Happy Christmas

Just a quick note to say happy Xmas to all!

I received some lovely new products to review over the festive period so please keep an eye out!

My fabulous partner got me a super selection of REN skincare which is just what I wanted. I have big plans for the blog in 2010, I'm looking to explore further the key business that really create the advancements in the cosmetic, spa & beauty world. My business Langton Howarth are also going to be working in conjunction with green businesses to raise awareness of Eco- packaging.

But for now I hope everyone has a great new year and thank you for all your support with my blog in 2009.

Kirsty Fenella

A wonderful service.....

During a recent business trip in london I of course popped it Selfridges. Its really important to follow my clients work and keep in touch with brand by visiting and understanding the way product is sold both from visual point and how they connect & communicate with their consumers.

I already have a makeup bag full of Illamasqua products (In our office we did a rather large December order!) However during my visit we were lucky that Daniel Busuttil one of Illamasquas senior makeup artists and a member of their international team was working with the Selfridges team that day. Daniel travels the world with Illamasqua delivering education and understanding of their brand. So you can imagine we didn’t leave empty handed!

Daniel was able to offer in-depth product knowledge on how to use some of their products. I had been curious about the sealing gel and how to use it properly for some time. Sealing gel (above) can be mixed with any Illamasqua powder-based product to create a rich in colour intense paste. I’ve been mixing mine with pure pigment in ‘Furore’ a rich golden colour and painting thick eyeliner. I now use the sealing gel with my Illamasqua eyebrow cake, Daniel again taught me how to apply this to create both subtle and dramatic looks that won’t smudge or run.

On the subject of education this is massively important internally to those selling product (makeup artists on the counters) and alike to the consumer. It is an important element of any business operating in the beauty, skincare, hair or any market that sells product that needs to be understood to apply.

Having a strong team that represent your brand is key and can deliver the best results to professionals and consumers alike, these people act as brand ambassadors that not only demonstrate how to use product but project the concept of the brand. Daniel Busuttil was credit to the Illamasqua business I only wish I could have him on call 24hrs a day!

Sophie Lancaster Foundation
There was another point related to Illamasqua that I’d really like to highlight. As a brand that promotes the right to experiment and self-express through the way you look, Illamasqua is committed to changing attitudes towards subcultures. Illamasqua has supported the Sophie Lancaster foundation and its proposition for some time now. On 11th August 2007, 20 year-old Sophie Lancaster and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were kicked, stamped on and left unconscious – for nothing more than looking different. Sophie later died from her injuries.
Illamasqua’s work with this charity is on-going with donations from the sale of the ‘Sophie’ eye pencil and all monies from the sophie wristband going to the charity to support their ongoing work.
In tribute to Sophie, Illamasqua has commissioned ‘Dark Angel’ – a short film by award-winning French director, Fursy Teyssier. That’s a haunting rendition of Sophie’s story-Please follow the banner below, and see the Illamasqua website for further info.
Visit http://www.illamasqua.com/about/sophie/ for further info.

Stand out from the crowd.

Firstly I wanted to say how insightful SCS Formulate was. It was fascinating to meet all the key players in personal care ranging from the raw materials providers, formulation experts and distributors to name but a few of the many relevant categories exhibiting that day. Please all stay in touch, and I look forward to seeing everyone soon.

Cloud nine hair- Are they really the new ghd?

I began my career in search & selection working with the iconic hair fashion brand ghd, and I owe a lot to their business for really spurring my passion for working with brands and people I have an empathy with and can really champion. I enjoyed over 3.5 years focusing on the ghd global recruitment plan, finding the best candidates from middle management to main board. Obviously when you spend so much time working with a particular business you not only grow to love them but your understanding and knowledge becomes vast, so you can imagine my intrigue when cloud nine was launched early last month.

I of course had to try them as soon as I could, and I can tell you now the beauty bloggers are correct they are indeed completely outstanding. The technology is impressive, the different heat settings suited to different hair types and desired styles.

Branding....

The packaging slick and the branding impressive with a very different appeal than that of ghd, there image is much more generic. The brand's message was built out of research that began in April which found consumers wanting styling irons that delivered results without searing or damaging hair.

Professional...

Cloud Nine is a professional range you'll never find it sold on the high street but only in the best salons where stylist can educate us mere mortals in how too use the irons to create the best effects. With the options of creating looks ranging from 'blow dry' through to 'flicks' 'waves' and many in between not forgetting 'poker straight.'

Price..

The cloud Nine styler is priced slightly higher then the ghd basic styler (£116.49) But the Cloud Nine styler does have have the differing temperature settings.

Basic Iron- £129.95

Wide Iron - £129.95

Micro Iron- £45.00

Heritage....

Of course when you look into the background of the brand its no surprise that's its founders are those heavily involved in the creation and success of its biggest competitor ghd, but that's another story in itself. Which I'll save for day when we talk about industry heroes.

But all I say for now is that this styler is not just branded perfectly but is also incredibly good, its about time ghd had a competitor and that's certainly been found in cloud Nine.. watch this space!

The most beautiful packaging- PAUL & JOE BEAUTE

Is this not the most beautiful packaging?!

