Naked Beauty

Since Cyndi Ramirez Fulton opened Chill House on New York's Lower East Side in 2017, the brand has grown from a cult downtown spa into a nationwide product line, culminating in a 2025 acquisition by Kiss Beauty Group, with Cyndi still at the helm. On today's episode, Cyndi takes us back to growing up in Queens as the daughter of a Colombian esthetician and how that environment shaped her relationship with beauty and her entrepreneurial instincts. She opens up about her years in New York nightlife, the scrappy blog that helped her find her voice, and how she landed on the idea for Chill House after not being able to find a spa that was right for her. Cyndi is refreshingly honest about the parts that don't make it onto the glossy Instagram grid: the economics of the spa business that were "always a little broken," the fundraising struggles that led to the Kiss deal, and the very real guilt and joy of building a business alongside a family. We also get into the pivot to Chill Tips press-on nails, why press-ons have genuinely changed her life, and her favorite beauty products for navigating two very different climates. Cyndi’s Favorites: Haus Labs Foundation Olaplex Shampoo and ConditionerOlaplex Leave InCrown Affair Mousse Westman Atelier Brow PencilChill House bestsellers: Sea Siren, Bougie Butter, and Acid WashRate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Cyndi @cyndiramirez

This is THE fragrance episode you’ve been waiting for. If you’re ready to talk top notes vs. base notes, Eau de Toilette vs. Eau de Parfum, get ready for this fascinating discussion with Asia Grant, the co-founder of fragrance brand Redoux. We dive into her relationship with fragrance growing up, why gendering fragrance is a waste of everyone’s time, the story behind her new bar soap products, launching a Black-owned brand during the pandemic, and more. Links to Products/Resources Mentioned: Redoux, Mountain Rose Herbs, Tom Ford (Black Orchid, Tuscan Leather, Neroli Portofino, Soleil Blanc), Byredo (Gypsy Water, Bal d’Afrique, Eleventh Hour, 1996), Frederic Malle (Portrait of a Lady, Baccarat Rouge 540), D.S. & DurgaJoin the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet Check out nakedbeautypodcast.comFollow Asia: @asia_grant

This episode is sponsored by smartwater®During the Essence Black Women in Hollywood event, I spoke with the indomitable Bozoma Saint John live. Bozoma grew up between Ghana, Kenya, Washington DC, and Colorado Springs, a childhood of constant reinvention that taught her to read rooms fast and never apologize for taking up space. At 14, she wasn't crying because she didn't feel beautiful. She was crying because her classmates didn't recognize her beauty. That clarity and fierce, unshakable self-knowing have followed her everywhere. Her confidence carried her into boardrooms where she was the only Black woman, onto the cover of the New York Times with her cornrows, and through the grief of losing her husband, Peter. Later, it carried her into the unexpected joy of Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which led directly to On Brand with Jimmy Fallon. And, eventually, into the decision to sell her corporate stock from every company she'd ever worked for to self-fund her brand, Eve by Boz — on her own terms, by her own rules.Bozoma has no peers. And she will tell you that herself, in this special episode of Naked Beauty. Tune in as we discuss:(2:34) Growing Up Across Ghana, Kenya, DC & Colorado(5:43) Why She Never Doubted She Was Beautiful — Even at 14(10:05) Immigrant Parents, Pre-Med Dreams & Landing at Spike Lee's Ad Agency By Accident(13:36) The Emotional Cost of Being the First and Only Black Woman in Every C-Suite(16:24) Why Personal Brand Building Means Saying "I" Out Loud(21:40) The Hollywood Pivot: What Made RHOBH a Yes(23:57) Moving to LA Four Months After Her Husband's Death(29:01) What Season 14 of RHOBH Taught Her Going Into Season 15(30:30) Showing Fibroid Surgery & Her Fertility Journey On Camera(33:46) Her Go-To Glam Routine & The African Sapo Net Gospel(37:18) Self-Funding Eve by Boz With Her Own Corporate Stock(40:24) What Raising Her Daughter Lil Has Taught Her That The Boardroom Never Could(43:20) Engagement With Keeley Watson: Love After Loss & True Partnership(46:52) How To Know When It's Time To Walk Away(51:41) Bozoma's Advice For Anyone Who Feels StuckToday’s episode was made possible by smartwater Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on AppleJoin the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanetShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Bozoma @bozomastjohnProducts Mentioned:Lancôme FoundationMAC BlushOil of Olay MoisturizerEucerin Lotion & Heavy CreamAfrican Sapo Net (exfoliating sponge)Eve by Boz Haircare

