We come from a line of strong, resilient women, and that family bond is the greatest inheritance of all ♥️ It’s a big weekend for mothers across the globe, my heart is so full of gratitude. We often talk about beauty, about business, and the brands we build, but the true foundation of everything is family.
@reenahammer
I lost my mother when she was not much older than I am today. It’s a reality that changes your entire perspective on the passing of time ♥️
Today would have been her 82nd birthday. When you reach the age your parents didn’t get to outlive, you stop seeing aging as a burden. You start seeing it for what it truly is… a privilege. It is an opportunity to be enjoyed, celebrated, and met with deep gratitude for every extra day.
Lately, I’ve been reflecting on what it means to truly nourish ourselves, both mentally and physically. I recently attended the launch of Liz Earle’s new book, and her thoughts on longevity, specifically the healing power of light and grounding ourselves with the earth. It resonated so deeply with my own history.
It took me straight back to my childhood in Africa with my parents.
I can still see Maa leaving tubs of water out in the trees to catch the heat of the midday sun. By the time my brothers and I returned from school, that naturally warmed water was waiting for us. We were washed thoroughly, with a care that was intentional, and pure.
There was such a beautiful, grounding love in that ritual, a sun-warmed love that was enough to last me a lifetime.
As Sadhguru says… “The quality of your life depends on how well you manage your body, mind, emotion, and energy.”
Taking care of yourself isn’t about vanity, it’s about honoring the vessel that allows us to experience the years others were denied.
Whether it’s through grounding, seeking the morning sun, or the simple rituals of self-care, we must tend to our light with the same intention my mother showed us all those years ago under those trees.
Celebrate every year. It is a gift.
Happy Birthday, Maa. Love you and miss you always xxx♥️♥️🧿
We put so much pressure on Mondays to be our ‘reset’ days. But just like a good skincare routine, it isn’t about one perfect day… it’s about the everyday consistency. Make today count, whatever day it is ♥️
What is one small thing you do every day that makes a big difference?
AD When a classic is reformulated, I am always curious.
@armanibeauty Luminous Silk has long been one of the few foundations I return to time and again. The original earned its place because it perfected that elusive balance. Coverage with lightness, radiance without shine, skin that looked like skin - perfect no matter where I was shooting... on set, the catwalk or on location.
So when the formula was upgraded, I wanted to understand exactly what had changed, and I have truly put it through its paces.
What I have found is this. The essence remains, but it is more refined. The texture feels even more fluid, the blend more seamless, and the finish softer, more sophisticated on the skin.
The shade range, too, feels more considered. With the addition of blue and green pigments to better support olive skin undertones, there is a depth and subtlety that allows for a much more precise match.
I have a new personal shade, 9.1. You can see how it disappears into my skin, leaving it looking its very best.
If you loved the original, it is worth revisiting. And if you never quite found your match before, this may be the moment.
Tell me if you have tried the enhanced formulation, and whether you can see and feel the difference.
Products Used:
Luminous Silk Foundation 9.1
Luminous Silk Bronzing Powder in sun embrace
Luminous Silk Cheek Tint Shine 42S
Prisma Glass Icy Plumper in 36
Lip Power in 404
Eye Tints in 36M, 30M, 69S
Vertigo Lift Mascara
#makeup @lookfantastic
@rubyhammer MBE on @stressedbutwelldressed_podcast
Wow I loved this one! We discuss everything from Ruby's early upbringing in Nigeria to later growing up in London, working as a Saturday girl at Harrods and then developing and growing iconic beauty brands in the UK. Creating Ruby and Millie and bringing Aveda and L'Occcitane to the UK we go behind the scenes on her journey. Ruby shares what she learnt from a period of life where she hit rock bottom, how she recovered and what it means to be well-dressed. A multilayered, honest and moving conversation about everything from understanding the beauty industry to understanding how to truly celebrate what makes you beautiful. Ruby - thank you!
Out now on the show!
This April marks Parkinson’s Awareness Month, a cause that is deeply personal to me and my family.
Many people think of Parkinson’s and immediately picture shaky hands or tremors.
But for my dad, the journey looked very different. He was a man of incredible resilience and a sharp, agile mind, a doctor who did his medical exams in British India, walking to sit for them, and later moved to Nigeria to practice. He lived in a time when records were sparse; when he needed a passport, his birth was simply known as being during a “rainy summer.” We think it was 1930, but in the end, the date mattered less than the life he built.
Around the year my daughter was born, my dad self-diagnosed. He didn’t have the classic shakes. Instead, his body became rigid, and he would sometimes become disorientated, even while his intellect remained as bright as ever. He lived with it into his 70s, navigating a condition that is so much more complex than the world often realises.
Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurological condition in the world, and it doesn’t look the same for everyone.
* More than just a tremor: Symptoms can include muscle rigidity (stiffness), slowness of movement, and non-motor symptoms like anxiety or sleep issues.
