A Thing Of Beauty

Let’s Talk About It: Female Hair Loss and Innovative Cosmetic Solutions with Camille Barreto, Founder & CEO of ME Cosmetics

For so many women, their hair is linked to the way they feel about themselves, their beauty, their femininity, and their vitality. According to a 2015 study in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology [https://www.jaad.org/article/S0190-9622(15)01878-2/fulltext], hair loss affects approximately 40% of women by age 50, and Camille Barreto is part of that statistic. She started experiencing hair loss in her early 20s and the treatment options available at the time didn’t provide the coverage she was looking for. After experimenting with different medications, artificial hair pieces, sprays, dyes, and eyeshadows, Camille launched ME Cosmetics, a cosmetic solution to different kinds of hair loss, hair thinning, and small balding spots.    Camille describes her journey with androgenetic alopecia, also known as female pattern hair loss, and the way the condition has affected her mental health. She came up with her signature Can’t Stop Me Know Scalp Foundation to provide an elegant, personalized product for people experiencing hair loss. As she puts it, the proof is in the pudding. In the seven months that she’s been in business, ME Cosmetics has maintained a 1% return rate and has been nominated for Best Breakthrough Beauty Startup Award at the 2022 Glossy Beauty Awards. Join us as we discuss what went into launching her brand and her vision for the future of hair loss cosmetic solutions.  In this episode, Camille and I dive into: * The different types of hair loss and how they present themselves in men and women  * Camille’s experience with medications like Minoxidil (aka Rogaine) and Spironolactone (aka Aldactone) * How Camillie came up with the idea for scalp foundation  * Effective marketing strategies for a product in an innovative or young category * ME Cosmetics brand ambassadorships and wholesale partnerships in the works  * Camille’s number one piece of advice for women experiencing hair loss RESOURCES & PRODUCTS MENTIONED * Shedding Light on Shedding: How I Navigated Female Hair Loss by Kristin Auble for Vogue Magazine [https://www.vogue.com/article/shedding-light-on-shedding-how-i-navigated-female-hair-loss]  * Skimlinks [https://skimlinks.com/]  * Natch Beaut podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/natch-beaut/id1223715132?l=en] * Gloss Angeles podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/gloss-angeles/id1472211163?l=en] * Fat Mascara podcast [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/fat-mascara/id1087614779?l=en] * @carolinehirons [https://www.instagram.com/carolinehirons/?hl=en]     * Me Cosmetics Scalp Foundation [https://mecosmetics.com/products/cant-stop-me-now-ultimate-coverage-scalp-foundation]  * ILIA mascara [https://iliabeauty.com/products/after-midnight] * Supergoop PLAY sunscreen [https://supergoop.com/products/everyday-sunscreen] * Milk cream blush [https://milkmakeup.com/collections/face/products/lip-cheek] * ILIA Super Serum Skin Tint [https://iliabeauty.com/products/balos-st3] * IT Cosmetics Bye Bye Under Eye concealer [https://www.itcosmetics.com/makeup/face-makeup/under-eye-concealer/bye-bye-under-eye-anti-aging-concealer/ITC_0005.html]      * Makeup by Mario lipstick [https://www.makeupbymario.com/products/ultra-suede-%E2%84%A2-lipstick?variant=39448382701633] * ILIA lip tint [https://iliabeauty.com/products/wanderlust]   FOLLOW CAMILLE Instagram: @mecosmeticsusa [https://www.instagram.com/mecosmeticsusa/?hl=en]  Website: https://mecosmetics.com [http://mecosmetics.com]   FOLLOW IZZY Instagram: @izzysapien [https://instagram.com/izzysapien?utm_medium=copy_link] Website: thingofbeautypodcast.com [https://thingofbeautypodcast.com]

