If modelling didn’t work out
She would let me wear some but only if it was very natural. I remember her saying to me “makeup is about enhancing what you have, not hiding what you have”, and that stuck with me ever since I was a young girl. What does that mean? The sentiment of this has changed for me over the years, but what I think she meant was; don’t worry about hiding the features, don’t spend all your time masking your skin, embrace them. Focus on the good things so that has always been my approach to makeup. I always want to look and feel like myself, but just a little bit better.
When I was 14-years-old I just remember always being obsessed with fashion and beauty. I grew up in a rural countryside in the UK and my only connection to that world were magazines. There was no YouTube or Internet and it was such a shrouded business for most people, and I think that was part of why it drew me in. I would look at these beautiful images in the magazine and I wanted to be part of creating them. I remember my first few shoots and sitting down in a makeup chair and being surrounded by all these products, I wanted to learn everything. If I wasn’t doing what I’m doing I’d probably be a makeup artist, or an art director or stylist, I would’ve always ended up in a creative field and certainly I believe fashion or beauty.
The personal gamechanger
One thing you hear universally from all experts is take care of your skin. I’ve been someone who struggled with acneprone skin my entire adult life and my mother had acne too. I have been on this lifelong quest to research how to better my skin and it’s something I’m constantly learning about. A game-changer for me has been using non comedogenic formulations when it comes to skincare and makeup products. It basically means it’s a formulation produced without pore-clogging ingredients in it. Since changing my products to non-comedogenic formulations, my skin is so much more managed. It improved in a matter of weeks.
Making it in the beauty industry
The beauty industry and beauty companies are built on a community. You have to connect with your consumer, there has to be a two-way dialogue. People respond to brands that stand for something. It used to be enough to have pretty makeup and packaging, but now you have to stand for something. Whether it’s a cruelty-free message that Hourglass has, or sustainable messaging or a brand that embraces diversity, so it’s important there is community and messaging behind a brand. There needs to be a culture surrounding a brand.
What women want from beauty
I always study how a woman wears her makeup and despite there being endless glamorous looks we can find on social media, women just want to feel like the best version of themselves. They want to feel natural, and there are different variations, but ultimately they want to feel like themselves. I notice women sticking to classics that suit her. You want to apply your makeup in the morning, feel great all day and not think about it. I don’t want to think about it, I want it to work for me.
Most unusual item in her makeup bag
I use a toothbrush to groom my eyebrows with, not the one I use on my teeth.
The keepsake
One item I could never throw away is my Confessions Lipstick, it’s a little heirloom.
Her Hourglass highlight
I really enjoy working with Marc Reagan. We have such a similar way of applying makeup, he’s so technical and precise and has a true depth of knowledge. I love the look he did when we met which was Scattered Light Glitter Eye Shadows and Vanish foundation and it’s my go-to evening look. One of the things I learnt from Hourglass is to line the upper inner waterline of your eye and it’s amazing how much it transforms and enhances the shape of the eyes.