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The following podcast is a Dear media production.
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Welcome to Breaking Beauty the podcast.
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All about the breakthrough people, products and moments in beauty. We're your hosts, Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins.
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Welcome back to Breaking Beauty Podcast, everyone. I'm Jill Dunn of your co hosts and I'm here with Carlene Higgins.
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Hello. That's me. Carlene Higgins is here on the scene.
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Well, we're in studio today in LA and our lovely producer Olivia is in the room with us.
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Hey, Olivia.
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I hope that everybody caught our gift guide last week because we had a lot of good gifts that would inspire people for this holiday season.
A
Yes. And now I feel like we have this follow up Damn Goods episode. We rarely do back to back damn goods, but it happened this year. This is our gift to you for the holidays.
B
Well, I think there's always room to in December where we're currently in, sort of take a look back and zoom out and assess what people were excited about that for whatever reason we may have tried but not had a chance to talk about. So the theme of today's episode is we are trying all of the viral products from 2025 that we, we have kind of put on our face ourselves and we're determining if they're hashtag damn good or not.
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That's right.
B
And so there's a lot of very fun things on this table we encourage you to watch on YouTube. If you haven't joined us there yet, it's Breaking Beauty Podcast. Please come join us. Subscribe. It's free. And so today, Carlene, maybe we can give them a little.
A
Yeah, well, I think what our listeners are really going to love about today is we have a lot of affordable beauty products and, and you know, coming off of a gift guide where you're investing money and gifting other people and spending money, I think it's fun to find, you know, under $15 lippies and $8 mascaras and all of that. So we are going to be talking about a lot of drugstore products today, but also viral products from celebrity brands, from influencers, and the fragrance that was kind of the big deal in 2025.
B
Right.
A
So we have a little bit of everything today and also some things I enjoyed doing the guinea pigging for this episode because I tried some products that were outside of my comfort zone. And I think that's always just a fun challenge for an old beauty hag such as myself.
B
Don't, don't count yourself out. I feel like, I feel like when you, you kind of had that same feeling when we did the Amazon episode back around prime day. And by the way, I do think for this entire month of December, keep an eye on our socials when we see promos for some of these things because no doubt there will be more Black Friday deals to be had during December. So we will be like linking out to those.
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Yes, absolutely.
B
So today we're going to be talking about the new Natasha Denona foundation. Lip stains, cheek stains, Mikayla makeup's entree with her makeup line. Also have some beauty tools and gadgets.
A
Oh, interesting.
B
That made it onto my top shelf. Okay, and what else do you want to shout out?
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I'm going to be talking about a pore diminishing primer, a clone. I'm gonna say. I'm not gonna use the word dupe. So I'm gonna be talking about some clones that'll save you dollars upon dollars. And just before we get into our topic of the hour, we want to talk about counterfeit beauty products, everyone. Because I feel like the types of products that go viral are the very ones that most likely are going to be knocked off and become part of the gray market where people think think they're buying the real thing, but it's actually a total fake.
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For this portion of the conversation, we partnered with the Personal Care Products Council to help you recognize fakes and understand the risks that can be involved in using counterfeit beauty products. Yes.
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So we're doing a little phone a friend on the topic. We have senior director of safety and regulatory toxicology with the Personal Care Products Council, Dr. Kimberly Norman on the line. She's a toxicologist with a PhD in cell and development biology. Welcome, Dr. Norman.
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Thank you. Glad to join you.
A
Thank you. We all love a beauty steal, but what are the key red flags for spotting a fake, especially when shopping online?
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So if the deal looks too good to be true, it likely is. So make sure that the pricing is not too far off what you would expect to be receiving from the manufacturer or authorized dealers. Of course, make sure you're buying from a reputable seller and read the reviews. If it doesn't feel right, it's probably not right. And also look at all of that imagery when you're buying the product. You may be able to spot that this is not the correct brand imagery. So just do your research and hopefully you can prevent being duped before checkout.
A
Maybe you could break down some of the unfavorable ingredients that are often found in these types of products and the real life, skin and health risks that, you know, all of our listeners need to know.
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So These products are typically made in unregulated environments. So there may be insanitary conditions that they're prepared under, not under the appropriate manufacturing controls. Furthermore, they may be cutting corners with the actual ingredients that are going into the products as a cost savings measure. So you're not getting those premium ingredients that are responsibly sourced. The origin of those ingredients may be untraceable and therefore problematic. In terms of things that law enforcement has seen, probably the biggest concern is dangerous levels of bacteria. And that goes back to being manufactured in conditions that are not regulated and that may be unsanitary. Other things with trying to cut corners with the ingredients that are being used. They may use established cosmetic ingredients, but not at the right concentrations. And those could be concentrations which could be problematic. The other thing that could happen is they could be adding ingredients which are prohibited. Ingredients like mercury have been found in these products and even maybe intentionally added counterfeit products. They are trying to dupe the packaging and the product itself. It's typically very apparent, if not from the packaging, from the product, that you do not have the real thing. There are so many things, ways you can use your senses if you're used to that product. Does this smell different? You can just. The feel of the packaging itself may be different. The effects, the sheen. There are so many ways that you may be able to identify that this is not a authentic product.
B
Right. And what was the most concerning thing that you've actually seen?
C
I mean, certain things that have been completely, completely shocking is when I've seen authorities that have gone in and they have seized counterfeit products that where those products were stored, there was evidence of things like rodent waste. So, you know, it's very concerning to think of rodents running around where your products are being stored. And there has even been evidence where investigators have gone in and actually tested the chemical composition, where they've detected things like rodent urine in the products. Probably again a reflection of not being prepared in sanitary conditions under a reg in a regulated environment.
B
Wow. Right.
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Are there any health risks that listeners might not realize they could be exposed to using fake products?
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Things like skin irritation, eye irritation, skin allergy. And also, if there were more concerning situation for these products like containing those high levels of bacteria, you could actually develop a skin infection or an eye infection or which those can be quite serious and will take medical intervention to address that concern.
