

Gloss Angeles
Kirbie Johnson and Sara Tan
Co-hosts and longtime beauty journalists Kirbie Johnson and Sara Tan give their perspective on all things makeup, skincare, and wellness at the intersection of pop culture and entertainment. Experts in the field and friends IRL, they pull back the curtain on trends, treatments and popular products — all the things you're likely searching or watching on TikTok. (They'd know — they've spent 10 years creating and optimizing editorial content for mainstream digital beauty publishers.) Tuesday episodes reveal the most notable beauty headlines with informed takes while Friday episodes feature guests from experts in the industry to celebrity spokespeople, including Hailey Bieber, Halsey, Selena Gomez; Dr. Jason Diamond, Danessa Myricks, Mario Dedivanovic, The Lipstick Lesbians and more. Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Sep 12, 2025 • 47min
Hung Vanngo on Launching His Namesake Line, His 5 Kit Essentials, and How He Became the Makeup Artist Celebrities Flock To
He’s the artist behind some of Hollywood’s most iconic faces, from Selena Gomez to Scarlett Johansson, and now, Hung Vanngo is bringing his celeb artistry straight to your makeup bag. In our convo, Hung shares the five products he always has in his kit, how immigrating from Vietnam to Canada shaped his view of beauty, and the moment he realized makeup became his calling. We also cover his signature luminous approach, pinch-me celebrity moments, and why he made SO many eyeshadow palettes. This episode is a masterclass in artistry and resilience, and we can't wait for you to listen. Shop this episodeWatch our episodes!CALL or TEXT US: 424-341-0426Instagram: @glossangelspod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanTwitter: @glossangelespod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanEmail: glossangelespodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 9, 2025 • 37min
Did This Beverly Hills Esthetician Irreparably Burn a Client? Plus Sephora’s Tween Brand, Ulta Parties & EU’s Gel Ban
This week on Gloss Angeles, we’re covering everything from the bizarrely real Shart Survival Kit to the launch of Sincerely Yours, a tween skincare brand now at Sephora. We also break down Ulta’s new birthday party offerings — complete with mini-makeovers, $100+ goodie bags, and hair tinsel add-ons. Plus, we clarify the EU’s ban on TPO in gel polish (spoiler: gel manis aren’t banned) and unpack the resurfaced allegations and controversies surrounding celebrity esthetician Sonya Dakar.Shop this episode Watch our episodes!CALL or TEXT US: 424-341-0426Instagram: @glossangelspod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanTwitter: @glossangelespod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanEmail: glossangelespodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 5, 2025 • 52min
Vicky Tsai Wants You to Think About Your “Joyspan” and to Fight Burnout With Balance
Vicky Tsai returns for her second Gloss Angeles interview! The Tatcha founder drops by six years after her first appearance to discuss how Tatcha has grown since 2019 (after an acquisition), what remains the same, what skincare as a category needs to improve upon, the brand’s most underrated product, what she’s done to help her health since entering peri-menopause, and the reason she created The Longevity Serum after a life-changing trip to Okinawa. Shop this episodeWatch our episodes!CALL or TEXT US: 424-341-0426Instagram: @glossangelspod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanTwitter: @glossangelespod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanEmail: glossangelespodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Sep 3, 2025 • 38min
Taylor Swift’s Bridal Beauty Predictions, Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty, & Pinterest’s Fall Beauty Trend Predictions
As you know, Taylor Swift just got engaged (!!!) but we can’t help ourselves — we’re already thinking about what her wedding glam could look like. Will it be her signature red lip or something totally unexpected? Kirbie has thoughts! Plus, we share the products we’re eyeing during Ulta’s 21 Days of Beauty sale and dissect Pinterest’s Fall 2025 predictions, from clean grunge to 90s-esque pixie cuts. Shop this episode Watch our episodes!CALL or TEXT US: 424-341-0426Instagram: @glossangelspod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanTwitter: @glossangelespod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanEmail: glossangelespodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 29, 2025 • 50min
Talc, Sulfates & Luxury Products Worth the Price with Cosmetic Chemist Ramya Viswanathan
This week we’re talking all things cosmetic chemistry with someone who really knows her way around a science lab: Ramya Viswanathan, founder of CMPRESSD Beauty — the zero-waste hair care brand making solid shampoo and conditioner bars that actually perform like your favorite salon formulas on all hair types. With over a decade in product development, formulation, and manufacturing, Ramya’s here to school us on ingredient “green flags,” misunderstood actives, and the real tea on shampoo bars.We dig into listener-submitted questions from our Glamgelenos Slack, covering everything from the future of U.S. sunscreen regulations to the next big ingredient trend, whether skincare “dupes” can actually deliver, and if multi-active formulas are really worth it (or just marketing fluff). If you’ve ever stood in the aisle decoding an ingredient list or wondered what a chemist actually thinks about your favorite products, this episode is your backstage pass to beauty R&D.Shop this episodeWatch our episodes!CALL or TEXT US: 424-341-0426Instagram: @glossangelspod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanTwitter: @glossangelespod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanEmail: glossangelespodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 26, 2025 • 38min
Sharon Chuter’s Legacy, Vuitton’s $160 Lipsticks, and TikTok’s MAC Scandal
This week on Gloss Angeles, we’re covering it all: Kirbie’s run-in with a not-so-nice influencer, the heartbreaking news of UOMA Beauty and Pull Up for Change founder Sharon Chuter’s passing, Louis Vuitton’s very expensive beauty launch (which includes a $160 lipstick), Ultra Violette’s sunscreen recall, and the viral MAC Cosmetics LAX manager who lost her job after posting behind-the-scenes videos of her job on TikTok. Shop this episode Watch our episodes!CALL or TEXT US: 424-341-0426Instagram: @glossangelspod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanTwitter: @glossangelespod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanEmail: glossangelespodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

