We have been building the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster Awards with one very simple idea in mind: we did not want to create just another beauty award. Of course, there will be medals. There will be winners. There will be recognition, announcements, celebration and all the things that should come with being selected as one of the best in your category. But we wanted to ask a bigger question: if we tell you that your product, company, technology, idea or work is exceptional, what happens next? That question became the foundation of the entire Awards program.

The Canadian Cosmetic Cluster has spent years bringing together people from across the cosmetics ecosystem — founders, formulators, scientists, ingredient companies, manufacturers, retailers, distributors, strategists, marketers, technology companies and international partners. Rather than creating an awards program that sits separately from that ecosystem, we decided to build the ecosystem directly into the prize. The result is an awards program designed not only to recognize excellence, but to help exceptional people and companies move forward.

What Are the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster Awards?
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The 2026 Canadian Cosmetic Cluster Awards celebrate excellence across Canada’s cosmetics, beauty, wellness, aesthetics and personal care industries, while also welcoming outstanding international companies and innovators who want to build connections with the Canadian market. The Awards recognize achievement across innovation, leadership, scientific and technical development, creativity, sustainability, entrepreneurship, communication and industry impact. They are open to a broad range of participants — from emerging founders and independent brands to ingredient developers, technology companies, formulators, established businesses and international organizations. 

The 2026 Award categories are:

• Ingredient Innovation
• Canadian Product Innovation
• Global Product Innovation
• Packaging Innovation
• Sustainability Impact
• Founder of the Year
• Social Influencer / Beauty Science Communicator
• Formulation Science & Technology Innovation
• Brand Marketing Campaign
• Best International Indie Brand

Each category has been created to recognize a different part of what makes our industry exciting. A breakthrough ingredient deserves to be evaluated differently from a brilliant marketing campaign. A founder’s story is different from a packaging innovation. A cosmetic scientist communicating complex information to the public brings a completely different kind of value than a new finished product. That is why each category has its own submission process and judging considerations. A separate nomination, applicable category questionnaire and entry fee are required for each category entered. 

Yes, You Get a Medal. But That Is Not the Whole Prize.We love recognition. We think achievement should be celebrated properly, and winners of the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster Awards will receive an official Awards medal. But we also wanted the prize to have a point. If you have built something remarkable, we want to help answer the question: how can we take it to the next level?

That is why many of our judges and industry specialists are contributing their own expertise to the winner prize packages. Depending on placement and category, winners may gain access to private mentoring, consultations, business strategy, cosmetic formulation and product-development expertise, branding guidance, retail and distribution insight, technology services, social media and influencer guidance, and other professional support. For example, our judging panel includes cosmetic scientists who can help brands think through formulation and claims, business strategists who can look at pricing and growth, retail and distribution experts who understand how products actually get onto shelves, technology specialists working at the intersection of AI and cosmetics, and industry professionals who understand how science, branding and consumer behaviour come together. Several judges are contributing tangible professional services as part of the prizes. Mary Orlando is offering business growth and strategy support covering areas such as distribution, retail and professional channels, differentiation, pricing and customer experience. Rachel Baker and Tejo are contributing technology consultations and access to Tejo services, with packages valued at up to $2,000 for first place and up to $1,000 for second and third place. Annie Graham is contributing formulation and brand mentoring, helping emerging companies navigate questions around ingredients, claims, manufacturing, positioning and pricing. Dr. Julian Sass is also contributing consultation around formulation, product development, social media and working with influencers.

That is what we mean when we say these Awards are meant to do something. The medal matters. The recognition matters. But the conversation that happens after you win may matter even more. A Judging Panel Built Around the Real Beauty EcosystemWe deliberately did not want a judging panel made up of people who all do the same thing.
Beauty businesses do not grow in a straight line. A company can have an outstanding formula and struggle with branding. It can have beautiful branding and no distribution strategy. It can have strong science but struggle to communicate it. It can have an incredible product but not understand retail, pricing, claims, technology or the consumer.
Our judging panel therefore brings together expertise across cosmetic science, R&D, formulation, branding, retail, distribution, business strategy, artificial intelligence, consumer communication and entrepreneurship.

The panel includes Annie Graham, Angela Wallace, Frank Turco, Mary Orlando, Dr. Diego Lapetina, Rachel Baker and Dr. Julian Sass — professionals whose experience spans everything from scientific product development and claim substantiation to wholesale growth, luxury retail, business strategy, AI technology, brand development and beauty science communication.
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The point is not simply to have impressive names on a judging page. The point is to bring together people who understand different pieces of what it actually takes to build, grow and sustain a successful company in this industry.
International Companies: We Built This for You TooOne of the most important parts of the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster has always been connecting Canada with the international cosmetics community. So although these are the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster Awards, international companies are very much invited to participate.

If you are a brand, ingredient company, technology provider or innovator outside Canada and you have been thinking about entering the Canadian market, the Awards can become a practical way to start that conversation. Maybe your company needs to understand Canadian distribution. Maybe you need retail connections. Maybe your technology would benefit from Canadian industry exposure. Maybe you are looking for formulation partners, professional channels, marketing support or introductions. Or perhaps you simply want Canadian industry leaders to see what you have created. The Awards provide an opportunity to put your work in front of people who understand the market from several different angles. Winning cannot guarantee distribution, retail placement or a commercial partnership — and we would never pretend that it could. But it can create visibility, conversations, connections and access to expertise, and sometimes those are exactly the things a company needs to begin moving into a new market.