Hormones And Your Skin With CEO Of Veracity, Allie Egan

We can get a lot of information about what’s going on internally based on what’s happening externally, and no one knows that better than today’s guest, Allie Egan. Allie is the Founder and CEO of Veracity, a science-backed, whole-health approach to skincare. When she was trying to start a family with her husband and not having success, she uncovered that she had an underlying hormonal issue that ended up being the root cause of both her infertility and dry, flaky skin. Her Hashimoto's diagnosis inspired her to dig deeper and learn more about the connection between skin conditions and hormone health.  Since then, Allie has built a team of all-female experts who have not only developed diagnostic technology, but also formulated personalized skincare. Veracity goes beyond the skin barrier and has a group of holistic health specialists who provide diet, supplements, and lifestyle recommendations. She and her team have managed to combine sustainable packaging, clinically-backed skincare, and a luxurious aesthetic一something very few wellness bands have achieved. We discuss how the Veracity health test works, Allie’s commitment to empathetic marketing and communications, and why it’s time to reframe the narrative around hormones.  In this episode, Allie and I dive into: * The vision behind Veracity and how that’s grown since the company launched  * The two major hormones that contribute to skin changes   * Why ‘skin types’ are BS  * The company mission to be 100% plastic-free  * Key ingredients that Veracity doesn’t include in their skincare formulations that many other clean beauty brands do  * How Veracity is building a new version of trust with customers  * Allie’s approach to SMS communications and how she finds the balance between nudging vs. badgering  * Reducing the shame and stigma around hormones  * What you can expect when you do the Veracity at-home saliva test  RESOURCES & PRODUCTS MENTIONED * Briogeo Hair [https://briogeohair.com/]  * Veracity Blemish Calming Cleanser [https://veracityselfcare.com/en/skincare/blemish-calming-cleanser] * Veracity Advanced Hydration Cleanser [https://veracityselfcare.com/en/skincare/advanced-hydration-cleanser]  * Veracity BioEvolve Serum [https://veracityselfcare.com/en/skincare/bioevolve-serum]  SPECIAL OFFER Use code THINGOFBEAUTY20 for 20% off your order at veracityselfcare.com [https://veracityselfcare.com/en].    FOLLOW ALLIE  Allie’s Instagram: @allie_b_egan [https://www.instagram.com/allie_b_egan/?hl=en] Veracity Instagram: @veracityselfcare [https://www.instagram.com/veracityselfcare/?hl=en] FOLLOW IZZY Instagram: @izzysapien [https://instagram.com/izzysapien?utm_medium=copy_link] Website: thingofbeautypodcast.com [https://thingofbeautypodcast.com]

Decoding Beauty Certifications And Understanding Skincare Ingredient Lists With Lisa Fennessey, Founder Of This Organic Girl

Shopping for beauty and wellness products that align with your values can be challenging when there are unreliable regulations on marketing. A cleanser can say it’s ‘clean’ and ‘natural,’ but when you look at the ingredient list, it’s filled with chemicals that you don’t even know how to pronounce. That’s where today’s guest, Lisa Fennessey, Founder of This Organic Girl, comes in. Since 2015, Lisa has been educating her followers about the products that they’re putting on their skin and helping them become more informed consumers. We talk about the different standards that are out there and what it means to actually be cruelty-free, clean, or non-toxic. We take a look at what separates standards- like the famed Credo Clean Standard™-and certifications- like COSMOS and other leading beauty certification bodies. We also touch on her top tips for reading and understanding labels, debunk myths about ‘reef safe’ sunscreens, and some of Lisa’s favorite brands in clean beauty.  In this episode, Lisa and I dive into: * What got Lisa interested in clean beauty and body products, and what inspired her to launch her blog  * The difference between self-regulated standards and third-party certifications  * Why Lisa considers the COSMOS certification to be the gold standard  * The big sunscreen recall of 2021 and how benzene, a known carcinogen, ended up in popular sunscreens despite their ingredient list stating otherwise * Why it’s so hard for smaller beauty brands to get on shelves  * Trends in packaging, including refillable makeup products RESOURCES & PRODUCTS MENTIONED * Love Sun Body [https://lovesunbody.com/]  * Maya Chia [https://mayachia.com/] * Osmia Organics [https://osmiaorganics.com/]  * Live Botanical [https://www.livebotanical.com/]  * Josh Rosebrook [https://joshrosebrook.com/]  * Beauty Heros Subscription Box [https://www.beauty-heroes.com/]  * Sahajan Cleanser [https://www.sahajan.com/collections/skincare/products/sahajan-golden-milk-cleanser]  * YINA Mist [https://yina.co/products/essential-mist?_pos=1&_sid=648e67053&_ss=r]  * YINA Sheet Mask [https://yina.co/products/divine-bio-cellulose-mask?_pos=1&_sid=f888a37b1&_ss=r]  FOLLOW LISA  Website: thisorganicgirl.com [https://thisorganicgirl.com/about/] Instagram: @thisorganicgirl [https://www.instagram.com/thisorganicgirl/?hl=en] Download the Beauty Certification Guide [https://thisorganicgirl.com/beauty-certifications-infographic/] FOLLOW IZZY Instagram: @izzysapien [https://instagram.com/izzysapien?utm_medium=copy_link] Website: thingofbeautypodcast.com [https://thingofbeautypodcast.com]

