Gloss Angeles Podcast Summary

Episode: Why Beauty Hurts: Waxing, 2016 Makeup Trends, and Kendall Jenner Nose Discourse
Date: January 20, 2026
Hosts: Kirbie Johnson & Sara Tan

Episode Overview

This fun and candid episode of Gloss Angeles centers on the pain and rituals of beauty—why waxing is still (literally) torturous, the nostalgia and excesses of 2016 makeup trends, as well as the viral discourse about Kendall Jenner’s nose and the (mis)conceptions around procedures like Accutane and rhinoplasty. Kirbie and Sara blend product raves, personal anecdotes, and industry commentary with humor and heartfelt truths about beauty culture then and now.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Comedy and Pain of Waxing

• [00:50–04:55]
• Sara recaps a stand-up bit by Marcelo Hernandez about the intensity of salon experiences like waxing—how women distract themselves with small talk as “they’re about to rip your hair out of your vulva” (Kirbie, [02:09]).
• Both hosts reflect on their own waxing history:
  • Kirbie cannot wax her face due to breakouts, preferring to shave daily and recommending “the flawless finishing touch” device ([03:06]).
  • Sara notes she also stopped waxing and threading due to pain, voicing surprise waxing is still so prevalent.

Notable Quotes

• [02:09] Kirbie: “It’s so weird, just trying to take your mind off the fact they’re about to rip your hair out of your vulva.”
• [03:00] Kirbie: “I break out in pustules without fail. So I shave my face.”

2. The Shift to Laser Hair Removal & At-Home Upkeep

• [03:22–08:40]
• The hosts now favor laser removal, particularly at SEV in LA, lauding their per-session payment model which breaks with industry norms.
• Both have had underarm and Brazilian lasers; Kirbie uses a Tria at-home laser for maintenance.
• Kirbie and Sara candidly discuss the practicalities, timelines, and lifestyle considerations of laser hair removal (e.g. can’t be tanned, better in winter).
• Special Offer: SEV offers Gloss Angeles listeners a free underarm laser session with code GLOSSANGELES (expires Jan 31).

Notable Quotes

• [04:23] Kirbie: “SEV kind of broke the industry model because you pay per session… that’s just like how it should be.”
• [07:16] Kirbie: “It’s like, high maintenance to be low maintenance.”

3. What’s On Your Face? New Product Faves

[08:43–18:13]

• The hosts swap makeup favorites in their signature "wife" segment, sharing what’s on their faces this week.
• Makeup by Mario Jelly Jar Lip & Cheek Multi-use Balm ([08:50–11:12]):
  • Both delight in the playful, “gummy bear”-scented formula, though some question if it fits Mario’s pro-artist brand.
  • [10:19] Kirbie: “Makeup by Mario is a makeup artist–born brand…but at some point, you do have to figure out how you’re gonna bring some people in and have some fun.”
• KJH Brand Precision Sculpture Stylo ([12:08–14:49]):
  • Both love the cool-toned, precise contour sticks, especially for lips and nose.
• Saie CitySet Setting Spray ([15:00–16:51]):
  • Sara praises its 16-hour wear, eco ingredients, and gentle mist. Both say the “hydrolyzed corn starch” really works.
• Neen Going Rouge Lip & Cheek Cream ([17:01–18:13]):
  • Kirbie touts Neen’s versatility and portability, “so underrated!” and plugs its new retail availability at Nordstrom.

4. 2016 Makeup Trends—A Decade Later

[20:30–31:24]

• The hosts time travel to 2016, painting a vivid scene of the era’s beauty and pop culture zeitgeist: “eyebrows on fleek,” matte Kylie Lip Kits, glam glow masks, and the influencer YouTube boom.
  • Kirbie: “Flat lays of beauty products,” “black, green lipstick,” and “art on the lips.”
  • Sara: “Cut creases were so sharp. The wings, and halo eyeshadow… I couldn’t do the halo because I don’t have enough lid space.”
  • Both reminisce about beauty industry shifts: rise of YouTubers, influencer trips, over-the-top launches, and brands hitting their pop-culture peak.
• The hosts note how “anything goes artistry” gave way post-pandemic to minimal, beige, natural trends.
• They discuss Kim Kardashian’s revolutionary 2016 Balenciaga no-makeup look as a turning point away from maximalist glam.

