2009 looks to be a very busy year for supermodel Claudia Schiffer. She was the face of Chanel's autumn/winter fashion collection. She has already landed Spring campaigns with Dolce & Gabbana and Yves Saint Laurent. That's Claudia in a D&G Cruise Collection ad above (via Luxist). Now Claudia is planning to launch her own line of beauty products that will go on sale this summer.
The Telegraphreports that a British survey of 2,000 women found that Vaseline lip therapy is the beauty product women most need. The study tried to find which beauty products women couldn't do without, whatever the cost.
Jeff Wemyss, Superdrug Trading Director: "When asked what women couldn't do without, whatever the cost, it's Vaseline that came out top.
"The little tin of soothing salve not only protects skin from the effects of weather and exposure, it also acts like a sealant to protect the natural water loss of our skin and is a staple handbag item for women across the nation.
"None of the items in the top ten are necessarily luxury items, just reliable, timeless, products which have earned their place as essential beauty basics over the years."
Vaseline lip therapy isn't an expensive product and can usually be found for less than $2. In the U.S. it comes in a small tube and on the UK drugstore websites it looks like it comes in a small circular tin.
Here's the top twenty things women can't live without according to the Superdrug study.
2009 is getting very, very close and many will be happy to see 2008 go. Not everyone will be going out this year for parties but everyone will get an extra second to party. Those staying in can watch Dick Clark, Ryan Seacrest and Ferbie on ABC, Anderson Coooper and Kathy Griffin on CNN or Carson Daly's show on NBC. Fox also has a show from Las Vegas hosted by Spike Feresten and Mark Thompson.
USA Todayreports that New Year's Eve spending overall is expected to be down.
High-end indulgence was the rage in the boom years, but today's economy means tonight will be "celebrated in a much more frugal way," says Marshal Cohen, chief industry analyst at trend tracker NPD Group.
For many, apparently, that means at home. For example, the Sommet Center in Nashville canceled a New Year's Eve concert with Lynyrd Skynyrd and Trace Adkins. Reservations dropped for the shindig at the Lexington Downtown Hotel in Kentucky. "It's really scary," says Angela Matherne, director of sales and marketing. "We had 2,000 (people) last year. If we get to 1,500 this year, we'll be lucky."
In New York City, sales of $85 party tickets at Divine Bar West are less than last year's. Co-owner Shari Schneider thinks that people are staying in to save money.
Those looking to glam up for the night could try a visit to the department store cosmestic counter. Newsdaywas told people should call for an appointment. NARS International Lead Makeup Artist Uzo shared some beauty tips with Newsday. Uzo says the biggest trend for New Year's Eve is "a bold red lip paired with velvety luminous skin."
"The biggest beauty trend of the season and for New Year's Eve is a bold red lip paired with velvety luminous skin. You always want to absorb any excess oil or shine on the face before you start," suggests Uzo. "Use blotting papers gently press on cheeks and T-zone, which will instantly eliminate excess shine and skin will be left feeling refreshed and ready for touch-ups."
"Next use concealer sparingly to under eye area, around the nose and lips to offset any darkness, redness and/or blemishes. Blend to a perfect finish using fingers."
Some more New Year's beauty tips can be found here, here and here.
Some other trends can be found in a Zogby/Times Square New Year's Eve poll. The poll found that many people kiss their pet on New Year's Eve. Pets get a New Year's kiss even more frequently than people do according to the national poll.
More people will kiss their pooch when the New Year rolls in than another human being, according to an end-of-the-year Zogby/Times Square New Year's Eve National Poll.
Women are 4.5 times as likely to spend New Year's Eve with a pet than men are. Democrats are more likely than Republicans to spend New Year's Eve with a pet.
"We've discovered over the four years that we've been conducting this survey that people love seeing in the New Year with their pet," said Tim Tompkins, president of the Times Square Alliance. "I guess it's that pure joy and unconditional optimism that animals have that people love to be around."
People are pretty subdued after 2008 but at least most young people are still optimistic about 2009. The study found that 57.9 percent of young people expect 2009 to be better for them than 2008.
Photo: London's mayor has ordered a spectacular ten-minute fireworks display.
There's not a lot of new beauty print magazines launching these days but here's an interesting new one called Organic Beauty. The editor of the new magazine is Rona Berg, the former beauty editor of the New York Times Magazine and editorial director of Elle. Rona Berg says, "Going green is no longer just a trend, it's a lifestyle." As the publication's title suggests the magazine will cover eco-friendly and organic beauty products.
Actress Olivia Wilde, who stars on House, graces the first cover of the premiere issue of Organic Beauty. Olivia explains in the feature why she recently changed her mind about natural and organic products and why it's unnecessary to "sacrifice your health with what you're putting on your body."
Organic Beauty also has a website here. The new magazine will hit newsstands on New Year's Day. (via The Write News)
Allergan announced that it received FDA approval to market its glaucoma drug Latisse as a drug to promote eyelash growth. The glaucoma drug has a side effect that female patients were very happy with: they got long, lush eyelashes.
