Smiling Gives You Wrinkles

In this chat, Donna sits down with consultant dermatologist, Dr. Justine Kluk to unpack the truth behind the beauty industry's most Instagrammable gadget: LED masks.

They dig into what LED light therapy actually does, whether at-home devices can compete with in-clinic treatments, and why consistency matters more than you think. Justine also explains the difference between red and blue light, the real evidence behind the claims, and whether an LED mask is a must-have in your skin ageing routine.

This episode is great for anyone who is LED-curious, skincare-obsessed, or simply trying to make smart...

As we head into Black Friday and Christmas, it feels like everyone online is telling you what to buy - but not everything is worth your money, so in this episode Donna shares her honest, tried-and-tested skincare recommendations that she is taking with her into 2026.

After 26 years in the beauty industry, Donna’s tried it all - from gold-flecked serums to budget moisturisers - and knows exactly which products deliver. This episode is your trusted skincare shopping guide, featuring the products she actually uses and believes are worth investing in. No ads, no gimmicks. 

Products men...

Think your hair’s changing in your 40s or 50s? You’re not imagining it.

In this episode, Donna sits down with trichologist Kate Holden for what feels like a free consultation on midlife hair health - from thinning and shedding to oily scalps, dry ends and hormonal shifts. Kate explains exactly what’s happening to your hair during perimenopause and menopause, why estrogen and testosterone play such a big role, and what actually works to get stronger, healthier hair again.

They talk HRT, supplements, scalp serums, bond builders, nutrition and stress, plus how to tell w...

What happens when you go sober at midlife - and over 1 million people watch? In this week's chat, Donna sits down with Alicia from @champagnetochange to talk about her viral Day 1 reel that resonated with women around the world.

From letting go of champagne to finding clarity, glowing skin, and self-respect, this is an open and honest conversation about the freedom that comes with sobriety, the connection, and the courage to change.

Follow Alicia’s journey on her Instagram and Tik Tok.  

You can also follow Donna on Instagram and Tik Tok and subs...

Are you still using the same makeup products you swore by in your 30s? In this episode, Donna sits down with her friend and celebrity makeup artist Donna May to reveal the truth about midlife makeup - and the products that could actually be ageing your skin.

Donna May, founder of accessories and makeup brand Donna May London, shares her expert tips on how to update your makeup routine for mature skin, what to ditch after 45, and how to get that natural, glowing complexion without piling on the products.

So whether you’re navigating menopausal sk...

In this week's chat, Donna is joined by radio and TV broadcaster and entrepreneur Sarah Jane Crawford, who is a mum of two and founder of the non-toxic haircare brand Clean Curls.

Sarah-Jane opens up to Donna about what it feels like to navigate perimenopause in your early forties while still parenting young children all while growing a business. She also shares the routines that keep her steady - early mornings, movement, resistance training, vitamin D - and the mindset shifts that turned her vulnerabilities into strength.

So if you’re juggling little ones, big dr...

In this warm and funny chat, celebrity make-up artist and founder of Donna May London, Donna May, joins Donna to talk about her second attempt at growing out her natural grey hair. From why she gave up the first time to what’s motivating her now, they talk honestly about the emotional side of letting go of hair dye.

Donna shares her experience of working with a grey-blending specialist, the unexpected challenges of the process, and why it’s not just about hair - it’s about embracing who you really are. They also chat about how your m...

In this episode Donna shares the most important lesson she’s learned after six years writing about and interviewing menopause experts: that you don’t need to fix yourself to thrive in midlife.

Instead, Donna explores how embracing your authentic self, owning your quirks, and using the tools you already have can transform perimenopause and beyond into a time of confidence, joy, and growth.

What you’ll discover in this episode:

* Why vulnerability is a superpower in midlife

* How to shift your mindset from fixing to thriving

* The beauty confid...

In this episode Donna opens up about her journey with hair thinning during perimenopause and shares the emotional toll of hair loss, how lifestyle factors like alcohol affected her hair, and the steps she took to restore its health - from upgrading her haircare routine to focusing on nutrition and holistic wellness.

