Sharon Chuter’s Legacy, Vuitton’s $160 Lipsticks, and TikTok’s MAC Scandal

Summary

Gloss Angeles Podcast Summary

Episode: Sharon Chuter’s Legacy, Vuitton’s $160 Lipsticks, and TikTok’s MAC Scandal
Hosts: Kirbie Johnson & Sara Tan
Date: August 26, 2025

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Overview

In this jam-packed episode, Kirbie and Sara break down the biggest beauty industry news from the week, share personal (and vulnerable) experiences with ageism at influencer events, and provide sharp, nuanced takes on product launches, brand scandals, and viral TikTok controversies. They pay tribute to Sharon Chuter’s legacy, analyze the ultra-luxury Louis Vuitton beauty line debut, dissect a sunscreen recall, and end with the baffling TikTok saga that got a MAC manager fired.

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Key Discussion Points

1. Ageism in the Beauty Industry and Influencer Culture

[00:31–09:10]

• Kirbie recounts an upsetting incident at a beauty event where a younger influencer loudly asked if she was Jaclyn Hill’s mother, despite them being about the same age.
• Discussion centers on the anxiety, shame, and double standards of age and perception in beauty, especially among women in the industry.
• Sara and Kirbie reflect on their longevity and the emotional labor of proving themselves in a youth-focused, cliquey culture.
• Quote:
  • “I am 38 years old. That is nothing I am ashamed of. However, when this happened, I did feel like shit.” — Kirbie [03:51]
  • “We've seen so many people go up and down, and we are still here. We've surpassed a lot of these people.” — Sara [08:28]
• They reaffirm their pride in experience and expertise, urging listeners to value these traits over fleeting trends.

2. The Loss of Sharon Chuter and Her Impact

[10:27–12:37]

• Sharon Chuter, founder of Uoma Beauty and creator of "Pull Up For Change," passed away at 38. The hosts express grief and honor her activism and business acumen.
• Chuter’s initiatives pressured brands for transparency about Black employment and launched impactful projects like Make It Black.
• They discuss her professional struggles, recent legal battles, and industry impact.
• Quote:
  • “She was a trailblazer… calling on brands to share how many Black employees they had and sparked consumer awareness around the topic.” — Kirbie [11:00]

3. Louis Vuitton’s Ultra-Luxury Makeup Launch

[12:37–20:16]

• LV debuts “La Beaute Louis Vuitton,” a 55-shade lipstick and makeup line directed by Pat McGrath.
• Lipsticks and balms priced at $160; eyeshadow palettes at $250. Refills are still expensive but less so.
• Packaging is heavy, magnetic, refillable — a status symbol akin to owning an LV handbag.
• Kirbie and Sara try the products, comparing the experience to luxury staples (Chanel, Hermes).
• They raise questions about the product’s value versus exclusivity, and how it’ll impact Pat McGrath Labs.
• Quote:
  • “You’re not buying this for the shades or the formulas… You’re buying it as a status symbol. The LV.” — Kirbie [17:59]
  • “If you want to spend $160 on a lipstick, by all means, go for it.” — Sara [37:54]

4. Ultraviolet Sunscreen Testing Controversy

[20:17–27:21]

• Australian sunscreen brand Ultraviolet faces backlash after their Lean Screen mineral sunscreen was found to have wildly inconsistent SPF levels (ranging from 4 to 64 across different tests).
• Ultraviolet pulls the problematic product, issues refunds, cuts ties with the manufacturer, and vows multi-lab testing for future products.
• Kirbie and Sara defend the brand, praising their transparency and contextualize the issue as industry-wide, due to lack of standardization and reliable SPF lab testing globally.
• Quote:
  • “This is how I see it… across the board, you can get varied SPF numbers, and it depends on how you test it.” — Kirbie [24:53]
  • “We need better sunscreen testing. Yeah, we've said that a million times.” — Sara [37:47]

5. The TikTok MAC Cosmetics LAX Scandal

[27:22–36:14]

• Recap of a viral TikTok series by Bri Marix, a MAC manager at LAX, documenting daily work routines—showing staff security process, money-handling, and store protocols, all with exact timestamps.
• The videos, meant as “come to work with me” vlogs, create a massive security breach, resulting in the employee’s firing and possibly forcing major security changes at the airport.
• The hosts express a mix of disbelief, concern, and humor, warning about oversharing and the ethical/social dangers of social media fame-chasing.
• Quote:
  • “This woman’s desire to go viral on the Internet cost her her job and potentially had to make LAX overhaul an entire security protocol.” — Kirbie [33:56]
  • “This is not a generational problem. This is a social media problem: your need to be famous and get engagement on the Internet is clouding your judgment.” — Sara [36:40]
• The importance of basic judgment, workplace confidentiality, and social media etiquette are reiterated.

