Green Beauty Conversations by Formula Botanica
Green Beauty Conversations by Formula Botanica challenges listeners to rethink the beauty industry. Host Lorraine Dallmeier discusses topics that encourage debate about green, indie, and sustainable beauty. The podcast is produced by Formula Botanica, an online organic formulation school. Subscribe to become part of the global green beauty movement.
Episodes
EP331. Meet the graduate who quit her job to build Mongolia's first organic skincare brand
If you're thinking about starting your own organic skincare brand but you're scared it won't work out, this episode is for you. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier talks to Khulan Davaadorj, founder of Lhamour — Mongolia's first organic skincare brand, built from her kitchen after severe eczema sent her searching for products th
EP330. The marketing machine behind beauty's biggest online sellers
Every indie beauty brand founder wants to wake up to orders. Most of them launch a website, post on Instagram, and wait. Nothing happens. Meanwhile, a brand they've never heard of is selling a million jars. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier goes behind the scenes of the direct-to-consumer beauty model — the ad testing, the retar
EP329. How to sell a million jars of skincare
Most indie beauty brands launch with a Shopify store, post a few times on Instagram, and wait for the sales to come. They don't. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier talks to Line Pevik, Head of Brand at Frøya Organics, a Norwegian skincare brand built on Arctic botanicals that has sold over a million jars directly to customer
EP328. The beauty industry keeps renaming the same problem. And you're paying for it.
The beauty industry has always invented new problems for you to solve. What's changed is how fast it can now name them, package them, and sell them back to you. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier runs through the full list of trending skincare terms, from skin cycling to skin flooding to overstimulated skin, separates the ones
EP327. Meet the formulator who thinks your serum is too busy
What if the problem with your skincare routine has nothing to do with the products you're using, and everything to do with how many ingredients your skin is being asked to process at once? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier talks to Nicole Spangenberg, founder and formulator behind waterless skincare brand TSORI, about the conc
EP326. Have we been wrong all along about "natural" vs "synthetic"?
The beauty industry has spent decades arguing about natural versus synthetic ingredients. Most of that argument, Lorraine Dallmeier has long suspected, is about marketing rather than science. A carbon atom doesn't remember where it came from. But in this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, something shifts. Following her recent interview with Vikram Pandit of Phycus Biotechnologies, Lorraine
EP325. The 100-year old secret behind your favourite skincare ingredient
Glycolic acid has been made the same way since the 1930s. The process starts with formaldehyde. Most formulators have never questioned it, and most beauty shoppers have never heard about it. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier sits down with Vikram Pandit, co-founder and CEO of Phycus Biotechnologies, to discuss the world's firs
EP324. Why beauty packaging is always the last thought and the biggest problem
Beauty packaging is one of the most expensive mistakes an indie brand founder can make. And yet most brands still treat it as an afterthought. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier unpicks why leaving packaging decisions to the last minute costs brands far more than money, and why some of the most well-intentioned choices, from da
EP323. Beauty brands think about packaging last. Here's why that's a problem.
Picture this: you've chosen your materials, researched your options and invested in what you believe is eco packaging for your beauty products. But what if it's not as sustainable as it seems? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by Jerome Fraillon, founder and CEO of Alder Packaging, to unpack the hidden realities behind packaging decisi
EP322. What the hair loss industry isn't telling you
Hair loss is one of the most searched beauty concerns online – and yet, much of what you're being told about it simply doesn't hold up. In this thought-provoking and vulnerable episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier pulls back the curtain on the hair loss industry – opening up about her own hair loss experience – and reveals why so many prod
EP321. What a hair loss specialist wants you to know before you buy your next product
Hair loss is far more common in women than we often realise – yet it often remains misunderstood, under-discussed, and frequently mis-sold through quick-fix products. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by trichologist Chloe Heyworth, founder of Micro Artistry, to explore what really lies behind hair loss and why a personalised, evidence-led approach matters
EP320. Why doesn't the beauty industry have to tell you this?