What Are We Looking For?
We are looking for work that deserves to be noticed.That might be a product solving an old problem in a genuinely better way. It could be a founder who has built something extraordinary through persistence and vision. It could be an ingredient backed by strong science, a packaging concept reducing environmental impact, a technology changing how consumers interact with beauty, or a communicator making complicated cosmetic science accessible to thousands of people. For the Founder of the Year category, for example, judges will consider leadership and vision, entrepreneurship and growth, innovation, industry and customer impact, purpose and values, resilience and future potential. Across the Awards more broadly, what matters is being able to show why your work is important.
Tell us what you created. Tell us why it is different. Give us evidence where you have it. Show us the problem you solved, the growth you created, the science behind the innovation, the people you influenced or the impact your work has made. This is not about who can write the fanciest awards entry. It is about helping the judges understand why what you have built deserves recognition.

How to Enter
Entering begins by selecting the category that best fits your product, company, founder, technology, campaign or achievement. Applicants then complete the online nomination and the questions associated with their selected category, provide relevant supporting information, and submit the application. Supporting materials can vary depending on the category and may include company information, business milestones, scientific or technical evidence, professional recognition, media coverage, photographs, testimonials, videos, website links and other relevant documentation. For applicable product categories, physical product samples may also be requested after the nomination has been received. Once the nomination has been submitted, applicants complete the $250 CAD entry fee for that category. Companies wishing to enter more than one category are welcome to do so, but each category requires its own nomination and entry fee. 
Submitted information will remain confidential and will be used for awards administration and judging unless the applicant has granted permission for promotional use. 
The 2026 Dates
Entries for the 2026 Canadian Cosmetic Cluster Awards open September 8, 2026 and close October 30, 2026. Winners will be announced November 30, 2026. That gives applicants time to tell us their story properly, gather the evidence that supports their entry and show the judging panel what makes their work worth celebrating. Come for the Medal. Stay for What Happens Next.At its heart, that is what we want these Awards to represent. The cosmetics industry is built by people who create, experiment, formulate, test, design, sell, communicate, take risks and keep going when things do not work the first time. There is a huge amount of talent in this industry, and sometimes what an exceptional company needs most is simply the right person to notice what they are doing.

We want to celebrate that work.
But we also want to connect it.

If you have developed something you're genuinely proud of, show us. Bring us the product you think deserves a bigger audience. Bring us the ingredient that does something nobody else has figured out. Bring us the founder story, the technology, the packaging breakthrough, the campaign, the science or the idea that you believe deserves to be seen. Yes, we hope you win the medal.

But more importantly, we hope participating in the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster Awards introduces you to new people, gives you new ideas and helps you see a bigger opportunity for whatever you have built. Because recognition is wonderful. What you do with it next is where things get interesting.

Every year, the fragrance industry gathers to celebrate the art and science of perfumery, but there is something truly special about experiencing SIMPPAR in Grasse, France—the historic birthplace of modern perfumery.

Held on May 26–27, 2026, the 19th edition of SIMPPAR brought together raw material producers, essential oil specialists, fragrance houses, ingredient innovators, and perfumers from around the world. Hosted outdoors on the Cours Honoré-Cresp in the heart of Grasse, the event offered a uniquely intimate atmosphere where visitors could explore the latest innovations while surrounded by the history and culture that have shaped the fragrance industry for centuries. SIMPPAR remains one of the most important international exhibitions dedicated exclusively to raw materials for perfumery, attracting suppliers and professionals from across the global fragrance supply chain.
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Walking through the exhibition, visitors encountered an incredible range of ingredients, from traditional essential oils and botanical extracts to cutting-edge biotechnology, fermentation-derived materials, aroma molecules, and sustainable sourcing initiatives. The event highlighted how rapidly the fragrance industry continues to evolve while maintaining its deep connection to natural raw materials and craftsmanship.
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A Highlight of the Visit: Maison Sanganeria & Ultra International

One of the highlights of our visit was the opportunity to spend time at Maison Sanganeria, the beautiful Grasse residence hosted by Ultra International during SIMPPAR week.

Far more than a traditional supplier, Ultra International has built a reputation as one of the world's leading specialists in natural raw materials and essential oils. With operations spanning multiple continents and a vertically integrated sourcing model, the company works directly at origin to secure high-quality essential oils, citrus ingredients, botanical extracts, and natural aromatic materials. This direct connection to growers and production regions allows Ultra to maintain strong control over quality, consistency, traceability, and sustainability throughout its supply chain.

Visiting Maison Sanganeria provided a unique opportunity to experience the company's philosophy firsthand. The setting reflected the importance of relationships, heritage, and sourcing excellence within the fragrance industry. Conversations moved beyond ingredients alone and focused on the stories behind the materials, the communities that produce them, and the future of natural innovation.

Essential Oils Continue to Shape the Future

What was particularly exciting was seeing the continued investment and growth surrounding essential oils and natural aromatic materials. While biotechnology and synthetic ingredients are playing an increasingly important role within fragrance creation, the demand for authentic natural ingredients remains strong.
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Companies such as Ultra International continue to invest heavily in sourcing networks, origin partnerships, extraction technologies, and supply-chain transparency. Their portfolio spans citrus oils, botanicals, CO₂ extracts, fragrance ingredients, and other natural raw materials sourced from production regions around the world. This commitment to natural ingredients reflects a broader industry trend toward traceability, sustainability, and ingredient storytelling.

Why SIMPPAR Matters

​What makes SIMPPAR unique is its focus on raw materials. Unlike many larger industry exhibitions, SIMPPAR brings ingredient producers and perfumers together in a highly specialized environment where discussions center on innovation, sourcing, quality, and creativity.

The event creates opportunities for meaningful conversations between growers, extractors, ingredient manufacturers, fragrance houses, and brands. It is a place where new ideas emerge, partnerships are formed, and the future direction of fragrance innovation begins to take shape. SIMPPAR's equal-booth format also creates a welcoming atmosphere where small producers and multinational companies stand side by side, encouraging collaboration across the industry.

As natural ingredients, biotechnology, sustainability, and traceability continue to influence the future of fragrance, events such as SIMPPAR provide an important platform for discovering what comes next.
For the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster, the experience reinforced the importance of connecting directly with ingredient innovators and supply-chain leaders. From the bustling exhibition floor to the memorable visit at Maison Sanganeria, SIMPPAR 2026 demonstrated why Grasse remains one of the world's most important centers for fragrance creativity and innovation.

