Shownotes
Join our Kingdom Club on Patreon! Members get exclusive perks such as:
šLive monthly Bible Study group led by Mari
šPost-show After-Party Q&A Access with Mari & Trey
š¬ Only Kingdom Club members get to submit questions for weekly Q&A's
š¤ Join a private community of like-minded women trying to live Christ-centered lives
š„ Watch the podcast, not just listen - video access exclusive to Kingdom Club members
š Free Kingdom Club Ball Cap Welcome gift for members who pay annually
------
My Clean Beauty Guide: Your complete guide to choosing non-tox personal products.
Non-Tox Swaps Ingredient List Freebie
Mari talks with Melanie Petschke, co-founder of Crunchi, about how she built a clean cosmetics brand, after not finding products that met both safety and performance standards. Melanie explains that ācleanā has no legal definition, making greenwashing common, and describes Crunchiās evidence-based ingredient screening approach. They discuss weak U.S. cosmetics regulation compared with the EU, how harmful ingredients can contribute to body burden, cancer risk, and endocrine disruption, and why āfragranceā can hide thousands of undisclosed ingredients, often involving phthalates. Melanie recommends using EWG Verified as a helpful tool, offers beginner skincare steps, and advises making gradual product swaps without overwhelm.
00:22 Melanieās Background and Mission
07:39 Why Clean Beauty Matters
07:54 Defining Clean and Greenwashing
11:06 US Regulation and Consumer Burden
13:03 Health and Hormone Impacts
17:15 Label Reading and Fragrance Red Flags
20:42 Greenwashing Reality Check
21:28 EWG Ratings Explained
25:03 Verification Caveats
25:36 DIY Ingredient Checking
28:01 Skincare Starter Routine
30:59 How Long To Test
32:26 Purging And Acne
------
Episode Sponsors
Shop the new shade range of Crunchi Foundations!
Check out our new Spring issue of Heaven & Home!
Ave Maria Press: Shop Into the Heart of Middle-earth
------
Follow Along:
Transcripts
Hey, I am your host, Mari Wagner,
and you're listening to The Ever Be
2
:Podcast where Faith Meets Lifestyle.
3
:I'm so excited you're here.
4
:Whether you're a new listener
or a longtime follower, I know
5
:there's something here for you.
6
:Pull up a chair and listen in for
insightful, real life conversations and
7
:actionable steps on how to claim the.
8
:Full life God created you for.
9
:If you're a woman desiring to live
a Christ-centered life in today's
10
:modern world, then this is for you.
11
:Welcome to ever be.
12
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452:
Welcome back to The Ever Bee Podcast.
13
:It's your host, ma Wagner, and
today I'm here with a special guest.
14
:Melanie Petchi, one of the co-founders
of Crunchy, which y'all have
15
:probably heard about from my end.
16
:At this point, if you hear any
podcasts or follow me on Instagram,
17
:I rave about it all the time, so I
am so pumped for this conversation.
18
:Welcome, Melanie, to ever be.
19
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
Oh, thank you so much.
20
:It's an honor to be here.
21
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Can
you share a little bit about yourself,
22
:maybe where you're at, what you do,
even though I kind of already gave a
23
:little sneak peek of that, just so we
all know a little bit more about you.
24
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
Absolutely.
25
:So I am originally a family nurse
practitioner, but I had a little
26
:bit of a career change after Kelly
and I launched Crunchy, which we
27
:just celebrated our 10 anniversary.
28
:I cannot believe that.
29
:But yeah, so prior to that, I was
in healthcare for over 12 years.
30
:I am a mom of two amazing children.
31
:I've got an almost 15-year-old
boy and a 12-year-old girl, and
32
:I, my amazing husband, Carl, we
live in South Florida currently.
33
:Um, we've lived kind of
all over the place, but.
34
:Currently we reside in South Florida.
35
:And, um, I'm just grateful to be at the
stage of life that I'm in because every
36
:day is an adventure and every day is new.
37
:And, um, it's, it's great to have a, a
mission like Crunchy 'cause it's really
38
:truly a mission more than it is a company.
39
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452:
I love hearing that and
40
:congratulations, by the way.
41
:10 years is such a huge accomplishment.
42
:I'm a business owner myself,
and we're going into our
43
:seventh year and I just like.
44
:You just, every year you just feel
the excitement and you feel like the
45
:accomplishment of getting to another
year and continuing to keep going.
46
:'cause entrepreneurship life
is, is not for everybody.
47
:It's so challenging, but
it's so, so rewarding.
48
:So congrats.
49
:10 years is so amazing.
50
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
Thank you, and yes, you
51
:described it perfectly.
52
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452:
It's a wild ride and it's,
53
:yeah, but it's very difficult.
54
:Um, but I just wanna start out just by
hearing like how crunchy even began.
55
:I love hearing you say it's more than
more of a mission than a company.
56
:So I wanna hear more about that.
57
:Like, what problem were you seeing in
the world that needed to be solved?
58
:How did this even come about?
59
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
Yeah.
