Ask Elyse: Lashing Out

Dear Elyse,

My lashes are short and sparse, and using a metal curler doesn’t seem to help. Is there any other way for me to get fuller, longer lashes?

-Caitlin

Dear Caitlin,

It’s a sad fact that not every woman is born with full, irresistible eyelashes without resorting to the torture device also known as the metal eyelash curler, but there are alternatives to this retro technique.

Metal eyelash curlers can pull and break your lashes, leaving you with shorter lashes than when you started. Instead, try a heated eyelash curler (like the ModelCo Lash Wand Heated Curler). The curler is warmed by a small metal coil, and all you have to do is put the lashes through the comb and then brush upward. The heat is so slight that it won’t cause a burn, but strong enough to curl. Another perk: with a heated curler you can put on mascara before or after curling, unlike the metal version that only allows you to put on mascara afterward.

Some mascaras bond to lashes more tightly than others, which works if you plan on jumping into a pool, but it’s not so great for keeping them healthy. To make sure your lashes don’t dry out (which can then lead to breaking), try using an eyelash conditioner like ModelCo’s Lash Boost before applying mascara. Once the conditioner is applied, try mascara that specializes in length and volume, such as Madame Beyond Mascara by Napoleon Perdis.

If you’re still frustrated with a lack of lashes, faux is the way to go. You'll want to choose hand knotted clusters with three or four hairs per section, like ModelCo’s Lash Out Single Lashes, rather than the false lashes that come in one strip. When applying, use three short clusters on the inside, three medium in the middle, and three long at the end. This pattern really opens up the eye by recreating the natural ascension of the lashes.

I hope this helps,

Elyse

Ask Elyse: Spring Glow

Dear Elyse,

My skin took a bit of a beating during a harsh winter season and I want a glowing look for spring. Is there any way to get a fresh spring face without tons of cosmetics?

Thank you,
Agnes

Dear Agnes,

If you haven't been hydrating already make it a priority. Not only is it good for your overall health but it can restore elasticity in the skin and clear out the contaminates which cause most skin problems. Also, eating citrus fruits with a high vitamin C content will help in maintaining the moisture balance in your skin and reduce blemishes.

A consistent skin regimen will keep your skin in balance. If nothing else, be sure to cleanse, moisturize, and protect daily while using a mild exfoliate every three days or so to clean out deep-set contaminates.

Choosing a cleanser will depend on your skin type, but the Napoleon Perdis Dream Cream is for all types. Apply it after cleansing as a moisturizer. Its light-diffusing technology will help to hide any blemishes. After that you'll want to apply a primer like NP's Pre-Foundation Skin Primer to lock moisturizer in and keep daily dirt out.

Adding a little color will enhance a girlish glow. A touch of pink on the apples of your cheeks using China Doll combined with a pale glossy pout from Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Coral will be sweet and subtle. Add a little white eye pencil to the inner corners of your eyes for a wider-looking gaze and you've got the perfect glowing look for spring.

Hope this helps,
Elyse

Ask Elyse: Concealer Crux

Dear Elyse,

I wear liquid foundation every day, and no matter how much I have on, it seems to disappear by the end of my lunch break. How can I keep my foundation from falling off?

Thanks,
Melissa

Dear Melissa,

Hopefully you're not heaping on the foundation in the hope that extra layers will keep you covered. Always remember that no make-up is better than too much.

In order to maintain that flawless foundation finish that lasts throughout the day, it's best to start at the beginning. Before the application of any cosmetics be sure that the surface of your skin is as clean and smooth as possible. After giving it a good scrub down, I recommend using a primer like Auto Pilot Primer from Napoleon Perdis. Not only will a primer level out any imperfections on the surface, but it will offer a protective barrier against pore-blocking dirt and help cosmetics cling to the skin.

Also, remember to keep your hands away from your face once the foundation is on. I know it sounds simple, but you'd be surprised by how often it happens throughout the day.

Hope this helps,
Elyse

Ask Elyse: Haute Holiday

Dear Elyse,

I'm attending a ritzy holiday party and I want my make-up to match the occasion. Can you tell me how to get a classic holiday look?

