French It-Girl Violette Serrat On Lipstick Staying Power And Embracing Anti-Make-Up Rules This Summer
There is no uniform more synonymous with the iconic French Girl aesthetic than a crisp white shirt, a pair of Sezane Brut jeans and a simple red lip. And there's one woman at the forefront, the make-up artist Violette Serrat who is both the embodiment of the more quintessential French Girl and a trailblazer for avant-garde beauty. As one of the world's most prominent make-up masterminds, Serrat knows about the power of playing with the classic and the contemporary, be it via a statement lip, a swipe of lilac eyeliner or embracing subtle touches of glitter.
Here, ELLE UK sit down with the Guerlain Creative Director to discuss the evolution of French Girl beauty, the biggest trends taking shape this season, and her make-up moodboard...
On the summer blush trends to know...
'I like to wear blush in a few different ways during the summer - I'll either have a flush, so simply a super natural hint of colour (applied anywhere you would have a natural flush). I also love experimenting with a very diffused, velvety, doll-like blush, paired with glowy lips and dewy eyelids. Terracotta blush is also gaining traction this season which takes on a more airbrushed and matte finish. In terms of application and placement, it's all about what works for you - at the end of the day, blush is a blood flow. It should be placed wherever you have a natural blood flow.'
On embracing anti-make-up rules...
'I don't like make-up rules because it completely goes against the idea that make-up is a creative form of expression. We shouldn't just adhere to trends that don't feel right to us. I feel like everybody should do what speaks to them and and make-up is really just a tool through which to express yourself. Makeup is to celebrate - not to hide - yourself. Have fun and enjoy the process.'
On lipstick staying power...
'If you find a lipstick never stays put, it could be down to dehydration, rather than the formula. Before I drink water, I put a little grain of Celtic salt under my tongue, because Celtic salt has all the minerals you need and helps you to retain hydration. And then when I use a lip balm, I put some of my Boum-Boum Milk on first, because it's so liquid that it's like water for your lips. And I'll use the lip oil as a weekly treatment to lock in moisture.'
On the best season to experiment...
'The best season to really express beauty is fall. I experiment with burgundy eyeshadow and dark brown lipstick, while in the summer I opt for a red lipstick and maybe with glitter on my eyes. But everything has to be really, really fresh. So i think it's more femme fatale in fall, and in summer ,it's more about waking up your creativity and your sensuality.'
On the statement look of the season...
'Bright, luminous red and coral lip tones. This summer, we're relaunching Guerlain Rouge, and I'm very excited; I wanted to change the packaging and launch a series of bold new colours. I've redesigned everything and there are 40 new shades, each one with a unique style and story, and packed with lipcare ingredients.'
On the evolution of French Girl Beauty...
'I think French beauty is all about taking care of what Mother Nature gave us. We're super into skincare, food as medicine, food as supplements instead of popping daily supplements. We let our skin breathe and take care of it. We focus on natural skin and use use makeup in the same we use fashion. It's an accessory and an extension of who we are.'
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