Ep. 65 - #TheGlowDown: The Ultimate Guide to J-Beauty Shopping

We’ve created an Amazon Storefront with many of the J-Beauty musts we chat about in the episode (please note those are affiliate links)

In last week’s episode, Carlene flew all the way to Tokyo to learn about what’s new from her fave luxury J-Beauty brand, Clé de Peau (listen here to find out why their $90 concealer has ruined her for all others) and she also chats top shelf and Star Wars power with Felicity Jones, the company’s latest ambassador.

But of course, Carlene couldn’t leave Japan without a shopping haul, which brings us to our very special Glow Down decoding all there is to know about Japanese Beauty!

Carlene and Shiho inside Don Quijote

While K-Beauty trends may get all of the sexy headlines, the truth is that beauty insiders have long known that high-quality, smartly designed and effective products are born and bred from J-Beauty (One example? Backstage artists at fashion week, putting Shu Uemura lash curlers on the map).

So what really sets J-Beauty products apart? Carlene links up with her new beauty pal and Tokyo native Shiho Kobayashi who takes her to discount super store Don Quijote to fill her cart with all of the J-Beauty essentials. Steaming eye masks, award-winning liquid liner and the one thing that Japanese women slip on before bed to wake up with skinnier ankles - you have to hear it to believe it. Stay tuned to the end of the episode to hear all about Jill and Carlene’s J-Beauty faves they would seek out and buy again.

Products mentioned in the episode:
Dr. Scholl’s Japan Medi QttO Sleep Wearing Slimming Socks; Anessa Perfect UV;
Biore UV Aqua Rich Watery 50 g Sunscreen SPF 50 + / PA ++++;
Shu Uemura Lash Curler; Beauty World Smiley Exercise Duck Mouth; D-Up ORISHIKI EYELID SKIN FILM; FLOWFUSHI MOTE LINER Liquid Liner (Brown Black); My Beauty Diary Black Pearl Brightening Mask; Kose Babyish Mask; Elixir Reflet Balancing Bubble Foam Facial Cleanser; Hot Eye Mask with Steam Aroma of Lavender Sage; BN Micro Fiber Double Eyelid Nudy Tape; Senka Perfect Whip Cleansing Foam

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 64 - The Glow Down Felicity Jones Shares Her Celeb Top Shelf + Cult Fave Clé de Peau is Coming to the U.K.

Carlene with Felicity Jones in Tokyo

What’s on Jyn Erso’s top shelf?

First up, beauty podfam! We’re conducting a short listener survey and we’d love to hear from you (Click here to answer our survey). It will only take a couple of minutes (promise!) plus there's a giveaway. By completing the survey, you'll automatically be entered to win a huge skincare prize from our friends @theinkeylist, valued at more than $200 - one lucky person will win 19 products! We’re accepting entries until May 22.

To kick off today’s episode, we chat about a podcast that we were featured on called Under the Influence with Whitney Eckis. Check out our feature here!

Plus, we discuss the new Gucci Beauty launch and the campaign that has everyone talking, before we get to even more exciting news for luxury beauty lovers - Carlene heads allll the way to Tokyo to learn about what’s new from her fave Japanese brand, Clé de Peau. Think of it as Japan-meets-Hollywood as Felicity Jones, best known for her role as Jyn Erso in Rogue One: A Star Wars Story chats with Carlene on the mic! Felicity is the face of Japanese luxury skincare brand Clé de Peau Beauté, and Carlene chatted with her on a recent press trip to Tokyo with the brand. Tune in to find out what’s on Felicity’s top shelf. We even find out what’s on Jyn’s top shelf (dat smudgy eye tho!) Then, Carlene and Felicity bond over Clé de Peau’s cultishly adored, $95 concealer, and yes, your humble host isn’t too proud to request an autograph.

Why was Carlene lucky enough to go to Tokyo? We’re glad you asked. Clé de Peau hosted its first ever Power of Radiance event— a multi-year philanthropic commitment that will honour inspirational women from around the world whose advocacy for women and girls’ education has led to positive, long-term impact on lives. You’ll hear all about the first award recipient, Muzoon Almellehan, who was appointed Goodwill Ambassador in 2017, when she was just 19-years-old. Recognized for her work publicly advocating for children displaced in Boko Haram, the Syrian refugee is the youngest ambassador in UNICEF’s history!

Left to right: Actress Belinda Lee; Former Glamour Editor-in-Chief Cindi Leive; Felicity Jones; Power of Radiance Recipient Muzoon Almellehan; Film Director Naomi Kawase

Travel minis of Carlene’s skincare favourites from Clé de Peau, along with the event invite

If you’re not familiar with Clé de Peau Beauté, we go deep on the luxury skincare and cosmetics brand– adored by beauty editors and pro makeup artists the world over– that’s finally launching in the U.K this fall! As a longtime super fan, Carlene shares her personal favourites worth investing in –  in case you’re new to the brand and have a wad of cash to burn. On a budget? Don’t worry, Carlene went drugstore shopping while she was there with local beauty lover Shiho Kobayashi, and we brought the mic for a beauty haul ride along! Stay tuned for Part 2 of Carlene’s adventures in Tokyo next week, when we uncover all of the wonders of J-Beauty (including whether her host finds the term offensive, or a compliment?)