Latisse, which Allergan plans to launch in February, represents a new use for its seven-year-old glaucoma drug, bimatoprost, which is sold under the brand name Lumigan. The drug's use as a beauty aid was discovered by patients and eye doctors, who have reported for years that a side effect of the Lumigan drops is enhanced eyelashes.
To protect its turf, Allergan is already waging a legal battle with competitors who marketed their own eyelash products based on bimatoprost and similar ingredients.
"Latisse exemplifies our continuing commitment to developing innovative treatments that are studied in well-controlled clinical trials, manufactured to pharmaceutical standards, appropriately labeled for use, and available to consumers as a prescription product," said Scott Whitcup, Allergan's executive vice president of research and development. Latisse will be sold by physicians in states that allow them to dispense drugs. In other states, Latisse will be available at the pharmacy.
Allergan said Latisse's retail price will be $120 for a 30-day supply bottle for both eyes. The treatment is applied daily to the base of the upper lashes with a disposable applicator, which looks like a tiny paint brush.
Latisse users will see longer, fuller and dark lashes in as little as eight weeks, with full results in 16 weeks, Allergan said. Eyelashes will gradually return to their prior appearance if treatment isn't maintained.
Allergan said that global peak sales could exceed $500 million a year. "We would agree based on the high level of enthusiasm for this product among our industry contacts. However, we think the initial uptake will be muted due to the economic situation," Wachovia Capital Markets Inc. analyst Larry Biegelsen wrote in a research note. He said Latisse will be included in Allergan's discount program to physicians who use large volumes of its products, including notably the antiwrinkle drug Botox.
Allergan said the most common side effects of Latisse are an itching sensation in the eyes and redness, which were reported in about 4% of patients. Latisse may cause darkening of the eyelid skin, which Allergan said may be reversible. In addition, the Irvine, Calif., company said that Latisse may cause permanent increased brown pigmentation of the colored part of the eye, although this problem wasn't observed in its FDA tests.
We've seen a someone's lashes who used the drug off-label and she had really amazing eyelashes. We thought they were fake until she explained what she'd been using. There were a lot of safety questions about using a glaucoma drug for eyelash growth, but it appears that the FDA is giving the go-ahead. This one's going to sell like crazy. Although we don't like the idea of Latisse turning our blue eyes brown. That's just weird.
Photo: Before and after results from patient in Latisse clinical trial.
Too Faced Cosmetics thinks Smurfette is beautiful. WWDreports that Too Faced Cosmetic's Smurfette collection will be sold at Sephora later this month.
Produced under license, the Smurfette collection includes illuminating face powder ($26); eye shadow in a quad that features blue, pink, taupe and dark lavender hues ($32.50); a jojoba, shea butter and vitamin E-infused lip gloss, $18.50, and liquid eyeliners in blue and white for $17.50 each.
Specktra.net has some more photos of Too Faced's Smurfette makeup. Smurfette should do very well but she is lucky to be launching ahead of MAC's Hello Kitty cosmetics line which debuts in February. The Smurfs - which turned 50 this year - are making a comeback. They had a float in the Macy's parade and there is a Smurf movie in the works.
Russia's Kseniya Sukhinova was crowned Miss World in Johannesburg, South Africa today. The show was hosted by Chinese TV presenter Angela Chow alongside co-host South African celebrity, Tumisho Masha. Miss India's Parvathy Omankuttan was the first runner up and Miss Trinidad and Tobago, Gabrielle Walcott, was second runner up.
Miss World Kseniya Sukhinova lives with her parents in the Tyumen region, which is situated in the north west of Siberia. Here's how the beautiful Kseniya describes her life.
I was born in a little town of northern Russia (Siberia) called Nijnevartovsk. Since my childhood I was very sporty girl. When I was 5 years old my mom took me to gymnastics lessons and finally I had a first professional grade in that. Unfortunately due to the trauma I had to stop my carreer in sport. I also tried swimming and ballet. Then at the age of 13 I started practicing biathlon and showed very good results in this. But I gave up sport carrier as I decided to enter the University. Now I study in the Tyumen Oil and Gas University. I have an institute award "Outstanding Student 2006". Talking about my hobbies: I like to travel a lot, try to spend more time with my parents, friends and a lovely cat.
Kseniya also had a practical answer to the often asked bio question, "If you were stranded on a desert island what one item could you not be without?" Kseniya's answer, "Matchbox, hardly one can survive without fire."
You can read Kseniya's full bio here and find the Miss World webiste here. Photos from the Miss World contest can be found here and here.
Diffusion lines -- a line where an upscale designer makes a lower priced version for a store such as Target or Kohl's -- are one of the few bright spots in the retail business during this recession. But fashion isn't the only area where diffusion lines are hot. Beauty is another area where diffusion lines are experiencing growth.
With stock markets around the globe continuing to zigzag, it stands to reason that even the most strident beauty buffs will be pinching their pampering pennies. Fortunately for the nouveau pauvre, niche and prestige beauty brands are now mimicking the fashion world by introducing diffusion products, which are more accessibly priced and more widely available than their signature lines.
