Live Podcast! Dupe Culture, Wellness Musts, Skincare That Makes a Difference and *The* Colour We’ll All Be Wearing in 2025 with Tastemaking Style and Beauty Founders Jenny Bird and Laney Crowell

Summary

Breaking Beauty Podcast: Live Episode Summary

Episode Title: Live Podcast! Dupe Culture, Wellness Musts, Skincare That Makes a Difference and The Colour We’ll All Be Wearing in 2025 with Tastemaking Style and Beauty Founders Jenny Bird and Laney Crowell
Release Date: December 18, 2024
Hosts: Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins
Guests: Jenny Bird (Founder of Jenny Bird Jewelry) and Laney Crowell (Founder of Clean Beauty Brand, Say)

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1. Welcome and Introduction

Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins kick off the live episode by introducing their esteemed guests, Jenny Bird and Laney Crowell. They highlight Jenny's milestone of 15 years in the jewelry industry and Laney's previous appearance on the podcast, emphasizing their contributions to beauty and fashion.

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2. Age Inclusivity in Brands

Discussion Highlights:

• Jenny Bird: Emphasizes targeting individuals who strive to stay current and maintain a modern aesthetic regardless of age. She notes, "It's not a demographic; it's an attitude." ([04:21])
• Laney Crowell: Focuses on inclusive ingredient formulation catering to diverse skin needs, stating, "Our products are nourishing and hydrating for everyone." ([05:44])

Notable Quote:

Jenny Bird ([04:21]): "It's not a demographic; it's an attitude. It's such a dated question."

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3. Navigating Dupe Culture in Beauty and Fashion

Discussion Highlights:

• Jenny Bird: Views dupes as indicators of success, stating that being duped means the brand is setting trends. She shares how dupes can sometimes benefit brands by increasing accessibility, exemplified by her brand's earrings being a cost-effective alternative to high-fashion counterparts. ([06:16] - [08:12])
• Laney Crowell: Adopts a proactive approach, believing that duplication signifies innovation. She stresses focusing on creating unique products rather than fixating on competitors. ([08:14] - [09:48])

Notable Quotes:

Jenny Bird ([06:16]): "Unless you are being duped, you are not a trendsetter. So I'm happy to announce that I'm being duped all the time. It means that I'm winning."

Laney Crowell ([08:14]): "Innovate or die. If someone's duping me, that means I'm doing a great job."

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4. Commitment to Sustainability

Discussion Highlights:

• Laney Crowell: Shares her lifelong passion for sustainability, rooted in her upbringing. Her brand, Say, has launched the Say Climate Initiative, aiming to collect over 5 million pounds of plastic in three years. ([14:10] - [15:08])
• Jenny Bird: Emphasizes product quality and sustainable packaging. Jenny discusses initiative-driven packaging improvements to minimize environmental impact, ensuring longevity and timelessness in design. ([15:08] - [15:50])

Notable Quotes:

Laney Crowell ([14:10]): "We committed to collecting over 5 million pounds of plastic over the next three years. And it's just the beginning of our commitment to doing the right thing."

Jenny Bird ([15:50]): "Our packaging overhaul is industry-leading in sustainability. Being responsible citizens to the planet is just the status quo now."

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5. Community Engagement and Charitable Initiatives

Discussion Highlights:

• Jenny Bird: Introduces the Possibilities Fund, which supports women in three stages of need: urgent mental wellness, mentorship, and community upliftment. She emphasizes the cyclical benefit of empowering women through brand success. ([16:33] - [17:26])
• Laney Crowell: Highlights her dedication to local community engagement, sharing how small actions in her town have significant ripple effects. She encourages listeners to contribute to their immediate communities. ([17:28] - [18:35])

Notable Quotes:

Jenny Bird ([16:33]): "Every purchase supports our Possibilities Fund, uplifting women to feel confident and stand a little bit taller."

Laney Crowell ([17:29]): "Giving back to our community has been a game changer, showing how little actions can make a big difference."

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6. Wellness Habits of Founders

Discussion Highlights:

• Laney Crowell: Shares her morning routine, including a nutritious smoothie, meditation, and scheduled workouts, highlighting the importance of self-care amidst busy schedules. ([19:28] - [21:16])
• Jenny Bird: Discusses her need for personal time post-morning rush, emphasizing sleep as a crucial wellness factor. She describes her bedtime routine involving melatonin and magnesium-based lotions to enhance sleep quality. ([21:27] - [23:34])

Notable Quotes:

Laney Crowell ([19:40]): "I schedule my workouts and prioritizing self-care sends a powerful message to my children about taking care of oneself."

Jenny Bird ([22:10]): "Sleep is the number one factor for wellness and overall mental health."

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7. Holiday Dressing and Fashion Tips

Discussion Highlights:

• Jenny Bird: Predicts poppy red and navy as the dominant colors for 2025, regardless of holiday celebrations. She offers styling tips, such as pairing anklets with holiday footwear to add dimension. ([30:27] - [32:11])
• Laney Crowell: Recommends versatile pieces like bodysuits and scarves that can elevate any holiday outfit effortlessly. ([32:14] - [32:43])

Notable Quotes:

Jenny Bird ([30:27]): "Poppy red is going to dominate next year as well as navy. It's not because of the season, but they're timeless."

Laney Crowell ([32:14]): "A great bodysuit changes everything, allowing you to layer jewelry and dress up effortlessly."

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8. Top Holiday Gift Picks

Discussion Highlights:

• Laney Crowell: Suggests practical and thoughtful gifts like high-quality socks, beauty gift sets, and vintage tarot cards that offer both utility and aesthetic appeal. ([33:34] - [34:10])
• Jenny Bird: Recommends her own products, such as the Say Super Glowy Gel and various blushes, highlighting their universal appeal and skincare benefits. ([34:13] - [34:58])

Notable Quotes:

Laney Crowell ([34:10]): "Giving something you know your loved ones will use and enjoy, like our Super Glowy Gel, makes you the coolest friend."

