“None of us are coming out of this the way we went in” While COVID-19 has had a significant impact on all of us, its impact on New York creatives has been particularly difficult. With that, I wanted to use this time to check back in with some of your favorite Naked Beauty guests who are finding new ways to define their craft and themselves. Featuring Raisa Flowers, Illeisha Lussiano, and Vic Styles, this episode is all about quarantine self-care, DIY beauty routines, and optimal Netflix binging....
Apr 20, 2020•1 hr 9 min
While most of us are finding quarantine anything but ideal, I hope that you, Naked Beauty Planet, are taking this time to incorporate some serious self-care! On this episode, I am breaking down my favorite clean, simple, and affordable beauty recipes. From DIY hair masks to body scrubs, I’ve got you covered! So please sit back, relax, and enjoy. Links to Products/Resources Mentioned: SELF CARE: Goji Berries , Palo Santo Sticks HAIR MASK: Avocado (1 small OR ½ large), ½-1 cup of Conditioner, 2 TB...
Apr 13, 2020•23 min
Tune in for a very special episode with Doree Shafrir and Kate Spencer, hosts of the infamous Forever35 ! I had the pleasure of meeting these two at the iHeart Podcast Awards, where they won “Best Beauty and Fashion Podcast”. After lots of fan-girling, I decided to bring them on, and discuss what their beauty routines have looked like during this very turbulent time. From the best face mists to the worst beauty mistakes, we covered it all! So sit back, relax, and enjoy! Links to Products/Resourc...
Apr 06, 2020•41 min
For Zoë Foster Blake, beauty should never be taken too seriously. Growing up in Australia, skincare and makeup equated to great conversation and community-building. But after years working as a beauty editor at Cosmopolitan and Harper’s BAZAAR, she found herself feeling bogged down by the complicated messaging that the industry had to offer. So in 2014, Blake decided to break out and establish her own brand, Go-To Skincare . With witty copy and clean ingredients, Go-To has clearly filled a much-...
Mar 30, 2020•52 min
What does beauty mean when you are alone? How does our relation to self-presentation change when we have no one to see? These are just a few of the questions that I have been asking myself as COVID-19 has begun to drastically change everyone’s lives and daily routines. In this time of self-quarantine, I decided to check in with my family and you , Naked Beauty listeners. Tune in to hear how coronavirus has impacted all of us, across generations, occupations, and so much more. Links to Products/R...
Mar 23, 2020•1 hr 6 min
“I love subverting an eccentric English style because I’m a black Jamaican girl, so it contrasts. I’m obsessed with the contrast” - my guest Sharmadean Reid on this amazing episode of Naked Beauty When it comes to London’s beauty scene, Sharmadean Reid is THE ONE to watch. After having founded the iconic WAH Nails back in 2009, Reid has continuously found ways to combine Black British culture with her exceptional Central Saint Martin’s education, love of technology and community. Today, Reid has...
Mar 16, 2020•45 min
This solo episode is all about the foods to eat for your skin to be at its best! While we all love a good mud mask or retinol serum, products are never the final answer to achieving healthy, supple skin. Tune in to hear about the dietary dos and don’ts that will keep your skin looking its best for years to come! Links to Products/Resources Mentioned: STUDIES: Acne-Free Population , Western Diet & Acne , Green Tea & Skin , Impact of Sugar on Skin , Benefit of Avocados , Best Foods For Ski...
Mar 09, 2020•22 min
I got to sit down with the queen of K-Beauty herself, Charlotte Cho! Growing up in LA, sunscreen and toner seemed to be completely trivial to Cho. But after moving to South Korea post-grad, she was exposed to her own culture through an entirely new lens: skincare. And so upon returning to the States, she decided to start Soko Glam: an online retail shop completely dedicated to K-Beauty. Today, after eight years in the making, Charlotte has not only introduced the concept of the 10-step skincare ...
Mar 02, 2020•1 hr
On this leftovers episode, Maya Allen and I dive into one of her favorite beauty topics: lip color. With her own digital column at Marie Claire titled “Big Lipstick Energy”, I could not miss out on the opportunity to discuss what shades, formulas, and techniques she uses to maintain the perfect pout. Tune in for a fabulous chat on sugar scrubs, bold red pigments, and the power of liquid lipstick. Enjoy! Links to Products/Resources Mentioned : Smashbox (Bawse) , Bite Beauty Lip Scrub , Bite Beaut...
Feb 28, 2020•12 min
After eight years of working in beauty editorial, Maya Allen has become one of THE coolest girls in the industry. But that hasn’t been without tons of hard work. On this episode of Naked Beauty, Marie Claire ’s Digital Beauty Editor not only broke down her extensive skincare routine, but her continuous journey to dominating the beauty sphere as well. Tune in for an incredible discussion on travel, black-women's influence on beauty & so much more! VIBES: Byredo Black Saffron ( Fragrance / Can...
