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Why are we obsessed with glass skin, poreless complexions and perfectly smooth faces? In this bonus episode, we explore the rise of the K-beauty glass skin trend, our centuries-old obsession with flawless complexions, the war against pores and skin texture, and the growing skincare obsession among children. Because glass doesn't have lines, texture or pores...but glass isn't alive. Are.You.Ready? **************** SOURCES & FURTHER READING: American Academy of Dermatology Association. "A Dermatologist's Guide to Skincare From Growing Up to Glowing Up." 2025. American Academy of Dermatology Association. "What Can Treat Large Facial Pores?" Bolen, Rebecca, Tionna Szymanski, Jordanne Nichols, and Kayd J. Pulsipher. "Dermatological Safety of Cosmetic Products Marketed to Children: Insights on the Sephora Kids Phenomenon." Journal of Drugs in Dermatology, Vol. 24, No. 9, 2025, pp. 949-951. Cleveland Clinic. "Sebaceous Filaments: Difference From Blackheads & Treatment." 2023. eSafety Commissioner, Australian Government. "Social Media Age Restrictions." Grist, Kerry. "Dangerous Beauty: Hazardous Chemicals and Poisons in Historic Cosmetics." Science Museum Group, 2022. Hales, Molly, Sarah Rigali, Amy Paller, Walter Liszewski, and Tara Lagu. "Pediatric Skin Care Regimens on TikTok." Pediatrics, Vol. 156, No. 1, 2025, e2024070309. Matts, Paul J., Bernhard Fink, Karl Grammer, and Maria Burquest. "Color Homogeneity and Visual Perception of Age, Health, and Attractiveness of Female Facial Skin." Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology, Vol. 57, No. 6, 2007, pp. 977-984. National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution. "Dr. James P. Campbell's Safe Arsenic Complexion Wafers." Reuters. "France's Top Court Blocks Social Media Ban for Under-15s." August 14, 2026. Schallon, Lindsay. "This Woman's 'Glass Skin' Skin-Care Routine Is Going Viral." Allure, 2017. **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on Social Media & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour **************** INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC: FASION/ '1-800-DIRTY'/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

Welcome, friends! Why do we LOVE female rage when it's on a screen, hanging in a museum, or packaged into the perfect TikTok edit, yet become deeply uncomfortable when real women get angry? In this episode, we explore the aesthetics of female rage, from the pressure to remain beautiful and agreeable to the racial stereotypes and double standards that shape how women's anger is perceived. We look at what happens when women swallow their anger, what happens when they finally explode, and why female fury can become so compelling when it's transformed into art, literature and pop culture. And what if rage isn't always an explosion? Sometimes, it simply says: ENOUGH. Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources & Further Reading: Brescoll, Victoria L., and Eric Luis Uhlmann. "Can an Angry Woman Get Ahead? Status Conferral, Gender, and Expression of Emotion in the Workplace." Psychological Science, Vol. 19, No. 3, 2008, pp. 268-275. Cahill, Cathleen D. "Gertrude Simmons Bonnin (Zitkala-Ša): Advocate for the 'Indian Vote.'" National Park Service. Davidson, Helen. "'Repugnant, Racist': News Corp Cartoon on Serena Williams Condemned." The Guardian, September 11, 2018. Epstein, Rebecca, Jamilia J. Blake, and Thalia González. Girlhood Interrupted: The Erasure of Black Girls' Childhood. Georgetown Law Center on Poverty and Inequality, 2017. Ferris State University, Jim Crow Museum of Racist Imagery. "The Sapphire Caricature." Folger Shakespeare Library. William Shakespeare, Macbeth. Folger Shakespeare Library. William Shakespeare, The Taming of the Shrew. Hajela, Deepti. "Serena Williams' Treatment at U.S. Open Resonates Among Black Women." PBS NewsHour / Associated Press, September 11, 2018. Hess, Ursula, Reginald B. Adams Jr., Karl Grammer, and Robert E. Kleck. "Face Gender and Emotion Expression: Are Angry Women More Like Men?" Journal of Vision, Vol. 9, No. 12, 2009. Jack, Dana Crowley, and Diana Dill. "The Silencing the Self Scale: Schemas of Intimacy Associated With Depression in Women." Psychology of Women Quarterly, Vol. 16, No. 1, 1992, pp. 97-106. Library of Congress. "Ida B. Wells-Barnett Holds Her Ground." Shall Not Be Denied: Women Fight for the Vote. National Museum of African American History and Culture. "Popular and Pervasive Stereotypes of African Americans." National Park Service. "A Noble Endeavor: Ida B. Wells-Barnett and Suffrage." National Women's History Museum. "Elizabeth Packard." O'Leary, Ann. "Stress, Emotion, and Human Immune Function." Psychological Bulletin, Vol. 108, No. 3, 1990, pp. 363-382. Renna, Megan E., et al. "A Systematic Review of Associations Between Emotion Regulation Characteristics and Inflammation." Neuroscience & Biobehavioral Reviews, 2023. BBC Sport. "US Open 2018: Serena Williams Accuses Umpire of Sexism After Outbursts in Final." September 9, 2018. BBC Sport. "US Open 2018: Serena Williams' Claims of Sexism Backed by WTA." September 10, 2018. Uffizi Galleries / Google Arts & Culture. "Artemisia Gentileschi's Judith in the Uffizi." Zumwalt, Dominique. "Suppressed Rage and Autoimmune Disorders in Women." SonderMind, April 18, 2025, updated April 10, 2026. **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

