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- [00:00]
Jessica Matlin
This episode of Fat Mascara is presented by Milani Cosmetics, a brand who believes that what's inside matters.
- [00:12]
Samantha McMeekin
Okay, everyone, we are back. We are back. We are back. I hope you've been enjoying the new episodes, because I've really enjoyed making them for you. Okay, we've got Molly Stern today. Molly Stern. We meant to have Molly Stern on the show a long time ago, and I'm kind of embarrassed that it's taken us this long because first of all, she's huge. She's a huge, huge makeup artist. And when I went to write her, I DMed her and it was like, did you ever have this, like, half a conversation that you started with somebody a long time ago? And I think her last one was like, when? Or it was me being like, what's your email? And it was years ago. Guys, I dropped the ball. I dropped the ball. I don't. I think Covid hit. Molly Stern is so mega. She's done. She's like. She does Reese Witherspoon, all that. We're going to talk about all of it here. Okay. Not going to go into all her clients, but Maya Rudolph, Reese Witherspoon, Katherine Hahn, Christina Applegate. So many mega, mega, mega women. All the women are, like, cool. So you know that, like, she is cool. We have such a great conversation, and she's like this also, like, this bright spirit, which is also why I wanted to bring her to the show. Her energy is just infectious. We have this conversation. You're going to be in a good mood. Okay. You're going to listen and you're going to be in a good mood and you're going to get some great tips. Molly, take it away.
- [01:36]
Molly Stern
Is it the end of the snake season and we're entering the horse season? Have you seen all that?
- [01:41]
Samantha McMeekin
I have, and my Instagram is tipped towards that because all I have are, like, running horses, you know, Same.
- [01:48]
Molly Stern
I'm into that, though. I'm like, yeah, me too. I'm like, put me on that horse. Let's ride.
- [01:53]
Samantha McMeekin
Let's charge forward. I know. What are we running towards? I mean, we're running away from some stuff, but we're running.
- [02:02]
Molly Stern
I mean, I'm definitely running away. Not so much running away, but letting go like that. I'm very into the shedding thing of the snake.
- [02:12]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah.
- [02:12]
Molly Stern
Just running towards, like, creativity and inspiration and motivation, but paired with, like, the finally learned lessons of rest, care, self, love, all the things I've been preaching, I'm finally trying to actually live. Live authentically with.
- [02:36]
Samantha McMeekin
I feel like, no, I'M with you. I feel like I'm learning stuff a little too late, but maybe right on time. Do you know what I'm saying?
- [02:46]
Molly Stern
I'm like, I've now because I'm 54. I'll be 54 in April. I'm really tapped into all the 60 to 80 year olds that are like, I just figured it out. I'm like, okay, I still got time. I still got time.
- [03:01]
Samantha McMeekin
No, I think. I don't think. I don't think there's any. Too late. I saw Jane Fonda, who came on the show once, which I still can't believe. You know, what am I saying? I can't believe it. It's. No, I can believe it. But she came on the show and I was. She didn't say this in our show. I wish I could do it again. I would do anything to have Jane Fonda back. I wish I could redo that. I think I was still kind of just stunned that she was on the show and it was on Covid and she came on the show and she had someone figuring out the zoom for her. The whole thing was, like, weird and disarming and crazy. But I was watching her on something recently and she was like, I just started. Maybe she just started going to therapy. She's like, I'm going to therapy in my 80s. Like, it's never too late to, like, start doing things again and get inspired. And the coolest women I know are like over 50 and like, just starting things and getting like, you know what I mean? In their groove. And.
- [03:57]
Molly Stern
Yeah, I remember when I had my first two kids, I had them very close together.
- [04:04]
Samantha McMeekin
How old are your kids again? You've got three, right?
- [04:06]
Molly Stern
I have three, yeah. So I have an almost 21 year old. Next month she'll be 21. My oldest, Vivian, then my son Zion is 19 and a half, and then my youngest, Etta is 16.
- [04:18]
Samantha McMeekin
The baby.
- [04:20]
Molly Stern
The baby. And I was like a super creative overachiever, doing everything I. Anything I set my mind to, I would step in and do it. I was fearless all through my 20s. And then I had kids and things shifted, of course, and I all of a sudden was like, oh, okay, I get it. I was an artist in my twenties and now I'm a mother. And I was very unhappy with that. Right. I was like, oh, this is actually not fulfilling enough for me. All that stuff that I was doing was important. Even though I thought I was buying time until I got married and had kids, I realized now, you know, being a new mother, I was like, oh, wait a minute. That other part of me was really important. And then I took a deep breath, and I always say that I feel like I had, like, a. Like, a tunnel to have inspiration, where I was like, okay, wait. If I really am an artist, and I do proudly say that I am or feel that I am, like, my best work might not be until I'm 70. Like, it's. It's a lifelong commitment to be a creative person. And I sort of relaxed. My shoulders relaxed, and I was like, okay, I can. I can be focused on what needs to happen with this growing family.
- [05:38]
Samantha McMeekin
Did you feel like all of that stuff was just sort of, like, not on pause? Did you feel like it was, like, percolating, or did you feel like it
- [05:46]
Molly Stern
was growing my creativity, you mean? Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. I mean, sometimes it felt totally vacant and empty and like, hello, hello, hello.
