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Posts with tag cosmetics

Spaced Out

Posted Jun 29th 2009 at 8:00AM by Karen Robinovitz

Filed under: Cosmetics



Creator of Huge Lips, Skinny Hips Lip Gloss (at Scoop, Ron Robinson and b-glowing), Karen Robinovitz takes us through the trials and tribulations of creating a beauty brand from scratch.

Before I go on, note: Everything I'm blogging right now happened a while ago (at this time, the product is actually in stores, but I want to give you all the background to catch you up on how I got to today).

So, picking up from where I left off last week, I had made it into Scoop, my first choice in stores. Next stop: Space.NK -- the British prestige chain that is "the" place to go for beauty products.

It's sophisticated, sparse, Calvin Klein-esque and houses only about 60 well-edited brands.

The Space.NK chain was making a play for the U.S. and opened four stores, two in NYC. Plus, there was the store-within-a-store deal they struck with Bloomingdale's. A friend of mine knew the Space.NK founder, a very inspiring woman whose initials are, go figure, "NK." She introduced us through an email and the NK team asked to meet me... in London.

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Tags: beauty, cosmetics, Karen-Robinovitz, lip-gloss, lip-plumper, lipgloss, makeup, Purple-Lab, Space.NK

Beauty bLAB - To Make a Long Store-y Short

Posted Jun 19th 2009 at 9:30AM by Karen Robinovitz

Filed under: Cosmetics



Creator of Huge Lips, Skinny Hips Lip Gloss (at Space NK, Scoop and b-glowing.com), Karen Robinovitz takes us through the trials and tribulations of creating a beauty brand from scratch.

Before I go on, note: Everything I'm blogging right now happened a while ago (at this time, the product is actually in stores, but I want to give you all the background to catch you up on how I got to today).

Purple Lab was on its way -- but homeless.

You can't get any kind of media coverage on a product if there's no place to buy it. So, press kit was put on hold and operation distribution began.

Here's the thing about retailing in today's world. The brick-and-mortar retail model has changed dramatically with the increase of online shopping and the decrease of the economy. Plus, more people are buying from HSN and QVC, which used to be somewhat lowbrow but is now kinda cool.

Continue reading Beauty bLAB - To Make a Long Store-y Short


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Tags: beauty, cosmetics, huge-lips-skinny-hips, karen-robinovitz, lip-gloss, lip-plumper, Lipgloss, makeup, Scoop

Beauty bLAB - Money, Money, Money

Posted Jun 5th 2009 at 4:51PM by Karen Robinovitz

Filed under: Cosmetics



Creator of Huge Lips, Skinny Hips Lip Gloss (at Space NK, Scoop and b-glowing.com), Karen Robinovitz takes us through the trials and tribulations of creating a beauty brand from scratch.

Before I go on, note: Everything I'm blogging right now happened a while ago (at this time, the product is actually in stores, but I want to give you all the background to catch you up on how I got to today).

This week's topic: How much is this thing going to sell for? I needed to have a price before I could complete the press kit and what I didn't know then is that in the beauty world, the best way to create a profitable company is to have a cost of goods (COG) that is about 20% of the wholesale price.

For example, if a product is retailing at $20, it is typically sold to a retailer at $10, so the ideal COG would be $2. But you have to sell a whole lot of product to make real money because when you start production, the minimums are so high that you wind up shelling out a lot of dough on the inventory.

Our gloss is far more expensive than $2. To turn the best profit, we'd need to sell the product for $50. Who's buying a $50 gloss? I'm not and I'm the type of girl who can get suckered into buying anything!

Continue reading Beauty bLAB - Money, Money, Money


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Tags: beauty, cosmetics, lip-gloss, lip-plumper, makeup, purple-lab, www.purplelabnyc.com

Beauty bLAB - Cha-Ching! The Spending Has Begun

Posted May 29th 2009 at 11:15AM by Karen Robinovitz

Filed under: Cosmetics, Beauty Tips



Creator of Huge Lips, Skinny Hips Lip Gloss (at Space NK, Scoop and b-glowing.com), Karen Robinovitz takes us through the trials and tribulations of creating a beauty brand from scratch.

Life was stressful. To say the least.