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Status and Value in Beauty
  “[Luxury lipsticks]—it's a status symbol. The LV. Just like you would why you’re buying the purse.” — Sara [17:59]

• On Sharon Chuter
  “She is a trailblazer… calling on brands to share how many Black employees they had and sparked consumer awareness around the topic.” — Kirbie [11:00]

• On Social Media Dangers
  “This is not a generational problem. This is a social media problem: your need to be famous and get engagement on the Internet is clouding your judgment.” — Sara [36:40]

• On Ageism
  “We’ve seen so many people go up and down ... and we are still here.” — Sara [08:28]

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Segment Timestamps

• Ageism & Influencer Event Story: 00:31–09:10
• Sharon Chuter Tribute: 10:27–12:37
• Louis Vuitton Beauty Launch: 12:37–20:16
• Ultraviolet Sunscreen Testing Drama: 20:17–27:21
• MAC LAX TikTok Scandal: 27:22–36:14
• Key Takeaways/Wind-down: 37:07–38:15

---

Key Takeaways

• Ageism persists in the beauty industry, even towards highly accomplished women.
• Sharon Chuter’s passing is a huge loss—her activism still shapes the industry.
• Louis Vuitton’s makeup line is mostly about exclusivity and branding, prompting questions about the boundaries of luxury beauty products.
• Sunscreen testing inconsistencies are widespread and not always due to malfeasance; transparency from brands is crucial.
• Oversharing on social media, especially about work, can have major ethical and personal consequences.

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Gloss Angeles continues to blend industry-insider commentary, personal vulnerability, and humor to chart the most important beauty headlines and lessons for their listeners.

Transcript

[A]

From real inspiration to digital iteration to achieving perfection. Make it right the first time with a digital twin. Transform the everyday with Siemens Glam Los Angeles.

[B]

Hi, Kirby.

[A]

Hi, Sarah.

[B]

Welcome to Los Angeles.

[A]

Okay, this is gonna be a jam packed episode. There's lots of news. I feel compelled to tell this story because now it's funny, but at the time, I did have a little cry about it. But then it also, I think, speaks to this larger conversation we've been having about what is old and why are we so scared of getting old. I go to this event. Lovely event. I was honored to be there. It was a hundred people, but it was a very slight curated group of people. There weren't a. I love how, like, you've just been silent.

[B]

No, I mean, I just. I'm in disbelief. Honestly, I'm just in disbelief. I wish that I would have gone.

[A]

I go to this event and I am happy because Max Brauner's there. He's taking photos, and always an honor.

[B]

To get photographed by Max.

[A]

Yes. And there were a bunch of OG beauty influencers there because this particular brand had done a campaign with them. So Jaclyn Hill, seen her in years. Yes. Laura Lee was also there, and I'm friends with Manny and Laura Lee, so I was very excited to see them. And it was a good event.

[B]

You looked great.

[A]

Thank you.

[B]

You looked amazing.

[A]

Thank you. I felt amazing until you looked at this specific moment. So the whole thing with this event was that new product was being launched, and it's supposed to be long wear. It's like a new formula for this particular brand. So they were really proud of it, and they worked with. With a stuntwoman to show off how long it can last. Okay, so a fake fight breaks out. Like she's flying through the air like fires. You know, every. All these things are happening. And at one point when this fight is going on on stage, I'm filming and I turn around to Manny and I'm like, manny, you're next. Because he had, like, previously worked with the brand. And he starts laughing. And I turn back around and I hear someone go, who is that? Is that someone's mom? Manny, is that your mom? And it didn't click for me at first, but then I realized that this person was talking about me.

[B]

I just don't understand how that's even remotely a thought that could come into someone's head.

[A]

Then Lauralee's like, no, that's Kirby Johnson. And the person who, by the way, is a huge influencer and you have interacted with before. Yes. Was like, oh, whoops. And kind of laughed it off. Mind you, this person I was told was imbibing. And also this person was very loud during the presentation, which automatically grinds my gears because it's disrespectful. And you are invited as a guest. You should pay attention to what's going on on stage.

[B]

It's like a five minute presentation.

[A]

But I guess when you're a huge influencer, the rules don't apply to you and all you think about is yourself. Anyways, I went up to Manny afterwards and I asked if this is what was said. And he goes, no. And I go, oh, well, maybe this is just me.

[B]

Hi.

[A]

Having a insecurity and I'm blowing this out of proportion. And he corrects himself and says no. She asked if you were Jacqueline Hill's mom.

[B]

I think Jaclyn Hill's older than you.

[A]

Or the exact same Jaclyn. Okay, so I want to make something very clear. Jacqueline, Manny and Laura Lee, I think are like 34, 35 years old. A few years younger than us. They are a Taylor Swift to my Gaga. Okay. I am 38 years old. That is something I am ashamed of.

[B]

No, I'm not.

[A]

That I don't think anybody should be ashamed of. However, when this happened, I did feel like shit. It's a stupid thing to say. And granted, I guess you could argue this person was drunk or. I don't wanna say drunk. Had had some drinks. Okay.

[B]

And the presentation, it was dark, so it could also have.

[A]

Right next to her.

[B]

Okay, no, but I'm just saying, like, I'm saying that this person's vision, they must go see a doctor because they are not able to see in darkness.

