Tag: beauty

Articles about beauty

Beauty influencer meltdowns: How scandals and gossip are damaging the careers of Laura Lee, Manny MUA and other makeup gurus

August 28, 2018

by Yvette Thomas

Laura Lee and Manny MUA
Laura Lee and Manny MUA

The year 2018 will be remembered as a dramatic turn in the industry of social-media beauty influencers who became famous for their postings, usually about makeup, on YouTube and Instagram. As a result of offensive posts on the Internet, beauty influencers Laura Lee and Manny MUA have lost thousands of YouTube subscribers and have taken a temporary break from social media.

Within a period of two weeks, Laura Lee had her Laura Lee Los Angeles business terminated by Ulta, Morphe, Diff Eyewear, ColourPop Cosmetics and BoxyCharm after racist comments that she tweeted in 2012 were exposed. In the racist tweet, she said, “Tip for all black people if you pull ur pants up you can run from the police faster.. #yourwelcome.” She also made several fat-shaming tweets in 2013 that were exposed in mid-August 2018.

Before the scandal, Lee had 5 million subscribers on YouTube. After the scandal, she lost approximately 533,000 subscribers from August 15 to August 28, 2018, according to Social Blade. When the racist tweet was first exposed, Lee did not address the matter for a few days and continued doing her usual videos about makeup. After the scandal became too big to ignore, she temporarily deactivated her Twitter account, and deleted thousands of tweets, and then posted an apology on Twitter. When companies started dropping her, Lee then posted an emotional apology video on August 19. However, the apology video seems to have done more damage to Lee’s reputation than done any good because people have blasted her for being insincere in the video. For example, she insisted that the offensive comments were retweets from other people, not tweets she actually wrote. Screenshots taken of the comments show that they were actually tweets from Lee’s account.

In addition, Lee received a lot of criticism for her demeanor in the apology video, with many commenters on the Internet calling her remorse “fake” and her tearful wailing “bad acting.” Her apology video currently has a 92 percent “dislike” disapproval rating from people on YouTube.

Lee’s close friend Manny MUA has also felt the sting of a massive public backlash. His association with Lee and his refusal so far to publicly comment on her offensive remarks have caused him to lose more than 313,000 subscribers (from August 15 to August 28, 2018, according to Social Blade) and announce that he is taking a break from social media. His YouTube subscriber base is barely hanging on to a range of 5 million.

Lee’s scandal came on the heels of Manny MUA making an apology video after old footage surfaced of him seeming to mock a female fan by rolling his eyes and laughing at her when she walked past him at a meet-and-greet. The fan, who happens to have a form of autism, had posted a video detailing how hurt she was by the alleged insult. In his apology video, Manny MUA explained that he was not mocking the girl but was embarrassed because she had bypassed him to hug fellow makeup guru Jeffree Star. Manny MUA’s apology video also has a majority of “dislikes” on YouTube.

Manny MUA also lost a lot of goodwill in July 2018, when his company Lunar Beauty botched sales of its first palette, Life’s a Drag, by mistakenly giving refunds to some PayPal customers after the customers received what they purchased. In an embarrassing PR move, Lunar Beauty then sent an email to those customers to inform them of the error, and asked them to send the money back. It’s unknown how many of the customers actually complied with that request, but the mistake was no doubt a costly one for Lunar Beauty.

Lee isn’t the first social-media beauty guru to have been hit by a scandal over offensive remarks made years ago. In 2017, Jeffree Star (a former friend of Lee and Manny MUA) was slammed when videos from 2009 showed him making racist comments, including using the “n” word and a video where he suggested throwing battery acid on a black woman’s face so her skin would be light enough to match shades of foundation.

Star, who owns his own eponymous makeup company, made an apology video where he said, in part: “In these videos, I say some really disgusting, vile, nasty and embarrassing things … I look at them and I see them resurface and it makes me sick to my stomach because I do not know who that person was . . . the person that said those horrible vile things, that person was depression, that person was just angry at the world, that person felt like they were not accepted, that person was seeking attention.”

Star, whose makeup is sold worldwide and at U.S. retailers such as Morphe and Beautylish, did not suffer any significant damage to his career, as his business partners continued to work with him. The difference between what happened to Star and what happened to Lee comes down to timing and the perception of sincerity.

In Star’s case, he addressed the scandal right away, and the feedback that he got from most people who commented on his apology video was that his apology seemed sincere, and people believed that he had evolved into a better person since those racist videos were made. Star has also gotten ahead of any other potential scandals by teaming up with with fellow YouTube star Shane Dawson to do a series of confessional videos where Star reveals secrets from his past, including his history of self-mutilation.

However, the #MeToo movement has ushered in sweeping changes in how people are punished for offensive comments and behavior, so if Star’s racism scandal had happened in 2018, he might not have recovered as quickly, even with the best apology.

Star has famously feuded with other beauty gurus such as Kat Von D and Too Faced co-founder Jerrod Blandino. But Star’s videos that show him self-exposing his vulnerabilities have endeared him to fans, and what appears to be his sincere ownership of his flaws has apparently made him more “forgivable” than the beauty gurus who are more reluctant to own up to their mistakes.

Kat Von D, who became famous as a tattoo artist on reality shows “Miami Ink” and “LA Ink,” started her Kat Von D Beauty company in 2008. In June 2018, she faced major backlash when she posted on Instagram that she and her husband would not be vaccinating their son because they believe that vaccinations are dangerous. Von D lost thousands of subscribers on Instagram, the social-media platform where she has the most followers (about 6.6 million), but she held firm and did not make an apology. According to Social Blade, in recent weeks she hasn’t been losing Instagram followers, but she hasn’t made any significant gains either.

Social media’s influence in the beauty and fashion industries cannot be under-estimated, as numerous beauty influencers have become multi-millionaires based on how they market themselves on social media, not from having any experience or training in the industry. The biggest example is reality TV star Kylie Jenner of Kylie Cosmetics, who has a net worth of $900 million, according to Forbes.

