Beauty and podcasts are two of our big loves at GH, and if you’re the same, you’ll definitely need the Outspoken Beauty Podcast on your list. It’s hosted by broadcaster Nicola Bonn who’s turned her lifelong passion for beauty into a brilliant conversation-starter with some of the most fascinating experts in the industry. Make sure you check out this episode with our very own Juliet Heaton, beauty expert at the Good Housekeeping Institute, chatting about how important it is that we rigorously test tools, tinctures and makeup for our Good Housekeeping Institute Believe in Beauty Awards (the 2026 winners of which were announced on 15 May).

But what does Nicola think about the state of the beauty industry today? GH caught up with the podcaster for an exclusive chat about how she got into the industry and what she thinks the future of beauty looks like. Here’s what she had to say.

Tell us about your beauty journey, Nicola. What role has the industry played in helping you through any challenges?

‘Beauty has played a large and joyful role in my life ever since I was a teenager watching my glamorous grandmother applying her face creams and filing her elegant nails,’ she told us.

‘My mum shared tips and tricks with me, with me often “borrowing” her room-rocking fragrances and Clarins tinted moisturiser, which was always a little too dark for my skin but made me feel ever so grown up.’

‘As I grew older, it was the joy of sharing recommendations with friends and discovering our own favourite products and brands together that had me hooked,’ she explained. ‘When I had my children, beauty was comfort and a reminder of who I was when I felt overwhelmed and like I was losing myself.’

‘During a particularly hard time, when I had bad anxiety, fragrance grounded me and gave me strength. The beauty industry can raise us, support us and help us express ourselves. I have always tried to use products and brands that help me do those things.’

With more choices than ever before, how do you navigate the beauty world today and find products that are right for you?

‘I look very carefully at the science and always do as much due diligence as I can. I also have very strict rules, particularly when it comes to skincare. If a product uses negative and unfriendly language such as “anti-ageing” or “diminishes wrinkles” etc, then it’s not for me,’ she explained.

‘I will not allow any product in my bathroom that preys on insecurity. My beauty products all speak to me nicely and make me feel better about myself. Women do not need fixing!’

Why do authentic beauty reviews matter to you? Do you think it’s more important than ever before?

‘Without a doubt. There are so many products on the market and I feel a huge responsibility to ensure that every product that I review, whether it’s on my Outspoken Beauty podcast or my Instagram, is done with integrity.

‘It’s wholly unfair and I think immoral to feign love for a product just because you’re being paid to do so. There’s so much misinformation around and I’ll always offer a safe and outspoken place where people can come for honest opinions. If I don’t know the answer to something I will always go to an expert who I trust implicitly, so that I can relay the correct information.’

We’ve seen in our latest GH research that many women (69%) say they’ve tried products that have failed to deliver against their core premise. What are your top tips before purchasing a product?

‘There’s only so much we can do as consumers,’ she told us. ‘There are some brands that sadly use clever marketing speak that doesn’t honestly represent the capability of a product. I always recommend that people contact brands and ask questions if they have time. Have they, for example, done independent clinical trials?’

‘Also, seek the opinions of (or follow on social media) skin experts who don’t have a financial relationship with the brand you’re investigating. I trust aesthetician Pamela Marshall implicitly and her recommendations have never failed me. Dr Sophie Shotter and Emma Craythorne are also amazing.’

‘Perhaps most importantly, remember that we all have different skin so it’s always worth finding out what’s going on with yours before you invest in expensive skincare. Perhaps splash out on an annual appointment with a dermatologist or aesthetician who can tell you what you need and guide you.’

‘I also find that the very best recommendations come from the original influencers – your family and friends. They have nothing to gain by telling you to use a product other than the fact that they want you to experience something great. I very much try and take on that role when I make recommendations on my platforms.’

Which technologies have impressed you the most recently?

‘I was very cynical at first but am now very much enjoying using the ZIIP Halo. This was actually recommended to me by the aforementioned Pam Marshall and a long list of trusted beauty colleagues. It’s a micro-current device that is making a palpable difference to the quality of my skin.

‘I’m also excited by the improvements in sunscreen. There are so many lovely formulations on offer these days. There’s truly something for everyone and if you’re going to use one skincare product only, it has to be that.

‘I’m also blown away by the fragrance industry. Tech like head-space technology for example – an innovative technique that captures the scent molecules of an object/rare-flower/environment without destroying them, so has opened up a whole new world of fragrance notes and accords for us all to enjoy.’

You’ve seen the GHI’s Believe in Beauty Award-winning products. Are there any there that have really caught your eye?

‘So many. I’m a huge fan of MD London so it’s great to see them win for their heated styling brush. It’s also so exciting that the Pantene growth serum won as it is a lot more affordable than many similar products in this category. I’m also desperate to try the Clarins Double Serum Foundation.’

‘To be honest, knowing what I do about your rigorous testing, I’m excited by all of the products that have won an award.’

What’s the one beauty product you will keep using all your life?

‘Only one? This is impossible!’ she gasped. ‘SPF is the obvious one.

But what about hand-cream, fragrance, mascara… there are so many.’

Why is the consumer always the most important when it comes to creating a beauty product?

‘I’m so incredibly passionate about being on the side of the consumer,’ she told us. ‘They’re spending their hard-earned money on these products and they’re putting their trust into brands. They deserve the very best both in terms of quality and delivering on promises.

‘Marketing also plays a massive part in this. Beauty products must be inclusive and speak to consumers in the right way. It shocks me that products are still being sold off the back of making consumers feel insecure and lacking,’ she lamented.

‘Consumers deserve to feel nothing but great about the beauty products that they buy, and when they bring them home, the least they can do is deliver on their promises!’