[A]

I get what you're saying. So I try to give this person the benefit of the doubt, but no matter how you twist it, I think it's just. It was offensive.

[B]

No, what I'm saying is this person needs to seek help.

[A]

It is a bummer. Because this person. I feel like I have always given the benefit of the doubt and I have always had empathy for this person. Even more so than you.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And to have this person do this to me was. And this person, I guarantee you, has no idea. This person does not even. She has not even.

[B]

No, of course not.

[A]

Thought about this moment.

[B]

Yeah, yeah. And you shouldn't either. Because it's actually so dumb and ridiculous.

[A]

And it made me think more so. Cause it made me cry. I got teary. I, like, had to compose myself. I was like, girl, not the time or place. Get it together. Went home, had a little cry about it, and then woke up this morning and I was laughing. So I was like, this is so ridiculous. And it goes back to our conversation about why are we so scared of being called old.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

One of my close friends was. I got on Instagram stories. Close friends. Okay. And I did a little dissertation of what happened. I did not reveal who this person was. And one of my best friends, Emily, sent me voice notes and she was like, I am so sorry. But I would be like, yeah, actually, I am your mother. I know more than you. I've been around longer than you. I've had more longevity than you. I am. I might not be your mommy, but I'm your mother. So there we go. And I was like, if you were a better person with a better reflex, I would have said that.

[B]

It's one of those situations where, like, I always think about this when someone says something mean to you or someone says something.

[A]

I'm dumbfounded. I am dumbfounded. When people say mean things to me, I am truly shocked.

[B]

Or even like mean things to someone else. I'm always like, God, I wish I would have said something like, oh, other people.

[A]

I am on it.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

When it comes to me though, I am truly on like, I am like my, my reflexes, like I said, I think I said last night and my close friends, I was just like, is. It did not process for me what was happening.

[B]

But it's also, yeah, it's just like you're caught off guard, it's uncomfortable. And then I just have so much respect for people who can, like, in that moment, have like a comeback.

[A]

But when drag queens can read people, I'm like, oh my God, that is a superpower.

[B]

Yes, it is a superpower that I wish that I had same. But I just hope that you know that this woman is actually unwell.

[A]

And it also is like, this is the thing too. It's like, she doesn't have to be unwell to think I look old.

[B]

No, but. No, but it's different if I look.

[A]

Old enough to have a 34 year old son or daughter.

[B]

And that's what I'm saying is like, it's okay to. I would also feel upset and crazy.

[A]

But also at the same time, I'm like, why do I care?

[B]

Well, okay, first of all, you shouldn't care.

[A]

Why should I care? Like, I should be like, okay, and if I do, I look damn good. But it's actually physically impossible. No, no, that's what I'm saying. It is physically impossible for you.

[B]

To be their mother.

[A]

1.

[B]

You're like a year older than them too. Three week kit. We shouldn't even be talking about this because it's not something you should even be thinking about because this person, again, needs to seek help. You should just focus on the fact that you looked absolutely beautiful last night. Those photos that Max took were so stunning. You should frame them, you should get them blown up, and we cannot bother with these people.

[A]

It did, though, bring up this duality in my brain of, I feel this way, but I don't want to feel this way. And like, we preach a lot about accepting.

[B]

Okay. There's one thing about accepting aging and being like, approaching our 40s and whatever. You've never looked better. You look amazing. But to hear someone say that you might be someone's mom that's your age.

[A]

That would, that would have somebody saying, I'm your mom. Yes.

[B]

That would offend anyone. Like, yes, you are Quinn's mother. You could have a toddler, like, whatever. But, like, you're not a 30 something year old person's mother. I think that, like, I think about that often. That we have been in this industry for so long and we have seen so many people go up and down, go up and down, and we are still here.

[A]

We've surpassed a lot of these people. So many horrible things to us. We have been on so many trips at so many events where people do not look outside of their bubble. They don't see us as writers or journalists. They don't see me and the content that I had made for almost a decade at popsugar.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so they assume that, like, we're there to service them.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

That we're not there on our own merit.

[B]

Right. That we weren't invited in the same way that they were. Which we were. We are. But it just, I think about it all the time and it's just so crazy that we have gotten to this point in our career where we have, like, surpassed so many people. And it makes me laugh when I hear things like that because I'm like, where is this person gonna be next year?

[A]

Right. I also wanna be very clear, this is not Alix Earle.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

When I had gone on Close Friends, I said that this was a big influencer and a lot of people guessed Alix Earle, which actually hurts my heart because I think they see this really hot blonde chick and they think that she's also probably a mean girl. And I have only heard the most amazing things about Alix Earle. And I welcome her on this podcast and I Love that.

[B]

Oh, my God, that would be amazing.

[A]

Meet her. But yeah, all of that to say is like, I was really dumbfounded by that experience last night.

[B]

I just think it's actually incredibly stupid of this person to be acting like this in public in front of her peers.

[A]

What if she said that about one of the executives that was standing right next to her?

[B]

100%. But also, this person has their own brand that they are representing that they.

[A]

Sent to me literally this past week.

[B]

That I have, which will be going.

