The Eco Well podcast

This episode is a 2026 update on where things are at with animal testing in beauty. A roundtable discussion featuring the POV of regulatory expert from the brand side of things, Jonathan Reynolds & regulatory toxicologist from the ingredient supply side, Barae Jomaa PhD ERT. What has happened, is happening and is on the way, and why? Where are we at with non-animal safety testing methods, what is...

A roundtable on women in science communication - and some of the often unspoken barriers in this space. Featuring Dr Jen Gunter, Dr Michelle Wong and Emily Graslie. There's a lot here, I think the points raised in the discussion are really important for everyone to be aware of. Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, subscribe and write a review if you haven't already! If it's accessib...

This week's episode is all about influencer marketing, and what everyone needs to know. There are rules, and very real potential repercussions, for brands AND influencers for not getting them right. This podcast features a roundtable discussion with Jennifer Santos from BBB National Programs, now program director of the Center for Industry Self-Regulation, C-I-S-R, and Meredith Petillo, VP of tech...

This week's episode covers skin aging and skin longevity as a trend in beauty. How much can cosmetic regulated products really do, how do skin longevity claims fit within what cosmetics are allowed to say, from testing to ingredients to formulas - what innovation is happening in this space and more. Coming at the topic from the product development perspective with Kailey Bradt, the clinical testin...

There has been A LOT happening with talc - from class action lawsuits, regulatory action, a testing proposed rule and its subsequent withdrawal, and so on. There's also been a huge amount of incorrect or misleading reporting on what's been happening, making everything extra confusing... This episode will serve as a 101 update on talc in beauty + a breakdown on WTF is happening. There's a lot! To h...

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 re...

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 Pa...

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 r...

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 th...

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 unscrupul...

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 fro...

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 develo...

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 suppo...

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...

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 produ...

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! I...

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 sci...

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'...

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...

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...

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 transport...

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...

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 revi...

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 h...

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 i...