Latest news with #Yara
Global News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Global News
Susan Yara: From newsrooms to skincare stardom – how one journalist built a beauty empire
The Curator independently decides what topics and products we feature. When you purchase an item through our links, we may earn a commission. Promotions and products are subject to availability and retailer terms. When Susan Yara speaks, there's a sense of clarity and purpose that feels earned – honed through years in front of the camera, behind the scenes and in the fast-paced world of beauty entrepreneurship. From broadcast journalism to founding the skincare brand Naturium, Yara's career reflects a rare mix of reinvention, intuition and grit. Today, she's one of the most influential voices in beauty, but her journey started in the world of hard news. From News to Digital Media Pioneer Yara began her career believing she'd be a traditional news reporter. After graduating, she landed her first role in New York City covering local news. But the rigid structure of hard news didn't quite fit. 'It just wasn't exactly what I liked,' she recalls. That realization led her to pivot into lifestyle journalism, landing at Forbes at a pivotal time – right as the publication was beginning its digital transformation. Story continues below advertisement Being part of Forbes' early push into dot-com media gave her a front-row seat to the evolving nature of content. From there, she went on to help build digital platforms for People, PopSugar and NewBeauty. The experience eventually inspired her to start her own venture: Mixed Makeup, a YouTube channel aimed at skincare and cosmetic education. Becoming the Brand When Yara first started Mixed Makeup, she approached it like a magazine. 'I wasn't thinking of myself as an influencer,' she explains. She focused on high-quality content, often featuring multiple people and treating herself more as a journalist than the face of the brand. But as influencer culture evolved, so did her strategy. Viewers wanted personality, relatability and consistency – and that meant more of her. 'At some point it really shifted where I became the personality,' Yara says. That personal branding move would eventually fuel her success – not only as a creator but also as a founder. Building Naturium Years of studying skin and beauty through content – and listening closely to her audience – led to a realization: there was a gap in the skincare market. High-performance products were either overpriced or under-delivering. People, including her own mother, were hesitant to use luxury skincare regularly for fear of 'wasting' it. Story continues below advertisement So she launched Naturium, a line of science-backed skincare products designed to be effective yet affordable. 'The only time you really see results with your skin is if you're consistent,' she explains. 'And to be consistent, you need products that you can afford to actually use.' More from The Curator Inside Bubble Skincare: Shai Eisenman's mission to make high-quality beauty affordable Her strategy was smart, data-driven and deeply rooted in community insight. Unlike brands that spend heavily on packaging and marketing, Yara poured 80% of Naturium's budget into the formulas. The goal? Deliver clinical-level skincare that people could trust – and afford. In 2022, Naturium was acquired by e.l.f. Beauty, a move that gave the brand global distribution power. 'We needed the power of a bigger company,' Yara says, pointing to the logistical challenges of scaling an indie brand. With Naturium now in major retailers like Shoppers Drug Mart and Amazon, the acquisition has only amplified what Yara and her team started. Despite the sale, she remains actively involved. 'They wanted us to stay on board and do exactly what we're doing – just with their help,' she says. The partnership has allowed her to keep building the brand's identity while expanding its reach. Marketing with Authenticity As someone with deep roots in digital strategy, Yara is refreshingly non-gimmicky when it comes to marketing. Naturium doesn't rely on flashy influencer campaigns; instead, it focuses on authentic word-of-mouth. 'We like to find people who naturally talk about the product,' she explains. Her team prioritizes micro-influencers, real customers and genuine reviews – often turning passionate user testimonials into paid ads. Story continues below advertisement This approach mirrors her own standards as a creator. 'I always needed to try a product and develop a real opinion before I could ever do a sponsorship,' she says. Breaking Beauty Myths One of Yara's biggest missions has been education. She challenges the idea that expensive skincare is inherently better and debunks misleading claims around 'medical grade' labels. Her content emphasizes consistency over quick fixes and ingredient efficacy over brand prestige. 'The truth is, skincare is just a cosmetic,' she says. 'It's not a prescription. You have to use it every day for at least six weeks before you see real results.' Finding Fulfillment in Impact Despite her high-profile career, Yara remains grounded by one simple reward: helping people. 'Almost every time I leave the house, someone tells me I helped change their skin,' she says. For Yara, that's the most fulfilling part of the job. Advice for Aspiring Creators and Entrepreneurs When asked for advice, Yara gets personal. 