Welcome, friends! Just a quick message before I tell you what this episode is all about. It arrived a little later than planned. Life got unexpectedly busy behind the scenes, so I gave myself a little extra breathing room. Thank you for your patience, and thank you, as always, for listening. Why do women so often become the enforcers of the very beauty standards that have hurt them? In this brand new episode of Beauty Unlocked, we're looking at where our earliest ideas about beauty come from, how seemingly harmless comments can follow us for decades, and why beauty standards can become intertwined with identity, belonging, survival, and worth. We also explore the influence of family, Eurocentric beauty ideals, and the uncomfortable ways inherited beliefs can become lessons we pass on to others. Because the fact that we inherited an idea doesn't mean we have to keep it. ARE. YOU. READY? **************** Sources & Further Reading: Deek, Melanie Rebecca, Ivanka Prichard, and Eva Kemps. "The Mother-Daughter-Sister Triad: The Role of Female Family Members in Predicting Body Image and Eating Behaviour in Young Women." Body Image 46 (2023): 336-346. Engeln, Renee. Beauty Sick: How the Cultural Obsession with Appearance Hurts Girls and Women. New York: Harper, 2017. Festinger, Leon. "A Theory of Social Comparison Processes." Human Relations 7, no. 2 (1954): 117-140. Kluck, Annette S. "Family Influence on Disordered Eating: The Role of Body Image Dissatisfaction." Body Image 7, no. 1 (2010): 8-14. Strings, Sabrina. Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia. New York: New York University Press, 2019. Vouloumanos, Victoria. "POC Are Sharing The Eurocentric Beauty Standards They Grew Up With And How It Impacted Them." BuzzFeed, February 25, 2023. **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

Sometimes the hardest decision as a creator is deciding not to release something you're not proud of. Just a quick update to let you know what's happening with Episode 126 and Beauty Unlocked's upcoming summer break. Thank you for your patience, support, and understanding. I'll be back at the end of August when the show returns with new episodes and plenty more uncomfortable questions for us to explore together. Stay safe out there, my love buckets. Take care of yourselves and each other, and remember to stay curious, always. 🩷🖤🩷🖤🩷

