Health

The Skin Consult Pushes Beauty Tech To New Levels

Published

3 years ago

June 8, 2022

Dr. Sajani Barot knows firsthand the pain of time and money wasted on beauty products that don’t live up to advertising hype. After spending decades suffering from skin trouble, and hundreds of dollars on testing various products — only to find that nothing worked for her particular issues — Dr. Barot felt compelled to act.

Carrying a Doctorate of Pharmacy degree, Dr. Barot had more experience and know-how than the average beauty product entrepreneur. This particular education and skill set combination sets her company, The Skin Consult, apart from the competition within the crowded skincare market. Dr. Barot has also introduced a healthy dose of cutting-edge technology into her business, making The Skin Consult exceedingly unique.

A Move and an Idea

Dr. Barot’s personal skin issues began in 2012 when she moved from Chicago to Jackson, Mississippi. The change in climate did a number on her skin, so she searched high and low for a skincare regime that would address her acne and hyperpigmentation.

“There was no methodological way of building an evidence-based skincare routine,” says Dr. Barot. “Despite visiting local dermatologists and a couple of med spas, I did not get the help I needed or the personalized concierge skincare education and consultations that I was seeking.”

Dr. Barot also observed that social media often served as a roadblock to finding the best skin care products. “So many influencers have become skincare experts without proper training or knowledge of how ingredients work, pharmaceutics, product formulation, skin science,” she notes.

The trial-and-error approach wasn’t working for Dr. Barot, and she knew she wasn’t alone in her struggles. Spending hours researching ingredients, methods, and professional opinions, Dr. Barot eventually landed on the idea for The Skin Consult, a concierge skincare service that offers professional advice and proven results.

Bringing Tech and Beauty Together

Right before the pandemic prompted nationwide shutdowns, Dr. Barot decided to combine her research and interest in making professional skincare more accessible and tailored to the individual into a one-stop-shop for skincare needs. The Skin Consult brings knowledgeable skincare professionals together into one site, creating a single resource to access tried and true experts no matter where the consumer may be located. “There are many knowledgeable skincare professionals out there,” says Dr. Barot, “but the challenge is we don’t know how to find them and how to know who is good. This was one problem I wanted to solve.”

Dr. Barot created software that would allow approved skincare experts to list their profiles, availability, and specialties in one easily-searchable system. Once a customer finds an expert they are interested in working with, that professional can be easily booked for a video-based virtual consultation.

This merger of beauty and technology speaks to the new post-pandemic approach to meeting consumers where they are. People have become accustomed to online shopping, online health and wellness care, and having services tailored to their individual needs via sophisticated algorithms. The Skin Consult brings this novel mix of technology together in one cohesive site.

To Dr. Barot, the medical community has always been data-driven, and she believed her skincare site needed to be data-driven as well. With The Skin Consult, every product is vetted. Clinical trials, ingredient panels, and marketing claims are reviewed before products hit the site’s virtual shelves. The Skin Consult again turns to the data to match users with the correct consultants and the best possible products. The site’s algorithm is based on peer-reviewed published literature and 50-plus data points collected from users during the consultation booking process. This AI-enabled algorithm allows tailored recommendations to be created for each individual site user in real time, during their consultation with their chosen professional.

A New Frontier for Skin Care

The Skin Consult represents a new frontier for skincare, not only with its use of advanced technology but in its holistic approach. “We aim to tackle skincare as it relates to the entire mind and body,” remarks Dr. Barot.

The platform has already onboarded 35 professionals that include doctors, PAs, pharmacists, and estheticians. Since its inception, over a thousand patient surveys have been compiled, and data has been extracted to direct site users to the best care team and products for their skincare needs.

Dr. Barot sees The Skin Consult platform changing the way people approach skincare, but also how skincare and beauty brands find their market.

“Every day, there are new brands launching in a very crowded space. A trusted platform can help the best of these brands stand out and continue to be available to the public. Our marketplace offers a place for consumers to find the lesser-known brands that are vetted by experts in the field.”