Products mentioned in this episode: Clé de Peau Protective Fortifying Emulsion with SPF 22; Clé de Peau Hydro Softening Lotion; Clé de Peau Concealer; Davines Dede Hair Mist

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 62 Glow Down: Everything We Know About Cannabis Beauty With Miss Grass

Miss Grass Founders Anna Duckworth (left) and Kate Miller

This weekend saw the funnest unofficial holiday of the year, 4/20! And to celebrate, we’ve partnered with Miss Grass on a special episode all about the benefits of cannabis-based beauty. On the mic we welcome Anna Duckworth and Kate Miller, founders of the leading women’s cannabis website that’s been dubbed “The Goop of Cannabis” by W Magazine.

Good reads on the Miss Grass website

Aside from offering up pink porcelain “Le Pipes”, cannabis-spiked lubes, celebrity-loved gummies and beauty products like CBD-infused face serums, Miss Grass is out to educate with an online magazine. And since they cover topics like: “How I faced my dispensary fear and found serenity,” (#relatable!) we knew we needed to get Anna and Kate’s tips on how they’ve been using cannabis beauty in their own lives to treat symptoms of celiac disease and psoriasis (all of their bestselling products are here).

Miss Grass best-seller: Vertly’s CBD Infused Lip + Skin Balm

If you’re wondering why cannabis beauty might be beneficial in skincare, it’s because cannabidiol and other parts of the plant are known, powerful anti-inflammatories. But let’s be honest, since pot has been outlawed for so long, clinical data is only now starting to get underway. In the meantime, it’s the wild west out there – and how’s a girl to shop? Do we really need CBD in our mascaras? All this and more, in today’s episode.

We’ve got a promo code! For US-based listeners, Enter breakingbeauty at checkout at missgrass.com for 15% off your order.

Products mentioned in this episode: 2 Rise Naturals Full Spectrum CBD Oil With Turmeric; Apothecanna Everyday Face & Body Oil; Dr. Kerklaan Natural CBD Pain Spray; Lord Jones Old Fashioned CBD Gumdrops; Vertly CBD Infused Lip + Skin Balm; Ildi Pekar CBD-Infused Facial Serum; Apothecanna Relieving Spray; Apothecanna Everyday Creme; Quim Rock Happy Clam

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 60 - The Glow Down: Your Ultimate Guide To Zero Waste Beauty!

Carlene and Jill with Julianne Robicheau of Eco + Amour and “Waste Wizard” Stephanie Hicks

With all the news about climate change, what woman doesn’t want to reduce her eco footprint, no matter how shimmery it may be? The most logical place to start might just be in the bathroom, given that 120 billion units of packaging are produced in the global cosmetics industry annually. We’re chatting it all out in this episode, alongside Julianne Robicheau, co-owner of Eco + Amour, a sustainable living boutique specializing in self-care and beauty products. We’ve also got Jill’s good friend Stephanie Hicks in the house, who’s sharing tips based on her year of living zero waste (even her upcoming wedding will be completely up cycled!).

Eco + Amour Zero Waste Re-Fill Store in Toronto

Jill and Carlene share their favourite makeup brands leading the charge in recycling, re-filling and zero waste packaging. They also hat tip the big beauty brands committing to zero waste manufacturing and next level recycling programs in the year to come, like TerraCycle and its new re-fill delivery pilot project, Loop. It’s all part of winning over a growing generation who bases their beauty buying on their values as much as product performance.

Aether Beauty’s New Summer Solstice Palette, On Sale April 22 (Earth Day)

Find out our top zero waste beauty tips for substituting out all-too convenient face wipes from your routine, what to do with all of your old nail polish, how to dispose of hair, what to do with mascara wands… and we review Aether Beauty’s new zero waste eyeshadow palettes, developed by a former exec in Sephora’s sustainability program. All this, and you don’t even have to worry about any brow beating. We believe baby steps are all steps in the right direction!

Carlene’s New Fave: Lilah B. Divine Duo Lip & Cheek Colours

Products mentioned in this episode: Face Halo; Makeup Eraser; Croon Fibers; Kaia Naturals Juicy Bamboo Facial Cleansing Wipes; Consonant Skincare Come Clean 100% Natural Cleansing Cloths; Lush Naked Skincare; Aether Beauty Gemstone Palettes; Lilah B. Divine Duo Lip & Cheek in B. Stunning; Christophe Robin Hydrating Shampoo Bar With Aloe Vera; Crush and Brush Toothpaste Tablets; Bite Toothpaste Bits; Tampax Menstrual Cup; Diva Cup; Kjaer Weis Lip Tints; RMS Uncover Up Concealer; Meow Meow Tweet Deodorant Stick; Meow Meow Tweet Juniper Carrot Seed Facial Oil; Lines of Elan Fortify Balance Natural + Organic Renew Shampoo and Review Conditioner; Graydon Matcha Mint Shampoo and Hair Smoothie; Daily Concepts Your Konjac Sponge Tumeric; Gondola Natural Bamboo Toothbrushes; Wands for Wildlife; Matter of Trust

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 58 Glow Down: SXSW Beauty, Glossier Play Review + Insta Star Donte Colley

Jill & Carlene post Charlotte Tilbury makeovers at the Innovation Mansion at SXSW

We have some catching up to do on the SXSW front! In today’s episode we take you through the ins and outs of the House of Modern Beauty hosted by RealSelf, including the #glowdown on which cosmetic treatments were offered absolutely free (you’ll want a ticket next year, trust.) You’ll also find out which beauty activation had us jotting down a shopping list to try to re-create the Victoria’s Secret-inspired look ourselves. And, Jill let’s you know everything about Miraval’s newest luxury outpost in Austin, where she recuperated from a late-night out with a celebrity facialist befriended at SXSW (what??!!)

