday!

Hey Michelle! In case you're reading your comments: How do you feel about the advice to wear sunscreen even when the UV index is low, because apparently UV-A stays constant throughout the year?

Loving the shampoo recs! Me, my brother and our father have been using the Wella SP balance scalp shampoo for years because of sensitive scalp and it works great for our fine scandinavian hair at least. I really want to try other ones, but I've been too afraid to mess up my scalp and I hate wasting money on products that I have to stop using after only one use

Tretinoin vs Adapalene, please ^^

I'm surprised to see Olay 😮

I’ve really been appreciating Nizoral 2% as a shampoo, this won’t work for everyone as I believe it’s only targeting specific yeast but can get a good run of almost 3 days with clean hair with the following runtime; Always making sure head and hair is totally dry before sleeping, massage 1 tsp oil 1 day/night/hour before into scalp (medicated according to need) and then wash

I love the Olay serum. I use the night version because it has no fragrance. It’s amazing!

What is the "whole bunch of other stuff" that you use to deal with retinoid? :))

Thank you for mentioning that you don’t have to have dandruff flakes to have inflammation due to that yeast. I was recently diagnosed with this.

My scalp is really sensitive, and I just use fragrance free body wash instead of shampoo, my favorite one is Bioderma Atoderm Intensive Foaming Gel, as I find it also does well as face wash and hand wash. It's in a large 1L bottle. I use it from head to toe😂

I’m so glad I found your channel, all your videos are so informative! It would be awesome if you could do a video about hair products for thinning hair

What helped me in terms of shampoo is to actually wash twice, so wash, rinse, wash again. I heard this really cleanses your scalp vs just one wash.

I honestly would love the shampoo for sensitive scalps video. I’ve been having this issue lately where my scalp is itchy even 1 day after washing my scalp and as someone w curly/wavy hair who is trying to wash their hair as little as possible, it’s frustrating

I have sensitive scalp issues too and ever since I’ve switched to the Gallinee Sulfate free cream shampoo, my scalp is clean, moisturised but not itchy/flaky. I can wash my hair on alternate days now 😬 The Olay Super Serum looks amazing. Will definitely get one and try it out. Thank you very much for always educating us mere mortals 😘

I was getting a lot of scalp itching for about the past 5 years. Until Dr. Dray talked about shampoos not being efficient at cleaning anymore, because of the fear mongering of sulfates and parabens. Companies have been making mild cleansing shampoos. She recommend a shampoo brush ever since using it I get none to very little itching 😍

I've had a dry, sensitive scalp for over 10 years, I even went to the dermatologist for it. But tbh the only hair products that don't freak out my scalp are the Philip Kingsley ones! I love their Itchy Flaky Scalp Shampoo and their Re-Moisturising Shampoo, those are my staples

Can you talk about the 500 Dalton rule? I just heard about it for the first time and now I’m slightly spiraling thinking I’ve been wasting my money on ineffective products 😅

The davroe scalp remedy shampoo and conditioner together are my HGs. Still have to use nizoral once a week for dandruff but the davroe completely stopped the itch and my hair loves it.

Necessaire’s “The Shampoo” is my personal holy grail. I have really thick, wavy/curly hair and can only wash it once every few days without destroying it. This is the only shampoo I’ve found that gets my scalp really nice and clean without stripping my hair or making me itch/flake

A shampoo that I really love & definitely think you should add to your try list is “Dr. Eddie’s Happy Cappy” shampoo :)

I really like the Sachajuan Scalp Shampoo, which does contain piroctone olamine (and a few other "actives"), so it might be one to try if you haven't done so already! 👍🙂

Oh, you MUST try the kerastase Symbiose Anti-Pelliculaire shampoo. There are two variants for dry and oily hair, and it contains piroctone olamine. It is the only shampoo that helps me go a couple of days without shampooing/feeling my scalp. Expensive though

I have so easily irritated scalp and to find a shampoo is a huge challenge to me! I have a set-derm also but my scalp hates Zinc pyrithione! Kristin Ess Deep Clean shampoo worked wonders to me!

Shampoo recommendation: when I moved abroad I was fighting a with my hair scalp for almost a year (guessing it has to do with water quality) and what helped me wa Sachajuan scalp shampoo. Still have a bottle at hand even though my scalp is now cooperating again. Thanks for video!

