February 23, 2009, 10:13 PM CT

Consumers won't be deceived twice

Sometimes a high price tag, a label, or an ingredient can lead us to think that we're purchasing a high-quality item. But what happens if the attribute that attracted us to the product is false or meaningless? A newly released study in the Journal of Consumer Research examines consumer responses to "biasing cues," features that consumers assume are correlation to the quality of the item.

"Often consumers' beliefs about the relationship between an attribute and product quality are correct," write authors Wouter Vanhouche (University of Central Florida, Orlando) and Stijn van Osselaer (Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University). "For example, higher-priced products are often better quality products. However, in a number of other cases, those beliefs are incorrect. For example, a number of low-priced products are actually quite good and a number of high-priced products are actually quite bad. Some attributes are even just irrelevant to product quality or are completely meaningless. For example, putting silk in shampoo does not do anything for hair but consumers may nevertheless expect it to".

Past research has demonstrated that biasing cues can successfully deceive consumers into buying items. But the authors wanted to find out if the same consumers would be deceived a second time. Using laboratory experiments involving orange juice, polo shirts, and paper towels, the authors observed that biased quality expectations did not carry over to a second purchase. In fact, participants learned from those initial judgment mistakes......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

Thu, 19 Feb 2009 00:23:47 GMT

Marc Jacobs Fall 2009

I am trying to be cool about attending the Marc Jacobs show tonight at the Armory but OMG-- I was at Marc Jacobs! Jacobs showed an ambitious 60 looks on 60 models in a somber and sparse set up with 7 single rows that created 4 walkways; which meant everyone was front row! Each model had a different hair style and distinct make up-- you"d think that this meant chaos and disorder but things backstage were quite calm-- a serene Marc Jacobs even strolled around to check make up and hair. I was surprised to see him so relaxed; I stalked him for a bit to get my photos and he indulged by smiling and saying hello. I think I"ve been sprinkled with the Marc Jacobs fairy dust (as my friend Rachel, Editor in chief of InStyle Czech Republic said afterwards)! Not only did I love the neon bright coats and dresses, I was obsessed over the sparkling tights and leggings! The "80s are back in full force with Grace Jones shoulder pads and Pat Benator eyeshadow. Okay, so it was way overstyled but it made for a fabulous show! Being so close to the models allowed us a clear view of the clothes and it was clear that the separates will hold up long after the stiffly sprayed hair falls. I grew up in the 80"s and seeing thsi collection excited me to no end. I will not be sharing photos of my high school hair and make up years but let"s just say, not too far off from the runway models. As for the bags, MJ kept it simple and basic with more renditions of "Marc does Chanel" than we"ve ever seen. I can barely keep my eyes open so will have to finish writing tomorrow. Stay tuned for exclusive backstage photos at Marc Jacobs! (Jump to see more!)

Posted by: Tina      Read more     Source

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 18:32:05 GMT

Jill Stuart Pouch Large

(images and info from www.jillstuart-beauty.com)

Designer beauty brands like Anna Sui and Paul & Joe often cash in on their fashion roots and release beauty accessories featuring original designs. On February 20th, Jill Stuart will release Pouch Large (Sweet Ribbon). It is a set of a bag pouch and a mini pouch with pink-ribbon pattern and Jill Stuart"s signatures. It will join the brand"s beauty tool lineup, which includes the very popular Compact Mirror and Hand Mirror. (However, the pouch, priced at 4725 JPY, will be a limited-edition item.)

(Jill Stuart Beauty is currently available in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. It is scheduled to be launched in the US with a small selection of products.) Posted by: PJ      Read more     Source

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 15:37:03 GMT

Amala Hydrating Yougurt Mask

Tester: West Indian (Jamaican) with combination/dry skin and occasional break outs.

"This really is organic luxury at it"s best!

I love using weekly mask treatments to keep my skin hydrated and was interested in this luxury organic line. The packaging is absolutely beautiful (and will also make a nice gift for the beauty lover in your life).

The mask is a medium weight light yellow cream that was silky and light. It sank into my skin and felt wonderful. I absoulutely loved the fragrance, which is a beautiful blend of rose, orange, lemon and clove oils which was relaxing and decadant.

I applied the mask and left it on for about 10 minutes. It dissapeared at the end of the 10 minutes and then I rinsed with warm water, as directed. My skin was soft and had a wonderful glow. It also retained that beautiful fragrance as well.

