Back in late November, I entered a giveaway on the Beautyholics Anonymous blog, and to my surprise I was one of the winners announced just before Christmas! And what was also such fun was that I had no idea what I won! (BTW, if you don’t know her already, Tine of Beautyholics Anonymous is a very talented, well-known but down-to-earth beauty blogger from Australia who has been so wonderful in helping me learn the ropes of blogging. Plus I love her writing and I love to find out what’s going on in beauty on the other side of the world.)
It took about 3 weeks for my prize to reach me in the U.S., and I couldn’t believe how expensive the shipping was! It was waiting for me by the garage one snowy evening in late January when I came home. I could hardly wait to see my surprise!
I thought maybe I would win some Australian makeup products, and I did. But instead of the Australian affordable/drugstore makeup products I was curious about from Tine’s blog, it was a limited edition box of Napoleon Perdis palettes. Can you believe this gorgeous packaging?
Napoleon Perdis is an Australian makeup artist who launched a line of luxury makeup in the mid ’90s. It was originally available only in Australia and New Zealand, but it has been available in the US for the last several years, and it’s sold at luxury department stores like Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, at Ulta, as well as through some Napoleon Perdis concept stores (though I have never run across the NP concept stores myself).
Although there were 3 different palettes in the impressive gift box above, in this post I will share with you the lip palette that I’m over the moon about, the Empress Lip Palette, and save the others for another time. I am actually savoring this gift, and I haven’t used the other two palettes yet.
The palette comes in a navy blue box with gold accents (the NP colors) that allows you to get a sneak peak of the shades in the palette. The palette itself is a super-heavy clear plastic (the material may have a fancier name, but I don’t know what it is!).
Inside are 12 pans of super-creamy lipsticks ranging from nudes, browns, oranges, corals, pinks, and reds. The palette cover has a cute round mirror that I actually use. The only thing missing is a lip brush, but I’ve got my own.
(As usual, the shades in my photo come through darker when they post on WordPress so I am going to also include a photo from the brand so you can get a better idea of the bright, clear shades in this palette.)
I ADORE these lipsticks! They are easy to apply – they glide on – but they require a brush (and as you’ll see in the pix, I haven’t cracked the code on getting a good lip line with a brush.) They’re highly pigmented and glossy, but they’re opaque, not sheer. They are almost weightless; one of those lipsticks you forget you’re wearing. They’re hydrating, and feel great on my lips. They have no scent or taste. Although the lipstick doesn’t really last through a meal, it will stay on for about 4 hours or more if you’re not eating or drinking much. The gloss fades over the hours but the color doesn’t. And frankly, I don’t mind whipping out this palette and applying more when necessary 😉
So far, I’ve been using the pinks, nudes, and reds the most. Here are a few of the shades.
I haven’t tried the brown shades yet. I’m hoping that they’ll be like Urban Decay Revolution Lipstick in Protest that looks brownish in the tube but is a fabulous nude shade.
I’ve been taking this palette with me on my recent travels to Phoenix, San Francisco and next to Indianapolis. It’s so great to have so many choices in lip colors in a portable, gorgeous, luxury palette.
Imagine my surprise when I discovered that this palette is valued at $165. Say what? Now, I’m even more thrilled that I won this.
Unfortunately, the Empress Lip Palette is no longer available since it was a limited edition that appeared around the holidays in late 2013. But I’m blogging about it to introduce you to the Napoleon Perdis brand, if you’re not already familiar with it. Next time Ulta has a 20% off coupon that includes prestige, pounce! I imagine that though this particular lip palette isn’t available, the lipsticks that are part of the permanent collection or the next limited edition are and will be well worth trying.
Have you tried Napoleon Perdis? What are your favorite NP products?
On a different note, just a reminder of the Giveaway of a $50 Gift Certificate from Midnight Velvet, the contemporary women’s fashion, accessories, makeup, perfume & home decor catalogue and online retailer. If you haven’t seen my adorable floral printed satin heels, you really should! Easy entry and the giveaway goes until 3/17.
