Outspoken Beauty

In this week's beauty wisdom I'm chatting to the wonderful Susanna Flynn. Sus is one of the best beauty PRs in the business and there's nothing she hasn't seen!!During the episode we chat about how skincare has changed (for the better), why brands need to stop falling back on the same language (like "we';re disrupting the industry") when trying to market their products and also how beauty PR has dramatically changed since the dawn of the influencer.Sus also goes through some of her favourite products and introduces us to an ingredient that is going to be MASSIVE this year.

It's time for your weekly Outspoken Review.In this episode I'm talking about:Why Tesco Whoosh saved the dayMy totally trashy Netflix addictionHonest thoughts about Dermalogica's new Multi-Vitamin Power Recovery CreamThe E.L.F brow pencil that I can't get enough ofThe pros and cons of the NARS Powermatte Lip PencilThe new Nails INC product that sounds too good to be true The fragrance that enhances all others in the most irresistible way.Hope you enjoy it Outspoken Beauties!

In this week's episode of Outspoken Mental Health I'm talking about my journey with medication and some of the things I've learnt along the way. Please bear in mind that medication is not right for everyone but can also be a very helpful aspect of feeling better. We are all different and need to consult a professional for the right advice.During the episode I'll tell you about:The medication that helped me for years but that I eventually needed to changeWhy we need to stop fearing and stigmatising mental health medication How to navigate perimenopause and anxiety and why mental health medication may not be the answerWhy I was advised to go on a Benzodiazapene and how I am tapering off it slowly and safelyHow Google is a really bad idea if you have anxiety about medication and why you need to put trust in your psychiatristWhy it's not always easy going on these types of pills but how with the right support you can get through itI am NOT a professional and am speaking from my own experience and research. If you are wondering whether medication might help you then start with your GP. If you feel that they can't give you the information you need then ask to be referred to a psychiatrist or seek one directly.Please do join the private Facebook Group Outspoken Mental Health where we're building a supportive community.

Bryony is finally back from Thailand and there's so much to catch up on.During the episode we talk about:Why Bryony's holiday adventures made Nicola feel very nervous A weird night involving breast milkWhat the neighbours saw that they definitely shouldn't haveOur new "spicy" book addictionBeauty recommendationsAnd much more....It's so nice to have Bryony back and we hope this episode makes you giggle!      

In this little episode I sat down with the iconic celebrity hairdresser Paul Windle in his Covent Garden Salon and picked his brains about some of your most common hair dilemmas.I love his advice and can't believe how much we fitted into 10 minutes!

Red lipsticks mean so many things to me....confidence, power, symbols of resistance (the suffragettes), putting my best foot forward, glamour and yet they also require constant upkeep, can end up the chin or even nose and often rub off leaving behind a line of red around the lips.This week I discovered a wonderful new red whilst on a trip to Boots (I'll tell you all about it during the episode) and it inspired me to go through my favourite reds of the moment and all time.Here are the brands that I mention during the episode:@lisaeldridgemakeup@emolynecosmetics@nyxcosmetics_uk@violette_fr@trinnylondon@maccosmeticsuki@maybelline@avon_ukI'll also tell you about a brand new release from Dr Sam Bunting and why if it does what it says it will, it will be a bit of a gamechanger.

In this week's episode of Outspoken Mental Health I talk about my experience of panic attacks and feelings of doom and dread.I'll chat about what's happening when we get a panic attack and the long list of horrible (but harmless) things they can make us feel. I'll also go into why it's so important to have an inner voice that reminds us that we are safe and helps us to tolerate the discomfort of this moment so that we can teach are brain that all is good and that we don't need the unnecessary surge of adrenaline that's causing all the problems in the first place.I'll also go into navigating constant feelings of dread and terror which can actually feel worse than the panic itself.Please remember that I am not an expert and I am chatting about my own experience and sharing what i have learnt. If you need help then don't be ashamed to ask for it. See your GP or contact a mental health charity like MindI have created a Private Facebook Page to go with this series. Please feel free to join this supportive community and remember I'm always here for a chat.Nicola x

In this week's episode I welcome the utterly fascinating dermatologist, cosmetic safety expert and skincare brand founder Dr Tiina Meder.Tiina originally started her brand Meder with the aim of making skincare that would be safe but truly effective for everyone, including pregnant women. To this day, everything in the Meder line up is pregnancy safe, but it is about so much more than that. Meder is all about getting incredible results but with skin loving ingredients such as peptides and pro-biotics (Tiina is at the forefront of research into the microbiome).During the episode we talk about the brands that Tiina likes, we have an eye-opening chat about Tiina's views on retinoids and vitamin c and we talk about the changes that she believes we'll be seeing in the skincare industry over the next few years. I definitely left our chat questioning a lot of what I have believed to be true about skincare. (This has excited me rather than worried me....I'm looking forward to looking deeper into the world of pro/pre and all the other biotics that she mentions).I love Tiina and while I know that some of her views are controversial, I think that she has robust evidence for many of her opinions. I can't wait to hear what you think xx

We're at the end of the week and these are some of the (eclectic) things that have been on my mind over the past 7 days.I'll be talking about Lily Allen checking into rehab, my thoughts about the film Baby Girl, why at 44 I'm finally ready to embrace the gym and why sometimes nothing beats going real life shopping!DM me any time@outspokenbeautynicola if you have any comments on today's episode.

If you're after honest, no holds barred reviews then you've come to the right place.This week I'm sharing my thoughts on:Gatineau Age Benefit Cleansing ElixirIndu (with special mention of their SPF)K18 AirWashThe Inkey List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier SerumMeder by Dr Tiina MederA bright red scarf from Oliver Bonas!Let me know what's been impressing you recently xx