Meet Rebecca, our cosmetic chemist and formulator. She spends her days tirelessly researching and testing all of the ingredients in EM products, thinking of new ways to combine them and provide us with the latest cutting edge cosmetic developments. Working side-by-side with Carina, Rebecca has a hand in bringing you all of the brand new EM products! Read below for our interview with her, and get a behind-the-scenes look into the making of EM!

What is your favorite part of your job?

I get to learn so many interesting things about natural ingredients, botanicals, and the biochemistry of hair and skin. Also I feel like it's a perfect thing for me because I am artist and creative but also love science, and my job is a fairly equal balance of the two!

What are the most challenging parts of your job?

I am limited in what ingredients I can use since we only use natural and plant or mineral derived ingredients, so it takes more creativity and research to make the products work as well as mainstream products.

What do you love about your city?

Austin is weird so I fit right in! And I love the weather here. Good combination of hip and progressive city life and warm weather that is hard to come by - San Francisco is too cold for me!

What event in your city do you look forward to every year?

The Texas VegFest. It's pretty new, I believe the one coming up this April will be the third one, but it is a lot of fun and there's so many awesome speakers and great vegan food.

What healthy living tips can you provide?

Find something active you enjoy and do that. Eat lots of fruits, veggies, beans, and omega-3 rich seeds! A balance in all things is really important for your mental health - but whatever a good balance looks like for you, it might not necessarily be 'moderation.'

What is your favorite food and restaurant?

I love the Concious Cravings trailer on South First. Their BBQ Seitan Wrap and rosemary fries are so good! I also love going to the new South Wheatsville for a Popcorn Tofu Po'boy and Capital City Bakery for the best vegan cupcakes in Austin. I am a vegan and there is certainly no shortage of great vegan food here! I've been vegan for 9 years, since I was 14 and a freshman in high school! So Everyday Minerals being a vegan company was definitely one of the things that appealed to me.

What's your favorite product to make and why?

The sugar scrub because it smells nice and looks pretty.

What are you most excited about right now?

In May I'm going to New York city to attend a one-day class on cosmetic preservation. I've never been to NYC and I'm very excited to learn things that will help me create inventive products.

What music are you listening to right now?

"Summertime Sadness" by Lana Del Ray

What is your favorite place that you've traveled/where do you want to travel?

When I was 13 I went to Yellowstone with my parents, and I loved seeing all the wildlife there. I am looking forward to going to NYC for the first time, and I hope to visit Europe and Australia some day.