Category Archives: Industry news

Posted on May 14, 2012 at 11:18 am

BeautyView: Bryn Kenny, Public Relations Director, Dior Beauty

Bryn Kenny, Public Relations Director, Dior Beauty

The first time I met Bryn Kenny she was writing for WWD Beauty Biz (now WWD Beauty Inc). I remember we met for cocktails in New York City, and she interviewed me, one of my first real interviews, the one that led to what I consider as my first piece of legitimate trade press… In preparing this blog, I looked back to figure out what year that was – 2007 in my mind, maybe 2008. Well, that was 2004, which means I have known Bryn for eight years… how time flies! She has continued to follow Alchimie’s progress, and I to follow her career, which led her to the other side of the press desk when she joined Dior Beauty as their Public Relations Director.

AP: What city were you born in? BK: I was born in New York City but I grew up in a little town called Remsenburg, near the Hamptons.

AP: What city to do you live in? BK: New York! West Village.

AP: What is your middle name? BK: Ann, after my father’s mother.

AP: What is your astrological sign? BK: Taurus.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? BK: The creativity and the people—there are so many interesting, inspiring personalities to discover in the beauty and fashion industries. I love working for a beauty brand that’s tied to an iconic fashion brand because there are endless stories to tell.

AP: Least favorite thing? BK: Anything that involves an excel spreadsheet.

AP: What is your most prized possession? BK: I guess my French Bulldog Binx, although he is more of a “being” than a “possession.” I grew up with Black Labs but I discovered Frenchies after I moved to New York. I saw one refusing to cross the street—his owner was literally dragging him across Greenwich Avenue—and I thought to myself, “There’s a kindred spirit.”

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? BK: Most people don’t know that I was an ocean lifeguard for six years. I was the only female lifeguard with a bunch of hooligans, which probably explains my somewhat warped sense of humor.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? BK: I got a Dior watch when I first started here almost six years ago. It’s from the Cristal collection and it’s way fancier than anything else I own. But it’s also kind of punk—silver with black crystal studs.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? BK: Ahem—diamonds.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? BK: Amy Poehler. I’m a huge, huge fan.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? BK: Keep calm and carry on? Problems always arise. It’s the way you deal with those problems that matters in the end. Anxiety and stress only complicate matters.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? BK: I don’t really have any tips! I’m not a big planner in general and probably less so when I travel. I like to land in a new place and kind of wander. I think it allows for a lot of interesting surprises.

AP: What is your favorite book? BK: It changes all the time, but right now Youth in Revolt by C.D. Payne. Also—I could read Just Kids by Patti Smith over and over again. She’s an incredible writer.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? BK: Anything spicy and tart with Don Julio tequila.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? BK: Not sure if this is a secret but exfoliating is so important (Dior Peeling Lumiere).

AP: What fragrance do you wear? BK: For day, Diorissimo or Narciso Rodriguez. For night, Hypnotic Poison.

AP: Botox or not? BK: Never say never.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? BK: Not since I was 11 and discovered the magic of Sun-In.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. BK: This question is a very slippery slope. Currently on my “Recently Played” list are “Jolene” by Ray LaMontagne, “Shake It Out” by Florence + The Machine and “Good Feeling” by Flo Rida. I also listen to a lot of old school hip hop.

AP: Quote to live by. BK: “I’m tough, ambitious and I know exactly what I want. If that makes me a b*tch, okay” by Madonna (this quote is next to my senior year high school yearbook photo).

AP: Who is your mentor? BK: I have been lucky enough to have several over the years. Pete Born at WWD is an incredible mentor. My current boss Dianne Vavra is one of the best in the business—patient and kind. She could teach a class on mentoring.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. BK: Keep an open mind. I was extremely focused starting out. At first, there was only one career path I could envision for myself, but my job has taken me in several different directions. As a result, opportunities have come my way that I never could have dreamed of. The important thing is to figure out your passion (what excites you? What scares you a little bit? What’s the one thing you could talk about forever?), whatever that may be, and stick with it on some level, even if it means taking classes at night. Be patient—and resilient. Passionate people always rise to the top.