- [05:58]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah.
- [05:58]
Molly Stern
You know, and just, like, lost, for sure. There were many, many years where I was like, who am I? Where am I? What am I?
- [06:06]
Samantha McMeekin
Were you working as a maker?
- [06:08]
Molly Stern
You were.
- [06:08]
Samantha McMeekin
You were working as a makeup artist?
- [06:09]
Molly Stern
I was working as a makeup artist, yeah. Always. Yeah. That's been my, like, consistent bread and butter. Lean on that story. And then I'll have these little branches of other creative projects.
- [06:21]
Samantha McMeekin
I mean, like a fashion line. We'll get to it. We'll get to it.
- [06:25]
Molly Stern
Yeah, yeah.
- [06:25]
Samantha McMeekin
But, I mean, let's. Let's go back for a second. Let's go back. I'm gonna take you way back. Tell me, when you were younger, were you like, I'm going for it. I'm gonna. I'm gonna go big. I'm gonna be an artist, or did you. Was it not that intentional? And you just kind of fell into.
- [06:44]
Molly Stern
It definitely was a creative. I was more of a. Like, I was the girlfriend of the artist or friends of the artist. I didn't consider myself an artist for a long time. Probably it struck in my mid-20s. I mean, I remember a moment that this guy, may he rest in peace, he's not alive anymore, but he used. He. He came over to my house, and he was like, oh, I had, like, arts and crafts on my dining room table. I was just, like, making a book with pictures and stencils, and he goes, oh, you're an artist. Artist. And I was like, I am. And it was sort of like the first time that someone saw. Or that I saw my reflection in someone and someone saw me. I kind of always thought I'm attracted to artists, but I'm not one myself.
- [07:38]
Samantha McMeekin
You didn't Take yourself seriously as an artist?
- [07:41]
Molly Stern
No, I mean, I did take art classes when I was younger, and I was obsessed with beauty and fashion. Like, you know, my. My teenage bedroom was plastered with, you know, supermodels and Shiseido ads and, you know, beautiful. But I, I.
- [07:59]
Samantha McMeekin
It.
- [08:00]
Molly Stern
It took me a minute to find myself. It took me a minute, like, even. Even being a makeup artist, I didn't necessarily. I knew it was a creative field, but I didn't necessarily see myself as an artist. It took a while for me to sort of feel like I could identify with that title for myself.
- [08:22]
Samantha McMeekin
I don't know if all makeup artists consider themselves artists.
- [08:25]
Jessica Matlin
Do you?
- [08:26]
Samantha McMeekin
Because I consider you an artist, the way you sort of approach things.
- [08:30]
Molly Stern
Thank you. I. Yeah, I don't. I don't know. It's.
- [08:34]
Samantha McMeekin
You can't speak for everyone.
- [08:35]
Molly Stern
Yeah, right. For me, personally, it was. I knew I was working in a creative field, but I didn't. I haven't always felt plugged into my artistry through it because, to me, so much about the kind of makeup I do is so much about kind of how I make people feel more than, like, you know, I've had opportunities, like, to work at the Met Ball and stuff, where it. I've really had the opportunity to be creative and bring in artistry to my makeup work. But for the regular show up, it's not so much about artistry as it is about connecting and making someone feel their best.
- [09:16]
Samantha McMeekin
Well, let's talk about the way you make people feel. Your client list. I mean, just a quick perusal of your recent clients. Reese Witherspoon, Maya Rudolph, Natasha Lyonne, Greta Gerwig. You know, these women, they're all very different women with very different projects and histories and, you know, personalities. But I would say they're all really strong women who have produced amazing work, who have chosen very specific personal projects, and they're very strong women. Tell me a little bit about the women who have, you know, you've chosen to work with and how that shapes your career.
- [09:56]
Molly Stern
Thank you for that. I mean, every day that I get to be in the presence of one of these super successful, super talented, super tenacious women, I feel so Unbelievable.
- [10:12]
Samantha McMeekin
That's a good word. Tenacious. Yeah.
- [10:14]
Molly Stern
Yeah. You know, I saw someone the other day, and I was talking about a project that I had kind of put some energy on, and then it sort of. It was happening for a minute, and then it wasn't happening, as things go. And I saw this woman, and she's like, you know, as well as Anyone that it takes tenacity in this business. And I was like, you're right. And it's such an important reminder. And anyone who is successful with anything, it's like, because they stuck with it, not because it just fell on their. You know, fell in their lap. And I think I really recognize that in. In most of my clients is this driven, tenacious character that I really grow from being around.
- [10:56]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah. Tenacity, like, not giving up, being consistent.
- [11:01]
Molly Stern
Yeah.
- [11:02]
Samantha McMeekin
Believing in yourself is not a real word.
- [11:04]
Molly Stern
Right. Just, you know, because it's so easy to get discouraged. Right. I mean, there's so much about being a human being that's really quite discouraging. So it really takes. It takes heart, it takes gut, it takes. It takes tenacity. And I. And I dip in and out of it. I. I, you know, sometimes I, like, forget, and I'm like, you know, I guess I'm just doing this, or I'm. Guess I'm just doing that. And then I. I'll, like, remember, like, no, I gotta. I gotta believe, and I've gotta keep edging towards where I hope to land. Yeah.
