Naked Beauty

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...

Ms. Tina has been infusing bold and beautiful Texas style into global pop culture for decades. Sir John and I talked to Ms. Tina about her successful career as a stylist, her beauty regimen, building Cécred, and the significance of early exposure to images of Black beauty and power. We learned how she carries her mother's lessons about honoring creativity in yourself and your children. She told us about how her decision to enter be...

Sofie Pavitt’s pivot from a 15-year career as a fashion designer to becoming NYC’s Acne Whisperer was in the works well before her official career change. While she was traveling to Seoul for her fashion job, she was introduced to innovative skincare products and treatments. This exposure planted a seed that would eventually lead her onto the shelves of every Sephora in the U.S.

After spending a year becoming a certified faciali...

After 350-plus episodes of Naked Beauty, it’s time to reflect on the key truths I’ve learned from our wonderful guests. In this episode, I share three vital beauty lessons I've learned from extensive conversations with makeup artists, dermatologists, celebrities, and scientists. These lessons include the power of intentional self-presentation, the significance of a consistent skincare routine, and the connection between beauty and ...

We're revisiting one of our favorite episodes this week. As the Senior Research & Education Manager at Paula’s Choice, Desiree Stordahl believes that skincare is nothing without the ingredients that define it. After growing up with a harsh-is-better approach to acne, Storedahl decided to abandon the SeaBreeze pads and take on a more thoughtful approach to beauty. She picked up a copy of Paula Begoun’s Beauty Bible, and the...

In this episode of the Naked Beauty Podcast, Nikki Ogunnaike, Editor-in-Chief of Marie Claire, dives deep into her impressive career in fashion editing, her unique personal style, and her experiences within the fashion industry. During our conversation, Nikki shares how her family shaped her shopping habits and the details of her high-powered job, including how she manages and mentors a diverse team. She also outlines her fitness r...

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...