󠀠 󠀠 󠀠󠀠󠀠󠀠󠀠󠀠BEAUTY 󠀠 󠀠

I’m a self-confessed beauty junkie. It’s no secret. I worked in the industry for over 20 years, firstly as a qualified beauty therapist, then onto film, television, and fashion shoots as a makeup artist where I had some of my work published. At this point - working in makeup, I was in my element! I finished my education at Napier Girls' High School, and at 18 years old I had a job in Auckland working for an Australian company called 'Red Earth' - skincare and body products. This was great, I had always had an obsession for anything related to beauty and skincare. Then I accepted a job working for Revlon - selling Makeup. However, my grand plan was to travel overseas for a year, then return to New Zealand where I was born and do a Bachelor of Graphic Design at Auckland University - where I had been accepted to study. 

At school I enjoyed the Arts, and finished my final year in graphic design and photography hoping to follow a career in commercial packaging design. A job I could utilise my artistic skills, and enjoy a creative outlet was right up my street. With travelling plans in mind, and ideas of earning an income whilst doing this, I found myself browsing through the back of a Vogue magazine, and spotted a small ad for a makeup school in London! - 'Greasepaint'. Sadly, the extortionate fees to attend the school put me off despite my dream of working in film and television makeup. So, I became a student again, learning Beauty therapy in Auckland, knowing I had opportunities then to work on cruise ships, in hotels, and beauty salons all over the world. 

I gained my CIBTAC Diploma at the Beauty therapy college of New Zealand in 2001 - now I'm showing my age! I flew the nest, and continued to further my training and development working in London as a self-employed beauty / skincare therapist, specialising in aesthetic skin treatments such as glycolic peels, micro current face sculpting, advanced skin analysis using Chinese diagnosis, and holistic face and body massage to encourage lymphatic drainage and detoxification. I gained quite a following of loyal, high profile clientele working in Wimbledon village and other prestigious areas of London  - from 'ladies who lunch', to female executives running large companies juggling family life and staff. I had an eye for detail, a natural connection with people, and a passion for beauty. I also offered manicures, pedicures, gel nails, spray tanning, eyelash tinting and brow shaping... the list goes on! I think I had attended just about every training course going - Darphin, Dermalogica, Jessica nails, Comfort Zone, MD Formulations, airbrush makeup, and so on. 

I have stepped out of the industry now - physically speaking. Travelling by truck, filled with show stands to Germany to do makeup demonstrations at some of Europe’s largest beauty trade shows,  hauling heavy bags, lights and equipment, working 6 days a week with long hours has worn me out! I’m not a spring chicken anymore.

I wound down my career ending on a high note, working as a cast makeup artist in 2018 for the re-make of Four Weddings and a Funeral, in London. The original cast from the 1994 film including Hugh Grant, Andie MacDowell, Rowan Atkinson, John Hannah, and Kristin Scott Thomas were all fabulous to work with. Eating breakfast at 5am on set with John Hannah's very cute little Bichon Frise dog were just some of the highlights! Chatting to Hugh Grant on set (who isn’t as posh in real life, but very humble), a quick hello with Rowan Atkinson, and days working with other female leading roles – manicuring their nails and chatting about life – pinch me! It can’t get better than this! What a memorable experience, I will never forget it.

I still smile to this day thinking about it. The plan after that was to create more Instagram content, launch my blog and continue to talk about beauty, so that’s where we are right now!