AIL Meets Jameela Jamil

TV presenter and Radio 1 Chart Show host Jameela Jamil is the face – and nails – of Elegant Touch Express Nails. With the summer festival season well and truly upon us, we had a chinwag about all things style and beauty and her top tips for surviving the summer.

Can you describe your style in three words?
Quirky, comfortable glamour.

Tell us about your new Elegant Touch collection.
I was approached by Elegant Touch about becoming the ambassador for the Express Nails collection, so bought to try and I thought they worked really well. I was anxious about seeing the new collection but I couldn't believe how good it was; it was as if every nail had been designed specifically for me! I love the neon nails and I love an accent nail - you can really experiment with these, but the polka dot Minnie nails are my favourite.

The Elegant Touch Express Nails make you look like you've made an effort and add personality to an outfit. I permanently had DIY nail disasters before I started using the range - I don't have time for proper nail care, but these tick all the boxes!

What was it about the brand that appealed to you?
The are so easy to use - I love anything that makes a woman's life easier!

How high maintenance is your fashion and beauty routine?
I'm so low maintenance - I pluck my own eyebrows, I cut my own hair - I'm a fuss free person. I don't have hours to spend in a salon so I wash my hair and then leave it to dry naturally.

I'm so last minute – another reason I fell in love with the Elegant Touch Express Nails! My boyfriend is amazed at how low maintenance I am. He and I take the same amount of time to get ready. I don't do face masks or anything like that as I don't really like pampering. I'm a convenience girl - wash my face with soap and water and then follow with a good moisturiser and that's it. To be honest I really hate spas, they make me feel like I want to escape!

How has your look evolved since your big break, or has it always been the same?
I couldn't have been less interested in beauty a few years ago, it’s really only been since turning 25 that I started to care - that's when I felt I turned into a woman. To be honest before that I was a bit of a soap dodger! Now I take more care about myself and always take my makeup off before bed and apply moisturizer.

My look has only really developed since being on TV. I don't have a stylist – I’ve always styled myself. The sticker on my face thing started because I had a huge spot and was about to interview Russell Brand, so naturally wanted to cover it up with something. I used to be a teacher so had lots of gold stars lying around, so I stuck it on. The media responded well and I thought that's pretty cool. Three years later I'm still wearing it! Beauty and style is all about what works for you. You need to look and feel comfortable.

What’s been your worst fashion or beauty crime? Any looks you look back on and cringe?
Before I was on TV I used to live in GAP tracksuits. On my first day at T4 I turned up dressed like I was going clubbing, I got it totally wrong. Then over the years I’ve found what I feel comfortable in.

What are your top beauty tips for surviving summer festival season?
I think Kate Moss is a big style icon, especially for festivals. The perfect red lip is a make-up essential and I like to use a gel eyeliner for perfecting my flick. I start by following the shape of my eyelid from the outside in. It's difficult to do an accurate line in one go, so I do lots of tiny lines and join them up, adding a bit to either side as I go, ensuring the lines are even.

Toilet paper is an absolute festival essential and sunglasses to cover the shame! I also use a facial illuminator – it changes my face in seconds. Cleansing wipes are also a must-have and a boyfriend jumper is a festival wardrobe staple. I also have 11 pairs of dungarees. You can never have enough pairs of dungarees in your life! I love ankle boots from Office and hats from Jaeger too for perfecting the festival look. And of course my Elegant Touch Express neon nails, or the Ibiza collection which are a really quirky tie dye pattern.

What’s your favourite one-stop London shop?
I always go to H&M for a bargain; they do such amazing designer collaborations and great clothes and lingerie. At fashion week I'm often head to toe in H&M!