Latest news with #byMario
Irish Independent
19-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Independent
Louise McSharry: How to strip back your make-up look when the weather hots up
Unfortunately, dampness doesn't exactly lend itself to most of our beauty practices. Make-up melts off, hair gets frizzy, and crevices get stinky. So how do you stay looking good when the heat comes a-calling? My advice is always to lean into it. Sure, you could invest in expensive setting sprays and anti-humidity hair sprays, but if you know things are going to be really damp, there's no point in stressing about your face or hair getting wrecked. Instead, I like to think about how I can manage to maintain a look even if the sweats are intense. Last week, at Primavera Sound in Barcelona, I went to see musicians Charli XCX and Troye Sivan perform their Sweat tour, so you better believe I employed this tactic. For make-up, this meant that I kept it relatively simple. As far as I'm concerned, there's no point in applying heavy foundation in these circumstances; it won't look good as you sweat and will feel uncomfortable. Instead, I accept that my skin simply will not look flawless and use a pot concealer, like Nars Soft Matte Complete Concealer (€35 via to cover major blemishes. Elsewhere on my face, I do what I can to distract from my less-than-perfect skin with long-wearing cream products and glitter. Bronzer, blush and highlighter go a long way to adding life to your face, and while they won't last forever, they will wear relatively evenly, meaning you won't end up with weird patches. Also, they're handy to pop in your bag and can be tapped on with your finger tips should you decide to top it up. Makeup by Mario's cream products are excellent — easy to apply and long-wearing. I recently bought Sculpt & Pop On-The-Go (€34 via which includes two mini versions of his excellent contour sticks and blush sticks. Their small size makes them ideal for travel, and the formulas themselves are great. They're available in three shade pairings. I'm also absolutely loving Charlotte Tilbury's new Unreal Blush Healthy Glow Sticks (€40 via These chunky blush sticks come in six shades and deliver a fresh and youthful flush to the face. They blend easily, and I find they look great on the lips as well, making them a handy product to carry with you. The eyes are my real focus on sweaty days, however. Eye crayons have come a long way and, in my experience, are some of the longest wearing products on the market. If you go for a grungy look, it will actually improve with wear and look more authentic as the day goes on. I love Half Magic's Sparkle Sticks (€23 via which are packed with glitter and come in 10 shades. I wore Punk Pony, a deep blue, to Primavera, and it was still on 28 hours after application. Finally, a tubing mascara is your friend. The good ones won't move until you remove them with oil. 5. Maybelline Lash Sensational (€12.99 via is my favourite and has never failed me. Now, go forth and sweat! Lost in translation I feel like I can't turn a corner without someone asking me about salmon sperm these days. (What a life I've built for myself!) Why? Because of the beauty treatment which injects it into the skin. Well, sort of. Salmon sperm contains a high concentration of DNA fragments known as polynucleotides, which are thought to improve the appearance of wrinkles by stimulating collagen and elastin production. Are they effective? Yes, sometimes they have a visible impact on the texture and appearance of the skin. Will they make you look like a newborn? No. It's also important to remember that your response to a treatment like this might not be the same as someone else's, so it's always a bit of a 'buyer beware' situation. Something old… I remember the first time I tried a beauty product that 'adapted to your skin colour to formulate your perfect shade', and it was a very long time ago. Like, decades ago. Since then, they come and go, seducing a new generation of youngsters into thinking it's some sort of magic. Brands suggest that their product provides a unique shade via the skin's pH but, in my experience, the shade is always the same. If you photograph said shade on a variety of skin tones, it will look different, but isn't that just their individual skin tone shining through? Me? Cynical? Never. Anywho, that doesn't necessarily mean the shade it provides isn't pretty and, as the result, is usually sheer and glowy, I've known and loved many of these products in my time. The first of them was a Barry M lipstick I used on my cheeks, and while it doesn't exist in that precise iteration anymore, the brand's Colour Changing Gel Blush (€7.99 via provides very similar results. ... Something new To be honest, I was shocked to learn that Dior was getting involved in the pH-balance tomfoolery but, nonetheless, here we are. In fairness, it has been at it for some time with its Lip Glow and Rosy Glow products. Additionally, it's not launching a single blush stick and claiming it will adjust to every skin tone — instead the Backstage Rosy Glow Blush Stick (€49 via is available in six shades, which features 'pH-activated colour' for a 'made-to-measure' result. Do I think that's a load of nonsense? Yes. Are the products beautiful nonetheless? Well, yes. The formula is light and creamy, gliding onto the skin and delivering sheer but buildable colour. Do I think you need it? If you already have a cream blush you like, probably not.