Beauty influencers with millions of followers on YouTube and Instagram usually command “sponsorship” fees to give positive reviews or recommendations of products. Those fees can be upwards of $60,000 to $80,000 for a YouTube video or $20,000 to $30,000 for an Instagram post. A typical beauty influencer posts hundreds of videos and photos a year, so it’s easy to see why people want a piece of the action to get rich.

With all that money to be made and with competition so fierce to gain new followers/subscribers, the gossip that has swirled around social-media beauty influencers has exploded and spawned a growing number of YouTube channels specifically created to cover the drama around these beauty influencers. The need to expose these influencers’ pasts in a tabloid-like manner is a sign of how much things have changed in how people react to YouTube stars.

In August 2018, a group photo of social-media beauty influencers Lee, Manny MUA, Gabriel Zamora and Nikita Dragun showing their middle fingers with the caption “Bitch is bitter because without him we’re doing better” caused an uproar on social media because people speculated that it was an insult aimed at Star. All of this “drama” over one photo actually caught the attention of several media outlets such as Cosmopolitan, Teen Vogue, Vox and Clevver News. Zamora also came under fire after it was exposed that he used the “n” -word racial insult in a past tweet. In an apology video on YouTube, Zamora said he was sorry for his past racial slurs. Zamora also admitted to adding the derogatory caption to the group photo without the other photo subjects’ knowledge, and that the caption was meant as an insult to Star, who accepted Zamora’s apology in a separate video. In the video, Zamora publicly ended his friendship with Manny MUA, whom he called “toxic.”

The apology worked for Zamora. After he posted his video on August 21, he gained 341,000 YouTube subscribers in one week, with more than 204,000 gained on the day after the video was posted, according to Social Blade. In the week before posting the apology, he lost more than 6,700 subscribers. As of this writing, Zamora has 778,700 subscribers on YouTube.

Reality TV has spawned its share of “15 minutes of fame” stars, but YouTube stars are a different breed. The biggest difference between today’s YouTube stars and today’s reality TV stars is that YouTube stars don’t have to rely on being cast in TV shows to keep their fame going. Unless they do something that gets them kicked off of YouTube and kills their careers, YouTube stars will have their YouTube channels, which they control, as their way to get the fame and money that most people don’t have. But as Lee, Manny MUA, and others have learned, with that fame comes the scrutiny of people who can’t wait to expose more scandals.

Fashion and beauty moguls increase clout on Forbes list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women

July 11, 2018

by Yvette Thomas

Forbes has published its 2018 list of America’s Richest Self-Made Women, and what’s notable about this year’s list of 60 women is that four of the seven new entries on the list are entrepreneurs from the fashion and beauty industries: Anastasia Soare, Kylie Jenner, Kim Kardashian West and Huda Kuttan. The women eligible to be on the list are U.S. citizens who founded a company that is headquartered in the United States. All net-worth figures are estimated by Forbes, as of July 10, 2018.

Here’s a summary of the moguls from the fashion and beauty industries who made it onto the list:

The Billionaire Moguls

Doris Fisher, co-founder of Gap Inc., is ranked at No. 8, and has an estimated net worth of $2.8 billion. Gap Inc. is the parent company of such fashion retailers as Gap, Old Navy, Banana Republic, Intermix, Weddington Way and Athleta. Although Gap Inc. has been hit hard in recent months with closures of many of its stores, don’t expect Fisher to lose her billionaire status anytime soon.

Tied at No. 13, with an estimated worth of $1.5 billion each, are Forever 21 co-founder Jin Sook Chang and Proactiv co-founders Kathy Fields and Katie Rodan. Forever 21 has successfully extended its youth-oriented fashion brand with the launch of lower-priced retailer F21 Red and the beauty retailer Riley Rose. Proactiv’s winning subscription-based business model, boosted by celebrity endorsements of the company’s skin-care products, has made Proactiv the leading mail-order service for non-prescription acne treatment.

Spanx founder Sara Blakely is No. 21 on the list, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion, thanks to her patented invention that changed the way undergarments can shape a body.  Also tied at No. 21, with an estimated net worth of $1 billion each, are Alex & Ani founder Carolyn Rafaelian (who has a majority stake in the accessories company) and Anastasia Soare, who built a cosmetics empire with her Anastasia Beverly Hills brand.

The Veteran Millionaire Moguls 

Most of the women on the list have companies that are more than 10 years old. Some have literally made their fortunes by their names, since their names are the same as their companies. They include fashion designer Tory Burch (No. 29 on the list, with an estimated net worth of $800 million); fashion designer Vera Wang (No. 34,  net worth of $630 million); jewelry designer Kendra Scott (No. 40, net worth of $500 million); and fashion designer Donna Karan (No. 43, net worth of $470 million).

The Upstart Millionaire Moguls

Fashion and beauty moguls on the list who have companies that are less than 10 years old owe most of their marketing success to TV and social media. With the help of mother/manager Kris Jenner,  Kylie Jenner (No. 27 on the list, with an estimated net worth of $900 million) parlayed her reality TV fame and social-media savvy into the Kylie Cosmetics company, which was founded in 2016. Kylie’s half-sister and “Keeping Up With the Kardashians” co-star Kim Kardashian West (No. 54, net worth of $350 million) has made most of her fortune from reality TV and licensing her name to video games, but Kardashian West’s fashion/beauty ventures have contributed significantly to her wealth. KKW Beauty, the cosmetics line that Kardashian West launched in 2017, had $100 million in sales in its first year, according to Forbes.

