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Glam Los Angeles.
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Hi, Kirby.
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Hi, Sarah.
C
Welcome to Los Angeles.
B
All right, Glams, welcome back from our little hiatus. We decided to just go dark so we didn't have to worry about anything. Which love that for us.
C
You get a lot of us. And again, back catalog.
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Yeah, Catch up, babes. Catch up, catch up. So because we're filming this in advance, so it could just be rip roaring and ready to go, we decided to do an ama and we try to do these quarterly because you guys do have a lot of questions. And we get our questions from our Slack channel. If you haven't joined it, you can find the link in our bio on Instagram on social media. I love this. We should probably put it on our website too, just to be safe. But yeah, join the Slack if you want to get in on the seatings and the questions and all of the things. Okay, let's jump right in because this is a loaded question. Allison Thomas asks us, what are yalls Holy Grail makeup products? Maybe like, top five of all time. Okay, I'm gonna write this down as we go.
C
Okay. And I would like. Okay, I was thinking about this and I'm just gonna go off of like, Holy Grail makeup currently as of September 2025. Like, these are what I. These are the products that I continuously reach for and have been, I would say, over the past year.
B
Yes. I. In my head. So I misread this and I thought she just meant beauty products. So my answers are gonna have to change a little bit.
C
Okay.
B
But I'm going based off of things that either I have used for a very long amount of time, just keep going back to. Or that I have been consistently using over the past three months.
C
Yes. Okay.
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Sarah begins.
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I'm sure this is on Kirby's too.
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Mary Phillips's MPH underpainting palette.
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I did not lie when I said I'm hitting pan on this specific contour. You too, right?
B
I am hitting pan on that specific contour.
C
Oh, my God. It's so good.
B
That is what light?
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This is the light and that is the contour one. I'm still like figuring out how to use Contour two, like when to use Contour two.
B
Contour two definitely is a bronzer.
C
It's a bronzer. It's like warmer. But anyways, I'm learning. I'm loving it. I use it every single day. Even if I'm not like going full glam. It's just if you are like, even just getting into contouring, which I know we say that everyone contours, but not everyone contours. It's intimidating. Especially when you're watching these Instagram TikTok YouTube videos and you're like, how are they doing this without looking like a fucking clown? This is a really good starter because it's very forgiving. It's very blendable. If you feel like you put too much, it's easy to remove and start over again. It's just so beautifully made. And this brush also. You need both.
B
You do need the brush.
C
This is such a good brush.
B
You do need the brush. My only complaint is that I don't have a second one of the brush for.
C
For the lighter shade.
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Yes.
C
I do use a different brush.
B
Same.
C
I use my Sisley concealer brush for the lighter shades, lighter contour or highlight, if you will, the color corrector. And then this for the contour because it's perfect for the nose. Okay, that's my first.
B
Go ahead. That is a great one. I'm co signing that. So that's also my first. So I will go to my second.
C
Yes.
B
This is a holy grail that if you've been listening to this podcast for long enough, you know, wait, can I guess?
C
Is it makeup or is it.
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It's makeup. Okay, all of these are makeup.
C
Is it a mascara?
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Yes.
C
Is it Mac?
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Yes, it is Mac Gigablack Lash. I knew it. This is my holy grail. I love so many different ones. And I've mentioned, I love the dibs. I rip, love the Marc Jacobs beauty velvet noir. I love makeup by Mario's. I love voluminous by l'. Oreal. I love Maybelline Falsies Lash Lift. But when I want a tried and true, a product that I know I will love, I know will deliver, it is Mac Extended Play Gigablack Lash. I don't know how I first tried this product. I'm sure they just sent it to me when it launched. It is a smudge proof, high definition carbon black tubing mascara, which is crazy. That I did not realize this was tubing. Yeah, I don't understand how I did not realize it was tubing because literally it comes off so easily and it's smudge proof because it's tubing. But I don't like it for that reason. I like it because it lasts a long time. It separates my lashes beautifully. It's a bristle brush and it fans out the lashes because of how thin the brush is. You can get right to the base and just get in there and lift. Like every single person would benefit from this product. On the website, it says it's sweat and humidity resistant. It's ophthalmologist tested, safe for contact lens wearers, safe for sensitive eyes. It's lightweight, lifting, defining, flake proof and smudge proof. Long wearing, 16 hours. And it's carbon black. It really, truly is the all in one mascara.
C
You always go back to it.
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I always go back to it. Doja cat. Now the new face of Mac shouted it out. And I feel like they promote Mac Stack so much that Gigablack does not get the love it deserves. This is. This is the best mascara on the market. I'm just going to put it out there. It is a bestseller for a reason right now. Well, we're kind of filming this in advance. It's usually $28. You can get it for 1960.
