Outspoken Beauty

It's time for my second episode in partnership with Curate Beauty and boy have founders Sam, Margot and I got a good one in store for you. In this episode I get to know the stories of two extraordinary brands that not only make truly great products but that are making hugely positive changes in the world.

My guests today are Luke Kinkaid, founder of Organic Savanna, a brand that puts all of its profits back into supporting the very Kenyan community that makes every one of its beautiful products. His story is breathtaking. I also get to know Sara Nesten from Organicup, another brand that is helping to educate and change the lives of women around the world, as well as changing our own periods for the better. By the way, they have offered us a promo code to go alongside the podcast. Just head to https://www.organicup.com/ and type in the code "curatebeauty20".

Going on this journey with Curate is showing me more than ever that there is a whole world of beauty out there that is waiting to be discovered...brands with small budgets making a huge difference to the world. Sharing them with you is the biggest pleasure and I hope you make some new beauty relationships over the course of this series xx

In this episode of #MyBeautyHabits I get to know a woman who has reported from some of the most dangerous places in the world. My guest is CNN's Chief International Correspondent, the multi-award winning journalist Clarissa Ward.
During our chat we delve into the world of a woman who has spent much of her career reporting from the front line of war zones. We talk about what inspired Clarissa to pursue this career and how important it is to her to tell the stories that really matter and show the rest of the world the real people behind the headlines.
Clarissa also chats about the challenges of Covid and how it has affected so many women, what it's like being a mother and war correspondent and gives us some insight into the pressure to look a certain way even when you're reporting in the very harshest conditions.
Later on Clarissa tells me about her beauty habits and how she winds down. She also shares the most beautiful story about how a moisturiser provided a wonderful bonding moment with a group of women in Syria.
Clarissa has written the most INCREDIBLE book called On All Fronts. It is an absolute must read and delves into what it takes to become and be a frontline war reporter and how it can affect the other aspects of your life. It is not only honest, emotional, important and downright funny in places.
Here's a link:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B07V651MQ5/ref=dp-kindle-redirect?_encoding=UTF8&btkr=1
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During this episode I also do a paid for review of the Spotlight Water Flosser. If you're tempted to buy one then here's a link for you

https://uk.spotlightoralcare.com/products/water-flosser

If skincare is your thing then this episode is 100% for you. I'm joined by award-winning skin lecturer, multi-award winning dermal facialist/aesthetician, founder of online skin consultancy/community The Skin Nerd and creator of skincare brand Skingredients (wow she's achieved a lot) Jennifer Rock.
Jenn shares her incredible career story, talks and guides us through her skin ethos and then answers a load of your questions covering everything from hormonal acne to rosacea to retinol.
Jennifer is up there with the very best skin experts (her knowledge and education is mind blowing) and has also got the most wonderful, positive personality. It was an absolute pleasure to learn from her and to get to know her.
On a personal level, I'm a huge fan of her Skingredients range and also recommend that you connect with Skin Nerds if you need guidance on your own skin journey.
Enjoy this episode. It's a good one :0)

In this episode of #MyBeautyHabits I get to know the brilliant Jane Cunningham aka British Beauty Blogger.
Jane launched British Beauty Blogger in order to talk about beauty products in a way that wasn't possible as a journalist. She is renowned for her honest, no BS approach and has a huge and very loyal following. Jane is also fiercely pro-ageing and only ever works with brands that she is passionate about. She is my kind of woman in so many ways!
In this episode we talk about Jane's views on the beauty industry, her approach to her work, what it takes to be a successful beauty writer and we get to know about the products and rituals that she loves.
If you've never read britishbeautyblogger.com then please do check it out. Jane's a brilliant writer and her honesty is just so refreshing.

#TheOutspoken is the only podcast where you, the listener takes charge of the conversation and in Episode 7 we're tackling our toughest topic yet....Coercive Control.

When a listener got in touch to say that she wanted to tell the story of the abuse she suffered in her marriage, she was incredibly nervous yet certain that is felt like the right thing to do. In this episode she tells us what it felt like to be caught in a relationship where her husband gradually reduced and controlled her in practically every way. She wanted to tell her story, in her words, "not out of revenge to my ex, but because if I can help one person in a similar situation to the one I was in, I will have done my job".

Later on I interview Dr Emma Katz who is a Senior Lecturer in Childhood and Youth at Liverpool Hope University as well as being an expert on Coercive Control. Dr Emma talks us through all the warning signs to look out for and how to get help when you're in a relationship like this.