Huda Kuttan (No. 37,  net worth of $550 million), who started off as a makeup artist, became a beauty blogger in 2010, and then used that Internet notoriety to launch the Huda Beauty cosmetics company, which she co-founded with her sisters in 2013. Jamie Kern Lima (No. 44, net worth of $440 million) used to be a TV reporter, but transitioned into the beauty industry by founding It Cosmetics in 2010, when she first began selling the company’s products on QVC. In 2016, she sold the company to L’Oréal for $1.2 billion, while still retaining leadership of It Cosmetics, making her the first female CEO of a L’Oréal-owned company

Ariana Grande announces details of her Cloud fragrance

June 28, 2018

Global superstar Ariana Grande unveils a breakthrough new fragrance concept adding to her award-winning, successful franchise. In partnership with LUXE Brands, Grande is releasing her newest fragrance, Ariana Grande CLOUD, this fall 2018 exclusively at Ulta Beauty in the US and Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada.

Ariana Grande is one of the most influential and successful performers of our time. Her latest single, “No Tears Left to Cry,” debuted at #1 on iTunes in 88 countries worldwide making her the first artist in music history to see the lead single from her first four albums debut in the Top 10 on Billboard Hot 100. To date, this single marks Ariana’s most successful debut leading up to her highly anticipated fourth album, “Sweetener,” and now her newest fragrance, Ariana Grande CLOUD.

Grande’s success in the beauty industry has soared to new heights. The songstress’s fragrance franchise has been touted as one of the most successful celebrity fragrances in recent years. In 2017, the Ariana Grande fragrance brand boasted upwards of $150 Million in sales since launch. Joel Ronkin, CEO of LUXE Brands states, “Each of Ariana’s fragrances continues to surpass expectations, simply defying the trajectory of celebrity fragrances. This is a true testament to her ability to connect with her fans and her incredible passion to deliver a superior fragrance for them. We are incredibly honored to partner once again with such an influential and aspirational artist and look forward to continued success with the launch of CLOUD.”

Ariana Grande CLOUD is a joyful, new creation inspired by optimism and hope. This dreamy new bottle design stands apart from her existing fragrance franchise. The uplifting and addictive new scent imbues a thoughtful, artistic expression of positivity and happiness from Ariana to her fans.

“I love clouds, and I love this new fragrance. It is my favorite one yet!” exclaims Grande.

THE FRAGRANCE
Ariana Grande CLOUD opens with a dreamy top blend of alluring lavender blossom, forbidden juicy pear and mouthwatering bergamot. The heart features a whipped touch of crème de coconut, indulgent praline and exotic, vanilla orchid. Sensual musks and creamy woods fade out for a cashmere-like feeling that seduces the senses.

TOP
Lavender Blossom
Juicy Pear
Bergamot

HEART
Crème de Coconut
Praline
Vanilla Orchid

DRY DOWN
Sensual Musks
Creamy Woods

THE DESIGN
The Ariana Grande CLOUD bottle was inspired by a natural cloud and all the optimism and youthful spirit brought from looking up at the sky juxtaposed with what the cloud means in the current digital age. The sleek modern bottle with subtle blue glow rests in a soft, animated white, puffy cloud base. An uplifting moment, resting on a cloud looking to a bright future on the horizon. The iconic bottle is ultimately wrapped in a holographic pixel carton, a nod to the digital world that connects all of us.

THE PRODUCTS

Eau de Parfum Spray, 3.4 FL OZ/100 mL                     

$59.00

Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.7 FL OZ/50 mL                       

$49.00

Eau de Parfum Spray, 1.0 FL OZ/30 mL                        

$39.00

Eau de Parfum Purse Spray, .33 FL OZ/10 mL                  

$20.00

All prices are manufacturer’s suggested retail prices in US dollars.

Available fall 2018 at Ulta Beauty in the US, Shoppers Drug Mart in Canada and on ArianaGrande.com. The brand will roll out to additional prestige retailers late fall.

ABOUT ARIANA GRANDE
With her powerful vocals and astonishing range, Ariana Grande has emerged as one of the most magnetic and massively successful performers in pop music today. At age 24, she’s delivered three platinum-selling albums and surpassed 18 billion streams, in addition to nabbing four Grammy Award nominations and landing eight hits in the Top 10 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. With her most recent album — 2016’s critically acclaimed Dangerous Woman — Grande both boldly defies expectation and reveals the full force of her voice (recently hailed as an “extraordinary, versatile, limitless instrument” upon Grande’s appearance on Time’s “100 Most Influential People” list).

Since making her full-length debut with 2013’s “Yours Truly” (featuring the game-changing, triple-platinum smash “The Way”), Grande has brought her striking vocal presence to a genre-blurring breed of pop, taking on R&B, soul, and electronic music with equal nuance and assurance. Arriving in 2014, her sophomore effort, “My Everything,” garnered a Grammy Award nomination for Best Pop Vocal Album and spawned the 6x-platinum hits “Problem” and “Bang Bang” (a Grammy nominee for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance). Through the years, the longtime actress and former Broadway star has proven the scope of her talent by appearing on “Scream Queens” and “Hairspray Live!” and showcased her comedic chops by hosting “Saturday Night Live.” With her social media following now surging past 200 million, Grande has also earned numerous accolades from the MTV Video Music Awards, iHeartRadio Music Awards, and American Music Awards (including the highly coveted Artist of the Year prize).

The first artist in music history to see the lead single from her first three albums debut on the Billboard Hot 100, Grande embraced a more uncompromising vision than ever before in the making of “Dangerous Woman.” With People noting that the album “celebrates feminine might,” Entertainment Weekly praised Grande for “having something meaningful to say with that jaw-dropping voice — one of the most exquisite in pop today.” Grande recently wrapped up her widely lauded Dangerous Woman Tour in support of the album, performing 85 arena shows worldwide.

ABOUT LUXE BRANDS
LUXE Brands, Inc. is a prestige beauty company with a portfolio of brands distributed in over 70 countries. The company’s portfolio includes Ariana Grande and Nicki Minaj fragrances and DDF skincare, as well as the distribution rights in North America for the Jennifer Lopez, Hawaiian Tropic, Jean Patou and Porsche Design fragrances.

