
33 Little Products That Will Add Some Big Summer Relief
A coconut-scented, ridiculously cooling after-sun body lotion to rehydrate and replenish your skin after long days in the sun or soaking up the drying chlorine of the pool. The whipped texture and delightful scent will have you feeling like a whole dessert 😋.
A two-in-one nausea relief inhaler designed to work FAST on spontaneous nausea, motion sickness, morning sickness, and general queasiness (having a human body is hard). You can either use it as a scent inhaler or rub it directly on the tip of your nose for relief. Summer road trips and cruises just got a HECK of a lot more bearable.
A set of DEET-free handy mosquito-repelling bracelets for the ultimate in genius summer investments — these use essential oils, including citronella, to help stop those teensy vampires in their tracks.
And if it's entirely too late for that, a delightful little tool called the "Bug Bite Thing" — it suctions on all kinds of bug bites to reduce swelling, itchiness, and redness, so you don't spend half your summer itching your appendages.
A travel-friendly SPF 50 Airy Sunstick Smoothing Bar, a K-beauty staple with a curved balm stick style that makes it super easy to apply, and a nonsticky, white cast–free formula that plays ABSURDLY well with makeup. If you're looking for a lightweight "soft matte" sunscreen to protect your skin, this is your new BFF.
And Hawaiian Tropic's SPF 30 Mineral Powder Sunscreen Brush, aka your scalp's BFF this summer — reviewers don't just swear by this for face coverage and a protective setting powder, but for protecting their hairline without their hair getting goopy from sunscreen scalp sprays or regular sunscreen lotion. Bonus — this is a heck of a lot cheaper than its competitors, like the $35 Supergoop and $36 Brush On Block!
And if it's a little too late ... a handy as heck Burt's Bees sunburn soother you'll want to stock up on before you need it most! It's made with aloe and coconut oil to hydrate skin and gently relieve pain from the sun's unforgiving rays within just a few hours.
First Aid Beauty Ingrown Hair Pads to use after you shave to help prevent the infection of ingrown hairs, so you don't have to spend hours psyching yourself up to shave, knowing that you're gonna be dodging a bazillion sensitive spots on your skin.
A delightfully affordable instant foot peeling spray for anyone ready to go full YEEHAW!! on a pedicure, without the big salon price tag. This not only helps gently remove dead skin, but moisturizes dry and cracked heels, so you'll really get some refreshing bang for your buck.
A set of reviewer-beloved "Loops Engage 2," a meticulously designed ear plug that blocks out overwhelming noise without completely blocking out the world around you — meaning you can wear them to summer concerts, festivals, and other noisy outdoor events and still enjoy them without your brain rattling.
Biofreeze's new Dry Stick for "portable pain relief" that won't melt or get goopy in the summer heat — this mess-free, cooling solution for aches and pains all over your human body, whether it's your neck, shoulders, knees, hands, or many numerous joints. Its targeted menthol relief also works *fast* and is delightfully travel-friendly, unlike competing menthol creams.
Olay Super Serum Body Wash that will make anyone with dry summer skin REJOICE — this is packed with niacinamide, shea butter, and collagen peptides for 24-hour hydration that will make you feel as ~luminous~ as the sunshine. (Psst — this is the body wash version of their TikTok-famous, super effective facial Super Serum, so you KNOW they mean business.)
And Olay's Firming Body Lotion full of collagen peptides and a Vitamin B3 complex for *ultra* hydrating relief that's also designed to visibly plump, firm, and moisturize your skin — all at a fraction of the price of other firming lotions, like the internet's beloved $48 Elasti-Cream.
A pair of lightweight, entirely waterproof cloud pillow sandals for anyone whose feet are pretty little princesses who need to be pampered at all times. These are near weightless, but have a cushioned, thick sole that absorbs impact on hard floors and surfaces. Reviewers with arthritis and plantar fasciitis also swear by these for alleviating foot pain!
A pack of unscented SweatBlock wipes that work for up to *seven days* after application — perfect for those of us whose underarms are a little, uh, enthusiastic, to say the least. Reviewers especially swear by this for events that might bring on nervous sweating!
