From Sculptra to Stem Cells: The Treatments We’re Trying Right Now + Susan Yara’s New-ish Brand, Playa

Summary

Gloss Angeles Podcast Episode Summary

Episode Details

• Title: From Sculptra to Stem Cells: The Treatments We’re Trying Right Now + Susan Yara’s New-ish Brand, Playa
• Hosts: Kirbie Johnson and Sara Tan
• Date: May 5, 2026
• Theme: A deep dive into trending beauty and aesthetic treatments the hosts are personally trying, plus a discussion of Susan Yara’s revival of the Playa brand. Honest, experiential beauty journalism intertwined with industry insight and pop culture connections.

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Kirbie and Sara candidly share the treatments they're investing in as they approach their 40s, from Sculptra and Skinvive to a futuristic stem cell banking treatment. They break down the science, their personal motivations, and pros/cons of each experience. The latter half of the episode transitions to a spirited recap of Susan Yara's new venture reviving Playa, adding both business analysis and emotional context as industry insiders.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Personal Glow-Up Journeys: The Treatments We're Trying (00:44–21:24)

Aesthetic Treatment Round-Up

• Both hosts are on a “Glow up to 40” quest, experimenting with the latest treatments to look their best by year-end.
• Sara’s Latest Treatments: (01:31–05:33)
  • Consulted Vanessa Lee (The Things We Do), focusing on facial balancing.
  • Sculptra at the hairline for lift and firmness.
  • Small amounts of hyaluronic acid filler in the midface.
  • Skinvive in smile lines and chin to hydrate.
  • PRFM glass skin stamping (like PRP but lasts longer).
  • Quote: “What can I do to look like myself but better, what would you prescribe me?” – Sara (01:38)
• Kirbie’s Perspective:
  • Reflects that, "the more I know about beauty, the less I do" (02:54), comparing it to how medical professionals approach their own fields with caution.

Sculptra vs. Filler vs. Skinvive Explained (03:53–11:14)

• Sculptra: Bio-stimulatory injectable that gradually stimulates natural collagen for lift and smoothing over months (not instant like filler).
  • Quote: "It's a bio stimulatory injectable...stimulate your own natural collagen production to smooth and tighten and lift." – Sara (04:29)
  • Effects visible after 1–3 months; requires daily facial massage post-injection.
• Skinvive: In the Juvederm family, used for deep hydration, not volume—"like a sponge," injected just under the skin's surface.
  • Questioned whether marketing as 'not a filler' is just semantics since it’s still hyaluronic acid-based.
  • Quote: "I am having a hard time wrapping my head around Skinvive marketing itself as not being a filler." – Kirbie (07:40)
  • Quote: "I think this is a very good example of marketing…" – Kirbie (08:41)
• Discussion on the nuance of these treatments and importance of getting several medical opinions.
• Caution about overfilling, filler migration, and the importance of gradual, natural results.

Peel Experience with Ultraceuticals & Melasma Management (11:44–14:21)

• Kirbie received a gentle, brightening peel from the Australian brand Ultraceuticals (not heated, intended for pigmentation/melasma).
  • Pairing the peel with an at-home regimen, including a brightening serum tested clinically against hydroquinone.
  • Quote: "I love getting an entire regimen from a brand and being like, I’m going to only use this for the next four weeks." – Kirbie (13:29)

Acorn Stem Cell Banking for the Future (14:38–21:24)

• Both hosts visited Facile to try Acorn, a service that banks stem cells from plucked hair follicles, which can be used for regenerative treatments later.
  • Less invasive than blood or bone marrow–based harvest.
  • Process: Pluck 50 follicles from the scalp; cells are processed and stored.
  • After 45–60 days, stem cells are sent back in a powder to mix topically (e.g., after microneedling, hair, or in the future, potentially even joints).
  • Quote: "We got invited in to Facile to try this new thing that they’re offering called Acorn. And it's where they essentially harvest your skin cells...they have found...you can take it from your hair follicle..." – Kirbie (15:13)
  • Discussion of the science, potential benefits (it’s your own biology, higher concentration than PRP), and future possibilities.
  • Candid commentary on the mildly painful harvesting experience.
  • Quote: "It was a little uncomfortable getting my hair plucked, but it's just as uncomfortable as getting my blood drawn." – Sara (20:03)
  • Both excited and skeptical, promising follow-ups once their vials arrive.

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2. Industry News: Susan Yara’s Relaunch of Playa (21:24–32:29)

Why Work After Making Millions?

