Let’s be honest, Christmas is going to be a bit different this year. When I was thinking about some of the things that mean most to me at Christmas, watching Love Actually is at the top of the list. Taking us behind the scenes today is the Hair and Make-up director from the film, Graham Johnston. Graham’s CV reads like a list of some of the biggest blockbuster films of the last 20 years. We talk Bridget Jones’ Diary, Spiceworld and Trainspotting alongside touching on my favourite Christmas...

Today, world renowned make-up artist Caroline Barnes is joining me to reflect on the year that has just taken us all by surprise. As well as touching on her journey from the beginning, including tales of working with celebrities and pop-stars like Kylie Minogue, one of my most memorable moments in 2020 was being part of a fantastic NHS Morale Boost that Caroline organised and I wanted her to tell you about it. We also touch on her longstanding relationship with the charity Look Good, Feel...

Daniel Sandler joins me today to discuss his career in make-up from the beginning. Along the way, we discuss the make-up misconceptions that seem to have made a mark in today’s society, and dispel the so-called do’s and don’ts of make-up.  Here are a few of the things we discuss in this week’s episode that you may wish to take a look at… Daniel Sandler on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danielsandlerpersonal Daniel’s website: https://www.danielsandler.com Daniel Sandler Make-up on...

Today I’m joined by Glasgow’s finest Jamie Genevieve. Jamie’s story really strikes a chord with me because she started her career as a working make-up artist on well loved beauty counters, and I remember the very beginning of her journey because it tied into the beginning of my journey too! We’ll come onto that…  In the present day, she’s a make-up artist with global reach and a community of millions of followers, and recently she launched her very own brand. Today she tells me all about the...

Today you’re going to meet one of my oldest friends, Nicola Smith, known to many as one of the co-founders of Peaches and Cream. What you might not know is that everything I know about make-up I learned at Peaches, where Kate and Nicola took me on as a make-up artist while I lived in Liverpool for University.  This is such a long and personal story for us so I’ve decided to split it into two parts. Today in part two, Nicola tells us about how the brand evolved from a make-up landmark in...

Today you’re going to meet one of my best friends, Kate Donnelly, known to many as one of the co-founders of Peaches and Cream. What you might not know is that everything I know about make-up I learned at Peaches, where Kate and Nicola took me on as a make-up artist while I lived in Liverpool for University.  This is such a long and personal story for us, so I’ve decided to split it into two parts. In part one, Kate tells us how she and Nicola met at college, and how their journey to creating...

Today’s guest is art director, stylist, author and illustrator, Zeena Shah. Zeena is one of the most uplifting people I know. She is always wearing colours top to toe and shares endless tips to upcycle and recycle what you have around you.  In this episode Zeena tells us a bit about her many creative pursuits, how we can all get a bit more crafty at home and enjoy some mindfulness, and of course we talk all things beauty along the way.  Here are a few things we mention in today’s episode that...

Given that we’re set to spend more time at home this autumn, I invited Laura Jackson to talk home comforts on the podcast this week. I think if we can bring some magic to simple rituals, like making an evening meal more special, we can find smalls ways to get by over the coming weeks and months.  Laura is well known for her presenting roles, but her passion for food led her to launch her own supper club with her friend Alice Levine, and create her own podcast dedicated to hosting. So today,...

Today I’m taking to one of YouTube’s most known and loved faces, Niomi Smart. Niomi is a content creator and author and has amassed a huge and loyal following over the years. In addition to all of this, she’s just launched her own skincare brand and I’ve invited her to tell us all about that today. I really enjoyed chatting to Niomi, I hope you love this episode too.  Here are a few of the things we discuss in this week’s episode that you might like to take a look at…  Niomi on...

Today I’m talking to Daisy Boateng who joins me down the line from New York. Daisy has worked in the beauty industry for many years, with a career spanning brands such as L’Oreal Paris, Essie, NYX Cosmetics and Maybelline. With all of this experience to share, she has created the Step Up Sorority, aiming to mentor young BAME women and equip them to achieve their career aspirations.  Here are a few of the things that we discuss in this episode that you may wish to take a look at…  Daisy’s...

Today’s guest is novelist, screenwriter, journalist and columnist, Juno Dawson. Since I first met Juno I’ve learned so much about the issues facing trans people and I really admire her for always standing up for the people around her.  Joining me from a cosy corner of Brighton, Juno joins me to talk everything from the Spice Girls to how trans people are represented in the media, and of course gives us a sneak into her make-up bag.  Just to mention, in case these are sensitive topics to you,...

Welcome back to a new series of Beauty from the Heart! I’m delighted to be back with journalist, author and mental health activist Bryony Gordon. She’s shared so much of her  journey with her readers, from mental health challenges or alcohol addiction. And her openness, in turn, encourages other people to share their stories. I feel such a warmth from her because she is proud to simply be herself.  Today we’re talking all things mental health, how beauty can impact self-esteem, and generally...