B
Is this something that has exploded as a concern in the last little bit? Because, you know, we have online retailers and all kinds of ways to buy products now. Do you think it's more prevalent now than it was?
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Well, it is only increasing. And so this is why it's so important. And we, along with our manufacturers want, wanted to get this message out to alert consumers.
A
And our last question for you. If somebody suspects they have a counterfeit product in their hands, what should they do? Should they just trash it? Should they try and review it somewhere? What do you think's the best course of action?
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Again, be vigilant of your products. If something doesn't look right, feel right, smell right, pause and you can contact the manufacturer of the product to verify that you have a legitimate product. If that that line is crossed and you use the product and you have a skin reaction again, seek to contact the manufacturer to let them know about this incident and they may be able to provide support. And if it's a counterfeit product, they can then initiate investigations. There are other resources as well. There is U.S. customs and Border protections, e allegation program, portal that you can reach out to in the case of the counterfeit product. I would also say if you purchase from that online platform, to go in and put a review yourself, warn others to make sure that the next person is not being duped about this and contact, you know, that platform, make sure that they are getting this message that this product is counterfeit and they should not be associated with it because that is illegal.
B
Right. So if our listeners want to learn more about shopping smarter this holiday season, where should they go?
C
So a great resource I would direct them to is our webpage, buynolye.com and there you can find handy tips for avoiding these products, determining what to do if you have a counterfeit product and enjoy your holiday season without counterfeit products, hopefully.
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Thank you so much. Save me.
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Are you recording me? We're about to go deep. This is my first time. I'm kind of nervous. Wait, did you say come together?
B
You've been spending too much time with me.
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Hey, I'm Aaron Daniella and this is my husband Abe.
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Hey.
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We've been married for over 10 years. We have almost four kids and we've started and survived more businesses than we can count.
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Some were great. Some, let's just say we learned a lot.
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Reality tv, that's just part of our story. But TV has limits. And this show doesn't.
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Our new podcast come together. Dives into everything. Love, sex, parenting, business, and what it's really like to mix marriage with work. It's raw, it's funny, it's honest, and yes, sometimes it's a little awkward.
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Nothing is off the table because let's be real, if you're not coming together, you're probably falling apart.
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Join us every week on Come Together wherever you listen to podcasts. Okay, so I think we need to talk about probably one of the most viral products this year in 2025. This is the statue lip liner stain. And it's spelled S t a y dash N. Okay, so like stay stain.
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Yeah.
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Peel off lip stain.
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Yes.
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$14 on Amazon.
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Seen so many of these. But there's another brand that does this too.
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There's wonders. Wonder skin.
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That's right.
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They do it as well. You twist. Okay, so basically this is the peel off lip stain craze. And it's a long lasting, waterproof lip tint with hyaluronic acid and vitamin E. Transfer proof, matte finish, vegan and cruelty free, zero smudge, locked in color all day, 10 shades. And the color that I tried is called pinked. I think this is one of their. But it's like p. Inked.
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Yep.
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So basically the ideal.
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It's a clever statue.
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Yes. So basically what you do with this is a very, very thin wand like you would get in a liquid lipstick.
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I've swatched it here.
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Yeah, A liquid lipstick kind of tube. Very thin, thin, long wand. And the idea is that you're using this like a lip liner. You use the edge of it and you sketch around your lips and that is then left on for 10. Some people leave it on for 20 minutes and then you peel it off. And that is meant to be your lip liner for the day.
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But are you meant to use it as a full lip color as well?
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You can now. So my thing is this morning I did have it on all over my lips and literally the room service lady, like came to my. My room and I'm like, yeah, I look a little crazy because it goes on very, very dark because it is meant to be a stain.
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It looks almost black.
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Exactly.
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Is this the one that Ari. The one we follow, the influencer Ari Krista or whatever uses.
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Oh, I don't know. Okay.
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She uses one of these. I don't know if it's wonder skin or this one. Yeah. Ari Kitsia. Thank you, Olivia.
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We want to have her on the show. Not surprised. I wouldn't be surprised if she decided suspend given her.
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Yeah, it's so the way that she does it is very unique. She only does. Is it the bottom or the top? She only does the top lip. I. This is why we need to have her on the show to ask her why Only the top lip.
B
Yeah.
A
I don't know how many times she's been asked that, but I'm so curious. So either way, you're going to line it or you're going to put it on and then you're going to peel.
B
And then you leave it on to sort of marinate and then you peel it off. So it's like a lip stain.
A
Okay.
B
So I. A couple of things. Like, it can get messy very quickly. Does it stay on? Yeah, like, it feels. It feels like a throwback product in a way that like the Revlon color stay. Remember the dual ended.
A
Yep.
B
And you would put on the color and before you put on the clear end, you felt like your lips were going to evaporate. Like it was so dry. Yes. I felt like that was definitely the vibe I was getting from this. But because you're eventually peeling it off, you don't get that dryness. You just get the color. Payoff. Yeah, right.
A
But.
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But I'm not. I think you have to have an extremely steady hand to get that precise, good looking lip line with a product like this versus a lip pencil. Right. Because you saw the wand, it's not like pointed at the very end. So to sketch around, I found like, it could go off. Go off the rails.
A
It looks kind of like a regular lip gloss. A little bit pointy, but not especially.
B
It's a firmer. It's not as like squishy as a typical Joe foot applicator. But that was my one thing. I was like, you'd really have to almost like hold your elbow. I wished I had done that after and sketched it on. But yeah, I thought the color was really pretty and it definitely, like stained your lips. So Olivia's in the room with us and she's our producer. You've used this product, Olivia?
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Yes, I have.
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No, I love it. I feel like it lasts probably about like half the day sometimes.
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I'll reapply on my lunch break.
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But I also try Ari's tip with the top lip and then like a.
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Kind of a pinky bottom gloss on the bottom.
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Yeah.
