If you haven't gotten into a good podcast this year, you might want to reconsider your priorities. The convenience of getting information, inspiration, and entertainment while you multitask at home is invaluable, and there's a podcast for almost anything. The subjects seem endless, and if you're a beauty enthusiast, finding top beauty podcasts can be a lifesaver since there's always some new beauty product, hair trend or self-care YouTube tutorial.
We've got a few great beauty podcasts for you to check out that cover skincare, haircare trends, product picks, and more:
Fat Mascara
Beauty editors and besties Jessica Matlin and Jennifer Goldstein talk about the industry's latest news and share their inside stories about celebrity interviews, new skincare treatments, innovative products and beauty fails. They also host conversations with celebrity makeup artists, perfumers, plastic surgeons, and manicurists.
Image via Naked Beauty
Naked Beauty
When Brooke DeVard Ozaydinli is not busy slaying the game as Instagram's product marketing manager, she's talking all things skincare via the Naked Beauty podcast. The beauty enthusiast regularly interviews people like BET style director Danielle Prescod, K-Beauty expert Charlotte Cho, and beauty author Rio Viera-Newton and gets to the nitty gritty on top products, explorations on self-perception and redefining beauty standards.
Beyond the Beauty
Makeup industry vet Bobbi Brown hosts discussions with leaders in entertainment, beauty and fashion on topics including how to dress for your body type, DIY and natural remedies for skincare, wellness while working from home, and of course, the latest news from one of the most successful makeup brands on the market. (FYI, Brown turned a $7.50 investment into a billion-dollar global brand.)
Photo via Full Coverage
Full Coverage
Touted as a "podcast for beauty addicts, by beauty addicts," Full Coverage is hosted by pro MUA Harriet Hadfield and self-professed "beauty junkie" Lindsey Kelk. Past episodes have gotten into the real on topics like combating maskne, new celebrity product lines, and the latest from popular brands including Fenty and Colourpop.
Goop's The Beauty Closet
The original podcast was hosted by actress Gwyneth Paltrow, founder of Goop, an early Web-based disruptor in the lifestyle and beauty space. Today, the platform continues to cover fashion, wellness, travel, and of course, beauty, and its podcast offerings have expanded. The Beauty Closet, hosted by editors Jean Godfrey-June and Megan O'Neill, includes insights on subjects like "clean beauty", tips for "glowy-dewy skin" and best practices for the ultimate hair health, and features interviews with industry experts, entrepreneurs, and influencers.
Breaking Beauty
In Breaking Beauty, beauty editors Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins share inspiring stories behind how best-selling beauty products came to market from the founders like Glossier's Emily Weiss adn Tata Harper. They also get the tea from celebrity makeup artists and experts on tips and tricks that you can use at home, and feature industry faves including Mario Dedivanovic, Dr. Pimple Popper, and Jen Atkin. In one of their latest episodes, they catch up with Sharon Chuter, the Nigerian-born Uoma Beauty founder and former beauty executive, to talk Black Lives Matter and filling a void in the international market for Black women.
Photo via Snatched Edges
Snatched Edges
If you haven't already guessed from the title, Ebuni Ajiduah, a U.K.-based trichologist and member of the International Association of Trichologists, offers tell-it-like-it-is insights on solving common hair and scalp issues, no matter the hair type. She features discussions with people who have experienced hair loss and the remedies they've found helpful, as well as tips and advice for healthy haircare.
Allure's Science of Beauty
Known as the beauty-product bible in the publishing industry, Allure has now expanded its reach with Allure's Science of Beauty podcast which will offer its brand of expert advice and exploration of the latest products and trends—fact-checked and researched. Editor-in-chief Michelle Lee leads conversations with influential voices in fashion, beauty, entertainment and lifestyle to talk about beauty obsessions and innovations.
Photo via Balanced Black Girl
Balanced Black Girl
Led by a personal trainer and nutrition coach, this podcast taps into the work of boosting beauty from the inside out. The show seeks to help millennial Black women approach a perception of beauty from a place of health and wellness, and includes interviews with experts on holistic wellness practices, nutrition and its effect on the body, and stress management.
The Glossy Beauty
Presented by Glossy, a publication that embraces the intersection of fashion, beauty, and tech, The Glossy Beauty podcast includes candid chats about trends and their role in shaping the future of the beauty and wellness industries. If you're a true beauty geek and forward-thinker intrigued by conversations about retail strategies used for managing beauty floors or what skincare products and crystals have in common, this one is for you.
Hello Beauty
Host Joyce Platon, a Los Angeles-based makeup artist and groomer, discusses topics that bring to light the real deal on trending beauty treatments, social issues, and challenges people of color face related to beauty. The latest Hello Beauty episodes tackle demystifying beauty procedures like PDO thread lifts (described as a "nonsurgical facelifts") and Morpheus8 (a procedure that combines micro-needling and radio frequency), and advocating for black beauty entrepreneurs via interviews with founders including Brittney Ogike of BeautyBeez.