We look forward to returning and continuing to explore the people, ingredients, and ideas shaping the future of beauty and fragrance.

The Workhorse of Modern Formulation

The beauty industry is constantly searching for ingredients that can do more with less—reducing formulation complexity, improving performance, and helping brands bring innovative products to market faster. TYDRA ONE™ is positioning itself as one of those next-generation multifunctional ingredients.

Join the Canadian Cosmetic Cluster and Tydra Labs for an upcoming webinar exploring how TYDRA ONE™ is helping formulators rethink performance, efficiency, and formulation design. The session will provide a closer look at how multifunctional polymers can simplify development while supporting the growing demands of modern cosmetic products.

Why Multifunctional Ingredients MatterToday's formulators face increasing pressure. Consumers expect high performance, elegant textures, sustainability, cost efficiency, and ingredient transparency—all within a single formula. At the same time, development teams are often working with tighter timelines and increasingly complex regulatory and supply-chain requirements.

This is where multifunctional ingredients can make a significant difference.

Rather than relying on multiple raw materials to achieve specific formulation objectives, multifunctional technologies are designed to deliver several benefits simultaneously. This can help streamline formulations, reduce complexity, improve processing efficiency, and potentially lower overall formulation costs.

What Makes TYDRA ONE™ Different?

​TYDRA ONE™ has been developed to address some of the common challenges faced by formulators today. The technology offers opportunities to simplify product development while maintaining performance and sensory expectations.

For brands, this can mean:

• Simpler formulation strategies
• Reduced ingredient complexity
• Greater formulation flexibility
• Enhanced product performance
• Faster development timelines
• Opportunities for innovation across multiple product categories

As consumers continue to seek products that are both effective and elegant, ingredients capable of delivering multiple functions within a single system are becoming increasingly valuable tools for formulators.

The Future of Cosmetic FormulationThe future of cosmetic development is not necessarily about adding more ingredients—it's about making ingredients work smarter.

Innovations such as TYDRA ONE™ demonstrate how advanced material science can help formulators create sophisticated products while reducing unnecessary complexity. Whether developing skincare, haircare, color cosmetics, or hybrid beauty products, multifunctional technologies are becoming an essential part of the modern formulation toolkit.

For formulators, product developers, ingredient suppliers, and beauty brands, this webinar offers an opportunity to explore one of the latest ingredient innovations designed to help solve real-world formulation challenges.

Join the Webinar - Discover how TYDRA ONE™ is helping formulators simplify development while delivering high-performance results.

About TYDRA LaboratoriesTYDRA Laboratories is a biotechnology company focused on developing innovative biomaterials for the cosmetic, personal care, and wellness industries. Combining expertise in biomaterials science, fermentation technology, synthetic biology, circular economy innovation, and cosmetic product development, the company creates ingredients designed to solve real-world formulation challenges. Through technologies such as TYDRA ONE™, TYDRA Laboratories is helping formulators simplify ingredient decks, improve product performance, and develop more sustainable solutions for the next generation of beauty and personal care products. The company's mission is simple: create smarter ingredients that help formulators build better products.

Jaiya Varshney Co-Founder | TYDRA Laboratories
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Jaiya Varshney is a sustainability entrepreneur and biomaterials innovator passionate about the future of beauty, skincare, and cosmetic formulation. As both a beauty enthusiast and entrepreneur, she brings a unique consumer-centered perspective to ingredient and product development. Her work focuses on connecting cutting-edge biomaterial innovation with practical, market-ready solutions that deliver both performance and sustainability. Jaiya has collaborated with formulators, brands, researchers, and manufacturers to advance circular economy solutions within the beauty industry and was recently recognized as a BC Business 30 Under 30 recipient for her contributions to innovation and sustainable business development.

Dr. Athanasios ("Thanos") KritharisCo-Founder & Chief Scientific Officer | TYDRA Laboratories

Dr. Athanasios ("Thanos") Kritharis is a biochemical engineer and biomaterials researcher specializing in synthetic biology, fermentation technologies, and scalable bioprocessing systems. His work centers on developing high-performance biological materials that can be successfully commercialized across consumer product industries, including cosmetics and personal care. Combining academic research with applied industrial innovation, Dr. Kritharis brings deep expertise in how novel biomaterials can improve functionality, manufacturability, sustainability, and product performance. His scientific leadership helps drive TYDRA Laboratories' mission to develop practical ingredient technologies that address the evolving needs of modern formulators.

The beauty packaging industry continues to evolve through strategic partnerships, and one of the most notable developments this year is the acquisition of Asquan Group by Cosmogen. The transaction marks a significant milestone for both companies, bringing together two highly complementary organizations with a shared commitment to innovation, sustainability, and excellence in beauty packaging.

The newly formed Cosmogen & Asquan Group combines Cosmogen's internationally recognized expertise in applicator innovation and custom packaging development with Asquan Group's strengths in selective sourcing and global industrial management. Together, the companies aim to provide beauty brands with a broader portfolio of packaging solutions while accelerating innovation and expanding global market reach. For beauty brands and manufacturers, the merger offers access to a more comprehensive range of solutions, from award-winning applicators and patented packaging technologies to complete packaging systems available through both standard and customized development programs. The integration is expected to strengthen the group's ability to support brands throughout the entire packaging development process. One of the key advantages of the acquisition is the combination of complementary expertise. Cosmogen has built a strong reputation for creating innovative, high-performance packaging concepts that enhance product application and user experience. By joining forces with Asquan, the company gains additional capabilities in sourcing, manufacturing management, and global supply chain coordination, creating a stronger and more agile organization.