Jenny Bird ([34:13]): "Our blush, Cutie, is a shade everyone can wear, making it a perfect gift for any makeup lover."

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9. Excitement for 2025 and Future Plans

Discussion Highlights:

• Jenny Bird: Enthusiastically discusses upcoming innovations in jewelry storage and travel solutions, aiming to revolutionize how jewelry is stored and transported. ([35:29] - [36:27])
• Laney Crowell: Shares her plans for personal growth and intentional goal setting, including self-improvement initiatives and planned travels. ([36:30] - [37:12])

Notable Quotes:

Jenny Bird ([35:29]): "We're innovating travel cases for jewelry to make storing and moving jewels more efficient and stylish."

Laney Crowell ([36:30]): "I'm setting a goal to undergo self-improvement every quarter, ensuring a year filled with intentional growth."

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10. Overcoming Career Narratives and Imposter Syndrome

Discussion Highlights:

• Jenny Bird: Reflects on overcoming the misconception that industry connections are essential for success, affirming that she built her own network. ([37:39] - [39:03])
• Laney Crowell: Discusses confronting limiting beliefs daily and shares a pivotal moment of self-realization inspired by a motivational meme. She also addresses imposter syndrome by emphasizing authenticity and setting high expectations. ([37:54] - [39:38])

Notable Quotes:

Jenny Bird ([37:39]): "You have to make your own connections. You don't need industry insiders to achieve success."

Laney Crowell ([38:32]): "Social media is fake. Remembering that helps me combat imposter syndrome by focusing on real achievements."

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11. Final Thoughts and Closing Remarks

The hosts express gratitude to the live audience and listeners, promising to share links to products and past episodes. They encourage engagement through their YouTube channel, social media, and private Facebook group. The episode concludes with acknowledgments and a reminder of the podcast's mission to deliver authentic beauty insights.

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Key Takeaways:

• Inclusivity and Sustainability: Both Jenny Bird and Laney Crowell prioritize inclusive practices and sustainable operations, setting industry standards.
• Embracing Dupe Culture: Viewing dupes as a sign of trendsetting success, both founders navigate dupe culture by focusing on innovation and brand integrity.
• Community and Wellness: Strong emphasis on community support and personal wellness routines highlights the founders' holistic approach to business and life.
• Future Innovations: Exciting plans for 2025 include innovative product lines and personal growth initiatives, reflecting a commitment to continuous improvement.

Notable Resources and Links:

• Jenny Bird Jewelry: Website
• Say Clean Beauty: Website
• Neutrophil Hair Growth Supplement: Neutrophil.com
• Quince Direct Luxury: Quince.combeauty
• Podcast YouTube Channel: Breaking Beauty Podcast

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This summary captures the essence of the live episode, highlighting the invaluable insights shared by Jenny Bird and Laney Crowell. For detailed discussions and exclusive content, listeners are encouraged to tune into the full episode.

Transcript

[Jenny Bird]

The following podcast is a Dear Media production.

[Jill Dunn]

Welcome to Breaking Beauty, the podcast, all about the breakthrough people, products and moments in beauty.

[Carlene Higgins]

We're your hosts, Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins.

[Jill Dunn]

Welcome, everyone, to this very first live podcast that we've ever done here at Breaking Beauty. So this is a very, very special evening for us. If you're not familiar, we are Jill and Carlene. We're two beauty editors turned beauty podcasters and we talk about the breakthrough people, products and moments in beauty every single Wednesday.

[Carlene Higgins]

That's right, we do do that. Well, I'm Jill. And in this episode, because we do have people listening to this episode, we're so excited to be joined by two incredible thought leaders in fashion and in beauty and taste makers, I would say. I mean, look at these ladies. Well, look at these outfits. I mean, I'm already so inspired. So first up, we have the iconic Jenny Bird. She's really the creative force behind the eponymous award winning jewelry and lifestyle brand, Jenny Bird. And thank you so much, Jenny, for hosting us in this space. The Shop. A milestone moment for you. Like 10 years in business and this. We're just so thrilled to be here.

[Jenny Bird]

Thank you. Thank you, Julia. Fifteen years, actually, in jewelry. Yes. This is a very special night for me too, as the shop has been a special place for us in New York for the last three months. So thanks for coming.

[Jill Dunn]

And next we have Laney Crowell, the visionary founder of the clean beauty brand say. And Laney is a past guest on Breaking Beauty. You can all check it out in our archives if you want to know the backstory behind say and Little fun fact. I'm not just saying this. If you listen to the episodes, you'll know that my desert island beauty product is the say Super Glowy Gel. I always say it wrong. Glowy. Super. Wait, Chloe Super. Chloe Super Gel. Everybody say it. Glowy Super Gel. And in the sun, Glow. It's my desert island product. I love it so much. So thank you for creating it and thank you for being here. Lainey, so great to see you in person.

[Laney Crowell]

Thank you for having me. I'm so excited to be here with you guys. I'm so excited that you guys showed up. It's rainy, it's dark, but I think this is a great place to be on a rainy night.

[Jill Dunn]

Yes, absolutely. And a Monday, so. Yeah.

[Carlene Higgins]

And we also have our first live audience. We need to give you all a shout out. Let the people at home know you're here. Clap, shout. And for our listeners at home, if you happen to be in New York, the shop at Jenny Bird is here at 21 Spring Street. It's open until December 22nd. So come by, get those stocking stuffers, get styled. And it's just like such an inspiring space. So I highly recommend everybody comes in.

