Gloss Angeles

Jennifer Lawrence launched mes°, and the internet has thoughts. So do we. Kirbie and Sara discuss the products they’re curious about, why the launch messaging leaves them with questions, and where legitimate skepticism turns into an unnecessary pile-on. To be clear: neither of us has tested the products yet, so those reviews are forthcoming.

Plus, Lady Gaga steps into the CEO role at Haus Labs, Boscia prepares for a comeback with dermatologist Dr. Mamina Turegano, and we examine The Center's familiar formula: pair an existing brand with a recognizable face and give it a new chapter.

Britney Spears and Miss Piggy have questions about beauty distribution.

Kirbie and Sara unpack Patrick Ta Beauty’s lawsuit against CVS over allegedly unauthorized sales, including the brand’s arguments about warranties, customer service and the appearance of an official partnership. What does buying outside an authorized retailer mean for shoppers, and how much does a product’s placement shape our perception of a brand? Then, Sephora becomes “Sethphora” for a Seth Rogen holiday campaign. We discuss why the reveal left us confused and whether every campaign needs a teaser. Plus: a Kirboween debrief featuring Kirbie’s custom Bri...

When Jennifer Lawrence reached out about starting a beauty brand, Jasmina Aganovic’s first answer was no. So what changed?

In part two of our conversation, the Arcaea founder takes us inside mes°, the haircare brand she co-founded with Lawrence, from the TED talk that sparked their introduction to the year they spent getting to know each other before building a business together. Jasmina explains Jennifer’s vision for “unbothered beauty,” the unexpected science behind the brand’s name, and the three launch products designed to make your routine work around your life: a repair mask that double...

What if managing body odor started with feeding your skin’s ecosystem? MIT-trained scientist and Future Society founder Jasmina Aganovic joins us to explain the thinking behind Base Scent, the unscented treatment Kirbie hasn’t stopped talking about.

In Part 1, we discuss how Jasmina says the product works, why our personal scent changes over time, and why bringing something new to beauty requires more than a great formula. We also unpack what Future Society’s extinct-flower fragrances actually recreate, where she sees cosmetics and aesthetic treatments converging, and the consumer conversation missing from beauty’s rush toward A...

What happens when your name is on the packaging, but you’re no longer behind the brand? This week, we discuss Isamaya Ffrench’s departure from her namesake makeup line, the questions surrounding the split, and whether naming a beauty brand after yourself as an artist is worth the potential complications. We also unpack the latest ruling in Sol de Janeiro’s lawsuit against MCoBeauty—and debate where affordable alternatives cross into copying. Plus: Kirbie’s first-time Felicity watch continues, we have a business proposal involving discontinued beauty favorites, and a reminder that beauty journalism covers a lot more than lipst...

What if your workout goals had less to do with getting smaller and more to do with getting stronger? Nike Coach and ultra-runner Bec Taylor joins us to talk about building a fitness routine that helps you feel good—especially as you approach your 40s. We ask how much strength training women actually need, what “lifting heavy” means, and how to know when it’s time to pick up a heavier dumbbell. Plus: getting into running, fueling your workouts, and navigating changes in energy and recovery during perimenopause.

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Is full glam making a comeback, or do we just want a really dramatic lash? We dig into Pinterest’s beauty report, from frosted makeup and grunge eyeliner to increasingly specific manicures—and why everything sounds like something we’d order for dessert. Then, we discuss attendee complaints about Create & Cultivate and Beautycon: What should your ticket actually get you, and are conferences still worth the money? Plus, Sara makes her case for Kirbie to watch Felicity, the college drama that deserves a spot in your fall viewing lineup. Glamgelenos, who’s joining us for a rewatch—or watching for the fi...

Feel like your hair hits a certain length and just… quits? Board-certified dermatologist and Nutrafol Chief Medical Advisor Dr. Heather Woolery-Lloyd joins us to explain the difference between thinning, shedding, and breakage—and why identifying what’s happening matters. We discuss how stress, hormones, perimenopause, menopause, and GLP-1 medications can factor into hair changes, plus how heat styling, color, and hair porosity affect length retention. We also explore Nutrafol’s Strand Serum, how caring for your strands differs from supporting growth, and the habits worth reconsidering for healthier-looking hair. This episode is sponsored by Nutrafol.