The merger also significantly expands the group's international footprint. With operations spanning Europe, North America, the Middle East, and Asia, Cosmogen & Asquan Group will be positioned to offer enhanced customer support, improved responsiveness, and greater proximity to beauty brands operating in multiple markets.

Innovation remains at the center of the group's strategy. By combining teams, resources, and technical expertise, the organization expects to accelerate product development timelines and deliver even more advanced packaging solutions to the global beauty market. This increased capacity will support both emerging indie brands and established multinational companies seeking sustainable and differentiated packaging solutions. Despite the expansion, Cosmogen emphasizes that its core values remain unchanged. Existing customers can expect the same commitment to quality, service, sustainability, and trusted partnerships that have defined the company for years. Current contacts and project teams will remain in place, ensuring continuity while providing access to expanded capabilities and resources. As the beauty industry continues to place greater emphasis on sustainability, functionality, and consumer experience, the formation of Cosmogen & Asquan Group represents a strategic step toward meeting the evolving needs of brands worldwide. The merger positions the organization as an even stronger partner for companies seeking innovative packaging solutions in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
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The Canadian Cosmetic Cluster congratulates the teams at Cosmogen and Asquan Group on this exciting new chapter and looks forward to seeing the innovations and opportunities that emerge from this partnership. As always if you have packaging questions we are happy to connect you with the Cosmogen Team. 

What if healthy skin isn't something you chase with the latest ingredient or trend, but something you understand through biology? In this edition of our Founder Spotlight Series, we sit down with Dr. Mireille Vega, founder of V*GAM Biome, to discuss her journey from biotechnology and oncology to building a skincare system rooted in prevention, adaptation, and whole-body health. With more than 30 years of experience spanning immunology, drug design, and skin science, Dr. Vega brings a unique perspective to the growing conversation around longevity and healthy aging.

Rather than viewing skin as a cosmetic surface, Dr. Vega sees it as a living biological system and often the first visible indicator of what is happening inside the body. In this conversation, she shares the personal experiences that inspired V*GAM Biome, why she believes prevention is more powerful than correction, and how women can build a healthier relationship with their skin by learning to listen, adapt, and support its changing needs throughout life.

From microbiome science to stress management, this interview offers thoughtful insights for founders, formulators, and consumers alike who are looking beyond beauty trends and toward lasting skin health.

1. Can you tell us a little bit about your journey and what inspired you to create V*GAM Biome?

I have been curious about how the body works for as long as I can remember. Before I ever had skin issues, I was already asking questions about what goes into the products we put on our bodies and why. When I started experiencing skin challenges as a teenager, I went deep. I became the person who reads every ingredient list, researches every claim, and tries to understand the biology behind it. That curiosity is what ultimately led me to become a chemist.

After completing my PhD in Biotechnology, I developed a formulation approach that made sense based on how skin actually functions biologically. That was in the early 2000s. But the market was not there yet, and the ingredients available were not sophisticated enough to do what I knew needed to be done. So I followed the science into other fields: oncology, immunology, and drug design.When my mother was diagnosed with leukemia, it pulled me even  deeper into those disciplines. Those years taught me something that permanently changed my perspective: the body's systems are interconnected. What I was learning about cancer prevention, immune function, and lifestyle factors applied directly to the skin. Prevention, not correction. Root function, not symptoms.

Years later, two things converged. The science and ingredient technology finally caught up to what I had envisioned. At the same time, my daughter began facing the same skin challenges I had experienced decades earlier.
That was the moment. I looked at her, looked at the closet full of expired products that had never worked for either of us, and decided enough was enough. I built V*GAM Biome to be what should have existed all along: a system that works with the skin's root functions and biology.

2. Longevity and healthy aging are becoming increasingly important conversations within beauty and wellness. What does longevity-focused skincare mean to you personally and professionally?

To me, it means I have been doing longevity work my entire career without calling it longevity. The conversation has finally arrived where the science has always been. When I think about longevity, I think about what I learned across 30 years in oncology, immunology, and health science. The same risk factors that contribute to conditions that shorten life—cardiovascular disease, dementia, immune dysfunction, and cancer—often show up in the skin first. Chronic inflammation, poor sleep, stress, and lifestyle imbalances leave visible signals long before disease appears. The skin is not separate from the rest of the body. It is often the first visible signal.
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For me, longevity-focused skincare is not a marketing angle. It is what happens when you stop treating skin as a cosmetic surface and start treating it as a living biological system connected to everything else. Prevention over symptom correction. Root function over quick fixes. When you apply that same thinking to your mind, your health, and your daily habits, everything shifts. Your skin is not the finish line. It is often the starting point for understanding what your body is trying to tell you.

3. What are three things every woman should understand about aging gracefully and taking care of her skin over time?

​First, human skin fundamentally has the same needs throughout life. What changes are the proportions of oil, water, and mineral balance it requires at different moments. Your skin cycles through different states driven by hormones, stress, sleep, environment, and life stage. That is not inconsistency—it is information. Learning to read those signals is one of the most powerful things you can do for your skin at any age.

Second, managing stress is easier than most women think, and it helps the skin more than almost any product. Breathing, sleep, movement, and small daily resets are not luxuries. They are biological requirements for repair. When cortisol is running the show, nothing heals properly—not your skin, not your body, and often not your decision-making.
Third, stop chasing and start adapting. The skincare industry has trained women to chase the next ingredient, the next product, and the next correction. The real shift comes from learning to listen to what your skin is asking for today and responding accordingly. That is what aging gracefully actually looks like: not fighting change, but adapting to it with clarity and confidence.

4. What advice would you give to other startups or founders entering the beauty and skincare industry today?

Listen to your gut (and your skin).
Partner.
Collaborate.
And call me.
I spent years trying to do everything myself. The turning point came when I realized that the strongest brands are built through genuine partnerships, not isolation. Find people whose expertise complements yours, whose values align with your vision, and build together. The beauty industry has plenty of brands focused on a single aspect of the business. The brands that endure are connected to something real: real science, real relationships, and real community.

