Olivier Echaudemaison, the make-up artist behind French luxury houses Guerlain and Givenchy, has died aged 84.
Echaudemaison, who worked with some of the world’s most celebrated personalities, including US First Lady Jackie Kennedy and actress-turned-royal Grace de Monaco, reportedly passed away in Paris, France, following an illness.
He started his beauty career aged 17, working under French hairdresser Louis Alexandre Raimonk, before joining Givenchy in 1988 to create a make-up collection for the maison’s founder Hubert de Givenchy.
He joined Guerlain as Creative Director of Makeup in 2000, with the luxury French brand stating that he left an “indelible mark on the maison” over more than 25 years, until his departure in 2025.
His most notable creations are KissKiss, reinvented in 2005 in collaboration with French designer Hervé Van der Straeten, and Rouge G, reinvented in 2009 with French-German jeweller Lorenz Bäumer around its now-iconic double mirror.
Guerlain wrote in a LinkedIn post: “Guerlain learns with profound sadness of the passing of Olivier Echaudemaison, an iconic figure in the maison’s contemporary history, and a leading personality in the world of beauty and creation.
“A great artistic director and a true man of taste, Olivier also left his mark on the maison through his personality, sensitivity and the strong relationships he forged over the years with those who worked alongside him and contributed to shaping the Maison.
“Today, Guerlain pays tribute with deep emotion to the memory of a great creator, whose vision, style and personality left a lasting imprint on the maison.
“Our thoughts are with his family, loved ones, and all those who had the privilege of knowing him and working alongside him.”
In 2019, Echaudemaison was appointed Officier des Arts et des Lettres, an honour that recognises a career “defined by creativity and French excellence”.
Cosmetics Business has contacted Guerlain for a statement.
