Celia Walden: Life as Pier's Morgan's Wife, LA beauty and Chasing Your Dreams

In this thought provoking episode I welcome the amazing Michelle Feeney, founder of Floral Street, back on the podcast for a chat about all things sex and scent.

Michelle and I discuss the way that some perfume is sold to us and why in many ways it feels outdated and demeaning. As consumers what do we actually want from our fragrances? Is it all about attracting someone else or should it be more about what makes us happy and if so should the advertisers re-consider their messaging and imagery?

This episode will make you question what fragrance stands for and how as consumers we should expect to be spoken to by the markettiers with the big budgets who don't always seem get it right.

Over the weekend I did a story about IT Cosmetics CC+ Cream and there was much confusion about which one to go for. I hope this little podcast helps you get to know the different versions of this iconic (and brilliant) product a bit better.
Ps This is not sponsored/partnered...I have loved the different iterations of this cream for years and buy it on repeat.

I think that this is one of the most important episodes that I've ever published on Outspoken Beauty and if you have a daughter/niece/teenage girl in your life then you need to hear it.

My guest is Jane Kenyon who is the founder of an utterly brilliant charity called Girls Out Loud. Jane has been working with teenage girls for over 20 years and her charity enables women in industry to become "big sisters" and mentor them through some of the trickiest years of school.

Jane's insight into the current chellenges that girls are facing is deep and makes for scary listening. Social media, porn, self doubt and poor body image are only some of the problems that our teenagers are facing. Whilst many women are having positive and empowering conversations, it would seem like the opposite is happening for the younger generations.

During the episode we talk about what is happening and how we might be able to make change and whilst this conversation doesn't make for easy listening, I know that it has the power to inspire change and action and we have the power to come together and make this happen.

It's Minipod time and in this episode:

• I'm calling time on the words "midlife crisis"
• Wondering out loud why on earth Grazia thought it was a good idea to feature Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty in an IWD series
• Chatting through a makeup brand that get all their pigments from nature
• Getting excited about a dry body oil that smells of actual heaven
• Talking you through the cool perfume brand that everyone needs to know about
• And more.... (My perimenopausal brain has forgotten the rest :0)

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 trip of a lifetime and what she'll be taking onthe plane and find out what made us laugh so much that my microphone stopped working.

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?)

*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 just right. We also talk about makeup trends and why it's no longer enough for so many of us when out makeup doesn't deliver skin benefits.

I then welcome the super talented makeup artist Tom Fraser who is a fellow Avon lover and explains why he loves their new Hydramatic Shine Lipsticks and the best way to apply them in comparison to their iconic matte version and also why the 3 in 1 Serum Foundation is such a standout product if you want a glow and just the right amount of coverage.

Finally we get some honest insights from members of the Outspoken Beauty Trialling Panel who have been testing both products in a variety of situations.

I've loved working on this episode and hope you enjoy the episode (and the products) as much as I have.

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 nail polish that dries in 60 seconds and the minestrone soup recipe that I can't get enough of. (Here's the link)
xx

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.

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 we can explore our fantasies safely and with abandon.

During the episode we chat about the sex parties that Emma holds and what actually happens at them. You may be surprised to know that many women go there to have their first sexual experiences with other women or even just to dance in their underwear with a group of friends.

We also chat about relationships, keeping the flame alive and how to become more sexually empowered as women.

This is such a fascinating episode and I found it totally inspiring and liberating.