Fat Mascara

What are the skintellectuals putting on their faces? Why is the “clean girl” aesthetic problematic? Is Beauty (with a capital B) becoming more democratic? Marina Mansour, vice president of beauty and wellness for the Gen Z entertainment company Kyra, guides us through the state of beauty for Gen Z (teens and young adults ages 13 - 25 in 2022). Enjoy the sharp trend analysis and helpful beauty advi...

What does seeing our own faces all day long mean for the future of makeup application, our mental health, and more? Let’s talk about it. Plus: passport photo makeup; Dove’s study of toxic beauty standards; how perfume made its way into video games; why Dua Lipa is investing in a beauty brand instead of starting one; Ozzy Osbourne’s limited-edition makeup. And thank you to all the listeners who are...

Actress Naomi Watts wants to have a conversation about menopause—and we are here for it! We chat about cultural attitudes toward aging, whether the “last f**kable day” is still a thing, why menopause was a taboo topic for our moms and their moms, and why that needs to change. Plus, she shares the secrets she’s learned to living her best half (aka, the second half of her life); how she’s dealt with...

This podcast is for “all the beauties,” as Olivier Rousteing likes to say. We’re talking about his Balmain beauty play; the Gen X and millennial natural brands staging comebacks; Beauty Pie’s new refillable Unlipstick; and our dislike of foundation that’s too sheer (flesh-colored water) & lipstick that’s not comforting (lip-colored water). Plus, let’s raise some wands to two amazing fall fragr...

What’s the difference between gua sha, face-rolling, lymphatic drainage, face massage, and facial exercise? And what can these techniques actually do for your skin? Acupuncturist and Chinese herbalist Sandra Lanshin Chiu is here to tell us. Plus, she explains some of the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), tells us about the cultural history of facial gua sha, and shares her fav...

Jess’s co-working space smells like Le Labo, Jenn tried a “body-remodeling” treatment, and evolutionary scientists learned some fascinating things about why humans beautify themselves (e.g., apply makeup, bathe, etc.) from a huge global survey. We’re also talking about the viral post from a hair stylist who was fed up with know-it-all clients; a stinky perfume factory in Florida; Danessa Myricks's...

Board-certified dermatologist Shereene Idriss, MD, is here to share everything she learned about beauty industry B.S. while she was creating her new skincare line, PillowtalkDerm. She explains how product development usually works (and how it should work), why the language on skincare products is so confusing, the reason she decided to focus on melasma and discoloration, and how to find other #ski...

Should you be cycling your skincare? And is it just a fad or actually good for your complexion? We discuss! Plus, let’s talk about the first Miss England contestant to compete without makeup; the cosmetic injectable Daxxify; water-based perfume; Emface (a non-invasive facial tightening treatment); and why ColourPop Cosmetics thought a collaboration with J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter was a good idea....

Sexologist Emily Morse, host of the Sex With Emily podcast, is here to talk about body enjoyment . She explains how to feel more confident naked (her tips are helpful, we swear!), the truth about why porn stars in XXX films look the way they do, why there’s a stigma around using lube, and which beauty products can actually make people feel sexier. Plus, there’s lots of great sex advice, like how t...

We’ve got a full recap of New York Fashion Week and all the latest beauty trends—and by “full recap” we mean a summary of the one party your intrepid Fat Mascara hosts attended together. Plus, we’re talking about Kate Moss’s new line; Gwen Stefani’s brand, Gxve, and its decision to use a social-selling format; Amorepacific acquiring Tata Harper; and the end of Allure ’s print magazine. We’ll also...

There was a time when makeup artists wouldn’t think of showcasing their work on their own faces, but Katie Jane Hughes helped to change that. In this wide-ranging interview, she shares how she went from aspiring singer to manicurist to makeup artist to creator and—by next spring, if all goes according to plan!—founder of her own line. Plus, Katie, who works with celebrities like Ashley Graham and...

Dermatologist Estee Williams, MD, is here to answers all your questions about rosacea. We discuss how much laser treatments for rosacea cost (and how they help), which skincare ingredients cause rosacea flare-ups, why topical green tea and azelaic acid might help, which prescription rosacea treatments actually work, how diet changes can reduce rosacea symptoms, and how the bacteria in your small i...

Comedian Whitney Cummings is her to discuss how she makes decisions about her appearance and who has a say in what women do to their bodies when it comes to things like plastic surgery, cosmetic injectables, and even birth control (she’s a spokesperson for Annovera). In this wide-ranging chat, she and Jenn discuss topical colostrum, nose filler, Ulthera, Botox, whether she should get corrective pi...

