WWD 2011 Beauty Inc Awards

On December 8, the 10th annual WWD Beauty Inc Awards breakfast was held. The emotional moment was hit early in the program when William Lauder, executive chairman of the Estée Lauder Cos., Inc., accepted the first Corporate Social Responsibility Award on behalf of his recently deceased mother, Evelyn Lauder. After he spoke, the crowd stood to acknowledge her contributions to the industry and the breast cancer awareness campaign she held dear. Evelyn Lauder was awarded the Corporate Social Responsibility Award posthumously.

Here's a partial list of the award winners, starting with the Product of the Year Awards.

Mass Color Cosmetics: Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure
Prestige Color Cosmetics: Dior Addict Lipstick
Mass Skin Care: Physicians Formula Skin Care
Prestige Skin Care: Lancôme Visionnaire Advanced Skin Corrector
Mass Hair Care: Clairol Nice 'n Easy Color Blend Foam
Prestige Hair Care: Bumble and Bumble The Straight Line
Mass Fragrance: Avon (for Outspoken Intense by Fergie)
Prestige Fragrance: Justin Bieber Someday

The Prestige Brand of the Year was awarded to Estée Lauder, while Maybelline took home honors for the Mass Brand of the Year. Newcomer of the Year awards went to Julia Goldin, Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer of Revlon, in the mass category and Alexander Bolen, CEO of Oscar de la Renta, in the prestige category.

The Eco Awareness Award went to Pantene for the Natural Fusion line. P&G has had a corporate-wide effort in sustainability, which it launched in its beauty business.

Tom Ford Beauty won the Prestige Launch of the Year Award - no wonder! Surprisingly (to me), the mass Launch of the Year Award went to Selma Hayek for Nuance.

Retailer of the Year awards went to Duane Reed (mass), Macy's (prestige), and Sephora (specialty). Birchbox won the Prestige Digital Innovator Award, while Neutrogena won in the mass category.

Fittingly, Peter Philips, Global Creative Director for Makeup of Chanel, won the Creative Influencer of the Year Award. WWD noted that many credit him with single-handedly bringing lipstick back with the launch of Rouge Coco. That launch was rivaled only by the launch of Rouge Coco Shine - also his.

Finally, Sir Lindsay Owen-Jones, the honorary chairman of L'Oreal, received the Visionary Award, which recognized his leadership in building L'Oreal into a global powerhouse during his 18-year run as CEO. Ever humble, he said term "visionary" made him uncomfortable. He prefers to be remembered as a "brave soldier."

What do you think? Were these awards spot-on? I'll confess that one of them left me baffled. Can you guess?

Illustration courtesy of WWD

Coming Attraction: Noir G de Guerlain Mascara

WWD broke the news last week that Guerlain will launch a new and very snazzy mascara in January. Noir G de Guerlain takes its design cue from Rouge G de Guerlain lipsticks and its formula from a proprietary new technology.

Like Rouge G de Guerlain, the new mascara is packaged in a compact with a pop-up mirror. Noir G’s packaging was designed by Lorenz Bäumer in an elegant black. Bäumer explained they designed the mascara’s packaging, made of Zamac with black lacquer, to reflect the color of the product. It does add drama to the overall look.

It was reported that Noir G and Rouge G are both are refillable. Does that mean Rogue G refills will be available next year? I sure hope so. I love the lipstick, but don't need the weight of the compact. With the mascara, the liquid formula and brush are changeable together. Bäumer called the steps to change out the two “excessively simple.”

“There are two products for which you absolutely need a mirror: lipstick and mascara,” said Olivier Echaudemaison, Global Creative Director for Guerlain. “We have now solved both.”

The formula, noted Echaudemaison, is unique. A blend of waxes coat the lashes to extend and add volume, and they are set in position by film-forming polymers. The blend of waxes allows the formula to be supple during application and then firm up to set the lashes. A proprietary polymer is added in the water portion of the formula, and when the mascara dries and the water evaporates, the particles of this polymer create a protective and setting film.

Proprietary, new-generation "Ultra Black" pigments were designed to amplify the intensity and depth of the black. The formula will lengthen and curl lashes, but it also promises lash regeneration, using artemia salina, a cell revitalizer that stimulates the production of keratin.

The brush, noted Linda Maiocco, Senior Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations for Guerlain in the U.S., was inspired by hairstyling tools. It's round, easily maneuverable, and made of flexible fibers to catch and style the lashes, she told WWD.

The mascara is scented with notes of peach, rose, jasmine, and white musk. That's where it gets really interesting to me! A mascara with notes that sound divine? I can't wait to see and smell it.

The mascara will be available initially only in black. “Mascaras in colors like purple and blue are an accessory,” said Echaudemaison. He pointed out that black is universally wearable.

The mascara and compact together will retail for $49. Refills will be $26. In the U.S., Noir G de Guerlain will debut December 26 at Saks Fifth Avenue and roll out in early January to about 150 department and specialty stores, including Nordstrom, Neiman Marcus, Bloomingdale’s, Sephora, and Bergdorf Goodman.

Photo and information courtesy of WWD

Winners of WWD's 2010 Beauty Biz Awards

This year's winners of the prestigious WWD Beauty Biz Awards were announced, and, as usual, it's a diverse and thoughtfully selected list of honorees. Here's the list, along with a few random, personal observations. I couldn't resist!

