This Is Why You're Always Breaking Out

Summary

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Podcast Summary: The blondEST

Episode: This Is Why You're Always Breaking Out
Host: Savanna Boda (The Dallas Aesthetician)
Date: August 18, 2025

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Episode Overview

This episode of The blondEST centers around answering rapidfire skincare questions from listeners, focused heavily on acne, breakouts, and barrier health. Host Savanna Boda, joined by Tyler, delivers candid, expert insights mixed with their signature playful, no-nonsense banter. Topics range widely—from specific product recommendations and treatment protocols to funny personal stories and industry tips.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Opening Banter & Personal Fun Facts

• Personal health history:
  • Savanna shares she had Guillain-Barre syndrome as a child, describing it as a “neurological disorder, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves” (01:41).
  • Tyler mentions catching “every, like, novel disease… swine flu” (02:36).
  • Memorable playful exchange about who had the worse childhood illness:
    • Savanna: "It's worse, bitch. I think." (01:11)

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2. Favorite Products & Brands

• Jewelry:

  • Savanna currently likes Logan Hollowell but prefers mixing unique pieces (02:48).

• Editing & Camera Tools:

  • Capcut is the editing app of choice (04:05).
  • GoPro for underwater photos (04:13).

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3. Skincare Q&A

Acne Programs & Product Preferences

• Face Reality vs. Glymed Acne Education:
  • Savanna hasn’t done Glymed plus acne education, prefers only certain Glymed products for acne: “...besides like Idealic cleanser and like sulfur mask” (03:26).

Pore Minimizing

• Routine suggestion:
  • “Maestro with clearing serum and a little bit of refining foam cleanser and detoxifying scrub mask” (03:52).

Managing Strawberry Legs

• Exfoliate & hydrate:
  • “I would do personally Cinnamon Vanilla Scrub and Encore Body and then Alpharet Body at night” (04:43).

Mandelic Acid (Face Reality) Effectiveness

• Individualized treatment:
  • “Depends on your skin. I need to see ya... can’t answer that without seeing them or knowing any history...” (05:01).
  • General advice: “Everyone would be fine with 5%, but it may not be ideal” (05:16).

Skincare Before Water Activities

• Morning regimen still matters:
  • “...gentle active like Onduer, 5% mandelic, a hydrating serum, a pigment inhibitor, vitamin C, sunscreen” (05:39).
  • Wait at least 20 minutes to let products absorb before getting into water (06:10).

Acne Scarring (Dents/Craters)

• In-office treatments preferred:
  • “TCA cross, a blade of lasers. Topicals alone will not fix it” (06:26).

Suspera & At-Home Chemical Peels

• Not the same:
  • “It’s just a powerful pigment inhibitor. It’s not exfoliating” (06:40).

Eye Treatment Product Breakdown

(One of the most detailed segments)

• Comparing SkinBetter Interfuse Eye, IMAX, and Plated Eye Serums:

  • Interfuse Eye: Peptides “able to do what they can do to their full capacity” due to novel delivery tech; “amazing for crow's feet, lines, wrinkles” (08:17).
  • IMAX: Uses Alpharet (retinoic acid + lactic acid); great “as a nighttime for anti aging of the eye… especially if you have milia” (09:46).
  • Plated Eye: Exosomes, “literally going to tighten the skin on your eyes—if you have hooded eyes, that's gonna help. And then also it builds new collagen and elastin” (10:22).
  • Best regimen: “Plated eye first then Interfuse on top in the morning, then Plated first at night and IMAX on top” (10:42).

• Notable Quote:

  • “Milia is going to literally fall off your eye.” – Savanna (10:01)

Exfoliants and Skin Concerns

• Difference between Ondue and Glass Skin Liquid Exfoliant:

  • Glass Skin = BHA (salicylic, stronger), Ondue = PHA (gentle) (11:03).

• Dermatitis patch under nose:

  • Alternate to prescription: “Sieve and lipid serum and then Ondo and comfort cream in that order” (11:44).

Practitioner & Client Relations

• Building clientele from followers:

  • “Showcasing your results, connecting with them, showing your personality. People book because they feel a connection to you, not just because of what you’re offering” (11:53).

