Say it ain’t so, L’Oreal!!  It was announced yesterday that Shu Uemura–one of the best, most innovative, highest-quality makeup and skincare brands around–will cease US sales in its 4 stateside stores and boutiques in places like Barneys New York, Bergdorf Goodman, and–sigh–Sephora).  According to WWD, it’s not that Shu Uemura is in financial trouble–it’s simply that L’Oreal wants to focus its energies on other luxury brands.

Carol Hamilton, president of L’Oréal USA’s Luxury Division says: “We love the brand, but it is a very small part of our portfolio…We want to focus on growing the brands which have a larger presence in the U.S. market.”

Ugh.

There’s a silver lining, at least: Shu Uemura will continue to be sold on its website, and according to an email I received today from Shu Uemura’s publicist, the brand will continue to introduce new products.  (Meanwhile, the decision doesn’t affect one of my favorite hair brands, Shu Uemura Art of Hair, which will continue to be sold at select salons around the country.)  It’s a huge bummer that L’Oreal is demonstrating less support for Shu Uemura, but a relief that the brand will at least be available in some capacity.

If you haven’t had the pleasure of trying any Shu products for yourself, let this be the time!  The Eyelash Curler and Cleansing Facial Oil are two classics worth every penny.

Related articles:
Best Haircare I’ve Ever Used: Shu Uemura Art of Hair

Beauty Question: How Long Will My Eyelash Curler Last?

First Stop on My Book Tour: UC Berkeley

London Correspondent Katherine McKenney writes:

Aromatherapy has become completely divorced from its own name. Today people seem to associate it more with the “aroma” component and no longer the “therapy.” In fact, aromatherapy uses essential oils to treat the individual through three different methods: inhalation, topical application, and orally. Aromatherapists treat the individual in a holistic sense, by doing diagnostics through questioning and using the feedback to blend the different oils to suit that individual’s needs. Then depending on the ailment, the aromatherapist will select the appropriate method. For example, colds, depression or anxiety might be treated through inhalation, whereas skin and muscle conditions might be treated through blending and applying the oils through massage. In the US and UK, essential oils are not prescribed to be taken internally, although in France some doctors are actually trained in this.

There is an amusing story behind the birth of modern aromatherapy. Although herbal remedies have been around for millennia, it was a Frenchman by the name of Gattefosse who first coined the term in 1936 when he published “L’Aromatherapie.” The origins of his research began after an unfortunate incident where he burned his hand in a laboratory. Seeing no water or appropriate liquid immediately available, he went with his instinct and plunged his hand into a vat of lavender oil. Voila! His hand was healed (not instantaneously, but noticeably quicker than after using other conventional treatments of the day). It was then that the world’s love affair with the classic and most used essential oil lavender began (don’t you just love happy endings!)

[Side note: Most people only think about an aromatherapy massage as a nice-smelling way to relax, however aromatherapists struggle to get across that aromatherapy is a serious complementary therapy. When I attended a 6 day introduction course on aromatherapy at Neal’s Yard Remedies in London, the aromatherapist who taught the massage content joked about how happy she was to teach us, since she could finally do a relaxing massage on the lucky student who was selected for the demonstration.  In the course of her work, she rarely gives relaxing massages!] (more…)

Monaco’s Charlotte Casiraghi is doubtlessly one of the world’s most beautiful women…and she’s definitely the most attractive (quasi) royal out there.  (Quasi because, although she’s the daughter of Princess Caroline, Caroline and her late-husband Stefano Casiraghi opted not to give Charlotte or her 2 brothers Andrea and Pierre titles.)  Her gorgeousness is hardly surprising, seeing as her grandmother is Grace Kelly–she’s working with some excellent genes!

Here she is a few days ago in Monte Carlo at the 2010 Monte Carlo Rose Ball, held at the Monte Carlo Sporting Club.  (Have you ever been to Monte Carlo, btw?  It is absolutely ridiculous.  The Casino and the Hotel de Paris are in the center of town, surrounded by Lamborghinis, Maybachs, Ferraris, Bugattis, Rolls Royces and Aston Martins, just parked casually in front as if they’re Hondas.)  Talk about seeing how the top .01% lives!

Photo Credit: WireImage/Mazur
Here’s the scoop on Glee star Lea Michele’s Kids’ Choice Awards 2010 look from celebrity makeup artist Melanie Inglessis: (more…)

At last, I’m finally getting around to posting about the awesome evening on the town some friends and I had recently, courtesy of Dove!

To promote their new Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant (which “minimizes the look and feel of underarm hair over time”), Dove got some of my gals together, sent us a limo and we went to Mastro’s Steakhouse–one of the best, most awesome restaurants in Beverly Hills.  (Seriously, about 5 days later, emails were still being exchanged about the fabulosity of the lobster mashed potatoes.)

We were all calm and refined at the beginning of the evening, dressed in our finest and oohing and aahing over the limo.  But once we got to Mastro’s–famous for their delicious martinis–and spent a few hours laughing, catching up and drinking champagne…well, all bets were off.  (I don’t think Dove quite understood the mischief my angelic-looking, life-is-short! friends are capable of.)

By the end of the evening, we’d lost a few soldiers, inherited new friends who hopped in the limo, danced at gay club The Abbey (famous for being Elizabeth Taylor’s favorite Hollywood spot), made it to a house party in the Hills with a celebrity action star (who shall remain unnamed), got kicked out of said celebrity action star party, toasted on a roof overlooking Los Angeles’ twinkling lights, and ended the night at the Roosevelt with a famous film director and an actor who performed the closing monologue from Franny and Zooey for us.

We got home at 5 am.  It was truly epic.

So!  While I can’t provide you with your own rock star moment, I can provide 5 lucky readers with their own Dove Visibly Smooth Deodorant!  The contest is open to all US residents; simply comment below with the name of your all-time favorite movie.  I’ll pick a winner at random from the comments this Friday.  Good luck!

Disclosure: Dove took care of the entire evening for us, which included a limo to and from Mastros, an AmEx gift card covering dinner and drinks, and product samples.