Ep 41 - Jennifer Harper, Founder of Cheekbone Beauty – The Indigenous Makeup Brand Taking Over Instagram

Cheekbone Beauty Founder Jennifer Harper

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Cheekbone Beauty, founded by Ojibwe entrepreneur Jennifer Harper in 2016, is bringing indigenous women across North America together through lipstick. The Canadian-made cosmetics brand supports First Nations education through the sale of every lipstick, and in its Instagram feed you’ll see hundreds of indigenous and non-indigenous women alike wearing knock-out shades that can rival Nars, M.A.C and Kat Von D. (Just ask Carlene, who kept getting asked what hot pink and coral lipsticks she was wearing the whole time she was in L.A.!)

Find out the inspiring stories behind the shade names, each named after a strong, indigenous woman. Then, hear all about Jenn’s incredible journey in overcoming alcoholism, surviving her brother’s suicide, reconciling her identity and eventually, how she would come to start a socially conscious beauty business as rich in heart as its fashion-forward pigments.

We’ve got the foils (like being rejected during a Dragon’s Den audition) and the fist pump moments (like being invited to a round table on female entrepreneurship by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau), including a new ambassador program set to give dozens of women new skills and financial rewards as they help Cheekbone Beauty rise to the top.

Products mentioned in this episode: Cheekbone Beauty Long Lasting Liquid Lipstick in Sarain, Waneek, Shannen, Bethany and Devery

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 25 - Botox Pioneer Dr. Jean Carruthers

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Is there a breakthrough beauty product any bigger than Botox? We think not. In this re-visiting of some serious beauty history, we go straight to the source, detailing just how Vancouver-based physician Dr. Jean Carruthers came to the eureka moment that Botox, originally used to treat eye spasms, migraines and cerebral palsy, could revolutionize the way we smooth wrinkles. Stay tuned as she recalls the LOL faces in the medical community when she stood up to suggest that the world’s deadliest toxin be injected into people’s faces, and the moment those naysayers started coming to her for their personal Bo-Bo fix.

We get to the bottom of the most Googled questions about Botox like: When should I start using Botox? (If you choose, nobody needs Botox, especially if you haven't cracked a wrinkle yet!!) How much does it cost? Is it safe?

And, Carlene and Jill share their personal experiences under the needle. Video evidence in our private Facebook group! Anyone want to guess how many cc’s Carlene’s had? Or Jill? Anyone??

Dr. Carruthers spills the secrets on where Botox is going next, with some #realtalk on topical Botox creams—poised to launch in just two years—including the hidden dangers and jaw-dropping future opportunities in the medical field (our minds were legit blown!) Plus, a sneaky longer-lasting injectable that’s sophisticated users are going to be real happy about real soon…

Products mentioned in this episode: Botox Cosmetic

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Episode Partnership: To receive $10 off of your first FabFitFun seasonal subscription box filled with full-sized beauty, fitness, fashion and lifestyle products, use the Coupon Code: BEAUTY. Each box is valued at over $200 but you get it all for just $49.99. 

Ep 19 - Invisibobble Co-Founder Sophie Trelles-Tvede

Meet today’s version of the scrunchie, the Invisibobble! But you probably don’t need an introduction, you probably have one in your hair right now. Or maybe your daughter is wearing one of the telephone cord-looking hair holders, or your spin instructor, or that cute girl with the loose bun across the subway aisle. Last year, four million units of Invisibobble were sold worldwide, that’s eight spiral thingys per minute.

Now meet the inventor of Invisibobble, Sophie Trelles-Tvede, who was an 18-year-old university student when she dreamed up the idea, fresh from a dorm party (been there!). The co-founder approached her friend, Felix Haffa, and with their combined savings of $4,000, launched a massive beauty brand. But just how did their ages work to their advantage? You may be surprised to hear that social media had zero to do with it. You might also enjoy hearing about the time that their ages definitely did not work in their favour during one of their early business deals (don't worry, they got theirs).

Today, Trelles-Tvede has been featured in Forbes 30 Under 30, and she has given TedxTalks on how to trade in four years-worth of red bull-vodkas to start a small business (that quickly grew humungous.) Armed with their tagline, “That Simple”, Invisibobble is already in every girl’s ponytail, and they’re not stopping there. Find out in this episode how the beauty brand is planning to re-invent another oldie but goodie hair staple (hello, SATC fans!) this spring—and even more smart solutions, revealed!