C
Ooh, where on Mac? Oh, there's a deal.
B
I just cannot recommend it. It's blue, has a blue cap. It is the best freaking mascara. Please do not ever change the formula of this. I will riot. I will riot. I buy one every single time I see it. Do you? Yes. If I walk into a store and I see.
C
Because you're using it so much. Yes.
B
You do not want to be without it.
C
You have to switch your mascara out.
B
I do it every three months. Okay. And you can tell when a mascara starts not working the way that it usually does or it gets a little goopy.
C
If it's.
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Yeah. Gets too dry, you know, it's time to change. But I was always taught three. So I have one in my purse. I have one in my bathroom. I have one in my travel bags. I have this with me at all times. It's already really small, so I guess I could suggest a travel size of.
C
It, but, like, what's the point?
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It's already really thin because of the brushes.
C
I like this small because sometimes you can't go through a mascara. And I'm saying this as when I used to wear mascara quickly enough. So then it's like, you have to throw it away and get a new one.
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Anyways, I want you to try this on your lower lashes, okay? Because that's how Doja uses it.
C
I'll give it a shot.
B
Doja uses it on the lower lashes.
C
You and Doja say so.
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So shout out to Mac. Shout out to Mac. This is my dream. Mac does some kind of reinvention campaign with gigablack, and I'm in it. Please. I have the naturally long lashes to prove how beautiful it is. Please, Mac, please, please, please, please. Okay, second, second.
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I talk about this product all the time, so I feel like you could guess it's from Chanel.
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Oh, it's the balm.
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It's the balm Balm. Essential their multi use highlighter glow stick. I use it all the time. I carry it all the time. I actually don't even have it because I put it in my pocket and, like, I think I left it when I took my pants off. I'm like, need to go find it. I specifically use Moonlight Kiss, which is sort of like a pearly off white. I don't know if you would say it's more like a rose gold. It doesn't wear like it's rose gold.
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No, it doesn't.
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But it just, like, on my particular skin, it doesn't come off as, like, too pearly white or anything. It just looks like I am glowy where I need to be. I also really like sculpting, which that one's actually a little bit more ivory. It's just, to me, like, the best, like, elevated highlighter. You know, like, obviously there was, like, the champagne pop years, which were fun, but this really is like, my last step in my routine before I, like, go on camera, before I go out at night, whatever it is. I just pop up on my cheekbones a little bit on my nose, and I feel like I just look healthier.
B
It is beautiful. It is such a beautiful product. And I think it's formulated so, so nicely as well.
C
Often duplicated, but for me, never imitated.
B
Yeah, yeah. Often imitated.
C
Let me say that again. I'm dyslexic. Often imitated, never duplicated.
B
There we go.
C
Thank you.
B
There we go.
C
All right, next.
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Okay. This is actually a new product for me, and it's replacing a product that we have waxed poetic about, if you will. If you like a pun. I received the L' Oreal infallible 24 hour brow lamination.
C
Okay.
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And it is a game changer. It's $16.
C
Okay.
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And when I tell You. It really does hold for 24 hours. It does. I have thick, coarse brow hairs. I don't have a ton of them, but I do have them. It's sweat resistant. And the reason why I like it is because I feel like sometimes we're putting brow products in our brow hairs just for fun, just for shits and gigs.
C
Yeah.
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Nothing happens.
C
Yeah.
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We think we're pushing them up. They fall down immediately.
C
Yep.
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They're doing literally nothing.
C
Or it's just like, crunchy or it's crunchy.
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Or literally they are shellacked to your face where you're like, this is not the vibe I was going for either.
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Yeah.
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This product, the formula is equal parts wax and gel. So that when you put it in, you can tell there's a give. And if you wait a couple of seconds and then take a brush and work your way through it, it will lift your brow and keep it in place without goop, without flakes, without remnants. And it actually. You can feel it's working.
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Yeah.
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And it's staying up. I'm absolutely obsessed with it. It has flexibility to it as well. And I just think in terms of a brow gel, people don't want to be paying 20, $30 for one. This is $16. You can get it at the drugstore.
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Okay, I gotta try that.
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I also think a big part of why I'm obsessed with this is the brush. It is a long, skinny brush. If you guys can't tell, I like long, skinny, long skinny things. So some of these brushes are so wide.
C
Yeah. It's like too fat.
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It's too fat. This really. You can work and manipulate your brow hairs to where you need them to be. And then I go through and then fill in after that. And so I'm using less of my brow pencil, less of my brow pomade or powder or whatever I'm using that day. And I just feel like nobody talks about this product, but it is a total holy grail in my book now.
C
And it's only. It's less than 20 bucks.