• Successful esthetician tip:

  • “Be a trailblazer. Be different. Do something that no one's done before, period.” (16:23)

Sunscreen & Makeup

• Tonesmart vs. Flex (Colorescience):
  • Tonesmart preferred for acne-prone skin; Flex better for aging but can cause breakouts for some (12:25).
  • “Out of 100% of acne prone people, 40% will break out with Flex. And I am one of the 40%.” (12:42)
  • Thinness/coverage difference discussed (13:07).

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4. Product Recommendations & Pregnancy Considerations

• Pregnancy-safe acne:

  • “8% mandalic, lipid serum, carboxy mousse, sulfur mask three times a week” (13:57).

• Vitamin C for sensitive skin:

  • "Yes, because [Alto] is a THD, it's oil soluble and... really good for acne because it helps reduce inflammation and redness." (14:30)

• General regimen size:

  • “As little as six and as many as 12” products, depending on budget and commitment (15:01).

• CBD mist and pregnancy:

  • “It is post show” (15:54).

• Alternating actives:

  • Okay to alternate mandelic and undo daily (16:01).
  • Alto Advanced recommended in AM only (16:08).

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5. Industry & Procedure Tips

• Favorite medical aesthetic treatment not done in office:

  • “Emsculpt and Dadsign… Or mirror dry—makes you not sweat or have body odor… it's expensive as fuck, it's painful as and the downtime's like awesome.” (16:50, 16:54)

• Cleaning Colorescience Powder SPF brush:

  • “Use hyacinth. Active. Never had mine clump. But they're antimicrobial, so you don’t really need to wash them.” (17:52)

• Best products for cystic jawline/chin acne:

  • “Regular alpharet, carboxy mousse, sulfur mask, lipid serum” (18:09).

• SPF for sensitive oily skin tone:

  • Tonesmart (18:38).

• Body SPF that doesn’t stain:

  • Colorescience No Show for body (19:03).
  • Honesty about daily use: “I’mma be honest. I could not imagine applying body SPF every day.” (19:19).

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On giving individualized advice:

  • “That would be unethical and like shooting in the dark.” – Savanna, on giving acid percentage advice online (05:10)

• On rapid product stacking:

  • “I'm not gonna have anyone on, like, six serums, you know.” – Savanna (15:35)

• Industry advice for new estheticians:

  • “Be a trailblazer. Be different. Do something that no one's done before, period.” – Savanna (16:23)

• On the reality of daily SPF body application:

  • “I could not imagine applying body SPF every day. Anyway, y’all.” (19:19)

• Classic playful roast:

  • “Why are you trying to one up me? Fuck you.” – Savanna to Tyler (01:06)

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Timestamps for Noteworthy Segments

• [01:41] – Guillain-Barre Syndrome explanation
• [03:26] – Glymed vs. Face Reality for acne: product preferences
• [05:01] – Mandelic acid individualization and ethics
• [05:39] – Skincare before swimming/beach
• [06:26] – Treating acne scarring (dents/craters)
• [08:17] – In-depth breakdown of eye product technologies
• [12:25] – Tonesmart vs. Flex for acne-prone and aging skin
• [13:57] – Pregnancy-safe acne routine
• [16:23] – Industry success advice for estheticians
• [19:03] – Favorite body SPF and the reality of daily use

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Overall Tone

• Savanna and Tyler maintain a candid, approachable style with plenty of inside jokes and real-life honesty.
• Advice is delivered in a straightforward manner, focused on individualized care and a deep understanding of ingredients and mechanisms.
• No question is too small, and the vibe encourages listeners to take skin health seriously, while not taking themselves too seriously.

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For listeners seeking direct, actionable acne and skincare guidance with a healthy dose of expert-level breakdowns and personality, this episode is both informative and highly entertaining.

Transcript

[A]

Have you duolingo?

[B]

No, my dad.

[A]

The little bird.

[B]

What's up today?

[A]

More questions. I warned y'.

[B]

All.

[A]

Last time I warned it. Okay, do you want to say. Do you want to start off with any fun fact about yourself?

