LifeGLOSS: The Pro-Aging Beauty Podcast

LifeGLOSS: Gratitude, Beauty's Secret Ingredient

• Hillary Clark-Mina

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Starting 2025 with Gratitude and Beauty | Life Gloss Podcast
In this episode of the Life Gloss Podcast, hosts Hillary and Susan dive into the new year with reflections on gratitude and beauty. They discuss the challenges faced in January, including the devastating fires in Los Angeles, and how expressing gratitude can help us through tough times. They share personal experiences, including evacuation stories and the importance of having essential emergency items ready. The conversation also touches on beauty tips and products to feel normal and dignified even in crises. The hosts highlight some of their favorite skincare and makeup products that bring joy and comfort during difficult times. Stay tuned for a heartfelt discussion and practical beauty tips to start 2025 on a positive note.
00:00 New Year, New Beginnings
00:28 Gratitude Amidst Adversity
01:44 Evacuation Reflections
05:52 Emergency Preparedness Tips
15:24 Community and Connection
20:44 Gratitude Practices
23:11 Happy Colors and Beauty Tips
30:56 Chanel Mirror Review
31:22 Gratitude and Makeup Playtime
31:58 Winter Skincare Tips
34:44 Refillable Lipstick by Lisa
37:34 Makeup Application and Tips
42:18 Kerastase Hair Serum Review
47:11 Upcoming Hair Episode Teaser
53:38 Closing Remarks and Social Media

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Press and Partnerships:
Hillary@Life-Gloss.com

Music by, Mag

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Happy New Year. Welcome back.

Susan:

Happy New Year, Life Gloss Podcast and Hillary. It's a new year.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

my goodness. Guys, this feels like January that has been. a year long. And you know, as Audrey Hepburn says, happy girls are the prettiest girls. And science proves that gratitude makes people beautiful. So Let's be beautiful and let's be grateful. And let's talk about gratitude this episode.

Susan:

I think that is so apropos, especially with everything that you've just been through, and so many people have been through in Los Angeles with these horrific fires we are having freezing cold, terrible weather on the East coast. You have absolutely beyond devastating weather on the West coast. And I know our friends in the Midwest are getting hit with all types of crazy storms, even as we're recording today. So I agree with you. I think it's a perfect way to kind of start out 2025. With some gratitude. Gratitude in beauty, gratitude for even being here, gratitude for what we have. Um, I am definitely feeling like this is the longest month in history. Let's just pretend that we're already in February and let's just have some fun with beauty and have some fun with makeup today. And I agree with you, Hill, talking about what we're grateful for is one of the best ways to overcome difficult times or tough change and new beginnings that are just beginnings that really we don't want, right?

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Absolutely. And, you know, I, as I sit here and have a little bit of survivor's guilt, because there are so many people in pockets around me that don't have homes. And while we had to evacuate more than once. are, we're so very, very grateful to be able to be in our homes, to be able to be with so many of our friends and family that even if they lost their homes, they still have their lives. So it's definitely been an interesting time of reflection. It's interesting when you have, you know, moments. To grab what is meaningful to you to leave. In our case, we had a little bit more time. So there was a big time of reflection. I had a whole day before really realizing, okay, I need to evacuate because we were between the two big fires and it wasn't until the sunset fire hit for the Hollywood Hills that We had to go. So it was a really interesting, um, time of reflection and it ironically backed up to when I was just starting to think about how to pack skincare and makeup for a training and education trip that I'm taking to Europe.

Susan:

I mean, how do you,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

What do you grab and what do

Susan:

yeah,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

beauty? It's like prescriptions, passport

Susan:

right. I mean,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

there.

Susan:

Do you even like, I mean, it's so hard for me to get my head around this, you know, and we want to be so sensitive to our listeners who have gone through tragedy in this past month or who are going through it, right? Like, I mean, this is the thing that I hate about the news. It's like, that's all we heard about on the East coast where these, you know, with the fires and this whole tragedy. And of course I'm texting you every five seconds, you know, are you okay? Get out of your house. Oh my God. You know, now it's like. Oh, we've moved on. We're on to something else. Now. Everyone's arguing about politics now. So it's like, Oh my gosh, you know, I think we need to slow down. We need to take a breath. We need to take a beat and realize there's people out there right now with legitimately The clothing on their back and our hearts do go out to everyone. So let's just put that right out there

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Yeah, today, after we wrap here, I'm going and taking a whole bag. I went through my beauty closet and I have several bags of skincare, color brushes,

Susan:

yes

Hillary Clark-Mina :

and everything that I have a duplicate in, or that I know someone well enough. I've used it once. Here you go.

Susan:

Yes

Hillary Clark-Mina :

to take things to like my friend's mom and several other people that. They don't have deodorant. They didn't have toothbrushes.

Susan:

Right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

anything.