• Susan Yara, after selling Naturium for $355M to e.l.f. in 2023, launches a new venture.
  • Quote: "Why do wealthy people want to work? Still Keep working. Susan, I’m talking directly to you. Why?" – Kirbie (21:55)
  • Lighthearted debate: Would you disappear or keep hustling after such a deal?

The Curious Case of Playa

• Original Playa: Launched in 2017 by Shelby Wild; later acquired by Forma (the incubator behind Morphe/Lipstick Queen).
• Brand disappeared following legal disputes and Forma’s bankruptcy.
• Susan acquired Playa’s name and trademarks via Forma's bankruptcy, not Shelby.
• Emotional undertone: Bittersweet for original founder; but excitement for Susan’s "2.0" version.
  • Quote: "If I were Shelby, I would feel really sad." – Sara (27:08)
• Discussion about similar business models: Acquiring existing brands/IP and pairing them with influential faces (comparing to The Center model, e.g., Fleur with Chriselle Lim).

Playa 2.0: Vision, Focus & First Product

• New Playa is hair and body, fragrance-forward, leaning into Susan’s Mexican heritage and Miami lifestyle.
• First Product: Fragrance Depositing Gloss Rinse for Hair—an in-shower, acidified, shine-boosting, frizz-fighting treatment.
  • Quote: "It is the Playa fragrance depositing gloss rinse for hair." – Kirbie (29:07)
  • D2C launch; potential fit for Ulta or Target in the future.
  • Positioning intentionally rooted in Latin/Mexican culture, resonating with current "skinification of hair" and fragrance trends.
  • Quote: "Her whole thing, like, last year told me that she was like, you’re gonna see me in a lot of bikinis on the beach. And I was like, okay. And she’s like, but that’s intentional." – Kirbie (31:38)

Industry Context

• Recap of Forma’s business failures, the harm to acquired indie brands (Playa, Lipstick Queen, Jaclyn Cosmetics), and how it shapes today’s industry moves.
• The emotional, ethical, and business complexities in beauty brand acquisitions.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Marketing Language:
  "I am having a hard time wrapping my head around Skin Vive marketing itself as not being a filler." — Kirbie (07:40)

• On Career Motivation:
  “Why do wealthy people want to work? Still Keep working. Susan, I’m talking directly to you. Why?” — Kirbie (21:55)

• On Founders Losing Their Brands:
  “If I were Shelby, I would feel really sad.” — Sara (27:08)

• On Innovation/Cutting-Edge Treatments:
  “This is like stem cells banked for future for our skin, perhaps our body.” — Sara (15:06)

• On the Skinification of Hair:
  "This is the skinification of hair in a way that is interesting to people." — Kirbie (31:22)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:44–01:59 – Introducing their personal aesthetic treatment journeys
• 03:53–11:14 – Sculptra, filler, and Skinvive comparison and discussion
• 11:44–14:21 – Kirbie’s peel experience & at-home regimen with Ultraceuticals
• 14:38–21:24 – Acorn stem cell banking: process, science, future potential
• 21:24–23:51 – Discussing Susan Yara’s business moves post-Naturium
• 24:25–28:31 – Playa’s business history, acquisition drama, ethical nuances
• 28:31–32:29 – Playa 2.0 product, branding, cultural resonance, industry context

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Conclusion

This episode delivers a smart, candid, and detailed look at the latest buzzy (and sometimes controversial) aesthetic procedures along with industry insider commentary on high-profile brand launches. Kirbie and Sara combine personal experience, technical explanation, and cultural analysis—making it a must-listen (or read) for anyone keen on next-level beauty trends and the stories behind the products on their shelves.

Transcript

[A]

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[B]

Glam los angeles.

[C]

Hi, kirby. Hi, sarah. Welcome to los angeles. So you probably can't tell, but Kirby saw my face yesterday without makeup and it looks like I fell hard on the pavement and I have bruises all around my lower face. My mouth.

[B]

Yes. She came over and I looked at her like, oh, are you okay? My God.

[C]

Do you need help?

[B]

Are you all right? I'm a little nervous. What happened? I knew what happened. She has told me. So this week has been a big week for Sarah. Getting stuff done for the first time. Yes. Yes.

[C]

And you too also. You got some stuff.

[B]

Yes, I did.