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Posted on May 11, 2012 at 8:33 am

Vidal Sassoon: A Legend Remembered

Mia Farrow

A couple of years ago, during Neill Corporation’s Serious Business conference, I had the pleasure of meeting Vidal Sassoon. This week, as the entire beauty industry mourns the loss of this legend, I realize how lucky I am to have met this industry legend. While I am no hair industry expert, I did know that he was the one who had been responsible for Mia Farrow’s hair in Rosemary’s Baby, one of the scariest movies I had watched as a teenager. We chatted briefly at a cocktail reception – a conversation I am sure he would never remember, but that I have re-lived in my head a few times this week. We talked about contemporary art and about our “Harvard” connection (he told me he always thought of his Academies as “the Harvard of hair”).

Any “rags to riches” story fascinates me, and his is certainly that. He was born on January 17, 1928, in Hammersmith, London, and spent his early childhood in extreme poverty. Hi mother placed him in a Jewish orphanage early on, where he stayed for seven years. He left school at age 14 to start a hairdressing apprenticeship, eventually training under flamboyant hairdresser Raymond Bessone. Sassoon opened his own salon on Bond Street in the 1954. In 1957, he began a collaboration with Mary Quant, the British fashion designer widely known as the “mother of the miniskirt.” Moving to the US, he opened his first US salon in New York in 1965. From there, he built a multi-million dollar hair corporation, whose slogan “If you don’t look good, we don’t look good” is said to have inspired L’Oreal’s “Because you’re worth it” slogan.  In 1982, he sold his business to to Richardson-Vicks, which was then bought by Procter & Gamble in 1985.

What Vidal Sassoon may best be remembered for will be liberating women from weekly trips to the salon and hours spent under hair dryers. Indeed, when he created his iconic geometric “Bauhaus inspired” five point cut in 1963 (first modeled by Grace Coddington), he brought freedom to hair – no longer did hair sit atop the head like a hat. His “wash and wear” philosophy meant that hair could now move with its owner. He brought hair’s natural movement and shine to the forefront, revolutionizing the hair industry, and the lives of women everywhere.

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Posted on May 4, 2012 at 8:47 am

BeautyView: Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, Director and Founder, Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center, New York, NY and 37 Extreme Actives

Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas, Director and Founder, Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center, New York, NY and 37 Extreme Actives

It is easy to see why one would be impressed by Macrene Alexiades-Armenakas. First, she is striking. Second, her official title is so long I couldn’t fit it all in the title of this blog: Assistant Clinical Professor, Yale University School of Medicine and Director and Founder, Dermatology and Laser Surgery Center, New York, NY and 37 Extreme Actives, NY Derm LLC. Third, the 5 letters that come after her name in her email signature: MD, PhD. I also love that she is Greek (I am fascinated by Greece and Greek culture); now I can add to the list of things about Macrene that intrigue me the fact that she is an artist and almost became a sculptor. Of course, given her involvement in the beauty industry (whether on the treatment side or on the product side), her artistic eye and interest in aesthetics is not surprising. She is an artist…

AP: What city were you born in? MAA: New York, NY.

AP: What city to do you live in? MAA: New York, NY.

AP: What is your middle name? MAA: Renee.

AP: What is your astrological sign? MAA: Virgo of course – perfectionist!

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? MAA: Beauty itself, I am an artist.

AP: Least favorite thing? MAA: Greed; it is the ugly underbelly.

AP: What is your most prized possession? MAA: My children, if you can call them possessions until they are 18!  And my husband, who is locked up for life!

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? MAA: That I almost became an artist and a sculptor, not a doctor and a scientist.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? MAA: Two watches – one a gift from my husband a Patek Phillipe 5600; the other a gift from my good friend Elle Editor-in-Chief Robbie Myers – a Michelle watch Urban in rose gold and diamonds. I get a ton of compliments on that one.  She has such an eye.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? MAA: Both.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? MAA: Saul Perlmutter, Brian Schmidt and Adam Riess, the three shared Nobel Laureates in Physics 2011.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? MAA: Make boundaries, force yourself to be the one who drops off and picks up.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? MAA: Minimize. Keep the travel to a minimum so you do not deprive your patients and family from your care.

AP: What is your favorite book? MAA: I just re-read Gone With the Wind. I am always reading something. Margaret Mitchell’s prose is unparalleled.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? MAA: I do not drink cocktails, but I do juice!  I like carrot, apple, beet, ginger, pear and cucumber.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? MAA: 37 Actives has saved me from needing to do a lot of things I could do.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? MAA: Chanel no 5. Still!!

AP: Botox or not? MAA: Do not need it quite yet but have no problem with it whatsoever.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? MAA: My colorist Alexis at Oscar Blandi has matched my normal youthful highlights for over a decade. You cannot tell my hair from my daughter’s apart when we are side by side. Without her highlights, I would be much duller.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. MAA: Do not use an ipod. I am an opera fanatic. My favorite operas at the Met this year included Anna Bolena, Manon, both with Anna Netrebko and the most incredible production of Faust with Jonas Kaufmann. Superb.

AP: Quote to live by. MAA: “Everything in moderation” (in Greek, “Pan Metron Ariston”).

AP: Who is your mentor? MAA: My most important mentors were: Carroll Williams PhD in insect molecular biology; Lawrence Bogorad PhD the discoverer of chlorophyll – my mentor in plant molecular biology; Dan Goodenough PhD and Dean Federman MD both mentors at Harvard during my MD PhD.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. MAA: Focus on your studies – strive for excellence in everything you do.

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Posted on April 26, 2012 at 12:47 pm

BeautyView: LeeAnne Cress, Studio Manager, Barre3 Georgetown

LeeAnne Cress, Studio Manager, Barre3 Georgetown

Earlier this spring I discovered Barre3, and I now don’t know how I ever lived without it. I needed to get back into a regular exercise routine, I needed to get more toned, and I needed to find a better morning routine. Barre 3 did all three for me. I go to the 6:30 am class every week day that I am in DC (2 to 3 per week, typically). I love the workout (it nostalgically reminds me of my 7 years of ballet and still makes me sore everyday), and I love LeeAnne, the manager and my favorite instructor. While I always have found her gorgeous, I guess we all look a tad less glamorous at 6:30 am, in workout clothes, sweaty and without makeup than in a model-like photo!

AP: What city were you born in? LC: I was born in Salisbury, MD.

AP: What city to do you live in? LC: I live in McLean, VA.

AP: What is your middle name? LC: Rebekah.

AP: What is your astrological sign? LC: I’m not sure; I think it’s the goat one. I never seem to pay attention to that stuff.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? LC: I love being a strong woman and empowering other women to be strong. Physically and emotionally.

AP: Least favorite thing? LC: My least favorite thing about the beauty industry is the superficial vanity. I have modeled off and on since I was 12 and the pressure for perfection is daunting. I believe all women are beautiful when they are kind and compassionate. It does not always have to do with the outside.

AP: What is your most prized possession? LC: Right now? My engagement ring! Not only because it’s so shiny but because of what it stands for!

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? LC: I have a pacemaker. I’ve had it for 2 years and I can’t live without it. Being healthy saved my life. My heart would have stopped beating years ago if I had not been living a healthy lifestyle.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? LC: I do not wear one but I love Le Mer watches! They are so fun and casual. I don’t wear watches to dress up.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? LC: Both! Love my ring but I love the sophistication of pearls.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? LC: Meryl Streep. She’s strong, educated, and amazing at her craft.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? LC: Loving what I do! When you love what you do everyday it doesn’t always seem like work. I also make sure to leave the phone in the other room or on silent and focus on what or who is in front of me. And I fall of the grid every now and then. I go to my family’s farm in DE where I grew up and don’t bother with technology for a few days.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? LC: 1. Only travel with those you completely trust. 2. Pack light so you can bring things home. 3. Try something new!

AP: What is your favorite book? LC: That’s difficult because I love to read! It’s between To Kill a Mockingbird (I’ve read it 200 times at least) and anything by Neil Gaiman.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? LC: Champagne or a dirty Sapphire Blue Gin Martini.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? LC: No SUN! Just fake it, there are wonderful products on the market that don’t make you look like a pumpkin.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? LC: I have worn Coco Mademoiselle Chanel since my brother bought me my first bottle at age 17.

AP: Botox or not? LC: I don’t like the sound of toxins in my face, but I’m only 26 what do I know?

AP: Hair color: natural or not? LC: %100 natural color curl and all! I love my hair :)

AP: 3 songs on your iPod right now. LC: “Loca”by Shakira, “Intergalactic”by Beastie Boys, and “Girls fall like Dominoes”by Nicki Minaj.