Fashion Network
02-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
What Elf's $1 billion Rhode bet means for the future of celebrity beauty
But as more household names, influencers, and makeup artists entered the space, shopper fatigue began to set in. With inflation squeezing incomes, buyers became more selective. Many shifted their focus to skincare, haircare, and niche fragrances, moving away from the color cosmetics that once drove viral trends, such as contouring the face with different foundation shades. Consequently, the market has been upended. Even some brands that, like Rhode, achieved breakout success began exploring exit strategies last year. Yet so far, no deals have materialized for names such as Selena Gomez 's Rare Beauty or Makeup by Mario — the brand launched in 2020 by celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, best known for his work with Kim Kardashian. Elf's acquisition of Rhode — founded just three years ago — ends a dry spell in celebrity beauty deals and could inject fresh momentum into personality-driven brands. With Rhode, Elf is betting on a premium range featuring just 10 main or 'hero' products, including Pocket Blush and Glazing Milk — items that blur the lines between skincare and makeup. The brand complements Elf's more affordable, cosmetics-focused portfolio. Elf's average price point is about $6.50, compared with nearly $9.50 for other mass-market cosmetics, while Rhode's average is around $29. But Elf is paying a pretty polished price for Rhode, also known for its sleek, minimal packaging. The $800 million in cash and stock payable at the close of the deal, expected before September, equates to 3.8 times Rhode's sales of $212 million in the year to March 31, 2025. Including the additional $200 million payable based on Rhode's performance over the next three years, the multiple is 4.7 times. The latter is in line with the lush deal multiple on L'Oréal SA's purchase of natural beauty label Aesop two years ago. To justify the price tag, Elf must ensure that its new addition doesn't run out of, well, Rhode. The narrow product range offers an obvious starting point for expansion. Elf has already launched a raft of innovations that resonate with Gen Z consumers and have helped turbo-charge its sales — a track record that bodes well for Rhode's future growth. There is also scope for Rhode to reach a wider range of customers. The brand is already due to launch in Sephora in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. this fall, which is a major milestone. In the long term, Elf could leverage its partnerships with other retailers — it is available in Ulta Beauty Inc. in the U.S., for example, in Douglas AG in Italy, and Boots in the U.K. — to maintain the momentum. Assuming Elf doubles sales over the next three to five years — which looks feasible — then the acquisition multiple would fall to a more reasonable level of about two times. However, there are risks to this trajectory, the most significant of which is Bieber herself. So far, she has defied the broader boredom surrounding celebrity-led brands. But maintaining her relevance remains essential. Six years ago, Coty Inc. placed a major bet on the Kardashians, paying $600 million for a majority stake in Kylie Cosmetics, which Kylie Jenner founded. A year later, the company invested another $200 million for a 20% stake in Kim Kardashian's beauty business. The results have been mixed. Over the past two years, Kylie Cosmetics boosted its sales by 1.5 times, driven by skincare and fragrance launches. Meanwhile, Kardashian's underwear brand Skims bought back Coty's stake, causing a $71 million loss for the U.S.-listed company. Bieber will join Elf as Rhode's chief creative officer and head of innovation. The company has a strong track record of connecting with Gen Z on social media, with viral moments like its collaboration with Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. It also has experience managing celebrity and influencer-led brands: it acquired Naturium — the skincare label co-created by influencer Susan Yara and beauty-brand accelerator The Center — for $355 million two years ago, and it developed Alicia Keys' brand. Even so, Rhode's close association with its founder remains a risk Elf must actively manage. This isn't the only challenge. Lindsay Dutch, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, expects Elf's sales growth to slow this financial year following a frenetic pace of revenue expansion. The beauty boom is also fading, although Ulta said on Thursday that many consumers were turning to fragrance and body lotion as a comfort and escape from economic uncertainty. There's also the pressure from President Donald Trump 's tariffs. Elf makes about 75% of its products in China and will add $1 to all of its products globally on August 1 to reflect the levies. With so much to grapple with already, taking a big bet on a celebrity-backed brand looks like a surprising diversion. But as any beauty enthusiast knows, there is always room for one more lipstick — particularly if it's a peptide-infused pout enhancer.
