The Science of Beauty: Debunk the Myths and Discover What Goes into Your Beauty Routine

by Dr Michelle Wong

Get the facts about the biggest beauty and skincare trends from Instagram's cosmetic science expert Dr Michelle Wong.

Will eating dairy give me acne? Do I need to wear sunscreen every day? How often should I wash my hair? What's the best way to fade scars? And is "clean beauty" really as healthy as it sounds?

The Science of Beauty reveals the truth behind the bold marketing claims and viral TikTok trends, and tells you what you really need to know about the products you use every day. Dr Wong will show you how to form good habits and learn what really works. Decipher the ingredients that make up your make-up, find out the facts about botox and laser treatments, and discover whether beauty brands can ever be truly sustainable.

Chemist and science educator Dr Michelle Wong, aka Lab Muffin Beauty Science ("the face and voice of beauty science" – Wired), answers over 100 frequently asked questions with no-nonsense facts and informative graphics – backed up by the latest research. She empowers you to make the most of your beauty and body-care routines.

Genres: Nonfiction, Science, Health, Education, Ebooks, Fashion, Medicine

477 pages, Kindle Edition

First published June 25, 2024

Reviews

[Gabrielė Bužinskaitė · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have never met a woman without insecurities, and I am no exception.

Nearly every day, I think “my skin could be…my hair could be… my body could be… better.” Then I turn to social media and get hundreds of options for having all that—and quickly.

Despite my knowledge of beauty standard techniques, practice in the highly-profitable-highly-manipulative beauty industry, and overall ability to reason, I cannot out-logic what I desire.

I may be a more difficult prey to catch, but nonetheless a catchable prey. I want to look beautiful, and I will pay money for it. I want to pay money for it.

Such books like this one protect me from wasting money and time on beauty products that don't deliver their promises (that’s most of them).

The author, a chemistry doctor, clears misconceptions, confusion, and chaos surrounding beauty products and does that according to actual, not beauty-companies-funded research. And no, the “natural” remedies like drinking more water to clear your skin don't work either.

I wish the book were deeper and more advice-giving than just educational. I wish she had mentioned specific brands and products, but if she had, one could say they sponsor her. You can’t win.

Anyway, it’s still good. But the book called Skintellectual, written by a dermatology doctor, is better in this field.

[Allison · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was so excited to finally get my copy of this book! I'm a long time Lab Muffin fan and I pre-ordered my copy as soon as Dr Wong announced it.

The book is beautiful, with tons of informative diagrams and an intuitive layout. As always, Dr Wong goes in-depth on every topic covered and provides practical advice. It's empowering to be informed!

[Samsara · Rating 2 out of 5]

Don’t waste your time and money on this book. Her YouTube goes much deeper

[Taten Shirley · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author has her PhD in chemistry and balances explaining the science behind beauty products and the specific parts of our skin, hair, and nails. It’s an incredibly comprehensive look at beauty, as she offers tips, addresses problems people may have, and debunks common beauty myths. I especially liked how she explained the labels many products use, detailing which ones are meaningless marketing ploys and which ones are actually informative.

[Vaishnavi · Rating 1 out of 5]

Unless you're an absolute beginner this book doesn't have much to offer. And also I think this is more lab muffin beauty science merch than an actual in depth book on beauty and skincare science. Very basic 👎🏻

[Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a difficult one for me to review.

Let me preface this by saying I have immense respect for Dr. Wong. I admire and appreciate her work and love her content on social media.

Having said that, I had high hopes for this book, and I was ever so slightly let down.

I went into this book expecting science of course, but in addition practicality, advice, and tips. However, this is mostly a science book without her deadpan delivery and snarky, insightful, and helpful commentary. What this book is missing is Michelle's personality, which makes her YouTube videos so freaking delightful to watch.

Don't get me wrong, this book is good. Great, even. But I have watched most, if not all, of Lab Muffin's videos, so there wasn't much that was new to me.

