Naked Beauty

Legendary makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes is back with more to share than ever. Since her first visit in 2020, she has returned with a larger celebrity clientele, an acclaimed portfolio, and her own cosmetics line, KJH.Brand. During this conversation, we talked about how she created a portfolio of her skills by using her own face as a canvas and sharing her work on Instagram. Despite this practice...

This week we're sharing a very special episode, and I'm actually the one being interviewed! I was a guest on Nayeema’s show, Smart Girl Dumb Questions, where we talked through all her big beauty questions like: “Is preventative botox real?” or “What is salmon sperm and why is it in my skincare?” Tune in for a fun conversation between Nayeem and me, and follow Smart Girl Dumb Questions on Apple , S...

Norma Kamali is a fashion innovator and true icon, and today, she’s sharing lessons from her remarkable life with the Naked Beauty audience. Norma and I discussed her early days of bringing vintage clothing from London to New York, the creation of innovative designs like the Sleeping Bag Coat and high-heeled sneaker, and her philosophy of making women feel great through fashion. We also into Norma...

Dr. Sharon Malone believes that every single person is their own primary caregiver and that we all need to take agency of our healthcare journey. In today’s episode, we unpack the key actions women need to be taking to safeguard their health. In our conversation, Dr. Malone discusses the historical context of healthcare and segregation, her inspirational journey to becoming a doctor, and her dedic...

In this episode of Naked Beauty, we’re unpacking a macro trend in the industry: experts are back in the spotlight. My producer, Mbiye Kasonga, joins me to discuss the trend of consumers seeking guidance from experienced professionals online, and how that’s reflected in recent beauty launches led by expert makeup artists and dermatologists. Sephora is particularly invested in expert-led brands, wit...

Umut and I took our first child-free vacation to Ibiza to celebrate our ten-year anniversary, and it was just the escape we needed. In this episode, Umut joins me to reminisce on the best parts of our trip, including beauty and wellness lessons from Ibiza, reviews of our favorite stays and meals, reflections on our parenthood journey, a few lessons we’ve learned about maintaining a healthy marriag...

When she was a baby, Deepica Mutyala was exposed to the cultural significance of eyeliner. While the eyeliner was swiped behind her ear for spiritual protection, this and other cultural beauty rituals would shape her future in beauty. Growing up in an immigrant family, Deepica felt the pressure to pursue a stable career that would help her achieve the American Dream. She explains why she is so gra...

Shani Hillian’s holistic skincare journey began in her grandmother’s garden, where fresh-cut aloe was the go-to balm for skin issues. Now, with over 17 years of experience as an esthetician, she leverages her roots in holistic skincare to create rituals that restore balance for herself and her clients. Shani shared her experience of transitioning from hair styling to skincare, influenced by her mo...

Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs knows that the power of women’s activism can change the course of history. In Three Women she explored how Berdis Baldwin, Alberta King, and Louise Little’s motherly love prepared their sons to become renowned activists. This week, we’re chatting about her new book, Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us. In it, Dr. Tubbs explores how our Founding Fathers enshri...

When Chriselle Lim started blogging 18 years ago, she didn’t know she was building a career in what would become the most powerful industry today. During our conversation, Chriselle talks about watching the influencer industry develop from within, and how it led her to the most unexpected places. Growing up in Northern California and Korea, Chriselle felt pressured by national beauty standards, ne...

Ms. Tina has been infusing bold and beautiful Texas style into global pop culture for decades. Sir John and I talked to Ms. Tina about her successful career as a stylist, her beauty regimen, building Cécred, and the significance of early exposure to images of Black beauty and power. We learned how she carries her mother's lessons about honoring creativity in yourself and your children. She told us...

Sofie Pavitt’s pivot from a 15-year career as a fashion designer to becoming NYC’s Acne Whisperer was in the works well before her official career change. While she was traveling to Seoul for her fashion job, she was introduced to innovative skincare products and treatments. This exposure planted a seed that would eventually lead her onto the shelves of every Sephora in the U.S. After spending a y...