If you listen to this episode and need help or advice, Dr Emma has kindly provided these links for us:

Surviving Economic Abuse: https://survivingeconomicabuse.org/

Freephone 24 hr National Domestic Violence Helpline - 0808 2000 247

Get support from Women's Aid over live chat: https://chat.womensaid.org.uk/

Refuge: https://www.refuge.org.uk/get-involved/contact-us/

The Men’s Advice Line for male domestic abuse survivors - 0808 801 0327

National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Trans+ Domestic Abuse Helpline - 0800 999 5428

Helpful books:
⦁ Invisible Chains: Overcoming Coercive Control in Your Intimate Relationship
⦁ Why Does He Do That?: Inside the Minds of Angry and Controlling Men

Dr Emma Katz's work, which focuses on impacts of coercive control on children and mothers
When Coercive Control Continues to Harm Children: Post-Separation Fathering, Stalking, and Domestic Violence
Coercive Control: Five Factors that Influence Closeness, Distance and Strain in Mother-Child Relationships
How Children Living with Domestic Violence are Harmed By and Resist Regimes of Coercive Control
Recovery-Promoters: Ways that Mothers and Children Support One Another’s Recoveries from Domestic Violence

If you have something that you would like to talk about on #TheOutspoken email me [email protected]

In this episode I get to know a vivacious entrepreneur with a wonderfully dirty laugh. It's the brilliant Winnie Awa who is on a mission to revolutionise the hair industry.
Winnie was struck by how many women with textured hair were struggling to find the right products and advice so she went about setting up Antidote Street which is an online destination where you can get advice and direction on how to do the best for your hair. They work with clever algorithms, do online consultations with hair experts and have the ability to direct women from all around the world to stockists of hair products that will work for their individual needs. (She is taking personalisation to a whole new level).
During the episode I get to know Winnie's personal story (I love hearing about her family), the reason why her company is going to change the hair industry and she makes me even more certain that with energy, ambition and hard graft, anything is possible.

In this episode of #MyBeautyHabits I get to know the gorgeous Lisa Armstrong.
Lisa is not only the head of makeup design for Strictly Come Dancing but she has also just developed her own (incredible) makeup line.
Lisa and I have a good old gossip and giggle about disco dancing, life after being in a pop group, her makeup artist journey, working on Strictly and about how she has named her lipstick collection after her closest girl friends.
We also chat about the beauty products that Lisa loves and the fragrance that she can't be without.
I honestly felt like I was chatting to an old friend even though this was the first time I've met Lisa. You're going to love her xx

If you're on the approach to a big birthday and like me you're feeling a little over-whelmed/in denial/potentially but not definitely in the category of mid-life-crisis then this episode is for you.

Tova Leigh (one of the most talented and hilarious content creators out there) was getting on with life as a mother in her 40's when she realised that she just wasn't fulfilled. To everyone else she had the perfect life but inside she felt trapped, empty and redundant as a woman. So she decided to change things up and do things she never dreamt were possible.

In this episode we talk about changing our lives and re-discovering ourselves as women. From climbing Everest to going to sex parties, Tova has done things her way but I hope that whatever stage of life you find yourself at, if you're feeling the need to be you again, that this incredible episode will inspire you to make that change.

I can't recommend Tova's book enough by the way. You can get F*cked At 40 here:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/cked-40-Suburbia-Monogamy-Stretch/dp/1786782693/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1601151390&refinements=p_27%3ATova+Leigh&s=books&sr=1-1

Joining me for this episode of #MyBeautyHabits is the wonderful SJ Thomson. SJ is the Digital Manager for Covent Garden London and when I first met her I was totally bowled over by her energy, passion, bright red hair and absolute love/addiction for all things beauty.

Since meeting SJ a year or so ago we've gone for many a meal/cocktail and amongst the laughter, work and life chat we always end up having a good old gossip about beauty. I always leave our catch ups feeling so excited and uplifted so I thought I better share her with you. You're going to love getting to know SJ and her beauty habits.

Welcome to Episode 6 of #TheOutspoken, the podcast where you the listener takes charge and decides the things that we really need to talk about.

In this episode it's all about body positivity (or lack of it).

Outspoken Community member Jennifer Brown got in touch to talk about the way that she is judged both for putting on weight and wanting to lose it and that she is tired of having to worry about how others will judge her every time that she makes a decision about her body. We talk this through together on the podcast.

I'm also joined by the amazing Brie Read who is the founder of Snag Tights, a company that makes tights for all shapes and sizes. She voices her opinions on what an unhealthy space the high street can be with its size systems and lack of choice for all bodies. We also chat through how we can feel confident just the way we are and why the whole narrative around our bodies needs to change.

I also go through the results from our poll where you told me that almost 70% of you aren't happy with your bodies.

This is an eye opening episode and I think is just the start of the conversation!

If you'd like to join the Outspoken Community, try products for free and get your voice heard, please email me [email protected] or DM me @outspokenbeautynicola