AP: Quote to live by. LC: “Time is a tree (this life one leaf)” E.E Cummings.

AP: Who is your mentor? LC: My fiancé Alvaro. He’s smart, successful, kind and he makes really good decisions. I value his opinion very much.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. LC: Be prepared to start at the bottom and prove yourself. You have to work hard and be creative to stand out. Find something you love to do everyday (remember that may take some time).

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Posted on April 17, 2012 at 5:00 pm

BeautyView: Alexandra Gonzalez, Beauty Assistant, Real Simple

Alexandra Gonzalez, Beauty Assistant, Real Simple Magazine

In my world, beauty editors are magicians, so able to influence the trajectory of my brand and the success of my products that they sometimes seem intimidating. Alexandra Gonzalez, Beauty Assistant at Real Simple magazine (to which I have subscribed since the very first issue), is absolutely a magician. Having had the pleasure of getting to know her better, I realized that while she is indeed all-powerful, she is also kind (I love her last piece of advice), endearing (in particular in her state of bliss over being engaged and wedding planning), and truly fascinated with our industry, always trying to learn more (during her facial in my Georgetown showroom she couldn’t help herself but pick the brain of my aesthetician Rosario – in her native Spanish – rather than relaxing). Cherry on the cake? She is native to the DC area!

AP: What city were you born in? AG: A suburb of Washington DC, Bethesda Maryland.

AP: What city to do you live in? AG: New York City. I moved here for college (I went to Fashion Institute), fell in love and never left.

AP: What is your middle name? AG: Rebecca, my brother picked it out. He wanted it to be my first name so we’d have the same initials but our mom and dad compromised by making it my middle name.

AP: What is your astrological sign? AG: Aquarius.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? AG: I have to admit, I love seeing new products before they hit the market. Meeting these creators who are passionate is fascinating. It’s also such a happy industry… I also really enjoy writing or pitching a product, then hearing that it made a difference for a reader.

AP: Least favorite thing? AG: There isn’t a real routine, every day is different. That keeps me focused, but it can be frustrating when emails are piling up and need get answered.

AP: What is your most prized possession? AG: Probably my grandmother’s cross and engagement ring. Well, and now my own. They just symbolize so much more than what they seem.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? AG: Most people would probably be surprised to know I am completely obsessed with CSI–yes, the cheesy TV show. I can watch any of the seasons. The marathons on SPIKE TV are my favorite pass time on a rainy or cold Sunday afternoon.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? AG: Nope, I’m such a child of my generation and only carry around my phone. I would be lost without my iphone–literally and figuratively.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? AG: Diamonds! Who doesn’t like a little sparkle in their life?

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? AG: Can I get a few people? Ha! J  For example, a round table of Editor-in-Chiefs from publications I admire…  That would be delightful. I’d ask them a million questions.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? AG: I don’t have a balance…I’m still figuring it out. But the weeks that I do, I make sure that it’s a combination of dinner with friends and relaxing.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? AG: 1. Don’t bring a map. 2. Eat way more than you need to. 3. Visit at least one unknown museum in every city you visit.

AP: What is your favorite book? AG: Anything by Jodi Picult. Her stories completely transport me to a different place. And I have to admit… who doesn’t love a little Harry Potter?

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? AG: Cava; there is always something to celebrate.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? AG: All natural virgin coconut oil. It hydrates, cures blemishes and refreshes all in one night. I am all for oils of all kinds–hair, face, cuticles.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? AG: Mademoiselle by Chanel. My aunts, grandmothers and mother all wear Chanel perfume. They were the ones who ingrained in me my love for beauty, so I can’t part with it.

AP: Botox or not? AG: Not now, but maybe later.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? AG: Absolutely not. My natural color is so dark it makes my features look weird. When I was thirteen I really wanted to color my hair, so my mom took me to her hairdresser (absolutely love Manual in Georgetown!) and I haven’t stopped since.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. AG: I listen to my Pandora Stations, so whatever is playing on the Adelle station these days.

AP: Quote to live by. AG: “We live not according to reason, but according to fashion. ~ Seneca, Roman Philosopher.

