Beauty Full Lives

I started seeing physiotherapist Ben Lombard towards the end of last year.

After enjoying what I now realise was the extremely good fortune of having a comfortable back throughout my life, I pulled a muscle in my neck over the summer and then progressively found my back becoming more and more riddled with knots, culminating in my standing in the park mid-Monty walk, unable to lift my foot because my lower back had seized up.

Enter Ben.

After he assessed what was going on and administered a massage, he sent me on my way with lots of tips on how to look after my back better and thereby avoid the complete agony I was suffering when I went to see him that first time, and has added more advice with each subsequent visit.

As the things he has told me to do have been very practical and really quite easy to incorporate into my everyday life, I asked him to come on the show as a guest to talk through them. I hope you find this episode useful if you are suffering or have suffered from back pain and want to take measures to reduce future occurrences.

(By the by, in case you're wondering, my back is now a much, much less painful place.)

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 Mary Greenwell is a beauty industry legend who's made up some quite extraordinary people, including Cate Blanchett, Diana, Princess of Wales, Jessica Chastain, Cindy Crawford, Meghan Markle, Amanda Seyfried, Christy Turlington, and Margaret Thatcher.

But the thing that really distinguishes Mary's work from that of other make-up artists is not who she's made up, but rather how very memorable the end effect is. Think of those '80s supermodels sporting smoky eyes and honeyed skin, and you're invariably thinking of Greenwell's work. She famously transformed Princess Diana in the '90s, when she and Sam McKnight modernised Diana's look. And who could forget Meghan Markle's cover turn on Vanity Fair, freckles out, eyes rimmed with softly-smudged kohl?

Mary's influence doesn't stop with the people she's made up, though - she was assisted by and was therefore integral in developing the skills of make-up artists like Lisa Eldridge and Charlotte Tilbury, and has advised countless brands on how their products should look and feel.

On this episode, I was very keen for Mary to tell us some of her stories from both from her stellar career and perhaps one or two that might offer some insight into how a young girl from West Sussex who, by her own admission, was a 'little hippy' came to be one of the most revered women in the beauty industry. 

Mary kindly indulged my curiosity, and I hope you'll find the tale of her journey to being a working make-up artist as riveting as I did, as well as, of course, enjoying her recollections of working with some of the most celebrated people in the world, and paying heed to her tips on make-up (those of you who aren't fans of brushes will no doubt delight in her views on them).

Here are the products Mary mentions:

- Lanvin Arpege Eau de Parfum

- Iles Formula Luxury Haircare

- Yves Saint Laurent Touche Eclat

- Yves Saint Laurent Number 19 Lipstick

- Calvin Klein Original Fragrance

- Sisley Eau de Soir Eau de Parfum

- MAC Face & Body

- Elizabeth Arden Smoky Eyes Powder Pencil

- Nicola Clarke at Nicola Clarke at John Frieda

- Joel Goncalves at Nicola Clarke at John Frieda

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.

When I decided to add an extra slot to the podcast to offer up wisdom from some of the experts I am fortunate enough to work with in my capacity as beauty journalist, I immediately thought of Clinical Aesthetician Pam Marshall.

Pam is renowned for her ability to calm ruffled skin, with her clients, of which I am one, eulogising her multi-faceted approach - and straight-talking advice.

Happily, she agreed to come on the show, and I found myself in her treatment room at her Fulham clinic Mortar and Milk recording an episode all about acne and how to reduce it's dominion over skin. In it, she offers up advice on everything from practical measures like washing your sheets and cleaning your phone, to which skincare would be ideal on acneic skin. I hope you enjoy the episode and, as ever, if you want me to cover anything in particular, please do get in touch with suggestions.

Pam mentions Clinisept, Skinceuticals, Exuviance, Neostrata, CosMedix, and Heliocare.

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.

The word legendary is bandied around a lot, but I think it's safe to say that Kylie Minogue absolutely warrants legendary status. And Glastonbury clearly agrees: at this year's festival, she'll be headlining the 'legends' slot.

It comes after a particularly successful year in the pop star's career: her fourteenth studio album, Golden, received critical acclaim, and Kylie's ever-ardent fans loved the personal, Nashville-recorded songs.

Which brings me to, well, me. I am a Kylie fan. Of epic proportions - she has provided the soundtrack to my life and has inspired me with her quiet grace and inner determination to remain resilient after many of life's wobbles.

I was therefore extremely excited/nervous when she agreed to this interview but I quite genuinely couldn't have hoped for more - Kylie was funny, bursting with character, and extremely considered and kind.

