L’OREAL PARIS TO CLOSE STORES: L’Oréal Paris is planning on closing its two stores on Saturday. The stores, located in Beverly Center in Los Angeles and Westfarms mall in Farmington, Conn., were often referred to as Living Labs given their insight to customer shopping habits, merchandising and marketing issues. In response to the closings, the French beauty giant said in a statement it is now “exploring new alternative venues to reach consumers.” The news of the closings, which was first reported by drugstorenews.com, follows a host of changes at L’Oréal, most recent of which includes a new president at its North American operation, Frederic Roze. Business at L’Oréal’s two Lancôme stores appear to be operating as usual.
SHISEIDO MOVES: Shiseido Cosmetics America Ltd. has promoted two executives within its sales department. Susan Albino, who was most recently executive director of sales for the Northeast region, has been named vice president of sales for Shiseido Cosmetics America, the firm stated, adding that she will oversee sales for the Shiseido and Clé de Peau Beauté brands. Albino, a 30-year veteran of the beauty industry, will report to Heidi Manheimer, chief executive officer of Shiseido Cosmetics America. Additionally, Grace Ginn, who has been with Shiseido for 20 years, has been promoted to area vice president of sales for the West Coast, reporting to Albino.
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REVLON CHANGES: Revlon Inc. has broadened the role of Alan T. Ennis, the company’s executive vice president and chief financial officer. The beauty firm’s board has elected Ennis as a director of the company and president of Revlon International, a business that he oversaw in 2008 in addition to his cfo duties. The changes will become effective Saturday. Ennis joined Revlon in March 2005 as senior vice president, internal audit, and assumed the role of executive vice president, cfo, in November 2006. Revlon chief executive officer David Kennedy stated, “Alan has demonstrated strong leadership skills and excellent strategic capabilities, and I am confident that he will continue to lead our strong finance organization and that our international business will continue to grow profitably under Alan’s leadership.” Prior to taking over the helm, Kennedy held both the role of cfo and president of Revlon International. Revlon chairman Ronald O. Perelman stated, “Alan has provided valuable, strategic input to Revlon, and will continue to benefit our board and the company.”
PRIME TIME: Shu Uemura is launching a new range, Prime Plenish, one that focuses on time weakened hair. Targeting women 45 years and older, Prime Plenish addresses hair density, shine, softness and a healthy scalp. Products use jasmine essential oil to promote hair strength, emollient lipids for shine, AHA’s to reinforce hair’s fiber and a Scalp Respect Complex to calm irritated scalps. Plenish includes a shampoo, conditioner and treatment, retailing for $40, $50 and $60, respectively. Naturally, an in-salon Plenish treatment follows a strict ritual, as do all of the Shu Uemura Art of Hair platforms.
POST-SURGERY LINE: Some skin creams claim to deliver a facelift in a bottle, but German brand Babor’s newest product line is designed to soothe one’s skin before and after cosmetic surgery. Doctor Babor Biogen Cellular, as the new line is called, was developed with German cosmetic surgeon Michael König. While intended for plastic surgery patients, the company also recommends Biogen Cellular for burn care and post-pregnancy skin issues due to its purported regenerative properties. The line includes a gentle cleanser, a repair cream and repair gel, a serum, a mask, and a body cream said to reduce stretch marks, at price points ranging from 29 euros, or $39.98 at current exchange, for the cleanser, to 115 euros, or $146.64. For those not ready to go under the knife, Babor is also launching the Doctor Babor Derma Cellular, which targets blemishes, undereye bags and wrinkles, and offers up an alternative to one of the most popular of out-patient procedures, the Botox injection. Both lines are set to launch March.
ZENO POWERS UP: Zeno Corp., maker of its namesake handheld zit-zapping device, has expanded its management team, adding an advisory board. Zeno also has recruited Andrea DiNunzio as the firm’s senior vice president of global marketing. She replaces Lee Stranathan, who has been named Zeno’s senior vice president and president of international business. DiNunzio’s 12 years of beauty marketing experience include her most recent post at Laura Mercier, where she served as chief marketing officer, and marketing roles at L’Oréal, Avon and Johnson & Johnson’s Neutrogena brand. DiNunzio will report to Walter Klemp, Zeno’s president and chief executive officer. The company also has formed the Zeno Brand Advisory Board, and members include Melisse Shaban and Jill Scalamandre, both of Chrysallis, a portfolio company of private equity firm Catterton Partners. At Chrysallis, both Shaban and Scalamandre are credited for leading strategic growth of the salon brand Frédéric Fekkai and its recent sale to Procter & Gamble Co. In July, Zeno closed a $28 million round of equity financing led by Catterton Partners and Santé Ventures, and joined by existing investor Austin Ventures, to support distribution expansion and new product introductions.
IN-FLIGHT BEAUTY: Hong Kong-based airline Dragonair is offering its long-haul Business Class passengers new amenity kits designed by French fashion house agnès b. The kits, which will be offered on the airline’s Bengaluru, Dhaka and Kathmandu services, include a range of skin care products from Dermalogica. The women’s kit comes in a bag featuring agnès b.’s signature star-print design in baby blue, while the black men’s double-zip pouch is embossed with the brand’s lizard logo. The female amenity kit contains Dermalogica’s Anti-Oxidant Hydramist, Dynamic Skin Recovery; male passengers receive Dermalogica’s Post Shave Balm and Daily Defense Block. Both kits also contain Renewal Lip Complex, an agnès b. toothbrush and other items.