ABOUT THIS EPISODE
Welcome to The Lighthouse Collective podcast series Keep Shining with Stuart MacMillan. In this episode, Stuart sits down with veteran beauty R&D leader, former Chief Science Officer at Revlon, and innovation pioneer, Alan Meyers to talk about the lessons from a storied career, the critical link between leadership and successful innovation, and the future shift from anti-aging to true longevity in skincare science.
What you will hear
- Alan’s journey from a bench scientist to a top R&D leader and the core principles that guided his rise.
- Key product stories from Elizabeth Arden and L’Oreal, including the creation of a groundbreaking $40M lipstick and the hard lesson learned from a technically brilliant machine that failed commercially.
- Why collaboration is non-negotiable: “R&D cannot run ahead of the business.”
- The future of beauty: moving beyond anti-aging aesthetics to technologies focused on cellular health and longevity.
- The non-negotiables for product safety and efficacy, and how to spot “fairy dusting” on an ingredient label.
- A masterclass in leading innovative teams: why celebrating both success and failure is the key to breakthrough innovation.
- Alan’s core leadership philosophy and the one habit that most improved his ability to lead and inspire.
Memorable lines
“R&D cannot run ahead of the business.”
“Be generous.”
About Alan Meyers
Alan Meyers is a veteran leader in beauty research, development, and innovation with a storied career spanning L’Oreal USA, Elizabeth Arden, and Revlon, where he served as Chief Science Officer. A recipient of the HBA Lifetime Achievement Award and holder of more than 20 patents, he has been at the forefront of cosmetics and skin science for decades. Today, he advises the Lanvin Group and its biotech hub, Dermagen, on next-generation active ingredients and clean science, continuing his mission to advance the industry through substantive, evidence-based innovation.
Resources & links
Follow Alan Meyers and learn more:
Follow Stuart on Social Media: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macmillanstuart/https://www.instagram.com/macmillanstuart/
Follow The Lighthouse Collective on Social Media: https://www.instagram.com/lighthousecollectiveglobal/
Connect with Stuart MacMillan at www.TheLighthouseCollective.Global
Subscribe to The Lighthouse Collective on YouTube and watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/@TheLighthouseCollective
Thanks for listening. Keep Shining, Be A Light!
