Beauty news and posts in October 2021: a launch of truly uninspired fragrances, makeup grown in a petri dish, the French way to wear glitter, Lisa Eldridge’s pop-up and a poem from the 2nd century AD that could’ve been a Taylor Swift song or a slogan on a T-Shirt. Really!
Beauty News
Perfume, perfume, perfume! Billie Eilish launches her own fragrance (listen, I love her, but that fragrance sounds generic af) (Vogue), Estee Lauder launches new luxury fragrance line with names like “live love laugh” (not really, but Dream Dusk?! Sensuous Stars?! Infinite Skies?!?! Can it even get blander?!). And Britney Spears fragrances have seen a rise of 344% in sales since she was “freed”. (British Beauty Blogger)
I absolutely won’t buy Hermès’ new highlighter, but my, isn’t it pretty?!?! (Also, given the fact that I’ve spend $80 on Chanel highlighters – this seems… not as outrageously priced?)
“Clean” makeup brand RMS has been bought by an US investment company called Highland Partners who wants to revamp the brand – yes, please, and also get those stupid fear-mongering claims off the website, kthxb! (They seem to know that it’s problematic, so I have hopes.) (Glossy)
I’m rarely intrigued by new launches, but Lisa Eldridge’s new foundation?! Yes, please! (British Beauty Blogger) There’ll also be a Lisa Eldridge pop-up store in London’s Covent Garden until December 31st, and I’d love to go. (Grazia)
KimChi Chic Cosmetics is now available at Douglas online – for all you drag race fans out there!
Will Meghan Markle launch a beauty brand soon? (Cosmopolitan)
Beauty Stories
Shirley Raines, founder of Beauty 2 the Streetz, brings beauty services to the homeless of L. A. (The Cut)
Usually I’m really, really NOT into those stories about how effortlessly chic French women are (I think it’s a stupid cliché, and one that stresses a toxic image of a white, thin and rather affluent woman). But this piece featuring makeup artist Violette spoke to me, maybe because I dig that look she discusses (glitter, lipstick) a lot. (The Zoe Report)
This is a good one: ever wondered what “clinically proven” and “double-blind” really means when reading through a beauty product’s claims? Allure explains.
Sustainability
Sorry, but this is what’s wrong with that endless decluttering in the beauty community: “I don’t want to add clutter to anyone’s life. I want to help them declutter and reconnect with their beauty routine in a very special, intentional, and mindful way.” Minori founder Anastasia Bezrukova wants you to throw out your old products and then buy her brands’, because obviously, that’s the way to go to be more mindful. (cue major eyeroll here) (Allure)
Makeup… grown in a petri dish?! Sounds great, but I can just hear the anti-science brigade moaning things like “unnatural”. (Fast Company)
Did you know that The Body Shop is getting into the refill game? I didn’t. Here’s a list of the first 400 shops where you can refill your bottles.
Live, Love and Everything Else
Fascinating (and depressing): “the incredible challenges that any marginalized person faces in an industry that’s dominated by white men, investing in white men,” explained by a former Silicon Valley “tech bro”, now transitioning. (Elle)
Fat Babes in the Wild, a group that concentrates on getting people out into nature and promoting body positivity at the same time. I love this. How often are fat people marginalized because of how they look, no matter how fit they are? (Ms. Mayhem)
“They say / What they like / Let them say it / I don’t care” – that’s not the lyrics of the new Taylor Swift song, but a poem from the 2nd century AD. It manages to challenge a lot of assumptions both about people and poetry in Antiquity, so, no biggie. (I’m a language geek, what can I say.) (The Guardian)
On the Blog
I may be biased, but we had a bunch of excellent posts here in October: from Astrid testing the rather pricey Augustinus Bader Essence (and seeing results!), to me testing Swedish indie brand Oden’s Eye’s eyeshadows. Obviously we had to throw in a few sunscreen reviews (Anessa and fan-favourite Biore AND German brand V.Sun).
I also explained why I’m not as enamored with Eucerin’s Anti-Pigment Spot Corrector anymore although I still think it’s a great product. And finally, fragrance: an ode to Tom Ford’s Soleil Blanc and a rant about Luca Turin’s latest Perfume Guide that includes kittens (the rant, I mean). Hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it!