Fashion Network
02-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
What Elf's $1 billion Rhode bet means for the future of celebrity beauty
But as more household names, influencers, and makeup artists entered the space, shopper fatigue began to set in. With inflation squeezing incomes, buyers became more selective. Many shifted their focus to skincare, haircare, and niche fragrances, moving away from the color cosmetics that once drove viral trends, such as contouring the face with different foundation shades. Consequently, the market has been upended. Even some brands that, like Rhode, achieved breakout success began exploring exit strategies last year. Yet so far, no deals have materialized for names such as Selena Gomez 's Rare Beauty or Makeup by Mario — the brand launched in 2020 by celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, best known for his work with Kim Kardashian. Elf's acquisition of Rhode — founded just three years ago — ends a dry spell in celebrity beauty deals and could inject fresh momentum into personality-driven brands. With Rhode, Elf is betting on a premium range featuring just 10 main or 'hero' products, including Pocket Blush and Glazing Milk — items that blur the lines between skincare and makeup. The brand complements Elf's more affordable, cosmetics-focused portfolio. Elf's average price point is about $6.50, compared with nearly $9.50 for other mass-market cosmetics, while Rhode's average is around $29. But Elf is paying a pretty polished price for Rhode, also known for its sleek, minimal packaging. The $800 million in cash and stock payable at the close of the deal, expected before September, equates to 3.8 times Rhode's sales of $212 million in the year to March 31, 2025. Including the additional $200 million payable based on Rhode's performance over the next three years, the multiple is 4.7 times. The latter is in line with the lush deal multiple on L'Oréal SA's purchase of natural beauty label Aesop two years ago. To justify the price tag, Elf must ensure that its new addition doesn't run out of, well, Rhode. The narrow product range offers an obvious starting point for expansion. Elf has already launched a raft of innovations that resonate with Gen Z consumers and have helped turbo-charge its sales — a track record that bodes well for Rhode's future growth. There is also scope for Rhode to reach a wider range of customers. The brand is already due to launch in Sephora in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. this fall, which is a major milestone. In the long term, Elf could leverage its partnerships with other retailers — it is available in Ulta Beauty Inc. in the U.S., for example, in Douglas AG in Italy, and Boots in the U.K. — to maintain the momentum. Assuming Elf doubles sales over the next three to five years — which looks feasible — then the acquisition multiple would fall to a more reasonable level of about two times. However, there are risks to this trajectory, the most significant of which is Bieber herself. So far, she has defied the broader boredom surrounding celebrity-led brands. But maintaining her relevance remains essential. Six years ago, Coty Inc. placed a major bet on the Kardashians, paying $600 million for a majority stake in Kylie Cosmetics, which Kylie Jenner founded. A year later, the company invested another $200 million for a 20% stake in Kim Kardashian's beauty business. The results have been mixed. Over the past two years, Kylie Cosmetics boosted its sales by 1.5 times, driven by skincare and fragrance launches. Meanwhile, Kardashian's underwear brand Skims bought back Coty's stake, causing a $71 million loss for the U.S.-listed company. Bieber will join Elf as Rhode's chief creative officer and head of innovation. The company has a strong track record of connecting with Gen Z on social media, with viral moments like its collaboration with Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. It also has experience managing celebrity and influencer-led brands: it acquired Naturium — the skincare label co-created by influencer Susan Yara and beauty-brand accelerator The Center — for $355 million two years ago, and it developed Alicia Keys' brand. Even so, Rhode's close association with its founder remains a risk Elf must actively manage. This isn't the only challenge. Lindsay Dutch, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, expects Elf's sales growth to slow this financial year following a frenetic pace of revenue expansion. The beauty boom is also fading, although Ulta said on Thursday that many consumers were turning to fragrance and body lotion as a comfort and escape from economic uncertainty. There's also the pressure from President Donald Trump 's tariffs. Elf makes about 75% of its products in China and will add $1 to all of its products globally on August 1 to reflect the levies. With so much to grapple with already, taking a big bet on a celebrity-backed brand looks like a surprising diversion. But as any beauty enthusiast knows, there is always room for one more lipstick — particularly if it's a peptide-infused pout enhancer.