What if you discovered that a significant portion of the beauty products you use every day could be rooted in fossil fuels – and no one is required to tell you? In this thought-provoking episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier challenges one of the biggest blind spots in the beauty industry: transparency around petrochemical dependency. It's a question that most formulators, bran
EP319. Your skincare is made from fossil fuels
Did you know that most of the most celebrated active ingredients in your skincare are actually derived from petrochemicals? In this week's eye-opening episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by Chris Valencius, Chief Marketing Officer at Evolved by Nature, to uncover the uncomfortable truth about fossil fuels in skincare and how dee
EP318. Why does natural skincare have to be white?
What if everything you thought you knew about natural skincare was… wrong? Picture the most luxurious skincare product you can imagine – a weighty glass jar, minimalist branding, a premium price tag. Now ask yourself: what colour is it? If your answer is white or cream, you're not alone – but this week's episode of Green Beauty Conversations challenges exactly why that assumption exists, and what
EP317. He turned coffee waste into skincare. The industry said it was the wrong colour
The beauty industry says it wants to go natural – but does it really mean it? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by Alejandro Franco of Kaffe Bueno to explore the contradiction at the heart of beauty, where brands champion plant-based ingredients, yet reject their natural colour, scent and texture. Alejandro shares why the industry need
EP316. Why did the Body Shop fail but this Formula Botanica graduate didn't? (the answer will surprise you)
What happens when a brand loses its purpose – and what happens when a founder refuses to let go? In this week's episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier reveals the surprising truth behind the rise and fall of one of the most iconic ethical beauty brands in history, and the remarkable story of Formula Botanica graduate Sandra Velasquez, who succeeded against a
EP315. Meet the woman trying to save butterflies with skincare
Could skincare help save butterflies? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by Chris Amendt, founder of Native Monarchs and Monarch Botanika, who is on a mission to protect monarch butterflies through both conservation and skincare. Chris shares how she's using beauty as a tool to fund conservation, protect monarch habitats, and raise awar
EP314. Good news from the beauty industry that will make you smile
If your newsfeed has felt overwhelmingly negative lately, this episode of the Green Beauty Conversations podcast is exactly the antidote you need. In this uplifting episode, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier takes a step back and reflects on the inspiring people she has interviewed over the years on the podcast. This will leave you with a big smile on your face, so get ready
EP313. What if your cosmetics could keep forests alive?
What if your cosmetics could keep forests alive? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier speaks with John Goedschalk, founder and CEO of BioTara, about how regenerative sourcing of Amazonian cosmetic ingredients can create real economic value for forest communities – helping make standing forests worth more alive than cut down. Tune in to discover how
EP312. Fermentation made our food. Could it shape the future of beauty too?
For decades, green beauty has leaned heavily on one simple belief – if an ingredient comes from a plant, it must be better. Better for the skin, better for the planet and better for people. But what happens when that comforting narrative starts to unravel? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier explores the deeper story behind fermentation and asks a
EP311. The palm oil alternative that doesn't rely on trees
Palm oil is everywhere in cosmetics – but what if it didn't need to come from trees at all? In the latest episode of her Green Beauty Conversations podcast, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by Nemailla Bonturi, co-founder and CEO of ÄIO, an Estonian biotech company developing fermentation-derived oils for cosmetics and personal care that can mimic the properties of palm oil and tr
EP310. Why do some beauty brand founders avoid meeting their customers?
Are modern beauty brand founders accidentally sabotaging their own success by hiding behind their screens? In this thought-provoking episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and host Lorraine Dallmeier challenges one of the most widely accepted assumptions in today's indie beauty world: that selling online is always the easiest – and smartest – way to grow a beauty brand. Tune i
EP309. Could you start a beauty brand with your family?
