Sn5 #6 Asia Fee: Bridging The Gap Between Science And Beauty

Asia Fee is a chemist, the founder of Alchemist Asia cosmetics, a self-described “Remote Chemist”, and a Princess in Reinvented Magazine’s Princesses with Powertools 2023 calendar. Today Asia is our very special guest on the Hazard Girls podcast. Growing up in a small town, Asia had a passion for science but didn’t have a lot of women role models in the STEM field. If you were in STEM, particularly if you were a woman, you were a teacher or you worked in a lab. While still in high school, she discovered he passion for chemistry through of all things, makeup. She couldn’t find the exact colors she wanted so like any good scientist she hit the books, did her research, and formulated her very own lipstick in the exact custom colors she wanted. A chemist was born. After high school graduation Asia majored in chemistry at a local college. She was disappointed to learn that not only were there very few women studying chemistry, everyone, male or female, was doing so to fill a medical school requirement. There was no real STEM community. It wasn’t until she transferred to California State University Channel Islands that she realized how big and diverse the field of chemistry really is. It was at California State University Channel Islands that the opportunity to intern as an undergrad at Parker Hannifin came up, where she ultimately became a Lab Technician as a grad student.  When the pandemic hit and all of her roommates were forced to move back home, Asia made the decision to move to Alaska with her partner. Working from home in Alaska home spawned her moniker “The Remote Chemist" Asia started Alchemist Asia cosmetics while working for Parker Hannifin. She used what little free time she had formulating cosmetics as a way to keep in touch with her passion for chemistry and cosmetics. This rekindled her love for making cosmetics. It was primarily a hobby until, while making a batch of lip gloss, she made way too much. She offered the extra product to friends on social media and the response was overwhelming, turning Alchemist Asia into a real cosmetics manufacturer. Today Alchemist Asia offers a full line of science-inspired beauty products named after scientific phenomena such as Test Tube Lip Gloss, Bioluminescence Oil (inspired by bioluminescent plankton), and cell soap which are scientifically accurate models of animal cells. Spend some time with Host Emily Soloby and Asia Fee and share her amazing STEM journey bridging the gap between science and beauty. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices