The Master of the Mask

During my time as the merchandising intern on the skincare team at QVC this winter, I was able to experience client meetings with many different skincare brand representatives. We met and discussed new product development with brands and which items would resonate well with the QVC customer.

           

A brand that really stood out to me was called, Glam Glow. This brand is based out of Hollywood, California and has an extremely unique delivery system. The products are clay-mud based facemasks with antioxidant filled nutrients targeting certain problems like aging, acne, and dry skin. The product was discovered by a Hollywood Hills couple that was at an intimate dinner party with close friend and actor, Keanu Reeves, who was in need of a skin remedy to accommodate his busy, stressful lifestyle, working 20 hour days when shooting films. The brand has grown quickly with the Hollywood buzz, and has received a plethora of awards and accolades. The “Youth Mud” mask that targets anti-aging was named the “best mask in the world” for 2014.

The brand has four main products that target specific problem areas. The first created was the “Youth Mud” mask. Youth Mud is “Designed as a 10-minute professional ‘facial in a jar’ for behind-the-scenes use in Hollywood’s Entertainment, Music, Fashion & Award industries, for immediate camera- ready glowing skin.” The use of the green tea leaf helps enrich the skin with natural anti-aging solutions.

           

The second product created in the line was the “Super Mud” mask. This mask is “the World's most Scientifically Advanced Clearing Treatment. Clinically Developed by GLAMGLOW® Dermatological Chemist to help fight all common skin concerns.” I’ve used this product, and it instantly decreased the size of my pores and left my skin feeling soft and refreshed. The use of the Eucalyptus leaf advances the glowing look of skin.

I’ve also tried the third product in the line called “Thirsty Mud”. This product smells delicious and is innovative because it’s a leave on or wipe off mask that doesn’t need water. The olive oil leaf powder used helps hydrate the skin without clogging the pores. Thirsty Mud can be worn throughout the night to dig deep into the pores for ultimate hydration.

Lastly, the fourth and final product in the line is “Bright Mud Eye Treatment”. This treatment is fantastic for tired, swollen eyes. It instantly decreases puffiness and brightens the skin around the entire under eye and orbital bone. I used this treatment after a long night in the labs and my eyes were instantly brighter the morning after.

In 6,000 stores in over 84 countries, Glam Glow has successfully made a name for themselves in the world of skincare.

Congrats to the Legal System; You’ve Really Out Done Yourself

Just when you thought Amazon couldn’t get any bigger or more powerful, it did. As of this year, the United States has granted Amazon a patent that basically covers photographing a subject on a white background. I know, you’ve got to be kidding me, right? Sadly, it’s true, but I don’t know what’s worse: the fact that Amazon patented taking a picture on a white background, or the fact that the US patent system allowed for it.

Now, the patent itself is slightly more complex, describing a particular lighting technique used to blow out the background to allow the subject to pop, but when it all boils down, photographers have been using this exact technique for over a hundred years now.

Here’s a photo of the exact lighting setup patented by Amazon. You can also take a look at the patent itself to find out more about its specs. 

dpreview.com

Even though Amazon now has this new patent under its belt, I highly doubt it’s going to go around filing endless claims to photographers who may happen to continue using the technique. While that may be the case for Amazon, this whole ordeal has to make you wonder how far companies will be able to go with the US’ flawed patent system. It’s no longer working, and Amazon’s latest patent is a grade-A example of how ridiculous it is.

Kate Spade Saturday

At the beginning of May I went to my hometown of Boston for the weekend. While I was at home I desired to do all my favorite things, eat at all my favorite places, and shop at all my favorite stores. One place I had to visit while at home for some great shopping was the Prudential Center. If you have never been to the Boston area it is located at 800 Boylston Street in the heart of Boston. It is walking distance from Newbury Street and Boston Commons. Inside you will find a ton of shops, paces to eat, and things to see. While walking through the shops I spotted a new store that was having an event. The store was called “Kate Spade Saturday”. 

The new branch for the Kate Spade Company has only five locations in the U.S., Boston being their newest store. “The Kate Spade Saturday” branch is all about, “…bringing weekend spirit to every day of the week with good, easygoing style and a sense of spontaneity.” The store was playing fun music, had a relaxing style, and fun summer style “weekend” purchases. The store sells not only a new take on weekend bags, but also clothing, shoes, accessories, and home goods. They also offer on their website a “design a weekender bag” where you pick from two different styles of bag and an array of colors and patterns to create your own bag that will then be shipped to you. 

The store has also recently just partnered with "Artisans of Masoro Rwanda" they found talented women artisans and instead of taking their work as aid to sell they instead created jobs with a business model to help these women sell their handmade goods and create a stable source of income for them. The store and the partnership is a new endeavor for the company and hopefully will reach new and existing clientele. 

