After an incredible brand trip to the gorgeous Inns Of Aurora in upstate New York with No7, I’m back - despite a chaotic, storm-delayed layover at Detroit airport last night! So in this week’s chat, I’m taking you inside the stunning Aurora Inns, giving you an insider peek into the two new No7 skincare lines, and opening up my travel makeup bag. Plus, I’m chatting about those viral headlines surrounding CeraVe too.

Head over to my website to get the full list of every product and range mentioned in today's episode:

CLICK HERE (don't forget to subscribe ❤️)

And also as promised:

Click here to read my full Victoria Beckham Foundation Drops review

And...

Read my report into the scary CeraVe headlines.

You can also:

Watch the Trip Vlog: Catch my weekly life-in-Florida vlogs including this No7 trip one, the England vs. New Zealand football match at Tampa stadium, and my behind-the-scenes beauty routines on YouTube: @thebeautyed Vlog on YouTube

And don't forget to follow me on Instagram: @thebeautyed

See you next week 🐞

This week I’m catching up with my friend, the brilliant TV makeup artist Donna May, who has just finished working at the world renowned Chelsea Flower Show in London - she is basically in charge of doing the hair and makeup for all of the presenters! And although it sounds glamorous (you’ll hear about her chats (and hugs!) with Sir David Beckham and King Charles no less!!!) - the days are long, hot and sweaty!

We mentioned a lot of specific products in this episode - including Donna’s holy-grail Amazon hair cream that cures midlife frizz; the exact over makeup SPF spray she uses, and her favourite instant blur and tanning cream for pasty legs.

I have linked all of the products over on thebeautyed.com so click the link below to grab the full shopping list and read the deep-dive guide on how to use them:

👉 Click here to get the full Backstage Product Guide (and don't forget to subscribe)

Other Things We Chat About in This Episode:

• Broken dishwashers, mercury retrogrades, and ‘what’s for dinner’ conversations.
• What David Beckham and King Charles are really like IRL
• How to stop makeup pilling under SPF and the ultimate trick for upper-lip sweat.
• Why waterproof mascaras are ruining your lashes, and the powder-puff trick to use instead.
• Menopause fatigue and ‘nanna naps.’
• Menopausal knuckle pain, hip scans, and supplements
• Why our boys are refusing to wash their hair.

If you loved this chat, don't forget to hit 'Subscribe' or 'Follow' on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and please leave a 5-star review - it helps other midlife women find me!

• Follow Donna May on Instagram and join the Donna May London Community on Facebook for her weekly live catch-ups and Q&As.
• Follow me @thebeautyed and subscribe to the newsletter at thebeautyed.com.
• Follow the podcast @smilinggivesyouwrinkles on Instagram too for all our latest clips!

Am I a complete hypocrite if I champion pro-aging but still cover my greys? This week, I get honest about my own mental blocks with going grey and the irony of writing a feature for Woman & Home about embracing my age without ever touching Botox. Plus, I chat about the products I currently use to keep my skin in its best condition.

I hope you enjoy and see you next week!

• Website: thebeautyed.com
• Instagram: @thebeautyed
• Substack: My Skin Type Is Sober
• Mentorship Program: THE LAB

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode! See you next week!

It feels like every beauty brand is yelling at us about peptides right now. They’re promising "Botox in a bottle," instant youth, and total skin transformation. And in my 25+ years as a beauty editor, I've seen many ingredient trends come and go - some are a waste of time, but some are actually worth jumping on - and peptides definitely fall into the latter category.

So to break past the glossy marketing campaigns and get the real, clinical truth about peptides, I sat down with my brilliant friend and top dermatologist, Dr. Justine Kluk to find out what they actually are and how they actually work.

Here is a list of the products mentioned in this episode:

• Medik8 Liquid Peptides My absolute go-to for high-tech skin smoothing and glow.
• SkinCeuticals P-TIOX The formula Dr. Kluk loves. I don't buy that anything is Botox in a Bottle but after trying it for a few weeks I'm impressed with the glowy finish it gives my skin.
• Beauty Pie Youthbomb™ 360° Radiance Concentrate This contains 18 skin-strengthening peptides to target dryness and firmness.
• No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal UV Defence Shield SPF 50 Love this for everyday protection and peptide repair! It's a great makeup primer too.
• Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair This has been part of my skincare routine for years and the one I always recommend to my friends.

I'm also going to add this list to my website thebeautyed.com - don't forget to subscribe if you visit!

And also, don't forget to follow me on Instagram and also Smiling Gives You Wrinkles®

When I moved from London to St. Pete Beach in 2021, I thought my years as a Beauty Editor for titles like The Daily Mail and Cosmopolitan, and even working at Boots, meant I knew a lot about brands and the products available. But I was wrong. The American drugstore is a different beast - the choice is overwhelming! And since appearing on Channel 4's Escape to Florida, the number one question I get from my British followers is: 'What beauty products should I actually buy when I visit America?' So in this episode, I'm sharing my latest 'American Drugstore Haul,' and talking you through the US exclusives that me and my friends love.

