On any given day in the makeup chair at VIOLET GREY, one may find inspiration in the form of stacks of vintage beauty books or an irresistible rainbow of lipsticks. On very special days, an actress and her beauty team take residency and put their creativity on display in the makeup chair. The latest coterie, British stunner Alice Eve alongside longtime makeup artist Georgie Eisdell and hairstylist Alex Polillo, created looks featuring a sultry smoky eye and heavily textured tresses.
Of course, Alice is no stranger to the makeup chair. The actress has starred in both big-screen blockbusters (She’s Out of My League, Star Trek Into Darkness) and sunk her teeth into independent films (Cold Comes the Night with Bryan Cranston and Some Velvet Morning with Stanley Tucci). Next up for Alice is one of each, respectively: a rumored role in the film reboot of Entourage and a starring role in Before We Go, the directorial debut for co-star Chris Evans, premiering at the Toronto Film Festival next month — and the press tours that accompany them. Topping off her busy year is an engagement to her high school sweetheart, British financier Alex Cowper-Smith. In anticipation of this breakneck schedule of appearances and wedding events ahead, Georgie and Alice sat down to play with a few looks, experiment with new shades and divulge a few great skin secrets.
“This shoot was all about experimenting and seeing where the day took us,” Georgie told VIOLET GREY. “One of the things that I love about working with Alice is that she likes to be very involved in the creative process; she likes to experiment and she can take on many different roles, but still looks like a version of herself.”
In a new role for Georgie, the artist becomes the interviewer and shares with VIOLET GREY a conversation with her longtime client on the record, and into print, below.
Violet Inquires
An intimate conversation between actress Alice Eve and her makeup artist Georgie Eisdell.
1
GEORGIE EISDELL: FROM THE FIRST TIME I MET YOU FIVE YEARS AGO, YOU'VE ALWAYS HAD GREAT SKIN. WHAT'S YOUR SECRET?
ALICE EVE: Water is important, and changing my products regularly seems to be useful for me. My skin only looks great when I am happy, though.
2
G.E.: MANY ACTRESSES HAVE VERY SPECIFIC BEAUTY RITUALS THEY MUST DO BEFORE A RED CARPET EVENT. WHAT ARE YOURS?
A.E.: I always spray my face with rosewater to give the makeup a nice sheen.
3
G.E.: WHAT BEAUTY TRICKS HAVE YOU PICKED UP IN THE MAKEUP CHAIR?
A.E.: I’ve learned to go a bit above the natural lip with liner to apply mascara right from the base of the lashes, and never let anyone pluck your eyebrows for you.
My skin only looks great when I’m happy.
4
G.E.: SHOOTING A FILM CAN BE GRUELING. DO YOU HAVE ANY BEAUTY SECRETS YOU DO WHEN IN PRODUCTION?
A.E.: Steaming helps to relax my face after a lack of sleep.
5
G.E.: WHO DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE AN ICONIC BRITISH BEAUTY AND WHY?
A.E.: Charlotte Rampling. She has hooded eyes and that's so sexy.
6
G.E.: WHAT DO YOU CONSIDER TO BE A GREAT LUXURY?
A.E.: It is a great luxury to be able to determine the temperature of your house.
7
G.E.: HOW IMPORTANT IS HAIR AND MAKEUP IN DEVELOPING A CHARACTER FOR A ROLE?
A.E.: Very important. Brooke in Before We Go is a quintessential American girl. She has good skin and nails and wears simple makeup. This was reflected in her personality: She was clear and direct. Knowing things like this is vital to understanding the person; appearances can tell a lot about someone.
8
G.E.: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE CITY TO VISIT?
A.E.: Any city that is a walking city is a pleasure to visit. When you're on foot, around other people on foot, you're in the middle of the world.
9
G.E.: WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY OF MAKEUP?
A.E.: When I was 9 years old my Nana told me not to moisturize my skin or wear lipstick because my face would get used to it and I would rely on it. I thought I knew better, but I learned that older people always know better.