In Conversation: Cosmetics Design interviews indie brand leaders

Here, in their own words, brand leaders talk about the products and businesses and strategies that make the indie beauty movement tick.  

Mindful​
At IBE LA in January, Āether Beauty founder Tiila Abbitt spoke with Cosmetics Design about environmentally sustainable beauty packaging, how international trade relationships affect recycling in the US, her brand’s approach to ingredient sourcing, and more! Watch the full video interview here: This is what mindful beauty looks like​

Social​
Influencer, author, and actor Africa Miranda spoke with Cosmetics Design at IBE NY last August about how she’s using her story telling skills to develop and market skin care inspired by her favorite travel destinations. Watch the full video interview here: Content Creator: How Africa Miranda is using storytelling to build a beauty business​

Imaginative​
Michelle Vidal talked with Cosmetics Design at that same event about her innovative brand Alkaglam and the brand’s first product, a refillable mineral facial mist that mimics the skin care benefits of thermal spring water. Watch the full video interview here: Alkaglam refillable mineral spray puts skin care chemistry in the consumers’ hands​

Clean​
New Zealand - based Ao Skincare used Cosmoprof North America event last July to showcase the clean, cruelty-free brand’s new look. There, co-founder and dermatologist Mark Gray sat down with Cosmetics Design. Watch the full video interview here: Dr Mark Grey launches rebranded Ao Skincare at Cosmoprof North America​

Prebiotic​
AYUNA co-founder Dr Isabel Ramos spoke about her brand’s use of postbiotic preservatives and prebiotic actives at this year’s AIRS Conference in Barcelona and the next day, with Cosmetics Design. Watch the full video interview here: AYUNA is formulating skin care with postbiotic and prebiotic active ingredients​

High-tech​
Beauty Tribe co-founder Michiyo Oishi spoke with Cosmetics Design about her brand’s hair styling tools, the patented technology involved, and what device innovations like the Jetset hot Rollers mean for hair care and styling product developers. Watch the full video interview here: Cooler Tools: Why brands like Beauty Tribe matter to hair care formulators​

Natural​
Chey Birch leads an Australian-based skin care and wellness brand that started small and fairly serendipitously but has since grown to be a popular organic brand worldwide. She spoke with Cosmetics Design early this year about the brand and the global interest in beauty from Oceana. Watch the full video interview here: Black Chicken Remedies and the appeal of Australian beauty brands​

Longstanding ​
Not every indie brand is new. Caswell-Massey is a case in point. The fragrance brand may have been startup in the 1700s, but no more. Last summer the brand’s CEO Nicolas Arauz spoke with Cosmetics Design about the challenge of updating a brand with such an imposing legacy. Watch the full video interview here: Caswell-Massey: an on-trend indie brand that’s centuries old​

Discover 8 more interviews with indie brand leaders here​.

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Deanna Utroske, CosmeticsDesign.com Editor, covers beauty business news in the Americas region and publishes the weekly Indie Beauty Profile column, showcasing the inspiring work of entrepreneurs and innovative brands.