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Right. You can get it easily at an Ulta or a drugstore. It's easy to get. It's worth every penny, in my opinion, for a brow gel.
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I love it. I love it. I brought my makeup back. Cause I can't decide what I'm gonna talk about next. I've also talked about this. It's a. It's a two for one for me, because it's from the same brand and they go hand in hand, in my opinion. So it's the I just hate the name. Heroin make Smooth liquid eyeliner and the heroine make Long Stay Sharp gel liner. They could have picked a better name, but it is a hero product for me. We'll start with the liquid liner. This is a bad example. Cause I fucked it up and I need to cut the end because I accidentally closed it.
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Oh, no.
C
I know it's the worst, but usually this is just such a incredible tip because it's really precise and it really lasts very, very long. And I have small eyes, and I need to get in there really precisely and this does the trick. And I really, like. I stopped really wearing, like, black eyeliner because I just love how the dark, like, dark brown eyeliner looks on me. So this is in, like, the dark brown, and it's waterproof.
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Beautiful.
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And then I will go in with the Long Stay Sharp gel liner underneath sometimes if I need to, or I'll go over for just extra insurance. And the tip is very, very, very, very tiny. And I like it tiny. Love you. Unfortunately, have to get this at like a Japanese beauty store or like an Asian beauty store, but for me, it's my favorite. And Kelly Zhang, she uses it too, so I know it's good. So those are two for one.
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I need to try those for sure.
C
You really do.
B
So my next product is from Pat McGrath Labs. It is the Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Blurring Under Eye Powder. I truly think this is one of the best powders on the market because it does blur and under the eye, it does not make me look decrepit, which I always appreciate. I think nothing comes close. And I also use Pat McGrath Lab's loose powder as well. And I just think the finish is beautiful. It really does make your pores look minimal. And if you really are looking to set under your eye and you want your eye to look brighter, you do need some type of powder under there. But unfortunately, if you have lines, a lot of times these powders can grab, accentuate all of those things. And I don't know, I just keep going back to it. She has so many different shades now. So there's a translucent white, There's a yellow. A medium. She has deep. And then she recently launched two new shades, peach and amber. And I think peach and amber are meant to be in the same family as the pink because they do have this brightening effect underneath the eye. It's specifically made for the under eye, which I think is what separates it from everything else on the market. So if you are using your regular powder and your and you're really not seeing the results you like. This is worth. It's worth it. It's $35. It lasts me forever. I'm fully obsessed with it. And I literally went and bought it.
C
I feel like Pat McGrath, we need like, or they need to remind people of their bestsellers, their greatest hits. Cause I feel like they sort of have disappeared into the background. But, like, they're just. Their products are so good.
B
Everything is really focused on those mothership palettes. Or, like, the licensing deals that she has with Bridgerton. Or like the Candy crush thing.
C
Or like the viral face mask or.
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The Taylor Swift red.
C
Yes.
B
Which, again, like, that is an iconic shade, and it's iconic for a reason. But I think that her complexion products are just. They need to be shouted from the rooftop.
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Yes. The foundation and the powders together. That's all you need, right?
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100%. I'm fully, fully obsessed.
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Fall is the perfect time to switch up your beauty routine, and Macy's fall VIP fashion Preview is the place to do it.
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Okay. And this is great. So during the event, you get 15% off beauty from all the heavy hitters. Lancome, Clinique, Estee Lauder, Armani, ysl, Valentino, Carolina Herrera, Guerlain, and even Sulwhasoo.
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Wow, look at you go and pronounce all of those names correctly.
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Thank you.
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Proud of you.
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Thank you.
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I personally love the Sulwasu balancing water. It is my absolute favorite.
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And I'm going to pick up another Valentino spike hydrating disco lip balm. Say that five times fast. These are so sleek. And I love the shade extra pink.
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It's really the perfect time to restock on your favorites serums or grab a new lipstick for fall. Or finally splurge on that fragrance you have been eyeing. Kirby, what are your fragrance racks?
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Okay, y' all know I love Prada Paradox, so I'll be picking up another one since it's on sale. Plus, they have the cute little tiny triangle, which is just so cute. So I have to have it.
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And if you want to tie the look together, you'll find 30% off fashion from brands like Karl Lagerfeld, Paris, BCBG, and Avec Le Fille. Plus chic handbags and shoes to match this glam.
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Macy's Fall VIP Fashion Preview runs September 25th through October 5th. You can shop in store or at Macy's.com like we do. And don't forget to hit the beauty counter first. Okay, Sarah, what is your fourth?
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Fourth. Okay, I feel bad talking about this because you haven't Tried it. I don't know why. I'm like peeking out from the camera. It's the Dior Forever Skin Perfect 24 hour multi use foundation stick.
