Ep.269: A Deep Dive Into Vitamin C ft. Desiree Stordahl
Paula’s Choice Director of Applied Research & Education Desiree Stordahl is back for a deep dive on vitamin C - a skincare ingredient that has been proven to protect and enhance the skin barrier time and time again. Tune in as she explains what vitamin C actually is, its role in preventing free radical damage, the most effective ways to store it, how it interacts with other skincare actives and more!
Links to Products Here: Paula’s Choice (25% Vitamin C Serum, C15 Super Booster, C5 Super Boost Eye Cream, C5 Super Boost Moisturizer)
Ep.268: Breaking Down Holy Grail Skincare Ingredients ft. Desiree Stordahl of Paula's Choice
Tune in as I sit down with friend of the pod Desiree Stordahl, Director of Applied Research & Education at Paula's Choice, to demystify the world skincare. As this industry becomes increasingly more complicated (and even intimidating), Stordahl helps to break down the power behind simple, yet effective holy skincare ingredients like vitamin C, retinol, collagen, and more!
Link to Products/Resources Here: 2% BHA Liquid Exfoliant, 10% Azelaic Acid, C15 Booster, SPF 50, 1% Retinol, Omega Cleansing Balm, 0.3 Retinol + 2% Bakuchiol Treatment, 10% Niacinamide, AHA + BHA Peel, 20% Niacinamide, Discoloration Repair Serum, Pro-Collagen Booster, C5 Eye Cream
Ep.267: “People call it crazy, I call it commitment” ft. Jamie Morse Heidegger, Founder of Retrouvé
Like me, Jamie Morse Heidegger’s appreciation for a good sunscreen runs deep. And as the founder of anti-aging skincare brand Retrouvé, her knowledge of the very best tips, tricks, and products for sun protection is expansive. Tune in as as we discuss why sun protection is now more important than ever, her preference for physical vs. chemical sunscreen, UFP clothing, and more.
Links to products here: Elta MD Sunscreen, Elta MD Tinted Mineral Sunscren, La Roche Posay Antileos Sunscreen, Solumbra, Coolibar, Claudent
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Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Ep.266: Beauty Dispatch from Japan: Sun Umbrellas, Manga Lashes & Nail Art in Tokyo
My recent trip to Tokyo was a strong reminder of why Japanese beauty and culture continues to be such a dominate force in the market. Tune in for a beauty dispatch from Japan, where I break down the beauty products I found at local drugstore Don Quijote, the treatments I got, historical background on Shiseido's innovative marketing and products I'm desperate to see in the US and more!
Links to Products/Resources: History of Japan Podcast, Enim's Life in Japan, all of the products mentioned in this episode linked here, Eyelash extensions @ Twinkmiru Eye, Manicure @ Sucre Nails in Shinjuku
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Ep.265: The Untold Beauty Stories of WNBA Players ft. Ariel Atkins and Natalie Achonwa
While the WNBA has been around for over two decades, the extremely talented athletes and women who make up the league are just now being recognized on a global scale, particularly within the world of beauty. Tune in as I sit down with Washington Mystics’ Ariel Atkins (@iamarielatkins) and the Minnesota Lynx’s Natalie Ochonwa (@natachon11) to break down “hitting the majors” within their beauty routine, the league’s very first beauty brand partnership with Glossier, navigating the misogyny and double standards as female athletes, their all time favorite beauty products and more. Enjoy!
Products Mentioned: Glossier (Stretch Fluid Foundation, Stretch Balm Concealer, Boy Brow, Milk Jelly Cleanser, Generation G, Invisible Shield), It Beauty Hyaluronic Acid, Jan Marini Face Cleanser, Wander Beauty Mascara
Ep.264: The Power of Transparent, Family-Run Skincare ft. Jami Morse Heidegger, Co-Founder of Retrouvé
Born into the family that once owned cult classic brand Kiehl’s, Jami Morse Heidegger is nothing short of royalty within the world of beauty and skincare. Yet growing up, she felt far from beautiful. Instead, Heidegger’s relationship with beauty focused more on the experimentation of combining ingredients, ultimately in search of the perfect product. Today, Heidegger and her husband Klaus have launched Retrovué, their own new family venture, that continues to focus on just that. Tune in as I sit down with Jami to discuss her childhood growing up in the Kiehl’s flagship store on the Lower East Side, her decision to sell the brand after becoming a mother, launching Retrovué with a deep focus on potent skincare ingredients, “pro-aging,” and ensuring that diversity is at the forefront of her brand’s story.
