Episodes

  • The Past, Present & Future of Beauty with beauty influencers Iye Bako and Francesca Murray
    Apr 27 2022
    It’s our final show of the season and we have an awesome episode for you! Ashley and Jasmine chat with beauty influencers Iye Bako, creator of @Iyeloveslife, and Francesca Murray of @onegrloneworld. Together we look at the past, present, and future of beauty and sustainability. Our guests have grown up in the U.S. but like us, come from mixed backgrounds including Nigeria and Honduras with Garifuna roots so we had a lot to chat about how our cultural identities have impacted how we define beauty and what we are hoping to see in the future in the beauty industry for people of color. In this episode we spill the green tea on:Generational beauty treatmentsRecycling beauty trends and how the beauty industry is monetizing traditional indigenous beauty rituals – skin slugging is not new!Ageism in the beauty industry and our hope to see more age diversity in marketing campaigns Shifting beauty trends from our youths to what we are seeing now How communities of color are impacted by climate change If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of yourself listening to the episode on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag Ashley and Jasmine @Beautyandimpact and our guests Iye @iyeloveslife and Francesca @onegrloneworldDon’t forget to subscribe and follow @BeautyandImpact on Instagram to keep up to date with the latest in beauty and sustainability. About Francesca Murray:Francesca Murray is a California based beauty + travel expert who shares beauty, natural hair, fashion, and lifestyle tips for women on-the-go. She is fluent in French and conversational in Spanish. Known for her curly natural hair, she is passionate about encouraging self-love, and believes that life is a journey – so why not travel in style? She is a proud Afro-Latina with Honduran Garifuna roots. Francesca is also a professional journalist and on-camera host. About Iye Bako:Iye Bako is a vegan skincare and beauty lover, plant-based foodie and social justice advocate who believes in fighting for total liberation for both humans and non-human animals. She’s a founding advisory board member of Plant the Power 614 a local grassroots nonprofit organization that seeks to cultivate a caring plant-based community for POC that demonstrates unconditional love for ourselves, other animals, and our world. She is originally from Nigeria, raised in the United States, and currently resides in Columbus, Ohio. Links of things mentioned in this episode:Latest IPCC report: https://www.ipcc.ch/report/sixth-assessment-report-working-group-3/Ashley’s beauty pick of the week: BITE refillable deodorant - https://bitetoothpastebits.com/products/deodorantFrancesca’s beauty pick of the week: The Lip Bar - https://thelipbar.com/Iye’s beauty pick of the week: Naturium - https://naturium.com/collections/allDermatologist influencer Iye loves: https://www.instagram.com/dralexisstephens/Connect with Iye and Francesca:Facebook: Iye https://www.facebook.com/iyeloveslife/                    Francesca https://www.facebook.com/onegrloneworld/ IG:     Iye https://www.instagram.com/iyeloveslife/                   Francesca https://www.instagram.com/onegrloneworld/ Twitter: Iye https://twitter.com/iyeloveslife?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor  Francesca https://twitter.com/onegrloneworld TikTok: Iye https://www.tiktok.com/@iyeloveslife?lang=en Website: Francesca https://www.onegirl-oneworld.com/ YouTube: Francesca https://www.youtube.com/c/Onegirl-oneworld Connect with Ashley Renne Nsonwu and Jasmine Hill:Website: https://www.beautyandimpact.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautyandimpact IG: https://www.instagram.com/beautyandimpact/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Beautyandimpact Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/heyashleyrenne/Jasmine: https://www.instagram.com/jasminepennamma/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    42 mins
  • Minimalist sustainable skincare with APTO Skincare CEO, Marta Cros
    Apr 13 2022