Susan:

And, you know, and some of it is to how that we decided to, you know, for those of you that have been keeping up with us now for a while, we did go on pause for a few weeks here and a lot of that was the holidays. And we wanted to obviously take a break, take a breather, celebrate the holidays, but we also wanted to really be mindful of the holidays. All the tragedy and everything that's been going on, um, and especially because they, you know, affected us personally with so many friends that we know people that have lost things and people that have lost homes, people that have, been through a lot, like more than anyone should be going through. So we wanted to be mindful of that and not come on and be talking about lip gloss during a horrific time. But to your point, I was sitting here and thinking, you know, in the safety of my East coast world, um, that, you know, what do you grab? Like, how, how do you even like begin to think about beauty? Do you even, I mean, not even beauty. I mean, you're thinking about your life. You're thinking about your pets, your loved ones, your important papers and documents. But to your point, you know, how do you even know what to grab? How do you even know like what to do? Right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

having been through several different events like this from earthquakes, you know, 1989 earthquake, I was in Santa Cruz. So from being through earthquakes to now fires. I was, you know, standing in front of the Soho Grand on 9 11. There's not a lot you can do there, but keep moving. I feel like one of the best things I can do is tell people, do everything in advance. It's you know, you can't ever plan really well for anything you're nothing's ever going to go according to plan. But having a game plan. gets you those many steps ahead and can get you out of the panic. So packing for an earthquake, maybe that's different than a fire or a place where you have both. The main thing I can do is recommend that people have two copies of your passports, any important documents,

Susan:

Yeah,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

like that, have two copies of

Susan:

right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

have them digitally,

Susan:

Yeah,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

seal them in bags, put them in little pouches and bags with glasses, prescriptions.

Susan:

right. Right,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

little things in there. I always make sure my cars are always full of gas.

Susan:

or fully charged, you know,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

everything you have phone chargers in there, you want to batteries in there, you want to have flashlights in there. If anybody wants, I'm going to do a full little prep, if you will, little tiny emergency

Susan:

a great idea. Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

to have some cash. It's

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

things in there. So, uh, as far as beauty, it's important to have those things too, just because it helps to give you a sense of feeling a little bit normal, even in a crisis. And I found that I was taking things that I. surprised me. One of them was a new brand and here's something that's great to know. You need very little, very few products. Things can double as everything. So like, if you have an oil that you love your favorite oil, that can be your cleanser. That can be your moisturizer.

Susan:

Right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

That's it.

Susan:

body, like, yeah. It's, yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

You just need one major utilitarian item. For me, it was really interesting. I don't think we've ever talked about this brand before. I just discovered this brand, it's called In Your Face Cream. The woman that makes this, comes from a Sicilian family and she treats. Creating her products like you would think of the grandma cooking her sauce with all of our homemade ingredients. She actually infuses a lot of the ingredients in olive oils for over 30 days. But not

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

this like

Susan:

Yeah. Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

heavy, and heavy glass is not ideal to take with you,

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I just took my Beauty HAC roller because it soothes my soul, but I took this and I knew this would last me forever. I was using it to take off sunscreen to take off makeup and it moisturized all in one. So I could have gotten away with just one thing. And you

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

put them just in little, you know, you can get like those little travel palettes and you can just put little drops of different stuff in there and slide it in.

Susan:

Wow. Yeah. I mean, it's, it's so much to think about, you know, and we, and, you know, we don't want to dwell on all the negativity. We want to start this year out in a positive way, even though, you know, I wore this because, you know, I'm feeling very jet lagged, quite frankly. Very over 2025. We've only just begun. Um, but, um, I do think that, um, having you do a follow up video and talking about how you pack and an emergency and some of the things that you need to kind of feel normal, because I think you bring up a great point, Hill, you know, when we go through crisis and we go through things that are really difficult, those little tiny things of feeling dignified, of feeling A normalcy, having a toothbrush, having clean underwear, having a moisturizer, having, you know, I don't know, a lip balm, like something that just makes you feel safe and makes you feel normal as trivial as it may seem. I think there's a dignity to that. And I think that there's, uh, um, a security when you look good, you feel good, you know, it all kind of goes hand in hand,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

And dignity is a word I've been hearing a lot lately. Like Bethany Frankel has been talking about it a lot. She's been doing pretty incredible things for Los Angeles through

Susan:

yeah,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

be

Susan:

hats off to her. Yeah. Hats off. Yes. Yes.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

dignity is a big part of it. And especially when people are faced with having lost everything, it, it can be a shell shock. So if you can, you know, I always recommend if you have a car, have a little backpack in your car, With water, flashlight, socks,

Susan:

I do.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

glasses.

Susan:

the East Coast. Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

all of those kinds of

Susan:

Yep.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

You don't want to keep any sensitive paperwork in your car or anything like that, but I do, I have three little go

Susan:

It's gonna go back. Survival bags.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

the house and having, you know, I was so fortunate. I had a place to go, mind you, I got in the car and I'm on the top of the hill. There was a fire on the freeway that direction. There was a fire on the freeway that direction. There'd just been a fire going south. I was like, which, how do I get out of here

Susan:

Right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

into a blaze?

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I was able to weave my way south. The

Susan:

Right. Yeah. Yeah. What? What do you mean? Sure. Yep. Yep.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

pictures, mementos, things like that. Those things I've digitized if we lose our home and knowing the insurance situation in California, knowing everything else, I have to take things that I can sell. So I was taking tie stuff and jewelry and, you know, things that I could actually, you know, make a buck on if we were in a situation where we needed to do that right away. So everybody's strategy is going to be a little bit different for some people. It's baby pictures and photo albums, and they don't care about those other things. You know, my husband's a musician. So I had to say to him, you get four guitars. That's all I can get. And he was like, or

Susan:

Yeah. But you know, it's moments,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

but you know,

Susan:

it's moments like that, that I think really put everything into perspective and make us grateful for what we do have, you know, and to your point, what we can actually do without, you know, it's amazing what we can do without, you know, I mean,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Well,

Susan:

we have so much stuff,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

in this,

Susan:

right. You know,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

in this silly jacket right now because I've gone through all of my closets and I've pulled everything. Of course I've gone through and donated. There were things in my closet that I had a little bit of a sentimental attachment to, but that sentimental attachment meant zero when it came to somebody needing something.

