Brand Masterclass - Lancome

Founded in 1935 by Armand Petitjean in France, Lancôme celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2010. Petitjean’s motive was simple: to create a beauty brand that would deliver French elegance around the world. The name “Lancôme” was inspired by the ruins of a castle, Le Château de Lancosme, while the roses in the area inspired the company’s symbol of the single golden rose.

Armand Petitjean

Armand Petitjean was already 50 years old when he start Lancome, and originally was an importer of goods from around Europe, but he has also work in the French foreign office and, more notably, for Francois Coty, a skilled perfumer. However, Petitjean did not approve of the path Coty was taking his brand, rather than focusing on quality he was going towards the mass market line.

Pettijean decided he wanted to be prestige market or not all, with that he gathered several like minded colleagues including d’Ornano brothers, the chemist Pierre Velon, and Georges Delhomme, Coty’s former design director. While they created he put together Lancome, “Why did I create Lancome?” he said one day, “Because I had seen that two American brands had taken control of the beauty industry. A French brand should be up alongside them.”

They launched with five fragrances - Tropiques, Conquete, Kypre, Tendres Nuits, and Bocages, as well as their bottles ornamented with gold, orchids, green forests, or moldings of cargo ropes, were a snub to the ascetically geometric Art Deco of the moment.

After the building success from critics, he turned to Dr. Medynski, a veteran professor whose recent discovery of stabilising horse serum in skin care, and the industrial chemist Pierre Velon. Together they created the Nutirx range, a regenerating night cream, and a range that still sells in high numbers to this day.

In 1938 saw the start of Lancome make-up with Rose de France, a pale pink rose scented lipstick that soft and creamy, truly against the lipsticks of the time that were indelible and dry. It was an instant best seller.



1953 Tresor Magazine Advert

Lancome was the forefront of beauty of many years,  rapidly established itself with three branches of cosmetic activity, each with its own emblem: a rose for perfumery, a cherub for makeup, and a lotus flower for skin-care products. Behind the scenes things were not so calm, Petijean's son decided that he did want to enter the business, and he was given no choice but to start looking at alternatives.

Many companies started to woo Lancome - Revlon, Yardley, Payot, but all had one thing in common, they were not french. Until L'Oreal approached them in 1967 with already great influence in the international market and a large money backing, they were the choice. 3 years later Petitjean passed away at the age of 84.

Lancome in the modern era still hold the original ideals that the founding father created. French cultural values and the French perception of elegance and beauty as a whole.

FOTD: BTEC Coursework - Bridal

 

It feels long ago now to be talking about my final pieces from my BTEC in Make up artistry coursework. I qualified for my BTEC in Make Up Artistry in February after submitting a portfolio of evidence. The final pieces were 5 set briefs (you will see four of them due to model agreements) that needed to be filled, over the next few weeks I am planning to share as many of these pieces as I can starting with Bridal.

 

With the bridal brief it was for a 20-30 woman who hardly wears make up and wanted to still look natural but still had in mind the needs of the day.

 

Primer: MUA Cosmetics

Foundation: Rimmel Wake Me Up in Ivory

Concealer: Estee Lauder Disappear in Light

Blusher: MUA in Shade 4

Eye Shadow: Sleek Sparkle 2 Palette

Eye Liner: Rimmel liquid in Brown

Mascara: Lancome Hypnose Drama in Black

Lip liner: Estee Lauder in Fig

Lipstick: Estee Lauder in Vintage Mauve

 

Of course using a foundation with SPF produces the 'ghost' effect that is produced here, so if this was put onto a bride I would use one without. However the really like the glow finish of Wake Me Up foundation, the coverage is build able and photographs well. I still like to use my creamy Estee Lauder concealer, it blends well without creasing as well as being light enough for pale skins. You will notice that the Sleek palette appear more over the next few weeks, it has been my go to because of the pigments and shimmer/sparkle.

 

 

Selfridges Advent Calender - Week 3 (Days 17 -24)

 

For Week 1 and Week 2 click the links.