[B]

Okay. My name's Savannah. I had Guillain Barre. I think that's how you say it. When I was seven.

[A]

What is that?

[B]

It's when you get paralyzed because you're like cells start attacking your muscles or something. And then I. You see what chat GDP says?

[A]

I don't want to exit out here.

[B]

Gu.

[A]

I've been scrolling through these questions. I'm not losing my place of G.

[B]

U L L I A N. Wait, hold on.

[A]

I had foot and mouth disease when I was a kid and I couldn't eat for a week straight.

[B]

Why are you trying to one up me? Fuck you.

[A]

Wait. I didn't know if yours was worse or better. I don't know.

[B]

It's worse. Bitch. I think. I don't know. I don't really know a hand, foot and mouth that. It sounds like your parents didn't vaccinate you.

[A]

I was fully vaccinated.

[B]

Are you sure?

[A]

It's most common in children, but I couldn't eat for a week. And then after those giant.

[B]

Are you skinny?

[A]

Those giant French fry bags that are in the frozen section. I ate two of them. How old were you? Like four. What is it called?

[B]

What is G U L L I A N O?

[A]

L L I A N B A R R E B A R R.

[B]

E. It's basically when you become paralyzed. I couldn't walk for like a month.

[A]

Neurological disorder, where the body's immune system mistakenly attacks the peripheral nerves. It can come on suddenly and progress rapidly, often following a viral or bacterial infection. Cause Often triggered by infection like the flu or COVID 19 surgery or vaccination. Symptoms. Weakness or tingling in the legs, muscle weakness or paralysis. Loss of reflexes, trouble walking, breathing or swallowing. In severe cases, yeah. Symptoms can worsen over hours to days, peaking within two to four weeks. Most people recover, but it can take weeks to years.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Damn, that is worse.

[B]

I know.

[A]

I certainly did not. One up you. I just didn't know what it was.

[B]

What's my fun fact?

[A]

My fun fact is that I catch every, like, novel disease.

[B]

Cool.

[A]

Like swine flu. Did you have the swine flu?

[B]

No.

[A]

Yeah, I had swine flu. Okay, first question. This is gonna be a hard one. What's your favorite jewelry company?

[B]

Oh, no. Right now. Logan Hollowell.

[A]

Yeah, that's true.

[B]

Love her stuff.

[A]

But of all time.

[B]

I like, I don't like a lot of stuff from one place. I like to like have different shit.

[A]

Best product line to go solo with Climad, period. The education, the ease of bringing it on region retail. Yeah. How different is the Face Reality acne program compared to the Glymed plus Acne education?

[B]

I've never done the Glymed plus acne education if that's new. But I would say very different. Yeah, I would assume. I don't like Glymeds products like for acne besides like Idealic cleanser and like sulfur mask.

[A]

I fucking love Idealic cleanser but I.

[B]

Don'T really like love like their benzoyl peroxide.

[A]

What can I do to make my pores smaller?

[B]

Maestro with clearing serum and a little bit of refining foam cleanser and detoxifying scrub mask. Yep.

[A]

What's your favorite editing app?

[B]

Capcut. That's all I use. Not my favorite. It's the only.

[A]

Best underwater camera.

[B]

I just use the GoPro.

[A]

Yes you do.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

You have the kindest and sweetest team. I know they're not talking about me, but thank you.

[B]

It's not about you.

[A]

Yeah, it's a little.

[B]

It's definitely a list. Sincere. Yeah.

[A]

It has nothing to do with the.

[B]

Little like angels from heaven above.

[A]

Yeah. Best cleansers for 40 year old aging oily skin. I thought I said old.

[B]

I would say Prelude period.

[A]

Why do I keep getting strawberry legs?

[B]

You exfoliate and hydrate. I would do personally Cinnamon Vanilla Scrub and Encore Body and then Alpharet Body at night.

[A]

How to know what percent Face Reality Mandelic will be effective?

[B]

Depends on your skin. I need to see ya. Yeah, that's very subjective. I can't like answer that without seeing them or knowing like any history about their skin. That would be unethical and like shooting in the dark.