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Okay.
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It's my favorite. It's my favorite foundation. I was really, truly trying to think holy grail. What have I been using for the last year? I think I've had this for a year now, and I'm still have. It's almost done, though. It's almost done. I love it because it's very lightweight. It's very creamy. It gives you like. I hate saying this, but it's like your skin, but better. It blurs your skin. It lasts all day. I have dry skin. It feels hydrating. The color is perfect on me. I'm a 2W. I'm always a 2W in Dior. And what I'll do is I will start with Mary's under palette, and then I'll go in with this and fill in the rest and then blend. And it's a beautiful pair. It's a beautiful match. And yeah, I really, truly think that if you're looking for something like every day, if you want your skin to still kind of like show through and just feel really comfy, like, this is a really, really good foundation stick.
B
Okay. I do need to try it. I have not tried it yet, but it is beautiful.
C
1.5004 and a half star reviews on Sephora.
B
Wow.
C
Yeah, it's pretty good.
B
I do know people love that product, so.
C
And it's good for travel. Again, sticking to your background. Yeah, it's great.
B
My last one is also a foundation.
C
Okay.
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From buying this at the ripe age of 23 at an ordstrom because it was recommended by some celebrity makeup artist to promptly rolling off my sink and falling on the floor and shattering, and then I'm literally scooping it up off the floor to try to salvage it. Armani Luminous silk foundation. I always go back to it, and I'm talking 15 years. I always go back to this foundation. I'm wearing it today.
C
It's.
B
It looks beautiful under powder. I think that once you figure out a complexion routine that makes your skin look great, you just never stray away from it. And if you have to, you always end up going back for me. Armani Luminous Silk. I actually had Carolina Gonzalez, who is an Armani ambassador, and she does Sabrina Carpenter's makeup color match me perfectly at an event and provide not only the foundation and concealer, but also the powders and really taught me how to use those. And I just think they make Such amazing, high quality products that have stood the test of time. Every makeup artist I talk to has this in their kit at some point. And I like that it has a natural finish. It's not too dewy, it's not matte. I love the concealers. I've mentioned this many times on the podcast. For a while I was just using the concealers. I've gone back to the foundation now. If you wanna try this product, yes, it's a beauty investment because it is a prestige brand, but you can buy the travel sizes that are obviously like half of the price. It may not be bang for your buck, but it's still cheaper and you'll still get to try the product. But I just, I love the coverage it provides. I really am just. I always go back to it. Yeah, it is the best to me.
C
RIP, RIP icon. Mr. Armani, I will say too with that. And I think I've said this before, but like, you really need to figure if you feel like, oh, like it's not for me, you just haven't found your right shade.
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I agree.
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Go get shade matched.
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Go get shade matched.
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And you will be like, that's my skin.
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Carolina shade matching me changed everything because I thought I was a specific shade and I thought I was a good shade match. But when she shade matched me, I realized I found one that was actually invisible on my skin and gave me the coverage I needed without it looking like I was wearing anything. And their shade naming system is a little confusing because it's like 5.2, 4.75. And then you think, and they're going in order, but it's like, no, that was neutral. And this one's warm. Yes. So it's a little bit harder than like your standard light, medium, neutral, medium tan, whatever. But once you find it, it's unfortunate because then you're obsessed with it forever. It's expensive. It's expensive. I will say it, but I think it's worth every penny. I mean, if I need to stock up, I usually go maybe once a year, if that.
C
Oh, my gosh. I'm imagining you scooping it up from the ground.
B
I did. I went and got a spatula and I scooped it up and then I was like, where do I put this? There's like little shards of glass in it.
C
Oh, and you would the shards. No, I couldn't.
B
I couldn't, I couldn't. I couldn't use it.
C
You couldn't. Okay. I'm trying to pick a lip for this last one, which is really hard for Me?
B
Yep.
C
So I'm just gonna go. No. Okay. I'm just gonna go. I'm just gonna go. Not think this is the Violette Fr Bisou balm in Mon Cherie. And I just think that this is a lip that I constantly go back to. I just love the texture, the finish. Just dab it on my lips. I think that Violette picked this split shade for me. She did. And she picked one for you too.
B
Yes.
C
And I love this product too, Right? Yes.
B
I love this product.
C
It's just unlike anything else, I really have to say. Like, there are so many lip products out there. And you're like, well, it's kind of like that. It's kind of like this.
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It's not like Mac Powder Kiss. No. It's not like Sunny's face. It is a very different formula.
C
It is truly a lipstick, but it feels like a balm. But it's not dewy. It's like a blurred lip. It's really. She's just a genius. And I frickin love this.
