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Kirby
Bombas makes the most comfortable socks, underwear, and T shirts.
Sarah
Bombas are so absurdly comfortable, you may throw out all your other clothes.
Kirby
Sorry, do we legally have to say that?
Sarah
No, this is just how I talk. And I really love my Bombas.
Kirby
They do feel that good. And they do good, too. One item purchased equals one item donated.
Sarah
To feel good and do good, go to bombas.com acast and use code acast for 20% off your first purchase. That's B O M B-A-Com acast and use code acAst at checkout.
Clarice
Los Angeles.
Kirby
Hi, Kirby.
Clarice
Hi, Sarah. Welcome to Los Angeles. All right, it's been a minute. We have not done an AMA in a moment, and we got a lot of questions. We asked you in the Slack. We asked you in the Instagram channels. We asked you on Slack.
Kirby
Yeah, Slack, Instagram channels and Stories. Stories.
Clarice
Yeah. So there was a lot to choose from. Some of them were unhinged. So we did have to curate this, however. I'm really excited. I'm really excited about this. Let's go with this first question. This is from lntahanski, and they ask favorite powder blush to set a cream blush.
Kirby
Very specific question. I appreciated it because this is something that I do every day same, but.
Clarice
I do cream and then powder and then cream again. I don't know.
Kirby
No, I do that.
Clarice
I think cream stays longer when you have powder underneath.
Kirby
And also for that the, like, dewiness.
Clarice
Yes, yes, yes. So my go to lately has been Trixi Cosmetics. I took it with me on the Dove trip or the Unilever trip, but it's like, all Dove all the time. We love Dove favorite child. So we were traveling and I was like, I need, like, a strong blush because we were going to Sedona. It was gonna be cold. I wanted to have, like, these cozy cheek vibes.
Kirby
Totally.
Clarice
I had used the products before and loved them, but this really just reinvigorated my love for the brand in general. Yeah, their palettes are incredible. Their eyeliners. They have pot eyeliners that are amazing. They just launched a liquid liner pen that I am wearing right now. It is truly so easy. It is so, so black and, like, so, so easy to glide.
Kirby
Do you know what Trixi Cosmetics reminds me of?
Clarice
What?
Kirby
It reminds me of when Too faced launch.
Clarice
Oh, really?
Kirby
Yeah. Like, just, like, it's fun, playful. The colors are, like, you know, really, like, vibrant. But it's really good products.
Clarice
Yes.
Kirby
And I feel like I felt that same sort of vibe and excitement when too faced launched.
Clarice
Yes. And I love that when they have themes, they're fun. Like, fun. Me too. So they did a western themed palette, and it's the Horse girl palette.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
Which is so great. And it's like these beautiful browns and, like, there's like a turquoise in there. But my two favorite blushes from them are Plush Bunny and Total Betty. Plush Bunny is kind of like this retro, 70s inspired packaging. And then the shade is more of like a peach, like orangey peach. And then Total Betty is a, I would say, rose colored neutral for me. And I kind of mix those. I'm wearing them right now. I don't know if you can really see because we're on camera. I didn't, like, load it up, but I absolutely love them. And I use my Chanel blush brush. That is my go to blush brush.
Kirby
The, like, black thick. Yeah.
Clarice
Thick handle says Chanel on it.
Kirby
She's great.
Clarice
It is this, you know, it's like a little feather. It's not feathered.
Kirby
It's not feathered.
Clarice
It's the shape of. It is a curved rectangle.
Kirby
Curved rectangle.
Clarice
So, like, the edges are curved.
Kirby
Oh, I know what you're talking about. Okay, okay, okay.
Clarice
That's how I'm applying my blush these days.
Kirby
Love it.
Clarice
And what I'm applying.
Kirby
Okay. I have been using. This has been my routine for the last three months. I brought it with me because I just brought my makeup bag. So I wear the Bosma cream blush. That's my go to. In mauve. It's my favorite. You can see how much I love it.
Clarice
Wow, you really love it.
Kirby
It's a knitting pan.
Clarice
Yes.
Kirby
I should probably clean it. Okay. So I wear that, and then on top, I use the Kosas Baked Illuminating Blush. I think that's the correct name for it. Sorry. Baked Brightening Blush by Kosas. And I use it in Shade Swoon. Do you use this?
Clarice
Yes. I think it's really pretty. I haven't used it in a minute, but I do love it.
Kirby
So in answering this question, I didn't realize that I. I know it's baked and I know that there's, like, dimension in it, but I didn't realize there was shimmer in it because when I wear it, it's not like it's like sparkly. It just adds dimension to my face. But it definitely does have some sort of shimmer in it. But it's not like, gonna make you feel like you're 12 years old.
Clarice
It doesn't look like a highlighter.
Kirby
Yeah, it's not a highlighter. It really just adds, like, again, that dimension so that I don't always have to go back with my cream blush on top. But I love this. It's actually super long lasting. What I also really appreciate about it is that when you apply it, there's a good amount of pigment, but it's very buildable, which I think, you know, is par for the course for powder blushes. Right. Like, it's not like sometimes with cream blushes, you're like, whoa, I accidentally put on too much. I have to restart this. You know, you just go in and even if you accidentally put on too much, you can buff it out with your brush. So, yeah, I have been using this, like, literally every day for the last three months. It's my go to. There are a bunch of other really great wearable shades as well. But, yeah, she's my go to these days.
Clarice
Okay, that's a good one. I love those. They're so pretty. And all the shade options are great too.
Kirby
So good. Yes. Next question from Victoria Thor. This is the Hot Topic.
Clarice
Okay. And I just wanna say that for those of you that are like, this is not a political podcast. We had somebody comment that I listened to your podcast and you got too political with tarte. First of all, I don't know what you're talking. There's nothing political about that. We talked about the wildfires and we talked about tarte being crazy.
Kirby
Yes.
Clarice
Also, beauty is political, hence this question. And a variety of other things impacts.
Kirby
Beauty almost more than, I'm not gonna say more than other industries, but it directly impacts beauty and it affects women.
Clarice
And we are women.
Kirby
So. And we're gonna talk about it.
Clarice
You don't have to agree with everything that we think or say. We don't have to agree with everything you think or say. But this is a free podcast. You don't pay to listen to it. So if you don't like it, fast forward, you can skip this question.
Kirby
These are just our opinions. So correct predictions on the impact of tariffs on the beauty industry, question mark costs, a pullback on the constant launches, question mark, packaging changes, layoffs. I mean, there's a lot to talk about here. There's a lot to dissect. Where should we start?