[A]

Yeah. I mean everyone would be fine with 5%, but it may not be ideal. Well, not everyone if you have compromised skin.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

So actually, yeah.

[B]

No, we're not answering. We plead the fit.

[A]

Yeah. Book a virtual consultation. Should. Would I still use all my skincare when I'm going to the beach and getting in the water?

[B]

Absolutely. But like for like a morning regimen, I would use a gentle active like Onduer, 5% mandelic, a hydrating serum, a pigment inhibitor, five vitamin C, sunscreen.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

Yeah. Because it soaks in people think like it's just like sitting on the skin all day. It's not. So even if you're getting wet, you still got those ingredients in Your skin, especially, like if you're going to breakfast.

[A]

That's what I was gonna say.

[B]

And like having like a slower morning. You're not like immediately dunking your face into the ocean.

[A]

Like, you literally put your moisturizer on.

[B]

And you're like, all right, bye.

[A]

Yeah, maybe give it like 20 minutes.

[B]

An hour.

[A]

I have dents. They use quotations. Dents and craters on my face from past acne. How do I even my skin out?

[B]

TCA cross, a blade of lasers. Topicals alone will not fix it.

[A]

They can help.

[B]

Yeah, but. Yeah.

[A]

Is Suspera similar to an at home chemical peel?

[B]

No, it's just a really powerful pigment inhibitor. It's not exfoliating.

[A]

Can ice globes go through tsa? Yeah, I've never tried to. We've never tried to bring them on the plane.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Are they liquid?

[B]

Uh, they're stainless steel.

[A]

That's what I thought.

[B]

Yeah, they're fine.

[A]

They should be fine. Interfuse. Okay. Interfuse. Do you think they're asking interviews Eye and the combination of Imax or plated eye or do you think they're asking.

[B]

Which I don't know.

[A]

Between the three of them?

[B]

Between the three of them. I want to know what you know about the three of them.

[A]

Not the test.

[B]

I'm testing you.

[A]

Okay. Inner Fuse eye, imax, both from Skin Better and then Plated Eye Serum. Interfuse Eye uses Skinbetter's novel Interfuse technology, which is a innovation in the science of peptides. And what it does is it took a peptide which is a very large molecule and in 90 plus percent, 99% of products that you'll find in drugstores or Sephora or anything like that. The. They're not formulated to where the peptide is actually going to get into the skin to where it needs to go to give you the optimal results that peptides can provide. So what Skin Better did was they put it in a lipid friendly coating which is like what, like lube for the skin? Like it's able to just dive down there.

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

And so that is. Why not just Interfuse Eye, but the Interfuse line as a whole has like the craziest before and afters because the peptides are actually for the first time in basically any product able to do what they can do to their full capacity. So Inner Fuse Eye is amazing for crow's feet. Lines around the eyes, wrinkles like you will see a huge difference that if you get Visia pictures, those dark green lines will disappear. With Interfuse IMAX is using their Alpharette technology, which is a retinoic acid, which is a type of retinoid that has to be converted into skin zero time. So it's like at its most potent form, but killing it. Thank you. It's in its most potent form, but what they did was they combined it with lactic acid and made. Oh, shit.

[B]

What?

[A]

Ethyl lactyl retinoate. Yeah, sorry. It escaped me for a second. And that's what Alpharet is. And so it made it as effective as a prescription strength retinol while being tolerable enough to use daily. And so this is going to help a lot with.

[B]

I'm not laughing at you.

[A]

I know, but I'm trying to, like, I'm listening.

[B]

Just sending a funny little message to my fun.

[A]

IMAX is great as a nighttime for anti aging of the eye. And so interviews in the morning, IMAX at night. Perfect combo for anti aging, especially Imax if you have milia. Milia is going to literally fall off your eye.

[B]

Yeah, it's pretty crazy.

[A]

Insane. And then plated eye, this uses exosomes and it's actually Plated's product that has the highest concentration of exosomes and it Savannah likes to call it a blepharoplasty because it's like literally going to tighten the skin on your eyes. So if you're having like saggy eyelids. Is saggy weird to say?

