The surprisingly classic beauty routine of legendary Brit fashion designer Lulu Guinness

20 August 2018
By Fashion Quarterly

Lulu Guinness x ghd

Known for her bold design aesthetic when it comes to her own fashion line, you’d be forgiven for thinking Lulu Guinness would be equally ‘out there’ when it comes to her beauty routine.

However, the British accessories designer, whose handbags, small leather goods and scarves famously incorporate vivid colour and lip motifs, has a surprisingly low key approach to beauty, preferring consistency in both products and approach. Barely ever seen without her trademark red lip, she also couldn’t live without her ghd x Lulu Guinness Air hairdryer, which she uses to style her hair every day.

Read on to find out what this stylish fashion heavyweight prioritises in her beauty cabinet:


What are your top six beauty products that you can’t live without and why?
Hourglass foundation – for the perfect coverage, Lilly Lolo Mascara – to lengthen my lashes and open up my eyes, Delilah pure light highlighter – for a sheer natural glow, Delilah Floozy Lipstick – I always wear a red lip! The ghd x Lulu Guinness Air hairdryer with the diffuser attached gives me the perfect volume needed. I use it every day to style my hair.

What’s your go to beauty look for a day at the office
A red lip, always, it’s my signature beauty look.

What’s your go to beauty for a night out
Signature is signature, I don’t change my look from day to night – it’s always a red lip!

What’s your hair regime/how do you keep it in good condition?
Making sure I keep on top of my roots and always blowdrying using the ghd x Lulu Guinness Air hairdryer with the diffuser for volume and bounce.

What’s your skincare regime?
By Terry products are my favourite skincare products – the Cellularose Micellar Water is so good at getting rid of my make-up and I try to get facials as regularly as I possibly can. Recently I was recommended to go and see Jasmina Vico in Marylebone and she works wonders.

What’s your number one beauty tip/secret? 
Sleep! I have to sleep for sanity and to switch off, as well as to look good!

What beauty advice have you passed onto your daughters?
It’s a classic one but – take your makeup off every evening it is so important. Also, be happy and confident! Love yourself, project your best bits and disguise the ones you’re not happy with. Both my daughters have good lips and eyes which I encourage them to show off.

Which other women do you think are beautiful?
I love all the old movie stars but I also love natural beauty. Beauty comes from self-confidence and happiness.

Lulu Guinness working on the design for her ghd collaboration

Lulu Guinness working on the design for her ghd collaboration.

What is your signature fragrance?
Anything Diptyque, I like to get the new one for the season when they are released.

How do you pamper yourself?
Firstly, I’d like to ban the word pamper! Beauty regimes are hard work and pamper is a word that irritates me. To relax I have a bath. Baths are essential for me to unwind and relax, and they give me the time to think.

How would you describe your style?
Dress to flatter yourself and don’t follow trends – dress to make the most of what you’ve got.

Do you have a favourite shop/designer?
Now I have launched clothing I tend to only wear my own brand! I designed a lot of dresses that suit my shape.

What’s the best piece of fashion advice you’ve been given?
Trust your gut and dress in your own style.

What is the most money you’ve ever spent on an item of clothing?
I can’t remember how much it was, but it was a John Rochas embroidered dress and it was beautiful!

What are your style dos and don’ts?
It’s all about disguise and maximising your best features.

How big is your wardrobe?
Well you can walk into it, let’s put it that way…

Lulu Guinness x ghd

Lulu brought her signature pink and red lip motifs to her new ghd designs.

Who is your style icon?
Elsa Schiaparelli.

Sum up your brand in three words.
My brand Lulu Guinness is iconic, ironic and British.

What does your iconic lip print symbolize? 
The lip that is the icon of my brand all came from myself wearing bright red lipstick every day, which became a signature look for me. Bringing the lips to the ghd stylers has been really exciting. I love the subtlety of colour of every pink and I think the final styler is very pretty.  As this partnership is supporting breast cancer charities we chose a pink lip for the occasion – and I have even started wearing a pink lipstick for the first time ever!

Tell us about your history with ghd?
I first heard about ghd through my daughters; getting the new ghd styler was so exciting for them! It was like getting an iPhone for Christmas or birthdays. It seemed that everyone needed ghds; they were the only straighteners to have. And I personally have been using the ghd Air hairdryer with the diffuser attached for years, it gives me the perfect volume needed. I use it every day to style my hair – and now I have one that I designed myself which I love!

Why did you want to get involved in the ghd pink charity campaign?
This is a moment in history for me as this is ghd’s first ever fashion brand partnership and I am so excited for us to launch the collection. The ghd annual pink collection is so iconic and has raised an incredible amount of money for breast cancer charities globally (almost $1,000,000 in New Zealand). I am thrilled to be a part of the campaign this year and hope that my design helps to raise even more valuable money for charity.  Amazingly, ghd is donating $10 from every dryer and $20 from every styler to Breast Cancer Foundation New Zealand – it’s such an amazing cause. What particularly appealed to me about working with a breast cancer charity is that it’s a women’s charity. And really my mission in life through my brand is to cheer women up, give them a moment of humour when maybe they’re going through a difficult time and to feel pretty and feminine.

The Lulu Guinness x ghd collection is limited edition and features Lulu’s iconic lip print on the straightener and hairdryer designs. With every purchase, $20 from the ghd pink straightener and $10 from every pink hairdryer will be donated to Breast Cancer Foundation NZ.


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