Nationality British Name Ruby Hammer Role Makeup Artist | Education City University London Years active 1990–present | |
 | ||
Occupation Fashion and beauty makeup artist, entrepreneur, columnist Known for Co-founder of Ruby & Millie cosmetics brand Books Face Up: The Essential Make-up Handbook | ||
Alma mater City University London | ||
Behind the bathroom door of ruby hammer
Ruby Hammer, MBE (born 10 December 1961) is a British fashion and beauty makeup artist, columnist, co-founder of Ruby & Millie, and co-founder and Director of Scarlett & Crimson cosmetics brand.
Contents
- Behind the bathroom door of ruby hammer
- How to address hyperpigmentation with ruby hammer get the gloss
- Early life
- Career
- Awards and recognition
- Personal life
- Books
- References
How to address hyperpigmentation with ruby hammer get the gloss
Early life
Hammer was born to Bangladeshi parents in Nigeria where her father was a doctor. She emigrated with her family to Britain at the age of 13. Her parents intended to return to Bangladesh (known as East Pakistan at the time), however, the Bangladesh Liberation War broke out there while they were on holiday in England.
In 1984, Hammer graduated with a BA (Hons) in Economics from City University London. In 1986, whilst pregnant, she modelled in the 1987 Mothercare catalogue.
Career
In 1998, Hammer teamed up with beauty publicist Millie Kendall to create the Ruby & Millie cosmetics brand, sold exclusively in Boots pharmacies nationwide. It became one of the most innovative brands to be launched in the international beauty industry in decades and was the first major UK cosmetics brand to launch in 30 years. In August 1998, the first Ruby & Millie site was opened in Harvey Nichols in Leeds and London.
Hammer has created looks for photographers, runways for designers, including John Galliano and Jasper Conran, and has worked on photo shoots for fashion publications such as Vogue, Elle, Red, Harpers and Queen, Bazaar and Marie Claire. She is regularly quoted on trends, beauty tips and advice.
Hammer worked on advertising campaigns and televisions commercials for international brands such as Oil of Olay, Pantene and Head & Shoulders. She has been asked to launch products, advise on new looks and train personnel for Estee Lauder, Clarins, Clinique, Aveda and Revlon. Her television credits includes The Clothes Show, BBC Style Challenge, Britain's Next Top Model, GMTV, This Morning, and 10 Years Younger, where she was the resident makeup artist for 3 series.
In December 2009, Ruby & Millie launched teen cosmetics range Scarlett and Crimson. In September 2011, Hammer launched launch the cosmetics beauty gifting range "Ruby Hammer Recommends" exclusive to Debenhams. Since March 2012, Hammer has been a beauty columnist for Easy Living magazine.
Awards and recognition
In December 2002, at the launch of the British Asian Fashion Awards held at The Clothes Show, Hammer received a special presentation of the very first award, the "Outstanding Individuals Award", which pays tribute to an individual or group who has made a significant contribution to the British Asian or mainstream fashion industry, recognised her for the role she has carved for herself in the fashion and beauty industry over the past ten years.
In 2007, Hammer was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 2007 New Year Honours for her contribution to the cosmetics industry.
In November 2013, she was nominated for the #EightWomen Awards.
Personal life
In 1985, Hammer married Polish-born entrepreneur George Hammer who was responsible for bringing the Aveda hair and lifestyle brand to QVC. In 1999, they were divorced. In May 2004, her ex-husband married Lebanese housewife Nemri Najdi. In May 2009, Hammer married Italian-Polish hotelier Martin Kuczmarski, after dating for five years.
Her daughter, Reena (born 1987), is creative director for Urban Retreat beauty salons. Between 2004 and 2012, Reena Hammer was romantically linked to actor and model Jonathan Rhys Meyers.
Hammer lives in Maida Vale, London. She can speak fluent Bengali, Hausa and Hindi.