    If you were looking for an affordable, easily accessible, clean, and sustainable skincare brand then you will love our latest guest. Marta Cross is the Founder and CEO of APTO Skincare, a minimalist, cruelty free, vegan (of course!), sustainable and affordable brand with products costing $20 and under. We spill the green tea with Marta on starting APTO and how the brand has grown slowly and why she took the decision recently to streamline APTO’s product line from over 40 products to just seven hero products – a brave decision in an industry that tends to push us to buy more beauty products than we actually need and is fueled by the trendiest newest thing. In this episode you’ll hear:How APTO started and why making clean skincare affordable is important How APTO have evolved their packaging to be more sustainable using aluminum and post-consumer resins and how they bring customers along the packaging journey to embrace imperfections What slow growth looks like for a clean skincare brand  How feeling overwhelmed and paralyzed about sustainability is a common feeling and what Marta does to overcome thisHow plastic consumerism impacts wellbeing and fertilityPartnering with value driven organizations to do better, learn and deliver sustainable solutions How consumers can make conscious and sustainable product choices and why brands need to be clear what their values are If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of yourself listening to the episode on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag Ashley and Jasmine @Beautyandimpact and our guest Marta Cros @APTOSkincareAbout APTO Skincare:APTO is a natural skincare brand for people looking to simplify their skincare routines with affordable, clean and eco-friendly products that do what they actually say they’re going to do. Their (real) in-house formulation and production makes APTO a brand that can promise and deliver.About Marta Cros:Marta Cros is a seasoned wellness entrepreneur and the founder of APTO Skincare. Barcelona-born and Brooklyn-based, Marta spent much of her childhood on a tennis court as a professional player. After retiring from the sport and graduating from ESADE in Spain and getting an MBA from INSEAD in France, she landed an array of corporate jobs that took her around the globe, living in ten cities in ten years. Marta spent time working in fashion in New York City before launching her first independent venture: The Ritualist, an at-home facial service that disrupted the traditional spa model. Honing her business skills, Marta launched APTO in 2015 to create clean and affordable beauty products for all. Marta’s vision for APTO goes well beyond skin deep. She firmly believes in the interconnectedness between physical, mental, and emotional wellbeing, and has seen firsthand how beauty products can help someone feel their best. APTO’s thoughtful formulation, production and manufacturing processes—all of which happen at the brand’s manufacturing facility in New Jersey—reflect her keen desire to promote a more environmentally conscious, sustainable future. Links to things mentioned in this episode:Thread - https://threadbeauty.co/A beauty brand for humans of color.KVD Vegan Beauty - https://www.kvdveganbeauty.com/Tattoo-inspired vegan beauty.Novi Connect - https://www.noviconnect.com/ Novi connects brands, manufacturers, and suppliers to verify claims and help launch products faster. Meet complex retailer, regulatory, and environmental standards and discover innovative materials in real-time.Project Beauty Share - https://projectbeautyshare.org/ Project Beauty Share® provides personal hygiene, cosmetics and beauty products to non-profit organizations who serve women and families overcoming abuse, addiction, homelessness and poverty to help restore hope and dignity in their lives. rePurpose Global - https://www.business.repurpose.global/ Connect with Marta Cros:Website: https://www.aptoskincare.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aptoskincare IG: https://www.instagram.com/aptoskincare/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@aptoskincare LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martacros/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/aptoskincare/ Connect with Ashley Renne Nsonwu and Jasmine Hill:Website: https://www.beautyandimpact.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautyandimpact IG: https://www.instagram.com/beautyandimpact/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Beautyandimpact Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/heyashleyrenne/Jasmine: https://www.instagram.com/jasminepennamma/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 1 min
  • Amplifying women of color and confronting climate change with innovation with Chante Harris, Co-Founder of WOC/CS
    Mar 30 2022
