
Episode 1: Weird Skincare
We unpack the strangest skincare rituals trending online, from snail mucin hype to edible serums, and explain which ingredients are actually backed by research.
Show notes & transcript →
Skin intelligence, locally grounded
Audio series
Skincare without the nonsense. Conversations on ingredient science, culture and routines — grounded in South African skin, climate and shelves. New episodes uploaded on the last Friday of every month. Coming soon to all major podcast streaming platforms.
Next drop around Friday, 25 September.
The Skin Deep is SkinLabs®' audio series for people who want the ingredient-science version of a skincare conversation, not the marketing version. Each episode takes one question a South African reader actually asks us — is this active worth the price jump, does SPF really need reapplying over makeup, why does the same "hydrating" serum feel different in Durban humidity versus a Joburg winter — and works through it the way we'd write a briefing or a review: what the evidence says, what it doesn't say yet, and what that means for a shelf stocked with South African products at South African prices.
We record with the same editorial independence as everything else on SkinLabs: no brand pays for a mention, no episode is scripted around a sponsor's talking points, and when we're unsure about something we say so on air instead of smoothing it over. Episodes run roughly 20–35 minutes, organised around recurring topics — actives and formulation, budget-versus-clinic comparisons, skin myths worth retiring, and the industry side of South African skincare (regulation, local manufacturing, what "clean beauty" actually means here).
New episodes drop on the last Friday of every month, with full show notes and the products or studies discussed linked directly to the relevant SkinLabs review or Daily Skinny briefing, so you can go from listening to reading in one tap. Streaming on major podcast platforms is coming soon — for now, every episode is playable directly from this page.

We unpack the strangest skincare rituals trending online, from snail mucin hype to edible serums, and explain which ingredients are actually backed by research.
Show notes & transcript →
Dermatologists and estheticians share common skincare mistakes, how to recover from over-exfoliation, and the simple routines that rebuild resilient skin.
Show notes & transcript →
A deep dive into the glow-from-within trend, including hydration layering, peptide support, and the daily habits that make luminosity last.
Show notes & transcript →
We separate facts from fear around buzzy ingredients like retinoids, acids, and preservatives, and explain how to read labels with confidence.
Show notes & transcript →
We need to talk about sunscreen — not just beach days. This episode breaks down SPF, UVA vs UVB, reapplication, darker skin tones and why South Africa’s sun deserves more respect. Because “I don’t burn” isn’t the same as “I’m protected.”

Dark marks don’t disappear because you bought a brighter serum. We unpack hyperpigmentation, post-inflammatory marks, melasma and the ingredients that can actually help — especially for deeper skin tones. No miracle creams. Just the facts.

Retinol. Retinal. Tretinoin. Same family, very different conversation. We break down what retinoids actually do, who should consider them, and how to start without destroying your barrier. Your routine doesn’t need to become a chemistry experiment.

If your face is burning, peeling or reacting to everything, maybe it’s time to put the acids down. What damages the barrier, what helps repair it, and how to know when your routine has become too much.

A lot of skincare advice wasn’t written with every skin tone in mind. This episode explores melanin-rich skin — pigmentation, acne marks, sunscreen, irritation and the myths that keep getting recycled. Darker skin isn’t a problem to solve. It needs advice that actually makes sense.

Cute packaging. Big promises. A suspiciously expensive serum. We look at skincare marketing, ingredient lists, “clean” beauty, celebrity products and the difference between good formulation and clever advertising.