Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York & Los Angeles

Spokesmen for L'Oreal USA announced this week the new face of their 2006 campaign, young starlet Scarlett Johansson. This partnership marks the 21-year-old's first endorsement and what a choice! This Emmy nominated actress has such an old Hollywood glamour that has somehow been lost between teen trendsetters Mary Kate Olsen and Mischa Barton. Insiders report that the over $4 million dollar massive multimedia campaign will definitely shine Scarlett Johansson in a new light. “You can expert to see Scarlett trying out a lot of different hair colours and not just her trademark platinum blonde look,” says a L’Oreal USA insider.

Following in the steps of bombshell Beyonce Knowles will give Johansson a great guide, but I know everyone is dying to see what hair color she will make popular for 2006’s young starlets. I’d personally like to see red hair big for the Spring. Since curls are definitely the must style of the moment, imagine a full head of cascading red curls — and Johansson is one style maker that could really pull it off.

Not only with Johansson be the new face of one of L’Oreal’s various color lines, she will also be the face of the new color line: HIP High Intensity Pigments. According to our L’Oreal insider, the company hopes to generate at least $50 million of sales in the first year.

“It’s wonderful to be working with L’Oreal, a company that has celebrated independent women for years,” says Johansson. “I’m very excited to be part of this campaign, which is modern and fashion forward.”

Even though she tried out for The Parent Trap in 1998 and didn’t make the cut (the role was won by Hollywood’s “It” Girl Lindsay Lohan), Johansson has definitely proved that she is not only a Golden Globe nominated acclaimed actress (The Girl with the Pearl Earring, Woody Allen’s Match Point, Island, In Good Company) but she’s gorgeous as well (Ranked #9 in FHM's 2005 100 Sexiest Women in the World, Calvin Klein and Louis Vuitton 2004 campaigns). Well done Scarlet! We can’t wait to hear your sultry version of “I’m Worth It.”

My love for beauty products started when I was 13 and had cystic acne. Before being put on antibiotics (tetracycline), my mother would sit with me in the mirror and paint my face with green makeup to cover the redness before heading to school. I then would follow it up with a tinted layer of Oxy to keep fighting the acne (that stuff would sting). When my brother and I would come inside after playing in the yard she would often chase us around the house sprtizing us with cologne before having company over so we would smell clean. After all it was my mom who taught me about deodorant and how to shave. I think my dad was at work at the time. Aren't all of our mothers makeup artists and stylists in some way?

When I go home to visit my parents I often “clean house” on my mothers beauty closet. Finding cosmetics that are expired, bad colors or that I know she won’t use. My mother’s favorite line Jane Iredale Cosmetics. Other brands that I often find her using are; Trish McEvoy, Bobbi Brown and Almay. My mother is 60, she shops at Neiman Marcus, Publix, Target, the dermatologist office and her local spa for her cosmetics. A varied mix if you will. But when asked if she has used or would use Revlon, her botox brow poped up. After taking a look at the new Vital Radiance I would say yes. Could my mom be like Sandra Gray? (why didn't they use Susan Sarandon for this campaign?)

In a very suave move on Revlon's part, the ad campaign created shows real women, age 50+ with real lives. Not models. Do you think its a rip on Dove? Who will be showing their new TV commercials during the Superbowl. It seems like a softer sell, dosent it? I think my favorite profile out of the three this month is Maye Musk a grandmother of four.

I think I stand alone in thinking that Dove sales might not go up after the launch of their ‘girl scout’ commercials during Superbowl. Though Ogilvy & Mather without question created an amazing ad. And again, they will get credit for it. It will be viewed as ‘art’ in broadcast world. But the bottom line is just that, the bottom line, will it drive women to purchase Dove? Where do I think their commercials should be played repetitively, Lifetime TV, Oxygen Network and of course Nickelodeon. Maybe I am thinking too much inside the box of sales. Many of my lady friends have said in defense that they watch the superbowl. But honestly and I know I am going to get a ton of slack for saying this, they are usually in the kitchen cleaning, serving drinks or chasing the kids around the house.

The ad will run February 5th and hit an estimated 90 million viewers. Unilever the parent company of Dove paid a reported $2.4 million each for 60 half-minute ad slots. The good news is that the campaign will draw awareness to their self proclaimed charity; Dove’s Self Esteem Fund that already has 3 million in the bank. This is a multi-year effort for real beauty. I wonder, wouldn’t viewers rather see Miss Jackson’s nipple all over again? I do applaud this entire campaign, don't get me wrong. The not so perfect women in the ads, the charity, the multi-cultural outlook, the real people, etc. It's puling at my heart strings every time my eyes catch a glipse. But when I buy my soap, I guess I want to escape and feel like a Dior girl, not a housewife. That's just me though. Time will tell, if their soap sales go up. My favorite commercial by far is the Gwyneth Paltrow look a-likes wearing wigs and then ripping them off to buy Dove shampoo. (do you think Estee Lauder got that one? They still boast her in those Pleasure ads)

Keep in mind that I think alone. The Pierce Mattians at this agency during our morning meeting voiced a different opinion. You will hear from them shortly.

Ok - so who was there yesterday? Come on, fess up. Pamela Anderson showed up. Nude Models to Don Dress Designs by Zac Posen, Heatherette and Vivienne Tam as Painted by M-A-C Artists M-A-C Cosmetics, the ground-breaking professional cosmetics brand, officially kicked off fashion week on February 2nd with a live exhibition of the Qi Pao (chi pau), the classic Chinese Dress, created entirely with M-A-C makeup products. Nude models were painted in Qi Pao inspired designs including creations from renowned New York designers Zac Posen, Heatherette and Vivienne Tam. The M-A-C Chinese Dress exhibition, held at Eyebeam Studio, was attended by over 700 of New York's fashion and media elite.

Maybe putting your makeup on daily could be a fear factor ritual? Bugs anyone? The FDA is making moves towards listing a red coloring derived from the ground bodies of female cochineal beetles on the basis that it is a potential safety hazard to a handful of individuals. Used in a spectrum of cosmetics ranging from lipstick to blusher, the move comes as pressure mounts from watchdogs and consumers to label the ingredient more clearly.
Currently the FDA only require that the ingredient is labeled as a ‘color added' or ‘artifical color', but fears over allergic reactions as well as consumer demands to be better informed if the products they buy are animal-derived are prompting the move towards change.

Ben Roethlisberger will become the second athlete publicly shaven by a Gillette razor, behind Johnny Damon of the World Series Champion Boston Red Sox. After capturing his first Super Bowl ring, Gillette signed Roethlisberger to promote their latest innovation, Fusion, tonight on the “Late Show with David Letterman.”

Unilever announced today that it has sold its Finessehair care brand in the US and Canada, and its Aqua Net brand in theUS, to Lornamead Brands Inc. The brands generated $85 million in combined revenue for 2005. Thefinancial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

"This agreement takes us a step further in reshaping our hair careportfolio of brands in North America," stated John Rice, President ofUnilever Americas. "It will enable us to focus on bringing innovationto market through our strong local and global brands."

L'Oréal has snipped the ribbon on its redesigned Paris Hairdressing Academy. The 16,000-square-foot training center, which had been under renovation for two years, was redesigned by French architect Didier Gomez.

Located on Rue Royale here, the loft-like space was constructed to meet the needs of L'Oréal personnel, including hairdressers, product managers and merchandising chiefs who train there. Gomez created an open feel for the academy by removing doors and merging smaller rooms into three large open areas. In the auditorium, 15,000 shades of lighting can be chosen to match colors associated with a brand for a product launch or a runway show, for example.

“Jenny from the Block” has morphed from a Fly Girl on the set to producer of her new reality show Moves on MTV.

Great news: another reality show has been born. Jennifer Lopez will host an eight-episode reality dance series entitled “Moves” on MTV this fall. As executive producer with Simon Fields, a partner in her production company Nuyorican, Lopez has an integral part of the show—even choosing final dancers and special VIP dance guests from the industry.

“Moves,” scheduled to premiere in the fourth quarter, will follow six dancers over eight weeks as they tell their stories of struggle, reaching for the starts, showcasing talent, paying rent and dancing for 30,000 fans.

Lopez, the former “Fly Girl” from “In Living Color,” has attained a level of success that is rarely attainable by dancers. The worldwide phenomenon is known for not only her dance floor moves but her talent on screen in film and in music.

“I started out as a dancer, and I know what that world is. These dancers have dedicated their lives to this, and honestly, the glory is not always there. It's something they do only out of love. It's a tough life, and I want to show that struggle,” says Lopez.

Magazines aimed at men and parents and families, as well as to fans of travel and outdoor recreation, rarely contain ads for sun protection products, a new study shows.

Researchers note that middle-aged and older men are the group least likely to use sunscreen, while they are at the greatest risk of dying from melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer.

Alan C. Geller of Boston University School of Medicine and colleagues reviewed six years' worth of issues of 24 popular magazines for groups at high risk of skin cancer, including men, women, teens, parents, travelers and people who enjoy outdoor pastimes such as tennis, running, golf and bicycling.

Of the 783 sun-care product ads they identified, 77 percent appeared in women's magazines, Geller and his team report in the American Journal of Health Promotion.

While women's magazines contained, on average, four sun protection product ads per issue, parenting and family magazines contained less than one such ad per issue, and outdoor recreation magazines carried sun protection product ads only once every six issues.

Allergan, the Irvine-based maker of Botox, announced Monday that the Food and Drug Administration has approved three products designed to plump away facial creases. The line, called Juvederm, represents Allergan's first new products since March, when it moved to create a beauty empire with the $3 billion purchase of Inamed. The Santa Barbara company makes breast implants and facial fillers, which are often used along with Botox to reduce signs of aging. Juvederm was developed by Inamed. While Botox temporarily relaxes wrinkles around the brows, facial fillers smooth facial wrinkles and folds around the mouth. In a survey last year of patients who used Botox, 29 percent had tried a filler, according to The Aesthetic Surgery Education and Research Foundation. The global market for dermal fillers in 2005 was $442 million, a 200 percent increase since 2000. The Juvederm treatment, which is injected into the skin, lasts about six months. Juvederm will compete with Restylane, which is made by Medicis, as well as another filler awaiting approval, said Allergan spokeswoman Caroline Van Hove.

Both brands use hyaluronic acid, as opposed to collagen or animal proteins. But Allergan describes Juvederm as "next generation" because the gel is smoother and works on all skin types and colors. "It creates a really smooth, natural look," Van Hove said. Allergan officials would not say when Juvederm will be available for sale or how much they expect to earn. But Van Hove said Allergan will heavily market the treatment. Like Botox, Restylane appeals directly to consumers with ads in women's magazines and brochures available in dermatology and plastic surgery offices.

If you’ve been under a rock, you may have missed the ravings of Pierce Mattians throughout the city. We have arrived, ladies and gentlemen and the address is smack dab in the heart of Times Square. This week I had the pleasure of hosting editors at the Pierce Mattie Media Oasis to promote an in-salon service made famous by Joico Hair Care.

Now, I’m certainly not going to reveal all of the photos…we are still planning our fabulous launch event; but I will tell you that the chameleon we call the Media Oasis turned into a top notch beauty salon just for Joico. For clients like Phytomer and SamPar, the Oasis will be a magnificent spa. For Jane Iredale, the most indulgent makeup counter yet and for health and exercise clients, the Oasis becomes a fitness studio.

Just as an oasis in the middle of the desert transforms into your most insatiable desires, so does the Pierce Mattie Media Oasis…but it’s real, baby…so real! Keep your fingers crossed, ladies and gents. Maybe you’ll be among one of the dynamic movers and shakers to get a coveted invite to our grand opening.

Who knew? Ethnic Personal Care is a huge market! Different hair textures, different skin tones and totally different needs than women with less melanin and silkier hair. African American women spend two to three times the amount of money on hair care and maintenance than do other ethnicities.

My editor sister friends, take notice! Women of Color read your words. We want to live by them but it is hard, oh so hard! We want you to lead us to products that work for us! And that, oh sister friends, is why I am here. Check out some stats below and let’s get some ethnic hair care brands- both independent and corporately owned- on the page!

Bidders flipped their wigs Thursday at a Manhattan auction where one of pop art icon Andy Warhol's signature silver hairpieces sold for $10,800.

The wig, complete with three strips of toupee tape inside, was worn by Warhol during the early 1980s. Warhol began wearing the hairpieces in the early 1960s, and they eventually turned into fashion accessories more than a cover-up for his baldness. Presale estimates for the hairpiece were $4,000 to $6,000.

It was one of several lots put up at Christie's auction house by Jeffrey Warhola, the artist's nephew. A 1977 Polaroid photo of Muhammad Ali, signed by Warhol, sold for $19,200. And a Warhol Polaroid of Mick Jagger from 1975 went for $15,600.

The top items in the celebrity sale belonged to Marilyn Monroe. A black cocktail dress worn during filming of "The Misfits" sold for $66,000, while a full-length ermine coat worn by Monroe in 1957 sold for $50,400.

Melanoma may be more common in whites but the most serious form of skin cancer is deadlier in blacks and Hispanics because it is more likely to go undetected, researchers report.

Blacks are more than three times as likely as whites to be diagnosed with melanoma after it has reached a late stage, and Hispanics are nearly twice as likely, according to a University of Miami study released Monday.

Late diagnosis of melanoma generally significantly reduces the chances for survival. The survival rate for those with early detection is about 99 percent, according to the National Cancer Institute. With later detection, the survival rate falls to between 15 and 65 percent, depending on how far the disease has spread.

The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 10,000 people will die from skin cancer this year, nearly 80 percent of them from melanoma.

Stephan Co., a maker of branded and private label personal care products, said Thursday it has filed a trademark infringement suit against high-end cosmetics maker Elizabeth Arden Inc. The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, alleges that an Elizabeth Arden fragrance launched in March -- Provocative Interlude -- infringes upon Stephan's Interlude trademark. Stephan said it has made various fragrances under the Interlude trademark since the 1960s. The suit seeks to block sales of the Elizabeth Arden product. A spokesman at Elizabeth Arden was not immediately available to comment. Stephan shares were unchanged at $3.08 on the American Stock Exchange in afternoon trading, while Elizabeth Arden shares climbed 12 cents to $17.56 on the Nasdaq.

Celebrity Editorial Makeup Artist Frances Hathaway Shares Her Favorite Beauty And Product Secrets For 50+ Women

As many women age, they may find they have to rethink a cosmetics routine that no longer suits their changing skin. Age spots, increased dryness and loss of vibrancy are some of the specific issues facing the 50+ woman.

As one of the busiest makeup artists in the business, I've worked with the likes of Geena Davis, Vanessa Williams and Bette Midler. I believe maturing women can look better than ever; they just need to switch up their makeup as they would their wardrobe. All it takes is a little know-how and the right products:

• Prepare Your Palette. Primers prep the skin for makeup application by evening-out the skin's surface, filling in lines and concealing any imperfections. I always use face, eye and lip primers before applying color cosmetics. The key for 50+ women is to look for products that offer hydrating formulas to ease drying skin, and light-reflecting ingredients to diffuse lines, for a smoother, more even appearance.

• Bring Back Color. Many women in their 50's find that their skin becomes dry and sallow and it has lost its natural radiance and color. I recommend using hydrating products that help energize your look, such as the Vital Radiance Line Softening Makeup-Rehydrating. Its water-based formula with SPF 15 boosts moisture, while its increased color density revitalizes your complexion. And its remarkably lightweight formula won't settle into lines or wrinkles. Try using a brush to apply this product-this technique creates a polished makeup look and provides precise application. Best of all, Vital Radiance makes it easier than ever for 50+ women to look their best, offering free tips, advice and product samples. Just call (800) RADIANT seven days a week to speak to a live Beauty Specialist.

It's no secret that our society is obsessed with looking young. As baby boomers turn 60, statistics show the U.S. market for anti-aging products and services is "growing at an average growth rate (AAGR) of 9.5%, this market will reach nearly $72 billion by 2009"*. While science has made advancements in both topical and minimally invasive cosmetic procedures, certain lifestyle factors, such as smoking, sleep loss and sun exposure, can unknowingly sabotage your personal aesthetic goals.

Although natural aging is a given, inherited by our genes-we do have control over extrinsic aging. Known as premature aging, it is caused by poor lifestyle habits that actually accelerate skin aging, including wrinkles, rough texture and uneven pigmentation.

Beginning today, as part of an effort to inspire shoppers to indulge in music beyond the top 10, there will be special “Blender Approved” aisles in 658 Best Buy stores. They will feature Blender Magazine editors’ endorsements for newly released music. On first glance, I was concerned that this would lead to the promotion of only limited genres, but when I saw that the 16 recommended albums will include Def Leopard’s “Rock of Ages” and Cam’ron’s “Killa Season” I realized that they have diversity in mind. It’s a win-win-win situation for the store chain, the magazine and the music industry. For Best Buy, the partnership stands to increase CD consumption at a time when music downloading is taking hold of music purchases. Blender, which has already co-branded with VH1and AOL, hopes that the project will increase its paid circulation. (I think they have a strong chance of success in that area because they’ll reach so many new people). The music industry, already suffering from the effects of pirating and payola, will likely enjoy a boost in sales for artists that often go ignored on store shelves.

Those last five pounds might not be so hard to lose thanks to a new surgical procedure called various, precision or micro liposuction. The procedure isn’t actually all that new, doctors began performing the surgeries about 10 years ago, but it is gaining more popularity among patients and doctors — I think largely due to America’s obsession with perfection. Areas such as the kneecaps, ankles, back rolls and inner thighs are now able to be reached with the tools used during micro liposuction, whereas they would previously go untouched.

In an article in Thursday's New York Times, Dr. Peter B. Fodor, a plastic surgeon in Los Angeles says that because of new types of ultrasound machines, which can be used to break up fat before it is extracted, and daintier cannulae, the blunt-tipped hollow tubes used to dislodge and suck out fat, have made it easier for doctors to fine-tune liposuction.

This procedure is most fit for those on the thinner side that just can’t seem to lose their love handles or “bra muscle” and have gone to great lengths to get rid of them. Liposuction generally is not recommended for those in the obese category and any reputable doctor will suggest a diet and exercise program before putting you under the knife.

New procedures like micro liposuction and genital reconstruction rise the issue of boundaries – when will we ever look good enough? Are procedures such as the latter just mere vanity or are they stepping stones to self confidence? I guess it’s just a case by case situation, but for now I’m happy with using a pair of Spanx and some concealer.

Bare Escentuals Inc., a maker of cosmetics, skin care and body care products, said on Friday it plans to raise up to $287.5 million in an initial public offering of common stock.

The San Francisco company said in a preliminary registration statement with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission that Goldman Sachs & Co. and CIBC World Markets will be the lead underwriters for the IPO.

Banc of America Securities LLC, Piper Jaffray, and Thomas Weisel Partners will assist in the underwriting.

Bare Escentuals, which makes mineral-based cosmetics, sells its products under the brand names i.d. bareMinerals, i.d., RareMinerals, Bare Escentuals, and md formulations.

From the inception of Jolie Magazine, the Ethnic Beauty Team has looked endearingly at its progression sometimes from afar and at other times feeling the joy of knowing that we have participated, if only a little, in its growth and recognition. Because the love flows both ways, Alicia Marie Rivers, EIC of Jolie offered us the opportunity to share our lives with her readers.

Nafi, Lauren, Venessa and I are thrilled and beyond excited to see what the September issue holds for us…We all know that editors EDIT, but we gave up enough good stuff to do three or four stories so we are certain to be pleased. Beyond sitting and talking with the EIC, we had the most amazing photo shoot here at Media Oasis…just wait until you see what we’ve done with the place!

Beauty products company Estee Lauder Cos. on Friday said it promoted John Demsey, global brand president of Estee Lauder, to the position of group president of Estee Lauder Companies.

Demsey will continue to oversee the Estee Lauder brand as well as M-A-C Cosmetics, Prescriptives, Sean John and Tom Ford Beauty. He will continue reporting to Chief Operating Officer Dan Brestle.

If you think beauty can't go more than skin deep, swallow this: Health officials on Thursday said drug companies could start gussying up their pills with pigments like those that give cosmetics a pearly sheen. Does that mean my RX's will start to look like Jelly Beans or nail polish lacquers?

The pearlescent pigments can be used in any drugs that are swallowed, including pills, tablets and liquids, the Food and Drug Administration said. As a result, drugs may never look the same again.

The pigments can produce sparkly metallic, satiny and shimmery finishes, as well as different hues of red and gold, depending partly on the color of the underlying drug.

The FDA's publication of a final rule approving their use came eight years after EMD Chemicals Inc. of Gibbstown, N.J., first petitioned the agency. The chemical and pigment maker is part of the German drug company Merck KGaA. That company is entirely separate from U.S.-based Merck & Co. Inc.

Keri Russell may have been a tomboy growing up, and TV audiences know her as a college coed on the TV series "Felicity." But now she's gone glam as a CoverGirl.

The 30-year-old actress joins Christie Brinkley and Queen Latifah as a spokesmodel for the venerable beauty brand. The new TV ad for Outlast Double Lipshine debuts this month, and the print ad will be in August magazines.

Being a makeup model isn't what Russell expected in her career. This is only the second commercial she has starred in, other than promotions for her various movie and television roles.

"When I first started, I did do a commercial for a deodorant or something. I don't even think it aired. This is the first thing I've done like this. It's a lot less stressful than doing a film. This takes two days, not a few months or the whole year of a television show," she told the press.

North Korea announced a scientific breakthrough Friday, and it had nothing to do with the missile tests that startled the world this week. Researchers developed a new cosmetic agent to make skin supple, state-run media boasted.

"They analyzed in a scientific way why the hand skin of those who are making bean paste is smooth and fair," state news agency KCNA reported. Armed with the data, scientists made an agent that helps fight wrinkles and lightens moles and freckles, it said.

Bean paste is a staple of Korean cooking, and the North Korean scientists who designed the cosmetic agent might be onto something because beans are used in some skin care products around the world.

However, few North Koreans other than the elite get enough to eat - let alone have the income to splurge on beauty products.

Confessions of a hyper sun exposed esthetician - on trips to Canada and the UK I often would stock up on L'Oreal brands packed with Mexoryl SX including Biotherm, Lancome, LaRoche-Posay. Now the borders unite and finally we can get these great UVA blockers in the USA.

The Food and Drug Administration Monday approved a new over-the-counter sunscreen that has a new active ingredient not previously approved for use in the United States. The agency approved Anthelios SX, a moisturizer from L'Oreal that contains ingredients designed to protect against sunburn from and exposure to ultraviolet B (UVB) and ultraviolet A (UVA) rays from the sun.

Anthelios SX contains a combination of three active ingredients, including avobenzone and octocrylene, standard ingredients in sunscreens already approved for sale in the U.S. The new active ingredient approved for use in the U.S. in the product is ecamsule. Ecamsule has been marketed in Europe and Canada as Mexoryl SX since 1993, the FDA said.

Octocrylene is designed to block UVB rays from the sun, while Avobenzone blocks long UVA rays. The newest ingredient, Ecamsule, or Mexoryl, is designed to block short UVA rays. Anthelios will be available sometime this fall and will be sold by L'Oreal's LaRoche-Posay division.

Pick up Pierce Mattie brands; Jane Iredale, SamPar & Bella Bronze

Are you ready to shop till you drop? There is a hidden place where the girl in the know will go... it's Shecky's!

Shecky's Summer Beauty Bash on August 10th, 2006.

•Enjoy complimentary cocktails
•Shop and score fabulous treats from over 50 hot beauty & fashion vendors
•Take home Shecky's best Goodie Bag ever (worth over $125!)
Spoil yourself with all-night shopping, freebies, and pampering!

I love my job, but it can be difficult at times. It’s actually pretty stressful, especially when you really need to get your client featured in a magazine, and you can’t get in touch with the editors, understandable when you think of the hundreds of pitches they receive via email and phone. I’ve even had an editor-friend that I hang out on a normal basis tell me that he receives so many phone calls that he doesn’t even listen to his voice messages. He simply presses delete once he hears the name and calls back when he has time.

If only magazines a more straight-forward way to getting in touch with them. Maybe even have story pitching sessions on their website? Just when I thought that sounded way too good to be true, it was brought to my attention today, by the people at Jossip.com, that JANE magazine is starting just such a program.

According to Jossip.com, “Starting today, Thursday July 27, Jane magazine's editors will be online waiting to hear your pitch ideas.” Brandon Holley and her editors will be online taking story ideas from readers in an effort to "getting connected with the readers." I ask you, could Holley be anymore genius? Not only will they get ideas straight from their target audience, but it is an amazing PR campaign. In a way, readers become honorary editors/writers, which will give them pride in the magazine and keep them coming back each month. Way to go JANE.

Recent reports have noted that the shaving and grooming industry has more booming lately. A New York Times article noted that “worldwide sales of grooming products exceed $200 billion ... that figure, men spent over $16 billion” on grooming products. I can’t help but noticing how many men are flocking to shaving specialty stores like The Art of Shaving and others. A couple of years ago it was: soap and water or the standard Barbasol. I wonder when women are going to get on board with this: can you imagine it? Special: $20.00 Deluxe Shave Legs. I think it’s something to think about – I mean women spend at least 2 times more time shaving than men and cover about 10 times the surface area: legs, underarms, bikini, even arms. So I decided to investigate what’s available for women on the market – shaving tools/creams/etc. I personally use Whish, our client, and love the product but made some calls and inquiries to surprisingly find out that there aren’t any other products like that. Google must find something! I Googled “women’s shaving cream” and of course came up with a gazillion responses for those cheapo aerosol cans (about 4.99 each) for a total of 2,890,000 hits. I couldn’t seem to find anything luxurious though – like what Fresh, Eshave, Hommage, Jack Black, Clinique or Khiels offer for men. “Search a little deeper,” I tell myself as I’m now on the PROWL to find something else for my dry legs. I did come across Whish through Skinterra. They described the products: “Finally, there is a shaving product for women deserving of our endorsement.” It’s true though – Whish body products are exactly what’s missing — that rich, creamy shaving cream that comes (get this) in a JAR just like his! They have three scents now: pomegranate, almond and lemongrass. It’s so cute and they have a body brush as well. There are customized crystal body brushes made with Swarovski crystals for those glam divas that just can’t say no to sparkly products. Finally women can get a taste of what he does every other day – brush and all. It’s so cute – I wonder if anyone else will catch on!

