Archive November 2, 2025

Hannah Martin, a famous makeup artist, has a fabulous beauty advent calendar that kicks off the holiday season in style. We caught up with her to discuss Christmas everything…

5 images to be viewed

Hannah Martin, a makeup artist, has been anticipating Christmas since June. She couldn’t be happier when we transformed South London into a winter wonderland. In between glitzy outfit changes, she says, “It’s my favorite time of year.”

The social media sensation’s 2025 beauty advent calendar benefits from it all. Hannah has once more collaborated with OK! after the sell-out success of the previous year’s offering. More products and a higher value are included in this year’s Beauty Box calendar.

Hannah proudly declares, “It was really important to me that this calendar was just as good as the one from last year, and it’s actually bigger and better.”

For just £60, you can get an eye cream for £145 and nine other free items as part of the Epic Christmas beauty gift set.

READ MORE: Paper’s “delectably packaged” 2025 advent calendar is a delight for stationery lovers.

5 images to be viewed

30 beauty products, 19 of which are full-size, total over £600, are housed in the 25 drawers. And anyone who follows Hannah on Instagram will recognize that these goods, including those from Laura Mercier, Weleda, and Bobbi Brown, are genuinely loved by professionals like Hannah. One lucky customer will also be able to obtain a one-on-one virtual masterclass with Hannah herself.

However, you must be quick. Within a few hours, thousands of people had already placed orders for the calendar’s first day of general release. So head over to the OK! If you want to avoid missing out, visit the Beauty Box website right away.

Hannah and I caught up with her to discuss all things beauty and, of course, Christmas.

Congratulations on a fantastic advent calendar! What was your experience like the year before?

People simply couldn’t believe the value I had, in my opinion, because I received so many positive messages about it. Giving people such a treat at Christmas is such a blessing.

What features of the interior can shoppers anticipate?

What kind of gifting do I want? There are products from incredibly well-known companies, and it takes a 360-degree view of beauty and wellness, which includes make-up, body, skin, and fragrance products.

What three items from the calendar represent your “desert island”?

That’s a challenging one! I’d recommend L’Oréal Paris Paradise Big Deal Mascara, which keeps your eyes fresh and bright, and Nuxe Huile Prodigieuse Or, which gives your skin a gorgeous glow, as well as Weleda Skin Food, which keeps your skin hydrated forever.

5 images to be viewed

What piece of advice would you give to someone who isn’t very confident in their makeup?

Watch the entire video content we created for the calendar; it will be very useful for learning about the products and how to use them. but also avoid overthinking things. Have a play, and if something doesn’t look right, you can fix it.

What mistakes do you see people make most frequently when it comes to makeup?

I frequently notice brows that are still being drawn on too heavily or too laminated. That appearance has, in my opinion, come to an end. I don’t love applying eyeliner to just the lower lashes, which is another matter. It can cause a smaller-looking eye.

You are the epitome of quick tutorials. What do you do in the mornings?

It’s just skincare when I have to run in the morning. I’ll do a full face if I’m going to a work meeting, but thankfully I’m doing that quickly.

Do your kids enjoy wearing makeup and beauty products?

My 12-year-old son Bear used to paint my bedside table with my lip glosses when he was younger. My seven-year-old daughter Bo is a total sucker for makeup. She thinks about special occasions. She wore a Charlotte Tilbury dark pink lipstick that she adored when we celebrated our wedding anniversary in early this year, and it looks fantastic on her. Bo is just playing, not that I’m against kids wearing makeup. She is aware that it is not for every day and that she does not need it.

What was your first cosmetics product?

One Christmas, I recalled having a bottle of Benefit High Beam highlighter strewn all over my stocking. But I enjoyed teaching myself. After attending theatre school and nursing, my solid plan C was to do make-up professionally.

5 images to be viewed

5 images to be viewed

What traditions do you have for Christmas?

Although my children’s birthdays both occur at that time of year, Christmas is hectic. I adore the smells, the decorations, and the food. As children get older and become more and more traditional, things just get more and more enjoyable. For instance, every Christmas we watch the pantomime, which they are already anticipating.

You’ve previously stated that you only buy beauty products that you’ve specifically requested as Christmas presents. Does this persist?

