He enhanced the beauty of Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren. French makeup artist Olivier Echaudemaison, a former creative director of Guerlain and a renowned artist to the stars, has died at the age of 84, the Parisian luxury house announced in a statement on Wednesday, August 12.
“Throughout his career, he worked with major personalities and collaborated with some of the greatest fashion designers and photographers,” Guerlain said.
An “iconic figure” of the brand for 25 years, Echaudemaison “brought to Guerlain his singular vision of beauty, his exceptional eye, and his passion for color, art and design,” the company added.
Born in 1942 in Périgueux, in southwestern France, Olivier Echaudemaison began his career as a hairstylist, working with numerous celebrities, before shifting his focus to makeup in the 1970s.
After a stint at Givenchy in the 1990s, he joined Guerlain in 2000 as Creative Director of Makeup, a role he held until his departure from the luxury house in 2025.
Olivier Echaudemaison was notably the creative force behind several of the brand’s iconic lipsticks, including KissKiss and Rouge G.
In 2019, he was named an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters in recognition of his contribution to French artistic and creative excellence in the beauty industry.
