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## A Beginner’s Guide to Clean Beauty: Trends, Insights, and Financial Solutions
*This post is sponsored by [BILL](http://bill.com/?utm_campaign=corp-comms)*
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### Understanding the Rise of Clean Beauty
Clean beauty has emerged as a transformative trend in the skincare and cosmetics industry. As of last year, the **clean beauty market size** was valued at **$6.3 billion** and demonstrates an impressive projected growth rate. In fact, it is expected to expand from **$7.1 billion** this year to a staggering **$34.8 billion by 2032**, with a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of **14.6%** throughout the forecast period.
Industry experts now assert that clean beauty is not merely a trend; it represents the future direction of the beauty sector. While a standardized definition of clean beauty remains elusive, it primarily includes products that are made with **safe** and **non-toxic ingredients**, free from harmful substances, thereby prioritizing consumer and environmental health.
#### Key Trends in Clean Beauty
– **Sustainable Ingredients**: Brands are increasingly prioritizing eco-friendly materials.
– **Transparency**: Consumers demand clarity about ingredient sourcing and product formulations.
– **Inclusivity**: Brands focus on creating products that cater to diverse skin types and tones.
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### Tower 28: A Case Study in Clean Beauty Innovation
One of the standout brands in the clean beauty space is **[Tower 28](https://www.tower28beauty.com/)**. Founded by Amy Liu in 2019, the brand specializes in creating products tailored for sensitive skin. With over 15 years of experience in the beauty industry, Amy’s motivation was personal—she aimed to address her own struggles with chronic eczema.
> “I was frustrated that my chronic eczema meant I was stuck using boring, clinical brands that often didn’t even work. I wanted to create accessible, irritant-free, high-performance, [FUN products designed for all skin types](https://www.tower28beauty.com/pages/about-2-0), especially sensitive!” – Amy Liu
Named after lifeguard tower 28 on the picturesque Southern California coast, Tower 28 emphasizes both efficacy and enjoyment in beauty routines.
### The Financial Growth Challenge
With a post-pandemic resurgence, Tower 28 rapidly expanded its workforce from **12 to 30 employees** and increased its vendor base from **112 in 2021 to nearly 300 in 2023**. As Amy Liu, the CEO, and her partner Victor Liu, the CFO, navigated this remarkable growth, they realized that outdated financial processes could hinder their expansion.
#### Common Financial Challenges Faced by Brands:
– **Inefficient Manual Processes**: Time-consuming work like emailed approvals can stall growth.
– **Scaling Complications**: Difficulty managing multiple transactions from various remote employees.
– **Lack of Visibility**: Difficulty in overseeing financial operations can create inefficiencies.
As their monthly transactions soared from **600 in 2021 to over 3,000 today**, Victor recognized the urgent need for a streamlined financial solution.
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### Streamlining Financial Operations with BILL
Recognizing that their existing financial processes were unsustainable, the Liu couple turned to **BILL** for solutions. Previously frustrated with the inconsistencies of traditional methods, they discovered that transitioning to a centralized platform drastically improved their operational efficiency.
#### Benefits of Using BILL:
– **Time Savings**: They reported saving an impressive **40 hours per week** on accounts payable (AP).
– **Scalability**: They increased invoice processing from **300 per month to over 6,000**.
– **Real-Time Financial Control**: The platform provides updates and insights, enhancing oversight and decision-making.
Victor emphasized, “Trying to handle all these tasks as a small team would have been catastrophic. But being able to [scale with all the tools](https://www.bill.com/blog/ai-tools-for-business) and services that BILL provides has been phenomenal.”
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### Managing Employee Spending with BILL Spend & Expense
With their accounts payable system streamlined, Tower 28 faced a new challenge: empowering their geographically dispersed team without sacrificing financial control. They wanted to find a balance between employee trust and oversight.
#### Key Features of BILL Spend & Expense:
– **Flexible Spending Controls**: Issue physical or **[virtual cards](https://www.bill.com/product/virtual-cards)** with customizable spending limits.
– **Real-Time Monitoring**: Access budgets and receipts instantly, ensuring transparency.
– **Mobile Accessibility**: Approve payments from anywhere – meeting rooms, airports, or conventions.
Amy remarked on the efficacy of the tool: “The BILL Spend & Expense solution ended up being fantastic because as we onboarded people, we could provide them with custom spending limits based on their responsibilities. Many of our employee spending concerns were immediately alleviated.”
### Conclusion: The Future of Clean Beauty and Financial Efficiency
As clean beauty continues to flourish, brands like Tower 28 highlight the imperative for innovative financial solutions that promote growth. Through strategic tools like BILL, companies can navigate the complexities of financial operations more efficiently, allowing them to focus on what truly matters—creating exceptional products.
**Key Takeaways for Aspiring Clean Beauty Entrepreneurs:**
– **Prioritize Product Integrity**: Ensure ingredients are safe and suitable for diverse consumers.
– **Adopt Advanced Financial Solutions**: Leverage technology to streamline operations and manage growth effectively.
– **Maintain Oversight While Empowering Teams**: Balance control with flexibility to foster employee trust and productivity.
*For a successful journey into the world of clean beauty, ensure that your financial strategies evolve as rapidly as your offerings.*
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### About the Author
*Rieva Lesonsky is the owner of [SmallBusinessCurrents.com](http://smallbusinesscurrents.com/) and has been covering small businesses and entrepreneurship for over 30 years. For insights into business trends, sign up for her [free Currents newsletter](https://smallbusinesscurrents.com/subscribe/).*