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Interesting.
B
Very cool. Okay, so I think of all the. I think this was one of the most viral products this year and I think a lot of people are willing to give it a go because it is 14.
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Yeah.
B
Right.
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And it is 10 shades. You can use a different way. 10 shades, that's amazing.
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Now, they did come out with a cheek version. I didn't try that. Have you tried that? I have not.
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Okay.
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This one is like an applicator like the kind of like the Maybelline instant age rewind concealer squishy marshmallowy tip. And that's how you would like, apply it. So I feel like, again, this could get a little messy, but this is a stain, and I don't believe that you pull that, you peel this one off.
A
Oh, okay. Well, that changes everything then. We're not as interested.
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You want. We want the gimmick, don't we?
A
Say cheek stain again, but yeah. Okay, interesting. Well, maybe Jill can try this on TikTok for us. Well, stain is definitely a trend that's happening right now and probably moving into 2026 as well. So I tried kind of like the drugstore version of this. I tried The NYX Lip IV Hydrating Gloss Serum is $12 US and 1699 in Canada. Unfortunately, I forgot it in my hotel room. So here.
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Shoot.
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I know there are a million Nyx products, but it's the one that looks like it's in almost like a beaker tube, like a cylinder.
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Okay.
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And it says IV on it pretty clearly. And it has like a turquoise band around, around the top. And then you see that iv. Right. So in my opinion, I think that this is Nyx's answer to these peel off products. Yeah, I'll explain why. First, I just want to say there's 12 shades in total in Canada. There seems to be 16 in the U.S. and they describe it as a hydrating wet color and lasting stainless steel. So with this product, you put it on, and once again, the girlies on TikTok, they're using it either as an all over lip color or a lot of girls were using it as a lip liner. So it has kind of like that heart shaped gloss tip where it is pointy on the end. So it's maybe a little bit easier to use it as a lip line if you want to. And it gives you this really wet, glossy look. Jill, you might remember I was at the Hung Van Gogh lunch with you, right.
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Recently.
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And that's where I tried this lip IV product. And I used like a deep kind of plum color. And I wanted to see how it would last through the three courses. And I did find that, like that wet, glossy, pigmented shade really just wiped right off. And what I was left with is you could just see my lip liner. And I had. I had taken the effort to do the lip liner before I filled in the middle. So I guess there is that. Truthfully, I wasn't in love with it, but this morning when I used it, I Did it a different way. I used a different color as well. It's called caramel drip, I believe. And it's a little bit more of like a neutral. A neutral, like peachy brown kind of thing. And so I use that one all over. But what I was seeing on TikTok was a lot of people who were wiping off that glossy finish right away. So even though the intention of this is that it's more hydrating, it's a wet color, they're getting rid of that finish right away and you just see this really pretty stain underneath. So I did that and I really liked the look of it, and I found that that lasted quite, quite a bit longer. And, like, I loved that finish. But I also did what I saw some people, some content creators doing on TikTok, which was using it as a cheek stain.
B
Right.
A
So I put that on my cheeks and I just blended it in and I was like, this is actually kind of genius because you are getting this creamy, really pretty, like, dewy color. And it's a stain. And that's one of the biggest complaints that people have about cream colored blush is that it doesn't last. It often just, like, wipes off or your face eats it. So it does give you this little bit of stain. And I loved that kind of monochromatic look I was getting. And I was like, you know what? Now I get it. So I'm giving this product a thumbs up, especially for the price point. It's a little different than the peel off, but I think it's giving you a different kind of benefit. Like, again, you wouldn't use the peel off on your cheek. Whereas I feel like this one is definitely worth trying to use that way.
B
Well, I think also, yeah, their, their cheek stain is. Yeah, definitely capitalizing on that moment from Sashu, rather.
A
Yeah. And according to the brand, they're saying that this product was the most talked about drop of 2025.
B
Okay. Love it. Yeah, Nyx is always good for a viral. Viral moment. Okay. I just want to shout out another lip product, and this one's very exciting. It's a launch that just happened within the last few weeks. And it's actually from Michaela Makeup, the incredible Tiktoka from Boston.
A
From Massachusetts.
B
Sorry.
A
When?
B
Yeah, we had her on our show before. Many people did, before she even had representation, to be honest. So that was a great, great conversation. Go back and listen to it. She's been on our show a few times now. Yeah. And a couple of months ago, back in the summer, I reviewed her skincare Which I thought she cooked with it, as the kids say, POV beauty, the entire skincare line, it's all made in Korea, and the textures are all meant to be layered and worn under makeup. The whole idea is that it does not pill under your makeup. And I've continued to use it. I think the formulas are really a lot. And now she came out with makeup.
A
I saw that video and I was like, girl, you are just killing it.
B
Michaela.
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Yeah, because she came out with a video. I don't know if you. You probably saw it.
B
I'm not sure.
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It was when she launched the makeup and she said. She basically said, guys, this was my plan all along. It was never about a skincare line. It was never about that. There was always makeup in the works, but I just wanted to start with skincare because that's how you start your process of getting ready.
B
Y.
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But she was like, it was always going to be a makeup makeup line. And I was like, yeah.
B
And I think behind the scenes right now, Ulta and Sephora are duking it out. Who's going to get her line? Because it is just instantly viral. She's built in marketing. She used to work at Ulta, but Sephora gave, like, I can't even remember how many gift cards to her followers. I think it was like $30,000 worth of gift cards to her audience to go shop at the Sephora in Times Square. So she's probably like, what can you offer? What can you offer? Like, she has them in the palm of her hand. I'm quite sure of it. But she came out with a lip kit, her version of the lip kit, and it's called the Amp It Up Lip Ampule Contour. I literally can't read it, guys, because it's a reflective package and I can't see under these lights.
A
I have my glasses on if you want me to read it.
B
Yeah. It's just that it's reflective and I.
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Can'T point of view. Amp it. Lip ampoule plus contour it. Lip pencil. That is a mouth fill. I will say that.
