Be Well-Rested and Skinny, Ooh~La~La

Did you know that when people are sleep-deprived, they eat almost 300 calories a day more than when they are well-rested? Yep, it's been proven. 

And to top off that proverbial sundae, ice cream happens to be one of our favorite foods to eat when we're tired! According to a Columbia University study, too little sleep can lead to weight gain and obesity.

To determine whether people actually eat more when they’re sleep-deprived, they recruited 26 normal-weight men and women who routinely slept between seven and nine hours a night and brought them into an inpatient hospital-like setting for six days on two different occasions. Half slept four hours a night for six nights. The other half slept for nine hours a night for six nights.

For the first days, they got a portion-controlled diet. The last two days, they could eat what they wanted. The entire procedure was repeated a second time, with people getting a different amount of sleep.

The key findings:

• People consumed an average of 296 MORE CALORIES when they were sleep-deprived compared with when they were well-rested.
• When women were sleep-deprived, they ate an average of 329 MORE CALORIES a day; men ate 263 MORE CALORIES.
• Most of the extra calories came from high-fat foods like ice cream and fast food.
• Sleep-deprived women ate an average of about 31 more fat grams a day. Men’s fat intake didn’t climb that much.

“Ice cream stood out as the preferred food during the sleep-deprived state,” says lead author Marie-Pierre St-Onge, an assistant professor of clinical nutrition medicine at Columbia. “Sleep deprivation makes you more susceptible to overeating, so that can be something to consider when you’re trying to lose weight.”

University of Chicago sleep researcher Eve Van Cauter says an additional 300 calories day “is a substantial increase in energy intake that, if maintained chronically, would lead to rapid and robust weight gain.”

The reduction in sleep in this study “is pretty drastic but nonetheless occurs in real life under a number of situations, including among medical interns and residents who are known to pack on the pounds,” Van Cauter says.

Dr. Gina Lundberg, a spokeswoman for the American Heart Association and a preventive cardiologist in private practice in Atlanta, thinks sleep-deprived people not only eat more, but also, “When you’re tired, you’re less motivated to exercise. You just want to go home and go to bed.”

SOURCE: Gannett News Service

Herb Ritts: L.A. Style Photographic Nirvana

Pierre and Yuri, Los Angeles, 1999, Herb Ritts, gelatin silver print.
© Herb Ritts Foundation.

This past weekend I had the opportunity to visit the “Herb Ritts: L.A. Style” exhibition at the J. Paul Getty Museum. To meander the gallery and gaze at the procession of striking black & white images evoked feelings of intrigue, nostalgia and photographic artistry at its best. 


I remember first seeing Ritts's work in the pages of Vogue and Vanity Fair as well as on television. To me, Ritts served to establish the notion of the supermodel while at the same time deconstruct it. Shadow and light, nude and couture, celebrity and anonymity, these are the concepts Ritts so expertly captured in two dimension for all to cherish. 


“Herb Ritts: L.A. Style” is on view at the J. Paul Getty Museum through August 26th.

Cindy Crawford, Ferre 3, Malibu, 1993,
Herb Ritts, gelatin silver print. 
© Herb Ritts Foundation.

Greg Louganis, Hollywood, 1985,
Herb Ritts, gelatin silver print.
© Herb Ritts Foundation.

Wrapped Torso, Los Angeles, 1989,
Herb Ritts, platinum print.
Karen Alexander in Issey Miyake.
© Herb Ritts Foundation.

Christy Turlington, Versace 3, Milan, 1991,
Herb Ritts, gelatin silver print. 
© Herb Ritts Foundation.

Stephanie, Cindy, Christy, Tatjana, Naomi, Hollywood, 1989,
Herb Ritts, gelatin silver print.
© Herb Ritts Foundation.

Man with Chain, Los Angeles, 1985,
Herb Ritts, gelatin silver print. Tony Ward, model.
© Herb Ritts Foundation.

Naomi Campbell, Face in Hand, Hollywood, 1990,
Herb Ritts, gelatin silver print.
© Herb Ritts Foundation.

Versace Dress, Back View, El Mirage, 1990,
Herb Ritts, gelatin silver print.
© Herb Ritts Foundation.