Thanks,
Candace

Classic is just the way to go. Not only is it the latest hit with celebrity fashionistas, but it will save you from the worst of embarrassing holiday photos.

Eyes should be elegant with an underlying drama. First you'll want to sweep a light, shimmery shadow from lid to brow bone. On top of that, apply a darker shadow in the same colour family and then a stretch of eyeliner (any dark shade but black) at the base of the lid. Use an eye shadow brush to blend in color starting at your lash line, moving upward. Make sure to blend color into the lash line so that the liner is seamless with the shadow.

Rosy cheeks are always in for winter, but everything in moderation. You don't want your rouge giving you the red light look. Opt for a peachy pink like Napoleon Perdis' Barely Blushing in Rouge and apply one more layer than you're used to, starting light at the base of your cheekbone, deepening at the apple of your cheek, and then fading out again in the upward slant.

You won't want your lips fighting your eyes for attention, so a muted but rosy nude like Napoleon Perdis' DéVine Goddess Lipstick in Harmonia combined with the subtle Gloss Patrol in Tokyo will have the perfect hint of colour and shine.

Hope this helps,
Elyse

Goddess for Day

We've selected one of our favorite Napoleon Perdis faces of the season to show you just how the look is done. Titled with the lofty name of 'Goddess Worship,' we think it's the quintessential look to pair with all your fall fashions- it's that just right blend between traditionally dusky winter shades with a hint of the blushing brights so popular on the runways right now. Look below for an easy how-to on this must-have look!

• Start with a flawless base by applying Auto Pilot Pre-foundation Primer to the face. Apply the first coat of Long Black Mascara.

• Apply Concealer to dark circles and blemishes. Lightly set the foundation across the ‘feature focus’ area of the face with Camera Finish.

• Pat Aqua Ultra Pearl Eye Shadow over the mobile lid up to the socket line. Next pat Blue Velvet eye shadow along the lower lash line from the inner corner to the outer corner. Sweep the Desert Sand eye shadow through the socket of the eye of using. This will continue to blend the color through the socket and graduate the color. Highlight the brow bone and inner corner of the eye with the Candlelight color . Create a sultry, wide-eye look by lining the inner rim with China Doll Eyeliner Equinox and apply your second cost of Long Black Mascara.

• Softly sweep a bloom of Barely Blushing across the apples of the cheeks.

• Coat lips with Gloss Patrol in Sydney.
  

Our Favorite Face in Fashion

Chanel certainly outdid itself at their Paris spring Ready to Wear, but what we noticed (and loved) was the tender-toned make up worn by the Chanel models.

It was a sort of fragile woodland look, made up of sleepy shades and soft touches. We're pretty sure it will set the pace for spring cosmetic trends and it's surprisingly simple, so we're showing how to recreate it just for you.

It doesn't matter a bit what skin tone you lean toward - Chanel had models of every hue sporting this look. What's important is that you start out with a porcelain smooth texture. That's where Napoleon Perdis' China Doll foundation comes in. A light application will have you looking as flawless as a woodland fae.

Last spring's ever-present pink cheek has been discarded in favour of an earthier pigment - basically it's bronzer without such a heavy hand. Place a light dusting of ModelCo's Colorbox Bronzing Trio just below your cheekbone. Chanel has it stoping about an inch from the edge of the face, but feel free to experiment with the boundaries until you're comfortable.

Your eyes should be soft but certainly not understated. Choose three shadows with a luminescent quality to them - one highlight (see NP's Ultra Pearl Eyeshadow in Candlelight), one medium (Golden Bronze) and one dark (Walnut). The highlight will go at the base corner of your lid (closest to the tear duct) and under the arch of your brow. Next, lightly dust the medium shade across the whole of your lid, going fainter as you extend up to your brow. The dark shade will be blended with the medium, but should only go on the outside half of your eye. Blending is key. You should see no definitive lines of colour on your eyelid.