The science is certainly interesting, but I'm personally more interested in knowing what ingredients and/or products to use and how to best handle situations x, y, and z. We did start to get there in the end, but the first (approximately) half was slow going. If for some reason I need to look up how gel polish works, I know where to look, but for practical tips and everyday advice, there are better resources.

In the end, it's the book for you if you're looking for the best book on beauty science or if you just want to support Michelle, for which reason I don't regret buying this book whatsoever.

Final rating: 3,5 stars, rounded up.

[An · Rating 4 out of 5]

Dr. Wong has done a commendable job compiling a comprehensive guide to basic skincare. The book covers most common skincare advice, dispels myths, and explains the science behind cosmetic products clearly. However, I believe the book could benefit from better organization with more defined subtopics for easier reference. Also, it would have been helpful if Dr. Wong included sections on lip care, under-eye care, and sleep hygiene. I was also disappointed that the book didn't cover eyelash growth serums. The author only mentioned that serums with prostaglandin analogues haven't been tested for scalp hair growth, so there's no proof they'd work for that.

[Jasmine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Definitely a handy guide to the basics of skincare, nail care, and hair care and addresses any pitfalls someone might stumble upon when getting into skincare.

As someone who’s really well versed in skincare AND watches Michelle Wong’s YouTube channel, very few things were new to me.

I think this is such a good resource to cut through all of the BS and misinformation floating around online and on social media!

[Brittany · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’ve been following Michelle for a hot sec so I am proud to say I did know a lot of the info in here, but I still learned a ton! Looking forward to continuing to berate people about the safety and efficacy of parabens in my spare time 💕

[Christina · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how this book goes into the composition and mechanics of our skin, hair, and nails and how different active ingredients interact with them. Some stuff I learned:

- UV exposure is the same whether you are in the shade or not; it's based on how much of the sky is clear
- damaged hair is more negatively charged, so it requires a conditioner with positively charged ingredients to adhere to it
- Some active ingredients only do work during rinsing, so leaving them on for longer doesn't have any effect
- a lot of marketing claims (e.g. sulfate or paraben free) are only for trends with no real substance. There's not really any research that says that sulfates and parabens are bad
- Formulation matters a lot more than the presence of an ingredient

[Gopika · Rating 5 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book. If you watch the author's YouTube channel, there is some overlap with the content from her videos but also plenty of information she hasn't covered in her videos yet I think. I learned a lot that I didn't know. Like all DK books, there are plenty of graphics, which help convey the information and concepts clearly.

[Nikki_charis · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. Informative with lots of simple graphics that are presented in a straightforward manner.

[rache osmokrache · Rating 3 out of 5]

обяснява се всичко като за идиоти както аз обичам и е бърз гайд за съставки преди да си купувам skincare

[Reni · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a biotechnology nerd, I LOVED the science bits. Honestly, Dr. Michelle Wong had me at chemical structures and ingredient breakdowns. I was devouring the technical details like skincare was the new periodic table. But then... *sigh*…the generalizations started creeping in. 😬 I mean, for someone who understands enzymes and peptides like they’re old friends, I was left thinking, “Really, that’s it? No deeper dive?” 🤷‍♀️

Look, the book is solid if you’re just getting into the science behind beauty products - so many fun facts and myths debunked, for sure. But if you’re a fellow science junkie like me, you might find yourself flipping through pages hoping for a juicy molecular bombshell, only to get “moisturizer is good for your skin.” WE KNOW, MICHELLE! 😵‍💫

Still, the passion is there, and I did get some new insights. But I wanted more. Like, next-level deep dive into the skin barrier, not a shallow wade in the kiddie pool of cosmetic science.

Final verdict: a solid 3.5 ⭐️ (rounded up). Worth it for the science-loving beauty geek, but don’t expect it to blow your mind. 🧪✨

[Amber Lee · Rating 1 out of 5]

It honestly didn't teach me anything I didn't already know. Was kind of a let down.

[Sam Still Reading · Rating 3 out of 5]

Now that most magazines are a thing of the past and those left seem to be telling us what influencers do, where do we get reliable information on beauty? What’s true and what’s not? The Science of Beauty covers all aspects of beauty from hair to nails in an easy to read book with short topics. No PR spin here, it’s as the science tells it.