A set of popular, ridiculously affordable wickaway sweatbands for a quick fix to stop the sweat from stinging your eyes (or worse, from leaking sunscreen into your eyes).
A pair of sweatproof "floating" air conduction headphones designed to stay put by settling just over your ear instead of inside it — basically all the convenience and privacy of earbuds, without the discomfort of physically putting them in your ears. It picks up calls just as well as any other pair, and is designed so the sound isn't audible to anyone else!
A reusable, family-friendly sand eraser to *instantly* remove sand from your skin with a quick swipe so you don't feel like an itchy mermonster in the car all the way home.
A deliciously soothing, super gentle Briotech spray reviewers compare to the pricier Tower 28 SOS Spray. It's similarly designed with hypochlorous acid, which targets bacteria that causes acne, skin irritation, and blemishes *without* drying your skin. Reviewers swear by this handy little spray for helping not just with acne, but rosacea, eczema, dryness, dermatitis (scalp included!), and even toenail fungus.
A truly talented cooling towel you can use to prevent yourself from overheating — all you have to do is wet this to make it deliciously chilly for your neck or head. Once it warms up, you can wet it again to instantly get back the chill!
A set of satin pillowcases that not only have a cooling effect, but are soft on your skin and create less friction for your hair so it won't get as tangled while you sleep. Reviewers especially love these because they're an affordable alternative to ones that typically run $18 per case!
A cute lil' insect catcher you can set in a plant or near your fruit bowl or compost to deal with any unwanted fluttering guests. These odorless sticky traps are designed to work indoors and outdoors and will stop fruit flies, gnats, mosquitoes, and more — without the high price tag of the electronic or liquid versions.
A super lightweight, UPF protective travel umbrella for anyone who wants a durable, no frills option for rain and sun protection that they're not going to cry about if they forget it in a random Starbucks (don't look at meeeee).
A whisper-quiet WiFi-enabled smart air circulator fan you can control via app, Google Home, Alexa, or remote to keep yourself feeling easy breezy all summer long. Just ask the cast members of The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, which is how this luxe little gizmo got on some happy reviewers' radars!
And a 360-degree portable neck fan that puts all the other versions of it to shame — this one is designed with a comfier nonslip silicone neck grip and bladeless fans, so you don't have to worry about your hair getting caught in them.
Plus a six-pack of ultra quiet mini cell phone fans so the whole squad can comfortably cool off when you're spending long days in stadiums, festivals, or just at that one dive bar you all love that seems to be allergic to the words "air conditioning."
A fully adjustable portable backyard mister that coils itself like a lil' snake so you can aim it wherever you please, whether you're wrapping it around a railing, a chair, or propping it up next to yourself on a blanket. It may be teensy, but it will cool the area off by 20 degrees! This is the only pet snake situation I will be endorsing this summer, thank you very much.
A pair of popular quick-dry water shoes to keep your feet from burning or getting beaten up all summer — reviewers love these for everything from walking on rockier beaches to kayaking to washing their cars. They're flexible and comfy like a sock, but protective against nefarious objects like sharp rocks and stray Legos.
A set of seamless, delightfully absorbent cotton and bamboo liners, because even when you can take the heat, sometimes your boobs simply CANNOT. Now they can sweat in peace without you worrying about sweat stains on your favorite blouse.
A 360-degree rotatable electric car fan for the backseat that's handy whether or not your car has a functional AC — if you live in an area where your car scorches in the summer, you know full well that you'll take ANY KIND OF AIR YOU CAN GET. Parents especially swear by this to keep kiddos in rear-facing car seats cool!
A set of cult-favorite, absurdly affordable moisture-wicking exercise socks to spare you both from blisters and the ridiculous price of socks from name brands.
Plus a pack of Dr. Frederick's Original Better Blister Bandages, aka the blister whisperers — if you're someone who tends to get blisters when your feet sweat, you'll want to invest in these. These waterproof bandages don't just protect blisters, but are designed to actively help heal them (and significantly reduce the pain from friction!).