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Content warning: We open with a discussion of sexual consent and sexual assault, including alcohol-related impairment, looking out for friends, and supporting survivors.

Support resource for the show notes: RAINN offers confidential support at 800-656-HOPE (4673) and https://rainn.org/hotline.

What does it take to make a celebrity beauty brand work—and what happens when its founder wants to stay out of the content world? With Scarlett Johansson’s skincare brand The Outset winding down, we discuss the warning signs, the limits of star power, and why launching a brand and building one...

Your face has a skincare routine, but your neck is crying for help! This week, we’re joined by Murad esthetician and global educator Katy Bacon to talk about the skin we tend to forget: our necks, chests, and hands. We ask why these areas can start to look different, how hormonal changes and sun exposure factor into the conversation, and whether a dedicated neck serum deserves a spot in your routine. We also get into silicone patches, peptides, supplement claims, and what topical skincare can realistically improve. Plus, Kirbie brings her ongoing battle with the “retinol uglies” to Katy...

Skincare expert and Skin Rocks founder Caroline Hirons joins us to cut through the industry’s biggest claims, buzziest ingredients, and what to expect in her upcoming book. She ranks PDRN, exosomes, collagen, and peptides by how convincing the evidence actually is, explains where to spend your skincare budget—whether you have $100 or $500—and reveals the pricey product category she’d never pay for. Plus, Caroline weighs in on eye creams, using acids with retinoids on mature skin, the YISE/Jones Road name drama, and why seemingly every beauty brand launched the same eye patches at once. Plus, she shares m...

Legendary makeup artist and Westman Atelier founder Gucci Westman joins us to discuss the art of making someone look like the best version of themselves—and her ability to completely transform a face. Gucci shares stories from working with Nicole Kidman, Jennifer Aniston, Cameron Diaz and Julianne Moore; reveals the makeup mistake she frequently sees women make as they get older; and explains how our routines should evolve as our faces change. She also takes us inside the making of Westman Atelier, including the licensing deal she walked away from, the foundation launch she canceled at the last minute an...

600 episodes later, how well do we actually know our own podcast? To celebrate the milestone, our producer puts us to the test with a quiz covering nearly seven years of Gloss Angeles—from past guests and memorable beauty headlines to the products our guests couldn’t stop talking about. Do we remember what we said, who said what, and which products earned our stamp of approval? Play along and see if you know Gloss Angeles better than we do. Plus, we give our takes on the Allure Best of Beauty list!

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Thousands of products enter Allure’s Best of Beauty Awards. So how does the team decide which ones deserve that little red seal? For the awards’ 30th anniversary, we’re joined by Allure editor-in-chief Jessica Cruel to go inside the testing and deliberations, find out how new launches compete with longtime favorites, and clear up whether a brand can pay to win. We also look at how the awards have evolved over three decades—and what this year’s winners reveal about beauty now. And you can attend to see some of those products in action at Best of Beauty Liv...

After 26 seasons on Dancing with the Stars, Cheryl Burke is figuring out what beauty means when spray tans, stage makeup and television lighting no longer dictate the look. The two-time Mirrorball champion joins us to discuss her extensive DWTS beauty routine, reconnecting with her natural skin tone and Filipino identity, and the scrutiny women face when their appearance changes after fame. We also get into her life on the Sephora Squad and the DWTS questions we’ve always wanted to ask: who controls the costumes, how partners are paired, and how injured everyone is by the finale.

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Tabitha Brown has built an empire by being unapologetically herself, from her career as an Emmy-winning host and author to becoming the founder of two beauty brands. She joins us for a candid conversation about what happened to Black-owned brands after Target rolled back its DEI initiatives—and why she ultimately chose not to renew her contract with the retailer. We also get into the story behind Donna’s Recipe, her natural hair journey, the inspiration behind her Tab & Chance fragrances, and the very personal reason supporting ALS research remains so important to her.

