Forever35 Podcast Episode 390: "Red Lipstick Is a Neutral" with Rachel Goodwin

Hosts: Doree Shafrir & Elise Hu
Guest: Rachel Goodwin, Celebrity Makeup Artist
Date: February 23, 2026

Episode Overview

This episode welcomes back Rachel Goodwin, beloved celebrity makeup artist (clients include Emma Stone, Priyanka Chopra, Julia Roberts), for a deep-dive listener Q&A on all things makeup. Rachel brings her signature warmth and wisdom, discussing red lipstick as a neutral, the psychology behind makeup choices, practical product recommendations, and the evolving landscape of beauty trends. The conversation is lively, personal, and full of actionable tips for listeners at any skill level.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Rachel’s Current Focus & Career Update

[14:43]

• Rachel shares that she’s stepping back from an intense awards season to focus on a book deadline and a new brand project.

• She describes this transitional career period as being "in the messy middle" but trusts the creative process, just as she did at the start of her career.

  • Rachel: "I'm actually excited. I'm in the messy middle of figuring out what my next phase looks like, but I'm also just trusting...what I trusted in the beginning of my career..." (18:54)

• She recently did makeup for Mel Robbins at the Golden Globes—the first awards season to include a podcast category. Rachel found joy in guiding someone less familiar with red carpet glamour.

  • Rachel: "It's really fun for me as an artist to really help someone go from a place where...they're experiencing these things for the first time." (17:08)

2. Listener Q&A Highlights

a. Tinted Moisturizer with Matte Finish

[20:07]

• Rachel recommends Lisa Eldridge’s tinted moisturizer for light coverage with hydration but not shine.
• She cautions: truly matte tinted moisturizers are rare because "matte" and "moisturizer" are almost mutually exclusive.
  • Rachel: "It's a tall order to do in a matte consistency because it kind of is counterintuitive with what it's actually trying to do." (21:37)
• She also mentions Eighth Day's primer/sunscreen as a multi-benefit alternative.

b. Blush for Freckled Cheeks

[22:26]

• Rachel loves freckles and prefers blushes with transparency for a natural effect.
  • Tower 28 and Armani (high-end) are her top picks; both have a "watercolor" effect that doesn’t obscure freckles.
  • For low-fuss daily wear, she suggests Merit blushes.
  • Rachel: "I really do feel like transparency is key when it comes to giving yourself like a flush. But you don't want to necessarily look like you have something covering." (22:36)

c. BB Cream vs. CC Cream vs. Foundation

[24:52]

• BB/CC creams are best for personal use, not pro red carpet work, because they’re multi-taskers and higher risk for reactions.
  • Rachel: "I don't usually use dual purpose products on my clients for red carpet moments...I'm not really there to do treatment or add any kind of things like that."
• Foundation is standard for professional work due to reliability under lighting and photography.
• Elise provides context: BB (originally German) was post-surgical; CC is just the next, slightly different iteration.
• If you love your freckles, BB/CC is a better option for daily life as they let more skin show through.
  • Rachel: "What I'm doing, like if I, you know, when I'm doing your makeup, Elise, it's like I'm really trying to find things that you're going to like be able to utilize and go to quickly..." (28:10)

d. Inclusive Red Lipstick at the Drugstore

[32:27]

• Red lipstick is a "neutral" for Rachel—a classic, empowering, and versatile staple.
  • Rachel: "For me, red lipstick is neutral. I know that sounds bizarre, but I really do find it...the red lip is almost like the LBD of makeup in my opinion." (32:37)
• Recommendations:
  • Revlon (classic reds), L’Oreal (great French reds, both orangey and blue-based), Elf, and Maybelline (notably their stay-on formulas).
  • Suggests starting with a sheer or warm red for less intensity; emphasizes matte formulas for longevity.
    • Rachel: "Try to stick with matte tones with red, because they do tend to travel and they can get really messy." (34:38)

e. Softer Cat Eye for Aging/Crinkling Eyes

[36:32]

• Rachel hacks her look by using a brow pen as eyeliner for a softer, more translucent cat eye effect.
  • Rachel: "...using my liquid brow pen as an eyeliner because I like the transparency of it...it's soft and transparent and sort of a little bit less of a hard line." (37:03)

f. Best Eyelid Primer for Hooded Eyes

[38:24]