Links to Products/Resources: “It’s a real family affair for couple behind luxury skin-care line Retrouvé” (LA Times), Kiehl’s (Blue Astringent, Crème de Corps, Calendula Toner), Retrovué (Replenishing Moisturizer, Revitalizing Eye Concentrate), Every Skin Has A Story, Joanna Vargas Green Hyaluronic Serum, Sisley-Paris x Patrick Foley Lipstick, Pattern (Leave-In Conditioner, Brush), Iman Love Memoir, Frederic Malle Portrait of a Lady, Perfumehead Cosmic Cowboy
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Retrouvé: @retrouveskin
Ep.263: Mental Health & The Power of Self-Expression ft. Tan France & Gillian Sagansky
Fashion expert and Queer Eye, and Next in Fashion host, Tan France, is truly one of a kind. I got to collaborate with my dear friend and host of Driven Minds, Gillian Sagansky, on this special episode where we talk to Tan about everything from struggling with depression to the power of the clothes we wear. You don't want to miss this episode!
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Subscribe to Driven Minds & Follow Gillian Sagansky
Ep.262: Elevated Products for Life’s Mundane Moments ft.Candice Brathwaite
One of the ultimate acts of self love is taking care of yourself when no one is around. Tune in for a fantastic extension of my interview with Candice Brathwaite, where she breaks down how she uses elevated products to make even the most casual moments feel special.
Links to Products: Shiseido Recap, Visiting Le Labo in Tokyo for Gaiac10,, SLEEPER loungewear, Byredo Bal D’Afrique, Fenty fragrance, Chanel No.5, L:A Bruket Lip Balm
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Candice: @candicebrathwaite
Ep.261: Navigating Broken Beauty Standards ft. Candice Brathwaite-Aboderin
Author, journalist, TV presenter, fellow podcaster and creator Candice Brathwaite-Aboderin is here on the pod and ready to talk through the evolution of her relationship with beauty. From her tomboy phase where she was completely uninterested in appearances, to her dancehall girl phase battling breakouts for the first time, to life as a mom helping her kids navigate anti-black beauty standards, Candice has seen and felt it all. Tune in as we discuss her beauty icons, favorite products, that signature shaved head, fighting fatphobic narratives, what to do when you’ve outgrown your social circle, and more. Enjoy!
Links to Products/Resources: La Roche Posay SPF, The Ordinary Hyaluronic Acid, Dr. Sturm Dark Skin Tones Hyaluronic Acid, Charlotte Tilbury Pillow Talk Mascara, Laura Mercier Loose Setting Powder, MAC (Nightmoth, Ruby Woo), Ren Balm Cleanser, Elemis Cleansing Balm, Dr. Dennis Gross Peel Pads, Tatcha Water Cream, Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair Serum
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Candice: @candicebrathwaite
Ep.260: Dreaming in Fragrance ft. Keta Burke-Williams, Founder of Ourside
Keta Burke-Williams, founder of “unconventional yet intimate” fragrance brand Ourside was just what the industry of traditionally Eurocentric fragrance needed to shake things up. As the daughter of a Jamaican mother and African American father growing up in Dayton, Ohio, Keta never quite felt like she fit in and was always looking for ways to escape into new experiences, particularly through scent. Tune in as we discuss her journey from the corporate world, to Harvard Business School, to starting her own business; betting on her creative vision when other fragrance houses wouldn’t; the various ways that we all apply and layer perfume; “FragranceTok;” and so much more.
Link to Products: Ourside (Moon Dust, Nostalgia, Dusk) - use code NAKED15 for 15% off at ourside.nyc, Saltair Body Mists, D.S. & Durga (Debaser, Bistro Waters), Nishane (Ani, WuLong Cha), Tower 28 (BeachPlease Lip+Cheek Cream Blush, Bronzino Illuminating Cream Bronzer), Supergoop! PLAY Everyday Lotion SPF 50, Black Girl Sunscreen SPF 30
Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Keta: @keta.bw / @ourside.nyc
Ep.259: Pivoting from Corporate to Creator ft. Nana Agyemang, Jon Youshaei, and Chrissy Rutherford
With the creator economy projected to be worth $200 billion by the year 2026, many (including myself) are seeking to pivot out of the traditional 9-5 and into a career of entrepreneurship, centered around media and content. Which is why this episode featuring three of my incredible peer mentors and friends who have transitioned into full-time creators couldn’t be more timely. Tune in as I sit down with EveryStylishGirl’s Nana Agyemang; former colleague and current Youtube creator and podcaster Jon Youshaei; and writer, brand consultant and fashion creator Chrissy Rutherford. We discuss when they knew it was time to pivot in their careers, the value of pay transparency, the power of having a strong partner to bring your vision to life, and accepting that we can’t always plan for everything. Enjoy!
