Outspoken Beauty

In this episode I talk to author ("Am I Ugly" and "The Joy of Being Selfish"), body positivity campaigner, five-board accredited Life Coach and fellow podcaster (In All Honesty) Michelle Elman.

Michelle is perhaps best known for her campaign Scarred Not Scared and the moment when she wore a bikini and showed the world her many scars, making the statement that your scars don't have to define you. She also delivered a hugely popular Ted X talk called "Have You Hated Your Body Enough Today?"

During the episode we talk about the moment that Michelle decided that enough was enough and that it was time to stand up for herself and put some boundaries in place in her relationships. We chat about the importance of boundaries and expecting to be treated well by other people and what to do when we're not treated as we should be. We also chat about body positivity, confidence and so much more.

Michelle is an incredibly empowering woman who teaches us that we need to expect more in our lives and should never just sit back and accept the status quo. She shows us that it is possible to find the strength to change how we perceive ourselves and how others treat us.

As it was National Fragrance Day on Sunday I’ve decided to swap My Beauty Habits for Episode 2 of On the Scent with Suzy Nightingale. (MBH will be back next week).
If you haven’t heard episode one then you’re in for a real treat. Suzy is a fragrance expert who describes scent like no one I’ve ever met. During the episode we chat about some of the most exciting and incredible fragrances on the market and Suzy also does a fragrance prescription service, answering all of the fragrance dilemmas that you’ve been sending us via Instagram (@outspokenbeautynicola / @fragrantmaven).
As promised, here are all the fragrances that we discuss during the episode:

To the Fairest, Cécile @tothefairestlondon

Sarah Jessica Parker, Lovely @sarahjessicaparker

Narcisso Rodriguez, For Her (pink bottle, original) @narcisso_rodriguez

Contradictions in ILK, Devious @ilkperfume

Miller Harris, L’air de Rien (possibly discontinued) @millerharris

Jovoy, Rose Millisime @jovoymayfair

Stella McCartney, Stella @stellamccartney

Paul Smith, Rose @paulsmithdesign

Ruth Mastenbroek, Fire Dance @ruthmastenbroekperfume

Moschino, Toy Boy @moschino

Cacharel, Noa @cacharelparfums

BeauFort London, Tonnerre @beaufortlondon

DSquared2, Green Wood @dsquared2

SJP, Stash @sarahjessicaparker

Juliette Has a Gun, Not a Perfume @juliettehasagun

Clean Reserve, Skin @cleanbeauty_collective

Kayali, Musk 12 @kayali

Etat Libre D’Orange Secretions Magnifique @etatlibredorange

Vines House Parfum, Signature Story @vineshouseparfum

Bedeaux, Chienoir @bedeauxx

Back by popular demand is skin guru and all round wonder woman Jennifer Rock.
Jenn who is the founder of The Skin Nerd Network and one of my fav brands Skingredients is here to answer all of your skin related questions.
I love Jenn for her experience, knowledge and no BS advice and I guarantee you'll leave the episode equipped with some great information and skincare inspiration.

In this episode I get to know the incredible celebrity "inner" facialist, Nichola Joss.
Nichola is loved by the likes of Scarlett Johansson, Hilary Swank, Gisele Bundchen and Gwyneth Paltrow and is renowned for her inner facial which sees her massaging and sculpting from the inside of your mouth. She is also seen by many as something of a health and wellbeing guru and if you follow her on Instagram you'll see that she is about so much more than skin.
During the episode Nichola shares so much of the wisdom that she is renowned and loved for. She is also beautifully outspoken and unafraid to express her opinions which I am as you know a huge fan of!

This is such an important episode whether like me you're aware that perimenopause could strike at any time or you're experiencing the menopause right now. Actually, I also think this is important even if you're in your twenties as knowledge is power and when it comes to the menopause many of us are anything but empowered.
In the episode I'm joined by Dr Louise Newson who is a GP and Menopause Specialist. Louise is on a mission to educate us about what is available to us once we are peri menopausal/menopausal and also how to get the right treatment from our Drs.
Many women go to their GPs feeling depressed or anxious due to fluctuating hormones and Dr Louise explains how many of us are prescribed anti-depressants which is anything but helpful. We also chat about HRT and how more of us can take it than we realise (we just need to be prescribed the right one), supplements and keeping strong and vital as we age.
Dr Louise's website is an absolute fountain of knowledge and is well worth checking out after the episode. You can find her at menopausedoctor.co.uk.
As well as my interview with Louise I also have a list of lovely recommendations for you at the end of the episode 2 fabulous perfumes, a great hair product for texture and some gorgeous makeup bits. Enjoy! xx

