Archive copy by Jenni Baden Howard

Five years on, many more products and a British outpost later (Blisslondon, the spa’s first destination outside America, opened its doors last winter), Kilgore hasn’t changed her get-stuck-in approach. She has been known to shape wayward eyebrows on the spot, and to offer unsolicited beauty advice to fellow passengers on transatlantic flights (along with a freebie or two). Who needs an in-flight beauty therapist when you’re seated next to "Miss Bliss"?

Kilgore is on the side of the pond this week, for the launch of Blisslabs Conditioning Color - a brilliantly edited, capsule make-up collection. In addition, the first QuickBliss Beauty Bar will open later this summer, at Harvey Nichols. At the Knightsbridge store, British “Blissers” (Kilgore’s term) will be able to indulge in a spot of quickie pampering, Bliss-style. A range of express “services” will be available, including mini-manicures, waxing and eyelash tinting.

‘Lately, we’ve seen an increase in requests for quick beauty boosts,’ says Kilgore. ‘Women are so busy juggling their families, friends and careers, they don’t have time to slot in regular two hour treatments. With QuickBliss, we plan to offer a fast beauty option, so that shoppers can stop for a little “spa-ing”, on the go. I’m also terribly excited that BlissLabs will have a spot in Harvey Nicks.’

Famous faces who might be spotted at the bar include Claudia Schiffer, Liv Tyler, Heidi Klum and Kate Moss, who all frequent the London spa. Stateside regulars include Madonna, Uma Thurman and Jennifer Lopez.

According to Kilgore, treatment-wise, British and American preferences are ‘uncannily’ similar. ‘Everyone still clamours for the Triple Oxygen Facial,’ she says. ‘And the Hot Milk Pedicure and Ginger Rub are big hits. However, more serious resurfacing treatments, such as “microdermabuffing” (a skin-smoothing facial, where tiny crystal particles are blown onto the skin) and the “alpha-beta peel” (a fruit acid exfoliating treatment), are not as popular here yet.’

Product-wise, says Kilgore, we steer towards super-moisturising lotions and potions. ‘The water in London is so hard, so there’s always a run on the Lemon + Sage Body Butter and Remède Moisture Intensive Cream. It’s the same with the Slender Active Amplifier body-firming serum - I blame those Joseph Jeans. The sizes are minute, so it’s all about the Amplifier - unless you’re willing to eat lettuce for a month.’

It is just such frank, funny observations, along with her unstuffy, "I can relate" approach, that make Kilgore - and her products - such a hit. The new BlissLabs Conditioning Color line is characteristically no-nonsense and results-orientated. ‘The idea was to do a “no make-up artist necessary” range,’ says Kilgore. ‘I’m bad with make-up brushes, and I tend to use the same, easy colours every morning. I favour anything that I can put on with my fingers. I’ve also heard so many women complain that, after a department store makeover, they got home and didn’t know what do with all the products they’ve bought.’

The back-to-basics collection comprises a Skintwin SPF12 foundation (£13), Powder Brows (£13) pencil, Lidsticks (£12.50) drag-free eyeliner, Blisslash (£13) mascara, and Blissgloss (£15) sheer-but-creamy lip colour, in tints such as Half-Naked (nude) and Cherry Good.

‘As a test, I limited the contents of my make-up bag to the BlissLabs colours,’ says Kilgore. ‘And, may I just say, it’s great stuff.’ The thing is, Kilgore can - and she gets away with it. The products bear all the hallmarks of an obsessive industry insider. The brow pencil, for example, combines the softness of powder shadow with the ease of a pencil, and the shades are spot-on. ‘Creating the shades was the easy part, but it took months to perfect the textures,’ admits Kilgore. ‘To me, there’s nothing worse than a gloss that chaps your lips, or a foundation which leaves you looking like a “cakeface”.’

Not one to rest on her laurels, Kilgore is already working on the Next Big Thing - including a “top secret” Bliss fragrance. ‘The “sniff” is still in the works,’ is all she’ll say.

More QuickBliss locations are planned, which means that Kilgore will be clocking up a lot more airmiles over the coming months. So, if you find yourself sitting next to her on a plane, try to look stressed and in urgent need of pampering - you might just get lucky.

• Bliss Conditioning Color is available at Blisslondon. Mail order, tel: 020 7584 3888. The QuickBliss Beauty Bar will open on 1 August at Harvey Nichols, Knightsbridge. Inquiries, tel: 020 7201 8685.