[Jill Dunn]

Another reason I'm excited for tonight, personally, is because I love beauty, as you all know, but I also love fashion and jewelry, and I love when the two worlds collide in the best way possible. Tonight we're going to be talking about, you know, fashion and beauty and women run businesses and what it takes to. To just bring that creativity every day. Sustainability, all of the good things. And so one thing you do have in common is being these strong female leaders in the space. So we want to start by asking about age inclusivity, because I feel like this is also something that both brands do so well. So, Jenny, tell us how you manage to appeal to everyone. I love that your ads are so inclusive, but, you know, Gen Z, Gen X, different. So how do you. How do you kind of approach that?

[Jenny Bird]

Well, there's one common theme for me, for us, we are marketing to and speaking to a person who wants to stay current, who wants to look her best, who wants to be in the now. And you do make that conscious decision as a person to decide whether you're going to stay in the game and feel modern and cool and look modern and cool as you age. And we know that that is someone that has made that decision, and that's who we're speaking to. It is also, you know, so I really, you know, when someone. And we get this question all the time from potential business partners, too, is, what's the demo you're serving? I'm like, it's not. It's an attitude. It's such an.

[Laney Crowell]

The vibe.

[Jenny Bird]

Yeah, yeah, it's such a dated question. Now, I think the other really important takeaway for us is it's really built in, right? Like, we have younger celebrities that have been wearing and endorsing the brand, like Hailey Bieber, Selena Gomez, et cetera. And then we have the older women that I look at, like Reese Witherspoon, Michelle Obama, Meg Ryan, that, you know, we have it built in. And then myself, too. So what I find the most interesting is, and we have a pair in the audience here, a mother, daughter, who are equally as interested in the brand because they're just enthusiasts of the category and of their own personal style and beauty.

[Jill Dunn]

Can't agree more. What about you, Lainie?

[Laney Crowell]

I love that you just said it's a dated question. It is, because I totally agree. I think it's something. Our motto is feel good, do good. Everyone wants to feel good. Doesn't matter how old you are. We. We do think a lot about our platforms, though. So how are we speaking on TikTok? How are we speaking on Instagram? How are we speaking on Pinterest? And then ingredients. We do think a lot about ingredients. So I'm very acne prone. I've suffered from acne my whole life. So we formulate our products so that even the person with the most sensitive skin, if you're a teenager going through puberty, or if you are acne and menopause or dealing with dry skin as your skin gets older, our ingredients are nourishing and hydrating for everyone.

[Carlene Higgins]

I love that the number of stories I wrote as a beauty editor at a magazine that was like, 20s, 30s, 40s. And if, like, you're over 40, you're just dead, apparently, like, so, like, you don't read those stories anymore. So I think it's important to note those signposts as. As we go along. So I want to ask both of you about dupe culture, because it's one of my favorite topics. It's a juicy one. And we know that dupe culture, it's ever present in beauty and in fashion. So, Jenny, let's start with you. How do you feel about dupes and dupe culture? Kind of.

[Jenny Bird]

Well, in fashion, there's, you know, the idea that you either are setting the trends or you're following them. So unless you are being duped, you are not a trendsetter. So I'm happy to announce that I'm being duped all the time. It means that I'm winning. You know, for me, there's things, there's dupes that I that come up all the time, but there's ones that I decide just to not pay attention to, and others that, you know, I do have to act on because it's hurtful to the brand. So, for example, there's shell companies out there that are from overseas that are, you know, duplicating many trending brands all the time, and they're not speaking to my community. I don't take any time on that. I think my customers actually get more upset and defensive of us than I do. In that case, again, I take it as a good sign when there are credible high fashion brands that are, you know, taking inspiration from my creations. Again, hard to say. You know, I have to take it really with a grain of salt because those talented accessory designers in those houses share My talent where I have a gift to know what will be trending before it's happening. And so I'm able to deliver that high fashion look before it's trending to our customers at our price point, their designers are doing the same. So often I will pause and think like, you know, are we all just tracking to the site guys of that puffy earring, that puffy sofa being what is going to be trending? And I want to make that big dollop from your ear. A classic example from that was Bottega. They came out with their drop earring, you know, basically around the exact same time as we did. And the interesting thing about that with dupe culture is we actually benefited from it because we became known on TikTok as the way to get that look for a reasonable price. Right. For about a quarter of what Bottega with our Nuvo puff for about a quarter of what Bottega was charging. And that was awesome because it really just like showed the value in our designs as a house. So lots. It becomes really interesting. Anyway, you have to look at it with a different lens.

[Jill Dunn]

How about you, Laney? We see a lot of dupes in.

[Laney Crowell]

Beauty culture with your table, we have dupes and beauty. I think I take a little bit of like a no nonsense approach to it in the sense of like, innovate or die. And if someone's duping me, that means I'm doing a great job. And if I'm worried about it, that's on me because that means I'm not innovating. I also just try not to look at competition. I think that we are all one. And so if I'm worried about competition, I'm just competing with myself. And if I get in that mindset of like thinking a lot about other brands. There was another brand that launched a dupe, called it Sunglow. And I was like pissed. And then I was like thought to myself, I was like, I'm not going to waste my energy on this because it means I'm not spending time thinking about how I can be innovating and how I can be making something that is exciting and new, like enough that no one's ever tried before. And that's what I want to be bringing to the table. That's what I want to be proud of. So, you know, I think you just got to keep moving.

[Jill Dunn]

Yeah, it's kind of trusting in yourself. Right. That you can be creative. It's an infinite. Well, you know, it's not going to run out where you won't have the next great idea, you feel like you.

[Jenny Bird]

Have an infinite well.

[Laney Crowell]

I think my well is like too deep at times. I have too many ideas. And I think teams say sometimes is like, can you slow down and take a breath?