- [11:41]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah. I always wonder if that's something that comes from. It's just in inborn. Like, if it's just, you know, you're. You're kind of born with it, or if it's. If it's a skill you can grow.
- [11:53]
Molly Stern
I. Yeah, I think. I think it's probably a skill you can develop because it's something that it's like, you know, learning, listening to people who have. Who have success in whatever area that you're interested in. I think if you learn some of the steps that those people took. Like, I just was watching an interview with Prince, you know, another Rest in Peace, and he was talking about the importance of learning how to play an instrument and that, yes, it's hard, but you need to. To take the time to actually master the instrument. And how, How.
- [12:34]
Samantha McMeekin
And how many did he know how to play? Like, what, like, 45?
- [12:37]
Molly Stern
Oh, yeah. He was unbelievable. He was unbelievable. But it's like, you know, you can practice qualities and actions that will move you forward in the direction you want to go, I think.
- [12:49]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah. Practicing tenacity. So you're working with all these women. You're not doing an editorial look all the time. You're not. You know, I'm not going to confuse the work you're doing on Reese Witherspoon with something that a Pat McGrath Galliano look. That's not what you're trying to achieve on the Oscars. Red carpet. You're making these women look absolutely flawless, but looking like themselves and leaving the hotel room at night or that afternoon feeling absolutely confident and like, the best version, the most glowing, confident version of themselves. And that is why they come to you. What are you doing? Tell me, walk me through, like, how does it start? Are you showing up at their home or at their hotel suite being like, what do you want to do? Or are you sell. Are you sending them iPhone pics 3 weeks before of a reference that you've had in your back pocket? Are you talking with their stylist? Like, we don't know. Take us through it.
- [13:48]
Molly Stern
Yeah, all of the above. The answer would be all of the above. Depending on the client, depending on the red carpet. Yeah, usually for all, like, are these
- [13:56]
Samantha McMeekin
your buddies where you're, like, texting them, like. Or are you, like, what is. I'm sure it varies from person to person.
- [14:02]
Molly Stern
It varies from person to person. Yeah, it varies. I've definitely been at it for such a long time. I started when I was 16, and, you know, like I said, I'm about to be 54. So I. I've. And some of my clients, like Maya Rudolph, for example, I've known since we were in our young 20s, before she was even on SNL. I knew her because we were just ran in the same circles. Yeah. It depends on the person. If I'm texting and saying, oh, I'm excited, or what are you thinking?
- [14:32]
Samantha McMeekin
Or you're, like, dead, you know, sharing a picture.
- [14:36]
Molly Stern
Yeah, definitely. Connecting with the stylist and the hairdresser. Kind of get on board with what everybody's thinking. And then, yeah, sometimes I'll use inspirational pictures. Sometimes I'll come in with an idea. Sometimes. I mean, most everybody I work on is like, I just want to feel fresh and pretty, you know, And. Yeah, and then I'll like, sneak in a, like, purple eyeliner or something. Like, when she leaves, I'll be like, she's wearing purple eyeliner. But nobody can.
- [15:11]
Samantha McMeekin
Okay, somebody's in the chair. Let's like, let's do a little bit of a mocking. Like, what products are always in your kit? You've got your fresh, pretty kit. What are the products that you're reaching for 70% of the time, if you are going to make somebody look fresh, pretty, gorgeous, basically, what do we. What do we want to buy?
- [15:28]
Molly Stern
Okay, so I'm. I'm always starting with some sort of, like, mist, you know, like, for many years, I was dedicated to the Gerlique.
- [15:37]
Samantha McMeekin
Oh, my God.
- [15:37]
Molly Stern
Spray that Was, yes, a die hard for me. Now I'm. I'm on an epicuren kick. They have a colostrum spray, which I really like. I love any. Any sort of mist that's got natural ingredients and sort of feels refreshing and smells nice and sort of wakes up the senses.
- [15:58]
Samantha McMeekin
How long are we letting that sit for?
- [16:00]
Molly Stern
Like, five seconds. Just. Okay, quick spray then. The last several years, I've been very into oils. I think probably my favorite one right now is from monastery. It's called a gold oil. I'll do a couple pumps of that, massage in, kind of just get the. Get. Get a sense of what their skin feels like, and then I go into some massaging. I use two different tools that I've been using for years now. One is by a brand called Paws, which is actually a menopause brand. They have a fascia stimulating tool. It's like a silver gua sha, sort of.
- [16:43]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah, yeah.
- [16:44]
Molly Stern
But it's made of stainless steel, and it's. It's medical grade. It's got a lot of different great shapes, so you can really, like, get into the different parts of the face and. And sculpting, and it just sort of breaks up the fascia in the skin.
- [17:00]
Samantha McMeekin
Where is key to be doing that? Because every time I use a gua sha, I'm like, am I doing this right?
- [17:06]
Molly Stern
Yeah. I mean, it's. I love to. I wish I had one next to me, but I like to use my.
- [17:11]
Samantha McMeekin
My fingers, my little knuckles. Yeah.
- [17:14]
Molly Stern
So, like, in here.
- [17:16]
Samantha McMeekin
Okay.
- [17:16]
Molly Stern
And then I go down the next level in here, along the jaw.
