MAC Liptensity lipsticks

As soon as I saw the word "tetrachromat" in the various descriptions of MAC's  Liptensity lipsticks, I knew I'd have to investigate.  MAC's new range was created in partnership with a tetrachromat, someone with the very unique genetic ability to see up to 100 million different colors (us boring old trichromats can only see 1 million, boo).  Working with a tetrachromat allowed the company to produce "the most technologically advanced lip product to date" using "high-frequency tetrachromatic pigments technology" or at least, that's what MAC's telling us.  The bigwigs weigh in:  “It’s a tech story; it’s not a fun, frivolous collection were doing,” James Gager, senior vice president and group creative director of M.A.C., said. “It is super, super saturated, undeniable color load in this lipstick.” Adds Jennifer Balbier, senior vice president, global product development at MAC Cosmetics, “Liptensity contains pre-saturated pigment combined with a clear base — unlike most lipstick bases that are more opaque or 'muddier' — to give a 'true' color. When people say that the ‘color stays true,’ it’s not always true because it acts with your own chemistry.”  Sounds impressive, but is it for real?  Let's look into this a little further to see whether the world's first makeup based on tetrachromacy is really all that superior to what's currently out there or if it's just the emperor's new clothes.

First though, what causes tetrachromacy and how exactly does it work?  According to this article, a tetrachromat has 4 different types of cone cells, i.e., the receptor cells that recognize color. The 3 usual cones that most humans have are attuned to wavelengths of red, green and blue (almost like a TV), while the special 4th cone detects yellow.  Not only that, scientists have discovered that to be a true tetrachromat, one not only requires the extra 4th cone, but their brains must also be able to distinguish it from the other cones.  In other words, some people have 4 types of cones but since their brains are wired like trichromats, it doesn't register any additional colors.  It's possible that by retraining the neural pathways to detect more colors, people with 4 cones may eventually achieve true tetrachromacy.  As vision scientist Jay Nietz told Discover Magazine, 'Most of the things that we see as colored are manufactured by people who are trying to make colors that work for trichromats…It could be that our whole world is tuned to the world of the trichromat.'  Furthermore, "[Nietz] also suspects the natural world may not have enough variation in color for the brain to learn to use a fourth cone. Tetrachromats might never need to draw on their full capacity. They may be trapped in a world tailored to creatures with lesser powers. Perhaps if these women regularly visited a lab where they had to learn—really learn—to tell extremely subtle shades apart, they would awaken in themselves the latent abilities of their fourth cone. Then they could begin to see things they had never tried to see before, a kaleidoscope of colors beyond our imagining."  Anyway, in addition to genetic testing,  in 2012 a reliable color test was developed to determine if someone was a true tetrachromat.

Another incredibly interesting tidbit:  to date, only people with 2 X chromosomes have been found to have this unique genetic trait.  As Popular Science  explains:  "For years, researchers weren’t sure tetrachromacy existed. If it did, they stipulated, it could only be found in people with two X chromosomes. This is because of the genes behind color vision. People who have regular color vision have three cones, tuned to the wavelengths of red, green, and blue. These are connected to the X chromosome— most men have only one, but most women have two. Mutations in the X chromosome cause a person to perceive more or less color, which is why men more commonly have congenital colorblindness than women (if their one X chromosome has a mutation). But the theory stood that if a person received two mutated X chromosomes, she could have four cones instead of the usual three." 

Now that we've got the medical explanation for tetrachromatic ability, let's think about what this means in terms of perception.  How do they see colors as compared to us boring old trichromats?  As expected, it's exceedingly difficult for a tetrachromat to explain what they see.  Fortunately, tetrachromats who have artistic ability in addition to their super human vision can help us understand it a little.  Take, for example, Concetta Amico (already smitten with her since she has the same first name as my mom!) whose paintings reflect a range of color nuances.  In this interview (which you should really read in its entirety – SO fascinating), she explains it this way: "I see colors in other colors. For example, I’m looking at some light right now that’s peeking through the door in my house. Other people might just see white light, but I see orange and yellow and pink and green and some magenta and a little bit of blue. So white is not white; white is all varieties of white. You know when you look at a pantone and you see all the whites separated out? It’s like that for me, but they are more intense. I see all those whites in white but I resolve all these colors in the white, so it’s almost like a mosaic. They are all next to each other but connected. As I look at it, I can differentiate different colors. I could never say that’s just a white door, instead I see blue, white, yellow-blue, gray."  Another intriguing snippet is her view on makeup: "I’ve leaned toward makeup as a way of leveling out all that color in my skin that other people wouldn’t worry about. I feel like I have to put concealer and powder on my face because every vein and blemish is so visible. I guess the fact that I see more color in skin is why I’ve never liked going out without makeup on. People ask why I always wear makeup.  They say I look good without it, but I can see in all the veins the red and the blue. I see too much."