Newcomer of the Year: Michelle Phan (the professional makeup artist, spokesperson for Lancôme, and You Tube video making queen) - there's no question that she has garnered quite an audience, particularly with the young, "artsy" set.

Breakthrough Product of the Year in Prestige
Thierry Mugler Womanity (fragrance)
L’Oréal Professionnel INOA (hair care)
Clinique Repairwear Laser Focus Wrinkle & UV Damage Corrector (skin care) - nice choice!
Chanel Rouge Coco Hydrating Créme Lip Color (makeup) - I like this, but I can't tell you that the full-coverage lipstick is my fave.

Breakthrough Product of the Year in Mass Markets
Johnson and Johnson Bioelectricity Technology (skin care)
Maybelline New York Instant Age Rewind Eraser Treatment Makeup (makeup) - I need to test this one.
Garnier Fructis Style Sleek and Shine Blow Dry Perfector (hair care)

Most Innovative Marketer of the Year in Prestige
Carol’s Daughter for My Life by Mary J. Blige (company)
Pamela Baxter of LVMH Perfumes and Cosmetics (person) - much deserved award!

Most Innovative Marketer of the Year in Mass Markets
P&G Beauty/Her (company)
Claudia Poccia of mark (person)

Most Innovative Ad Campaign in Prestige
Strivectin - isn't the latest crow's feet ad hilarious?

Most Innovative Ad Campaign in Mass Markets
Old Spice

Retailers of the Year
Macy’s (department store) - don't get this one, not to knock Macy's. Maybe the stores in my area aren't cutting edge. We sure don't have "Impulse Beauty."
Target (mass)
Topshop (specialty)

Best Executed Launch Strategy in Prestige
Estée Lauder Blue Dahlia collection (makeup) - the launch was brilliant!
Kiehl’s Cross-Terrain collection (skin)
Bumble and bumble partnership with Sephora (hair)
Coty Prestige for Bang by Marc Jacobs (fragrance)

Best Executed Launch Strategy in Mass Markets
Revlon (makeup)
L’Oréal Paris Go 360° Clean (skin)
Pantene (hair)
Jordin Sparks Because of You by Apra (fragrance)

What do you think? Did you rave about any of these products or campaigns this year?

List and photo courtesy of WWD - you really need a subscription

Mass Market Holiday Beauty Promotions

Hang on! The beauty promotions for the holidays are starting, and this year they will extend to mass market retailers. Determined to cut into department stores' holiday sales, drugstores and other mass merchants will be offering gifts with purchase and value sets. Some already are, but the full-court press will start the day after Thanksgiving (called Black Friday in the U.S.).

WWD provided a summary of the mass market foray into the holiday market. I couldn't resist adding my own comments to the news.

Beauty 360, an upscale boutique connected to select CVS Pharmacy locations, has a host of gift-with-purchase promotions planned. Shoppers who spend $25 on any Bloom cosmetics product will receive a Make Up Essentials Bag, a $29.95 value. Those who buy $30 worth of Warren Tricomi hair care products will receive a Blow Dry Lotion, a $15 value. A purchase of any Cargo cosmetics item will be rewarded with a choice of a free Boogie Nights Silver Eye Pencil or a Shimmer Pen, a $25 value. The beauty boutique will also be giving away a $25 Beauty 360 gift certificate with any purchase of $100 or more through January 31. Holiday-themed open houses are planned in every Beauty 360 store on November 26th and each Thursday in December, from 2:00 pm. to 7:00 pm.

Inside the traditional CVS beauty departments, the retailer has special offers, but they aren't nearly as exciting. CVS will offer proprietary sets, including the Essence of Beauty All Occasion Tote, complete with a matching cosmetics bag, mini-sized hand cream, and body mist for $14.99, a so-called $75 value, as well as the Essence of Beauty Luxury Slipper Set, which includes a foot scrub and lotion for $9.99, a $14 value. I think this shows that the focus of CVS has slipped away from the prestige brands, such as Vichy, that it had started to promote at select stores, to the lower end of the scale.

CVS did collaborate with brands to create promotional items that are slightly more interesting than its in-house label. A sampling of what will be offered includes the Wet 'n Wild Festive Flirt Nail Kit, which has eight nail colors and a nail file for $4.99, a $17 value; the Burt’s Bees Tin Ornament with Beeswax Lip Balms for $9.99, a $15 value; and $19.99 fragrance sampler boxes available in classics for her, celebrity for her, and celebrity for him, with a $20 coupon for a full scent inside. I'm unimpressed with the fragrances. I don't think they are a good fit with middle-class neighborhoods like mine, where residents have money to spend on non-essential holiday gifts. Duane Reade, Walgreens, Rite Aid, ShopRite, and Target all have similar promotions planned. I've got my eye on this Dripping in Diamonds brush set from Sonia Kashuk for Target.
Online retailers are getting in on the act too. One of my favorites, Beauty.com, will be offering an assortment of Laura Geller cosmetics gift sets for up to 75% off. Beauty.com is also working with beauty brands to create value sets for the holidays, including Stila's Color Wheel Eye Shadow Palette for $38. Beauty.com has already had to reorder this popular Stila set.