- [17:21]
Samantha McMeekin
Okay. This is essential. Pre. Pre. Red carpet pretty.
- [17:25]
Molly Stern
Absolutely. Because the more you stimulate your skin, the less makeup you need, and the less makeup you're wearing, the. The better you look. Like too much makeup. Unless we're going back to, like, creativity land, and I'm doing, like, a stripe across your face. If you're just going in a gorgeous gown and you want to look like the best version of yourself.
- [17:47]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah.
- [17:47]
Molly Stern
You want to spend that time stimulating the skin and really just breaking everything up in there so that the blood starts to flow and you kind of get that natural glow.
- [17:59]
Samantha McMeekin
It's not flowing right now, I'll tell you that. I'm staring at a screen for eight hours. I'm like, it's draggy. I need that monastery oil. I need a. You need some oil? Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [18:08]
Molly Stern
The oil is the oil's key.
- [18:10]
Samantha McMeekin
Oh, my God.
- [18:11]
Molly Stern
The oil's key. Because then you get the movement of the tool.
- [18:16]
Samantha McMeekin
Molly, it hurts.
- [18:17]
Molly Stern
I know. Do It. Do it. Just get in there. Get your blood flowing. So important.
- [18:24]
Samantha McMeekin
I'm not sure there's any blood in there right now.
- [18:26]
Molly Stern
Yeah, it is. That's the thing is it is in there. And like even just touching your face a little bit, like you're like, oh, right. I'm a human being. I have blood flowing in my body.
- [18:36]
Samantha McMeekin
I forgot. Okay. All right, so now you put the paw. You're using the paws thing. Then I got the monastery oil.
- [18:45]
Molly Stern
Got the monastery oil. Then I go in with the best. Jillian Dempsey's gold bar, which vibrates. And then I go over everything, doing that little vibrator action to really, again, deeply sort of stimulate the skin. And that's always my start. And by that time, once you've used those tools and you've spent a good, you know, 10, maybe even 15 minutes stimulating the skin, sometimes I'll get into the neck, too. Sometimes the forehead. Usually the forehead. The Jillian's. Because it vibrates. Sometimes it's weird on the forehead. Like, it makes my teeth chatter when I do it on the forehead so I see what my person's feeling. And once I've done that, the oil is kind of soaked in. And then you're just kind of starting with a dewy blood pumping canvas. Okay.
- [19:41]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah. You've not even. There's no makeup involved yet. Okay, so no makeup yet. I was gonna ask you. I was like, is the oil gonna mess up the makeup? But it sounds like the oil is so absorbed with all of this hocus pocus with the, you know, Unless you're
- [19:56]
Molly Stern
like a super oily person.
- [19:59]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah.
- [19:59]
Molly Stern
You know, then maybe you want to use a moisturizer. You still want something that's got some slick because you need that for the tools to glide.
- [20:07]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah, I get it. I get it.
- [20:08]
Molly Stern
But if you're. Yeah. If your skin's very oily and you're like, I can't imagine putting oil on my skin, you can use a moisturizer that, you know, kind of has that sort of drier finish. That's fine.
- [20:19]
Samantha McMeekin
Understood.
- [20:21]
Molly Stern
Or you can. You can do the oil and then maybe re. Spritz with your mist and kind of pat some of the oil off if you feel like, Like. No, I'm still feeling like too. Too much.
- [20:34]
Samantha McMeekin
Right, right.
- [20:35]
Molly Stern
But I. I rarely am wiping oil off once I've put it on.
- [20:39]
Samantha McMeekin
The skin is plump, the skin is dewy. You have prepped the skin to the nines. What else is always in your kit to make your sk. The skin look fabulous. Because every time I look at your clients. Just their skin looks amazing.
- [20:53]
Molly Stern
Thank you. Thank you so much. Sorry, there's a dog walking around. Thank you for that. Next is going to be what kind of concealers or foundations? I, I, I sometimes use a concealer as a foundation or I sometimes use a foundation as my concealer, but I'm never doing a full full face foundation.
- [21:16]
Samantha McMeekin
It's never a full.
- [21:17]
Molly Stern
Yeah, no, never. So I really love, I've just recently started using the Sarah Creel spot. I don't know what she calls it, but it's a concealer basically. But it can be used anywhere on the face. So I'll sometimes start with a little bit of that. Maybe under the eyes, any redness around the nose, if there's any blemishes or I like, I'm also a big fan of Bobbi Brown concealers. They do an amazing pro kit which is, you know, full range of colors on both sides, slightly different formulas. I use that a lot. And then from there I'll decide, okay, do we need another layer of some sort of foundation sheer wash of evening out the skin tone or evening out the color or evening out the texture. So I, I go between cogendo the moisture foundation. Oh yeah, a little red tube. Love that. I love, I love Shantakai, the future skin foundation. Although I did hear that they changed their formula, which is devastating if that's
- [22:28]
Samantha McMeekin
the word on the street. Okay.
- [22:30]
Molly Stern
And I'm really upset about that. Really don't care for that information at all. Of course our mono luminous silk is beautiful.
- [22:39]
Samantha McMeekin
Everything you're mentioning is super light. Super light. Very sheer.
