Buying someone perfume sounds thoughtful. Choosing a scent they actually want to wear is the harder part. That's where Sophie and Jess start Episode 2 of The Insider Beauty Podcast, before getting into shimmer, hair routines and the point at which you can put the makeup brush down.
This episode opens up the conversation beyond dupes. Our two hosts have room to disagree, change their minds and talk about the everyday choices behind the products. The dupe discussion is still here: this time, it's Glossier You and the difference between a similar scent and an identical one.
The full conversation runs 11 minutes and 31 seconds. These are the ideas and articles behind it.
A little shimmer, if you feel like it
Ravie's Softlight eye toppers start a conversation about enjoying makeup without needing a whole new look. The brand describes them as a sheer layer of sparkle, worn alone or over shadow. Sophie likes the idea of one small addition; Jess questions why sparkle needs to wait for a party.
We haven't wear-tested the compacts. Soft Pink, Soft Gold and Soft Pearl are worth looking at in swatches on skin similar to your own before choosing. The broader point is easier: admiring a look doesn't oblige you to wear it, and liking a sparkly eyelid is enough reason to try one.
Read the new beauty products edit for 30 October for the launch details.
The perfume gift depends on the person
A discovery set makes sense for someone who enjoys trying scents. Another bottle of an exact favorite can be a better present for someone who already knows what they like. Jess makes a persuasive case for taking a photograph of the label: original, intense and other versions can arrive in very similar bottles.
Our perfume gift sets guide helps with the less glamorous details too. Check the bottle sizes, which scents are included and whether the minis spray or dab. Tiny samples for exploring and travel sprays for taking away are different gifts, even if the packaging looks equally generous.
Sophie suggests making the sampling part a day out together. Just make clear whether a full bottle is part of the present. Nobody needs a surprise spending obligation tucked inside a gift box.
Hair routines that fit the morning you have
The phrase “effortless hair” comes under scrutiny. A routine can look simple in a video and still demand more drying time than you have before leaving the house.
The air-drying guide gives the discussion its practical starting points: style while hair is wet, gently squeeze or blot with a smooth cotton T-shirt or microfiber towel, and give the shape time to settle. Constant rubbing and rearranging don't help the goal.
Texture, density and the finish you want all matter. Fine straight hair and dense curls won't necessarily need the same amount of styling cream. The hosts suggest changing one thing at a time so you can tell what helped, while leaving room for volume, movement or a polished finish if that's what you enjoy.
Setting powder, finishing powder and stopping there
Sophie starts with the job you want the powder to do. Setting powder generally helps cream or liquid makeup stay put and may reduce shine. Finishing powder generally changes the final appearance, perhaps adding softness or radiance. Formulas can do both, so loose versus pressed won't settle the question.
Start with the part you want to change: makeup that moves, more shine than you'd like, or a finish that wears well but looks flat. Those lead to different choices. You may only want powder around your nose, and you may already like the result without another step.
The setting powder versus finishing powder explainer covers the distinction. Jess's advice from the conversation is permission to leave a tutorial when you've reached a look you're happy with.
What a Glossier You dupe can promise
Our Glossier You alternatives guide shortlists Montagne Moi? as a close-match candidate. Montagne describes it as inspired by Glossier You, with pepper, iris and musks among its listed notes. That makes it a comparison worth exploring, without proving identical scent or wear.
For the episode, we checked US prices on 30 October 2026: Glossier You eau de parfum was $82 for 50 ml, and Montagne Moi? was $40 for 50 ml. That's $42 less for the same bottle volume, before shipping or tax. Prices can change.
MIX:BAR Cloud Musk comes up as another direction, with cardamom and tonka alongside pepper, iris and musk in the brand's notes. The hosts discuss it as a fragrance with its own character. A pleasant musk doesn't have to be a substitute for something else.
Episode chapters
- 00:00 The perfume-gift question
- 00:38 A little sparkle, without a whole new look
- 02:51 Perfume gifts and personal taste
- 04:13 Hair routines that fit real life
- 06:26 Setting powder, finishing powder and knowing when to stop
- 08:39 The Glossier You dupe conversation
- 10:53 Your next beauty conversation
Bring your beauty question
Send us the question you keep getting different answers to through the Insider Beauty contact page. It could be a product comparison, a routine that takes too long, or a beauty rule you're ready to ignore.
Follow The Insider Beauty Podcast on Spotify for the next conversation.