I was a one-woman company, figuring out how to manufacture, manage the finances of it all, deal with the legal aspects and now I was beginning to think about sales and PR.

On the component front, I placed an order for 30,000 (5,000 of each color). I knew I would have to cut a big check, but there is major difference between knowing you have to write a check and actually writing one! And it was -- cha-ching -- time to pay the fiddler. I owed at least half -- 12 k! -- when you're a new client with no credit, you pay half up front and half upon delivery.

Now I had to wait about 12 weeks for the components to come.

This was fall of last year and the launch was slated for spring. Patience... not my strong suit. But for some instant gratification (and to jump ahead for a sec), you can find my products here now!

In the meantime, I worked on the press kit, which is what is sent out to all editors, writers and media in order to introduce them to the product. To get into "long leads" (PR lingo meaning the monthly magazines who work three, four, sometimes even more in advance of the publishing date), I had to start seeding the beauty editors by February. And before I could write a press kit, I had to hire a PR firm. (By the way, did I mention that during all of this, I had a full-time job? Mama needed a salary!)

Remember, I am not a trusfundafarian!

Continue reading Beauty bLAB - Cha-Ching! The Spending Has Begun


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Tags: beauty, beauty-blab, cosmetics, huge lips skinny hips, HugeLipsSkinnyHips, karen robinovitz, KarenRobinovitz, lip plumper, lipgloss, LipPlumper, makeup, manufacturing, purple lab, PurpleLab

Beauty BLAB - Color Me Happy

Posted May 22nd 2009 at 5:15PM by Karen Robinovitz

Filed under: Cosmetics, Beauty Tips




Creator of Huge Lips, Skinny Hips Lip Gloss (at Space NK!), Karen Robinovitz takes us through the trials and tribulations of creating a beauty brand from scratch.

We had the packaging look and feel down. I was happy as can be. I now needed to figure out the colors of the six-shade gloss line -- fun, right?

I polled my makeup artist friends – I am blessed with having a few fabulous ones! I asked them what colors they would bring to someone's house if they had no idea what that person looked like or what color their skin tone was. They unanimously came up with the same replies: a light pink or nude, a rich pink, a red, a peach, a color, and clear. Now, some labs have specific color departments where their sole mission is to create a variety of hues. Mine didn't.

C'est moi engaging in my favorite hobby, which inspired the shade Kitty Poledancer. We all have one lurking inside of us! Photo courtesy of Karen Robinovitz.

So I did my colors the old fashioned way – I spent about $800 at Sephora, buying every key shade I could find. I got empty pots and mixing sticks, rolled up my sleeves, and went to town on my coffee table. A few hours later, both arms were covered in what appeared to be Indian paint. There was gloss all over the cowhide rug (oops!). My lips were raw from applying and rubbing off and applying and rubbing off and applying... you get the point. But I had six ultra chic, universally-flattering, sheer shades in front of me that I was dying over! Then the really fun part – naming them! It was like giving birth to six babies at once (call me Angie!).

Their monikers came easily – as if they named themselves.

Continue reading Beauty BLAB - Color Me Happy


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Tags: beauty-blab, cosmetics, hoodia, huge lips skinny hips, HugeLipsSkinnyHips, karen robinovitz, KarenRobinovitz, lip plumper, lipgloss, LipPlumper, makeup, purple lab, PurpleLab, purplelabnyc.com, space.nk

Stila is Saved! Iconic Beauty Brand Not Going Anywhere

Posted May 19th 2009 at 2:00PM by Courtney Dunlop

Filed under: Cosmetics, Interviews

Photos courtesy of Stila

The beauty world -- editors, makeup artists, loyal Lip Glaze-addicted customers -- was pretty much freaking out a few weeks back when the future of Stila looked dire. Bankruptcy rumors swirled and mad dashes to Sephora to stock up on favorites like Kitten Eye Shadow ensued. Then came the news that an investment firm had swooped in at the last minute to buy the brand, but a question hung in the balance: Would the new CEO be cool enough to resuscitate the iconic brand?

Photo courtesy of Stila

For what it's worth, my bet is on yes. I caught up with Stila's new owner (the CEO of Patriarch Partners, LLC) to see what her plans are for the brand, and there's something you should know -- Lynn Tilton is a cool chick. I expected a bean counter in a conservative pantsuit and instead was faced with Lynn in a short black Versace dress and lace-up leather boots. (Already a good sign.)