[A]

To the Trans Wellness center that I.

[B]

Have been getting so many messages about that I actually haven't responded to that I won't anymore. But do you know what I mean? Like, like you said, this person has a lot of maturing to do and I'm just.

[A]

It sucks because I truly did empathize with this person, like, on a deep level.

[B]

No, you did.

[A]

Anyways, so there's some tea for ya.

[B]

You're in my burn book.

[A]

There's some tea for ya. All right. This is very sad news. Sharon Shuter, the founder of Uoma Beauty, died on Thursday, August 14th. She was 38 years old, and according to the Los Angeles County Medical Examiner's website, she passed away on a patio. It's unclear if it was her patio or somebody else's. The cause has been deferred. At the time that I published this newsletter, this is heartbreaking. Sharon was on our podcast.

[B]

She's always been so kind and supportive to us.

[A]

She is a trailblazer. She was not only the founder and creative director of Umma, but but also the sister brand Umma Beauty by Sharon C. Which was sold at Walmarts, which launched in 2019 and 2021 respectively. In 2020, she created the Pull up for Change initiative, calling on brands to share how many black employees they had and sparked consumer awareness around the topic, which now I think people hold in very high regard and keep into consideration no matter what's going on in the industry. The initiative went on to create Make It Black, which which was a campaign to create meaningful conversations around the word black. So it would partner with leading brands and 100% of the net proceeds would be allocated to the Pull up or Change impact fund. In 2023, it was reported that Sharon stepped down as the CEO of Umma and she cited health struggles and a lack of work life balance as the reason. The brand went dark in August of 2023 and then was acquired by private equity, according to Allure. And then the brand relaunched without her in 2024. And I know that There was another lawsuit filed by Sharon earlier this year, March of 2025. The story is still developing as of the time we are recording this, which is Friday the 22nd. We send our condolences to anyone that knew her personally.

[B]

It's just absolutely, absolutely devastating. And it looks like she was just doing like panels.

[A]

Yeah, it was about. It was about three months ago. So she's been quiet on social since then. Yes, just a sad, sad moment.

[B]

Sad day for beauty for sure.

[A]

100% hard pivot. There is a brand that is launching that people are a little up in arms about. Okay, Louis Vuitton.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

Tell us about it, Sarah.

[B]

Okay, so.

[A]

And by the way, this is like, this would be my designer choice.

[B]

Right.

[A]

So I'm very curious. Cause I mean, I have a million packages at home. I don't think I received this. So I would love to hear your thoughts.

[B]

I had to specifically reach out and request for this and I think they were very careful to send samples because they didn't want it to get out. And in fact, I got this last week and I posted just a picture of the box and I was asked to remove.

[A]

Take it down.

[B]

Yeah, like, not even of the products. And I had seen like Trend Mood had posted about it. So I was like, oh, surely it's fine. But they've just been like really, really careful about. Yes. About the brand launching. So we knew that they were launching. I think we talked about it when the news came out that we knew that Pat McGrath was the creative director, which was a little confusing because she obviously has her own brand. But it all made sense and, and we knew that it was going to be a beautiful collection of products. So they are launching the. It's called La Beaute Louis Vuitton.

[A]

Louis vuitton.

[B]

Louis Vuitton 55 lipsticks.

[A]

Damn.

[B]

Which is a nod to The Roman Numeral LV 10. Louis Vuitton Balm tinted lip balms, which is what Kirby is holding at this moment. And then we have eight Ombres eyeshadows, which is this palette right here. There are 27 satin and 28 matte formulas for the lipsticks. They are infused with shea butter and hyaluronic acid. They are supposed to be a comfortable 12 hour wear. And they even are scented by master perfumer Jacques Cavelier. I am reading this story from Harper's Bazaar written by our dear friend Jenna Rosenstein.

[A]

Rosenstein.

[B]

Here's the picture of all the different shades of lipsticks.

[A]

Damn.

[B]

There's like every single shade that you could possibly want. A lot of reds, obviously. It's beautiful. It's absolutely stunning.

[A]

Let's. Let's make a few things clear. So this is expensive.

[B]

It is that, yes.

[A]

What's the going? Beer for the lipstick?

[B]

I'm burying the lead here. Okay. The lipstick and the lip balms are $160. The eyeshadows are $250. The refills for the lips are. Are $69 and $92 for the eyeshadows, respectively. So we thought Hermes had an expensive lipstick, but this now is officially the most expensive lipstick on the market.

[A]

It makes me wonder if Hermes will change their pricing so they are still the most elite fashion house with the beauty brand. I have to say this.

[B]

Heavy, heavy, heavy.

[A]

Custom components.

[B]

The weight of it makes it feel very prestige.

[A]

It feels prestige. There's no doubt about it. It feels luxe.

[B]

And, like, if you were to whip that out at lunch, I'd be like, oh, my God.

[A]

And it is beautiful. Again, like I have said, I am a Louis Vuitton girl. My very first purchase was a speedy bag in Paris with Sarah, the black one.

[B]

Core mems.

