The Emma Guns Show

I met Matthew Curtis (@matthewcurtishair) on a press trip last year and though we may have only known each other a short while, he's one of my favourite people in the industry. We bonded, in part, over hair loss. I have mild female pattern baldness and Matthew has had his own issues with hair loss, and the way he spoke to me about his experience, and how I could manage my own situation, was gentle, kind and I really felt like he was on my side and knew what I was going through. We've established he's a really nice guy, right? But he's also an impressive businessman. He's a hugely talented hair stylist who has been the ambassador for brands, been the lead stylist backstage at fashion shows in London, New York, Paris and Milan, worked with numerous celebrities and has many TV credits under his belt. It's an impressive CV and there's more, much more, that Matthew wants to achieve. He's just opened a concession salon in the very beautiful Rosewood Hotel in London, has a beautiful salon at Hoarcross Hall and his h

Should you be taking supplements? Are you stressed? Have you been stressed for a while? In this episode of The Beauty Podcast with Emma G I'm joined by Henrietta Norton (@henriettanorton) from Wild Nutrition (@wildnutrition) who answers these questions, and more... In addition I quiz her on adrenal fatigue and adrenal exhaustion. Have you, or do you, feel stressed all the time? If you're constantly running on adrenalin - think panic over whether you've answered all your emails, staring into the blue-light of your smart phone until all hours, worrying about getting every done - then you may actually be stressed from being stressed.  Henrietta lists the signs of stress and adrenal fatigue so listen on if you want to check off your stressors... We also talk about the Danish culture of hygge, how to lower your stress levels and how to make small incremental changes that can help you lead a healthier life. And if meditation is something that is on your list of things you're going to get around to - but it's been o

Tangle Teezer (@tangleteezer) is arguably one of the business world's most surprising, and inspiring, success stories in recent years, and I was very honoured to be able to sit down with the brand's CEO and Inventor, Shaun Pulfrey to be able to learn about this incredible story.  I personally can't remember a time before the Tangle Teezer existed: the hairbrush that fits perfectly, and ergonomically, in your hand and glides through hair painlessly detangling knots in its path. It's a huge hit with parents who no longer have to fight to get a comb through their children's hair at bath time and provides an instant 'refresh' to styled hair.  Perhaps what first brought Shaun and the Tangle Teezer to our attention was his appearance on BBC2's Dragon's Den in 2007, where Shaun offered the assembled Dragons, including Deborah Meaden, James Caan and Duncan Bannatyne, 15% equity in the company for an £80,000 investment. Shaun, and his plastic brush, were dismissed as 'hair-brained' but viewers were so impressed that t

Davis Factor (@davisfactor) and Lori Taylor-Davis (@lotayray44) are the creative forces behind Smashbox Cosmetics and they stopped by The Beauty Podcast's studio on a recent visit to London to talk all things Smashbox, inspiration, creation and a lot more besides... Davis is a world renowned photographer who has seen the world's greatest beauties through his lens. He is the great-grandson of the legendary Max Factor and the creator of the original Smashbox studio - the creative hive that's been the birthplace of some of the most iconic images of the last 25 years.  Lori, or LTD, is Smashbox's Global Pro Lead Artist - name a celebrity or a supermodel and chances are she's made them look crazily beautiful at some point. Furthermore, Lori has an incredible philosophy about the power of make-up and its ability to heal.  If you enjoyed the podcasts with Daniel Sandler and Jay Manuel, you're going to love this one. Smashbox started life in 1990 as a photographic studio in LA and quickly became the go-to studio for

Jay Manuel (@mrjaymanuel) joins me in this episode to talk about the launch of his make-up range Jay Manuel Beauty onto QVC in the UK this September. He wowed me with a never-seen-before-texture and also explained his vision for finding true beauty inside and out. In this conversation we also talk about the idea of crowd-sourcing on social media and the validation of 'likes' and 'follows' and his viewpoint is that we should strive to self-source. He also tells me about his journey of personal development, what years as a judge on a reality elimination show taught him about ambition and let's me in on one of his more personal projects the Discover You events. In this show Jay talks about the Eckhart Tolle book A New Earth: Create A Better Life and the impact it had on him, and we also discuss the real meaning of The Matrix. You can follow Jay Manuel Beauty on Twitter @jaymanuelbeauty and to keep up with Jay on instagram head to @mrjaymanuel where you can follow his travels, events and gorgeous pooches... Enjoy

