Latest news with #AnnabelJones
Telegraph
4 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
The best summer base for 50-something skin
In this regular series, Ageless Beauty, The Telegraph's beauty experts Annabel Jones and Lisa Armstrong tackle the conundrums they've been searching for answers to, and share their favourite tips and tricks. This week, they discuss tinted SPFs. Beauty brands are constantly launching new generation SPF products that promise far more than 'mere' sun block. The big push this year is into sun protectors that do it all: providing close to maximum SPF protection, acting as sophisticated concealers and foundation as well as promoting your skin's own collagen production with a cocktail of peptides and hyaluronic acids. That may sound too good to be true, but they're great. The one I've reached for the most this summer is The Uniform, which Merit launched a few months ago. It's not make-up with SPF. It's SPF with make-up. That's a significant difference from the BB creams of 20 years ago. Two full pumps of The Uniform provides factor-50 protection and plenty of make-up coverage – more than enough if, like me, you prefer a sheer effect and don't like applying tinted creams to your neck because of the colour transfer onto clothes. If you do want more coverage, you can always add extra without overdoing the SPF. Some users are treating it as a primer and applying their normal foundation on top. That sounds a lot, but each to their own. From a consumer's point of view, it's a dream to blend. Available in 15 shades, it's a non-nano, mineral, broad spectrum UVA and UVB face protector that, despite not containing silicone (another plus), glides across young and mature skins alike – soaking in quickly. The texture isn't greasy or shiny, but it's not matte either, so if you want a fully dried-down effect, you could use a mineral powder on top. Some reviewers have reported pilling but I haven't found that at all. Mineral formulations – we're talking zinc and titanium dioxides – are my preferred option these days. Unlike chemical formulations, which according to some experts, absorb into the bloodstream, potentially distorting our hormone system, mineral ingredients sit on the top layer. Mineral ingredients are also reported to be less harmful to oceans and coral reefs than their chemical peers, some of which are now banned in Hawaii, parts of Mexico and the Virgin Islands. If your main concern with mineral sunscreens is the white residue they leave behind, that's so 2020. The new generation are invisible. But there's a caveat: if minerals are served up in tiny particles, they too get absorbed into the blood stream. So look out for the words non-nano, on any product you buy. I use it as a stand-alone, on top of my moisturiser (even though The Uniform contains emollients). Then I apply blusher and highlighter. I love the dewy effect of The Uniform. My main reservation is that you're meant to reapply it every two hours to maintain its SPF potential, but I don't want to keep slapping a tint on my face throughout the day. After the first application of The Uniform, I follow up with a non-tinted, non-nano zinc moisturiser from Alexandra Soveral with SPF 15, and use The Uniform to retouch around my nose and under my eyes. SPF 15 doesn't sound much, but it offers around 93 per cent protection (100 per cent if you wear a densely woven sun hat) as opposed to the approximate 98 you get with factor 50. Neither creams are meant as beach protection. This is your summer in the city 'uniform', and it's pretty damn great. Like you Lisa, I made a beeline for Merit's The Uniform when it landed and so wanted it to be everything their foundation stick is in liquid form. Alas, there isn't a hue with quite the right undertone for my skin despite the 15-strong shade range, thus our relationship was short lived. In principle, the concept of a high-factor facial SPF that doubles as foundation thrills me, though in reality many of them are either too thick a substitute for the seamless skin tints that make-up brands have mastered – or the consistency is spot on but the tint is too sheer to cover. The thick ones by the way make ideal sunscreens on holiday when you want decent coverage and a dapple of tint. But for an average working day, I want something invisible in look and feel. Hence why sunscreen and foundation should be seen as two separate entities in my view. Then I was introduced to Naked Sundays BeautyScreen SPF50 Peptide Foundation Tint. Oil, fragrance, paraben and phthalates free, the mineral formulation contains non-nano zinc oxide, meaning it sits on the surface where it's meant to be. It also packs plenty of skincare punch: collagen boosting peptides, hydrating hyaluronic acid – and soothing, anti-redness ingredients that support the skin barrier. Semantics aside, BeautyScreen's make-up attributes are the best of its ilk. Feather-light and liquidy, it can be blended out or built up using a brush (my preference) or fingers, depending on how much foundation you're used to. As a dutiful beauty editor, if I'm going to be in direct sunlight I top up with a clear SPF every couple of hours. Biore's Uv Aqua Invisible Face Mist SPF50 does a fine job as an on-the-go spritz that doesn't disrupt makeup. Though it does reek of alcohol for a fleeting second (alcohol in sunscreens help it dry quickly and feel less greasy) so if that bothers you, a clear gel like Glossier's Invisible Priming SPF50 is a good alternative. Ultimately, the more protective and nourishing make-up gets, the happier my skin is. And if you're someone who likes a one and done product then tinted SPFs are the answer. It took me a while to find one that holds its own against my beloved roster of summer base options, but now that I have if you're looking for a dewy tint with high protection that dissipates beautifully into skin – without leaving tide marks or a greasy film – then I couldn't recommend a better product.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