[A]

So this is very much same to me. You need that. I actually need this. I would just love to have, actually a compact mirror sans the eyeshadow for this. Only four shades, but again, custom component. Sarah, these little eyeshadow brushes, do they come with the shadow palette?

[B]

I hope so.

[A]

They're really cute, but they look like kind of generic, except for the fact that they have the Louis Vuitton symbol, the monogram. And they're also heavy, which is like, you don't want to throw them away. The lipstick and the lip balm, what does that remind you of? That reminds me of a very specific. That reminds me of Chanel. Chanel, which we love Chanel a lot of.

[B]

The Chanel one.

[A]

Yes. The component that it's in is different, but the way that it looks, the.

[B]

Way that it's poured, it looks specifically their tinted lip.

[A]

Yes. It reminds me of Chanel.

[B]

Yeah. But of course, the bullet is different. The packaging, it's like. It's just so cute. So it's refillable.

[A]

It's refillable. I think that's the big part that people are like, does it matter? And this is my take on it. When you have something as expensive as a $160 lip balm, you're not gonna wanna keep buying these, right?

[B]

Oh, yeah.

[A]

You're gonna wanna refill them. So there is incentive to actually keep this. The big problem with refills these days is that people do not save. Yep. Their product packaging because they're like, well, it's cheap enough. I can just go buy a new one.

[B]

But not $160. I'm saving this.

[A]

This is like an heirloom for some people. Also, I will say it's magnetic, so there's.

[B]

So it's not gonna be flopping around in your purse.

[A]

So anybody that may be saying that this is, you know, egregiously priced, I don't disagree with necessarily. But you're not buying this for the shades or the formulas, because you could probably get something similar, if not exactly the same, from Pat McGrath. You're buy. It's a status symbol.

[B]

The LV.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

Just like you would why you're buying the purse.

[A]

Yes. They have now made it so that this is a status symbol. This is a lifestyle you are aligning with. And they priced it as such.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

So that. That's my whole take on it. I. I do think that if you are doing refills like this, that's the smart move. Like, you make a component that's expensive enough where it's like, there's no way in hell I'm throwing this away.

[B]

Yeah. Yeah.

[A]

I'm keeping this, and I'm going to actually refill.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

It's like how I feel about fragrances that have the refill pouches. The smartest thing you can do, because it's like, I don't want to have to keep buying the package.

[B]

Right, Exactly. I do like the refillable. It is magnetic, too, on the inside, so it clicks right in. It's a really beautiful formula. It's very creamy. Both the lipstick and the lip balm. I haven't played with the eyeshadow yet. I. Is it worth $160? I think that's just up to you. Right.

[A]

It's worth $160 if people pay for it.

[B]

Yep.

[A]

I think the question will be, in six months, how will LV Boute be performing for lvmh? Because usually when you launch a beauty brand, you launch it because it's good, fast money for the masses. And this is not a mass launch.

[B]

No, it is not. I'm also really curious, and we talked about this when we announced the news, how this is going to affect Pat McGrath Labs.

[A]

Right. Which Pat McGrath Labs has been in some really weird, murky territory for a minute. Like, that Candy Crush collab was very whack. And then they had that face mask thing that they launched, which also was kind of weird. A weird rollout. People are like, not seeing it in Sephora's as much, which is unfortunate because truly, she makes the best under eye powder known to mankind. Her foundation is incredible. Skin fetish, even, like, all of her lipsticks are absolutely fantastic.

[B]

And I mean, if you like an eyeshadow palette.

[A]

Come on. Yeah, like, hello, like the mothership.

[B]

Mothership.

[A]

The mothership, of course.

[B]

So, yeah. So I would love to know, Glams, are any of you big LV fans and are you going to be purchasing any of these products? I mean, they're just. They're so.

[A]

I mean, hell, I might be treating myself. No, I don't get them because I have to have one for my black matches. My black lv. Hello. I have every part of that black lv. You do. I have the absolutely needed small one. The wallet, all of the things.

[B]

You're getting it.

[A]

Okay, moving on. We have an update. I don't know if you guys were following this, but Ultraviolet, the sunscreen brand. We had the founders, Beck and Ava, on the podcast earlier this year when they launched in Sephora. We love this brand. We use this brand. We trust this brand. There was a issue earlier this year with this. I think it's a consumer advocacy group called Choice in Australia, tested a bunch of sunscreens, and it came back that Lean Screen, their mineral Sunscreen had an SPF of 4. When they claim it's an SPF 50 plus, which is what I've been told, probably closer to 60. This was drama. This was big drama. People were freaking out. Ava, one of the founders, got online and was like, I am a little confused about this because they've done all their testing. They've done all their testing. We've never had this issue when we've.

[B]

Tested, and by the way, we've said this, and when we've interviewed everyone who makes a sunscreen, it's expected expensive to get it tested independently.

[A]

Right. So you want to make sure you're, like, getting the right numbers, right? Because if you don't, you have to do it again.

[B]

Exactly.

