Ensconced in the glittering Guerlain Boutique at 68 Champs-Élysées in Paris, supermodel Natalia Vodianova, nicknamed “Supernova,” is smiling. Though I can’t properly see her – we’re chatting on the telephone nearly 6,000 kilometres apart – I can tell by her bubbly giggle that something has amused her.

“There are children laughing, skipping along the Champs-Élysées,” she says, after I comment on the background noise on her end. “But not my children!,” she laughs. It’s a familiar echo for her, as a mother to five and ambassador for Guerlain Shalimar for the last eight years. And she’s excitedly adding another to the mix – though not in the form of a human child.

Vodianova’s happiness flows through the call, and she tells me about creating her first makeup collection for Guerlain with the brand’s creative director, Olivier Echaudmaison. The collection is called Shalimar, as a loving ode to the fragrance of which she has been the face of for the last eight years.

The limited-edition collection, which is launching today, boasts eight products with colours hand-selected by Vodianova. “We are both little children and love to play! We certainly had plenty to play with – it’s very rich and beautiful,” she says of working with Echaudmaison.  The collection’s vivid tones – deep sapphire, rich ruby red and glittering gold – were inspired by Shalimar’s signature shades.

A recent trip to Rajasthan and Jaipur, India, inspired Vodianova to tell the story of Shalimar through makeup. “I wanted something very beautiful, luxurious and would communicate the visual language of Shalimar,” she says. “At first we worked on the gold and sapphire, and then the colours that would complement those tones.”

 

The hallmark of the limited-edition collection may be the Rouge G Exceptional Complete Lip Colour ($61), which contains real ruby powder incorporated into the formula, and a sapphire detail on the outside of the packaging. But Vodianova is most taken with the gold eyeliner, The L’Or Felt Eyeliner in Sparkling Gold ($42). “It’s very gold, very sparkly, very visible, but it’s also very long lasting. It’s waterproof so you can dance all night and have a lot of fun,” she laughs. “It will be your friend for the night. It won’t let you down.”

And as for being team shimmer or matte? Vodinova embraces the micro shine. “Shimmer brings up so many memories and the holidays are the time of the year that I always look forward to. It’s an emotional time and we want to celebrate everything that happened and prepare ourselves in a positive way for what is to come. To have dreams. It’s much easier when you’re looking beautiful and it’s much easier to feel positive. I think makeup plays an important part in there.”

“Adding sparkle to your eyes, your lipstick and a beautiful, bright lipstick is always empowering.”

See the collection in full, below.

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Guerlain Perfumed Shimmer Powder for Body and Hair ($105)

 

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Guerlain Terra India Shimmering Bronzing Powder ($64)

 

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Guerlain Light Revealing Pearl of Powder ($79)

 

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Guerlain Precious Light Pink Pearly Illuminator ($62)

 

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Guerlain KissKiss Shaping Cream Lip Color ($43)

 

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Guerlain Rouge G Exceptional Complete Lip Colour in Rouge Saphir ($61)

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Guerlain Precious Eyeshadows in Sapphire & Gold ($51)

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