Donna emphasizes that hair thinning is a normal part of aging and offers practical tips and product recommendations to help you strengthen, grow, and care for hair at any age.

Products mentioned:

Why does all the weight in midlife go straight to your belly? And what actually works to shift it? In this week's chat, Donna is joined by menopause fitness coach Kate Rowe Ham, who shares her own story of transformation and the practical steps every woman can take to feel stronger through perimenopause and beyond.

So whether you’re struggling with the stubborn extra 10lbs, wondering if it’s too late to start lifting, or simply looking for a more positive approach to your health and fitness, this episode is for you! 

Expect to learn:

...

What beauty products should you buy when you’re in the US that you can’t get in the UK? After four years of living in America, Donna breaks down the best places to shop for beauty across the pond - CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Sephora, and Ulta. From drugstore staples and prestige makeup to cult sunscreens, quirky collabs, and some random-but-essential American buys, Donna gives you the insider scoop on what’s worth picking up.

✨ What you’ll hear in this episode:

* The difference between shopping at CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, Sephora, and Ulta

* Mus...

In this week’s episode, to celebrate their 23rd wedding anniversary, Donna is joined by her husband, Dan, who she first dated when she was 16! Donna wanted to find out Dan’s perspective on what he thinks makes a partnership work during midlife.

From finances and family feuds to hormones and sobriety, they reflect on the biggest lessons they’ve learned, plus the advice they’d give anyone navigating love and partnership in midlife.

You’ll hear:

✨ Why communication (and sometimes biting your lip!) is key to surviving midlife stress

✨ Dan’s very honest ta...

For years, Creatine has been marketed to male athletes and bodybuilders, but new research suggests it could be a powerful supplement for women in midlife.

In this episode, nutritionist Karen Newby joins Donna to unpack everything you need to know about creatine - from how it supports muscle strength and energy, to its emerging role in cognitive health, brain fog, and mood during perimenopause and menopause.

They discuss:

* What creatine is and why it could work for us in midlife

* What the science says about creatine for energy and brain health<...

At 51, Mia Maugé decided to do something radical: she stopped dyeing her hair.

What started as a personal act of defiance against feeling irrelevant quickly became a powerful statement. Long before grey hair was trending, Mia embraced her gorgeous silver hair and her life changed. She became a model in her 50s, a voice for women tired of being ignored by beauty and fashion, and a role model for anyone who’s ever felt invisible.

In this inspiring conversation, Mia and Donna talk about:

✨ The reality of internal ageism and how self-limiting beliefs can k...

In this episode, Donna shares the one thing that completely transformed her skin over the past year.

Tune in to hear how she tracked the changes, the small skincare tweaks that boosted the glow, and how you can try it too.

To see the differences that sobriety has had on Donna's skin, subscribe to her new substack, My Skin Type Is Sober which is a judgement-free and positive place for women who may be rethinking their relationship with alcohol.

And don't forget to check out Donna's website, follow her on Instagram and Tik...

In this episode, nutritionist Amanda Ryder, the author of Feel Good For Menopause and host of the How To Feel Like A Midlife Goddess podcast, shares her thoughts on the impact that drinking collagen has on midlife skin. 

With celebrity-backed brands flooding the shelves, collagen can feel like just another overhyped trend. Donna admits she’s been skeptical and is constantly asked, does drinking collagen really do anything for your skin, or is it just clever marketing?

This episode is not sponsored or in collaboration with any collagen brand. That means you’re getting real, unbia...

This week, Donna is joined by her friend Bridgette Mansfield who has been a hypnotherapist for over 17 years. 

Donna can personally vouch for the benefits of hypnotherapy as Bridgette has helped her overcome her own menopausal anxiety, hot sweats and fear of heights and in this chat you will find out how hypnotherapy can help you break free from anxiety and addictions too. 

They talk about how you’re probably already experiencing hypnosis during everyday tasks like driving or even working out and how your subconscious mind can become your greatest ally. 

Bridgette also...