Ever wondered what it's like to build a family-led beauty brand? Then tune in to this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, where Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier sits down with mother-daughter duo Angela Gargano and Kathy Griswold, co-founders of Lola Arnao Beauty, a family-run beauty brand for ultra-sensitive skin. Discover the realities of building a family business, the practical advan
EP308. The woman who invented the modern beauty industry (and you've never heard her name)
The modern beauty industry didn't just happen – it was carefully designed. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier tells the remarkable story of Helena Rubinstein, the woman who helped invent the beauty industry as we know it today, yet whose name most people no longer recognise. From lab coats and clinical imagery to the idea that beauty needs to l
EP307. Why you don't need to be a chemist to formulate
If you've ever felt that learning to make your own skincare or haircare products is only reserved for people in lab coats, this episode of Green Beauty Conversations is about to change everything. In this special episode, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by Formula Botanica's in-house Cosmetic Scientist, Natalie Garwe, to tackle one of the most persistent myths in beauty – that yo
EP306. How 5,000 years of history turned eye makeup into a daily habit
What if your relationship with eye makeup wasn't really a personal choice, but the result of 5,000 years of history, culture, and technology? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier explores how eye makeup evolved from ancient ritual and symbolism into a modern daily habit. From kohl in ancient civilisations to Hollywood close-ups and today's social m
EP305. The beauty habits affecting your eyes (according to an eye doctor)
We brush our teeth twice a day without even thinking, yet most of us can't name a single thing we do to care for our eyes – even though we expose them daily to mascara, eyeliner, lash serums, powders, creams and makeup removers, often for decades at a time. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by Dr Pam Theriot, optometrist, author and dr
EP304. Why indie beauty falls apart when the founder leaves
What happens when indie founders sell their beauty brands and the authenticity that built them disappears? That's what Lorraine Dallmeier, Formula Botanica CEO, unpacks in this solo episode of Green Beauty Conversations. The episode argues that indie beauty isn't really about being "independent"; it's about authenticity, craft, and founder-driven vision. Find out what real authenticity looks like,
EP303. Is pig fat the next big thing in beauty?
Is pig fat the next big thing in beauty? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier speaks with Farrow founder Charles Mayfield about lard in skincare, animal fats, regenerative farming, and what this sometimes controversial ingredient means for the future of green beauty. If you want to understand where the animal fat trend is really heading – and wheth
EP302. If your serum isn't working, this is probably why
We've been told for years that great skin comes down to the latest breakthrough active – the kind with a name that sounds more like a space mission than a skincare ingredient. But what if the reason your serum isn't delivering results has nothing to do with missing actives at all? What if the ingredient that outperforms many so-called high-performance actives is already sitting quietly in your for
EP301. I spoke to an active ingredient scientist… and it changed how I see skincare
What does an active ingredient really do for your skin? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier is joined by Dr Jule Lexa Völzke, a skincare scientist at CLR Berlin, to uncover the truth behind these "hero" compounds. Together, they explore how active ingredients are developed, tested, and why some of the simplest ingredients often outperform trendy a
EP300. Cellulite is a scam – And the beauty industry knows it
For over a century, the beauty industry has told us that cellulite is a flaw. But the truth is that it's completely natural, and over 90% of women have it. So why have we been made to feel insecure? Because that belief fuels a multi-billion-dollar industry. In this milestone 300th episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier, CEO of Formula Botanica, exposes the cellulite myth, reveal
EP299. Meet the supplier turning the world's coffee waste into skincare
Every day, we drink coffee without a second thought – but few of us actually stop to think about what happens to the grounds left behind. Globally, 60 million tonnes of spent coffee grounds are discarded every year, most of which end up in landfill, where they release methane. Yet those same grounds are packed with antioxidants, oils, and bioactive compounds with incredible potential for skincare
EP298. The world doesn't need another celebrity brand. It needs yours.
Feeling the pull to start your own skincare or haircare brand? This week on Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier reveals why 2026 could be the year you stop watching from the sidelines and start creating something truly meaningful. The beauty industry doesn't need another celebrity-backed product – it needs honest, passionate, purpose-driven brands like yours. If you
EP297. How indie beauty brands really grow (without Sephora, investors, and a team)
In the beauty industry, success is often measured by landing big retailers, securing investment, or building a large team. But what if some of the most resilient and values-driven indie beauty brands thrive precisely because they reject that model? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier sits down with Kristina Dunn, founder and formulator of RUA, to
EP296. Why the beauty industry is now selling you anti-zombie skincare
You might not have noticed it yet, but there's a new word quietly taking over the beauty and wellness industries: longevity. It's showing up everywhere, from skincare marketing, supplements, blue zone diets, to so-called anti-zombie-cell serums (yes, you've read that right!). And while it sounds scientific, serious, and self-caring, longevity might just be the beauty industry's cleverest rebrand y
EP295. Could vitamin C's days be numbered in skincare?
