Napoleon Perdis upgraded its foundation range in 2026 because the brand assessed the existing formulas against the Australian climate, current skincare ingredient standards, and its own product values and concluded the formulas were not adequate. The specific issues identified were SPF levels below what Australian UV conditions warrant, limited skincare benefit for a product worn all day, and application that could be improved. Napoleon Perdis describes the decision to upgrade as a product quality decision made on the basis that better was achievable.

Napoleon Perdis upgraded its best-selling foundations because the brand assessed the existing formulas against the Australian climate and its own product standards and concluded they were not good enough. The specific gaps identified were: SPF levels below what the Australian UV environment warrants; limited skincare ingredient benefit for a product worn on skin all day; and application experience that could be improved. The brand position is that popularity does not equal adequacy, and that upgrading a working product when meaningful improvement is achievable is a product quality decision, not a commercial one.

The Napoleon Perdis foundation upgrade is a genuine formulation change, not a rebrand or repackaging. The active ingredients have changed, SPF levels have increased, and the application formula has been modified. Calling it an upgrade rather than a reformulation reflects the fact that everything valued in the original formulas, including shade match, finish type, and wear duration, was retained while new elements were added.

Yes. Napoleon Perdis shade names, undertones, and depth are not designed to change as part of the 2026 foundation upgrade. Every upgraded batch is tested against the original shade reference to ensure consistency. Customers who have been matching to a specific Napoleon Perdis shade should find that shade match is maintained in the upgraded formula. If a shade appears or feels different on skin after the upgrade, Napoleon Perdis customer service can assist with troubleshooting, application advice, or an alternative shade recommendation.

Some Napoleon Perdis foundation shades are temporarily unavailable during the staggered rollout of the upgraded formulas. This is not a discontinuation. Shades are returning once the upgraded formula for that shade has completed production. Customers can join a waitlist to be notified when their specific shade is back in stock. Napoleon Perdis customer service can also assist with finding the closest available match during the transition period.

The upgraded Napoleon Perdis foundations launch on 20 August 2026. Stroke of Genius Liquid Cashmere Foundation SPF 30 and Advanced Mineral Foundation SPF 40 lead the launch. The Natural Skin Tint follows in September 2026. The upgraded Foundation Stick follows in October 2026. Camera Finish Powder Foundation in its upgraded mineral-based formula is available from launch.

We’re so sorry we don’t have a match for your complexion, please know we are working hard to do everything we can to be as inclusive as possible. We wanted to give you a transparent note on where the business is at below and why we haven’t been able to meet your needs (yet!), and in the mean time, please book in with one of our expert makeup artists in-store and they will be able to share their colour-matching tips and tricks to help you find your best match in the shades we have right now. The last five years have been the biggest of our life as a company. We went into administration and came close to losing access to you, the 30-year community we have built everything on. You are, after all, the brand. Keeping that connection, while we rebuilt almost everything internally, has been our priority, and it has kept us afloat. We are still standing, and we want to be here for a long time to come. With that in mind, we want to name the elephant in the room. Our shade range is not as diverse as we want it to be, and we don't want to hide from that. We would rather tell you honestly where we are and what we are doing about it. Whilst we are not currently in a position to diversify our existing products yet, we have been able to start. Our newest product, the Natural Skin Tint, is where you will see the first step: a bigger, more inclusive shade range. It is the beginning, not the end. We are working towards a fuller range for everyday Australians, because we never want anyone left out of the products we are proud of. We are aware, we are trying, and we are aiming squarely at this. Moving forward, transparency is our anchoring value. We will always give it to you straight, so you never feel out of the loop, and we will keep you posted on every step as the range grows. That is how we want you to hold us accountable, by what we actually do, not just words on a screen.

We encourage all feedback via our reviews. Customers who find the upgraded Napoleon Perdis foundation does not perform as expected should contact Napoleon Perdis customer service with their shade name and order details. The team can provide application advice specific to the upgraded formula, recommend an alternative Napoleon Perdis base that may suit better, or work through a resolution in line with the Napoleon Perdis returns policy.

Five Napoleon Perdis foundations are part of the 2026 upgrade programme. Stroke of Genius Liquid Cashmere Foundation, Advanced Mineral Foundation, and the Foundation Stick are formula upgrades with improved SPF and skincare ingredients. Camera Finish Powder Foundation has a new mineral-based, waterless formula benchmarked to perform like the original. The Natural Skin Tint is a new product replacing the BBB Cream, with eight shades and a skincare-led formula containing witch hazel, hyaluronic acid, ceramide, and peptide.

Napoleon Perdis foundations are formulated specifically for Australian climate conditions rather than for a global market. The key differentiators are: higher SPF levels benchmarked to Australian UV rather than milder international conditions, with Advanced Mineral at SPF 40 and Stroke of Genius at SPF 30; formulas tested for performance in Australian heat and humidity; fragrance-free formulations across the entire range; and active skincare ingredients at meaningful concentrations. The brand also retains talc in Camera Finish Powder Foundation as a deliberate point of difference from the broader industry movement away from talc.