Latest news with #CleanBeauty
Yahoo
02-08-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Why Investors Are Rooting for ‘Clean' Fashion
'Clean' beauty? What about 'clean' fashion? It's still comparatively early days for the latter, but as consumers become increasingly alarmed by 'buyer beware' headlines about the toxic chemicals that might be lurking in their fit checks, so, too, are investors. More from Sourcing Journal Forward Air Reportedly at Center of Private Equity Bidding War What Brands Should Know About Forthcoming Canadian, US PFAS Regulations Forward Air Chairman Ousted, Potential Sale Appears in View 'Toxic ingredients are the big blind spot in the supply chain, so they represent a liability for brands,' said Alexandra McPherson, director at Clean Production Action's Investor Environmental Health Network, a Massachusetts-based collaborative that promotes the use of safer chemicals to increase shareholder value. 'And this is because consumers and the public at large are just increasingly concerned about chemicals such as PFAS, phthalates and BPA being linked to epidemics that are on the rise, like cancer in young people, learning disabilities or asthma.' To help consumer-facing brands like apparel and footwear purveyors come to grips with their chemical management, or the lack thereof, IEHN has launched new guidance, complete with a bevy of resources and best practices, that can propel them toward solutions with fewer reputational, legal and market dangers. Regulatory compliance alone is no longer going to cut it, the suggested roadmap says. With chemical pollution having crossed a so-called 'planetary boundary,' a burgeoning segment of shoppers clamoring for ingredient transparency and a broadening slate of regional and national laws governing chemical use—not to mention the litigation that is catching on—the effectiveness of a company's chemical management is now material to its financial performance. 'This is not just a niche issue anymore for investors,' McPherson said. 'Essentially, the guidance is asking companies to move beyond compliance, eliminate chemicals of concern and really understand and know their chemical footprint—as well as reduce it. And, ultimately, we're trying to get companies to innovate versus litigate on these issues.' IEHN recommends three main strategies that can lead to not only risk reduction but also what it says is long-term value creation. The first is to conduct a full chemical hazard inventory and disclose the resulting chemical footprints. The second task is to adopt hazard-based chemical management policies with time-bound goals. And the third involves investing in safer alternatives and offering suppliers incentives to follow suit. It's a process that could be revelatory in many ways, said McPherson, citing the example of Keen, which after conducting an audit of the per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances—the aforementioned PFAS—it wanted to 'give the boot,' found that 70 percent of the PFAS in its shoes were applied by overenthusiastic suppliers even in places they weren't necessary, such as the laces or threads of a non-waterproof shoe. 'Why are we using a DWR finish on our sandals?' was one question the Oregon-based firm asked itself, referring to the durable water repellent coating that is, more often than not, derived from such 'forever chemicals.' For the remaining 30 percent, Keen sought out safe, effective and affordable alternatives by turning to lists managed by the likes of Greenpeace. Then it was test, test, test and then test some more to make sure the substitutes still met the brand's durability and performance standards. Keen also hired a full-time restricted substances expert who checks in on its factories to ensure that PFAS isn't inadvertently winding up in its products, say via a non-stick coating on their molding machinery. All in all, it spent 10,000 hours to avoid more than 150 tons of PFAS. The brand's kicks still repel water and dirt; just not spaghetti sauce, which it didn't need them to do anyway. 'PFAS is one of the greatest case studies, but there are many other chemicals that represent a risk for companies and brands,' McPherson said. 'There are around 2,500 known chemicals of concern that are ubiquitously used in most sectors.' Wrinkle-free shirting might contain formaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Phthalate-based plasticizers that are linked with reproductive concerns, such as infertility and reduced sperm count, are common in footwear. The best way forward, she added, is for companies to use platforms such as GreenScreen for Safer Chemicals or ZDHC to 'understand and know' the implications of their inputs, even beyond those that might present an immediate red flag. Voluntary disclosure guidance can also be obtained from standards organizations such as the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board, better known as SASB, and, at some point shortly, the Global Reporting Initiative. All of which to say, while this might represent a tall order, it's not an impossible one. The easy way that clean beauty has taken over store shelves can also offer an indication of the return on investment that awaits clean fashion's early adopters. 