Debbie Thomas (@DebbieThomasSkin) is known as the London Laser Queen. Why? As she tells me in this episode of the podcast, once she saw the positive effects IPL (Intense Pulse Light) could have on skin there was no turning back. In this episode of the podcast I headed to Debbie's London clinic and she shares unmissable advice on how to treat and manage your skin, but it also becomes clear that in Debbie's hands it's not just your skin, but your confidence, that she's careful to nourish. I suffered with terrible acne as a teenager and though the spots have cleared up, in the main, my confidence is still battle-scarred by the experience. I wish my teenage-self had been able to listen to someone like Debbie. Debbie doesn't deal with spots, but takes a look at everything to figure out what's really going on and why your skin behaving the way it is. In addition to her unique brand of facials and skincare Debbie also tells me how she went from Holistic Therapist to one of the most in-demand skin care experts today.

Ateh Jewel (@atehjewel) is my guest in this episode of The Beauty Podcast and she tells me about her fabulous website Jewel Tones Beauty while we do a little bit of over-heating in her car. In this conversation we talk about life, love, why taking the harder road is the most rewarding path, and a chat between Ateh and I just wouldn't be right without referencing the legendary RuPaul and RuPaul's Drag Race. One of our topics of conversation is the piece Ateh wrote on her website called Mummy, why is your tummy so big? and it prompts a discussion about body image and self worth. Ateh has been a beauty journalist for years, but aged just 24 decided to go it alone and make it as a freelancer. This is no mean feat and it's testament to Ateh that she has been one of the most prolific freelancers writing about beauty in glossy magazines, newspapers and online for over a decade. In addition to this, Ateh runs Couture Communications, a digital film production company, who work with brands including Chanel, Vogue, L'Or

Joining me in this episode are Adam Reed and Paul Percival of Percy & Reed and we talk about everything from their incredible careers, creating the Percy & Reed brand, working with celebrities, the kind of fame that comes from working with the A-list, getting recognised in the supermarket and much more besides. I learned such a lot from Paul and Adam and really appreciated their generosity in telling me about their journey to create such a stand-out brand. We also had a good old natter about the beauty industry, blogging, working with editors and how they come to create their products. Speaking on their products, I highly recommend you try them if you haven't already. My fine hair is nothing without their Bodifying Cream and you can view the whole range here --> Percy & Reed Products. I also dare you to listen to this episode of the show and not want to work with them. Enjoy! EG xx   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Ampika Pickston is probably best known as part of the cast of The Real Housewives of Cheshire on ITVBe, where she navigates the glitzy world of fast cars, designer handbags and footballers' wives...  When I found out she was launching her own range of haircare, Ampika Lox, I jumped at the chance to invite her on the show because, as a fan of Bravo TV's most successful franchise, I hadn't failed to spot Ampika's self-confidence and sense of self, so chatting beauty with one of my favourite housewives was a no-brainer. Truthfully, I had no idea what to expect from my meeting with Ampika but when she greeted me at the door of her London penthouse with a hug and offered me a glass of water in monogrammed stemware I knew we were in for a good chat. In this episode of The Beauty Podcast with Emma G Ampika tells me all about her haircare range, her passion for being a businesswoman and where she gets her entrepreneurial spirit. But rather surprisingly the first thing we talk about is meditation, which takes us on a

Daniel Sandler (@danielsandler) is the creator of the beauty icon Watercolour Blush and one of the most prominent names in the beauty industry. His career spans over 20 years and in this episode of the show we go right back to where it all began.  Daniel tells me about his freckly teen years in London and how he dove into make-up for its ability to transform. We talk about his career working on some of the most iconic faces in fashion, being in the mix during the 90s and the era of the supermodel and how he turned his passion for 'naturally glamorous' make-up into his hugely successful product line.  Daniel is incredibly wise and I could listen to him all day, not just because of his story-telling, honesty and experience, but because he has a voice as smooth as a cup of Cuban coffee.  If you enjoy the show please do head over to iTunes where you can leave me a 5-star rating and a review. Alternatively you can get in touch with the show at emmagunavardhana.com where you can email me and sign up for my regula