B
The kit.
A
Yes.
B
Amp kit. Yeah. Instead of amp it, it's amp kit, whatever. So it's $34, and it's two products in one. So it's her version of, like. It's like the 2025 version of, like, the Kylie lip kit. Very high quality. I would say again, feels like makeup forever. The pencil goes on smooth as butter. Today I'm wearing. I only. They only had press samples left of the dark colors. So today I am Wearing toasted marshmallow.
A
It looks great.
B
I feel like I was quite messy and in a rush putting it on but I think I could make it look a lot better. And I like it's like a lip pencil and which is very pigmented. Glides on really beautifully and then a lip gloss that's in a complimentary color. So it's that lip kit idea but a 2025 finish. It feels the lip ampoule. The lip gloss feels very K beauty like it feels super nourishing as well if you want to swatch and it's selling out like hotcakes.
A
It's also made in Korea, by the way.
B
I didn't even know that but I could have, I assumed. And it's a gripping lip pencil, Carlene. So she's taken the idea of the gripping primer which she created in her skin care. I've never seen that before. So it's, the idea is that it's gripping on to the color of the, the lip gloss as well. So you're going to get that longer.
A
Staying power marketing spin there. But yes, I hear you.
B
I mean, yeah, yeah, of course.
A
I mean it just goes to show people have their love for her continues, which is amazing.
B
Well, I think there's a love hate, honestly.
A
Exactly.
B
And. But she's playing it brilliantly well.
A
That's what I mean is I was just being really honest. I was concerned there for a hot minute because you know, she. There was some blowback about various different things and so I wasn't sure if the love was still there. But I think at the end of the day the sell through on this has been incredible and it goes to show that people still trust, you know what she has to say. Today's episode is brought to you in part by Medicaid. So I love it when a product goes viral. Not for it being gimmicky on social media but for it actually having a great formula. That's what's happening with Medicaid. Everybody's talking about it, if you haven't heard of them. Medicaid is a clinically proven British skincare brand known for age defying results. It was founded 15 years ago by two scientist brothers and they create everything in house in their lab located just outside of London following strict EU guidelines. Everything's dermatologist recommended. But everybody's talking about the peptide serum. And now I want to introduce you to the Medicaid new Advanced Pro collagen plus peptide cream. It's the perfect companion to that hit serum that everybody is honestly Low key, just telling us how much they love it, how much it works, how much your skin looks like plumper and juicier after you use it. So this cream, it's an anti wrinkle moisturizer and it's clinically proven to visibly improve skin firmness, elasticity and reduce the appearance of deep set wrinkles. Love that. So visit Medicaid US. That's Med I K and the number 8 US to discover more. The best part is you can use code BREAKING20 to save 20% off your order. Maybe you want to try it for yourself. Maybe you want to gift it to somebody for the holidays. Use Breaking20 to save 20% off your order at medicate. And that's me. D I k and the number eight us to discover more.
B
Qualia is one of our show partners. This week I was a little bit late to the magnesium party, everybody. I have to admit what I didn't understand is that magnesium comes in many forms and each form helps your health in a different way. So that's why I'm excited to share with you Qualia's Magnesium Plus. Most people know that magnesium is critical for sleep, but some forms help muscle recovery, brain function, heart health, bone health, mood and over 300 functions in the body. And that's what makes Qualia Magnesium plus special because it's the only product to combine 10 bioavailable forms of magnesium with more than 70 trace minerals to help fuel magnesium support. So it's sort of this full picture. You're getting the full spectrum of the benefits, which includes sleeping deeper, thinking sharper, recovering faster, supporting muscle strength, steadier mood and stress response, and better energy metabolism. Sign me up for all of those things. So it's not just a sleep supplement. It's a fun full body magnesium system. And great news for Breaking Beauty listeners. We have a very special offer. Experience the most trusted magnesium for purity, potency and performance. Plus, it's non gmo, vegan and gluten free, making it a choice you can feel good about. Go to qualia life.combeauty for 50. That's right, 50% off. And here's a bonus. Use the Code Beauty for an additional 15% off your order. That's Qualia Life.com Beauty spelled Q U A L I A Life.com Beauty and use code BEAUTY. We'll link to the software in our show notes and on our website. And thanks to Qualia for sponsoring this episode. Now back to the show.
A
So we talked about a little bit earlier about how stains seem to be having a Moment. And so I think that's a good introduction to one of the most viral products from E L F this year. It's. It's the E L F Sheer for it blush tint. Okay, I'm holding it here. It is $6 U.S. unbeatable, this price.
B
Incredible.
A
$8 in Canada. It comes in five shades. And I'm just gonna say it. It is a clone of the Benettant. I mean, it really is. Even the bottle.
B
Bottle.
A
Is it a bottle? It looks like Benent, where you can see through it. It's kind of like a jelly red color, and then there's a. A really pigmented red water is what it looks like insides. And of course, Benetint had redesigned their applicator. It used to be like a nail polish brush, and now it's like a lip gloss.
B
Okay.
A
And so this E L F1 is the same doe foot kind of the doe foot applicator. Just for reference, The Benetton is $28,38 in Canada. The Elf Sheer for it comes in five shades. So you've got like a poppy red, a poppy coral, a poppy pop pink, a little bit of a deeper burgundy, and you just kind of swipe it on and then you tap it in. And just like Benetton, you can use it on your. Your lips or your cheeks. But this one's called Sheer for It Blush tint. So it's meant to be for blush. And again, I think it gets that at that idea of like a dewy look, but make it stain. You know, it's not a powder, like a cakey powder, but it's not going to go anywhere on you. Now, what I would say in comparing the two is that I do find the Elf to be a little bit more stainy. And what I mean by that is, so because of this little doe foot applicator, when I put it on, I did two dots, and I. The way that I did it, it kind of looked like a heart. And I was like. When I first put it on the cheek, and I was like, oh, that's cute. So I did one side and then I did the other, and by the time I went to blend the second side, it was like that little heart was kind of showing through.