 

Here is the 3rd and final week of beauty treats from behind the doors.

 

December 17th - Lancome Juicy Tube in Marshmallow

 

A pale pink lipgloss with shimmer, can use on it's own or over lipstick.

 

December 18th - Lancome Visionariare Serum

 

Lancome's answer to Estee Lauder's Perfectionist. anti-wrinkle treatment that smooths lines and even skin tone out. Looking forward to trying this.

 

December 19th - YSL Froever Youth Liberator serum

 

Another big launch of 2012 - Suppose to firm, smooth for within the skin. Another one I'm looking forward to trying out.

 

December 20th - Lancome Bi-Facil eye make up remover

 

Love this product and great timing as my No.7 dupe is about to run out. It's an oil based remover that you shake together and apply using a pad, removes waterproof make up like a breeze.

 

December 21st - Lancome Genefique Yeux

 

Lifting and firming eye cream, a little goes a long way and very much needed after the party season.

 

December 22nd - Keihls Midnight Recovery Concentrate

 

I've been waiting for this window as I love this product and it is on my wish list invest in. I had got a sample a few months back in my YOU Latestinbeauty box and had fallen for it soft and refreshing skin properties then.

 

December 23rd - YSL Opuim

 

I think I am one of the rare people who like Opium, it's is historic perfume that has lasted while a majority have come and gone. It is a rich spicy Oriental, I would wear this more for evening.

 

December 24th - Keihl's Creme De Corps

 

After already trying some their products and hearing this is their 'hero' product that they are known for, I am excited to get this to try out. I already know I'll probably will want it!

 

I do like the thinking behind these calenders, I am stocked up for the new few months. I do think the RRP of £82 is very steep for what you get as most of the sizes are what you get with a majority of GWP's.

 

My thanks still goes to British Beauty Blogger for being a winner of her competition to win this as well as a set of Lancome Christmas crackers, which have now gone to my best mate as we had our annual Christmas met up today and spent the afternoon catching up on babies (she's due in April) and gossipping.

 

 

 

 

Selfridges Advent Calender - Week 2 (Days 8 - 16)

Week 2 in advent calender land - If you missed Week 1 you can read it here. It feels that this week is more of a make up week with nearly a face full of make up in a week.

December 8th - Lancome La Vie Est Bella

I can't believe I forgot to photograph this, the mini is really sweet. The fragrance is soft floral with jasmine, Orange Blossom and patchouli. Very delicate and makes a good daytime fragrance.

December 9th - Lancome Hypnose Star mascara

Provides intense volume and intense colour, great evening mascara. I have saved this for dressing up on Christmas Day. I like the advertising on it using Betty Boo because I love her retro look.

December 10th - Lancome L'Absolu Nu in Rose Subtil

A soft creamy pink with hints of gold. A great feminine pink that would suit most skin tones.

December 11th - Lancome Hypnose Mascara

OK Have you noticed a theme apart from the make up is that it is mostly Lancome, I am a fan but it does seem clamped together. This is their big drama volume mascara and top seller in black.

December 12th - Lancome Tresor

A Lancome classic, powdery fruity floral. Very french and only can be worn when you want a bit of classic glamour.

December 13th - Lancome Genifique

This is currently living in my bathroom, hence why it's not here! Smoothing skin serum that prevents as well as reverses the ageing process. It's a gel like serum that goes underneath moisturiser, skin has already felt softer after a few days so it looks promising.

December 14th - Armani Code fragrance

Hurray something isn't Lancome! I like this powdery musky oriental fragrance, perfect for evenings with a dark smokey glamorous look.

December 15th - YSL Eye Liner in Black

Perfect soft liner that is a sweet wash bag size, haven't used YSL liners before so I look forward to this one.

December 16th - Lancome Juicy Tube in Cerise

Lipgloss in a soft red with small bits of glitter, I have the bigger version of this so the baby one will go into handbags as an 'emergency' gloss.

