[00:00] Intro

Irene: Well, hello out there. So, you're Lee and you're Irene. And together we're Wellness Unfiltered. Yay! Welcome, everybody. This is the very first episode of Wellness Unfiltered with Lee and Irene. And we are coming to you live from a very secret cabin location. And we are so glad to have you here with us.

Lee: Finally, Lee, we have been talking about doing this for years because I know we're both just so done. We are so done with the sugar coating, done with the greenwashing, and done with the wellness gaslighting.

Irene: Exactly. And this show is all killer and no filler and no hidden agendas either, because we just want to talk about the clinical facts. We're going to put in a bit of common sense and the unfiltered truth about what you're really putting in and also on your body.

Lee: So, this is going to be a weekly podcast on wellness and beauty, and we want to bring the heat to our industries too. We're going to shine a light on what's going to help you in your day-to-day life. You, our lovely listener. Irene and I and our unfiltered guests will bring you real, raw, and refreshingly honest chats about wellness, minus the woo woo.

Irene: You bet. And I've been told I don't have a filter. And I definitely have some thoughts on the world of beauty. And I also have some bones to pick and some myths to bust.

Lee: Together, we have a combined 30 years in health and wellness and beauty, especially the natural kind. We just love what we do so much. It's so dynamic and so interesting, and change is constant but so much fun. It sure is.

[05:20] Hosts' Introductions

Lee: So, I'd like to start with a little intro all about the force of nature that is sitting right alongside me. Drumroll, Miss Irene Falcone. So about 15 years ago, do you remember we met when we were both single parents, and we were kind of just trying to make ends meet? And back then, remember, you were working at Universal, and I was at ABC. Yeah. Of course.

Irene: And do you remember you used to send me those free movie tickets so Tamsin and I could go to the movies? I always used to give it a try. I always used to sneak my allocation to you. You did.

Lee: And I used to give you little music albums too. Sorry, Clive, if you're listening, that's my boss. We're still in touch, actually. Thanks, Clive. Thank you, Clive.

Irene: Back then, we were kind of just two young parents, weren't we, supporting each other through those pretty tough times? But fast forwarding onto today, I feel like we've really cheered each other on through wins and losses and everything in between. And we've both seen our dreams take shape. While I personally, you know, started blogging and I did my blog Supercharged Food and built my website Supercharge Your Gut, you went down another road and you became this amazing global entrepreneur, buying and selling major businesses, racking up every award and leading the way for ethical entrepreneurship.

Lee: I do remember actually, I was in Central Station one day and I was just waiting for my train, and I looked up and I saw this beautiful beaming face across a massive billboard in the station, and I thought, wow, that's you, Irene. And it was such a proud moment. Thank you for BWX for buying those billboards for me.

Irene: And fast forward to today, we actually genuinely just live around the corner from each other and we're still super close friends, which it really is a full circle moment, isn't it? It really is.

Lee: And I'm just, I just almost have to pinch myself when we think about how far we've come over the last 15 years. It's actually longer. I think it's more like 20 years now. Yeah, I feel like some friendships are just meant to be hard. And looking back on those really simple acts of kindness that we did back then when we were both struggling and building our businesses, and now we kind of help others live healthier, more conscious lives. And I don't know about you, but I definitely feel a big sense of achievement from that.

Irene: You know what's interesting? I don't know if I've ever told you this, but in that business that I started after I left Universal Pictures, you know you love your gut powder was my number one selling product. Was it? Yeah. At least 3 or 4 years in a row. Yeah. I remember we would just get these deliveries and we would. And I would tell the staff not to put it away on the shelf because I knew, just leave it out the front because I knew they would all get packed directly into orders. Oh, that's so awesome. I love how our friendship is so authentic and genuine. And boy has it stood the test of time.

Lee: Oh, Lee. So, what can I say about Lee? First and foremost, your blog. You had a blog, and it was back in, I'm going to say 2008 about then, and it was literally the only really good genuine food blog at the time. And I was obsessed. In fact, I was such a fangirl of this. And I would bookmark it, I would chop off it, I would cook off it. And it's really, I don't know if I've ever told you this, Lee, it was your blog that inspired me to start my blog. No, it really was. I thought, I need to do a blog similar to this, but on beauty products. And that's what made me start the Living Toxin Free, actually was Toxin Free back then, Living Toxin Free in the City, which ended up going on to become my first business. But you really were the inspiration for that, so thank you. Oh, I'm blushing. I need, I need one of your natural concealers. Can I borrow one? Yeah, yeah, I've got one in my bag. In my bag? Why don't you have one yet? Need one?