B
Oh, I see.
A
That's how stainy it is. So I think it's more of a stain than the Benetint. So what you want to do is do one cheek with, like two dots, blend it in, and then do the other cheek, blend it in, as opposed to, you know, dotting on Each side. That's just a little tip. I think the Benetton get the benefit gives you just a little bit more playtime. But I. I could not help but to compare to the Victoria Beckham Beauty.
B
Yeah, she's gotten a lot of love on our show this year.
A
Yes. But this is the color wash, blush, water, tint that came out probably around the same time. And I gave some love to this product. In my. In our newsletter, if you guys aren't subscribed, we have a monthly newsletter where we talk about the things we love that month that didn't make it onto the show. So I did give a shout out to this product, but I honestly didn't realize that the Elf product existed at that time. So I just thought, oh, here's like, a new update on a classic product that's kind of cool. I didn't know the Elf was around. So the Victoria beckham Beauty is $46 US and 66 in Canada. So it's pretty crazy that you can essentially get the same effect from the Elf. One thing I would say this one, the Victoria Beckham Beauty has a different applicator. For better, for worse, it's a dropper. So kind of like what you would use for a serum. You drop it on and then same thing, you blend it in.
B
Yeah, a little goes a long way.
A
A little goes a long way. But what I. What I'll say about the Victoria Beckham Beauty is because a little bit goes a long way, it can get away from you. So you just want to do, like, one draw.
B
I'm looking at Carlene right now. She's sitting on a white couch. Yeah, this is dangerous.
A
Didn't bring any. Any white.
B
Absolutely.
A
Sorry, darling. Yeah, typical me. But what I would say is it's not quite as stainy as the other two. It's a little bit more watercolor and a little bit less staining.
B
That's the name of it, is it?
A
Not watercolor, water, water tint.
B
Yeah.
A
So it is a little bit different, I would say. And, yeah, so they're all a little bit different in their own way, especially in price. But there's definitely a three makes a stand, everyone.
B
So, sticking with makeup, I wanted to talk about a foundation that has gone completely viral, and that is the Natasha Denona High Glam Foundation. Hydrating and blurring Luminous Long wear Serum Foundation. Ooh. US$52. Which feels.
A
Feels like a steal in this day and age.
B
Well, compared to armani or Pat McGrath.
A
Yep. 78 or whatever. Or 92 or what is it?
B
Those are. Well, Armani in Canada is creeping up to $100.
A
Yeah, half.
B
This is like half the price.
A
Yeah.
B
So it is a medium buildable, self setting hybrid formula powered by amino acid pigments, Korean technology, and developed in Italian labs, which we all know are the best. And so it's a serum foundation for all skin types with skincare benefits. And it's meant to balance your complexion and reduce visible signs of aging with up to 18 hours of wear. I loved this formula so much. Like, I feel like it does feel like a next generation kind of formula. Okay. I just felt like it was really seamless. And the pigments, it just blended beautifully. It just looks like skin when you put it on. And I understand why this is viral. You know, it's one of those ones when you put it, when you try it, you're just like, oh, yeah, I get it. I absolutely get it. Now, the one thing that I would say, Carlene, and I don't think I'm alone in this, is that it was tricky for me to find my right color. And I think that I need to go into the store to do it because I was eyeballing, trying to figure this out, and I still don't think that I have my right shade, which is like the biggest bummer. When you like, fine, you're like, the formula is perfect, but I still look. You can't be going out in public and not have the right shade going.
A
It's also hard to assess sometimes.
B
That happens to me too. Like, NARS is very difficult for me as a brand to find my shade. And so I think that that can just happen sometimes, depending on the undertones they're using, things like that. But what do you think of the formula?
A
Well, it's hard to say.
B
My.
A
My hand is.
B
Oh, yeah, she's got to use the other hand.
A
It's hard to say. I mean, I do just using it on my arm. It does seem to blend in quite well. Like when it starts out, you're like, ooh, this is going to be a.
B
Lot of coverage, but a little goes a long way. Thank you for bringing that up.
A
Exactly. But then it does seem to blend in where it's. It's like a semi sheer, I guess.
B
You would say it is pretty full coverage, but. But it's medium buildable, which is what all makeup artists do. What all makeup artists recommend. And then you start out and little goes a long way. Cover, cover, cover. Go back in. Cover, cover, cover. So I do think that that's my only feedback to them is That I don't feel like I got my right hue, but that could be, you know, just. There could be another one out there that does work for me. So I understand why this is viral and I. I do think it has whatever pigments she's using, it does have that blurring effect very subtly.
A
Is that what people are loving? Like, what are they loving, where they're just spiraling?
B
And I think most people who, especially if you're over a certain age, they just want something that doesn't settle into their lines. And because this is a serum foundation, I think it's addressing that and the weightlessness of it and then it's got that blurring effect. But it's not freakish. It's not the full coverage blur that you might have seen from some other, like, higher profile makeup brands that are very, like social media first. This is still designed by a makeup artist.
A
Yeah.
B
And apparently she had a very viral concealer from this same range that people loved. I've never tried it, but this is like the partner to that.
A
Yeah.
B
So I'm excited for. I think you would like it.
A
Yeah. I mean, I think typically when we see serum foundation type formulas, they're usually more of a skin tint.
B
Yes.
A
So I'm thinking maybe what is original about this is that it's medium coverage, but you're still getting that serum, like quality.
B
And I. I have a prediction that the people who are going to love this the most are the over 40 crowd.
A
Oh, interesting. Okay, well, I need to try it.
B
And. And I do think we are seeing more brands. Just speaking of this year, Zooming Out Catering, of course, your skincare brand, Cassab Beauty. Everybody check it out. But like Sarah Creel, so many people love her concealer.
A
Concealer, yeah.
