The Beauty Beat
Covalo
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The Beauty Beat tracks the pulse and beat of the beautyverse for industry insiders. We explore big and small beauty brands, beauty tech and gadgets, e-commerce and marketing, ingredients and packaging, and everything in between.
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Jan 13, 2023
#10: How to get your beauty products vegan certified with V-Label
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
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Sep 2, 2022
#9: Staying Safe in the Sun with @Scamander14
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:
* Instagram
* Sunscreen database
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Aug 19, 2022
#8: Combating carbon emissions one soap bar at a time with CleanO2
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:
* Facebook
* Instagram
* LinkedIn
* Cleano2.ca
* Carbinx.com
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Jul 1, 2022
#7: Celebrating Plastic Free July with Martina from Getblackmarket.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:
* Instagram: @Getblackmarket
* Website: Getblackmarket.com
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Jun 10, 2022
#6: Regenerative sourcing of cosmetic ingredients with James from LUSH
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:
* ReJUNEration
* We are Lush
* Lush Spring Prize
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Jun 3, 2022
#5: Beauty and mental health with Kate from @Allthingswomenshare
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.
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May 6, 2022
#4: How to run your own beauty brand with Daliabotanique and Leoniebotanics
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.
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Apr 26, 2022
#3: Looking back on In-Cosmetics Global 2022 Paris with Lisa Heida and Sarah Smiley
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
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Jul 31, 2021
#2: Regulatory pitfalls beauty brands should avoid with Sarah Smiley
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.
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May 31, 2021
#1: Deep dive on the skin microbiome with Harald van der Hoeven
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.
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