Susan:

that's right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I've just gone through, if I don't wear it all the time and if I don't need it, great things like this that I look in my and I'm like, you know, this was given to me. Yes. It's a Versace couture from the nineties. Well, I bet I can sell it and give the funds to somebody that Can you use it in a proper way? And I'm doing that through

Susan:

Right, right, right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

you can see things behind me. I'm photographing and getting all kinds of things ready to go. And it feels really good to be

Susan:

Yeah, I've heard this.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

through. We

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

that much.

Susan:

Yeah, I've heard this from other friends, um, that I have out there, you know, in L. A. saying that they use this as a time of Obviously positive reflection and a time to reassess right a time to go through what you have, what you can do without what you can donate what you can give and kind of the meaning behind things and possessions and. You know, we love our luxury. We love our fun stuff. We love our beauty. We, you know, we like things we like sparkly, shiny things, but when you really put it all into perspective, it means absolutely nothing. And I think it is a, you know, it is a time of reflection. It's a time to remind everybody to be kind, to take care of each other, take care of yourself, all those little basic lessons, you know, that are so important to remember.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

And we've come so far away from that. Like we're constantly bombarded with Instagram Snapchat and all of these different things. We're constantly bombarded with what you need now and what you have to have. And your image has become your. status symbol. And it's like, I feel like we've become such a, self possessed and self obsessed, society almost to the point of where it's like we idolize our own image and we're idolizing our own profiles. And like we have these followers and all of this stuff. And I'm like, you know, when something like this happens, and especially in our neighborhood, because we had a lot of concerns with looting, with more arsonists coming in and starting fires, we've

Susan:

You have a question? My.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

in the neighborhood. So we've become very close with some of our neighbors, which is not something

Susan:

Wait.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

happens in Los Angeles. And the human connection has really been A jarring and very pleasantly jarring way to snap me out of much as I've always tried to stay away from that, um, social media presence, which I have to have because of my businesses.

Susan:

Sure.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

it in a very clear pinpoint and really has shown a light on the fact that we're so self involved Going on around us that is more

Susan:

Yeah, we really are. And you know, it's funny. Um, so my dad's 92nd birthday is tomorrow. So happy birthday, Joe. Um,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Joe.

Susan:

and he, yep. And he, you know, I bring him up because he, he was someone who was raised in a very tight community, um, in Boston and. He often talks about that, you know, that everybody knew each other. Everybody knew their neighbors. Everybody, you know, belonged to the same program. Like, everybody was on the same page. Like, they knew every, sometimes too much, but. You know, he talked often about his neighborhood in that community and where everyone helped each other and made sure everybody was okay. And it's interesting because he's often said to me, you know, we've moved so much and I've lived in so many cities and I look at it as something very fortunate, but he's often said to me over the years, you know, He's like, I think it's great. And I think it's fun. But he said, you know, how do you develop that safety and that community, that community spirit, that neighborhood. And we often talk about that. And I think there's pros to it. There's cons to it. But during tragedy and during times like this. You do start to realize, wow, it is important to know who, at least my next door neighbor is.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Yes. Finding the silver lining in anything in the moment can seem trite, but. Long term and even short term, it really is the balm that helps to keep people together. And, you know, especially in California, we are, we have and dramatically different views on, you know, politics, religion, the way we live our lives, the things that we do. we really all have come together as human beings that want what's best for each other. I mean, we've had to go on patrols watching for

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

scooters with blow torches. It's

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

So

Susan:

Yeah,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

The fact that there's the humanity and being kind and generous with each other and patient with each other is so important. And sometimes being patient is, we all know it's really hard. Yeah.

Susan:

media, I think, you know, we've talked about this on and off for such a long time, but the positives of it, being able to reach people quickly, being able to find people that are lost, being able to put together something really quickly, that's the positive side. The negative side is it's made us very isolated in a lot of ways, even though we have this great reach. It's made us so isolated and so self centered and, uh, yeah, it's, it's a lot. It's a lot. So.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

So I'd love to hear from some of our,

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

our audience and I must say, um, the audience here and the audience that I have for my vintage beauty on Tiktok, I was. Overwhelmed with the love and how many perfect strangers. I mean, they're not total strangers because I know them,

Susan:

Right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

through these platforms. And I know you guys through these platforms, but how many of you reached out to me and just checked on me or said, Hey, thinking of you, Hey, praying for you. My whole family's thinking of you. My mom and dad were praying for your home. We're hoping that you're protected. And that means. So very, very much. So there's there is that positivity. And, you know, I noticed the same thing during the earthquakes is particularly during 9 11. I was, you know, stranded because I couldn't

Susan:

Right. Right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I also felt like I didn't belong because it wasn't my city. So I was like, do I have any right to be traumatized by the fact that I literally just watched buildings come down in front of me and watched people jump from buildings, but they weren't my people and this isn't my city.

Susan:

Right. Right. Sure. Yeah. For sure. Right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

other, you know, walking the streets, you'd hold people's kids, you know, hand people your purse, your phone, whatever, just, you know, when nobody came together as strongly as I saw New York come together during that time. And a lot of it is because New Yorkers live in the street, know, everyone's out there and we're so close together.