Feb 24, 2020•1 hr 9 min
Looking for a new holy grail skincare product? Rio Viera-Newton has got your back. After years of looking for a solution to her dry skin and cystic acne, Viera-Newton was able to craft what many of us beauty junkies now just call “the Google doc”. Filled with affordable and effective products, Viera-Newton’s guide to great skin, and her continuous beauty editorial work at The Strategist is truly changing the game. Tune in to hear us chat about Korean beauty, sustainability, and so much more! SKI...
Feb 17, 2020•53 min
Hannah Bronfman is back for her THIRD Naked Beauty interview and this time around, she and her husband Brendan Fallis stopped by to share their love story with me. Get ready for all the feels because they are truly #relationshipgoals. They discuss their experience as DJs, influencers, and entrepreneurs. But we didn’t stop there. For the love of all things beauty, we dove into the couple’s favorite products, and even put Brendan’s skincare knowledge to the test! From LED treatments to frownie pat...
Feb 10, 2020•57 min
If you haven’t heard of Nana Agyemang yet, prepare to be blessed. Over the past four years, this powerhouse has taken on the world of beauty and fashion editorial like no other! She’s reported for publications like the NYTimes , BBC , Elle & Refinery29. Today, Nana not only works as a social media editor for NY Mag's The Cut, but also runs her own media platform called EveryStylishGirl , specifically catered to young women of color. Growing up as a first generation Ghanaian-American in Ohio,...
Feb 03, 2020•45 min
“I thought I was a feminist before. You can’t tell me sh*t about women now. We bring whole entire lives into this world” my guest Julee Wilson on the experience of childbirth. Join Julee, Global Beauty Director of Essence, and I on this leftover’s edition of Naked Beauty as we talk about her experience of being a Mother. It’s something I feel we don’t talk about enough so I had so many questions and Julee answered them all. We talk: Going from life as an athlete to being a Mom. Julee’s experienc...
Jan 31, 2020•19 min
Lesley Thornton’s dedication to beauty is truly next level. As a young girl, she was obsessed with making mud masks in her grandmother’s garden, checking out beauty products in LA’s Koreatown, and doing her girlfriends’ makeup for prom. For Thornton, beauty has always been, and continues to be about being both mindful and creative. And so, after working as a beauty director at Estée Lauder, and an on-air beauty expert for TLC, she decided to step out on her own. From there, Klur- a clean, ethica...
Jan 27, 2020•47 min
A creative career felt pretty inevitable for Satchel. As the daughter of producer Tonya Lewis Lee and director Spike Lee, Satchel has always had a great appreciation for storytelling but she's already carving out a distinct voice of her own. And growing up in New York, there were always plenty of stories to tell. In high school, Satchel first found her creative community in an affinity group for queer kids called “The Network.” Then, as a film student at NYU, she went on to establish a black art...
Jan 20, 2020•1 hr 5 min
Mandii B, co-host of the Whorible Decisions podcast, is anything but predictable. Growing up, she was the girl who could shoot hoops, dress up, and kill it in her AP classes. By the time she was 18, she had entered the world of urban modelling, which began a long and ongoing journey to not just accepting her body but truly celebrating it. Mandii and I talk about how she’s coping with all of her recent success (and anxiety), being over-sexualized at a young age, her relationships and tapping into...
Jan 13, 2020•1 hr 14 min
My guest Diarrha and I are looking back at our personal highlights from the past year. If you've ever been curious about building your own brand and fundraising, you'll love hearing the BTS as Diarrha breaks down the process of developing her line Ami Cole. We discuss the unexpected PR response from our first episode together (wow), meeting Pat McGrath (*DREAM GUEST, pray for me*), my iHeart Podcast Award nomination & more. Let's keep this same positive energy and go after our dreams in 2020...
Jan 06, 2020•23 min
I don’t know if you all are ready for this episode because we went in! Beauty Highs, Beauty Lows: a year in review with Diarrha N’Diaye. Diarrha (formerly at Glossier, L’Oreal & now developing her own line) came back to Naked Beauty to reflect on 2019’s beauty moments with me. We review the most iconic new products, best moments for the beauty culture and the SMH product launches that didn’t do it for us. Listen to hear us discuss: Jackie Aina x Naomi Campbell, Euphoria, Pat McGrath Foundati...
Dec 30, 2019•59 min
“Cosmetics should be a choice not a necessity.” - my guest Dr. Chaneve Jeanniton, a firm believer in putting your skin first. For Dr. Chaneve Jeanniton, taking care of people’s skin and face is a passion - one that’s manifested in the creation of her skincare line: Epi.Logic and her career as a board certified oculofacial plastic surgeon. She quickly fell in love with the idea of “working with clients to rejuvenate and refine their appearance, while staying true to their natural character”– an e...
