Why Beauty Hurts: Waxing, 2016 Makeup Trends, and Kendall Jenner Nose Discourse

Summary

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

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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.

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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.”

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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.”

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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]).

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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]

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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.

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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.

Transcript

[Podcast Host]

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[Guest 1]

Glam los angeles.

[Sarah]

Hi, kirby.

[Kirby]

Hi, sarah.

[Guest 2]

Welcome to los angeles.

[Sarah]

Kirby, have you watched Marcelo Hernandez's stand up special on Netflix yet?

[Kirby]

No, but he's so cute.

[Guest 2]

1.

[Sarah]

So freaking cute. 2. So funny. It is so funny. Matt and I were dying, and I feel like I relate to a lot of his, like, immigrant stories and, like, having, like, an immigrant mom and, like, not being able to be depressed. You're not allowed to be depressed. But he does this bit about beauty salons and how women are violent and, like, violent things. And this all comes from a place of, like, he loves his mom totally.

[Kirby]

He mentions his mom all the time.

[Sarah]

All the comedy brings his mom, like, everywhere he goes. But he grew up with his mom and his sister, and so, like, he had to spend a lot of time, like, going places with his mom. So he went to, like, the beauty salon with his mom a lot. But he talks about specifically waxing. And he was like, I would be there in my soccer cleats because my mom would have to take me. And he'd watch her getting, like, a Brazilian. Not, like, watching, but, like, on the other side. Yes. And how, like, violent it is and how, like, intense women are and how, like, even when it's happening, like, we're. They're talking about, like, other things, you know what I mean? To, like, distract, which is always so.

[Kirby]

Weird, is trying to take your mind off of the fact they're about to rip your hair out of your vulva.

[Sarah]

What are your plans after this? Yeah.

[Kirby]

Like, you're just anticipating it. Yeah.

[Sarah]

And then look. But, like, you don't want to cry either.

[Kirby]

Yeah.

[Guest 1]

Every woman has a mustache. Did you know that? They all have a mustache. They get it before us, and they get it taken care of in the most violent way possible. They go to a salon and they.

[Sarah]

Go, I have a mustache.

[Guest 1]

And then the lady goes, how would.

[Kirby]

You like me to take care of that?

[Guest 1]

And then the woman is like, oh, I don't know.

[Kirby]

I think I would like it if.

[Guest 1]

You could maybe rip it off my face. And they pay a little woman with big forearms to go.

[Sarah]

So like made me think like, when was the last time you have gotten anything waxed?

[Kirby]

I mean, honestly. Well, I can't wax my face.

[Sarah]

Yeah. I can't either.

[Kirby]

I break out in pustules without fail. So I shave my face.

[Sarah]

Yeah. And I'm like, why are people still getting their mustaches waxed?

[Kirby]

No, I, I, I shave my face like almost every single day. Like not like a actual removal of you know, like cells, but the hair. I also love like the flawless finishing touch for like my mustache or whatever.

[Guest 2]

It's great.

[Kirby]

And my shin hairs. Cuz that's what happens as you near 40. But there's a place in LA called Sev.

[Sarah]

Yes.

[Kirby]

I don't know if it's national or not, but there is this place in LA called Sev. I first heard about it from a Kardashian of all people on their Instagram. And the reason why I really like them specifically is because if you go to any other laser hair removal place, they make you buy these packages. Yeah. And I felt like you were paying a lot of money up front. And then they would be like, okay, you may need this many sessions or you may need this many sessions, so why don't we do the larger of the sessions? And then you wasted this money on stuff that you didn't actually need. Totally. And they would also expire after a certain amount of time and you have to wait a certain amount of time between sessions. You also can't do it if you're tan. There's like so many elements to laser hair removal. Yeah.

[Sarah]

And it just all also depends on like the person, how their hair grows. Right. The thickness of their hair. You just like don't know.

[Kirby]

Totally. So Sev kind of broke the industry model because you pay per session.

[Sarah]

Yes.

[Kirby]

Which is not. It sounds like a novel con. It is a novel concept in this industry. But like it, that's just like how it should be.

[Sarah]

It makes sense.

[Kirby]

And so before the pandemic went very regularly to Sev and I got my underarms lasered and my entire Brazilian like the full Monty.

[Sarah]

Amazing.

[Kirby]

I barely have to shave now because I haven't kept it up. But I was going so regularly that I did remove all the hair.

[Sarah]

Right.

[Kirby]

And then now like there's some days where I'm like, okay, I have to shave my underarms or like shave a.

[Sarah]

Little bit on, but it's just like a couple hairs.

[Kirby]

Right. Like I should go up for going for touch ups.

[Guest 2]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

But I'M actually using my trio laser.

[Sarah]

At home for touch ups.

[Kirby]

Okay.

[Sarah]

Oh, that's fancy. Yeah. But I'm just like thinking because I. I probably stopped getting like, waxed, like probably in high school because I. I would get my mustache threaded, which was.

[Kirby]

Oh, that was painful for me. It's also pain everywhere. Pushes everywhere.

[Guest 2]

Yeah.

