BUT WILL
IT BURY MY WRINKLES?
At the close of World War II, a chemist developed a
treatment for burn victims in the British Royal Air Force
that prevented the dehydration of their battle wounds. Ten
years later, somebody decided it would be a good idea to dye
the ointment pink and sell it to women fearful of premature
aging, and there you have the Oil
of Olay story in a nutshell. Now the grow-old-gracefully
company is growing young by introducing a full line of Oil
of Olay cosmetics. It includes a decent range of lipstick
and nail colors, and everything--even the blush--has moisturizing
power. The lipstick ($8) doesn't bleed, and the pressed powder
($10) is blessedly unscented. The beauty-fluid empire plans
to set up cosmetic camp in every location that carries its
skin care products--and we mean camp. Though the product packaging
is a discreet black-and-silver plastic, the makeup is displayed
in hokey kiosks with dated, spinning color charts. Like its
drugstore cousin Almay, Oil of Olay strikes a middle ground
between Wet-n-Wild and Guerlain, but its prices may seem high-end
in the drugstore environment. Or maybe not. Similar cosmetics
from Neutrogena are coming soon to a pharmacy near you. (KM)
SHINING
THROUGH
Glitter did not go down with Velvet Goldmine.
It may seem faddish, but the sparkly stuff has proved its
staying power. It's not only popular during the holidays;
a little dab will also do as your most versatile spring-to-summer
accessory. The best we've found is from Tony
& Tina cosmetics (from New York, but not of
staged-wedding fame), which we've praised before in these
pages. Besides producing the finest nail varnish remover
around, T&T delivers lavender-enriched, antidepressant
lipstick (with St. Johns wort), flirty nail
paints and now, a subtle, non-goopy skin glitter. Cosmic
Lights ($12 at Urban Outfitters) is mica- and aluminum-free,
which makes it safe for the eye area (try some just under
your lower lashes), and comes in purple, translucent (the
prettiest, with aqua undertones) and silver. What sets T&T's
shimmery stuff apart from all the others is its mysterious,
powdery essence: It stays on without any apparent adhesive
ingredient. (CM)
CHOC
IT UP
Starbucks just got fatter. Strengthening its stranglehold
on caffeine junkies, last week the coffee giant launched
Starbucks chocolates sure to lasso your sweet tooth.
If you haven't tasted Starbucks'
chocolate-dipped graham crackers, you should try them now:
The new formulas--Starbucks Mocha and Starbucks Dark Mocha--are
richer and dreamier than the old dark- and milk-chocolate
recipes. Packaged in cellophane ($2.50 for 3) rather than
in glass canisters, the crackers stay much fresher. The
improved blend of Belgian chocolate and Starbucks coffee
also coats cherries ($2.25 for two ounces) and can be bought
solo in the form of a candy bar ($1.85). If you wonder why
every other sign you pass seems to feature the wavy-haired
siren, the answer should be obvious: Here is a company intent
on giving the people what they want. (MM)
- - - - - - - - - - - -
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Willamette Week | originally
published March 24,
1999
|
