Spotlight on Goldfaden MD

We spoke to Lisa Goldfaden and Lauren Wolk-Goldfaden, the sisters-in-law who are an integral part of the Goldfaden MD family business. The brand is powered by plants, developed by a renowned dermatologist, Dr. Gary Goldfaden, and promises to deliver radiant results. We caught up with them to find out what it is like to have their own business, why being a clean brand is so important to them and what exciting projects lie in the pipeline for them.

Q. What has been the highlight of your career so far?

Lisa: Our biggest career highlight so far is launching our brand into market in 2013. We created Goldfaden MD based off of my father’s (Dr. Gary Goldfaden) dermatology practice and the treatments and products he had been creating for decades. We were able to identify a need in the retail landscape for a physician based naturally inspired brand and then successfully built and launched Goldfaden MD into the retail market.

Q. How challenging is it to work with family?

Lisa: The beauty of being part of our compact team is that we have the same goal in mind but four different backgrounds and experiences to pull from. I could not be more grateful for working with my family. There is always a sense of safety, which allows each of us to go out on ledge and know that no matter what we have each other’s back. Having the same goals with the same possibility to fail allows this team to have laser like focus.

Lauren: Being able to share in the same passion, drive, and dedication with my family is truly remarkable. As a team we’ve formed an unbreakable bond, and it makes us quite powerful in ways I had never experienced in the larger corporate setting.

Q. What is your must-have Goldfaden MD product?

Lauren: Goldfaden MD Doctor’s Scrub and Goldfaden MD Needle-Less. I just can’t live without them.

Lisa: Goldfaden MD’s Fleuressence Native Botanical Cell Oil is my must have product! I love it because it is lightweight but power packed with omega fatty acids, vitamins A, C and E.

Q. What advice would you give to someone wanting to launch their own brand?

Lauren: Patience and perseverance. Being told “No” doesn't mean “no” forever, it just means you have to try again.

Lisa: Be financially prepared because whatever you think the price is-double it!

Q. You get to travel A lot with work, what has been your favourite place that you have visited and why?

Lauren: Paris. The fashion, architecture old and modern, the street art and the lights at night make it the most magical city.

Lisa: Sydney. The scenery, mountains and sea, delicious food and the people are amazingly nice.

Q. How do you relax and unwind?

Lauren: I workout at Tracy Anderson and I love to take my kids to the farmer’s market and then we will cook together.

Lisa: I workout and try to be outdoors as much as possible. I also love to bake.

Q. Where do you get your inspiration from?

As a brand we are continually inspired by Dr. Goldfaden’s extensive understanding of ingredients and formulating. We are also inspired by other female founded and lead brands within the industry. We also turn to our customers to hear what they think and what they want.

Q. Why is using natural ingredients so important to you?

Being aware of what you put in and on your body is crucial. Naturally sourced foods (meaning not processed, and free from pesticides or hormones) have the ability to offer a higher percentage of nutrients, vitamins and key antioxidants because there are no unnecessary preservatives, hormones, or antibiotics that can prevent the beneficial ingredients from leaving that specific product and also allows for maximum freshness of foods. Eating a diet of fresh, naturally grown or raised whole foods, is scientifically linked to decreasing risk of disease and increasing life span.

Our skin is the largest organ of our body and studies have found that the skin can absorb up to about 60% of what we put on to it so it’s important to be familiar with what we are putting on our skin and stay away from harsh, toxic chemicals, colors, and fragrances. Chemicals, artificial colors, and fillers in skin care products and makeup can cause redness, irritation, and breakouts. Many people are even allergic to chemicals commonly found in conventionally produced products. Natural makeup, skin care products, and body products work with your skin instead of against it. The integrity and purity in plant and botanically-derived ingredients—the high level of vitamins, minerals, essential fatty acids, amino acids, antioxidants, enzymes, natural sugars, and more—provide a vital spectrum of benefits for the skin without being compromised by fillers and inactive ingredients which allow for the treatment actives to provide the most abundant of its treatment benefits within topical formulas.

Q. What makes Goldfaden MD different to other brands on the market?

Based on Dr. Goldfaden’s in-office treatments and his 45 plus years as a dermatologist and ingredient pioneer, we have honed in on what we feel are the most important and common skincare problems and built the range in order to allow consumers to address them at home and improve skin health long term. Superior formulations featuring naturally-derived ingredients with effective delivery systems sets the Goldfaden MD brand apart. We couple scientific, results driven products with globally-sourced natural ingredients, bridging the “natural” and “physician” product categories at the prestige level in a way no other brand has.

Q. What do you think the next beauty trend will be?

One stop shops where you can get multiple express beauty and wellness treatments.

Q. What does the future have in store for Goldfaden MD?

We are currently working on a body line, which is very exciting as we have had customers asking for this for years!