The new Miraval Austin

Up next, we’re talking Glossier Play— just in time for the news that the “unicorn” brand now has a $1.2 billion dollar valuation with new funding led by Sequoia Capital. (Wanna re-acquaint yourself with how Emily Weiss started it all? Have a listen to the founder herself in Episode 11.) But is the new foray into hardcore cosmetics all it’s cracked up to be? We talk controversy and how to fix a PR problem fast.

Donté Colley stars in Glossier Play’s debut campaign

Finally, if you’re a fan of Instagram star Donté Colley, you’re not going to want to miss his drop-in to the studio at around 22 minutes, when he reveals how he shot from 10K to 650K followers virtually overnight with his life-giving dance moves, coupled with motivational words bouncing from his every twerk. The Toronto-based influencer also shares which skincare line is topping his #topshelf, what it was like to star in the Glossier Play campaign– and naturally, some words of encouragement for his growing tribe. Surprise! Mama Leeanne Colley is also in the house – meet the new Kris Jenner who happens to be Toronto’s Nail Queen!

Donté Colley in one of his viral motivational dance posts

Products Mentioned In This Episode: Glossier Play Glitter Gelée; Glossier Play Vinylic Lip; Dermalogica Special Cleansing Gel; Dermalogica Clearing Skin Wash; Dermalogica Daily Micro Exfoliant; Dermalogica Break Out Control; EyEnvy Conditioner; Vivace RF Microneedling

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 56 Glow Down Ft. Samantha Ravndahl, The Internet's Most "Brutally Honest" Beauty Influencer

Samantha Ravndahl is finally here! “Meet the beauty blogger who’s made a career out of brutal honesty,” said Vanity Fair, in an article profiling the 26-year-old professional makeup artist last year. Samantha began creating content in 2013 with just 2,000 followers, which grew into 10,000 fans in one month— and ballooned into an audience of one million in just one year. One Lil’ Kim lawsuit behind her, and the super influencer has earned 2.2M Instagram followers tune in to the Vancouverite’s feed for her boundary-pushing beauty lewks that have been known to skew into special FX.

But it’s Samantha’s badass, no-holding-back attitude that keep them coming back. Case in point: in December, she released a “No More PR” video announcing that she would no longer be accepting thousands of dollars worth of publicity products from brands anymore — a waste-reductive move that drew headlines in WWD Magazine. We asked Samantha about why she made that decision (who doesn’t like freebies?!), and how her tutorials and her relationships with brands has changed since then.

Six years in, Samantha— and her content— are continually evolving. We get the scoop on her decision to stop retouching face and body “blemishes” on any of her photos moving forward. She also spills the tea on the products she’s truly passionate about (top shelf elite edition!), answers burning listener questions, and tells us about the career goal Future Samantha currently has on the dream board…

A few of the products in Samantha’s makeup bag

Products mentioned in this episode:

M.A.C Lipglass in Oyster Girl; Drunk Elephant T.L.C Framboos Glycolic Night Serum; Olaplex No. 4 Bond Maintenance Shampoo; Olaplex No. 5 Bond Maintenance Conditioner; Axis Mor Treatment Oil; Ole Henriksen Sheer Transformation Perfecting Moisturizer; Ole Henriksen Goodnight Glow Retin-Alt Sleeping Moisturizer

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 54 Glow Down Ft. The Anna Edit a.k.a. Anna Newton On Her New Book + The Beauty Products She's Never Editing Out of Her Life

So many of you are already fans of British blogger and YouTuber Anna Newton of The Anna Edit, and now that we’ve met her, we totally know why. Anna is like your best friend who gives you great style advice and adulting tips –  but isn’t at all intimidating. She also hosts a podcast called At Home With, along with co-host Lily Pebbles. Anna has got her shit so together, she’s just released a freakn’ book on the matter!

An Edited Life is all about “simple steps to streamlining your life, work and home”, so naturally we chatted about how to minimize a cluttered top shelf. We also found out which beauty products Anna will never ever edit out of her own routine, and got her to spill her Loewe handbag to see what’s inside! Anna also recalls how she made it, mastering the art of being a low key content creator (over 475K subscribers to be exact) in a sea of thirsties.

What’s in Anna Newton’s bag? Graydon Skincare, Milk Makeup! Surratt Eyelash Curler, Lano Lips

We’ve also got breaking beauty buzz! That’s right – Jill and Carlene are headed to SXSW! Hosted by Real Self, your humble co-hosts will be at the House of Modern Beauty on Saturday, March 9th to discuss the rise of beauty podcasts, along with Fat Mascara and The Glossy Beauty Podcast, hosted by inimitable beauty columnist Jane Larkworthy. Look out Austin, Breaking Beauty is ready to two-step!

Products Mentioned In This Episode:

Laura Mercier Extreme Velour Lipsticks; NARS Velvet Matte Lip Pencil; Escentric Molecules Perfume; Glossier You Eau de Parfum; May Lindstrom skincare; Bumble and Bumble Sunday Shampoo; Lancôme Monsieur Big Waterproof Mascara; Clarins Instant Makeup Remover; Surratt Relevée Lash Curler; It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC Cream With SPF 50+; Laneige BB Cushion Hydra Radiance Compact, M.A.C Studio Face and Body Foundation; Charlotte Tilbury Hollywood Flawless Filter

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 52 Glow Down: Hairstylist Adir Abergel On Red Carpet-to-Real-Life Secrets, Styling Jessica Biel's mane With Champagne & Is Undone Hair Over?

Jill Dunn with Celebrity Hairstylist Adir Abergel (left)

It’s red carpet season, woot woot! So what better time to welcome celebrity hairstylist Adir Abergel. You’ve seen his masterful skills on Saoirse Ronan’s bedroom hair for the February Young Hollywood issue of Vanity Fair. He also fashioned one of his signature un-average updos for Charlize Theron at the Critics Choice Awards. The LA-based hair pro is also creative director and partner in a line of repairing, pure keratin-based hair products, called Virtue Labs.