Susan:

Right, right. Well, I'm praying and hoping that the rest of 2025 will be a little less eventful, will be a little more positive, a little calmer, maybe give us a chance to all catch our breath and realize that we're all in this together. So.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

are, we are, yeah, that's one of the. impetuses and really talking about what, what we're grateful for. And I found that I've been doing more, um, with more regularity than I used to. And we hear all of these things about these gratitude journals and saying what you're grateful for. And it always sounds so woohoo. you know, but I've been sitting up and before I start my day, just listing just in my head, even like three things. three things that I'm super grateful for. And at the moment it's something as simple as, you know, sheets, house,

Susan:

Susan, Susan? Is it supposed to be three? Susan, Susan, Susan? There's three things that just come to mind? Yeah. The littlest? That's right. That's right. That's right.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

hear little things creeping around us. And you know, I just, you know, some people meditate, some people pray, whatever it means for you. But for me, I'm just, you know, Thank God for, you know, all these little things, because the little things are the biggest things, and it's so easy to take things for granted. So, it's great. And as I get ready to travel, I'm going and teaching some classes abroad. I think it's also really interesting that I'm going to be in places that have had some instability lately. You know, I'm going to both Amsterdam and Lithuania. So I'm flying right over Poland. So it's been, it's been spicy to say the least over

Susan:

yeah. Yeah, yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

a few weeks ago. So stay tuned. I'll be bringing back lots of info. You know, I'll be scouring and keeping an eye out for us for things too.

Susan:

Oh, good. Well, as we transition to things that we are grateful for, and I think we've, you know, really talked a lot about, um, what's been going on and now taking some positivity spin here. I did pick up a couple of new items for our listeners who are always interested in what's new and what's exciting. So not to trivialize everything, it's always a tough segue to go from

Hillary Clark-Mina :

yeah, I was gonna say it's a tough segue.

Susan:

From something very serious and, and, and very heartfelt to something as trivial as beauty, but that's why you're listening to us, right? That's why you're here for LifeGloss. It's life and it's gloss, right? It's sometimes

Hillary Clark-Mina :

how did we both end up wearing fuchsia lipstick, which

Susan:

So,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

wear on

Susan:

so when we were

Hillary Clark-Mina :

people, by the way.

Susan:

It's never played with us.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

twinsie

Susan:

No, but if you look, if you look back through our podcast, you know, over the past year and change, you'll see oftentimes we'll have a similar lip color or we will have a similar color shirt. And this is the God's honest truth. Look, I'm putting up both hands. We never talk ahead of time about, Oh, we should wear this or we should do this. Or we, you know, we're not that.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

No.

Susan:

don't have our shit together that good. Okay. So it's hysterical that somehow we have become one brain in this and we automatically. We'll put our cameras on and just start cracking up because not always, but nine times out of 10,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Oh, nine.

Susan:

we have the same color lip or the same kind of makeup vibe and the same color shirt.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

And this was

Susan:

it's become a joke.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Because,

Susan:

This is so random. So I'll touch upon this and tell you why.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

one do you have on?

Susan:

So I Normally never wear shades like this. You'll never see me in what I call a cocoa pink and if you know, you know, so cocoa pink was one of the hottest shades of the 80s and 90s at chanel and It was such an iconic shade. It was this fluorescent hot pink. Well, I did my best to try to replicate that over the years because it's long discontinued and I found it in YSL number 19. Now, I don't know if they still make this one or not anymore. I feel like they do, but it is the perfect blue hot fuchsia. 80s pink that I usually only break out if I have a faux tan because I don't tan naturally anymore, but a faux tan or bronzer or whatever. And I'll wear this on vacation and it's called my happy color because you know me, I pretty much always wear nudes. If I want to be sultry and sexy and dramatic once a year, I'll toss on a red. But I pretty much stick to a nude lip. It's kind of my thing. Well, I said today when we were doing this podcast, as I was getting dressed, I said, you know what? The weather's been terrible here. I'm so sick of hibernating because I've been in hibernation. I'm going to be honest. It's freezing. It's yucky. I hate January. Based on everything we just talked about and I'm just a little maxed out and overwhelmed with a whole bunch of stuff. So I said, you know what? I'm going to put on something that's just going to make me happy because this is the color I wear on vacation. So I put my vacation lip on because I thought, you know what? I just need to feel happy today. And sure enough, I turn on my camera and there you are staring back at me like a mirror. In the same lip. So if any of you need to be happy or you're like, you know what, I just want to wear something that I never ever would reach for in a million fricking years. Go get yourself a hot pink lipstick and toss it off. This is what

Hillary Clark-Mina :

a six, I had a 6:00 AM Um, phone call, a zoom call, a 6:00 AM Zoom call with

Susan:

I'm sorry. Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

and I rolled out of bed and threw on a jacket and threw on this lip, no skincare, no mascara, no nothing.

Susan:

Yeah, that's me. Nothing. We got nothing.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

And it does. So you're lucky Suze, because you can wear the really blue, like that ultra violet,

Susan:

Yeah, I love

Hillary Clark-Mina :

base

Susan:

lips. Yeah, I do.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

the Chanel one, the Coco. Yes. And NARS also has the most magnificent fuchsia for me, for whatever reason, I can't do that undertone. It makes my skin look weird. makes me look really cheap. Like for some people it looks like rich bitch, Coco, you know, Palm Beach, you know, whatever. For

Susan:

beach lip.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Yeah, but for me, it ends up looking like Florida trashy, not Florida classy.

Susan:

You mean the wrong

Hillary Clark-Mina :

little

Susan:

side? The wrong side of Florida?

