The official announcement that Becca is joining the Estee Lauder portfolio arrived this morning. The Lauder line up now includes: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Prescriptives, Lab Series, Origins, Tommy Hilfiger, M·A·C, Kiton, La Mer, Bobbi Brown, Donna Karan New York, DKNY, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Michael Kors, Darphin, Tom Ford, Smashbox, Ermenegildo Zegna, AERIN, Tory Burch, RODIN olio lusso, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW and By Kilian.

GHD
GHD

Coty has bought GHD. Bear in mind that it has recently acquired a bundle of brands from P&G on top of its own existing brands (whatever happened to poor old Bourjois, acquired in 2015? It’s like it barely exists). Both Dolce & Gabbana and Christina Aguilera fragrances were both supposed to be joining Coty as part of the P&G sell-off, but for some reason, they’re now not joining the rest of the brands. I’d love to know what licensing technicality occurred! GHD sold to Coty for $510 million.

Dove Deodorant
Dove Deodorant

Apparently, the deodorant market fell flat in 2015 – I’m not sure how it can be that we’re using less, but it certainly does account for Dove’s renewed interest in creating problems that don’t really exist, this time for men. They ‘discovered’ that 91% of men think armpit health is important (I did a shout on Twitter for any men that thought about their armpit health at all – needless to say, not one). It’s Dove Armpitgate all over again (they tried to convince women that the skin under their arms should be exactly all one tone). Dove is also under fire for their #speakbeautiful social media campaign – for every negative tweet you see, send two positive ones. I’m sorry, but if you can’t have a good grumble on Twitter without some annoyingly over-happy person contradicting you, then what’s the point! The good intention was to support positivity around body image but unfortunately, self-appointing as the glee posse isn’t working.

InStyle UK
InStyle UK

InstyleUK is closing its print edition – the last issue is November. A quick circulation check tells me that they sell around the 150K mark each month. Compared to on-line, it’s such a tiny amount. Vogue has around 200K per month which isn’t so far away from the figure that deemed InstyleUK not viable any more. Anyway, I still hate to see magazines close down – it represents such a big loss of jobs and livelihoods that it’s nothing short of a catalogue of personal disasters.

Banana Republic (Image: Wiki)
Banana Republic (Image: Wiki)

Talking of shut downs – Banana Republic is reportedly leaving the UK. I don’t understand this at all.. we have way too many GAP stores all in permanent mark down and sale (they’re all part of the same group) – why not shut down a few of those instead.

MLM brand, Younique, is going into the colour and skin care categories. Just warning you! I have a in-box file with every single Younique email I’ve received and it’s well into the hundreds, so if you thought there’s been a lull in Youniquers trying to make contact, there will be a surge again as soon as their new products hit.

Urban Decay
Urban Decay

Urban Decay is opening in Carnaby Street with a flagship store. It’s no accident that they’ve picked Carnaby which also has Benefit and MAC. Let the store wars begin.

 

 

 

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All products are sent to me as samples from brands and agencies unless otherwise stated. Affiliate links may be used. Posts are not affiliate driven.