5. Can you describe your personal skincare routine, along with any wellness or health habits that contribute to healthy skin and overall well-being?

My routine is simple because I designed it to be. Every morning and every evening, I follow three steps: Feel, Adapt, Support.

Feel means checking in with my skin. What does it need today? Is it feeling tighter, oilier, more reactive, or more dehydrated? It takes only a few seconds, but it changes everything.

Adapt means adjusting the proportions of my cream and serum based on what I felt. More cream on drier, tighter days. More serum when my skin feels oilier or more reactive. The same two products, different ratios, every day.
Our ABC (Adaptable Biotik Complex) is a system of more than 35 ingredients designed to support the skin's three essential barriers. The cream supports the lipid (oil) barrier, while the mineral serum supports the hydration barrier, including water and mineral balance. Together, they also support the skin microbiome. No matter which proportions I need on a given day, all three barriers are supported.

Support means doing the things that allow my body to do its job. I move every day—whether that is yoga, running, walking, or whatever fits. I prioritize sleep, practice cardiac coherence breathing, and pay attention to what I eat and drink.
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These are not add-ons to my skincare routine. They are part of it. The skin reflects what is happening inside the body. When I take care of the inside, the outside follows.

One of my favourite things about attending trade shows like In-Cosmetics is discovering companies that make you stop and think, "This is where the future is heading." One of the companies we had the pleasure of meeting during our time in Paris was Ariah Bio, a biotechnology company based in Sophia Antipolis on the Côte d'Azur. At first glance, they are an advanced imaging laboratory. In reality, they are helping researchers and companies answer some of biology's most difficult questions.
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Ariah Bio specializes in Spatial Biology, High-Plex Imaging, and AI-powered tissue analysis. Rather than simply looking at whether a protein, biomarker, or cell type is present, they study where it is located, what cells surround it, and how those cells interact with one another within a tissue. This may sound like a small difference, but it completely changes the level of information researchers can obtain. Think of a traditional tissue image as a map showing where all the buildings are located in a city. Spatial Biology goes much further. It helps us understand which buildings are connected, who lives in them, how they communicate, and what happens when something in the neighborhood changes. Suddenly, the story becomes far more interesting.

Using advanced multiplex imaging, Ariah can evaluate up to 40 biological targets within a single tissue sample while preserving the spatial context of the tissue itself. Their laboratory combines biology, imaging, data science, and artificial intelligence into one integrated workflow, allowing researchers to identify cellular populations, biomarkers, tissue microenvironments, and previously unseen biological relationships.

For the cosmetic and dermatology industries, this type of technology has enormous potential. Imagine being able to see not only whether an active ingredient affects the skin, but exactly which cells are responding, how different cell populations communicate after treatment, and how biological markers change over time. This creates a much richer understanding of efficacy than traditional testing methods alone.

Their expertise extends beyond cosmetics into pharmaceutical research, oncology, clinical studies, biomarker discovery, and diagnostic development. In fact, one of their major initiatives focuses on using high-plex imaging and AI analysis to better understand cancer progression and treatment response. The same technologies that help scientists understand disease can also help cosmetic and wellness companies build stronger scientific substantiation around their products.

What impressed us most was the combination of scientific depth and practical application. Ariah.bio not simply generating high-revolution images. They are turning biological complexity into actionable information. In a world where consumers, regulators, and brands increasingly demand stronger scientific evidence, Ariah.bio is helping us see biology in ways that were not possible only a few years ago. 
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Sometimes innovation isn't about creating something new. Sometimes it's about finally being able to see what was there all along.

Fifteen years ago, my entrepreneurial journey started for a very practical reason: I was a young mom, and I realized early on that I needed flexibility. I wanted to parent, build a life, create opportunities for myself, and have the freedom to shape my own future instead of fitting into someone else’s schedule. That realization is really what pushed me into entrepreneurship. What I didn’t realize at the time was that once you start building companies, something changes in you. For many founders, entrepreneurship becomes a bit of an addiction — and honestly, I mean that in the best and worst ways possible. There is something incredibly powerful about having an idea in your head, turning it into reality, and then watching the world respond to it. The moment someone pays you for something that once existed only in your imagination is kind of magical. And once you experience that feeling, it’s very hard to go back to a “normal” way of thinking.

But entrepreneurship is also deeply misunderstood. Social media often sells the glamorous version of founder life — the beach photos, the expensive dinners, the luxury hotels, the motivational quotes posted from airport lounges — but very few people talk about the actual reality of building companies. The reality is that entrepreneurship can be incredibly lonely, even if you have employees, partners, clients, or a large network around you. Founders often live differently than everyone else around them. We keep strange hours. We think differently. We push ourselves to uncomfortable limits. We sometimes make impulsive decisions because speed and instinct are part of entrepreneurial culture. Sometimes those risks work brilliantly. Sometimes they absolutely do not. Either way, you learn to live in uncertainty.

A lot of people around founders do not fully understand the mentality behind it. Family members may not understand why you work weekends or answer emails at midnight. Friends with traditional corporate careers may not understand why you can’t simply “turn work off.” The reality is that when you build something yourself, your business becomes intertwined with your identity, your future, your survival, and your dreams all at once. Entrepreneurship is not just a career path — for many of us, it’s an attempt to build life on our own terms.
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And with that comes pressure that people rarely discuss publicly. Founders deal with things like delayed payments during recessions, extending credit lines just to create breathing room, manufacturing chaos, exporting into politically unstable regions, navigating supplier issues, making payroll while personally stressed, managing health problems or surgeries while still trying to keep a business functioning, and carrying responsibilities that most people never see behind the scenes. There are moments where you are solving ten problems before breakfast while simultaneously pretending everything is “going great” online. That disconnect between perception and reality is exhausting.

