It’s been less than thirty minutes since we stepped foot into Rosemary Ferguson’s London flat and she’s already working her magic in front of the camera. She’s just rushed over from an appointment with a private client, not that you can tell. Quite in the same way as her close friend Kate Moss, the moment she steps in front of the camera she moves with an insouciant ease that makes it difficult to take your eyes off her.
Lean and lithe with a thrown together elegance, she’s strikingly beautiful in a natural way. It’s partly why the late photographer Corinne Day was transfixed when she rather ironically discovered Rosemary age 15 at Macdonald’s on Oxford Street. A photo shoot for Yoji Yamamoto with David Sims was her first booking, followed by French Vogue with Paolo Roversi. A string of covers followed with the likes of i-D and The Face and at 18, she deferred her place at London School of Economic to move into a flat in New York with Sims, Emma Balfour and hairstylist Guido Palau.
Today, Rosemary is 39 and a long way from the lifestyle she lived as a model. Now married to artist Jake Chapman and the mother of three daughters, she is a trained naturopath and nutritionist, with a string of private clients at a clinic on London’s Harley Street. Away from her flat in London, she spends the majority of her time in the family home on the Oxford-Gloucestershire border, converting those around her about the power of juicing. Recently, she packaged all of her knowledge into a definitive book called Juice.
But before you start going all cynical, this isn’t just another evangelical tome from a model-turned-wellness guru about cleaning up your act. In fact, unlike many books out there that take a unrealistic approach, Rosemary accepts that many of us are probably more inclined to stretch for a glass of pinot grigo over a juice, no matter how well meaning our intentions. Instead, the book aims to show how taking just a few small steps can make a big difference for our overall wellbeing.
Healthy eating has always been in her DNA – her grandmother opened the first health food shop in the UK – and she’s just as conscious about what she puts on her body as what she puts into it. That’s partly we quizzed on her on everything from the skincare and make-up brands she swears by to the foods we all should be eating to nourish ourselves from the inside out. Here, she reveals all.
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I transitioned from modelling into having three kids. When I started practising nutrition, I had three children and my youngest were very close in age so going back to modelling full time seemed a little unrealistic. I have always been interested in health foods, and wanting to do it as a career meant I needed to get qualified, so that is what I did! They are quite similar worlds in one way and very different in others, the fashion industry is a leader in new fads and foods and health and wellbeing, while also being about parties and late nights!
My new book is all about juices and smoothies and what they can do for you. It is a book on juices and smoothies and what they can do for you. I have also done a 1, 2 and 3-day detox for those so inclined. I would really love to help people understand what food can do for them and how important it is in helping us feel vital. It’s different from what’s already out there firstly, because it is written with certain health concerns in mind, but also because I’m a nutritionist, so it’s more explanatory about why and how certain nutrients are important in our diets. In my experience people like to know why they are doing certain things, it helps people to stick to the plan!
I’m not strict with my diet but I am firm believe in keeping all options open and just trying to moderate ones vices. My advice is always to take one small step in trying to adopt a healthier lifestyle. You can’t climb a mountain with one big step – take small ones in the right direction and you will get there. Decide what it is you are going to do, whether it is having a juice, going for a run, going to have a chat to someone in your local health food store, going to see a nutritionist, not eating sugar for 3 days a week, not drinking between Monday and Thursday. Whatever it is, it has to be manageable for you personally and then you can build on it.
Healthy eating has just a great an impact on your skin and hair as it does the rest of your body. Vitamin C is really important for the collagen in our skin, so any berries and citrus are good way of getting a boost. Vitamin A is brilliant too – think orange veggies like sweet potato, carrots and squash. Zinc is essential if you have problem skin too and oysters are one of the highest sources! On top of those you need to have a liver that is functioning well so try juices that have beetroot and kale or other greens. Add some lemon and carrots and you have a great skin juice! Remember, beauty isn’t skin deep!
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The skin is the biggest organ of the body and yes what goes on the skin, ends up in the body, so natural is better. For my body wash, body moisturisers and hair products I always use natural, sometimes on my face I will use other types, but generally I stick to the most simple I can find. To give my skin that little bit of extra TLC I use an Umbrian clay mask, which is lovely. REN Skincare and Eve Lom do some great masks. I love the rescue mask – it’s got me out of a lot of trouble where my skin is concerned.
My morning routine is simple: I use a cleanser in the shower and always apply a face oil straight afterwards. I don’t know when my love of them started but I’ve always been a fan of facial oils. I always carry one from Jurlique or Aromatherapy Associates with me. Sisley’s Black Rose Precious Face Oil has held me in good stead over the years too. I pick it up every time I’m at the airport. I always follow the face oil with my favourite moisturiser from Ilia. I’m also a big fan of Zelens for those days when my skin is feeling tight and parched.
My mother has never been big on make-up – just a bit of mascara and maybe a bit of lippy and that’s as far as it went – and I’m exactly the same. Actually, one thing I do swear by are eyelash curlers. I never understand why people don’t use them. They are amazing and because I don’t wear much make up they do really help the eyes pop. Otherwise, I’d say my go-to look is just to have hydrated and fresh looking skin with a bit of mascara and a sweep of eyeliner. Charlotte Tilbury make-up delivers on all of those fronts, especially for skin. Sienna Miller is always has great, glowing skin and Uma Thurman’s skin always looks pretty amazing. As you can tell, I’m a big skin girl.
My hair is a bit of a disaster zone. It is very fine and I have to blow dry the frizz out of it most days and that’s why I really invest in great hair products. Purely Perfect shampoo and conditioner are my go-tos and I’m a big fan of Nuxe hair and body oil too, especially when I’m on holiday and want to protect my hair from the sea and sun.
Juice by Rosemary Ferguson, £11.99, Amazon. Images by Dvora for The Lifestyle Edit.