Fat Mascara

Why are the videos where Lorry Hill analyzes plastic surgery so compelling? Does it even matter if she’s right about what celebrities like Jennifer Lawrence do to their faces? Let’s work through our feelings together:) Plus, Jess has a new game for Jenn that involves vintage shopping online. Canada bans testing cosmetics on animals and we explain where (and why) animal testing is still allowed. An...

In the second installment of Best of FM, we have Drunk Elephant founder Tiffany Masterson. Just a few months before her company was acquired by Shiseido (for $845 million!), she sat down to share how she built her brand. We talk about marula oil; how she handles social media scandals; the ever-changing definition of clean beauty; the ingredients that are most likely to cause skin sensitivity; and...

Let's go behind the scenes of Scent Marketing Inc., a company that creates immersive, ambient fragrances for hotels (1 Hotel, Auberge Resorts, and more), cruise ships, spas—even the Museum of Ice Cream! Company CEO Caroline Fabrigas explains how resorts use their HVAC systems for scent diffusion; which functional fragrances affect your mood; and why woody notes like cedar and sandalwood are timele...

Boo Boo the brown bear is obsessed with Taylor Swift’s Incredible Things perfume, and we are obsessed with him. But first, Jess hangs with a brow artist who has some issues with brow lamination, and we talk about golden-hour makeup, underwear made of seaweed, and the surprising reason female dermatological surgeons may not get the same training their male counterparts do. All that, plus carry-on b...

When it comes to aging, actress Sofía Vergara says she wants "to go down fighting.” We talk about that and so much more on today's episode: the beauty secrets Sofía learned while prepping for Carnival, in her hometown of Barranquilla; how her look changed over 11 years on Modern Family ; the best makeup with SPF (and her new line, toty.); the reason she’s never over-plucked her eyebrows; exactly w...

Good looks pay: On average, attractive CEOs make $1 million more than their average-looking counterparts, according to new research and a compelling article in the Wall Street Journal. Let’s discuss! Then, Jess puts her art history degree to work, uncovering (information on) a 2,000-year-old perfume buried in a Roman mausoleum in Spain. Plus: behind the scenes at the Fragrance Foundation Awards; a...

Welcome to the Best of FM! This bi-weekly series features our favorite interviews with new introductions from Jenn & Jess. These “Best of FM” selections are for new listeners who may not be sure which Fat Mascara podcast to listen to first, as well as long-time listeners who may have missed (or want to revisit!) some of our most popular podcasts. First up: Huda Kattan, the founder of Huda Beau...

Psychologist, hair stylist, hair historian, and clinical therapist Afiya Mbilishaka, PhD, is here to talk about why hair (and caring for it) can be an entry point to mental-health services. She explains why hair is sacred in many cultures around the world, especially in some of the African cultures she’s studied. Plus: why hair loss can be so devastating; the importance of hair stylists in Black c...

After one company’s silicone wrinkle patches went viral, they calculated that the sales bump put five extra tons of trash into landfills. So, the company started a wrinkle-patch recycling program. Will it make a difference? We discuss—and share some of our favorite programs for recycling beauty and fashion trash. Plus, there’s an uptick in skin damage from bad laser facials, and dermatologists are...

Whether you’re attending a big event or you’re about to be a bride, the pressure is on to look amazing. And not just amazing, but timeless! Relaxed! Polished in photos! And not like your face ate the blush before you stepped out the door! Makeup artist and beauty educator Nicky Posley is here to help. Not only has he worked with hundreds of brides (as well as celebrities like Serena Williams, Sloa...

We’re trying to love marine and aquatic perfumes, sharing our summer-concert experiences, and going deep on YouTube creator Jeremy Fragrance, the intriguing (“unhinged,” per GQ) fragrance influencer. Plus, why did Marc Jacobs Beauty quiet quit retail sales? And lots more to discuss: everyone’s best friend Florence Pugh and her new beauty contract; the Ulta-ification of Space NK; and mystical produ...

Sharon Chuter is stepping away from Uoma Beauty, the brand she founded, but she leaves behind an amazing legacy. In this interview, she tells us about the rebellious path she took from teenage beauty entrepreneur in Nigeria to head of her own company, and opens up about the difficulties she’s faced as a Black woman in the corporate world and why she wanted to do things differently once she was in...