Los Angeles is heating up, but not in a good way. This past week, Los Angeles experienced a record breaking heat wave, which caused rolling blackouts. The sudden spike in temperature means that it is more important than ever to apply sunscreen religiously to prevent premature aging and skin cancer.

Unfortunately for Angelenos, the world’s most effective sunscreen ingredient, Mexoryl, is banned by the FDA and is unavailable for purchase in the US. Mexoryl blocks out Ultraviolet A radiation, which causes premature aging of the skin. Mexoryl is used in virtually all sunscreens sold in Europe, Asia, and South America.

So why is the US lagging behind when it comes to sun protection?

Reebok has a new line in the works, and can you guess who the face attached to it belongs to? If you’re thinking of an athlete, you’re totally wrong. If the person on your mind is a rapper, try again. This line’s celeb endorsement will come from the voluptuous vixen, Scarlett Johansson. Though it hasn’t been said whether or not she’ll be involved in the design process, she’s signed to a multiyear contract in the development and marketing of “Scarlett ‘Hearts’ RBK.” Scheduled to debut in spring 2007 at high end department stores and boutiques worldwide, the line will consist of “fashion-forward, athletic inspired footwear and apparel.”

Cosmoprof North America is the premier trade show for entrepreneurs to debut their beauty products. As I made my way through the maze of face moisturizers and flat irons for the hair, I thought I had seen it all. Until I stumbled upon a black booth with a shaggy white carpet, all the ladies were wearing shirts that asked, “Is Your Betty Ready?”

Not only is the question personal, but my Betty is taken care of by a really nice Russian women that has a waxing salon on Sunset Blvd. so what do you want to do with mine? Betty Beauty wants to color my hair down there, whether your Betty is brown and you want it blonde or your Betty is starting to gray and you want to keep it black, there is a Betty Beauty color for you.

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Join the Pierce Mattie team as they launch Fire Island the new fragrance by Bond No. 9

The party is from 3pm to 6pm this Saturday August 5th.
Located at: 458 Ocean Walk.
The cross street is Fisherman's Way.
DJ Lina will be spinning. Absolute Vodka will be our sponsor.

Please email Kristen@PierceMattie.com to RSVP or call 212-243-1431 for more information.

With the popular show Weeds now a nationwide hit, we have seen the return of Hemp to retail in more ways than one. I have actually been seeing more and more products pop up again. I remember a couple of years ago when Hemp was big in accessories-remember those chokers that caused massive “ichiness” and left your neck red and disturbed? I don’t know what was worse, the trend over all or the fact that once it was tied on, it was almost impossible to remove without cutting it!

Anyway, I have actually been working with a line called Hemp—it is a hair care line, a not to toot my own clients horn, it is actually pretty fabulous. The packaging is great and it smells pretty good. I ended up sending the sets to the cast of Weeds to celebrate season 2—don’t miss it! Not only does beauty have Hemp lines, but I saw on MTV.com today that interior designer Jessica Helgerson has opted to use hemp, in her designs (along with other environmentally friendly materials.) She says she has been inspired by all of the scary environmental truths that have come about lately (i.e. Al Gore’s book) I think this concept is great—not only is hemp a pop culture favorite but it can also help save the Earth! What do you think about that Mr. President?

Actress/model Pamela Anderson is teaming up with hair care giant Bed Head to launch a line of ethical hair products for people and their pets. Anderson, a staunch animal rights activist, is thrilled about the new deal, which she describes as her "first wedding present" since she married Kid Rock over the weekend. She says, "I received my first wedding present! From my friends at Bed Head. "I got the call that it is confirmed. I'm absolutely doing a whole line of hair care for people and animals. "Only tested on humans of course. Hair care and body care including hot rollers, and sunscreens. It will all be out soon."

Dear Beauty & Fashion Bloggers,

Pierce Mattie PR has worked hard over the last five years to develop unique expertise in beauty, fashion and jewelry communications. We have long recognized the importance and potential of new media, and in 2002 we were one of the first PR firms in our media beat category to launch a blog and begin blogging. We have the highest respect for bloggers and their work, and we treat bloggers with the same attention and respect we have for editors from top print publications.

Last night, Jackie Danicki posted on her blog, Jack & Hill, a piece about Pierce Mattie PR “spamming” other blogs. Please be assured that it is not the policy of Pierce Mattie PR to “spam” blogs (or spam anyone else, for that matter). However, although we were taken aback by Jackie’s ill-informed post, we want to acknowledge some recent missteps on our part that may have led to a misunderstanding about the matter.

A bit of history first. From 2002 to 2004, only two people at Pierce Mattie PR – Pierce and I – were permitted to post on the Pierce Mattie PR blog. By 2005, however, we took note of the increasing importance of blogging to the public relations industry and began encouraging all of our brand advocates to submit blog posts. This eventually turned into a requirement that each brand advocate submit at least one blog entry per week. The project has been unequivocally successful: brand advocates are pushed to think creatively and they take pride in their submissions, and our increased profile has been great for the firm and our clients. Although our firm’s policy requires blog entries to be approved before they are posted, we encourage our brand advocates to push the envelope with their posts and we give them a large degree of freedom and license.

Growing up, my mom handled all the finances and business at home, all while working a full-time job. So it’s no surprise to me when I hear that major companies like LG are shifting their focus from the male market and beginning to target women.

It is estimated that women in the U.S control about $3.3 trillion in annual consumer spending and $1.5 trillion more in business outlays. And manufacturers like LG want a piece of the cash pie.

I first heard about LG’s marketing plans while reading the UberTrends Newsletter put out by Michael Tchong, a trend analyst based in Manhattan. In it, Tchong mentions the Xnote computer, but it doesn’t say much more in way of details. After doing more research, I found little on the product other than some preliminary reports on the first series of advertisements that are meant to tug at women’s heartstrings.

In one ad, a boy is seen walking up a flight of stairs with a full backpack that is obviously too heavy for him. He sees three girls blowing bubbles with gum. With a smile, the boy comes up with an idea. In the next shot you see the bag is suspended on balloons and the boy is climbing on effortlessly. The ad finishes with a shot of the ultra-light Xnote computer.

Another major company to shift gears and market to the female demographic is Buena Vista Games, a division of Disney. The company is known for producing games for the male-dominated industry. With the popularity of ABC’s hit series Desperate Housewives, BVG is now entering a realm where other gaming companies have never entered before – marketing to the female gamer.

Ladies and Gentlemen, if you missed last week’s premiere episode of Flavor of Love season 2, than you missed something extraordinary! In the first 20 minutes there were cat fights, wardrobe malfunctions and women bravely kissing the man himself. But bigger than any of that, Sunsilk put the advertising smack down! Flavor of Love is VH1’s jewel in the crown that they call “Celebreality” and has been its most watched show to date. Sunsilk created an entire 90 second spot with one of the girls from the house that aired smack in the middle of the 90 minute show. It was very Movie and a Makeover and very impressive.

I am a true believer in the notion that advertising and PR go hand in hand. Sunsilk doesn’t seem to live that mantra, though. One day, out of nowhere the brand was everywhere! It’s pretty amazing, if you ask me. They have inundated the weeklies with two and a half page ads every week in almost every book, every other commercial on television belongs to them and who could miss the voice of Mario Cantone screaming “YELLOWWWW” and not be consumed by glorious memories of his days as Anthony on SATC?

As for PR, Elke, one of my favorite beauty bloggers made it very clear that their idea of sharing the product with the media is all about smoke and mirrors. I’m looking very forward to seeing how Sunsilk trumps last week’s advertising genius but even more interested in seeing when and where the editorial placements will start dropping. I’ve got to say that it is much easier to confirm hits when the product spends money in the book. Haven’t really seen any editorial yet, though.

But, for all of you great brands out there without the dollars to spend, don’t give up hope. A great product and an amazing publicist works just as well. Just ask Joico.

You are cordially invited to attend the beauty & fashion blogging roundtable with Julie Fredrickson & Philip Leif Bjerknes of Coutorture Media, an association of a few hundred fashion and beauty bloggers dedicated to raising the public consciousness of blogging as well as promoting independent perspectives, opinion, and experiences from around the blogosphere.

Hosted & Moderated by Pierce Mattie Public Relations NYC., Next Thursday August 17th at 6:30 pm, join the roundtable discussions on: spamming, astroturfing, press posted on blogs, blogging etiquette, working with publicists and guidelines for PR professionals

Who Should Attend? All publicists who pitch relevant content to bloggers and bloggers who want to be pitched by publicists. To RSVP, contact: Kristen Herburger of Pierce Mattie Public Relations at 212.243.1431, Email Your RSVP to Kristen H

Roundtable art and copy Can be found here

Location:
Pierce Mattie Public Relations, Inc. 62 West 45th Street
Third Floor Between 5th & 6th Avenues

UPDATE: See The event footage. Transcript also available. Fashion and Beauty Bloggers Meet Publicists

Man did my PR phone light up this morning about this one. Every single makeup artist from NY to LA saw WWD and Yahoo PR Wire and freaked. Several calls went into Delux but none were returned. Question is did Jillian leave Delux Beauty? One thing I noticed when reading the newsfeeds on the story today were that NONE of them mention her own brand, just her new partner Avon. That is except for Crains. This isn't the first time we have seen a prestige beauty queen hit the cash button for mass. Anyone remember Poppy King going to Prescriptives? Poppy was the Australian princess of lip gloss from down under and when her beauty brand went bust she turned to Lauder and become the new color authority of custom makeup. I will never forget one day I was on a desk side at Elle waiting in the lobby back when Cara worked in editorial when she was pitching on the sofa her own line. Then sure enough like 30 days later it was Prescriptives. I do love their Line Preventor.

Or what about Troy Surratt who formerly created Tarte Cosmetics and left it to go freelance later appearing in Maybelline commercials. They do make one great concealer; Age Rewind.

Well personally I think she will stay on for both brands. If Michael Kors can do Bergdorf Goodman and QVC why can't a makeup artist? It's all in the label I guess. But don't you think a sub-brand for Avon calling it "Just Jillian" would have been better. I wonder how Mr. Dempsey feels about this one. "Oh my wife and her makeup blah blah blah!"

Many new skincare and hair care products advertise the fact that they are paraben free, but the majority of the population has no clue what parabens are and why they should avoid them.

Parabens are preservatives commonly used in cosmetics and personal care products like shampoos, skin creams, shaving gels, and deodorants, which extend the shelf life of products. Many people have allergic reactions to these preservatives and experience problems such as skin rashes and irritation. Additionally, parabens have been shown to mimic the hormone estrogen in scientific experiments.

Here is the first segment of the Fashion and Beauty Bloggers Event. Unfortunately we had to brake it up into a ten-pack, 10 min segments because of the YouTube file size requierments. If you want to automatically be notified when we post the rest of the segments just subscribe to our YouTube channel. In this segment you will find:

- Introduction to Host and guest speakers - How did the the fashion and beauty blog community of 180 industry blogs start? - Who are the bloggers in the community? - Treating bloggers with the same respect as journalists and editors and what bloggers should do to earn that respect when a blogger has no formal journalism training or experience working with publicists. - The basics, fact checking - RSS feeds make it hard to retract bad facts in posts - The value to a blogger working with a publicist

We invite you to join the discussion on the site and participate in educating bloggers and publicists on how to work together professionally, ethically and effectively in this "new" publishing platform. Get more information at on the Public Relations Roundtable website.

Other links: Flickr | Myspace | YouTube |

Like many women, shopping is my cardio. I feel a personal connection to every item I purchase and a pain in my heart anytime I happen to pass by a boutique or shoe store that has closed its doors forever. That said, imagine the agony I felt this morning as reports of Shop, Etc.’s closing rolled in. Apparently, an adoring readership and praise in focus groups isn’t enough. Advertisers are the lifeblood of most publications, and a circulation of 675,000 simply wasn’t impressive enough to the advertisers that would have kept them afloat.

For me, this closing is a double-pronged stab. First, as a shopper and confessed shoe-holic, the pages of Shop, Etc. provided me with eye candy even when I couldn’t leave my desk to go on a shoe binge. Secondly, as a beauty publicist who has to compete with advertisers for page space, the more mag pages out there, the better. Every time a publication shuts its doors, it lessens the opportunities for placements. I know what you’re thinking… how dare I lament the loss of placement space when there are people losing office space and very likely gaining more empty space in their bank accounts? My response: the space I occupy in my office is directly related to the amount page space I am able to acquire. Plus, the staff at Shop is so talented that I’m sure it won’t be long until I’m calling and bugging all the beauty girls at some other publication.

I have been in Los Angeles now for one week interviewing PR candidates for our beauty and fashion division. Edy Eliza, our LA director and I have pretty much seen the gamut of publicists whether lifestyle or fashion, entertainment or personality based – LA has a vast mix of media beats, uniquely different from Manhattan.

Independent writers, editors, thinkers and stylemakers, the voice of bloggers is loud and recognized by mainstream media. It's about time!

people.com, the online source for celebrity breaking news and gossip has added a blog to the StyleWatch section, complete with readers’ posts, a “Hot Finds” column and topics like “Can We Talk About Last Night’s Project Runway” to tear into. CNN launched a new blog like feature called "i report" where you can post your story, upload video and photos which then are boradcast live on CNN.

Bloggers the world over can give themselves a pat on the back, as they are in-part responsible for this leak into the mainstream. Those “in the mainstream” are finally getting the hint that the majority of the online community responds and interacts well with blogs, getting their news, fashion tips, recipes and other information from the open and honest posts of bloggers.

The people.com blog brings about an interesting complexity: unlike most blogs, this one is backed and funded by Time Inc. How honest and transparent can it be? How will readers relate? Will it be a trusted source for beauty news and fashion tips? Only Time will tell.

So go ahead, leave a comment to this post, share your favorite "obscure" blogs, or head over to one of the new mainstream blogs, we know you’re dying to let people.com know what you think of Cameron’s New Look.

Click On Pink Tab To Download Registration Form

ISPA Knowledge Networks are a venue for spa professionals to openly discuss current circumstances and to create practical solutions for business. Expert speakers; Mary Bemis, Rona Berg & Pierce Mattie will address pertinent industry-related topics, while also providing time for in-depth group discussion. Regardless of your level of experience, the education offered at the ISPA Knowledge Networks will be invaluable. Each Knowledge Network includes a Marketplace on the first evening providing an opportunity to network and learn about the latest products.

The ultimate goal of the Knowledge Networks is to provide spa industry professionals with the opportunity to build relationships in a one-on-one environment with their peers. View Invite">We encourage you to join us for the final 2006 ISPA Knowledge Network & Marketplace.

We already use bacteria to inject under the skin to get rid of laff-lines. Why do we love these wrinkel creating viral videos so much? "Ugly" men get "hot chicks" when they have a good sense of humor. The message, subliminal or viral, does seem to go down easyer with humor as a chaser. Viral videos are everywhere. It’s hard to escape the swarm of links I get from friends, family and colleges. These free, interesting and sometimes amusing videos spread over the Internet in almost pandemic speed. I have to admit, I've been guilty of forwarding them on to others when the clip makes me giggle (like a school girl) or those I find clever enough. Not all videos are truly viral marketing. In fact, most clips are just creative expressions, which entertain. Obviosly where ever you have an audience and peer-to-peer networks your going to find marketers trying to relate and persuade and advertise.

Here are a few videos, can you spot which one is viral and which are just entertaining?

Treadmill Fitness Equiptment Viral Or Music Video?

Skinny Jeans blogger Stephanie gives us "the skinny" on RSS. The post is well written and might just be what you need to finally get your CEO to understand what RSS is. Stephanie has been blogging since December 2005, is a fellow Tom Peters fan, has podcast links, a skinny book store and more! Read her post ...then send her permalink to "that friend" who still doesn't get what RSS is, or how to use RSS.

Putting all of my flip flops away, bringing out the boots and sweaters, and the chilly weather this morning means that my favorite season is right around the corner – the holidays! During a season chock full of parties and celebrations, I think it’s important (and fun!) to accessorize that little black dress with glam holiday makeup.

With clients like jane iredale and Black Opal, it’s easy to achieve a stunning look. Personally, I think it’s best to emphasize one feature and really make it pop - usually my eyes - with something sparkly. Though I might be a little biased, jane iredale’s latest collection has beautiful gold, black, and brown liquid eye liners that I absolutely love!

Jane has a great tip to really make eyes stand out: paint a wider gold band first and then a thinner black one along the lash line. Or, for a more subtle look, use the liquid liner brush to paint dots between your lashes to give the illusion of thicker and fuller lashes – something that definitely works for me since I wasn’t blessed with the best lashes in the world.

This year, I think I’ll try to mix it up and emphasize the lips with the new Joy lipstick, which has some sparkle in it as well, but still looks classic and elegant. No matter what feature you decide to emphasize, make it bold!

Something about these projects (I've seen a few over the years) that always grabs me. I know, many people think it's lame. Perhaps it's the voyeur in me. Here is your unique advertising opportunity Baxter Of California! How about a travel site? I want to see him on a beach, or visiting famous places around the world, it’s a little melancholy that all his recorded images are inside- he needs a tan, (product placement opportunity) how about some new threads? He obviously gets around as a photographer. I can see the big budget version of this. A big name beauty product. Ten year time laps and the female talent actually looks better at the end, because of the product of course! Would work best for a mid-sized privately owned cosmetic line like Jane Iredale. That way the owner could do the real time laps "herself". Definitely a back burner concept.

This week, the TODAY show has been doing a series called Hidden Germs. Who knew Matt Lauer was such a germaphob? They did germ investigations in grocery stores, baby bags, and …makeup counters! Now, I was always squeamish when trying on different shades at counters (who knows who’s been touching those things!), but after watching Janice Lieberman’s report, never again will I try ANYTHING at these counters, no matter how pretty the colors look. Not that I have to anymore, but I’ll get to that later.

Liberman brought samples of the makeup testers from some unknown department store to researchers. They found germs in everything – lipstick, lip gloss, eye shadow, brushes and even the containers that hold the little spatulas! One of the germs found was staphylococcus aureus which causes pink eye and other infections.

Just by using the testers at the makeup counters, you can spread your germs and pick up someone else's. Even free makeovers can be harmful if the makeup artist that’s doing it is using the testers on display. The Consumer Product and Safety Commission reported that thousands of people can contract skin and eye irritations from shared testers every year.

Now, onto why I don’t have to be afraid of germs in my makeup – JANE IREDALE! Iredale Mineral Cosmetics has done extensive bacterial testing so every product in safe and healthy for the skin. Her line of mineral cosmetics is inert, meaning nothing can harbor bacteria. So, in a nutshell there’s no need to be afraid of germs in her testers!

Called sleek and futuristic

Our goal is to help hairstylists preserve, improve and enhance the integrity of the hair. A unique combination of cutting-edge technology, innovative product development, inspiration from the worlds of art and fashion, professional education and commitment to integrity keeps Joico firmly in the forefront of professional beauty

David Dean, a former account executive for a breast implant manufacturer, witnessed his mother suffer at the hands of two unqualified plastic surgeons, including one who painfully misplaced an implant after her breast cancer reconstruction and another who severed a major facial nerve. After his mother’s tragic experience, David became inspired to create a web-based destination that would hold plastic surgeons to a higher standard, as well as act as an unbiased educational resource for women considering breast augmentation and reconstruction.

This is when he began www.Breastimplants411.com. Breastimplants411.com was designed to help consumers make informed decisions about plastic surgery as well as find and research only those plastic surgeons who have achieved the highest level of certification – Board Certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery.

Spa Week is upon is in New York City and that means I will be a little more relaxed than average. And while treatments at hundreds of Saps in the city are reduced to a mere fifty dollars I still want to scour the best deal I can. If your not in the city, I recommend Spa Finder, it consistently offers the best to offer in global spa search. Dial in what you are looking for on the easy to navigate website and you'll find somthing that fits your price range, taste and expectations. The gift certicates come in a gorgious box! Check out Susie's blog on all things spa.

One trick to making Spa Week work for you is deciding what you wish to gain from Spa Week. Decide what your priorities are ahead of time to gain the most from the experience.

Is it to explore a new spa? Get relaxed? Improve your skin quality? Or try out a new treatment you wouldn't have dared at full price? Assessing your priorities can help you map out the perfect Spa Week experience.

If you are looking for relaxation try massages, salt scrubs, or aromatherapy. You can get a Mango brown sugar scrub and a Swedish massage at the Finesse Day Spa.

If you are looking to try something new explore new types of therapies like Qi-Gong Tui-Na Deep Tissue Massage or Hot Stone therapies. Graceful Spa is offering both during an extended Spa Week.

You can even try out pricey cellulite treatments on the cheap during Spa Week.

My personal pick? I want to get in both a relaxing massage and a facial. I plan to head to the Clarins for both.

Celebrities have long used their clout and visibility to promote products that they love just as marketers and publicists have leveraged star power to help promote their products. Suzanne Summers could be considered the ur-marketer of the stars from the Thigh Master to protein shakes. But her current project, a book about bioidentical hormone replacement therapy has more than a few people worried.

The book, though, has raised the hormone levels of at least seven medical doctors. The doctors — three of whom are quoted in the book — generally support the concept of bioidentical hormone therapies but say that too little research has been done to assure that they are safe.

Further, they are outraged that Ms. Somers endorses a treatment plan created by T. S. Wiley, a former actress with no formal medical training.

They continued, “The so-called ‘protocols’ endorsed and promulgated throughout the book may expose women to serious health dangers.”

This all raises plenty of medical questions certainly but more urgently it questions how we as consumers should trust and interact with celebrity spokespeople. While we can all agree that Ms Summers looks just as good as always do we attribute this to her "juice of youth" or to her new makeup artist? There are so many factors that go into our perception of celebrities from our thoughts on their most recent relationship to our idea how how one should conduct oneself in public that all ultimately influence whether or not we take their advice. And when this perception comes up against troubling medical evidence then it is worth questioning our motives indeed.

Beauty Bloggers are welcome, space is limited! Bloggers outside of of the NYC area can register for advanced media kit to be sent day after the event.

In honor of the launch, Pierce Mattie Public Relations is hosting a cocktail party in her honor. In a true celebration of beauty, grace and style, Jane Iredale's GLOBAL BEAUTY event will highlight style influences from Cleopatra to Beyonce in the event of the year! We invite you to share in this iconic celebration. To RSVP, please contact Lauren Branche or Ivy Cartagena at 212/243.1431

Do you ever find yourself watching infomercials from guthy renker or mesmerized at the celebrities launching there own line on QVC? I haven't made a purchase from any of the television shopping networks and yet I'll still watch 10-20, 30 minutes of the show observing the strong production and presentation skills in the program segment. Is it just me?

Have you noticed national advertising campaigns are starting to mimic the formats of the successful television shopping networks? The numbers don't lie, they're reaching a lot of people and putting quality consumer goods at a good value in the homes of millions via a convenient familiar medium. The television. Out of all of them, QVC is one of the best and If you're like me, a confessed infomercial voyeur, beauty addict or hair care / skin care blogger you may want to set your Tivo to record the WORLDWIDE LAUNCH OF OJON's NEW PRODUCT. Monday, October 23rd. To see the launch tune into QVC on October 23rd at 1am, 11am (2 hr show) and 10pm.

Ojon's worldwide launch of it's exclusive, brand new Ojon ‘Rare Harvest’ TAWAKA Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cream – the ultimate rejuvenating treatment for dry, aging skin and hair. Ojon will also be launching a new limited edition Holiday 5 - piece Ojon Hair Ritual Kits, they make the perfect gift for anyone on your list (or yourself)!

Jane Iredale recently launched Global Beauty; mineral makeup colors that are geared towards ethnic skin tones. The above video, exclusively from Jane Iredale, gives step by step instructions on how to apply her products, and the benefits, for an African American woman.

Today I had the chance to get some input regarding the obstacles that African American women face when it comes to makeup and representation in the marketplace. You can read my post with Patrice from the blog Afrobella and Lianne from The Makeup Girl exclusively on Makeup Minute.

Spa-nyc.com is celebrating their 4th year online this November. Instead of receiving gifts, they are giving a gift to you. Spa-nyc.com and many New York City spa's are offering Spa Services at 50% off all November long.

As I am sure you know, a relaxing massage or just pampering yourself in general is great for your overall well being. So why not take advantage of some wonderful Spa Treatments while they are 50% off?

Spa-nyc.com has a calendar on their promotional page listing all of the Spa's participating and which treatments they are offering each day at 50% off. Why not get pamper yourself a little? You'll surely need to be rejuvenated in time for the Holidays (and maybe even after).

For our readers who cant get to New York to take part in this offer, punch up Spa Finder or if your a Mac user download the Spa Finder Widget to find great deals at spas near you!

"Antonio was seen as more of an alpha male. The brand was more keen to have a personality which meant more to US audiences."

Strike Two for Edelman PR as Their Second Fake Wal-mart Blog is Revealed, via B.L. Ochman's What's Next blog

WallStrip, via Repliqa is a RocketBoom format web-show that profiles a different public company on the stock exchange every day .

Sofia Speaks The face (errrr cartoon illustration) of the Holy Mud Company rants about beauty, fashion, art, pop culture and...Politics!

Next Generation Insights (Young Adult Panel) The panel itself is informative, the technology (video tag) is cool too.

I cannot believe that it is almost Halloween. Fall seems to be flying by. My children announced to me today what characters they are going to be to go out trick or treating. My 2 year old wants to be Superman, my 4 year old is going to be Buzz Lightyear and my 7 year old is going to be a Power Ranger.

