Lipstick on the Rim: What Editors Actually Use

Episode Date: October 28, 2025
Guest: Leah Wyar (President of Beauty, Style & Entertainment at People, InStyle, Byrdie, Entertainment Weekly)
Hosts: Molly Sims and Emese Gormley

Episode Overview

This vibrant episode of Lipstick on the Rim dives deep into beauty, style, and media trends with esteemed editor Leah Wyar. As President of Beauty, Style & Entertainment for powerhouse brands like InStyle and People, Leah shares inside industry insights, her personal product picks, and career wisdom. The conversation tracks her unconventional rise in publishing, changing trends in editorial and digital media, and what beauty and fashion obsessions editors actually swear by.

Table of Contents

1. Leah Wyar’s Backstory & Influence
2. Career Evolution in a Shifting Media Landscape
3. Trends in Beauty Editorial & Media Transparency
4. Beauty Trends: What’s In, What’s Overrated
5. The Culture of “Tweakments” & Transparency
6. Wellness & Emerging Lifestyle Trends
7. Spotting Trends That Stick
8. Current Fashion Trends & Timeless Style
9. Holy Grail Products & Drugstore Gems
10. Morning Routine & Editor Favorites
11. Rapid-Fire Round: Style and Life
12. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
13. Key Timestamps

1. Leah Wyar’s Backstory & Influence <a name="backstory"></a>

• Emese credits Leah for inspiring the podcast:
  • “[Leah] is literally the reason this podcast exists… your advice helped me and Emese… to have this platform.” (05:50)
• Leah’s pivotal advice: Emese recounts Leah’s early tough love and career insight, urging her to find the “middle” between her mom relatability and glamorous fashion world.
  • Leah: “You have this mom, funny relatability, authentic self on one side. And on the other… fashion, entertainment, travel… you need a middle.” (04:32)

2. Career Evolution in a Shifting Media Landscape <a name="career-evolution"></a>

• Serendipitous start: Leah started at Health magazine despite lacking formal journalism credentials, thanks to a college connection.
  • Leah: “I had zero qualifications for that job… no internship… I was a psych major.” (06:50)
  • Mentorship from Colleen Sullivan proved key.
• Adaptability in the digital age: Leah discusses the necessity of pivoting as digital disrupted print media.
  • Leah: “If you don’t function that way as a legacy brand, you’re done.” (19:31)
• Embracing cross-functional roles: Early on, Leah broke taboos by collaborating with sales and marketing, learning “to be super valuable to the company’s bottom line.” (11:00-12:13)

3. Trends in Beauty Editorial & Media Transparency <a name="editorial-trends"></a>

• From “church and state” to partnership: Editors now actively engage with data, marketing, and affiliate programs.
  • Leah: "It's made everybody smarter. I think people don't really care now [about sponsored links]—they know how it works." (16:41)
• Real-time data: Publications use analytics to pivot quickly and respond to what resonates.
  • Emese: “Within seconds of sharing something, you see data in real time… it allows you to be nimble and pivot.” (19:44)

4. Beauty Trends: What’s In, What’s Overrated <a name="beauty-trends"></a>

What Editors Love Right Now

• Gentle skin routines & “big treatment” minimalism:
  • Leah: “…save up that big moment, like once or twice a year, and then really just be gentle with your skin the rest of the year.” (21:43)
  • Leah and the hosts talk barrier creams and the dangers of over-exfoliation/microdermabrasion.
• Cautious about under eye filler:
  • Leah: “I got convinced to do it once. My under eyes did not recover for a year and a half.” (24:13)

Overrated (Buyer Beware!)

• Daily harsh exfoliation/microdermabrasion
• Under-eye fillers
• Extreme “fad” treatments that lead to long-term skin issues

5. The Culture of “Tweakments” & Transparency <a name="tweakments"></a>

• Shifting attitudes: Once secret, injectables and “tweakments” are now openly discussed by celebrities and editors alike.
  • Leah: “That ‘I woke up like this’ thing is such BS… everyone’s getting work… it’s refreshing [when they admit it].” (25:57)
• Openness helps reduce shame and confusion about what’s achievable:
  • “It’s better to be vocal about it… otherwise there’s this social dysmorphia that happens.” (27:16)

6. Wellness & Emerging Lifestyle Trends <a name="wellness"></a>

• Editor obsessions: Ear seeds (acupressure adhesive beads), lymphatic drainage, fascia release, hot sauna, cold plunge.
  • Leah: “My obsessions right now are… all about lymphatic drainage, lymph, fascia, everything.” (29:34)
• DIY wellness: Acupuncture, lymphatic massage, and wellness-enhancing rituals are increasingly integrated into beauty.

7. Spotting Trends That Stick <a name="spotting-trends"></a>

• Test of time = repeat purchase:
  • Leah: “If it works, you’re gonna buy it a second time. If it works, that becomes a business.” (30:41)
  • Fad vs. fundamental: “There’s a place for flash in the pan, but sustained use is what matters.”

