Fat Mascara

Do you expect beauty products with French names to be made in France? What about L.A. Looks hair products: Are they created in California? A new lawsuit questions L’Oréal Paris’s provenance and makes us rethink a marketing tactic the beauty industry has relied on for years. Plus: John Paul Mitchell’s new spokesperson, the latest celebrity skincare line, a playlist that lets you experience fragranc...

Gwen Stefani reveals that having her family “torn apart” seven years ago led her on a new path and inspired her to create the makeup line, GXVE, which launches March 3. She tells us that her naivety in the ’90s helped her develop her music, and explains how her youth in Anaheim, California, inspired her style (and some of the looks she’s been criticized for); why she thinks there are a lot of wome...

The Ordinary goes pro-sulfate and we discuss: If sulfates aren’t that bad, why have so many companies removed them from their shampoos? Plus, New York Fashion Week beauty trends (are we really doing skinny brows again?); an interesting report from the American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery; Donni Davy’s Euphoria -inspired makeup line; perfumes that smell like french fries an...

Do scented candles bother dogs? Are essential oils dangerous for cats? And what should you do if your pet has skin, hair, or nail problems? Veterinarian dermatologist Dr. Joya Griffin, the star of National Geographic’s Pop Goes The Vet , tells us what it’s like to treat the skin, hair, and nails of polar bears, pigs, pocket pets, and more. Plus, we talk about Jenn’s hairless dog, Jess’s longhaired...

Lots to discuss in the beauty world: America Ferrera’s gorgeous CoverGirl campaign; more fashion labels getting into beauty; and Atelier Cologne hitting pause in the United States. Plus, sales of clinical skincare, fragrance, and cream blush are up, and we have a few recommendations for natural-looking blushes, several of which come from a listener (hey, Whitney!) who also tells us about the best...

Why do fake noses win Oscars? Makeup and hair designer Nadia Stacey, who just received an Academy Award nomination for Cruella , has some thoughts! She talks to Jenn about her career and creative influences, her process for designing a character's look, how she does her historical research, her 2022 Oscar predictions—and the reason she thinks she’d be best friends with Caroline Hirons. Episode rec...

We’re finding joy everywhere: in the scent that makes middle school students feel less anxious, in new upcycled skincare ingredients, and, most importantly, we’re finding joy in the good fortune of others! Plus, we salute a new campaign to raise awareness for the CROWN Act, and then talk about Martha Stewart’s TikTok debut, the face tint that’s like a filter in a bottle, and a French pharmacy exfo...

Matthew Herman talks with Jess about what inspired him and co-founder David Kien to create Boy Smells, a buzzy brand that makes "genderful" candles, perfumes, and underwear. Matthew, a former fashion designer for brands like Proenza Schouler and Nasty Gal, shares the story of his fragrance company’s mega-rise during the pandemic, tells us about the time collaborator Kacey Musgraves popped up in hi...

We share the story behind Angel perfume and discuss the influence it still has on today’s fragrances, in memory of Thierry Mugler. Before that: Emma Thompson on nudity in her 60s and plastic surgery; Julia Fox’s eyeliner; Tessa Thompson's Armani campaign; schmancy household cleaners from Courtney Cox; and why we’re all worried about body odor and bad breath. Plus, a listener shares the vitamin C s...

Colorist Jenna Perry tells us how her salon became the go-to spot for “hot girl hair” and explains the techniques she uses to paint the hair of Emily Ratajkowski, Bella Hadid, and Rosie Huntington-Whitely. Plus, she shares her thoughts on trends like “expensive brunette” and “mushroom blonde,” talks about her favorite beauty products (including the best color-depositing conditioner), and names the...

How do you fix varicose veins on your legs? Jess shares her experience getting endovenous laser therapy (EVLT) and a microphlebectomy, and explains why varicose veins are different than spider veins, the symptoms, treatments (some may be covered by medical insurance), and what healing has been like for her. (Warning: She explains the details of her procedure, so you may want to skip that part if y...

Author (and sideshow performer!) Ilise S. Cater shares the fascinating history of makeup in the U.S.A., from Martha Washington’s multipurpose rouge made with whale earwax to the “Because You’re Worth It” era of the 1970s, when “makeup learned to talk feminism.” Along the way, we’ll meet the first celebrity influencer, find out if the suffragettes actually wore red lipstick, learn how Hollywood—and...

