Gloss Angeles: The Lipstick Lesbians Leak the Industry’s Most Innovative Products — Straight From the Lab

Date: March 6, 2026
Hosts: Kirbie Johnson & Sara Tan
Guests: Christina & Alexis (The Lipstick Lesbians)

Episode Overview

This episode features a vibrant, behind-the-scenes discussion with Christina and Alexis, known online as the Lipstick Lesbians. The duo reveals the origin story of their new venture, Leaked Labs, which promises to shake up the beauty industry by launching truly innovative, straight-from-the-lab products, and demystifying the often-hidden world of beauty product development. The episode explores the evolution of the beauty retail landscape (especially Sephora), emerging and standout beauty brands, and a deep dive into industry-changing innovation — with memorable anecdotes, expert ingredient breakdowns, and an inside look at the forthcoming “Amplify Flexi Powder.”

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Lipstick Lesbians’ Origin Story

• Christina reflects on being fired exactly three years ago, which unintentionally became the catalyst for the Lipstick Lesbians’ brand and now Leaked Labs.
  • “Three years ago today… I got let go for my job and it kicked off this whole journey of the lipstick lesbians.” – Christina [01:56]
• Alexis recalls supporting Christina and seeing it as an opportunity for both of them to dive into the world of beauty from a new, authentic perspective.
• The pair emphasizes the serendipitous timing: Christina's firing coincided with their “going viral” and set off a cascade of industry opportunities.
  • “I was secretly praying that she didn't get it… this is not what she's supposed to do. We're doing it already. We just... we're not making it.” — Alexis [03:38]

2. Inside the Changing Retail Landscape

Sephora’s Brand Shuffle & Format Innovations

• Discussion on MAC entering Sephora in a non-traditional way — not just another gondola, but an experience showcasing MAC's artistry roots.
  • “What I feel like Mac is doing is really heroing all the makeup artists. Back to their roots for me.” — Alexis [05:58]
• Hosts and Lipstick Lesbians observe how increased K-beauty (Olive Young and others), indie brands, and modular store concepts are reshaping retail.
• Noted trend of shrinking or shifting gondolas for established brands to make way for new entrants.
  • “We're losing brand loyalty year over year… but with MAC, when you run out of your whirl or your chestnut lip pencil or your studio fix powder, you're going to replenish.” — Alexis [04:46]

Consumer Overwhelm & Regional Nuances

• Explores how the burgeoning variety makes shopping exciting but also overwhelming, and how stores adapt regionally (urban vs. suburban, K-beauty proliferation in LA, Midwest, etc.)
  • “I think Sephora is endeavoring to keep as much as possible and utilize the space more efficiently…” — Alexis [08:17]

3. Beauty Brand Standouts & Emerging Innovations

Noteworthy Brands in 2026:

• Violette_FR: Lauded for focus and innovation, especially owning the lip category.
  • “She is not launching a foundation. She doesn't believe in foundation, which is very French girl.” — Alexis [10:34]
• Edum (Le Chuchu): Loved for their unique tints and “Butter Mochi”; innovative uses of color and texture.
  • “I use Violette all the time, but Le Chuchu... I use it during very specific moments when I want that tint.” — Alexis [11:33]
• Kulfi & Live Tinted: Highlighting the challenge and payoff of building a cult indie brand for underrepresented communities.
  • “Kulfi being in Sephora is really… it’s hard for an indie brand to be in that demographic seeking that type of Southeast Asian style brown girl story, but it needs to be there.” — Alexis [12:50]
• Danessa Myricks: Praised for her artist-driven, shade-inclusive line and technical innovation, now considered a top influencer favorite.
  • “Danessa's beauty has to be said… she's self-taught, she taught herself photography… it deserves its flowers.” — Alexis [15:44], [16:32]

Luxury & Drugstore Shifts

• Prada & Dior: Shocked with unexpected innovation, especially in eye categories.
  • “Prada popped out of nowhere and shocked the shit out of me with their eye category… those eyeliners are really, like, second to none.” — Alexis [14:02]
• NYX & Milani: NYX praised for inventive, trend-driven, affordable innovation.
  • “They're not duping, they're doing new kind of interesting things. It's clever.” — Alexis [17:53]

4. Industry-Wide Reformulation Mania

The Cyclopentasiloxane (D5) Saga

• Removal of D5 from many formulas is driving widespread reformulation, not just in the US but globally—requiring brands to reimagine how they deliver texture and performance.
  • “You can't take cyclopentasiloxane out and put dimethicone in and be done. You are forced to rebuild the entire infrastructure of the formula.” — Alexis [21:58]
• New ingredient technologies and esters are being used to replicate (or improve upon) the gliding, skin-like finish that D5 provided.
  • “So, Mary Phillips new foundation… there are new ways to manipulate the sensation… to create and recreate the experience of that slip that’s so addicting, that glide.” — Alexis [22:31]

Supply Chain & Regulatory Complexity

• D5 reformulation exposes global regulatory headaches: separate SKUs/formulas per continent, SPF and shade complexity, rising raw material bans.
  • “Usually in most instances, the last, let's say ten shades of a shade range has a slightly different ingredient listing depending on how they developed it.” — Alexis [27:09]
• AI could eventually help brands juggle the complexity of globalized production and reformulation cycles.
• Foreseen ingredient bans (e.g., microplastics by 2032) will further upend how products are developed and formulated.
  • “Microplastics coming soon. Not just in your clothes… but it's coming to cosmetics.” — Alexis [30:42]