Right now, there is a special offer at Beauty.com. Get a free Lolita makeup bag filled with 13 beauty samples with any $100 purchase.

Beauty.com (and its sister Drugstore.com) will be offering free shipping on all non-prescription orders of $25 or more through December 20. Beauty.com also launched its first-ever printed gift guide, which will offer free shipping on any item featured within its pages. The guide will be tucked into shipping boxes.

According to the National Retail Federation by BIGresearch, up to 138 million people plan to shop Black Friday weekend (Friday through Sunday), up from the 134 million people who planned to do so last year. Non-mall retailers want a piece of that action. There will be some good deals out there. Shop early!

Photo and information courtesy of WWD

Reed Krakoff to Launch First Fragrance

WWD reported last week that Reed Krakoff, president and creative director of Coach, will launch his first fragrance. Like the other products bearing his name, Reed Krakoff is infusing his new fragrance with a modernist style and upscale positioning - we're talking seriously upscale.

“Doing fragrance was one of my first priorities in creating my own brand - I see it as a touchstone,” said Krakoff, whose Reed Krakoff Collection is sold in his freestanding boutiques; Saks Fifth Avenue; a selection of upscale boutiques in Paris, Japan, and Milan; and his own Web site.

The Reed Krakoff Collection was first shown at New York Fashion Week last February, and it launched in September. It includes ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, jewelry, small leather goods, sunglasses, watches, and accessories - a designer grab bag.

Krakoff’s goal with his limited-edition fragrance is to create a “beautiful, quality, artisan-inspired product. His attention to detail is evident in the bottles for the fragrance, which are handcrafted by the Seguso family in Murano, Italy. The house has produced high-quality glass since the 12^th century. The bottles are rendered in four colors: gray, nude, silver fleck, and clear - using the sommerso technique, which involves creating a bottle within a bottle. The inner bottle is shaded with the chosen color, while the outer shell is clear. It's very "Danish" looking to me - very modern.

Oddly, the bottles are sold empty, but include two refills of the fragrance. The scent, an eau de parfum, is described as opening with a blend of black pepper, bright aldehydes, and neroli extract. It has a heart of French hyacinth absolute, white peony, and violet leaf extract (I'm swooning at that), and a dry-down of vetiver heart, precious vetiver absolute, and orris concrete (giving it a unisex base). I need to get my hands on it! Unfortunately, it may be out of reach.

Only 100 of each color bottle will be produced, all four varieties containing the same fragrance. The bottles are hand-numbered, and each will retail for $695! Krakoff is aware that the limited run and high price tag of the scent will put it out of the reach of many people. However, he noted, “what a lot of women want is something that not everyone can afford. This is definitely a very high-end project. I think the phrase ‘limited edition’ is overused, but this is a true limited edition.” Really? Are we that shallow? We want what others can't afford simply because they can't afford it?

I'd like to think that a woman would spend $695 on a fragrance because it moves her to rapture - an experience no other fragrance can produce. When she wears it, she feels enveloped in a veil of well-being, happiness, attractiveness, and enlightenment. It intoxicates her like no other scent. The bottle adds to the experience - a center of attention on a spare dressing table - the most important possession on her vanity. She is self-confident and happy when she wears her fragrance, not because she is the only one within miles who can afford it, but because it's her path to zen.

This fragrance sounds divine. The notes are intriguing, and I would love to get my hands on a sample. It won't be easy. The scents will be available only at Reed Krakoff boutiques and by special request, beginning at the end of November. I wish him well and hope that his own aspirational objectives can be satisfied by those who want the only bottle on the block.

Any thoughts?

Photo and launch information courtesy of WWD - "the" subscription for anyone interested in the beauty industry

Julianna Margulies to be the Face of L'Oreal RevitaLift

WWD reported today that Julianna Margulies has become the newest face of RevitaLift, the $100 million-plus anti-aging brand under L’Oréal Paris. Margulies, 44, said joining a beauty brand, especially one whose tag line she grew up reciting, seemed a natural fit.

I think it's a significant nod from L’Oréal Paris to the growing over-40 demographic and spending power! Margulies joins actress Andie MacDowell, 52, as a face of RevitaLift. Perhaps Margulies can help lift sagging sales for the brand, which WWD reports are down.

Marguilies told WWD, “I remember the first time I heard “Because you’re worth it." I was young, and I said to myself, ‘When I have money, I will buy beautiful products and feel I’m worth it.’”

Margulies, who lives in New York City, is a wife, mom, and working actress. Like many women, she is on the go 13 hours per day and don’t have the time to shop for skin care in department stores. The drug store, she said, plays an important role in meeting her beauty needs “as long as I can get excellent quality and affordable prices.” Her favorite L’Oréal items include Kérastase and EverStrong hair care, Revitalift Complete SPF 30 Day Lotion, and Preference hair color, which she said she has been using since 1996. When she has the time to indulge, Margulies said she treats herself to Tracie Martyn facials (which average $400 each) and massages at Soho Sanctuary. “They are my two biggest indulgences. It’s like putting money back into the product,” she said. I think, given what she has to have earned from ER to The Good Wife, those $400 facials are perfectly affordable!

