To many, the undeniable presence of Korean skincare seems to have come out of nowhere, but in reality, its rise has been anything but random. In this episode, we explore how Korean skincare stands apart from Western products and the story behind its global takeover. Discover the unique philosophies, innovative ingredients, and viral moments that propelled K-beauty to mainstream success. Plus, we break down the impact of social media trends like "glass skin" and why K-beauty’s affordability...

Australia's beauty market flew under the radar until Jo Horgan changed everything by launching Mecca in 1997. By the time Sephora arrived in 2014 to claim its share, it was far too late. But how did Mecca build such a stronghold in the Australian market, why did Sephora take so long to set up shop? Plus, we deep dive into the latest TikTok fixation of which retailer offers more value. We take a look at the data to understand, objectively, which is truly more popular. That and so much more in...

In the past decade, shifts in advertising laws have continuously reshaped the beauty business. What did the industry look like before #ad was enforced? How did brands dodge disclosure rules, and when did we stop trusting influencer beauty reviews? Despite its significance, influencer-related legislation rarely gets spoken about. In 2024, authorities are finally catching up with the impact of influencers—great news for consumers, but a challenge for marketers. In this episode, we explore how...

Welcome to episode one of The Barefaced Podcast! The podcast revealing the beauty industry's untold stories. It only made sense for episode one to be the most untold story of them all, The Black Beauty Problem. While this episode was filmed a few weeks ago, it’s unsurprising that yet another racial inclusivity 'scandal' has emerged this week with the launch of YSL’s 'Make Me Blush' liquid blushes. This recurring cycle, where black women are racially discriminated against by a new product...

Welcome to episode one of The Barefaced Podcast! The podcast revealing the beauty industry's untold stories. It only made sense for episode one to be the most untold story of them all, The Black Beauty Problem. While this episode was filmed a few weeks ago, it’s unsurprising that yet another racial inclusivity 'scandal' has emerged this week with the launch of YSL’s 'Make Me Blush' liquid blushes. This recurring cycle, where black women are racially discriminated against by a new product...