[Sarah]

But I was like, oh, it's not like tugging my skin as much anyways. I. I don't know why I waited to get lasered for so long. I think I was just, like scared also. It was like, again with like, you, like, didn't know what you were in a pay and you, like, didn't know how many treatments skin tone.

[Kirby]

It's a little bit scary. It's scary because you have obviously more melanin than I do.

[Guest 2]

Right.

[Sarah]

But I did start going to sev to get my underarms laser, like recently. Recently, like last year and now I'm never turning back and I'm like, what else can I get lasered?

[Kirby]

No, no. It is really nice when you have your underarms specifically. Is that what you got when you have your underarms lasered? Truly, it was something I used to think about all the time. Like, oh, I have to make sure I have my underarms shaped. Like for workout classes, for events like whatever.

[Sarah]

Being on camera.

[Kirby]

Yes. But it not only helps, obviously get rid of the hair, but I feel like it lightens the area because that growth is not. I'm obsessed.

[Sarah]

You know who finally was the reason why I got it done? Why was because Evelyn Tan was like, why haven't you gotten that done yet?

[Guest 2]

She.

[Kirby]

Wow.

[Sarah]

I was like, thanks, Mom.

[Kirby]

Evelyn said you get those underarms.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

Laser.

[Sarah]

Yeah. But it's. It's also just like so easy. You go in. It takes so literally.

[Kirby]

But they are. No, they are militant at sub though, if you are.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

And in la, no one's late.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

It is really hard. You can't be late to your latest appointment. I have got. So they had sev. Had a location and they still do on Melrose Place near Kate Somerville and that original Alfred. They also had a place across the street at one point, but I don't know if it's still there. But they. They've expanded rapidly in the Southern California.

[Sarah]

Oh, my gosh. Yeah. The one that I go to in Hermosa. I think I told you it was perfect.

[Guest 2]

Popping.

[Sarah]

It was like in and out. People were coming in and out.

[Kirby]

But you cannot be late because they're like. If you're more than five Minutes late. Yeah, you're. You have to reschedule.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

So I'm always terrified. I'm always like 20 minutes early.

[Sarah]

Yeah, totally.

[Kirby]

I am not missing this appointment.

[Sarah]

No, I, I. So I'm like. I feel like my hair is all gone under underneath my armpits. But like I'll probably go in, you know, for a touch up every now and then.

[Kirby]

Same. It's like a high maintenance to be low maintenance.

[Sarah]

Exactly.

[Kirby]

Thing that I just totally forgot that I have had done. It is worth the investment. I agree. I. I would wear my legs.

[Sarah]

I want to do it on my leg.

[Kirby]

I need to think about being. Because it again. You have to make sure you're out of the sun.

[Sarah]

Yes.

[Kirby]

I love getting a spray tan. You cannot have a spray tan. Yeah, like there's.

[Sarah]

Winter is like the perfect time to do.

[Kirby]

It.

[Guest 2]

Is. It is.

[Sarah]

Our friends at SEV were so kind and they have given our listeners a code.

[Kirby]

Oh, I didn't know. Yes.

[Sarah]

Yes. So you can have a free first time underarm laser hair removal service, which is usually like upwards of $100.

[Kirby]

Excuse me.

[Sarah]

Yes. So all you have to do is use code Gloss Angeles and it expires at the end of the month on January 31st. So go, go, go treat yourself. I swear, if you have just been on the fence about it, this is your sign. You will not regret it.

[Kirby]

Okay, so this says the code will be for a free first time under arm laser hair removal service for new sub customers regularly. 84 to $109, depending on where you live. Okay. So go get those underarms laser.

[Sarah]

Yep.

[Kirby]

For free.

[Sarah]

Happy New Year.

[Kirby]

So the code is just Gloss Angeles, all caps?

[Sarah]

Yep.

[Kirby]

Okay, no more. Can you hook me up with a free session? I've been paying out of my own pocket for the last six years.

[Sarah]

They also do face facial like lasers now.

[Kirby]

Oh, do they?

[Guest 2]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

Whoa.

[Sarah]

I know, I know. Anyways, wow.

[Guest 2]

It's.

[Sarah]

It's so lovely there. Thank you to our friends at sev. All right.

[Kirby]

Wife is back. Wife, Wife, wife, Wife. See?

[Sarah]

Sarah. Yes.

[Kirby]

What is on your face? Product number one.

[Sarah]

Okay. Have you tried Kirby the new makeup by Mario Jelly?

[Kirby]

No. I have seen.

[Sarah]

I'm gonna give you this one. It's. I only used a brush on that. You can touch that one. Actually, I'm gonna give that one to you because I feel like it's gonna look really cute on you.

[Kirby]

Wow.

[Sarah]

So this is so fun. It is a bouncy jelly like formula if you touch it. Isn't it fun?

[Guest 2]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

Putty.

[Sarah]

But it's like, when you press on.

[Kirby]

It, it, like, reforms.

[Sarah]

It's, like, so weird. It feels really nice and, like, cooling on your lip, and it just gives this, like, juicy wash of color. It also smells yummy.

[Kirby]

I. Ooh. What does that smell?

[Guest 2]

I know.

[Sarah]

It's, like, nostalgic.

[Kirby]

It's a gummy bear.