A large amount of the book is devoted to skin (well, it is your largest organ) from the anatomy to how various skin care regimens work (or don’t work). It starts off simple (if you’ve done human biology at high school or university, a lot will be a refresher) and then gets into the stuff we all want to know. Do LED masks really work? How can you prevent wrinkles? Is preventative Botox really a thing? Wong, who has a PhD in chemistry, covers these topics succinctly and clearly (plus, she also includes a bibliography if you want to know more). She also debunks beauty myths throughout, such as training your hair or skin. I enjoyed the beauty section, which goes into all the different types of makeup and what they are made of (such as how a tubing mascara differs to a waterproof one in ingredients). I wasn’t expecting to enjoy the nails section so much, but it was really interesting to look at the different options for nails these days (and how they all come off). I don’t think I’ll forget about how nails break thanks to her explanation!

I do wish this had gone deeper into the science and safety of some topics, such as LED masks, UV manicures and peptide creams. But that’s not the target audience for this book – it’s more of an educational read and would suit young women looking to learn more from an unbiased source. The writing is clear and scientific – no room for bias, but those not used to reading things that aren’t loaded with personality may find the writing slightly cold initially. There are lots of diagrams and pictures and topics are covered in 2-4 pages, so it’s easy to pick up and put down as needed. Definitely interesting, but mainly a beginner’s book.

http://samstillreading.wordpress.com

[Mallory · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love Lab Muffin and liked the simplified scientific explanations for hair, nails, skin and the beauty products we apply. Good overview of what science is available to support what treatments or ingredients, and clear explanations of level of risk (typically very low in most beauty products) is actually inherent in some ingredients. Off to find some mascara and eyeliner with the ingredients recommended here that won’t immediately melt off my oily eyelids.

[Mhp Torri · Rating 5 out of 5]

love u Michelle!!

[Yujeong Angela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Succinct and evidence-based. Beauty care 101 dispelling popular opinion.

[Lauren Larry · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brains and beauty. I loved this. I’m more of a science lover with questions about beauty. Dr. Wong breaks down the science of beauty in a matter of fact easy to read manner. Hair, nails, skin and make up are all covered in this book. I definitely would like to see more skin tone representation, but this is Dr. Wong’s first book, I hope to see improvements in the future. Wong makes are great case for EVERY ONE wearing even just a little bit of sunscreen. Of course, the topic of water drinking comes up and Dr. Wong does a great job explaining it. If you’ve got questions, this book has “most” of the answers.

[notkafkaesque · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a fan of Michelle’s content, I was very excited to have the opportunity to read her book and I believe The Science of Beauty does a good job at accomplishing what she set out to do—as long as you know what to realistically expect from reading it.

The Science of Beauty covers the basics of beauty-related topics like skin, hair, makeup, nails, and cosmetic products. A majority of the book is dedicated to answering the average person’s general beauty and skincare questions, as well as providing them with a general understanding of physiology and cosmetic ingredients to make more informed decisions about the products they use in their beauty routine and to navigate common marketing claims and myths.

The overall quality of the book and its explanations are bolstered by Dr. Michelle Wong’s career in science communication and background in cosmetic chemistry as well as her passion for the subject.

The content of book is formatted somewhat like a magazine, the graphic design, photography, and illustrations are excellent and there are plenty of diagrams that are clear and easy to understand.

However, if you’re interested in learning more beyond an introductory level, The Science of Beauty is not for you. This book isn’t as detailed or in-depth as some of her other content which might leave fans familiar with her videos feeling a little underwhelmed. That said, it doesn’t seem like it was Michelle’s goal to go into the nitty-gritty. Instead, her book is clearly designed to be a light read for general audiences that avoids alienating people who don’t know much about cosmetic science.

While the book touches on aspects of cosmetic chemistry like product formulations, delivery systems, derivatives, bonds, emulsions, and more, these details are secondary to its main focus of answering a variety of beauty and skincare questions.

