Meet Rachel ten Brink of Red Bike Capital
Rachel ten Brink is the General Partner and Co-Founder of Red Bike Capital. Named Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Most Powerful Women of 2020, Rachel is a Founder, Board Member, Investor and Growth expert. Rachel was a Partner at Five Four Ventures. She was Co-Founder and CMO of Scentbird, a Y-Combinator backed ecommerce startup that raised $29MM in venture funding. Rachel led growth, brand and revenue, scaling the company to over half a million monthly paying subscribers. Before this, she spent 20 years at top global companies building billion-brands at Elizabeth Arden, Estee Lauder, Gillette and L’Oreal. She is a mentor at Y-Combinator, 500 Startups, Techstars and others, and was recognized as Top 50 Latinx Tech Leaders in the US.
Skincare & Fermentation: What You Need to Know Part 2
In Part 1 of our series on fermentation in skincare, you got through the basics — what fermentation is and where we see it in skincare. ICMYI — just remember that 1) fermentation is a process in which microorganisms (like yeast and bacteria) allow complex, organic substances to become simpler compounds in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic fermentation) and 2) fermentation takes place in specific conditions, making it useful to food, cosmetic, and biotech product development. Now, let’s tackle the why of its prevalence in skincare.
Skincare & Fermentation: What You Need to Know Part 1
Whether you’ve been on a kombucha or kimchi kick to improve your gut health or love Asian beauty brands, you’re probably aware of fermented ingredients in skincare and why they’re so popular. While the trend is definitely not new, we continue to see products on the market that claim to be special due to fermentation. Some even sound downright good enough to eat — like Drunk Elephant Sweet Biome Fermented Sake Hydrating Spray and Fresh Kombucha Antioxidant Treatment Essence. Curious to learn what’s fueling the trend and how fermented drinks entered both your fridge and skincare routine? Read on for Part 1 of our series on fermentation in skincare, in which we’ll cover some basics.
Unmasking Face Masks
Boo! Spooked by the sight of a fellow skindie unexpectedly donning a sheet mask? Whether it’s on IG or a viral video, masks have a visual appeal that makes them irresistible (like the OG GlamGlow or Boscia peel-off Luminizing Black Mask) and are also a self-care go-to. They’re a noun, they’re a verb (including multi-masking!) — they’re everywhere. This Halloween, whether we’re tagging our masks for #selfcaresunday or for a costume, let’s take a look at what they do and if we really need them.
The Rec Edition-Fall 2021
This is our first-ever edition of product recs. We tested a lot (a lot) of new product but only four made the cut. We asked ourselves three questions: Is it a unique formula? Does it work? And do we like using it?
The Skinny on Back-to-Basics Skincare
What’s your number? And by that we mean...how many products are in your current skincare routine?! Whether you’re a beauty junkie or a minimalist, everyone seems confused about how to approach their skincare — even Lilly Singh. There was a time when drugstore brands like Noxzema and Neutrogena reigned supreme, Clinique was almost a luxury, and even though Baz Luhrmann’s wear sunscreen song was a hit, there was no actual sunscreen shaming in sight. As we approach Fall/Winter and make some tweaks to our routines, we’re craving the simplicity of Dr. Dray’s 90s skincare routine and wondering how it all got so complicated.
Meet Nina Lyow, Associate Scientist at J&J Consumer
I have a BS in chemistry and I’ve been working in the beauty/personal care industry for just under 2 years. I began working as a technical service chemist at a raw materials supplier and now I’ve found my place as an associate scientist in analytical chemistry at J&J Consumer. On a typical day you can find me in the lab developing a test method for active ingredients in skin health product prototypes. You’ll also find me tuning into a project meeting for a new product launch and giving updates on how stability studies are going to support the product’s shelf life specifications.
Tranexamic Acid and Azelaic Acid—What’s the Buzz About?
For some of us, the end-of-summer blues has officially kicked in along with some unwelcome changes in our skin if you’ve spent prolonged periods of time outdoors. The result of frequent sun exposure can manifest as pesky dark spots, among other things. Even for the most dedicated SPF-wearers. Whether sun-induced, ghosts of acne past, or other, hyperpigmentation can be extremely stubborn.
Beauty Trends: Where Are We Now and Where Are We Headed?
Our very first newsletter covered trends we wanted to see out the door in 2021, including over-exfoliation, derma-rollers, celebrity skincare, micro fridges, and fear-mongering and misinformation within the beauty industry. As we make our way into fall, we wanted to do a recap on...what stuck around, what’s new, and what more can we expect? Let’s revisit what’s been going on since.