60
:no, that's an excellent caution
my personal journey started when
61
:I was pregnant for the first time.
62
:So like many women, when they are bringing
a little vulnerable being into the world,
63
:they start paying attention to things that
maybe they hadn't thought about prior.
64
:Um, so I was switching over my food and
eating healthier and cleaner In that
65
:respect, I was also looking at things
that I was bringing into my home and,
66
:uh, somebody tipped me off to at one
point to, uh, Environmental Working Group
67
:website, the Skin Deep Database, because
they were trying to find a clean mascara.
68
:I was in a mom's group she was asking,
has anybody found a clean mascara?
69
:And I looked at this woman, I
was like, what is she talking
70
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Yeah.
71
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
So that became my, began my, my journey
72
:down the rabbit hole of cosmetics.
73
:And how just because it's on the
shelf does not mean it's safe.
74
:I just could not learn enough when
it came to ingredients and safety
75
:and things that we're putting on our
body, and especially on a daily basis.
76
:As a woman who I've worn makeup
since I was in middle school, it was
77
:something that is part of my routine.
78
:So to think that I was applying daily.
79
:Loads of, of toxins that I was
unaware of was terrifying to me.
80
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Mm-hmm.
81
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
so I was really grateful to
82
:wake up at that stage of life.
83
:And I was also very frustrated that here
I was in a career where preventative
84
:health was why I chose being a nurse
practitioner and not one single.
85
:Lecture, not even a paragraph
was ever touched on, on this
86
:topic when I was in school.
87
:So
88
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Wow.
89
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
that was very eyeopening as well.
90
:I, I'd like to think today
that it might be different.
91
:Um, but
92
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452:
Hopefully.
93
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
then that was definitely not the case.
94
:Yeah, Hopefully.
95
:um.
96
:So that, that kind of
catapulted my personal journey.
97
:And then when I moved, we ended up moving
across the country to South Florida.
98
:And I, I met Kelly and we were both
in a really similar stage in life.
99
:We actually met at a mom's night out,
100
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Love it.
101
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
both had young children and
102
:were almost pregnant, uh, with
our second at the same time.
103
:So exact stage of life.
104
:Our kids are almost exactly the same age.
105
:We actually knew each other,
not just through that, that
106
:connection, but also because.
107
:She was working in
pharmaceutical sales at the time,
108
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Mm-hmm.
109
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
actually called on me in the
110
:office where I was working.
111
:So we had kind of a, a multiple
connection, but I ended up being, we,
112
:we recognized early that we were in a
similar stage and that we were both trying
113
:to clean up our lifestyles in terms of
finding cleaner alternatives for all sorts
114
:of things for ourselves, for our family.
115
:And
116
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Mm.
117
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452: A
resource for her because she recognized
118
:quickly that I had been doing this for a
few years, and so she'd call me and ask
119
:me for recommendations for safe products.
120
:Anyway, we were transitioning over
so many aspects of our of our lives.
121
:But the one area that we could
not find an option for that we
122
:were happy with was cosmetics.
123
:We tried brands and we would try
brands and we'd find them and
124
:recommend 'em to one another, and
they would either just not perform in
125
:terms of lasting throughout the day.
126
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Mm-hmm.
127
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
we would think we found one and then
128
:we would dive deeper and realize
it was actually green washer.
129
:It just had really good marketing,
which was incredibly frustrating.
130
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Oh yeah.
131
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
a brand and maybe they'd have
132
:one product that was super clean.
133
:So we just assumed they
all were, and then we
134
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Right.
135
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
But we could not find a cosmetic color,
136
:cosmetic brand to that at the, at the
time, they just checked all of our boxes
137
:in terms of safety and performance.
138
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Mm-hmm.
139
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
so that, that was, that was
140
:really what inspired us.
141
:And Kelly was the one who got the crazy
ambitious idea, and I looked at her like
142
:she was nuts because we both had two young
children, you know, not even two, and not
143
:even four years old between the two of us.
144
:or each, each of us did.
145
:And, uh, she, she kind of pushed me off
the, off the ledge and I like a challenge.
146
:So I was like, all right, let's do this.
147
:So that's, that's essentially how it all
148
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Wow.
149
:I love hearing the backstory and
so fun that it just really kind
150
:of started with a friendship too.
151
:And just out of each of your own
individual passions for cleaning up
152
:your own lifestyle, really being in
the consumer's shoes yourself first
153
:and recognizing like, this is the
need because I'm feeling it every day.
154
:And then what a good friend
Kelly being like, come on,
155
:Melanie, like let's do this.
156
:Um.
157
:And I also just laugh at your experience
of, for the first time, hearing someone
158
:say like, I'm looking for a clean mascara.
159
:You're like, what the
heck are we talking about?
160
:I know when I first started my
journey, people would say stuff and
161
:I'm like, that's a little like extreme.
162
:You know, like, are we even going down
the, to the hair on our eyelashes?
163
:Like, come on guys.
164
:But now that I've like really dove
in the last couple years and done
165
:the research, and not only that.
166
:Actually found products that are working.
167
:It makes it so much easier to choose.