 

SK-II recruits Chloe Grace Moretz and other stars for #Bare Skin Project

June 8, 2018

Chloe Grace Moretz for SK-II Bare Skin Project
Chloe Grace Moretz for #SK-II Bare Skin Project (Photo courtesy of SK-II)

The following is a press release from SK-II:

In a world where nearly half of all women believe they must wear makeup to feel beautiful and confident,1 prestige skincare brand SK-II makes a bold affirmation to the beauty of bare skin in its latest campaign—the #BareSkinProject. This statement-making movement turns the spotlight on six global celebrities who have boldly taken on the challenge to reveal their bare skin for the first time with the help of SK-II’s signature Facial Treatment Essence.

The #BareSkinProject’s first endeavor, a photoshoot by world renown photographers from Magnum Photos, features SK-II’s six celebrity muses–Chloe Moretz, Chun Xia, Kasumi Arimura, Mayu Matsuoka, Ni Ni and Tang Wei in a bold and unfiltered light.

To offer the most authentic vision of bare skin beauty, all six celebrities were photographed with no makeup on their skin by photographers Christopher Anderson, Alessandra Sanguinetti and Jim Goldberg. There was also no skin retouching for all photos in the #BareSkinProject.

“It’s still unconventional to see female celebrities photographed bare skin and through the #BareSkinProject, we hope to provide a different point of view,“ said Sandeep Seth, CEO, Global SK-II.  “We are proud to partner with six brave personalities who share the same goal. We hope their authentic journeys with Facial Treatment Essence will inspire women all over the world to embrace their natural bare skin beauty.“

The celebrities rallied together in a resounding show of support for the movement. “It was so refreshing to hear about a campaign that aims to embrace women’s natural beauty and spark a movement of authenticity and confidence,” said American actress Chloe Moretz.  “I knew that this was a perfect fit for me and what I represent.”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQhDXE3_AkI

As part of the campaign, SK-II will also launch short films that intimately document each celebrity’s personal journey with Magnum Photos. They will be revealing their bare skin and showcasing their unique skin journey with Facial Treatment Essence.  Chloe’s film will launch on June 29 on YouTube and SK-II.com.

“Our goal was to capture authentic emotions as they went through their journeys,” said directors Virgile Textier and Guillaume Cagniard from HOSSEGOR. “Although each journey is unique, they each went through similar emotions of doubt, excitement, boldness and pride. It’s beautiful to see it all unfold.”

For more information and to see exclusive #BareSkinProject content, visit the #BareSkinProject online exhibition on SK-II’s Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/skii or visit https://www.sk-ii.com/bareskin.html.

About SK-II Facial Treatment Essence
Since the discovery of Pitera™ more than 37 years ago, SK-II’s iconic bestseller Facial Treatment Essence has helped millions of women around the world achieve crystal clear skin. SK-II’s signature ingredient Pitera™ is a bio-ingredient containing over 50 micro-nutrients such as vitamins, minerals, amino acids and organic acids. Pitera™ helps condition skin, lock in moisture from within over time and soothes skin concerns caused by external aggressors such as UV and pollution. Formulated with over 90% Pitera™, SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence helps transform skin to beautiful bare skin– reducing the appearance of wrinkles, giving a more refined skin texture, leaving less visible spots, improving firmness and elevating radiance.

About SK-II 
For more than 35 years, SK-II has touched the lives of millions of women around the world by helping them to #ChangeDestiny through the miracle of crystal clear skin. The fascinating story behind SK-II begins at a sake brewery in Japan, where scientists noticed the elderly workers had wrinkled faces, but extraordinarily soft and younger-looking hands. A rigorous search of more than 350 kinds of yeast was conducted before SK-II’s researchers discovered the unique yeast strain from which Pitera™ is naturally derived. Pitera™, exclusive to SK-II, is the cornerstone of the brand and transforms the five dimensions of skin – texture, radiance, firmness, spot control and wrinkle resilience – that lead to crystal clear skin. A leading skin care brand in Asia for years, SK-II is now becoming a beauty must-have in the U.S. with its best-selling and award-winning Facial Treatment Essence, Facial Treatment Mask and GenOptics Aura Essence serum.

For the latest news and in-depth information, please visit http://www.sk-ii.com/.

1The Renfrew Center, 2012. Available from: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/alexis-sclamberg/makeup_b_1291785.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ts_z3EiBkWI

“It was so refreshing to hear about a campaign that aims to embrace women’s natural beauty and spark a movement of authenticity and confidence. I knew that this was a perfect fit for me and what I represent.” – Chloe Grace Moretz

“From where I come from, healthy bare skin is a big trend but most of the time, these bare skin photos are still enhanced by “a natural make up look”. With the #BareSkinProject, I want to show my sincerity to my audience and fans and present my most natural self in bare skin.” – Chun Xia

“For me, wearing make up is like “turning my switch on for work” and there is a pressure to always wear make up on set.  With the #BareSkinProject, I took on the challenge of going for my first photoshoot with no makeup on my skin at all – just skin care. Preparing with Facial Treatment Essence for this shoot gave me confidence. My skin condition has improved and with my clear skin I was able to stand in front of the camera naturally and confidently.” – Kasumi Arimura

“I truly admire the #BareSkinProject’s authentic and unfiltered take on beauty. It is very unconventional and I love doing something different and challenging myself. I was nervous initially but preparing with the ‘miracle water’, SK-II’s Facial Treatment Essence, gave me confidence to turn up on set bare face and do my best.” – Ni Ni

“When I first heard about SK-II’s #BareSkinProject, I thought I could not do it as I have never revealed my bare skin in public before. I was initially nervous about the shoot for Bare Skin Pride series but long term usage of SK-II Facial Treatment Essence has improved my skin condition and really gave me the confidence I needed to take up this challenge. Facial Treatment Essence has been my trusted skin care companion for many years and it has never once let me down.” – Tang Wei