* 1 in 37: That is the number of people alive today who will be diagnosed with Parkinson’s in their lifetime.
* Early Detection: My dad’s medical intuition allowed him to recognise his symptoms early, even without the “classic” signs. Knowing the diverse range of symptoms can make all the difference.
If you or a loved one are noticing changes, whether it’s stiffness, balance issues, or even a loss of sense of smell, please don’t wait. Knowledge is power.
@parkinsonsuk is an incredible resource for checking symptoms and finding support.
Raising awareness isn’t just about statistics; it’s about the people behind them. The fathers, the doctors, the adventurers.
Miss you dad, always... but always feel you with me ♥️
From our early shoot days to exploring the cutting-edge science of longevity… so proud of my dear friend @lizearleme ♥️
I’ve known Liz for many, many years now. We’ve grown up in this industry together… from magazine shoots and beauty journalism back in the day, right through to building our own brands and writing books. There is something so incredibly special about that shared history, and watching a fellow woman in the wellness space continue to evolve, question, and inspire.
This week, I had the joy of attending the launch for her new book, How to Age. I sat there absolutely fascinated as she unpacked the science behind how our bodies change. She dives into thought-provoking detail… discussing mitochondria, the impact of light, and even the different states of water.
I know some of these views and deeper scientific explorations aren’t for everyone… and Liz knows that better than most! But I absolutely love that she isn’t afraid to step out there and provoke discussion.
What resonated most with me is her reminder that aging must be looked at with real nuance. There is no broad-brush, one-size-fits-all approach here. It is about gently pushing your own boundaries, listening intimately to your body, and truly knowing yourself. We are living longer than ever before, but are we living our best lives?
She raised so many brilliant questions, and I am looking forward to sitting down and reading the book in full. Huge congratulations, Liz ♥️
Will you be adding this to your reading list?
Huge congratulations to the wonderful @drmarinevincent on the launch of her brilliant new book, The French Skincare Bible.
I had the absolute pleasure of doing Marine’s makeup for the launch event, and she looked as glowing and radiant as her skincare advice. It was such a joy to get her ready for her big moment ♥️♥️
I have long admired Marine’s ethos when it comes to beauty and wellness. Her shop is an absolute treasure trove, packed full of so many of my all-time favourite products. Because of the immense respect I have for her curation, I am so incredibly proud to retail Ruby Hammer Beauty alongside them. To be part of a space that champions authentic, effective, and effortless beauty is a dream.
To celebrate this milestone, I wanted to share a quote that perfectly captures both of our philosophies on skin and makeup:
“La beauté commence au moment où vous décidez d’être vous-même.” (Beauty begins the moment you decide to be yourself.) — Coco Chanel 🇫🇷❤️
If you want to unlock the secrets to that effortless French glow, you need to pick up a copy of this book. So proud of you, Marine!
@thefrench.pharmacy
Meet your panel of experts for the 2026 Platinum Beauty Awards!
Global makeup artist, brand founder and beauty expert @rubyhammer says, "I am thrilled to be a judge at the Platinum Beauty Awards 2026 - it's lovely to feed my curiosity and share the feedback with the readers!" 💄
Keep an eye out to meet the expert judges as we head towards the deadline - and head to the link in bio to enter by April 24th!
Let’s have a really honest chat about why copying a makeup tutorial step-by-step almost never works.
There are over 8 billion people on this planet, and every single one of us is completely unique. Our DNA, our bone structure, the way our skin behaves… it’s all entirely our own.
So when we blindly follow beauty advice without any nuance and expect to look exactly like the person on our screen... of course it’s not going to happen! And it can be so frustrating, right?
The breakthrough really happens when you take the time to get to know yourself. Take your under-eyes, for example… did you inherit those dark circles from your family, or have you just been running on empty this week? Only you know your body and your skin best.
This is exactly why I will always teach adaptable techniques rather than rigid, one-size-fits-all routines. Makeup shouldn’t be a paint-by-numbers game. It’s about taking a method and tweaking it so it works beautifully for your specific features.
We might have similarities, but we are absolutely not the same. And thank goodness for that. Embrace what makes you, you ♥️
I’d love to know… what is a makeup “rule” you’ve had to completely rewrite because it just didn’t work for your face? Tell me below, I love seeing how you adapt things for yourselves.
This was a snippet from my talk with @angelicornelius1@susannahtaylor_ and @lisaoxenham the other week at Farm House … always wonderful to talk it out with other like minded women in beauty ♥️🙌🏾
Bronzing With @rubyhammer
When I filmed recently with Ruby I discovered her new @rubyhammerbeauty Cheek Colour in Bronze and here Ruby shows you how to apply it to give skin a sun-kissed look. I learnt that I had been using the product incorrectly applying directly to my face. Instead Ruby uses a stippling brush and fingertips yes where bronzer usually goes but also on your eyelids and lips … subtle but perfect. Since the shoot I’ve been finally using all of her cheek colours the right way ❤️
