Do you really need a ten-step skincare regimen? Is that $100 eye cream worth it? And what the heck are “actives” anyway? In this book two professional chemists and beauty industry insiders tell all. Depending on who you listen to, the secret to beautiful skin is microbiomes. Or Korean rice water. Or maybe a dermaplaning tool. It feels like you need a degree in chemistry to even understand what these products are, and if they live up to the hype. Luckily, Victoria Fu and Gloria Lu, professional skincare chemists have done that work so you don’t have to. The science may seem complicated, but this book will show you how simple it can be, giving you what you need to make informed decisions about your skin (and your wallet). Skincare Actives? Technically, cat sneezes could count. SPF? Yep, super important. Caffeine serums? The science is still out. CBD additives? Not enough studies yet, so the jury’s still out.