Harold James

How do you conjure effortlessly elegant yet paparazzi-proof glamour—for the sweeping red carpet at Cannes, the steps at the Met, the front row at Couture, or the cover of Vanity Fair France? If you’re Naomi Watts, Eiza Gonzalez, Sabrina Elba, Eva Green, or Adèle Exarchopoulos, you ring up the new makeup artist to know: Paris-based Harold James. The charming Frenchman is in-demand the world over for his sensual, statement-making looks. The trick to achieving his particular brand of nonchalant, quintessentially French chic, he says, is to “subtly dial back the intensity of the lips or cheeks once the look is complete. Diffuse your blush or bronzer with a big, clean brush (to avoid any harsh lines); blot your lips on a tissue.” It's no surprise the VIOLET CODE APPROVED favorites he stocks in his kit, and on his vanity, are an expert edit of complexion perfectors, smoky eye essentials, and straightforward skin care heroes. Here’s what’s in his BAG.