Fat Mascara

Jenn welcomes multi-hyphenate beauty guru Pamela Edwards Christiani, a journalist (formerly Essence & People), astrologer, and aspiring voice actor, as her guest co-host while Jess has the week off. On deck for discussion: pre-teen skincare routines; Bath & Body Works' ridiculous lineup of holiday scents; the FBI warning that hackers are targeting plastic surgeon’s offices (Pamela says Plu...

“Every culture in history has used natural scented materials for the most important things in life—eating, praying, making love, being buried,” says psychotherapist turned natural perfumer Mandy Aftel, in this fascinating interview. The founder of the Aftel Archive of Curious Scents, in Berkley, California, is here to celebrate the release of her latest book, T he Museum of Scent , by sharing a fe...

Jenn is looking for lip balms that actually last more than an hour, so call the hotline to share your favorites: 646-481-8182 ! Then, we have lots to cover this week: a moisturizing side benefit of lip filler; trouble for spa brands like Decléor; how social media stars go viral by applying lip gloss while talking; Beyonce’s new perfume, Cé Noir; a closer look at G Spot drinks; California’s banning...

Jónsi Birgisson and Lilja Birgisdóttir are taking Jess (and you!) on a journey to Iceland—through their perfume and their art. Listen in as they talk about Fischersund, their family-run perfumery and art collective, their artistic influences, and how music and Iceland’s natural wonders inspire everything they do. Products mentioned in this episode: shopmy.us/collections/284968 Episode recap with l...

Has beauty culture come to a stand still? A recent New York Times article lamenting the current lack of cultural innovation got us thinking. We’re also chatting about the Goop line for Target; why red is trending (and Poppy King’s new lipstick); the genius of the Tampon Tax Back Coalition; how excited we are for Sofia Coppola’s Priscilla (and the adjacent Half Magic makeup set); and the potential...

What’s the difference between lasers and LED (light emitting diodes), IPL (intense pulsed light), RF (radiofrequency), and all the other professional therapies and devices out there? In this interview (previously aired), dermatologist Robert Anolik, MD, explains it all: Which lasers (Q-Switched, Vbeam, Excel V, Fraxel, Clear + Brilliant) help with which skin concerns? What’s the differen...

Maybe we’re getting into Halloween early, but this week has some ghoulish delights! Listen in to help us solve a crime at a hair salon in Ontario, Canada, and then explore your shadow self with a perfume designed to … Repel? Protect? Confuse? You decide! Plus: Jess has an interesting encounter with Victoria Beckham, “over-producting” your concealer, surprising news about skin cancer, and sustainab...

Rihanna’s go-to makeup artist, Priscilla Ono, is here to talk about her famous clients, her love of clean skin (and a clean kit!), the makeup courses she teaches, her work with Cetaphil, and how her career started with music videos. Plus: The global makeup artist for Fenty Beauty explains how to use blush to detract from under-eye circles, an easier way to clean your makeup brushes, how to get the...

Why did Pamela Anderson’s no-makeup look get so much attention? We have thoughts on that and lots more: The Super Models documentary on Apple TV+; nepomodels; Beckham-inspired fragrances; the death of magazine scent strips (and new research on how people shop for perfume); and Flyte.70’s indie beauty boutique near Boston. Plus, we have new homework for the Fam! We want to know about your favorite...

Listen in to our live-recorded podcast with Marisa Meltzer, the author of Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier . We treated this interview as a book club of sorts, and asked Marisa all of your (and our!) pressing questions. She discusses her interviews with Emily Weiss, the rise (and plateau?) of Glossier, her reporting process for the book, why the #GirlBoss er...

Love is not blind, according to a contestant on the new season of Love is Blind who had an issue with his (now ex-) fiancée’s makeup. His comments got us thinking about research that shows how makeup affects a person’s trustworthiness. We also chat about Jess’s vegan keratin treatment, under-eye patches as accessories, a new fragrance atelier in Paris, and grooming standards in the military. Plus,...

Celebrity aesthetician Iván Pol, founder of The Beauty Sandwich, is here to share his story—and his secrets. He and Jess discuss how he started out as a makeup artist and discovered the key to beauty was in the skin. He’ll explain why he loves radiofrequency treatments; how to prevent transepidermal water loss so your skin looks dewier; the at-home laser device he uses all the time; and the backst...

