HS Magazine Hot Seat

HS Magazine: What was the inspiration behind the Human Colour idea?

ELLIS: The Human Colours was not so much a preconceived concept when I started out. Creating the brand, the easiest part for me was picking colours. I have been mixing my own colours throughout my career, so for the brand I simply made a palette of my favorite colours that looked good together and complimented each other. I then stood back and asked myself why I loved these colours so much, and I discovered that I unconsciously inspired them all on colours that are already existent in the human body. If you see what colour a bruise gets from day one until it disappears, you will also see very strong, vibrant purples, greens and yellows. So the colours in the makeup line are not only browns and beiges, but if there is a vibrant colour, it’s a broken colour with a lot of depth. And I love the democratic aspect of the concept, because the colours in our bodies are the same, regardless of nationality.

HS Magazine: Every shade has a unique name, but ELLIS FAAS Red has a category – why?

ELLIS: Well, it’s not the shades that have unique names (they actually have quite boring numbers), but it’s the textures. We have three textures in are lip products: Creamy Lips, which is the most covering, most traditional (albeit liquid), Milky Lips, which has a lighter texture that is also loved by people who do not like feeling lipstick on their lips; and Glazed Lips, which is a gloss. For each group I designed separate colours, but my signature colour is Ellis Red, so that is the only shade that comes in all three textures. For me, it is the true colour of blood, which is the most vital “human colour”. It has been a beauty ideal for ages (think e.g. Snow White). It was also the most difficult colour to recreate in the lab, because of the complex combination of pigments that give the colour its depth.

HS Magazine: Keeping up on the latest makeup trends – how?

ELLIS: I honestly have no idea. Trends have never interested me. That’s why also we don’t take colours out of the collection, and introduce seasonal colours that might fit a so-called “trend”. I guess that we are all influenced by whatever we see around us, and designers and artists simply do their own thing – and then it’s the world around them (researchers, journalists) who see a communal theme and bombarded the fashion industry with “the current trend”.

HS Magazine: If a woman only had 5 minutes in the morning for her makeup – what ELLIS FAAS products would you recommend and why?

ELLIS: I think first of all people will want to look healthy, so I guess concealer and if time allows a bit of foundation that doesn’t lie on top of the skin, but melts into it. Then mascara to quickly bring out the eyes. But I believe the lip is the feature that attracts the most attention, so I would definitely apply a lip colour.

HS Magazine: What is your beauty routine like?

ELLIS: Rather easy. I never see a beautician; I just cleanse and use moisturizer. I always try many different products, but the thing I’m most faithful to is microdermabrasion. But apart from that, I feel that what most influences the quality of my skin is what I eat and drink…

HS Magazine: Who was your beauty inspiration growing up?

ELLIS: Two people come to mind: Serge Lutens because of all his iconic beauty images he created. And the other is the young David Bowie, because of the way he experimented with his looks.

HS Magazine: The question a lot of us are dying to know, what was it like to work with Mario Testino and Karl Lagerfeld?

ELLIS: Absolutely great. They are both people who trust and rely on the people they work with. They are very giving and create circumstances in which everyone can give their input in the creative process. Not at all intimidating, as some people may think. I’ve always had a great connection with photographers and designers who feel so secure that they can let go and involve others. And they also work quickly and intuitively, just like me. If a picture is good, you move on to the next one, and don’t keep fiddling around with the previous one to try the same thing in a different way.

HS Magazine: I know War Child is close to your heart – Tell us more?

ELLIS: Lots of people thought it was such a shame to throw away our pens after they had been fully used, so we thought of a way to do something worthwhile with them. So we are trying to get back as many empty pens as possible, we’ll then ask artists to create something with them and we’ll auction that off. The proceeds will go to War Child, a brilliant organization helping children in places where there is or has been war. I picked War Child, not only because the cause is worthwhile, but also to stress that our packaging (makeup that comes in bullets for a “gun” which is the Holder) is not meant as anything aggressive. It’s just that I have always been fascinated how the military have found solutions to carry around all their stuff – hence the design of the packaging.

HS Magazine: New products launching soon? Is skincare in the future?

ELLIS: The new thing we’ll be launching this month is adding to the packaging concept of portability: we’ve created clips that can connect our pens. You can choose and infinite number, so it’s practical for people who only want to have a practical way to carry two, three or four pens in their handbag, but also for makeup artists who want to connect e.g. all of our lip products and roll them up. And people can also create a belt, bracelet or something like that with them. And for after that I am working on new textures that will also have new shades of course.

HS Magazine: Makeup trick every woman should know?

ELLIS: When brushing your teeth, regularly brush your lips: it takes off old skin, increases the flow of blood so they look and feel healthy.

HS Magazine: What is the quickest way women trapped in a makeup rut can update her look?

ELLIS: Changing her lipstick colour is a great way of trying something new. It’s quick and easy. And if the lipstick change is successful she just might try other beauty tricks and tips.