Outspoken Beauty

In this episode of My Beauty Habits I get to know tanning queen, artist and entrepreneur Amanda Harrington.Amanda shares the fascinating story about how her background as an artist inspired her to start a tanning brand like no other.We then talk about Amanda's beauty habits which include magical concoctions that she drinks and pretty hard core French Pharmacy products.Amanda was so much fun and I adored hearing about her daily beauty rituals. You're going to love this episode!

*This Episode Is In Partnership With Avon*In this episode I get to know Avon like I never have before. For most of my life I have thought of them as a company that give women amazing opportunities and are renowned for their makeup, but little did I know that they have been at the forefront of some of the biggest skincare innovations in the beauty industry.During the episode I get to know Autumn Duckworth, Avon's Head of Category, who gives an amazing insight into all the work that they have done to support and empower women as well as chatting about some of the mind-blowing work that they have done in the skincare arena.I then interview Anthony Gonzalez who is their Head of Skincare Product Development. He tells me about the incredible focus on science that they have and then goes into depth about their brand new (and truly excellent) product Anew Renewal Power Serum which contains patented ingredient Protinol. After a brilliantly nerdy chat about the science behind the product, we hear from some of the Outspoken Beauty Trialling Panellists who give their honest reviews of the product. (We sent it out to 100 panellists and 95% absolutely love it).I have so enjoyed delving into the world of Avon. It has been a real education for me and my perception has definitely shifted to seeing them as a serious and truly innovative skincare brand.

In this special episode in partnership with Dr Sam Bunting we discuss acne and the best ways to deal with it. Sam as ever shares brilliant, no nonsense advice (and has me giggling because I made her record the podcast under a blanket....listen to find out why ;0)Later in the episode we talk about Sam's brand new skincare hero which is called Flawless Neutralising Gel. It's a product that directly targets acne and blemishes and Sam chats about the work that has gone into it and why it's one of her favourite products in her range.Finally, we hear from two Outspoken Beauty Trialling Panellists, both of whom suffer from acne and have been trialling not only the new Neutralising Gel but the entire Dr Sam Skincare System for 6 weeks. We hear their honest reviews and find out how their acne is doing. If you'd like to join the panel email me nicola@outspokenbeauty.co.uk and I'll send a form over.Sam's Neutralising Gel is available for £28 at drsambunting.com.

Things are still a bit topsy turvy after my holiday so normal podcasts resume next week. In the meantime, here's another minipod as requested by you - some of the books that I'm reading at the moment and loving.Here's what I chat about during the episode:Under Belly - Anna WhitehouseThe Panic Years - Nell FrizzellI Am Not Your Baby Mother - Candice BrathwaiteDare - Barry McDonaghLongevity Book - Cameron Diaz

In this episode I have the privilege of interviewing former nurse and now makeup artist and founder of the Attracta Beauty Awards, Attracta Courtney.Attracta has been in the beauty industry for a long time and has been having the anti anti-ageing conversation for years. She believes that the reason that she is so passionate about this is that when she was a nurse people would give anything to be well enough to grow old and it just didn't sit right that the beauty industry was undermining ageing with their messaging.Attracta and I chat about the changes that are happening and the things that need improving. She also talks about her brilliant career, the beauty awards that she has created and some of the beauty products that she loves.Attracta is a brilliant guest and is one of the women who are changing the beauty industry for the better. You can find her on insta @attractabeauty and check out the results of her latest awards @theattractabeautyawards.

I'm going slightly off piste with this one and doing a one off fashion based Minipod, but this is again due to popular demand! (You can always suggest minipod ideas by DMing me @outspokenbeautynicola.)I don't claim to be a fashionista by any stretch of the imagination and tend to gravitate towards clothes that are comfy, flattering, in bright colours and fab prints.( Although I also swear by all black for effortless chic). I love nothing better than a fab fitting jumpsuit, jeans that make my bum look great and don't cut into my tummy and vivid maxi-dresses. Anyway, here are a few brands that I think make brilliant clothes, cater to all shapes and sizes and make clothes that definitely aim to boost confidence and empower us.

In this episode I get to meet the man who is making a stand and encouraging men to fight the status quo and wear makeup if that's what they want to do.Danny Gray has opened the world's first men's makeup store on London's Carnaby Street and his message is clear...makeup has the power to empower men and give them confidence much like it does women. All we need to do is change our way of thinking.During the episode Danny opens up about how being bullied for his appearance as a child affected him and inspired his brand. We chat about his experience of Dragon's Den, his career journey and why Warpaint is about so much more about makeup.Danny is an absolute force of nature and I love what he's doing with Warpaint and his message. I have a feeling that this episode is going to really inspire you.

In this special summer holiday minipod I talk about some of the other bits and pieces that I love to take along with me to France, including fragrance, a delectable body cream and some fabulous makeup bits. The podcast will get back to usual from the beginning of September but in the meantime hope you enjoy this little sunny edit.

In this special episode in partnership with Indeed Labs I welcome their amazing CEO Dimitra Davidson back on the podcast. Dimitra and I talk about the power of having a great in-house team of scientists and how innovation and great formulating are key to the brand.We also chat about why Dimitra places so much importance on healthy skin barrier and why up until now she has never produced an acid exfoliant. This leads nicely to learning about their brand new (and amazing) PHA Toner. It is called Gluconolactone 10% and after Dimitra and I talk about it we hear from the Outspoken Beauty Trialling Panellists who have been trying it for 6 weeks and give their honest, no holds barred reviews.I am a huge fan of Dimitra and her passion for skin and her brand and also love the fact that Indeed produce such good quality formulations that are priced so fairly. I can't wait for you to hear her story and to find out about their new product.

In this week's minipod I talk about the skincare that I'll be taking away with me to France. As you'll hear, I tend to leave the actives at home and focus on products that will keep my skin strong, happy and healthy whilst protecting it from the sun and keeping blemishes at bay.Here are some of the products I mention:Dr Sam Bunting: Cleanser/ Cerave: Hydrating CleanserMicrofibre cloths (Skingredients)Skinceuticals Silymarin CFWhind Jelly CleanserSkingredients PreProbiotic CleanserExuviance Protect and CorrectExuviance Night Renewal HydragelClinisootheHeliocare Peace Out Acne DotsDermalogica Age Bright Clearing Serum