July 02, 2021
111ICONS: Gregoris Pyrpylis
111ICONS: Gregoris Pyrpylis
The first makeup artist to sign with a skincare brand as a global ambassador, Gregoris Pyrpylis is a true icon in the industry! His work has adorned the faces of Alexa Chung, Laetitia Casta, Isabella Rossellini, Cindy Crawford, Natalia Vodianova, Adele Exarchopoulos, Stacy Martin and many more. Still storming the beauty industry today, find out Gregoris’ secret to flawless skin.
111SKIN champions and celebrates game changers and innovators in leading industries. Each discussion uncovers the insight and knowledge into their individual approach and within the 111ICONS interview, we share their journey, business and approach to life.
111SKIN: Tell us a bit about what you do?
Gregoris: I am a makeup artist based in Paris, working mainly with celebrities and in fashion and advertising. I also work as a beauty consultant with makeup and skincare brands on different projects.
111SKIN: How did you get into artistry?
Gregoris: As a kid, I always had colouring pens in my hands! But it wasn’t until my teenage years that my interest in fashion, photography, hair and makeup developed. Whilst I was studying to become an English teacher at the University of Athens, I met my best friend – she was the one who saw my talent as a makeup artist and gave me the push to follow my dreams.
111SKIN: What is a signature makeup look you can't live without?
Gregoris: My favourite and signature look is perfect, fresh, plumped, youthful skin. This is the base for me and it can stand on its own as a beautiful minimalistic look or it can be paired with bold lips or a sexy cat eye. I think that skincare and makeup are equally important and when you know how to balance out the two, magic happens!
111SKIN: Who is your beauty icon?
Gregoris: Beauty icons are all around us - they can be found on magazine covers or next to us on the subway. For me, beauty icons are not just beautiful people with perfect make up, it’s their energy, their confidence, there’s an element of “timeless” in their image. To name a few… Laetitia Casta, Isabella Rossellini, Lauren Hutton, Christy Turlington.
111SKIN: What would you say are the do's and don'ts for flawless makeup?
Gregoris: I’m not the kind of person that follows do’s and don’ts when it comes to make up and creativity. But for sure there are some more technical parts that people should be more aware of when it comes to makeup. The only DO that I can say for sure: Take care of your skin in general, but also before doing your make up, it makes a huge difference!
111SKIN: Career highlight?
Gregoris: There are so many moments in my career that I really cherish, it’s difficult to pick up one, but to name a few:
- Working as the 1st assistant to legendary Tom Pecheux back in 2012.
- Working closely with Alexa Chung and particularly for the met gala 2019.
- Being the first make-up artist to sign with a skincare brand as a global ambassador (2015 -2017 with BIODERMA).
But the biggest highlight for me is the constant trust that the women I work with show me, it’s priceless.
111SKIN: A product you can't live without?
Gregoris: A product I can’t live without would be a moisturiser. I don’t know how people can just get out of the shower and not moisturize. To me, moisturizing your skin is as important as drinking water, you have to keep hydrated in and out, simple as that.
111SKIN: What are your on-the-go essentials?
Gregoris: Best on the go essentials: a hand sanitizer, a moisturizing cream/balm/emulsion that you can apply everywhere and a sunscreen.
111SKIN: Does skincare play a big part in the looks you create?
Gregoris: Skincare is as important to my work as makeup! I can’t imagine what my work would look like if there was no skin prep before. A good skincare application can change the whole overall makeup look, as if there was no makeup applied and all this beauty and radiance came from within. Even a strong and bold look will look different when the skin is at its best.
111SKIN: How did you discover 111SKIN?
Gregoris: I discovered 111SKIN through a magazine - I think the article was about the best face masks that really work. I then realized that I had seen this specific mask on multiple people that I know and follow on Instagram and I was super interested in learning more about the brand. And of course, when I saw that Dr Yannis Alexandrides is behind the brand, I felt that kind of national pride (I’m Greek too) and I got even more excited to try out the products!
111SKIN: What is your favourite 111SKIN product?