Do you like a doe foot, paddle (beaver tail?), or slant-tip as your lip gloss applicator? Let’s discuss. But first: Hourglass Cosmetics’s work with the Nonhuman Rights Project; the booming resale market for ’90s perfume; Rhode’s Juicy Tube-like launch strategy; the H&M X Raoúl Alejandre makeup collaboration; a very surprising workout hack involving Hermès lipstick; a watermelon shower gel fit...

Alexis Androulakis and Christina Basias, the duo behind viral account @thelipsticklesbians and founders of the brand Fempower Beauty, are on a mission to make you a more informed beauty customer! We talked about their relationship, how activism powers their work, and what they want to do with their platform. Plus, they explain how contract manufacturers work; how quickly innovation spreads in the...

We’re doing a live, virtual book club next week (Sept. 27, at 8 PM ET), and you’re invited! We’ll be discussing Glossy: Ambition, Beauty, and the Inside Story of Emily Weiss's Glossier with author Marisa Meltzer, and we want you to be there. Get all the details and RSVP at fatmascara.com/bookclub . Now, on to this episode, where we’re chatting about why candles may be better than crossword puzzles...

Celebrities should be grateful that makeup artist Kate Lee did not listen to the school counselor who told her to become an optician. Instead, she enrolled in aesthetician school, started doing editorial and backstage makeup, and then began working with Kate Winslet when the actress was just “a wee child.” Today, the CHANEL makeup artist works regularly with clients such as Keira Knightley, Charli...

It’s a grab bag of high-low delights this week: The new François Nars documentary; a product that gets rid of the smell of weed; tips for chapped lips; a South Asian-inspired makeup brand at Sephora; the soon-to-launch Liberty London perfumes; and, yes, the world’s longest mullet. Plus, we raise wands to a sensual and witchy perfume, the drugstore shampoo and conditioner that never fails, and a cr...

Casey Lewis, author of After School, a Substack newsletter about youth culture and Gen Z trends, has made a career of talking to (and about) teens and young adults. She’s here to explain why those ridiculously named beauty trends (pumpkin-spice makeup anyone?) go viral and the larger cultural implications of micro-trends; which brands and products everyone wants this back-to-school season; the spe...

Before we get into the news, we share a few highlights from the past 499 episodes, including proud moments, embarrassing stories, and all-time favorite products. Then, let’s talk about skincare for astronauts, Marc Jacobs Beauty, New York Fashion Week, Paco Rabanne’s makeup line, and the backstory of Chanel’s Lucky Chance diner. After that, it’s time to welcome a very special guest (hint: Buckle U...

Lookism, or looks-based discrimination, doesn’t get society’s attention like sexism and racism, but philosopher Heather Widdows thinks it should. In one of our favorite interviews (originally aired in 2021, presented here with a new September 2023 intro), she explains the ethics of beauty and why beauty companies use moral language (“Be your best self!”) to sell products. This episode will make yo...

Hairstylist Garren transformed models into supermodels (Linda Evangelista, Karlie Kloss), helped celebrities like Victoria Beckham and Madonna create their looks, and co-founded the hair line R+Co during his long and legendary career. In this interview, he tells us everything: the guidance counselor who told him he wasn’t allowed to do hair; the photographers he collaborated with (Irving Penn! Ric...

Bethenny Frankel talks to Jess about the Real Housewives aesthetic (and how it’s changed); how to protect her daughter from the downsides of Beauty Culture; why mocktails are the new margaritas; the beauty brands she’s obsessed with; and the Reality Reckoning. Plus, she names the most iconic Housewives, weighs in on the current RHONY season, and addresses rumors that she’s starting a Bethenny beau...

Actress Tracee Ellis Ross opens up about ageism in Hollywood, experiments with DIY waxing, her hair, your hair, flaky hair gels, red lipstick, Funyuns, and more in this fan-favorite interview (presented with a new intro). If you want to bring joy to your beauty routine and learn how to celebrate yourself authentically, this conversation is a must-listen! Products mentioned in this episode: sh...

Glamorous? Sometimes. Hilarious? Always. For the first time, Carrie Crecca Maitoza steps out from behind her buzzy meme account, @Miss_PR_Piggy, to talk about the PR world she satirizes. If you work in fashion or beauty (or want to know what goes on behind the scenes), this insider episode helps make sense of the notoriously hierarchical industry where every client wants a placement in the New Yor...

Jenn’s off to climb a mountain (she’ll explain in the intro), but we still have a great interview for you: Chemist Balanda Atis, whose pioneering research helped make foundation more inclusive for all skin tones. Balanda is currently the assistant vice president of scientific communications for L’Oréal Paris, and in this interview (originally aired in 2019) she shares industry secrets, like why ch...