Podcast Summary: Style-ish – "These nine beauty products changed our routines"

Date: December 16, 2025
Hosts: Madison Sullivan Thorpe (Mads), Joanna Fleming (Jo), Annika Doshi Smith (Annika)
Podcast: Style-ish (Shameless Media)

Episode Overview

This heartfelt and dynamic episode marks the last Wednesday Style-ish of 2025. The trio – Mads, Jo, and Annika – reflect on their “words of the year,” share meaningful holiday advice, and, as promised in the episode title, each present their holy grail beauty products that genuinely revolutionized their 2025 beauty routines. True to the show’s ethos, the discussion is a blend of practical tips, personal storytelling, and warm camaraderie, leaving listeners feeling included and inspired.

Acknowledgement of Current Events

• The episode opens with a thoughtful tribute and acknowledgement of a recent tragedy affecting the Jewish community in Sydney (00:18–01:27).
  • Mads: “We just didn’t feel that we could do this episode without recognising the absolute tragedy that has occurred in Australia this week. And our hearts are very heavy.” (00:18–01:27)

Segment 1: Year-End Reflections & “Word of the Year”

Catching Up and Swaps

• The hosts share light-hearted “swaps” (new interests or discoveries):
  • Annika follows Weronika Leas, a Swedish brand director and Instagram inspiration for pregnancy style. (02:27–03:32)
    • Annika: “Everything about her feels aspirational but approachable, which I love... simplistic styles that you can layer, wear seasons now, seasons to come.” (03:04–03:32)
  • Mads, as an allergy-prone “bougie candle” lover, recommends Diptyque’s Sapon fragrance room spray to get the pine scent without the sneeze. (04:04–05:17)
  • Jo shouts out Stoney, a Melbourne small business making chic natural-stone homewares, perfect for gifting during engagement or holiday season. (05:32–07:12)

Reflecting on 2025’s Words

• The hosts revisit the “Word of the Year” ritual, sharing how each word encapsulated their year.

2025 Recap:

• Mads: "Unapologetic"
  • “Standing unapologetically is who I am and in decisions I make and vouching for others and for myself, I have been really proud of that this year.” (10:22–11:13)
• Annika: "Risk"
  • On professional and personal vulnerability: “I think I just really backed myself both personally and professionally to, you know, take those bigger risks… I've never felt more powerful and what I’m capable of. It’s so crazy.” (12:54–13:53)
• Jo: "Convergent"
  • Capturing the “organized chaos” of managing a busy professional life and planning a wedding (16:04–16:57): “It was, like, honestly trying to get to the end point of having a wedding… There was a lot going on.”

Emotional Support Amongst the Hosts

• “I actually have goosebumps right now because you’re one of those genuine, authentic people… such a magnetic woman in everything that you do.” – Annika to Mads (11:13)
• The hosts openly praise and support one another’s growth, creating a “big love fest.”

Looking Ahead: Words for 2026

• Mads: "Vulnerable" – “I want to be vulnerable enough to say when I’m coping, when I’m struggling, when I need help…” (18:25–19:54)
• Annika: "Content" – “I want to get to a place where we are just good... I don’t need more. I just want to be at a place where we’re truly content.” (20:11–21:48)
• Jo: "Expansion" – “2026 is business expansion… and hopefully maybe finding a new house, maybe traveling, just doing things that I want to be doing, but also growing while doing those.” (22:05–22:48)

Notable Moments

• Annika sharing her vulnerable moments from the year and how the show (and its listeners) have provided a safe and supportive platform (14:27–16:04).
• Mads on the deep loneliness of the holidays for singles, and working up a “PR statement” to deflect intrusive family questions (25:51–26:49).

Segment 2: Style-ish Holiday Guide

• Each host offers advice for navigating the holiday season:

Mads: Navigating the Holidays While Single

• “Being single in the holiday season is shit. I’m not even gonna sugarcoat it... My advice, if you have that smart ass uncle or that annoying aunt, is to come up with what I would call in marketing world a PR statement.” (25:51–26:49)
• Suggests organizing or including single friends in friend/family events.

Annika: Coping with Homesickness

• Shares her family’s “open-door” policy for hosting community gatherings (including rugby clubs in her youth).
• Lights a candle for her father, emphasizing the importance of traditions and reflecting on loved ones. (28:35–29:10)
  • “Show up for people if you know people alone. Christmas is a time to come together. Spend it with your loved ones or any community.” (29:10)

Jo: Sun Safety Over the Festive Break

• Offers a practical but crucial tip: investing in sun-safe hats and sunglasses that meet Australian standards (Category 3 or 4 lenses).
  • “Wearing both a broad brim hat and sunglasses can reduce UV radiation to the eyes by up to 98%, according to SunSmart.” (32:05–32:35)
  • Recommends brands: Avenue The Label, Solbari, Cancer Council, Loveloo, Oscar Wiley, Bailey Nelson.

