Welcome back to Haul of Fame, your weekly roundup of beauty news, new ideas and new hopes for the Shrek TV show!
In today's issue: Aaron Judge, Crown Affair, Dieux, Diane von Furstenberg, Glossier, Kinship, Mane, Pattern Beauty, Philosophy, Phlur, Plantmade and Travis Barker.
But first…
Would you pay $7,000 for a lipstick? What if it belonged to Marilyn Monroe?
That's the question facing bidders at Julien's Auctions, where a tube of Elizabeth Arden's 1960 American bomb lipstick will hit the auction block on March 30. You can also buy receipts for Marilyn's perfume (Rose Geranium from Floris London) at the auction, but the screen queen's bottle of Chanel No. 5 has already been sold… for $10,000.
“There is no end in sight to the demand for Marilyn memorabilia, especially her perfumes and cosmetics,” said Laura Woolley, Julien's managing director and head of shipping and pricing. “People love to throw around the word 'iconic' these days, but one of the few women who really fits that style is Marilyn. She was the original influencer.”
As an auctioneer (and “Antiques Roadshow” veteran), Woolley is on the front lines of the burgeoning industry of celebrity-owned used makeup and expired perfume. In addition to the gifts, Monroe witnessed recent auctions of Mia Farrow perfume, Amy Winehouse eyeliner, Britney Spears lip gloss and Sharon Tate face powder.
Why do people want these things? Woolley gave two reasons: first, because it gives a sense of an intimate connection with the star, comparable to collecting the relics of saints. (Elle Fanning admitted as much in a 2011 interview in which she told Tavie Gevinson that she bought some of Monroe's face powder with her early movie star earnings). As Woolley says, “What's more intimate than touching your face with something that Marilyn Monroe touched to your face?
The second goal of beauty memorabilia collectors: Replication, sometimes with ongoing product development in mind. “Marilyn's makeup routine and color palette were obsessively written down,” Woolley said. “Women still want to look like her, just like they want to look like current TikTok stars.”
Woolley points to celebrity makeup artist Erin Parsons as an example of Marilyn's avid makeup collector, who often posts tutorials that match existing products on the market to archival formulas used by Monroe and her longtime makeup artist Allan “Whitey” Snyder. In recent years, Besame and KISS have also released lines based on Monroe's makeup archive.
Woolley wouldn't be surprised if Taylor Swift's red lipstick became the next holy grail for celebrity makeup lovers, but it might be even more difficult to track down than Monroe's original beauty kits. “If you asked Marilyn Monroe what lipstick she was wearing, she would tell you, even if it wasn't part of some deal,” Woolley said. “She'd be like, 'Oh, thank you, it's Bachelor's Carnation from Revlon. You can buy it in the store. Today's stars won't do that. They will not publicly name any brands that do not pay them.
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What else is new?
Skin protection
Diane von Furstenberg has incorporated skincare into her major collaboration with Target, which launches on March 23. It includes Vitamasques sheet masks and Sally Hansen nail kits with her iconic prints. (RIP Andy Warhol, you'd love your lip print during a real facial.)
Kinship debuted its Dreamwave Overnight Serum on March 20 at Credo. Its spicy ingredient is chlorella vulgaris – basically micro joint scum – and it claims to work faster than retinol. I will test it out and report back by April 7th when it debuts more widely at Ulta Beauty.
On March 20, Dieux launched a new skin cream – sort of. It's called the Barrier Blanket, but you can't buy it. Instead, it is a gift with purchase for buyers and includes an invitation to submit feedback directly to Dieux co-founder Joyce de Lemos, allowing consumers to express their opinion about her brand.
Lush doesn't drain the swamp. Instead, on March 22, it will release a “swamp care” Shrek collection that includes “shower slime,” a bath bomb, a shower gel, and a new package of Magnaminty Mask, which some fans are calling the “Shrek set” because it hardens to a flaky green finish while using.
On March 18, Philosophy introduced two new products – Dose of Wisdom Eye Cream and Ultimate Miracle Worker Body Serum. This seems to hit Gen X's sweet spot between “aging is great” and “I don't want to look like I'm getting old.”
On March 19, Glossier's new duo, Body Hero Perfecting Lotion and Daily Oil Wash, appeared. This facial cleanser in particular is a stealthy winner for those who shave their legs in the shower but don't like using a sticky, drain-clogging cream (or have time to moisturize).
Herbivore Botanicals has a new Star Seed SPF 30 that also works as a makeup primer and uses “ultra-clear” zinc oxide to block harmful rays. Launched on March 19.
On March 14, Travis Barker debuted his line of hemp-free skincare products for Barker Wellness. It includes a 2-in-1 mask and cleanser, as well as a daily moisturizer. Barker wouldn't agree to a phone interview with us ahead of the premiere, which is a shame, because “Tell me all about your skin care routine” is what everyone wants to hear from this rock icon. No, not really. Very solid packaging for cosmetics, and the formula seems great.
hair care
On March 19, Tracee Ellis Ross debuted Pattern Beauty's interchangeable curling iron, which has clip-on barrels that allow you to change the circumference of your curls and adapt to your existing curl patterns. It retails for $249 on the Pattern Beauty website and will launch in Ulta Beauty stores in April. Meanwhile, Mane launched a new Hot Round Brush on March 18 at Sephora. Jen Atkin's latest launch breaks down how you can use this brush on every hair texture, from super straight curls to type 4 coils. Appreciate it, Jen!
On March 19, Plantmade launched its new Rain Charcoal shampoo bar. I love “solid” shampoos because they use much less plastic packaging and shipping fuel than most liquid formulas. Still, you need to be careful with charcoal car washes unless you like your “50 Shades of Gray” bathtub floor.
On March 19, Crown Affair introduced dry shampoo in a reusable container, with a kabuki brush for application and a formula based on tapioca powder.
Smell
Aaron Judge is the new face of Ralph Lauren Fragrances. During the campaign, he swings a bat in a loose white T-shirt. Overall, I think guns should be illegal, but his gun is pretty cool.
