Fat Mascara

Award-winning actor Tracee Ellis Ross, founder of the haircare line Pattern, gets candid about everything: her hair,  your  hair, customer reviews, ageism in Hollywood, experiments with DIY waxing, her love of Funyuns and red lipstick, her hatred of flaky hair gels, and her love/hate of home workouts. Plus, she shares behind-the-scenes secrets from  Black•ish ,  Mixed...

There’s a new makeup line for men, but do cosmetics still need to be gendered? We discuss and then answer a listener question about how we create the podcast each week. Plus, lots of beauty news to talk about: The “Keurig of skincare” is coming this fall; Gucci Bloom launched a new campaign; perfumers re-created a 150-year-old fragrance discovered in a shipwreck; and researchers have figured out w...

Cosmetic dermatologist Dr. Paul Jarrod Frank joins us to talk about his new book, "The Pro-Aging Playbook," which dares to go deeper than others in its category. Expect straight talk (mixed with a little spirituality) about our youth-obsessed culture, and real advice about how you can block out the noise focus on looking and feeling your best. Also, grab a pencil: Dr. Frank shares *exactly* what t...

In this week's episode, we're talking about the shuttering of the Clarisonic brand, how pregnancy can mess with your teeth, and of course, the biggest beauty headlines right now. This week, Fenty Skincare has hit the scene; Allure declares "Mochi Skin" a thing; touchless sampling is on the rise; "Pretty Shouldn't Hurt," a short film about the pain of protective hairstyles, is available to view; an...

Creative director Drew Elliot, formerly of  Paper  and  America’s Next Top Model , is the new global creative director of MAC Cosmetics, and he’s here to discuss how pop culture influences makeup (and vice versa), how the beauty brand is working to become more diverse and inclusive, new collaborations, his favorite MAC classics, and what goes into his creative process (Peanut M&...

Welcome to our new format! Every Tuesday, we'll talk about the beauty news, answer your questions, share tips and advice, and just generally hang out and have fun. Every Thursday, we’ll drop a (slightly longer) episode featuring an interview with a big name in the beauty world. ••• In this episode, we explain why makeup can change colors as you wear it (and what to do about it), find out if pineap...

Lab Muffin creator and science educator Michelle Wong, PhD, takes a closer look at the clean-beauty movement, discusses the racist and colorist history of skin-lightening products, teaches you to evaluate user reviews for authenticity, and explains how to avoid confirmation bias so you can be a better beauty consumer. Before the interview, Jess & Jenn share makeup-removal tips and discuss the...

Dr. Rajani Katta, a dermatologist and nutrition expert, explains how vitamins are (and aren’t!) regulated, how to judge the safety and efficacy of supplements, and the truth about collagen powders, biotin, vitamin A, and other hair, skin, and nail vitamins. Before the interview, Jenn & Jess talk about the beauty industry’s continued fixation on “unboxing” and discuss the week’s beauty news: mo...

Makeup artist and YouTube creator Lisa Eldridge helps you see yourself in a kinder light, explains the different face types and how to identify your best features, and shares a genius trick for concealing capillaries and other imperfections. She also explains what  really  happens behind the scenes of beauty-advertisement photo shoots (!) and talks about her favorite products and the art...

Virtual makeup, bacteria-based moisturizers, a new body tool inspired by ancient history—we're geeking out this episode! We answer a listener question about probiotic skincare; chat about Esker’s body plane, a tool inspired by Greek warriors; and discuss the future of beauty with special correspondent Christopher Skinner of School House. Plus, we’ve got all the beauty headlines: an initiative to r...

Huda Beauty founder Huda Kattan built a blog into a beauty empire and is here to talk about it. She shares the secrets to doing makeup for beauty photography; why getting fired was one of the best things that ever happened to her; and how she knows when a new product idea (and formula!) will be a winner. Before we talk to Huda, Jess gets help for post-pregnancy hair shedding and we discuss the bea...

Acne, psoriasis, skin picking, wrinkles—all these skin issues have a mental-health component, and Dr. Amy Wechsler, a board-certified psychiatrist and dermatologist, is here to talk about them. She explains how stress affects your body, why humans are hardwired to self-soothe with skincare, and how to help friends and family suffering from mental-heath-related skin issues. Before the interview, Je...

Hairstylist Nikki Nelms has worked with Janelle Monáe, Zoë Kravitz, Solange Knowles, Björk, Beyoncé—and so many others. In this episode, she explains her creative process, why there are Home Depot supplies in her kit, how she built her amazing career, and her must-have products. We’re also sharing tips for preventing your makeup from transferring onto your face mask and talking about the latest be...