Has vitamin C finally met its match? In this week's episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier, CEO of Formula Botanica, explores whether the beauty industry's favourite antioxidant could soon be dethroned. Lorraine is joined by Charlotte Julien, Formula Botanica graduate and founder of Edelweiss Creation (formerly known as éméo consulting, as referenced in the episode), who also wo
EP294. My call to legislate cosmetic claims for human dignity
Beauty thrives on adjectives – and the cosmetics industry knows exactly how to use them. Walk into any beauty store and you'll see words like "nourish", "revitalise", "transform" and "illuminate" designed to spark emotional reactions. But more often than not, that reaction is insecurity. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, host Lorraine Dallmeier argues that it's time for a radical reth
EP293. The truth about cosmetic claims: What brands can and can't say
Beauty products are full of bold promises: "anti-ageing," "chemical-free," "eco-friendly." But how many of these cosmetic claims actually hold up? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier, CEO of Formula Botanica, chats with cosmetic claims expert Dr Theresa Callaghan about the risks of misleading marketing, greenwashing, and how brands can build trust with honest, complia
EP292. Why the beauty industry needs to stop blaming the consumer
Is the beauty industry really listening to what consumers want – or is it hiding behind them? In this week's episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier calls out one of the industry's most persistent myths: that shoppers are to blame for the lack of sustainability progress. It's a bold take that asks whether "consumer demand" has become a convenient excuse for b
EP291. Meet Forestwise, the ingredient supplier growing money on trees
What if the future of beauty didn't come at the cost of rainforests? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier talks with Alexander van Oord, Chief Commercial Officer at Forestwise, about how wild-harvested illipe nuts are transforming the beauty industry. Discover how these sustainable ingredients – already used in products by major brands like Lush – help protect forests,
EP290. Is it time to break up with natural beauty?
The beauty industry has sold us the idea that natural automatically means good – good for us, good for the planet, good for everyone. But is that really true? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier asks whether it's time to break up with natural beauty. From deforestation to monocultures, the word natural is unregulated and often meaningless – it can
EP289. Meet the man restoring Hawaii's forests with sustainable sandalwood
Discover the story of Hawaii Sandalwood and how it's restoring one of the rarest forests on Earth in this episode of Green Beauty Conversations. This week on the podcast, Asa Suguitan, co-founder of Hawaii Sandalwood, shares how his family is regenerating Hawaii's tropical dryland forest by harvesting only dead or dying sandalwood trees and replanting 16 native species. Learn how this unique appro
EP288. The idea that blew my mind: 3D-printed skincare
What if your moisturiser wasn't mass-produced, but printed for you on demand? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier explores the futuristic – and very real – idea of 3D-printed skincare. From personalised products that evolve with your age and lifestyle, to biotech-powered actives "printed" fresh at home or in pharmacies, this is an episode you won't want to miss. Could
EP287. Skincare you can eat – Trend or transformation?
What if your skincare didn't come in a jar – but in a gummy? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier, CEO of Formula Botanica, interviews Melissa Snover, award-winning entrepreneur and founder of Nourished, the world's first 3D-printed personalised gummy stacks. If you've ever wondered whether ingestible beauty is just a hype or genuinely works, this episode is for you.
EP286. Why do some skincare ingredients take decades to go mainstream?
Walk into any beauty store today, and shoppers can tell you about the benefits of peptides, retinoids or hyaluronic acid with ease. Yet ask about seaweed and you'll often be met with blank stares or vague memories of green face masks. And that's the case with many skincare ingredients, despite years of research and traditional use. In this week's episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dal
EP285. Could kelp be the future of beauty? A conversation with GreenWave
Could kelp be the future of beauty? Listen to this episode of Green Beauty Conversations with Samantha Garwin, Director of Market Development at GreenWave, to discover the untapped potential of kelp in beauty. Sam reveals why kelp offers benefits land-based plants simply can't, how the beauty industry can harness this ocean-grown powerhouse, and the hurdles still keeping it from going mainstream.