This seems like a radically different approach to makeup and color than that of the MAC collection, so it could explain why the company chose to partner with another tetrachromat, Maureen Seaberg.  In 2013, Seaberg recognized the similarities between her experience and another tetrachromat who was being interviewed on Radiolab.  Via a DNA test doctors were able to confirm that she is a tetrachromat.*  No stranger to makeup (she'd mix colors herself if she couldn't find the perfect shade), Seaberg pitched a collaboration to MAC.  "The company I most admired for its diversity, philanthropy and having the most expertise with color was M.A.C. I composed an email to legendary creative director James Gager, who has said that all of his collaborators 'are like strange aunts and uncles coming home.' I hoped I was strange enough."

What did Seaberg actually bring to the table, though?  As some bloggers worried, a tetrachromat's shades might have nuances that would be completely lost on the rest of us.  No worries though, for Seaberg wasn't trying to make trichromats struggle to see something only she can.  "I see colors that other people cannot, but I was not trying to skew the products in invisible directions," she tells Buro 24/7.  She explains further, "It wouldn’t serve the consumer if I were sitting there playing with color in a way that would skew it in a way that people couldn’t really discern or enjoy it. So, we used my eyesight instead to spot these undertones and overtones and send them back to the canvas to say that a Bordeaux had too much orange… or if a pink had too much yellow in it and needed to cool off, we might remove the yellow and add blue to the mix… I was more trying to center the colors and make them as true to themselves as I possibly could."  For Seaberg, collaborating with MAC wasn't about creating colors that only made sense to her; in fact, she was doing a huge service for making them as pure and true as possible, and in doing so, made them work for a wider number of people.  She tells The Cut, "I had 24 shades that I started with. It was my job to tweak them and make them the most beautiful. I used my vision to look very closely at them and see if there were undertones or overtones that could be cleared up. We wanted to make them as pure and clear as possible…I had a feeling that if we could take out the things not true to the color we were going for, it would be more beautiful on more faces. They would behave more like neutrals. Doe in M.A.C Liptensity was used in every model on the Balmain autumn/winter 2016 runway, on models of every skin tone. It worked on every one. Whereas if there were orange tones, for example, it wouldn’t look right on some girls."  While the average person might not be able to appreciate how true the colors are since they're not a tetrachromat, it's really cool to know that someone with super human ability to detect color was behind them.

My photos don't really reflect the pigmentation and purity of the colors, but so far so good:  I'm wearing Dionysus today (the aptly named wine/plum color) and it looks exactly the same on my lips as it does in the tube, and has stayed the same color all day without fading.  I have yet to try Blue Beat and Stallion but when I swatched them at the store I was impressed.

MAC Liptensity lipsticks

MAC Liptensity lipsticks

MAC Liptensity lipsticks

However, I'm not totally convinced by the hype.  Yes, these lipsticks are highly pigmented with a great texture (not heavy, with a satin finish that's neither matte nor glossy), but I do wonder whether I'd be able to tell them apart from other lipsticks – I'm not sure if consulting with a tetrachromat was truly necessary to create these shades, beautiful though they are.  Then again, I lack that pesky 4th cone so maybe I'm really just not seeing it.  I also want to know more about the particular technology that aided in the development of the formula – is there really a such thing as "high-frequency tetrachromatic pigment technology" and if so, how exactly does it work?  I couldn't find any information about patenting, and MAC didn't give many details besides divulging that the pigment was mixed into a clear base.  All this aside, Liptensity has opened my eyes to a color phenomenon I had no idea about previously, and a rather intriguing one at that.  And it was genius of MAC to harness the power of a tetrachromat to come up with these colors, even if it does turn out to be just marketing; the idea of a color Superwoman creating makeup is simply irresistible to me.  I'm curious to see if MAC will expand the "high-frequency pigment technology" to other products, like eye shadow, nail polish, etc.  Or if a company will work with a tetrachromat to program some sort of machine that could automatically calibrate 100% color-accurate pigments.  The implications for cosmetics are positively huge.