Resource Links: Founders, EveryStylishGirl, Created by Jon Youshaei, Chrissy Rutherford’s newsletter FWD JOY
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow this episode’s guests: @itsreallynana, @youshaei, @chrissyford
Ep.258: Thoughtful Partnerships and Careful Collaborations ft. KESH
These days, celebrities, influencers, and brand partnerships seem to be inextricably linked - but not always for the most intentional reasons. Tune in for this bonus episode where artist KESH, a highly experienced brand collaborator, reflects on how she would like to see creators go beyond the cash grab and “mismash of ‘release, release, release,” and instead opting in for more thoughtful and “truthful” storytelling.
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Ep. 257: The Power of Betting on Yourself ft. Jerri DeVard, Madison Utendahl, Liz Paley, and Malcolm Carafrae
“A lot of people are successful because they were just too driven to hear people drown out their dreams. You have to have the strength of conviction, have faith and bet on yourself. If it’s safe and it was that easy, everyone would do it.” - My mother, Jerri DeVard
After more than a decade working in the corporate world, I’ve decided to bet on myself and build out Naked Beauty full-time.Tune in as I get some very real advice from four mentors - my mom Jerri DeVard (Black Executive CMO Alliance), Madison Utendahl (Utendahl Creative), Liz Paley (Framework), and Malcolm Carafrae (Carfrae Consulting) -, who have all transitioned from a full-time corporate role into launching their own organizations and businesses. We touch on time management, giving yourself grace, identifying your transferable skills, and what they know now that they wish they had known when they took that first leap of faith.
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Ep.256: My 3 Favorite Luxury Hand Soaps Right Now
On the surface, hand washing can feel like a mundane routine that’s just a simple and practical part of life. But given that we do it five to ten times a day, using a hand soap you love can actually make a huge impact! Whether you make your own soap or splurge on a more luxurious option, taking the time to invest in this ritual is well worth the cost. And in today’s body care market, luxury hand soaps have expanded beyond classics like Diptyque and Aesop, and into a whole new wave of innovative brands that are both fragrant and beautifully hydrating. Tune in as I break down my favorites that are sure to take your hand washing experience to the next level.
Links to Products/Resources Mentioned:
Favorite Hand Soaps - Then I Met You Hand Wash, Homecourt Neroli Leaf Hand Wash, DedCool Hand + Body Wash in “Taunt”, Davines Dedy Hand Wash
Additional Products Mentioned - Hudson Grace Tart Kumquat Dish Soap, Then I Met You Cleansing Balm, Blueland Refill Tablets, Homecourt (Surface Cleaner, Room Spray), Dedcool Milk Layering Fragrance, Dedcool x Starface Air Freshener
Additional Listening/Reading - How to Make Your Own Hand Soap, Naked Beauty Sustainability Episode, “The Pandemic Habit We Should Not Break” (New York Times)
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Ep.255: Embracing Adornment and Beauty as Armor ft. KESH
Some creatives are truly in a league of their own and this guest has always stood out as someone pushing aesthetic boundaries all while being incredibly thoughtful. Artist, singer, designer, muse, creative director, and Tumblr icon KESH has never been too interested in adhering to the typical standards of beauty. She effortlessly rocks red eyeliner and gemstones on her nose, treating her face as a canvas for true self-expression. This level of “divine creativity” as KESH puts it, is what made me - along with so many others - fall in love with her. From spray painting the back of her classmates’ uniforms in Croydon, to collaborating with American Apparel, to creative directing a Good American shoot with TLC, tune in as we discuss KESH’s creative journey, inspirations, use of beauty as a form of armor and so much more. Enjoy!
Links to Products/Resources Mentioned:
Simi Haze Eye Gems, Lady Vengeance (2005), TLC for Good American (directed by KESH)
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow KESH: @kesh
Ep.254: When Do You Feel Most Beautiful?
Today, at more than 250 episodes into Naked Beauty, I wanted to take a moment to pause and reflect on the question that started it all: When do you feel most beautiful? Tune in for a rerun of the 100th episode of the show, which served as a compilation of answers to this exact question. 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 and forever evolving.
