Beauty Without Cruelty: Tammy Mongiat Of Goldie Lux skincare On The Future of Ethical Cosmetics

An Interview With Wanda Malhotra

Align your company values and mission with your actions. Define a clear brand mission and core values centered around cruelty-free principles, emphasizing transparency, sustainability and compassion in all aspects of your business. Part of our mission is “Mindful skincare supported by smart science and made with love. Healthy, beautiful, confident skin, one layer at a time.” To us this means we make a conscious choice at every stage to be responsible, and in the case of our ingredients and formulation, this means cruelty-free.

In an era where conscious consumerism is on the rise, the beauty industry is undergoing a significant transformation towards cruelty-free and ethical practices. This series aims to highlight and celebrate the brands and individuals who are at the forefront of this movement, showcasing their commitment to ethical sourcing, animal welfare, and sustainable production in the world of cosmetics. As a part of this series, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing Tammy Mongiat.

Tammy Mongiat, CEO of Simply Goldette and Goldie Lux skincare, started out in marketing and design. After years in the pharmaceutical sector, she made her new home in the beauty world, integrating the same high standards for innovation, efficacy and proven science + adding luxury to the mix.

Thank you so much for joining us! Before we dive in, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you tell us a bit about your ‘backstory’?

Since childhood I wanted to be part of the design and advertising scene when I grew up. I spent my days drawing, dressing up and writing stories, surrounded by pretty things. My first career love was graphic design, which I pursued after graduating from business school. For 20 years design has been a constant in everything I do. I worked varying design positions at magazines, ad agencies, packagers, printers and even the design college… and then I entered the pharmaceutical industry in the role of marketing and creative director. There was not a lot of glam when it came to the labeling and packaging of surface disinfectants, but I grew to love the new foreign world and using my business and design training side by side turned out to be my calling. I was intrigued to learn about so many different departments as this international pharma company was a manufacturer, distributor and housed a sales team and R&D labs. Don’t get me wrong, at times I daydreamed about how fun it would be to name nail polish colours or create packaging for lipstick instead of topical anesthetics. Then one day, after 10+ years at the same corporation, I was presented with the opportunity of gold skincare. I left the strict protocols, standards and drug products to embrace the beautiful and glittery world of skincare and beauty. Little did I know how much I had absorbed about the internal workings of a manufacturing and sales facility and how much that would influence me still today. You can take the girl out of the pharma world, but you can’t take the pharma from the girl. Three out of the 4 founding women at Goldie Lux come from a pharmaceutical background, so can imagine how much we have in common! The same rigorous standards we were trained in continue to be seen everyday and even though the cosmetic sector is not as controlled as the drug sector, Goldie Lux is run to this high standard.

Can you share with us the most interesting story from your career? Can you tell us what lessons or ‘takeaways’ you learned from that?

I don’t know if I would describe this story as interesting, but I certainly have never forgotten it. It was my first job at the pharmaceutical company, and I knew absolutely nothing about their products, their customers or the industry they served. The project was to design a catalog, not an unusual or difficult request for the experienced designer I was. In the past I was accustomed to having content provided with the sole responsibility of layout and communicating the information visually. When I told the CEO I couldn’t move forward as I had no content, she looked at me as if I had two heads. She told me that was my job, and to write the content myself. All product descriptions, dilutions, sizes, flavours, fragrances and all, plus the company history and CEO message. Her exact words were, “Suck it up princess”. So (after I cried secretly) I did. The catalog was a huge success with our customers and a personal win for me. Not long afterwards, I was reading a magazine article at work and the words “suck it up princess” were right in front of me in print. I cut them out and taped them around my pencil cup. I kept the cup on my desk for over a decade and I still have it. The lesson was two-fold. I will always be grateful to that CEO for showing me tough love and for pushing me to be more. If you never step outside your comfort zone, at work or in everyday life, you will never truly know what you can accomplish. Second, if you are lucky enough to be blessed with people who care to support you, hang on to them tightly. That inspirational CEO, who initially terrified me, is currently the Chief Visionary Officer and co-founder of Simply Goldette and Goldie Lux skincare, and has been family to me for almost 20 years.

