Outspoken Beauty

Bryony is off doing Eurovision makeup and I have a slightly longer episode coming out this Friday so I'm doing a special mid-week Minipod. In this episode I'll tell you all about my experience of the Biosculpture manicure and Elim Pedicure. I'll also discuss why I think orgasms are really important, a stunning perfume and one of my new top mascaras amongst other things. Enjoy Outspoken Beauties xx

In this episode I welcome the incredibly creative Sophie Hannah. Sophie is a content creator who is loved for her individual style and inspiring hair, makeup and fashion looks which are always full of colour, flair and individuality. Sophie has just written a book called Beauty, Hair, Style - The New No Rules Beauty Bible and I absolutely love the premise of the book which is basically to express yourself however you want to....in fact the more daring and flamboyant the better. During the episode we chat about how Sophie got into this world and taught herself how to create technically brilliant looks without any training. We also have a great discussion about never being too old to express yourself, how to maintain good mental health, positive thinking and the good and bad sides of social media and the beauty industry. Sophie also has some wonderful product recommendations and skincare tips. Sophie Hannah is so talented yet down to Earth and I absolutely loved getting to know her.

In this episode I talk you through the amazing beauty brands that are helping The Eve Appeal for the entire month of May (Get Lippy Month). The Eve Appeal do so much. They educate about the five types of gynaelogical cancer, have a 24/7 nurse led phone line to support us if we're worried about any symptoms and also fund research into treatment with the aim of stopping cancer before it starts. They are a comparatively small charity with an extraordinary team and I think the world of what they do. If you buy the products mentioned during this episode (plus some of the brands are giving money from other products in their collections), the brands will give 10% or more to the Eve Appeal. Here's a list of all the products and brands mentioned during the episode: 11 Skin - Nocturnal Eclipse Recovery CreamI Active Silver - Colloidal Silver Body Butter Augustinus Bader - The Lip Balm Barry M - That’s Swell! Lip Plumpers Blistex - Intensive Moisturiser Canesten - Canesbalance Vaginal Gel, Carmex - Classic Pot Centrum - Women Multivitamins Collection - Gloss Me Up Juicy Infusion Lip Gloss Decorté - Rouge Decorté Glow Lipstick delilah - In Bloom Radiant Liquid Blush Disruptor London - Balance Shampoo, Conditioning, Cleanse and Shave Bar Dr.PawPaw - Tinted Ultimate Red Balm Elemis - Pro-Collagen Naked Cleansing Balm Escentric Molecules - Molecule 02 Hanx - Condoms Hermetica Paris - Verticaloud Eau de Parfum Hilltop - Original Beeswax Lip Balm ishga - Replenishing Lip Balm Isle of Paradise - Self-Tanning Face Drops Juni - Luxury Hydrating Lipsticks KIKO - Wet Look Lip Gloss Pencil La Perla - Satin Lip Balm Manisafe - Gel Manicure Gloves MeAmora - Nail On Monuskin - Rose & Lemon Enriched Body Cream NARS - Powermatte lipstick Nip&Fab - Glycolic Fix 60 Pads Parfums de Marly - Delina Eau de Parfum Polished London - Teeth Whitening Pen Prai - Ageless Lip & Line Filler Rimmel - Moisture Renew Lipstick. Sculpted by Aimee - My Mascara simplehuman - sensor mirror round with touch-control brightness Sparkle Through Chemo Tan-Luxe - Super Glow Hyaluronic This is Silk - ‘Power Up’ Silk Barrier Booster Votary - Tinted Lip Gloss Raspberry and Squalane W7 - Hot Shot Plumping Gloss

*This episode is in partnership with Medik8* In this episode I welcome back Daniel Isaacs, the brilliant Chief Product Officer and Director of Research at Medik8. Daniel knows SO much about skincare and always gives the very best advice. I love the fact that he and his team at Medik8 take ingredients and really innovate and push boundaries with them, resulting in products that perform at an exceptional level. During the episode we chat all things Retinal and discuss the incredible work that has gone into their new eye cream. We also chat about skincare routines, ingredients that really work and why Dan believes that Vitamin C, SPF and Vitamin A are the perfect combination. (Oh and a good PHA can also work wonders). I learnt so much from Dan during the interview and as ever he got me really excited the science of skincare and my own routine. If you're into skincare and want to feel inspired then I know that you'll love this episode.

One of my favourite guests, the lovely Estee Lalonde, is back and we're talking all things baths. Since her last appearance on the podcast, Estee's beautiful bath brand Mirror Water has gone from strength to strength and Estee is truly living the life of a boss. We reflect on her journey and what it feels like to own your own successful brand. We also spend lots of the episode talking about how important baths are to us, what Estee's gorgeous bath ritual is and how she recently helped a friend in need with the incredible power that a bath can give. We also make a few bath related confessions. This is a lovely conversation that will definitely inspire you to leap into your tub as soon as you have a chance.

