Napoleon Perdis Says: Make Your Client Queen for a Day ... Everyday!

Since the original 1933 film, women, young girls and probably quite a few hirsute men have marveled at the visual splendor that is Alice in Wonderland. More than seven decades years later the new version of the classic, helmed by the incomparable Tim Burton, is topping the box office charts yet again. From a beauty perspective, I was delighted by Helena Bonham Carter as th Red Queen—love those stenciled brows!—but it’s Anne Hathaway as the White Queen whom I’m inspired by. Who doesn’t want to be a queen for the day? Or at least feel like one? Follow these simple steps for regal style—tiara optional. 

Stately Skin: For the client who is looking to achieve queenly, creamy skin, primer is a must. Start with my Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer before anointing the skin with foundation. For doll-like porcelain skin, use Napoleon Perdis China Doll Foundation. Work the foundation first in the feature focus area and blend out towards the jaw line. Apply with a foundation brush for stately results. To achieve the ghostly visage fit for the White Queen, mix China Doll Foundation with China Doll Gel Liner in Alabaster.

Enchanting Eyes: Ensure your client’s eyes are well framed with well-defined brows and lashes. Line the upper and lower lash lines with your go-to black or brown gel liner. Blend the line to soften. Whether I’m working on a customer or a celeb, I typically use three coats of black mascara. Work soft shades of pink eye shadow around the entire eye area from lash line to socket and along the lower lashline.  

Reigning Red:  As a general rule, line the lips last, especially when you’re going for a traffic-stopping red. Work a shade of deep red lipstick onto the lips with a lip brush then line the lips to perfect the shape. Maximize the lip shape by lining right to the corners. To achieve a doll-like bow fit for a queen, make your lines a bit angular, especially at the cupid’s bow of the lip.

Majestic Brows: For Hathaway-worthy brows, one must stop over-tweezing. To enlarge sparse brows, apply a matching shade of pencil with a stiff angled brush. Sharpen the same pencil and draw individual hairs directly onto the brow. Blend with a brow comb.

napoleonperdis 200x300 Napoleon Perdis: Secrets of a Jersey Shore MakeUNDERIn 1995, celebrity makeup artist Napoleon Perdis debuted his line of cosmetics and launched his first concept store and Makeup Academy in Sydney. Today, Napoleon Perdis has 59 stand-alone concept stores and more than 800 point-of-sale locations across Australia and New Zealand. In the U.S., the brand has three Napoleon Perdis stores and is sold in select independent retailers. Celebrity fans of the brand include Jessica Szohr, Lady Gaga, Becki Newton, Debra Messing, Lindsay Lohan, Amanda Bynes, Shenae Grimes, Whitney Port, Adrienne Bailon and more.