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 ...
Mar 05, 2024•48 min
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?)
Mar 04, 2024•3 min
*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 jus...
Mar 02, 2024•35 min
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 ...
Feb 29, 2024•11 min
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 .
Feb 29, 2024•4 min
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...
Feb 27, 2024•40 min
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
Feb 26, 2024•2 min
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 mind...
Feb 24, 2024•42 min
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 ...
Feb 22, 2024•13 min
Bryony's here for another roller coaster ride of an episode. Highlights this week include: An eyeshadow palette that has blown Bryony's mind The Gaga lip gloss that stays shiny all day The TV that tells you off Nicola's week of sofa surfing Breastfeeding strips The ups and downs of being a sperm relationships and lots more. Hope you have a good giggle and enjoy the beauty recommendations. xx
Feb 20, 2024•56 min
In this episode I'm chatting to entrepreneur and all round lovely woman Helen Snook. Last year I had a coffee with Helen's husband Chris and we ended up chatting for ages about how many of us eat a diet that leads to bad health but how difficult it is to actually get nutrition right....life is busy and it's so much easier to grab something quick and easy. Chris explained how he and his wife Helen were on a mission to make getting great nutrition and namely fibre easy and accessible and told me a...
Feb 17, 2024•44 min
It's time for my Minipod and this week I'm talking about : Memories of the Body Shop (this week we found out that it's going into administration). Scamp and Dude and what might happen when I go to their sample sale The budget makeup brand that I adore and some products that I recommend The beautiful smelling, comforting new range from Selena Gomez An affordable and stunning illuminating product and lots more. Let me know what you're loving. I'd love to hear from you on Instagram @outspokenbeauty...
Feb 15, 2024•11 min
I'm so excited about this, my second episode of Outspoken Women. In it I'm joined by the incredibly inspiring and kind entrepreneur, businesswoman, Dragon and TV personality, Sara Davies MBE. I first met Sara when she was giving the most uplifting and motivating talk to a room of 700 Avon representatives. She covered so many topics from how to make your business a success to how to juggle all the demands that life makes on us as women. As I scribbled copious notes I KNEW I had to get her on the ...
Feb 13, 2024•41 min
In this episode (and following lots of amazing feedback after her last podcast) my wonderfully outspoken and funny Mum Francesca comes back for another chat. This time we're talking HRT, Reformer Pilartes, the 10,000 step challenge, gynaecologists and there are of course some beauty recommendations in there too. If you're after some fun, warmth and good company then you'll love this episode with the woman who made me outspoken and sparked my passion for beauty.
Feb 10, 2024•30 min
This week's Minipod definitely isn't the one I had planned. During it I talk about what has happened in the last 24 hours and why I couldn't bring myself to get on the plane for the trip of a lifetime. I chat about some of the things I tried to put in place to get me on the plane but why ultimately I just couldn't do it. I also have some hair recommendations and the perfect pink lipstick to tell you about. xx
Feb 08, 2024•10 min
Oh my goodness I loved doing this episode with Bryony Blake. She honestly makes me laugh so much that I snort. This week we're talking: Bryony's message from a man who has taken a massive interest in her feet (and why part of her is secretly quite proud). Why Louis interviews me each night when the lights go off My awful welcome home after time away My mission to get Charlotte Tilbury on the podcast Grumpiness towards Diary of a CEO Cinema fun and SO much more. We have some fantastic beauty reco...
Feb 06, 2024•48 min
*The episode is a must listen! * My guest is broadcaster, author and incredibly popular pro-ageing content creator, Suzi Grant. Suzi inspires her more than 100,000 Instagram followers with vivacious fashion (including her utterly fabulous headscarves), wonderful energy and her brilliant attitude to ageing. She truly found herself when she was 50 and changed her life. She has written about how she ran away to Brighton and created her perfect life. Now in her early 70's, she has been quoted as say...
Feb 03, 2024•58 min
In this week's minipod I'm talking about Ruby Wax's retreat (My Mum told me about it and I'm incredibly tempted to go on it) I also have so many great beauty recommendations, including brand new products from Ruby Hammer and Daniel Sandler, the three things I do to get my hair looking beautiful and shiny, bath salts to balance your hormones and the candle that never fails to make me smile. If you fancy joining the Flourish Project which I chat about during the episode, follow this link . (We hav...
Feb 01, 2024•13 min
Welcome to the first episode of my brilliant new series Outspoken Women. I have the most amazing set of guests lined up for you including Bryony Gordon, Sara Davies MBE and Emma Sayle (the founder of Killing Kittens). In today's episode I welcome the truly brilliant Natasha Devon MBE. Natasha is a writer, broadcaster & activist. She tours schools, universities and events throughout the world, delivering talks as well as conducting research on mental health, body image, gender and equality. S...
Jan 30, 2024•43 min
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: H...
Jan 27, 2024•41 min
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.
Jan 25, 2024•12 min
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.
Jan 23, 2024•58 min
This episode is in partnership with And Begin Skincare In 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 personal...
Jan 20, 2024•28 min
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
Jan 18, 2024•11 min
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 order Blood tests and how they can reveal more than meets the eye Why going on HRT too early isn't a good idea How to understand our cycles Empowering our daughters an...
Jan 16, 2024•45 min
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 als...
Jan 13, 2024•33 min
It's Minipod time and this week I'm thinking (and getting very scared about) an imminent flight that I have to get on. I'm also talking about bras for big boobs, how to make gel manicures last longer, sorting out annoying itches and a new fragrance that is comforting yet will propel you into dreams of exotic holidays. If you love the podcast come and join the Outspoken Beauty Trialling Panel where you get to try products and give honest reviews on the podcast. If you fancy it email me nicola@out...
Jan 11, 2024•11 min
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...
Jan 09, 2024•35 min
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...
Jan 06, 2024•12 min
In this week's minipod I'm doing a beauty focus. I start by chatting about some of the products that have helped sort my skin out after it became excessively oily and congested and highlight how a simple and minimal routine can sometimes be the best thing. I also mention some interesting new products that have already been released this year and also chat through a couple of makeup colour trends for 2024 (one of which you need to be careful with as used wrongly it can end up making you look a ta...
Jan 04, 2024•11 min