I love how you explained your process when it comes to testing new/sponsored products. glad I found your channel, subscribed!

Just discovered your channel, and I'm loving the science-based content. THANK YOU! I have the same problem with eyeliner you do and am looking forward to trying out your recommendations. I also have this problem with mascara so much so that I've given up on wearing it. I'm guessing the same principles hold true but would absolutely love it if you made a video about mascaras that stay put! THANK YOU!

My fav calming shampoo (I’m actually allergic to SLS so it’s sulphate free) is the Desert Essence tea tree replenishing shampoo is always in my shower! Any time my scalp is dry, or irritated I reach for this! (And I only wash my hair once a week)

Just touching on your eyeliner always smudging. I’m having that issue with my mascara. I recently discovered my foundation in the culprit, for some reason my foundation can actually melt my waterproof mascaras. Still yet to find one that doesn’t smudge, until then I’ve stopped wearing it.

I think it's such an understatement but thank you for all your hardwork Michelle! I can't wait to try the Olay Super Serum. So far the closest we have in Australia is the Olay AHA Serum and I'll give it a try!

The scientist standing in front of his paper was such a cute add. He looked so proud!

As always, super helpful 😊 My "safe" shampoos tend to be from Paul Mitchell. I've liked the tea tree line for a long time, and I've used the tea tree lavender co-wash for a couple of years to use in between shampoo/conditioner.

It’s been a while since I’ve wanted to try a new product but I’m sold on the Olay serum. 😅 Thanks for the recommendation!

I second Dermal Therapy, everything they make is good for my eczema prone sensitive skin. They use high % of urea & colloidal oatmeal. Reasonable price in Aussie too. But their lip and hair products are standout..!!

I have a very sensitive itchy scalp. Tried gazillions of shampoos. Been using Urtekram's Rosemary shampoo for a couple of years and I'm finally in a good scalp place. (btw they are a big Nordic organic/eco brand with sales across Europe).

please try the 107 vinegar shampoo.Its the only one that works for my daughter's itching scalp, and we tried so many from the chemist. I would love your opinion. thank you ❤

Love your videos so much, Michelle! ❤ You're an absolutely captivating, funny and delightful science communicator! Btw your hair looks so good

Shampoo wise, I’ve been using the body shop ginger one! It’s been pretty good but interested to see what you think!

I wonder if Paula's Choice Ultra Light Super antioxidant concentrate serum is comparable to Olay's serum. It also lacks retinoids, but it works well. Thank you for your videos!

In the past year I went back to using Mac fluidline when it was 50% off - I love how it stays "wet" enough for a bit to smudge out but then fully sets. And it lasts a while if I store it upside down. I need to try some of those gel pencil liners because the ones I tried in the past were underwhelming but it really is so much more convenient.

Hi Michelle, I'd love to see you review the Lipid Gold moisturizer from Stratia. Stratia's founder also has a science background - it'd be so interesting to see your take and analysis on another chemist's product(s)!

The Korean brand dr groot makes a microbiome shampoo that actually doesn’t bother my sensitive scalp and keeps my hair clean longer than 24h!

I’ve been having a lot of scalp irritation this year, including super painful acne-like bumps. My derm diagnosed me with a contact allergy to propolis, but no one seems to be able to give me a complete list of ingredients I should avoid, so I’m seeing an allergist next. In the meantime, I’ve cut out all fragrance, but that hasn’t helped a lot. I was using Vanicream’s zinc pyrithione shampoo for a while, but it’s extremely drying. About a month ago I started using the fragrance-free shampoo and conditioner from the brand SEEN, and I’m really happy with them. My scalp is much more comfortable. They’re fairly pricey (about $30 each here in the US), but Ulta seems to include them in 40% off sales pretty regularly.

