The Favorite Shades of Makeup Artists: Rebecca Prior from Napoleon Perdis

1. Auto Pilot Pre-Foundation Primer: One product I could not be without for any makeover be it bridal, runway, editorial, etc is Auto Pilot Primer. Primer is the bridging category between skincare and makeup and it’s an essential step in makeup preparation. Not only does it keep makeup smoother for longer, it makes makeup application that much easier. Napoleon says “Not to Prime is a Crime,” and I agree 100 percent!

2. Pro Palette Concealer: I always like to reach for a concealer that is the perfect balance of coverage, color, and smoothness and I find the Pro Palette concealer does all of these things. It allows quick coverage with minimal product, the combination of three colors allows you to customize to any area of the face, and most importantly – the product stays smooth and keeps the under eye area looking hydrated and not dry.

3. Boudoir Mist Spray Foundation: This is a miracle in a can! I use this lightweight, water-resistant product for anything from creating a quick, easy base, to bronzing a body to covering tattoos and stretch marks. This product has added the finishing touches to many a makeup look on so many occasions. It really is a backstage essential for me.

4. Mesmer-Eyes Mascara: This is my all time favorite mascara. I think people can underestimate how much ability lashes have to complete, change, or add character to a look. Whether you are going for silver screen goddess glamour, or runway, or reality – I like the Mesmer-Eyes Mascara because it allows you to create anything from super fine, separated, wispy lashes to fluttery lashes of faux proportions.

5. Mattifying Mineral Powder: Again, no matter the job, you need a powder you can rely on to keep shine at bay while still leaving the skin looking fresh and not dry or cakey – especially these days with the unforgiving nature of high definition. There is nothing more cringe-worthy as a makeup artist than seeing your work on camera or under the lights with shine to rival a disco ball. I love the Mattifying Mineral Primer; it is a super fine loose powder that keeps shine away while reducing the appearance of pores. A good powder is something you need on every job, all the time. All sexes, all ages, I use this product on everyone.

6. Ultimate Contour Palette: This is an item we like to call a “lingerie item” – and another essential. Just like lingerie, it goes on before the rest of the outfit/makeup to ensure that what ever you put on over the top looks amazing. This product allows you to become a sculptor and recreate the dimensions of the face to make different areas of the face more defined, or less prominent. What I like the most is that it has been cleverly developed so the texture of each of the shades in the palette will help give the most flattering results.

7. Loose Eye Dust: Loose Dusts are another favorite of mine because of their versatility. These highly pigmented pots of color can be used as eye shadows, face highlighters, they can be mixed through with glosses or lip lacquers to create instant customized color, and can even be mixed with a bonding agent to make metallic liquid liners. I love that you can apply them in a sheer wash of color, or press them on for dramatic intensity. I have every color of the rainbow but I use Honey Child the most as the gold undertone looks flattering on every skintone.

8. China Doll Gel Liner in Equinox: The versatility of this product is amazing. I can achieve a soft smudged liner, super fine crisp liner, or base to a smokey eye with just a few brush strokes – and once this product is dry IT STAYS PUT! If I could only have one eye liner in my kit, this would be the one. I have even used it on brows many times.

9. Red Lipstick: A blue based red lipstick like DéVine Goddess Aphrodite is always a staple for my kit. Red is a classic and will never go out of fashion, but I love that you can vary the shade dependent on the season or trend by mixing in a black gel eye liner. Doing this means you can have anything from a fire engine red to a berry red, scarlet or wine, to bordeaux – just depending on how much black you mix through.

10. Makeup Brushes: It is virtually impossible to do your craft well if you do not have the correct tools – to this day when I am teaching a class I say if there is anything you can NEVER forget, it is your brushes. These tools help to create different effects, get the job done accurately, and save time and product when it comes to application. I have multiples of my favorites that I use all the time. I love the Napoleon Perdis 10r Sculpting Brush, it can make any eye technique or look appear blended and fused within seconds.

Rebecca Prior has been in the makeup industry for 14 years and has been with Napoleon Perdis for almost 11 years after graduating in 1999 from the Napoleon Perdis Makeup Academy with a Diploma in Entertainment Makeup in Sydney, Australia. Rebecca is now based in Los Angeles and finds the Hollywood atmosphere a source of great inspiration, with endless movie premiers, red carpet events and glamour at every turn. Her passion lies in glamour makeup and this has seen her leading makeup teams at Australian and New York Fashion Week. In addition to working as an editorial artist, her makeup brushes have also touched the faces of many celebrities and world class models.

Napoleon Perdis