As a veteran British Beauty Editor now living in hot and humid St. Pete Beach, Florida, I have officially had to abandon the standard "textbook" beauty advice. Surviving real humidity is a daily masterclass, and after surviving two back-to-back hurricanes with zero air conditioning or running water, I know exactly what the real hot-weather pain points are.

So in this episode, I’m tackling the unfiltered summer beauty issues you shared with me on Instagram - from upper lip sweat and melting makeup to chub rub and the dreaded Monica from Friends hair frizz.

You can find the full list of every product, insider tip, and expert routine mentioned in today's episode right here on my Substack:

👉 Read the Full Summer Heat Survival Guide on The Beauty Ed®

• The "Less is More" Base: Ditch heavy foundation. I break down why lightweight, glowy face bronzers are your best friend.
• The Perfect Cheek Flush: Why you should completely step away from powder blushes as you age.
• Melting Makeup & Smart SPF: How to stop your base from balling up or "pilling" in the heat.
• Chub Rub & Boob Sweat: The zero-BS truth about dealing with friction when the weather gets sticky.
• Sore, Dry Eyes & Mascara-Free Hacks: My personal tips for handling scratchy, sensitive eyes in the sun without looking bare.
• The Ultimate Anti-Frizz Air-Dry Method: Exactly how I nail a sleek, crunch-free look in the relentless Florida humidity.

If you loved this episode, please subscribe to The Beauty Ed® Substack. It is entirely free to join, and your support keeps this independent content going! Also follow and support me on:

• Instagram
• You Tube

And don't forget to:

• Email me with any of your questions: donna@thebeautyed.com
• Listen & Review: If you enjoyed the chat, please leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify - it helps more women like us find the show!

Next week, I am celebrating a massive milestone - it’s my 50th birthday! My best friend is flying in from London, and I'll be back to talk all about entering this incredible new decade. See you then!

I often get DM's from followers that go something a bit like this: "You've been smashing it lately." Or "We love what you're doing." Or, "What an inspiration - keep doing what you're doing."

And while messages like these keep me going, behind-the-scenes, I’ve been facing a massive internal struggle, and in this incredibly raw and honest episode, I’m opening up about why this has financially been my worst business year to date, and why I am officially refusing to wait around for the beauty industry to see my worth.

• The Outside vs. Inside Reality: Reflecting on a year of major professional highs (writing for Allure, taking part in a Channel 4 TV show, and being invited to speak on top podcasts) while quietly navigating an internal business struggle.
• Why the Beauty Industry is Broken for Midlife Creators: The reality of how AI is shifting brand spending and why the industry’s obsession with younger demographics leaves experienced experts feeling undervalued.
• Stepping Into My 3.0: Why I’m diversifying my career and helping my husband grow his Florida real estate business.
• The "Fuck It, I'm 50" Energy: How I'm taking control and the power and beauty of standing in your truth as you age.

• Subscribe to the Newsletter: Get unfiltered product reviews and midlife beauty secrets at thebeautyed.com.
• Follow the Journey on YouTube: Watch my weekly Florida vlogs at The BeautyEd Vlog on YouTube.
• Instagram: @thebeautyed

After an incredible brand trip to the gorgeous Inns Of Aurora in upstate New York with No7, I’m back - despite a chaotic, storm-delayed layover at Detroit airport last night! So in this week’s chat, I’m taking you inside the stunning Aurora Inns, giving you an insider peek into the two new No7 skincare lines, and opening up my travel makeup bag. Plus, I’m chatting about those viral headlines surrounding CeraVe too.

Head over to my website to get the full list of every product and range mentioned in today's episode:

CLICK HERE (don't forget to subscribe ❤️)

And also as promised:

Click here to read my full Victoria Beckham Foundation Drops review

And...

Read my report into the scary CeraVe headlines.

You can also:

Watch the Trip Vlog: Catch my weekly life-in-Florida vlogs including this No7 trip one, the England vs. New Zealand football match at Tampa stadium, and my behind-the-scenes beauty routines on YouTube: @thebeautyed Vlog on YouTube

And don't forget to follow me on Instagram: @thebeautyed

See you next week 🐞

This week I’m catching up with my friend, the brilliant TV makeup artist Donna May, who has just finished working at the world renowned Chelsea Flower Show in London - she is basically in charge of doing the hair and makeup for all of the presenters! And although it sounds glamorous (you’ll hear about her chats (and hugs!) with Sir David Beckham and King Charles no less!!!) - the days are long, hot and sweaty!

We mentioned a lot of specific products in this episode - including Donna’s holy-grail Amazon hair cream that cures midlife frizz; the exact over makeup SPF spray she uses, and her favourite instant blur and tanning cream for pasty legs.