Why were Laetitia Casta and Aishwarya Rai criticized for their appearance at the 2026 Cannes Film Festival? What starts as celebrity gossip quickly becomes a much bigger conversation about beauty standards, aging, body image, and social media. Because the more I looked at the comments coming out of Cannes, the more one question kept nagging at me: Did the tabloids disappear—or did we become them? Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources & References: Andrejevic, Mark. iSpy: Surveillance and Power in the Interactive Era. University Press of Kansas, 2007. Andrejevic, Mark. Reality TV: The Work of Being Watched. Rowman & Littlefield, 2004. Berger, John. Ways of Seeing. Penguin Books, 1972. Bordo, Susan. Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body. University of California Press, 1993. Dyer, Richard. Stars. British Film Institute, 1979. Festinger, Leon. “A Theory of Social Comparison Processes.” Human Relations, vol. 7, no. 2, 1954, pp. 117–140. Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Translated by Alan Sheridan. Vintage Books, 1977. Gamson, Joshua. Claims to Fame: Celebrity in Contemporary America. University of California Press, 1994. Marwick, Alice E. Status Update: Celebrity, Publicity, and Branding in the Social Media Age. Yale University Press, 2013. Mulvey, Laura. “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.” Screen, vol. 16, no. 3, 1975, pp. 6–18. Senft, Theresa M. Camgirls: Celebrity and Community in the Age of Social Networks. Peter Lang, 2008. Wolf, Naomi. The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women. William Morrow, 1991. Articles & Reporting: Arieux, Chloe B. “Laetitia Casta : insultes, grossophobie… ce qui s’est passé à Cannes choque.” Public, 29 May 2026. Reporting and commentary covering public reactions to Laetitia Casta and Aishwarya Rai Bachchan during the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, including discussions of ageism, body shaming, beauty standards, and social media scrutiny. **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

In this episode, I’m unpacking the history of female body hair removal, the rise of shaving and Brazilian wax culture, and why women are taught to see natural body hair as “gross.” From Ancient Egypt and razor advertising to pornography, patriarchy, and Eurocentric beauty standards, we’re digging into how female hairlessness became tied to femininity, desirability, cleanliness, and control. Why is body hair considered masculine on men but unacceptable on women? And why does modern beauty culture reward women for removing visible signs of adulthood from their bodies? Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources & References: Attwood, Feona. Mainstreaming Sex: The Sexualization of Western Culture. I.B. Tauris, 2009. Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage Books, 1995. Gill, Rosalind. Gender and the Media. Polity Press, 2007. Herzig, Rebecca. Plucked: A History of Hair Removal. NYU Press, 2015. Ovid. Ars Amatoria (The Art of Love). Translated by James Michie, Modern Library, 2002. Peiss, Kathy. Hope in a Jar: The Making of America’s Beauty Culture. University of Pennsylvania Press, 2011. Strings, Sabrina. Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia. NYU Press, 2019. Tyldesley, Joyce. Nefertiti’s Face: The Creation of an Icon. Harvard University Press, 2018. Wolf, Naomi. The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women. Harper Perennial, 2002. Additional historical and cultural analysis referenced throughout the episode includes studies on Ancient Egyptian beauty and grooming rituals, Islamic hygienic traditions and body hair practices, feminist media theory surrounding bodily surveillance, pornography and beauty culture, beauty labor and gendered self-surveillance, racialized beauty standards, Eurocentric femininity, and contemporary discussions surrounding Brazilian wax culture, “clean girl” aesthetics, and social media beauty trends. **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

What's a recession indicator you've noticed? Lately, one answer keeps resurfacing online: "You can see celebrities' ribs again." And as unserious as that sounds at first, history suggests it may not be entirely wrong. In this episode, I dive into Ozempic, recession aesthetics, quiet luxury, heroin chic, and the return of thinness as a cultural ideal. From celebrity weight loss trends to the politics of appetite, I explore how beauty standards shift during periods of economic anxiety, social instability, and cultural fear- and why women's bodies so often become the place where those anxieties are projected. Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources & References: Bordo, Susan. Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body. University of California Press, 1993. Bourdieu, Pierre. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste. Translated by Richard Nice, Harvard University Press, 1984. Debord, Guy. The Society of the Spectacle. Zone Books, 1994. Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish: The Birth of the Prison. Vintage Books, 1995. Foxcroft, Louise. Calories & Corsets: A History of Dieting Over 2,000 Years. Profile Books, 2011. Rose, Nikolas. Governing the Soul: The Shaping of the Private Self. Free Association Books, 1999. Stearns, Peter N. Fat History: Bodies and Beauty in the Modern West. New York University Press, 2002. Strings, Sabrina. Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia. NYU Press, 2019. Tolentino, Jia. Trick Mirror: Reflections on Self-Delusion. Random House, 2019. Veblen, Thorstein. The Theory of the Leisure Class. Oxford University Press, 2007. Wolf, Naomi. The Beauty Myth: How Images of Beauty Are Used Against Women. Harper Perennial, 2002. Additional reporting and cultural analysis referenced throughout the episode includes coverage of Ozempic and Wegovy, celebrity weight loss culture, recession aesthetics, heroin chic and 1990s fashion culture, wellness culture, self-optimization, and digital body surveillance from contemporary journalism, academic commentary, and media analysis. **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

