Wicked Beautiful

FAB CEO: Interview with Lilli Gordon, founder of First Aid Beauty

First Aid Beauty launched at select Sephora stores last month. Since then, the line has gained a large following (see my review here). Their most popular product, the Ultra Repair Cream, has been featured in numerous magazines, and will launch on QVC later this month. I recently had the opportunity to interview Lilli Gordon, founder and CEO of First Aid Beauty.

WB: What was your inspiration to start First Aid Beauty?

LG: I wanted to create a better experience for people with sensitive skin and other common skin challenges. The prestige beauty world these days is so focused on anti-aging that many common skin conditions are overlooked. For example, anyone who has ever consulted a dermatologist on what products to use for their sensitive skin is directed to Cetaphil more times than not. While people with especially dry skin or eczema are directed to products like Eucerin and Aquaphor. Not only are these products dated in terms of the ingredients they use, the textures leave much to be desired, and the packaging is basic. Once I looked into this further, I learned just how old some of those drugstore formulations are (some of the most popular date back to the early 1900s!!!). Needless to say, science has evolved to allow us to create highly effective formulations with very pleasing consistencies that are free of harmful ingredients, such as parabens and propylene glycol. I saw an opportunity to update the drugstore classics with skincare that was both more modern and scientifically-advanced and that incorporated luxurious formulations and exciting packaging. In short, my inspiration was the desire to create effective skincare for even the most sensitive skin types, without sacrificing beauty or experience.

WB: Do you have a background in developing cosmetics? How did you come to collaborate with Dr. Robert Buka, the board-certified dermatologist and First Aid Beauty’s Chief Science Officer?

LG: My experience in beauty began with another Boston beauty brand, Fresh, where I was partners with Lev Glazman and Alina Roytberg. I was introduced to Dr. Robert Buka and his former business partner through a friend of mine. In addition, we work closely with a couple of incredible chemists who help bring our ideas to reality.

WB: Your line launched in early January at select Sephora stores. Will First Aid Beauty be available at more retail locations in the future?

LG: Yes, we launched in 125 Sephora stores in January and by March we will be in an additional 25 stores. We expect to expand into even more stores later this year with a goal of being in all Sephora stores in the United States by the end of 2011.

WB: Your line’s initial launch consists of six products. Do you have more products planned?

LG: We are launching FAB Daily Face Cream in March. The cream is lightweight and non-comedogenic, which makes it perfect for people with combination, oily or acne-prone skin, since it moisturizes without clogging pores. We will also be launching a gorgeous, sophisticated multi-tasking face cream with SPF 30 this spring, and a gentle body wash and body moisturizer in the Fall.

WB: First Aid Beauty seems to have debuted to phenomenal press coverage, overwhelmingly positive reviews, and an ever-growing fan base since it was launched last October. Did you expect the response to FAB to be so strong so quickly?

LG: We are just thrilled with people’s response to FAB to date. We’re in love with the products – they feel good, they work, and they are safe. We’re happy that our fans feel the same!

WB: What is FAB’s most popular product and why?

LG: Our most popular product is the Ultra Repair Cream. It is a rich cream that works on everything from winter dry skin and scaly elbows to super chapped hands and eczema. The cream has a beautiful whipped texture that feels wonderful going on, and can be used anywhere from your face to your hands to your feet. Since we kept petrolatum out of the formula, the product is non-greasy and absorbs in a flash. We relied on ceramides, squalane and tryglicerides, a highly effective combination that is found naturally in the skin, to moisturize and provide barrier protection. We also infused the product with botanical antioxidants to combat free radicals that compromise the skin. In addition, FAB Ultra Repair Cream contains colloidal oatmeal, which is the only FDA approved over-the-counter ingredient for treating the symptoms of eczema. We have some powerful clinical results that corroborate this product’s effectiveness. 100% of participants in a clinical trial reported a lasting improvement in skin dryness. Ultra Repair Cream is s a universal product for every single person in your household, even men and babies!

