Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York

When Henry Rich was writing his senior thesis on beauty in the everyday, he wondered how he was ever going to parlay this into a serious career. Who was going to hire a Harvard philosophy major meets musician who had never taken a business course in his life? How could he combine his creative life with any kind of success?

The answers were actually pretty obvious: Only Henry would hire himself and success would follow. With the help of Jeremy Kahn, longtime friend Eric Lybeck and now world-famous designer as well as www.number27.org founder, Jon Harris, they were able to bring to life the company that “makes everyday products beautiful.”

After parting ways to attend their respective Universities, Eric and Henry reunited to form Oral Fixation in late 2002. The idea sparked during Henry’s stint working at a wine shop in Princeton, New Jersey, where he met Jeremy. Jeremy, an avid smoker at the time, excused himself for one of his cigarette breaks with the parting words, “I’m off to serve my oral fixation.” When Jeremy returned from his break Henry remarked what a good name “Oral Fixation” would be for a mint company.

This led these young men to research mint production, factories and distribution centers ultimately leading to the creation of Oral Fixation mints, LLC. The creation of the mints alone would not satisfy the appetite of these men; their passion for music would not disappear. Creating their own company, and serving as their own boss, allowed time for music and continuation of their band, Rich & Royal. As a matter of fact, the creation of Oral Fixation not only allowed, but also promoted, the advancement of the band. Over the past few years they have been able to take business trips and bring the band to tour at the same time – last year in Seattle, this year in Berlin. Making music isn’t that different from consumer products, according to Henry, if it’s not going to be very good, people won’t dig it. Being a young entrepreneur himself, Henry decided to hire fresh creative minds all under the age of 30 to keep the brand and the products as young and hip as possible.

The road from bloom to bottle has been a remarkable journey for Summersent founder, Marjorie Kitzrow; part poet, part muse, part fragrance visionary . The fragrance concept grew out of a dinner conversation in June 2003, when a friend described a mysterious fragrant blossom in her garden. After Kitzrow smelled the fairytale bloom at the Chicago Botanic Garden, the name and vision of the Summersent brand immediately came to her mind.

Kitzrow created Marjorie Midgarden Fragrances, an independent prestige fragrance company out of Evanston, Illinois and after three years of development debuted the Summersent fragrance and brand.

With over 30 years of experience in brand marketing for companies on a national and international level, such as Citibank and Reuters, Kitzrow’s in-depth expertise as a marketing strategist, designer and writer has allowed her to conceptualize and orchestrate branding campaigns, product launches and market positioning programs, earning her reputation as an image maker and revenue builder.

Her background, coupled with her experience as an entrepreneur, puts her in a prime position to handle the creative, marketing, sales and operational challenges inherent to a new business venture into fragrance. Kitzrow has accessed a lean and effective team of trusted vendors to produce the Summersent collection, including her creative and production professional team with whom she’s worked with for over 20 years.

Kitzrow’s marketing principles remain attuned to the soul of the buyer, the part of the consumer that recognizes something unusual, awakens the imagination, and encourages a step into a dream. So it stands to reason that the zenith of Marjorie’s long and creative career should come in the form of her own fragrance of a dream: Summersent.

Summersent is available at Takashimaya NYC, Von Maur stores, and www.vonmaur.com.

Amanda Che knows that the right accessory makes the outfit. She understands that a smart belt or tote can make even the most basic jeans & top combo into a stylish ensemble. This is why she created the A.Ché collection of handbags and accessories, which combine luxurious leather and unique detailing to create pieces that both timeless and fashion forward.

Amanda Che’s love of fashion and entrepreneurial drive was apparent early on. At the age of five, Amanda launched her first business selling handmade teddy bears to her neighbors. A Southern California native, Amanda is the oldest of four sisters, and comes from a family invested in the fashion industry. Amanda learned first hand about the industry from her parents who own a lingerie and swimwear manufacturing business. She received her formal training at the FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) in Los Angeles and began working on the debut A.Ché collection after graduation.

Amanda traveled around the world before finding artisans in Thailand with the skilled handiwork necessary to create the signature knot detailing of the A.Ché line. All A.Ché products are adorned with a logo plate decorated with Swarovski crystals and are hand sewn in Thailand using silky soft deerskin leather. Deerskin is an extremely smooth leather that is flexible and lightweight, but durable, rendering A.Ché’s handbags, wallets, and belts as soft as silk.