B
It's stunning, stunning product.
C
I need it in all the shades, though, is my only complaint.
B
Same.
C
So sorry to me.
B
Okay, so those are our holy grail makeup products for the time being. Enjoy.
C
As of now, as of this recording.
B
We will link those in our shop. My. Okay, Marissa Goldstein, if you could only pack three beauty items in your mini for a night out, what would make the cut? This is one of my favorite questions, because love a mini. I'm always at the beauty on the go section at Ulta or Sephora. I will. If it's mini, I will be purchasing it. And I have a variety of them in my purse right now. I cannot wait to talk about this.
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Really? I'm going to say this. Ultar Sephora. Let Kirby and me have, like, a mini, like, shelf or like a collection. Because, I mean, I just. I want one Los Angeles approved. Yes. First of all, it's so freaking cute. And second, it's very handy.
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Anything mini I love, I will without fail buy something.
C
Yeah.
B
Like, that is the smartest thing they've ever done is put the beauty on the go sections right at the cash register. Cause I see something, they go, oh, yeah, I need this.
C
Yeah. Or you're like, oh, it's the small version.
B
I'm like, but did I. Do I have this? I'll just get another one. Yeah, yeah, it's $17. Yeah, whatever. Okay, Sarah, what's your first okay. For a night out? What are you packing?
C
I just got it.
B
Oh, it is so cute. I love this. It's so cute.
C
It's the invisi matte fenty, like powder, blotting powder. It's so cute. We talk about this all the time with powders.
B
It's so cute.
C
It's hard to find a small enough one for your purse.
B
It's a little baby. It is literally so cute.
C
It's so cute.
B
I am fully obsessed.
C
She's coming with me all the time.
B
Okay. I love that. I also have powders. Mine is. I mean, Charlotte Tilbury. This is also. This was hard for me. I almost picked this for Holy Grail, but I knew I was gonna talk about it for this particular question. This is the. It's the pressed powder. Airbrush something. Pressed powder. Apologies for not getting the name right, but I don't even think it's written on this. Cause I can't read it. I have shade. I'm going blind.
C
Me too.
B
I have shade. One fair and two medium. And this will lead into my second product.
C
Which is.
B
Which is.
C
Mm.
B
Oh, the beauty blender. What is this called? It's not an actual beauty blender. On one side, it's a very furry. We both have it. Rianne gave it to us, but I had this previously and I'm obsessed with it. So one size is a typical sponge feel.
C
Yes.
B
So if you need to, like. I get concealer and stuff around the crevices of my nose. Sometimes that, like, will move. So if you need to powder that and then on the other side, you can scoop up your powder and go under your eye. Do what you need to do.
C
It's a genius.
B
It's so genius. I don't even put powder on it half the time.
C
What is this called?
B
What is this called? So it's called the Power Pocket Puff. Dual sided. And I think she probably gave us something to put it in. Yeah, but I just throw it in there. Don't do as we do. Yeah, Use whatever it comes with to.
C
Like, protect it as we say, not as we do.
B
Right.
C
Is that what that one is?
B
Yep. Way to go. You got it. Right. But yeah, I. I have these in my bag. Like, I will transfer them from, like, my daily bag to my going out bag to have Sarah. Okay, what's your next one?
C
It's not a mini per se, but it's small because it's a lip.
B
Okay. What is it currently?
C
Currently. I talked about this before.
B
I'm so jealous.
C
You need to get it. It's from Entropy. It is a Korean brand. They sell it on Amazon. And it's the specific shade.
B
We need readers.
C
We need readers. We need to be sponsored by, like, somebody read us Warby Parker. Okay. 492C. But we talked about this when the lipstick lesbians were on. We were talking about, like, lip tints and how Korea. The technology is just different. They're on. They're living in the future. It's just on another level. This one is my absolute favorite. I use it as, like, a topper, as, like, a lip gloss. If I'm already wearing a lip or if I don't have anything on, I will use it as is. It's just a beautiful lip. I am running out, and I need to purchase another one. So currently, this one is with my invisimat right now.
B
Okay. Love that. And then my final product is Prada Paradox Travel size. But I also realized I put this size as well in there. So this one, it's a baby. It's probably, what, one ounce? It's the Prada triangle. And then they have, like, the actual travel. So the travel one is with me at all times in my purse. But when I have my computer bag and I'm traveling, like, on a plane, I have this one. Also, I need to buy a refill, because you can do that with Prada fragrances.
C
Love that.
B
And I need to refill my big one.
C
So how does that. What does it come in?
B
It comes in. It looks like almost like a whipped cream. Not a whipped cream, but, like, it has a spout on it so that when you turn it over, you just insert it. You take this, the atomizer off and put it in, and it just.
