Olivier Echaudemaison, the celebrated French makeup artist who worked with some of the world’s most recognisable women, including Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Jackie Kennedy, has died aged 84.

Echaudemaison reportedly passed away in Paris following an illness. Over a career spanning more than six decades, he became one of the most influential names in French beauty, working with major fashion houses, photographers and personalities while helping shape the way luxury beauty was presented to the world.

Guerlain, where Echaudemaison served as Creative Director of Makeup for more than 25 years, described him as an “iconic figure” who brought his distinctive vision of beauty, exceptional eye and appreciation for colour, art and design to the maison.

Born in Périgueux, France, in 1942, Echaudemaison entered the beauty industry at just 17. He initially trained in hairstyling under French hairdresser Louis Alexandre Raimonk before eventually moving into makeup during the 1970s.

His client list soon included some of the biggest names in entertainment and public life. He worked with actresses including Grace Kelly, Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren, while also creating makeup looks for Jackie Kennedy and Grace de Monaco.

His career also took him into the heart of French fashion. In 1988, he joined Givenchy, where he was brought in to create a makeup collection for founder Hubert de Givenchy. He remained connected to the house through the 1990s before moving to Guerlain in 2000.

At Guerlain, Echaudemaison became the creative force behind some of the brand’s most recognisable beauty products, including the KissKiss and Rouge G lipstick lines. His approach helped establish makeup as an important part of the luxury house’s wider creative identity.

He remained with Guerlain until leaving his position in 2025, marking the end of more than two decades as the brand’s Creative Director of Makeup.