[Sarah]

It's like a gummy. So you can use it on your lip and on your cheek. Oh, that looks really cute on you. Does it? I really like that color on you.

[Kirby]

Applying without a mirror, guys, I have.

[Sarah]

No idea what I look like. So it's made with castor oil, vitamin E, and hyaluronic acid.

[Kirby]

What's it called?

[Sarah]

It is called the jelly Jar lip and cheek multi use balm. It's actually. Allegedly, it's limited edition, so go to your Sephora and grab it. It's $28. I am using the shade Berry toasty. Kirby, what are you using?

[Kirby]

This is Rose Crush. I get to keep this?

[Sarah]

Yeah, you get to keep that one.

[Kirby]

I don't have these. Yeah, I saw these because the lipstick lesbians posted about them.

[Sarah]

Oh, did they? What did they say?

[Kirby]

They were talking about it more. From the standpoint of this product doesn't make sense for Makeup by Mario. It seems like a very intentional Gen Z. Like a very young demographic.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

Which makes sense. It's playful, it's fun. The payoff is, you know, you can have pigment, but it's not that you.

[Sarah]

Can build a ball, but it's really. Yeah.

[Kirby]

And so they were kind of like, why launch this? This is kind of weird. Mario is all about artistry. This is not something an artist would keep in their kit, like, that type of thing.

[Guest 2]

Right.

[Kirby]

But in my humble opinion, like, Makeup by Mario is a makeup artist born brand that has been doing everything really right.

[Guest 2]

Yes.

[Kirby]

But at some point, you do have to figure out how you're gonna bring some people in and have some fun. And if this is, like, a limited edition drop, then fine.

[Sarah]

Oh, my God. I think it's so fun. I. I mean, you know, we love makeup by Mario and all their products.

[Kirby]

I love Mario so much, but I.

[Sarah]

Just feel like this was really fun, and I love how it feels.

[Kirby]

I like the experience of it. I like the texture. I like the application. I don't know what it looks like on my face. That'll be tbd.

[Sarah]

Literally. Sometimes I'm driving, and I'll go like this. I'll just give it a kiss.

[Kirby]

I feel like that may be unsanitary. Get some alcohol on there.

[Sarah]

It's Only for me.

[Kirby]

That's so true. The smell. What is that smell? You know? Oh my God. It smells like bubble gum. Mine smells like bubblegum.

[Sarah]

You know what it smells like to me? It smells like a hi Chew. You know those like.

[Kirby]

Yes, yes.

[Sarah]

High chew candies.

[Kirby]

Did you ever grow up taking amoxicillin and it was called the bubble gum medicine because it was that thick pink and I loved it. I was like, I. I would like try to drink the bubble gum medicine.

[Sarah]

My mom was like allergic to erythromycin. Should we ever be in somewhere? And they're like, what is Sarah allergic to? But I was not allergic to amoxicillin, so I took that one.

[Kirby]

Wait, so is it. Is that an antibiotic?

[Sarah]

Yeah, it is.

[Kirby]

I'm a. What are you allergic to? Sulfa.

[Sarah]

Really?

[Kirby]

Look at us. Look at us. I love this. For us, we learned something new. Okay, Great times.

[Guest 2]

Perfect.

[Kirby]

Okay, that is really fun. So the Mario makeup by Mario Jelly Jelly Jell Jar. Jelly jar is $28 and it's limited edition. It comes in six shades. Okay. This is a product that you heard the founder talk about on the podcast, but truly this is something that I use every single day. I'm addicted to it. And I not only use this one specific shade, but I use all of the shades available.

[Sarah]

That's funny cuz I'm wearing one today too.

[Kirby]

Are you? Okay, so this is the KJH brand precision sculpture Stylo in Etch. Etch is the lightest shade that they have. This is Katie Jane Hughes brand. If you're not familiar, you can see I obviously use it a lot. I use it to contour my lips, I use it to contour my nose. I use it on my eyes as well as kind of like a base to build the rest of my eyeshadow around. It is truly my one of the most innovative hero products that I have in my makeup arsenal. It's $24. It's small, but I feel like, oh.

[Sarah]

It'S the perfect size.

[Kirby]

It's the perfect size. And we've gotten so much use out of these and we've had them for a long time. So if you guys did not listen to the Katie Jane Hughes episode, please go back and listen to it or watch it on YouTube. She's truly just the absolute freaking best. I learned so much from her and I love Etch. Again, this is the lightest shade. I think she might be making an even lighter, cooler tone shade cuz I saw a TikTok video of her discussing these and I Think she was like, should I make a lighter one? And she was doing like, a half and half on her lips with, like, etch and then, like, a sample. And I was like, I would personally love an even lighter shade because sometimes with etch, even though it's, like a really pretty contour, especially under my lip.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

On top of my lip, it can make it look dirty. And so it would be nice to have a lighter shade to just give me that little pout without it looking like I ate mud or something.

[Sarah]

Totally. No, I am using chisel.

[Kirby]

Chisel's a good one too.

[Sarah]

But I do love that they're, like, cool toned.