As for me, well, I'm pretty sad I'm not a tetrachromat given my love of color and comparing shades – I would be beyond delighted to enjoy that many more unique hues – but makeup can help refine my color detecting skills even if it's not anywhere near the level of a tetrachromat.  As Seaberg points out, "One of the leading researchers in this field says that one of the necessary components in 'functional' tetrachromacy is a lifelong exposure to color. Conceivably, paying close attention to your lipstick shades could train you as a super-seer! I urge everyone to do just that. As someone once said — color is a mystery we all swim in, yet it is so ubiquitous it becomes invisible. Don't let color be invisible to you. Stop. Look. Enjoy."  I know I will!

What do you think?  Is this just all a bunch of hullabaloo or do you think there's something genuinely groundbreaking here?

*The only accurate test for tetrachromacy is DNA, combined with other color tests administered by professionals – those online ones are complete crap.  Also, I was really struck by how Seaberg's perception of color is nearly identical to Amico's.  Both prefer colors found in nature, and yellow can be quite the visual onslaught. "The grocery store and the mall are a color assault, there’s too much of everything and too much that is not naturally beautiful. Too many harsh colors and candy-colored marketing style 'plastics' for my liking. I find red and yellow too much. Yellow stresses me out," says Amico, while Seaberg states, "I do notice a difference in the number of colors in the natural world versus those in manufactured, human-made things….yellow is overstimulating — it’s a little too much for my eyes. Like, an NYC taxicab is too much. It’s almost like when you look at bright sunlight for a little bit and you recoil."  Additionally, both agreed with scientists' claim that one must be immersed in color for most of their lives to be a true tetrochromat.  Seaberg notes that "the perfect storm for tetrachromacy is having it in your genetics and a lifelong exposure to color," and Amico states, "The reason they say I am a functioning tetrachromat is because I’m a practicing artist. If I hadn’t been immersed in art and if I hadn’t been an art teacher for the last 30 years I wouldn’t necessarily have the level of color definition that they are finding. So while I have this genetic gift of a fourth receptor in my eyes the fact that I apply it on a daily basis improves my color recognition. Think of someone who has superior muscles but never learned to run. You can have the potential but it’s only realized if you use it." 

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I meant to post about this back in August when it debuted, but am just catching up now.  The Lilumia makeup brush washing machine was introduced with much fanfare earlier this year as being one of the most innovative beauty devices to date, eliminating the need to hand-wash makeup brushes.  It's certainly a useful idea, especially for makeup artists whose brush-washing needs are greater than those of the average makeup consumer.  The Lilumia can wash up to 12 brushes at once in 15 minutes flat.

Lilumia

You do have to wipe down the "cleaning surface" after each use and empty the reservoir tray, but I imagine overall it's still faster than manual washing.  I definitely see the value of this machine, however, I must say I'm confused by the advertising.  What exactly are they selling again?

Lilumia-launch-special

I mean, sex sells – it's a marketing tactic as old as time – but in this case it seems weird.  I'm not offended by the advertising going on here, just puzzled.  Lingerie, perfume, even makeup itself – I understand the use of "sexy" advertising for these.  But there's nothing remotely alluring about cleaning your makeup brushes, it's simply a necessary chore.  Unless teenage boys are the majority of Lilumia's target demographic, and I don't think they are, I'm betting the sexy strategy will prove to be fairly ineffective.  And the device itself…well, it resembles some kind of weird alien pod.  To my eye, it's about as seductive as a toothbrush.  So what's up with the ads?  As it turns out, Lilumia was founded by former lingerie model Fierra Cruz, so I guess she's sticking to what she knows. 

Lilumia-ceo-tee
(images from lilumia.com)

Still, if she really wants your average makeup consumer/artist to buy Lilumia, maybe she should try a marketing technique that would appeal to as many of them as possible.  People who use their makeup brushes regularly are going to be more interested in seeing whether the thing is worth their hard-earned cash than in scantily-clad models.  I'd suggest Lilumia tone down the sexy angle and play up user reviews, demonstrations, etc.  For me, seeing fellow beauty bloggers (not magazine editors) using Lilumia and giving it a positive review would make me much more likely to buy it than photos of young women in sexy underwear. 

In any case, I personally like to "baby" my brushes, and since I have so many I don't necessarily have to wash them after each use – I just use a fresh brush.  And I honestly don't mind hand-washing my brushes, as I find it somewhat relaxing.  So I have no need for this machine.  I'd also be curious to see how it stacks up next to the Brush Pearl, which received a less-than-stellar review.

