In an internet landscape populated by spin doctors and conspiracy theorists, the beauty industry is notoriously opaque about the truth. From anti-sunscreen advocates to “miracle” hair growth serums, it can be hard to know who and what to believe. Dr Michelle Wong, a 36-year-old cosmetic chemist from Sydney, is somewhat of a lone ranger in the wild west of social media, where, through her popular blog Lab Muffin and social media channels, she uses science to tackle misconceptions about make-up and skincare.
Wong doesn’t talk down to her followers, nor does she shout outsized claims at them, but if you want an engaging breakdown of a hard-to-pronounce ingredient ( amodimethicone , anyone?) that doesn’t sound like it’s come straight out of a textbook, she’s your girl. Dr Michelle Wong uses science to tackle misconceptions about make-up and skincare. Credit: Marija Ercegovac This kind of frankness and depth of research are hard to find, which explains her large following and standing in the scientific community.
Today, she has over half a million followers on Instagram, and is sought after locally and internationally for her expertise, having been interviewed for publications like The New York Times and The Washington Post . So what exactly makes it so difficult for others to cut through the noise of beauty misinformation? Why is it so hard for cosmetic science to be taken seriously? “People look down on it,” suggests Wong. “I think it’s partly just standard m.