Podcast Summary: Glad We Had This Chat Takes New York - 'The Lipstick Lesbians' Alexis and Christina Androulakis

Introduction

In Season 2, Episode 21 of Glad We Had This Chat, host Caroline Hirons welcomes Alexis and Christina Androulakis, famously known as "The Lipstick Lesbians," to discuss their dynamic journey within the beauty and skincare industry. The episode, recorded on January 20, 2025, delves into their rapid ascent in social media, the challenges they faced while launching their own lipstick line, and their critical observations of the current retail landscape.

Journey on Social Media and TikTok Success

Alexis and Christina's foray into social media was both strategic and serendipitous. Initially entrenched in beauty product development and education, their accidental discovery of TikTok in 2018 paved the way for their viral success.

• Discovery of TikTok: Alexis recounts, "I was working as a consultant in beauty product development when a chance conversation introduced us to TikTok. It was like a Wall Street moment picking a winning stock" (02:13).

• Strategic Shift to TikTok: Christina emphasizes the platform's educational potential, "I studied how people learn on TikTok and realized it aligned perfectly with our mission to educate about beauty" (06:10).

Their content strategy focused on "edutaining" the audience with informative yet entertaining videos, leading to nearly a million followers on TikTok and over 400,000 on Instagram. This success wasn't overnight but the result of meticulous planning and leveraging their combined expertise in beauty and education.

Launching Their Own Lipstick Line

Motivated by the potential of social media, Alexis and Christina pooled their resources to launch their own lipstick brand. This venture was not without its lessons:

• Early Challenges: Alexis shares, "We launched in Italy with beautiful formulas, but realized you never self-fund a business without an audience or proof of concept" (04:45).

• Product Development Insights: Their background in product development allowed them to scrutinize products effectively, leading to the creation of high-quality, transfer-proof lipsticks that resonated with their audience.

Interactions with the Beauty Industry

The Lipstick Lesbians provide a unique insider perspective on the beauty industry, highlighting both its strengths and shortcomings.

• Retail Observations: Caroline criticizes the current state of Sephora stores, noting, "Walking into Sephora and finding messes online makes me sad because I know what it takes to create those products" (19:10). Alexis adds, "Sephora's open-sell environments never anticipated the volume and behavior of today's consumers."

• Respect for Industry Veterans: Both Alexis and Christina express deep respect for industry veterans like Caroline, recognizing the foundational work that has paved the way for new influencers. Caroline reflects on her journey, "My blog was all education, just like what you two are doing now" (17:54).

Current Retail Landscape and Future of Stores

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the decline of traditional department stores in favor of stores like Sephora and Ulta, attributing this shift to changes in consumer behavior influenced by social media.

• Retail Decline: "Retailers are killing the customer experience by pushing self-service checkouts, leaving elderly customers without support" (60:41) - Caroline Hirons.

• Vision for the Future: The guests envision a future where retail stores must reinvent themselves to offer exceptional in-person experiences or risk becoming obsolete. Alexis states, "If you don't provide an amazing store experience, you're going to lose your retail space" (62:07).

Future Plans and Educational Initiatives

Looking ahead, Alexis and Christina are committed to furthering their educational mission within the beauty industry.

• Educational Courses: They are developing a comprehensive course titled "Product Development Anchor Wheel," which integrates their extensive knowledge in beauty and education to empower aspiring beauty executives (29:17).

• Community Engagement: Plans include hosting meetups and expanding their presence both digitally and physically to foster a community of informed and empowered beauty enthusiasts.

Quick Fire Q&A

Towards the end of the episode, Caroline engages Alexis and Christina in a fun quick-fire session covering personal preferences and anecdotes.

• Favorite Products: They share their beloved skincare and makeup products, highlighting brands like Beekman 1802, Ulta, and Chanel.

• Retail Preferences: A playful debate arises over shopping at Ulta versus Sephora, with Alexis favoring Ulta for its comprehensive selection and Christina preferring the elevated experience of Sephora and Bergdorf's.

• Personal Anecdotes: Light-hearted stories about their early days in the beauty industry and favorite sandwiches add a personable touch to the conversation.

Notable Quotes

• Alexis on TikTok: "We were just inching. I'm like, I hope we get it before they take it away" (02:28).

• Christina on Education Frameworks: "We're putting an education framework that has never been done before in the beauty industry" (12:33).

• Caroline on Retail Standards: "I go into every single Sephora and the only one that was different was the Upper West Side at 11 am on a Sunday morning" (19:39).

• Alexis on Influencer Culture: "Creators need to be educators first and then influencers" (51:42).

Conclusion

This episode of Glad We Had This Chat offers a deep dive into the intersection of education, social media, and product development within the beauty industry. Alexis and Christina's journey from consultants to social media sensations and their critical insights into retail evolution provide valuable lessons for both industry insiders and beauty enthusiasts alike. Their commitment to education and authenticity sets a new standard for influencers, emphasizing the importance of knowledge and integrity in fostering a loyal and informed audience.

Stay Tuned

Don't miss future episodes where Caroline continues to bring in more industry experts to share their unique stories and insights. Subscribe to Glad We Had This Chat on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or your preferred platform, and join the conversation every Monday and Wednesday.