In this week's Minipod I'm talking about the incredible Weleda launch that I went to this week. If you're into Skin Food then this is definitely going to excite you. I also chat about an ingenious gloss pencil from Kiko Milano, the best SPF for hardcore skin protection, brilliant charity The Eve Appeal and the perfect body oil.

Oh my goodness I don't even know where to start on this one so I might write a list. In this week's episode Bryony and I talk about: There is of course lots of beauty in there too and we are raving about some really brilliant makeup finds this week.

*This episode is in partnership with Avon* In this episode I'm joined by Avon who have just launched their incredible new eye product, Anew Power Eye Cream. We start the episode with Clinical Dermatologist Dr Zoya Diwan who takes us on a deep dive into the ins and outs of the skin around our eyes and why we need to treat it differently to the rest of our faces. Zoya gives such a great insight into how to keep our delicate eye area as healthy as possible and also delves into a recent trial that she did with her own patients and the Anew Power Eye Cream. (The results are brilliant). Next I get a bit nerdy with Avon's Global skincare Development Scientist, Dr. Anthony Gonzalez. Anthony is one of the people who led the team that developed the Power Eye Cream and the science is truly incredible. He tells us about why it took many years to develop this product and how the combination of ingredients in the cream make it a real game changer on a number of levels. (It contains Protinol which I have talked about before and has been proven to build collagen 1 and 3). Finally we hear from some of the Outspoken Beauty Panellists who have also been trialling the Power Eye Cream and give their honest opinions about what it has done for them. This is such an interesing episode with a combination of skin education, science and a focus on a product that not only makes a difference to the skin and has years of robust science behind it but that is also affordable...the perfect combination. If you have any questions following the episode feel free to DM me @outspokenbeautynicola and if you want to check out Anew Power Eye Cream you can find it here .

This week's minipod is brimming with recommendations. I start with fragrance and the ultimate sexy orange blossom. I then chat about an incredible perfume brand that produce their fragrances with seasonal ingredients and have a limited amount of perfumes each month that you sign up for. I then move to makeup and one of my favourite current brands 19/99. They have a lip/eye/cheek pencil that is quite possibly the best bright raspberry shade that I've ever come across. I can't get enough! I have lots of other things to tell you about with an excellent hair product, a dreamy cream blush and a mascara that is really impressing me. Oh and my favourite new natural deoderant brand that actually keeps me smelling fresh!! Enjoy xx

In this episode I welcome back the incredible playwright, actress, presenter and volunteer at the refugee charity Care 4 Calais, Matilda Velevitch. Matilda is passionate about helping refugees and also changing our perception of them. It is so easy to see these people as numbers but they are real people with names, careers, hobbies and famililes just like us and they deserve to be treated as such. Matilda has so many stories to tell, some uplifting and positive and some sad and frustrating but I think that she gives a great insight into the current refugee situation in the UK. I realise that this is a bit of a departure from my usual content but it is incredibly important to me that I use this platform as a force for good and a way to give people a voice and Matilda is speaking for a group of people who don't currently have that voice. I hope you get a lot out of this episode and enjoy it too. Matilda is a great great guest and all round inspiring woman.

It was such a pleasure to welcome cosmetic doctor Catharine Denning on the podcast for this skin focussed episode. Catharine is not only incredibly knowledgable and passionate when it comes to all things skin but she speaks so much sense and I know you'll love the advice that she gives when it comes to routines and how to keep our skin vibrant and healthy. (She has some great product recommendations too). I also really enjoyed chatting about tweakments with Catharine. Her approach to the likes of fillers and botox is healthy and balanced and I loved chatting about the moments when she refuses to treat people because she feels that they either want to go too far or are making changes for the wrong reasons. (We had a good delve into the mental health aspect of wanting to change the way we look). I can't tell you how much I warmed to Catharine during this conversation and I know you will too. This is defintiely the episode for you if you're feeling a bit confused about your routine and need a reminder as to what it's worth including in your skincare arsenal. If you have any questions following the episode feel free to DM me @outspokenbeautynicola or Catharine @dr_catherine_denning_cosmetics

In this week's minipod I tell you about a new Murad range that's targeted at really sensitive skin and will really protect your skin's barrier. I also chat about the importance of using SPF, particularly when we're using harsh actives. Following a few health things coming up in a recent set of blood tests, I also talk about the importance of getting things checked and asking your GP for a blood test, particularly if you're feeling a bit tired/down/lacklustre. Finally I tell you a bit about my recent road trip and the most magical theme park ever.

