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The Beauty Industry Stands With, And For, The Black Community

We continue to see black owned businesses gaining more and more support, as they should, and the beauty industry is definitely involved.

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We continue to see black owned businesses gaining more and more support, as they should, and the beauty industry is definitely involved. Sephora and Estée Lauder are, in particular, paying a great tribute to the BLM movement. In a time of such drastic change, it’s amazing to see our favorite brands standing up for equality in all forms.

Sephora is partaking in Aurora James’ 15% Pledge which allows their shelves to hold 15% of stock from black owned businesses. Actually, Sephora plans to dedicate at least 15% of their shelves, which not only brings in a bigger market, but shows how much they value equality. Seeing the necessary steps being taken from a major beauty platform will hopefully inspire smaller beauty companies to build off this Pledge as well.

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Estée Lauder is also contributing to the Black Lives Matter movement. They are planning to have complete equality for all black employees, at each level of employment, regarding salaries over the next 5 years. They are also in search of black owned factories as well as increasing their donations to the black community from $1 million to $10 million. These statements were publicized after an internal petition was being sent over, so the companies Board decided to help the cause. It’s definitely a little concerning that the company only took a stand after the petition was in act, but at least they got their head in gear and are helping the cause!

The beauty industry is definitely diversifying their brands, and they have, in the past, diversified their shades to include all forms of skin color. As we continue to fight for equality, for all colors, I hope to see not only the beauty industry, but all industries show their support for Black Lives Matter. The BLM movement is far from over, and I hope the inclusivity of all colors continues.

Photo Credits:

https://www.instagram.com/p/CBQyEN5ljJg/

https://www.instagram.com/p/CA3mlcxFADP/

Report: Kaitlin Gallagher

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Summer Skin Routine

As we are soaking up the summer sun, we must not forget to take care of our skin. Keeping it hydrated and glowing is the key to stay looking young. With just a few of these products or even ones of your own choice, follow this skin care routine order. You won’t be disappointed and your skin won’t be either

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Everyone wants to have beautiful, luscious skin as they grow older. In order to do that we need to ensure we take care of our skin every single day. Especially during summer when it's easy for our skin to get dry, we must make sure it stays fresh and hydrated. Here are some products that can help with your daily skin routine.

Facial Wash- Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser

$9.59 at Target

This product is one that people have been using for years and customers love. We all have different skin types, some dry or oily. But this is one product that works great for all skin types and cleans off dirt, oils and make up really well while leaving your skin healthy.

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Exfoliant- St. Ives Apricot Scrub

$4.49 at Target

Next up, exfoliants. It is super important to exfoliate your skin at least 1-2 times a week after you use your facial wash. One product that works great and is inexpensive is the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. It's great for sensitive skin, washes off easily and leaves your skin feeling soft and refreshed.

Facial Jade Roller

$30.00 at Sephora

Face rollers help elevate your beauty routine and leave your skin looking bright and young. It’s best to keep your roller in the freezer and use a facial serum to help it absorb into your skin better. The gentle pressure this roller provides helps leave your facial muscles more relaxed and will de-puff and sooth your skin.

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Face Serum- Glossier Super Glow

$28.00 at Glossier.

This face serum holds Vitamin C and Magnesium which visibility energies your skin leaving it with a beautiful glow. The serum isn't sticky and absorbs in your skin quite nicely. Using this product with a cold face jade roller will leave your skin glowing in just a matter of days. Plus, it's great for all skin types!

Moisturizer/Sunscreen- Laura Mercier Tinted Moisturizer

$46.00 at Sephora This is the perfect summer product. This tinted moisturizer also includes SPF protectant and make up all in one product. We love that! They also sell oil free which is great for people with more sensitive skin. This will leave your face protected, smooth and beautiful.

Lastly, don't forget to use facial sprays throughout the day. A great one to use is the Mario Badescu facial spray. The aloe, cucumber and green tea facial spray is great for summer. Aloe refreshes your skin after a day out in the sun. The green tea provides antioxidant benefits, while the cucumber replenishes and revitalizes your skin.

Summer is fun and all, but we can’t forget to give our skin the proper TLC it deserves after soaking up in the sun!

Photo Credits: Sephora, Target & Glossier.

Report: Melissa Adragna (@melissa_adragna)

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Use Sephora Points to Donate to George Floyd

There are many things you can do to fight with us, speak up for what is right and peacefully protest, educate others, make donations, and sign petitions.

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Derek Chauvin, the officer who murdered Mr. Floyd by kneeling on his neck as he begged for his life, has been charged with second degree murder. The video shows officers taking an unlawful approach that violated the protocol of Minneapolis Police Department, leaving him unable to breathe. The majority of protests over the past week have remained peaceful, with some progressing into rioting, leading to curfews being enforced in major cities.

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George was human just like you and me. His life was taken from him too quickly and we must fight not just for our country, but for him. We must not remain silent, for remaining silent is the language of the oppressor. We must have conversations even when it may be tough, and stand up for what we believe in. Our broken hearts must show us that there is still an absurd amount of change we need to make within our country. If our government won’t give us change, then we must fight for it. We out number the leaders of our country, and we must stand up for George Floyd’s life and fight for justice.

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Martin Luther King Jr. once said “A man dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A man dies when he refuses to stand up for justice. A man dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true”. There are many things you can do to fight with us, speak up for what is right and peacefully protest, educate others, make donations, and sign petitions. It’s all really that simple! One easy way you can donate is by using Sephora points. Us women rack up Sephora points fast, and you can actually use your points to make a donation. We must show them that we are one, we are all human no matter what color our skin is. They don’t want to see us smiling together as one. They don’t want to see us stand together, thus we must stand as one and change the world. It’s one love until we die!

