Lipstick on the Rim – Episode Summary
DWTS Peta Murgatroyd’s Beauty + Wellness Routine: Dry Skin Staples, Serums, & Red Light
Date: February 24, 2026

Overview

In this lively and candid episode of Lipstick on the Rim, hosts Molly Sims and Emese Gormley sit down with professional dancer, mom, and beauty entrepreneur Peta Murgatroyd (best known from Dancing With The Stars). Peta shares her journey from a disciplined ballet upbringing to Broadway and TV fame, dives into her beauty and wellness routines (including her love for serums and peptides), and offers practical self-tanning tips from her company PETA Jane Beauty. The conversation is packed with insights about resilience, body image, postpartum confidence, motherhood, and actionable beauty advice—served with warmth, humor, and empowerment.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Peta’s Dance Journey and DWTS Experience

• Early Start and Discipline

  • Began ballet at age 4, joined a Russian ballet academy which emphasized strict discipline and resilience.

    “I started in a Russian ballet academy. I mean, this was get your leg up to your ear or you're out of class type of thing. … It was a very intense part of my childhood, but it’s literally what made me.” (C, 08:43)

  • She reflects on the intense pressure about body image in ballet but notes it built her resilience.

• Transition to the US and DWTS

  • Moved permanently to the US in 2010 after touring with “Burn the Floor” and making her Broadway debut, where she met her husband, Maksim Chmerkovskiy.
  • Was scouted for Dancing With The Stars from her work on Broadway:

    “They came to the show and saw the show on Broadway … and then I signed the contract after Broadway and that was it.” (C, 06:10)

  • Initial fears after early elimination (“I was out first, so I thought I was never going to be asked back … the next season I won, so it just shows you.” (C, 07:34))

• Inside DWTS

  • Describes the hard work behind the scenes: choreography, fittings, interviews, live TV pressure, and long hours.
  • Shares the importance of authenticity for contestants:

    “Really open up and be authentic with the audience … if you're an open book … you have a chance of winning the show.” (C, 41:52)

Health, Fitness, and Resilience

• Balancing Training and Motherhood

  • Honest about juggling three small children and making time for herself:

    “I’m just exhausted and … trying to make the gym happen every day, but I’m failing right now.” (C, 13:48)

• Fitness Routine

  • Focuses on both dance for fun and weightlifting:

    “I lift weights. I’m not shy to be, you know, with the big bar on my back doing squats.” (C, 15:09)

  • Emphasizes muscle maintenance for women and long-term health.

• Resilience Lessons from Dance

  • Credits her strict ballet upbringing for developing her drive and work ethic.

Beauty & Skincare Routine

• Skincare Staples

  • Has extremely dry skin, leading to a focus on heavy moisturizers and serums.
  • Daily routine includes:
    • Gentle cleansing, serums (“Skinceuticals” and Korean brands like Cosrx), heavy moisturizer (Weleda Skin Food), mascara, and lip balm.

    “[My mom] would say, moisturize or you’re going to get wrinkles. … I have really dry skin, right? Super dry. More than you would ever think. So I’m moisturizing constantly throughout the day.” (C, 20:32)

• Favorite Products

  • Serum: Skinceuticals B serum (“I haven’t found a better vitamin B serum that’s been on the market.” (C, 23:44))
  • Moisturizer: Weleda Skin Food
  • Great fan of affordable Korean skincare.
  • Dropped: Nightly masks, due to lack of time as a mom.

• Supplements & Wellness

  • Peptides enthusiast (e.g., GHK for skin), especially for maintaining energy on tour.
  • Regular supplements: vitamin C, glutathione, magnesium, oregano oil (for immunity), zinc, elderberry.

    “Oregano oil … under my tongue and for the back of the throat just to like kill any infections …” (C, 25:24)

Self-Tanning & PETA Jane Beauty

• Why She Launched Her Own Brand

  • Tired of orange, cracking, streaky tans during dancing competitions and DWTS, Peta set out to develop “a perfect golden brown” that’s foolproof.