Dr. Justine Kluk is London’s leading skincare expert and in this episode, she chats with Donna about retinol - the skincare ingredient that can be a game-changer for midlife skin - but only if you use it right.

This episode will unpack everything you need to know about retinol and how to make it work *for* you, not against you.

Expect lots of chat about:

* What retinol actually *does* for skin over 40

* How to introduce it into your skincare routine without the dreaded irritation

* The key difference between pr...

This time last year, Donna decided she'd had enough of hangovers, the 2am post-wine anxiety and the shame spiral that came with trying to keep up with her 'grey area' drinking. So she stopped.

In this episode, Donna shares the story behind why she quit and what helped her get through the hardest days of her sobriety.

Donna really wants this chat to be helpful, not preachy. It's not about insisting that you quit, it's about helping you understand what it's like to be sober at midlife, especially in that first year.

She...

Dr. Louise Newson aka @menopause_doctor is a  leading voice in women’s hormone health, and in this episode, she chats with Donna about a topic that’s often overlooked: testosterone therapy.

Many women think that taking testosterone is just for libido - but it’s a hormone that impacts so much more - energy, mood, motivation, muscle strength…and it’s an important one for every woman, at every stage of life.

In this chat, expect to learn: 

* What testosterone is and the crucial role it plays in women’s health

* How to kno...

To celebrate her 49th birthday, Donna shares her real-life, no-fuss, joy-sparking skincare routine and chats about the products she actually buys, the beauty rule she happily breaks, and why looking her age is something she celebrates, not fights.

If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by 10-step routines or pressured to erase your wrinkles, consider this your permission slip to do beauty your way. 

Products mentioned include:

Cerave Hyaluronic Acid Serum

Cerave Vitamin C Serum

Medik8 Liquid Peptides Advanced Serum 

Cerave Daily Moisturizing Lotion 

Beauty Pie Trace...

In this chat, Donna speaks to Tik Tok star Sonia Ramos, who was only 36 when she first started experiencing perimenopause symptoms. Sonia was a mum of 4, working a 9 to 5 job in a small American town, feeling exhausted, invisible and completely alone. But when she started sharing her story on Tik Tok - everything changed - not just for Sonia, but for the millions of women watching.

Now living in LA, with almost a million followers and starring in some of America's biggest beauty campaigns, Sonia is proof that midlife can be a new beginning, not an end...

This week Donna chats with Karen Newby, nutritionist and author of The Natural Menopause Method and The Natural Menopause Method Cookbook. 

Since giving up alcohol last year, Donna has noticed how much her diet affects her health and mood. And as midlife is a good time to evaluate your eating habits, Donna wanted to find out what a typical day of food should look like, so we can all get the basics right. 

Karen shares useful tips on how to measure protein portions - without having to count the grams or get the weighing scales ou...

If you're looking for a  glow up that doesn’t involve expensive products or time-consuming regimes, then this chat with facialist Sarah Bradden is a must listen. 

VOGUE calls her a “modern day healer” and your “skin’s best friend”, so Donna felt very lucky to have Sarah take time out of her busy schedule to share all of her amazing skincare tips with us. 

Donna actually recorded this chat a year ago, and she has been practicing Sarah’s methods ever since. Find out how easy they are to do - and most of them don’t involv...

There's been quite a long pause since the last episode, and Donna explains the reasons why SGYW is back.

Don't forget to check out Donna's website and follow her on Instagram and Tik Tok. You can also join the Smiling Gives You Wrinkles Chat Facebook Group for more chat and behind-the-scenes content.

Smiling Gives You Wrinkles is produced by Will Dell

Starting Thursday 5th June, you'll find award-winning Beauty Editor Donna Francis having honest, open and relatable conversations about life, beauty and aging. Like having a coffee with a friend, this is podcast for women like you and me, who want to chat about things that will make them smile, feel better and also help them learn a few things too. It's time to stop being so hard on ourselves as we age, and remember that we are never too old and it's never too late.

This is our place to shine, feel seen and feel happier :-) <...