[Kirby]

They're cool tones. There is a warm brown that's so pretty on the eyes. I don't know if it's chisel. There is. There's like, so many. There's like a deep, deep. It's not black, but it's, like, very close to black. I just cannot say enough. Like, I have. They accidentally sent me two sets. Or actually, no. They sent me one set, and then they brought one another set. And so I have a set in my bathroom that I have with me at all times. And then I have a whole other set that I put in my travel bag.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

To take with me here at the studio. And when we're. We're traveling for work, that's my issue.

[Sarah]

So I have been using this as a on my lip, but also for contour. My issue with some other brands is.

[Guest 2]

That it's too big, it's too thick.

[Sarah]

And especially when you're contouring your nose or, like, around my eyes, it's just, like, so big that I have to, like. Yeah, I have to use a brush.

[Kirby]

But it is the precision on the go. It's the precision. We love our girl, KJH brand. Thank you, Katie Jane Hughes, for making these. All right, Sarah, what is your next wife?

[Sarah]

Okay, so we had the founder Lainey on the podcast of. Of say, and she. We talked about CitySet, and I have been testing this for what feels like six months at this point. It's been a while, and I have just gone through mine, like, so much. I love how it feels. So this is their clean, alcohol free setting spray. Lainey was really proud because they did testing and they were able to make the claim that it locks and sets your makeup for up to 16 hours. And that's because of the hydrolyzed corn starch. So it's this biodegradable film former that grips makeup without tackiness. So she was really, like, having Trouble. Like, if you listen to the, to the podcast episode with her, finding a setting spray that locked your makeup in, that wasn't made with alcohol, that wasn't, you know, you had to, like, hold your breath when you sprayed it. So I love this because it's basically, it's just like an everyday setting spray. You can use it, you know, multiple times a day and the mist is so fine. It's not super dewy. It's not going to make your skin, like, drenched like other setting sprays either. It just, it feels really nice and it gives you sort of like a natural finish. So I really, really love this. It is $34. I've gone through a lot of mine because I just love how it feels, but I feel like this would last you probably, probably like six months.

[Kirby]

Yes. I think it'll last you for a while at the very least. And I will say this, I know that there was some conversation online about whether or not this hydrolyzed corn starch would actually live up to the claims. Yeah, it really does lock in your makeup.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

We have been testing this for a while, so I can't speak to, like, the science behind it, but we did talk about on the episode how it's so nice that you do want to keep reapplying it, but you can apply it in the morning and it will set your makeup all day. The 16 hour claim rang true for both of us.

[Sarah]

Yes, yes. And I just, I keep it in my bag. It just, it's. It's a really beautiful product. So check it out if you haven't. All right, what's your second product?

[Kirby]

My second product is Neen's Going Rouge Lip and Cheek Cream. I am obsessed with Neen. I obviously are. We. Yeah, it's obviously love the brand, but love the founder. Janine was also a lot of founders. I know that. We love that we're using this, their products.

[Sarah]

Oh, that's such a pretty color.

[Kirby]

It's gorgeous. So this lip and cheek cream I am obsessed with. It's the shade gem and I just love the packaging first and foremost. You know, like, it's refillable, it's flexible, it's just like you throw it, it's.

[Sarah]

Not going to break if you accidentally drop it.

[Kirby]

No, but I take this with me everywhere. Like, it's in my clutch, it's in my makeup bag, it's in my computer bag. I apply it with my fingers. But they also make this double ended blush brush. So I'll take the more dense side and pick it up. And then buff it out with the more fluffy side. And you can also use this on your lips.

[Sarah]

It's so good.

[Kirby]

So good. So many different shades. And honestly, like, I have them all in my office, so if I'm, like, just sitting there about to hop on a zoom, I'll just grab whatever's available and put it on. But Nina is a brand that I think is so underrated. I just realized. And she told us this, but it didn't click for me. They sell at Nordstrom. Oh, they're available at Nordstrom.

[Sarah]

Okay. And one of the few retailers that are still in business.

[Kirby]

No, totally. Yes.

[Sarah]

RIP Saks.

[Kirby]

Nordstrom. God forbid anything happens to Nordstrom. I will protect Nordstrom and Bar Verde, by the way. Bar Verde. Oh, if someone was like, where do you want to go in LA for your birthday? Bar Verde. I'm not kidding. It's like one of my favorite places.

[Sarah]

I love it.

[Kirby]

It just gives you the vibe of being at the mall.

[Sarah]

Yes.

[Kirby]

In the early millennium. And. And then after shopping with your mom or your friends or whatever, you hop over to Bar Verde.

[Sarah]

I used to work at Nordstrom, and I literally spent all my paycheck on clothes and Barbura day.

[Kirby]

The tomato soup, tomato basil soup, calamari. Ooh, Love the calamari at the Grove. Gosh, I'm sorry.

[Sarah]

It's just. What a perfect. What a perfect place.

[Kirby]

And the Nordstrom at Century City Mall.

[Sarah]

It's really good.

[Kirby]

It is really good.

[Sarah]

It's really good.

[Kirby]

It is really good. So neen Going Rouge, lip and cheek cream. My favorite shade is Gem, and it's $32.

