The beauty industry has seen exponential growth over the past few years, driven in part by a growing interest in preventative skin care among Gen Z and increased demand for clean and personalized formulations. As a consumer, it can be overwhelming to navigate all of the various acids, oils and vitamins claiming to be the key to eternal youth. And the cost of making the wrong choice isn’t just financial — evidence suggests that overdoing it on products can be harmful, breaking down the skin’s natural protective barriers.
Some of these podcasts cut through the marketing noise and TikTok trends to deliver unbiased, straightforward tips on everything from serums to supplements, while others shine a spotlight on impossible beauty standards in Hollywood and beyond.
For every skin care product that genuinely works, there are plenty doing nothing (or even doing more harm than good), and savvy marketing can make it hard to tell which is which. “The Beauty Brains” helps to distinguish the beauty science from the pseudoscience, and it is presented by Perry Romanowski and Valerie George, two cosmetic chemists with a combined 40 years of experience in the business. Despite their shared expertise as formulators, the show doesn’t feel like inside baseball; it’s more like an advice show with smart friends, with the hosts sharing evidence-based answers to questions about products, supplements and anti-aging regimens. With a back catalog that dates to 2018, there’s a wealth of information for skin care novices and pros alike.
Starter episode: “Is Exfoliation Just as Important as Using SPF?”
Hosted by Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Sullivan, two beauty journalists who are also friends, this nine-year-old series is a staple for anyone looking to keep up with skin care and makeup trends. Hourlong episodes are released twice a week — one is typically a guest interview, while the other features Matlin and Sullivan chatting through beauty news and giving their unfiltered opinions on what products and trends are legit. Their interviews are wide-ranging — recent guests have included a venture capital executive discussing what investors in beauty look for, and the actress Brooke Shields, who spoke about wrestling with the beauty standards that come with a career on camera.
Starter episode: “Skincare Supplements & How Diet Affects Beauty with Dr. Rajani Katta”
Hosted by Tiffany Bartok, a filmmaker, this engaging series offers a detailed exploration of what it takes to put beauty onscreen. “Look Behind the Look” features conversations with makeup artists, costume designers and hair stylists about their work, focusing primarily on the film industry. Episodes are released throughout the year, but the show really hits its stride during each awards season — so far this year Bartok has interviewed those pros who’ve worked on Oscar nominated films, including the beleaguered musical “Emilia Pérez” and the Angelina Jolie-starring biopic “Maria.”
Starter episode: “Inside Whitney Houston’s Makeup, Costumes and Music in ‘The Bodyguard’”
This long-running series started in 2018, right as the concept of “self-care” was crossing over into the mainstream. Originally hosted by the writers Kate Spencer and Doree Shafrir (who billed themselves as “not experts, just two friends who like to talk a lot about serums”) the show is a cozy blend of friendly banter, personal product recommendations and reflections on the everyday habits that can make a difference to mental and physical well being. Regular episodes feature Spencer and Shafrir alongside various guests, which include fellow podcasters and writers as well as beauty experts. Spencer retired from the show last spring, and has since been replaced by Elise Hu, the author of “Flawless,” about the rise of Korean skin care. Despite this shake-up, “Forever 35” has retained both its format and its warmth and charm, and Hu brings a welcome new perspective to the mix.
Starter episode: “How to Stay Politically Engaged Without Going Crazy With Leah Litman”
The film historian Karina Longworth has been producing her meticulously crafted and deeply researched podcast “You Must Remember This” for over a decade, exploring unknown and underreported corners of movie industry history. This spinoff series aired in 2020, and chronicles eight stories about the intersection between Hollywood and the beauty industry. The stories are introduced by Longworth, but written and performed by different reporters, which lends a distinct tone and type of expertise to each one. One fascinating episode from Halley Bondy, a journalist, explores the story of Merle Oberon, who became the first Asian actress to be nominated for a best actress Oscar, but concealed her heritage by lightening her skin with bleach creams. With other episodes exploring ageism, fatphobia and misogynoir (a form of misogyny faced by Black women), “Make Me Over” is a compelling glimpse into what has, and hasn’t, changed in onscreen beauty standards over the past century.
Starter episode: “Hollywood’s First Weight Loss Surgery: Molly O’Day”