I know it's generally considered to be poor form for an interviewer to insert themselves into the narrative, but I just wanted to offer an insight into my fandom as I think it's important to mention given that I'm clearly a bit giddy throughout and ask Kylie a fair amount of questions my friend Oliver and I have been desperate to ask her for years as an audience with Kylie is a rare thing and the opportunity may never again present itself.

We talk about perms, work ethic, holding onto sanity when living a busy life, where Kylie likes to eat in London, how she kicks back on a Sunday, and the look she'd choose to inhabit from her archive. I hope you enjoy the episode.

Products Kylie mentions include:

- The Organic Pharmacy Rose Diamond Face Cream

- Bose Noise-Cancelling Earphones

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.

MANY of you asked for more Rebecca Reid and Esther Coren, so this week I invited them on the show for a natter about Christmases past and their more intriguing Christmas memories and traditions. 

Crucial topics covered include our top Christmas films, what constitutes a good Christmas (no turkey and a curated crowd in Esther's case, much booze and being surrounded by family in Rebecca's, and my eclectic bunch plus the waifs and strays from Dad's restaurant for me), how much is too much when it comes to gifts, and which Christmases we remember for all the wrong reasons (romantic woes for all of us on this one, with Rebecca telling the tale of being stuck in the country with no electricity or means to contact her boyfriend, Esther hopelessly in love with a man who didn't reciprocate, and me trying to seduce someone with 24 M & S brie and cranberry bites).

You've got the gist: it's a Christmas feast. Enjoy.

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.

Twelve guests have now shared the stories of their lives and how beauty products, memories, and practises have had an impact on them, and now we're nearing the end of season one, I thought it about time I shared mine.

Last week's guest, the writer Rebecca Reid, agreed to host the episode, and we have a good old natter and touch on acne, anxiety, and my struggle with finding balance and contentment within my body.

Places & People I mention /

- Tiroler Hut Restaurant

- Pam Marshall at Mortar & Milk

- Nichola Joss 

- VivaMayr Austria 

- Hersheson’s / George Northwood / Mark Smith at John Frieda

- Jack Howard at Paul Edmonds / Caroline O’Brien at John Frieda

- Uchenna Okoye at London Smiling

- Amy Jean Keratin Lash Lifts

Products I mention /

- E45

- Guerlain Meteorites Pearl Powders

- Spectacular nail polish 

- Rimmel Conceal the spot

- Nars Multiple in Copacabana and South Beach

- Rimmel Eyeliner

- Max Factor 2000 Calorie

- Stila Kitten Eyeshadow

- Eve Lom Kiss Mix

- Carmex

- GHDs

- Ghost Perfume

- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser 

- Nars Orgasm Blush

- Exuviance skincare

- Bobbi Brown Smokey Eyes Mascara

- Tom Ford Cocoa Mirage Eyeshadow Quad

- L’Oreal Infallible Longwear Pro Glow Foundation

- Symprove

- Hayo'u Gua Sha Tools

- Body Brushing

- Sisley Izia

- Trish McEvoy 100

- Tilbury Scent of a Dream

- Ex Idolo Love & Crime

- Serge Lutens Veilleur De Nuit

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.

It is almost impossible for Rebecca Reid to talk about anything without being completely compelling and extremely candid. Ask her about going from a Catholic boarding school to a polyamorous relationship in the space of a year, and she'll tell you precisely you how it happened and how it felt. Talk to her about the obsession with being a Victorian that lead her to rag her hair and go to school on a dressing up day as Millicent Fawcett, and she'll also divulge how it affected her at home and in the playground. 

Her experience of the woman looking back at her in the mirror is complex, as it is for everybody, but Rebecca has a way of looking through the looking glass with disarming honesty and extraordinary perceptiveness, and she does so on the episode on a range of topics including her developing breasts and developing unwanted and inappropriate admirers in her early teens, her dream (eventually realised) of being a blonde, how her weight has influenced her self-esteem.

She also reflects on some of the times her appearance and perception of it has impacted her work as a writer, journalist and commentator on platforms including the Telegraph, Grazia, This Morning and and Good Morning Britain. 

Products Rebecca mentions include:

- Lancome Juicy Tubes Lip Gloss

- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturiser

- GHD Hair Straightener

- St Tropez Self Tan Classic Bronzing Mousse

- Calvin Klein CK One

- Tommy Girl Cologne Eau de Toilette

- Jennifer Lopez Glow Eau de Toilette

- Givenchy Very Irresistible Eau de Toilette

- Marc Jacobs Daisy Eau de Toilette

- Tocca Eau de Touch

- Dolce Gabbana L'Imperatrice no 21

- Cartier De Lune

- Dolce & Gabbana Sunset in Salina

- Penhaligon’s Juniper Sling

- Sarah Jessica Parker Lovely Eau de Parfum

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.

