Violette’s approach to beauty often seems more akin to that of a painter working on canvas than a makeup artist applying cosmetics to the skin.
I have long lusted over the way Violette, a self-taught, French makeup artist, smudges eyeshadows, paints cheeks and tints the lips. There are few makeup artists whose work elicits an almost emotional response from me.
What struck me initially, and continues to do so, about Violette’s work is that she truly never masks the face. She uses makeup to enhance and to play, and in a world that feels full of careful contouring and calculated applications, she breathes life and fun back into beauty- which is exactly what beauty should be about.
2017 saw Violette (you won’t find a surname, for those trying to do so) tapped as Estée Lauder’s Global Beauty Director, with 2018 heralding the launch of her first complete collection for the brand- the aptly named ‘Poppy Sauvage’ collection (which you can read an in depth review of here).
Twelve months on, we celebrate the launch of ‘Oh Naturelle!,’ the Beauty Director’s second collection for the heritage brand. Where Poppy Sauvage was rich in deep reds and dramatic burgundies, Oh Naturelle! places the emphasis on fresh nudes and creamy, sexy skin tones.
“For the Oh Naturelle! Collection, I wanted to create essential nudes for every woman to enhance and celebrate her beauty and femininity,” Violette explains of the collection. “The collection’s soft shades, pearlescent finishes and luxurious textures were created to inspire all women to “get undressed” with their makeup and let their natural beauty shine through.”
Arguably the hero of the Oh Naturelle! portfolio is the 15 Pan Eyeshadow Palette, a colour edit I had expected to be primarily nude which, pleasingly, is filled with everything from creme and taupe through to a rich berry and a glistening candy pink. While in line with the warm, pink tones of last year’s NARS Wanted, Urban Decay Naked Cherry et al, this palette still feels different– perhaps its the accompanying imagery (as produced by Violette), but I think it’s more to do with the number of true nudes on offer here as opposed to one or two neutrals spliced between wild, varyingly wearable pops of colour. I have found all of the shadows in this palette to perform equally well, and while the shimmers (as per most shimmers) could benefit from a primer on a dry lid, the formulas all feel quite creamy and the pigments are intense. That pigment renders all of the shades fairly intense on the lid, so if you are after a truly natural look then I would suggest using a light hand.
As per Poppy Sauvage, the Oh Naturelle! collection sees the brand’s Pure Colour Envy Paint-On Liquid Lip Colours reintroduced in new, limited edition colours- all four of which are nude and with a matte finish. I have trialled two of said colours (Oh La La and Nude Tease) and I have found the formula to feel identical on the lips to the original Colour Envy Paint-On Liquid Lip Colour formula- intense, comfortable, long-wearing and not overly drying on the lips (although it is always worth noting that matte, liquid lipsticks will always feel more drying than their cream counterparts).
The limited edition Oh Naturelle! collection by Violette for Estée Lauder is available now online and at Estée Lauder counters.
Products have been supplied by Estée Lauder with no obligation to post and all opinions are, as always, my own.