Listen in as Carlene fawns all over Adir’s hair accessories collab with Lelet New York, which filled a void for clients like Kristen Stewart and Rooney Mara who wouldn’t be caught dead in the cute-sy aesthetic of typical baubles and bows. With architectural, edgy designs that include antique gold chains cascading from a hair comb worthy of a GOT character, it’s no surprise that the luxe collection was written up in Vogue and subsequently sold out in a snap.

And while Adir may sound completely high-glam, he’s really a bohemian spirit at heart, with a dramatic coming up story that probably warrants a big screen of its own. A hair prodigy if ever there was one, Adir began daydreaming about hair at the age of 5, he began doing hair at age 10, and he started apprenticing at just 15 years old. Spoiler alert: he was living on his own at the time, a ballet student who once backed up Michael Jackson.

Listen in as Adir shares his red carpet tips and tricks you can really use IRL, including a DIY hack for what to do if your hair products gets lost in a long-haul. Plus, the haircuts that age us; why woke-up-like-this waves are a bit over; and career advice from a legit Hollywood hair guru.

Products mentioned in this episode: Ibiza G4 Cork Round Brush; Virtue Restorative Treatment Mask; Virtue Recovery Shampoo & Conditioner; Virtue Full Shampoo & Conditioner; Kusko-Murphy Setting Lotion; Phyto PhytoVolume Actif Volumizing Spray; Virtue The Lifting Powder; Virtue Labs 6-in-1 Styler; Nudestix Taylor’s Sunset Beauty Box

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 47 Glow Down How To Make It In The Beauty Biz With Ukonwa Ojo + Why Do Celebrities Love This $23 Beauty Cream?

Ever wondered who’s behind alllll the CoverGirl changes you’ve been hearing about over the past year? In today’s episode, we get up close and personal with Coty’s Chief Marketing Officer, Ukonwa Ojo, the mastermind behind CoverGirl’s woke-generation re-brand. ***Update: Ukonwa Ojo is making career power moves and since we chatted a week ago, she is no longer with Coty—and we can’t wait to see where she’s going next!!*** Remember the iconic tagline, “Easy Breezy Beautiful CoverGirl”? Bye, girl. Now, it’s “I am What I Make Up”—so much more empowering, non? How about the slew of new spokespeople, the first “cover boy” to front a cosmetics campaign, the first female race car driver to star in a beauty ad, the first makeup spokesmodel in North America to wear a hijab, the first 70-year-old model to be signed for a modelling contract (promoting a smokey eye launch!)

Oh, and let’s not forget shaking up mass retail shelves by offering 40 shades of foundation for diverse skin tones, and CoverGirl’s pledge to to go cruelty free with Leaping Bunny certification in recent months. There is one woman behind all of these milestones, and we had the privilege of sitting down with her to learn some of her seriously mentoring ways. Listen in to find out what Ukonwa thinks about not being able to try on makeup in drugstores, what hair product she can’t personally live without, and for those on the come-up, her advice on how to ask for a raise.

But first, tune in to our Damn Goods segment, in partnership with our friends at Weleda, where we go deep on a serious cult favourite: Weleda Skin Food. Tune in as Carlene takes us on a little journey to a small town called Irvington, New York, to visit Weleda’s HQ. We find out why this iconic skin balm, invented in 1926, is still hoarded by Rihanna, Victoria Beckham, Julia Roberts, Pat McGrath—and us. CEO Rob Keen schools us with a heck of a lot of Weleda trivia, like why the headquarters has an on-site pharmacy that fills prescriptions (?), and how the founder, scientist and philosopher Rudolph Steiner, basically invented the concept of biodynamic farming and applied all of those principles into skincare.

Oh yeah, and we’re here to tell you about the brand’s first major innovation in nearly a century: three new Skin Food line extensions launching this month, quite possibly as bomb as the O.G.

Products mentioned in this episode: Weleda Skin Food; Weleda Skin Food Light Nourishing Cream; Weleda Skin Food Body Butter, Weleda Skin Food Lip Butter; CoverGirl TruBlend Matte Made Foundation; Hair Rules Curly Whip

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 45 - Bonus! Recapping The Most Cray Beauty Moments Of 2018

Listen here:

In today’s show, we are looking back at the Year in Beauty because what a year it’s been! We spill alll the tea on the highs, the lows and everything in between.

Joining us are two very special guests: Grace Lee, Lead Makeup Artist for Maybelline New York who is the key makeup artist for the brand’s shows at New York Fashion Week and works with celebs like Adriana Lima and Gigi Hadid on the regular. We also have Kathleen Newman-Bremang in the house! Kathleen is the former TV producer at The Social on CTV, a contributor to Lainey Gossip and the newly minted staff writer at Refinery29 Canada.

Meghan Markle’s fresh face on her wedding day

Listen in as we go deep on the meaning behind Meghan Markle’s wedding day makeup-lite. Plus, we shine a light on September issues finally representing in this record-breaking year for women of colour (Rihanna on British Vogue, Beyonce on Vogue, Tracee Ellis Ross on ELLE Canada, Lupita N’yongo on Porter Magazine).

Record-breaking year for diversity in magazine covers

We open up on our real feelings about the Deciem drama; detail the hidden gems that ruled our top shelf this year (including a liquid lipstick that literally will stay on for days if you want it to); and answer the number one Googled beauty question of 2018 “wtf is a lash lift?” We also explore the latest social beauty movements, like how South Korean women are binning their beauty products, essentially giving the middle finger to the patriarchy and capturing it all on Instagram with the #escapethecorset hashtag.

