The Demystifying Cosmetics Podcast
Episodes
Building on Clinical Science and Kindness with Dr. Brent Ridge
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, Jennifer speaks with Dr. Brent Ridge — physician, co-founder of Beekman 1802, and Chairman of Kindness.or...
Eczema Isn’t “Sensitive Skin” - It’s a Barrier Disease with Jemila Alharazim
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Jennifer Cookson sits down with Dr. Brent Ridge—physician, public health graduate, MBA, co-founder of Beekman 1802, and chairm...
The Microbiome: What We Think We Know, and What We Don't Know
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
paper on the Yanomami skin microbiome reveals—and what it challenges about "healthy skin." Using the Yanomami as an evolutionary reference...
Ethics, Consumer Power, and Supporting From Afar
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this special episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer Cookson steps away from formulation talk to address what many are asking right now: w...
From L'Oréal Labs to Indie Beauty: The Real Cost of Formulation with Alec Batis
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jennifer sits down with Alec Batis, whose 30+ year career in beauty spans R&D, marketing, and brand ownership. Alec shares his jo...
Small Batch, Big Stakes — Andrea Cid on U.S. Beauty Manufacturing
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Manufacturing is where beauty dreams are either built or broken. In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, we go past the mood boards and into the fa...
Framing the Formula: How Visual Storytelling Shapes Cosmetic Brands
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What do your products look like to the world? Beyond INCI lists and claims, beauty brands are built—visually. In this episode of Demystifying Cosmet...
Between the Headlines: Navigating Beauty, Science, and Integrity with Becki Murray
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this 30-minute conversation, Becki pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to write responsibly in beauty media. We talk about the pressures...
Biotech Beauty: Hype, Hope, or Greenwashed Science?
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The beauty industry is buzzing with terms like “lab-grown,” “bioengineered,” and “nature-identical”—but what do these really mean, and h...
Finding Your Voice: Whitespace, Words & What Makes a Beauty Brand Stick
06 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
What makes a beauty brand truly memorable? In this 40-minute episode, verbal identity strategist Taylor de Diego shares how she helps brands uncover t...
Fragrance with Purpose: Building Sustainable Scent Strategies with Cassandra Browning
23 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Fragrance has the power to spark memories, define brands, and create lasting emotional connections—but how can it also do good? In this 30-minute co...
More Than a Molecule: What It Really Takes to Launch a New Cosmetic Ingredient with James Dillard
09 Oct 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this candid 30-minute conversation, James Dillard shares what he wishes he had known before launching a new cosmetic ingredient—and what every fo...
The Scented Truth: Decoding Fragrance Transparency in Beauty
25 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today’s episode dives into the fragrant but often foggy world of fragrance in cosmetics. Joining us is Ashlee Posner, co-founder of Lucent Labs, a f...
Skinminimalism: Doing More With Less in Modern Beauty
09 Sep 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, we're exploring the rising trend of skinminimalism: the art and science of streamlining your skincare without sacrificing performance...
LCA Isn't the Whole Story: Rethinking Sustainability in Beauty With Evan Peters
23 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
From "low-impact formulas" to "carbon-neutral packaging," beauty brands love a sustainability claim—but what are those claims re...
Behind the Beaker: Victoria Fu on Science, Skincare & Speaking Truth
10 Jul 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, we’re going deep with Victoria Fu—former L'Oréal chemist and one half of the dynamic duo behind Chemis...
Cracking the Chemistry Code: Molecular Literacy with Colleen Kelley
25 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer Cookson speaks with retired chemistry professor and visionary educator Dr. Colleen Kelley, cr...
Beyond Breakouts: The Future of Acne and Aging with CLEARSTEM' with Mercedes Amans
05 Jun 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer Cookson sits down with Mercedes Amans, Head of Product at ClearSTEM, to explore the evolving ...
From Micro-Trends to Market Domination: The AI-Powdered Future of Beauty with Marta Ponzone
23 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer Cookson sits down with beauty trend strategist Marta Ponzone, founder of Terra Innovation Stu...
