TanTime

Ruby Hammer and Millie Kendall have worked together for over 15 years. Their relationship is always built on honesty, integrity, and passion. As partners and friends they have developed and worked with some of the most important health and beauty brands in the market such as Shu Uemura, Aveda, Tweezerman and their official collaboration Ruby and Millie. Ruby and Millie are the go-to duo for advice and consultation on launching and marketing a new or existing brand in the UK. They both take time out from their busy schedules to reveal their top beauty secrets.

Do you both use Self Tan?

R: I am tanned enough personally….but I do use it for my work on shoots.

M: I have had a spray tan once, and I am not a massive self tanner, partly down to lack of time, and I am natural quite tan anyway.

What brands do you swear by?

R: Bliss A Tan For All Seasons, L’Oreal Sublime and St Tropez.

M: The list is long, I love Natura Bisse skincare, paul labreque hair care, for tanning I use childrens sun protection I feel it has all the safety elements I want and need.

How do you think self tanning has changed over the last 10 years?

R: Just the fact that it doesn’t smell like old cooking fat, the fine mist on aerosols, the technology has advanced so much!!!!

M: The entire business has grown tremendously, but thanks to the melanoma task force and government regulations the use of sun beds has been prohibited to under 18 year olds. This is a fantastic swing in the right direction, so I welcome self tanning as a safer option. The colour and smell of self tan products and the ease of application has made the products so much more simple and accessible.

Do you think self tanning has become more fashionable?

R: Yes in deed, with more knowledge about the bad effects of sun damage, self tanning has become very attractive, also celebrities have lead the way here, when the average person sees what someone like yourself can do to make the stars look knockout, they want to follow.

M: Yes certainly has, but again the reality of the damage caused by the sun itself and sunbeds and the publicity surrounding the facts has helped the market grow, and it’s a welcome change. There are always going to be the orange amongst us, but the products are so much more sophisticated.

How did you both meet?

R: Years ago on a elle shoot on me at Harvey Nichols when Millie came to launch Shu Uemura there.

M: We met in 1990 at the Shu Uemura counter in Harvey Nichols, I had just launched the Shu Uemura Boutique and Ruby was shooting for Elle with Anna Maire Solowij and they shot on location in our newly opened boutique…

What made you both get into make up?

R: I just loved it and when the opportunity came…I was wise enough to grab it.

M: I came from a hair background and was sent by my father, a hairdresser to work at Bumble and Bumble in NY, after having worked in London at Toni and Guy. I was an awful hairdresser and loved that I could apply something that I could remove should it all go horribly wrong. I also love colour so for me make up had it all…

Who inspired you both?

M: My grandmother was very glamourous woman and she was my inspiration.

R: My mum, magazines, models, actresses and designers.

What differentiates your made up from others?

M & R: We set about 15 years ago to create a mass market brand that had the style and quality of the more premium brands, we like to be involved in innovative products but mostly in innovative routes to market. Boots had nothing like the above 15 years ago.

What make up do you recommend using with self tan?

M: I think if you have a well applied tan, there is nothing like eyebrows and lip balm to complete a good look. I recommend using coloursport 30 day mascara for your brows…Gives them definition.

R: Soft blush, definition on eyes and eyebrows, hint of colour on lips and mascara.

What make up look is hot right now?

M: I am a make up wearer and not a make up artist, so I can only judge what I am picking for myself to wear, and I have definitely got the old red, orange and brown lipsticks out lately, I am feeling a return to a good solid lip is really working its way back into my wardrobe.

R: Red matte velvet lips or red/burgundy super glossy lips…lined eyes in metallic creams in silver/black/grey.

What look do you think will be big for S/S 2012?

M: I always love when the seasons looks come out, and with twitter they are instant! I always think there is room for everything, and eyebrows, eyeliner and lips always make a comeback, although a natural face is so elegant if you can pull it off. I would love to see younger girls using blush, I think we haven’t quite seen the return of strong and well placed blush for a while. Brows and lips have been so strong the past few years.

R: That’s what is exciting, you never quite know till you see the shows, it could be something totally new or a new way with something that has been done before.

Who is the most inspirational person you have both worked with?

M: Too many, Daniela Rinaldi at Harvey Nichols, Michael Gordon from Bumble and Bumble, Photographer Steve Hiett, and Anna Marie Solowij.

R: Steve Hiett and my mum.

If you had to pick one fashion accessory you could not be without! What would it be?

R: Shoes shoes shoes and may be a cashmere sweater.

M: A good bra! Obvious reasons…

What exciting plans have you got coming up over the next year?

R: The new launch of Ruby Hammer recommends at Debenhams this September and our ongoing products.

M: We have just launched Ruby Hammer Recommends with Debenhams, I have always wanted to see Ruby be a designer at Debenhams. And Millie is opening a new retail concept with Anna Marie Solowij

Name one beauty product you could not be without?

R: Mascara.

M: Vaseline.

What’s your favourite fragrance?

R: Aromatherapy Associates Rose Body Cream.

M: Femme by Rochas.

Name one make up item you could not live without?

R: My family and loved ones.

M: Vaseline.

What are you doing after this interview?

R: Going for a power walk with my husband.

M: Ordering Sushi.

Cab or Tube?

R: With my kit it has to be a cab.

M: Bus.