And last but certainly not least — a teensy undetectable laptop mouse jiggler you can slide into the USB to keep your computer active on Teams, Slack, and all those other various technological overlords that keep track of you so you can take some moments to yourself in the sunshine when you need it. ☀️😎
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News24
8 hours ago
- News24
Tumi Linx shares all things body positivity
Supplied Links talks about the importance of self-love and body positivity, especially for mothers. She shares her personal skin journey, revealing that she's struggled with eczema and dry skin. The influencer offers winter skin tips, recommending morula body cream mixed with body oil to moisturise. Content creator, pastry chef and businessperson, Boitumelo 'Tumi Linx' Links, who is known for beauty, fashion and being a proud mother, spoke to City Press about body positivity and shared some winter tips for people with dry skin. Speaking about loving her body after having two children, Links said she embraced the changes, sharing her journey on social media. The brand influencer said once a mother feels great about how she looks, she can show up in a more loving way for her children. 'With my first pregnancy, I was still young. I was 22 and my body snapped back quickly; I still looked in shape. But my second took its toll on me, so I started looking at myself in a different way because I was like, 'I wasn't like this'. But we are growing [older]; we are not getting any younger and our bodies don't react the same with pregnancies,' said Links. Supplied Links said she invested in her beauty because it worked for her as a public figure and in her work. She also invested in a gym, which helped with mental health, confidence and feeling her best. One thing about me [is that] I embrace even the smallest imperfections. Even if I can have stretch marks, I will show them on social media. The body changes, so you can't be hard on yourself because of imperfections. Tumi Linx 'Instead, turn them into something more positive instead of complaining, and do something about them. We are not perfect, so those little imperfections are what make me perfect as a person,' she said. On her skin journey, the 33-year-old said it had always been a work in progress, even before she had children. She shared that she suffered from eczema and dry skin for a long time and now, as a public figure, she has tried more ways to look her best. 'My skin has not always been perfect. For me, it was all about getting that glow and feeling great about myself and my appearance. I started investing in my skin seven years ago through Portia M oils. I struggled a lot with eczema, so I was trying to find the right product for my skin. I was looking for a product to use without getting irritated or inflamed,' she said. 'My friend introduced me to the Portia M oil. I started using it religiously and I started seeing the difference. I did not even know Portia [Mngomezulu, the founder of Portia M Skin Solutions] back then. 'I knew her when she started advertising the brand. So, I felt like reaching out and saying: 'Hey, you are doing wonders for us women who are struggling from skin conditions, and you found a solution',' said the brand influencer. Links' tips on how to keep dry skin moist this winter: Morula body cream mixed with morula body oil: 'Since I suffer from dry skin, I do not experience flaking or cracked skin. I stay moisturised, looking my best and glowing. Morula petroleum gel: It does the most. I apply it to my face before I sleep. Avoid taking showers; take baths instead in winter. I usually put a few drops of morula oil in my water and just soak myself. Links spoke to City Press at a Portia M Skin Solutions event, where the brand celebrated its 15-year milestone. The event, hosted by media personality Lerato Kganyago, was held in Sandton on Thursday evening. Mngomezulu hosted an intimate dinner with journalists, her clients and influencers who had testimonies about her brand. She shared that she did not randomly choose influencers on social media, but she worked with people who used the brand and had testimonials about it. Supplied Mngomezulu said she founded the brand after struggling with post-partum stretch marks, and her mother-in-law gave her a tip to use morula oil. She had not looked back since. As the oils also worked wonders for those around her, she decided to make a brand which she took to the retail stores. Talking about the brand's growth, Mngomezulu said she used a two-plate stove when she started making the products, but now the brand has automated machines. During the celebration, the mother of three introduced a repackaged version of Portia M's first product – morula oil – which launched her business in 2010. The oil now comes in a more sophisticated bottle. Mngomezulu laughed when she recalled that her clients told her that the oil worked wonders, but the packaging was not nice. She said she started with one retailer, Makro, in 2013, but now her products are in about 2 000 stores across 13 African countries, including a flagship store in Zambia.