Clarice
So Allure does have a story that they released around the time that Trump was officially elected in 2024. It was expertly written. So good. This is a very, very well written story. Extremely thorough. I have my thoughts about it at the end of this conversation, but I think it's gonna affect a lot of people who Love beauty in a variety of ways. So let's say you buy European, Asian or Australian sunscreen formulas. One of my absolute favorites, the sunscreen I'm using every day right now, ultraviolet. You cannot get it here in the U.S. yep. Not the most people, when they travel abroad, they're bringing it back. Stylevana, huge partner of ours, we have a code that you can use to buy Asian sunscreens. People usually buy their beauty of Jose from there. Their biore aqua riche. It's gonna affect you if you love your sunscreens. You love sunscreens that are not from the United States. You will be paying because just in case anybody's unclear, there's tariffs that are put on other countries. But in order to offset those tariffs, it's going to drive up the prices for the consumer.
Kirby
It will directly impact the price.
Clarice
So regardless of whatever messaging you were told, that's not how a tariff works. The cost is not eaten by the company.
Kirby
Right.
Clarice
It is more. 99.9% passed off to the consumer.
Kirby
Correct.
Clarice
With the exception of. I'm not going to say one brand in total, but there was one brand around the tariff conversation. I believe it was 20. When was it? Was it the last term? Last Trump term Term. Yes. The CEO of ELF said that they were going to be offsetting. They were gonna be doing a variety of things to eat up the costs of these tariffs. Because just for anyone that doesn't know, tariffs are not a new thing. Trump did not like, randomly bring this up. Biden had tariffs that he implemented.
Kirby
Right.
Clarice
Trump was really big on tariffs when he first ran and was in office, but I think just these tariffs are so much higher. Extremely.
Kirby
I mean, and I think from the last term, it was sort of like a gradual increase. And then Trump just came out like guns, a blazing, like, first day. Yeah. And was like 25%.
Clarice
And for China, 61 to 100% tariffs. Okay. So when you increase the prices or the tariffs for these other countries and then they increase their prices, usually American companies also follow suit because they say, well, if people are paying more for this, there, why aren't. Why can't we raise our prices to match this industry standard at this point? Okay. So it could likely drive up the prices of other products that you know and love that are made here in America. If you like products that are. This is all from the Allure article. If you like products made with coconut or palm oil, those prices could increase due to the fact that we don't grow many coconut palms here in America. These ingredients are in a lot of makeup products. Okay. You're probably going to see anywhere between like 10 to $20 increases on some of your favorite products, at minimum.
Kirby
That's crazy.
Clarice
ELF could potentially be increasing their prices because the CEO said back when the tariffs conversation was happening that they were trying to keep the prices minimal or price spikes minimal until 2026, which is next year. So ELF, known to be extremely affordable, could maybe be more of a mid tier brand. I mean, I'm not saying they're gonna go up to like 20, $30.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
But your favorite Halo Glow could probably increase by a couple of dollars.
Kirby
Yeah. We don't know currently what the tariffs Trump is going to put on, like the EU that will be coming. We know, but I imagine, I mean, we don't know.
Clarice
We don't know exactly what he has said. 60 to 100% for China.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
He's mentioned like 10 to 20% here and there.
Kirby
Right. And then like Mexico and Canada and then the EU number will be coming.
Clarice
Yes, yes. Everyone's just like, okay, what's going on?
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
So then also think about this. Price hikes. Reformulations could be a huge trend because a lot of these brands now are gonna think, okay, how can we get most of what we need in America without having to deal with these tariffs? If you have a favorite product that has this proprietary ingredient that comes from China.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
The likelihood of them using that is not gonna be high.
Kirby
And then also, even if you are someone that you're like, oh, I don't use products that are made with ingredients that are sourced outside of America, let's say. Which I'm like, I would love to see what those are.
Clarice
Yes.
Kirby
But if you are that type of person, the packaging is probably still made in China. So that's still going to impact the price of your favorite product. Like most packaging is from China.
Clarice
They interviewed Charlotte Cho of SOCO Glam and then I Met yout and she was saying that typically K Beauty is already at a nice price point, like a attainable price point. So that these tariffs may not affect K Beauty as much as other. Other brands.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
Which I thought was interesting.
Kirby
Could that be the reason why Sephora is going so hard on K Beauty? Like, I feel like the footprint of K Beauty is like growing like super fast for Sephora. And maybe that's part of the reason.
Clarice
That is a good question. Ultimately, what I found really interesting, it's actually at the end of the article and so many people that this writer reached out to refuse to comment for this.
Kirby
Like founders or just ex, like economists.
Clarice
Founders, retailers, the Personal Care Products Council, pcpc. A lot of people declined the comment, and mostly it's because they don't want to stir the pot, meaning that they don't want their name out there being critical of these Trump policies, which, as journalists, Sarah and I have now seen very reputable news sources being forced to pay money for things that are well within their jurisdiction to say and. Or factually correct. And they're basically paying in order to get on Trump's good side. This is not a democracy. I am scared. And if you're scared, I think it's fair. If you're not scared, I think that you're probably a person that will not be affected by this in any way. And if that's the case, great. But that's not a majority of people. I'm very. I think we're trying to go on business as usual, but I feel like since January 1st, it has been doom and gloom all day, every day. At least in Los Angeles and at least with the news that keeps coming out. I saw this post or this story from Ezra Klein that was like, don't believe him. And it was basically like, this is what Trump does. He, like, causes chaos, and he says he's gonna do all these things that he can't actually do, and then he's actually doing something else. So, like, you really need to focus on, like, what is possible and what is not. And I'm tell that to the news journalists who are constantly posting about him taking away birthright citizenship. Like, he can say that, but you don't need to cover it if that's something he can, like, literally not even do.
Kirby
Right, I know. Yeah. Yeah.
Clarice
We have to hold these new sources accountable. Like, that's where I'm like, everyone's up in arms about this birthright citizenship fiasco. Turns out he can't even do anything about it. And then, like, a federal judge was like, get a grip.
Kirby
Yeah, yeah. I was listening to npr, and they were interviewing Rob Bonta, who's the Attorney General of California, and he was like, being born in the United States and getting citizenship because you are born in that country. That's what we were made. That's what the Constitution. It's written in there. You can't change that. If you were born in this country, you're an American citizen. That's how that works. So, sorry.
Clarice
I just think, though, there is a point that it's distract so other things can happen.
Kirby
Totally.
Clarice
We need to be focused on the things that he can Actually do, right?
Kirby
Yes.
Clarice
Does it suck that he wanted to do that? Yes. But he can't even do it right.
Kirby
I mean, there's just so much. There's so much. I mean, again, we could go on and on about this. We'll go back to the fact that we're just talking about the tariffs and beauty. I'm really, really curious to see how this all shakes out in the next six months, in the next year, and then in four years. Like he has even said so himself. Like, we're going to experience some quote unquote pain for a little, for a little bit our eggs. I know it's, it's a result of bird flu, but inflation is going to happen, continue to happen. So I don't think anyone should be shocked or surprised that this is what's going to happen because we knew it. We, we, we all knew.
Clarice
Everybody knew.
Kirby
I'm curious to see how bad it's gonna get.
Clarice
I actually don't wanna know how bad it's gonna get. But, you know, here we are.
