At Rowan, we take pride in developing clean beauty products purposefully formulated for dogs’ skin and coat needs. One of the brains behind these formulations is our clean beauty chemist, Aubri Thompson. We sat down with Aubri to understand how Rowan approaches creating clean coat care and what clean really means to her.
What does a clean beauty chemist do?
A clean beauty chemist formulates beauty products using safe and sustainable ingredients! I spend a lot of my day in the lab, researching new ingredients and batching formulas. Additionally, I’m responsible for making sure products are tested for safety and efficacy.
As a cruelty-free brand, Rowan does not test on animals—how do you test the safety of the products?
First, we vet all of our ingredients against toxicology data. EWG is a good source for this information, and we also consult our Board-Certified Veterinary Dermatologist, Dr. Anthea Schick. Once we’ve developed a formula containing only low risk ingredients at recommended levels, the Rowan team tries out products on themselves and their dogs. The last step is working with dog owners in the community to ensure our products work for a wide range of dogs!
What motivated you to choose this profession?
I studied chemistry in college, and I landed an internship at a beauty brand my senior year. I fell in love with the industry because it allowed me to combine a technical skill with a more creative outlet. Even though I’m in the lab, I get to think about what a consumer wants and how they will perceive the product. As I’ve continued my career, I’ve educated myself on clean beauty and incorporated this knowledge into my formulation style with the help of several mentors.
