Naked Beauty

In this special year-end episode of the Naked Beauty Podcast, I’m the guest! My producer, Mbiye Kasonga, interviewed me, and we reflected on the challenges and triumphs of 2025, including my return from maternity leave, the impact of the LA fires, and the balance between my corporate and creative responsibilities. We also touched on the major beauty trends of 2025, the wonderful range of guests we’ve had, and my thoughts on the evo...

Candice Brathwaite has become an internationally recognized author, speaker, and big sister for women on both sides of the pond. She would say, her candor, public displays of self-discipline, and incredible sense of style are the result of years-long trial and error. Fans of hers would just say they’re grateful to have access to her charisma. Born in London, Candice grew up in what she calls a “naked house,” surrounded by beautiful...

Content Warning: This conversation contains themes of disordered eating and child abuse

Jameela Jamil is among the most beautiful public figures who hold some of the strongest anti-beauty sentiments. She was scouted for television while walking down the street and later hired to host a series on Channel 4. As she shares in the episode, this role reinforced many of the harmful patriarchal standards about women’s beauty and bodies...

Shani Darden just might be your favorite celebrity’s esthetician. From her Beverly Hills Studio, she cares for a roster of A-List celebrities and creates products for many more through Sephora. Before she began working with stars like Jessica Alba and Kelly Rowland, Shani was a mixed-race teenager in upstate New York who didn’t fit neatly into any community. Her family ensured that she had connections to Black hairstylists and intr...

Content warning: this episode contains discussions of disordered eating and body image issues 

Jayme Cyk is no stranger to vulnerability. On today’s episode of Naked Beauty, the former beauty director at Violet Gray and co-founder of the brand And Repeat shares her extensive background in the beauty industry, her experiences with ADHD medication, and the creation of her focus supplement, And Focus. Our discussion covers the...

Kim Baker has lived an iconic life. From her first photoshoot at 13 years old to being managed by Bethann Hardisson, she divided her time between breaking down barriers and partying with fashion legends. In this episode, Kim walks us through the beginning of her fashion career and how her mother instilled unshakeable confidence in her by detailing the beauty of Black history. Kim offers us a peek into the highs and lows of the mode...

[Originally run in 2022]

Strategic Advisor Zara Rahim knows that whether it’s one's career or relationship to beauty, giving yourself grace can ultimately become your greatest strength. Tune in as we discuss her career working at The White House, Vogue, and for THE Mariah Carey, as well as her journey to falling in love with her features as a South Asian woman, the best SPF for melanin-rich skin tones, and so much more.

...

Sharing an episode from IMO’s limited series The Look. In the series, Michelle Obama opens up for the first time about her journey as a defining force in style—both within and beyond the White House. Through candid, intimate conversations with the creative minds behind her hair, makeup, and wardrobe, she reveals how she and her team transformed the scrutiny of her public image into a celebration of self-expression, inclusion, and i...

Since Charlotte Palermino’s initial visit to Naked Beauty, she has launched her brand, Dieux, and maintained her commitment to transparency with customers about costs, ingredients, and how policy influences both. On today’s episode, we discuss specific business decisions, such as why Dieux focuses on core products versus developing new launch products, and why customers should understand how pricing is determined. Charlotte takes u...

Legendary makeup artist Katie Jane Hughes is back with more to share than ever. Since her first visit in 2020, she has returned with a larger celebrity clientele, an acclaimed portfolio, and her own cosmetics line, KJH.Brand. During this conversation, we talked about how she created a portfolio of her skills by using her own face as a canvas and sharing her work on Instagram. Despite this practice being frowned upon in the industry...

This week we're sharing a very special episode, and I'm actually the one being interviewed! I was a guest on Nayeema’s show, Smart Girl Dumb Questions, where we talked through all her big beauty questions like: “Is preventative botox real?” or “What is salmon sperm and why is it in my skincare?” Tune in for a fun conversation between Nayeem and me, and follow Smart Girl Dumb Questions on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get...

Norma Kamali is a fashion innovator and true icon, and today, she’s sharing lessons from her remarkable life with the Naked Beauty audience. Norma and I discussed her early days of bringing vintage clothing from London to New York, the creation of innovative designs like the Sleeping Bag Coat and high-heeled sneaker, and her philosophy of making women feel great through fashion. We also into Norma's upbringing, her path-defining ex...

Dr. Sharon Malone believes that every single person is their own primary caregiver and that we all need to take agency of our healthcare journey. In today’s episode, we unpack the key actions women need to be taking to safeguard their health. In our conversation, Dr. Malone discusses the historical context of healthcare and segregation, her inspirational journey to becoming a doctor, and her dedication to empowering women through a...

In this episode of Naked Beauty, we’re unpacking a macro trend in the industry: experts are back in the spotlight. My producer, Mbiye Kasonga, joins me to discuss the trend of consumers seeking guidance from experienced professionals online, and how that’s reflected in recent beauty launches led by expert makeup artists and dermatologists. Sephora is particularly invested in expert-led brands, with brands like Danessa Myricks, Char...

Umut and I took our first child-free vacation to Ibiza to celebrate our ten-year anniversary, and it was just the escape we needed. In this episode, Umut joins me to reminisce on the best parts of our trip, including beauty and wellness lessons from Ibiza, reviews of our favorite stays and meals, reflections on our parenthood journey, a few lessons we’ve learned about maintaining a healthy marriage. 

Tune in as we discuss:

When she was a baby, Deepica Mutyala was exposed to the cultural significance of eyeliner. While the eyeliner was swiped behind her ear for spiritual protection, this and other cultural beauty rituals would shape her future in beauty. Growing up in an immigrant family, Deepica felt the pressure to pursue a stable career that would help her achieve the American Dream. She explains why she is so grateful for her parents' support when...

Shani Hillian’s holistic skincare journey began in her grandmother’s garden, where fresh-cut aloe was the go-to balm for skin issues. Now, with over 17 years of experience as an esthetician, she leverages her roots in holistic skincare to create rituals that restore balance for herself and her clients. Shani shared her experience of transitioning from hair styling to skincare, influenced by her modeling career, and discussed the im...

Dr. Anna Malaika Tubbs knows that the power of women’s activism can change the course of history. In Three Women she explored how Berdis Baldwin, Alberta King, and Louise Little’s motherly love prepared their sons to become renowned activists. This week, we’re chatting about her new book, Erased: What American Patriarchy Has Hidden from Us. In it, Dr. Tubbs explores how our Founding Fathers enshrined patriarchy into law, with the i...

When Chriselle Lim started blogging 18 years ago, she didn’t know she was building a career in what would become the most powerful industry today. During our conversation, Chriselle talks about watching the influencer industry develop from within, and how it led her to the most unexpected places. Growing up in Northern California and Korea, Chriselle felt pressured by national beauty standards, neither of which she thought she quit...