Fat Mascara Podcast Episode 572 Summary
Episode Title: Body Diversity, TikTok Perfumes & Our People Magazine Beauty Podcast Nod
Release Date: April 2, 2025
Hosts: Jennifer Sullivan & Jessica Matlin

1. Celebrating a Major Milestone: People Magazine Nomination

[02:04] Jen Sullivan announced with excitement that Fat Mascara has been nominated for a People Reader's Choice Poll Award as part of their 2025 recognition for the most beautiful people.

Jen Sullivan [02:04]: "Fat Mascara is nominated for a People Reader's Choice poll award as part of their Reader's Choice poll for the most beautiful people of 2025."

Jess Matlin expressed gratitude towards People Magazine and highlighted the surprise nature of the nomination.

Jess Matlin [02:14]: "Yes, yes, yes. Okay, first of all, thank you, People magazine."

The hosts discussed the various fun questions included in the poll, such as favorite beauty podcasts, and encouraged listeners to vote for them, emphasizing the ease and short duration of the poll.

Jen Sullivan [03:05]: "If you feel like doing it, I'll put the URL for the voting in the episode notes."

2. Engaging in Industry Events and Supporting Fellow Creatives

Jess Matlin shared her recent experiences attending the Hairbrained Awards, an event celebrating hairstylists' artistry. She also attended a panel hosted by Founder Maid, where she interacted with past guests like Sloane Stevens and Leah Yu from Crave.

Jess Matlin [04:21]: "I went to support a friend, but I was there. I saw a few people who I knew that have, like, you know, worked with over the years."

Jen Sullivan reminisced about previous events, expressing her desire to support Jess in future panels.

Jen Sullivan [05:38]: "I would have come and supported you like I did last year."

The conversation delved into the challenges faced by founders like Leah Yu, who candidly discussed issues like over-consumerism in the beauty industry during panels.

Jess Matlin [06:19]: "She's just so brave, though. Like, she was on another... she just kind of gives, like, she just gives, like, the real deal."

3. Decline in Body Diversity on Fashion Runways

A significant portion of the episode focused on the regressive trends in body diversity within the fashion industry. Vanessa Friedman's report in The New York Times highlighted that out of the 20 most viewed shows at Fashion Week, only four featured models who were not classified as "straight" (mid-size or plus-size).

Jen Sullivan [26:07]: "Only four included three models who were not. I don't say skinny because that's such a subjective thing, but were like not straight."

Jen and Jess expressed their discomfort and disappointment over the decline in diverse body representations, noting that body diversity peaked in 2021 but has since waned.

Jen Sullivan [26:02]: "Absolutely. On the body size, diversity and inclusivity on the floor, on the runways."

They discussed possible reasons behind this regression, including a perceived swing away from social progressivism within the industry.

Jess Matlin [26:41]: "The skinny models are getting skinnier... it's something deeper. It's like a swing away from social progressivism is his theory."

The hosts emphasized the importance of continuing to champion body diversity and keeping the conversation alive to potentially reverse these trends.

Jen Sullivan [28:19]: "And the industry's clocking it makes us realize that we all did learn something from that and we appreciated the."

4. TikTok's Influence on the Fragrance Industry

Jess delved into the fragrance trends spurred by TikTok, highlighting how blind buying and the search for dupe fragrances have become prevalent. She referenced a Women's Wear Daily piece detailing the top five fragrances trending on TikTok in February 2025, including brands like Tsetis, Paris Corner, Fleur, Armaf, and Latafa.

Jess Matlin [20:46]: "Setes is hot. Okay. Then the next one is Paris Corner. The top product, Marshmallow Blush. Eau de Parfum."

Jen chimed in with insights on pricing and positioning, noting that many of these TikTok-driven fragrances are competitively priced and often inspired by Middle Eastern heritage scents like oud and incense.

Jen Sullivan [22:59]: "They have multiple fragrances, but a lot of them are based in that Middle Eastern heritage of oud and woods and incense."

The discussion underscored the shift towards digital marketing, where brands invest heavily in TikTok promotions rather than traditional advertising avenues like billboards.

Jess Matlin [23:33]: "They could go higher, if they're gonna go lower... They'll be doing a lot of digital marketing."

