How Darcei Giles Got Into Korean Makeup

If you've ever felt like you had to choose between the beauty trends you love and the ones that were "meant for you," this conversation will feel like permission to explore it all. Today Les is sitting down with Darcei Giles — the award-winning content creator who's been pioneering inclusivity in beauty since before it was an industry buzzword.

Darcei shares her journey from making webcam videos in 2010 to becoming a bridge between Korean beauty innovation and Black beauty consumers. She opens up about the viral series that changed everything, the moment a brand actually listened to her feedback, and why she's spent over a decade refusing to delete her early content.

This episode is for you if:
• You're navigating spaces where you don't see yourself reflected
• You're curious about what real brand inclusivity looks like behind the scenes
• You want to understand how to build longevity in a constantly changing industry

They talk about…
• How a lighthearted video concept became a movement that gave thousands of Black women permission to experiment
• The real reason Korean beauty brands are getting inclusivity right (and what American brands can learn)
• Why Darcei made three TikToks a day for 90 days straight — and gained 100K followers
• What happened when she told a foundation brand "call me" and they actually did
• The difference between creating 30 shades and creating 30 good shades
• Going into the lab to create foundation shades that had never existed before
• Why she keeps her earliest videos up despite the cringe factor
• What it takes to stay relevant for 15 years without losing yourself
• Her plans to merge Korean skincare innovation with Black beauty needs in her own future brand

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ABOUT DEAR MEDIA
Dear Media is the largest podcast network focused on amplifying women’s voices and audiences. Founded in 2018, DM hosts 80+ podcasts fronted by top-tier talent and has a following of more than 60M across social channels. DM is building the podcast incubator of the future through a 360-degree business model, providing unparalleled support from concept to editorial, production, distribution, and commerce extensions. Due to its highly engaged and vast consumer audience, the network attracts global brands and digital savvy partners.