Kirby
God bless. One of our listeners who said that she was creating a spreadsheet to track the products that she uses and where they are manufactured so that she can see which ones are going to probably have increased prices. I know, I know. And I was like, wow. A.
Clarice
Okay.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
Is that in the slack?
Kirby
It was in the slack.
Clarice
Somebody. Did she share it?
Kirby
I don't think she shared her spreadsheet, but she said that she was make.
Clarice
A copy and then make it public. That's helpful.
Kirby
That is helpful.
Clarice
That's like grassroots helpful.
Kirby
I think we would all just learn, which. What we already know is that everything is made out of the country. A lot of the ingredients that we use are outsourced. The packaging. Yeah. Anyways.
Clarice
Okay, that was a downer. Sorry for everyone. Okay. Some tea. What's going. Oh, this is from Wine Fashionista. What's going on with beauty stat? 70 to 80% off. I feel like in the Sephora age, we have been conditioned to think, oh, a brand is 50% off, it's going out of business. Yes, sometimes that is true. Sometimes that is a result of needing to get rid of inventory. So something else can happen. Whether that be taking control back of a brand in some cases, or in this case, a rebrand. A little.
Kirby
A little makeover, a little facelift. We love it.
Clarice
So announced this week, Ron Robinson, who we've had on the pod, founder of Beauty Stat, the brand is undergoing a rebrand, which means it's getting rid of its old stock. That's why everything has been so highly discounted. The rebrand has two products that underwent formula upgrades. Their hero product, the Universal Sea Skin Refiner and the Universal C Eye Perfector. The claims for the new Universal C Skin Refiner is that it not only also soothes the skin in addition to brightening it, but there won't be a tingling effect anymore. So I wonder if the little grains that pop on the skin are going to be gone.
Kirby
I didn't feel like my skin tingled when I used that.
Clarice
Mine did. Oh, it's potent. I mean, it was 20% vitamin C. Right. So that was the whole thing. I wonder if they got rid of it. Cause too many people were, like, too much, too harsh.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
Also I wonder if they got rid of the graininess. I will also say that when I looked the sunscreen. Gone.
Kirby
Mmm.
Clarice
Which, I will be honest, I did not like that sunscreen.
Kirby
I didn't even use a sunscreen. There are so many of Ron's products, though, that I absolutely love.
Clarice
Like, okay, I'm a day one.
Kirby
Oh, my God. Yeah. You really. Day one, he was on the pod.
Clarice
Like, early, early, early aughts. Okay. We love him.
Kirby
But I love the rebrand. It's super cute. It feels very, like, a little bit.
Clarice
Retro chemistry in the 70s.
Kirby
Yes, exactly. Which is, like, Ron's brand. I mean, he's been in the industry for so long. I love that there's, like, different colors for each product. It just makes it really easy to be like, okay, this is, like, this line. If he extends, you know, the Universal sea, it's, like, all orange. You know, I'm really excited for him.
Clarice
Yes. And they have a new skincare category that they're attempting to launch called Brighten Aging. I think this is actually really smart. I know it's another marketing term meant to sell things, but I think that this is smart because oftentimes when I talk to people about aging, they're so worried about lines and wrinkles, and I'm like, fix your hyperpigmentation, and you will look 10 years younger.
Kirby
Totally.
Clarice
When I have bangs, it covers my melasma. That's, like, mostly why I have it. So I feel like that helps me to, like, not look as decrepit as I feel when I don't have my bangs.
Kirby
Okay, well, let me just say, when you had your video with your bangs out of your face, everyone loved it.
Clarice
Okay. But also, heavy makeup. We were on Zoom, which immediately lowers the quality. People could not see the hyperpigmentation, but that's actually, to my Point when you cannot see pigmentation.
Kirby
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Clarice
You look more youthful. And I'm pretty sure Shireen Idris also like subscribes to this as well. My dermatologist, Dr. Samuelaitis as well. That's why she created the Vegas cream. If you are really focusing on brightening your skin, you're gonna look more youthful because it's not gonna look like you have sun damage, which is acquired through exactly and age. So I think it's brilliant. And I'm really curious to try the new formulations.
Kirby
When did those launch? This week, apparently. Okay, I got a package. Maybe it has the new formulations.
Clarice
Yes, it probably does for sure.
Kirby
Shorty 2209 Best Heat Protector to use with Dyson Airwrap when using hair oil wet than when is the heat? Sorry? When using hair oil wet then when is the heat protect or after you dry? Do you need both? I don't personally use hair oil on wet hair before I style. If I am using hair oil, it's like at night before I go to bed or I'll put it on and then I'll wash it off. That's just like for my personal hair type. I do use a lot of heat protector, but I also just use a lot of products when I'm styling my hair and using my Dyson Airwrap or the Shark Flextile. And we know that whatever you use adds a layer over your hair anyways. Whether or not it's defined as a heat protectant. Though I will say the color wow. After Chris Appleton came on the color wow. What is it called?
Clarice
Dream Coat.
Kirby
The Dream Coat. It's my favorite.
Clarice
No, it's my favorite.
Kirby
It's so good.
Clarice
I use a new thickening product.
Kirby
Yeah. That is TBD also acts as a heat protectant.
Clarice
Yes. And then I use the color Wild Dream Coat. I travel with that. I have the big bottle per Chris. I put a ton of it in my hair.
Kirby
Yeah, I think that's something that people need to not be so precious about. Like especially with your heat protectants. Just spray a ton of it on. Like it's not going to make your hair feel super heavy. Especially if you're finding a product like the Dream Coat that's meant to be used like not sparingly heavily. No.
Clarice
Yes. Put it on there.
Kirby
Just go for it.
Clarice
Also, can I just say, I can't tell you the last time I used my airwrap same. I know this is the Flex style.
Kirby
I know the Flex Fusion.
Clarice
Sorry, the Stark Shark Flex Fusion. Let me tell you the Round brush attachment is awesome. Like, I didn't. I. This is just air dried, but it is perfect. And I like that you can turn the nozzle for the hairdryer because it feels more like a traditional hair dryer for me.
Kirby
And then the round. The curling wand is so strong.
Clarice
It's so strong.
Kirby
So strong. Like so strong that when I used my airwrap recently, just because I had my shark in the other room, I was like, why is this not gathering more hair? Why is it not blowing out?
Clarice
I do have a feeling that even though the shark does say that it's better for your hair, it's probably not. I really think that it's more powerful and maybe. I don't know if it's higher heat.
Kirby
It seems like higher heat, but it's like hot.
Clarice
It gets really hot and it's very powerful. But I think that's why I like it and why I've been using it more.
Kirby
I also don't really know the difference between the settings of when you're supposed to use it. Like wet, wet or dry.
Clarice
No, I use it all wet. I'm like, whatever.
Kirby
I don't really know what's going on. But I. I love it.
Clarice
I know.
Kirby
I travel a lot.
Clarice
I am a huge fan. I know. I.
Kirby
Sorry, guys.
