Outspoken Beauty

Thanks for all of the questions you asked me on Instagram (@outspokenbeautynicola) this week.I'm chatting about brown mascara, the Lisa Eldridge products that I recommend, Led Masks, the best upper eyelid eyeliners and I also tell you about a sensational fragrance.Enjoy :0) 

When I started Outspoken Beauty I knew that beauty was the perfect starting point for deeper conversations and this week's guest is the perfect example of this.Sallyha Din has a huge story to tell about family, culture and the challenges of shrugging off others' expectations in order to forge your own path. This is the story of how a woman who was expected to abide by strict cultural rules went her own way and reclaimed her body, her image and her passions.Sallyha Din is a passionate motorcyclist and we'll hear about how this came about and the path it has taken her on. Of course there is a huge beauty angle, with Sallyha chatting through her very favourite products, including those that stay perfectly put under her biker's helmet.Here are some of the products that Sallyha mentions:Caudalie Beauty ElixirAurelia Miracle Cleanser & Anti Pollution MaskHaus Labs Blush OPI Nail EnvyPalette Nail PolishPlease do follow Sallha on Insta @sallyhadin - her pictures and content are beautiful and she makes me want to get on a motorbike and zoom into distant lands.

In this week's Mini Mini Pod I tell you about the perfect red/orange lipstick that made me feel so glamorous over the weekend. I also have the perfect fragrance for you if you're someone who doesn't gravitate towards Chanel no 5 but wish that you did. Finally I tell you how I've turned my skin around after my terrible inflammation last week.

I haven't stopped thinking about this episode since I recorded it and it definitely goes down as one of favourite ever interviews.My guest is the incredible Dr Alex Box and boy does she have an impressive CV!  Alex is an internationally renowned artist and beauty futurist who has redefined the role of creativity in makeup, beauty and identity. She was the creative director of Illamasqua (she's the woman who put it on the map as being a brand that challenged the beauty status quo and took it to cult status), her TedX talk is truly inspiring and she has also worked with everyone from Chanel to Vivienne Westwood. Alex has recently founded V-Metics which is at the forefront of the future of makeup design and she is truly one of the most exciting and fascinating women I have ever met.During the episode Alex talks about challenging the status quo from a young age and the incredible path that it took her on. We chat about what beauty means, where it's going and why Alex sees it as her role to help shape it's future. We cover so much more ground and I can't wait for you to hear what Alex has to say. I hope she inspires you as she has me.

In this week's minipod I'm answering the questions that you asked via Instagram.From the best pedicure to relationships and loneliness to sensitive skin to SPF, I can't actually belive how much I've managed to fit in.xx

Bryony Blake is back for our fabulous fortnightly episode.This week we're talking:Feeling stoned on progesteroneThe Summertime Ball and why I thought I was going to fall out of my seatBryony's strange theory about Taylor SwiftOur views on Stanley Cups and Air-ups The awkward thing that can happen in therapy that we've both experiencedBryony's amazing OK Beauty boxWe answer your beauty and non beauty related questions.It's a good one Outspoken Beauties. Hope it brings a smile to your face xx

I'm so excited to tell you about the bronzing liquid that's revolutionised my makeup. I adore it. It's not as easy to use as some but once you master it you'll thank me!

In this episode I chat to the incredible Vic Ceridono who has pivotted from being the beauty editor at Vogue Brazil to not only starting a hugely popular beauty website/blog called @diadebeaute but has also launched her own utterly fabulous beauty brand @vic_beaute.Vic, who will join me again for an episode about her career and beauty picks, spends this short episode talking about all things Brazilian beauty. From the hair movement that has made women feel empowered to the huge effect that the heat has on beauty to the intrinsic way that beauty culture is intertwined with life, this is a really interesting delve into both the universality of beauty but also how different it can feel depending where in the world you are.

In this week's minipod I'm getting outspoken about luxury brands and why I think they've gone too far with their current pricing, making things that were once wonderful treats, unobtainable and quite frankly off putting.I'm also listing a few of my top high street makeup buys of the moment. They all cost £11 or under and I rate them just as highly as their designer counterparts.Finally, I talk the steps I'm currently take to prevent as much illness as possible rather than wait for it to strike. 

This episode is such a good one.I'm speaking to the awesome makeup artist Donna May. Donna, who was head of makeup at ITV1 for over 20 years had always told herself that she'd one day have her own business and two years ago she walked away from her job to focus in on her own sensational brand.During the episode we talk about her experience of life as a TV makeup artist, starting her brand with £5000 and turning it into something incredible, how hormonal changes are affecting her right now and we also delve into the makeup products that Donna believes we need and those that we most definitely do not. (Donna is a true Outspoken Beauty and only wants us to use what is really necessary). She has some amazing product recommendations to share!Donna's energy, experience and straight talking are so refreshing and I know that you're going to really enjoy this episode.Check out her beautiful products here