Naked Beauty

Today’s episode with Bea Dixon, the visionary founder of the Honey Pot Company, is rooted in ancestral wisdom. Bea and I discussed her journey from battling bacterial vaginosis to founding the first black-owned plant-derived feminine care brand. We also discuss the recent uptick in acquisitions among black beauty founders, the impact of stress and environmental factors on vaginal health, and Beatrice's holistic self-care practices....

During a conversation at The Reparations Club, I spoke to Victoria Monét about her debut children’s book, motherhood, and chasing her dreams. Victoria discussed the difficult moments of separation that inspired “Everywhere You Are.” From her daughter's stay in the NICU to her first day of school, Victoria realized there wasn't a market for explaining similar periods of distance to children. She drew on her incredible songwriting ab...

What makes Vanessa Lee one of the most sought-after medical aesthetics practitioners is her commitment to teaching and learning about all things beauty and science. During our conversation, Vanessa details her hands-on experience learning from beauty practitioners in Korea, including standing in for a model and receiving a treatment during a demonstration. Before her foray into the world of natural beauty aesthetics, Vanessa grew u...

We are bring in a new era of Naked Beauty with this episode! As you may have seen, I am stepping into a new role as Chief Content Officer at Refinery29. This new role provides a great opportunity for reflection. In this episode, I discuss the four key lessons I’ve learned in my career thus far. I touch on the value of manifesting dreams, tactics for getting closer to your dream career in your current job, and the power we all have ...

Before Ron Robinson became social media’s favorite cosmetic chemist, he had already built a varied career in beauty. In 1989, he was hired on the spot to formulate and develop products for Clinique and La Mer, under Estée Lauder. He formulated new SKUs and innovated products like Clinique’s Turn Around Cream, which was one of the first products to use salicylic acid as a topical treatment gel. Despite his obvious aptitude for beaut...

In this week’s episode, Nina Westbrook, a licensed marriage and family therapist, helps us understand the connection between routine and mental health. We dive into the importance of routines, especially postpartum routines, and I share my experiences with strength training and magnesium supplements for better sleep. Our conversation covers mental health, de-stigmatizing therapy, and the benefits of routine for overall mental well-...

Renowned esthetician Sean Garrette is back for a hyperpigmentation masterclass! Hyperpigmentation is the number one skin concern I hear about from the Naked Beauty audience, so I had to ask Sean all my burning questions about the topic. In this conversation, we discuss what hyperpigmentation is, the key causes of hyperpigmentation, how to treat it once it occurs and how to prevent it from happening in the first place. 

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In this special conversation, Kamie Crawford shares how she developed the self-assuredness that her fans have come to know and love. We discussed how having a mom who would get dressed up in the morning, “just in case,” influenced her childhood rebrand into a more confident version of herself. This rebrand would catapult her into Miss Teen USA, a role that led her to think critically about her race and body image. Kamie shared her ...

Former doula and postpartum expert Erica Chidi is back on the podcast to discuss all the highs, lows, and complexities of postpartum. I got a chance to reflect on my personal postpartum experiences and the challenges of advocating for my own health. Erica and I get into it all: hormonal changes, hair loss, mood fluctuations, the importance of self-care, breastfeeding challenges and the concept of being 'touched out'. Erica offers p...

Nayeema Raza brought us the same curiosity and knowledge she brings to her Smart Girl, Dumb Questions listeners. Her early life was spent globe-trotting, so hearing her firsthand perspective on the similarities in beauty standards and practices is fascinating. Nayeema proudly detailed some of her favorite aspects of Pakistani beauty culture, especially how it has been shaped by powerful Islamic women and their preference for natura...

In this week’s episode, I sat down for a beauty tell-all with beauty veterans Jill and Carlene of the Breaking Beauty Podcast. During our conversation, Jill and Carlene discussed their pre-podcast careers in broadcasting and editorial, which informed their approach to Breaking Beauty. It was such a great opportunity to learn about how they developed the podcast and came together to tell behind-the-scenes beauty stories. We talked a...

In today’s episode,  I’m joined by the fabulous Sean Garrett, renowned esthetician and skincare creator, for a Met Gala recap. We talked through all the behind the scenes details of the night, from the star-studded pre-parties to the dazzling outfits and the powerful display of black excellence. We broke down our favorite and least favorite looks of the night, from Janelle Monet to Hailey Bieber. Sean also shares invaluable sk...

This week’s guest is everyone’s favorite entertainment host, Scott Evans. During our conversation, Scott shared how his career has been in the making since high school. He discussed how his roles at major media outlets prepared him to lead a team of three to critical acclaim. From his decision to lock his hair, to advocating for his makeup finish, Scott is no stranger to speaking confidently onscreen and off.

Tune in as we disc...

Achieng Agutu’s larger-than-life online presence has inspired millions to live boldly and confidently. However, few would guess that the Kenyan star struggled against expectations that she would live a humble and modest life. During our chat, we talked about how her parents encouraged her to reject these ideals and live a full life, no matter what others thought.  Achieng never misses an opportunity to describe how her village...

In this special 'Ask Brooke' episode of Naked Beauty, I answer beauty questions from the Naked Beauty community! Tune in to hear my top tips for dealing with breakouts, pregnancy skincare, and covering the appearance of pores under makeup. 

Listen for… 

The best skincare tips to treat and prevent breakouts (2:09)

• La Roche-Posay Pigment Clear
• Dr. Barbara Sturm Foam Cleanser
• Pimple patches - Starface, Cosrx, Rael
• Cerave P...

You may know Weezy for her wild stories on her podcast Decisions, Decisions, but there’s so much more to the serial entrepreneur than meets the eye. Since the last time Weezy was on the show, she’s opened a Pilates business, grown her podcast production company, written a book, and fallen in love, so we had a lot to talk about. Tune in for a conversation about self-love, Weezy’s experience as a mixed race woman, and how healthy rel...

In this episode of The Naked Beauty Podcast, we explore the world of nails and nail art, tracing its evolution from a trend seen primarily in the black community during the 90s to a global phenomenon today. I spoke with Tembe Denton Hurst, author of 'Fresh Sets,' a coffee table book showcasing nail art from around the world. We discuss the history of nail salons, the impact of Vietnamese immigrants on the industry, and the gendered...

“I couldn’t compare myself, so there was no way for me to diminish my own beauty against somebody else’s” - Bozoma Saint John 

When it comes to tapping into your most authentic self, Bozoma Saint John is unmatched. With an exceptionally fruitful career at companies like PepsiCo, Beats, Uber, and now Netflix, one might think that Saint John has always played by the corporate rulebook. That couldn’t be further from the truth....

If Doechii’s Paris Fashion Week looks had you obsessed, this episode is for you! I had the pleasure of talking with her makeup artist Chelsea Uchenna and hairstylist Malcolm Marquez about their collaboration with the icon in the making. Despite growing up on opposite sides of the world, both artists had innate creative sensibilities, decided early on that they would have careers in beauty, and were inspired by iconic queer and tran...