168
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452: Yes
169
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Healthy
products when you actually find a brand
170
:that you trust and that it works because
now you have peace of mind for safety
171
:and peace of mind for performance.
172
:So you don't have to be
like, that's so extreme.
173
:It's like, no, this is actually
the best of both worlds.
174
:But
175
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452: Yes.
176
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: I know
that a lot of people probably have a
177
:similar reaction or experience when
they're first starting out, or when
178
:they're kind of just dipping their
toes into the clean living world.
179
:So for someone who's really new to
clean beauty or maybe doesn't fully
180
:understand what that means, can you share.
181
:What is clean beauty?
182
:Why doesn't even matter?
183
:And why do brands often maybe kind
of like stretch that definition?
184
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
Yeah, no, that's a, is so important
185
:and it's so challenging because
there's no legal definition?
186
:for the term clean, which is really
frustrating because it would be great
187
:if it was super black and white.
188
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Yeah.
189
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
you just submitted an application and you
190
:could get the certification for clean and
everybody was on the same playing field.
191
:That would, that would be a dream.
192
:Unfortunately, it is quite the opposite.
193
:It's the
194
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Mm-hmm.
195
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
west, and you can take
196
:any product you want.
197
:matter how conventional it is, it
doesn't matter how many chemicals
198
:and, and when I see how chemicals,
I should say harmful, harmful
199
:chemicals or ingredients are in it.
200
:They can legally, or a company can legally
put clean on it and nobody can stop them.
201
:it's pretty, pretty wild.
202
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Yeah.
203
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
the def, my definition of clean
204
:really comes from safety data.
205
:So if I want a ingredient to be
permitted in a crunchy product.
206
:It has to check all of our
safety threshold boxes,
207
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Mm-hmm.
208
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
needs to be backed by science and
209
:data and research and studies in order
to allow it into our safe space of
210
:ingredients that we permit in a product.
211
:Uh, the way that the United States
works unfortunately, is ingredients
212
:are innocent until proven guilty.
213
:But we're quite the opposite
and everything is guilty
214
:until proven innocent.
215
:So we gather that information.
216
:We look on all of the, all of the
available, uh, safety information,
217
:um, testing studies that are
available to us in order to make
218
:a decision about each ingredient.
219
:And then we have our own internal
protocol that takes it kind of to the
220
:extreme when it comes to an ingredient
that's permitted in our product.
221
:Um, but it clean booty should
not be about marketing.
222
:It should not be about buzzwords.
223
:It should be about realistic
evidence-based safety data
224
:and transparent labeling.
225
:Because if you don't know what's in it,
how the heck are you supposed to know,
226
:be able to assess its safety either, and
that's a whole, whole nother chapter.
227
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Yeah.
228
:Totally.
229
:And it's so frustrating as a consumer,
you know, to hear you say that like
230
:anybody can just slap the label
clean on because it has forced us
231
:to become experts in this field.
232
:It's forced everybody to be like, if I
actually want to know what I'm putting
233
:on my body, I have to start knowing and
learning like what are these ingredients?
234
:What does it mean?
235
:How does it harm me?
236
:And.
237
:You know, we, we we're doing our due
diligence, but it's exhausting at times.
238
:And so, like I was saying before, it gives
you so much peace of mind when you can.
239
:Actually find a brand that you trust.
240
:All of their products across
the board are going through this
241
:process that you're explaining.
242
:Like that's incredible that you're saying.
243
:Every single ingredient goes through this
checklist, which means there's not just
244
:one product that checks all the boxes.
245
:It's like anything you're bringing in
to your brand checks, all those boxes.
246
:So then as a consumer, you can go
back to just being a consumer and not
247
:a scientist and just like find the
lip gloss that you want or find the
248
:blush that you want and just enjoy it.
249
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
Yeah, you should not have to have
250
:a PhD in chemistry to shop for
your camp for your family, but it
251
:often feels like you do need one.
252
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452:
Yeah, exactly.
253
:And it's shocking that you're saying the
beauty industry is so loosely regulated.
254
:So, and you're saying that the law,
like the US laws, and I, and correct
255
:me if I'm wrong, but I pretty sure
like they haven't the, is it like
256
:the food us FD whatever, FDA or
257
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452: Yes.
258
:The USDA or Yes,
259
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452:
like a million years, right?
260
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
Yeah.
261
:So it has been since the 1930s that it
had any sort of substantial overhaul.
262
:Now with the except exception
of Mocha, which I would not.
263
:Call it a substantial overhaul.
264
:That was something that was an enact a
few years ago, and it was a good start.
265
:It was the first time it had been
touched, like we said, in over 80 years.
266
:So.
267
:They had good intention in trying
to implement some additional safety
268
:checkpoints and some safety measures.
269
:Unfortunately, it got started, but
then didn't really, a lot of the things
270
:that had been talked about didn't
actually come to fruition, or are still
271
:under evaluation, are still trying
to figure out how they can go about.
272
:enacting some of these
regulations and things and it
273
:was barely skimming the surface.