Dashing Diva Creates a Safe Alternative to Gel Manicures

Dashing Diva is taking the nail gel craze a step further.

After the successful launch of DesignFX, a long-wearing, decorated sticker that requires a gel overlay on the design, Dashing Diva will launch a new nail category in July. Called ColorFX, it will consist a single color sticker designed to be glued to the nail. Gel is then painted onto the overlay to increase shine and prolong longevity. According to the company, one application can last up to two weeks. Since it is a sticker, the coverage is meant to provide an even finish without brush strokes. According to the company, acetone is not required for removal.

In the past couple of years, gel manicures have become a rage among consumers due to the technique’s long lasting, no chip and no dry time features.  According to IBISWorld, consumers have spent $1 billion on gel manicures in the past year. However, Dashing Diva  intends to give gels a run for their money. Margaret Pak, director of marketing and creative services at Dashing Diva, said,  “We wanted to create something safer for the nails. What we did is take everything women love about the gel products — no chip, long lasting, doesn’t require traditional air drying time — and added an easy removal process.”


The stickers are designed with a silkscreen color and an adhesive back. Salon professionals can then shape the individual sticker to the size of the customer’s nails. Once they are adjusted to the nail, a gel overlay can be applied and then dried under a LED light.  Unlike gel manicures, which are usually removed with acetone, ColorFX can easily be peeled from the cuticle area by applying cuticle oil to help release the adhesive. “Acetone has a drying effect,” said Pak. “One of the major deterrents for women opting out of gel polish manicures is the soak-off removal, but with ColorFX, that barrier is gone.”

ColorFX is not only looking at the growing gel market, but also at the entire (non-gel) manicure and pedicure services market, which Dashing Diva is projecting at over $2.6 billion. Based on Nails Magazine 2010-2011 Big Book, gel treatments make up about 26 percent of total services provided and will have projected sales of over $200 million in 2012.

Dashing Diva salons will offer ColorFX application for $40 in six neon shades. Later in the summer, the company plans to launch 60 more colors and will continue to add fall and spring palettes for each season.

Source:

WWD By JAYME CYK 

BB Creams are the Balm

BB Cream Market Looks Promising and Poised for Growth

According to a brand new report by The NPD Group, Inc., a leading market research company, BB Creams* also referred to as ‘blemish balms’ or ‘beauty balms’ have grown significantly in sales in the past several months. The relatively new product is quickly catching the fancy of a small segment of U.S. women. In the 12 months ending March 2012, BB creams sold in U.S. department stores generated close to $9 million according to NPD BeautyTrends®.

Women tell NPD that while they expect BB Creams to provide skincare and makeup benefits, they want to understand more about the product and how it works. According to NPD, about 8 in 10 beauty shoppers like beauty products that offer multiple benefits, and that rises to just over 9 in 10 for BB Cream purchasers. The top five benefits expected from a BB Cream include: natural looking coverage (52%), moisturizes/hydrates skin (47%), nourishes/treats skin (42%), provides SPF sunscreen protection (42%), and improves skin texture (38%).

Although the incidence of purchasing BB Creams is currently very small (2% of total beauty shoppers) the majority of purchasers tell NPD they’re extremely or very satisfied with their last BB Cream purchase, and 77 percent express positive repurchase intent. According to the report, almost 4 in 10 beauty shoppers overall say that they would consider buying a BB Cream in the future.

“About half of all beauty shoppers are sitting on the fence, saying they may or may not buy BB Creams in the future. Why does that matter? Almost 7 in 10 BB Cream purchasers have replaced either a makeup or skincare product with a BB Cream. Even though usage is low right now, as more brands enter the market and the category grows, cannibalization could become a much larger challenge,” said Karen Grant, vice president and senior global industry analyst, The NPD Group.

“Messaging that clearly distinguishes the benefits of and usage occasions for BB Creams versus other facial products could help ensure the coexistence of various products in a women’s beauty regimen. Figuring that out could make the difference in whether BB Creams gain traction more broadly or not,” ended Grant.

*BB Creams also referred to as ‘Blemish Balms’ or ‘Beauty Balms,’ are multi-functional products that combine the functionality of primers, SPF and moisturizers, along with the anti-aging benefits of skin serums.