- [22:44]
Molly Stern
Yeah, super sheer but super buildable. So how do you mentioning are buildable? I also really like the no makeup makeup. It's like a pressed cream foundation and very, again, very, very.
- [22:58]
Samantha McMeekin
Oh, I know what you're talking about. Yeah, yeah, we can put that in the shop. My shelf.
- [23:01]
Jessica Matlin
Yes. Okay.
- [23:02]
Samantha McMeekin
Very cool.
- [23:12]
Jessica Matlin
This episode is brought to you by Milani Fat Mascara created a totally new conversation in beauty. One that goes beyond the surface to get to know our guests on a deeper level. That's why for our 10th anniversary, I'm so proud to partner with Milani, a brand who believes that what's inside matters. Case in point, Milani just reformulated their iconic bake collection to make it even
- [23:29]
Samantha McMeekin
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- [23:31]
Jessica Matlin
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- [24:24]
Samantha McMeekin
If a celebrity is late, you've just mentioned a lot of like, you know, the beautiful long ritual of the massage, the vibrating Jillian Dempsey, the gold bar, this beautiful layering. Let's say I'm crashing into the chair. I'm so late. My car was late. It's a nightmare. What is the quickest way to make somebody look really polished and profesh? Like, what's your cheat?
- [24:49]
Molly Stern
So I would maybe skip the tools, but I would take the time to do some hands on massage just to get that blood pinched and glowing and, and plumping.
- [25:01]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah.
- [25:02]
Molly Stern
And then just get it on there real quick. You know, highlight anything that needs to be highlighted. Pop a cheek. A bright cheek I think is like the quickest way to feel kind of put together because it just makes you feel alive.
- [25:17]
Samantha McMeekin
You've been doing a bright cheek before. It was a trend.
- [25:21]
Molly Stern
To me, a bright cheek is, it's a desert island look. For me, it's like, do you have
- [25:27]
Samantha McMeekin
any favorites, any favorite formulas?
- [25:29]
Molly Stern
Oh, my God, so many. I love so many. I'm really into Jamie Greenberg's blylighters. They're great. Very tiny, little cute brand. Jillian does beautiful cream blushes. I love. Chanel has some really pretty cream blushes and really vibrant colors. Makeup by Mario has really beautiful cream sticks. I just added those to my kit, actually. I really like those.
- [25:59]
Samantha McMeekin
You really like. You go across all brands. You really support so many different brands. Have you ever been tempted to do your own brand?
- [26:08]
Molly Stern
I, I, you know, you had your
- [26:10]
Samantha McMeekin
own fashion brand for a while. You're such a creative person. As I was saying at the top, you're all over the place. You're very painterly, artistic. It's like shocking that you don't have your own brand, but there must be a reason to that.
- [26:23]
Molly Stern
I kind of always felt like my friends were doing it and like I wasn't necessarily gonna do anything. That was a huge Departure from what other people have done. Yeah, I don't know. I've thought about it at times. I've had different, like, little false start opportunities, but it's never been the right time or the right situation to do that.
- [26:46]
Samantha McMeekin
Is it off the table?
- [26:48]
Molly Stern
No. God, no. Nothing's off the table. Come on. The table gets bigger and bigger as I mature. Like I'm definitely.
- [26:56]
Samantha McMeekin
You keep putting, adding new leaves to the table.
- [26:58]
Molly Stern
Yes, absolutely. If the right opportunity came along or, I mean, of course I dream of like, oh, it'd be cool if there was a two sided stick for this or, oh, I'd love to make, you know, the delivery system easier for people. Like, of course I fantasize about that all the time because I kind of eat, breathe and sleep beauty products. Yeah.
- [27:20]
Samantha McMeekin
Like you're a makeup artist who loves makeup. There are makeup artists who do not love product. There are makeup artists who, like, I try to talk to them about it and I could feel like they're not like lighting up in the same way.
- [27:32]
Molly Stern
You know what I mean? I love makeup.
- [27:34]
Samantha McMeekin
I love, yeah, like you clearly love makeup.
- [27:37]
Molly Stern
Which is funny because I some, I really only use a few of the, you know, I, my, my, my style of makeup artistry is pretty limited, but when I, I just love to touch and try. It's like, oh, this is pretty cool.
- [27:55]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah, it's so obvious. Is there a brand that you miss?
- [28:00]
Molly Stern
Well, I loved. You know, I got my start with Shu Emura.
- [28:04]
Samantha McMeekin
You worked at the counter, right?
- [28:05]
Molly Stern
I worked at the counter. They had a store in the Century City. Now it's the Westfield Mall, but it used to be called the Century City Shopping Mall. I grew up in LA and you know, when I was 16, I walked in and it was like pristine and clean and bright because it was Japanese and perfect as everything Japanese is and like rainbow of colors and shimmers and mattes and the brushes and it's just, it was like kid in a candy shop, but makeup edition. And I was like, just so. I wish, I wish shoe and more still exists in Japan, but that, you know, there's no big boutiques here. Even counters, I don't think for them. I think they only do hair products in the States now.
- [28:52]
Samantha McMeekin
Oh, I know. All right. So Shu Amera, that, that's one that you would love to see back here in the U.S. yes, very much so. Okay.