Hairstylist Louise Galvin recently launched Natural Locks in British supermarkets, a hair care range that is significantly less expensive than her Sacred Locks line sold in department stores. Target introduced a trio of diffusion lines by up-and-coming indie makeup artists Jemma Kidd, Napoleon Perdis and Petra Strand. Likewise, Jo Wood introduced Everyday, an organic bath-and-body line meant for daily use, designed to complement her higherpriced Jo Wood Organics line. While all were conceived well ahead of the current economic crisis and not specifi cally tailored to cater to the newly budget-conscious, their purpose is to offer a fl avor of the lavish life at a fraction of the regular cost.
Neiman Marcus offers Jemma Kidd Make Up School products, while Target is the place to go to buy the JK Jemma Kidd line. We expect this trend to escalate over the next few years. Women want to look good, even when the budget is tight and diffusion lines meet both consumer and designer's goals. Although the very idea of a diffusion line was shocking until top designer Isaac Mizrahi broke new ground with his fashion line for Target. Alas, Isaac is leaving Target now. And that is a shame.
US Weekly's Jill Martin shares her budget-friendly beauty tips with The Today Show. From Visine on a blemish to using a tennis ball to massage tired feet, her tips are generally good. Except for the mayonnaise in the hair thing. We've heard it works, but we just can't go there.
There are a lot of great deals online today. As we mentioned in our Cyber Monday roundup the National Retail Federation says
nearly 84% of retailers will have a Cyber Monday offer so checking your favorite retailer's website is a good place to start. Here are some offers worth investigating before the day ends. Many of these special Cyber Monday offers are today only.
SanDisk, which makes USB flash drives, is having a sale of its own - see here
Mimoco is offering 36% off its wonderful USB Flash drives designed by artists called Mimobots.
They have a Star Wars Mimobots as well as Mimobots designed by independent artists.
ifrogz.com is offering 40% off its iPods covers and accessories.
Large electronics retailers like Best Buy and Walmart are back again with more special deals today. Dell, Lenovo
and Toshiba also have sales.
Lingerie model Karolina Kurkova has been named World's Sexiest Woman by E! entertainment television. Kurkova is a Czech model and one of Victoria's Secret Angels. You can read more in her bio on Wikipedia. She's also on MySpace here. Karolina Kurkova placed ahead of actresses Angelina Jolie and Scarlett Johansson. She also topped fellow supermodels Adriana Lima and Heidi Klum. E! refers to Kurkova as "she of the mysterious belly button."
Here's the top ten sexiest women in the world according to E!
Hallyu Tech reports (via Geekologie) that a Korean company named IDOCI is selling a cosmetics fridge in multiple colors that stores cosmetics between 46 and 54 degrees.
Korean company IDOCI has announced their redesigned cosmetics fridge, and you have to admit its pretty stylish. The fridge allows you to store all your cosmetics at the ideal 8 - 12 degree celsius range. The appliance also features movable shelves, noise reduction features, and an interior light. The elaborate control system on the front allows you to set up a calendar, timers, and control the temperature. Some of IDOCI’s marketing material seems to indicate they are targeting both sexes. The cosmetics fridge is available in just about any color your little heart desires; pink, blue, purple, silver, green, black...
A post on Sephora's blog talks about keeping organic cosmetics in the refridgerator so they will last longer. If seems that there is an opportunity here for a manufacturer to sell a cosmetics fridge in the U.S. There are a few cosmetic coolers being sold on Amazon here, here and here but they are from third-party sellers. A couple of them also look a little too industrial.
Howcast offers this video about how to look thinner in photographs. Some of the tips they suggest include don't say cheese, dress all in one color and strap on some high heels. They also suggest making sure you are not being photographed from below and to try and stand at the back of a group photo. Another tip suggested in the video is to hold something heavy in your hand to make your arms look toned.
The Tokyo Lash Bar 2008 has some funky fake eyelash offerings including the Couture Collection, which is an artistic collaboration with Dutch fashion designers Viktor & Rolf.
Viktor & Rolf exclusively designed three Couture eyelashes inspired by their latest collection. Encased in a luxurious white box complete with a masquerade eye mask, the collection blends Viktor & Rolf's artistic and conceptual approach to design with shu uemura's avant-garde vision.
You can see the three eyelash styles from Viktor & Rolf here and retail for $95. All of the Tokyo Lash Bar 2008 eyelashes can be found here. (via J-Walk Blog)
Coastal Contacts has a large collection of very cool looking Halloween special effects lenses. Pictured above are Necromancer, Vampire Red and Angelic. There are dozens of other varieties here on CoastalContacts.com. The site says the contact lenses are FDA approved, theatrical grade conventional lenses. They do require a prescription. (via Crave)
The American Optometric Association (AOA) is warning consumers about the risks of wearing decorative contact lenses without a prescription from an eye doctor. You can read an article about this warning here.
The Telegraph 
2009 is getting very, very close and many will be happy to see 2008 go. Not everyone will be going out this year for parties but everyone will get an 
Allergan 
Too Faced Cosmetics thinks Smurfette is beautiful. WWD 
There are a lot of great deals online today. As we mentioned in our 
Lingerie model Karolina Kurkova 
