The Beauty Beat

Join us as our host, Anna, sits down with Su Fen Cheong, Innovation Manager at Enkos Developments, and Dr. Barbara Olioso, Managing Director of The Green Chemist Consultancy, to debrief in-cosmetics Global 2024 in Paris -- the leading global event for cosmetics ingredients. They discuss surprising trends, highlights, standout ingredients and suppliers, and more. Su Fen and Barbara were both heavily involved in the curation of the event. Su Fen was an award judge for the Best Active Ingredient category, and Barbara curated the educational programs for the Sustainability Zone. With both of their perspectives, this episode covers two very important pillars of the personal care industry: sustainability and innovation, illustrating where the industry currently stands in terms of sustainable innovation. Whether you were able to attend the in-cosmetics Global event in-person this year or not, tune in to discover what's new in the cosmetics industry — as seen at the event! Links mentioned in this episode: View all the award nomineesDiscover all the ingredients and suppliersThe Green Chemistry ConsultancyEnkos Developments

Join us on this exciting episode as Lisa sits down with Mike Sohn, a seasoned professional in chemical and cosmetic regulatory affairs and trend spotting! As one of the distinguished judges at in-cosmetics Asia, Mike shares his firsthand insights into the cutting-edge innovations that caught his eye at the event. In this episode, Mike provides valuable perspectives on striking the balance between creativity and ensuring compliance with regulations, to drive innovation while meeting industry standards. Get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at what it's like to be a part of the panel of judges for in-cosmetics Asia, unraveling the intricacies of evaluating groundbreaking ingredients and the challenges faced in selecting the best! Mike also shares his forecasts for the upcoming year, highlighting upcoming trends that are set to shape the beauty industry. Tune in and discover the delicate art of balancing brilliance in beauty formulation! Links mentioned in this episode: REACH24H.commikesohn@reach24h.comkorea@reach24h.com

Welcome to the very first episode of "Faces of the Beauty Industry", a Beauty Beat special interview series in which we put the personalities of the Personal Care industry in the spotlight. In this exclusive series we go beyond the surface, revealing the human voices, inspiration, and passions that shape the beauty world as we know it. Get ready for an insider's perspective as Yann Chilvers, co-founder of Covalo, discovers the remarkable personalities behind this vibrant industry. In this episode, join us as we embark on a fragrant journey with the remarkable Richard Illi, a visionary entrepreneur who traded an heritage of vineyards for the enchanting world of fragrances. Richard is not just the owner and CEO of Essencia, a renowned Swiss natural fragrance company; he's a passionate storyteller who has seamlessly woven his love for scents into the fabric of his life. Tune in as he shares the pivotal moments and challenges that led him to Essencia. If you know anyone who would be a perfect fit for this intimate interview series, let us know! Email us at social@covalo.com and tell us why this person should be in the spotlight.

Will AI completely take over the world? Well, maybe it won't be that drastic, but Pierre-Yves Morvan believes that AI has already completely transformed the 21st century and is now an integral part of our daily lives. The cosmetics industry is no exception here: AI can help us to go further more rapidly and more efficiently when it comes to beauty product development. In this episode, Lisa and Pierre-Yves dive into the world of AI in the cosmetics industry. Pierre-Yves explains how AI technologies can be involved in different steps within the development of an active ingredient or finished cosmetic products. Pierre-Yves is the R&D Director of CODIF. He holds a MA in Biochemistry and a PhD in Biology from the University of Rennes in France. CODIF Technologie Naturelle is a French company, created in 1971. They develop and produce natural active ingredients for the cosmetics industry whilst actively using AI technologies. Find CODIF on Covalo: https://covalo.com/company/codif

