Calling all Divas & Studs

As a proud pet owner, I cannot help myself when it comes to (sensibly) splurging on cute pet products. That's why I'm so excited that Divas & Studs is launching on Fab.com starting tomorrow nite!

The line is made by La Fresh -- the awesome company that makes eco-friendly wipes for every sort of need. In this case, Divas & Studs is the doggie equivalent of 'powdering your nose'. Products are made to quickly freshen up smaller-sized pooches on the spot, with convenience and ease. Products include adorable little finger mitts that are premoistened with cleansing solution -- they safely clean ears, eyes or teeth. There's also a bath wipe called Shine Divine to cleanse dusty paws or stale-smelling fur in a flash. The packages are compact, so they fit right in a dog carrier or tote for use on-the-go.

My little chihuahua-terrier rescue absolutely loves these products. She sits as I stroke her, and she feels like she's being pampered head to toe. If she were a cat she'd be purring. 

If you are the proud owner of smaller dog breed, I definitely recommend you get the entire line pronto! Visit Fab.com or LaFreshGroup.com to order. 

BareMinerals to Launch Solid Foundation

BareMinerals Ready SPF 20 Foundation line and the Precision Face Brush.

Photo By Kyle Ericksen

Armed with a new tag line, “We Don’t Like Using the F-Word,” Bare Escentuals is looking to get consumers on solid ground with the introduction of its first pressed foundation. 

Launching in September, BareMinerals Ready SPF 20 Foundation is a solid sea mineral-enriched formula designed to provide natural coverage and antiaging benefits. 

“Leslie [Blodgett, Bare Escentuals founder and executive chairman] has always been frustrated by using the word ‘foundation,’” said Elizabeth Lamont, vice president of marketing. “It can be cakey and clog pores. This doesn’t look or act like foundation. It’s makeup that acts like skin care.”

At play in the formula is a cold-pressed oil technology, which binds the powder without the aid of talc or fillers. The brand’s proprietary SeaNutrive Mineral Complex, a concentrated blend of algae and seaweed, as well as vitamins A, C and E, are included to enhance cell turnover and provide a healthy looking complexion. “Solid mineral [powders] are different than what [our consumer] is seeing in the marketplace,” said Lamont. “It looks like a powder but feels like a cream.”

In addition, a time-released moisturizing technology delivers mineral-encapsulated glycerin and humic acid throughout the day to hydrate skin. The product is “clinically proven to firm skin,” noted Lamont. 

BareMinerals’ full breadth of 20 classic loose shades — from fair to warm deep — in original and matte variations, will be offered in the new Ready format, which has a “natural” finish. (Original imparts a “naturally luminous” effect, while Matte’s is “naturally matte.”)

“We listen to our customer first and foremost and she is very vocal,” said Lamont. “She asked for products that are convenient. She wants her product wherever she goes and solid form is preferred for portability.” 

Although the company declined to share sales figures, industry sources believe the collection could generate $50 to $100 million at retail in its first year.

Coinciding with the launch will be the introduction of the Precision Face Brush, which will be offered in classic and retractable iterations ($28 and $22, respectively). 

“The formula gives as much coverage as you like depending on which brush as you use,” said Lamont. 

With a history of loose powder formulas, BareMinerals entered pressed-powder territory with the launch of Ready Eyeshadow in September 2011. The company followed up with solid-form bronzers and blushes in March. 

In order to market Ready Foundation, BareMinerals will launch a new ad campaign featuring its most recent catchphrase in October and November magazines. The brand has also partnered with Ulta to promote Ready, which will be featured in the retailer’s monthly “prestige magazine,” marking the first color cosmetics sample offered in its pages. Ready will also be highlighted in a Macy’s direct mailer (with a sample) as well as during Sephora’s October Hot Now promotion. “We plan to distribute four million samples throughout September to November,” said Lamont. 

Also in October, Bare Escentuals boutiques will provide 50,000 customers “foundation fittings,” where they can be shade-matched and given a makeup application. 

The product’s official debut will be on QVC on Aug. 15, with a follow-up show on Aug. 25, featuring Blodgett and a QVC-exclusive silver compact with matching brush.

“There is a certain energy and buzz that travels through the airwaves when Leslie comes on to explain her products,” said Lamont. 

Come Sept. 1, Ready SPF 20 Foundation, $29, will be available at retailers like Sephora, Ulta, Macy’s, Dillard’s and Nordstrom, Bare Escentuals boutiques and bareminerals.com.

“This is our biggest launch ever and our partners are as [pleased] as we are,” said Lamont.





By BELISA SILVA WWD Copyright © 2012 Fairchild Fashion Media. All rights reserved.

Giorgio Armani Cosmetics to Launch Maestro Fusion Makeup SPF15

Armani’s Maestro.