Oh no, I guess. My husband and I have exchanged some incredibly off-tangent gifts, and we’ve both thought, “Some sales assistant has had a field day with you!” However, I still enjoy receiving beauty presents. Limited edition Christmas merchandise is made by brands. At Christmas, I’ll always be scouring the beauty stores.

If you’re unsure of your recipient’s preferences for a Christmas gift, what is a failsafe option?

Giving people Chanel Rouge Noir nail polish and a Guerlain sparkly lipstick case, which are iconic beauty items that they might not otherwise purchase for themselves. A self-care gift is a regular and adorable idea. For instance, I’d never normally book myself a facial, but when someone gives me a gift card, I’m always delighted.

Hannah Martin’s Hannah Martin’s Beauty Advent Calendar in conjunction with OK! The contents of Beauty Box cost more than £600, and the price is $99. Shop at OK! While supplies last, get Beauty Box.

A book of poems for people under 4 feet 2″ by Spike Milligan, his father’s creation, would have made his father smile.

His son has been inspired by SPIKE Milligan’s lifelong commitment to creating his own crazy characters.

A book of poems for people under 4 feet 2″ by James Milligan would make his old man smile. The quirky cast of ‘ Hubert Humperbump’, ‘ Matilda the Python ‘ and ‘ Clever Emma ‘ would not be out of place in the irreverent work of the legendary comedian.

When Robert, his only child, was a toddler, was the subject of James’ creation, 49. Over the years, the collection has expanded, and it recently received publication.

Like his dad, the guiding principle has been to bring laughter and fun to his readers ‘ lives, with some ‘ hidden ‘ jokes for grown ups, too.

When someone smiled at me today, I started smiling too, his father’s famous work “Smiling Is Infectious,” which opens with the words “Smiling is infectious, you catch it like the flu, is where I come from.”

Spike’s mother Margaret Maughan, an artist still employed at the age of 82, and James were the children of their union. Their romance first emerged in 1967 when Spike was in his 50s, more than 20 years older than Margaret, and James was born in 1976.

He did not meet his dad until Spike was in his 70s, and James was just 15 years old. James’ education was provided by the Goons Show legend. They both enjoyed Prince Charles’ support and shared a passion for sports, laughter, and the absurdities of life.

James, a marketing expert of Hexham, Northumberland, said:” I got the inspiration from his smiling poem and his standing still race and the first Irish rocket to the moon.

View 6 Images

“I always find that it’s fantastic that he’s still making a lot of people laugh, that’s really nice. And that is what I set out to do with the poems, to make people smile”.

Photos of James’ father are displayed on a wall in his home office when he and his parents meet. One of him is depicted as Hitler in a Nazi uniform (James jokes that this is prohibited today).

But he also has a poignant photo from the man he called ‘ Spike’, it says simply ‘ Love Dad’. Because they had so little time to get to know each other, he says their relationship is more like a friendship than a typical father-son bond.

View 6 Images

He said: “He always said that he would be more famous after he died. He was causing laughter on his gravestone as well.

How many gravestones make you laugh when I said, “I told you I was ill,” became well-known? I think it was laughing in the face of death. When he requested that on his headstone, perhaps that is what he was thinking.

He discusses it in his war memoir, “They laughed in the face of death during World War II.” “There is a mischievous twinkle in the eye of James as he recalls his first meeting with his dad in the most unconventional of circumstances.

In 1991, the Sunday People discovered details of his mum’s affair with Spike and of his until then secret lovechild. It took several months to go to print but after the story broke, James met Spike at a hotel near the star’s home in Rye, Sussex.

View 6 Images

He soon learned the secret of his genius, his unwavering integrity, and his inability to “suffer fools gladly.”

He said, “Hi, nice to meet you, shall we go inside,” because it was very formal. ‘, “James said of that first, memorable encounter.

My parents spoke up, but we talked about rugby and school, but inside I was tongue-tied.

“It was all a very anxious affair.”

View 6 Images

Father and son’s initial meeting lasted for no more than 45 minutes. However, they had dinner the following day, which was even more intriguing. James told how a stranger walked into the restaurant, and he was staring directly at Spike.

He continued, “He would have dropped it if he had been carrying it.” He said, “Spike, I’m you, and his mouth was open like a goldfish.” I love you. Are you gay?, my dad asked in front of the entire restaurant. ” ” .