Clarice
I know. I cannot believe I'm even saying that.
Kirby
Less than half the price.
Clarice
I know. It's good. I have to give it to him. Like, I remember when I first tried it a couple years ago, I used shark for a little bit, but then went right back to my Dyson. And then when I got the Flex Fusion, I was like, I'm gonna see how. And then now I've just only been using it. It's very good.
Kirby
I'm curious how the. Everyone has been raving about the T3 dupe, so they made one that also has like the curling wand attached to it.
Clarice
Really?
Kirby
Yeah. And it's really cute. As we know, T3's like styling tools are always like the most.
Clarice
I mean, when I curl my hair, I use my T3 always.
Kirby
I always use my T3. But yeah, they have a dupe for the airwrap now that a lot of people have been loving.
Clarice
Have you tried the Air light Pro from L'Oreal?
Kirby
No, I haven't yet.
Clarice
I'm very excited. I got mine. I actually did this thing with L'Oreal last year and had a stylist do my hair and I was like, this is awesome. Like, it was very quiet. It wasn't like burning me, but like it really styles the hair nicely. And I just got one of my own, so I'm like, gonna start testing it.
Kirby
What do you think Dyson's gonna do?
Clarice
Dyson's gonna have to figure something out. I don't think the different colorways are gonna keep people. They're gonna have to figure it out.
Kirby
And I think they're gonna have to figure out the price point because it is just so much higher than everyone else.
Clarice
I think that if they change anything and wanna keep the price point, they should make it so that it turns and can become a traditional hairdryer. I just feel that with my Dyson airwrap.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
I love my Dyson Supersonic.
Kirby
Yeah, same.
Clarice
The hairdryer component on the airwrap is not as strong.
Kirby
It's not. I don't like to use it. I honestly will just use it without anything.
Clarice
Yes.
Kirby
Like a sink.
Clarice
Yeah, yeah. I don't use a nozzle. I just literally am just like, okay, whatever.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
And call it a day. I know.
Kirby
Or maybe like bedazzled options.
Clarice
Yeah. Like. Well, like the Shark Flex style did.
Kirby
Oh, I didn't get one of those.
Clarice
You had to go to the event.
Kirby
Damn.
Clarice
Haha.
Kirby
Okay, wait. I also wanted to just add again, when we were at the Dove trip, the Unilever trip, Clarice Rubenstein, she did like a. She's a hairstylist. Celebrity hairstylist. She did a tutorial for Nexxus's new volumizing product, which is actually.
Clarice
Oh, I loved it. I tried it in the.
Kirby
So good.
Clarice
Yeah.
Kirby
She reiterated that if you are using a lot of styling products, it is acting as a heat protectant. It's just like it's coating the hair. It's like coating your hair. It's. It's not similar to like sunscreen and then wearing makeup, but it sort of is where it's like the more layers you have on your skin, the more protected you are.
Clarice
Yeah.
Kirby
From UV damage. So it's kind of like that with your hair. Like if you're putting on other products. I'm sorry, I can't answer the hair oil question as well. Yeah, I'm something that I use to.
Clarice
Use it a ton. Yeah. Not to style.
Kirby
Yeah, yeah. Not to style.
Clarice
I think the only hair oil I have used for styling is Rose.
Kirby
Yes.
Clarice
And they literally have a product called the styling oil.
Kirby
Yes. Right, right, right. So my answer also is just to, like, use the heat protectants before you apply any heat to your hair.
Clarice
Yeah.
Kirby
So, yeah.
Clarice
I love that. I was not even gonna jump In I know you're like, I have nothing to contribute to this. I have nothing to contribute to this. You're like, just kidding.
Kirby
Yeah, right. Okay, go ahead.
Clarice
Okay. Preserve Hair says, asks, can you share your thoughts on the DEI issues happening and how it's affecting bipoc brands at retail? I love that word. Like, we're not a political podcast. I think there's a lot of things happening. I think some of them are a detriment to the brands that are in these stores currently. So if you don't follow Melissa from the Lip bar, you should. We've had her on the podcast. She is amazing. She got on recently and talked about, like, this is how these DEI initiatives going away are going to affect us as a brand. The lip bar will be fine. Like, the lip bar is everywhere, so they will be fine. But I think she was advocating for these smaller brands. And she mimics something that Karen Young also said when she was on the pod last year where she talked about what black beauty founders up against. And she's just. She was explaining that, like, it doesn't feel genuine when these brands were just inviting brands in for the sake of meeting some type of statistic or whatever instead of really trying to help these brands and, like, helping them grow.
Kirby
Yes. It felt more like a charity.
Clarice
Yes.
Kirby
Like, something like that they could, like you said, post on their website and brag about and that was it.
Clarice
Right. So right now, people are boycotting retailers like Target because they ended their DEI initiative. I just want to make it very clear that Target is not the only brand that has done this. And there have been so many brands that have just totally gotten written of DEI initiatives in the past two years. Look it up. Like, this is not a new trend. Like, this is something that they were basically like. I mean, it kind of just shows that they were like, we did it for show and now we're gonna sunset it. Like, it's over. I understand wanting to boycott Target, but then you're essentially boycotting the black beauty brands, the Indian, Asian, you know, Latin brands there that need you to buy them from those places because they have to stock those. They have to move units, move inventory. So I don't know if boycotting in that aspect is the right move.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
Also harassing other founders about taking their products out of a Target. Honey, that's not going to happen. You will kill your brand. Unless you are a multimillion dollar brand. That will absolutely kill your brand. Yeah, I just don't think that's the right move either.
Kirby
Yeah. Priscilla Tsai the founder of Cocokind. Cocokind is available at Target. She made a video that was like, please do not boycott Target. If you are going to do anything like Kirby said, please buy these, you know, minority owned skincare brands, makeup brands, hair brands. Use your money to support them. Like you said. Like I, after talking to Priscilla and other people who have to stock, keep their stock at Target, it is incredibly hard, especially in store, to move product.
Clarice
Yes.
Kirby
So if you want to do something good instead of boycotting, go to your local Target and physically buy those products.
Clarice
Off the shelves and stock up before their prices increase.
Kirby
Oh my God.
Clarice
Also, if you love a brand that's owned by Bipoc founder, make it known, talk about it, share it with your friends. Retailers will now be focused on bringing in brands with a fan base versus growing established brands. So like, the thinking here is why would we bring in a brand that's established and is like not already huge when we could bring in a new brand that hasn't launched yet and help essentially launch that brand? Right.
Kirby
Yep.
Clarice
So it's important to make sure that like, if you really do love these brands, like you do need to be buying from them and you need to be showing support on social.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
Word of mouth, guys, word of mouth, telling your friends. And the most important is buying these products or else they're not going to exist anymore.
Kirby
Totally.
Clarice
In terms of other issues, I don't know how this is going to affect employment and things of that nature. I don't know. I mean, ELF is kind of like, fuck y'all. Like, we're still keeping dei. Like, that's something we still care about. For all intents and purposes. I'm pretty sure Sephora and Ulta are still keeping their like, DEI initiatives intact. So I think beauty is like one area that, like, I don't see Target as a beauty store. I see Target as a all in one.