EP284. I asked ChatGPT to formulate for me… again (And this time it listened)
AI has levelled up – and if you've been playing with tools like ChatGPT lately, you've probably noticed it too. Two years ago, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier challenged ChatGPT to create a cosmetic formulation for her, and it was a frustrating merry-go-round of vague advice, incorrect safety limits, and an irritating insistence that she should "hire a cosmetic chemist." Fast-forward to to
EP283. Will AI replace the cosmetic chemist?
Artificial Intelligence is no longer just a futuristic buzzword – it's already shaping the way cosmetics are researched, formulated, and launched. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier talks to Hejab Malik, co-founder of Potion AI – a San Francisco-based technology company with over 10,000 global users. Together, they explore how AI is already embed
EP282. Why beauty can't count – And the data gap holding sustainability back
Behind the glossy claims and Instagram-friendly campaigns of beauty brands, there's a serious problem: most brands aren't actually measuring their environmental impact. And without hard data, all those 'sustainable' promises risk being little more than marketing spin. In this week's episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier pulls back the curtain on the beauty
EP281. Closing beauty's sustainability data gap with Fairglow
Behind every beauty product lies a hidden challenge: a complex data problem that makes true sustainability nearly impossible to measure. In this week's episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier talks with Evan Peters, CPO of Fairglow, to uncover why the beauty industry struggles to put real numbers behind environmental claims – and why that matters more than ever. Discover how data
EP280. Can a small beauty brand change the world?
In an industry dominated by multinationals and million-unit launches, it's easy to feel like being a "small" beauty brand is synonymous with being insignificant. But what if this wasn't true? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO and podcast host Lorraine Dallmeier unpacks the true meaning of "small" in the indie beauty industry and challenges the mindset that sometim
EP279. How your skincare is made – Inside the world of contract manufacturing
What really happens behind the scenes of contract manufacturing in the beauty industry? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier goes inside the buzzing world of large-scale beauty production with Dan Williams, CEO of Orean Personal Care – the UK's only B Corp-certified beauty manufacturer. Whether you're just starting your beauty brand or ready to sca
EP278. When success feels scarier than failure
What if the thing holding your indie beauty brand back wasn't failure – but success? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, host Lorraine Dallmeier explores why, for many indie beauty founders, achieving success feels more terrifying than falling short. We often talk about fear of failure, but rarely do we acknowledge that fear of success can be just as paralysing. In this episode, Lorrain
EP277. Meet the beauty entrepreneur who bootstrapped her way into 1,000 Walmart stores
What does success really look like for a beauty entrepreneur? In an industry that often celebrates rapid growth, aggressive fundraising, and influencer-heavy marketing, there's a quieter, more sustainable path – one that values creative control, profitability, and long-term impact over flashy headlines. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist,
EP276. Efficacy at all costs – The beauty standard we need to rethink
Everywhere you turn in beauty, you get the same message: results, results, results. Products promise to brighten, firm, and smooth – fast. But what happens when efficacy becomes the only measure of a product's worth? In this thought-provoking solo episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO, Biologist, and Chartered Environmentalist Lorraine Dallmeier invites us to rethink one of t
EP275. Meet the ingredient supplier championing dirty beauty
Have you heard the news? Clean beauty is out. Dirty beauty is in. This week on Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier, Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist and CEO of Formula Botanica, speaks with Stephen Smith, the regenerative entrepreneur behind Nuturn – a pioneering skincare ingredient complex that redefines what it means to be effective, ethical, and elemental. If you've ever questio
EP274. The beauty industry's obsession with exotic ingredients is wearing thin
