Clens Cosmetics

"We understand that keeping skin safe is not only a crucial beauty step, but a
‍healthcare necessity"
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Quote from our founder, Bella Reid

PROBLEM DOMAIN

Why is this important?

Infections from dirty makeup brushes are common, and the need for cleanliness when using makeup is only just beginning to be understood.

Common infections include eye-infections, skin-infections, oral herpes and more, with some patients having to live with life-long consequences of preventable diseases had hygiene systems been available.

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WHy

Our skins' natural flora has a spectrum of microorganisms, some of which can be deadly: Beta-lactam antibiotic-resistant strain e.g., MRSA, can cause serious ongoing health issues. Common infections include eye-infections, skin-infections, oral herpes and more, with some patients having to live with life-long consequences of preventable diseases had hygiene systems been available.

From fungal infections, skin breakouts, clogged pores, to the horrifying case of Jo Gilchrist. She contracted an aggressive staphylococcus infection from a dirty makeup brush that almost killed her and left her paralysed. If the infection had reached her brain, it would have been fatal – and she is one of many. She contracted MRSA by borrowing her friend's used makeup-brush, who had a Staphylococcus infection in her face. She’s now paralysed from waist down, and is learning to walk again.
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Anthea Page, Katie Wright, Laura Hawkins, Tammeka Hill and Starkeema Greenidge contracted eye-infections, skin-infections, oral herpes and more, living with life-long consequences of preventable diseases had hygiene systems been available.

Current solutions are solvent based, or single use disposable applicators.

On average, it takes 500ml of acetone/IPA to clean 20 brushes. British Beauty Council estimates 550,000 employed in beauty sector, equating daily to 150,000,000ml of potential chemical contamination of water system/environment.

Cross Contamination: Risks of cross-contamination between clients or from client to makeup artist via transmission of harmful microorganisms that disrupt natural skin flora, can be devastating to health and can even cause irreversible damage.
User frustration: Efforts to clean makeup brushes, long drying times, chemical use, threat of infection, size/weight of kit.
Chemical Free: Current solutions are solvent based, or single use disposable applicators. British Beauty Council estimates 550,000 employed in beauty sector. This creates 150,000,000ml of potential chemical contamination of water systems and the wider environment.
Waste Reduction: Estimated over 45 million kgs of disposable waste is generated per annum from professionals alone, not including the domestic market with ~31.5M users contributing.

We understand that keeping skin safe is not only a crucial beauty step, but a healthcare necessity.

Solution

Smart, clean
and safe

Clens brushes have redesigned heads allowing cleaning from root to tip which can be cleaned in minutes using a quick drying UVC sterilisation system. Allowing UVC light and air to the core of the brush, the hardest part to access.

Brush-heads, tools and cosmetics are cleansed between use in a quick-drying UVC sterilisation system (3' cycle) with no need for wasteful disposable applicators. At end-of-day, the system deep cleans and dries everything in 20', eliminating potential infections and need for toxic chemicals.

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WHat

Our Patented innovation in makeup brush design, combines redesigned brush heads that allow light and air to penetrate deep into the core of the brush - the hardest part of the brush to access - providing a true chemical-free sterilisation process. The brush heads, tools and cosmetics are cleansed between users in a quick drying UV-C sterilisation box in just 3’. At the end of the day, deep cleans and dries everything in 20mins, no need for scrubbing and inhaling toxic chemicals.
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A system comprising:

Patented Head Design: Redesigned heads with access to the base of the bristles allowing light and air to the core of the brush, and cleaning from root to tip
Removable Heads: Totally customisable brushes and streamlined kit weight - build your kit your way
Interchangable Handles: Pick and choose handles, needing only one per kit and minimise waste and weight by up to 80% per brush
UVC Quick Clean & Dry: UVC Cleaning and drying that uses UVC light and germicidal irradiation to clean brushes up to 99.09% microbial reduction, with quick dry times

Current solutions across both the beauty sector and other sectors are predominantly chemical and solvent based cleaning, or single use disposable applicators. We bring sustainable alternative to good hygiene without the environmental/personal impact current solutions have. UVC will not damage waterways, environment, animal and aquatic life as existing cleaning solutions do.

Minimising disposable waste from single use applicators, and providing an 80% reduction in waste per brush across its lifespan as users keep their handles. Providing alternative to single use waste, plastic landfill waste and chemical contamination in beauty is the beginning, expansion into other sectors would provide a much bigger impact.

Our UVC boxes can also be used to cleanse makeup products, lengthening their safe-to-use life-span and reducing further landfill. Using LED lights we are avoiding use of environmentally damaging mercury vapour lamps. The UV-C light kills a very high percentage of the microorganisms which cause skin infections, also minimising the need to use environmentally damaging petro-chemicals, or risking dermatological reactions in the user.

Our system has been lab-tested and proven to kill up to 99.09% microorganisms, keeping users safe from infection and chemical irritation, in an environmentally-safe manner.

Our brushes and cosmetics can be safely and rapidly cleansed and dried whilst minimising the disposable plastic waste, water consumption, use of chemicals, weight of the professional makeup case and cross-contamination.

WHO we are

Our Story as Clens

Clens Cosmetics was founded by Bella Reid, a passionate Brunel University Industrial Design graduate.

Clens designs its solutions in collaboration with customers and industry experts to address real challenges. Developing an innovative system is just the beginning of our process.

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WHo

Bella's background as a product designer and makeup artist, coupled with her deep, personal understanding of healthcare, led her to found Clens Cosmetics.

Before studying Industrial design and Technology at Brunel University, she worked as an MUA working in both domestic and commercial settings. This gave her huge experience and understanding of the market. Over the years working in this industry the lack of focus on the prevalent issue of hygiene frustrated not only Bella but other MUA's and domestic users.

At Brunel she conducted a research project on cosmetic hygiene issues, their consequences and developed a product based solution. Clens has collaborated with institutions such as Cambridge University, Brunel University, Warwick University / WMG, Central Research Laboratory, UCL and more.

Clens is tackling key pain-points for our users, their values, and the industry shortfalls by combining innovative tech and product design to create a system that solves these.