12 hours ago
Napoleon Perdis Liquid Cashmere Foundation Review
The best-selling product gets rave reviews for its ability to act 'like a soft filter' on the face for your best skin yet.
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It may bring back memories of your Year 12 Formal but Napoleon Perdis makeup is just as innovative and impressive 15 years on.
If there's one name that will instantly bring back beauty memories for most Aussie millennial women, it's Napoleon Perdis. From birthdays to school dances, the brand defined many of our early big and glitzy milestones.
From celebrities on the red carpet to students at recreation centre dances, Napoleon Perdis epitomised glamour and know-how. I still remember the thrill of putting my Devine Goddess Lipstick in 'Aphrodite' nude in my clutch for late-night touch ups after getting my makeup done for formal. The personal link also became professional – one of Australia's early answers to makeup-artist founded beauty brands, it dominated backstage at fashion weeks and as a result my early days as a beauty writer and editor.
If you have the sudden urge to dig out your old school formal photos, I don't blame you. (However don't blame ME for said looks that might not have quite aged as well as you have!)
But far from beauty products that should stay in our sentimental memories – I'm looking at you, Dream Matte Mousse Foundation – the Napoleon Perdis brand is one that remains nostalgic AND noteworthy. Now-worthy, too.
30 years and 25,000 makeup academy graduates later, Napoleon Perdis' cult products are still captivating new generations. And there's one in particular worth reintroducing to your makeup bag.
$79 at Napolean Perdis
This face product is a clear reminder of what a prestige makeup brand Napoleon Perdis is. The foundation (ha!) of your makeup routine, this easy-to-apply liquid foundation offers buildable to medium coverage with a genuinely velvet-y or cashmere-like finish.
Perfect for those who want some coverage while keeping their skin looking like skin, the formula blends makeup with skincare benefits. Enriched with antioxidant-packed Green Tea Leaf and Japanese Knotweed Root Extracts plus vitamins C and E, it's a base that simultaneously helps perfect skin while also protecting it from environmental stressors. The product is available in five shades, although the darker shade selection is limited.
The fact that it's SPF 20 is an added bonus – although for full protection I'd still apply sunscreen on my face underneath, especially in the warmer months.
The innovation is not just in its formula but applicator, too. The product comes with a clever built-in brush applicator that locks on or off to avoid any unwanted spillage. This makes it perfectly suited for minimal mess and on-the-go touch ups. Simply twist, squeeze, then apply directly to your face. You can also still use your normal applicator of choice – if I have the time, I like to apply with the brush then blend with my usual sponge to really work into the skin.
It's multipurpose, too. You can mix your favourite highlighter in to create a more luminous base, or even use a darker shade as a liquid bronzer.
How does the Napoleon Perdis Stroke of Genius foundation wear?
I'm immediately impressed with both the coverage and the wear. As it's winter, I'm wearing the shade Look 1, which although pale warms up on my skin. And the finish? Smooth and glowy, like a soft filter.
My skin does tend to lean dry/dehydrated so I did notice a little bit of separation throughout the day in some of the drier areas (forehead and around the nose) which to be fair I get with many of my face products.
Do I need to use a primer before foundation?
Which leads me to this.
'Not to prime is a crime!' may either mean nothing or everything to you. As one of Napoleon Perdis's (the man and the brand!) most iconic catchphrases, it is one permanently printed on my brain.
While I'm not saying it's the law, prepping and priming the skin properly WILL make the world of difference. The Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer ($69) was one of the first primers I ever used and it remains as iconic as ever.
A true blend of makeup and skincare, the almost milk-like texture is light yet hydrating, helping to create a smooth and flawless base for your foundation application while nourishing and protecting skin throughout the day.
While the foundation's staying power is worthy, the added layer of primer makes for a truly
long-lasting finish.
So how do the products stand up almost 15 years later?
While it's since become the norm for brands, Napoleon Perdis always encouraged and prioritised makeup education for consumers, emphasising the importance of learning how to enhance your features and discover what works best for you. This foundation – again, sorry – has meant its products have remained relevant, innovative and deserving of a place in your makeup bag or kit.
Any other products worth trying?
The lipstick names and packaging may have changed since my Year 12 Formal, but the punch of colour remains just as impressive. The Soul Matte Longwear Lipstick in Obsessed ($48) is a deliciously bold red. Their Loose Eye Dust pots ($42) are also a perfect and easy way to add a touch more shimmer to your makeup. Your teenage self would definitely approve.
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Brittany Stewart is a curly-haired beauty journalist and podcaster with an extensive collection of red lipsticks that look the same but definitely aren't. From her award-nominated podcast, Beauty Island, to her funny and insightful beauty newsletter