Inspired by the sensuous Marilyn Monroe, the womanly Sophia Loren, and the elegant Audrey Hepburn, the Fall 2007 A.Ché collection offers the right handbag and accessory to match every occasion and mood.

You can see the complete collection from A.Che at www.a-che.com

A self proclaimed "product junkie," Cheri Tracy started out collecting and testing cosmetics at an early age. From her humble beginnings as the president of the Lip Smacker Club in the first grade to her present position at Urban Apothecary, she has an insatiable appetite all things beauty related.

Cheri previously owned a spa in the Chicago area that began as a 1000sqft labor of love. Fifteen years and 15,000sqft later, Cheri had 8,000 clients and began Urban Apothecary as a private label for her spa. Urban Apothecary focuses on mineral makeup, organic skin care and cosmeceuticals. In 1999 she began "Beauty of a Site," which was the first website to bring Indie niche brands to the U.S market. As Cheri received more press, Urban Apothecary became more popular; selling in high end salons and several apothecary's. Cheri decided to sell her spa after her second daughter was born so that she could be more focused on her Urban Apothecary brand and her daughters. Cheri has also launched a bath and body brand this summer called, "Haute Tub."

Working as an industry expert with savvy brands featured in international publications such as InStyle, New Woman UK and Lucky, over the past fifteen years, she has gained an unprecedented amount of knowledge and insight into the world of beauty. She’s a strong advocate for the consumer and is always in search of the latest and greatest beauty products and innovative ingredients. She’s dedicated to demystifying makeup and empowering women to explore their individual beauty.

Cheri Tracy's websites: Urban Apothecary & Beauty of a Site (which features Haute Tub)

Enzo Pinelli’s vision was simple: create a line of legwear and shapewear that combines tangible luxuries with health and beauty benefits that go deeper than the naked eye can see. Thus, the revolutionary line Solidea was born.

Pinelli began his career in the early 1970’s working for one of the world’s leading companies in the production of circular machinery for weaving stockings. Pinelli started his own legwear company in Northern Italy in 1976. Enzo Pinelli remains the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the design direction and expansion of the Solidea brand. Pinelli’s wife Christina and his sons, Luca and Michele, are also executives for the company, making it a true family affair.

Designed for men and women, Solidea combines style with smarts. The MicroMassage collection creates a toned and smooth appearance. Solidea’s legwear collection is ideal for women on the go who need energizing support. Solidea’s Anti-Cellulite pantyhose and shorts are the only styles that offer “medical grade” compression, which is the strongest available on the market. With many styles to choose from, Solidea is designed to make women feel good inside and out.

Enzo Pinelli continues to research, imagine and create through technology and science. The science behind his designs is now covered under several patents. Pinelli’s dedication and attention to detail has made Solidea a strong yet chic brand that has forever changed the face of hosiery.

For more information on Solidea please visit www.solideausa.com or call 800-221-2520.

Dr. Anthony Youn is a fully-trained, Board Certified plastic surgeon who specializes in a full menu of cosmetic surgery. He is the graduate of a prestigious Advanced Aesthetic Surgery Fellowship in Beverly Hills, California where he spent a considerable amount of time learning the techniques of prominent Hollywood plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and even makeup artists. During his fellowship he appeared on E! Entertainment’s hit show Dr. 90210. He founded the Beverly Hills Plastic Surgery Centre as a place where people throughout the Great Lakes region can go to receive the latest techniques straight from the worldwide center of beauty: Beverly Hills, California.

Dr. Youn graduated with high honors from Kalamazoo College, and earned his doctor of medicine degree from the Michigan State University College of Human Medicine. He then completed his general surgery and plastic surgery training at the Grand Rapids MERC Plastic Surgery Residency Program, known as one of the top community-based plastic surgery training programs in the country. Dr. Youn then made the decision to move to Los Angeles, California to work with a world-renowned cosmetic plastic surgeon, Dr. Richard Ellenbogen.

Institut' DERMed came to fruition as a result of Founder, Lyn Ross' battle with teenage acne. While most teens battle a pimple here and there, Lyn fought acne since age 11 with her defining moment being her Senior Prom. The embarrassment and heartache she felt over her blemished skin is what lead her to her life's purpose of formulating cosmeceuticals and founding her Georgia-based company, Institut' DERMed.

