Category: Beauty

P&G to pull Max Factor from the U.S.

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I was stunned – and saddened – to learn that P&G is discontinuing sale of Max Factor in the U.S.

Stunned, because P&G seemed to be investing so much into the brand, by hiring Gisele to be the face of Max Factor and heavily promoting its Extreme Lash Plumper and Vivid Impact Lipstick (which I think is very good), particularly through TotalBeauty.

Saddened, because we are losing a truly iconic brand. I do not use the term iconic lightly – it’s overused.

Business is business, however. P&G is pulling Max Factor from the U.S. because of poor sales. It’s probably the same reason that distribution of Max Factor was limited to Wal-Mart and a few other outlets (Ulta), but not to the Big Three of drugstore chains: CVS, Walgreen’s, and Rite-Aid.

I agree with SF Beauty Examiner Mira Torres that tastes have changed. Women no longer want the full coverage of Pan-Stik and Pan-Face. Then, as Ms. Torres rightly points out,

Max Factor’s downfall may be that it tried to stay “hollywood glamour,” even if the term “Hollywood” (with the train-wreck tabloids and and reality world mayhem) has become kind of a joke.


As for me, I had to reproduce this image of Elizabeth Taylor advertising Pan-Stik that graced Ms. Torres’s article:

Elizabeth Taylor for Max Factor’s Pan-Stik

This is Liz from the 50s: pixie cut; dramatic, arched eyebrows, and painted lips. Now many, including my husband, might see Elizabeth Taylor as the ultimate train-wreck (multiple marriages, her friendship with Michael Jackson), but she’s kept people fascinated for well over 60 years: no mean feat.

If anyone epitomized the “Hollywood Glamour” that Max Factor promoted, it’s Liz.

Sunscreen ingredients

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You know about the need to wear sunscreen. You know about the need for a sunscreen that protects you from both UVA and UVB rays. But are you confused about sunscreen ingredients and how they work? What about proprietary names, such as Helioplex (Neutrogena), and trademarked ingredients, such as Meroxyl FX (L’Oreal) and Parsol® 1789?

dermatology.about.com answers these questions and more. Heather Brannon, MD is the “guide” for dermatology.about.com. While Dr. Brannon is not a dermatologist (she is a family practice doctor), she has a definite interest in dermatologic topics.

Dr. Brannon’s article Proper Use of Sunscreen describes the various kinds of ultraviolet radiations and classifies sunscreen ingredients as either physical barriers (for example, titanium oxide) or radiation absorbers, in addition to discussing appropriate application of sunscreen. Her article Sunscreen Information – Information About UVA Sunscreen Ingredients describes various UVA radiation absorbers, including Helioplex, Meroxyl FX, and Parsol® 1789.

Given the importance of wearing sunscreen, these two articles are must-reads.

In a subsequent article, I will mention recent innovations in sunscreen technology.

How to wear bright eyeshadow

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Who doesn’t like makeovers and before and afters? Here’s a step-by-step tutorial on how to wear bright eyeshadow:

TotalBeauty.com
Real-Woman Tutorial: How to Wear Bright Eyeshadow

Yes, you can wear teal shadow without looking garish — just follow these steps

Real-Woman Tutorial: How to Wear Bright Eyeshadow

This tutorial is designed to show you step-by-step how to wear bright colored eyeshadow (which is doable even if you have small or Asian eyes). Brightly colored eyes can dress up a look when paired with a neutral or nude face, or accessorize an entire outfit. Just make sure you know how to wear it before rocking it in the office.

See how-to

For my part, I think that Asians and women with deeper skintones wear bright eyeshadows better than their lighter complexioned sisters.

Living Proof No Frizz hair care

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The Washington, DC metro area is infamous for its humid weather: I’m surprised that TotalBeauty didn’t name Washington, DC among its 13 Worst Hair Cities.

In humid weather, my hair frizzes and becomes unmanageable. I’ve tried traditional silicone-based products, such as John Frieda’s Frizz Ease® serum, but silicone-based products weigh down my hair and don’t provide significant relief from frizz.