Erica Chidi is an author, founder,  culinary school graduate, and one of the most genuinely knowledgeable people in the wellness space — and today, she's sitting down with me for an honest, friend-to-friend conversation about one of the most relatable struggles out there: how to actually feed yourself well when your calendar is back-to-back all week. I open up about my own journey navigating nutrition since being diagnosed with Graves' Disease, sharing the shifts I’ve already made, like cutting out sugar and processed foods, adding protein powder, and keeping a rotisserie chicken on hand. Erica brings her signature clarity and warmth to the conversation, introducing a concept she calls "nutritional redundancy,"  the liberating idea that being comfortable eating the same nourishing meals on repeat is a feature, not a bug. She breaks down exactly why protein is non-negotiable for women's health, how to build a breakfast that stabilizes your blood sugar and changes the entire trajectory of your day, and why women should stop taking nutritional cues from gym bros on the internet. We get into the tinned fish renaissance, the right way to think about supplementing, the nuances of GLP-1 medications, and why getting regular bloodwork is one of the most powerful things you can do to shift your relationship with your body from superficial to substantive. This episode is packed with practical, actionable wisdom.Tune in as we discuss( 00:00) Intro & Brooke's Graves' Disease diagnosis(02:00) Dietary changes that reduced inflammation(08:00) Guest intro: Erica Chidi on eating well while busy(09:00) "Nutritional redundancy" — the habit that makes healthy eating easier(11:00) How morning protein stabilizes blood sugar & reduces cravings(13:30) Erica's high-protein breakfast rotation(17:00) What to eat if you're not hungry in the morning(20:00) Easy high-protein lunch ideas for busy women(21:30) Why tinned fish is the ultimate quick meal (+ the SMASH acronym)(25:30) Why women's nutrition needs are different from men's(27:00) The plate rule: protein + fat + fiber every meal(29:00)  Function Health app: how to track your labs & biological age(32:30) GLP-1 medications: benefits beyond weight loss(37:00) Lightning round: Erica's top pantry & fridge staplesRate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on AppleJoin the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanetThanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you're listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :)Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Erica: @ericachidiProducts MentionedBrodo Bone BrothJEM Organics Cashew Cardamom Almond ButterMALK Unsweetened Almond MilkFishwife Tinned FishShuk Shuka Ready-to-Eat Shakshuka Eden Foods Organic Pumpkin SeedsBari California Olive OilFunction Health 

Grammy-award-winning artist and beauty entrepreneur Alicia Keys has arrived at Naked Beauty, and we couldn’t be more excited. With braids and makeup choices that have influenced beauty culture for decades (most recently the Super Bowl halftime show), we sit down with Alicia to talk about where her relationship with beauty all started. Tune in as we dive deep into:*Growing up biracial in Hell’s Kitchen and the musical that is inspired by her upbringing *How Alicia’s mother and grandmother’s lack of self-care inspired her to choose differently *Her love for solo travel *The birth of Keys Soulcare and the power of its affirmations *Learning to embrace what serves you best Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always, love to hear your thoughts Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Alicia: @aliciakeys

Before Amy Liu built Tower28, the company that currently sells products every 10 seconds in Sephora, she was working in the beauty industry and struggling with sensitive skin. With encouragement and investments from close friends, Amy leveraged her 15+ years of experience to bet on herself and build Tower 28, a company that keeps sensitive skin at the core of its product development. During our conversation, Amy shared that she dealt with chronic eczema and sensitive skin her entire life. However, despite working in major roles at companies like Kate Sommerville and Josie Maran and having firsthand experience of how product efficacy could change her life, she still didn’t feel ready to leap. Shortly after turning 40, Amy was in conversation with a former business school classmate who asked what she was waiting for. This friend affirmed her skills and experience, and then offered to invest in her dream. She reached out to other friends and family, all of whom were excited to support her vision for Tower 28. In the seven years since launching, Tower 28 has blossomed into a brand beloved by everyone from essential workers to “gym rats,” to celebrities, and influencers like Hailey Bieber and their recent collaborator, Toni Bravo.Amy offers us a glimpse into her life as CEO, mom, and lifelong advocate for clean beauty in this chat. She shared what it was like growing up in Los Angeles, in a predominantly white community, instead of a Chinese-American neighborhood. Amy details her parents' decision to move to America and why her dad, an entrepreneur, tried to dissuade her from starting a business.  It’s exactly this persistence that has allowed her to become a strong leader, despite having been exposed to some of the worst bosses you might imagine. Amy’s leadership skills are defined by not only what she has done but also by her commitment to educating others. In the summer of 2020, she decided to develop Clean Beauty Summer School, a professional-development program that gives BIPOC founders industry access and education that they might otherwise not have access to. Amy has built a brand that is 100% compliant with the National Eczema Association and regularly gives back to minority founders. Amy Liu’s story proves that a true commitment to inclusivity benefits every single one of us.Tune in as we discuss:(2:35) What Amy Learned In Her First Beauty Role At Smashbox(4:15) Growing Up In Los Angeles Without Close Proximity To Other Chinese People(6:00) Her Belief That The Beauty Industry Shapes Confidence(7:05) Her Family’s Immigration Origin Story(10:48) What She Learned From Her Worst Bosses(15:00) Why Turning 40 Emboldened Her To Start Tower28(17:30) How A Friend’s Investment Pushed Her To Take The Leap(21:10) The Organic Marketing Initiative That Helped Them Thrive During COVID-19(26:00) Why Eczema Affects 25% Children(30:00) The True Cost Of Creating Products For Sensitive Skin (34:18) The Secret Behind The Tower 28 Swipe Serum Concealer(37:22) Her Mission To Support BIPOC Clean Beauty Founders(46:07) Amy’s Favorite Beauty And Wellness Products(49:29) Her Advice To Anyone Wanting To Take A Professional Risk(51:44) When She Feels The Most Beautiful Rate, Subscribe & Review the Podcast on Apple Join the Naked Beauty Community on IG: @nakedbeautyplanet Thanks for all the love and support. Tag me while you’re listening @nakedbeautyplanet & as always love to hear your thoughts :) Check out nakedbeautypodcast.com for all previous episodes & search episodes by topicShop My Favorite Products & Pod Discounts on my ShopMyShelfStay in touch with me: @brookedevardFollow Amy @amyliu_t28Tower 28 SOS Daily Rescue Facial Spray Hypochlorous AcidTower 28 Swipe Serum ConcealerCelluma Pro LED Light TherapyShani Darden Smooth & Glow EssentialsMARA Universal Hydrating Face Oil Sophie Pavitt Mandelic Clearing SerumRŌZ Foundation Shampoo