Fatima Rosa, business owner of Face Brown and Beauty Bar, returned to the podcast to discuss holiday beauty trends, what is fading out, and how to approach event makeup with limited time and limited touch-ups. The conversation focused on what people are wearing now, how to adapt trends without going “full red carpet,” and which services or products reduce daily effort.
What’s In This Holiday Season
Icy blues (liner, mascara, and small accents)
One of the main trends Fatima pointed to was the return of blue—specifically icy blues.
“I really like the icy look. So, have you seen the blues, the icy blues?”
She described the current version as blue with a lighter shimmer effect rather than a flat primary tone.
“It’s almost got a touch of like underlying white shimmer.”
This can show up in several forms: eyeliner, blue mascara, or a small accent under the eye. Her suggestion was to keep it controlled so it reads as a detail rather than a full look.
“I personally love like an under eye smudge with a little bit of like a little pop of blue when you’re going out.”
In the episode, the host added that blue can work across different eye colors. Fatima also mentioned adjusting intensity by layering with lighter tones (white or oyster tones) to change how strong the blue reads.
Burgundy, wine, and plum tones
Fatima also discussed deep purples—burgundy, wine, and plum—as a recurring holiday direction.
“I’m loving all of that, whatever you want to call it, plums… anything in that deep purple like burgundy wine tone.”
She framed these colors as wearable even for people who avoid bold shades, because they can sit close to brown in tone depending on the product and how it’s blended.
“People are afraid of that bold color, but when you put it on… it can lean into like a brown category almost.”
These shades can be used as a lip color, a soft smokey-eye addition, or even brought in through accessories while keeping makeup more neutral.
What’s Fading Out: Heavy Matte and Strong Contour
A shift Fatima described is moving away from heavy matte finishes and sharp structure.
“People are trying to be a little more soft, smudgy, so less matte, less heavy.”
She contrasted this with last year’s look, which she described as more defined and sculpted.
“We were very chiseled and now we’re just soft and subtle.”
Instead, she pointed to changes in finish: more gloss, more dew, and less flat matte texture.
“We’re adding gloss back. We’re adding like a dewier cheek.”
A Simple Way to Upgrade Holiday Makeup Without Overdoing It
A recurring point in the conversation was that many people want a higher-impact look for parties without turning it into a full routine. Fatima’s approach is to choose one focus area.
“Pick one feature that you want to play up.”
She shared that she often chooses eyes (for example eyeliner or a smokey eye) and then keeps lips simpler. If someone prefers a lip, they can do the opposite—strong lip, lower-intensity eye. The point is to avoid trying to make every element high-impact at once, especially when time is limited.
She also noted that contour can still be part of the look, but the finish does not have to be matte.
“You can still do a deep contour without being super matte.”
Beauty Shortcuts That Reduce Daily Effort
Fatima’s main time-saving recommendation was a lash lift, especially for humid climates where mascara can be difficult.
“What’s the most bang for your buck in terms of time, money, and effort? A lash lift.”
She explained that the goal is to reduce steps: less mascara, less smudging, less time spent fixing eye makeup.
“If your lashes are lifted… skipping the mascara.”
The host and Fatima also discussed how mascara can run or become messy in Miami humidity, and that waterproof options can be hard to remove. A lash lift (with tint if needed) was presented as a way to avoid those trade-offs.
“In Miami or climates like this, you cannot like wear mascara really safely.”
Miami, Culture, and Why Makeup Can Be the “Safer” Experiment
The conversation also addressed how a person’s background can shape how they approach beauty. Fatima described growing up in a conservative environment where makeup became a way to experiment without changing how much skin was shown through clothing.
“Makeup for me was always a fun way to experiment and push the boundaries.”
Her framing was that makeup could feel more acceptable because it did not trigger the same cultural concerns as clothing choices.
“You’re just playing with your face.”
The episode also noted Miami’s mix of cultures and how that affects style, including how people bring elements from their home countries into beauty and fashion. (The podcast mentioned “50 different languages” spoken in Miami; [if this number is not confirmed outside the transcript, treat it as the host’s statement].)
If You’ve Never Done a Bold Lip, Glitter, or Strong Eye
For anyone who avoids bold looks because they feel unfamiliar, Fatima recommended two steps: start where you already feel comfortable, and increase intensity gradually.
“Play up the feature you kind of feel most comfortable with.”
She suggested moving in small increments—more color, more definition, or layering—rather than jumping straight into the strongest version of a trend.
“Start subtle… increase the color.”
She also recommended getting makeup done professionally, because seeing your face through someone else’s choices can reveal options you might not try on your own.
“Get your makeup done professionally and that way you can really see yourself through someone else’s vision.”
Party Makeup That Requires Minimal Touch-Ups
When discussing party makeup and what fits in a small bag, Fatima emphasized preparation rather than carrying multiple products.
“Use great primer so you don’t need to touch up a lot of things.”
For lips, she described a system that reduces reapplication: a long-wear base color plus gloss. After eating or drinking, the base remains and the only item needed is gloss.
“I do love something that’s like a stay on lip color so that it’s your base and then I love to add a gloss on top.”
For oily skin, she mentioned one small add-on item that is easy to carry.
“If you’re oily, I like carrying blotting papers.”
Gifts: Services and Treatments
When asked about gift ideas, Fatima recommended treatments rather than products. Her examples included head spa services and facials. She described these as a “two-part” benefit: first receiving the gift, then using it later.
“You can’t go wrong with treatments.”
“I think it’s exciting when you get the gift and then exciting when you use it.”
Drugstore vs Luxury: How She Thinks About Budget
Fatima named NYX Cosmetics as a drugstore brand she likes for makeup, especially lip products and complexion options. She also said she avoids drugstore skincare due to preservatives and ingredients, speaking from her professional perspective.
On the luxury side, she mentioned being consistent about certain staples, including Nars blush and Dior concealer. The host also mentioned products she has used over time, including Dermablend and IT Cosmetics (which the host described as skincare + makeup combined).
Clean, Waterless Oils and Multi-Use Products
Fatima also described Face Brown and Beauty Bar oils as waterless and positioned them as clean formulations without filler.
“Our products are all waterless.”
She described the products using categories such as vegan, animal-friendly, and natural, and mentioned different versions (flower vs herbal).
“It’s clean, it’s pure… whether it’s vegan, animal friendly, natural.”
Closing Note: Beauty as Personal Choice
The episode ended with a reminder that holiday trends are optional and personal. The host framed the point as flexibility: bold looks, minimal looks, or something in between.
“Beauty is personal, and there’s no one way to show up in it.”
Practical takeaway from the episode
- If you want to follow trends: consider icy blue accents or burgundy/plum tones.
- If you want less effort: prioritize longevity (lash lifts, primer, long-wear lip base).
- If bold makeup feels unfamiliar: start subtle, increase gradually, or get it done professionally once to see what works on you.
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