[Guest 2]

If you've listened to us before, you know that we love say we even recently had their founder Laney on. But if you haven't listened to that episode and you're not familiar, say is a makeup brand whose formulas don't just look amazing on, but they feel great on your skin, too. You no matter your skin type, if you're into that effortless, no makeup makeup look, you will love saie. One of their fan favorite bestsellers is the Glowy super Gel. It's lightweight, non comedogenic, and it's the easiest first step to that lit from within glow. I love it on its own under makeup mixed in, it just makes skin look alive. And if you want a little coverage that still looks like skin, the Slip Tint tinted moisturizer gives this sheer, dewy finish. And it has broad spectrum SPF 35. It's one of those throw it on and instantly look more put Together products which I need. Don't forget your cheeks, though. The Dew blush is super blendable and buildable. It melts in seamlessly so you're not dealing with harsh lines or patchiness. It is so, so good. You can find [e-mail] and every Sephora store across the United States and Canada and at say hello dot com. That's S a I e hello.com.

[Kirby]

So I don't know if y' all have noticed, but it's been 10 years since 2016 and let's set the scene. Let's set the scene. Eyebrows were on fleek. Justin Bieber was in a new era with his music.

[Sarah]

Rihanna still making music. Rihanna. And Drake was.

[Kirby]

Rihanna was still making music, which is.

[Sarah]

Barack Obama was our president.

[Kirby]

Fenty did not exist yet. Fenty beauty. Also, Taylor Swift was dating Calvin Harris.

[Sarah]

Wow.

[Kirby]

Blue Chella. If you know, you know, she looked so good. She really does need to go. She looked to the platinum blonde bob again. I mean, that hair was so good on her.

[Sarah]

It was really, really good.

[Kirby]

Maybe if she ever does a rock album, we can convince her to do that. But it was a time.

[Sarah]

What was the most popular product of that year?

[Kirby]

Matte lips. But specifically the Kylie lip kit.

[Sarah]

Kylie lip kit.

[Kirby]

There was also.

[Sarah]

It was the year of Kylie.

[Kirby]

Yes. There was also those two faced lip.

[Sarah]

Oh my gosh. That was the year of the peach party.

[Kirby]

Yes. Because I was going through. Because everyone's posting their 2016 throwbacks and I was going through trying to pick. Yeah. Sarah and I were working at Bustle and Popsugar respectively. And that's when Listicles were crazy. There was every Starbucks concoction you could think of had a listicle. I have photos on my phone of like the pink drink. Remember?

[Sarah]

Yes, yes, yes.

[Guest 2]

Yep.

[Kirby]

Crazy stuff. Also flat lays of like beauty products.

[Sarah]

I was. I had a lot of like glam glow masks.

[Kirby]

Glam glow.

[Guest 2]

Yes.

[Kirby]

Oh my God. That brand has quietly sunset.

[Sarah]

But like not before they were acquired for so much money. Do you remember?

[Kirby]

Yes, yes. And they had that massive mansion in the hills.

[Sarah]

Oh my God. And that the. The founder's house.

[Kirby]

It was bonkers. The whole thing was crazy. Yeah. Everything about that time. But also it felt like EDM was really big too. It just was a freezer. Yeah.

[Sarah]

It was like everyone was just like having fun and didn't care. And that really translated through the makeup.

[Kirby]

It really did. Like we were wearing black lipstick, green lipstick. Sarah and I both have photos in black lipstick. Remember Lada Hagerty the. Yes. The lip Artist. She would do these insane, insane drawing at that time. Yeah. No, it was like, art on the lips.

[Sarah]

We were also eyes, like, the cut.

[Guest 2]

Creases were so sharp.

[Kirby]

You mean the wings or the wings are.

[Sarah]

The wings were so sharp.

[Kirby]

The wings and, like, halo. There was the halo. Halos. Yep. I couldn't do the halo because I don't have enough lid space and.

[Sarah]

No, I'm saying.

[Kirby]

And then brows on fleek. Guys, I got microbladed in 2016. And as I was looking, that was.

[Sarah]

Most everyone did, I think.

[Kirby]

Yes. And I heard about it through Bella Thorne, of all people, who, by the way, Bella Thorne.

[Guest 2]

Where's she?

[Kirby]

I love you. I hope she's just happy.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

That's what I want for her.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

She had, like, a lot going on at one point, but when I met her, she was truly an angel, and she was so, so sweet. And it was clear that, like, she was having a hard time. And I just really want the best for that.

[Sarah]

I had to cover Bella Thorne a lot in 2016.

[Kirby]

Bellathorne was huge. I can't remember. It was Snapchat, but. Okay. No, it was Snapchat. Snapchat was. It was that. Snapchat was where you would, like, take a video and then there was, like, a line across with, like, text when you were like.

[Sarah]

Because it was disappearing and. Oh, okay.

[Kirby]

Yes.

[Sarah]

Matt and I got married in 2016, and a gift from our friend was. He made us a specific Snapchat filter that said Sarah, Matt, and. And that was, like, a big deal. That was a big deal because I.

[Kirby]

Was like, God, take me back. But also, I'm like, oh, my God.

[Sarah]

I'm, like, so jealous that Kirby will not get married in 2016. When, like, the view. I mean, I looked okay, but, like, you look.

