From the Wilds of Wyoming to Your Bathroom Shelf: A Conversation with Jared Pobre, the Founder & CEO of Caldera + Lab

Let's be real: navigating the world of men's skincare can feel like a chore. What actually works? What’s just marketing fluff? At The 2nd, we're all about cutting through the noise to bring you brands that truly deliver.

High on that list is Caldera + Lab, a brand that seriously respects the science of men's skin. It blends rugged, wild-harvested ingredients with high-tech lab innovation. We sat down with Jared Pobre, Founder and CEO, to get the full story, from the brand's wild inspiration to the advanced science in every bottle.

First things first, where did this all come from? We wanted to know about the origin story and the "why" behind the brand.

The name "Caldera + Lab" perfectly captures the two worlds of nature and science. Can you talk about that balance and why both elements are essential to the brand’s identity?

A caldera is a symbol of transformation and resilience from nature. Lab is a place of scientific innovation. The natural phenomenon of a caldera mirrors our formulation philosophy: push the boundaries of what is possible through nature and technology to support our customers’ journey of personal progress. With our proprietary R&D approach, we create skincare that optimizes nature’s power and makes our products more sustainable.

I founded the brand while living in Jackson Hole, WY near the Yellowstone Caldera region in the Teton Mountain Range, wild-harvesting botanicals in the area that continue to power our best-selling product, The Good. An appreciation for this region and the lifestyle in the mountains is also a powerful source of inspiration behind the brand.

You've built Caldera + Lab with an incredible level of integrity. Why was it so important for you to go this extra mile, and what does that commitment mean for the guy using your products?

We’ve never taken shortcuts when it comes to developing our products or our brand. When we started, we dove into research, understanding the differences of men’s skin with top scientists and biologists assessing over 200 peer-reviewed studies.

Building our flagship product, The Good - a first of its kind men’s serum for dry, older skin - took about two years from start to finish. Our clinical hair care system took over three years to develop, as did our patent-pending exosome technology in The Great and The Hydro Layer. We spend great attention to detail and investment on our formulations, and it doesn’t stop there. We thoroughly validate every formula with clinical testing, user trials and dermatologist testing. We also use European glass packaging, elevating the look and sustainability of our products. For our customer, this means we deliver the highest efficacy and safety and it is what keeps him coming back. These products are proven to perform and he sees the results for himself.

From an entrepreneurial perspective, why did you decide to tackle the men's skincare market?

The genesis of the idea was a personal use case — living up in the high elevation of Jackson Hole, my skin became very dry. The harsh conditions in mountain towns like Jackson Hole rapidly age you because of the lack of moisture. I saw the same with many guys in town, looking 10 years older than they actually were. I started using my wife’s products because the men’s ones I was using were just making my skin worse. I found a couple of her skincare products to be exceptional. This was also the start of the clean beauty movement in the women’s segment, but no one was doing anything in the men’s category. So we decided to do it ourselves. We kicked off the product development process in 2017 and the brand launched in 2019.

A lot of brands say their products are "for men." You take it a step further by engineering formulas based on men's unique biology. For the average guy, what are the key differences in men's skin that you're actually targeting with your products?

Yes, men’s skin is biologically different from women’s. It is 25% thicker, has 2x more oil production and is more collagen dense. As a result, men’s skin ages with deeper wrinkles. Men are also prone to micro-inflammation and skin barrier damage with frequent shaving. Our products are designed for these biological differences, going deeper into men’s skin to treat where the ingredients are most effective. We leverage plant-derived ingredients, even engineering our own specifically for men’s skin, like our patent-pending exosomes.

Your products are powered by your B³OS+™ framework. Guys hear a lot of science buzzwords like Biotechnology and Exosomes. In the simplest terms, how does this advanced technology work to deliver better and more noticeable results for a guy's skin?

It all starts with the biology of men’s skin. By formulating for men from the start, we ensure the carefully selected ingredients and textures sync with his biological profile and his lifestyle. We focus on plant-derived ingredients, leveraging potent, proven compounds from nature.

Certain ingredients we found are not normally bioavailable to men’s skin, but by encapsulating them in our patent-pending exosomes engineered for men, they are guided into deeper layers of skin for more efficacy. Our exosomes are proven to enhance active ingredient absorption by 20x, which translates to better results.

Let's talk about the products themselves. For the guy who is starting from zero and wants a routine that is simple but effective, what is The Regimen, and why did you choose those three specific products to work together?

The Regimen is an easy, daily routine that takes the guesswork out of skincare. It’s built around the essential skincare steps to healthy skin - cleanse, repair and hydrate. Our lightweight regimen features The Clean Slate, our skin-balancing cleanser that removes dirt, oil and clears pores, The Great, a breakthrough anti-aging serum that reduces wrinkles, lifts and firms, and The Hydro Layer, a weightless anti-aging moisturizer for all day hydration.

It works for all skin types and is dermatologist-tested. If you’re looking for skincare but don’t know what to use, this is the place to start.

Many guys are skeptical about seeing real changes from skincare. What kind of tangible results can a man expect to see after using Caldera + Lab products consistently?

Consistency is key. That’s why we made using our regimens so easy - the routine is already set up for you.

At Caldera + Lab we go above and beyond with our testing protocols because we understand the importance of visible results, and the skepticism from the customer. Which is why we back it up with data. Our products are clinically proven and tested by real men. Each product delivers unique benefits and results. The Great, for example, is clinically proven to visibly reduce lines + wrinkles, firm and lift skin, even skin tone and strengthen the skin barrier. After 45 days in a clinical test evaluated by a dermatologist, 100% showed smoother and firmer skin, and a more even skin tone.

We are so happy to be partnering with you. From your perspective, what makes The 2nd a good home for Caldera + Lab, and what do you hope our community discovers when they try the brand for the first time?

Men’s care can often get pushed aside as a second priority. The 2nd, like Caldera + Lab, puts men front and center. It is a highly curated selection of only men’s brands. Our goal with every customer interaction is to serve men with products and education that enhance his well-being and life. We hope he discovers that he doesn’t need to settle, these are products made for him, are enjoyable and easy to use and deliver better results than he has ever seen.

Finally, what's next for Caldera + Lab? As a leader in skincare innovation, what excites you most about the future of men's grooming?

What is exciting about men’s self-care is that there is so much opportunity in terms of awareness, product innovation and education. Our focus will continue to be on innovating with new ingredients and science that deliver on a higher standard of performance for our customers.

And there you have it. Straight from the founder, this isn't just another product line. It's high-performance, science-backed, nature-driven skincare built specifically for you. We're incredibly proud to carry Caldera + Lab at The 2nd, and we can't wait for you to experience the results for yourself.