You are a successful leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

1. Creativity and resourcefulness. For me these traits are equivalent to finding a pocket knife after being stranded in the jungle with nothing! I have gotten incredibly good at finding out of the box solutions and adapting to any scenario. A creative mind never stops thinking and wondering and sometimes it wonders far enough to stumble on a grand idea. I used to be invited to product R&D meetings, the only “non-science” person who attended. I quickly became a resource for unique questions and ideas because of my diverse background. It happened often that other departments looked to me for advice or ideas as I was able to see things from a unique perspective. The creative and resourceful art of applying solutions from one department/ project to a completely different department/ project produced effective and interesting results.
2. 360° Visionary. Over the span of my career I have learned the inner workings of different departments and the importance of teamwork, common goals and simply understanding the challenges others face. Being able to see the bigger picture gives me a rare perspective. This clarity shines through to inspire others to journey alongside me. Our cosmetic chemist, Eira, has been with us for approximately 10 months and she just told me this was her dream job, and that she had never been happier or more excited to come to work. Starting a company is hard, my gratitude goes to this trait for keeping me connected to my team members even when times are tough, their support means so much.
3. Integrity. This is an important trait for me personally. I have always respected honesty and kindness in other mentors, those that lead by setting a positive example, those that lead and still show compassion. Ethical principles, trust, unity and kindness build my essential foundation. Being open to my team’s needs, nurturing our relationship and showing my appreciation has rewarded me with their dedication, loyalty and friendship.
4. Thank you to my team for valuing these traits and embodying their spirit. I am certain Goldie Lux products would not have the same heart and soul without creativity, vision and integrity.

Are you working on any exciting new projects now? How do you think that might help people?

We are always working on new projects! Your readers will be the first to know there are several products on the way. A couple of these are geared for extra skin nourishment, containing the same colloidal gold and signature bewitching fragrance famous to our ONE collection. A dynamic product duo is in its final stages — it will balance skin pH, cleansing and prepping your face for the day ahead. Another innovation on route experiments with aromatherapy, relaxation and healthy skin benefits based on the Japanese science of forest bathing. I wish you could smell all our samples and touch the unique textures — I just love sticking my fingers in the jars!

How can we help?

• Offer choice. Our philosophy is not to dictate what and when, rather provide skincare options that customers can personalize to their needs and lifestyle. We call it “layers of love”. It is a really simple idea and I think simple is helpful. For example I only used serum in the summer months, but in the winter I need extra hydration so I layer the serum and face cream twice daily. Since our serum is lusciously thick (compared to traditional serums) almost like a light lotion, we have customers that use it as their day moisturizer and use the face cream at night. Our products work wonderfully together, but are friendly with other brands too. Each product is complete on its own, so even when layering Goldie Lux you are not doubling up on the same ingredients, you are getting unique benefits from each layer. Stay posted, more products coming soon…
• Offer luxury. An essential ingredient to all our products is luxury. We infuse luxury because we all work hard and sometimes there is no time to reward ourselves. We are busy taking care of others or other things and we neglect to take care of ourselves. I am guilty of this. Goldie Lux wants to gift that brief moment of self love and indulgence to the everyday. Whether it is how we start the day with more confidence and energy or end the day relaxed, Goldie Lux wants to help with spa-inspired, professional luxury skincare. The ONE collection is a sensorial experience, focusing on the feel of the product between your fingertips, the application on your skin and the enchanting fragrance.
• Offer a healthy, science-based, cruelty-free experience. We take formulating clean, cruelty-free beauty seriously. We do not use cheaper alternative ingredients, we do not use alcohol, and we only use food safe preservatives. Sometimes these choices make formulating complex, but we think it is worth the extra effort. Our vision from the beginning was to create a product for healthy skin, that could be trusted, based on real science. We used ourselves and our family as guinea pigs to test our formulas for years. My teenagers’ bathroom drawers are full of Goldie Lux samples they use regularly. Dr. Eniko Manek (Goldie Lux co-founder) tests her newest creations on her husband and elderly mother, two of our biggest fans!

Ok, thank you for all that. Now let’s shift to the main focus of our interview. What inspired you to embrace cruelty-free and ethical practices in the cosmetics industry, and how has this commitment shaped your brand’s philosophy?

From day one, our entire team agreed that mindful choices would guide our path. We were not inspired to embrace ethical practices, it was already part of who we all were. We decided to make products we would feel good about, products that brought value to our customers and offers a luxurious experience we believe everyone deserves.

For three years we formulated, tested and reformulated to achieve the perfect product, texture, fragrance, etc. Endless decisions and a lot of heart went into each bottle. The product was a living thing and as it evolved from idea to reality, we continued to make mindful decisions: eco-friendly glass packaging; airless pouch patented technology to protect the product; safe, effective, ethically sourced ingredients; colloidal gold made using green chemistry; vegan and cruelty-free ingredients.

On a more personal note, the cruelty-free choice was never up for debate. At Goldie Lux we all are blessed with pets. We could never imagine hurting any animal when we have such a strong love for the fury children in our own homes.