[Jenny Bird]

See, so you don't have to worry. Keep the dupes coming. Right? Because it means you're.

[Laney Crowell]

Yeah, yeah. Keep blinders on. That's one of my biggest advice around competitors. Keep blinders on.

[Jenny Bird]

I fully agree with that. I was designing for a while when I started with handbags. When I got into jewelry, I was really focused on just more from a business woman standpoint of what's in the market, what doesn't exist. And that's how I landed on clean metals at a good price point. But I was really looking and analyzing at what was in the market to decide on what was missing and what I wanted to bring. And I noticed when I was doing that after the first little while that it was really getting in the way of my own innovative blue sky creativity. And so I just stopped completely. And it's basically been the birth of so much unique ideas and innovation on my side too.

[Laney Crowell]

I remember when I was fundraising, all these male investors would say, there's so much competition. And I was like, I actually don't think there's any competition. There's nobody doing what I'm doing.

[Jill Dunn]

Yeah.

[Carlene Higgins]

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[Jill Dunn]

So I want to ask about sustainability as well because I know that's important to both of your brands and I find in beauty, since I have an eye on that industry. But I think in fashion as well, there's just this thirst from retailers and from the world for newness that creates excitement. We were talking about innovation, but how do you balance sustainability with that kind of constant flow of newness that sometimes you might see in fast fashion but you're, you're not. Fast beauty and a fast jewelry line. So how do you balance this?

[Laney Crowell]

Well, SEI was born with a pillar of sustainability because of just my childhood. I was born in Colorado. My mom actually worked for the Solar Institute of America, which is a little difficult to think about when you think that we've known for all this time of what we could do. But she taught me from a young age that it's our job to leave the planet better than we found it. So when we would hike, my mom wrote a book on hiking with kids. Actually, it's called Take Them Along. It's really cute. She would give me a bag to put in my pocket to pick up trash. This was when I was like 5 years old. So I've, this is part of who I am, something I'm really passionate about. So it's always been a part of our DNA since we launched the brand and oh gosh, how many months ago now, maybe two or three months ago now, we launched the say climate initiative, which is something I'm really proud of. We committed to collecting over 5 million pounds of plastic over the next three years. And it's, it's just the beginning, honestly, of our commitment to doing the right thing.

[Jenny Bird]

Our side, I mean, quality of the product is critical. In our category, you have to have beautiful base metals, long lasting plating, and then again pieces that are timeless in their design. So they're modern, but they have a lot of longevity. You know, I want people to find jb, like I find really beautifully made vintage pieces in the vintage markets years to come. There's also a huge need for us in our packaging. We have a beautiful, we just did this beautiful overhaul of how the jewelry arrives to you so that it is industry leading in its sustainability there as well. Right down to the econ box itself, I think, I think it's just like, that's just status quo now in terms of being responsible citizens to the planet. Like you live in your home and like you walk around the world as well.

[Carlene Higgins]

Yeah, I love that. And speaking of timeless, I told you before we started tonight that I'm wearing these earrings, these Aurora earrings. I wore them in my passport photo. So they're going to look good in 10 years too. I'm banking on it actually. And so both of you, what I really admire so much about both of you is the way that you both give back to your communities. Even tonight. Like the proceeds from this ticket sales are going to Planned Parenthood, which I just think is amazing.

[Laney Crowell]

Planned Parenthood is matching them.

[Carlene Higgins]

Oh really?

[Laney Crowell]

Yeah.

[Carlene Higgins]

Okay, fantastic. So can you share a little bit about what charitable causes have inspired each of you most and why it's important to like share the success of your brand with your community. Jenny, maybe you can start.

[Jenny Bird]

Sure. So we at jb, it's important that everyone that is a part of the brand is contributing to that same cause, which for us is uplifting women in three stages of need through our Possibilities fund. So every purchase supports that fund and there's a percentage of it that gets directed down into it and then we are actively applying those funds in three stages, like I said, of need. So there's first urgent need in the Mental wellness and then mentorship. This is actually part of the pillar of mentorship, where we're sharing our programming and sharing thoughts around thoughts and experiences in building a company to aspiring founders of the community and uplifting other women through this type of event. But to me, it's important that that cyclical figure 8 flow of energy and intention when it comes into the brand, the way that Jennie Bird earrings or the jewelry, whatever your piece you're wearing uplifts you and makes you feel confident and just stand a little bit taller that that then is going to flow back and support another woman to feel the same.

[Laney Crowell]

That's beautiful.

[Jill Dunn]

How about you, Lainey?

[Laney Crowell]

I think a lot about giving back. It's interesting. Right now I live in a really small community, so I moved out of New York and I live in a small town. And when we moved there, my husband said, if we're going to live here, we have to be part of the community. And I honestly don't know if I'd ever really thought of community in that way because my background is in social media. And so the word community to me had always meant like, this online platform. And so we moved to the small town and we've been giving back to our community in, like, these little ways that then have these, like, ripple effects. And it's been such a game changer for me to think about, like, how you can do something really little that then has effects that, you know, you can see as well. And so, I don't know, I just brought that up because I feel like it's been something that's really impacted my life recently. And with the holidays and giving, like, I would love for all of you to think about that of, like, how can you engage your community, whether that's like a friend or your family or your town or your neighborhood or your school, that IRL community.

[Jill Dunn]

I think that's a great point that, you know, sometimes the world can feel overwhelming if you think about it too big globally, it's like, what can I do? What are the steps I can do that are actually going to make a difference? So I love that idea of just, just. It's like anything when you're facing something big, just look at what's right in front of you, right? And so that's something I think sometimes we can maybe take for granted is just those little steps in our own community. If everybody does that, that will add up to a big hole, as opposed to just kind of being paralyzed by the idea that it's too much, it's too big. Climate change can't deal with it and do nothing. So I think that's a great point. And what about wellness for each of you? Because I know your moms, your slang in your businesses and it's, it's a lot to juggle. So what are a few daily, weekly habits that you do to just stay grounded?