    “I just need to make this better for people … getting the dry time to be within seconds took a while … to get the color just right.” (C, 27:37)

• Pro Tanning Tips

  • Prep: Shave 24 hours before, exfoliate with a mitt (no oily residue), moisturize dry spots (knees, ankles), avoid lotions elsewhere, remove jewelry. (C, 28:21)
  • Application: Work fast, do one area at a time to prevent streaks, use a mitt, build color gradually for a natural look.

    “Do an area first, then do this area, then move to the chest.” (C, 35:37)

  • Fixing Mistakes: Mr. Clean Magic Eraser can lift color from small mistakes (but she doesn’t officially endorse this as a skin-safe method).
  • Lasting Longer: Moisturize daily after first shower post-tan, try gradual tanners for upkeep.

Motherhood, Body Image & Confidence

• Postpartum Body & Confidence

  • Encourages self-compassion:

    “I tell myself to be kind to myself … words have weight. … you need to speak highly of yourself.” (C, 39:07)

  • Finds a strong support system essential, credits her husband for giving ‘tough love’ and emotional support. (C, 37:04)

• On Body Changes

  • Candid about stretch marks, loose skin, and feeling more self-conscious on camera post-motherhood, but sees her body as changed “for the better, for sure.” (C, 38:35)

Notable Quotes & Moments

• On Resilience from Dance Training

  “You gotta be the best. Or if you're not first, you're last. So that's the mentality.” (C, 12:17)

• On Beauty Rituals and Advice

  “If my makeup routine takes longer than five minutes, there is no way it’s happening.” (A, 17:16)

• On Postpartum Self-Talk

  “Be kind to yourself … words have weight.” (C, 39:07)

• On Authenticity for DWTS Contestants

  “Be authentic with the audience … if you’re an open book and people can see your journey … you have a chance of winning.” (C, 41:52)

• Advice to Her 10-Year-Old Self

  “Never give up on the big dreams … just never stop believing in what you really want to do.” (C, 43:32)

Listener Q&A Highlights (35:28–44:33)

• Best self-tan tip for beginners: Work fast, blend one area at a time.
• Natural-looking face tan: Build color gradually; use gradual tanner for a softer effect.
• Postpartum confidence: Build a support network, prioritize self-kindness, and get out for exercise and friendships.
• Motherhood & body image: Honest about physical changes; affirms importance of positive self-talk and perspective.
• What DWTS first-timers aren’t ready for: The workload, pain, and long hours, plus the challenge of wearing real dance shoes.
• Drama on the show: Partners are assigned for “personality and height”; yes, there can be tension—especially if a partner isn’t committed.

Timestamps for Important Segments

• [02:41] – Peta Murgatroyd’s dance background and journey to America
• [06:07] – Behind-the-scenes at DWTS and early challenges
• [13:40] – Fitness, motherhood, and balancing self-care
• [20:32] – Skincare, favorite serums, and daily routine
• [24:19] – Wellness, peptides, and supplement routine
• [26:15] – The founding of PETA Jane Beauty and self-tan advice
• [28:21] – Step-by-step tanning prep and correction tips
• [35:28] – Listener Q&A (tanning, confidence, motherhood, DWTS inside scoop)
• [43:32] – Advice to her younger self

Final Thoughts

This episode offers a relatable, honest look at how discipline, self-care, and community shape both professional success and personal wellbeing. Peta’s practical wisdom—from mastering the perfect self-tan to intuitive self-kindness—makes this a must-listen for beauty enthusiasts, dancers, and moms alike.
Follow Peta Murgatroyd on Instagram: @petamurgatroyd
Try the PETA Jane Beauty x Wise “Winter Uglies” bundle for self-tanning essentials (petajanebeauty.com/wisebeauty.com).