I used this 2x week for several weeks and could not have been happier with the results. It"s become one of my favorite new masks. This is really worth the price tag!" P.H.

• Formulated with Amala"s organic milk emulsifierEcocert certification• 100% of total ingredients from natural origin• 100% of plant ingredients produced by organic farming• 87% of total ingredients produced by organic farming Posted by: Palacinka Beauty      Read more     Source

Wed, 18 Feb 2009 09:29:06 GMT

Living Necklaces

Artist Paula Hayes is a New York sculptor, painter and landscape designer. She has worked with organic mediums to develop a special line of "Living Necklaces jewelry".

Posted by: Fabrik      Read more     Source

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:17:25 GMT

Can't Live Without: Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Cream

Some of you might have read about the heavy snowfall in the UK this week. (It is the heaviest in the last two decades.) With the low temperatures and the drying indoor heating (and all the contact with water from washing my hands), my nail cuticles can be very dry and sometimes even a little sore.

Two years ago I got a 5ml sample of Elizabeth Arden"s Eight Hour Cream at the counter. I tried it on my cuticles and it worked very well (even better than the L"Occitane Nail & Cuticle Cream I had been using). Later on, a friend of mine was traveling to the US and asked me if I would like her to pick up something. Knowing that it was much cheaper in the US (16 USD in the US and 19 GBP here at the time), I asked her to buy it for me. Even though I do use other items occasionally, I always come back to this when I need some serious moisture.

As most of you know, it is a dense semi-transparent orange-colored gel-cream. (I have tried using it as a lip balm. It works fine, but the smell is a little overpowering.) It contains moisturizing agents like petrolatum, mineral oil, castor seed oil, and corn oil. (I like the fact that it does not contain fragrant plant oils, such as lemon oil or orange peel oil, as they can irritate the skin.)

I am suspecting that one of the reasons that it works well to soothe sore cuticles is that it contains salicylic acid, which is an anti-irritant. (Apart from salicylic acid, petrolatum is also known to have anti-inflammatory properties.)

Because of the dense texture, I only use it before bedtime, on top of my Garnier hand cream. (I don"t feel that I need to use it more often than this.) Out of all the products I have used on my cuticles, I think this one works the best to keep them moisturized and protected.

The Eight Hour Cream can work as a multi-purposed product, but, I think, even if I just use it as a cuticle cream, it is worth the purchase (well....if I can get it from the US....). Plus, a 50ml tube will last a very long time.... Posted by: PJ      Read more     Source

Tue, 17 Feb 2009 05:10:06 GMT

Cover Girl Outlast Lipstain -Wild Berry Wink 440

Wild Berry Wink 440, pictured left.

Tester: Hispanic (Cuban) about America Ferrara’s complexion with lightly pigmented lips.

"Do you love lip color?
Do you hate reapplying it?
Do you like lip colors that are cheery and fun?

If the answer to all three of these questions is "yes" then this Outlast Lipstain is THE product for you, like it was for me!

I was immediately drawn to this fresh and bright shade, Wild Berry Pink. As with any lip stain, it"s important that lips are as smooth as possible, so I exfoliated well before my first application.
My first impression was the flavor of the stain -- it was sweet but not overly so and left a nice scent as well. The pen itself was very easy to use (yes it looks and is almost the exact size of a highlighter pen). I worked quickly to deposit the color first on my top then bottom lips, using light, smooth strokes. There is an enormous amount of pigment in this shade.

The color is a very deep berry pink with a touch of red and is bright but not in a "neon" way. The product did just what it said. It didn"t budge, feather, smudge or get on my teeth at all. It was truly the workhorse of my makeup on the days I wore it! I also loved that it dried quickly and worked well with glosses when I wanted a shinier lip. (Tip:let the stain dry completely before adding gloss!). During the day, the color didn"t fade very much, and when it did towards the end of the day, it faded evenly.

This particular shade may be a bit too bright for very pale skins, but will work very well with those with skintones in the Jennifer Lopez to Gabrielle Union range. The Outlast Lipstain line has a few lighter pinks and pinky/browns that will work on lighter skin tones or for a more nude lip, however.

Editor"s Note: If you have very dry lips make sure you apply a generous layer of lip balm before applying this product." L.G. Posted by: Palacinka Beauty      Read more     Source

February 16, 2009, 10:03 PM CT

Looking for best bargains?