[Jenny Bird]

I just think it's funny, like I'm going to say, Laney, do you have this long, beautiful morning routine with a kid?

[Laney Crowell]

Well, when I was thinking about my answer to this question, I was like, I'm going to have a really hard time not being sarcastic.

[Carlene Higgins]

Be sarcastic. It's fine. I think you need the mom you'll talk to.

[Laney Crowell]

Two hour morning routine. I get nine hours of sleep. No. I think the only way for me to have any sort of wellness routine as a, as a mom. So my daughters are seven and four and Rosie loves to wake me up at 2am every morning, which is fabulous. But I, I have a green smoothie that I make every day. It's the Bonberry smoothie. Does anyone know Bon Berry? Yes. Okay. She has a smoothie and it's like packed with kale and spinach and lots of fruit. So it's probably spikes my glucose. But I know that I'm going that I got all those greens in even if I don't eat another vegetable all day. And so that takes just a couple minutes. So that's a hack. I have a, I just sent this to my friends recently. It's a Deepak chopra meditation on YouTube. That's really great. And if I wake up 10 minutes early or than my kids, I'll put that on and do that. I had a third one. Was it? Oh yeah. I schedule my workouts and I do them and I, even though it's really hard for me to say to my kids in the morning, I only see you for, you know, an hour and a half in the mornings and I'm going to miss some of that. They know that I'm taking care of myself and I think that's really powerful. And this morning my husband was in D.C. my workout was at 6:30 and they sat on the floor and watched me work out. And I think that is really powerful. I'm saying I, I'm gonna put myself first in this moment and I think that's major.

[Jenny Bird]

Georgie has watched me work out a bunch of times.

[Laney Crowell]

It was kind of annoying, but it was what it was. It's like my only me time, but it's okay.

[Jenny Bird]

Oh my God. I feel you. Yeah. There's no morning. I mean my morning routine is mission get the kids out the door to school. By the time they're actually dropped off, my nervous system is like feels like it's fried from actually accomplishing this incredible feat. So one of my hacks is from like 8:45 drop off to 11:00am Our team really works on. They zone in on my calendar and there's a meeting free zone until 11am that's when I go back. I'm alone in my house. That is a huge wellness thing for me. I need to be alone in my house. My husband knows if he's home to get out and preferably he's doing errands for some of the things that we need. No, just true though. Or returning my many web orders and my shopping problem.

[Jill Dunn]

Full time job.

[Carlene Higgins]

I relate.

[Jenny Bird]

No. So I do that and then a big one for me is sleep. I really realized I actually wasn't conscious about how I was not allowing myself to rest when I was tired. I was physically so tired and I would push myself and not I actually allow myself to go to bed when I am tired instead of pushing through and then getting that extra burst of energy late at night and staying up too late. And that's been a huge thing. We know that sleep is the number one factor for wellness, overall mental health too. So that's a really big one for me.

[Carlene Higgins]

Paint the picture of your bedside. I'd like to know is there blackout eye mask? What do you have to get the sleep hygiene going?

[Jenny Bird]

Anything Asutra. Is that beautiful? It's backed by. It's Sorry. Asutra cream and sleep mask and it's melatonin and magnesium based lotion. You put it on instead of whatever regular lotion you put on at night. It's unbelievable. It's beautiful. So I do it where I feel like it will really actually get involved in my circulatory system. So on my feet, up my lower legs, my pulse points behind my neck and on my chest and belly again. It's just a lotion application. It's beautiful. It drops you into a deeper sleep and a longer sleep. It's really stunning. So there's that and then the book I'm reading.

[Carlene Higgins]

Oh, what's that?

[Jenny Bird]

Daisy and the six.

[Carlene Higgins]

Oh, Daisy Jones and the six. Yeah. So good.

[Jenny Bird]

That's good.

[Carlene Higgins]

You need to watch the show because it's like Riley Keough and. Yeah, yeah. So, so good.

[Jenny Bird]

It's so good already.

[Carlene Higgins]

Yeah. Honestly. So I think now we're going to talk some beauty top shelf essentials because I know our audience. That's here. That's what you want to hear. You want to get the goods. So, Jenny, I'm going to start with you. What are your top three difference makers on your top shelf that you can't stop yapping about? Like, you're in your group chat telling your girlfriend, like, what fragrance is it? What is it? A face cleanser? The melatonin cream.

[Jenny Bird]

Okay. So I'm in my skincare era.

[Jill Dunn]

Yes.

[Jenny Bird]

Mainly because I'm freaking out that I'm committed to natural aging, which I'm really excited about. However, I'm close to 50, so things are getting real. So my big thing is exfoliation and hydration, those two things. So my top three are those. And they have been game changers for me in those areas. So the first one is Wise Beauty's your favorite. X exfoliating pads. This is Molly Sims line. These things are phenomenal. They smooth and brighten, literally. And like, I have an issue with flakes and especially in the winter with my dryness. I do not have them anymore since using these pads. They're so, so effective. And then you can take a couple with you when you travel as well. The second one would be you Beauty's resurfacing flash peel. And that's basically as close as I can get. I don't have time to go into an office to have more of a deeper exfoliation done. So once a month, I use that. It sits on your face for 10 minutes, and it looks like you've been to an office and gotten, like, a deeper peel exfoliation. And my third would be Sahajan. It's actually a Canadian line of skin care. It's earthy and so nourishing. And I use their Radiant serum and their. It's called Nourish Creme Riche. They're like very thick, beautiful, nourishing day cream. And it's Ayurvedic skin care. There's something about it. It feels like food for your skin. And those would be my top three.

