Behind the Label: What Beauty Brands Don’t Tell You ft. Laura Ashley
Season 2, Episode 8 of RAW the Podcast
RAW Season 2, Episode 8: Behind the Label: What Beauty Brands Don’t Tell You ft. Laura AshleyIn this week’s episode of RAW, Alison Hite (Thacker) sits down with Laura Ashley — chemist, educator, and CEO of LaJAshley — to pull back the curtain on the beauty industry.
From mixing products in her mother’s kitchen to leading a fast-growing clean beauty brand, Laura’s journey is rooted in science, transparency, and purpose.
Together, they explore what many brands won’t say out loud:
The average woman uses over 168 chemicals daily
“Natural” doesn’t always mean safe
Marketing often overshadows formulation
Education is the real revolution
This episode isn’t fear-based — it’s empowering.
Because the veil is lifting. And informed consumers are driving change.
What You’ll Learn 💬
Why Laura left traditional chemistry paths to build her own brand
What “clean beauty” actually means
Why ingredient transparency matters more than trends
How community fuels sustainable entrepreneurship
The connection between topical hair care and internal nutrition
Why STEM education matters for the next generation of innovators
How inclusive beauty brands are reshaping the market
“The veil is slowly starting to lift and it starts with education.”
— Laura
Meet our guest, Laura Ashley!
Laura Ashley is a chemist, educator, and CEO of LaJAshley — a natural hair and skincare brand specializing in vegan, organic, high-quality products.
She combines science-backed formulation with superfood-based nutrition to revolutionize hair health from the inside out.
Her mission is rooted in sustainability, education, and empowering the next generation — especially through STEM advocacy and ingredient transparency.
Connect with Laura: @lajashley | lajashley.com
Exclusive Offer for the Cheekies!
Get 15% off sitewide at LaJAshley | Use Code: Cheeky15
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