5 Beauty podcasts you shouldn’t miss

I’m obsessed with podcasts. Currently, they are my absolute favorite learning, motivational, and entertainment tools. I’m literally constantly researching new and new ones to add to my already quite extensive subscription list. I have a variety of topics I listen to, from minimalism and simple living, through business/blogging/lifehacks/politics, to, of course, beauty.

So, what makes a great beauty podcast?

1. A great variety of topics. Ingredients, new technologies, tried-and-tested routines, tips and tricks, a good podcast covers a lot of interesting topics.
2. Really in-depth information given in easily understandable terms. I don’t want the marketing bullshit, and “Oh, I love that serum, just because” reviews. I want facts, backed up by science and research. But I want them to be logical and understandable even for a non-expert like me.
3. Fun to listen to. No one wants to listen to a boring podcasts even if it’s packed with the most valuable info ever. The audio experience is key in this case. If I don’t like the voice or the pace of the podcasters, I’m sorry, but it’s going to get dropped.

After months and months of research and listening to hundreds of episodes, here are my absolutely favorite, must-listen to beauty podcasts.

Fat Mascara

I have already mentioned this podcasts in my February favorites post, and the obsession is still on. Fat Mascara is a must listen to (and highly entertaining) podcast for beauty addicts, hosted by two ladies who know their business, as they are the New York beauty editors of two of the biggest women’s magazines, Cosmopolitan and Marie Claire.

Each week, they share the most interesting industry news, discuss trends and fads, products that deliver and those that sadly don’t, and every single thing related to skincare and beauty. They also interview the biggest names of the business, from Charlotte Tilbury and Bobbi Brown, through Orlando Pita and Tata Harper, to Jo Malone and Kat von D. You don’t get any more insider than this. Bonus points: They are very honest and hilarious.

The Beauty Brains

Another cult favorite. The Beauty Brains is hosted by two cosmetic scientists who dive deep into the world of skincare and beauty. They tell all the secrets of the beauty business, and bring a bunch of science, facts, and research to back up what they have to say. You can really trust them when it comes to the hard truth of what actually work and what is complete bullshit. Most of what I know about anti-aging, ingredients that actually work, and cosmetic safety, I learnt from them.

The Emma Guns Show

This podcast is hosted by beauty journalist Emma Gunavardhana and mostly features interviews with brands, beauty bloggers, industry experts, beauty artists, like Caroline Hirons, Pixiwoo, Dr Dennis Gross, or Sali Hughes. The interviews are fairly long, but what I love about them is that you can tell that they were done by a professional journalist. What I mean is that a lot of podcasts do interviews, but a good interview is much more than just asking some random questions. It’s kind of an art in itself, and it makes a big difference when the interviewer is a talented journalist and knows how to lead, how to ask, and what to ask to give you incredibly engaging, informative, and fun stories, career and life lessons. Highly recommended.

Ask the Beauty Advisor

A little bit less dynamic as the above two (literally, I listen to it at 1.5 pace), but still has very interesting episodes about skin care practices, various wonder ingredients, and the connection between health and beauty. The audio experience is not the best at times, you can tell that most of the interviews were done over the phone, so some points are deducted. Still, it’s worth giving it a try.

This Week in Makeup

This podcast is for all the makeup enthusiasts out there. It features interviews with brands like Colourpop, Milani, or Pixi Beauty (and a lot of other smaller, indie companies), as well as established makeup artists and other experts. If you’re interested in the world of makeup or a career in the industry, there is a lot of information and insight there for you.

Do you have any other beauty podcast favorites?