Buzz Feed
a day ago
- Buzz Feed
34 Things You'll Use All Summer Long
A heat-activated anti-frizz treatment sure to be a total game changer for people who straighten or blow dry their hair straight only for it to go *poof* when they step outside. This humidity-fighting formula "waterproofs" your hair to help protect it from 'do-ruining weather. Or a deep-conditioning hair mask promising smoother, shinier, and stronger hair, even if you're fighting against bleached, dry, or damaged locks. It can even handle Florida levels of humidity! A pair of charcoal shoe deodorizers to help you reclaim your sneakers from the dreaded Stink. Just slip them into your shoes and let them get to work. To "recharge," leave them in the sun. Hawaiian Tropic's SPF 30 Mineral Powder Sunscreen Brush offering some light coverage (and extra sun protection on top of your normal sunscreen) that won't weigh you down on hot days. Most intriguing: Reviewers are using this on their scalp and hairline because YES scalp burns can happen and NO we're not putting goopy sunscreen in our hair. It's also wayyy cheaper than the $69 Colorescience version. A pack of bug bite patches to help kids — and let's face it, adults — stop scratching themselves raw. These patches contain hydrocolloid, aloe, and witch hazel to soothe itchiness and put a barrier between the bite and scratching nails. A pair of cute gingham (or striped) boxer shorts that are about to become your errand-running uniform. Throw them on with a boxy tee and breathe a sigh of relief that you no longer have to agonize about what to wear when it's 99,000 degrees out. Anti-slip nose pads if you're sick of your glasses sliding down your sweaty nose. Listen, watching you push your glasses back up is adorable, but I'm sure you're sick of doing it 100 times a day. Stick these gecko-inspired grips on your full frames (wire frame havers can check out this version) and give your finger a rest. L'Oréal Paris BB Cream, a green-tinted formula that combats redness through the power of color theory. It doesn't stop there — it also works to even complexion, hydrate with vitamin E, and set the perfect stage for you to apply your makeup on. Turns out you don't have to drop $50+ on Dr Jart+'s Cicapair Color Correcting Cream! An ultra-affordable E.l.f. color corrector that comes in a ton of shades to help counteract different types of discoloration, like redness and dark spots. Mix and match to create the perfect foundation for the rest of your makeup routine. Hanes Ultimate crew socks because Zoomers have decreed low ankle socks passé. These simple Hanes socks are thick, comfortable, *cheap* — and will be your summer sneakers' new best friend. A set of special stickers that tell you when it's time to reapply sunscreen. Cover it (and your skin, of course) with sunscreen, and the sticker will turn clear. When it turns purple, you know it's time for another generous coating of sun protection. A dermatologist-recommended tinted sunscreen with SPF 41 so you can take on the day without fear of burning your delicate face to a crisp (so long as you reapply!). It's fragrance free, lightweight, perfect for people with sensitive skin, and boasts 11,400+ 5-star ratings. Or a bottle of Supergoop Unseen Sunscreen, a classic option with almost 14,000 5-star ratings thanks to its uncannily sheer appearance. This sweat-resistant formula has SPF 40 or 50 and glides onto your skin like a gel. It's super lightweight *and* can be used as a makeup primer. A car windshield sunshade to keep your car from becoming hotter than the center of the earth. Please! No more scorched thighs this summer. Anti-chafing balm because summer should be pain-free, even if you're completely set on breaking in those new jelly sandals. The vegan formula is safe for children, doesn't feel greasy, and won't clog pores. Just apply wherever you anticipate chafing and friction. A battery-operated patio umbrella light so your family can actually see each other while dining outside. The battery-powered device has 28 LEDs to properly illuminate a whole picnic table after the sun sets. A pack of Spin Pins you can use to keep your hair firmly in place, saving you from constantly readjusting or fighting flyaways. Nothing worse than little hairs sticking to your sweaty neck. A handheld watermelon slicer ready to turn melon halves into grabbable slices in seconds flat. It works for cantaloupe and honeydew as well, meaning you'll definitely be the one to volunteer to bring the fruit at the next outdoor hang. Hanni Shave Pillow, a showerless shave gel made with cactus water and glycerin for anyone who wants to shave their legs (or wherever!) but doesn't have time to jump in the shower. Apply the gel stick, shave, and the rub the remaining formula into your skin to hydrate, soothe, and protect against razor burn. A pair of round polarized sunglasses because if you're going to have to brave the summer heat and strong sun, you might as well look cool while doing it. Or a pair of retro-inspired sunglasses you definitely need for the beginning of summer. They provide UV400 protection to properly protect your eyes from the ever-intensifying sunlight. A Revlon