'People talk a lot about imposter syndrome, but if you're working hard, you deserve to be here,' she says. Her philosophy? Build relationships, embrace community over competition and trust your instincts. 'Nobody's success has ever stopped my success,' she adds. 'The more I support people, the more they support me.' Story continues below advertisement From a newsroom rookie to the founder of one of skincare's most buzzed-about brands, Susan Yara's journey is a testament to the power of evolution, connection and showing up – consistently. Just like great skincare. What is Susan Currently Loving? The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash Say hello to The Perfector Salicylic Acid Body Wash – your new bestie for smooth, happy skin! It gently smooths away pesky bumps, tackles those stubborn ingrown hairs and evens out your skin tone, especially on your back and arms. Yara swears by starting her routine with this little wonder to keep problem areas in check. $18.69 at Shoppers Drug Mart (was $21.99) Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash After The Perfector, treat your skin to Natruium Glow Getter Multi-Oil Hydrating Body Wash for a burst of hydration and a radiant glow. It leaves skin nourished and perfectly prepped for lotion. $36.64 on Amazon Story continues below advertisement Naturium Vitamin C Complex Face Serum Yara applies the Naturium Vitamin C Complex Face Serum almost every morning and has been obsessed with it for ages! It's her must-have for brightening her skin and keeping it protected all day. $33.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart Naturium Multi-Peptide Advanced Serum She also uses the Naturium Multi-Peptide Advanced Serum every morning for its anti-aging and hydrating powers. Packed with peptides that act as humectants, it plumps her skin and keeps it beautifully hydrated all day. $39.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart Story continues below advertisement Laneige Cream Skin Refillable Toner & Moisturizer The Laneige Cream Skin Refillable Toner & Moisturizer melts like milk into the skin, combining the refreshing lightness of a toner with the lasting hydration of a cream. Yara uses this as a gentle, hydrating toner for her dry, sensitive while traveling because it's watery, milky and easy to absorb. $48.5 on Amazon Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bronzer Stick The Milk Makeup Matte Cream Bonzer Stick is her favorite bronzing stick is one of her staples. Creamy, blendable, and perfect for that sun-kissed, just-back-from-vacation vibe. $33.00 at Sephora Huda Beauty Easy Bake Blurring Loose Baking & Setting Powder The Huda Beauty Easy Bake Blurring Loose Baking & Setting Powder sets makeup beautifully without settling into fine lines – perfect for mature skin. $53.00 at Sephora Story continues below advertisement Naturium Phyto-Glow Lip Balm - Latte Naturium's Phyto-Glow Lip Balm is the perfect swipe of juicy hydration and glow – cushiony, nourishing and just the right amount of shine for everyday radiance. $14.99 at Shoppers Drug Mart Patrick Ta Major Headlines Double-Take Crème & Powder Blush Duo Yara loves this duo for its neutral pink undertone and high-quality finish. Creamy on one side, silky on the other, for the perfect pop of colour that lasts all day. $53.00 at Sephora Make Up For Ever Super Boost Lightweight Moisturizing Skin Tint with Hyaluronic and Polyglutamic Acids Can't forget a good skin tint! Make Up For Ever's Super Boost Lightweight Moisturizing Skin Tint does it all – blending the glow of makeup with the care of skincare. Infused with hyaluronic and polyglutamic acids, it hydrates, smooths and plumps while giving lightweight coverage for a natural, your-skin-but-better finish. $49.00 at Shoppers Drug Mart Story continues below advertisement You may also like: Tatcha The Brightening Serum – $125.00 Quantum Mud Mask – $65.99 Dermalogica Discover Healthy Skin Kit – $59.00 Rhode Pocket Blush – $24.00 Tatcha The Serum Stick – $64.00 Bioderma Sensibio Micellar Cleansing Oil – $26.99
Agriland
04-06-2025
- Business
- Agriland
Yara completes £7m upgrade of UK liquid fertiliser facility
Global crop nutrition company, Yara, has completed its long-term investment in liquid fertiliser capabilities at its Chedburgh terminal in the UK. The company has finalised the multi-million-pound upgrade of its liquid fertiliser terminal at Chedburgh, one of several UK terminals it operates. The £7 million phased project at the site in East Anglia is part of the overall Yara investment programme in Great Britain. The company has said the investment is aimed at ensuring safe and efficient operations, delivering high-quality products to its customers. Yara upgrade The completed project included a full rebuild of the Chedburgh terminal which produces nitrogen sulphur and compound NPK-grade liquid fertilisers. The bulk solids raw material store and the production building have been upgraded, with the terminal now fully operational. Yara has stated that central to its project planning was maintaining business continuity, with minimal impact to ongoing operations and customer experience. Terminal manager UK Liquids at Yara, Martin Saunders said: 'In order to minimise disruption, the project began post season 2024 and was completed in time for the 2025 campaign, a remarkable achievement. 