AP: Who is your mentor? AG: Didi Gluck, our beauty director at Real Simple. She is an amazing person and manager. I go to her for everything, probably more than I should considering she is my boss. I learn something new from her every day and she makes work so much fun.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. AG: Never assume you have learned everything or that you have the job in the bag, always continue to try to impress people without being pushy. Also, find a balance between confidence and humility. Finally, always open doors and smile at people. Being nice can go a long way.

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Posted on March 9, 2012 at 8:44 am

BeautyView: Yael Alkalay, Founder & CEO, Red Flower

Yael Alkalay, Founder & CEO, Red Flower

My very first BeautyView was with Sarah Kugelman, of SkynIceland, a woman I admire and who over the years has become a friend. Is she competition? Yes, but really, there is enough skin in the world for all of us to play our part, and for us to be friends and learn from each other. Another “competitor” I admire is Yael Alkalay, Founder & CEO of Red Flower. Her father was the first dermatologist in Bulgaria! She believes in quiet rituals, in daily sensual moments. She inspires me to seek pleasure in the small daily things and to take more time for myself.

AP: What city were you born in? YA: Philadelphia, PA.

AP: What city to do you live in? YA: New York City.

AP: What is your middle name? YA: Nina,

AP: What is your astrological sign? YA: Virgo.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? YA: Creativity.

AP: Least favorite thing? YA: False promises to the consumer.

AP: What is your most prized possession? YA: My family.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? YA: Whatever it is, I am going to keep it that way…

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? YA: I don’t wear a watch but I need one! I would love something classic.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? YA: Gold.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? YA: Tina Fey, because I love to laugh.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? YA: Prioritize and feel good about your choices.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel?  YA: 1. Hydrate. 2. Stretch. 3. Moisturize. I travel with red flower nature travel kit everywhere I go. With that and a bottle of water, I am ready for anything.

AP: What is your favorite book? YA: I read constantly and enjoy a great range of subjects but love history and non-fiction best. Right now I am reading Postwar by Tony Judt, it is incredible. In a pinch I would have to say Annie Lamont and Oliver Sacks.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? YA: A chilled sauterne at the end of a great meal.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? YA: Red Flower nature omega berry serum.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? YA: Red flower certified organic quaiac perfume.

AP: Botox or not? YA: NOT!

AP: Hair color: natural or not? YA: NATURAL!

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. YA: Chichornia by Chet Atkins, Yoshimi by the Flaming Lips, and Carmen by Bizet.

AP: Quote to live by.  YA: Even the most subtle details matter.

AP: Who is your mentor? YA: My peers, my friends and my family.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. YA: Take risks, don’t wait, you really can do it all, believe.

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Posted on February 25, 2012 at 12:44 pm

BeautyView: Jani Friedman, Managing Director, Demeter Group

Jani Friedman, Managing Director, Demeter Group

I am a firm believer in networking, although I am not a fan of the word. I think of it more as building and fostering relationships, connecting people, and expanding my circle of friends. Jani is a perfect example of that. I introduced myself to her after seeing her present at a WWD retail conference a number of years ago. Since then, we meet whenever our hectic schedules allow, usually in San Francisco and always with her dog Chloé. Beyond being industry peers, beyond being Harvard alumni (did you see The Crimson Guard article in the recent issue of WWD Beauty Inc?), we are now friends; and that is the true purpose of networking.

AP: What city were you born in? JF: Neillsville, WI.

AP: What city to do you live in? JF: San Francisco, CA.

AP: What is your middle name? JF: Marie.

AP: What is your astrological sign? JF: Gemini.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? JF: Brainstorming about new products and then watching them come to life.

AP: Least favorite thing? JF: Telemarketers (if you mean in life) or, What’s not to love? (if you mean ‘about the beauty industry”).

AP: What is your most prized possession? JF: Chloé Lucia, my Miki pup.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? JF: I was on Family Feud when I was about 17 years old. Embarrassing!

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model?  JF: A watch is not necessary since I’m staring at my computer or phone all day which conveniently reminds me that time is ticking by.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? JF: Pearls.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? JF: The Pope.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? JF: Having Chloé in the office everyday – she’s the glue that holds us all together.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? JF: 1. Get a Global Entry card to speed through Immigration and Customs. 2. Bring someone you love on all trips. 3. Wear flats and cashmere.

