Cosmetics and Beauty News December 2008

Avon in the spotlight
Avon has recently announced that Courteney Cox Arquette, of Friends fame, will be fronting their newest fragrance, Spotlight. Marketed as a 'perfume for the stars', it will contain notes of citrus, mandarin, and bergamot, and it will cost $22.50 when it is released in the US in April (UK launch scheduled June). The bottle will have 'spotlights' on the packaging that give the impression of a dressing-room mirror. Also in June, Patrick Dempsey of Grey's Anatomy is due to promote an Avon fragrance for men, 'Unscripted'.


NuBo casts its veil of beauty over Harrods
An intriguing line of revitalising anti-ageing products has just hit Harrods in time for 2009: NuBo not only offers the standard day and night creams, but also introduces a product that lesser brands are sure to start copying. The star product in question, 'Voile', comes in three shades (Transparent, Nude, and Tan), and takes the form of a clear gel which dries powder-light, corrects skin tone and hides lines, as well as treating the latter with a truckload of hyaluronic acid. Just apply over moisturiser, and for £39.15 you're allegedly ready to go.

Hollywood skincare is coming to Britain
A-list skincare guru Kate Somerville will finally be making her UK debut in January, with products retailing exclusively at SpaceNK and promising to be just as successful as her already well-known 'ExfoliKate' exfoliator.

Earthly delights from Aveda
Set your face to 'dazzled' with these natural cosmetics from Aveda. Making a return to the UK in 2009, Aveda's Uruku cosmetics range builds on a sustainable business model and partnership with the Yawanawa tribe of the Amazon rainforest. The urukum trees guarded by the tribe yield the seeds which provide the natural pigments used in this makeup range, which comprises a range of products from shampoo to lipstick. The earthy colours, combined with traditional tribal packaging designs, should make a very merry sustainably-sourced gift this holiday season - or at any other time.

Sources:
Fashion Monitor Daily
www.plurielles.fr
www.marieclaire.co.uk
www.marketingweek.co.uk
www.daylife.com
www.nubobeauty.com
www.harrods.com
www.aveda.com
www.pannachesalon.com
www.condenast.co.uk

Yves Rocher Pivoine

RRP: £11.50/€17 for 60ml eau de toilette; also available in 30ml (£8.60)

--What does the promo say?--
"Envelop yourself in tenderness! Surrender to the voluptuous allure of peony; a large, yet delicate flower that fascinates us with its fragile, romantic blossoms. Its fresh, delicate scent envelops you in soft, floral notes."

--Packaging--
Surprisingly reminiscent of Givenchy's Irresistible, in a sculpted, angular, tall pink bottle. It is the opposite of what one might expect on first smelling the fragrance - more of which shortly.

--Application--
Spray appropriately into hair, onto sternum, onto wrists, and behind ears. Layer with other products if desired.

--Scent--
On first application it smells 'deep' and 'old' - not as fresh and modern as the packaging leads you to expect. In all honesty, it doesn't seem to be a fragrance aimed at young people and is completely at odds with the marketing concept. It develops into something slightly fresher and more subtle, but the change is not great and I still wouldn't describe it as a young, innovative fragrance. It's not unpleasant to smell, however, and the peony comes over very well, as per the description given by Yves Rocher.

--Longevity--
Not bad: it does fade, but very slowly, and this fading is in fact becoming to the fragrance, rather than proving a negative aspect, as this allows it to become 'younger' and more girly.

--Value for money--
The larger 60ml bottle is clearly better value than its half-size opponent, and it's very affordable no matter how you look at it; however, for your money you're getting an inferior fragrance that doesn't suit the young audience at which it's aimed. I'd advise upping your budget and going for something with more wow factor, such as Cacharel's Anais Anais.

perfect partners
Pivoine Shower Gel, £3.90
Pivoine Handwash, £3.20
Pivoine Body Lotion, £6.50

Benefit Posie Tint

RRP: $28/£22.50 for 12.5ml

--What does the promo say?--
"The cheekiest flush you can get from a bottle. Our petal-pink stain plants a kiss of see-through tint on cheeks & lips. With hours of smudge-proof, just-picked perfection, you'll be the prettiest bloom in the bunch!"

--Packaging--
As with everything Benefit, very sleek, fun, and in keeping with their classic, slightly cheeky, 1950s image. The bottle is a shiny pink deal in an equally pink box, with white decoration, though I'd say the box is too big for the bottle and therefore a bit of a case of much ado about nothing. The applicator is much like that seen on nail varnish bottles, and it seems weird to be using this kind of brush to apply something to your face rather than to your nails.