    We chat with the brilliant and accomplished Chante Harris, Co-Founder of Women of Color Collective in Sustainability (WOC/CS). Chante is the woman WE want in our sustainability corner as she and her fellow Co-Founder, Jordy Vasquez are opening doors for women of color to share their voices, make their impact in the sustainability industry, and take a seat at the policy table to address climate change. WOC/CS was created in 2019 to create the collective they wish they had when they started in their sustainability careers and provide access for women of color to advance their careers in the sustainability industry with tools and resources, mentorship, job matching and give them opportunities to connect with like-minded women. Chante is slaying the tech space when it comes to sustainability and innovation and was named by America on Tech as an ‘Innovator and Disruptor’ and Women eNews as a ‘Pioneering Woman in Sustainability’. In this very in-depth chat we cover:How WOC/CS came to be founded and the importance of providing a safe space for women of color to connect with like-minded women so they can thriveEnvironmental justice and breaking it out of its silo and being part of all sectorsHow sustainability was whitewashed for so long and how it’s now changing to be more inclusive with diverse voices Why and how people of color have been disproportionately affected by climate change and don’t contribute at scale to environmental problemsMisperceptions about people of color and the environmental crisis Why governments need to mandate environmental change to address climate change at scaleChanging consumer behavior by driving cultural change The impact of Covid on people of color and how it has highlighted communities which are directly affected by climate change on a daily basisClimate Tech providing solutions to the environmental crisis If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of yourself listening to the episode on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag Ashley and Jasmine @Beautyandimpact and our guest Chante Harris @woc__cs. Got a tech solution bubbling in your mind and want to chat about it? Drop Chante a DM – she would love to hear from you!About Women of Color Collective in Sustainability (WOC/CS):WOC/CS, pronounced /woke•sīs/, is a collective created to support women of color who want to connect, collaborate, identify mentorships, job opportunities, and seek resources within sustainability. We are engineers, architects, businesswomen, high-performance building consultants, recycling experts, permaculture-composting gurus, social impact doers, civic advocates, and artists. WOC/CS strives to highlight opportunities for collaboration, connection, resources, and mentorship for women of color in the sustainability industry. WOC/CS knows that when we actively and decisively step forward in ensuring other women’s voices are heard and valued, we are contributing to the overall success of all women.About Chante Harris:Chante Harris is the Co-founder of WOC/CS, Director of Climate Investment & Partnerships at SecondMuse and a Venture Partner, investing in early-stage entrepreneurs with an environment focus. She is an expert in driving long-term growth for startups and established companies by leading them through the complex processes of winning procurement opportunities, securing pilot projects, undertaking design challenges, and launching community impact initiatives. Chante is a Venture Partner for Republic, an Advisor for The Kota Alliance and Vice-Chair of Diversity for Teach For America-New York’s Associate Board. She is passionate about the intersection of urbantech, the circular economy, and impact. Her civic engagement and fierce advocacy for inclusivity and representation to advance sustainability in all communities has led her to serving as a Senior Summit Fellow and was recently selected as a Forbes Fellow. She is an alumna of the Coro Fellowship and a graduate of American University. Links to things mentioned in this episode:Product of the Week: BITE refillable deodorant and toothpaste tabletsMonthly WOC/CS newsletter Join WOC/CS LinkedIn Group for women of color Join WOC/CS Google Group  Prima Skincare SecondMuse Venture for Climate Tech Chante’s recommendations for people and organizations to watch:Generation Green, is 100% Black youth and womxn-led - https://www.gen-green.org/ Power Shift Network, an intergenerational network of organizations and campaigns that center the diverse young people most impacted by the climate crisis. - https://www.powershift.org/frontline  Aditi Mayer, sustainable fashion blogger, photojournalist, labor rights activist, and frequent speaker on topics of social and environmental justice. Her work looks at fashion and culture through a lens of intersectionality and decolonization - https://www.adimay.com/...