'With Safe by Choice in mind, Yara worked closely with the main contractor who delivered the project on time with no reportable incidents demonstrating great teamwork from all stakeholders involved.' With this investment, Yara has said it is advancing operational excellence, securing safe, efficient operations and maintaining high product quality. It is estimated that this development will result in a 30% increase in production, achieved by a 60% increase in raw material storage capacity, improved high efficiency mixers and pipework capacity increases across the terminal. Investing in farming 'Investing in British farming is and always has been a top priority for Yara, and this investment in our Chedburgh terminal reinforces Yara's commitment to servicing our farmers in the east of England and the Midlands,' Saunders continued. The Chedburgh investment aims to contribute to Yara's ambition of achieving carbon neutrality. Reducing the terminal's carbon footprint was at the forefront of the company's decisions, from installing new boilers to adapting processes, resulting in a more environmentally sustainable operation, according to Yara. Crop nutrition farm account manager at Yara, Catherine McNair added: 'Yara's investment ensures the continuity of supply of high-quality, liquid fertiliser products to UK growers. 'The Yara Chedburgh site produces over 300 different liquid fertiliser grades across our NURAM, NUFOL and MULTI product ranges. 'The increased storage capacity has only improved our ability to better service our customer base, and this is supported by our local team of FACTS qualified crop nutrition farm account managers.'
The Guardian
28-05-2025
- Business
- The Guardian
European fertiliser plants use US ammonia made with shale gas, investigation reveals
The coastal city of Freeport, Texas is a dense tangle of metal pipes, tanks and towers. Located 60 miles south of Houston, it's home to a sprawling petrochemical complex – one of the largest and most polluting in the US. Among its facilities is a plant dedicated to the production of ammonia, a colourless compound of nitrogen and hydrogen and a key ingredient in fertilisers widely used on industrial arable farms – including on fields of barley, wheat and maize across Europe. Chemicals giants Yara and BASF opened the factory to great fanfare in 2018, promising 'cost-efficient' and 'sustainable' ammonia production. Unlike conventional plants, which use hydrogen made from natural gas, this factory would employ a hydrogen 'byproduct' from a nearby Dow plant producing components for plastic, they said, helping to tackle the fertiliser industry's sizeable carbon footprint. But an investigation by DeSmog, Data Desk and the Guardian reveals that despite these green promises, the Yara Freeport plant is relying on hydrogen made from US shale gas – one of the most environmentally and socially damaging fossil fuels – to manufacture its ammonia in Texas. Analysis of pipeline and permit documents traces the source of this gas hundreds of miles west of Freeport to the Permian Basin – the second largest gas-producing region in the US. Experts said Yara and BASF's claim the production process was gas-free was 'not true at all'. While the recycling of hydrogen results in energy savings overall, the fuel has to be replaced with fossil gas, meaning that Yara Freeport indirectly drives demand for gas. Despite these links to fracked gas and uncertain carbon savings, the investigation shows this ammonia is being shipped to fertiliser factories in Europe. Yara – which remains Europe's largest industrial buyer of natural gas and is globally responsible for emissions equivalent to 16 coal-fired power plants each year – claims it is 'committed to reducing emissions' and 'mitigating climate change'. Yet shale gas extraction through fracking releases large volumes of the potent greenhouse gas methane and multiple toxic chemicals and pollutants into the air and water. Ammonia production's gas demand is expected to triple in the next decades, driven by a booming fertiliser trade currently estimated at about $200bn. The use and production of fertiliser is already a major contributor to climate breakdown, creating more emissions than aviation and shipping combined. Efforts to tackle fertiliser emissions in Europe appear to have stalled since an ambitious reductions pledge was announced in 2021. 'European countries and companies claim to be feeding the world with 'clean' fertilisers and fuelling the future with 'clean' energy,' says Taylor Hodge, an agrochemicals campaigner from the Washington-based group the Center for International Environmental Law. 'In reality, they're offshoring the pollution, costs, and risks to communities in the US Gulf south.' Yara's plant in Freeport is the company's first investment on US soil. The Norwegian chemicals giant – Europe's largest fertiliser producer – said in its joint launch press release with the German multinational BASF that its use of hydrogen byproduct would reduce the environmental impact of 750,000 tonnes of ammonia production a year. Pipeline maps and permit documents show the hydrogen supplying Yara's plant can be traced back to fracked gas stored at Mont Belvieu, a vast salt dome containing dozens of caverns filled with natural gas liquids from several shale gas basins including the Permian. From Mont Belvieu, the fracked gas is piped 90 miles south to Dow's ethylene plant in Freeport, just metres from the ammonia plant, where an intensive steam cracking process produces both ethylene and hydrogen. Yara claims the Freeport plant's use of byproduct hydrogen reduces emissions from chemical production by 25%, but experts say that while such savings are possible, they do not go far enough. 