” And that was my introduction to him, his fame and how he handled it. To be honest, it was completely surreal. His fans, like so many of them, did not inspire me to have that god-like admiration for him. A friendship would be a good way to describe it.

“We never really had the opportunity to form a traditional father-son bond. People around him worried that I was pursuing him for money, but I didn’t realize it at the time. I just wanted to meet my dad”.

The comedian later asked him to refer to him as “father,” rather than Spike.

Now, James says, “It’s ironic because we didn’t have a good relationship because so many people think we were so similar when we were younger, how tall he was, how he sprinted, and how much he loved rugby, and how I played for Northumberland when I was younger.

” So there are a lot of similarities there, and I really look like him when he was in the army. You can’t get too het up about what people say, he continued, “I will let other people be the judge of that and the book, and his wry eye for life, seen in his poetry.

“I believe Spike was the same,” he said. I used to call him Spike and he asked me to call him dad one day. Therefore, it was dad present.

Spike Milligan was raised in the arts from a young age because he was born in India to entertainers.

Though he was an old man by the time they met, James said he was no longer haunted by the demons of depression, partly caused by his war experiences. He would confide in him about his relationship with Prince Charles and would tell tales of his time serving in the army.

After Spike Milligan passed away in 2002 at the age of 83, Charles wrote to James regularly and kept in touch.

He left four children from his first two marriages, as well as James, he had a second love child, Romany, by another lover.

James admits the early days of having a famous father revealed to the world were not easy.

He now claims that returning to Hexham after the Sunday People story was a nightmare. “I was a normal lad and suddenly I was posh and famous, and the local lads would give the posh lad a smack, it changed things.

I moved to London and began studying in a small town because it all became a little too much.

They both adored rugby and discovered they shared “a lot in common,” James said. “He talked to me a lot about his love of rugby. In WWII, he sailed from Liverpool, to North Africa, to Italy, and then Europe, but then he suffered shellshock, so he entertained the troops and came back to London.

Yes, his life was indeed quite long. I was prepared for someone who had endured many depressive years and depression because he was very funny, very thoughtful, and always had very deep thoughts.

“But by the time I met him in his old age, he had come to terms, when I knew him, he was cracking jokes all the time. But he never lost any fans in his openness.

He acknowledges that he would have preferred that his father have read his poems for one last laugh.

His book promises to bring ‘ a smile to your face and warmth to your soul’.

That is a fact that James and I truly shared.

“I love to make people laugh”.

View 6 Images

Her estranged family is said to be “more worried than ever” as a result of bombshell allegations made by Britney Spears’ ex-husband and worrying behavior posted on social media.

5 images to be viewed

It’s been almost four years since troubled star Britney Spears was freed from the controversial conservatorship imposed after her infamous 2007 breakdown. But despite regaining her long-fought freedom, the 43-year-old has remained under intense scrutiny. Fans have continued to voice concern over her erratic behaviour – from posting nude photos on social media to dancing with knives.

And just last week, a video of Britney driving erratically went viral. Amid fresh fears for Britney Spears’ wellbeing – and explosive claims from her ex-husband Kevin Federline – a source says her family are “the most worried they’ve ever been”. She tied the knot with Kevin in 2004.

The clip emerged amid a string of shocking claims made by her ex-husband Kevin Federline in his bombshell book, You Thought You Knew. Kevin, whom the star married in 2004 and shares sons Sean Preston, 20, and Jayden James, 19, with, has accused Britney of troubling behaviour during their marriage. Last month, headlines centred on Kevin’s claim that Britney was drunk in 2007 while caring for their then young sons.

READ MORE: Britney Spears facing ‘make or break’ decision but her hands are tiedREAD MORE: Britney Spears ‘bombshells’ from ‘bedroom knife to secret Justin Timberlake call’

5 images to be viewed

5 images to be viewed

He wrote, “It was her, Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan … all drunk as hell, begging me to come over. I could hear Preston and Jayden crying in the background. It had to be three or four in the morning. That call was the final straw.”

Following Kevin’s claim that Britney was silently holding a knife in a doorway when their sons awoke, they were later told by Kevin. He also claimed that Sean Preston’s mother had allegedly forced him to take a bath with her when he was a child and punched him in the face. When Britney was still breastfeeding, Kevin, 47, claimed that she was “doing cocaine” and that she had wished Sean Preston and his brother were dead during a phone call in 2023.