Hillary Clark-Mina :

of the ultraviolet, it makes my teeth look yellow, which my teeth are not yellow. And, you know, it's just, it's a funny thing with the purples on me. So I usually can't do a pink because it's not quite right. then the one and only one that I've ever found, believe it or not, is this young blood one and it's called bombshell

Susan:

Yeah. Ooh, it's pretty on you.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

enough that it gives you that

Susan:

Yeah, it's got a little bit of a

Hillary Clark-Mina :

pink.

Susan:

plummy base to it almost. And maybe that's why you're not feeling as like eighties

Hillary Clark-Mina :

as high

Susan:

video vixen. Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

It

Susan:

Yeah. Mm-hmm

Hillary Clark-Mina :

have that ultraviolet light reflection, which for whatever reason on me just.

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Doesn't work. So isn't that a funny thing? But for you, it looks expensive and beautiful.

Susan:

Well, it is expensive, but you know, meaning I, you know, YSL does. A really, really, really good lipstick and they do a really good hot pink and they do a really good red and you know, those French colors, right? Those

Hillary Clark-Mina :

They're reds.

Susan:

Cuisine type lips.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

lip.

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

a YSL lip. Their

Susan:

So,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

are great for me too, but also sometimes they can go a little purple, a little too purple.

Susan:

yeah. So while we're talking about our happy lips and trying to pretend it's not January, Um, I also decided, you know what, what the hell, I'll get a new piece of makeup for spring and bring it on here, pop on and play around with it. So, you know, I went to our friends at, you know, the double C's and they are now doing these mondo quads as I'm affectionately calling them. So they did one over the holiday season that had a purple and kind of a silvery white and an orange and very much an 80s kind of pop thing and I just wasn't feeling it for whatever reason. Um, because, you know, I really don't wear eyeshadow often and it wasn't something I even wanted for my kit because I thought No one's going to be requesting this from me. So the type of people I do make up, no one's going to request this. So I thought, you know, maybe they'll do another one. So they did. So this is the spring collection, even though we're in like, you know, 20 degree weather here. This is a spring collection and these are neat because they are, first of all, we love the huge size, right?

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I was just going to

Susan:

But it's.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

the size,

Susan:

It's massive.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

pool

Susan:

Look at my hand. Like, look at this is like objects will appear larger. Yeah, this does larger my friend. Um, so it's eyeshadow, it's blush, it's highlight. You can use them individually or swirl. So I don't have anything on except my lip. And, um, I may have put a little concealer underneath my eyes just to not scare anybody. So as we're talking, I love the mirror too, cause the mirror's huge.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Did they magnify it? Because, you know, sometimes Chanel gets fancy and they magnify their

Susan:

It's not magnified, but I'll be honest with you. It's such a good mirror that I can actually see myself in it without having to wear my glasses. So I don't know if it has a slight magnification, mag, oh my god, magnification to it. I don't think it does. Um, but I can actually See in it. So as we're talking about gratitude and things we're grateful for, I brought my brushes down and I thought I would just play around a little bit and put some moments. Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

you something.

Susan:

Show me something.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

have a surprise for you too.

Susan:

You do.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Mm-hmm

Susan:

Okay. What

Hillary Clark-Mina :

You can see I'm putting my,

Susan:

do you want first? A little highlight. I'm going to use this.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Let's start. Start with a highlight.

Susan:

I'm going to use this highlight color and see what happens. And I'll just put a little up here. Um,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Yeah. For someone

Susan:

just, you

Hillary Clark-Mina :

for a new moisturizer, this one is delicious. If you're feeling like you're in the dregs of winter, your skin

Susan:

know,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

super dry.

Susan:

I was going to ask you that and I don't know how everybody feels, but as many of you know, I did my advent calendar and thank you for all your comments. Um, I did do the Liberty advent calendar and found some new things and some things I've been using, but in there was my, um, Augustinus Botter moisturizer, which I love. So I've been using that, but is there anyone else out there or even you Hill? You know, I feel like these birthdays keep coming. I have another one in a couple of months coming, and I don't know if it's the winter, my age, I don't know what's happening, but I'm really feeling like even the extra rich cream. Is not enough and I'm using a hyaluronic acid and the cream and I'm still feeling like my skin is a size too small. So is anybody out there using anything that they're loving that they're just like, Oh, I'm so hydrated that I should get that.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

the answer for me. And I think, you know, a lot of it too, is because, I mean, I was at the point of where I was using like Egyptian magic, straight

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

everything

Susan:

I did the other day. I needed like oil. Crisco.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

feel that this has, you, this feels like it's alive to me. It feels like it has nature and science. We're not being paid to promote this at all. Really surprised that I keep reaching for it. I got it. I received it. I was like, you know, whatever. And then I felt it and I thought, wow, this is something special. And you can see, I mean, this thing is supposed to last you three or four months.

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

almost halfway through it because I've been using it. You know, I used it for a couple of weeks while we were and out of being evacuated as my everything. And it's beautiful. And I've noticed that my skin stays hydrated because I'm just getting really parched.

Susan:

I am so dry. Like I am like a bone, like a dog with a bone.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

owe you a lip liner, so I'll make

Susan:

yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

a little sample of this and I'll send you a little sample.

Susan:

Oh, would you? Oh, thank you. Oh. And I also sent a care package, a care package to you. So you should be getting that. Of everything that was in my, um, advent calendar. Um, that I won't use cause you know, you love those ouds and we know so they're coming your way, my friend. Oh, wow. What is that? Wait a minute. I know that.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

this is the Lisa

Susan:

That's,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Yes.

Susan:

a minute.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

So this is her new refillable lipstick. She set out to create because you know, vintage lipsticks used to be refillable.

