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Get Halle Berry’s fresh-faced (and Oscar-winning) look, step by step.
Written By Jess Basser Sanders
- HALLE BERRY AT THE 2002 ACADEMY AWARDS
- KMAZUR / WIREIMAGE
THE ARTIST
Kira Nasrat | @kiranasrat
THE INSPIRATION
Halle Berry’s subtle glow during her Oscar acceptance speech for Monster’s Ball.
WHERE TO WEAR
A garden party (once the weather improves) in your best friend’s perfectly manicured backyard.
THE MODERN
MINIMALIST
1
/5
“Select your lashes, then place a bit of Duo lash glue on the back of your hand and let it sit until it gets a little sticky. Pick up lashes with Rubis tweezers, sweep the ends through the glue, and apply. Start with the medium-length clusters in the center of the lash line before adding the longer ones to the outer corner and the shorter ones near the inner corner. Once set, curl lashes with Utowa’s curler—the falsies will blend in with your own and eliminate the need for mascara.”
2
/5
“Apply this highlighting pen to the brow bone area to emphasize the arch, and blend in with your fingers. Dab into the inner corners of eyelids for a subtle glow and, if you like, on top of your cupid’s bow as well.”
3
/5
“Line lips with MAC’s pencil in Stripdown, blending the product inward so lips are covered with color. This lipstick is glossy, so apply generously straight from the tube for a luminous finish.”
4
/5
“Use a flat foundation brush like Chanel’s to apply this primer to the center of the face, then blend out. Make sure the T-zone is covered to help control oil and ensure makeup goes on smoothly.”
5
/6
“You can make this versatile foundation sheer by mixing it with the primer, or you can build coverage by applying the stick directly onto the face. Start in the middle and apply only to areas that need correcting. Blend outward with a damp Beauty Blender, making sure you’re pressing into the skin rather than rubbing—you’ll achieve a better finish and the makeup will look more natural.”
ARTIST
PROFILE
— MAKEUP ARTIST KIRA NASRAT / PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROBIN BLACK FOR THE VIOLET FILES
ARTIST STATS:
Name: Kira Nasrat
Known For: Flawless skin, subtle contouring, and a sophisticated look
Where to Find Her: Los Angeles
Clients: Gwyneth Paltrow, Margot Robbie, Jamie Chung
Years in the Industry: 16
Instagram: @kiranasrat
Beauty Essential: Utowa Eyelash Curler
Mentions in The Violet Files: Cate Blanchett in Carol, 7 Secrets to Dewy Skin, An Instant Evening Look, Instantly Bronze Legs, The ’90s Ingenue Tutorial, The Doe Eye Tutorial, The Rosebud Lips Tutorial, The Golden Goddess Tutorial
Agent: Heather Ryan @ The Wall Group
Known For: Flawless skin, subtle contouring, and a sophisticated look
Where to Find Her: Los Angeles
Clients: Gwyneth Paltrow, Margot Robbie, Jamie Chung
Years in the Industry: 16
Instagram: @kiranasrat
Beauty Essential: Utowa Eyelash Curler
Mentions in The Violet Files: Cate Blanchett in Carol, 7 Secrets to Dewy Skin, An Instant Evening Look, Instantly Bronze Legs, The ’90s Ingenue Tutorial, The Doe Eye Tutorial, The Rosebud Lips Tutorial, The Golden Goddess Tutorial
Agent: Heather Ryan @ The Wall Group
When questioned on the subject, VIOLET GREY brand ambassador Kira Nasrat has been known to describe her vibe as “gangsta with a Birkin.” The statement is just a taste of the makeup artist’s sweet-but-sassy sense of humor (and style), which has beguiled fans and clients almost as much as her genius with a foundation brush. (Gwyneth Paltrow, Jamie Chung, Margot Robbie, Billie Lourd, and Freida Pinto are just a few of her satisfied customers.)
But for much of Nasrat’s life, although she worked on the business side of the beauty industry, makeup was nothing more than a hobby, albeit one that she was very, very good at. It wasn’t until six years ago, when actress Azita Ghanizada (a close family friend) asked Nasrat to do her makeup for a red carpet event, that Nasrat—who was working as an account executive—realized she could parlay her favorite pastime into a lucrative career, and got serious about the business of beauty.
After joining VIOLET GREY in 2013, Nasrat helped to open and manage the flagship store on Melrose Place, working with VIP customers and growing her celebrity clientele. Now, as VIOLET GREY’s first official brand ambassador, Nasrat does what she does best—charming celebrities, and the world at large, with her winsome smile and unmatched beauty prowess.
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Koh Gen Do $77
Maifanshi Moisture Foundation
123
VIOLET
MUST
Watch Halle Berry in her Oscar-winning performance in Monster’s Ball.
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