Fat Mascara

Photographer and editor Elizabeth Renstrom is the artist behind Basenote Bitch, a project that explores how perfume plays a part in our formative years. In this interview, we revisit vintage fragrances—such as Love’s Baby Soft, Fetish by Dana, Tribe by Coty, and Ralph Lauren Cool—and discuss the marketing messages that were used to sell them. Plus, we learn more about Elizabeth and her work, her f...

Wanyi Jiang, the creative director for JVN Hair (and one of Jenn’s best friends!) plays co-host this week while Jess is on spring break. Wanyi explains how she uses painting techniques to apply makeup, why polyglutamic acid serum is her makeup secret, and her approach to beauty-product packaging. Then, she and Jenn analyze the news: L’Oréal acquiring Aesop; home fragrances inspired by the Metropol...

Walmart’s vice president of beauty, Creighton Kiper, talks about the most popular products in America, from $1.24 L.A. Colors eyelashes to the Relove By Revolution makeup line that’s all under $5. We discuss trend-spotting; Walmart’s multigenerational beauty shoppers; the retailer’s newest prestige offerings; which celebrity lines customers are loving; and more—like how Walmart can work to unlock...

Jenn attempts makeup depotting, and Jess found a fitness streaming platform that’s just her speed. We’re also talking about solid nail polish, makeup samples that look like snacks, how California’s wildfires affect skin, beauty brands using scarcity marketing tactics, and why software engineers are inadvertently setting today’s beauty standards. Plus: a listener’s 3-for-1 Raise A Wand and a satin...

Why do some scented candles fill a room and others fall flat? What makes amber scents so warm and resinous? How do perfumers remember what different molecules and extracts smell like? Givaudan perfumer Dana Schmitt answers those questions and many more in this interview for all the fragrance nerds out there. She also talks about how her background in chemistry made her a better perfumer, what it’s...

Solid shampoos and conditioners may be eco-friendlier, but which ones actually work? Jenn spent the past few months testing dozens, and now she’s sharing her favorites. Before that: the Color Guru giveaway contest; Bobbi Brown tells us about her Jones Road store and shares some life advice; Pantone expands its SkinTone Guide; and we’ve got exclusive news about a new product from Vacation, the comp...

We dig into the topics that Allure readers can’t get enough of with its editor in chief, Jessica Cruel. She discusses Black representation in beauty journalism, our ongoing fascination with celebrity plastic surgery, and how the world of cosmetic procedures is finally becoming more inclusive. Plus, she shares makeup tips for people who wear glasses, takes us behind the scenes of the Allure Best of...

Model Ashley Graham wants to ban the word “normal” in discussions of body shape and skin and hair type. The author and TV host also explains how to do (realistic!) daily affirmations and shares the things that make her feel good: meditation, prayer, and acupuncture—along with facials, exfoliation, occasional hair removal, and the meticulous application of self-tanner. (If you want to self-tan with...

Jess rediscovers the power of Epsom salt baths and her NuFace device, and then tells us about her run-in with legendary actress Isabella Rossellini. Plus: The hair brand that’s giving free haircuts to young adults experiencing homelessness; a new beauty (writing) destination we’re loving; the grant that will help make dermatology more inclusive; and we Raise a Wand to a mascara combo, a rinse...

Content creator, makeup artist, and self-proclaimed “mature lady,” Sonia Valencia is here to offer some real talk (okay, beech?) about makeup and skincare. She tells us how she set her own beauty standard by embracing her gray hair and ignoring the haters, and shares how she went from working in a cannabis-processing center to collaborating with beauty experts like Mario Dedivanovic in just two ye...

Photo filters can give you the face lift you never asked for—is there anything wrong with that? We talk about why the Bold Glamour effect on TikTok is hitting a nerve. Then, is it okay to buy fragrance dupes and knock-offs? We share some popular ones and what they mean for the fragrance industry. Plus, Jenn read the book Skin Sobering and explains why she’s not buying its “you don’t need skincare”...

Celebrity facial masseur Gavin McLeod-Valentine leads us through the face-massage technique he uses to prep clients like Cate Blanchett, Zoe Saldana, Maya Rudolph, and Lourdes Leon for the red carpet. He shares the movie-ready story of his life and how he went from actor to publicist to unexpectedly giving Halle Berry an oxygen facial and finding his calling. We also talk about buccal-fat removal,...

