Nicky Hambleton-Jones sat down with our Director of Health & Beauty for a chat about all things Menopause, Mushrooms and Make-Overs! Nicky has been in the fashion industry for 24 years and is a regular guest on ITV’s This Morning as well as having recently taken on fashion director role of Platinum magazine and written an exciting new book, Bolder Not Older.
Opening Reflections
Menopause is such a personal journey—what inspired you to share yours now, and in this way?
I went through perimenopause before it became headline news, and it was a very isolating place. I didn’t know what was wrong with me, I felt anxiety having never felt anxious before and suffered horrible lows that floored me at times. Eventually I found relief with HRT but that isn’t a perfect science and I’ve been relentlessly researching supplements and other wellness options to support the ongoing hormonal fluctuations.
As a stylist I work with a lot of women who are struggling through the menopause and see how much it impacts body confidence and self-esteem. Through my styling and by sharing my own journey in the media I hope I can inspire others to not settle for looking and feeling average and to live their best mid-life.
You’ve spent years helping women feel confident through ageing—how has your own experience shaped your perspective on what women really need during this stage?
When I started presenting 10 Years Younger, I was 31 and barely knew what a wrinkle was, now that I’m in my mid 50s I totally relate to what other women are going through and the challenges they face. So, when someone says to me now – oh you probably wouldn’t understand – I now feel very confident in saying ‘oh yes I do’. What women really need during the ups and downs of mid-life is a confidence boost. A lot of women, including myself are juggling hormones, demanding work schedules as well as family life and ageing parents which can take its toll. Its very easy to lose oneself in the process and stop prioritising how you feel. By focusing on yourself, the way you look, and the way you feel, will boost your confidence and self-esteem, and make you realise that you’ve still got so much to offer, and that the menopause isn’t an end but a new beginning.
Health & Wellness Routine
What does your current wellness routine look like—are there any rituals, supplements, or ingredients you swear by?
Exercise is huge for me; I do a lot of weight training for muscle building which is essential in the mid-life and rowing for cardiovascular support as well as calm anxiety levels. I also like to get out into countryside for a long walk as often as I can. Being by the sea is a wonderful tonic for me. In terms of supplements, I take Vitamin D, having suffered from low vit D levels which resulted in horrible itchy skin, vitamin C for immunity, magnesium for sleep, Omega 3s for eye health (I’ve suffered badly with dry eyes) and Lions Mane for focus and mood.
Functional mushrooms are gaining momentum in women’s health—how did you first come across them, and what made you curious to try them?
Earlier in the year I felt very low and demotivated. I tried increasing my HRT to see if that helped but it didn’t, so I started researching to see if there were any holistic options. I came across Lions Mane which drew me in not only from a mood perspective but also from the POV of brain health. My mother has advanced dementia, so I worry about getting that too. Anything I can do to support brain health is top of my priority list. I started taking Lions Mane and my mood and motivation improved significantly so I have been taking it ever since.
Are there any Love Mushrooms products that have become part of your daily routine?
I started off with the ‘Lions Mane and Ashwagandha’ supplement for its mind and mood benefits which I absolutely loved, I instantly felt calmer and more focused after taking it. But have recently swapped this for the new Empower Menopause Capsules as they contain the Lions Mane and Ashwagandha and other mushrooms and nutrients, so it feels like I’ve got all bases covered with this supplement.
You’ve sampled the Empower range—what stood out to you about the formulations or the way they’re designed for real-life needs?
I think the Empower range of supplements are unique and really considered in terms of the ingredients in each of the formulations. I also love the fact they include Lions Mane as well as Reishi and Cordyceps mushrooms. So, you get the calming benefits of Reishi and the performance benefits of Cordyceps plus the mood and mind boosting benefits of Lions Mane. It’s a powerhouse in a capsule, packed with nutrients that are all designed to work in harmony together and enable women to have a positive menopause experience. It’s been a game changer for me and has enabled me to reduce the number of supplements I take too.
Fashion, Confidence & Identity
You’ve helped countless women rediscover their style—how do you see fashion playing a role in how women navigate menopause and ageing?
Fashion is our secret weapon to feeling confident and boosting our self esteem as we get older. No matter what the hormone roller coaster throws at you, you can ride out any hiccups in a fabulous outfit. It’s such a quick easy fix; no diet or intensive exercise programme required, you just need to be open and willing to try new things. It sounds simplistic, but I’ve been transforming women for nearly 24 years, and I’ve proved it time and time again. It’s impossible to feel average in a fabulous outfit, whatever you age, size or shape.
