Creative, passionate & highly intelligent, Napoleon Perdis is one of Australia’s most successful business men and talented make-up artists... Mylookbook chat’s to Napoleon about what makes his business work.

There has been mixed stories printed in regard to the events that lead you to launching your own Cosmetics Label. Was there a specific lead up of events that helped you make the decision to start up your own company or was it something you knew you had always wanted to do?
Launching my own beauty brand was something that I always wanted to do.   

When you first launched Napoleon Perdis, did you envision it to be as hugely successful and iconic as it has become or did it evolve on its own and you went where it took you?
It is yet to be as successful as I envisioned it to be from the onset.  I see the possibilities to be as iconic as the industry greats like Leonard Lauder and Helena Rubinstein, plus achieve a lot more given the speed and pace of today's society.

I remember listening to you in an interview talking about how important it is to have passion behind what you do and to live and breathe it. Having a wife and 4 daughters, is work/life balance ever a struggle for you? If so, is there any advice you can offer on achieving great success but with balance?
Balance isn't an even split of 40/60 or 50/50.  You have to be sensible enough to notice the priorities of the time and focus on them.  If something happens to your child, you drop everything and that's what I call balance.  Little bits of quality time are worth more than that of idle time, which lacks in good role modelling, instruction and love.

Who was the main ‘team’ behind your company in the beginning and what were their roles?
I am the Founder & CEO.  My wife and muse, Soula-Marie, is a key player in the company as Chief Financial Officer and head of Product Development.  My brother, Emanuel, is the Managing Director for the Australasia whom I'm in constant contact with about the business.

Most successful people have had role models or someone they aspired to which helped with their own motivation, did you have anyone you personally looked up to in the beginning?
Helena Rubinstein as I believe this Melbourne native was the first person to really understand how to create products that not only produced results, but were packaged in such a way that really played into a woman’s décor scheme and lifestyle.  
Rupert Murdoch because I love the way that he understands the concept of commercialising creative business, and how to make creativity available to all in a variety of media.

You are such a huge celebrity yourself & have mixed with some of the most famous in the world are there any celebrities you haven’t met yet but would like to?
Madonna and Anne Hathaway

Any business advice for these tough economic times?
Hang on tight, stick to your knitting and stay sober.

There are so many people with huge aspirations for their own business ideas and they definitely have the passion, what would you say are the other main ingredients that is essential for success?
Daring, design, and action are essential ingredients for success, no matter how determined your will is.  Top it off with consistency.

Any words of wisdom that you can pass on to budding entrepreneurs?
Believe in yourself because if you don't, why should anybody else.

And of course, some quick make-up questions from Mylookbook Readers!

Is there any way to stop mascara and liner from smudging under the eye like panda eyes at the end of the night?

Ensure your foundation or concealer around the eye area is set well to start followed by using good quality products. Try a priming mascara like my Peep Show Mascara Madame Prep before your black mascara, this helps to hold on the mascara fibres preventing wear onto the skin. Use a gel eyeliner like China Doll to prevent any messiness.  A gel will set and won't budge so no more panda eyes!!!

If you have dry lips and want to wear lipstick what do you suggest to use and prep you lips so they don’t look flaky and horrible?

Always prime your lips with Auto Pilot Lip Service!  In the beginning stages when you are laying all of the foundations of your makeup, be sure to pay your lips the attention they deserve! By the time you get to applying your lipstick, any dry flaky skin will have softened and lipsticks will glide on effortlessly.

Napoleon Perdis Peep Show Mascara