Notable Quotes

• [25:08] Kirby: “You thought blush was insufferable in 2025—highlighter in 2016. We all looked like we had chalk on our face.”
• [27:31] Kirby: “I feel like this was the time where people were not looking to magazines anymore. If you had a YouTube channel and worked at Mac you were the expert. 2016 really changed how we consumed beauty.”
• [29:16] Sarah (on Kim K): “At that time, it was, like, groundbreaking that she showed up bare-faced, wearing no makeup.”

5. The Kendall Jenner Nose Discourse: Accutane vs. Surgery

[31:44–39:46]

• A viral TikTok trend claims Accutane made users’ noses smaller, after Kendall Jenner recently attributed her “nose job rumors” to Accutane and aging, not surgery.
  • Both hosts break down the science and the myths:
    • [33:10] Sarah: “Accutane does not alter the bone or cartilage of your nose. It can shrink the oil glands and reduce puffiness, so the nose can appear slimmer, but it’s not really actively changing the shape.”
  • Kirbie shares a personal anecdote: A Beverly Hills derm tried to scare her onto Accutane, wrongly diagnosing her with rosacea and claiming her nose would grow “bulbous”—leading her to seek a second opinion ([34:54–35:17]).
• They reflect on why celebs, especially the Kardashians/Jenners, avoid candidly discussing their procedures and how public scrutiny intersects with natural aging and body changes.
• Both emphasize facial changes from weight loss and aging are often mistaken for surgery, but sometimes, “let’s be for real” (Kirbie, [39:23]).
• Sara notes everyone has “an ugly duckling phase”—faces change with time, and old photos can look startling.

Notable Quotes

• [36:04] Sarah: “I want to believe her. I really do always want to believe people.”
• [39:24] Kirbie: “We can’t be gaslit anymore. I need to know the truth.”

Memorable Moments

• Kirbie and Sara’s banter about 2016: Nostalgia runs high (“Take me back—but also, oh my god…” [24:08]), giggling over the puppy filter on wedding snaps—"because that's what you did when you got married in 2016" ([24:24]).
• Waxing pain vs. laser relief: “It’s high maintenance to be low maintenance” becomes a new catchphrase for triumphant beauty shortcuts ([07:16]).
• Candid product handoff: Sara literally gifts Kirbie the Makeup by Mario Jelly Jar live on air ([09:02]).
• Ring light influencer trips: The awe of 300 ring lights at a Benefit Vegas junket underlines the over-the-top, pre-pandemic influencer era ([26:09]).
• Kirbie’s earnest weight loss transparency: She quells speculation by stating, “I lost 40 pounds”—not a facelift or filler ([37:43]).

Key Timestamps

• Waxing & Laser Discussion: [00:50–08:40]
• Product Reviews (What's On Your Face?): [08:43–18:13]
• 2016 Makeup Trends Retrospective: [20:30–31:24]
• Kendall Jenner Nose/Accutane Discourse: [31:44–39:46]

Overall Tone

• Informal, witty, personal, yet down-to-earth—Kirbie and Sara keep things both educational and lighthearted, unafraid to poke fun at themselves or the industry but always with warmth and self-awareness.

For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode is a joyful fusion of beauty nostalgia, product worship, and honest commentary on what really goes on behind the trending headlines. Whether you’re contemplating the pain of waxing, missing the maximalism of 2016, or side-eyeing celebrity transformation stories, Kirbie and Sara offer camaraderie, candor, and a few good laughs.