[C]

So as everyone knows, listening, Kirby and I are on our Glow up to 40 quest.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

We're just doing all the things to look and feel our best by December and January. And one of the first things I did in January was text our dear friend Vanessa Lee from the things we do. And I was like, what can I do to look like myself but better, what would you prescribe me? And you know, she's all about facial balancing and like she is a walking billboard because she looks so good, but it looks like just so natural.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

So she told me sculpture at the hairline, which is supposed to lift and firm from the outside in. Then a little bit of hyaluronic acid filler in my mid face to replace some volume loss. Skin vive around my lower face and my mouth, like in my smile lines and in my chin and. And then PRFM glass skin stamping across my face. And that is similar to prp. It's just it supposedly lasts longer. The effects of it. The thing that I got asked the most about was Sculptra.

[B]

Yes. I think Sculptra is the thing that is most interesting to people.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I was gonna ask you though, about Skin Vive.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Because I think a lot of people, when they come to me.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Think I know a ton about all these aesthetic treatments because I was a guinea pig at popsugar for so many years. But I was thinking about this the other day while walking to my car. I was like, the more I know about beauty, the less I do same.

[C]

I feel like it is like, doctors and dentists and healthcare providers who have seen too much.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

So then they know too much.

[B]

Yes. And so for me, I also asked Vanessa, you know, what would you think for me specifically? And she mentioned Sculptra and my hairline, which I do want to figure out at some point. But there is a provider I actually want to go see in Beverly Hills. Lauren Goodman. She has a clinic called Juliana Clinic, and she makes these amazing videos showing people that have come in that have had too much filler or overdone it with Botox or they've done nothing. And she'll show the before and after and explain exactly why she's doing certain things to their face. And so I'm like, okay, I don't know if I want to go see Vanessa, if I should go to Dr. Sam, because I do think, like, dermatologists are a little bit different than most aesthetic providers, in a way.

[C]

When I saw Dr. Sam the other day, she was like, what are we even gonna do? You don't need anything.

[B]

Right.

[C]

You know what I mean?

[B]

Right. I love her for that. But then with Vanessa, you know, she went on a weight loss journey. She got a mommy makeover after three kids, and so she was noticing jowls. And that, for me specifically, is something that I. And thinking about.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So that's why I'm really interested in the sculpture. All that to say. Then I got recommended to Lauren Goodman, and I started following her, and I'm like, okay, but I want to go get a consult with her and, like, kind of hear all my options. You know what I mean?

[C]

What you should do.

[B]

And I think three different opinions.

[C]

Exactly. And I think that you also have to have them explain, okay, what is this going to look like in three months? Six months? Because with sculpture, what I didn't know is that I'm not going to see the effects of this until a month, two months, three months. So what it is, is it's a bio stimulatory injectable that helps stimulate your own natural collagen production to smooth and tighten and lift.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

So it's stimulating your own collagen, which is why people think it's filler, but it's not, because filler is just, like, hyaluronic acid. And it's instant. So, like, she put. Which I told Kirby, I was so scared to get filler in my cheeks because we've seen how wrong it can go. And she's like, that's when people overfill. She's like, I'm giving you literally less than half a syringe. And I can't really even tell right now. I'm sure, like, as my face, the swelling goes down and everything, I will. But with the Sculptra, it's over time. And your body's collagen production is helping to then lift and smooth.

[B]

Right. Because I think a lot of people here injectable and they think, oh, they're injecting something to make that lift happen immediately.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

This is a different type. It's not a filler. No, it is very much not a filler. It's a bio stimulator. It's in that category.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

You and I have probably heard about this for the last four years. Right. Like, very heavily. Especially in la. Right. Like, just remember, y', all, we're in Los Angeles. Right. So we hear of things and we hear them fast and furiously and we're like, do we try them? Do we not? I mean, when I went to AAD last year, there was a whole presentation on Sculptra.

[C]

Oh, really?

[B]

And also Skin Vive. Like, they were really pushing these types of injectables.

[C]

Yeah. Which I love because I think it's definitely more natural looking. And it's like using your body to produce that collagen. So Skin Vive is in the, like, Juvederm family.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

And that's what they used around my smile lines.

[B]

And.

[C]

And it basically does the same thing. It's not filling, but it is adding deep hydration. So that's why people are like, it's great if you have really dry skin or, you know, as you get older, your skin is just drier.

[B]

Wait, so it's not a hyaluronic acid filler?

[C]

So Skin Vive is an FDA approved injectable made by Juvederm, but it is not a filler. It is a very thin fluid form of hyaluronic acid. And they inject it on, like, right beneath the surface of your skin, which is why where they put it around me bruised so easily, because they're just putting it right beneath the surface.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Whereas Sculptra is like, deep. And, you know, I think also filler, I'm assuming, is a little bit deeper. But that's why I felt the needle and I was Like, I cannot wait for this to be over.

