We accept 
Your step-by-step guide to master actress Carmen Ejogo’s tousled hair and alluring stare.
Written By Lexy Lebsack
Photography By Guy Aroch
Makeup By Jillian Dempsey
Hair By Peter Butler
Nails By Tracey Sutter
Styled By Samantha Traina
— ACTRESS CARMEN EJOGO / PHOTOGRAPHY BY GUY AROCH
Bedroom Eyes
BEAUTY CREDITS
BEAUTY CREDITS
- MAKEUP BY JILLIAN DEMPSEY
- EYES
- JILLIAN DEMPSEY KHOL EYELINER IN JET BLACK
- GIORGIO ARMANI EYES TO KILL EYESHADOW IN MAESTRO
- CHARLOTTE TILBURY FULL FAT MASCARA IN GLOSSY BLACK
- VELOUR LASHES IN CLUSTER-HOLIC MINK INDIVIDUAL LASHES
- DUO EYELASH GLUE
- FACE
- KOH GEN DO MAIFANSHI AQUA FOUNDATION
- BOBBI BROWN CREAMY CONCEALER
- KEVYN AUCOIN THE CREAMY GLOW BLUSH IN TRESBELLE
- KEVYN AUCOIN THE SCULPTING POWDER
- LIPS
- M.A.C. PRO PALETTE IN MODERN BROWNS
- NAILS BY TRACEY SUTTER
- YSL LA LAQUE NAIL LACQUER IN TAUPE RETRO
FASHION CREDITS
- STYLING BY SAMANTHA TRAINA
- EQUIPMENT SHIRT
- DOLCE & GABBANA LINGERIE
- BELADORA DIAMOND RIVIERE NECKLACE
- DAVID WEBB RECTANGLE ROCK CRYSTAL AND DIAMONd RING
- DAVID WEBB DIAMOND LINK BRACELETTE
Being photographed in lingerie requires a very specific beauty look: Soft, imperfect, and utterly sensual. When hairstylist Peter Butler and makeup artist Jillian Dempsey took note of the wardrobe selection for the first shot in VIOLET GREY’s cover shoot with actress Carmen Ejogo, they followed in kind by crafting touchable hair and enticing makeup in response. The result? Curled-then-rumpled locks and a smudged, kohl-rimmed eye that is as sexy as it is wearable, out of the bedroom, too. Their step-by-step guide to get the look at home, below.
THE bedroom
eyes tutorial
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For a radiant complexion, Dempsey applied Koh Gen Do Maifanshi Aqua Foundation to Ejogo’s just-moisturized skin, then covered any imperfections with Bobbi Brown’s Creamy Concealer using a small, stiff brush.
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For a light, natural-looking flush, Dempsey dabbed and blended Kevyn Aucoin’s The Creamy Glow Blush in Tresbelle onto Ejogo’s cheeks. To add definition Dempsey dusted Kevyn Aucoin The Sculpting Powder under the actress’ cheekbones, along her hairline, and under her jawline.
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The trick to Ejogo’s sultry, smudgy eye? Dempsey used a heavy hand and Kohl Eyeliner in Jet Black from her namesake collection along Ejogo’s top lashline, using a classic shadow brush to immediately blend the color up and over the lid (don’t let it set), creating a sultry wash of smudged pigment. She then traced the pencil along the bottom lashline, quickly smudging it with a smaller, stiff brush. A sheer wash of the silvery hue from Giorgio Armani Eyes to Kill Eyeshadow in 2 Tierra Sienna over the actresses lid gave he lids a subtle, metallic sheen. (Violet says: arm yourself with Utowa’s Regular Eye Shadow Brush 10 and Pointed Eyeshadow brush 7P to accomplish this look.)
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A coat of Charlotte Tilbury’s Legnedary Lashes Instant Hollywood False-Lash Effect Mascara defined the top and bottom lashes, then Dempsey applied individual false lashes throughout the top lashline to add fullness. Dip each lash into Duo’s Eyelash Adhesive with a pair of tweezers,wait for 5 to 10 seconds to allow the glue to become slightly tacky, then press into the lashline.
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The focus of this look should be on the eyes, so keep the lips very minimal, Dempsey says. For Ejogo, this called for a mixture of hues from M.A.C. Pro Lip Palette in Preferred Pinks lightly dabbed onto her pout.
THE bedroom
hair tutorial
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Carmen arrived on set with clean, dry hair so Butler gave the actress’ locks a dose of texture and grit (necessities for holding a lived-in style) by spraying dry shampoo through sections of her hair, from roots to ends. This trick also gives roots ample volume.
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Next, Butler set Ejogo’s hair in large pin curls. His trick? Spray a two-inch section of hair with Phytolaque Soie Hairspray, allow it to dry, then curl that section with a 1.75-inch iron. (Violet says try the T3 Bodywaver Styling Iron.) Pin the curl against the scalp to cool before moving onto the next section. (Violet says Y.S. Park’s Pro Clips are perfect for this.) Direct the hair on the top of the head away from the face and the rest of the sections under for volume. Allow the pin curls to set for a minimum of 15 minutes.
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Release the pins and run your fingers through the hair to break up the curl pattern, Butler instructs. He then smoothed Ejogo’s hair into place and blasted it with Oribe Apres Beach Wave and Shine Spray. This gives the hair texture and brilliance, but doesn’t dry it out [the hair], Butler says.
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