Are you interested in trying Lilumia?  How about a #sexyceo t-shirt?  😉

One thing I love to research is the history of old beauty gadgets.  Today though I'll be looking at some contemporary gizmos that are claiming to make our beauty rituals easier, faster, and yield better results. (And we might laugh at them years from now, the way I do when I see the likes of these contraptions.)

First up we have Sephora's Smart Liner, a liquid eye liner whose shape resembles that of a tape dispenser.

Sephora-smart-liner
(image from sephora.com)

The curved handle supposedly allows for a foolproof application – tempting for those of us, like me, who still haven't perfected a cat's eye.  "Right- or left-handed, beginner or expert, this eyeliner’s ergonomic and
innovative design makes perfection effortless and flawless."  I think it's funny that they mention it's good for both righties and lefties, as if regular eye liner pencils/brushes favor one hand or the other (they don't).

Next we have this decidedly dangerous-looking mascara from Avon, which I spotted in this month's issue of Allure.  Apparently the front-facing brush eliminates the "blind spot" one gets while using a regular mascara wand, which you apply sideways with your hand partially obstructing the view of your face.  (Click to enlarge.) 

Mascara.revolution

Other benefits of this newfangled wand include an easier grip, a lock on the applicator cap to keep the product from drying out, and a hinge that adjusts to 12 different angles, allowing you to get extra close to the lash line.  I admit I'm intrigued even though I hardly wear mascara (thanks Latisse!)

Speaking of lashes, I saw this recently released eyelash curler from Shu Uemura at Rouge Deluxe.  According to the blog author, this implement was 13 years in the making and had roughly 100 test designs, while the name comes from "the eight
key words that drove the project: small, spot, special, safe, simple,
side-bar free, sophisticated and shu uemura."  The eyelash curler has been around for a surprisingly long time and we've seen a few variations (heated, mini, etc.), but the S curler is innovative for its lack of a sidebar, i.e. the sides of a regular lash curler that limit the area along the lashline that you can actually curl. 

Shu-S-curler(image from shu-uemura.com.hk)

As you can see in the diagram, the lack of a sidebar means the curler will fit any eye shape, which is enticing for those who can't find an eyelash curler that doesn't pinch or neglect the outer lashes. 

Finally, Musings of a Muse alerted me to quirky line Pop Beauty's Buzzing Beauty Buffer, a vibrating sponge that's used to apply a foundation of your choosing.  You remember the vibrating mascara craze a few years ago (and Lancome actually released a vibrating foundation shortly thereafter, as did this brand) but I believe this is the first gadget that allows you to put in whatever foundation you want.

Pop-buzzing-beauty
(image from beauty.com)

I think this one is the least innovative of the bunch – it's basically an electric foundation sponge, which may not produce better results than using a sponge manually simply because it vibrates.  Then again, I thought the Clarisonic was a glorified electric toothbrush you use on your face, but soon realized how much better it cleans my skin.  Plus, the formulas of other vibrating foundations were what stopped me from trying them – I wasn't sure whether they'd work with my oily skin or if there would be a good color match.  With Pop's buffer I can use any one of the 10 or so foundations I have in rotation currently.

Are you game to try any of these?  Which one has the most promise in your opinion?  And is there any one (or more) that will be the object of great derision in years to come?

As someone who is endlessly fascinated with color and tries to find exact shades to match whatever I'm inspired by at the moment, this new app from China Glaze is pure genius.  Basically it allows you to take a picture and get a nail polish match for it instantly. 

My favorite examples of the app in action came from the cheeky writers at Jezebel, who took many an amusing picture to get a color match for things such as Plan B pills, Mitt Romney's tan, and a tabloid headline. 

China-glaze-app-jezebel
(image from jezebel.com)

I, of course, put the app to a more noble use:  matching the fur of one of my beloved Museum staff members.

Babo-china-glaze

Anyway, I think this is one of the greatest apps ever.  I don't use many apps because I tend to think most of them are useless, but I think every cosmetic company should offer this.  Just think of the possibilities…you could get a lipstick that perfectly matches your favorite coral t-shirt or a blush the exact same delicate rose of a Laduree macaron.  Plus it would be infinitely useful for foundation matching.  This is, of course, assuming the color matches that the app provides are totally accurate.