'We know that it's possible for companies to find out what's in their supply chain, in terms of hazardous chemicals that they may be using,' said Caroline Boden, shareholder advocacy manager for Mercy Investment Services, a Missouri-based ministry of the Sisters of Mercy of the Americas. 'We've seen from Target and from others, certainly in the electronic sector and the beauty sector as well, that they're able to know what they're using and work towards transitioning out, identifying safer alternatives. And with that, they're able to disclose as well.' Boden would like to see more happen in the way of mandatory regulatory frameworks that would drive additional chemical transparency, particularly in the United States, where there is more opacity around the issue. Moves such as California's statewide ban on PFAS—the first in the country—will 'assist with that,' she said, and so will countries' embrace of the Global Framework on Chemicals on an international level. 'We're not asking companies to share proprietary information,' Boden said. 'We're asking companies to do due diligence on knowing within their supply chain, verifying it and screening it against best-in-practice tools, and then making decisions from there to choose to use and drive their supply chains toward safer chemistries. We feel that the cost of inaction now is greater than the cost of taking action.' As with anything, more uniformity on a large scale would be ideal, but 'they're different across sectors,' for instance, cosmetics versus apparel, McPherson said. There are also strong intersections between health concerns and, for example, environmental justice or labor rights, especially because fashion production tends to occur in poorer countries with laws that see little to no enforcement. Decarbonization is another factor that could also come into play at a time when climate concerns have bubbled to the fore. 'So from an investor perspective, we're asking companies to not look at regulations as sort of the standard they use to set their requirements but to go with best practices,' she added. 'Because even if there's not a regulation, the litigation risk or the reputational risk is going to cause more financial harm for these companies that aren't getting ahead and future-proofing their supply chains.' Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Forbes
24-07-2025
- Business
- Forbes
Sahajan Founder Reflects On Being Ahead Of Her Time Over Last 10 Years
Rebranded packaging from Sahajan Ayurvedic skincare Photo courtesy of Sahajan A self-proclaimed 'overnight success,' Sahajan founder and CEO Lisa Mattam admits her road to a decade-long business didn't come without its doubts. As a pioneer in Ayurvedic skincare, who also helped lead the clean beauty movement, Mattan's niche wasn't initially taken seriously. At the time, 'Ayurvedic beauty'—comprised of powerful South Asian plants and herbs, including turmeric, neem, saffron and ashwagandha—was no more than a trivial buzz term. 'I would go to meetings, and people wouldn't respond to my phone calls,' the entrepreneur said during a one-on-one chat at Sahajan's 10-year anniversary brunch in June. 'They said to me, 'You have to understand, everybody goes on vacation and comes back saying they found a special mud and want to become a beauty founder.' The appetite for indie beauty wasn't there in the same way. Navigating formulation, production, labs and all of that was really unique. When we first started, it was really hard to get a lab that would work with me.' And when she did finally find a lab that would work with her, Mattam would unknowingly go on to learn her biggest lesson of the time. 'We had this awful moment when I finally found my first partner,' she recalled. 'We were getting ready to launch, and we were navigating through the formulas. Our bestseller right now is our Nourish Crème Riche, which is a very rich, thick cream, and they weren't getting it right. So I emailed them, and I asked if they could send me how to make it. Because maybe the issue was that it's been heated for too long or mixed for too long. And they wrote back and told me I don't own my formulas anymore. They said they were theirs and I don't get to see them.' It was then that Mattam realized running a business wasn't something she could do solo. 'I looked at my legal agreement, and it was very clear that I had my formulas,' she said, noting the power struggle that came from working independently versus her 17-year history under Johnson & Johnson. 