Napoleon Perdis

Autumn can be a tricky one in terms of how the weather shapes up but there's no denying it, when the cool change hits our hair and skin can start to play-up! This week we've been looking for products that will keep us looking glossy, shimmery and well-moisturised from head to toe. Face serums, bronzers and lip treatments are just a few of the Autumn essentials we're coveting right now and our fashion editor, Ali, for one, is also looking to mix up her 'do. Come see our (right now) top beauty picks!

Backstage at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia we spotted more than a few beauty trends, but we also kept a tally of the most-used products. Session stylists and makeup artists work hard and fast behind the scenes, and it's the "heroes" that become their multi-tasking, fix-all, use everywhere and on everything products. If you're wondering what your next beauty purchase might be, step this way.

We were on the ground covering Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia and the first show up was Camilla and Marc. Napoleon Perdis was on makeup and said that the inspiration came directly from the Russian Matryoshka doll — also an inspiration for the designers. The nails, by Ciate, took on a mannequin effect with a seamless, skin-coloured nude, and the hair was simple and wearable. Click through to read what the hair and makeup artists had to say backstage before the show.

Dion Lee is one of our most celebrated designers — best known for exquisite tailoring and unique fabric techniques — and so the hair and makeup really played into his strong design aesthetic last night. His private presentation was held at Guillaume at Bennelong (the Opera House), and Napoleon Perdis partnered for makeup, KMS California and ghd for hair. The focus was on the eye, a rich navy blue, while the hair was constructed with military precision. We were behind the scenes, join us.

Photo courtesy KMS California

When asked to describe his inspiration for his Maticevski beauty vision, makeup maestro Napoleon Perdis used the words "tomboy heiress". What does that conjure up? Lots of feminine shades, bold brows that scream "refined", mauve lips that hark to a slightly grungy era and an overall sporty-femme beauty look. As for the ghd-styled hair? If you can picture the result when origami meets Grace Kelly, you're on the right track. Come see. . .

The Ginger & Smart woman is all about effortless nonchalance, and the hair and makeup for their collection showing this morning at Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia speaks to it perfectly. Napoleon Perdis has gone for angular lines and graphic shapes to tie-in with the design duos' signature aesthetic, while Redken's Richard Kavanagh kept the hair undone and cool using a unique tonging trick. Ready for the backstage breakdown?

We arrived at a famous art gallery in Sydney's Surry Hills for today's first show, Karla Spetic. The hair is headed-up by ghd's Sophie Roberts, and she used Karla's Croatian heritage to inspire low-slung plaits and glass-like texture. Napoleon Perdis is on makeup, and is also calling on "subtle religious motifs" to create an ethereal beauty look. Things are warming up for day two of Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Australia, click through.

Alex Perry is one of the most highly anticipated shows during Australian fashion week, and just as the models hit the runway, we've got the backstage scoop. In line with Alex's new, more masculine direction, Napoleon Perdis went sports luxe for the makeup look. There's more contouring — a very big trend for the shows — but this time he's kept a subtle radiance on the skin. Ghd's Sophie Roberts gave us a breakdown of the amazingly wearable hair, get clicking.

Christopher Esber's hair and makeup direction included words like boyish, strong but still pretty. Both Wella Professional's Renya Xydis and Napoleon Perdis used structure and contouring respectively to complement the clothes. Napoleon looked to '50s American heiress, Lady Keith, for beauty inspiration — "waspy, polished perfection with a slightly raw edge." You know what to do...

We've got one Sugar fresh-off-the-plane from Mexico, another newly entering the rejuvenating world of facials, and one considering a drastic haircut. We couldn't be more excited — it's all about The Chop right now. Our beauty editor smells like an actual lady (she usually opts for a man scent, you see), and our celebrity editor is taking her love for Chloé perfume to pint-sized heaven. Click through.