“The photography I gravitate to tends to be something that is simple, instinctive and from the heart. This is why the #BareSkinProject spoke to me in such a big way. I was shooting for Bare Skin Uniqueness and it is the first time I heard a beauty brand tell me that the celebrities were not going to have any make up on their skin. The brand was not going to do any skin photoshop. The sheer authenticity of their message was really powerful.” – Christopher Anderson

“Most of my work is around women’s lives, the passing of time and the degree to which we control our destiny. The only way to tell these stories is with intimacy, and that is exactly what this campaign was about for me. Letting me photograph them as they really look, simply, with no makeup, no masks and no pretensions made the short time I had with them very personal and intimate. It was a luxury to work on a campaign that appreciates women as they really are and not what they are supposed to look like.” – Alessandra Sanguinetti

“Most of my work involves collaborations with individuals or groups who are unapologetically themselves. I am drawn to those who are able to share their strengths and their vulnerabilities with me in front of the camera. Beauty comes in many forms and I see my role as an image-maker to help reveal the unique loveliness that lies beneath the surface of my subjects. When photographing Tang Wei and Arimura for the #BareSkinProject, I was able to use this use authentic and honest approach. and they in turn trusted me enough to reveal their selves to the camera. Their natural confidence lit up the shoot. They are perfect representatives of women who are not afraid to be themselves and meet the world on their own terms.” – Jim Goldberg

Amazon Echo Look for style needs is now available to U.S. customers

June 6, 2018

The following is a press release from Amazon:

Alexa helps you look your best with Echo Look, a first-of-its-kind Echo device with a hands-free depth-sensing camera, built-in LED lighting, and computer vision-based background blur to make your outfits pop. Simply say, “Alexa, take a photo” or “Alexa, take a video” to get a share-worthy shot of your look, no smartphone camera or mirror required. Alexa on Echo Look is the style assistant that gives you personalized recommendations, helps keep your closet organized, and provides fashion inspiration. Features like Style Check, Collections, and suggestions of new pieces to complement your existing wardrobe all come with Echo Look (#echolook), which is now available to all customers for $199.99 at www.amazon.com/echolook.

“Like a trustworthy best friend, Alexa helps you nail your look every time—with Echo Look, she can give advice on which of two outfits looks best, offer personalized recommendations on items that pair well with clothes you already own, create your personal lookbook, keep your closet organized, and much more,” said Linda Ranz, Director of Echo Product Management at Amazon. “Over the last year we invited customers to use Echo Look and give us feedback, which led to the launch of many new features—we’re now excited to make the device available to all customers, with even more fashionable features and functionality to come that will help customers look their best every day.”

Alexa as your style assistant on Echo Look uses a combination of machine learning algorithms and advice from fashion specialists to provide personalized recommendations. Style Check, one of the most popular features on Echo Look, gives you a second opinion on which of two outfits looks best on you—simply submit two photos and, in about a minute, Style Check will return a recommendation based on fit, color, styling, and current trends, plus an explanation of why one is better. One of the newest features on Echo Look will suggest items that pair well with clothes you already own to help you get more out of your closet. Recommended items are all shoppable on Amazon.com.

Echo Look also makes it easier to keep your closet organized. To keep track of your styles, use Daily Look—each photo or short video you take of an outfit is automatically added to a lookbook that you can browse for inspiration and tag with descriptions. You can also filter looks by color to easily find a specific piece or decide whether you need yet another black top. The Collections feature helps organize your closet by category for easy searching. The Echo Look app will automatically organize Daily Looks into groups including Favorites, Seasons, and Weather. You can then create your own personalized collections like outfits for your vacation, business trip, items to donate, and more. When you’re away from home, you can use the Echo Look app to keep capturing outfit photos so you’ll never forget what you wore, or where you wore it. The photos will appear in the Looks tab in your app, where they’ll be available to browse, edit, share, and submit to Style Check.

And since fashion is all about getting inspired by the next trend, customers can get tips from Amazon, Vogue, and GQ right in the Echo Look app. Or you can tap into Community Voting to submit outfit polls to the Amazon Spark community for additional input and feedback from other customers who love fashion. Ask specific questions like, “Which is better for a summer wedding?” or “Is this appropriate for a job interview?” and see the votes in real time.

Plus, Echo Look includes everything you love about Alexa. Simply ask for timers and alerts, the weather and news, and much more. You can also “share” Echo Look with one other person while keeping your lookbooks separate. Household Profiles allows you to register up to two accounts to your Echo Look and switch just by asking or, using Your Voice, Alexa can recognize your voice and switch accounts automatically when enabled—you don’t even need to ask.

Lights, Camera, Fashion

Echo Look made its debut at New York Fashion Week: The Shows in February, where Amazon partnered with Prabal Gurung. Amazon used the device to photograph the backstage action to design a digital lookbook inspired by the designer’s Fall 2018 collection. In another collaboration, customers have also seen content from Vogue and GQ appear in the home screen of their apps offering links to fashion tips and trends on Vogue.com and GQ.com. Additionally, designer and stylist Rachel Zoe collaborated with Amazon to promote Echo Look in a recent episode of Real Life with Rachel Zoe, using Alexa as her style assistant in sessions with influencers Sheryl Luke, Natalie Lim Suarez, and Brittany Xavier.

“Alexa is my new styling assistant. I wish I had Echo Look early on in my career as a stylist,” said Rachel Zoe, CEO of Rachel Zoe, Inc. “For anyone who needs a little help deciding what to wear, Style Check is a total game changer.”