Growing up in the 60's, skin care was not as advanced as it is now and Lyn's only known way to fight her acne were with Clearasil and Noxzema. It became a never ending cycle of drying out her skin and attempting to cover it up with makeup. When her acne flared up, her self -esteem would sink and it is with that understanding of the connection between emotional well-being and skin health that Lyn Ross is able to do what she does best--helping others with their skin afflictions.

Lyn Ross is licensed through the Georgia Board of Cosmetology as a Master Esthetician and has over 25 years of experience in the field of professional aesthetics. Lyn is passionate about skin care and her focus is educating physicians, nurses, and estheticians on the benefits of clinical skin health care. She lectures frequently on the latest advances in skin and body rejuvenation. She has appeared as a guest on radio and television programs addressing common concerns of skin health including acne, skin discolorations and premature aging. She has been a contributor to several professional and consumer publications, in addition to authoring chapters for textbooks. Lyn is committed to researching and innovating the latest products and therapies for healthy aging.

Lyn is "hands on" when it comes to skin care, keeping in touch with her clients so that she can learn from them and develop new products to meet their needs. Their skin health is a priority for Lyn; watching her client's spirit heal as their skin heals is infinitely rewarding and inspiring to her.

About Institut' DERMed:

Institut' DERMed encompasses three distinct services: a MediClinical Spa, an education facility and an extensive line of treatment products. The Spa combines aesthetic beauty therapies with scientific medical approaches offering unrivaled care and superior treatment results. Institut’ DERMed offers the latest in technologically advanced skin and body care and medical affiliations include distinguished and nationally recognized plastic surgeons and dermatologists who endorse DERMed treatments and recommend the extensive therapeutic options for facial and body rejuvenation. The collaborative relationship between medicine and aesthetics insures client results, comfort and satisfaction for preserving a healthy, youthful appearance and creating radiant health.

Solessence began as a small act of kindness. Growing up, founder Hillary Fry’s mother shared from her heritage the wonders and uses of botanicals and herbs for healing, pleasure and pampering through creams, soap, salves. Her father, the one with wanderlust, enjoyed tracking down hard-to-find ingredients (this was before the age of the internet), and would share his stories from travels the world over. Family projects were learning experiences where beauty and art were always combined.

When friends who had moved to harsher climates began to lament of dry skin and cracked heels, it was only natural for her to seek a solution for them. It wasn’t enough to create a product that worked – it also needed to be a sensory experience worth repeating. She began personally blending oils and ingredients from her travels around the world to create natural/organic treatments for them...and they worked.

Since Solessence’s debut, the company has grown to not only pamper friends originally surprised with the products, but their friends, and their friends, and so on. Solessence is thrilled to be a part of the Billboard Awards, to be on shelves at Whole Foods Markets, and to be discovered by and invited to People Magazine’s 50 Most Beautiful issue for People en Espanol (Los Mas Bellos), the Emmy Awards and the SAG Awards. Most recently the company was featured on TV Guide Network’s ‘The Fashion Team’ show after a Senior Vice President called to say she was a ‘big fan’ of the product and wanted to help provide more exposure.

Although the application for the company trademark was applied for in 2000, it wasn’t granted until late 2005. During the (long) wait, a website was established and Hillary began marketing. Internet sales began to trickle in. Her first brick & mortar sale was made to a small health store for $200 after a casual conversation with the beauty buyer. Her second sale a few days later was to a larger health store chain, for $5000 – people were responding positively to the luxurious feel and upscale look of this natural & organic skin care line, to the point where they were emailing and asking for her formulations. Although there was a hesitancy to invest heavily if the trademark would not be granted, in 2004 Solessence made an appearance with only the soap collection, temporary scrub labels and unmarked lotion bottles at a New York trade show. It was important to find out if there was a substantial interest in this market to even pursue. It was at this event that two pivotal things happened:

1. The Vice-President of a well known body care company raved about how nice the scrubs were and asked if we would private label for them – to the tune of 70,000 jars a month
2. Whole Foods Market sought out the booth after seeing the soap in the ‘Best of Show’ display area (“That is the best soap I have ever seen!”} and picked up the line.

In a remarkable story of serendipity, an unusual product made its way into the home of an advertising executive about 10 years ago. A relative from Honduras had come to visit Denis Simioni and his wife, leaving behind a baby food jar filled with an unusual brown paste. Why did she leave it? What did she say it would do? It sat on the shelf for two years.