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

and spent a ton of time, a ton of R and D, a lot of investment in capital, a lot of investment in brain. she created these really beautiful refillable, completely 100 percent aluminum.

Susan:

So beautiful.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

So of course, I got Audrey because as we all

Susan:

Oh,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

she has Audrey Hepburn's original lip color and has kept it a secret as far as exactly which color it is. she has, um, she made it go lightly in another version, but now this is the Audrey. So I thought I'd try it on for you.

Susan:

oh, let me see. Oh wait, I gotta put my glasses on.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Okay.

Susan:

Oh, that's so pretty. That's so sixties.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Uh huh.

Susan:

That's so sixties.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

this really unique formula. So it goes on, I'm going to show you on the cheek, it goes on a little sheer. It almost floats. It reminds me of Violette's Bisou Balm. It

Susan:

Oh, right. Those are beautiful.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

layer it to get as much color as you want. And it's right in between like a coral and a pink.

Susan:

Oh yeah. I was gonna say it's a real sixties shade. It's beautiful.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

It's

Susan:

say late fifties, early sixties, if I was doing any history type makeup, that's like 1958. 1959 lip

Hillary Clark-Mina :

yes, and I'm going to have to get another one for my kit because this is a

Susan:

you saw in that. Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

on anyone and this is definitely a color if

Susan:

That is so pretty.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

in the doldrums of um, the winter and they're not quite ready to go for the fuchsia lip that we came on with,

Susan:

Yeah,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Lisa's uh, Audrey because it is absolutely incredible and I highly recommend lip, cheek, cheek. You're done.

Susan:

I love it.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

makeup if you don't want to wear it. Um, but I've been doing this little combo for quite some time. This actually arrived the morning or the afternoon before we were evacuated that evening.

Susan:

Oh Oh

Hillary Clark-Mina :

two things in my beauty kit

Susan:

Wow, that's adorable. I love that.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

hack roller, but

Susan:

Yeah, okay

Hillary Clark-Mina :

it So, thank you, Lisa. I love it and it did cheer me up was you know running around in the same and it was

Susan:

Okay, so I did my eyes. What do we think? Super soft and pretty. And I used these, these shades, just dancing them around. This one I used on the lid, a little bit in the crease, and then a highlight. Uh, I put a little bit of this deeper one underneath, put a little bit of mascara on top, and then look at this pretty highlight. This is the lightest shade that I did. Now, I'm going to take my big dog brush, And I'm going to brush the whole thing.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Ooh, I love this

Susan:

Look at me, such a genius. And now I'm going to put it on my cheek.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I love it.

Susan:

Can you see that? Can you see that?

Hillary Clark-Mina :

It's, uh, it's ethereal

Susan:

Oh

Hillary Clark-Mina :

glittery, but it's just pretty,

Susan:

can I tell you? And now I'm putting it up here. This is so me. It's almost like a bronzy blush, but with a real glow. There's no shimmer in this. It's a glow. This is Absolutely gorgeous. I, okay.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I love it.

Susan:

Can you see it?

Hillary Clark-Mina :

do you guys think? I love it.

Susan:

Yeah. What does everybody think this? Okay. So yeah. Can you see the definition?

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Mm,

Susan:

I can even go in with the darker shade and do a little bit more definition down there. What do we think?

Hillary Clark-Mina :

it's beautiful. It's

Susan:

But

Hillary Clark-Mina :

full look.

Susan:

it's a full look, but I love, um, how it's super natural and glowy, but with that pop lip and just the bronzy peachy.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

yeah. It has a se quois, like, I don't know exactly what it is, but it looks great.

Susan:

So this is an example of, you know, and I'm sure you get asked this a lot, Hill, young makeup artists, whatever, they're like, you know, oh, if I'm doing, you know, cool tone blush, warm tone blush with cool tone lip, blah, blah, blah. Sometimes messing with that color theory and sometimes doing something that is, you know, very warm on the skin, very peachy warm with something cool. Those little pops

Hillary Clark-Mina :

The

Susan:

really complimentary contrast creates something that's really natural and really pretty. So don't be afraid.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

It's interesting to the eye and it creates a lot of dimension. Like, you know, Maryland used to wear several different red lip colors, a blue base and an orange base together

Susan:

Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

it would amplify.

Susan:

So this is a, yes, this is a huge way. Now this is 90. So, you know, it is not inexpensive, my friends, but you're getting with this, your highlight, your blush, eye shadow. I even use it as a little liner and then an all over bronzer highlighter. So you're getting four products, break it down. You know,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Yeah.

Susan:

it's an investment, but this is something that I would definitely just take this. With a lip and a mascara and you're out the door, you know? Yeah.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

vacations. Like you're going to use that. That's an evergreen product.

Susan:

And this is a color palette that I'll be honest with you. I would probably use this on just about most skin tones, you know, probably someone who is, you know, definitely more pigmented in their skin. Um, more melanin. I think this might not show up as much or it would look very Uh, very ethereal looking, but I would say on most, cause I, I hate and really never use this. I know you don't, you know, this works on anybody. It's a, you'll hear me say that once in a blue moon because it's, let's face it, there is no product that just works on everybody. But I think this is something that will work on most or many people. So I would definitely give this. Give this a try. It's actually called, uh, what is it? Um, multi usage highlighter palette, so

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I love them.

Susan:

Do you love that? Okay.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

good.