'Just because it's a byproduct doesn't mean it's clean,' says Paul Martin, a chemical engineer with Spitfire Research, a Toronto-based consultancy specialising in industry decarbonisation. While Yara can claim it is using a more 'sustainable' byproduct, Dow's plant has to use more fracked gas to fuel its furnace to replace the lost heat energy it would otherwise have generated from burning its hydrogen in-house. According to Martin, this would amount to about 1.1m kg of natural gas a year being fed to the cracker furnaces to replace the lost heat energy from hydrogen. He therefore says that while the use of byproduct hydrogen is more efficient overall, reducing the amount of fossil fuels required to produce Yara's ammonia, it is 'not true at all' to say the ammonia production is gas-free, since it is also driving up Dow's use of natural gas. Sign up to Down to Earth The planet's most important stories. Get all the week's environment news - the good, the bad and the essential after newsletter promotion Yara's use of fracked gas makes a mockery of Yara's 'green' expansion in Europe and undermines its attempts at 'sustainable' US production, according to Hodge. 'The Freeport facility is making ammonia out of hydrogen derived from fossil gas – plain and simple,' she says. 'The flow of feedstocks from plastic production and other petrochemical operations makes it clear how deeply these dirty industries are intertwined. Yara's claims mislead the public about their climate- and community-harming emissions.' Yara recently closed two of its largest European ammonia plants, in France and Belgium. Despite this, the company maintains that 'a strong European fertiliser industry is crucial not only for ensuring food security in Europe and globally but also for enabling Europe to lead the green transition' and has highlighted recent investments in 'green ammonia' created using renewable energy at plants in Norway and the Netherlands. Yara has communicated little about how its European facilities are using ammonia imported from its US plant, but DeSmog and Data Desk were able to trace ammonia shipped across the Atlantic Ocean from Yara's Freeport facility to a number of key European fertiliser plants. Analysis of customs and shipping data reveals that about a quarter of Yara Freeport ammonia is exported outside of the US, with more than 90% of this shipped to Europe to be made into fertiliser. These fertilisers – used for everything from wheat to potatoes – are shipped onwards to Asian and European markets. In 2023, Ireland received about 14% of all its fertiliser imports from the facilities, while the UK received about 8% and Spain almost 6%. The investigation 'exposes the bitter truth' of the industry, according to Raj Patel, a research professor at the University of Texas in Austin and panel expert at the IPES-Food coalition, who said a focus on green hydrogen fertiliser technology did not address underlying issues around fertiliser use, and called for policies that instead targeted reduction. 'They don't touch the root problem – the overuse, pollution and potent greenhouse gas emissions happening on farms,' he said. 'We're applying 21st-century technology to preserve 20th-century farming problems.' 'While fertiliser giant Yara markets 'green solutions', it's actually pioneering new frontiers for fracking and fossil fuels. Our food system is becoming Big Oil's emergency escape hatch.' A Yara spokesperson said: 'Yara is a leader in the transition to lower-carbon fertilisers and low-emission ammonia. Profitable decarbonisation is a top strategic priority, and since 2005, we have reduced our greenhouse gas emissions by about 45%. Ammonia produced at Yara's Freeport plant has always relied on hydrogen derived from natural gas, supplied by third parties. Still, the configuration of the plant makes it both one of the lowest emitters of pollutants and one of the lowest carbon intensity plants in the US.' BASF and Dow did not respond to requests for comment. This article was supported by a grant from
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
EU ready to tax Russian fertilisers as early as July
EU lawmakers are set to greenlight tariffs on fertiliser imports from Russia on Thursday, despite European farmers' fears the move risks sending global prices soaring. Over a quarter of the 27-nation bloc's imports of nitrogen-based fertilisers come from Russia, with more entering from Moscow ally Belarus -- which the European Commission now seeks to bring to an end. Seeking to allay farmers' worries, Brussels says it will impose the duties from July and gradually increase them up to 2028 until they reach a level that would fully cut off the flow. Three years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU must stop fuelling "the Russian war machine" and "limit the dependency of Europe's farmers to Russian fertilisers", said lawmaker Inese Vaidere, spearheading the push in the EU parliament to impose the tariffs. Barring any last-minute drama, the European Parliament is expected to approve the