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PODCAST

The Eco Well podcast

In this show, Jen Novakovich, Canadian cosmetic chemist from The Eco Well, interviews international cosmetic scientists and industry leaders to bring you a fresh new conversation a week about all things beauty!

science chemistry

All Episodes

01:33:29

Exosomes in Beauty are Bunk Science. Change our...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2026/03/31

Last year, in our deep dive into the research available, Lanesa Mahon (PhD candidate/cosmetic scientist) came to the conclusion that exosomes are quack science. In this episode, Ryan Kudla PhD will try to change our minds. We covered a lot of ground in this episode - from what exosomes are, the different types in beauty, how they're made, and the research to support them. Why is so much of that research behind corporate doors, and are we meant to just trust companies? I really enjoyed this podcast

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01:09:39

Dodgy Hair Growth Claims VS Science with Dr Leona Yip...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2026/03/23

This episode digs deep into hair growth and scalp care - specifically, the dodgy advice online VS the science. What actually works, what doesn't, why so much dodgy advice, and what's the greater issue with it. This episode features Dr Leona Yip MD PhD, dermatologist and alopecia specialist. If you are someone struggling with hair thinning or loss, this episode is a must listen. Big thanks to my Patreon audience who submitted so many amazing questions for this episode! Interested in supporting the

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01:09:28

Is microplastic misinformation harming environmental...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2026/03/17

Is microplastic misinformation harming environmental outcomes and science literacy? This episode features a roundtable in response to the responses the Guardian got for their recent article highlighting the uncertain science of microplastics. Turns out a lot of the headlines that went viral didn't actually represent reality. I was happy to see the Guardian making a correction, but then I saw the responses they got… A lot of people were really convinced the article was brought to you by "big

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01:13:27

A hair research deep dive: hair bond repair....

The Eco Well podcast ·

2026/03/10

This episode is a deep dive into hair research - how it works, where it's done and why, its interdisciplinary nature and how the moving pieces all come together. The first part of the episode focuses on the wider picture, with the second half digging in on the specifics of hair bond related research. Do hair bond repair products work? What is the evidence that supports these products, where are the gaps in our understanding, has marketing moved past the science, and so much more. To help me break

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01:10:10

BENZENE IN BEAUTY!? w/ Michelle Wong PhD and Lyle...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2026/03/03

Kicking our new season off with a conversation about BENZENE IN BEAUTY!??? This convo features the POVs of chemist, Michelle Wong, PhD (AKA Labmuffinbeautyscience), and toxicologist, Lyle Burgoon, PhD, ATS. Is benzene in cosmetic products actually something people should be worried about? Long story short, probably not. IMO the real concern is around the bad science, sensationalism and unscrupulous reporting that drove all the fear that is now widespread... Interested in supporting the podcast

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01:12:10

When Beauty Testing Goes Wrong, Who's Responsible?...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/12/03

A roundtable discussion follow up on the CHOICE SPF testing scandal - a response to some bad takes I've seen circulating on social media about how the brands involved aren't responsible, and that the responsibility lies entirely with the testing lab that was committing fraud. Unfortunate and unpopular truth: that's not how that works. This discussion featured Dr Rania Ibrahim PhD, coming at it from the clinical testing expert POV, and Avril Love, from the legal and regulatory POV. If you are a

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55:02

Where Beauty Trends Are Really Going, with Jonathan...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/11/26

This week's episode features Jonathan Reynolds, Director of Scientific Development at Charlotte Tilbury Beauty, on product development to meet future beauty trends. We get into what actually goes into forecasting claims, where claims and ingredient trends are headed as consumer expectations and regulations shift, and which trends have real staying power versus those that won't survive the development pipeline. Plus: the constraints and realities that shape beauty innovation behind the scenes

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01:23:19

The Hidden Crisis of Bad Science, featuring James...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/11/19

How does bad science get published, and why does it matter? This week's conversation with Dr. James Heathers PhD dives into the cracks in our scientific publishing system, the rise of research fraud, and the ripple effects of flawed evidence. If you've ever wondered how misinformation travels through "peer-reviewed" channels, this episode offers a candid look behind the scenes. Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a

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01:01:39

Inside Cosmetic Manufacturing, with Richie Rubin

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/11/12

In this episode, we're continuing our "need-to-know" series for indie beauty founders with a deep dive into one of the most crucial parts of building a beauty brand: manufacturing. Featuring Richie Rubin from the contract manufacturer Garcoa for a "Contract Manufacturing 101", unpacking how brands and manufacturers work together, what the current landscape looks like of CMs, red flags to watch out for, and how broader challenges like tariffs and labor shortages are impacting beauty production.