Today we step beyond the usual boundaries of The Beauty Beat as we delve into uncharted territory together with Kate Deacon. While we're typically immersed in the world of beauty and personal care, today's discussion is bound to inspire you to journey into the realm of home care. At Covalo, we've always had a pulse on innovation, and our listed home care ingredients and services boast nearly 4k entries. Join us as we sit down with Kate to unravel the complexities of formulating eco-friendly home care products and uncover the surprising parallels — and differences! — between the beauty and home care industries. Kate and Lisa explore the hurdles that arise when seeking the perfect ingredients, ensuring products uphold eco-friendly standards, and the intriguing role that packaging can play. So, if you've ever wondered how sustainability can be achieved in home care, or if you're seeking inspiration to expand your horizons, tune in to this episode. Links mentioned in this episode: mixcleangreen.co.uk@mixcleangreen

in-cosmetics Global, held in Barcelona this year from March 28-30, was a whirlwind of inspiration and new trends. In this episode, our host Lisa is joined by Cathy Laporte and Lorna Radford to discuss the latest beauty industry trends and developments observed during the show, as well as their favorite moments from in-cosmetics Global. They also delve into Discover, an online platform created by in-cosmetics in collaboration with Covalo, which promises to revolutionize the way the beauty industry connects. Curious? Tune in! Cathy Laporte is the Portfolio Director (in-cosmetics and Imbibe) at Reed Exhibitions, with over 20 years of industry experience. Lorna Radford is the Managing Director at Enkos Developments Ltd., and Official Technical Advisor at in-cosmetics Global. She is also one of the judges for the in-cosmetics Global awards. Links mentioned in this episode: Future in-cosmetics eventsin-cosmetics Discover powered by Covalo

While many consumers are increasingly seeking out cruelty-free beauty brands, the Chinese market's former mandatory animal testing requirements have presented a challenge for companies looking to expand their reach. But what if we told you it's possible to bring your cruelty-free beauty products to China? In this episode of The Beauty Beat, we had the pleasure of speaking with Kim from Leaping Bunny about how beauty brands can get their products certified cruelty-free. What's more, we discovered something truly mind-blowing: Leaping Bunny is helping beauty brands bring their products to the Chinese market without animal testing. This is a huge step forward for the industry and animal welfare. Discover how to bring your cruelty-free beauty products to market with the Leaping Bunny certification. PS. If you're looking for cruelty-free ingredients for your beauty products, why not use Covalo? With our search filters, you can filter by sustainability claim. Currently we list 1k+ ingredients categorized as cruelty-free. Head over to Covalo.com to find the right beauty ingredient for you!

Formulating scalp care products can be tricky, because you'll want to avoid ingredients leaving residue. What are some beauty ingredients that benefit both scalp and hair? In this episode, Lisa is joined by award-winning stylist Nikolai Krivolutski, to get to the roots of hair and scalp care (pardon the pun!). They explore the emerging trend of the "skinification" of hair care, which refers to the holistic approach of treating the scalp with the same care as the skin of our faces. They discuss how beauty brands are introducing new products that target specific scalp concerns with ingredients traditionally found in skincare, such as niacinamide, hyaluronic acid, and ceramides. PS. If you're looking for hair or scalp care ingredients for your beauty products, why not use Covalo? With our search filters, you can filter by performance claims, including scalp care. Currently we have 1k+ scalp care related ingredients listed. Head over to Covalo.com to find the right beauty ingredient for you! Links mentioned in this episode: @Nikolailoveshair

You've created a vegan beauty product and want to let the world know. How do you go about getting that vegan certification? To celebrate #Veganuary, Lisa is joined by Martin and Nazanin from V-Label, the world's leading vegan & vegetarian trademark. Across the globe, more than 50.000 products from more than 4.300 licensees now carry V-Label. V-Label is an internationally recognized, registered seal for labelling vegan and vegetarian products and services established in Switzerland in 1996. It is a reliable, go-to shopping guide for consumers. In this episode, Martin (Co-Director of V-Label International) and Nazanin (Quality Manager at V-Label International) tell us how to get V-Label certified. Important questions are answered: what is the difference between vegetarian and vegan? What are some ingredients used in beauty products that make a product not suitable for vegetarians and vegans? What are the criteria for a product to carry the V-Label? And what should you do if you see the V-Label on a product that isn't vegetarian or vegan? Listen to this episode to find out how to apply for the V-Label. PS. If you're looking for vegan or vegetarian ingredients for your beauty products, why not use Covalo? With our search filters, you can filter by sustainability claims. We've got almost 2,5k ingredients listed as vegan, and almost 5k ingredients listed as plant-based. Head over to Covalo.com to find the right beauty ingredient for you! Links mentioned in this episode: V-Label's website