I received some LivingProof NoFrizz hair care products, which are silicone-free. NoFrizz did the trick where silicone-based products failed. My hair stays smooth in humid weather.


LivingProof NoFrizz hair products

How do No Frizz products work? The Beauty Brains (my favorite source for evaluating beauty claims, along with Paula Begoun) write,

Living Proof uses a type of chemical known as a PolyfluoroEster (or PFE for short) to smooth the hair shaft and prevent moisture from being absorbed. … But PFEs (which are Teflon-like compounds) are VERY good at lowering surface tension, and so in theory they could provide the three main benefits [frizz prevention, dirt repellancy, and shine and color enhancement] that Living Proof claims on their website …

Read more from The Beauty Brains article Are Living Proof No Frizz Products Good For Curly Hair? Also read the review Living Proof NO-FRIZZ Keeps Frizz From Frazzling You! (love that title) by Advice Sister Alison.

You may find Living Proof No Frizz hair products at Sephora stores and Sephora.com.

Belegenza Extraordinary Hair Care

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Belegenza Extraordinary Hair Care advertises its products as silicone-free, paraben-free, phthalate-free, sulfate-free, mineral oil-free, petrolatum-free, and urea-free. Its web site focuses on silicone, particularly its occlusive properties, in conventional hair products. Belegenza argues that silicone “suffocates” the scalp and has published testimonials from customers who claimed that their hair began growing out by using its products. See my article on silicones.

When I try products described as natural and organic, I want to find out if they work as well as conventional products. To compare, I checked the labels of shampoos and conditioners from L’Oreal and Joico. L’Oreal and Joico had some silicones and parabens, and if there were oils, the oils were plant oils.

Styling products, particularly pomades, often contain petrolatum. I don’t use styling products. My hairdresser is obsessive about the hair cut and eschews styling products, which he calls “glue.”

Ingredient lists aside, how well do Belegenza products perform? I tried GrowOut Shampoo and Strengthener, EnCore Leave-in Conditioner, and RoMANce Deep Conditioning Treatment. The shampoo is milder than conventional shampoos, so I do “rinse and repeat.” I apply RoMANce Deep Conditioning Treatment and cover my hair with a shower cap while I’m shaving or soaking in the tub. I use the EnCore Leave-in Conditioner, when I’m pressed for time.

Am I dreaming, or is it real, that my hair is bouncier and looks more voluminous after using Belegenza? Whatever, I like the results and I’ll continue using Belegenza products.

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TotalBeauty.com
Get Your Best Lashes and Lips

Readers and Bloggers share their favorite tricks for playing up our flirtiest features

Get Your Best Lashes and Lips

Oh, those eyes! Those lips! Keep all eyes fixed on your gorgeous face with these alluring tips and tricks from TotalBeauty.com’s glam-savvy readers and bloggers.

See tricks

TotalBeauty bloggers provide tips on lips and eyes in conjunction with “sneak peak” reviews of MAX Factor Vivid Impact Lipcolor and MAX Factor 2000 Calorie Extreme Lash Plumper Mascara.

Silicones

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In planning stories about Belegenza Extraordinary Hair Care and LivingProof No Frizz hair products, it became evident that I should address the use of silicones in hair and cosmetics products.

What are the characteristics of silicones?

In her ingredient dictionary, Paula Begoun describes silicone in this way:

… The unique fluid properties of silicone give it a great deal of slip, and in its various forms it can feel like silk on the skin, impart emolliency, and be a water-binding agent that holds up well, even when skin becomes wet.

Silicones 101, an article from the Coarse Hair Diary blog, notes that silicones build up on the hair and prevent moisture from entering. Dimethicone, an article from Christopher Drummond’s blog, notes the occlusive (barrier-forming) properties of dimethicone, which is a type of silicone. Essortment, in its article, How to control frizz in curly hair, notes that silicone seals hair.

Silicones give face primers their slip, and I’ve become a believer in face primers. Unlike Christopher and some people who have commented on his article, I have not have problems with breakouts. I suspect that’s because I apply primer to my cheeks, which are not prone to breakouts.