That’s one of the reasons we created Beauty Builders Club.

The goal is not to create another polished webinar where everyone sits quietly with cameras off while someone reads a PowerPoint presentation. The goal is to create honest conversations around the realities of entrepreneurship — the exciting parts, the exhausting parts, the inspiring moments, and the difficult ones that nobody likes to talk about publicly. We want founders to have a space where they can connect with people who genuinely understand the pressures of building something from the ground up.

Right now, I’m based in the south of France, and one of the things that has impacted me most personally has been simply being around other entrepreneurs and innovators on a regular basis. There is something incredibly valuable about being surrounded by like-minded people who understand how you think. Conversations become blueprints. Encouragement becomes momentum. Someone else’s experience can save you six months of mistakes. Sometimes just being understood, respected, and supported by people who “get it” is as valuable as paid invoices — although, to be fair, paid invoices are also very nice.

At the end of the day, founders do not need to build alone. Some of the best partnerships, ideas, opportunities, and breakthroughs happen through conversations, community, and shared experiences. Entrepreneurship will probably always be a little chaotic, a little exhausting, and occasionally slightly unhinged — but it’s also one of the most rewarding journeys a person can take. And honestly, it becomes a lot more manageable when you have good people around you.
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Topics We Cover

SESSION 1 — Founder Reality: Burnout, Balance & Building Alone
Founder burnout, decision fatigue, balancing life and business, emotional labour, relationships, travel, protecting your energy, and the reality of entrepreneurship behind the scenes.

SESSION 2 — Cash Flow, Supplier Instability & Manufacturing Realities
Running lean, dealing with supplier delays, manufacturing realities, MOQ challenges, budgeting, scaling carefully, and surviving unstable economic conditions.

SESSION 3 — Branding on a Budget + AI Tools for Scale
Modern branding strategies, building visibility without massive budgets, founder marketing, AI tools, workflow support, automation, and using technology to scale smarter.

SESSION 4 — Growth, Export & Long-Term Strategy
Scaling intelligently, export realities, retail strategy, partnerships, innovation trends, founder resilience, and planning long-term growth in beauty, wellness, biotech, and the supply chain.

Pricing
Beauty Builders Club — Second Edition is $200 CAD + applicable taxes for the complete June cohort.
The program includes:
• 4 live founder sessions
• 1.5 hours each
• Small interactive cohorts
• Limited to 10 participants per session group

Spots are intentionally limited to keep discussions interactive, honest, and meaningful.

Before we dive into our upcoming webinar on Cosmetic Microbiology, Stability & Quality Testing, we wanted to give you a behind-the-scenes look at the science that quietly protects every great product. We’re joined by Dr. Marisa Isaacs, Director of Operations at Stratum Analytical, a Canadian laboratory specializing in microbiological, molecular, and chemical testing for the cosmetic industry. With over a decade of experience across microbiology, chemistry, and regulatory strategy, she works closely with beauty brands to ensure product safety, quality, and compliance at every stage of development. 
Let’s be honest—microbiology and stability testing aren’t the most glamorous parts of beauty… but they are absolutely the reason your product works safely, consistently, and over time. From shelf life to preservation, this is where science meets trust. To make things more real (and a lot more interesting), we sat down with Dr. Isaacs to break down what actually happens in the lab, what brands often get wrong, and what really matters before going to market.
1. For brands that are just starting out, microbiology and stability testing can feel overwhelming. What are the absolute must-have tests every product should go through before going to market?

​The key is to focus on tests that ensure safety, shelf life, and regulatory compliance, without overcomplicating things. While requirements vary by region, there is strong global overlap. Below is a practical, region-specific breakdown of “must-have” microbiology and stability testing before going to market.

​2. Can you walk us through what actually happens in a lab during microbiological and stability testing? What would surprise most beauty brands?

When people think of microbiological and stability testing, they often imagine a quick check to confirm a product is “safe.” In reality, what happens in the lab is much more rigorous. For example, in preservative challenge testing, we deliberately contaminate the product with known microorganisms such as bacteria, yeast, and mold, and then monitor it over 28 days. The goal is to determine whether the preservative system can effectively control and reduce contamination over time. It’s less about whether the product is clean on day one, and more about whether it can defend itself throughout its lifecycle and during real-world use.

A common surprise is the level of rigor behind the data itself. Results don’t simply come off an instrument and get reported—they go through multiple layers of independent review, typically an internal verification followed by a third review from an independent quality assurance associate. This ensures that what’s reported is accurate, reproducible, and defensible. Finally, many brands are surprised by how dynamic products can be. A formulation that looks perfect at launch can evolve over time, and small decisions in formulation or packaging can significantly impact stability and preservation. These tests are designed to challenge the product under worst-case conditions, because that’s ultimately what protects the end user.

3. A lot of brands try to minimize costs early on. Where do you see companies making risky compromises when it comes to quality and safety testing?

Many companies perform microbiological testing when the product is fresh off the production line. While this can confirm that the product starts within acceptable limits, it can create a false sense of security. There is often an assumption that microbiological quality, and the effectiveness of the preservative system, will be maintained throughout the product’s entire shelf life—but this is not always the case. As a product ages, microbial burden can increase, and preservative systems can weaken or break down. This may result in the product failing microbial limits or becoming insufficiently preserved toward the end of its life, posing a potential safety risk to consumers. Best practice is to conduct both initial and real-time, end-of-shelf-life  microbiological testing to ensure quality and safety across the entire lifecycle of the product. Issues related to deteriorating preservative systems can be missed in accelerated testing alone.

4. Testing reports can be quite technical. What are the key things founders or brand owners should actually be looking for when reviewing their results?

Testing reports can definitely feel overwhelming, but founders don’t need to interpret every detail. The key is knowing what to focus on and what signals potential risk. First, look at the pass/fail status—but don’t stop there. A “pass” doesn’t always mean everything is perfect; it simply means the product met the minimum criteria at that specific timepoint.

