Outspoken Beauty Book Club: 5 Books You Must Read (and a wild card)

Bryony Blake is back for our fabulous fortnightly episode.This week we're talking:Feeling stoned on progesteroneThe Summertime Ball and why I thought I was going to fall out of my seatBryony's strange theory about Taylor SwiftOur views on Stanley Cups and Air-ups The awkward thing that can happen in therapy that we've both experiencedBryony's amazing OK Beauty boxWe answer your beauty and non beauty related questions.It's a good one Outspoken Beauties. Hope it brings a smile to your face xx

I'm so excited to tell you about the bronzing liquid that's revolutionised my makeup. I adore it. It's not as easy to use as some but once you master it you'll thank me!

In this episode I chat to the incredible Vic Ceridono who has pivotted from being the beauty editor at Vogue Brazil to not only starting a hugely popular beauty website/blog called @diadebeaute but has also launched her own utterly fabulous beauty brand @vic_beaute.Vic, who will join me again for an episode about her career and beauty picks, spends this short episode talking about all things Brazilian beauty. From the hair movement that has made women feel empowered to the huge effect that the heat has on beauty to the intrinsic way that beauty culture is intertwined with life, this is a really interesting delve into both the universality of beauty but also how different it can feel depending where in the world you are.

In this week's minipod I'm getting outspoken about luxury brands and why I think they've gone too far with their current pricing, making things that were once wonderful treats, unobtainable and quite frankly off putting.I'm also listing a few of my top high street makeup buys of the moment. They all cost £11 or under and I rate them just as highly as their designer counterparts.Finally, I talk the steps I'm currently take to prevent as much illness as possible rather than wait for it to strike. 

This episode is such a good one.I'm speaking to the awesome makeup artist Donna May. Donna, who was head of makeup at ITV1 for over 20 years had always told herself that she'd one day have her own business and two years ago she walked away from her job to focus in on her own sensational brand.During the episode we talk about her experience of life as a TV makeup artist, starting her brand with £5000 and turning it into something incredible, how hormonal changes are affecting her right now and we also delve into the makeup products that Donna believes we need and those that we most definitely do not. (Donna is a true Outspoken Beauty and only wants us to use what is really necessary). She has some amazing product recommendations to share!Donna's energy, experience and straight talking are so refreshing and I know that you're going to really enjoy this episode.Check out her beautiful products here

In this week's mini mini pod I'm so excited to tell you about the brand that has finally allowed me to wear lovely heels without being in pain all day. I also have the perfect suit all coral liptstick that costs the same as a couple of coffees. Let me know about the products you're loving at the moment and about any beauty bargains that we all need to hear about.If you want to join our private Facebook Community here's the link.

In this episode my guest is a woman who has a deep understanding of how the beauty industry works and feeds into modern culture. Ellen Atlanta is a writer and brand consultant specialising in Gen-Z and Millennial culture and  has worked with beauty giants including Estee Lauder, Boots, FeelUnique, Milk Makeup, Flannels Beauty and The Unseen Beauty.Her latest project has seen her become the author of one of the most important books that I've read in a long time. Pixel Flesh is an honest, scary and at times shocking observation of the toxic side of beauty and the online world:"We are living in a new age of beauty. With advancements in cosmetic surgery, augmented reality face filters, photo editing apps, and exposure to more images than ever, we have the ability to craft a version of ourselves that we want everyone to see. We pinch, pull, squeeze, tweeze, smooth and slice ourselves beyond recognition. But is our beauty culture truly empowering? Are we really in control?In Pixel Flesh, Ellen Atlanta holds a mirror up to our modern beauty ideal and the harm it is doing to women all around the world. Weaving in her own personal story with those of other women, she reconfigures our obsession with the cult of beauty and explores the realities of living in a digitally obsessed world where the pressure to present yourself both virtually and in person is all-consuming."During the episode we explore many of the themes in Ellen's book and have a really honest chat about the challenges that so many of us face when it comes to how we perceive and present ourselves to the world. We also look at the empowering and positive side of beauty and how when used in the right way it can build communities and make us feel increible.I hope you enjoy this thought provoking episode and that it sparks a debate about the highs and lows of being a woman in 2024.

In this week's minipod I'm chatting about two clumsy moments this week that left me very red faced.I also have some truly excellent products to tell you about including an incredibly gentle hair brush if hair loss is an issue, an affordable but boujie fragrance and a really great brow product that I NEED to buy.Enjoy!

Bryony is back and this week we're catching up about:Bryony's Bridgerton experience and why it was very nearly ruined by a duckHilarious smear testsWhy Bryony can never look her chemist in the eye againAI and deep fakesAnd we also have some excellent makeup products to share with you with lots of great advice from Bryony thrown in for good measure xx

It's my brief start of the week catch up where I'm talking about how I've shifted my PMT related low mood, the mascara that looks amazing and stays put event throuh tears and the fragrance Bleu Nour Neon Violet which is currently my biggest addiction and costs £36.