LoudTalk with Lavi

Today we get LOUD with Maria Algren, co-founder of Common Clouds, Scandinavia’s first acne-positive skincare brand. Based in Stockholm, Common Clouds was built to challenge traditional beauty standards and the idea that acne needs to be “fixed.” In this conversation, Maria shares her personal journey with acne, rosacea, and skin shame, and how those experiences—along with years spent working inside the beauty industry—sparked the creation of a brand rooted in transparency, education, and compassion. We dive into how beauty standards differ between Scandinavia, North America, and Asia, why “natural beauty” can sometimes create even more pressure, and how acne stigma continues to affect mental health across generations. Maria also opens up about starting a fully female-led company, building skincare products without marketing fluff, and setting realistic expectations around what skincare can—and cannot—do. This episode is a reminder that skincare goes far beyond the surface, and that confidence, worth, and purpose aren’t defined by clear skin.

Find more from Common Clouds: https://www.instagram.com/commonclouds.official/?hl=en https://commonclouds.com/en-eu?srsltid=AfmBOop5ra4O0H0YC2GBo1pT6TnEgmt5T9XxmzU15RAUZgu_OkyaLacN

Shop real skin. real results: https://nine2fiveskin.com/?srsltid=AfmBOopk2v0D54GGBytjOROnxl5BkDhrJvUaxzx9fIQXnqogUbGbyZEL

Audio versions:
Catch LTWL on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/na/podcast/loudtalk-with-lavi/id1664975601
Catch LTWL on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lXkBxqJOYzwu3g15fCmCM

For podcast highlights and updates follow:
LTWL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loudtalkwithlavi
LTWL TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loudtalkwithlavi

More Lavi:
Lavinia Rusanda YouTube: / @laviniarusanda
Lavinia Rusanda TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laviniarusanda
Lavinia Rusanda Instagram: https://www.https://www.instagram.com/laviniarusanda

Join content creator, engineering, and business student Lavinia Rusanda as she uncovers the secrets of the beauty industry, breaks down the walls of beauty standards, and encourages self-love and confidence while bringing awareness to acne and real, unfiltered skin.

Today we get LOUD for the 100th time on the LTWL podcast. I started this channel 3 years ago as a way to break down the walls of beauty standards, create a space for inspiring conversations with beauty founders and creators, and leave viewers with more positive outlooks.
I've thought about quitting many times. So why am I celebrating today? I am celebrating because I kept showing up for the dream and passion I had. Regardless that I haven't seen "success" in terms of numbers because I have gained success in the conversations had and continuing to get LOUD. This is just the start - so if you knew you were guaranteed success after many many failures, what would you try?

Shop real skin. real results: https://nine2fiveskin.com/

Scripture Mentioned:
Galatians 6:9 (NIV) “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”
Proverbs 24:16 (NIV) “For though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.”
Zechariah 4:10 (NIV) “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin, to see the plumb line in the hand of Zerubbabel.”

Audio versions:
Catch LTWL on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/loudtalk-with-lavi/id1664975601
Catch LTWL on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lXkBxqJOYzwu3g15fCmCM?si=e33b945687874d0f&nd=1

For Podcast highlights and updates follow:
LTWL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loudtalkwithlavi/?hl=en
LTWL TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loudtalkwithlavi?lang=en

More Lavi:
Lavinia Rusanda YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaviniaRusanda/videos
Lavinia Rusanda TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laviniarusanda?lang=en
Lavinia Rusanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laviniarusanda/?hl=en

Join Content Creator and engineering and business student Lavinia Rusanda as she uncovers the secrets of the beauty industry, breaks down the walls of beauty standards, and teaches you to learn self-love and become confident in your skin while bringing awareness to acne and real unfiltered skin.

Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/bKclvGA3lho
Today we get LOUD with Rose Siard from Rose and Ben Beauty, LLC. Rose is an OG in the beauty space starting posting makeup content in 2014 and grew her audience by educating her viewers on techniques instead of selling the next new product launch. By 2021 she launched Rose and Ben Beauty to bring premium brushes to consumers to further prove that application is really the magic of makeup!