Susan:

It's, I mean, and I have to tell you, it has, it has that beautiful Chanel feel. Um, and then I think the last thing I just wanted to talk about, you know, in our little grateful podcast, because it is, it has been so dry. It's, I mean, it's just, it's been terrible here, like terrible. And I, we just talked about my skin falling off. My hair has just been so dry, but sometimes you don't want to use an oil, right? You just want a product that's not going to weigh it down. That's just going to make it feel soft and take away the frizz, make it feel conditioned. And I have to tell you the Kerastase, the overnight serum, I'll give you the official name. Again, another French product. The, um, What is it? Kerastase, Nutrive, Nutrive, I'm probably saying, the 8 hour magic night serum.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Oh, okay. I'm good. Going

Susan:

going to explain. I don't just use this at night. I use this in the day if my hair, I've been wearing a hat, or my hair feels like it's dry and frizzy.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

right?

Susan:

So, you put

Hillary Clark-Mina :

now.

Susan:

I'm gonna use it right now in front of you, one to two pumps.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Okay.

Susan:

Okay? It's a lightweight serum.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Uh huh.

Susan:

Rub your hands together, and then I literally just go like this with it. Okay? Then I will wrap it, you know, pull and wrap it, or you can use a bonnet or whatever and wrap it and sleep with it. So it's like an overnight serum mask, or during the day I'll just put it on and see what it just did. Look at that. So it took away the frizz. It makes it look soft and conditioned with absolutely 100 percent no grease. And it doesn't weigh your hair down. It's, it is just the most magnificent hair serum.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I'm going

Susan:

have,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

it. I'm going to order it

Susan:

it's beyond,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

it because we have the opposite hair. Yours is fine and thick. Mine is thick and coarse. And the challenge with me is to get the level of hydration that I need. It will start to look heavy. So like my hair loves oil, hates hairspray,

Susan:

same.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

things. So I'm going to

Susan:

But sometimes,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

because I'm looking for something that will give it that shiny, shiny, like

Susan:

look at,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

horse's

Susan:

it, did

Hillary Clark-Mina :

You know, when

Susan:

it, yes.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

hair and they do this in the light.

Susan:

Well, look,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Yeah,

Susan:

okay. It just did that, but you sleep with it almost like I'll put it on and then I I'll put two pumps at night and then twist it and sleep with it. Wake up in the morning and your hair is totally refreshed. But during the day, sometimes because it's been so dry here,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

you

Susan:

I will put one pump and then just like this, but it doesn't make it greasy or stringy or heavy. It just makes your hair look like you. I mean, but it feels and smells so good. Okay.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I'm hoping it will be enough for me. I'm gonna try it.

Susan:

I feel like it is really enough. Like it just, I mean,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

gonna put it to the test. Stay tuned. Okay.

Susan:

I am absolutely in love with this product and every person I've turned onto this has called me and thanked me.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

gonna try it because usually in order for me

Susan:

We'll love it.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

moisture, then it gets greasy. So I'm, I'm, I have tricky hair there, so I'm gonna

Susan:

I have not met anyone that hasn't liked this. So it's the eight hour. Um, technically it's a night serum, but like I said, I'll use it at night. I'll use it during the day if I need to, but I, this is something that, um, is worth the money. It's not inexpensive. I want to say it's like 60. Um, but this bottle, I feel like I've been using it every, I haven't even made like a dent in it. So who pumps does your whole. I mean, I just did one because I had so much on from last night, but. And it's

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I love the

Susan:

so, you know, this is something I'm grateful for, you know, I'm grateful that my hair is not frizzy and feels good. I'm really grateful for that. I'm grateful that I have something new to play with and have a fun little lip and all these, you know, little new things. But I just wanted to share those couple of new things for people who, you know, maybe just want something new or need a little pick me up or in a case of. You really need it. You know, this isn't a pick me up. This is like a, my hair is damaged and needs some love and needs some attention. And this stuff really works.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

well, I think we are, we have a hair episode coming up because people have been asking us to

Susan:

really?

Hillary Clark-Mina :

a hair episode.

Susan:

Oh, I didn't know that.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Yes,

Susan:

well, let's see. Cause

Hillary Clark-Mina :

we are going to be doing a hair episode coming up, and I'm going to have a lot to say about it, because I have a little confession. I have started coloring, and as of just a few days ago, cutting own hair.

Susan:

are we going to have to do an intervention on that? Or, okay, I'm going to, am I

Hillary Clark-Mina :

to see how this

Susan:

Wait, am I going to have to fly to LA and take the scissors out of your hands? Cause I, I know you and I, this isn't going to go well for anybody, but, um, yeah, I, um, I think we should definitely do a hair, you know, I'm super into hair. I always have been. Um, and I. I'm fortunate enough to have the same, uh, hair goddess taking care of my hair for over, well, almost, almost 18, 18 year, almost 20 years

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Mm hmm.

Susan:

been together. Um, and, um, Yeah, I have gotten some great tricks and tips from her over the years and then working with some of the best people in the industry like you. Anyone that works in makeup always works with someone in hair. So I think we should absolutely do a hair episode and talk about the products we like. And, and also really bring up a very, I think, a touchy subject that I've been seeing a lot on the internet. And. I'm sure you've seen this too, especially since, you know, we've just had the substance come out and congratulations to Demi Moore for her, um, Academy Award recognition for that role in the substance. But talking about women over the age of 50 with long hair, while you're looking at them. And I mean, You know, you can't, it's long, you know, we got long hair here, people. And, um, you know,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

wait to talk about this.

