Beauty Full Lives

When road and track cyclist Dani Rowe and I first met, I was really struck by her candid nature and fascinated by her anecdotes about her extraordinary career as a thrice world champion and Olympic gold medallist, so felt she'd be a perfect fit for the show.

Happily, she agreed to come on and in this episode talks openly about everything from meeting the Queen (the rules: no selfies, no questions), how she geared herself up to cycle in the Olympics (music played a role), the pay gap between men and women in cycling, and how working hard played a much bigger role in her success than native talent.

Products, and places, mentioned:

- Clinique Moisture Surge Sheertint Hydrator

- Clinique Super City Block SPF 40

- Lancome Teint Idole Ultra Wear Foundation

- Lucas Papaw 

- Professor Steve Peters, The Chimp Paradox

- Bobbi Brown Smokey Eyes Mascara

- Blink Brow Bar

- BBB London Clear Brow Gloss

- Charlotte Tilbury Cheek to Chic in Ecstasy 

- Urban Decay Naked palettes

- Bobbi Brown skincare

- Jo Malone Pomegranate Noir

- Jo Malone Poppy and Barley

- MAC Velvet Teddy Lipstick

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

As a budding (ahem) florist, Nikki Tibbles was often required to wake up very early in the morning and had little time and even less inclination to put on make-up.

Fast forward 23 years, and Nikki's time is even more stretched; her Wild at Heart business is flourishing, and she's also at the helm of the Wild At Heart Foundation, which she founded in 2016, with the mission to bring an end to the world's 600 million stray dog problem by organising rescue projects, sterilising as many as possible, and educating people worldwide.

(To date, the Wild At Heart Foundation has rehomed 1,175 dogs - one of whom is my rescue beagle/pointer, Monty, who hails from Cyprus and is utterly delightful - and sterilised a further 16,000.)

In today's episode, Nikki discusses the childhood that set her up to be very driven, how she's harboured a love for animals throughout her life (she has throughout her life always owned at least one rescue dog, and has six today), which skincare she finds effective, how she'd choose David Gandy to come to her ideal dinner party, and her 35 piercings...

Products, and places, mentioned:

- Guerlain Mitsouko perfume

- Timothy Han fragrances

- Chanel Crystal Eau de Parfum

- Miller Harris perfume

- Barbara Sturm skincare

- Apogii Notting hill

- Drunk Elephant skincare

- Charlotte Tilbury Flawless Filter, and Chic-to-Cheek blush

- Maria Tash Piercings

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Between straddling the roles of producer, mother, and designer of FROST yoga wear, it's little wonder that Sadie Frost has had to make an effort to prioritise creative and family time and therefore has a very streamlined and efficient routine.

In today's episode, Sadie and I discuss that routine, along with how she balanced having a career with motherhood ('I’d get myself to a situation where things would be going really well and then I’d get pregnant again. But I’ve always been driven and I’ve never wanted to give up'), the challenges surrounding divorcing when you have children ('I think it’s just better to be friends with your ex and to be loving and wish them well even when you’re going through difficult times'), and letting the wrong people in ('I trusted people who were actually quite jealous and just wanted what I had so they screwed me over, and that hurt').

We also discuss amongst other things her postnatal depression, how subsequent weight fluctuations affected her approach to food, and how her height was a double-edged sword.

Products, and places, mentioned:

- Clinique Dramatically Different Moisturiser

- FaceGym

- Lucas Paw Paw

- Benefit Gimme Brow

- Chanel Vitalumiere Foundation

- Chanel No 5

- Guerlain l’Heure Bleue

- Triyoga

- Everyman Belsize Park and Hampstead

- Limonia Restaurant

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

In the first of this season's bonus episodes, I’m joined by the award-winning beauty journalist Sam Silverand the fashion and celebrity stylist Gemma Rose Breger who jointly founded This Is Mothership, an online platform designed to share practical tips and tricks on beauty and fashion for busy mums.

In today’s episode, we talk about how - and why - Sam and Gemma came to found This Is Mothership, their own pregnancy challenges, how having babies affected their careers, and they of course impart some wisdom on the best products around to tackle everything from lacklustre skin to bags under eyes.

Products mentioned:

Nioxin

This Works In Transit No Traces

St Tropez Purity Face Mist

Tan-Luxe Sleep Oil

Becca Under Eye Brightening Corrector

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Lipstick in Envious

Smashbox Always On Lipstick

Estee Lauder Pure Colour Lipstick Poppy Sauvage

Victoria Beckham for Estee Lauder Morning Aura

Chanel Les Beiges Eau de Teint

Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Concealer

Becca Ultimate Coverage Longwear Concealer

Clinique Pretty Easy Liquid Eyeliner Pen

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Make-up artist and beauty industry maverick Ruby Hammer MBE's story speaks of her innate chutzpah and inner conviction, and includes ditching plans to work for the UN n favour of make-up artistry after a chance encounter, hard graft while growing her career as a mum to a young daughter, and launching a huge brand while going through a divorce.

Her advice to her younger self? ‘When I was young, I was always an optimist and I was pretty naive, and I think now I realise is that life is not all singalong and happy and you’re going not to be giddy and happy forever. Is it full of ups and down and let downs, whether they’re commercial, financial, emotional. I’ve lost my parents now, I’ve gone through a divorce so I would say to [a younger] me, “just be prepared, Ruby. And don’t lose sight of who you are; integrity means a lot.”'