AP: What is your favorite book? JF: Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? JF: Malbec.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? JF: Smile, even when it’s hard.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? JF: Fresh, Memoire Liquide, and Diptyque’s Philosykos.

AP: Botox or not? JF: Not yet, but I am strongly considering a few needed shots.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? JF: I couldn’t live without my colorist John Yaskevich.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. JF: Set Fire to the Rain by Adele, Beast of Burden by Rolling Stones, Say it Right by Nelly Furtado.

AP: Quote to live by. JF: “Don’t spend time beating on a wall, hoping to transform it into a door” by Coco Chanel.

AP: Who is your mentor? JF: My Dad.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. JF: Don’t act, feel, or think you’re entitled. Take on any project where you have to think or work hard; it will get noticed. An analogy that I like is operating a submarine (not that I’ve had the pleasure yet). Go 44 knots (really fast) through the sea in the direction of your target, but make sure to utilize your periscope often to ensure you are aware of your environment, people, and any oncoming hazards. Destroy anything negative in your way. Reach your target and celebrate!

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Posted on January 25, 2012 at 11:10 am

BeautyView: Mara Segal, Founder & CEO, Utique Inc.

Mara Segal, Founder & CEO, Utique Inc.

Mara Segal is changing the face of beauty distribution. I like to think that her idea for vending machines that sell beauty and care products (displayed behind her in her head-shot), in both travel and full retail size, came from an altercation with an FAA agent who forced her to throw away a bottle of shampoo. I know I have been in that situation before… but it took Mara to come up with the concept of Utique. I admire Mara – I admire her work ethic, her resilience, her determination, and her art collection! Next time you forget your moisturizer, or your body lotion gets taken from you, remember to look for a Utique!

AP: What city were you born in? MS: Rochester, MN.

AP: What city to do you live in? MS: San Francisco, CA.

AP: What is your middle name? MS: Clair.

AP: What is your astrological sign? MS: Sagittarius.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? MS: I love packaging design and the spectrum of colors that changes each season.

AP: Least favorite thing? MS: It is overcrowded and complex, making it difficult for consumers to navigate. It also often takes itself too seriously in advertising tonality and can feel intimidating for consumers.

AP: What is your most prized possession? MS: Assuming we are limited to material goods: music and my random art collection. My latest acquisition is a neon orange Qi Guangci bunny sculpture that I picked up in Beijing – I love looking at it every day.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? MS: I was pre-med in school before I fell in love with architecture and design and switched my major.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? MS: ToyWatch; it was a gift from a dear friend.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? MS: Depends on the presentation!  Check out Solange Azagury Partridge: she can make anything beautiful and provocative!

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? MS: Diane Von Furstenberg; she is a brilliant, progressive woman and pioneer in so many ways.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? MS: I think this is the hardest part and something I am still working on it. Balance likely rests in a strong team that has your same standards of execution so that you can truly get away with peace of mind.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? MS: 1. Pack light/have travel-sized versions of the regulars to reduce packing/unpacking time. 2. Be in the moment. 3. Find a local or someone who knows a local via your network – always invaluable for insights.

AP: What is your favorite book? MS: I cannot commit to one!

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? MS: Gin with different fresh accents like cucumber, mint, or basil.  I have also seen more hot chili infused drinks recently and love these – I am slightly addicted to spicy food and drinks!

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? MS: Sleep.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? MS: Malin and Goetz, Lotus Root.

AP: Botox or not? MS: Not.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? MS: I go back and forth, mostly to mix it up.  Right now I am experimenting with balayage, which is supposed to be less harsh on the hair.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. MS: Video Games by Lana del Rey. Clair de Lune by Alexis Weissenberg and Something Good Can Work by Gotye.

AP: Quote to live by. MS: Eleanor Roosevelt is my favorite source of quotes and inspiration:

“No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.”

“The future belongs to those who believe in the beauty of their dreams.” 

“What you don’t do can be a destructive force.” 

“You have to accept whatever comes and the only important thing is that you meet it with courage and with the best that you have to give.”

AP: Who is your mentor? MS: I cannot cite one…  I have learned from all of the entrepreneurs and risk takers I read about and those I am lucky enough to come into contact with.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. MS: I see a lot of young adults place pressure on themselves to have the final career solution with a first or second job… I encourage open mindedness and the strength to make a change when something feels stagnant or you lack passion for it.  You learn just as much about yourself and your career desires by doing a job that doesn’t suit you!  Also, always rationalize your fear and define the downside of taking a risk with something unknown…  It is always better to have tried!

