Fat Mascara

A new study found 90% of women feel anxious about getting older, most often due to the way they look—let's talk about it. (Related note: We also have thoughts on Kim Kardashian’s Allure cover story where she admits to “a little bit of Botox.") Plus: a New York City art gallery devoted to fragrance; a free camp for children with chronic and life-threatening skin diseases; details about the beauty p...

Rihanna-approved facialist Sean Garrette tells us how he went from cosmetology school in Atlanta to his current position as Dior Beauty’s U.S. skincare expert in just a few years. Plus, we talk about skin barrier repair, facial percussion, his favorite at-home skincare devices, the best treatment for keratosis pilaris, why he puts retinol on his hands, and the three things you need for a “moisture...

The Raise a Wands this week are epic! Plus, Jenn got some cosmetic injectables; Jess went to an aesthetics summit; and we talk about AviClear, the new acne-fighting laser treatment; the latest news on animal-testing in the beauty industry; a Davines sustainability campaign; LGBTQ-friendly salons; celebrities facing trademark lawsuits; and the perfect pink lipstick.  The products (and lasers a...

Makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench has turned models into lizards and covered faces in Legos but she understands that, sometimes, "a full beat can save your life.” In this interview, she tells us how she got her start painting kids’ faces at birthday parties and went on to work with famous clients (Björk and Rihanna) and photographers (Steven Klein, Inez and Vinoodh)—and why she’s launching her own mak...

Happy summer! This week, we’re talking about the most accurate perfume quiz you'll ever take; the Queen’s makeover (well, haircut); a space-age ingredient that makes sunscreen more powerful; and the best beauty deals for Amazon Prime Days. Plus, Jenn clarifies what’s going on with the GrandeLash-MD story, a listener suggests a fragrance-focused summer read, and we contemplate hiring professional h...

This interview with hair stylist and brand founder Kristin Ess is a masterclass in all things beauty and brand building. She gets real about managing business relationships, pulls back the curtain on how celebrity-client partnerships actually work, and shares tips for making your hair work for you, no matter the texture or length. We also chat about some of her favorite beauty products, making pot...

After a quick J&J catch-up, we’ve got snow mushroom extract, squalane, and so much more to discuss, including Guide Beauty, a company making cosmetics that are easier to use if you have a disability or health condition that impacts mobility, motor skills, or hand-eye coordination. Plus: Revlon’s bankruptcy filing, the Humanrace sunscreen (available July 14), makeup artist Isamaya Ffrench’s new...

Jo Franco, co-host of World’s Most Amazing Rental Properties , on Netflix, and host of the podcast Not Your Average Jo, is here to talk about how travel intersects with beauty, share stories from her travels, and give us all her tips for packing well and experiencing new cultures to the fullest. Plus, we talk about sunscreens, insect repellants, and which hair tools and styling products make trave...

An ophthalmologist explains why cosmetic lash serums like Grande Cosmetics GrandeLASH-MD may cause drug-like side effects, such as fat loss that leads to a change in eye shape. Before that, Jess recaps the Fragrance Foundation awards and Jenn has thoughts on gym lips and a few other viral beauty trends. Plus, we discuss three beauty brands that are dropping their prices; Dr. Whitney Bowe’s new ski...

Award-winning actor Tracee Ellis Ross, founder of the haircare line Pattern, gets candid about 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•ish , and T...

We're doing a live mini-podcast in New York City on June 11, and Jenn shares all the details in the episode intro (more info and link to register below). Then we've got a classic interview: Jess and Intern Tiff (remember her?) talk to makeup artist Gucci Westman, who opens up about meditation, makeup school, creating a perfect complexion, and her line, Westman Atelier. This interview originally ai...

How do you know when you’ve hit your mid-life? What age does that happen? And do you need to change up your style and your beauty routine when you get there? Journalist and podcaster Kim France, creator of Girls of A Certain Age and co-host of the Everything is Fine podcast (and the founding editor of Lucky magazine) is here to discuss it all with us. We talk about those in-between ages that our c...

Do collagen supplements and drinks help you get bouncy, firm, “jello skin”? We’ve got the truth from a dermatologist—and some products and services that will give you a firm and bouncy “skin mattress.” Plus, Jess gives us details on her new job at Moda Operandi, and we talk about Emily Weiss stepping down as Glossier CEO, a new fragrance celebrating Queen Elizabeth’s Platinum Jubilee, a study show...