The RevitaLift print and TV ads in which Margulies is slated to appear next year were shot in New York. They will focus on her skin, which she said hasn’t been cosmetically enhanced or subjected to needles or fillers, such as Botox, which freezes facial muscles, making it difficult to show expression. “I always have considered my skin [my best beauty asset] because I got lucky; I have small pores. I am also very pale, so I have stayed out of the sun most of my life.”

What I find interesting is that either Margulies or WWD felt it necessary to delve into her medical history and make it clear that she has not been "cosmetically enhanced." She's a gorgeous woman, and it shouldn't be anyone's business whether she has or hasn't had a little help.

I don't know whether celebrity faces lift sales or simply attract potential customers. Getting us to the counter is a critical step. What I do know is that I like the trend. Let's see more women over 40 showing that life and appearance can be beautiful!

You can read the full article with a subscription to WWD, a necessity for any fashion and beauty addict.

Photo courtesy of infocuts.com

Are You Going to Spend Less on Cosmetics in 2010?

WWD reported survey results that show women are expected to reduce spending on cosmetics by 8.7% next year. Value hunting and brand loyalty are expected to continue.

Given that many spent less on cosmetics in 2009, this could be a depressing year for cosmetics companies. I'll do my best to prop up their bottom lines! What about you? Do you think you'll spend less, more, or about the same on cosmetics in 2010?

Photo courtesy of korosifstudio.com

WWD's Beauty Biz Awards

Straight from WWD.com, here's a list of this year's WWD Beauty Biz Award Winners. In case you have had your eyes on these products, these prestigious awards might give you a push to purchase!

I'm always excited when my WWDBeautyBiz arrives in the mail. If you are a beauty and fashion lover, there's nothing better than a subscription to WWD online. I'm sure it's not too late for Santa to accept an amended wish list!

Who won the industry thumbs-up at the 7th Annual Awards Ceremony in New York?

Breakthrough Product of the Year, Prestige: Maison Francis Kurkdjian (fragrance), No Frizz by Living Proof (hair), Perricone MD Cold Plasma (skin), and Clinique Even Better Makeup SPF 15 (color cosmetics)

Breakthrough Product of the Year, Mass: Coty Beauty for Faith Hill and Tim McGraw (fragrance), Nexxus Salon Hair Care Dualiste (hair), Olay Professional Pro-X (skin), and Cover Girl & Olay Simply Ageless (color cosmetics)

Newcomer of the Year: Lauren Luke (person) and Bakel (brand)

Most Innovative Ad Campaign: Bare Escentuals Matte (prestige) and Axe The Fixers (mass)

Most Innovative Marketer of the Year, Prestige: Parlux Fragrances Inc. (company) and Francois Nars of NARS Cosmetics (person)

Most Innovative Marketer of the Year, Mass: Maybelline New York (company) and Petra Strand of Pixi (person)

Retailer of the Year: Bloomingdale’s (department), Duane Reade (mass), and Sephora (specialty)

Best Executed Launch Strategy, Prestige: Coty Prestige for Lola by Marc Jacobs (fragrance), Bumble and bumble Styling Bar at Bloomingdale’s (hair), Lancôme Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate (skin) and MAC Hello Kitty Collection (color cosmetics)

Best Executed Launch Strategy, Mass: Demeter Fragrance Library (fragrance), Aveeno Nourish+ Hair Care (hair), Garnier Nutritioniste (skin), and Hard Candy (color cosmetics)

Congratulations to the winners!

Photo and awards list courtesy of WWD.com

Maybelline for Spring 2010

WWD reported that Maybelline is looking to "keep it natural next year, while adding a touch of glamour and sophistication" with Eye Studio, a new color cosmetics line for the fashion-forward set.

Serena Giovi, Vice President of Marketing for Maybelline New York, described the theme seen throughout the division’s first half-year launches as “technology infused with natural ingredients.” She said that more and more customers are seeking out natural products. It's clear that Maybelline is responding to that trend.

Sounds like a smart move. According to Cheryl Swanson, Managing Partner at Toniq, a company that monitors the pulse of cultural trends, personal care marketers...need to be prepared for the oncoming consumer rejection of parabens, petroleum, ammonium sulfates, and other chemical "baddies, similar to consumer rejection of trans-fats, high-fructose corn syrup, and MSG in packaged and fast foods." Once the "social networks" are mobilized against these ingredients, companies need to be ready with natural and effective alternatives. Looks like Maybelline is positioning itself to be ready.

In 2010, Maybelline is reformulating its Instant Age Rewind Radiant Firming Makeup SPF 18 line with goji berry, an ingredient the brand says contains 19 amino acids, over 500 times more vitamin C than oranges, and a complete spectrum of antioxidants. SPF 18 will protect skin from sun damage.

The newest addition to Maybelline's lineup will be The Eraser, a foundation with a micro-corrector applicator “that glides over wrinkles, practically making them disappear,” said Giovi. Along with The Eraser, which will be available in 12 shades and sell for $12.99, is the new Primer Skin Transformer, to be used prior to foundation. It will sell for $9.99.

The Eye Studio Collection, partially shown in the photo above, will add baked eye shadows to the Maybelline selections. I think the green duo looks fun - can't wait to see the collection in the stores.