What if your "glow-up" didn't change who you are, but changed how the world treats you? In this episode, I'm unpacking pretty privilege, the psychology behind it, and why being seen differently can feel more unsettling than empowering. We're talking about perception, bias, and the uncomfortable truth behind why opportunities, attention, and respect suddenly shift. This isn't about glow-ups...it's about what they reveal. Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources & References: Thorndike, E. L. (1920). A Constant Error in Psychological Ratings. Journal of Applied Psychology. Dion, K., Berscheid, E., & Walster, E. (1972). What Is Beautiful Is Good. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Hamermesh, D. S. (2011). Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful. Festinger, L. (1957). A Theory of Cognitive Dissonance. Higgins, E. T. (1987). Self-Discrepancy Theory. Psychological Review. Fredrickson, B. L., & Roberts, T. A. (1997). Objectification Theory. Psychology of Women Quarterly. Ogden, J., & Clementi, C. (2010). The Experience of Being Obese and the Many Consequences of Stigma. Journal of Obesity. **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

Labia fillers are one of those beauty trends that's quietly gaining traction- and chances are, you didn't even know it was something you were supposed to think about. In this episode, I break down what labia fillers actually are, why more people are getting them, and the beauty standards driving the demand. We're getting into the language, the marketing, and the bigger cultural shift behind this idea of "rejuvenation." If you've ever wondered how far beauty standards can go, this episode might change the way you see them. Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources & References: Braun, V. (2009). Female genital cosmetic surgery: A critical review. Feminism & Psychology, 19(2), 139–159. Gill, R. (2007). Gender and the Media. Polity Press. Illich, I. (1976). Limits to Medicine: Medical Nemesis: The Expropriation of Health. Pantheon Books. Bordo, S. (1993). Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body Liao, L. M., Creighton, S. M., & Crouch, N. S. (2005). Female genital appearance: “Normality” unfolds. BJOG: An International Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, 112(5), 643–646. Tiefer, L. (2008). Female Sexual Dysfunction: A Case Study of Disease Mongering. PLoS Medicine, 5(2), e32. American Society of Plastic Surgeons. (2023). Cosmetic Procedure Trends Report. Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists. (2013). Ethical Considerations in Relation to Female Genital Cosmetic Surgery (FGCS). American Psychological Association. (2007). Report of the APA Task Force on the Sexualization of Girls. Smith, T. P. (2022). The Infantilization of Women and Pedophilic Beauty Standards in Western Culture: A Literature Review. Medium. Cleveland Clinic. (2023). Dermal Fillers: What to Know Before You Get Them. Mayo Clinic. (2023). Dermal Fillers Overview. **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

Some of the most dangerous beauty trends right now don't look dangerous at all. In this bonus episode, I unpack viral skincare trends like over-exfoliation and DIY lip plumping-and what dermatologists are actually saying about them. What do these quick-fix trends really do to your skin-and why are experts warning against them? If you've ever been tempted to copy a routine from TikTok, this episode might make you think twice. Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources: Dermatology & Skin Barrier Health American Academy of Dermatology — “Exfoliation: How to Safely Exfoliate Your Skin” and guidance on protecting the skin barrier Cleveland Clinic — “Skin Barrier: What It Is, Function, and How to Repair It” British Journal of Dermatology — Research on skin barrier disruption from overuse of exfoliating acids Expert Commentary on Over-Exfoliation Dr. Shereene Idriss — Public commentary and patient education on over-exfoliation and compromised skin barriers The New York Times — “Dermatologists Warn Against Overcomplicated Skin-Care Routines” (coverage of social media skincare trends) DIY Beauty Risks & Lip Irritation Dr. Andrea Suarez — Educational content on DIY skincare risks and lip irritation Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology — Studies on contact dermatitis caused by essential oils and irritants Media Coverage on Viral Beauty Trends Allure — “The Dangers of DIY Beauty Hacks on TikTok” The New York Times — Reporting on TikTok skincare trends and dermatology concerns **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on Social Media & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour **************** INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC: FASION/ '1-800-DIRTY'/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound

The obsession with thinness didn't just appear out of nowhere-and it's not just about beauty, body image, or "health." In this episode, I'm unpacking the deeper history of diet culture, female body standards, and the social conditioning that taught women to shrink themselves-physically, emotionally, and culturally. From historical ideals of discipline and restraint to the racial roots of the modern thin ideal, we're digging into how thinness became tied to morality, self-control, and worth. This is a conversation about appetite, power, control, and the quiet rules women have been taught to follow without ever questioning them. So the real question is... when did thinness stop being about beauty-and start being about obedience? Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources & References: Core Books & Foundational Texts Wolf, Naomi. The Beauty Myth (1991) Bordo, Susan. Unbearable Weight: Feminism, Western Culture, and the Body (1993) Foucault, Michel. Discipline and Punish (1975) Strings, Sabrina. Fearing the Black Body: The Racial Origins of Fat Phobia (2019) Historical Context: Appetite, Religion & Discipline “Gluttony.” Encyclopaedia Britannica “How the Seven Deadly Sins Began as ‘Eight Evil Thoughts.’” History.com Forcen, Fernando E. “The Practice of Holy Fasting in the Late Middle Ages.” Journal of Religion and Health (2015) Bynum, Caroline Walker. “The Religious Significance of Food to Medieval Women.” Victorian Femininity & Bodily Control Murray, E. Food and Femininity in Victorian Literature (2022) Coar, L. “Sugar and Spice and All Things Nice: The Victorian Woman’s All-Consuming Predicament.” Krondl, M. Fashioning Gendered Appetite in the Victorian Age (2022) “Did Corsets Harm Women’s Health?” New York Academy of Medicine Racism, Fatphobia & the Thin Ideal Strings, Sabrina. Fearing the Black Body (NYU Press) “How Racism Created the Thin Ideal.” UC Irvine School of Social Sciences Review of Fearing the Black Body. UCLA Center for the Study of Women Weight Stigma & Social Bias “The Burden of Weight Stigma.” American Psychological Association (2022) “Weight Stigma.” National Eating Disorders Association Giel et al. “Weight Bias in Work Settings – A Qualitative Review.” National Academies / NCBI — Weight stigma and labor market outcomes Social Media, Wellness Culture & Modern Thinness Munro et al. “Diet Culture on TikTok” (2024) Davis et al. “#WhatIEatInADay on TikTok” (2023) Weber. “TikToxic Effects of ‘That Girl’ Content” (2025) Germic. Digital Wellness Culture & Womanhood (2025) “Why ‘Skinny’ Culture Is Back.” University of Colorado Anschutz (2026) **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

The beauty industry wasn't built on beauty-it was built on control. In this episode, I'm breaking down how beauty became gendered, why women were expected to invest in appearance, and how men were deliberately kept outside of it. From the rise of modern masculinity to the rebranding of men's grooming, skincare, and cosmetic procedures, I unpack how these standards were constructed and why they're now expanding. So what does it really mean when men are finally brought into a system women have been expected to navigate for decades? Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources: Fortune Business Insights — Men’s Grooming Products Market Size & Forecast Barclays / Cosmetics Business — Growth Trends in Men’s Beauty Spending Beauty Matter — Men’s Beauty Market: Steady Growth, Different Dynamics (Michael Gilman insights) The Guardian — Dr. Fay Bound-Alberti on male beauty standards and appearance Vogue — Rise of Male Cosmetic Procedures (“Brotox” and aesthetic treatments) American Society of Plastic Surgeons — Male Cosmetic Procedure Statistics Market Growth Reports — Men’s Grooming Market Consumer Behavior & Social Media Influence **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

