Beauty News: My Man, My Man, My Man!

Closing with a beauty recc and music 🎁

I always tell myself I won't expand on certain topics. Keep it short! Keep it cute! Yet, here I go 🙄

Interwebz

• Cardi B discusses war (genocide) in her bonnet.

• My man, my man, my man!

• THIS is my final form (solidarity with lipglossssssssss)

• What do you consider an anti-wellness beauty brand? Arabelle Sicardi wants to know.

• Community space SALON was included in "Our Women and Their Collections” for the New Balance 1998 30th Anniversary

Industry / Politics

• Relaxers: Here is what you need to know right now, at this moment, about the latest in reaction to the release of an NIH study that connects chemical hair straighteners to uterine cancer. The FDA plans to propose a rule that would ban products that contain formaldehyde¹ and formaldehyde-releasing chemicals. According to Reuters over 7,000 relaxer lawsuits have been consolidated in a Chicago federal court, following. In connection: L’Oréal, Revlon, and other companies mentioned in the lawsuit have tried to get the case of Jenny Mitchell dismissed, but this week, a judge said the lawsuit could move forward. 

  • Revlon and L’Oréal to Reuters: “We do not believe the science supports a link between chemical hair straighteners or relaxers and cancer,” Revlon said. L’Oreal added that it is committed to offering the best products “for all skin and hair types, all genders, all identities, all cultures, all ages” and that its hair relaxers have a “rich heritage and history” originating with Black inventors and entrepreneurs." // Just gonna say it, and I hope I’m clear: To throw the issue back on Black inventors in response to a reporter's questions about a study and lawsuits connected to your product and to then, in the same breath, also act as if you are following in the tradition of these formulators, is nasty work. The DEI/PR agency, executive, or consultant that helped L’Oréal craft that take should feel deeply uncomfortable about it. Where is your head?

  • Beauty conglomerates are sued all the time, but I’m interested to see how this one will turn out. Just so you know my status and can judge me as you see fit: I just applied a relaxer last night. Whenever I want a 90s, sleek, no-time-down pixie, I reach for creamy crack. 

• The FDA announced that it is postponing the first step in a series of changes that are coming under the Modernization of Cosmetics Regulation Act of 2022, or MoCRA: beauty brands will now have until June 24 to submit facility registration and product listing. Read more from Lexy Lebsack.

• Locked up, they won’t let me out: Sephora has removed all of its fragrances from the floor, aside from fragrance tester bottles.

Health + Wellness / STEM

• Flamingo expects to donate at least $1 million to Girl Scouts USA in a two-year partnership that will focus on building body confidence and self-esteem among girls. (P.S. - Love Flamingo’s shaving cream and I purchase it with my hard cold cash.)

• L’Oréal USA has announced the winners of it For Women in Science (FWIS) Fellowship program, one they’ve been running for 20 years now.

Sports

• LSU’s Angel Reese was absent from the team’s second game of the season with no clear answer. Read Lindsay Gibbs on why Reese deserves better (clue: her coach isn’t helping.) // Why is Angel Reese in this newsletter? Reese is a certified beauty culture girl, a Gen-Z image maker, and at the tip of conversations about women athletes and beauty – even before the Mielle Organics partnership. In 2021 I wrote about why athletes are the real beauty influencers; here is a more recent article about it because there have been big developments.

• NYX is now the official makeup sponsor of the New York Liberty.

World

• Avon is opening its first physical store in the UK (where it’s been headquartered since 2016) followed by South Africa and Brazil. Currently has 63 stores in Turkey. //  Not their demo, but not the point. Worthwhile update. 

• The classic probiotic beverage Yakult is opening its first café in Japan, which will feature a spa. “A beauty salon above the cafe will offer facials using cosmetics made with lactic acid bacteria..” // NICE… I love a cafe/spa situation, seems like my type of place.

#nowreading 

🚨 Offer 10% off my book Black Icons in Herstory: 50 Legendary Women. A great gift during the holiday season, especially for young ones! Code: HOLIDAY

• How Eyeliner Became A Symbol Of Political Resistance — Adele Walton

• Why Do Beauty Brands Post About Politics? — Jennifer Sullivan’s “Ask A Beauty Editor” Column

• Sorry, Environmentally-Friendly Glitter Just Doesn't Exist — Elizabeth Siegel

• The BoF Podcast: Re-Imagining Indian Beauty — Imran Amed

• Who Will Snap Up Beauty Assets on the Block? — Jennifer Weil, Kathryn Hopkin

• My Boyfriend Helped Me Take Out My Braids. We Both Learned A Lot. — L'Oréal Blackett

#nowlistening

I really write this newsletter so I want to tell you what I’m listening to.

Can’t Shut Us Down - Kitty Cash & PawPaw Rod

Listen to Studio Symoné’s playlists on Spotify. Follow Studio Symoné on Instagram.

#nowusing

Piú Mas Sleep Ritual Dry Oil ($39)

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ILY (maybe),

@darian

1. *Black women are the main users of cream relaxers in the U.S.. Cream-based lye and no-lye relaxers – the “hair relaxer” that’s being visually referenced most in articles - typically don’t, if at all, contain formaldehyde, which is the chemical the FDA wants to ban. Many other straightening treatments do, such as keratin treatments. I think images of all kinds are important to note as we continue to see the onus of this convo surrounding Black women’s use of relaxers. For example, articles on the FDA formaldehyde ban proposal show Black women having cream relaxers applied. The media is going to do what they do. I’m telling you to stay vigilant.