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Christina Zilber: Beauty Hacks, ChatGPT, & the Perfect Blush

  • Writer: Julia Chang
    Julia Chang
  • Jun 4
  • 2 min read

Updated: 17 minutes ago

In this episode of GlowJob, we go deep with Christina Zilber—the force behind cult-favorite beauty brand Jouer. From launching during the 2008 financial crash to spotting the power of influencer marketing before it went mainstream, Christina gets real about building a brand with heart, humor, and serious skin science.


She drops founder wisdom, reveals her holy grail packing hacks, and spills on product formulation secrets (spoiler: no white-labeling here). We talk motherhood, aging, style, and her obsession with skin barrier health. Plus, the one life lesson she swears by—and passed on to her kids? Know your audience.




00:00 – Introduction to Christina Zilber and the meaning behind Jouer (French for “to play”)

01:41 – NYC travel recs: Fouquet’s Hotel and Lucien

03:50 – Christina’s packing philosophy: No hard edges, carry-on only, and 4 pairs of shoes max

07:00 – Christina’s minimalist skincare routine: exfoliation, slugging, hydration > anti-aging

09:55 – Launching Jouer in 2008 at Henri Bendel’s during the financial crisis & pivoting to DTC

11:45 – The origin of Jouer palettes: custom Japanese-style wells for portable makeup

13:02 – The “gateway drug”: Jouer’s Lip Enhancer and collagen-boosting formula

14:20 – Early influencer partnerships with Desi Perkins, Jaclyn Hill, Patrick Starr, etc.

16:45 – Jouer’s Birchbox story: how a failed travel-size product turned into a hit

18:00 – The magic of blush, color theory, and undertone matching for natural beauty

22:00 – We love ChatGPT

24:15 – AI, Trend Forecasting, and why Christina's not on TikTok

26:05 – Thoughts on TikTok trends vs. true personalization—makeup tips should honor face shape

27:00 – Jouer = "to play": Why the name fits the brand ethos, despite being “hard to pronounce”

28:21 – Favorite products: barrier balm, high-coverage concealer, and hits/misses from the line

29:30 – Christina’s take on White labeling in beauty: ingredient-led innovation

30:30 – Slugging, peptides, and calling out recycled trends from manufacturers

32:36 – Why the barrier balm is a finishing product for both skincare and makeup

34:20 – Life as a model: Christina’s take on being treated like a commodity & raising a daughter in the industry

35:45 – Advice: Take control of your narrative—especially in the social media age

36:40 – Teaching her kids to “know their audience” and manage expectations

38:20 – Christina on motherhood: tough love, joy at home, and creating a safe space


ABOUT GLOWJOB™ PODCAST: The only podcast to make you hotter AND smarter! GlowJob is the beauty podcast that’s MORE than skin deep. Join your go-to-best friend duo, Julia Bellary and Sasa Li, as they explore the stories shaping the industry and dive into the conversations you actually want to hear. From beauty to business to pop culture, let’s redefine what it means to be part of the beauty community - one episode at a time. 


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