WB: FAB is scheduled to appear on QVC this month. What led to your collaboration with QVC?

LG: We are scheduled to go on air on February 22 at 10am and 4pm on a special program called Beauty Solutions. QVC is a giant in the beauty arena. Their focus on practical solutions to the toughest beauty problems makes them an ideal television partner for FAB. We are very excited about the opportunity to take FAB into literally millions of households.

WB: What’s next for you and FAB?

LG: I’m very excited to develop and grow this business. There is so much to do in terms of new, innovative products that reflect FAB’s philosophy of delivering safe, effective, and luxurious solutions at a reasonable price point. We are also in discussions with potential retail partners in international markets. All I can say is that this is just the beginning!

Got Tokyomilk?

Yesterday I headed up to Salem to catch the Rare Bird of Fashion: The Irreverent Iris Apfel exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum before it closes today. I have never enjoyed a costume exhibit more (and I am a costume historian). Yesterday was also the start of Salem So Sweet, an annual event for Valentine's Day. Various shops throughout Salem hold special events and promotions, all chocolate-related, while promoting Valentine's Day gifts. While sipping hot chocolate in one charming store I discovered a gem of a fragrance line called Tokyomilk. I have never seen this line before, and since I'm still on the hunt for a signature fragrance, I was immediately captivated by the different eau de parfums on display. I must have spritzed all of them before deciding on the one I purchased. I was torn between Kabuki, a Sugared Grapefruit, Lychee & Sweet Jasmine; Cherry Bomb, a wild Rose, Osmanthus, Chocolate & Vetiver; and Le Petit, a Lily, Peony, Vanilla Bean & Violet Petals. Lately I've been getting into retro fragrances because I haven't liked any of the new fragrances out there, and most of those retro scents have been spicy, woodsy chypres. But there's something about the fresh combinations of Tokyomilk scents that make them uniquely alluring. I finally settled on Le Petit, but I can't stop thinking about Cherry Bomb. I think another trip to Salem is in my near future. Tokyomilk perfumes are $28 each. They also make solid perfumes, as well as soaps, candles, stationery, and cosmetics. Tokyomilk is a breath of fresh air in an overcrowded fragrance market.

Here are a couple of photographs from the Iris Apfel exhibit. Her sense of style is eccentric, but spot-on. Her fashion combinations are eclectic, bold, and colorful. Not every woman could pull off the ensembles Iris puts together, but they suit her to a T. In her own words, "You only get one shot (at life), why not make the most of it?" I have resolved to channel my inner Iris and start taking more risks with my own style.

The Irreverent Iris Apfel

Photographs courtesy of The Peabody Essex Museum

Lush for Valentine's Day

   

 
 

 

Cupid can help you find love but it’s LUSH that’s going to bring out the sex bomb in your loved one this Valentine’s Day! Bring sexy back to friends and lovers or wash those pesky exes down the drain with LUSH’s hot, sassy and limited edition Valentine’s offerings.  

 

Make some magic this year with LUSH Magic Mushroom Bubble Bar ($4.95).  The enticing scent of a bath filled with strawberries and vanilla cream bubbles is a sure fire way to get high off each other’s love or entice the one you’ve been pining over.

 

Valentine’s Day isn’t just for couples; spread the love to all your friends and family this year with LUSH Love Soap ($3.95).  This red, glittery heart-shaped soap will put a smile on everyone’s face as it’s jam-packed with aphrodisiacs and skin smoothing ingredients.

 

Ceremoniously let go of a broken heart with the LUSH Ex Factor Bath Bomb ($4.95).  This blue gingerman with a little pink heart will fizzle down the drain along with any lingering feelings.  If emotions get high, tear off his arms and legs or just smash him up in the tub – we won’t tell anyone.

 

Better than a bouquet of roses, LUSH Be Mine Gift ($24.95) is filled with pampering goodies for your sweetheart.  It comes with three pleasurable products, all wrapped up in rose printed paper, to help relax, rejuvenate and release her inner vixen.  Flying Fox Shower Gel soothes skin and sets the mood,Shimmy Shimmy Massage Bar massages away the stresses of the day and Honey Trap Lip Balm leaves lips in a soft and sensual state.   

