Red lipsticks mean so many things to me....confidence, power, symbols of resistance (the suffragettes), putting my best foot forward, glamour and yet they also require constant upkeep, can end up the chin or even nose and often rub off leaving behind a line of red around the lips.

This week I discovered a wonderful new red whilst on a trip to Boots (I'll tell you all about it during the episode) and it inspired me to go through my favourite reds of the moment and all time.

Here are the brands that I mention during the episode:

@lisaeldridgemakeup
@emolynecosmetics
@nyxcosmetics_uk
@violette_fr
@trinnylondon
@maccosmeticsuki
@maybelline
@avon_uk

I'll also tell you about a brand new release from Dr Sam Bunting and why if it does what it says it will, it will be a bit of a gamechanger.

In this week's episode of Outspoken Mental Health I talk about my experience of panic attacks and feelings of doom and dread.
I'll chat about what's happening when we get a panic attack and the long list of horrible (but harmless) things they can make us feel. I'll also go into why it's so important to have an inner voice that reminds us that we are safe and helps us to tolerate the discomfort of this moment so that we can teach are brain that all is good and that we don't need the unnecessary surge of adrenaline that's causing all the problems in the first place.
I'll also go into navigating constant feelings of dread and terror which can actually feel worse than the panic itself.
Please remember that I am not an expert and I am chatting about my own experience and sharing what i have learnt. If you need help then don't be ashamed to ask for it. See your GP or contact a mental health charity like Mind
I have created a Private Facebook Page to go with this series. Please feel free to join this supportive community and remember I'm always here for a chat.
Nicola x

In this week's episode I welcome the utterly fascinating dermatologist, cosmetic safety expert and skincare brand founder Dr Tiina Meder.

Tiina originally started her brand Meder with the aim of making skincare that would be safe but truly effective for everyone, including pregnant women. To this day, everything in the Meder line up is pregnancy safe, but it is about so much more than that. Meder is all about getting incredible results but with skin loving ingredients such as peptides and pro-biotics (Tiina is at the forefront of research into the microbiome).

During the episode we talk about the brands that Tiina likes, we have an eye-opening chat about Tiina's views on retinoids and vitamin c and we talk about the changes that she believes we'll be seeing in the skincare industry over the next few years. I definitely left our chat questioning a lot of what I have believed to be true about skincare. (This has excited me rather than worried me....I'm looking forward to looking deeper into the world of pro/pre and all the other biotics that she mentions).

I love Tiina and while I know that some of her views are controversial, I think that she has robust evidence for many of her opinions. I can't wait to hear what you think xx

We're at the end of the week and these are some of the (eclectic) things that have been on my mind over the past 7 days.
I'll be talking about Lily Allen checking into rehab, my thoughts about the film Baby Girl, why at 44 I'm finally ready to embrace the gym and why sometimes nothing beats going real life shopping!
DM me any time@outspokenbeautynicola if you have any comments on today's episode.

If you're after honest, no holds barred reviews then you've come to the right place.

This week I'm sharing my thoughts on:

Gatineau Age Benefit Cleansing Elixir
Indu (with special mention of their SPF)
K18 AirWash
The Inkey List Ectoin Hydro-Barrier Serum
Meder by Dr Tiina Meder
A bright red scarf from Oliver Bonas!

Let me know what's been impressing you recently xx

Trigger Warning: I talk about sexual abuse during this episode

During my final session with my brilliant psychologist, she told me that I should share my anxiety and mental health story with as many people as possible. Hearing this from a woman who is truly at the top of her game and who has helped me immeasurably took away all the doubts that I've been having (who am I to talk about anxiety when I'm not a trained professional?) and confirmed to me that I have a responsibility to share my story and everythings I've learnt from it (my lifelong anxiety condition, breakdown and road to recovery) with as many people as possible because when I was at my worst I needed to hear the things that I'll be talking about. They would have helped me so much.

So this is Outspoken Anxiety. Each Monday I'll talk about my anxiety journey and what I've learnt along the way. I'll chat about the professionals who have helped me, the lifestyle changes I've had to make, medication, how to live with an anxiety condition and I'll also try and help you navigate the at times complicated world of seeking help for mental health.

I realise this won't be for everyone but if I can help just one person that's enough!

In episode 1 I give a bit of background about my mental health and then chat about the warning signs that you shouldn't ignore and how to calm your nervous system when things start to bubble up.

Please DM me @outspokenbeautynicola if you have any questions. Also here is the link to the private Facebook Group that goes with the podcast: https://www.facebook.com/groups/1626153351319481
Please only join if you suffer with anxiety or know someone who does and want to help them. 

It is such a pleasure to welcome Debbie Thomas on today's episode.
Debbie is the founder of the renowned D.Thomas Clinic and is one of the UK's leading laser experts. She KNOWS the ins and outs of non-invasive treatments and is the perfect person to talk us through what various treatments do and who they are suitable for.
During the episode we talk about:

-Why Debbie chooses the most appropriate treatments for her clients rather than allowing them to dictate what they want
-The growing non-aesthetic industry and how to navigate it
-The dangers of seeing the wrong practitioner

• Home LED devices and whether they actually help us
• The growing non-aesthetic industry and how to navigate it
• The dangers of seeing the wrong practitioner
• The skincare ingredients we should all be using

And lots more.

This is such an informative episode and I love how balanced and well informed Debbie is!

In this episode I'm chatting about some of the things that have been happening in the ever busy beauty industry this week. Fom Lisa Eldridge's new launch to an exciting new makeup store in Covent Garden to a wonderful new plan for beauty therapists. Oh and I'll be talking about some of the beauty trends we can expect to see this year. Enjoy fellow beauty nerds xx

Welcome to the first episode of The Outspoken Review with honest, rounded reviews of beauty, books and more.
This week I'm talking about Gillian Anderson's book Want, reading X-rated books in January, Augustinus Bader's The Rich Eye Cream, BIAB nails and why a good LED Mask may well be worth splashing out on (but with certain caveats).
What would you like me to review? DM me @outspokenbeautynicola.

I wanted to start the week by sharing how I feel about New Year pressures and why you need to close your ears and eyes to them. Begone pressure to lose all the weight and ads with magical solutions to all our supposed New Year problems.
I also talk about why I like to get excited about work at this time of year but how you can't change everything overnight.
I'll also talk a bit about why I'll be doing a little bit more content about my anxiety experience and more importantly how I've got better.
Loads of New Year's love.
Nicola x

Welcome to a brand new season of Outspoken Beauty.
You can expect more:

• Beauty News
• Of me trying out weird and wonderful treatments and experiences
• Honest chat about mental health and life in our 40's
• Of the most authentic reviews
• Fascinating interviews 

To get things going I'm chatting to Ed Curry and Andy Coxon. Once upon a time they were leading men in on the West End Stage and now they are the founders of one of the most successful British Beauty brands of 2024 - AKT.

Their story of how a little idea turned into a huge success story (with the help of lots of their fellow actor friends)is so feel good and is the perfect start to the new season.

I LOVE these guys and can't wait for you to get to know them.

Ladies and gentlemen, please take your seats for the show is about to begin........