Zoe Sugg, aka Zoella, is an internet sensation, racking up over a billion YouTube views, with 12 million subscribers, and a further 10 million on Instagram and 13 million on twitter. Her fans are famously loyal - and they recognise Zoe wherever she goes.

In this episode of Beauty Full Lives, I was keen to discuss the human element of living with the enormous fame and scrutiny that comes with being the most famous girl online (which, but the way, happens to be the title of Zoe's bestselling book).

Zoe was a good sport and obliged me, touching on some of the more normal elements of her life, from finding QVC a bit addictive, to putting up Christmas Trees while listening to Shakin' Stevens, and choosing a bath over wine to wind down.

But we also chat about the less usual elements of Zoe's life, too, including her stint of singing with Ed Sheeran, balancing having a huge profile with being a woman who struggles with anxiety, and how said panic ramped up a notch when her career exploded.

We, of course, also talk about Zoe's childhood and the products and famous people she remembers from along the way (hair mascara comes up, as does Rachel Stevens) - and Zoe discusses her episode of adult acne and how she beat it, along with detailing her favourite products today. 

Products Zoe mentions include:

- Barry M Holographic Glitter Dust 

- Barry M Green Glitter 

- bareMinerals Original Foundation 

- Liz Earle Cleanse & Polish 

- La Roche Posay Effeclar Duo

- Tata Harper Regenerative Moisturiser

- Zoella Planner - 

- Zoella Hot Chocolate Candle

- Zoella Wish Upon A Spa

- Oribe Dry Texturizing Spray 

- Korean Sheet Masks

- Amika Dry Shampoo 

- NuMe Classic Curling Tong

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.

Esther Coren didn't grow up thinking her currency would be her looks. She describes herself as having a 'round face, lots and lots of very pronounced freckles, and very, very red hair. I wasn't chubby, but I wasn't one of the pretty girls at school at all.'

Fortunately, she grew up in a household where the way she looked wasn't valued above other attributes - particularly speedy wit, and in a bid to make their mum laugh, Esther would develop a dexterity with words that would set her in good stead as a journalist.

Today, she's found a look that works for her and on her website, The Spike, shares the tricks and finds that have helped her along the way, as well as other nuggets of wisdom on anything from children's clothes to excellent books.

Esther's product mentions include:

- Rimmel Conceal the Blemish

- Clinique Eyeshadow in Aubergine

- GHDs

- John Frieda Air Drying Mousse

- Alpha H Vitamin Serums

- Bobbi Brown Longwear Eyeliner

Grooming spots:

- Nadia at John Frieda

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.

Tina Earnshaw is a make-up veteran, having either designed the make-up or worked on principal actors on - wait for it - Titanic, Emma, Mama Mia, Shakespeare In Love, The Talented Mr. Ripley, Hamlet, and many, many others.

She's been nominated twice for an Oscar, and is revered within the industry for her ability to create a classically beautiful face: think perfected skin, enhanced eyes, and full, pouty lips. Her work makes the individual features of an actor pop without applying what appears to be an awful lot of make-up. It's quite the feat.

In this episode, Tina talks about her early make-up influences, how she came to work initially in Max Factor and then for the BBC, before deciding to try her hand at films.

She also tells anecdotes about some of the people she's worked with, detailing Kate Winslet's eyelash curling meditative moment, and Pierce Brosnan's despair at his dog dying. Her stories are all told with Tina's trademark warmth, which I suspect may be part of the reason actors are said to find her company such a tonic when on set.

Tina last year launched Tina Earnshaw Brushes, and hers are truly brushes of very high quality that have clearly been designed with a make-up artist's meticulous attention to detail. The No6 eyeliner brush, No4 slanted brush, and No2 blush brush are particularly stand out.

Tina's product mentions include:

- Rimmel Soft Kohl Kajal Eyeliner

- Fracas by Robert Piguet

- Le Dix by Balenciaga

- La Prairie Skin Caviar Concealer Foundation in Honey Glow

- La Prairie Light Fantastic Cellular Concealing Brightening Eye Treatment in Shade 10

- Armani Eyes To Kill Mascara

- Kevyn Aucoin The Eye Pencil in Basic Brown

- Kevyn Aucoin The Flesh Tone Lip Pencil in Medium

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.