- [29:02]
Molly Stern
Yeah, Yeah, I know their foundations were the best. Their eyebrow pencils were there. Nothing could beat them. They were.
- [29:08]
Samantha McMeekin
That's right. I remember the eye. They were very dry. I Think right.
- [29:11]
Molly Stern
Very dry.
- [29:12]
Samantha McMeekin
Dry. Yeah, very dry.
- [29:14]
Molly Stern
So you could really get, like a hair, like, stroke and it would last all day. There was no, like, wiping your brow and it ending up in your hairline.
- [29:24]
Samantha McMeekin
That's. That's a good one. That's a really good throwback. What look felt like magic to you that you've done for red carpet? Oh, one that you really hold dear in your. The recesses of your mind.
- [29:38]
Molly Stern
A couple come to mind. One would be my Rudolph. I'm trying to remember what it was for. It might have been. I can't remember what the event was for, but she was wearing a red Valentino dress and her hair was pulled back really tight. And we just did beautiful skin and a beautiful red. And it was just like. And her freckles were showing.
- [30:02]
Samantha McMeekin
I know, exactly. Very clean skin.
- [30:04]
Molly Stern
Yes, yes, very clean. But, like, just perfect.
- [30:09]
Samantha McMeekin
I know what you're talking about. I know. Yeah.
- [30:11]
Molly Stern
I can't remember if it was.
- [30:12]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah, we gotta show her if she
- [30:13]
Molly Stern
was going with Paul or. I don't know, but that she looked gorgeous.
- [30:18]
Samantha McMeekin
She's beautiful. Very simple, very dramatic, but simple, very fresh.
- [30:22]
Molly Stern
I think she went to the Oscars looking like that.
- [30:25]
Samantha McMeekin
But I love that you don't even totally know. You're just like, I'm coming in like an assassin and I'm doing this and I'm getting out. You just do it. And you make your clients feel gorgeous. Now, when I book guests, obviously I know who I want to have, but I do sometimes ask other people for information, like other friends, colleagues, and I'm like, hey, I'm interviewing Molly. Would you have any questions? I do a little reconciliation. People love you, Molly. They go crazy. They love you. And they're like, oh, my God, she's so positive. She's so chill. Bup, bup, bup, bup. And in your bio also, you have these, like, self love advocates. You've got a lot of positivity. I'm not disclosing something that you're not. They weren't willing to share. You wrote in People earlier this year, you've been through something. You're going through something.
- [31:16]
Molly Stern
I got about almost two years ago, I got diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, which was like, what? Wait, I'm not like an old man.
- [31:25]
Samantha McMeekin
No, you're young. You're young. So, like, it's like when I heard all about, like, oh, my God, Molly, like, she's so. She's just like the sparkliest, most energetic. Like, she's so bubbly. And then I'm reading all about this. It was like, Did you have to kind of fight for this attitude, or were you always.
- [31:50]
Molly Stern
Well, like I said, I'm turning 54, and the month after I church, that's tough.
- [31:57]
Samantha McMeekin
First of all, I'm sorry.
- [31:58]
Molly Stern
Thank you. You know, I'm so weird. Like, the weirder things get, the more faithful I become. And I was raised with something.
- [32:07]
Samantha McMeekin
Were you always faithful?
- [32:09]
Molly Stern
Yeah, I was raised with a really beautiful, authentic connection to higher power. And it never was, like, presented to me as, like. It was kind of like, you've got a buddy, you know, you've got a protector, you've got. The universe is looking out. And I sort of adopted pretty early on, like, what's meant for me can't miss me in the most positive way. So, like, I really would apply it to, like, jobs. Like, if I really wanted a job and I didn't get it, I'd be like, okay, what's meant for me can't miss. Like, I couldn't avoid it.
- [32:46]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah.
- [32:47]
Molly Stern
And in the last several years, I went through a lot. My daughter was sick. She's, thank God, healthy. My daughter got cancer in the same year I turned 50. A month after I turned 50, I got divorced from my husband, who I was married to for 20 years. And family is so important to me. So that was like. It was like, you know, detonating my devastating belief system. Yeah, it was really intense. And then I got diagnosed with Parkinson's. So it was like. It's. It's been an intense few.
- [33:22]
Samantha McMeekin
This has got a challenge. Yeah, that would Covid.
- [33:24]
Molly Stern
Was right before that. It's like, Jesus.
- [33:27]
Samantha McMeekin
Personally, this would challenge me. If the whole what's meant for me, that would challenge me. So how would you.
- [33:34]
Molly Stern
Well, what I realized is you. You can't. If that's my ethos, which it really, truly is, you can't pick and choose right. When you're gonna believe in that. For. For me, it was like, well, if that has served me so well.
- [33:49]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah.
- [33:50]
Molly Stern
In the positives of my life, then I kind of need to count on that ethos for the things that could be perceived as the negatives of my life. And, you know, I just. I just feel like there. I feel like my. My love yourself mantra was. I. I knew it was important because so many people I worked on, I. I saw such a common theme in people, which was that everybody really goes through severe times of hating themselves, and we're really mean to ourselves. And the. The inner critic is, like, alive and well, even in the most successful, beautiful person. I really saw that repeatedly over the years. And that's where the Love your. And kind of when I got sick, I realized that I was, like, pushing out this message, but I wasn't necessarily doing it for myself or taking care of myself. I'm getting a little emotional, Jess.