Products mentioned include:

The Target Finds

• Vacation® Sun Care: The Classic Whip SPF 30 is a must for the texture alone, plus the Chardonnay Lip Oil.
• Odele Haircare: Grab the Air Dry Styler - it’s the only thing that handles Florida humidity for my wavy hair.
• Pixi Hello Kitty: The US Pixi makeup range is much broader; look for the limited edition blushers and palettes.

2. The Drugstore Exclusives (CVS & Walmart)

• CeraVe US-Only Formulas: The SA Body Wash (miracle for "chicken skin") and the Skin Renewing Retinol Serum (purple label) are hard to find in the UK.
• Aquaphor Ointment Spray: A dermatologist favorite for dry skin and grazes that’s much easier to find here.
• Neutrogena Glow Perfect Pen: A brilliant, affordable dupe for the YSL Touche Éclat.
• Maybelline Baby Lips: This is another one my best friend Leah buys all the time. Specifically, the cherry shade in the orange and red packaging! They are tinted lip balms that leave a really lovely wash of color on the lips.
• Olay Skincare Body Washes: Huge bottles with high-performance ingredients like Retinol and Hyaluronic Acid.

3. The "Boring" But Brilliant Essentials

• Tide To Go Pens: Essential for clumsy travelers (and kids!).
• Welly Band-Aids: High-quality plasters in cute, reusable tins.
• Advil PM / Melatonin: My go-to for beating the jet lag on the red eye flight back to London.

I am also going to add this list to my website thebeautyed.com - don't forget to subscribe if you visit!

And also, don't forget to follow me on Instagram and also Smiling Gives You Wrinkles®

After a little refection about me and my family's appearance in the new Channel 4 show Escape To Florida, I talk about the skincare products I am using at the moment.

After 28 years in the industry, I know how overwhelming skincare can be. So for this week, I’m stripping it all back and walking you through my current daily routine - the products I am actually using right now, ones I swear by, and the ones I buy on repeat.

I cover everything from my 5:30 AM gym-ready skincare to the hard-working evening serums that help keep my skin glowing. Plus, I share why you don’t always need to spend loads of money to see results.

The Products I Talk About Are

Morning Routine:

• Hydration: The Inkey List Ectoin Hydro Barrier Serum - Great for keeping aging skin plump.
• Moisturizer: The Inkey List Bioactive Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer - Budget-friendly, ceramides for the win.
• Body Care: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion – My holy grail for face and body; affordable and derm-developed.
• Sun Protection & Prep: No7 Future Renew Defense Shield SPF 50 – Lightweight, no white cast, and sits beautifully under makeup.
• Foundation: Victoria Beckham Beauty Foundation Drops – My current obsession. Skincare-infused, natural finish, and perfect for that "your skin but better" look.
• Read my full review here: thebeautyed.com

Evening Routine:

• Cleanser: SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser Cream – A milky, creamy cleanser that gets the job done without the tightness.
• Treatment: Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 – The gold standard for retinols.
• Repair: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair – A classic for a reason. Soft, smooth, glowing skin by morning.

A quick reminder: Skincare is a marathon, not a sprint! Give your products at least a month to work their magic before switching things up.

Don’t forget to subscribe to thebeautyed.com for more deep dives into all of the products I’m testing!

Hair loss is a topic I’ve written about many times in the past few years, having experienced hormonal thinning myself. So I was keen to sit down with leading dermatologist Dr. Nicole Chiang to understand why our hair changes as we hit our 40s and 50s, and to discover the surprising impact that stress, weight loss, and hormones have on our hair health.

Expect lots of chat about:

Midlife Hair Loss: We explore the "perfect storm" of the 40s and 50s. As estrogen drops, the androgen influence becomes stronger, which can shrink hair follicles. Dr. Nicole explains why that "shrinking ponytail" happens and the medical-grade ways to fight back.

LED Therapy for Hair: Gimmick or game-changer? We get into the science of red light therapy for hair, why consistency is the only way to see results, and why a "comb" device might actually beat a "helmet" when it comes to reaching the scalp.

The Truth About "Ozempic Hair": We address the rise of GLP-1 medications and the hair shedding that often follows. Spoiler: It’s not the drug itself, but the rapid weight loss and nutrient prioritization that’s to blame.

• Minoxidil: The gold standard for prolonging the growth (anagen) phase.
• Eucerin DermoCapillaire Calming Urea Shampoo: Recommended for dry, itchy scalps.
• Urea-based Serums: For locking moisture into the scalp skin.
• Hairmax: Mentioned for their clinical studies on red light devices.
• Protein & Iron: The non-negotiable "building blocks" (aiming for 1g of protein per kg of body weight).

• Website: drnicoledermatology.co.uk
• Instagram: @drnicoledermatology

Connect with me:

• Instagram: @thebeautyed
• Website & Newsletter: The Beauty Ed®
• Podcast: Smiling Gives You Wrinkles®

The papers are full of stories about 12-year-olds demanding high-strength retinols, but from what I’m seeing with the brilliant young writers I mentor in The Beauty Ed® | THE LAB, the reality is much more nuanced. Our teens are savvy, they’re curious, and they love the "glamour" of a fun brand - but they also want to know what’s actually right for their skin.

