The Emma Guns Show

Is your beauty regime a form of self-care?

In this episode, I open up a conversation about something I've seen slowly happening around me in the beauty space and I'd love to hear your thoughts. It's the idea that the beauty products we buy and the way in which we use them amount to self-care.

Personally, I find this to be a worrying development because self-care is a broad concept that means so much more than what I think some beauty and wellness brands are currently communicating. 

It comes at a time when the conversation about mental health has never been more open and somewhere along the way this idea of self-care has managed to establish itself as the 'soft' treatment option for minor mental health issues. Feeling a bit anxious? Light a candle and use your best bath oils. Eleven months of lockdown getting you down? Exfoliate, apply some fake tan and wake up fabulous. Struggling to feel motivated? Put on some red lipstick.

These are all lovely things to do, and there's no doubt about it, there is a very real 'high' from an indulgent bath, a golden glow and an I-mean-business red lipstick, but it's my opinion that they do not offer any meaningful long-term support to mental health and it's potentially dangerous to suggest they do.

On one hand, the destigmatisation of mental health issues means that we're seeing a medicalisation of normal emotions; feeling sad is expressed as being depressed, feeling stressed is expressed as anxiety and it's quite possible that a bath, fake tan and red lipstick might make you feel better. But on the other, those people who actually have depression and/or anxiety might feel like failures if these things don't work for them or, worse still, there's a real risk that those people, the ones who need genuine help from a mental health professional or doctor aren't actually getting it.

I’m so interested to hear what you think on this subject...

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Dr Lisa Creaven is a dentist and the co-creator of @spotlight_oral_care who joins me on the podcast to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.

During our conversation @drlisacreaven reveals:

• How her feel-good habits help her fight against the fact she’s a worrier by nature.
• How something as simple as routine can be the thing that makes her feel good and achieve a sense of calm.
• Why she’s re-embraced her love of music and piano during the lockdown and how it has helped her ‘tune out’ of daily stresses.
• How she has revisited transcendental meditation, on a daily basis, to lower her stress levels.
• Why time outside in fresh air is so vital for finding balance - especially if that time outside is time alone.
• Why sleep is so important and how she makes sure she gets good quality sleep and much more.

To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.

To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram.

Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Dr Lisa Creaven is a dentist and the co-creator of @spotlight_oral_care who joins me on the podcast to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.

During our conversation @drlisacreaven reveals:

• How her feel-good habits help her fight against the fact she’s a worrier by nature.
• How something as simple as routine can be the thing that makes her feel good and achieve a sense of calm.
• Why she’s re-embraced her love of music and piano during the lockdown and how it has helped her ‘tune out’ of daily stresses.
• How she has revisited transcendental meditation, on a daily basis, to lower her stress levels.
• Why time outside in fresh air is so vital for finding balance - especially if that time outside is time alone.
• Why sleep is so important and how she makes sure she gets good quality sleep and much more.

To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.

To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/emmagunavardhana.

Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Richie Bostock is breathwork coach, author and speaker who joins me on the podcast to share the life-changing benefits of breathwork he has experienced first-hand and also seen in the tens of thousands of people he has ‘breathed’. 

Richie’s own journey starts in corporate management and digital entrepreneurship, two very high-stress environments where exhibiting stress is a sign to the people around you that you’re taking your job seriously. But it was his father’s MS diagnosis that made Richie go on a journey of discovery to help his dad, via training with the Ice Man himself, Wim Hof, that triggered a profound change in Richie too.

If you’re reading this then, well, sorry to state the obvious, but you’re breathing, but what more science and research shows us is that we may not be breathing correctly. Meaning, our breathing might actually be working against our physical, mental and emotional health. Richie discovered how to breathe for maximum benefit in all these areas, which is why he is so committed to sharing his message as far and as wide as possible.

In this conversation, @thebreathguy and I discuss:

• How breath is free medicine; it’s just a case of knowing how to use it.
• How the benefits of breath have been known for centuries but modern science is proven, unequivocally, the real impact it can have.
• What he learned from the Ice Man himself @iceman_hof
• How he ‘ripped the band-aid off’ his own life and made huge changes.
• How breathing affected his own tendency towards OCD.
• Why we should ‘hold all perspectives lightly’.
• Why modern living seems to be forcing us to choose between ‘certain unhappiness’ and ‘uncertain happiness’.
• How trying to be someone you aren’t can lead to disconnection and depression.
• Why breath is the Swiss Army knife of the body.
• How finding your breath and creating a space to be still can be where you tap into your intuition, and so much more…

Download Richie's app Flourish.

Richie's book Exhale is available now.

To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.

To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram.

Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey

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This episode of The Emma Guns Show is brought to you in collaboration with Skinceuticals.

I’m joined by Dr Emma Craythorne, consultant dermatologist and skincare expert, who joins me to take a deep-dive into antioxidants and how they provide vital protection for your skin.

We also take a look at Silymarin CF, the new Vitamin C antioxidant serum from @skinceuticals_uki which offers, as you’d expect from the leaders in antioxidant skincare, a potent Vitamin C in a formula that supports oily and blemish-prone skin.

In this episode, Dr Emma Craythorne and I discuss:

• the benefits of antioxidants and Vitamin C.
• what free radical damage is, how it affects the skin and how it can be treated.
• how to know a good Vitamin C serum.
• why many Vitamin C formulas favour certain skin types.
• the difference between Silymarin CF and other Skinceuticals antioxidant serums.
• the formulation of the Silymarin CF serum.
• how the addition of silymarin and salicylic benefit the efficacy of the serum on oily, blemish-prone skin.
• how to know if you need an antioxidant that’s designed for oily, blemish-prone skin.
• what oil oxidation is and whether more people are experiencing it because of mask-wearing.
• how Silymarin CF fits in with a skincare regime for oily, blemish-prone skin.
• how to layer the serum among a regime for oily, blemish-prone skin.
• the other cumulative benefits of using the serum.