volcanic face roller way easier to use than those disposable blotting pads. You just roll the volcanic stone over any oily or sweaty areas on your face and then pop it in your bag for later. It doesn't even mess with your makeup! A pack of waterproof playing cards capable of withstanding whatever environmental hazards you expose them to, whether it's an unexpected spring rain, a splash from the pool, or a dirty camping ground. No mushy cards this summer! A Sun Bum hair lightener made with pineapple and lemon to lighten up blonde to medium brown hair with the power of the sun. Just spritz on this banana-scented spray and let the sun help you achieve a fresh, summery look. An adorable tennis skort that will have you leaping for joy — without flashing anyone. Why? Because this amazing piece comes with A POCKET! Use it to store your phone, keys, or lip balm while you hit the boardwalk or grab some ice cream. Avon Skin So Soft bath oil, which, yes, moisturizes skin with jojoba oil after a shower, but also has a secret second use: One TikToker explained she uses it to avoid bug bites, and the comments confirm it's A Thing! Possibly the move if you're not planning on wearing actual bug spray, but still wanna have some protection from mosquitoes. A waterproof Essence Lash Princess lengthening mascara that 51,500+ reviewers confirm is lightweight, won't transfer, doesn't smudge, and lasts all day — even if someone pushes you in the pool. Why Essence only charges $5 for such an S-tier mascara is beyond me, but we're all grateful. A Japanese hori hori gardening knife sure to become the MVP of your gardening toolbox. The lightweight tool has a serrated side and straight edge, so you can dig, weed, slice roots, cut sod, and break up perennials. Deep-rooted dandelions and other summer weeds will see themselves out. Or a crack weeder tool if your home looks like it's trying out to star in the next season of The Last of Us. The L-shaped head can sneak into tight spaces and tear out the weeds, moss, and stubborn summer roots that have rudely taken up residence in your sidewalk. Black Girl Sunscreen's Make It Pop Sungloss with SPF 50 to moisturize and give your pout a summery pop. Wear it alone or over your favorite lipstick — either way, your lips will be protected. Have you ever seen sunburnt lips? You do NOT want that. A packable floppy hat that'll keep your face shaded (with UPF 50!), yes, but more importantly, it will make you feel posh and dramatic while walking on the boardwalk and looking out at the ocean. Lottabody Wrap Me Curl Mousse, a whipped-cream-like delight that defines curls, moisturizes with shea and coconut oil, and tackles frizz. The foam makes it super easy to distribute throughout your hair, and the heavenly scent will make you feel like you're on a tropical vacation. 44,000 customers have given this budget-friendly find a thumbs up! A rechargeable 3-in-1 hand fan that not only cools you down but also offers a flashlight and power bank. Consider this multitasker your first line of defense against the endless cruelties the summer sun hurls at you. A Nooni tinted appleberry lip oil if you're sick of lippies that leave your pout feeling sticky, dry, or messy. The apple seed and raspberry extract-infused oil offers long-lasting hydration and a touch of summer-ready color without you having to stress about it transferring or smudging.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Yahoo
How Cyril Chapuy Made L'Oréal Worldwide Leader in Prestige Beauty
Cyril Chapuy's title may be president of L'Oréal's Luxe division, but a more apt moniker would be cultural anthropologist. While he has a large and beautiful office in L'Oréal's worldwide headquarters in Paris, filled with art, books and assorted bibelots, it is not here where he's strategized L'Oréal's rise to be the leading seller of prestige beauty products globally. It's out, in the field, in the markets of the world, be it a hot new restaurant in Kuala Lumpur or Roosevelt Field Mall in Long Island, New York, where Chapuy has honed his understanding of what constitutes luxury for consumers today — and how that should translate for the 27 brands that fall under his purview. More from WWD Global Beauty Giants' Early Bets on the Eastern Fragrance Wave Queen Rania Embraces the Unspoken Black Dress Code With Prada Sandals Ahead of Jeff Bezos' and Lauren Sánchez's Wedding in Venice 'F1' Star Damson Idris Is Ready for Takeoff 'In our business, if you don't understand culture, forget it,' said Chapuy, the son of a doctor and an artist who thrives on the operational and emotional aspects of the business. It's an approach that has garnered great success. Over the last five years, L'Oréal has solidified its position as the worldwide leader in fragrance, with five of the top 10 global bestsellers in the women's category in 2024 and four in the men's. Overall, the Luxe division's sales reached 15.59 billion euros in 2024 and it is the leading player in every key geography save travel retail, where, said Chapuy, L'Oréal deliberately pulled back amidst the ongoing challenges in that channel. According to the company, it sold four fragrances every second in 2024. But Chapuy isn't content to rest on such laurels. Instead, he's laser-focused on driving uniqueness and desire across all categories, especially fragrance. That might mean olfactive innovation, for instance, or driving L'Oréal to be the leader in refillable fragrance bottles. 