Gregoris: Now that’s a tough question, I can’t just pick one so I’ll mention 2: I will say that my favourite mask is the Rose Gold Brightening Face Mask, it just makes my skin look like I was reborn and the Celestial Black Diamond Serum is so powerful and efficient, it makes my skin looked so plumped and youthful!
111SKIN: Where do you see the beauty industry going?
Gregoris: I think that the beauty industry and especially skincare win more and more fans everyday. For example, I remember even 10 years ago, men were not that familiar with skincare - it was still kind of a taboo for a man to say that they take care of their skin and use a moisturizer and look where we are today! I also think that skincare will be more and more present in makeup, many brands already include the skincare benefits of their makeup lines, but I think there will be a moment in the future where both skincare and makeup will become one.
111SKIN: Best advice you ever received?
Gregoris: Listen to your skin. It doesn’t mean that something that works for your best friend, will work for you too. Get to know your skin’s needs and adjust to that.
The first makeup artist to sign with a skincare brand as a global ambassador, Gregoris Pyrpylis is a true icon in the industry! His work has adorned the faces of Alexa Chung, Laetitia Casta, Isabella Rossellini, Cindy Crawford, Natalia Vodianova, Adele Exarchopoulos, Stacy Martin and many more. Still storming the beauty industry today, find out Gregoris’ secret to flawless skin.
111SKIN champions and celebrates game changers and innovators in leading industries. Each discussion uncovers the insight and knowledge into their individual approach and within the 111ICONS interview, we share their journey, business and approach to life.
111SKIN: Tell us a bit about what you do?
Gregoris: I am a makeup artist based in Paris, working mainly with celebrities and in fashion and advertising. I also work as a beauty consultant with makeup and skincare brands on different projects.
111SKIN: How did you get into artistry?
Gregoris: As a kid, I always had colouring pens in my hands! But it wasn’t until my teenage years that my interest in fashion, photography, hair and makeup developed. Whilst I was studying to become an English teacher at the University of Athens, I met my best friend – she was the one who saw my talent as a makeup artist and gave me the push to follow my dreams.
111SKIN: What is a signature makeup look you can't live without?
Gregoris: My favourite and signature look is perfect, fresh, plumped, youthful skin. This is the base for me and it can stand on its own as a beautiful minimalistic look or it can be paired with bold lips or a sexy cat eye. I think that skincare and makeup are equally important and when you know how to balance out the two, magic happens!
111SKIN: Who is your beauty icon?
Gregoris: Beauty icons are all around us - they can be found on magazine covers or next to us on the subway. For me, beauty icons are not just beautiful people with perfect make up, it’s their energy, their confidence, there’s an element of “timeless” in their image. To name a few… Laetitia Casta, Isabella Rossellini, Lauren Hutton, Christy Turlington.
111SKIN: What would you say are the do's and don'ts for flawless makeup?
Gregoris: I’m not the kind of person that follows do’s and don’ts when it comes to make up and creativity. But for sure there are some more technical parts that people should be more aware of when it comes to makeup. The only DO that I can say for sure: Take care of your skin in general, but also before doing your make up, it makes a huge difference!
111SKIN: Career highlight?
Gregoris: There are so many moments in my career that I really cherish, it’s difficult to pick up one, but to name a few:
- Working as the 1st assistant to legendary Tom Pecheux back in 2012.
- Working closely with Alexa Chung and particularly for the met gala 2019.
- Being the first make-up artist to sign with a skincare brand as a global ambassador (2015 -2017 with BIODERMA).
But the biggest highlight for me is the constant trust that the women I work with show me, it’s priceless.
111SKIN: A product you can't live without?
Gregoris: A product I can’t live without would be a moisturiser. I don’t know how people can just get out of the shower and not moisturize. To me, moisturizing your skin is as important as drinking water, you have to keep hydrated in and out, simple as that.
111SKIN: What are your on-the-go essentials?
Gregoris: Best on the go essentials: a hand sanitizer, a moisturizing cream/balm/emulsion that you can apply everywhere and a sunscreen.
111SKIN: Does skincare play a big part in the looks you create?