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Dyson is officially coming for your bathroom counter with a $500 AI-powered toothbrush that brushes, water-flosses, rinses, and—yes—uses a camera to show you the inside of your mouth. We’re also recapping Olivia Rodrigo’s inaugural Daisy Chain Fields festival, from surprise appearances by Alanis Morissette and Stevie Nicks to the staggering $20 million raised for organizations supporting women and girls. Plus, in honor of Jonathan Taylor Thomas’ birthday, we revisit our formative celebrity crushes (JTT! Josh Hartnett! JC Chasez! Hanson!) and answer a listener question about which beauty trade publication is actually worth paying for if you want to break i...

Old-school retailers are coming for TikTok Shop and Amazon’s beauty business. Nordstrom is rolling out same-day beauty delivery, Old Navy is betting on affordable fragrance from a Byredo perfumer, and Target is launching a 1,600-product beauty destination stocked with Sunday Riley, Briogeo, K-beauty favorites, and more. But Target’s timing couldn’t be worse: The retailer is facing backlash over an offensive children’s Halloween costume—and renewed scrutiny of its DEI rollback. We unpack whether legacy retailers can win beauty shoppers back with convenience, discovery, and an IRL experience the algorithm can’t replicate.

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Tower 28 is officially seven years old, and founder Amy Liu is back to talk about what happens when the hot new beauty brand grows up. We get into watching hypochlorous acid go from Tower 28’s signature to an entire category of SOS lookalikes, what she learned from a launch that didn’t go as planned, and how she keeps customers interested in an increasingly crowded beauty market. Plus, Amy gives us the scoop on Swipe Serum Foundation, Tower 28’s biggest launch yet—and we share what Gloss Angeles Confidential testers really thought after trying it before launch. To join GAC, sig...

We’re unpacking the heartbreaking news of Hayden Panettiere’s passing and Neutrogena’s statement about ending their longtime partnership after she opened up about her struggle with postpartum depression. Plus, celebrity beauty brands aren’t slowing down: Tate McRae filed a trademark for Tate By Tate McRae, while Lindsay Lohan’s Linlo Beauty is taking shape with plans to raise up to $5 million. We discuss what we know — and whether celebrity beauty still has room to surprise us.

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Mario Dedivanovic is back, and this time we’re getting into what it really takes to run one of beauty’s biggest makeup brands while the celebrity makeup artist category gets more crowded by the day. The Makeup by Mario founder opens up about his biggest hits (and misses), how he keeps innovating, and what Kim Kardashian’s move into makeup with Skims Beauty means for their longtime relationship. Plus, Mario takes us to Beauty School with his rules for blush placement, eyeshadow, and the no-mascara look. 

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Does it actually matter if a celebrity uses the beauty products they’re paid to promote? Tate McRae’s latest Neutrogena ad has TikTok playing skincare detective and debating how much authenticity really matters in a celebrity beauty campaign. We’re also recapping our trip to the Hamptons with Canadian skincare brand Vivier and sharing why their vitamin C products have such a devoted following. Plus, how Hung Vanngo’s new foundation and Katie Jane Hughes’ micro mascara are making our lives a little easier.

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Not all “filler” is actually doing the same thing—and knowing the difference can save you from booking the wrong injectable. In this installment of The Glossary, we break down the increasingly confusing world of HA fillers, collagen stimulators like Sculptra and Radiesse, and skin boosters like Skinvive, plus why crosslinking matters and how filler differs from Botox and other neuromodulators. We’re also getting into reversibility, longevity, leftover filler, and why the treatment you think you want may not be what a great injector recommends. Consider this your beauty-editor cheat sheet before your next consultation.

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Are beauty embargoes officially dead? This week, we unpack what actually happens when embargoes are broken, whether there’s really a beauty blacklist, and why the rules seem to change once a launch hits the internet. Then, they get into Mikayla Nogueira’s decision to bring POV Beauty to Sephora—and debate whether Ulta might have actually been the smarter move.

Plus, in partnership with K18 through Gloss Angeles Confidential, 200 listeners put the new FutureIQ Biomimetic Hair Longevity Serum to the test for three months. It makes some major claims around shedding, premature graying and scalp aging, so: di...