I have linked all of the products over on thebeautyed.com so click the link below to grab the full shopping list and read the deep-dive guide on how to use them:

👉 Click here to get the full Backstage Product Guide (and don't forget to subscribe)

Other Things We Chat About in This Episode:

• Broken dishwashers, mercury retrogrades, and ‘what’s for dinner’ conversations.
• What David Beckham and King Charles are really like IRL
• How to stop makeup pilling under SPF and the ultimate trick for upper-lip sweat.
• Why waterproof mascaras are ruining your lashes, and the powder-puff trick to use instead.
• Menopause fatigue and ‘nanna naps.’
• Menopausal knuckle pain, hip scans, and supplements
• Why our boys are refusing to wash their hair.

If you loved this chat, don't forget to hit 'Subscribe' or 'Follow' on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, and please leave a 5-star review - it helps other midlife women find me!

• Follow Donna May on Instagram and join the Donna May London Community on Facebook for her weekly live catch-ups and Q&As.
• Follow me @thebeautyed and subscribe to the newsletter at thebeautyed.com.
• Follow the podcast @smilinggivesyouwrinkles on Instagram too for all our latest clips!

Am I a complete hypocrite if I champion pro-aging but still cover my greys? This week, I get honest about my own mental blocks with going grey and the irony of writing a feature for Woman & Home about embracing my age without ever touching Botox. Plus, I chat about the products I currently use to keep my skin in its best condition.

I hope you enjoy and see you next week!

• Website: thebeautyed.com
• Instagram: @thebeautyed
• Substack: My Skin Type Is Sober
• Mentorship Program: THE LAB

Don't forget to subscribe, rate, and leave a review if you enjoyed this episode! See you next week!

It feels like every beauty brand is yelling at us about peptides right now. They’re promising "Botox in a bottle," instant youth, and total skin transformation. And in my 25+ years as a beauty editor, I've seen many ingredient trends come and go - some are a waste of time, but some are actually worth jumping on - and peptides definitely fall into the latter category.

So to break past the glossy marketing campaigns and get the real, clinical truth about peptides, I sat down with my brilliant friend and top dermatologist, Dr. Justine Kluk to find out what they actually are and how they actually work.

Here is a list of the products mentioned in this episode:

• Medik8 Liquid Peptides My absolute go-to for high-tech skin smoothing and glow.
• SkinCeuticals P-TIOX The formula Dr. Kluk loves. I don't buy that anything is Botox in a Bottle but after trying it for a few weeks I'm impressed with the glowy finish it gives my skin.
• Beauty Pie Youthbomb™ 360° Radiance Concentrate This contains 18 skin-strengthening peptides to target dryness and firmness.
• No7 Future Renew Damage Reversal UV Defence Shield SPF 50 Love this for everyday protection and peptide repair! It's a great makeup primer too.
• Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair This has been part of my skincare routine for years and the one I always recommend to my friends.

I'm also going to add this list to my website thebeautyed.com - don't forget to subscribe if you visit!

And also, don't forget to follow me on Instagram and also Smiling Gives You Wrinkles®

After a little refection about me and my family's appearance in the new Channel 4 show Escape To Florida, I talk about the skincare products I am using at the moment.

After 28 years in the industry, I know how overwhelming skincare can be. So for this week, I’m stripping it all back and walking you through my current daily routine - the products I am actually using right now, ones I swear by, and the ones I buy on repeat.

I cover everything from my 5:30 AM gym-ready skincare to the hard-working evening serums that help keep my skin glowing. Plus, I share why you don’t always need to spend loads of money to see results.

The Products I Talk About Are

Morning Routine:

• Hydration: The Inkey List Ectoin Hydro Barrier Serum - Great for keeping aging skin plump.
• Moisturizer: The Inkey List Bioactive Ceramide Repairing and Plumping Moisturizer - Budget-friendly, ceramides for the win.
• Body Care: CeraVe Daily Moisturizing Lotion – My holy grail for face and body; affordable and derm-developed.
• Sun Protection & Prep: No7 Future Renew Defense Shield SPF 50 – Lightweight, no white cast, and sits beautifully under makeup.
• Foundation: Victoria Beckham Beauty Foundation Drops – My current obsession. Skincare-infused, natural finish, and perfect for that "your skin but better" look.
• Read my full review here: thebeautyed.com

Evening Routine:

• Cleanser: SkinCeuticals Gentle Cleanser Cream – A milky, creamy cleanser that gets the job done without the tightness.
• Treatment: Medik8 Crystal Retinal 10 – The gold standard for retinols.
• Repair: Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair – A classic for a reason. Soft, smooth, glowing skin by morning.

A quick reminder: Skincare is a marathon, not a sprint! Give your products at least a month to work their magic before switching things up.

Don’t forget to subscribe to thebeautyed.com for more deep dives into all of the products I’m testing!