When was the last time that you bought a poetry book? If it’s in the last few years, then it was almost certainly written by Donna Ashworth, the twice Sunday times best seller poet. 

Donna started writing poetry on social media in 2018 when she was struggling in her personal life. And when Covid hit, Donna shared a poem called History on her social media and her following grew into the hundreds of thousands. 

Seven books and over a million followers later, Donna has rewritten the history of poetry. In this chat, Donna’s tells Donna...

Fancy learning a new tool to help you manage stress and feel more confident? 

You might not have heard of tapping before and you might think it sounds a bit out there, but in this chat you’ll hear Poppy explain to Donna how you can use this ‘super tool’ every day to really help change your life. 

Vogue calls Poppy “the go-to for public figures” and you’ll hear how she has helped some of the world’s most successful women quiet the negative chatter in their head and visualize their full potential. 

Poppy has Donna...

Do you feel stuck in life and your career? Do you feel the best days of your life are behind you? Do you want to feel more ‘seen’? 

Please listen to this chat with the wonderful Suzi, also known as @alternativeageing on Instagram. Suzi is almost 75 and has over 100k followers on social media thanks to her infectious positivity and often humorous take on aging. 

In this chat with Donna, Suzi chats about how she transformed her life after retirement and discusses how important clothes and makeup are so important for having a positive mindset during...

Crystal is the widow of Hugh Hefner, the creator of Playboy magazine. They got married when Crystal was 26 years old, and he was 86, that’s 60 years older than she was. They were married until his death, in 2017, and since then, Crystal has been living a new life outside of the Playboy mansion. 

At 37, Crystal is the youngest guest on Smiling Gives You Wrinkles so far. And Donna wanted to chat with her because she has such a unique and interesting perspective on aging as Crystal has lived such a big part of her life in a world tha...

Want to know which skincare products that you really need? Do you feel that you need a makeup refresh? Would you like to hear how one of the world’s most successful makeup artists approaches aging?

Ruby Hammer has worked as a makeup artist on some of the world’s most famous faces including Kate Moss, Cindy Crawford, Naomi Campbell, Sharon Stone, Tyra Banks and Meghan Markle. Ruby was also awarded an MBE, which are given out by the British monarchy to people who’ve made an amazing impact in their line of work. In this chat with D...

Do you want to channel more positivity in your life, but don’t know where to start?

Are old insecurities holding you back? 

Patsy is one of the most recognisable TV stars in Britain, and while that is a brilliant accomplishment for an actor, it comes with its challenges. In this chat, Patsy reveals how positive thinking and talking to yourself better can really help to make some big changes in your life. She also shares some insecurities with Donna too. Patsy doesn’t do many podcasts, so Donna was delighted and humbled that she was s...

Is the world of dating a bit daunting now that you’re older? Are you dating after divorce and don’t know where to start? And what about your future? What’s the best thing to ensure your happiness? 

In this chat with Donna, Candace chats about her one woman show and shares her opinions about the benefits of dating older and younger men. She tells Donna why she thinks older women are at an advantage when playing the dating game, plus they chat about the importance of your career and making money as you age.

If yo...

Do you feel that your age has become an issue in your workplace? Are you thinking of having Botox but feeling a bit nervous to start? Have you suddenly acquired a love of birdwatching?  

In this chat with Donna, Lisa talks all about her love of acting and shares her thoughts on aging in the world of drama. They also chat about beauty and skincare and Lisa opens up about her thoughts on more invasive treatments like Botox. Plus, they wonder why birdwatching has suddenly become a part of their daily routine! 

Watch Lisa’s new s...

Award-winning Beauty Editor, Donna Francis has spent the last 25 years helping women feel comfortable in their skin and now in her late 40s, she is passionate about inspiring women to feel positive about aging and everything that comes with it. In Smiling Gives You Wrinkles, Donna shares relatable and inspiring stories from some brilliant women about how to approach aging positively, authentically and unapologetically. Starting January 23rd, Donna is here with a new guest every Tuesday. 

Don’t forget to follow, rate and review to help other people find the podcast! 

And follow Donna on:

I...