Accentuating The Eye | Beauty Lessons | The Violet Files

THE BEST IN BEAUTY
FROM THOSE WHO KNOW BEST

VIOLET GREY began with our search for the best eyelash curler. To find the answer, we formed a band of inside-Hollywood experts and editors — from makeup artists to movie stars — to test every eyelash curler against our rigorous set of standards (the VIOLET CODE). We tested on film sets, on red carpets, and in the back of Jack Nicholson’s limousine — and once we learned which curler would make our lashes curve and not crimp (Utowa, it’s from Japan), we moved on to mascara, lip stain, dry shampoo, and everything else a girl needs in her cosmetic wardrobe. On any given day, we are discovering, testing, and approving best-in-class beauty. The result is a discerning curation of products, tips, and inspiration deemed essential — the Industry’s Beauty Edit.

VIOLET GREY makeup artist Jamie Keller shares tricks of the trade for
attention-grabbing lashes.

Written By Jess Basser Sanders

Eyes that Pop | Original Look | The Violet Files | @violetgrey

— PHOTOGRAPHY BY ANNA PALMA FOR THE VIOLET FILES / MAKEUP BY LISA STOREY

How does one beckon a handsome stranger from the other side of the room? It’s all in the eyes. With just few strategic battings of extra-full (he doesn’t know they’re false) lashes, gazes lock and romance ensues. Specially formulated for those who prefer to let their eyes do the talking, VIOLET GREY’s Eyes-That-Pop Set contains all the essentials for a doe-like, come-hither look. Below, Melrose Place makeup artist Jamie Keller advises on how to make the set work for you, whether you’re in the market for seduction or simply want to look more alert at your Monday morning board meeting.

EYES THAT
POP

VIOLET GREY creates a look using The Eyes-That-Pop Set (and a few extra Violet Code approved products). Tutorial by Jamie Keller.

Charlotte Tilbury - Rock 'N' Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil Bedroom Black

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EYE DEFINE

Keller begins with Charlotte Tilbury’s inky-black pencil liner, drawing along the top lid and giving the line an extension at the end, lending the illusion of big Bambi-like eyes.

Charlotte Tilbury

Rock 'N' Kohl Iconic Liquid Eye Pencil
Bedroom Black

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NARS - Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner Rue Bonaparte

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BRIGHTEN UP

Designed especially for the waterline, this cream-colored liner conceals redness and makes the eye appear larger and brighter—a morning-after boon during the holiday party circuit. Keller also recommends investing in a pointed brush, like Utowa’s #7P, to blend and smudge the color a bit and prevent creasing.

NARS

Larger Than Life Long-Wear Eyeliner
Rue Bonaparte

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ILLUMINATE LIDS

With the focus on thick, lush lashes, Keller recommends keeping the eyelid simple and using this primer in lieu of a traditional shadow. “I would just do a very soft wash to highlight, brighten, and illuminate.”

Tom Ford

Eye Primer Duo

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Chanel - Le Volume De Chanel Mascara 10 Noir

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BE PREPARED

Readying lashes for the falsies to come is supremely important. “Definitely curl your lashes—always,” Keller advises (she favors Utowa’s eyelid-hugging curler). Most false lashes are pre-curled, she notes, so tools like this are essential for teasing your natural lashes into the same shape, which helps the new additions blend in. After curling, apply a light coat of Chanel Le Volume De Chanel mascara from the lash line all the way out to the tips.

Chanel

Le Volume De Chanel Mascara
10 Noir

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Velour Lashes - Wire - Velour Lashes Whispie Me Away

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LUSH LASHES

Applying lashes at home can feel daunting, but Keller has a few tricks up her sleeve to make the process seamless. First on her list is cutting the strips to the right length for your eye. Hold the falsies up to your lash line to measure how much to trim and from which side. Let the size and shape of your eyes (and the lashes) guide you. Cut a little at a time, and keep measuring until they’re the perfect fit. Keller’s secret to smooth application? “I give them a little wiggle and wrap them around my finger to warm them up and add flexibility,” she says.

Velour Lashes - Wire

Velour Lashes Whispie Me Away

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STUCK ON YOU

Next, squeeze a dot of Duo Lash Adhesive onto the back of your hand and use a Q-Tip to apply it along the band of the lashes. Using a finger or tweezers, transfer the false lashes to your eyelid, ensuring that the side with the longer lashes is on the lid’s outer edge.

DUO

Eyelash Adhesive
Dark

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Kevyn Aucoin - Pure Powder Glow Blush Dolline

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TOP IT OFF

With a bold, eye-oriented look, skin should be dewy, simple, and natural. Keller recommends Chanel’s Vitalumière foundation for its lightweight feel. Follow up with a swipe of this Kevyn Aucoin blush and Charlotte Tilbury’s K.I.S.S.I.N.G lipstick in Nude Kate to keep things neutral. Finally, RMS Beauty’s Living Luminizer lends a warm glow when dabbed onto the upper side of cheeks, down the bridge of the nose, above the brow, and on the chin.

Kevyn Aucoin

Pure Powder Glow Blush
Dolline

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in polite
society

“ ”

In polite society, having ‘good EYES’ has nothing to do with your ophthalmologist and EVERYTHING to do with your mascara.

— VIOLET GREY

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girls’ night
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Get the scoop on how some of The Violet Files’ favorite women get ready for a night on the town.

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EYES THAT
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