Why subscribe?
Hi, I’m Adeline. I’m an English professor turned skincare formulator for my own small skincare brand, Sabbatical Beauty I analyze beauty trends and formulate with skincare trends and ingredients on the daily for my work. I’ll give you the down low on what’s happening sociopolitically within the beauty industry complex, as well as the honest truth about what will actually work for your skin.
I’m passionate about what I do because I’ve struggled for most of my life with very sensitive, hyper-reactive skin. As a little kid, my skin was so reactive that I would get giant, itchy hives when other people just get one small mosquito bite. Scratching at them would make my mother yell at me because “You’re a girl” (i.e. an Asian female, for whom good skin is a social non negotiable.)
My skin journey with my hyper-sensitive skin eventually led to me turning into a skincare formulator for Sabbatical Beauty, because nothing else I tried worked.
When I was an English professor, I specialized in postcolonial studies with special concentrations in studying race and gender inequality in technology. I bring these perspectives to how I look at the beauty industry and the choices I make to participate in it. You’ll see this in the ways in which I analyze the undercurrents of marketing and sociopolitical dynamics within the beauty and wellness industry.
Join me and I’ll periodically pour you a straight shot of my interdisciplinary research insights — sans the usual marketing BS. If you’re tired of sifting through endless listicles breathlessly describing new beauty trends without any historical or political context, pull up a seat and let me pour you a strong glass of Ginseng & Tonic.
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Why Listen To Me?
I’ve spent almost a decade formulating and selling my own skincare products at Sabbatical Beauty, and I’ve seen real, lasting results with customers. It’s the high point of my day when I come into the studio to work with a customer and I literally see their skin transform before my eyes just by applying some of my products.
I’ve been around the block with ingredient trends (honestly how many times can people rediscover niacinamide?) I’ve tested countless ingredients in formulation, comparing asserted claims to real outcomes. And I’ve spent time as much time testing and observing the powerful effects of natural Asian herbal ingredients like rice and ginseng as much as I have Western go-tos like hyaluronic acid and retinoids. My products have been featured in Forbes, Elle, Buzzfeed, Popsugar and I regularly contribute opinions to Beauty Independent.
I’m also a seasoned researcher. While my PhD is in the humanities (and not chemistry), my humanities background was where I honed skills of spotting patterns, analyzing stories that affect us, and understanding how things work across disciplines — skills that translated directly in my creation of skincare products, as well as how I analyze the beauty industrial complex.
And re: the science part — I also hold a diploma in organic skincare formulation and certificates in natural cosmetic preservation and stability testing.
What to Expect in Each Shot of Ginseng & Tonic 🥃
Cultural History, Politics & Beauty
Analyzing the cultural histories of material objects is one of my passions. I will unpack what’s happening in beauty within the realm of politics and cultural history for you with an eye both to the current moment and historical trajectories.
How to Read Ingredient Lists Like a Scholar
Forget the fluff. I’ll teach you how to analyze ingredient lists with the same precision I bring to spotting patterns and hidden stories in research. Learn how to spot red flags, identify hidden gems, and make smarter skincare investments—without needing a science degree.
Deep Dives Into Skincare Ingredients
What do niacinamide, sake and rice have in common? They are all effective ingredients for treating hyperpigmentation - which can appear as dark spots from scar healing and age spots. I’ll give you my experiences of formulating with many ingredients over the years, and reveal secrets that you’ll probably never hear.
Behind the Formulas: How Skincare Is Really Made
I’ll bring you behind the scenes to show you the exact process I use to create Sabbatical Beauty products. From figuring out if a skincare ingredient actually works or is just marketing woo-woo, to how I test my products on my own skin and my community, I’ll give you a raw, honest look behind how it works at a small independent skincare brand from product ideation to when it gets in your hands.
How to Decisively Treat Your Skin Condition
I started formulating skincare that became Sabbatical Beauty because for most of my life I’ve struggled with my very sensitive, rosacea-prone skin. I’ve also created many of my products because people I cared about had a skin condition that they couldn’t get treated elsewhere. I’ve made very effective skincare products, and in this newsletter, I’ll be doing deep dives into different skin conditions and the most effective ingredients and methods to treat them.
Subscribe to get full access to the newsletter and publication archives.