[Jill Dunn]

That line's incredible.

[Laney Crowell]

Really good, detailed answers.

[Jenny Bird]

You better step up, lady.

[Jill Dunn]

Let's hear it.

[Jenny Bird]

Seriously.

[Laney Crowell]

Okay, so I am really into this Italian hair brand, and I was joking that I was going to say it in an Italian accent, and I'm not going to, but it's called. I think you pronounce it Davines. Daven is okay. Davines. It is. It's really beautiful. It is so sustainably made. They are so passionate about the way the products are grown and harvested and it's really stunning and I feel like it's slept on. But I love their hair mask. I love their shampoos. It's a must check out line. I really love the skincare line Medic 8 and their retinol. If you have sensitive skin like mine, they have different levels of retinol and so I use the one for the most sensitive, sensitive skin. But I've never been able to use a retinol or tretinoin or anything. And it is so gentle. But you really notice a difference. Like you wake up and you're like, oh, okay, yeah. And then what was.

[Jill Dunn]

By the way, we have a promo code, everybody. Exactly. Code Beauty 20% off. Will link to it on our website for Medicaid. For Medicaid.

[Laney Crowell]

You guys, it is so like, so run. Don't like. I use their hydrating serum. I use their moisturizer. Use the retinol. It's a really great brand. Where's it from? From the uk. Uk.

[Jill Dunn]

Yeah.

[Laney Crowell]

And then I use all say makeup. Yes. I start my glowy super gel is my forever first step. Slip tint, mix it with my glowy super skin foundation if I want more coverage. Slipped in Concealer Mascara 101.

[Jenny Bird]

Your skin looks amazing.

[Laney Crowell]

Thank you.

[Jill Dunn]

It does.

[Jenny Bird]

So is mine. Mine's glowy too.

[Laney Crowell]

It's say is skincare with a little bit of makeup, a little bit of pigment. That's the way to think of our products.

[Jenny Bird]

So you're.

[Laney Crowell]

It's skin care, it's hydrating, it's nourishing, it's brightening. It's all the things that you want your skincare to do but with your makeup.

[Jenny Bird]

So my face would normally be matte dry right now. And do I have some dew still? You do because I say you told.

[Laney Crowell]

Me signature say glow.

[Jenny Bird]

Lainey told me that slip tint would change my life. And she's right. Like, I literally have two minutes and I throw it on with the sleeper glowy gel. Yeah.

[Jill Dunn]

I'm loving the girl talk right now.

[Jenny Bird]

Sa.

[Jill Dunn]

Today's episode is brought to you in part by Quint. So I hope everyone's enjoying our very first live podcast episode speaking to these incredible founders of sustainable, affordably priced luxury beauty and jewelry items. Now, when it comes to fashion, everyone needs to know about quints. Quince lets you treat your loved ones and yourself to everyday luxury at an affordable price. Now, something that's on my personal wish list is Quince's iconic Mongolian cashmere sweaters, which start at just $50. Can you believe that price? You would Normally see this for about 128 in retail stores. Just saw it yesterday at a store. It was literally that exact price. I can't believe it's so much more affordable. And it comes in like 15 different colors or something like that. I really like the varsity. That pop of red is very on trend right now, but also very classic. And they also have a great camel color that's called teak. These are really like closet essentials. The fact that they're cashmere and just $50 blows my mind. And they also have other amazing year round gifts. They have 14 karat gold jewelry, Italian leather handbags, European linen sheet sets. I mean, it's really all about those items that just elevate your lifestyle and I love that. Now you might be wondering how does Quint do it when they're price 50 to 80% less than similar brands? Well, they partner directly with top factories and cut out the cost of the middleman, which passes the savings onto you. So this is not about fast fashion, which is the opposite of sustainable. Quince is definitely on the nice list. They only work with factories that use safe, ethical and responsible manufacturing practices. They also use premium fabrics and finishes. That's what gives you that luxury feel in every piece that they make. So gift luxury this holiday season without the luxury price tag. Go to quince.combeauty for 365 day returns plus free shipping on your order. That's Q-U-I-N-C-E.combeauty to get free shipping and 365 day returns. Quince.combeauty so let's talk about holiday dressing because the holidays are here and you both have such exquisite taste. So we just need a couple tips. What are you wearing to your holiday parties? This is what's new, what's exciting you.

[Jenny Bird]

Poppy Red. Not because it's Christmas or Hanukkah, whatever you're celebrating at the holiday season, not because of the season, because poppy red is going to dominate next year as well as navy. I'm calling it now.

[Carlene Higgins]

Ooh, love that. Can everybody in the back row see Jenny's shoes? An anklet situation. Yeah. We need a moment.

[Jenny Bird]

Anklet.

[Carlene Higgins]

It's shoe and anklet.

[Jenny Bird]

The other thing to consider is when you have anklets, like don't just save them for the summer with sandals. Like if you have strappy shoes for the holidays, you can really update them. You can take a pearl necklace if it's long enough, wrap it around your ankle. It's so fun. This part of the leg from the knee down now with the sheer stockings we were talking about this before is really becoming intentional and it's a really fresh spot to. To show your. To showcase your style.

[Laney Crowell]

That is a great tip.

[Jenny Bird]

I love that pearls around a shoe. Even if it's not strappy. Pearls around your favorite black shoes ankle, like your favorite black pumps for the holidays with last year's black dress. And just stack that ankle. You can wrap chains with the pearls around the ankle. It's best.

[Jill Dunn]

She's so clever. And I just want to call out a couple more things because Jenny's so great at this, but these ear cuffs, I forget what they're called. The non stop.

[Jenny Bird]

No, that's the non stop earring. These two are silly ear cuffs. So there's one small one and one bigger one and they.