"I'm not your typical CEO," she told me. Lynn has some bold ideas on how to redirect Stila, including focusing less on traditional retailing -- a move she knows will upset the big stores. Lynn says, "I'll make some people mad, but I don't care. I want to cater to the customers, not the retailers." That means amping up Stila's e-commerce site and spearheading infomercials with instructional makeup tutorials. "Stila will be about educating women on how to be beautiful," she explains.

Continue reading Stila is Saved! Iconic Beauty Brand Not Going Anywhere


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Tags: cosmetics, stila

Beauty bLAB - Testing, Componentry & More Frantic Phone Calls!

Posted May 1st 2009 at 5:30PM by Karen Robinovitz

Filed under: Cosmetics, Beauty Tips




Creator of Huge Lips, Skinny Hips Lip Gloss (coming very soon to Space NK!), Karen Robinovitz takes us through the trials and tribulations of creating a beauty brand from scratch.

So where did we leave off last week? Oh yah, we were at testing, remember? So imagine that you have a formula. Here's what your lab would do next...

Continue reading Beauty bLAB - Testing, Componentry & More Frantic Phone Calls!


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Tags: appetite suppressant, AppetiteSuppressant, beaut, beauty, beauty products, beauty-blab, BeautyProducts, cosmetics, hoodia, huge lips skinny hips, HugeLipsSkinnyHips, karen robinovitz, KarenRobinovitz, lip plump, lip plumper, lipgloss, LipPlump, LipPlumper, makeup, purple lab, PurpleLab, www.purplelabnyc.com

Jouer Cosmetics Offers Understated Elegance

Posted Mar 26th 2009 at 8:00AM by Kristen Seymour

Filed under: Cosmetics

subtle makeup
Much of the time, we like a bit of drama in our look. Dark, smoky eyes or a bright, bold lip always makes us smile. However, there are times when subtlety is key, but in no way, shape, or form are we willing to look less than amazing. Toned down doesn't have to be dull, and Jouer has the proof.

Continue reading Jouer Cosmetics Offers Understated Elegance


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Tags: beauty, cosmetics, jouer, jouer cosmetics, JouerCosmetics, makeup, paris runway, ParisRunway, subtle, understated

IMAN Talks Global Chic

Posted Mar 21st 2009 at 12:00PM by Boydie Beener

Filed under: Interviews



In today's world no model's resume is complete unless they've done something unexpected in the fashion world. Heidi's got fashion's first runway reality show, while Tyra's got a talk show. That's all well and good, but who's helping the fans get chic? Enter Iman. Last week we got to pick her brains on all things beauty, and this week, we got to talk about her fashionable new accessories line that's available on the ultra affordable HSN. Now that's the work of a "model" citizen!

Continue reading IMAN Talks Global Chic


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Tags: cosmetics, david bowie, global chic, home shopping network, hsn, iman, married, model

Salma Hayek to Launch Anti-aging Cosmetics Brand

Posted Mar 18th 2009 at 6:28PM by Roxanna Sarmiento

Filed under: Cosmetics, Celebrities with Style

salma hayekSalma Hayek is about to take over the world - and we don't say that just because she's a movie star and has been busy making babies with her billionaire husband, stealing the spotlight at 30 Rock, and rocking magazine covers (she's this month's InStyle cover girl). You'd think that would be enough to get anyone to take a break, but not our Salma. She's about to add the title of cosmetics magnate to her resume.

Continue reading Salma Hayek to Launch Anti-aging Cosmetics Brand


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Tags: cosmetics, expire-images:2010-3-18, salma hayek, SalmaHayek

Iman Talks Makeup With StyleList

Posted Mar 17th 2009 at 12:00PM by Boydie Beener

Filed under: Interviews

iman

Iman. When we first got the chance to interview her, we were sure she would be cool (after all she is David Bowie's wife). But we had no idea what a wealth of information she would be on everything beauty and style. She even admitted to us that she uses concealer to hide "a multitude of sins." Plus she's super composed and she even threw in a few jokes for good measure. Who knew Iman, the supermodel of all supermodels, was so sweet, accessible, and funny, and has the same skin woes as us mere mortals?