Here’s what reviewers have been saying about Echo Look:

  • “If you’ve ever spent too much time in the mirror agonizing over what to wear, this product is for you.”—TODAY Show
  • “I fell in love with the tiny piece of tech.”—USA Today
  • “As a person who won’t generally listen to style tips—not even from my mom or my husband—I’m surprised by how easily I’ve taken to my very own tabletop Tim Gunn.”—New York Post
  • “I’ll admit to being generally quite impressed by Echo Look, as I’m confident that it’s the most sophisticated, accurate, easy-to-use device of its kind on the market. In other news, I may never have to ask my husband how my outfit looks again (which he’ll probably be okay with).”—WhoWhatWear
  • “The photos and video that the Echo Look captures provide a good view of what you’re wearing that indeed trumps what you get from a mirror. They’re well lit thanks to the LED lights on the body of the Echo Look, and the voice activation eliminates the need for selfie sticks, self-timers or a patient partner who doesn’t mind taking your picture.”—CNET
  • “Perfect selfies and an intelligent fashion guide.”—Gadget Flow

Pricing and Availability

Echo Look (#echolook) is available now for U.S. customers for $199.99. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/echolook.

About Amazon

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon. For more information, visit www.amazon.com/about and follow @AmazonNews.

Kat Von D Beauty releases limited-edition 10th anniversary collection

May 21, 2018

Kat von D Beauty

The following is a press release from Kat Von D Beauty:

This year, Kat Von D Beauty celebrates its 10-year anniversary with a limited edition collection of eight products for eyes, lips and face that are vegan, cruelty-free and dripping in gold. The curated mix of products range from throwback favorites like the all-star icon Tattoo Liner to new classics like Everlasting Glimmer Veil in Gold Skool. The collection launched online on Cinco de May (May 5), and sold out almost immediately. Now, you can shop the Kat Von D 10th Anniversary Collection in Sephora stores and Sephora inside JCPenney, while supplies last.

Kat Von D Beauty’s 10th Anniversary collection is one-of-a-kind: it was inspired by Kat’s 10th Anniversary muses – men and women who redefine beauty and strength. Each muse’s name can be found on the 10th Anniversary eyeshadow palette, and you can watch their full stories unfold on Youtube.com/KatVonDBeauty.

Kat Von D Beauty 10th Anniversary Collection (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)

“I wanted to tell the story of @katvondbeauty through 10 of my modern-day muses. These 10 muses have blessed me with so much inspiration, not just with their surface beauty, but for what they contribute to the world through their art.”
– Kat Von D 

Originally launched as a collection of four red lipsticks at Sephora (which sold out immediately), today Kat Von D Beauty has grown to over 350 SKUs sold in 35 countries, winning numerous industry awards along the way for product performance and innovation. Through it all, Kat’s core mission of delivering accessible, high performance, vegan and cruelty-free makeup remains the same. Dedicated to fans across the globe, the collection pays homage to the brand’s humble beginnings, while sharing a glimpse of what’s to come over the next decade.

Kat von D Beauty 10th Anniversary Collection (Photo courtesy of Kat Von D Beauty)
  • 10th Anniversary Tattoo Liner in Trooper Black ($20) – A fan and industry favorite – and one of the most awarded liquid liners – in exclusive gold packaging.
  • 10th Anniversary Studded Kiss Crème Lipstick in Sante Sangre ($19) – One of Kat’s favorite shades dressed up in collectible gold studs.
  • 10th Anniversary Everlasting Glimmer Veil in Gold Skool ($22) – A new, exclusive shade of Kat’s long-wear, weightless formula with a liquid-crystal finish.
  • 10th Anniversary Metal Crush Highlighter in Gold Skool ($30) – A single shot of gold-drenched shimmer that you can use anywhere.
  • 10th Anniversary Eyeshadow Palette ($52) – 16 bold, colorful shades in matte, metallic and shimmer finishes, with names inspired by the 10 campaign muses and limited-edition packaging featuring new artwork drawn by Kat herself in celebration of the 10th anniversary.
  • 10th Anniversary Makeup Brush Collection ($125) – The essential tools to help unleash your creativity with limited-edition gold-tone handles.
  • 10th Anniversary Train Case ($150) – A roomy case with tons of space for your makeup stash, decorated with Kat’s original artwork.
  • 10th Anniversary Signed Vault ($348) – Extremely limited quantities of this ultra-special vault are available only on Katvondbeauty.com.

The anniversary campaign features 10 muses of all backgrounds, ages and skin tones, who represent the many faces of Kat Von D Beauty.  These are the artists, poets and lovers. The insiders and the outsiders. But if you really want to know who Kat Von D Beauty is, all you gotta do is look in the mirror.

#Vegan! Kat’s passion for animals means that all products are 100% Cruelty Free Forever. The Kat Von D Beauty 10th Anniversary Collection is 100% vegan. Share your looks and find more inspiration at KatVonDBeauty.com, @KatVonDBeauty, #KatVonDBeauty #10YearAnniversary

ABOUT KAT VON D BEAUTY: LONG WEAR. HIGH PIGMENT. FULL COVERAGE.
Kat Von D Beauty was created and launched in 2008. Inspired by the inks of her world-famous tattoo shop, High Voltage Tattoo, Kat created an unstoppable, beloved makeup brand that specializes in long wear, high pigment, and full coverage beauty products that empower you to unleash your inner artist.

In her nonstop pursuit of creating the most perfect beauty products you’ve never imagined, Kat Von D tests and wears everything she makes, drawing endless inspiration from her experience as an artist, tattooer, musician, animal-rights activist, social media leader, and creator. Praised and cherished for her artistry, authenticity, innovation, and quality obsession, Kat Von D is one of the fastest-growing beauty brands in the industry.

As a passionate animal-rights activist, Kat Von D is committed to ensuring 100% Cruelty Free beauty and 100% Vegan makeup within her line. In recognition of her work, Kat was the recipient of the Animal Rights National Conference’s Celebrity Animal Advocate Award and named Vegan Celebrity of the Year in 2017. Kat Von D Beauty has twice been awarded Best Cruelty-Free Cosmetics Company by peta2 in their Annual Libby Awards.

