Outspoken Beauty

I am so excited about today's episode. It's with the model, actress and founder of The Amber Jean Shop, Amber Jean Rowan.Amber discovered that she had alopecia totalis when she was a teenager and after exploring every medical avenue, her and her family decided that there was no solution and instead she turned to wigs. The only problem was that the whole experience of finding a wig felt depressing, very cold and clinical which was the last thing that she needed. During the episode you'll hear:How Amber felt when she was diagnosedHow alopecia affected her blossoming modelling career How Amber has taken the lacking experience of getting a wig into her own hands and created something really beautifulWhy she is treated differently depending on the kind of wig she's wearingHow she's come to terms with her hair lossand so much more.Amber is a fascinating and truly amazing woman and I loved every second of this interview. You can find her shop here and find her on Instagram @amberjeanrowan.

In this week's Minipod I'm chatting about the Margaret Dabbs medi-pedi that I treated myself to and why I'm upping my footcare game.I'm also talking about the debate around Pamela Anderson's upcoming skincare line, the most fabulous lip product, dodging laser beams at a Dermalogica event and the product that has made my skin silky soft and is effortless to use.

Bryony's back from Mexico and in this episode she's telling us about her adventures, including the woman who sold her a very funny looking facemask and a rather unfortunate incident with a turtle.We're also talking about Instagrammers on the beach, my trip to the gut clinic and why I'm a little bit worried that I'm not going to be allowed into Dubai.Beauty wise there's a beautiful lipstick, a home builder gel kit and an awesome and affordable cleanser that we both love.

This episode is in partnership with And Begin SkincareIn this episode we’re getting to know a brand new and very exciting skincare brand called And Begin. Last week I sat down and got to know their consultant dermatologist Dr Malvina Cunningham and the brand’s Chief Marketing Officer Sophie van Ettinger and it was a truly uplifting experience.During the episode we cover the very important difference between menopause and midlife skincare and why it’s so important to be able to offer a personalised service when it comes to our skin’s needs.We also talk about what our skin does and needs when we get to our 40’s and above, why people in this age group are more energised and relevant than ever and how And Begin are going to inspire this community even more and why it’s not about anti or pro ageing but it’s all about managing the age you’re actually at.This is a fun, feisty and informative episode about a skincare brand that I believe will help a great many women in a number of ways.

In this week's minipod I'm tallking about my experience of Reformer Pilates and also go into detail about what I do to keep my mental health in check when I feel my anxiety starting to bubble up. There are also some really lovely products to tell you about including a delicious and affordable lip mask, some great colour correcting under eye concealers, the mascara that let me down and the one that never does and I throw forward to Sunday's skincare episode.xx

In this truly enlightening episode I chat to Liz Sergeant who is a Registered Functional Nutritionist and Women's Health Specialist. Liz and I chat about how we can make ourselves feel more balanced and get ourselves sorted as we approach perimenopause.During the episode we cover:Gut health and how to work out if ours is in good orderBlood tests and how they can reveal more than meets the eyeWhy going on HRT too early isn't a good idea How to understand our cycles Empowering our daughters and making them feel positive about their periodsNutritionand so much more.Show notes:Here is the instagram post where Liz lists the functional lab ranges for blood tests:https://www.instagram.com/p/Ct08LK0oRzw/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link&igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA== Liz woud also love to offer us access to her Women’s Health Assessments with a 20% discount. These private 1-to-1 sessions and the personalised blueprint are designed for women looking for professional insight into what’s going on from a health & hormones perspective, followed by priority next steps and bespoke supplements. You can find more information and sign up here: http://wellnourishedclub.com/wha using code BEAUTY20 at check out.And if you'd like more practical information about harmonising your hormones, her fabulous free ‘Feel Good Foundations of Happy Hormones’ Guide is for you. You can download it here http://wellnourishedclub.com/happyhormones/.

In this episode I chat to the woman hailed "The Brow Queen" by the likes of Harper's Bazaar and Cosmopolitan, the wonderful Shavata Singh.Brow bars are pretty commonplace these days but Shavata is the woman who first introduced them to the UK and with it revolutionised the beauty industry.During the episode we chat about the chance meeting that propelled her from a talented beautician to the woman that everybody from editors to top celebrities wanted to see to get their brows done.Shavata also tells me about the many things that having good brows can do for our faces, gives some great tips about brow shaping and also opens up about her story and how she has juggled building her business with being a single mum. (I love her attitude around mixing her career with motherhood).Shavata is a lovely and incredibly talented woman and it was a real pleasure to get to know her here after briefly interviewing (and instantly loving) her at an awards ceremony. Enjoy this episode Outspoken Beauties xx

In this podcast, they discuss the challenges of January and the importance of slowing down. Topics include bras for big boobs, tips for making gel manicures last longer, and dealing with the fear of flying. They also mention a new comforting fragrance and recommendations for beauty brands.

It is such a pleasure to welcome Charlene Flanagan and Niamh Ryan onto Outspoken Beauty.I was at an awards event a couple of months ago and was introduced to Niamh. Within minutes I knew that I had to get her onto the podcast. She was so warm, inspiring and filled with SO much passion for what she does.Niamh, an advanced skin therapist, cosmetic scientist and wellbeing advisor and Charlene, a makeup artist, influencer and social media expert joined forces in 2017 and launched a truly beautiful skincare brand called Ella and Jo. It has done incredibly well in Ireland and for good reason. The skincare is an utter pleasure to use and the messaging behind the brand is spot on - they really put women first and work to empower us and make us feel good.During the episode we chat about how they came together and made their fabulous brand....the challenges, the highs, the lows.....juggling a skincare brand and large families.....the difference between running the brand now compared to during the pandemic and why it is now time for the rest of the world to fall in love with Ella and Jo.This is such a great episode with two women who to my mind are doing so much right. In fact they sum up everything that is good about the beauty industry.

I'm doing a shorter episode today as we're still away in Bath. Business resumes as usual next week.During the podcast I chat about how unbelievably expensive things are at the moment and why if I'm spending my money I expect things to over deliver or at the very least do what they say they will. (There is something very wrong about brands that promise things that they then fail to deliver).I also talk about how my slipped disc has opened my eyes to a whole new world, why I wish I could go back in time and tell some of my exes exactly what I think of them with my 43 year old attitude and I also tell you my honest thoughts about the No 7 tubing mascara that I bought the other day. (I had high expectations).If you fancy a catch up about anything you've heard on the podcast you can message me on Insta @Outspokenbeautynicola. xx