After coming out of the swimming pool one day, Denis' wife noticed her hair was very dry, brittle and unruly. She searched the bathroom cupboards for something to calm the frizz, and found her grandmother's jar. She decided to give it a try. Simioni recalls that the results were amazing. “I couldn't stop playing with her hair,” he says. “It was softer and shinier than I'd ever seen it.” He immediately set out to learn all he could about ojon oil.

The ojon oil that sat in the Simioni’s bathroom cupboards for two years was purchased from an Indian who travels from the depths of the Honduran mountains once a month to sell the oil on a street corner. It was the only source of the oil. The ojon tree is unique to the rain forest of the Moskitia region of Central America. Although the Miskito Indians (called “Tawira” in their native language) had been using ojon palm nut oil for centuries to clean, condition and protect their hair, it had never been exported beyond the region.

Before long, Denis was on a plane to Honduras to find out more about ojon oil from the people who knew it best. Remarkably, he set out to find the Miskito tribe not really knowing where to begin. A five-hour ride in a run-down single-propeller plane landed Denis on a dirt road in the middle of nowhere. He hiked for two-hours before finding someone who could guide him further, chancing upon members of the Mopawi, a local non-profit organization dedicated to helping the Indians of the Moskitia.

Before she formed her cosmetics company in 1994, Jane Iredale’s background had been in film, theatre and television. She began as a casting director, working in television commercials with models like Lauren Hutton, Jacqueline Smith and Cybil Shepherd, and then in film and television with actresses like Susan Sarandon, Glenn Close and Sarah Jessica Parker. Among many others, she worked with Francis Ford Coppola on The Outsiders, Steven Spielberg on The Color Purple and on all major television networks, as well as the BBC.

She then formed her own production company and produced over fifty programs for PBS and HBO. Two of her feature films were named by TV Guide as the best films of their respective years. One was awarded the coveted George Foster Peabody Award. She also won an Emmy for a film series on which she was the writer. When she moved from film to theatre, she was nominated for a Tony Award for the Broadway musical Wind in the Willows, the show that brought fame to Vicki Lewis and Nathan Lane.

Throughout her career, she has worked with the best makeup artists in the field. She has seen at first hand that true makeup artistry comes not from trying to make a face conform to the latest fashion trends, but from enhancing the wearer’s natural beauty and, as a result, allowing her personality to shine.

Jane’s experience in working with women whose careers depended on a clear complexion allowed her to see how skin disorders and sensitivities not only threaten careers, but can also destroy self-confidence. This is what led her to develop a makeup line that could contribute to the lives of women by aiding the health of the skin.

Jane Iredale introduced her unique skin care makeup line in May of 1994. It was the first full makeup line on the market to offer not just color enhancement, but also benefits for the skin. The products are based on micronized minerals and are made without fillers and binders (such as talc and mineral oil) and without chemical dyes or preservatives. She was the first to supply the aesthetic industry with a full line of makeup based on minerals, and the first to see the potential of offering physicians a makeup that was good for the skin. She has worked with world-renowned plastic surgeons and dermatologists in the development of her line, and lectures all over the world on its benefits. As a result, the Iredale products are carried by destination spas, salons and medical clinics throughout the world.

Philippe Rohdewald, a native of Luxembourg, developed his interest in fashion photography during his teenage years while attending a high school for the arts. Having been closer to the world of film, however, he decided to study film production and in 1996 attended Pratt Institute in New York City, the place he now calls his home.

He concluded his film studies with highest honors. With directors like Bergman, Fellini, Argento and cinematographers like Alonzo, Kovacs and Nitkvist as major influences, he started a career as a cinematographer. However, this career was short lived as his interest in fashion photography took precedence, as fashion gave him a more controlled environment to create the images he was keen on producing. He sold his Aaton motion picture camera package, piled up on still cameras of various formats and soon enough – with the help of very dear friends – was able to build up a presentable portfolio and get his first client in 2002.

To this day Philippe has shot for Diane Von Furstenberg, Tory Burch, Club Monaco and Tracy Reese (among others) while his client list keeps growing on a monthly basis. Having come this far without an agent, he has learned to enjoy working his way up in what is a highly saturated and competitive industry; the most pleasurable moments being meeting new people, taking on challenges and trying new ideas whenever possible.

Being established in the commercial world (enough so that he is constantly occupied), he started dedicating more time to his personal work, a series of fashion editorials that fuse the film noir side of 1960’s and 1970’s Italian and French cinema with stills. Clearly the influences from his earlier film days still mark his work to this day. The results for the most part are too edgy and graphic to be displayed in most American fashion publications, independent or not, and hence seeks shelter for his personal work in galleries and eventually in book form.

