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THE VIOLET FILES
FILED UNDER
SHOPPING LIST
Makeup artist Carola Gonzalez curates a collection of necessary cosmetics for September.
Written By Lexy Lebsack
THE SHOPPING LIST FOR FALL MAKEUP: A red carpet makeup artist curates a necessary September cosmetic bag makeover | #VioletGrey, The Industry's Beauty Edit

— PHOTOGRAPHED IN THE STUDIO WITH VIOLET GREY

The beginning of September has, and will always be, the happier, possibly more optimistic new year. Unlike the first of January, a day fraught with champagne-aches and selfmade (empty) promises for the year, the early days of fall allow for a renewal of sorts, an opportunity to re-prioritize. While the last days of summer were once dedicated to reading list cram sessions and the sharpening of No. 2 pencils, those tasks have since been replaced by the studying of September issue and the subsequent purchases of bold new lipsticks, and the face serums necessary to keep skin looking as it did when kissing under the bleachers was a Friday night ritual. 
To celebrate this sacred seasonal refresh, VIOLET GREY consulted makeup artist Carola Gonzalez. For her, updating her clients’ beauty look for fall is far more clever than simply swapping in a new lipstick or eye shadow. Her clients, which include the likes of Kerry Washington, Jamie King, and Rashida Jones, Carola implements meaningful changes that include using serum in lieu of primer for long-lasting hydration, layering highlighter under foundation for a lit-from-within glow, and creating a Bordeaux statement lip with two products for luxurious dimension. These methods, outlined in detail, below.

THE 
AUTUMN MAKEUP
REFRESH

Kevyn Aucoin - Pure Powder Glow Blush Neolita
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THE BERRY FLUSH
“This color is so pretty; it’s vibrant but it still has the perfect warm undertone for fall.”
— CAROLA GONZALEZ, makeup artist
Kevyn Aucoin
Pure Powder Glow Blush
Neolita
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Giorgio Armani - Fluid Sheer 2
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THE GLOW MAKER
“You shouldn’t be shiny in the winter, but you do want your skin to glow. This highlighter is my favorite, I keep shade No. 2 in my kit because it looks beautiful on every skin tone. In the fall I blend this into the top of the cheekbones before I apply foundation, which gives a diffused radiance.”
— CAROLA GONZALEZ, makeup artist
Giorgio Armani
Fluid Sheer
2
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La Mer - The Concentrate
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THE SKIN-SAVING PRIMER
“I like to use serum instead of primer to prep the skin in the fall, since it’s just as light, but gives more hydration in the drier months. I prefer the texture of this La Mer formula because it’s light and silky. It helps the makeup to glide on and evenly adhere to the skin; it isn’t sticky and gives a nice light feeling.”
— CAROLA GONZALEZ, makeup artist
La Mer
The Concentrate
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Tom Ford - Traceless Foundation Stick Natural
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THE PERFECT CONSISTENCY FACE STICK
“I like this foundation stick because you can use it as a medium-coverage concealer or as a foundation. The texture isn’t too dry or too greasy and it isn’t shiny, which is the texture I look for [in concealer]. Plus, it will last forever.”
— CAROLA GONZALEZ, makeup artist
Tom Ford
Traceless Foundation Stick
Natural
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Hourglass - Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick Icon
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THE STAY-ALL-DAY BORDEAUX
“This formula acts a little like a stain, so have a cotton swab dipped in makeup remover handy to clean up any mistakes. And always blot between coats, which will help set the color.”
— CAROLA GONZALEZ, makeup artist
Hourglass
Opaque Rouge Liquid Lipstick
Icon
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M·A·C - Lip pencil Burgundy
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THE DEEP AUTUMN LIP
“To give a red lip more depth and dimension I like to use a deeper shade of liner. Apply a thick line, then add Hourglass’ Icon and blot to blend the colors together. This liner is also great as lipstick. You don’t have to only think of your lip pencils as liners, you can use them as matte lipsticks as well! Just apply a rich lip balm to your lips for 20 minutes and blot before applying.”
— CAROLA GONZALEZ, makeup artist
M·A·C
Lip pencil
Burgundy
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Giorgio Armani - Luminous Silk Foundation 5.5
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THE MUST-HAVE FOUNDATION
“I’ve been using this foundation for 10 years! It’s my favorite formula and what I always have in my kit. It gives a really nice, radiant finish. You don’t look shiny, you just glow.” — CAROLA GONZALEZ, makeup artist
Giorgio Armani
Luminous Silk Foundation
5.5
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Hourglass - Nº 2 Foundation/Blush Brush
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THE FOUNDATION PERFECTOR
“Hourglass’ brushes are the best quality. Just apply one or two pumps of foundation onto the back of your hand and apply all over your face with this brush. It gives nice, light-to-medium finish and covers a large area, so you’re done in under a minute.”
— CAROLA GONZALEZ, makeup artist
Hourglass
Nº 2 Foundation/Blush Brush
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ARTIST
PROFILE

For former model Carola Gonzalez, a career in makeup happened by accident. “I didn’t understand why I always looked worse after getting my makeup done [before photo shoots], so I decided to start doing it myself,” she says. Carola used Kevyn Aucoin’s Making Faces as her beauty textbook and the industry took notice of her natural talent. Before long her agency began to receive booking requests for her as an artist, too. When it came time to select her main focus the answer was easy. “Doing makeup quiets my mind, and I’m just there, present,” she says. “That’s how I know I’m meant to be doing exactly what I’m doing.” Now Carola is Kerry Washington’s go-to artist and works with actresses like Olivia Wilde, January Jones, Rashida Jones, and Jamie Kling. 
THE SHOPPING LIST FOR FALL MAKEUP: A red carpet makeup artist curates a necessary September cosmetic bag makeover | #VioletGrey, The Industry's Beauty Edit
“ ”
It doesn’t matter what MOOD
 I’m in,
when I’m
 doing makeup
 I forget
 about 
 everything else.
—  CAROLA GONZALEZ, MAKEUP ARTIST
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IN POLITE
SOCIETY

“ ”
In polite society, one’s FALL shopping list is determined by a Hollywood makeup artist.
— VIOLET GREY
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