Skip to content

Sephora, Beauty Discovery, and Why Everything Feels the Same with Business of Beauty Editor Priya Rao

November 12, 2026 · 59 min

Show notes

Does Sephora still feel like the beauty store you fell in love with? Or does shopping there increasingly feel like seeing your TikTok feed on a shelf?


Amy Chang sits down with Priya Rao, Executive Editor of The Business of Beauty at The Business of Fashion, to explore how beauty shopping is changing and why some longtime customers feel left behind.


From Sephora’s younger shoppers to TikTok Shop, Amazon and Olive Young, they unpack who gets to decide what we discover and buy. They also discuss why so many beauty brands feel similar, what makes stores like Violet Grey and Space NK feel different, and whether a higher price really means a better product.


In this episode:

• Sephora, Gen Alpha and the millennial beauty shopper

• Viral products versus genuine discovery

• Korean beauty and Olive Young’s growing influence

• Amazon, convenience and the changing meaning of luxury

• Customer service, curation and trust

• Priya’s beauty brands to watch and predictions for 2027


MATERA is a physician-led aesthetic clinic in Santa Monica, CA, founded by Amy Chang and medically led by board-certified facial plastic surgeon Dr. John Frederick. We help patients age beautifully through personalized care and the MATERA Slow Beauty Method™.


Instagram — https://www.instagram.com/materaclinics/

Website — https://materaclinics.com/


Learn more or book a consultation: [email protected]


→ Have a beauty question you want me to tackle on the next Inbox? DM @mirrormirrorwithamy on Instagram


→ Subscribe so you don't miss next week's full Mirror Mirror episode.


ABOUT MIRROR MIRROR

Mirror Mirror is a podcast that cuts through the noise and uncovers the science shaping beauty and the psychology driving our desire for it. Hosted by Amy Chang — LA Times contributing writer, Marie Claire 2024 Power Player, and a trusted authority in beauty, with over 2.4 million followers who turn to her for insights on cutting-edge treatments and science-backed skincare.


Expect unfiltered conversations, expert insight, and the freedom to love your lipstick — while still questioning what perfection means.


#beautymyths #skincare #aesthetics #sephora #beautyIndustry #tiktok


All episodes of Mirror Mirror with Amy Chang

Settings

Display

Language

Decides which stations you see first on the home page.

History

Recently played stations and episodes and your latest searches are only stored in this browser.

Notifications

A short notice when a podcast you follow has a new episode. Turn off single podcasts with the bell on their page.

Account

Save favorites – in the app and on the website.

Keyboard shortcuts

/
Open search
Space
Play or pause
← →
In the player: back 15 s, forward 30 s (episodes) · in a row: next tile
↑ ↓
In a row: target within the tile
Home / End
In a row: first or last tile
Esc
Close window or menu
?
This overview
Now playing

Go to station page

Play next

    Add episodes with “Play next” – they play after the current episode.