Annie and Nick reunite to talk about Annie’s new company/vanity project, Kraum. Reporting in live from launch day, Nick grills Annie on how Kraum came to be. Also discussed: Nick’s clandestine project, famous people.

This episode is brought to you by Kraum, Inc.

Shop the Micro Brush Collection only at kraum.co.

Also, it’s me, Annie. I touch on this in the episode, but I want to say it here, too: thank you all for every little bit of support and encouragement on Kraum. Even as small as liking something I post, or thinking a happy thought. I have been very touched and it’s been so energizing, probably more helpful than you even realize.

That’s all for now! Send me any questions on Kraum, I love talking about it.

-Annie

This week we discuss the darkest social media platform, LinkedIn and the LinkedIn-ification of Substack.

Plus —

Is Annie a b***h? Nick weighs in.

Coffee with your cosmetics? We question why every single brand must now open a cafe.

Sound off in the comments, let’s hear it!

First: an enthralling discussion on Nick’s Invisalign journey.

Then: we hear from the #LEAVEGLOSSIERALONE movement as the precious brand gears up to launch a new fragrance. [link: Glossier’s New Exit Strategy via Puck News]

Also:

MAC creative director Drew Elliott (@drewpsie; formerly of Paper Magazine, “America’s Next Top Model”) leaves Lauder to go to A…

Nick got something new injected into his face, Britney Spears has big plans for fragrance, problematic Super Bowl happenings, Comedians in Cars Getting Gooped.

Nick’s back from Korea and chomping at the bit to talk beauty news: Violet Grey opening an **actual** NYC location, Ulta replaces a regular boss (man) with a #girlboss, Melania channeling her own inner #girlboss in her official portrait, someone let a Kardashian into the Chanel show, and Pat McGrath’s new launch is so two thousand and late.

Products of …

While Nick’s away, Annie is joined by the reigning Queen of Substack, Emily Sundberg. Her newsletter, Feed Me, is the premiere ‘stack to sub for all things business and culture.

Emily was in DC for the Inauguration, and shared deets on rubbing shoulders with the children of Trump’s regime and MAGA martinis, and we talk Tiktok’s place in Meta country. Pl…

Nick and Annie catch up after a whirlwind start to the new year. Updates on Blake Brown Beauty, Invisalign, and Annie’s product of the week is a facelift for $75.

Annie’s out of town this week, but worry not: friend of the pod, comedy writer and tinned-fish evangelist Caroline Goldfarb joins Nick to explain the cult cookie-to-cosmetics pipeline, her current beauty faves, and more.

Follow Caroline on Substack

Nick expounds on his theory regarding the raw milk consumption-to-Trumper pipeline. Annie paid $50 for a stranger on the internet to Looksmaxx her. Both are fascinated by the new Dunkin’ Donuts and Crumbl deodorants.

Professional youth expert and author of the popular After School newsletter joins to talk teen fragrance flexing, the state of color cosmetics, and to finally unravel the mystery behind who is keeping Harry Styles’ Pleasing brand in business.

Subscribe to After School by Casey Lewis!