SKIN SOBERING

Tjam and Utsugi deliver an indictment of the skincare products industry.

The authors (Tjam, a PhD who has conducted pharmaceutical research, and Utsugi, an MD who has worked as an expert advisor to skincare companies) lobby for a different approach to skincare. Their claim that “skincare products will worsen your skin’s functionality and restorative abilities, despite their ability to temporarily make your skin appear to improve” is likely to cause consternation for many of those who use such products. The authors provide solid support for their position based on scientific research as well as anecdotal evidence. Tjam and Utsugi begin with a section that identifies what they believe to be baseless claims of skincare product companies wrapped in slick marketing. The sales numbers associated with such products are staggering, reaching $756 billion by 2026, according to a study cited by the authors. In addition, they assert that these companies operate with little meaningful oversight: “Skin and beauty companies are not only allowed to make their life-changing claims, but they are in charge of testing and providing proof of those claims. The conflict of interest here is blatantly clear.” The book is not merely a rant against the products these companies bring to market, however; it also offers a comprehensive, scientific overview of the skin’s structure, function, and health—and a method to revive it, which they call “skin sobering.” Co-author Tjam recounts her personal experience, reporting that this method helped her solve “20 out of 22” skin problems. Deceptively simple, the skin sobering method is thoroughly described in the book, and the authors advise it should be used in association with other good health practices, such as diet and exercise. The authors caution that skin sobering is neither magical nor miraculous as they continue to aggressively attack the claims made by purveyors of skincare products in their fight against “an ever-increasing epidemic of skin health and diseases.”

An impassioned argument in favor of natural skincare.