For microbiology, pay close attention to:

• Microbial limits results (are counts well below limits or borderline?)

For stability, focus on:

• Trends over time, not just individual data points
• A major red flag is when results are trending in the wrong direction, even if they are still technically passing.
• Also, look for consistency across batches. If one batch passes easily and another is borderline, this may indicate a manufacturing or formulation issue.

It is also important to ensure the laboratory itself is reputable. A high-quality lab report clearly identifies the sample, methods used, and results with appropriate units and acceptance criteria. It should also include key testing conditions (such as timepoints and storage parameters), along with documented review and quality assurance sign-off. Overall, the report should be transparent, traceable, and defensible.

5. Are there any new or emerging testing methods—like microbiome testing or in vitro approaches—that brands should start paying attention to?

Emerging methods such as microbiome profiling, advanced in vitro models, and predictive stability tools are gaining attention, but they should be approached with caution in a regulatory context. Many of these approaches are still evolving in terms of standardization, validation, and regulatory acceptance. While they can provide valuable R&D insights or support marketing narratives, they are not yet recognized as substitutes for established safety and quality testing. For example, microbiome testing does not assess contamination or preservative effectiveness—it simply characterizes microbial populations, which are highly variable and influenced by environmental factors. This variability makes the data difficult to interpret and not directly actionable from a safety perspective.
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As a result, the foundation of cosmetic testing should remain compendial, validated methods, such as USP and ISO standards, performed in accredited laboratories. These approaches are widely accepted by regulators and provide a clear, defensible basis for demonstrating product safety and stability. Emerging tools are worth monitoring, but for now, they should be viewed as complementary rather than essential.

6. From your experience, what are the most common mistakes beauty brands make when it comes to stability or microbiology, and how can they avoid them?

One of the biggest mistakes I see is brands designing products for ideal conditions rather than real-world use. A formula may pass stability and microbiological testing in a controlled lab setting, but struggle once it’s exposed to repeated opening, temperature fluctuations, or day-to-day consumer handling. Testing doesn’t always reflect how the product actually performs in the market. The shift toward “clean” formulations often involves reducing or eliminating preservatives, but the associated microbiological risks aren’t always fully accounted for. Preservatives are a primary defense against contamination, and when they are removed, the product inherently becomes more vulnerable. Without a corresponding increase in testing rigor or alternative risk mitigation strategies, this can create gaps in product safety and performance.

I also frequently see formulation and packaging decisions made in isolation, when they should be treated as a single system. The same formula can behave very differently in a jar versus an airless pump, yet packaging compatibility and in-use contamination risk are often under-evaluated. Stability studies should be conducted in the final container and repeated if there are changes to the packaging design. A less obvious gap is the lack of ongoing surveillance testing once a product is commercialized. Many brands generate strong initial data but do not continue to monitor product performance across manufactured batches. In reality, variability can be introduced through changes such as new raw material suppliers, manufacturing scale-up, or subtle process shifts. Incorporating periodic checks—such as potency or preservative efficacy testing every 6–12 months, or when key inputs change—can help identify drift before it becomes a quality or safety issue.

2. Many women in business feel pressure to be “perfect” communicators. What’s the biggest misconception you see women holding about leadership communication?
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Let’s take a step back here to the core of this issue. Women feel pressure to be perfect in everything, to be accepted. Often our biggest barrier to our own communication is ourself – in particular, our belief in ourself. Especially women will tend to defer to others, even when they know what needs to be said, or they won’t stand up for what they know when they should. Even as successful women leaders we can still be haunted by imposter syndrome and not believing we are good enough. That is what I see as the biggest misconception about women in leadership.

This is a result of what has been ingrained in us as we grew up and the, still, overpowering patriarchal attitudes we can find in men- and to be honest in some women too. My advice is don’t aim to be perfect – you will only disappoint yourself. Instead aim to be honest and strong and say what you know needs to be said. 


3. You work with ambitious professionals who are already high performers. At what point do most people realize they need support with communication or mindset?

This is a very interesting question and not really an easy one to answer as our life journeys are all different. Most people, men or women, have a breakdown in life before they realise they need to change. This could be the good old mid-life crisis or it could be that you aren’t getting the results you want from business or life. I think the most common point is when they ask – is what I have really what I want it to be, especially in all relationships.  If your relationships in your private and your business lives aren’t giving you the results you want, then it’s time to question why. The answer is usually your attitude, your self-belief and the way you communicate with others. The 3 all affect each other. 


4. For founders and executives juggling teams, clients, and personal life — what are two or three communication habits that create immediate impact?

I just wrote social media post on what I think is the first and most important – engaged listening with an intent to really understand what the other person/people are saying. As soon as others feel you are really hearing them, the culture around you will start to change and trust will build. And it’s amazing what you learn when you listen deeply to what someone is saying, and also to what they are not saying. 

Always speak with respect and empathy for others, and yourself. No matter how stressed and pressured you feel, make sure this is your priority. Don’t take your stress out on others. When people feel understood and respected is when you will get the most out of them in performance and loyalty. 

The third is, be open and honest with integrity. When people realise they can depend on you and what you say, they will respect and trust you. As a leader this is critical behaviour to motivate and inspire your team.

5. In your experience, how does authentic communication influence business growth — not just personal confidence, but real results like partnerships, opportunities, and visibility?

Firstly, let’s talk about the term Authentic Communication. It’s about being true to yourself in how you communicate but that is often not truly understood. People who live behind subconscious masks, are often not aware that they are not being authentic to themselves. But what happens in their communication is that others pick up on that energy and can feel that something doesn’t quite fit, or that they can’t connect. So the first step is to know who they are as their authentic self and that takes personal development. Then we can communicate authentically. 

