Alison Young

Over her 30 plus years in the beauty industry, Alison Young has noticed a seismic shift in the attitudes of beauty customers. Where once she found herself advising people merely on what to buy, she now more often than not has to tell people to scale their efforts back, buy fewer products, use the things they already have to get the best result. She is unreserved on the topic, claiming many of us are over-egging the pudding.

Her views on the role beauty should play are equally as sensible, with her saying to those who have found what works for them: “well done - you’re in control of your beauty, beauty’s not in control of you, and if you don’t want anti-wrinkling and anti-ageing and to try to keep up with the insta image, good on you”.

In this episode, Alison and I chart her journey from young girl with chronic eczema and a fondness for horses and dogs who didn't consider herself to be very academic to beauty therapist administering treatments to 80s models at Grayshott to presenter at QVC and award-winning beauty expert.

Alison also explains why she doesn't condone cosmetic surgery, which products she uses, and how her appetite to learn has not yet been sated: ‘Everyone thinks when they’ve come out with a qualification that that’s it, they’re great. No - you’ve started. I’m 35 years in the industry and I’m still starting. You never stop learning.’

Beauty Full Lives is hosted by Madeleine Spencer, produced by Charlie Jones, and with artwork by Sung Lee.

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