274
:I was actually very disappointed
to see what actually happened with
275
:that because our hopes were up.
276
:Um, but unfortunately we are
not like the EU and most.
277
:Countries in the world, honestly, we are
so far behind them in terms of regulation.
278
:So where it lands is on the consumer
UN unfortunately, because it, it's,
279
:it's, you cannot assume that it's
safe if it's in the United States.
280
:You just can't.
281
:So it lands on the consumer to do our own
due diligence and to be able to determine
282
:if something truly has that safety
data and safety backing, because there
283
:are things on ourselves that we know.
284
:Darn well are harmful to our, to our
bodies, and especially when we're
285
:putting 'em on multiple times a day.
286
:Many, you know, many days a week.
287
:Many days a year.
288
:Um, and that cumulative effect, we,
we know and they should not legally
289
:be on the shelves, but they still are.
290
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Yeah.
291
:Can you talk a little bit about
like what is the harm, like what
292
:is the harm of these ingredients
on our health and our hormones?
293
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
Yeah.
294
:So.
295
:Is so you think of your skin.
296
:Your skin is your largest organ.
297
:And not everything you put on your skin
gets absorbed into your bloodstream,
298
:of course, but there's a pretty
substantial amount that can penetrate
299
:down into your skin through those layers.
300
:It's not just a barrier.
301
:It absolutely, uh, can penetrate down
into the skin and into your bloodstream.
302
:So you think about, uh, pharmaceuticals,
you think about medications
303
:that you can apply topically.
304
:Uh, that's a perfect example of, of a very
effective way to get, certain ingredients
305
:into your body or certain molecules
into your, into your bloodstream.
306
:So the cumulative effect of these
ingredients is what we call body burden.
307
:And it can happen.
308
:It's, you know, it's not just what
you're putting on your body and
309
:what you're putting on your skin,
but it's also the air you breathe.
310
:It's the water you drink, it's the
food you eat, it's, it's all around us.
311
:That's this cumulative body burden.
312
:Specifically with cosmetics.
313
:I would say the two main
categories that ingredients,
314
:harmful ingredients fall into are.
315
:Carcinogenic.
316
:So cancer causing or endocrine disruptor.
317
:So hormone disrupting.
318
:And that second one is probably
the even most prominent and
319
:concerning and well documented.
320
:I mean, they've been, they've done
studies where they have shown even just
321
:a three to four day dose of some of
these ingredients is enough to detect.
322
:In your, in your fluids,
your bodily fluids.
323
:Um, and they've been also able to show
that when you remove them for another
324
:time interval, they, they go away.
325
:So it's, it's, it's been proven
time and time again that these are,
326
:this is not fiction, this is real.
327
:And the concern with hormone
disruption specifically is.
328
:Chemicals can mimic estrogen.
329
:They can block pro progesterone.
330
:They can affect thyroid function.
331
:They can infer, interfere with
insulin and cortisol signaling.
332
:Um, so they can contribute
to things like infertility,
333
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452: Mm-hmm.
334
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
thyroid dysfunction, chronic
335
:inflammation, obesity, I mean the list.
336
:And then there's symptoms too.
337
:Of course, the list is so long.
338
:But one thing I point out to people, um,
who have maybe suffered from infertility,
339
:if you go into an infertility clinic,
there's a reason that there's signs
340
:everywhere saying do not wear any sort
of fragrance product on our property.
341
:Because it has an effect on the work
that they're doing at the clinic
342
:to try to help people conceive.
343
:Um, it's, it's, it's real science
can't be denied, but it can
344
:definitely be ignored for sure.
345
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452:
Yeah, absolutely.
346
:I think it can be ignored and overlooked
because all of these outcomes you
347
:mentioned in fertility, thyroid
problems, um, chronic illnesses,
348
:obesity, you kind of look around
at our culture and you're like.
349
:Oh, I'm seeing that everywhere.
350
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452: Yep.
351
:Well, and
352
:mari-wagner_1_02-12-2026_100452:
passed it off as like, oh,
353
:everybody just has something,
you know, like it's just normal.
354
:You know, like chronic diseases
happen or there is like this
355
:fertility crisis right now, this
hormone imbalance crisis right now.
356
:And I think once really look at the data,
we can't just kind of brush it off and
357
:shrug our shoulders and be like, oh,
it's just like everybody has something.
358
:It's like, no, something is causing
an increase in these health problems.
359
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452: Yes.
360
:And are we saying that it's
a hundred percent cosmetics?
361
:No.
362
:But is it a significant
piece of the puzzle?
363
:Absolutely.
364
:Yes.
365
:And you pointed out those trends,
those trends are not flat, and
366
:those trends are not improving.
367
:I mean, they are terrifying.
368
:When you look year over year, what's
happening to our society and our health
369
:and it's, yeah, it's definitely a crisis.
370
:If you're someone who's learning for the
first time to read labels, I always direct
371
:people first to looking for fragrance.
372
:Uh, because fragrance is one of the
heaviest hitters in terms of concerning
373
:ingredients in products because
the word fragrance alone can hide.