Gregoris: Skincare is as important to my work as makeup! I can’t imagine what my work would look like if there was no skin prep before. A good skincare application can change the whole overall makeup look, as if there was no makeup applied and all this beauty and radiance came from within. Even a strong and bold look will look different when the skin is at its best.
111SKIN: How did you discover 111SKIN?
Gregoris: I discovered 111SKIN through a magazine - I think the article was about the best face masks that really work. I then realized that I had seen this specific mask on multiple people that I know and follow on Instagram and I was super interested in learning more about the brand. And of course, when I saw that Dr Yannis Alexandrides is behind the brand, I felt that kind of national pride (I’m Greek too) and I got even more excited to try out the products!
111SKIN: What is your favourite 111SKIN product?
Gregoris: Now that’s a tough question, I can’t just pick one so I’ll mention 2: I will say that my favourite mask is the Rose Gold Brightening Face Mask, it just makes my skin look like I was reborn and the Celestial Black Diamond Serum is so powerful and efficient, it makes my skin looked so plumped and youthful!
111SKIN: Where do you see the beauty industry going?
Gregoris: I think that the beauty industry and especially skincare win more and more fans everyday. For example, I remember even 10 years ago, men were not that familiar with skincare - it was still kind of a taboo for a man to say that they take care of their skin and use a moisturizer and look where we are today! I also think that skincare will be more and more present in makeup, many brands already include the skincare benefits of their makeup lines, but I think there will be a moment in the future where both skincare and makeup will become one.
111SKIN: Best advice you ever received?
Gregoris: Listen to your skin. It doesn’t mean that something that works for your best friend, will work for you too. Get to know your skin’s needs and adjust to that.
If you were to advise a London guide, what would be on your list?
Well, As I grew up in Notting Hill, it will always have my heart and if I was recommending spots in London, a wander around Notting Hill would be high up on my list. From there it would be all the best shopping destinations, the iconic private members club, Annabels, Harrods and Liberty’s for any cute and unique gifts. I would always pop into 111CRYO at Harrods for the Cryo Facial and treatment for the ultimate recharge. Sometimes the city is great, but the beautiful secrets of the English countryside is something that should be experienced.
Your In-Flight Essentials?
I don’t have a routine per say and I am certainly not as thorough as Naomi Campbell but I would apply the Meso Infusion Lip Duo and I would always wipe my phone down with anti-bacterial wipes, in fact I do this every day, the bacteria build up is no good for the skin.
In terms of Industry, where do you see the hair industry going?
Well Instagram has changed so much and has impacted the way we consume and learn within the industry, especially with so many creatives, but I still find that a massive amount of people come to the professionals to share the knowledge on how to carry out or complete a desired look, more than ever there is power behind ‘how-to’ videos.
A very valid point and in terms of 2020?
In terms of what we are to see in 2020, things are going to be super creative and we will see a wider awareness for people doing their own thing and it will be expressive and artistic. People will move away from the overtly glamorous looks and will create looks they can tailor to their everyday. As it’s currently Award Season which is the busiest time of the year leading up to the Met Ball, hairstyles are certainly more elaborate, and everyone loves an up do. I would say the most timeless look has to be the blunt bob, it comes around year on year, but it is effortless and timeless.
Outside of hair, what other industries are you into?
I am hugely into Interiors and I would describe my style as 60s/70s glamour, think elaborate and dramatic but I often fantasise about 80s Dallas and Joan Collins and I have to reign myself in. I also love Baking; it is the ultimate way to relax and I find that it is my meditation and therapy. If I’m in the USA I would bake a lot of cookies as everyone is obsessed with then over here and in the UK, I would bake more traditional styles like a lemon tart or an apple tart – it allows for me to be creative outside of my job.
Finally, the best advice you have ever received?
It would have to be from my grandfather, he would often say to me “it’s not how well you’re doing but how well people think you’re doing”. I haven’t successfully implemented it however you can look to Instagram today and people see our work and are blown away by it, but we can be so hard on ourselves and not appreciate our own work ourselves.