Lips are last and have a bit of a bruised quality. Gently dab your upper and lower lip in the center with a berry coloured lip pencil - enough to get a shadow of the colour. Then apply a similar coloured gloss like ModelCo's Cheeky Tints to the whole.

Ask Elyse: Smoke and Mirrors

Dear Elyse,

I keep seeing gorgeous smoky eyes on all the A-list actresses on the red carpet this fall, but every time I try it on my own, I just look like a raccoon. Could you tell me the right way to get these eyes?

-Kelly

Dear Kelly,

You’ll want to start with an eye primer to keep the pigments in place. If you don’t have a primer, make sure that your lids are clean so that oils in your skin are less likely to cause cosmetic bleed.

For a typical black, brown or gray smoky eye, apply liner in one of those colors above the upper lash line, drawing line thicker in the middle of eye. If you’re opting for a jewel-toned eye, line eyes with a purple, blue or deep green liner.

For color on the bottom you'll want lighter eyeliner. The trick is to smudge it. You can also apply a bit of shadow to get full smudge effect.

The key to a smoky eye is pairing a lighter base with the darker hue, so sweep a light, shimmery shadow from lid to brow bone. On top of that, apply a darker eye shadow. Use an eye shadow brush to blend in color starting at your lash line, moving upward. Make sure to blend color into the lash line so the eye liner disappears. Stop deep color at crease.

Be sure to keep lips nude or at least neutral so that your makeup doesn’t overwhelm your face.

Hope this helps,

Elyse

Beauty with A Bite

Is there any current creature more sultry than the vampire? From the dazzlingly romantic vamps in Twilight to their more primal cousins in HBO's hit show Trueblood, vampire popularity has risen to a fever pitch, and everybody wants a piece.

Vampire novels flood the bestseller list, vampire flicks bring flocks to the box offices, and most noticeable of all, vampire fashions are hitting both streets and runway.

Think lace and leather, gothic romance with a modern edge. Pearly skin, soft bruised cosmetic shades and an infusion of mystery.

Cosmetics guru Napoleon Perdis discusses how to achieve the look of the glamorous undead in a recent American Salon blog, telling aspiring vampettes to embrace the un-tanned skin you're in, experiment with rosy blush and edgier shades, and to avoid anything too literal - the vampire of today is sexy and elegant, which means you shouldn't look like you're channeling Elvira.

Don't forget to shop UrbanMinx for the latest Napoleon Perdis products, prime for perfecting your vamped-out look with porcelain foundations and edgy brights.

Fresh Faced Beauty with Napoleon Perdis

We all love to play with the outrageous trends that spill from the runways, but in the end, what every girl wants is that born-beautiful look that graces the face of almost every red carpet starlet when spring rolls around.

You can achieve this look with grace and time to spare. We've compiled a few helpful how tos on how to go au natural, using the award-winning products of cosmetic guru Napoleon Perdis.

Skin: Every artist knows that the first step toward a masterpiece is to prime the palette. Start with the application of a good base like the Auto Pilot Skin Primer. You’ll want this base to look as even as possible, which can be managed with a dab of the China Doll foundation on any area where skin looks blotchy.

Eyes: Dewy eyes are achieved by applying a light but warm-toned shadow over your makeup-free eye, from your lids up to brows, as well on the inner corner; Desert Sand Pearl Eyeshadow or something slightly peachier, such as Champagne, is the ideal shade. One coat of Long Black Mascara in Chocolate Brown on upper and lower eye lashes will make your eyes pop. A line traced above your lower lashes with a white Eye Pencil will make them absolutely dazzle.

Cheeks: For glowing cheeks, grab a big blush brush and apply a fine blush, from the apples of the cheeks and up to your temples. Make sure to blend so it looks natural. Using a Color Disc in Misty Plum will give you that slightly violet tint that has been so hot on the spring runways.

Lips: The colour of the moment is a lush coral. A light coat of Gloss Patrol in Paris carries plumping power and shine, as well as that subtle bee stung look.