[B]

Yeah, you were telling me. She was kind of like, I mean, I have going to town.

[C]

I am, like, confirmed. I bruise easily. And as, like, you can see, I bruise very, very easily. So it's not her fault, but it's, I think, also just where the Skin Vive is placed.

[B]

Okay. I would love for any injector who has been doing this for a while to perhaps chime in in the comments or send us a note, because I am having a hard time wrapping my head around Skin Vive marketing itself as not being a filler.

[C]

When it's made by Juvederm and it's hyaluronic.

[B]

Hyaluronic acid. It might be thinner, but it's still doing something there to fill.

[C]

Yes. But it's so, so, so tiny that it's supposed to act like a sponge. Like, it's, like, permanently wet and damp, but it's. It's micro, micro, micro. Compared to, like, the filler that was put in my cheekbones.

[B]

Why was it. Why was it used? Like, why did you get it?

[C]

Because they didn't want to add volume or shape.

[B]

In your marionette.

[C]

Yes. In the nasal labial folds and the chin, but they wanted to add hydration, which in a way adds volume, but in a more natural way. Okay. And I think it's also gradual.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

Yeah. But no, it's.

[B]

I mean, I think it's filler. Like. Like, with all due respect to anybody that might be willing to prove me wrong in the comments, but, like, I think that this is a very good example of marketing.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, thinner. It acts as a sponge to hydrate your skin. We get hydration in our skin from skin care.

[C]

Yes. I totally understand what you're saying. And I'm also just like, this is what was told to me because it's

[B]

like, it's different than a bio stimulator. Yeah, Right. Like, if it was, like, sculpture, I feel like they'd be comparing it to sculpture. Right. Like, it would be their biggest skin. Viv's biggest competitor would be Sculptra. Right?

[C]

Yes.

[B]

But I do think that filler has gotten such a bad rap that they're

[C]

like, we got to spend this.

[B]

We got to figure out how to market this in a way also, I mean, as well, it seems to be a very different size, molecule, whatever. Whatever it is. Right. So, sure, it could be a different formula, liquidity, whatever, Totally.

[C]

But I still think at the end

[B]

of the day, it's still filling in so that you don't have Those lines,

[C]

they're both hyaluronic acid.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

Like filler, essentially 100%. They definitely are marketing it as hydration.

[B]

Okay.

[C]

And then filler as filler. But again.

[B]

And what do I know? And what do I know?

[C]

But I'm also like, so why skin Viv here and like, sculpture here? Why not sculpt? You know what I mean? So I think for Sculptra, it's like tightening and lift.

[B]

Because of the tightening and lift. If you're adding. Because this is not a new thing. Like, I know, like nurse Jamie used to do stuff where she would put filler in your temple to lift that area. Right. And that's great. But then what happens when that filler starts migrating to different parts of your face? Because we know filler does migrate. We know that an injector can put too much.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

We know that when plastic surgeons are going in and looking, they're seeing this filler still there.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

When it was supposed to, quote, unquote, dissolve already. Right.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

So I think that bio stimulation, in a way, if it. If it really is helping with, like, your collagen production and helping lift in that way, it. It's like the safer way to go.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I feel like for this area here. Yeah. Like, why not sculpture here?

[C]

Yeah. That's what I'm like. I mean, I'll have to ask Vanessa. Yeah. Also with sculpture, I have to massage it in the morning and at night.

[B]

Really?

[C]

Yeah. Cuz everything else you're, like, not supposed to touch.

[B]

No.

[C]

Yeah. But this I have to massage.

[B]

Interesting.

[C]

Yeah. So check in in one to three months and I'll let you know. So many people asked me. I think it's also obviously so big in Korea. Like, a lot of people go to Korea to get their sculpture, and so they're seeing so much content around. Man, what a confusing world. But I'm. I'm excited.

[B]

Envy. I mean, people still don't know a difference between a filler and a neurotoxin.

[C]

Right, Right. You know what I mean? Yeah. Maybe we'll have to. Did we do an episode where we, like, broke it down?

[B]

I think so. But you know what? We need a refresher. And I can refresh myself because I need to know the exact differences between a skin versus a Juvederm. Yeah.

[C]

I feel like Charlie Day in that, like, it's always sunny meme where he's, like, pointing everything.

[B]

That's how I feel. Arithmetic and mathematics. Yes.

[C]

Yes. How I feel.