South Korean women rebel against their routines

Happy Holidays Breaking Beauty Listeners! Our first episode of 2019 will premiere January 9th when we will be dropping some major news you are not going to want to miss!!

Special thanks to episode sponsors Giovanni Cosmetics, who’s offering Breaking Beauty listeners an exclusive 'buy one get one free' offer! To redeem the coupon, simply click this link, insert your email, and download the coupon! Bring it in to any retailer that carries Giovanni products.

Products mentioned in this episode: DRUNK ELEPHANT T.L.C. Framboos Glycolic Night Serum;
Skinceuticals C E Ferulic Serum; Maybelline New York Superstay Matte ink Liquid Lipstick in Inspirer (pink); and Fuller (90s shade); Shiseido Essential Energy Moisturizer SPF 20

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 44 Facialist to First Lady Michelle Obama, Jennifer Brodeur (a.k.a. JB Skin Guru)

Facialist to both Michelle Obama and Oprah Winfrey, Jennifer Brodeur (JB Skin Guru)

Is the facialist to Michelle Obama quite possibly the most influential skin expert in the world? Heads are nodding in Breaking Beauty’s sound studio where yes, we sat down with Montreal-based Jennifer Brodeur—dubbed JB Skin Guru by the mighty Oprah Winfrey, another star client. You’re definitely not going to want to miss Jennifer’s stories about tending to the skin of the entire Obama family in the private quarters of the White House!

Jill is obsessed with Michelle Obama’s new book, Becoming. Should we buy her the t-shirt?

Plus, find out which product from Jennifer’s all-natural skincare line for sensitive skin, Peoni, the former First Lady called out on People.com’s holiday gift guide this year. (We’ve also got the scoop on a brand new line coming in hot off of the production line from JB Skin Guru called Lumi, designed to brighten dullness with all the luminance of freshly fallen snow.)

The facialist’s newest editions to her all-natural product line, Lumi, designed to brighten dull skin

You’ll hear some of Jennifer’s somewhat radical opinions, like why she never recommends exfoliating (say what?!). We also get some choice tips on how to get your skin red carpet ready for your own holiday events this season. And finally, the skin pro divulges the secrets to detoxing your complexion from the inside out post-holiday.

But wait…! Jennifer mentions which humectants to look for and which to avoid in a deep dive on good-for-you ingredients. She promised us specifics, and we promised to post the document we were sent over:

Humectants (hygroscopic) work by pulling water from the dermis to the epidermis. This process increases the level of moisture in the stratum corneum. If the humidity is over 70% humectants can even draw water vapor from the air to help moisturize the skin.

They are added to products to mimic the role of natural hydrophilic humectants in the stratum corneum. The unique structure of the stratum corneum of the skin contributes to its function as a barrier to water loss and the external harsh environment. The injury to this barrier by the environment and common irritants with the resulting loss of water from the skin is the main reason for the development of dry skin or irritant dermatitis. Moisturizers containing humectants can help to increase the hydration of the skin and possibly repair/restore the barrier through use of chemicals that are similar to the skin’s natural moisturizing factors or occlusion of the skin to prevent water loss.

Synthetic Humectants

Synthetic humectants are able to lock in moisture; however, they don’t provide any nutrients or benefits to the skin. In some cases, they can end up drying the skin over long- term use. It’s always a question of percentage and use.

• PEGs

• Silicones

• Butylene Glycol

• Urea

• Tremella extract

• Sorbitol

• Dicyanamide

• Sodium PCA

• Sodium lactate

There is a large variety of very different compounds providing moisturizing effects

including proteins, acids, polysaccharides, and various small molecules (e.g. glycerine,

sorbitol, urea, aloe vera etc.).

Natural Humectants

They serve as a dual purpose, drawing moisture to the surface of the skin while enhancing the skins own hydrating ability. (It can be confusing as glycerin and hyaluronic acid may be derived from animal sources, although most are vegan synthetic versions).

• Lecithin

• Panthenol (pro-vitamin B5)

• Glycerin

• Hyaluronic acid

• Aloe Vera

• Honey

• Seaweed

• Beeswax (often used in lip balms)

Products mentioned in this episode: Peoni Le Nettoyant cleanser; Peoni L’Extrait; Peoni La Crème; Lumi Gift Box; Clarisonic; Jane Iredale; Armani Luminous Silk Foundation

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 42 - Real Talk about Boob Jobs, Jaw Surgery & Face Shaving with The Skinny Confidential's Lauryn Evarts Bosstick

Lauryn Evarts Bosstick of The Skinny Confidential Him & Her Podcast with your host Jill Dunn

Welcome back Beauties! Today we’re chatting with Lauryn Evarts Bosstick, the creator of beauty, wellness, and lifestyle blog The Skinny Confidential and co-host of TSC Him & Her Podcast. Lauryn’s a hugely successful influencer who’s earned mentions in Shape, Self and Women’s Health magazines. Her podcast has featured everyone from skin guru Kate Somerville to marketing whiz Gary Vaynerchuk and comedian Heather McMahan. And what we love about Lauryn is her no filter-style talk about taboo topics like boob jobs, face shaving and her complete openness about how jaw surgery completely changed her life (see before and after pics here.) We love us an over-sharer!