Irene: But beyond the blog, I think you have written ten, but I've gone to at least ten book launches shortly. Yeah, you have. In fact, I just handed in my 12th book. Wow. I mean, you are such an inspiration. Your books are amazing. I'm so proud of you. Oh. Thank you. That's such a sweet intro. I'm blushing. Oh, and one other thing about Lee that you might not know that I hope I'm allowed to say, but did you know Lee is actually a singer? She used to be a singer in a band. I actually walked past the ARI Awards on my way to the cabin. Awkward. I actually played congas in a band, the Love Monkeys, back, back in my heyday. You are a multi-faceted, multi-talented Virgo, Lee. I am definitely a Virgo.

[12:15] Episode Breakdown

Lee: So, here’s a breakdown of each episode. Each week we are going to take a dive into what's popping. So, the news, the views, and the controversies of the week in wellness and beauty. That's all on the top of our minds. That's right.

Irene: And we'll also help you help the man in your life with our Woman's Blame segment. So, let's be honest, many men are notoriously, let's say, strategically avoidant of their own health, right? Totally. They will research a car battery for six hours, but they won't take just a few minutes to look after their health.

Lee: So, every episode, we're just going to give you a few simple ideas to get your man a little healthier and looking his best. Then we are going to have a lovely listener zoom into the cabin with You're on Speaker. Oh, can't wait. Oh, and then we finish with my favorite segment, which is a rant or rave. Mostly I love the rant part of that. It's going to be so fun. Of course, unless you're doing something dodgy out there.

Irene: Well, I've always wanted to say this. So, without further ado, let's talk about what's popping.

[15:40] What's Popping: Sunscreen Discussion

Lee: So, we're kicking off our very first Wellness Unfiltered episode with our What's Popping segment with one of my very favorite guests so far. Hahaha. It's you! I really am a cheap guest. Well, you're also a true pioneer when it comes to natural ingredients and clean beauty.

Irene: And I really want to chat to you today about lifting the lid on something almost every single Australian person uses, and that is sunscreen. And lately it's been such a hot topic in the news. But it's also, I think, a really confusing one for people. Oh, it's super confusing. I've actually made a sunscreen before and the process is really complicated and there is a lot of red tape, and there's also a lot of confusion out there in the market.

Lee: Yeah, I do want to pick your brains today about natural ingredients as well. And I want to talk about transparency and beauty. And I might also have a few cheeky questions about the Australian regulatory landscape as well.

Irene: But yeah, we'll have another leading sunscreen expert coming on in a future episode too, which will be really good. So, we'll do a part two of this. But if you really want to know what's in the bottle and why some sunscreens have recently been taken off the shelves, and if you want to know how to choose products that protect both you, your skin, and the planet, I think this episode is going to be really illuminating. So, slip, slop, slap your headphones on and let's get into it.

Lee: What do you want to know, Lee? All right, well, firstly, just with a little bit of background, I actually had a melanoma a few years ago removed from my forehead, which was a super scary experience. And so that made me really aware of the harshness of our Australian sun and the need for us to wear sunscreen. What I want to know is there's been so much controversy around sunscreens lately, which you talk a lot about on your social media. Can you give me and your listeners a rundown on what's going on and what's the inside goss?

Irene: Oh, well, there's a few. There's a lot going on with sunscreens at the moment and oh, where do I start? I guess it all kicked off with this Choice story. It's like the X-Files. Yeah, it's a lot like the Epstein files, but for sunscreen. There's so much going on. So, Choice. I think they do it every year, but for some reason, they always catch these big brands of sunscreens out for not meeting the SPF rating that is on the pack. And I'm sure that this has happened in the past, but for some reason this year it's really been picked up, and I think it's been picked up because it was such an iconic brand that was underreporting their SPF rating.

Lee: It was Ultraviolet, and Ultraviolet is just really popular. And I think the founder came out and really defended her SPF rating. And then it was found that it wasn't hitting the SPF rating. So, I think that’s why it got more media this year than it has in the past.

Irene: That Ultraviolet sunscreen had a base formulation that was used across a whole bunch of other sunscreen formulations in Australia, and what ended up happening is that everybody that used that base formulation came out of a WA manufacturer called Wild Child. What's really interesting about that is this Wild Child manufacturer was getting the sunscreens SPF tested overseas, which I actually didn't think was allowed. When I was making my sunscreen, I had to get it SPF tested in Australia through an Australian lab.

Lee: Do you know how they do it? They actually burn your skin. They put the sunscreen on and then burn it. They pay uni students like $10 an hour to do the testing. But anyway, they were doing this overseas, which feels dubious. I've tested US sunscreens in Australia before, like BB creams labeled SPF 30 or 25 on the pack. Even though BB creams don't need TGA approval, they still must meet packaging laws. Those came back as SPF 3 here.

Irene: I cannot believe that. Things like that happen in my industry too. They get TGA regulations in Australia, then take products to China and change everything. What other controversies are there?