374
:Anywhere from three to 4,000
individual ingredients that are
375
:not disclosed in that product.
376
:And typically, if it's
377
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Um, so
as a consumer, can you just give us a
378
:little bit more clarity and direction?
379
:What ingredients or category of
ingredients should we be most aware
380
:of when it comes to makeup or skincare
or products we're putting on our body?
381
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
yeah, no, that's a,
382
:that's an important one.
383
:if you are just learning to
read labels, for example.
384
:And you flip over a product and
you're reading the ingredient list.
385
:the easiest thing that I recommend to rule
out or rule in a product, or at least to
386
:start, is looking for the word fragrance.
387
:melanie-petschke_1_02-12-2026_120452:
Uh, because fragrance is one of the
388
:heaviest hitters in terms of concerning
ingredients in products because
389
:the word fragrance alone can hide.
390
:Anywhere from three to 4,000
individual ingredients that are
391
:not disclosed in that product.
392
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
And usually you would see that
393
:toward the end of the list of the
394
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Mm-hmm.
395
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
and it's listed as either just
396
:the word fragrance or it can say
parum or it can say, um, was a
397
:tricky one recently that I heard.
398
:Aroma, that's what it was.
399
:That also counts as fragrance.
400
:Um, and it could even say natural
fragrance, which sounds very in innocent.
401
:But the reality is, is we, we
also don't know what exactly is
402
:behind that word, because in the
United States fragrance has the.
403
:Ability to hide behind it, meaning we
do not have to technically disclose what
404
:actually is making up that fragrance.
405
:And most of the time what is giving
that product, that fragrance is
406
:actually, uh, what's considered
a phthalate, which is what?
407
:Fragrances used to be strong and
powerful or to last really long time.
408
:I don't know if you've ever gotten to give
somebody a hug and they've got a strong
409
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Yeah.
410
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
on, and maybe it transfers to
411
:your skin or, or a jacket or
something and, and it just lingers.
412
:That's a perfect example of how powerful
those chemicals can be, and it's
413
:also a sign that there's very, very
powerful phthalates in that product
414
:that are allowing that to happen.
415
:And phthalates are hormone
disruptors or endocrine disruptors.
416
:So huge ingredient to avoid,
and it's a simple one.
417
:I know sometimes it's a tough
transition if you're used to having
418
:things smell constantly or smell nice.
419
:It doesn't mean it's not possible.
420
:There are some cleaner scents and some
cleaner NCES out there, but it's a good.
421
:Safe assumption until you have proof
that it is safe, it's pretty safe to
422
:assume that what's behind the word
fragrance, for example, is probably
423
:something you wanna be avoiding.
424
:Um, so I would say if you were
looking for one in particular, that
425
:would be what to look for first.
426
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Yeah,
427
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Um, yeah.
428
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
that's definitely,
429
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
others.
430
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
Yeah, I know there's a lot.
431
:Yeah.
432
:But that's definitely what I.
433
:What I point people to first and
what I share because I mean, we could
434
:share the complicated names of other
ingredients, but like we're not gonna
435
:remember that right off the bat every
time we look at an ingredient label.
436
:But fragrance, I think is
the easiest thing to spot.
437
:And once you actually know the harm of
it, you can easily make that decision.
438
:Okay, this has fra.
439
:This is immediately not actually clean.
440
:And it frustrates me so much lately
because I see all these clean
441
:brands popping up that people
are promoting for them as clean.
442
:And I'll get so excited.
443
:I'll be like, Ooh, new clean brand.
444
:And I'm like, I'm just
gonna check the ingredients.
445
:And fragrances always on there.
446
:And I'm like, you guys,
this is like 1 0 1.
447
:Like we know that if we see
fragrance, it's not clean.
448
:So just goes back to greenwashing and how.
449
:Marketing just makes you think it is
450
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638: was
451
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
one way when it's not, um,
452
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638: good
453
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: really
good marketing and as a consumer it's
454
:just, it is so hard to know when a brand
or a product is actually non-toxic.
455
:Um, so what does ingredient
transparency really look like?
456
:Um, as a brand and as consumers, how
can we make that decision and tell when
457
:a brand is really being honest or not?
458
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Yeah, it's really, really hard
459
:because like you just said,
marketing can be so deceiving.
460
:So one easy button that I have recommended
for people in recent years, especially.
461
:Is finding a, a really
solid rating system.
462
:Um, there's no such thing as a perfect
rating system or app that exists.
463
:Uh, there are flaws with all of them, but
we have recently found a, I would say a
464
:newfound respect for the environmental
working groups, um, database.
465
:They have a verification program,
and just to give you some background,
466
:back in the day, they didn't have
this program and so we could submit
467
:our ingredient listings to them.
468
:They would ask a couple questions,
you know, what percentage of this,
469
:what percentage of that, and we'd
be able to submit that, and then
470
:we'd get fair ratings from them up
on their database, which was great.
471
:And it was free and super useful.
472
:Uh, unfortunately over time,
that was not a sustainable
473
:option because of the numbers.