Products mentioned in this episode: Invisibobble Power, Nano and Original; EOS Lip Balms

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

All the things you can do with an Invisibobble

Ep 17 - Deciem’s The Ordinary Founder Brandon Truaxe

Deciem founder Brandon Truaxe

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By popular demand, we bring you Deciem mastermind Brandon Truaxe, who has shaken up the beauty world with his ‘Abnormal Beauty Company’. In this episode, we unravel the origin story behind The Ordinary, which has made headlines far and wide thanks to the skincare line’s high active ingredients at dollar store prices. Brandon walks us through his zig zag trajectory to bad boy fame, starting with his dramatic exit from a high school job, his first career path, and what led him to switch gears entirely before launching Deciem, the parent company of nine spin-off brands (and counting!) that include The Ordinary, NIOD, Hylamide, Fountain and more.

Unplugged and completely unfiltered, Brandon reveals the real deal struggles behind beauty start ups, coming clean on the past companies he walked away from and who his friends and enemies are in business. Find out why Deciem, now earning over $150 million a year, is the apple of every conglomerate’s eye and why it was Estée Lauder they chose to partner with last year. As Deciem begins its American roll out of stand-alone stores this year, Brandon shares the reason that Deciem is entering Sephora and saying buh-bye to its drugstore roots, having shot to number one at Boots with Deciem’s first hit, Hand Chemistry.

And finally, learn which products have been “life-changing” to The Ordinary’s legions of fans, and what they can look forward to in helping to de-code which skincare regimen is right for them (in the meantime, check out this post by Wayne Goss over on Beautylish.) We also got the scoop on two majorrr innovations that we can all look forward to next, one of them practically out of this world, another, a scent unlike anything you’ve ever smelled before.

Products mentioned in this episode: The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 23% + HA Spheres 2%; The Ordinary Vitamin C Suspension 30% in Silicone; The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid 2% + B5; The Chemistry Brand Hand Chemistry; Indeed Labs Nanoblur Instant Skin Blurring Cream

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Meet The Woman Who Invented My First Beauty Crush, Solange Dessimoulie, Founder of Decléor Paris

It was probably around 2010 when I discovered my first beauty crush. I may have been wearing a pair of Uggs at the time. I was a newb beauty editor at a major fashion mag and this was long before oils were a thing. I was experiencing a heavenly Decléor aromatherapy facial at The Bay in Toronto. The waft of neroli oil—a warm orange blossom—had me hooked on the first nostril hit, and I treasured the little frosted flask of the Aromessence oil serum every time I'd pack for a press trip. Post-flight, I would pour out a few drops onto my palms, spread it around and press it onto my face, giving my skin a miraculously non-greasy glow and my spirit an instant boost (neroli is also known to aid in anxiety, so no joke it was a travel must for my finicky system).

Truth be told I never thought about who created that first love of mine until I was invited to meet the founder a couple of weeks back—didn't even know that person was still part of the company! Turns out she is, and her name is Solange Dessimoulie. She reminded me of a French Betty White. Besides the physical resemblance, I loved how this 70-something woman gave zero effs about what it was that she was supposed to say, instead speaking her mind because you know, she’s earned it. Of course, I didn’t understand much of what she said as she chatted on in French, but thankfully, I had an interpreter who worked hard to condense five sentences into one.

In 1976 Dessimoulie was a beautician studying aromatherapy at the University of Bobigny in France. It was then that she met up with an aromatherapist thirty years her senior named Caroline Colliard. Taking one look at the ‘energy’ in her face, Dessimoulie said, “You have a secret I want.” Together, they went on to pioneer the introduction of aromatherapy in skincare, something many of us spoiled spa-goers may take for granted today.

“The most difficult thing is to mix different essential oils and plant oils because of the complex molecules,” says Dessimoulie. “To retain good smell and good results, is truly a savoire faire, otherwise it can irritate or even burn the skin.” In the forty years since she started, essential oils are about as common today as a poké bar, but on both fronts, freshness of ingredients count, as does the proper recipe. The gold standard is a blend that mimics your skin’s natural pH and oil consistency so it penetrates rather than leaving a slick layer.

Equally as remarkable about Decléor though is its sparky founder, who has stayed close by even after the company has changed hands three times in her lifetime (in 2014 it was purchased by L’Oréal), and even as Dessimoulie floats through her Golden years. “I’m a dolphin in the industry, because I adapt and dah dah dah, dah dah dah,” she concludes, her hand gesturing as though it’s leaping through waves. No translation needed. – Carlene