PhizogLLC

Phizog skincare - for people who care about what they put on their skin, naturally.

Hi. I'm Marion, the founder of Phizog LLC.

I have a PhD in Pharmacology and understand how active ingredients interact with the body—and I apply that knowledge to promote skin health and vitality through clean, thoughtful skincare formulations. My diploma in Organic Skincare complements this approach, bringing a refined, natural perspective to every formulation.

Phizog (pronounced Fizzogg) is British slang for face. I hail from England, and when I was a child, I remember Mum telling me to wash my “grubby phizog” after I’d been out playing with friends in the woods and fields behind our house, so I have a particular fondness for the word.

I wasn't always into natural skincare, and if you are interested, here is my story.

I have a strong background in medical science and chemistry, having studied Medicinal Chemistry as an undergraduate before earning my Pharmacology PhD. However, my subsequent years as a cancer researcher in the US were brought to a sudden halt when I developed an autoimmune disease that attacked my kidneys, causing end-stage kidney failure and two years of illness. My selfless dad came to the rescue—as he always has—and gave me a new kidney. The whole experience gave me a new perspective on life, and I am grateful every day. I began writing about cancer research rather than performing it. I also started to dabble in natural skincare formulation, putting my then-latent chemistry skills to work and fulfilling my practical, creative needs.

My natural skincare journey began when my mum had a bad allergic reaction to her cosmetics. General awareness of the evils of phthalates, parabens, and other nasties had only just come about, and products free of these were hard to find. Still, my sister-in-law, an aesthetician, found some, and Mum's skin recovered—she was so happy. But I had a newfound phobia about what we put on our skin. I began researching the ingredients in facial products on the market, particularly those that claim to be paraben- and phthalate-free. Online lists of cosmetic ingredients were much more challenging, if not impossible, to find during the first decade of this millennium.

I decided to make my own moisturizers with ingredients posing no documented risk of skin irritation. This wasn't easy, but I found a couple of suitable "how-to" guides online. My first product was a beeswax moisturizer. After some effort, I got the formulation to "emulsify", but only with high heat and high torque blending. The resulting emulsion was a disappointment: greasy and smelly (with a burnt-wood scent)! I now know that beeswax isn't actually an emulsifier and that you cannot rely on a particular giant online retailer for everything!

Then, catastrophe…I was cleaning the inside of my handheld blender, not realizing it was still plugged in. Blenders and digits do not mix well! The blade cut through my middle fingernail; there was blood and pain, but I felt lucky not to have lost a finger. This lucky feeling began to diminish, however, when several infections necessitated the removal of the damaged nail, followed by surgery to repair the nail bed. I spent a few weeks with a big bandage on my middle finger, essentially flipping everyone the bird, which led to quite a few witty remarks from passersby. My sensible coworkers patted me on the shoulder, saying, "There, there… You should just buy your moisturizer like a normal person." I lost my lust for face cream creation along with my fingernail.

But who said I was normal? A few years later, something prompted me to revisit my quest for creating an effective and safe moisturizer. I never liked feeling defeated, and the price of a decent moisturizer was rising. I discovered some genuine natural emulsifiers online. I then found online vendors dedicated to natural skincare formulation. I had to try out these emulsifiers and other ingredients! So, I followed a basic online recipe, and it was easy compared to the beeswax experience. I made lotions, used them, and shared them with friends. But HORROR! They did not contain an effective preservative and went moldy too quickly, forming nasty dark spots on the surface. My poor long-suffering friends!

However, I would not give up! I enrolled in a selection of UK-based courses, which provided me with the knowledge and tools to formulate effectively, and here I am!