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    1 hr and 5 mins
  • Setting the clean beauty bar high with BYBI Beauty Founders, Elsie Rutterford and Dominika Minarovic
    Mar 16 2022
    Hey Beauty + Impact fam! You may have spied Jasmine stocking up at Target on BYBI Beauty products on the Beauty + Impact Instagram recently. We both love this skincare brand so much we had to get the founders on the show to spill all the green tea!BYBI Beauty, founded by Elsie Rutterford and Dominika Minarovic in 2017 is a pro-planet, vegan, natural, and cruelty-free skincare brand. BYBI brings a bit of fun to the clean beauty space with their cute and bright packaging (which is 100% recyclable) but are making a big impact with skincare that not only works but is sustainable and affordable, making it accessible for everyone. And BYBI just launched the world’s first-ever carbon negative skincare product! So, you may have all heard the term carbon neutral but in this episode, we get the lowdown on what does carbon negative mean and how it takes the sustainability factor one step further. BYBI is really leading by example when it comes to building a 100% sustainable beauty brand.  In this episode you’ll hear:Starting off pioneering the clean beauty space in the UK How they are influencing their supply chains to be carbon negative/neutral – they recently petitioned their factory suppliers to run on green energy and now they all function on 100% green energy! Building innovation into BYBI from the beginning and how they continue to drive innovation from product to packaging to brandingSome of their failures and what they learned– some products sadly are just too ahead of their timesThe product lifecycle analysis and what it involves from start to finish – this was eye-opening and something every product brand should be doing What the beauty industry is ignoring when it comes to sustainability How consumers have the power to create change in the beauty industry with their purchasing power What the tell-tale signs are of greenwashing and how you can spot when a brand is truly sustainable The differences between the UK and the US when developing and marketing a new product including how European laws impact the ingredients allowedIf you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of yourself listening to the episode on your device, post it to your Instagram stories, and tag Ashley and Jasmine @Beautyandimpact and our guests Elsie and Dominika @bybifoundersAbout BYBI:BYBI is pro-planet from seed to shelf and is committed to producing skincare with the lowest possible environmental footprint, utilizing low carbon production processes across their entire supply chain. Helping to keep your skin—and the planet—healthy (without having to compromise on either).Co-founders Elsie and Dominika started out in their kitchens, meticulously crafting DIY beauty recipes with potent natural ingredients. BYBI was born in 2017 and quickly became known for their efficacious, pro-planet formulas and standout eco packaging. Fast forward to today, Elsie and Dominika are published authors, trained skincare formulators, podcasters and entrepreneurs who are paving the way for more climate conscious practices, from ingredients to production and packaging. About Elsie Rutterford and Dominika Minarovic:Dominika Minarovic, co-founder of BYBI, is a natural beauty lover, DIY expert, and natural skincare formulator. She co-founded Clean Beauty Co with Elsie Rutterford, a natural beauty brand based out of London, empowering individuals to take control of what they put on their skin. Before stepping into beauty, Dominika worked in digital advertising and knows more about ad tech than she cares to share. The brand regularly appears in the pages of the Evening Standard, Red Magazine, In Style, and the Daily Mail and she also co-hosts annual event Clean Cult. She grew up in Australia and Hong Kong, but currently lives in London with her husband and son. Elsie Rutterford, co-founder of BYBI, is also a natural beauty expert. Her career background is in advertising, specializing in digital media. Elsie is a self-confessed beauty junkie, natural skincare formulator and food fanatic. She’s based in London with her husband and son.Links to things mentioned in this episode: BYBI Glowcurrant Booster - carbon negative everyday vegan facial oil - https://us.bybi.com/collections/shop-all/products/glowcurrant-booster Clean Beauty Book - https://amzn.to/3immRohBYBI Blog - https://bybi.com/pages/sustainability Izzy - refillable mascara - https://yourizzy.com/collections/allMob Beauty - refillable makeup palette - ​​https://mobbeauty.com/products/custom-paletteConnect with Elsie and Dominika:Website: https://us.bybi.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/BYBIBeauty/ IG: BYBI Beauty - https://www.instagram.com/bybibeauty/BYBI Founders - https://www.instagram.com/bybifounders/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dominika-minarovic-5b1b2611/?originalSubdomain=uk    https://www.linkedin.com/in/elsie-rutterford-b1226321/ BYBI Beauty - ...