'Luxury is about permanently surprising, permanently disrupting, permanently enchanting consumers,' he said, during a wide-ranging interview in the company's New York headquarters, 'so even for fragrance growing by double digits, if you don't keep bringing exciting stuff, consumers will get bored. We don't want them to ever get bored. We're the worldwide luxury leader in beauty and in fragrance, too, and we always want to keep this category very enchanting, very experiential and very surprising for consumers.' What does it mean for L'Oréal to be the number-one luxury beauty player? C.C.: It's an incredible source of pride for our teams, because L'Oréal as a company is number one in beauty, but we were not number one in luxury, so that is what we were all dreaming of and we have been very strongly working on that for years. It also gives us a great sense of responsibility. As a leader, you have to take a position that helps the market stay very dynamic, inspiring. It's not — OK, we are the leaders and we're happy. It's — we're the leaders and we want to keep developing this market and recruiting new consumers. The potential of the luxury business is still immense. If you look at the penetration rate of categories there's a lot of room to grow. What's your assessment of the global market and the factors that have enabled you to get to this point? C.C.: 2024 was the 14th year in a row where we gained market share. It's been a lot of work by the teams. Why did we become leader? First, we have an incredible portfolio of brands — extremely complementary in terms of price levels between 20 euros and 500 euros, consumer targets we want to address and in geography. I'm a very strong brand believer and my teams are brand builders first. In luxury, the brand comes before anything. Secondly, we have very strong innovations. When you have beautiful brands you need to innovate. If you have a beautiful brand that rests on its laurels, it can fade. Then there is the team. Luxury is about being very creative, about being obsessed by excellence and details, and for this, you need teams. You can have teams that are enhanced by tech and AI, but you need talent, people who create, who design, who formulate incredible juices, who choose incredible materials for the bottle. You need beauty advisers — we have 26,000 around the world — who create this incredible one-to-one relationship with consumers that is the epitome of luxury. On top of that you need a strategy to become the leader and where our strategy paid off is because we are very balanced across categories and regions. We're number-one worldwide in fragrance and number two in makeup and skin care. We are number one in three of the four major regions. We're also balanced by channel — offline and online. We're not ultra-dependent just on offline or purely dependent on online, i.e., a relationship which might be more transactional and less experiential — we're well-balanced between the two. Some of my colleagues and competitors are not as balanced between the channels. Finally, our culture. L'Oréal Luxe is 35,000 people around the world and for the last three years I've been distilling this cultural obsession of what is luxury in beauty. When you have a big company you need a common language, a common currency, common criteria to look at when we discuss a new product, a new store opening, a new retail design. We're not just a conglomerate of brands. We have a philosophy of luxury beauty on culture and creativity which is the way we work and think. What are the emerging markets of the future for luxury? C.C.: All emerging markets are booming in luxury because the upper middle class is growing. When the upper middle class increases, the luxury market increases, because there is a desire to indulge more in products that have a higher level of quality and excitement. So the Southeast Asian countries, Asia, Mexico — Mexico has become one of the top 10 countries in the world in luxury beauty now. Brazil and even Africa are growing very strongly. This desire for more quality, more elevation, more inspiration is very strong across all emerging markets. The market is at plus-10 and we are at plus-14 in emerging for L'Oréal Luxe. I love to go to these markets and figure out how we are going to win there. I spend a lot of time traveling to countries like India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines. I love visiting to decipher and decode what we need to do, what brands have the best appeal for consumers, what specific innovations can we do — for instance, in fragrances, in emerging markets, there are certain olfactions that are preferred, certain ingredients. So you need to understand and decipher that if you want to succeed. It's not just copy and pasting what you do in gigantic markets like China and the U.S. What does a typical visit look like for you? I would imagine that