[Kirby]

You also. You and Matt did puppy filter.

[Sarah]

Puppy filter on your wedding day because that's what you did when you got married in 2016.

[Kirby]

Oh, my God. Okay. So we were talking about. Just reminiscing about what a time 2016 was. It was like that 11 months prior to the election where we didn't know what we were even getting ourselves into. Blissful fake news I don't even think was a real thing at that point. Like, Donald Trump was just starting to make that term thing.

[Sarah]

Exactly.

[Kirby]

So we're thinking about the beauty trends. Of course. Sarah brought this up. The contour and highlighting.

[Sarah]

The highlight.

[Kirby]

The highlight. You thought blush was insufferable in 2025. Highlighter in 2016. Oh, my God. We all looked like we had chalk on Our face.

[Sarah]

We put it on our noses, and then it was like champagne. Just a strip.

[Kirby]

It was a rectangle block. I have photos with Manny Mua. Sorry to call you out, Manny, but we look insane.

[Sarah]

I mean, that was the time to do it.

[Kirby]

You had a dark matte liquid lip. Dry as. Dry, crusty, crusty, crusty. The brows were so thick, and eyebrows on fleek. On fleek as like, everybody was calling them. You had always some kind of story coming out that was like, 16 eyebrow pencils to make your eyebrows look on fleek.

[Sarah]

That was when everyone was still using, like, the pot dip brow.

[Kirby]

Anastasia, Man. Anastasia. And that was before Anastasia really got into the palette game, too. Like, before Nordina got involved and started making all these palettes.

[Sarah]

It was like, I have a lot of pictures of ABH palettes in my phone in that year.

[Kirby]

And there was. That was the year that Benefit redid their entire brow line. And were you on that trip to Vegas?

[Sarah]

No, I was not.

[Kirby]

Okay. They flew a bunch of people to Vegas. I'm not kidding you. From all around the world. So there was, like, I think 200 editors and content creators all assemble. Assimilating in Vegas with Benefit. And I re. I have photos walking into. I can't remember the hotel we stayed at, but they rented out, like, an entire ballroom. And at this hotel, and when we walked in, there were, like, I'm not kidding, 300 ring lights set up for everyone to sit down in front of. These ring lights. They really invented the brow product.

[Sarah]

I feel like they invented the, like, the influencer trip.

[Kirby]

No, I was truly, like, when we all walked in and saw all these ring lights, we all gasped and started squealing. We got to take home the ring lights.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

Then we learned all about the products. Like, Jared Bailey giving, like, a whole presentation. But, you know, my first ever press trip. No, actually, it wasn't my first ever press trip, but it was my first ever trip in Wittart 2016.

[Sarah]

Oh, yeah.

[Kirby]

February. Go Hawaii. And it was for their Rainforest of the Sea line, which I truly love. I don't think they make it anymore. But that foundation was fabulous. They had this highlighter, I'm telling you. Crazy.

[Sarah]

That was really.

[Kirby]

That.

[Sarah]

That was like, tarte benefit.

[Kirby]

Kylie, I met Patrick star, Nicole Concilio, and Manny Mua on the tarte trip. The tarte trip. Yeah. Isn't that crazy?

[Sarah]

It was a really fun time.

[Kirby]

We also. Okay, so you mentioned dramatic eyes, the bold brows. Anything goes artistry. Yes. Okay. So I feel like this was the time where people were not looking to magazines anymore for direction from the experts. It's like if you had a YouTube channel and you worked at Mac Cosmetics for any amount of time, you were the expert, and that's what people wanted. 2016 really changed how we consumed beauty.

[Sarah]

Yes.

[Kirby]

Kylie launched and she. Or she launched in 2015, but the drop model became a thing and she copied that from, like, supreme and, like, you know, these shoe drops. Also, people stopped caring about, like, these longtime makeup artists and hairstylists that have, like, you know, been working with the greats. Instead, we're looking at YouTubers.

[Sarah]

Yes.

[Kirby]

It's like if you were not. Nikkie tutorials. Jackie Aina, Desi Perkins, Jeffree star.

[Sarah]

Oh, my gosh.

[Kirby]

Yeah.

[Sarah]

Patrick Starr, Bretman Rock.

[Kirby]

Yes.

[Sarah]

It was crazy. Do you remember when everyone was, like, dyeing their hair, like, mermaid unicorn colors also? That was like, the makeup was like a rainbow.

[Guest 2]

The.

[Sarah]

The. The highlighter, the iridescent eyeshadows.

[Kirby]

We talked to Elise Renault about this, but they had this lipstick at Too Faced called Unicorn tears.

[Guest 2]

Yes.

[Kirby]

I have a video on my phone from 2016 with that. Like, people were obsessed with mermaids and unicorns, and then they were going to Starbucks and ordering, like, mermaid and unicorn Starbucks drinks. It was a monoculture. It was a mono culture. It's crazy just how we, like, went.

[Sarah]

In the total opposite direction.

[Kirby]

Totally. Yep.

[Sarah]

Like 20. I know. You know, pandemic. Everything happened, but like, 2021, 2022, it was just like, beige.

[Kirby]

Yeah.