474
:And so they created this verification
program and initially we're like,
475
:no, we don't wanna do that because it
appears that we're paying for ratings.
476
:But the reality is, is kind of
like A-U-S-D-A certified organic.
477
:Need in order to be evaluated, to
have the potential to get the rating.
478
:That is what you're paying for.
479
:So we decided, um, eventually to go ahead
and invest in the verification program.
480
:And I am so impressed with the
level of scrutiny that they.
481
:the steps they take in order to
verify ingredients and products.
482
:I, I think I underestimated the
level of scrutiny that they were
483
:going to be asking and the testing
and the, you know, the third party
484
:testing and then the documentation.
485
:they really, really do a fantastic
job and they have a whole team, whole
486
:science team that is behind it and
are constantly updating and evolving.
487
:In fact, right after this today
I have an update call where
488
:I'm hearing what the latest
ingredients that they're either, um.
489
:Now allowing are the ones that they're
removing from their restricted list
490
:or removing from their approved list.
491
:Um.
492
:And so this verification program,
it gives you just an easy button.
493
:So when you can go to the database, you
can see ratings for all sorts of products.
494
:But if they have the verification stamp,
you know that they went through this,
495
:the very, very painful process of their
detailed protocol that's required in
496
:order to get that verification for safety.
497
:Um.
498
:And like I said, it's not perfect.
499
:I can give an example.
500
:We, we prioritize non GMO ingredients
and organic ingredients, for example.
501
:They don't really care about that.
502
:They don't mark brands down or
give you bonus points or anything.
503
:So the way that I describe it is
we're EWG verified and beyond.
504
:Um, there's definitely pro
ingredients on our restricted list.
505
:That they do not have on their
restricted list that they
506
:permit in certain percentages.
507
:A good example is pH ethanol.
508
:It's a preservative super
common one, very controversial.
509
:They permit it up to a certain percent
in their products, at least they do
510
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Mm-hmm.
511
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Um, we do not, we drew the
512
:land, the red line in the sand.
513
:Early on said, this
one's too controversial.
514
:Why is it this?
515
:Why bother?
516
:Why it's not worth it?
517
:There's others that are safer out
there that we, that we can use.
518
:Sure.
519
:It might take longer, it might be a
harder process, but we really, really
520
:felt strongly about that one early on.
521
:So like I said, it's not perfect
and you would call us, you
522
:know, EWG, verified beyond.
523
:But if you're looking for just a quick,
easy button, it is one my favorites for
524
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
That's incredible.
525
:I'm gonna make sure to link
that in the show notes so
526
:people can access that resource.
527
:They've never used it or
don't know where to find it.
528
:thing I,
529
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
I, I was just gonna say the
530
:one cautionary, if you're gonna
531
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Yeah.
532
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Is do not assume that if a brand
533
:is on there, that every single
one of their products is verified.
534
:'cause that's an assumption
that people make.
535
:It's a, it's a commitment that
we've made as a brand, unless
536
:we're discontinuing a product
537
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Mm-hmm.
538
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
It's a seasonal ingredient
539
:or seasonal products.
540
:But there are many brands where maybe
one or two will be on there, but then
541
:there's a reason that the others are not
542
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Right.
543
:You just have to pay attention
to the product that's on there
544
:and just apply that rating to
the product, not the whole brand.
545
:That makes sense.
546
:Um, the other two things I was gonna
share, I'll also drop a link in the
547
:show notes for a free download I have
of like top ingredients to be aware of.
548
:It's like an ingredients
cheat sheet basically.
549
:And then what I actually did is I copied
and pasted that whole list of ingredients.
550
:That are on like the blacklist.
551
:And I put that into a
chat, GPT, like helper.
552
:And I told it like, learn these
ingredients and be my like clean
553
:beauty, um, checker for me.
554
:And now I'll, and you still have
to like fact check some things.
555
:I feel like I can't trust like
AI a hundred percent, but I'll
556
:put in a brand or a product
link or something and I'll say.
557
:Scan through this ingredient list,
or I'll just copy and paste the
558
:ingredient list and let me know
if it passes my ch my list or not.
559
:And then it'll tell me on its own,
like, these are the ingredients that
560
:are in there that are on your blacklist.
561
:So like it's a no-go or it'll
say, you know, it has this,
562
:but it's like not organic.
563
:So if you don't care about that, then
it might be a cleaner option and it
564
:kind of gives you a good rundown.
565
:So that's been helpful too.
566
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Yeah.
567
:One, one caveat for those
advanced listeners, because I
568
:know some people have been doing
this just as long as as we have.
569
:Um, but what one thing behind the scenes,
one thing that's very frustrated is
570
:you can have a vitamin, A vitamin, um,
e for example, so like a toco ferro.
571
:you can have the, the, the
ingredient lace, just say Togo feral.
572
:But what was terrifying or
equally interesting is that.
573
:actual origin of that ingredient can
be from a number of different things,
574
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Mm.
575
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
it can be.
576
:I know in our case our toco Ferro comes
from, I, I would say the majority of
577
:the time we are very picky about, about
where we, we source it, but non GMO oil
578
:is the, the main source of our vitamin E.