Photo By Thomas Iannaccone

After eight years of research, Giorgio Armani Cosmetics is gearing up to release Maestro Fusion Makeup SPF15, a new formula the brand calls a “complexion perfector.”

The collection will be introduced globally in September; in the U.S., it will be on counter Sept. 15. 

“This product represents a new category for Giorgio Armani Cosmetics,” said Véronique Gautier, international general manager of Giorgio Armani Parfums. “It is a complexion perfector — pigments suspended in a water-free, powder-free new formulation unlike any other product. It is not a foundation; rather a fusion of oils and pigments. Maestro will offer an unprecedented weightless texture which is the perfect addition to the wardrobe of complexion products currently offered in the Armani beauty line.”

Added Linda Cantello, international makeup artist for Giorgio Armani Beauty: “The patented Fusion technology powers the high-slip fluid with smart pigment technology, which is dispensed via a dropper. It is an ultra-fine oil-pigment suspension designed to perfect the skin.”

The product’s base is both water and powder-free, and has five time-released oils which evaporate gradually while leaving color on the skin. The formula is also noncomedogenic. 

Cantello added that because oils are necessary for pigments to spread on the skin’s surface, the brand evaluated close to 100 oils based on volatility, nutrition and blending. From that group, five volatile, semi-volatile and non-volatile oils were selected. Each evaporates at different rates, maximizing color and moisture throughout the day. The volatile dry oil helps the color to glide on the skin and create an even distribution of pigment on the skin. A non-volatile complex, which includes lotus oil, has anti-free radical properties and hydrating agents and remains on the skin’s surface, she noted. 

While traditional foundations are comprised of 20 percent water in 80 percent oil, Maestro’s formula includes 60 percent dry oils and 11 percent pigments, with technology designed to adapt to the user’s natural skin tone, said Gautier.

In the U.S., 12 shades will be sold; globally, nine shades will be sold. In the U.S., each 1-oz. Maestro will retail for $62. 

U.S. distribution will include about 130 specialty stores, including Saks Fifth Avenue. While executives declined to comment on sales projections, industry sources estimated that Maestro would do upwards of $10 million at retail in the U.S. in its first year on counter. In the U.S., it will be promoted through heavy in-store sampling, dramming and direct mail. 

A complementary product, Maestro Eraser, will also be offered. Described as a hybrid of concealer, skin care and illuminator, it is designed specifically for the eye area, said Cantello. It is powered by haloxyl, which is said to eliminate bilirubin and iron — often causes of under-eye circles — as well as reinforce skin elasticity and firmness. In addition to its intended purpose, Cantello noted that she also likes to use Eraser on the tops of cheekbones, the bridge of the nose and above the upper lip to give the face a glow and contouring effect. It will be sold in six shades, each retailing for $40 for 0.5 oz.




From WWD Copyright © 2012 Fairchild Fashion Media. All rights reserved.

La Fresh Wins Prevention Magazine's Beauty Award

La Fresh Group, makers of travel-friendly personal care wipes, has announced that its La Fresh Eco-Beauty Waterproof Makeup RemoverWipes have won Prevention Magazine’s 2012 “Celebrate Your Beauty” Award for Best Makeup Remover. 

Prevention’s awards are completely objective, with winners in four categories chosen from 130 finalists that were evaluated by a panel of judges and tested by readers under the supervision of dermatologists.

“With the help of 275 readers and 10 dermatologists and chemists, Prevention evaluated 19 makeup removers this year, and La Fresh’s came out on top—truly an accomplishment,” says Jennifer Goldstein, the magazine’s beauty director.

“Prevention magazine’s readers represent exactly the type of demographics our products are designed for—women leading the active lifestyle who are seeking easy-to-use, high quality beauty care solutions for their everyday lives. Our Eco-Beauty line speaks to that,” said Eve Yen, founder of La Fresh Group. “La Fresh Eco-Beauty Waterproof Makeup Remover Wipes, along with all of our other products, use the highest-quality ingredients while staying true to our corporate green initiative, and because of that, we’re extremely proud to receive this prestigious award from such a highly-read publication.”

La Fresh Eco-Beauty Waterproof Makeup Remover Wipes instantly dissolve resistant eye and lip makeup, without leaving greasy residue, with no pulling or tugging that may cause irritation. These highly natural wipes refresh and nourish the delicate eye and lip areas with a six-oil blend of olive, jojoba, sesame, grapeseed, vitamin E and lavender. They are available in 24 count resealable pouches and freshly sealed, individual portable sachets.

All La Fresh Eco-Beauty products feature 100% biodegradable wipes and are free of parabens, sulfates, triclosan, dyes, PEGs, artificial fragrances and animal byproducts. These wipes are pre-moistened to eliminate the need for water. La Fresh products are available in select retailers nationwide and by visiting www.LaFreshGroup.com.