It is a Damn Goods best in beauty product bonanza episode! We tested all of the buzziest fall launches from that Dyson AirWrap that’s hitting your feed right about now to Chanel's 3-D mascara? We took it for a spin, with a live demo from Chanel’s national makeup artist Julie Cusson. And Shiseido's re-vamp of their cosmetics line? We hand-picked the standouts, while makeup artist to the stars Patrick Ta gives us his top tip for finding your best nude lip shade (because Carlene so often gets it wr...
Oct 12, 2018•43 min•Ep. 38
Legendary makeup artist, New York Times best-selling author, wellness guru, hotelier and more - is there anything that Bobbi Brown can't do? Hear all about her humble beginnings: from the 80s working with everyone from Whitney Houston to Jerry Hall before she went on to create the OG no makeup-makeup line at a time when every other cosmetic brand was still about selling sex in a lipstick. Just try to figure out Bobbi Brown Cosmetics’ best-seller—is it the foundation stick, the gel eyeliner, the ...
Sep 26, 2018•37 min•Ep. 37
It’s TIFF time again! And that means Carlene and Jill have breaking beauty news on all the top red carpet looks at the Toronto International Film Festival, and they sit down with newest L’Oréal ambassador Amber Heard. She’s made crew with Justice League in the upcoming blockbuster, Aquaman, as the flame-haired Mera; she’s a real-life activist; and she’s a former pageant girl. Listen in as the Texan actress dishes on her latest film, Her Smell, starring Elizabeth Moss as part of a kick-ass, all-f...
Sep 19, 2018•19 min•Ep. 36
In episode 35, we have a very special headliner guest: Sophia Amoruso. From Nasty Gal to Queen of Girlbosses, we catch up with her in Toronto at the Shoppers Drug Mart #BeBold beauty event. We get the scoop on what she has planned for the Girlboss Gang next, to the makeup currently on the fashion influencer’s #topshelf, why she ditched her hair extensions and what his-and-her tattoos Sophia had inked with her boyfriend. Plus, we get the backstory on which of her famously fearless Instagram posts...
Sep 13, 2018•31 min•Ep. 35
It's not often that a true beauty invention comes along, setting a new standard and spawning legions of knock-offs. But that's exactly what happened when Jan Arnold co-founder of CND, shook the beauty industry with the first-ever hybrid gel polish, Shellac, back in 2010. Suddenly, women could walk out of nail salons in seconds, grabbing their keys without a worry in the world about damaging their perfect, gel-look manicure—that could last up to an astonishing four weeks. Fast-forward to summer 2...
Aug 29, 2018•43 min•Ep. 34
Pull up a chair and sit in on our lively beauty round table chat where we dissect all of beauty's hottest and most important topics like inclusivity (who's getting it right), representation (sniffing out tokenism), and body positivity (why can't we accept ourselves like we do others?). Joining Carlene and Jill today are some very special guests. Welcome to YouTube beauty creator Aysha Harun (a.k.a Aysha Abdul) the gorgeous Bree Ahmed , who self-identifies as a plus-sized model and recently starr...
Aug 15, 2018•45 min•Ep. 33
In 2002, celebrity makeup artist Rea Ann Silva completely shook the makeup world with her ingenious invention - an egg-shaped, reusable makeup sponge that you used wet - the Beauty Blender! Now 17 (!!) of the iconic pink sponges sells every minute around the world. It's beloved by makeup artists like @MakeupByMario and @LotStar and celebs like Kylie Jenner as well as makeup novices - who all embrace the way it makes your foundation go on quickly and seamlessly. Now, the makeup artist has launche...
Jul 27, 2018•44 min•Ep. 32
This episode is in partnership with Biossance skincare. There are a lot of squalane-based products out there, but very few are making headlines for *constantly* selling out at Sephora . If you’ve been listening to Breaking Beauty for awhile, you know we love a best-seller, so we needed to know why everyone loves this sleeper hit of a brand, including Queer Eye 's Johnathan Van Ness who has been spotted with it in his bag of grooming tricks. Squalane is skincare's buzziest ingredient right now th...
Jul 18, 2018•25 min•Ep. 31
It's here - just in time for Canada Day! Welcome to Part 2 of our conversation with M.A.C. Cosmetics Co-Founder Frank Toskan. It's his first interview in four years so we made sure that we got alllll the juicy celebrity moments that helped catapult M.A.C to household name status (a young Lady Gaga, Madonna and Linda Evangelista were all involved). Don't miss the rebellious acts that had department stores up in arms, like hiring crossdressing makeup artists, and giving out condoms at beauty count...
Jun 29, 2018•29 min•Ep. 31
In honour of Canada Day , we went straight to the icon of all beauty brands, M.A.C Cosmetics ! We sat down with legendary co-founder Frank Toskan, to hear every detail about how the mother of all beauty companies came to be. It was his first interview in four years and in fact, we chatted for so long, we couldn't squeeze it into one episode! In P art 1, hear all the deets dedicated to the trailblazing brand that paved the way to so many modern, inclusive beauty lines today. With its unforgettabl...