How do you ensure that your products meet both ethical standards and consumer expectations for quality and performance?

Ensuring each Goldie Lux product meets the high ethical standards and consumer expectations happens at every stage and is entwined with product growth. It is not an afterthought.

• We choose quality, ethically sourced vegan and cruelty-free ingredients. Our active ingredients are used according to recommended percentages based on clinical studies for maximum efficacy. Our colloidal gold is crafted using 24 karat fine gold (99.99% purity).
• Our team consists of highly qualified and specialized chemists. We actually formulate ourselves, we do not use pre-made products for resale.
• Our products have undergone rigorous microbial and stability testing for maximum safety. We implement strict quality control measures throughout the small batch manufacturing process to produce the same quality product consistently (remember the women of Goldie Lux come from pharmaceutical backgrounds).
• Our website lists our ingredients and is a source of information for our customers. We are constantly updating the site to add more content to educate our users.
• Communication with customers is key. Currently we are underway in clinical studies. We await excitedly to hear feedback from users, good news and constructive criticism. We actively seek opportunities to connect with our customers, like this interview.
• We want to educate on the benefits of colloidal gold and other skincare ingredients based on facts from scientific evidence.
• We applied for and successfully received Leaping Bunny certification!

Can you share a challenge you faced while transitioning to or maintaining cruelty-free practices and how you overcame it?

Our challenges continue to be in maintaining cruelty-free practices. As with most beauty start ups, minimum ordering quantities are the biggest problem when it comes to ingredient and packaging sourcing. We do not have the storage space, budget or volume to justify high minimum orders. Many of our ingredients are naturally derived, and carefully selected to serve a specific purpose. They are not widely available and some are quite expensive. All our ingredients come from Europe and North America. We purchase only from trusted suppliers. Despite these challenges, we have not substituted our choices, nor purchased a lesser quality alternative. This is the same situation for our glass bottles we import from Italy, they were the best solution based on our criteria however the overall cost was high, as well as the quantities.

In your opinion, what are the biggest misconceptions about cruelty-free and ethical cosmetics, and how do you address these in your marketing and education efforts?

This is an easy question to answer as I had my own misconceptions prior to becoming part of the skincare/beauty world. I grew up in the dark about cruelty-free, eco-friendly and ethical products. My generation teased our hair without care, consuming copious amounts of harmful hairspray that helped put a hole in the ozone.

1. Dr. Eniko Manek, our Chief Scientific Officer and co-founder, laughed when I asked her if she ever had misconceptions of her own. She used to envision someone in their basement whisking up a face cream with ingredients found in the fridge. I too thought cruelty-free and/or ethical cosmetics were made from common household goods, not necessarily by professionals and as such, they were ineffective, low quality wannabe products.
2. I assumed my choices in this category would be limited and as such carry a hefty price tag. This is obviously false as more and more brands are being cruelty-free conscious and a quick online search will reveal a whole world of unique products at varying price points.
3. What does cruelty-free mean? Similar to green washing, our industry suffers what I call “bunny washing”. I see bunny icons everywhere, all different shapes and styles. Cruelly-free is commonly claimed in different ways, often by the company producing the product, this can be confusing to consumers. There is only one Leaping Bunny, and it is a rigorous honour to achieve their certification. So consumers, look beyond those long ears!

We address these misconceptions through education and transparency. Efficacy through clinical studies, sharing scientific evidence and of course our Leaping Bunny certification show our customers we mean business.

Based on your research or experience, can you please share your “5 Things You Need to Create a Successful Cruelty-Free Brand”?

1 . Research. Read a lot of labels — analyze what other companies are communicating verbally and visually regarding cruelty-free. Ask yourself, “How can I emulate the brand I admire?” or “How can I do better than the brand I question?” My business background and marketing 101 tells me to assess the current situation with a SWOT analysis: Identify the situation’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. Apply this to your company and position yourself accordingly.

2 . Ethical sourcing. This goes hand-in-hand with cruelty-free. Cruelty-free should apply not only to animals, but humans and the environment. Avoid animal testing and the exploitation of animals and humans. Identify suppliers with positive reputations and ask lots of questions — about their ingredients and where they come from. The same applies to packaging manufacturing. Source eco-friendly suppliers and packaging options. Avoid any animal testing or exploitation in the production process. For example, Goldie Lux gold comes from the Royal Canadian Mint which is ethically sourced and transformed into colloidal gold right here in Canada, using green chemistry.