Anna-Marie Solowij and Millie Kendall MBE are to the beauty world what Meryl Streep is to film and BeautyMART, the website, store and concessions, combines their incredible knowledge.  They have so many credits to their name - Anna-Marie has over 25 years experience in beauty and is the former Beauty Director of British Vogue, while Millie has launched many household beauty brands and was one half of the iconic make-up range Ruby & Millie. BeautyMART is their edit of the best beauty buys around and to quote them it consists of 'all the best, none of the rest'.  In this episode I join them in their studio to talk about the current crop of beauty trends, who the real beauty influencers are, the impact of globalisation on beauty and how women are shopping their skincare and cosmetics, both online and in store. You can find BeautyMART on Facebook - Twitter - Instagram Enjoy! EG xx   Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Marc Elrick from Tan Luxe (@tan_luxe) is my guest in this episode of The Beauty Podcast and boy do we have a giggle. It's hard not to when you have someone like Marc in the room - he's positive, energetic and extremely creative, which makes him a joy to be around.  Marc is the CEO and Founder of Tan Luxe, which has become an instant hit for its easy-to-use, no fuss approach to achieving a healthy-looking, believable tan, so I wanted to sit him down to find out about his incredibly upbeat approach to life and how this former advertising executive is now the CEO of one of the beauty world's most exciting news brands. I met Marc last summer, just after the brand launched, and instantly fell-in-love with his energy and was also fascinated by the products and the story of Tan Luxe. In this show he tells us about how it all started, what we can expect in the future and I make him tell me how he stays so upbeat and positive.  In the show Marc mentions: The Secret: @thesecret The Sedona Method. And Tan Luxe is also a

Personal trainer Anna Reich (@APT_AnnaReich/@APTAnna) joins me in this episode to talk all things fitness. We can all buy gym memberships and healthy foods with the best of intentions, but there's a lot of information out there about 'health' and it's easy to feel a confused by all the noise. Anna comes from the school of strength - we're talking weights, heavy weights, to achieve a smoking hot physique, but also a high-performance, fat-burning machine of a body. More than that, she knows that a lot of the progress we make in the gym and with our diets starts with education and the right mindset.  Her advice is simple, 'If you're unhappy about your weight or the way you look, there's actually a lot you can do about it.' Anna's physique is testament to the incredible changes you can make to your body in the weights room and though you may be a fan of cardio classes, heed Anna's advice, 'Don't be a sheep in a leotard'.  Anna's website can be found here - Anna Reich PT and she is also on Facebook at A-PT. Enjoy

Alexia Hargrave (@alexiaandsuns) joins me in this episode to talk about the value of 'being' and her latest venture SPACE - a retreat designed to help you reconnect with 'the best version of you'.  Alexia's career is impressive with highlights including over a decade at Virgin working with Richard Branson as well as coordinating events with The Elders. She struck out on her own launching her business Alexia and Suns in 2009 and SPACE was born in 2015 after Alexia took her own 'time out' to figure out what to do next. Even an afternoon drinking green tea with Alexia made me want to go out and conquer the world, such is her energy and enthusiasm, and in this show we talk about how to make your dreams a reality, how to shut out negative noise and the value of being present.  Alexia mentions Coleen and Lucy Annabella available at Space - details can be found here --> Lucy Annabella. My friend's blog on Reiki, meditation and much much more can be found at Your Emmy-Lou. Show notes and links from this episode can b

Joining me in this episode are Bare Minerals International Make-Up Artist Sarah-Jane Froom (@SJ_BareUK) and International Education Director & Brand Ambassador Lee Etheridge (@Lee_BareUK)  Fans of the brand may know them from their unmissable QVC shows where they demo and showcase the wide range of skincare and colour cosmetics from the mineral-based beauty brand.  Their knowledge is endless so the chance to sit down with them to talk all things skin care and to get SJ's views on the current crop of make-up trends was such a treat.  Why should you listen to this episode?  Lee tells us how to shut out the noise of negativity, how her illustrious career in beauty brought her to her dream job at Bare Minerals and explains their latest launch, the Skinsorials Skincare line. SJ shares the story of how and where her career as a make-up started, her incredible experiences working at fashion week and the importance of having a dialogue with the Bare Minerals customer.  As a working duo who travel the world together t

