On Set With Emily Blunt

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.

Behind the scenes with EMILY BLUNT.

Written By Christina Han

— PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARC REGAS

Twenties. Sixties. The Hunger. As editorial director for VIOLET GREY, these are just a few of the one- (or two-) word email or text message missives I received from makeup artist Jenn Streicher since early this summer. They were code-like and succinct and, to an unknown party, wholly mysterious. But for me, the sporadic messages were the product of extensive creative discussions with Jenn’s longtime friend and client Emily Blunt. Whether on cross-continental flights for Emily’s press blitz with Tom Cruise for Edge of Tomorrow or driving around Ojai Valley, where Emily and her husband, John Krasinski, have a home, the two were constantly plotting and planning for Emily’s future cover-story shoot with VIOLET GREY.

On set in New York’s iconic Carlyle Hotel, the team was assembled by Emily herself. Photographer Norman Jean Roy was called upon after the two first worked together on a Vogue shoot, stylist Jessica Paster is a longtime collaborator and makeup artist Jenn Streicher was of course at the ready. The newest members of the beauty team included nail artist Gina Eppolito and hairstylist Ashley Streicher, who is also Jenn’s very talented sister. Notes on our fairy-tale day, below.

Christina Han
Editorial Director

Behind the scenes with ROSIE HUNTINGTON-WHITELEY for THE VIOLET FILES #WetHotSummer | #VioletGrey, The Industry's Beauty Edit

The
TEAM

WHAT YOU SEE: Photographer Norman Jean Roy capturing the moment before Cinderella (a.k.a. Emily Blunt) begins sprinting down 86th Street.
WHAT YOU DON’T SEE: Emily’s flat Isabel Marant boots underneath that gigantic Zac Posen dress.

JENN STREICHER (makeup artist): “I have to put on lipstick to do my job.”
ASHLEY STREICHER (hairstylist): “Me, too.”
Jenn wears Lipstick Queen’s Velvet Rope Lipstick in Brat Pack, while Ashley applies YSL Rouge Pur Couture Lipstick in Rose Libertin.

WHAT YOU SEE: Makeup artist Jenn Streicher applying a final touch of moisturizer to Emily‘s skin.
WHAT YOU DON’T SEE: The Bangles’ “Eternal Flame” playing softly in the background (“Close your eyes, give me your hand, darling. Do you feel my heart beating? Do you feel the same...”).

DO NOT LET THIS SCENE FOOL YOU. This is the most serious this trio has looked all day. In fact, this photo was certainly staged.

THE DRESSING
ROOM

The Mood Bed.

Dresses need to get their beauty sleep, too.

This Zac Posen dress does not sleep well with others.

Little red shoes for Little Red Riding Hood.

Curious to know what lies inside these darling VIOLET GREY duster bags?

The traveling curation from The Shelves. We never leave home without it.

BLUNT’S
BEAUTY

The actress divulges a smattering of beauty secrets.

— EMILY BLUNT & HER FIRST RED LIP COURTESY OF JENN STREICHER. CANNES FILM FESTIVAL, MAY 2010.

LESSONS FROM JENN STREICHER

“When I do my own makeup for an event or something I definitely copy a lot of what she’s done on me or taught me. I cannot do it as well as her, of course. But she definitely got me into a bold lip. Before I met her, I never did it. I never wore lipstick, and she was always like, ‘C’mon, you’d look really cool with lipstick.’ But I’d never do it, and then one day we just did this red lip when I was in Cannes, and I’ve never looked back. She’s encouraged me to be bold with lipstick.”

PHOTO SHOOT PREP

“I got a facial in New York at this little holistic spa called Pratima. They do these really beautiful facials which incorporate all-natural products that they make with natural ingredients and essential oils. It's very hydrating, which I needed in the New York fall.”

THE SKIN-CARE ROUTINE

“I use a dry-skin toner from Kinera. I really love the Murad products. I think they’re really protective and great. I use a cleansing oil by Murad which isn’t soap so it’s good at not drying your skin out. Then I layer on the most amazing serums by Auspect Clinical. Pro-B and Pro-C for morning, Pro-A and Pro-B for night.”

LESSONS FROM MUM

“Oh, my mum always just plastered [sunscreen] on us when we were kids. So I wear it every day as a result of my mum saying, ‘You are all so fair-skinned and you cannot just go out in the sun without sunscreen on.’ It’s probably a big secret that she helped me out with. It’s not really a secret, but it‘s something that people forget.”