--Application--
The Benefit website provides what it calls 'tips and tricks' for using Posie Tint. "Brush three strokes on the apple of your cheek," it says, "and blend quickly with fingertips. Do the same on your other cheek. Dot on lips & blend with fingertip. For a deeper "pop" of colour, repeat."

--Appearance--
A lurid, bright, almost neon pink liquid is what you first see on drawing the brush from the bottle, which is a little concerning. However, on the face it endows you with a very natural-looking flush on both lips and cheeks, though it is very subtle, and most people (apart from the very palest redheads) will probably need to apply the stuff twice to achieve the desired effect (during my first test, a one-layer application to the lips only, I wasn't even sure if it had worked properly as I could barely see the results).

--Scent--
No discernible scent.

--Texture/consistency--
Liquidy without being too runny, lumpy or sticky. It doesn't cause any irritation to the face, and in fact feels very moisturising on the lips. It also dries in perfect time: not so slowly that you can't continue with the rest of your routine, but not so quickly that you can't finish fast enough.

--Longevity--
The results on the cheeks are excellent: Posie Tint provides a natural blush that lasts all day. However, on the lips, results are poor, with the colour being barely visible to begin with, even with multiple applications, and fading quickly.

--Value for money--
Posie Tint certainly provides the best blusher I've ever used, giving a natural look that lasts all day. However, performance on the lips is disappointing: it's all very well to have a multi-use product, but only when all of the multiple uses work well concurrently (though I realise that this is difficult to achieve). As with the majority of Benefit products, it's also quite expensive for what it is, with the company relying on its pretty packaging to draw the suckers in (luckily for my wallet, mine was a Christmas present). My advice would be to try to procure this on ebay or via other online retailers for less money than the RRP if possible, rather than going directly to the Benefit website or franchises. Once you have done so, you'll have permanently charming winter-flushed cheeks, and a happier bank balance.

perfect partners
BadGal Lash Mascara, $19/£14.50
That Gal Brightening Face Primer, $28/£19.50
Lust Duster Loose Powder, $18/£13.50

T Leclerc Matte Liquid Foundation

RRP: £26/$37 for 30ml
# of shades available: 6

--What does the promo say?--
"This matte-finish foundation is a hybrid of fluid and powder foundations, ideal for oily and combination skins. The formula contains rice starch, providing an opaque coverage."

--About the brand--
Théophile LeClerc formulated a rice-based face powder in 1881. Its popularity exploded and a range of LeClerc face powders are still available today alongside eyeshadows, lipsticks and other cosmetics. (Not to be confused with E Leclerc, which is France's nearest equivalent to Tesco.)

--Packaging--
An attractive opaque glass canister with pump mechanism, in a grey and pink box. The brand logo provides classiness and timelessness and the bottle itself is easy to use: just shake before use, and then press down once on the pump for a perfect amount of foundation. The only small problem is that the opening does 'weep' a little after you've pumped once, but there is also a see-through plastic lid to prevent leakage from this area.

--Application--
"Shake the product well before use," advises the T Leclerc website. "Warm the foundation in your palm then apply sparingly with your fingers. Starting from the centre of the face, blend it off on the neck line." No problems here.

--Appearance--
Unfortunately I was unable to choose my foundation shade, and the one I ended up with is a little too dark. However, it's versatile stuff and responds well to being blended with moisturiser, tinted moisturiser or suncream to achieve a better match. Once applied, it evens out complexion and provides a healthy glow.

--Coverage--
No complaints - even especially prominent blemishes are made less noticeable.

--Texture/consistency--
Again, no complaints: it's creamy, but doesn't feel comedogenic on the skin; it's not runny or sticky.

--Longevity--
You only need a small amount to cover your whole face, so certainly a bottle lasts an encouragingly long time. It also seems to adhere well, not coming off even if you're inclined to frequently touch your face without meaning to. It does, however, come off easily when you do want it to.

--Value for money--
It's perhaps a little pricey and certainly is the most expensive foundation I've ever used (it also contains SPF15, which in my view they don't publicise enough). In the right shade it would be excellent and you need have no qualms about how long one bottle lasts you: a small amount goes a very long way, it dries powder-light, and is still great for those who require extra coverage.

perfect partners
Corrector Palette, £22
Professional Concealer Pencil, £19
Loose Powder, £28
Pressed Powder, £28

Avon Gloss Stick for Lips

RRP: £5
# of shades available: 4

--What does the promo say?--
"An ultra-glossy finish, in a stick! This medium coverage lip liner and lip gloss in one lasts for hours, leaving lips soft and moisturised."

--Packaging--
This clever pencil doesn't need sharpening - you just twist the coloured end of the pencil for more gloss. No mess OR fuss. In addition, the black teamed with the colour of the gloss you have chosen and the travel-friendly lid makes for an attractive overall concept.

