Gloss Angeles Podcast Summary

Episode Title: Avoiding Counterfeit Products This Holiday Season and Diving Into the World of Dupes with MCO Beauty
Hosts: Kirbie Johnson & Sara Tan
Date: November 18, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the rising challenge of counterfeit beauty products during the holiday season and explores the fast-evolving world of beauty “dupes” (inexpensive products that closely mimic high-end originals). Kirbie and Sara, both seasoned beauty journalists, offer essential advice for shoppers, share personal experiences, and discuss the ethical and business ramifications of dupe-driven brands like MCO Beauty. The latter half includes lively debate on what innovation and “democratizing luxury” really mean, as well as a discussion on new sunscreen ingredient regulations.

Main Topics & Discussion Points

1. The Holiday Counterfeit Surge: What to Watch Out For

• Why Now: The beauty industry is flooded with counterfeit products every holiday season ($5.4 billion lost annually; cosmetics are top 8 most seized counterfeit goods by law enforcement, per Personal Care Product Council).
• Risks: Using counterfeits can be dangerous (may contain unsafe or untested ingredients).
• Key Tips for Avoidance:
  • Buy from Trusted Retailers: Stick to the brand’s site or well-known retailers like Sephora and Ulta.
    • "We support and talk so much about Sephora and Ulta... you can trust." (Kirbie, 12:57)
  • Beware of Third-Party Marketplaces: Even on Amazon or TikTok Shop, verify the seller is official.
  • If It's Too Good to Be True…: Steep discounts on premium brands are almost always suspect.
    • "If a deal is too good to be true, it is too good to be true." (Sarah, 08:37)
  • Inspect Packaging and Reviews: Look for typos, off logos, or lack of reviews. Return frequency tags ("This product has been returned frequently" on Amazon) are red flags.
  • Patch Testing: When uncertain, patch test before using new products all over skin.

Notable Quotes

• "You’re putting these products on your face, lips, eyes. That is terrifying." (Sarah, 10:49)
• "I was very confused... I think I was sent a counterfeit product." (Kirbie, recounting a personal experience, 11:44)

Key Segment

• Counterfeit Dangers & Tips: 08:23–18:10

2. The Dupe Economy: Spotlight on MCO Beauty

A New Kind of Beauty Giant

• MCO Beauty’s Model: A brand built entirely on creating near-identical "dupes" (products that imitate the packaging, appearance, and sometimes formula of cult favorites like Charlotte Tilbury, Glow Recipe, Milk Makeup, Dior, etc).
• Scale & Success:
  • #1 selling beauty brand in Australia, outselling Maybelline
  • In 1,500+ Kroger stores, nearly all US Targets, and Amazon
  • $400 million revenue (FY ending Mar 2025)
  • Acquired for roughly $650 million
• Aggression in Duping: MCO makes unabashed copies, provoking both lawsuits and admiration for bringing luxury looks to the masses at a lower cost.

Ethical & Business Debate

• Is It Innovation?:
  • Meredith Rojas (MCO CMO): "By actually making things accessible to more people... we’re providing a form of innovation." (25:26)
  • Kirbie: "I said it was lazy. And I said brand founders are pissed." (26:17; quoting herself from Cheryl Wischhover’s Bloomberg article)
• Comparison to Fashion:
  • Reference to Steve Madden, Zara, and the normalization of dupes in other retail sectors.
  • "I can't say sh*t" (Kirbie, on realizing she personally buys footwear dupes, 31:07–31:15)
• Where’s the Line?:
  • Both hosts agree that duping indie brands, not conglomerates, crosses an ethical line (31:07–32:00).
  • "That's kind of where, I think, you and I would be like... yeah." (Sarah, 31:54)

How Good Are the Dupes?

• Performance Can Vary:
  • “EMCO’s makeup seems to be more pigmented than some of what it’s copying... but shades aren’t always spot-on.” (Kirbie, 33:08)
  • Sometimes the sensory experience (like scent, formula nuance) doesn’t match—e.g., “red Kool Aid versus pressed watermelon.” (34:04)

Notable Quotes

• "This brand doesn’t give a f*ck, which is so interesting." (Kirbie, 26:40)
• "At the end of the day, people just want a good deal and a good product." (Sarah, 34:44)
• "Just because brands can, doesn’t mean they should… When I see dupes like this I just think it’s lazy." (Kirbie, 36:12, as quoted in Bloomberg)

Key Segment

• MCO Beauty & Dupe Culture: 20:12–46:08

3. Sunscreen News: New FDA Regulations

• Legislation Update: US Congress passes a law that changes how sunscreen ingredients are evaluated:
  • Allows non-animal safety testing, acceptance of real-world safety data, and consideration of historical usage.
• Impact:
  • Could pave the way for faster, cheaper approval of new UV filters and possibly more innovative formulations in the US (seen as lagging behind Australia, Korea, and Europe).
• Cautious Optimism:
  • Implementation will take time; more changes are likely needed for true sunscreen innovation parity.

Notable Quotes

• “Hope that leaves me feeling positive and hopeful.” (Kirbie, 43:17)
• “We're not going to get the Australian version of Ultra Violette any time soon.” (Kirbie, 43:01)

Key Segment

• Sunscreen Legislation Update: 38:52–43:36

Notable & Memorable Moments

“Dupe Hypocrisy” (30:58–31:15)

Kirbie’s self-reflection on being judgmental about beauty dupes while buying shoe dupes:

“I can’t say sh*t,” she laughs, referencing her own Steve Madden habit.

Miss Piggy Manifestation (03:07–05:32)

A lighthearted opening as the hosts plot to manifest Miss Piggy as a podcast guest—celebrating her as a millennial feminist and beauty muse.

Indie Brand Protection (31:07–32:00)

Sara & Kirbie draw the ethical line: it’s especially unjust to dupe indie brands who’ve poured their life into one viral product.

Timestamps – Important Segments

• Holiday Counterfeit Product Dangers & Tips: 08:23–18:10
• MCO Beauty & The Dupe Debate: 20:12–46:08
  • MCO’s rise, legal issues, ethical quandaries, and the dupe economy
• Personal Experiences with Counterfeits: 11:30–12:16 (Kirbie’s Beauty of Joseon story)
• Sunscreen Legislation News: 38:52–43:36
• Indie Brands vs. Dupes Ethics: 31:07–32:00

The Hosts’ Tone

Conversational, witty, and passionate—mixing industry expertise with pop-culture references and personal anecdotes. Their critique of the beauty industry is informed but playful, and they balance strong opinions with self-awareness.

TL;DR

This episode arms you with crucial advice for avoiding dangerous counterfeit beauty products, delivers an impassioned discussion on the economics and ethics of “dupe” culture, with MCO Beauty as a case study, and offers cautious hope about new FDA rules on sunscreen ingredient approvals. Throughout, the hosts maintain a sharp, witty rapport, asking the hard questions: When does a dupe cross the line—and is making luxury accessible always worth it?