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Posted on January 13, 2012 at 2:40 pm

BeautyView: Lynne McNees, President, International Spa Association

Lynne McNees, President, International Spa Association

Lynne McNees, President, International Spa Association

The first thing I did way back when I decided that I was going to launch Alchimie Forever in the US to spas, of course, was to become a member of ISPA. Since 2005, I have benefitted so from the International Spa Association. I have learned from spa professionals. I have met numerous spa owners and managers. I have learned from peers throughout my Task Force involvement. I have made BFFs. And, perhaps most significantly, I met my husband. Since 2005, throughout these experiences, both personal and professional, I have had the pleasure of getting to know Lynne McNees, President of ISPA. I know not to discuss politics with her; I know she gets up earlier than I do most mornings; I know she loves Wyoming. Yet I did not know much of the below…  and I now have a new must-read book on my list!

AP: What city were you born in? LM: Okinawa, Japan.  My dad was in the US Army.  I really “grew up” in Dallas, TX but moved to Washington, DC my senior year in high school… ouch!

AP: What city to do you live in? LM: Georgetown, Kentucky, about 30 minutes outside of Lexington.

AP: What is your middle name?  LM: Jeanice, but I use my maiden name Walker now.

AP: What is your astrological sign? LM: Capricorn.

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry?  LM: The entrepreneurial spirit and inventiveness.

AP: Least favorite thing? LM: The unnecessary and excessive packaging.

AP: What is your most prized possession? LM: Can I say my cute husband?  If not, our two longhaired miniature dachshunds Jackson Hole and Teton Spirit would be my final answer!

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know?  LM: I’ve landed on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the ocean. I’ve stood on the DMZ.  I flew a fighter jet during mid-air refueling.

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? LM: Sometimes. The model varies depending on my mood.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? LM: Diamonds – definitely diamonds.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? LM: Paul McNees, my husband’s father who passed away when Barry was in college.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? LM: I will never be balanced! Balance is a daily practice I work at with a lot of great friends, hard exercise and a great bottle of Oregon Pinot Noir.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? LM: 1. Water. 2. Hiking. 3. Humor.

AP: What is your favorite book? LM: China Calls by Anne Collins Walker (my mom). It’s about my Dad advancing President Nixon’s historic trip to China.

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? LM: Other than Oregon Pinot Noir, Bourbon and Ginger.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? LM: Experimenting with all the fun ISPA member products and LOTS of water!

AP: What fragrance do you wear? LM: Aromatherapy Associates – Revive!  I am addicted.

AP: Botox or not? LM: Why not?

AP: Hair color: natural or not? LM: Luckily – my natural color but now I have to cover the gray!

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. LM: “Its 5 o’clock in the morning” by Lily Allen. “The Walk” by Mayer Hawthorne. Everything Garth Brooks and Willie Nelson.

AP: Quote to live by. LM: Clear eyes. Full heart. Can’t lose.

AP: Who is your mentor? LM: I’m lucky, every ISPA Chairman and their unique style has been a valuable mentor to me.  Additionally, both my parents with their unique (and distinct) approach to business.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. LM: Hard work prevails (and, never underestimate the impact of a handwritten thank you note!).

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Posted on January 6, 2012 at 3:59 pm

BeautyView: Kelly Kovack, Co-Founder, Purpose Built

Kelly Kovack, Co-Founder, Purpose Built

Last fall, with the help of my Board, I decided that it would be helpful to have some marketing and branding professionals look at my brand. After all, I turn to experts to help me formulate my products, why should I not turn to experts to help me brand my products? While this seems very rational, if you know me, you know how much of a control freak I am, which made entrusting a branding firm with Alchimie a personal challenge (I have had a few extremely strange dreams about this project… the kind of dreams that remind me of those I had when I started school, in which I would show up to class realizing I had forgotten to prepare for a test, or forgotten to put on my clothes). After 9 meetings, 8 RFPs, and much thinking, I put my brand in the hands of Kelly Kovack, of Purpose Built. I have not regretted my decision for a single minute. We are in the midst of our brand renovation project (you may see some fine-tuning of our website and copywriting in the next few weeks), and given how much Kelly and I interact these days, it seemed fun to have a call with her where for once I was doing the asking, and she had to do the thinking and the answering…

AP: What city were you born in? KK: Montreal, Canada, but I grew up in Palm Harbor, Florida (it sounds more beautiful than it is).