Meet Jen Novakovich of The Eco Well
Jen Novakovich is an independent cosmetic scientist, science communicator, and director of The Eco Well, a science communication platform and formulation development consultancy. With her work as a science communicator, she's interviewed hundreds of scientists from diverse fields for her podcast, hosts regular interdisciplinary e-panels on her YouTube channel, and has launched several larger-scale scicomm conferences, including the Green Beauty Night series. Jen has two BS degrees, a diploma in cosmetic chemistry, and is in the process of completing a master's in environmental science.
Everything You Need to Know About Retinol: Part 2
In the first article of our two part retinol series, we established some of the basics on the science of retinoids, its history, and its unique ability to alter the structure of our skin. Now that we’ve set the context for retinol, we’re diving into regulations and safety, how chemists approach retinol-based formulation, and most importantly, why all retinol products are not created equal. We will also go a step further and review some products on the market that are likely worth the investment. So stick around! It’s gonna be worth it.
Everything You Need to Know About Retinol: Part 1
Retinol (another term for Vitamin A) is to beauty as a quantum leap is to modern physics – brilliant and game changing. Just as electrons can travel outside the confines of time, it’s almost as if Retinol operates in a similar fashion, accelerating cell turnover at lightning speed and endowing us with the skin of our dreams. But while results can sometimes be too good to be true, we can’t sidestep the “retinol uglies,” and the fact that there is so much confusion around this skincare hero.
Dear Beauty Industry, Let’s Return to Mother Earth
Recently, billionaire Richard Branson beat Jeff Bezos to space, the first in a new race to own space tourism. And just like that, space is cool again. The beauty industry is also smitten with space, exploring it as the final frontier in skincare. That’s right – while we haven’t even solved most skincare issues on Earth, there’s been talk about rocketing off to solve them for the galaxy and beyond.
The Best of Brow Gels
Boy Brow...the stuff of legend that needs no introduction. Two words that are synonymous with the name Glossier and equally recognizable alone; the pièce de résistance of their easy-to-use, no fuss makeup line. Inspired by a classic pomade, Boy Brow gives brows a soft, flexible hold in a few easy swipes, and fills in sparse brows with a touch of color for a natural brow look. All without stiffening or flaking.
The Truth About Fragrance in Skincare: Part 2
In the first article of our two part fragrance series, we established some of the basics on the science of fragrance. Today, we’re digging even deeper. Now that you understand fragrance from a formulation perspective and the safety guidelines that govern it, we’ll explore the gray area that is FDA labeling requirements, its role in fragrance transparency, fragrance as an allergen, and the future of fragrance in skincare.
Meet Meg Maupin, CEO & Co-Founder of Atolla
Meghan Maupin, who goes by “Meg,” is the CEO and Co-Founder of Atolla, a revolutionary custom skin health brand that combines patented technology, effective ingredient combinations and virtual expert consults to make a skincare system that takes the guesswork out of your daily routine.
The Truth About Fragrance in Skincare: Part 1
Fragrance in skincare...where to begin? It has unexpectedly become one of the hottest topics on social media, among everyone from dermatologists to “skinfluencers,” brand founders, and beauty retailers. In addition to the “free-from” (think, formulated without sulfates/parabens/etc. labels) trend propelled by the clean beauty movement, there has been unprecedented focus on fragrance as an allergen and fragrance transparency. In 2007, the American Contact Dermatitis Society (ACDS) designated fragrance as “allergen of the year.” Since then, a debate has raged on fragrance in skincare, leading to tag lines such as “think before you stink.”
From Metro to Mainstream: The Science and Evolution of Men’s Skincare
We’ve all seen how much the skincare category has grown in recent years. But you might not know that this is the case for both women and men’s products. Not only is men’s personal care a growing trend, it demands revisiting an old question — what’s the difference between men and women’s skincare anyway?
In Light of Skin Cancer Awareness Month, A Review on Sunscreens
Who can say no to an invisible veil of sun protection coupled with the soothing and protecting benefits of a moisturizer. This mineral (or inorganic) sunscreen is a lightweight, sheer formula that melts into the skin effortlessly, leaving nothing but a subtle, glowy finish and a protective film that does more than help shield your skin from the sun.
An Ode to K-Beauty: A Collab with Lynnette Greber (@thebeautealab)
In a relatively short amount of time, Korean beauty has taken the cosmetics industry by storm, proving not to be just a trend but a truly transformative wave of innovation. It gave rise to products never seen before on American shelves, like sheet masks, essences, cushion foundations, and so much more. Known for its fun packaging, hi-tech formulas, and unique ingredient stories, K-beauty redefined skincare with its sense of whimsy, playfulness, and performance.