Kirby
Yep.
Clarice
You know, one stop shop. But I feel like beauty for the most part is really focused on like keeping. You cannot have a beauty brand now and not be thinking about different types of people.
Kirby
No.
Clarice
It's just never gonna work.
Kirby
Yeah. Yeah.
Clarice
So we're really lucky to be in this specific industry.
Kirby
I agree. I agree.
Clarice
Madeline Haynes says, drop your dream everything shower routine. The more bougie, the better. Honestly. Mine's not super bougie. I don't like do morning shed or anything like that. Like, I can't be bothered. My everything shower, which takes place once a week, is using a body scrub, using an exfoliating mitt, usually from Dolce Glow. The body scrub could be really just anything. It could also just be me using my mitt with a body wash. Like the Dove serum body wash.
Kirby
So good.
Clarice
Which I still have. Which ones are fairly late last year. I don't have a favorite. Cause I love them. All right now I'm using the salicylic acid one.
Kirby
I'm using the hyaluronic acid one.
Clarice
It's great and it looks so pretty. So I love it.
Kirby
And affordable.
Clarice
Also love necessaire. So I'll get in there, do a little scrub, a dub dub, then I will shave. I love my Harry's razor. I have to stock up on blades all the time. And then my new obsession has been EOS Blast from the frickin past. Okay.
Kirby
They're making comeback, guys.
Clarice
EOS is so good. Their shaving cream and they have a shaving oil. I use both. Not at the same time, but like, I'll switch off.
Kirby
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Clarice
They smell incredible. I used to literally just use like shampoo conditioner as my shaving cream. I was like, I don't need this. Whatever these feel like. The shaving cream is very. It does feel like traditional shaving cream in a way, but it's more moisturizing in my opinion.
Kirby
Do you remember from back in the day, the shaving creams, it would just like come out like whipped cream?
Clarice
Yes, yes. I mean like the color, it was like pink, sparkly. Yes.
Kirby
Oh my God.
Clarice
Oh my gosh.
Kirby
What a time to be alive.
Clarice
Loved it. So I'll do that and then I'll end it with the L'Occitane body shower oil. It just makes your body feel incredible. It emulsifies into this mint.
Kirby
Yes, yes.
Clarice
And it has this like milky. It's amazing. And then one. I guess if this is bougie maybe, I don't know. But when I'm doing that before I get in the shower, I'll put on a crest white strip and then do. I'm not taking a 30 minute shower by any means.
Kirby
Yeah, yeah, yeah. But like I do it in there.
Clarice
And then I keep it on a couple more minutes after and like take it off.
Kirby
Oh, that's really smart. I need to do that.
Clarice
That's my everything shower.
Kirby
I don't really have time for.
Clarice
I was gonna say you have a life, so shut up. Everything showering.
Kirby
No, I just literally have either Ollie or Kade or Zoe, like coming in and being mom. Where's the man wrap? God damn it. Okay, I'll answer this one. Cause it's for Me, Alaina Wegner. How do I keep my bangs looking so good?
Clarice
Okay. By the way, this is so rude. I know. This is, like, actually so rude.
Kirby
Maybe cause you've shared your routine before.
Clarice
I almost did not include this, but I was like, curvy. Don't be petty. Include it. Alayna, let's share.
Kirby
I bet you it's because you've shared your routine before.
Clarice
This is your question, so you answer it.
Kirby
Thanks, Alayna. I feel weird answering no. Okay, what do I use? Okay. There's a specific round brush that we got from Mara Roszak. I will link it. Cause I don't know the name of it.
Clarice
Me either. But I love it.
Kirby
It's the perfect size for my bangs. I have to use it. I also use the main hot round brush.
Clarice
Whatever you call it. Yes, it has.
Kirby
It has to be a little grown out, though. My bangs have to be a little bit more on the curtainy side. If they're too short, it's too much. It's not right. But I love that brush because it saves me. I use a little bit of, like, hair water, or I just use regular water too, to spray it first. And then I actually put a little bit of dry shampoo. And then I will use my round brush with the Shark Flex style in the hairdryer position, and then that's it. Oh, and because of Mark Townsend, I use the Crown Affair Powder dry shampoo now.
Clarice
Okay. I need someone to teach me how to use that. I did not think you didn't like it. No. Why not? I'm sorry.
Kirby
Did you feel like it was too thick? What'd you think?
Clarice
I just felt like I was, like, trying to get powder in an area that, like, wasn't. It wasn't doing anything for me.
Kirby
Oh, interesting. Okay. Maybe you weren't applying enough product.
Clarice
I still have it. I was like, I have to give this another shot, because I just truly did not like it. But what? You go in there and it's like, basically your bangs are done. So you just go in and kind of zhuzh it.
Kirby
Yeah. Cause I use that almost instead of using any sort of styling product to keep my bangs or to shape my bangs. Cause I just feel like it needs a little bit of texture, and so that gives it a little bit of texture.
Clarice
I have a cowlick, and that's why my bangs have been, like, so easy. I do.
Kirby
Okay. I also have a cowlick. And Megan Decker wrote a story for Refinery about how I think it was like, over 50% of people have cowlicks. In their bangs and why it's a good thing to get bangs if you have cowlicks in your bang area.
Clarice
I need to go see mark or Chris McMillan soon to get another bang trim.
Kirby
Because you do a great job cutting your bangs.
Clarice
No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. Like, they're. They're not good right now. I need a professional to do them.
Kirby
I'm very impressed by the fact that you cut your own bangs, but essentially.
Clarice
We have the exact same bang routine.
Kirby
Okay. What's the difference?
Clarice
The only difference is that I also use the new thickening spray to help spread.
Kirby
Oh, the. The embargoed thickening spray.
Clarice
That we can't talk about.
Kirby
Yeah, that we can't talk about.
Clarice
Yeah. Okay. Yeah.
Kirby
Which I love how it smells.
Clarice
Same.
Kirby
Soon, guys. Soon.
Clarice
Is there an eye cream that works at all? No, I'm sorry. I'm just gonna put it out there. I've tried them all.
Kirby
We're both, though, using one.
Clarice
We are. I still use an eye cream, but, like, I use it to keep it from looking dry. I have not seen any improvement. Like, whatever I can do to get rid of whatever lines I have under my eyes, like, that will probably have to be some kind of surgery. Unfortunately, I did start using a product from beauty bio. It's called the eyelighter concentrate, and I feel it has a bunch of skincare ingredients in it. But the thing that I like most about it is it almost is like a primer that helps to just make it a really clean, smooth surface. For your makeup.
Kirby
Have you used the viral Peter Thomas Roth spackle?
Clarice
No, no. Spackle is hard because it's just, like, I don't want too much under there.
Kirby
Yeah, yeah.
