Jezebel: the beauty industrial complex

Free Makeup Fails To Impress New Yorkers

Intern Katy — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 11:40:00 EST

Department stores across the country were forced to hand out $175 million worth of free cosmetics yesterday. You'd think this would lead to crowds of women, jonesing for their beauty fix. Surprisingly, it didn't.

According to the New York Times the scene at the Lexington Ave. Bloomingdale's was underwhelmingly tame. Only certain products were available, and only one per customer. With brand names like Chanel, Clarins and Clinique, one might expect a bit more excitement, but the readers intereviewed by the New York Times were not impressed. I can't imagine why, but then again, I love freebies, no matter what they are. Did any of you guys score free stuff? Was it really as boring as it sounded? [New York Times]

I Must, I Must Enhance My Bust!

Maria — Thu, 05 Jun 2008 12:45:00 EDT

The Telegraph reports that women are lining up for a new breast-enhancing cream, Rodial's Boob Job, that promises to increase cup size and firmness in less than two months. Sure, we've all seen these types of "miracle" boob creams in the trashy back-pages of Cosmo and Seventeen but usually they don't come with this price tag: More than $250 for a single jar. That's a lot of money, especially when you can, as the writer notes, achieve similar results by blasting your breasts with cold water and doing exercise. Yet! There's a waiting list for this stuff. Think it's worth it? [Telegraph]

Great American Exports

maria — Wed, 07 May 2008 14:30:00 EDT

The U.S. economy may be lagging right now but some U.S. companies are making up for lost profits by selling their products overseas. The eye- and skin-care products company Allergan has seen it's overseas Botox sales rise and the company has more than doubled its net income. Thank God for the insecurities of Latin American, European, African, Asian, and Middle Eastern women: Their fear of natural aging will keep the beauty industrial complex afloat! Is their any other neurotic beauty obsession we can export to these people? Gluten-free diets? Vagina "reconstruction" surgery? Pubic hair dye?[WSJ]