AP: What city to do you live in? KK: Manhattan.

AP: What is your middle name?  KK: Ann, which was also my mother’s middle name.

AP: What is your astrological sign? KK: Taurus, which most people do not find surprising…

AP: What is your favorite thing about the beauty industry? KK: I love that our industry offers a great balance between creativity and business. This suits my personality and skill set.  

AP: Least favorite thing? KK: I don’t like the perception of the beauty industry from the outside. Outsiders seem to feel that it is a superficial industry. Being in the industry, you realize that there is nothing superficial about helping someone clear their skin. The beauty industry is really about giving confidence to people.

AP: What is your most prized possession? KK: I have a lot of things I truly love, like books and art. But things can always be replaced. Experiences and memories are my most prized possessions. They mean much more to me than things.

AP: What is something about you most people don’t know? KK: I am a very good cook. But I don’t cook very often and my fridge really only contains champagne, water, and vitamins. I live in NYC, I eat most of my meals out… but when I do cook, my dinners become type A extravaganzas…

AP: Do you wear a watch? If yes, what model? KK: I do. A vintage Rolex. It was a gift to myself after I went through the sale of Bliss to LVMH. It was the first time I had money and felt comfortable making such a significant purchase. Since then, I have been a consultant and I have had my own business. Throughout that time, I always thought “if all else goes bad, this is another month’s worth of expenses.” That I still have the watch and never had to sell it to make my rent is worth a lot to me.

AP: Diamonds or pearls? KK: Both.

AP: If you could have dinner with the person of your choice, who would it be? KK: It depends on my mood. At this very moment, dead would be Katherine Graham, and alive would be Christine Lagarde. I find her completely fascinating and so chic. The way she has been able to navigate a truly masculine industry in a truly feminine way is amazing.

AP: What is your secret to work/life balance? KK: I’m not sure I have found it, but as I have gotten older, I have realized that setting up standing appointments is key (acupuncture, gyrotonics, core fusion). They are non-negotiable, my team knows it, I know it, and I have learned to work around them.

AP: What are your three top tips for travel? KK: 1. If traveling in a group, always rent a house or apartment rather than staying in a hotel. 2. I like to pick a regular spot to go to every day when traveling, like a coffee shop, where I can be recognized, and ask people for tips. (This includes when I travel for business, I like to always stay at the same hotel). It brings familiarity to the traveling process. 3. Always have loads of reading material.    

AP: What is your favorite book? KK: It’s impossible for me to pick one, so here are my most recent reads: Just Kids by Patti Smith and A Beautiful Fall by Alicia Drake.   

AP: What is your cocktail of choice? KK: Vodka martini. A little dirty, and very dry.

AP: What is your #1 beauty secret? KK: Mixing super aggressive products with super gentle ones. At night right now I use Renova with Rodin face oil over it. Also, hydration: I would love to bathe in hyaluronic acid.

AP: What fragrance do you wear? KK: Odin Fragrances… of course. Right now I am wearing a fragrance we are launching next year. Usually however, I constantly rotate between the 6.

AP: Botox or not? KK: It took me a long time to do it, but now I’m hooked.

AP: Hair color: natural or not? KK: Unfortunately and only out of necessity, not. I would really rather do anything than sit in a salon for two hours. I wish I could rock my gray hair… but not yet.

AP: 3 songs on your ipod right now. KK: Just a growin by Young man. It’s around you by ANR. Bald by The Darkness.

AP: Quote to live by. KK: “Live as if you were to die tomorrow, learn as if you were to live forever.” by Gandhi.

AP: Who is your mentor? KK: I don’t really have a mentor, but there have been a lot of people who have taken a chance on me during my career.

AP: Words of advice for young women starting their careers today. KK: Don’t be afraid to take risks. Never stop learning. Work hard and own successes and failures. You can learn more from failures than successes, but don’t make the same mistakes twice. And most importantly, if you hate getting up in the morning and going to work, find another job.

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