Overall, The Science of Beauty is great introduction into the broad range of topics that fall under the category of beauty science. Although some of her fans were disappointed by the book because they were expecting something else based on how she has marked her book, The Science of Beauty succeeds in doing what she set out to do: providing an engaging and accessible guide into beauty science for a wide audience.

[Fipah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Skvelá a veľmi dôležitá, Dr Michelle Wong je tak dôležitý hlas vo svete kozmetiky a rúcania mýtov ohľadom jej údajnej nebezpečnosti. Osobne viac preferujem web labmuffin.com a jej videá Lab Muffin Beauty Science na YouTube, pretože viac detailne vysvetlia dôvody prečo a presvedčivo mýty vyvrátia. Táto kniha je stručne o veľa, veľa témach, čiže inak by to asi nešlo – je to ale skvelý začiatok či darček + kniha má super diagramy, venuje sa aj téme vlasov a vlasovej kozmetiky, detto nechty.

Vyjadrenie pre transparentnosť: recenziu nepíšem, pretože na webe kremkrem.sk a kremkrem.cz sa kniha dá zakúpiť s mojím zľavovým kódom, ten automaticky platí na celý web kremkrem nezávisle od sortimentu – to že knihu ponúkajú som zistil neskôr a sám som si ju zakúpil za vlastné peniaze inde.

[Nicole · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who’s followed Dr. Michelle Wong (LabMuffinBeautyScience) on Instagram, I already knew that I’d love the way she’d present these topics with her clear, evidence-based approach to skincare.

Dr. Wong takes complex chemistry and skincare science and breaks it down into accessible, easy to digest language without dumbing it down. This book feels like sitting down with a super smart, science-savvy friend who just wants to help you understand your skin better - and make informed choices about what you’re putting on it.

Whether you’re a skincare newbie or a longtime skincare junkie, this book empowers you with knowledge instead of fear mongering. She dispels myths, clarifies marketing claims, and explains what actually works and why. I loved it and will reread again.

[Kelly · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked the graphics/diagrams and appreciated that she clearly tried to keep each section short and punchy, breaking the book down into many 2-3 page sections/topics. Easy to just keep around and read a little bit at a time.

But the info felt like an odd mix. There was a lot of scientific terms and just lists of common chemicals/ingredients - word salads with no real actionable points. At once too dense and technical for a casual reader, and too light and sparse for a technical or scientific reader.

If you’re going to give her hours of your life I think it’d be better spent watching her YouTube channel than reading this book.

[Erika RS · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Science of Beauty is a mix between a dining table book and a Q&A book. It is visually gorgeous and contains many short (1-4 page), image heavy sections. Despite it's light format, it provides concrete and useful information. While I wouldn't have minded something deeper, I suspect this book was at the right level for a broader audience.

The book aims to demystify the science behind skincare, haircare, and cosmetics. Its central message is that fear-driven narratives about "toxic" ingredients or "chemical-free" products are generally exaggerated. Commercial skin, hair, and cosmetic products should be safe, especially if used as directed. An ineffective product is most likely lacking in effective active ingredients rather than burdened by "bad" ingredients. In particular, Wong emphasizes that “natural” is an ill-defined and overrated category and that price is not a reliable indicator of product quality. Products should be judged on personal efficacy.

While the book is strong on myth-busting and scientific clarity, it doesn't give much guidance. It's educational, but the advice is general. As Wong refutes common myths, you lose flawed filters... without always coming away with clear alternatives. If anything, after reading this book, the world of beauty care is even more open-ended than before. That said, it does provide foundational insight into how to critically assess claims and choose ingredients based on personal needs.

Overall, this book helped refine my mostly-casual understanding of beauty-care and helped ground it in more scientific foundations. I appreciated how it encouraged skepticism and offered tools to navigate beauty decisions without falling for hype. It’s not a hands-on manual, and that puts the onus on the reader to translate knowledge into practice. Still, overall, it was a worthwhile read. (Plus, as noted above, so pretty!)

