Sunday This and That

Katie Holmes has certainly been busy in beauty land. After signing on to be the first celebrity "face" of Bobbi Brown (yes, some of us dislike the fact that Bobbi caved after all these years), Holmes has now joined Alterna Haircare as co-owner and spokeswoman. According to WWD, Holmes will be featured in Alterna’s first print advertising campaign, which will roll out on the brand’s e-commerce site in mid-February and then expand in March to consumer magazines. She will also provide the brand with input and insight on upcoming products and initiatives.

For the life of me, I cannot figure out how Holmes is uniquely qualified to provide input and insight on hair care products and initiatives. Apparently, it's because she is "an actress who emotes natural luxury and individuality and accessibility." Really?

For Holmes, the partnership was declared to be mutually beneficial. “I love that Alterna uses natural and organic ingredients and stays away from harsh chemicals like sulfates and parabens,” Holmes told WWD on Thursday. “It’s good for my hair and good for the earth, so I feel good using it.” Who stretched to deliver that explanation? I'll be impressed when a company comes right out and admits that Katie is a hot commodity right now and they want some of the action.

Another new story in WWD that left me shaking my head was about a new skin-care line: Pur Attitude. I'm not sure we need another new skin-care line right now. I'm having trouble keeping up with the ones that already exist.

Developed by David Pollock, water-free skin care is the next big thing. He told WWD,  “Each of my products is 100 percent active and has the highest levels of actives available to boost collagen and reduce wrinkles,” said Pollock. Rather than water, each product is infused with a proprietary hydrating complex called Hyaluronix, which he said is naturally found in almost every cell of the human body. He has to be talking about hyaluronic acid, which is already a staple of state-of-the-art skin care. It's not new. “We know that skin can absorb up to 60 percent of what is put on it and water just dilutes the actives,” said Pollock. “Hyaluronix draws moisture from the air and binds up to 1,000 times its weight in moisture.”

According to Pollock, who specializes in the delivery systems of anti-aging skin care and has created products for well-known brands such as Bliss, Smashbox, The Art of Shaving, SkinCeuticals, and Lancôme, the proper delivery system is also key. Where have we heard that before? “The biggest challenge is how to deliver ingredients because most ingredients don’t go below the surface of the skin,” he said. “Our delivery system is designed to mimic ingredients in the skin to cross the lipid barrier offering time-released nourishment.”

I have no idea how that claim will pass muster with the FDA, but you can expect to see radically different claims if the FDA decides to dedicate its resources to the small fish in the pond. So far, they have only made and example of Lancôme.

Please understand, I'm not evaluating this new line. It may be fabulous. I'd love to try it, but I haven't read anything - yet - that convinces me that it's groundbreaking.

For once, DC is the place to be. Everyone from celebrities to politicians - and the armies of beautiful people who accompany them - have descended on the town to celebrate the Inauguration. The intrigue for me will be a question on everyone else's mind: What will Michelle wear? From the official swearing in, which occurred today, live on television, to the ball, her looks will be buzz-worthy.

She got a new hair style with her 49th birthday - bangs! Joining Kate Middleton and Beyonce among the trend-setters who have opted for bangs this past year, the First Lady has a whole new look for the events. I think the bangs make her look younger, and from all the photos I've seen this week related to the aging of the Obamas, I think her new look is adorable. Hey, at least she took some attention away from gun violence and budget wars.

I did a little search and wasn't able to identify the hair stylist who cut her hair. I'll bet I'm not the only one who'd love to know.

Just in case you're wondering, it's supposed to be cold tomorrow (although you couldn't prove it by this weekend's weather). I hope the First Lady has a dynamite coat to wear for the daytime festivities. What we all want to know, though, is who will she be wearing to the official balls? I'll be watching for the celebrities as well. The show may not be as entertaining as the Golden Globes show was, but it will be a fashion event.

What's on your mind? If you know who cut Michelle Obama's hair, please spill it here.

Photos courtesy of WWD, npr, and @FLOTUS