5 images to be viewed

Britney has denied all of the allegations, accusing Kevin of “gaslighting” and calling the claims “extremely hurtful and exhausting”. A source told The Mirror that Britney is feeling ”hurt and betrayed” by her ex’s claims, especially as he has involved their sons. “The depth of the betrayal has hit her hard. She is broken by the way Kevin has presented things in the book in respect to their sons and blames him for turning them against her,” added the source. Following their divorce in 2007, Kevin was eventually granted full custody of their children.

But in 2008, during a court-monitored visit, Britney locked herself in the bathroom with Jayden James in a bid to prevent them returning to their dad. In an interview with Piers Morgan last month, Kevin claimed their sons are now “terrified” for and “worried” about their mum.

5 images to be viewed

When asked about Britney’s alarming social media posts in 2022, Jayden James said, “It’s almost like she has to post something on Instagram to get some attention… there’s a high chance that this will never stop.” Britney is now estranged from many of her family members and in her memoir, The Woman In Me, said she “never wants to see” them again.

However, according to our source, her loved ones will remain by her side forever. Everyone is “absolutely concerned about Britney,” according to the most recent tweets.

They worry that she might never recover from her own fear that Kevin’s book may push her too far. The family is currently gathered around to let Britney know they will always be there for her, according to the source. Kevin’s representatives were contacted for comment by The Mirror.

Aldi shoppers can now purchase a £4.99 hair mask that promises to give her go-to brand the same shine as her mirror-like hair. Claudia Winkleman’s mirror-like hair is as well known as her smudgy eyeliner.

View 2 Images

Claudia Winkleman has her signature look down to a fine art, from her flawlessly smudged eyeliner to her go-to grungy aesthetic. Her ultra-glossy hair is a constant fixture, with fans looking for a way to replicate her mirror-like tresses at home.

Whilst Claudia’s stylist has revealed she regularly uses products from Color Wow to achieve Claudia’s shiny locks, Aldi shoppers might just be able to get the look for considerably less. The famed middle aisle of the supermarket has been stocking a hair mask from its own beauty brand, Lacura, that’s inspired by Claudia’s go-to Color Wow products.

READ MORE: I unboxed the over £700 advent calendar from TikTok, the world’s #1 beauty brand.

This £22 shine-boosting product is the reason Claudia Winkleman’s mirror-like hair looks better.

The Lacura Wonder Mask launched in September for £4.99, the hair mask was described as “perfect for glossy looking hair.” It’s a deep conditioning treatment for your hair, with ingredients like blue sea kale, algae and hydrolysed vegetable proteins, all of which work together to repair damage and smooth each strand, leaving it looking ultra-shiny and glossy.

Additionally, it offers heat protection to prevent damage from styling tools like curlers and straighteners. You can save almost £35 if you buy the Aldi version instead of Color Wow’s Money Masque, which is available for $ 39.50 online.

View 2 Images

Both hair masks contain similar ingredients, although Milkie Magazine’s comparison notes that the Color Wow one does contain a higher number of conditioning ingredients for that ultra-soft, hydrating treatment. They also said: “For everyday use, Lacura’s Dupes perform exceptionally well, especially considering the price.”

According to legend, the Lacura Wonder Mask improves shine and reduces frizz, leaving it looking glossy. You can’t go wrong with Aldi’s own take on the popular goods, so it seems like a good choice for a cheap alternative.

You’ll need to check your local stores to try and get your hands on the Lacura Wonder Mask before it’s all gone for good because it’s been around for a while. However, the middle aisle is renowned for its wide selection of affordable alternatives to expensive, designer, and celebrity-loved beauty products.

You can currently pick up other great makeup and skincare products, as well as Aldi’s range of fragrances which rival top-end buys. The Hotel Collection No.3 Pomegranate Eau de Parfum , for example, is just £6.49 for 100ml, whilst Jo Malone’s Pomegranate Noir Cologne is £122 for the same amount.

Strictly Come Dancing creative director Arlene Phillips has revealed some of her struggles throughout her life, including taking care of both of her parents.

3 images to be seen

From West End musicals to Strictly Come Dancing, Dame Arlene Phillips has always been a woman with the right moves. And while the choreographer is now 82, she remains a force on the dance floor as one of the creative minds behind a stunning new production of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Starlight Express.