5. Leaked Labs: A New Beauty Business Model

Origin & Concept

• Born from frustration that truly innovative lab samples rarely see daylight; Christina and Alexis aim to break the two-year product lag and bring direct-from-the-lab beauty to consumers.
  • “There's innovation that exists now that people are not going to see until two years from now. But why not give consumers the opportunity to see it now if it exists?” — Sarah [39:49]

How Leaked Labs Works

• Runs on a ‘leak cycle’ (not retail): drops of truly innovative products, shipped in lab sample pouches and accompanied by a “micro docu-series” showing the making-of and the science.
  • “We're sending you a physical lab sample in a pouchette… like you are a product developer and you're seeing something presented by a manufacturer.” — Alexis [37:49]
  • “You'll see the making of behind the scenes…” — Alexis [39:11]
• Focus on speed, transparency, and user feedback; packaging is ultra-minimalist to prioritize formula and minimize waste.
  • “There will not be direct echo. Right now, there’s no point… we don’t want to waste time because the innovation is ready now.” — Alexis [38:11]
  • “Suppliers never get feedback from customers… so we're about to power the suppliers with more information than they've ever had in history.” — Alexis [40:23]

Sustainability & Disruption

• No excessive inventory or packaging; drops adjust in real time to what consumers want, reducing waste.
  • “No waste… the future of sustainability is that you're not going and spending millions of dollars in millions of units that nobody wants. You have a pulse first.” — Alexis [53:36]
• Models itself as “the extended curriculum” to their education-centric Lipstick Lesbians platform; aims to heal both consumer and industry pain points.
  • “Leaked Labs is going to be the extended curriculum where we take the knowledge to the next level.” — Sarah [37:24]

6. Leaked Labs’ First Product: Amplify Flexi Powder

What Is It?

• A flexible, bouncy, multifunctional powder “disc” that can morph between powder, cream, and gel with a spritz of setting spray; inspired by the baking of lasagna and sun-dried tomatoes.
  • “This creation is the next generation of what we call a baked slurry… so wild… lasagna.” — Alexis [41:14]
  • “Flexi can be both [dehydrated and juicy] and it could be everything in between… Once you spray just one pump of setting spray… you’ll now meet gel.” — Alexis [41:42]
• Uses cutting-edge polymers (carrageenan from seaweed) and is packed with skincare actives.

How Do You Use It?

• Use dry for a soft, sheer effect or wet for high-impact color; can be applied to eyes, face, lips, and body.
  • “You could use it dry, or you could use it wet… When you use it wet is when you amplify.” — Sarah [42:56]
• Discs are flexible, tactile — a physical innovation not yet seen in the industry.
  • “They are discs. They're little circular discs. They're very flat. It is unlike anything you have ever probably touched.” — Christina [44:09]

White Space & Product Philosophy

• Designed to fill the “maximalist” void in a clean girl-dominated period, but not bound by microtrends.
  • “We may launch some new innovative Clean Girl makeup… the thesis of the brand of leaked labs... is to hero the innovation first.” — Sarah [45:53]
• Product launches and innovation are driven by community feedback and actual desire — not traditional retailer or investor cycles.

Ownership & Collaboration Model

• Initial formula is owned by the factory; some future formulas will be owned in partnership.
  • “So we do not [own it]. But the factory owns it… When I do a custom development of something… we will be having that ownership.” — Alexis [51:27]
• Future: potential collaborations with brands who want to test market innovative ideas via Leaked Labs’ platform.

Purchase Details

• Amplify Flexi Powder: $34, available at leakedlabs.com starting March 6, 2026.
  • “Leaked labs.com starting March 6th when this episode comes out.” — Sarah [54:12]

7. Memorable Quotes & Moments

• “We just built an engine that has no rules.” — Alexis [49:22]
• “Let's heal the world with beauty, but for the industry, let's heal the broken problems.” — Alexis [47:09]
• “I think you're right. It's going to infuse positivity and excitement in a way.” — Christina [53:21]
• “It's crazy, actually. Soft.” — Alexis [48:29]

Notable Timestamps

• [01:56] — Christina recounts “Day One” of Lipstick Lesbians
• [04:46] — MAC’s innovative rollout at Sephora
• [10:34] — Why Violette_FR won't launch foundation
• [15:44] — Danessa Myricks gets her flowers
• [21:58] — The complexity of D5 reformulation
• [30:42] — Microplastics ban prediction
• [37:49] — Launching Leaked Labs and the “leak cycle”
• [41:14 to 43:12] — Amplify Flexi Powder explained (and lasagna analogy)
• [45:53] — The thesis (innovation first) behind Leaked Labs
• [54:12] — First drop purchase details

Conclusion

This episode offers a rare, chemistry-to-shelf look at how innovation and disruption really happens in beauty — complete with juicy backstories, product intel, and an authentic take on why beauty needs both radical transparency and fresh models for bringing products to life. The Lipstick Lesbians’ journey from adversity to industry shakers, and the upcoming Leaked Labs platform, embodies this energy — inviting both industry insiders and passionate consumers to be part of what’s next.

Listen to this episode if:

• You want to “peek behind the curtain” of true beauty product innovation
• You’re curious how retail (Sephora, indie, and global) is changing before your eyes
• You’re ready for the next phase of thoughtful, radical transparency and science-meets-viral in beauty