C
Oh, smart fills.
B
Yeah. It's unfortunately, like, almost as expensive as the fragrance itself, sans the packaging. So it is a. I feel like. But it's still cheaper than what you would pay to just get a whole nother one.
C
Right. And it's less packaging.
B
Yes, agreed.
C
Okay. Perfume. I don't have. I do have it with me. Whatever. I'm not gonna pick it out. It's the Lor Disfruta. The.
B
Oh, yeah, the travel one. Cute. Love them.
C
We need to have her on soon, Lore.
B
Disfruta.
C
And then I want to just throw in capsule. I always bring Advil because you never know when pain's gonna hit. Do you have a capsule for your drugs?
B
No, I need these. I need.
C
I'm not gonna show you all my drugs in here.
B
Oh, wow. You have a lot of drugs, by the way. Speaking of Lore, we got every single note wrong when we were guessing.
C
Listen.
B
We were like, cherry. No, we're not.
C
Okay. But I did think, now that I've been wearing Destruto so much, and I know it's smoky citrus, it reminds me of a, like, spicy mezcal cocktail.
B
Yes.
C
So that's why I like it.
B
Yes.
C
And that's what.
B
That's what it says in the actual.
C
Yeah.
B
At its imagery.
C
Okay.
B
Mezcal smokiness.
C
I got that one after. But I'm not a nose. I'm not a fragrance.
B
I was laughing. I was, like, listening and then reading all the notes. I'm like, we failed with flying colors.
C
It's not about the actual notes. It's about how it makes you feel.
B
That is so, so true.
C
That's what Laura's all about.
B
Okay, next question. Jen Hoyman asks, are any of the beauty gadgets that you've tested still a regular part of your routine today? This is such a good question, because I'm often asked about Droplet, and if you have been here since 2019, droplet was this device that I thought was a complete game changer. I was using it religiously. It was made specifically for this medical reason to help distribute medication to people that had a specific medical issue in which, like, you could not touch their skin. So it essentially sprayed it without causing pain.
C
We did a Instagram live with them.
B
We did an episode.
C
We did an episode, but remember, we did, like, a live. What was it. Was it like on the. What was the app called where it was like, people just listened in.
B
Oh, clubhouse.
C
Did we do a clubhouse with them? No, but they don't have video. We did something live with them.
B
Oh, did we?
C
Yeah.
B
I cannot remember. We did. And I do think the founders are so brilliant. But the thing with this product is that I wasn't seeing the benefits from it because it broke so often. And to their credit, they have amazing customer service. So if you wrote them and said, hey, they. This is not even working anymore. The product's not coming out, whatever. Because, by the way, it's an expensive device. And the capsules were also expensive.
C
Yes.
B
They would send you a new one. Then they reconfigured it and made, like, the 2.0 version, but then it was still breaking. And at some point, we're like evangelists for this product. We love it, but if it's constantly breaking on us, we can't recommend it anymore. I think they still have some work to do in terms of how this product operates. I also think that there were specific. For instance, I couldn't use. I think they have glycolic Pack capsules. I couldn't use anything that was a exfoliator because it made me cough.
C
Right. Cause when it was dispensing. Yes.
B
So I don't think that is a great user experience either. And so I had actually several people the past couple of weeks being like, I haven't heard you talk about Droplet recently. And I was like, yeah, I stopped recommending it just because of not only. Only the amount of times it broke on me, but the amount of people that told me that, like, they had to send theirs in like four or five times.
C
Yeah, yeah. I think, like, I agree with you. Like, I think they're so brilliant. But I do think it's a little bit, like, it was a little bit ahead of its time and, like, they still need to figure out, like, how to perfect the device. Because if you're gonna spend. How much is it? It's 250. So the product, the actual droplet device is 250. And then the capsules are like, starting at $65. Oh, they have an exosomes capsule. That's $395.
B
Right. And some. Yeah, like I said, some of these capsules are very expensive. And I think the more expensive capsules are actually the most beneficial with the product based off of the delivery system. But it doesn't benefit your skin when you can't use it regularly because it constantly breaks.
C
Right. Like, we're not saying it's not working or that it's not an effective device or tool, but if it is constantly breaking, consistency is key. And also, like, user error. Yeah, it's hard. It's hard.
B
I will admit this. I don't use beauty devices as much as maybe some other people you may see online. I have a NuFace. I haven't used it in forever. Maybe that will change soon. I have a lot of. I mean, I have a theraface. I haven't used that in forever. The only thing I think I consistently use, and I use that term loosely, is the red light mask.
C
Yeah, me too. I do. And you. Which one do you like? You like Dr. Dennis Gross?