[Sarah]

Natural.

[Kirby]

Yes.

[Sarah]

But I was reading Jenna Rosenstein from Harper's Bazaar, the beauty director. She wrote a really, really thoughtful piece about 2016 and why we're so nostalgic about it. And she mentioned how 2016 was a year that Kim Kardashian showed up to the Balenciaga show without any makeup. And that was sort of like this look and that was like. Which is like what she looks like now. But at that time, it was, like, groundbreaking that she showed up bare faced, wearing no makeup at the end in October 2016, when just a few months.

[Kirby]

Earlier, it was a shift for her.

[Sarah]

It was a huge shift.

[Guest 2]

This was. I feel like.

[Sarah]

When did she start dating Kanye?

[Kirby]

2014.

[Sarah]

Okay.

[Kirby]

Like, so it was like 2 years old? I think so.

[Sarah]

Yeah. So I feel like it was like she. This. She was entering her, like, fashion era and, like, wanting to be taken on her own.

[Kirby]

Yes.

[Sarah]

Like, very seriously, cuz. Yeah. Then KKW Beauty, when she launched, like, the contour stuff, that was like, 2017, I think. Anyways, that was like, the beginning. Crazy.

[Kirby]

Wow. Yeah. And you're right. Because everyone was so focused on, like, all this heavy makeup. So when she showed up to that show without it, everyone was like, what the hell? And now it's like everyone's showing up without makeup to things, you know?

[Sarah]

Yes.

[Kirby]

Crazy. I want to know what y' all are nostalgic for when it comes to 2016. I have been listening to my 2016, 2016 vibes playlist and just reminiscing. I'm like, okay, I think I gotta go to Coachella to see Bieber. Yeah. Because Bieber was such a huge part of my life in 2016. Like, all. Sorry.

[Sarah]

Yes. So that I had my bachelorette party and sorry.

[Guest 2]

Work.

[Sarah]

And Post Malone's White Iverson was like the three songs we were listening to. Non stop.

[Kirby]

White Iverson.

[Sarah]

Listen, I love. I love, you know, country, Post Malone and whatever he's doing right now. But you.

[Kirby]

He was so good.

[Sarah]

He was so good at that era. Please bring it back.

[Kirby]

He was. And you know what? We be remiss. Not to mention Beyonce's lemonade. Hold up.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

Number one in my house.

[Sarah]

No, I think, yeah. Lemonade is my number one most played Beyonce album.

[Kirby]

Same. I freaking love it.

[Sarah]

It's perfect.

[Kirby]

All right, let's get into. I feel like this was the biggest headline of this week. It was at the tail end of the week, but it really took off because I saw so many people kind of, like, making fun of it on TikTok. And then it got me thinking, is this real? Is this a real thing? I have a personal experience to share with you.

[Sarah]

Oh, I love a personal anecdote.

[Kirby]

So Kendall Jenner denies having plastic surgery, including a nose job. Now this. This took a life of its own.

[Guest 2]

Okay.

[Kirby]

She went on in your dreams with Owen Thiel, and she talked about, like, what she's had done. She said she's had, quote, unquote, baby botox. I don't know if she said she's had filler. She's had filler in her lips. It's very obvious. Like, let's be so serious. But she said that she has not had any plastic surgery and that her nose looks different due to aging and Accutane. And so there's this Trend now on TikTok where it's a carousel post where it's like, I believe Kendall Jenner because I also got an Accutane and my nose shrunk. And a lot of them are people, like, showing themselves before Accutane and then after, and their nose does look significantly smaller. But then there's some that are taking it a step further, where they're like, pre Accutane. Accutane nose job. Like, they're wearing, like, you know, the thing on their nose.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

And so I was thinking, like, well, you know what? I lost weight, and my nose looks smaller.

[Sarah]

Your nose changes.

[Kirby]

It's kind of crazy. There's also videos of women that go through pregnancy, and they're like, watch my nose get bigger after getting pregnant crazy. And then never going back down.

[Sarah]

Yep.

[Kirby]

So I was like, I wonder if there's any truth to this. So can Accutane actually change your nose?

[Sarah]

No, it cannot. So Accutane does not alter the bone or cartilage of your nose. However, it can sometimes shrink the oil glands in your nose, reduce the inflammation and puffiness around your nose. So as a result, it can make your nose appear slimmer and more defined, but it is not, like, really actively changing the physical shape of your nose.

[Kirby]

Yes. And I think that the Kardashians and Jenners, who we love on this, we talk about them all the time on this podcast. Obviously, they're influential, whether you like them or not. All of them have a hard time talking about the work that they've had done. Like, Kim will say, like, I've done Botox or whatever, but it's very apparent from when we first met her in 2009 to now, her nose looks different. And it's like, I can't pinpoint exactly what it is. And I'm like, I don't know why they don't just want to talk about. Because, Kendall, when you look at her nose, it does appear to be a structural change. Her nose went from a wider bridge to a very narrow bridge. And my personal experience with this is I went to a very famous dermatologist in Beverly Hills, I would say probably a decade ago now. Had an appointment with him, was set up through pr, and he took a look at my skin, and he told me I had rosacea, and I don't have rosacea, but he said I did based on the redness of my skin. And he said that I needed to be on Accutane because if I didn't get on Accutane, my nose was going to become bulbous. I was like, what do you mean my nose is going to become bulbous? And there are instances where if you have rosacea or certain skin ailments, that your nose can grow and expand.