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Wandering into clean beauty and entrepreneurship with CEO and Co-Founder of Wander Beauty, Divya Gugnani
    Mar 1 2022
    In this episode, Jasmine and Ashley spill the green tea on beauty and culture with serial entrepreneur and CEO and Co-Founder of award-winning brand Wander Beauty, Divya Gugnani. Did you know the average woman is actually ingesting five pounds of hormone disrupting and toxic chemicals into her system every year via her personal care and beauty products. A shocking fact, we know! Divya shares how and why Wander Beauty is different and how she and her co-founder Lindsay Ellingson created a beauty brand that makes a real impact while making amazing products that are actually good for you. We chat about the Indian beauty practices that Jasmine, Ashley and Divya grew up with and the key takeaways Divya learned that now influences Wander Beauty. In this episode, we spill the green tea on:Indian beauty practices and habits and the passed down beauty secrets from our moms– we share a couple in common How hair oiling practices were a thing in Indian beauty before they were even a thingGrowing up in America with Indian parents and how it shaped Divya’s perceptions and inspired her to be an example to the next generation How an auto-immune diagnosis led Divya back to natural, clean beauty and co-founding Wander BeautySetting the standard as a clean beauty brand and why it’s important to make packaging 100% recyclable across every state of America – no easy feat at all!Being a serial entrepreneur and how Divya’s paying it forward by supporting women of color entrepreneursThe shocking state of VC funding when it comes to women entrepreneurs – currently only 2% of women receive VC funding. And of course, we chat about all our favorite Wander Beauty products and why they are on repeat purchase.  If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of yourself listening to the episode on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag Ashley and Jasmine @Beautyandimpact and our guest Divya Gugnani, @dgugnani. If you are an aspiring entrepreneur, DM Divya on IG – she’ll love to hear from you! About Wander Beauty:Clean beauty essentials you reach for every day, wherever you wander was launched in 2015. Cruelty-free and always free of parabens, phthalates, synthetic fragrance, and mineral oil. Wander Beauty was co-founded by Divya Gugnani, serial entrepreneur, and mom of two, and Lindsay Ellingson, jet-setting supermodel and mom. They spent their days multitasking, but their beauty products weren’t doing the same. They decided to create Wander Beauty, effortless beauty essentials. That you reach for every day, wherever you wander. Each multitasker is co-created with their community and enriched with clean, globally sourced ingredients that work with your skin, not against it.About Divya Gugnani:Divya Gugnani, CEO and Co-Founder of Wander Beauty, began her career in investment banking at Goldman Sachs before moving on to private equity and venture capital, and ultimately becoming a serial entrepreneur. She has co-founded multiple companies along with an investment fund, Concept to Co, and is passionate about mentoring and supporting women of color and women entrepreneurs. Links of things mentioned in this episode:Sight C-er Vitamin C Concentrate-  https://www.wanderbeauty.com/products/sight-c-er-vitamin-c-concentrateBaggage Claim Eye Masks - https://www.wanderbeauty.com/products/baggage-claim-eye-masksConnect with Divya Gugnani:Website: https://www.wanderbeauty.com/ Facebook: @wanderbeautybrand IG: @dgugnani @wander_beauty @lindsellingsonLinkedIn: @Divya GugnaniTwitter: @dgugnaniYouTube - https://www.youtube.com/user/wanderbeautyConnect with Ashley Renne Nsonwu and Jasmine Hill:Website: https://www.beautyandimpact.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautyandimpact IG: https://www.instagram.com/beautyandimpact/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Beautyandimpact Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/heyashleyrenne/Jasmine: https://www.instagram.com/jasminepennamma/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    42 mins
  • What do delicious snacks and climate change have in common? Julia Collins - Founder and CEO of Planet FWD and Moonshot Snacks, a carbon neutral snack
    Feb 15 2022