[B]

Yeah, like loss of elasticity. Yeah. If you have like hooded eyes, that's gonna help. And then also it builds new collagen and elastin underneath the eye area. So it helps plump that up.

[A]

Yeah.

[B]

So if you feel like hollow and shallow underneath your eyes, you'll love this.

[A]

So how to pick which one?

[B]

I mean, I would say plated eye. It is hydrating, but I don't think it's very, very hydrating. I would do plated eye first and then I would do interfuse on top in the morning, and then I would do plated first at night and then IMAX on top. That would be like my perfect scenario.

[A]

Yep. What is the difference between ondue and glass skin liquid exfoliant?

[B]

Well, one of them was salicylic acid and then the other is azelaic. And one's like more of like a liquid toner that exfoliates and the other one's a gentle exfoliating serum. It's like different mechanisms of action. One's a beta hydroxy acid, the other is polyhydroxy acid. So the glass skin is a BHA and Then Ondue is a pha, which is very, very gentle.

[A]

I have a dermatitis patch under my nose. Derm prescribed ketoconzole. I don't know. Alternate suggestions for dermatitis under the nose.

[B]

I would do sieve and lipid serum and then Ondo and comfort cream in that order.

[A]

How do you convert followers into clients?

[B]

I think showcasing your results, connecting with them, showing your personality. People book because they feel a connection to you, not just because of what you're offering.

[A]

How do you feel about Ondue and other exfoliants together in the same routine?

[B]

Depends on the person. Really, really depends on the person. Some people can totally do it, others absolutely not. And I am others.

[A]

Savannah's skin likes to be treated gently. Tonesmart or Flex. I love tonesmart but want to try Flex, but I don't know what to do.

[B]

Help for acne prone skin. I prefer Tonesmart. Flex though for aging skin is one. I mean, tonesmart is great for aging too. But I've noticed like out of 100% of acne prone people, 40% will break out with Flex. And I am one of the 40%.

[A]

I am one as well.

[B]

That sucks because it's so fucking pretty and it looks so good, but it just like it.

[A]

Also, I think personally it's like a personal preference. Tonesmart, if you're not acne prone. Tonesmart is a lot thicker and.

[B]

I like it though.

[A]

No, I love it like that. That's my homegirl. But Flex is a lot thinner consistency. It's really more of like a skin tint. Right. When it's like.

[B]

No, it looks like foundation. Yeah, it's just thin.

[A]

It's very thin.

[B]

I think it actually gives more coverage than tonesmart.

[A]

Hmm. Interesting.

[B]

It does.

[A]

I only used it one time and.

[B]

Then I didn't have a good time.

[A]

Didn't have a good time. Yeah. But our, our office is like divided.

[B]

But Glow and bronze is completely fine for me. Yeah. Like Maria Lauren's really acne prone. She can use Flex. Sierra uses Flex and she's very acne prone.

[A]

Sierra loves Flex.

[B]

Yeah. So it's really just Tyler and I. Yeah. And it sucks. I want it to like work for us, but we can't. But we can use Glow and we can use color bombs. So at least we have that.

[A]

Top products to treat. Closed comodones that are pregnancy safe.

[B]

Okay. 8% mandalic lipid serum carboxy mousse sulfur mask three times a week. Mandelic Morning and night refining foam cleanser.

[A]

Yeah, I always break out from vitamin C but I want to use it. Should I try Alto? I'm nervous.

[B]

Yes, because it's a thd, it's oil soluble and it's great for sensitive skin. And it's actually really good for acne because it helps reduce inflammation and redness. So if you're sensitive or like have been scared to try vitamin C trial to advance to love it. It's the best.

[A]

This just makes me laugh because we went on a whole rant about it. But do you still do microblading?

[B]

No, never again.

[A]

Generally, how many products do you recommend for clients? I've seen some have 10 plus.

[B]

It depends on their commitment level and budget and goals. I mean, I can do as little as six and as many as like 12.

[A]

Yeah. I don't think most people's regimen has more than 10 steps in the morning or at night. But maybe like with changing products between morning and night and then like double.

[B]

Cleansing and sunscreen is like a step. I mean it is a step, but it's not like their treatment products. So I'm thinking more about the meat. Like I'm not gonna have anyone on like six serums, you know, budget only.

