The Glossy Beauty Podcast What's new in beauty brick-and-mortar, why E.l.f. is getting backlash — Dr. Thomas Sterry on plastic surgery trends
Aug 14, 2025
Dr. Thomas Sterry, a renowned plastic surgeon from NYC with a vibrant social media presence, joins the conversation to reveal how pop culture influences cosmetic surgery trends. He discusses the growing acceptance of procedures fueled by social media and celebrity endorsements. The talk also touches on the complexities surrounding backlash in beauty marketing, including a controversial ad campaign by E.l.f. Cosmetics. Sterry emphasizes the importance of individualized care and navigating patient-surgeon dynamics in this evolving landscape.
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Experiential Stores Are Driving Foot Traffic
- Brick-and-mortar beauty is resurging as stores become experiential destinations with treatment spaces and fragrance play.
- Retailers are redesigning layouts to make beauty the entry point and drive foot traffic.
Drugstores Pivot Toward Skincare
- Drugstores are shifting fronts from color cosmetics to skincare to match consumer demand.
- CVS and peers must rethink assortment and staffing to make large-format stores profitable again.
Mass Retail Expansion Boosts Reach
- E.l.f. expanding into Dollar General exposed the brand to millions of new shoppers and drove large acquisition.
- The brand leverages mass retail to reach customers who never bought cosmetics at those retailers before.