Glossier’s dreamy permanent store in New York City

But first, we breakdown some news of the week with details on Glossier’s multi-level New York City store. We send kudos to Drybar founder Alli Webb, who announced her next venture: massage bars called Squeeze. Finally, get all the scoop on Cover Girl’s alliance with Leaping Bunny via Cruelty Free International, and hear our take on why the news is a HUGE deal to the beauty industry at large. Lastly, does anyone know why everything is going wrong for Carlene this week? Somebody knows something.

Hooray! Cover Girl is now Leaping Bunny certified

Products mentioned in this episode: Clarisonic Smart Profile Uplift; Woo More Play; Face Gym; Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Exfoliating Moisturizer; Kate Somerville Exfolikate; Laura Mercier Translucent Setting Powder; It Cosmetics Your Skin But Better CC+ Cream with SPF 50; Ardell #113 Lashes; Maybelline Great Lash Mascara; Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara; Laneige Lip Sleeping Mask

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 38 Glow Down: We Tested 9 Buzziest Fall Beauty Launches + Colour Correcting 101

We’re takin’ you to school with fall’s buzziest beauty products, put to the test

Shiseido’s new & improved makeup collection

Teami Blends is offering Breaking Beauty listeners a coupon code: use BREAKINGBEAUTY to get 20% off at teamiblends.com 
Bling, bling— school is in! In this special edition of the #Glow Down, we tested all of the buzziest fall launches, and squeezed our favourites into an entire episode dedicated to the Damn Goods. That Dyson curling iron that’s hitting your feed right about now? We got the sneak peek. Whoosh! That 3-D mascara? We took it for a spin, with a live demo from Chanel’s national makeup artist Julie Cusson. And Shiseido’s re-vamp of their cosmetics line? We hand-picked the standouts, while makeup artist to the stars Patrick Ta gives us his top tip for finding your best nude lip shade (because Carlene so often gets it wrong, boo….)

Nanoblur Colour Correctors by Indeed Labs

AND THEN….! Are you so curious about the colour correcting trend? We invited our makeup artist friend Simone Otis (who’s recently worked with Agyness Deyn and Amandla Stenberg, no less) on the mic to explain the do’s and don’ts of playing with green, yellow and purple colour correctors, in a sponsored segment with Indeed Labs. Remember the original Nanoblur—the very first blurring product to ever hit the market way back in 2011? It was like face tune before iPhones, and a single unit sold every 9 seconds. Well, it’s back, with a 2.0 version that combines that superstar blurring effect with you guessed it, a sheer, colour-correcting skincare cosmetic. Simone tests the innovation on yours truly, with her pro tricks for landing an insanely even no makeup makeup look with (surprise), no makeup!

And lastly, breaking news! We’re going to Sephoria, bitches! Will we ever meet Chrissy Teigen? Will Charlotte Tilbury tink our glasses at the cocktail? Keep one eye to our Instagram stories while we podcast our way through the House of Beauty in L.A., and stay tuned for all the highlights in a future episode.

* Products reviewed are media samples submitted for professional editorial consideration.

Products mentioned in this episode: Indeed Labs Nanoblur Colour Correctors; Le Volume Révolution de Chanel Mascara; Pantene Charcoal Purifying Root Wash & Renewing Cream Rinse; Shiseido Modern Matte Powder Lipstick; Fenty Beauty Stunna Lip Paints; Fenty Beauty Moroccan Spice Eyeshadow Palette; Fenty Beauty Pro Filt’r Instant Retouch Primer; Dyson Airwrap Styler; Charlotte Tilbury Magic Away Concealer; Céla Black Gold Supreme Coffee Scrub; Céla Crème de la Crème The Very Best Cream; Céla Seed to Skin Scrub; Hourglass Cosmetics Caution Extreme Lash Mascara; Shiseido Imperial Lash MascaraInk; Nars Climax Mascara

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 36 Bonus Episode!! TIFF Re-Cap & Amber Heard Talks Women in Hollywood, Her Pageant Past and New L'Oréal Mascara Reveal

We sat down with Amber Heard at the 2018 Toronto International Film Festival

It’s TIFF time again! And that means Carlene and Jill have breaking beauty news on all the top red carpet looks at the Toronto International Film Festival, and they sit down with newest L’Oréal ambassador Amber Heard. She’s made crew with Justice League in the upcoming blockbuster, Aquaman, as the flame-haired Mera; she’s a real-life activist; and she’s a former pageant girl. Listen in as the Texan actress dishes on her latest film, Her Smell, starring Elizabeth Moss as part of a kick-ass, all-female ensemble. We find out what secret mascara she’s wearing that boasts a clever innovation we are *dying* to try before its North American release later this year. And finally, hear what Amber has to say about the kind of scripts that make her cringe these days, and what it’s like to be inside the Women in Film movement.

Products mentioned in this episode: L’Oréal Unlimited Mascara

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 35 Girlboss Founder Sophia Amoruso & The Top 5 Most Pressing Questions About Retinol, Answered

Girl Boss Founder Sophia Amoruso with Breaking Beauty’s Carlene Higgins

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Sophia co-hosts Girl Boss Radio

We’ve officially joined #GirlBoss Nation. It’s what happens when you sit down with Girl Boss founder Sophia Amoruso, the poster woman for females killing it at work and in life. First there was the fashion label she started, Nasty Gal, then there was that Netflix show, and of course Girl Boss, her best-selling book and Girl Boss Radio. And don’t even get us started on her killer Instagram style! Which is why we had to sit down with the queen of entrepreneurs when she dropped into town with Shoppers Drug Mart’s Beauty Boutique event, Be Bold With Beauty.

