The Live Free Files
Hot takes on trending topics we'd like to weigh in on.
A standing record, not a feed. One question per File, one verdict, and our 2 cents with the help of our expert friends.
We dug deep on tallow, taped our mouths shut, read word for word about exosomes, and talked to our derm friends about prescription meds.
48 topics we dove in deep on.
4 of them we think you should skip.
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The twelve to read first
What does 'fragrance' actually mean on a label?
The Word "Fragrance" Is Hiding 3,000+ Ingredients. Here's the Loophole.
Should a fifth-grader be using anti-aging serum?
Cosmeticorexia: Why I Won't Sell Anti-Aging Serums to Fifth Graders
How many products does a teen actually need?
The 5-Product Teen Skincare Routine (And Why More Is Worse)by verdict
Start from the answer
Every File ends in one of five words. Browse by the answer instead of the topic, it is faster, and occasionally alarming.
What do you want to learn about?
All important, all worth consideration.
the files · face23 filesEverything from the jawline up, acne, actives, routines, and the procedures being sold to teenagers.e.g. “How many products does a teen actually need?”
the files · body4 filesBelow the jawline, plus hormones, food and hair. The half of the aisle nobody rates.
the files · mind4 filesThe part with no product behind it: comparison, filters, the trend machine, and what it costs her.e.g. “Should a fifth-grader be using anti-aging serum?”
the files · ingredients17 filesWhat is on the label, what it means, and who decided it was allowed in there.e.g. “What does 'fragrance' actually mean on a label?”
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What's trending this month?
Topics we can't help but do the work on, is the trend worth the hype?
All the files
We think you should read them all! Start with what piques your interest first.
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Blackheads: What Removes Them, What Doesn't
The Acne Myths That Won't Die
What Actually Causes Acne
How to Build a Skincare Routine for a Teenager
The Types of Acne, Explained
What "Fragrance" Really Means on Your Skincare Label
Bemotrizinol: What the First New Sunscreen Filter in 25 Years Means for Clean Beauty
Why Our Teen Skincare Line Is Only Three Steps (On Purpose)
Clean at Sephora List: What It Actually Screens For (And the Gaps That Drive a Range Rover Through)
Should a fifth-grader be using anti-aging serum?
Cosmeticorexia: Why I Won't Sell Anti-Aging Serums to Fifth Graders
Why I Launched a Teen Skincare Line — and Think Most Teen Skincare Marketing Should Be Illegal
Benzene in Acne Creams: What a Clean Beauty Founder Wants Parents to Know
California Wants to Card Kids for Retinol. Good — Here's What It Still Can't Fix.
Clean Morning Routine Swaps: A Seven-Product Side-by-Side
Phthalates and Fertility: What 30 Years of Research Actually Says
PFAS in Mascara, Foundation, and the "Forever Chemicals" Conversation You're Missing
Clean Lip Gloss for Tweens and Teens: What's in the Tube, Decoded
Body Wash Is the Most-Used Product in Your House. We Need to Talk.
The Five Endocrine Disruptors Probably on Your Counter Right Now
EWG, MADE SAFE, USDA Organic: The Clean Beauty Certifications, Decoded
Sephora Tweens: A Parent's Guide to What's Actually in That Cart
What does 'fragrance' actually mean on a label?
The Word "Fragrance" Is Hiding 3,000+ Ingredients. Here's the Loophole.
What Does It Take to Be MADE SAFE® Certified — How Live Free Skincare Sets a New Standard for Teens
What Does It Mean to Live Free? Redefining Beauty Through Clean Skincare and Authentic Living
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