Power Ranger? Are they even still around? I thought that was ancient history, so I inquired further why he would want to be a Power Ranger this year. I was surprised at his answer. You see, the Blue Power Ranger has “built in” muscles in the costume. My son, fully aware that there are a few girls at school that have a crush on him, wants to have muscles.

Ever since the new initiative in schools to keep kids healthy and fit across the US, I’ve noticed my two older sons wanting to exercise more and eat, “Sports Candy.” For those of you who are not familiar with the fitness superhero on Nickelodeon keenly named “Sportacus,” Sports Candy is fruits and vegetables. The school no longer allows parents to send any type of junk food in with their child for snack, the lunch menu is a healthy one and all children are required to run 26 miles before the end of the school year.

With all of these new programs in place to get kids back on the right track of being healthy and fit and carrying that over into the teens years and through adulthood, one would begin to wonder why beauty and fashion magazines still continue to create flawless superficial images of fit bodies and beautiful faces in their pages. Why continue to create this image of beauty that is unattainable (and sometimes the reason behind many eating disorders)? Some companies are catching on and understanding the issue.

The new commercial being seen in Canada by Dove is a real eye opener. I surely hope that it will be seen here for all teen and pre-teens to see. I've been noticing more and more commercials by Dove with their Campaign for Real Beauty to show not just underweight beauty queens, but real normal average women. Have you noticed this, as well?

While I fully support the new school initiative in my school district to get kids healthy and fit, I hope that beauty and fashion magazines can put Photoshop to rest, showing us that a true healthy and fit person of beauty needs no airbrushing. I realize that this may never go away, but certainly it would be nice to tone it down a bit. In fact, in their October and November issue, Marie Claire has an article called Beauty Road Show. It's where they photograph women of all ages and races, cross-country, and ask them what they love about themself. The photo's are fabulous, representing real women everywhere.

What are your thoughts on body image and the media and the new healthy schools initiative?

Growing up an athlete, or what most might call a tomboy, I never had much time for beauty, my face cleansing regiment consisted of soap and water. As I have gotten older, I find myself experimenting with many different types of skincare products. As a result, I have discovered that my skin is very sensitive to most products on the market.

What really appeals to me about Skingenic is the infusion of the lychee extract, which the company has patented. Lychee fruit, which is indigenous to Southeast Asia, is rich in anti-oxidants, vitamin C and potassium, which are all essential for health.

A fantastic site by Ford Models. I've been wanting to give praise to Ford Models for a long time. This weekend I have the chance, and wanted to point out some of the rich features that sets them apart from the rest. The site is "sticky" complete with "sisomo" options that inform, engage and help the aspiring model, or someone looking for a Ford Model. If you haven't looked at it's VLOG Ford 360 also all on Google Video, take some time to do so.

We have been doing more than our fair share of casting calls for Models lately. Most big modeling agencies are out of our clients price range, as we generally host events, or publicity stunts, not expensive national print or television work that is backed by big money.

So if you currently are a model, looking for some freelance work send us your head shot or comment here with a link to your book! We constantly have need for all type of looks. If your a casting agent, or know of a good one please comment here or tell us

In the past twenty years there has been a change occurring when it comes to Halloween. Back when I was growing up in the 70’s and 80’s, Halloween was a specific children’s holiday. Then in the mid-eighties things began to change and Haunted Houses and adult costume parties began to take off.

Adult costume parties and Haunted Houses continue to increase in popularity every year. What has gone from a one night event, now becomes an entire weekend of parties solely reserved for the young at heart and a month-long event for Haunted Houses and Haunted Hayrides. Even farmers have cashed in by offering haunted labyrinths through a corn maze.

From around the blogosphere, here's what everyone is talking about:

Fashion: From The Blogosphere's "Best" Fashion Blogs

+ Fashiontribes offers offers tips on how to create Antonio Berardi’s Fall Runway Show for less.

+ She Finds talks about the latest trend; leggings.

+ The Manolo offers a reader a recommendation on which boots would look best with her sexy witch costume.

+ Almost Girl reports on Fashion Group International Night of Stars. In attendance: James LaForce of Laforce and Stevens, Constance White Style Director of ebay, Valerie Steel and Linda Fargo of Bergdorf Goodman

Beauty: From Bloggers Who Are Passionate About Beauty

+ A Girl's Gotta Spa! reviews Joico's K-Pak Liquid Reconstruction.

+ Dorit Baxter New York Day Spa Blog tells you how to create your own Pumpkin Beautifying Mask.

+ Bon Bons in the Bath gives you step by step instructions on how to achieve the No Makeup--Makeup Look.

Jewelry: Jewelry Industry Posts

+ The Bling Blog talks about the lucky vacationer who found a Canary Yellow Diamond.

+ The Jewelry Weblog wants to know what you think of the new Ethnic Collection from Ethos.

+ The Jewelry Blog talks bracelets.

Wearing denim has always been in style, but celebrities can’t seem to get enough of it. Skinny jeans are all the rage, and if you are a celebrity and have all the means to hire a personal trainer, why not show off your body in the hottest brands?

Lindsay Lohan has been known to strut her stuff in J Brand Jeans, as does Angelina Jolie, showing the world that not every mom has to wear “Mom Jeans.”

Kate Moss is the queen of denim and is known to love Bread Denim. Not familiar with Bread Denim? Come get introduced here.

While the guys love to wear denim, they seem to love designing them even more. Justin Timberlake just launched William Rast, a new denim clothing line he co-created with best friend/business partner Trace Ayala. While Tommy Lee’s tattoo’s were the inspiration for People’s Liberation September launch of “PL for TL” collection at Bloomingdale’s.

Do you have a love affair with denim? Which celebrity do you feel has the best taste in denim?

Women search and search for that perfect mascara; one that will thicken, one that won’t clump, one that lengthens. Women will spend so much money in search of the Holy Grail, not realizing there are other alternatives.

The eyelash extensions of today are certainly not the same ultra thick, extremely obvious lashes of the past. Eyelash Extensions today are made to look just like your natural lashes. Extensions like the ones made by Xtreme Lashes, are applied one lash at a time to your own natural lashes, making it practically impossible for anyone to know that you weren’t born with the most gorgeous lashes in town.

In fact, there is no need to search for that perfect mascara when you use lash extensions. Lash extensions do all the work for you, making your lashes appear longer and fuller than anything you could ever achieve from a $10 bottle of disappointment.

Have you ever used eyelash extensions? What are your thoughts on them?

We all hear about the richest and most powerful people in the country, but one of them always seems to stand out. Not only is Oprah Winfrey one of the most powerful people in the entertainment industry, but she’s also one of the most generous. Always finding a way to share her wealth with others, she has just given away over $300,000 to her audience in what she calls her “favorite giveaway ever.”

Every year around Christmas, Oprah does a “favorite things” show in which she gives her lucky audience members hundreds of dollars worth of items that she’s fond of at the moment- goodies from last year’s show included Burberry coats and purses, iPods, UGG boots, Ralph Lauren sweaters, watches, and blackberries, as well as her favorite croissants, popcorn and cookie dough. In other shows, Oprah has given away cars, homes, vacations, eliminated debt, and paid medical bills for those who are less fortunate.

However, this most recent giveaway is unlike anything she’s done before. On Monday’s show, Oprah gave more than 300 audience members $1,000 debit cards sponsored by Bank of America for them to donate to a charitable cause of their choice. The surprised recipients have the choice of either giving the entire sum to one person (relatives not included) or splitting the money amongst several charitable causes.

On the show, Oprah said “You're going to open your hearts, you're going to be really creative, and you're going to spend it all at once on one stranger or spend a dollar on every person. Imagine the love and kindness you can spread with $1,000”. What a great message to spread, Oprah- using your wealth and influence to help others in need is one of the kindest things you can do.

Here are some of the issues I have that I continually have to work on everyday:

* My hair—It can dry out easily or become overly moisturized, it is always a fine line of balancing. When the balance is out of wack, it contributes to its frizziness, and frizz is always an issue with me.

* My face—During the winter my forehead and between my eyebrows tend to get dry and need extra attention, otherwise all year round I have a t-zone that won’t let up. Ever since I can remember, I have always only gotten acne on my chin and being pregnant just makes it worse.

* My skin—I have Keratosis Pilaris on my arms and legs. It is a skin problem that was passed down to me through genetics and which seems to worsen being pregnant, but also if my skin gets dry. Winter is obviously the worst months for my skin, summer is not so bad since I am always slapping on my sunscreen.

* My body—My chest is a big issue with me, both size and their appearance. Now being pregnant with baby #4, stretchmarks are another issue I have to contend with.

It sounds very cliche, but while all of these are truly issues that I have to work on everyday, I don’t let it get me down. I absolutely believe 100% that my beauty is not only on the outside, but that once people get to know me, they will see it radiates from the inside out.

On a weekly basis, I will share my reviews with you of products I have been using or have tried out to resolve some of the above issues. Hopefully you may find a solution to your problem too.

What’s lurking in your bathroom? Besides the fabulous products you have going on in your cabinets for your friends to snoop, do you really know what lurks around your bathroom?

Lipstick—check
Toothpaste—check
Bacteria—check

All sorts of bacteria lurk in our bathrooms, from moist wet areas to products gone bad in our medicine cabinets. So what can you do to minimize your risk from your bathroom making you sick?

How many of you have purchased something that was a knock off? I admit it, I purchased knock off Chanel sunglasses this past summer from a vendor next to me at a local fair. Imagine my surprise when I came across this blog and the video it shows.

The buying and selling of counterfeit products is costing American businesses $200-$250 Billion dollars a year and the loss of 750,000 jobs according to The U.S. Chamber of Commerce. This is not only the knock off of sunglasses, purses and watches you can find on any New York City street corner, but it also carries over into cosmetics, movies, music and even clothing and footwear like Air Jordans.

I have been in the beauty industry for about 12 years and doing beauty pr for about 7 years. And in all of my years of experience with press releases especially those that that go out on the wire I have never ever seen one as damaging as the one that Russ Fons PR in Las Vegas ran today about their client; National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation (NTEF) and their opinion on Clarins Cosmetics. You can view the horrific release here.

In this release the NTEF states in great detail on the extensive damage and misleading labels of the Clarins brand, so they claim.

What’s odd though is that John Sheppard the director of the foundation states that you are putting your health at risk if you use these products. I don’t know about you but I see a huge lawsuit taking place from Clarins. I am sure executives at Clairns are beyond miffed about this release. What’s even odder is that all of the ingredients used by Clarins are found in most other top selling brands. One would assume that NTEF is crucifying Clarins based on a personal agenda and not on logic.

However was John Sheppard not aware that Clarins recently acquired Kibio an organic skin care manufacture who has gone into negotiations on creating new products together? I posted about this on my other blog a few weeks back. You can view that post here.

Life Clever (tips fro design & life) by Chanpory Rith: 5 Writing Tips That Don't Suck (via) Copyblogger

A PR Guru's Musings: Q&A on innovations in public relations

John Jantsch of Duct Tape Marketing "Longs for a good publicity stunt"

BusinessWeek.com: Wal-Mart: A "Reputation Crises" The giant retailer has been trying hard to improve its image and reignite sales

Idea Grove: Introducing Spin Thicket: Media Orchard "Easier way to keep up with the news"

Eric Eggertson:
Mutually Inclusive PR and Strumpette: Backlash Against Crayon's Second Life Launch

Pearls Of Joy is considering an update of it's header. I can relate to this as I am in need of some updating on my other blogs. Which header do you like best and why? (Vote by commenting)

Here is a larger image of version one of pearlsofjoy.com. I like that it's simple and clean, not too "glossy," but I do favor version two, I think it reads better upon quick scanning of the header. They could move that burst in my opinion, perhaps all together and have the 800 number in the blue bar top left, but what do I know?

Don't get me started about pearls, young and old, most of the female population shares the endearment with pearls (men, listen up). I believe it is a right of passage when you are a little girl and get into your mother’s jewelry during dress up. The thing most girls want to wear is a set of pearls. Pearls are classic and refined, but exhume simplicity.

On my wedding day, my mother gave me a set of pearls to wear with my wedding dress. Somehow those pearls just added to the elegance of my dress and made me feel like the little girl playing dress up had now grown up.

As we are now going into Holiday mode, the one thing that comes to mind for dressing up for Holiday parties, is wearing pearls with my outfit. It will take me from my normally casual mom look to an upgrade in style.

As evidenced by the men in the Wonderbra ad below and the prevalence of super-sized products in the US, Americans often believe that bigger is better. I think at some point all women have thought about breast augmentation, even it was a momentary thought. There are many different breast procedures. Some women only want breast implants while others are looking for a reduction or a breast lift that will create a youthful appearance. Some women consider breast implants to be a necessity and not a matter of enhancing natural given assets.

Back when I was in high school, I toyed with the idea of a breast reduction. Kids often made fun of me in high school, which lowered my self-esteem. A few seniors called me out by one of my nicknames, “Twin Peaks,” in my high school yearbook. Funny how something that happened 14 years ago can still affect you.

While I never went through with a breast reduction, a few women in my family did. They were inherently unhappy with the way they looked and it affected them emotionally for years. Once they had their augmentation, it was as if their real self was revealed. They no longer lived in the shadow of their chest size. Their burden was lifted once and for all.

No matter the reason for a reduction or implant, you hear stories from women far and wide about their experience with their surgeons. While there are success stories, it is the disastrous, life-altering surgeries gone wrong that seem to have the greatest impact.

David Dean began BreastImplants411.com (you can read more about David’s story here) because of two unsuccessful breast augmentation procedures performed on his mother. He started his site to help women find qualified surgeons and make informed decisions about their breast surgery. This site has now become the #1 source for women looking to learn more about breast augmentation.

My first encounter with Joico hair products came this past July when it was one of the many gifts my friend Elke gave to me as an early birthday present. I honestly had never heard of Joico before, but knew that if Elke felt the products were good enough to give to me as a gift, then they must be something really special.

I received the K-Pak Smoothing Balm, K-Pak Liquid Reconstruct, Deep Penetrating Reconstructor and Daily Hair Care Shampoo. Can I just say? My hair has never been the same and I am a girl who takes great pride in her hair as evidenced in a picture you can find here of my bathroom cabinet. Honestly, I don’t know any woman who says, “Frizz? Yes, please.”

While I love all of the products, the Smoothing Balm has got to be my favorite. My hair tends to break, split and frizz easily (photo not me!). The Smoothing Balm is light and silky with a very light scent. It wasn’t weighty and didn’t make my hair greasy. It simply reigned in the frizz and added shine from the Mica in their balm. My hair is just past my shoulders and I only need to use a dime size amount. It’s 3 and a half months later and the bottle feels as if it’s barely been used. This is a product I simply cannot live without.

From around the blogosphere, here is what everyone is talking about:

From those who live for Fashion:

Kristopher Dukes is talking about the Christian Louboutin Ankle Boot (that seem vaguely familiar from that of my youth).

The Bag Snob shows you a great little black dress for the Holiday's.

The Budget Fashionista exposes Isaac Mizrahi's Holiday 2006 line at Target.

From those who live for Beauty:

The Mineral Makeup Blog reviews Monave Mineral Cosmetics.

Hello Dollface discusses her review of Scott Barnes Beauty.

Beautiful Makeup Search lets you know that Covergirl Outlast, outlasts them all.

From those who live for all things perfume:

The Scented Salamander talks about Eau D'Italie Le Sirenuse Positano's Italian land and history's inspired scents.

Perfume Critic reviews Tom Ford's Black Orchid.

Indie Perfumes discusses the upcoming movie "Perfume, the Story of a Murderer."

Do you know of a great beauty, fashion, jewelry or perfume blog that deserves a little attention in the Weekend Pulse? Post me a comment so I can check them out!

This year about 564,830 people are expected to die from cancer. That is 1500 people per day. I can confidently say that I am sure anyone reading this has been affected by cancer in some way, shape or form. Cancer has been a destructive force in my and my husband’s family. My husband lost his sister to Liver Cancer 6 weeks after being diagnosed in her senior year in high school. Recently his aunt was diagnosed with breast cancer. For me, it was my Great Grandfather passing away from Lung Cancer and my friend Maureen from Sarcoma. There are many other people between the two of us who have either battled or passed away from cancer, but it’s just too many to list.

I was recently able to speak with Kim Erikson, President of the Board of Directors for the Wayne County unit of the American Cancer Society for whom I am coordinating Shop for a Cure with. Ms. Erikson, whose mother is a volunteer for the Look Good, Feel Better Program for the ACS in Wayne County, shocked me when she told me that my local area of Northeast Pennsylvania was in the top ten for the highest cancer rates in the country. In fact, when I looked up the information on the American Cancer Society’s website, it appears that PA is in the top 5, with a projection of 73,630 new cancer cases for 2006. Other states in this top 5 are California, who ranked the highest for projected cancer rates, followed by Florida, New York and Texas.

Tricia Cherry, an experienced esthetician with 25 years of experience has always been a few steps ahead of emerging skincare trends.

Tricia has directed her extensive skincare knowledge into the development of new products, and is a consultant for several different skincare lines and Skingenic’s spokesperson. Tricia’s clients include White House figures, sports stars, and leaders of Fortune 500 companies.

Below, Tricia offers her best tips for preserving youthful skin.

I love Diamonds. Whether or not Diamonds are a girl’s best friend, I'll leave that up to you. I'd take a true best friend over a diamond any day, but diamonds are "cravable" so it is important to be choosy and educated when picking out a diamond when you are ready to take that big step in your relationship. When my husband and I got engaged, he let me come with him to the jeweler to pick out my diamond. I had never purchased a diamond before, so I didn’t know what to expect and I certainly didn’t have any idea about color or even the terms used for clarity. I just knew I wanted a Princess Cut diamond that wasn’t cloudy looking.

With Thanksgiving only weeks away, things are starting to get busy around here. Some people have even used the words “Christmas shopping,” which I refuse to acknowledge until after I have had my turkey and cranberry sauce.

For many people the thought of spending long amounts of time with family can be a little stressful, so be sure to take some time to pamper yourself while continuing in that Holiday spirit. For those who missed the Macgyver reference.

Here are some recipes I found around the web that not only are organic, healthy and good to eat, they are also rejuvenating when used on your body

Cranberry Savory Facial Wash (Recipe found at Spaindex.com):

1 tablespoon dried savory leaves, crushed
1/2 cup boiling water
1/2 cup cranberries

Steep the dried savory in boiling water in a small bowl, for fifteen minutes. Strain the liquid and set it aside. Puree the cranberries in a blender, and strain the fruit from the liquid. Discard the fruit, and save the juice. Combine the savory water and the cranberry juice, soak into cotton pads, or a fine textured washcloth, and press against your face for fifteen minutes, avoiding the eye area. Remove pads or cloth and rinse with warm water.

I know this isn't exactly breaking news for everyone. However, for those who have lives and don't live and shop online exclusively, this may be news to you, it was to me. Many "recommendation" sites are popping up all over the Internet, yesterday a Fashion blogger referred me to one that is getting kudos in the New York Times; ThisNext.com. I was impressed just how organized this site was and even more impressed to find fashion and beauty bloggers I know doing Shopcasts there, such as Kristopher Dukes, The Jewelry Weblog, and Lola is Beauty.

What's a Shopcast? It's basically shopping and broadcasting combined. It's a playlist of products you recommend and you run them on a badge on your site and they also run on the ThisNext site, as well. You can create wishlists and also make recommendations by downloading a few buttons for your browser.

There are some really great recommendations just waiting for you to discover them, or if you feel so inclined, for you to make them at ThisNext.com

Two years ago, by chance, I came across Elke von Freudenberg on a group that we both happened to be apart of. Without knowing too much about her, beyond her love for cosmetics, we began a friendship. One that I cherish deeply.

So when Elke told me she was asked to be the Makeup Artist for Harper's Bazaar China, I knew that when the November edition came out, I wanted to be the first to proudly boast about it to the world.

Today I had the chance to briefly interview Elke:

Do you seem to be losing customers lately? Is your customer base and sales simply not increasing? Consumers are telling you all of the time what they want, but are you paying attention? Do you genuinely listen to what they want? Or do you feel comfortable with the way things are?

Here are five things that consumers want from a business both online and offline:

Any woman can tell you the color and scent of a Victoria’s Secret store. Branding a business by color has been around forever, branding a business by scent deliberately is a rather new practice.

We have become inundated with never ending commercials, advertisements, pop-ups and infomercials, smart, progressive businesses realize that the use of scent is another way to make their business or brand not only stand out, but be remembered and associated with a certain positive experience or product.

While color may be an easy branding tool and will surely distinguish you from your competitors, such as that yummy, chocolate brown trademarked as "UPS Brown", scent can be a little touchier. Scent can either turn someone away or reel them in. It's a scientific fact that women are attracted to an ever so slight smell of skunk. Too much, and they are repulsed. Repulsion can be a good thing if your an international airport and you need to clear a building fast. Scents of danger need no interpretation. The scent of coffee can calm people, the new car smell increases sales of vehicles, Victoria’s Secret puts you in the mood the minute you walk into their store with the scent of a woman (or a man in drag) that remind you of romance and desire. Pierce Mattie's Media Oasis has a branded scent, complete with a high tech scent delivery system. Scents that relax you and put you in the mood to shop can increase a businesses bottom line.

Here's what has hearts pumping around the blogosphere:

From those who love Fashion:

+ Coquette shows you different ways to wear a scarf.

+ I am Fashion bids Happy 90th Birthday to British Vogue.

+ eBelle5 The Bag Blog talks about the Spring 2007 Style.com Trend Report.

From those who love Beauty:

+ The Beauty Brains give you 5 ways to reduce enlarged pores.

+ The Beauty Hatchery reviews some mascara’s with the newest trend in plastic moldable wands.

+ The Organic Beauty Expert reviews Ablutions Spa Body Butter.

From those who love Perfume:

+ Now Smell This review’s Anat Fritz, a new fragrance at Luckyscent.

+ Aromascope reviews Metallica/Metalys by Guerlain.

+ Perfume Posse inquires what three fragrances you want for Christmas.

Know a great beauty or fashion blog that I need to take notice of? Please be sure to post it in the comments.

Three cheers for men who know what it is a woman wants...and then delivers.

I found an article today about a straightening iron set up like a vending machine, and found in public bathrooms. You pay a small fee and can then defrizz your hair with the straightening iron, basically saving women everywhere from a bad hair day.

This product is called the Straight Up Vending Machine and is made by Beautiful Vending Company. However, this item can only be found in the United Kingdom right now. Still, this just shows that people respond when you deliver a product that provides a solution to a problem. In this case, it is women who want perfect hair all of the time, no matter where they are.

Summer may be gone and while we are all hiding that gorgeous summer skin behind warm fall sweaters and pants, it doesn't mean you should slack on keeping up on your skincare routine. If anything, the fall and winter months are the most important times to keep your skin nourished and well taken care of.

Some things to remember:

One: Exfoliate at least once a week. Exfoliating your skin will keep the dead skin cells from clogging your pores, thus preventing dry patches and flaky skin. Exfoliating is not just for your legs, but your total body including your face. Keeping those skin cells fresh also assists in better absorption of your lotion.

Two: Use a moisturizing soap. Glycerin Soap is best for your skin, as it helps retain your skin's own natural moisture. Glycerin is great for all skin types and is known to help those with eczema and psoriasis.

Three: Moisturize day and night. Use a non-petroleum moisturizer and don't forget your feet! The best and most deeply penetrating moisturizer for your skin is Shea Butter. Watch your skin go from blah to whoa in a day!

A well planned exit without the use of a publicist? Atoosa Rubenstein, Editor-in-Chief of Seventeen magazine announced last week that she’ll be leaving the publication. Her next move is to launch several teen-centered projects including a web business, a book and a consulting firm.

She told the New York Post, “I’m a risk taker. I don’t play the game in a safe way. I’ve never been driven by power or money. I’ve always had a very strong relationship with our audience, and I hope to develop that in a more immediate and visceral way.”

Before her announcement to leave Seventeen, Rubenstein already started branching out of her Editor-in-Chief post positioning herself as an advocate for teens by appearing on MTV’s Miss Seventeen reality show and also as a guest judge on America’s Next Top Model, a favorite show among Seventeen readers.

Is Rubenstein leaving Seventeen another sign in the decline of teen publications? In the last two years, YM, Teen People, and Elle Girl have been shut down. Teen People and Elle Girl are still online – a good move since most teens are tech-savvy. At least we’ve still got COSMOgirl! and Teen Vogue! We’ll have to wait and see who will take over the EIC post at Seventeen.

Read more about her decision to leave Seventeen on her MySpace page and some speculations from Jossip.

MenEssentials President, James Whittall has some helpful advice for hairy men who want to be smooth all over and shave like a man: This may surprise you, but at least one-sixth of the search engine referrals we receive each month are for men — ordinary guys, like you and me — who want information on how to shave their privates.

Squirm all you like. There's an immense subculture of eroticists who claim a bald bag makes for better sex. Indeed, when I went online to research this subject, I counted no less than a dozen serious human sexuality web sites with entire sections devoted to the art of sensual shaving.

Unfortunately, few of these resources offers tips on how to safely and hygienically perform this most delicate of procedures. Never one to shrink (pun intended) from the outrageous, I hereby offer my thoughts on the subject.

A Disclaimer
Personally, I think genital shaving is ill advised. A botched job can lead to intense irritation or, worse, permanent falsetto. Don't say I didn't warn you.

And a Warning
If you have sensitive skin that ordinarily reacts to shave creams or gels, then do not ever shave your pubic area or testicles. This region is much more sensitive than your face. Your allergic reaction could be spectacular.

Everyone knows Lulu Beauty for their perfume, but as a makeup addict, I am most familiar with their cosmetics; a makeup line that is geared towards anyone looking for that old Hollywood glamour.

Lulu Beauty’s newer makeup line is divided into three categories; eyes, lips and cheeks. I had the opportunity to try out their Eye Shadow in Screen Test, their Lip Lustre in Velvet and their Creme Rouge in Pinup.