We’re back from our break and there’s lots to catch up on: Linda Evangelista’s Vogue cover; Stella McCartney’s (second!) skincare line; new tinted sunscreens for deep skin tones; the end of H2O Plus; Supreme X Pat McGrath Labs nail polishes; and more. Plus, Jess shares her experience with a cat therapist who does reiki, Jenn talks about losing her sense of smell, and we raise wands to a summery ca...

We promised today’s guest, makeup artist Terri Bryant, that we would title this episode of the podcast “Makeup Artist Develops Revolutionary, Universally Designed Products That Make Makeup Artistry Better and Easier for Everyone”—but it was too long to fit! However, that’s exactly what Terri's done with her line, Guide Beauty. After receiving a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, Terri began working...

Can you become immune to a shampoo? Is silicone really that bad? Do you actually need a heat protectant? Cosmetic chemist Erica Douglas, aka @SisterScientist, is here to answer all those questions, demystify the confusing world of hair products, and share some of her favorite stylers, treatments, shampoos, and more. FYI: This podcast features a new introduction, but the interview originally aired...

This week’s episode with Lisa Eldridge will inspire you to be your own makeup artist! Lisa, who says she “loves faces,” grew up finding beauty and color in everything she saw. She tells us how she’s inspired by art and the world around her, and how she knows which faces will be “makeup eaters” and which won’t. She also shares the backstory of her YouTube channel, including her initial hesitation w...

Dental technician Gary Archer has made specialized teeth for hundreds of movies and TV shows, including Austin Powers , PEN15 , The Wolf of Wall Street , Mrs. Doubtfire , Interview with the Vampire , and more. He explains how he collaborates with Special FX makeup artists to create a character's look and tells us which movie smiles he’s made that you probably didn’t realize were fake. Plus, he sha...

What body changes are possible with plastic surgery? Dr. Ryan Neinstein, MD, is here to tell us. He explains how he sculpts bodies with liposuction, EmSculpt, breast boosts, fat transfer, tucks, “mommy makeovers,” Brazilian (and non-Brazilian!) butt lifts, and more. He also tells us why he won’t do CoolSculpting, shares tips for finding a surgeon and getting the most out of a surgical procedure—an...

A new report says many of the sustainability claims made by beauty companies aren’t true, but we found a service that helps you vet the eco-friendliness of your favorite products. After that, Jenn takes you behind the scenes of a story on natural skincare ingredients she wrote for Allure . Plus: perfume for your ice cream, a heated debate about wearing fragrance on a plane, brightening concealers,...

For more than 30 years, makeup artist Dick Page has been playing with color and painting the faces of everyone from Christy Turlington to Bella Hadid. In this interview, he talks about his career, the disappearing art of subtlety, how the way we view images today has changed the way we think about beauty, and the not-so-secret trick for achieving one of his signature looks: dewy, balmy, glowing ch...

Jenn shares a makeup artist’s tips for applying eyeshadow that she and Jess had never heard before. Plus, a new report found that some CBD skincare products unknowingly contain THC (and one researcher has raised concerns that using them could potentially cause someone to fail a drug test!). We’re also talking about Bobbi Brown’s new role at Augustinus Bader; a perfume launch and vibe shift at Vict...

Professional housekeeper Vanesa Amaro is here to organize your home and bathroom—and answer all your beauty-related cleaning questions. How do you clean a hairbrush? What’s the best way to sanitize a makeup bag? What removes makeup fingerprints from doors? Which cleaning products should you use if you’re sensitive to fragrance? How do you get rid of the gunk on your electric-toothbrush charger? Va...

Jess & Jenn are…intrigued? amused? perturbed?...by vabbing, a *very* personal fragrance trend. Plus: a debate about the size of soda cans; the collagen-boosting power of copper peptide face serums; a U.K. hair stylist who creates oil-absorbing mats from human hair; showerscaping with eucalyptus; a new, super-giftable candle line; and heritage-rich ingredients like mamey sapote and qasil poppin...

We catch up with former beauty editor Cat Marnell, the author of How to Murder Your Life and creator of the Patreon column Beautyshambles. She reminisces about the heyday of magazines and tells us she's ready for her next creative endeavor now that she’s healthy (she says she wishes she could use the word “sober” because she's "so close"). We discuss how her relationship with her appearance change...