tarte cosmetics is celebrating a landmark anniversary this year. The company, whose mottos is “High-Performance Naturals,” something we at Beauty News know the brand lives up to, has been making women beautiful for the past decade and is commemorating the occasion with10th anniversary products such as their revolutionary Ten Natural Cheek Stain (baby pink) and a shadow palette in a purple and gold clutch-style case, packed with shimmery and matte eye shadows in metallic and jeweled tones, perfect for Fall. We felt it was the perfect time to sit down with founder and CEO (and former PhD candidate) Maureen Kelly of tarte to discuss the company and to give us a 360 view of the company then, the company now and the company tomorrow.
BN: Happy Anniversary! In 10 years, what is your number one accomplishment with Tarte?
MK: Thanks so much. I still can’t believe that we’re TEN! It’s hard to pick one accomplishment—there are so many that have truly made me happy over the years. For instance, the first time I saw a stranger pull a tarte lip gloss out of her bag—that a meant a lot to me; women were actually buying my products! tarte was real and no longer just a dream for me. Or, the first time I saw tarte products in a magazine, especially making Oprah’s coveted “O List.” What a rush!
BN: What is the product you’ve created that you are most proud of?
MK: Honestly, I take pride in every tarte product that we’ve created, but I guess I would have to say our first-to-market natural cheek stain! I launched that in 2000 and there was really no other blush out there like it. I created it for me.
BN: Any advice for businesswomen looking to form their own cosmetic companies?
I always encourage women to do what they love; follow your passion, but do so with caution. Be sure you’re creating something innovative or offering unique services that make a woman’s life easier. And always do your homework: research the market; know that industry and potential competitors. Whenever I meet entrepreneurs, I remind them to keep networking. You never know who you’re going to meet that can help you and make your dream a reality.
Social networking is all the rage and really, why shouldn’t it be? It’s fast. It connects you. It’s concise. It’s efficient. In honor of the Twitter’s 140-character message capacity and parameters and because we know you’re a makeup maven on the go with limited free time, we are presenting our Fall 2010 Beauty Guide, with 140-200 words of why these products need to be in your makeup bag once the weather cools, the days get shorter and your palette of colors gets darker. It was a challenge to keep things to a minimum, especially when this Fall’s color trends of plums, bronzes and charcoals make for lots of discussion and “oohing” and “aahing!”
Editor’s Note: I admit, I failed miserably when it came to Marchesa for Le Métier de Beauté. The line is too luxe and too perfect not to gush over. Oh the perils of Beauty Editorship! Wink-wink.
Marchesa for Le Métier de Beauté: Pure luxury, with no detail left unfinished, is the Marchesa mantra, according to co-founder/designer Georgina Chapman. The design house philosophy applies to their makeup collection. Sleek packaging inspired by Sandra Bullock’s Oscar gown meets divine formulations. I worship the credit-card sized, Chapman-designed La Lune Palette for femme smoky, smoldering eyes favored by chill-battling New Yorkers. Translucent pressed powder, concealer, lip ploss in La Cerise Noir, crème blush in La Peche and eye shadow in Le Minuit comprise the compact. Meanwhile, her partner Keren Craig’s Le Soleil palette is softer and warmer, suited for the sun-kissed So-Cal gal. It houses bronzer, concealer, lip gloss in Le Caramel, crème blush in La Rougeur and eye shadow in Le Fauve. The Double Entendre lip gloss duos are perfect for customizing supple pouts. My go to? L’embrasse/Le Passion, which unites shimmery chocolate and bronze. It’s pure gloss chemistry. The Sheer Illumination Highlighter is a click pen with a sheer golden shade usable day or night, on bare skin or with makeup. I like a touch under my eyes and dabbed on my cupid’s bow. Oh, Marchesa. I melt at your versatility.
That was more than 140 words, but this collection is too beautiful to contain.
Dior Logomania Collector’s Edition 2-Colour Eye Shadow in Silver Screen: You probably heard me gasp through your computer speakers. This shadow duo pairs shimmery silvery and sparkly black for dramatic, night time, old Hollywood eyes. The shades are stamped with the house’s Dior “Logomania” design. Dior’s Fall range pledges its allegiance to mauves and charcoals. Charcoal: It’s the new black for Fall 2010. Know it. Live it. Use it.