[Sarah]

Person being paid by Accutane, we.

[Kirby]

We don't know, but I remember being so horrified. And then afterwards, they were like, okay, great. We're going to put you on Accutane. You need to be on two forms of birth control. I remember being like, I don't want to do this.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

I went and got a second opinion. Like, first of all, you don't have rosacea. You have reactive skin. And also, you are using a Clarisonic with a scrub on it every morning and night. So your skin is just ruddy.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

B, your nose is not going to become bulbous. But, like, there are instances where if you have rosacea, and I'm sure there's plenty of experts that are listening to this that could speak on that, where, like, you've seen, you know, different medical reality shows where it's like somebody comes in and has, you know, like, these growths on their nose or their nose got bigger because of this thing, and then they take some medication, and it helps to, like, take down the inflammation or whatever it is. But I'm actually. I would love to know. Obviously, we never really will know if Kendall got a rhinoplasty or not, but when you see the before and afters, it's like, that's not inflammation. Your nose is literally, structurally completely different.

[Sarah]

Yeah. You know, I. I want to believe her. I really do always want to believe people.

[Kirby]

But I'm also like, we're not blind, and you and I talk about this all the time. We are not saying that if somebody looks different, it's always the result of a plastic surgery. Because there are instances where I think people now that they know that these treatments and procedures exist, it's. Now everybody has had something done.

[Sarah]

Yes.

[Kirby]

But I don't think that is always the case.

[Sarah]

Right.

[Kirby]

But in this case, it's like, Kendall, like, there was a very big shift from her walking Marc Jacobs the first time in, I think, 2017 to what she looks like now as a supermodel.

[Sarah]

And even she talked about it on the podcast where she was saying that she was basically talking about the doctors and these experts, quote, unquote, who are, like, breaking down the different celebrities, herself included, what they have gotten done. Just complete speculation. And how she was saying that, you know, it is harmful, especially to young women. But she did say she was like, I'd believe them if I wasn't me. If I didn't know, like, that I actually hadn't. I would have believed them, you know, totally.

[Kirby]

So, I mean, she makes a valid point, and I agree with her. I blocked so many doctors and. And whatever else you want to call them on the Internet for actual speculation. And again, we're kind of Speculating here, too. I'm curious. Have any of you that are listening been on Accutane and have looked like you've gotten a nose job? Because I've had people ask me if I've gotten a facelift, if I got a rhinoplasty, like, in my DMs, they're like, you look great. What's going on? And I'm like, lost weight. I lost 40 pounds.

[Sarah]

Yeah. I saw you comment on something where the girl was like, what are you using? You're like, I lost 40 pounds.

[Kirby]

Cheekbones. Your cheekbones look so pronounced. What are you doing? I need. Whatever you're doing. I lost £40.

[Sarah]

Yeah.

[Kirby]

My cheekbones are now way more apparent than they have.

[Sarah]

I think that a lot of us look different from when we were in high school. Like, yes, your face just changes.

[Kirby]

You lose the collagen and the baby fat.

[Sarah]

Yes. Yes. Yeah. Like, you are still growing into your face. So to those people who are just, like, really adamant about these, you know, celebrities getting plastic surgery, like, take a look at your pictures. Would you say that you look exactly the same? Because I would argue that you probably don't.

[Kirby]

Totally. There's something about your old photos that I try to put my finger on to be like, what? Like, at one point, I swore. I was like, did Sarah get a nose job? I was like, did she not tell me that she got a nose job? Is she hiding something from me? What kind of plastic surgery has she gotten done? Not that you look dramatically different, but I feel like before I met you, to. When I met you, when I looked at older photos of you, like, in college, I'm like, oh, my gosh. You look so different to me.

[Sarah]

My face, for sure, was like. Like, it was a lot of, like, baby fat and collagen. Like, I think, like, you just lose.

[Kirby]

Yeah, you lose the volume. You do, yeah.

[Sarah]

And I think that includes my nose. But that's why when people are like, this just happens when you have children, you look at them and you're like, I really hope you turn out to be cute. I don't know what your future holds, but you.

[Kirby]

Their faces change.

[Sarah]

Their faces change. Dramatic. We've seen pictures of these, like, gorgeous models and people and celebrities, and you're like, that's what you look like when.

[Kirby]

You were a kid.

[Sarah]

That's what you look like when you.

[Kirby]

Were in high school.

[Sarah]

There is such a thing as, you know, your ugly duckling phase. So.

[Kirby]

But at the same time.

[Sarah]

Yeah, but at the same time, there.

[Kirby]

Are things that you're like, yeah, let's be for real.

[Sarah]

Yeah yeah.

[Kirby]

We can't be gaslit anymore.

[Sarah]

I need to know the truth.

[Kirby]

I also want to know the truth. But I also want you all to tell us. Have you been on Accutane and has it changed your face? Send before and afters I'd love to see.

[Podcast Host]

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