5. Controversy Surrounding Capcut's Chubby Filter

The hosts addressed the controversy over Capcut's "Chubby Filter", a feature that manipulated user photos to make individuals appear heavier. This sparked a debate on body image and the ethical responsibilities of social media platforms like TikTok and Capcut, both owned by ByteDance.

Jess Matlin [24:16]: "This Chubby Filter was like created by a user. I don't know who, I don't know if they know who, but like a user generated filter..."

Both Jen and Jess expressed their dissatisfaction with such filters, drawing parallels to the negative reception of skinny filters and emphasizing the harmful impact on users' body image perceptions.

Jen Sullivan [24:43]: "I don't like it as much as I don't like a skinny filter."

They concluded that although Capcut removed the controversial filter, it raises broader questions about user-generated content policing on social platforms.

Jen Sullivan [25:20]: "This also speaks to the larger question of like these social media platforms do they police what is user generated content?"

6. Local Spotlight: Bathhouse Rumors in New York City

In the Neighborhood News segment, Jen and Jess discussed unsettling rumors circulating about a popular bathhouse in Williamsburg, New York City. Claims emerged on Reddit alleging the presence of tiny worms and mold issues, alongside reports of UTIs linked to the facility. However, these claims remain unverified, and the bathhouse maintains that they adhere to all health codes.

Jen Sullivan [30:10]: "I just want to point out you can get a UTI from any body of water... There's bacteria on our skin and bacteria in water all the time."

The conversation highlighted the challenges small businesses face with online slander, underscoring the complexities of free speech and libel laws, which make it difficult for businesses to counteract false claims without substantial resources.

Jess Matlin [32:20]: "If I were the business owner, I would come after them."

7. Product Spotlights: Listener's Picks and Host Favorites

Listener Raises a Wand:
A listener from Prince Edward County shared her admiration for Seasons and Hemispheres Perfumes, an artisanal brand inspired by the distinct seasons of Ontario, Canada.

Jess Matlin [36:01]: "Seasons and Hemispheres is a little artisanal brand of botanical perfume that is inspired by Prince Edward county."

Elf Skin's Untouchable SPF Setting Spray:
Jen praised Elf Skin's new Untouchable SPF 45 Setting Spray, lauding its non-sticky formula and dual functionality as both a makeup setting spray and a sunscreen enhancer.

Jen Sullivan [44:43]: "It's 2 ounces, so you can travel with it. So I also have been using it as, like, my body sunscreen or my, like, other areas when."

Splendid Loungewear:
Jess highlighted her love for Splendid's fuzzy sweater PJ sets, emphasizing their comfort and quality, making them perfect for lounging at home.

Jess Matlin [40:11]: "I wear it year round because it's always cold in the apartment."

Seasonal and Location-Inspired Perfumes:
The hosts encouraged listeners to share if their hometowns have inspired fragrance lines, reminiscing about past episodes where they discussed locations like North Carolina and Philadelphia influencing perfume scents.

Jen Sullivan [36:56]: "I love how I say up when there's people that live there and they are on that latitude."

8. Conclusion and Upcoming Highlights

As the episode wrapped up, Jen and Jess teased an exciting VIP interview set to air next Friday, promising exclusive insights into the beauty industry. They also encouraged listener engagement through reviews, feedback, and product recommendations via email or voice memos.

Jess Matlin [46:57]: "See a very, very, very exciting interview. Vip."

Notable Quotes with Timestamps:

• Jen Sullivan [02:04]: "Fat Mascara is nominated for a People Reader's Choice poll award..."
• Jess Matlin [06:19]: "She's just so brave, though. Like, she was on another..."
• Jess Matlin [20:46]: "Setes is hot. Okay. Then the next one is Paris Corner..."
• Jess Matlin [24:16]: "This Chubby Filter was like created by a user..."
• Jen Sullivan [26:07]: "Only four included three models who were not..."
• Jess Matlin [32:20]: "If I were the business owner, I would come after them."
• Jess Matlin [36:01]: "Seasons and Hemispheres is a little artisanal brand..."

This episode of Fat Mascara delved deep into pressing issues within the beauty and fashion industries, from the fluctuating standards of body diversity on runways to the impactful rise of TikTok-driven fragrance trends. The hosts' insightful discussions, combined with their engaging experiences at industry events, provide listeners with a comprehensive look into the current state and future directions of beauty culture.