The Outspoken Review: Simmering Scents, Shimmering Oils and Something to Make You Feel Better About Yourself

Happy International Lipstick Day Outspoken Beauties!I have got the most brilliant and perfect guest for such an auspicious occasion!Eileen G'Sell is poet, culture critic, university teacher and author of Lipstick, which joined Bloomsbury’s Object Lessons series earlier this year. I love the description of this utterly brilliant book:"From Revlon to Glossier, from Marilyn to Gaga, lipstick is as shape-shifting and unwieldy as femininity itself. Who wears lipstick today – as a matter of routine? And for those who do, is it out of obligation to a strict feminine standard, or some other reason entirely? Lipstick reconsiders the beauty world's most conspicuous – and contentious – tool of artifice. Tossing expired ideas about femininity like so many tubes of melting wax, Lipstick explores how self-adornment can be a source of play, pleasure, and transformation, as well as how lipstick can knock gender norms off balance."My chat with Eileen got me so over-excited. She is so intelligent and has such brilliant views about beauty, self-expression, femininity and feminism. This is the perfect episode for a day that celebrates something that can feel so powerful and meaningful.

Oh how I love this woman! Makeup artist, comedian and content creator extraordinaire Genevieve Turley is back. It's been a good few years since she was last on the podcast and it 's SO good to catch up with her.Before I get into my chat with Gen I spend 10 minutes or so telling you in some depth about my experience with the Ziip Halo. This all came about when my most trusted aesthetician Pam Marshall recommended it to me. I've been obsessed ever since. This is a paid for section as Ziip were keen to support me but as ever it is totally unbiased and I hope you'll find it really informative. If you do decide that you would like to purchase one then follow this link and it will give you 10% off. If the link doesn't work then just head to ziipbeauty.co.uk and use the code OUTSPOKEN.Back to Genevieve. We're talking about:How her career has gone stratosphericHer journey to becing a comedianHer recent big show in the West EndLife and home changesLots of empowering insights about womenBeautyAnd lots lots more.You're going to love this one Outspoken Beauties xx

It's Wednesday and that means I'm talking you through some of my top products of the week.This week I have:A fabulous blusher/lip hybridA Balm that will melt your makeup awayMy body oil picksA great SPF for dry, sensitive skinThe serum I keep going back toand more....

In this episode I'm joined by two icons of the beauty industry. Lesley Blair is CEO and Chair of BABTAC (British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology) and Candice Gardner is the Education Manager of Learning and Content at Dermalogica, where she develops and oversees educational content and training for skincare professionals across the UK.Earlier this year I was incredibly inspired when I joined them at the Houses of Parliament for the launch of Sharp Standards, a UK-wide good practice guide and toolkit for micro-needling that is available to beauty practitioners across the UK. This industry shifting guide was authored by Candice on behalf of Dermalogica, in partnership with BABTAC.During the episode we talk about:The lack of legislation in the beauty industry and why they've been fighting for tighter laws in parliament for a long timeWhy they realised that they had to take matters into their own handsThe questions we should all be asking when we have an aesthetic treatmentThe risks of micro-needling and what we need to look out forHow to tell if a beauty practitioner has the right qualificationsWhy Sharp Standards will help both beauty practitioners and customers to feel more confidentWhy we should all be more aware of what can go wrong when we have beauty treatmentsThis is such a great listen. More than anything it helps empower us as consumers to know what we should asking and also helps beauty professionals to become fully confident in their business practice.

Beauty editor Perdita Nouril is back and this week she has got the most incredible recommendations for you including:A gentle but hugely effective Korean acid peel A natural deoderant that performs well even in a heatwaveAn affordable face cream that is as good as the light version of Charlotte Tilbury's Magic CreamSome amazing Korean makeupYou're going to adore this episode!!

It's The Outspoken Review and I've got some truly beautiful things to tell you about this week including an addictive scent that reminds me of those ginger hot shots and a body oil that will 100% be coming to France with me this summer.I've also had some incredible chats this week and I'll share why they've made me feel relieved and less guilty about everything.Hope you enjoy our little weekly catch up.xx

It's time to catch up with the one and only Bryony Blake.Poor Bryony is always gets into trouble even though she's innocent and this week she had something very unexpected confiscated at a nightclub.We're also talking about weird and wonderful ways we're keeping cool, why we love giving compliments, a word that gives me the major ick and the iconic beauty brand that's doing amazing innovation at the moment.There's lots more for you to enjoy too!

I've got the most innovative self tan/skincare hybrid to tell you about this week. I'm absolutely loving it.I'll also tell you about a really good vitamin C/antioxidant serum, a beautiful moisturiser and the affordable fragrance that might just become your scent of the summer.There's lots more too.Enjoy xx

If you were to take a good long look at your skincare collection, there's a chance that some of the products you've spent your good money on won't be delivering on their promises. In a world of TikTok trends, aesthetic filters and clever marketing, we’ve been conditioned to buy into skincare hype that at times has little clinical proof behind it.Well, in today's episode, we are stripping away the marketing fluff and looking at the science of skincare with my amazing guest Lorna Bowes. Lorna started her journey as an NHS dermatology nurse, has authored over 20 clinical papers, and is the founder of Aesthetic Source, the award-winning platform that brings clinically proven skincare technologies directly to top-tier clinics across the UK.Lorna is no BS and SO knowledgable. If you're muddled about where you are with your skincare right now, I have a feeling that she's going to help you get back on track.

The Beauty Editor is back!The gorgeous Perdita Nouril is talking about all things SPF misinformation after doing a massive investigation for a recent piece in Women's Health.This is such a great insight into how fear mongering can spread online and why we must listen to the experts and facts.