Before I knew the background of Lulu Beauty’s colors, I was a bit nervous of the green eye shadow, purple lip gloss and dark blush. However, my mind was put at ease once I began applying the products. The green eye shadow was quite complimentary to my hazel eye color; the Velvet Lip Lustre had shimmer and the color made me wonder, “Where have you been all my life?” The dark color of the rouge evened out as I applied it to my cheeks. As I looked at myself I remarked that I looked like an actress from “Old Hollywood.” My husband complimented me on how nice the colors looked on me, which is always a bonus.

Hey, being a pregnant wife and mother I can use all the self esteem boosters I can get! Heck, leave a comment on one of my posts and I'll cry with excitement! The last thing this baby-maker expects is to be complimented on are my eyebrows, but that is just what happened to me yesterday. I always tweeze my eyebrows, so it is not like I am going from having a unibrow (eww) to something fabulous, I just take for granted that they are there on my face and haven’t thought much of them. Until yesterday when I used Jane Iredale’s Super-Shape Me Eyebrow Kit in Brunette.

I was sitting at a table talking to some friends, when another friend I had only just seen days earlier, approached me. She looked me in the eyes very seriously and said, “I have got to tell you, your eyebrows look amazing.” A little dumbfounded by this first time eyebrow compliment, I smiled and thanked her. The experience has made me a Jane Iredale evangelist! It feels sooo good to get complements, told you I was hard up! Back to my friend, she asked me what I had done different since she had seen me a few days prior. I matter of factly told her that I learned great eyebrow shaping tips from my friend Elke and that I also just started using jane’s eyebrow kit.

• Edelman Public Relations Disclosure Follies (Raving Lunacy) Edelman to Fund a Second Life Business screams the headline over at Micro Persuasion.

• $6 Billion For MySpace? (The Blog Herald) Rupert Murdock, CEO of News Corp., told Australian investors that MySpace would sell for $6 billion.

• Users Respond To The Dove Evolution Viral I find the user created responses to Dove fascinating, it is as if through retouching themselves, and manipulating their own digital representation, users can reaffirm their feeling in their true body, and experience an apparent sense of liberation through mutating themselves, looking at it and being able to recognise how ridiculous and distorted standards have become.(Marketing Babylon)

• Pepsi goes organic with new product lines at Whole Foods Market (SpinThicket)

• B.L. Ochman Yawns At Big PR Firms Getting Into "Social Media" (B.L. Ochman)

Today's PRO-file is with Lianne Farbes, a former Model, current Makeup Artist and blog owner of The Makeup Girl.

Your bio says you got your start as a model. What made you decide you wanted to be a model and how long did you model for?

Actually I didn’t decide! My mother sent my photos around everywhere. I grew up in St. Louis and I don’t really remember how it happened, but before I knew it I was modeling for Stix Baer and Fuller (now Dillard’s) and Venture (like Target) everyday after school. When I moved to New York for college, someone saw me at a club and I started doing runway shows, and later moved on to catalog work. In all total, I think I modeled for about 12 years.

What was the first job that you finally felt like you were a makeup artist?

Oh that one is easy, when I started working as a custom blender for Prescriptives. I was able to really get the colors perfect and build looks around that.

Who are some of the makeup companies you are worked for?

Clarins, Prescriptives, Princess Marcella Borghese and Lancome.

Like most girls err.... women (nothing but grownup sentiment here) I value my bathroom time. I am lucky if I make it out of the shower in thirty minutes between scrubbing, shaving, buffing, exfoliating, and other tub activities and that doesn't even include the time I am willing to commit to an actual bath.

Thus when I say that bathroom time is sacred you can see that I spend a lot of time "in prayer" on a given day. Thus when fellow blogger Sophia turned me on to her Holy Mud I had a real chuckle at just how appropro the name is for those of us that consider the bathroom a sacred space

Fresh from the Holy Land, this concentration of carefully sifted Dead Sea Mud is rich in highly absorbent minerals that draw impurities out of your skin's tissue like a magnet. Despite all of the incredible scientific advancements and the millions of dollars the cosmetic industry spends on research and development, few products have been able to cleanse the skin, remove excess oils and help people achieve a divine complexion the way an all-natural Dead Sea Mud Mask is able to do. There are roughly 6-8 professional quality facial mask treatments per jar.

Let me tell you this mud really does sucks all the nasty out and the feeling it leaves behind is nothing short of "divine." And yes I realize I am extending this metaphor a little far but come on this mud is like a little piece of heaven.

THIS JUST IN FROM THE MEDIA OASIS: Which Pore-Yanker Ad Campaign Came First?

Check out this "unholy" plagiarism of a "pore-yank-er" brand campaign. Who came up with the idea first? Oasis annalist dont know. If you do, please comment here or send us your comment via email at info @ Piercemattie com.

What is Beauty? Many great visionaries, writers, poets, philosophers, and artists have tried to express in words or in images the meaning of beauty. These thoughts are rich in the wisdom they express and they resonate with each of us differently.

Man makes holy what he believes, as he makes beautiful what he loves. -Ernest Renan

The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen, nor touched ... but are felt in the heart. -Helen Keller

A thing of beauty is a joy forever. -John Keats

Beauty is not in the face; beauty is a light in the heart. -Khalil Gibran

Beauty is not real. Beauty only exists in perception. -Unknown

Working in the beauty industry, our attention can be so focused on making the external beautiful - skin creams, lotions, lipsticks, mascara, hair extensions, serums, masks, gels, and the list can go on and on. These are products that help us feel beautiful, improve our looks, accentuate the positive, and give us confidence.

Women frequently struggle with how to integrate their external and internal beauty, and with all of the mass market imaging and airbrushed celebrity role models, it hasn’t been easy. But the times they are a changin’ and one of the foremost trends today is beauty integration. What does this mean? It means that women are more comfortable than ever with themselves and their looks. It means that when they purchase beauty products, they want them to look, taste, sound, and smell good - and the products must feel great on both the outside and the inside. External beauty has become experiential, it has become customized, it has become inclusive, and it has become multi-dimensional.

Being that as a nation we are about to celebrate Thanksgiving, a truly national holiday, meant for everyone, also integrative and inclusive, I suggest that we be thankful for how the meaning of beauty is growing to include what makes us feel good on the inside. Internal and authentic beauty will always remain rooted in our hearts, in our spirits, and in our ability to share ourselves with others unselfishly. Happy Holidays!

I often get asked where my phone skills come from -- as a publicist, I can pitch over the phone like no one's business (toot-toot, goes my horn). Little do some know that I spent my senior year of high school as a telemarketer selling timeshares on the beach over the phone. Yes, in less than two minutes, I would talk, pitch, book and invite you to come to a new condo complex on the Gulf of Mexico to meet with a realtor. Today those phone skills are used daily and I encourage our team to "get on the phone." Email over the years has replaced the pitch calls.

However, trends come and go and this season, the phone will re-establish itself to become "the new email." This holiday season, the next marketing call consumers receive may not be from a credit card company or a politician. A growing number of apparel chains are making personal-sounding phone calls to tout sales events or the arrival of new merchandise, according to Marshal Cohen, chief analyst at NPD Group Inc., a market research firm.

Automated calling services or store clerks who might otherwise be folding sweaters are dialing past customers - using phone numbers gleaned at the cash register - in an attempt to woo them back, he said. Some might even address the former customers by their first names to establish a kind of pseudo-familiarity. Cohen noted that the number of retailers vying for customers by phone has risen from about six to more than two dozen in the past year and a half. Chain stores such as Victoria's Secret, Limited Too and Lane Bryant started adopting the approach during the back-to-school period last year, he said.

Cohen said he expects a flurry of retailer calls after the holidays, when they will be trying to draw consumers into their stores to use gift certificates. "The bad news is the more stores that do this, the less effective this becomes" because customers may stop answering the phone or simply run out of money, Cohen said.

I often get asked where my phone skills come from -- as a publicist, I can pitch over the phone like no one's business (toot-toot, goes my horn). Little do some know that I spent my senior year of high school as a telemarketer selling timeshares on the beach over the phone. Yes, in less than two minutes, I would talk, pitch, book and invite you to come to a new condo complex on the Gulf of Mexico to meet with a realtor. Today those phone skills are used daily and I encourage our team to "get on the phone." Email over the years has replaced the pitch calls.

However, trends come and go and this season, the phone will re-establish itself to become "the new email." This holiday season, the next marketing call consumers receive may not be from a credit card company or a politician. A growing number of apparel chains are making personal-sounding phone calls to tout sales events or the arrival of new merchandise, according to Marshal Cohen, chief analyst at NPD Group Inc., a market research firm.

Automated calling services or store clerks who might otherwise be folding sweaters are dialing past customers - using phone numbers gleaned at the cash register - in an attempt to woo them back, he said. Some might even address the former customers by their first names to establish a kind of pseudo-familiarity. Cohen noted that the number of retailers vying for customers by phone has risen from about six to more than two dozen in the past year and a half. Chain stores such as Victoria's Secret, Limited Too and Lane Bryant started adopting the approach during the back-to-school period last year, he said.

Cohen said he expects a flurry of retailer calls after the holidays, when they will be trying to draw consumers into their stores to use gift certificates. "The bad news is the more stores that do this, the less effective this becomes" because customers may stop answering the phone or simply run out of money, Cohen said.

• Personal Care Appliances - Global Strategic Business Report : This report analyzes the worldwide markets for Personal Care Appliances in Thousands of Units.

• Spinduggery, The Flack: Peter Himler posts about Jeff Jarvis' snarky comment insinuating PR professionals have dishonesty in their DNA. Jeff Jarvis, being the 'spin'-ster he is, should love the quote "you can’t polish a turd."

• KFC Logo Relaunch - From Space, Near Area 51: I know all of you are saying "I thought of that months ago." Ever since Google launched satellite imagery on its maps, I've wanted to pitch this idea to a client. While not the first, KFC is doing it on a grand scale; a nice publicity stunt. For those of you who know my New York address, you can see me on the roof of my apartment building with my dogs, frozen in time from space.

• Loyalty VS. Advocacy CRM Lowdown: Most companies think that their job is done when they manage to convert a regular customer into a loyal customer. They tend to forget the guy because now ‘he can take care of himself.' Wrong! Once you’ve converted a customer, your job becomes even more difficult.

• Link Karma From The Copyblogger: 21 Surefire tips for a successful blog launch, 10 things to consider when choosing a site meter, and the five W's of great content.

• Hotels offer lots of freebies during winter (just not in New York City), The Mercury News: Winter travelers can take advantage of a number of hotel deals. Properties are offering free nights, free gift cards, special rates and other perks.

• How To Stop Comment Spam Without Lifting a Finger, Tubetorial: If you're a wordpress user, you have to visit tubetorial. Quick, easy-to-understand flash video - enjoy.

• The European Newspaper Design & Concept Awards Europe‘s most innovative newspaper 2006: Look and learn. This year, Europe’s best designed newspapers come from Belgium, Norway, Finland, Portugal and Spain. 287 newspapers from 26 countries participated in the eighth European Newspaper Award.

It’s always interesting what you can learn about someone by looking in his or her medicine cabinet. We decided to run a profile on this suspect by examining the content of her cabinet. All we know is that she is a blogger.

Clumsy white female with disposition toward obsessive compulsive disorder? Looking at suspect's top shelf, I wonder if she is clumsy. All the bandages, Neosporin, and anti-septic foam make me wonder. It’s like a first aid kit ready to go to Iraq.

Suspect will appear to be glowing year round: We detected ModelCo Tan Airbrush in a Can, Neutrogena Build-a-Tan Face, and Jergens Natural Glow Daily Moisturizer. The suspect knows her stuff. It makes me wonder, does she just like a bronzed look or is she being health conscious by not soaking up the UV rays at the local tanning salon?

She works in a professional, somewhat stressful environment and has access to some of the best ingredients around. I can tell that she must have a stressful job, perhaps a frequent traveler due to the serums she uses on her face: Leontine Upset Skin Serum, Patricia Wexler MD MMPi Skin Regenerating Serum, Juice Beauty Green Apple Antioxidant Serum on row two, and Estee Lauder Advanced Night Repair Concentrate in row three.

Suspect works hard and plays hard. Overwhelming evidence of being a night owl (or a late night partier?) exists. See the eye depuffing products such as Benefit’s Action Eye Gel, Kiehl's Light Nourishing Eye Cream, and Kiehl's Cryste Marine Firming Eye Treatment.

It appears suspect is a trained chemist, definitely more than just a beauty addict, but also obsessed with her hair. (See OCD indicators in my report.) She has more hair products than a myopic Sasquatch: Fekkai Sheer Hold Hairspray, Carol's Daughter Tui Hair Oil, Very Irresistible Givenchy Tender Hair Mist, Chi Silk Infusion, Oscar Blandi Jasmine Oil Hair Serum, Fekkai Technician Glaze, and Neutrogena Triple Moisture Healing Shine Serum.

Detail-Oriented And Possibly From The UK. At least we know she isn’t leaving white marks behind with her Dove Ultimate Clear Antiperspirant. The Crest Whitening Expressions Lemon Ice Toothpaste tells me that Kristen likes citrus, which is a mood booster and possibly a way to wake up in the morning from late nights? I spy Crest Whitestrips also and a Crest Toothbrush, but where is her your floss? I presume suspect follows the same dental hygiene program as The House of Carters.

Unattached. The biggest thing I can tell from suspect's cabinet is that she is single. My deduction is due to the many top of the line, brand name products peeking out at us. She also spares no expense when it comes to the care of her skin and hair.

Naturally this post is all in jest, as suspect is a good friend of mine. You can tell that suspect is a little more than just “a little obsessed with makeup,” and that is why the girl is so beautiful. Continue reading this post for suspect's identity...

I thought my client was very relaxed, until after the treatment I realized she died on the table during our session, and I thought to myself...were those moans of joy or pain!

Sometime blackheads aren't the only thing extracted at spas. A few souls have been extracted as well. While some of us have had wonderful experiences at a day spa, there are some out there that snap us back to reality that you really do need to heed warnings and pay attention to the reputation of spa's.

Some stories lingering around the internet:

Gut Feelings: A Kuwaiti woman tells of her awful experience at Al-Corniche Club Spa in Kuwait. Always go with your gut, if customer service is bad just from a telephone call, you must know it is going to be just as bad at the spa itself.

The Roach Treatment: What would your reaction be if you signed in at Eo Inn Spa with a roach crawling across the clipboard?

Sawful! Edges Salon and Spa get a pretty bad review from this spa patron. No shower available after an oily massage and waiting in the parking lot while the spa opened 30 minutes late are just some of the complaints.

About.com reminds you how important it is to tell a spa your medical history before having any spa treatments done, a story not for the faint of heart, but a message worth heeding.

If you've never experienced a spa before, but would like to, be sure to check out Spa Finder. You can really break down your search for the type of spa you are looking for to provide you with as much detail as you need to make an informed decision.

Have you had a bad experience at a spa? Let us know in the comments.

We'll return to posting about luxury, lifestyle and wellness on Friday. Enjoy the cartoon and whether it's a extra long walk around the park with your dogs, raking leaves, a jog, turkey-ball in the backyard or shopping – physical activity over the holiday need not be strenuous to be good for you. Remember that short bursts of activity, three times a day, can pave the way to better health.

So many great blogs to cover, so little time! Here are some fabulous blogs I've been reading:

Those with fashion sense:

+ The Fashionable Housewife reminds you to get involved with the online fundraising auction for, “Every BODY is beautiful” run by the National Eating Disorders Association.

+ Catwalk Queen spills the beans that Agent Provocateur will be launching a maternity lingerie line. (YES!)

+ The Sartorialist shows us some Philly fashion in NYC. (Scott, Philly does have fashion, I assure you!)

Where Beauty tops all:

+ The Homespagoddess gives her view on the marketing for the new Vaseline Cocoa Butter for African American Skin.

+ Girlpaint reviews jane iredale’s Amazing Base Loose Powder. It’s nice to see someone else who is a total fan of jane’s products.

+ Brain Spam gives us her review on Bourjois’s Bons Baisers de Paris Lip Stain Pens.

I'm always looking for fantastic blogs to spotlight here! Do you have a favorite worth checking out? Let me know in the comments!

As I was washing my hair today I noticed that my ISO Shampoo had an expiration date on it. I thought that was unusual, as I haven't noticed any of my other shampoo's alerting me to when they would expire. I decided to look through some of my other products in my bathroom to see if any others would have expiration dates. I was surprised to find that half did and half didn't. All the products that did varied in expiration. For example, my Ojon Revitalizing Mist expires in 18 months; my Jane Iredale blush in 24 months and my Joico Silk Result in 12 months. Since I am one to horde beauty products until I have finished every last bit of them, I decided it’s best to note shelf life on your beauty products.

Craving for a new look? How about hairlash extensions? That’s what a Japanese Blogger did when she recently cut her hair. She created extensions for her eyelashes with her left over locks (and created hair gloves, as well...eww!).

She looks a bit like Cousin It. Plus, those hairlash extensions have got to be pretty darn heavy. I wonder, do you still have to shampoo them and if you don’t, will they turn into dreads?

Victoria’s Secret will be once again be doing their anticipated annual fashion show tonight at 10pm on CBS. Their fashion shown, not only known for their uber gorgeous models, is also known for bringing extravagance in the ultimate bra to the stage. Last year it was the extremely expensive (giga-zillion?) bra made entirely out of precious stones.

What started out as an outrage in 2001 to many astonished viewers when it made it onto prime time television, has now become a much looked forward to event each year. The exception to this was when it pulled its show from the airwaves in 2004 from the domino effect of Janet Jackson giving her full disclosure during her Super Bowl halftime show. It returned last year looking more tasteful than ever.

This year’s fashion show will feature the very hot and sexy, Justin Timberlake. Justin’s image, as well as the fact that he is now a fashion designer himself, definitely fits in with the Victoria’s Secret branding.

I look forward to seeing how Victoria’s Secret will top themselves from last year with the dollar amount and extravagance of it’s most talked about bra.

Will you be watching?

Steve Hultgren asked me an odd question the other day. Come to think of it he's always asking me odd questions! Most likely to stimulate some content for these blog posts. He asked me whether or not I think a hint of body odor on a guy smelled sexy. There really was nothing to think about, hands down the answer was no. He was surprised at my answer and said he likes musky smells. As a woman, I have been trained since birth that what is sexy is something that smells good (I know, "good" and "sexy" are subjective.) Body odor to me is the epitome of uncleanliness. In fact, when I buy my husband's antiperspirant, it has to have scent, most times smelling like cologne. My husband does not wear cologne so his antiperspirant is the closest I can get to having him wear fragrance. The bottom line is that good underarm scent makes me want to snuggle closer to him, while the scent of body odor...not so much.

There is a difference between antiperspirant and deodorant, that being that antiperspirant is for controlling both underarm wetness and controlling body odor, while deodorants kill the bacteria that causes body odor. Antiperspirants can contain deodorant, but not vice versa.

Joanna Roche is the Senior Managing VP of Pierce Mattie Public Relations. She has a proven track record of success and corporate experience. She is high energy and passionate about her work, which makes her direct, up front, realistic approach with Pierce Mattie PR clients what makes her a true asset.

Joanna is a married mother of a 2-year-old son, who loves to run, cook and travel. The best way to describe her is balanced. She loves to dive into her work, yet still maintain the proper balance of her hobbies and family life. Joanna is goal oriented and believes that nothing is impossible.

Tell readers about a typical day as VP of Pierce Mattie.

There is nothing typical about being a VP at Pierce Mattie PR! Every day is different and it is one of the things I love about my job. Most days include working on new business, coming up with creative ideas to promote our brands, meeting with clients, nurturing the staff and helping them develop pitches and reach editors, and keeping abreast of trends and happenings in the PR world.

Hanging out in the Beauty Blogosphere, you get to know some pretty interesting people. One blog that caught my attention simply by it's name is Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget. How many of us can relate just to that title alone? What's even better is the story behind its blog owner, Courtney Sauve, a published beauty writer and makeup artist.

On your blog Champagne Taste on a Beer Budget you call yourself Fitzgerald, for people who don't know your real name, is this your maiden name or nickname?
It's actually neither. When I started the blog a year ago and was writing more personal details about my life, I wanted to make sure that I still had a certain level of anonymity. So, I was in need of a pseudonym. And since I have always had this strange fascination with Zelda Fitzgerald, her last name seemed like a good choice. Her life was so tragically captivating, and it's sad that her talents were never fully realized because she was continuously overshadowed by her husband's success. At her prime back in the 1920's, I think she was the epitome of beauty, passion and intelligence.

You mention that the title of your blog came from a nickname your dad gave you when you are little, what were some of the things you desired that made this nickname stick?
A pink Barbie PowerWheels Jeep is what comes to mind instantly. I always wanted one of those things.

Describe your passion for writing beauty articles in magazines.
Where did it come from?
I don't remember exactly when or how I got so enamored with writing, it just seems like something I was always doing. I've kept journals since I was ten years old and as soon as my family got our first little Apple computer, I was constantly typing out ideas for stories. I do know for sure however, that I became a beauty product fanatic as soon as I was tall enough to reach the top of my mother's vanity. Most little girls played dress up in their mother's closet. But I was much more interested in rummaging through, trying on, organizing and re-organizing the eye shadow palettes, perfume bottles, powder puffs, brushes, pencils and lipstick tubes. As I became older, it seemed like common sense to combine my two loves and become a beauty writer.

The Fashion Guru's:

+ Iconique shows us some sketches of Madonna’s new fashion line with H&M coming out in 2007.

+ I am Fashion talks about her love for tees by Clu and they are not your average t-shirt.

+ The Purse Blog wonders what you think of the new Dior My Dior Large Pockets Handbag. Personally it reminds me of a bag my mother used to have in the late 80’s.

What an exciting week! A shameless plug before we move onto some great beauty links: Glamour Magazine liked my post on "Beauty Forensics." See what Stephanie Huszar said on their informative blog. It's nice to get some "street cred" from the girls in the beauty department at Glamour, thanks!

The Divas of Beauty:
+ Lipstick, Powder n’ Paint snags an interview with Maureen Kelly, the CEO and creator of Tarte Cosmetics.

+ Confessions of a Beauty Junkie discusses white eyelashes and tells you which product will help you achieve that look.

+ Blog for Beauty wonders if Allure’s recommendation to use Aspirin as a zit cream really works.

If there is a great Beauty or Fashion blog you think deserves some spotlight, please let me know in the comments!

Sometimes there are products I get excited about and then there are the products I want to shout from the rooftops about. Some products I got to try out for review from Earth Therapeutics have me wanting to shout from the rooftops without a doubt.

Purifying Salt Scrub Detox Formula: Out of the three products, this is the one that I was most excited to try. I know the benefits of using Salt Scrub, especially those made with Dead Sea Salts. Earth Therapeutics Salt Scrub also contains organic Tea Tree Oil, which enhances cleansing and detoxification, and moisturizing essential oils. While the oils feel slick in the shower, once you get out and dry off, you feel nothing but baby soft skin. Using this once a week has given me fabulously soft skin, which has helped solved my winter-skin dilemma.

Soothing Leg Lotion: The scent of this lotion is heavenly. This lotion has Rosemary, Wild Mint and Aloe Vera. The consistency is almost like a silky shower gel. It spreads easily and absorbs nicely. It made my legs feel wonderfully soft and I loved the scent so much, that I put it on my hands before bed. I found the scent to be so relaxing, that it helped me fall to sleep.

Nail & Cuticle Care: If you are someone whose nails are brittle and whose cuticles crack easily, this is surely the nail conditioner for you. When I rubbed it on my nails and over my cuticles I could almost hear them saying, “ahhh,” in relief. The scent was a nice citrus scent, which I love. It contains Sesame Oil to moisturize, Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil to protect your nails from infection and an Organic Nutrient Matrix to nourish and deep condition your nail bed and cuticles.

Have you used any Earth Therapeutics products? Let me know what you thought in the comments.

In our continued effort to support bloggers and citizen journalists we are opening up our vote for Publicist of the Year to you. In the past we have only asked the media and producers to participate. If you've worked with any of our publicists, please vote today.

I’ve honestly never paid much attention to products that were celebrity endorsed, in high school, maybe a little, however there have been plenty of my friends who live by what products “Celebrity A List” says are the best. There was a time, back when I was very young, that I did follow what my favorite celebrities endorsed. One such product was Pepsi, simply because I was a very big Michael Jackson fan. Luckily, I wised up.

So when I saw one of my favorite fashion designers, Isaac Mizrahi, pitching StriVectin-SD in a commercial the other day I felt such utter disappointment. Strivectin-SD, which claims to be an anti-stretchmark cream turned anti-wrinkle cream, is trying to pitch their product to men through Mizrahi's popularity. Isaac is a talk show host and thus a "lifestyle advocate" however, as a person who admires Mr. Mizrahi for his outstanding fashion, I wonder why he had to go this route. Seeing him in a commercial promoting an anti-wrinkle cream made me lose a little bit of respect for him and I didn't want too. I'm sure I am not alone.

I believe there was a time when celebrity endorsements held clout, but the times have been changing, most especially as blogs have become more and more popular. There are so many blogs out there that review products and I am more apt to listen to the average Joe tell me their likes and dislikes over a product than to run out to buy a product because Mischa Barton has been using it. According to a survey done by Allure and Essence, the same holds true for many of their readers.

Microdermabrasion is a nonsurgical cosmetic procedure that has been increasing in popularity in recent years. While many over the counter brands are now offering their products for the purpose of Microdermabrasion, it is still best to have the treatment done by a skincare professional and/or using the products developed by one.

While simply exfoliating your skin is something you should be doing on a weekly basis, Microdermabrasion is a more effective treatment to treat fine lines, crow’s feet and acne scars. It’s use of a polishing your skin with crystals to resurface your skin is a safe alternative to chemical procedures and can be successfully done on all skin types. This resurfacing of the top layer of skin removes the dead skin cells and helps with the regenerating of new skin cells. With this top layer of dead skin cells removed, application of lotions and creams are more effective at moisturizing your skin. Most treatments can be done in 30-60 minutes and do require several follow up treatments. To maintain that healthy glow, maintenance treatments should also be done.