You can see Philippe Rohdewald's portfolio online at www.philippe-ny.com

Born and raised in Israel to Iraqi immigrant parents, Boaz David spent most of his youth on the soccer field, or playing in a band with fellow classmates. However, it was his grandfather’s wardrobe and his custom-made suits from the early fifties that had the biggest impact on him that eventually led him into the world of fashion. He started by alternating and redesigning his clothes, making his own pieces by hand, “I could never find the things I liked in the stores, so the easiest way was to just make them myself.” By the time he was seventeen Boaz was selling his designs to friends and family, establishing himself as a local (and most likely the only) teenager couturier.

Boaz decided it was time to pursue his childhood passion so he entered the Shenkar Fashion College in Tel-Aviv after serving the requisite three years in the Israeli Army. His final collection before graduation brought him to an international competition in Italy. He returned to Israel invigorated and began his foray into professional fashion work as a designer and stylist for television and theater work. However, eager to learn and grow professionally, Boaz decided to move on and experience the larger world of fashion, so in 1996 Boaz left Europe for New York where he would encounter his greatest inspiration.

After gaining valuable experience from fashion companies such as Yigal-Azrouel, Alice & Trixie, and Nili Lotan, Boaz turned the dream of launching his own line into a reality. Since music is one of Boaz’ greatest loves (2nd to design) his spring ’08 collection skillfully fuses these two art forms, the result is an edgy hip women’s contemporary collection.

The trouser collection pays homage to women rock icons of the 60’s, 70’s & 80’s that greatly influenced Boaz’ design aesthetic and style. The six distinct pant styles are named after musicians such as Chrissie Hyde (referred to as the Chrissie pant), Annie Lennox (Annie pant), Janis Joplin (the Janis pant), Debbie pant (as in Harry), Joni pant (Mitchell) and Nico pant (Christa Paffgen). Feminine fitted blouses with option of a tie, the quintessential little black dress, fitted blazers & motorcycle jackets complete the collection. The line’s trademark logo in the shape of a red X is cleverly displayed on the pocket, yoke, sleeve or collar of the collection.

The Boaz girl is a young-at-heart, modern thinking woman. Boaz was inspired by the women he had come to love in his years in New York. “She is fashion-forward, edgy and confident, a woman who follows her own path in life and loves to express her own individuality through her clothes.”

You can see Boaz' entire collection at www.boaz-ny.com

The Celebrity branding of yesteryear mainly consisted of a celebrity almost obnoixously parading around with their name and face attached to some new fragrance, clothing line, or in Derek Jeter’s case a 24 hour Fitness center named Jeter24.  The idea here is to directly use a public figure as a brand with little or no departure from the celebrity’s own image by including the famous moniker in the brand’s name.

Every brand has a story behind it. For me, the favorite part of my work here at Pierce Mattie PR is discovering them and sharing them with you. Francesco Clark, owner of Clark's Botanicals, recently came on my radar and the story behind the creation of his products is saddening yet truly inspirational all at once. So I invite you to learn more about Francesco and his amazing skin care line.

Shannon: I am very inspired by your story of turning a tragedy into something, that doesn’t only benefit yourself, but benefits others. Can you share with our readers a little about what happened that lead to the creation of your products?

As the economy continues to put a clamp on our money clips, bookstores across the country are bearing the brunt of our spendthrift. Some have even closed their brick-and-mortar stores as a result. On the other hand, online stores like Amazon are thriving. So much so, they are releasing the sequel to their e-book reader, Kindle.

Once again, Amazon has fused a love for reading, the green movement, and the modern lifestyle with the e-book reader, Kindle 2. But I have to wonder, will consumers see Kindle 2 as a money saver or just a waste of their paper?

We're all obsessed with our cellular phones, so having the most hi-tech phone available is a big deal. It seems that lately the only two that really matter are the iPhone and the Blackberry. The Blackberry Storm is the iPhone's leading competitor with touch-screen capabilities, and now, a new applications store.