Clarice
You know?
Kirby
Yeah. Let's talk about our current morning and evening skincare routines. Thanks for asking. K.J. bolt. Okay, Kirby, you run through it.
Clarice
Okay. Am I'm using the Ava Nova eyelid and eyelash cleanser spray. I sleep with my eyes open a little bit. Not, like, straight open, but, like, they're a little open. So I get dry eye. So I have a whole dry eye routine. I actually learned about this product from Ash K. Holm. She and I dry eye sisters. She had a whole video about it. So I was like, hell, yes. I went and bought this immediately. This is pure hypochlorous acid, so it's gentle for everyday cleansing. If you have irritated, dry eyes, I just spritz it, use a little pad to remove. It just helps, like, little. Any eye crusties or whatever. And that's how I get going Then I use some type of hydrating or antioxidant serum. Dew Trinity is truly just one of the best out there. I like that it has the antioxidants in it. And then I've been using this one. It's a hyaluronic acid serum from Estiderm Paris. This is a brand that's owned by the same company that owns Bioderma, and that's how I was introduced to them.
Kirby
Oh, okay.
Clarice
It's a really good product. Then in Beauty Project Extreme Cream, they're dead to me right now.
Kirby
You should have been in that cream.
Clarice
No, I'm actually, like, deeply upset.
Kirby
Oh, is the.
Clarice
Okay, I sent it. So I sent their publicist the DM of like, all these women, which I'm happy for all these women since it.
Kirby
Was in New York.
Clarice
All of these women are gorgeous and they looked amazing. I know all of them, and I'm so proud of them. But I also was like, they're dead to me. And then I was like, just kidding. I literally still use it to this day. I have refills. I buy. I literally bought, like, three of the travel sizes.
Kirby
But you really are the poster child for.
Clarice
I love this product. I love it so much. And then I use the Ultraviolet supreme screen sunscreen.
Kirby
Okay. So in the morning, I usually don't wash my face unless I have worked out. So I will just use, like a cleansing water. I use the Cosrx Low Ph Niacinamide micellar cleansing water. Then lately I have been using. So Ava, I don't know what is her Instagram. It's glow with Ava. She has like a gazillion followers on TikTok. And then also on Instagram, she started her own skincare line and she sent me her Nu Texture New Texture Hydra Jelly Mist. It has hyaluronic acid, hydrolyzed collagen, and elastin. And it's like. It's just a spray, but it's like jelly form. But then when you spray it, it's liquid. I don't know how it works.
Clarice
This is like the Solawave mist that I loved. And they discontinued it.
Kirby
Oh, no. Why did they discontinue it?
Clarice
I guess it just wasn't selling for them. But I'm literally obsessed with it.
Kirby
Okay, we'll have to get this for you. Cause maybe it'll fill that void. I love it, but it's just like. Also acts as, like, you know, my toner to make my skin a little bit wet for my serum application. Everyone knows I love the you beauty Resurfacing serum. It's got the antioxidants, the vitamin C. It's got a little bit of retinol in it too. I also realized I was, like, looking at my. My cabinet and did you try the poems from the lab? Vitamin C?
Clarice
Yes. From Steven. I love him, and I love. I love poems from the lab. It's a really good vitamin C if you are not. If you're looking for a good vitamin C serum.
Kirby
Yes.
Clarice
15% ascorbic acid.
Kirby
Yeah. It's, like, very strong. It reminds me of skinceuticals.
Clarice
Yes. And Steven Ko is a cosmetic developer, formulator, and he knows his stuff.
Kirby
Exactly.
Clarice
Really, really good.
Kirby
It's a very beautiful, elegant vitamin C. Okay, then I've been using another recommendation from beautycon attendee. They were these two Canadians and super sweet. And the brand is Omy Laboratories, and they each made Kirby and I custom moisturizers, which was so cute. So I use my Omy personalized day cream, and then I finish with my Beauty of Joseon sunscreen.
Clarice
Love. Okay, then. For PM Renee Rouleau. Better than balm. I had this on subscription. Then I literally had, like, 16 of them and was like, I'm not getting through these fast enough. So I had to. I literally had to end the subscription.
Kirby
Also, you, like, are good friends.
Clarice
And Renee's like, why are you buying these? I'm literally like, we're literally friends. I was like, because I support your business. Yes. Then I use this L'Oreal eye and lip remover. It is a bi face formula. It is super affordable. You can. It's, I think, manufactured in Australia, and you can only get it in Europe or something. I mean, every time I go and I find it, I mean, I brought back three when I was traveling from Iceland to London.
Kirby
Do they make, like, a big version? No.
Clarice
I am, like, begging L'Oreal to, like, just send me.
Kirby
Just order wholesale.
Clarice
They are not. The ones available in the US Are not the same.
Kirby
It's never the same.
Clarice
It's not the same. I'm telling you right now.
Kirby
Jacqueline Kilikita was like, oh, they don't ever have, like, the same Dove launches or, you know, Unilever launches in the US as they do in Europe. And I'm like, I don't feel bad for you.
Clarice
Yeah. I'm like, you have everything else. Yes, yes. I don't feel bad at all.
Kirby
Yeah.
Clarice
Then I've been micro needling with the Beauty bio roller.
Kirby
Oh, good for you.
Clarice
Yes. It's, like, super quick. It has, like, a little Red light on it. I sanitize it with alcohol.
Kirby
I like that one. I feel like they're, like, one of the OGs.
Clarice
Yeah, it's great. I love it. Then two times a week, I'll use a toner, like P50 Rip, P50 1970 or eighth day, which is extremely strong, so you have to be careful. Or the DDG Dr. Dennis Gross Alpha Beta Peel Pads. So that's, like, my little exfoliating moment. Because I also shave my face, so I try not to go too crazy with exfoliation. I use a serum depending on my skin's needs. So right now it's the new Shani Darden Azelaic Acid Rescue Serum. Chef's Kiss.
Kirby
Chef's Kiss.
Clarice
Literally so good. I'm obsessed. Then the Renutrieve Ultimate Diamond Age Reversal Eye Cream. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. Like, I. Maybe there has been some improvement. I don't know, but.
Kirby
I don't know. But if there's anyone that I'm gonna believe, it's them.
Clarice
Yes. So, like, maybe I'll just keep trucking along. Maybe if you took a picture of me from, like, last year to now. There's been some improvement. This is all I've been using, along with their Transformative Eye Serum. I like the products, so I keep using them. I just don't know if I'm really seeing age reversal under my eye.
Kirby
It's gonna take a while, you know what I mean?
Clarice
I mean, I'm also using the NIRA laser under my eye nightly, so that could be also a contributor. But tbd. Okay, then I'm using for my moisturizer either Scente, which is a brand that I know a lot of estheticians love. I got sent their moisturizer. I really love it. It's really rich, but just melts into the skin. Or. Y'all are literally gonna murder me for even mentioning this because of how expensive it is. But the. Or Amora Visca Gold Rescue Cream, I.