Report: Emily Andrews

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Good News Beauty Gurus...Sephora is Reopening!

Beauty lovers it is now your time to shine because Sephora is officially opening up its stores!

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Finally, some positive news! Beauty lovers it is now your time to shine because Sephora is officially opening up its stores! Let’s discuss the info that really matters…the who, the when, and the where!

First up: The Who. Sephora is officially beginning its reopening phases since they were forced to shut down in mid-March due to the coronavirus pandemic. It’s been a long 3 months for beauty gurus, and I’m happy to share that we’re starting to see some form of normalcy! As states begin to get their groove back, Sephora is working on it too!

Next Up: The When. 70 stores will be reopening as of Friday May 22, 2020. New and improved safety procedures are being instilled into every Sephora. The, “Sephora Health and Hygiene Guidelines”, include almost fifty safety procedures as well as proper training for its employees. It may not be the average Sephora you were so used to before, but just remember, your safety is their highest priority! Line coordinators will be on guard, no testers allowed, social distance required, and a customer capacity will all be put into place for re-openings.

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Lastly: The Where. States that are included in the first stage of reopening include: Colorado, Indiana, Idaho, Mississippi, Kansas, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Georgia, Alaska, Arkansas, and Alabama. Don’t see your state? This is only the first step in reopening, so more states are sure to pop up in the future.

Sephora is keeping up with the daily heath procedures to ensure every persons safety. Deep cleaning throughout the store will take place every day. All customers and employees are required to wear face masks, and their employees will even have their temperature tested during their shifts. Hopefully I’ll be sharing more info on even more store openings soon!

Photo Credits:

https://community.sephora.com/t5/Customer-Support/As-we-start-to-reopen-some-stores-we-want-to-share-what-we-re/td-p/5369029

Report: Kaitlin Gallagher

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The Beauty Industry After CoVID-19

Despite the growing convenience of online shopping, consumers still prefer to try before they buy when it comes to their makeup. Yet, retail beauty is on an indefinite hiatus, with stores like Sephora and Ulta closed for the shelter-in-place period.

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There’s no amount of internet research on undertones, swatches, or ingredients that can compare to just trying a foundation on your face. The same can be said for serums, or eyeliner, or lipstick; there’s just an unmatched security in test-driving a product before you buy it. You can see for yourself whether the shade suits you, how it wears throughout the day, and how it reacts with your skin, all before committing to the purchase! This is one of the greatest allures of brick-and-mortar cosmetics.

For the average makeup consumer, places like Sephora are the easiest way to try a multitude of products at once. In fact, e-commerce contributes to 15% of all US retail in 2008 but only accounts for 5% in the health and beauty sector. Despite the growing convenience of online shopping, consumers still prefer to try before they buy when it comes to their makeup. Yet, retail beauty is on an indefinite hiatus, with stores like Sephora and Ulta closed for the shelter-in-place period. Launches have been delayed, with data showing that customers are simply not interested in new products right now. Brands with e-commerce infrastructures have quickly announced sales and free shipping, and social media has become even more pivotal to marketing makeup. As non-essential businesses reopen, the hygiene concerns of beauty retail mean that the industry may recover much slower than other retail sectors.

CoVID-19 will catalyze a rapid shift to digital services and technology in the beauty industry. Currently, the industry is rapidly adapting to remote work, with service providers like hair stylists and makeup artists offering online classes and consultations in lieu of direct contact. Artificial intelligence and augmented reality will also continue to play a huge role. Sephora’s Virtual Artist is an app feature that leverages AI and AR to allow shoppers to try on products with surprising accuracy from the comfort of their home. Combined with other features that help you through your skin type or style, Sephora has done a phenomenal job of approximating their retail experience online and sets an example for how the rest of beauty retail will adapt. Although these virtual services aren’t quite the same as hitting up your local Sephora, it can come pretty close.

Report: Emily Hui


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5 Beauty Brands Helping People During the Coronavirus Pandemic

With the coronavirus going around and putting people’s lives at risk, beauty brands are taking the initiative to give back to people in need during the pandemic.

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With the coronavirus going around and putting people’s lives at risk, beauty brands are taking the initiative to give back to people in need during the pandemic. For the next 30 days, clean skincare brand Farmacy would be donating 10,000 meals a day to Feeding America, the nation's largest hunger relief organization. With a shortage of surgical masks in hospitals and urgent care clinics, The Crème Shop pledged to donate N95 masks to customer and hospitals running low on supplies. LVMH, which owns Dior, Fenty, and Sephora would be using their perfume factories to produce hand sanitizer. It would then be distributed to French health services and hospitals for free. The French beauty brand, L’Occitane announced that they would send their hand creams to hospital to help with dryness caused by constant cleaning for nurses and doctors. L’Oréal announced their initiative early last week. Their initiative includes using their factories to produce hand sanitizer and distributing it to the authorities. Their skincare brand, La Roche Posay will be providing hand sanitizers to partner French pharmacies, hospitals and care homes. While their haircare brand, Garnier will be supplying free hand sanitizer to European food distribution customers to help protect their employees and customers from the virus. They will also be donating 1 million euros to their non-profit partner organization, which will work to offer essential hygiene kits to social workers, volunteers and beneficiaries.

Report: Amanda Lou


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