Jess has a Fraxel update and makes a case for Positive Beauty while Jenn has “the talk” (about search engines) with her stepson. Plus: the skin-sobering movement is coming; Gucci knows how to cast a fragrance campaign (and throw a dinner party, probably); an encyclopedic app to shop for perfume by your mood; and Madonna’s new face. We’ll also share the best eyeliner for hooded eyelids; how to wake...

Nail stylist Mazz Hanna wants to improve career opportunities for women working in the nail industry—from the manicurists at your local nail salon to the celebrity nail stylists that her agency, Nailing Hollywood, represents. She talks about that, plus: what it takes to make a mid-life career pivot; why she invented the Crystal Healing Manicure; how to get a better gel manicure; the CBD spray cele...

The #deinfluencing trend is a way for your favorite beauty gurus to reassert their authority—at least according to researchers at Cardiff University. We’ll explain and share our thoughts on the beauty world’s latest viral conversation. Plus: plaintiffs in a new lawsuit allege that Olaplex causes hair loss; hairstylist Jen Atkin has a new line of hair tools and accessories; Astier de Villatte creat...

Artist and perfume designer Alia Raza, founder of Régime de Fleurs, explains how she went from “broke artist” to “not-broke artistic perfume creator,” in an evolution that continues today. She talks about collaborating with people that inspire her, including actress Chloë Sevigny and perfumer Jérôme Epinette; gets nostalgic about the best-scented beauty products of her youth; and surprises us with...

Jess & Jenn compare their experiences with laser facial treatments (Fraxel, IPL, Nd:Yag, etc). Then: What does “clean” beauty mean? A Sephora lawsuit could change the way brands and retailers talk about natural vs. synthetic ingredients and “no-no” lists. Plus: a Singapore-based hair-removal salon compares women to orangutans; there’s a perfume that smells like WD-40; scientists measure smile...

This is a masterclass in getting the hair color you want and keeping it that way! Spoke & Weal color specialist Genna Still will explain why tweaking the tone and saturation of your hair color affects the way you look; how to tell the difference between new hair growth and broken hairs; why hair can look brassy and what to do about it; how to make DIY root concealer; why most colorists don’t l...

Now that the hubbub of Mikayla Nogueira’s branded-content mascara controversy has quieted, we’re taking a closer look at how influencer culture has changed (maybe not so much?) since our days at print magazines and discussing how government *tries* to regulate advertising. Plus: P&G found a way to make lotion pumps recyclable; the Anastasia of Beverly Hills 25th anniversary party was...

How do you decode a cosmetic ingredient list? How are researchers using artificial intelligence (AI) to improve skincare? Which skincare ingredients are completely pointless? Victoria Fu, the co-founder of Chemist Confessions, is here to answer all those questions and more. Plus, she tells us about an AI-discovered molecule that improves skin elasticity and explains how the digital era has made it...

A few years ago, faces were looking full (from all the filler?); these days, the rich and famous look sculpted, “snatched,” and downright gaunt. It could be the popularity of Ozempic (a diabetes medicine that’s also prescribed for weight loss) and more people getting buccal-fat removal, but it’s also proof that cosmetic injectables follow trend cycles—just like makeup, hair, and clothes. Let’s dis...

As an advisor to numerous clients in the beauty industry, trial attorney Kelly Bonner plays a part in America’s complex system of cosmetics regulation—and she’s here to tell us about it. What does “natural” mean when it comes to hair care? Is topical collagen improving skin the way customers think it is? These are just some of the questions currently up for debate in the courts, as Kelly explains....

How much frost is too much frost in a lipstick? All depends on how you wear it, we say. We’re swiping on some throwback lip shades, then discussing the latest beauty gossip: Makeup By Mario’s expansion; Lancôme’s Gen-Z play; Viktor&Rolf’s Flowerbomb bombshell; and Ole Henriksen’s Scandi collaboration. Plus: The Fat Mascara Fam did their homework! We’re sharing a listener’s favorite product for...

Whether you’re a beauty enthusiast looking for the next great product or you work in the beauty industry, this interview with Julian Reis, CEO & founder of SuperOrdinary, is a must-listen. He talks about the future of beauty shopping and explains how his company connects brands (think: Olaplex, Nécessaire, Ouai, Farmacy, Milk Makeup) with influencers and KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders) in China who...

Noninvasive “tweakments” like DiamondGlow facials, Morpheus8, and the Moxi laser are gaining popularity with people who say they’re “high maintenance to be low maintenance.” Meaning: Can getting some cosmetic procedures now mean less makeup, less skincare, and less upkeep in the long run? Let’s discuss! After that: The FDA’s authority over cosmetics regulations is expanding, there’s a correlation...