Lee: There's more. Another article revealed an Australian sunscreen manufacturer making private-label versions, using the exact same formulation for about 50 different brands, not just a base, but the full formula. Sometimes even the same bottle shape, just a different sticker. They all shared the same TGA number, which I'm pretty sure isn't allowed. The TGA later clarified if that's okay, but imagine 50 brands selling identical products at different prices. That's why I'm not a fan of private label.

Irene: A couple of those brands approached me to stock them, but it didn't feel right since they were all the same. In that case, Magoo's founder tested them and told the media they claimed SPF 50 but didn’t meet it. That's the second controversy. The third and fourth involve chemicals. The TGA announced before Christmas they're reviewing limits on certain ones, untested for hormone disruption.

Lee: This week, a Courier-Mail and Herald Sun article cited Freedom of Information emails about another ingredient, banned in 20 countries, in Australian sunscreens (including kids'), untested for safety in pregnant women and children. The outcry is we weren't told. Sunscreens are being pulled for safety, contamination, or dodgy ingredients. How do we choose a legit one?

Irene: We must wear sunscreen. Slip, slop, slap; you know that better than anyone. Trust the SPF rating first. Those Choice-affected ones are pulled now, and brands have retested post-scandal, so we're more confident. On chemicals, even chemical sunscreens beat none, but for natural (zinc/titanium-based), they must match chemical SPF ratings and be TGA-listed. Check the TGA number on the pack for rigorous Australian testing.

Lee: Does the TGA system work for consumers, or is it tough on small natural brands? It absolutely works for consumers. I'm pro-TGA. I love natural sunscreens but wearing any beats burning. People skip sunscreen fearing toxins, so pick natural with TGA listing. Avoid small suppliers selling plain zinc oxide with shea butter claiming protection. No TGA means no guarantee.

Irene: One annoyance: TGA-listed products only need active ingredients listed (e.g., 22% zinc oxide), implying natural. Check the full list on the TGA website by entering the number. It often reveals 15+ inactive ones. That's my trick for stocking; Google "TGA [number]" for ingredients.

Lee: On the environment, do "reef-safe" sunscreens live up to it? Some chemical sunscreens destroy coral, so avoid them at the Great Barrier Reef. Natural zinc oxide ones call themselves reef-safe, but environmental groups question if zinc or titanium dioxide truly is. It’s less bad than chemicals, but the jury’s out. It's on labels, but not 100% verified.

Irene: What about SPF ratings like 10, 15, 30, 50? Back when I made sunscreen, natural zinc maxed at SPF 30. Now SPF 50s are common. SPF measures UVB blockage. SPF 50+ blocks 98%, SPF 30 blocks 97% (just 1% difference), SPF 15 blocks 93%.

Lee: Does that mean how long it lasts? Labels say reapply every 2 hours. That’s not marketing; sweat wears it off. Reapply often, especially swimming, plus hat and shade. Follow directions based on formulation.

Irene: That's so interesting. I loved having you as our first guest. Anytime, Lee.

[28:10] You’re On Speaker with Di

Irene: Welcome to the You're On Speaker episode, and Di, you're our first caller. Welcome! Thank you. It's a little bit exciting. I don't know that I've come first on a lot of things, but anyway, thanks for setting up this podcast and giving us an opportunity to ask some questions.

Lee: I've actually got a question around prebiotics and probiotics. I read a lot about it and hear a lot online, but I actually don't know what the difference is between the two, or the frequency that you should be having either of them. There's a lot of different messages online, so I was curious whether you could offer some insight on that. That's such a great question, fully over to me.

Irene: Hi, how are you doing? Yeah, good. Thanks. Thanks for answering the question. No problem. I do get this a lot in my nutrition clinic, actually, and it is really confusing. Gut health can be quite complicated, but really, at the end of the day, it's quite simple.

Lee: If you're interested in learning more about prebiotics and probiotics, I like to think of the gut as this beautiful ecosystem, and we call it the microbiome. Within it, you have trillions of different bacteria living all together in this one ecosystem. When you're really healthy, your microbiome is nice and balanced and everything's running smoothly.

Irene: But sometimes it can get out of balance. Some of the things that throw that off are smoking, antibiotics, a really high sugar diet, that kind of thing. So, we want to keep the good and the bad bacteria nice and balanced. The way that we do that is by eating more probiotic-rich foods.

Lee: When you think about probiotics, they're like the reinforcements that you bring in. There are good bacteria in foods that you can eat, things like yogurt, kefir, and sauerkraut. You've probably heard of all of those. They're basically the good bacteria or the seeds, and they are the ones that are really helpful for the good microbes in your gut ecosystem.

Irene: The good microbes in your microbiome have to be fed. They're like little babies with their mouths open. That's where prebiotics come in. They act as the fertilizer for your good bacteria. They are things like non-digestible plant fibres, inulin, chicory root, or resistant starch.

Lee: These go into your body and feed all the good bacteria, and the good bacteria love to munch on them. Foods like onions, garlic, and oats can really help fuel the bacteria that is already in your gut