B
Right. And I don't know if she has a foundation yet, but I do think that is the number one product that you're usually fine with all of your makeup, and then all of a sudden you're like, you hit 40 and you're like, my foundation looks like shit. Yeah, what am I going to use now? And you're totally overwhelmed.
A
Yeah.
B
So.
A
Exactly.
B
Just giving that a shout.
A
Today's episode is brought to you in part by Jones Road Beauty, another totally Viral brand for 2025, if I must say so. And Bobbi Brown was on our show recently telling us the backstory behind how she created Jones Road Beauty, why it's been such a smash, and how to use her iconic miracle balm. Everybody has gone gaga over this product and I can tell you why. As a personal fan because it's so easy to use. It's very sheer color, so it's always like your skin but better. It's not intimidating and it's multifunctional. You can use it in so many different ways on your lips, on your cheek, depending on the tone of it. It could be a blush or it could be a highlighter. And everybody needs to know about Jones Road new holiday kits because they never had these before. This is their first year doing it. I love the mini Miracle Bomb trio because it features three brand new shades. There's Apres, which is a cool mauve tint. You can put that over top of something or wear it on its own. There's Noir, a soft plum blush shade. I love this spin on. Instead of a vampy lip, a vampy cheek, I think that's so cool. And Ballerina, a sheer golden pink with monochromatic shimmer. I think that's going to be so beautiful, like universally on every skin tone to get that bit of warmth. And it's travel size, it's pocket size, it's so great. But here's the best part. Jones Road is offering our listeners a huge gift with purchase opportunity. Just listen up. So this holiday season, simplify your routine with makeup that's clean, strategic and multifunctional. And don't miss out on their limited edition holiday sets. They won't be here for long and once they're gone, they're gone. Also, as a treat for our listeners, you'll get a free cool gloss on your first purchase when you use Code Beauty at checkout. This is a lip gloss $24 value in the US 30 in Canada. Just head to Jones Road beauty.com and use code Beau at checkout. After you purchase, they're going to ask you where you heard about them. Please support our show and tell them Breaking Beauty Podcast sent you.
B
Canopy is one of our show partners this week. If you want to level up your skincare routine, think about getting a humidifier. Because skincare experts and dermatologists have long touted the benefits of increased indoor humidity for healthy, glowing skin. And a not so fun fact is that having dry air in your environment can begin wreaking havoc on the skin in as little as 30 minutes. I definitely notice when it's the dead of winter and I'm in my condo, it just feels so incredibly dry. So that's why I love the Canopy humidifier, because it's a completely reimagined humidifier that elevates your home for the ultimate skincare and wellness benefits. And canopy's features and design make it the cleanest and easiest humidifier out there. Visible mist from traditional humidifiers is is often considered unhealthy due to particles and bacteria being carried by the water into the air. But canopy's mist free hydration is invisible. It's clean moisture, the best kind for your skin and health. And canopy humidifier, it has an antimicrobial filter that catches irritating minerals or other potential nasty stuff from the water before it's evaporated into your environment. And you'll also never have to worry about molds. Canopy, they utilize a unique technology that keeps the humidifier running until the there's no water left inside the unit. No water left inside the unit means no mold. And the easiest part, canopy goes right into the dishwasher. So low maintenance. And canopy humidifier also has a built in aroma diffuser that uses the simple, healthy process of evaporation to fill your room with scented moisture. So great news for breaking beauty listeners. We have a special offer. Go to GetCanopy Co to save 25 on your canopy humidifier purchase today with canopy filter subscription. And look for other canopy products such as the canopy bath and shower filter. And even better, use code beauty at checkout to save an additional 10 off your canopy purchase. Your skin will thank you. We'll link to this offer in our show notes and on our website. Now back to the show.
A
Now there's another little complexion product that went viral on our feeds this year. I don't know if you saw it, Jill. This is the Tarte CC under eye corrector. It's 32 US 45 in Canada. It comes in four shades. Have you seen people doing the one eye with this under eye corrector and one eye without?
B
No. It's really funny because I get served tarte ads constantly, but I've never seen this product.
A
Okay. That's so funny. Yeah.
B
So I don't know. I think I, I've. My friends have said this many times. The algorithm thinks I'25. Yeah, I'm okay with that.
A
Yeah, yeah, exactly. She's fooling the system, I think for me, I mean, maybe I typed it somewhere. So I keep getting, I keep getting these videos, but the video that I keep seeing coming up again and again. And there's always, you know, this, this gimmick to any of these viral videos, I feel. So with this product, it's, it's the girly pops using a black magic marker and putting a little bit under their eye.
B
Okay.
A
Like softly and then putting on this under eye corrector and being like, see, this one's gone. Okay. Olivia's nodding her head. She's seen the video. She's like, see, it's totally covered up, that black marker like a magic marker. So, of course, when I saw that, I was like, I need to try it.
B
That's compelling. Yes.
A
I will say I don't. I'm not a person who suffers from terrible darkness under my eyes. You know, a lot of that is genetic. Of course I can have some, but I'm not. I'm not the best tester for it.
B
Okay.
A
I will say, but I did try it.
B
Oh, this is very emollient.
A
It is very emollient.
B
Which is.
A
Which is important for under the eyes because you. You don't have any oil glands there, so it's easier to crease up where it'll settle into lines. So it makes sense that it's a very emollient formula because you don't want that creasing and caking under the eye area. But having said that, I think there's a little bit of a learning curve to it where you need to figure out the right applicator, because I used my finger to apply it, and I wasn't that happy with it. I think if I use the right type of concealer brush or complexion brush, like the little house labs one that I have at home that I didn't have here, I may have had a better result that I liked better. Overall, I would say, in my humble opinion, I felt that this was quite expensive, like, for me. Tarte. I. I don't know. Maybe I'm just behind in the times, but I thought it was an affordable cosmetics brand. So when I'm hearing, like, $32 for this little guy and 45 in Canada, like, that just sounds expensive to me. And I did run myself a little test, which is the product that I talked about earlier. The Nyx hydrating gloss serum, the lip iv. I used one of the darkest shades, and I put just a little bit in the crease in my. On my eyelids.
