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The Conscious Beauty Conversation:

Juice Beauty Founder
Karen Behnke Shares Why
Transparency Matters

Juice Beauty, which launched 16 years ago, embraced sustainability before it even became a household word. As a busy mom and triathlete, founder and CEO Karen understands that the benefits of skincare should be more than skin-deep. “Juice Beauty reflects my passion for wellness and environmentalism, and the brand, core values, and products reflect these beliefs,” says Karen. “Everyone should have the freedom to age gracefully and beautifully in a healthy, luxurious, and sustainable manner.”

Now, as one of the Conscious Beauty at Ulta Beauty^™ Advisory Council Members, Karen believes her experience in creating and developing forward-thinking products for Juice Beauty can help move the beauty industry forward. “We have an opportunity to make finding brands that work for you easier than ever for beauty lovers," Karen explains. "I’m continually inspired by their sustainable and eco-friendly values.”

Conscious Beauty at Ulta Beauty^™ is a platform for everyone—from those in their hormonal teen years to those who experience hormonal changes that come with age. Karen, who is now in her 60s, enjoyed blemish-free skin as a teen and admits that she skipped wearing sunscreen as a 30-something triathlete in sunny California. But when she reached her 40s, she began experiencing skincare issues throughout her years as a mother. She started to notice more fine lines and wrinkles and struggled with pregnancy-related acne. Karen also developed hyperpigmentation in her 40s as a result of spending time in the sun without proper SPF protection. It was then that she realized the lack of eco-friendly beauty products that kept up with the various stages of a woman’s life. After Karen’s second child was born in 2005, she created Juice Beauty and built the company from scratch, leading the charge for positive change in the beauty industry.

“Transparency about ingredients is everything, because what goes in the skin goes into the body.”

“It’s easy to see how I became a skincare junkie,” says Karen. “I embarked on a five-year journey with scientists to solve complex organic formulation challenges. I worked with chemists, physicians, and microbiologists to perfect Juice Beauty’s formulas and became an expert along the way.” Karen’s goal was to create products rich in antioxidants and vitamins with an organic juice base as an alternative to the petroleum-derived creams, gels, and sprays that were available at the time. “Multiple rounds of clinical testing for our amazing Stem Cellular, Green Apple, Blemish Clearing, and Prebiotix products have proven the benefits of our approach,” says Karen.

Juice Beauty continues to innovate in the skincare space, expanding their efforts with the launch of Farm to Beauty, the brand’s latest endeavor that partners with an organic farm in Sonoma County, California, where Juice Beauty grows their own ingredients. Research has shown that using organic products can lead to a decrease in exposure to harmful substances like phthalates, parabens, oxybenzone, and triclosan. “Transparency about ingredients is everything, because what goes in the skin goes into the body,” says Karen. “Working with an organic farm builds on the importance of ingredient transparency and ensures that we maintain the highest standards for quality ingredients.” Her company’s mission includes sharing how materials are processed with consumers. “We provide our customers with details about how we cold-press our oils and avoid toxic chemical processing,” says Karen. “We produce grapes for our products and maintain olive crops. The farm is an example of sustainability in its finest form.” Juice Beauty’s farm and corporate headquarters are also solar-powered, as are Karen’s home and cars.

By operating organically throughout the past decade, Juice Beauty estimates the company has avoided using three tons of pesticides—and by using sustainably-sourced plant waxes, the brand has avoided using approximately 26 tons of petroleum. “Moreover, we are converting all plastic bottles to recycled plastic,” says Karen. “We use 100% FSC paper, our BioResin tubes greatly reduce our carbon footprint, and 40% of our full-size products are packaged in sustainable glass.”

When it comes to her own skincare routine, Karen practices what she preaches. First and foremost, she believes that skincare should include sun protection. “This needs to be a top priority to prevent premature aging and sun damage that can lead to melanoma,” says Karen. “Products that promote regular effective exfoliation are also important because they remove old skin cells and give new skin cells a chance to glow.”

Karen’s go-to product for exfoliation is the Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive Exfoliating Mask. “This is a game-changing mask peel that can be used a few times a week for renewed skin tone & texture,” Karen explains. Each morning, she follows her masking routine with Juice Beauty STEM Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Booster Serum. “I love this serum’s combination of essential fatty acid emollients and powerful antioxidant ingredients such as evening primrose, linseed, borage seed, and plant-derived hyaluronic acid, which provides plumping moisture to skin,” she says.

Karen finishes her days with Juice Beauty Anti-Wrinkle Overnight Retinol Serum for another layer of moisture and protection. “I recommend using a powerful serum to feed your skin,” she says. “Make sure you exfoliate regularly so the serum can be effectively absorbed. It’s well worth the extra step.”

When it comes to keeping skin hydrated, Karen recommends using a moisturizer that suits your age and skin type. Her personal favorite? The Juice Beauty STEM Cellular Anti-Wrinkle Moisturizer, which includes a proprietary blend of fruit stem cells and Vitamin C infused with a resveratrol-rich grape formula that reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Karen wants women to understand that real beauty comes from the inside, no matter what products they choose. “Clean ingredients and sustainable packaged skincare can truly make a difference for the health of our skin and the planet,” she explains, which is why Conscious Beauty at Ulta Beauty^™ is making it easier to find brands that share your values.

Conscious Beauty at Ulta Beauty^™ provides more choices and transparency so you can easily find brands that share your values. Brands are certified under five categories: Clean Ingredients, Cruelty-Free, Vegan, Sustainable Packaging and Positive Impact.

Conscious Beauty at Ulta Beauty^™ Key

Clean Ingredients:

Excludes parabens, phthalates, and other ingredients on Ulta Beauty^™’s Made Without List.
Cruelty-Free:

Not tested on animals.
Vegan:

Created without animal products, by-products, or derivatives.
Sustainable Packaging:

Reduced, recyclable, or refillable packaging.
Positive Impact:

Brands with giving back at their core.