Is collagen a scam? It’s a question I get asked more than any other. And when I first recorded some of these clips for a past episode with nutritionist Amanda Ryder, we were navigating the collagen supplement world with a healthy dose of skepticism.

But as of last month, science has caught up to our conversation, as a massive new study of 113 trials published in the Aesthetic Surgery Journal officially labeled collagen a ‘legitimate’ treatment for skin elasticity and hydration.

So I’m republishing some sections of this deep dive with Amanda because her clinical expertise - especially regarding menopausal skin and joint health - was remarkably accurate.

In this episode, we discuss:

1. The Scaffolding Effect: Why we lose 50% of our collagen by age 50
2. The 90-Day Rule: Why consistency is the only way to see "legitimate" results.
3. My Personal Win: How collagen finally cleared up my debilitating plantar fasciitis.
4. Skin Health 101: What it actually does

These are the brands Amanda and I discussed in the chat:

Kiki Health Marine Collagen Beauty Blend - Formulated with Vitamin C and Hyaluronic Acid.

Bare Biology Skinful Marine Collagen - A clean, sustainably sourced British favorite.

Ancient + Brave Wild Collagen - High-quality grass-fed bovine and wild-caught marine

Kollo Health - The liquid collagen I’ve personally used and loved for its taste and efficacy.

Find out more about Amanda via her:

1. Website: Amanda Ryder Nutrition
2. Book: Feel Good for Menopause
3. Podcast: How to Feel Like a Midlife Goddess

Don't forget to subscribe and follow the show, follow me @thebeautyed and @smilinggivesyouwrinkles and subscribe to The Beauty Ed® newsletter for more info on collagen!

In this episode, I chat with Karla Osborne, a specialized grey blending artist who is changing the way women view their silver roots. We talk about why the traditional "permanent color trap" is outdated and how you can transition to your natural color without the obvious demarkation grow-out lines.

We also discuss:

1. The "Brick Wall" vs. "Stained Glass": Understanding why permanent dye (brick wall) creates a harsh regrowth line, while demi-permanents (stained glass) offer a soft, manageable camouflage.
2. The Gray Blending Process: How Karla maps individual white hair patterns to mimic nature using intricate foiling.
3. Is Your World Ready?: Why timing your transition around big milestones (like 50th birthdays!) matters.
4. Maintenance & Costs: What it really looks like to commit to a 6–9 month transition journey.
5. The "Pro-Age" Identity: A candid chat about the societal pressure to dye our hair and freeze our faces.

1. Find Karla Osborne: Follow her on Instagram or visit her website to book a consultation.
2. Education for Hairdressers: If you are a stylist or want your stylist to learn Karla’s method, check out her online education portal.
3. Glowwa Hair Food: The specific supplements Karla recommends for bridging the nutritional gap for hair health: glowwa.com.
4. Sulfate-Free Favorites: Karla recommends using sulfate-free ranges from brands like Evo, Goldwell Kerisilk, and Wella to preserve your blend.

Don't forget to subscribe and follow the show, follow me @thebeautyed and @smilinggivesyouwrinkles and subscribe to The Beauty Ed® newsletter for more info on grey blending!

If you caught me on my Instagram recently, you might have seen me shaving my face: ie. dermplaning. It’s a treatment that I’ve had done in-salon before, and while I loved the results (smooth, glowy, not to mention hair-free skin), I’ve always been a bit nervous to do it on myself.

Until now…

Today, I’m diving deep into why I’ve started dermaplaning at home, how it’s helping me manage the "testosterone fuzz," and the expert tips I’ve gathered to make sure you don’t nick your face (or your confidence).

In This Episode I Talk About:

1. The Testosterone Side Effect: Why being on HRT for a year has been a game-changer for my muscles and energy, but has left me a bit hairier than I’d like on my face.
2. My First Time: Reminiscing about my 2019 treatment with Dr. David Jack in London and why I was nervous to DIY.
3. Myth Busting: Does the hair actually grow back thicker and darker?
4. The "Melted Butter" Technique: Step-by-step instructions on holding the skin taut and the 45-degree angle rule.
5. Post-Blade Care: How to soothe that "raw" feeling with Hyaluronic Acid and the right moisturisers.
6. Maintenance & Hygiene: How often to swap your blades and why "squeaky clean" is the only way to start.

Resources:

1. Dr. David Jack Clinic: The London clinic where I first had this done. David is an incredible aesthetic doctor (and former ER doctor!) with locations in Harley Street, Liberty, and Edinburgh.
2. Japonesque Dermaplaner & Cooling Eye Roller: The tool I picked up at Publix! I love the stainless steel Japanese blade and the little rollerball for de-puffing.
3. Hollywood Browzer: Recommended by makeup artist Nadira V Persaud. Founder Amy Anzel shares her tips in this episode on the "short feathery stroke" method.
4. The Beauty Ed® Substack: Subscribe for the full write-up, including the unretouched photos of my skin after my first treatment.

