1. Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m Eman, a mother of four and I have been teaching chemistry for 23 years, but my curiosity always extended beyond the classroom. I’ve always had a habit of flipping bottles around to read the ingredients list, often feeling skeptical about what I found. Every year, I ran a soap-making workshop, but one particular session changed everything. We made Camel Milk soap, and when we took it home, the results were unbelievable, especially for my youngest daughter, who had struggled with eczema her whole life. For the first time, her skin felt soothed, and I knew I couldn’t ignore what I had just witnessed. That moment inspired me to create Passion Labs Cosmetics, dedicated to honest skincare for everyone.
2. Can you share a pivotal moment in your life where you defied traditional societal norms and challenged the status quo? What are the values and beliefs you were representing at this moment?
Leaving my teaching career after 23 years to start Passion Labs wasn’t a simple decision. Teaching was familiar and something I was good at. But I had this growing frustration with the beauty industry wondering, why are we okay with this? I couldn’t shake the feeling that I wanted to do things differently. I wasn’t trying to change the world, I just wanted to create something real, something I could really stand behind.
3. How do you define being a "rebel" in the context of your industry, and how does your business embody this?
In this industry, being a rebel isn’t about being loud, it’s about refusing to play along with things that don’t make sense. Passion Labs embodies this by keeping things honest. We don’t use flashy claims. If an ingredient doesn’t need to be there, we don’t use it. If a product doesn’t truly work, we don’t make it. We don’t compromise just to fit in.
4. As a busy professional, you probably spend a lot of time going from meeting to meeting and traveling. How do you maintain your skincare routine on the go and what are your go-to products?
I know my routine might sound like a lot to some people, but for me, it’s the bare minimum to keep my skin feeling good. I stick to natural cleanser, face mist, hyaluronic serum, face oil, face cream and sunscreen, it’s not fancy, just what my skin actually needs. Even when I’m jumping between meetings, I don’t skip it. I keep everything in a small bag. If I had to pick one must-have on the go, it would be the cleanser.
5. What motivated you to adopt a clean beauty lifestyle, and what attracted you to Clean Rebel?
My journey into clean beauty started with a simple concern: what was I really putting on my children’s skin? Now, with my first granddaughter, that concern is even stronger. I want to make sure that what touches her skin is as pure and safe as possible. What drew me to Clean Rebel is that they share that same mindset. They don’t just sell products; they care about what’s inside them. It’s refreshing to find a brand that aligns with my values.
6. Can you share which Clean Rebel product is your favorite?
I would say the Essence Exfoliating Paste is my favorite!
7. What is a myth about clean beauty that you would like to see busted?
One of the biggest myths about clean beauty is that it’s ineffective, as if natural ingredients can’t deliver real results. That couldn’t be further from the truth. The problem is people are so used to synthetic, quick-fix solutions that they assume anything natural must be weak. But when formulated correctly, natural products can be just as effective, if not more, without the unnecessary harsh chemicals.
8. What advice would you give to others aspiring to make a real difference in their industry? And why do you believe that each one of us should express ourselves as the individuals that we are?
Stay true to your vision. I believe each of us should express ourselves as we truly are because that’s where real impact comes from.
9. Anything else you would like to add?
Clean beauty isn’t about being perfect; it’s about making better choices where we can. I’m excited to keep challenging the norms and creating products that people can truly trust.
