Fat Mascara

Dermatologist Iris Rubin, MD, realized hair products were causing her acne, so she created Seen, a line of skin-caring haircare. We discuss that and so much more: her career as a pediatric laser surgeon, whether silicone’s bad reputation is deserved, and how common household and personal care products can cause things like migraines, rashes, and more. Links and sponsors:  fatmascara.com/blog...

There are lots of at-home light therapy gadgets that claim to benefit your skin, but they also raise questions: If red LED light boosts hair growth, what happens when you use it on your face? And if blue light may be problematic when it comes from screens, why are blue LED lights used to treat acne? We’re getting to the bottom of things, with help from dermatologist Blair Murphy-Rose, MD. Plus, Je...

What makes aloe soothing? How does kigelia extract firm skin? Jennifer Hirsch, a botanist who trained at the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew, has studied ethnobotany and worked with NGOs to research botanical business diversification for communities around the world. Now, she helps beauty brands bring the power of plants to their products. In this episode, she shares stories from her travels and explai...

Jess tells us what Fraxel is really like, and then we chat about the heat-sensitive bottles in Addison Rae’s “science-backed” perfume line; whether makeup value sets are worth their listed prices; the MAC collection from Blackpink’s Lisa; the conclusion of Jay Z’s perfume legal battle; a health warning about biotin supplements; and new scientific research based on Cardi B’s belief that a thottie “...

Hairstylist Mara Roszak booked her first celebrity client when she was just 17 (her mom had to drive her to the job!), and she’s been working steadily ever since, with clients like Emma Stone, Zoe Saldana, Natalie Portman, and Cara Delevingne. In this interview, she shares how she got her start, anecdotes from the set, the story behind her line, Rōz, and the products she stocks in her kit—and at h...

Find out which hair supplement is the most popular in the world, the countries where "wings" are in demand and “The Rachel” still rules, the curly-hair brand that everyone’s obsessed with, and more, as we did into a report on the hottest hair trends of the year. Plus: RFLCT, the blue-light skincare line, is officially cancelled; NFTs continue to invade the beauty space, Lisa Eldridge launches a po...

Pornography has everything to do with sex, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect what people find attractive, says Cindy Gallop, ad executive, brand leader, entrepreneur, and founder of social sextech platform MakeLoveNotPorn. In this conversation, she talks to Jess about the false expectations the adult-film industry has set up in terms of body image; the homogeneous, often surgically altered, look...

If your skin texture is uneven because of acne scars, we can help! Two dermatologists offer their tips and advice—including some things you can do at home. Plus, we’re talking about skincare designed to help with blue light damage: Do you really need it? Streamer and YouTube creator Rachell “Valkyrae” Hofstetter’s fans certainly don’t think so. And there’s lots of other news to discuss: a nail-pai...

What we buy reveals a lot about who we are, says comedian-writer-director Kulap Vilaysack and journalist SuChin Pak, the hosts of the Add to Cart podcast. They talk to Jenn about double-cleansing, the environmental impact (and guilt) of consumerism, why SuChin still has makeup from her MTV days, and what Kulap uses to get skin like a “damp mochi ball.” Plus, Ku shares the reason she decided to gro...

We’ve got a makeup-artist-approved list of the best eyeliners that won’t smudge, smear, transfer, travel, change color, or make you look like a raccoon by lunchtime—along with tips for extra liner longevity from makeup artist Sarah Uslan. Before that, lots of beauty news to chat about: Another benzene recall (and a reminder of what benzene is and why it keeps popping up in personal care products);...

In this special episode, brought to you ad-free by Ulta Beauty, skin therapist Vanessa Copeland explains what’s really going on during a facial, how to get all those complexion benefits at home, and which products will help you unlock your skin’s potential. We discuss LED light therapy, dermaplaning, ultrasonic skin spatulas, how facials can help acne sufferers, the benefits of (gen...

We discuss rusty social skills and how to comment (or not?) on someone’s appearance. Plus, Jenn made a DIY linen spray, we have three “Raise A Wand” suggestions for sensitive skin, and there’s lots of news to chat about: the future of fragrance at Parfums Christian Dior and Estée Lauder Companies; Tula Skincare’s beautiful PSA-style campaign; and changes to California’s training requirements for c...