[B]

I feel the exact same way.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

I love that. So I got a peel from Australian brand called Ultraceuticals. It was not anything crazy. It was obviously, you guys can look and see my face. I have a little bit of flaking going on. They said it would progress more over five days. But the reason why I was really excited about this peel is because the brand is based in Australia, created by a doctor, and they know a lot about pigmentation. So when I was like, I have melasma. I'm a little scared to do a peel. And they were like, first of all, it's not gonna, like, be heated or anything. It's gonna be fine. But literally, like, this is our specialty.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And so I got a brightening peel, and then on top of that, a vitamin A peel.

[C]

Okay.

[B]

They warned me that for the next five days, I might get flaking and stuff like that. I could wear makeup, whatever. Just don't use any actives for five days. Then after five days, start implementing this brightening serum that they recommended to me. That they make.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

That they tested clinically against hydroquinone, and the results were better.

[C]

Ooh.

[B]

Which was very exciting to me.

[C]

Because you can't use hydroquinone.

[B]

Well, I can, and I got some from Dr. Sam when I went to visit her. Thanks, Dr. Sam. You know anything about the Vegas cream? It's now called Brighton Rx because the Vegas compounding pharmacy that they used to use shut down during COVID Womp. Womp. But she makes this compounded concoction of Kojic acid hydroquinone. Like, several other things. Right. To help with melasma specifically. It's like, why her skin looks incredible. She's 50 years old. And, I mean, I know it's. She's walking billboard for her practice Chef's Kiss Love. And we'll talk about our experience there in a second. But I can't wait to use this brightening product from Ultraceuticals. I love Australian people. Literally, Tracy doing my facial, I was like, keep talking, babe. Like, I want to hear. Yeah, no, just. I kept asking her questions like, such a sweetheart. But I am eager to see. I love getting an entire regimen from a brand and being like, I'm going to only use this for the next four weeks.

[C]

So easy.

[B]

It does. And it helps me to understand what actually is working or what is irritating my skin.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Versus being like, was it this product from this brand?

[C]

Right. And you don't have to worry about using two Actives that, like, you aren't supposed to use at the same time. Like, it just keeps you in check.

[B]

I totally agree. So got that done at Formula Fig. If you guys haven't been to Formula Fig in L. A. Highly recommend it. They have amazing facials, facial massage. They also have, like, a lot of really nice brands that they carry there that I feel like are not publicized a ton. They're more niche brands. Brands.

[C]

I always recommend them for, like, an affordable, effective facial.

[B]

Agreed. Yes. I went in and my facial was. It was custom because it was through ultraceuticals, but it was like an hour and a half, and it was amazing. And then Sarah and I both got acorn, got our hairs.

[C]

50 hair follicles plucked from our head.

[B]

Have you ever seen the Housemaid? Have you seen the Housemaid?

[C]

No, I.

[B]

Have you read the Housemaid?

[C]

I haven't. And noor messaged me, and he's like, this is like, from the housemaid?

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

I was like, I have no Know what you're talking about.

[B]

Okay, so. So, yes. Nor Tiara. Exactly. We went and got our hairs pulled out of her head for beauty, for.

[C]

For the future. The future of ourselves.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

This is like stem cells banked for future for our skin, perhaps our body.

[B]

Yes. So we got invited in to Facile to try this new thing that they're offering called Acorn. And it's where they essentially harvest your skin cells. But instead of going through, like, bone marrow or blood fat transfer or whatever, they have found. And they have said that this has been something that people have known for the past 30 years. Right. You can take it from your hair follicle, but that means plucking your hair follicles out of your head. I did feel like I was in the Housemaid when this was happening because there was a. Well, there was a man doing it. I wasn't having to do it myself. And it didn't have to be one individual after another, But, I mean, they were ripping, like, eight hair follicles out of my head in different spots.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

They.

[C]

They went from the bottom, where we have more hair than. I was like, please don't touch the top. I'm working that.

[B]

And Dr. Sam, when she came in, was like, okay, what do you want to do with this? Because essentially, these stem cells, what they're going to do is. And this is putting it in layman's terms, I'm not getting into, like, the nitty gritty. We will in a later episode. But they essentially take them, harvest them over the course of, like, 45 to 60 days. Yep. Then they send a powder with a hyaluronic acid liquid that you mix them with and then you can apply these topically. Now, I'll just go and say we know that these are being used for other.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Things.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Like injectables.

[C]

Yes. FDA approved to be applied topically.