579
:However, it also can be
completely synthetic from a lab
580
:derived from petroleum, and it
could still stay on the label.
581
:A very similar or the
same type of terminology.
582
:So that's the part where it gets tricky
and where you wanna take that to the next
583
:level and really get to know the company.
584
:You know, is this a company that's
investing in ingredients that are
585
:made from things that are safer?
586
:Or are they looking for
the cheapest option?
587
:Because you better believe that that's
synthetic option is much cheaper.
588
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
Absolutely.
589
:Yeah, that's a good note for sure.
590
:Well, let's dive into
skincare a little bit.
591
:'cause I think that's another thing
I come across where there's a lot of.
592
:Maybe intimidation or confusion,
and I know that's how I felt like
593
:when I was getting into skincare.
594
:I was like, I think I wanna do this.
595
:I wanna try out some products, but I have
no idea where to start or what they do.
596
:So for women who are maybe new to
skincare or wanna start getting into
597
:it this year, but are overwhelmed or
confused, what should they start with?
598
:What is your recommendation?
599
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Yeah, no, that's a great one.
600
:And it's important and
should not be stressful.
601
:It should be self-care.
602
:It should be fun and an
enjoyable experience for sure.
603
:So definitely don't wanna complicate it.
604
:I would say first it, it kind of
depends on what your goals are.
605
:If your goals are just simply to dive
in and kind of take it from there.
606
:I would say a basic cleanser is a good.
607
:Step and then some sort of basic
moisturizer is a great second step.
608
:And then if you're in an area
where there's a lot of sun exposure
609
:or, uh, even if even not, just
depending on your philosophy on sun
610
:protection, it's a really good step
because it's preventative, because
611
:that daily sun exposure is actually
one of the, the fastest at, uh,
612
:increasing the, the look of aging or
613
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Yeah.
614
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
aging of the skin.
615
:Um, so it's important for prevention sake.
616
:so that's a real simple, you know, three
step right there for you, for those
617
:that are really, really diving in basic.
618
:And then once you are comfortable with
that, you can modify it and add things
619
:just based on what you're interested in.
620
:So I always recommend some sort
of facial exfoliator of some sort,
621
:a couple times a week, um, and.
622
:way to do that is our iron
polished facial exfoliator.
623
:For, for example, you wanna make
sure you apply it to dry skin.
624
:You don't wanna put it in wet, and
then you let it sit for the number of
625
:minutes that your skin can tolerate
and then you can rinse it off.
626
:And it's both of, um, it has
exfoliants that are part of
627
:the ingredients, but also.
628
:In terms of the, um, what we would call
a chemical exfoliant, or there's also
629
:a physical exfoliant in it as well.
630
:So it's, it's really helping slough
off that dead top layer of skin and
631
:help that, that cell turnover to
really just improve the appearance.
632
:And then it also helps then absorb
the active ingredients in the
633
:products you're using better,
634
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Mm-hmm.
635
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
when you, when you have that step.
636
:if that would be my recommendation on
where to start, and then you can go
637
:all sorts of directions from there.
638
:There's some important, you
639
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
Start layering serums and stuff.
640
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638: Pep
641
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Yeah.
642
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
are important.
643
:Yes.
644
:Some sort of toner or essence step
is a, a great addition as well.
645
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Amazing.
646
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Yeah.
647
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: I'll
make sure to link a little skincare
648
:guide as well if people wanna dive
into each, each one of those and what
649
:each one of those does and everything.
650
:But I also love the exfoliator.
651
:I use it a couple times a week, and it is.
652
:Just exactly what you said, it's self
care and it, it's just like the most
653
:luxurious morning when I take the extra
five minutes to put that on my face.
654
:I'm like, I know I'm taking care of
my skin, and it feels like a little
655
:mini spa moment in my bathroom, so
one of my favorite products as well.
656
:How,
657
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
awesome.
658
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
long should, in your opinion, someone
659
:realistically give a product a try
before deciding like, oh, it's working
660
:for me, or it's not working for me?
661
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Mm-hmm.
662
:So I would say at least a month, as
long as your skin is tolerating it,
663
:you know, if you had a reaction,
of course that's you're gonna stop.
664
:And that can happen in any product.
665
:Um, a good myth busting tip is just
because a product is clean and just
666
:because it's primarily a derived
of plant ingredients, you know.
667
:Does not make it exempt from
having potential allergies.
668
:People can be allergic to anything.
669
:So if you have a reaction to something
and you wanna stop it immediately,
670
:of course, and consult your qualified
healthcare provider for next steps
671
:because we can't give medical
advice even though it's challenging.
672
:Um, 'cause that's my background.
673
:Um.
674
:I would say, so assuming that is not
the case, I would say give it a good
675
:month to six weeks to really get a feel
for, for the product, how your skin's,
676
:uh, how your skin's doing with it.
677
:And then you also ideally
don't wanna be starting.
678
:Six new products at the same time.
679
:It's, it's great to kind
of ease into it that way.
680
:You get to know them one by one.