    In this episode of Beauty + Impact, we found ourselves just nodding, agreeing and loving EVERYTHING our guest was putting out there!  We’re so excited to spill the green tea with Julia Collins, Founder and CEO of Planet FWD and Moonshot Snacks. Planet FWD is the leading carbon management platform which helps brands understand and reduce their carbon footprint and have created their own 100% carbon neutral food product, Moonshot Snacks, which uses ingredients from farmers that use regenerative agriculture practices. There were so many nuggets of gold in this episode with Julia! Fun fact – 94% of Americans snack every single day! No doubt about it - snacking is big business - actually a US $605 billion big business. With 70% of consumers in North America believing it's important that a brand is sustainable or eco-friendly, it’s never been more important for organizations to be truly sustainable and contribute to the global net-zero targets. In this jam-packed episode, you’ll hear:About regenerative agriculture and what it means and the way forward as we tackle net-zero Differences between mainstream sustainability and regenerative sustainabilityHow and why Julia started Planet FWD and Moonshot Snacks The history of regenerative agriculture from Indigenous ways of protecting the land to farming practices in India and how it is making a comebackWhy you DON’T need big budgets to be a sustainable brand – first step is just deciding to be climate friendly!How the beauty industry can step up, take note and implement regenerative agriculture practices The power communities of color have to champion sustainability and be voices in the climate change conversationIf you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of yourself listening to the episode on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag Ashley and Jasmine @Beautyandimpact and our guest, Julia Collins @juliaecollins.About Planet FWD:Planet FWD is the leading carbon management platform for consumer brands. Leveraging the largest LCA database for agricultural products and advanced value chain modeling, we make it easier to take climate action.About Julia Collins:Julia Collins is a serial entrepreneur who realized food was her calling as a young girl in San Francisco where it was the epicenter of her community. She’s spent her career building food companies, helping to launch and grow brands such as Mexicue, Murray’s Cheese Bar and Harlem Jazz Enterprises, the company responsible for the award-winning restaurant, The Cecil. She later went on to co-found Zume Pizza where she became the first Black woman to co-found a unicorn company. When she became a mother, she knew she needed to find a way to bring delicious food to people in a way that helped heal the planet for everyone including her son. Julia founded and leads Planet FWD, a company on a mission to tackle climate change by making it easier to bring climate-friendly products to market and support other brands to be carbon neutral through their software platform for regenerative agriculture. Along with Planet FWD, she is the instigator of the first climate-friendly snack brand, Moonshot. In addition, Julia sits on the advisory council for Launch with GS and the Food for Climate League board, serves on the All Raise operating committee, and is an EIR for Cleo Capital. She is an active angel investor focused on funding female entrepreneurs and BIPOC founders. She also co-founded When Founder Met Funder (WFMF) in 2019 to address the fact that Black women are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs in the US, yet they receive a negligible percentage of overall venture funding. This annual event by All Raise offers a unique opportunity for Black female founders to connect with investors and fellow founders in Silicon Valley and beyond.Links of things mentioned in this episode:Moonshot Snacks - https://moonshotsnacks.com/ Global Nourish Cherry Bloom Peel: https://globalnourish.com/collections/masks/products/product-demo-full-product-2BYBI Glowcurrant Booster (world’s 1st carbon-negative skincare product): https://us.bybi.com/products/glowcurrant-boosterGet 15% off all Moonshot Snacks products with this link: https://moonshotsnacks.com/discount/BEAUTYIMPACT15Code: BEAUTYIMPACT15Available onlineFor everyoneOne use per customerConnect with Julia Collins:Website: https://www.planetfwd.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/moonshotsnacks/ IG: https://www.instagram.com/juliaecollins/?hl=en https://www.instagram.com/moonshotsnacks/?hl=en LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julia-collins-8b0a909/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/planet-fwd/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/PlanetFwd https://twitter.com/juliacollins?lang=en Connect with Ashley Renne Nsonwu and Jasmine Hill:Website: https://www.beautyandimpact.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautyandimpact IG: https://...