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01:03:43

Quality Control in Beauty Explained: Safety, Testing,...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/11/05

Quality control might not be the flashiest topic in beauty, but it is one of the most important. In this episode, I'm joined by industry expert Geoff Waby for a deep dive into what really goes on behind the scenes to make sure products are safe, stable, and consistent. We unpack what happens when things go wrong, where brand responsibility begins and ends, the unique challenges of refillable products, how consumer use plays into the equation and more! If you've ever wondered what "quality" actually

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01:31:26

Cosmetics Regulations 101 with Meredith Petillo

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/10/29

A rapid fire cosmetics regulatory 101 with Meredith Petillo, VP of Technical Regulatory Affairs at Independent Beauty Association. We covered as much as we could - if you're have a indie brand, this episode will be super helpful to you. It will also be helpful for anyone else wanting to get a good lay of the land. Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

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01:33:15

IS MAKEUP DISRUPTING YOUR HORMONES!? (no) with Chris...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/10/21

In this episode, we dive deep into the complex and often misunderstood world of endocrine disruption with toxicologist, pharmacologist and endocrine disruption researcher, Chris Borgert PhD. We unpack how the science has evolved, what we actually know about real-world risks, and how public fear has outpaced scientific consensus. From moral panics around masculinity and fertility to the rise of science sensationalism and skewed research incentives, this conversation explores how a nuanced scientific

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01:16:14

Sunscreen Gate 2025 Roundtable, with Michelle Wong...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/10/15

By now you have probably heard about the sunscreen testing scandal. Earlier this year in June, CHOICE tested a bunch of sunscreen products in the Australian market, and many came back well under their marketed SPF. The one that really caught everyone’s attention was from Ultraviolet, with a claimed SPF of 50+, results came back at 4. What came next was some of the most bizarre behaviour I think I’ve ever observed in the beauty industry. First with some of the brand responses, then to the dynamics on

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01:06:01

Trending Ingredients VS Science with Lanesa Mahon

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/10/08

There are so many new trendy ingredients - from exosomes to PDMR, peptides to tranexamic acid… But do they actually work? In my first episode of the season, I thought it would be fun to kick things off with an ingredient trends vs science conversation, featuring PhD candidate and cosmetic scientist, Lanesa Mahon. What works, what's over hyped, and what even is "science based"? We explored all that and more! Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's

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51:25

Beauty's Issue with Snowballing Misinformation with...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/05/20

Beauty has a misinformation problem. In my latest podcast, we take a look at the issue from a behavioural science POV with behavioural neuroscientist and consumer researcher, Michelle Niedziela, PhD. How is misinformation influencing consumer AND brand behaviour, why has misinfomation snowballing been such an issue, how is misinformation impacting beauty innovation and business bottom lines, and more. Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's

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01:06:14

Truth in Beauty - Surfactants Edition! World...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/05/13

Last week I moderated the Truth in Beauty Panel, Surfactants Edition, at the 15th ICIS World Surfactants Conference, brought to you by the Independent Beauty Association. This episode features that conversation! How has misinformation impacted the surfactants sector? Disclaimer - surfactants are chemicals that are fundamental for much of what we have become accustomed to societally, from transportation to infrastructure and more. In cosmetics, they enable many of the different product formats, such

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01:10:05

Copy Cats, Counterfeit and Culture; the Ethics of...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/04/30

This conversation featured perfumers Christophe Laudamiel & Pia Long. We talked about some of the structural challenges that the fragrance sector currently faces; from intellectual protection, perfumery education, issues of plagiarism, duping culture and more. Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

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57:28

A 101 on greenwashing with Wren Montgomery PhD

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/04/23

This episode features a deep dive into the topic of greenwashing, featuring greenwashing researcher, Dr Wren Montgomery PhD. We get into the different forms of greenwashing, greenwashing specific to cosmetics, its impacts, how brands can avoid making greenwashed claims, how consumers can navigate green claims, and more. Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

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01:04:22

A deep dive into the problem of research fraud, with...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/04/15

This episode features behavioural neuroscientist and academic sleuth with a seriously impressive resume spotting research fraud, Dr Mu Yang, PhD. The topic - research fraud and it’s many flavors. What’s the problem, why does it appear to be on the rise, what are the science factors driving it, can we trust peer review and… can science be trusted to self correct? And for that to happen, what else has to fall into place? Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a

en

01:03:00

Multiplying Beauty Myths, featuring Michelle Wong PhD...

The Eco Well podcast ·

2025/04/08

Beauty myths multiply! My latest podcast episode features OG beauty myth buster, Michelle Wong PhD, aka @labmuffinbeautyscience. What’s the latest trending beauty misinformation, where is it coming from, how is it growing and how does it impact both consumers and the beauty sector writ large. Probably not great - probably important for the industry to get behind addressing. We also dive into the importance of scicomm, current barriers for good independent scicomm - from the fact that so many of us

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152 results

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