Maybe I'm just tired and delirious from my longest run to date this morning (16.25 miles!) but I am in love with this app.  What do you think?  It's free, so if you haven't tried it already give it a spin!

I was hoping to get the summer exhibition up today, but that didn't work out.  *grumble*  Instead I'm honoring the solstice and the longest day of the year with Stila's solar-powered compact.

Stila solar compact
(image from stilacosmetics.com)

Isn't this cool?  One side contains a matte powder and the other is a highlighter.  According to the description, the "solar panel lasts approximately five years and can be fully charged up to one thousand times."  Plus the compact is refillable and made from recycled material.  Talk about eco-friendly!

Enjoy all the delicious summer daylight!

Romi digital foundationMove over, airbrush and BB creams!  There's a new frontier in foundation technology and it's called Romi Digital Foundation. 

I spotted this newfangled contraption over at Beautylish last week, which the author describes as a cross between the egg-shaped Beauty Blender foundation sponge and a Clarisonic brush (for those of you not familiar with Clarisonic, it's an electric facial cleansing brush made by the same company that brought us Sonicare toothbrushes).  According to the product description at HSN, where you can purchase it for a mere $89.99, you simply load in the foundation cartridge and click it on to apply.  The device allegedly delivers 5,000 "pats" of foundation per minute, producing a flawless finish. 

I love both my Clarisonic and Beauty Blender, so if I had an extra 90 bucks sitting around I'd be all over this to see if it really delivered.  While I think it's an interesting idea, I'm not sure it'll replace the usual sponge/brush/fingers application so many people rely on during their daily makeup routine.  After all, airbrush foundation devices do give an nice even finish, but most women don't own them (in my experience, they hire a pro to apply airbrush foundations for special occasions, i.e., their wedding day).  So while the Romi Digital Foundation kit costs much less than an airbrush foundation dispenser (usually these run about $200-$300), I still don't think it'll be a staple for most people, especially since the foundation itself is only available in three shades.

Is this "digital foundation" the wave of the future or simply another gimmick?

Last week I wrote about the latest and greatest in foundations.  For part 2, this week I'm focusing on BB (beauty benefit) creams (also known just as beauty balms), which are, thus far, the biggest cosmetic trend of 2012.    But what exactly is a BB cream?   Basically it's a very lightweight foundation that also provides benefits for your skin, including moisturizers and sunscreen.  They don't all offer the same things though, as Fashionista points out:  "BB creams can do any or all of the following, depending on which one you choose: hydrate like a moisturizer; fight acne and aging like a specialized treatment; nourish like a serum; brighten like a toner; smooth skin texture like a primer; cover blemishes like a concealer; even out your skin tone like a sheer foundation; refine fine lines and wrinkles like an eye cream; add luminosity like a highlighter; and protect against UVA/UVB rays like a sunscreen."   Sounds great, right? 

The first BB cream was invented in the 50s by a German dermatologist who wanted something that would help heal her patients' skin and protect it from the sun after chemical peels but that also would hide redness.  These creams have been all the rage in Asia for years but only now have swept through North America.   Last year Sephora introduced Dr. Jart's BB cream (a bestseller in Korea) and MAC released a beauty balm, and this year we see even more BB creams from Estée Lauder, Clinique, Smashbox, Garnier and Stila. 

New skin 2

It's hard for me to believe one product can do all the things these claim to, plus I rather enjoy taking the time to apply my regimen of moisturizer, sunscreen, primer, and foundation.   However, if you're pressed for time or simply don't want to be bothered layering on various products, these BB creams could be perfect for you.  What do you think?   Have you tried or will you be trying out a BB cream?

It's been a REALLY long time since I discussed the latest technological advances in makeup, and with a spate of new foundations on the way I thought I'd round them up to see what makes them different.   Today's post will focus on foundations, which, mind you, are distinct from beauty balms/beauty benefit creams – those will form part 2 of the latest in face makeup technology.

As we know, the goal of foundation is to improve the look of the complexion – even out skin tone and hide imperfections and blemishes.   These new foundations, however, go further by promising not only to improve the overall appearance of your skin, but make you look noticeably younger by reducing the appearance of lines and wrinkles, while providing an invisible, second-skin finish. 