As always, you will be able to find Maybelline's reformulated and new products at a drugstore or supermarket near you.

Photo courtesy of Maybelline and WWD

Prevage "Improvements" Announced

I get anxious when something I love is about to be discontinued or "enhanced." When I learned that Armani's Hydra Glow foundation was disappearing, Loyd scoured the country for 10 of them, giving me about a two-year reprieve that I'm still enjoying. Now, I'm worried about Elizabeth Arden's announcement that the company is giving Prevage a "facelift."

Today, WWD ran a story on the plans for Prevage. They sound good, but... I'll never forget a certain improvement that was made to a face cream I had used for a few years. It was for seriously dry and sensitive skin, and it worked really well. The maker, who shall go unnamed, decided to put Retinol in it. I even called the company and complained. "Don't you, the experts, know that Retinol can do serious damage to sensitive skin?" The representative basically told me I was "misinformed." I guess that meant my dermatologist was misinformed about my skin too.

So, with both anticipation and trepidation, I await the new, improved Prevage. Here's the scoop from WWD.

In mid-December through February, the newly formulated products will hit the counters. Elizabeth Park, Executive Vice President of Global Marketing and General Manager of Elizabeth Arden U.S. told WWD, “This new formula represents a new generation of research, which allows the potent antioxidant idebenone to create enhanced protective, preventative, and corrective benefits. We’ve also discovered a way to buffer idebenone and deliver it in a way which is tolerated by even very sensitive skin. We are committed to staying in the forefront of technology of cosmeceuticals. We want to take it to the next level so we can always be the benchmark for the cosmeceutical field, which we pioneered with Prevage.” OK, I have to admit that sounds good. I know that other women with sensitive skin have had adverse reactions to Prevage.

“The new serum’s formula contains a blend of potent ingredients that can tackle the different types of free radicals to provide a higher level of protection,” added Vargas. “The specific antioxidants — thiotaine, bamboo isoflavones, Liprochroman 6, and a blend of green, yellow, and white tea — were chosen to support idebenone in the new formula, working as the first line of antioxidant defense and neutralizing different types of free radical activity. This allows idebenone to help prevent free radical activity and correct the visible effects of existing damage.” Hmm, multiple antioxidants; that sounds good too.

Also key is a new delivery system which pairs idebenone with a skin-compatible ester, providing a time-release reservoir of idebenone for the skin to use as needed, Vargas said. “This was inspired by studies showing how the body effectively stores vitamins and molecules by attaching them to a lipid. Our skin care researchers applied this research to the idebenone molecule found in the new serum to help create a reserve of idebenone to use when and where it’s is needed most. This allows for more efficient use of idebenone and has been shown to be more gentle and effective even on those with sensitive skin.”

In addition, WWD reported that Lys-lastine V was added to complement idebenone in an attempt to maintain skin’s look of elasticity. “The combination supports skin’s natural proteins, including elastin and collagen, to help skin look firmer, more toned and younger,” said Robin Mason, Vice President, Global Skin Care Marketing for Elizabeth Arden.

The serum is intended to treat fine lines, wrinkles, age spots, and discolorations, as well as minimize redness and the appearance of sun damage. Prevage MD (1% idebenone rather than the .5% available in "regular" Prevage) and Prevage Eye (newer) have made a world of difference to my skin! I have been using Prevage MD for years, and I don't know if it will be reformulated along with the regular Prevage, which is more easily located. I suspect it will be. So, in the interests of being prepared, I'll be ordering a year's supply tonight.

Of course I'll enthusiastically try the new serum (face and eye), but I'll have my back-up plan in place.

Photo and interviews courtesy of WWD

Annick Goutal's Petite Cherie

I wear Annick Goutal's perfume for children. I wonder how many other women do! This week, WWD wrote that baby beauty products are popular with adults. A poll by Johnson & Johnson revealed that more and more consumers are hitting the baby aisle for their needs.

Petite Cherie has a place in my perfume rotation. It's a beautiful, light, fruity-floral fragrance with notes of peach, pear, musk rose, vanilla, and freshly cut grass. It has been described as pure, sweet, darling, and irresistible. I agree and add fresh. There are no "hidden agendas" or scary base notes.

Annick Goutal says it stirs the senses and moves the heart. It's not just for babies. Try it sometime!

You can find this fragrance discounted, so shop around. Nordstrom has a holiday gift set right now. For $80, you get not only the Eau de Toilette (normally $61.99 to $80, depending on seller), but also a body cream. The Eau de Parfum is normally $160, but you can purchase it for less than $93 at Fragrance.net by using the 10% discount pop-up window. It's also available in a beautiful butterfly bottle at Yahoo Shopping for $23.94.

Update: See comments. Anna knows her fragrance history! Much better than my sales person.

Photo courtesy of Beauty.com

Lash Allure MD + $100,000 Contest

WWD.com reported this week that Dallas-based Beauty Bio Sciences is staging a $100,000 contest to publicize its new Lash Allure MD eyelash growth serum. “We could spend the money on advertising — or do something fun and help somebody along the way,” Leesa Smith, the firm’s executive vice president, told WWD.

