Some of my favourite beauty people IV: Michael Ashton

As well as being my favourite make up artist and the only person I'd trust with my face on my wedding day, London-based Michael Ashton is one of my best friends. A constant inspiration and all round fabulous man to have around, I appreciate having Michael so much in my life that this could just be filed as a "Daily Delight" as well! Here's 10 minutes with the man you NEED to have your face "done" by ASAP...

How would you describe what you do?
I work across the celebrity/music/fashion and entertainment mediums as a hair/make-up artist. Some of my clients include Adele, Peaches Geldof, Bianca Jagger, Martine McCutcheon, Elle Macpherson, Jade Jagger and Michael Sheen.

How long have you been in the industry now?
I started my career 11 years ago training as a hair stylist and working in one of Auckland’s leading salons, before moving into make-up and beginning my session styling career. I shot editorial for leading New Zealand publications and I was key artist for numerous ANZFW shows. These experiences were a springboard for my international career and before I knew it I had moved to New York to work alongside the M.A.C Pro team at New York Fashion Week. I have now settled in London, which is my home away from home.


Are you currently aligned with any brands?
I currently have a brand/editorial alignment with luxury make up house Chanel, as well as working closely with other high-end and ‘mass-prestige’ brands.

Who are some of your industry heroes?
Pat McGrath is inspirational; I think she has creativity unrivaled by anyone else in the industry. Val Garland has a way of making women look effortlessly polished which is something I’ve always aimed to achieve myself. And finally, Gucci Westman really motivates me to continually strive for the next thing, as she has made a name herself as the go-to artist for the entertainment industry.

What have been a couple of your career highlights?
I would consider working with household names like Elle McPherson and Bianca Jagger as great milestones in my career, but for me one of the greatest highlights has been my ongoing work with a previously unknown recording artist from south London called Adele. We started at grass roots level, and she has since gone on to win two Grammy awards and reached international stardom. Working so close to people in the entertainment industry has put me in some of the most surreal, fabulous and glamorous situations. Just this summer I was working with Peaches Geldof at the Cannes Film Festival and found myself dancing with Kylie Minogue at a Dolce & Gabbana party, sipping champagne with Paris Hilton on the back of a yacht and lying on the beach with faces you’d only generally see in the pages of Hello!

What is one beauty secret that you recommend to every woman? (ie. a product, a trick, a glass of Veuve!)
False eyelashes have been a beauty industry secret for years that every woman should know about! Coming in every shape and size they are a quick-fix trick to giving you eyes that Bambi or any Bond girl would be proud of.

Do you have a favourite desert island product?
My absolute must-have desert island product would have to be Lucus Paw Paw balm. Just because you’re dying of thirst doesn’t mean you should have cracked lips!! Although you don’t need to be on a desert island to use it, it works just as well on the red carpet in the Côte d’Azur. It’s perfect for giving you lush lips, shimmering lids and a freshly flushed sheen to the cheeks.

What is a beauty rule that is made to be broken?
Don’t be afraid to combine both strong lips and eyes together if the moment is right. Not a look for casual daywear, but can be a modern take on old-school Hollywood glamour with the addition of current glittering eye textures and some well placed gloss.

Your favourite beauty moment/era from the last 50 years? (ie. Bianca at Studio 54, Mary Quant, 80’s Versace girls)
For me the 70’s were a wonderful moment in both beauty and fashion history, it was a time where woman were still sexy yet had an understated glamour and softness to the way they presented themselves.

What would your dream job be?
My dream job would be working alongside Tom Ford in a creative capacity, continuing to develop his luxe beauty and fragrance collections that I know will go onto to become as iconic as the Chanel No. 5 bottle.