ABOUT HAZEL
Hazel Gardiner is an East London based floral artist, teacher, content creator and gardener. After surviving a rare cancer diagnosis in 2007, she decided to change her career from television production to vintage retail and events. Her commercial knowledge and skills in creative direction and marketing ensured that this was a quick success and, during this time, she worked on projects for brands including Tate and Somerset House.
In 2016, wanting to explore her love and natural instinct for gardening, and wishing to create with her hands, she re-trained at McQueens Flower School in London. Hazel Gardiner Design was founded shortly after. The business has established its own narrative in floral design. Her signature style is exuberant and often merges fresh, silk, and dried materials. Her distinctive way of floral storytelling has led to work with high-profile clients including Nike, Liberty, Matches and SpaceNK. Hazel works on brand events, retail installations, campaigns, editorials and a select number of weddings.
She is passionate about promoting diversity in floristry and aims to help create more opportunities within horticulture for people of colour. She was recently approached by Royal Florist Shane Connolly to discuss these issues. To help spread the word, she has written articles for the British Flower Association and The Florist. She continues to work with Future Gardeners and the Us Programme offering both floristry and business training. Hazel was selected by the RHS to represent a career in floral design as being a viable option for all.
Floral education has always been a priority, teaching imaginative workshops to both private and corporate clients. In winter 2020 Hazel launched a curated wreath kit with accompanying video tutorials. This format will continue into 2021 with further product launches planned. This year also sees Hazel expand into broadcasting with various projects launching this year. She will also complete work on a dedicated studio and workshop space to accommodate the growing business.
Hazel was has been recently profiled in LivingEtc, House Beautiful, International Traveller and The Telegraph. Her work can be seen in the campaign for The C List, launched in Feb 2021. A new beauty hub for cancer patients created by celebrity MU artist Lisa Potter-Dixon and ITV Producer Helen Addis.
An Interview with Hazel
What is your earliest beauty memory?
Watching my Mum put on her make-up, she favoured a bright lip with black kohl eyeliner. This and the scent of her 4711 Eau de Cologne. Seeing that bottle still evokes so many memories.
What is your beauty routine?
I love a beauty routine full of steps, I find the ritual of cleansing and moisturising very meditative. In the morning after a cleanse, I will mist with a hydrating spray to prime and refresh my skin. I then pat on Wild Beauty’s Nourishing Eye Cream followed by Vitamin C, the Hyaluronic Acid Serum and a natural oil for a glowing complexion. I always finish with a cream moisturiser with added SPF.
What do you love most about Wild Beauty and why?
That the ingredients are grown in North Wales. I have Welsh heritage and my Grandma and Dad lived in the area. I have treasured memories of summers spent exploring and experiencing the terrain. To me the sustainability and provenance of my skincare is just as important as the benefits they deliver. Wild Beauty is completely transparent about what goes into their range. The quality is undeniable which you can tell from fragrance and texture alone.
What does organic beauty mean to you?
A product that can substantiate its claims of using naturally cultivated ingredients, grown without the use of pesticides and cruelty free.
How important is a healthy lifestyle to you and what do you do to achieve this?
It is vital, for my mental health. For me to feel the best emotionally and physically I must take care of myself. I was diagnosed with cancer in 2007 which changed my relationship with food and exercise. I’ve always gone to the gym, but this made me pause and dissect what I was putting into and onto my body. Like anything it is a balancing act as I love food and a nice wine! I like to combine HIT sessions with slower intensity Pilates and yoga.
How do you find balance in your life?
By setting boundaries and practising self-compassion. Realising what you need to function healthily and more importantly that you deserve to feel balanced is vital.
What is your wild beauty escape?
Anywhere with a Spa surrounded by a rugged landscapes or gardens. To me a beauty treatment is the embodiment of relaxation, especially facials! Being surrounded by beautiful flora and fauna is my ultimate form of escapism.
What 3 things would you take with you on that escape?
Wild Beauty’s Nourishing Lip Balm, a copy of Gardens Illustrated and a companion.