But, which phone has the most loyal customers? I have to lean more toward the Blackberry. We've all heard the nickname "crackberry" used to describe its addictive effects, but aren't iPhone users just as obsessed? I see people on their iPhones more often than Blackberry's, although it may just be selective perception. Both phones have different capabilities that target different demographics, but I'm sure the iPhone took customers away from the Blackberry realm because of the touch-screen and simple interface. With the Storm and the new app store, things may change. So I wonder, will Blackberry take the market in touch-screen smartphones or will the iPhone stay on top?

I recently had the opportunity to interview Kim Banks, the owner of The Pet Set, a luxury card and stationary company featuring the beauty of dogs. As a dog owner myself to a beautiful Shitzu named Toby, I absolutely love the look of The Pet Set social stationary.

Pierce Mattie: How did you start The Pet Set?

Kim Banks: After considerable research of the stationery market and the multi-million dollar pet industry, I determined that there were no high-end greeting card and stationery products. The Pet Set was initially started by modeling our business strategy modestly on Tiffany's.

Pierce Mattie: Who are some of your biggest clients?

Kim Banks: Our clients are predominantly high-end stationery and pet boutiques across the U.S. and Canada, now also reaching the U.K.

Pierce Mattie: What are some of your most popular breeds?

Kim Banks: While the entire line is very popular, we advise 1st-time clients to begin stocking their stores with the retriever varieties, as they follow the AKC registration list.

Francis Kirkdjian is known in the fragrance industry for his ability to create and launch memorable perfumes. At only the age of 25, he created his first perfume--"Le Male" for Jean Paul Gaultier. Since then he has crafted recognizable and memorable fragrances for Dior, Christian Lacroix, Escada, Lancome and Lanvin (to name a few!) With his forthcoming launch of his own line in France this September (which I predict will be enormously successful), Francis Kurkdjian graciously took the time for a Q & A with me.

Pierce Mattie: Tell us a little bit about your custom-made business, what is the process for a customer to have a fragrance created for them?

Francis Kurkdjian: The process starts with a telephone rendezvous, which helps me to understand my client, his needs and wishes. Then, there is a face-to-face meeting when I present my first ideas and we smell together some materials and fragrance accords. Three or four weeks later, I present the fragrances I have envisioned for my client. It can take up to six months to finalize and come up with the right fragrance.

Do you ever hear bad news about a company going under and it just makes a sick feeling in your stomach? I felt it when Hearst closed Shop, Etc. Conde Nast said goodbye to Mademoiselle and Hachette Filipacchi shut down my favorite title; Mirabella. We know that media and magazines morph into other titles like McCall’s into Rosie but what about beauty brands that you have used for the past three decades, as in the case of Prescriptives. Lauder today announced they are closing shop for the brand. For years I have used their star product Line Preventer and the ever fabulously greaseless All You Need SPF 15. I knew that this recession would bring causalities, but Prescriptives? I wasn’t expecting this.

What could Lauder have done to prevent this brand slaughter, to keep Prescriptives alive? Was their buyout of MAC and Bobbi Brown years prior the instant demise for their color business at Prescriptives? One could argue that Origins felt the green clutter when they brought on Aveda and Darphin. For over a decade Prescrptives was the only color-focused brand in their lineup.  The consumer print advertising, celebrity endorsements and concept stores never happened for the brand. Over the years it lost its premium cache as its former creative director; Sylvie Chantecaille scooped up the retail space with her own brand Chantecaille Cosmetics in such doors as Neiman Marcus & Bergdorf Goodman.

It makes me wonder, do you keep a brand and develop the people that work for it to help it sustain or do you just let it go and bring on new brands to replace it's revenue, let former employees leave to do their own projects and hope the brand can swim upstream. My professional opinion is that there is more to learn with the Prescriptives situation than just the blame on the recession.

For starters Prescriptives is about the experience, something you can’t sell online or on TV you have to walk into the counter and have the custom blend experience. Doing business at a department store is quite expensive, why not create freestanding stores in b-markets where the stores could engage the consumer without the expense of Fifth Avenue.

Secondly, Lauder knew in the color world what its competition was up to, did they pin them against each other? Was the PR strategy for Prescriptives well thought out or did they just rely on product placement to make the phone ring? Prescriptives is an editor favorite and has earned numerous Allure, Glamour and Good Housekeeping awards over the years, but it is simply not enough. Prescriptives had dermatologists pumping their skin care and celebrity makeup artists pushing their cosmetics, the media advisory board was in place. The brand was sampled to all of the bloggers and every makeup artist could call in and request samples. From an outsiders pov - it was all there and PR is not to blame.

