Breaking Beauty: Ron Robinson
The longtime cosmetic chemist and founder of BeautyStat shares how he got his start—right here on Long Island.
Ron Robinson's first product, BeautyStat Universal C Refiner, has received numerous awards.
Every beauty writer has a mental Rolodex of cosmetic chemists in her back pocket. I’ll never write an ingredient story without input from a cosmetic chemist (something I learned while writing for Allure in the Linda Wells era). Who better to talk about ingredients or how products work than a person who formulates them? Ron Robinson has been one of the chemists in my back pocket since the early aughts.
Robinson has been a cosmetic chemist for over 30 years, working with major brands before launching his own. He became a beauty editor go-to when he started a blog in 2009 titled BeautyStat, where he demystified the science of beauty. These days, BeautyStat is the name of his fast-growing skincare brand (there’s still a blog on the website), which is sold online and at Ulta, and Robinson is in high demand as an industry expert and speaker. His brand and expertise have captured the attention of celebrities, including Hailey Bieber, who tapped Robinson as the cosmetic chemist for her beauty line, Rhode.
So, how did Robinson get his start? Right here on Long Island. Robinson graduated from Baldwin High School and Adelphi University.
Robinson’s illustrious career as a cosmetic chemist was somewhat of an accident. He graduated pre-med from Adelphi University with the goal of becoming a doctor. “Actually, it was my parents’ goal,” he admits. Robinson attended medical school for one year and quickly decided medicine wasn’t for him. After moving back home to Baldwin, he sent his résumé to local companies, including Clinique, owned by The Estée Lauder Companies, in the Melville location. “They called me in for an interview and hired me on the spot,” he says. “And that’s how I fell into this world of cosmetics and beauty.”
It was love at first sight, “the perfect blend of art and science,” he says. “I love that I could use my biology and chemistry degree from Adelphi to create something I can see on the shelf at a store,” says Robinson. “What cosmetic chemists uniquely do is combine the right balance of ingredients in the right percentages—knowing what’s compatible with other ingredients—in a way that not only delivers results but also looks, feels, and smells great. That’s the goal of a beauty product.”
Robinson went on to formulate products for some of the biggest brands in the biz. He stayed at The Estée Lauder Companies for 10 years before moving to other beauty giants, including Revlon, Avon, and L’Oréal.
Robinson never set out to create his own line, but after years of fielding questions from editors, readers, and his employers about vitamin C, an effective but highly unstable antioxidant, he wanted to find a solution to an age-old industry problem: How do you keep potent vitamin C stable? “Vitamin C oxidizes quickly,” he says. “It can turn brown or orange and start to smell like hot dog water—signs that your vitamin C has expired and it’s time to toss it.” He realized if he could stabilize pure vitamin C, he could deliver the holy grail of beauty.
It took five years of research and hundreds of iterations until Robinson discovered a “rock stable” formula. He created the first serum with 20% stabilized L-ascorbic acid (the purest form of vitamin C) with an encapsulated delivery system. Robinson secured patents on his stabilizing process and ran independent clinical testing to ensure it performed. “The results came back amazing, and that’s what prompted me to pivot BeautyStat from a blog into a brand with what’s now a bestselling vitamin C serum.” The Universal C Skin Refiner, $59.50, brightens, firms, and skin-tightens skin.
“What cosmetic chemists uniquely do is combine the right balance of ingredients in the right percentages—knowing what’s compatible with other ingredients—in a way that not only delivers results but also looks, feels, and smells great. That’s the goal of a beauty product. ”
Robinson has since developed a line of products for BeautyStat: cleansers, daily peels, eye cream, sunscreen, and moisturizers, including the Peptide Wrinkle Relaxing Moisturizer, $54. “We leveraged two powerful neuropeptides, which are short chains of amino acids that work by sending signals to the skin to take certain actions,” says Robinson. “In this case, the neuropeptides help relax facial muscles, so skin looks smoother and more rejuvenated.” The latest is the new Triple-Plump Coconut Milk Serum, $31.50, which contains hyaluronic acid, polyglutamic acid, microsilver, and the brand’s Coconut Complex to hydrate skin deeply.
Robinson may have over 30 years in the industry, but BeautyStat is just getting started. “We’re always working on innovation, and my goal—and my approach—is to develop products that unlock the power and potential of gold-standard ingredients.”
ICYMI: Ron Robinson will be speaking on a panel to local beauty professionals at the next Pretty Local Industry Night, hosted by Long Island Nail Skin & Hair Institute on October 21st from 6-8 p.m. If you’re a beauty pro and would like to attend, grab a ticket here.