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    48 mins
  • Spilling the green tea with Forbes “30 under 30”, Babba Rivera, CEO and Founder of Ceremonia
    Feb 1 2022
    Hey cousins! In our third episode of Beauty + Impact we are spilling the green tea with the formidable powerhouse that is Babba Rivera, Founder and CEO of Ceremonia, a clean hair brand rooted in Latinx heritage. Babba was born and raised in Sweden by Chilean parents and now lives in New York. She’s worked in fashion and tech, before being headhunted by rideshare company, Uber in Sweden. In 2016 she was listed in Forbes “30 under 30” at the age of 25, but there is no resting on her laurels here. Instead, Babba saw an opportunity to share with the world a clean hair brand grounded in her Latin heritage and a chance to use her voice to educate consumers on what is sustainable. We picked Babba’s brain to find out how she launched Ceremonia (while also becoming a first-time mom!), how she raised VC funding, the challenges she faced as a woman of color in start-up land, and get very candid about the environmental difficulties of launching a new product to market - from packaging to ingredients, to supply chain - there is a lot to think about! In this episode you’ll hear:How Ceremonia came about and began filling a gap in the clean hair market and the inspiration behind the brand How Babba launched her business baby, Ceremonia at the same time as birthing her real baby, and combined motherhood with founderhoodThe challenges and opportunities that the Covid pandemic has presented when launching a new brandThe issues that women and people of color have when it comes to getting VC funding The role media can play to present successful founder stories from women of color and how this supports more women of color entrepreneurs Environmental challenges that a new founder might have when launching a new productWhy big beauty brands need to take environmental action to create lasting change for consumers The difference between American and Swedish approaches to sustainability and how sustainable living is ingrained from early childhood in SwedenHow sustainable living is a natural and integrated part of many immigrants’ lives out of necessity If you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of yourself listening to the episode on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag Ashley and Jasmine @Beautyandimpact and our guest Babba Rivera @Babba About Ceremonia:Ceremonia is a clean hair care brand rooted in Latinx heritage.Ceremonia is on a mission to empower a confident natural that feels as good as it looks. We’re manifesting modern day rituals, stemming from rich culture, that feed your hair from the roots and beyond, because hair wellness is the key to unlocking the best hair days. Our hair ritual celebrates the longevity of healthier hair through unparalleled formulas that make a real impact.About Babba Rivera:Babba C Rivera (previously known as Babba Canales) is an award-winning founder with experience working in fashion and tech in Stockholm, Berlin, and New York.Babba is listed in the 2016 Forbes’ list of the top “30 Under 30” in the field of marketing and advertising and was named Sweden’s ‘top talent’ of 2016 by Veckans Affärer, one of the country’s largest business magazines. Babba's work has been featured and profiled in major magazines, newspapers, television programs, podcasts, and various other print and digital media.With a reputation as one of the most dynamic and accomplished young innovators and leaders in the increasingly important area of digital brand marketing and Direct-to-Consumer brands, Babba has launched her own DTC beauty brand Ceremonia, a clean haircare brand rooted in Latinx heritage.Links of things mentioned in this episode:Ceremonia Starter KitHeritage Scalp Remedy OilConnect with Babba Rivera:Website: http://www.ceremonia.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myceremonia IG: https://www.instagram.com/babba/?hl=enhttps://www.instagram.com/myceremonia/?hl=en  LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/barbaracanales/https://www.linkedin.com/company/myceremonia/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/myceremonia YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8jxM5ieOt-0EgFW7jiNDxA Connect with Ashley Renne Nsonwu and Jasmine Hill:Website: https://www.beautyandimpact.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautyandimpact IG: https://www.instagram.com/beautyandimpact/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Beautyandimpact Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/heyashleyrenne/Jasmine: https://www.instagram.com/jasminepennamma/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Part 2: Decoding Clean Beauty for Women of Color with Boma Brown-West from Environmental Defense Fund -
    Jan 18 2022