Fashion Network
02-06-2025
- Business
- Fashion Network
What Elf's $1 billion Rhode bet means for the future of celebrity beauty
But as more household names, influencers, and makeup artists entered the space, shopper fatigue began to set in. With inflation squeezing incomes, buyers became more selective. Many shifted their focus to skincare, haircare, and niche fragrances, moving away from the color cosmetics that once drove viral trends, such as contouring the face with different foundation shades. Consequently, the market has been upended. Even some brands that, like Rhode, achieved breakout success began exploring exit strategies last year. Yet so far, no deals have materialized for names such as Selena Gomez 's Rare Beauty or Makeup by Mario — the brand launched in 2020 by celebrity makeup artist Mario Dedivanovic, best known for his work with Kim Kardashian. Elf's acquisition of Rhode — founded just three years ago — ends a dry spell in celebrity beauty deals and could inject fresh momentum into personality-driven brands. With Rhode, Elf is betting on a premium range featuring just 10 main or 'hero' products, including Pocket Blush and Glazing Milk — items that blur the lines between skincare and makeup. The brand complements Elf's more affordable, cosmetics-focused portfolio. Elf's average price point is about $6.50, compared with nearly $9.50 for other mass-market cosmetics, while Rhode's average is around $29. But Elf is paying a pretty polished price for Rhode, also known for its sleek, minimal packaging. The $800 million in cash and stock payable at the close of the deal, expected before September, equates to 3.8 times Rhode's sales of $212 million in the year to March 31, 2025. Including the additional $200 million payable based on Rhode's performance over the next three years, the multiple is 4.7 times. The latter is in line with the lush deal multiple on L'Oréal SA's purchase of natural beauty label Aesop two years ago. To justify the price tag, Elf must ensure that its new addition doesn't run out of, well, Rhode. The narrow product range offers an obvious starting point for expansion. Elf has already launched a raft of innovations that resonate with Gen Z consumers and have helped turbo-charge its sales — a track record that bodes well for Rhode's future growth. There is also scope for Rhode to reach a wider range of customers. The brand is already due to launch in Sephora in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K. this fall, which is a major milestone. In the long term, Elf could leverage its partnerships with other retailers — it is available in Ulta Beauty Inc. in the U.S., for example, in Douglas AG in Italy, and Boots in the U.K. — to maintain the momentum. Assuming Elf doubles sales over the next three to five years — which looks feasible — then the acquisition multiple would fall to a more reasonable level of about two times. However, there are risks to this trajectory, the most significant of which is Bieber herself. So far, she has defied the broader boredom surrounding celebrity-led brands. But maintaining her relevance remains essential. Six years ago, Coty Inc. placed a major bet on the Kardashians, paying $600 million for a majority stake in Kylie Cosmetics, which Kylie Jenner founded. A year later, the company invested another $200 million for a 20% stake in Kim Kardashian's beauty business. The results have been mixed. Over the past two years, Kylie Cosmetics boosted its sales by 1.5 times, driven by skincare and fragrance launches. Meanwhile, Kardashian's underwear brand Skims bought back Coty's stake, causing a $71 million loss for the U.S.-listed company. Bieber will join Elf as Rhode's chief creative officer and head of innovation. The company has a strong track record of connecting with Gen Z on social media, with viral moments like its collaboration with Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. It also has experience managing celebrity and influencer-led brands: it acquired Naturium — the skincare label co-created by influencer Susan Yara and beauty-brand accelerator The Center — for $355 million two years ago, and it developed Alicia Keys' brand. Even so, Rhode's close association with its founder remains a risk Elf must actively manage. This isn't the only challenge. Lindsay Dutch, an analyst at Bloomberg Intelligence, expects Elf's sales growth to slow this financial year following a frenetic pace of revenue expansion. The beauty boom is also fading, although Ulta said on Thursday that many consumers were turning to fragrance and body lotion as a comfort and escape from economic uncertainty. There's also the pressure from President Donald Trump 's tariffs. Elf makes about 75% of its products in China and will add $1 to all of its products globally on August 1 to reflect the levies. With so much to grapple with already, taking a big bet on a celebrity-backed brand looks like a surprising diversion. But as any beauty enthusiast knows, there is always room for one more lipstick — particularly if it's a peptide-infused pout enhancer.