'I sat with a lawyer, and they told me it was clear I was in the right. But they also said I wasn't realistically going to take them to court. They told me I'm not going to navigate this. So I basically had to recruit that power. I brought in someone from the J&J incubators to come to meetings with me to get my formulas back. It was a really, really difficult time. I went through a whole process to get that back, and I think the biggest lesson for me was recruiting advocates, recruiting supporters, recruiting an advisory board. All those things became fundamental in order for us to be in this game.' Despite some stressful steps, Mattam found a home at clean beauty haven Credo in 2015, when it debuted in San Francisco. Since then, the Ayurvedic beauty category has made mainstream waves. Luxury hair and skincare brand Ranavat launched on Sephora's website in February 2022, expanding to brick-and-mortar a year-and-a-half later. Meanwhile, minimalist Mango People was the first Ayurveda-inspired makeup brand to hit Sephora in August 2023. The category has also seen success with haircare's Fable & Mane and Shaz & Kiks (also both at Sephora). And Mattam herself, made moves in 2023, becoming the first Ayurvedic skincare brand to partner with Marriott Luxury, whose properties are The St. Regis, W Hotels, The Ritz-Carlton and J.W. Marriott. In March 2024, the Toronto native saw shelves stocked with Sahajan at Sephora Canada, making it the retail giant's first Ayurvedic brand. 'I needed other brands to come into the category, to really build it as a category through us,' Mattam said. 'So I think if I were to launch it today, it would be better recognized. Interestingly, however, some of the things I set up back then were among the first. We were one of, if not the first clean brand in Credo to have clinical research. I always came at it with a very scientific platform, and so I don't think any of that would change, because I'm still science-first. But I think the environment would be different.' The category evolution is how she believes she even ended up at her anniversary celebration destination. A full Ayurveda-inspired brunch, with accompanying hot beverages, was served at Calabra—a stunning restaurant at the Santa Monica Proper Hotel in Los Angeles. 'We were part of the education,' Mattam said. 'Even just sitting even here at this hotel, where they have an Ayurvedic salon and Ayurvedic menu that didn't exist before. It's a gorgeous location, but it has this beautiful connection to Ayurveda that makes it extra special. Those things didn't exist 10 years ago.' Investor Support From Unlikely Sources Since becoming seemingly accepted by mainstream beauty, Sahajan took things to the next level. For starters, in November 2023, Mattam closed her first round of equity funding, led by Ridgeline Ventures, which also included a handful of executives and other bold-faced names from various industries. Among them? An unsuspecting Yvonne Strahovski, the Emmy-nominated actress who played Serena Waterford on The Handsmaid's Tale . 'I'm not your typical product girl,' Strahovski said during a one-on-one chat. 'Usually, if I get handed a bag of stuff, I pass it on to the nearest person because I'm really particular and extremely minimal about what I put on my face.' Taken by the neutral packaging and overnight results of Sahajan's Radiance Face Serum, Strahovski was sold. 'I remember looking in the mirror the next morning, and wondered if it was just my imagination,' she recalled. 'I thought, do I actually look different? And then I used it consistently for a week, and I got a lot of compliments. And I thought, this is an insanely amazing product .' While Strahovski's appreciation for the product was instant, her decision to be involved with the brand wasn't rash. 'It was this was very strange, organic, intuitive process,' she said, estimating it was two years before making financial moves. 'I just kept thinking about the product. Finally I reached out to my representatives and asked if I can connect somehow with Lisa, and maybe we can partner together. We met on Zoom, and the idea of actually investing in the company came up. I'd never done anything like that before, and this is the only time that I have. I remember thinking, wow, this is such a great opportunity .' Embarking On A Decade In Business Sahajan Ayurvedic skincare new Eternal Glow Cream Photo courtesy of Sahajan Next? The rebrand. Just in time for the big 1-0, Mattam launched a saffron-infused Eternal Glow Cream, in conjunction with her biggest task of all—fresh packaging. 'This was something that had been on my mind actually for years,' she said, of the bolder, sleeker look. 'Having the investor support became critical to moving to that next step. The new look and feel still reflects our ethos, but the packaging for a clean indie brand 10 years ago is different. Because brands are pretty much clean as just the bar, every brand should have to take elegant packaging into consideration, too. Our new external packaging is more shelf-shoppable, whereas 10 years ago, brands were much more muted if you think of Clarins and the bigger brands.' Putting efforts into evolution made sense for the Mattam, especially after a banner year. According to data provided by the brand, Sahajan ended 2024 with 100% year-over-year growth, with direct-to-consumer sales increasing by 100%. Said sales account for 80% of Sahajan's business, with retail making up the balance. As for the future? It's anyone's guess. After all, Mattam didn't expect clean beauty and Ayurveda to take off the way it did. 'The landscape has changed,' she said, reflecting on her Ayurvedic skincare journey. 'We've built this incredible community. Ten years ago, nobody was talking about clean. And now it's table stakes. It's almost like what took us here is different than what's going to take us to the next 10 years.'