My go-to shampoo is the Yves Rocher Anti-pollution Oxygenated Scrub. Unfortunately, it is getting discontinued. I think the sodium chloride in the shampoo really helped sooth my irritated scalp

scalp - for me, using a conditioner on the scalp as well works, it acts as a nice rinse-off moisturiser. Just my experience, no drawbacks. Or using a hair scalp hydrating serum :)

Oh my god I love this video idea. I’m always looking for innovative products AND I’m always looking for why products (like eyeliner) sticks or doesn’t. If you ever figure out why Japanese mascara doesn’t smudge but western ones do, I’d love to know that. I feel like I have tried every mascara under the sun here, WP or not, and they all smudge. Japanese mascaras though? Budge proof. Whyyy

World’s best laugh at 12:20ish!!!! Thank you Michelle :). Love this whole video too, of course

Michelle, you have gotta try the Kristin Ess Scalp Purifying Micellar Shampoo. I have an easily irritated scalp. This stuff is LIFE CHANGING.

IGK Extra Love Shampoo is my ride or die. It's so good & never irritating (unless you sleep with your hair wet, then it'll itch a little bit). I have super sensitive skin, a lot of eczema on my scalp, and really long hair, so watching my hair everyday just doesn't work for me, but w this shampoo I can sometimes go 5 days between washes. It's seriously magical. It's not great at controlling dandruff, but it's better than any drugstore/big box store shampoo I've used before (and I've kinda made peace w the dandruff anyways lol). Highly highly highly recommend!

Not a shampoo, but adjacent to the irritated scalp discussion: my issue was less with an overly oily scalp and moreso a dry one! I used the Living Proof Dry Scalp treatment and it stopped the worst of the flaking. The active ingredients were niacinamide and hyaluronic acid though, so after I finished the bottle I started using my niacinamide and hyaluronic acid serums instead. You have to use them a bit more sparingly than the Living Proof stuff so it doesn’t gunk up your roots, but it has kept the flaking at bay for a much lower price than the Living Proof stuff! The only thing I really miss from the Living Proof was the bottle, because the nozzle was really small. I couldn’t unscrew the nozzle from the bottle though, so serum droppers it is. I will say though, I am a bit dryer in some spots this winter and I stopped using my pyrithione zinc shampoo because my old favorite shampoo decided that menthol would improve the formula and I hate the smell of it and how it makes my skin feel so I need to find a new shampoo… so thank you for that list! I would also like to hear more about why pyrithione zinc was limited in the EU.

Thank you for the suggestions! As for shampooing I Really enjoy garnier “Lemon And Argila” its a green bottle and it works well for my itchy scalp, I use it one days and the others I use the one you mentioned “whole blends gentle”. Its the Best combination for me!

I use the QV shampoo and conditioner the Nourishing ones for colour treated hair my scalp is sensitive reactive, my derm recommended I try QV, plus is my hair loves these products as well.

I believe my sensitivity to shampoo comes from the ingredient coco-betaine. I use QV Shampoo and it's the only one I haven't had an itchy scalp from in YEARS of trialling shampoos (including all the expensive dandruff ones). Coco & Eve also do a shampoo without coco-betaine and I'm tempted to try it, but it's an expensive trial.

I was wondering about the Olay Super Serum but am currently trying to work my way through all my current products before I buy another one. Now I'm really excited to try it! Has anybody else had any experience with it?

Everytime I watch you, I get kind of nostalgic but also very grateful I discovered you as early as I did in my skincare journey. Creators like you have had such a positive impact on the beauty industry overall. When I started around 4-5 years ago, there wasn’t a lot of inexpensive stuff you didn’t have to import available in Germany. Now we even have good skincare available in drug stores, increasingly without fragrance. Regarding shampoo for people with sensitive scalps: one influencer I trust always recommends Ducray Shampoo. I don’t know if you can get them in Australia, but if they are available, maybe they are worth a try?

Plz tell me which is best sunscreen for oily skin 2023

The worst thing about the Olay to me is the packaging. That label is such lazy graphic design. I can’t stand it. The fragrance is also bad.

The only shampoo that soothes my itchy scalp is Ducray Kelual DS. (It has piroctone olamine fyi). I have tried similar ranges from other brands because it’s a small bottle and not cheap but it works. My situation is slightly different because I do have seborrheic dermatitis and so I also have a prescription liquid which is great when I’m itchy or there’s a gnarly patch but I don’t have the time and energy to wash and blow dry my hair(which my dermatologist recommended I do, no air drying). Oddly enough I find my scalp loves hair dye. My motivation to dye it sometimes is more the itch than the roots.