[Jill Dunn]

They just wrap around and so there's no piercing involved. So it's so clever. A way to have like the ear candy and stack and get this vertical. And also the way that Jenny stacked her earrings, she's done the small one in front instead of in behind in the first hole. So usually you would do it the other way, but it just gives this beautiful dimension. So she's a great one to follow for these little styling tricks, honestly.

[Jenny Bird]

Thank you.

[Carlene Higgins]

Did we get what Lani wears?

[Laney Crowell]

Holiday.

[Jenny Bird]

Holiday.

[Carlene Higgins]

Lainey.

[Laney Crowell]

I don't know, guys.

[Jenny Bird]

I.

[Carlene Higgins]

This.

[Laney Crowell]

Yeah, I do love. I do love a scarf. I just posted about how to tie it on I think my Instagram or my TikTok. I love actually posting. I post a lot about fashion because I used to be a fashion editor and then I was an accessories editor before I moved into beauty. I am really into bodysuits and I wish I had changed into mine before coming here because the sweater is a little warm.

[Jill Dunn]

I agree.

[Laney Crowell]

Yeah.

[Carlene Higgins]

Just.

[Jill Dunn]

I just ordered a wolf or bodysuit.

[Laney Crowell]

Yeah, Wilford is the best. But what else is. I like the skims ones are good. The good American ones are good. Like a great bodysuit changes everything because then you can just put on a pair of jeans on any pair of pants and you just look holiday, layer a bunch of jewelry. You're ready to go.

[Jenny Bird]

If anyone is like a great. Listen. Is that your first appearance on this pod? I loved listening to your background and your story. I think it really makes you understand. Understand the intention behind say, and it's just a wonderful. Listen. I'm sure you guys will link that.

[Carlene Higgins]

Yes, we will.

[Jill Dunn]

We will.

[Carlene Higgins]

We're going to link all of the past episodes that are related to this. To this and everything you guys have talked about in Our show notes, because we know people will want to take notes. Spoiler alert. What are your top three gift picks for the holiday season? Or even just one? Like, gifts that you can't wait to unwrap for yourself or that you're giving this season?

[Laney Crowell]

I got my friend Emily some Comsey socks, so that just ruins that. I love giving beautiful socks because no one ever buys themselves gorgeous socks. So Com See is my favorite brand to give as a gift. I love a little beauty gift set because I think it's fun to discover new things. I think I love to give my. My favorite things. So giving something that I know is really great, that I enjoy day to day and something that you're, like, you won't treat yourself to. I also found some really good vintage tarot cards that I feel like are just chic to put on, like, a coffee table Etsy.

[Jenny Bird]

Yeah, that's very detailed.

[Laney Crowell]

I just did a gift guide on my substack. I was prepared for that one.

[Jenny Bird]

It's funny. I have actually a request from girlfriends and their daughters for the super glowy gel.

[Laney Crowell]

Oh, that's our only gift set left.

[Jenny Bird]

Okay. That is. I will be, like, the coolest mom friend to be giving that. No, I do give that. I give that a lot. My favorite things. And do blush, too. This year, I get a lot of questions about what I've been wearing lately, because I've been wearing a lot more say. And the Dew blush and Cutie, I find, is just such a shade that everyone can wear. So I have a little neighborhood party with the moms in my neighborhood, and they're all getting cutie.

[Laney Crowell]

Oh, my God. I forgot this was before we even knew each other. Last year, I gave everyone a Jenny Bird.

[Jenny Bird]

You did. Bracelet. No, you didn't.

[Laney Crowell]

Yes, I did.

[Jenny Bird]

Which one?

[Laney Crowell]

She got it. You got it.

[Jenny Bird]

You got it. Amazing.

[Laney Crowell]

Oh, I forgot about that.

[Jenny Bird]

This is kismet, everybody.

[Laney Crowell]

Which one I got? Well, some people got this one.

[Jenny Bird]

Sophia.

[Laney Crowell]

The Sofia. I love this one. And then some people got the. The hard bangle. Is it the Gia?

[Jenny Bird]

The Gia.

[Laney Crowell]

The Gia, Yeah. I love the Gia one as well.

[Jenny Bird]

Very classic pieces.

[Laney Crowell]

Is this. That's the Gia.

[Jenny Bird]

Yeah.

[Jill Dunn]

Okay, and our last question for you is. What has got you most excited for 2025, either personally or professionally? And will you ever do handbags again? I have to ask. Sorry, that's my own personal question.

[Laney Crowell]

But your pouches are.

[Jill Dunn]

Look at the. I was gonna say look at the. Look at the puffy pouch.

[Laney Crowell]

Love those pouches.

[Jenny Bird]

Thank you. I'm actually excited about that category, we call it goodies. And it's everything that you. That the jewelry fanatic would want to enjoy jewelry more in their life. Better jewelry travel cases. Those little cases do not do it. We travel with. We have chunky jewelry at jb. They won't fit. So we have some really innovative things coming. These roll up jewelry cases that like more classic jewelry. Oh, there's lots of nods in the crowd jewelry wholesale agents will use. And it's literally like the whole kit and caboodle of like the Jenny Bird dream basically case. But it would carry all of the stuff that you would. Other jewelry you have in your closet on your trips into the beach and everything. And it's a soft case that would hook onto the back of a bathroom door and just hang down. Not these little. It's really antiquated the jewelry industry for home storage and for travel. So very excited to innovate that way and make better things for us to store and move around the world with our jewels.

[Carlene Higgins]

Okay, 2025 sneak peek. What about you, Laney?

[Laney Crowell]

I'm excited to plan my year out in advance.

[Carlene Higgins]

Okay.

