Summer Empties (SPFs, Mascaras & Hair Masks!), Grey Blending Truths and Beauty Dupe Drama

Carlene Higgins (0:01)

The following podcast is a Dear Media production. Welcome to Breaking Beauty, the podcast all about the breakthrough people, products, and moments in beauty.

Jill Dunn (0:14)

We're your hosts, Jill Dunn and Carlene Higgins. Welcome back to another episode of Breaking Beauty Podcast, everyone. I'm one of your co-hosts, Jill Dunn, and I'm here in studio in New York City with Carlene Higgins.

Carlene Higgins (0:31)

Hi, everyone.

Jill Dunn (0:32)

And we're happy to be in your feeds. We are every single Wednesday sharing the breakthrough people, products, and moments in beauty as longtime beauty editors turned beauty podcasters.

Carlene Higgins (0:43)

Yes, and I hope you enjoyed our summer content. We were having fun, just interviewing personalities and our best of celebrity roundup.

SPEAKER_3 (0:53)

And today, we're just-

Jill Dunn (0:54)

And our Hall of Fame, hello.

Carlene Higgins (0:56)

And our Hall of Fame, oh gosh, that was epic, reviewing products. So today, we're kind of just doing like a mixed bag. We're going to be catching up on what we've been up to this summer. We're going to talk about a little bit of news and the products that we used right until the end. And that's because we're kind of gearing up for our next damn goods, which is best of fall. So we're in the process of testing everything right now.

Jill Dunn (1:19)

Yeah, and I'm really happy with how many new faces we have around here in the Breaking Beauty community, especially on YouTube. It has allowed our content to be explored by so many new people. And so we're really grateful to have all of you on board. And these are these types of episodes where it's just you and I kind of catching up, Carlene. This is sort of a newer format to us. So we are experimenting every time we do this. Some people just want to hear us yapping. Some people are like get to the interviews already. Today giving you a dose of news, empties and personal things of interest to us.

Carlene Higgins (1:51)

So definitely, you know, give us feedback. Share it in the comments, whether in Instagram, you can DM us or on YouTube, you can drop them right below.

Jill Dunn (2:01)

So Carlene, I want to start talking to you first about summer empties because the real talk is that when we are together, we are talking about what we're using, what's maybe not so good, what fell flat. And so I want to know what you've been like actually using to the last drop the whole summer.

Carlene Higgins (2:18)

Well, I have definitely been using sunscreen as a long time listeners know. You and I are both devotees when it comes to sunscreen. And one of the ones that has become my ride or die is Elta MD. And I know our skincare aficionados out there know about Elta MD. It's in a lot of doctor's offices, a lot of dermatologist offices. So it's highly credible and they're very well known for having sheer formulas. The one that I love is Elta MD Sunscreen UV Skin Recovery, Red Color Correcting Green Tint. It's a broad spectrum SPF 50 And I love that one because I have a lot of redness in my skin. And so it's like the perfect amount of a green tinge that counters the redness, but does not leave my skin looking chalky and I don't look ghoulish afterwards.

It won an Allure Best of Beauty in 2025

The sad news though, Jill, is that you and I have both caught in wind of this rumor that Elta MD may be exiting Canada.

Jill Dunn (3:26)

Well, it's not a rumor, it's confirmed. Don't worry, we are here in New York and we will start operating a business where we are smuggling it back for fellow Canadians. I'm just joking, everyone. But the reality is that the distributor has decided that they are no longer going to distribute it in Canada.

And there's many reasons. The unofficial one is that just for all of the hoops, they have to jump through for Health Canada. Obviously, every country has their own regulations. EltaMD has clearly decided it's just not worth it for them anymore. So that's unfortunate. But the good news is that there's so many other sunscreens that are coming to market. And I will also say, it's sad for you because for a long time, you're like EltaMD, you didn't have a favorite. And now you found a favorite and it's no longer around.

Carlene Higgins (4:09)

This is what I'm saying. There's not a lot of green tinged sunscreens that do go on so clear. And by the way, they do have other versions of the UV skin recovery. They do have a sheer one. And yeah, so it's just like, I just found my ride or die and now it's leaving. But I love that I find it to be really hydrating as well. Yeah, they have a clear one and they also have a UV clear tinted broad spectrum SPF 46 They're all beloved. And so I'll be stocking up when I come to the US and whether or not this has to do with these, all these ingredient changes and formulations, we really don't know. I tried reaching out to the Elta MD PR and I could not get a response. So I may have lost touch with the current PR. So if you're listening and you represent Elta MD, call us. Call us.