Category Archives: Beauty

THE BEAUTY BUSINESS GETS INTERESTING

by Stefania Revelli Unretouched makeup ads. Plus-size models. Airbrush bans. In the last few years, the beauty category has experienced some radical image changes. But many of these shifts were still suggestive of beauty based on physical attributes. Today, sometimes-contradictory character traits like strength, vulnerability, authenticity and individuality are getting more notice as part of […]

FASHIONABLE JAPAN

by Becky Sun Beauty writers know to watch Japan, the home of sometimes wacky and sometimes wonderful trends. On October 18, 2012, in the US, the National Geographic Channel aired an episode of Taboo on Japanese “bagel heads” — just what it sounds like, thanks to saline injections in the forehead. Three weeks earlier, when […]

BEAUTY WITH SUBSTANCE

By Gwyneth Holland A cult of youth has long held sway in the marketing world. But European brands are starting to break away, raising the profile of women with beauty and substance. French fashion brand Lanvin’s autumn advertising campaign features a range of women, drawing special attention to 82-year-old former dancer Jacquie Tajah Murdock and […]

Consumers enter more fragrance-free zones

by Stefania Revelli WHAT’S HAPPENING Tuttle, OK, is providing purer air to its more sensitive residents through a fragrance-free law (USAToday.com, 3 July 2012). Visitors to Tuttle’s City Hall are asked to “remain at the front of the building” (outside) if they are wearing perfume or fragrances like aftershave. Some fragrances can trigger asthma and […]

French salon offers all-you-can-primp beauty passport

by Lindsay Paterson WHAT’S HAPPENING The Ethnicia chain of beauty salons in France is the first to offer a “beauty passport”, allowing members unlimited access to services tailored to their specific needs (SortirAParis.com, 27 May 2012). Users sign up for the passport that best suits their needs, ranging from €79 per month for unlimited hairdos, […]

British women take to the streets in anti-diet protest

by Nancy Ludwig WHAT’S HAPPENING Anti-dieting women staged a protest against the slimming industry outside London’s Houses of Parliament (Guardian.co.uk, 15 January 2012). Called Ditching Dieting, the women-only campaign against the likes of Slimming World, Weight Watchers, et al., invited women to dump their diet plans, slimming mags and calorie counters into a giant hazardous-waste […]

A BEAUTY REVOLUTION

by Stefania Revelli Most women (and perhaps men) have been there — staring, incredulous, at the perfection of women adorning magazine covers and uncertain whether they should feel inspired or insecure. Although airbrushing is no beauty secret, it turns out that most women still fall into the latter group. When polled, four out of five […]

ON BRANDS AND BLOCKS

by Josh Kimball Girls looking for a new buddy can now say hello to Lego Friends, a line of Lego blocks aimed at females age 5+. What sets these toys apart from the traditional stackables? Mostly, a color palette that’s deemed more female-friendly and minifigs that are more doll-like. Any direction change by a well-loved […]

HAIR-RAISING EXPERIENCE IN A SOUTH INDIAN VILLAGE

by Sumaa Tekur Inflation has far-reaching consequences on the economy. In South India, it recently reached the barbershops of the sleepy village of Amingad, in the Bagalkot district of Karnataka state. Unable to make ends meet with the modest service rate of Rs 12 for a haircut (charged by all 10 barbershops in this village), […]

Texas teens make a beauty statement on Tuesdays

by Stefania Revelli WHAT’S HAPPENING A group of Texas teens at Colleyville Heritage High School are rebelling against modern beauty standards by going makeup-free once every week (Jezebel.com, 9 October 2010). The initiative was inspired by a beauty website and spearheaded by a student club called Redefining Beautiful. Every Tuesday, the girls wear T-shirts with […]

Something fishy’s afoot at Aqua Sheko spa

by Sophie Robehmed WHAT’S HAPPENING Aqua Sheko — London’s first ever fish therapy spa — is the quick-fix alternative to spa weekends, offering 30-minute exfoliation appointments where fish nibble on consumers’ feet and remove dead skin while they sup exotic tea. Feet are cleansed before being submerged in a tank where the Garra Rufa fish […]

To Mexicans, Palmolive is a hair care brand, too

by Abelardo de la Peña Jr. WHAT’S HAPPENING Palmolive is for dishes, right? Yes, but it’s also a favorite for hair in Mexico. Palmolive Caprice shampoos and conditioners are being stocked on Wal-Mart shelves in stores serving predominantly Latino populations. Colgate-Palmolive is banking on identifying products that Latinos miss from their home countries and importing […]

Underwear that shapes ’n slims arms

by Stefania Revelli WHAT’S HAPPENING For the woman who’s self-conscious about flab, sag or jiggles, arm shapers boost the upper-body confidence level. Solidea Silver Wave Slimming Arms ($95) are cellulite-fighting skin sleeves for upper arms and shoulders. The micro-massaging fabric gently massages skin to improve circulation, while anti-microbial silver ions leave skin fresh and clean. […]

SCRATCHIES, TAKE ME AWAY!

by Becky Sun Scratchies aren’t characters from The Simpsons. They’re what Aussies call scratch-off lottery tickets, and they are just one of the 21st-century equivalents of the lipstick that Depression-era women bought to brighten their lives. Global View has been tracking numerous examples in this vein. It’s not only lipstick that’s enjoying a sales boost; […]

InSync Salon maneuvers around a hairy problem

by Stefania Revelli WHAT’S HAPPENING If you can’t get to the salon, then the salon will come to you. That’s the fundamental idea behind Mark Austin’s Minnesota-based InSync Salons Mobile Salon Services. Geared toward silver-haired Matures with mobility challenges, InSync offers professional in-home spa services for hair, skin and nails (GrayTimes.com 11.11.08). Salon packages include […]

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