It’s been almost a year since I started on testosterone, and last year, I brought the brilliant Dr. Louise Newson onto the podcast to answer all our burning questions.

So today I’m giving you a full update on how it’s actually going for me.

In this episode, I’m sharing:

1. Why I was terrified of turning into a bodybuilder (and why that didn't happen!).
2. Why the mental clarity and focus that I gained was just as important as libido.
3. My exact muscle gain stats from January 2025 to now, and how my body composition has shifted.
4. Your DMs and questions like: Can you take testosterone on its own? What do you do if your GP refuses to prescribe it?
5. My tips for applying the cream, dealing with facial hair, and the "wrist trick" a follower shared with me.
6. Why I’m looking at diet, stress, and protein alongside my hormones.

Timestamps:

1. 01:26 – Why "testosterone" is a scary name for a brilliant "blue" hormone.
2. 03:02 – The libido talk: Feeling "complete" again and restoring my spark.
3. 05:08 – Why I couldn't function as a writer or mother without that mental clarity.
4. 06:16 – My OrangeTheory Transformation: The data behind my 4% muscle gain.
5. 08:30 – Advocating for yourself: What to do when you hit a wall with your doctor.
6. 10:26 – Do you need the "Full HRT Package" to take T? Louise clarifies.
7. 12:15 – Let’s talk about the hair: Chin fuzz, leg hair, and my dermaplaning obsession.
8. 14:38 – My final verdict after 12 months.

Resources:

1. The Balance App
2. Dr. Louise Newson’s Website
3. Orangetheory
4. Follow me on Instagram: @thebeautyed @smilinggivesyouwrinkles
5. Got a question? Email me: [email protected]

Technology may have tried to take me down this week (apologies if the audio is a bit wonky), but bringing back "Dear Donna", my beauty Q&A column from my days at Company and Cosmo Girl was the perfect recovery.

In this episode, I cover:

1. Dermaplaning vs. Threading: Which one is right for facial fuzz?
2. High-Tech Skin: The lowdown on CACI Facials and at-home Face Tools.
3. My honest take on Jones Road Makeup and the products to try.
4. Skincare Science: Navigating the world of Retinol and AHA Skincare.

Have a question for the next "Dear Donna" segment? Message me on:

1. Instagram: @thebeautyed
2. Substack: @donnathebeautyed
3. Email: [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode, please subscribe and leave a review - it helps more than you know, especially after this week of tech-gremlins!

I was introduced to Bobbie Thomas, the Style Editor on NBC’s Today Show by a mutual colleague and as soon as we hopped on FaceTime, we hit it off.

We have a lot in common: we both started at teen magazines (me at CosmoGIRL, Bobbie at J-14), we both helmed long-standing beauty columns (Dear Donna and Bobbie’s Buzz), and we both share a fierce passion for helping women find confidence. Not through the ‘big sell’, but through thoughtful, considered conversations that go beneath the surface. And that is exactly what this chat is.

Bobbie is a wonderful person and a true inspiration. She has faced some of life’s most devastating hurdles, and we discuss everything from how she went from counseling rape victims to being on the road with the boyband NSYNC and then to being Style Editor at Today. We talk a lot about loss - Bobbie is currently navigating being a widow - and the unspoken realities of being an aging woman.

You can follow Bobbie on Instagram, and watch her #BobbiesBests series with @JennaSheinelle on NBC’s @todayshow. You can also buy her book, The Power of Style, on Amazon.

And don’t forget to follow me on Instagram, Tik Tok and Substack too!

A Quick Note for Transparency: Bobbie is a proud partner with Essilor, the world leader in vision technology and innovators behind #Varilux Progressive Lenses. But just to be clear: this is not a paid or sponsored episode. I invited Bobbie on because our mutual friend introduced us, and I knew her story of resilience, "professional girlfriend-hood," and mid-life hacks was something you needed to hear. I hope you enjoy!

I’ve had so many friends reaching out lately saying the same thing: "I’m in my 40s... why am I suddenly getting spots?!" and it feels like some sick joke to be dealing with fine lines and breakouts at the same time. To get some answers, I sat down with the incredible Dr. Sam Bunting, a dermatologist who has spent the last 15 years helping women navigate the complexities of adult acne and troublesome ‘grown up’ skin.

