Napoleon Perdis

Be a Doll, and Hand Me One of Those Seven Recently Revamped Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliners

January 22nd, 2014 by Karen 20 Comments

The recently revamped Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliners

Next time you watch Project Runway (if you watch Project Runway), keep an eye on Heidi Klum’s lower water lines… She uses a trick with white liner to make her eyes look brighter, and it works!

I’ve been looking for a white gel liner to wear on mine for what feels like centuries. I’ve tried MAC’s Fascinating Eye Kohl, off and on, but have never really been happy with the wear time, and on me, unfortunately, it smudges.

All this is to say that I have soaringly high hopes for these recently revamped Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliners — in particular, one of them, a white matte shade called Yang. I’m crossing my fingers that it won’t wiggle or scoot shortly after I get it on my water lines.

Yang is one of seven shades in the line. Napoleon nixed the parabens, which had been in the formula before, and added four new shades to the line in golden Double Happiness, navy Dynasty, blackened gold Forbidden City and pewter Lotus.

These are designed to be worn on lash lines, water lines, as cream shadows, or as bases for powder shadows, and they’re billed as long-wearing and smudge-proof.

We shall see (she said, rolling her hands together conspiratorially). I’m gonna try Yang on my water lines tomorrow. Bright eyes, here I come! 🙂

All seven China Doll Gel Eyeliners are available now at Napoleon Perdis stores, Bergdorf Goodman, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and online at for $25 each.

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Double Happiness — Double Happiness

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Lotus — Lotus

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Yin — Yin

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Dynasty — Dynasty

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Tao — Tao

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Yang — Yang

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner in Forbidden City — Forbidden City

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Pots

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Swatches from the left: Yin, Yang, Tao, Double Happiness and Dynasty — Swatches from the left: Yin, Yang, Tao, Double Happiness and Dynasty

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Swatches from the left: Lotus and Forbidden City — Swatches from the left: Lotus and Forbidden City

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Boxes — The gold boxes

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Ingredients — Ingredients

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Line and Define — Line and Define

Napoleon Perdis China Doll Gel Eyeliner Pro Tip — Pro Tip

It’s a Neutral Open House: The New Napoleon Perdis Limited Edition Chateau Collection Welcomes Neutral Lovers With a Pop of Color

November 29th, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

Napoleon Perdis Prismatic Eye Shadow Quad Chateau Swatches

Neutrals in da hiz-ouse!!

Yes, I went there, but it’s OK because this three-piece holiday set by Napoleon Perdis is called “Chateau,” which is French for “castle,” or a large, stately house (three years of high school French, merci!)

First, I have to apologize for misplacing the coral red cream nail polish from this set. I’m sure it’s floating around here somewhere, but I haven’t been able to find it (I REALLY need to clean my office)… The eyeshadow quad and lip quad do convey the theme, though — neutral browns, beige and gold on the eyes with a pop of warm, glossy color on the lips.

I won’t be staying up late obsessing over the lip quad, as it’s pretty standard, but the eye quad? — that’s another story.

I love, LOVE the finish these neutral eyeshadows have. They look like mattes in the pans, but they actually have a faint sheen once you get them on skin; I think that’s what helps make them so easy to blend.

So, in effect, you get the look of a matte eyeshadow — which is always great to have around if you plan to have your picture taken or if you want to wear a conservative eyeshadow look — without the hassle that often comes with blending them out.

If that sounds interesting, the set’s available now for a limited time at Neiman Marcus stores and for $59.

It’s a Clear Case of Lipstick Efficiency: The New Empress Lip Palette by Napoleon Perdis

November 27th, 2013 by Karen 6 Comments

Much as I love fancy palette packaging, there’s something to be said for good ol’-fashioned clear cases, like the one for the new Empress Lip Palette by Napoleon Perdis. Being able to see exactly what’s inside makes it easy to find the right color, and this does come in handy, especially when you’re running late, and your kitty overlord is demanding lurvies and/or gravy.

The Empress holiday lip palette comes with 12 warm neutrals and brights, all containing moisturizing Vitamin E.

It’s available now (limited time) for $59 at Neiman Marcus stores and .

Fit for a Queen: The New Napoleon Perdis Empress Eye Palette

November 22nd, 2013 by Karen 11 Comments

My pulse quickens when I open the new Empress Eye Palette by Napoleon Perdis. 🙂

Now, it doesn’t beat as fast as it did during the exciting parts of The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (just got home from watching it, and now I’m weirdly emotional… I get attached to the characters, you know?), but it definitely flutters, especially when I see the green, purple and blue shades tucked between the mellower brown, beige, pink and peach.

Methinks it strikes a perfect balance between colorful and wearable shades.

The kit’s available now at Neiman Marcus and for $59.

P.S. SEE IT!!!

I’m Scent-Sing Something Fabulous From the Napoleon Perdis Merci Lip Gloss Collection

November 12th, 2013 by Karen 7 Comments

It took me a while to place it, but I think I figured out what the fragrant glosses in the new $39 Napoleon Perdis Merci Lip Gloss Collection remind me of, and when it hit me, I was like YES! Thank goodness for my basset hound-like sense of smell.

I may not be able see worth a damned (my eyesight’s crap, man), but at least I can pinpoint exactly what stuff smells like, which I’m sure will NOT come in handy when Z-Day goes down, but whatevs… At least it’s useful for figuring out fragrances, and these smell (and taste) exactly like fresh lychee, I kid you not.

I think the only reason I could place the scent is because I had them (lychee) last summer on Kauai. I bought a small bag at a farmers’ market to snack on at the beach.

There’s just something so…glorious about letting your muffin top hang out and eating fresh lychees at the beach. It’s right up there with the best of life’s most underrated pleasures.

But enough about fruit. I should probably get to the glosses… 🙂

These could almost pass for dupes of MAC Cremesheen Glasses, and that’s probably why I’ve been crushing on ’em.

Napoleon Perdis Merci Lip Gloss Collection in hand — In my paw for scale…

Napoleon Perdis Merci Lip Gloss Collection swatches from the left: Anna, Casey, Kate, Rebecca and Tannia — Swatches from the left: Anna, Casey, Kate, Rebecca and Tannia

Napoleon Perdis Merci Lip Gloss Collection Rebecca — Rebecca

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