Friends star Lisa Kudrow goes viral over resurfaced impression of far-right MAGA spokesperson
had fans in stitches after her appearance in 2020 political mockumentary resurfaced on social media in recent days. The 62-year-old Friends star went viral after a clip in which she parodies a right-wing 'non-official spokesperson' for President Donald Trump's MAGA movement started making the rounds again on social media. The clip was from the Netflix special Death To 2020, which was produced by Black Mirror creator Charlie Booker — who also wrote the film — and his regular collaborator Annabel Jones. On X (formerly Twitter), commenters — many of whom appeared to have liberal politics — were simultaneously delighted and infuriated by what they saw as similarities between Kudrow's over-the-top defenses of the first Trump administration's scandals and the real flak that Trump's current White House press secretary, Karoline Leavitt, deflects on a daily basis. They praised her 'perfect impersonation' of an influential MAGA figure in the replies, with many users finding major parallels between her and real-life right-wing figures over their allegedly slippery grasp of the truth. Kudrow's spokeswoman, the fictional Jeanetta Grace Susan, was seen in a clip seemingly meant to take place in Washington, DC, as she defended Trump against his multiple impeachments. 'The whole impeachment thing was baseless, OK,' Kudrow says in character. 'So the Democrats claim that Trump pressured Ukraine into digging up dirt on the Biden family and their only real "evidence" of that is the transcript of him doing it,' she adds on a particularly ridiculous note as documents referencing Trump's attempts to get Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to investigate Joe Biden ahead of the 2020 election. Kudrow digs in shamelessly when the unseen British interviewer asked her to say more about the 'transcript' she had mentioned. 'What transcript?' she replies. When the interviewer reminders her that she just mentioned a transcript, she shoots back, 'Check your tape. I said no such thing.' Then Kudrow scoffs as the interviewer began reading back what she had just said about Ukraine, before doubling down and interjecting, 'There's no such place as Ukraine.' 'Yes, there is,' he replies in shock, but the spokeswoman shoots back, 'I choose to believe there is not.' Several viewers in the replies saw in Kudrow a shocking resemblance to Leavitt, both physically and in her defensive tone, though Leavitt wasn't working as the White House Press Secretary until the second Trump administration, years after the Netflix special was released. Kudrow digs in shamelessly when the unseen British interviewer asked her to say more about the 'transcript' she had mentioned. 'What transcript?' she replies, before denying she ever mentioned a transcript and then claiming that she doesn't believe in Ukraine One viewer praised the clip as 'freaking awesome' and said that Kudrow's performance as a fake PR specialist was 'probably the best thing I've seen since Tina Fey did Sarah Palin' on Saturday Night Live Other posters praised the clip as 'brilliant,' 'on point' and 'perfect' Another viewers said they had 'given up' on trying to reason with Trump's most vocal fans, which they seemed to think the clip effectively illustrated 'This is GREAT! Kudrow perfectly captured the Karoline Leavitt person — right down to the long bond hair and vapid smile,' wrote one user who felt there was a strong similarity. One viewer praised the clip as 'freaking awesome' and said that Kudrow's performance as a fake PR specialist was 'probably the best thing I've seen since Tina Fey did Sarah Palin' on Saturday Night Live. Other posters praised the clip as 'brilliant,' 'on point' and 'perfect.' One user complained that Americans were forced to 'literally listen to this everyday.' 'MAGA believe and stake their lives on memes, but call any reporting or data into question and often see document records as a compelling reason to believe the opposite of what they indicate,' they added. Another viewers said they had 'given up' on trying to reason with Trump's most vocal fans, which they seemed to think the clip effectively illustrated. 'I don't know what is up in their heads, but it is not brains or the gift of reason,' they seethed. 'I am beginning to believe that they are not just stupid and ignorant, but they just do not take in any information that is going to challenge their current mindset.'