Now onto the products.  The second half of 2011 saw the release of Chanel's Perfection Lumière Foundation and Armani's Designer Lift foundations.  Perfection Lumière supposedly provides "seamless blendability for a naturally flawless effect", while Designer Lift claims that it "restores up to 10 years of luminosity, firms lines up to 87% and firms skin by 73% for 12 hours of lifting action. "

This year several new formulas have been or will be introduced:  Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation, Benefit Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Foundation, Sunday Riley Crème Radiance Breathable Ageless Foundation, Estée Lauder Invisible Fluid Foundation,  and NARS Pure Radiance Tinted Moisturizer.

New skin

While all of these foundations contain different ingredients and have varying amounts of coverage, they all tout anti-aging benefits and a finish that feels like your own skin.  According to Sephora, Hourglass Immaculate Liquid Powder Foundation has "clinical levels of two antiaging ingredients to create a youthful glow" and offers a "long-lasting, flawless finish".   There's also this notion of "breathable", of getting oxygen to the skin.  Sunday Riley's foundations – both the Crème Radiance and Liquid Light – even boast the word "breathable" in their names, while Benefit's Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow contains a "specially developed blend of vitamins, minerals and a peptide that allows skin to accept more oxygen, giving cells the energy to function at their best."  In turn, "oxygen helps stimulate cell metabolism and boosts cell turnover, promoting the appearance of healthy, youthful-looking skin".  And Estée Lauder Invisible Fluid Foundation actually contains air.

Some also include exotic ingredients.  The Hourglass foundation is infused with "Phytostem Edelweiss, an active derived from a rare Alpine plant, slows collagen degradation and reduces wrinkle depth by 15% after 20 days of use.  Lavandox, an ingredient extracted from Spanish lavender, reduces the appearance of wrinkles by 11% after 24 hours of application and inhibits muscle contractions that lead to the development of fine lines and wrinkles."   According to Barney's,  Sunday Riley Crème Radiance Foundation is a "powerhouse formula enhanced with radiance-boosting, redness-fighting probiotics, peptides, magnolia bark, and tonka bean."  NARS' new tinted moisturizers contain kopara, an ingredient from French Polynesia that is said to encourage skin cell renewal.

Clear skin is always in, but this piece in the January issue of Vogue explains the how and why behind cosmetics companies' rush to trot out high-tech foundations that promise flawless, younger-looking skin. 

Vogue article

"In this age of high definition, high resolution, and high expectations – where even the camera on the iPad can send a perfectly rational girl shrieking toward the dermatologist's office – out-of-this-world skin doesn't seem like an unreasonable wish."  I personally think it's both consumers and companies combined that make the demand for these new foundations.

Have you tried any of these newer foundations/are you planning to?  I'm intrigued by many of them but only if they're mattifying – the Hourglass Liquid Powder in particular sounds very promisng for my oily skin!

Volume-Fast-Perfect-mascara If vibrating mascaras were the big beauty tech breakthrough of 2008, spinning mascara wands are the 2011 version.  Bourjois Volume Fast and Perfect Mascara, which will be released in May, features a rotating wand that promises to coat each and every lash to give perfect volume and definition.  You can watch a video of how it works here.

 

(image from beautyandthedirt.com)

 

 

 

 

Diorshow360 Meanwhile, Dior introduced a spinning version of the ever popular DiorShow mascara, called DiorShow 360.  This product allegedly "mimics a makeup artist's application technique for a perfect 360-degree lash-styling effect…this mascara features a spinning brush that rotates in both directions to adapt to every need, whether you're left or right-handed or you want to pump up the upper or lower lashes." 

As with vibrating mascaras, I'm skeptical these would actually work better than a traditional non-moving wand.   Still, I think these have more validity than the vibrating ones – I think that the motion could in fact yield better results than a manual wand.  

I remember with the vibrating mascaras the mass fear of poking one's eyes out.   Does a rotating wand present the same threat?  Hard to say.    

 

 

(image from sephora.com)

 

Cosmetics Design has reported some interesting new developments in eco-friendly packaging and technology. 

  • Taxing new plastic to increase the use of recycled materials.  The cost of using "virgin" plastic is much lower than using recycled materials, so there's little financial incentive for cosmetic companies to use them.  However, if they were taxed companies might be more likely to use recycled plastic.

  • New bioplastic.  Mirel is a new kind of bioplastic superior to the older versions due to its increased resistance to heat and better processability.  This means that it functions as well as traditional plastic containers, but with a much smaller carbon footprint.

  • Dupont packaging award.  The article doesn't mention which company won the award, so I'm assuming this is a brand new development, but in any case I think it's great that a big company will recognize the use of sustainable packaging that doesn't negatively impact the look or protection of the product.