Finally, Macy’s is the latest retailer to rejoin up with Lilly Pulitzer. They’re offering another cute pink and green floral makeup bag with the usual assortment of Estee Lauder products: choice of moisturizer, serum, mascara, choice of lipstick, and your choice between two very nice small eye shadow palettes. The gift with purchase kicks in at the $35 level, and if you spend $70, you get even more goodies. If I didn’t have so much Estee Lauder makeup already, I’d move on this one 😉 So go to the www.macys.com and check out the bag.
Here are the details:
- Advanced Night Repair Synchronized Recovery Complex II
- Sumptuous Bold Volume Lifting Mascara in Black (10-day supply)
- Take It Away Makeup Remover Lotion (deluxe travel size)
- Exclusive Cosmetic Bag in an Original Lilly Pulitzer Print
- Choice of deluxe size Moisturizer: DayWear Advanced Multi-Protection Anti-Oxidant Creme SPF 15 OR Resilience Lift Firming/Sculpting Face and Neck Creme SPF 15
- Choice of Makeup: Subtle or Bold
- Subtle: Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Sugar Honey (full-size) and Pure Color EyeShadow Quad in Sugar Biscuit, Nude Fresco, Hot Cinnamon and Lavish Mink
- Bold: Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Pink Parfait (full-size) and Pure Color EyeShadow Quad in Tranquil Moon, Iridescent Violet, Tempting Mocha and Amethyst Spark
Wow, those colors all look beautiful on you! What is the name of the top one?
Kim, unfortunately and somewhat strangely, the palette didn’t identify the different shades. This was the deep red on the right side of the palette, 3rd one down. It looks very bright in the pan, but it goes on as a muted red with blue undertones. NP is worth looking at next time you go to Ulta
Beautiful shades!!!! And I like that the lipsticks are creamy and hydrating. Sounds really good.
They really are good, Sybille. If you find yourself in Ulta or Bergdorf’s or Neiman’s one of these days, check out the Napoleon Perdis makeup and especially the lipsticks. They are beautiful!
Lovely colors!!! A friend who lives in Australia will be coming to visit her family in may, I just might ask her to pick a few items for me! 🙂
Icaria recently posted…Clinique High Impact Mascara…
You definitely should ask her to bring you some items, Helene. I ADORE these creamy, light lipsticks! I must break into the palette with the eye shadows soon. NP is sold at Neiman Marcus & Bergdorf’s in the US, do you have either one in Canada? And thanks for the advice on testing out the lash curler before using it on my eyes! I am nervous about trying it, but I would love to have curled lashes for once in my life 😉
I was just chatting with a beauty blogger in Australia and I was telling her that Napoleon Perdis isn’t really a hot item in the US. When I go to Ulta the shelf of NP is pristine and say the Urban Decay stuff looks like crap .. lol. Anyway, I really need to check out this brand .. perhaps I’ll stop by Ulta on my weekend errand run 🙂
Monica.
MonicaP recently posted…Dressing for weekend errands
Yes, it is a completely under appreciated brand here. I haven’t been to Bergdorf Goodman in years, and it’s been a while since I’ve been to Neiman Marcus but next time I’m in Boston I will check the NP counter there. My guess is it may do better in the top-tier department stores than in Ulta where the clientele may not have as deep pockets. That palette that I received sold for $165!!
What a beautiful prize, congrats! I don’t think I have tried anything from this brand before, the shades look great on you.
Tina @ My Highest Self recently posted…Review: IT Cosmetics Tightline Full Lash Length Black Mascara Primer
I really lucked out on this one, Tina! Check it out at Ulta next time 🙂
Aww they look fab on you! So glad you enjoy the palette. It’s such a gorgeous one.
PS: Now that you’ve seen the Australian postage price, you can kinda guess why our so-called drugstore products are 2-3 times US prices 😛
Tine @ Beautyholics Anonymous recently posted…Beauty Experience: Guinot Beaute Neuve Facial @ Bare Skin Bliss
Oh yes, Tine! I do adore it, and I am about to break into the next of the little palettes! I want them to last, lol 🙂 And I was amazed at the cost of the postage, and also at the cost of the beautiful gift itself. Thanks again 🙂