- [34:50]
Samantha McMeekin
No, no, no. I think people need to hear this.
- [34:54]
Molly Stern
Yeah. Yeah. I realized that, you know, when. When someone gets diagnosed with, like, oh, your body's not totally working properly. And thankfully, there's things I can do to help feel better or even slow the progression because it's a degenerative brain disease. You'll be shocked. Sleep well, exercise and eat well. Good food. I'm like, oh, groundbreaking. Wow. Okay. Thanks for this original content on how to keep myself healthy. But, you know, taking that to heart and actually changing the way. And by the way, I'm still not anywhere near perfect at all. I still am like, oh, wow, look at me. Sabotaging myself or not. You know, doing what I know would make my health and life and energy better.
- [35:49]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah.
- [35:50]
Molly Stern
But I do my best.
- [35:51]
Samantha McMeekin
It's hard. It's harder than, like, life gets in the way. Work, we have children, we have, you know, pizza. It's much harder to do than it looks. But, no, I think it's the love yourself thing. It's just two words. It's easy to say. It sounds very love. But if you really think about it and what you're saying, it's like, even people who we don't. We think everything's going great. You really talk to people and you see that they have gone through something or they're going through something. You don't know what people are going through.
- [36:28]
Molly Stern
I really feel like everyone is going through something, like, if it's their family, if it's a family member or something personal or. I don't think humans get through it unscathed. I just don't. I think that's part of the human experience.
- [36:46]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah. And we don't really talk to each other in a way that we find out that unless you're very close to somebody, you know.
- [36:54]
Molly Stern
Yeah. I mean, I have the. I'm the person that's like, oh, is that a doorknob? Let me tell it everything I'm going through. Like, I'll tell anyone who will listen and talk about what I'm going through. I don't. That's. I don't know why I'm that way, but I am. I love.
- [37:10]
Samantha McMeekin
I like that.
- [37:12]
Molly Stern
And talking about things, but. But what I have found is being that way does inspire people and encourage people. To go, oh, well, if. And that's why to me, it is important to talk about stuff. It's like, if I can make anyone go, oh, she's talking about it. She's willing to open up about whatever's going on for her. Maybe it gives them a little more space and support to do that in their life.
- [37:40]
Samantha McMeekin
Well, I want to thank you for that. And I think that's also why people. Like I said doing my recon, I think people really appreciate that about you. And, you know, it's that openness is what makes you special and, of course, your incredible body of work. So thank you. Molly, it's time for the Fat Mascara 5. We're gonna do a quick lightning round.
- [38:08]
Molly Stern
I'm scared.
- [38:09]
Samantha McMeekin
Okay. No, it's quick and easy and painless.
- [38:12]
Molly Stern
Okay.
- [38:13]
Samantha McMeekin
Molly, what is a beauty trick or lesson that your daughters have taught you?
- [38:19]
Molly Stern
Hmm. That's hard. Lightning round. Okay, I have to answer it quickly. What is a beauty trick that my kids have taught me? That laughter is. Laughter makes you look the most beautiful.
- [38:41]
Samantha McMeekin
Oh, I love that. I love that. Your most cheap and cheerful beauty find,
- [38:51]
Molly Stern
I would have to say it's the Maybelline,
- [39:00]
Samantha McMeekin
the cloud blush.
- [39:01]
Molly Stern
Cloudtopia.
- [39:02]
Samantha McMeekin
Okay. Oh, cloud. Oh, those are good. Yeah. Okay.
- [39:06]
Molly Stern
And there's, like, an amazing range of color. And you just, like, you pop it on the lip, you could pop it on the cheek.
- [39:12]
Samantha McMeekin
Oh, a monochromatic. I like it. I like it. Okay, what is the most splurgy beauty product that you love?
- [39:22]
Molly Stern
That would be skincare, for sure. I would say an oil or Natura Bisse does this incredible. They do this ice lift mask. Yeah, it's like little. Little facelifts in the bottom.
- [39:43]
Samantha McMeekin
Are you using that before? Are you sending it to your people or you just use it on yourself?
- [39:48]
Molly Stern
I have sent it to my people, but I mostly use it on myself. Like, if I have to do a public appearance or something, and it just makes you feel like it does a little mini snatch situation, which I'm not. I'm okay with people not being snatched, but it just. Just kind of tightens you up and makes you feel like I'm ready.
- [40:11]
Samantha McMeekin
Okay. Speaking of that, is there a procedure because you see people up close, is there a procedure that you would warn against?
- [40:19]
Molly Stern
I mean, most. Unless you can really, you know, find the best, the absolute best. Doctor, I'm not into filler. I think fillers really doesn't look good on anyone. I think I personally can always tell that there's filler in the face, and I don't know I have a. I mean, I'm, like, a minute away from, like, wanting a necklift desperately. But I also really have this, like, thing where I feel like I've given so much of my life to vanity that I don't want to do anything. And I. I've never done anything other than, like, had, like, a laser facial once or twice.
- [41:05]
Samantha McMeekin
How was it?
- [41:06]
Molly Stern
It didn't make that big of a difference. And it hurt. I'm sensitive.