[A]

So it was brought up that Choice decanted the product and sent it to this other lab. So Ultraviolet says we're going to do our own testing. Okay. We're going to figure this out, and I'm going to read what they wrote. They posted this on Thursday, August 21st. To our UV community, Ava and Beck here, as a sunscreen brand, our responsibility has always been to prioritize your safety, protection and skin health, above all else, remains the basis for every decision we make. Which is why when you Heard from us last, we made a commitment to you that we would continue to investigate a concerning discrepancy in SPF testing results of our Lean Screen. Before we go further, we want to make it clear that this only concerns the performance of Lean Screen. Additional testing on all Ultraviolet products has reinforced our confidence in the rest of our line. We had multiple independent labs conduct new tests of Lean Screen this week. We received results from those tests. I can't imagine how much this cost. That demonstrated significant and candidly atypical variability across eight different tests. Lean Screen has now returned SPF data of 4, 10, 21, 26, 33, 60, 61 and 64. That wasn't good enough for us and it isn't good enough for you. Given this pattern of inconsistency in testing, we have decided to withdraw Lean Velvet Screen, which is what they call it here in the US from the market. Effective immediately, purchases of this product will be eligible for a refund and a product voucher regardless of it was purchased. Please see instructions on our website for how to claim a refund and more information. They apologize and then they said that moving forward, this is what they're doing. Unlike a majority of our range, Lean Screen was created by a third party manufacturer and was the only sunscreen they made for us. We will no longer be making any skin screens with that manufacturer. We are working with a new wider network of testing facilities that have been BIPA audited and independently vetted. And we are no longer working with the original testing laboratory of Lean Screen. Every new Ultraviolet product will be SPF tested at a minimum of two different independent labs. We've increased the frequency of retesting to 18 months using off the shelf market samples and will continue to take immediate action if we see any discrepancies. And as mentioned above, both refunds and product vouchers will be issued to Lean Screen customers. And then they go on to say, you know, trust is built and rebuilt over time and they know they have work to do. I think that this is a great way to be transparent about what's going on with your brand and your product. And I use Supreme Screen this morning.

[B]

Oh, I put it on Zoe before school.

[A]

I had no qualms doing. So I know we've been asked a lot, like, should we trust this brand? Now, this is how I see it. Based off of the experiences that Sarah and I have both had when it comes to SPF testing. We have had people reach out to us saying, here's a screenshot of us testing our sunscreen to Two market leaders that claim, we have an SPF 50 and they have an SPF 8. So that sounds like a really big story. Right. Like, oh, this really popular brand is selling you a lie. But then you talk to people that do SPF testing that work in SPF as well, and they're like, here's the thing. You can get varied SPF numbers, and it depends on how they test it, because even though they test with a certain amount on your, you know, it's like the square on your arm with that specific, you know, diameter or whatever, it's not consistent, apparently. And allegedly, to the experts we've spoken to across the board. And so it goes back to Sarah and I where we said earlier this year there is a sunscreen problem.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Like, how is it.

[B]

Well, how is it so hard?

[A]

This is ridiculous.

[B]

We have robots and AI now doing the most complicated stuff.

[A]

Yes.

[B]

And how is it possible that we don't have the same sunscreen testing regulation across the board?

[A]

Right. And also, how are we still suffering? Yes.

[B]

Like, just give me a sunscreen that works.

[A]

Because not only. This is the other thing, too. This is not just a US Brand. Like, this is a brand based in Australia that people know and love, that people, when they go on vacation, hoard to bring back to the US because they prefer those formulas.

[B]

Right. And this is also not just a US Problem, because this testing happened in Australia or wherever they sent it to.

[A]

Different. There's, like, a bunch of different labs.

[B]

But they tested, like, Ultraviolet is not the only sunscreen that failed in the test. There's, like, so many other, like, big.

[A]

Names, I think La Roche. Yeah. LaRouche, Posay was Washington.

[B]

They were okay.

[A]

Oh, they were okay. They tested La Roche Posay, but they were okay.

[B]

Yes, yes. Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. So I think that, you know, we have, as consumers, to do our best. Like, you. You try. I mean, remember the Honest Beauty scandal all those years ago where they launched a clean sunscreen and literally, babies were being burned? Because, like, you know, it's stuff like that where I'm like, we got some work to do. And it's not just on Ultraviolet. We need to figure this out. Because I have gone to brands that have been like, hey, I was told your SPF is eight. And they're like, what? And then I get an email being like, here are the most current results. Yeah. So we gotta figure it out.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Gotta figure it out. But I'm still using my supreme screen. I'm not worried. Again, this only affected lean and velvet screen, depending on where you live. So.

[B]

And I really have a lot of respect for Ava and Beck because it's been like an uphill battle for them ever since they launched in the US Like, I remember when we were at that event and it was the day that Trump announced his tariffs, and I.

[A]

Was like, oh, no. The fact that they have Trump tariffs and they're in Australia, like all these other.

[B]

And then it was like, bam.

[A]

And the sunscreen regulations, like, I just feel.

[B]

I feel for them. And they're doing a really incredible job being really transparent with their consumers. So good luck to them. Again, like Kirby said, we're still big fans of the brand.