Find more Rose and Ben Beauty: https://www.instagram.com/roseandben/?hl=en
Shop Rose and Ben Brushes: https://roseandbenbeauty.com/
Shop real skin. real results: https://nine2fiveskin.com/

Audio versions:
Catch LTWL on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/loudtalk-with-lavi/id1664975601
Catch LTWL on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lXkBxqJOYzwu3g15fCmCM?si=e33b945687874d0f&nd=1

For Podcast highlights and updates follow:
LTWL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loudtalkwithlavi/?hl=en
LTWL TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loudtalkwithlavi?lang=en

More Lavi:
Lavinia Rusanda YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaviniaRusanda/videos
Lavinia Rusanda TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laviniarusanda?lang=en
Lavinia Rusanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laviniarusanda/?hl=en

Join Content Creator and engineering and business student Lavinia Rusanda as she uncovers the secrets of the beauty industry, breaks down the walls of beauty standards, and teaches you to learn self-love and become confident in your skin while bringing awareness to acne and real unfiltered skin.

In this episode we get LOUD about the natural waves of seasons in our lives. As we approach the new year I wanted to remind you about how everything in life has it's summer and winter seasons. Times of high energy, wins, and blooming, and times of rest, struggle, and regrouping but one thing we can always count on is summer, and winter, always come back around. Hope you enjoy this conversations as you start your New Year's resolutions and see you in 2026 :)
Watch the audio version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/TjzJhRi7_Ws

Bible Verses Mentioned:
Ecclesiastes 3: A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:
2 a time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to uproot,
3 a time to kill and a time to heal, a time to tear down and a time to build,
4 a time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance, 5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
6 a time to search and a time to give up, a time to keep and a time to throw away,
7 a time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak,
8 a time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace

Galatians 6:9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.

Shop real skin. real results: https://nine2fiveskin.com/

Audio versions:
Catch LTWL on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/loudtalk-with-lavi/id1664975601
Catch LTWL on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lXkBxqJOYzwu3g15fCmCM?si=e33b945687874d0f&nd=1

For Podcast highlights and updates follow:
LTWL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loudtalkwithlavi/?hl=en
LTWL TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loudtalkwithlavi?lang=en

More Lavi:
Lavinia Rusanda YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaviniaRusanda/videos
Lavinia Rusanda TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laviniarusanda?lang=en
Lavinia Rusanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laviniarusanda/?hl=en

Join Content Creator and engineering and business student Lavinia Rusanda as she uncovers the secrets of the beauty industry, breaks down the walls of beauty standards, and teaches you to learn self-love and become confident in your skin while bringing awareness to acne and real unfiltered skin.

Today we get LOUD with content creator and skin positivity influencer @ThatKaitySmith talking about the struggle of dealing with adult acne, receiving unsolicited advice, walking confidently regardless of the breakouts, and how she turned her struggle into a whole vibe. From posting pimple patch videos to founding her own brand - That Acne Girly. A pimple patch brand changing the narrative on adult acne.
Watch the video version of this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/RBab3vEUUIk

Follow Kaity: https://www.instagram.com/thatkaitysmith/ Shop Acne Girly: https://acnegirly.com/

Shop real skin. real results: https://nine2fiveskin.com/

Audio versions:
Catch LTWL on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/loudtalk-with-lavi/id1664975601
Catch LTWL on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/3lXkBxqJOYzwu3g15fCmCM?si=e33b945687874d0f&nd=1

For Podcast highlights and updates follow:
LTWL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/loudtalkwithlavi/?hl=en
LTWL TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@loudtalkwithlavi?lang=en

More Lavi:
Lavinia Rusanda YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@LaviniaRusanda/videos
Lavinia Rusanda TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@laviniarusanda?lang=en
Lavinia Rusanda on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laviniarusanda/?hl=en

Join Content Creator and engineering and business student Lavinia Rusanda as she uncovers the secrets of the beauty industry, breaks down the walls of beauty standards, and teaches you to learn self-love and become confident in your skin while bringing awareness to acne and real unfiltered skin.