If you're looking for bargain air travel, a newly released study finds that you should look at more than just the ticket price. Instead, a researcher at North Carolina State University who co-authored the study says that consumers need to consider the quality of the flights being offered in order to get the best "price efficiency".

The study compared flights and "price efficiencies" from several Internet travel agent Web sites. Because each site offers widely different flights some flights might have lengthy layovers or multiple connections -it is unwise to simply compare prices. Instead, author Dr. Sangkil Moon, an assistant professor of marketing at NC State, explains that scientists must account for both price and the quality of the flight. Dr. Wagner Kamakura of Duke University and Moon used a statistical model named the stochastic frontier model to account for the value of individual components of a flight such as a direct flight, or a convenient departure time and to estimate the theoretical lowest price of each flight.

The scientists then compared the theoretical price to the actual market price of the flight, or the price that online retailers are charging for the flight. The ratio of the theoretical lowest price and the market price is called the price efficiency......... Posted by: Trista      Read more         Source

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 11:22:08 GMT

First And Black American Designers

Source: Mrs.O

Some people think she does. In a brief snippet that appeared in WWD, The Black Artists Association is criticizing Mrs. Obama for wearing clothing by Jason Wu and Isabel Toldedo on Inaguration Day and not garments designed by African-Americans.

Organization co-founder Amnau Eele said that she is planning to make a "formal appeal" to Mrs. Obama on behalf of the organization adding that “It’s fine and good if you want to be all ‘Kumbaya’ and ‘We Are the World’ by representing all different countries. But if you are going to have Isabel Toledo do the inauguration dress, and Jason Wu do the evening gown, why not have Kevan Hall, B Michael, Stephen Burrows or any of the other black designers do something too?.... She continued, “It’s one thing to look at the world without color but she had seven slots to wear designer clothes. Why wasn’t she wearing the clothes of a black designer? That was our moment.”

Hmm. Though I personally would also like to see the First Lady sporting an ensemble by Tracey Reese some day I just have to call bullshit on this complaint. Inauguration Day wasn"t just a moment for black designers, it was America"s moment and to me, this complaint just comes across as childish.

Clothing is personal and most people pick clothing that a) they like, b) looks good on them. As much as I like seeing celebrities (of all races) walk the red carpet in gowns by designers like Kevan Hall, not every Kevan Hall dress is going to look good on every body.

I think both of Mrs. Obama"s ensembles that day fit her particular aesthetic and since she does seem fond of discovering new designers, I would be surprised if she doesn"t eventually wear clothing by up and coming black designers as well.

It seem to me that instead of a harsh criticism, Ms. Eele should be studying Mrs. Obama"s style and sending her best sketches to the First Lady"s office.

What do you think? Does Ms. Eele raise a valid point or is this just sour grapes?

ETA: NYMag.com explores fashipns "unsettled" relationship with The First Lady.

During the campaign, designers, from Marc Jacobs to Tory Burch, celebrated Obama in a frenzy of T-shirts and tote bags that conflated change and style. But despite such liberal goodwill, the industry is overwhelmingly white, both in its makeup and its view of its customer. Not long ago, Stefano Pilati, the designer of Yves Saint Laurent, saw no problem telling Robin Givhan of the Washington Post that black models just don’t look right in his clothes. Michelle’s rumored cover aside, Vogue has only ever had five black celebrities (including LeBron James) on its cover.

An even more vexing question when it comes to Michelle is the fact that she uses fashion but is not defined by her interest in it. She’s no Jackie Kennedy, whose tenure as First Lady is remembered precisely for her interest in style. This seems an unlikely course for Michelle Obama. Here is a beautiful, well-dressed woman for whom fashion is a sidebar. Posted by: Brigitte      Read more     Source

Sat, 31 Jan 2009 05:01:02 GMT

Bobbi Brown Touch Up Stick

Only Bobbi could create such a great product!

With the new Touch Up Stick * you can keep your foundation looking fresh all day

This mini-stick is perfect to carry in your makeup bag or travel carry on to conceal any imperfections, redness or blemishes.

Its creamy, full-coverage formula is ideal for normal and combination skin types. Best of all it"s available in their full range of 17 shades -- so there"s something for all skintones!

*Stay tuned for our review of the Touch Up Stick!

Posted by: Palacinka Beauty      Read more     Source