The Emmy-nominated Fowler, who could pass for Judi Dench’s younger
sister, credits Beals and Kirshner for prompting her to start Sappho.
“For a long time, I didn’t think the world needed another makeup line,”
she says. That all changed when she discovered research on the effects
of chemicals in cosmetic products.
One such group of chemicals is parabens, which often have methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl prefixes on ingredient lists. “Most people don’t realize that parabens are just preservatives,” Kirshner says. Indeed, these chemicals are a cheap way for manufacturers to keep their products on shelves longer and are found in everything from makeup and spray-tanning foam to shampoo, shaving gel, and even toothpaste.