[B]

Yes. If your provider does this and they want to go off the rails, they can do that. But acorn can only say applied topically. Yeah. So Dr. Sam was like, well, what do you want to use this for? Your hair? And I was like, yes, actually, because I was at first not sure. And she said that she started doing it within her hairline and that she has all this new little baby growth happening.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

On the peaks of her hairline, which is exactly where I want it, specifically.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

She also talked to me about potentially doing oral minoxidil, which had been on my mind for a minute, but she said if I was going to do acorn, that I needed to not do oral minoxidil. Because a oral minoxidil takes up to six months to see results.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

It could also cause more hair shedding.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And also you want to know what's actually working.

[C]

Exactly.

[B]

So I was like, fair. But you can use this for a variety of things. Stamp it in your face after micro needling, after a cool peel. Yep.

[C]

Again, not FDA approved and perhaps in the future. But they were talking about how this could be used, unlike joints.

[B]

Yes. It's probably put in my knees.

[C]

Yes. Literally put it. We're all going to. You guys.

[B]

Put it in my knees. Put it in.

[C]

This is very exciting.

[B]

I was very excited about this. Sarah and I got invited in to try it, and obviously we wanted to talk to the brand and learn more from them, but then at the same time, need to do more digging on our own outside of, like a brand rep talking to us about it. But I'm excited because I was asking Dr. Sam, like, okay, so they have a headquarters in Irvine, I believe. And I was like, so do they just have my stem cells there? And she's like, well, they send the provider your stem cells. Well, they sell.

[C]

They send 12 vials.

[B]

Yeah. But they're essentially, like, kept. Yes. In this place. And I was like, oh, the security there. Because I always think about it, like, when you're freezing your eggs, like, oh, yeah. There's been issues in the past with, like, different totally egg freezing companies.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Where it's like your personal information gets out. Yes. Your eggs got destroyed.

[C]

It's all. Yeah. And it's so expensive. I mean, when you have a baby, they give the option to save the Stem cells from the umbilical cord, which, sorry, K. And Zoe didn't do it for you guys. I'll pay for your acorn in the future. It's so expensive.

[B]

And for the, the stem cells when you're like getting out of the hospital and to.

[C]

And to bank it, you know, but obviously it's like so amazing to have in the future. Right. Especially if you are sick, you, you know, have joint problems, things like that. But what is so cool about this in particular is that this is biologically yours compared to like, let's say you're getting exosome facials, growth factors. You don't know where those are coming from.

[B]

And they could be synthetic. They could be from plants, like, which we're not on.

[C]

No, totally.

[B]

But like, but like, at least you

[C]

know that this is going to work with your biology because it's yours.

[B]

It's also, you're only as young as you are right now. Right. And so they were explaining to me like, these are your 39 year old stem cells. So you will. And they will keep reproducing.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

A and B, they will stay 39.

[C]

Yep. Yeah. That's why Dr. Sam was like, oh, I wish I would have done it when I was younger. And then they say that they liken this to prp, but it is supposed to have a higher concentration of like all that good stuff that you want.

[B]

Yes.

[C]

And honestly, like, it was a little uncomfortable getting my hair plucked, but it's just as uncomfortable as getting my blood drawn.

[B]

I think it goes down to the person that's doing it.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Like, if they know what they're doing and they can just rip them out quickly in a bundle and make it quick. I had somebody in my room that was like practicing and learning and she was scared of hurting me. And I'm like, do not say that with any other patient. A, B, I'm happy to be the beginning, but like, do not say that with any other.

[C]

You just got to do it confidently.

[B]

Yeah. And you can't. You can't like.

[C]

No, you can stand by strand, pull

[B]

the tweezer on the hair. I was. That happened a few times and I was literally like, you're sending a shiver down my spine. I need you to literally rip it out by the follicle.

[C]

Yeah. And I was like, oh, I made a joke and I was like, oh, you should just like throw me in the shower. My. I have like so much hair that falls out, you know, after I take it, after I wash my hair. And they're like, no, no, no, we need the hair follicles.

[B]

Yeah.

[C]

Like, we need a little. Yes. With the bulb.

[B]

You got to see the bulb. The bulb is very important. Which made me laugh because I was like, okay, so Sarah's being, like, pricked with all these needles, and then we're going to our hair ripped out of her head by the bulb.

[C]

What is your life like? I'm not really sure.

[B]

Yeah, like a little scary, but okay, we'll follow up because we won't get those vials for at least 45 days.

[C]

At least 45.

[B]

And then it'll take time to actually see any results, so.

[C]

Exactly.