Ep. 253: Disrupting the Celebrity Skincare Game ft. John Legend
“It’s outrageous how little we’re considered. In dermatology books, they almost never feature Brown or Black skin tones. That means in a nation where the majority of our kids are Brown or Black, we’re not even preparing for the world as it is right now.” - John Legend
When EGOT-winning artist John Legend was approached to start a skincare company, he knew that accessibility and audience would be key to standing apart from the seemingly infinite lines of other celebrity brands. Which is exactly why Loved01 (pronounced “Loved One”) fills the rapidly growing market demand for those of us with melanin-rich skin, all at an affordable drugstore price point. And with L’Oreal veteran Kia Lowe by his side as the brand’s president, Loved01 is determined to centralize the Brown and Black consumers that are all too often characterized as a “niche market.” Tune in as I sit down with John to discuss his entry point into beauty, his journey from the business world to the music industry, his insights on Succession, and Loved01 president Kia Lowe to discuss her journey to Loved01 as well as the future of the brand.
Links to Products/Resources Mentioned: Loved01 (Face + Body Wash, Exfoliating Cleanser, Face + Body Moisturizer, Shave Cream, Toning Mist, Face + Body Oil), Biore Blackhead Stips, Tom Ford Black Orchid, Bevel Shaving, Marvis Toothpaste, Dr. Jason Diamond
Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Loved01: @loved01skin
Ep.252: Removing Shame from Acne & Morning After Pills ft. Julie Schott founder of Starface & Julie
Starting her career off in a world where beauty and wellness were in the shadows of the fashion industry, Julie Schott would’ve never guessed that people would one day fall in love with her products that seem to celebrate all of life’s imperfections. Since its founding, Starface (you know the pimple patches), has sold more than 77 million yellow Hydro-Stars, which translates to 49 Hydro-Stars sold every minute in the last three years (Bustle). Her latest venture, Julie, an emergency contraceptive makes the all too often misunderstood and awkward experience of taking the ‘morning after pill’ more accessible. Tune in as we discuss how she started her founder journey, growing her brand with the first generation of Tiktok creators, taking marketing risks and how her own relationship with beauty treatments and procedures has evolved over time.
Links to Products/Resources Mentioned: Starface (use code NAKEDBEAUTY for 15% off your first purchase), Julie, Futurewise, Dedcool, Ourside, Kilian (Love, Don’t Be Shy; Good Girl Gone Bad), Red Polish in Los Angeles, Bleach London Awkward Peach, Kosas Brow Pencil
If you’re interested in joining the Naked Beauty team as an intern or a video editor, please email nakedbeautypodcast@gmail.com
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Julie: @julie_schott
Ep.251: Chemical vs. Mineral Sunscreen & other SPF Questions Answered ft. Bryan Barron of Paula’s Choice
Between my recent move to LA and navigating a few pesky skin issues, sunscreen has been on my mind more than ever before. Which is exactly why this extension of my conversation with Bryan Barron, Paula’s Choice Director of Skincare Research, felt so timely! Tune in to hear:
[3:14] Hourglass’s New Equilibrium Retinoid Treatment, which I’ve fallen in love with (use code BROOKE10 at checkout)
[6:30] The difference between mineral and chemical sunscreen
[9:35] If mineral sunscreen can truly ever suit all skin tones
Links to Products/Resources Mentioned: Paula’s Choice (Youth Extending Daily Hydrating Fluid SPF 30, Lipscreen SPF 50), Ep. 247: Know Your Skin, Know Your Skincare Ingredients ft. Byran Barron of Paula’s Choice
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Bryan: @bryanjbarron
Ep.250: Building Your Beauty Roster ft. Asia Milia Ware, Ciara Costenoble, and Ishea Brown
Between the hair appointments, facials, pedicures, and lash extensions, finding the right beauty professionals to partner with and keep you looking your best is no easy task. Thankfully, I’ve tapped three incredible members of the Naked Beauty community to share their pro-tips on how to build out that perfect roster of beauty MVPs. Tune in as I sit down with The Cut’s Asia Milia Ware for her take on Southern vs. New York beauty culture and gatekeeping beauty professionals; Paris-based hairstylist Ciara Costenoble on the power of speaking up when beauty treatments don’t feel right; and Digital Creator Ishea Brown on her journey to finding beauty treatments as a Black Seattle-transplant.
Links to Products/Resources Mentioned: “Why Black Women Creators Are Accusing Tarte of Mistreatment (Again),” CiaraCoiffure.com
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Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)
Stay in touch with me: @brookedevard
Follow Asia: @missasiamilia
Follow Ciara: @ciaracoiffure
Follow Ishea: @sixtwentyseven