--Application--
Pull off the lid and twist the other end of the pencil for more gloss if needed. Apply directly to lips.

--Appearance--
This product's versatility is certainly commendable, as the result can be a full-on blast of colour with all-over application or a sheer translucent slick with just a little applied to your bottom lip and then rubbed in. There is a slight shimmer to the colour which can be natural or glitzy as you so choose. It's also appropriately shiny without looking unnatural.

--Texture/consistency--
Perfectly smooth and without stickiness. Despite the aforementioned shimmer you can't feel any particles of glitter on your lips either.

--Scent--
No discernible scent.

--Longevity--
Just your average normal gloss here, I'm afraid - I certainly wouldn't promote it as lasting for hours.

--Value for money--
A good and innovative product at credit-crunch-busting prices: what more can you ask for?

perfect partner
Perfect Wear Liquid Eye Liner Pen, £6

Diesel Fuel for Life

RRP: from £22. Available in 30ml, 50ml and 75ml

--What does the promo say?--
"Diesel Fuel For Life Women is sexy, precious and intensely attractive, with the bold passion of blackcurrant and jasmine, colourful irreverence of mandarin and mysterious waves of patchouli."

--Packaging--
The brand and the fragrance has an excellent image, which Diesel has relied on heavily this Christmas. This, in conjunction with vintage trends, means that the future of this scent is promising, as the elasticky lace around the bottle lends the fragrance's image a simultaneously girly, punky and timeless appeal.

--Application--
As usual: spritz on acupuncture points to be encircled by the scent.

--Scent--
The clever marketing of the fragrance sets the wearer up for a positive experience. However, the reality falls flat on its face: the scent is not unpleasant, but it is forgettable, and it becomes clear quickly that style has prevailed over substance. There is a hint of sweetness and citrusy notes, but the scent is not especially individual and neither of these qualities really come through incredibly clearly. Perhaps crucially, there is little to distinguish the scent from its competitors once you get past the pretty packaging, which seems a shame.

--Longevity--
Not good: 'subtle' would be too generous.

--Value for money--
The price is certainly right: however, for it you are getting a poor-quality fragrance and will feel pretty stupid for being duped by the attractive packaging (as well as nursing the space in your wallet). Don't do it - there is plenty else out there for the discerning fragrance lover.

Viktor and Rolf Flowerbomb

RRP: from £39.99
available in 30ml, 50ml and 100ml

--What does the promo say?--
"FLOWERBOMB is a floral explosion, a profusion of flowers that has the power to make everything seem more positive. Magically evocative notes will immediately awaken your deepest senses, giving you the impression of living life in your own secret garden away from reality. All our fragrances are 100% originals by their original designers. Satisfaction guranteed."

--Packaging--
A nice concept, which stands out easily in a market of generic square bottles. It's easily associated with both ideas that the title embodies, and it all makes for something very different, fresh and young, and the purple and black that are also used in the colour scheme mean that the copious amounts of pink don't have to put off less girly girls. The circular, and yet still angled and faceted, bottle, is tremendously aesthetically pleasing and wonderfully tactile in the hands.

--Application--
Using the oversized spritzer, spray onto neck, wrists, and chest area.

--Scent--
It is almost unbearably sweet when first sprayed on, with the overwhelming aroma of violets. It could easily be described as sickly or cloying (or indeed both), meaning its appeal is significantly reduced on initial inspection. However, things develop surprisingly positively: it fast becomes a unique fragrance, retaining the sweetness but acquiring extra depth. While not being very subtle, and the sweetness perhaps making the fragrance better suited for a younger audience, it is certainly among the more unique of the plethora of fragrances that I have tried this year. It is a scent that any young woman can make her own: it can be the epitome of girliness, or the elixir of seduction.

--Longevity--
Even on the wrists, this fares very positively: it is a long-lasting fragrance that you can easily expect to last over 8 hours.

--Value for money--
The other products in the range are rarer and so more eye-watering in price. However, the price of the fragrance itself is perfectly middle-of-the-road and not out of reach for any young fragrance lover who wants something a little bit different. Thumbs firmly up.

perfect partners
Flowerbomb Body Lotion, $59.14 from beautive.com
Flowerbomb Voluptuous Body Cream, $115.80 from beautive.com
Flowerbomb Sparkling Loose Body Powder, $111.25 from beautive.com
Flowerbomb Perfumed Shower Gel, $71 for 200ml

Coming soon this December...

Avon Gloss Stick for Lips
Yves Rocher Pivoine
Benefit Posie Tint
T Leclerc Matte Foundation
Cosmetics and Beauty News December 2008