[Laney Crowell]

I started doing this last year and there's a whole methodology to it. But I'm setting a goal for myself. I'm going to do four self improvement, like every quarter. And I'm gonna plan my trips in advance so that I feel really good about my year and have intention behind it.

[Carlene Higgins]

That's great. I. I want to do the Artist's Way. Has anyone ever done that? Yeah, I know, I know. I have never finished it.

[Laney Crowell]

I gifted it to everyone at sev.

[Carlene Higgins]

You did?

[Laney Crowell]

Yeah.

[Carlene Higgins]

And did you love. Did you do shaking?

[Jill Dunn]

You haven't done it yet.

[Carlene Higgins]

I know it's long.

[Laney Crowell]

It's really. It's a commitment.

[Carlene Higgins]

It is a commitment.

[Laney Crowell]

It's a beautiful book.

[Carlene Higgins]

It is. Yeah. I always think that every beginning of every new year, I'm going to do it and doesn't happen. So I think that wraps up our conversation.

[Laney Crowell]

We can hang out and people can ask questions.

[Jill Dunn]

Anybody have any questions for lovely guests? There's one over here.

[Carlene Higgins]

Yes, I'm just going to repeat the question. So it's Lisa. And she was wondering what lie or narrative either of you had to overcome in your careers and your founder journey.

[Jenny Bird]

I think mine is similar to one that you had shared a bit about on this pod on your earlier episode, is that you have to have connections in the industry that you're trying to build something in to actually be successful. And surprise, surprise, you can make your own.

[Laney Crowell]

I love the conversation around limiting beliefs. I feel like I confront a limiting belief once a day because I don't think we even realize all the limiting beliefs that we have all the time. We tell ourselves. And you have to catch yourself in it and call yourself out on it. And. And I think one for me was that. I don't know, I just. I had a hard time believing that we would be a top 10 brand at Sephora. And we are. And. Thank you.

[Carlene Higgins]

Yeah.

[Laney Crowell]

You know, you tell yourself that these things all the time, like, oh, my God, that will. Well, that'll never happen to me.

[Carlene Higgins]

Lily asked, how do you deal with imposter syndrome in your respective industries as founders?

[Laney Crowell]

I saw this great meme once that said, show up like a mediocre white man. And that honestly changed everything for me. I was like, oh, yeah, they are showing up expecting to be paid what they want to be paid, and they're expecting to get a raise, and they are very mediocre. And that honestly changed everything for me.

[Jenny Bird]

I'm just wired where I haven't suffered from it.

[Laney Crowell]

It's like Martha Stewart, you're like, you're an officer.

[Jenny Bird]

So Jenny Bird will be a billion dollar company. And I started earlier than 50. She started at 50.

[Jill Dunn]

I'm gonna let Jill repeat the question.

[Carlene Higgins]

It was an extremely eloquent question. What you're asking is when you're. You're an aspiring founder and you're deep into that Internet culture about beauty, looking at all this beauty content and you sort of become hard on yourself, and how do you kind of back away from that or deal with that, really? Because I feel like everybody feels that we're looking at more faces than ever.

[Laney Crowell]

Yeah. And a lot of filtered faces. I try to remind myself that in social media is fake. Like, I think that's a really important thing for people to remember. Like, when you're looking on social media, like, it's not real. It's. None of it's real. You don't know if they're having a good time. You don't know if this is what they want to be doing. You don't know if it's what they look like. I meet influencers all the time and I'm like, oh, my God. You do not even look like the same person as the person I see on social. So I think that's just an important thing for everyone to remember all the time with social media.

[Jenny Bird]

I think it's also part of our responsibility to put ourselves out there the way that we are. You know, like, you will see me very raw and not put together. And I give myself the freedom to. And that's so important, right? To not be the perfect figure or picture. This is the best I'll look with my full, safe face on social for like a month. And it's very intentional. I'll say, like, okay, I'm getting ready. I think that's really important for people to see the raw content and the realness.

[Carlene Higgins]

Well, I'm just gonna wrap it up by saying thank you so much to everyone in our live audience for joining us. This was so great. It only took us seven years to do a live podcast and here we are. We did it. Yay. And for everyone that's listening at home, we're going to link to every single thing that Jenny and Lainey mentioned today, as well as anything that we have mentioned that we think is hashtag damn good. Because there's a lot of Jenny Burden say stuff we think is hashtag damn good. And we're also inviting you all to subscribe to our YouTube channel because we're also going to be posting the video of this on our YouTube. Our handle is at Breaking Beauty Podcast. We will also link in our show notes to where you can follow our wonderful guests Jenny Bird and Lainey Crowell. And happy holidays, everyone. Thank you so much.

[Laney Crowell]

Thank you.

[Jill Dunn]

Thanks for listening. You can find details on every product mentioned in today's episode, along with our exclusive promo codes on our blog @breaking beauty podcast.com While you're there, be sure.

[Carlene Higgins]

To sign up for our newsletter. Every episode will be delivered directly to your inbox so you won't miss a.

[Jill Dunn]

Single thing and get social with us. Let us know what you think of the episode. You can follow us on Instagram at Breaking Beauty Podcast.

[Carlene Higgins]

And did you know we also have a private Facebook group? Just search Breaking Beauty Podcast chat room.

[Jill Dunn]

You can even leave us a voicemail at any time with questions or feedback at 1-844-227-0302.

[Carlene Higgins]

And don't forget to subscribe to us wherever you get your podcast fix. Spotify, Stitcher, Google Podcasts and Apple Podcasts where you can show us some love by writing a review.

[Jill Dunn]

See you next.

[Laney Crowell]

Bomb. You are the Terry Bomb.

[Carlene Higgins]

Please note that this episode may contain paid endorsements and advertisements for products and services. Individuals on the show may have a direct or indirect financial interest in products.

[Jill Dunn]

Or services referred to in this episode.