B
That was your magic marker?
A
That was my magic marker. And I just kind of, like, tissued it, but I could see I had some there, and I tried putting this over top, and I didn't see any difference.
B
Real talk.
A
So I'm giving you the real talk, like, for the money. I don't really. I'm not sure.
B
Okay, fair.
A
Not sure.
B
Spend double and get the Cleau. Call it a day.
A
There you go. True viral might be quadruple, but I am A stan for that one.
B
Okay.
A
So yeah, sorry about that tarte. I do like, I do really like the shape tape. So.
B
Okay, I'll say that I'm gonna chat about some skincare. Okay, next. This line really intrigued me and. Cause I think it, it confounded a lot of people. But this is the Dua Lipa and Augustinus Botter new skincare line. And it's not just a one off limited edition, everyone. This is a new skincare line. And so it's called Dua Dua. And it launched in November with three products. I think that they had such huge success with Victoria Beckham and Augustinus Botter. And you and I have talked many times about their formulas and how good they are. I love those ones. And so I was really curious to try this one too. So the whole idea and what makes it different and why it is more affordable. It's diffusion line, if you will. So they have their TF C8 technology which is all about wound healing and wound care. That was Professor Bodder's claim to fame and bless him, he's been on our show. I don't even know what to say, but it's just like you having your grandpa on the show and him explaining his wonderful, incredible, incredible research. But we're just like, we'll get rid of my wrinkles.
A
You guys can. You guys can hear it for yourself.
B
He's a sweetie. So he says that, that TFC8, the original proprietary technology, this line uses a newer, gentler technology called TFC5 which is adapted for younger skin. And that's why it has a lower price point while the original uses the TFC8. So if you're wondering about price point, everything is under a hundred dollars. What you think it's okay? Okay, well, I tried it.
A
Adapted for. This key ingredient has been adapted for younger skin. And that's why it's half the price.
B
Well, I'm not gonna do his PR for him, but I do think that. So yeah, I guess it is a bit of a tough sell that way. But I will say that I tried the renewal. So they have the, the, the balancing cream cleanser. That's 40 bucks. They have the supercharged glow complex, $80. And that's a bioretinol niacinamide, ectoin. And then they also have a renewal cream. And that one's $75 of the three that I tried. I liked the renewal cream the best. And it is, it feels like the Victoria Beckham one. It does. It feels like a dupe for that because the Victoria Beckham. I believe it's still $300, Karlene. So this is a third of the price. Yeah. So if you want to try it, that's who it's for. They clearly know that they need to break into a different demo, different market, and there you have it, everybody. Actually, that's the Glow complex that you're trying. I'm sorry.
A
Yeah.
B
Anyway.
A
Okay, She's.
B
She's biting her tongue.
A
I'm just gonna zip it now.
B
Okay.
A
I'm just gonna zip it.
B
But that's the thing about what goes viral. Doesn't mean it doesn't necessarily always go viral for the reason that the brands want it to.
A
Yeah.
B
And I still think that's okay. It's still. Everybody is talking about Augustinus Botter. You know what I mean?
A
Well, yeah. Do they need to cover every single corner of the market? Is. Is my question, you know?
B
Yeah.
A
Does every skin care need to cater to every single skin age and type? Is. Is kind of my question. But I guess if you need to endlessly grow, then that's what you need to do.
B
Well, what do you. I don't think there's a skincare brand out there that just sits stagnant and says, we're happy launching a product once every decade or something.
A
You know what I mean? There are lines for teenage people and for different groups where, you know. But yeah, most of them want it all.
B
Okay, well, I have one other skincare item that I want to shout out because I think one of the things we get asked about the most is skincare gadgets. And I wanted to talk about one that I did try, and it was viral. So it's from zip. So a lot of people know Zip Halo, which is the anti aging device that is. Is meant for it's microcurrent, and I personally prefer that one to the NuFace. So that's like for anti aging. Zip. The entire brand is created by an esthetician. A lot of people don't know that. So she's developed these protocols with the tools that she's come out with. So they debuted this year what they call the Zip Dot. It's a nanocurrent and microcurrent acne treatment device. It's US$199, 279 Canadian. And it's micro current for acne treatment that reduces inflammation, swelling, and bacteria that causes acne. And then it has a nanocurrent setting that mimics your. It's for cell renewal. Basically, it's 90 seconds. It looks like a mini life Preserver. It does. And it's yellow. It's very funny.
A
A little yellow donut, everyone.
B
Yeah. And you have to apply a clear gel that it comes with on your acne spots. And this is something that I will use when. And any acne sufferer understands this trauma. When you get, like, one on your jawline or on your neck, and even if you want it to pop it, there's no popping happening. So this is really just like reducing it, shrinking it in size. And you use it two to three times a week for 90 seconds, and you turn it, like, clockwise, counterclockwise around the zit. And it actually does mimic what estheticians do to me in a studio in a setting. Like, it probably doesn't happen to you, but have you ever had an esthetician use the wand around your chin and you can taste metal in your mouth?
A
Yes.
B
So it kind of gives you that vibe. So it's killing the bacteria. That's deeper. And I did find that the healing time was faster for those nasty little undergrounders.
A
Do you ever feel like that taste of metal feels kind of wrong? Is that supposed to happen?
B
I think that it's going to. Going deep enough to kill the bacteria. Right. So, yeah, I mean, I'll take it because.
A
So what are we tasting, I wonder?
B
I think it's if you have a mouth full of metal, because we got our fillings in the 80s. That's what you're tasting.
A
I've got mercury back there, so, like, take it easy.
B
Yeah. So. But anyway, I did want to recommend it because I think especially if you do have someone in their teens or twenties, and you don't want to get them on a retinol, or they don't necessarily have access to dermatologists, or you don't want to be spending money on facials. This is money well spent to do. And you can do. There is a setting to do the whole face.