Tanielle Jai got in trouble as a kid for constantly playing with makeup — turns out that was just the beginning. She went on to become one of Australia's most sought-after makeup artists, developing the caramel-and-coffee monochromatic looks that the internet would eventually dub "latte makeup," and has since built her own namesake brand around Bronzour, her cult cream bronzer that sculpts without going orange. This week, she talks about how she broke into the industry, the six eye facets every beauty girl should know, and her real-talk tips for picking brushes that actually last.

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Zendaya is officially the new face of Prada Beauty's Paradox fragrance, making her and husband Tom Holland a certified Prada power couple — we're getting into the ambassador reveal and why it makes total sense. We're also sharing what's currently on our face, including our personal reviews and 200 Glams' verdicts on Kiehl's 1cc* CollaShot Serum, the $78 "no-needle" collagen serum claiming results comparable to 1cc of filler, including the GLP-1 skin study data, the jawline glow-ups, and the breakouts we have to flag before you buy. Plus, we found a 1982 Revlon beauty guide and are walking through the tips to see if...

What really happens after you sell your beauty brand for $1.45 billion? Too Faced co-founder Jerrod Blandino joins us to unpack the emotional and logistical reality of handing over one of the industry’s biggest brands, why he thinks so many acquisitions lose their magic, and his reaction to Estée Lauder Companies’ decision to restructure Too Faced instead of selling it. We also get into why he came back to launch Polite Society, how TikTok-worthy transformations shape product development, the innovation behind the brand’s newest mascara, and his unfiltered advice for founders and beauty conglomerates alike.

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MCoBeauty just leveled up its dupe game, teaming with Skindinavia—the actual company behind Urban Decay’s original All Nighter setting spray—to relaunch that discontinued formula as All Dayer for $19.99, undercutting UD’s reformulated version by $15. We’re breaking down why this “Dupe 2.0” strategy (bringing back cult formulas instead of knocking off living brands) might be MCoBeauty’s smartest, most lawsuit-proof move yet, and which other discontinued formulas we’re begging someone to resurrect next. Plus, Gap is officially in the beauty business, reviving its iconic 90s scents Dream, Grass, Heaven, and Om as elevated eau de parfums alongside a new fr...

Toni Bravo didn't just go viral with a purple blush—she sparked a larger conversation about representation for deeper skin tones in beauty and turned it into one of the industry's most influential creator careers. The former Rare Beauty social media manager joins us to discuss what she learned working behind the scenes in beauty and media, the inclusivity gaps she still sees in marketing, and why some brands continue to miss the mark. We also get candid about creator finances, from buying two homes before 30 to turning down brand deals that don't align with her values, plus the bo...

The Hollywood Reporter recently argued that today's stars all have the same "slop face"—but we think they're looking at the wrong group. We debate whether actors like Barry Keoghan and Zendaya actually prove Hollywood still celebrates distinctive faces, and whether the homogenized look is more of an influencer and creator phenomenon than an acting one. Plus, we weigh in on The Cut's "No Mascara Summer" trend, why Pamela Anderson, Alicia Keys, and Gigi Hadid can pull it off, and why we'll be hanging onto our mascara wands for the foreseeable future. (Read the story by Kristina Rodulfo that we...

Seven years and nearly 600 episodes later, we’re pulling back the curtain on the stories we’ve never shared—from the interviews that never made it to air to the episodes we deleted (and why). We also discuss the importance of media training, what actually makes someone a great podcast guest, and why we’ve become more selective about who we invite on the show. Plus, we’re weighing in on the TikTok trend of beauty purchases that are actually worth the splurge, from in-office treatments to everyday essentials.

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Hung Vanngo is officially entering the complexion category, and we're breaking down everything to know about his new Red Carpet Skin Foundation, from its unconventional shade system to whether it has what it takes to stand out in an overcrowded market. We also dive into Too Faced's nostalgic Sweet Peach revival, including what made the original launch such a phenomenon and the products we think are missing this time around. Plus, we discuss CoverGirl's surprising decision to stop chasing Gen Z and instead bet on Gen X, and why it could signal a much bigger shift in beauty marketing.<...