tariffs -- although some right-wing lawmakers had been calling for a one-year suspension. The move is not welcomed by farmers. With rising production costs, pan-European farmers' group Copa-Cogeca explained, using Russian fertilisers was "the most competitive in terms of price, due to well-established logistics" for supplying the EU. Brussels also intends for the levies to prevent the indirect export of Russian gas, which is used to produce fertilisers. The EU also wants to increase the bloc's own fertiliser production, and its moves are welcomed by the fertiliser industry in the bloc. "Time is running out. We've been basically calling for action at the EU level for three years," said Tiffanie Stephani of Norwegian fertiliser manufacturer Yara. But she admitted the farmers' concerns were "more than legitimate". - 'Punishing farmers' - The EU has its work cut out to reassure farmers, who are already angry about administrative burdens, squeezed revenues and what they see as unfair competition from less-regulated overseas rivals. The tariff could be "potentially devastating" for the agriculture sector, warned Copa-Cogeca, adding: "European farmers must not become collateral damage." A farmer in central Belgium, Amaury Poncelet, accused the EU of hurting the sector. After spreading nitrogen fertiliser on his field in Berloz -- which he buys from a dealer in Ghent without knowing where it comes from -- the grain and beet farmer said he "doesn't understand the European Union's idea of punishing its farmers". "We're losing money because of these European decisions that treat us like pawns who don't matter," he said. The EU has suggested that duties on imports from North Africa, Central Asia, the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and Nigeria could be removed to alleviate pressure on prices, among other mitigating measures, should the duties lead to price shocks. Yara's Stephani pointed to estimates showing that, with tariffs on Russian imports, there would be an increase of fertiliser prices of five to 10 dollars per tonne "because of different logistic costs". Prices vary, but a tonne of nitrogen fertiliser is currently worth around $400. adc/raz/ec/rmb
Int'l Business Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Int'l Business Times
EU Ready To Tax Russian Fertilisers As Early As July
EU lawmakers are set to greenlight tariffs on fertiliser imports from Russia on Thursday, despite European farmers' fears the move risks sending global prices soaring. Over a quarter of the 27-nation bloc's imports of nitrogen-based fertilisers come from Russia, with more entering from Moscow ally Belarus -- which the European Commission now seeks to bring to an end. Seeking to allay farmers' worries, Brussels says it will impose the duties from July and gradually increase them up to 2028 until they reach a level that would fully cut off the flow. Three years after Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the EU must stop fuelling "the Russian war machine" and "limit the dependency of Europe's farmers to Russian fertilisers", said lawmaker Inese Vaidere, spearheading the push in the EU parliament to impose the tariffs. Barring any last-minute drama, the European Parliament is expected to approve the tariffs -- although some right-wing lawmakers had been calling for a one-year suspension. The move is not welcomed by farmers. With rising production costs, pan-European farmers' group Copa-Cogeca explained, using Russian fertilisers was "the most competitive in terms of price, due to well-established logistics" for supplying the EU. Brussels also intends for the levies to prevent the indirect export of Russian gas, which is used to produce fertilisers. The EU also wants to increase the bloc's own fertiliser production, and its moves are welcomed by the fertiliser industry in the bloc. "Time is running out. We've been basically calling for action at the EU level for three years," said Tiffanie Stephani of Norwegian fertiliser manufacturer Yara. But she admitted the farmers' concerns were "more than legitimate". The EU has its work cut out to reassure farmers, who are already angry about administrative burdens, squeezed revenues and what they see as unfair competition from less-regulated overseas rivals. The tariff could be "potentially devastating" for the agriculture sector, warned Copa-Cogeca, adding: "European farmers must not become collateral damage." A farmer in central Belgium, Amaury Poncelet, accused the EU of hurting the sector. After spreading nitrogen fertiliser on his field in Berloz -- which he buys from a dealer in Ghent without knowing where it comes from -- the grain and beet farmer said he "doesn't understand the European Union's idea of punishing its farmers". "We're losing money because of these European decisions that treat us like pawns who don't matter," he said. The EU has suggested that duties on imports from North Africa, Central Asia, the United States, Trinidad and Tobago, and Nigeria could be removed to alleviate pressure on prices, among other mitigating measures, should the duties lead to price shocks. Yara's Stephani pointed to estimates showing that, with tariffs on Russian imports, there would be an increase of fertiliser prices of five to 10 dollars per tonne "because of different logistic costs". Prices vary, but a tonne of nitrogen fertiliser is currently worth around $400.