Stay tuned for the full #glowdown on all the makeup currently on the fashion influencer’s #topshelf; why she ditched her hair extensions, and what his-and-her tattoos Sophia recently had inked with her boyfriend. Plus, we get the backstory on which of her famously fearless Instagram posts (The Shiggy Challenge, that Ivanka Trump manifesto…) are currently going viral.

Rolling out onto store shelves now, Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Serum, $106 CN ($84 US)/ 60 capsules

But before allll of that, Jill and Carlene laser in on the topic of retinol, revealing answers to your top five most pressing questions about the gold standard skincare ingredient. In partnership with our friends at Elizabeth Arden, we chat with Manhattan-based consulting dermatologist Dr. Dendy Engelman, to find out who’s best suited to retinol; how to work it into your routine; and what not to do if you want to avoid any dreaded peeling effect. In this breaking episode of The Damn Goods, we review Elizabeth Arden’s new Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum, a single-dose innovation that locks retinol’s potency inside a precious little pink pouch.

Products mentioned in this episode: RMS Beauty Living Luminizer; Dior Lip Glow Hydrating Colour Reviver Lip Balm; Shiseido Aura Dew Eyes, Lip, Face; Urban Decay Naked Palette; Elizabeth Arden Retinol Ceramide Capsules Line Erasing Night Serum

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 33 Glow Down: Inclusivity, Body Positivity and Marketing Misses With YouTuber Aysha Harun, Model Bree Ahmed and Writer/Podcaster Anne T. Donahue

Left to right: Aysha Harun; Bree Ahmed; Anne T. Donahue

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Welcome to my dining room! That's right, it's a round table talk with your hosts Carlene and Jill, along with YouTube beauty creator Aysha Harun (a.k.a Aysha Abdul); the gorgeous Bree Ahmed, who self-identifies as a plus-sized model and recently starred in an Every Woman campaign in support of CAMH (The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health) aaand podcast host of Nobody Cares (Except for Me), Anne T. Donahue, who's written for Cosmopolitan, Marie Claire, The Guardian and more!  Sit in on our rousing beauty chat about inclusivity (who's winning); representation (sniffing out tokenism); and body positivity (why can't we accept ourselves like we do others?)

Every Woman campaign produced by Jessica Lewis, in support of CAMH (The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health)

After we get all cerebral, we get to the bottom of what's behind Aysha's glow, the secret spot in Toronto where Bree sources the best makeup finds for women of colour, and learn about which key products are behind Anne's signature, Mad Men beauty aesthetic. 

Plus, don't miss the details on Anne's upcoming book of essays, Nobody Cares, which launches in September--that's already been blurbbed by actress and author Gabourey Sidibe and Dolly Alderton of the High Low Podcast. And big news, we've done another pod swap! That's right, Carlene and Jill will be on Nobody Cares (Except for Me) podcast later this fall, where we'll share our damn good #bottomshelf beauty favourites that may look ugly on the outside, but make you look damn pretty anyway.

Products mentioned in this episode: Knixwear; Kylie Lip Kits; Caudalie Vino Perfect Serum; Neutrogena Hydro Boost Water Gel Lotion SPF 50; Super Goop; Beauty Blender; Benefit Precisely My Brow Pencil; Fenty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter; M.A.C Lipstick in Lady Danger; Essie Gel Couture Polish; Fenty Gloss Bomb;

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Keeva Organics Promo Code (U.S. listeners only): BREAKINGBEAUTY20 available at keevaorganics.com

Ep 29 Bonus Episode! Glass Skin Masks and Whitehead-Dissolving Patches, It's Allll the Highlights from FounderMade's Consumer Discovery Show

Co-Host Carlene Higgins (right) with sound tech Olivia Nashmi on location at the Hero Cosmetics booth during FounderMade's Consumer Discovery Show in New York

Field trip!! Breaking Beauty Podcast packed up our mics, put on our logo tees and flew to the big apple for FounderMade's Consumer Discovery Show, a highly curated event that connects rising star beauty, food and wellness brands with retailers, investors, influencers and consumers in one room. In this breaking, bonus episode, we bring you our favourite bits from the show's live panelists like Huda Kattan, Leandra Cohen and Jay Manuel, as they discuss the challenges and responsibilities of being a mega-influencer today.

Huda Kattan (left) and Leandra Cohen of Manrepeller

Tune in as we deliver all the highlights straight from the showroom floor where we discovered glass skin masks from buzzy, sensitive skincare line, Snow Fox; whitehead-dissolving, hydrocolloid micro patches from Hero Cosmetics; Knours. skincare that cycles with your period schedule; and the Cryo Facial inflammation-cooling treatment beloved by Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel that's making its way to a city near you!

Knours. skincare

Oh, but there's so much more.  We sat down with  the BOBBI BROWN—formerly of Bobbi Brown Cosmetics and now head of wellness indie start-up Evolution 18the beauty guru herself for a full-length interview all about her own evolution from cosmetics to beauty supplements to her boutique hotel, and her entire story will roll out on Breaking Beauty Podcast in the months to come!

Since we talked a little fast in this nimblest of episodes, here's a handy dandy list of every product mentioned. Enjoy! And do let us know what you think on our Instagram or in Breaking Beauty Podcast's Closed Facebook Chatroom page (join already!) or heck, even leave us a review in iTunes.

Cle Cosmetics

Products mentioned in this episode:

Cle Cosmetics Melting Lip Powder in Hot Choco; Cle Cosmetics Oxygen Foam Cleanser

IVitamin Hydration Therapy

Knours. Double Duty Mist; Knours. Know Your Skin Period. pH 5.6 Body + V Zone Soap

Le Prunier Plum Beauty Oil

Cannuka CBD Healing Skin Balm

Hero Cosmetics Mighty Patch

Snow Fox Skincare Japanese Cherry Blossom & White Tea Smoothing Mask; Snow Fox Cucumber Recovery Range (coming soon!)