Dermalogica on Montana offers exfoliating treatments like Microdermabrasion. As with any skin treatment you are considering, you should first be seen by a skin care professional to ensure that this is the correct treatment for you. Dermalogica offers Face Mapping in which licensed Dermalogica skin therapists analyze your skin from forehead to collarbone, identifying potential problems, unique needs, and how to treat them professionally. Face Mapping only takes 10 minutes and is free.

Take an inside look into a Skin Treatment Pod at Dermalogica on Montana (the brands flagship store):

The move does not affect the online operation of the magazine, which will continue to operate at fhmus.com.

Most of the 47 staff working on FHM US will lose their jobs. Emap has no other business in the US apart from the New York office of its fashion trade website Worth Global Style Network.

Although Blogging has been around for years, approaching Bloggers to review or pitch your products is fairly new and growing in momentum. If you are thinking of approaching a Blogger to review your products, there is a protocol that sometimes many companies do not invest their time to understand and follow.

As a beauty Blogger, I receive many emails on a weekly basis from companies and PR firms big and small to find out if I am interested in reviewing their products on my two beauty blogs. There are some that exude professionalism both in the way they approach me through their emails, through the way the package is sent and in their follow up. Then there are the mass emails, lack of PR materials with the product, presentation of the product and lack of follow up. The difference between the two potentially means your emails go in my trash folder.

Things you should not do when you approach a Blogger:

Send out a mass email, most notably saying “Dear Bloggers” or having no greeting at all. While some newer Bloggers may respond to this, many seasoned Bloggers won’t. It is the sign of a company simply harvesting your contact information and not taking the time to personally contact you, as they want you to personally review their product. It is a two way street.

Have the expectation that the Blogger will want to review your product simply because you offered it for free. Bloggers know their readers and most will only review products that are 1. Related to their blog and 2. Something that would be of interest to their readers.

Insincerely attempt to flatter them. So many companies do it and many times I receive the same email to each of my accounts for my blogs when the company doesn’t even realize they are sending it to the same person. Bloggers can read between the lines.

When I heard the news yesterday that Sephora was going to be on HSN for several different showings, I was excited. When I found out that come February they would be a regular, I was ecstatic. Where I live, there is no Sephora. As unimaginable as that may seem, it is true. Now I can get comfortable on my couch and shop Sephora while being described the products, which I think is much better than an online shopping experience.

Sephora has really been expanding its wings lately, as they recently have set up shop in some J.C. Penney stores. That we do have around here and I fully intend to make a pitstop there this weekend to see if Sephora has come to my local J.C. Penney. At least I can make it easy for my husband to shop for me for Christmas by merely pointing the way to Sephora at J.C. Penney.

I’m surprised Sephora chose Home Shopping Network versus QVC, as I continually see many top beauty companies honing their wares on QVC. However, that is exactly the reason Sephora chose HSN, because their beauty platform is virtually untouched by major brands, allowing Sephora to lead the way in that category.

Come February, will you be tuning into Sephora’s timeslot on HSN?

We’ve been seeing this going on in the blogosphere for some time now and it’s been slowly making the crossover to the mainstream media. Frito-Lay has enlisted the public to enter into a contest by creating their own ad for Doritos that will air during the Super Bowl, now Dove is asking consumers to create an ad for their Cream Oil Body Wash according to MediaPost. Just like new Bloggers, consumers want to work with big name companies and are willing to hand over their creative talents for free. However, this is now Generation Cash and free is not going to last very long.

While it still may cost big media just as much, if not more, to run a contest and convert the amateur ad into a professional one, the lure of a consumer getting their face on television or their idea on television without monetary compensation, will soon die down as this approach continues to gain popularity and grow. As with most big media companies, if one is doing it, then they all begin to follow suit, except each one tries to outdo the other. The one thing consumer generated content is creating is something I like to call the “consumer-prenuer.” Consumers who use their basic know-how to generate an income through user generated content. While big media has played a role in it’s creation, it is something they will have no control over, as a consumer-prenuer works for themselves and not big media.

I’m sure big media is not losing sleep over the costs of the consumer generated ads in the short term, as long as they are following the latest trends in the advertising world and it is generating a buzz about their products. However, as with all things, novelty wears off, especially when the bottom line involves money.

What is your take on consumer generated media?

Nothing brings in the holiday cheer more than high heels, short dresses, and tons of whiskey. On a recent trip to LA, I got to celebrate the holidays with socialite Kim Kardashian, who brought her Olympian step father, Bruce Jenner along for the shenanigans.

Avery Cardoza planned a classy event as usual with high end services for all party goers. At the entryway, guests were invited to enjoy free cigars and whiskey tasting. The main room featured shoe shines compliments of Michael Toschi and complimentary shaves provided by The Shave of Beverly Hills. Finally the bar region was equipt with decanters and wine aroma tests provided by OnTheFly.com. Sterling Steakhouse created elegant appetizers and tasteful martinis that the beautiful crowd enjoy all throughout the evening.

And as if this wasn’t enough, OnTheFly.com provided giftboxes worth hundreds of dollars for the guests, as well as VIPs received snowboards, and the first chapter of the $4,000 NFL Champions Book. Avery certainly set a pretty high standard for his holiday party.

Glam Media, a widely popular beauty, fashion and lifestyle network, has acquired $18.5M in Venture Capital led by Duff Ackerman & Goodrich Ventures, with participation from Accel Partners, Draper Fisher Jurvetson, WaldenVC, and Information Capital. As part of the financing, CNET chairman and E. W. Scripps board member Jarl Mohn is joining the board of Glam Media. Glam Media’s website boasts a robust 8 million visitors per month.

Glam will be using some of these funds to purchase other companies that are either Web 2.0 technology companies or those with a very secure vertical platform with a highly engaged and targeted audience. As you might remember from my interview with Jeremy Wright of b5media, he really felt that vertical companies were the way to go.

Glam intends to spread its wings and expand internationally and add to its sales and editorial team. Glam has also announced that it has signed on with Hearst Magazines to distribute content from Marie Claire on their websites, as well as linking to and promoting other Hearst Magazines for subscription.

Glam Media became an idea in late 2002 and was launched at Fashion Week in September of 2005; the Glam Network soon came to life in December of 2005. Considering the fact that it has only been a little over a year that Glam Media has been on the web, I would have to say that their ambitious goals and the hardworking behind-the-scenes individuals are what make Glam Media the mega-success they are today. As a beauty Blogger about to have her blog join the Glam Network, I am more than excited to see such growth and focus in this company.

We all experienced the rise of “metrosexuality” a couple years ago, marked by an emergence of hair-care, skin-care, and grooming products in the men’s market. Heterosexual men were being told that it was now ok, and expected, to want to look their best and use the types of products they saw on their girlfriend’s bathroom counter. I remember my shock when I was getting a manicure in my hometown and in walked a guy I went to High School with- I hadn’t expected to have a male customer come sit next to me, but then again, it was the trend at the time.

Above: Marco Dapper, December 2006 Most beautiful Man

All trends come to an end, though, and this year we witnessed the apparent “death of metrosexuality.” To compensate for the lack of masculinity in recent years, the new trend is "macho"- men that are proud to say their beauty routine consists of soap, water, and toothpaste only. Advertisers are catching up with the trend as well, with popular brands trying to exude masculinity in their commercials. As just one example, Miller Lite’s “Man Laws” ad campaign this year included guys at a square table discussing the code of what manly men can and cannot do.

Manufacturers have also had to take note, in that packaging has become more and more important because it is usually the consumer’s first contact with a product. If the package hints at any type of femininity, a lot of men will steer clear. On the other hand, if the packaging conveys a sense of strength and masculinity, it will be accepted by a larger amount of the male population. One of our men’s grooming clients, for example, does a great job of providing luxury grooming equipment for men without coming across as “metrosexual.” Hommage’s line of shaving sets will not only help men look and feel their best, but will also ensure an image of masculinity and tradition. Take note ladies- with Christmas and Valentine’s Day on the way, these shave sets are the perfect gift for the "manly" men in your life.

For a while there, the smoky eye done in grays, silvers and blacks was all the rage, but now there is a new smoky eye look emerging. According to Celebrity Makeup Artist, Elke von Freudenberg, coppers, shimmering browns and soft grays are the new way to do the smoky eye. I have to admit, that I like both, but find the colors for the new smoky eye will really bring out my hazel eye color.

Elke notes that the “new” smoky eye has a focus on the crease while playing up the brow. As compared to the “old” smoky eye look, where black was on the lid, this new look has softer colors on the lid and along the brow bone with the dark colors being the main focus of the crease.

Many of my beauty blog readers know that I am a fan of NYX Cosmetics. So I looked to their collection of eye shadows to find the ones that would best suit this new look. For the soft grays, some great choices from the Single Eye Shadow line are Alaska, Odyssey and Star. For coppers from the Single Eyeshadow line is Copper and from the Chrome Eye Shadow line Oro and Java. For the browns, Walnut from the Loose Pearl Collection and the Trio of Sahara, Suede and Chocolate.

Holiday Make Up Tips Sponsored By Jane Iredale Mineral Cosmetics

The key to any good makeup application is in the brush you use. For this smoky eye look you should use NYX’s Eyeshadow Brush #4, Eye Angle Brush and Contour Dome Brush.

You can listen to Elke’s podcast on Odeo.com for her tips on the technique of achieving the new smoky eye and while listening, be sure to check out the fabulous shades of color on NYXCosmetics.com.

With only 7 days left until Christmas, I hope you can squeeze in checking out these fine blogs in your frantic shopping downtime:

Fashion:

+ Flavour Comes First! (Extra Tasty) gives a great analysis on potential transparency in the fashion industry.

+ Phosphene Fashion spotlights designer Jayson Brunsdon.

+ She Knows Best offers some tips on how to wear socks that are not your typical black or white…without looking like a clown.

Beauty:

+ Blogdorf Goodman gives us her run through of her experience of a Nars makeover.

+ Beauty Jones reviews C.O. Bigelow’s Soothing Lip Buffer.

+ Fab Sugar gives you her top three choices for mild makeup removers (something I have been on the hunt for myself!)

My skin and I have been at odds with each other for the longest time. I don’t necessarily have normal to oily skin, but dry to oily skin. It’s really been a quagmire to find a product that won’t further dry out the dry areas, but won’t also moisturize too much in the oily areas either.

Several weeks ago I began using Epionce’s Lytic Gel Cleanser and Purifying Lytic Toner, both are geared towards problem skin types. Both products are fragrance free and non-comedogenic. I was, of course, skeptical that this would be the product to reduce that shine, yet still keep the dry sections of my face from further damage.

Before I even get into how the product worked, I liked right away how the Lytic Gel Cleanser’s top had an open/close twist to it. This is perfect for when you have to travel and pack it away, so that it is not leaking all over your clothes. Furthermore, as a parent, it means little fingers cannot get a hold of it and pump away my precious product.

You’ve all heard the scandal about Miss USA and Miss Teen USA by now. This one drank, this one kissed the other, this one possibly did drugs…now MADD has dropped Miss Teen USA as their spokesperson. Some spectators are wondering if this is all a publicity stunt for the falling ratings of these “Miss” pageants.

At one time I had an interest in pageants. Back when I lived in Rhode Island, I attended a dance school where the owner was a former Mrs. Rhode Island America. During my time there, two of my fellow dance mates (Susan Lima and Lynne Michael) went on to become Miss Rhode Island USA. I even got to dance during the Miss Rhode Island pageant, which was thrilling as a young girl seeing local celebrities. However, my view became a little tainted when I chose to enter into a pageant in my town, hoping that somehow I would win. When I lost to the Mayor’s daughter, I walked away from that experience with a bad taste in my mouth. Not because I lost, but because of all of the politics involved in pageantry.

When I occasionally watch pageants today, I really wonder what they are good for. Women parade around in beautiful gowns, skimpy bathing suits, show off some talent and answer some “tough” questions from judges. They all have a “platform” that they hope to bring awareness to. For all of this, the winner is given the title and a boatload of prizes. However, what exactly does this do for society? A beauty pageant winner isn’t going to bring about world change with her dazzling white teeth or gorgeous skin. Once the pageant is over and done with, you never really hear about the winner’s “platform” again.

Maybe I am in the minority thinking that pageants are really a thing of the past and so very shallow, or because of the failing ratings, maybe I am not. What is your view on beauty pageants such as Miss America, Miss USA and Miss Universe?

There are many milestones in a young man’s life. I can remember my first kiss, the first time I tried to drive a stick shift and the day I left my small hometown of Pearl, Mississippi for the bright lights of Broadway.

As I celebrate my third year anniversary at Pierce Mattie PR, I’ve hit two more milestones. I’m now one of the seniors at the firm, and as a result, Mr. Mattie has given me my first Louis Vuitton bag to commemorate the occasion. Just think, a few days ago I couldn’t even spell Louis Vuitton, and now I own one of their Epi leather briefcases.

As I think back on my time with the firm, I have many great memories. Aside from the day-to-day work, which I love, I’m most fond of the people. Nikki Walker, last year’s Publicist of the Year always brightens my day with her big smile and cheerful attitude. And no day is complete without the musical stylings of Miss Lauren Branche. But the person I have the most admiration for is Pierce Mattie himself.

Pierce will never admit this, but I often get the feeling that he cares more for his employees than himself. Even when he’s critiquing our work, I know that he’s doing all he can to help give the team all the tools we need in order to be successful. Whether it’s a gym membership to help stay in shape, a bonus to show his appreciation for the work we’ve done all year, or simply a “great job,” Pierce always goes above and beyond when it comes to taking care of us, and that is one of the major reasons why I’ve flourished so much in my career over the past three years, and why the firm has grown to a bi-coastal company with firms in New York, Los Angeles and Atlanta.

So for me, the Louis Vuitton bag is not just a milestone in my path to becoming a more fashionable publicist, it’s a stepping stone to the next level of my career journey at Pierce Mattie PR. And no matter where the road takes me, I’ll always look great while pounding the pavement and securing the placements.

I hope you all had a beautiful and fashionable Holiday; here’s to an even better New Year.

Fashion:

+ BGlam wonders if Marc Jacobs pairing socks with sandals is just an attention grabber or a true trend come Spring.

+ fashion inc. shows us one of the newest Spring outfit arrivals at Old Navy. (The outfit looks super comfortable and I love the handbag too!)

+ Girlawhirl gives some details about Nan Kemper’s “American Chic” exhibit at The Costume Institute of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NY.

Beauty:

+ The Beauty Hatchery gives us some ideas for dressing up our lashes for your New Year’s Eve party.

+ Bit by the Beauty Bug discusses the hassles of returning cosmetics. Be sure to read the New York Times Article she mentions in a follow up post.

+ The Beauty Addict is being complimented on her undereye and it’s due to Relastin Eye Silk.

PR professionals are laid off, change careers, rotate agencies and some individuals even start up their own shop around this time of year. The years end is a natural time for corporations to evaluate their talent pool and make appropriate changes. We've had a fantastic year of tremendous growth which has required constant tweaking of our staff to better serve our clients and provide our team with the best tools and resources available.

Of course, good people are in high demand. It’s always been my manner that if an employee doesn't love working with us, then I always feel like it's my responsibility to find out why and fix it! This was a year of change and growth for our firm; we've said goodbye to a senior staffer, switched up players on our different teams, beefed up our training and mentoring program, restructured reporting relationships in all three offices, promoted two directors to vice presidents and we added two new senior vice presidents to help lead the charge in 2007. It's been exciting to see the positive results in the last few months!

I hear stories all the time of an employee jumping ship and starting their own agency and stealing a few clients as they pick up the last paycheck. While it may be a common practice in our industry, this type of behavior does not display the level of professional ethics that are so vital in business. In fact, we're proud to help employees transition out of PR when they realize it's not for them any longer.

Here are some guidelines that every PR professional should understand:

1. PR firms own relationships both on behalf of the clients they represent and for the staff that they train and mentor.

2. PR firms should be compensated if those relationships are jeopardized or challenged.

3. Employees are accountable to their PR firm first and foremost rather than clients or the media.

4. It is always better to take the high road; business relationships are recycled everyday and you never know whose path you will cross again, so never burn bridges.

My golden rules for maintaining integrity as a PR professional are:

A few nights ago I was watching a show regarding “Pumping Parties.” I was really quite blown out of the water when hearing about these parties and how they continue to increase in popularity despite the inherent risks. A pumping party is when you are invited to a host’s home and everyone is injected with silicone in the parts of the body they want to see rapid results. They pay hundreds of dollars to the injectee, who has no medical training, versus the sometimes costly price of plastic surgery and Botox. Many see this as an easier and less costly way to obtain pseudo plastic surgery results.

Pumping parties have been around for a while (and are illegal), but as the demand for physical perfection continues to daunt us, the popularity of these parties increases. What many people attending these parties don’t understand is that silicone injected that is not medical grade or done by a board certified plastic surgeon, is just plain deadly. Silicone that is injected improperly travels through the bloodstream and causes blood to coagulate in the lungs, creating circulatory obstructions that can be immediately life-threatening if not identified and treated quickly according to the Radiological Society of North America. The imaging findings of pulmonary silicone embolism include dark, hazy patches in the lung tissue on x-rays or computed tomography (CT) scans.

If you are invited to a pumping party, please know the risks involved. While your results may be immediate and the price tag associated with it may be attractive, any cosmetic procedures should be done soley by a plastic surgeon. While you may be saving yourself some money in the short-term, isn’t your long term overall health priceless?

This month, Pierce Mattie PR presented the highly anticipated and coveted Annual Media Awards. Arriving in New York, our Los Angeles and Atlanta teams joined forces with our New York Team all with baited breath, awaiting the results. After a sumptuous holiday feast, (it was sumtuous!) we announced our winner and runner-up of Pierce Mattie PR's top honor: the 2006 Publicist of the Year Award. The winner is awarded a six day and five night all inclusive trip to Paris for two, while the runner-up receives a 5 day session package for Pilates.

Drum roll please...

Congratulations to Lance Buckley (NY office), our 2006 Publicist of the Year who also got his three year anniversary Louis Vuitton briefcase. We had over 3,000 editors and segment producers write in to tell us who they thought should win. It's not just a popularity contest but a testament to which publicist created the best rapport with the press.

Having worked at Pierce Mattie PR for three years, Lance brings creative insight and encyclopedic knowledge of his market all packaged together in a calm and thoughtful demeanor. He has led such successful campaigns as Desperate Housewives, Lotus Sports Cars, Hommage Razors, NoNami Clothing, and Lock Stock & Barrel to name a few.

Maryam Zarkesh (LA office) came in with the next number of votes. With Pierce Mattie PR for just over a year, Maryam has risen quickly by displaying a tireless work ethic, a strong grasp of the brands on which she works and a charming manner that has made everyone adore her.

Also awarded were:

2006 Best Print Media Placement of the Year
Nafi Saboor (NY)
Xtreme Lashes in Teen Vogue

2006 Best Broadcast Placement of the Year
Nikki Walker (Atlanta)
Black Opal on the Today Show

2006 Platinum Service Award
Ivy Cartagena (NY)

2006 Best Media Event of the Year
Lauren Branche (NY)
Jane Iredale Global Beauty Launch Event

Of course our holiday event wouldn't be complete without our Blooper Awards but that's for our eyes only. Even our CEO received the biggest blooper!

We are proud of each and every one of our team members. While we honor the few whose work shone brightly, we are a family and recognize that each person's work is a reflection of the larger whole.

Onward to 2007!

I hope everyone rang in the new year in style! Here's to some great fashion and beauty blogs to kick off the Weekend Pulse for 2007:

Fashion:

+ The Fashionator is happy big glasses are out, but nerdy glasses are surprisingly sexy.

+ Organic_Clothing explains the reason behind the high cost of organic fashion.

+ Coffee Break posts about Madonna’s new line of clothing for children that is a spin-off from her books.

Beauty:

+ Now Smell This reviews Ralph Rocks by Ralph Lauren.

+ RealSelf Blog reports on how to avoid a bad face lift.

+ Ms. New Beauty gives her latest installation of Cheap & Chic: Everything’s Coming up Roses.

John gets a car for his 16th birthday, while Vanessa gets a nose job. Sound unrealistic? It’s not and it’s a growing trend among the youth of our country and abroad. Actually, the high holidays are when most of these procedures are done so be on the lookout for very refreshed and well rested teen with effervescent perkiness! Plastic surgery as birthday gifts and graduation presents; what used to be reserved for adults and cosmetic purposes, slowly creeped into the world of those under 18. It began with microdermabrasion and facial peels to help with severe acne, then breast augmentation in respect to reductions or leveling out unevenness, but now has turned into something teens do “just for fun.”

The problem with teens is in how casual they take plastic surgery and do not understand the risks, or are mature enough to handle change or even worse, severe complications. In regards to maturity, most teens want the perfect nose, perfect breasts or to lose the extra pounds simply because they see their Photoshopped idols in a magazine and want to be just like them. Teens see plastic surgery as a quick fix.

The most sought after plastic surgeries for teens are liposuction, breast augmentation and rhinoplasty. The issue young teenage girls don’t take into consideration when opting to have the liposuction or breast implants is the obstacles later in life should they settle down and have a family. Such issues are not being able to breast feed if you have implants and the weight gain when you are pregnant which post-pregnancy may result in dimpling of your skin from liposuction. Should you be a candidate for bariatric surgery in your late teens, getting pregnant means that all of the nutrition goes directly to the baby and little to the mother, which then requires close monitoring and possible health risks.

Education of the risks, both short and long term, as well as the emotional changes are things that need to be discussed at length with a teen wanting to go under the knife.

It's only a few weeks into Winter, but it already feels like Spring. Here's some fabulous links from some great beauty and fashion blogs to put a little spring in your step!

Fashion:

+ Couture in the City discusses the fashion of designer Sari Gueron.

+ Debutante Clothing is thrilled that high waisted pants are making a comeback (me too, for that matter!)

+ Groove Effect takes a look at Imaginary Foundation Art and Streetwear.

Beauty:

+ Product Girl reviews Smashbox's Tokidoki Skin Tint (I'm so glad Carla is back blogging, aren't you?)

+ Beauty & Personality Grooming goes over the general rules of lipstick.

+ Fantabulous reviews Good Skin Soft Reflections Illuminating Loose Powder.

Nestled away on the beautiful island of Mauritius, a new Destination Spa has opened this month. One that is complete with exclusive spa treatments, luxurious beach-front suites and villas, as well as, leisure and health activities that include a fitness center, yoga and meditation center.

The Shanti Ananda Maurice’s spa treatments focus on Ayurveda to Thalassotherapy using both Contemporary and Traditional methods. Both are rooted in ancient Indian culture and have medicinal and therapeutic values. One example of an Ayurveda technique is called Shirodhara. This involves gently pouring liquids over the forehead. These liquids can be oil, milk, buttermilk, coconut water or even plain water.

Aside from the wonderful spa treatments it provides, the location of this enchanting destination spa alone will leave you feeling relaxed and refreshed. The Shanti Ananda Maurice is spread over 36 acres of tropical gardens, taking in views of the hills and Indian Ocean.

The Shanti Ananda offers all-inclusive packages that range from anti-ageing to stress management to weight management, among several others. Each package offers generous treatments and are available at a 20-25% discounted rate until April 30, 2007. The Shanti Ananda Maurice is sure to become a top rated Destination Spa.

Glam Media, as you know, is a top 10 women’s property network and recently announced its $18.5 Million Venture Capital acquisition and a partnership with Marie Claire. b5media, also recently announced securing $2 Million in Venture Capital and when I interviewed b5media CEO Jeremy Wright back in November, he mentioned vertical networks being the only way to gain traction in today’s market. Glam Media just happens to be a vertical network, so the announcement of a partnership is not surprising.

The b5media partnership with Glam consists of Glam selling b5’s ads, something they are good at doing and in return Glam reaches a wider readership through b5media’s blog readership with Glam’s ads prominently displayed on each blog in the network. The partnership means increased visibility and revenue sharing for both Glam and b5media.

Prior to partnering with Glam, b5media also secured a partnership with Feedburner back in November. You can read Feedburner’s press release and Aaron Brazell’s post on the Pro’s & Con’s of Feedburner fore more details. Aaron is the Technology Channel Editor and Technology Manager for b5media.

So what’s next for b5media? Jeremy Wright gave a great interview to 901am that posted today and stated that they were aggressively pursuing a few partnerships. I guess we’ll be hearing about more b5 partnerships throughout the year.

The area in which I live is known to have character. Each house is different, or has historic presence, and stands out among other places nearby. There really is no “big business” in our area overcrowding every street corner and making their over domineering corporate-America presence known. This is a place that embraces entrepreneurs.

So when driving down a road I haven’t traveled in a while, I noticed something out of the ordinary; cookie cutter houses. A new development was being built and each house looked exactly the same. Their yards were the same, with the same tree in the same spot, and the grass all the same length. Nothing about these houses or this development had anything exceptional to them. They lacked character.

Yes, I know it's not a scoop, but I wanted to post about Clive Owen, a 41-year-old British actor, has been hired to be the latest celebrity to market products for the L'Oreal owned beauty company, Lancome. Previous celebrities that touted the brand are Uma Therman and Mena Suvari, among others. Lancome's hope is that his charming and rugged look will attract more men to feel comfortable purchasing skincare products.

"The way he has built his career so far, privileging the quality of the director rather than the high-profile nature of a role, makes us feel very confident in the fact that if he chose to accept this collaboration with Lancome, then it truly means our partnership was meant to be,"

Owen is reported to be getting $2.5 million pounds (you do the math to convert that to US$) for the advertising campaign. Owen will be appearing in ads for Lancome's new men's grooming line, called Lancome Men, which includes fragrance and anti-aging products. The ad campaign and products will launch this Spring in the US. However, you can see the products now on Lancome's international website.

If you want to read more about what's going on in the Beauty Industry, be sure to check out our Beauty PR blog.

