Fat Mascara Podcast Episode Summary: "How Not to Smell & Spring Cleaning Tips with Madame Sweat"

Hosted by: Jennifer Sullivan & Jessica Matlin
Guest: Mary (Madame Sweat)
Release Date: March 28, 2025

Introduction to Madame Sweat

In this episode, hosts Jennifer Sullivan and Jessica Matlin welcome Mary, widely known as Madame Sweat, a renowned figure in the beauty and hygiene industry with over 2 million social media followers. Mary is celebrated for her practical and scientifically backed advice on maintaining personal hygiene without stigma. She is also the founder of Kaya Naturals, a brand dedicated to effective natural deodorants.

Mary: "I think of myself as people's auntie. You can ask your auntie about the stinky stuff." [07:15]

The Importance of Basic Hygiene

Mary emphasizes that achieving a polished appearance starts with fundamental hygiene practices. She advocates for thorough cleansing routines to prevent unpleasant odors, particularly focusing on underarm care.

Mary: "If you want a really polished look, it starts in the shower. You have to be really clean." [11:05]

Showering Habits and Cultural Norms

The discussion delves into the varying cultural norms surrounding daily showering. Mary explains that while she and the hosts shower daily, her large and diverse following often seeks guidance on appropriate hygiene practices tailored to different skin chemistries and cultural backgrounds.

Mary: "Your personal body chemistry is very different. It's really about what works for you." [34:35]

Bidets vs. Traditional Methods

A significant portion of the conversation addresses the use of bidets, highlighting their prevalence in Middle Eastern cultures compared to North America. Mary points out that bidets offer superior hygiene by thoroughly cleaning the most bacteria-prone areas.

Mary: "People of Middle Eastern descent find North Americans using dry paper very unhygienic." [13:01]

She also shares her personal experience with high-tech Japanese toilets, noting their effectiveness and the initial learning curve.

Transitioning to Natural Deodorants

Mary provides a comprehensive explanation of the transition from traditional antiperspirants to natural deodorants. She clarifies that natural deodorants work differently by allowing sweat to evaporate and relying on products that manage odor rather than blocking sweat.

Mary: "Deodorants don't work the same as antiperspirants. Antiperspirants block your pores, while deodorants manage odor." [27:45]

She advises a gradual transition period of about a month to allow the skin microbiome to rebalance, mitigating the initial increase in odor commonly experienced when switching products.

Mary: "Wait 30 days till your skin microbiome rebalances, then decide whether this deodorant is gonna work for you." [27:45]

Effective Underarm Care

Mary introduces practical solutions for underarm odor and stains. She recommends a mixture of 3% hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to treat yellow underarm stains caused by aluminum-based antiperspirants.

Mary: "Mix hydrogen peroxide with baking soda, create a paste, leave it on the underarm before laundering." [25:20]

Additionally, she underscores the importance of using tongue scrapers for fresh breath, explaining that most oral bacteria reside on the tongue surface.

Mary: "One of the biggest remedies for bad breath is tongue scraping." [21:16]

Foot Hygiene Strategies

Addressing foot odor, Mary suggests using salt scrubs to dry out the skin and reduce moisture that fosters bacterial growth. She recommends scrubbing feet with a salt-infused bar during showers and applying a fine foot powder to absorb excess moisture.

Mary: "Salt dries out the skin and pulls moisture from the feet, dealing with smelly bacteria." [36:47]

Laundry Tips for Freshness

Mary shares her expertise on maintaining fresh-smelling linens and towels. She advocates using washing soda to boost laundry detergent efficacy, which helps eliminate odors and reduces the need for fabric softeners.

Mary: "Washing soda boosts the enzymes in your detergent, making your laundry smell heavenly." [49:40]

For stubborn mattress odors, she recommends sprinkling baking soda on the mattress, letting it sit for 20 minutes, and then vacuuming it off to remove smells and dust mites.

Mary: "Sprinkle baking soda on the mattress, leave for 20 minutes, then vacuum to remove odors." [44:35]

Creating a Fresh-Smelling Home

To keep the home environment fragrant, Mary suggests using essential oil diffusers and placing scented powders on wool fabrics like pillows and cushions, which effectively hold scents longer than other materials.

Mary: "Wool is the only fabric that really holds scent. Spray your pillows with essential oil blends for a pleasant aroma." [52:27]

Personal Style and Beauty Preferences

Mary discusses her minimalist and classic style, favoring black and white outfits complemented by chunky necklaces and matching accessories. She emphasizes simplicity in her wardrobe to ensure ease and versatility.

Mary: "I always wear black. I keep everything simple so all my accessories match." [55:20]

Regarding beauty products, Mary shares her industry insights, highlighting favorites from both high-end and indie brands. She mentions classics like Revlon's "Cherries in the Snow" lipstick and touches on the importance of balancing high and low-end products.

Mary: "I own classics from Revlon and YSL. It's a mix of drugstore and prestige products." [56:11]

Speed Round: Fat Mascara 5

In a fun segment, the hosts engage Mary in a rapid-fire question round, revealing personal tidbits such as her favorite snacks (cheese and Melba toast), last phone note, and what she would be doing on her day off (iron and powder her bed).

Jen Sullivan: "What would you be doing at 11 am on your day off?"
Mary: "Ironing and powdering my bed to keep it fresh." [63:48]

Conclusion

The episode wraps up with gratitude towards Mary for sharing her invaluable tips on personal and home hygiene. The hosts encourage listeners to implement these strategies for a fresher lifestyle and invite them to share their own questions and reviews.

Jen Sullivan: "Thank you so much for coming on Fat Mascara." [65:04]

Key Quotes with Timestamps

• Mary on Being a Safe Space:
  "I think of myself as people's auntie. You can ask your auntie about the stinky stuff." [07:15]

• Mary on Importance of Cleanliness:
  "If you want a really polished look, it starts in the shower. You have to be really clean." [11:05]

• Mary on Natural Deodorants vs. Antiperspirants:
  "Deodorants don't work the same as antiperspirants. Antiperspirants block your pores, while deodorants manage odor." [27:45]

• Mary on Tongue Scraping:
  "One of the biggest remedies for bad breath is tongue scraping." [21:16]

• Mary on Laundry with Washing Soda:
  "Washing soda boosts the enzymes in your detergent, making your laundry smell heavenly." [49:40]

• Mary on Creating a Fresh-Smelling Home:
  "Wool is the only fabric that really holds scent. Spray your pillows with essential oil blends for a pleasant aroma." [52:27]

Final Thoughts

This episode of Fat Mascara offers a wealth of practical advice on personal hygiene and home freshness, blending Mary’s expert insights with the hosts' engaging conversation. Listeners gain actionable tips on managing body odor, maintaining clean linens, and creating a pleasant living environment, all grounded in scientific understanding and cultural awareness.