[A]

We are. We are big, big fans of the brand. And we'll continue to use those products.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Okay. Last thing I want to talk to you about some drama that's been going on on TikTok. One of my favorite things to discuss. Have you heard of the girl that worked at Mac Cosmetics at lax?

[B]

No?

[A]

Girl, I can't wait to tell you this story. This is going to be a lot of fun and tale for people who think posting any and everything on the Internet is worth it, especially as an employee of a company. Okay, so there is this user. Her name is Bri Marix.

[B]

Okay?

[A]

She has 130,000 followers. I found her because she started to get popular because she was. She made this video and it was. This is like August 1st. Okay, come to work with me as a Mac manager inside LAX airport with no trending audio.

[B]

I know exactly where that is.

[A]

Same. So you see her like get out of the elevators after she parks. She's like walking through TSA PreCheck. But like, you see her badge? Okay, she's like showing you like where she checks in with security. She then goes to a meeting. At 2pm she's in doing a selfie with a peace sign in the mirror. Around 2:30, she gets her first customer. At 3, she has to do all of this customer service stuff, blah, blah, blah. So her shift ends at 9:15. But before that she's, you know, closing up shop. She's getting the money, you know, out of the register. She's putting the lipstick to bed, as they call it, where they put these little like felt things on top of them to keep them from dust acquiring on them. I'm watching this as I'm telling you this. 9:00pm she's closing the register. Okay? You see her put her gloves on. She's taking money out. She's putting money in this black case. And she leaves the Mac store, locks it up and she shows Herself walking to drop off the money with a timestamp. And after the money is done being counted and sorted, it shows her literally leaving the exit of where she did this. Oh, my God. And she's like, okay, bye. That's the end. 9:30pm, going home. That was the first video. Second video, she's like, come to work with me at 5am Again, timestamps included. So we see her badges, we see her go get money. We see all the lollygagging she does during the day. Which, granted, she wasn't lollygagging, she was working her ass off because she's a manager, but she's like going through TSA di blahdy blah. Then towards the end of the day, you know, she's restocking, she's doing the damn thing. I'm scared. People are coming in, like co workers, whatever. She's going through, like, inventory. She's showing her locking up the money. Again, scared. This is crazy. Then four days ago, as of the time we're recording this, she's like, the plot twist nobody asked for. Come to work with me at Lex as a Mac manager with no trending audio, timestamps included. She gets fired. Okay? She's like, getting on the shuttle, you know, it's 9:00am she goes to get the money. She opens up the store. She's selling stuff to customers.

[B]

What?

[A]

And then it shows her walking in, I guess, to a meeting.

[B]

Is that the meeting? She gets fired?

[A]

No, no, no. I don't know what she was doing there, actually. Hold on. Okay, 10:45am she's demoing a lip liner. We're getting close. 11:00am Gets fired. That's.

[B]

It says gets fired?

[A]

Yeah. 11:00am gets fired. She's walking out with her box of shit. They're like, you're out of here, sister. Okay, I saw this. And the comments initially were like, oh, my God, baby girl, why would they fire you? You're a Mac manager. You were doing so much PR for them. And then I'm like, where are the fucking adults? Where are the adults? Where are the adults? This is a grown adult, but where are the adults with common sense? My people found me because right after this, I start getting videos from grown women going, like, reenacting what she was doing. Security issue of come to work with me. This is where we keep the money. This is when I count it. And this is where we return it. And by the way, here it is. It's a hidden place. Literally, Sarah. Where they do that is a place that is, like, very purposefully hidden. And all the comments on her video when she posted this. I'm gonna read some to you. Because I was laughing because I'm like, I'm sorry. This girl, she's like, I wouldn't have done anything to jeopardize it. I'm like, are you dumb?

[B]

And the timestamps.

[A]

Are you dumb?

[B]

She's so lucky she didn't get jumped, like, the second time she did it.

[A]

This is a security breach, baby. 100%. Like, are you on crack? So then I'm like, this is actually crazy. So when she does this. Okay, so these are the comments. And I don't like to laugh at people's misfortunes, but, like, she. These videos are still up, by the way.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

Okay, so it says, girl, I'm about to fill out for your job. Wish me luck, boo. Someone goes, this. These still being up is hilarious. And then someone goes, you know, like the little handwriting emoji. Money safe inside gift shop.

[B]

Why? How is the. How are these not taken down already?

[A]

That is the million dollar question. So I reached out to Mac Cosmetics. I reached out to our girl at Mac Cosmetics, My babe. I need a quote from Matt Corporate. She said she wasn't an Estee Lauder employee. Given how our travel retail business is structured, I think you'd have to talk to LAX for formal comment.

[B]

Okay, well, okay. Matt works at LAX at the moment, building out a new terminal, and the security that he has to go through just to get into any part of the building is insane.

[A]

So I cannot believe that this.

[B]

I mean, I can. I kind of can, but, like, that she is posting these detailed videos with locations and timestamps.

[A]

What's the quote from Hunger Games? Stupid people are dangerous. This is what we're talking about.

[B]

This is like in the new Superman. Well, if I say it, it's a spoiler.