Its not just brand equity that makes us purchase but things that trigger us to stop and look.The look and feel of the product, colour, a message on the label, price, or the name of the product itself. Most of these 'triggers' either are, or can be influenced by the packaging.

Paul & Joe was established in 1995 by Sophie Albou initially a menswear company Sophie named the the brand after her two sons. In 1996 the woman's wear side of the business began with a concept of 'accessible luxury.' Sophie's creative approach followed this theme ; 'cherishing the freedom of creativity in fashion & the personality of the wearer'

PAUL & JOE BEAUTE wasn't created until 2002, the collection encapsulates the core brand philosophy of 'fun loving sophistication.'Global Makeup artist for Paul & Joe is Craig-Ryan French renowned for his TV and film work.

Paul& Joe Beaute features retro modern packing that projects a unique presence on the cosmetics market. There are also limited edition, individually packed items - called 'Collection sparkles' that are linked to the core brands current fashion seasons.(intermittently)

Everything on the packing right down to the chrysanthemum motif came from Sophie's inspiration after purchasing a cushion from a Parisian flea market.

All in all an utterly gorgeously branded collection.

If your interested in unique cosmetics packaging below is great website;

http://www.beautypackaging.com/

Wednesday 18th Nov & Thursday 19th

Its SCS formulate next Tuesday and Wednesday, for those of you that don't know this is an exhibition dedicated to Consumer Health and Beauty. Its the largest most comprehensive of its kind in the UK, bringing every conceivable ingredient, raw material and other vital tool of the trade. It's a unique opportunity to see the new, the innovative, the proven, the everyday and the obscure - everything you need to create, make and market cosmetics for today, and tomorrow.

Its an valuable insight into whats going to be on the shelves in the near future. I'm really looking forward to meeting new contacts and developing my knowledge of the industry,I'll be there accompanied by my colleague Emma Howarth.

Not just a pretty face...good customer service.

I purchased Diorskin 'Nude' in the summer around the end of July, among my friends its become a bit of a 'hero' product. By this I mean are most treasured Dior product from their current range (it gives a really nice coverage without drying your skin.) Due to going on holiday in August & september I was using tinted moisteriser and so my Dior remained in the bottom of my makeup bag until I returned to my normal skin shade.
Unfortunatley though there seems to be a fault with the packaging, where the pump gets stuck. This has happened to two of my friends. so this week when deciding it was time to have a bit more coverage I realised the same problem had happened to mine.

I decided to head to the department store where I purchased the foundation originally- I didnt have my reciept and to be honest didnt think i'd have much sucess. To my surprise the lady on the Dior counter was really helpful, she gave me a new replacement.

Still on Dior...
At current you can buy these limited edition - Love Dior palettes. Designed by the iconic Tyen in celebration of the past 30 years working with the house of Dior. Tyen has created some of their most enduring images and products -electric-blue hair-mascara wands in the 1990s? yes that was him - & the five-colour eye shadow- yes him too.

He was born in Vietnam, but moved to Paris when he was 16, where he attended the Ecole de Beaux-Arts. He was soon in charge of the stage make-up for the Paris Opéra, working on La bohème, Madama Butterfly and Elektra, as well as more contemporary productions. Soon the magazine world had latched on to him and he was creating looks for everyone from Carla Bruni to Linda Evangelista, and for photographers such as Richard Avedon, Irving Penn and Arthur Elgort.

However Tyens work with Dior influenced the looks we adorn today. He doesnt follow trends but focusing on women feeling good from within. You'll recognise Tyens work such as as painting 'Love Dior' on top of eyelids. I doubt this Palette will be in stock long so act fast.

True beauty begins from the heart; Treaclemoon

I really like Treacle Moon products i've been using their 'vanilla moment' bath & shower gel, its got a lovely smell and creates a mass of bubbles.

Their branding is lovely, really quirky. They profess to be created by; Charles Henry Nelson (a garden gnome) whom they consult about all things creative and Matilda Fizzbucket their chemist(I'm not making this up look on the website www.treaclemoon.net

But on a more serious note the team behind the brand are from a business called Blue Orange brand management. The team is quite small but their experience in beauty is very big indeed …over the years they have created and managed brands such asThe Sanctuary, Nicky Clarke, Umberto Giannini, Elle Macpherson and Normandie to name but a few.

I see big things coming from these guys with national accounts in Tesco's and a new website launched earlier this year.

This weekend was makeup house Illamasqua's 1st Birthday- I've become totally infatuated with this brand. I really think their image and brand aura is so refreshing and such a great challenge to the norm. My close friend Emily, who works as a makeup artist in TV & Film and has worked with Illamasqua; she says they're products are of professional quality. The image to the left is their limited-edition fan-shaped false eyelash, these are adorned with a choice of silver diamante or antique gold pieces. There are two styles named Opulence and Decadence created to celebrate the first birthday of the brand.

Welcome!

Hello!

I'm new to blogging but thought this might be nice way to voice my thoughts! My work as an executive search consultant in health & beauty means I spend most of time exploring exciting brands and people within the related industries. It doesn't feel like work though , as this is such a thrilling and fast paced world!