In this episode, Sam and I discuss:

1. The "U-Zone" vs. The "T-Zone": Why adult breakouts happen around the jawline and chin (aka the "Triangle of Doom") rather than the forehead.
2. Is it Acne or just a "Breakout"?: Sam explains why the label doesn't matter as much as the mechanism behind the clogged pore.
3. The 4-Step Morning Routine: We strip away the "skincare fluff" and get back to the basics: Cleanse, Activate, Hydrate, and Protect.
4. The Big Three Ingredients: How to use Salicylic Acid, Azelaic Acid, and Retinoids without destroying your skin barrier.

I also shared how quitting alcohol changed my skin, and Sam gave us some brilliant advice on "emptying the stress tank" to keep our hormones - and our skin - clear and calm.

If you want to find more about Sam, book in for a consult or try products from her skincare brand, you can find her here:

1. Official Website & Shop: DrSamBunting.com
2. The Clinic: Dr. Sam Bunting + Associates
3. Instagram: @drsambunting
4. YouTube: Dr. Sam Bunting

Resources Mentioned in this Episode

Sam highlighted these as the non-negotiables for clearing adult breakouts while supporting the skin barrier:

1. Azelaic Acid
2. Salicylic Acid
3. Retinoids

Book Recommendation: Atomic Habits by James Clear. Sam mentioned this as the blueprint for building the discipline needed for a consistent skincare routine.

Also don't forget to follow me on:

Instagram: @thebeautyed

Substack: @donnathebeautyed

And this show on Instagram: @smilinggivesyouwrinkles

See you next week!

In this episode of Smiling Gives You Wrinkles, I sit down with the woman who swapped her RAF nursing uniform for a makeup brush: the incredible Genevieve Turley.

I’ve always been fascinated by people who make massive pivots in their life, and Genevieve’s story is a standout. Before she was making us all laugh on Instagram, she was a burns and plastics specialist nurse in the RAF and we talk about how and why she decided to make that pivot, and she shares the story behind the viral video that rocketed her from 4,000 to over 100,000 followers in a matter of weeks.

Genevieve is a breath of fresh air in an industry that can feel a bit too "perfect." She’s all about embracing real skin and - as you’d expect from our show - finding the joy in our wrinkles. We also talk about her upcoming live tour, Laughter Lines, which is part masterclass, part comedy show, and 100% relatable.

I hope you enjoy!

On Instagram: @genevieveturleymua

On Substack: Genevieve Turley

Genevieve’s Live Show: Get tickets for 'Laughter Lines' at Leicester Square Theatre: Catch her live on May 10th, 2026!

And don’t forget to follow this show for more genuine chats like this ❤️

And Follow Me, Donna, on:

Instagram: @thebeautyed

Substack: @donnathebeautyed

What does a world-class dermatologist actually do before 9:00 AM? In this episode, Dr. Sam Bunting shares her personal morning habits. From the "Othership" breathwork routine she uses to manage stress, to her streamlined 4-step skincare regime, Dr. Sam explains why efficiency is the ultimate beauty secret.

PLUS! We discuss the "dopamine crash" of early morning phone use, why she avoids TikTok trends like skin cycling, and her "patchwork" approach to makeup for women in their 40s and 50s.

Resources Mentioned:

1. Othership Breathwork
2. Skincare: Dr Sam’s Flawless Cleanser, Vitamin C, and Azelaic Serum.
3. Makeup: Merit Beauty, Ilia Beauty, and tips from Lisa Eldridge/Caroline Barnes.
4. Supplements: Nordic Naturals Omega 3, Simprove Probiotics.

I really hope you enjoy it!

And don’t forget to follow Sam on Instagram, and also follow me @thebeautyed and this podcast on there too.

See you next week,

Donna

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Happy New Year Everyone!

I hope you all had a wonderful break and managed to get some much needed rest. 

For my first episode of 2026 I wanted to share a story that was not about new year, new you, but more about new year, and how to be more you! And my friend Nina, also known as @wonderfullysober on Instagram was the perfect guest to do just that. 

This time last year, Nina decided to try Dry January as she recognized how alcohol wasn’t serving her anymore. And in this chat, she tells us how she got on, and why, now, one year later, she is 1 year sober. 

This is as much a chat about self-love and confidence as it is about alcohol.

It is not preachy at all - it’s just a really lovely, genuine and inspiring chat that whether you are doing Dry Jan or not, will hopefully help you feel inspired to recognise what is and what isn’t working in your life, and to do something about it. 

I really hope you enjoy! 

Don’t forget to follow Nina on Instagram, and also follow me and this podcast there too. 

If you are interested in hearing more about my sobriety, and would like to watch this episode in full video format, then also consider subscribing to My Skin Type Is Sober substack.

See you next week,

Donna

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