[A]

I've seen it.

[B]

But. Yeah, but for. Okay, spoiler alert, where the girlfriend of Lex Luthor is taking selfies. But it's like, if you zoom in in the background, it's like, very important information that's like this.

[A]

This woman's desire to go viral on the Internet cost her her job and potentially had to make LAX overhaul an entire security protocol.

[B]

They have to figure out a new place to put the money.

[A]

Like, it is wild. And these are still up.

[B]

Yeah. No. Well, I don't understand why LA hasn't asked them to take it down.

[A]

I have no idea. It is very perplexing to me that they're still online and that even to begin with, she thought that this was a smart move as a manager. This is a woman that was managing a store.

[B]

Yeah, yeah.

[A]

Mac is like, fuck my life. Like, why was it one of our people? But, you know, they didn't employ her. It was lax. And to that point, she should have known better.

[B]

Right?

[A]

You work at Los Angeles International Airport, babe.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Yeah. And you are showing me, people, you're carrying the big black box of money.

[B]

Yeah. Like, she could have just.

[A]

At what time?

[B]

She could have just done the other stuff.

[A]

She honestly is lucky to be alive. I'm not kidding.

[B]

Because I'm telling you, someone could have jumped her.

[A]

Somebody could have jumped her. Or worse. Not kidding.

[B]

Especially if she's starting at like 5am.

[A]

I also think that you have to be careful at la. If I were. If I were lax, I do a lot of things different, but if I were lax, I would straight up be like, there is a no social media protocol here.

[B]

Yes.

[A]

We cannot have our employees going viral on the Internet for working. Because.

[B]

No.

[A]

There are so many elements that could make this a disaster or potentially lethal for our employees. Like, let's say she blew up and got like a million followers and then every time someone goes to lax, they're like going to that map to see her.

[B]

Right.

[A]

It's like, that's a very like, minimal level problem.

[B]

Right.

[A]

But at worst, somebody shows up with some kind of weapon, God forbid, and takes the money. And yeah, like, she is truly lucky that firing was all that happened. And also, if I were her, this is some personal advice, babe. You gotta take these videos down.

[B]

Yeah, Take them down.

[A]

Like, I would delete your entire account because now you're gonna have a really hard time as a manager getting a future job.

[B]

Getting a job.

[A]

Your new employer is going to call your previous employer and ask why you were let go. And they're gonna say, security breach, babes.

[B]

TikTok. Search her name, bro.

[A]

Bro.

[B]

As the children say.

[A]

Bruh. Bruh, brah.

[B]

Oh, my God.

[A]

I was. I was like, I was watching this unfold over the past month and I'm like, you are kidding me.

[B]

And I don't want anyone thinking either that we're like. Because I don't know her age, but I would assume she's like younger. Like of a Gen Z. I would.

[A]

Say she's probably 20s, not like early.

[B]

20S, but Gen Z thing I've seen, this is not millennials oversharing. I've seen boomers oversharing. We just need to step away.

[A]

This is not a generational problem.

[B]

This is a social media problem.

[A]

Social media problem. Your need to be famous and get engagement on the Internet is clouding your judgment.

[B]

No, no, no, no.

[A]

Absolutely not. Anyways, so that's what's happening at lax. I mean, I'm truly curious what's going to happen. They have to find a new place for the money. Like, we can literally see where she came from.

[B]

Is that the money where everyone like other stores?

[A]

Yes, because it's in an inconspicuous place and it looks like that's where all the money freeze goes. The duty free money? Yes.

[B]

Oh, no.

[A]

No. Lord, take me away from this planet. Okay, so what did we learn from this episode? We learned that social media really is ruining people's lives.

[B]

It really is.

[A]

And brains.

[B]

We learned that we.

[A]

Be thoughtful of other people. Be thoughtful of. I'm serious. Be thoughtful of other people. Be thoughtful of people around you. Yes. If there's a presentation happening, watch it.

[B]

Be quiet. Be quiet.

[A]

Or excuse yourself and go outside.

[B]

We need better sunscreen. Testing. Yeah, we've said that a million times.

[A]

Yeah, it's like a given. It's like a commandment at this point.

[B]

If you want to spend $160 on a lipstick, by all means, go for it.

[A]

It's worth it. If you can afford it, it's worth it. If you can afford it, people buy it.

[B]

If it makes you feel good, go for it, babes. And you can spend the money however you want to spend it because it's yours. But also, don't post about it on social media if it's your job.

[A]

And we'll leave it at that. ACAST powers the world's best podcasts. Here's a show that we recommend. This area was sort of a shark tank for predators. Not just the Green River Killer, but.

[B]

Others in who Took Misty Copsey? I'm investigating the disappearance of a 14 year old girl who vanished from the Washington State Fair in 1992.

[A]

How?

[B]

Why? She was so sweet and so young.

[A]

What happened to her?

[B]

Listen to who took Misty Copsey? Wherever you get your podcasts.

[A]

ACAST helps creators launch, grow and monetize their podcasts everywhere.

[B]

Acast.com.