Hairstylist Mara Roszak booked her first celebrity client when she was just 17 (her mom had to drive her to the job!), and she’s been working steadily ever since, with clients like Emma Stone, Zoe Saldana, Natalie Portman, and Cara Delevingne. In this interview, she shares how she got her start, anecdotes from the set, the story behind her line, Rōz, and the products she stocks in her kit—and at h...

In this provocative interview, NPR host-at-large Elise Hu, author of the new book Flawless: Lessons in Looks and Culture from the K-Beauty Capital , talks about the rise of South Korean pop culture and its effect on global beauty standards. She explains how A.I.-generated photo filters can perpetuate discrimination; why “beauty work” now begins in elementary school; and what you can do to find bal...

Writer and filmmaker Priyanka Mattoo, co-founder of the Earios podcasting network, is here to talk beauty. As a former talent agent, Pri shares insight on why so many celebrities—including Beyoncé!—may have started beauty lines. Plus: Demi Moore’s facialist; the glasses that (might?) make applying eye makeup easier; things we do for self care; wedding-season etiquette; and Pri’s favorite products,...

You know how certain products are suddenly all over your feed, and all your friends are buying them? Leslie Hall, founder of Iced Media, a beauty-focused paid social agency, explains how that happens. She breaks down the ways that brands use (and should be using!) social media to reach customers. This is a must-listen for anyone who works in the beauty industry, but also for consumers who want to...

Social-media sniping, beauty brands (hypocritically?) campaigning against the use of photo filters on social media, and the refreshing IRL camaraderie of the industry—we’re talking about it all on this week’s episode. Then, do you own a “beast mode” fragrance? We call out the scents with serious sillage. Plus: A review of the new Dyson Airstrait; a supplement that actually improves your skin; colo...

Makeup artist Laura Mercier shares the inspiring story of how she changed her birth name, left France, and came to America to restart her life—and all the lessons she learned along the way. We talk about the ’90s in New York City; her work with Steven Meisel and longtime clients like Madonna and Julia Roberts; what gave her the inspiration to start her complexion-focused makeup line (Secret Camouf...

Please give a big Fat Mascara welcome to our newish intern, Georgina, who tried a bunch of hand creams and is here to tell us about the best ones. Before that, Jess describes the Met-Gala-worthy facial she had with Hadda Akrim (@minimal_by_hadda), and we chat about the news: how one fragrance creator is using A.I.; Courteney Cox’s Dermalogica skincare regimen; Barbie Ferreira’s new gig with Sol de...

Paramore’s Hayley Williams and her friend and hair stylist, Brian O’Connor, share how they bonded over the power of hair color—and how external transformation can help you find yourself, find your people, and ultimately feel more comfortable in your own skin. Plus, Hayley opens up about the end of Paramore’s contract with Atlantic Records and what that means for her personally, and Brian and Hayle...

Why do some actors look out of place in period films and TV series? Dazed Beauty writer Kleigh Balugo calls it “smartphone face”—that thing where people look too modern to have lived before the 21st century. Is it cosmetic injectables, too-perfect brows, orthodontics, better nutrition, or maybe all the above? And what about people whose faces seem old-timey? What gives them that classic look? Let’...

Dermatologist Doris Day, MD, is the hair authority, and she’s here to talk about why hair loss happens and what you can do about it. Stress management, serums, supplements, OTC and Rx drugs, lasers, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) treatments, surgery, and the best wigs—she discusses it all! This beauty podcast features a new introduction, but most of the content was originally featured on an episode th...

What is quiet luxury in beauty? Succession ’s Kendall Roy using Augustinus Bader, obvi. But what else? Let’s discuss! We’re also talking about how to get a free skin-cancer screening (May is Skin Cancer Awareness month); why NOT to use beef-tallow-based soap; rebranding anti-aging; and Gen Z misconceptions about sunscreen. Plus: listeners’ favorite non-messy body scrubs, new ways to use rose water...

Are clean beauty products better for the environment? Who still tests on animals and why? How do retailers and brands develop their lists of restricted substances (aka, “no no” lists)? In honor of Earth Day, cosmetic biochemist Krupa Koestline—founder of KKT Consultants, a product-development firm—is here to answer all your questions. We’ll discuss the current state of “clean” beauty and dig into...

In this pleasantly meandering episode, we contemplate celebrities who have beef with their glam squads (and vice versa), discuss bare-leg insecurity and how to handle it, and dream about owning a farm. Plus, Jess’s Beauty Sandwich facial from Iván Pol; skincare for dogs; reverse money pieces, the latest hair color trend; and a new way to prevent underarm odor. Oh! And one last thing: Can you help...