• Thrive’s waterproof eyelid primer ranks as Rachel’s favorite for hooded or folded lids, preventing creasing and eyeshadow transfer.

g. Perfecting the Cat Eye

[39:17]

• Rachel’s technique: create a dot for the wing endpoint, then use small increments to connect, avoiding one long swoop.
  • Rachel: "My favorite way to do it is to make a small dot on the outside of the eye where I'm trying to get to. And then I go in small, little increments. I don't ever try to do a sweep." (39:30)
• Face symmetry varies—don’t aim for perfection; bring intuition (and fun) into the process.

3. Trends in Beauty for 2026

[42:09]

• Two dominant trends:
  • Risk Takers: Bold, experimental, expressive.
  • Clean Girls: Minimal, “no-makeup” makeup, ultra-groomed.
• Social media scrutiny has made risks scarier; Rachel wishes for a safer 'middle zone' to enable more play, individuality, and whimsy.
  • Rachel: "What we need to see is people cultivate their own sense of who they are—beauty-wise, fashion-wise anyway—and then feel free to play around." (44:39)
• Rachel is inspired by people like Pamela Anderson embracing a “zero makeup” approach, seeing honesty as a new frontier.
  • Rachel: "There’s an honesty there. And I think that's what I miss. There just feels like there's a serious—suddenly there's really—it’s gotten very serious..." (48:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Rachel Goodwin on Red Lip: "Red lipstick is neutral...every single person can wear red lipstick. It's really more of a psychological thing as to whether or not you...give yourself permission to wear it." (32:37)
• Rachel on the Cat Eye: "It's really about being relaxed in your approach and not trying to do a long effect...my favorite way…is to make a small dot on the outside of the eye...then I go in small, little increments." (39:30)
• Rachel on Beauty Trends: "I would like to see girls being more individualistic with their approach. Because I think...we have more variety and more talent available than ever before, more ability to express these pieces. And yet people are falling into templates." (43:35)
• Rachel on Makeup Philosophy: "I just love...the ability to use [makeup] as a tool of expression...and a way of sort of trying on different personas and identities and finding out which one fits." (47:20)

Product Recommendations

• Tinted Moisturizer: Lisa Eldridge Tinted Moisturizer, Eighth Day Primer/Sunscreen
• Blush for Freckles: Tower 28, Armani (liquid), Merit
• Drugstore Red Lipstick: Revlon, L’Oreal, Elf, Maybelline (Stay-on)
• Softer Cat Eye: Use brow pen as liner
• Eyelid Primer (Hooded Eyes): Thrive Waterproof Eyelid Primer
• General Beauty: Oribe Gold Lust Oil, Lumify eyedrops

Timestamps of Important Segments

• [09:15] – Rachel Goodwin joins episode
• [14:43] – Rachel’s 2026 career update & book announcement
• [20:07] – Listener Q&A begins (Tinted moisturizer & matte coverage)
• [22:26] – Best blush for freckles
• [24:52] – BB Cream vs. CC Cream vs. Foundation
• [32:27] – Red lipstick recommendations & philosophy
• [36:32] – Liquid liner/cat eye alternatives for aging eyes
• [38:24] – Best eyelid primer for hooded lids
• [39:17] – Cat eye tips and technique
• [42:09] – 2026 beauty trends; risk-taking vs. “clean” aesthetic
• [47:20] – Makeup as self-expression, honesty in beauty

Episode Tone & Style

The discussion is friendly, personal, and encouraging, sprinkled with humor, self-awareness, and empathy for the challenges of both daily and red carpet beauty. Rachel’s expertise is matched with warmth—every answer is designed to be accessible, actionable, and supportive.

Final Thoughts

Rachel’s outlook on beauty is fundamentally about empowerment, self-expression, and play. This episode is both a resource and an inspiration: practical enough for anyone looking for product recommendations or makeup techniques, and thought-provoking for listeners reflecting on how beauty fits into their evolving identities.

For full product links, check forever35podcast.com or their Instagram @forever35podcast.