Everything You’ve Wondered About Influencer Marketing Plus Big Beauty Influencer Fails of 2022 With Sonia Elyss, Founder Of Round Twelve Marketing Agency

Influencer marketing is one of the most profitable, yet challenging branches of the beauty and wellness industry. I’m joined by consumer marketing strategist Sonia Elyss to discuss how she spearheaded this movement and found her niche in the beauty and skincare space. She’s the founder of Round Twelve with a client list that boasts names like Aureum by Cass Dimicco, RéVive, Bed Head by TIGI,  Kiehl’s, Clarins, and IT Cosmetics. She breaks down the differences between content creators and influencers, highlights what makes a good influencer marketing strategy, and shares what she considers to be the biggest ambassador program flops so far this year. We also discuss the challenges of tracking ROI and make our predictions for what the future of influencer marketing might look like.  In this episode, Sonia and I dive into: * What got Sonia interested in working in the influencer space  * Why it’s become difficult to convince followers to purchase  * The benefits of hiring an consultant with a niche * Details of the content considerations that a lot of brands overlook  * What really happened at Revolve Fest this year  * The downfall of the Farmacy Skincare ambassador program  FOLLOW SONIA  Website: soniaelyss.com [https://www.soniaelyss.com/]  Instagram: @sonia.elyss [https://www.instagram.com/sonia.elyss/]  Podcast: Brand Meet Creator [https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/brand-meet-creator/id1609505183]  FOLLOW IZZY Instagram: @izzysapien [https://instagram.com/izzysapien?utm_medium=copy_link] Website: thingofbeautypodcast.com [https://thingofbeautypodcast.com]

Upcycled Ingredients In Beauty Products And Making Honest Efficacy Claims In Beauty Marketing With Graydon Moffat, Founder Of Graydon Skincare

There are so few brands who are genuinely dedicated to both clean beauty and product efficacy, but the formulators at Graydon Skincare have nailed it. I’m joined by Graydon Moffat, the founder of the namesake beauty brand, to learn more about her mission to provide affordable and sustainable luxury skincare. Above all, she believes that everyday should be a good skin day, and the use of upcycled ingredients make that possible. Graydon shares how she was first introduced to superfood skincare in LA in the 90s, what inspired her to start making her own formulations, and the bootstrap nature of launching her own line. She highlights some of her favorite ingredients, like broccoli seed oil and moringa, and walks us through her natural skincare routine. In this episode, Graydon and I dive into: * Graydon’s varied career path and what lead her to natural skincare  * The early days of experimenting with skin smoothies  * Challenges with sustainable packaging, especially as a smaller brand  * The importance of making honest efficacy claims  * Where she recommends people start if they’re interested in her brand  * How she’s supporting Ocean Legacy [https://oceanlegacy.ca/]and reducing plastic pollution   RESOURCES & PRODUCTS MENTIONED * Gradydon Fullmoon Serum [https://graydonskincare.com/products/fullmoon-serum?_pos=9&_sid=20e0a87dd&_ss=r&variant=8669570072612]  * Graydon Moon Boost Serum [https://graydonskincare.com/products/moon-boost-serum?_pos=3&_sid=5fa70175f&_ss=r]  * Graydon Face Glow [https://graydonskincare.com/products/face-glow?_pos=1&_sid=191aee6c0&_ss=r] * Bathorium [https://www.bathorium.com/]  * Elate Cosmetics [https://elatebeauty.com/]  * Sahajan [https://www.sahajan.com/]  * Province Apothecary [https://provinceapothecary.com/]  * Sappho [https://www.mysappho.com/]   FOLLOW GRAYDON Website: graydonskincare.com [https://graydonskincare.com/]  Instagram: @graydonskincare [https://www.instagram.com/graydonskincare/]  FOLLOW IZZY Instagram: @izzysapien [https://instagram.com/izzysapien?utm_medium=copy_link] Website: thingofbeautypodcast.com [https://thingofbeautypodcast.com]