The company has challenged people to write a story or post a video describing what they would do with the prize money. The most compelling story, to be determined by public vote, will be announced by Jan. 1. The company encourages contestants to post before and after photos of their lashes, but no purchase is required.

Go to Lash Allure MD for the contest rules. Who couldn't use an extra $100,000?

Now, for the product...
Priced at $49.50 for 3.5 ml., Lash Allure MD is said to grow longer, darker, and thicker lashes for most people within two weeks. Unlike Latisse, a prescription medication the company sees as the product’s chief competitor, Lash Allure MD contains no prostaglandins that can discolor the iris and skin. I'm really intrigued by this one!

Here's what the company has to say about Lash Allure MD.

Ninety-two percent of women reported thicker, darker, longer lashes after six weeks of use and reported noticeable results after two weeks. Contains patent-pending Pentapeptide Growth Complex to enhance lash and brow growth without irritation. Contains proprietary HFH (Hair Follicular Habitat) technology to provide the optimal environment for accelerated hair growth when combined with the powerful Pentapeptide Growth Complex. Physician formulated and extensively tested for performance and safety. Twice the lashes in half the time. Expect to see a change after two weeks and dramatic results after six weeks. Results will continue to enhance beyond the six-week mark. Clinically proven to give the appearance of thicker, darker, longer lashes without the use of prostaglandins, which have been shown to cause skin darkening and eye discoloration in some consumers.

Lash Allure MD is launching this month at Dillard’s Department Stores and Nordstrom and through the company's own Web site. I may have to test this!

Photo courtesy of Lash Allure

More Mascara!

It seems like a new mascara is introduced every week. The latest announcement, courtesy of WWD, is Dior's Extase, shown here with another product to be introduced soon, Capture Totale One Essential, a rejuvenating serum.

Extase is billed as having "the first mascara brush with elastomeric and nylon fibers, which add oomph to lashes. The mascara’s formula contains SR38, said to act like a ceramide to help make eyelashes healthy." Metamorphosis powder (caterpiller to butterfly?) purportedly gives a plumping effect to lashes, and black pearl pigments are said to provide three-dimensional, intense color. So far, I prefer my black pearls in jewelry!

I'm interested in seeing this new product, which will be introduced for $28 at Sephora in December. Will it be revolutionary? Dior thinks it will make us "seductive, attractive and refined," according to WWD. Will it replace or improve on DiorShow, Dior's iconic mascara? Time will tell!

Any DiorShow aficiondaos out there?

Photo courtesy of WWD

Blumarine's Spring 2010 RTW Collection

I try to keep my fashion opinions to myself, but it's hard at times like this, with new collections being shown every day.

I think Blumarine's Ready to Wear Collection for spring is magnificent. You can see a slide show at WWD - even without a subscription. "Jamaica Me Crazy" was the motto for Blumarine this season as Anna Molinari paid colorful homage to the tropical island. The riot of colors, artfully mixed, should inspire makeup lovers everywhere. I am already envisioning pale pinks, greens, blues - subtle washes of color on the eyes. Love it!

While you might not wear a full ensemble as shown on the runway, one of these pieces would certainly jazz up your spring and summer wardrobe. I am coveting the belts! Actually, I'm coveting a lot of what I saw, and that's unusual (for me) in these days of unwearable runway artistry. Check out the slide show!

Photos courtesy of WWD.

Beauty Bits

Remember that the deadline for our Beautorium.com Juice Beauty Giveaway Contest is midnight tomorrow night, September 27. I just used the Best Things in Beauty 15% discount to order John Masters Organic products. Saving money makes me so happy, and saving money on extra-special products makes me giddy!

If you have some free time this weekend, check out the newest addition to my favorite blog list: The Non-Blonde. Gaia's blog is excellent.

WWD reported that Hearst Magazines Digital Media and ModiFace announced the launch this week of a new beauty makeover tool on RealBeauty.com, an online beauty destination that went live Thursday. The new tool allows users to upload photographs to see how they would look with new hairstyles/colors and cosmetics, visualize anti-aging, and simulate weight loss. The makeover tool can be found on RealBeauty.com and is slated to be launched on the Web sites for Seventeen, Marie Claire, Good Housekeeping, Redbook, and Harpers Bazaar in the next few months. Estee Lauder had a similar tool available now, so this must be the next best thing.

Photo courtesy of Beautorium.

MAC to Go Preppie

According to WWD, Lilly Pulitzer has partnered with MAC Cosmetics to create a color cosmetics collection, "MAC in Lillyland," which will be introduced next January. The products will include two makeup brushes, an eyeshader for $24.50 and an angled contour brush, $32; two Technakohl liners, each $14.50; four Lipgelées, each $14; two nail lacquers, each $12; three Paint Pots, each $16.50; four Cremeblend blushes, each $18.50, and two embossed compacts. "If you can’t afford to go to the resort, we will bring the resort to you with these products,” James Gager, MAC's senior vice president and creative director, told WWD.

What a fabulous idea! Lilly and MAC are both famous for colors. I'm hoping the colors will be playful but wearable shades - just like the Lilly Pulitzer clothing.

We've got a long wait (doesn't snowy January sound a long way off?), but I'm looking forward to seeing this collection!

Photo courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer.