  Today I’m talking to Gary Thompson, also known as the Plastic Boy. Gary shares his insights on the beauty industry, from how we can all work towards a more inclusive landscape, to the importance of being a role model to younger LGBT boys like him.  We also reminisce on both of our experiences working in beauty in retail, and have a few laughs about experiences with disgruntled customers… if you’ve ever worked on the beauty shop floor, I think you’ll relate to this one!  This episode marks...

Today, I’m talking to one of the world’s greatest make-up artists, Val Garland. Val has been in the industry for 30 years, known for everything from iconic celebrity photo shoots, heading up teams at every major fashion week show you can think of, and a whole host of memorable magazine covers.  As a judge on the BBC3 show Glow Up, Val searches for Britain’s next big make-up talent. So, ahead of the series 2 finale this week, Val shares her own make-up journey from the beginning, and how her...

Today, I’m joined by an award winning beauty journalist, producer, brand founder and diversity advocate, Dr. Ateh Jewel. For as long as I can remember, Ateh has been at the forefront of conversations within the beauty industry about how we all need to work towards creating more of a diverse landscape.  When the world became aware of the story of George Floyd in May 2020, a widespread conversation ignited about the importance of the Black Lives Matter movement. Within the beauty industry, Ateh...

From a sunny farm in Vermont, Tata Harper joins me today to tell me how she created her clean skincare brand. When her step father was sadly diagnosed with cancer, her family made the decision to remove all kinds of toxins from their everyday routines. What ensued was a journey of research and knowledge that inspired her to create her own beauty line that was luxury, potent, and clean.   I loved learning about Tata’s upbringing in Columbia, where beauty routines were a celebration and a...

This week I thought we needed a good laugh, so I asked tanning expert Jules Von Hep to share every backstage story under the sun. From fashion week drama to total tanning disasters on mainstream television, I can safely say he’s delivered. Please note there is some swearing in this episode, but mostly lots of laughing. Jokes aside, Jules is also the founder of Isle of Paradise, a tanning brand with an ethical mission to inspire self love and body acceptance. In this episode, he tells us why...

Today I am so thrilled for you to meet Ruby Hammer MBE. Now one of the world’s most recognised make-up authorities, she has been a make-up artist for over 25 years and was one half of the iconic Ruby and Millie make-up brand. I only met Ruby for the first time before Christmas and I just fell in love with her straight away! Her stories are fascinating and I wanted you to hear a little bit of everything. From the chance encounter that led her to launch Aveda to the UK, to the importance of...

Today I’m joined by model and presenter Lisa Snowdon. Lisa shares her modelling story from the very beginning, from her early years at Italia Conti to what she learned from her time with some of the UK's best make-up artists. Lisa always wears her heart on her sleeve, and we talk about everything from her experience of meningitis to the importance of not comparing ourselves to a stranger on Instagram. I hope you enjoy talking to her as much as I did. Here are a few of the things we discussed...

This week, I’m excited for you to meet my friend Laura Capon. She’s the Deputy Beauty Editor at Cosmopolitan magazine. In addition to being one of the funniest (and most informative) people for you to watch on IGTV, she loves films as much as I do. Today, Laura and I are going to reflect on some of our favourite fashion and beauty moments in films from times gone by, with special attention to the iconic movie makeover. We hope this trip down movie memory lane will inspire some joy in your...

Today I’m talking to Bryony Blake, a make-up artist I’ve grown to love along the way in beauty. Though her credentials include the likes of This Morning, Strictly Come Dancing and the X Factor, Bryony is known and loved for her relatable approach to beauty.  In this conversation, we explore the highs and lows of friendship. Friendships manifest for a reason, a season, or a lifetime, and we’ll be delving into each of the above. From the moment I met Bryony I knew she loved her friends and...

Today I’m talking to Zoe Boikou, the founder of Zoeva Cosmetics. Zoe’s story is fascinating; she started Zoeva in 2008 in her living room, with an eBay account and 10 brushes to sell. By 2016 she had sold over 5 million brushes, and today Zoeva comprises over 300 products and tools.  What really struck me was Zoe’s inspiration for starting the brand. We recorded this podcast some time ago, so her ‘new’ foundation is now well and truly out there, and any other references like where we are and...

As we’re currently living a life in lock-down, I thought I’d share a special bonus episode with you today, a conversation with Bobbi Brown.  Bobbi is the globally renowned make-up artist who joined me for a conversation a little while ago when she last visited London. It’s short and sweet, but Bobbi has always been such a big inspiration to me so I wanted to share our conversation with you nonetheless. And while we were together we took some time to film an IGTV Q&A which you can find on...

Trish is a make-up artist with her own incredible beauty line, and to me she’s really special because she has such a unique bond with the people that use her products. Trish prides herself on personally hosting make-up masterclasses all over the world. I love that the lady with her name attached to such a successful brand is still personally the one sharing her expertise. You’ll feel the magic and warmth from her as she tells her story from start to finish. We recorded this a little while ago...