[B]

Keep us accountable. Ask us how it's going. Ask us about all of our treatments. We want to follow up, but the journey to 40 has begun. Here we go. Here we go. Okay. I think the biggest news of this past week is that Susan Yara is back with her second dance. You know her from Naturium. She sold that brand for $355 million to Elf back in 2023. It was only a three year old brand, and now she has launched another brand. Before we reveal that brand, why do wealthy people want to work? Still Keep working. You guys know we have a relationship with Susan. We've known her for a very long time. We consider her a friend. Susan, I'm talking directly to you. Why? You have a hot bod. You're a single lady now. Well, you're divorced, at least.

[C]

Yes, yes.

[B]

Like, go be on an island. Don't do anything.

[C]

She's also doing other things outside of this. She has her podcast.

[B]

Yes. Yeah, Her. Her podcast just signed with Dear Media. I'm like, babe, I would be the best wealthy person ever know about that because I would disappear. I was texting someone and I was like, if I made out like a bandit. And she did not make out like a bandit. Literally, like, that was a well deserved payout, right?

[C]

Oh, yeah.

[B]

And granted, she also didn't get the entirety of the $5 million, but if I had been awarded for my hard work after this long, illustrious career with even 10% of that amount of money, okay, I would be like, I'm good.

[C]

Like, I don't think so. I disagree. I think you say that, and, I mean, I also would dream of that. But I think that Capricorns thrive on adrenaline and chaos. And obviously we love to work. And so I think that you would go on vacation for a month, then you would get really bored, and then you would do something and you'd have to, like, find another way to make you're just too creative.

[B]

I disagree wholeheartedly. I would literally be like, this is the last you will ever see of me. Love you. My Instagrams would all be shut down. I would get burner accounts.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I would literally just be by myself, living the high life with my family. I truly want more rich people to do that. It's like, yeah, but okay, not. Not to knock the fact that Susan literally started a whole other brand. But she did. She started a whole other brand. It's called Playa.

[C]

But you're like, hey, that sounds familiar. Why does it sound familiar?

[B]

Correct. Because this brand has already existed. Now, I spoke with Susan last year when I was in Miami. We had dinner together, and she was like, I'm starting another brand. And I'm like, are you on crack? First of all, why? But also, congratulations. And she mentioned it, and she was like, I am obtaining the trademark for Playa. Sarah and I are very familiar with Playa because this was a brand we love, loved. And if you're not familiar, Sara, what is Playa?

[C]

Okay, so Playa was founded originally in 2017 by Shelby Wild. I still have memories of using the products. I think I remember the last time I saw Shelby, and it was, like, at the Sunset Tower, and she was introducing, like, the latest product. I don't know what it is. It was like, I think, like a dry shampoo. I think at that time, Forma had already acquired Playa. But unfortunately, Playa just disappeared. And we were like, what is going on? We could probably find our texts about this and being like, what's happening? And what happened was Shelby was involved in a legal dispute with Pharma over its lack of support. And then she went on to found California Naturals, who. Which is thriving. Is it Owen Wilson is the, like, ambassador?

[B]

Yes.

[C]

I'm like, wow, that's so cool. And I know so many people that love that brand. So then Susan bought the name and the trademarks from Shelby. Right. Or from Forma. From Forma.

[B]

Because the reason. So Shelby was in litigation with Forma. And if you're not familiar, Forma was the incubator.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

That had morphe. It had Playa. It also had Lipstick Cloth Queen. And I think that this is an important distinction because Lipstick Queen also got run into the ground by former brands. So the lawsuit that Shelby had brought against Forma, she was arguing that they did not provide any support for this brand. They essentially acquired them, said it was gonna be great, and they were, like, basically did nothing. And it was very quiet. Nobody knew what the Hell was going on. Another brand was the Jaclyn cosmetics brand that Jaclyn Hill had created. So then Forma goes bankrupt also. Forma rem.

[C]

Yes, Beauty member.

[B]

Like the fact that REM is thriving now because I believe Ariana bought it.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Acquired it. Whatever she needed to do to get it out of their hands. Right. So Forma, who is the parent company of Morphe, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2023. And when that happened, it basically made any lawsuit against them frozen. So Shelby's lawsuit against them essentially was doa, which sucks. I did have questions about. Not even questions because legally it is fair.

[C]

Right. But it's.

[B]

But I thought it was interesting. Exactly. I feel sad for Shelby in a way.

[C]

Sad for. Listen, we are so excited for Susan. I think the, like, launch and everything. Like, I mean, she looks incredible and it's very on brand with her Miami lifestyle. She's got this amazing Mexican heritage.

[B]

Her Mexican heritage, like Playa means beach.

[C]

It makes sense. However, if I were Shelby, I would feel really sad.

[B]

Yes. Because I think that the reason why she even filed that lawsuit in the first place against Forma was so that she could obtain.