Science of Spin? Decoding Cosmetic Claims with the Experts: Guests Abhishek Panchal, Dwight Tshudy, Constancio Gonzalez Obeso, and Zach Lipsky
07 May 2025
Contributed by Lukas
n this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer Cookson brings together a panel of experts in cosmetic science to explore the fine line betwee...
Behind the Beauty: How Cosmetics Go from Lab to Launch with Eva Sandnes
23 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer sits down with Eva Sandnes, a seasoned natural product development consultant with over 20 ye...
From Lab to Launch: The Secrets of Developing Safe and Scalable Beauty Products
09 Apr 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer sits down with Nurit Koniak who shares her extensive experience in beauty and wellness brandi...
Green Chemistry & The Future of Beauty: Safe, Sustainable, and Effective with John Warner
20 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer sits down with Dr. John Warner, a pioneer of green chemistry, to explore how sustainable chem...
The Science of Packaging: How Design, Sustainability, and Formula Work Together
06 Mar 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer sits down with Alexander Kwapis, VP of Innovation, Design, and Engineering at Fusion Packagin...
Breaking Barriers with Fermentation: A Sustainable Revolution in Skincare with Barak Dror
20 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer is joined by Dr. Barak Dror, co-founder and CTO of Mycelium Biomaterials, to explore the futu...
The Business of Beauty: Transparency, Sustainability and Success with Ed Schack
06 Feb 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode ofDemystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer chats with Ed Schack, founder of EES Cosmetic Ingredients, to discuss the art and science of b...
From Lab to Launch: Navigating the Beauty Manufacturing Process with Amy Hart
20 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer sits down with Amy Hart, Chief Innovation Officer at Elevation Labs, to dive into the world o...
From Safety to Claims: How MoCRA is Shaping the Beauty Industry With Nyree Bekarian-Mack
06 Jan 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer sits down with regulatory expert and clean beauty advocate Nyree Bekarian-Mack to discuss the...
The Science of Sunscreen: SPF, UV Rays, and Skincare Myths with Mark Chandler
23 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer Cookson sits down with Mark Chandler, president of ACT Solutions Corp, to dive deep into the ...
Sustainable Packaging Innovations: Insiya Jafferjee on Reducing Plastic in Cosmetics
09 Dec 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jennifer interviews Insiya Jafferjee, the founder and CEO of Shellworks, a startup focused on eliminating plastic pollution through i...
Unlocking Skin Health: Kristin Neumann on Microbiome-Friendly Skincare & Certifications
25 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, Jennifer hosts Dr. Kristin Neumann, a microbiologist and co-founder of My Microbiome. Kristin shares her journey from microbiological...
Beyond Skin Deep: How Your Microbiome Shapes Skincare and Health with Elsa Jungman
12 Nov 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Jennifer Cookson welcomes Dr. Elsa Jungman, a pioneer in microbiome-friendly skincare and founder of HelloBiome. Together, they ...
Unveiling Haircare Chemistry: Valerie George's Journey into Hair Dyes and Innovations
29 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Jennifer Cookson speaks with Valerie George, a seasoned cosmetic chemist, who shares her expertise in the world of haircare and ...
Navigating Beauty Industry Regulations: Claim Substantiation, Risk, and Legal Insights with Avril Love
15 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Jennifer Cookson talks with Avril Love, a legal expert in regulatory compliance for the beauty industry at K&L Gates. They d...
Clean Beauty Revolution: Ingredient Safety, Transparency, and Sustainability with Christina Ross
04 Oct 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode, host Jennifer Cookson, an R&D expert in the beauty industry, talks with Christina Ross, Director of Science at Credo Beauty, abou...
Beyond Beauty: Demystifying Sunscreen, Skincare, and Science with Dr. Julian Sass
16 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In this episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, we dive deep into the science of skincare with Dr. Julian Sass, a renowned expert in personal care Research...
The Role of AI in Cosmetic Product Development with Potion.ai
05 Sep 2024
Contributed by Lukas
In the first episode of Demystifying Cosmetics, host Jennifer Cookson dives deep into the transformative role of artificial intelligence in the person...