8. Current Fashion Trends & Timeless Style <a name="fashion-trends"></a>

• What’s hot:
  • “Big, bright colors… yellows, turquoise, mints, fuchsias… lots of prints and patterns mixed together.”
  • “Not boring or minimalist. That’s happening in beauty, too.” (31:25)
• Gap “renaissance,” tailored blazers, and investment pieces: Hot pink barrel jeans from Gap, oversized but tailored jackets (32:42-35:27)
• Style icons: Carolyn Bessette Kennedy, Olsen twins, Kate Moss—admired for timeless, understated style that transcends trends.
  • Emese: “Carolyn Bessette... the very definition of timeless. You can pick that outfit up and drop it into today, anytime. And it works.” (36:51)

9. Holy Grail Products & Drugstore Gems <a name="favorite-products"></a>

• Affordable finds:
  • Cure Gel Cleanser (Amazon/Drugstore) (43:18)
  • Maelove “The Hydrator” (simple, effective skincare)
  • Aestura barrier cream (Korean, by Amore Pacific)
• Pricier favorites:
  • Foundation: Armani Luminous Silk (“an OG, holy grail!”) (45:12)
  • Mascara: Jones Road Beauty, Victoria Beckham’s Vast Lash
  • Other: Victoria Beckham eyeliner and bronzing powder; Jones Road/Bobbi Brown products
  • Tammy Fender Quintessential Serum (last product finished) (46:11)

10. Morning Routine & Editor Favorites <a name="morning-routine"></a>

• Morning routine: “So, so simple. I don’t wash my face in the morning. I put moisturizer on over hyaluronic acid... then foundation, done.” (44:53)
• Desert island mascara: Bobbi Brown or Victoria Beckham (46:21)
• Fragrance: Aedes de Venustas “Iris Nazarene”, a unique, power scent from a cult shop in NYC (46:49)
• Investment pieces: Black pumps, quality blazers—pieces you build everything around (39:54-40:27)

11. Rapid-Fire Round: Style and Life <a name="rapid-fire"></a>

• Worst beauty advice: “Got my hair chopped at eight months’ pregnant… regret every moment of it.” (47:36)
• Fashion essentials: Accessories, jackets, bags, shoes—the “finishing touches”
• On travel: Light packer (48:37)
• 10-year-old self advice: “Nobody has it figured out—and you’ll figure it out.” (48:47)
• Unpopular opinion: Not a fan of gentle parenting approaches (48:03)
• Signature drink: Simple—loves a beer, especially Cape May beer (48:16)

12. Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments <a name="quotes"></a>

• “You have this mom, funny relatability...and on the other side...fashion, entertainment, travel. You need a middle.” – Leah Wyar (04:32)
• “I had zero qualifications...no internship...I was a psych major.” – Leah (06:50)
• “If you don’t function [like a startup] as a legacy brand, you’re done.” – Leah (19:31)
• “The next story is in the comments.” – Leah (20:22)
• “I don’t really think you should be writing a book.” – Leah to Emese (04:32)
• “What’s your go-to investment piece?” "A black pump you can wear with everything." – Leah (39:54)
• “Save up that big moment, like once or twice a year...be gentle with your skin the rest of the year.” – Leah (21:43)
• “I got convinced to do [under-eye filler] once. My under eyes did not recover for a year and a half.” (24:13)
• “That ‘I woke up like this’ thing is such BS...everyone’s getting work.” – Leah (25:57)
• “If it works, you’re gonna buy it a second time. If it works, that becomes a business.” – Leah (30:41)
• “Carolyn Bessette… you can pick that outfit up and drop it into today, anytime. It works.” – Emese (36:51)

13. Key Timestamps <a name="timestamps"></a>

• [05:03] – Leah’s pivotal career advice to Emese, origins of the podcast
• [06:32-08:16] – Leah’s career start, mentorship, and rise in editorial
• [16:41] – Editorial integrity & affiliate links in the digital era
• [19:31] – Need for legacy brands to think and act like startups
• [21:43] – Current beauty trend: big treatments plus gentle routine
• [24:13] – Under-eye filler cautionary tale
• [25:57] – Normalization of tweakments and celebrity transparency
• [29:34] – Lymphatic wellness, fascia, ear seeds
• [31:25] – Fall fashion: bright colors, patterns, joy-inducing style
• [36:51] – Carolyn Bessette Kennedy’s timeless style breakdown
• [39:54] – Investment style pieces: black pump
• [43:18] – Drugstore/Amazon product recommendations
• [44:53] – Morning beauty routine
• [46:49] – Signature scent: Aedes de Venustas “Iris Nazarene”
• [48:47] – Advice to her 10-year-old self

Conclusion

This episode is an essential listen for anyone who loves beauty and style but wants to cut through the noise and know what the pros actually do. With Leah Wyar’s unrivaled industry perspective, Molly and Emese bring listeners an honest, practical, and joy-filled take on what really works in beauty, style, and self-care. Whether you’re seeking skin wisdom, timeless fashion advice, or genuinely useful product recs, this episode is packed with the kind of “editor’s secrets” that live up to the hype.

Follow Leah Wyar on Instagram for more beauty and style insights: @leahwyar. For more episodes, check out Lipstick on the Rim on your favorite podcast platform or YouTube!