[A]

Allows for one fit six dealing with PI each and PIH and texture.

[B]

Intense even intensive.

[A]

Oh, they said intense or lipid serum intensive? Neither.

[B]

Unless I already have even intensive. Then I'd get intense serum.

[A]

Is CBD mist pregnancy safe?

[B]

It is post show.

[A]

Is it okay to alternate mandelic and undo daily?

[B]

Yeah.

[A]

Do I have to use Alto Advanced both AM and PM or just in the am?

[B]

Alto Advanced I would just use in the morning. I don't ever have anyone do it at night.

[A]

Yeah. Do they say to use it?

[B]

You can. Yeah, but you don't have to.

[A]

What's a general tip you have for becoming successful in the industry?

[B]

Be a trailblazer. Be different. Do something that no one's done before, period.

[A]

I used the intense serum for acne scars, but would you recommend anything else to add in?

[B]

Peptide scrub and even intensive and peel pads and intensive alpharette.

[A]

What's your favorite medical aesthetics treatment to receive that you don't offer in your office? Imsculpt and dad sign. I was waiting for you to say it.

[B]

I was thinking, I'm like, I don't do anything to my face.

[A]

Yeah, she doesn't.

[B]

Or mirror dry. Fucking love mirror dry. It's like makes you not sweat or you have body odor. It's really cool. It's expensive as fuck, it's painful as and the downtime's like awesome.

[A]

When's the last time you did it? How long does it last?

[B]

I feel like I need to do it again.

[A]

You're getting sweaty. Boo.

[B]

Like, a little bit. But not like I used to. Like, I used to be, like, wet.

[A]

Did you only do your armpits? Hmm. Can they do anywhere?

[B]

I don't think so.

[A]

It's injections, right?

[B]

Well, they inject, like, so much lidocaine inside you, so, like, you're, like, swollen. So you have, like, arm tip.

[A]

Like a boil.

[B]

Yeah. And then it's. I don't remember. I don't even know. It's been so long. I think it's heat. I don't think it's needles. Maybe it's needles. I don't know. I didn't want to look. I just let her do it. I don't remember. It's been like two years.

[A]

How do you clean the bristles on the colorescience powder? SPF stick or keep them from clumping.

[B]

You could use hyacinth. Active. Never had mine clump. Unless, like, you have, like, get it wet. I'd honestly probably just get a new one. But they're antimicrobial, so you don't really need to wash them.

[A]

Top three products for cystic jawline, chin.

[B]

Acne, regular alpharette, carboxy mousse, sulfur mask. Yeah. And lipid serum.

[A]

What step do I apply? Factor 5 Eyelash Cream with a face reality regimen.

[B]

After toner or after mandelic. It really doesn't matter, though.

[A]

What SPF do you recommend for sensitive oily skin tone?

[B]

Smart.

[A]

What do you use under the Oxygenetics foundation since it doesn't have spf, Glow.

[B]

Or bronze from colorescience.

[A]

What are your thoughts on clear stem?

[B]

It's not my go to.

[A]

Okay, last question. What's a good body SPF that doesn't leave a yellow stain on clothes for daily use?

[B]

Body. I'd say the new the no show for the body that we just brought on from color Science.

[A]

They have, like, a smaller version and then they have a larger version of the no show. That's the one. But you're better than me. Body SPF daily. I don't do it. The beach and the pool. She's shaking her head at me. I'mma be honest. I'm never going to lie. I could not imagine applying body SPF every day. Anyway, y'. All.

[B]

Anyway, hope you guys have a fabulous Monday. I'm so tired, Tyler.

[A]

I'm sorry. You gotta do one more.

[B]

I'm tired of this grandpa I'm tired too. He makes me work all day and then chat all night. I'm just a girl.

[A]

Love you guys.

[B]

Love you.

[A]

We're still bringing the. I'm bringing the energy. Here, I'll carry it for both of us. She was solo last time she was here.

[B]

I held the fucking. You can pick up my slot.

[A]

Okay, Love you all. Bye. Bye.

[B]

Night.