If you're into skincare then there's a good chance that you're a fan of Alpha H/@alphaHQ - if you're new to Alpha H then this podcast with Michelle Doherty and Tom Ogden from the brand will explain exactly why it has a global audience that is evangelical about how good it makes their skin look and feel.  I sat down with Michelle and Tom on the eve of the brand's 21st birthday party and it was a great opportunity to reflect on where the brand started, how they constantly but not unnecessarily innovate, and what lies ahead for one of the beauty world's most exciting brands. Alpha H transformed Michelle's skin over 20 years ago and after years of suffering with cystic acne and feeling there wasn't a solution available she found it in Alpha H. It's now a solution she's made available to millions of women around the world. The chemistry between Tom and Michelle is incredible and they are a perfect tag-team - as they say in the chat 'they've never even had a cross word' and having spent time in their company in the

Michelle Heaton (@wonderwomanshel / www.michelleheatonfitness.com) is a pop princess, TV presenter, reality TV star and actress, and there's a chance you think you have the measure of her. I wouldn't be so sure... In this podcast Michelle and I talk about health, fitness, motivation and how to deal with anything and everything that life throws at you. You don't need to follow the news too closely to know that Michelle has had her fair share of ups and downs. While she may have included us all in the good times via the glossy pages of celebrity magazines, the not-so-good times have been front-page news of the tabloids. From a public divorce to 'that' upskirt shot, and most recently a health battle that rocked her world, the one thing that remains constant is Michelle's candour. Rather than dwell on the bad stuff Michelle and I talk about how to stay positive, why being organised always helps and how to set and follow your dreams. Enjoy! EG xx Permalink Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more informati

Lee Pycroft (@leepycroft) is a celebrity makeup artist, brand ambassador and business owner. She has been responsible for beautifying some of the world's most famous A-list talent for the red carpet, has made natural-born-supermodels look even more heavenly in front of the camera and is frequently quoted in the press for her incredible makeup skills and brand insight. Lee invited me round for a pot of Buddha Tears Tea and this podcast where we talk about working with celebrities, love, relationships, setting boundaries and how to stay grounded and find balance - and she shares her pursuit of personal betterment. Why should you listen to this podcast? If you've ever wanted to make changes, but haven't been sure how, Lee is the woman to listen to. She was perfectly placed, in the midst of Hollywood stars and personalities, to get drunk on the lifestyle that goes hand-in-hand with fame, but instead she gives back.  Books referenced in the show are: The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Mitch Albom. Co-Dependent N

If you want an honest answer about pretty much anything to do with beauty then speak to Nadine Baggott. She has an encyclopaedic beauty knowledge and I've never asked her a questions she hasn't known the answer to. You'll see what I mean when you listen to the show... We cover a lot of ground in this episode, but Nadine references a BRILLIANT article which you can read in full here --> Generation Y.  We talk about the cult of contouring, what beauty buys you should and shouldn't spend your money on and why being yourself is so crucial. The latter is while you'll never find her images filtered or tinkered with... Nadine shares with me what it was like being thrust into the spotlight via a hugely popular ad campaign ten years ago - it went viral before we knew what viral was, and what it's like to be in touch with her legion of fans via her YouTube channel The Beauty Know It All.  We also talk about what it's like interviewing celebrities and what we've learned from coming face-to-face with the A-list. Is it a

Joining me in this episode is A-list facialist Abigail James who fills me in on how what started as a passion has turned into a high-profile career in the beauty business. Abigail James is a trusted name in the beauty world and has created facial protocols that you may very well have been on the receiving end of, as well as consulting for brands and retreats.  As we find out in this podcast her thirst for knowledge of her trade is insatiable and she is a sponge for information on how to keep getting better at what she does - even though she is widely known as one of the best. And she also answers a listener's skincare query that we received via Twitter. Useful links to stay up-to-date with Abigail are: Twitter @abigail_james Instagram @abigailjames1  LIz Earle Boutique Chelsea - Abigail's Treatments Permalink Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.