I’m so excited to share with you my interview with Nicolas Degennes, Givenchy’s Le Makeup Artistic Director for Beauty Interviews. Here it is:

Nicolas Degennes is Givenchy’s Le Makeup Artistic Director. Nicolas is the brilliant mind behind Givenchy Spring 2009 Maharani Makeup Collection and of Givenchy’s many other beautiful makeup. I met Nicolas at a Givenchy breakfast in New York City and was absolutely mesmerized with his speech. Nicolas made me fall in love with Givenchy, makeup, beauty, and being a woman. I had to share my life changing experience meeting Nicolas with you.

Nicolas Degennes.

In this interview Nicolas Degennes takes us back to Paris at age 16 where the love for art and beauty began for him, his philosophy about makeup, memorable celebrity collaborations such as with Monica Bellucci, Kristin Scott Thomas and Liv Taylor. Some of the must-have Givenchy products in every woman’s makeup bag, and where he finds his biggest inspirations in life.

Givenchy Spring 2009 Maharani Makeup Collection.

Marta Walsh: When did your fascination with beauty begin?
Nicolas Degennes: My passion with makeup and the arts began when I was a child. I left Paris at the tender age of 16 to follow my dream to study the arts, music, theater and photography. While exploring my fascination with arts in a fresh and inspiring environment, I befriended a great makeup artist in New York who introduced me to the world of makeup. Beauty and makeup became my newfound passion, and I have been working in this field ever since.

On my recent trip to New York City, I had breakfast with Givenchy! Yes, Givenchy, sounds a bit like ‘breakfast at Tiffany’s’ right? Needless to say, that day changed my life. I know, I’m a bit over dramatic, but it’s true. If you had the opportunity to meet and hear Givenchy’s Le Makeup Artistic Director Nicolas Degennes I’m sure you too would  fall in love…with Givenchy, with makeup, beauty, and being a woman.

Nicolas Degennes presented us with Givenchy’s Spring 2009 Makeup Collection or the Maharani Spring 2009 Collection and walked with us through his inspiration journey when creating this beautiful collection. Which in case was India.

Nicolas’ philosophy about makeup and beauty is all about freedom. The freedom to express yourself with makeup and be what you want to be, and the freedom to play with makeup. He told us many times at the meeting to please touch the makeup, feel it, don’t be afraid to play with it and make it your own!

I’m wearing Givenchy today: Prismissime – 22 Maharani Apricots. Shade #5 from left to right on my eye lid and a bit on my crease, and shade #1 from left on my brow-bone and inner corner.

I’ve lined eye lids with one of the best eye pencils I’ve ever tried, Magic Kajal Eye Pencil! It is rich in pigment, glides on easily on skin, and lasts all day. Really, you have to try this! Nicholas Degennes told us at the meeting that in India both men and women wear an eye liner such as the Magic Kajal Eye Pencil to protect them from the sun!