Jun 28, 2018•30 min•Ep. 30
Field trip!! In this Bonus Episode, Breaking Beauty Podcast packed up our mics, put on our logo tees and flew to the Big Apple for FounderMade's Consumer Discovery Show , the event that connects rising star beauty, food and wellness brands with retailers, investors, influencers and consumers in one room. Tune in as Carlene chats with brand founders and brings you our favourite bits from the show's live panelists like Huda Kattan , Leandra Cohen and Jay Manuel , as they discuss the challenges and...
Jun 21, 2018•48 min•Ep. 29
As beauty editor of W Magazine for over a decade, Jane Larkworthy 's column, Jane's Addiction , was the stuff of beauty journo legends. Her smart and stylish, yet slightly self-deprecating voice made us hoard with abandon, while her hilarious beauty parody videos had us spitting up our morning coffee. Now, Ms. Larkworthy is back with her own beauty column on The Cut , a new title as beauty-editor-at-large at L'Officiel U.S ., and a potential audible enterprise (which may or may not put her impro...
Jun 13, 2018•46 min•Ep. 28
Rose-Marie Swift took the beauty world by the balls, screamed in its face, and caused a frenzy with one of the first "green" makeup lines back in 2009. Her website, beautytruth.com , set out to educate the masses about toxic ingredients in makeup and skincare, putting her career as a celebrity makeup artist on the line. Is it any wonder given the Vancouver-born celebrity makeup artist started out as a punk singer?? Her iconic best-seller, Living Luminzer , was born out of her experience giving t...
May 31, 2018•46 min•Ep. 27
Without a doubt one of our most requested guests is *the* skincare guru, Caroline Hirons . The trained aesthetician and YouTuber is as famous for her no-bullshit attitude as she is her incredible skincare knowledge. Lucky for us, we were able to catch The Hirons in town for the launch of Indeed Labs' new Hydraluron Intense Moisture Lotion, to quiz her on which drugstore products she's loving now, which acids are okay to mix before bedtime—and details on one of her latest, very worthy, Instagram ...
May 17, 2018•28 min•Ep. 26
Is there a breakthrough beauty product any bigger than Botox? Ok, ok, maybe hair colour, but certainly in skincare, this is one of the most game-changing beauty inventions ever. Whether it's for you, or not (no pressure!), there's no question that it's an innovation that will go down in beauty history books. We go straight to the source, detailing just how Vancouver-based physician Dr. Jean Carruthers came to the eureka moment that Botox, originally used to treat eye spasms, migraines and cerebr...
May 02, 2018•38 min•Ep. 25
In partnership with Olay. We are so excited for our second sponsored episode!! Because the more partnerships we do, the more damn good stories we can bring you about the best-selling beauty products lining store aisles. Buckle up! Welcome to Beauty Editors in Cars Getting Coffee - just kidding! It’s just your friendly Breaking Beauty Podcast hosts, Jill and Carlene in our first ever ride along episode. We tour the streets in Carlene’s SUV with Olay scientist Dr. Frauke Neuser to chat about the m...
Apr 19, 2018•30 min•Ep. 24
In honour of Earth Month, we are practically giddy to present Saje , a Canadian wellness brand that's grown to over 70 stores across North America. Given that the "wellness" category is poised to be the next trillion dollar industry , you'll hear why this little shop of essential oil-based remedies keeps growing even in the midst of a notoriously difficult retail landscape . With over 500 products already, the brand's loyal clientele demanded a non-toxic home cleaning line , and this week, they ...
Apr 04, 2018•39 min•Ep. 23
It’s officially spring and that means… we’re celebrating our very 1st birthday!! Hooray!! In this episode, we test-drive some new makeup - with a surprise drugstore mascara hit - and talk about their night at the Arcade. The Chanel Arcade, that is. Then we introduce the woman of the hour, Krystal Sutherland—from Krystal Clear Makeup. Known by her 2 Million+ followers on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube for her next-level makeup artistry, the Vancouver-based mom of two boys reveals how she rose to...
Mar 21, 2018•38 min•Ep. 22
In partnership with Biologique Recherche. AHA’s, BHA’s, glycolic, salicylic—acids are back, baby! Just when it feels like everyone is talking about peels these days, we chat with the O.G. of the at-home acid peel, Dr. Philippe Allouche, whose family invented the iconic—nay, MYTHICAL— Biologique Recherche Lotion P50 back in the 1970’s. Even with the scores upon scores of peels promising to obliterate acne, wrinkles and visible pores today, this breakthrough beauty product still ranks number one b...
Mar 08, 2018•41 min•Ep. 21
Are you one of the gazillions of podcast listeners already tuning into Terrible, Thanks For Asking ? No, it’s not a beauty podcast, it’s a sad/funny/touching show hosted by Nora McInerny , an author and widow who tackles the human predicament about our struggles to grapple with, and talk to others about, loss and pain—awkwardness be damned. She’s a contributing life & love writer to Elle.com and she's even done a TedxMinneapolis talk, but what you may not know is that Nora McInerny is also a...
