The makeup artist shares her day
The makeup artist shares her day
6:00AM: I sleep in my makeup. I’m never, ever seen without it. I jump in the shower and wash my hair—I use Living Proof or Oribe products, then a salt scrub I mix myself based on an ancient Ibizan recipe, and a bespoke shower gel and reviving oils. Next, I put on my Goddess Skin Clay Mask. If I’m in a rush, I’ll do five minutes in the mask; if I have a lot of time, I’ll do half an hour while I get ready. Then I put oils and a moisturiser all over my body. I put on my famous Magic Cream and my Wonderglow cream. We call it “Gisele in a jar.” Then I do my Feline Flick eyeliner. It’s like a cat-eye that gives you a bit of a lift. Today I’m doing a look I made for Penélope Cruz; it’s a full ritual of makeup.
6:30AM: I start to get dressed. I have a curvaceous body, and my whole thing is, whatever you have, flaunt it! I’m very much an LBD enthusiast—I think we counted 250 black dresses in my closet. I’ve got a bit of everything: Dolce&Gabbana, Temperley, Azzedine Alaïa, Stella McCartney, and a lot of vintage as well. My closet is bulging at the seams. It needs its own house! My husband’s has been reduced to nothing. I live in high heels—I’ve got maybe 300 pairs. I love Tom Ford, Jimmy Choo, Louboutin, Prada, Miu Miu, Tamara Mellon, and Dolce&Gabbana. I don’t own any flats, only one pair of Wellington boots. Tom Ford told me that when you put on a pair of heels, your bottom goes out, your boobs go up, and you stand differently; apparently it’s the mating position. Well, obviously I’m up for mating the minute I wake up.
6:45AM: I have a proper English breakfast: eggs, bacon, tomatoes, bread, Earl Grey tea. I take homeopathic drops and vitamin C to boost my immunity, and hot water with lemon to alkalise my system. I don’t drink coffee because I’m already too hyper. I’ve got a nine-month-old and a five-year-old, so I have them around me as much as I can.
7:30AM: I have to be at a show at least two hours in advance. I bring six suitcases full of makeup—better safe than sorry. I brief my team and show them how to get the look. I inspect their makeup throughout the next few hours, do lighting checks, and talk to the designer. I go over every single girl myself. Then we pack up our workstations really quickly and run to the next show. It’s like a moving circus. I have an amazing team who have all been taught by me. During awards season they come to the Oscars, they come to the Golden Globes. Sometimes I’ll get requests to do celebrities—Naomi Campbell, Cara Delevingne, Kate Moss—and I’ll go to their hotel.
10:00AM: My house is in Notting Hill in London, but I’m always travelling. When I’m in New York for Fashion Week, I try to maximise my time. In between shows I might fit in a retail meeting with Linda Fargo and David Hoey at Bergdorf Goodman, where they carry my beauty line. They’re both really great creatives.
1:30PM: In New York, I love to eat at Balthazar or Gemma at the Bowery Hotel. I live on Gemma’s polenta fries and artichoke salad. I eat huge lunches, but I try not to eat after six o’clock. I’ve had two babies and I don’t exercise, so that’s kind of my way of dieting. I don’t do guilty pleasures; I just do pleasure. To deny yourself is too miserable. It becomes etched into your face. At lunch I might discuss up-and-coming products, counter reviews, or marketing with my team. I basically have a mobile office.
3:00PM: I take a break to relax a little before the next meeting, check emails and Instagram. I like to stay at the Bowery in New York, the Chateau Marmont in Los Angeles, and the Costes in Paris. They’re like my homes because I travel so much. If my children are with me, I grab every moment I can with them.
4:30PM: I have to juggle meetings all the time. Today, I have a meeting with an editor. We’re launching my brand in Canada in June because the line is quickly expanding.
8:00PM: Finally I have time to relax with friends. I have a liquid supper—I love a glass of champagne, some bubbles, and I’m really into margaritas and skinny bitches, which is what we call vodka, lime, and soda. I still smoke, but I’m trying to do only a few cigarettes a day. I love to party; I’m a bit of a 24-hour girl. There’s never a dull moment with me—it’s always high adrenaline, fun, exciting. That’s the way I like it. I’m an active relaxer, so for me dancing is like therapy. I’m quite wild on the dance floor. I think now I’m more embarrassed to do it, but before twerking was a thing I used to twerk. I love Michael Jackson, the Rolling Stones, Bowie, old-school ’70s stuff, all of the classics—and Alicia Keys, Rihanna, Bruno Mars, so many more. Prince, I’m mad about. I remember having almost a private performance with him at one of Donatella Versace’s after-parties. He was dancing right in front of me, within touchable distance. Kate Moss is the most fun person to go out with. We’ve had some memorable nights. She’s the godmother of both of my children—she got greedy! She’s a lovely, lovely godmother.
1:00AM: I take off my makeup, wash my face, put on moisturiser, scrub my lips with Lip Love, apply Lip Magic, and then put the makeup on again—the eyeliner goes back on, the mascara, maybe a little soft eye shadow. The door is locked; no husbands allowed. My husband has never seen me without makeup. Makeup is my secret weapon—it’s every woman’s secret weapon. And men are starting to understand that it’s also their secret weapon. I’ve given the Goddess Skin Clay Mask to lots of actors, but I’m not going to out them.
1:30AM: I keep my room quite organised. I went to see a clairvoyant once, and she said that for the crazy personality I have I need total order and structure. I love Bellora sheets, and I’ve been using satin pillowcases to stop the wrinkles. I wear these amazing satin négligée with lace designed by Miranda Kerr, which she gave me. She’s also totally into crystals like me. I’m into clairvoyants, astrology, tarot, all that stuff. I fall asleep quite easily because I’m exhausted. Live life to the fullest and make the most of yourself with makeup—that’s my mantra. People sometimes say to me, “Do you feel insecure around all the beauty and the models and everything?” And I’m like, “No, I don’t!” I’m crazy about beautiful women and crazy about women who make the most of themselves, and I celebrate that. Like Helena Rubinstein said, “There are no ugly women, only lazy ones.”
