Award-winning Beauty Editor, Donna Francis has spent the last 25 years helping women feel comfortable in their skin and with Smiling Gives You Wrinkles, Donna shares relatable and inspiring stories and expert advice to help women age with unapologetic joy and self-acceptance.
My mission has always been to bring you honest, expert advice to help you embrace aging with confidence. But after celebrating my 50th birthday last month, and taking a step back to spend time with family and friends, I realized it’s time to take the pressure off some of my work and content schedule to help me prioritize my time and mindset.
So in this short episode, I’m sharing an update on the future of Smiling Gives You Wrinkles®. It's not goodbye, but it is a pause on publishing weekly episodes so I can focus on bringing you the highest-quality, no-nonsense content when it matters most.
So please don't unfollow! Pop-up episodes will drop as topics and expert chats come up. In the meantime, you can find me on:
Substack: The Beauty Ed® (https://www.thebeautyed.com/) and My Skin Type Is Sober (https://myskintypeissober.substack.com/)
Instagram: @thebeautyed (https://www.instagram.com/thebeautyed/?hl=en)
And of course email: Send topic requests, guest suggestions and anything else to donna@thebeautyed.com
Thanks as always for listening 🐞
2 Jul 2026
The Big 5-0, Reflecting, and Why I’m Taking a Summer Pause 🪭
Happy birthday to me I'm officially 50! 🎈
Reaching this milestone on Monday has put me in a reflective frame of mind. Honestly? It feels amazing. While yes, it's just another day, there is something about turning 50 that makes you pause, look back at everything you’ve achieved, and re-evaluate what you want to conquer in this next chapter. I'm going into my 50s feeling stronger, more refocused, and more confident than ever before.
And in the spirit of taking stock and prioritizing head space, I’ve made a decision: I’m taking a little break from the podcast for the month of July.
As a "one-man band," I pour my absolute heart into producing high-quality content for you every single week. But to keep that standard high, manage The Beauty Ed®, plus a very busy household with the kids off school, and finish studying for my Florida real estate exam (yes, I’m getting ready to join forces with my husband at his real estate company!), I need a moment to breathe and plan for the future.
So Smiling Gives You Wrinkles® will be back and better than ever in August and in the meantime, I’m not completely disappearing! Here is where you can find me in July:
How to Stay Connected in July:
Subscribe to The Beauty Ed®: I will still be writing and publishing fresh articles over on TheBeautyEd.com (https://thebeautyed.com). Your support over there means the world to me!
Catch Up on YouTube: I’ll be uploading longer, incredibly helpful clips from our favourite past episodes. Head over to my channel, The Beauty Ed Vlogs (https://www.youtube.com/@thebeautyedvlog), and check out the dedicated Smiling Gives You Wrinkles® section.
Message me: I’ll still be sharing clips and updates on Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thebeautyed/?hl=en), and I want to hear from you. What do you want to hear more of when the podcast returns?
Thank you all so much for your endless support. Have a gorgeous, sunny July, and I will see you all in August!
With love, Donna x
25 Jun 2026
5 Ways to Survive the Summer Heat & Still Look Half Decent
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.
📝 Shop the Episode Routine
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® (https://open.substack.com/pub/thebeautyed/p/survive-summer-heat-beauty-tips?r=1lrn14&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true)
Key Takeaways & Products Mentioned:
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.
Connect With Me:
If you loved this episode, please subscribe to The Beauty Ed® Substack (https://open.substack.com/pub/thebeautyed/p/survive-summer-heat-beauty-tips?r=1lrn14&utm_campaign=post&utm_medium=web&showWelcomeOnShare=true). It is entirely free to join, and your support keeps this independent content going! Also follow and support me on:
Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/thebeautyed/?hl=en)
You Tube (https://www.youtube.com/@thebeautyedvlog)
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!
Who has been a guest on Smiling Gives You Wrinkles
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Sonia Ramos
Karen Newby
Sarah Bradden
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
16,839
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
15 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 61 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
43
Social presence
97
YouTube
72
Engagement
77
Contact Smiling Gives You Wrinkles
Guest appearances
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