With the spring/summer fashion season getting underway in Australia, renowned make-up artist Napoleon Perdis reveals his new beauty looks and tips.
Q. WITH TRIBAL PATTERNS AND WARM, SANDY COLOURS MAKING A STRONG RETURN, HOW CAN WE ENSURE OUR MAKE-UP COMPLEMENTS OUR WARDROBE?
A. If your outfit is making a statement, then your make-up should act as the accessory.
I am a huge fan of the bold lip. A strong lip colour statement complements earthy tones fabulously.
Punchy reds and oranges work well with most prints and patterns. Just remember to keep it matte and keep it strong.
I'm also a big believer in reassessing your make-up seasonally - as you do your wardrobe - to keep your look fresh.
It's so easy to get stuck in a beauty rut and keep using the same products, the same colours, and the same application techniques.
Book in with a professional make-up artist a few times a year for an objective and expert opinion - and a few new ideas.
Q. DESIGNERS HAVE LOOKED TO NORTH AFRICA TO CREATE SPRING/SUMMER COLLECTIONS IN TONES OF CINNAMON, TANGERINE AND TERRACOTTA; WHERE ARE MAKE-UP ARTISTS GETTING THEIR INSPIRATION FROM AND HOW DOES THIS TRANSLATE TO EYESHADOW, BLUSHER AND LIPSTICK TONES?
A. Personally I'm inspired by everything from travel, food, interiors, celebrities, women on the street and my staff.
I was just in Hawaii with my family and was really taken by a specific shade of pink in a flower that I kept seeing - I've already sent pictures to my product development team to colour match it for a lipstick shade.
Just yesterday I noticed the lining of one of my wife's jackets and I can see that as a new eye shadow shade.
For me inspiration is about finding beauty in the everyday, and then tailoring that to what I know my customers will wear and love.
Q. FOR THOSE OF US THAT ADOPT THIS SEASON'S VIBRANT TROPICAL PRINTS TREND, HOW CAN WE MAKE SURE WE DON'T OVERDO OUR MAKE-UP WHEN IT COMES TO USING BRIGHT COLOUR?
A. My number one rule is to try any trend at 20 per cent intensity, and build it from there.
Be inspired by a trend and then consider how comfortable you are wearing it. This is really important as if you don't feel confident you just won't pull it off.
Take this bright lip trend, try it for 12 minutes to give your eye time to adapt to something new, then decide if you like it or not.
For those who are more inclined to gravitate toward a nude palette, keep the colour to one focus area of the face, be it lip, cheek or eye.
For the super conservative, try a tinted balm or gloss over a bold, matte lip or press a little of the colour into your lip with your fingers for a softer, stain effect.
For eyes, try experimenting with coloured liner. You'll get a shot of colour, without making that commitment to full-on shadow.
Q. IN THE WARMER MONTHS MANY AUSTRALIANS WANT TO HAVE THAT GLOWING-SKIN LOOK. HOW DO WE ACHIEVE THAT?
A. It's all in the (skin) prep. The better condition your skin is in the less you will have to use foundation, concealer and powder.
It's best to have a base that enhances your natural radiance rather than trying to create it with a foundation.
I always start by nourishing the skin with a hydrating serum both morning and night. Then follow up with a primer to prepare the skin for make-up and keep it in place.
From there, decide if you actually need foundation or if concealer will be enough. Use foundation only where needed - a little goes a long way.
Conceal from there as the foundation will have evened out most imperfections, and blend, blend, blend for the most natural effect.
From there, it's all about highlighting. The key to highlighting the cheekbones is making sure you're using products that are lighter than your skin tone so that light is attracted to that area to make it appear larger.
Try a luminous cream colour to create supermodel-worthy cheekbones - the reflective elements will make the cheekbones look more prominent and defined.
Q. HOW DO MAKE-UP TRENDS IN AUSTRALIA THIS SEASON COMPARE TO THOSE IN LOS ANGELES?
A. Australian beauty is the epitome of freshness - very modern, spirited and cool.
I often find Australian women are more embracing of trying new things, brighter colours, and aren't afraid to push the boundaries a bit more than American women in general.
LA girls are definitely glamorous but tend to be more about skin: dewy foundations, contouring, oh and they don't mind a lash either.
It could be all that exposure to the red carpet.
Q. WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE TREND OF THE SEASON?
A. Real looking skin. Although, this isn't so much a trend as timeless, but at the moment I am obsessed with the fresh glow - beautiful light coverage combined with perfected concealer.
Fab skin acts as an anchor for any look and once you've got a great skin base you can experiment with spring's bold lip, a lash or just keep it all completely neutral.
Q. WHAT ARE SOME COMMON BEAUTY MISTAKES YOU'VE BEEN NOTICING SINCE ARRIVING BACK IN AUSTRALIA?
A. I have witnessed some serious crimes against foundation recently. Not blending correctly, foundation in the hairline, using colours that are too dark for your complexion, or too light (and) concealing incorrectly.
I don't like to use foundation on the forehead, this is when make-up can start looking like a mask. It's not the most face-flattering look and can be quite aging.
No woman should be without a foundation brush. By all means use fingers to warm up the foundation and mold to the skin, but make sure to blend and clean up any excess with a brush.
*Napoleon Perdis is make-up director for the David Jones Spring Summer Fashion Launch at the Elizabeth Street store, in Sydney, on August 14.
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