The Eco Well podcast

Jen@theecowell
  • 4.7 (73)
  • CHEMISTRY
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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!

  1. MAR 3

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

    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? Please share, subscribe and write a review if you haven't already! If it's accessible, you can also support my work on Patreon at www.patreon.com/theecowell. Big thank you to all of my patreon supporters for supporting my scicomm! Thank you also to CM Studio+ for supporting this podcast episode as a sponsor. CM Studio+ has a free formulation, costing and PLM software that could be super helpful in product development. Check them out here: https://cmstudioplus.com/

    1h 10m

  2. 12/03/2025

    When Beauty Testing Goes Wrong, Who's Responsible? ROUNDTABLE with Avril Love and Rania Ibrahim PhD

    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 brand, this episode is probably an important one for you to tune into to understand what your responsibilities are, and how you can carry them out. For consumers, the takeaways of this convo would be super helpful in learning how to find trustworthy brands. This episode was almost entirely led by audience questions - thank you to everyone who submitted thoughtful prompts and comments! 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

    1h 12m

  3. 11/26/2025

    Where Beauty Trends Are Really Going, with Jonathan Reynolds

    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. 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

    55 min

  4. 11/19/2025

    The Hidden Crisis of Bad Science, featuring James Heathers PhD

    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 Patreon which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

    1h 23m

  5. 11/12/2025

    Inside Cosmetic Manufacturing, with Richie Rubin

    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.  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

    1h 2m

  6. 11/05/2025

    Quality Control in Beauty Explained: Safety, Testing, and Responsibility, with Geoff Waby

    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 means in beauty, or taken it for granted, this episode will change that. 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

    1h 4m

  7. 10/29/2025

    Cosmetics Regulations 101 with Meredith Petillo

    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

    1h 31m

  8. 10/21/2025

    IS MAKEUP DISRUPTING YOUR HORMONES? (no) with Chris Borgert PhD

    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 topic became a cultural flashpoint.

    1h 33m
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About

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!

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