Kat Von D Beauty is distributed in 35 countries across North America, Latin America, Europe, South East Asia, Australia, the Middle East, Scandinavia, the United Kingdom and Ireland — exclusively at SEPHORA, Naimies, Debenhams and www.katvondbeauty.com.

ABOUT KENDO
Based in San Francisco, CA, KENDO creates or acquires beauty brands and focuses on developing them into global powerhouses. The portfolio consists of Kat Von D Beauty, Marc Jacobs Beauty, OLEHENRIKSEN, BITE Beauty and Fenty Beauty by Rihanna. The name KENDO is a play on the phrase “can do.” What characterizes KENDO is its dedication to product quality, innovation and authentic storytelling. Brands within the KENDO portfolio are distributed in 35 countries worldwide.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3ENcqw_MW4

Her Universe debuts Star Wars beauty collection

May 4, 2018

Her Universe Star Wars collection
Her Universe Star Wars collection (Photo courtesy of Her Universe)

The following is a press release from Her Universe:

Now fangirls can create their favorite light side or dark side inspired beauty look to complement their Her Universe fashions with the first-ever classic Star Wars beauty collection from Her Universe in collaboration with Hot Topic.

The assortment includes new Star Wars-inspired eye shadow and highlighter palette named Hyperspace, Lightsaber-themed make-up brushes (coming soon to Hot Topic) and Lightsaber-themed Lip Gloss (coming soon), bath bombs, a dark side fragrance, and, for those scruffy looking nerf herders, a Chewbacca grooming kit for men.  “When I first launched Her Universe in 2010, I shared with the fans that it was a dream of mine to make Star Wars beauty products,” said Her Universe Founder Ashley Eckstein. “Almost 8 years later, I am finally making good on that promise! To see my idea of a Lightsaber Lip Gloss set come to life is literally my fangirl dream come true!”  The Star Wars beauty collection from Her Universe in collaboration with Hot Topic is available now in Hot Topic stores and online at hottopic.com and heruniverse.com.

 

Dove Real Beauty Productions and Shonda Rimes partner with Debbie Allen for Season 2 short films

May 2, 2018

Debbie Allen and stars Chelsea Harris and Caralyn Singleterry
Debbie Allen, Chelsea Harris and Caralyn Singleterry take a selfie on the set of “An Hour With Her” (Photo courtesy of Dove)

The following is a press release from Dove:

With Shonda Rhimes returning as Chief Storyteller, Dove Real Beauty Productions releases its first film of Season 2, “An Hour With Her.” Dove Real Beauty Productions launched in March 2017 to shift the power of storytelling from Hollywood into the hands of real women who are boldly expanding the definition of beauty in their communities. This year, Real Beauty Productions is showing the incredible journey of women and girls who have been impacted by the Dove Self-Esteem Project and the inspiring intergenerational connection each has made around beauty, confidence and self-esteem. The four-minute first installment, directed by iconic dancer, choreographer, and actress Debbie Allen, follows Chelsea Harris and Caralyn Singleterry whose shared journey of confronting appearance-related negativity inspires each to embrace their beauty, develop confidence and reclaim their power.

Girls today navigate a 24-hour pop-culture, social media, always-on news cycle that can negatively impact their self-esteem. Dove research shows six in 10 girls believe that media and advertising set an unrealistic standard of beauty most women can’t achieve.1 The result, 8 in 10 girls with low body confidence will opt out of important activities such as raising their hands to voice their opinion.2 The Dove Self-Esteem Project launched in 2004 to help change that. Leading experts agree that one hour spent talking to a girl about beauty, confidence and self-esteem can help change the way she sees herself for a lifetime. In “An Hour With Her,” Chelsea Harris taps into the lessons she learned participating in the Dove Self-Esteem Project 10 years ago to mentor 17-year-old aspiring actress and student Caralyn Singleterry. During their hour together, they connect through similar experiences of low self-esteem and bullying that pulled them both back from pursuing their dreams. Through her experience with the Dove Self-Esteem Project, Chelsea overcame her self-doubt and now she’s paying it forward to Caralyn.

1The Dove Global Beauty and Confidence Report, 2016
2The 2017 Dove Global Girls Beauty and Confidence Report

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ybn5p74NhL0

Kat Von D Beauty launches ultra long-wear brow collection in three formulas

April 20, 2018

Kat Von D
Kat Von D Beauty Brow Collection (Photo courtesy of Kat von D Beauty)

The following is a press release from Kat von D Beauty:

Introducing Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade, Brow Struck Dimension Powder, Signature Brow Precision Pencil, and two new brow brushes unlike any others. With three first-to-market waterproof, long-wear, and high pigment formulas in pencil, pomade and powder, these vegan and cruelty-free brow products give you the power to personalize your brows any way you want, in any shade you want!

Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade, Brow Struck Dimension Powder, Signature Brow Precision Pencil, Pomade Brow Brush #70 and Powder Brow Brush #75 are available April 20, 2018 on Katvondbeauty.com, Sephora.com, and in Sephora and Sephora inside JCPenney stores.

Brows are uniquely personal. To create her own distinctive bold brow, Kat used Tattoo Liner for years because she couldn’t find a product that delivered the high-intensity color and waterproof long-wear she wanted. Now, she has pushed the boundaries of innovation to create the ultimate brow collection for herself…and everyone! In a sneak peek post on Instagram, Kat Von D lauded, “Are you guys ready for THE BEST bullet-proof long wear eyebrow product of all time?!”

Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade ($19)

Kat Von D Beauty 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade (Natural Shades)

This weightless waterproof pomade delivers high-impact, budge-proof and smudge-proof brows that don’t come off until you want them to. This sweat-proof formula is the best brow product for the most intense activities – Kat even tested its stay-put power at a super-sweat-inducing fitness class! Super Brow comes in 7 neutral brow tones, 7 rainbow colors, plus “White Out” and “Bleach” for a total of 16 unprecedented shades that can combine to create over 100 colors for any and every hair color.