Muskaan Makeup

 Quick Cryo Cryo Facial

Hello Tushy Tushy Classic

Thinx Period Proof Underwear

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 28 Beauty Journo Legend Jane Larkworthy on Cult of Skincare, What's on her #TopShelf, B.S. Beauty Trends, Intermittent Fasting and more

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As beauty editor of W Magazine for over a decade, Jane Larkworthy's column, Jane's Addiction, was the stuff of beauty journo legends. Her smart and stylish, yet slightly self-deprecating voice made us hoard with abandon, while her hilarious beauty parody videos had us spitting up our morning coffee. Now, Ms. Larkworthy is back with her own beauty column on The Cut, a new title as beauty-editor-at-large at L'Officiel U.S., and a potential audible enterprise (which may or may not put her improv skills to good use!)

The newly refurbished spa lobby at the Four Seasons Hotel in Toronto

But before we find out which beauty products are on Ms. Larkworthy's #topshelf, and glean all the life lessons of a New York super-doer, Jill and Carlene swap stories about the summer spa services they're obsessed with this minute (hands up if you've ever had a  body scrub that didn't involve a mid-treatment shower). And, your humble hosts break on down what's #DamnGood this week, including two drug-store foundations worth adding to your IRL shopping cart.

And finally, in this month's instalment of The Glow Down, find out the late breaking news that *might* change the life of your mani forever...

 

Products mentioned in this episode: Supergoop! Everyday Sunscreen; CoverGirl TruBlend Matte Made Foundation; Revlon Youth FX Fill & Blur Foundation; Drunk Elephant TLC Framboos Glycolic Night Serum; Drunk Elephant Protini Polypeptide Cream; Drunk Elephant La La Retro Whipped Cream; Vertly Hemp Infused Lip Balm; Burt's Bees Beeswax Lip Balm

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

The newly launched CoverGirl TruBlend Matte Made Foundation with 40 shades

This is not Jill, but it is Victoria delivering a facial in her swanky studio

Ep 24 - The Myths and Truths Behind Daily Sun Damage with Olay Scientist Dr. Frauke Neuser

In partnership with Olay

Dr. Frauke Neuser (Left) with Breaking Beauty Podcast's Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins

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We are so excited for our second sponsored episode!! Because the more partnerships we do, the more damn good stories we can bring you about the best-selling beauty products lining store aisles—with even glossier production!

Welcome to Beauty Editors in Cars Getting Coffee. Psych! It’s Breaking Beauty Podcast, and in our first ever ride along, we tour the streets in Carlene’s SUV with Olay scientist Dr. Frauke Neuser to chat about the myths and truths behind daily sun damage—for reals. We get to the bottom of your burning questions like, ‘Do I really need to wear sunscreen during these sprinter weeks when it’s raining ice?’ And, ‘If I follow what derms say, how am I supposed to reapply my daily moisturizer with SPF over top of my makeup on my lunch hour?’ (we FEEL you!!)

In this hilarious-yet-enlightening episode, Carlene reveals the number one reason she thinks her face is practically wrinkle-free post-40, while Jill shares the reason her 70-year-old Mom keeps getting pulled over.  Plus, Dr. Neuser—who we caught up with while en route to her stint on The Dr. Oz Show (NBD)—explains why over half of women (especially millennials!) in North America don’t wear SPF on a regular basis, and how far daily moisturizers have come in delivering a lotion you’ll actually want to wear under makeup.

Finally, we drill the good scientist about how much skincare espionage is really going down in the industry—AND, we find out what the lady at the drive-through thinks about all of this.

Products mentioned in this episode: Olay Regenerist Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25; Olay Total Effects Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25; Olay Luminous Whip Face Moisturizer SPF 25

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.

Ep 22 The Glow Down Ft. YouTube Beauty Sensation Krystal Clear Makeup

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It’s officially spring and that means… we’re celebrating our very 1st birthday!! Hooray!! In this episode, Jill and Carlene shout-out the amazing press coverage Breaking Beauty Podcast has been getting across the pond (Grazia UK and British Glamour to shamelessly name names). And as per usual, dish the dirt on the damn good beauty products we’re loving right now. One of those gems can be found at Chanel's insanely chic arcade, Chanel Game Centre, a pop-up at Holt Renfrew Bloor St. until April 15th!

Then we introduce the woman of the hour, Krystal Sutherland—or, Krystal Clear Makeup—as she’s known by her 2M-strong followers. Known for her next-level makeup artistry, the Vancouver-based Mom of two boys reveals how she rose to the top in only a couple of years (she launched her YouTube in 2015 and her Instagram account in 2016) since she first started posting on social media; how she navigates the tricky world of cut-throat competition and working with beauty brands; and finally, how she claps back at all the trolls.

Don't miss Krystal’s big reveal: the surprising favourite makeup products that are just as anti-snob as the influencer herself—here for real world glam!

Products mentioned in this episode: Marc Jacobs Shameless Youthful Look 24-Hour Foundation; Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter; Burt’s Bees Nourishing Mascara; Chanel Rouge Coco Lip Blush; Fenty Killawatt Freestyle Highlighter in Trophy Wife; Wet n Wild Photo Focus Foundation; L’Oréal Voluminous Lash Paradise Washable Mascara; Too Faced Better Than Sex Mascara; Dove Beauty Bar; Ofra Vitamin C Foaming Cleanser

Every product is independently selected by Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts and/or guests. Products you purchase through our links may earn us a commission.