
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!
Latest episodes

Apr 8, 2025 • 1h 3min
Multiplying Beauty Myths, featuring Michelle Wong PhD AKA @labmuffinbeautyscience
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 do it for no pay on top of full-time jobs, how it impacts us personally when we debunk, to the rampant issues of plagiarism that adds to scicomm burnout. And what can be done from the beauty sector to better support independent beauty scicomm. 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

Apr 1, 2025 • 36min
Cosmetics safety misconceptions with Mo Kanadil PharmD AKA @Moskinlab
This episode features safety assessor Mo Kanadil PharmD, otherwise known as @Moskinlab, in a conversation about safety misconceptions. What are common safety misconceptions amongst consumers, where is the misinformation coming from, what are the challenges in addressing it, 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

Mar 25, 2025 • 1h 12min
The War on Science, a roundtable with Jessica Knurick RD PhD, Melody Schreiber and Elisabeth Anderson
There is currently a war on science. What’s happening, what are the impacts, and what can we do about it? This week I was joined by 3 POVs to try to do the topic justice, coming at it from the public health and independent scicomm POV, with registered dietitian Dr Jessica Knurick, the science journalist POV, with Melody Schreiber, and the academia and academic scicomm POV, with Elisabeth Anderson. 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

Mar 18, 2025 • 54min
A 101 on skincare efficacy claims with Omer Ibrahim MD and Rania Ibrahim PhD
This episode is a 101 on skincare efficacy claims, brother and sister duo, dermatologist Dr Omer Ibrahim MD, and skin scientist, Dr Rania Ibrahim PhD. What’s the landscape of claims, what makes a claim stronger or weaker, what are common deceptive practices, what should brands know and also, what should consumers know? This episode had a special focus on clinical claims but still gave a good overview of the claims that are out there. 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

Mar 11, 2025 • 49min
A 101 on PFAS and Microplastics, with Oliver Jones PhD
Join Professor Oliver Jones, a chemistry expert from RMIT University, as he unpacks the complex world of environmental contaminants, specifically PFAS and microplastics. The conversation highlights the pervasive misinformation that clouds public understanding of these substances. Oliver discusses the real environmental risks linked to PFAS, the challenges of measuring microplastics in cosmetics, and the importance of clear communication to bridge the gap between scientific evidence and public perception. A must-listen for anyone interested in environmental health!

Mar 4, 2025 • 1h 1min
Nutrition Misinformation: The Problem. With Danielle Shine RD
This episode dives into the topic of nutrition misinformation - what is the problem and how did we get here? From the algorithm forces online to our human biases that make misinformation so attractive, the impacts nutrition misinformation has on individuals, to its greater impacts on society. Featuring with dietitian and nutrition misinformation researcher, Danielle Shine. 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

Feb 25, 2025 • 53min
A deep dive into cosmetics preservatives with Dr Sabrina Behnke
This episode features a deep dive into the world of preservatives, featuring microbiologist Dr Sabrina Behnke. What are they, how and why are they used, how are they made, what are their supply chains like, what are formulation considerations we need to think about? And while a product may now be paraben free, how do those extra challenges impact product safety… and sustainability? We covered all this 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

Feb 18, 2025 • 49min
The "Sephora Kids" Phenomenon - what parents AND brands need to know. Roundtable with Aegean Chan MD and Claire Bing.
This episode digs into the new trend of tweens and teens reaching for anti-aging skincare, and the “Sephora Kids” phenomenon. Coming at the topic from the derm POV with Dr. Aegean Chan - what are some of the skin concerns with this trend, and what should skincare regimes look like for this age group. And from the regulatory and legal standpoint, with Claire Bing of Confiance Cosmetics Group - who’s responsible for all of this and what do brands need to know (whether they’re intentionally marketing to kids/teens or not). 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

Feb 11, 2025 • 1h 4min
WTF is up with dermfluencers? Roundtable feat. Ade Ade Adamson MD & Avril Love
A roundtable conversation covering: the rise of dermfluencers, misinformation, undisclosed ads, exploitation and the impact on dermatology as a field. Featuring the POVs of dermatologist and researcher, Dr Ade Adamson and lawyer specializing in cosmetics regulations, Avril Love. 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

Jan 31, 2025 • 1h 9min
How EWG actively harms public health & the environment, with Andrea Love PhD
This episode features Immunologist & Microbiologist, and fellow science communicator, Dr. Andrea Love, in a deep dive into the EWG. Views expressed in this episode are in our honestly held opinions. 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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