you have an official schedule you have to keep but that you also like to go off sometimes. C.C.: My routine is always the same. I spend the first day and a half in the field — not in the office. We go to stores, malls, home visits. You need to feel the market, understand the consumer in the field, not only through facts and figures. Then I have strategy meetings with my teams where we discuss the quarter, the future, the building of the brands and businesses long term, what we need in terms of talents and investment. In the evening I love going to the places that are hot in the city to understand what is edgy and trendy right now. What's the hottest restaurant in Kuala Lumpur? What's the next rooftop you need to visit in Bangkok. You understand a lot when you go to these places. On top of that — it's great team-building moments. I love to spend the time in the evening getting to know our leaders and teams better, asking them to explain their culture to me. Because in our business, if you don't understand culture, forget it. If you don't understand the kabuki theater culture in Japan then you don't understand makeup in Japan. You don't understand why they want to use eyeliners, which are the most precise on the planet. Or why do young Chinese have 10 fragrances at home when their parents have zero. Why do they? C.C.: Because for years in China everybody had to look the same, because if you stood out it was the opposite of the accepted approach. The young generation today are dying to be different, and fragrance is a way for them to express their personality. Just as makeup has been used as a form of self-expression in the U.S. for years. C.C.: Absolutely. More recently, that's the case with fragrances in the U.S. with the young generation. They love to have a fragrance wardrobe. When I go in the sun I have my Sol de Janeiro, but when I go out at night, I have my Born in Roma. It's all about self-expression. Do you think we'll see a levelling off of fragrance this year? C.C.: I don't think so. The penetration of fragrance in Europe for women is 70 percent. In the U.S. it is 52 percent and in China it's 40 percent. In Europe — fragrance is very cultural — ever since Versailles it has been part of the beauty routine, so fragrance is extremely high in Europe, but it's catching up in other regions. For men, the penetration is 56 percent in Europe, 38 percent in the U.S. and 29 percent in China. If we do a proper job to recruit new consumers, the category has a lot of potential and that's why I challenge the teams to invent new ideas, new olfactions, new gestures. There are many ways to do fragrance and if you want to optimize penetration you need to cover all of these segments. You have everything from accessible luxury to the very high-end. Is growth coming from one segment of the portfolio more than others or are you seeing it equally spread out? C.C.: The segment of accessible fragrances is growing very fast. Some of our competitors are doing great work — Sol de Janeiro has done an amazing job with the fragrance mists. It's accessible, fun, tasty. But all in all — all categories are successful. High-end collection fragrances are the most dynamic, but it starts from a smaller base. Today, the top of the market, collection or artisanal fragrances, are around 22 percent of the market worldwide. The middle section, blockbuster prestige fragrances like La Vie Est Belle, YSL's Libre and Dior's J'Adore — are around 45 percent, and accessible fragrances comprise the rest. So the market is pretty well-spaced across price levels, and as a leader, we want to play in all three segments. When you look at luxury — especially in the U.S. — what's your assessment of the distribution landscape? C.C.: The very top of the pyramid needs the highest levels of quality and service. Take a brand like Aesop. We have around 90 doors in the U.S. and they are the top of the pyramid luxury experience. The design is exquisite. The location is always in the best streets, and the service, the quality of the time the consultant spends with you, is very high. We need experiences like that to keep developing the market. Department stores have understood that. Nordstrom and Macy's have understood they need to elevate to attract the top of the market. They were slower to move in that direction versus what I've seen in other parts of the world, but I see it happening. It's a fantastic opportunity for them — valorizing what they can offer to consumers to differentiate from the very dynamic self-assisted distribution of Sephora and Ulta, which is very buoyant, energetic, incredibly trend-driven and exciting. But the quality of the service there — it's not the number-one element of their strategy. You don't sit down with the consumer for 20 minutes to choose a juice. At the end of the day — when you want to buy a fragrance at $350 like Valentino Sogno in Rosso — you don't do it in two minutes in front of a gondola because it's exciting. You need to have story telling about the way it has been formulated, the ingredients, you need to try it on your skin. Amazon has become a leading prestige beauty retailer in the U.S. What are the implications