[C]

Yes.

[B]

Her property, her ip, if you will, her idea. And keep it alive.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

And now you see another founder keeping it alive in a very different way. Granted, it's also hair. So Playa 2.0 is now founded by Susan Yara. I thought it was a little interesting in the business of fashion article, they said that it was similar to how Ben Bennett operates the center, which was a center brand.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

But it's like bringing in Criselle Lim for Floor for Fleur, even though Fleur had existed for years already.

[C]

Dr. Sam Ellis.

[B]

That's her name. Yes.

[C]

Did she create prequel or did they just bring her in?

[B]

I think that they wanted to make a brand. So the way that the center operates is essentially like they either start brands or acquire brands, and then they pair an influencer with that brand. It's very similar to how Naturium was started.

[C]

Right.

[B]

Naturium had already existed, I think a year when Susan got involved.

[C]

And that was the whole drama of it. All right.

[B]

And we have discussed that. You all can look. We've already talked about it. Susan and Playa 2.0. It is hair and body. So separate from Naturium, which is like really strongly skin care for the face focus. They do have amazing body products, so.

[C]

Yeah, they do. Oh, my God.

[B]

The body wash, body scrubs obsessed. But Playa is more fragrance focused.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Which I think for Susan is Smart. Because for a lot of these, like, very traditional skincare focused brands, they don't have a strong fragrance.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Because of obvious reasons. It can irritate people's skin. And people have learned, like, I need to go fragrance free in this case. It's like perfume obviously is booming. And so she's like, okay, we're going to give you hair formulas and we're going to give you body formulas that smell really, really good.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Which I'm excited about to.

[C]

Okay, Kirby, what is the first product they are launching?

[B]

It is the Playa fragrance depositing gloss rinse for hair.

[C]

That's interesting.

[B]

They say that this is an acidified in shower treatment for all hair types that instantly detangles conditions, boosts hair color and delivers visible shine. It says it uses lamellar deposition to leave hair smoother and glossier with a silky finish. It was tested at 80% relative humidity and it's proven to provide 72 hour frizz control and reduce frizz by 55% in humidity testing. And it'll be available or was available May 1st. And it's D2C right now. It's not in a retailer. It's not like at a Target or anything. I could see this being in an Ulta.

[C]

Totally. I was just going to say this is like such an Ulta brand to me.

[B]

And hair does really well at Ulta, so I could see this being at an Ulta for sure. But also, we know Susan has a relationship with Target because Naturium, so potentially could be a great fit there. I love the branding. I love the colorway. It does feel very inspired by her Mexican roots, in my opinion.

[C]

Yep.

[B]

I did give her an idea for a product. Ooh. We were talking about body care and I was like, if you do a body care product, there is a product that I have been dying to see come back. I don't know anything. So maybe this will exist or not. But I'm. I'm curious to see. I'm not going to say it.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Because I'm curious to see if it will come out. But if it does come out, I will be telling Susan that, like, she's got to make a statement.

[C]

She's got to name it Kirby.

[B]

Yes. I feel like that's such an interesting

[C]

product to launch with. It's very specific. It's not like a dry shampoo. A shampoo, a texturizing spray.

[B]

But you know what? I'm seeing more of these nozzles. These nozzle hair products become way more popular.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

I think that was a very specific move on their part. I think leaning into Miami and also Susan's Mexican background is extremely important right now and also really fun and gives it a great point of difference.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

Even the name of it. It's nueva soul.

[C]

Yeah.

[B]

So I think that they're doing all of their. I mean, just from us as being, you know, trend reporters and noting Mexican beauty. Really popular right now. Hair still booming. This is the skinification of hair in a way that is interesting to people. Her whole thing, like, last year told me that she was like, you're gonna see me in a lot of bikinis on the beach. And I was like, okay. And she's like, but that's intentional. I don't want to just be like, I'm. I'm launching a hair care brand inspired by, you know, the beach. And then I haven't done anything to really, like, drive home that point.

[C]

Right.

[B]

I don't know if I needed to see Susan's ass as much as I

[C]

have, by the way. Looks great.

[B]

Good ass.

[C]

Great.

[B]

But she's doing the work. Yes. She's selling the products both ways.

[C]

She's in the gym, and she is selling the marketing assets.

[B]

She's the asset.

[C]

Asset.

[B]

She is the asset. I'm curious. Have you guys heard of Playa before hearing us talk about it? Have you seen it on social media? What are you excited about and what do you hope to see from Susan Yara's second dance? We would love to know.

[A]

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