B
I like Dr. Dennis Gross because I feel it fits my face shape nicely. I just like that it feel. I can feel it on my skin. And maybe that's just like a psychological thing, but with the more flexible ones, it's like the nose pops out or like, it's not getting, like, down here. And I know that doesn't need to necessarily be touching your skin, but it.
C
Needs to feel comfortable on you and, like, it's Actually doing something.
B
And I just feel with the flexible ones, sometimes it doesn't feel as secure on my head. Like I need to lay down with Dr. Dennis Gross. Literally, you just put it on. It fits perfectly for my face shape. And I can like run around and do whatever I need to.
C
I like that one too. That one for me. I always recommend that one.
B
Same.
C
I definitely. I agree with you. I don't use. And we have like all of the devices.
B
I like Omnilux.
C
Yeah.
B
But again, it's a difference in what you want in terms of how you want it to feel on your face. Omnilux is flexible. I also like current body. I also like solo waves.
C
Yeah. I have. The one that I use the most is the shark beauty one. It's.
B
I haven't tried that one yet. So I like it, but I haven't.
C
Tried it because it's cooling.
B
I need.
C
It's cooling plus led and it's. It's a heavy mask. But I just love the cooling part. I don't know why, but it's definitely the one that I use consistently the most. I probably use it like once a week. It's like a Friday night thing.
B
I haven't opened it, which is so dumb of me. But when you're using it, it's the cryotherapy. But you're also getting the led. The red light.
C
Yeah. Yeah.
B
Interesting. Because I maybe it does the LED.
C
First and then the cooling. You choose like different settings. Like you. Or, you know, it's like you choose the cooling one or you choose the like LED one. So maybe it is different. I literally just press it and then just like watch it.
B
Let it do its thing.
C
Let it do its thing.
B
I would like to try this because I've been reading more about how red light could be. Be potentially bad for people with melasma. And that would also make sense why my melasma seems to be more aggressive right now, even though I'm doing all of these like lightning things. And so I'm wondering if I do the shark and I have the LED.
C
And then the cooling after.
B
Yes. Yeah, that could be helpful.
C
So, yeah, mode was the word I was looking for. So they have like a better aging treatment mode, skin clearing mode, like different modes. And then they have whether you want to do the cryo cooling or not.
B
Yeah. And in terms of other treatment devices, I have the nira. But again, I have to remember, like, oh, okay, I need to like bust this out and use it. And two, their credit. Again, if you use it consistently, you See results.
C
Right.
B
But also, I don't know if you're seeing long term results. Yeah, I think you're probably seeing results because you're consistently doing it. If you stop, those results go away.
C
That's what I always say too, about the NuFace or the Zip. I use my Zip. I love my Zip. It's one of those things where you have something coming up, a big event, a presentation, a date, whatever it may be, and you're using it consistently up until then. But I don't know anyone that is like, I use my new face every single day.
B
I definitely do not. It's kind of like training.
C
Yeah. Yeah. It's like working out. It totally is working out your face. I use my. I use my gua sha and I literally massage my face with my hands. That's what I do.
B
I think that we also have to acknowledge we get sent a lot of this stuff. So it is an embarrassment of riches in a way. And we're not investing that money into some of these treatment devices.
C
Yeah.
B
So we're not sitting there thinking, I need to use this every day because I invested in it. Maybe if you bought it. But again, for our job, we get sent these things to try and test and see how well they work. And like we said, they do work. When you use them consistently.
C
That's the number one thing. It's literally, if you are going to invest in a device, pick one that you think you will use regularly. Like Droplet. Like, it's actually, it's a lot. It's a lot of work. Or I mean, I know we said it breaks, but like, same with the Medicube. Like, that's a great device too, but you have to use it consistently. Like, everything just needs to. It needs to fit in within your schedule and your lifestyle. So think about that.
B
All right. We've spent a long time on those three questions, so we're gonna save the rest of them for another ama. You can always ask us in the slack if you have more questions. But someone asked, what's a dream collab for the pod that hasn't happened yet, but feels inevitable.
C
Well, I did say a Mini. A Minis collection with Ulta or Sephora or just a section a Gondola, if you will, of Los Angeles approved products. So I'll just say that again.
B
I also want to put out in the world. We'd like to be at Ulta Beauty World in Orlando, Florida next year, April. We've cleared our calendars. I physically need to be in Orlando. I don't like that it's in Florida for reasons that are currently happening in our political climate. But I do want to be in Orlando.
C
Okay.
B
My happy place.
C
I also think we've had a lot of time to think about this. Kirby is obviously incredible on red carpets. I don't think we have enough, like, beauty commentating. We talk about the fashion, but I think if you want Kirby and me to be on the sidelines talking about the nails, the hair, the makeup, give us a call.