of that and how do you think about creating a luxury experience on the platform? C.C.: We were first movers with Amazon and we went because we truly believe they understood what luxury online has to be. It took us three years of top-to-top discussion and partnership to discuss what kind of experience and service the consumer should have, so it doesn't feel like a downgraded luxury experience. They did a great job and consumers are happy. It's not yet top-end luxury because that is very much for a physical experience and when you buy a product for 300 euros or 500 euros, the physical experience is fundamental, but for the rest of the luxury market, they did a great job and we are very happy to be their partners. Luxury is not about promotions all the time — it is about service, explaining the superiority and performance of a product, and all of this Amazon does really well. What stores have you visited on this trip to New York? C.C.: I started my day at Roosevelt Field, visiting Sephora, Ulta, Macy's, Nordstrom Aesop, Kiehl's. It's interesting to see the way the U.S. team is expressing the brands and what the competition is doing. You cannot stay blindfolded in this business, you need to always know what your competitors are doing. Looking at competition is fundamental to me. That's why I don't like doing my job in my office. My office is nice to answer emails, but if I spend too much time there, I lose connection with consumers, the culture, the competition. You cannot discover competition in the Circana data. You can't be like — 'Oh my god! I didn't know this brand was working.' You better have spotted it when you were out in the field, especially since we keep being pretty active on acquisitions. Any coming up? C.C.: My job is to make sure we are crafted to win. So I'm always permanently looking at what brands could be interesting additions to our business. We just signed a long-term partnership with Jacquemus. I've been very excited and intrigued by what [designer] Simon [Porte Jacquemus] has created in the world of fashion. He is independent in an incredibly competitive field with powerful groups, he has incredible DNA, he brings a new take on fashion that is very refreshing that young consumers love. He is a very interesting man. Before I acquire a license or brand, I spend a lot of time meeting the people in charge, because for me the human factor in luxury is fundamental. When we acquired Youth to the People we spent almost three years talking to them. Looking at potential new brands is an important job and not something that you do in a hurry. You take your time, you observe, you see if brands have a real potential or if it's just a temporary success. You've spent all of this time getting to know Jacquemus. How will you translate that into commerciality? C.C.: The way we work is based on a permanent dialogue. We take inspiration from them because they know their brands better than anyone, but we know beauty better than anyone. So my team visits Simon, sometimes with me, most of the time without me. Simon explains to them what he dreams of, shows them images, shares scents from his childhood that he likes. Taking inspiration from everything he tells us, we create and come back to him and make propositions. It's a creative process back and forth, made of surprise, made of moments where we have doubts, where we get very excited. You have to take time to create good stuff. So it's going to take us two, two-and-a-half years to create what we want to create together with him, the same way that when we started working with Madame Prada before Paradox was born. We want to make sure that what we do is very creative and different. Luxury takes time. Luxury is not (snaps fingers) something that should be in a hurry. Which is somewhat paradoxical, because today we talk so much about speed and agility. C.C.: You need speed and agility, but you need to launch in luxury when you think you have reached a certain level of creativity, excellence and excitement. Luxury is not a business in which you should launch tons of stuff just to launch stuff. The consumer is very smart and if they look at a product and ask, 'why is it more expensive than what I can buy from mass market brands or dupe brands, why should I buy it?' — well, your launch is useless. What's the most luxurious purchase you've made recently? C.C.: I love fashion and design, so probably the most luxurious is my kitchen made by Boffi. It takes time to design a beautiful Boffi kitchen. Fashion-wise, I love this Saint Laurent bag — it looks like a women's bag because you can put so much stuff in it but it's a men's bag. I love fashion, accessories, design, it is part of my culture, my passion. My mother was an artist, my father was a doctor, so I have the rational facet and the emotional facet. I love visiting the designers I work with, but I love going to the factories, too, spending time on the lines, talking to the workers who are producing the products. I love spending time with the finance guys. In my job I need to have both. Best of WWD Which Celebrity Brands Are Next for a Major Deal? 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