In this episode, we discuss the role of beauty and it's emotional impact on Ruby's life, her move from Nigeria to London, how she ended up going from helping at her mum's restaurant to a make-up artist creating looks for Vogue, Elle, and Marie Claire among others, and what having an MBE means to her.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Yoga teacher Tashi Dawa (@tashi_dawa_yoga) believes that beauty has nothing to do with exterior but rather is about one's experience of life: ‘This is the oldest we’ve ever been and the youngest we’ll ever be again so this moment is passing. Feel your feelings, explore the adventures; life’s short and it would be terrible to live your last couple of breaths going “I was really scared of being judged.” That deep respect for the miracle that we are - not so concerned with what it looks like as a miracle, but what it feels like - that is beauty, I think.’

This theme carries through her entire life: all Tashi's possessions fit in a single rucksack, she spends her money on travel and training, eschewing treatments and products in favour of time spent pursuing her goals.

In this episode, Tashi explains how she came to work as a yoga teacher, details some of her views on what can be done to combat stress diseases and which philosophies might engender a fresh perspective. She also chants, something I'll never fail to find relaxing after having heard her do it daily at Vale de Moses (the yoga retreat on which we met), so I'd encourage you to bookmark the episode and return to that chanting if you want something soothing to listen to at the end of the day... 

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Over her 30 plus years in the beauty industry, Alison Young has noticed a seismic shift in the attitudes of beauty customers. Where once she found herself advising people merely on what to buy, she now more often than not has to tell people to scale their efforts back, buy fewer products, use the things they already have to get the best result. She is unreserved on the topic, claiming many of us are over-egging the pudding.

Her views on the role beauty should play are equally as sensible, with her saying to those who have found what works for them: “well done - you’re in control of your beauty, beauty’s not in control of you, and if you don’t want anti-wrinkling and anti-ageing and to try to keep up with the insta image, good on you”.

In this episode, Alison and I chart her journey from young girl with chronic eczema and a fondness for horses and dogs who didn't consider herself to be very academic to beauty therapist administering treatments to 80s models at Grayshott to presenter at QVC and award-winning beauty expert.

Alison also explains why she doesn't condone cosmetic surgery, which products she uses, and how her appetite to learn has not yet been sated: ‘Everyone thinks when they’ve come out with a qualification that that’s it, they’re great. No - you’ve started. I’m 35 years in the industry and I’m still starting. You never stop learning.’

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Singer-songwriter Joy Crookesmade the transition from extracurricular singing at school to artist over many years, or, as she puts it 'it was so gradual - my life has been so gradual.'

And despite Vogue calling her 'one of the most exciting artists to emerge on the music scene this year,' her approach is still steady and careful, dodging people who 'blow smoke up your a***,' and with a healthy dose of wariness when it comes to social media.

Her attitude towards make-up similarly started with some sensible contemplation: ‘I hated make-up, I hated it! I thought it was the devil. And that sounds so granny of me but I just told myself “just don’t get into it.” You see these girls who are 13/14 who have to powder themselves up in make-up every morning, and fair enough if they don’t feel like they’re comfortable - but I don’t want to get to a point where I’m uncomfortable in my own skin.’

In this episode, Joy and I discuss all the above along with her approach towards looking after herself both physically and mentally, how having a Bangladeshi mother and Irish father has affected her, and the influence of Elephant and Castle on her appearance.

Joy is an ambassador for Maytree.org.uk, and recommends Baatn.org.uk, the Black, African, and Asian therapy network.

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Writer and author Sophia Money Coutts doesn't remember seeing any make-up during her young life because ’the posh old school thing is that women aren’t supposed to wear a lot of make-up - or if they do they’re certainly not supposed to look like they’re wearing a lot of make-up.'

Aged 11, vitiligo started to leach pigment from her skin, and when Sophia eventually started to use make-up, some of her efforts were directed at the white patches.

In today's episode, we talk about how make-up has never been a big feature despite it inching its way into her life, Sophia's fascination with silky hair, and how a bath is her preferred way to end a day.

We also discuss botox, break ups, navigating uni life, being judged for having a 'posh' name, and how Sophia went about crafting characters for her two books, The Plus One, and What Happens Now? (The latter of which I read in a satisfying gulp over the summer and very much enjoyed so would encourage you to buy.)

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

By the age of 30, make-up artist Gucci Westmanhad already had a hugely successful career, working on films like John Malkovich and with a client list which included Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz.

Ever after a new challenge, Gucci decided to leave the film industry to try her hand at editorial work. She initially hit a bump in the road with Creative Director Grace Coddington, but once given the opportunity to show what she could do, Grace declared Gucci to be one of the greatest talents she'd discovered.

From there, Gucci worked solidly, making up huge celebrities for campaigns and covers of magazines.

Gucci's make-up trademark: beautiful, luminous skin. It therefore came as no surprise to anyone who's followed her work that her make-up line, Westman Atelier, homes in on creating juicy, luscious skin. (Side note: I use the Vital Skin Foundation Stick regularly and recommend it heartily.)

In this episode, Gucci talks about how she achieved all that while managing to remain balanced and healthy, and also delves into her childhood memories, painting a picture of a girl who grew up with spiritual parents who lived slightly unconventional lives - and for whom make-up was a mere glimmer of excitement on the horizon.

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.