positive beauty

J-Wellness: Shiseido launches Baum



Baum Shiseido J-wellness J-beauty

The Olympics is on pause and Tokyo is at risk of a lockdown, but Shiseido is hoping to lift the spirits with its new J-wellness brand, Baum.

A beautiful ageless and genderless line of high end skincare and wellness products, the 45-item line include make-up removers, cleansers, hand creams, a ‘face massage mask’ and room fragrances inspired by forest bathing and the ‘power of the trees’. (more…)



For the new caring consumer: Hiki and Arfa



Hiki body care sweat set

Pity any new brand launching right now.

I just received a box of Beauty Pie samples (there are new additions* to the Japanfusion line), extolling its new pop-up at Harvey Nichols, which obviously won’t be experienced now for a while.

But worse is Arfa, a US-based direct-to-consumer holding company, whose first brand is Hiki, a bold bodycare line for ‘everyday sweat needs’ (read: deodorant).

Three things of interest here. Acknowledging the mood of the moment, Hiki decided to give its products for free to hospital and medical workers (they just have to pay for part of the shipping), and to everyone else in exchange for a compassionate message on social to reinforce its brand value of ‘kindness’. It’s a way to make the best of a bad situation and bake that situation into its narrative of body care. (more…)



At LVMH, all hands on deck turning scent into sanitiser



LVMH hand sanitiser by Financial Times

I love this feelgood story on how LVMH (granted, France’s biggest company) leapt into action switching its perfume factory into a hand sanitiser production facility during the coronavirus crisis. In a couple of days, the hand sanitisers were available to start distributing to 39 hospitals in Paris (with more to come).

How? It’s all down to quick decision making at the top, plus common business sense. (more…)



Buy it now: Westman Atelier Lip Suede is here (updated)



Westman Atelier Lip Suede Deep Red

An update for my American followers Westman Atelier fans. Westman Atelier’s Lip Suede compact has landed; a beautiful lacquered clamshell filled with stripes of peptide-rich and marula oil-infused lip colour. It’s priced at $85, €91 or £78 and is available on the Westman Atelier website here. There’s a brush to come at the end of the month.

UPDATE: It’s now arrived in Europe – at Net-a-Porter HERE* or Niche Beauty HERE*. Net-a-Porter is also selling this ‘Shanghai Edition Box duo of the Lip Suede compact with the Eye Love You mascara* HERE.

I know from my stats that you love Gucci Westman’s other products, so I’m expecting these to be a hit. Original story here. Gucci’s red lip masterclass – here – is excellent too. (more…)