Successful people around the world have their morning routines down to a fine art. So just how does Violette, super cool makeup artist and Estée Lauder’s newly appointed Global Director, start her day? Savoir Flair gets a peek into her morning rituals, from her go-to beauty products to her favorite body-boosting breakfasts.
I always set my alarm for between 6:30 and 7 a.m. I’m not a morning person, but I love the rituals that come with it. I will never just wake up, jump in the shower, and leave – and I absolutely never work out when I wake up. I think women who wake up at 5 a.m. to exercise are amazing and crazy at the same time! I like to take my time with my skincare routine, have breakfast, and get dressed up. But I often end up doing my makeup on the go – from the elevator to the street to the car!
I wake up and then brush my teeth. That’s my major obsession because, between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., your body is processing and detoxifying, and all the toxins go into your mouth. I’m a maniac about it, and it’s the first thing I do. I’m still half asleep whilst brushing my teeth in the bathroom. I then shower and start checking my e-mails because Paris is up and awake before me, and then I’ll have my breakfast.
Every morning, I have my ‘Holy Green Powder’ by Stephan Jaulin because I want to alkalize my body. I believe that acidity is not good for your system and, when you have a good pH, your skin and hair look better, you feel better – everything is better! The ‘Holy Green’ is sort of a detoxifying alkaline moment. Then I have rosemary tea to soothe and cleanse the liver, which is an organ that helps you have beautiful skin, so that’s important for me. I’m a savory person; I love avocado, poached eggs, and sourdough toast. That is my dream breakfast.
I check the weather app as I don’t like wearing too many layers, and I check the French news because it makes me feel like I’m back home. I also check Instagram and Pinterest – I really, really love Pinterest as that’s where I get a lot of my inspiration from. I love movies and TV shows, but I don’t really watch normal TV. I love listening to bossa nova music, and I always light a candle as it puts me in a good mood.
When I wash my hair, I blow-dry it a little to make it shinier, and then I just put it up in a bun while I do my makeup. I also do something a bit funny: I have this spray from Bumble and Bumble called ‘Thickening DrySpun Finish’ that keeps the shape you give to your hair. I put it on the center, right on the roots of my hair, and then I pinch it up a lot.
I even have a little clip that I put on my bangs to lift them more in the center because it gives them more of a 70s vibe. I don’t like when my bangs are flat and round, which looks more 80s. While my hair is setting, I’ll do my makeup, then I remove my bun and little clip and my hair has a natural, messy wave. It’s even wavier by the end of the day!
When it comes to makeup, I always use the Estée Lauder ‘Double Wear Waterproof All Day Extreme Wear Concealer’ because I don’t have to touch it up at all during the day. Then I apply black mascara and lipstick that I also like to use as my blush, so it’s the same kind of color – that specific color always depends on the day. Lastly, I add a little bit of highlighter. That’s my go-to look.
Work usually starts at 8:30 or 9 a.m., so I leave home by 8 a.m. I don’t really prep for my day as everything is based on my mood. In fact, I’ll never prep anything before because I never know what mood I’m going to wake up in! I always make sure I have time to cuddle with my cats before I go – that’s really something I love.