Our society values intelligence and those with brains that can set a course and achieve their academic and employment goals. As a female, our society also tends to first judge a book by its cover. The pressure to be beautiful—hair, makeup, weight-wise and fashion, is a heavy burden that all women feel. Generation Next females say they are feeling the burden to be both intelligent and beautiful and it is leading to stress.

If you pay attention to the tabloid magazines and TV shows, there is not a female in Hollywood that is thrown amongst the pages because they are intelligent. In fashion and beauty magazines, only gorgeous women (and men) grace the pages. It appears, and can be quite confusing to impressionable teens, that you can only be truly happy if you have the latest hairstyle, wear the latest makeup trends or are a certain weight. Meanwhile, in the real world, your looks won’t land you that job (ok maybe sometimes), it won’t help you climb the corporate ladder and certainly won’t pay your rent. You need to have brains to make it in life.

Synovate, an international research firm, did a study of 1000 U.S. teens and 20-somethings regarding this topic. What I found most interesting, is that these young ladies thought everything would change once they were in their 30’s. Confirming this theory, Nita Mary McKinley a Professor at the University of Washington-Tacoma, did a follow-up study on Body Image, that she had done 10 years prior, showed that those in their 30’s did indeed feel better about their bodies. I’m not sure I 100% agree. At 32, I can tell you that there are times when I don’t care so much what others think about how I look, but for the most part, that overwhelming sense of people judging me on my looks seems to always remain present. Quite possibly it has to do with being in the beauty industry or possibly because I lived through three decades of pressure to live up to the status quo of what our society feels is beautiful.

If you watched the second two-hour premiere of 24 last night you'll know why Los Angele's is stocking up on Clarins Expertise 3P. It's a new plant-based mist that is said to shield your skin from electromagnetic waves and daily environmental pollution by reinforcing the skin’s natural barrier, protecting against free radicals and increasing cellular energy. Since this product only launched this month I have yet to use it, however I did a lot of searching online to see what others have been saying about it. It appears that there is some debate over whether this is hype or a true plausible product.

While many beauty Bloggers seem thrilled with such a product coming out on the market, it seems that those in the tech world find it laughable. Engadget made a stab at it and a commenter on Yahoo Tech cited the National Toxic Encephalopathy Foundation as one who exposes the truth on Clarins. Pierce wrote about the NTEF, a client of Russ Fons PR, back in October when they issued a press release bashing Clarins.

As I get sent products to review often, one thing I have been seeing more of is shielding lotions. So the concept of a shielding mist is really not that far fetched. A few commenters on Engadget brought up a good point and one that I agree with. Shielding products appear to work in the same way sunscreen is meant to work; blocking out what is bad for your skin and letting the good pass through. Our president loves the idea and placed his order last week and made it his pick for the week. I’m not sure why the idea of a shielding mist is that hard to grasp. As we come to know what affects our skin, doctors and scientists are able to move forward in finding ways to protect it. While the FDA does not regulate the cosmetics and skin care industry, it certainly polices itself. Many companies do their own laboratory research to create products that deliver a solution to a skin care issue. I’m sure Clarins did a substantial amount of research to produce a product that delivers on its promise.

If you have tried this product, let us know what you thought of it.

Here's what some great blogs in beauty and fashion are talking about:

Fashion:

+ Bunnyshop muses about a possible Spring Trend: Gold Legging’s.

+ The Purse Blog posts a letter to Gucci regarding The Gucci Dog Backpack (it is a very amusing read!)

+ Counterfeit Chic weighs in on the controversy regarding weight and models.

Beauty:

+ 99 Products raves about Ojon’s Tawaka Ancient Tribal Rejuvenating Cream.

+ Pretty by Nature offers a tip: Stop Pulling your face.

+ Pure Spa discusses the 30 minute Migun massage.

Kiss My Face was a green beauty company before green became an in thing. Every product they sell is organic without anything artificial at all. Yet going organic certainly doesn’t mean that quality is compromised at any point or that organic means a heavy price point. Most Kiss My Face users will tell you, their products are top notch and won’t break the bank in the process.

It’s not very often that you can go to a company’s website and read the background on how things were started, and if you can find one, you certainly will not find one so personable and down to earth. When you read the story behind how Kiss My Face began and their mission and purpose of their products you can’t help but feel their humor, lightheartedness, and of course their love for our great Earth. Their story is definitely a Squash to Riches story and one I think everyone should read.

Kiss My Face sells a variety of products for your bath, body and more. The products range from hair care to soap to facial moisturizers. Since we all know that organic is not only earth friendly, but also skin friendly, more people who may have a sensitivity to ingredients in other products may find comfort here.

If you use Kiss My Face, what is your favorite product from their line?

Elizabeth Shoemaker is only 24 years old, but through her Photography and articles on the subject, she brings a sense of worldliness, maturity and knowledge that is so refreshing. Elizabeth is one of those diamonds that sparkles so bright she captivates you from across the room.

When did you begin your career in Photography and what was the image that inspired you to do so?
It wasn't a particular image that inspired me to get into photography. My mother is an art connaiseur-- I grew up with signed, limited edition prints on my bedroom wall instead of posters. I've always loved visual art and always been perfectly awful at it. Actually trying photography never occured to me until my roommate bought a digital camera, but I guess the most powerful photographic experience I had was in high school. I was very much an outsider, even inside the typical "outsider" cliques, and didn't really bother with stuff like fashion or makeup. When it came time for my senior pictures, I chose someplace cheap on the outskirts of town-- it'd been ingrained in me that I wasn't that attractive and I didn't want my parents to waste money on pictures. It turned out that the photographer who worked with me was phenomenal-- I got goosebumps when he showed us the proofs. I remember my hands shaking when I picked up my favorite one. That feeling of "Oh my God.. Is that really me? Do I really look like this?" was life changing. I thought photography was all about pushing a button, that it was the poor man's art: I had no idea it could be revelatory before then.

Is there a perfect picture, perfect scene or perfect image that you continue to strive for?
I don't know. There are a ton of concepts on my to-do list; things I want to create but don't have the resources for just yet. I have a lot of ideas. I think, though, that what I strive for the most is a certain emotion-- pretty pictures are nice, but someday I want to take a picture with that amazing heart-in-your-throat quality, something you can't stop staring at. It's a huge thrill when I get a reaction like that from the subject of a portrait. Now my goal is to get that reaction from anyone who sees the portrait.

What are your thoughts on the beauty and fashion magazines photoshopping so many of the images we see?

The first time I'd ever heard of airbrushing photos was years ago, when Kate Winslet went after GQ for photoshopping her legs thinner. She was offended because she loved her curves! That was awesome. I think that drastic photoshopping in fashion and beauty mags was much more detrimental to self-esteem before so many people learned how to manipulate their own images. I don't like to do much at all to any of the images I take, even the rare self-portrait-- but just the widespread knowledge of what is done to those pictures, and the basic ideas of HOW, might actually be good for women as a whole. Smart, empowered women can look at those pictures and know they're not real--and if that small, insecure voice in their head says, "I wish I looked like that!" logic can respond with, "You WOULD look like that with the right photographer and digital artist."

Decleor Paris is a luxurious face, body and suncare line for both men and women. Decleor was founded by a team of aromatherapy experts who use their knowledge of active plant extracts to create a comprehensive line of products that are both preventative and on going natural skin care. Decleor is also partnered by Shiseido, known for their wonderful beauty products, and are also the 4th largest beauty group in the industry.

Essential oils have wonderful healing properties with aromatic fragrances that, depending on which oil is used or combined with another, promotes such things as well being, calm, relaxation and so on, therefore promoting balance of both body and mind.

While Decleor’s packaging makes you feel like you just bought a diamond necklace at Tiffany’s, don’t be fooled that the luxury ends there. It’s what is inside the package that is luxurious, making your skin look and feel like you just spent hours at the spa. In fact, Decleor also offers Salon and Spa treatments at select locations. Within the US, it is at Hotel Sofitel in Los Angeles where you can receive their Aroma Mosaic treatments that focuses on care of your face, body and the effects of the sun. Each focused treatment is broken down to be tailor made based on the needs of each individual.

You can find Decleor products in various cities throughout the country or locate one close to you with your zip code through their website: www.decleor-us.com

Parabens. (Que the horror music sound effect) Just say the word to anyone on the street and you will get a variety of responses. Many believe what they have heard and warn you against using any products that contain them and many just want to wait until science proves that parabens are really harmful to you, as that is not proven yet. It just seems that these days the words parabens and cancer go hand in hand without any conclusive evidence that they actually do. I like to make sure I'm not subscribing to a lobbyist who has ulterior motives for financial gain, and no I'm not a conspiracy freak, (ok maybe just a tad) I was recently told (by my therapist) that that quality is at the heart of all good journalists... a desire to dig for the real truth... or conspiracy!

I’m certainly not a scientist, but I am pretty educated and try to always read both sides to a story. Just like when everyone screamed that mineral oil was bad for you, it eventually was proven that it was not. However, you still find many companies today touting how awful mineral oil is for your skin while offering you their version of something safer. I have yet to find a website stating that mineral oil is harmful while not trying to also sell you something in the process. I had been skeptical myself, but after some researching of my own and contacting my friends at The Beauty Brains blog (who happen to be both cosmetic chemists with 30 years experience), they insisted it was all hype and that mineral oil was indeed the best moisturizing product for your skin. So I have learned to look deeper into an issue than to be frightened by scare tactics.

Unfortunately, scare tactics are the route that Dr. Epstein of the Cancer Prevention Coalition is taking when going after Origins, an Estee Lauder company. They try pointing out that Origins cannot be taking, "A totally integrative approach to skin care ... to help your skin be as healthy as possible, (and) optimize its defenses against age accelerators" claiming that Origins uses parabens (among other ingredients) in their products. They site that parabens are known to cause “endocrine disruptive.” However, there has not yet been one study that has conclusively, 100% proven this.

And another beauty, Jessica Biel, was a standout at the Golden Globes red carpet this week, not only for her rockin' body and her beautiful dress, but her skin was amazing! Now we are going to show you how she got that golden glow. Everyone from desperate moms-to-be to "dreamgirls" know that perfect skin is the key to looking good in hollywood. and when Jennifer, Marcia, Jessica biel, and even Elijah Woods want baby-smooth amazing skin, they start at Dermalogica.

Cut to Dermalogica On Montana Pod: they're doing what is called the microzone where they're zoning in on a specific area. it's about 20 minutes. this is the process that you would be doing four weeks prior to your event. what i'm doing here is a rapid result treatment. the ultrasound actually gives a deeper cleanse, and while it's giving a deeper cleanse, it's actually exfoliating. it gets down into the deeper epidermis, so it's giving a really good effect on the skin. what i'm doing is called a high frequency. it's great for any sort of blemish or acne. this is also great for oily skin. so it isn't just for actresses and actors in the business. you can be a celebrity, too. >> now that's what i call equal opportunity beauty. Watch More

It's finally beginning to look like winter. Here are some great blog reads for those of you staying warm inside.

Fashion:

+Golden Globes Celebrity Fashion Video Look Book, on the Pierce Mattie Fashion Division blog. Quick visual reference of what the starts were wearing and an idea of what will be worn for the Oscars.

+ The Ghetto Fashionista reports that Isaac Mizrahi will be returning to his couture roots. Well we all know how I feel about Mr. Mizrahi, so I look forward to see what his new line will be.

+ She Finds tells you how you can “Pimp my shoes” with Steve Madden’s new DIY Collection.

+ Kingdom of Style caves in and purchases a knock-off Chloe dress; her post title? “Forgive me Fashion for I have sinned.” I love a sense of humor like that.

Beauty:

+ The Glamour Bee reveals that she has Type 2 Diabetes and has a very interesting post about a program called DivaBetics founded by Luther Vandross’s personal assistant. This is a great post and one that everyone should read!

+ Beautiful Makeup Search reviews Max Factor’s newest mascara, Volume Couture (of which I am a big fan myself).

+ Claire’s Beauty reviews Everyday Minerals.

NicoDerm has launched a new anti-wrinkle campaign for smokers looking to quit called “The Beauty of Quitting.” This new campaign is targeted at the other effects smoking has on you that many do not take into account. Of course cancer is serious and absolutely life threatening, however smoking has a long list of side effects that also include wreaking havoc on your skin. Pierce Mattie is very much against smoking and encourages all of his employees not smoke. In fact, he pays for those that do to go on the patch.

As an ex-smoker myself, I can tell you that there were definite things I noticed while smoking. My “smoking hand,” most especially the fingernails nearest my cigarette, were always yellow; my skin was always dry no matter how much lotion I slapped on; and my teeth looked grayish in color. I was only a smoker for 5 years, but still began to see the effects take shape in that small period of time. When switching to a new health insurance 3 years after quitting, a blood test told them that I was still a smoker. I contested it and they revealed to me that nicotine stays in your bloodstream for up to 10 years after you quit.

Blood Diamond, the movie starring Leonardo DiCaprio with several Academy Award nominations, is based on the violent civil war in the 1990’s in Sierra Leone in which the Revolutionary United Front (RUF) rebels attempted to overthrow the government, and an illicit diamond trade was used to fund the war effort. The movie has brought attention to the diamond trade and many times what is involved in mining diamonds that are the most sought-after gem in the world.

So it’s no surprise that there are laboratories out there, such as Apollo Diamonds and Gemesis, that are perfecting on creating real diamonds in a lab setting. Not your typical chemically produced Cubic Zirconia, but diamonds created through a process involving real diamond seeds that come together under pressure to create a diamond that matches or exceeds a mined diamond in quality and brilliance. Same natural diamond, only it takes 2 weeks to produce one in a lab setting versus billions of years in the earth. Obviously it is also much safer to create than the risks involved in mining and what it does to our environment.

Creating and mimicking what is real is nothing new. It’s in how man-made products are taking its toll on the industries that produce the real deal. Cultured Pearls are almost indistinguishable to the naked eye compared to its natural counterpart. Fake fur, really well produced pieces, can often be mistaken for the real thing. While the industry that brings you the real products is beginning to feel its effects, it tries to counteract the new demand for man made quality copies by stressing the importance and value on their non-synthetic product.

Karen A. Newman is Editor in Chief of Global Cosmetic Industry magazine. Global Cosmetic Industry magazine is the business and marketing magazine read by cosmetic, fragrance and personal care product manufacturers and brand owners who look to the publication for the strategies behind the industry success stories. Karen also writes GCI's blog called Beauty Union.

Where do you see cosmetic packaging trends in color cosmetics going in 2007?
One interesting trend we see is in making it easier to apply makeup. Applicators are being refined to meet a very specific purpose for everything from foundation to eyeliner. The new lipstick packaging from Cargo is a hint of what’s to come in recyclable packaging.

What popular scents are being used in fragrances for 2007?
Among recent releases, a broad range of floral and citrus scents are represented, as are musk, sandalwood and patchouli.

Which brands do you seem to get the most press releases about?
We get a lot of press releases from professional beauty brands – and mostly hair care. We hear regularly from Pureology and Thermafuse as well as Graham Webb International, ISO and Joico, but we hear from a wonderfully broad selection of marketers in every category – and we never get tired of hearing about the new things companies are doing. There’s a lot of passion in the beauty industry.

What do you think was the best product launch of 2006?
There were a few that I especially liked. The Yves Saint Laurent Perfect Touch Radiant Brush Foundation offers a built in brush, which speaks to the packaging trend question. Freeze 24/7’s Ice Shield Facial Cleanser with SPF 15 is interesting because it is the first product to commercialize a new delivery system that helps ingredients such as sunscreens bond with the skin so they can be left behind after cleansing. John Frieda’s Luminous Color Glaze puts a salon treatment into at-home use at a mass price.

Any changes taking place for GCI in 2007, editorial content, advisory board, etc.?
We introduced a new editorial advisory board at the end of 2006. This is exciting for us as it is a great group of industry professionals who are going to help us create content that is smart and spot on for our readers. The group includes: Roger Caracappa, The Estee Lauder Companies; Beth Ann Catalano, twist.new.brand.venture; Peter Gallagher, Unilever; Liz Grubow, LPK; Tina Hedges, twist.new.brand.venture; Camille McDonald, Bath & Body Works; Debbie Murtha, Macy’s Merchandising Group; Art Rich, A. Rich Development; Marc Rosen, Marc Rosen Associates; and Laura Setzfand, The Hain Celectial Group Personal Care Division. We’re really excited to be working with this stellar group!

Do you see the faux botox craze stopping?
I don’t see it stopping as long as consumers can find products that give them the temporary smoothing they are looking for.

MTV and The Body Shop have collaborated to help in the fight against HIV and AIDS. The Spray to Change Attitudes will launch on January 29th with a new fragrance by The Body Shop called Rougeberry Eau de Toilette. The Body Shop will sell this limited edition fragrance until March 30th.

Both MTV and The Body Shop will host ad campaigns to try to reach their young demographic, the most vulnerable of all the ages for HIV and AIDS. Nearly half of the 5 million people infected with HIV last year were 15-24 year olds according to The Body Shop founder, Anita Roddick. Since MTV and The Body Shop have world-wide appeal, they are hoping that through reaching this demographic and educating them through the Spray to Change Attitudes campaign, that they can make a difference in the lives of young people and hope that they will in turn educate their friends.

Proceeds from the sale of Rougeberry Eau de Toilette will be given to the Staying Alive Foundation; in the US that should be about $8.70 per bottle. The Staying Alive Foundation, as described on their website, is a multimedia global HIV and AIDS prevention campaign that challenges stigma and discrimination associated with HIV and AIDS as well as empowers young people to protect themselves from infection.

What do you think? Will the campaign be effective in educating and changing the attitudes of their targeted demographic?

Last year we saw many brands launching anti-wrinkle campaigns and going after the baby boomer market. Why not? After all, they were considered the largest demographic out there. However, we are only a month into 2007 and the tides are starting to change. Brands are beginning to turn their interests to the children of baby boomers and finding that they have money to spend with the potential for long-term brand loyalty.

This younger generation learned well from their mothers, I should know, my mother is 55 and I carefully paid attention to all of the brands she purchased throughout the years. I watched at how well my mother took care of her skin and in turn, I followed suit becoming a loyal customer to many brands. This is just what the beauty industry is betting on resonating throughout the 17-35 year old demographic.

Are you getting as excited as I am about Mercedes Benz Fashion Week? I can't wait to see the new colors and styles, let alone new makeup looks! To hold you over, here is what the Fashion & Beauty blogosphere are buzzing about:

Fashion:

+ Tops to Bottoms gives you a style tip on how to wear a belt the right way.

+ Off the Rack, a People Magazine blog, is looking for your thoughts on this week’s cover story regarding Tyra Banks firing back at her critics about her 30lb weight gain. Truth be told—I think Tyra looks amazing on the cover.

+ Discotheque Confusion raves about Nylon Magazine and the spread with Sienna Miller.

Beauty:

+ FabSugar thinks the new Revlon Sugar Sugar lip gloss is a must have. Be sure to take TeamSugar’s poll on whether you love it or hate it.

+ Blogdorf Goodman posts a letter sent to a Koibox user from its CEO. A few people among the 50+ comments question if the letter is a fake however, if it is not, it has to be the rudest letter I have ever read. What do you think—real or fake?

+ All Lacquered Up talks about Creative Nail Design’s Spring 2007 collection and posts comments from Jan Nordstrom-Arnold, its co-founder and style director, on her thoughts for upcoming trends in nails.

Tarte Cosmetics, known for their fabulous Cheek Stains and double-ended lipgloss and BORBA, known for their all natural products and drinkable skin care, have come together for what is likely to become a trend among cosmetics companies this year. tarte Cosmetics has teamed up with BORBA to create their newest lip gloss set to launch in February called Inside Out. Inside Out is a vitamin-infused lipgloss that tarte calls a “double-duty” beauty product. It’s one that not only works on the outside of the body, but on the inside as well. The gloss works to soothe and hydrate your lips, while the nutraceutical blend delivers powerful skin care ingredients.

Scott Vincent Borba exclusively created the blend of vitamins for tarte’s Inside Out lipgloss. It is a combination of all natural ingredients from BORBA’s Clarifying, Age Defying and Replenishing lines. They include Acai & green tea extract which help strengthen capillary walls, reduce epidermal irritation and enhance skin’s clarity and radiance; Grape seed extract & Vitamin C which help accelerate production of natural elastin, protecting skin against free-radical damage & restore skin’s clarity, Vitamins A, E & K which act as antioxidants to give you that healthy glow, and Lychee extract promotes long-term skin hydration and chamomile extract soothes skin and helps to counteract redness. Inside Out comes in 3 colors; shimmery pale pink, hot pink and nude. Each gloss is 5.7oz. and is scented with pomegranate, the same scent as BORBA’s Clarifying Cotton Fibers.

Chances are, if you are a lover of celebrity gossip or fashion, you are familiar with Popsugar and Fabsugar (my personal favorite), but did you know that there are many other facets to the Sugar Network? There are, in fact, 6 more Sugar blogs (with another 5 soon to be launching) and 1 Social Networking and Community site.

Lisa and Brian Sugar started the Sugar Network with $250k of their own money last year moving full speed ahead to find venture capital to cover the remaining costs to launch additional sites, which will feature a variety of videocasts and podcasts. Their network targets "trendsetting, passionate, smart women between the ages of 18 and 35." The Sugar Network is definitely one to be watching this year.

An overview of each site:

* PopSugar- The insanely popular (and addictive) celebrity news and gossip site. It’s choc full of video comments, candid pictures, interviews and everything else you can possibly imagine to learn the dirt on your favorite celebrity.

* FabSugar- A fashion, beauty and accessory guide. Beauty and fashion mavens can hear all about the latest trends, style tips, must-haves and where to buy them.

* TeamSugar- This is the community hub and Social Network where all Sugar members can post comments, discuss what is being written about on the other Sugar sites, post pages of their own and share in all things Sugar.

Last year we really began to see big name brands participate with creditable, professional blogs. These blogs generate valuable supportive word of mouth advertising for brands. Still in its infancy, many did it wrong, such as the Wal-Mart and Sony PS3 flogs. While many did it right through advertising their products on blogs and social networks through BlogAds and Text Link Ads, as well as, viral marketing with You Tube and Revver and speaking directly to blog owners to review their products.

Moving forward and seeing the success that dual exposure in print publications as well as digital media can bring, Ogilvy & Mather has forged a partnership with Technorati to aggregate blog content relevant to Ogilvy clients, then will work with Ogilvy's senior creative directors to integrate existing word-of-mouth into campaigns, according to MediaPost. I have to agree with this statement in their article: “The benefit of social media is that it allows brands to build a more authentic, participatory relationship with its audience than was possible in the mass media era," said Peter Hirshberg, chairman and chief marketing officer at Technorati. Where print media can still be successful, I think the future success of brands lies within the relationship it can form with its consumers through online media such as blogs and social networks. It is, after all, the connection your consumer feels with your brand, that gives you brand loyalty, continued referrals and strong sales.

Make sure to subscribe to PROBE for our February issue and read tips direct from Pierce Mattie himself on how to get your beauty brand the exposure it deserves.

NYC Fashion Week is in full swing, which designer styles and makeup looks do you love so far? Here are some links from the last week around the beauty and fashion blogosphere, with a few checking in on Fashion Week.

Fashion:

+ Fashion Tribes shows off some spectacular photos with a summary of the Red Dress Collection at NYC Fashion Week.

+ Omiru: Style for All interviews Meghan Parsons, the designer behind the jack&marjorie brand.

+ Style Bites gives a review of Max Azria’s Fall 2007 Collection from NYC Fashion Week.

Beauty:

+ Beauty Hobby reviews High Performance Organics Spa Hair Conditioner and Raw Sugar Scrub.

+ Mystical Beauty’s Musings reviews Lumiere Mineral Cosmetics.

+ I am Pretty NYC gives some beauty tips on how to go gray gracefully.

Greg Cartwright has been a Massage Therapist for the past 8 years and Body Sugaring Expert for the last 4. He is accomplished in numerous massage techniques, including Shiatsu, sports and Swedish massage. Additionally, he is certified in Thai massage by the Traditional Medicinal Hospital of Thailand. Greg has been trained by top-tier cosmetology companies, such as La Prairie, Alexandria and SkinCeuticals - to use and administer their products. He achieved his Licensed Esthetician certification through The Aveda Institute.

Greg has always been a person who loves working with his hands, is service oriented and understands building relationships with his clients. Prior to starting Downtime Massage and Skincare, he was a chef at the Ritz in London, Moomba in NYC and private chef to a CEO of one of America’s best-known fashion companies.

What prompted your decision to change your career from being a chef to becoming a massage therapist and esthetician?
The food industry is brutal and there is a certain lifestyle that goes along with being in it. After 10 years and an injury in the kitchen, I was ready for a lifestyle change. At that time I was introduced to Yoga and went to a chiropractor. It was at the Chiropractor’s office that I saw massage for the first time. I love doing things for others; using my hands and making people feel better. I saw that I could achieve this through massage and that is when I decided to begin training to become a massage therapist and eventually a licensed esthetician.

Joanna Roche, NYC Let’s file this under “keeping up with the Jones’” - and for the record I feel compelled to participate. It’s like getting a chain letter and not sending it when you can really use the good karma.

1. Even though my work life is centered on the beauty and spa world, I have a rugged side. I go camping and hiking, I am proficient with a hammer, I have a pistol permit, and I can ride a horse. I plan on sharing all these experiences with my son Luke when he gets a bit older.

2. I love Karaoke! Even though I am not a good singer, it has always been my ultimate fantasy to be a rock star.

3. I made it to the final round of tryouts for College Jeopardy and missed the last question to which the answer was Guy Fawkes. And I still love trivia and pop culture!

4. One of my proudest moments was when my team won first prize in the Lee Fireman’s Muster – I was captain of the Lenox Dale ladies team and we competed in the wet hose event and beat many of the men’s teams and made the front page of our local paper.

5. I am an avid reader – I read all 64 Nancy Drew books by the time I was in second grade and have been reading obsessively ever since. It is my ultimate goal in life to write a book, and I have several ideas I am working on right now.

