Outspoken Beauty

It's Minipod time and in this episode:I'm calling time on the words "midlife crisis"Wondering out loud why on earth Grazia thought it was a good idea to feature Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty in an IWD seriesChatting through a makeup brand that get all their pigments from natureGetting excited about a dry body oil that smells of actual heavenTalking you through the cool perfume brand that everyone needs to know aboutAnd more.... (My perimenopausal brain has forgotten the rest :0)

Makeup artist extraordinaire and all round lovely lady Bryony Blake is back and in this episode she's answering lots of the makeup related questions that you've been asking via Instagram. From how to get a full coverage glowy base to affordable tubing mascaras to the perfect blushers for different skin tones, Bryony has so much wisdom to share and lots of recommendations too.We're also chatting about me making a bit of a fool of myself when I looked around a school this week, Bryony's upcoming trip of a lifetime and what she'll be taking onthe plane and find out what made us laugh so much that my microphone stopped working.

A three minute guide with product recommendations to help stop the dreaded eyeshadow creasing and keep everything where it should be. (Anyone else end up with displaced eyeshadow about an hour after applying it?)

*This Episode is in partnership with Avon *I'm so excited to be working with Avon again and can't wait for you to learn all about a brand new lipstick and serum-foundation from their amazing Makeup and Care range. (Think exceptional quality makeup with top skincare ingredients).During the episode I chat to their brilliant UK Director of Marketing, Hannah Lally, who explains how the Makeup and Care range came about and talks us through the amount of work and science that goes into making it just right. We also talk about makeup trends and why it's no longer enough for so many of us when out makeup doesn't deliver skin benefits.I then welcome the super talented makeup artist Tom Fraser who is a fellow Avon lover and explains why he loves their new Hydramatic Shine Lipsticks and the best way to apply them in comparison to their iconic matte version and also why the 3 in 1 Serum Foundation is such a standout product if you want a glow and just the right amount of coverage.Finally we get some honest insights from members of the Outspoken Beauty Trialling Panel who have been testing both products in a variety of situations.I've loved working on this episode and hope you enjoy the episode (and the products) as much as I have.

In this week's Minipod I'm giving you all the gossip about a stunning event held by the Fragrance Shop on Thursday and why I very nearly got caught doing something inappropriate to a perfume bottle.I'm also chatting through the products used at the most incredible makeover I had done at the Charlotte Tilbury counter at John Lewis Oxford Street. (I highly recommend this if you have an event to go to).There's also the period app that is totally revolutionising the ups and downs of my cycle, the nail polish that dries in 60 seconds and the minestrone soup recipe that I can't get enough of. (Here's the link)xx

This is another very short but important episode.I love the beauty industry for all the amazing things that it does but there are sides of it that still need to change and I'm incredibly irked by brands that engage in the behaviours that I mention in today's outspoken episode.How do you feel? Let me know on Instagram @outspokenbeautynicola or on our brilliant private Facebook Community.

In this special Outspoken Women Episode I welcome Emma Sayle, founder of the members only sex club Killing Kittens.Emma founded Killing Kittens in 2005 with the ambition of making a female-oriented and empowering sex club. To this day, men are invitation only and the women are firmly in charge. Emma has also created a huge online offering which includes sexual empowerment workshops and even a safe dating app. To put it bluntly, Emma is the Queen of women's pleasure and has created a space where we can explore our fantasies safely and with abandon.During the episode we chat about the sex parties that Emma holds and what actually happens at them. You may be surprised to know that many women go there to have their first sexual experiences with other women or even just to dance in their underwear with a group of friends.We also chat about relationships, keeping the flame alive and how to become more sexually empowered as women.This is such a fascinating episode and I found it totally inspiring and liberating.

Happy Monday Outspoken Beauties.This is probably the shortest podcast you'll ever hear but I thought it might be a nice little thing to do as a boost for you at the start of the week.Hope you like my recommendation.Nicola x

In this episode I welcome the brilliant journalist, author, founder of charity Mental Health Mates and mental health campaigner Bryony Gordon.Bryony has written a phenomenal book called "Mad Woman". It comes 10 years after her bestseller Mad Girl and explores a huge range of topics including binge eating, burnout, menopause, the pandemic and the very nature of mental illness. It is a book of self discovery and is ultimately hugely honest and leaves you feeling uplifted and with a whole new mindset about mental illness and life.During the episode Bryony is so open about many of the topics she explores in the book. She tells me about how the pandemic, a health scare, the effects of the perimenopause on her mental health and so much more have affected her and helped her become a wiser person who is finally more at peace with who she is. We also talk about fighting the patriachy, kitchen discos and what the world would be like if men experienced the menopause.Bryony has been so incredibly brave in the way that she has consistently opened up about her mental health to help others and it was such an honour to finally get to speak to her on Outspoken Beauty.

In this week's minipod I'm talking about the current personalised skincare offerings in the UK. I'll be talking through Skin and Me, And Begin, Klira, Get Harley, what they offer and how they differ.I'll also be chatting through what they have in common and how to make them work for you and your skin.I'll also tell you about the fragrance that everyone should own, a brilliant strengthening nail treatment, a scented patch to help you sleep, the perfect under eye shadow concealer and the makeup brushes that never fail me.Enjoy xx