Oh gosh, I don't even know where to start with the description of this week's podcast. In a nutshell, we discuss an idea that my sister and I came up with for Only Fans and Bryony is pretty shocked. Bryony also talks about a rather violent 4D Cinema experience where she was pummelled in the back by her seat. We also chat friend dates, a recent date with Louis that went a bit wrong and of course we have beauty recommendations galore. Remember that Bryony and I would love to answer your dilemmas be they beauty/relationship/sex etc related. Feel free to email us via nicola@outspokenbeauty.co.uk.

If you've ever looked at Rylan Clark's teeth and thought wow they're white, then you're looking at the work of celebrity dentist Dr Richars Marques. (His celebrity client list reads like an issue of Hello Magazine). Richard isn't just about the celebs though. He comes from a long line of dentists and his knowledge and passion for our oral health is plain for all to see. During the episode we have an amazing chat about the things we can do to keep our teeth and mouths healthy. We also analyse some of the current mouth related Tiktok trends (some of them are truly shocking) and Richard tells us what we should (and REALLY shouldn't) be doing. There's a lot more to this chat including what we can do for our general health and wellbeing and I found it more and more fascinating as we went on. Oral health is so important for so many reasons and Richard is brimming with great advice as well as loads of personality and anecdotes. I think you're going to love him!

In this week's minipod I focus in on a selection of body serums, moisturisers and treatments that have landed on my desk recently. From simple but effective to luxurious and delicious to brimming with actives, there really is something for everyone. I don't always take the time to moisturise my body, but when I do I love the way my skin feels. As I say on the podcast, it's a bit like wearing really lovely underwear :0)

In this episode my guest is the amazing Alex Light @alexlight_london. So many of you have asked for this and I was elated when Alex agreed to join me for a chat. Alex is best known for being a body confidence influencer who works tirelessly to help women across the world feel better in their own skin. During our conversation Alex tells me about the long journey that she has been on to feel good in her own skin. She is so open and honest about the things that led her to have an eating disorder and how she hid it away as she tried to forge a successful career in journalism. We then chat about how things started to change for the better and have led her to become body "neutral" rather than "positive", which is how Alex likes to describe the place that she now finds herself. Alex has great wisdom and I know that so many of us will relate to and learn from this conversation. I also love how she talks about what beauty means to her. Alex is a truly brilliant guest and I can't wait for you to hear this very honest and important episode.

*This episode is in partnership with Dr Paw Paw and their new skincare range YOUR gorgeous SKIN* In this episode I get to know Pauline Paterson, the amazing co-founder of Dr Paw Paw. Pauline talks about the journey that her and husband Johnny have been on to build their incredible business which to this day remains independent. As well as chatting about her journey, Pauline talks about the inspiration for their brand new skincare range "YOUR gorgeous SKIN", a collection of products that have the Papaya at their very heart. They also put the consumer and the environment first, are affordable, original and I think are going to impress many a discerning skincare lover. After hearing from Pauline who will talk us through some of the products and introduce us to her patented ingredient Papayaluronic (a blend of papaya fruit and 8 hyaluronic acids) we get some totally non-biased reviews from some of the Outspoken Beauty Panellists who have trialled the entire YOUR gorgeous SKIN collection. I can't wait for you to get to know Pauline and hear about this exciting new skincare range.

In this week's minipod I talk about some of the trends on Tiktok that most definitely need to be taken with a pinch of salt. I also chat about my night at the CEW Beauty Awards Demonstration Evening where I encountered some incredible brands both old and new. I continue with a chat about a new perfume from Molton Brown that is incredible and a cult perfume that has actually become infamous on Tiktok...I give my views. Finally I have some makeup and skincare recommendations for you...and all in 10 minutes :0)

Bryony and I laughed a lot during the making of this episode. We have a lot to catch up on including surprising occurences on dates, why Bryony might go on Only Fans, our morning at the House of Commons and the man who annoyed us so much that we've christened him skeletor, plus much much more. Of course there's a whole load of fabulous beauty recommendations in there too. We also announce our new Agony Aunt Service. DM us with your problems and we'll try and answer them on the pod! Enjoy Outspoken Beauties and don't listen to this in front of the kids :0)

In this episode I meet the charming actress Gloria John. Gloria tells her incredible story of escaping an abusive father and leaving Korea aged 14. From there she trained to become a dentist and eventually pursued her dream of acting. She is now starring in the Amazon Prime dark comedy The Consultant. During the episode Gloria tells her story from leaving home at a young age to conquering Hollywood. (I love her honesty and authenticity). Later we chat about what beauty menas to her and go into her love of Korean skincare, false lashes and explore some of the things that she does for her health and wellbeing. Gloria was so wonderful to interview and her episode is as fascinating as it is inspiring.