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Cult-Favorite K-Beauty Brand Abib Unveils Latest PDRN Product Offerings
NEW YORK, July 7, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Cult-favorite clean K-beauty brand Abib is redefining daily routines with the expansion of its PDRN collection. The brand just added a PDRN Collagen Overnight Mask Firming Jelly ($28.00) and PDRN Retinal Eye Patch Glow Jelly ($23.00) to the line up – perfect for everyday rejuvenation. Abib's PDRN collection invites skincare lovers to elevate their daily routines with a sensorial, luxurious experience–without the luxury price tag. At the core of the line is plant-derived PDRN, a vegan-friendly alternative to traditional animal-based versions. This low molecular weight DNA closely resembles human DNA, allowing for optimal absorption and visible results. Sourced from fallen fruits that would otherwise go to waste, Abib's gentle extraction process avoids harsh solvents, reducing skin irritation and minimizing environmental impact. The result is a clean, sustainable formula that respects both nature and the skin's natural integrity. The two new products join one of the brand's preexisting best-sellers PDRN Collagen Lip Mask Glazed Jelly—a caramel-scented moisturizing treatment that doubles as a glossy lip enhancer by day and a nourishing lip sleeping mask by night. The PDRN Collagen Overnight Mask is a bouncy, refreshing jelly formula designed to deliver deep hydration and skin-plumping benefits overnight. With low-molecular collagen for optimal absorption and skin-firming effects, this mask provides intense overnight care without clogging pores or overwhelming the skin—ideal for sensitive skin types. The PDRN Retinal Eye Patch are daily-use eye patches featuring Abib's signature double-sided embossing for seamless application and a snug fit. Infused with gentle liposome-encapsulated retinal, caffeine, and also a light shimmering glitter, the patch visibly brightens, hydrates, and de-puffs the under-eye area – perfect for early mornings and nightly restoration. The TikTok-viral brand continues to make its mark in the K-beauty space with its innovative, sensorial approach to daily skincare. Abib's momentum shows no signs of slowing, with Amazon Q1 2025 sales up 241% year-over-year, direct-to-consumer site sales surging 257.3%, and total sales in 2025 to date soaring by an impressive 757.6% compared to the same period last year. Both new products are available now on and PR Contactabib@ About AbibAbib stands for 'the first month', thriving to aim for the most perfect and purest cosmetics, starting from the very first step of the beauty cycle. The brand's goal is to help your skin cycle back to its prime, natural complexion. Abib's laboratory has focused on extracting full performance to achieve the goals as below, under the slogan 'The only way to perfection is endless experiments.' View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Abib Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
d'Alba Held a Glamorous Global Event ‘d'Alba Trip in Como, Italy'
SEOUL, South Korea, May 16, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Korean Premium Vegan Beauty Brand d'Alba hosted another major global event, 'd'Alba Trip' in Italy. This time d'Alba held its global event trip to celebrate the brand's heritage and core philosophy in Como through exclusive activities attended by many well-known names in beauty industry. Held in the stunning locale of Lake Como, the two-day event gathered more than 80 guests, including global celebrities, influencers, and media members. Notable attendees included Jeon Somi, Irina Shayk, Ayaka Miyoshi, Nikita Willy and many more global guests who were invited to experience firsthand the elegance and innovation behind d'Alba's skincare line. On the first day, participants took part in an immersive Beauty Class to deepen their understanding of d'Alba's clean beauty philosophy. The session was led by renowned Korean makeup artist and global beauty creator Ri Sa Bae, who demonstrated expert tips using d'Alba's hero products and introduced two newly launched innovations, Vita Toning Line' and Green Tone-Up Sunscreen, both of which received enthusiastic acclaim. After a beautiful afternoon event surrounded by Lake Como's view, all guests enjoyed the serene sunset over Lake Como in a private yacht. The second day concluded with a glamorous Gala Dinner where all guests were served with an elegant meal and a captivating fireworks show, celebrating meaningful connections among attendees and strengthening their affinity for the brand. The event served as a celebration of d'Alba's continued growth and its commitment to sustainable, premium vegan skincare. 'Through this global trip, d'Alba not only celebrated its roots but also shared our vision for the future of beauty,' said a brand spokesperson. 'We're proud to lead the beauty industry with innovation, integrity, and global unity.' As a fast-rising player in the premium vegan beauty sector, d'Alba used this landmark occasion to further establish its position on the world stage, showcasing the brand's unwavering dedication to quality, sustainability, and radiant skincare. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at CONTACT: Name: Lee Won Jae Email: leewj1330@
