
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

Mar 18, 2024 • 60min
Silicone sustainability with Mike Fevola PhD
This episodes features a deep dive conversation into silicones in cosmetics; what are they, why are they so useful, and what are some of the environmental draw backs we're currently contending with. To help me tackle the topic, this week I was joined by Mike Fevola PhD. Hope you enjoy the conversation as much as I did! Interested in supporting the podcast? Please share, write a review and subscribe! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon page that you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

Mar 12, 2024 • 1h 21min
The current state of animal testing in beauty with Barae Jomaa PhD
This pocast features a 101 on the current state of animal testing in cosmetics featuring toxicologist Barae Jomaa PhD. We cover why animal testing testing started in the first place and what prompted all the animal testing bans we see today, the history of animal testing bans globally, alternative test methods, misconceptions, the REACH vs EC conflict we're seeing today, and lots more! Interested in supporting the show? Please leave us a review wherever you listening, subscribe and share! If it's accessible to you, we also have a Patreon page which you can find at patreon.com/theecowell

Mar 3, 2024 • 58min
A Cosmetics Formulation 101 with Ava Perkins
Ava Perkins, a cosmetic chemist, discusses ingredient types, surfactants, preservatives, and pH in cosmetics. The podcast covers challenges faced by influencers, misconceptions about preservatives, role of emulsifiers in formulations, solubilizers for clarity, cindent bars formulation, and sunscreen formulation hurdles.

Feb 19, 2024 • 1h 27min
An acne 101 with Dr Mara Evangelista-Huber, AKA @dermomtology
This podcast features an acne 101 conversation with dermatologist Dr Mara Evanglista-Huber MD, otherwise known as @dermomtology. Interested in supporting the podcast? Please subscribe, review and share! If it's accessible, we also have a Patreon page which you can find www.patreon.com/theecowell

Dec 6, 2023 • 42min
Is "Both-Sidism" Really Killing Us? Featuring Tim Caufield
This podcast was about false balance; what it is, how to spot it and what the greater issue with it is. What's wrong with public form debates on science? Particularly on topics that have a lot of evidence to support one POV vs a fringe viewpoint. For example, sunscreens aren't the cause of coral bleaching, widely supported by the evidence, vs it is, supported by outlier data. This episode features Canadian sci-comm treasure, Tim Caulfield for our 2023 finale!

Nov 29, 2023 • 49min
Cosmetic Chemists Reacts: Beauty Trends. Feat. Lanesa Mahon
This week's episode is a cosmetic chemists reaction episode, featuring the POV of cosmetic science PhD student Lanesa Mahon @raya.faces and myself. Topic: beauty trends. Trends we reacted to include: microbiome skincare, biotech beauty, menopausal skincare, dermatologist brands, green beauty and more! Interested in supporting the podcast? Find us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/theecowell

Nov 22, 2023 • 58min
A microplastics 101 with Laura Markley PhD
This podcast episode is a 101 on microplastics in beauty. What do we mean when we say "plastic" and "microplastic"? What's the microplastic issue like in beauty? To help me cover the topic, this week I was joined with microplastic researcher, Laura Markley PhD. Enjoy! Interested in supporting the podcast? Find us on patreon at www.patreon.com/theeecowell

Nov 15, 2023 • 40min
Truth in Beauty Panel Replay
This is a replay of a panel I moderated at the SCC California Suppliers Day, presented by Independent Beauty Association. The conversation was broadly about the impacts of misinformation in beauty, and opportunities for course correction. Panelists included some of my favorite LA based sci-commers; Allison Kent-Gunn @allisonturquoise, Javon Ford @javonford16, Jane Tsui @janethechemist and Valerie George @cosmetic_chemist. Enjoy! Interested in supporting the podcast? Find us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/theecowell

Nov 7, 2023 • 52min
An update on animal testing in cosmetics, featuring Carol Treasure PhD
What is the current state of animal testing in cosmetics? Why has it happened, does it still happen - if so, where and why? And where are we at with alternatives? New podcast alert! Our latest episode featured Dr. Carol Treasure from XCellR8, an animal-free in-vitro safety testing lab. There’s so much complexity to this topic, and I think there have been some seriously missed opportunities from the cosmetics industry for communicating what’s happening and has happened. I hope the episode does the topic justice. Enjoy! Interested in supporting the podcast? Find us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/theecowell

Oct 31, 2023 • 55min
A claims 101 with Craig Weiss of Consumer Product Testing
A deep dive into claims with claims expert, Craig Weiss of Consumer Product Testing. What do the claims you see on labels actually mean? What's a strong claim and what's just puffery? And how can you as a consumer more effectively read labels? This podcast explored all this and more! Interested in supporting the podcast? Find us on Patreon at www.patreon.com/theecowell
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