If you’re in the mood to seduce your sweetie, try LUSH True Love Gift ($44.95).  This no fail temptation kit is filled with our aphrodisiac-infused Sex Bomb Bath Bomb, an equally appetizing red glitter Love Soap and moisturizing Yummy Yummy Yummy Shower Gel.  Outside the shower, lather up with the light and luxurious Vanilla Dee-Lite Lotion or show your partner heavenly bliss with a little Heavanilli Massage using their sexy vanilla bar.

Love Your Body for Less

This Thursday, February 4th, is The Body Shop's Love Your Body Customer Appreciation Day. Members of the Love Your Body program receive 20% off all purchases instead of the usual 10%. Now is the time to stock up on your favorite products, or try new ones.

If you don't have a Love Your Body card, click here to learn more. Love Your Body members get 10% off all of purchases now and throughout the year, as well as exclusive member-only events and discounts, a special birthday gift, and a point-based rewards system. If you're already a Love Your Body member, then mark your calendars.

Steamy Valentine's Day

STEAMCREAM, the British multi-purpose cream that comes in collectible tins, has unveiled their newest designs. Steamcream is available in a variety of wonderfully unique tins and with several new beautiful designs available in time for Valentine’s Day. You can pick your favourite to keep you in the mood for romance. Choose from Grace with its feminine floral display; Masquerade for an intense design; Planetarium for those who follow their stars on Valentine’s Day; or Blue Secret for those seeking passion.

Priced at just £10.00 (approximately $20.00) and with its handbag friendly packaging, STEAMCREAM offers a solution for your moisturising needs wherever your Valentine’s Day may take you. The British website does ship internationally to the United States. It took about 9 days for my order to arrive. And for their customers in the UK, Steamcream is offering free shipping and handling until February 14th.

L♥ve Your Lips Limited Editions from Estee Lauder

In honor of Valentine's Day, Estee Lauder is introducing the Love Your Lips collection. For a limited time, you can purchase their Estee Lauder Signature Hydra Lustre Lipstick ($19.50) in twelve special shades of pink and red, and engraved with the word "LOVE." The collection also features their new Kissable Lip Gloss ($18.00). It comes in four shades of pink and red with a hint of shimmer. All of the shade names end in the word "Kiss," and they come in a tube with the word "LOVE" all over it. I'm sensing a theme here.

The Love Your Lips collection is available now in stores or online.

What the Heck is a Scrublet?

When I saw the commercials for L'Oreal's new Go 360 Clean line of cleansers, I was intrigued. Included with each cleanser is a rubber "scrublet," a cleansing tool with nodules to exfoliate your skin. The Go 360 Clean Deep Cleansers are available in four formulas: one for oily, dry, or sensitive skin, as well as an exfoliating scrub. I purchased the cleanser for sensitive skin.

I bought the sensitive skin formula because I thought it was non-foaming, but when I used it I discovered that it actually lathers. However, it's a light lather that didn't dry out my skin, so I have no complaints. I was particularly eager to try the scrublet. It comes neatly tucked into a corresponding cavity in the center of the bottle. You pop it out to use it, and when you're finished you can either put it back into the bottle or stick it on the bathroom mirror with the suction cup that's attached to the other end. The instructions are on the plastic wrap that holds the scrublet in place in the bottle. Simply wet the scrublet, apply the cleanser to it, and scrub it on your face. The scrublet is made of a squishy rubber that feels kind of gross, like those little octopus finger puppets with the long arms and tentacles that you get from a gumball machine to creep out your kid sister. But when I ran it over my wet face and massaged it into my skin, I was pleasantly surprised. The scrublet glided easily along my face, it was very gentle and it was fun to use. Before I purchased the Go 360 Clean cleanser, I was skeptical of the scrublet concept in theory. I thought it was just a gimmick, but after using it, I'm a scrublet convert.