A
Okay.
B
And you do it like, three times a week. So. But if you're just targeting one area, it's 90 seconds.
A
All right.
B
And I saw it everywhere, all over. Tick tock. And so I wanted to share my.
A
All right.
B
Hashtag.
A
Damn good on that one. Okay. So we Talked about how TikTok loves a before and after. Yeah. One side of the face looks like X, the other one looks like Y. The Maybelline Porely Jelly primer. Have you seen this?
B
No. Okay.
A
So what you generally might see if you don't even know it on TikTok, is somebody uses this primer, and then they use Like a skincare brush. I've been seeing this all. And they sweep one side of their forehead and it's just like. As they sweep with this, it's kind of like a mint green jelly. The pores just like disappear.
B
Hair.
A
It's like somebody put like grease on a window on one side versus the other where it's just completely blurred and you do not see the pores. It's quite something. So I definitely wanted to try it. I called it in. So this is the Maybelline poreless jelly primer. 12.99 in the US it's had 7.7 million views. What I will say, having tried it, that I like about it, it's a hydrating blur primer, is that it feels cooling as soon as you put it on. It's described as a next generation blur primer. And here's the thing. When I first put it on, I did a half, half face, two days in a row, different sides of my face. And when I first put it on, I was like, yeah, I can completely see the difference. This one looks more. A lot more blurred versus the other side. But then when I actually put on my makeup and I did like a wear test and wore it all day, I found that there was really no visible difference between both sides of my face. So I don't know, I feel like this is maybe a little bit of a trick where it. It's like something that you see in the moment, but I don't know that it gives me personally enough of a result where I would continue to use it.
B
Okay.
A
I talked about in a previous episode.
B
The Maybelline Grippy Serum Makeup Primer.
A
Grippy Serum Makeup Primer. And I much preferred that one. I will continue to use that one. This one I'm not as sure about.
B
I think primers in general are going very viral right now on TikTok. There's a really sweet girl in Toronto and I'm blanking on her. Again, the handle versus the name. But she's actually friends with my niece Taylor. She's from Calgary, but she's in Toronto. And she made the Grown Alchemist Grown Alchemist Primer go viral. Wow, that's huge.
A
Yeah.
B
And then which. It's such a random brand.
A
What's so great about that primer?
B
Well, she did a before and after after of like it's smoothing the lines and shit.
A
Okay.
B
Right. And so again it just hit me.
A
Grown Alchemist.
B
Yeah. And she did another one with a Maybelline one that she was talking about. She. What? I Love about her too. And she's such a sweetie. Is like, she will share her analytics on her story. She's like, whoa, this is crazy. She's like, I never thought.
A
What's your handle?
B
Pardon me?
A
What's her handle? Well, okay, guys, we don't know right now, but we will link to it on our. In our show notes and on our website.
B
Okay? She's a real sweetie, and I just love that she's a Canadian girl and she's always. She's always selling things. Things out. Is this a parting gift?
A
Yeah, it's a parting gift. This is the perfume de Marley Valaya. Valea V A L A Y A. I'm told that this is the biggest fragrance since Delina from the brand.
B
Okay.
A
It's $410 for the regular size and 250, just like Delina. Do you think it is as special?
B
I've never tried.
A
You haven't tried Delina?
B
No.
A
So I had high expectations of this one. Apparently this. This Valaya went viral last year, but then some people found it was too light. It was like, not as it didn't have the staying power. And it's like it's meant to be kind of like a veil of cotton. They're saying it's bergamot, mandarin, and like a sweet white peach. So it's lighter, more of like a white floral. So they came out with an exclusif version, which is like a more intense. Which I did try as well.
B
Well.
A
But I am not a big fan of it. I prefer this one. So. Just saying, if you're a fan of Parfum de Marley and you always wanted something softer, lighter, and more kind of cottony than Delina, then this might be one to try. I just wanted to finish off on a fragrance because we don't talk about fragrance that much.
B
I know, I know. Anyway, that's a wrap for this episode. And as always, please, if you're so inclined, shop through our links. We always share those on our website. Everything we talk about today we ran up on our website, which is breakingbeautypodcast.com and please do subscribe. If you want to give us a holiday gift, subscribe to our YouTube channel, which is Breaking Beauty podcast. It's free and you can see. You can watch this episode and see everything that we're talking about.
A
Hey, thanks, guys. See you next week. Thanks for listening. You can find details on every product mentioned in today's episode, along with our exclusive, exclusive promo codes on our blog@breakingbeautypodcast.com.
B
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A
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B
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A
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B
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See you. 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 or services referred to in this episode.
Hosts: Jill Dunn & Carlene Higgins
Date: December 3, 2025
In this lively #DamnGood episode, long-time beauty editors Jill and Carlene dive into 2025’s most viral beauty products, spanning affordable drugstore finds, celebrity/influencer brands, and the must-sniff fragrance of the year. Along the way, they chat about the dangers of counterfeit cosmetics with expert Dr. Kimberly Norman, offer firsthand reviews of TikTok-hyped launches, and deliver honest verdicts on which products are actually worth the buzz—and which flopped for them.
Theme: Viral beauty doesn’t have to break the bank. This year saw major moments for $8 mascaras and under-$15 lip products, but the popularity of viral items also led to a flood of fakes.
Expert Segment: Dr. Kimberly Norman, Senior Director of Safety & Regulatory Toxicology at the Personal Care Products Council, joins (04:01) to discuss how to spot counterfeit beauty and the real risks.
“If the deal looks too good to be true, it likely is.” —Dr. Norman (04:28)
Skip?
“Shop smart, test for yourself, and remember: just because a product is viral, doesn’t mean it’s #DamnGood—or right for you.” —Theme echoed throughout the episode
This summary leaves out ads, intros, outros, and non-content digressions, focusing on the meat of the conversation, product revelations, and practical reviews.