Liz Whitman is a beauty industry insider with experience as an accomplished corporate executive, a serial entrepreneur, and an early-stage investor. Whitman is the Founder & CEO of Exponent Beauty, the first self-activated clinical skincare brand. She is also an Investment Partner at XFactor Ventures.
After 12+ years retailing “potent” clinical skincare products in various roles, Whitman had her A-HA moment while President and CMO of The Red Door by Elizabeth Arden: estheticians optimize precious active ingredients by mixing skincare fresh, in the moment. This led her to question: how effective can pre-mixed retail products be? After three years of researching hundreds of products, including third-party testing, the conclusion is: active ingredients degrade rapidly and skincare products, ironically, have an aging problem.
This insight led to the creation of Exponent’s debut line of clinically-proven serums: five Active Powders that can be mixed instantly with a universal Quadruple Hyaluronic Acid Hydrator in Exponent’s patented refillable, precision-dosed Activator. Exponent is backed by Founders Fund, Unilever Ventures, SugarCap, Flybridge Capital, and Bullish; as well as strategic beauty industry execs and entrepreneurs. As a Certified B Corporation, Exponent is proud to use the power of business to build a more inclusive, sustainable economy.
A native New Yorker, Whitman resides out West in San Francisco with her husband and their dog, Edith.