The Go 360 Clean deep cleansers claim to shrink pores and help eliminate blackheads. I can't really attest to those claims yet, but I like how the cleanser makes my skin feel. Go 360 Clean cleansers are $6.99 each. They're available in drugstores or at www.lorealparis.com.

Collector's Corner: Aliage Button Box

Yet another item appropriated from my mother when I was a child (she had excellent taste in perfume and perfume accessories). Aliage was introduced by Estee Lauder in 1972 as the world’s first sporty perfume, for the active woman. Its blend of citrus, florals, and spices such as nutmeg, vetiver and cedarwood was spunkier than the more refined florals, but didn’t try to outright seduce you like the spicy orientals. Ad campaigns showed the Aliage Woman in pants, sitting in the hatchback of her station wagon loaded with all sorts of equipment for a day of outdoor activities.

This solid perfume container, from the mid-70s, is in the shape of a button. It’s made of marbleized plastic to look like agate or jade, with silver-colored metal “thread” holding it to a silver-colored textured metal compact. The color of the solid perfume used to be green, but has become discolored with age. However, the fragrance is still very much present. Aliage is still available from Estee Lauder, although it has taken a back seat to the newer Estee Lauder fragrances of the 80s, 90s, and beyond, such as White Linen, Beautiful, and Knowing.

Inspired by my rediscovery of this solid perfume compact, I recently bought a bottle of Aliage. When I first spray it, it smells strongly of the aldehydes in the top notes, but when it dries down it turns into a smokey, woodsy green fragrance with a hint of sweetness. It may be an aquired taste, but I like it. It's perfect for days when I don't want an overly feminine fragrance that overwhelmes you with florals or vanilla. And it enables me to recapture my childhood.

Wicked Beautiful is Three Years Old

Wicked Beautiful is three years old today. Like most three year olds, we can be fussy, cranky, and temperamental. But we also love going to the park, we can pick out our own clothes, and we're easily amused.

I started this blog three years ago after being laid off from my job. While looking for work, my online job searches would sometimes take a detour into the world of beauty blogs, a world I hadn't discovered before. One blog in particular stood out among all others: Beaut.ie - The Irish Beauty Blog. It was the first blog I found, and since I'm half Irish, it particularly appealed to me. Beaut.ie was fun and informative, and it inspired me to start a beauty blog of my own. Blogging about beauty products, a subject I'm extremely passionate about, helped me to cope with the boredom and frustration of being out of work.

Unfortunately, three years later and I find myself in the same boat, sort of. I was once again laid off, but at least I have a part-time job this time. It's one that I love and that makes me happy. But there is still frustration at not finding full-time employment, particularly during a time when the country is in the worse economic crisis since the Great Depression. With unemployment at all-time highs, and new job openings few and far between, I once again rely on my blog to pull me out of my rut and make my day-to-day life a little more hopeful. I don't know if anyone reads this blog, but I enjoy doing it for myself.

New Jane Cosmetics Website

Jane Cosmetics has a new website. The troubled teen-oriented makeup line was founded by Sassaby in the Nineties before being sold to Estee Lauder in the mid-Nineties. Estee Lauder, in turn, sold it in 2004 to a private investor who tried to turn the company around. But in April of 2009, Jane filed for bankruptcy. Stores that carried Jane, such as Walgreens and CVS, reduced the prices of their supply of Jane products by 50% or more this past summer in an effort to sell off their remaining stock. Now, Jane products are difficult to come by in retail locations. But Jane has unveiled a new online store where you can purchase Jane products directly from them. You can purchase products like the Aquaceuticals Blushstix (my favorite), or the Holiday-edition Beauty Indulgence Cube (above). And don't miss out on their LipHuggers Extravaganza (below), where you can buy 15 shades of pinks, browns and reds for half the price ($24.99 to be exact).

You can buy Jane Cosmetics at www.janecosmeticsstore.com.