681
:If you go, if you start six at
the same time and one is not,
682
:you know, working for you, you're
not gonna know which one it is.
683
:Of course.
684
:So it's good to just kind of
slowly bring them into the mix and
685
:then you can get a feel for what
is best for, for your skin type.
686
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
I love that.
687
:I have a question too.
688
:I have heard people say that sometimes
when you're starting new skincare,
689
:right, you have to like, your skin starts
breaking out before it cleans up, right?
690
:Like it gets worse before it gets better.
691
:What is, what is your
thought on that take?
692
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Yeah, I would say that's definitely
693
:not the case for everyone, but
that absolutely can happen.
694
:Um.
695
:The way, uh, yeah, there's different
theories as to why that can happen.
696
:Oftentimes it's your, it's an adjustment
period and your pH can be adjusting,
697
:your oil production can be adjusting.
698
:So it's definitely
something that can happen.
699
:Um, yeah.
700
:I would say in terms of our, our
ingredients, we make an effort to.
701
:Um, on our approval process,
make sure that that ingredient is
702
:not known for being comedogenic.
703
:And this is a meaning cause.
704
:Acne or cause any sort of congestion.
705
:It's a tricky, tricky topic because kinda
like that vitamin E example I gave you.
706
:A specific ingredient can be on one
of those lists where maybe it's like,
707
:eh, it's not good, but it's not bad.
708
:But the reality is, is because
you have to look at the specific
709
:one you're referring to.
710
:Has that been tested?
711
:How is it made, what is it made of?
712
:All those things.
713
:So it, it's, it's, it's
tricky when you get.
714
:People that are acne prone
trying to navigate this.
715
:So we just by default require non-com
genic ingredients in all of our products
716
:so people don't have to think about it.
717
:don't have to worry about that.
718
:Uh, I personally suffered from acne lots
of my life, so I am very, very sensitive
719
:to the topic and I, the last thing I
wanna do is be congesting people's pores.
720
:Um, so it's definitely,
definitely a priority
721
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: amazing.
722
:Amazing.
723
:As we close out here, what's
one small realistic step that
724
:listeners can take this week to
move towards safer beauty choices?
725
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Oh gosh.
726
:Um, I would say don't be overwhelmed.
727
:Don't try to dive in and change
everything all at the same time.
728
:That is not very economically sound.
729
:It's not good for the environment.
730
:Just switch things over as you run
out of them or as you feel ready and
731
:comfortable and just one at a time.
732
:Baby steps, even small changes can make
a really, really big impact over time.
733
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
Yeah, absolutely agree.
734
:It took me a couple years
to get to where we are.
735
:Um, and so little by little you'll
start learning the ingredients.
736
:You'll start learning new brands and as
things run out, and I've heard a lot of
737
:times in this space, like the stress.
738
:That you can put on yourself can just
be just as harmful than the ingredients.
739
:So don't stress about it, don't overwhelm.
740
:Just go one by one for sure is
the best advice that we can give.
741
:Um, well, everybody here knows
that I love crunchy so much.
742
:I'm so, so just honored to partner with
you guys, but I wanna hear from you 'cause
743
:I knew that yeah, you were just the best
person to bring on to talk about all this.
744
:But I would love to just give you the
space to share how is Crunchy working
745
:to stand out in the clean beauty market?
746
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638: So
we recently modified our, um, I guess our,
747
:our name and our subtitle from, it used to
be crunchy, smart, conscious, beautiful.
748
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Yeah.
749
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
we have, have evolved into crunchy,
750
:uncompromised, clean beauty, and
that's because we really have made the.
751
:Effort and the investment not
compromise when it comes to safety
752
:of ingredients, to not compromise
when it comes to performance
753
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Mm-hmm.
754
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
and to not compromise when
755
:it comes to sustainability.
756
:So I would say the way that we really
are standing out in the marketplace
757
:among all of the, um, the noise that's
hard to filter through some, sometimes
758
:really goes into those three categories.
759
:And I could talk about each one of those.
760
:At length if you'd like at any point.
761
:But really, ultimately that's the, the
fastest way to summarize it is that we
762
:just choose, we refuse to compromise.
763
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639: Totally.
764
:Yeah.
765
:And we see it in the results.
766
:I've had friends who, and I've even
worn this as a bridesmaids in weddings.
767
:I've had friends who have worn it as
brides in their weddings, and I feel
768
:like that's the biggest testament when
people choose, uh, to trust products for
769
:their wedding day and it lasts all day.
770
:You know that it can truly
stand the test of time.
771
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
I agree.
772
:That's fantastic.
773
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
Well, thank you Melanie, so much
774
:for your time and all of the wisdom
that you shared with us today.
775
:It was such a fun conversation.
776
:melanie-petschke_2_02-12-2026_122638:
Absolutely.
777
:Thank you so much.
778
:It's an honor.
779
:I appreciate all that you do as
well and, um, sharing our mission.
780
:mari-wagner_2_02-12-2026_102639:
Yeah, totally.
781
:We'll make sure to have all the links
below so people can find you guys.