Did the brand not get the legs it needed with the new consumer. For example, today I tweeted; “I will miss my; All You Need SPF 15, Line Preventor and All Clean Face Wash” a very young beauty blogger wrote me and said; “What brand is that?” I sighed! Could Prescriptives done more to reach the Teen Vogue customer?

During HBA the Pierce Mattie team had the pleasure of meeting KAO’s cosmetic chemist Kelly Dobos. She currently formulates for the Jergens’s brand. She dishes with us on the trends for 2010 and 2011 in product formulation, going green, UVA protection and lets us know that Talc is OK in cosmetics.

Pierce Mattie: What are some of the trends in skin care formulas for 2010 and 2011 that you are seeing being requested from your clients as they go into R&D? 

Kelly Dobos: Of course, green and natural are major trends that won’t be going away.  But I think, on a large scale, consumers aren’t dedicated enough to accept the extra costs associated with these products at this time.   I foresee a real demand for multifunctional products that maximize value.  I also expect user-friendly approaches to more technically challenging products as consumers cut back on spa, derm, and salon treatments, opting to do them at home instead.

Pierce Mattie: Do you subscribe to the belief that parabens are bad on the skin and should not be used in skin care products? Or do you find it to be marketing hype?

Pierce Mattie: What are some things that manufactures should take into consideration before going green with their practices of product formulation? 

Kelly Dobos: Of course products can be formulated with natural or naturally derived ingredients and placed in environmentally friendly packaging.  But I feel that there are so many other aspects that need to be considered.  Examples include reducing the amount of energy used in processing the products, decreasing or recycling effluent waste streams, inventory management to reduce raw material and finished good scrap, sustainable sourcing, and low carbon footprint transportation. 

Pierce Mattie: What should consumers look for in the next year or so in regards to the advancement of active sunscreen agents?  

Kelly Dobos: I expect to see advancements in ingredients for UVA protection.  Most current sunscreens protect against UVB radiation, these are the wavelengths that cause sunburn.  UVA, however is linked to skin aging but the damage is not readily evident.  In the US, formulators are bound by the FDA’s OTC monograph for sunscreens.  The monograph dictates the ingredients that we can use to deliver sun protection. Current SPF labeling primarily reflects UVB protection however; changes to the monograph have been in consideration for some time.  I hope that the final revisions include UVA labeling requirements and allow for the inclusion of more innovative, effective UVA and UVB sunscreen ingredients.

Pierce Mattie: Do you believe that talc is OK in cosmetics or should it be removed at all costs as mineral makeup becomes the new mainstream?

Kelly Dobos: In the opinion of this cosmetic chemist, mineral makeup is nothing more than a good marketing spin.   Minerals have been used in cosmetics for years, although in a far more understated role.  I do not see any reason to remove talc from products; it is a mineral and has not been shown to have safety issues when used in cosmetics.

Working in PR at Pierce Mattie is non-stop; go go go! There are days that you're in the trenches working to pull a million different send outs, planning an event, securing celebrity endorsements on various apparel items and then comes an innovative new launch that really sparks a wave of newness. Especially when it creates a new category for itself. That client is Baby Magic and that product is Patty Cake. It's why I love this career so much.

After months of hard work, I have a new launch about to hit drugstores nationwide.  It's unlike anything else on the market today - it even holds a U.S. patent - and will revolutionize the way we think about diaper changing.

Though I don't have any kids of my own (not yet), even I got excited about this product; Baby Magic Patty Cake, the world's first dustless, talc-free baby powder that comes in a pressed powder.  Think face powder only this is one's for your baby's other cheeks.

With limited samples to work with my team was able to secure several placements in the national parenting publications, all of which will hit newsstands in June to coincide with on-shelf date.  There are also tons of regional parenting/family books featuring the product, and the blogs are already blowing up with accolades for the brand.

So while PR can be difficult at time, it's these successes that make all the hard work worth it.  Now on to my next big launch; the re-launch of Every Man Jack, an award-winning grooming line that will be rolling out a completely new look this summer.  Check back for updates.

What do you think; will you be checking out Baby Magic Patty Cake?  Don't you wish someone had thought of this sooner?

InStyle features Pierce Mattie PR's client Dr. Hauschka as Best Beauty Buy. If you’re working on a beauty story be sure to give our Pierce Mattie wellness PR team a call at 212-243-1431 or follow us on Twitter @PierceMattiePR and FaceBook.