- [41:10]
Samantha McMeekin
Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [41:11]
Molly Stern
So I. I'm trying to. That's like. I try to not linger in the mirror and love myself and just say, like, yeah, well, my mom never had any work done, and she's so beautiful. And I. It's.
- [41:24]
Samantha McMeekin
I get it. It's like, what's for lunch? I understand.
- [41:26]
Molly Stern
Yeah, I get it because the decline is so steep. And so I get it. Like, we look in the mirror and we're like, wait, I don't feel like I look. And so if you can get something that can help that, it's like, of course. That's appealing.
- [41:40]
Samantha McMeekin
But I'm gonna try this cryo mask. I'm still thinking about that mask.
- [41:46]
Molly Stern
It's so good. It is so, so good. It's their diamond ice cream slift mask.
- [41:51]
Samantha McMeekin
Diamond ice. That's what my friend actually texted me about it the other. Because I told her I used. They have a peel, like a diamond
- [41:56]
Molly Stern
peel, like a glycol.
- [41:58]
Samantha McMeekin
The glycol peel. I used it this morning knowing that we were recording. And I love the peel.
- [42:04]
Molly Stern
Okay. That in combination with the diamond lift is like, you can't look. You can't buy anything that'll make your skin.
- [42:11]
Samantha McMeekin
You're going to think I'm like Sabrina Carpenter.
- [42:13]
Molly Stern
Literally. It's incredible.
- [42:16]
Samantha McMeekin
All right, last one, last question. What is the last note that you wrote on your iPhone? Oh, no lies. No lies.
- [42:25]
Molly Stern
It might have just been. Can I look?
- [42:28]
Samantha McMeekin
You have to. Yeah. It's not a guessing game. Yeah, yeah, yeah.
- [42:30]
Molly Stern
Okay, good, good. Because let me tell you. Okay, hold on. The last. Oh, what is this note? I feel like this has something to do with. Oh, this last note I wrote was about dancing in la. Raves, basically, that are taking place in la, but not at night. They're like morning sober dance parties.
- [43:02]
Samantha McMeekin
Is that where we're gonna find you?
- [43:04]
Molly Stern
I mean, I wrote it down. Daybreaker and AM radio. I heard it on kcrw. I was like, ooh, I wanna go dancing at a rave with no alcohol in.
- [43:15]
Samantha McMeekin
I'll go with you. That's great. Okay, great. Let's go.
- [43:19]
Molly Stern
I Also, you might catch me at. I just heard that there's a watch party for Connor Story from He did Rivalry. He's hosting snl, and I heard there's a watch party for that. I was like, I want to go to that. That sounds amazing.
- [43:35]
Samantha McMeekin
That sounds like you're booked. You're booked and busy.
- [43:38]
Molly Stern
Exactly.
- [43:38]
Samantha McMeekin
Molly, thank you so much. This was great.
- [43:41]
Molly Stern
Jess, thanks so much for having me. I really loved chatting. Thank you.
- [43:45]
Samantha McMeekin
Oh, thank you. All right. What did you think, Molly? Do you love her? I'm obsessed with her. I wish we lived closer because I would definitely force my friendship on her. She's so cool. She just made me feel better about a lot of things. She made me feel stupid about caring about things that I shouldn't care about. It's like, I just felt like, oh, my God, Molly, I need. I need, like, more Molly's in my life. That's no shade to all the wonderful friends I have in my life. But I feel like she just kind of gave me a little kick in the pants with some of the things she said. All right, let's talk about Raisa Wand. Raisawan. If you don't know, we are raising a wand to fantastic products that just need a little extra shine on them. And I want to share with you today, I've got a real. A real, like, under five find. How. First of all, is there anything that's under $5? Today I go to get, like, a chai latte with my daughter. I'm out, like, $15. I love Suave. Okay, I'm not being paid to say that. I just love Suave. I love Suave. I think they make great products. When my daughter uses shampoo and conditioner, she gives a squeeze that, like, her knuckles are white. When she squeezes. She squeezes half a bottle out of shampoo. And I also have really thick, thick hair, so I need a lot of product. Whenever I do, like, whenever I shampoo or condition my hair, there is a suave product that I'm nuts about. It's Suave Keratin infusion smoothing Conditioner. I love this product. It is a good dupe. If we want to talk dupes about. I know a lot of people don't love dupes, but it's a dupe for a very expensive salon quality product. Salon quality conditioner. I go through a lot of this, and so does my daughter, and she even uses it on her Barbie head, and I don't mind because it's so inexpensive. So it's about three and change. I get it at cvs. They even have some jumbo sizes I think at like Target. I love it. So check it out. Suave Keratin Infusion Smoothing Conditioner. It's in like a pearly pink bottle. Anyway, check it out. Let me know what you think. Send me your raisa wands infoattmascara.com and I will see you next week.
- [46:02]
Jessica Matlin
Thank you for listening to Fat Mascara. If you like the show, consider giving us a rating and review on itunes, Spotify, or wherever you listen to podcasts. This helps other people find the show. Follow us on social atmascara and email me at infoatmascara. I would love to hear from you and to shop the products heard on the episode. Check out Fat Mascara on Shop My Shelf. This show is produced by Red Rock Music. I'll see you next time.