I'm Asian with an oily irritation prone scalp as well so it's very nice to see some recommendations from someone who has to wash daily as well! I've been trying to move away from sebitar cause it dries me out too much. I've had the dermal therapy one on my list next so I'll try that! currently the aveeno acv shampoo and conditioner are working well for me. I also use a shampoo brush which I think really gives me a deep clean. thanks for a nerdy 2023!

Try shampoo from Ryo and Aromatica brand.

Have you tried the Biolage shampoos/conditioners for scalp? They have 3 types that I've tried - two are called ScalpSync. Ones cooling and for oil and ones more for dandruff. Then they had another kind under thier RAW line that had salicylic acid and rosemary - I actually thought that one worked best but it might be hard to find.

For my irritated scalp I find the shea moisture shampoo for low porosity hair to be excellent! I can go a bit longer between washes without irritation than with other shampoo!

I value your opinions and thoughts so highly. Thank you so much for your amazing content and devoting so much valuable time to helping us all!❤❤

Hi Michelle, I was just wondering if you have covered 'waterproof' ingredient that is going around. I saw a clip on IG saying that it's really bad and mess with hormones? I'm so curious because ALL my makeup is waterproof from mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow to SPF makeup base. What ingredient am I looking out for, and is there any waterproof ingredient that isn't harmful or should I stay clear from all of them because they are all toxic chemicals? Thank you and happy new year.

Highly recommend Matrix Biolage Scalpsync anti-dandruff shampoo (NOT the ‘cooling mint’ mint version - just the standard pyrithione zinc one). I find the trade off with anti-dandruff shampoos is that they tend to be drying on the hair. But the Matrix Biolage version has worked well for me over the last few years. Thanks for your genuinely informative content!

Hi Michelle, thanks for this video! I trust your views so much! ❤️ I have tried quite a few shampoos for my scalp as it gets both dry and oily quite quickly which makes me itch. I now use K18 PH balanced peptide shampoo which is amazing and so gentle as well as Ouai detox shampoo to clarify every couple of weeks. Also using TheInkeyList salacylic scalp treatment every 2 weeks helps massively too. I haven't had dandruff or an irritated scalp for about 4 months now after using these products. Hope this helps! Take care!

I also have super sensitive scalp and super oily. La Roch-Posay Kerium Extra Gentle Physiological Gel-Shampoo is the only shampoo that works for me as an everyday shampoo. I do have to wash my hair every day because of the oiliness, but it doesn't make my scalp itch like almost any other shampoo. I'm really looking forward to your video on sensitive scalps! 😄

Regular use of Head and Shoulders helps. Nizoral smells toxic but it helps. Dousing your scalp in glycolic of salicylic acid before a shower helps. Keeping the scalp very clean helps. Oily scalp seems to make irritation fester.

what made a huge difference for my scalp irritation was using bar soap as the first wash. preferably with sulfur😢 but any nice soap with little to no fragrance does the job, if I don't have a bad flare-up. then I follow with Clear shampoo( it's the same as Head&shoulders afaik) or, some average baby shampoo. Dividing my hair in two parts -top and bottom- and lathering them separately also helped

Any mascara recommendations for greasy eyelids peer here?

This was so interesting! 100% here for scalp irritation content ❤

Hi Michelle, have you heard of pavise? They are a new brand in the US that made an innovation in mineral sunscreen. I'm really curious to know what you think of it!

The first shampoo I found that didn’t make my scalp super itchy was the nature clean shampoo. Used it for six to eight months, recently changed to the necessaire shampoo, used it a couple times and it seems okay and I no longer see hair at the drain. I think nature clean was rough on my hair. I’ve been using these two shampoos because they’re on the product elimination diet site, I’m on a long journey getting over dermatitis and my dermatologist said to stick to products listed on this site

Hi Michelle! I may have allergy to some components in the shampoos, but I couldn't understand which ones. I will be looking for those you said, thanks! I've been testing a lot of them as well and I've found my holy grails, I live in Brazil and I guess it won't be available to you, but maybe I can help my fellow latin americans: Clear Woman Hidratação Intensa (purple one) and Flor de Cerejeira (pink one) / Arvensis Aqua Equilibrium

Thank you so much for the eyeliner recommendations and the WHY they work. I picked up the revlon and am so pleased.

As a fellow eurrgh to menthol gal - the Manuka DT lip balm is the BEST! So good to have a HG product for less than 10 bucks at CWH.