Working as a Hollywood makeup artist in the early 2000s, Rea Ann Silva designed a sponge that reshaped the face of beauty. She'd been looking for a technique to simplify makeup touch-ups without worrying about the smudges or streaks that were easily detected on HDTV. Her solution? A teardrop-shaped sponge—hand-cut from a foam wedge—that could apply makeup from any angle, and absorb just enough water to be extra-efficient. Actors and fellow makeup artists raved about the sponge, so Rea Ann cold-called an industry insider—who almost hung up on her before agreeing to listen to her idea. That call led to a fruitful partnership that helped Rea Ann launch Beautyblender in Hollywood pro shops, then Ulta and Sephora. Today, the bright pink teardrop sponge is at the center of a multi-million-dollar beauty brand, available in over 50 countries.  See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Rea Ann Silva, creator of Beautyblender, talks about revolutionizing the makeup industry with her iconic product. She shares the inspiration behind Beautyblender, how it solved makeup artists' challenges, and the story behind its creation. The podcast dives into her makeup career journey, challenges with high definition, and the innovative tool that transformed the industry.

Makeup artist Rea Ann Silva, inventor of the Beautyblender, discusses the shift in makeup application due to HD television and the creation of her million-dollar idea. Also covered are home hair coloring adventures, blue-light protection for skin, and beauty news including the nose-blush trend and Jessica Simpson's response to body-shamers.