Look at Yourself In the Mirror, You Woman of Beauty

When it comes to make-up, we want advice not just from trustworthy people but also from professionals. Yes, of course, social media plays a big part in the fashions, but it’s not the most honest place for authentic guidance. When we are relatively new to using it, it can be a really exciting and explorative path, but as we mature, it can become confusing. How do we navigate and learn how to, Look at Yourself In The Mirror, You Woman of Beauty? There is some bright light now. Find out more here from one of the queens of this artistry and her label, Ruby Hammer, and hear what she has to say in our exclusive article.

Ruby Hammer was born to Bangladeshi parents and only arrived in the UK at the tender age of 12. She has become an icon in the world of make-up. Starting out in 1984, working at London Fashion Week. She honed her craft working with Supermodels, celebrities, on editorials, catwalk shows and advertising.

She started her first line of make-up called Ruby and Millie in 1988. It was known for its innovative, playful products and affordable pricing, embracing a range of skin tones. It was the first major UK cosmetics brand to launch in 30 years and started the trend for artist-driven make-up lines. It is fair to say that Ruby Hammer MBE ( appointed in 2007) is a serial beauty entrepreneur. And today is no different. At .Cent, we asked her some about her beauty line and how we can all approach our faces with more confidence and joyous yet easy beauty.

Q; As a woman working within the beauty industry and in many ways growing up publicly in it, and now being of an age where you have a huge amount of knowledge behind you. What one piece of advice would you give to older women when doing their make-up??

Look in the mirror… Our faces change and evolve. The skin, the contours, the way colour sits. What suited you at 25 won’t necessarily bring out your best at 55. Some things you may need to increase to pay off, and some things you may need to reduce… look in the mirror and assess.

My advice is to keep things lighter in texture but richer in care. Opt for formulas that enhance radiance rather than mask, it is easier to start with lighter coverage and build up then spend forever trying to blend away. A little concealer where needed, soft definition around the eyes, and colour on the lips or cheeks can transform. It’s not about chasing youth — it’s about looking like you on your best day, whether that is with a no-makeup makeup look or glam.

Q: As you have produced a make-up collection before, what things did you know you really wanted to do this time that you couldn’t do before

This time, I wanted absolute freedom. When I created my earlier ranges, there were always commercial or retail constraints. This time, I’ve distilled decades of artistry and experience into a very considered edit. I didn’t want hundreds of products; I wanted multifunctional, precise tools and essentials that truly work for everyone. The collection had to be portable, timeless, and above all functional. It is designed to be used ‘as well as’ not instead of your existing products… I love products as much as the next person, but we don’t need thousands. 

Q: How can we all help women to get out of a make-up rut?  Young people are brilliant at chopping and changing their style, whether it be influenced by social media or even friends, they seem to have no fear, but as women get older, they often get stuck with a ‘make-up’ style they have worn for years. What advice would you offer on what products from your new collection, do you think could help, not just with a new look, but new confidence?

It’s about gentle encouragement and permission to experiment again. Younger generations are fearless; they swap trends as easily as playlists. But as we mature, many of us cling to the look we perfected years ago, even when our features change. I encourage women to try just one new thing: a different lip shade, a new way to line the eyes, or a cream texture instead of powder. Sometimes, one small shift is all it takes to spark new confidence. 

From my collection, I love the colours; it has taken years to be able to select just a handful of colours that can adapt and suit all skin tones. The red of the Cheek Colour which mimics blood under the skin, or the Lip Serum Balm in nude, which has a hint of pink to avoid foundation looking lips… and each product has been considered with what can I either include or exclude to make it better for the skin, whether it is skincare inspired or removing a volatile. I have a list of every ingredient used and its purpose on my website… I want people to have the facts, without the fear. 

Q: The packaging of your collection is stunning.  How did you go about thinking and then working with a product designer to come up with it?

I approached packaging with the same philosophy I apply to make‑up; considered, timeless, chic and functional. I wanted clean lines, a tactile feel, and objects that would look as beautiful on a dressing table as they feel in the hand. Working with my team was a collaborative process: balancing luxury with sustainability, form with function. The result is packaging that feels modern, ageless, and worthy of the formulas inside. 