B
The actual attainable parts of the outfit that are extremely sellable networks and that.
C
Have so much thought and artistry behind them.
B
Because, listen, we know what you guys need. You guys need stuff that sells. We know how to do this. Babes and beauty. You can't pick up that Prada gown, but you can pick up that Prada astral lip balm.
C
Yes, you can.
B
That we see on the Emmys red carpet.
C
I just think it'd just be so fun.
B
I would love a moment where you and I are commentating on, you know, just like, you know, Zanna Rossi, she's getting all of these. And Brad, he's getting. Yeah. Gresky's, he's getting all of these tags and all this information about these designers and who's wearing what and all these inside stories. We get that for beauty. So let's give you the breakdown. Let's talk about it. We're an established podcast. We would love to do it. And then I think she was actually.
C
You wanted to make sure you want like a product. You want like a product collab or a brand collab?
B
No, I think she's talking about, like, I think she meant on the. I don't know if she.
C
On the pod.
B
I think she meant like, guest. Right?
C
Am I. Oh, okay.
B
Maybe I totally misinterpreted that, but that was the angle. I was thinking, what's a dream collab for the pod that hasn't happened yet but feels inevitable. So it's like something that's already happened. Okay, so I was thinking guest, but also what feels inevitable? I think Hailey Bieber, round two will be inevitable.
C
Rihanna. Rihanna.
B
At one point, Rihanna does not feel inevitable to me. She feels inevitable to me. I mean, I love her dearly and we want her on the pod, but, like, is that something that can happen? I don't know. We don't know. She doesn't like to sit for a long amount of time. I mean, I just knew we.
C
Gimme 20 minutes.
B
I just. No, I want a 30 minute convo with this woman. I need to know what to do.
C
You know that it'll go over. It's gonna go over. She's gonna hang.
B
Dreams would be Rihanna, Lady Gaga. I would die to interview Dolly Parton.
C
Mariah on the pod.
B
Oh, my God, can you imagine Mariah?
C
I would. I would disappear.
B
I would actually die. Janet Jackson and melt into my seat. An incredible, incredible conversation. I don't.
C
Yeah, I don't know what this person was asking. We have many hopes and dreams.
B
We have a lot of collabs in our heads that we would like to see happen. Oh, I'll put this out there. I want us to have this podcast, not just on YouTube. I want it to be on Pluto TV. Pluto TV. Specifically Pluto TV. I wanna be on Pluto TV. I wanna have a channel, fashion and beauty. Sarah and I oversee the content of it and Los Angeles episodes are on it. And then we have a show where we go different places and try different beauty treatments and report on it. That's it.
C
Thanks for asking.
B
That's.
D
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Episode: Our Holy Grail Makeup Products, Our Fave Gadgets, & Our Dream Collab
Hosts: Kirbie Johnson & Sara Tan
Date: September 23, 2025
In this candid and engaging AMA episode, co-hosts Kirbie and Sara, seasoned beauty journalists, answer listeners' burning questions about their holy grail makeup products, favorite beauty gadgets, what they’d pack for a night out, and their dream podcast collaborations. Their expertise, relatable banter, and product knowledge offer both practical recommendations and behind-the-scenes insights. This summary covers their “top five” makeup staples, go-to minis, brutally honest device reviews, and some wishful thinking about future collaborations.
1. Mary Phillips’s MPH Underpainting Palette
2. Mascara: MAC Extended Play Gigablack Lash (Kirbie)
3. Highlighter: Chanel Baume Essentiel in Moonlight Kiss (Sara)
4. Brow Gel: L’Oréal Infallible 24H Brow Lamination (Kirbie)
5. Eyeliner: Heroine Make Smooth Liquid Eyeliner & Long Stay Sharp Gel Liner (Sara)
6. Under Eye Powder: Pat McGrath Labs Skin Fetish Sublime Perfection Blurring Under-Eye Powder (Kirbie)
7. Foundation:
8. Lip: Violette_FR Bisou Balm in Mon Cherie (Sara, with Kirbie in agreement)
Sara and Kirbie exchange their must-have beauty minis for a night out, advocating for a “Los Angeles approved” minis section at Ulta or Sephora.
Sara’s Mini Picks:
Kirbie’s Mini Picks:
Aspirational Projects:
Dream Podcast Guests:
Notable Quote:
This episode is a must-listen for beauty enthusiasts who want hands-on recommendations for makeup mainstays, honest gadget reviews, and fun, aspirational conversations about what beauty coverage could be. Kirbie and Sara’s rapport and deep knowledge shine through, offering both actionable tips and plenty of laughs.