Why does looking "effortless" cost so much? In this episode, I'm breaking down the myth of low-maintenance beauty and why "natural" is often anything but. From aristocrats who had other people do the work for them to today's hyper-curated "clean girl" aesthetic, what looks effortless is usually carefully constructed behind the scenes. I'll get into how this illusion became a class signal, who it actually benefits, and who gets left out. Because in beauty culture, effort doesn't disappear...it just gets edited out. Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources & Further Reading: Class, Taste, and Beauty Bourdieu, Pierre. Distinction: A Social Critique of the Judgement of Taste (Harvard University Press). Lemire, Beverly. Dress, Culture and Commerce (Palgrave Macmillan). History of Beauty & Cosmetics Peiss, Kathy. Hope in a Jar: The Making of America’s Beauty Culture (Metropolitan Books). Jones, Geoffrey. Beauty Imagined (Oxford University Press). Beauty, Labor, and Sociology Wolf, Naomi. The Beauty Myth (HarperCollins). Waring, Marilyn. If Women Counted (University of Toronto Press). Modern Beauty & Digital Culture Tolentino, Jia. Trick Mirror (Random House). Elias, Ana Sofia et al. Aesthetic Labour (Palgrave Macmillan). **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music

What if I told you that one of the most popular beauty treatments today is made from one of the most powerful toxins known to science? In this bonus episode, I'm breaking down what Botox actually is, how it went from food poisoning to a cosmetic staple, and why it's become so normalized that people are getting it done on their lunch breaks. We'll talk about how it works in the body, the side effects people don't always mention, and what repeated use might actually be doing long-term. This isn't about fear or judgment - it's about understanding what's really going on beneath the surface. Because when something this powerful becomes routine, it's worth asking a few questions. Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources & Further Reading: Medical Background on Botulinum ToxinSimpson, L. L. — “The Origin, Structure, and Pharmacological Activity of Botulinum Toxin.” Pharmacological Reviews Arnon, S. S. et al. — “Botulinum Toxin as a Biological Weapon: Medical and Public Health Management.” Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) Nigam, P. & Nigam, A. — “Botulinum Toxin.” Indian Journal of Dermatology History of BotoxFrank J. Erbguth — “Historical Notes on Botulism, Clostridium botulinum, Botulinum Toxin, and the Idea of the Therapeutic Use of the Toxin.” Movement Disorders How Botox Works & Medical UseMayo Clinic — “Botox Injections: Overview, Uses, and Risks” American Academy of Dermatology — “Botulinum Toxin Therapy” Carruthers, J. & Carruthers, A. — “Botulinum Toxin Type A in the Treatment of Glabellar Rhytides.” Dermatologic Surgery Side Effects & Safety ConsiderationsU.S. Food and Drug Administration — Botox Medication Guide and Safety Labeling American Academy of Dermatology — Clinical Guidance on Botulinum Toxin Use Mayo Clinic — Risks and complications of Botox injections Long-Term Effects & Muscle ChangesDurand, P. D. et al. — “Botulinum Toxin and Muscle Atrophy: A Wanted or Unwanted Effect.” Aesthetic Surgery Journal Mathevon, L. et al. — Research on structural muscle changes after botulinum toxin injection Schroeder, A. S. et al. — “Muscle Biopsy Evidence of Long-Term Changes After Botulinum Toxin Injection” Resistance & ImmunogenicityBenecke, R. — “Clinical Relevance of Botulinum Toxin Immunogenicity” Bellows, S. et al. — Research on antibody formation after repeated botulinum toxin exposure Stephan, F. et al. — Studies on resistance to botulinum toxin therapy Cosmetic Industry & Botox TrendsAmerican Society of Plastic Surgeons — Plastic Surgery Statistics Report Meredith Jones — Skintight: An Anatomy of Cosmetic Surgery **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on Social Media & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour **************** INTRO/OUTRO MUSIC: FASION/ '1-800-DIRTY'/Courtesy of Epidemic Sound www.epidemicsound.com