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Exclusive: Melanie Fiona On Making High-Vibrational Music & Saying Yes To Partnership
Melanie Fiona is back! After taking a little more than a decade-long hiatus, she has officially made her return to music and blessed us with two singles, “Say Yes” and “I Choose You.” While both singles are very different from each other, they both reflect who she is today and the type of music she wants to make. In our conversation, the mom of two expressed what she learned during her time away.
“It's interesting, even when I said it is like coming back, I don't ever feel like I really left because I was always still performing. I've still been public. It's not like I went into being this recluse person or version of myself, but the thing that I really learned in this process is that I think things take time,” Melanie says in a xoNecole exclusive.
“I think often we're so caught up in it, being on the timing of demand or popularity, or, like, striking while the iron is hot and the thing that I've learned is that everything is on God's time. That's it. Every time I thought I would have been ready, or, like, things were taking too long, I had to reship some things, personally, professionally, in my life. I also gave myself permission to make a living, not just make a living, but make a life for myself.”
Making a life for herself included getting married to Grammy-nominated songwriter Jared Cotter, starting a family, and embracing new landscapes, such as podcasting as a co-host of The Mama’s Den podcast. She also began doing more spiritual work and self-care practices like meditation, sound healing, Reiki, acupuncture, and boundary setting, which allowed her to get in touch with her inner voice.
“I wasn't putting out music, and I wasn't experiencing a number one record, but I was being a number one mom,” she says.
“I was experiencing things that were allowing me to heal and get in touch with myself so that I could make new music from a space of joy and freedom, and excitement again because I definitely feel like I did lose some excitement because of just politics and industry and what it can do to your mental health and even your physical health. So giving myself the space to really just say, ‘Hey, it's okay. Everything's right on time.’”
The joy and excitement are felt in one of two new singles, “I Choose You,” which is more of a lovers rock vibe, a tribute to Melanie’s Caribbean roots. While the Grammy award-winner is known for ballads like “It Kills Me” and “Fool For You,” she is becoming more intentional about the music she makes, calling it high-vibrational music. She says her music is a “reflection of my life,” as it captures every facet, from hanging out with friends to riding around in her car.
“Say Yes” has the classic R&B vibe Melanie is known for. However, both songs are inspired by her relationship. Melanie and Jared got married in December 2020, and the Toronto-bred artist dished on their relationship. Fun fact: he is featured in the “Say Yes” music video.
“When we first started dating, I had come into that relationship post a lot of self-work. I had gotten out of a long-term relationship, I had a year and a half to date and be by myself and do a lot of work on myself alone. And when we met, I remember feeling like this has to be my person because I feel it,” she says.
“And so when we went into that relationship, and we started dating, I was very clear. I was like, I know what I want. I'm very clear on what I need, and I'm not going to withhold my truth about myself in this process because of pride or fear of rejection. I know you love me, but I'm coming with my heart in my hand to let you know that if we're gonna get there, we have to put fear aside and say yes. So that was kind of like my open letter to him, which is why the video is us having a conversation.”
Melanie also shares that saying yes to her partner has empowered her in many ways, including motherhood and showing up for herself. Her new EP, also titled Say Yes, will be available at the top of 2025.
Check out the full interview below.
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You'd Be Amazed How Much These 10 Essential Oils Can Give You Some Blissful Sleep
If you’re someone who has a sleep routine (or you’re seriously thinking about creating one), please make sure that you incorporate scent into it. Although things like a cooler temperature in your bedroom, incorporating nature sounds (like rain or ocean waves via a sound machine or even a YouTube channel) and even sipping on some tart cherry juice are proven ways to get you the quality of rest that you’re after, science says that your sense of smell shouldn’t be overlooked.
In fact, aromatherapy is quite powerful when it comes to promoting calm and relaxation, helping to put you into an optimistic mood, reducing stress, preventing insomnia, and improving how soundly you are able to sleep throughout the night. And so, since I’m such an essential oils fan (and I truly am!), let’s get into 10 that will help you to rest well — thanks to the way that they smell along with a few other benefits that they are able to offer you too.
Essential Oils for Better Sleep
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1. Lavender
When it comes to essential oils that are best for you in the “rest and relaxation department,” lavender may be the most popular one. That’s because it is well known for doing everything from reducing pain and inflammation and making menstrual cramps less intense to lowering anxiety and increasing your melatonin levels. On a super scientific note, something else that’s cool about lavender oil is it works with your body’s neurotransmitters in order to reduce restlessness if you happen to be someone who doesn’t sleep soundly due to tossing and turning all throughout the night.
2. Cedarwood
Although I’ve always liked the earthy scent of cedarwood, something that caused it to earn my respect was reading about how it’s an all-natural way to improve the attention span of children who’ve been diagnosed with autism and ADHD. Beyond that, as far as calming oneself goes, cedarwood oil is able to soothe arthritic discomfort, reduce coughing (if a cold is what’s keeping you up), decrease the itchiness and irritation that comes with eczema, lower your stress levels, and, yes, improve your quality of sleep if you’re someone who happens to rest yet not really…rest well.
