Sep 15, 2026 · 38 min · 10 segments
My first solo episode for the year! Recorded this in Melbourne, publishing it from London, then taking a few weeks of leave- I will be back in your ears on October 14. In this solo episode I'm…
Gemma DimondHost
After this many years working in beauty, what actually impresses you now? Maybe I should've thought about the answers.
I, I think for me, and I have a feeling this is gonna come up for a few of the questions, I think for me it's when I see kind of a new category popping up, which is really difficult in 2026 because so much has been done.
But I think when we see founders genuinely identifying a gap for something new, that's what's impressive to me.
When a founder identifies a gap, what is it that actually makes them say, "Oh, I would love a product like that, and now I'm gonna make one"? Because how often do we do that? How often do we say things day to day where it, you know, something pops up and we think, "Ugh, I wish that existed"? It takes a really specific sort of person to actually go ahead and create the thing.
I know that sounds really basic as far as an answer, but yeah, after this many years working in beauty, I, I wanna see something different.
What is a beauty product everyone seems to love that you don't? Uh, n- not to bag out a brand 'cause they do other great stuff, but a Beauty Blender, the sponge.
I've just never been able to get it to work, and I have makeup artists use them on me, and they do a fabulous job.
I don't like it, and I don't have to like it, so stop telling me I'm doing it wrong.
It's like matcha, right? I say, "I don't really like matcha," and people go, "Oh, you've just, you've never had a good matcha." Wrong.
I say, "No, I just don't really like Beauty Blenders." "Oh, well, you haven't used it wet.
You've gotta do this, this, this, this, this, and sell your kidney beforehand, and then you'll love it." It just shouldn't be that hard.
After this many years working in beauty, what actually impresses you now? Maybe I should've thought about the answers.
I, I think for me, and I have a feeling this is gonna come up for a few of the questions, I think for me it's when I see kind of a new category popping up, which is really difficult in 2026 because so much has been done.
But I think when we see founders genuinely identifying a gap for something new, that's what's impressive to me.
When a founder identifies a gap, what is it that actually makes them say, "Oh, I would love a product like that, and now I'm gonna make one"? Because how often do we do that? How often do we say things day to day where it, you know, something pops up and we think, "Ugh, I wish that existed"? It takes a really specific sort of person to actually go ahead and create the thing.
I know that sounds really basic as far as an answer, but yeah, after this many years working in beauty, I, I wanna see something different.
What is a beauty product everyone seems to love that you don't? Uh, n- not to bag out a brand 'cause they do other great stuff, but a Beauty Blender, the sponge.
I've just never been able to get it to work, and I have makeup artists use them on me, and they do a fabulous job.
I don't like it, and I don't have to like it, so stop telling me I'm doing it wrong.
It's like matcha, right? I say, "I don't really like matcha," and people go, "Oh, you've just, you've never had a good matcha." Wrong.
I say, "No, I just don't really like Beauty Blenders." "Oh, well, you haven't used it wet.
You've gotta do this, this, this, this, this, and sell your kidney beforehand, and then you'll love it." It just shouldn't be that hard.
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