Prescriptives is History

Today, according to WWD, the Estee Lauder Companies announced the "shuttering" of Prescriptives. They will "shut down wholesale distribution of its 30-year-old Prescriptives brand by Jan. 31. Products will continue to be available through the brand’s Web site for consumers needing replenishment, until supplies run out."

That's big news, although not surprising. The brand has been considered stodgy for years - no buzz. My "department store friends" have told me that it doesn't sell. WWD reported that sales have been "anemic."

If you use anything in the line, now's the time to buy at Prescriptives.com.

Update: See comments. Calyx will live on.

Photo courtesy of Prescriptives.

John Masters Organic Hair Care

The nice folks at Beautorium sent me some samples of John Masters organic hair products with my order last week. On Sunday, I used the first two and was thrilled with the results. Monday, the second two. After blow drying, my hair was bouncy, full, soft, and shiny. I hope Beautorium will indulge me as I liberally quote their Web site here. Their product descriptions are fabulous.

The brand was created in 1991. John Masters is a pioneer of prestige natural haircare and skincare in America and internationally. His products use Eco-Cert and Quality Assurance International-certified organic ingredients where possible and are free from parabens, petrochemcials, and other nasty chemical ingredients. In 2004, the United Kingdom Soil Association selected John Master's Organics as Product of the Year at London's leading European organic trade show. I knew about John Masters - he is famous, after all, but I had never tried his products.

I started with John Masters Evening Primrose Shampoo for Dry Hair ($16). This shampoo is made from the gentlest corn and coconut cleansers and infused with conditioning plant extracts and essential oils. It washes away oil and the environment's dirt and grime without stripping the hair shaft. It's safe for color-treated hair like mine. When I pushed the shampoo out of its sample packet, I was amazed, for some reason, that it was brown. That seemed to me to be an unusual color for shampoo. No worries, though - as I worked it into my hair, it turned into the "normal" white lather I expected and left no traces of brown in my blond hair.

The ingredients include:

• evening primrose – anti-inflammatory, adds moisture, strengthens hair;
• rose geranium – strengthens hair shaft, a cellular regenerative;
• meadowfoamate – a conditioning agent derived from the meadowsweet plant;
• avocado oil – moisturizing, assists in cell regeneration, high in amino acids;
• ylang ylang – controls and reduces oiliness of the scalp; and
  
• cedarwood – treats oiliness, eczema, psoriasis, and dandruff and is anti-inflammatory.

For my conditioner, I used John Masters Lavender & Avocado Intensive Conditioner ($22). Even the name was enticing, so while I had other samples to try, I choose this one. The conditioner contains lavender and avocado oils plus vitamin B5, all of which bring moisture and vitality to dry hair. It contains over a dozen plant extracts and essential oils to moisturize and strengthen the hair shaft. Lavender is said to slow hair loss and treat eczema and dermatitis of the scalp. Avocado oil moisturizes and conditions hair. Have you read some of the natural avocado conditioner recipes in the mags? This is a lot easier. Vitamin B5, or panthenol, strengthens hair follicles, makes hair look thicker and fuller, adds shine, and repairs hair damaged by over-processing. The fragrance from the lavender was heavenly, and, it made its exit as I was blow drying my hair - perfect.

What's really amazing is that the bounce lasted overnight. When I get up in the morning, my hair is usually "plastered" to my scalp (the zero-volume look) and stick straight, with only a misplaced wave or two. All of the styling work from the day before is gone. Not so with the John Masters products I used! I awakened the next morning, looked at my hair, and thought, "I could leave the house this way." Now, that's a miracle!

Next up, I tried John Masters’ newest treatment item, John Masters Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor. In addition to honey and hibiscus, the conditioning formula features soy protein, kelp extract, cupuaçu butter, and linoleic and hyaluronic acids (the same acids found in young hair) to help reconstruct and smooth hair. According to WWD, Masters said, “When hair is smoother, it is reflecting more light.” It will also improve hair volume and reduce static electricity.” Retailing for $28, Honey & Hibiscus Hair Reconstructor can be used as a once-weekly treatment for normal to dry hair or after every shampoo for more damaged hair. I will use it after every shampoo. I found it to be a perfect conditioner. You should have seen me squeezing every last bit out of that packet!

Another try? John Masters Zinc & Sage Shampoo with Conditioner ($20). Also brown in color, it contains zinc, sage, wheat protein, and yucca root (which gives it its foaming property). Zinc and sage are natural scalp regulators that maintain the equilibrium of oils, ending any itch and flakes caused by over-drying products, the accidental sunburn, or cold weather. Wheat protein conditioner leaves your hair shiny and manageable and your scalp healthy and balanced. It's safe for color-treated hair. After I shampooed, I felt some volume in my hair (even with wet hair you could tell), and it felt good.

The John Masters products I tried were uniformly wonderful in meeting their promises. You can purchase them at Beautorium.com. I love Beautorium, my new "Web shopping site," and hope you will too. They sent two more John Masters Organic samples. I can't wait to try them. In the meantime, the order I plan to place is growing. May have to wait for the next paycheck.

Photo courtesy of Beautorium.