    Welcome to Part 2 of the first episode of the Beauty + Impact Podcast with your hosts Ashley Renne Nsonwu and Jasmine Pennamma Hill! On our maiden podcast episode, we speak to the wonderful Boma Brown-West, Director of Consumer Health at Environmental Defense Fund (EDF). Did you know the U.S legislation regulating cosmetics has not been updated since 1938! The beauty industry has come a long way since then but the law has not kept up. So what does it mean when brands don’t legally have to list all the chemicals on their product labels and what does this actually mean for clean beauty? Together with Boma, we unpack some of the challenges the clean beauty industry has, how women of color can educate themselves more and what consumers can do to influence change. We also take a deep dive into the issue of racial disparity when it comes to clean beauty and personal care products for women of color - a subject matter close to our hearts. In Part 1 and 2 of this episode you’ll hear:What is clean beauty and what is the official definition? Hint: It’s not so clear! About the Clean Beauty Justice initiative which highlights the racial disparity between women of color and white women when it comes to clean beauty productsWhat consumers can be doing to educate themselves on beauty and personal care products What the challenges are preventing safer and environmentally clean beauty products for women of colorEDF’s Roadmap to clean beauty for retailers The negative health impacts toxic beauty and personal care products can have, including on reproductive health and early onset puberty How women of color are being left behind by the clean beauty industry Ways women of color can take back control and influence the beauty industry to step up and provide accessible and affordable clean beauty productsIf you enjoyed this episode and it inspired you in some way, we’d love to hear about it and know your biggest takeaway. Take a screenshot of yourself listening to the episode on your device, post it to your Instagram Stories, and tag Ashley and Jasmine @Beautyandimpact and our guest Boma @environmental_defense_fundAbout Environmental Defense Fund: We began in 1967, as a scrappy group of scientists and a lawyer on Long Island, New York, fighting to save osprey from the toxic pesticide DDT. Using scientific evidence, our founders got DDT banned nationwide. Today, we’re one of the world's leading environmental organizations. In the U.S., Fortune magazine called our board one of the country's most influential nonprofit boards. And science still guides everything we do.About Boma Brown-West :Boma has over 15 years’ experience in working with businesses to improve product sustainability. She currently leads Environmental Defense Fund’s work with companies to eliminate toxic chemicals from consumer products, packaging and food. This includes getting major brands and retailers to set ambitious chemical policies, increase transparency and invest in safer ingredient innovation. Boma also works to eradicate the toxic disparities in products offered to different consumer segments, primarily calling on beauty brands and retailers to set public safer chemicals commitments that explicitly promote equity and significantly reduce the toxic disparity in beauty products marketed to women of color.Links of things mentioned in this episode:Clean Beauty Justice Beauty and personal care products marketed to women of color often contain more toxic ingredients than products marketed to white women. As a result, women of color face greater exposure to toxic ingredients used in beauty and personal care products. This is unacceptable.Website: https://www.cleanbeautyjustice.org/Clean Beauty Roadmap for RetailersA framework for championing a credible, authentic and transparent clean beauty program to rebuild consumer trust and drive a safer, sustainable marketplace.Website and framework: https://business.edf.org/insights/clean-beauty-roadmap-for-retailers/  Connect with Boma Brown-West, Environmental Defense Fund:Website: https://www.edf.org/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EnvDefenseFund IG: https://www.instagram.com/environmental_defense_fund/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/boma-brown-west-2530b44/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/environmental-defense/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/EnvDefenseFund Connect with Ashley Renne Nsonwu and Jasmine Hill:Website: https://www.beautyandimpact.com/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/beautyandimpact IG: https://www.instagram.com/beautyandimpact/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/Beautyandimpact Ashley: https://www.instagram.com/heyashleyrenne/Jasmine: https://www.instagram.com/jasminepennamma/ Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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    24 mins