Hermès Beauty’s Creative Director Is a Rom-Com Stan

Hermès Beauty creative director Gregoris Pyrpylis’s first introduction to the French luxury house was when he was gifted a silk scarf from a friend many years ago. The scarf was the softest material he’d ever felt. “It felt so tender caressing my skin. After a few moments, it was like it was barely there,” says Pyrpylis. It wasn’t only the cloudlike softness that made him fall in love with the scarf; the colors made him feel alive and illuminated his skin. He often remembers people complimenting him on how fresh and well rested he looked every time he wore the scarf, but he jokes that he wasn’t well rested, it was simply “the composition of colors of the scarf.” A silk scarf as luxurious as Hermès will do that. Now, Pyrpylis is the creative director of the house’s beauty sector. For his latest launch of silky lipsticks with fourteen bright new shades and three limited-edition ones, he wanted the texture and colors to mimic his first memories of Hermès.

The silky lipstick shines aren’t your traditional lipsticks; they’re sheer and have a barely there feeling (similar to Pyrpylis’s scarf). The vibrant colors are meant to illuminate different complexions, and the trio of lip shines are a skin-care and makeup hybrid. When I apply it quickly, it wears as a shiny, ultrasheen lip balm with a hint of pigment. They come in three shades: an intense flushed orange, a roselike red, and a metallic, shimmery nude. Pyrpylis sees this lip shine as an introductory product into the world of Hermès, as his first experience was. During Paris Fashion Week, I found myself walking down a bright red hallway in a tight prismlike shape; it felt never-ending, but when it finally did end, there were life-size metallic Hermès lipstick tubes to celebrate the launch of the creamy lip shines. The pigments are not only inspired by the hues we all know and love, like the bold leather Birkins — Pyrpylis also took inspiration from his summers in Greece.

You draw a lot of inspiration from personal experiences. Is there one specific experience or story you remember that you took inspiration from for a color?

I have spent every August of my life in Greece, even since I moved to Paris. It’s the moment that I really cherish. That time of year, I go back to Greece and enjoy my family and friends, but also the light, my previous life there, and traveling to the islands. There is one lipstick from our recent collection, Beige Halo. It’s a beautiful, very sunny solar beige that looks like the sun has literally kissed your lips, leaving you with this gorgeous light and shine on them. I wanted to create a shade that reflects the way you come out from the sea after having your afternoon dive. The way that the skin is shiny, with the salt water and your sun protection. The water from the Mediterranean Sea mixes everything and gives your complexion this beautiful sheen and glow. I wanted to put this into a lipstick, and that’s what it gave us.

I love that it’s so near and dear to your Greek roots. What is your favorite Greek island?

You know, there are around 2,000 islands in Greece. I haven’t been everywhere, but I’ve done the touristy ones. I’ve also done those small secrets in the Mediterranean islands that you need to know where to go. There’s this tiny-teeny island in the Cyclades called Schoinousa. It’s just a small paradise on earth and has beautiful golden beaches. It has a huge variety of beaches, but it’s not a party place. It’s more about meeting the locals, understanding the Greek culture, and enjoying a Mediterranean summer. I’ve made such nice memories there. I’ve been quite a few times, and when I’m looking for a moment during the year where I just want to tone down and relax, that’s my refuge.

What’s your favorite meal when you’re there?

It’s full of local taverns, so there’s nothing fancy about this place. I love this kind of connection with the locals, because I live in Paris, so I miss my place. Whenever I go, I visit this small tavern that is owned by a fisherman and his wife; they cook together. Even though I don’t eat fish, I have all these salads, the Greek salad, and the spinach pie especially. It’s just divine, because everything is homemade.

You’re making me want to catch a flight there pronto. How about New York? What’s your go-to meal when you’re here? 

The last time I was in New York, I didn’t go because I couldn’t get a reservation, but it’s one Michael [Carl] from Hermès once told me to try. It’s called Via Carota. It’s an Italian restaurant in the West Village.

I know you mentioned Michael giving that recommendation, and you’re around so many people with good taste; where do you get your best culture recommendations?

I’m very happy because in all the departments at Hermès Beauty or even Hermès in general, there are people who are cultivated and full of interesting ideas. There will always be talk about a new exhibition, a play to go see, or something. My main source is the teams that work here with me, but also through social media and magazines, reading articles. Here in Paris, I’ll often see posters for new exhibitions, and I’ll take those recommendations, too.

Paris, Greece, New York — you travel so much. When you’re on a flight, what’s your comfort rewatch film?

Well, well, well. I am a nervous flyer, especially for long distances. I didn’t used to be, but it doesn’t go away easily when you get a bit of stress. I cannot sleep on a flight, so I’m all about listening to music or reading or watching a movie. I’m usually going through all the rom-coms. All the Jennifer Aniston films; they add a bit of a smile and bring happiness and joy during a flight. I’m all about that, because it’s very light and gives you a nice energy, and I enjoy that.

I’m a rom-com girl too. You mentioned music as well. Is there a specific playlist you have? 

If you could see my playlist, you would put me in a clinic. You would say, “What’s wrong with him?” I’m someone who really has a very open mind in terms of trying to see the beauty around everything. For example, the latest album from Billie Eilish. I think it’s just phenomenal. When I wake up, that’s what I’m listening to. But then, of course, there are times when, especially when I’m shooting, I need a bit more of a rhythm and vibration, so then I’m listening to techno. My musical palette is very large. Sometimes there’s also Greek music.

You can choose any five people to do their makeup and give them the Hermès face. Who are you choosing?

That’s a tough one. I’m going to start by mentioning my biggest crush and I think that if the day comes, I’m going to be starstruck — Meryl Streep. She is an icon. I think that I would just faint if I saw her. I would also do great makeup on her. I would love to work with Simone Biles, since she is a champion and I love how she’s very playful with her makeup; she created a vibe and a trend for younger girls to play even more with makeup. I would mention Martha Stewart; I have an obsession with her. I recently saw her Netflix documentary, and I have a strong admiration for what she’s achieved and how passionate she is and how she went after what she wants. I think she’s a very strong woman, and I love that about her. Jennifer Aniston, because, well, I love her. She brings a bit of fun to her films. I grew up in the ’90s, so Friends was the thing to watch; she was an early crush back in the day. Lastly, Billie Eilish. She has such beautiful eyes, and I think that she has tried different kinds of expressions and has an open mind. She’s very beautiful and cool.

If a makeup artist had to choose one Hermès beauty product for their kit that you’d say they absolutely need, what is that product?

Our amazing, amazing, and extremely efficient and powerful lash curler. I think it’s just a great object. It’s such a pleasure when you go out and you see yourself in the mirror and you see this Hermès signature between your lashes. It just brings you so much luxury, and, yes, that’s what I expect from a lash curler. When I wake up in the morning, I’m doing two things: I do my skin-care routine and I curl my lashes. That’s a nonnegotiable; otherwise, I feel like I have a sleepy face.