Makeup Artist Jillian Dempsey—who works with Gwyneth Paltrow and Kristen Stewart—tells about launching her new beauty app, FYFE, in the midst of a pandemic; her wrinkle-smoothing Gold Sculpting Bar; and her favorite beauty finds (you likely haven't heard of these before). Of course, we had to ask her about her days running the legendary Delux salon in L.A., where she met her client-turned-husband,...

There's a lot to talk about this week! We discuss one of Jess’s favorite stores closing, which skincare supplements actually work, and the week's beauty headlines: Ulta sponsors R29Somos, a Latinx beauty and style website; the FDA approves a new lip filler; CBD line Uncle Bud partners with Jane Fonda; and L’Oréal launches a new program supporting women and the environment. Plus, we’re talking...

Makeup artist Rea Ann Silva, inventor of the Beautyblender, explains how makeup application changed with the advent of HD television—and how that shift inspired her million-dollar idea, the Beautyblender makeup sponge. Also in this episode: Jess shares her home hair-color adventures, and we talk about blue-light protection for skin. Plus, we discuss the week’s beauty news, including the nose-blush...

Author and entrepreneur Zoë Foster Blake, the founder of Go-To Skin Care, has advice for starting a business, choosing skincare that works, preventing facial redness and mascara smudges—and potty-training your kids (really). Plus, Jenn & Jess discuss color-enhancing shampoos, tips for organizing beauty products, and the week’s beauty headlines (Charlotte Tilbury sales rumors, L’Oréal...

By popular demand, celebrity makeup artist Kristofer Buckle returns to the show. He explains why wearing makeup can be a sign of respect, tells us what it’s like in Mariah Carey’s quarantine house, plus shares tips for keeping your job. He also gives amazing beauty tips for tight-lining your upper lash lines, finding the right blush for your skin tone, and updating your makeup as you get olde...

We sit down with Christopher Skinner, the founder and principal of School House, beauty's think tank and creative agency. Chris talks about the specific challenges brands face amid the pandemic, how heritage brands can evolve in this moment, and the importance of and secret to creating a real community with customers. He also fields listener questions about design, inspiration,...

YouTube star Kathleen Fuentes (aka KathleenLights) shares DIY manicure tricks and her favorite drugstore products and beauty bargains. Plus, she explains how astrology can influence your makeup routine. We’ve also got the week's beauty news (Ulta’s charitable move, celebrities going gray, TikTok influencers launching beauty brands, and new science about how lips age) and help for a listener who ge...

Celebrity stylist and salon owner Chris McMillan joins us for a bonus podcast dedicated to salon workers and beauty professionals: Revenue from audio sponsorships of this episode will be donated to the Professional Beauty Association’s Covid-19 Relief Fund.* Chris offers tips for cutting off “old energy” (a.k.a., your hair), shares personal stories (and industry gossip!), discusses his collaborati...

Dermatologist Jeanine Downie, MD, shares everything you ever wanted to know about skincare acids: how they work; the difference between AHAs, BHAs, and PHAs; what facial peels do; how glycolic and salicylic acid interact with other products; and more! Plus, the sunscreen news hidden in America’s coronavirus relief bill (the CARES Act), Jess and Jenn's favorite at-home exercise classes, and th...

Photographer Nigel Barker, the reality TV host and former judge of  America’s Next Top Model , teaches us how to be better photographers (and subjects!); explains why preserving memories is important and how “smizing" is more than smiling with your eyes; and shares his tips and tricks for cutting his own hair. Plus: help for anyone with stress-induced acne, the week’s beauty news (Drunk Eleph...

Everything in this episode is under $15! To celebrate our 200th episode, we compiled the absolute best drugstore beauty buys from four year’s worth of amazing expert guests. We’re sharing the must-have mascaras, hair masks, sunscreens, body lotions, and more from Mario Dedivanovic, Harry Josh, Daniel Martin, Jaclyn Hill, and tons of other makeup artists, hair stylists...

Plastic and reconstructive surgeon Dr. Lara Devgan (@laradevganmd) answers your questions about tummy tucks, liposuction, firm jawlines, crepey necks, breast implants, and more. She also explains how to find a surgeon, cosmetic dermatologist, or nurse injector you trust. Before that, Jenn & Jess discuss who we *actually* wear makeup for, how the diet industrial complex has affected u...