The 3 tips above are the next steps in communicating authentically. Be true to who you really are and people will connect with your integrity in that. This is when you will be most confident and visible too, because you will be real and confident in your own skin and that is a great energy that people want to be around and do business with. Then you will be the best person you can be to pursue opportunities and build partnerships … any relationships. 

6. If someone in our community feels stuck — maybe they’ve lost their voice a bit or feel disconnected from their leadership style — what’s one practical step they can start with today, and how can Get Real Communication support them?

My first advice is to look inside and ask themselves in what way do they feel stuck – how is that showing up for them- and then go deeper and ask why that is happening for them. This may require meditation to quiet the mind and allow answers to just come, or maybe a coach who can help them delve in what ‘s going on for them – like me hehe. I do have 2 powerful programs that help people who are feeling this. 

Unlock Your Next Chapter – a 1 month program to decide what’s next in life - The Reinvention Journey – a deep transformational program over a year to guide you to your answers to these questions – it 4-6 months deep dive with weekly sessions and then a maintenance program to support the new rewiring of the brain. 

I offer a free coaching session as a Clarity Call for anyone who’d like to talk to me about where they are at. You can book in https://meet.brevo.com/janeen-sonsie/discovery-call-with-janeen-sonsie

Or via my website for more info https://getrealcommunicatin.com or find me on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/janeensonsie/
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What’s really happening inside your cosmetic formula once it leaves the lab? How do you know it will remain safe, protected from contamination, and ready for the marketplace? Stratum Analytical invites cosmetic brands, formulators, manufacturers, and product developers to join an educational webinar exploring the science behind cosmetic microbiology and quality testing. In today’s beauty industry, formulations are becoming more sophisticated, ingredients more innovative, and regulatory expectations more rigorous. Behind every successful cosmetic product is a foundation of robust laboratory testing that helps ensure formulas remain safe for consumers and meet quality expectations throughout their lifecycle.

From validating preservative systems to detecting microbial contamination risks, analytical testing plays a critical role in transforming a promising formula into a market-ready product that retailers, regulators, and consumers can trust. Strong testing programs not only protect product safety but also strengthen quality systems and support regulatory compliance. Beyond safety testing, laboratory analysis can also provide valuable competitive insight. Ever wondered what’s really behind that bestseller sitting next to your product on the shelf? Through comparative product studies, laboratories like Stratum Analytical can help brands better understand how different formulations perform and how they compare within the marketplace. Whether refining your own formula, evaluating product performance, or gaining insight into competing products, analytical testing can reveal important details that support smarter product development.
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For brands looking to stay ahead of the curve, this type of analysis can support the development of next-generation products and improved formulations. With the right analytical tools, companies can better understand product performance and microbial safety—allowing them to innovate confidently and sharpen their competitive edge in a crowded beauty marketplace. During this webinar, the scientific team at Stratum Analytical will take participants behind the scenes of cosmetic microbiology and quality testing. They will introduce the analytical methods commonly used across the industry to evaluate product safety, support regulatory compliance, and strengthen quality assurance programs. Participants will gain practical insight into how laboratory testing supports cosmetic product development and helps manufacturers maintain reliable quality standards.

Stratum Analytical is a Canadian laboratory specializing in microbiological, molecular, and chemical testing services that support product safety, regulatory compliance, and quality assurance for the cosmetic and personal care industry.

The laboratory partners with cosmetic compounders, manufacturers, and beauty brands to provide reliable, science-based analytical testing that helps ensure product quality and regulatory readiness. Equipped with advanced instrumentation and operated by experienced microbiologists, chemists, and protein therapeutics experts, Stratum Analytical understands the unique challenges associated with cosmetic formulations, including water-based systems, emulsions, botanical ingredients, and preservative systems. Stratum Analytical supports companies at multiple stages of product development—from validating preservative systems and investigating contamination events to conducting comparative product testing. Through rigorous laboratory analysis, the team helps cosmetic companies build confidence with regulators, retailers, and consumers.

During this webinar, Stratum Analytical will introduce several core laboratory testing services that play an essential role in cosmetic microbiological safety and quality assurance.

• Preservative Efficacy Testing (USP <51> / ISO 11930) - Learn how preservative challenge testing evaluates the effectiveness of a formulation’s preservation system and helps ensure cosmetic products remain protected against microbial contamination during their intended shelf life.
• Microbial Limits Testing - Understand how microbiological testing is used to detect and quantify microbial contamination in cosmetic products and raw materials, helping manufacturers maintain product safety and meet industry standards.
• Comparative Product Studies - Discover how laboratories perform comparative analysis between different formulations or products to evaluate performance characteristics and support formulation improvements.
• Contamination Investigations​ - Learn how laboratory analysis can help identify sources of microbial contamination in products or manufacturing environments and support corrective actions that protect product quality.

Director of Operations, Stratum Analytical
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Dr. Marisa Isaacs is the Director of Operations at Stratum Analytical, where she oversees laboratory operations and regulatory strategy for high-volume analytical testing services supporting cosmetic manufacturers and compounding pharmacies. With more than 12 years of scientific experience spanning microbiology, molecular biology, and chemistry, Dr. Isaacs has extensive expertise in implementing advanced analytical testing programs that support product safety, quality assurance, and regulatory compliance.
Prior to joining Stratum Analytical, she spent seven years as a research scientist at McMaster University and has since worked extensively in the pharmaceutical and analytical testing industries. In her current role, she focuses on operational excellence, laboratory automation, and continuous process improvement to ensure reliable testing performance and strong quality systems.

This webinar is designed for professionals working across the cosmetic and personal care industry, including:
• Cosmetic brand founders and entrepreneurs
• Product development teams and cosmetic chemists
• Contract manufacturers and compounders
• Regulatory affairs and compliance professionals
• Quality assurance and quality control specialists
Whether launching a new product or expanding an existing portfolio, understanding the role of laboratory testing is essential for ensuring cosmetic products remain safe, high-quality, and compliant in the marketplace.
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