The serums mentioned during the show:

Skinceuticals Silymarin CF, £145.

Skinceuticals Phloretin CF, £150.

Skinceuticals CE Ferulic, £140.

Dr Emma Craythorne can be found on Instagram as @dremmacraythorn, her TV Show The Bad Skin Clinic is available on Discovery Plus and her website www.dremmacraythorne.com.

To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.

To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram.

Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey

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Jacqui Ripley is a PR executive, former fashion editor and author who joins me on the podcast to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.

During our conversation @jacquiripley reveals:

• The feel-good joy she gets from her wardrobe and why she’ll never throw anything away.
• Why ironing is a form of meditation for her and ironing clothes for @naomi and @yasminlebon
• Why thrifting is one of her favourite habits and her tips for finding gems on your search.
• Why she loves the creative process of selling on @ebay and the thrill she gets from a positive review.
• The benefits of Gua Sha and why she’s become a huge fan of facial massage in lockdown.
• Discovering her inner @mrshinchhome and the pleasure she derives from a deep clean.
• Why she loves the old school pleasure of flicking through a copy of a magazine.
• Her love of mood-boarding and how it fires her creativity and also allows her to create feel-good art for her home office.
• The life coaching course she took years ago and how rediscovering it has helped her cope with lockdown.
• Why podcasts are like ‘free university’ for her, and so much more…

Jacqui's eBay name is: jacrip_22

To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.

To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram.

Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Jacqui Ripley is a PR executive, former fashion editor and author who joins me on the podcast to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.

During our conversation @jacquiripley reveals:

• The feel-good joy she gets from her wardrobe and why she’ll never throw anything away.
• Why ironing is a form of meditation for her and ironing clothes for @naomi and @yasminlebon
• Why thrifting is one of her favourite habits and her tips for finding gems on your search.
• Why she loves the creative process of selling on @ebay and the thrill she gets from a positive review.
• The benefits of Gua Sha and why she’s become a huge fan of facial massage in lockdown.
• Discovering her inner @mrshinchhome and the pleasure she derives from a deep clean.
• Why she loves the old school pleasure of flicking through a copy of a magazine.
• Her love of mood-boarding and how it fires her creativity and also allows her to create feel-good art for her home office.
• The life coaching course she took years ago and how rediscovering it has helped her cope with lockdown.
• Why podcasts are like ‘free university’ for her, and so much more…

Jacqui's eBay name is: jacrip_22

To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.

To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram.

Support this show http://supporter.acast.com/emmagunavardhana.

Our GDPR privacy policy was updated on August 8, 2022. Visit acast.com/privacy for more information.

Heather Thomson is an inventor, philanthropist, entrepreneur, speaker, licensed health and wellness coach and adventurer who joins me on the podcast to share her story of growing up in small-town America and ending up in the bright lights of New York City working with the likes of Jennifer Lopez, Sean Puffy Combs and Beyoncé.

I got to know about @iamheathert when I watched her in The Real Housewives of New York, the highly successful @bravotv show following the lives of Manhattan’s elite social circle. It was clear, even via the lens of an edited reality TV show that Heather is a shrewd businesswoman, incredibly fair and someone who prides themselves on being a loyal, supportive friend, which made her really interesting to watch.

In addition to her TV work Heather is a designer and has recently trained as a health and wellness coach as well as starting her own podcast In My Heart with Heather Thomson where she has interviewed a string of varied and highly accomplished guests.

In this conversation, Heather and I discuss:

• Growing up in small town America and being drawn to the bright lights of New York City.
• Working in close proximity with people like @beyonce @jlo and @diddy on their fashion labels and what she learned from the experience.
• Why no one wants to be ‘yes’d’ to death.
• How being endlessly curious has been nothing but helpful in life and her career.
• How working for @diddy made her find her drive.
• How the meaning of ‘success’ has changed for her over the years.
• How the current political situation in the US has been like ‘windex’ allowing us to see ‘clearly’.
• How failure is an essential part of any journey and makes success all that much sweeter, and much more…

To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.

To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram.

Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey

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Trigger warning. Contains discussion of eating disorders and mental illness.

In this episode, I share a commitment with you, my most-excellent listeners, about future episodes and content and I would LOVE your feedback.

The resources mentioned are:

BEAT | The UK's Eating Disorder Charity

SEED Eating Disorder Support Service

To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.

To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram.

Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey

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Rosie Green joins me on the podcast to share her feel-good habits, the strategies she uses and recommends to make sure every day is a good day.

This is Rosie’s second visit to the podcast; the first time we discussed the fallout from her divorce and her feel-good habits reflect not just the ways she stays positive during lockdown but how she put herself back together after the shock of the split.

During our conversation @lifesrosie reveals:

• The dopamine rush of kissing and why she never wants to get out of the habit of a good snog session.
• The comfort and calm of being warm to make you feel safe.
• Why having friends around you who are honest and open, and why being open and honest with yourselves, brings so much joy and saves so much pain.
• The joy of being a mum to a dog.
• Why it’s so important to light the expensive candles, use the extravagant bath oils and never save anything for ‘best’, and much more…

To join the closed Facebook group for the podcast click here >> The Emma Guns Show Forum.

To follow me on social media >> Twitter | Instagram.

Hey! Why not share your thoughts and insights to make your listening experience even better. Complete this listener survey to tell me what you want to hear: http://bit.ly/theemmagunsshow-survey

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.