Kiehl's Introduces Organic Açaí Skin Care Collection

WWD reported Friday that Kiehl's has harnessed the power of the antioxidant Brazilian Açaí berry in its first organic skin care collection. The four-product line, due at stores in mid-September, is Ecocert and Cradle-to-Cradle certified. This is more good news for gals who want their skin to live and breathe swaddled in pure ingredients.

WWD spoke with Chris Salgardo, president of Kiehl’s USA, who said, “Since our inception, we have always been known for our service and for creating efficacious products,” said Salgardo, noting that everyone asks for “green” products, but still demand high performance. “We heard that our customers wanted organics, that they wanted paraben-free, that they wanted natural — and they wanted to focus on the first signs of aging. We went to the lab to do all that. The result: our new Açaí line.”

Salgardo also said that Açaí was chosen as the focal ingredient because its “superior antioxidant properties” help combat environmental aggressors and stimulate the skin’s natural renewal process. Grown in Brazil, Açaí has served as a food source for hundreds of years. “Açaí is a powerful superberry, which means a fruit considered to have exceptionally high levels of nutrients, antioxidants, and potential health benefits when compared to other foods. It has high antioxidant levels to help reverse and prevent oxidizing free-radical damage to skin cells arising from environmental and lifestyle stress. It is among the highest in antioxidant capacity of any edible fruit, and it is a broad-spectrum antioxidant, especially effective against superoxides [yikes! toxins that can harm skin cells] and peroxyl free-radicals [implicated in the aging process], which produce oxidative damage on skin.”

In addition, WWD reported that in addition to Açaí, the ingredients include organic lavender and rosemary essential oils, organic orange fruit water, denatured botanical alcohol, and aloe vera juice, all intended to minimize fine lines and wrinkles and increase skin luminosity. I'll bet these products smell great!

The four products offered are: Açaí Damage-Minimizing Cleanser ($25), advertised to cleanse, while preserving the skin's natural moisture barrier; Damage-Protecting Toning Mist ($27), said to improve radiance and rejuvenation of the skin; Damage-Correcting Moisturizer ( $44) to repair oxidative damage to the skin and preserve hydration; and Damage-Repairing Serum ($46), intended to even skin texture and tighten. Although serums usually have the highest concentration of active ingredients, I think I'll try the cleanser.

Here's the rub for you post-40 beauty lovers. The line is targeted at customers who are in their early to mid-30s, who are noticing the first signs of aging. Remember my post about anti-aging being a growth industry? I'm not sure whether this is a clever marketing strategy (particularly given the cartoon advertisements they have prepared), or whether the company feels there are better, stronger products available for more "mature" women.

Nevertheless, if you love Kiehl's, as I do, and you want to give an organic product a whirl, you have another choice in the growing organic field. You can learn more about these new products and purchase them at Kiehl's Web site. If you register and sign in at Kiehl's, you can select three samples. I want a sample of the new Imperial Body Balm.

Photo courtesy of WWD Online, my daily source for beauty news.

Random Musings on the State of the Beauty and Fashion Industries

Oh my...Escada has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In the old days when I had plenty of money to spend on clothing, I lived in Escada. Then, Escada left me. I felt like a jilted lover. They forgot their bread and butter - career women who wanted to be stylish - and aimed for Hollywood starlets and a younger audience. They even raised their prices from "merely very expensive" to absurd. The younger audience couldn't afford the clothes, so it's no surprise to me that a recession has driven this company over the edge. I'm still wearing Escada's classic and timeless pieces (along with the lower-priced Laurel they discontinued), and I hope that this jolt of reality will lead them to reconsider their focus.

When they left me, I had no trouble finding replacement lovers. Armani started to rake in my dollars, and a few other lines, such as Michael Kors and Dolce & Gabanna, earned a chunk of my bank account. Even then, though, I mourned the loss of my old go-to brand. Every now and then, I would troll the Escada display at the stores. Never bought another piece, though, after they left me. That was years ago.

Now, the recession has the fashion and beauty industries in the doldrums. Every week, I read in WWD that another company has reported dismal profits or, worse, losses. L'Oreal's net profits declined almost 14% in the first half of this year (WWD, August 27), but the company is still expecting an annual sales growth. L'Oreal is the world's largest beauty manufacturer, and its brands include L'Oreal (of course), Shu Uemura, Armani Cosmetics, YSL, Vichy, Skinceuticals, Lancome, and Kiehl's - to name only a few.

What does all this mean? For one thing, we are all spending less, some out of caution and others out of necessity. We are looking for good value for our hard-earned dollars and for products that match the marketing hype. There are predictions that things may stay this way long after economists have declared the recession over.

What can companies do? Provide value, quality, and, in the case of beauty products, effectiveness, for a gag-free price. I am already seeing lower or steady prices on top-of-the-line skin care and cosmetics.

This is probably a good wake-up call for manufacturers and buyers. We want to try before we buy (so keep those samples coming). We want to know what's in the products we buy and how they work; fewer women with money to spend will be purchasing products simply because some gorgeous celebrity is purportedly wearing them under the retouched ad. We want to feel good about what we buy, long after the shopping rush is gone. That means our products have to produce results - from pretty faces to fewer wrinkles or softer skin.

That's why I will keep writing about products that meet their promises. I hope you will join me for the journey.

Photo courtesy of www.uml.edu.