Continue reading Iman Talks Makeup With StyleList


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Tags: apply, cosmetics, dark, david bowie, eye, fair, iman, makeup, mineral, olive, skin, tips

POP Beauty's Sara Strand Inspires Us to "Shakeup Our Makeup"

Posted Mar 16th 2009 at 1:12PM by Dana Oliver

Filed under: Cosmetics, Interviews, Fashion Week

POP Beauty founder Sara Strand commands attention wherever she is. Whether she's rocking out onstage to jazz and rock fusion tunes with her band or playing up her flaming red tresses with neon blue eyeliner, Strand steals the spotlight.

Continue reading POP Beauty's Sara Strand Inspires Us to "Shakeup Our Makeup"


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Tags: cosmetics, POP BEauty, PopBeauty, Sara Strand, SaraStrand

CEW Beauty Awards Best Of Beauty List 2009

Posted Mar 15th 2009 at 12:02PM by Boydie Beener

Filed under: Style Tip of the Day

ojonEach year over 4,000 professionals and expert members of Cosmetic Executive Women vote for their favorite products. This mass vote, dubbed CEW Beauty Awards, is compiled and then turned into a list featuring the best of the best in all things beauty. For those who don't get to mark a ballot, the list is still an irreplaceable tool to find that perfect product. So which "best of" brands rocked the 2009 vote?

Continue reading CEW Beauty Awards Best Of Beauty List 2009


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Tags: beauty, best, cew, cosmetic executive women, cosmetics, makeup, products, skin care

Shoshanna Makeup Bag - Now THAT's a Gift With Purchase!

Posted Mar 7th 2009 at 12:02PM by Kristen Seymour

Filed under: Cosmetics

shoshanna bag from beauty.com
If we're going to spend a chunk of cash on cosmetics, you'd better believe we're going to wait until our chosen store is offering a good free gift with purchase. Because real beauty junkies know that the cost of that lipstick doesn't just pay for the lipstick -- it's paying for a bunch of fab freebies that are all yours if you just buy at the right time. And guess what! Now is the right time at Beauty.com.

Continue reading Shoshanna Makeup Bag - Now THAT's a Gift With Purchase!


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Tags: beauty, beauty.com, cosmetics, designer, free gift, FreeGift, gift with purchase, GiftWithPurchase, makeup, samples, shoshanna

Arlenis Sosa - The New Face of Lancôme

Posted Feb 20th 2009 at 6:49PM by Dana Oliver

Filed under: Cosmetics, Skin Care, Interviews, Beauty Tips

Arlenis Sosa

    Diane von Furstenberg Fall 2009

    Scott Gries, Getty Images for IMG

    Carlos Miele Fall 2009

    Scott Gries, Getty Images for IMG

    Donna Karan Fall 2009

    Chris Moore, Catwalking / Getty Images

    Jason Wu Fall 2009

    Chris Moore, Catwalking / Getty Images

    Derek Lam Fall 2009

    Randy Brooke, WireImage

    Ruffian Fall 2009

    Kristian Dowling, Getty Images

    Michael Kors Fall 2009

    Thomas Concordia, WireImage

    Narciso Rodriguez Fall 2009

    Chris Moore / Catwalking / Getty Images


Nineteen-year-old model Arlenis Sosa has been in the industry for less than a year, but she's already taken the fashion world by storm. The Dominican beauty walked into the Marilyn Agency in March 2008 and inked a contract with them right on the spot. Two weeks later, she's prepping for photo shoots with photographers Norman Jean Roy for VOGUE and Steven Meisel for the infamous all-black issue of Italian VOGUE. Arlenis has accomplished incredible feats, and she can add another to her list as the new face of Lancôme.

StyleList got the opportunity to catch up with the newcomer before she graced the catwalks at the Mercedes-Benz Fall 2009 Fashion Week in New York. Read on to find out how Arlenis was discovered, her secret to maintaining flawless skin, and her top three Lancôme products.


Continue reading Arlenis Sosa - The New Face of Lancôme


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Tags: arlenis sosa, ArlenisSosa, cosmetics, lancome, model

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