Jenn had an at-home hair color breakthrough, Jess talked to Cher (!), and there's so much more to chat about, including industry news, Kate Hudson’s foray into skincare, and Neen, a subscription-model makeup line from Jeanine Lobell, the founder of Stila. Plus, we Raise A Wand to a foundation that covers the flaky side effects of Accutane (isotretinoin), the German pharmacy foot cream that heals s...

Josie Maran is the only CEO we know who rode a horse bareback (while naked) for work, started a band with Nicole Richie, starred in a vampire movie, and created a multimillion-dollar beauty business after a chance encounter with a dewy-skinned septuagenarian in Saint-Tropez. She’s here to share those stories and more, including how she cured her stepdaughter’s eczema without pharmaceuticals and wh...

Welcome to the future! We’re talking about the most promising beauty finds at the Consumer Electronics Show, including a gadget to make at-home hair coloring easier, a smart fragrance device that packs 100 possible perfumes into one bottle, and a toothbrush with a camera (do we really need that?). Plus, there’s lots of news to catch up on, including a law that requires Tennessee salon workers to g...

Dermatological surgeon Dr. Dendy Engelman is here to demystify topical anti-agers and explain how retinoids, peptides, antioxidants, and acids work. Plus, she offers real talk on which ingredients are truly, scientifically harmful and which are simply vilified by the interwebs. This episode features a new introduction but the interview originally aired in 2018. We’ll be back January 11 with all ne...

Ease into the new year with Shrankhla Holecek, the founder of Uma. She shares how Ayurveda has always been part of her life and offers simple ways we can all make it part of ours, including dry brushing, tongue scraping, and navel therapy oils. This episode features a new introduction but the interview originally aired in June, 2019. We’ll be back January 11 with all new episodes for 2022! Links a...

We’re wrapping up 2021 with the nicest (and naughtiest) moments in the beauty world this year. Pour a glass of your favorite beverage and settle in for our annual tradition, where we cheer the movements, products, people, and brands we loved—and jeer the news, trends, and shenanigans we’d rather not see again in 2022. Links and sponsors:  fatmascara.com/blog Shop the products mentioned on thi...

We’re winding down the year with glowy skin, an Emily in Paris watch party, and a lively week in the beauty world! In the news: beauty takes on And Just Like That (the Sex and the City reboot); Elon Musk’s new haircut; money pieces, the not-so-new hair color trend; camels getting Botox; and new research showing pollution tans your skin just like the sun. Plus, Jenn reviews the DiamonGlow facial an...

Born in Mexico City to a family of aesthetes, Rodrigo Flores-Roux was destined to be a perfumer. He reminisces about his fragrance-loving grandmothers, his training in Versailles, and the more than 500 perfumes he’s created—including Clinique Happy and Arquiste Misfit, the Fragrance Foundation’s 2021 Indie Fragrance of the Year. Plus, we talk about the future of perfumery and how he and his collea...

Journalist Darian Symoné Harvin is Jenn’s guest co-host this week! She shares her beauty philosophy and her analysis of the week’s beauty news: Lush stops advertising on Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat, and TikTok, citing mental-health concerns; a California man files the first lawsuit based on the CROWN Act; Chrissy Teigen gets eyebrow transplants; bed bugs (!) invade the Science Corner; and more....

Comedian Emma Vernon, host of Perfume Room and one of our favorite #perfumetok follows ( @emma_vern ), shares stories inspired by her scent collection, including her adventures as a late bloomer in love and the seductive perfume that changed it all. We also talk about high-low fragrance dupes; the reason big, white florals don’t belong on tweens; and the $7 scent she’s currently obsessed with. Plu...

Artificial nails have come a long way, from the late Middle Ages (their first appearance) to the Lee Press On Nails of the 1980s. We share their history, then celebrate the current revival and tell you about some of the best press-on nails we’ve tried. Before that, lots of news to discuss, including the Machine Gun Kelly PR blitz for his new nail polish line; big changes at Proactiv; Galderma’s pu...

We went back through all our interviews, called up some of our favorite former guests, and compiled a list of the absolute best bargain beauty buys. We’re sharing the must-have mascaras, hair masks, sunscreens, body lotions, and more from makeup artists like Mario Dedivanovic and Daniel Martin, hair stylists Ashley Streicher, Harry Josh, and Sally Hershberger—and tons of o...

Why do hair brands sell different products to men and women? How can we make the beauty world less intimidating? And why is everyone so scared of styling mousse? Hairstylist David Lopez has answers to those questions and more. Plus, he shares his technique for creating effortless waves on (almost) any hair texture, the best concealer for men and makeup novices, and behind-the-scenes secrets from t...