Q: You have a very tightly very well, curated collection, so why did you choose the products you did bring out, and can you also explain how the products are almost ageless?

Every item had to earn its place. I chose products that I could use daily in my kit and that I know women of all ages need. Tools and formulas that simplify, not overwhelm. Agelessness, to me, means products that transcend trends; they work on a 20‑year‑old and on a 70‑year‑old because they enhance rather than disguise. These are the anchors of great make‑up, not fleeting novelties.

Q: You still obviously love make-up and what you do, where did the passion come from originally and what keeps the fire still burning so brightly?

Passion cannot be learned or bought… From the start, I was fascinated by make‑up’s power to transform, not just faces but confidence, self‑expression, and the way we carry ourselves. I would watch my mum go from housewife to looking like a Bollywood star. 

I was lucky to come into the industry when artistry was truly celebrated, and that passion never left me. What keeps it alive is people… helping someone see themselves differently, or feel a little more like their best self. That’s the spark that still excites me.

Q: Is there anything important you want to say that isn’t covered here?

I’d only add this: beauty is never about age, it’s about attitude. Make‑up is not about hiding but about revealing the strength, the softness, the character in each of us. My collection is designed to be your ally in that journey.

In the collection, find key items to set your make-up bag alight. The cheek colour comes in 3 shades, in its divine twist up oval, it is so easy to swipe and blend on the cheek for a natural flush of buildable colour.

It’s lightweight, buildable, creamy and has been expertly formulated in Korea with skin-friendly ingredients to maintain moisture balance and complement all skin tones. Ruby says:-

‘Blush instantly revitalises a lacklustre complexion, providing an immediate healthy glow’.

Next up, meet the duo system for the eyes and brow, the Mascara & Brow Duo. This is a really clever all-in-one item that has won many awards. The most important starting point for your face is the eyes and brows that frame the face. By pairing a mascara and brow gel in one curated offering, this duo becomes a daily ritual and a visual reminder: to treat the entire eye area with care, precision, and intention.

This innovative tubing formula, three years in the making, delivers instant definition while nurturing the lashes with every wear. Infused with a potent complex of caffeine, copper tripeptides, hydrolysed hyaluronic acid, tripeptides, and pentapeptides, it strengthens and conditions over time, promoting healthier, fuller-looking lashes. Ruby says:-

‘This is the white T-shirt of mascaras—a timeless essential‘

Next up is the Precision Liquid Eyeliner, a go-to tool for creating crisp, controlled definition, whether you’re tracing the lash line or mastering a graphic flick. The ultra-fine, tapered brush tip allows for smooth, precise application, whether you’re creating the thinnest line or building bold definition.

The high-performance pigment delivers an intense, true-black payoff that glides on effortlessly and sets quickly to a soft matte finish. Ruby says:-

‘Liner is transformative. It defines the eye in seconds’

And finally, in the make-up offering, find the Lip Serum Balm. A twist-up pencil available in six colours. Again, this delivers on health as well as tone.

Each balm is infused with a curated complex of skin-conditioning ingredients known for their restorative and protective properties, that include, Sativa Seed Oil for anti inflation, Meadowfoam Seed Oil to lock in moisture, Licorice Leaf Extract,  for balance and plumping, Dipalmityl Hydroxyproline + Palmitic Acid,   plant-derived that reinforce the skin barrier and help reduce the appearance of fine lines and finally Cocoa Butter, rich in fatty acids, to condition and repair rough or chapped skin. Ruby Says

Healthy lips are the foundation of any lip look. This is more than a balm.

And on a finishing note, the collection contains really helpful, excellently designed and well-thought-out tools. These include magnetic brush sets, cheek brushes, make-up bags, nail and foot files and even beautiful porcelain brush holders. There is also an Ask The Artist section on the website that can help with a myriad of questions.

This is a collection made for people, not models, for anyone who wants to make up but not feel intimidated. As Ruby has so many years of expertise, it means the products are not just well-made, well thought out, but truly products we want to use.

Find all the products here at RubyHammer.com. All images with thanks to Ruby Hammer.

If you enjoyed reading Look at Yourself In the Mirror, You Woman of Beauty, then why not read Protest Record Are A Bright here

.Cent Magazine, London; Luxury Minded