Gritty Pretty: Hi Violette! Before we get started on your incredible creative vision for Guerlain, we would love to take it back to the very beginning. Where did your love for makeup and beauty come from?

Violette: I actually wanted to be a painter! When I was very young, I took courses in the summer in the South of France. There, I discovered the magic of pigments, how to mix them and create materials. Then, at the Louvre School, I learned to paint in an academic way. I also wanted to become a fashion designer. I studied for a year and I couldn’t decide! One day, for a party, I made up a friend and I realised it was just like dressing a face…I saw all my passions combine into one. I didn’t want to go to makeup school, though. I just like to work on instinct. At the end of the day, if you work very hard, have enough humility to ask for help, and enough strength and confidence in yourself, anything is possible.

GP: Sage advice! Once you decided that you wanted to make a career out of makeup, how did you break into the industry?

V: Honestly, I think it’s a lot of hard work and a little bit of luck. I just really gave my best for the first four years. I knocked on many doors. When I was given the opportunity by Carine Roitfeld to create a test of five stories to show her my work, I worked like my life depended on it. This attitude paid off, I suppose.

GP: You’ve been Guerlain’s Creative Director of Makeup for almost two years now. Why did Guerlain’s brand ethos align with your own creative vision as a makeup artist?

V: I think it’s really the philosophy of makeup as something similar to fashion—it’s an exercise of style. It’s not about fixing or heavy makeup, it’s about sophistication, chicness, audaciousness, innovation and doing our best to be sustainable. It’s a real desire to style the allure of somebody and not impose trends on them. And I love excellence. The way Guerlain works is pushing excellence for me and it’s very special.

GP: Where do you find your inspiration when creating a new product or collection?

V: I feed on everything around me—an encounter, a beautiful landscape, the scent of my daughter’s skin. But above all, I’d say that art provides me with endless inspiration. I’m in the habit of saying that art is the love of my life. I’m a fan of Jean Cocteau’s work; of painters Mark Rothko, Gustav Klimt and Yves Klein. I also love Irving Penn’s photography. Their approaches to colour, lines and materials are all so inspiring to me.

GP: In your opinion, what makes Guerlain formulations superior when it comes to makeup? Why do you love the products so much?

V: It has been a real opportunity for us to push innovation, even with something as simple as a foundation. That’s what it is to work in luxury. And, to me, that’s why Guerlain is a Maison of Haute Couture. I think knowing the story of each product and seeing how we work hard on developing the formulas with the best in the industry makes each product so special. I also love the dedication to sustainability that Guerlain has and working with natural ingredients. The brand has a real 360 vision that shows a real care and respect for what we do. I’m really grateful to work in that way.

GP: What is a surprising element of your role at Guerlain that our readers may not expect?

V: Maybe the strategy side. I don’t only work on the formula and packaging but I also help the brand on positioning itself. I’m very detail-oriented and I know that considering every little detail is how we’re going to position the brand in the best way. It’s a lot of effort but it pays off. That’s how people can really see how much care we have for the brand.

GP: If you had to choose just three Guerlain products to use for the rest of your life, what would they be and why?

V: I would say Rouge G because I really love the formula and I feel like myself and super confident when I’m wearing red lipstick. I also love Terracotta. I just add a little on my cheeks to really create the sun kissed effect I want. And finally, KissKiss Bee Glow. It is super comfortable and the formula is ultra-hydrating.

GP: And finally, what is the greatest makeup tip you live by and think everyone should know?

V: When applying your foundation, the best way to get an illusion of not wearing anything is to remove the foundation from the bridge of your nose. It will give you a super natural effect and that’s what we want when wearing foundation.