She's Baaaaaack

Vanity Fair Magazine has long been honored for its' influential covers and ability to mix politics, pop culture and fashion. This month they made a risky and potentially politically fueled move by giving Monica Lewinsky the center spread in their magazine. She is featured in an article entitled "Shame and Survival" in which she recounts her affair with former President Clinton and where she retells her side of the story. The article came as a shock to many who have long since forgotten about the 1996 affair, but the article may have come at just the right time.
As we all have seen and heard the 2016 presidential elections seem to be just around the corner, and with elections this close there are bound to be speculations about who will be representing each political party in the race for the White House. It seems that as of right now Hilary Clinton may be the front runner for the Democratic party, which is why this article is so perfectly timed. The article recalls the shame that the scandal brought to the Clinton family and especially Hilary. However, she stayed by her cheating husband and supported him throughout the entire scandal and the repercussions which led to President Clinton's impeachment.
So you may be wondering why digging up the skeletons in the Clinton's closet would be beneficial for Hilary. With so many rumors flying around about the elections the Clinton's want to have total control over one thing, their public image. The Lewinsky Scandal was obviously a hugely detrimental event in their past and by talking about it, they are able to show that they have risen above events that have happened in their past and are ready to start looking towards the future. There is also speculation that the article may gain some sympathy votes for Hilary who stuck by Bill event after he humiliated her so publicly. Whether the article was planned or not, it's getting the voters thinking about the upcoming election and preparing for the long race to the White House in 2016.

Michael Kors and his knockoffs

Michael Kors is probably the most well known American designers in the world now. His company Michael Kors Holdings has divisions of runway collection, women and men’s sportswear collection and accessories. His business has been around for sixteen years now. Unlike other American brands such as Juicy Couture and Betsy Johnson, which shifted hands recently due to poor performance, Michael Kors has remained to be strong. The company’s share price has risen more than 60% in one year, while competitors like Coach have failed to deliver any increase at all. In addition, the last quarter was the first quarter ever in which Michael Kors exceeded the $1 billion mark in revenue. Giving all these, international market remains a key area for its growth.

But what bothers me is that Michael Kors are constantly knocking off others’ designs. He had copied Louis Vuitton and Hermés old versions for his new collection in the past without much alteration. And now he had put up one that almost look exactly like the one of Louis Vuitton. See it yourself.

But clearly his obvious copied designs did not stop Michael Kors’s revenue. In fact, this might be the reason for his growth. Because consumers do not care where is the idea originally from, especially Asian consumers, who do not know western luxury brands well. If they could spend $500 dollars for the almost same designed bag, why would they spend $2000 dollars?

Fit, Fruit, and Fun!

Ready for the summer? Are you taking some steps to start prepping for that “Summer bod?” Here’s a few simple things you can do to start refreshing your body and coming out of your Winter coma. 

1. A nutritional, yet simple fruit and water drink. Instead of grabbing a soda or coffee on the run, why not make a nutritional drink that’s just as quick and easy? Drinking water keeps your body hydrated, refreshed and feeling alert more than a soda or coffee would. Try these simple fruit and water recipes. Why not make it in the morning and take it on the go? This gets you excited about staying fit and having fun while doing it! Here are four simple combinations and instructions on how to create the perfect Summer drink because sometimes, water just doesn’t cut it.

   

Minty Cucumber Lime

1/2 a cucumber, sliced

1/2 a lime, sliced

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Strawberry-Lemon with Basil

1/2 cup sliced strawberries

1/2 a lemon, sliced

1/4 cup fresh basil leaves

Watermelon Mint

1 cup cubed watermelon

1/4 cup fresh mint leaves

Pineapple-Orange with Ginger

1/2 cup cubed pineapple

1/2 an orange, sliced

1 tablespoon freshly-grated ginger

Place the fruit, herbs, and/or spices in the bottom of one of the glass jars, and muddle with a wooden spoon. (That basically means mash up the fruit in the bottom of the jar to release some of the flavor-filled juices) Fill the jar with water and give it a taste. You can also fill the jar with seltzer water for a fizzy treat. Enjoy as-is or refrigerate overnight for maximum flavor. 

2. Fresh Fruit Pops! When the Spring is getting hot and Summer is rolling around, instead of grabbing a bag of chips, try making these fruit pops. It’s so simple and tastes just as great, not to mention, it’s healthy for you. This will keep you energized and cool as you spend your time  relaxing. This also gives you the nutritional fruit you need and can help cut out those fatty foods. After all, we are preparing for Summer right?

Ingredients:

2-3 Kiwis, peeled and sliced

1 pkg Fresh Strawberries, sliced

2-3 Tangerine Oranges, peeled and sliced

1 pkg Fresh Blueberries

Coconut Water

Popsicle Mold 

Add cut up fruit to popsicle mold - it’s ok if there are spaces. You don’t want the fruit to be packed too tightly. Pour in coconut water until it reaches the top of each popsicle mold. You can even stick on popsicle sticks if you prefer. Freeze the molds overnight, or until solid. Once frozen, remove from mold and serve immediately!                                                     

By just doing a few simple changes to your diet, you can start prepping for the Summer. It’s quick, easy, and fun. This will not only make you look better, but you’ll start to feel better. Sometimes, having too much junk and caffeine can make you feel sick. You definitely don’t want to start out your bathing suit season feeling the wrong way. So get up today, get your fruits, and start getting the nutrition you need to feel fabulous!