‘Beauty is about being unapologetically yourself’

KATY COTTAM, 35, FOUNDER AND CEO OF MICROBIOME-BALANCING BODYCARE LUNA DAILY

Beauty used to mean makeup, skincare and haircare to me. But since starting Luna Daily, I’ve realised it’s so much bigger than that. It’s about full-body health – inside and out – and embracing parts of ourselves we’ve been taught to hide. Real beauty is seeing a woman completely comfortable in her own skin, unapologetically herself.

I’ll never forget being an embarrassed 19-year-old buying feminine wash for thrush, thinking I was the only one. Now when women tell me “I thought it was just me” or admit they’ve never said the word “vulva” out loud before, it reminds me how powerful talking openly can be. When I posted a blog explaining the difference between a vagina and vulva, it got more than 700,000 views and it just proves how much work we still have to do in normalising these conversations. My life mantra is “do it scared”. You’ll never feel 100% ready for anything, so take the step anyway. This is how I felt calling out the outdated “feminine hygiene” category and launching menopause products when everyone else was ignoring it – half the population is going through this and yet most brands act as if women disappear after 45.

Right now at nine months pregnant, I’m in awe of what women’s bodies can do, but also it has opened my eyes to just how much women go through that is not given enough credit. But I no longer feel like 19-year-old embarrassed Katy; I feel free of the shackles and shame that have been created around certain women’s body parts; I’m living proof that if you talk about it, it stops being taboo. Now beauty looks like riding my bike every day and worrying less. Looking back, those worries that felt so huge to me earlier in life just weren’t as big as I thought they were. If we can replace shame with knowledge early on, imagine the freedom and happiness women will grow up with – to make choices that work for their bodies, no embarrassment attached.

‘It's a privilege to reach this life chapter’

RUBY HAMMER MBE, 63, MAKEUP ARTIST

My menopause started around the time I lost my mother, so it was a huge shift all at once. My skin and hair changed, my energy slipped and my confidence was tested. I had to navigate it by embracing change and by reminding myself that it's a privilege to reach this chapter of life.

Routine and balance were everything. I started exercising regularly to keep me strong and manage my meno-belly. I take supplements that support all areas of my health, whether it's collagen for skin and hair, Symprove gut drinks for digestion, or vitamin C for my immune system. And I take moments to reduce stress: meditation or hugs with my grandson. These practices carry me as much as any product can.

Ageing is not the enemy; it brings with it lived experience. I champion looking your best by taking care of yourself so you feel your best. Beauty should be a companion at every stage of life, not something to "fix" with a lotion or potion.

Makeup should enhance what's already there. For midlife skin, that means lighter textures and strategic use of colour. I prefer serum-infused bases, a touch of colour corrector where it's needed, and creamy blush to bring life back into the face. It's about light, lift and luminosity, never masking.

I created Ruby Hammer Beauty because I wanted solutions that are simple, effective and elegant. I create products that respect the skin and work beautifully, whether you're 25 or 65. It was born out of my artistry, but also my own evolution as a woman.

Beauty, for me, has become about presence over performance. Learn what you need now and surround yourself with people and products that lift you. You are stepping into the richest, most powerful chapter of your life.