After 28 years in this industry, I’m less worried about the headlines and more focused on the education. That’s why I’ve brought back the wonderful Dr. Justine Kluk, a consultant dermatologist, to help us navigate the "Cosmeticore" trend and give you a definitive, safe, and expert-led skincare roadmap for the young people in your life.

• Insights from THE LAB: I share what I’m learning from mentoring student journalists at my son’s school - and how they’re finding their own emotional voices in a skincare world that's dominated by influencer culture.
• The "Cosmeticore" Buzzword: Defining the trend of skin-obsessed teens and whether it actually exists in Justine's Harley Street practice.
• The Allergic Breaking Point: Justine shares the reality of what happens when young skin is over-exposed to too many chemicals and preservatives.
• Retinol vs. Retinoids: We clarify the difference between using Vitamin A for "anti-aging" (which they don't need!) and using it as a gold-standard treatment for acne.
• The Dermatologist’s Shopping List: The affordable, gentle brands we trust, including CeraVe, Bioma, Cetaphil, and Curel.
• Why We Aren’t "Skincare Grinches": From bedazzling sunscreen bottles to the joy of a hydrating mask at a sleepover, we talk about how to keep the "fun" in beauty without the risk.
• Why Justine LOVES spot stickers. Yay!
• Derm-Approved Makeup: Justine's favorite "skincare-first" concealers from Erborian, ELF, and NARS.

For more information on the products discussed check out thebeautyed.com where you'll find a full write up on this episode, and if you'd like to connect with me, find me on Instagram @thebeautyed and don't forget to subscribe to my newsletter.

If you’ve ever found yourself deep in an overthinking spiral about a work email, or confused about the hundreds of foundations on offer, then this chat with my gorgeous friend and makeup artist Donna May is for you! We also chat about Donna's Gua Sha disaster, why she hasn't applied her testosterone cream yet and what I really think about LED masks and LED helmets (!)

I've rounded up all the hits (and a few misses) we discussed in this episode so you can find them easily too:

• No7 Pro Artist Bronzer: The "toffee-like" cream bronzer Donna loves—just remember to use a fat Kabuki brush to avoid those Lion King streaks!
• Lisa Eldridge Enhancing Skin Tint: A beautifully "drippy" and glowy finish that’s a total win for our age.
• IT Cosmetics Nude Glow: Donna's personal favorite with SPF 50—perfect for that healthy, hydrated Florida look.
• Kiko Foundation Stick: A brilliant, lightweight glowy option with a great component for "bumping" onto the skin.
• E.L.F. Halo Glow Liquid Filter: The ultimate "glow" product to mix with your base for a fraction of the price of premium brands.
• YSL All Hours Glow: A gorgeous, high-end option for when you want that proper radiance.
• Glowwa Hair Food: A quick update on why consistency is key (think three months!) for real results.

• Follow Donna on Instagram and join the Donna May London Community on Facebook for her weekly live catch-ups and Q&As.
• Follow me @thebeautyed and subscribe to the newsletter at thebeautyed.com.
• Follow the podcast @smilinggivesyouwrinkles on Instagram too for all our latest clips!

For this episode of Smiling Gives You Wrinkles®, I sat down with esthetician Emma Wedgwood, whose journey from the brink of losing everything to the heights of the beauty industry moved me to tears.

Emma bravely shares her experience with alcoholism and the "dirty little secret" of drinking in high-pressure careers like nursing. We talk about the shame of the "park bench" myth, the people-pleasing traps we fall into, and how she’s now using her skills as a "walking miracle" to provide free aesthetic care to women rebuilding their lives after addiction and abuse through her inspiring pro bono clinic.

In this episode, we cover:

1. The "Work Hard, Play Hard" Trap: Emma’s transition from intensive care nursing to aesthetics and how alcohol became a normalized part of her working culture.
2. The Turning Point: The terrifying reality of facing a professional disciplinary hearing and the "little angels" who helped Emma navigate the physical and legal road to sobriety.
3. The People-Pleasing Cycle: Why so many of us find it hard to say "no" to a drink at events and how to protect your peace as you rebuild.
4. The Pro Bono Clinic: How Emma is using skin treatments to restore self-worth for women in recovery who have survived abuse and addiction.
5. Practical Tips for "Shit" Days: Emma’s expert advice on the basic skincare routine and mental shifts that can help you feel better on the inside when the outside feels overwhelming.

I hope you enjoy!

And don't forget to...

If you are in London and want to explore Sofwave with a pro, I cannot recommend Emma enough. She is a holistic beauty expert who wants you to look like you, just the most energized version.

• Website: www.emmawedgwoodaesthetics.co.uk
• Instagram: @emmawedgwoodaesthetics

Stay Connected with Me!

Don't forget to follow me on Instagram and also subscribe to thebeautyed.com for my full deep dives into podcast episodes, beauty trends, news and reviews!