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3. Patchouli
Another oil that has a solid reputation for decreasing bodily inflammation is patchouli. Some other things that make it stellar are the facts that it helps to ward off depression-related symptoms (if that is what keeps you up at night), puts you in a better mood, boosts your immunity (so that being under the weather doesn’t prevent you from catching some zzz’s) and it even intensifies your libido — ‘cause chile, ain’t nothin’ like the sleep that you get after having an orgasm…or two. Oh, and it absolutely must go on record that patchouli oil also acts as a sedative if you’ve been dealing with insomnia as of late as well.
4. Marjoram
Women who are looking for an all-natural way to regulate their hormones (check out “5 Signs Your Estrogen Is Too High. 5 Signs It's Too Low.”) might want to speak with their doctor (or homeopath) about trying marjoram oil. Some research says that it can help to balance hormones which can make PMS and the latter stages of perimenopause more tolerable (which can make falling and staying asleep easier to do too). Marjoram is also helpful when it comes to reducing pain, easing digestion, and alleviating anxiety.
Plus, since marjoram is an oil that is high in magnesium and magnesium is a nutrient that can help you to get to sleep, stay asleep, and then wake up feeling refreshed — so long as you’re not pregnant or breastfeeding (you should consult your doctor first if you are because it can sometimes produce side effects in your case), you definitely should give marjoram a shot.
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5. Ylang Ylang
Typically, when I think of the essential oil ylang ylang, what comes to my mind is how it can make for a very eventful evening…if you catch my drift (check out “Ultimate Climax Hack? 10 Scents That Make It So Much Easier To Orgasm”); however, it can actually help you out in more areas of your life than just your bedroom. Ylang ylang is another oil that helps to reduce pain and anxiety. Something else to keep in mind about ylang ylang is if you’re having a hard time falling asleep due to something like a headache or even respiratory issues, putting a couple of drops into a diffuser could bring some relief. That’s because ylang ylang is also classified as being a sedative — one that can even help to lower the blood pressure in your bae (healthy men) if need be.
6. Fennel
As a doula, something that I’m well aware of is the fact that fennel seeds can help (some) mothers to produce more breast milk. It doesn’t stop there, though. If sleep is evading you due to gas or constipation, fennel oil can help you out there. Some scientific research also says that it’s the kind of oil that can help you feel less anxious if you’re trying to rest after a long hard day. And, since fennel is known for making sleeping better when it’s in tea form, I don’t see why it wouldn’t do the same thing as an essential oil too.
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7. Valerian Root
If you’re looking for the kind of essential oil that will help you to relax, on pretty much every level, look no further than valerian root. The properties in it are going to help to calm your nervous system, soothe headache tension, lower your stress levels, decrease menstrual cramp discomfort, bring relief to hot flashes (that come with perimenopause) and yes, it’s an all-natural approach to insomnia as well. Although many choose to use it in supplement form, applying valerian root oil to pressure points like your feet can also provide a very relaxing and impactful effect.
8. Jasmine
If you check out my article, “8 Natural Aphrodisiac Scents, Where They Go & How To Make Them Last” from back in the day, you’ll see that jasmine is another essential oil that is considered to be a pretty potential one if you’re looking to boost you (or your partner’s libido). I get why too because its floral-meets-fruity scent can be quite sensual. Beyond the bedroom, jasmine can help you to feel less stressed and anxious, experience less menstrual-related discomfort, and make you feel less depressed — and yes, it contains properties that qualify the oil to be a sedative. This is especially the case if you blend it with another soothing essential oil like lavender.
9. Clary Sage
If pretty much nothing but perimenopause symptoms are what’s keeping you awake at night, you might want to keep a bottle of clary sage oil on your nightstand because it can help to decrease night sweats by naturally “leveling out” the estrogen that may be on a bit of a roller coaster ride in your system right through here. Other things that this oil can do is reduce stress and help to relax your system. Not to mention the fact that if menstrual cramps are what’s keeping you up, some women say that rubbing some of the oil (add a carrier oil like sweet almond or avocado to the oil to dilute it a bit, please) to your abdominal region can provide quite a bit of relief.
10. Vetiver
Final one. In my opinion, it’s kind of surprising that vetiver essential oil isn’t mentioned more in the holistic care space. For starters, it has been celebrated for providing support for children with ADHD as well as decreasing nervousness and anxiety in adults. Some other ways that this oil can benefit you is it’s the kind of aphrodisiac that raises testosterone levels while lowering cortisol ones (cortisol is a stress hormone that’s in your body) which can intensify orgasms and promote great rest — and yes, it’s also mentioned quite often in the sleep-inducing space.
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You know, I once read that since 2010, the amount of people who rely on sleeping pills to get to sleep has pretty much doubled. Since the side effects of the long-term use of over-the-counter sedatives include things like headaches, muscle weakness, digestion issues, and even louder snoring and sleeplessness, consider trying one of these essential oils before popping a pill. As you can see, not only can certain oils help to lull you to sleep — but they can help in so many other areas too. Happy resting, chile.
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