By Johanna Ferreira
When Alison Cutlan and Grace Fooden were first introduced they instantly connected through their shared passion for revolutionary beauty. There was a shared desire to create cleaner, more sustainable products through the power of bio fermentation and thus the impetus of their beauty brand was born. The two launched Biophile in 2019 and it’s unlike anything on the market. “Safe, sustainable, and highly effective skincare is at the core” of everything they do.
The brand combines advanced fermentation science and technology with powerful bio-actives “to create a new generation of skincare made through the power of bio fermentation; designed to speak out skin’s language and reconnect us with the natural systems that sustain us.”Biophile translates not just to the tissues of living organisms but also to one who feels a strong attraction for our emotional attainment to the living world. This is essentially the beauty philosophy behind the beauty brand which formulates its products using microorganisms like bacteria, yeast, and algae B.
“Beauty starts from within — from our diets and emotional well-being and connecting with others. The skin is often a window to what is going on inside,” Cutlan tells Thirteen Lune.
Get to Know – Alison Cutlan and Grace Fooden
Where are you from originally? Where do you live now?
Grace: I am from Chicago and currently live in Los Angeles but in between I spent most of my life in New York City.
Alison: I’m originally from Minneapolis but I have spent the last 18 years in NYC.
What were some of your first memories of beauty growing up?
Grace: My mother put on a full face of makeup — everyday. I marveled at the way she drew on the perfect brows with her Maybelline pencil.
Alison: My mother always had a skin ritual. She invested in scientific serums, creams, and always did a mud mask. I was curious about all of it and wanted to have my own ritual.
What does self-care look like in your life?
Grace: Self-care is the foundation of my life. I eat well, exercise, do my best to get enough sleep, meditate daily, do yoga, and take time off when needed.
Alison: It means nourishing yourself with the things that support your body, mind and soul and wellness. For me, that means staying active, feeding my body and skin right, finding creative flow and communing with nature.
What inspires you most about the beauty landscape and industry today?
Grace: I come from the fashion industry and while it will always have a place in my heart. I feel like beauty and self-care have become more important to me and to the world. Beauty is the new fashion.
Alison: Products are becoming a place of inclusivity, transparency, creativity, and self-expression and they are becoming cleaner and more sustainable. The growth of indie beauty is a big part of that shift.
What has been the biggest challenge in starting your business?
Grace: We launched in November 2019 just before the pandemic. Once the country shut down in March, there was so much uncertainty but we stuck with it and ultimately have thrived through it.
Alison: Besides launching right before the pandemic, creating our innovative bio-made formulas on a tight budget (and then scaling that) has been very challenging.
What has been the biggest win thus far?
Grace: Our biggest win has been surviving and thriving during these unprecedented times.
Alison: When a customer reaches out to say the products have given them the best skin they’ve ever had.
What would you like to see more of in the beauty industry when it comes to diversity and inclusivity?
Grace: I’d like diversity and inclusivity to be the new normal.
Alison: Ditto. Celebrating the beautiful and diverse spectrum of humans on this earth.