I'm Feeling Conde Nasty...

     

Dear Fabulous Friends at Conde Nast, 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart for recognizing jnolicious as a hub for beauty, fashion & all things fabulous! I am honored to be inducted into the ever-glamourous Conde Nast Style Society! 

Air kiss! Wink! Hair flip!

Jenn

xoxo

Our Emotional Bond(age) to Beauty

The Beauty Co.'s (TBC) new survey of U.S. beauty consumers found women form deeply emotional bonds to their beauty products that inform all purchasing decisions.

“All brands think they know beauty consumers, but we thought it would be fun to take a deeper dive into what women really think about beauty, their beauty habits, their beauty addictions and their beauty passions," said Alisa Marie Beyer, founding partner and CEO.

The research, conducted in-house by TBC highlights more than 25 data points about American women and their beauty routines, brand preferences and purchasing behavior. “We found women would rather be well-liked than admired (61 percent), hear from a knowledgeable sales consultant over a lively one (78 percent), and are heeding the warnings of sun damage: 69 percent use a daily moisturizer with an SPF," Beyer said. "It’s exciting to hear first-hand what messages are working with consumers and how they are impacting her behavior in-market."

Further interesting facts about American women and their beauty routines revealed in the study include:

• Moisturizer is on the way up: 19 percent are using moisturizer more often than they were a year ago, but eye shadow is on the way down: 8 percent are using it less than they were a year ago
• 67 percent of American women consider their shopping style deliberate, and 56 percent are more comfortable relying on logic rather than intuition
• Seniority still counts: 72 percent of women would rather invest in an established brand over a cutting-edge brand
• Nearly equal amounts of women would like to have personal wealth (53 percent) versus personal beauty (47 percent)
• A majority of women would prefer purity of ingredients (65 percent) more than potency of ingredients (35 percent)
• 57 percent of women think the latest scientific advancements in beauty are amazing, but 34 percent think they are nothing new.
• More than a third of beauty consumers consider perfume a staple and won’t leave home without it
• Nearly equal percentages of women want to stand out (51 percent) versus blending in (49 percent)

“One of the most important facts to emerge from the research is beauty consumers find immense fun and happiness in their beauty products and routines," Beyer said."They are thoughtful in their choices, they are seeking knowledge and education from the industry and they overwhelmingly feel their investment in beauty is worthwhile and well spent."

“It’s always very exciting for us to hear from consumers, which is why we love to conduct this kind of research," observed vice president Kate Helfrich, “More than just typical demographics or statistics, we get down to consumer’s deepest thoughts and feelings on beauty at an emotional level, as well as a statistical level. By mining for this kind of information, we are able to capture immediately relevant consumer information that informs all aspects of brand development, distribution and marketing. Plus, it’s just fun! How else would we find out that when given the choice, 54 percent of women would rather have chocolate than beauty products, and the color most beauty consumers relate to is blue (23 percent)?"

Source: Inside Cosmeceuticals

L'Oreal USA Buys PBL, Maker of Clarisonic

With electronic skin care device sales soaring, L’Oréal USA has jumped into the market, announcing the completed acquisition of Pacific Bioscience Laboratories Inc. (PBL). PBL’s Clarisonic is a market leader in the rapidly growing areas of sonic skin care devices, topicals and technology. Established in 2001, PBL developed its patented technology, enabling a series of popular products under the Clarisonic brand that redefined consumers’ approach to skin care. The move gives L’Oréal access to patented sonic skin care technology and with it, the ability to acquire strategic positions in the quickly emerging skin care devices category.


Source: Beauty Packaging

Nail Polish Without The Noxious Fumes, Oh Yeah

Check out Scotch Naturals nail polish -- the line of 30 “intoxicating” colors is eco-friendly and free of the chemicals that cause that 'I’m-getting-an-unwanted-high' nail polish smell. 

Colors like Velvet Kilt, Highland Mist, and Macbeth’s Dream (yes, Scotch really is Scotch) will cost you $14.99 — a small price to pay for the brain cells you’ll save by not inhaling chemical craziness.