Kirby
Never realized how expensive it was, y'all, because they send it to us so often.
Clarice
This is a brand that I. I mean, it's a gorgeous brand, but I'm like, I can't even afford this.
Kirby
Like, I'm like, I can't afford to use this.
Clarice
I'm taking, like, tiny pinky fulls to put on my face. But this Gold Rescue Cream, I can't.
Kirby
Ooh.
Clarice
The way you apply it. Ugh. It is divine. Or Blue Lagoon. Blue Lagoon.
Kirby
Oh, it's so good.
Clarice
The texture of their moisturizer, it's like icing. It's hard to explain. It's not a lotion.
Kirby
It's like when they say like mochi.
Clarice
Yes.
Kirby
It's like a.
Clarice
But it's not jelly. It's hard to explain, but I love it. And I feel like my skin just eats it up. Like whenever I use it, my skin is less red and less ready. So I kind of like alternate between those three. And then before I go to sleep, I use Homeoplasmine. The OG get in a French pharmacy. It's basically like Aquaphor, but there we go.
Kirby
Okay, great. Okay, we have a little bit of overlap. Okay. I use the Rhode Cleanser. Pineapple enzyme. It's my shower cleanser. We also have the Grown Alchemist cleanser in the shower as well. So I go between those two. I've been using the SK II essence lately.
Clarice
Lately. Wow. I know.
Kirby
Bringing it back, going back to my roots. Then I use the Shani Darden moisture serum.
Clarice
Oh, I love that serum.
Kirby
Along with either I'll use Yu Beauty or I've been also trying the Shani Azelaic acid serum. My routine is very Shani heavy. Once a week I'm using the Shani triple acid peel. I didn't realize I should be using it as often, but when I saw her and the Blackhead debacle, she was like, you need to be using it once a week. I was like, okay, done. Then I will use the Odier cream, which you know, I talked about. Or the Renutrieve moisturizer.
Clarice
Yes.
Kirby
Long ass name. I'm done.
Clarice
We're still using these products though. When did we go on that trip?
Kirby
September, something like that.
Clarice
We're still using them, which is like a feat in our world.
Kirby
Yes, exactly.
Clarice
We clearly like them.
Kirby
I loved it. And I'm done. And you finished it. I finished it. It's so expensive. So I'm gonna have to take a good hard look at myself and see how I wanna move forward.
Clarice
You're like paid for my child's education.
Kirby
Or do a reset.
Clarice
Does Zoe get or does do I get renewtrieve?
Kirby
Yep. Priorities. Okay. And then I also have been using the Renutrieve eye cream because why not? Fingers crossed, it works. And then have you tried the Dr. Idris barrier based lip basting duo?
Clarice
No.
Kirby
Okay. This is such a good product. So it's a duo. First, it's the barrier based lip peel. It is a chemical exfoliator. So you put that on, let it dry down, and then you put on the lip based on top, which like basically Locks in. And I really do feel like in the morning, my lips are softer and smoother because of it.
Clarice
I love that. Cause Joanna, check. She puts on this insane exfoliator on your lips after the facial. And it's like, whoa. Like, this is crazy. And then she puts a little lip stuff on and you're good to go. But this feels like a. In office treatment at home.
Kirby
Yes. And it's just. It's more gentle. It's not gonna. You don't feel tingly or anything. The hardest part is just waiting for it to dry down. So I will leave that one in the bathroom. And then I leave the top one next to my bedstead. So then it dries on my walk to my bed.
Clarice
Speaking of tingling, I was just thinking about one time Melissa Herkman and I got on Instagram Live when that was a thing, and we did our nighttime routines together. And she was like, okay, Kirby, I'm gonna teach you something. She's like, get your drunk elephant baby facial. And like, okay. And she's like, get your microneedling roller. And I'm like, okay. And we rolled our faces and then we put baby facial on top. And literally I was crying. Laughing and crying in pain. Don't do as I do.
Kirby
Okay. This is. I don't want anyone to sue me. This is just a rumor, maybe official rumor, but I heard that Baby facial is the number one most returned product at Sephora.
Clarice
Why? Just because it's crazy.
Kirby
People's faces are burning. I think it's a lot of user error. I don't think that it is the product's fault necessarily. I do think.
Clarice
I mean, that was a strong.
Kirby
I just think people are going too heavy with it.
Clarice
I think that's a product for people 30 and up. Truly, I don't think.
Kirby
It's not for the children.
Clarice
You need to be able to, like, proof. Like, proof of identification.
Kirby
Oh, my God. It should be a prescription. Honestly, it's bonkers.
Clarice
It is so.
Kirby
I can't believe you did that. That sounds so.
Clarice
No, no, we were unwell.
Kirby
Yeah, but I mean, it's. It works if you use it correctly, obviously.
Clarice
Listen, our skin did look amazing after. I was pretty impressed.
Kirby
Beauty is pain.
Clarice
Don't do it. Don't do it. Okay. I would love to know what Yalls thoughts are regarding all of these questions. Act like we're interviewing you and go through the questions and respond to our. God, we'd love to slack when we post on ig. We would really love. We are filming this, so we would really Love if you would subscribe to our YouTube channel and get engaged there, that will help bring us more opportunities. We love coming in here and being together and recording and having these great video clip outs.
Kirby
And also join our Los Angeles Confidential Slack if you like free beauty products.
Clarice
Yeah, they're free and we don't charge.
Kirby
Tell a friend if you know a friend that likes free beauty products.
Clarice
Did I tell you that we had 600 new people sign up? And I was like, I'm scared. And then I realized I posted it on social somewhere and then I think some creator like sent it to a group and then like a bunch of. Because I was like, oh, my gosh, who are you in the industry? Like, are you just consumer? It's like all creators. And I'm like, I'm a little scared just because we welcome more creators. But also I'm like, do we trust that they're not gonna leak it?
Kirby
Oh.
Clarice
So I'm thinking I'm rethinking this now. I'm rethinking adding them. Cause they're on the signup sheet. But I'm like, do we add them? Ooh, I don't know.
Kirby
Okay. We have to just have people, like, we need to collect fingerprints. And I just want.
Clarice
The group we have now is so good. Like, I know we're terrified to do anything wrong.
Kirby
We wanna grow. We wanna grow. We have to.
Clarice
I just don't want leaks to happen.
Kirby
No. Yeah.
Clarice
Cause then we can' Right.
Kirby
It's like a secret society.
Clarice
Yeah, we gotta figure that out.
Kirby
But sign up.
Clarice
Yeah. Link is in the show notes.
Sarah
Ladies and gentlemen, we are now boarding. Group A, please have your boarding passes ready to scan. If your phone is cracked old or was chewed up by your Chihuahua. Travel companion, please refrain from holding up the line and instead simply go to Verizon and trade in any phone in any condition from one of their top brands. For the new Samsung Galaxy S25 plus with Galaxy AI on Unlimited ultimate and a watch or tab also on now service plan required for watch or tab, trade in and additional terms apply. See verizon.com for details.