Dec 23, 2019•59 min
For the 100th episode of Naked Beauty, I decided to look back and share a compilation of answers to my favorite question: When do you feel most beautiful? . From glamming it up to sweating it out, from meditating to having a good, long cry, my guests have taught me one thing: beauty is deeply personal. As we head into a new decade, I would love if you Naked Beauty listeners, could take the time to ask yourself this question and to share your answers with me in 2020. So please, sit back tune in, ...
Dec 16, 2019•22 min
This week’s solo minisode is all about making your beauty routine more natural! After beginning my natural hair journey years ago, I realized that natural, non-toxic beauty from plant-based sources was completely slept on. Now, after years of blending ingredients in my kitchen, I can confidently say that I’ve got a handle on DIY beauty and want to share some easy tips with you all. So please- tune in for three basic natural beauty tips that will help you to save time, money, and the environment!...
Dec 09, 2019•15 min
On this week’s episode of Naked Beauty, BET’s Style Director Danielle Prescod is back for a deeply personal and honest conversation about body image, IVF treatment, mental health, and finding what makes you happy. With a career in fashion and beauty editorial, Prescod’s life has often been filled with black tie events and fabulous launch parties. However, over the past year or so, Prescod has made a point to look inward and to establish strong mental health habits. Listen to hear us talk about: ...
Dec 02, 2019•49 min
With Black Friday & Cyber Monday fast approaching, a Naked Beauty shopping guide is in order! On this episode, I will be discussing both the do’s and the don’ts of holiday beauty shopping.Whether you’re looking for hand cream or a hair mask, whether you’re shopping for loved ones or for yourself, I’ve got you covered with a list of the best beauty buys under $100. So sit back, listen, and luxuriate. *Also, feel free to send me your beauty questions nakedbeautypodcast@gmail.com* Links to Prod...
Nov 25, 2019•21 min
Over the past 7 years, writer and curator Kimberly Drew has unabashedly made a name for herself within the world of art and fashion. She’s already interviewed icons like Lupita Nyong'o, and Tina Lawson. She’s served bold looks on the runways of Chromat, and Collina Strada. Looking back on her career, Drew notes that “if I had come in with less love [for art], I wouldn’t have been as successful.” That love first began in her hometown of Orange, New Jersey- a community that Kimberly describes as “...
Nov 18, 2019•56 min
Femmes, tops, bottoms & gender presentation — learned so much from this few minutes of convo with the ever-fascinating artist & thinker, Mandy Harris Williams. We also get into the preoccupation with body & weight & wonder what it’s like to be freed from the thought. You absolutely must listen to our full interview 'Deconstructing the Ideal Black Female' if you haven’t. And if you have, listen again (there are layers to the convo). Listen on Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple...
Nov 12, 2019•12 min
This episode was surreal for me because I’ve listened to Angela Yee on the radio for over a decade. When it comes to representing hip hop and the culture, Yee has been, and continues to be one of the best radio hosts in the game. Growing up, Yee was a self-proclaimed “terror” who loved to be “out with her girls” but talking to people and giving advice was something that came naturally to her. After graduating from Wesleyan University with an English degree, Yee brought that talent to Eminem’s Sh...
Nov 04, 2019•57 min
If there’s one thing that PR queen Savannah Engel has mastered, it’s the art of conversation. “Throw me into a room with 300 people I don’t know,” Engel says, “give me two hours, and I will know every single person there, and be their best friend.” You might argue that the key to such confidence lies in Savannah’s undeniable Southern charm. Her roots in the Mississippi Delta, combined with her mother’s fashionable influence made for a keen eye and impeccable communication skills. That being said...
Oct 28, 2019•55 min
If you’re wondering what the new guard of beauty editorial looks like, look no further than Akili King. The 23-year old Chicago native and NYU Gallatin graduate has published a book of her own poems (titled AWAKENING), and worked for brands like The FADER, Milk Makeup, and Fashion Fair. All that being said, her current position as the Beauty Editorial Assistant at Vogue is “still pretty surreal” because, how could it not be?! Between making a name for herself within the beauty industry, modellin...
Oct 21, 2019•56 min
“What I was cleaning my house with was cleaner than what I was putting on my face. I had my head in the sand like a lot of people.” — my guest, April Gargiulo, on the genesis of her natural, performance-driven skincare line: Vintner’s Daughter // April and I discuss how her background in Napa Valley’s wine making process, allowed her to see this gap in the skincare market – she took this knowledge and molded it into a product to help people around the world achieve their best skin. The coveted V...
Oct 14, 2019•50 min