On the other hand, silicones have not worked for me in preventing frizz, which is a problem for me in DC’s humid climate. In addition, silicones weigh my hair down, no matter how little I use. Some say that using silicones leads to hair loss. I’ve been experiencing hair loss, but I don’t know if silicones are to blame: maybe it’s “The Change.” (I don’t know whether to laugh or cry)

Both Belegenza and LivingProof No Frizz are formulated without silicones. In articles planned for next week, I’ll review products from these brands.

Too Faced LOCKDOWN Ultimate Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow

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Too Faced LOCKDOWN Ultimate Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow

Too Faced LOCKDOWN Ultimate Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow includes both eyeshadow base and pigment in a single product. The base works fine, but I don’t care for the sparkle in the eyeshadow: Bedroom Eyes (medium brown), for example, has bits of copper glitter.

Too Faced LOCKDOWN Ultimate Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow comes in six shades, each with a salacious name:

* Bedroom Eyes (medium brown)
* Bondage (light brown)
* Dramarama (dark brown)
* I’m Guilty (aqua blue)
* Jailbait (light pink)
* Prisoner of Love (pink)

You may find Too Faced LOCKDOWN Ultimate Creaseless Cream Eye Shadow in Sephora stores and at Sephora.com.

Beauty at Douglas Cosmetics

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Parfümerie Douglas is Germany’s largest chain of beauty stores. In addition, Douglas has several stores in the U.S. I recently visited the Douglas store at Union Station in Washington, DC.

Douglas used to carry the German brands ARTDECO and BeYu. Even though I found nothing from ARTDECO and BeYu that appealed to me, it was fun to look because these brands aren’t readily found in the U.S. Douglas has stopped carrying both brands: in the case of ARTDECO, it was on account of use of certain ingredients. No, the Germans don’t always make good stuff! 🙂

At Union Station, Douglas has discontinued carrying Universal Colors and blackUp Paris, two lines created for “women of color”: odd, given the demographic.

Now Douglas carries only stalwart brands such as Clinique and Estee Lauder. Boring, boring.

So, what’s worth checking out at Douglas? Its accessories and implements. It carries its own line of professional cosmetic brushes called Da Vinci, including several brush sets: Classic Look, Nude Look, and Smokey Eyes. I particularly like the flat headed eyeshadow brush in the Smokey Eyes kit: it works better than flat lay-on eyeshadow brushes or fluffy eyeshadow brushes to apply eyeshadow all over or on the lid.

One product that I hadn’t seen before is this soap to wash brushes:

It’s a gentle soap that doesn’t strip oils from natural hair brushes.

By Lauren Luke debuts today

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Today (Monday, April 27, 2009), YouTube sensation Lauren Luke begins selling her own line of color cosmetics. If you’re not familiar with Lauren, she’s from the north of England, speaks with a definite accent, and presents videos on make-up, especially eye makeup. There’s nothing flashy about her videos: Lauren captures the video herself, and you can see her adjusting the videocam when she zooms in for a close-up.

Since Lauren started posting her videos in 2007, she has gained a base of 200,000 subscribers. With that clout, no wonder she was approached to create her own line of color cosmetics, which is called By Lauren Luke.

Watch Lauren as she talks about the launch of her cosmetics line:

Lauren’s initial offering is a collection of five color palettes: My Fierce Violets, My Vintage Glams, My Sultry Blues, My Luscious Greens, and My Smokey Classics. Each palette includes two shades of eye shadow primer, three eye shadows, eye liner, blush, and two lip colors.

Here’s what I’m planning to buy:

My Vintage Glams, which features:

Shadow Primers in Nude Slip Dark and Nude Slip Light
Eye Shadows in Petticoat Pink, Red Wine, and Silver Slippers
Eye liner in Raven Black
Blush in Berry Cream
Lip Colors in Champagne Kiss and Love Bite

There have been a lot of pre-orders already: I hope that I’ll get my hands on My Vintage Glams!