The Bright Side

For our inaugural beauty story - featuring four extraordinary women - there was a simple brief: more color. Chalk it up to our collective need for more joy; Margot thinks it’s time to ditch the drab and usher in a new age of light with unexpected hues.

We called on virtuoso makeup artist Dotti, known for her holistic, understated aesthetic, to create looks as distinct as the women themselves. The result, which balances restraint with fearlessness, uses pigment to draw focus on one part of the face while the rest of the skin remains fresh and light.

Christine, a mother of 3 who, in her youth, experimented with a dark goth-leaning aesthetic, gravitates to classic lipsticks in blue-based reds and berry colors - the ritual gives her polish and boosts her mood. “You always know if I’m feeling tired because I will have bright red lipstick on,” she says. For the shoot, the makeup artist applied the luxurious Hermès lipstick in the less-expected Orange Boîte hue (which Christine promptly purchased for herself after the shoot).

Willow’s love of sparkle and iridescence started early. “I remember loving a gold shimmery eyeshadow that was my mother’s,” says the Gen-Z scholar. Here, Dotti’s look puts a sophisticated spin on the carefree delight of glimmery makeup. Shades of deep purple and pale lavender fade gently into bursts of pearly white. Paired with combed up brows, the eyeshadow look feels at once down-to-earth and ethereal.

A red lip - symbolic of strength, vitality and elegance - is a no-brainer for Janet, a formidable leader and activist. To keep the stunning shade of red center stage, the rest of Janet’s look was kept streamlined and natural resulting in a modern spin on a timeless archetype. With a windblown updo and a bold teal top, the look allows Janet’s natural grace and resilience to shine bright.

Madeleine has been into sustainable and cruelty-free beauty since her college days. “When I started getting into makeup, I would paint this elaborate theatrical makeup. It was about being artistic. Now I wear minimal makeup day to day,” she says. Nevertheless, the environmental advocate, who often dresses minimal chic, believes everyone can benefit from a pop of color like the perfectly hued cateye created for the shoot. Madeleine recalls a recent event when she needed to inject personality into an all-black outfit. “I applied a dab of aqua-colored eyeshadow to my lids and softly blended them out. It gave me the vibrance I needed.”