A skin cancer diagnosis changed everything for Luna Bronze co-founder Maddy Balderson, ultimately inspiring her and best friend Rhiannon Hall to create a self-tanning brand built around one simple idea: you shouldn't have to damage your skin to get a glow. The Australian founders join us to discuss how Luna Bronze went from a personal mission to a cult-favorite tanning brand (now at Ulta Beauty), why skincare-first self-tanning matters, and the ingredients and innovations helping modern self-tanners look (and smell) better than ever. Plus, we get their best application tips, the biggest tanning mistakes people make, and their personal...

While Kirbie is out of office, former Allure Editor-in-Chief and beauty expert Michelle Lee joins Sara to break down the biggest beauty headlines of the week. They unpack Target's decision to replace more than 600 Ulta shop-in-shops with its own Target Beauty Studio and debate Kirbie's latest Substack on whether consumers are getting "Blinded by K-Beauty Syndrome" amid the hype around viral treatments. Plus, Michelle shares her take on whether beauty journalists still have a place in an industry increasingly driven by influencers.

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We have an update on the lawsuit against one of the most controversial facialists in Beverly Hills: Sonya Dakar can no longer legally practice in California, and we break down what happened and what this means for her and her brand. But first: huge Bath & Body Works news. You can get all your favorites at a top beauty retailer soon! Then we dive into Beyoncé's intimate new Cécred campaign, featuring Jay-Z's dramatic hair transformation, and why it's one of the smartest pieces of beauty marketing we've seen in years. Plus, Sephora is rolling out Quiet Hours in st...

Celebrity hairstylist Clayton Hawkins is back, and this time we're getting into everything — the creative process behind some of his most talked-about work with Meg Stalter, the beauty references he keeps returning to that the rest of the industry is sleeping on, and the wigs and extensions conversation that's quietly taken over Hollywood. We also get into something the beauty and styling world doesn't talk about enough: the economics of being a working artist, from unpaid asks to promised credits that never materialize. If you've ever wondered what actually goes into building a career at the top of the ha...

This week, we’re recapping an unforgettable night at the opening match of the FIFA Club World Cup with Paula’s Choice, where we found ourselves feet from the pitch and mega stars like Tom Cruise and David Beckham. We also share more details on Parsol Shield, the new sunscreen filter making headlines, and address the heated reaction to our recent discussion about Kristin Cavallari and sunscreen.

Then, we share the products we’re packing with us no matter the trip, thanks to our partners at Macy’s. Shop all the products mentioned in this episode.

Allison Statter has spent her career helping shape the brands, personalities, and cultural moments that capture our attention. As co-founder and CEO of Blended Strategy Group, she works at the intersection of celebrity, influence, marketing, and consumer behavior—often behind the scenes of campaigns that look effortless to the rest of us.

Allison joins us to break down the realities of celebrity partnerships, influencer strategy, and modern brand building. We discuss why consumers are getting smarter about marketing, the biggest mistakes celebrities make when launching brands, and whether social media has made famous people less powerful than th...

After 25 years, the FDA has approved bemotrizinol (BEMT) — the first new sunscreen filter in the U.S. since 1999 — and it could be a gamechanger for your SPF routine. The approval closes a real gap in UVA protection, with better coverage, better texture, and less irritation than what's currently on shelves. We also get into the TikTok Shop beauty rankings for May 2026, and the results are mindblowing: Medicube topped the charts at $19M, two of the top four brands are Korean, and Tarte is the only color cosmetics brand cracking the top three. Tune in to hear the entire list.

Thinking about veneers, whitening your teeth, or finally replacing that retainer you stopped wearing years ago? This week, cosmetic dentist Dr. Andi-Jean Miro of Apa Aesthetic joins us to break down what an actually effective oral care routine looks like, why so many people are getting adult orthodontics, and how AI-edited smiles are changing patient expectations. We also get into the real impact of GLP-1 medications on oral health, the biggest causes of bad breath, and whether viral TikTok trends like oil pulling, charcoal toothpaste, tongue scraping, and non-fluoride toothpaste are worth your time. Plus, Dr. Miro shares exactly ho...