Gloss Angeles Podcast Summary
Episode: "How Tariffs Will Affect Your Beauty Routine, Why BeautyStat is 80% Off, and More of Your Questions, Answered!"
Release Date: February 7, 2025
Hosts: Clarice and Kirby
Introduction
In this engaging episode of Gloss Angeles, hosts Clarice and Kirby dive deep into the pressing issues affecting the beauty industry today. From the looming impact of tariffs on your favorite cosmetics to the significant discounts at BeautyStat, they address listener questions, share expert opinions, and offer insights into current beauty trends and challenges.
1. AMA Session: Listener Questions Answered
The episode kicks off with an AMA (Ask Me Anything) segment, where Clarice and Kirby respond to various beauty-related questions submitted by their audience through Slack and Instagram. They tackle specific product inquiries, sharing personal favorites and application techniques.
Favorite Powder vs. Cream Blush:
Listener lntahanski asks about preferred powder blush to set a cream blush. Clarice praises Trixi Cosmetics for their vibrant, long-lasting blushes. At [01:43], she mentions, “My go-to lately has been Trixi Cosmetics... Their Plush Bunny and Total Betty blushes are my favorites.”
Maintaining Bangs:
Listener Alaina Wegner seeks advice on keeping bangs looking fresh. Kirby shares her routine using specific brushes and hair products. At [34:35], she notes, “I use the Crown Affair Powder dry shampoo now... It saves me by adding texture without heaviness.”
Hair Oil and Heat Protectants:
Questions about when to apply hair oil and the necessity of heat protectants are addressed, with both hosts emphasizing the importance of protecting hair from heat damage.
2. The Impact of Tariffs on the Beauty Industry
A significant portion of the episode is dedicated to discussing how recent tariffs are poised to affect beauty routines and the broader beauty market.
Price Increases and Product Availability:
Clarice explains that tariffs on imported beauty products, especially from Europe, Asia, and Australia, will lead to higher prices for consumers. At [08:10], she states, “You will be paying more... you could see anywhere between like $10 to $20 increases on some of your favorite products, at minimum.”
Passing Costs to Consumers:
Kirby agrees, emphasizing that tariffs are almost entirely passed on to consumers. At [08:25], she notes, “The cost is not eaten by the company.”
Reformulations and Packaging Changes:
The hosts predict that brands may reformulate products using locally sourced ingredients to avoid tariffs. Clarice mentions, “Reformulations could be a huge trend because a lot of these brands now are gonna think, okay, how can we get most of what we need in America without having to deal with these tariffs?”
Impact on BIPOC Brands:
The discussion shifts to how tariffs and policy changes, including the withdrawal of DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives, disproportionately affect BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) beauty brands. Clarice emphasizes the political nature of beauty, stating, “Beauty is political, hence this question.”
3. BeautyStat's Major Discount and Rebranding
BeautyStat, a beloved brand among the hosts, is undergoing a significant rebranding effort, leading to an 80% discount on its products.
Rebranding Details:
Clarice shares that BeautyStat is rebranding to clear out old stock, resulting in massive discounts. At [17:01], she elaborates, “The brand is undergoing a rebrand, which means it's getting rid of its old stock. That's why everything has been so highly discounted.”
Product Upgrades:
Two flagship products have seen formula upgrades:
Consumer Reactions and Brand Loyalty:
Both hosts express excitement over the changes, highlighting the brand’s commitment to quality. Kirby at [18:22] mentions, “I absolutely love the rebrand. It's super cute... just makes it really easy to identify the product lines.”
4. DEI Initiatives and Their Effect on BIPOC Beauty Brands
Clarice and Kirby delve into the recent rollback of DEI initiatives by major retailers and its detrimental impact on minority-owned beauty brands.
Retraction of DEI Efforts:
Clarice discusses how retailers like Target have ended their DEI initiatives, leading to boycotts. At [28:26], she states, “Target is not the only brand that has done this. There have been so many brands that have just totally gotten written off DEI initiatives in the past two years.”
Challenges for Small Brands:
The hosts highlight that smaller, BIPOC-owned brands rely heavily on retailer support to move inventory. Kirby emphasizes, “If you really do love these brands, you do need to be buying from them and you need to show support on social.”
Community Support Strategies:
They advocate for consumers to actively purchase from these brands and promote them through word of mouth to ensure their survival and growth in a hostile market environment.
5. Hair Styling Tools: Dyson Airwrap vs. Shark Flex Fusion
A lively discussion ensues about the latest hair styling tools, comparing high-end options like the Dyson Airwrap with more affordable alternatives like the Shark Flex Fusion.
Performance and Cost:
Clarice praises the Shark Flex Fusion for its powerful performance at a fraction of the Dyson’s price. At [24:32], she shares, “The Dream Coat is my favorite... It's super good and only half the price.”
User Experience:
Kirby discusses her personal usage, noting the Dyson’s versatility but questioning its high price point. They both express enthusiasm for new products entering the market, such as L’Oreal’s Air Light Pro and T3’s latest dupe.
Future of Hair Tools:
The hosts speculate on how brands like Dyson will respond to competition, suggesting that innovation and price adjustments will be key to maintaining market share.
6. Current Morning and Evening Skincare Routines
Clarice and Kirby share their detailed skincare routines, offering listeners insights into the products they swear by.
Morning Routines:
Evening Routines:
Special Mention - Eye Creams:
Clarice expresses skepticism about the efficacy of many eye creams, stating, “I have not seen any improvement... that may require some kind of surgery.”
7. Additional Beauty Tips and Product Recommendations
Throughout the episode, the hosts sprinkle in various beauty tips and recommend favorite products:
Body Care:
Clarice details her “everything shower” routine, which includes body scrubs from Dolce Glow, Harry’s razors, EOS Blast shaving products, and L'Occitane body shower oil for moisturizing.
Lip Care:
Kirby introduces Renee Rouleau’s barrier-based lip treatment duo, praising its effectiveness in maintaining soft, smooth lips without irritation.
Exfoliation Cautions:
Both hosts caution listeners about overusing products like microneedling rollers and strong exfoliants, sharing personal anecdotes about their experiences.
Conclusion
In this comprehensive episode, Gloss Angeles provides valuable insights into the intersection of beauty and global economic policies, highlighting how tariffs and policy changes can ripple through the beauty industry. Clarice and Kirby not only inform listeners about these critical issues but also empower them with actionable advice to navigate product availability and pricing challenges. Additionally, their in-depth discussion on BeautyStat’s rebranding and the importance of supporting BIPOC-owned brands underscores the podcast’s commitment to fostering a more inclusive and resilient beauty community.
Listeners are encouraged to engage with the hosts through their YouTube channel and Slack community, where more beauty discussions and exclusive content await.
Notable Quotes
Resources Mentioned
For more detailed product links and recommendations, refer to the show notes on the Gloss Angeles website.