[My · Rating 3 out of 5]

Beautiful layouts, some really interesting tidbits of information, and all backed up by trustworthy sources that are cited.

I really wanted to love this book and support Michelle, so much so that I purchase two books, but unfortunately, I don't think I'm the right audience for this. It aims to be comprehensive and accessible and while it achieved that goal, I felt it was lacking in the kind of information I had hoped to see.

I wanted more scientific deep dives for those of us who come from a science background. Unfortunately, there was a lot of basic info like definitions of various skincare and makeup products. There were some sections that was more aligned with my expectations, specifically the hair section that talks a lot of the chemical interaction and makeup of our hair with hair products. But those were few and far between.

It hurts my heart to rate this a 3 because I appreciate all the meticulous effort that's been put into the book but this was just too introductory for me.

[books.withjade · Rating 5 out of 5]

Science of Beauty does a deep dive into all things skincare, hair, nails, and makeup, using a more scientific lens. I really enjoyed this book and found it both fascinating and insightful.

I love skincare and beauty, so I’m always excited to learn more about it, and this book is perfect for that. It’s scientific but presented in such a way that makes it easy for regular people to follow and understand. I found this book to be much more insightful and educational than some other skincare books I’ve read in the past. It is clear that the author is highly educated on these topics and is passionate about them.

I also loved how this book tackled some common myths and misconceptions. This was again very educational, but it also made me feel more at ease and better equipped to navigate misinformation. I’ve also been talking the ear off all those around me about what I have learnt.

I would highly recommend this book to any beauty lovers out there wanting to expand their knowledge and gain a more in-depth understanding of skincare, hair, nails, and makeup.

[Jaanika · Rating 4 out of 5]

Michelle Wong's book is a comprehensive and well-thought-out overview of beauty topics. The author has spent years delving into scientific information as having very broad background on the field and shares reliable knowledge about skin, hair, make-up and nail care in the book. While the book may not offer any groundbreaking discoveries for a skin care enthusiast, it is an excellent source for basic knowledge as well as confirming or dispelling the myths.
The book is suitable for both beginners and those who want to generally expand their knowledge. It is a great choice for young teenagers who are just starting their beauty journey, and for anyone who wants to make informed choices about cosmetics. Although the question-and-answer format is not my favourite in books, I understand why Michelle as a beauty influencer chose this format.
In conclusion, I enjoyed this book very much and hope to hear from part 2 - in-depth advanced version, soon

[Negin · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was a bit basic for me. Maybe if I had read it a decade or so ago, I would have benefitted more. Otherwise, I really didn’t learn anything new or groundbreaking. I have watched some of her YouTube videos. Most of them are not my cup of tea. I’m not too fond of her delivery. I would give this 2.5 stars, but I’m feeling generous, and am rounding up to 3.

Here are some of my favorite tips.

Eye Make-Up Removal (not that I wear much at all)
“To remove stubborn eye makeup, hold a pad soaked in remover over each eye for a few seconds to let makeup dissolve.”

Sulfate Shampoos for Dyed Hair (this was news to me)
For dyed hair, studies have found that sulfate-containing shampoos can strip less color than sulfate-free formulas. Additionally, simply washing with water makes a far bigger difference than the product you use, so a sulfate-containing shampoo that allows you to wash less often would be beneficial.

[Phoebe · Rating 3 out of 5]

The format of the book was not quite what I expected from the title as there weren't so many myths that seemed to be debunked and instead it was a QnA style book. It covers some scientific concepts and a few common misconceptions that people may have with widely used beauty products over 1-3 pages of diagrams and content per question. I enjoyed the graphics and the thick paper made this book feel like a good coffee table book to dip in and out of. Inevitably as many people would have come from Dr Wong's social media channels, it's hard not to compare to her other content. This book is a good starting point for a broad range of topics but I find her videos and shorts are easier and more engaging to consume and cover trending topics. This book would be more suitable for absolute beginners to the world of beauty products so it still has its role, but maybe not for Dr Wong's following she has already gathered.