Susan:

I want to talk about this on our next episode. Why don't we make that our next episode? Since this one's about gratefulness and things that we're grateful for, little, little fun things to cheer everybody up in this gloomy January. Let's make our next episode next week about hair and let's really talk about it and talk about the products we like. but also really talk about this topic of what style is appropriate. When do you cut your hair? Do you cut your hair? What does that even mean? You know? Um, so I think that that is something that I've been seeing.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

poll too. So we want to hear from you guys. We

Susan:

Yeah. I

Hillary Clark-Mina :

and what you think because this is definitely going to be, um, demographic driven by

Susan:

think so.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I think we're going to hear different things according to location. And that's something that I struggle with all the time. I'm like, Oh my gosh, when is, when is long too long? Do I look like an old lady with long hair? Do I look like I'm trying too hard? Like they're so, this is such a big deal. We touched on it before, but I think we're going to really need to dive into it. And I really want to hear from our audience and Susan over the next few days. And when you're out and about. Will you just ask some people let's, let's all talk to people, random strangers and friends and see what they think about hair and

Susan:

Yeah, yeah, I think it is. I think it's such, such a huge topic. I think everything from, do you have bangs or not, or a fringe, you know, like, is that something you should do or not? Um, should you have long hair over 50? Should you have short hair? Should you curl your hair? Should you keep it straight? It's There's hair is so polarizing. I think it's even more polarizing than makeup. So

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Look at Lady Godiva. I

Susan:

yeah,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Right.

Susan:

yeah, hair is really pull and really brings out the worst in some people with their opinions. But, um, you know, and as we know, we really don't care about people's opinions with our own self. Um, so I think we should talk about that next week for sure. Let's talk about hair. It's on. Let's talk about it. It is a big topic. Yeah. And we'll, I'll, I'll grab some other things besides the Kerastase.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

some buttons.

Susan:

Some things that I really, um, have been using that, that help. And that's another little point we should talk about too, is hair after menopause, right? I mean, it's not just about society's views of hair length and hair styles and hair colors. go gray, let you know, or color your hair, keep it long or cut it off. But how does your hair change as you get older? Let's talk about things that are happening with hormonal changes and how that affects hair. Cause I think that is

Hillary Clark-Mina :

It's a big deal.

Susan:

what I get most questions. You know,

Hillary Clark-Mina :

it affects, you know, texture as much as it affects color. And I'd also like for us to talk about some of the influences in our life. Like we don't care what Sally Joe or Bobby Lou or any Tom, Dick or Harry has to say, but let's talk a little bit about the people in our homes and their feelings too, because sometimes that can drive the bus.

Susan:

people in our homes, you mean my hair family, we are such a hair family. Yes.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Yes.

Susan:

husband has the best hair in the whole world.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

weird.

Susan:

Uh, you know, my son has always had long hair. My daughter's hair is down her back. Like we are, we're known as a hair family and we all see Gemma. Like we all have my hair, my whole family and has, since the kids were born, she gave him their first haircut. So we can talk about that too, because hair is something that.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Pardon me.

Susan:

Near and dear to my heart and my family's heart. And I think a lot of people too, you know, really, it's such a hot topic.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

topic. Mm

Susan:

Yeah. Well, let's talk about it.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I can't wait.

Susan:

I know. So come back.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

questions. Get your questions ready. We're talking about hair. We're going to get controversial. We're going to get emotional. The gloves are off and we're going there. So

Susan:

We'll go in there.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

little polls in Instagram and TikTok beforehand.

Susan:

Oh, that's a good idea.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

we're going to

Susan:

Let's do it.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

So

Susan:

Let's do it.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

stay grateful,

Susan:

Stay grateful. Please stay grateful and glossy.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

if it's just in your head,

Susan:

And follow us on Instagram too, because I will post, um, these new products that we just talked about today. I will post these on Instagram. So if anyone has any questions, ask away. Um, I will get active on there again. I know it took the life out of me doing Doing the daily advent calendar, but I did it for everybody. I

Hillary Clark-Mina :

I

Susan:

took the bullet.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

didn't want to interrupt you, so now that, now that that's done, I'll jump in a little bit more too. I wanted to let you do, do your do.

Susan:

Listen, Hillary, just so everybody knows the truth behind the smoke and mirrors of our podcast. Hillary is the one who is responsible for Tik TOK. Don't be looking for me on Tik TOK. Cause I don't even know how to use it. I had a celebration when it went dark for 10 minutes. Okay. Because I am so deathly afraid of it and I have to get over it. I know, but. Instagram, I, I'm the one who tends to try to handle that portion for us. So if it's not going well, it's my fault. Um, but Hillary is the goddess. She knows Tik Tok, loves Tik Tok. And so she handles that portion.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

lately. I've been a little distracted. So

Susan:

Yeah. Yeah. So bear with us

Hillary Clark-Mina :

us

Susan:

guys. We're back.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

Follow us there. Follow us here. And please share us with your friends. We would love to grow in 2025. We haven't even officially made an announcement to beauty editors or anyone else. This has been a friends and family project, but we are sending our baby out into the world this year. So

Susan:

Let's

Hillary Clark-Mina :

tell

Susan:

go for it.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

about us. We'd be so grateful.

Susan:

We'd be so grateful. Support us. Love us. We just, we want to spread the word in 2025 as we did all last year. Beauty is for everyone and beauty especially needs to be seen, felt, and loved by women over 50. So please, please, please remember us. So stay grateful and stay glossy.

Hillary Clark-Mina :

That's right. Stay grateful and stay glossy. See you guys soon.

Susan:

See you.

People on this episode

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Hillary Clark-Mina

Host
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Susan Gerdeman

Host