Finding the perfect fit when it comes to sunscreen can be quite a hassle. Luckily there's Julian Sass, also known as @Scamander14, trying out sunscreens so you don't have to! Julian is a sunscreen educator to his almost 23k followers on Instagram. He is a biomathematician, statistician, data scientist and researcher. Julian breaks down ingredient lists on his platform and posts resources explaining ingredients and information about how different kinds of studies are carried out. In this ninth episode of The Beauty Beat, Lisa and Julian dive deep into sunscreen. Discover how Julian picks a product to review, what his criteria are for a product to receive a good review, and some bad and exceptionally good experiences he's had when it comes to sunscreens. They also touch upon (misleading) claims like "reef safe", or "no white cast". Links mentioned in this episode: InstagramSunscreen database

When it comes to sustainability, the beauty industry has proven to be very innovative. Lots of beauty brands are going the extra mile to minimize their impact on the environment. One of these beauty brands is CleanO2 - not your average soap company! They're working to solve climate change, one soap bar at a time. Their founders invented a revolutionary device, Carbin X, that captures carbon dioxide emissions from building heating systems and turns it into non-toxic pearl ash, also known as potassium carbonate. But they decided to take it one step further - capturing carbon just wasn't enough! As advocates of the circular economy, they decided to upcycle the pearl ash and put it to good use in new products. That's how their soap and cleansing products came about. CleanO2 is the first company to turn carbon dioxide emissions into natural soap. In this eighth episode of The Beauty Beat, Lisa is joined by Michelle, Soap Master at CleanO2, and Kathi, one of the founders of the company. Together they dive into how CleanO2 came about, what they're currently working on and how they see their future (spoiler alert: very green!). They also touch upon the topic of greenwashing and how companies can avoid greenwashing practices. Links mentioned in this episode: FacebookInstagramLinkedInCleano2.caCarbinx.com

We're kicking off #PlasticFreeJuly with Martina from Getblackmarket.com! Plastic Free July is celebrated worldwide; it is a global movement that inspires people to swap single-use plastics for sustainable alternatives. We spoke with Martina Schwartz, who, as Lisa said, is aiming to be "part of the solution, not part of the pollution". Martina came up with the idea for a refillable soap that produces no plastic waste while writing her MBA thesis. Getblackmarket's handwash stands out from mainstream refillable competitors through its innovative delivery system: by removing water, the packaging is similar to that of dishwasher tablets or laundry detergents that dissolves in contact with warm water. In this episode, Lisa and Martina talk about Getblackmarket's products, her latest product that is made from upcycled ingredients, and how Getblackmarket addresses concerns about product and user safety when it comes to clean water and contamination. Martina also gives us three tips on how to live as plastic-free as possible. Tune in and celebrate with us! Martina has been so kind to offer a discount code to our listeners - use COVALOVER at Getblackmarket.com checkout for 10% off your first order. Discount code valid until end of July 2022. Links mentioned in this episode: @GetblackmarketGetblackmarket.com

There is rising concern about the impact of beauty products on the environment. Following this, we're glad to see more and more beauty brands and suppliers focus on sustainability. However, sourcing of beauty ingredients still frequently happens in areas that are particularly affected by climate change, deforestation, and biodiversity loss. Enter regenerative sourcing: by being one step ahead of sustainability, it is a way of giving back and actively contributing to a better world. In this sixth episode of Covalo's podcast The Beauty Beat, Lisa speaks with James Atherton from LUSH. He is part of the coordination team of the Lush Spring Prize, and founding member of Regenerosity and Re-Alliance. James explains what exactly regenerative sourcing is, how LUSH inspires to integrate principles of regeneration into our lives and work, and how to get involved. Links mentioned in this episode: ReJUNErationWe are LushLush Spring Prize