Harvey Karp, MD, is a rock star pediatrician and child-development expert. In this episode, Jess interviews Dr. Karp, the CEO of the smart-tech company Happiest Baby and the creator of the Snoo, a crib designed to keep babies safe and help parents and infants get more sleep. They have a frank conversation about parenting and the exhaustion that comes with it, how today's social structure and the l...

How do you get a brighter smile if you have really sensitive teeth? We share answers from dentist Lisa Creaven and tell you which tooth-whitening products won’t leave you drooling everywhere in pain. Before that, let’s dig into the beauty news: Ellen DeGeneres’ skincare line; Goop’s supplement to “support women’s sexual desire”; By Kilian’s perfume collab with French Montana; the perfect candle fo...

Boutique owner Jessica Richards shares her strategy for discovering the new beauty products you won’t be able to live without. Some are “clean,” some are traditional, and many are sustainable, but they’re all must-haves, like the natural bug spray that actually works, the revolutionary hairbrush designed for post-chemo patients, and the women’s “pleasure serum” that she can’t keep in stock at her...

Like it or not, when celebrities talk about getting cosmetic procedures, they get attention. This week, we discuss the impulse to judge (and danger of judging!) others’ aesthetic choices, and share straightforward information on two procedures that have been in the spotlight: buccal fat removal and CoolSculpting. Plus, Doja Cat’s entrée into beauty; perfumes inspired by video games; a Sour Patch K...

Dermatologist Mona Gohara, MD, is here to talk about sensitive skin. In this special episode, brought to you ad-free by our friends at Avène, you’ll learn how to determine if you have sensitive skin and/or skin allergies; when to see a doctor for help; how to prevent flare-ups; what products can help reduce skin sensitivity and improve your barrier function; why fragrance can be problematic f...

You can have oily skin that’s dehydrated, but you can have dry skin that’s not dehydrated. Confused? You’re not alone! We’ll explain and help you find products that help with both issues. Before that, let’s talk about Patrick Starr’s fashion line, Chrissy Teigen’s buccal fat removal, how Facebook makes body image worse for teen girls, updates to the animal-testing laws in Europe, and more.. --&nbs...

Model and nutritionist Maye Musk opens up about ageism in the fashion industry, the evolution of her modeling career, motherhood (and divorce), why it's never too late to prevent sun damage, embracing gray hair, and more. This podcast features a new introduction, but the interview originally aired in January, 2020. (We had planned to release a new interview this week but, as Maye would say, "n boe...

Nothing says change of season like…new candles! We’ve got scents of granola, chestnuts, apple crisp, and cardamom; some of our listeners’ favorite wicks; and a deep, nerd-level dive into why humans are so drawn to scented candles. Before that, we discuss surgically implanted hair chains; a TerraCycle lawsuit; Met Gala and New York Fashion Week looks; Jennifer Aniston’s new hair line; and the scien...

Mona Kattan is the founder of Kayali Fragrances, and she’s on a quest to build the largest perfume collection in the world. Listen in as she shares the beautiful cultural history of perfume in the Middle East, explains why oud is so enticing (and expensive!), walks us through her private collection, and tells us how she built her brand and found the passion and “founder juice” to make it a success...

Are you showering too often? We asked two dermatologists to weigh in on the cultural trend of bathing less frequently and to share some strategies for washing without disrupting our microbiomes. Before that, lots of news to discuss: why Chanel is buying up jasmine fields in France; poet Amanda Gorman’s new role with Estée Lauder; the return of Fashion Fair; Miley Cyrus’s campaign for customizable...

New York City-based hair stylist and braider Kamilah, aka @mshairandhumor, reveals how she makes the braiding experience better, her favorite products and hair-care tips, and some thoughts on how to improve the licensing process for cosmetologists. The interview originally aired in 2019, but we've included a new intro with updates from Kamilah. We'll be back next week with all new episodes! -&nbsp...

Olive & June CEO and founder Sarah Gibson Tuttle offers invaluable advice to budding entrepreneurs, explains how to find an ethical nail salon, and shares her tricks for DIY manicures.  FYI: This episode features a new introduction, but the interview previously aired in July, 2019. We'll be back next week with all new episodes! -- For links and sponsors mentioned in this episode:&nbs...

Actress Lana Condor, star of Netflix’s “To All the Boys” trilogy, opens up about how she learned to prioritize her mental health and the internal work that keeps her feeling good. Plus, we talk about the power of a gratitude journal, how she manages stress (the Olly ambassador says wellness supplements have really helped), and some of her favorite drugstore beauty buys. -- For links and spons...