Do you find that style can be a form of self-care or empowerment during hormonal transitions?
Style is so often neglected as we get older. Largely due to time being a limiting factor (the relentless juggle of work and family life), worrying what others will think if you invest time and money on yourself and the choices you make, plus not knowing where to start if your body shape has changed. Investing in one’s style (by investing I don’t necessarily mean money, but time to try new combinations out of the clothes you already have), means valuing yourself. Acknowledging that you deserve to look and feel good. The outfit is simply the cherry on the cake, it’s the intention that sets the catalyst for change. I always say, its impossible to have a bad day in a bright outfit and its true. No matter what challenges you are facing, hormonal or otherwise, you will feel more equipped to deal with them if you take an extra 15 minutes in the morning to put together a great outfit.Functional mushrooms are having a real moment in wellness—what do you think is the equivalent ‘hot topic’ in fashion this winter?
This season its all about brown and burgundy, everywhere you go, the shops are filled with clothes in those colours. I’m not a huge fan of brown personally but it does make a refreshing change from black, however burgundy is a fabulous colour to invest in this season as it works well with neutrals and brights such as reds and pinks.
Platform & Advocacy
Your book and magazine have helped so many women feel seen—how do you see your platform evolving to support women through menopause and beyond?
My biggest passion is transforming women to show them their best-selves. Nothing makes me happier than a showstopping before and after. My mission is to transform as many women as I can, slowly transforming the nation, one lady at a time. Transformation doesn’t only boost the person getting a makeover, it’s a feel good for me and my team and inspiring for women watching my videos or TV shows. My motto is ‘if she can so can you’. I want to help women believe that however bad they feel its not the end, there is always hope. You can get your confidence back; you simply need the desire and someone like me to show you how.
What conversations do you think we still need to have more openly when it comes to women’s health, ageing, and identity?
I think there is so much momentum around the menopause and the reinvention this part of life is bringing to so many women now which is fabulous. But there’s still a lot of work to be done around menopause symptoms and how early they can start. Lots of women I work with are struggling with various issues but don’t link them to hormones as they’re not the headline symptoms you expect when you go through menopause. For example, I had a frozen shoulder a year ago. No doctor or physio could tell me what was wrong, I assumed I’d injured it in the gym but had no recollection of anything happening. After a long year of rehab and not knowing how I’d got to this place someone said ‘oh yes that’s a menopause thing which affects 75% of women going through the menopause and usually resolves itself within 9 months?! The more we talk and share our health niggles the less other women will suffer in confusion and isolation. Menopause is an umbrella term for so many health challenges, most of which never get aired as they’re not perceived to be headline enough, but the impact on a women’s life can be huge.
Closing Thoughts
Your book and magazine have helped so many women feel seen—how do you see your platform evolving to support women through menopause and beyond?
My biggest passion is transforming women to show them their best-selves. Nothing makes me happier than a showstopping before and after. My mission is to transform as many women as I can, slowly transforming the nation, one lady at a time. Transformation doesn’t only boost the person getting a makeover, it’s a feel good for me and my team and inspiring for women watching my videos or TV shows. My motto is ‘if she can so can you’. I want to help women believe that however bad they feel its not the end, there is always hope. You can get your confidence back; you simply need the desire and someone like me to show you how.
What conversations do you think we still need to have more openly when it comes to women’s health, ageing, and identity?
I think there is so much momentum around the menopause and the reinvention this part of life is bringing to so many women now which is fabulous. But there’s still a lot of work to be done around menopause symptoms and how early they can start. Lots of women I work with are struggling with various issues but don’t link them to hormones as they’re not the headline symptoms you expect when you go through menopause. For example, I had a frozen shoulder a year ago. No doctor or physio could tell me what was wrong, I assumed I’d injured it in the gym but had no recollection of anything happening. After a long year of rehab and not knowing how I’d got to this place someone said ‘oh yes that’s a menopause thing which affects 75% of women going through the menopause and usually resolves itself within 9 months?! The more we talk and share our health niggles the less other women will suffer in confusion and isolation. Menopause is an umbrella term for so many health challenges, most of which never get aired as they’re not perceived to be headline enough, but the impact on a women’s life can be huge.