What if the next big breakthrough in beauty wasn't hidden deep in a jungle, but growing in your own back garden? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier asks whether the industry's obsession with exotic ingredients is no longer serving us – or our planet. Must beauty always come wrapped in mystique and flown halfway across the world? Or could the futu
EP273. How to grow a beauty brand with purpose – and lead with integrity
How do you turn farm waste into liquid gold and build a cult beauty brand in the process? Well, Allison Taylor from Le Prunier did just that. Along with her sisters, Allison took a forgotten byproduct from their fourth-generation, 100-year-old plum farm and turned it into a skincare phenomenon that's gone viral – while staying completely self-funded. In a world obsessed with growing fast and big,
EP272. Can beauty survive in a post-natural world? The truth about sustainable beauty
Is the future of beauty really found in a lab? Or does true sustainability lie in the soil, the roots, and the traditional ways of working with nature? In the final part of this thought-provoking four-part series, Formula Botanica CEO Lorraine Dallmeier looks ahead at the shifting definitions of sustainable beauty, and asks whether the next big divide won't be natural vs synthetic, but harvested v
EP271. You can't shame people into sustainability – The truth about sustainable beauty
What if the real reason the beauty industry can't become truly sustainable… is emotional? In this honest and eye-opening episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist and CEO of Formula Botanica – explores the hidden engine behind overconsumption: the way beauty marketing makes us feel about ourselves. In part three of her exclusive 4-part series
EP270. Why 'sustainable beauty' isn't sustainable anymore – The truth about sustainable beauty
These days, everything in beauty is "more sustainable." More sustainable packaging. More sustainable formulas. More sustainable choices. But if everything is claiming to be sustainable… is anything really sustainable at all? In this second episode of her exclusive 4-part series, Formula Botanica CEO, Chartered Environmentalist and Biologist Lorraine Dallmeier takes a hard look at the beauty indust
EP269. When beauty misses the big picture – The truth about sustainable beauty
What if some of the most hyped innovations in sustainable beauty – dissolvable sheet masks, waterless shampoos, wild-harvested botanicals – are unintentionally part of the problem? In this powerful solo episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Formula Botanica CEO, Biologist, and Chartered Environmentalist Lorraine Dallmeier kicks off a bold four-part podcast series challenging everything we think w
EP268. Recyclable, but not recycled – The impossible moment we're all in
Right now, we're facing an impossible moment in beauty. Brands are under pressure to create fully recyclable packaging. Consumers are expected to recycle correctly, often with confusing or incomplete information. And regulators are pushing for urgent change, without enough funding or infrastructure in place to support it. Everyone is trying, but the system isn't ready, and no one is winning. In th
EP267. The packaging fees coming for the beauty industry
Packaging is about to get a whole lot pricier for beauty brands, and it's not just a minor cost increase. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist and CEO of Formula Botanica – is joined by Renata Daudt, Director and Principal Consultant at AWEN Packaging Consulting, and a globally experienced chemical engineer, to discuss the new pa
EP266. When sustainability reports to marketing – beauty's uncomfortable truth
Is your favourite beauty brand walking the talk on sustainability, or just selling a story? Last week on the podcast, Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist and CEO of Formula Botanica – talked to Carly Snider of the Pact Collective, and Carly dropped a truth bomb: in many beauty brands, sustainability sits under the marketing department. Not operations. Not product development
EP265. How Pact Collective is cleaning up the mess the beauty industry left behind
The beauty industry has a packaging problem – and it's much bigger than you think. But how do we fix a system that was never built for circularity? And who's actually stepping up to tackle the problem? Join Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist and CEO of Formula Botanica – in this exclusive episode of Green Beauty Conversations as she speaks with Carly Snider, Executive Direc
EP264. 1.5bn toothpaste tubes are wasted every month – why aren't we talking about this?