Daniel Kolaric catapulted into the limelight after doing a gothic makeup look for Julia Fox that went viral. In this episode, the makeup artist and hairstylist tells us what it’s like to have one day’s work judged by millions of strangers, even though you’ve been a hairstylist and makeup artist for years. We also talk about where he finds his inspiration, the difference between editorial and red-c...

Cat Quinn, the executive director of global trend for MAC Cosmetics, predicts the next big things in beauty—and she's here to share them with the Fat Mascara Fam! Get ready to hear about: velvet lips, skater-boy blush, poplighting, corset nails, and jelly manicures. Plus, she and Jenn talk about a retail charter that aims to address racial bias in retail stores; why “reef-safe sunscreen” is a misn...

Chriselle Lim is a fashion stylist, content creator, and entrepreneur—and she’s here to help us all get out of our collective post-pandemic fashion and beauty rut. She’s also the force behind spring’s blockbuster fragrance hit: Phlur Missing Person. We discuss how she became the owner and creative director of Phlur; the evolution of fashion and beauty content online; how her divorce inspired Missi...

Jenn and U.K.-based journalist and photographer Charisse Kenion, the host of BeautyMe podcast, discuss which celebrities have had work done (and whether it’s our business?), hair discrimination in the U.S. and U.K., and beauty news, including the shake-up at Too Faced, new “cosmetotextiles” with skincare infused into the fabric, and archaeological advancements that reveal what Cleopatra may have s...

Do lash serums really work? Are redness-relieving eye drops safe? It it okay to tightline? Opthamologist Nicky Shah, MD, cofounder of You & Eye by Dr. Nicky, is here to answer questions about sensitive eyes and explain the beauty and health effects of permanent makeup, fiber mascaras, glitter eyeshadow, and more. Plus, she wants us to care for a neglected part of our beauty routine: the meibom...

The world’s easiest guide to anti-aging skincare is here! We’ll tell you the one thing everyone should be doing to improve their skin (in a segment sponsored by No7 Beauty). Before that, Jess says goodbye to her job at Harper’s Bazaar , and we bring you the latest beauty headlines: big news for hair brands Crown Affair and Briogeo; the antioxidant benefits of Indian sandalwood; Alicia Keys’s new m...

Tennis star Venus Williams says she was a late bloomer with beauty and fashion, but she’s making up for lost time. We talk about how her mom helped to shape her wellness philosophy, the moment she had a sunscreen epiphany, DIY manicures, JetPeel facials, colonics, dermarolling, her favorite spas, and how she lives her life with no regrets. Shop the products mentioned on Ep. 401: shopmyshelf.us/col...

The production pace of the beauty and fashion industry is out of control, but what’s the solution? We talk about being more mindful with our fashion and beauty choices, and brands that encourage the same (see: KraveBeauty’s #SlowDownSkincare initiative). As journalists who report on a lot of these new products, we realize we’re part of the problem! But there’s room for nuance in this conversation,...

Erin Kleinberg, co-founder of branding agency Métier Creative and The Coveteur & founder of lifestyle brand Sidia, is here to help you upgrade your bathroom. We chat about product organization, the right towels, better lighting, and whether you should hide things in your medicine cabinet before guests come over. Plus, she talks about recovering from the “girlboss” era; her fabulous grandmother...

Jenn reviews HBO Max’s docuseries Not So Pretty and has an eyebrow epiphany (thanks to Mikayla Nogueira and Mario Dedivanovic). We also talk about Glossier hiring Olivia Rodrigo as a spokesperson, sad sunscreen news, and the new fragrance collection from Off-White™. Plus: Why do Instagram and Facebook censor ads that mention—or even allude to the existence of—vulvas and vaginas? We discuss the dou...

Learn how to prevent scars; manage chemotherapy-related hair loss; draw on missing eyebrows; treat dry skin and lips; deal with the side effects of radiation; and adjust your beauty routine during illness (the advice about fragranced products will surprise you!) during this incredibly helpful interview with beauty director Caitlin Kiernan, the author of Pretty Sick: The Beauty Guide for Women With...

Jess shares the ultimate technique for dewy skin, which she learned from a recent date with Rihanna-approved aesthetician Sean Garrette, the new Dior skincare expert. Plus, we talk about why we continue to judge celebrities’ aesthetic choices (please see: 26-year-old Ireland Baldwin’s recent FaceTite procedure); our favorite hairstyle for brides; a Nivea moisturizer that literally makes the air cl...