For a woman steeped in dance, she never stops. “I recently choreographed a wedding dance for two friends and I couldn’t help but get up on the dance floor and join them even though my knees are ruined from years of dancing,” she chuckles. “Dancing makes you feel good and it has given me an amazing life working with some incredible people.”

Dance not only keeps Arlene mentally and physically fit, it’s long been a form of escape during some of the most difficult and ­challenging times of her life. These include tirelessly caring for her late parents, Rita and Abraham, who died of leukaemia and Alzheimer’s respectively.

READ MORE: ‘I worked at Boots and found a way to save £120 on the most popular beauty gifts’

3 images to be seen

New research reveals the UK’s 5.8 million unpaid caregivers are facing a hidden health crisis themselves, with more than half reporting a decline in their physical or mental health due to their responsibilities. And that’s why Arlene encouraged carers to prioritise their own health during last week’s Caring for Caregivers week.

She claims that caring for a loved one is one of the most challenging roles that anyone can perform, both mentally and physically. Millions of unpaid carers “work ­tirelessly, sacrificing their own needs to care for others, losing sleep, their own interests, and socializing as a result of their responsibilities.”

Arlene, the daughter of a barber and a housewife, has always wanted to dance in Prestwich, Lancashire, and has always wanted to be a ballet dancer.

She recalls that she and my older brother Ian and younger sister Karen were from a very poor family. When my mother got leukaemia at the age of 15, she wanted me to stay away from school to look after her because she didn’t know what it actually was. Because my brother was studying and my father wasn’t well at the time, I took care of my mother, washed her, and looked after the house. Due to how much I had missed it, it was difficult for me to return to school. I had to go somewhere.

Arlene firmly argued that she should keep Saturdays for herself, and that she should have used the money earned from a paper round to pay for her own dance classes.

However, Arlene ended up rejecting her request to miss her dance class when her mother asked her to miss her. One of the others, she says, “had to do it because I didn’t want to miss dancing.”

“That guilt, which so many carers experience, has persisted to this day. I once worked as one of the many child carers in the UK.

Three months after receiving her diagnosis, Rita passed away at the age of 43. Arlene was immediately sent back to school because she couldn’t attend her funeral.

Despite this, she was once more forced to take care of herself as an adult when her father Abraham, who had suffered from blood clots while her mother was dying, received an Alzheimer’s disease diagnosis. After battling the illness for more than ten years, he eventually passed away at the age of 89.

Apart from me, Arlene says, “He didn’t want anyone coming into the flat to look after him.” “People with dementia can be very afraid,” said one patient. He had a false sense of security about his home. He wouldn’t let me in on things like meals on wheels, which I had planned.

So it was my responsibility to take care of him, as it frequently happens when there are so many dependant families looking after their loved ones who are dementia patients. I spent ten years trying to put him in a care facility, but I finally had to. There is a guilt-carer feeling that I was exhausted and broken by it.

She finally acknowledges the value of self-care. She asserts that it is crucial to take time to take care of oneself when caring for a parent, a child, or both. Senior parents take care of their adult children when they have early-onset dementia.

3 images to be seen

Exhaustion, fatigue or poor sleep, anxiety, stress or feeling overwhelmed, depression, guilt, and back, joint or muscle pain are common among the health issues that caregivers deal with.

One in six carers claim to have given up dancing, which they once did for fun, according to the research conducted by supplement brand GOPO® Joint Health. Our wellbeing is improved by engaging in movement or dance, even just putting on your favorite song and moving around it, says Arlene. For me, it has always had.

Arlene wants to spend more time with her two granddaughters, Emme Bow, four, and Lila Primrose, six, despite not intending to retire. She wants to concentrate on the campaign for Caring for Caregivers in addition to her granny duties.

She says, “My goal is to raise awareness of the incredible work that unpaid carers do while, at the same time, inspire them to take positive actions to improve their own wellbeing.”

Arlene has survived some challenging circumstances as a carer, but her success is ultimately tinged with regret because of her stellar career and fulfilling family life.

She continues, “I do wish my mother had been here to see my success.” Because she was the first to inspire me to dance, it was her own passion.

Go to gopo for more information. Independent chemists and retailers are available nationwide for GOPO® Joint Health. . uk