Couture Shock

Moving away from the dusky tones that were popular in the Autumn/Winter shows of 2008, fashion for spring ‘09 is set to be retro and neon bright.

This trend is all about confident girls who aren't afraid to dress boldly. Show your true colours with Ben Sherman's Westminster Shirt in an arresting shade of Pink or Inky Blue, or dress up the look with the Embellished Tulip Silk Shift Dress in Tang by Hale Bob.

If you’re always reaching for the safer neutrals in your closet, now is the time jolt to your basics with a punchy shade. It's easy to adjust the intensity to suit your mood. Combine neutral basics with flashes of neon accessories like Hobo's Reliable Belt in Mulberry or Juicy Couture's Free Style Tassel Bag in Buttercup.

Feel free to spread the style past your clothing choices. A cute flat in a bright shade like the Dolce Vita Olive Patent Flat in Orchid or a flaring shade of lipstick (I recommend the Napoleon Perdis DéVine Goddess Lipstick in Hara) will cause any outfit to flare with life.

Luck's Got Nothing to do With It

Napoleon Perdis has exceeded his fifteen minutes of fame but this spotlight is well deserved. Lucky Magazine featured several of the cosmetic guru’s top of the line products in their NP five-piece make up set giveaway (Lucky Breaks, pg 214)! Products included were the Blush Patrol, Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Skin Primer, and China Doll Concealer. If you’re just too impatient to wait on Lucky or simply want to even the odds a bit, dash on over to our Napoleon Perdis page and pick up a few of these prime products!

Napoleon Perdis Featured in Sunday Telegraph

Referred to as ‘Australia’s favourite beauty god’ by the Sunday Telegraph, this month’s issue of the mag featured cosmetics guru Napoleon Perdis, who is now rolling into his fourth week of shooting his greatly anticipated new reality show, Get Your Face on With Napoleon Perdis, set to appear in August ’08 on TLC. The premise of the show runs on the same formula of other reality television shows such as Survivor and Donald Trump’s The Apprentice. Twelve eager students with a passion for cosmetics compete in a new challenge every week, and with the end of each episode, the weakest link is voted off. The prize? The last contestant standing gets the run of Perdis’ United States company. With the reward being no small change, we Minxes are eager to see just what harrowing tasks Perdis’ has in mind for these fresh faces in cosmetics.

Reality TV Gets a Makeover with Napoleon Perdis

Australia's leading makeup artist Napoleon Perdis will bring his brand beliefs of "Red Carpet to Reality" and "Bring out The Celebrity in You" to the forefront this August of 2008 as he takes over the television world through multiple appearances and his own reality show "Get Your Face On," debuting this summer on TLC. "Face On" will capture the realities of makeup artistry as Napoleon Perdis works to discover the world's next star makeup artist.

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Concealer Video

Two weeks ago, we were lucky enough to have Napoleon Perdis makeup artist Jeff up from Hollywood to give all the guys and gals at UrbanMinx the latest in beauty tips and tricks.

In this video, Jeff presents the Napoleon Perdis China Doll Concealer - perfect for banishing blemishes and nourishing your skin. Listen in as he answers questions from the UrbanMinx style staff and explains more about the Napoleon Perdis makeup system.

Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot Skin Care Video

In this week's makeup video, Napoleon Perdis artist Jeff shares more fabulous beauty info with the UrbanMinx team. Check it out as Jeff presents the Napoleon Perdis Auto Pilot basic trio for perfect skin care: Auto Pilot Skin Primer, Auto Pilot Eyespy Eye Cream, and Auto Pilot Dream Cream.

The Auto Pilot system is your passport to skin nirvana. With Napoleon Perdis' skin care regime, you can achieve a more refined complexion and healthier hydrated skin cells. The treatment trio features Vitamins A and E.

The Beauty Book

In this issue...Creating the "Summer Glow"

Make-up artist and beauty guru, Esteban Linares, guides us through an easy step-by-step guide to get that summer glow you've been searching for. Using Napoleon Perdis and Model Co. products, Esteban will have your skin looking vibrant and refreshed in no time!

Read The Beauty Book now...