On The Skin Consult site is the promise that the concierge service “meets your skin where it is and walks with you every step of the way”. This highly-personal and intuitive service is at the forefront of the new consumer market, bringing users precisely what they’ve been looking for in an accessible way.

Health

What Sets Why Not Natural Supplements Above Other Supplements Companies in the U.S.

Published

4 weeks ago

November 21, 2024

Michelle Langton

Photo courtesy of Why Not Natural

By: Georgette Virgo

In an industry plagued by minimal regulation and questionable practices, Why Not Natural Supplements sets a new standard in transparency and scientific excellence. Founded by chemical engineer Kelin Marquet, this female-owned supplement company challenges the status quo with clean and effective formulations backed by rigorous research.

Why Not Natural Supplements’ outlook on supplement creation contrasts starkly with many competitors in the $50 billion U.S. dietary supplement market. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require pre-market approval for supplements, which leaves consumers vulnerable to potentially ineffective or harmful products. Why Not Natural Supplements has implemented stringent self-imposed standards that go far beyond regulatory requirements.

“We’re on a mission to educate consumers about what a supplement should look like,” says Kelin Marquet. “As a mother of three, I’m motivated by creating supplements that I feel comfortable giving to my own family.”

A Science-First Approach to Supplement Formulation

Why Not Natural Supplements’ commitment to scientific integrity begins with its founder. Marquet’s background in chemical engineering informs every aspect of the company’s product development process.

“I use my background and strong understanding of science to pore through research articles and choose active ingredients that work – not cheap substitutes you usually find in supplements,” Kelin Marquet explains.

This science-first perspective extends to the company’s use of bioavailable forms of nutrients and its emphasis on third-party testing. Why Not Natural Supplements rigorously tests every product—including their best-selling Organic Vitamin D3 Liquid Drops with K2, 4-in-1 Magnesium Complex, Liquid Vitamin A (10,000 IU) with Coconut MCT Oil, and many others—for purity and potency. This practice sets the company apart in an industry where such thorough quality control is far from standard.

Transparency and Clean Formulations

Why Not Natural Supplements’ transparency is evident in its viewpoint on ingredient selection and labeling. The company maintains a list of ingredients that will never appear in its products, including artificial preservatives, colors, flavors, and common allergens.

“It’s not just about what’s in a supplement – it’s essential what’s not in it, too,” Marquet emphasizes. This philosophy extends to the company’s use of clean, minimalist formulations that avoid unnecessary fillers and additives.

The company provides consumers with clear, accurate information about each product’s contents. This level of transparency is rare in an industry where, according to the National Institutes of Health, supplement labels may not always accurately reflect the product’s contents.

Kelin Marquet emphasizes that each product formulation undergoes rigorous scientific scrutiny, with every ingredient serving a specific, research-backed purpose. “We don’t just throw ingredients together because they’re trendy,” Marquet explains. “Every component in our formulas is there for a reason, in its most bioavailable form, and at the optimal dosage.”

Education and Consumer Empowerment

Why Not Natural Supplements’ mission extends beyond creating high-quality supplements to educating consumers about supplement quality and safety. The company uses its social media platforms and website to provide in-depth information about ingredient sourcing, manufacturing processes, and the science behind its formulations.

This educational outlook is particularly crucial in light of the rapid growth of e-commerce in the supplement industry. As online sales platforms capture an increasing market share, the traditional role of natural and specialty retailers as information gatekeepers is diminishing. Why Not Natural Supplements is stepping into this gap, providing consumers with the knowledge they need to understand dietary supplements and find one that best fits their needs.

“We’re not just selling supplements,” Marquet states. “We’re empowering consumers to make informed decisions about their health by showing them exactly what goes into each formula and why.”

In an industry where regulation is minimal and quality can be inconsistent, Why Not Natural Supplements stands out as a company committed to raising the bar through its science-based method, commitment to transparency, and focus on consumer education.

“Our goal is to change how individuals see natural supplements,” Marquet concludes. “We believe that by prioritizing quality, efficacy, and transparency, we can help consumers reclaim their health and trust in their supplements.”