The Best Makeup Advice You’ve Heard All Year

At this year’s Cannes Film Festival, some of the world’s most photographed women entrusted their faces to one man: Harold James. The newly appointed Global Makeup Artist for L’Oréal Paris, James brings a fresh perspective to beauty; one that extends far beyond the glamour of the red-carpet.

The 37-year-old French artist, who hails from French Guiana, is entirely self-taught. Known for his ability to create luminous skin and polished yet natural-looking makeup, James has built a reputation for celebrating individuality rather than masking it. His philosophy is simple: makeup should empower women to feel more like themselves.

Harold James Global Makeup Artist for L’Oréal Paris.

It’s an approach that aligns seamlessly with L’Oréal Paris and its enduring message that every woman is worth it. Whether he’s working with Hollywood icons such as ELLE cover star Simone Ashley, Jane Fonda, Eva Longoria and Andie MacDowell or preparing celebrities for the Cannes red carpet, James begins every look the same way – with a conversation.

Rather than focusing solely on skin tone or features, he takes the time to understand a woman’s background, culture and personality. The result is makeup that feels authentic, personal and confidence-boosting.

Fresh from backstage at Cannes, where he was creating looks for some of L’Oréal Paris’s most celebrated ambassadors, James sat down with ELLE to discuss beauty, confidence, diversity and the secret to flawless red-carpet skin.

ELLE: You’ve recently joined L’Oréal Paris as Global Makeup Artist. How do your ideas about beauty align with the brand’s philosophy?

Harold James: For me, beauty has always been about women. When I think about beauty, I don’t immediately think about blush or lipstick. I think about how a woman feels. Makeup can help a woman take her place in society. It can help her feel confident and empowered.

That’s exactly why I feel so aligned with L’Oréal Paris. It’s not about me or my artistry, it’s about the woman sitting in my chair. I want her to feel as beautiful and confident as possible. We also share the same commitment to diversity. Throughout my career, I’ve wanted to work with every kind of woman because beauty isn’t one specific person. It’s a wonderful diversity of women.

ELLE: You speak a lot about individuality. How do you celebrate what makes each woman unique?

HJ: Before I even think about skin tone or products, I want to understand where a woman comes from. Culture is incredibly important because it’s part of our identity.

For example, in Australia many women love a bronzed complexion. In other countries, women may prefer a lighter look. Understanding those cultural references helps me understand what beauty means to that person, I’m not trying to put the same face on everyone. I want to respect a woman’s identity and sometimes even make it shine a little brighter. I think people often feel pressure to fit into a box, but the best version of yourself is who you already are.

Harold James always starts by asking the women in his chair how they feel in the moment. “If the woman doesn’t feel connected to that look on the day, it won’t work.”

ELLE: You’ve worked with some of the world’s most iconic women. What does that mean to you?

HJ: First, it’s an incredible honour to be trusted by such talented and inspiring women. But beyond that, I see these women as role models. When women see someone who looks like them succeeding, it can be incredibly powerful. Look at Andie MacDowell embracing her grey hair. Years ago, many women felt that going grey meant becoming invisible. Andie showed the world that’s not true. She’s confident, beautiful and completely herself. That sends an important message to women everywhere: you can define beauty on your own terms.

ELLE: Who has been in your chair at Cannes this year?

HJ: So far I’ve worked with [ELLE cover star] Simone Ashley, Andie MacDowell and Aja Naomi King. Coming up, we’ll have Eva Longoria, Gillian Anderson, Aishwarya Rai and Ariana Greenblatt. It’s been an incredible festival.

ELLE: Have there been any pinch-me moments during Cannes?

HJ: Absolutely. One of the most special moments was celebrating the anniversaries of two L’Oréal Paris ambassadors. Jane Fonda’s 20 years with the brand and Gong Li’s 30 years. Seeing these iconic women together reminded me how committed L’Oréal Paris is to building long-term relationships. It’s not about a season or a campaign. It’s about creating a lasting story together. Watching Jane Fonda celebrating with everyone was incredibly moving.

Some of Harold James’ favourite L’Oréal Paris products: Plump Ambition Hyaluron Lip Oil, Lumi Glotion, and Infallible 3-Second Setting Mist.

ELLE: What’s your process when creating a red-carpet makeup look?

HJ: Every celebrity is different. Sometimes we’re discussing ideas weeks before an event. Other times we have just 30 to 45 minutes to create a look. But no matter how much preparation we’ve done, I always begin by asking one question: “How do you feel?” You can plan a dramatic smoky eye or a bold red lip, but if the woman doesn’t feel connected to that look on the day, it won’t work.

The makeup should be a conversation between the woman, her personality, the dress and the hairstyle. Sometimes confidence comes from a bold lip. Sometimes it comes from glowing skin. It all depends on how she wants to feel.

ELLE: L’Oréal Paris famously says that every woman is worth it. What does that phrase mean to you?

HJ: When I joined L’Oréal Paris, I spent a lot of time thinking about that. Over the years I’ve met thousands of women and one thing I’ve noticed is that many feel pressure to be a certain way. They think they need to fit a specific mould. To me, “I’m worth it” means the opposite. It means being completely comfortable with who you are. It means walking into a room without feeling intimidated by yourself.

When you truly believe you’re worth it, you wear what you want. You do what you want. You stop waiting for other people to give you validation because your worth comes from within. That’s incredibly powerful.

ELLE: Do you have a signature makeup look?

HJ: Skin always comes first. I love beautiful, radiant skin. One of my favourite products right now is the new Lumi Glotion. It creates the most gorgeous glow and can be used on the face, shoulders and décolletage.

One of my favourite tricks is applying Lumi Glotion and then setting it with Infallible Setting Mist. The glow stays in place all day – or all night. People often describe my makeup as natural, even when there’s quite a lot of coverage involved. I think that’s because I focus on creating healthy-looking skin first.

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ELLE: Finally, what’s your best tip for achieving flawless red-carpet skin?

HJ: Preparation is everything. If you want beautiful makeup, you have to start with beautifully prepared skin. Hydration and moisturising are essential. Then, when it comes to foundation, don’t apply too much all at once. I prefer working in very thin layers. Build coverage gradually rather than using one heavy layer. It creates a much more natural, flawless finish. And finally, set everything properly with setting spray. That’s what keeps makeup looking fresh from the first photograph to the last.