Scotch also makes nail polish remover for $11.99, which can be an even worse culprit than the polish itself.

Prestige Beauty Up Double Digits in 2011

At its annual “Hot off the Press” event, held January 30 at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, The NPD Group revealed 2011 year-end results for skin care, makeup, and fragrance. According to NPD, the total U.S. prestige beauty industry (products sold mainly in U.S. department stores) increased double digits—11%—in dollar sales in 2011 over 2010.


Globally, by country, sales were strongest in Argentina (up 33%), followed by China (22%), Mexico (15%) and the UK (9%).
In 2011, skincare and fragrance sold in U.S. department stores both posted double-digit dollar growths of 14 and 11 percent respectively, while makeup grew a healthy nine percent, compared to 2010.


“In the U.S., UK, and China, prestige beauty is enjoying one of the most robust sales periods ever,” said Karen Grant, vice president and senior global industry analyst, The NPD Group—and a member of Beauty Packaging’s Board of Advisors. “In the U.S., for example, beauty sales in both the mass and prestige channels were positive month after month in 2011. And while both channels were positive, prestige beauty reigned supreme. From the stellar increases in prestige skincare to the continued gains in makeup, to the double-digit rebound of fragrance, prestige beauty is experiencing a time of unprecedented growth.”


“In continental Europe,” Grant continued, “where the prestige market is more mature, growth is more tempered, and performance among the categories has not been as dynamic as in the U.S. or U.K., but nonetheless, prestige beauty managed to flourish thanks to brand media investment, bigger in-store animation, and price promotions.”


In addition, the U.S. Food/Drug/Mass channel experienced a 4% increase in sales for total beauty in 2011, versus 2010. Makeup sales posted the biggest increase at 8%, followed by skin care at 3%, while fragrance sales declined 5% in dollar sales, compared to 2010. In National Chain stores, fragrance sales grew 5%.


Source: Beauty Packaging

What's Beautiful Now

Allure Magazine polled 2,000 men and women from across the country to find out what's beautiful now. The findings will surprise you...

WOMEN ARE CONFLICTED ABOUT CURVES

Seventy-three percent of women say that a curvier body type is more appealing now than it has been in the past ten years. Still, when asked if they wanted to change their hips, 85 percent of women wanted them to be narrower.

AGING ISN'T ACCEPTABLE

Ninety-three percent of women say the pressure to look young today is greater than it's ever been.

AFRICAN-AMERICAN WOMEN HAVE KILLER CONFIDENCE

When asked about their personal attractiveness, African-American women were three times as likely as Caucasian women to rate themselves at the hot end of the spectrum.

MEN DIG 28-YEAR-OLDS

Men said that women are their most beautiful at age 28. In a similar study conducted by Allure in 1991, men voted 31 to be the hottest age.

THE MOST STRESSED-ABOUT BODY PART: ONE GUESS

Thirty-five percent of men and women said that, if there is one part of their bodies they'd like to change the most, it's their stomachs.

EVEN GUYS WORRY ABOUT WEIGHT

Eighty-six percent of men said that they wanted to weigh less—as did 97 percent of women.

MEN LIKE BIGGER BUTTS...ON THEMSELVES?

Twenty-two percent of men (compared to 11 percent of women) said that if they could change their butts, they would want it to be larger.

COUGARS ARE HOT!

Only 3 percent of women defined themselves as cougars. But maybe more of them should: Turns out, 26 percent of men say that cougars are hot.

HAIR COLORS HAVE SURPRISING STEREOTYPES

When asked to pick out adjectives that best describe blonde and brown hair, both men and women said that brunettes and blondes are considered to be beautiful, sexy and classy. However, brunettes were also found to be intelligent and trustworthy. And while blondes are seen as confident, they were also voted most bitchy.

MEN LOVE BOOBS AND BUTTS? SHOCKING!

When it comes to sexual attraction, women list their top five favorite male attributes as a guy's face, body type, smile, eyes, and height. And men's answers, in order? Face, body type, breasts, smile, and butt.

EVERYONE LOVES ANGELINA

Men want to be with her, and apparently women love her, too. Twelve percent of women and 9 percent of men agreed that Angelina Jolie is the celebrity that most represents the physical ideal.