Unrealistic beauty standards can affect mental health and wellbeing, but since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic we're seeing a shift towards more positive ways of thinking about our bodies and appearances. Skincare routines are becoming an act of self-care. Makeup can bring much-needed stress relief, increase self-esteem and self-worth. In this fifth episode of Covalo's podcast The Beauty Beat, Lisa talks to Kate from All things women share about the beauty industry and how it can affect mental health and wellbeing. We touch upon brands and suppliers embracing the #bodypositivity movement, like CLR Berlin who claims that "anti-aging is no more" (and we're here for it!). Kate also shares her secrets for living healthy and happily in her own skin. Follow Kate on Instagram at @allthingswomenshare Links mentioned in this episode: The Age of Change: How a Better-Aging Active Ingredient Came About Disclaimer: Neither Lisa nor Kate are mental health professionals or doctors, and any opinions expressed during this episode are not a replacement for qualified medical or mental health treatment. If you have questions about any matters related to your mental health, you should consult your GP or other professional healthcare provider without delay.

Have you always dreamed of launching your own beauty brand, but not sure where to begin and what to expect? In this episode, Lisa talks to small beauty brand owners Dalia and Kezzia, owners of Daliabotanique and Leoniebotanics respectively. Listen to their journeys, some of the challenges they faced, and advice they would give to anyone starting their own beauty brand. Discover Daliabotanique's products at www.daliabotanique.co.uk and Leoniebotanic's at www.leoniebotanics.co.uk. Make sure to follow them on Instagram @daliabotanique and @leoniebotanics. Dalia and Kezzia have been so kind to offer a discount code to our listeners - use JOINCOVALO at Daliabotanique checkout for 20% off your order, and use covalo for 15% off and free shipping within the UK at Leoniebotanics. Discount codes valid until end of September 2022.

A couple of weeks ago Covalo attended in-Cosmetics Global 2022 in Paris. It was great to finally meet in person after some years of not being able to exhibit. This year was even more special for us as it was our first time exhibiting with an actual (hand made) booth! In this third episode of Covalo's podcast The Beauty Beat, Lisa (Digital Marketing Manager) and Sarah (Product Manager) talk about their experiences at in-cosmetics and share some of the trends they saw, including innovative ingredients from around the beautyverse. Links mentioned in this episode: The Future of Biobased and Captured Carbon in the Personal Care Industry CBD Skincare: What You Need to Know as a Brand

Whether you’re a big or small beauty brand, regulatory and compliance topics are critical topics that can be complicated to navigate but are critical to ensuring a smooth product launch plan. Overlooking one step or doing something incorrectly could send you on a re-formulation loop that results in lost time and extra costs. Even if most brands delegate this work to an in-house regulatory team, contract manufacturers, or an external agency, it’s important for anyone working within the beauty industry across all professions to understand the important points within the regulatory and compliance space. That’s because regulatory and compliance touches upon all aspects of beauty product development, from R&D topics like testing and ingredient selection to marketing topics like packaging artwork and claims. On our second episode of Covalo’s podcast The Beauty Beat, we met with Sarah Smiley, Senior Regulatory Officer at regulatory and compliance consulting company Personal Care Regulatory Ltd., to get her take on the common regulatory and compliance topics that beauty companies overlook and what aspects to address and plan for when developing a new product.

Everywhere you turn, whether it's the supermarket or the aisle of a beauty store, you're bound to see a growing number of products that claim to boost gut or skin health by nurturing the microbiome. While many consumers increasingly buy into the importance of taking care of the bacteria that live on us, most don't understand the intricacies of this delicate symbiotic relationship that we have with these microscopic organisms. We sat down with expert Harald van der Hoeven to get down to the nitty-gritty of the skin microbiome. Tune in to learn about this ecosystem of bacteria found just below the surface of our skin so you can better understand various products' potential in influencing your skin's microbiome and health.