6 snips
Aug 22, 2025 • 46min
Why Korean Beauty is Always Ahead (With the Lipstick Lesbians)
Alexis Androulakis, half of The Lipstick Lesbians and a beauty expert, dives into the fascinating world of Korean beauty. She and her guest discuss the evolution of K-beauty and how it surpasses Western standards, highlighting the impact of AI on product development. They reflect on iconic products like cushion foundations and explore the viral success of K-beauty trends on social media. Additionally, they address challenges of shade inclusivity and the implications of tariffs on consumer choices. Get ready for a deep, engaging look into the future of beauty!

Aug 19, 2025 • 30min
Sara’s Big News + e.l.f. Cosmetics's Big Drama
Big news, Glams: Sara is stepping away from Refinery29 and putting more time and energy into Gloss Angeles! She shares what this new chapter means, what’s ahead, and why this moment feels so surreal.Then, we’re diving into one of the buzziest (and most controversial) beauty headlines of the week: comedian Matt Rife teaming up with e.l.f. Why would a major beauty brand collaborate with someone surrounded by controversy? Is this “rage marketing” at play? We break it all down. Note: at filming, e.l.f. had not posted an apology or spoken with the press. CMO Kory Marchisotto spoke with Business of Fashion about the ad here. Watch our episodes!CALL or TEXT US: 424-341-0426Instagram: @glossangelspod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanTwitter: @glossangelespod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanEmail: glossangelespodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 15, 2025 • 44min
Mary Phillips on Underpainting, Glam Secrets, and Working With Hollywood’s Biggest Stars
She’s the queen of underpainting, the mastermind behind some of the most *chef’s kiss* red carpet glam, and now she’s adding “founder” to her already stacked résumé. This week, we’re sitting down with celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips — the woman responsible for sculpting faces like Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and Jennifer Lopez — to talk about her new brand, m.ph, and the art of making high-level techniques accessible to everyone. (P.S. It’s available exclusively at Sephora now!) Mary spills her kit must-haves, the secrets to her signature look, and the beauty mistake that actually changed the course of her career. We get into what people are getting wrong about underpainting, the product from her debut lineup that’s about to have a sleeper-hit moment, and why even with her access to everything, she still saw a gap in the market. She’s the queen of underpainting, the mastermind behind some of the most *chef’s kiss* red carpet glam, and now she’s adding “founder” to her already stacked résumé. This week, we’re sitting down with celebrity makeup artist Mary Phillips — the woman responsible for sculpting faces like Hailey Bieber, Kendall Jenner, and Jennifer Lopez — to talk about her new brand, m.ph, and the art of making high-level techniques accessible to everyone. (P.S. It’s available exclusively at Sephora now!) Mary spills her kit must-haves, the secrets to her signature look, and the beauty mistake that actually changed the course of her career. We get into what people are getting wrong about underpainting, the product from her debut lineup that’s about to have a sleeper-hit moment, and why even with her access to everything, she still saw a gap in the market. Shop this episodeWatch our episodes!CALL or TEXT US: 424-341-0426Instagram: @glossangelspod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanTwitter: @glossangelespod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanEmail: glossangelespodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Aug 5, 2025 • 27min
DIBS Drops Mascara, Sara’s Toenail Drops Off, and Expert-Lead Beauty Brands Take Over
Our Glamgelenos got first dibs on DIBS Beauty’s new Double Standard Mascara Duo through Gloss Angeles Confidential — and the reviews are glowing. Kirbie shares why this dual‑ended lash MVP (primer + lengthener on one side, bold volumizer on the other) has become her ride‑or‑die. Use code GLOSSANGELES 8/1-8/31/25 to get 15% off your order on their website!TW: Feet! Sara gets real about a runner’s nightmare: losing toenails. She reveals how she ended up with fake toenails (yes, that’s a thing), plus tips to prevent it and care for your feet post‑race.We’re also talking the rise of expert‑led beauty brands, from Chris McMillan’s debut haircare line to Mary Phillips’ m.ph. This is the next big wave in beauty.And a friendly reminder: if you love the pod and enjoy testing new beauty products with us, please drop us a review on Apple!Shop this episodeWatch our episodes!CALL or TEXT US: 424-341-0426Instagram: @glossangelspod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanTwitter: @glossangelespod, @kirbiejohnson, @saratanEmail: glossangelespodcast@gmail.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.