3 . Quality formulation. This includes both the quality of ingredients in the formula, as well as the formulation itself. Develop high-quality, effective formulas using cruelty-free and safe ingredients, prioritizing efficacy and safety without compromising on ethical standards. Hire the right people for the job. Goldie Lux has 2 extraordinary chemists. Eira is a specialist in cosmetic formulations and chemistry, she works in our discovery center in Cambridge, ON. Dr. Eniko Manek, our co-founder, resides in Hungary and is responsible for all our clean, cruelty-free formulations. She holds a PhD in chemistry, an MSc degree in materials science and a BSc degree in environmental science. Dr. Manek is also the Founder of Teuton Tech, the world’s first nanoformulation consulting company. Her experiences include Head of Research at a pharmaceutical start-up; Scientific Advisor for nanotechnology, biotechnology, IP law and innovation management firms, and she is affiliated with the College of Medicine and Health Sciences (Khalifa University) and collaborated with the Florida International University.

4 . Align your company values and mission with your actions. Define a clear brand mission and core values centered around cruelty-free principles, emphasizing transparency, sustainability and compassion in all aspects of your business. Part of our mission is “Mindful skincare supported by smart science and made with love. Healthy, beautiful, confident skin, one layer at a time.” To us this means we make a conscious choice at every stage to be responsible, and in the case of our ingredients and formulation, this means cruelty-free.

5 . Certification. Anything a company says about itself always leaves a little doubt in the consumer’s mind, and rightfully so. In the case of cruelty-free obtaining relevant certifications such as Leaping Bunny is a 3rd party verification to reassure consumers your statement is a true one. Goldie Lux skincare is Leaping Bunny certified, all I have to do is show the bunny logo, no questions asked. It is an internationally recognized and trusted symbol and we are proud to bear its mark on our products.

Looking ahead, how do you see the future of the beauty industry in terms of sustainability and ethical practices, and what role do you hope your brand will play in this evolution?

I see hope and dedication directed at improving the negatives in the beauty industry. More and more brands are launching initiatives to be less wasteful and more ethical. Goldie Lux is at the beginning of this journey and our goal is to continue to infuse ethical practices and sustainability at every point possible, and continue to improve our efforts with time, resources and experience. The industry and what it has to offer is constantly evolving, we want to grow and evolve with it. We aspire to set the bar high, we want to be educators, but most importantly we want to be proud of our work.

My 13 year old daughter recently completed a school project on the pros and cons of animal testing. While I was proof-reading her assignment, impressed that such a topic is being debated among young teens — she asked me if Goldie Lux tested on animals. I felt great pride and relief to tell her NO, because any other answer would have disappointed her and maybe even changed the way she viewed her mother.

Younger generations are more aware than ever and they are making the buying decisions. They are being trained to question and learn — and their questions and voice will impact beauty companies to answer and to do the right thing! They are acting responsibly and forcing companies to do the same. I think it is wonderful our industry is being held accountable for our actions and our plan at Goldie Lux is not to disappoint.

You are a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

Transformation is obviously present in the cosmetic industry with movements continuing toward sustainability and ethical principles. I stand in agreement with these movements and encourage us all to embrace infusing integrity. It is a simple, back to basics movement. Reflect the principles we live our lives by into our work. Transparency, community and kindness. Let’s move these simple ideals from our home, to our work, and into the world of beauty. Let’s do to others what we want done to us. Let’s make products we want to use ourselves. Do you want to be caged or tested on? Do you want to use misleading or harmful products? Let’s be honest and transparent in our marketing. Let’s take pride in our work. When we are successful this way, it is a success to our customers, the environment and humankind. Making products with this in mind creates quality and safe products, freedom from animal testing, and people can feel good about their job, customers can feel good about what they buy.

What is the best way for our readers to continue to follow your work online?

Our website goldieluxskin.com is always evolving and is an excellent resource of product information. We welcome new followers to our social channels: @goldluxskin on Instagram and Facebook. You can reach out to us at hello@goldieluxskin.com with questions too! We love to share, to educate and meet our customers and fans.

This was very inspiring. Thank you so much for the time you spent on this. We wish you only continued success.

Thank you! It is always a pleasure to talk about our work and we are grateful for the opportunity you have given us.

About the Interviewer: Wanda Malhotra is a wellness entrepreneur, lifestyle journalist, and the CEO of Crunchy Mama Box, a mission-driven platform promoting conscious living. CMB empowers individuals with educational resources and vetted products to help them make informed choices. Passionate about social causes like environmental preservation and animal welfare, Wanda writes about clean beauty, wellness, nutrition, social impact and sustainability, simplifying wellness with curated resources. Join Wanda and the Crunchy Mama Box community in embracing a healthier, more sustainable lifestyle at CrunchyMamaBox.com.