She’s part of one of the UK’s most popular girl groups and is a regular on the front row of the most prestigious fashion shows. Oh, and she’s a style and beauty icon with a hit make up line under her belt. We grill the gorgeous Nicola Roberts on her best beauty tips, favourite products and the inspiration behind her make up range.

What inspired you to create the Dainty Doll range?

Being pale, trying to find foundations and concealers that were light enough for my skin tone was proving impossible. I was very aware that the cosmetic market didn’t cater for women with paler skin tones, so I decided to create my own range. I wanted to give women like me the chance to effortlessly find and wear make up appropriate for their skin, instead of a tone four times darker than their natural colour.

What are your personal favourite products in the range? Which ones do you wear on a daily basis?

I love all the products; the mineral powder foundation is just so smooth. The formulation we created is really lovely – light but also layerable for days when you need a little more coverage. I also love my Dainty Doll Wonderbalm. I use it to tame my eyebrows, nourish my lips and lashes, and soften my hands. It really is a wonder product and I couldn’t live without it now I have it.

Which brands inspired you when you were working on the Dainty Doll range?

Over the years I have been lucky enough to be able to try so many different brands, whether it be for photo-shoots, stage or just day-to-day life. I really love make up and trying to find the new “it” product that is exciting and makes all girls feel great. I was inspired by lots of products and I took the market into account (as well as what was missing from it) when creating Dainty Doll.

Do you like having your make up done by a professional make up artist or do you prefer to do your own?

I like both. Sometimes it’s nice to just sit at your dressing table, do your own hair and make up and enjoy girly time. In fact, I think it can be quite therapeutic! But then sometimes it’s nice to have it done professionally; they can always do your hair better than you can, and it’s great to see the professional touch with added gloss.

What’s next for the Dainty Doll range? Are there any more products in the pipeline?

I’m currently working on summer and winter products for Dainty Doll. Introducing new things to the line is exciting and it’s great we are in a position to do that so early on. We’re also working on our Dainty Doll App, which is really exciting. I always wanted to bring her to life and some of the ideas we have for the App lets me do that; it’s fun!

Is sun protection a big factor in your daily beauty routine? Which products would you recommend?

It’s great that foundations have SPF built in as they care for your skin as they cover, but, as the sun starts to come out, yes I do also add SPF to be sure I am protected. I once went to have my skin examined for sun damage and was so shocked by the condition it was in. I now wear SPF and keep out of the sun while on holiday.

You’re regularly seen on fashion show front rows and have reinvented the “English Rose” look. Which looks do you think most flatter pale skin tones?

I think you can pull any look off as long as you’re confident in it. It might turn out that certain looks don’t suit you as much as safer, everyday looks, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t try them. Beauty and fashion is there to have fun with and shouldn’t be so serious; that stuff can drive you mad.

Have you always embraced your skin tone, or have you felt pressured to dabble in fake tans in the past?

Up until the age of 22 I hated my pale skin. I tried everything and anything to be tanned. My obsession with needing to be brown to feel attractive was unhealthy and I was unhappy. When I look back at myself in those years it makes me a little bit sad, and I can’t bear the thought of other young women hating the skin they’re in. Hopefully with fashion and the trend for unique looks, people will feel like they can be more original than universal.

What’s your biggest confidence-boosting tip?

Learn who you are and where you stand. Figure out what little pocket you fit in and run with it. Once I figured that out my life became a much easier and happier place.

If you could only wear one shade of lipstick for the rest of you life what would it be?

It would be my natural lip colour, just exaggerated a little. Everyone’s lip shades are unique to them and I think it’s really pretty when women wear their own lip colour.

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