After 350-plus episodes of Naked Beauty, it’s time to reflect on the key truths I’ve learned from our wonderful guests. In this episode, I share three vital beauty lessons I've learned from extensive conversations with makeup artists, dermatologists, celebrities, and scientists. These lessons include the power of intentional self-presentation, the significance of a consistent skincare routine, and...

We're revisiting one of our favorite episodes this week. As the Senior Research & Education Manager at Paula’s Choice, Desiree Stordahl believes that skincare is nothing without the ingredients that define it. After growing up with a harsh-is-better approach to acne, Storedahl decided to abandon the SeaBreeze pads and take on a more thoughtful approach to beauty. She picked up a copy of Paula...

In this episode of the Naked Beauty Podcast, Nikki Ogunnaike, Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire, dives deep into her impressive career in fashion editing, her unique personal style, and her experiences within the fashion industry. During our conversation, Nikki shares how her family shaped her shopping habits and the details of her high-powered job, including how she manages and mentors a diverse te...

Today’s episode with Bea Dixon, the visionary founder of the Honey Pot Company, is rooted in ancestral wisdom. Bea and I discussed her journey from battling bacterial vaginosis to founding the first black-owned plant-derived feminine care brand. We also discuss the recent uptick in acquisitions among black beauty founders, the impact of stress and environmental factors on vaginal health, and Beatr...

During a conversation at The Reparations Club, I spoke to Victoria Monét about her debut children’s book, motherhood, and chasing her dreams. Victoria discussed the difficult moments of separation that inspired “Everywhere You Are.” From her daughter's stay in the NICU to her first day of school, Victoria realized there wasn't a market for explaining similar periods of distance to children. She dr...

What makes Vanessa Lee one of the most sought-after medical aesthetics practitioners is her commitment to teaching and learning about all things beauty and science. During our conversation, Vanessa details her hands-on experience learning from beauty practitioners in Korea, including standing in for a model and receiving a treatment during a demonstration. Before her foray into the world of natura...

We are bring in a new era of Naked Beauty with this episode! As you may have seen , I am stepping into a new role as Chief Content Officer at Refinery29. This new role provides a great opportunity for reflection. In this episode, I discuss the four key lessons I’ve learned in my career thus far. I touch on the value of manifesting dreams, tactics for getting closer to your dream career in your cur...

Before Ron Robinson became social media’s favorite cosmetic chemist, he had already built a varied career in beauty. In 1989, he was hired on the spot to formulate and develop products for Clinique and La Mer, under Estée Lauder. He formulated new SKUs and innovated products like Clinique’s Turn Around Cream, which was one of the first products to use salicylic acid as a topical treatment gel. Des...

In this week’s episode, Nina Westbrook, a licensed marriage and family therapist, helps us understand the connection between routine and mental health. We dive into the importance of routines, especially postpartum routines, and I share my experiences with strength training and magnesium supplements for better sleep. Our conversation covers mental health, de-stigmatizing therapy, and the benefits...

Renowned esthetician Sean Garrette is back for a hyperpigmentation masterclass! Hyperpigmentation is the number one skin concern I hear about from the Naked Beauty audience, so I had to ask Sean all my burning questions about the topic. In this conversation, we discuss what hyperpigmentation is, the key causes of hyperpigmentation, how to treat it once it occurs and how to prevent it from happenin...

In this special conversation, Kamie Crawford shares how she developed the self-assuredness that her fans have come to know and love. We discussed how having a mom who would get dressed up in the morning, “just in case,” influenced her childhood rebrand into a more confident version of herself. This rebrand would catapult her into Miss Teen USA, a role that led her to think critically about her rac...

Former doula and postpartum expert Erica Chidi is back on the podcast to discuss all the highs, lows, and complexities of postpartum. I got a chance to reflect on my personal postpartum experiences and the challenges of advocating for my own health. Erica and I get into it all: hormonal changes, hair loss, mood fluctuations, the importance of self-care, breastfeeding challenges and the concept of...

Nayeema Raza brought us the same curiosity and knowledge she brings to her Smart Girl, Dumb Questions listeners. Her early life was spent globe-trotting, so hearing her firsthand perspective on the similarities in beauty standards and practices is fascinating. Nayeema proudly detailed some of her favorite aspects of Pakistani beauty culture, especially how it has been shaped by powerful Islamic wo...