Selfridges Advent Calender - Week 1 (Days 1-7)

 

A few weeks ago I entered a competition on British Beauty Blogger to win a set of Lancome crackers and a Selfridges advent calender. Not so long story is that I was picked by the Selfridges PR to receive them after saying that the person I want to pull a cracker is one of my best friends, who's not only pregnant but it's due on my birthday (Congratualtions again to her!).

 

While I've put the crackers to one side to share with her (as it's only fair and it make our Christmas dinner a lot more special), this I keep eagerily awaited for December 1st.

 

If you followed on Twitter I have been giving a daily tweet to what I've got, and then bring them altogether to show what is in them. This would normally retail for £82, and contain 24 luxury beauty samples from Lancome, Kiehl's, YSL, Armani, Diesel, Viktor & Rolf and Shu Uemura.

 

December 1st - Viktor & Rolf Flowerbomb

 

I've tried this before and wasnt bowled over by it, put it one before bed and when i woke it had soften down to a delicate scent. Husband approved as well.

 

December 2nd - Kiehl's Strengthing Hand Cream

 

I like the texture of this, it sinks it quickly but is still rich. I already know I'm purchasing this to replace my Estee Lauder Renutriv that ran out last month.

 

December 3rd - Lancome Regenrie Face Cream

 

Good size sample at 15ml, but it says it's for lifting and firming. I know I'm not quite there yet, but it smells beautiful.

 

December 4th - Lancome Eau Micellaire Douceur

 

Simple more know as cleansing water, and considering my Etat Pur also finished last month, this was a small God send.

 

December 5th - Shu Uemura Cleansing Oil

 

I'm really excited to try this as I've heard other poeple say it's a great prodcut and never had a chance to try it.

 

December 6th - Loverdose by Diesel

 

The bottle design is beautiful, nicely facited so it catches the light but in a deep purple so it isn't too girlie. The scent is richly violet with a powdery vanilla dry down. It was definatly husband approved, as it also matches his Only The Brave by Diesel.

 

December 7th - Keihl's Ultra Facial Cream

 

This mornings offering was a lightly scented face cream, I know they are more known for their body products but I am intested in this. I have tried their Midnight concertrate and was impressed with that.

 

Many thanks again to Jane at British Beauty Blog and the PR team at Selfridges. It's the best thing I've ever won (and there is 17 still to go!)

Could Your Bargain Be Costing You Your Life?

Imitation is suppose to be the highest form of flattery, I would not think that high end make up brands would agree. In the never ending saga of fake make being sold to the public, Leanne Wertheim was sentenced to 8 month suspended sentence, £2,000 costs and 160 hours of community service. She took £40,000 from the public over four eBay accounts, the "brands" she was selling included Bobbi Brown, M.A.C, Benefit, Lancome and Max Factor.

Unsuspecting customers, who were thinking they were getting huge discounts with some products selling at £3.99, were actually buying toxic make up. When customers complained about the quality of products, she claimed that they were genuine. When initial tests were carried out on the products, the results showed that they had 3 times the normal levels of lead in them. Lead contamination can lead to side effects as brain damage, a lowering of IQ in unborn babies and behaviour problems.

In one instance, a Max Factor mascara was showed to be having 68 mg/kg of lead, where the legal amount is 20 mg/kg.

So how you spot a fake?

Knowledge is power, look at the stores to see how the product feels and how its packaged. Chanel and MAC are the most common copies that are sold. Chanel is always dressed in glossy packaging, with very simple writing. Fakes have little touches, logos in the wrong places, lower grade cardboard and lower grade pigments.

With MAC eye shadows and pigments, real items have the bar code as a sticker on the box, as well as having the colour name and finish on a sticker on the top of the box. MAC also do not have mirrors and applicators in with their products, the logo will always be centre (apart from mascaras which is on the left hand side). Sizes on genuine items will be given in grams and ounces - fakes tend to be in millilitres.

The best way to avoid fakes?

Save your pennies and buy only from authorised retailers and manufactures.

For more information on spotting all fakes, try: http://www.spotcounterfeits.co.uk/
Another brilliant entry on Fakes by BritishBeautyBlogger