Find out more about Joanna in her industry profile

They say that imitation is the best form of flattery. If this is the case, then Dove should surely be flattered as CoverGirl takes at stab at their rendition of using real women in their next advertising campaign to promote their new Queen Collection for women of color.

The Queen Collection inspired by CoverGirl’s spokesmodel of five years, Queen Latifah, was launched on January 29th at BB King Blues Club and Grill in NYC, the same day as the casting call for their ad campaign. The Queen Collection is CoverGirl’s newest line to be geared towards women of color, from Latina to African American. CoverGirl is joining the ranks of cosmetics companies promoting their products to this demographic such as Jane Iredale, whose Global Beauty line is also geared towards ethnic women.

CoverGirl will mimic Dove’s Campaign for Real Beauty ads by using real women that may vary in ages from 18-48. The difference will be that these women will have an inspiring story about how they have achieved both inner and outer beauty, whether it was through a recent accomplishment, community service, overcoming an obstacle or standing up for something they were passionate about. The winner(s) will be announced in 2 weeks and will appear in the ad campaign slated for release in June.

Do you think CoverGirl’s use of real women of color will continue to bring a breath of fresh air to marketing campaigns or will it be seen as a Dove copycat?

I thought my parabens rant would be my last regarding claims and beauty scare tactics used in various parts of the press without substantiated and undeniable proof. After finding another press-covered story, by the AP no less, about the possibility of oils in bath products potentially causing breast enlargement in boys, I decided enough was enough.

The study the AP is reporting on was published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The study, which was looking into a condition called gynecomastia, suspected that essential oils such as lavender and tea tree oil could be the culprit for the condition. While the study could not pinpoint any estrogen-like compounds in the oils or make any solid claims to prove that without a doubt these essentials oils cause such a condition, the hormone specialist who oversaw the boys involved in the study went so far as to tell their parents, “I would not give these products to my children.”

Before I go any further, it should be noted that this was one study only done on three boys. It confuses me how this federally funded study without substantiated claims made it into the New England Journal of Medicine and then got picked up and distributed among the news media by the AP. We contacted Paula Begoun, founder of Paula's Choice and well known for several best-selling books such as The Beauty Bible and Don’t Go to the Cosmetics Counter Without Me, for her input on this story. Paula told us,

“We looked at this story too, and your reaction was mine as well. Three kids is hardly a study by any standard and it doesn't prove a thing about those two ingredients. There can be many reasons why a male child might have enlarged breasts. This is not direct evidence and it would take hundreds of children in controlled, monitored environments to prove the possibility (soy milk would prove a bigger risk for phytoestrogens). The news media's job is to grab our attention and keep us on the same channel regardless of truth, reality, or balance.”

As I’ve been gathering stories to write for both of our Beauty and Fashion blogs, I’ve been noticing something become more and more prominent in the news headlines: more companies are going green or collaborating with a green initiative. In 2006, we began to see this trend emerge, but it looked uncertain whether it would take off with the American public or not. Now as I try to write more diversified posts, it seems I can’t get away from writing about who is the next brand marketing green, therefore proving that this topic is not going away anytime soon.

Dave Morgan, at Media Post’s Online Spin, echoed my thoughts exactly today in an article he wrote, “Is Green The New Red, White And Blue?” He too wonders if green is just the “flavor of the month” or a defining element for US brands for years to come. Some of the recent brands I have been Blogging about have been Lancome and their collaboration with Carbonfund.org to reduce carbon foot printing, Diesel’s ad campaign that shows fashion in a post-Global Warming world and whose website encourages becoming involved in StopGlobalWarming.org and watching Al Gore’s “An Inconvenient Truth,” as well as, H&M expanding upon their use of Organic Cotton in more of their clothing lines. I predict these will not be the only companies, or industries for that matter, that incorporate green into part of their branding.

When it comes to tanning, I’ve tried it all – everything from turbo tanning beds that leave me red to spray tanning booths that turn me orange. I’ve found that neither is right for my skin, which is a pale, pasty white – I cover it everyday with H\E Bronzer.

This past week, I started working with Sundara, a sunless tanning salon located in Hell’s Kitchen, which was voted the number one salon in the city by CitySearch readers. I thought I’d give sunless tanning another try, and I had a completely different experience this time around.

First, I had a consult with the technician to see if I had any skin issues, allergies, etc., and to determine my goal skin tone. After that, she custom, yes, CUSTOM blended a formula especially for me. I’ve never seen that done before, but she explained that since we all have different skin tones/concerns, we all need different formulas to help balance redness and to camouflage skin blemishes (i.e. freckles, age spots and sun damage). It makes perfect sense.

Once I was disrobed and ready for tanning, I was amazed by how swift and accurate she moved, like a stealth martial arts master making her move. It was obvious that she was a pro. Within five minutes, I was sprayed twice and was ready to dry in Sundara’s custom drying booth, equipped with high-power fans and lights to help speed along the process. I immediately noticed a big difference and over the next few hours, I gradually turned a golden brown, not orange as I expected due to past experiences. In addition to looking like I had spent a day at the beach soaking up the warm sun, I looked healthier and skinnier. It’s amazing what a tan can do.

With that said I’m thrilled to be working with Sundara and can say that I fully agree with the CitySearch readers. Sundara is definitely the best sunless tanning salon in Manhattan, and it’s clear why they have a waiting list to get in. Take it from me; I’ve been to them all. And stay tuned, Sundara will be opening a second location soon.

Fashion:

+ Fashion Tribes interviews my very favorite designer, Isaac Mizrahi.

+ She She Me gives tips on the best types of shoes to wear with a pantsuit.

+ I like her Style introduces you fashion designer Lauren Moffatt. I admit her Fall 2006 collection was gorgeous!

Beauty:

+ Yummy 411 celebrates Black History Month with Black Opal.

+ The Dazzling Girl reviews The Body Shop Hi-Shine Lip Treatment.

+ Beaut.ie The Irish Beauty Blog discusses Dr. Hauschka products and why he tells you not to use night cream.

Organic Spa Magazine launched this January, published by Oceans Publishing Company, and is available year-round in a complete digital version found online at www.organicspamagazine.com . Co-founder and Editor in Chief, Mary Bemis, is the visionary behind the editorial mandate to integrate personal well-being with environmental sustainability. Her partner, Bev Maloney-Fischback, was responsible for bringing in 27 charter advertisers including Aveda, Jane Iredale, Laboratories Luzern, and Willow Stream the Spas at Fairmont.

Among the first magazines to debut in both print and digital formats, Organic Spa Magazine has a circulation of 40,800 and will be available by subscription for $12.95 for a year of the printed version; $9.95 for digital edition; and $16.95 for the combination.

The Queen of Green: Mary Bemis

You'll be also able to find Organic Spa at Whole Foods Markets.

I recently had the chance to ask Mary a few questions about OS and hear her thoughts on launching a magazine and the current focus on organics in general.

JR: What was your motivation to start Organic Spa?

MB: I really wanted to give something to the consumer. The consumer is so confused about the definition of SPA. The word has become a marketing gimmick pasted on everything from bubble baths to candles. The magazine is intended to communicate that SPA can be a lifestyle and show the consumer how to live that lifestyle at home. I was able to parlay my contacts and expertise into creating a magazine designed to teach the consumer how to incorporate spa into all aspects of their lives – home, rest, work, and play.

JR: What is your definition of Organic?

MB: To me, organic means “from nature”. The magazine is printed on recycled paper and with linseed oil ink. The digital version supports our philosophy of saving trees and paper. Organic is also the name of this growing “movement” that I am seeing, not just a trend identified by the media, but something that will be impactful and long-lasting.

JR: What’s the best / your favorite part of Organic Spa?

MB: Having created it – taking my vision to fruition, making it user friendly, developing meaningful content, and knowing it came from the heart.

JR: What do you see as the future for Organic Spa?

MB: I see the magazine becoming an important source of information for living the spa lifestyle, and I plan to aggressively grow the brand wherever it takes me.

JR: What do you see as important influences in 2007?

MB: Certainly there is attention to a growing organic / natural trend in beauty that needs to be fleshed out. Because there are no standard regulatory principles, it is exacerbating the level of confusion on the part of the consumer. I also see the developing trend as a backlash to the aggressive growth of the medi-spa category. Consumers are buying more natural and organic products across the board – whether it is food or the emerging clothing alternatives.

JR: What’s your greatest hope?

MB: That people take responsibility for their actions – and develop more awareness of the impact on our planet and our supply of water, food, and electricity.

JR: What is your greatest fear?

MB: Apathy and Laziness.

L'Oreal is looking to add ayurvedic beauty products to its current skin care line up through acquisition of an Indian ayurvedic brand. Although L'Oreal hasn't identified a brand that it wishes to acquire just yet, it has been aggressively pursuing the ayurvedic market in India to tap into consumer's growing desire to use exotic beauty products. It was also reported last November that L'Oreal expressed interest in acquiring Ayusoft, ayurvedic software that they approached the CDAC (Centre for Development of Advanced Computing) for customization and further product development of.

As I mentioned yesterday another French company, L'Artisan Parfumeur, will be launching Jatamansi next month. Jatamansi is their first venture into the skin care market and is one that is based on the Himalayan plant used in Ayurveda, an alternative medicine practiced in India. Beauty and personal care products that are ayurvedic are organic and promote healing and health without the use of synthetics or chemicals.

This is a story I just plain had to write about because I was, well, disgusted to say the least. Big tobacco, specifically R.J. Reynolds, has decided it wants to lure more women in to smoking their brand. Their brand, Camel, only has a 30% female customer base. Despite the fact that the leading cause of death in women is lung cancer, R.J. Reynolds has pushed that aside in the name of dollars and cents.

Most marketers know that women respond to the aesthetic look of a product through eye pleasing colors, as well as, luxurious fragrant scents. R.J. Reynolds is running with this notion for a new cigarette they have created called Camel No. 9 (I’m sure Chanel will be thrilled). Camel No. 9 is designed in hot pink fuchsia and minty green teal with the brand’s slogan boasting “Light and Luscious.” Ads, which will appear in such magazines as W, Cosmopolitan, Flaunt, Glamour, and Vogue, will be wrapped in flowers and offer coupons for the cigarette. Just the name Camel No. 9 is intended to evoke thoughts of the luxurious fragrance of Chanel No. 19. Cressida Lozano, vice president for marketing of the Camel brand says Camel No. 9 is intended to bring a wow-factor to the brand and add “fun and excitement.”

Fashion:

+ I am Fashion gives her review of the fashion that graced the Grammy Awards.

+ In My Bag gives her insight on some of the handbags in Zac Posen’s Fall 2007 line up.

+ Styleology 101 gives you some ideas on what products will brighten up your Spring this year.

Beauty:

+ The Organic Beauty Expert reviews Mixed Chicks Shampoo.

+ Scentzilla interviews David H. Pybus, author of "The Chemistry of Fragrances."

+ The Makeup Bag discusses the MAC makeup trends seen on the runway during Mercedes Benz Fashion Week.

What most people don't realize about big glossy magazines is that advertisers in the magazine also get favored additional product placement in the form of mentions in product line ups and other "advertorial" mentions. Nothing wrong with that, it's just how it's always been. A good publicist can help non-advertising brands get more exposure in the same magazine, however those that can afford integrated advertising and publicity often get the best exposure in print and television, of course all this comes at a cost.

Some beauty brands or fashion brands may not have the funding or budget for a large media buy. This post is to address those brands. While selling ad space is not a new idea, finding the appropriate space that is the most effective is critical. If you can't afford the premium ad space in beauty magazines and the top fashion books perhaps you should investigate non-traditional advertising in addition to your PR plan.

Today you can buy ad space on everything from urinal pucks, coffee cups, pizza boxes, shopping bags and now a new and innovative way to reach more people, especially business professionals. Do it through dry cleaning, most specifically, the hangers that go home with each suit and dress and tend to stay in your target customer’s closet for future use.

With 3.5 billion wire hangers ending up in landfills each year, The Hanger Network has designed coat hangers made completely out of paper. The paper is thick and laminated and perfectly acceptable to toss into your recycle bin. It’s strong enough to hold your clothes without falling apart while remaining flexible at the same time. The Hanger Network is hoping that dry cleaners will begin using their EcoHanger because it is free. That saves dry cleaning businesses approximately 8 cents a hanger, meanwhile helping to lessen the burden on the environment.

The Hanger Network is able to give their hangers for free to dry cleaners because it is the advertisers who pay the Hanger Network to place a color advertisement for their product/service on each hanger. These advertisements target both men and women such as ads from Van Heusen and L’Oreal. It’s amazing to me that no one has thought of this idea before. While I would have never dreamed of a sturdy paper hanger, my dry cleaned clothes always come back with white paper wrapping the wire hanger, most times simply stating the name of the place I was just serviced at. Since hangers are reused time and again, this is the perfect opportunity to have your product seen virtually every time a person opens their closet doors. It is unobtrusive, yet subliminal, and done in a way that is functional and serves a purpose.

Presently the EcoHangers are being distributed by Cleaners Supply, the largest distributor of dry cleaning products in the U.S. Currently you can find these hangers at dry cleaners throughout New York City, but with 8 million dollars in venture capital obtained, the Hanger Network will soon be expanding into other cities across the country.

Erbaviva first began its organic line of products to focus on babies and with its success, developed a line for mom’s to be. As success of their products has grown, they have added Aromatherapy and Bath & Body lines that have been sold in high-end boutiques and spas. Now Erbaviva has created their USDA Certified Organic line of products called Erbaorganics and have partnered with Target to sell the brand.

In the realm of beauty where there is no FDA regulation and in an industry that relies upon policing itself, Erbaorganics gaining the USDA’s seal of Certified Organic, means that they are held up to the same quality and standards as organic food. Certified Organic means that you can be assured that there it is chemical-free and hormone-free and that it is organic-plant based. Something I can assure you many mothers think about when applying products to their new baby’s skin. Besides becoming one of the first beauty brands to be USDA certified, it is also one of the first brands to be marketed to the masses through such a retailer like Target. Mass distribution also means a lower price point for consumers and those entering the doors of Target don’t expect to pay a lot for their beauty products, yet demand quality at the same time.

The collaboration of Erbaviva LLC and Target seems to be remaining with the focus of branding that Target has made for itself over the last several years. First adding top household designers to bring a high-end look to their housewares and home decor at a fraction of the price, then adding fashion designers like Liz Lange and Isaac Mizrahi, beauty products by Sonia Kashuk and now Erbaorganics, it seems that Target is setting a standard that other mass retailers fall far behind on.

I am a big fan of Target, so the addition of a high quality totally organic product line for mothers to be like myself and my soon to be newborn son, are a wonderfully appropriate fit.

There really are so many weight loss “pills” on the market today. You can find them, unregulated by the FDA, on shelves at places such as your local CVS and GNC. Then there are weight loss “drugs,” which are regulated by the FDA and can only be prescribed by your doctor. Now there is a weight loss drug made by Glaxo-Smith Kline called Alli (said Al-eye) that is FDA approved, but will be sold as an OTC drug.

How the Alli program works:

* You take a capsule with every meal.
* You register online to gain access to an individualized action plan.
* You check in weekly through the Alli site.
* Through the action plan you learn lessons about meal planning, managing hunger, dealing with setbacks, and making the food and lifestyle changes to help you succeed.
* Access to menu’s and how to shop for low-fat meals.
* Connect with other Alli users.

Alli is not only the first FDA approved weight loss drug OTC, it is the only FDA OTC that is both a weight loss drug and a weight loss treatment plan with support. Alli is Orlistat 60mg. Xenical is a good comparison, as it is also Orlistat, except it is sold in 120mg capsules and can only be prescribed by a doctor. Orlistat works by blocking fat absorption into the body. Alli blocks 25% fat absorption when you take the pill with each meal. Blocking fat results in “treatment effects,” otherwise known as frequent trips to the restroom. Alli’s capsule and program appears to be the perfect form of Classical Conditioning. If you eat meals high in fat when taking Alli, it results in frequent treatment affects, in order to avoid this you need to lower your fat intake to 15 grams or less per meal. Of course, no one wants to experience treatment effects, so they will lower their fat intake, which in combination with Alli provides a successful weight loss. This type of conditioning can be an excellent way to rethink the way you eat and create a new behavioral eating pattern. As you take Alli and recondition the way you eat, it becomes second nature by the time you have met your weight loss goal and no longer need to take Alli. In the end, this will result in long-term weight loss maintenance because you retaught yourself how to eat the correct way.

Fashion:

+ Fashion Rag reviews the 2007 oscars and it's fashion.

+ Denimology interviews Sass & Bide’s Denim Director, Mark Wiesmayr.

+ The Runway Scoop muses, “Let’s Bring Back Fashionable Flight Attendants.”

+ The Space Between My Peers gives you closet organizing tips for those clothes and shoes with “7 Days to a Cleaner Closet.”

Beauty:

+ Almost Pretty reviews Warren Tricomi’s Pure Strength Cabana Collection Hair Shield.

+ Kiss and Makeup reviews Tigi’s Catwalk Oatmeal & Honey Shampoo and Conditioner.

+ The Scented Salamander interviews Sylvie Jessua Owner & Artistic Director Of Ambregris.

I came across this really fascinating article today by Nellie Lide on the blog “Small Business Trends.” While her article may have been geared towards small business, I definitely see how these same trends she writes about can be applied to large businesses, as well. Consumer trends are something that doesn’t necessarily fit into one piece of the puzzle for business, but can be easily applied across the board regardless if you own a large department store like Sak’s or a fashion focused store like Scoop.

The five top shopping trends for 2007 that Lide lists are:

* Shopping as a Societal Force for a Better World

* Shopping for Temporary Ownership: The Shopper as Buyer AND Seller

As I read through each one of these trend forecasts, I couldn’t help but nod my head in agreement.

Shopping as a Societal Force for a Better World: This is one trend I have been speaking much upon lately here on our beauty, fashion and main blog. Lide mentions the RED program, a program launched by Bono to fight poverty, which you really are seeing everywhere (Gap, Apple, etc.), but there is now also an extension of this program called (Product) RED, whose purpose is to raise funds to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Businesses involved in this are Emporio Armani, Converse and Motorolla. We’re seeing businesses collaborate with charities to fight Global Warming such as Diesel and Lancome, and those going green to lessen the stress on our environment. Business cannot grow in a vacuum and many are foreseeing their growth by getting involved in projects that matter most to their consumers.

Fashion:

+ Kiss Me Stace writes a post pertaining to the alarming trend of faux fur being from domestic dogs.

+ Hip Candy snags an interview with Kathleen, America’s Next Top Model’s first elimated model.

+ What Every Woman Needs in Her Wardrobe reflects on the beauty of style that is irregular.

Beauty:

+ Now Smell This reviews Lea St. Barth a fragrance by Calypso St Barth.

+ Life of a Ladybug reviews Urban Decay’s Smoke Out eye pencil, Bobbi Brown’s Eye Brighter and blush, and Milani’s Crystal Gloss (all in one post!)

+ DeLush reviews Clinique’s All About Eyes Rich moisturizer.

Portovert is the first and only magazine targeted at eco friendly weddings, helping brides-to-be take into account the environment when planning their big day. Portovert only launched just last month, which is amazing to me with the length of time people have been going green. It is founded by Meghan Myers, who previously had been the Editor for Family Circle.

Portovert (said porto-vair) offers wedding ideas that support an environmentally and socially conscious lifestyle, offering tips on how to make favors yourself, choosing organic menu options, and how to calculate the carbon footprint of all of the activities involved with your guests (hotel, travel, etc). The site also suggests brides and grooms use a gift registry that will give back a percentage of their profits to a non-profit of their choice. In addition to all of the above, they also have everything broken down into categories so you can choose green brands for you makeup and skin care on your big day such as Korres and Aveda, green fashion brands to find your perfect eco friendly wedding gown and accessories, as well as, food, flowers, the honeymoon and an environmentally friendly location to hold your wedding and reception.

The bridal industry is massive and Ms. Myers should fare very well tapping into a niche that was just waiting to be found. Currently the magazine can only be found online, as they of course follow their own recommendations by minimizing their carbon footprint by being paperless. Regardless that this magazine cannot be found in print, I can only see success for Ms. Myers and Portovert.

Fashion:

+ Chic Inspector inspects the color trend pop that was witnessed at many of the Fall 2007 fashion week shows.

+ Lady Licorice discusses and shows you the perfect layering pieces that you can wear now throughout Spring.

+ Cuffington discusses how that Audrey Hepburn dress that sold at auction for $807,000 has turned into more than “just a dress,” but a chance for 3000 children to receive the benefit of an education in India.

Beauty:

+ Legerdenez reviews Michael Kors Island.

+ Canadian Beauty reviews MD Skincare’s All in One Tinted Moisturizer.

+ Nail Tech Secrets reviews the Dashing Diva’s Extra Virgin Collection of nail polish.

Lately the Pierce Mattie PR staff have been visiting different Secrets Resorts around the globe. I can honestly say I'm a little envious because I'd love to escape and relax in one of their luxurious resort/spas. If you saw my post last December, then you know I am ready for a vacation. All of this got me thinking about places within the United States that offer world class spa’s and I was surprised to find Las Vegas on that list. Traveling out of the country may be difficult with a newborn, but going to Las Vegas is completely doable.

When most of us think of Las Vegas the big lights, the casinos, the wedding chapels and the saying, “What happens in Vegas Stays in Vegas,” all come to mind. We all know Las Vegas is a playground for families and it’s been this way for years. However, there has been change in the air in Vegas in recent years. While all of the above will never go away, it defines the city after all—it is it’s brand image, there is a trend arising and one that the city is sure not complaining about. Las Vegas is becoming the destination hotspot for beauty, fashion and all things luxury. All one needs to do is look at the world class international dining, miles of pools that can rival its casino’s (such as the pool atop the main casino at the Venetian), and even the Guggenheim is opening its doors in Las Vegas this Spring.

My favorite, of course, would have to be the upscale spas and salons that are now the big attraction for those looking to indulge in the ultimate pampering. Spas like Canyon Ranch SpaClub and the Spa Bellagio cater to your every whim, while your hair can enjoy the hands of top celebrity hair stylists like Cristophe and Michael Boychuck and their respective salons at the MGM Grand and The Palms.

Caesar’s Palace has one of the top spas in Vegas with its elite Qua Baths & Spa.

Qua Baths and Spa is a luxurious retreat that taps into the natural, healing powers of water to bring you a one-of-a-kind experience. Bathed in natural light, accented by smooth stone flooring, dark woods and cascading waterfalls.”

We are all familiar with all the various bidding sites that are out there that bring consumer and seller together such as the highly popular website Priceline.com and of course its now defunct name your price grocery website WebHouse (which I sadly miss). Of course there are other variations of sites that look to capture an audience by allowing various businesses to compete for your business such as with Lending Tree and RentalCars.com (owned by Priceline). As more and more consumers are always looking for the best deals, a new trend has been emerging that Doc Searls dubbed last year as the Intention Economy.

The Intention Economy grows around buyers, not sellers. It leverages the simple fact that buyers are the first source of money, and that they come ready-made. You don't need advertising to make them. The Intention Economy is about markets, not marketing. You don't need marketing to make Intention Markets.---Doc Searls”

With this idea in mind, it opens another market and another way for brands to think outside of the box when it comes to getting exposure for their product. This is a market that is virtually untapped and one that many are beginning to see as a golden opportunity to connect in another way with their target market. One such example is in a specific part of the travel industry: cruises. Cruise Compete is a website that is similar in notion to Lending Tree in that Travel Cruise Agents compete to offer you the best deal on a cruise package. Although sites like Lending Tree, Priceline and Cruise Compete work with a limited amount of businesses to offer you the best deal, these sites still remain popular in this niche of price competition and continue to have a small amount of rival sites.

1. Always remove your makeup prior to going to bed. It’s best to use a makeup remover that is oil-free and alcohol-free. My favorite would be Korres Jasmine Eye Makeup Remover.

2. Follow a daily routine of cleansing, toning and moisturizing your face. Cleansing should be done twice a day (morning and night) and with the use of a gentle cleanser. Toning will help tighten your skin and restore your skin’s optimal Ph level, thus balancing it, prior to applying moisturizer. Maximize hydrating your skin by using a day moisturizer and a night cream. A daytime moisturizer is one that is lighter and works well under your makeup and the night cream is thicker and works hard through the night hydrating the areas you tend to see more dryness in. For this routine I switch between Korres and Epionce products.

3. Exfoliate at least once per week. Exfoliating is so important for your skin to remain vibrant and healthy. While our skin naturally sheds the dead cells, they can clog up pores and create those dry patches you find often on your skin. Exfoliating will slough off that layer of dead skin promoting optimal benefits when moisturizing. I use various exfoliators including Korres Olive Stones, Jordan Essentials Spa Polish and recently, Cosmedicine’s Medi-Morphosis.

4. Use a mask 1-2 times per week. Using a good mask will correct and detoxify your skin hydrating it and absorbing excess oil. It is especially beneficial to those who have oily and combination skin. I love cream masks and mud masks. I interchangeably use Korres Wild Rose Mask and Darshan Beauty’s Multani Facial Mud Mask.

5. Protect your face with daily sunscreen or a moisturizer that contains sunscreen. The damage that UVA and UVB rays do to your skin from repeated unprotected sun exposure may not be evident right now, but in years to come it will be something you can no longer hide. KaplanMD offers the best of both worlds with a Day Cream SPF 15. If you have a Five Things topic you think would make for an interesting post, please be sure to tell us in the comments! Find more posts like this on the Beauty Pro Division Blog.

Have a safe and healthy St. Patricks Day Weekend!

Fashion:

+ Turlie reviews Valentino’s Fall/Winter Collection from Milan Fashion Week.

+ Fashion.Verbatim talks to Duckie Brown's Steven Cox and Daniel Silver.

+ All About Style shows you how shoes really do make the outfit.

Beauty:

+ Spa Blah Blah reviews LUSH’s Fresh Face Mask’s.

