Trump’s Tariffs: What They Mean for Beauty’s Supply Chain
Another person talking about tariffs… I know! But this episode is different. Trump’s tariff announcement sent shockwaves through the markets—the S&P 500 dropped 4.9%, the second-biggest daily point loss in history. And beauty felt it too; Elf Beauty’s stock fell by 23.4% and Estée Lauder’s by 15.4%. But what does all this mean for the long-term future of beauty?In this episode of The Barefaced Podcast, that is what we are going to answer. First, we’ll get clear on what’s actually happening, why different countries are being charged different rates, and how Trump’s economic advisors came up with those numbers. Then, we’ll zoom in on the beauty industry—how are international beauty businesses affected, and equally, brands already "Made in the USA"? Finally, we’ll put it all together to explore what this means for the future of beauty.Ultimately, this isn’t a story about tariffs, it’s a turning point for beauty’s entire supply chain. A series of graphs, visual aids, and references have been created to help narrate this story. You can access them at barefaced.substack.comYou can find Barefaced everywhere else - https://beacons.ai/barefaced Get full access to barefaced at barefaced.substack.com/subscribe
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37:32
The Beauty Funding Boom: Why Are VCs So Obsessed with Beauty?
It seems like almost every day there’s a new beauty brand announcing they've secured funding. Why has there been such a surge?Venture capital (VC) first took off in the tech industry in the 90s, and expanded into consumer packaged goods (CPG) in the 2010s, but why do VCs love beauty brands and why do beauty brands love them back? What is it about the beauty sector that has attracted such significant investment, and what does this mean for the future of the industry? In this episode of The Barefaced Podcast, I speak with Ultra Violette founders Bec Jefferd and Ava Chandler-Matthews about their recent $15 million raise, and what it means for their growth. I also chat with NuFace cofounder and CEO Tera Peterson, who built a cult beauty device brand without taking a cent of outside funding.We unpack the dynamics of VC in beauty, the pros and pitfalls of raising capital, and what this growing trend signals for the future of the industry.A series of graphs, visual aids, and references have been created to help narrate this story. You can access them at barefaced.substack.comYou can find Barefaced everywhere else -https://beacons.ai/barefaced Get full access to barefaced at barefaced.substack.com/subscribe
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46:01
MCo Beauty: The $1B Shady Business
Luxury brands spend years developing products—MCo Beauty swoops in and replicates them in weeks. And the results speak for themselves.Originally known as ModelCo, an Aussie drugstore brand focused on tanning, MCo Beauty reinvented itself by recreating viral beauty products with eerily similar packaging—at a fraction of the price. By strategically navigating trademark laws, the brand has grown from AU$10M in revenue in FY20 to a staggering $330M in FY25.In February, founder and CEO Shelley Sullivan cashed out, selling her stake in a deal that valued MCo Beauty at over a billion dollars. But how did they pull it off? How is any of this legal? And what’s next for the ultimate dupe brand?In this episode of The Barefaced Podcast, we break down the rise of MCo Beauty.A series of graphs, visual aids, and references have been created to help narrate this story. You can access them at barefaced.substack.comYou can find Barefaced everywhere else -https://beacons.ai/barefaced Get full access to barefaced at barefaced.substack.com/subscribe
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1:00:30
Trade and Tension: The Unknown Power of Japanese Beauty
In recent years, the global embrace of Japanese culture has been undeniable. From streetwear and homewares to anime and video games, Japan's influence is everywhere. So why is Japanese beauty (J-beauty) still flying under the radar while Korean beauty (K-beauty) has taken the industry by storm?This episode is a deep dive into the Japanese beauty market. We start by unpacking the geopolitical and economic factors that have shaped the globalisation of K-beauty versus J-beauty, then break down their distinct differences. With this foundation, we analyse three key areas: consumer trends and behaviours, product, and retail.A series of graphs, visual aids, and references have been created to help narrate this story. You can access them at barefaced.substack.com/You can find Barefaced everywhere else here–https://beacons.ai/barefaced Get full access to barefaced at barefaced.substack.com/subscribe
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56:17
Luxury Fashion Houses: Can Their Beauty Brands Stay Relevant?
It’s the start of Fashion Month—the pinnacle of luxury, where fashion houses invest millions into runway shows to reinforce their brand identity. But how does this impact their beauty divisions?This episode explores the role of beauty within luxury fashion houses. Why do these brands expand into beauty? How does the business model differ from fashion, and how do they compete in an increasingly saturated beauty market? From shifting ownership structures to evolving retail strategies, we break down how luxury fashion brands can compete in beauty in 2025.This episode is supported by a series of graphs and visual aids to help narrate this story. You can access those resources at barefaced.substack.com/You can find Barefaced everywhere else here–https://beacons.ai/barefacedRecommended reading - https://www.businessoffashion.com/articles/beauty/luxury-brands-buying-back-their-beauty-lines/ Get full access to barefaced at barefaced.substack.com/subscribe
Ireland