Babor products are absolutely divine and they were designed by makeup professionals, with your face shape in mind in so you can play up your features accordingly. Housed in gorgeously lavish and refillable gold cases, the eye shadows offer stay-all-day color, namely Plum and Matte Clay, which allow you to achieve the still-hot-this-season purple smoky eye. The halo of color is absolutely stunning. The Ultra Shine Lip Gloss in Cinderella boasts iridescent, prismatic shine, and I recommend this highly for those days when you only have time to gloss and go. It lights up your whole entire face beautifully.
Available at http://www.babor.com.
Josie Maran is a favorite brand among BN editors, especially me. The model’s GOGO (Get One Give One) Natural Volume Argan Mascara is one of the most glossifying and volumizing mascaras on the market; it’ll create black-as-midnight, dewy eye fringe with its compact brush. It’s uber cute, too, with hearts drawn on the wand. Even better, for every tube sold, Maran will donate a mascara to City of Hope cancer patients and survivors.
Available at Sephora locations or http://www.sephora.com.
If you desire an angelic whisper of pink color on your cheeks and one that you can also apply to your lips, I suggest Becca Lip & Cheek Crème. It’s dewy and soft and you’ve never looked so pretty in pink during the transition from Summer to Fall; it looks breathtaking on bronzed goddesses as well as those of us with porcelain complexions. Swipe on your apples and dab a touch on the center of your lips, right under your cupid’s bow, for barely there glow. Petal and Tuberose are my faves.
Available at http://www.beccacosmetics.com.
British fashion house Burberry is going big with its makeup line, which boasts 96 products, all of which are reportedly inspired by the brand’s iconic trench coat. So basically, that means that the products will be classic and go with everything. There are natural neutral and stormy grays and blues, and products that will enhance your glow after the storm passes. The lipstick bullets are stamped with the iconic Burberry trademark logo.
Available at Nordstrom or http://www.nordstrom.com.
It takes a lot for me to try a new concealer, since I am in total lust with my LaMer cream-to-powder concealer that I tap on with my finger tips over blemishes and discoloration, and spread with the pads of my well-mani’ed digits. The texture is divine so I was in no rush to test something new. Until Gerda Spillmann’s Bio-Fond Cream Make-Up landed on my desk. No wonder Hollywood stars praise the product; it’s creamy and whisper light and dries to a smooth powder finish, so it’s summer ready. My skin breathes and is a flawless canvas.
Available at http://www.gerdaspillmann.com.
While racking up tons of frequent flyer miles is a terrific perk of travelling, the recirculated air, the cramped quarters and dry climate inside of an airplane doesn’t do much wonders for your tired, overwrought skin. That’s why I absolutely adore Make Up Forever’s HD Complexion Travel Kit, and not just because it comes in FAA-approved sizes. The three-piece set is all you need to wake up your face after a transoceanic flight. HD Elixir is part skin care, part makeup. Smooth the airy gel on the bare face and it’ll boost moisture levels. HD Primer offers a layer of protection on skin’s surface and the light-refracting bead offer a bit of soft focus sheen. HD Microfinish Powder completes the easy process, minimizing shine and further softening the focus of that lens called the eye of whoever is staring at your beauty! Now, get packing.
Available at Sephora locations and http://www.sephora.com.
Why is Dad always such a question mark when it comes to gift giving? Either he insists he doesn’t want a thing, already has everything or is impossibly picky. This year, make it easy on both of you and go the practical route…
Give Dad the gift of golf this year. Ojai Valley Inn & Spa is offering some specially-priced packages for Father’s Day this year. Get him a one-hour golf lesson with a PGA Golf Pro, a round of golf for two in 2010, or the Ojai Ultimate Father’s Day Package – including five rounds of golf, an hour lesson with a PGA pro, club fitting session and product-filled resort gift bag.
The gorgeous 18-hole course plays 6,292 yards with a par 70, rating of 71.0 and a slope of 132.
PERSONAL NOTE: This writer would rather watch paint dry than play a round of golf, but this course is so stunning that I’ve been tempted to pick up a club on more than one visit. (Of course, I resisted temptation and continued on my way to find bliss at the resort’s spa…but that’s not the point.)
Ojai Valley Inn & Spa
Golf Shop
805.646.2420
http://www.ojairesort.com/golf.php
Pick Dad up a gift certificate for a hot shave at The Brighton Shave Co. Complete with hot towels and the finest in men’s skincare products, he’ll appreciate the old-school gentleman’s barbershop-style treatment.
BONUS: Tell them “BeautyNewsLA” referred you and you’ll receive a $25.00 credit toward any gift certificate you purchase for a treatment.
The Brighton Shave Co.
9635 Brighton Way
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
310.623.2284
http://thebrightonshave.com