Every month, 1.5 billion toothpaste tubes are thrown away. They end up in landfills, incinerators, or our oceans, yet the conversation around sustainable packaging rarely includes oral care. We've seen sustainability discussions reshape skincare, makeup, and haircare, but why is toothpaste still stuck in the past? Why aren't we demanding change from the big brands dominating supermarket shelves? L
EP263. The toothpaste industry doesn't want you to hear this
What if everything you thought you knew about toothpaste was wrong? For decades, we've been told that toothpaste is the key to healthy, happy teeth. But what if the very thing you rely on for oral care was doing more harm than good? Join Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist and CEO of Formula Botanica – as she talks with Axel Kaiser, the man behind Denttabs, the first and mos
EP262. Why keeping your beauty brand small is an option
You don't need to scale your beauty brand internationally for it to be successful. In fact, keeping it small is an option. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist, and CEO of Formula Botanica – explores something we don't talk about enough in the beauty industry: the option to not scale. Listen to this episode and discover why ke
EP261. From kitchen formulations to global success – The journey of Flower & Spice
Starting a beauty brand is one thing – scaling it internationally is another challenge entirely. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist, and CEO of Formula Botanica – is joined by Karmen Novak, founder of Flower and Spice, who shares how she turned her passion for botanical skincare into a thriving global brand. What began as a kit
EP260. The ethical dilemma of travel minis
Travel minis may seem like a small luxury, but their impact on the planet is anything but tiny. Every year, billions of these single-use plastic bottles are produced, used, and discarded – contributing to a staggering waste problem. So why do they still exist? In this episode, Formula Botanica CEO and Green Beauty Conversations host Lorraine Dallmeier uncovers the ethical dilemma of travel minis.
EP259. The sustainability of travel beauty
Travelling is one of life's greatest pleasures, but have you ever thought about the environmental impact of your beauty routine when you're on the move? From single-use hotel toiletries to travel minis and confiscated airport cosmetics, travel beauty waste is a massive issue – and few people are talking about it. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier, Chartered Environm
EP258. Why the premium beauty market needs to embrace minimalism
Is luxury beauty finally moving away from excess? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier, Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist, and CEO of Formula Botanica, explores how minimalism is redefining premium beauty. Consumers are no longer impressed by overcomplicated routines and excessive packaging. Instead, they're demanding high-performance, multifunctional products that
EP257. Meet the solid brand disrupting beauty norms
What if your beauty routine was part of the problem – and the solution? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, host Lorraine Dallmeier, Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist, and CEO of Formula Botanica, speaks with Sira Naidu, co-founder of Disruptor London, a bold brand redefining beauty norms with innovative, multi-tasking solid formulations. Disruptor London is tackling overconsumption
EP256. The untold stories behind your beauty ingredients
Have you ever stopped to wonder about the story behind your beauty products and their ingredients? Most of us don't think twice when picking up a product off the shelf, but what if we did? In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist, and CEO of Formula Botanica – dives into the untold stories behind your beauty ingredients. Tune in now
EP255. How moringa oil is helping one Amazonian community protect its future
Have you ever stopped to consider where the ingredients in your beauty products come from? Behind every bottle of oil or jar of cream lies a story – one that often goes untold. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorraine Dallmeier – Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist, and CEO of Formula Botanica – is joined by Chloé Vallée, co-founder of Primegreen, a social enterprise transforming
EP254. Are beauty brands really as green as they say they are?
When was the last time you read a beauty brand's sustainability report? If your answer is "never," you're not alone. Sustainability reports are often buried on company websites, obscured by glossy marketing materials that feel more like a promotional brochure than a genuine disclosure of progress. But what if you could look behind the curtain and examine what these brands are really doing for the
EP253. How to evolve a beauty brand without losing your values
Can a beauty brand grow, innovate, and achieve international success without compromising its core values? That's the question Lorraine Dallmeier, Chartered Environmentalist, Biologist, and CEO of Formula Botanica, asks in this week's episode of Green Beauty Conversations. Lorraine is joined by Laura Rudoe, founder of Evolve Organic Beauty. Together, they explore how Laura built a globally success
EP252. Lessons for indie beauty entrepreneurs from Elizabeth Arden's legacy
Imagine starting a beauty brand with no financial backing, formal training, or industry guidance—armed only with determination and a dream. This is the story of Elizabeth Arden, who transformed her kitchen-made creams into one of the most iconic beauty empires of all time. But it's also the story of so many modern-day indie beauty entrepreneurs. In this episode of Green Beauty Conversations, Lorra
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