Welcome back, loves! The male gaze didn't begin with film, it was already centuries old by the time cameras appeared. In this episode, I trace how powerful patrons, religious institutions and elite collectors shaped beauty standards through the paintings they commissioned. From reclining Venuses to carefully staged portraits, these images didn't just depict women, they trained viewers how to look at them. But when women finally entered the art world and began painting themselves and each other, the visual language started to shift. By the end of the episode, you may never look at a painting, a movie scene, or even your own camera roll quite the same way again. Are. You. Ready? **************** Sources & Further Reading: The Civil Contract of Photography, Ariella Aïsha Azoulay. 2008. Zone Books. Negotiating the Female Body in Art, Elisabeth Bronfen. 1998. University of Chicago Press. Women, Art, and Society, Whitney Chadwick. 1990. Thames & Hudson. Why Love Hurts, Eva Illouz. 2012. Polity Press. The Painting of Modern Life, T. J. Clark. 1985. Princeton University Press. The Will to Change: Men, Masculinity, and Love, bell hooks. 2004. Atria Books. Ways of Seeing, John Berger. 1972. Penguin Books. Museum Frictions, Ivan Karp & Corinne A. Kratz (eds.). 2006. Duke University Press. Women, Art, and Power, Linda Nochlin. 1988. Harper & Row. Old Mistresses: Women, Art, and Ideology, Rozsika Parker & Griselda Pollock. 1981. Routledge & Kegan Paul. Vision and Difference, Griselda Pollock. 1988. Routledge. The Burden of Representation, John Tagg. 1988. University of Minnesota Press. Visual and Other Pleasures, Laura Mulvey. 1989. Palgrave Macmillan. Gender and Art, Gill Perry. 1999. Yale University Press. Cold Intimacies, Eva Illouz. 2007. Polity Press. Art and Agency, Alfred Gell. 1998. Oxford University Press. The Linda Nochlin Reader, Linda Nochlin (ed. by Maura Reilly). 2015. Thames & Hudson. The Guerrilla Girls’ Bedside Companion to the History of Western Art, Guerrilla Girls. 1998. Penguin Books. **************** Peer-Reviewed Articles & Theoretical EssaysNochlin, Linda. “Why Have There Been No Great Women Artists?” 1971. ARTnews. Pollock, Griselda. “Feminist Interventions in the Histories of Art.” 1988. Various academic journals. Mulvey, Laura. “Visual Pleasure and Narrative Cinema.” 1975. Screen. **************** Paintings Mentioned: Venus of Urbino — Titian La Fornarina — Raphael Portrait of Eleonora di Toledo with Her Son — Agnolo Bronzino The Arnolfini Portrait — Jan van Eyck Ginevra de' Benci — Leonardo da Vinci Portrait of Agnolo and Maddalena Doni — Raphael The Birth of Venus — Sandro Botticelli Danaë — Titian Danaë — Jean-François de Troy Susanna and the Elders — Tintoretto Grande Odalisque — Ingres La Maja Desnuda — Francisco Goya Girl with a Pearl Earring — Vermeer The Three Graces — Rubens Diana Leaving the Bath (representing Boucher’s mythological nudes) Self‑Portrait as the Allegory of Painting — Artemisia Gentileschi Self‑Portrait with Her Daughter Julie — Élisabeth Vigée Le Brun Self‑Portrait — Judith Leyster The Child’s Bath — Mary Cassatt Woman at Her Toilette — Berthe Morisot The Chess Game — Sofonisba Anguissola **************** Leave Us a 5* Rating, it helps the show! Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/beauty-unlocked-the-podcast/id1522636282 Spotify Podcast: https://open.spotify.com/show/37MLxC8eRob1D0ZcgcCorA **************** Follow Us on TikTok & Subscribe to our YouTube Channel! YouTube: @beautyunlockedspodcasthour TikTok: tiktok.com/@beautyunlockedthepod **************** Intro/Outro Music: “Fame Inc” by Savvier — https://icons8.com/music