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Dr. Barbara Paldus is the Founder & CEO of Codex Labs – a Silicon Valley-based company with proven clinical results founded on sustainability – from formulation to packaging. Barbara holds over 40 U.S. patents and is an investor and serial entrepreneur, having started companies like Picarro, which detects greenhouse gas for climate change, and Finesse Solutions, which specializes in biotechnology equipment for vaccines, cancer therapeutics, and cell therapy.

Canadian-born of Czech parents, Barbara was raised in both Europe and Canada, is fluent in five languages with a Ph.D. from Stanford University, and considers herself a global citizen. As a scientist, she believes in data and biotechnology.

For decades, the retail landscape has transformed, having to reckon with its impact on the environment, health, and safety. Often, it has symbolized the political conversation and represented a way to vote with our dollars. This has never been more true than with the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June 2022. Abortion rights became front and center on the ballot, and the beauty industry started to pay attention.

The beauty space as we know it today is rife with misinformation. We often repeatedly hear the same myths – perpetuated by influencers and brands to support their marketing efforts or brand positioning. We're here to set the record straight – read on to learn the truth behind some of the most pervasive misconceptions in beauty.