Segment 3: 2025’s Holy Grail Beauty Products

Each host selects their favorite product for skincare, makeup, and hair care.
Note: Lively banter and double-ups show up—these truly are favorites!

Skincare

• Annika: Augustinus Bader The Body Cream ($310)
  • “I will live on tuna and rice just so I can incorporate this into my routine.” (34:09)
• Mads: Rationale #1 Serum
  • “It’s just made up of a great amount of B vitamins… hydrates my skin, but also helps some of that inflammation and anger that can come from a little breakup.” (35:39)
• Jo: Rejuran Turnover Sheet Mask
  • Used on her and her husband on their wedding morning for a “quenched” skin look. (37:00–37:40)
  • “Everyone was saying Adrian’s skin looked amazing.” (37:54)

Makeup

• Annika: Mecca Max Pout Pencil in “Classy” ($16)
  • “Every time I lose it, I feel lost without it. Like, I am so obsessed with this product.” (38:52)
• Mads: Hourglass 1.5mm Mechanical Eyeliner (Black)
  • “For tight lining… if I’m doing it, I’m doing it unapologetically and applying it.” (39:48–40:14)
• Jo: Tower 28 Serum Concealer
  • “Really beautiful formula. It’s not super expensive ($38)... and it’s a really nice formula.” (41:20)
  • Mads adds: “Amy Lou, the brand founder, actually developed that brand for eczema sufferers.” (41:23–42:04)

Hair Care

• Annika: Taimo Ring Plus (Hot Brush) (~$110)
  • “I literally put this through my hair and it is so straight, it’s not even funny…” (43:01)
  • “It just heated up in New York, in Paris, in Italy, in Australia.” (43:21)
• Mads: Slick bun routine featuring Olaplex No. 3, 11 Pomade, and NAK Hairspray
  • “My slick bun, otherwise known as Slick Rick, is actually never really the same combo...” (44:09)
• Jo: K18 Air Wash Dry Shampoo
  • “Honestly, it’s the best dry shampoo I’ve ever used, and it’s absolutely worth the expensive price point.” (46:06)

Bonus Tips

• Jo and Annika confirm the lasting power of K18 and highlight speedy routines, helpful for fine or hard-to-style hair.
• There's consensus that picking just one product was nearly impossible: “We cheated. Yeah, we absolutely cheated. We’re liars when we said that we would only do one.” – Mads (47:13)

Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• “You are just, I don’t know, such a magnetic woman in everything that you do. And I’m so proud of you for believing in yourself, because we believe in you.” — Annika to Mads (11:16)
• “Home sickness can sometimes be for a person.” — Mads (29:16)
• “Wearing both a broad brim hat and sunglasses can reduce UV radiation to the eyes by up to 98%.” — Jo (32:35)
• “I will live on tuna and rice just so I can incorporate this into my routine.” — Annika, about Augustinus Bader cream (34:09)
• “If you have that smart ass uncle or that annoying aunt, come up with what I would call in marketing world a PR statement.” — Mads (26:07)

Community, Camaraderie, and Love Fest

• Multiple segments express gratitude for both the Style-ish community and the hosts’ supportive friendship.
• The team signs off with deep appreciation for listeners: “Slowly but surely, this community has continued to evolve and to grow. And, you know, we appreciate every single one of you who listen.” – Mads (47:13–47:46)
• The hosts encourage listener emails and DMs, and acknowledge the Shameless Media team and behind-the-scenes producers.

Key Timestamps

• 00:18 – Acknowledgment of Sydney tragedy
• 02:27 – Annika on pregnancy style inspiration
• 05:32 – Jo on small business Stoney
• 07:25 – “Word of the Year” reflection
• 10:22 – Mads on “Unapologetic”
• 12:54 – Annika on “Risk”
• 16:04 – Jo on “Convergent”
• 18:25 – Words/goals for 2026
• 25:51 – Holiday advice: being single at Christmas
• 28:35 – Annika on homesickness and holiday traditions
• 30:20 – Jo’s sun safety segment
• 33:31 – Holy Grail beauty items introduction
• 34:09 – Skincare picks: Annika (“I will live on tuna and rice…”)
• 38:52 – Makeup picks: Annika’s lip pencil addiction
• 41:20 – Jo on Tower 28 concealer
• 43:01 – Annika’s Taimo Ring Plus hair tool revelation
• 44:09 – Mads’ slick bun combo
• 46:06 – K18 dry shampoo praise
• 47:56 – Farewells, gratitude to the community

Tone & Style

Friendly, vibrant, supportive, and candid—peppered with self-deprecating humor, genuine praise, and practical recommendations.

Who Should Listen?

Fans of honest, relatable conversations around fashion, beauty, self-growth, and the changing seasons of life. Anyone looking for truly vetted product picks and heartfelt holiday advice from fashion & beauty insiders with an authentic twist.

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