'We worked at Mecca for 8 years. These are the most underrated (and over-hyped) products.'

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There's something about MECCA that gets the beauty girlies talking.

Maybe it's the shelves of shiny new launches, maybe it's the whisper network of ex-employees on TikTok telling us what to buy (and what to leave behind). Either way, we're OBSESSED.

In fact, we're so obsessed, we were determined to get deeper insider intel. And yes, we succeeded in doing so.

On a recent episode of You Beauty, host Kelly McCarren sat down with two women who are well-acquainted with the inner workings of MECCA: former Head of Skincare, Camille Peressini, and former Head of New Concepts, Georgie Gilbert.

WATCH: Kelly McCarren gets the insider tea from these former MECCA executives. Post continues below.

Since their time at the beauty giant, the pair have gone on to launch their own Aussie-made beauty brands, both of which you've probably spotted all over your feed:

SOMA, a luxury supermarket body wash brand sold exclusively at Woolworths, and Bronte, an elevated (yet still accessible) range of active skincare products, for the body.

But before starting SOMA and Bronte, Camille and Georgie spent years inside MECCA HQ where they witnessed firsthand what it takes to make a product fly off the shelves… and what makes it flop.

"There are so many brilliant women working together," Camille said.

"That level of quality always comes out because women have that attention to detail, and they know that last bit matters," Georgie added.

With front-row seats to hundreds of brands launching (and some crashing and burning), both Camille and Georgie noticed just how much the beauty landscape has changed since their time at MECCA.

"Customers have gotten so much more savage post-COVID," they said.

These days, shoppers want more than just a good formula — they want the full story.

"It's a lot about the storytelling, and the layers, and the reasons why behind things," Camille explained.

"And then, the product obviously itself has to perform and deliver if you expect a customer to come back and part with their money a second time, and fall in love with your brand."

What are their most underrated product picks?

Do not sleep on this cream! Image: MECCA.

OK, so what products do these former insiders think we're seriously sleeping on?

At the top of both their lists: the luxurious Cosmetics 27 Baume 27 Advanced Formula.

"The founder is an incredible French woman, her name's Michelle; she actually worked at [beauty conglomerate] L'Oreal at one point in time, and she's a chemist," Camille noted.

"She had a skiing injury and couldn't heal her skin, so she developed a product with ingredients known for their healing properties. Then she created Balm 27, this decadent, beautiful moisturiser for your face (or even your body)."

"It's quite rich and thick, and it's divine. And once you use it, unfortunately, you will probably not be able to not use it."

As for Georgie? She reckons MECCA's fragrance shelves don't get the attention they deserve.

"Anything Diptyque, obviously home and candles, but I am probably quite biased to the Byredo scents," she shared, as someone who particularly loves rich, complex oud fragrances.

… and their most over-hyped products?

Now, when it comes to products they believe don't quite live up to the online frenzy, both women agreed on one "over-hyped" cult-favourite brand: Sol de Janeiro.

Camille added, "[The fragrances] don't last very long, the ingredients behind them; I just think people can do better from a fragrance standpoint."

Of course, beauty is subjective and personal — if slathering on the infamous Brazilian Bum Bum Cream makes you feel good, then by all means, keep doing your thing!

But maybe, just maybe, take this as your sign to step outside the hype and try something new, because according to the women who literally helped shape MECCA's shelves, there's a whole world of underrated gems waiting to be discovered.

Want to listen to the full episode? Check it out below. Or, you can also watch You Beauty on YouTube.

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Feature image: Supplied.