In this episode I chat to the fabulous Sandra Sallin. Sandra, who describes herself as an "80 year old blogger with too many lipsticks" is utterly passionate about beauty and makeup as well as being a fantastic artist and author of the blog apartfrommyart.com. Sandra's blog makes for addictive and compelling reading. She's been on so many adventures in her life including meeting Picasso but that's another story for another time.
During our chat Sandra reveals how she became fascinated by online makeup tutorials and how much she could learn from them. Every time that the likes of Hannah Martin, Lisa Potter Dixon and Pixiwoo did tutorials for mature skin, Sandra would take note and slowly but surely mastered the art of applying makeup that made her feel fabulous.
As well as talking about her makeup edication, we chat about older women and beauty, how no one should feel bad about wrinkles and why the beauty industry needs to speak to women above 50 because they have money to spend and don't want to be cast aside.
Sandra also gives a huge amount of brilliant product recommendations.
It was an utter joy to get to know Sandra and I hope she makes you feel as good as she did me xx

*This is a special episode to celebrate International Women's Day in partnership with L'Occitane *

In this episode I learn the story behind a brand that is really very special to me. When I was 20 and living in Paris, my Mum and I discovered L'Occitane and were hooked. It was the beginning of a twenty odd year relationship that has seen us gifting each other countless products and whooping with excitement when it finally came over to the UK.

What Mum and I have never known is the story behind L'Occitane and how right from its fledgling days, it was a brand that truly cared about both the environment and empowering women.

During the episode I get to know the amazing Alia Hawa who is the MD for L'Occitane UK and Ireland. She tells me about her journey with L'Occitane and the incredible and inspirational story of its founder Olivier Baussan.

Later in the episode we hear from some of The Outspoken Panellists who have been trialling the cult L'Occitane Shea Butter Hand Cream. As ever they give their no holes barred, honest reviews of the product.

Finally, Mummy Bonn joins me to chat briefly about our memories of L'Occitane.
This is a lovely episode that celebrates women and the good that the beauty industry can do.

If you'd like 10% off at L'Occitane then you can use the code OUTSPOKEN10 until the end of March 2021 xx

In this episode of My Beauty Habits I chat to the fabulous Becki Murray who is the Beauty Editor at Harpers Bazaar and Town and Country Magazine.
Becki is fascinated by cosmetic science to the point where she is actually studying it and this love is reflected in the beauty products and brands that she recommends during the episode. As well as recommendations, Becki chats about the power of makeup, how rosacea affects her beauty choices and her journey to becoming a beauty editor.
I love Becki for her constant quest for knowledge and the extensive research she puts into products before she recommends them. There's a feeling that she really has the consumer's back. She's a true force for good in the beauty industry and I loved recording this episode with her.
You can find Becki on Instagram @beckimurray_ where she does a great IGTV series called #Beautyful Chemistry and gives fabulous product recommendations. Definitely worth a follow!

In this episode I get to chat to the amazing Nikki Wolff aka Nikki Makeup.
Nikki is one of the world's most successful makeup artists whose art has adorned the faces of everyone from Kim Kardashian to Dua Lipa to Rosie Huntington-Whitelely.
During the episode we chat about how her passion for makeup artistry began at the age of six and that as she got older she 100% knew it was the career for her. Nikki tells me why she shunned the traditional route of being a makeup assistant and how she forged a career path that has seen her become one of the world's best loved makeup artists.
We also have a good old natter about how it has felt for her giving birth during the pandemic and Nikki also shares some of her very best beauty products with makeup recommendations galore.
Nikki is a strong, down to earth and fabulous woman who shows that when you really want something you can make it happen. I loved every minute of our chat.

*This episode is part of my ongoing partnership with Curate Beauty. Together we're working hard to help you discover the very best small indie beauty brands*

If you feel like you always buy your Mum the same sort of thing for Mother's Day and you want to get her something truly special and original with the added bonus that you will be supporting a small, independent brand then this is the episode for you.

The amazing Sam Freedman, co-founder of Curate Beauty has done what she does best and curated a list of stunning gift ideas for us. From candles to skincare to scented oils and silk pillow cases to haircare she has all bases covered and this is a really great opportunity to discover some fabulous new beauty brands that you and your Mum can cherish together.

As promised, I'm adding some promo codes for you and I so hope you enjoy getting to know these brands.

Nereus London: Use code CURATE20 for 20% off (https://nereus.uk/)
Laid: Use code OUTSPOKEN20 for 20% off (https://www.thelaidclub.com/shop)
The Muses: Code OUTSPOKEN20 for 20% off (https://www.themuseslondon.co.uk/)
BAO: Code Outspoken for 15% off (https://www.baoskincare.co.uk/)

Other brands mentioned:
Clockface Beauty (https://clockfacebeauty.com/)
Connock London (https://www.connocklondon.co.uk/)
Centred (https://www.wearecentred.com/)