Violette Serrat

Violette Serrat (born April 5th, 1989) 1 , known as Violette_fr on social media, is a French
makeup artist. She is known primarily for her YouTube Channel, that has over 130,000
subscribers, and having been Diors makeup designer. She has landed interviews with large
fashion magazines such as Vogue, Elle, and Harpers Bazaar with her effortless French girl
style. She emphasizes natural beauty, health, and the use of makeup as enhancement, not cover
up. Violette also stresses makeups similarities with fine art in terms of their use as forms of
expression .2

TABLE OF CONTENTS:
i. Early Life
ii. Career
a. Online presence
iii. Signature Look
iv. Makeup Philosophy
a. Health care for
beauty Violette in her atelier, or workshop
b. Artistic expression
v. Inspiration PERSONAL INFORMATION:
Born: Violette Serrat
April 5th,1989
Paris France
Nationality: French
Occupation: Makeup Artist
Youtuber

YOUTUBE INFORMATION:
Also known as: Violette_fr
Youtube Channel:
https://www.youtube.
com/channel/UCVM
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EARLY LIFE

Violette was born in Paris, France, and spent her early life residing there. She said that her
interest in and appreciation for art began when she was three years old when her parents took her
to art classes and workshops.2

Violette went to primary and secondary school, and after graduating, she went to the renowned
arts college, the cole de Louvre in Paris, where she studied fine art and fashion design. After
having lived in Paris for so long, and having completed her formal education there, Violette
decided to move to New York at 19 years old in attempt to begin her career. Soon after, she
moved back to France, having learned some makeup tricks.2

CAREER

Although her formal education was in the fine arts, when she moved back to France, she got an
agent and landed her first job at American Vogue. This began her career as a makeup artist. In
2013, she became the Dior International Makeup artist, where she was made popular by
reinventing the classic red lip. Her look, known as the French red lip, is a worn-in look, that is
slightly smudged, and was featured in Elle Magazine, and Vogue Magazine. Violette is currently
the Estee Lauder Global Beauty Director.3

From Violettes Instagram, posted July 29th, 2017

 ONLINE PRESENCE
In 2016, about three years after she became known for the reinvented red lip, she began
posting videos on her YouTube channel. The channel has now amassed over 130,000
subscribers. Her videos are makeup videos, with titles such as The electric liner look,
and The French kissed look.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rYr6XkuhQZU&t=29s
Her video titled My Bardot look, posted on April 21st, 2017.
Her Instagram, @violette_fr, also has over 130,000 followers, and consists of photos
ranging from her makeup looks, to artistic inspirations that she calls her color mood.

SIGNATURE LOOK
Violettes staple is a red lip, and with that she has a nice clean, natural face, and messy hair. Its
a look that is, as she calls is 100% French. It is supposed to give off a quite slept-in look that is
effortless and imperfect while simultaneously looking put together.4

Violette doing an eye makeup look

http://hey-woman.com/2017/women-we-love-violette_fr/

MAKEUP PHILOSOPHY
Violette stresses the importance of using makeup to enhance natural beauty, and the importance
of taking care of the body and mind in order to achieve beauty. This philosophy was important in
forming her diet plan and workout routine, since both are crucial in maintaining a healthy mind
and body. Her diet and workout regimen is as follows: I dont smoke or drink coffee. I run two
to three hours a week, and I love TRX training and yoga. In terms of diet, I dont eat gluten or
lactose, and I stick to only natural sugar.5 The regular Yoga classes are used to promote mental
well-being, since that is just as important as physical beauty and health. Violette says that you
feel what you show and that with this responsibility of your health comes a great canvas for
makeup.5

Aside from personal health care, a large component of Violettes general makeup philosophy is
to use makeup as an outlet for the expression of individuality and uniqueness. Violette has said
that she tries to treat all of her makeup as fine art. I learned to have no limits. To paint on
everything and anything. To create my own techniques. This is a way to not get trapped into the
trends and to innovate, which would ultimately make it easier to express oneself. Expression
through makeup is a key point for Violette in terms of her makeup philosophy.3

INSPIRATIONS
Violettes inspirations range from people to colors, memories, and paintings. She admires Pat
McGrath, a world-renowned makeup artist, and famous business woman Este Lauder.3
Aside from individual inspirational people, Violette has expressed admiration for the Parisian
women she grew up around. Having seen them in their effortlessly styled looks had a large
influence on Violettes style.3 The women were in t-shirts and messy hair, and yet they
had incredible, perfect red lipstick on, and heels .3
Violette also says that every woman inspires her.
I walk in the streetNew York is an incredible source of inspiration because
there is so much diversityand the women here dare to try. I love to look at them
and imagine a little story of how they decided to wear a particular look. Its like
every woman is showing you a little part of herself. .3

Aside from these real-life figures who Violette has said have inspired her, she has also
said that the movie The Wizard of Oz had inspired her when she was six years old .1

Violette also posts her color mood pictures, as seen below, that inspire her every day in
individual makeup looks.
 A photo from her Instagram of a color mood, from July 25 th, 2017.
Original art by Lourdes Sanchez.

i
1
Learn about Violette. Famous Birthdays, www.famousbirthdays.com/people/violette.html.

2
Violette - Make-up - Interview. The Fashionography, 7 Jan. 2015, thefashionography.com/violette-make-up-
interview/.
3
Violette Makeup Artist | Este Stories Blog. Este Lauder Official Site, www.esteelauder.com/estee-stories-
article-violette-makeup-artist-influencer-global-beauty-director.

4
Ellenberg, Celia. The French Girl Beauty Rules: Makeup Artist Violette Shares Her 8 Essential Secrets. Vogue,
Vogue, 31 Jan. 2017, www.vogue.com/article/french-girl-beauty-secrets-hair-makeup-artist-violette.
5
Artist Profile: Violette. VIOLET GREY, www.violetgrey.com/violet-files/artist-profile/violette.

Cook, Erin. Who Is French Makeup Artist Violette? Harper's BAZAAR, 22 June 2017,
www.harpersbazaar.com.au/beauty/everything-you-need-to-know-about-french-makeup-arist-violette-13531.

Ecole Du Louvre, www.ecoledulouvre.fr/en.

https://www.glamour.com/story/makeup-artist-violette-red-lipstick

http://hey-woman.com/2017/women-we-love-violette_fr/