+ GirlPaint review’s Dove’s Skin Vitalizer.

+ Beauty Hobby gives you ten reasons to drink aloe vera gel.

Holly Houk always viewed illustration art as a hobby and thought that most people who wanted to earn a living from their art were fated to be “struggling artists.” Her perception changed when she began working at an advertising agency as an art buyer. Through her job duties and contacts, she began to see that many people made a viable living from illustration art. It was when her employer had a hard time finding the right fit to some accounts in need of illustration art that Holly felt the courage to submit her own artwork. Her employer was impressed and began to ask her for more illustrations.

One day while searching Craig’s List she found an ad by KMC looking for illustration art for an upcoming project. After calling in books from New York agencies, KMC still hadn’t found the right artist and posted the job. The art would be used for their nail polish company Artessa. Here in the US, Artessa’s sister company is Dashing Diva, which I recognized immediately as I have some of their polish myself. Holly was selected over 30 other illustrators being reviewed for the project and was awarded the account. The client was so thrilled with the results they blew up the images 5 feet tall and featured them at one of the world’s largest beauty tradeshows, held in Italy.

Her previous work also includes Airwalk footwear and the Boston Greater Real Estate Board. You can also see Holly’s art on our Beauty Pro blog, and this month she launched her new website, HollyIllustration.com

Holly told me that she gets her inspiration from film, fashion magazines and photography books and keeps a digital camera with her at all times. She even has a folder in her car to hold the random inspiration she picks up along the way – scraps of paper, spreads from magazines and “pretty little brochures.” This year Holly’s goals are to continue to build up fashion and beauty accounts so that five years from now she is working exclusively with high profile long-term clients.

Please be sure to check out Holly’s website, I assure you that you will be just as impressed as I was with her gorgeous artwork.

Fashion:

+ GlamSpree shows that fashion can be found at the (Helios House) gas station.

+ She’s a Betty rounds up 12 DIY ways to “pimp” your shoes.

+ The Budget Fashionista talks about UNIQLO bringing premium Japanese denim to the US for under $60.

Beauty:

+ The It List finds “hair powder” that’s good enough to eat.

+ Meg’s Makeup reviews Beauty Blender Season of Love.

+ The Beauty Newsletter reviews the soon to be launched Too Faced Status Gloss.

Most industry professionals know that ad placement for publication in September beauty magazines, is the most crucial time for your brand to be seen. As online media continues to strengthen, now is a good time to come to understand how you can maximize your brand’s exposure through Blogging, viral marketing and digital magazines dually with ad campaigns in the leading print magazines. Print magazines and online media sell a relationship with its readers, as well as, an opportunity to reach them in a time of intense focus and receptivity.

Here are some Beauty PR tips that may help your brand stand out:

Understand your competition:
How you can understand your competition begins in their ad campaigns. What you can learn:

+ What magazines/blogs they are pitching their products to.
+ Which demographic they are going after and if it changes depending on the magazine/blog they advertise in.
+ Are they focusing on color, scent, packaging or trendiness?
+ What is their approach? Which key words are they using to get the readers attention?

Learning these key points helps you to decide how to better your current/future campaign with a product that may be along the same lines as your competitor or how to present the same type of product effectively in a different way.

Know The Trends:
Follow the editorial calendars of the books that you want your product or service to appear. The editorial calendars are often featured on magazine Web sites. These give advertisers, readers and writers a heads up regarding planned issue themes.

Even if your product wasn’t originally intended for a particular season or holiday, figure out how you can spin it to make it fit. Study your chosen publications, and determine the types of stories each of them seems to favor—then use them as starting points for your own ideas. Look for patterns, trends, and points of discussion. Pinpoint the best editor for your idea. If need be, call the magazine and ask which editor is best to contact, and how he or she prefers submissions (via e-mail or conventional mail).

Creating a relationship with beauty editors is also key and helps in knowing what beauty editors are looking for months ahead of time. It helps you to prepare your story line and potentially get your product before the eyes of your target audience.

Green Is Good:
One way a non-green brand can become part of the green trend is to donate to a green charity. Brands can do this by becoming a sponsor for a green event, such as Earth Day, or hold a promotion with a percentage of the proceeds going to a particular green charity. Don’t count yourself out simply because you are not organic.

Some campaigns to learn from:
+ Lancome & Carbonfund.org
+ Diesel & StopGlobalWarming.org
+ Bank of America & it's green initiative

Pro-age vs. Antiwrinkle:
If you have anti-wrinkle products, give them a makeover with new wording or new packaging. Breathe new life into them so that they lose the negative connotation that “anti” brings about. Use creativity in the words used on the products and in ad campaigns to promote a more positive feeling about aging when using your product.

Embrace The Concept of Blogging:
Stand out and begin a blog surrounding your brand. When Blogging remember to:

+ Come across as a source of information.
+ Be a problem solver.
+ Remember that Blogging is more about your customers needs than your own.
+ Build relationships with your readers.
+ Allow for interaction between your readers and your brand—keep your comments section open, but moderated to weed through the spam.
+ Be patient. Building readership and trust takes time. The average time for a blog to build a consistent loyal readership is 6 months.
+ Show your brand’s personality. No one wants to read a cold lifeless blog. They want warmth and a personal connection to the brand.

Fashion:

+ The Bargain Queen gives a list of 10 things you must have to be stylish. (It’s pretty clever.)

+ The Jewelry Weblog discusses Black Chandelier’s Hissing Roach Brooch. My 2 cents—I’ve killed enough roaches in my time to know that I don’t want to wear a live one as jewelry.

+ Style Dash asks, “Are we slaves to fashion?”

Beauty:

+ Bois de Jasmin reviews the fragrance Annick Goutal Le Chevrefeuille.

+ Beauty Snob review’s Fresh’s Sugar Face Polish.

+ Lipstick Powder n’ Paint reviews Palm Sugar Spa products.

Fashion:

+ Style Bubble lends her thoughts on the new Kate Moss for TopShop collection.

+ Debutante Clothing brings up the issue of Fashion Copyright, which goes along with what Jason Jobson and I have been discussing on The Fashion Rag.

+ Men’s Flair helps you find a pair of sunglasses for your face shape.

Beauty:

+ Beautynomics reviews Epoch’s Blemish Treatment.

+ Beauty Banter review’s Cleo Bath & Body products.

+ A Touch of Blusher discusses Spring/Summer’s newest trend: white eyeshadow.

Fashion:

+ Style Critic gives the lowdown on A.P.O.’s Personalized-Designer Jeans.

+ No good for me shows that eco-fashion can even be a pretty wood pulp dress.

+ Fashion & Style Tips gives advice from a fashion leader. Not only is this post so true, but it is quirky and quite possibly the best post I have read all week.

Beauty:

+ Canadian Beauty reviews Philosophy’s Sweet Coconut Body Butter.

+ The Makeup Girl gives you Tools 101, a short list of must-have tools to always keep in your makeup bag.

+ Beauty Pro: Check out my review on Kiss My Face’s Tighten Up Moisturizer.

Simply say, “The Beauty Bible” and everyone knows I am talking about Paula Begoun. I recently was able to interview Paula, also known for her other best sellers: Don’t Go To The Cosmetics Counter Without Me and Don’t Go Shopping For Hair Care Products Without Me. Paula Begoun is also a syndicated columnist of “Dear Paula,” a column that can be found throughout newspapers in the US and the creator and innovative force behind her product line, “Paula’s Choice.”

When you first began to challenge the cosmetics industry, were you met with much resistance by them, or did they give off the attitude that you were simply one individual who didn't pose much of a threat?
I have always found the resistance the same, some people in the industry love my work and others think I don’t know what I’m talking about. In the long run, I don’t pose much of a threat, but that’s always true for an iconoclast.

As time went on and your books became best sellers (and you--a force to be reckoned with), did you notice that the brands you were challenging for false claims began to change the wording in their advertising?
No, if anything things have gotten worse. Cosmetic companies don’t even care what the FDA does, because by the time anyone notices, the next advertising campaign or product launch replaced the previous one.

In the beginning, were you surprised by the amount of women responding to you? Are you still surprised that it continues today?
I’m always surprised how many women know my work. Selling over 2 million books is really great for the ego. What saddens me, is when I feel nothing has changed and women are still wasting lots of money on misleading advertising claims.

You said (on your website) that Paula's Choice and your challenging of the cosmetic industry began as a personal quest. Do you now feel like an advocate for all women discerning fact from fiction in product claims?
It still feels like a personal quest, I find myself wanting to know more all the time. Being an advocate for myself, and having turned that into a business is a wonderful way to earn a living.

What makes Paula's Choice products stand out among its competitors?
It depends on who the competitor is. There are some really bad products on the market and in those instances my products are stellar with state of the art ingredients, air tight packaging (to keep the beneficial ingredients stable), and elegant formulations. But there are also brilliant products out there that are truly excellent and I feel strongly my products compete beautifully (and almost always, mine are far less expensive).

Fashion:

+ SporkFashion posts about David Lundhal’s Fire Element Necklace.

+ J’adore Couture discusses the success of Gap’s newest Designer additions, the book “Falling into the Gap” and ponders if Gap Inc. has learned from its past as sales are up 4% at Gap and 10% at Old Navy. I vaguely remember *someone* saying that Gap Inc. would make a comeback this year.

+ Fashionista has a great series called “Adventures in Copyright Infringement.” In adventure #10 she compares a pair of Manolo Blahnik’s to an exact copy by J.Crew.

Beauty:

+ Hello Dollface reviews a number of beauty products from NYX Cosmetics (of which I am also a fan!)

+ Modern Atelier review’s two products from Stila’s Summer Collection.

+ Perfume-Smellin’ Things reviews La Base For Her.

Nowadays when we think of the Middle East, many thoughts come to mind—mainly it being a place of great conflict. The idea of traveling there for a vacation hardly sounds like a way to relax in a place of enjoyment. However, there is a hidden gem among the sand that has been quickly becoming a travel destination hotspot in recent years that is not only safe, but is the definition entertainment and luxury.

Dubai, a city that is part of the United Arab Emirates and home to more than a million people, surprisingly enough does not generate its revenue based on oil, but instead on economic development and tourism. Dubai has been able to make this transition through its creativity, innovative thinking and determination to be a world leader in business and hospitality. Dubai is a hub for such businesses as IBM, Microsoft and Oracle. It is also home to the Burj Dubai, a building that will soon be the tallest in the world.

The Burj Dubai currently stands at 123 stories and will be the first home to the Armani Hotel and ultra-luxury Armani Residences, which will feature the Armani Casa line of home furnishings. The Armani Hotel located at Burj Dubai will become the flagship for a new international chain and will incorporate various Armani fashions, furnishings and beauty collections; it is set to open in 2008. Burj Dubai will also be home to “The Residences,” which are luxurious Arabesque quarters that celebrate the ancient heritage of the region.

When it comes to your brand, are you soley focused on the bottom line and how to bring in the customers and drive your sales? Or are you willing to set aside a portion of your profits and time to focus on the one thing that makes your company a success: your customers and what they need. Tom’s of Maine recognized a consumer issue related to their niche and have created a program to serve a public health need. Not only is this a great way to generate positive feelings about the Tom’s of Maine brand, but also a great PR generator, as well.

Tom’s of Maine has a dental program they established in 2004 called Dental Health For All. It’s a program aimed at helping those who are without dental insurance and seek dental care through clinics. Since 2004 they have granted clinics throughout the US more than $670,000, which has helped more than 15,000 children and adults gain access to dental care. With more than 120,000 people in the US without dental insurance, Tom’s of Maine stepped up and decided to contribute to a cause that is beneficial to both the brand and potential consumers. Since they are one of the top leading brands in natural personal care products, it only made sense for Tom’s of Maine to extend their relationship beyond just their customers, but onto others where dental care due to lack of insurance is an everyday struggle.

Due to Tom’s of Maine’s ability to look beyond sales figures and profits, they have been able to establish themselves as a leader in their industry. Being a leader doesn’t mean your company has the highest profits or best sales tactics, being a leader means being the one to think beyond yourself, step out of the box and contribute to the community not only in a way to help your niche, but to help those customers in an unselfish way. By providing grants each year to various dental clinics around the US, Tom’s of Maine establishes a relationship with dental professionals and the clients who utilize their services and isn’t that what public relations is all about; creating a relationship and positive image of your brand that has the potential to do more than marketing alone?

Tom’s of Maine has done it right, what are you doing to establish a positive relationship with your target market to create brand awareness and create that personal connection with consumers?

Fashion:

+ The Fashion Rag: Check out an up and coming NYC Fashion Designer, Boaz David.

+ Second City Style gives us a Week in Review of Bad Celebrity Fashion.

+ Fashion I.Q. has compiled a list of the Top 50 Fashion Blogs.

Beauty:

+ Blog For Beauty reviews Max Factor’s Masterpiece Mascara.

+ Claire’s Beauty reviews various beauty products from Bourjois.

+ The Mineral Makeup Blog reviews Jane Iredale’s Liquid Minerals.

The first Global Spa Summit concluded yesterday at the Waldorf Astoria with a press conference and champagne reception. For me it was an opportunity to connect with industry colleagues, say hello to some old friends, and learn about the hot topics of today.

The press conference was moderated by Pete Ellis of Spa Finder Inc., the underwriter of the conference. Pete and his wife Susie run Spa Finder and publish Luxury Spa Finder Magazine. Keynotes were delivered by Revolution LLC founder Steve Case and Kevin Kelly, president of Canyon Ranch.

In summarizing the event Pete and his panel including Fairmont Raffles Hotels VP Ann McCall Wilson, focused on the continued growth of the spa industry and its expansion into the healthy lifestyle arena. The concept of spa has its origins in Europe, but its development in the US has made it one of the fastest growing industries in the world.
The spa industry now encompasses everything from the local yoga studio that offers massage to the destination health resorts that make the word famous. The Summit addressed several main points;

1. Integration and segmentation are taking hold
It may be a paradox, but simultaneously the industry is including the all the wellness aspects of “healthy living” businesses and is creating the segment definitions that allow them to be part of the category of spa.

2. Global brands of spa are rising
Several spas have now developed global reputations and outposts – think Canyon Ranch or Fairmont or Banyan.

3. The conservative financial institutions are looking to invest
Banks and other financial institutions are looking for the formula that will allow them to measure the impact of spa and wellness on specific real estate projects. This will only serve to further propel the growth of the industry.

4. Labor shortage / educational standards
For as long as I have been in the spa business (since 1993) this has been an issue, and for the first time, I saw an international effort in collaborative education being discussed at this event.

Pete Ellis also reported that they had to turn away attendees to the event, a sure sign that the work being done by this group is meaningful. Another sign, the high level positions of the attendees. I caught up with Deborah Szekely, founder of Rancho La Puerta and Golden Door Spas and one of the most famous and recognizable names in the industry. I had met her back in the early 90’s at an ISPA conference where she had given a very memorable speech. Looking amazing and agile she is still contributing to the industry she helped found. I missed Kevin Kelly, president of Canyon Ranch, my alma mater, but heard that his speech was excellent. And of course Mary Tabacchi of Cornell University who has tirelessly worked to educate her students in the art of spa management was there.

I toasted the successful event with Jane Iredale and partner Bob Montgomery and look forward to hearing much more from this group.

Intoxicating, indulgent, opulent; all of those things describe the luxurious fragrance line of Sharon Bolton Scents. A Santa Barbara resident, Sharon Bolton captures the essence of grace and femininity along with the lush splendor of Santa Barbara's natural bounty. Discovering Truth, Luv and Soul is similar to experiencing the relaxed yet chic lifestyle the town is known for.

Truth: A refreshing, clean citrus. A tangy lemon-lime softened by an exotic floral and an airy, sheer musk...fresh like a warm sea breeze.

Luv: An intoxicating, ultimately feminine scent of rare pink gardenia, lush Hawaiian white flowers, and a hint of creamy vanilla with a delicate whisper of white musk.

Soul: Sweet tropical notes that will evoke a memory for your soul. Juicy papaya, luscious pineapple, and creamy coconut with undertones of clean musk.

I had the opportunity to ask Sharon what her mission was when launching her company:

You'll be surprised to hear that we actually don't offer just scents, we offer a luxurious sensory experience and a tropical getaway. Scents evoke such things as to bring us to another place or transport us to another time. I can't tell you how often I hear from customers that one of our scents reminds them of their wedding, or the beach, or a favorite childhood scent...the list goes on and on. I also wanted women to wear the scents, not the scents wear them. Light, clean, fresh is what we strive for. We kept the component of alcohol out of the perfume oils for those with sensitivities, like myself! The luxurious bath and body products offer indulgence in the sensory experience of Sharon Bolton Scents. They are rich and creamy and the shower cream creates loads of bubbles. We chose Soy candles with cotton wicks for the environmental factor. Our products are cruelty free and packaging is 100% recyclable. We truly kept in mind the customer's experience, which we wanted to be a luxurious, indulgent and evocative one. And lastly, we wanted to keep part of our mission to give back to our community and to causes that are important to us.

Where does the inspiration for your scents come from?

The scents are reminiscent of our breezy seaside town of Santa Barbara as each season presents different floral aromas in the air. Also, Hawaii is a huge inspiration. The air always smells like a burst of Plumeria and the Papayas plucked off the vine smell heavenly! Hawaii was definitely the inspiration behind Soul (think a day at the beach in Maui) and Luv (reminds me of wearing a big, bountiful floral lei) and Truth's inspiration was more Santa Barbara. I'd say having a margarita while the Santa Ana's come whistling through bringing night blooming jasmine alive. And our most recent addition Dream...I just knew I'd want to be wrapped in cashmere in the Santa Barbara winter and that is what this scent reminds me of...it's Dreamy! Throughout my travels and experiences I am always noting the smell of fruit, flowers, soaps, the air, food...you name it!

Sharon Bolton's newest scent, Dream, is launching on November 15th only at The Powder Room on Bustleton Avenue in Philadelphia. It can be described as a heady concoction of bergamot, white freesia, mimosa with accords of amber, sandalwood and exotic musk.

See all that Sharon Bolton Scents has to offer online at www.sharonboltonscents.com or find a store located near you. I promise you won't be disappointed!

Syd Curry is an amazingly talented hair stylist. Syd's career in the beauty industry has spanned 3 decades working on celebrities such as Debbie Harry, Ashley Judd, Madonna, Charlize Theron, Mariah Carey and Cindy Crawford. His trademark hair styles have graced celebrities at iconic events like The Academy Awards, The Emmy’s and The Grammy’s while his work has been published in every major magazine domestically and abroad. He was the creative behind the "black bob" wig for the model featured in George Michael’s video “Father Figure” and at present you can see his craftsmanship on Nicolette Sheridan as she graces the cover of Prestige Magazine. Syd Curry is talented, creative, innovative, but most of all...inspiring.

Speaking publicly for the first time, Syd Curry granted me access into his rise to the top, hitting rock bottom and how determination can never keep a good man down.

Shannon: When did you first realize that you had a talent for styling hair?

Syd Curry: At a very young age, it was just something I could always do. I started beauty school at 16 in Simi Valley, California. I was the only boy in school at the time and I took a lot of flack for it, but I was a good stylist and the boys who gave me the hardest time stopped when their mothers and sisters started coming to me.

Shannon: Did you ever think that it would take you all over the world?

Syd: No never. Who thinks that someday you’ll be going all over the world because you have a talent for doing hair? I had traveled all over the United States but when I worked for Mariah Carey I was lucky enough to travel all over Europe and to Japan. Billy B who was her make up artist at the time introduced us so it was amazing getting to see the world with my best friend. Ask him about the earthquake in Japan someday!

Shannon: How were you discovered?

Syd: My friend Ricky Castro needed hair done for a story in LA Weekly—we were shooting in a graveyard and old theater and his agent came by and asked me to call her. My first print work was with Matthew Rolston and one of my first videos was for Buster Pointdexter in Las Vegas—this is where I met Billy B.

Shannon: What do you feel are the two most important products when styling hair?

Syd: Of course products are always important, a good hairspray and something to “set” the hair, but for me having the right tools are key. Irons, hot rollers good brushes and a tail comb. I’m old school and almost every thing I do comes out of the “sets” I learned in Beauty School, even if its beach hair I start out pin curling the hair. Of course I can do a straight, flat look, but what fun is that? But getting back to your question, if it works for me I use it. I don’t care if it cost fifty cents or fifty dollars.

PRESS ROOM Los Angeles, California December 12, 2007: Pierce Mattie Public Relations is pleased to announce that it has promoted Kim Tobman from Senior Account Executive to Account Director. Kim will now oversee clients who want to focus on larger public relations strategies and events.

This promotion comes as a result of a long standing track record of success for securing top tier press for such clients as Old Navy, GUESS handbags and ReVive Skin Care. Kim’s strong commitment to the success of the brand’s she oversees has been a proven formula for achieving greater brand awareness and improving brand value.

For more information on what Pierce Mattie PR’s talented and creative team of Account Executives can do for your company, visit www.PierceMattie.com or call 212-243-1431.

Pierce Mattie PR’s annual Publicist of the Year Award was recently held to recognize the senior publicist whose efforts stood out in 2007. Nominations were made internally by the Pierce Mattie team and by the firm’s clients then sent to an outside judging company who tallied the votes from the media. Publicists were notified of their award the night of the ceremony.

The criteria were based on the publicist(s) who had demonstrated the following:

Advocacy: Best guidance while on desk-sides or media tours.
Tenacity: Editors were able to call in the last hour & get a quote for a story.
Creativity: Most original pitch and press copy.
Resourcefulness: Able to put an entire broadcast segment together for editors & the media with their client portfolio.
Respect: Always follows up without being aggressive.

Maryam Zarkesh, Brand Director in the Los Angeles office, took home the award for Publicist of the Year with 26% of the votes. Maryam has worked on fashion and beauty brands such as Old Navy, GlyDerm, STAGR, Solidea, and ReVive Skin Care. Her clients are often seen in Allure Magazine, Glamour Magazine, and US Weekly to name a few. Zarkesh was awarded a six day and five night trip for two to Paris with full accommodations paid by Pierce Mattie Public Relations, Inc. The Runner's up received cash prizes from American Express and Neiman Marcus.

I find it quite interesting that the bubbly blonde Chrissy from Three’s Company has blossomed into this uber brand we call Suzanne Somers. Suzanne is a branding success story that I find amazing and inspiring. Not to be pigeon holed as a dumb blonde, Somers intelligence, ambition, hard work and determination have made her a force to be reckoned with—and when Hollywood tried to put her down, she showed them what makes someone a great leader is overcoming obstacles and learning from your mistakes.

Suzanne Somers’ entrepreneurial spirit has lead her to author several books including several diet and self help books, as well as fashion, jewelry, beauty, diet and exercise products. Never one to let an opportunity pass her by, she has also further branched out into direct sales with “Suzanne,” where consultants can hold parties to earn money while selling Suzanne’s products.

Despite rib poking around the Thigh Master when it first came out, Suzanne is the person who comes to mind when you think back to when infomercials began. That Thigh Master, by the way, continues to be one of the best selling products for Somers. Launching her into the health and fitness industry, Somers has also found success with Somersize (which I hear has some very tasty desserts!)

Honestly, I’m pretty sure I could go on and on about all of the fabulous lines of products that are part of the Suzanne Somers empire. You’ve got to admit, Suzanne Somers is a pretty impressive brand that really doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.

What’s your take? Is Suzanne Somers a branding genius (or did she just have a really great publicist)?

Pierce Mattie Public Relations has comprised a list of the hottest magazines ranging from industry leaders, quickly emerging stand outs, as well as publications that will be launching in 2008.

2. Esquire: Not only can Esquire boast a circulation bordering on the 1 million mark, but their website is ranked #2 by MinOnline.com for achieving the highest page views (4,417,927) and unique visitor count gains for a magazine brand in 2007.

3. Domino: With home magazines on the rise, Domino is emerging as a stand out publication. Under the helm of Editor in Chief Deborah Needleman, Domino has found success in relating to readers who are just as savvy about the style of their home as they are to the fashion that they wear.

4. Brides: Bridal magazine titles have increased 96% since 2002 and Brides magazine still has remained a powerhouse with the highest circulation, leading the way among their competitors.

5. Cookie: Parents who aren’t looking to compromise on style and aesthetics have found the perfect outlet in Cookie. Increasingly popular among fashionista’s who have graduated on to motherhood, Cookie’s focus on style, beauty and home décor has resonated with a sophisticated audience.

6. Real Simple: Time is a luxury and Real Simple has struck a chord with female readers looking to simplify their hectic lives. In this fast paced society, this easy to read publication continues to surge in popularity bordering on a circulation just shy of 2 million.

7. W: The fashion bible of the industry has been and will always be a must-read magazine. Those in the know are readers of W.

8. Genlux: Regional magazines are among the fastest growing in the publishing industry; in fact they were king in 2007 as the largest magazine category while Luxury magazines had the second highest launch rate in 2007. Genlux is the best of both worlds as a Los Angeles luxury-driven magazine; it’s the one magazine that has both editors and consumers raving.

9. Conde Nast Portfolio: This business publication for the influential executive trendsetters already has a circulation of 350,000 and it’s only been on newsstands less than 12 months. The business community is applauding Editor in Chief, Joanne Lipman, for this must-read that is sure to continue being hot in 2008.

10. Nylon: Nylon is the thinking fashionista’s style magazine. Consumers respond to Nylon’s smart writing and substance-based editorial.

Please be sure to visit the NEW Pierce Mattie Public Relations blog on its new URL, just add the word "public relations" after Pierce Mattie and omit the word blogs: www.piercemattiepublicrelations.com

Other Pierce Mattie PR Division Blog Locations:
Beauty Pro A professional beauty and cosmetics industry blog.
The Fashion Rag Fashion, design and style blog co-written by Jason Jobson and Shannon Nelson.
The Jewelry PR Division Jewelry, precious metal and accessory industry blog.
The Fitness PR Division Our sports fitness, health and club industry blog.
The Industry Dirt Blog Media Industry Blog.

See you there!