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/brow/24-hour-super-brow-long-wear-pomade/10038.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/24-hour-super-brow-long-wear-pomade-P430718

Apply 24-Hour Super Brow Long-Wear Pomade with the new Kat Von D Beauty Pomade Brow Brush #70 ($18). The brush’s firm, angled bristles are made from the highest quality synthetic fibers to deliver extreme control and effortless strokes. The tapered brush handle doubles as a mixing spatula to make creating color combinations a breeze.

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/brow/pomade-brow-brush-70/29314V1.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/70-pomade-brow-brush-P430304

Kat Von D Beauty Brow Struck Dimension Powder ($20)

Kat Von D Beauty Brow Struck Dimension Powder

Create the perfect natural-looking brow with Brow Struck: a unique 3D semi-metallic powder that mimics the natural sheen of real hair for real-deal dimension and volume. This hybrid 2-in-1 primer and powder formula is the first brow powder to deliver waterproof, smudge-resistant brows for up to 12 hours. Use one of the seven brow-toned shades to instantly fill-in and even-out your shape for perfectly full and balanced brows that look great on camera and in real life.

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/brow/brow-struck-dimension-powder/10039.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/brow-struck-dimension-powder-P430306

Apply this long-wear, high pigment powder with the Kat Von D Beauty Powder Brow Brush #75 ($18). The brush features a unique combed design that actually deposits and blends the powder as it grooms brow hair!

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/brow/powder-brow-brush-75/29321V1.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/75-powder-brow-brush-P430305

Kat Von D Beauty Signature Brow Precision Pencil ($20)

Kat Von D Beauty Signature Brow Precision Pencil

This ultra-skinny pencil features the first-ever 1 x 1.5mm oval tip, for a microblade look that you control. Signature Brow is all about precision and is perfect for drawing fine lines and hair-like strokes with an artist’s control at any angle. The long-wear, break-resistant formula is extra-hard yet softens on contact with the natural oils of your brow hair for buildable payoff, so you can layer color with confidence to achieve any custom brow look. The built-in spoolie on each of the 7 brow-tone shades lets you groom and blend with ease.

https://www.katvondbeauty.com/eye/brow/signature-brow-precision-pencil/10040.html

https://www.sephora.com/product/signature-brow-precision-pencil-P430307

Maybelline New York announces Josephine Skriver as global spokesmodel

April 19, 2018

The following is a press release from Maybelline New York:

Josephine Skriver
Josephine Skriver (Photo courtesy of Maybelline New York)

Maybelline New York, the world’s leading cosmetics brand, is excited to announce Josephine Skriver as a global spokesmodel. A well-known international model with a loyal fan base, Josephine has risen to the top of her industry through years of dedication, hard work and hustle in the Big Apple and around the world. She is recognized for her philanthropic work, down to earth personality and immense success in her modeling career on the runway and in notable campaigns.

Josephine joins an impressive lineup of global spokesmodels who have helped shape the identity of the iconic Maybelline New York beauty brand including Adriana Lima, Gigi Hadid, Herieth Paul, Jourdan Dunn, Cris Urena, I-Hua Wu, Emily DiDonato, and Christy Turlington. In her partnership with Maybelline New York, Josephine will participate in brand activities on the global scale.

“Being a part of the Maybelline New York family is a dream come true! I have been wearing Maybelline since I was a little girl,” said Josephine. “I am honored to represent not only Maybelline, but all of the girls who are wearing Maybelline, because these young girls are the future. They are powerful and beautiful, and that to me is what Maybelline stands for. I could not be prouder to represent them and make it happen.”

Josephine grew up in Denmark and was first approached in her teenage years about modeling while on a visit to New York City. Years later in February 2011, Josephine’s connection to New York came full circle when she made her debut at New York Fashion Week, walking for designers like Calvin Klein and Rag & Bone. The same year she appeared in Milanand Paris shows, walking for Balenciaga, Chanel, Dolce & Gabbana, Valentino, Yves Saint Laurent and most notably closed Prada’s show.

Since her successful career launch, Josephine has modeled in campaigns for the likes of Bulgari, Gucci, Max Mara, Michael Kors, and Tom Ford. She has collaborated with top photographers including Steven Meisel and Mikael Jansson, while her editorial accolades include American Vogue, Vogue Italia, Vogue Germany, V, Dazed, W, and Interview. In 2013, Josephine walked in her first Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show, and has graced the runway in the annual show ever since. She was given the coveted title of Victoria’s Secret Angel in 2016.

“We are beyond thrilled to have Josephine as part of our Maybelline family,” said Leonardo Chavez, Global Brand President, Maybelline New York. “A partnership with Josephine was completely organic because she resonates with our global customer and is a dynamic and fresh addition to our roster of talent. She embodies determination, grit, energy and spirit, while having a true connection to New York and the dream of making it happen in this city.”

In addition to her modeling career, Josephine is notable for being an advocate for global LGBTQ rights and is involved with organizations like Family Equality Council and COLAGE as well as to Keep A Child Alive, which focuses on children’s fight against HIV. Having been raised by LGBTQ parents, Josephine hopes to inspire children and all future generations of LGBTQ families by sharing her own journey.

Josephine is excited to continue her work with Maybelline New York this Spring, appearing in her first campaign for the brand for the launch of Super Cushion 2-in-1 launching in May 2018.

About Maybelline New York
Maybelline New York is the number one cosmetic brand in the world, available in over 120 countries. By combining technologically advanced formulations with on-trend expertise and New York City edge, Maybelline New York’s mission is to offer innovative, accessible and effortless cosmetics for every woman. The brand is currently the official makeup sponsor of New York Fashion Week and other fashion weeks worldwide. For more information, log on to www.maybelline.com.

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