Feb 23, 2018•35 min•Ep. 20
Meet today’s version of the scrunchie, the Invisibobble! But you probably don’t need an introduction, you probably have one in your hair right now. Or maybe your daughter is wearing one of the telephone cord-looking hair holders, or your spin instructor, or that cute girl with the loose bun across the subway aisle. Last year, four million units of Invisibobble were sold worldwide, that’s eight spiral slinkies per minute. Now meet the inventor of The Invisibobble, Sophie Trelles-Tvede, who was an...
Feb 07, 2018•35 min•Ep. 19
Excuse us while we Fan Girl for a moment. When it comes to beauty editors, there's almost no one we hold in higher regard than Jean Godfrey June, the au naturel Beauty Director of Goop.com and former beauty director at Lucky Magazine. Her column at the latter outlet, called "The Beauty Closet" (who can forget those era-defining illas?), earned maximum respect for its just-between-us-BFFs writing style at a time when meaningless magazine-speak was very much the norm. She earned a devoted followin...
Jan 24, 2018•32 min•Ep. 18
In our latest, by-popular-demand episode, we bring you #Deciem mastermind Brandon Truaxe, who has shaken up the beauty world with his ‘Abnormal Beauty Company." In this episode, we unravel the origin story behind Deciem and The Ordinary. Brandon walks us through his zig-zag trajectory to bad boy fame, starting with his dramatic exit from a high school job, his first career path, and what led him to switch gears entirely before launching Deciem, the parent company of nine spin-off brands (and cou...
Jan 10, 2018•49 min•Ep. 17
In this episode, we welcome Fashion Magazine’s awesome beauty team, Beauty Director Lesa Hannah and Beauty Editor Souzan Michael, to recap the biggest beauty moments in 2017! Which feel-good moment made a lasting impression? Which WTF beauty trend should definitely stay in 2017? We’ve got the hot takes. Plus, we interview cosmetic chemist Stephen Ko to find out what innovations you can expect for your makeup bag in 2018. Hosts: Carlene Higgins and Jill Dunn Audio production: Olivia Nashmi Theme ...
Dec 19, 2017•32 min•Ep. 16
When your great grandfather invented the term “makeup” as an Oscar-winning makeup artist during Hollywood's golden age, you start a makeup line. That’s exactly what Davis and Dean Factor did when they started Smashbox Cosmetics in Los Angeles in 1996, having grown up around the legendary cosmetics empire, Max Factor. But it wasn’t a clear path for the Hollywood playboys (heli-skiing, anyone?). Davis took to photography and Dean studied business before they formed Smashbox studios in L.A., where ...
Dec 06, 2017•42 min•Ep. 15
Welcome to our latest episode of The Glow Down! We are so excited to chat with fellow beauty podcaster Emma Gunavardhana of The Emma Guns Show. This U.K. based former print editor started out at O.K. Magazine before venturing into the world of audio storytelling. She's a host with heart, covering topics from red lipstick (empowering or beauty myth?) to coping with panic attacks. We love how she brings us all the feels no matter what she's talking about! Find out what her most memorable celeb enc...
Nov 15, 2017•39 min•Ep. 14
In this episode, we chat with the founder of Drunk Elephant Skincare, Tiffany Masterson. Drunk Elephant is the fastest-growing skincare line in Sephora's history. This Texan mother of four pioneered what she calls "clean-clinical" - -marrying the best all-natural ingredients with the best man-made, safe synthetic ones. Find out which products are worth the spend, what it's like to be a self-taught formulator, who her famous childhood best friend (it's got a celeb twist!) and what this super buzz...
Nov 02, 2017•37 min•Ep. 13
In this episode of #TheGlowDown, hear all about Carlene testing out a Valmont facial that's a $plurge; Jill gets baby skin thanks to Dermalogica and we ring up the hosts of a super fun beauty podcast - Full Coverage. Listen in as author and beauty lover Lindsey Kelk and makeup artist Harriet Hadfield (who paints the faces of Rita Ora and Charli XCX) dish on what their most embarrassing beauty moments are and if they had a beauty magic wand - what gone but not forgotten beauty faves would they br...
Oct 20, 2017•31 min•Ep. 12
She's the Founder and CEO to watch, and she started a revolution with Glossier, a millennial beauty brand that's commanded line-ups around the block with its era-defining pink-and-white packaging and its inclusive, raw beauty campaigns. She's Emily Weiss, and she's the 32-year-old New Yorker fronting Entrepreneur Magazine and Forbes' lists alike. Find out why the other leading beauty brands are chasing Glossier's "v-commerce" business model (we didn't know what it was either!); learn the secrets...
Oct 05, 2017•46 min•Ep. 11
In this episode - we get the scoop on Toronto Fashion Week (including insider secrets from photographer and Gucci muse Petra Collins), Review a hot new fragrance and detail our TIFF celeb sightings. Plus we phone-a-friend, Victoria DiPlacido from ELLE Canada to go behind the scenes at the Fenty Beauty Launch Party in New York. And the King of Highlighter (and Kiss New York Pro spokesperson), Patrick Ta, tells us the craziest place he's ever done Chrissy Teigen's makeup! Get social with us and le...
Sep 19, 2017•27 min•Ep. 10