Yahoo
16-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Netflix's Black Mirror Faces Uncertain Future Without Original Duo
Black Mirror may be headed into uncharted territory. The creators of the dystopian sci-fi anthology, Charlie Brooker and Annabel Jones, have officially parted ways with their Netflix-owned production company Broke & Bones, raising real questions about whether the show can continue as we know it. The move marks the end of a five-year exclusive deal with Netflix, which began in 2020 when the streamer invested $100 million into the duo's new company. Brooker, the show's creator and lead writer, and Jones, its longtime executive producer, had been the driving force behind Black Mirror since it first launched in the U.K. in 2011. Netflix acquired the series in 2015, turning it into a global hit with a signature mix of tech-driven paranoia, social commentary, and psychological horror. According to Deadline, Brooker and Jones are now free to pursue new projects with other studios. Their departure from Broke & Bones doesn't necessarily mean the end of Black Mirror, but it certainly throws its future into doubt. Season 7 dropped earlier this year with solid reviews, but without its original creators at the helm, fans are already bracing for a potential drop in quality if Netflix continues the series without them. It's unclear why the two chose to leave, but after 14 years of Black Mirror, the decision could be as simple as wanting to explore new creative ground. Brooker has hinted at other ambitions in the past, including a potential interest in writing for Doctor Who, which he once turned down due to scheduling conflicts. While Black Mirror might survive as a brand, its soul may prove harder to replicate. The series has always been uniquely tied to Brooker's voice—satirical, bleak, and uncomfortably prophetic. Losing that could fundamentally alter what the show is. The good news? The duo's exit frees them up to build new worlds, possibly outside the Netflix ecosystem. Whether those worlds will rival Black Mirror in cultural impact remains to be seen, but whatever they create next, it's worth keeping an eye Black Mirror Faces Uncertain Future Without Original Duo first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 13, 2025
Telegraph
12-07-2025
- Lifestyle
- Telegraph
How to make midlife feet look good in sandals
In this regular series, Ageless Beauty, The Telegraph's beauty experts Annabel Jones and Lisa Armstrong tackle the conundrums they've been searching for answers to, and share their favourite tips and tricks. This week, they discuss how to get ready for scandal season. ... A thoroughly good pedicure underpins my entire summer beauty regime. By good I mean one whereby my feet and toenails glisten like perspex. After all, it's the extremities (skin, feet, hair, nails) that give the most bang for your buck. Get these glowing and you can skip all else and remain impeccably groomed. Which brings me to my first point: before you even conceive of the colour, heels and cuticles must be tended to with assassin-like attention. I call on Milly Mason, a nail artist who specialises in prestige pedicures (including Lily Allen's who incidentally has a 4.9 out of five star-rating on WikiFeet). Interestingly, Mason doesn't recommend removing hard heel skin with any sort of implement (it grows back quicker and thicker) but to nurture feet daily with a foot mask that includes Urea, a byproduct of protein known for its intense hydration. At high percentages (over 10 per cent) Urea acts as a keratolytic, helping to exfoliate the top layer of skin without need for mechanical tools. I've been singing the praises of Eucerin's Urea Repair Intensive Moisturising Lotion for years – it deals with rough patches (elbows, knees, heels) like nothing else I've tried. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Harriet Westmoreland (@harrietwestmoreland) For feet specifically however, Mason suggests something altogether more powerful: the 40 per cent Urea Chapped Skin Cream from German nail brand LCN, which sorted the cracks running up the backs of my heels within a week. At night I've been doubling up with their Chapped Skin Balm to seal it all in, though I'll hazard a guess that Vaseline is as proficient at preventing moisture from escaping should you not have the latter. Mason took a gentle electric buffing tool to my heels (Bare Feet by Margaret Dabbs does a good one) and rough outer toe skin before applying the cream, but a rudimentary foot file is all you need at home to keep hard skin from building into a monstrous layer. Mason says to stay clear of blades and rasps which are precarious at best. When it comes to toe length, she assures me that short is best. If you can feel your toenails pressing up against the front of your shoes then you could be causing long-term damage to the nail bed. As for soaking the feet, this should be done last, after filing, shaping and polishing, as painting onto damp toenails can result in a fungal or bacterial infection. If you're doing your own pedicure – which, provided you have the right tools, is tremendously satisfying – then file toenails with an emery board, says Mason. Disposable ones are generally recommended though it's only really relevant if you're sharing nail files. Before polishing, push back cuticle skin with a cuticle softener and cuticle pusher, then lightly even the surface of the nail bed with a nail buffer (it has a much finer grit than a traditional file). You want as smooth a surface as possible for the polish to look its best – and for it to last. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Milly Mason (@millymason_) Toeanails are generally a zone to experiment with one of the trendier shades (spearmint green and neons are doing the rounds this summer), though if you generally err on the side of restraint as I do, then Precious by The Gelbottle, is a mature ballerina pink worth a look. Alternatively, Mason suggests black. 'It looks crisp and fresh on toenails so long as it has a glossy finish,' she claims. I was unsure at first. Too gothic, too cool. But in reality there's nothing more classic. Even in summer. Just don't forget to drench the toes in cuticle oil and apply foot lotion. Annabel's picks Yikes, the sights you see in the foot region when the weather's hot. Can I just say – hello, has everyone folk forgotten about the joys of a good old fashioned nail brush? People spend a small fortune on nail art, but when it comes to £4 for a wooden (rather than plastic) nail brush... Feet have become a passion I never thought I'd have – possibly because mine keep reminding me they deserve my full attention. Hard skin, corns, a shortened metatarsal that means my feet pronate, a bunion on my left foot (I had the right one removed which was one of the best things I ever did) I've seen and got them all. That's why these days, I see a podiatrist every few months. I'm about to get orthotics fitted. While they won't alter the alignment of my feet long term, I'm assured they'll help them rest in the correct position while I'm wearing them, so shoes don't rub and callouses and hard skin form less quickly. Using Margaret Dabbs' excellent foot file several times a week and a really good foot cream daily keeps things under control between visits. (Kure Bazaar's is pricy but lasts ages). Orthotics aren't cheap either but sometimes you can get them on private insurance. Either way they have to be worth it. Foot health is vital to overall health and wellbeing. There's a section of rigorous foot exercises on the Pilatesology app which help strengthen feet and lift arches. Pilatesology is a paid-for app that, despite being a Pilates disciple for 30 years, I've only recently discovered. It has a huge library of classes for all levels, from mat to machines. It's brilliant. If that all sounds a bit much, rolling a simple spiky ball or foot roller under your arches can feel amazingly good. Meanwhile, I'm wearing my sheepskin-lined Fitflops (good in hot wear, no rubbing) from last year that look and feel like a bed. Surprisingly, I've had a lot of compliments on them and my feet have never been happier. Birkenstock do something similar. They're not the most elegant footwear, but a good manicure makes a world of difference. Like Annabel, I love natural, buffed, clean looking toenails, but my sensible, low-glam footwear tipped me over into a glossy orange red pedi the other day, and I must say, it's very cheering. I don't bother with gel on my toes – too much of a faff getting it removed. The exception is if I'm going on holiday and planning on scrambling over rocks, an admittedly niche activity which chips varnish in a nano second. A few drops of cuticle/almond oil whenever you remember, keeps things looking glossy and healthy. Lisa's picks
Express Tribune
10-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
'Black Mirror' Season 6 recap: Everything to know ahead of Season 7 Premiere on Netflix
Black Mirror Season 6, released on June 15, 2023, featured five stand-alone episodes, each delving into techno-paranoia through unique and unsettling storylines led by creator Charlie Brooker with executive production by Annabel Jones. The premiere episode, Joan Is Awful, stars Annie Murphy as a woman whose life becomes the subject of a streaming series produced by a platform resembling Netflix. The story reveals that both Joan and her portrayer, played by Salma Hayek, are AI-generated constructs within a layered simulation. In Loch Henry, a documentary filmmaking trip to a small Scottish town uncovers chilling secrets when a couple learns that the protagonist's parents were involved in a series of tourist murders. The episode concludes with a true crime documentary being released about the case. Beyond the Sea presents an alternate 1969 where astronauts transfer consciousness into Earth-based replicas. Emotional trauma and personal boundaries unravel, culminating in betrayal and tragedy when one astronaut murders the other's family while using his replica. Mazey Day follows a paparazzo tracking a troubled actress who turns out to be a werewolf. The pursuit ends in a violent confrontation as the supernatural element blends with critiques of media intrusion and celebrity culture. The season ends with Demon 79, set in late 1970s England. A shop worker is told by a demon that she must kill three people to avert the apocalypse. Despite two completed murders, her failure to kill a far-right politician results in nuclear war. Black Mirror returns to Netflix with a seventh season on April 10, 2025 at 3 a.m. ET / midnight PT.
